Thank You Rich Jerk

Thank You Rich Jerk

Before Braille in Seattle July 2005

I put up some photos from the last time I saw my brother play with his band Before Braille before they parted ways. Great show. Brandon S. showed up to play a few numbers on the bass to relive old times.

Before Braille Seattle July 2005

Before Braille in Seattle July 2005

I put up some photos from the last time I saw my brother play with his band Before Braille before they parted ways. Great show. Brandon S. showed up to play a few numbers on the bass to relive old times.

Before Braille Seattle July 2005

Ties – What Does you Tie Say About You?

Today President Bush appeared in a dark suit (appropriate for a funeral) and a yellow-golden tie. Was this combination, especially the tie, just by chance? President Bush had just lost control of the House and Senate in the United States, rendered him relatively powerless. The choice of a yellow-golden tie was not by chance. He was making a statement in non-linguistic communication, the language of the ties.The MessageMr. Bush was saying to the entire world, "I may have lost the House and the Senate, but I am not surrendering! I am angry at what happened, and will stand my ground!"The Language of the TiesWatching the news on television one will see many world leaders, corporate presidents, and other important people wearing single color ties. They are speaking in the non-linguistic language of the ties.A single color tie, worn on a white or light color shirt makes an instant statement. The tie itself serves no purpose in dressing anyway, and is a fashion item imported from the 18th and 19th centuries. However, as its worn today, it supports the neck and head visually, so you can use the tie to make a strong message to all who see you, just as Mr. Bush did.Here are some basic colors worn, and the message they project:Red. I am a fighter. I will not give up or give in. Don't mess with me. I mean what I say and say what I mean. I am aggressive (as in energetic) and take the initiative. Watch out, I am ready for all!Dark Red (Bordeaux). I am a thinker. I will mull over all I hear, and make a decision later. Do not underestimate me. I have the time to do things right. I am no one's foolVivid Blue. Let's work together. Let's cooperate. Let's work things out. I am ready to compromise if it will be constructive.Sky Blue. Follow me and my dream. I will lead you in the right direction. I have hope in the future and you will too, listen to my message.Marine Blue. I am not in the mood for foolishness. Be serious when you are around me. Do not waste my time. Yellow. I am angry. Do you really want to take me on? I am ready to fight.Gold. I am not a quitter. I will finish what I started. Purple (Mauve). I am the teacher. You will listen to what I have to say. I know what you need to know and will impart that information to you.Color Combinations Design of TiesNot everyone is consciously sending you messages by wearing ties. World leaders and movers and shakers who are filmed by the press and are in the news know they must make statements. The guy next to you at work may not have the same idea.The color combinations and tie designs however are chosen by people in an unconscious manner. When they wear them however, they have made some choice. If their color combinations are predominantly in any of the colors above, they are making the same statements, or appropriately so. Consider the color of the guy's tie (predominant) and design. If they are confusing, he may be confused. If they are wild, you can guess his mood fairly well. Take time and analyze the tie, and then interpret the message. There is a very strong message to make in the language of the ties.

Ties – What Does you Tie Say About You?

Today President Bush appeared in a dark suit (appropriate for a funeral) and a yellow-golden tie. Was this combination, especially the tie, just by chance? President Bush had just lost control of the House and Senate in the United States, rendered him relatively powerless. The choice of a yellow-golden tie was not by chance. He was making a statement in non-linguistic communication, the language of the ties.The MessageMr. Bush was saying to the entire world, "I may have lost the House and the Senate, but I am not surrendering! I am angry at what happened, and will stand my ground!"The Language of the TiesWatching the news on television one will see many world leaders, corporate presidents, and other important people wearing single color ties. They are speaking in the non-linguistic language of the ties.A single color tie, worn on a white or light color shirt makes an instant statement. The tie itself serves no purpose in dressing anyway, and is a fashion item imported from the 18th and 19th centuries. However, as its worn today, it supports the neck and head visually, so you can use the tie to make a strong message to all who see you, just as Mr. Bush did.Here are some basic colors worn, and the message they project:Red. I am a fighter. I will not give up or give in. Don't mess with me. I mean what I say and say what I mean. I am aggressive (as in energetic) and take the initiative. Watch out, I am ready for all!Dark Red (Bordeaux). I am a thinker. I will mull over all I hear, and make a decision later. Do not underestimate me. I have the time to do things right. I am no one's foolVivid Blue. Let's work together. Let's cooperate. Let's work things out. I am ready to compromise if it will be constructive.Sky Blue. Follow me and my dream. I will lead you in the right direction. I have hope in the future and you will too, listen to my message.Marine Blue. I am not in the mood for foolishness. Be serious when you are around me. Do not waste my time. Yellow. I am angry. Do you really want to take me on? I am ready to fight.Gold. I am not a quitter. I will finish what I started. Purple (Mauve). I am the teacher. You will listen to what I have to say. I know what you need to know and will impart that information to you.Color Combinations Design of TiesNot everyone is consciously sending you messages by wearing ties. World leaders and movers and shakers who are filmed by the press and are in the news know they must make statements. The guy next to you at work may not have the same idea.The color combinations and tie designs however are chosen by people in an unconscious manner. When they wear them however, they have made some choice. If their color combinations are predominantly in any of the colors above, they are making the same statements, or appropriately so. Consider the color of the guy's tie (predominant) and design. If they are confusing, he may be confused. If they are wild, you can guess his mood fairly well. Take time and analyze the tie, and then interpret the message. There is a very strong message to make in the language of the ties.

How To Sell More of Your Products Online

If you run an online store selling products, such as tools, jewelry, makeup, gifts, clothing, or any other products, you make more money when you sell more products. Since the objective of any business is to make money, online store owners know that the more products they sell, the more money they can make.

"How can I sell more of my products online?" is one of the most common questions I hear from my clients is. Here are several tips that will help you sell more of your products online and generate more revenue:

- Show off the products in the best possible light. When people buy a product, they want to know what the product looks like. If someone is buying a couch, they want to be able to see if that couch would fit with the rest of their furniture before actually buying it. If someone wants to buy a piece of jewelry, they want to see what the jewelry looks like before buying it.

Therefore, the best way for you to convince your web site visitors that your products are right for them is by showing the products in the best possible light. Have high quality, detailed pictures of your products on your web site so that people are convinced that they need your product as soon as they see it.

- Make your web site easy to use. If someone comes to your web site to purchase your products, make sure they can find exactly what you are looking for. Your web site should have clear and concise navigation that is exactly the same on every page of the web site.

An easy to use navigation ensures that your web site visitors find what they are looking for on your web site and purchase it.

- Optimize web site for search engines. Another good way to drive more customers to your web site and increase your online sales is by optimizing your web site for search engines. Search engine optimization is the process of modifying web page content and meta-information to improve the search engine ranking of the page. Meta-information includes certain HTML tags (title, heading, emphasized text, keyword and description meta-tags), as well as the internal (links between pages on the same site) and external (links between pages on different sites) link structure of a web site.

