Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Meet the Breeds
Some are small and stubborn while others are large and laid back. All are stars of the doggie world in their own right. Get to know some of the breeds featured in Dogs 101! Australian Cattle DogAKC Ranking: 73 Family: livestock, herding Area of Origin: Australia Date of Origin: 1800s Original Function: cattle herding Today's Function: cattle herding, herding trials Average Size of Male: Height: 18 to 20 inches; Weight: 35 to 45 pounds Average Size of Female: Height: 17 to 19 inches; Weight: 35 to 45 pounds Other Name: Queensland heeler, blue heeler, Hall's heeler TemperamentSmart, hardy, independent, stubborn, tenacious, energetic and untiring — these are all traits essential to a driver of headstrong cattle, and all traits of the Australian cattle dog. This dog must have a job to do or it will expend its efforts on unacceptable jobs of its own. Given challenging mental and hard physical exercise daily, it is among the most responsive and obedient of dogs, an exemplary partner in adventure. It tends to nip at the heels of running children. UpkeepThe Australian cattle dog was bred to be active and tireless. This dog needs a lot of physical and mental activity, more than a simple walk on a leash can provide. A good jog or long workout, coupled with obedience lessons or other intellectual challenges, is essential every day. It is happiest when it has a job to perform, and especially when that job is herding. The Australian cattle dog can live outdoors in temperate to cool climates. It is unsuited for apartment life. Its coat needs brushing or combing weekly to remove dead hairs. HealthMajor concerns: CHD, OCD, deafness, PRA Minor concerns: none Occasionally seen: cataract, lens luxation, PPM, vWD Suggested tests: hip, hearing, eye Life span: 10 to 13 years Form and FunctionThe Australian cattle dog is of moderate build, enabling it to combine great endurance with bursts of speed and the extreme agility necessary in controlling unruly cattle. It is sturdy and compact, slightly longer than it is tall. Its gait is supple and tireless, and it must be capable of quick and sudden movement. Its ability to stop quickly is aided by the rudderlike action of its tail (which is never docked). Its weather-resistant coat consists of a short, dense undercoat and moderately short, straight outer coat of medium texture. For more on the Australian Cattle Dog, check out our Dog Breed Selector.
Image Credit: iStockphoto (2) Jupiterimages Woraput Chaw
Saluki AKC Ranking: 110 Family: sighthound, Southern (sighthound) Area of ... SalukiAKC Ranking: 110 Family: sighthound, Southern (sighthound) Area of Origin: Middle East Date of Origin: ancient times Original Function: coursing hare and gazelles Today's Function: lure coursing, open-field coursing Average Size of Male: Height: 23 to 28 inches; Weight: 35 to 65 pounds Average Size of Female: Height: 23 to 28 inches; Weight: 35 to 65 pounds Other Name: gazelle hound, Persian greyhound TemperamentThe Saluki tends to be aloof and reserved with strangers. It is extremely devoted to its own family, but it is not particularly demonstrative. The Saluki is very gentle with children, but it may not be playful enough to satisfy most of them. Extremely sensitive, it does not take to rough-and-tumble play or deal well with harsh corrections. Some Salukis can be shy. This breed is very quiet and sedate indoors, seeking out a soft, warm spot. Outside, it runs in great circles at tremendous speeds and will chase any small running animals or fast-moving objects. It may not come when called. UpkeepDaily exercise is essential, preferably in the form of free running in a safe, enclosed area. The Saluki's needs can also be met with long leash walks or jogging. Salukis should sleep inside in all but the warmest climates; they do best as indoor dogs with access to a yard. They can play in snow and cold weather but should not be expected to spend extended time in the cold.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Tomato consommé with Lancashire cheese on toast Tugsudhgui
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
The Best Historic Experiences in London
Meeting the Heroes and Villains of the City's History: The greats and not-so-greats of English history show their faces at the National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin's Place, WC2 (tel. 020/7306-0055; www.npg.org.uk), often "warts and all." The gang's all here, from Dr. (Samuel) Johnson to Princess Diana, and even a Holbein cartoon of Henry VIII.
Taking a Tour of Royal London: From palaces and parks to the royal art collections, much of London's history, geography, and culture has been shaped by centuries of aristocratic rule. You can see the best of it in a day -- including the Queen's favorite grocer, Fortnum & Mason -- if you plot your itinerary carefully. Come during July or August and you can also view inside Buckingham Palace (tel. 020/7766-
Taking a Tour of Royal London: From palaces and parks to the royal art collections, much of London's history, geography, and culture has been shaped by centuries of aristocratic rule. You can see the best of it in a day -- including the Queen's favorite grocer, Fortnum & Mason -- if you plot your itinerary carefully. Come during July or August and you can also view inside Buckingham Palace (tel. 020/7766-
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
HISTORY
The Best Historic Experiences in London
Walking in the Footsteps of Sir Christopher Wren: The architect who rebuilt so much of London after the Great Fire of 1666 is best known for his churches. Walk from St. Bride's, on Fleet Street, past his icon, St. Paul's Cathedral, to St. Mary-le-Bow and beyond to appreciate his genius.
