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Summer Day Camps The Answer To Idle Hours

Summer is right around the corner and parents are wondering what to do with their kids being at home all day. Kids are thinking already about the boring days that stretch before them before they return to school. The answer to both these dilemmas are summer day camps. These programs run in short days for the younger set to full days for the older. Plus, there is extended care for those children whose parents work all day.

Summer camps go back over one hundred years in the YMCA system. In days gone by off from school may have meant spending time with relatives or friends, depending on where you lived. For the city kid living on a farm or in the country was an exciting prospect. For the country child the excitement of the city held sway. But times have changed and so have summer options.

Not so today. Activities for children are found wherever they live. Whether you are looking to learn about the great out of doors or have your sights on becoming a great scientist, these camps are your ticket.

It used to be that summer school was the only option to help kids retain the skills they had learned during the school term. Today these camps offer a better alternative. Parents can still spend their money on the week long camps located away from home. However, more and more are choosing to enroll their children in day long programs. These offer a wide variety of activities and are very affordable to the point of being free in some cases

If your child needs to improve his musical abilities, there are special classes available. They not only teach your child how to read music but focus on individual technique With computers being used everywhere there are camps day sessions that offer children the opportunity to become proficient with them. There are even classes for the vocalist or orchestra leader in your family.

Many zoos and theme parks have programs. Kids learn about animal husbandry, where animals reside, and how they live. If they a water park it may include swimming with the animals and learning how the residents are taught to do their tricks. Some offer an optional overnight experience with campfire and nocturnal activities for those animals that are only awake at night.

Many cities boast of a community center. These places may be small or large based on the size of the city. Their programs may include theatre arts classes and a variety of indoor sports. Some teach martial arts and help kids know how to protect themselves. All seem to boast of a swimming pool. You can usually find sports camps that will help get your kids get ready for their favorite once tryouts begin in the fall.

If you want an old fashion experience for your child it too can be found in the summer day camps experience. Everyone remembers the fun of learning about fire safety while singing around the campfire. Hiking through the forest or romping on the beach is so much fun. There is nothing like enjoying the great out of doors. Then we cannot forget the arts and crafts, camp music, storytelling and friends we met over the summer vacation.

Find just the right camp for your son or daughter. Whether it’s music summer camps Orange County or the summer camp San Diego at your local elementary school, your choices are many.

Buying And Caring For Cricket Bats

The aim of craftsmen is to make cricket bats that merge both durability and excellent hitting power. This is not an easy compromise to reach. Once the bat is purchased, it is necessary to take proper care of it to maximize its life.

Willow wood is what is used in the making of a bat. Soft pressed wood gives excellent hitting power; however, it is more apt to crack. Durability comes from hard pressed wood, but the hitting power is decreased.

New cricket players who are just beginning should start with a light weight bat. As experience and knowledge of the game increases, the player can begin to switch to a heavier bat. Athlete body size and stance will dictate the bat size needed.

Purchasing the bat is only the first step. The bat then has to be prepared before it can be used in a game. A light sanding and a couple coats of linseed oil on the face and toe are necessary. The oil keeps water from finding its way into the wood, which would cause swelling of the wood.

The process of knocking is used to prevent damage from cracking to the new bat. Knocking takes patience and time. It is done by using a bat mallet to strike the face of the bat. An old, soft ball can also be used to bounce against it. Rounding the face edges is an important part of knocking. Before playing each match, hit a soft ball into the net several times before switching to a newer, harder ball. This process compresses and knits together the willow fibers in order to prevent cracking and other damage from hitting the ball.

Cricket bats start with excellent craftsmanship. Then the work falls onto the shoulder of the athlete. After sanding, oiling, and knocking, the athlete is ready to enjoy the game. Constant care and maintenance of the bat will result in a long relationship between athlete and bat.

If you need more advice oncricket bats visit you local cricket shop and speak to a salesman, the should be able to fill you in on the rest.

