A Song frozen in Time.

Advantages: Reminder of winter as spring bursts forth
Disadvantages: Chilly imagery may cool the reader!

...Frosty fingers spread and splay, to define the hanging cobwebs shining like white gold on bare branches, in the brittle sunshine. Leaves are shed like fallen bodies of cold dead soldiers on battlefields of old. But the hope-filled robin preens its scarlet breast, perched on the stricken limbs still offering rest. Sluggish green waters creep slowly along, down the chilled ravine, passing staring trees. While the wind throws back the hollow birdsong on a swirling cyclone seeking to freeze their small breaths, till feathered life, unhappily, flees. Though winter jasmine beckons, with yellowed hand, to the robin perched, surveying the land. Brown leaves of death float on the winterbourne, beside meadows stripped of wintergreens, echoing the slowing heartbeat of forlorn creatures, searching frozen soil for the means to...

stinkbadger 04.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Poetry

A poem to make you feel Christmassy

Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

..., The children play their Christmas games, In each room, there's joy and festivity, Children admire the Christmas Nativity. I'd see it all from my perch up high, Twinkling beautifully in the sky, Each Christmas day, nicer than last, The turkey and trimmings disappearing quite fast. Each sleepy child, early to bed, Doing exactly as their parents have said, Dreaming peacefully about the fun they have had, Thinking of their gifts and feeling glad. Excitement for the forthcoming year, I'd feel it all from my perch up there, Decorations come down as the new year begins, New opportunities and many happy things. I always did receive my wish, For peace and joy and happiness, But one wish that I did not see, Was being the angel upon the Christmas tree. This honour I did not receive, But the Christmas spirit, I do still believe...

bluejules 26.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Everything that starts with C ...

60 Word Story Challange

Advantages: Quick
Disadvantages: May not be any good

...This is my go at the challenge set by scarlet ribbons to write a story in 60 words. Tougher than it sounds but great fun to try. Affairs The cherry blossom fell as she stood there, on the pavement, gazing up at the house where she had spent many nights. It was empty , locks changed, no way back. Her liaison with Mike on the office night out had seen to that. It was time to go. Her Husband would be waiting and the children would want their tea. Jump Perched on the edge he nervously looked down. People like ants, scurrying about their business. The sweat glistened on his brow and trepidation welled in his stomach like indigestion. It was time. He shuffled forward, eyes closed, mouth dry. He stepped off. It was a long 5 seconds before the bungee cord yanked him back up and he took his next breath...

Looby5 06.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Everything that starts with S ...

My sweet portable modem

Advantages: Small, good reception
Disadvantages: Not much storage

...I hate mobile phones. Hate their horrible ringtones. Hate the obnoxious rodents who ruin train journeys talking on them. Hate the 'youth' advertising rubbish that accompanies the phenomena. Hate text messages. Hate voicemails. Hate video messaging. Hate the horrid little pictures you get from the inbuilt cameras. But they are a necessity. And Motorola's V3, combined with Orange's pay as you go service, has been a total saviour. First of all, the combination of the two are the only way you can get phone signal at my abode (as long as it's about eight inches above my desk, perched on top of a stack of CD-R's!). There's more though. The blessing that is GPRS. I formerly thought of mobile phones as a tedious necessity, a replacement for call boxes (and more convenient than having to dig out 30p). Nothing exciting. But GPRS has saved...

bigbtommy 18.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of Motorola V3

Blue Berg - Britain Takes The Cape in 1806

Advantages: COlour pics and a battle map!
Disadvantages: Could have had some more historical info on Napoleon.

...This 1806 British attack on the (French controlled) Batavian Dutch is told in a gripping and pacy tale. The book also has links to Indian history with descriptions of Seringpatam and Tipu Sultan, as well as the British colonialising effort in India, China, and Australia. General Baird the commander of the 1806 British force that attacked the Cape of Good Hope, had been imprisoned at Seringpatam and had been part of the storming party at the city walls in 1799. The Battle was in early Jan 1806, and was preceded by a skirmish on Melkbosch beach, and finished with a standoff of over a week on the Hottentots Holland Mountains at Somerset West between the British and Batavian Dutch perched on their mountain top defence line. This Battle was the precursor to the British in Southern Africa, and the 1820 Settlers, English...

