Wednesday, November 30, 2011

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Christmas may be many things
or it may be a few.
For you, the joy
is each new toy;
for me;
it’s watching U.

C – cheer full movements.
H – hugging the god.
R – rainy weather days.
I – tremandous happiness.
S – success in life.
T – thoughtfull year.
M – marry x-mas.
A – adventurous lifestyle.
S – secure your past days.

Im dreaming of white Christmas,
with evry christmas card I write,
May ur dayz b bright,
and May all ur christmases b white.

Happy Christmas

Happy The Thanksgiving Day! - 8 Ways to Stay Thankful in Hard Times

Being thankful is especially valuable in challenging times. Gratitude is actually medically proven to lift our spirits and improve our health. Discover how a little gratitude can create a lot of happiness in our lives.



1. Find What You're Grateful for

The real uncertainty we face about our economic future can make us quite fearful and sad. Locating those things for which we can still be grateful, brings joy even in the face of those challenges without pretending they are not real.


2. Articulate it

Tell a friend or loved one a story about something for which you are grateful. Don’t be surprised to find yourself smiling by the end of that story.


3.There's Always More to be Grateful for

Consider the difference between wealth and value. While material wealth is important, it is not the only source of real value in our lives. We can all celebrate value, even when the material wealth in our lives is taking a beating.


4. Wealth Begins within

An ancient rabbinic teaching reminds us that we are wealthy when we are happy with what we possess.


5.Happiness and Satisfaction are Different

We can want more than we currently have and still be happy with what we've got. Wanting more does not have to get in the way of enjoying what we already have. If it does, we will never have enough.


6. It's All Relative

A person who lives in a $100,000 house in a neighborhood of $75,000 homes experiences living in a mansion. The same house in a neighborhood of $500,000 homes may feel like a hovel.


7. Help yourself by Helping Others

The holidays are a great time to reach out to other people in need. And helping others address their needs is one of the best ways to relieve the anxiety we may feel about our own.


8. We all have Something to Give

No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we can all offer support to those around us. Whether it’s a penny, a dollar, or much more, the act of giving always makes us feel as if we have more than we thought we had.


ps: Dear All here, Happy The Thanksgiving Day!

* Original address of this China gift post: 8 Ways to Stay Thankful in Hard Times

Frills & Thrills First Birthday



365 days, 52 weeks, 12 months...is it one year already?


I am not the ceremonial type, but I think 'mentioning' that today is my first blog birthday doesn't steep too deep into the pool of vanity. My dream of being a fashion designer never materialized, so I figured that those who can't sew, blog. Frills & Thrills sums up the two things I am most passionate about - fashion and writing. Upon seeing my blog for the first time, people who know me personally say "It's so you!" Initially, I had no idea how to regard this overused phrase, but over the year, I've formed a clearer idea of what it means. 


Frills & Thrills is personal extension of who I am. A lover of pink (in refined moderation), an admirer of fashion (from runway to red carpet), the girliest of girls, a devisor of words, and a teller of tales. All this served up with a spark of enthusiasm, a spoonful of sarcasm and a sprinkling of fairy dust from the closets of Vogue. I may only have the smallest bit of space on the World Wide Web, but it is a space that's I am delighted to call my own.


So thank you to my friends and family for your unconditional support and encouragement. I am always elated at receiving your calls, emails or smses about something you've seen and liked here on Frills & Thrills. And most importantly, thanks to you, reading this right now. Even if you've stopped by just once, whether you're in transit to some place else, or if you're a regular reader...I am so thrilled to have you visit this frilly space I call home. I don't like the word 'Follower', because in order to be 'followed', one would have to be a leader. And that I am not. Instead, I consider you to be a good friend with whom I can share my thoughts, views and perceptions on all things style-bound and fashion-able.



Here's to the very first Frills & Thrills birthday! I will now proceed to cut the virtual pink vanilla cake and share a piece with all of you. The best thing about it? No added calories ;)



*Images found via Tumblr & Google Images. Collage created by me.



Silver Whisper e Celebration fazem primeira e única escala do ano.

 
Estiveram terça-feira, em Santos, o Silver Whisper, da italiana Silversea, e o Grand Celebration, da espanhola Iberocruceros. Com entrada prevista para às 7 horas, o Silver Whisper chegou a cidade pouco depois, às 8 horas. O Celebration entrou logo em seguida, com o tempo nublado, definitivamente.
                    Texto e Imagens (©) Copyright Daniel Capella.

