Iris for the masses

Advantages: Nice enough scent
Disadvantages: Isn't too original, poor staying power

...Launched: 2007 Group: Floral oriental Introduction I'm a miniature perfume collector and received a 3 x 5ml mini set of the Yves Rocher Secrets d'Essence range from a friend in France that contained Iris Noir Eau de Parfum. This fragrance is currently the latest addition to the collection which are themed compositions centered around some of the most well-known and used essences in perfumery such as the rose, amber or jasmin. The bottle The fragrance is contained in a simple-looking, clear cylindic bottle that sligtly widens at the top. The fragrance itself is light purple in colour that gives a soft and oriental feel, like Lancome's Hypnose and indeed the comparison isn't accidental. The fragrance Top notes: coriander, bergamot The opening notes of are somewhat sharp, rich citrus notes that are...

lillamarta 21.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Yves Rocher Iris Noir

Secrets of the Gower Peninsula.

Advantages: Stunning views, pristine and clean beaches, never too busy.
Disadvantages: The Gower is a fair way from most other places

...I lived in Swansea for three years between 1999-2002 while I was an undergraduate student. Clearly it wasn't all work and alot of my 'play' time was spent exploring the Gower Peninsula. A stunning and relatively unknown little gem tucked away in South Wales, The Gower was the first place in Britain to be designated as an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' in 1949 and it truly lives up to this honour. Getting there and Away. ************************** You can get to the Gower in between 20 minutes and a hour from Swansea, if you're driving, depending on which bit you want to go to. Buses also run but these are sporadic and unreliable. You'd really be much better off in a car. The roads are good, although they are generally single track and wind back and forth which can make for slow progress should you get stuck behind...

nickyturnill 08.02.2005 (11.01.2006) · Read review
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Review of Gower Peninsula (Wales)

Gower Holiday Village

Advantages: Wonderful beaches, and countryside and great food.
Disadvantages: Some beaches are inaccessable to some people due to steep climbs down, and back up cliffs.

...I have to disagree with Walshies comment and agree with LJJames. There are many bungalows on the Gower Holiday village, about 70 I think. I believe you can book directly with the holiday village, which may well be what Walshies did, to get his poor accomodation, but there are many bungalows that are privately owned, one of which we booked. See www.number62.co.uk. No. 62 was very comfortable indeed. The beds are the best I have every slept in away from home, like marshmellows! The crockery and pots and pans were the quality in any normal home, and not junk bought from a thrift shop. The whole ambiance was modern, clean, functional and welcoming, and it truly was a pleasure to stay there. Jules (the owner) has dogs and very much welcomes dogs (there are thows on sofa's and dog bowls and stone and wooden floors...

Karriebea 26.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Gower Holiday Village

Film on the life of Iris Murdock

Advantages: Brilliant weepy
Disadvantages: Had to keep wiping away tears to see

...I watched this film a few weeks back. I have read some of her novels, so was already familiar with her, but didn't know much about her life. The film starred the brilliant cast including Dame Judy Dench, Jim Broadbent and Kate Winslett. Kate's part as the young Iris is actually very small compared to the amount of media attention she got from the promo's. The real star for me is Jim Broadbent, absolutely brilliant! The film centres around Iris' slow descent into dementia from the early onset to the end and it captures all the signals without overdoing it. There is one point late in the film where the husband......... no, I will stop there. The film handles this difficult subject sensitively and Dame Judy is extremely believable. The most difficult part of dementia is when someone who has had such a sharp mind and who would...

orlando 31.01.2003 (15.03.2003) · Read review
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Review of Iris (DVD)

Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm

Advantages: Keep you busy for hours
Disadvantages: Quests can take a little to long

...task. When you get to the point of encountering an enemy you discover that rather than Atelier Iris's previous real time fights, we now have a turn-based battle. This may seem like a bit of a departure for the series, but it does take some of the randomness out of proceedings, enabling the more thoughtful player to take their time and plan a thought through attack strategy. Within this system the character's skills and equipment also have an effect that must be considered and put to careful use if you are to come away victorious. This style of battle has been seen many times before and probably better implemented elsewhere, it is testament to the difficulty of delivering anything new or interesting in the genre. It is probably telling that more often than not you will simply do your best to avoid these fights and move on with the game...

