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Simple Steps to Become a Qualified Accountant

In this blog, we discuss the reasons why you should pursue a career in accounting and the steps you need to take to become an experienced accountant.

Despite its abundance of opportunities, best aat accounting training can appear to be a challenging field to enter. How much time does it take to become an accountant? And when you become one, what advantages can you anticipate?

This blog looks at the reasons why you should think about becoming an accountant and the steps you need to take to get there.

Choose Your Path Before

beginning your search for a career in accounting, you should decide which level of education is best for you. There are many options, with ACCA and CIMA being two of the most well-known.

The ACCA is widely recognized. It is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing accounting degrees. If you think you might like to work in a variety of roles, the ACCA certification is a great option.

The ACCA qualification can help you get work in public or private accounting. Alternately, you could start your own accounting firm.

People who want to work as management accountants will do best with the CIMA certification. In particular, pursuing a CIMA certification might be your best option if you want to work for a company.

Know Your Exemptions

The ACCA and CIMA want to give you credit for your previous knowledge and abilities. By allowing you to skip portions of the exams, knowing if you are eligible for exemptions and which ones to look for will help you study more efficiently.

As a result, you will be able to begin your job search and obtain certification more quickly.

Exemptions from the ACCA : The ACCA may grant exemptions to nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams and Foundation level qualifications. Unfortunately, you will not be eligible for a work-related exemption.

Before claiming an exemption, you should carefully consider your eligibility. After all, the information you acquire through study can assist you in passing the more difficult tests that lie ahead of you.

It might be in your best interest to study for that portion of the test regardless of whether you qualify for an exemption or not.

CIMA Exemptions : You may be exempt from taking the CIMA exams if you have a degree or other qualifications. You can look through a database on their website to see if you qualify.

The majority of qualifications are based on your degree. However, if you are a member of ICMAP or possess another relevant qualification, you may also be eligible for an exemption.

Studying online can help you pass your professional accounting exams. Let’s collaborate to get you qualified quickly!

Select a Program

Prior to beginning your exam preparation, you will need to select a program. You will have a lot of choices, whether you want an online program or a traditional learning environment.

Think about how adaptable your learning needs to be. An online study program might be best for you if you need to study on your own time or have an unpredictable schedule. However, you can benefit from live discussions and social interactions if you are able to attend class on time.

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What is the difference between an orangery and a conservatory

Garden rooms, wooden conservatories, and orangeries; Each of these three distinct kinds of extensions has its own unique characteristics. We’ve made it easy with our expert guide because we know that knowing which one is right for your home can be difficult.

We are frequently asked to explain the distinction between an orangery and a conservatory. By creating a bright and airy interior and establishing a coherent connection between your house and your garden, a glazed extension instantly transforms the space you live in and brings the outside inside.

However, what distinguishes an orangery from a garden room and what distinguishes a conservatory from an orangery? How can you determine which is best for your house? Basically they can be in every way classed as ‘garden room augmentations’, yet they are at last characterized by the extents of coating, lumber, and workmanship materials utilized in the building plan.

Let’s go over the various kinds of extensions in greater detail: what exactly is a conservatory

During the 1980s, conservatories were a very common type of glazed extension. They are usually made of uPVC and rattan furniture, and their walls and roof are usually made of glass and set on a brick foundation. The idea of easily adding more space to their homes, which could be used as a bright, spacious formal lounge or dining room with close-up views of their gardens, was welcomed by homeowners.

A conservatory’s extensive space can be filled with as much natural light as possible because it is mostly made of glass. Unfortunately, traditional conservatories have developed a bad reputation for being cold in the winter and hot and stuffy in the summer.

Additionally, the uPVC had a propensity to age and turn yellow; not exactly an appealing appearance. Conservatories started to go out of style as people realized that their expensive investments could only be used for half the year when the weather was nice.

This is regrettable because a high-quality conservatory made of wood can be a beautiful addition to any home. Underfloor heating, solar control glazing, and roof vents that help to improve circulation, as well as solar control glazing that limits the amount of heat coming in from the sun, are all solutions to the common temperature issues.

What is an orangery or orangerie

Orangeries were a symbol of wealth and prestige among the elite in the 17th century. Traditionally, orangeries were used to shield imported citrus plants from the harsh British winters. With their elegant architectural lines and timeless style, the aristocracy thought these beautiful rooms gave their mansions a sense of splendor and opulence.

Since the conservatory has become less popular, more and more people are choosing modern garden rooms and orangeries with timber frames. A garden room or orangery extension is still the pinnacle of luxury and exudes an air of opulent elegance because it combines perfectly balanced design with flawless functionality.

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How to Choose The Correct Moving Truck Size

No matter how many times you’ve moved, there are always challenges to overcome. With experience, it might become easier to manage, but there are many obstacles to overcome. Which plastic storage boxes storage unit to rent, which size moving truck to buy, how many cartons or containers to buy, and how to pack fragile items are just a few examples.

We will concentrate on one aspect: how to select the appropriate size of moving truck. The truck must be packed correctly to avoid damage and accidents. If you choose a truck that is either too big or too small, you could run into a lot of problems. It might put everything you packed inside in danger.

The right-sized truck will make your move easier on your budget and more accessible if you consider its proper functionality. A larger truck is more expensive to rent than a smaller one, so you should also think about your budget. Read on for all the information you need to choose the right size truck for your move.

Bedroom Count Technique

The bedroom count technique is one of the most common methods for determining the appropriate moving truck size. A chart that you can use to see how many bedrooms a moving truck can hold is provided by many moving and storage companies that offer moving services. It’s a fairly simple method!

When deciding where to start, these size estimation charts are helpful. Be that as it may, they are vague assessments, not altogether exact. Some bedrooms are larger and can hold the same amount of furniture and other items as two or three smaller bedrooms.

Additionally, there are a lot of rooms in homes that don’t fit into standard room sizes, such as studios, sitting rooms, work offices, storage rooms, mud closets, and studios. They might not be the right size for the chart, but you can get a general idea of how many people each room can hold. Using the bedroom count method, count the final number of bedrooms to easily select the appropriate moving truck size for your needs.

Determine the Truck’s Cubic Feet

Each moving truck is made to carry a certain number of items, which are typically measured in cubic feet. The dimensions of the vehicle’s interior range from the roof’s size to the total area of the floor. You can stack and distribute all of your boxes evenly, according to their weight and length, to make good use of it.

However, you might need the entire floor as opposed to the length from the floor of the truck to the ceiling, which might be more practical for you. One way or the other, except if you are moving and pressing specialists, you will require help to productively occupy the whole room. Therefore, if some items require more space than anticipated, selecting a truck that is slightly larger than your requirements is safer and preferable.