Optimizing your web site helps you improve your search engine rankings and drive more targeted traffic to your web site.

- Create a blog to promote your business. A blog is your business diary, in which you share the information about your business, your new products, different ways of using your products and much more. Your blog is an excellent tool to let the world know about your business and your products, to connect with potential customers and promote what you have to offer.

In order to bring the most online traffic and make money with your blog, make sure that your blog consistently and create blog posts that are of interest to your past as well as potential customers. Regular posts that are interesting to read is what will keep your readers coming back and buying from you.

The Internet is a great place to sell your products. When you know how to market your business online, you bring more web site traffic, get more product sales and make more money.

How To Sell More of Your Products Online

If you run an online store selling products, such as tools, jewelry, makeup, gifts, clothing, or any other products, you make more money when you sell more products. Since the objective of any business is to make money, online store owners know that the more products they sell, the more money they can make.

"How can I sell more of my products online?" is one of the most common questions I hear from my clients is. Here are several tips that will help you sell more of your products online and generate more revenue:

- Show off the products in the best possible light. When people buy a product, they want to know what the product looks like. If someone is buying a couch, they want to be able to see if that couch would fit with the rest of their furniture before actually buying it. If someone wants to buy a piece of jewelry, they want to see what the jewelry looks like before buying it.

Therefore, the best way for you to convince your web site visitors that your products are right for them is by showing the products in the best possible light. Have high quality, detailed pictures of your products on your web site so that people are convinced that they need your product as soon as they see it.

- Make your web site easy to use. If someone comes to your web site to purchase your products, make sure they can find exactly what you are looking for. Your web site should have clear and concise navigation that is exactly the same on every page of the web site.

An easy to use navigation ensures that your web site visitors find what they are looking for on your web site and purchase it.

- Optimize web site for search engines. Another good way to drive more customers to your web site and increase your online sales is by optimizing your web site for search engines. Search engine optimization is the process of modifying web page content and meta-information to improve the search engine ranking of the page. Meta-information includes certain HTML tags (title, heading, emphasized text, keyword and description meta-tags), as well as the internal (links between pages on the same site) and external (links between pages on different sites) link structure of a web site.

Optimizing your web site helps you improve your search engine rankings and drive more targeted traffic to your web site.

- Create a blog to promote your business. A blog is your business diary, in which you share the information about your business, your new products, different ways of using your products and much more. Your blog is an excellent tool to let the world know about your business and your products, to connect with potential customers and promote what you have to offer.

In order to bring the most online traffic and make money with your blog, make sure that your blog consistently and create blog posts that are of interest to your past as well as potential customers. Regular posts that are interesting to read is what will keep your readers coming back and buying from you.

The Internet is a great place to sell your products. When you know how to market your business online, you bring more web site traffic, get more product sales and make more money.

Insurance Costs and How to Reduce Them

If you are thinking of cutting down your insurance costs then you will definitely have to put in some efforts. You will have to explore all the possible options and resources if you want to save money on insurance. Here are some ways of cutting costs and saving money:

1. Get as many quotes as possible from several insurance companies or agents. This will help you to decide which company will be the most economically viable for you. This is the best way to cut down the cost, because there are many companies competing with each other for your money, so take advantage of this competition to get the best insurance provider.

2. It is advisable to get your car, home or health insured from one insurance company. If you opt for different companies to meet your various insurance needs, it will prove to be very expensive. By selecting a single company, chances are that you will get special discounts along with lower premium rates. 3. Try to avoid double coverage when you get your car or home insured. If you are living on rent, you need not get the house insured, as the property owner would cover that.

4. Before purchasing any insurance policy you are advised to assess your need for that policy. You can cut down the insurance policy cost if your needs are minimal. For instance, you can take a simple life insurance policy if you have no family dependent on you, and there are enough resources with you to take care of any personal or business debt after your death. So, choose a suitable policy, keeping an eye on your needs.

5. Look out for the various discount offers insurance companies provide. If you want a life insurance policy, you can take advantage of discounts that are given to people with good health. If you are healthy and do not smoke, you will be preferred for discounts on life insurance policies. Make use of various safety measures in your house because you may get discounts on home insurance.

6. You can cut down the cost of insurance by reducing the money that is spent in processing the insurance. For example, you can make annual payments, which will decrease the administrative costs.

7. Make use of professional discounts that are offered by various professional associations.

8. You can also cut down insurance costs by paying your bills in time and maintaining a good credit record. For example, insurance companies set the price of a home insurance policy depending on the kind of credit record their clients hold.

Remember, that when you purchase insurance policies for your automobile or home, you are making a kind of investment. This should not be considered as a waste of money and resources, since this investment will protect your other investments too. Any ill-fated event can take place in your life in an unexpected manner so be ready to face it with an insurance policy. Look around for an insurance company that not only provides a good policy, but is easy on your wallet as well.

Joseph Kenny writes for the UK Loans Store and more information on UK bad credit loans available on site.
Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/

Insurance Costs and How to Reduce Them

If you are thinking of cutting down your insurance costs then you will definitely have to put in some efforts. You will have to explore all the possible options and resources if you want to save money on insurance. Here are some ways of cutting costs and saving money:

1. Get as many quotes as possible from several insurance companies or agents. This will help you to decide which company will be the most economically viable for you. This is the best way to cut down the cost, because there are many companies competing with each other for your money, so take advantage of this competition to get the best insurance provider.

2. It is advisable to get your car, home or health insured from one insurance company. If you opt for different companies to meet your various insurance needs, it will prove to be very expensive. By selecting a single company, chances are that you will get special discounts along with lower premium rates. 3. Try to avoid double coverage when you get your car or home insured. If you are living on rent, you need not get the house insured, as the property owner would cover that.

4. Before purchasing any insurance policy you are advised to assess your need for that policy. You can cut down the insurance policy cost if your needs are minimal. For instance, you can take a simple life insurance policy if you have no family dependent on you, and there are enough resources with you to take care of any personal or business debt after your death. So, choose a suitable policy, keeping an eye on your needs.

5. Look out for the various discount offers insurance companies provide. If you want a life insurance policy, you can take advantage of discounts that are given to people with good health. If you are healthy and do not smoke, you will be preferred for discounts on life insurance policies. Make use of various safety measures in your house because you may get discounts on home insurance.

6. You can cut down the cost of insurance by reducing the money that is spent in processing the insurance. For example, you can make annual payments, which will decrease the administrative costs.

7. Make use of professional discounts that are offered by various professional associations.

8. You can also cut down insurance costs by paying your bills in time and maintaining a good credit record. For example, insurance companies set the price of a home insurance policy depending on the kind of credit record their clients hold.

Remember, that when you purchase insurance policies for your automobile or home, you are making a kind of investment. This should not be considered as a waste of money and resources, since this investment will protect your other investments too. Any ill-fated event can take place in your life in an unexpected manner so be ready to face it with an insurance policy. Look around for an insurance company that not only provides a good policy, but is easy on your wallet as well.

