text:
No evidence for MP's claims 'tens of thousands of people' have 'suffered severe damage' from vaccines
Approximately tens of thousands of people have suffered severe damage from Covid-19 vaccines.
There is no evidence for this. This claim is based on Yellow Card reporting, which is not a reliable indicator of proven side effects.
See the action we've taken as a result of this fact check.
We know that on the figures that at least 2,000 people have died shortly after receiving the vaccine, that's from the Yellow Cards. We know that upwards of half a million Yellow Cards have been issued, so when we talk about probably tens of thousands of people who have suffered severe damage as a result of this [Covid-19 vaccines] I think that's the sort of ballpark figure we're in.
Sir Christopher Chope MP, 21 March 2022.
Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope claimed during a recent interview with GB News that there were "probably tens of thousands of people who have suffered severe damage as a result" of Covid-19 vaccines.
There isn't any real evidence for Mr Chope's estimate which relies on figures from the Yellow Card scheme.
The Yellow Card scheme, run by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA), allows individuals and health professionals to report any suspected reactions or side effects of vaccines, even if the reporter isn't sure that it was caused by the vaccine.
Although Mr Chope claimed that "upwards of half a million" Yellow Card reports have been issued, as of 9 March 2022 (the most recent statistics available when the interview took place) there had been a total of 449,324 reports, detailing around 1.5 million suspected reactions (as each report can contain details of multiple suspected reactions).
As of 16 March (the most recent available at the time of writing), the MHRA had received 450,029 reports.
We have fact checked other claims made by Mr Chope on Covid-19 vaccines previously.
Reports of side effects
When Full Fact contacted Mr Chope about his comments, and particularly his claim that there are "probably tens of thousands of people who have suffered severe damage as a result" of Covid-19 vaccines, he told us: "There have been more than 450,000 Yellow Card reports of adverse effects and it is surely not unreasonable to work on the basis that some 2.5% of those reports relate to the severe impacts set out above."
We asked Mr Chope for more information where the figure of 2.5% came from, but other than saying it was "a calculation" he did not provide an explanation. Furthermore, 2.5% of 450,000 is 11,250—falling short of the "tens of thousands" described by the MP.
Mr Chope also reiterated that his claim of tens of thousands of people suffering severe damage from Covid-19 vaccine damage was a "ballpark figure", and pointed to an update published by the MHRA in 2019 which urged people to submit Yellow Card reports if necessary, after a drop in reports in 2018.
This notice states: "It is estimated that only 10% of serious reactions and between 2 and 4% of non-serious reactions are reported." Mr Chope told Full Fact that this meant there might be "an underreporting of 90%" in terms of serious adverse reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine, arguing that by the MHRA's own admission the Yellow Card reports for the Covid-19 vaccines could represent just a fraction of the actual adverse events experienced.
However, the very same notice Mr Chope refers to explicitly states that the statistics on Yellow Card underreporting should not be used for Covid-19, as there was an increased public awareness around the scheme during the rollout of the vaccines.
A spokesperson for the MHRA told Full Fact: "The actual rate [of underreporting] is unknown and likely to be highly variable as it will be influenced by public awareness and seriousness of events as well as publicity around the use of vaccines."
Mr Chope also told us that he had made the same claim about 'tens of thousands' of people suffering severe side effects during an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on 2 March and it had not been contradicted by the minister present at the debate, parliamentary under-secretary for the Department of Health Maria Caulfield.
Ms Caulfield told us that, due to the fact an adjournment debate only lasts 30 minutes, it's not possible to respond to every point raised, adding: "Not responding to a point does not mean I endorse it."
As set out on the Yellow Card site, it is important to note that reported adverse events cannot be used to reliably indicate the rate of occurrence of side effects. As we have written many, many times before, the system is designed to be used by patients and healthcare professionals and there is no requirement to prove that an adverse event was caused by a Covid-19 vaccine.
This means the raw data can't be relied on to calculate a fair estimate of the number of genuine severe side effects.
Mr Chope did not expand on what he meant by "severe" Covid-19 vaccine damage, or give any further information about where this figure may have come from beyond the Yellow Card system, which records a vast range of suspected side effects. The lists of adverse events are published online, separated by vaccine (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and reports where the brand was unspecified).
The "overwhelming majority" of suspected side effects reported through the Yellow Card scheme are related to pain at the injection site such as a sore arm, or generalised symptoms lasting for a short time after injection such as heachache, fatigue or flu-like symptoms.
In a statement to Full Fact, Mr Chope said that a number of questions he had asked in Parliament about the Yellow Card system and suspected vaccine side effects had not yet been fully answered.
The government does not routinely publish information on side effects proven to have been caused by Covid-19 vaccines.
Reports of deaths
On GB News, Mr Chope also claimed the reports show at least 2,000 people had died shortly after receiving a vaccine, and the data does show that at the time 2,061 deaths had been recorded shortly after vaccination. Recently updated data shows that the figure, as of 16 March, stands at 2,071.
However, the MHRA site states: "Some events may have happened anyway, regardless of vaccination. This is particularly the case when millions of people are vaccinated, and especially when vaccines are being given to the most elderly people and people who have underlying illness."
In the clip, Mr Chope references the fact that vaccines have been found to be the likely cause of death at a number of inquests held at Coroners' Courts, which is correct.
Information about deaths where Covid-19 vaccines are mentioned on the death certificate are included in the monthly mortality statistics for England and Wales, collected by the Office for National Statistics. According to these figures there have been 29 deaths where adverse events related to Covid-19 vaccines are mentioned on the certificate, and 23 where they have been identified as the underlying cause.
There has also been widespread coverage of some specific rare conditions reported following vaccination, such as blood clots occurring alongside low platelets and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), which is often highlighted alongside pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart).
There have been 476 reports of major blood clots alongside low platelets following vaccination across all vaccine brands, the majority of them following AstraZeneca vaccinations. There have been 79 reports of deaths with this condition following the AstraZeneca vaccine, and four deaths with this condition following the Pfizer vaccine.
A scientific review into the reports conducted by the MHRA found evidence of a possible link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots with low platelets, although the likelihood of it occurring was said to be "very rare". As a result, it was advised that people under the age of 40 receive a different vaccine where possible.
There have been 1,188 reports of myocarditis following vaccination across all vaccine brands, and 856 reports of pericarditis following vaccination. Eight of them have been reported as fatal.