Keep in mind that this method is more accurate and reliable than the bedroom count method. Calculating the dimensions and placing the boxes in the truck in the right order might take more time. Nevertheless, it counts the total cubic space of everything you intend to store in the vehicle, which is more consistent.

Rather than measuring each item individually, pack all of your small and loose items in boxes and measure the size of the parcels. It won’t take much time and will provide a more accurate estimate of size. The total size will be approximately equivalent to the truck’s available space.

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Tips to Easily Improve Your Home’s Security This Summer

With stay-at-home requests lifted the country over, and before summer closes, families are making summer get-away arrangements. Prior to getting together the vehicle and going out to the lake or the forest, it’s brilliant to consider ways of making your home safer. There are a few straightforward and modest things that you can do now which can immeasurably work on your possibilities getting back home to find your home simply the manner in which you left it.

Activity Locksmith Sutton Coldfield has a few hints that can serve you over time, in any event, when you are not holiday.

Try not to report your get-away anticipates virtual entertainment. While your loved ones by and large aren’t a hotspot for concern, you don’t know companions of companions and other people who might approach your web-based entertainment posts. To be protected, save your get-away plans and excursion pictures for posting when you get back.

Secure your entryways and windows

Continuously take your home key off your key chain while valet leaving your vehicle, as an educated hoodlum can make a key to your home by just snapping a photo of your home key.1 Likewise ensure that you briefly eliminate that extra key you have concealed under the mat or a close by rock. On the off chance that you have sliding glass entryways, the most straightforward thing to do is to placed a stick or thick wood dowel in the base track of the sliding entryway. You can purchase slide-locking bars on the web.

You can likewise sustain the entryway by changing out the first entryway locking component with a business locking item that includes a couple of bolt locking framework that connects to the locking point of the entryway and has steel bolts that safe the way to the frame.2 Window stops, which keep windows from opening more than a few inches, are likewise smart. This is a somewhat reasonable item that can be seen as on the web.

Scene to safeguard your home

It is generally smart, regardless of the time, to ensure that shrubberies and trees don’t conceal your windows, entryways and other passageways to your home. Congested hedges can permit thieves a spot to stow away while getting to your home and discourage your neighbors from seeing a break-in. Certain individuals decide to establish prickly shrubberies under window passages as a hindrance. Scene lighting and movement actuated lighting are additionally wise ventures with regards to ruining would-be hoodlums. 3

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WHEN IS PROFESSIONAL ACNE REVISION YOUR BEST OPTION

Managing skin inflammation can appear to be a daunting struggle you won’t ever win. Certain individuals battle with skin inflammation breakouts more than others, yet the something normal among a great many people is they need to dispose of it anyway conceivable.

Over-the-counter treatments might be powerful for minor cases, yet those actually are never an assurance. A typical misguided judgment is you must have extreme skin break out scarring to fit the bill for an expert skin inflammation scar correction treatment.

That is basically not the situation, since laser hair removal in birmingham skin inflammation scar treatments can assist with even minor skin break out scars. Here are a portion of the circumstances where you ought to think about an expert treatment.

Forestall OR Change Skin break out SCARRING

Some skin inflammation is bound to make scars than others. With laser skin break out scar treatments, you can forestall skin break out scars from happening in any case by killing microorganisms around the impacted region, which could prompt more skin break out breakouts.

Yet, on the off chance that you’ve proactively experienced scarring of any seriousness, the most effective way to reexamine them is by looking for a treatment from a respectable clinical expert.

Skin inflammation is adequately troublesome to manage all alone, however when it prompts scarring, it’s not difficult to turn out to be much more reluctant. In the event that you want to conceal your skin or not associate however much you used to on the grounds that you’re humiliated in your own skin, then now is the ideal time to look for proficient laser skin break out scar treatments.

The treatments can be finished in less than 60 minutes, generally speaking, and results should be visible in just multi week. Nobody ought to must be hesitant in their skin, and an expert skin inflammation update treatment is your most ideal choice to guarantee you feel more sure with your skin.

While CONTROLLING Skin inflammation BREAKOUTS BECOME Incomprehensible

Skin inflammation breakouts can now and again happen at the absolute worst minutes. Once in a while an expert compound strip for skin inflammation could be a possibility for controlling these breakouts.

Contingent upon the guidance from your clinical expert, attempting a substance strip for skin break out could be the principal proficient treatment to attempt prior to going through laser treatments.

There are substance strips you can buy over-the-counter, yet not exclusively are these generally insufficient, they could be perilous on the off chance that not managed accurately by an expert with broad experience.

Sisley Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation – The Beauty Look Book

Sisley Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation review

One of my favorite beauty brands Sisley launched a new foundation called the Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation ($125). Sisley products are quite the splurge but in my experience everything I’ve ever tried whether purchased or a press sample has been exceptional in quality and performance.

The Sisley team sent over a few shades of their new foundation and new shades of Le Phyto Rouge Lipstick ($70) shades to try. Today I have a review + swatches.

Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation

Sisley Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation review

The Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation is a medium-full coverage formula that gives a soft matte look with a blurred finish. It’s almost like wearing a filter on your face with the way it blurs out the skin. It’s described as “radiant matte” although to me it still feels like a true matte, perhaps a soft matte is a better description.

It’s described as having medium coverage that is buildable and I 100% agree. Still the pigment is opaque enough that I feel less is more. A little goes a VERY long way. I would recommend dotting or dabbing on spots around the face and blending with a brush or sponge. If you apply too much it will look thick.

You can see the transformation in this video linked below. It blends out really nicely.

Lasting power is very good. It sets to a beautiful finish I think I could probably skip powder.

Shade wise I’m in between colors as I am still my winter skin tone. The foundation shades in the 3 shade range should match in a month or so as match my other Sisley foundations (I still love the Phyto-Teint Nude reviewed here). The Sisley team sent 3N Apricot and 3W2 Hazel, both of which are a little too dark for me. I ordered 2W2 Desert in hopes it would match but there is quite a big gap between 2 and 3. Mixing the two gives me the perfect match right now. (I ordered from Selfridges and signed up for their year long flat rate global shipping.)

Sisley Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation review swatches

Overall love. I would say if you have texture or super dry skin this might emphasize imperfections as any matte finish will do. That being said my skin has been going through a hormonal skin flare up and I have break outs galore. This foundation covered everything so well and so smoothly I’ve gotten comments about how good my skin looks with this on (when underneath the base it does not).

Below with just the foundation on:

Sisley Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation 2W2 + 3W2 mixed

Below with a full face wearing:

Sisley Makeup look

Le Phyto Rouge – NEW shades

Sisley Le Phyto Rouge 201 Rose Tokyo and 45 Rouge Milano

Sisley added new shades of the Le Phyto Rouge Lipstick ($70). These are super creamy, opaque and the formula is absolute perfection. New colors include 201 Tokyo Rose and 45 Rouge Milano. Both pull very warm on me but in the tubes they look more on the neutral side. I love the formula and they don’t really have a scent (they smell like a natural kind of scent). Colors aren’t really me right now but I suspect with a tan I will be wearing 201 more.