Rede Mercure investe R$ 30 milhões em Santos com foco no turismo de negócio

A rede Mercure, líder no segmento midscale da América Latina, anuncia hoje a chegada do primeiro empreendimento em Santos, depois de investir R$ 30 milhões. A rede hoteleira aposta na aceleração do crescimento econômico da região, que recebeu R$ 5 bilhões em investimentos da Petrobrás em 2010, e é hoje a 16ª cidade mais rica do Brasil, com PIB de R$ 24 bilhões.

Com 60 hotéis e 7065 aparta- mentos no Brasil, a rede Mercure aposta no crescimento econômico da região e no mercado de turismo empresarial aquecido para atingir uma ocupação média de 75% no empreendimento santista. O plano é atrair os executivos tanto de negócios como de férias na região.

Para conquistar a maior fatia desse mercado, o Mercure Santos chega com 94 apartamentos, piscina de 40 m², espaço fitness, sauna, além de quatro salas para eventos. O hotel está localizado entre a praia do Gonzaga e a no Boqueirão, próximo à shoppings e a alguns dos principais pontos do roteiro gastronômico e de bares da cidade.

“Estamos sempre atentos às regiões com forte potencial para o turismo empre- sarial. Esse é o caso de Santos, hoje um dos mais importantes pólos de desenvolvimento econômico do Brasil. A bandeira Mercure chega para oferecer à região uma opção única de hospedagem, conforto e lazer”, diz Patrick Vaysse, diretor de operações da marca Mercure para América Latina.

A estratégia de se tornar um dos pontos mais visitados por homens e mulheres de negócios na Baixada Santista passa pelo investimento realizado também no restaurante de cozinha internacional Emes, localizado na cobertura do hotel, com vista única da praia do Gonzaga, na Orla de Santos.

Oriana e Queen Mary 2 no Blohm + Voss

Queen Mary 2
Tanto o Oriana como o QM2 estão em Blohm + Repair em Hamburgo. O Oriana chegou em 16 de novembro e o QM2 em 26 de novembro.

O Oriana vai passar quatro semanas em doca seca para o trabalho de revisão e renovação, incluindo a instalação do chamado "rabo de pato" para melhorar a estabilização do casco no mar. Novas cabines adicionais serão instalados  além da reforma de salas públicas. A área da piscina vai ser modernizada e atualizado com um novo bar e área de lounge.

O trabalho de manutenção também inclui a remoção e revisão dos eixos de propulsão na popa. Os motores, máquinas e tubulação serão revistos ou renovados, bem como os sistemas elétricos e de monitoramento. Os tanques serão esvaziados, limpos e inspecionados. Trabalho de aço menores também serão realizados de acordo com o estaleiro.

É a quinta vez que o QM2 está em Blohm + Voss. O trabalho de revisão e renovação a ser concluído a tempo antes do oitavo aniversário do navio em 2012, inclui a colocação de tapetes novos e substituição de cortinas e colchas. Trabalhos de manutenção abrangente e inspeções, bem como, inspecções por parte da sociedade de classificação serão realizadas. O Queen está programado para deixar o estaleiro em 5 de dezembro.

A reforma compreende o trabalho em todas as cabines, os restaurantes The Queens e Princess Grill, o Pub Golden Lion, o Clube Commodore, o Veuve Clicquot champgne Bar, o Sir Samuel´s, o Canyon Ranch SpaClub, o kids club "The Zone" e os toddlers play area e a Play Zone.

 
Durante a revisão de 10 dias, novos tapetes serão colocados em uma área tão grande como 10 campos de futebol e cerca de 29 km de tecido constituído de mais de 6.000 itens individuais serão organizadas por mais de 1.000 trabalhadores do Blohm + Voss Repair e seus subcontratados . 

Texto (©) Copyright Cruise Industry News.
 Imagem (©) Copyright MeretMarine.

F&F at the British Library

Just had word from F&F towers that the British Library have requested some copies of their releases for its archive. This is probably an everyday thing that happens automatically but it's really nice to know that a copy of the designs done by Pika Pika and those I have done myself will be kept for posterity, as well as some great music! If you fancy some for yourself then there are a few left at the F&F, shop pop over and get your self a pre Christmas treat!

NEVER GIVE UP !!!!!





A winner is not one who never fails...... 
But one who never quits!




At some point or the other in the various journeys we embark on in our lives, we get to a part where we feel like giving up. Sometimes we give up before we even start and other times we give up just before we are about to make that huge break-through that we have been putting so much effort in to achieve.


Believe In Your Dreams

Don’t sell yourself short. In life there are going to be many people who will try to bring you down and tell you what you want to achieve is not possible. Don’t let anyone destroy your dreams.


