Price Includes Bed & Breakfast, 15% Govt Tax, 7% VAT and 5% Service Charges. Best Offer in Bangladesh. Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh CIVIC Guest House ( 2 Star ) Access : It is close to EC Delegation Office, American Club, Australian Recreation Center, BAGHA Club, Dutch Club, International Club, Shops and Restaurants & also 15 minutes drive the Zia International Airport. Price : Room Category-----------Standard-------------------Deluxe Single Occupancy---------35 USD$----------------45 USD$ Double Occupancy--------50 USD$-----------------60 USD$ Extra Bed-------------------10 USD$-----------------10 USD$ Description CIVIC Guest House located in the Gulshan Diplomatic zone, opposite to the Italian Embassy, Road-79/82, House- 20/B to accommodate your VIP Guests. Euro Garden Category: 2 Star Access : It is just north of Gulshan Police Station & Gulshan Central (Azad) Mosque, west of Wonderland Children Park and also just near the Gulshan City Corporation Market No. 2. Our Euro Garden Guest House is only a 10-minute ride from Dhaka Zia International Airport. Price: Room Category-------------Standard----------------Deluxe Single Occupancy---------35 USD$ ++------------50 USD$ Double Occupancy--------50 USD$----------------70 USD$ Extra Bed-------------------10 USD$----------------10 USD$ Description: Our Euro Garden Guest House is located at the heart place of Gulshan Model Town, the Diplomatic zone of the Capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka. Our Euro Garden Guest House is surrounded by natural beauty Hotel Pacific Category: 2 Star Accessible: 35 minutes drive from Dhaka international airport Price: Room Category------------Standard-------------Deluxe Single Occupancy---------30 USD$------------35 $ USD Double Occupancy--------40 USD$------------45 USD$ Extra Bed---------------10 USD$--------------10 USD$ Description: Located in central business hub Motijeel commercial area. by Rickshaw it is easy to enter downtown old Dhaka. Merriott Guest House Category: 2 Star Accessible: The hotel is in Gulshan north with its calm and quiet environment. It is 10 minutes drive to Zia Intl. airport and 20 minutes drive to all the business areas. Surrounded by number of diplomatic missions and international standard restaurant with in walking distance. Price: Room Category-----------Standard------------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------45 USD$-----------50 USD$ Double Occupancy-------50 USD$-----------60 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$------------10 USD$ Description: An expert group of hoteliers having working experience in a five star hotels in Dhaka now has taken over the "Marriott Guest House" on their own. PacificInn Guest House Category: 2 Star Accessible: We are in the heart of Dhaka diplomatic zone. 15 minutes drive both ways from Dhaka international airport and central commercial area. Price: Room Category------------Standard------------Deluxe Single Occupancy---------40 USD$-----------50 USD$ Double Occupancy--------50 USD$-----------60 USD$ Extra Bed-------------------10 USD$-----------10 USD$ Description: We welcome you to the pacific inn during your stay in Dhaka. A guesthouse by a lakeside specially designed for your comfortable accommodation. Ambala Inn Category: 2 Star Accessible: The hotel is in Dhanmondi with its calm and quiet environment. It is 30 minutes drive to Zia Intl. airport Price: Room Category-------------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy----------40 USD$-----------55 USD$ Double Occupancy---------65 USD$-----------70 USD$ Extra Bed--------------------10 USD$-----------10 USD$ Description: Ambala Group’ has added their newly built bed and breakfast motel at Dhanmondi area.business travelers will find it very convenient during their stay in Dhaka. Aristocrat Inn Category: 2 Star Accessible: Aristocrat Inn is situated at Gulshan-2 . It is 10 minutes drive from Zia International Airport. Price: Room Category------------Standard------------Deluxe Single Occupancy---------50 USD$----------60 USD$ Double Occupancy--------60 USD$----------75 USD$ Extra Bed-------------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: Aristocrat Inn the premier guest house in town. The Inn is committed to live up to its name by providing Aristocratic Service to the guests who are the Aristocrats. Asia Pacific Blossom Category: 3 Star Accessible: 10 Km from Zia intl. Airport. Walking distance from all shopping all and restaurant of different cuisine. Price: Room Category----------Standard-------------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------65 USD$----------80 USD$ Double Occupancy-------80 USD$---------90 USD$ Extra Bed------------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: Conference hall is capacity of 150 people with conference facilities, swimming poll and sauna, poolside restaurant, fitness center, safety and security, business center. Accept all major credit cards, same day laundry service BRAC Center INN Category: 2 Star Accessible: Excellent location near the diplomatic enclave overlooking the Gulshan lake. Price: Room Category---------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy------50 USD$---------65 USD$ Double Occupancy-----60 USD$---------70 USD$ Extra Bed----------------10 USD$---------10 USD$ Description: BRAC Centre Inn - A symbol of refreshing elegance. An authentic example of personalised hospitality. Excellent location near the diplomatic enclave overlooking the Gulshan lake. Unique blend of service and comfort with the warm touch of home. Multiple cuisine, local and international, to make your stay all the more enjoying. Bon Vivant Category: 2 Star Accessible: The hotel is located in a clam and solitary area of Baridhara. 7 Kilomater south from the ZIA International Airport and 8 Kilomaters north of Motijheel and Dilkusha Commercial Areas, Dhaka. Price: Room Category----------Standard-------------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------50 USD$-----------65 USD$ Double Occupancy------60 USD$-----------70 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$-----------10 USD$ Description: Hotel Bon Vivant is an outstanding international hotel with a unique combination of 38 fully furnished rooms with suites. Hotel Center Point Category: 2 Star Accessible: Hotel is located in Gulshan (Former Lutheran Centre), which is a convenient 15 minutes drive from Zia International Airport. We have easy access to all parts of the city. Price: Room Category-----------Standard-----------------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------50 USD$--------------65 USD$ Double Occupancy-------60 USD$--------------70 USD$ Extra Bed------------------10 USD$--------------10 USD$ Description: Center Point Hotel welcomes you in Dhaka to make you feel at home. A team of Hotel Management personal is working round the clock to serve you better. Citadel Hotel Category: 2 Star Access: Citadel Guesthouse is situated at Gulshan-2 . It is 10 minutes drive from Zia International Airport. Price: Room Category---------Standard--------Deluxe ( Double ) Single Occupancy------45 USD$------- 55 USD$ Double Occupancy-----60 USD$--------70 USD$ Extra Bed---------------10 USD$---------10 USD$ Description: The Citadel Hotel is an unique hotel which is secured comfortable and unbeatable for the warm and personalized service. Civic Inn Category: 2 Star Accessible: Situated in one of the cities prime locations, the prestigious Gulshan diplomatic enclave. 15 minutes drive both ways from the International Airport & Central Commercial Area Price: Room Category----------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy------45 USD$----------60 USD$ Double Occupancy-----60 USD$---------70 USD$ Extra Bed----------------10 USD$ Description: Civic Inn an impressive hotel with the experience of more than a decade of its professional management which provides every modern amenities & comfort. Offers good facilities for the business executives, international consultants as well as a host of local attractions to entertain the tourists. De Crystal Garden Category: 3 Star Accessible: Located in Dhaka's prestigious Gulshan Diplomatic area. It is 10 minutes drive from the Zia International Airport. Zia International Airport - 7 Kilometers Price: Room Category---------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy------55 USD$----------65 USD$ Double Occupancy-----65 USD$----------75 USD$ Extra Bed----------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: An oasis of luxury and tranquility in the heart of bustling Dhaka city. The hotel provides extensive world class facilities and services to business travelers who expect comfort, efficiency and warm hospitality. Hotel De Castle Category: 3 Star Accessible: Set amidst the greenery of the diplomatic enclave of