Overall love the foundation. I don’t think it will be for everyone though as it’s very matte and I know a lot of you prefer a sheer or dewy finish. Lipstick formula is definitely worth checking out. They have lots of other colors to pick from and if you’re looking for a classic lipstick with great texture, lasting power and opacity the Le Phyto Rouge is among the best. In terms of Sisley lipstick formulas I have to say that the Phyto-Rouge Shine is still my favorite.

Sisley Le Phyto Rouge 201 Rose Tokyo and 45 Rouge Milano

Sisley Le Phyto Rouge 201 Rose Tokyo

Sisley Le Phyto Rouge 45 Rouge Milano

For skintone reference I’m linking an older Foundation Shade Guide Roundup I did in 2021. It lists my foundation and concealer shade matches with links to reviews I’ve done. I think it’s time for an update since some of these formulas have since been discontinued. I’ll try to put together an updated one. Quick note that the list is what my matches are most of the year. Right now I’m lighter than nearly everything on the list but I tan easily and will be back to my usual skin tone shade very soon.

Sisley newness available now at Sisley, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Selfridges and all Sisley counters.

Phyto-Teint Perfection and Le Phyto Rouge gifted for review.





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My Finished (For The Most Part) Studio Office Area Cabinets!

Y’all, this has been a long road, but the cabinets in the office area of my studio are just about done! There are still some finishing touches that need to be done, but I can’t do those things until other projects are done. I’ll explain that later in this post. But I’ve gotten these cabinets as finished as they can be for now.

Before I show you, let’s go back and remember how these started out. I started with basic IKEA Sektion cabinets with Veddinge doors and drawer fronts. After I installed the cabinet boxes, they looked like this…

And the Veddinge doors and drawer fronts looked like this…

And after adding my customizations, the progress looks like this…

So let me explain the most obvious unfinished part — the missing drawer fronts. These four drawer fronts are painted, gold foiled, and ready to be attached. I had high hopes that I could get that done, but the instruction manual showing how to assemble and attach those drawer fronts is buried somewhere in the depths of my very messy studio.

I quickly searched for it this morning, but couldn’t find it. So I tried to find it online with no success. I thought I could figure it out without the instruction manual, but if you’ve ever assembled IKEA Sektion cabinets with drawers, you know that the brackets have to be attached in a certain way depending on the specific drawer arrangement you have for your particular cabinet.

I finally figured out the small drawers without the instruction manual, but not after trying at least six different (wrong) ways of attaching the brackets. I finally got it on about the sixth or seventh attempt. And these little drawers only use one kind of bracket.

The bigger drawer fronts use two different types of brackets with probably 16 different possible configurations, so there was no way I was going to try to guess. I know I tucked that instruction manual away in a safe spot so that I wouldn’t lose it. But now I can’t remember where that safe spot is. 😀 As soon as I find it (or find the instructions online), I’ll attach those last four drawer fronts.

I also still need to do this piece of trim at the floor on this one cabinet, but I can’t do that until the baseboard is installed, and I can’t install the baseboard until that exterior door just to the right of these cabinets is trimmed out.

I also have a couple of defective parts, which surprised me. This cabinet door isn’t even installed properly because the part of the hinge that attaches inside the cabinet is defective. They’re all supposed to be three-way adjustable, but I can’t get that one to adjust at all, so it pulls the door down too low so that it won’t close. I’ll need to get a replacement for that. I also have a drawer slide with a defective soft close on it. The drawer won’t close unless I push it closed all the way.

This area where the cabinets meet the wall will need some small trim to cover those cracks. I was tempted to use caulk to fill them, but with as much as our house moves and shifts throughout the year, I think the caulk would crack and have to be refilled regularly. A small trim would look much better, but I can’t install that until the countertop is installed.

So the cabinets are done for the most part. All of the big stuff — adding trim, painting, clear coating, adding the gold accents, etc. — are finished.

My next step is to make the countertop, and I have to admit that I’m terrified. I have put this off as long as I can because when I made the countertop on the other wall, the dust from those boards caused such painful skin problems for me that literally lasted for months. It was awful. (I shared about it here.)

In all of my 30+ years of DIYing, I had never experienced any kind of reaction to any product I’ve used, so I didn’t take any precautions to cover my skin before running the boards through my table saw. But this time, you better believe I’ll be covering myself head to toe, and then showering directly after all of the pieces are cut. The thought of potentially having to go through that again genuinely terrifies me.

Thankfully, it’s a small countertop and should be a relatively quick project. Once that’s done, I can install the window casing, add that little trim where the cabinets meet the wall, and then finish the sconces and get them installed. Oh! And I still need to add the cabinet door and drawer pulls! Cabinets need jewelry, too!

I’m so incredibly excited to have the bulk of this massive project finished. The rest should be a breeze! And by the way, as soon as I find that instruction manual and get those last for drawer fronts on, I’ll add a picture to this post. I’m hoping that will be later today! I just need to remember where that spot is where I tucked that instruction manual away for safe keeping. 😀

UPDATE! I found it! About ten seconds after I hit the “publish” button on this post, I remembered where I put that instruction manual, so here are the cabinets with the rest of the drawer fronts attached.

I can’t wait to get this area finished!! It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so excited to finally see it become reality.

FYI, the reflections on the gold accents sometimes cause an optical illusion where it looks like the trim is curved. That’s something that only happens in pictures. In person, there is no such optical illusion. But rest assured, all of the trim and gold foil accents are perfectly straight on my cabinets, and none of my cabinet doors or drawers are bowed. 🙂



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Wales 3-1 Finland – Euro 2024 play-off semi-final: Live score, team news and updates as Brennan Johnson restores hosts’ two-goal cushion minutes after the restart

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Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Wales take on Finland in their Euro 2024 play-off semi-final. Rob Page’s side are aiming for a third consecutive run at European glory, but must first navigate Finland at Cardiff City Stadium ahead of a potential spot in the final against either Poland or Estonia. 

NO GOAL: Wales 3-1 Finland

The referee goes over to check the monitor, and rules the goal out.

It’s hard to tell why it was ruled out, as the referee would know whether the whole of the ball went over the line, but there may have been some blocking mishap at play.

VAR intervenes for a Welsh goal!

Wales might have wrapped things up here… and there may be no limit of substitutions from Finland to stop the rot!

Williams fires in a corner from the left, and Davies at the far post gets his head to it – only for Hradecky to knock it out! Or does he?

The referee gets a vibration… and the goal crossed the line. The hosts are three up.

Let’s try this again… or are they?