The MHRA has reviewed reports both in the UK and internationally of suspected myocarditis and pericarditis, identifying it as a very rare condition following vaccination.
Correction 7 April 2022
This article previously quoted data as of 16 March about Yellow Card reports and suspected reactions for the Pfizer vaccine only, not all Covid-19 vaccines as claimed. The data for 9 March reflected the number of reports relating to the Pfizer vaccine and all Covid-19 vaccines, not the number of reports and suspected reactions across all vaccines as claimed. The figures have been corrected to reflect the total number of Yellow Card reports and suspected reactions following all Covid-19 vaccines.
We deserve better than bad information.
After we published this fact check, we contacted Sir Christopher Chope and GB News to request a correction regarding this claim.
Sir Christopher disputed our fact check and did not issue a correction.
GB News did not respond.
It's not good enough.
Will you add your name for better standards in public debate?
Yes, I'll join the fight for good information
By Sarah Turnnidge

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
require 'rubygems'
require 'omniauth-salesforce'
require 'asciiart'
require 'pry'
require 'pry-byebug'
require 'active_support/all'
require_relative '../global_utilities/global_utilities'
require_relative 'lib/sales_force_sushi'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We begin the fourth "chapter" in our travel blog on our extended trips around the world. This time Southeast Asia, including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore. The first was "Where's the Beef? --Argentina", the second was "Belize Time". The third "chapter" was our 7-month round-the-world trip to Asia, India and Europe. Please visit our "Links to Hotels and Sponsors" to give them some support.
Luang Prabang is well known for its extensive night market, with stalls selling everything from bamboo straws to handmade Laotian blue indigo scarves. The main street shuts down at 5 pm for several blocks, the tuk tuks and motorcycles disappear and very quickly bright red canopies are thrown up to completely fill in the roadway. It's actually quite pretty, especially with the gold temple at the former royal palace in the background.
Lesser known is the day market where locals go to buy food for their daily needs. Unlike the Night Market, which is really for tourists, this market really does cater more to the community and the average Laotian consumer. Many of the vendors come from the surrounding countryside very early in the morning to sell their fresh goods. The market is open from 5 to 11 a.m.
No grocery stores here, no vegetables in tightly sealed plastic clamshells and no lineups at the cashier. They don't exist. Life here isn't sanitized and aseptic. This is life in Asia in all it's gritty, fascinating and sometimes shocking raw glory.
What you'll find is everything from colourful bougainvillea flower petals and spices to fresh caught fish and BBQ'd bamboo rat (yes, its a thing). You'll find items that you didn't know you could eat and some things that you'll really want to try for breakfast. It's also a great place to photographer the vibrant colours of Laos.
Take a stroll with me and Carolann through Luang Prabang's day market. The market is definitely a must see when you're in Luang Prabang. The day market is on a side street that runs parallel to the main street that hosts the night market and is just up from the Mekong River. It's right in the heart of Luang Prabang and is close to many of the hotels.
Frog legs appeared on quite a few menus in Luang Prabang and we often saw them on the roads at night. We didn't try them and I think the way they were sold live in the market was very inhumane.
You could find pretty much everything in the Day Market, including grilled Bamboo rat and bats. But why anyone would want to eat a bat is beyond me--it's all skin and bone! Bamboo rats are nocturnal, slow moving rodents that live in burrows and feed on bamboo underground. They weigh about one to two pounds and reminded me of the South American Cuy or Guinea Pig.
Flying into Luang Prabang, Laos, we drop from the clouds to skim through the mountain crags, gliding along the winding Mekong River to the tiny airstrip. The jungle clad mountains fold into the distance like one of those misty Chinese paintings.
A blast of hot, humid air hits us as they open the airplane door. We have arrived in Laos, our first time in this historic country, the mysterious land of saffron-robed Buddhist monks and golden temples. Luang Prabang is the former royal capital of the Kingdom of Laos and is now a World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved French colonial architecture, its ancient temples and monasteries. There must be more temples here per capita than anywhere else in the world!
The streets of Luang Prabang are not just full of French Colonial architecture and Buddhist temples, but all kinds of interesting art, people and incredible tropical flowers.
They also make great croissants and these wonderful, hot, gooey coconut pancakes sold on the street and served in a folded banana leaf. It's our new favourite snack after a long day walking through town visiting temples.
Our third day in Laos, we discover by accident an amazing restaurant hidden on a dark side street. It's an outdoor gem called the Manda de Laos and it is a magical place with lotus ponds, candles and palm trees.
The day started overcast with a cool mist, followed by a hot sunny afternoon and now, in the evening, it has cooled down again. So the frogs in the Manda de Laos lotus ponds must think it's spring for they are singing their love songs with abandon. It starts with the loudest, biggest frog and then hundreds of croakers and peepers join in, building to a crescendo of delight. Then just as suddenly it ends. It's a wonderful romantic concert on a warm night in Luang Prabang.
If you've read the book First they Killed My Father or seen the film of the book directed by Angelina Jolie, you'll understand my reluctance and actual fear to visit the Killing Fields outside of Phnom Penh and the Genocide Museum in town. The book recounts the horror and atrocities of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime under the madman Pol Pot during the nightmare period from 1975 to 1978.
I won't go into a lot of the history that led to the genocide, if interested you should read the book, but basically American bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam war forced thousands of Cambodians to flee the countryside for the safety of Phnom Penh. Cambodia was the most bombed country not just during the war, but in history. The bombings, starvation and hardships made life in the countryside unbearable and people without hope welcomed the change they thought the Khmer Rouge would bring. Over a million desperate people fled to Phnom Penh swelling the population to three million. They actually cheered the soldiers as the Khmer Rouge took over the city.
Sadly, the madman Pol Pot backed by communist Russia and China launched a massive genocide in the name of social revolution—a failed experiment inspired by Mao's communist regime in China. Almost the entire population of Phnom Penh was forced out of the city as part of Pol Pot's utopian agrarian vision. A third of the entire Cambodian population was murdered, starved to death or died from illness or disease—three million people out of a population of roughly 10 million!
Innocent people were imprisoned merely because they wore glasses, had soft hands or an education. City dwellers were forced into slave labour camps or into fields to grow rice, a skill they did not have. If they didn't meet their quota, they were killed. Steal a grain of rice because you and your children were starving and you were killed.
