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howwelldoyouknowyourmoon · 4 years

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Sun Myung Moon’s lost Paraguay Eco-Utopia

▲ Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han visited their Puerto Leda mansion only once.

Outside magazine by Monte Reel February 20, 2013

Full story: https://www.outsideonline.com/1913791/sun-myung-moons-lost-eco-utopia

Extracts:

A decade before his death, Sun Myung Moon—multimillionaire founder of the controversial Unification Church / FFWPU—sent a band of followers deep into the wilds of Paraguay, with orders to build the ultimate utopian community and eco-resort. So how’s that working out? Monte Reel machetes his way toward heaven on Earth.

... In addition to overseeing the church, which he said aimed to fulfill Jesus’ unfinished mission by establishing a new “kingdom of heaven on Earth,” Moon managed vast commercial interests and called himself a messiah. He was frequently accused of cult practices, in part because some of his hundreds of thousands of followers turned over very personal decisions—including the choice of marriage partner—to him. More than a decade ago, Moon told some members of his church that he wanted them to lay the foundation for a new Garden of Eden in one of the least hospitable landscapes on the planet—northern Paraguay.

Moon was notorious for attention-grabbing gestures: conducting mass weddings in Madison Square Garden, taking out full-page ads in major American newspapers to support Richard Nixon during Watergate, spending 13 months in federal prison for tax fraud and conspiracy in the early ’80s. But during the final years of his life, his Eden-building project kept chugging along well out of the public eye, germinating largely unseen in this remote wilderness of mud.

In 2000, Moon paid an undisclosed amount for roughly 1.5 million acres of land fronting the Paraguay River. Most of that property was in a town called Puerto Casado, about 100 miles downriver from Puerto Leda. Moon’s subsidiaries wanted the land to open commercial enterprises ranging from logging to fish farming. But a group of Puerto Casado residents launched a bitter legal battle to nullify the deal. While that controversy continued to divide Paraguayans, the Puerto Leda project proceeded under the radar. Moon turned the land over to 14 Japanese men—“national messiahs,” according to church documents, who were instructed to build an “ideal city” where people could live in harmony with nature, as God intended it. Moon declared that the territory represented “the least developed place on earth, and, hence, closest to original creation.”

... The [twentieth] century brought utopian colonies of Australian socialists, Finnish vegetarians, English pacifists, and German Nazis. They all failed.

So how are Moon’s followers—or Moonies, as they don’t like to be called—holding up? Hard to say. I’m aware of two other journalists who’ve seen Puerto Leda. One, a British Catholic missionary, visited after the first colonists arrived and was unable to fathom their motives. Maybe they were smuggling drugs, she insinuated in a church magazine [The Tablet December 16, 2000].

... By the time I boarded the Aquidaban, I’d begun to suspect that the National Messiahs in Puerto Leda might have no clue we were coming.

[It was a three-day journey] aboard this muggy cargo boat [in 2012].

... one man, a portly Paraguayan navy guard in military fatigues, awaits [Toni Greaves and myself] at the end of the gangplank.

“Do you have repellent?” he asks.

My skin is lacquered in a stiff coat of stale sweat and deet. “Lots.”

“Good,” he says. “You’ll see at night. We can’t even talk to each other because of the mosquitoes that fly into our mouths.”

... The building in front of us has a peaked terra-cotta roof, brick-and-stucco walls, expansive glass windows, and no fewer than five remote-controlled Carrier air-conditioning units. At the front door, a dozen pairs of leather slippers wait for us. “Very Japanese,” Greaves observes. We remove our dirty shoes and take our first steps into Reverend Moon’s Victorious Holy Place.

All is silent. Wilson flips a switch, throwing light on what appears to be a dining hall. The large wooden tables, each covered with a plastic tablecloth, could accommodate about 100 people. They are vacant.

... A few hundred yards from the guard station, I spot a sportfishing boat docked at the riverside. It’s big—about 30 feet long, fiberglass, with a prominent cockpit. I ask Mister Date about it.

“Ah yes,” he says. “Reverend Moon designed that boat himself. It was brought here from New Jersey.”

... Apparently, the True Father’s fishing jones was a deciding factor in the placement of Puerto Leda. Moon first visited the Paraguay River on fishing trips in the 1990s, and by decade’s end he was cruising down it and ordering church members to wade along the muddy banks to plant 63 signposts demarcating the land he had decided to buy.

▲ Japanese “National Messiahs” with Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han (The Heavenly True Parents 天地父母님 ) on September 23, 1999.

In 1999, Moon called his most devoted Japanese followers to join him on a 40-day spiritual retreat outside Fuerte Olimpo, about 25 miles south of Puerto Leda. I’d read a brief description of those days on a church website. One Messiah had written: “It was very hot and we wanted to bathe in the water. But we could not because piranhas would come. It’s a big problem! Also there are problems with ants. One National Messiah became very sick from an ant bite. It’s a dangerous place. There are all these problems, but Father just says, ‘Ah, the purity of nature!’”

... In addition to calling for a return to Original Creation here, he told his devotees, in 2000, that “we need to build the best underwater palace in the world.”

... Near the end of their [40-days] together, Moon instructed them to build an ecologically sustainable city that could serve as a model for the whole world. The plan, such as it was, lacked specifics; not all of the founders agreed on what the city should look like. Yet they forged ahead, determined to create something extraordinary in a place where wilderness reigned.

Now, as I glance at the scene, I see huge dormitory buildings, guesthouses, and sheds for mechanical repairs. I count seven freshwater fish farms, fully stocked with pacu, a toothy species that looks like an overgrown piranha. I see no other people.

“Normally, there are about 10 of us who live here,” Mister Date tells me. “But this week six are away in Asunción. So there are just four now.”

We walk through early-morning light on smooth sidewalks, past manicured gardens of hibiscus and bougainvillea, beside an Olympic-size swimming pool. A young man hired from a nearby village slowly sweeps a filtering net through the deep end. Nothing—not a single foreign particle—seems to mar the clean blue rectangle of water. We enter a two-story communal building that resembles an office complex. I see Wilson in a small room, tapping away at a computer. We climb a stone staircase to the second floor, following Mister Date into what appears to be a rec room. There’s a television hooked up to a satellite system, and Mister Date pops a disc into a DVD player. The DVD, Mister Date tells us, explains everything.

The footage that flashes across the screen dates from 1999. We see the founding Messiahs walk across untamed wastes—the grounds where we now sit. They lay bricks in wet mud. They sand metal frames. They wash dishes in the river. They wear heavy clothing, light fires to keep the mosquitoes away, and sweat in the wavy heat. They stagger through gale-force winds.

Then, in a clip from 2000, we see Moon himself, touring the partially cleared grounds, wiping sweat from his brow, eating lunch, leaving in a private plane. The footage segues into scenes of the men working feverishly to build a luxury house for Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, who visited for a second and final time in late 2001.

▲ Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han visited Puerto Leda twice, but only once after the mansion they ordered built for themselves was completed. They inaugurated the mansion on November 30, 2000 (above). Takeru Kamiyama is standing close to Moon, wearing a pale blue shirt.

▲ The view from the mansion.

The rest of the DVD covers more recent developments, and the highlights—set to swelling orchestral music—unfold like a training montage from Rocky. Messiahs erect the water tower. Man-made fishponds materialize on the grounds. A landing strip is planed flat by tractors. The Messiahs unload saplings from the Aquidaban, then plant them in sprawling groves. A group of about a dozen visiting Japanese students—the children of Unification Church members—help the Messiahs build a school in a nearby village. When the DVD ends and the lights come up, I’m exhausted just from watching all that drudgery. I look at Mister Date’s corded forearms, his gaunt face, his waspy waist. Every aspect of his being seems molded by toil. Even with the help of the local hires, the Messiahs labor all day, usually outside.

“It’s a lot of work just to maintain,” he admits.

The fact that only 10 men live here comes rushing back to me. The colony has actually lost population since its inception, despite all the construction. Four of the original Messiahs have returned to Japan. Only the hardest of the hardcore have stuck it out.

And this raises a couple of questions: Who are these guys? And why have they put themselves through this?