Wales 3-1 Finland

More changes for Finland, as Pohjanpalo is swapped for Kallman, and Pukki makes way for Jensen.

Finland will need these substitutions to jump-start things.

Wales 3-1 Finland

More changes, as Johnson is swapped for Daniel James for the hosts, and Schuller and Lod are traded for Antman and Kirinen on the Finnish bench.

When play resumes, Wales have a corner to take, and James almost sneaks it across the line – but Hradecky is equal to the move.

Wales 3-1 Finland

Moore nearly pulls off an ambush after Finland fall asleep at the wheel and allow the player to wander into the box and stare down Hradecky one-on-one.

His shot lacks potentcy, however, and Leverkusen ‘keeper only has to drop at his near post to stop the ball.

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 Qualifier - Play-Off - Wales v Finland - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - March 21, 2024 Wales' Kieffer Moore shoots at goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Wales 3-1 Finland

Ampadu steams through the mid-pack before passing to Williams on the left as Wales plot a run towards Finland’s penalty area.

The visitors take some of the sting out of the initial attack, but Wales keep hold of possession.

Wales 3-1 Finland

The cards are flying, with Hakans the next to be flashed after going down on the edge of the Wales box with a theatricality Rhys Ifans himself would have been proud of.

Finnish frustration is showing, and Wales look very comfortable indeed.

Wales 3-1 Finland

Wilson does get into the match facts soon after, however, as he’s handed a yellow card after going charging into Ivanov with force.

Wales 3-1 Finland

Wilson pulls at his shirt after firing a good-looking effort towards Hradecky at pace, but the ball flies just past the goal mouth to deny what would have been a very stylish fourth goal.

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 Qualifier - Play-Off - Wales v Finland - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - March 21, 2024 Wales' Harry Wilson shoots at goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Wales 3-1 Finland

Our first home substitute of the night, as Brooks, who has been such a sparky presence, is swapped for veteran Kieffer Moore.

He trots on sporting a Mr Men-style head bandage, as Brooks walks the periphery of the pitch to raucous applause.

Wales 3-1 Finland

Alho high up on the right fires the ball towards a waiting Hakan in the box, but he can’t reach the effort as he’s swarmed by defenders and pushed off course.

Wales are looking bullish, and Finland haven’t been able to give them any fright comparable to their first-half threats.

Wales 3-1 Finland

Finland trip forward, again clinging onto possession, as they attempt to beat the lively Welsh press.

They can’t get far, however, as the hosts keep them penned in their own half for the time being.

Wales 3-1 Finland

James is next in the book, after scrapping with Hakans, who has been pesky, on the sidelines and tugging him to the ground.

Wales' midfielder #17 Jordan James (R) vies with Finland's midfielder #21 Daniel Hakans (L) during the UEFA Euro 2024 playoff semi-final football match between Wales and Finland, at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP) (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images)

WATCH: Johnson gets onto the scoresheet

He had a bright first half, and it pays off very quickly indeed in the second.

Wales 3-1 Finland

A nasty collision between Wilson and Tenho leaves both players rolling in the turf, bringing play to a half as they receive treatment.

Tenho, very much the immovable object in the tumble, gets a yellow card when he’s back and dusting himself off.

Goal: Johnson makes it three for the hosts! (Johnson 47′)

Wales know how to head out!

After winning a freekick 25 yards out to the left of goal, Williams lofts the ball to the far post, and it’s pecked down before falling to a waiting Johnson, who knocks it past Hradecky cool as you like.

Really clever control from Brooks to send it his way – have Wales killed things off?

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 Qualifier - Play-Off - Wales v Finland - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - March 21, 2024 Wales' Brennan Johnson celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates REUTERS/Molly Darlington

SECOND-HALF: Wales 2-1 Finland

We’re back underway in Cardiff, with the hosts kicking proceedings off for a huge 45 minutes.

How are the other ties doing?

Here are your half-time scores in the remainder of the play-off ties.

  • Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-0 Ukraine
  • Greece 4-0 Kazakhstan
  • Israel 1-2 Iceland
  • Poland 1-0 Estonia
ATHENS, GREECE - MARCH 21: Fotis Ioannidis of Greece celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammates during the UEFA EURO 2024 Play-Offs semifinal match between Greece and Kazakhstan at OPAP Arena on March 21, 2024 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

WATCH: Neco Williams’ super-sweet freekick

A classy way to double your lead at home.

HALF-TIME: Wales 2-1 Finland

Finland made swathes of possession pay, and the openness of the first-half told late on after a really confident showing from Wales in cruise control.

Plenty more to come after the break, I’d say.

Goal: A familiar face reduces the deficit! (Pukki 45′)

Threaten, and make good on it!

Who else but dangerman Teemu Pukki, who slips past a borderline frozen-looking Mepham on the edge of the box to dance through and fire at goal.

A sliding Ward can’t keep him out… game on!

Finland's striker #10 Teemu Pukki (C) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 playoff semi-final football match between Wales and Finland, at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP) (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images)

Wales 2-0 Finland

What a vital lead for Wales before the break. They’ve looked confident throughout, but Finland have been able to threaten in bursts and forced wobbliness from the Dragons’ backline.

Wales are forced into defending duty now as Finland win a succession of freekicks, but the final one flies into Ward’s gloves after gliding in from 25 yards out.

Goal: Williams doubles Wales’ lead! (Williams 38′)

After giving a Wales a fright at one end, the visitors are conceding a valuable freekick at the other, as Tenho pushes Johnson to the grass at the top of the D.

Brief debate between Williams, Johnson, and Wilson about who should take it leaves the ball at the first man’s feet.

Ampadu gets a brief telling off in the wall before Williams can let fly… but when he does – what a strike, what a goal!

Wales 1-0 Finland

A lovely strike from Wilson from 30 yards out is stopped well by Hradecky. It’s a straightforward for the Leverkusen goalkeeper, but quick-thinking too – although Johnson might have been offside by a toenail if the effort had gone in.

Wales 1-0 Finland

James releases a rudderless ball from 25 yards out which rolls without intent towards Hradecky’s gloves, handing possession back to the visitors.

But when a long ball is sprayed in Pohjanpalo’s direction on the right, he can’t pull it away from Mepham, who is all over him and forces the ball away from danger.

Wales 1-0 Finland

Wales have a strong chance here, after Johnson bullies an approaching Finland defender away from the ball on the right edge of the box, and fires silkly towards the near post.

The angle means it doesn’t trouble Hradecky, however.

Wales' Brennan Johnson, right, duels for the ball with Finland's goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky during the UEFA European Championship play-off match at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, March 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Wales 1-0 Finland

Pukki continues to pose problems for Wales to solve as he makes his foray into a cluttered box, and manages to find Hakans square on goal – or at least, he things he does.