Byron Bay Whale Watching Tours Are Popular With Kids And Adults

Byron Bay is one of the premier beach vacation destinations in Australia. This small town, nestled by a cape that forms the eastern most point of the Australian continent, has a unique laid-back style that every visitor learns love and envy. They leave relaxed but yearning more. Byron Bay whale watching is one of the key attractions the town offers its visitors.

Every year thousands of humpback whales leave their summer feeding grounds in Antarctica and migrate north to tropical waters of the southern hemisphere to breed. Some of these whales choose to complete this migration along a route close to the Australian east coast. Why only some whales choose to journey close to the Australian coast is not well understood. But it provides us with a perfect opportunity to observe them up close.

Humpbacks are one of the largest animals on the planet. They grow to approximately 16 meters long and up to 50 tonnes in weight. Their name refers to the distinctive arch they form as they dive. They time their migration up and down the coast from May to December. The peak viewing season is June to November.

The peak viewing season is June to November. A number of boat operators based in Byron Bay specialize in carrying groups a few kilometers offshore to watch this marvelous natural spectacle. Some operators launch their boats from the beach at Byron Bay. Others provide a shuttle bus service from the town to Brunswick Heads (about 18kms north) where they moor their boat at the small harbor on the Brunswick River.

Humpbacks are often distinguished by the natural markings. Their top half is commonly black while their underside, but there is enough variation away from this basic schema for individual whales to be identifies based on naturally unique pigmentation patterns. Scarring, particularly on fins and tails, provides another basis for identification. One humpback that is completely white has been observed for several years along the Australian coast.

Several whale watching tour providers operate out of Byron Bay to ferry watchers a few kilometers offshore. Some providers launch their craft from Main Beach. Others moor their vessels at Brunswick Heads, some 18 kilometers north, and arrange a complimentary bus service for patrons.

In summary, Byron Bay whale watching tours usually last 2 or 3 hours. Operators usually provide at least two tours a day, if weather permits. The tours also provide an opportunity to view dolphins and some of the local natural ocean topography like Julian Rocks.

Byron Bay accom seems to have a lot. You should take a look at Byron Bay luxury accommodation and see if it is something you will like.

The Most Suitable Hockey Stick Flex

In case you desire to have that superb wrist shot, or blistering slap shot it is necessary to give consideration to your hockey stick flex potential. This is primarily the degree of stiffness in the shaft of the particular stick in cases where you apply force to it.

In cases where a player generates force with their wrists and hands, biceps and triceps, shoulders, core, and possibly even thighs and legs, it is all changed straight into the the stick. The stick subsequently transfers that energy to the puck. The proficiency with which it does this is a outcome of the flex in the hockey stick. Think of how a spring performs in terms of retaining up kinetic force and then releasing it instantly.

Just one more illustration of the pressure developed is a bow and arrow. The quickest a guy could shoot an arrow is decided by the most powerful resistance bow they are able to wholly pull back. Regarding a hockey stick, the more potent the hockey stick flex is, the tougher the shot will be (presuming you actually has the ability to wholly flex the stick). Getting this harmony between the maximal stiffness and still being qualified to thoroughly flex the stick is a key determinant in the speed and accuracy of a shot for any hockey professional.

Now there is a relative range for the right flex for every single player. They are calculated with the following rule of thumb statistical system:

The most basic hockey stick flex measurements are:

Surplus stiff — a hundred and ten flex

Stiff –one hundred flex

Average — 85 flex

Middle – 60-75 flex

Junior — 50 flex

Youth – forty flex

The simple way To Test a Hockey Stick’s Flex

Hold the stick as you generally would with the blade resting on the carpet. Now casually bend it by easily moving in the shooting motion. The stick will have to be able to flex about just one in . whilst not straining ones shoulder blades and forearms. Whenever you can’t get that entire flex then it is a tad too solid a flex rating in your case.

