Mourne Park House

The Four Winds of Heaven

The first time I visited Mourne Park, some 15 years ago, Julie Ann Anley took me on a whistlestop tour. "It's great!" she laughed. "No one ever bothers us here because the house isn't architecturally important." This was no tourist attraction like Belvoir Castle. The country house as time capsule may have become a cliché, coined in the Eighties when Calke Abbey came to the public's attention, but it certainly applied to MPH.

Richard Castle

The last time I visited the house, in April 2003, it was teeming with members of the public prying over the soon-to-be-dispersed contents. The period perfection was starting to unravel. Small white auction labels hung from everything including the kitchen sink. A striped marquee consumed the courtyard and the building itself was looking the worse for wear.

The auction was the result of a long and bitter family feud which erupted following the death of Nicholas Anley in 1992 that dragged through the law courts until the beginning of 2003. On 14th February, without much filial or sibling love, it was finally settled.

"It's something which all our family very much care about," Marion Scarlett Russell, Julie Ann's younger daughter told the BBC's Northern Ireland rural affairs correspondent Martin Cassidy back in 1994.

"We've always known that this house and its land were non negotiable and it was something we would do everything to keep," agreed her older sister Debonaire Norah Needham Horsman or 'Bonnie'.

But this harmony of thought abruptly ended following disagreements over how the estate should be managed. Events reached a dramatic climax when Marion removed what she considered to be her fair share of the contents from the house in a midnight flit. Her refusal to reveal the whereabouts of these 'chattels' as the courts insisted on archaically calling them, resulted in her spending a week at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Five years of arduous legal wrangling costing hundreds of thousands of pounds only ended when it was finally agreed that Marion could keep her share and the other two siblings would auction off their two thirds of the contents.

MPH was the seat of the Earls of Kilmorey (pronounced "Kilmurray" - what is it about the upper classes and their delight in nomenclature mispronunciation whether Calke as "Cock"; Belvoir as "Beaver"; or Blakley as "Blakely"?).

The family can trace its roots back to an Elizabethan soldier, Nicholas Bagnel, founder of Newry. The 4th Earl of Kilmorey died in 1962. Just before his death the family inheritance was rearranged because he had no sons, allowing his nephew and heir, Major Patrick Needham, subsequently 5th Earl of Kilmorey, to waive his right of succession to MPH in exchange for assets of equal value. And so the title returned to England where Charles I had created the original viscountcy in 1625.

This compromise allowed the 4th Earl's widow, Lady Norah, and her two daughters to continue living in the house. Patrick's son, the 6th Earl, is better known as Richard Needham, former Conservative Northern Ireland Economy Minister. He is now the deputy chairman of a vacuum cleaning company and declines to use his Anglo Irish title. However his son styles himself Viscount Newry and Mourne.

Nicholas, the son of the elder daughter of the 4th Earl, married Julie Ann at the start of the Sixties and moved into the converted stables at Mourne Park. He inherited the house minus the title in 1984.

Julie Ann may have modestly described the house as being architecturally unimportant and it is no competition for the baronial battlements of Ballyedmond Castle or the symmetrical severity of Seaforde House. But it is a rare example of a substantially Edwardian country house in a county where Victorian or Georgian is the norm.

MPH oozes charm with its long low elevations hewn out of the local granite and its lavish use of green paint on window frames and porches, bargeboards and garden furniture, and the abundance of French doors. Much of the interior decoration dates from the early 20th century which lends the house a nostalgic Edwardian air.

And the setting is second to none. Looming behind the house are the craggy slopes of Knockcree Mountain rising 130m above the oak and beech woodlands that make up the estate.

A Victorian visitor, W E Russell, waxed lyrical on Mourne Park, as archived by Dr Anthony Malcomson. 'The scene... from the front entrance is indeed very fine. Before you, in the precincts of the mansion, is a lake. Beyond this lake, the demesne stretches away with a gently rising slope, which hides the intervening land, till one can fancy that the sea waves lap the lawns of the park.'

The genesis of the mansion dates from 1818 when the 12th Viscount Kilmorey (1748-1832) employed Thadeus Gallier (later anglicised to Thomas Gallagher) of County Louth to build the central block. It most likely replaced an earlier house on the site.

Gallagher, an architect or 'journeyman-builder', had already built Anaverna at Ravensdale a decade earlier. Baron McClelland commissioned this five bay two storey house near Dundalk in 1807. It's now the home of the Lenox-Conynghams. Too grand for a glebe, too modest for a mansion, this middling size house, tall, light and handsome, stands proud in its sylvan setting overlooking a meadow. The large fanlight over the entrance door in the middle of the three bay breakfront is partially obscured by a glazed porch, but otherwise Gallagher's design is untouched. Semicircular relieving arches over upstairs windows introduce a motif he was to later employ at MPH. At Anaverna he proved himself to be a designer of considerable sophistication.

Gallagher's son James, who recorded in his autobiography that his father worked at MPH for nine months in 1818, emigrated to New Orleans where he carried on the dynastic tradition of designing fine buildings. His grandson, James Gallier Junior, was a third generation architect and his 1857 New Orleans townhouse is now the Gallier House Museum.

The first of six incarnations of MPH, Gallagher's design was a typical late Georgian two storey country house with Wyatt windows on either side of a doorway similar to Anaverna's with a fanlight over it. Next, a third storey was added was added and then some time after 1859 a new two storey front of the same height was plonked in front of the existing house, so that the rooms in the new block have much higher ceilings than in the older part.

The replacement façade is three bays wide like the original front but in place of Wyatt windows is bipartite fenestration set in shallow recesses rising through both storeys with relieving arches over them. It is the combination of these paired windows and gentle arches, like brows over the eyes of the building, which gives the front such a distinct look.

In the central breakfront the shallow recess starts over the entrance door which is treated as another window, flanked on either side by a window of similar shape and size. A low parapet over a slim cornice partly conceals the hipped roof which wraps around the roof lantern of the Staircase Hall.

Contemporaneous improvements were made to the estate itself. In the 1840s the 2nd Earl (1787-1880) - the Kilmoreys had gone up a rung on the aristocratic ladder when his father, the 12th Viscount, was made an earl for his services to the development of Newry - commissioned a 'famine wall'. It was a method used at the height of the Irish potato famine by many Big House families to create work to keep locals from starving. The cheaply built granite walls also profited the estate. Kimmitt Dean records that the 2nd Earl built Tullyframe Gate Lodge, the third of four gate lodges, at this time. Whitewater Gate Lodge was built in the 1830s and Ballymaglogh Gate Lodge in the 1850s.

But it was the alterations of the 3rd and 4th Earls which gave MPH its Edwardian flavour. "Not fit for a gentleman to live in!" exclaimed the 3rd Earl (1842-1915) upon his inheritance. His remedial gentrifications began in 1892 when he added rectangular ground floor bay windows onto the front and continued until 1904 when he built a single storey wing perpendicular to the back of the house. This wing contains Lady Kilmorey's Sitting Room and the Long Room, the latter completed in time for his son's 21st birthday celebrations.

Between 1919 and 1921 that son, by now the 4th Earl (1883-1961) built a sprawling flat roofed extension onto the avenue side of the house and relocated the entrance to this elevation. Double doors framed by pairs of squat square pillars formed the new entrance, balanced on either side by the two windows of the Billiard Room and Lord Kilmorey's Study. The 3rd Earl completed the estate buildings with Green Gate Lodge, a two storey house finished in the same granite as MPH.

A century of each generation making their mark on MPH has resulted in a fascinating building full of surprising changes in floor levels and ceiling heights. The main block is arranged like three parallel slices of a square cake, each different in essence. The oldest three storey slice at the back of the house has low ceilings and small windows, some retaining their Georgian panes. The middle top lit slice contains the Long Corridor which runs parallel with the Hall, the Staircase Hall and the Inner Hall. Finally the newest slice contains the enfilade of reception rooms: the Billiard Room (formerly the Large Drawing Room), the Dining Room, the Ante Room, the Blue Drawing Room and above, the principal bedrooms with their plate glass windows.