As the Welsh lock up, Pohjanpalo is the one who actually strikes the ball just ahead of the six-yard box, but has his effort thoroughly blocked.

Finland's Joel Pohjanpalo kicks the ball during the UEFA European Championship play-off match against Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, March 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Wales 1-0 Finland

Kamara in the mid-pack attempts to control tempo and keep the ball at Finnish feet, but under pressure from Roberts, the final pass is struck from range well into the grasp of Ward.

Wales 1-0 Finland

Finland win the first corner of the match, which Lod lines up to send it, the outswinger entirely bypassing players from both sides in the box.

When Peltola goes chasing after it on the other side of the pitch, he’s toppled by a feisty Johnson, conceding a freekick in the process.

When Finland do little with it and Wales look to head off, Lod gets revenge – and the match’s first yellow card – when he steamrollers Williams. Lots of pep and fire early on.

Finland's midfielder #08 Robin Lod (L) is booked for this foul on Wales' defender #03 Neco Williams (R) during the UEFA Euro 2024 playoff semi-final football match between Wales and Finland, at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP) (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images)

Wales 1-0 Finland

Pukki is felled by James as he attempts to escape up the pitch from the Finland box, winning his side a freekick in their own half.

Finland fans in the stands before the UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying play-off match at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Thursday March 21, 2024. PA Photo. See PA Story SOCCER Wales. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Wales 1-0 Finland

Mepham ushers the ball forward, before handing off to Roberts on the right, looking for Brooks in the box, but Finland are quick to rebuff the hosts, and unlock their dangerous left wing, as Hakans combines with Pukki on the run yet again.

Things are nicely open for now, with Finland increasingly keen to see proceedings level again.

Wales 1-0 Finland

Two strong opportunities as play races between both ends, with Pukki having a sliding shot at goal inside the box after picking up from Hackans on the left first.

Play then slides back down to the Finnish half, with Brooks keen to slip away again. His one-on-one with Hradecky sees his first shot blocked, and attempts for Wales to bury the remains go begging after a strong defensive showing from Finland under pressure.

Wales 1-0 Finland

Wales are forced into defending now, after Finland swarm into the box and the hosts can’t control the bobbing ball.

Hakans eventually pulls it down, and looks to smack it past Ward on the half-volley, but his strike flies just out for a goal kick.

WATCH: Brooks spurs Wales ahead

Now there’s a statement of intent from the home side.

Wales 1-0 Finland

Well, that’s one way to start a play-off tie. Wales looked dominate in the opening moments, and immediately made Finland pay with a clever bit of confident play.

As the visitors try and hold onto the ball at the back now, the Dragons buzz about, keen to make life very difficult.

Goal: Wales are off to the races! (Brooks 3′)

We’re scarcely underway, when Wales go for jugular, Wilson skittering into the box after picking up a rebounded ball and firing at Hradecky – the Leverkusen keeper makes the save but the ball springs for Brooks, and he can leather it into the back of the net!

CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 21: David Brooks of Wales celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 Play-Offs Semi-final match between Wales and Finland at Cardiff City Stadium on March 21, 2024 in Cardiff, Wales.  (Photo by Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

KICK-OFF: Wales 0-0 Finland

The Finnish fans are already leaping up and down, and it’s their side who get us underway for this tantalising play-off semi-final

Here come the national anthems

Lots of brass band boom and bombast from the Finnish national anthem, up first, ‘Maamme’, or ‘Our Land’.

There are only a few hundred travelling supporters this evening, but they make a good fist of it, and all the players belt it out before it’s time for Wales’ spine-tingler.

Cardiff City Stadium’s proverbial roof lifted, it’s time to get things underway!

‘Yma o Hyd’ booms out of the speakers

… at Cardiff City Stadium, and the fans are in full voice – so stirring is the scene, some travelling Finland supporters even get in the mood and join in.

The lights are going down, and the players are preparing to come out… An enormous match for Wales, coming right up.

Tottenham wonderkid Brennan Johnson keeps his place in the Wales starting XI as he continues to enjoy a bright 2023-24 after his summer move from Nottingham Forest.

Ahead of tonight’s clash, he talks sharp dressing and national pride – have a leaf through, below.

Rob Page looks forward in a post-Bale reality

One name looms larger than most in the recent history of Welsh football, and Euro 2024 would mark the first major tournament in ABE (After Bale Era).

Rob Page, however, is keen for younger members of the squad to see his retirement as an opportunity, as he told the press on Wednesday.

We have lost one of the world’s best players with Gareth.

There has been enough in the squad to put us in a position where we are two wins away from qualifying for the fourth time (in the last five major tournaments).

Of course he’s going to be missed on and off the pitch but it gives others an opportunity.

HENSOL, WALES - MARCH 20: Rob Page Manager of Wales talks to the press during the Wales Football Press Conference at The Vale Resort on March 20, 2024 in Hensol, Wales. (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 05: Gareth Bale celebrates with Rob Page, Head Coach of Wales after their sides victory which qualifies Wales for the 2022 FIFA World Cup during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier between Wales and Ukraine at Cardiff City Stadium on June 05, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

With the final whistle blown, Georgia have pulled off an upset and shocked Luxembourg 2-0 – they’ll face the winner of Greece versus Kazakhstan next week.

But what of the rest of the night’s matches? Can you predict who ends up on top by roughly 9.30pm?

Wales can draw on recent qualification form

… after reaching the 2022 World Cup via the same route, and despatching Austria and Ukraine in the process.

That will ease tensions of those made nervous by their European Championship qualification record: they’re zero for three, having lost every play-off tie they’re been drawn into.

That’s Hungary in 1963, Yugoslavia in 1976, and Russia in 2003.

Wales' John Hartson (left) and Andy Melville walk off the pitch after losing 0-1 to Russia during their Euro 2004 play-off second-leg match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wednesday 19th November 2003. PA Photo : Rebecca Naden. THIS PICTURE CAN ONLY BE USED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AN EDITORIAL FEATURE. NO WEBSITE/INTERNET USE UNLESS SITE IS REGISTERED WITH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PREMIER LEAGUE.

He starts on the bench, but national team captain’s very inclusion in Page’s squad was a curious one, in light of his non-existent recent form.

You can read more on the manager’s conundrum below.

More theatrics from Wales

… with the recruitment of Notting Hill’s own Rhys Ifans (my blog, my reference choice) to give Rob Page’s men a galvanising pep talk ahead of the crunch clash.

Ifans’ appearance in the dressing room comes on the heels of Michael Sheen’s two years ago, ahead of the Dragons’ two Nations League fixtures.

The former will hope he has more success than the latter, whose rousing speech couldn’t stop Wales from falling to Poland and Belgium in quick succession.