Mister Auki walks across the dining hall carrying a basket filled with whole fish freshly yanked from the river. He’s a short, balding Messiah whose task this morning, as on most days, is to catch something for the grill.

“I caught lots of piranha today,” he tells the men, his face splitting into a smile. “And also a five-kilogram pacu.”

The pacu is now part of the lunch buffet, which the four Messiahs plus Wilson, Greaves, and I spoon onto plates.

... In the beginning, the colonists hoped they would be joined by their wives (as well as many, many more followers). Every August, they invite children of Japanese church members to visit for a couple of weeks, but so far none have chosen to stay on. “My wife thinks that it is not realistic for her to move here yet,” Mister Owada says, “because we still have to raise the standard of living more.”

When I press him on how tough and lonely this must get, Mister Owada says it doesn’t bother him. Moon sanctified his personal sacrifices, promising the men that spiritual rewards would make up for their suffering. “Even if you die, what regret will you leave behind?” Moon asked the founders in 1999.

“We’re risking our lives for this cause,” Mister Owada says, his left eye twitching convulsively. “I like to risk my life,” he continues. “That is doing something worthwhile. We have continued to stick with this.”

Months later, after Moon’s death from complications from pneumonia, I will once again reach out to Mister Date to see if the True Father’s passing affects the Messiahs’ dedication. It doesn’t. They have the blessing of his widow, Mister Date says, and the ongoing feuds among the Moon children won’t affect them. They plan to work on Puerto Leda for at least another decade.

“Of course there is ecotourism potential here,” says Mister Date. We’re standing outside an unfinished three-story brick building near a shed that protects three car-size generators. Mister Date refers to the brick building as “the hotel,” but for the moment its only occupant is a stick-legged baby goat nosing around the food pellets being stored on the ground floor.

... “Why did you stop work on the hotel?” I ask.

He pauses and smiles politely. “In a small place, you can have disagreements easily,” he says. “They’re expecting us to be financially independent, but that’s not easy here.” The Messiahs, it seems, don’t always see eye-to-eye on the best way to reduce their dependence on member donations. Some want to concentrate on agribusiness and scrap the ecotourism idea. The hotel is unfinished because they aren’t sure whether opening the place to outsiders is a good idea.

▲ Puerto Leda from the air.

We walk on, past planted fields of lemongrass, oranges, mangoes, grapefruit, asparagus, sugarcane. The crops are struggling. If agriculture alone is expected to support the colony, there are some kinks to work out. The men have planted thousands of jatropha trees, which can be used to make biodiesel fuel, but hundreds of parrots zeroed in on them and ate all the fruit. During the most recent wet season, rising waters flooded many of the thousands of neem trees.

“It’s been a hard year,” Mister Date admits. “A lot of things have died because they were three months underwater.”

It’s clear that these guys have faith in miracles, and that’s exactly what’s needed here in Puerto Leda. Without one, the Victorious Holy Place seems destined to be another curious monument to human ambition and folly. But watching how hard the Messiahs work, I can’t help but admire their tenacity. The fanaticism that underlies their devotion to this cause must burn hot, but they hide it well. They’re not evangelical. They’re friendly and welcoming to those who don’t share their beliefs. They’re reflexively humble and generous and—whatever I might think of their motives—admirably tough. They’re underdogs. The kind of guys you root for.

During the last hours of my visit, Mister Date shows me something that might actually work out. “Japanese yams,” he announces, staring down at a plot of tilled soil. “They grow very large underground, up to 10 kilograms. They do well here.”

My immediate impulse is to celebrate this victory with hearty congratulations. I’m thrilled for his indefatigable yams. Maybe all the sweat that Mister Date has sunk into this plot will bear a little fruit. Maybe little victories like this can help other people in the Pantanal live richer lives. Maybe that’s enough.

Mister Date stares down at the dirt. “Unfortunately,” he says, “they taste very bad.”

... I head out toward the pool.

▲ The swimming pool at Puerto Leda.

He’s still there, the man with the net, sweeping as if he hasn’t let up since dawn. A shame: I didn’t bring any trunks. But I do have a pair of heavy cotton cargo shorts in my backpack. I walk to the dormitory and return wearing them. I ask the sweeper, “Does anyone ever use this pool?”

“Only the tourists,” he says.

The tourists? Based on a guest book I flipped through earlier, he must be referring to those Japanese students who visit every August, the occasional Paraguayan government official, and Greaves and me. ...

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Outside magazine https://www.outsideonline.com/

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Monte Reel’s Between Man and Beast: A Tale of Exploration and Evolution was published in March 2013 by Doubleday.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/between-man-and-beast-monte-reel/1113244445#/

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Sun Myung Moon organization activities in Central and South America

Actividades de la Secta Moon en países de habla hispana

FFWPU President of IAPP Prosecuted for Money Laundering and Drug Smuggling in US Court; may be connected to UC / FFWPU Leadership

#Paraguay #Puerto Leda #Moonies #Sun Myung Moon #FFWPU #Family Federation for World Peace and Unification #Unification Church #天地父母님

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californiadreaminghq · 5 years

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Oh good, you made it!

Did you guys know Ky was coming? They brought Anthony Doyle, The Stranded! And just on time! Grab a drink, find a spot, and make sure you finish everything on the checklist. The band is just getting started – you have 24 hours to send in your account! We’re so glad you’re here!

I. OUT OF THE STUDIO

NAME/ALIAS: Ky

AGE: 28

PRONOUNS: they

II. ON STAGE

DESIRED SKELETON: The Stranded

NAME: Anthony Doyle (Antonino Azzara)

FACE CLAIM: Luke Pasqualino

AGE: 27

OCCUPATION: Bassist with Violent Vale

III. INTERVIEW

Answer the following questions in your character’s voice:

If you could do anything in the world for a living, what would it be?

“What, if I didn’t have the band to look after?” That made him pause, it did. Shit. What would he do? Go back and help mum and dad with the shop? Even they didn’t want that. If they were being honest about it. “Fucked if I know,” Anthony flapped a hand, cigarette smoke curling after. He’d get on with it. Somehow. “Maybe a zoo?” He threw that out there, for the hell of it. “That’s what I went on about, when I was a kid. Working at the petting zoo, with the cockatoos and goats.” Not very rock and roll. But, then again - he’d got plenty of practice with wild animals, hadn’t he?

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

“New York was mint. Wouldn’t mind another stop off around there, sometime.” So long as he didn’t have to be running about keeping those muppets out of trouble. Those beloved muppets of his. Anthony took a thoughtful drag, considering his options. World was his oyster, innit? “Other than that, oh…those Galapagos Islands might do. See the big, fuck off tortoises. Darwin’s finches. And your cousins, mate,” he smirked at the iguana lazing down the chesterfield from him, dozy in the California heat. “Seems a relaxing sort of place.”

What is one thing that makes you different than anyone else?

“Out of this lot? I can cook. Properly, mind, like, real food. Vitamins, minerals. And I can press clothes. Do up a tie. Fix a button, change a tire…” he counted off on his fingers, knowing he’d run out. Violent Vale had a lot going for it, but. When it came to just being able to get shit done, the little things that kept life rolling along in some semblance of order, Anthony was the one who had to step up, often as not. “Tell time.” He rapped his watch, snuffing his cigarette. Not the first interview where he’d been the only bastard of the bunch to show up when the calendar said so. Wouldn’t be the last. “Don’t you worry, they’ll be along.” He wouldn’t promise shortly. Knew better.

IV. BACKSTAGE

Anthony - as his teachers at school quickly got to calling him, because Antonino was just too much of a mouthful, apparently - didn’t remember Italy, but his neighbors around Bristol never let him, or his hard-working parents, forget it. The Azzaras had left their mother country, and generations of family history, behind when Anthony was just shy of his second birthday; the future had looked too grim, in wartorn, bombed out Naples. Better to try their chances elsewhere. They got as far as England, and set about becoming as Bristolian as they could. Which, according to the locals, was never really enough. Still, they got on with it - it being a little chippy down in Temple Meads. Nothing special, but cod and potatoes paid the bills. Mostly. When the shop didn’t cover rent and such, or needed new windows and paint after the odd smash-up, Ant found ways to make ends meet. His mum and dad might frown on it, and fret, but he’d learned plenty of tricks from hanging about on the fringes. Met all sorts of interesting people, there. Fences, for one. With his clever fingers and fast feet, Anthony could make himself some good money when he needed it, pawning things he snuck off drunk tourists.

