The Duchess of Cornwall spent time with children after opening a newly-merged school near Highgrove…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: preschool. For a different topic see here. The blog is also related to: tutors.

At this moment True is driving me crazy… having a moment to myself sometimes is hard…

At any rate I am accomplishing a lot and I really look forward to the Tuesday call as well.
And did very well w. last week’s action plan
This week:

Wealth
Promote New Year’s Eve Party
Continue working on RICH Inc. Pamphlet

Home
Retype on large poster the plans for the house and my money?
Follow home plans

Family
Begin pic and video transfer
Set date for trues next dose of shots

Me
Get full body scrub Wednesday
Follow and clarify my regime
Do my fillin and give myself pedicure
Shave
Create date to do my hair

Work
Create work plan for the week and include follow up on Candice and Daquan

So I almost gave up on this blog cuz lots of things happening simultaneously…but I am back cuz I love writing. I express myself much better while I write than when I speak. So much has been happening…

I am very impulsive and so far its been working great for me. It’s funny how you attract things in your life. I always thought to myself that attending F1 is way outta my league cuz they were charging crazy! SO howd I got in? I got a 2 day job there. I was suppose to work at VIP section n attend to VIP guests. Not as in sevring them…naa I was suppose to just stand there and see things were going fine. Nothing funny happening. And these 2 days were just…unbelievable. I was suppose to work for 12 hrs and these hours opened me up. I saw different things…met different people and got to talk to them. Made 3 german friends, one italian and another Irish friend. It was a strange experience but I realized the importance of language cuz knowing english doesnt help if the other person doesnt understand it. But somehow through broken english i met strange people and got to know their side of life.

I also got to meet Richard Branson…!!!! Saw bill gates…a no. of royal families and Deepika Padukone {Bollywood actress n damn she is tall!!}. But Richard branson…the guy i used to see on tv thousand miles away…and I met him. I just couldnt believe it and never imagined it. Poor guy had a fractured arm but I dun blame him cuz he does have a wild character so he is bound to have a fracture! BUT Last day I even got to hear Aerosmith playing live! ABOVE ALL I got to seee the race!!!!! hehehe! I love life and how its sweet to me…Mashallah!.. ..So i got to exprience all these and get paid in return…ya they paid me 450dh per day with 200 dhs extra.So overall I got paid $313. Haha…who is the sucker now F1!

Working at F1 also made me more polite cuz these 2 days all I had to do was be polite and now the smile is carved on my mouth. I just can’t believe it that one day I felt F1 was beyond my league and the next 2 days I ended meeting great people. Haha..funny how the universe works!

Oooh…by next years it’s my aim to learn german, italian and french so that I can communicate much better! Plus I love learning languages and Ill be able to flaunt it!

So the one piece of advice i can give from this experience?

“When you get an opportunity don’t think just jump in without hesitation…cuz trust me by the end of the day they’re worth remembering!” ..PEACE!

A sexy new music video from Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.

The song is called ‘Video Phone’.

I love how provocative the outfits are….this is Beyoncé on fire…and we already know Lady Gaga likes to literally set the stage on fire.

Amanpour. , emisiunea de la CNN a vut o ediţie de curând a cărei invitaţi au fost mai deosebiţi decât invitaţii obişnuiţi. În studio, au fost invitaţi regina Rania a Iordaniei şi regele şi regina Norvegiei. Cam aceleaşi teme le-a dezbătut Christiane Amanpour în cele două părţi. Dar, evident pe subiecte diferite. Şi anume, cum cei prezenţi acolo se implică în vieţile oamenilor pe care îi conduc, în special regina Iordaniei, care face multe acte umanitare, folosind pentru aceasta mijloace foarte moderne.
Altfel, Christiane Amanopur a atins şi un subiect interesant în mijlocul discuţiei cu regele şi regina Norvegiei, şi anume, cum s-a integrat o fată simplă, mamă a unui copil în familia regală.
De apreciat, pe lângă informaţiile interesante date invitaţi, engleza incredibilă pe care aceştia o folosesc. Într-adevăr, Christiane Amanpour reuşeşte să facă o emisiune grozavă, cu toate că la început nu părea că acest format i se potriveşte.
Ahoi!

Voilà une dizaine de jours que je rédigeais un article inhérent à une requête simple: la mise à disposition de conteneurs et bacs poubelle.

Le message est visiblement très bien passé puisque depuis hier, c’est chose faite à proximité de mon immeuble d’habitation.

Et pour l’occasion, ils n’y sont pas allés de main morte, pas moins de 4 gros conteneurs poubelle qui arrivent d’un coup d’un seul, à point nommé. Les riverains ne sont pas habitués à cela, car évidemment ils n’en ont jamais eu à disposition! Ils n’auront que l’embarras du choix, quel conteneur pourront-ils bien choisir pour déposer leurs déchets n’est-ce-pas?