 As Long As You live Anything Is Possible....

The only valid excuse you have to give up is if you are dead. As long as you are alive... and healthy ....and free  you have the choice to keep trying until you finally succeed.


Be Realistic

The chance of mastering something the first time you do it is almost non-existent. Everything takes time to learn and you will make mistakes. Learn from them.




I have compiled this catalogue of reasons why you should never give up and I hope that you will find it before you give up, so that it can inspire you to keep going!


In LIFE, remember that we pass this way only once!


These are  some Real Life Stories... of real peple who never gave up!!


A candidate for a news broadcasters post was rejected by officials since his voice was not fit for a news broadcaster. He was also told that with his obnoxiously long name, he would never be famous. 




He is Amitabh Bacchan. 




















A small boy - the fifth amongst seven siblings of a poor father, was selling newspapers in a small village to earn his living. He was not exceptionally smart at school but was fascinated by religion and rockets. 


The first rocket he built crashed. A missile that he built crashed multiple times and he was made a butt of ridicule. He is the person to have scripted the Space Odyssey of India single-handedly - 


        Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. 






















In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record audition for the executives of the Decca recording Company. The executives were not impressed.While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out." 
 The group was called The Beatles


In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modelling Agency told modelling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married."
 She went on and became...........Marilyn Monroe. 






















In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, Fired a singer after one performance. He told him, "You ain't goin' nowhere....son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck." 


He went on to become Elvis Presley. 




When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with calls from potential backers. After making a demonstration call,President Rutherford Hayes said, "That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to see one of them?" 










When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process." 


 In the 1940s, another young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country. They all turned him down. In 1947, after 7 long years of rejections, he finally got a tiny company in Rochester, NY, the Haloid company, to purchase the rights to his invention -- an electrostatic paper-copying process. 


Haloid became Xerox Corporation


A little girl - the 20th of 22 children, was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. 


By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. 


For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. 




Eventually this little girl - Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals. 




A school teacher scolded a boy for not paying attention to his mathematics and for not being able to solve simple problems. She told him that you would not become anybody in life. 


The boy was Albert Einstein. 




Lance was diagnosed with serious cancer that had spread throughout his entire body. He had cancer cells the size of golf balls in his lungs. Despite all odds he overcame the cancer and set out to win the Tour de France 6 Consecutive years in a row.




That is Lance Armstrong


 Lastly but definitely not the least....The Nelson Mandela..... He Campaigned for justice and freedom in his South Africa. Spent 20 years in jail for his opposition to apartheid. On release he healed the wounds of apartheid by his magnanimous attitude toward his former political enemies.


The Moral of the above Stories: 


Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet comfoert......Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened....... vision cleared.........ambition inspired and success achieved. 


We  gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you cannot do. And remember, the finest steel gets sent through the hottest furnace. 


Let The Haters Hate

There will always be haters. There will always be plenty of naysayers  and people who try to tear us down. Don’t pay attention to them and don’t take what they say to heart. Let the haters hate and you keep believing in yourself.


You Deserve To Be Happy

Don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to have success. Keep that mindset and never give up until you reach your destination!


 Inspire Others

Be an inspiration to others by refusing to give up. Who knows what someone else can achieve because you never gave up and in turn inspired them not to give up.


You Are So Close

Often when you feel like you want to give up and you are about to give up you are so close to making a huge break-thru. .... at any given time we may be  just a heartbeat away from success.




 "Failure is the pillar of success......They are our stepping stone!" 


"Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win."




























The Artist

I finally got into gear and went to the cinema last night to see The Artist, I have been looking forward to this sine I came across the poster in the street but i never thought it would be as rich and as well executed as it was. 
Read more »

Short Breaks With Star Clippers

Not enough time for a full week’s holiday? Tall ship specialist Star Clippers has launched a series of short-break holidays for 2012, with a chance to experience life on board an elegant clipper ship and explore some of Europe’s most beautiful and romantic ports, as well as themed 'extras'.


Mediterranean Treasures, April 23, 2012
Experience the joys of daily yoga and meditation on this well-being themed voyage from Malaga to Rome on the 227-passenger Royal Clipper. Experienced yoga teacher Christel Vollmer, back on board by popular demand, will offer daily classes on the warm teak decks, while as usual, guests can follow a healthy or vegetarian diet if they wish. The ship sails from Malaga to Palma, Mallorca and Mahon in Menorca and the voyage includes two days at sea for maximum relaxation in the spring sunshine. From £999 per person including full board on the ship, all yoga classes, flights and transfers.