TEAM NEWS – in brief

Two changes from the Wales side that faced Turkey in their last 1-1 stalemate to close the door on group stage qualifying, as Chris Mepham replaces Luton’s Tom Lockyer, and David Brooks is swapped in for Nathan Broadhead.

Finland’s last outing was against FIFA minnows San Marino, and they’ve made wholesale changes since then, among those the re-appearance of Bayer Leverkusen’s Lukas Hradecky in goal.

Wales' players check out the pitch conditions ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 playoff semi-final football match between Wales and Finland, at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP) (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images)
Finland's players check out the pitch conditions ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 playoff semi-final football match between Wales and Finland, at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP) (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking: TEAM NEWS – How Wales and Finland line up

Wales versus Finland is just one of this evening’s play-off ties, with Georgia in the process of beating 10-man Luxembourg 2-0 as we speak.

For more on these knockout clashes ahead of next week’s play-off finals, have a look through Mail Sport’s primer below.

Wales might feel a little, little bit nervous

Wales and Finland have met comparatively few times historically, with just 15 encounters on the board – as a result, at first glance, there looks like plenty of potential needle, with Wales having won just six times to Finland’s four victories.

Indeed, the last meeting – a 2021 friendly – ended in a 0-0 stalemate, one scoreline we can be assured of avoiding this knockout evening.

Neither can Wales cling to dominance on home soil – in their last three trips to Cardiff, Finland have lost one, drawn one, and won one.

That 2009 win was in emphatic style too, thanks to a late, late, late goal from Shefki Kuqi.

Leeds versus Leeds in Cardiff

There’s more than one familiar face amongst the Huuhkajat to followers on the English top-flight, such as former Norwich striker and one-time phenomenon Teemu Pukki, and Leeds’ Glen Kamara, who was on media duty on Wednesday.

He’s one of five Leeds players that could be featuring this evening, with Wales having their pick of his team-mates Joe Rondon, Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James, and Connor Roberts.

And this, Kamara believes, will be of huge advantage to the travellers.

They are all quality players and have done well this season. Hopefully I can use all my information against them in a way to help us.

I’m looking forward to playing against them. 2024 has been good to us all as we’re in good form at Leeds.

All I can do is take my good experience right now to help my team-mates, and hopefully get the win.

Finland's Glen Kamara during a press conference at the Cardiff City Stadium, Wales. Picture date: Wednesday March 20, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Finland. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Marvellous statement of intent from the opposition

… currently taking over Cardiff, the Huuhkajat (or eagle-owls, naturally) have tipped a hat to Gareth Bale’s iconic – and muy impopular – ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid’ flag with a version of their own.

For the uneducated, that’s Suomi (aka Finland, in Finnish), Sisu (Finnish for strength, courage and determination), and Sauna (no translation necessary).

Now, how did we wind up here?

Wales seemed on the precipice of one of their most straightforward qualifying campaigns after the Dragons started autumn off on the right foot with a 2-0 victory against Latvia, an inevitable 4-0 thumping of Gibraltar, and a good-looking 2-1 smash and grab against Croatia.

In fact, rumours of Rob Page being quick-marched towards the exit after a lacklustre World Cup campaign all but dissipated – until the final two matches in November, against Armenia and Turkey.

Wales were held to draws in both outings, where wins were vital to keep Croatia out of the second-place spot in Group D.

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 Qualifier - Group D - Wales v Turkey - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - November 21, 2023 Wales' Ethan Ampadu looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Good evening!

Noswaith dda, hyvää iltaa, hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Wales versus Finland, with kick-off at Cardiff City Stadium at 7.45pm.

With a third consecutive European Championship appearance for Wales on the line, it really is all to play for in the capital this evening, after Rob Page’s side failed to overturn Turkey and Armenia in their final run of group qualifying matches last autumn.

In Finland, they meet an opponent more than 30 points below them in the FIFA rankings – but the visitors will be keen to upset the apple cart.

We’re kicking off in just over an hour and 45 minutes, but until then, stick around for all the build-up, team news and more.

CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 21: Merchandise is seen being sold outside the stadium prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 Play-Offs Semi-final match between Wales and Finland at Cardiff City Stadium on March 21, 2024 in Cardiff, Wales.  (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Key Updates

  • VAR intervenes for a Welsh goal!

  • Johnson makes it three for the hosts! (Johnson 47′)

  • WATCH: Neco Williams’ super-sweet freekick

  • A familiar face reduces the deficit! (Pukki 45′)

  • Williams doubles Wales’ lead! (Williams 38′)

  • Wales are off to the races! (Brooks 3′)

  • TEAM NEWS – How Wales and Finland line up

  • Now, how did we wind up here?





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Listen to Your Heart and Decorate with What You Love

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Listen to Your Heart and Decorate with What  You Love

I have been thinking of adding cafe curtains to my windows for over a year. I finally gave it a try! I don’t know what I was waiting for, it’s not a life-altering decision. It’s just a pressure rod and a cafe curtain (and some curtain rings!). Ha!

I’m glad I finally listened to my heart. I love it! I like the window without it, too, so I wasn’t certain I needed to try it. I wasn’t in a hurry. But my heart kept asking! This curtain panel set is not expensive and will be simple to remove or change if I decide it’s not right for me later. Now that I love it, I might even add them to the dining room!

Why not? Decorating should be fun.

Our home should be a reflection of the things we love. I was sharing with my HomeBody Gathering Place community last week that when it comes to our home, I think it’s always worth listening to our heart. We don’t have to change everything based on a whim, but there’s a reason our heart is drawn to certain things. It’s good to explore what it is and sometimes you can find a reasonable or “less risky” way to follow your heart.

If there isn’t a big risk to making that decision or in giving something a try, what do you have to lose? What’s the worst that could happen? If you can live with that, it might be worth the risk. Or look for a similar alternative that still inspires you.

There are definitely some decisions where it might make more sense to “play it safer” and others to not be so worried about!

A home should tell our story, so I think it’s worth finding ways to let your heart speak so you can decorate with what you really love.

What decorating decisions paralyze you the most?

Listen to Your Heart and Decorate with What  You Love

We work through ways to make decorating decisions you can live with in HomeBody Gathering Place.



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My Everyday Jewellery Edit – The Anna Edit

The jewellery that I never take off…

This post contains ad affiliate links (denoted by a ‘*’) & gifted items (denoted by ‘ad – gifted). You can read my full disclaimer here.