The simplest way To Decide the best Hockey Stick Flex For You

A good guideline for most hockey players deciding on a hockey stick is to discover a rating close to one half of your body weight. If you’re a sizable man, and one hundred and eighty lbs while in shape, a ninety flex is probably a reliable beginning for you. If you’ve played a great deal of hockey and acquired well-built shooting muscles, or generally take a massive amount slap shots (think defenseman) make sure you move up 10-15 on the preceding scale. If you find you are the type of player that specializes in snap-shots and/or wrist shots you may want to move down one or two points on the continuum.

A good way to get a harder shot is to practice with the toughest hockey stick flex. That way you will get stronger so when you go back to more hockey stick flex flexibility

Modern Crock Pots

In America, most people call these electric cookers crock pots, whereas in the Great Britain they are usually called slow cookers. Crock pots by Rival, DeLonghi, Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart and Toastess are particularly good examples of advanced crock pots. Some of these crock pots are programmable, which allows the cook the flexibility that the slow cookers of twenty years did not.

The first crock pots had only an on/off switch and no temperature control. This had the consequence that the recipes you could prepare with them were restricted, if you used your crock pot for preparing food while you were out of the house at work for eight hours or more. Modern slow cookers like those crock pots mentioned previously have revolutionized all that. Nowadays, modern crock pots are programmable.

These modern crock pots are very versatile and with the best of them, you can set the temperature that the slow cooker should function at and the duration of time it should heat for a bit like a microwave oven. For example, you could program a modern slow cooker to cook at, say, 180c for an hour and then 100c for two hours

Most people do not appreciate the features that modern crock pots have. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of individuals who still believe that slow cookers are only any good for steaming rice, boiling soup or preparing cheap cuts of meat like scrag end of mutton. This is just not valid any more, although manual crock pots were capable of more than that as well. Contemporary variable slow cookers can be used to make bread, cheesecake, custards and even sponges.

In fact, it is a good suggestion to get away from the old fashioned ideas people have about slow cookers and try to see them as an oven, which does not need a pot to cook in. Try the recipe underneath and see for yourself.

BANANA BREAD

1 3/4 c flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/3 c shortening 2/3 c sugar 2 eggs, well beaten 1 1/2 c banana, well mashed, overripe 1/2 c walnuts, coarsely chopped

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the electric beater on low, fluff shortening in a small bowl, until it is soft and creamy. Add the sugar gradually. Beat in the eggs in a slow stream. With a fork, beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture, ? the bananas another 1/3 of the flour mixture, the rest of the bananas and then the last of the flour mixture. Fold in the walnuts. Turn into a greased and floured baking unit or a 2 1/2 quart mold and cover.

Place on a rack in your crock pot. Cover the crock pot, but prop the lid open with a toothpick or a twist of foil to let the excess steam escape. Cook on HIGH for 4 to 6 hours. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Serve Warm.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching the crock pots by Rival. If you have an interest in cooking or crock pots, please go over to our website now at Large Crock Pots

UFC 85 Flashback: Alves, Bisping Win

A day after failing to make weight for his fight against Matt Hughes, Thiago Alves dominated the former UFC welterweight champion en route to a 2nd round TKO victory. The main event at UFC 85 in London was somewhat anticlimactic to the fans at the O2 Arena who considered the semifinal matchup between Manchester’s Michael Bisping and Jason Day the biggest fight on the card.

Hughes didn’t make any excuses following his one sided loss, saying simply that hes a good fighter and he got me. The longtime king of the UFCs welterweight division also gave notice that his career as an active fighter was drawing to a close, suggesting that he had one fight left and challenging Matt Serra in what presumably would be his retirement match. Hughes had no answer for Alves from the opening horn, as he was stuffed on several takedown attempts early on. When he did finally get his opponent to the ground he was unable to do much damage. Alves, conversely, scored effectively with his striking including several damaging knee strikes. He also did considerable work on the ground, with an elbow strike opening up a large cut on Hughes forehead.