Joseph Kenny writes for the UK Loans Store and more information on UK bad credit loans available on site.
Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/

History of the Near East in 90 seconds

I have been reading for years now about the Ancient Near East and the texts it has produced. The Holy Scriptures and related documents are an important part of my life, so I have a healthy curiosity for how they came to be. That said, it can be downright fun to step away from scholarly books and their extensive footnotes, at least for a moment, and to see history portrayed in an accessible way. This Flash illustration of the imperial conquests of the Near East, into modern times, speaks for itself. Enjoy: http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html

History of the Near East in 90 seconds

I have been reading for years now about the Ancient Near East and the texts it has produced. The Holy Scriptures and related documents are an important part of my life, so I have a healthy curiosity for how they came to be. That said, it can be downright fun to step away from scholarly books and their extensive footnotes, at least for a moment, and to see history portrayed in an accessible way. This Flash illustration of the imperial conquests of the Near East, into modern times, speaks for itself. Enjoy: http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html

Citizenship Taskforce

Citizenship: Make Your Voice Heard

From JimBall

(11Oct 06) The Federal Government is inviting submissions from individuals & organizations on the merits of introducing a formal citizenship test, including seeking a commitment to Australian values. Comments are particularly sought on four key questions.
- Should Australia introduce a formal citizenship test?
- How important is knowledge of Australia for Australian citizenship?
- What level of English is required to participate as an Australian citizen?
- How important is a demonstrated commitment to Australia 's way of life and values for those intending to settle permanently in Australia or spend a significant period of time in Australia ?

The Australian Government encourages submissions from individuals. These submissions will be considered in the formation of future policy.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD Send your submission to :
Citizenship Taskforce
DIMIA
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Or send it by email

Tell the Government what you really think!!!!! They have taken a step in the right direction.

YOUR SUBMISSIONS MUST BE IN BY FRIDAY17th NOVEMBER 2006

I found this on JimBalls site, it's a great chance for us to have imput.... please take it up even a letter is fine, the more the better.

Citizenship Taskforce

Citizenship: Make Your Voice Heard

From JimBall

(11Oct 06) The Federal Government is inviting submissions from individuals & organizations on the merits of introducing a formal citizenship test, including seeking a commitment to Australian values. Comments are particularly sought on four key questions.
- Should Australia introduce a formal citizenship test?
- How important is knowledge of Australia for Australian citizenship?
- What level of English is required to participate as an Australian citizen?
- How important is a demonstrated commitment to Australia 's way of life and values for those intending to settle permanently in Australia or spend a significant period of time in Australia ?

The Australian Government encourages submissions from individuals. These submissions will be considered in the formation of future policy.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD Send your submission to :
Citizenship Taskforce
DIMIA
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Or send it by email

Tell the Government what you really think!!!!! They have taken a step in the right direction.

YOUR SUBMISSIONS MUST BE IN BY FRIDAY17th NOVEMBER 2006

I found this on JimBalls site, it's a great chance for us to have imput.... please take it up even a letter is fine, the more the better.

Five years on.

Does anyone remember an “Islam” free day? I certainly do, but then again, at forty years old, I am of the last generation to have lived enough of my adult life pre 9/11 to know what an Islam free day, an Islam free life, is actually like.

It is only a mere five years on, and the taint of Islam, what Islam wants and what Islam says, is so ingrained in our daily existence, that even I have to remind myself that this is utterly abnormal.

That pre 9/11, I barely knew or cared about Islam, nor did my varied circles of friends. Islam was not an issue. Today I actually struggle to remember what used to fill the news hours.

The absurd reality that one religion now fills our news and politics and is attempting to push into our legislation would have rightly been seen as unthinkable.

The new truth that to insult or even joke about somebodies religion, lifestyle, idealism or political view was actually punishable at all, let alone by death. That our Modern Civilisation would accept this as possible or even reasonable, pre 9/11 was unreservedly insane.

Where you one who saw it happen, either there in NYC or over the live broadcasts? I naturally assumed the first plane was an “accident”, one didn’t expect full scale slaughter in peacetime in those days, as it was not normal or okay to terrorize pre 9/11.

What of those, who are just eighteen or twenty today? How can these people ever fully understand what was taken from us. What of their children to come, who will not even have us left to tell them what freedom was like.

Five years on.

Does anyone remember an “Islam” free day? I certainly do, but then again, at forty years old, I am of the last generation to have lived enough of my adult life pre 9/11 to know what an Islam free day, an Islam free life, is actually like.

It is only a mere five years on, and the taint of Islam, what Islam wants and what Islam says, is so ingrained in our daily existence, that even I have to remind myself that this is utterly abnormal.

That pre 9/11, I barely knew or cared about Islam, nor did my varied circles of friends. Islam was not an issue. Today I actually struggle to remember what used to fill the news hours.

The absurd reality that one religion now fills our news and politics and is attempting to push into our legislation would have rightly been seen as unthinkable.

The new truth that to insult or even joke about somebodies religion, lifestyle, idealism or political view was actually punishable at all, let alone by death. That our Modern Civilisation would accept this as possible or even reasonable, pre 9/11 was unreservedly insane.

Where you one who saw it happen, either there in NYC or over the live broadcasts? I naturally assumed the first plane was an “accident”, one didn’t expect full scale slaughter in peacetime in those days, as it was not normal or okay to terrorize pre 9/11.

What of those, who are just eighteen or twenty today? How can these people ever fully understand what was taken from us. What of their children to come, who will not even have us left to tell them what freedom was like.

Diaper Sewing Information and Fabrics

Fabrics: Diaper Cover Quality

Waterproof diaper cover fabrics are most commonly found to be made from either PUL or Ultrex (water resistant fabrics include fleece and wool). What are the differences in PUL and Ultrex and how should each be cared for? Are they all created equal? What do you look for when buying a waterproof diaper cover, AIO or fabric?

PUL and Ultrex Facts
Ultrex® is a waterproof, windproof, durable and extremely breathable fabric system (similar to Gore-Tex). A microporous coating is applied to the underside of the fabric. It is small enough to block out wind and rain, yet large enough to permit perspiration vapor molecules to escape. Ultrex® can be applied to any fabric, but is usually applied to Supplex®, forming a nylon fabric with waterproof coating. This product has been shown to withstand numerous washings before losing it's waterproof abilities.

Ultrex is available in either a 2-ply or 3-ply system. Either a 2-part or 3-part, respectively, system of densely woven fabric, micro-porous polyurethane coating and DWR (durable water repellent) finish. It is recommended that 2-ply be lined, to protect the membrane.

Machine wash warm - Rinse twice with cold water. Tumble dry low, remove promptly. Do not dry clean or bleach. Holds up great to repeated washings.

PUL is an acronym for Polyurethane Laminate and refers to any fabric that has a polyurethane laminated to a base fabric. For diapers, it is most often a polyester knit fabric laminated to a 1mil or 2mil waterproof, non-breathable backing. Unlike Ultrex, PUL is non-breathable. Both are waterproof.