I’ve always loved jewellery, but in the past year or two I’ve really honed in on my style, my everyday favourites and the items that I never take off. They are outfit makers, polishers even and they have the ability to put balance back into a look that just feels a bit off. I’ve realised that for me I like to blend chunkier, sculptural pieces with everyday lighter pieces, along with things like my rings and bracelets that stay put no matter what. So here’s what my jewellery wardrobe looks like…

NECKLACES

I own a few more necklaces than I’ll mention here, but really at the moment I’m switching between just two. I’m either wearing the Mejuri Curb Chain Necklace* (ad – gifted) – which I’d say is probably my top jewellery pick of the bunch – or the Lie Studios Elly Necklace*. Both are complete opposite ends of the spectrum and add a slightly different flavour to whatever outfit I’m wearing. The Mejuri I leave on, until I swap it out for the Lie Studios as that’s more of a daytime-only costume piece. But really there isn’t much decision making that goes on here – it’s either one or the other.

EARRINGS

Ok here’s where I play a bit. I’ll start with the simple one first. My everyday earring is a style from Mejuri which are now discontinued but are most similar to their Easy Medium Hoops*. Just a simple hoop, nothing crazy but I can sleep and shower in them and only ever take them out to swap them for something bolder. I just bought the Mejuri Sculptural Hoops* and they are truly beautiful – these two together would be the perfect dainty/bold earring capsule. Most of the bolder earrings that I wear though are from Lie Studios and I mostly switch between their drop-earring style, the Julie* or their extra large Camille Studs* (ad – gifted). You would have seen me wear both of these styles multiple times as it’s what I use most mornings to add polish to my outfit.

BRACELETS

I don’t really mix up my bracelets, mainly because my Apple Watch takes up most of the real estate on my wrist. So I just wear my Mejuri Round Box Chain Bracelet* (ad – gifted), with their Timepiece Bracelet* (ad – gifted). The latter is a little chunkier and the former daintier and I never take them off, only ever swapping them out if I’m at an event and want to leave my wrists bare. One day I’d love to add the Lie Studios Elly Bracelet* to my collection – it’s on my shopping list!

RINGS

I almost forgot to add this section in! I NEVER take these off, so they don’t register in a way. They are just part of me – literally – some I can’t remove! My engagement ring and wedding ring were from a local shop in Brighton (I think we got engaged almost nine years ago now and I STILL love my ring, so simple – Mark did so well!). Then on my index finger on my left hand I wear a very, very old black gemstone ring that Mejuri don’t even make anymore (the Solo Diamond Ring* is similar), with their Diamonds Line Ring* (ad – gifted) stacked. On my right index finger I wear the Mejuri Twist Ring* (ad – gifted) that I’ve owned for YEARS, on my middle finger their 2mm Smooth Band* and on my ring finger on my right a Claire Kinder ring that I picked up when we went to visit Shop Anomie in San Francisco.


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Studio Office Cabinet Progress – Cubby Bridge Basic Build

I did it! I built the cubby bridge on my studio office area cabinets all by myself yesterday, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how this section is turning out! As a reminder, here is the goal…

And at the start of the day yesterday, this is how the cabinets in that area of the room looked…

The actual cabinets (the white parts) are IKEA Sektion cabinets, and I’m in the process of customizing them. This has been a multi-post project just getting them to this point, so I’ll link the previous posts at the bottom of this one.

When it came to building the cubby bridge, my initial thought was the build it in the carport, and then bring it inside and screw it to the sides of the cabinets. But I work alone. For those who are new around here, my husband Matt has M.S. and is completely unable to help me with projects. And while there are several people who would be willing to come and help me, I really hate to bother people for things like this. Plus, I’m fiercely independent, and I thrive on figuring out how to do things myself.

So that was the challenge. How do I build a cubby bridge, and then hoist the thing up there by myself while trying to screw it into place? The answer? I DON’T! Instead, I decided to build it in place. That seemed like the most “work smarter, not harder” solution to me. Here’s how I did it…

First, I measured and marked where I wanted the bridge to be attached to the side cabinets, and I attached a piece of scrap wood to the side of the cabinet with the top edge of the board along the line I just marked. This ledger board is temporary, and I attached it using three 1.5-inch 16-gauge nails.

And then I repeated that process on the other side.

With my temporary ledger boards in place, I measured and cut a piece of 3/4-inch plywood for the bottom of the cubby bridge. It took a couple of tries to get the fit just right, but on the second try, it fit perfectly between the side cabinets and rested on the ledger boards. You can see that it bows down a little bit in the middle, but I wasn’t worried about that. That will be corrected later in the buiding process.

After fitting that piece, I removed it and drilled three pocket holes on each end. These pocket holes are on the top of the board, not the bottom. The bottom is visible when standing in the room, and I don’t want visible pocket holes, and I don’t like having to fill pocket holes on areas that will be visible.

To drill the pocket holes, I used my Kreg Pocket Hole Jig. This is the one I have (affiliate link), and it is worth every penny. If you want to build furniture or cabinets, this tool is a must-have item!

So again, I drilled three pocket holes on each end of that piece, making sure I drilled the holes on the top of the piece.

At this point, I brought my scaffolding in to make the whole building process much easier. This is the one I have (affiliate link — also available at Home Depot), and it is yet another thing I bought recently that I wonder how I lived without for so long!

So standing on the scaffolding, I placed the plywood piece back on the temporary ledger boards, pocket holes facing up, and I screwed the piece into the side of the tall cabinets.

With that secured in place, it looked like this. The bow in the middle was still there, but I wasn’t worried about it at this point. I just wanted to make sure that it looked level with the trim at the top of the window.

Once I was sure it looked level, I removed the temporary ledger boards. That did leave three nail holes on each side that I’ll have to fill and sand, but I’m okay with that. We DIYers who work alone have to do what it takes, and filling and sanding six small nail holes is a small price to pay for getting this job done by myself.

Next, I used my table saw to cut the pieces for the ends. I attached these by nailing from the inside of this side piece into the plywood on the side of the side cabinet (i.e., in the direction my nail gun is pointing below).

And then I also nailed through the bottom plywood piece and into the edge of the side piece.

After repeating that on the other end, I was ready to cut the back piece to fit inside the two end pieces. This is where the bow in that bottom board would be corrected. You can see the back piece set into place below, and the bow in that bottom board is still visible.

To secure that back piece, I first nailed through the side pieces into the edge of the back piece.

After repeating that on the other end, I nailed through the bottom piece into the bottom edge of the back piece.

This is what took care of the bow and straightened up the bottom plywood piece. You can see that there’s no longer a gap between the two pieces at this point.

To be clear, other than the six pocket screws holding the bottom piece in place, I built the entire thing using 1.5-inch 16-guage nails. I have full confidence that these nails will hold. The kind that go in a nail gun are very rough, and really grab into the wood. If you’ve ever built anything using these nails, and had to take pieces apart, you know how strong they are. But if you have less confidence than I do in how well the nails will hold, you can always use wood glue in addition to the nails, or even add more pocket holes to hold the pieces together.