But only when he needed it. When his family needed it, more rightly. Picking pockets and sneaking unattended handbags wasn’t fun. It was risky, and he knew that. Anthony played smart, and took honest work over a quick buck, when he could find it. Was a band, a rock band, honest work? He wasn’t too sure about that, but Violent Vale wasn’t just a rock band. They were family too, childhood friends. The type who’d start your fights for you. Loyal to a fault, because they’d earned it, Anthony let himself get drawn into the dream and put those troublesome hands to better use on the bass.

They weren’t bad, neither. Not bad at all. A few gigs around town became more, became daytripping to Bath, became playing at this little festival over in Glastonbury, became a weekend over in London. Became fame. Soon, he didn’t have time to bus tables for his parents - and he didn’t even need to feel guilty about it, because the money was good. Stupid good. It only got better as Violent Vale got big, and bigger. They were riding a trend, all the way to the top. All the way to America. Mad, wasn’t it? New York City was a good time, a breath of fresh air. Well, fresh-ish. Unfortunately, it was too good of a time for some members of the band. As in England, Ant found himself acting the collie dog, shepherding his little lunatic gang around the city, trying to keep them in line and on schedule. It was a hell of a job. And, frankly, he needed to cut loose himself now and then. Now and then became too often, quickly. Predictable, wasn’t it? Those ties that bound were tight, after all. Anthony found himself dragged off course more than he should’ve been, through the clubs and rooftops and streets of the Big Apple. The bills piled up. The tabloids loved it. Their managers didn’t. Soon, it was decided - forcefully - that they’d be packing up, shipping out west. To California. Beaches, bikinis, big record labels. Sounded wicked.

So long as they got their shit in line. Ant pulled the band together for their own meeting, after management left to arrange the details. Los Angeles had to be different. More music, less party. Please? He was, well. Worried about them. The Vale were more than a headline, more than letters in lights. They were his mates, the best he had. He wasn’t trying to be a killjoy, here. Just wanted to see them survive stardom. They seemed to be listening, but… he knows them, these people of his. Not at all mollified, he threw back his gin and tonic, reclined that big American airline seat, and hoped for the best. He’s not out to change his friends, to be clear. He just… wishes they weren’t such a bloody mess. Until that day comes, though, Ant’ll be there to scrape the Vale off the floor and into the studio, anytime, everytime.

V. ENCORE

Let’s try some HEADCANONS.

He’s not a Tony. Don’t call him Tony. At least one of his bandmates - if not the whole mangy crew - has known Anthony long enough to remember when he was a weedy little late-bloomer, last boy at school to shoot up and fill out; those days left him with the unenviable nickname of Ant. It’s stuck, but whether he finds it aggravating or endearing really depends on the moment. Don’t try it if you’re not a proper, close friend. You’ve got to earn the right, yeah?

While he couldn’t say much for the Bristol school system, Ant’s an avid self-educator. He’s particularly keen on environmental subjects and history, and his letterbox is often packed with magazines like National Geographic, Time, and The Ecologist.

Anthony’s loving the California sunshine, honestly. He’s often found on the beaches, taking a morning swim - in water that’s not too bloody cold for that, what a wonder - or an evening run.

Given his love of animals, it comes as no surprise to most that Anthony’s very vegetarian. Unless he’s at home, with mum and dad. Then he eats what he’s given, and likes it. Obviously.

Anthony can speak Italian, but not much. His parents discouraged their first language at home; faced with the prejudices of working class Bristol, the Azzaras tried very, very hard to fit the mould of respectable, urban, English family. Mum and dad were understanding when he first took up a blandly British stage name - it could only help his chances. It was sensible, but… difficult, in a way Anthony can’t quite articulate. He doesn’t have a mother country to miss, not the way his parents do. All the same, his name, his skin, his face, have been held against him for as long as he can remember. He’s sensitive to the tensions of race and culture, and even if America’s problems with all that haven’t smashed any of his windows in, Ant can see them pretty plainly.

His first fresh-to-fame personal indulgence was buying up an iguana that caught his eye in a shop window, back in London. They weren’t taking proper care of it, right - all cramped up, with sad, fake vines, wilted lettuce. Couldn’t have that. Said iguana, now known as Dennis, as in, the Menace, now travels alongside the band - frequently creating a bit of a stir in transit. Nobody’s too fond of the idea of transporting live reptiles, as it turns out. Anthony’s turned his apartment in Los Angeles into a free-range reptile habitat for Dennis’s sake, complete with some lovely lush plants he takes diligent care of.

Anthony tries - and largely succeeds - at being the reasonable, sensible, presentable face of the Vale. But if you hit the right buttons, he’ll show you just what sort of British culture he picked up along the Bristol docks. Ant breaks up more fights than he starts, and when he does, he tends to break some faces along the way. Got a mean headbutt, in true hooligan style.

And of course, a PLAYLIST! Here’s some period-rightish tunes that brought Ant to life for me. There’s some appropriately hot-blooded fling type tracks, a lot of British rock of all stripes, some rebel yelling, and bangers to blow the roof off, in truly Violent Vale style.

Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin

Baba O’Riley - The Who

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

Jimmy Jazz - The Clash

Friends of Mine - Buzzcocks

Good Times Roll - The Cars

Hush - Deep Purple

Burning Down the House - Talking Heads

Demolition - The Kinks

Don’t Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra

No More Heroes - The Stranglers

The Night Comes Down - Queen

God Save the Queen - Sex Pistols

Good Times Bad Times - Led Zeppelin

Don’t Mess Me Round - Buzzcocks

Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie

I Know a Girl - The Undertones

Just What I Needed - The Cars

Money - Pink Floyd

Rebel Rebel - David Bowie

My Generation - The Who

Lola - The Kinks

I Told You So - The Undertones

Diamond Dogs - David Bowie

Wasted Life - Stiff Little Fingers

Real Cool Time - The Stooges

You’re All I’ve Got Tonight - The Cars

Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?) - Buzzcocks

Should I Stay Or Should I Go - The Clash

All Day and All of the Night - The Kinks

Keep Yourself Alive - Queen

#accepted

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wildinbritain-blog · 6 years

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How Well Do You Know British Wildlife?

Surprisingly, three out of 10 Britons do not know there is wildlife in Britain. But the larger British Isles are teeming with wildlife including land mammals, birdlife, and marine life. There is also a wonderful variety of small animals and insects including the lovable bumblebee. The good thing is that you can travel to any of the popular wildlife viewing sites in a short time seeing as it is that the UK is not a large country. The diverse landscape is a bonus attraction for the avid tourist. There are marshes, moor, cliffs and beaches to explore while looking for wildlife. All of it here in the UK.

What is some popular wildlife to see in the UK?

• Scottish wildcat

This feline is to be found in Northern England, Wales and Scotland. It is almost indistinguishable from the domestic cat and can crossbreed with it. The numbers are declining because of this diminishing breeding line.

• Pine Marten

This is a kin to weasel, and native to the Lake District. It is a nocturnal hunter and prefers to sleep in underground burrows.

• Red squirrels

This squirrel has ginger fur and taller years than the grey squirrel. The ginger fur changes to a grey shade in winter. These cute furry animals are declining in numbers as they are decimated by squirrel pox from their larger and more numerous kin, the grey squirrel. They number less than 200,000 of them.

• Skomer vole

This rodent is only found on Skomer Island in Wales. It is popular prey for the numerous predator birds on the island.

• Hedgehogs

These rodents are also on the decline due to habitat destruction and changing climates. They numbered over 30 million 50 years ago but now number about a million.

• Turtledoves

These beautiful birds have become very rare to see in the UK have declined in numbers by over 90%. The best time to see them is in the summer.

• Natterjack Toad

It has become very rare to hear this noisy amphibian, remaining only in small numbers in Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

• Slow Worm

This is a legless lizard that closely resembles a snake. It can be found in all parts of the UK.

