21 Jun 2008

THE ANNUAL WATERLOO BATTLE

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"Water" pictures are here



This weekend Waterloo is organizing the yearly reconstitution of the Battle of Waterloo. Soldiers of all participating countries are coming to Waterloo in their historical costumes. Of course I will go there today and try to take some pictures.









I found a video of the Waterloo battle here at Waterloo TV

Two years ago I wrote a whole post about it here

20 Jun 2008

SHOW AND TELL

Skywatch pictures here

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More participants are here at Kelly's Show and tell Friday


For another meme asking for showing our walls, I had put a picture of the tapestry below and have got some questions. That's why I want to say a little bit more about it.

I have inherited this tapestry also called Gobelin from my parents. They bought it in Bruges (Belgium) and it is about 40 years old. These tapestries are very expensive because they are usually handmade on a loom. Of course you can also buy mechanical woven tapestries which are very beautiful, from 250 € (387 $) on.

The gobelin "art industry" was founded in the middle of 15th century by Jean Gobelin . A tapestry works started by two Flemish weavers , Marc de Comans and Francois de la Planche , called to France by Henri IV in 1601. (more about here History of Tapestry Art)

Tapestry is a form of textile art. It is woven by hand on a vertical loom. It is weft-faced weaving, in which all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work, unlike cloth weaving where both the warp and the weft threads may be visible. In this way, a colourful pattern or image is created. Most weavers use a naturally based warp thread such as linen or cotton. The weft threads are usually wool or cotton, but may include silk, gold, silver, or other alternatives. (Wikipedia)



It just hangs on the right side when you come through the entrance door.

19 Jun 2008

THURSDAY THIRTEEN - INSURED BODY PARTS

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13 of the world's most expensive body parts

Stars have been insuring bits of themselves since the 1920s. There are now so many people with commoditised appendages. Here are 13 celebrities insured by the world famous insurance Lloyds of London

1. Mariah Carey's legs: $10 million

2.David Beckham's entire body: $ 200 million

3. Bruce Springsteen's voice: $ 7 million

4. Heidi Klum's legs: $ 2,3 million

5. Keith Richards' fingers: $ 2 million

6. Jamie Lee Curtis's legs: $ 2 million

7. Bette Davies' waistline: $ 28,000

8. America Ferrera's mouth: $ 10 million

9. Michael Flatley's legs: $ 50 million

10. Ken Dodd’s teeth: $ 8 million

11. Dolly Parton's boobs: $700,000

12. Tom Jones chest hair Tom Jones did not, contrary to reports, have his chest hair insured for $ 7 million. Lloyds was apparently asked to draft a policy-wording for chest hair insurance

13. Angelina Jolie's face would be worth? An estimated $80 million based on three films a year at $ 10 million a piece for two to three years.

Source : The Times

How much is your bottom worth ?


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I published some new cat paintings here at GATTINA's PAINTINGS


18 Jun 2008

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - FAMOUS CLOWNS


Robin Williams


Sylvester Stallone


Hugh Laurie


Al Pacino


Jack Nicholson


Sylvester Stallone

Do you recognize them ? These are famous actors !

6 h after publishing nobody found the names so I added them !

17 Jun 2008

COMPILED NEWS

CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY is here


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A magic smell for $ 6 m Emma

HARRY Potter star EMMA WATSON has been named as the new face of perfume Coco Mademoiselle. Emma, 18, famed as potion-loving Hermione Granger in the wizard films, has signed a two-year, $6 million deal to advertise the Chanel scent. Smelling like a witch probably attracts women ! But I always though witches would smell like sulfer ?

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My beast mate

MEET furry friends Mausi and Muschi – the cat and the bear who are a zoo’s odd couple.
The female moggy and the male Asian black bear live, eat, sleep and even play together.
Their unlikely friendship was forged seven years ago when Mausi entered Muschi’s enclosure at Germany’s Berlin Zoo and started to eat his food. Am I happy that my cats only bring cat friends home and not a bear as friend ! I am not yet equipped for that !