Banani, only 10 minutes derive from Zia International Airport. Price: Room Category----------Standard---------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------50 USD$--------60 USD$ Double Occupancy------45 USD$--------55 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$--------10 USD$ Description: Welcome to the emerald green Bangladesh, the land of opportunities. Stay amidst peaceful and comfortable surroundings at Hotel De Castle, your home away from home. Hotel De Crystal Crown Category: 3 Star Accessible: The Guest House is in Uttara Model Town with its calm and quiet environment. It is 5 to 10 minutes drive to Zia Intl. airport and 20 minutes drive to all the business areas. Price: Room Category----------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy------45 USD$---------70 USD$ Double Occupancy-----35 USD$---------55 USD$ Extra Bed----------------10 USD$---------10 USD$ Dhaka midtown hotel Category: 3 Star Accessible: Located 15 minutes from zia international airport and in the heart of diplomatic zone, the hotel stands in its own extensive grounds next to the Embassies and diplomatic warehouses. Price: Room Category----------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------35 USD$----------55 USD$ Double Occupancy------45 USD$----------65 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: Dhaka Mid Town Hotel is a nice hotel for international guests. It is professionally operated in a modern building with an eye-catching architectural design. Dutch Club Category: 3 Star Accessible: Located in Dhaka's prestigious Gulshan Diplomatic area, surrounded by Lake with Park, American Club, Australian Club, Dutch Club, British Club, International Club & Nordic Club, which is 10 minutes drive from the Zia International Airport. Zia International Airport - 7 Kilometers Price: Room Category---------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy------50 USD$----------65 USD$ Double Occupancy-----60 USD$----------80 USD$ Extra Bed----------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: An oasis of luxury and tranquility in the heart of bustling Dhaka city. The hotel provides extensive world class facilities and services to business travelers who expect comfort, efficiency and warm hospitality. Eastern House Category: 3 Star Accessible: Located 15 minutes from zia international airport and in the heart of diplomatic zone, the hotel stands in its own extensive grounds next to the Embassies and diplomatic zones. Price: Room Category-----------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------50 USD$---------55 USD$ Double Occupancy--------70 USD$--------70 USD$ Extra Bed-------------------10 USD$--------10 USD$ Description: Eastern house is an exclusive Guest House for international guests. It is professionally operated in a modern building with an eye-catching architectural design Eastern Residence Category: 3 Star Accessible: The hotel is located in a clam and solitary area of Banani. 7 Kilometer south from the ZIA International Airport and 8 Kilometers north of Motijeel and Dilkusha Commercial Areas, Dhaka. The hotel is surrounded by shopping malls, clubs restaurants and diplomatic mission. Price: Room Category----------Standard------------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------65 USD$-----------75 USD$ Double Occupancy------80 USD$-----------90 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$-----------10 USD$ Description: Hotel Eastern Residence is an outstanding international hotel with a unique combination of 60 fully furnished rooms with suites and service apartments. In order to cater to the need of the customers of 21st century, we have equipped the hotel with the most modern technology to cope with the diversified interest of today's guest Elenga Resort Category: 3 Star Accessible: Easies way to JRE is from Ashulia and Savar intersection to east to Kaliakoir Intersection. Then to north from Kaliakoir Intersection to Mirzappur. Best to take Mirzapur by pass then avail korotia by pass to reach to Tangail bypass .At he end of Tangail bypass go east again and in less then 5 minutes you will reach to Elenga Bazar in Kalihati Thana. JRL Elenga Resort is adjacent to the east of the Bazar. Large billboard will show the way to the Resort.. Price: Room Category-----------Standard---------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------45 USD$--------60 USD$ Double Occupancy--------55 USD$--------75 USD$ Extra Bed-------------------10 USD$--------10 USD$ Description: Close to the tantalizing view of river Jamuna, and Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge, JRL Elenga Resort is alluring you to invigorate from languorous life and rejuvenate yourself. Visit Elenga Resort and give in yourself to the nature. Far pavilion Category: 3 Star Accessible:It is close to EC Delegation Office, American Club, Australian Recreation Center, BAGHA Club, Dutch Club, International Club, Shops and Restaurants & also 15 minutes drive the Zia International Airport. Price: Room Category---------Standard-------------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------45 USD$----------60 USD$ Double Occupancy------55 USD$----------75 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: Far Pavilion Ltd. guest house, only 10 minutes drive from the Zia International Airport. We have 32 rooms of various categories suitable for various budgets. We aim to make your stay comfortable & memorable. Hospitality is our specialty. Golden Deer Category: 3 Star Accessible:We are located in Gulsha-2, a diplomatic zone in the northern part of Dhaka. 15 minutes drive both ways from Dhaka international airport and central commercial area. Our professional experience will and ensures that your stay is enjoyable. Price: Room Category------------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------50 USD$---------65 USD$ Double Occupancy-------65 USD$---------75 USD$ Extra Bed------------------10 USD$---------10 USD$ Description: Opened in mid-2002, this new international business hotel in equipped to the highest standards to meet the needs of the discerning traveler. Under a highly qualified management team trained in international hospitality, our Golden Deer staff is eager to do their best to ensure your stay to be happy, comfortable and safe. Golden Goose Category: 3 Star Accessible: It is close to EC Delegation Office, American Club, Australian Recreation Center, BAGHA Club, Dutch Club, International Club, Shops and Restaurants & also 15 minutes drive the Zia International Airport Price: Room Category-----------Standard--------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------50 USD$------65 USD$ Double Occupancy-------65 USD$------75 USD$ Extra Bed------------------10 USD$------10 USD$ Description: Hotel Asrafee Category: 3 Star Accessible: Located at Rajarbagh Dhaka just overlooking Rajarbagh police Lines and being at a stone’s throw from Kamlapur Railway station, BRTC-an international road network, Bangladesh Secretariat and Motijheel Commercial Area, the country’s biggest Commercial hub; Hotel Ashrafee is linked with one of the best road and railway communication networks. Inter-city Luxury coach networks like Green Line, Shohagh, Silk Line, etc. are within our vicinity. It’s just a 40-minute drive from the Zia International Airport. Price: Room Category----------Standard---------Deluxe Single Occupancy------35 USD$--------50 USD$ Double Occupancy-----50 USD$--------60 USD$ Extra Bed----------------10 USD$--------10 USD$ Description: HOTEL ASHRAFEE and exclusive addition to Dhaka’s prides on having another new hotel at it’s heart. Only 30 minutes drive from Zia International Airport, HOTEL ASHRAFEE has a convenient location overlooking all the important centers of the city. Marino Guest House Category: 3 Star Accessible: House no.46, Road No.18, Block - J , Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh Price: Room Category----------Standard------------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------55 USD$----------65 USD$ Double Occupancy------70 USD$----------80 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: We are located in Banani, a diplomatic zone in the northern part of Dhaka. 