England

Sir Ian Botham, former England captain and the hero of England's 1981 Ashes victory over Australia, says England were 'magnificent' during their 170-run victory over New Zealand at Lord's in the first cricket Test of the summer. James Anderson took his 300th Test wicket and Stuart Broad took seven wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for 68 and Botham was speaking at an event launching Unibet's summer of sport at the home of cricket.

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself?Jordan: Well, I live in the middle of the US and have been writing for what feels like forever. When I was in high school I used to write and submit short stories but never got them published. When I went to college writing got put on hold then life really just happened. A few years ago I started writing again. Faelon is the first book we had contracted, the second to come out.When I’m not writing I like to travel. I love New England but New Orleans does have a special place in my heart. I’m a huge fan of amusement parks all though at times I mutter I’m too old for this after I get off a thrill ride.I’m an avid reader but I try not to read while writing because I don’t want to be influenced by what I’m reading. I love pen paling, there is nothing like getting a letter in the mail from someone halfway around the world. You learn so much about a person through a letter because they write their thoughts and desires on the paper, something they often never voice out loud.Angel: I’ve been writing since I was about 12, but have been creating worlds in my head since I was about 8. I love the whole aspect of being able to create characters and places that I can make as fantastical or emotional as I want and not have to worry about what other people think. Now though, I am so proud to be publishing and it is wonderful to see that there are people out there who not only like my stories, but also the way I tell them. I currently live near Beaumont, Texas with my 2 dogs, Daisy a beagle and Bonita a Chihuahua. I work full time and in my spare time I like going to concerts and taking little day trips to go see whatever we find interesting around the area. Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they? Jordan: I think I’d say Jax is closest to me. I wrote Faelon as the kind of guy that I want and I wrote Jax as me. I’d love to walk on the wild side but that dang moral upbringing I have keep me from acting on the desires I have. I’ve got the same love for Salem that Jax has. Evan is a close second though, I understand what it’s like to love someone and never be seen as more than a friend. Angel: I actually give my female characters red curly hair, which I have, and I do have a tendency to make them not a size ‘small’… But that is about as far as I go with my characteristics. I do give them some characteristics that friends or family members have that have stuck out with me and have just felt ‘right’ for the character. Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?Jordan: I think it is a toss-up between Faelon and Ethan. I think the hardest thing about writing them was they are both strong people in their own right but they have this vulnerability about them. It was really hard to find a happy medium. I didn’t want either man to come across as a submissive push over but on the other hand if I made them to strong willed then I risked them becoming the dominate one in the relationship. Each man had to be able to take care of themselves yet at the same time show they needed someone.Angel: For me I think it would have to be Jack or Marco. It is hard for me to put myself in his position of being ‘above everyone’. While writing it or reading it, I am smacking the crap out of him to treat people better and not to get so high and mighty. They are that way for a reason, having either been raised with a silver spoon in their mouth, or they have been brought up with a mentality of, ‘the servants are beneath us’. As with Jack, it doesn’t mean that he can’t change his way of thinking, it’s just that he doesn’t need to until he ‘has’ to.Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?Jordan: You know they all have been fun. Sham and Shay are just a bundle of energy. They have this sweet innocence about them, yet they are also very sexual. Faelon is fun because he is just so kinky. He has a weakness and strength about

When your next door neighbour is Milk and Honey, you're in good company... and up against stiff competition, M and H’s head barman looks pretty satisfied with his cocktail when I spot him parked up at the butch copper-topped bar at chef/ owner Jason Atherton's new cocktail lounge upstairs at Social Eating House. As, based on the evidence of my first rinse of the night, well he might. Despite its iffy name, the ‘Ooh-Arr-Tinez’ - a Somerset cider brandy spin on a martinez - is a success. One barman totally nails a Plymouth dry martini - always a litmus test - where so many others drown the gin in vermouth: wet, wet, wet? Because my name's Marti Pellow? When I stray off menu, however, things temporarily wobbly - one enthusiastic soul suggesting vodka as a key component of a smoky mescal old-fashioned. Suggestion declined. Blind Pig owes its name to those American forerunners of the speakeasy where, to outfox the authorities, hucksters would charge a steep admission fee to spectate a (legal) novelty attraction such as a pig or a tiger in a blindfold, plying their guests with complimentary liquor while they were about it. At £9 for The Rosefield (Chase Marmalade vodka, Punt e Mes, apricot brandy and Fernet Branca) the admission price here is about right and the handsome, if not entirely original, room - all 1930s film noir, wood panelled gin joint - looks like the kind of place a femme fatale in a Mickey Spillane novella would meet a hired gun to plot her husbands's demise. I can live without some of the wackier elements on the menu: Skittles-washed Ketel One, pickle brine, popcorn-infused bourbon and choccy alcopops (not all in the same glass, mercifully) aren't high on my agenda; but factor in bar bites such as rillettes, mac'n'cheese, cod brandade and duck fat chips with aïoli, and I reckon this little piggy will soon be bringing home the bacon for his master. 58 Poland Street W1F 7NR 7993 3251 www.socialeatinghouse.com

Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; Detail view of an NFL football before the AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports So here we are. Still sludging our way through the NFL Off Season. Bear with me as I try to keep your football pulse alive by giving my take on the Tight End position’s top 15. Instead of the standard order of going QB, WR, RB, TE, K and D, I though I’d bounce it around a little.We know it’ll be a while before we’re drafting any TE’s from Jacksonville, so unfortunately we won’t be seeing Marcedes Lewis on here any time soon. And keep in mind, this is MY OPINION and these ranking will change up until the kick off of the season opener. To me the TE is the hardest position to draft for. This is due to having only 3 studs….. and then everyone else. You could take one, but may miss out on a stud running back or wideout. My strategy has been this: try to get one of the big 3, if I fail to do so, then I draft two really good ones and rotate them week to week based off of production and match ups. 1. Rob Gronkowski- I struggled with the top three. Especially with Gronk’s medical issues (his arm is infection free at the moment). But Brady needs a new security blanket and Gronk has quickly developed into this during his time in New England. Minus Welker out of the equation and there you have it. 2. Jimmy Graham- Brees is generous with the ball. Graham is a match up nighmare that doesn’t need to be open to get the ball. Sean Payton is back and will make sure Graham maintains his dominance. 3. Aaron Hernandez- It doesn’t really matter which one of the top three you draft IMO. Just as long as you have one. The TE’s could easily dominate the passing game in New England next year. 4. Vernon Davis- Crabtree is in all likelyhood, out for the season (Achilles tear). Delanie Walker is no longer there. And it’ll take time for Anquan Boldin to build chemisty with Kap. He could have a monster year. 5. Tony Gonzalez- They’ll have a legitamite run game this year, giving the Falcons one of the most well rounded skill position rosters in the NFL. They fell short of going to the Super Bowl. Gonzalez ain’t going out like that this year. 6. Martellus Bennett- The Bears now have a TE that can catch the ball. They have a QB that can throw the ball. There you go. 7. Jason Witten- I really wanted to put him higher, but I think Dez Bryant is the new Sherrif in town. Still, he’ll have a good year or two before the Escobar era begins. 8. Kyle Rudolph- Besides AP, he’ll be Ponder’s most trusted weapon. 9. Dwayne Allen- I‘ll get a lot of boos for putting him this high, but Indy is switching up their offense. This means Luck won’t be forced to throw bombs down field all day. My only reservation would be Fleener poaching from him. 10. Dennis Pitta- Him and Flacco are BFFs. Rice in the back, Pitta in the middle and Smith out deep. 11. Jermichael Finley- I truely believe their improved back field will help solve a lot of their problems. Finley will return to form. 12. Greg Olsen- Cam Newton came on strong in the second half of last season. This is a shining spot on Olsen’s outlook. 13. Antonio Gates- Remember when Gates dominated the TE position? Vaguely? The new regime will try to resesitate him. 14. Brandon Pettigrew- He’s got a cannon throwing him the ball. Not much reciever depth either. 15. Owen Daniels- In theory, the addition of Hopkins should spread the secondary. Feel free to comment back. I’d be curious to see who you’d take higher or lower. -Jason Abarca