The back of the house overlooks a courtyard enclosed by the Long Room on one side, a low two storey nursery wing on the other side and the obligatory row of outbuildings parallel with the house.

All the rooms on the ground and first floors were open during the auction preview weekend. I began the tour that I had gone on a decade earlier, only with a written rather than personal guide and without the troop of 13 Persian cats which had followed us around the first time round.

"Come on, get out of this room!" Julie Ann bellowed to the cats as she shut the door of each room. "Otherwise you could be locked in for a year or two!" I commented to her, "At least you won't have mice." She replied," They just watch the mice race by."

Now people were talking in hushed murmurs as if at a wake, quietly leafing through issues of The Connoisseur in the Estate Office and thoughtfully gazing at caricature prints in the Rosie Passage.

The Hall, arranged like a long gallery with paintings hung on white panelled walls, is the first in a processional series of spaces which culminates in the Staircase Hall, the most exciting architectural moment MPH has to offer. The staircase was extended between 1919 and 1921 to stretch out in the direction of the new entrance while the original flight of stairs through an archway into the Inner Hall was retained. Above, more archways and openings afford tantalising glimpses of bedroom corridors filled with the shadows of ghosts.

Close to the new entrance, Lord Kilmorey's Study had an air of formality in contrast to the intimacy of Lady Kilmorey's Sitting Room which is tucked away at the back of the house. A 7m long oak bookcase, used as a temporary display cabinet for the preview (sold for £3,000) and a chesterfield sofa (sold for £800) completed the butch mood of the good Lord's room. On the other hand, the femininity of Lady Kilmorey's Sitting Room was exaggerated by the delicate double arched overmantle (sold for £1,000) and the 17th century Chinoserie cabinet on a carved giltwood stand (sold for £11,000) similar to those in the State Drawing Room of 11 Downing Street. HOK auction staff were making last minute notes on a pile of books in the middle of the floor. The house no longer felt private.

The three main reception rooms were quintessentially Edwardian. Chintz sofas and family portraits mixed comfortably with period pieces. 'Shabby chic', another Eighties cliché, is an apt description. Decades of decadence had descended into decay, where once the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) had whiled away halcyon days.

In the Billiard Room an off-centre timber and brick chimneypiece defiantly declares this room to date from the 1920s. Paint was peeling, curtains were crumbling.

An air of faded grandeur pervaded the Long Room. Triumphal flags now in tatters and coloured wall lamps dulled by the passage of time hinted at past glories and parties long forgotten. A suite of oak bookcases was supplied by John McArevey of Newry to fit between the rows of windows running the length of the Long Room. One pair sold for £3,000.

The kitchen had lost its lived in look which I remembered. It was neater now with rows of copper jelly moulds and tin pots arranged museum-like along the painted pine dressers. High up on the wall above, the clock had stopped.

The principal bedrooms with their straightforward names - the Avenue Bedroom, the Corner Bedroom, Caroline's Room, the Best Bedroom, His Lordship's Bedroom and Her Ladyship's Bedroom - had plain sturdy furniture. A mahogany breakfront wardrobe and matching half tester or four poster bed dominated each room, accompanied by a matching desk and pot cabinet. On average the wardrobes sold for £3,000; the beds for £5,000.

The bedrooms looked slightly sparse. Perhaps they had been fuller in happier times. Minor bedrooms and servants' rooms had brass beds (the one in the Housekeeper's Room sold for £70), lower ceilings, less dramatic views, and were full of clutter. Not for much longer.

"People say it's as if time stopped in the house," Philip Anley said on the opening day of the auction. "That's a tribute to mum," he added, acknowledging Julie Ann's efforts to maintain MPH.

Sales had taken place at Mourne Park before. Shortly before his death, Nicholas had sold more than half the 800 hectare estate to Mourne Park Golf Club which extended from a nine hole to an 18 hole course. A decade before he had bought out the interest of his aunt, Lady Hyacinth, which meant her family removing various heirlooms in lieu of any stake in the house itself. The inheritance of the title and estate had already split in 1960. However this sale was different. It heralded "the end of an era" according to Philip.

Herbert Jackson Stops' introduction to the 1920s sale catalogue of Stowe springs to mind. 'It is with a feeling of profound regret that the auctioneer pens the opening lines of a sale catalogue which may destroy for ever the glories of the house, and disperse to the four winds of heaven its wonderful collections, leaving only memories of the spacious past'. A rare level of honesty compared to recent excuses of selling off the family silver from 'wanting to share chattels with others' to 'streamlining the collection'.

Sara Kenny from HOK Fine Art conducted the auction, raising a total of £1.3m. Prices were high with dealers bidding against collectors against locals. "My dad worked on the estate so I want some sort of keepsake," I overheard one bidder say. It seemed everyone wanted their piece of MPH's history.

Auction excitement reached fever pitch on the last day when lot 1391 came up for sale. It was the Red Book of Shavington, in the County of Salop, a seat of The Right Honble [sic] Lord Viscount Kilmorey'. For those who don't know, Red Books were the creation of Humphrey Repton (1752-1818), a pioneer in the field of landscape architecture. He created or transformed over 200 English estates. His mantra was natural beauty enhanced by art. His practice was to complete a Red Book for each client.

The Shavington Red Book was a slim volume encased in red leather containing his proposals for 'improvements' outlined in neat copperplate handwriting and illustrated with maps, plans, drawings and watercolours. Several bidders appreciated its historical importance and exquisite beauty. In the end it went under the hammer for £41,000.

The 3rd Earl of Kilmorey had sold Shavington, the family seat in Shropshire, in 1881 to pay for debts his father had accrued. He crammed much of the furniture into MPH. Shavington items auctioned included two early 19th century pieces by Gillows of Lancaster which both sold for £11,000: the Corner Bedroom wardrobe and the architect's desk from the Library.

Mourne Park estate may not have benefitted from the romantic touch of Humphrey Repton but its rugged character, derived from the granite face of Knockcree, remains unchanged from faded 19th century landscape photographs. The same can't be said for the interior of the granite face house.

"I'll always remember the day you visited Mourne Park," Julie Ann said. Strolling up the old drive she continued, "As the day the boathouse collapsed."

And sure enough, the gabled boathouse, which had stood there for centuries, not so much collapsed as gently slipped into the lake like a maiden aunt taking a dip in the water. After a few ripples, it disappeared. Forever.

Fifteen years later, masterpieces and miscellany, a record of Edwardian living in its original setting, are now gone, just like the boathouse. It is a sad ending for the collection that formed the soul of one of Ulster's Big Houses. Sad for the family and for the people of Newry and Mourne whose toil allowed the family to amass a fortune in antiques.

In the middle of the 320 hectare estate still stands the house itself, stripped of its contents, naked as the classical statues that once graced the lawns around the lake, awaiting its fate.

Since this article was published, Marion Scarlett Russell placed MPH on the market with Knight Frank for £10 million. The asking price has now been reduced to £6.5 million. It is still for sale.

Mourne Park House

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Book Review The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of those books that was originally written for a young adult, but in the hands crossed waiting for the adults. There is something so powerful a well-told story that transcends the expected age and attracts readers of all ages. It is often said that some of the best books for adults, between the covers of young adult novels can be found.

And so it was with The Hunger Games. Published in 2008, the first book in aany trilogy was written so well that it has received praise from all corners of the literary world. The critics, authors and readers have been fellow travelers Katniss Evergreen and their role as victims of war, manipulated by the state to perform in brutal gladiator-style matches between the children who could have taken only one winner.

Richard Castle

Collins was able to pull it brutal dystopian future, with moments of pure beauty that rivals any in modern literature. Written in first person,Readers travel with Katniss as she gets elected, is ready to fight in front of a national platform, sees larger hands to work and eventually made their place in the world as they begin to fight for their lives against other children folded on her survival in the arena.

