Each Chinese New Year begins on the day of first new moon. In the western year 2005, the new moon began on February 9. It was the Chinese year 4702. In actuality, most Chinese began using the western, or solar, calendar in the early twentieth century, except on important holidays. Many of the calendars in China show both the solar dates of the western calendar and the lunar dates of the Chinese calendar. Chinese astrology is based on the twelve cycles of the moon.

The Chinese zodiac consists of twelve animals, rather than the solar signs used in the west. In the Chinese calendar each period lasts for a full cycle of the moon, from new to full. There are twelve complete lunar cycles in a Chinese zodiac year, but one animal symbolizes the entire year. According to their calendar, the Chinese complete a cycle every twelve years. So if you were born in the year of the rat, you would celebrate your zodiac birthday every twelve years, and your Chinese zodiac sign would be the rat. In the west your astrological sign appears once each year.

The calendar and its animals were created from an ancient legend. It tells us that the animals were all fighting about who was going to be in the prime (first) position on the Chinese calendar. The gods devised a test in which the animals would compete for their position by swimming across a river. Another version says that the Buddha requested visits by the animals before he left earth. He named the moon cycles after the animals in order of appearance. So the Chinese zodiac symbol is a circle divided into twelve equal sections; think of it as if you were marking off slices of a pie. There is a picture of the animal representing that Chinese zodiac sign in each section. The calendar’s use dates clear back to 2600 BC.

The animals used in Chinese astrology are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and boar (pig). Persons born during their cycle are said to take on their animal traits:

• Rat– Perfectionist, charming, aggressive, secretive, party-loving, quick-witted, stubborn, good at politics and business, can be mean
• Ox– Quiet, quick to anger, excellent memories, hard-working, family loyalty, creative, skilful hands, responsible, self-confident
• Tiger– Leaders, courageous, territorial, possessive, fighters, generous and selfish, magnetic, passionate, works solo, dynamic
• Rabbit– Sweet-natured, conservative, artistic, tasteful, sentimental, emotional, shy, faithful to partners, romantic, avoid fighting
• Dragon– Regal, leader, centre of attention, powerful, lucky, aggressive, dynamic, big ego, snobbish, tyrannical
• Snake– Charming, popular, lies easily, possessive, hates rejection, deep thinker, well-mannered, lazy, romantic, insecure
• Horse– Crowd lover, rebellious, energetic, selfish, self-centered, good with money, cunning, lacks self-confidence
• Sheep or goat– Artistic, creative, lazy, disorganized, charming, well-mannered, dreamy, pessimistic, romantic, worrier, not good in business
• Monkey– Charming, witty, clever, emotional, unscrupulous, love food but not gluttons, deceptive, funny, lucky
• Rooster– Straight-forward, honest, flashy dresser, loyal, honest, dreamer, psychic, busy, loves a bargain, observers
• Dog– Traditional, loyal, sincere, intelligent, private, judgmental, serious, anxious, likes solitude, champions causes
• Pig or boar– Loving, caring, chivalrous, sincere, honourable, easy to take advantage of, belief in goodness, love food, romantic, jealous

As you can see the Chinese calendar with its Chinese zodiac symbols is most interesting indeed. If you look up your Chinese Zodiac Sign, you will enjoy the time learning more about yourself.

From ancient history to recent history the flu virus has been around and a deadly adversary. The influenza epidemic of 1918 and 1919 in which 1/3 of the world population was infected and 50,000,000 people died was nickname “Spanish flu” because Spain, a neutral country in World War I, had no special censorship for news against the disease and its consequences. Therefore, the most reliable news about the disease came from Spain, giving the false impression that Spain was the most-if not the only-affected zone or that it originated from there. This strain has been the basis for almost all cases of influenza A worldwide since and is related to the strain of H1N1 that we are fighting today.

The flu was not eradicated; it found hosts in pigs where it was able to mutate. Pigs are susceptible to flu from humans and birds. Some genes from humans, pigs and birds mutated together to form a quadruple reassortant virus which includes 2 pig genes, one from the bird and one from us which became the H1N1 virus. The swine flu itself is caused by the type A flu virus and affects the pigs’ respiratory system, but while many get sick few actually die. The first case of our recent “outbreak” was in March 2009, a five year old boy from La Gloria, Mexico who eventually recovered.

From August 30 to October 10, 2009, the CDC broke down the numbers of the 4,958 people hospitalized to those that died by age group.

Age Group		Hospitalized		Deaths

0-4			19%			3%

5-18			26%			14%

19-24			9%			7%

25-49			24%			32%

50-64			15%			32%

65+			7%			12%

Those with larger risks are those with underlying problems are the most risk of severe reactions.

The greatest risk group includes people with conditions such as:

Asthma

Diabetes

Suppressed immune systems

Heart disease

Kidney disease

Neuro-cognitive and neuro-muscular disorders

Pregnancy

So, what does H1N1 look like and who does it affect? Symptoms include; fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Others can have symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and respiratory problems without fever.