15 minutes drive both ways from Dhaka international airport and central commercial area. Our professional experience will and ensures that your stay is enjoyable Paradise Garden hotel Category: 3 Star Accessible: 15 mins drive from Dhaka int airport to Hotel Price: Room Category---------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy.......50 USD$...........65 USD$ Double Occupancy.......65 USD$...........75 USD$ Extra Bed.................10 USD$............10 USD$ Description: Paradise Garden Hotel welcomes you to Dhaka. It is a home away from your home. Hotel managed by professionals with five star backgrounds, the hotel strives to ensure all your business needs. Be our guest feel the difference. We offer you most comfortable traditional Bangladesh hospitality to make your stay in Dhaka, Bangladesh, most pleasantly memorable Description: For a Homely stay amidst modern amenities and atmosphere. Rigs Inn Category: 3 Star Accessible: Very near to the diplomatic zone of Gulshan Baridhara and surrounded by a variety of authentic restaurants and shopping malls, the hotel is conveniently located in close proximity of the business areas and within easy reach of the Zia International Airport, the country's gateway by air. Price: Room Category---------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------55 USD$-------65 USD$ Double Occupancy------70 USD$-------75 USD $ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$-------10 USD$ Description: A scenic view of the lake will add a new dimension to your pleasant stay, while on official visit, business or tourism, enjoy our personalized, discreet and efficient service in a homely environment, where every request will be honored by the skilled personnel who have five-star hotel experience inside the country and abroad Rose Wood Residence Category: Three Star Accessible: Rose Wood Residence is strategically located within the Capital City Dhaka surrounded by Baridhara and Banani in the close vicinity to the exclusive Shopping Mall, Bank, Hospital, and Entertainment Zone and very close to the Motijheel Commercial Area, Prime Minister Office & Parliament House. Zia International Airport, Dhaka -12 Kilometers and 15 minutes Drive from the Airport. Price: Room Category-----------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy--------45 USD$---------55 USD$ Double Occupancy-------55 USD$---------65 USD$ Extra Bed------------------10 USD$---------10 USD$ Description: Hotel Rose Wood & tourism, the name blends in a unique combination of experience -comfort, multi - cultural value and achievement since your step taken at our premises. Satisfaction of our valued guests has made a substantial market that leads us to be the pioneer in the field of hospitality industry of the country. Royal Resort Category: 3 Star Accessible: Very near to the diplomatic zone of Gulshan Baridhara and surrounded by a variety of authentic restaurants and shopping malls, the hotel is conveniently located in close proximity of the business areas and within easy reach of the Zia International Airport, the country's gateway by air. Price: Room Category--------Standard------------Deluxe Single Occupancy-----45 USD$----------65 USD$ Double Occupancy----60 USD$----------75 USD$ Extra Bed---------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: A scenic view of the lake will add a new dimension to your pleasant stay, while on official visit, business or tourism, enjoy our personalized, discreet and efficient service in a homely environment, where every request will be honored by the skilled personnel who have five-star hotel experience inside the country and abroad Purbani International Category: 3 Star Accessible: Located in the city center, adjacent to the main commercial district of Dhaka. It is about 90 minutes drive south from Zia International Airport Price: Room Category---------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy------90 USD$---------110 USD$ Double Occupancy------100 USD$-------120 USD$ Extra Bed-----------------10 USD$----------10 USD$ Description: The hotel provides extensive world-class facilities and services to business travelers who expect comfort, efficiency and warm hospitality Rajmoni Ishakha Category: 3 Star Accessible: Price: Room Category---------Standard--------Deluxe Single Occupancy------45 USD$-------55 USD$ Double Occupancy------55 USD$------65 USD$ Extra Bed----------------10 USD$-------10 USD$ Description: Hotel Sarina Category: 5 Star Accessible: Just 15 minutes drive from Zia International Airport and minutes away from the Diplomatic Enclave of Gulshan and Baridhara Price: Room Category--------------Standard-----------Deluxe Single Occupancy---------95 USD$---------110 USD$ Double Occupancy-------120 USD$---------130 USD$ Extra Bed-------------------15 USD$-----------15 USD$ Description: Govt. approved International standard 5 star hotel at prime zone Hotel La vinchi Category: 3 Star Accessible: 25 minutes drive from ariport Price: Room Category--------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy-----65 USD$---------80 USD$ Twin Occupancy------80 USD$---------90 USD$ Extra bed---------------10 USD$---------10 USD$ Description: Best western Hotel, enjoy your stay! Lake Castle Category: 3 Star Accessible: The magnificent lavish hotel is situated by the side of a lake with greeneries. Its elegant scenic beauty will take you to the dream world. All the 60 beautifully decorated rooms are fitted with all modern amenities. The hotel is in Gulshan north with its calm and quiet environment. It is 10 minutes drive to Zia Intl. airport and 20 minutes drive to all the business areas. The hotel surrounds by the American Club, diplomats and elite of the city.Located near diplomatic zone with all the modern comfort and luxury Price: Room Category------------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy---------55 USD$-------65 USD$ Double Occupancy--------70 USD$-------80 USD$ Extra bed--------------------10 USD$------10 USD$ Description: The 60 rooms hotel is beautifully and tastefully built with modern structural design. It is a twin building and the front elevation is decorated with reflecting glass fittings with Thai aluminium. The professionals have tastefully decorated the lobby and the guest room.We are waiting for you to come and enjoy the comfort and hospitality from a group of highly experienced professionals. Hotel provides five star standard services at an affordable price. Lake shore Category: 3 Star Accessible: Centrally Located, near diplomatic area, 15 min drive from air ports Price: Room Category---------Standard----------Deluxe Single Occupancy------110 USD$------120 USD$ Double Occupancy-----120 USD$------140 USD$ Extra bed------------------15 USD$--------15 USD$ Description: Luxurious well furnished Business hotel. Royal Park Category: 3 Star Accessible: Royal Park Residence - Conveniently located in the heart of the Diplomatic enclave of Banani, is just a 12 minute drive from the Dhaka International Airport, away from the congested down town areas of Dhaka Price: Room Category----------Standard---------Deluxe Single Occupancy-------80 USD$-------100 USD$ Double Occupancy------90 USD$-------115 USD$ Extra bed------------------15 USD$--------15 USD$ Description: The newest and the only luxurious ISO 9001 & HACCP certified "Boutique style Business Hotel in the skyline of Dhaka, offering World-class hospitality whilst recognizing every guest individually and treated with personalized care.' Undoubtedly the most exclusive hotel in Dhaka Tropical Inn Category : 3 Star Access : The hotel is in Gulshan north with its calm and quiet environment. It is 10 minutes drive to Zia Intl. airport and 20 minutes drive to all the business areas. The hotel surrounds by the American Club, diplomats and elite of the city Price: Room Category----------Standard-------------Deluxe Single Occupancy------45 USD$------------60 USD$ Double Occupancy-----60 USD$------------75 USD$ Extra bed---------------10 USD$-------------10 USD$ Description: Tropical Inn, very near to the diplomatic zone of Gulshan Baridhara and surrounded by a variety of authentic restaurants and shopping malls, the hotel is conveniently located in close proximity of the business areas and within easy reach of the Zia International Airport, the country's gateway by air Radisson Water Garden Category: 5 Star Accessible: 5 minutes drive from airport Price: Room Category---------Deluxe ---------------luxury Single Occupancy----USD$ 160--------USD$ 200 Double Occupancy---USD$ 180--------USD$ 240 Extra bed---------------USD$ 25 Description: Hotel Sheraton Category: 5 Star Accessible: 30 minutes drive from airport, centrally located Price: Room Category-----------Deluxe------------------Luxury Single Occupancy-------USD$ 140------------USD$ 220 Double Occupancy------USD$ 140------------USD$ 250 Extra bed----------------- USD$ 25 -------------USD$ 25 Description: Best five star luxury hotel in Dhaka Pan Pacific Shonargaon Category: 5 Star Accessible: 30 minutes drive from airport, centrally located Price: Room Category---------Deluxe -------------Luxury Single Occupancy------USD$ 140--------USD$ 220 Double Occupancy-----USD$ 140--------USD$ 250 Extra bed---------------- USD$ 25 ---------USD$ 25 Description: Top business 5 star hotel in Dhaka Hotline: Bangladesh Expeditions Pan pacific Sonargaon hotel, level-112 Ph: +88-01715093412; expeditionbd@gmail.com info@expeditions-bd.com