Despite a rather inconclusive end that The Hunger Games like putting only a small part of a larger story arc, the book has been accepted. The second book, Catching Fire continued the story, but always added a little 'Katniss became history 'as a backdrop to the arena again, and survival to the goal.

Mockingjay was the last book of the trilogy, published in August 2010 and was for many an unsatisfactory outcome for what could have been a truly memorable series. Collins Katniss places in the hands of others and is a great deal about the history, how it is handled in different situations and react accordingly.

The Hunger Games is a book full of beauty and horror and a story that is worth. To tell the other two books in the series, are important lessons about writing and how to give character to his attention on the events of the plot.

Book Review The Hunger Games

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Budapest, Hungary - The Castle District

Looking over a few hundred meters above the Danube, the Castle district of Budapest is a special place. Surrounded by gothic churches with stain glass, a visit to the castle as a step backwards in the Renaissance.

Castle District

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The hotel is located on the Buda side of Budapest, the Castle district is located on the eastern side of the Danube. Located a few hundred meters above the Danube, the entire city of Budapest can be seen frommany vantage points. The view is so amazing, the Italians coined a saying: "Europe has three gems -. Venice on the water, Florence in the plains and hills of Buda" The Italians are definitely the right thing.

Buda Castle

Visiting Buda Castle is like stepping back into the heights of the Renaissance. The castle is decorated with red marble stairways, gothic facades, bastions and epic statutes overlooking the Danube. The fountains around the Castle simply can not be described in words.

Trinity Square

Only in the south of Buda Castle is Trinity Square. The church of the Holy Mother of God, which is also known as Matthias Church, dominates the square. The church was a place where the Hungarian kings were under their rule and many famous people are buried at the site served.

Behind the Matthias Church, Fishermen's Bastion is pretty interesting. This Roman bastion has the look of a mini-> Castle at Disneyland. The view from the parapets are amazing as you take in the river crosses the Danube in Budapest. Just outside of Bastion, however, you must keep your eyes open for something amazing.

Hungarians have historically been some of the best drivers in the world. As part of the tradition, brought the bull whips riders ropes instead. Big bull whips. And he likes to force them to open the gates of the Bastion. If you are not careful when this happens, theSend to frighten the strongest shot in the world "know what" out of you. The only thing I can equate the sound of thunder, but without the wheels. If it happens, go fly drinks, food and cameras.

If you visit Budapest, the Castle District is definitely worth a visit. In fact, the neighborhood is a good reason to go to Budapest.

Budapest, Hungary - The Castle District

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Neuschwanstein - Germany's Most Recognized Castle

Creative geniuses are seldom appreciated during their lifetime, as was 'Mad' King Ludwig of Bavaria. Now, his famous castle enchants the millions of tourists who visit her gates. Neuschwanstein, Ludwig's most well-known realized dream, was never completely finished before the king was untimely carted off and labeled as 'incompetent to rule'. Even today, the circumstances around his death are still highly questionable, giving the castle a mysterious air of deception and betrayal.

With visions of grandiose operas dancing around in his poetic imagination, Ludwig II began the construction of Neuschwanstein in 1869 where two smaller castles laid in ruins. He moved into the unfinished palace 15 years later. Truly a man born out of time, Ludwig's new castle was to be his world of an era long past. His obsession with composer Richard Wagner and the Middle Ages fueled his creativity as he decorated the rooms - dazzling royal blue and reflective metallics, starry nights painted on the ceiling of his bedroom where the stars really twinkled, knights, the Holy Grail, corridors made to look like they had been carved out of the stark rock face of the mountainside, an indoor winter garden that could be enjoyed at any time of the year, and swan accents at every imaginable spot. Ludwig had hoped to enjoy Wagner's work in the castle's 'Singer's Hall', modeled after the Banquet Hall at Wartburg Castle. Sadly, not a single note of the composer's music would reverberate off of these intricately detailed walls until after the king's death.

Richard Castle

Originally called 'New Hohenschwangau Castle', the name was changed to 'Neuschwanstein' (New Swan Stone) after Ludwig passed. Many tourists know it as 'The Cinderella Castle' as Walt Disney used the spires as the inspiration for his storybook palace. From here, visitors can gaze down over Hohenschwangau Castle, Lugwig's boyhood home where he spent his days fantasizing about the fairytale-come-to-life he'd one day build on the jutting cliff in the clouds. The Marienbrucke (Mary's Bridge) is also a stunning site from the arched windows of Neuschwanstein. The brave can hike to the bridge where they are rewarded with a breathtaking view of this world-famous castle. Walk the dizzying span over the deep gorge while the chilly wind burns your cheeks as you wonder 'how many camera-toting tourist *can* this bridge hold?'

Tragically, the shy ruler only lived in this exquisite dream for about 120 days before he was ousted as king and committed for his supposed mental illness. Since then, rumors have woven colorful stories of every imaginable scenario for his removal. From government conspiracy, being drugged to fake his mental state, double murder or murder suicide and even speculation on his sexual orientation, Neuschwanstein literally oozes with secrets and her walls maintain their silence. Perhaps part of the castle's magical air is taken from these 'what ifs' that we may never know the answer to...or that by stepping inside these halls is the only way to truly appreciate Ludwig's eccentric soul.

Neuschwanstein - Germany's Most Recognized Castle

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Book Review on the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is the definitive guide to modern manipulation. It could be one of the most entertaining and most useful books you will ever buy.

The ability to measure people and to know whom you're dealing with is the most important skill of all in gathering and conserving power. We can even gain power by mastering the art of deception, it stresses that nothing is more terrifying than the sudden and unpredictable. Power can be even a tool to crush an enemy or opponent. So, all these imaginable possibilities no matter how obnoxious or fair the way we play power in our hands, power is always power. It's just truly nice to know that this book offers something valuable that any of us will surely benefit. The issues and circumstances that had happened since back then presented insights of mistake and success.

Richard Castle

So now, when we already have the skills that we need to explore ourselves to this ambitious journey then we are truly ready to hold the power tight in our hands and use it. Power is power no matter how it is express in a positive or negative sense. Hence, the objective of this book merely inspires readers to cultivate an urge to search for power and attain it. Therefore, arguments must be kept behind the walls of taciturnity.

MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE

Once this book is read together with all or any of the laws presented herewith would be an advantage to somebody who wants to practice and develop sense of leadership. It manifest insights that can help him to put on the complete suit of armor which can strongly protect him against machinations of the corporate people or the subordinates while take up the large shield of power with which he will be able to quench all the wicked ones burning missiles. Wise decisions are must and this book entails strategies that can be a supporting tool for somebody to gain credibility and absolute authority so that people would learn and practice submission.

The people under you would feel a sense of fear or respect so that they would rather avoid and solve conflicts that might arise among them. In this manner, this will be a great help to maintain peace inside and out of an organization. If good leadership has been performed, the organization as well will benefit. People are happy and of course productive and these are crucial factors to an organization to grow and prosper.

For those of you who watch power, want power, or want to arm yourselves against it, it is recommended that you read The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers. The book deals with each of the 48 laws with a very wide selection of parables, myths, anecdotes and stories from all over the world and form all times, illustrating the unchanging dynamics of power over the centuries. It features Chinese warlords, Roman and renaissance-Italian power-mongers, American and European con-men, famous courtiers from the French courts before the Revolution, and even musings by Thomas Edison. And of course, the book pays tribute to the power-writer of all time, Niccolo Machiavelli. The 48 Laws of Power is very cynical and depicts a world without mercy. Apparently the writer himself (Greene, not Elffers) bears a grudge as he starts the book thanking old enemies for doing to him what they did, since it has only wizened him to the world and inspired him to write. The book is written in a manner so as to inspire the reader to achieve great power with an iron fist by talking directly to the reader, much like a self-help tape. Despite this belligerent and unabating tone, and the fact that it takes over 500 pages to get through all the laws, it is very readable, very clear in its message and the laws in it are not to be easily refuted.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOOK

Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite - inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

Always Say Less than Necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinx like. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

So Much Depends on Reputation - Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

Court Attention at all Cost

Everything is judged by its appearance; what are unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, and more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

Get others to do the Work for you, but always take the Credit

Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.