PUL was actually developed for the medical industry. It is soft, pliable, and waterproof. It can withstand high temperatures and a lot of use. PUL is a very durable fabric.

You will find both 1mil and 2mil PUL used in diaper making, as well as diaper fabrics available for sewing. Which you use is a personal preference, but 2mil, just by it's thicker nature, will be a more heavy-duty fabric. They are both equally waterproof, but 2mil might be more leakproof for times of longer use. Either should be sufficient for daytime, normal wear. 2mil PUL is thicker and therefore more stiff.

You can find diaper fabrics that have been double laminate, or 2-sided laminates. These usually have a waterproof material sandwiched between 2 layers of fabric (often polyester knit). This fabric provides a nice cover as it is quite durable, and soft on both sides. It can usually withstand high heats, industrial washing/drying and the fabric on both sides helps to protect the waterproof inner layer.

You can machine wash on any temperature and dry on any temperature. Many people believe the PUL to last longer dried on medium heat, but fabric manufacturers say the fabric should withstand high heats. I have found both opinions to be held by diaper manufacturers and users.

PUL and Ultrex Comparison
Both PUL and Ultrex fabrics should not be washed or dried with bleach or fabric softeners. Are they created equal? Let's look at the differences.

	PUL	Ultrex
Breathable	no	yes
Waterproof	yes	yes
High Heat	yes	no
Fabric Softener	no	no
Bleach	no	no

Both can be treated with a waterproofing additive to re-waterproof if they break down.

To get more cloth diaper information like this, join my free newsletter.

Fabrics: Unbleached Cotton

Unbleached cotton is a little used gem when it comes to diaper fabrics. This material is just as absorbent and soft as the bleached white we are all used to, but it has more to offer. The fabrics have not been broken down by the bleaching process and therefore it lasts longer, which is invaluable when trying to make your diapers last through several little ones.

A few companies are offering the choice between bleached or unbleached cotton diapers. One great source for unbleached diapers is found here. If you sew your diapers, search for unbleached fabrics and your diaper sewing time and effort will last your little ones much longer.

The Complete Cloth Diaper Book Released!

The most comprehensive and current book available anywhere about the benefits and choices in cloth diapering today. PLUS, patterns and step by step pictorical sewing instructions for making your own diapers, covers, all-in-ones(AIO), soakers and more!

You'll find everything you need to know to make choices about cloth diaper options and begin using them with your little one. I discuss styles, fabrics used and caring for them, benefits and drawbacks to the different styles, accessories, sewing techniques and much much more.

If you are experienced with cloth diapers, this book will educate you on the latest fabrics and accessories available, and discuss sewing techniques to customize your diapers to improve fit and/or absorbancy..
Learn more...

Where to find Cloth Diaper Sewing fabric and notions?

I have come across a great WHAM site that sells cloth diaper sewing fabrics and notions. I have ordered from her several time and have had good experince every time. I have gotten to know her recently and feel very comfortable recomending her to you! Her site is great.

Not only does she care lots of great notions and sewing needs, but also has a great selection of fabrics. You can purchase by the yard like every other site out there, OR you can purchase by the 'unit'. This is the coolest part about her business. Rather than buy a yard of fabric and end up with a bunch of left overs that are not big enough to make into anything, she pre-cuts her fabric into square 'units' that are just the right size for you to cut for your diaper. It's great! It reduces the fabric waste and saves you money!

check it out! click here..

If you'd like to begin receiving additional information on styles, fabrics, tips/tricks, Q&A sessions, coupons, hot new products and much more, sign up for my FREE newsletter.

To find out where to get ahold of these and other great diaper fabrics, go here.

Find out how to use these and other fabrics in The Complete Cloth Diaper Book: Instructions, Fabrics, Sewing and Patterns.

To simply learn more about cloth diapers and where you get them, go here

Diaper Sewing Information and Fabrics

Fabrics: Diaper Cover Quality

Waterproof diaper cover fabrics are most commonly found to be made from either PUL or Ultrex (water resistant fabrics include fleece and wool). What are the differences in PUL and Ultrex and how should each be cared for? Are they all created equal? What do you look for when buying a waterproof diaper cover, AIO or fabric?

PUL and Ultrex Facts
Ultrex® is a waterproof, windproof, durable and extremely breathable fabric system (similar to Gore-Tex). A microporous coating is applied to the underside of the fabric. It is small enough to block out wind and rain, yet large enough to permit perspiration vapor molecules to escape. Ultrex® can be applied to any fabric, but is usually applied to Supplex®, forming a nylon fabric with waterproof coating. This product has been shown to withstand numerous washings before losing it's waterproof abilities.

Ultrex is available in either a 2-ply or 3-ply system. Either a 2-part or 3-part, respectively, system of densely woven fabric, micro-porous polyurethane coating and DWR (durable water repellent) finish. It is recommended that 2-ply be lined, to protect the membrane.

Machine wash warm - Rinse twice with cold water. Tumble dry low, remove promptly. Do not dry clean or bleach. Holds up great to repeated washings.

PUL is an acronym for Polyurethane Laminate and refers to any fabric that has a polyurethane laminated to a base fabric. For diapers, it is most often a polyester knit fabric laminated to a 1mil or 2mil waterproof, non-breathable backing. Unlike Ultrex, PUL is non-breathable. Both are waterproof.

PUL was actually developed for the medical industry. It is soft, pliable, and waterproof. It can withstand high temperatures and a lot of use. PUL is a very durable fabric.

You will find both 1mil and 2mil PUL used in diaper making, as well as diaper fabrics available for sewing. Which you use is a personal preference, but 2mil, just by it's thicker nature, will be a more heavy-duty fabric. They are both equally waterproof, but 2mil might be more leakproof for times of longer use. Either should be sufficient for daytime, normal wear. 2mil PUL is thicker and therefore more stiff.

You can find diaper fabrics that have been double laminate, or 2-sided laminates. These usually have a waterproof material sandwiched between 2 layers of fabric (often polyester knit). This fabric provides a nice cover as it is quite durable, and soft on both sides. It can usually withstand high heats, industrial washing/drying and the fabric on both sides helps to protect the waterproof inner layer.

You can machine wash on any temperature and dry on any temperature. Many people believe the PUL to last longer dried on medium heat, but fabric manufacturers say the fabric should withstand high heats. I have found both opinions to be held by diaper manufacturers and users.

PUL and Ultrex Comparison
Both PUL and Ultrex fabrics should not be washed or dried with bleach or fabric softeners. Are they created equal? Let's look at the differences.

	PUL	Ultrex
Breathable	no	yes
Waterproof	yes	yes
High Heat	yes	no
Fabric Softener	no	no
Bleach	no	no

Both can be treated with a waterproofing additive to re-waterproof if they break down.

To get more cloth diaper information like this, join my free newsletter.