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38 mins Chelsea really aren't overstretching themselves since going 1-0 up, and seem content to simply contain Blackburn - which isn't requiring too much of them - and where possible just hold the ball inside the hosts' half.

37 mins Olsson really isn't happy today and he puts the ball clumsily behind after imagining himself to be under far more pressure from Anelka than he really was. The corner sails over the heads of both team's players in the middle and is eventually lumped clear by Blackburn on the far side.

34 mins The crowd's volume goes up another notch as Jones wins a meaty but fair challenge with Mikel in the middle of the park. For all their enthusiasm, though, Blackburn aren't the most incisive and a free-kick won moments later near the centre-circle is once again used to simply pump the ball hopefully into the Chelsea area, where Alex clears.

32 mins Drogba goes down clutching a rib after jumping for a header with Samba. Can't really see that there was too much contact and nothing's been given, but either way the striker is eventually back up on his feet. He's aallllllright, folks.

30 mins ... which is flicked on by Nzonzi, half-cleared and then returned with interest by Salgado straight into the middle of a group of Chelsea defenders. After that, though, it is hacked clear.

29 mins The home fans are certainly getting louder as we go along here, and roar with rather more appreciation that sems strictly necessary as Blackburn win a throw-in in line with the penalty spot on the left. Pedersen is gearing up for a long-throw ...

26 mins Decent chance for Blackburn there as a free-kick just inside Chelsea's half is pumped into the box, where Samba heads it down and Pedersen arrives right on cue to meet the bouncing ball with a half-volley 12 yards out. Sadly it's nowhere near on target.

25 mins "Had to laugh at JT moaning about the referee not showing him 'respect'," parps Adrian Davison. "Does he mean the kind of respect he has shown to his wife, former team-mates, American tourists, the barbers trade etc? If he was looking for sympathy he should have looked in the dictionary somewhere between [bad word] and syphilis, as my old boss would say."

23 mins Chelsea win another corner and this time the ball is only cleared as far as Ivanovic, whose volley crashes back off the midriff of the nearest Blackburn defender.

21 mins But Chelsea continue to give Blackburn all sorts of trouble whenever they do come forward, and Kalou - who worryingly seems to have been taking hairdressing tips from JT - cuts the ball back neatly for Anelka, whose first time jab is just off target. Olsson is struggling badly with the pace of both those players.

19 mins After a slow start Blackburn are growing in confidence here and Dunn scampers free down the right now before Ferreira recovers to knock the ball out for another corner. This time the ball drops straight into the arms of Tornbull.

17 mins And it's Dunn again who finds a yard of space to power a header just over from in front of the near post.

16 mins Blackburn win a free-kick a little more than 25 yards out after David Dunn is fouled by Alex and Pedersen's firmly-struck effort was arrowing straight into the left corner before Turnbull intervened, parrying the ball behind for a corner.

14 mins A clever ball from Pedersen has Kalinic chasing into the area down the left but he screws his cross badly over the bar. Badly mishit in the end, but Kalinic's runs certainly seem to be giving Chelsea something to think about.

12 mins Chelsea continue to probe and Malouda whisks a fine ball over towards the back post from the left corner of the area but Samba heads clear. Blackburn are clearly looking to play on the counter-attack, and do seem to have a fair bit of pace when they do go, but it really hasn't helped to fall a goal behind so early.

11 mins "I think David Stinton is generous suggesting JT goes to a barber or hairdresser," quips Chris in Toronto. "He bears the tonsorial results from a sheep shearer." I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume tonsorial is a real word.

8 mins ... And this time it's Kalou who rises unmarked to head just over the bar. Blackburn are a little bit on the ropes at the moment.