• Bumblebees

These hairy black and yellow striped bees can be found hovering over flowering plants all over the UK. Unlike the aggressive honey bees, bumblebees make are generally harmless and their gentle buzzing will be heard in many fields, gardens and parks.

Bees in general are a particular passion of mine. I recently became a beekeeper and regularly purchase products from The Humble Bumble as they donate to various bee charities and organizations. I just received a new bee charm from them for my sister which i’m over the moon with!

What are the best places to see wildlife in the UK?

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

The Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands is a land of rare beauty with a variety of wildlife and stunning landscapes. The varied landscape consists of forests, moorlands, mountain, and grass fields. The wildlife to be found here includes pine martens, red squirrels, Scottish wildcats, and golden eagles. There is also a variety of small mammals, rodents and innumerable insects including wasps, ants and bumblebees. Tourists can walk this place on foot in guided tours.

Blakeney Point, Norfolk

This is area is world famous for its attraction as a site to see marine bird life. It is a breeding ground for grey seals with over 2,000 grey seal pups coming to life each year from October to January. This area is part of Blakeney National Nature Reserve. An organized boat trip is the only way to get here during the breeding season.

The Isle of Mull, Scotland

The white-tailed eagle has been re-introduced in the UK on this isle. This is the biggest bird of prey native to the UK. It can be spotted swooping down on fish in the sea or soaring over the forests in search of small prey. Buzzards and golden eagles can also be sighted here. Marine attractions include porpoises and dolphins.

Falmouth, Cornwall

Pendennis point is on this location. This is one of the best spots in the UK to view marine wildlife, with breathtaking sea views as the background. There are also good views of Falmouth Bay and River Mal. It is a good spot for viewing bottlenose and common dolphins. Other marine attractions include shallow swimming sharks, grey seals and a variety of marine birds.

New Forest, Hampshire

This ancient woodland and heath is home to a herd of over 3,000 wild ponies that roam this area. Tourists can also spot all the deer species that are native to the UK. Other attractions include birds and snakes as well as insects including butterflies, dragonflies and bumblebees.

Kielder Forest, Northumberland

This is the home of the photogenic red squirrel whose numbers have dwindled dramatically. This forest is also home to bats, badgers, pipistrelle bats and other small mammals. Tourists can also see an osprey swooping down on these small prey from time to time.

Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland

This rugged coast landscape is a challenge to navigate but offers plenty to see in terms of wildlife. The cliffs are home to agile mountain hares and birds including peregrine falcons, and puffins. There are sharks, Atlantic grey seals and porpoises to be found in the sea. Bird watchers will find an interesting variety of marine birds including razorbills, auks and guillemot heading off to fish in the sea, homing in and heading to breeding grounds.

Shetland and Orkney Islands

These isles in the northernmost point of the UK offer plenty for the tourist if you can get there. The waters off the coast hold killer whales, minke whales, humpback whales, white-sided and white-beaked dolphins. There are also sea otters and a variety of marine birds. Bird watchers will especially find Skara Brae, Noss and Sumburgh areas rich with different bird species. These isles are also interesting archaeological sites.

Gilfach Nature Reserve, Wales

This is a great spot to see otters on the hunt for salmon. They come here every year from October to December to catch easy salmon prey at the waterfalls as the salmon swim upstream. These elusive water predators can also be spotted at other times of the year although it is a bit harder to do so. Early morning and sunset hours are the best for viewing.

Skomer Island

The hugely popular Atlantic Puffin is to be found in good numbers on this island off the coast of Pembrokeshire in western Wales. This is a popular destination with birders who come here for the rich bird life and photo opportunities. Seeing about 70,000 Manx Shearwaters make a landing in the dusk is a phenomenon that is one of the rarest in the world. There are also the photogenic Atlantic puffins who are happy enough to pose for photos as they are well-used to human presence.

Dorset

This is one of the most beautiful inhabited places in the UK. The meadows of Kingcombe are perfectly kept and preserved, with over 200 years of well-maintained fields, hay meadows and hedgerows. All of it is done naturally without pesticides which makes it highly attractive to insects and other small wildlife.

There is plenty to see if you take the time to stroll leisurely through the meadows. There are buzzing bumblebees, numerous scurrying insects and different birds that make a living of these small prey. The soothing landscape holds plenty to see and photograph.

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noritercomco · 3 years

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klbwriting · 7 years

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Preference: Kids

Fandom: Gotham

Note: This was not written by me but the wonderful @may-we-fangirl-again who asked me to post it! Please follow them! They are amazing and I love them!

Oswald Cobblepot:

You and Oswald’s little girl, Scarlett, was about three years old. She was spoiled rotten, but unlike most spoiled children, Scarlett was an angel! She was most definitely a daddy's girl. She was Gotham’s sweetheart being the Mayor’s daughter. She had Oswald’s sparkling eyes and your nose but his jet black hair. Now as any three years, Scarlett did have a very mischievous side to her. She had a thing for getting into sticky yet cute situations. Currently Oswald was pacing about the living room as you sat on the couch watching television. Little Scarlett curled into your side.

“What are you pacing for Ozzy?” You sighed in annoyance.

“This whole Mayor Business is overrated.” He complained as he stopped to look as you. Scarlett moved off your lap as she walked over to her father. She sat on the floor in front of him. Watching his feet move. Her dark brows furrowing at his weird walk. She slowly rose to her feet as Oswald walked into the kitchen with you in tow. What you two didn’t see was Scarlett limping behind her father. Her small frame not being seen as her raven curls bounced in her pigtails. Something shiny caught her eye as her eyes landed on Oswald’s jacket. She looked to Oswald, then the jacket as she ran over to it. She slipped it on with a giggle as she limped back over to the kitchen. Your eyes landed on her as you stifled a giggle.

“What?!” Oswald spun to see Scarlett limping into the room, the coat draped as it slid on the ground. His face softened as he took her in. Oswald was a whole other guy around you and Scarlett. He grinned as she spoke up.

“I’m walking just like daddy! Watch!” She proceeded to limp around the kitchen as you giggled.

“No Ed that isn’t right! I said do this! Not that!” She said in a deep voice as she sternly pointed a finger at no one. Oswald couldn’t help the laugh that made its way out.

“You’re a better Oswald than your dad.” Oswald stated as he picked up the miniature Mayor.

“You’re lucky you’re the cutest Mayor too.” He said as he kissed her forehead as she giggled.

Ed Nygma:

You and Ed had a four year old son, Edward Nygma Junior. He was a mischievous little guy with a knack for getting into trouble, however he picked up his intelligence from his father. He could pass as the miniature version of Ed Nygma. They even had the same glasses. Ed Jr wanted to be like his father to a ‘T’. But don’t let that fool you, he was a momma’s boy at heart. Today Ed had taken the day off, making sure you were working so he could take Eddie out for the day. You had finally gotten home and you quietly opened the door, hearing both Ed’s whisper to each other.

“Remember what to do little guy?” “Yes. I give mommy the flowers and hit her with a good riddle. Right?” “Spot on my boy.” “Boys?! I’m home!” You said as you walked in. Little Ed ran up to you with a flower in his hand.

“Daddy took me to the park today I picked this for you mommy! A-and I have a riddle for you!” He turned to look at his dad who gave him a thumbs up. Little Ed swallowed hard, not wanting to mess up the riddle. “C’mere. Okay...I-It’s made with sugar….You can eat it….it-it tastes very sweet...What is it?” He said as your brows furrowed in fake confusion.

“Hm...I don’t think I know that one baby.” Ed ran to the kitchen table as you followed him with a large smile.

“A cake! Me and daddy baked it today!” He giggled as he pointed to the cake. The light green icing placed sloppily on the top. Arms wrapped around your waist as a kiss was pressed to your head.

“Hello Eddie.” You sighed as you kissed him.

“Hello princess. How was your day?” “Good...tiring.” You said truthfully. He nodded. You felt arms wrap around your legs as you saw Little Eddie bury his head in your side. You were thankful for your little family. Even the little one on the way as Ed rested his large hands on the swollen four month bump.