But it wasn't just the genocide of his own people that is so shocking and horrific, it is the brutal way men, women and children were tortured and slaughtered. The details are chilling. Horror stories from the few survivors are the chimera of nightmares.
Hence my trepidation to visit the Killing Fields and the shocking prison, now the Genocide Museum, where the atrocities were carried out. If you left the prison, it meant you were shipped off to the killing fields and crudely dispatched with farm tools in order to save bullets. Death was not swift or painless. Thrown into mass graves the bodies were covered with DDT to mask the smell, sometimes while the victims were still alive.
I took very few photographs because of my shock. But my photos could not possibly convey the horror, the gut-wrenching chill, the deep sadness one feels when you see the pits of mass graves, now shallow depressions in the grassy field. Worse still is the display of skulls arrayed in a memorial tower 17 rows high. Bone fragments and teeth regularly wash up to the surface of the field after a rain and are collected by staff. And then there is the tree where babies were bashed to their death.
If you now find it hard to breathe, you can't swallow, or a tear comes to your eye, I will have succeeded in conveying a small fraction of the deep sadness, horror and depression I felt. I want this to be as difficult for you to read as it was for me to witness.
A stillness comes over the two sites as people follow the guided trail in stunned silence. No one speaks as we shuffle along the path listening to the horrible details and tales of the few survivors, of the child soldiers who were forced to murder or be murdered, of the farmers who discovered the pits when they went searching for food after the fall of the regime. Sadly this killing field was just one of many.
In a sad juxtaposition of history and memory loss, these children were playing with memorial ribbons left on the "Killing Tree" against which soldiers bashed the heads of babies before throwing them into the mass graves.
At the prison in Phnom Penh (one of hundreds around the country), where only 12 survived of the thousands tortured there, you tour the small torture rooms of what was once a high school, now a testament to incredible suffering. Iron shackles on beds held the victims in place and blood stains on the floor testify to their suffering and their brutal murders.
Fourteen grave markers indicate where the last victims to die at the prison are remembered. They were left to bleed out when their torturers fled the invading Vietnamese "liberation" army.
The audio tour relates the horror of daily beatings, torture and horrible murders of the victims. Like many depraved regimes, the Khmer Rouge kept detailed records of the victims, their torture and their deaths. The jailers did not have time to destroy all of the records. Photos, paintings and actual torture devices add too much realism to the gruesome accounts. You are in the room with the victims.
In one room a bare metal bed shows the leg shackles that held the torture victims in place. The rule was do not scream or you will be beaten worse.
Another building in the prison complex was full of tiny holding pens made of bricks. Can you imagine the heat. The exit was covered in barbed wire to prevent escape or suicide even though victims were shackled together at the ankles.
Incredibly, two survivors are at the prison to tell their stories through their books. One is a painter who was saved because he could accurately depict the torture and deaths, and the other a skilled labourer who was spared because he could repair the typewriters used to record the sordid details.
It is all too depressing and nightmarish for me to recount and give any justice to the victims and the method of their deaths.
Yet I felt a moral obligation to visit and to tell my experience out of respect for the victims and in a small hope that somehow sharing their story will help prevent future atrocities.
Back in Phnom Penh we finally managed to visit the Royal Palace, home of the current king of Cambodia. It took us several days to get in to visit because of some unusual practices at the palace. It's hard to believe they still have royalty after the horrors of Pot Pot. But the king is alive, very much respected and still very active in Cambodian life.
On our first attempt to visit the palace, we learned that they would not take credit cards for the $10 US entrance fee, something that we have not seen in any other Asian country. On our second try, the palace was closed due to the bi-monthly practice of the king giving out food to monks and the poor.
On our third visit, we were refused entry because Carolann's shoulders were covered only by a shawl. Based on our experiences in Thailand, Malaysia, Bali and China, Carolann had dressed respectfully with knees and arms covered. But it turned out that a shawl was not allowed. We pointed out several other more scantily clad women with bare arms and legs, but to no avail—the guards would not budge. So again we went back to our hotel, hotter and dissatisfied for a third time. We later learned that, in the past, groups of Chinese tourists had visited with shawls covering their bare shoulders only to remove the shawls once inside. So they banned shawls outright.
On the fourth try, Carolann wore a long-sleeved, much warmer shirt! But we were successful!
The ornate main gate of the Royal Palace faces east and the Mekong River, which was used in the past by official visitors who arrived by boat. You'll note that the gate is large enough for elephants to pass through, which is how the king and other dignitaries travelled back then. Apparently, horses weren't practical because they couldn't plow fields. In one of the photos below, you might notice a building with high stairs. This is the building the king used for climbing onto the elephants.
The walled palace grounds contain several large buildings clad in gold and marble and roofed with brilliant green and yellow tiles, which I love. The gardens are in a formal French style. Not surprising since Cambodia signed a treaty of protection with France in 1863 and was basically a French colony until 1953.
A combination of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and practices are in evidence at the palace—both religions are celebrated here on different holy days—even though the present king and the country are Buddhist. The structures feature a lot of Hindu iconography and architectural features because the palace was built by a Hindu king in the year 1866. Formal costumes and dress showcased in one building can be modified to suit the religion of the day's celebration.
The main Throne Hall is a cross-shaped building crowned with three gold spires and stunning gold figures—guardian angels and Garudas. The central, 59-metre spire is topped with the white, four-faced head of Brahma, the creator god in Hinduism. Our guide explained that even today many in Cambodia (mainly uneducated farmers and peasants he said) believe the King is descended from the gods, which is why Brahma is at the top of the Throne Hall.
Stylized Garuda figures are prominently featured around the roof of the Throne Hall and are symbolic of the legendary bird god lifting up and protecting the palace. Garuda is an iconic symbol of the king's duty and power, an insignia of royalty. The original wood carved figures have been replaced with ones made of concrete.
Unlike the Apsara dancers you see at Angkor Wat, the Throne Hall roof is also adorned with angel figures, many covered in gold leaf.
I wasn't allowed to photograph the interior of the large Throne Hall but it had a ceiling covered in a painted version of the Ramayana, a classic Hindu story of war and love. A golden throne sat at one end of the hall with chairs in front and to the side of it for visiting dignitaries. It is still used today when foreign officials and heads of state visit Cambodia.