Northern Europe has a wealth of wonderful ports of call. Here is a pick of just nine of the gems out there, from Cowes in the Solent on the south coast of England, to the Kyles of Bute on Scotland’s beautiful west coast, to the beautiful archipelago of Gothenberg, and beyond… Norway's spectacular western coast - photo Simo Rasanen Lofoten Islands Norway’s western coast offers a spectacular landscape of mountains, fjords and glaciers. What’s more, it’s well sheltered inside the chain of islands that fringes the coast, so even in strong winds you can make passages in almost flat water. However, the downside is that the easier-to-reach southern section of this coast is in the path of summer low-pressure systems and can be very wet. But time spent getting further north will reward you with clear skies, round in the clock sun and the spectacular jewel of the Lofoten Islands. Don’t be put off by the latitude – the islands benefit from the world’s largest positive temperature anomaly relative and with warm water temperatures, the sea is teeming with life and there’s a population of sea birds to match. Cowes is home to a host of sailing events held in the waters of the Solent, including the JP Morgan Asset Mannagement Round the Island Race. Photo Thierry Martinez/See&Co/RTI Race Cowes Cowes is home to a host of sailing events held in the waters of the Solent, including the world’s oldest – and largest – regatta, as well as the planet’s biggest yacht race, JP Morgan Asset Mannagement Round the Island Race. Cowes remains a must visit destination for many sailors that hosts a string of prestigious events for both state of the art raceboats and the most elegant of classic yachts. Each spring the small town awakes from a quiet winter slumber to welcome tens of thousands of sailors from around the world during the season. While the town is sometimes criticised for the lack of a smart hotel, or the difficulty of finding a restaurant table during busy events, those in the know rent one of the big Victorian villas or modern penthouses overlooking the Solent and hire a celebrity chef to take care of the catering. Falmouth is a traditional jumping off point - Photo Tony Atkin Falmouth This has been the traditional jumping off point from Britain’s south-west coast to destinations south and west for generations of sailors. It’s a port that can be entered in any weather, yet provides sheltered moorings for thousands of boats of all sizes. It has repair and refit facilities for every type of boat, including the world’s largest superyachts, while annual summer events include a 450 boat regatta week plus a classic regatta with around 100 yachts. In 2012 the port was graced by the J-Class regatta, while in 2014 Falmouth will host the Tall Ships Race. The Gothenburg Archipelago is two collections of islands Gothenburg Archipelago Sweden’s second city enjoys a benign, if short, summer season. Right on the doorstep, the Gothenburg archipelago is two collections of islands, offering spectacular remote anchorages, fishing villages and small resorts. The southern island group is entirely traffic free, with the 5,000 permanent inhabitants spread across five islands reliant on delivery mopeds, electric vehicles and ferries. When you’ve had enough of the quiet life, the city centre is only an afternoon’s sail away. No trip to France is complete without a visit to Honfleur Photo Pir6mon Honfleur No trip to northern France is complete without a visit to this stunning medieval port at the mouth of the Seine estuary and it’s a must for both foodies and art lovers. In the late part of the 19th century the Impressionist movement was born here, after Parisian artists – including Monet, Courbet and Boudin – were attracted by the exquisite quality of the light. Yachts and fishing boats still dock behind massive lock gates in the old port, where there’s ample draught for large vessels. Excellent cafes and restaurants that cater to all tastes and bud

The New Zealand skipper will take the gloves after three years in the second Test which starts tomorrow in Leeds. As the present keeper, Watling is ruled out with a knee injury, which he got while attempting to run out Joe Root with a dive in Lords. The Black Caps captain had left keeping in [...] Related posts: India v New Zealand 2nd Test Highlights: New Zealand lose only Guptill England v New Zealand live: Martin to miss the rest of England tour India v New Zealand 3rd Test Highlights: Overnight rains delay the start of play

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland has said that Australia's Ashes bid in England will not be compromised by the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will look back on the 2012-13 season with mixed feelings. At international level, he excelled. He scored his first international goal against San Marino and established himself in the senior squad. At 19, he already has 10 England caps to his name. Domestically, Oxlade-Chamberlain would have hoped to have a greater impact. Heading into the season, Arsenal fans would have felt justified in holding high hopes for their young midfielder. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s emergence was one of the few positives in Arsenal’s 2011-12 campaign. After making his debut in Arsenal’s humiliating defeat at Old Trafford in August 2011, he went on to become an integral member of the squad, with a dominating midfield display against AC Milan a particular highlight. However, Oxlade-Chamberlain appears to have suffered from the infamous condition known as "second season syndrome." It is a commonly-observed phenomenon whereby a player has an extraordinary impact in their debut season only to fall slightly short of that standard second time around. It is usually attributed to the fact that they have lost the element of surprise: opposition managers know what to expect and subsequently how to deal with them. All of this could apply to Arsenal’s young tyro. Oxlade-Chamberlain has not regressed, but he has failed to kick on as much as he would have hoped. He began the season starting ahead of Theo Walcott, but Walcott’s good form and the resolution of his contract troubles saw the more experienced man reclaim his place. Oxlade-Chamberlain will be disappointed to have only started 17 games across the entire season. That’s one less than the erratic Gervinho, who also spent considerable time away at the African Cup of Nations. A simple solution to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s struggles is to give him more game time. Only by playing regularly can he be expected to gain the experience which will allow him to improve. French media outlets, including Le Foot Gazette des , are reporting that Gervinho could be a transfer target for French side Lyon. If Arsenal were to let the Ivorian go, they would be able to invest more time in the development of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is six years younger and is already demonstrating significantly superior technical ability. It’s worth noting that Oxlade-Chamberlain doesn’t have to be starting games to contribute. In the last few weeks of the 2012-13 season, he began to carve a niche role as an impact substitute. Against Reading for example, Oxlade-Chamberlain entered the field of play after 75 minutes. Within 120 seconds, he had burst in to the penalty area and won a penalty, which Mikel Arteta subsequently converted. His raw pace and upper-body strength make "The Ox" a nightmare for defenders with tired legs to shackle. He should also endeavour to add more goals to his game: a final tally of just two is poor for a player with such outstanding shooting ability. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s career has already mirrored Theo Walcott’s in his journey from Southampton to Arsenal to precocious England international. Perhaps there will be another parallel added, as Oxlade-Chamberlain imitates Walcott’s apprenticeship as an impact substitute prior to becoming a regular starter and scorer. Perhaps another clue as to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s role next season came on the final day of the Premier League at Newcastle. When Mikel Arteta was withdrawn with a calf problem, Oxlade-Chamberlain was drafted in as a central midfielder—the very same role in which he excelled against Milan 14 months ago. Perhaps this, rather than on the wing, is where his future truly lies.