The end came early in the 2nd round as Hughes was caught coming in by a devastating knee strike. He fell to the canvas in a heap and referee Herb Dean was jumping in to stop the contest before Alves could follow up with any punches. As the ringside physician entered the ring to check on the fallen fighter, Hughes gave an indication that his knee was injured.

Michael Bisping simply overwhelmed Jason Day en route to a lopsided TKO victory. Bisping built upon the improved boxing skills he demonstrated at UFC 83 by unveiling an impressive ground and pound attack. Day never really got anything going and by the last minute of the fight was simply trying to cover up to prevent damage from Bispings elbows and hammer fists. Between his move down to the middleweight division and his improved technical striking skills, Bisping looks like a different fighter. His post UFC 83 suggestion that he wanted a fight with Anderson Silva seemed premature at the time, but following another devastating performance its starting to look much more realistic.

In other action, Mike Swick used an array of high kicks and a 7 reach advantage to coast to a unanimous decision over Marcus Davis. Davis, a former professional boxer, was unable to get inside against his lanky opponent and was never really in the fight. Like Bisping, Swick may have made an excellent career choice by moving down in weight. His height and reach, combined with a well rounded striking game, makes him a particularly different matchup at the lower weight.

A controversial point deduction for a strike to the back of the head cost Nate Marquardt his match against Thales Leites. Marquardt was solidly in charge for the entire fight, but suffered a point deduction for an illegal knee strike in round one. While that infraction was valid, replays of the 2nd round deduction for the strike to the back of the head gave the impression that he was penalized for a legal strike to the side of the head. The 2 point deduction changed the outcome of the fight, with Leites winning a split decision by the scores of 28-27, 28-27, 27-28.

In the opening PPV match, another controversial ending saw Fabrico Werdum defeat Brandon Vera by 1st round KO. The fight had been evenly contested up until the stoppage, with Werdum scoring a couple of takedown and Vera countering with some effective punching. Late in the first round, Werdum got a full mount and began to fire a series of punches. Vera was clearly defending himself and didnt appear to be hurt at all when the referee jumped in to stop the fight.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on World Series betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook review sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

The Mapes Hotel: Lost Landmark Of Northern Nevada History

On January 31, 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The destruction of the Mapes put an end to years of efforts to preserve the building via lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots action. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took up the cause of the Mapes, and challenged the destruction in a suit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.

While the efficacy and justification of demolishing the Mapes is debatable, one thing that is not is the glorious history of the hotel. It was built in’47, and signaled the start of the modern era of casino gambling. Despite the notoriety of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo in Las Vegas, it was the Mapes that became the first building in the nation to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under one roof. It also became the hotel of choice for celebrities staying in Northern Nevada. Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe stayed at The Mapes during the filming of ‘The Misfits’. Joseph McCarthy, America’s famed anti-Communist crusader, admitted to a reporter over cocktails in the Mapes Lounge that he really didn’t have a list of Communists in the US despite his frequent and vitriolic insistence to the contrary.

In the 50s and 60s it became, along with Lake Tahoes Cal-Neva Lodge the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The top floor, window-walled Sky Room showcased performances by the legends: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jackie Gleason, Louis Prima, Mae West, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis, Jr., and the Marx Brothers among others. Subsequent years were not kind to downtown Reno but the Mapes continued to do well during the 60′s and 70′s. The hotel finally closed in’82, due more to financial difficulties experienced by the Mapes family caused by one of their other Northern Nevada gaming properties than anything else.

Reno never experienced the massive growth that occurred in Las Vegas and southern Nevada, and for that reason the destruction of the Mapes is more open to debate than the hotel demolitions to the south. Even the demolition of The Sands–perhaps the most historically significant casino in the state–is hard to argue against given the inability of such a small property to compete in the current Las Vegas marketplace and in light of the value of the mid-strip real estate. The old properties may have historic value to pop culture historians, but their survival doesn’t make economic sense. They’re simply ‘analog players in a digital world’.

