June 6th, 2010 by admin
12

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 16)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.

June 5th, 2010 by admin
4

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 15)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.

June 5th, 2010 by admin
2

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 14)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.

June 4th, 2010 by admin
2

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 13)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.

June 4th, 2010 by admin
0

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 12)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.

June 3rd, 2010 by admin
0

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 11)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.

May 31st, 2010 by admin
0

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 10)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.

May 31st, 2010 by admin
0

Dance Like No One is Watching

“Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no one is watching.”   — Satchel Paige

What a great philosophy to travel through life’s journey with! It was interesting to receive this quote in an email as I have told many people “you just need to dance as though no one is watching.” This statement can be taken literally – go out dancing and just let your spirit soar, enjoy yourself, have fun – or, figuratively – dance through life and just let your spirit soar, enjoy yourself, have fun … does it really matter what other’s think? I’m not talking about throwing away all responsibilities (we do live in a real world), but rather about taking time to be or explore who we are. Work on finding a balance. Be true to yourself, don’t live your life to please others. Live to please yourself and others will be pleased. Emotions are infectious; why not spread happiness, joy and love?

Take the time to watch a seagull in flight. Some days, depending on the weather, they appear to just float, soar and really enjoy themselves. Watch again on a windy day, they have to work a little harder to get where they’re going.  Notice how when the weather gets stormy, they land and just hang out for a while. Here’s a quote from “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach:  “Seagulls, as you know, never falter, never stall. To stall in the air is for them disgrace and it is dishonor.  But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed, stretching his wings again in the trembling hard curve – slowing, slowing, and stalling once more – was no ordinary bird.” Next time you get to a stormy day, read this book again as an adult. Everyday brings something new; learn to notice something new each day. Life will always be filled with challenges, make the best of them. Enjoy life, be happy. Go with the flow.

As we learn to “work like you don’t need money”, our  jobs become less of a burden or struggle. Isn’t life more pleasurable when you are doing something you enjoy rather than something you “have to”? Look upon work as something rewarding. Money isn’t everything. Take pride in your tasks, be the best you can at what you do. Smile more.  Try this for a couple of days; watch your job transform into something more enjoyable. Chances are, more money will also come your way. Just imagine the difference in tips for a waiter/waitress who smiles and makes their job more enjoyable compared to the person that really doesn’t want to be there. Or the possible job promotions when you put your best foot forward.  

Now, the tough part – “love like you’ve never been hurt”. Everyone is unique, every relationship is unique. Give that person every opportunity; don’t compare them or limit the relationship because of fears from the past. Learn from the past. Release yourself from the past. Live the present moment. Don’t look back and don’t look forward. What you have is right now. It’s guaranteed that if you expect to be hurt, you’ll find it. Openness, understanding and honesty are important aspects to any relationship; they reduce expectations and allow us to “see it as it is”. People change, they grow. Love involves allowing the other to grow, to be who they are – to accept the possibility that you don’t walk the same path anymore. Love may not last forever but if you enjoy every minute you have of it and can look back without regrets … we are all here to live life to it’s fullest, to learn from it’s lessons. Everyone has something to share, be it good or bad. It is up to us to determine how fully we experience living.

So, now let’s tie this philosophy to a health column. By living our lives more in tune with our natural spirit, we add more balance into our lives, our bodies are more at ease – not dis-ease. Stress levels reduce. With a reduction of stress, blood pressures reduce, sleep routines become more restful, digestion problems subside, tension headaches disappear; anxiety, nervousness, and depression reduce … the possibilities are endless. Take the time to enjoy life.

 Time waits for no one …

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.  Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured and far away.” – Henry David Thoreau

May 30th, 2010 by admin
0

Top 10 Iconic Sporting Teams

Sport’s rich and illustrious history has given us many teams which have become true icons of their respective sport.

Much is down due to the image, history and culture that is so strongly associated sports side. Be it the red of Ferrari, the Haka of the All Blacks or the distinctive yellow and red ties of the Marylebone Cricket Club.

Other sides owe their iconic status due to the fact that it took an especially brave man to place a sports spread bet against a side so obviously superior. Los Galácticos of Real Madrid in both the late 1950’s and 1990’s or the all-conquering Dallas Cowboys or Chicago Bulls of the 1990’s could lay claim to such an honour.

Here we look at some of the most iconic teams ever to grace the world of sport – would you have bet against them?

Brazil:
Without doubt the most famous national team in the world. Football is in the soul of all Brazilians, whether learning the game on Copacabana beach or in the slums of Sao Paolo – wearing the yellow jersey is what all young boys dream of. They are the most successful team in World Cup history, winning no less than five times. Almost always starting as favourites on the spread betting market, they last clinched the title in 2002. The combination of the final victory against Germany and Ronaldo winning the Golden Boot saw many punters empty the bookies satchels.

Real Madrid:
Real Madrid is Spain’s best supported team and many repute them to be the biggest football club in the world. They have won the European Cup an astonishing nine times, including a remarkable run of five straight victories between 1956 and 1960. Players like Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane have graced the hallowed Bernabéu turf, but recent successes have been slim on the ground. Los Blancos did however lift their 30th La Liga title in 2007 with many spread betting punters who follow David Beckham celebrating.