7 mins Chelsea come straight at Blackburn again and almost immediately win a corner. Samba's header is charged down, and Blackburn eventually put the ball behind for another corner ...

GOAL! Blackburn 0-1 Chelsea (Drogba, 6 mins) Well that didn't take long, did it? Anelka danced in from the right-hand touch-line and played the simplest of square balls to Drogba, who dispatched it directly into the bottom right corner of the net for his 22nd league goal of the season. All too easy.

5 mins Enterprising start from Blackburn, as Diouf gives Olsson an inviting ball to run onto down the left, but he mishits his cross badly.

3 mins Drogba has a first sight of goal for Chelsea, but his first-time side-footed area from just outside the D skips wide of Brown's left-hand post. "If John Terry isn't going to say the word 'conspiracy', I'm not going to say the word 'karma'," chortles Eddie Robson. "Only seems fair."

2 mins Turnbull comes racing off his line to throw himself on top of a through-ball intended for Kalinic, only to get up and realise the flag had been up all along.

1 min Blackburn get things underway in a faintly intriguing manner. They had three men all lined up together on the half-way line on the left, who all dashed straight off up field as soon as the kick-off was taken. The ball was swiftly played back to the left-back, who tried to lump the ball forward for the chasing three, but sadly completely misdirected his pass.

Terry's trims "I'm not going to say conspiracy," insists David Stinton. "But do you think John Terry can ever go to a barber or hairdresser that isn't in on it?"

Team news Hopes that one of Hilario or Petr Cech might be ready to return in goal for Chelsea have proved unfounded, as Turnbull starts.

Blackburn: Brown, Salgado, Samba, Jones, Olsson, Andrews, Nzonzi, Dunn, Pedersen, Diouf, Kalinic. Subs: Bunn, Jacobsen, Emerton, Roberts, Linganzi, Hoilett, Chimbonda.
Chelsea: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Paulo Ferreira, Mikel, Kalou, Malouda, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba. Subs: Sebek, Joe Cole, Zhirkov, Deco, Sturridge, Matic, Bruma.
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)

As some of you may have already noticed ... John Terry is not a happy man this week. "I'm not going to say the word conspiracy," parped Terry, playing fast and loose with the word "not", when asked about Chelsea's Champions League defeat to Inter. "It is not good enough at this stage of the competition. We were at home and we didn't get one decision. We do our best to get ourselves in this position and for two years running we get let down by bad refereeing."

Thankfully JT won't have to worry about dodgy European refs, or their apparent refusal to favour the home side, this afternoon. But if he isn't able to get angry about the refereeing, then what can he rant about in the post-match interviews? Answers on an email.

Hello again Or perhaps hello for the first time today, depending on whether you've just been following our minute-by-minute report of Manchester United v Liverpool.

United's win in that game means Chelsea are now five points behind the league leaders ahead of this, the first of two games in hand. A win, clearly, is essential for Carlo Ancelotti's side but may not be as straightforward as it first sounds. Blackburn have been beaten just twice at home this season and knocked Chelsea, albeit not their first-choice XI, out of the Carling Cup with a penalty shoot-out win here in December.

Having said all that, Blackburn's record is probably made to look better by the fact they are yet to play any of the top three at home in the league and they lost 5-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this season. Plus they are missing Paul Robinson, Ryan Nelsen, Gael Givet, Lars Jacobsen, Vince Grella and Franco Di Santo.

I'm saying this one finishes Blackburn 1-3 Chelsea. But then I have been wrong before ...

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• Blackburn Rovers
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Almost every day a new person, someone I have never met or corresponded with, writes me an email in response to my blogs or one of my books. I do my best to answer such writers if the tone and spirit of their correspondence is gracious and invites a thoughtful reply. The only exception is when person simply wants to trash me personally and or attacks my work in a way that offers me no real room for cordial conversation. In such a case I will usually provide a short answer that expresses my inability to respond to such a letter since there is no room for dialog and mutual respect. I desire dialog and mutual respect and always offer the same back wherever I can.

Harshly negative responses once deeply troubled me. I still struggle with this kind of criticism. It leaves me feeling fragile and defenseless. It is humiliating. I was too sensitive while I was a pastor, and I have had a hard time dealing with the same kind of thing over the last nineteen years as the president of ACT3 and as a published author. Everyone who teaches and writes invites criticism. I expect it. What I did not but have finally come to expect sadly, is the angry person who simply wants to tell me off or makes a “case” for why my life and ministry is a disaster. I recall the late Vance Havner saying that every minister needed “the heart of a saint and the hide of a rhinoceros.” I am quite sure I have neither in abundance but I will press on praying for them both till my numbered days are finished.

A few days ago I receive a very interesting email regarding my posts last year on the late Keith Green. While I never knew Keith I loved him and feel he was, as I said at the time, the “real deal.” He made more than a few mistakes but they were made because he was young and filled with real zeal. Such zeal frightens folks, but some people need to be frightened now and then. Lethargy grips far too many of God’s people, and the church will never be bold and obedient until the prophets are heard. Keith was a prophetic voice. But he was more, as I noted in my articles. My “new” friend wrote the following to me (slightly edited by me):

I have to admit that I had not heard of you until recently. For this I am sorry. I just came upon a couple of articles you have on your blog site about [the late] Keith Green. I thought these were wonderful. I'm 49 years of age and was raised in the heart of the Jesus Movement at Maranatha Church in Portland, Oregon. Maranatha Church, along with Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, were probably the first two Jesus Movement "mother" churches of the late 1960's. I was there as a child among all those converted hippies. This experience gave me a broad context that some who have only heard about these events—but who weren’t actually there—or some who have since seen [the more recent] copies of real revival, do not have. I later bumped into Keith Green hearing him for the first time at Jesus Northwest. I'm thinking this was around 1977. This was amazing stuff. But like you I was concerned all along the way—deeply concerned to the point of considering writing him a letter but figured he'd not have gotten it—a big mistake I now realize. I remember seeing how strident he was at a concert that I attended in Vancouver, Washington. He was right on with what he said but when he apologized in the last article that came out before his death it was as if Keith had finally figured out grace. "I'm sorry if I blew you away with my lack of love,” he wrote. I loved that humility. It was like a glow came over him—and then I saw what I had seen at Maranatha—zeal with love; with so much more love than zeal. To get rid of the darkness we can rail against it or we can turn on the light!!

I still love Keith Green. His music seems so different than his teachings, or at least the words that I recall—his music isn't angry. Thank you for publicly calling Keith Green's former teachings into question—it's a very good thing to hear. I am sure that it is going to be hard for some people to hear this message since many never saw the zeal with love that I got to see at Maranatha—it was either a dry church or the passion of Keith Green for so many people in that context.