Fabrics: Unbleached Cotton

Unbleached cotton is a little used gem when it comes to diaper fabrics. This material is just as absorbent and soft as the bleached white we are all used to, but it has more to offer. The fabrics have not been broken down by the bleaching process and therefore it lasts longer, which is invaluable when trying to make your diapers last through several little ones.

A few companies are offering the choice between bleached or unbleached cotton diapers. One great source for unbleached diapers is found here. If you sew your diapers, search for unbleached fabrics and your diaper sewing time and effort will last your little ones much longer.

The Complete Cloth Diaper Book Released!

The most comprehensive and current book available anywhere about the benefits and choices in cloth diapering today. PLUS, patterns and step by step pictorical sewing instructions for making your own diapers, covers, all-in-ones(AIO), soakers and more!

You'll find everything you need to know to make choices about cloth diaper options and begin using them with your little one. I discuss styles, fabrics used and caring for them, benefits and drawbacks to the different styles, accessories, sewing techniques and much much more.

If you are experienced with cloth diapers, this book will educate you on the latest fabrics and accessories available, and discuss sewing techniques to customize your diapers to improve fit and/or absorbancy..
Learn more...

Where to find Cloth Diaper Sewing fabric and notions?

I have come across a great WHAM site that sells cloth diaper sewing fabrics and notions. I have ordered from her several time and have had good experince every time. I have gotten to know her recently and feel very comfortable recomending her to you! Her site is great.

Not only does she care lots of great notions and sewing needs, but also has a great selection of fabrics. You can purchase by the yard like every other site out there, OR you can purchase by the 'unit'. This is the coolest part about her business. Rather than buy a yard of fabric and end up with a bunch of left overs that are not big enough to make into anything, she pre-cuts her fabric into square 'units' that are just the right size for you to cut for your diaper. It's great! It reduces the fabric waste and saves you money!

check it out! click here..

If you'd like to begin receiving additional information on styles, fabrics, tips/tricks, Q&A sessions, coupons, hot new products and much more, sign up for my FREE newsletter.

To find out where to get ahold of these and other great diaper fabrics, go here.

Find out how to use these and other fabrics in The Complete Cloth Diaper Book: Instructions, Fabrics, Sewing and Patterns.

To simply learn more about cloth diapers and where you get them, go here

Clear Context Revisited

ClearContext continues to help me prioritize my email in meaningful ways. I'm using it together with the excellent SpeedFiler from Claritude Software (http://www.claritude.com/ ). Combining Outlook, Windows Desktop Search, plenty of RAM, and these two Outlook add-ins has enabled me to plow through email, remain responsive, and keep a large and useful email archive.

I like CC enough that I'm including a plug for them here: If you're interested in trying ClearContext, you can save $15 on your license by using the following coupon code: CC15-15400. The code is included with permission from the ClearContext folks.

Clear Context Revisited

ClearContext continues to help me prioritize my email in meaningful ways. I'm using it together with the excellent SpeedFiler from Claritude Software (http://www.claritude.com/ ). Combining Outlook, Windows Desktop Search, plenty of RAM, and these two Outlook add-ins has enabled me to plow through email, remain responsive, and keep a large and useful email archive.

I like CC enough that I'm including a plug for them here: If you're interested in trying ClearContext, you can save $15 on your license by using the following coupon code: CC15-15400. The code is included with permission from the ClearContext folks.

State of the Art in Desktop Dictation

Nuance’s Dragon Naturally Speaking v. 9 receives an excellent evaluation at ArsTechnica: http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/speaking.ars . I notice the excellent facility for training and updating the recognizer's language and acoustic models. Almost makes me want to try to use speech recognition on a day-to-day basis again. The last time I tried a few years ago I was not sufficiently productive to make it worth my while.

State of the Art in Desktop Dictation

Nuance’s Dragon Naturally Speaking v. 9 receives an excellent evaluation at ArsTechnica: http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/speaking.ars . I notice the excellent facility for training and updating the recognizer's language and acoustic models. Almost makes me want to try to use speech recognition on a day-to-day basis again. The last time I tried a few years ago I was not sufficiently productive to make it worth my while.

~thirdeye's~ Nova Lox

If you are a regular reader you know I really field test any recipe, or technique before publishing it here.  My technique for Nova Lox was developed from many sources and for well over a year I continued to refine my method.  It's now December of 2012, and I'm ready to publish Revision 3, which I have been using for 11 months.

Fish: Salmon or Steelhead fillets, normal thickness, de-boned and skin-on. The fresher the better.  I repeat..... the fresher the better.  I suspect that larger trout fillets could also be used, but to date I have not utilized trout.

History: "Nova lox is less salty than other varieties of lox, and it should have a light smoke flavor."  When developing my method below, I began working from descriptions like the one above of what Nova lox was to certain folks. And I sorted through a lot of descriptions, the funny thing was I discovered that Nova lox meant different things to different folks. Even my friend and Guest Pit Boss Lynne in Nova Scotia couldn't nail it down.  Now, to some this would be a dead end street..... to me it was an education in preparing salmon which had ties to several cultures.

My research led me to numerous curing methods dating back more than 100 years. Many of these older methods used large quantities of salt, long curing times and required long soak-out times,…I reasoned they were sort of a carry-over from the days of “preservation curing” when refrigeration was not available to everyone. My goal was to keep some of the principles of the Nova lox methods intact, but utilize a modern approach with respect to the curing process, especially when it came to the amounts of salt used.

Unlike other techniques, my process uses a two-stage (or double) cure, two periods of overnight resting and 5 to 8  hours of cold smoking.  This procedure takes about 60 hours from start to finish.  The fish is in the refrigerator during the curing and for both overnight rest periods. I think a safe shelf life of the finished product is 4 to 5 days, although mine rarely lasts longer than 3 days. Contrary to the majority of lox recipes I found, I prefer some seasoning on my Nova lox, both for flavor and appearance. And I also like just enough of a distinct smoky flavor to overcome any issues folks might have with eating un-cooked fish.

PREPARATION OF THE FISH

Often food safety experts will recommend fish which has been commercially frozen when making lox.  The quick freezing and well below zero temperatures will kill any baddies associated with uncooked fish you may worry about.  That said, I prefer using extremely fresh fish which has not been frozen.  I'll let you decide how to select your fish.

When starting with a whole side, I will remove the tail section and cut a strip off the belly section – this leaves a rectangular section that is somewhat uniform in thickness which will be used for lox. Run your fingers from the head end toward the tail end feeling for any small pin bones. Pluck them out with a pair of needle nose pliers. Rinse the fillet in cold water, then pat dry.  Use a knife at 90° to the fillet and lightly scrape the surface of the fish... this will remove the little bit of flesh which was disturbed when the fish was filleted, and it will also close some of the  gaps in the grain you may notice. (this is similar to lightly scraping any bone dust and loose fat off a steak or pork chop that was cut on a band saw)

Dry Cure – 10 to 12 hour cure time.