Make other People come to you - use Bait if Necessary

When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains - then attack. You hold the cards.

Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

You can die from someone else's misery - emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on himself or herself; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim

One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Openhearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift - a Trojan horse - will serve the same purpose.

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People's Self-Interest, Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.

Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.

Crush your Enemy Totally

All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but also in spirit.

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Too much circulation makes the price go down: The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.

Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people's actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.

Do Not Build Fortresses to protect yourself - Isolation is Dangerous

The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere - everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from - it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.

Know who you're Dealing with - Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs' clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then - never offend or deceive the wrong person.

b>Do Not Commit to Anyone

It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others - playing people against one another, making them pursue you.

Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker - Seem Dumber than your Mark

No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick is to make your victims feel smart - and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.

Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

When you are weaker, never fight for honor's sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you - surrender first. By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.

Concentrate Your Forces

Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another - intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.

Play the Perfect Courtier

The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the mot oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.

Re-Create Yourself

Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions - your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.

Keep Your Hands Clean

You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat's-paws to disguise your involvement.

Play on People's Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following

People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.

Enter Action with Boldness

If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.

Plan All the Way to the End

The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.

Make you're Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work - it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.

Control the Options: Get others to play with the Cards you Deal

The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice: Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose. Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose. Put them on the horns of a dilemma: They are gored wherever they turn.

Play to People's Fantasies

The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert: Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.

Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew

Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usual y insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.

Be Royal in your Own Fashion: Act like a King to be treated like one

The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.

Master the Art of Timing

Never seem to be in a hurry - hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.

Disdain Things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best Revenge

By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem. 

Create Compelling Spectacles

Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power - everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbol that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.

Think as you like but Behave like others

If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.

Stir up Waters to Catch Fish

Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.

Despise the Free Lunch

What is offered for free is dangerous - it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price - there are no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man's Shoes

What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.

Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will scatter

Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual - the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them - they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.

Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.

Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.

Preach the Need for Change, but never reform too much at Once

Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.

Never appear too perfect

Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.

Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to stop

The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.

Assume Formlessness

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.

Book Review on the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

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Top Fantasy Hockey Forward Rankings and Draft Strategy For 2010-11

For a solid fantasy hockey draft strategy, there is much to consider for goalies and defense men. When it comes to forwards, it's a much simpler proposition. First off, get to know your point system. This can make a huge difference in ranking your players. For example, if your league counts goals and assists equally (join a new league), then guys like Joe Thornton and Henrik Sedin are valuable commodities. In leagues that favor goals over assists, you can knock these playmakers down the list a bit. Pay attention to penalty minutes, too. If you just look at points, you might miss the value that Steve Downie brought to fantasy teams last year, blending goals, assists, and a buttload of PIMs.

As with other goalies and defensemen, it's wise to group your players in tiers. It helps when you're trying to decide which position to pick. If there's a tier 1 forward available, but the best goalie out there is down in tier 4, you'll get more value taking the forward. This is an art that must be mastered through mock drafts.

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Leagues can also vary dramatically in their approach to classifying forwards. Some lump all forwards together, others separate centers from wingers, while others go as far as left wing / right wing distinction. If this is your league, you've got even more work to do. I'll be following up soon with an article that focuses more on league-specific draft strategies for the major sites out there (CBS, Yahoo, etc.).

For now, let's dive in to the top 15 fantasy forwards for 2010. Note: For the purposes of this article, I'm grouping all forwards together and assuming a fantasy scoring system which heavily favors goals (so no hate mail from Henrik lovers out there, please).

TIER 1

1. Sidney Crosby

By claiming his first Rocket Richard Trophy last season, Crosby completed the one element to his fantasy stats that were somewhat lacking (at least compared to the other elite players). There's not a weakness in his game, and he's entering his prime years. For my money, he's the safest bet as your #1 forward.

2. Alex Ovechkin

If you're wandering Crosby vs Ovechkin, the simple answer is, who would you rather cheer for? Either way, you'll get your points. One factor to keep in mind is Ovechkin's antics. How many games will he miss due to suspension and/or injuries from his reckless style of play. Either way, you'll keep plenty of points.

3. Steven Stamkos

Stamkos proved in his sophomore season that he's ready to be mentioned with the big boys, after splitting the Richard Trophy with Crosby and topping out at 95 points. He will challenge for the goal scoring lead and total points this season.

4. Evgeni Malkin

Injuries kept Malkin out of the scoring race last season, but he'll be right back in the mix this season. Don't discount him for this year, as some may be tempted to do. 100 points are in the cards for Geno.

TIER 2

5. Niklas Backstrom

Is there a limit to how good this kid can get? In his first three seasons, he's gone from 69 to 88 to 101 points, and hasn't missed a game yet in his career. He's even cracked the 30 goal plateau, so we're looking at a complete package in terms of fantasy stats. You could make a case for him in the top 3.

6. Ilya Kovalchuk

If you need goals, Kovalchuk is absolute money. He's topped 40 goals for the past 6 seasons and shows no signs of stopping now. Assuming his contract situation gets resolved, he should be high on your list again this season. Look for another run at 50 goals this season.

7. Dany Heatley

Heatley is about as consistent as they come in terms of top scorers in the league. 40 goals and 40 assists are a given for the winger. If he and Thornton can establish some better chemistry this season, he could potentially get himself back into the 50 goal club.

8. Alexander Semin

In terms of per talent, there are few players in the world on the same level as Semin. The problem is the extras. Between injuries, off-ice decisions, and occasional spells where he can't hit the net for games on end, he can be a risky pick, particularly in the first or second round. Then again, when he's on, he's worth the pain. They may not be able to keep him in D.C. forever with the other salaries on the books, so enjoy the production while it lasts.

9. Zach Parise

Parise reached elite status in 2008-09 when he capped out at 45 goals and 94 points. He slipped a bit last season, down to 82 points. The good news is that the dip in numbers may cause other GMs to undervalue him. In 5 seasons, he's sat out a total of 3 games. Despite Kovalchuk's presence, he's the go-to guy in New Jersey and should challenge for the scoring title this season.

TIER 3

10. Patrick Kane

Love him or hate him, there's no denying that Kane has become a solid fantasy forward who may soon join the elite. He recorded 88 points in his third NHL season and kept up the pace throughout the playoffs. The Hawks still have plenty of offensive talent in town and Kane should lead the team in all categories. Look for him to land in the 90 point territory in 2010-11.

11. Daniel Sedin

Despite losing out to twin brother for the scoring title last season, Daniel is my choice for best fantasy Sedin. Had it not been for his early season injury, which kept him out of 19 games, he would crushed Henrik's goal totals and may have won the Art Ross himself. Look for him to make a run at 100 points this time around.

12. Marian Gaborik

It's going to take more than one season of 76 games played before I'm willing to risk a first round pick on Gaborik's health. If you took a chance on him last year, it obviously paid off, as he returned to 42 goals. If he's still on the board in the 3rd round, go for it. Otherwise, place your bets on a safer number.

13. Henrik Sedin

Full credit goes to Henrik for winning the scoring title, particularly while going a stretch without brother Daniel. The bottom line, however, is that it will be a monumental task to repeat such a performance. There are just too many other stars out there at his level. In terms of total fantasy value, he loses some big points due to his goal/assist ratio. If you're picking a forward in the first round, he better be topping 30 goals, which Henrik has never done. He may get back to 100 points, but when 80 of those are assists, you're not getting your money's worth. Someone is bound to pick him higher than he deserves. Don't be that guy.

14. Joe Thornton

With Joe, what you see is what you get. 20+ goals and a buttload of assists. If he could ever make up his mind to shoot the puck, he'd be a top 5 player every season. As it stands, he's still a good center to have on your roster. Consider this: in the past 7 seasons, he was beneath a point-a-game just once. He's also annually among the leaders in +/-. Can't really go wrong here.