Sail from Southampton, May 5, 2012
Join the head-turning Star Flyer on her maiden call to Southampton for a five-night sailing to Hamburg, via Amsterdam, with two days at sea. The ship, with its four masts and graceful lines, is bound to attract a lot of attention in two such important seafaring cities. This package includes five nights’ car parking in Southampton; five nights’ full board on the ship, flight from Hamburg to London and transfer back to Southampton, f
rom £1,045 per person.

A Taste of Italy, departing June 4, 2012
Make the most of Britain’s extra bank holiday for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and take to the seas on Royal Clipper on this four-night sailing from Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. The five-night break includes one night in the heart of Rome at the four-star Marcella Royal Hotel, with a welcome bottle of wine and a tour of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. The following day, Royal Clipper sails to Bonifacio in Corsica; Sardinia’s ultra-glamorous Costa Smeralda; pretty Portoferraio in Elba; and back to Civitavecchia. From £1,275 per person, including B&B accommodation in Rome, full board on the ship, flights and transfers.

Venetian Romance, departing July 27, 2012
Enjoy an evening in Venice after the crowds have departed, staying the night before your cruise at the four-star superior Liassidi Palace Hotel, within walking distance of the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square. The holiday includes entrance to the Doge’s Palace and a bottle of wine on arrival. Then, sail in style along the spectacular Giudecca Canal on the magnificent, four-masted Star Clipper, heading out across the lagoon and into the Adriatic, for a four-night adventure exploring some of Croatia’s most fashionable anchorages: Mali Losinj, Hvar and Rovinj. From £1,195 per person, including B&B accommodation in Venice, full board on the ship, flights and transfers.

For more information and booking offers, use this link to visit luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Last.FM listening post

Here's last week's top picks music lovers!

Top weekly tracks:


Top weekly artists:


Overall top tracks:


Overall top artists:

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Aap Hame Rulado Hame Gam Nahi
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Smaj Lena Is Duniya Me Hum Nahi…

Dil Ka Dard Jab Panno Par Aa Jata Hai
Ek Aansu B Dariya Ban Jata Hai
Dil K Tutne Ki Aawaz Bhi Nahi Aur
Sara Dard GAZAL Ban Jata Hai…
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Udasiyo Pe Mai Un Sabka Hisab Kar Duga
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Tonight's Special, Turkey and Dumplings

Adam's special for the evening.

Turkey and Dumplings, served over brown rice.


Who Wore Proenza Schouler Better?

Who Wore It Better?
Proenza Schouler Fall 2011 Dress


I first saw this kaleidoscopic jigsaw print Proenza Schouler dress on 6 June this year, when Liv Tyler wore it to the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City. Liv represented the Proenza Schouler fashion brand at the awards show, where the team took home the award for 'Womenswear Designer of the Year'. Five months later, style darling Olivia Palermo was spotted on the streets of NYC wearing the same dress. It's interesting to see that Olivia would wear this dress on a random day out, while Liv savoured it for the red carpet.


Olivia Palermo takes a moment to pose in the puzzle print halter neck dress. She wore a long black coat over it, with ankle boots by Bakers Flare.
Liv Tyler wore the belted dress as it was seen on the catwalk. The folded detail on the front of the dress is more visible on her. She carried a black clutch and stood in strappy heels, both by Proenza Schouler.
Canadian model Kelsey van Mook walked the runway in the multicoloured silk dress, wearing it with black multi-strap sandals.


I prefer this look on Olivia, simply because of her styling. The print and colours are very bold and I think she simmered it down well with the black coat and boots. What are your thoughts?


Meh day and nightmare journey home, steak and American Horror Story

It was definitely one of those days today. Made my train by the skin of my teeth. The meh feeling definitely continued at work today. On the plus side it was still a fairly productive day and I managed to get lots done.

The journey home was a real nightmare. A slight delay turned into the train getting terminated at Wickford. There was a thirty minute wait for the next train which then got extended due to that one being delayed! The reason for all this chaos.... a guard didn't turn up! It could have taken a lot longer to get home so I guess I should be glad of that but it was still a pain in the butt!

Finally made it home to find a nice cup of tea waiting for me courtesy of Sam.  Things got much better after that as Sam prepared me a very very nice dinner. Steak and chips, YES! Dinner was accompanied by Merlin.

Next up tonight I embarked on a new TV series, American Horror Story. I've read mixed views about it but I tout it was pretty good. It started very well with lots of potential hooks and twists to keep you engaged as the series progresses.

Here's a trailer for American Horror Story to whet your appetite....





Navios e suas transformações!