Mais en tout cas, je m’en réjouis pleinement et c’était là tout le sens de ma requête, c’est plus de propreté dans les rues de notre ville et plus de responsabilisation des habitants, les invitant à non plus déposer leurs sacs poubelle sur les trottoirs mais dans les conteneurs prévus à cet effet.

* Dewi magazine, June 2005

The debut opening of Roy Petley’s gallery in London caused an uproar in the West End, with people seen queuing down the street to get in. In fact, that wintry October night saw so many people in the gallery that the fire department responded four times to heat alarms going off in the building.

Roy Petley (photo: Titania Veda)

This dream of an art gallery began many years ago by a boy abandoned to a children’s home. Trapped in a dark and dreary world, even the beatings by his guardians could not curb Roy’s irrepressible spirit. “My escape was painting and drawing, the reality was horrible. I quite liked the fistfights but I didn’t like the beatings,” he confides. Becoming the first ever to receive a scholarship at the children’s home at the tender age of sixteen, Roy left for Brighton University but after his first semester he decided to go to Florence in the arms of a beautiful woman. His thirst for the foundations of art, well-drawn, well-coloured and well-painted works naturally drew him to the Italian masters of old; Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. Several years later, after living through his work in Italy, he returned to his homeland, England. There, he exhibited on the Green Park railings, a then melting pot of would be artists.

A chance meeting with the Duchess of Kent was the beginning of a lifelong friendship with the British royal family. The late Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales are collectors of his works, the late Queen Mother being particularly fond of his Norfolk landscapes. A whirlwind romance with an adoring public commenced, with sell-out shows following him wherever he went, from London to Barbados, Dublin to Dallas.

To satisfy his love of beautiful sports cars, three Alfa Romeos, engine red Ferraris and an E-type Jaguar once decorated his backyard. He even appeared on Good Morning Texas, flanked between William Shatner who “was on before me trying to promote a video game for Star Wars”, and a piano-playing-pot-bellied-pig who refused to perform. “It wouldn’t play the piano because it was camera shy”, Roy deduced.

Roy’s rags to riches story caught the eye of both the BBC and Sky Television, resulting in documentaries on his life and his art, and forced a change on his outlook on life. “I used to have people lining up to buy my work – but once the BBC did their documentary on me, they ended up banging on my front door trying to buy a paintings, it became a nightmare!” he exclaimed. Once dubbed the Best Dressed Man in London, this sort of major publicity was not in line with Roy’s solitary nature. In the early nineties, he chose tranquillity over fame and moved to a lonely farmhouse in the south-west of France. “I left England to become an unknown, to have a peaceful life”, he said. He quickly applied his energy to rebuilding his new-found home, which was soon to be featured in House & Garden, Homes & Gardens and Interior magazine.

the last of the sun by Roy Petley (courtesy of Petley Fine Art)

An impressionistic painter, he finds inspiration in his surroundings. In the summers, he is often found by local fishermen knee-deep in water, drawing models draped in flowing white dresses and adorned with wide-brimmed hats that Roy is known for collecting, or painting his neighbour’s children licking ice lollipops in his rose garden.

Self-taught, Roy experiments with all mediums, disclosing how he changes “mediums when I want to change my mind-set”. At his leisure, he moves effortlessly from pastel to oil, watercolour to sanguine. He speaks of each medium with equal passion, stressing on the ability to draw well being essential when working with any medium, particularly watercolour – “There is no changing it…there is only one chance”. He continues on saying, “watercolours are my reference for my oil paintings, an oil painting becomes a fuller version of the watercolour on a canvas.” He describes how Degas used to work with charcoal before drawing in the pastel, but prefers himself to draw with colour immediately. He is also is quick to illustrate that “pastel is a dusty medium and after a short period of working with it, I am always happy to return to my natural medium – oil.”

The subjects of Roy’s works are as varied as his mediums, drawing upon inspiration from anything and everything – portraits, still life, cityscapes and landscapes have all felt the touch of his brush in his paintings. “I usually have an idea of what I want to do before I begin, I see the world through my paintbrush and palette – all that remains to do is to recreate the image that I see in my mind.”

Whether it be landscape or still life, light and shadow are the basis of his works. There is a certain light and youthfulness, a grace and joyfulness that emanates from his paintings. He depicts an untouchable innocence that is reminiscent of childhood and days gone by. Although it may seem an old-fashioned and romantic world, this is Roy’s world as it exists today. Each painting draws you in, engages you with its subtle colours and soft lines.

sunlight in the dark canal by Roy Petley (courtesy of Petley Fine Art)

It is said that once you have had a show in Cork Street, you have made it in the art world. Having exhibited in galleries on the street for over a decade, Roy had reached a point in his life where he wanted to give something back. In his youth, Roy himself had approached gallery after gallery, carrying his portfolio, and had been turned away. In later years, the same galleries would beg him to exhibit with them – he wanted to provide artists with the opportunities he never had, with “a gallery they can trust, where artists feel comfortable”, where the open doors and laid back atmosphere would encourage artists – especially the younger ones. In the autumn of 2003, he did just that. “I started up the gallery because I was really fed up with how artists are treated”, he explained.

