Monday, September 29, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Auditions For This Year's Staged In Kuwait's Seasonal Panto
CINDERELLA - A Family Pantomime
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Our family favourite, the Christmas panto is back at the fabulous 400 seater, Performing Arts Centre, TES, Salmiya this December. (Dec. 3rd - 6th)
We are looking for a host of characters to bring this glittering story to life. Are you an utterly Ugly Sister, a charming Prince, a sinfully sweet Cinderella, a bumbling Baron, or a beastly Baroness? Maybe a fluffy fairy or a dashing duke?
We have a wide array of parts on offer for men and women of all ages (18+) and just need you to come and show us what you've got! We also need an ensemble of singers/dancers so if you don't feel ready to step into a speaking role don't be shy - come and try out for the chorus.
Whether you have performed in a panto before or not, we guarantee that SIK pantos are always a huge amount of fun, both in rehearsal and in performance. Come and try out this week!
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WHEN & WHERE
Monday September 29th: 7.45pm - 9.30pm
Wednesday October 1st: 7pm - 9pm
LOCATION: The SIK Studio, Fintas (Details and map)
WHAT SHOULD I PREPARE? You don't need to prepare anything but please come ready to learn a few simple dance steps (comfy clothes) and sing. Those wishing to audition for principal parts will be asked to read scenes from the script. |
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Don't be shy!
We hope to see you on one of the above dates. Please arrive in time for the advertised start time. (If it is your first time please check the location map carefully as it can be a bit tricky finding us) Not everyone will be required to stay all evening but we will start together with movement and voice auditions.
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"The Road To A Healthy Heart" With #SACC at The Avenues
On the occasion of the World Heart Day, Sabah Al-Ahmad Cardiac Center invites you to join the awareness journey "The Road To Healthy Heart" in the Avenues, phase 2 starting from September 28th until the 30th, from 10:00 am until 10 pm.
Sabah Al-Ahmad Cardiac Center #SACC is a non-profitable governmental center, specialized in cardiovascular disease.
At #SACC we are keen on raising awareness about cardiovascular disease among the society. And we aim to combat the disease through this awareness campaign.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Tavola Kuwait Wilton Cake Decorating Classes
Wilton course fees: 65KD including wilton Kit + Wilton Book
Each PME course fees : 120 KD including Kit & Book
Tel. 2482 5761
Tavola is located near London Market, Shuwaikh (end of the 3rd Ring Road) Under Ghazali Bridge-Reem Center Shop 3.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Yard Sale at Operation Hope
Save the Date!
Event: OH Yard Sale & Esther’s Attic Opening
Day & Date: Saturday, Oct 18, 2014
Time: 7 am - 11 am
Location: Rumaithiya, Block 9, St 92, House 23
What to expect: Household items, books, CD’s, DVD’s, knick-knacks, furnishings, children’s toys, clothing and lots more!
Interested in Volunteering: Contact Volunteer@ohkuwait.org
Reminder: To be respectful of the neighborhood parking space, we would appreciate if you would kindly park your vehicle next to the cooperative ahead on the street of HOPE house on sale day.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Lecture: The Scandalous Lady Jane Digby
Before you dismiss this here's some fascinating info on her...
Jane Elizabeth Digby, Lady Ellenborough (3 April 1807 – 11 August 1881) was an English aristocrat who lived a scandalous life of romantic adventure, spanning decades and two continents. She had four husbands and many lovers, including King Ludwig I of Bavaria, his son King Otto of Greece, statesman Felix Schwarzenberg, and a Greek brigand general (Christodoulos Hatzipetros). She died in Damascus, Syria as the wife of Arab Sheikh Medjuel el Mezrab, who was 20 years her junior.
