Keeping your brain healthy and your head together!

umairashrafi Books Library

Opher's World

brain

From your mid twenties your brain starts to deteriorate. This is a great shame. Just when you start to realise what life’s all about and begin to get a handle on things, some experience, wisdom and some control over your rampant hormones your hardware starts to go soft.

Your brain cells die off, cortex thins, neurones get in a tangle, brain chemistry goes haywire, endorphins dwindle, protein plaques and metabolites build up and instead of fizzing it futters.

Words do not zip seamlessly into place, names and memories disappear, and all those smart, off-the-cuff responses turn up a day late and are all the more frustrating for it!

However life’s rich tapestry of adventure and serendipity brings perspective and wisdom and a slower pace enables better evaluation. Us oldies may be not quite so fast and our creative processes may not be quite as radiant but what we’ve lost is compensated for by experience.

View original post 269 more words

Paying tribute…to Phil

umairashrafi Books Library

Anchored Conversations

There are times when tributes are appropriate, and others just seem out of line.  During the Australia Day celebrations, the Australian Prime Minister, without consulting any within his own party or executive leadership, announced that Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) was to receive the highest honour, the Order of Australia. There has been much speculation as to why, and certainly much disagreement about the choice.  Majority of people, including many loyal monarchists, have at best thought the decision odd. Others indifferent to Australia becoming a republic, have reconsidered their perspective and see this as un-Australian and requiring a shift in their philosophical and political emphasis.

In stark contrast, were the many tributes made after the passing of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes following his freakish and tragic accident from a cricket ball leading to his untimely and premature death. Tributes flowed in about the young mans talent, his joy of playing…

View original post 282 more words

dukkah

umairashrafi Books Library

tangerine drawings

coriander jar

The recipe has been in my diary since the summer, when I re-read Laurie Colwin’s “More Home Cooking”. Her food is down-to-earth and her stories gently funny; I liked the one on what to feed a jetlagged friend (something salty so they drink lots of water). The image that really stuck with me though was that of her sister (maybe? the book is still in the south of France) caught guiltily eating this spice mix, dukkah, out of the jar with a spoon.

Now eating Nutella by the spoonful, that I understand. But a mix of nuts and seeds, cumin, coriander and cinnamon? Surely that would be too dry, too strong?

Talking with a friend the other day – she is on the kitchen stool with a glass of wine, I am testing the recipe, blending the toasted spices and nuts, stopping and starting around the conversation – we realise that…

View original post 987 more words

Find Dealers Offering Car for Sale in Dubai Online

umairashrafi Books Library

Toyota Car Export to Venezuela, Toyota Cars Export from Dubai, Toyota Car Exporter in Dubai, Toyota Cars Export from Dubai, Toyota Vehicle Traders in Dubai, Toyota Car Dealers in Dubai, 4x4 SUV Cars Export from Dubai

Toyota, being one of the leading automobile companies of the world has continues to throw in excellent vehicles since the dawn of its time. We are all familiar with the excellent vehicles Toyota has released over the years, many of which had even changed the way the automobile world used to look towards the art of car making! Now one can easily buy brand new Toyota vehicles In Dubai and enjoy the large number of luxuries and amenities that it provides. You can also look for dealers dealing in brand new Toyota vehicles In Dubai with the help of the internet and obtain all the necessary contact details available on their websites.
These dealers are offering car for sale In Dubai at extremely reasonable prices, which are also negotiable depending on the model and make of the vehicle. Toyota has been a company of immense repute and has not failed…

View original post 49 more words

Robin’s Diary 22 January 2015

umairashrafi Books Library

Luscombe Mitsubishi

Once again we have received good news at the dealership this week – we are on the shortlist for the Most Improved Dealership at the 2015 Automotive Management awards in February – the Motor Trade version of The Oscars!! – so with a bit of luck, the corks could be popping again!!  It’s a great start, and testament to a transformed workforce who are working hard and an excellent reward for how much we have done in the last 18 months.

It’s a pity they aren’t popping down at Elland Road –  despite a great win on Tuesday –  it’s hard enough to manage a car dealership, never mind a football club, so even if I had a few quid spare, I certainly don’t envy the task at Leeds Utd, but wish them well in their fight, and maybe Bradford City can restore some Yorkshire football pride knocking Chelsea out…

View original post 28 more words

New 2015 Mercedes C63 AMG official performance data and specs released!

umairashrafi Books Library

Supercar Performance

if5a5fxij9a87ackbjrt

Mercedes C63 AMG (2015) performance figures

The regular C63 churns out 470bhp and 479 lb ft of torque while the C63 S musters a supercar-baiting 503bhp and 516 lb ft.

Both drive the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic gearbox, the C63 getting from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and the C63 S in 4.0. The estate versions of both are only a tenth slower and all cars’ top speeds are electronically limited to 155mph.

While the base C63 is fitted with 18-inch wheels (wrapped in 245/40 tyres at the front and 265/40s at the rear), the C63 S gets 19-inch rims with the same width but lower-profile tyres.

The base-model C63 saloon will cost £59,795 and the estate version an extra £1200. That prices it a little wayabove its natural BMW M3 and Audi RS4 rivals.

As expected, there’s both a standard model and a more powerful S variant…

View original post 17 more words