50:50 mixture kosher salt and brown sugar. (For a 7” long fillet I use 1/3 cup of kosher salt and 1/3 cup of brown sugar) Sprinkle a thin layer of the mixture onto a long piece of plastic wrap, the area should be slightly longer than each fillet. With the remainder of the dry cure, cover the surface of the flesh side of the fish (including the sides and ends), then turn the fillet flesh side down onto the wrap. Cure is not needed on the skin side of the fillet. Fold up the sides and ends of the plastic wrap forming a pouch, place fillet on a tray or platter in case the plastic wrap leaks. The skin side should be up.  Here are several fillets in the dry cure.



You can place a weight on the wrapped fillet to insure good contact of the salt/sugar mixture and the fish during the curing time. I use a small cutting board with a couple of cans of soda on it for weight. Cure time is 10 to 12 hours in the refrigerator. During the dry cure step the salt and sugar will liquefy and form a syrup. At the end of the cure time, remove the fish from the wrap, rinse under cold running water and lightly scrub the fish with fingers in order to remove the syrup and any un-dissolved sugar. The fish will be a darker red and feel slightly firm. Next,  the fillets move into the wet (brine) cure.

Wet Brine Cure Recipe:

Large batch: 1 gallon of water, 10 ounces of salt and 1/4 cup of white sugar.
Small batch: 1 quart of water, 2.5 ounces of salt, 1/8 ounce (or 2 Tablespoons) of white sugar.

Mix your brine ahead of time using warm water, then allow it to cool down in the refrigerator. Keep the brine in a non-reactive (plastic or glass) container. I like canning salt because it dissolves easier, but kosher will work. Whichever you choose, weigh the salt for accuracy. The white sugar will keep your brine really clear, its main purpose is to knock the bitter edge off the salt.

Brine Cure Time - 7 to 10 to 12 hours. Single fillets can be brined in a zipper bag. For larger fillets I use a small plastic bucket. The brine cure will make the texture of the fish relax, but will not wash out the color or cause the fillet be mushy. I prefer the 10 hour brine time unless I have thick fillets, then I go with 12 hours.  A good tip would be to experiment with a couple of pieces and different brine times.

Soaking and Equalizing – 8 hours to overnight:

Soak-out: Rinse the fish under a gentle stream of cold running water from your faucet (this is called “freshening”) for 3 or 4 minutes. I put the fillet on a plate, flesh side up, and allow the water to flow across the meat. Next, soak the fillet in cold water for 4 or 5 minutes in a bowl or plastic bag. Freshening is an old technique which was used because early Nova Lox brines were very, very strong. (An alternate to freshening + soaking would be a longer soak-out, say 10 minutes)

Equalization : Dry the fillet with paper towels and place on a dry tray or plate. Use a small rack or a couple of chopsticks under the fillet. Do not cover the fillet. At this point the curing is complete and you have lox. It will need an overnight rest in the refrigerator to allow it to firm and to allow the salt to equalize within the fillet. Following the “equalization time” you can cut a thin slice to sample it for texture and flavor. Lox becomes Nova lox when it undergoes cold smoking. There are a variety of seasoning options including using no seasoning at all. I prefer to season the dried fillet lightly with white pepper, black pepper and dill weed before the overnight rest. I like the hint of seasoning combined with the light smoke.

Cold Smoking –  3 to 8 hours:

Background information: My current choice of equipment for cold smoking in the A-Maze-N cold smoking tray which can be used in almost any cooker provided you have adequate draft. It requires special sawdust and provides a gentle smoke for hours with almost no heat. No other heat source is used, the sawdust in the cold smoking tray is lit and the unit is placed inside your smoker. The fillets are placed on the smokers racks.

Prior to using this method I used a Big Chief box smoker, but the Big Chief created more heat due to its hot plate smoke generator. Ideally the temperature of the cold smoker should be below 100 degrees. I would often unplug the Big Chief several times while cold smoking to allow it to cool down, or fill a pan full of ice below the rack of fish to help cool the smoke. On several forums I have seen positive comments about using a soldering iron placed through a hole in a tin can containing some wood chips, but I have not tried out this method.

Cold Smoking Method: I prefer an Apple/Hickory mix of sawdust in the A-Maze-N cold smoking tray. Smoking time is a personal preference and the style of smoke generator you use as well as the draft characteristics of the smoker have a big impact on flavor delivery. The only way to determine the correct amount of smoke flavor is to experiment the first time you make Nova lox. Cold smoke the fillet for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, then removed the fillet and sample several thin slices. Use additional smoke time as needed.

My Smoking Times: Spring, summer and fall - I can tell you when using my Smokey Joe “tallboy” smoker, my cold smoke times are around 3 to 4 hours. The draft is different in my Big Chief so I need more like 4 to 5 hours of cold smoke time.

During the winter I set up the A-Maze-N cold smoke tray in my Big Chief and found by plugging in the burner for 15 minutes every hour I could raise the temperature of the box from 30 degrees to 70 degrees. (I was afraid the 30 degree temperature would be too low). My winter cold smoking time was around 5 hours.

Second Smoke Option:  Sometimes I have removed my Nova Lox from the cold smoker and chilled it for an hour or two, then sampled. Sometimes it needs a little more smoke flavor.... no problem, just return it to the cold smoker for another dose of flavor.  An hour or two usually does the trick.


Preparation For Eating – Overnight Rest Recommended: After cold smoking, the Nova Lox needs to mellow overnight in the refrigerator to have the best flavor. The chilling also allows for easier slicing. Make the slices as thin as possible, and serve them on a chilled plate. The texture can be described as “candied”, and the smoke and salt should be noticeable but subtle. The amount of saltiness can be adjusted by more or less time in the rinse/soak step. Smoke flavor is adjusted by wood selection and/or cold smoke time. 

~thirdeye's~ Nova Lox

If you are a regular reader you know I really field test any recipe, or technique before publishing it here.  My technique for Nova Lox was developed from many sources and for well over a year I continued to refine my method.  It's now December of 2012, and I'm ready to publish Revision 3, which I have been using for 11 months.

Fish: Salmon or Steelhead fillets, normal thickness, de-boned and skin-on. The fresher the better.  I repeat..... the fresher the better.  I suspect that larger trout fillets could also be used, but to date I have not utilized trout.

History: "Nova lox is less salty than other varieties of lox, and it should have a light smoke flavor."  When developing my method below, I began working from descriptions like the one above of what Nova lox was to certain folks. And I sorted through a lot of descriptions, the funny thing was I discovered that Nova lox meant different things to different folks. Even my friend and Guest Pit Boss Lynne in Nova Scotia couldn't nail it down.  Now, to some this would be a dead end street..... to me it was an education in preparing salmon which had ties to several cultures.

My research led me to numerous curing methods dating back more than 100 years. Many of these older methods used large quantities of salt, long curing times and required long soak-out times,…I reasoned they were sort of a carry-over from the days of “preservation curing” when refrigeration was not available to everyone. My goal was to keep some of the principles of the Nova lox methods intact, but utilize a modern approach with respect to the curing process, especially when it came to the amounts of salt used.