Jim Gordon:

Charlotte Lynn Gordon was the princess of Gotham. A very sweet little three year old with a heart of pure gold. She was a very polite little girl for being three. Jim was very protective of his little girl, but she had Jim wrapped around her little fingers. Charlotte was little, having been born a tad bit early than expected. You walked into the GCPD with Charlotte attached to your hip. Bullock stood, Charlotte’s godfather.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite Gordon!” “Hello Mister Bullock.” Charlotte smiled shyly. Bullock shook his head. “You’re too polite for Gotham City little Gordon.”

“(Y/n)!” You turned to see Jim walking to you. “What are you doing here?”

“Daddy!” Charlotte giggled as she reached for him. “Mister Bullock said you had the rest of the day off!” Charlotte gave Jim an award winning smile. Her blue eyes she inherited from Jim. Jim sighed with a smile. He knew he couldn’t tell his little girl no even if he had to. She was just so polite!

“Alright princess. Let’s go home.” He said as she covered her ears.

“I’ss so loud in here!” She whined as she buried her head in Jim’s neck. Jim placed his coat around her small body to avoid the incoming criminals that they had just brought in from seeing her. Once the three of you got into the parking lot, he took the jacket off of her.

“All the bad guys gone daddy?”

“All gone baby.” He smiled as he buckled her in. She grinned up as you kissed her cheek. Jim smiled at his two girls with nothing but love in his blue eyes.

“Daddy! Guess what?!”

“What?”

“I love you!” She said as Jim kissed your cheek. “I love you too Charlotte. I love you (Y/n).”

“I love you too Jim.”

“Now who wants ice cream?”

“Yes please!” Charlotte grinned as she grinned. Her brown hair bobbing in it’s small thin fountain. You smiled as Jim snaked his hand into yours. Lifting it and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. He turned the car on and drove to the small diner a block from your apartment.

Jerome Valeska:

The only person crazier than Jerome was his son, six year Finneus. He was the literal carbon copy of his father. You couldn’t complain...they were both your sweethearts. Finneus adopted his father’s psychotic behavior. You could keep up I mean...you were the crazy clown family of Gotham. Jerome would often bring his son on small jobs, like robberies. You drew the line at actually letting Finneus see Jerome killing. But you digress.

“Momma! Look what dad got me today!” Finneus held up the butterfly knife as Jerome laughed maniacally.

“Ask your mother to teach you! She’s a pro!” Jerome said as he came into view. His shirt stained with blood as you groaned.

“You do the laundry this time!” You raised a brow as you carefully took the knife from your struggling son.

“You’re not doing it right honey...like this!” You expertly worked the knife causing your son to go slack jawed.

“Do it again!”

“What do we say?”

“Please.” He begged with big eyes. You did it again and your son let out an innocent giggle. Though you knew this family was far from it.

“Say do you think our new baby will be more into guns, or knives?”

“Oh we’re having another one are we?” You raised a brow. Carrying Finneus was difficult as you had been bedridden half the pregnancy.

“Junior, do you want a brother or sister?!”

“YES! I can teach them how to burn ants with a magnifying glass a-and I can teach them the best places to steal from!” Finneus giggles as you smiled. Jerome glided over to you, licking his lips as your finger traced his scars from the staples. You shook your head.

“Okay...let’s have another one.” You whispered. Nine months later and you gave birth to little Persephone, and your murderous family was complete.

Jervis Tetch:

You and Jervis had a little girl, Aura Jane Tetch. She was five and very small for her age. She was adorable and knew how to use it to her advantage. She was a daddy’s girl, she inherited his big brown eyes and nose and curly wild hair. Currently you were picking up some of her toys as her and Jervis did their nightly reading session. You can almost guess what he was reading to her.

“Who are you?” said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I—I hardly know, Sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have changed several times since then.”

“What do you mean by that?” said the Caterpillar, sternly. “Explain yourself!” Jervis read animatedly, eliciting a giggle from the five year old. You bit your lip as you watched through the crack in the door as your little girl stared up at her dad. She watched him speak, hanging onto every word with innocent eyes.

“Dad?”

“Yes, my little flower?” “Can we read this every night from now on?” She whispered tiredly as she yawned. Her eyes closed as Jervis looked at you with a grin through the crack in the door. He kissed Aura’s forehead.

“Of course we can my little flower. Are you tired?”

“No…’f course not dad.” She whispered as she pointed to the page. “Keep….keep reading…” She yawned. Jervis shook his head.

“Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might…” “Have the wish I wish tonight.” Aura finished tiredly as Jervis tucked her into bed.

“My darling.” Jervis said as he exited her room. “Let’s have another starling.” He grinned.

Alfred Pennyworth:

You and Alfred were delighted with a little boy, Cedric Arlo Pennyworth. He was a true gentlemen at the age of six. He had excellent manners and despite the obvious age difference, got along great with ‘Master Bruce.’. You were beyond thankful that he has grown the way he has. He looked like his father and even gained the British accent. Currently you were gathering food for dinner till you saw little Cedric run into the kitchen with Bruce.

“Hide us mum!” He whisper shouted as he ran to the small cupboard as Bruce went into the taller one adjacent from where Cedric hid. You stifled a giggle. Suddenly you heard footsteps.

“Hello love.” Alfred said as he kissed your cheek.

“Hello Alfie.” You smiled as you continued to chop up the potatoes.

“Would you happen to know where Cedric and Master Bruce are?”

“No. Not a clue. Why? Are you looking for them?” You smiled as you paused your cutting for a few seconds. Avoiding contact with Alfred, knowing he’d see straight through your lie. Alfred went to call you out but heard a small clatter from the cupboard that Cedric was in. Alfred playfully glared from you and pushed himself from the counter. He carefully walked over and whipped open the doors as Cedric laughed gleefully.

“Found you little mister!” Alfred said as Cedric crawled from the cupboard. Alfred picked him up and set him on the counter.

“Now...I’m going to ask nicely….where is Master Bruce….”

“I’ll never tell! Never!”

“Not even for ice cream after supper?” “...” Cedric pointed a small finger over to the cupboard where Bruce hid. You giggled as Alfred high fived his son.

“I know you, my best friend Cedric, just did not sell me out for ice cream.” Bruce faked a look of betrayal as you shook your head.

“I’ sorry mister Bruce! But ice cream is ice cream.” Cedric sighed as he hopped off the counter as you leaned down to peck your Cedric’s cheek. He playfully wiped it off as Alfred placed one on you and Cedric cheeks.

Harvey Bullock:

You and Harvey were the proud parents of a little four year old girl named Ella Grace Bullock. She had your eyes but the rest was all Harvey. She was quite quiet for being Harvey’s kid around new people. But she was a very kind little girl. She had quite the imagination. Currently Jim Gordon was over, who you could tell she had a small crush on.

“Hello Mister Jim! Hi dad!” She greeted as you came in from picking her up. She ran into her fathers arms as he scooped her up. Sitting in his chair as he set his drink down.

“Hello little Ella!” Jim smiled at the innocent child.

“Hello my beautiful sunshine.” Harvey smiled as he hugged the little girl.

“Today we colored!” She said as she ran to you. You handed her the picture and perched herself back on her dad’s lap.

“Look! That’s you putting the bad guys away with Mister Jim!” She said as she then pointed to two stick figures, one with a hat and the other with brown hair.

“And there is me and mommy watching you make Gotham safer! See we have ice cream!” She gushed at her artwork with a smile.

“My little girl is an artist!” See that Jim!” Harvey smiled proudly as he leaned up to kiss your cheek. Slyly giving your butt a little swat. You gasped as he chuckled.

“That’s a pretty drawing there Ella Grace.” Jim smiled. Ella blushed as you giggled.

“T-Thank you Mister Jim.” Harvey picked up on his daughter’s innocent crush. He kissed his daughter’s cheek as he set her on the ground.

“Daddy?” “Yes ladybug?” “Can Jim stay for dinner? And color with me!?” “That’s a question for the man himself.” He said as Jim nodded. She squealed as she raced to get her coloring book and crayons. Harvey walked over to you.

“You pic on that too sweetie?” He asked as he acknowledged the child’s crush.