Rev. Armstrong I really do appreciate your writing. It was fun to read what you said. I want to thank you for your measured and balanced approach to Keith Green. It is so sad that he wasn't able to live to be a fully grown-up Christian. I wonder, along with you, what would have happened if he had lived and matured. I suspect that he would have been a very sweet man who taught the love of Jesus and more or less ignored the condemnation of those who at one time he had said were playing church. After all what's the point eventually? It seems to me that it is much better to be an example of balance and to be [more] like Jesus in the world. One former Foursquare pastor told me one of the greatest things I've ever heard as a Christian: "The most releasing day was when I found out I wasn't the Holy Spirit." I love that thought so much—I imagine Keith Green would have really figured that out too had he lived a little longer.

After I received this letter I wrote the author and asked permission to print an edited and anonymous version of his words to me. He wrote back another thoughtful and engaging letter. This reflects something of the breadth of readership on this site. It is a breadth I intentionally cultivate and desire. I welcome readers like my friend. Here is what he wrote in his second letter:

Thank you also for taking the time to write to me after I wrote to you. [You may use my thoughts anonymously.] One thing happened at the Keith Green Vancouver, Washington, concert that a friend of mine remembers but I don't is that apparently Keith got down on his knees during the concert, raised his arms to the heaven and proclaimed "Oh praise IT.” This was his commentary on the "I Found It" public relations campaign [directed by Campus Crusade for Christ across America] going on at that time. That was so funny [also insightful and courageous] but I've never heard it mentioned by anyone. A friend told me this story and said he was there with a friend whose father was on the national "I Found It" board. He said this guy wasn't amused!! That incident sums up Keith Green and his biting commentary on the times. He was really unvarnished.

Thank also for telling me about your site(s) and your new book. My vision has been to [move in the direction of] so much of what you are doing in your speaking and writing. I'm not sure when or exactly how those doors will open but I hope I'm ready when/if they do. It's exciting to talk to you and hear and see what you are doing. I'm one of those odd Christians who is a Democrat [something like] the teacher and author Tony Campolo but I am sometimes saddened by what I hear, not necessarily from him but from the other people on the Christian Left [who are evangelicals] . . . I wish they would build bridges with the Christian Right. The hard thing for the Right I think is that they just don’t know the difference—they just don't understand compassion in a [real] works kind of way and I believe we can teach them by being sweet to them. I think bridges can be built. My dad was a pioneer in migrant-rights worker movement back in the 1950's and then worked in the War on Poverty thus I feel so blessed to have seen what can be done to change people's lives by such action— something I think my friends on the Christian Left are trying to do—but honestly I don't quite understand either extreme among Christian evangelicals. I think of something that shocked me when I really realized it. At the end of the age, when we stand before the Lord, he is not going to ask "How many people did you lead to me?" This was shocking to me as a born again guy who has always been taught that bringing people to the Lord was the critical thing, which I do still believe. But Christ is going to ask us about our involvement in social justice. I was hungry and you fed me. It's such a shocking difference in spiritual priorities from what I usually hear in church. This is rather weird isn't it?
 
Thanks again. It's really fun to meet a new person who is insightful and is looking to teach and lead Christians into thinking and to balance. If there's anything I can do to help you let me know. I look forward to seeing more of your work and thoughts in your writings.

I hope this is the beginning of a relationship even if it is only via the Internet. This is not a virtual friendship any more than Christians who exchanged letters in centuries past, and never met face-to-face, had real friendships for the kingdom of God. I welcome my new friend into the circle of those who know and love me. I need his insights and his prayers. I need your insight and prayer too if I am to do a better job in my work for the whole church.

Lunch-hour cosmetic surgery – 45-minute boob jabs, nonsurgical rhinoplasty – is booming in the UK. But nightmare stories are also on the rise. So are the treatments safe? We speak to doctors to find out, and take a front-row seat at a no-frills nose job

Cosmetic surgery is changing. One advancement is the use of twilight surgery, where they send you only half to sleep. Clinics are alive with dazed facelift patients, who keep their eyes open, frowning and smiling on demand, who come to after the sedation's worn off, their skin tight but bruised, able to remember nothing of the knife at all. There are other patients who trip in off the street for a half-hour boob job under local anaesthetic, and still more who book a session of Botox in their lunch-breaks. The current excitement, in plastics, is not in the perfection of a newly sculpted nose but in the speed at which patients can recover, and the market for these fast, temporary procedures is growing wildly.

The Knightsbridge Laser Clinic is one of many that has recently started promising lunch-hour transformations, offering laser lipolysis to eliminate fat, the G-spot injection to enhance sexual stimulation, Macrolane breast injections, nonsurgical rhinoplasty and Botox fillers to remove wrinkles. A block away from Harrods, I climb their carpeted stairs to the waiting room as the lunch-time rush subsides. Outside a light rain is falling, and the smell of a wet fur coat, woody and dead, hangs in the air of the clinic's small landing. Its owner brushes past me, straight into one of three white and well-lit offices. In a corner room, beside a sheeted bed, I soon take my seat, an audience of one at a 15-minute nose job.

The patient, a young, elegant woman with jewelled shoes, had rhinoplasty in Harley Street as a teenager but now wants it still straighter. Her first operation, which cost £8,000 and required a week in hospital, had left her with a smaller nose, she says, but slightly wonky nostrils. "You might not notice it," she says apologetically, "but I do."

The doctor, Salinda Johnson, a slight and surgically tweaked woman who studied cosmetic dermatology in Thailand, warns of the possible side-effects of today's procedure as she applies a numbing cream to the patient's face. "Soreness, redness, bruising," she chants, "which will settle down within two weeks and break down completely within a year." Johnson rereads the patient's notes and holds up a pink-nailed hand. "There is a problem – we can't do the procedure on a pregnant woman." Her nose glossy with anaesthetising cream, the patient exchanges hurried words with the doctor, and I look pointedly out of the window. An unwanted pregnancy. A sense that the risk is welcome. Minutes later, she is gone.

"Don't worry!" the doctor chirps. "We'll show you the procedure on our receptionist!" Diane has worked at the clinic for four months and, at 23, has already had Botox to fill in a frown line between her brows. Her nose is small and straight, but she has self-diagnosed – she feels there's a dent. She asks the doctor if she thinks rhinoplasty's necessary. "Nothing is necessary," Johnson says, applying the numbing cream. "So can you do my lips, too?" Diane asks, pouting. Johnson shows me the syringe, prefilled with a mixture of anaesthetic and Restylane filler, a hyaluronic acid. The needle is long, and she pushes it firmly into Diane's nose before using both hands to massage the filler into place. The air-conditioning system screams on, and dies just as quickly – the only sounds are Johnson's gloves, baggy on her tiny hands, squeaking.