ClassicHistory 06.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Blue Berg : Britain takes the Cape - M.R.D. Anderson

Old haunts in a new way.

Advantages: Allows fans to reunite with Lara, in old territory.
Disadvantages: New controls mean time to adjust, can make playing earlier TR tricky and frustrating.

...; column traversal - again Lara can jump from column to column to access unreachable areas; perching - lara has mastered the perch, a balancing act enabing her to navigate pits and reach high areas. In combat lara has advanced her skills to include: Knockdown recovery, the ability to recover herself when a particulally nasty enemy takes a swipe at her; the tumble, Lara utilises her acrobatic training, flipping and tumbling when moving - useful for dodging enemies; Adrenaline dodges, the ability to execute a head shot when an enemy becomes enraged during combat; and the ability to shake free enemies who grab Lara. The revamped graphics make this Lara adventure so much more realistic, with smoother edges, fewer inconsistancies and layer bugs. Actions are much more fluid, for example the ability to pull objects in directions other than back...

Bobblelover1 07.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary (PS2)

Highly Recommended

Advantages: £5 per rod, clean, not over fished
Disadvantages: Too few carp

...Pea Lane at Upminster, Essex is a lovely lake for the keen angler. This venue is mainly a match lake but there are a few carp in the water although they are not regularly caught and no more than a dozen or so come out each week. On the other hand if it is roach, perch and skimmers you are after then you may well be in for a treat. Roach and perch are up to 2lb. Small hooks work best for these fish which are usually caught at mid depth. Baits to use: Boilies, sweetcorn, maggots, pinkies and casters work well and a dark groundbait is also recommended. Tickets are available at £5 per rod and can be obtained from the bailiff Les Ailey by telephoning 01708 745985 You will enjoy a good days match fishing here amongst picturesque surroundings and better carp fishing during the summer months. I would class this as a medium difficulty...

jonwhite 11.12.2000 · Read review
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Review of Pea Lane, Upminster, Essex

Excellent sound quality and great design

Advantages: design, sound, picture quality, size etc.
Disadvantages: remote control

...The most striking thing about this system is its incredibly debonair design which adapts to most styes of decor. The main DVD console is finished in tasty piano black with silver around the edge and a row of tiny illuminated buttons on the front. Hit the open/close button and the entire right hand side slides across, allowing you to insert your disc. The whole unit is perched on a circular stand that makes it look hi-tech and futuristic, setting it apart from other 'set-top box' style systems on the market. It can be placed on a side board or fixed to the wall making it extremely versatile. The speakers are similarly styled in black and silver and perched on circular stands, but they can also be wall-mounted. Inside each one is a set of independent speaker drivers positioned at precise angles, which attempt to mimic the effect...

ninjette 15.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Philips HTS 6600

Evil Preys Upon The Fallen

Advantages: Fast Paced, easy to read
Disadvantages: I couldn't put it down

...Broken Angels by Richard Montanari is in essence a serial killer thriller. Perched on a stone pier, as if she were sat at watching the river ebb and flow. She was wearing nothing but a long pink dress from a different age entirely. The victim had clearly been posed and much to the shocking, grim discovery of Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne, the murder detectives on the case, she had had both of her feet amputated. Balzano and Byrne start investigating the murder, identify the victim, interviewing her friends. They are treating this a a single murder until another body rocks up, this too, close to the riverbank and posed and dressed in a bizarre outfit. The body count rises but will Balzano and Byrne discover the killers grotesque plan and put a stop to the killings? Well, you will have to read it to find out. I very much...

theshinyone 08.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Broken Angels - Richard Montanari

Majorly Over-rated

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Stains palms, smells, streaks, comes off in the shower

...after, of course I did, and it must of only been on for a few minutes but my hands remained orange and smell all week long. Hot! I've tried exfoliating before I apply the tan and moisturising, even with St. Tropez own brand of exfoliating cream and moisture lotion but it makes no difference. St. Tropez needs to be knocked off its perch as its useless. Don't waist your money on it. It's not cheap and you'll regret it!...

RebeccaOwen 01.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of St. Tropez Whipped Bronze Instant Self-Tanning Mousse