“You bet.” You smiled as you leaned up to kiss his lips. He sighed.

“It’s only going to get worse isn’t it honey?”

“Oh...you bet.” You smiled as he groaned.

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instantdeerlover · 4 years

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The Best Things We Ate This Week (5) added to Google Docs

The Best Things We Ate This Week (5)

London restaurants are back, baby. Well, kind of. Some of them are anyway. And the great thing about restaurants reopening is it means that with each day there are more and more things for you to eat. The bad thing about that is, after three months alone with your fridge, all those options can feel pretty overwhelming. That’s why we’re highlighting the best dishes we’ve had recently, to point you in the right direction. Not ready to eat out just yet? Don’t worry, we’ll be shouting out our favourite delivery and collection options too.

If you’ve eaten something great recently that you want to share with our team, send us an email at [email protected]. Now, onto the dishes.

Sorry—looks like you screwed up that email address

INFATUATION NEWSLETTER Get our newest guides & reviews first,

plus more restaurant intel you won't find anywhere else. ATL ATX BOS CHI LDN LA MIA NYC PHL SF SEA DC Subscribe Smart move. Excellent information will arrive in your inbox soon. Do you have friends and family who also eat food? Enter their emails below and we’ll make sure they’re eating well. (Don’t worry, we won’t subscribe them to our newsletter - they can do that themselves.) Help Your Friends No Thanks Well done. You’re a good person. All good. We still like you. Want to quickly find restaurants on the go? Download The Infatuation app. THE DISHES Jake Missing The Drapers Arms ££££ 44 Barnsbury St

Tea smoked salmon, pickled cucumber, dill, crème fraiche & soda bread

“I come from a family of sharers. More food than feelings, but often both around the dinner table. Entrées with a side of empathy. When we go out to eat it’s a bite for a bite. Each course is treated like a Strictly Come Dancing contestant awaiting its score from the judges, and the other night, at The Drapers Arms, it was my Mum’s salmon that did the sexiest dance. As a natural-born martyr, she made everyone up a bite before having one herself - a rip of soda bread, a dollop of crème fraiche, a wedge of silky smoked salmon, and a dilly pickle for good measure. It waltzed into my mouth. The judges were unanimous: a perfect 10 for the tea smoked salmon.”

- Jake Missing, Staff Writer

Bright £ £ £ £ Modern European in Hackney ££££ 1 Westgate Street

Mortadella sandwich

“As of 11am on the morning of Friday, 14 August, there are no official FCO advisories that prohibit going to Italy. However I don’t feel all that great about unnecessary travel this year. Maybe that’s why the mortadella sandwich at Bright was such a revelation. Paired with an Americano or two, this springy, ham-filled focaccia is a wholly transportive experience. If I’d closed my eyes, I could easily have been in Bologna. Probably. Either way, along with the rest of Bright’s bar menu, it makes their London Fields terrace one of the best spots in town for an aperitivo.”

- Oliver Feldman, Senior Editor

Kiss The Koala ££££ priory

Friarielli hash

“A pile of bite-sized potato chunks, mixed with sautéed friarielli, and topped off with a fried duck egg. It’s something I could probably - on a very, very good day - muster a passable version of at home. However, this was the first proper plate of food I’ve had in (or just outside) a restaurant since early March. And it was glorious. Don’t let that sound like I’m downplaying it though. Kiss The Koala is a newish café and brunch spot near Alexandra Palace and they hit the sweet-spot of salty, soft, and crunchy Sunday morning eating for me with this. (n.b. the portion of buttermilk fried chicken in the picture above is totally optional, though also advisable.)”

- Oliver Feldman, Senior Editor

Jake Missing Quo Vadis £ £ £ £ British in Soho ££££ 26-29 Dean St

Tomato salad

“The phrase ‘too hot to eat’ isn’t one I really understand. Nobody is ever too hot to eat, you’re just too hot to eat certain things. Maybe it’s because of our climate. We know the cold months better than the hot. So when a 30-odd degree-er comes around, everyone panics. What do we eat? Chilled baked beans? An ice cube dipped in gravy? Sod it, let’s just drink instead. Or, alternatively, eat and drink. Outside. On Frith Street. At Quo Vadis. With a cold beer or a glass of something crispy. All you need then is a plate of sweet tomatoes bathing in oil, topped with finely chopped red onion, and a healthy turn of salt and pepper. It, with bread, is all I want this summer.”

- Jake Missing, Staff Writer

Madame Pigg ££££ 480 Kingsland Road

Tempura courgette flower, ricotta, and blackberries

“What you have here is what I, a seasoned professional, like to call a shit tonne of textures. Am I this generation’s AA Gill? Definitely. But in all seriousness, this dish is summer on a plate. There’s plenty of crunch and creaminess, and the sharpness from the blackberries will remind you that, yes, you absolutely should have another glass of wine.”

- Heidi Lauth Beasley, Staff Writer

MAP Maison ££££ 321 Kingsland Road

Quetzacoalt cocktail

We ran (walked) in from the rain (it wasn’t raining), desperately in search of sanctuary, safety and maybe, like, a cosmo or something. In a classic game of ‘guess where might still be open’ I came across Map Maison on the Kingsland Road and had a series of excellent cocktails. The gin-heavy Columbia Road cocktail is super fresh, but this tequila number was my favourite. Newsflash: fig liqueur is excellent with fresh lemon and pomegranate.”

- Heidi Lauth Beasley, Staff Writer

Monmouth Coffee The Borough £ £ £ £ Cafe/Bakery in London Bridge ££££ 2 Park Street, London SE1 9AB, Southwark

Iced filter coffee

“I’m an aspiring coffee nerd. There. I’ve said it. And I really don’t care if you’re not okay with it. I’ve got all the gear: a grinder, scales, one of those gooseneck kettles, elaborate glassware that I spend half my life trying to keep clean… and I have all of this because last autumn I got hooked on the iced coffee at Walden Woods in Kyoto. It was an instant top five* and I’ve been trying to recreate it ever since. Sadly, even the life-changing ice-making technique of Infatuation NYC Senior Staff Writer and resident cocktail expert, Bryan Kim, plus the unusual abundance of time 2020 has offered up hasn’t helped me get it right. Monmouth’s iced filter coffee however nails it. It might just be the best tasting, most nuanced cup of coffee I’ve ever had in London, and I’m not just saying that because Thursday was my first coffee outing since early March.”

- Oliver Feldman, Senior Editor

*”in case you’re interested, the others include an iced almond-macadamia milk latte from Go Get ’Em Tiger in LA, a very hot petrol station coffee somewhere in Oregon on a very cold morning in October 2016, and, a little closer to home, the nitro at Climpson’s.”

Jake Missing Pollo Feliz ££££ 13-23 Westgate St

Quesadillas

“The other day I was feeling a bit blue, and that tends to lead me to eating something beige. Walking home and maybe subconsciously, but probably not, my brain took me to Pollo Feliz in Netil Market. Having just eaten a bagel (note: beige), I wasn’t that hungry but also, I can always eat. Their quesadillas are just beans and cheese. Gooey and soft, packed between handmade wheat-flour, pork-fat tortillas. They’re simultaneously rich and light, and I’d eaten both before I crossed the road”.

- Jake Missing, Staff Writer

Mac And Wild £ £ £ £ British in City ££££ 9A Devonshire Square

Deep-fried Mars Bar sundae

“I have a confession - I don’t know why Hot Priest never magically appears when I say this - I had never eaten a deep-fried Mars bar before my recent trip to Mac and Wild. There, I said it. But happily for me, but not my arteries, I am going to be eating a lot more if they all taste this good. I have a suspicion the sheer glory of this dessert was also down to the ice cream and whisky-infused toffee sauce. All in all, a sweet treat for the ages.”

- Heidi Lauth Beasley, Staff Writer

Coya London ££££ 118 Piccadilly

Crab, tuna, and salmon tacos

“London is home to a lot of things: double-decker buses, overly confident pigeons, and people who pretend they don’t watch Love Island. But decent tacos isn’t one of them, which is why I was so excited about the tacos at Peruvian spot Coya. I had the tuna, crab, and salmon. The crab tacos are the tell-you-I-love-you-on-the-first-date kind of good, but the tuna and salmon are also pretty great. Just get them all.”