This is not the case in Reno, where land and buildings for development in virtually every casino area are abundant. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land–which sits along the banks of the Truckee River–to expand its riverside district of art galleries, restaurants and shops. The revitalization of downtown Reno is definitely needed and a legitimate goal, but at the same time it is hard to think that the Mapes was a barrier to this. Indeed, a number of proposals for redevelopment including office space, artists lofts and upscale senior housing would have probably served to enhance the livability of the downtown area. For whatever reason, the City Redevelopment Authority wouldn’t approve any of the proposals and the fate of the Mapes was sealed.

The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. Back in’96, the city of Reno purchased the hotel and began entertaining proposals for renovation and redevelopment. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which eventually led to the demolition of the structure.

Following the 2000 demolition, the lot remained vacant for over a year until a temporary ice skating rink was hastily constructed the following winter. The property has been improved and the rink is now permanent which, while not in itself a bad use for the land, further calls into question the efficacy of demolishing the structure. It would appear that the city had no clue what to do with the land, but for whatever reason wanted the building brought down. This has led to all sorts of conspiracy theories, from the City Development Agency having financial incentive to raze the hotel to rumors that the building was haunted and was destroyed to keep the Reno area from being overrun with paranormal activity. Whatever the reason for the decision, the city of Reno has lost a beautiful art deco treasure that played a significant part in the economic growth of the state.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on World Series betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook review sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

American Beauty Is A Powerful Movie You Should See

One of the best films in the last twenty years was American Beauty. This emotionally charged drama won 5 Oscars in 2000. The big star Kevin Spacey also won an Oscar for his starring role.

American Beauty is a story about mid-life crisis and people coming to terms with who they are. It is centered on a married couple with a teenage daughter. We follow the struggles they all go through in coming to grips with the various issues each has in their lives.

Kevin Spacey plays the father Lester, and he is going through a mid-life crisis. He hates his job, his family hates him, and he is simply bored with life. His wife Carolyn is always criticizing him, and his teenage daughter Jane is rebelling against her parents. She is disgusted by how they behave.

His wife Carolyn is all about the money. She acts like a bitch, and is always disapproving of both Lester and their daughter Jane. She is also having an affair with a married man who is a real estate agent like she is also.

Jane is a teenager who feels unwanted. Her best friend is a sexy girl appearing to have it all. Even her dad has the hots for her friend Angela, and Jane can see it.

Lester finally starts to unravel. He quits his job, starts smoking pot, gets a job at a fast food restaurant, and starts to live life for himself. He quits taking crap from his wife. He fantasizes

Jane finds a boyfriend in the new kid next door, Ricky. Ricky is a strange kid with a tough family life himself. His father is a closet homosexual with a strict military background. This has left his mother as a dominated shell of a woman. Ricky sells pot, and becomes Lester’s supplier and friend.

I won’t give away how things turn out so you will be able to enjoy watching the movie. This movie is a must see and the acting is simply outstanding. American Beauty is one of the new classics.

There is no one sure shot formula to make it big in the acting industry. Movie Rentals Online We struggled to find seats in the dark, but eventually ensconced ourselves a few rows from the front of the balcony. Fox is counting on big numbers; their marketing department is in overdrive.

Tar Heels Upset Hokies In College Football

The University of North Carolina used a 21 yard field goal on the final play of the game to pull a big college football upset over #13 Virginia Tech on Thursday night, winning by a final score of 20-17. The Tar Heels’ #8 ranked defense proved as tenacious as their high national status would suggest, and gave the Hokies fits throughout. North Carolina led for most of the game, but withstood a late game Virginia Tech comeback bid to take the win. Both teams are now 5-3 on the college football season.

College football betting enthusiasts who took North Carolina as +16′ road underdogs were never in serious doubt about the eventual payday they’d receive as the Tar Heels never trailed by more than three points. The Tar Heels improved to 3-4 against the college football pointspread, while the Hokies dropped to 3-5 versus the money. The 37 combined points scored went UNDER the posted total of 43′.