I gather myself. Does it hurt, I ask Diane, who's breathing calmly, her fingers gently worrying the sleeve of her sweater. "No, I can't feel anything. I can just smell the rubber gloves." Were you interested in getting cosmetic surgery before coming to work here? "No!" she says, through the doctor's fingers, her nose changing shape, delicately, before my squinting eyes. "But I see so many people coming in at lunch time and leaving looking... fresher, and you can't even tell what they've had done. So I had laser hair removal, which feels like being slapped, and Botox, which was really nothing, and then I saw that you could make your lips look more defined with filler, so I've been pestering Salinda to do me."

Dr Johnson wipes around Diane's mouth with a small antiseptic cloth, and warns her that, on a pain scale, this will hurt a seven. She injects Restylane into the lips, and Diane's eyes flicker backwards. With her fingers, Johnson pushes the filler into a cupid's bow – the effect is that of a mother wiping chocolate smears off a child's mouth.

The Harley Medical Group, the UK's largest cosmetic surgery provider, published figures in January revealing the nonsurgical cosmetic surgery market (which includes the Macrolane boob jab, an injection that increases your bust size, and Restylane rhinoplasty, the injection that straightens your nose) saw continued growth in 2009, with dermal fillers and chemical peels driving the increase by 26% and 306% respectively. Last year also saw a continued rise in the number of male patients (up 5%), with "Boytox" (male Botox) and "Sweatox" (anti-sweat Botox) both contributing to the leap.

"Minimally invasive procedures rule today – and this is what consumers, and especially men, want most," says Wendy Lewis, independent cosmetic surgery consultant and author of Plastic Makes Perfect. "The benefits for consumers are: subtle improvements over time; nothing radical; less risky; definitely cheaper than big surgeries; no need for anaesthetic or going to hospital and catching MRSA; and no scars."

"There are many reasons why day surgery is becoming more and more popular," Dr Johnson tells me after Diane has floated back to her desk, swollen but smiling. "People who thought they didn't want to get surgery because they were not brave enough, or not rich enough, are interested in these temporary and non-expensive procedures – our nonsurgical rhinoplasty starts at £350. And it's so quick! The talking takes longer than the treatment. We have a lot of clients who work at Harrods and really do just pop in on their lunch breaks."

The market continues to swell, imperceptibly smoothing the faces of colleagues, relatives, local hairdressers. A study carried out for the Girl Guides last November found almost half of secondary school girls said they planned to have plastic surgery. "Girls and young women are telling us that they are finding it quite hard to accept their appearance, and it is starting at a much earlier age than we had previously thought," says Nicola Grinstead, a trustee of Girlguiding UK. "The survey shows girls as young as 11 are dissatisfied with how they look and are prepared to use surgery to make a change."

All the women I talk to in the clinic's waiting room flicking through OK! magazines agree that today Botox, and increasingly cosmetic surgery, really is "no big deal". They nod, eyes wide, and reel off names like a BBC3 news bulletin. Last year Kylie Minogue, Geri Halliwell, Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox all gave interviews about their Botox use, while a film critic compared Nicole Kidman's facial skin to melamine. This month Cheryl Cole was photographed walking through a London airport with lips like salted slugs, and reality star Heidi Montag, 23, underwent 10 procedures in one day and ended up looking just like lingerie model Caprice, who is 38.

In a culture that celebrates youth, the appeal of an injection that appears to shave a little time off your age is clear, especially for the famous and often-photographed. As the demand for surgery has grown, academics have increasingly discussed the democratisation of beauty. If everybody could, in the space of a lunch hour, become symmetrical and clear-skinned, would the power of prettiness be weakened? If we accept that we will be judged on our appearance, is the fact that we can control it almost liberating?

Two years ago, Observer beauty journalist Alice Hart-Davis was one of the first women in the country to try the Macrolane breast enhancement jab. "I had never seriously considered having a proper breast enhancement. I don't feel surgery is something to be undertaken lightly," she tells me. "But I've always wished there was something I could do to boost my bust just a bit that didn't involve surgery."

Macrolane, which arrived in the UK in 2008, is a gel filler which is injected into the breast with a long blunt needle. It increases the bust by one cup size, lasts a year and costs around £2,000. "The procedure was amazing," says Hart-Davis, "an instant result. I was beyond thrilled with it." Though clinics advertise boob jabs in their list of lunch-time treatments, and the injections are over in 10 minutes, she warns: "It's by no means a 'lunch-hour lift' type procedure; it doesn't take long, but I reacted strongly to the local anaesthetic: it didn't hurt, but I could hardly speak straight for the rest of the day. And your body and brain go into a kind of post-traumatic shock after any procedure like this. You need to take it quietly afterwards."

Three months after her injections, one breast deflated – she settled for stuffing her bra with a sock – and the other went rock hard. Her surgeon broke up the gel under anaesthetic, then injected more to balance her bra. A few weeks later, she felt a lump in her right breast. She panicked and returned to the doctor, who reassured her that it was nothing to worry about – just a lump of hardened gel. "That experience," she concludes, "alongside discovering that the research conducted on the product was not half as extensive as I'd been led to believe, and talking to several surgeons who strongly disapprove of the procedure, has put me off trying it again."

One such surgeon is Mr Charles Nduka, who runs the not-for-profit patient information website safercosmeticsurgery.co.uk. "There's so much misleading information being published about 'lunch-time' procedures," he says, "leading, at best, to unrealistic expectations and disappointment and, at worst, complications. Facial procedures such as Botox may leave localised swelling, redness and in some cases bruising, even in the best hands. This means that if you wanted to keep your treatment secret, lunch time may not be the best time.

"A major issue in the UK," he continues, "is that because fillers are classified as medical devices – the same as implants – rather than drugs, the regulations about who can administer them are among the most lax in the developed world. The recently introduced guidance from the Ihas [Independent Healthcare Advisory Services] is a mockery. It's a system of self-regulation which means that the very practitioners who should be regulated will not sign up. There have been more than 100 fillers introduced in the UK and in many cases they were withdrawn due to side-effects. Essentially the UK becomes a testing ground for new products."

So would he recommend traditional plastic surgery over the lunch-hour treatments? "Few people have social lives so hectic that they cannot give themselves the luxury of having a treatment in an unrushed fashion," Mr Nduka says, "without the anxiety that swelling might show."