Unlike other techniques, my process uses a two-stage (or double) cure, two periods of overnight resting and 5 to 8  hours of cold smoking.  This procedure takes about 60 hours from start to finish.  The fish is in the refrigerator during the curing and for both overnight rest periods. I think a safe shelf life of the finished product is 4 to 5 days, although mine rarely lasts longer than 3 days. Contrary to the majority of lox recipes I found, I prefer some seasoning on my Nova lox, both for flavor and appearance. And I also like just enough of a distinct smoky flavor to overcome any issues folks might have with eating un-cooked fish.

PREPARATION OF THE FISH

Often food safety experts will recommend fish which has been commercially frozen when making lox.  The quick freezing and well below zero temperatures will kill any baddies associated with uncooked fish you may worry about.  That said, I prefer using extremely fresh fish which has not been frozen.  I'll let you decide how to select your fish.

When starting with a whole side, I will remove the tail section and cut a strip off the belly section – this leaves a rectangular section that is somewhat uniform in thickness which will be used for lox. Run your fingers from the head end toward the tail end feeling for any small pin bones. Pluck them out with a pair of needle nose pliers. Rinse the fillet in cold water, then pat dry.  Use a knife at 90° to the fillet and lightly scrape the surface of the fish... this will remove the little bit of flesh which was disturbed when the fish was filleted, and it will also close some of the  gaps in the grain you may notice. (this is similar to lightly scraping any bone dust and loose fat off a steak or pork chop that was cut on a band saw)

Dry Cure – 10 to 12 hour cure time.

50:50 mixture kosher salt and brown sugar. (For a 7” long fillet I use 1/3 cup of kosher salt and 1/3 cup of brown sugar) Sprinkle a thin layer of the mixture onto a long piece of plastic wrap, the area should be slightly longer than each fillet. With the remainder of the dry cure, cover the surface of the flesh side of the fish (including the sides and ends), then turn the fillet flesh side down onto the wrap. Cure is not needed on the skin side of the fillet. Fold up the sides and ends of the plastic wrap forming a pouch, place fillet on a tray or platter in case the plastic wrap leaks. The skin side should be up.  Here are several fillets in the dry cure.



You can place a weight on the wrapped fillet to insure good contact of the salt/sugar mixture and the fish during the curing time. I use a small cutting board with a couple of cans of soda on it for weight. Cure time is 10 to 12 hours in the refrigerator. During the dry cure step the salt and sugar will liquefy and form a syrup. At the end of the cure time, remove the fish from the wrap, rinse under cold running water and lightly scrub the fish with fingers in order to remove the syrup and any un-dissolved sugar. The fish will be a darker red and feel slightly firm. Next,  the fillets move into the wet (brine) cure.

Wet Brine Cure Recipe:

Large batch: 1 gallon of water, 10 ounces of salt and 1/4 cup of white sugar.
Small batch: 1 quart of water, 2.5 ounces of salt, 1/8 ounce (or 2 Tablespoons) of white sugar.

Mix your brine ahead of time using warm water, then allow it to cool down in the refrigerator. Keep the brine in a non-reactive (plastic or glass) container. I like canning salt because it dissolves easier, but kosher will work. Whichever you choose, weigh the salt for accuracy. The white sugar will keep your brine really clear, its main purpose is to knock the bitter edge off the salt.

Brine Cure Time - 7 to 10 to 12 hours. Single fillets can be brined in a zipper bag. For larger fillets I use a small plastic bucket. The brine cure will make the texture of the fish relax, but will not wash out the color or cause the fillet be mushy. I prefer the 10 hour brine time unless I have thick fillets, then I go with 12 hours.  A good tip would be to experiment with a couple of pieces and different brine times.

Soaking and Equalizing – 8 hours to overnight:

Soak-out: Rinse the fish under a gentle stream of cold running water from your faucet (this is called “freshening”) for 3 or 4 minutes. I put the fillet on a plate, flesh side up, and allow the water to flow across the meat. Next, soak the fillet in cold water for 4 or 5 minutes in a bowl or plastic bag. Freshening is an old technique which was used because early Nova Lox brines were very, very strong. (An alternate to freshening + soaking would be a longer soak-out, say 10 minutes)

Equalization : Dry the fillet with paper towels and place on a dry tray or plate. Use a small rack or a couple of chopsticks under the fillet. Do not cover the fillet. At this point the curing is complete and you have lox. It will need an overnight rest in the refrigerator to allow it to firm and to allow the salt to equalize within the fillet. Following the “equalization time” you can cut a thin slice to sample it for texture and flavor. Lox becomes Nova lox when it undergoes cold smoking. There are a variety of seasoning options including using no seasoning at all. I prefer to season the dried fillet lightly with white pepper, black pepper and dill weed before the overnight rest. I like the hint of seasoning combined with the light smoke.

Cold Smoking –  3 to 8 hours:

Background information: My current choice of equipment for cold smoking in the A-Maze-N cold smoking tray which can be used in almost any cooker provided you have adequate draft. It requires special sawdust and provides a gentle smoke for hours with almost no heat. No other heat source is used, the sawdust in the cold smoking tray is lit and the unit is placed inside your smoker. The fillets are placed on the smokers racks.

Prior to using this method I used a Big Chief box smoker, but the Big Chief created more heat due to its hot plate smoke generator. Ideally the temperature of the cold smoker should be below 100 degrees. I would often unplug the Big Chief several times while cold smoking to allow it to cool down, or fill a pan full of ice below the rack of fish to help cool the smoke. On several forums I have seen positive comments about using a soldering iron placed through a hole in a tin can containing some wood chips, but I have not tried out this method.

Cold Smoking Method: I prefer an Apple/Hickory mix of sawdust in the A-Maze-N cold smoking tray. Smoking time is a personal preference and the style of smoke generator you use as well as the draft characteristics of the smoker have a big impact on flavor delivery. The only way to determine the correct amount of smoke flavor is to experiment the first time you make Nova lox. Cold smoke the fillet for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, then removed the fillet and sample several thin slices. Use additional smoke time as needed.

My Smoking Times: Spring, summer and fall - I can tell you when using my Smokey Joe “tallboy” smoker, my cold smoke times are around 3 to 4 hours. The draft is different in my Big Chief so I need more like 4 to 5 hours of cold smoke time.

During the winter I set up the A-Maze-N cold smoke tray in my Big Chief and found by plugging in the burner for 15 minutes every hour I could raise the temperature of the box from 30 degrees to 70 degrees. (I was afraid the 30 degree temperature would be too low). My winter cold smoking time was around 5 hours.

Second Smoke Option:  Sometimes I have removed my Nova Lox from the cold smoker and chilled it for an hour or two, then sampled. Sometimes it needs a little more smoke flavor.... no problem, just return it to the cold smoker for another dose of flavor.  An hour or two usually does the trick.