- Rianne Shlebak, Editorial Assistant

Jake Missing The Good Egg £ £ £ £ Middle Eastern in Stoke Newington ££££ 93 Church St

Lox & cream cheese bagel

“A few years ago, I tried to get takeaway from The Good Egg. They didn’t offer this, so I was rejected, but a stranger in the queue told me I smelled nice. Location aside, this story isn’t at all related to the lox and cream cheese Montreal bagel I had the other day. Less a slice of pastrami-smoked trout so much as a wedge hacked off, the bagel had some solid schmear going on, and a very welcome handful of capers. The sesame Montreal bagel, said to be denser, was the perfect vehicle.”

- Jake Missing, Staff Writer

OMBRA ££££ 1 Vyner St

The park picnic for two

“Look, I rarely picnic. If I’ve learnt anything from the picnics of my youth it’s that grass stains suck and the only creature on planet Earth that has the same determination and inner strength as Beyoncé is the common ant. Well, rejoice my fellow picnic pessimists, because Ombra’s park picnic for two has made the whole thing pretty lovely. For 25 quid, you get focaccia, salami, burrata, and more - but the DIY sandwich situation is the real winner of the lot.”

- Heidi Lauth Beasley, Staff Writer

Mamasons ££££ 32 Newport Court

The bilog

“Hi my name is Rianne, and I’m an ice-cream addict. So much so that I decided the perfect time to try this Filipino spot, that I’d been wanting to visit for months, was on a rainy Sunday. I ordered a bilog (a milk bun filled with ice-cream) and went with the Milo flavour (yes, the chocolate powder). It was basically like eating a pancake filled with ice-cream, what’s not to like?”

- Rianne Shlebak, Editorial Assistant

Xi'an Impression £ £ £ £ Chinese in Highbury ££££ 117 Benwell Rd

Beef biang biang noodles

“If I was playing a game of word association and someone said ‘soulmate’, my instant, brain-snap reaction would be shouting ‘liangpi noodles’. You see, we are very much an item, me and Xi’an’s traditional coldskin. But this week I went rogue and ordered the hand-pulled biang biang noodles instead. They travelled well, the noodles were just the right amount of chewy, and the beef smelt so good that my flatmate pulled the old meerkat air-sniff move when they arrived. Officially my mistress.”

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deadcactuswalking · 6 years

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BLAST TO THE PAST: Reviewing the UK Top 40 from 27th May, 1981

I’mma try something different.

Top 10

So, steady at the top spot is the classic “Stand and Deliver” by Adam and the Ants, the first of the six consecutive non-moving songs. Yep, that’s right, the top ten was just as stagnant in 1981 as it is in 2018. Joy.

“You Drive Me Crazy” by Shakin’ Stevens is not shaking up at all, still at the runner-up spot from last week.

Now here’s something interesting: Starsound. They were a Dutch cover band who had extreme success covering pop songs in little disco melodies, one of which, “Stars on 45” is at number-three here.

At number-four, we have “Chequered Love” by Kim Wilde.

At number-five, we have “Ossie’s Dream (Spurs are on the Way to Wembley)” by Chas & Dave and... the Tottenham-Hotspur 1981 FA Cup finals squad. Football fever was really alive in the 80s, huh?

We also have “Swords of a Thousand Men” by Tenpole Tudor staying in the sixth spot.

Jumping up 16 spots, however, is number-seven, Smokey Robinson’s “Being with You”.

That pulled off REO Speedwagon’s “Keep on Loving You” from its prior space as it ventures down to number-eight.

Also up back into the top 10 is “I Want to be Free” by Toyah, up four spaces to number-nine.

And finally, we have “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes, still at number-ten.

Climbers

We do have a few big climbers this week, with “How ‘bout Us” by Champaign leaping 17 spaces up to #11, as well as “Don’t Let it Pass You By” / “Don’t Slow Down” by UB40 going up 19 spots to #17, with “Ain’t No Stopping” by Enigma up 15 spots to #18. “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis is up nine spots to #25, also, but we do have quite a few fallers as well.

Fallers

“Grey Day” by Madness is down seven spots to #15, as is “When He Shines” by Sheena Easton to #19. “Chi Mai (Theme from Life and Times of David Lloyd George)” has landed 11 spaces down to #20, while “Al No Corrida (I-No-Ko-Ree-Da)” by Quincy Jones is down eight to #22, “Making Your Mind Up” by Bucks Fizz is down 10 to #26, the Killers Live EP by Thin Lizzy is down eight to #27, “Only Crying” by Keith Marshall is down 12 to #29, “Drowing” / “All Out to Get You” by the Beat is down six to #31, “Is Vic There?” by Department S is down seven to #33, “Can’t Get Enough of You” by Eddy Grant is down 11 to #35, “Can You Feel It” by the Jacksons is down 12 to #39 and “Good Thing Going (We’ve Got a Good Thing Going)” by Sugar Minott is down 11 to #40.

Dropouts

Okay, so, obviously, we have limited info on these charts. We don’t know all of the songs that dropped out, however we do have some of them. These include “Attention to Me” by the Nolans from #20, “Bermuda Triangle” by Barry Manilow from #30, “Is that Love” by Squeeze from #40, “Muscle Bound” / “Glow” by Spandau Ballet from #22, “Pocket Calculator” by Kraftwerk from #39, “Don’t Break My Heart Again” by Whitesnake from #31 and “Night Games” by Graham Bonnet from #33. The reason for this absolute massacre in the fallers and dropouts has an easy culprit: the avalanche of new (and maybe returning – again, we don’t know) entries to the top 40, which we will start to review right now.

NEW ARRIVALS (and/or returning entries)

#34 – “Just the Two of Us” – Grover Washington, Jr.

Yep, you read that right – this is the absolute classic “Just the Two of Us”, the intimate funky jazz track that will have much more of a legacy than its Will Smith remake. Just listen to that iconic lead-in piano melody and that delightful strumming of the guitar, providing a perfect backdrop for Washington’s deeper falsetto croon, definitely a lot more stable than a lot of his competitors at the time. Then that beautiful, borderline iconic hook comes in, with that strong bassline and at the final chorus, a choir and some damn impressive cowbell – seriously, can these be used more often? Before the song ends, we have a fantastic climax with choir vocals and a steadily increasing speed pattern in the drums all being the assistance to a grand saxophone solo. The best thing about this track is that despite how sensual it may sound, it is not about sex at all. It is instead about true love, and how there’s no point in being sad or crying. Nothing will come out of it in the end, and if you persevere, you could make anything work. “Just the two of us, we can make it if we try.” I’d say I recommend this, but you’ve heard this.

#32 – “Spellbound” – Siouxsie and the Banshees

A lot of the songs in this new series will be ones I’ve never actually heard before, or have only passively heard once or twice, so it’s nice that I get to hear artists I’ve always heard about but never really sat down and listened to, one of which would be Siouxsie and the Banshees, female-lead post-punk group formed in the late 70s. Now, I love my classic alternative rock, so you’d imagine I’d be all over this, right?

Yes, yes, I am. What, did you think that was a fake out? I love this guitar riff, especially when it’s surrounded by the haunting synths and a... tambourine from the sounds of it, before Siouxsie starts to sing excellently in the intro, prior to a sudden kick to a more upbeat track, with some great strumming and a steady, albeit blocky, drum beat that Siouxsie rides on excellently. Not to mention how catchy and surprisingly rushed the whole thing is, with its abrupt ending. Did it deserve to get the Banshees’ guitarist into Mojo’s 100 greatest guitarists of all time list, like it did? Hell, yes, the guitar work is absolutely fantastic here. Great track, that will probably be in rotation for me for a long time. You could say I’m spellbound by how I’ve been missing out on them... yeah, sorry.