Antes
(Grand) Costa Voyager
Antes
Depois: Costa (neo)Romantinca
Antes
adrkd.jpg
Depois: Carnival Valor
Imagens (©) Copyright PixelOpa e Sakis Antoniu, Travellers God Buys e Cantieri Navali Mariner, Carnival e Micky Arison.

Costa Introduces Voyager In Red Sea

Costa Cruises has announced the arrival of a new ship in the Costa fleet - the Costa Voyager. She will offer guests 416 cabins in total (accommodating 927 guests), including 16 panoramic suites and 12 suites with private balconies. Relaxation and fun will be guaranteed by three restaurants, four bars, a theatre, wellness centre and gym, treatment rooms, sauna and Turkish bath, swimming pool, disco, shopping centre and children’s club (the Squok Club).

Her arrival enhances the Italian company’s versatile fleet of ships, with a range of dimensions and differing characteristics, offering customers a series of brand new itineraries. More specifically, the technical characteristics of Costa Voyager (the former Olympic Voyager of now-defunct Royal Olympic Cruises, and more recently of Pullmantur) make her especially suitable for cruises to the Red Sea, a relatively new destination for Costa and one that will be offered throughout 2012.

Voyager's first cruise was a 15-day journey from Savona earlier this month and, from December 5 to the end of 2012, she will be offering week-long cruises in the Red Sea, departing on Mondays from Sharm el-Sheikh and calling at Eilat (Israel), Aqaba (Jordan), Safaga and Sokhna (Egypt).

For booking details, be sure to check this link for the UK's leading specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Monday, November 28, 2011

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Santa: Women live a better, longer & peaceful life as compared to men.
Banta: Why?
Santa: Women don't have a wife!

Nurse: Congrats Santa ji, aap papa ban gaye.
Santa: Meri wife ko nahi bolna mein use surprise dunga!


Santa was standing in sun on a hot sunny day.
Banta asked: What are you doing?
Santa: Drying sweat

Bad day, moving plans progressing, Misfits and The Walking Dead

Well today got off to a bad start thanks to some signal problems at Lewisham which added an extra 30 minutes to my travel. I'll be honest and say that work wasn't that great either. Morale is pretty low all round which isn't good.

Back to SWF tonight and after dinner Sophie and I went round to see Charlotte (my landlady) to arrange for Sophie to take over the property when I move to London. So far so good and she will take over the property on 26th December and then I can start making the transition to London. Sam will stay with Sophie in the short term until Toni and I find a new property to move into in London.

Finished off the day catching up with Misfits and then the last two episodes of The Walking Dead. The second series had started to be a bit slow but it has suddenly got interesting again. Now I have to wait until next week, bugger!

MSC Armonia e Grand Mistral retornam a Santos.

Armonia e Mistral escalaram Santos ontem, após mini-cruzeiros pela costa brasileira. Curiosamente, os dois navios são parte da mesma classe, e já foram companheiros de frota. Sim, o Mistral, de 1999, foi inspiração para a construção do então European Stars, em  2001. Ambos foram encomendados pela Festival Cruises, que à época reivindicava o título de maior da Europa, junto a Costa, recém adquirida pela Carnival, e ainda quase "intocada". Do Mistral para o European Stars, hoje Armonia, o projeto sofreu algumas alterações. Foi acrescentado comprimento ao navio, o que consequentemente aumentou sua capacidade e seus atrativos, e um novo deck de suítes, na proa. Outro gêmeo foi posteriormente encomendado, o European Vision, hoje MSC Sinfonia. Porém, os gastos exagerados com a construção dos três navios, fizeram a Festival declarar falência em 2004. Na época, a MSC que já construía uma nova evolução dos gêmeos, o MSC Lirica, comprou os dois gêmeos mais novos do Mistral, optando por deixar este ao relento, sem maiores explicações ou motivos. Mais tarde, o Mistral, renomeado Grand Mistral, passou a operar para a Iberojet, que mais tarde viria a ser a Ibero Cruzeiros.
 Ontem eles chegaram por volta das 7 horas da manhã, e partiram entre as 18 e 19 horas. O primeiro a partir, o Armonia, embarcou 1,400 passageiros para um cruzeiro de uma semana para o Nordeste, rumo a Salvador e Ilhéus, o único que realizará na temporada. O Armonia havia desembarcado 1,900 passageiros de um mini-cruzeiro. Já o Mistral que desembarcou 1,485 passageiros, embarcou mais 1,400 para outro mini-cruzeiro com escala em Búzios. Hoje estão no porto o Silver Whisper e o Grand Celebration.

 Texto e Imagens (©) Copyright Daniel Capella.