The king resides in another palatial building also adorned with gold at the back of the large compound and when he's in residence a blue flag is flown. It was flying when we visited but we didn't see him and he didn't offer us any food.
The other main building on the site is the Silver Pagoda, which I expected to be clad in silver, not gold. But it is actually famous for its silver floor. The Pagoda is inlaid with more than 5,000 solid silver tiles, each one-foot square! Imagine cleaning the tarnish off that! It is also full of gold pieces and a giant one-piece green "Emerald Buddha" studded with rubies and diamonds. Our guide told us it was a real emerald, but Wikipedia says it is probably green Baccarat crystal. Multiple cases around the perimeter house hundreds of gold and silver Buddhas given to the pagoda by individuals wanting to associate themselves with the giant Buddha and its blessings.
All in all, I'm glad we persisted and finally visited the palace and by the fourth try we had actually learned enough to arrive early before the crowds. So as we exited, hordes of Chinese tourists led by bull-horn bellowing guides invaded the tranquility of the palace grounds making no pretence of the respect the guards had enforced upon us. Bare arms and legs were in blatant display. Our guide just shrugged.
Luang Prabang is no longer the capital of Laos or a French colony but it's still the spiritual capital of this tiny, poor country that only opened up to tourism in 1989.
We came to Laos to bathe in the French Colonial atmosphere and to experience the mystical spirituality of the Buddhist temples that pervades this town. We wanted to live it before it becomes overrun with tourists and falls to the tidal wave of Chinese economic imperialism sweeping across Southeast Asia.
The city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 because of its well-preserved and beautiful French Colonial architecture and its 34 UNESCO-protected wats or temples, located within the small old town centre.
The town is trapped on a peninsula between two large rivers, the fabled Mekong on one side and the equally muddy-brown Nam Khan on the other. This prevents further expansion and may protect the heritage French-colonial buildings and the Buddhist temples. The peninsula is narrow enough at one end where most of the wats are located that we crossed it easily on foot in 10 minutes.
Nowhere else in Southeast Asia have I seen such a concentration of gold-clad temples. All are within easy walking distance on mostly safe and comfortable streets lined with French-style shops, cafes and restaurants many of which are housed in old French-style buildings. In fact, we made the rounds of the temples almost every morning passing through the day market, taking shortcuts down alleyways, and slowly checking out the coffee shops and the temples.
Walking from our hotel on the western outskirt of town took us 45 minutes, but it was a pleasant stroll that allowed us to walk off the calories from the French croissants at breakfast and the BeerLao at lunch. We often followed one river or the other because it was cooler.
The 34 Buddhist wats are real working temples and schools, not relics or museums. They are home to over 1,000 novices and monks continuing ancient Buddhist studies and education. This isn't just a show for tourists. Monks teach young novices restoration techniques for their heritage.
We met some of the former novices who came from poor rural villages throughout the north. They had gone to the wats for a free education and were now studying to be teachers at the university. Even though their English was poor, two were very eager to sit beside me on the boat taking us downriver in order to practice speaking to foreigners.
We often found that the first question we were asked in restaurants or hotels was "Where are you from?". It seemed to be a standard greeting that showed me that this town was still growing into its new role as a tourist mecca.
In 1887 a mercenary army from China destroyed virtually all of the temples. Some were restored only recently with help from foreign governments including Italy.
But they have been beautifully rebuilt or restored in a unique Laotian style combining traditional Buddhist and some French-colonial elements. Typically the Luang Prabang style temples have an elaborately painted red and gold front façade and sweeping roofs. I know that in Thailand and Burma, the temples and Buddha statues are covered in real gold leaf. I'm not sure if that is the case here in Laos, but the gold is everywhere glistening in the sunlight.
As you can see in the photos, the tips of the roof are adorned with finials shaped like a Naga, the mythological serpent believed to protect Buddhism. Some of these are gold, others are covered in emerald-green glass that sparkles in the sun. Another typical Laotian roof element is the miniature pagodas topped by multi-tiered parasols that you see on the peak of the roof.
Perhaps because of the temples and its somewhat recent welcoming of tourists, Luang Prabang does feel trapped in time and more real than many other cities we have visited in Southeast Asia. But it is more expensive mainly because it is the premier tourist destination in Laos. It has become a bit "tony" as one American tourist observed to us, with more crowds and the modern invasion of busloads of Chinese tourists.
Nevertheless it is still fairly relaxed and hasn't yet lost its authenticity and been completely overtaken by modernism and the chains of restaurants and hotels you find throughout Southeast Asia. It's still clearly devoted to Buddhism and its past.
Somedays it seemed like the town was deserted, with only a few motorbikes slowly making their way up the main street. And on Sunday, we were amazed to see that almost everything but the street market had shut down. Often we were able to walk right down the main road. The peace and quiet were only broken by the occasional roar of a motorbike or tuk tuk gliding by.
On Sunday, sidewalks were lined with vendors carefully pinning bright orange marigold flowers onto folded caps of banana leaves for offerings at the temples. People would leave these at a temple with some incense or place them in front of their business or home to receive blessings.
In this tranquil, spiritual setting, we often sat in a quiet French cafe on the main street eating croissants, drinking tea or coffee, watching people and soaking in the ambiance.
Elsewhere we actually saw locals casually playing petanque, a carryover from the French Colonial days, along with the croissants.
But this sleepy atmosphere is quickly changing and this is one of the reasons we wanted to see Laos now before it is completely transformed by the hordes of tourism. A new China-Laos high-speed railway is being built through northern Laos using Chinese workers to connect Southern China to the capital Vientiane, with a stop in Luang Prabang. This new modern "Silk Road" is planned to go all the way to Burma and Thailand in China's new push for economic dominance in the region. We saw a lot of resentment about this in Cambodia, but there was no mention of it here in impoverished Laos.
One sad consequence of this new popularity and the Chinese influence is that a lot of the products we saw for sale in the famous night market on the main street were from China, not handmade in Laos.
But even though the gold and glitter of Luang Prabang may be tarnished, you can still feel the lazy, laissez-faire attitude of the French colonialists as you sit and sip your Laotian coffee with your croissant and watch the street slowly convert into the crowded red canopies of the night market.
Steinbeck once wrote: "We do not take a trip; a trip takes us."