#30 – “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” – Coast to Coast

So, “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” has been performed by many people, and I don’t care for any of the others here. Will British group act Coast to Coast finally show me how well-written this song is and how elegantly-composed... nah, let’s quit the act. I can’t take any song with “broomstick” in the title seriously, in all honesty, and I don’t think anybody else did, because the damn thing’s impossible to find on Spotify. Hence, I had to resort to YouTube, and yeah, this was not worth the effort it needed to find it. It has a solid guitar riff – mostly because it’s a cover – and everyone performs decently except that singer with no range at all, which wouldn’t be needed if he was so obviously trying to impress us. This is a clumsy effort at retreading their last hit, with was also a classic cover. This is just kind of nondescript, actually. Skip it.

#28 – “More than in Love” – Kate Robbins and Beyond

This is a magically smooth song. With its subtle acoustic guitar strumming, gentle synth melodies and grand horn arrangements that make a lovestruck ballad seem so much more full of life than it has any right to be, you can tell that this isn’t just another soppy and soft 80s cheese-fest like the later years in the decade would offer. Nope, with the choir backing up Kate Robbins’ wide range and A-game delivery as well as just perfectly-fitting vocals overall, this is funnily enough effortless in how much more effort it puts in than other pop ballads. Just listen to the synth tones in the bridge while the choir sings your hearts out. It’s a damn good ballad that I did not expect, especially since I don’t know how this Beyond guy is. Is that the choir? If so, that’s a pretty uneven duet, since Robbins runs away with this majestic track.

#24 – “One Day in Your Life” – Michael Jackson

Now, I like soul. I like ballads. I like MJ, he’s one of the greatest period... but, man, this is dreary and boring. Wow, that sure is a Latin-inflected guitar melody and some pretty nice notes being played, with an incredibly uninteresting string-synth – nobody’s being fooled here – backing up Michael here on the weaksauce hook. His performance is okay, but is ridden with problems I have with young Michael, including over-singing and simply not having much natural charisma. I’m pretty sad that this is the first time I talk about the King of Pop on here, saying that his song sucks, but it sure does, so I’m sorry, MJ, but your song’s bad – albeit mostly because of the production. Oh, and it’s also way too long for that matter. This would be nowhere near as bad if chopped in half.

#23 – “Will You?” – Hazel O’Connor

Who? What? Where? When? Why?

Those were the questions I started and ended the song asking, because I’m still unsure if this is monotonous or one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Those horns and the steady drum beat support the guitar to make a smooth new wave beat with an urban tinge, while O’Connor sings about spilling tea – “oh, silly me”. Apart from questionable lyrics, this is just kind of a bore for all of the five minutes it goes on for, even if it does develop with some interesting instrumentation and hell, experimentation. If this was two minutes, I’d argue it’s a masterpiece, but with an already repetitive hook and beat, it just can’t hold its own. The worst thing is that there’s a perfect place for it to finish at 2:36, but it starts back up again for some ungodly reason. Just... go away, I like the solo but come on, let the song end. We don’t need it to be this long, and I’m surprised that at its length it didn’t flop entirely, but apparently this got a ton of radio play somehow, with all its quirks and lack of normal construction. This may grow on me, but for now, this is a bit of a sleeper that never hits.

#13 – “All Those Years Ago” – George Harrison

This bassline and guitar melody in the intro isn’t really regarded as an iconic moment in music history, but it definitely should be. Those few notes pack a whole lot of punch, especially when packed by that oddly menacing synth, before George Harrison comes in and uses those elements to make a damn catchy song somewhat reminiscent of an 80s take on Beatles psychedelia, with smooth vocals, a keyboard solo and some beautiful choir backing. It experiments quite a lot with off-beat pitch-shifted vocals as well as guitar licks coming out of bloody nowhere, but it makes a great pop tune throughout all of the chaos, perfectly constructing it into a LEGO tower that will never fall – a timeless achievement that will hopefully be recognised as a solo Beatles highlight at some point, because this is one of my personal favourites. Yes, of course, it’s recommended, it’s a classic.

Conclusion

So, Worst of the Week is easy – that goes to “One Day in Your Life” by Micheal Jackson, with Dishonourable Mention for “Let’s Jump the Broomstick” by Coast to Coast. Best of the Week is definitely more difficult though, however I think “All Those Years Ago” by George Harrison pips everything else at the post, with a tied Honourable Mention going to “Spellbound” and “Just the Two of Us”. I have no clue what will happen next time, so Reviewing the Charts tomorrow, I hope. See ya!

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alicejodric-blog · 6 years

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Australia - Kangaroo Island Possums, bandicoots, ant-eaters and platypus What it was that drove then away is a mystery but the island remained uninhabited until the British naval explorer Matthew Flinders called here in 1802. There may not have been any people but there were plenty of marsupials. The hungry sailors feasted on roasted kangaroo meat and Flinders showed his appreciation by naming the place Kangaroo Island. South Australia, Kangaroo Island - Marsupial Paradise There still are plenty of marsupials here: grey kangaroo, wallabies, bandicoots and possums are common. You’ll also find koalas and platypus and colonies of fur seals and sea lions. Unlike the rest of the country, there are no dingoes, foxes or rabbits on Kangaroo Island - a reason why it is one of the best places in Australia to view wildlife. There are people here too, although not many. This is a large island - a hundred miles long and up to thirty-five miles wide with only about four thousand inhabitants. More than half of the island has never been cleared and the bush is what the whole of southern Australia would have looked like to the first European settlers. South Australia, Kangaroo Island - Take a tour Kangaroo Island is a beautiful, peaceful place just a half-hour flight from Adelaide. There is no public transport and the only way to get around is by car or to take a tour . A combination of these two would be the best way to do it. There are a number of car-hire places on the island. After the flight from Adelaide to Kingscote, the main town, you will be met by a licensed guide with a comfortable air-conditioned 4WD. One of the advantages of taking a tour before exploring on your own is that you get a taste of driving Kangaroo Island style. There are a couple of good bitumen roads but most are unsealed, with a loose gravel surface. You have to get used to driving on them - which is slower than you would on a paved road. But there’s so much to stop and look at in the bush that driving fast is the last thing you’d want to do. Your guide will point out wedge-tailed eagles and exotic birds, as well as strange vegetation - much of which the Aborigines used for food and medicines. And you can do a bit of bush-walking to see how it is possible to survive in this hot dry land by using only what nature provides. South Australia, Kangaroo Island - Flinders Chase National Park On the western end of the island is Flinders Chase National Park with its appropriately named Remarkable Rocks - giant boulders weathered into curious surreal sculptures which change shape constantly as you walk among them and see them from different angles. A great spot for photographs. There’s a unusual lighthouse nearby, carved from limestone, plus two keeper’s cottages which can be rented as holiday homes - but it’s a long way to go to buy a pint of milk. About a mile from the Rocks is wild Cape du Couedic with its colony of New Zealand fur seals. They rest on huge flat rocks below a spectacular archway formed by the pounding sea. Petrified roots of plants that once grew in the sand dunes can still be seen hanging from the roof. South Australia, Kangaroo Island - Get close to the animals Probably the shyest of all the marsupials is the platypus and the place to see them is at the Rocky River Waterhole, north of Cape du Couedic. You have to be patient, and very quiet. Take binoculars with you. You’ll find kangaroos and wallabies peering at you from behind trees and bushes. The most famous part of the island is at Seal Bay Conservation Park where you can walk as close as 16 yards to a breeding colony of rare Australian sea lions. They stretch out sleepily on the open beach, surf in the waves, fight playfully with their young, or simply wander amongst the sand dunes. South Australia, Kangaroo Island - Night viewing One of the most charming animals to be found on the island is the fairy penguin. Harly bigger than a bowling pin and weighing in at about two pounds they can only be seen in the evening after they waddle ashore after a hard day’s fishing. They nest in rocks right at Penneshaw Harbour where the ferries come in from the mainland. Rangers take out tours every night, using torches with red lenses so the light won’t bother the birds. For swimming, one of the best places is at Stokes Bay. To reach it you walk through a natural tunnel in the rocks, just east of the car park emerging at a beautiful long sandy beach. The north coast has many beaches like this. There’s a variety of accommodation on Kangaroo Island, including traditional 19th-century homesteads converted into comfortable B&B’s, country inns, motels and self-contained cottages.

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