15. Anze Kopitar

Kopitar stormed the castle last October, running out to a early lead in the scoring race. However, after injuries to his linemates, he came back down to earth. He still finished with respectable career-highs of 34 goals and 81 points. There's no denying his talent, and as a team, the Kings are clearly on the rise. Expect him to repeat in the 80 point range next season.

Top Fantasy Hockey Forward Rankings and Draft Strategy For 2010-11

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A short trip and tour guide to Poitou-Charentes, France

Introduction

Poitou-Charentes region in southwestern France and is one of the 22 regions of metropolitan France, or as parts of France, which are made up of people from all over Europe. Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Severes and Vienne: The 22 regions are divided into four sections.

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Much is in the department of Poitou-Charentes Vienne.

Tourism, along with cattle and milk production are very important to Piotou-Charentesand consequently there are many attractions for travelers and tourists to visit. Much of the surrounding regions are also good places to visit, and thanks to the excellent service and system reliability of the French transport, visiting a nearby region is not an issue.

Le Château de Septème

Le Château de Septème translated "Septème The Castle" and was originally the site of a Roman camp, which was built on the "seventh point,"where the name comes Septème. In all likelihood, the field was established as a stopover point for Roman troops, while along the Roman road leading from Vienna to Milan.

The castle was built in 900 AD, but was in the 15 th and 16 century restoration. The hotel is situated on a hill that overlooks the villages there. It was originally designed and built to protect the ancient village. The architecture of the castle is a move to impress visitors with its furtherBeauty.

The walls, battlements, and the remains of the old city, which it uses to protect, as a classified historic monument of France.

The castle's history is rich, and no visit to the region is complete without a visit to this historic beauty.

Futroscope Amusement Park

Futroscope is an amusement park, the future has as its central theme. IMAX cinema and walking robots where you sit on the seat of a robot armto offer only two of the attractions of this city.

Futroscope IMAX technology used to simulate the flight over the mountains, is catapulted into space, and dived into the sea. One of the attractions Futroscope was designed by the legendary film director Luc Besson.

Futroscope makes a great travel day for families, especially because many of the attractions are interactive.

Abbey of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe

The Abbey ChurchSaint-Savin sur Gartempe is a novel, Esq. Building a 11 st Century was started and completed in 14. What makes this so remarkable abbey was of 11 and 12 centuries, the wall paintings are included in it. Some of the buildings was restored in 19 th Century, and this wonderful piece of history has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

BASIC NATURE VILLA d'activités

Cycling is a popular pastime throughout the world, and probably also his spiritualHome is in France. Base Ville d'activités Nature organizes bicycle tours and excursions and equipment hire to do work. Package tours are a guide for information on where to go and see what you can.

CAVES NORE - BIARD

Poitiers is located just outside the Boivre Valley, home to the caves Nore. They date back to the Jurassic period and included colorful and interesting rock formations and stalactites. Local artists haveilluminates the caves, they must be even more dramatic, and tours of the caves are available. Currently, there is an exhibition about the caves, their history and the history of the bats from the caves that have declared their homeland.

There are a number of Poitou-Charentes holiday rentals available, which can be booked directly with the owner, and can be booked with a variety of Web sites.

A short trip and tour guide to Poitou-Charentes, France

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Attractions higher

Accra is one of the most exciting and vibrant city of Ghana. Most travelers from Ghana, Accra International Airport to be the largest and busiest airport in the country. It 'also the gateway to the country. The reason for the millions of visitors come to town in the area that are very popular among visitors of all ages and all types. Visitors who fly to Accra for its university, the largest airport in the country, historical museums, exotic beaches and more.Some of the main attractions of the region;

Osu Castle: The story of this monument dates back to the 16 Century. This is the site of many foreign leaders and officials participated. The evidence for its importance is that many international personalities, including: Gerhard Schroeder (German chancellor) and Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton (U.S. President) has cheap flights to Accra, and a visit to this site. This serves not only as the governmentBut it is also the home of the most visited tourist attractions of the city. Osu Castle has its significant importance to his house the first president of Ghana.

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National Museum: Founded in 1957, the National Museum of the oldest museums in the country. The museum has a great importance for the site of a large collection of historical treasures and a few local crafts of Ghana. Flights Accra customers take great interest in exhibitions of local pottery,Lamps, batteries and metal works in the museum.

Independence Square: This is a historical place that is built on the site were three men killed by the army if they wanted to show their grievances to the governor. This is one of the highest points of the city, where you can see the great gulf of Guinea. Flights to Accra visitors come to this place in large numbers and the place has the capacity to 30,000 people.

The National Art Center: Visitors from all parts of theWorld for the National Arts Centre come from and how different artefacts to buy from here, masks, beads, carvings and embroidered dresses. To be the sale of works of art, the African National Arts Centre to serve as a market. It 'also the place where people come to buy a collection of rare and exotic things. Visitors take cheap flights to Accra from the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, an idea of ​​the work of African art to obtain.

Attractions higher

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Disney grows stronger

Disney is synonymous with the iconic brand in many households around the world known and despite the turbulent economic history of the last year, Disney is more confident than ever that the strength of the brand's strength to go.

The revenue from the sale of tickets for the parks can depend on a number of factors beyond the control of trademarks. This was evident with world events such as terrorist attacks, SARS, avian influenza and Gulf wars, but no other event has taken its toll on the park asRecession. This is true not only for Disney though. The tourism industry as a whole has been hit hard by the recession.

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Disney suffered as a result of a series of setbacks and reduced operating costs in areas not lying guest. With some smart tax policies Disney gets into a position past the worst.

Disney World builds

The Disney parks in the U.S. to get new rides will last until 2012. So what's new at Disney? Walt Disney World in OrlandoFantasyland extends the end of 2012 with the addition of a new attraction Ariel, Belle home and village, castle and the Beast Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster. There will also be able to obtain the opening of the Disney resort kind of animations in May to see 2012th

Disneyland Resort in California has shown a new world of color and attraction Marmaid recently opened in 2012 close to Earth car, themed around the latest release animated blockbuster. We also saw a new starWars 3-D: A new venture opened in June this year.

However, Disney does not have its expansion is limited only to the U.S. in that it provides a new resort in Aulan, Hawaii and Shanghai in about four minutes opened five years ago.

The reason for the growing success of Disney at a time of uncertainty was because people value the experience now and spends much time with their families and loved ones. Is there a better way than to do with Disney? As people came to reflect on recentRecession, they realized that the experience with their loved ones, which is more important than material things should be.

The fact is that with each passing year, you can expect something new in the Disney parks and the steady stream of blockbusters by the studies, there is always something that catches your eye. 2012 sees a lot in Serbia for Disney fans and slipped away as the recession, we are able to great things from Disney, hoping to comeFuture.

Disney grows stronger

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The Best 10 Movies About Magic of All Time

So here we go, the best 10 movies about 'magic' of 'all time'. That's a tall order and will of course become a list that will be challenged by many.

What I have tried to do is collate a list of movies that feature films which have magical themes or very obvious magical references in them. Of course the rash of Harry Potter films, the excellent Lord of the Rings trilogy and even Star Wars could be included. However, from a desire to expand the list of magician inspired or magically themed movies I have left these out as being 'too obvious'.

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For reasons of brevity I have also not included fully animated movies in this list, so the likes of Fantasia, Sword in the Stone and even The Illusionist (Sylvian Chomet's 2010 film) are not considered.

I've also ignored television series, such as The Magician (Bill Bixby trained by Mark Wilson), Jonathan Creek, the quirky 1970's TV series Ace of Wands as well as specific Colombo, Midsummer Murders, One Foot in the Grave episodes that were based around magic and magicians.

So this brings us to a quick round-up of some of the best of the magician-in-the-movies films I am aware of. Starting with those just outside the Top Ten - not because of any lack of quality, just because they are a little peripheral to the main list.

Passport to Pimlico (1949) directed by Henry Cornelius and featuring great performances from Stanley Holloway and Margaret Rutherford. This great Ealing comedy contains a sequence on the tube train where magician of the day The Great Masoni, drops his case allowing his doves to escape adding to the surreal nature of the comic moment.