Beautiful 4BED, 2.5 BATH home with a lovely layout in Tudor Branch! Front door opens to hardwood floors and high ceilings in the foyer & great room. Abundant natural light provides a warm and inviting space around the large fireplace. To the left, a spacious dining room features charming chair molding, updated light fixture and hardwoods. A pass through provides easy access to the large kitchen. This eat-in-kitchen has granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, hardwoods, kitchen island, pantry, and ample cabinet space. Owner s bedroom is to the left with dual tray ceilings, carpet, and an en suite bathroom with fully tiled shower, dual sinks, garden tub, and walk in closet. Laundry room and half bath are also conveniently located on the main floor. Upstairs, a large loft overlooks the great room. 3 bedrooms are upstairs with access to second full bathroom. The over-sized 4th bedroom has an extra living area with additional storage. The backyard features a large back deck!
Columbia Rd. to Tudor Branch. Take 3rd right onto Greenwich Pass. House is on the cul-de-sac.
1226 Greenwich Pass is a 2,607 (*estimated) square foot home with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms located in Grovetown GA, COLUMBIA County. This property is listed for sale at $249,900 and is currently active and accepting offers.


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Here are my collages for Week 41. This 365 something project was created in part and hosted by Hanna at i Hanna.
In case you missed them, here are Week 40's collages. As I'm sure you know by now, I post every Monday morning for the previous week. All my collages are 4" X 4" (10,16 cm X 10,16 cm).
If you are playing in Hanna's 365 Something project, please let me know and I will be by to see what you are making. Please let me know if you like any of these. As always, I am extremely grateful for your continued support of this project and my art.
Thank you so very much for spending time with me today.
Fabulous post all those collages goodness....chat soon.
I love the Mondays on your blog Elizabeth! Fantastic collages this week again .... gorgeous!
Paint the town is my favourite this week!
NIce collages, Elizabeth! The first one is my favorite.
By the way, when I clicked to comment on this post, a totally separate FULL PAGE window opened, not a pop up. Yes, it is away from the original blog post window, but that window remains open and takes only a toggle click to see again.
If I've learned anything about computers, it's that nothing is the same for everyone. We tend to think we know what others are seeing based on the way we set things to display, but that just doesn't happen. There are many different devices from small phones to full size desktops with even more choices of settings that change a person's display no matter our selections. So we do the best we can to get the most from our online experience, and the best I can do is hope for a FULL PAGE display if I want to comment on a blog. That is what works for me. That said, I have no idea why I have no problem commenting on your blog if you have selected POP UP for comments, but it does.
thanks for letting me know, I have always liked embed option for my comments because everything is there and someone can also reply to others comments. I just switched to your suggestion pop up hopefully she can still comment that way blogger must be doing allot of updating or something because many little things are not working here-I hope they don't delete our blog platform here like they just deleted their google plus-which I never liked that one but I would really miss my blog here if they did that.
FYI for everyone interested in this discussion, what I see as the difference between the FULL PAGE and POP UP selections offered by Blogger for commenting is that FULL PAGE offers the commenter the option to "Show Original Post". I see that as a plus for a visitor leaving a comment.
Oh these are all lovely Elizabeth! I love Feather your Nest, Paint the Town and Seeing Double especially. As always I"m impressed by your clever titles.
Preciosos !! they are all wonderful Elizabeth !! I ´m trilled about those so gorgeous and clever designs !! I love feather your nest very much, and, of course.... Seeing double !! :) you know why. Love love all!
The option to have the comment form on the page itself works better for me on my own blog, since it allows replies under individual comments and I reply to comments (except on T Tuesday). It also allows scrolling back up to the post on the same page. The pop-ups pop up in a different page overlaying the post itself. At least that's how it works on my computer.
I hear Google+ is closing down. I have a page there but never used it.
I especially like Shades of Yesterday.
You come up with the best titles! Arm my dillo. Heh.
Lovely collages, they really are fantastic small pieces of art. I loved the fun of the ....Arm my dillo.
haahaaa arm my dillo!! You are too cute Elizabeth!
I thoroughly enjoy your collages and their titles!
Oh Elizabeth these are all so good.
"Shades of yesterday" looks so very homelike, cosy and warm.
"Paint the town" rings the bell for me as we are busy doing just that, wall painting in the house.
"The conundrum" is intriguing. I'm looking at it thinking, yes it's a conundrum wondering why it is a conundrum. It looks like it could be a complicated puzzle.
"Arm my dillo". OK this is a conundrum. I may be missing something but I can still enjoy it.
"Feather your nest" is simply pretty and I love the watercolour background.
"Seeing double" also pretty with a cute title.
"Some assembly required" says what it is and is a lovely simple graphic collage which is often the most difficult to make.
So you see, Elizabeth, I did enjoy your collages very much - again.
Love the colours in 'Some assembly required'! Another great collection Elizabeth!


Considered one of quite possibly the most frequent electrical wiring concerns is regarding how to wire a switch. When applying switches in your own home is fairly uncomplicated, wiring 1 may well not be that quick for everybody. An ON-OFF switch is in fact quite simple to wire. You'll find several types of switches, but for this instance, let us say you happen to be installing a single-pole toggle switch, a very typical change (as well as the most straightforward).
You can find 3 colors of wires inside of a common single-pole toggle switch: black, white, and inexperienced. Splice the black wire in two and hook up them on the terminal screws - a person on major and the other within the base screw on the switch. The white wire serves to be a resource of uninterrupted ability and is generally related to the light coloured terminal screw (e.g., silver). Hook up the environmentally friendly wire to the ground screw of one's switch.
These techniques would frequently be enough to make a normal change operate without a problem. However, for those who are certainly not confident that you simply can achieve the process correctly and securely you superior permit the pros do it rather. Soon after all, there is certainly a cause why this activity has become the most frequent electrical wiring concerns asked by many people.
For some cause, tips on how to wire a ceiling fan is likewise certainly one of by far the most frequent electrical wiring thoughts. To simplify this job, you can use only one swap for just a single ceiling fan. To wire the admirer, it is really simply a make a difference of connecting the black wire of the ceiling fan to your black wire of the switch. If there is a lightweight, the blue wire must be linked for the black wire from the switch at the same time.
There are causes why they're essentially the most commonly questioned electrical wiring thoughts. 1, numerous consider it is basic to carry out, and two, they are the prevalent electrical duties at home. But then you shouldn't put your basic safety in danger inside your goal to save cash. The stakes could even be a lot bigger in case you try and lower your expenses and do an electrical wiring career devoid of sufficient awareness or knowledge.