& the Col. Dickson link
H. R. P. Dickson was one of six children of John Dickson, a diplomat in the Levant from 1872–1906, and Edith Wills. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon and was taken at a young age to Damascus, Syria where his father was Consul. There his mother's milk failed and Shaikh Mijwal al Mazrab, the husband of Lady Jane Digby, provided the young child with a wet nurse from the 'Anizah tribe. Islamic law lays out the permanent family-like relationships that are created by wet nursing, and this "blood affinity" between Dickson and the 'Anizah meant he was treated as a member of the tribe. He stated that this blood tie 'in later life has been of assistance to me in my dealings with the Badawin [bedouin] of the high desert and around Kuwait'. Following the death of Lady Jane Digby, the Dickson family rented her house in Damascus, and Dickson recalled that he 'spent my childhood days rambling about the lovely garden that had once been [her] pride and happiness.'.
Dickson met his wife Dame Violet Dickson (1896 – 1991) in Marseilles, France, shortly after the end of World War I, where she was working in a bank. She travelled out to meet him in India, where he was stationed and where they were married. Shortly afterwards he was posted to Iraq.
Dickson served as British Political Agent in Bahrain from 1919-1920. He also served in Persia (present-day Iran). In 1929 he was appointed British Political Agent to Kuwait, and served in this role until 1936. He briefly held this role again in 1941.
Dar Al Athar hopes you enjoyed the summer and are eagerly waiting for Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah’s 20th Cultural Season to begin. You don’t have to wait long, as the season gets off to a flying start on Monday the 29th with the annual Tareq Rajab Museum Lecture about Lady Jane Digby
Lecture begins at 7pm at the Amricani Cultural Centre.
(Lecture in English)
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
#NotInMyName
Abu Bakr's, the first caliph of the Muslims after the Prophet (pbuh), warfare rules.
#NotInMyName is a Twitter account where young British Muslims are protesting, condemning and distancing themselves from ISIS.
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Bravo India!
"We have gone beyond the boundaries of human enterprise and human imagination," declared India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who watched from the space agency's nerve center in Bangalore. "We have accurately navigated our spacecraft through a route known to a very few."
The staff at the Indian Space Research Organization erupted into applause and cheers after learning that the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan, reached the planet's orbit and made history.
Before Wednesday, only the United States, Europe and the Soviets have successfully sent spacecraft to Mars.
India's space agency and Prime Minister Narendra Modi cheer the Mars mission.
"The odds were stacked against us," Modi said. "Of the 51 missions attempted so far, a mere 21 had succeeded. But we have prevailed."
And India reached Mars with significantly less money.
With a price tag of $74 million, the Mars Orbiter Mission cost a mere fraction of the $671 million NASA spent on its MAVEN spacecraft, which arrived to Mars earlier this week. Some space observers noted that India's Mars orbiter cost less than the $100 million budget for the space thriller film "Gravity.
LWDLIK - Budget rocket seats to Mars?
Bounce Back To-Do List
I have been putting off clearing out the family/storage room... forever. But whilst hubby was away decided the time is right. One reason for doing it whilst he's away is the typical male thing of, "We'll get someone in to move that, fix this and paint that." That someone seemed to evade us or avoid us. Plus you get to throw a lot of hubby's stuff out that they thought they couldn't live without.
Started 7AM and finished finally at 4PM. Knowing that if I was to stop for more than a two minute tea break, it would NEVER, EVER get done. Managed to clear two huge wardrobes, remove shelves, lean and drag under and through a doorway, push into place, return shelves, return clothes, remove books and crap from 2 floor to ceiling bookshelves, drag them through same doorway only going the other direction, return shelves and books, clean mess, hoover and mop. Exhausted but proud as punch!
Husband got back from his trip and could not believe what I had done. He kept asking our maid if she'd helped me (which I had hoped she would) but she needed to go to clinic and get lunch ready so it was 95% me. The moving of the giant wardrobes on my own still has me baffled. I was quite sure I was going to squish my foot under something heavy. But no, not even a chipped nail. However, a good hot Radox bath was required for the aching back and limbs later.
So very pleased with myself.
Now to try and get the rest of my life in order... This might help.
It’s bright and cheery with a quote from Nelson Mandela at the bottom. You could also laminate it and use a dry erase marker.