Dead of Night (1945) directed by Alberto Cavancanti is a superb Ealing portmanteau horror movie which contained a series of stories about a dream told by a guest arriving at remote farmhouse. The film is said to have influenced cosmologists Hoyle, Gold and Bondi to develop the 'steady state theory'. They were inspired by the circular nature of the films narrative. However the movie contains a story about a ventriloquist and a less than charming dummy. Ventriloquism is related to the magical arts, hence its inclusion here. The story is the forerunner of one that is actually in the list, Magic, starring Anthony Hopkins.

Thirty Nine Steps (1939) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The original and perhaps greatest version of this film the climax of which is takes place as in a theatre where a 'memory man' is performing. The Memory Act can be considered as a subset of the magical art of Mentalism. The great magician Harry Lorraine is world famous not only for his 'magic' act but also for his contribution to the training and development of the human memory.

The Raven (1963) directed by Roger Corman sees the great Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff as medieval magicians involved a magical duel. This fun, camp and colourful movie loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem The Raven, is not the greatest example of the Corman-Price collection, but is great fun.

Night of the Demon (1957) Jaques Tourneur. This great movie is an adaptation of M R James' story "Casting the Runes". Starring Dana Andrews as a sceptical psychologist 'cursed' by the Faustian looking magician and 'cult' leader Julian Karswell (Nial MacGinnis). In one sequence Karswell dressed as Dr Bobo performs magic at a children's party. The conversation which then ensues between the psychologist and the magician holds within it a host of performance frames and ideas for budding bizarrists out there!. Tourneur apparently never wanted the audience to 'see' the demon. I many ways I wish he had had his way. The film would be even creepier and scarier if the terror was left to the imagination - again bizarre magicians take note!

The Magician (1958) directed by Ingmar Bergman. The only reason that film is outside the top ten is because of the possibility of being considered as being 'pretentious' if it is placed where I think it belongs - in the top 5 at least! Max von Sydow plays a travelling magician and 'magnetic-healer' (harkening back to the days of Mesmer) caught up in a tale about prejudice, honesty, the class system and..... well the whole thing is multilayered. Sydow is brilliant, he rarely speaks, and Bergman's visuals are great. The film has been called a 'thinking mans horror movie/. It is creepy surreal and brilliantly acted and directed.

The Great Buck Howard (2008) directed by Sean McGinly is built around John Malkovich's character who is in turn based upon the mentalist Kreskin.

Next (2007) directed by Lee Tamahori sees Nicholas Cage as a man who can see a few minutes into the future and disguises his gift by working as a lounge magician. Cage is seen as another kind of 'magician' in the fantasy movie The Sorcerers Apprentice (2010 directed by Jon Turtletaub) which makes direct references to the Disney Sorcerers Apprentice in Fantasia.

Magic Man (2010) directed by Roscoe Lever stars Billy Zane who plays Darius, the Magic Man of the title. Billed as a thriller, this movie hasn't received the best of reviews. As I've not seen it yet I can't comment - but maybe a future review of this list may see it included.

So onto the Top Ten

10. Excelsior Prince of Magicians 1901 directed by Georges Melies. This pioneer of film making was a magician before turning his hand to cine-magic. He produced many short films of which this is only one, but many of which featured movie versions of stage tricks that magicians would love to be able to actually do. He was one of the first film makers to feature stop frame, time lapse and multiple exposures. He also hand painted many of the black and white films he shot. A true innovator.

9. The Grim Game 1919 directed by Irvin Wilat. Not the greatest of movies to watch, but from a magician's point of view a must. It featured Harry Houdini in the title role showcasing his feats of escapology. Houdini, not only a great magician but a great entrepreneur embraced early cinema but to be quite honest he made little lasting contribution to cinematic art. In some ways, perhaps, Melies earlier 'trick photography' lessened some of the dramatic impact Houdini's live performances will have had.

8. Lord of Illusions (1995) directed by Clive Barker and based on his novel of the same name. This film is notable for its magical references. Not only does the 'evil' lead character Nix have supernatural powers, but his disciples have them. One of his disciples, Swann, after Nix's early demise (prior to his later resurrection) uses his magical powers to become a popular illusionist. The staged magic sequences are well done, there is a cameo appearance by the great Billy McCombe and the Magic Castle is represented as a place of secrets. The basic concept that 'magic is a dangerous reality' is a great theme for the Bizarre Magicians out there.

7. Cast a Deadly Spell (1991) directed by Martin Cambell, sees Detective, Harry Philip Lovecraft (played by Fred Ward) living in a 1940's Los Angeles where magic is common place. He is recruited by a rich man to find a lost book - yeap, you've got it... The Necronomicon! It's really a Bogart-esque film-noire with a magical flavour, of course by definition then there are magicians. It's witty, fun and full of Lovecraftian references. Unfortunately at the time of writing it, unlike its less sharp sequel (Witch Hunt) is not available for purchase on DVD.

Witch Hunt (1994) directed Paul Schrader. A sequel to Cast a Deadly Spell in which detective, H. Phillip Lovecraft played by Dennis Hopper combats the evils and corruption of a magic wielding senator. As a sequel not shoddy, but perhaps not quite as fun as the first movie.

6. The Great Kandinski (1995) directed by Terry Windsor. This 'made for TV' movie must be included in this list, not only for its charm and humour, but for its sensitivities. Richard Harris (whose work is admirable) plays a retired escapologist living in a nursing home. The story revolves around Kandiski's desire to 'chase one more secret' and do one 'final show'. The escape featured is Houdini's Water Torture cell, which is a testament to the iconic nature of that one illusion.

5. Nightmare Alley (1947) directed by Edmund Goulding. An impressive movie and perhaps one of the all time greatest examples of film noire. Tyrone Power plays a 'psychic con man' Stanton Carlyle whose trail of deceit and self deceit take from rags to riches to rags. Of course the magicians out there will immediately see a link to a performer who used to go out under the name Rinaldo, but was better known professionally and now to mentalists' world wide as Stanton Carlisle. (1928 - 1990). Stanton insisted, despite many good natured challenges, that that was his real name and was not influenced by the Goulding film.

4. House of Games (1978) directed by David Mamet. Ok not really a magic film, but features a performance of one of my all time magic heroes, Ricky Jay. Ricky is one of a group of con-men in this Hitchcockesque thriller. Mamet, as always does a great job in capturing mood and the movie explores human motivations and behaviours. Ricky Jay is of course no stranger to the big screen, with roles in the Bond Movie, Tomorrow Never Dies, Magnolia, Buck Howard, The Prestige and many more. This, I believe however was his first venture onto the 'big screen'

3. Houdini (1953) directed by George Marshall with Tony Curtis in as Houdini. This movie does have a lot to answer for in that it creates some of the longer lasting myths about the life of the genuinely 'mythic' Houdini. His death on stage as a result of performing the 'water torture cell' is not fact, but the movie certainly hints at it. The 'brush with death' in a frozen river; the first performance of the 'straight jacket' at a Magicians Society dinner almost surely never happened - but the romance and innocence of the moment saves it. The magical advisor on this movie was Dunninger.

I suppose it is worth mentioning in passing that in 1998 there was a TV movie about Houdini (directed by Pen Denshem) and an earlier attempt at a biopic remake in 1976 with Paul Michael Glaser in the title role (directed for television by Melvile Shavelson). The movie Death Defying Acts (2007) directed by Gillian Armstrong focuses on Houdini's documented interest in mediums and psychics and he is really the vehicle through which another story can be told.

2. Magic (1978) directed by Richard Attenborough and staring Anthony Hopkins. In the film Hopkins' character starts out as a magician, but sees success as a ventriloquist. The movie charts the fall into insanity as the relationship Hopkins has with his dummy 'Fats'. It's a classic movie with some of the creepier overtones being softened by, what some claim to be, slower sequences of sentimentality.