The Country Bear Jamboree is an attraction at the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort and at Tokyo Disneyland in the Tokyo Disney Resort, as well as a former attraction at Disneyland Park. All versions of the attraction are similar. The attraction is a stage show with audio-animatronic figures. Most of the characters are bears who perform Country music. Characters rise up to the stage on platforms, descend from the ceiling, and appear from behind curtains. The audience includes audio-animatronic animal heads mounted on the walls who interact with characters on stage.
Country Bear Jamboree est une attraction disparue de Disneyland mais toujours ouverte dans son lieu de naissance au Magic Kingdom ainsi qu'à Tokyo Disneyland. Cette attraction, conçue par Marc Davis, était prévue à l'origine pour le centre de loisirs de Disney's Mineral King Ski Resort mais fut construite en Floride en raison de l'abandon du projet.
De Country Bear Jamboree is een animatronicsshow in het Magic Kingdom in Florida en Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu (als Country Bear Theater) en voorheen in het Disneyland Park in Anaheim. De show bevat animatronics van beren en is ondergebracht in een gebouw dat op een schuur lijkt, te vinden in Frontierland. In 2002 verscheen er een film The Country Bears, die gebaseerd was op de attractie en diens personages.


Long time Houdini classic worn and loved by everyone from mountain guides to gardeners to bike commuters. Made in Polartec Power Stretch Pro, an exceptional fabric with a smooth outside and warm, fluffy inside. Equally tough and comfortable.


There's A Sequel?! Beyond Skyline: Skyline 2!
When an alien invasion force attacks the earth, a tough detective must battle to rescue his son from the invaders!
Skyline was one of those flashy CGI filled invasion films that hit our theatres way back in 2010. I remember it as a true brainless popcorn flick that I had no desire to watch again once it was over.
My biggest gripe with the film was that a climatic battle was played out during the end credits using static rendered 3D models. It was akin to watching a slideshow of the films final moments.
That said, however, the film was very impressive for its low budget, reportedly between $10-20 million. The film was a critical flop but still made around $78 million worldwide.
The directors, Greg and Colin Strause, unphased by its reception said they had plans for a follow-up story.
Now, seemingly out of nowhere, a trailer has appeared seven years later for a sequel entitled, Beyond Skyline: Skyline 2. The Brothers Strause are now the producers and this sequel has been directed by Liam O'Donnell.
This new film is a separate story that runs parallel to the first film and whilst the original was rated PG-13, Beyond Skyline has been confirmed to have upped the violence with an R rating.
Beyond Skyline will see a worldwide theatrical release around November with a North American run being strictly limited. This will be closely followed by a release onto Video On Demand services.


Though true about Clones being called JD park. However, Clones Town have been developing their plans practically for pitch and clubhouse for 10 years now, have been hoovering up grants and whatnot along the way and JD has been a big source of support for them, for years. If Dublin based FAI buffoons do so readily fall for a bit of corny flattery then Clones Town have pulled off a neat stroke.
They already have a very good top standard pitch along with a smaller pitch right beside and will use this glorious windfall (Hallelujah.....Praise JD) to build dressing rooms. They are now in line to expand the club to cater for some 150 local kids to participate actively in teams.
That's the usual sensible type of response I expect of you.
Still, it'd be interesting to learn how the FAI decided where the money should go and whether giving money to the Irish town that brought speckly suits, black slip-ons and white socks to the mass world in 1985 instead of, say, funding 200 more UEFA licensed coaches.
I don't go for this either or argument. A new football stadium instead of 3 hospitals argument, I would want it all.
I don't know why Clones would get the money ahead of another club and if it has managed it solely by being so corny, it does lower certain bars of integrity to blatant political patronage levels. The central issue is that there is far too little public funding made available for essential sporting infrastructure.
Also Stutts look at it another way, if in a town the size of Clones there are currently 40 or 50 kids involved in the soccer club, no own pitch until 5 or 6 years ago and now able to carry out plans to build dressing rooms, showers, but no club house per se like the GAA clubhouse in the town.
Now there's facilities to take on another 100 kids, but you already have the cream in the 50, the extra hundred are your average fluff but will provide income to fund coaching that the better young players will benefit from and the club can expand facilities later with the increased membership base. There are 3 or 4 clubs in the county and this is the best one. But all are a light year behind the outreach and social heart that the GAA clubs have in the county.
I suppose there are a few hundred similar stories around the country. The soccer club is there and the GAA club is there and the soccer club is spartan by comparison. The foundation for development in the small towns has also to be stronger in order to expand a network of licensed coaching. FAI elite coaches is just one part of the equation. The Clones club can now run coaching courses which should not only be self financing but provide an extra source of income. It's the funding of the senior players is where money goes.
It's funny Stutts how this thread was started in the middle of Euro2012 which was essentially our last "successful" period.
At that stage it was considered bitter to criticise but we all know why we did it.
It was like that time Bertie asked those who thought the country's economy was overheating and asked them to commit suicide.
That's what the situation this week with Delaney reminds me of. A big fat FF uckup.
Exactly what I've been shouting about on Twitter to my 105 followers!
Dan McDonnell's thoughts on this matter.
I was only thinking about this again this week. FAI's oversight by Sport Ireland (then the Irish Sports Council) is part of a flawed overall national sports governance infrastructure in this country. The dogs on the street could have predicted this week's events and Mark Tighe's revelations imho.
Yes, fair point. I was wondering if John Treacy's annoyed demeanour stemmed from the possibility that he too could now be in serious trouble for not doing the proper checks and balances on the FAI.