Next, I cut and attached the top piece, nailing it all around the three sides that sat on the side pieces and the back piece. I nailed through the top and into the edges of those three pieces. At this point, it was really starting to look like something! 😀

And the final step of the basic build for the cubby bridge was to cut and attach the dividers. I cut them using my table saw, and then attached them just like the other pieces.

After measuring and marking for placement of these divider pieces, I nailed through the bottom piece into the bottom edged of the divider pieces.

And then I nailed through the top and into the edges of the divider pieces.

And with that, the basic build was done! It’s going to take a lot of trim and finishing to get this section of cabinets to look like I envision in my mind, but I’m well on my way!

I so wish that every single one of you could see this in person. Pictures don’t do it justice. This section of cabinets went from looking kind of small and dwarfed by that tall, wide wall, to looking very substantial, like it can hold it’s own against that huge wall. Sometimes, more is definitely better! 😀 And I think, when it’s all finished, it will look way more like custom cabinets now.

So stay tuned, because coming up next, I’ll get the whole thing trimmed out and ready for primer and paint. I’m getting really excited about seeing this section finished soon!



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W Brom 2 – 1 Coventry

West Brom took a big step towards securing a spot in the Sky Bet Championship play-off places as they beat Coventry 2-1 on Friday night.

In the week their new owner, American businessman Shilen Patel, completed his takeover of the club, the Baggies celebrated with first-half goals from Mikey Johnston and Grady Diangana.

The result moves West Brom seven points clear of Norwich in seventh ahead of the rest of the weekend.

Coventry, who pulled one back in the second half through Haji Wright’s penalty, remain four points adrift of the play-off places.

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Mikey Johnston neatly put West Bromwich Albion ahead against Coventry.

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Grady Diangana gets on the end of Tom Fellows cross and makes it two for The Baggies.

Johnston strikes again as West Brom seal victory

It took just six minutes for Johnston to get the opener, as his brilliant solo run in from the left provided him with the space to bend one into the top corner, leaving Ben Wilson completely helpless in the Coventry goal.

After 36 minutes it was two. Tom Fellows was the provider as his ball in from the right was met perfectly by Diangana, who guided just inside the post from six yards.

Deep into the second half, Coventry were gifted an unlikely lifeline as Cedric Kipre fouled Kasey Palmer in the box, and substitute Wright stepped up to slot the resulting penalty.

But there would be no equaliser, as the Sky Blues saw their top-six hopes drift a little further away.

The managers

West Brom’s Carlos Corberan:

“That’s why [Johnston] was our target from the beginning. He can play different positions for us. Some days he can play wide, and other days it’s a playmaker inside. It’s not easy to find a way who can manage both positions.

“In general we were very good in the first half. We found spaces to attack and progress with the ball. In the second half we knew they would press more. We lost a lot of balls in the middle of the pitch which didn’t allow us to progress in the pitch.

“We didn’t command the game well enough. I said to my players the key wasn’t the result at half-time it was the result at the end of the game. We finished the game better.”



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Life Lately: He’s here! – The Inspired Room

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Life Lately: He's here!

He’s here! He’s here! Meet Forrest. My heart can hardly take in his sweetness! I’m so thankful he is healthy and in awe that I get to be a Grammie to this precious little guy. Mama and baby (and Daddy) are doing well!

Thank you for all of your prayers and excitement over the arrival of our first little grand babe and the beginning of a new chapter in our family and home.

Give me all your ideas for how to be the best Grandma I can be! Grand babe two is due this summer!



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Mastering Major Mixing Techniques for Optimal Music Production

Major mixing techniques play a pivotal and transformative role in shaping the sonic landscape of a musical composition. This intricate process involves the artful manipulation of individual audio elements to achieve a cohesive, balanced, and professional-sounding mix

Let’s delve deeper into the significance of EQing, compression, and the impactful use of reverb and delay in achieving a professional and distinctive sound.

EQing (Equalization):

Equalization is a fundamental tool in major mixing that significantly influences the frequency balance of a track. Here’s a closer look at its importance and application:

  1. Balancing Frequencies: EQing allows for the meticulous balancing of frequencies within a track. By cutting or boosting specific frequencies, it addresses clashes, reduces muddiness, and enhances the overall clarity of the mix.
  2. Complementing Style and Genre: Skilled mixing engineers understand how to apply EQing techniques in a way that complements the style and genre of a song. It’s not just about fixing problems but also about bringing out the best in each element for a cohesive and polished final product.
  3. Understanding Instrument Roles: EQing demands an in-depth understanding of each instrument’s frequency range and its role in the mix. This requires time, patience, and skill to identify problematic areas while maintaining a harmonious balance between all elements.
  4. Professional Level Quality: Hiring a professional who excels in these nuances can elevate your music from an amateur level to industry-standard quality. Proper balancing for clarity, removal of unwanted frequencies, and precise boosting of certain frequency ranges using tools such as equalizers contribute to a polished final product.

Compression:

Compression is a dynamic tool that plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of music production. Its effective use provides consistency, sustain, and punch to instruments and vocals while minimizing background noise. Key considerations include:

  1. Controlling Volume Levels: Compression is instrumental in maintaining consistent volume levels, ensuring a smooth and balanced sound throughout the track.
  2. Adding Sustain and Punch: Skillful application of compression can add sustain and punch to instruments and vocals, contributing to a more impactful and dynamic musical experience.
  3. Reducing Background Noise: Compression is adept at reducing background noise, enhancing the overall balance of the mix and allowing the primary elements to shine.
  4. Key to Professional Sound: Understanding and utilizing compression effectively is often the key to achieving a professional-sounding mix, unlocking potential and taking your music career to the next level.

Reverb and Delay:

Reverb and delay are sonic enhancements that add depth, space, and dimensionality to tracks. Their strategic use can set your music apart in terms of creativity and originality:

  1. Creating Depth and Environment: Reverb simulates reflections, creating a sense of space, while delay adds rhythmic interest through echo effects. Used sparingly, these effects enhance the listening experience without overwhelming the listener.
  2. Textural Atmosphere: Both reverb and delay can add texture, character, and atmosphere to tracks, contributing to a unique sonic signature that distinguishes your music.
  3. Experimentation for Creativity: Experimenting with different settings is crucial when using reverb and delay. This process allows you to explore new sonic possibilities, giving you more control over how each track interacts within the overall production.
  4. Setting Your Music Apart: The creative use of reverb and delay can set your music apart, providing it with a distinct identity within your genre and capturing the listener’s attention.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding and mastering major mixing techniques, including EQing, compression, and the use of reverb and delay, empowers musicians to unlock the full potential of their music. These techniques are not just tools; they are artistic expressions that, when wielded with skill and creativity, elevate a musical composition to new heights.

Whether through precise EQ adjustments, dynamic control with compression, or the spatial enhancements of reverb and delay, major mixing techniques are the key to crafting a professional, engaging, and unforgettable sonic experience.