1. The Illusionist (2006) directed by Neil Burger and staring Ed Norton. The pace and the feel of this film is wonderful. It is a love story with some great performances from a superb cast. The magical advice came from Ricky Jay and Michael Webber. Norton as Eisenhiem is the ideal stage magician. The cinematography is brilliant, the plot nicely involved and with, perhaps a few surprises.

1. The Prestige (2006) directed by Christopher Nolan. Whilst The Illusionist is sumptuous and engaging and at its core 'hopeful' and 'romantic', The Prestige is darker and deals with revenge, envy and competitiveness. Great performances from Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as the feuding magicians each with a 'secret' and a narrative that is non-linear make the film engaging and well worth the little effort you need to keep up with the tangled web of intrigue. The 'prestige', the finale of the film, contains revelations that may surprise. Intelligent scripting brings the emotional tension to life and the rich magical references (Chung Ling Soo, The Bullet Catch, The Water Torture) make this film a must for magicians. Ricky Jay appears as an established stage performer and Michael Caine is great as the illusion builder - although I would never ask him to build me a vanishing bird cage!

I really can't separate these two films in terms of quality of acting, direction and story so they share first place billing with the less serious....

Magicians (2007) actually deserves a Gold Star in this list. Directed by Andrew O Connor and with script written in collaboration with David Britland, Andy Nyman and Anthony Owen and others this is a magical tour de force. Opting for a comic look at the world of the conjuror, Magicians, sees Mitchell and Webb rattle through some great one-liners; pay homage to some key magicians and have a real knock at some of the oddness that is part and parcel of the magic scene. The great Pat Page makes an appearance, and most of the magic 'stalls' at the magic convention hosting the competition at the centre of the films plot were provided by well known magic dealers.

The Best 10 Movies About Magic of All Time

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A Continuing Journey In The Magic History Of Singapore

This article is to introduce magicians and magic enthusiasts to the rich history of magic in Singapore. It honours the notable achievements, prominence and significance of local magicians from the past and present.

The beginning of Modern Magic in Singapore

Richard Castle

It is the general consensus that modern magic in Singapore (post World War 2) began with the late-Ng Bo

Oen AKA The Great Wong. Information on local magic pre-war is very scarce. The only information found has been on The Great Wong performing at the New World Amusement Park (then located at Kitchener Road) in the 1930s.

The Great Wong was born in 1908 in Shanton, a city of the Guangdong Province, China and immigrated to Singapore in 1933. He was the only professional magician of his time in Singapore and performed across South East Asia. He was known for his sharp stage magic, Linking Rings routine and Sword Basket illusion. He was also an expert craftsman who built all of his props by hand. He had the gift of figuring out the mechanics and methodology of magic props and fabricating them from scratch.

In 1962, The Great Wong made a significant contribution to the international magic community by publishing his famous linking rings routine with English script written by Tudor Brock. Davenports Magic in London distributes his manuscript to date. In 1982, he was invited by the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (FISM) to perform at the 15th World Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.

(For more info on The Great Wong; refer to 'The Great Wong Story' in The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115 The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Issue)

Another local magician who was instrumental in growing modern magic in Singapore during the beginning was the late-Tan Hock Chuan. He was a teacher by profession but performed for annual special events, charity shows and private parties. He was (and still is) internationally known for his magical inventions. His effects and ideas are still marketed dealer items today and have been published in countless publications (of that time) such as Gen, Spinx, Pentagram, New Pentagram, Swami Mantra, Abracadabra and even Tarbell's Course in Magic. He is the first Asian magician to receive the Spinx Award (1936-37)

Both The Great Wong and Tan Hock Chuan were important influences to many of the first generation of Singapore modern-magicians who have paved the way for future generations.

1950s

It was only after the war and during the British Military Administration that magic in Singapore began its rise to where it is today. 1950 was the year that the Singapore Magician's Club was formed by a group of amateur magicians, comprising of English-educated professionals.

In 1951 the Singapore Magician's Club received their charter from The International Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in America and was from then on was officially known as The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115. Founding members of the club at that time included Tan Ewe Chee (President), Yeo Soon Kian, Lim Kim Tian, Lim Hap Hin, J.H Stafford, L.A Joseph, J.W Jackson (Vice-President) and Tan Hock Chuan (Secretary).

The 50's gave birth to Singapore's first generation of modern magicians. Besides the founding members of the IBM Ring and The Great Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some prominent first generation magicians included Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Soon Kian and his student Michael Lim.

The Great Wong operated the first magic shop from his home cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar where he sold his own handcrafted props as well as imported dealer items from Japan. (This home/ shop was destroyed in a fire in Dec 1988 causing him to lose most of his books and props)

1960s

During this period, magicians like The Great Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee conducted magic courses at the National Theatre Club and the YMCA. They were responsible for producing active magicians such as Charles Choo, Wong Fok Choy, Chia Hearn Jiang, Gwee Thiam Hock and the late-Vijeyacone.

The early 60s also saw the 'Golden Age' of magic with magicians performing at different venues across the country. Besides local magicians performing in night clubs, foreign magicians such as Socar performed a grand illusion show to a full house at the Capitol Theatre (along Stamford Road) and The Great Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Great World Amusement Park at Kim Seng Road (Now, Great World City).

In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the second magic shop in Singapore at a shop house along Robinson Road. Around that time, popular entertainer Victor Khoo's father Khoo Teng Heng who was a magician, a ventriloquist and hypnotist opened his magic shop at Bras Basah. (where Carlton Hotel stands currently).

During this decade, Tan Choon Tee was making a name for himself in the international magic community in the field of Mentalism. He won several international Linking Ring Awards for his One-Man Parades and has two books published by Micky Hades. He was also a regular contributor to numerous international magic magazines such as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.

Overseas magicians whom passed through Singapore included Milo & Roger, Milbourne Christopher and Maurice Fogel.

1970s

The 1970s saw the birth of the second generation of Singapore magicians. Some well-known magicians who got started during this time included; The Great Wong's son Ng Kee Chee, John Teo, Tang Sai Thong, Ng Seow Kiat, Tang Yeng Fun, Bob Chua, Eric Leong, Tan Teck Seng, Lawrence Tham, Tan Tuan Seng, Lawrence Khong and Andrew Kong.

The Singapore Association of Magicians was founded on 10 March 1973 in friendly 'rivalry' to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with prominent founding members such as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.

Magic shops in Singapore began to spring up during the late seventies. Ng Kee Chee set up a magic stall at Yaohan in Plaza Singapura and Wang Leng opened his shop in Peninsula Plaza. Charles Choo opened his shop in August 1978 on the 6th floor of Far East Shopping Centre. (It would move several times to various malls but eventually returned back to Far East). His shop would soon become an institution where magicians would buy various magic products as well as meet up and learn from each other.

It was a variety haunt for many magicians in the years to come till the shop closed in the new millennium.

During this period, The Tropicana Night Club, which was situated at Pacific Plaza, was a venue that had regular magic performances. Several famous magicians also visited Singapore in the 70s. In 1970, John Calvert performed at the National Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman visited Ring 115 to give a lecture. In that same year, "The Professor" Dai Vernon also visited Singapore, lectured and interacted with local magicians. Other visiting magicians included Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.

1980s

By the 1980s, the local magic scene was flourishing with healthy memberships for the two main magic clubs as well as a surge in the number of performing magicians. Many of today's veterans made their name in the 80s. Familiar names like Richard Ang, Patrick Wan, Patrick Ng Wang Lin, Tan Hai Yan AKA Gician, Paul Koh, AB Francis and Gordon Koh were performing regularly at public and private shows during this decade. Popular local venues for public magic shows by magic clubs held on a regular basis at that time included the Drama Centre and the National Museum Theatrette.

The popularity of magic shops also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Song opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Book Section of Popular Book Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Floor of Bras Basah Complex. Gician Tan also opened up his first magic shop at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Square and was managed by Richard Ang. Besides this main shop, he distributed magic items and sets through department stores

in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore audience was also exposed to world-class magic through several magic television shows and series that were aired on local TV including the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Best of Magic.