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Just desserts for pie contestants

The 41st world custard pie throwing championships has been held in Kent.
Competitors in Maidstone were given points for hitting each other with out-of-date pies, with the best scores reserved for headshots. Apparently when people get bored they find all kind of strange things to amuse themselves. What about a championship with rotten eggs ? I'll suggest this to my mayor.

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RAF pilot wins moustache battle

A RAF fighter pilot has won his battle with the United States Air Force over the size of his handlebar moustache. Flight Lieutenant Chris Ball, who is on an exchange posting with the USAF in Afghanistan was told to trim his distinctive moustache. The pilot, who is usually based at RAF Lossiemouth, turned to the Queen's Regulations and found the moustache's width did not breach RAF guidelines. The rules state the moustache should not go below the edge of the mouth.
Despite Flt Lt Ball serving on exchange with the USAF, the RAF still have some say on the attire and appearance of their staff. The USAF relented and Flt Lt Ball's moustache was left unruffled.
As long as they are busy with fashion questions, they don't have time to play with arms !

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Church bars Da Vinci Code prequel

The diocese of Rome has banned filming in its churches of the prequel to the Da Vinci Code, a popular book and film that has angered many Catholics.
Producers of Angels and Demons were turned down because the film "does not conform to our views", a spokesman for diocese told AP news agency. The Da Vinci Code in 2006 was based on the idea that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children. Of course the pope got angry ! How can he justify now that he is living only with men ?

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Force denies $200,000 turban cost

A police force has denied spending $ 200,000 on trying to adapt safety helmets to fit over turbans. The police has also said reports that a Sikh officer was turned down from joining its Operational Support Unit over the issue is untrue. No Sikh officer has applied and been turned down from joining the Operational Support Unit because of faith issues. However, it has been identified that for some members of the Sikh faith, the removal of the turban to wear a helmet and the wearing of a respirator could be problematic." I sincerely agree !

16 Jun 2008

MANIC MONDAY - WILL

For ODD pictures go HERE


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More participants are here


Last Will and Testament of Morris

Morris had died.

His lawyer is standing before the family and reads out Morris’ Last Will and Testament.

“To my dear wife Esther, I leave the house, 150 acres of land, and 2 million dollars.

To my son Barry, I leave my Big Lexus and the new Jaguar and $250,000..

To my daughter Shirley, I leave my yacht and $250,000.

And to my brother-in-law Aaron, who always insisted that health is better than wealth, I leave my treadmill.”

And here is my Last Will !
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FUN MONDAY - WALLS




Go to Jan for more participants.

Jan wrote : The subject is walls. We all have walls of some sort. What I want to hear about and see, if you're going to show off your amazing photo skills, is what is on your walls, what color are your walls, what is special about them, what is your favorite or least favorite, is it inside or outside. You get the idea, let's show and tell about walls.

The walls in our house have all the same color, which is called egg shell. There is nothing special about them they are all painted. No wallpaper.


Two front pages from a Paris fashion magazine of 1881 and a silk tapestry from morocco,



a hand painted Italian ceramic plate and one of my paintings are hanging in the living room.



In our entry hangs a Gobelin tapistry from Bruges and an Italian ceramic plate.



Some of my paintings are hanging in Mr. Gattino's office



some others in my room.

The outside walls are all in red bricks, you have to believe me because it rains a lot and I can't go outside for taking a picture.

15 Jun 2008

50 years anniversary of the world exposition 1958 in Brussels - THE PAVILLON OF TEMPORARY HAPPINESS

For CAMERA CRITTERS go here



More participants here at Sarcastic Mom Weekly winners


To celebrate the 50 years of the world exposition which took place here in Brussels, quite a lot of activities are being done and expositions and movies are showing a nice choice of important visitors or items from 1958 ! (You can read the whole activity program here and look at the Official blog of the Atomium & Expo 58)



Just in front of the Atomium a pavillon had been built with 30.000 beer cases !



It looks quite impressive. It is called "Pavillon of temporary happiness"



to be continued HERE.....