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London, May 10 (ANI): Sienna Miller seems to be following in the footsteps of pop diva Madonna – the actress is said to have turned to the Kabbalah religion.
Miller, 28, now wears the faith’s bracelet and attends meetings at the Kabbalah Centre in New York.
According to pals, Miller wants to learn more about the mystical Jewish belief.
“Sienna seems fascinated,” the Daily Star quoted a friend of the actress, as saying. (ANI)
Melbourne, Mar 14 (ANI): Former Australian captain Greg Chappell and other cricket experts have dismissed the criticism about new opening sensation Phillip Hughes homemade batting technique.
“I’ve felt for a long time in cricket there has been too much of a focus on technique and a misunderstanding of what technique really is,” Chappell said.
“One of the problems cricket coaching has been caught up with is that technique is something that should be perfect in somebody’s opinion. I’ve never agreed with that and probably even more so in recent times that technique is this mystical, magical position you get into to play a shot,” he said.
“Batting is about scoring runs. Batting is about getting the ball into areas where the fielders aren’t. It’s being able to get bowlers to bowl in your areas and I think Phillip does it well,” the Daily Telegraph quoted Chappell, as saying.
“He will look bad when he gets out, as all batsmen do occasionally, but that doesn’t mean his method is wrong,” he said.
Hughes’ coach Neil D’Costa says there is another thing about his charge that people should not ignore.
“The X-factor in sport is immeasurable. Obviously you can’t measure Phil’s ability to focus on each cricket delivery that’s bowled to him. His greatest strength is his discipline in an innings,” he said.
“He has a sixth sense of how to weigh up the conditions and execute the plan,” D’Costa said.
Fromer Australian coach John Buchanan is impressed, but not yet convinced about Hughes technique.
“Phil Hughes’ performances may or may not have been the performances of a very good player. Time will tell, he added. (ANI)
Cork, Ireland – Anyone keen on a mystical getaway should book now for what could turn out to be a genuinely spooky break in Wicklow Head lighthouse on Ireland’s east coast, about an hour’s drive south of Dublin.
The octagonal, stone tower is one of 15 properties across Ireland, restored by the Irish Landmark Trust, which are available to the public as self-catering holiday accommodation.
Guests should however expect a wait of about one year owing to the popularity of the offbeat vacation venue.
Read a couple of ghost stories and settle down for a cold, wintry night in one of six beautifully-restored, octagonal rooms while the wind howls outside. The accommodation, complete with four-poster beds, is arranged vertically, adding to the exclusivity. But, when in the grip of a spooky tale, think twice about that midnight snack. Climbing all 106 steps to the kitchen was a bit dampening.
The octagonal tower was originally one of a pair built in 1781 as a landmark to end confusion among mariners who wondered whether they were further north on the east coast at Howth or Hook Head. However, its hilltop location and the fact that it was originally lit by lanterns containing tallow candles confused mariners in dense fog. Lightning struck the tower in October 1836, gutting it entirely.
Eventually, a third, new lighthouse was built lower down on Dunbur Head and is the one now guiding mariners. Lighthouse keeper, Brendan Conway and his wife Miriam raised their family there.
“I only have good memories of it. It was a beautiful, unique place to live and we had carloads of visitors every Sunday as a result,” Miriam said.
Ireland’s lighthouses have been automated since May 1994, the year in which Brendan retired. He was later asked back to perform regular maintenance duties which he still carries out.
The Irish Landmark Trust acquired the abandoned tower in 1996 and set about restoring it.
“I never thought we would be renting out the old lighthouse,” said Miriam but in the course of doing so the couple has made friends with guests from Germany, Canada and other countries.
The lighthouse is by no means draughty since the arched windows are set in walls one metre thick, allowing visitors to enjoy the Irish Sea and the surrounding landscape in safety and warmth and spot the regular beams of light from the other tower. Hues of blue and white give it a slightly Mediterranean feel.
The tower is located in Wicklow county, which is renowned as “The Garden of Ireland”, so guests can combine culture and heritage and enjoy the magnificent coastline and mountains. Other nearby attractions include the scenic vale of Avoca, the historic Powerscourt House and Gardens and Glendalough.
For more information, see www.irishlandmark.com. Bookings can be sent to bookings@irishlandmark.com. Tel: 00353-1-6704733, Fax: 00353-1-6704887 (dpa)
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Baz Luhrmann’s latest movie, Australia has failed to pull off a David Lean style sprawling epic.
The film is a stimulating mix of romance, adventure and war, and is of old school, melodramatic, rather being classic.
The film dates back to 1939 Australia and stars Nicole Kidman as Lady Sarah Ashley, a courageous Brit widow, who tries to save her ranch from an evil cattle baron.
Her associates include a half caste boy, whom she befriends, as he is being victimized by the government’s racial policies against Aborigines, and the handsome cowboy, played by Hugh Jackman, who drives her bulls to market.
The two hours of the film consists of campfires, cattle drives and mad stampedes and when it seems that the film is coming to an end a last act of a good, forty minutes, of a subplot of World War II is screened.
Australia tests the patience.
The romance between Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman’s is sickly emotional. The film portrays Aborigines, as normally kind and mystical beings, but it makes it counter-productive to its message against racial prejudice.
Best average rating of the film Australia is two out of five. The film is ambitious but is imperfect and long.