Foreign magicians who visited Singapore during this time included David Copperfield, Mark Wilson, Ben Harris, Paul Daniels and Gene Anderson.

1990s

The beginning of this decade saw the introduction of the country's third generation magicians into the local magic scene. Prominent budding magicians included Enrico Varella, Sherman Tjiong, J C Sum, Joe Yu (Chan Ee Kang), Nique Tan Li Keong, Prakash Puru, Kiki Tay, Alex Tan and Jeremy Pei.

The local chapter of International Magicians Society was formed, founded by its President, Tan Bah Chee; although the club's presence in Singapore was short-lived.

The late-1990s saw a huge surge in magic global popularity due to David Blaine's street magic specials. Many people started to 'get into' magic and had new mediums to learn the craft such as the introduction of DVDs and the Internet.

A new magic shop, Magic Castle & Promotions, opened up by Vijay Kumar at Shaw Towers soon became 'the place to be' where new magicians would hang out and meet.

During this decade, Wang Leng's shop in Peninsula Plaza was sold to Patrick Wan. The shop was subsequently sold to Richard Ang and is now well known as Ang House of Magic. Patrick Wan opened his new shop, Magic Wand, which has spawned into several outlets in various parts of Singapore. Steven Sim also opened Magic Supreme at Coronation Plaza which has subsequently moved to Park Mall.

The 90s was an exciting decade with many visits and performances by famous magicians. Apart from lectures by Michael & Hannah Ammar, Mark Leveridge and Wolfgang & Sonja Riebe there were also public theatre performances by the Pendragons, Princess Tenko, Andre Kole, Franz Harary, David Copperfield, Rudy Coby and Robert Gallop. Other visiting magicians included Larry Becker, Tim Ellis, Terry Seabrooke, Phil Cass and Albert Tham.

2000 - Present

Magic has continued to flourish at the local level in this decade. New opportunities and talents have emerged to elevate the art in Singapore. In May 2000, J C Sum staged the first ever local full-evening theatre show 'Magic at the Theatre' at Victoria Theatre. Just a month later, more than a dozen magicians from the US and Canada came down to Singapore as part of the Magic Festival organized by the Malls of Centrepoint. Magicians such as Robert Baxt, Rocco and Peter Gossamer performed multiple shows at various Centrepoint Malls for over a week.

In 2004, the Singapore Magic Circle (SMC) was created by Aloysius Yeo and with its on-line forum drew a new pool of magic enthusiasts together. SMC has since grown to over 1000 members and regularly organize gatherings, events as well as the recent Concept:Magic Micro MAGIC Convention in January 2007.

Through a large-scale theatre magic musical 'Magic of Love', Lawrence Khong, a pastor with Faith Community Baptist Church and his daughter Pricilla, spread the gospel message.

The multi-million dollar production has been staged many times over the years across the world to spread the word of Christ. Subsequently, the same team organized two International Festival of Magic conventions in 2003 & 2005. The first of its kind big magic events included competitions, lectures, a dealers' room and performances. International performers such as Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Johnny Thomspon, The Pendragons, Lee Eun Gyeol and Tommy Wonder were booked to perform at the gala shows and lectures.

In recent years, J C Sum has become arguably the most prominent Singapore magician of this generation. His magic has been seen by millions through his live performances across Asia as well as his landmark mass media projects on MediaCorp Studio's Ch 8 as well as subsequent 'Street Illusions' compilation DVD/ VCD.

His 24-episode 'Magic in Motion' series can currently be seen daily on Singapore Press Holdings MediaBoxOffice through 2007. In the international magic community, J C has also established himself as an elite illusion designer from Asia with the publication of his 3 critically acclaimed illusion books that have been sold in more than 30 countries to date.

Another talented award-winning magician, Jeremy Pei, is raising the profile of Singapore magic within the regional magic community with his theatre shows, organized lectures, workshops and active participation in magic conventions & competitions in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and Australia. His distinctive North-Asian influence style of magic performance has garnered him a following with new budding magicians whom he teaches and guides. He has also released multiple original magic products which are available to magicians worldwide.

In another first, award-winning junior magician, Kyle Ravin secured a 13-episode weekly Street Magic series, "Maya" on MediaCorp Studios' Vasantham Central. This 30min series saw him perform magic for the Indian community and celebrities across the country.

This decade has seen the introduction of even more magic shops and dealers run by young magicians to meet the demand of magic enthusiasts and magicians. These include new 'brick & mortar' magic shops such as Street Magic by Tan Wei Ping, Tricky Business by Jimmy Wong, The Magic Hall by Kenneth Peh as well as on-line shops like The Little Magic Shop by Ning.

Visiting magicians thus far for the new millennium have included Joshua Jay, Shoot Ogawa, Charles Gucci, Nicholas Einhorn.

And the Magic History of Singapore continues to be written...

A Continuing Journey In The Magic History Of Singapore

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A Brief Travel and Tourist Guide to Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Wales

A brief history of Llandrindod Wells

Llandrindod Wells came to prominence in the 19th century, when the naturally occurring spa was believed to have healing qualities like other spa town in the U.K, and thanks to the recently built railway line, Victorians flocked to the town. It continued to prosper economically until the First World War, where local boarding houses were was used to billet soldiers and house refugees.

Richard Castle

Following depressions and wars, Llandrindod Wells suffered economically until it was made the administrative capital of Powys, this provided employment on national pay levels and subsequently, an influx of people came to Llandrindod Wells which has resulted in an economic upturn.

Llandrindod Wells lies in mid Wales in the county of Powys. It is well connected to other parts of Wales and has some good tourist attractions of its own. As it is centrally located, staying in accommodation in Llandrindod Wells provides a good base to explore the country of Wales

Rock Park Spa

Undoubtedly, Rock Park Spa put Llandrindod Wells on the map, though the spa was first documented by the Romans. It was only until the development of a railway line opened the spa to many Victorian visitors and for many years the town prospered.

The Victorians built a water pump for the spa, to enable the water to be bottled and drunk. This fell into disrepair and disuse in the 1970s, but was restored in 1982. Rock Park Spa is open to visitors and a heritage centre details its fascinating history.

Rock Park itself is also a good attraction, and it is here that the Chalybeate Spring is situated where Victorians drank from the waters of the spa. The park is the former grounds of the Rock Spa Hotel.

Princess Avenue and Llandrindod Wells Lake

Wales is home to some of the most rugged countryside in the British Isles, and this is part of Wales thriving tourist economy. In Llandrindod Wells, there are several examples of this and some well maintained parks which are always worth a visit.

Llandrindod Park is home to an 18 hole golf course and for the less serious golfers, crazy golf. It is possible to fish on Llandrindod Lake, dine in the Lakeside restaurant, or simply enjoy the lake's splendour by walking around it.

Princess Road leads to the Automobile Palace which is a grade two listed building and displays the National Cycling Exhibition. It also shows examples of an early motor showroom. This building was recently restored and is now situated among retail outlets.

Cefnllys Castle, St Michael's Church and Shaky Bridge

If you are an avid walker, you maybe interested in this particular trek. Totalling 5 miles and encompasses moderately steep terrain on a well marked footpath, the walk takes in picnic areas and fantastic views of the countryside. There is a picnic area at 'Shaky Bridge' and Cefnllys Castle and St Michael's Church can be reached using a not so shaky bridge built in 1940. A detailed leaflet can be found at the Llandrindod Wells Tourist Information Centre.

Cors-Y-Llyn National Nature Reserve

This nature reserve is home to one of the richest sources of wild flowers in the region of Mid Wales, and other rare species of plants. The nature reserve is a remnant of a melt water pool dating from the last Ice Age period, which is why these particular plants grow in this spot.

There is a variety of Llandrindod Wells holiday and vacation accommodation available including Llandrindod self catering holiday rentals, Llandrindod, Wales vacation rentals, or Llandrindod Wells self catering cottage.

A Brief Travel and Tourist Guide to Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Wales

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