Download the To Do List printable and/or “Always remember” quote.
With thanks to www.thirtyhandmadedays.com for the free printables.
The Beautiful City of Madrid
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It's been a very long time since my last visit (20 years approximately) and boy has it changed. No wonder the country's in a recession it looks as if the government has spent an enormous amount on beautifying and updating Madrid. The airport is stunning. A spacious terminal 4 greets you and glides you through effortlessly. Very impressive indeed. |
We stayed downtown at a friend's lovely apartment close to Madrid's 5th Avenue, Calle Serrano.
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| Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum |
First stop (no, not shopping) a bit of culture at the very hip Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
for an audio tour of the 'Pop Art Myths' exhibition. Followed by a fabulous lunch at Mercado San Miguel.
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| Mercado San Miguel |
Madrid has jaw-dropping architecture. Long tree-lined avenues, majestic roundabouts adorned with statues and fountains. One of the most astounding buildings would have to be the central post office (photo below).
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| Central Post Office |
Madrid is very walkable. Many places of interest are quite close but the older plazas are cobbled and you could easily break a heel or worse an ankle, so flat shoes are advisable.
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| Plaza Mayor |
The Prado museum is a must, you may have to choose which exhibits to see - as it's so vast. We saw the El Greco and Modern Painting exhibit. Very interesting indeed. I had no idea the old master has influenced so many modern painters. Was fascinating to see the comparisons side by side.
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El Greco and Modigliano
An exhilarating day at Diana Campo (just outside Madrid) with double-barreled shotguns - trying to shoot a partridge or two. I was badly bruised but determined; the recoil on those babies is wild. Managed to bag a few birdies though :O) A brilliant finale to our week was a fantastic flamenco show full of passion and energy at Cardamomo. Great company and a very memorable time. Will definitely be revisiting Madrid. Me encanta Madrid. |
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Wonderful Art Classes & Cake Decorating Classes at Artspace Cafe in Galleria 2000, Salmiya
To book workshops at Artspace Tel. 97775273.
We are NOT Ladies who Lunch UAE
Just to clarify! Don't know them, never heard of them. So if anyone else out there thinks this is us I'm sorry it most certainly isn't.
Brush up your Shakespeare!
One World Actors Centre is proud to announce that auditions for the 4th Annual Shakespeare Festival will be held at Bayt Lothan Cultural Centre, Salmiya,from 18.30-21.00 this Thursday 25 September.
This year there will be TWO productions performed as part of the festival: the romantic tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet' and the comedy 'Twelfth Night.'
For information on audition pieces and how to get involved, please contactinfo@oneworldactorscentre.com.
Bahrain, Saudi, Jordan, UAE, Qatar Join USA in Airstrikes Against ISIS in Raqqa, Syria
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| Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria. An ISIS stronghold and centre of ISIS activity. |
More on CNN
The United States stepped up its war against the Islamic State militant group, launching air strikes on targets in Syria for the first time.
The Pentagon press secretary, rear admiral John Kirby, confirmed that the US and allied nations sent fighter jets, bomber aircraft and Tomahawk missiles in an operation against Isis that he described as “ongoing”.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Raqqa, a Syrian stronghold of Isis, was among the targets of the operation, which began in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time.
The first wave of strikes finished about 90 minutes later at around 10pm EDT (2am GMT), but the operation was expected to continue for several more hours,
Airstrikes against Isis targets in Iraq, which began on 7 August, now occur daily. Of Syria, the official said: “If we need to go daily, we will.”
The US was joined in the Syria operation by Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, an official said.
The strikes were carried out by manned air force and navy aircraft, while the Tomahawk missiles were launched from US ships in the northern Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. The aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is in the Gulf.
Kirby said the strikes were ordered by army general Lloyd Austin, the commander of US forces in the Middle East and South Asia “under authorisation granted to him by the commander in chief”.
President Barack Obama met Austin last week to discuss plans to expand the air war into Syria. There have been almost 200 airstrikes in Iraq so far.