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling has been ruled out of the second and final Test against England at Headingley starting from Friday because of a knee injury.

This very unusual bit of bookplate ephemera arrived recently and I am just starting to do some research.The framed group of five leather bookplates was used by Charles J. Sawyer Ltd , booksellers and fine art dealers.The Red bookplate is for R.Esmerian who I suspect might be the collector Raphael Esmerian,The next bookplate is nameless.The small brown bookplate in the center is for MartenThe blue bookplate is nameless.The larger brown bookplate is for Alfred B. Koch The prices on the back are difficult to read from the scan. “Cost of blocks from £20 to£40 according to designBookplates 1 S/6 d each for quantities”of not less than 50”* *Note received from Anthony Pincott about this pricing-“in other words at a pre-decimalisation (pre-1971) price of 1 shilling and sixpence each "One Thing Leads To Another #1While I was trying to find out if the names on the leather bookplates were for actual owners I started to search the name R.Esmerian and stumbled upon a 2009 interview with the noted bookseller John Windle.Here is a link to the article .It is well written and fascinating. . I wish I had the movie rights to his life story.http://www.johnwindle.com/windle/images/pdfs/born-again-in-the-usa.pdfOne Thing Leads To Another#2Several weeks ago I posted the Gandy image shown above. It was and still is a mystery bookplate about which I would like to learn more.The image inspired Shaun in England and he sent me the following Email"Hi,I started to learn hand engraving within the last year,and am always looking for suitable images to engrave. Bookplates are ideal as a reference to learn how to achieve an effect,and came across your site.There is an art from called a 'Love Token'. A coin is filed flat on one side,and an image engraved. The link is a pic of a Silver 1944 Walking Liberty silver 1/2 dollar. I used a bookplate image that had the Eagle and the words 'Gandy' from your site.It's not exactly how I would have liked it to come out,but my ability improves with each coin I engrave and it went for $62 dollars on Ebay,but probably took 10 hours to engrave :) If I ever do something similar,it might take just as long,but look much better.The pics on your site are really good quality,thanks for taking the time and effort.Cheers Shaun " http://shaun750.deviantart.com/art/Love-Token-1944-Walking-Liberty-1-2-Dollar-Bulino-363695152?q=gallery%3Ashaun750%2F26248297&qo=20----------------------------------------------------------------------------------New Book about Paul Revere Written by Fellow Collector/Dealer Tom Bosswww.bossbooks.comPaul Revere's Bookplate for John Gardiner of Gardiner's IslandBy Thomas G. BossPrinted letterpress in an edition of 50 copies by John Kristensen ofthe Firefly Press in Boston. All copies have tipped in reproductionsof the John Gardiner bookplate and other Revere plates, including theJohn Butler plate which is only known in two copies and which hashitherto not been reproduced in print. The first fifteen deluxe copiesare printed on Zerkall handmade paper and are accompanied by anoriginal print of the Gardiner Revere plate, mounted in a gilt framebut easily removable for placement elsewhere in a collection. Allcopies of the work are hand bound in red wrappers. The thirty-fiveregular copies are printed on Neenah Laid paper.The text of the book comprises a short history of the Gardiner's andRevere bookplates followed by a list of holdings of Revere plates anda ranking of rarity of each one, ranging from no known copies tothousands of examples!Regular edition......$150Deluxe Edition.......$3,500www.bossbooks.com