Shopping in the Grandest Department Store of Them All: And, no, it isn't Harrods. Liberty of London, 210-220 Regent St., W1 (tel. 020/7734-1234), was founded in 1875 and moved to its current half-timbered, mock-Tudor home in 1924. London's rediscovered hunger for classic fabrics and vintage style has seen Liberty catapulted right back to the forefront of cool. It's the West End's best shopping spot, but you'll need to pack the credit card.Imagining Domestic Life Through the Ages: At the Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Rd., E2 (tel. 020/7739-9893; www.geffrye-museum.org.uk), period re-creations of interiors from the spartan 1630s to the flashy 1990s allow visitors to understand how home life has changed. Travel 500 years in an hour on an absorbing visual and personal retelling of the history of middle-class London.
Staying at a Classic Mayfair Hotel: From the Art Deco interiors of Claridge's, Brook St., W1 (tel. 020/7629-8860; www.claridges.co.uk), to the liveried door attendants of the Connaught, Carlos Place, W1 (tel. 020/7499-7070; www.the-connaught.co.uk), nothing screams historic London quite like the city's most upscale hotel area. Comfort has never gone out of style here, so start saving right away.
The Best Local Experiences
North London on a Lazy Sunday: Head for Hampstead Heath off Well Walk and take the right fork, which leads to an open field with a panoramic view across London. Backtrack for lunch at Wells, 30 Well Walk, NW3 (tel. 020/7794-3785), before a visit to Hampstead's Freud Museum or Keats House, both of which are open on Sunday until 5pm. Cap it all off with a pint in the Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount, NW3 (tel. 020/7435-2892).
A Bargain at London's Best Street Market: A jumble of open-air stalls and warrens of indoor arcades combine to make Portobello Road the quintessential West London market. Haggle hard and you'll likely get 10% to 15% off the asking price. Saturday's the best day to come, when even the crowds won't ruin your fun.
A Night on the Tiles South of the River: Young revelers pour into buzzing Brixton after dark, despite the area's historical rep for edginess. Try Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 (tel. 020/7733-7515), for everything from house DJs to cabaret, or the O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Rd., SW9 (tel. 020/7771-3000;
We will rock you: climbing in Boulder, Colorado
need to think about "climbing season", because in Boulder you can climb all year round.
I've spent cold winter mornings slogging through snow and ice on the one-hour approach to the Industrial Wall near Eldorado Canyon, only to find myself comfortably basking in a sun trap at the base of the crag, wearing just a T-shirt. But beware, even in winter the rays are strong and the price most outdoor enthusiasts pay is well-weathered skin – we like to think of those wrinkles as a logbook of life's extracurricular activity.
But what truly makes the Front Range the epicentre of rock climbing is the community. Never again will you have to search for a partner who shares your goals for the day. Never again will you spend a lonely evening in the gym trying to motivate yourself with just an iPod. And never again will you wish for a crew to jaw with over a few beers about that epic day you blew your shoulder out on the crux move of your bouldering project.
And if your 'ceps are starting to feel a little overdeveloped and you are starting to adopt that characteristic climber hunchback, there are numerous other athletic communities you can join. Pick up a mountain bike, train for a marathon, navigate rapids in a kayak – Colorado's got it all, and we can quickly help you balance out those muscle groups.
Norway is skiing secrets
After trying her hand at dog sledding, Mariella takes a break. Photograph: Observer
The only sound as I slide along is the whoosh of metal blades on ice and the panting of the huskies. In every direction stretches a dazzling canvas of snow and pine with not a sign of habitation. We are intruders in this winterscape. Johan, the owner of the dog-sledding outfit, is our outrider, leading the way, surefooted as a deer as he careers ahead. Negotiating the bends between tree trunks at breakneck speed without the sleigh toppling brings shrieks of delight from the children. Three hours' flight away to the south the slopes of the Alps are crawling with humanity, but here in my native Norway we're far from that madding crowd.
I gave up trying to find our destination, Hemsedal, in the Lonely Planet guide. As far as I was aware it had been one of the country's most popular downhill ski resorts since the early 60s. Geilo has made a slightly bigger name for itself on the cross-country circuit, but that still didn't explain why a forensic search yielded nothing. But, though this area is renowned locally as the "Scandinavian Alps", such reticence to boast about their assets is typical of the Norwegian approach to life.
The pared-back nature of daily life in a country boasting the third-largest sovereign wealth fund is quite a surprise. A predilection for bling in similarly oil-rich nations from Saudi Arabia to Iraq has kept London's Park Lane car dealers in business through three recessions. Not so the Norwegians, who favour a Volvo from neighbouring Sweden. Instead of squandering their North Sea bonanza they've invested it, ensuring future generations enjoy the high standards of free education and healthcare that are the envy of the world. There are few countries where adults still favour "family bunks" and standard bath towels are the size of dishcloths.
Thankfully there's a newfound thaw in my countrymen's icy resolve. Where once pine-clad apartments with strip lighting were the order of the day, our accommodation in the hamlet of Totteskogen offered luxury. Five minutes from the children's slopes and set among a cluster of cabins, our home for the week, called Dinabu, was a medley of stone and wood, with floor-to-ceiling glass framing the mountain view, underfloor heating and not one but two log fires along with a small sauna and a huge boot room to put wet ski gear in to dry. Privately owned mountain retreats like ours are let by their owners only for a proportion of the year, so personal touches are everywhere.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)