Tar Heels’ QB T.J. Yates was in a state of disbelief after the narrow road victory:

“I’ve never really had this feeling before. Kicking it at the last second? It just sends chills down your spine.”

Running back Shaun Draughn spoke of the team’s priority to bounce back quickly after they blew a big lead in a loss to Florida State last week:

“We knew we had to get back to the drawing board. To come back and play the way we did definitely speaks volumes about our team.”

In the Hokies’ locker room, linebacker Cody Grimm spoke of his team’s need to regain their focus:

“I think the motivation is to come out here so you don’t feel like this again. Ten wins is one thing, but I don’t want to feel like this any more and the only way to do that is to win.”

Running back Ryan Williams felt doubly bad about the loss, as his late game fumble cemented the victory for North Carolina:

“As of right now, there probably isn’t really anything they can say to lift me up because regardless of what anybody says, personally I feel like I kind of took the game away from us today. It was on the line, it was in my hands and I fumbled.”

The Hokies will play against next Thursday night, heading to Greenville, NC to face the Skip Holtz coached East Carolina Pirates. They’ll play at Maryland on Saturday, November 15 before returning home a week later to host North Carolina State. North Carolina plays their next two at home, starting a week from Saturday against Duke. Miami will come in the following week before the Tar Heels hit the road to play at Boston College on November 21.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

The Legacy Of Japan’s Pro Wrestling Icon Mitsuharu Misawa

Mitsuharu Misawa died in Hiroshima, Japan earlier this year less than a week before his 47th birthday. Akitoshi Saito hit a back suplex on Misawa, which appeared to knock him unconscious. Medical staff attempted to revive him in the ring, but when CPR failed he was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Initial reports in the Japanese media suggest that he was pronounced dead at the hospital, but a number of eyewitness accounts have speculated that he may have died in the ring.

There’s at least a small bit of solace in the fact that he died in the ring doing what he loved, and what he did better than just about anyone on the planet. Misawa’s last moments were spent working the kind of brutally stiff, athletically realistic match that got a generation hooked on Japanese wrestling.

A top level amateur wrestler in high school, his skill gained the attention of All Japan Pro Wrestling president Shohei Giant Baba. Three years after his pro debut, he got his first big break in’84 when he was chosen as the second Tiger Mask replacing Satoru Sayama. In’90, he had his longtime friend and rival Toshiaki Kawada unmask him.

Misawa would wrestle as himself from then on, and become an even bigger star in the process. In June,’90 he became one of the top stars in All Japan Pro Wrestling when he defeated Jumbo Tsuruta. That match was his first main event appearance at the famous Nippon Budokan. He soon faced Triple Crown Champion Stan Hansen in an unsuccessful challenge for the title, and would become the biggest star in Japanese pro wrestling for the next decade.

Hed have legendary battles against Kawada, Hansen, Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama and Steve Dr. Death Williams in singles competition. Hed also become a force on the tag team scene along with Kawada facing Williams and Terry Gordy along with Tsuruta and Akira Taue. Misawa would continue as a mainstay in AJPW until the early part of this decade. After the death of Giant Baba, he repeatedly bumped heads with his widow over the companys direction and in 2000 quit to establish Pro Wrestling NOAH. He would serve as the companys president while wrestling a full time schedule until his untimely death.

Japanese pro wrestling served as an introduction for many American fans into shoot fight sports and MMA. Before the Internet, fans would trade videotapes to stay up on the latest matches from Japan and along with Jushin Thunder Liger and The Great Muta Keiji Mutoh it safe to say that Misawa is one of the wrestlers most responsible for getting a generation of American fans hooked on the product. Were it not for the subculture he created in America, later wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor and MMA promotions like the UFC wouldn’t have had a ready made audience to tap into.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on NFL football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.