Dr Mike Cummins, a GP and cosmetic surgeon who, after requests from patients, agreed to carry out group treatments at Botox parties, agrees that the "lunch-time" label can be misleading, but says that as doctors' experience of anaesthetics increases, "there continue to be more and more advantages to daycare procedures, both for the patient and the client. Laser-assisted liposuction is getting to the point where it's more than reasonable to do it under twilight sedation and cosmetic surgeons are all working to get the least trauma to tissue under local anaesthetic as possible."

In Jeanette Winterson's novel The Stone Gods, published in 2008 but set in a futuristic dystopia, people alter their genes to preserve their youth and get plastic surgery to amplify what's left. Only the protagonist, Billie, chooses to age naturally, wrinkling slowly among the smooth foreheads and perky breasts. Winterson worries about the normalisation of cosmetic surgery. "What really bothers me," she says, "is that women used to be made to believe that their minds were inadequate, but we were allowed our bodies. Now that we can't be told our minds aren't up to it, our bodies are paraded as defective. It is the same old control. It is not just an assault on women – it is a war on feminism."

She emails me later that day. "I find 'lunch-hour surgery' savage and cynical. An insecure woman is a woman who will pay to feel better about herself. Disguising insecurity and feelings of inadequacy as empowerment is part of the usual twisted message of consumer advertising, but where women are concerned the strategy asks us to fund our own oppression. We pay to feel better instead of asking why we are made to feel defective in the first place... We need to understand that what is happening to women now is part of a disturbing bigger picture and not just a question of: 'Does madam fancy a nose job?'"

How does Winterson see society progressing in this era of perfectibility? Does she predict new lows, new depths? "We'll all get fixed eventually. Parents will do it to their kids. It will become routine. The Stepford Wives world of the 1950s was made impossible by feminism. We are heading back that way by another route. Women made in the image of men."

After Diane's 15-minute nose job, I take a walk through Harrods' beauty hall. I feel a little drunk. I had gone into the clinic expecting gore, or at least tears, but I left shocked only at the dry eyes, lack of fuss, the ease, the speed and gentle effectiveness. The women in Harrods testing the perfumes are largely blondes, largely wrinkleless, and largely slim. I see three people who look like Caprice, but as reflected in varying fairground mirrors. I watch a mother pick out scented candles for her granddaughter's wedding reception, and admire her shiny still forehead as she quietly exclaims over jasmine perfumes. I'm suddenly aware, looking discreetly from face to face, of all the "work" done and all the work yet to be done. It is an awakening of sorts. A half-awakening, maybe, to an odd new twilight world.

QUICK FIXES The most popular nonsurgical procedures

MACROLANE: BOOB JAB Created by Q-Med, the Swedish company behind the wrinkle-filler Restylane, Macrolane was launched in Europe as a correctional filler for body indentations. It wasn't until it was used in Japan in 2004 that it took off as an alternative for breast implants – by January 2008, when it launched in the UK, about 30,000 Japanese women had had the boob jab. The procedure, which takes 45 minutes, involves a gel filler made of hyaluronic acid being pumped into the breast through a flexible knitting needle-sized canula. PRICES from £1,800

RESTYLANE: NOSE JOB Restylane, a water-based filler, is a synthetic reproduction of hyaluronic acid, a substance found in living organisms. Until recently its main use has been to plump lips and fill crow's feet, but the new procedure involves injecting the bridge of the nose to fill in dents, and the tip, so it appears perkier. Effects wear off within 18 months. PRICES from £350

BOTOX An injection of Botulinum toxin A (a diluted and purified form of the bacteria which causes botulism) softens and prevents frown lines. The jab, 22 years old this spring, changed the face of cosmetic surgery, with celebrities including Simon Cowell admitting to relying on it to look younger. Each year it is estimated to make its manufacturers around £800m from more than 60,000 injections. PRICES £230 to £390

JUVEDERM: LIP ENHANCEMENT A series of injections of Juvederm filler around the mouth can make the lips fuller and reshape ageing pouts. Juvederm contains hyaluronic acid which, by attracting water, plumps up the skin. Results last for up to a year. PRICES from £250 

• Women
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Yes, this is quite belated. I’ll explain why in a subsequent post.

linux.conf.au this year was in Wellington, New Zealand. It just keeps getting better! It’s always great meeting people you otherwise only know online. I was especially impressed by the OLPC NZ team.

Immediately following linux.conf.au, I jumped on a plane to Christchurch to embark on a week-long tour of the South Island. Long story short, it was the time of my life! I made some amazing friends. I also saw and did incredible things, including:

• awe-inspiring views of glaciers, glacially-formed landscapes, turquoise-coloured rivers and lakes, beautiful skies and more
• helihike: a helicopter trip onto a glacier, then hiking on it
• a night on a boat on Milford Sound, probably the most beautiful place on Earth
• every extreme activity I could get my hands on, including:
  • three bungy jumps (thrillogy combo): Kawarau Bridge (43 metres), Nevis (134m) and Ledge (47m)
  • two swings: two of the scariest jump styles — Backwards and Gimp Boy Goes to Hollywood
  • a 15,000ft skydive
  • the Triple Challenge: a Shotover jet boat ride, followed by a helicopter transfer to rafting on the Shotover river
    
  • a wilderness safari along the Dart River, including walks through forests and a scenic jet boat ride

I have most of my photos online now:

• 2010-01-24 New Zealand holiday, Day 1, pt 1
• 2010-01-24 New Zealand Holiday, Day 1, pt 2
• 2010-01-25 New Zealand Holiday, Day 2, pt 1
• 2010-01-25 New Zealand Holiday, Day 2, pt 2
• 2010-01-26 New Zealand Holiday, Day 3, pt 1
• 2010-01-26 New Zealand Holiday, Day 3, pt 2
• 2010-01-26 New Zealand Holiday, Day 3, pt 3
• 2010-01-27 New Zealand Holiday, Day 4, pt 1
• 2010-01-27 New Zealand Holiday, Day 4, pt 2
• 2010-01-27 New Zealand Holiday, Day 4, pt 3

I think what surprised me most was how adventurous I can be when I’m not in my ‘natural habitat’. I’m not normally a thrillseeker at all, but in NZ I made the decision to take a holiday from myself as well as from work and home. I even made a concerted effort to not touch computers at all. My phone was offline for most of the trip (I was using it as a camera). I never thought that being cut-off could feel so liberating.

©2010 Sridhar Dhanapalan.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Australia Licence.

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Show Name: The Bridge; Episode Title: N/A; Season: 1; Episode: 3

- Katherine Heigl blows a chance to remain relevant. [Dlisted] - George Clooney voted for Jeff Bridges at the Oscars. [Lainey Gossip] - Kim Kardashian still a ninja at stealthing body fat. [DrunkenStepfather: Site is NSFW] - Cindy Margolis... ...read full story