blazeuk 16.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm (PS2)

Goddess of the Rainbow

Advantages: Huge variety of types and colours
Disadvantages: Some types can be invasive

...Iris, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, possibly because the range of shades of colouring and markings is reminiscent of the rainbow. The Wild Iris - or Yellow Flag - had three 'falls' (pendant or semi-pendant petals), which were said to symbolise faith, wisdom and courage. This was believed to be why the flower was carried by the French kings when they were proclaimed and a stylised version was chosen by Louis VII for his banner. This became known as the Fleur de Louis, later corrupted into fleur-de-luce or fleur-de-lys. There is a huge variety of plants which range from a few inches high to about four feet and in colours which range from white, yellow, pink, purple, blue, bronze through to almost black. They can, in their various forms, be suitable for borders, rock gardens, woodlands, watersides and ponds, bog...

Minha 06.03.2004 · Read review
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Review of Iris

Iris Aparthotel, Kos

Advantages: Brilliant pool
Disadvantages: Music played at the pool

......

sharkel 12.02.2007 · Read review
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Review of Iris Aparthotel, Psalidi Beach, Kos Town

Sailing into darkness

Advantages: A moving and very human portrayal of Iris Murdoch's battle with Alzheimers
Disadvantages: A few unanswered questions

...It comes as something of a surprise to me that I spent so many years studying literature at university and strangely managed to avoid reading anything about, or by Iris Murdoch. Of course, I remember hearing about the film 'Iris' when it came out in 2001, but the only reason it sparked my interest was down to the fact that the main character was portrayed at different stages of her life by both Judi Dench and Kate Winslet, who happen to be two of my favourite actresses. Given that I had also worked in a Nursing Home for Alzheimers sufferers, I must admit to being ever so slightly curious about how such a tragic topic could be tackled by a director, especially when it centred around the true story of someone who (prior to her illness) had such a brilliant mind and wrote 26 highly successful novels. Somewhere along the line, I forgot all...

Tadders 11.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Iris (DVD)

A Strange Fairytale

Advantages: A good introduction to Murdoch, interesting themes of love and obsession
Disadvantages: Quite literary, sometimes too descriptive

...Iris Murdoch is a well regarded author who is best known for the ethical and sexual themes of her work. She was awarded the Booker Prize in 1978 for "The Sea, the Sea" and several of her novels have been adapted for film and television. She died in 1999 and suffered from Alzheimer's disease. A film was made of her life in 2001, "Iris" which was based on the memories of her husband, John Bayley. This was my first look at Iris Murdoch's work and I'm still not sure what I think of it. "The Unicorn" is a strange tale and is full of ambiguity. It is either a re-working of Gothic Romance or it is a parody of Gothicism but no-one seems to be quite sure which. The book starts off with Marian Taylor, a teacher who decides to take a job at Gaze Castle, a big house in the countryside, in order to have an adventure and get away from the man she...

mogdred1 22.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Unicorn - Iris Murdoch

Another gem from the orient

Advantages: Beautiful flower shape and colour - plus amazing scent!
Disadvantages: Usually need moist soil - otherwise none

...I once read a letter from a reader in a gardening magazine. They asked what I thought was a very interesting question: If you could only use plants from one part of the world to plant a whole garden, which part of the world would you choose? And the answer was Asia. One of those answers where if you think about it (and are interested!), it seems obvious. Just think - clematis, magnolia, wisteria, rhododendron, iris - all stunning plants. Although I do love almost all of the above (having problems getting magnolias to grow in my damp and quite windswept garden, though), Irises are my favourite. This is a Good Thing, because the bottom bed in my slightly-downwards-sloping garden has very heavy soil and poor drainage. After having spent a lot of time, money and effort improving both of these problems, me and my wife have set to...

alabony 09.06.2004 (24.07.2005) · Read review
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Review of Iris