Petley Fine Art sets itself apart from other galleries because as Roy proudly states, “this is the first time an artist has owned a major gallery promoting work other than his own”. True to his word, Roy has raised the bar for the whole area by filling his gallery with only the finest paintings and sculptures from an international pantheon of artists. “We have famous artists, infamous artists, and also young artists just starting out in their careers – regardless of where they are in their careers, it is their talent that attracts us to them.”

It is this refreshing concoction of artists that gives the gallery its lively character and explains why artists enjoy exhibiting there. Neil Forster, an artist of Petley Fine Art and an established portrait painter whose sitters include The Prince of Wales, speaks highly of the gallery. “I thought this gallery opening in “the” art street of London and offering art with no over-intellectualizing or posing, is so refreshing that it must in time be one of the most visited galleries in London.”

Roy is also quick to point out that a lot of effort has been made to ensure nothing distracts from the paintings. His long-standing motto being, “the art is foremost, the gallery secondary and all emphasis is on the artists”.

Filled with boundless energy and enthusiasm, Roy floods his gallery with the same vitality he fills his paintings. Now with three galleries spread across Europe, Petley Fine Art seems to be going from strength to strength. As for Roy, does he miss the good old days when he was a struggling painter? “Well,” he laughs, saying, “I have artists ringing up at 4 AM telling me their problems with their wives who are jealous of their models. One artist calls up and says can I come see you now? I think, what’s going on here?”

Petley Fine Art
9 Cork St
London
W1S 3LL
+44 207 494 2021
http://www.petleys.co.uk/

Group Shot!

Just wanted to show everyone some group shots of the 1/2 Cent Collection. Not sure if the Black/Green pair will be copped. We have to see them in person first.

I am do really well this week. I was actually afraid to look at my plan bc I thought i was off track but i am on track. how is it goin? well.

Serge Pugeault se vante constamment de la rapidité de la majorité municipale à entamer la réfection de la Halle du Boulingrin, alors que par le passé ce dossier paraissait au ralenti.

C’est clairement de la mauvaise foi car si Adeline Hazan et son équipe ont eu la possibilité de lancer aussi vite ce dossier, c’est grâce aux travaux d’études réalisés par l’équipe précédente. Il serait bon qu’ils ne l’omettent pas!

M. Pugeault met en cause la lenteur du déblocage de l’aide de l’Etat à la réfection qui était bloquée depuis 1996…C’est aussi objectivement l’une des causes du non avancement du dossier par le passé !

Surtout, c’est la preuve que gouvernements de gauche comme de droite n’avaient pas rempli cet engagement, alors même que Serge Pugeault se répand partout en affirmant que l’enveloppe accordée dans le cadre du plan de relance n’est que le rattrappage de cette promesse non tenue.

Enfin et c’est important de le souligner, c’est Jack Lang qui a classé ce bâtiment pour des raisons politiciennes en 1985, alors que sa qualité architecturale est très largement décriée.

M. Pugeault a la mémoire bien courte et une lecture partiale et partielle de ce dossier, il n’a même pas le souci de la cohérence dans les propos qu’il tient, trop occupé à politiser à outrance et à vouloir discréditer l’Etat et l’Exécutif…

i actually did a good majority of work from my plan even though i did not print or review my plan. i will this week.

Plan for the Week:
Continue working on my new years party.
speak w. promoters
get more promoters
iron out business plan
drink green juice twice
exercise once
fold clothes and put away
clean for one hour
plan for RI trip
pack for RI trip
take out rest of junk from car
Pay suli
look into carols daughter skin products

Eternal Jewel City
A lot of words come to mind when one mentions Bangkok, the South-east Asian capital of one of the most jewelled countries in the world, Thailand. The one thing that does surprise people who visit the region is not only its ornate historical path that unravels a labyrinth of secrecy and mysticism but also a timeless channel revealing a phronetic combination of Thai religion and spiritualism. Indeed, even the ceremonial name of the city itself spells out its culture pure and rich in depth. Translated in full, gives us the following verse-like poem:

“The city of angels, the city great and eternal jewel city. The impregnable city of the God Indra. Grand capital of the world endowed with nine heavenly gems. The happy city, abounding with an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where the god reincarnate reigns. The City given by Indra and built by Vishnukam.”