Ferrari:
An iconic car and an iconic brand. Enzo Ferrari was the brains behind the operation and in 1929 Scuderia Ferrari was founded in Marinello, northern Italy. Enzo was forced to sell the company to Fiat – another giant of Italian motoring – in 1969, but remained closely associated with the company until his death in 1988. Ferrari is one of the leading teams in Formula 1 and dominated the drivers’ and construction championships’ in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, primarily due to Michael Schumacher – many people’s idea of the greatest ever driver. Spread betting punters regularly made huge sums by buying his total World Championship points which regularly exceeded 100 points. For F1 fans the world over, seeing that distinctive red flash take the chequered flag has always been a familiar sight.

Liverpool:
Widely regarded as the most successful club in English football, Liverpool have won the European Cup five times. Their heyday in the 1970’s and 1980’s involved the reigns of two of the all-time great managers, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. They have won the Championship a record 18 times, but have not lifted the trophy since 1990. New manager Rafael Benitez has spent a great deal of money trying to build a Championship winning side, but his greatest achievement so far came when his side over-turned a 3-0 deficit to beat hot favourites AC Milan in the final of the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005. Online punters could have backed them at massive odds on the spread during the game before they eventually clinched the match in a penalty shoot-out.

Manchester United:
Often thought to be the best supported football club in the world, Manchester United regularly attract sell-out crowds of over 75,000 people, with ticket waiting lists that are the envy of many clubs around the world. They are the current Premier League champions and their victory in 2006/2007 was their 16th League Championship. Sir Alex Ferguson is the current longest serving manager in England, first taking the helm at Old Trafford on 6th November 1986. He forked out over £50million in the transfer market this season and United had been installed as clear favourites for the title before a ball had been kicked.

NY Yankees:
Hailing from The Bronx area of New York City, the New York Yankees have won a total of 26 World Series trophies which makes them the most successful club of all time. The Yankees had been known as the Baltimore Orioles from their conception in 1903, but it wasn’t until 1913 when they moved to New York that they became referred to as the New York Yankees. Their most famous sons include sporting legends Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio.

LA Lakers:
The LA Lakers began life in Minneapolis as the Minneapolis Lakers before re-locating to Los Angeles in 1960. They have won 14 championships in their history and hold the record for the longest consecutive run of victories, 33. Top players including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal have helped secure their position as the key basketball franchise in the US. However, it was Kobe Bryant who amassed an incredible 81 points in one game against the Toronto Raptors on 22nd January 2006 – the second highest score ever in league history. Spread betting companies all over the world lost huge amounts as Bryant continued scoring at an extraordinary rate.

Dallas Cowboys:
Dallas Cowboys are one of the most famous names in American sport. They share the record with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers for Super Bowl wins with five victories. They hold numerous records for victories and winning streaks, but it was their three Super Bowl wins in four years (1992-1995) that really set them apart from their rivals. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest betting events in world sport and Dallas have cost spread betting bookmakers fortunes over the years.

All Blacks:
Rugby wasn’t introduced to New Zealand until 1860, but it has since become the national sport of the country and the ‘All Blacks’ are the national team of New Zealand. The All Blacks wear black shirts, shorts and socks, and always perform a traditional Mâori dance known as the ‘Haka’ before any international game. This is designed to scare the opposition before going into battle. New Zealand are the clear favourites for the 2008 World Cup and are many punters ideas of a banker.

Barbarians:
Also known as the ‘Baa-Baas’, the Barbarians are the only international rugby team with which players are invited to play for them. Formed iat a meeting in Bradford in 1890, they have no club house, have never played a home game and don’t even have their own socks. The uniform is traditionally black and white hoops with players allowed to wear the socks from their own clubs. The Baa-Baas have always played with an open, fluid style that often leads to high scores and dramatic matches. Gareth Edwards’ try against the All Blacks in 1973 is widely regarded as one of the best of all time.

MCC:
The most famous member’s club in the world of cricket is the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) based at Lords. It is widely believed that a gentleman called Thomas Wood founded the club in the late 18th Century which then became the governing body of cricket both in England and around the world. Members, of which there are over 20,000, have to wear the traditional red and yellow blazer and tie when in attendance at the home of cricket. However, those wanting to join the club will probably have to wait over 18 years before they are accepted.

May 30th, 2010 by admin
1

Trial & Retribution X: Sins Of The Father (part 9)


DCI Roisin O’Connor and DS David Satchell investigate the apparent murder of Emily Harrogate who is found by her parents at the bottom of the cellar stairs. When the parents and their two younger children returned home the previous evening, they assumed she was in, but did not check. The girl’s mother Diedre is a compulsive cleaner and cleaned the house before going to bed. When they found the girl the next morning, the distraught parents moved her to the study. Between the cleaning and moving the body, much of the evidence has been contaminated. The police suspect however that someone she knew killed her and eventually focus on a teen-aged neighbor, Michael Summerby. Det. Chief Supt. Michael Walker meanwhile works to ensure that a dangerous sociopath isn’t released on parole. He’s also having trouble with his 15-year old son who has become withdrawn and seems to have lost all interest in school. When the boy is arrested, Walker decides to take some time off to help him.