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Our extensive experience ensures you of the highest quality product. As in most industries, when they start to mature the low price competitors come in to make quick money with inferior products. The Vinyl Wall Decal industry has been no different. Just in the past few years, we have seen a flood of inferior products coming in from overseas. While these products are usually cheap, they aren't usually even functional. These products come without necessities like pre-installed transfer tape making it almost impossible for you to actually install the product. One company we know of doesn't even "weed" their products making them useless for most customers. Of course, trying to fight with a Chinese company for a $5 refund is seldom worth the time so most users just end up frustrated and disappointed. Share Your Faith Products Gifts
The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. Christian Art and Gifts
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Scripture Images
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: ... Scripture Images
"The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. "But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him? "Now send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. Scripture Images
He also made two capitals of molten bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits and the height of the other capital was five cubits. There were nets of network and twisted threads of chainwork for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital and seven for the other capital. So he made the pillars, and two rows around on the one network to cover the capitals which were on the top of the pomegranates; and so he did for the other capital. The capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits. There were capitals on the two pillars, even above and close to the rounded projection which was beside the network; and the pomegranates numbered two hundred in rows around both capitals. Thus he set up the pillars at the porch of the nave; and he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin, and he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz. On the top of the pillars was lily design. So the work of the pillars was finished. Now he made the sea of cast metal ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits, and thirty cubits in circumference. Under its brim gourds went around encircling it ten to a cubit, completely surrounding the sea; the gourds were in two rows, cast with the rest. It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; and the sea was set on top of them, and all their rear parts turned inward. It was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, as a lily blossom; it could hold two thousand baths. Then he made the ten stands of bronze; the length of each stand was four cubits and its width four cubits and its height three cubits. This was the design of the stands: they had borders, even borders between the frames, and on the borders which were between the frames were lions, oxen and cherubim; and on the frames there was a pedestal above, and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work. Now each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and its four feet had supports; beneath the basin were cast supports with wreaths at each side. Its opening inside the crown at the top was a cubit, and its opening was round like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on its opening there were engravings, and their borders were square, not round. The four wheels were underneath the borders, and the axles of the wheels were on the stand. And the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. The workmanship of the wheels was like the workmanship of a chariot wheel. Their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. Now there were four supports at the four corners of each stand; its supports were part of the stand itself. On the top of the stand there was a circular form half a cubit high, and on the top of the stand its stays and its borders were part of it. He engraved on the plates of its stays and on its borders, cherubim, lions and palm trees, according to the clear space on each, with wreaths all around. He made the ten stands like this: all of them had one casting, one measure and one form. He made ten basins of bronze, one basin held forty baths; each basin was four cubits, and on each of the ten stands was one basin. Then he set the stands, five on the right side of the house and five on the left side of the house; and he set the sea of cast metal on the right side of the house eastward toward the south. Now Hiram made the basins and the shovels and the bowls. So Hiram finished doing all the work which he performed for King Solomon in the house of the LORD: the two pillars and the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the tops of the pillars; and the ten stands with the ten basins on the stands; and the one sea and the twelve oxen under the sea; and the pails and the shovels and the bowls; even all these utensils which Hiram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were of polished bronze. In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. Solomon left all the utensils unweighed, because they were too many; the weight of the bronze could not be ascertained. Solomon made all the furniture which was in the house of the LORD: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence; and the lampstands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers and the lamps and the tongs, of gold; and the cups and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold. Thus all the work that King Solomon performed in the house of the LORD was finished And Solomon brought in the things dedicated by his father David, the silver and the gold and the utensils, and he put them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD. Scripture Image
If you're looking for wall art for sale online, Wayfair has several options sure to satisfy the pickiest shopper. We have a myriad of styles of wall art, and if you want to narrow your options to something more specific than your current filter of "Art Subject: Spiritual & Religious", such as finding wall art by brands like East Urban Home or Astoria Grand just use the filter options. Wayfair is the best place to shop if you're looking for where to buy wall art online. And remember, we offer free shipping on just about every order over $49.00, so buy wall art today and have them shipped free. Scripture Image
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ... Scripture Images
He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold. There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.
To see if ShippingPass is right for you, try a 30-day free trial. Also, with ShippingPass, there is no need to worry about commitment. If you decide you want to discontinue the service, you can cancel your subscription at any time. No matter what your shipping needs, Walmart's got you covered. Sign up for ShippingPass so you can shop more, save money and live better. Scripture Image
Our Gift Shop is full of amazing products that we think you might like that compliment many of our wall arts. All the items in our Gift Shop are made by other companies. When you click on one to purchase you will be directed to Amazon to make the purchase. Please note that those purchases are not covered by our guarantees. All purchases, refunds, exchanges, or service issues must be dealt with through Amazon. However, at no cost to you, we make a small commission when you purchase through our links. We greatly appreciate that support as it allows us to help keep the price on our wall arts down. Thank you in advance for any purchases you make through our Gift Shop.
A good piece of biblical art can help us see the truth of a passage as well as give us "fresh eyes" for familiar passages. The artist becomes our companion who points out details of a passage that we might have passed over in haste. Biblical art from other cultures or time periods can be especially help us gain a fuller understanding of a passage that we are used to seeing through our own "cultural lenses." Scripture engagement through art assists in our spiritual development by letting us share in the wealth of insights God has already given to others. Scripture Image
"You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth. "As a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel; you shall set them in filigree settings of gold.read more. Scripture Image
Now King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. He was a widow's son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work. He fashioned the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both. read more. Scripture Images
"Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. "This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. "You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. Christian Art and Gifts
The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." ... Scripture Images
"You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Scripture Images
Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched.'
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: Scripture Image
"See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: ... Share Your Faith Products Gifts
Remember that biblical art, as a visual representation of the Bible, is not always rated "G." The Bible is not a children's story, so some biblical art contains nudity or bloody depictions of violence. Not all things in the Bible are beautiful and calming; many times biblical stories are full of distortion and dissonance. As such, biblical artwork will tell the full Story of God that includes creation, fall, and redemption, with each of its harsh realities. As in all of life, the believer is called to be discerning. Scripture Image
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Who Brews & Distils In Nagambie?
April 27, 2021, by Ben Hopkins
The age old saying goes that, when one door closes, another opens.
For Jamie Chester, his "door closing" moment came in the form of a broken neck, which ended his motocross career. But the new door came in the shape of his introduction to the hospitality industry, one which he quickly embraced.
After spending close to two decades working in a variety of roles, including those in high end cocktail bars and working as a brand ambassador for Campari, Jamie was eventually approached by the family behind a new venue in regional Victoria with the chance to turn his passion for homebrewing into a profession.
"The owners out in Nagambie offered me the opportunity to take the reins at a venue they were putting together," he says.
"I would have full control over the brewing and distilling process; they had full trust in me, it was a dream come true."