Preparation For Eating – Overnight Rest Recommended: After cold smoking, the Nova Lox needs to mellow overnight in the refrigerator to have the best flavor. The chilling also allows for easier slicing. Make the slices as thin as possible, and serve them on a chilled plate. The texture can be described as “candied”, and the smoke and salt should be noticeable but subtle. The amount of saltiness can be adjusted by more or less time in the rinse/soak step. Smoke flavor is adjusted by wood selection and/or cold smoke time. 

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33

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33

Doncaster Airport Is Open At Last

From the moment I heard about the proposed plans for Doncaster airport I was a supporter. I even sported a sticker on my car showing my support, although there were a few folk in Doncaster who didn't want the plans to go ahead. Well tough luck because the plans did go ahead. Doncaster Airport was to be situated at the old RAF base in Finningley which boasts one of the longest runways in Europe. A terminal was built, staff were employed and trained, airline companies caught on and very soon it was ready for business.

Doncaster Airport (owned by Peel) was given the rather silly name of Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport but I can understand why it wasn't just named Doncaster Airport. After all not many people have heard of Doncaster, especially those who don't live in this country. From what i've read I think they used the name Robin Hood to attract international visitors to the airport, and Sheffield was added to the title as it's the closest city to Doncaster and more people have heard of it. Well regardless of it's official name most people refer to it as either Doncaster Airport, Donny Airport, or Finningley Airport (as it's situated at a village called Finningley)

Just a few short weeks ago this airport was opened for the first time and I had my flight tickets ready. We'd booked a holiday to Benidorm and whilst we usually fly from Manchester Airport or East Midlands this time we wanted to fly from Doncaster as it's only a few miles away from where we live. Much more handy.

The journey to the airport was very easy as we knew where it was but those unfamiliar with the place may struggle with directions at this moment in time as due to a dispute with the council on road signs there are only little yellow signs and these can be few and far between. Hopefully very shortly this should be sorted out but for now if you're travelling to Doncaster Airport I would find out the directions prior to travelling so you don't get lost.

On arrival the terminal building is pretty impressive. It looks state of the art with huge glass panelling and looks pretty much like an airport abroad. In fact because we arrived at the airport on a hot summers afternoon it felt like we were already abroad. The car park is huge and plenty of spaces were available including dozens of disabled spaces right near the terminal entrance. I'm unsure as to how much the car park costs as we were just dropped off.

Unfortunately we did encounter a slight problem straight away and one which i've never encountered before. You have to put a coin in the luggage trolleys to use them and we didn't know this so we had no change. It's a good job the shop (a Spar) inside the terminal was open otherwise we would have been stuck for change, thankfully they changed a note for us so everything was OK. The trolleys cost £1 or 1 euro which you get back when you take your trolley back.

Inside the terminal it's quite clear to see the building work hasn't quite finished yet. Work was still going on around us if rather quietly. Not many people were around, there was none of the airport hustle and bustle or noisiness. In fact it made a rather refreshing change. I'm sure once it's been open a while longer and more flights are taking off it'll get busier and more hectic but for now it's nice to have a quiet airport.

Checking in was easy although the clerks were a little slow, i'll give them a break though as they're new to the job and it's not like we were in a rush anyway. Once checked in you don't go to the other side like normal, instead you take a right turn and go up some stairs. So the 'other side' is actually the top floor. This reminds me a bit of Humberside Airport which is one of the smaller airports.

Departures is a fairly small area with a small duty free shop and a small general shop. To be honest it's not very impressive but i'm sure given time it'll be far better. There's a Costa Coffee Shop which does lovely coffee if a little on the expensive side and a bar. The smoking area is tiny and you have to wait your turn to sit down as no way is there enough room for all the vile smokers (which includes me)

One gripe I did have was the baby change facilities which to put it bluntly were crap. For a start there was no sign directing us to where it was so we had to ask. Then when we found it all it consisted of was a hard bench for changing the nappies, a sink and a toilet. No baby change mat was provided, no chair for breastfeeding Mums, no comfort whatsoever. There was even a hole in the ceiling with a wire hanging down. Still, like I said the airport isn't finished properly yet so hopefully they'll get this sorted ASAP.

Our plane was delayed slightly but only by half an hour. Whilst we were waiting to board we watched in laughter as the ground crew tried to empty the toilet on the plane but ended up covered in all the waste. That was rather funny. Still they're new at their jobs and I don't think they'll want to make that error again in a hurry. It gave us some decent entertainment whilst we waited though hahaha.

On returning to the airport after our holiday it was rather a disappointment. We had to wait 15 minutes on the plane after landing because the ground crew could only find one set of steps for us to unboard by. It was discovered the other set of steps were on another plane which had landed earlier that day so the whole plane ended up unboarding with just one set of steps. What they doing by not having enough steps? Go figure.

Luggage collection was pretty easy and as we were the only plane to have landed within ages the building was very quiet. Again the trolleys had to be paid for but at least there were plenty available unlike a lot of airports.

On entering arrivals the first thing I noticed was this disgusting smell of turps or something. Yeah welcome to Doncaster hahaha. The turps will disappear once the building work has finished but they could have tried to mask the smell with something. One HUGE bonus about arrivals is there is the good old Spar shop (where we got our change for the trolleys at the start of our journey) The Spar shop was still open even though it was past 11 at night, this was handy to stock up on milk and other essentials for when we got home. I can't remember ever entering an arrivals where you can access a shop, a huge bonus for Doncaster Airport in my eyes.

Taxi collection outside was a bit of a nightmare. There is a huge space for the official airport taxis but if you've ordered a taxi from other companies the pick up area is relatively small. I saw no-one get into an official airport taxi (probably too expensive) most people had ordered other taxis which meant there was a huge jumble of taxis spreading from one side of the airport to the other, and queueing even outside the airport park. As bad luck would have it our taxi took over half an hour to show up which really annoyed me as we only live a 10 minute drive from the airport but after waiting for our taxi for ages it took us nearly 45 minutes in total to get home. Not the airports fault, our taxi companies fault. Don't order Micks Taxis to pick you up from the airport as they're unreliable. Order Bawtry Taxis as I saw loads of them all arrive promptly.

So that concludes my review of Doncaster Airport (oh sorry I mean Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport) Yes there are a few teething problems but it's only just opened. Although not many flights take off from here yet it's sure to increase very rapidly. Already demand for tickets is so much higher than they ever anticipated. Another two terminal buildings are in the pipeline and more facilities and shops are to be built. Give it time and it'll be a fantastic airport to fly from, especially for me with living so close. It's a great benefit for Doncaster town and for the people who live here.

In time and when I fly from Doncaster again I shall update this review with changes they've made. For now i'd like to give it a 3.5 star as some areas could be improved but as I can't give half stars i'll have to give it 3. It pains me to not give it 5 stars but it's not a finished airport yet, a lot still needs to be worked on.

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