The White House has been under mounting pressure in recent days to show other countries, particularly in the Arab world, are willing to take an active military role in its coalition against Isis.
Last week secretary of state John Kerry promised sceptical lawmakers in a series of briefings on Capitol Hill that he would be in a position to name the unspecified active partners before the end of the week.
But it was the upcoming United Nations general assembly in New York, at which Obama will chair a meeting of the security council, that the politics of having countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates will be crucial for the US.
Obama is hoping to use the special session to secure international backing for a tough resolution against Isis, including an international travel ban on foreign fighters travelling from other countries.
The strikes come months in advance of any support on the ground. With Obama ruling out US combat troops for now, there is no capable ground force in eastern Syria to capitalise on the air strikes by seizing territory back from Isis.
The US plan is to train a force of Syrian rebels for that purpose in Saudi Arabia, but the training has not begun yet. The Pentagon estimates that it will take at least eight months for the first units to be ready.
Asked on Friday by the Guardian what an air campaign in Syria can accomplish without a ground component, Kirby said: “What airstrikes would enable us to do is to continue to put pressure on them, particularly the safe havens and sanctuaries that they enjoy in Syria.”
The airstrikes are a long-telegraphed move by the Pentagon, albeit a reluctant one for many senior military officers and the White House. In June, after Isis overran the Iraqi city of Mosul, US defence officials speculated that an American reprisal would likely need to target the group in Syria as well as Iraq, in order to inflict lasting damage.
Obama said in a televised address on 10 September that he would expand the US war against Isis into Syria, reversing a longstanding caution against involving the US in the bloody confusion of Syria’s civil war. Political and media pressure on Obama to launch airstrikes against Isis and then expand the war into Syria has been intense, despite much scepticism on Capitol Hill of Obama’s war strategy.
The escalation of the war into Syria comes without explicit congressional authorisation. Last week, Congress agreed to provide $500m requested by Obama for training Syrian rebels, but deferred a vote specifically on the war against Isis until after November’s legislative elections. Obama has asserted that the 2001 Authorisation to Use Military Force against al-Qaida provides him with sufficient legal authority, something few legal scholars have embraced, owing to al-Qaida’s public rejection of Isis earlier this year.
The US has denied speculation that it will work with the government of Bashar al-Assad against Isis, a common enemy. Syria’s use of chemical weapons in its protracted civil war had earlier led Obama to consider strikes against the Assad regime. Now, the US finds itself in the position of conducting an operation that could potentially deliver strategic benefits to Assad.
General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, has warned that Assad’s air defences - mostly configured on Syria’s western coast, far from land held by Isis - are formidable, yet there is no indication that US and allied planes were under attack from Assad in the latest operation.
LWDLIK - Good to see Arabs participate.
LWDLIK - Good to see Arabs participate.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Hola! I'm off to Madrid for a week. Hasta Luego Muchachas.
Tapas, manchego and quince jam
Flamenco
El Escorial
Photograph by Luis Castaneda/TIPS Images
Northwest of Madrid, overlooking forested hills, is El Escorial, a monastery and royal retreat dating to the 16th century.
Reina SofÃa
Photograph by Jose Manuel Navia/ASA/Aurora Photos
Patrons view Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" and other modern works at the Reina SofÃa, Madrid’s museum of 20th-century art.
Kio Towers
Photograph by Allan Baxter/Getty Images
Madrid’s Kio Towers, also known as "Europe’s Gate" are inclined skyscrapers at the edge of Plaza Castilla.
Plaza Salvador Dali
Photograph by Luis Castaneda/TIPS Images
A sculpture entitled "La Esfera de Newton" stands within the Plaza Salvador DalÃ, honouring the famous surrealist painter.
Sculptures in the Prado Museum
Photograph by Jose Manuel Navia/ASA/Aurora Photos
Morning light fills a sculpture room in Madrid’s famous Prado Museum, which has one of the world’s finest collections of European art.
Partridge shooting in the countryside
LWDLIK - I'm secretly hoping I don't hit any birdies.
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