That new operation was led by businessman and caravan manufacturer Jayco founder Gerry Ryan and his family, who have long had close ties to the holiday town around 90 minutes north of Melbourne. Opened in 2019, Nagambie Brewery And Distillery overlooks the lake with which it shares a name – and to call the venue picturesque would be an understatement, with the back decking practically stretching over the impressive and popular waterway.
The beers Jamie brews include six core range offerings and a rotating mix of seasonals, And, while a beer on the deck overlooking Lake Nagambie might create the perfect holiday moment, it's the venue's popularity with locals that's been most important to the team there.
"They describe the place as 'our brewery'," Jamie says. "To have the name of the town on the exterior, you have to be mindful that it's not just us that take pride in what we're doing."
To tell us a little more about the operation, we caught up with Jamie to ask Who Brews? Nagambie beers.
Nagambie Brewery And Distillery
We are a very small family-owned brewery and distillery run by a team consisting of a great, whopping two staff members! Jamie, our brewer and distiller, has been in the hospitality game one way or another for almost two decades, and Rob our assistant has just joined the team as he needed a career change.
Where do you brew?
Our site is perched on the edge of the Nagambie Lakes, so the views from the office are quite distracting on beautiful sunny days. We are very lucky to be able to combine a stunning location with a brand new venue and equipment, so it's safe to say that, while we work some ridiculous hours, most days definitely don't feel like work at all.
Why do you brew?
We brew and distil for the love of flavour. Jamie's hospo background, and his experiences as a brand ambassador for some of the world's most prestigious alcohol brands, means he's incredibly passionate about seeing customers connect with and fall in love with our products. There is nothing like the satisfaction of knowing that the products we are creating are absolutely loved by everyone that visits us.
Was there a beer or a moment that set you on the path to becoming a brewer?
I remember about 17 or 18 years ago getting absolutely hooked on drinking whisky and brown ales. It was at that point my partner and I bought our first homebrew kits and began making monumental messes in our house. And, just for the record, she was way better than I was in the beginning!
What's the inspiration behind the brewery name?
Well, the theory is every town should have its own local brewery. Our owners already had a vineyard here in Nagambie, just a short drive down the road, so we were able to jump on and use our town name as the breweries.
What beer in your lineup best represents you and why?
Probably the Brown Ale. It's a somewhat traditional style brew but with some quirky flavour additions that throwback to a misspent childhood.
If anyone drops in on brew day, what are they most likely to hear blasting from the speakers?
Man, that question is like asking how long is a piece of string! I'm a rock kid at heart but listen to loads of 90s punk and hard rock, so you could hear anything from The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles to Pennywise, Bad Religion to Tool or The Deftones. It changes up just as rapidly as the Melbourne weather.
What beers are in your fridge right now?
I've got some tasty treats from Boatrocker, Hawkers, King River and Tiny Rebel º and there's always at least a slab of my pale in there.
Which local beers have blown your mind in recent weeks?
I just did a trip down to Lakes Entrance and was super impressed by all the brews from Sailors Grave and Red Bluff.
Where can people find your beers?
Our complete range of beers is on tap at the brewery and distillery and we're lucky to enjoy local support from quite a few of the wineries and pubs in our surrounding community.
If you're Melbourne based, the crew at The Prince in St Kilda have been giving us a heap of love and have been rotating our beers through their taps. We are just gearing up to spend a lot of time on the road getting our brews in other venues and stockists so watch this space!
Where do you hope your brewery will be ten years from now?
Definitely bigger, way more efficient, and hopefully without all the heavy lifting!
You can visit Nagambie Brewery & Distillery by heading to 295 High Street, Nagambie. And you'll find it and hundreds of other venues on our free Crafty Pint app. For other Who Brews...? features, head here.
Ben Hopkins is a journalist who has swapped writing about footy and emergency services for something a little more his speed (and his taste).
Ben loves the Brisbane Lions and the Phoenix Suns, which may explain his hopeful attitude and terrific ability to deal with disappointment.
The beer(s) or moment(s) that turned me on to good beer:
Moving to Ballarat from Melbourne at 21 for work had a massive impact on the beer I enjoyed. I lived directly behind one of Ballarat's best craft beer pubs, The Mallow, and while my go-to was often Melbourne Bitter off the tap, getting to try all of the crazy new beers on rotation each week was always something I looked forward to and really opened my eyes to how different beers could be.
You've got three beers to turn someone else on to good beer; what are they and why?
Dollar Bill Brewing Learning To Breathe Barrel Aged Golden Sour - The amazing folks at Dollar Bill opened my eyes to sour beer and I've never looked back. My personal favourite is Learning To Breathe, which is a great sour for people who are wanting to dabble in the market.
Blackman's Brewery Mervyn Pale Ale - I get down to the coast a fair bit and when I'm there with mates a trip to Blackman's is always on the cards. They have such a great range of beers, but to help someone ease into drinking good beer, Mervyn is your man.
Balter Brewing XPA - Accessible, award-winning and bloody delicious. What more do you want me to say?
The last beer you enjoyed (at time of writing):
Mountain Culture Daily Dose Passionfruit Gose over a lovely home cooked pasta dish at a friend's home. Great company, great beer.
Three things that represent you:
My partner Elle
Only just being able to dunk a basketball
Articles by Ben
Who Brews? Nagambie
Who Brews Cooks River Beers?
The duo behind Cooks River were the second winners of Frenchies' Brewers Got Talent competition, which has enabled them to launch their brand. We caught up with Ben and Nathan to find out more. read on
Who Brews Styx Beers?
Styx is one of the smallest and newest breweries in New South Wales, brewing out of an old coal testing shed in Newcastle. We got in touch with the team there to find out more about them for our Who Brews...? series. read on
Who Brews At Snapper Point?
Why do you brew? "I love drinking beer." We got in touch with the man behind tiny SA brewing company Snapper Point to find out why he decided to make the move from homebrewing to pro brewing. read on


LangMedia provides language learning resources for the Five College community and beyond. With an emphasis on less-commonly taught languages, LangMedia has a special mission to provide learners with examples of linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide.
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Every year, between 10 and 15 full length dramas for TV or cinema are shot in Brittany, together with 20 to 30 short films and many documentaries, corporate films and animated films. More than 360 technicians and 260 actors living permanently in Brittany are registered on our regularly updated database, from new graduates to highly experienced department heads.
On request, we can send out details and CVs of required professionals to production managers or casting directors.