If you are looking for a mini-tour of Bangkok, aimed at painting a brief insight into visiting the city, look no further. From the moment you arrive at the new state-of-the-art Suvarnabhumi international airport, you will notice Thailand is definitely the “land of smiles”, the broad smiles you’ll receive from the Thais of all walks of life really are genuine! After checking-in to your centrally located hotel, you’ll be able to connect to almost anywhere within the city. During your stay in Bangkok you must visit the Grand Palace complex and surrounding Sunamluang Park Gardens. The complex contains the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha which reveres the holiest of relics; a 45 centimetre Buddha carved in green emerald. The complex itself is the official home to the King of Siam and you can also see the Royal Funeral Hall and Royal Coronation Hall within these walls. Outside the complex and surrounding the Sunamluang Park are markets and boutiques allowing you to pick up those uniquely Thai gifts such as handicrafts, Thai antiques and Thai sweets.

Gentle Sunset and Sunrise Cruise

Returning to your hotel in the late afternoon gives you time for a room-break before going out for your Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Praya River. This cruise takes you for a gentle slow ride up the Chao Praya River from sunset and onwards, passing the Temple of Dawn followed by a magnificent twilight view of the Grand Palace Complex. An idyllic way to unwind. You are then guaranteed a perfect night’s sleep in the comforts of your air-conditioned suite room. The following morning will mean an early rise if you are going to catch sunrise at the famous floating market; Thai style canoes laden with colourful fruits and vegetables, meats and sweets and freshly cut flowers are on sale as the boutique-boats gently glide up the canals for all who wish to buy and see. After another room-break at the hotel, the afternoon agenda offers the beautiful Rose Garden Tour which includes not only the splendours of the gardens, but also a chance to see different styles of Thai housing, Thai handicrafts and how they are made. More boutiques allow the visitors to buy those special souvenirs, memories of a trip you won’t want to forget. Then back to your hotel for a Thai or a Japanese style gourmet cuisine dinner.

Hotels

Ideal for convenient access to the whole of Bangkok, the Tai-Pan hotel just off the Asoke and Sukhumvit roads is perfectly located. This Green Leaf certified hotel-to mention just a few of its accreditations and set off “away from it all”, features 146 spacious rooms and suites of high class standard. Catering to all the needs of travelers or business people alike, no luxuries are spared for guests and rooms. Other facilities include an all purpose gym and a pool for those who either want to complete a workout fix or just relax by the poolside.

VIEW

I only have 7 more sleeps until my husband and I go on our 12 night Caribbean Cruise to Egypt!  My wonderful husband won this holiday through work and we are absolutly over the moon to be going (even if it does mean leaving the little 4 year old behind for a while!).

I have read some absolutely great reviews regarding Royal Caribbean and nobody seems to be able to say anything bad which is good!  Our holiday is totally paid for apart from booze and excursions and I am really looking forward to being able to tell you all about it when we get back!

If you would like to know more about Royal Caribbean Cruises, visit their website www.royalcaribbean.co.uk!

Ce stade, qui il faut le dire, a été un véritable gouffre financier, avec un coût de 57 millions d’euros, est bien loin de répondre aux attentes que l’on pouvait en avoir.

En effet, ce stade ne peut accueillir d’autre événement sportif car il n’a pas été conçu pour. Ainsi, il a été précisé au dernier Conseil Municipal qu’il manquerait 1 mètre de pelouse pour pouvoir y accueillir des matches de rugby du Top 14! 1 mètre de pelouse, vous rendez-vous compte?!

Ensuite, ce stade vraiment mal situé et très mal ouvert sur la ville. Aucun commerce ne peut se développer autour comme cela peut se faire dans les autres villes disposant d’un équipement digne de ce nom.

Enfin, il est impossible d’y installer une scène pour des spectacles, les poids-lourds ne pouvant avoir accès à l’intérieur du stade!

Que dire de la pelouse dont la piètre qualité empêche, sauf à payer un prix prohibitif de réfection, la présence de publics et de l’insuffisance des loges pour les mécènes et entreprises, l’absence de couverture des coursives…

D’où l’intérêt de réaffirmer l’impérieuse nécessité de construire un Zénith à Reims.

Ce zénith est primordial pour l’attractivité de nos territoires, notamment envers la jeunesse et en terme d’image.

Coté professionnels, la demande est unanime, tous les producteurs locaux sont favorables à ce projet, mais surtout l’exemple le plus flagrant, est la demande de Messieurs les président et directeur de programmation des Flâneries Musicales de Reims qui souhaitent tous deux une vraie salle de spectacle de grande capacité.

Non vraiment, le stade Delaune, même s’il  présente une belle esthétique, est bien loin de correspondre aux attentes des rémois(es) et des champardennais.