What are the emergency warning signs? You need to keep a close eye on children because this can turn serious really fast, within a day or two instead of a few days like with adults. Look for fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, being irritable or not wanting to be held, flu symptoms improve then it turns to a fever and worse cough and fever with rash. In adults you want to look for difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion and severe or persistent vomiting.

The good news is most people recover without any need for medical assistance. There are precautions that you can take to avoid getting sick or if you do get sick to shorten the length and severity and to keep others from getting ill as well.

If you are not sick:

1. Make sure you’re getting good nutrition, you want your immune system as strong as it can be.

2. Wash you hands often the soap and water for at least 30 seconds if no soap or water is available use an alcohol based hands sanitizer

3. Avoid touching non porous surfaces that you hands come in contact with, for example: ATM machines, banisters, door handles etc.

4. Avoid contact with sick people

5. Get plenty of rest

6. Drink plenty of fluids

7. Disinfected common areas with an effective germicide

8. Decide on immunization

9. Avoid touching your eyes nose and mouth

If you get sick:

1. STAY HOME!

2. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough

3. Throw out your tissues, don’t leave them lying around

4. Wash you hands often with soap and water for at least 30 seconds, if no soap or water is available use an alcohol based hand sanitizer

5. Seek medical treatment if you are sick and not getting better for more than four days

6. Seek medical treatment if an emergency situation comes about

If you do get sick and aren’t getting better there are anti-viral medications doctors will prescribe.

Vanuatu is an unspoiled South Pacific paradise which should be on every traveller’s bucket list – especially if they want adventure and relaxation all wrapped up into one idyllic getaway. You can’t beat Vanuatu for friendly people, and the resorts in Vanuatu are tranquil places to take time out and be pampered.

It is a sparkling necklace shaped island paradise with a tropical climate, pristine beaches and scrumptious food. You can also find an array of awesome night life in the capital of Port Vila which is very handy to most of the resorts in Vanuatu. Choose between restaurants, cafes, casinos, music venues, cinemas and bars – including the traditional kava bars where you can try the national drink. Kava was first used in ritual ceremonies but the locals now use it for relaxing as well. Karaoke nights and trivia nights are popular with the expats, visits and Ni Vanuatu people alike.

The resorts in Vanuatu usually offer their own selection of evening activities alongside their Melanesian feasts, and you can also head into Port Vila to explore all the available night life options. Some of Vanuatu’s well known bars include Mamu Bar and the Wild Pig Hotel. The Wild Pig Hotel specialises in the exotic locally brewed Tusker beer which is a big attraction for travellers. Most bars also offer activities such as large screen televisions and pool tables to keep you entertained.

The hosts at the resorts in Vanuatu will be able to point you in the right direction for the type of night life you are looking for. It you’re keen on visiting a night club, Rumours is a resort based night club and a good place to party the night away. Shakers Café and Nightclub is popular with overseas visitors. It’s a fun party venue with good food and exotic drinks as well as excellent music to encourage you onto the dance floor.

Port Vila is home to several beer gardens, and one of the recommended ones is the Anchor Inn with its special meal deals including delicious barbecue cooking. As the name suggests, it’s also the home of the Vanuatu Cruising Club so lots of yachties hang out there. The setting right on the bay is spectacular. Port Vila has its own pub, called the Office Pub. The booths give it a cosy atmosphere for chatting or watching television.

If you are tempted by casinos, you can find a few choices in Port Vila, including the Palms Casino, Club 21 and the Grand Casino. And for those who want to just spend time as a couple in the evening, the sunsets are unforgettable.

It has been awhile since I had posted about the Four Graveyards. As the name implies, the Four Graveyards represent the ending of a cycle.

The Four Growth Stars are the opposite of Graveyards. It represents the beginning of a cycle. A starting point!

It represents youthfulness, happy-go-lucky and childlike behaviour – naïve, trusting, gullible and innocent. Thus, the Four Growths are energetic, exciting, innovative and creative.

These are how the Four Growth Stars radiate their energy. Due to its energetic and active nature, they represented the Sky Horse Stars, also known as the Travelling Stars. They are always on the move, doing and creating. These stars are represented by the Earthly Branches of Yin Tiger, Si Snake, Shen Monkey and Hai Pig.

While the Graveyards keep and hoard, the Four Growths give birth and multiply. One is yin and the other is yang. Whilst the Graveyards are motionless and tranquil, the Growths are active and alive.

Each of these Four Growth Stars is growing an element except the Si Snake which has two. The Yin Tiger grows the fire. The Si Snake grows the metal and earth. The Shen Monkey grows the water. Lastly, the Hai Pig grows the wood.

Now how does these Four Growth Stars affect a person life?

In the old days, people who were the explorers, nomads and merchants were heavily influenced by the Four Growths. The Scandinavian Viking explored Europe via its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. The Age of Discovery was filled with movement and expansion during the early 17th century. I believed that the Period of Vikings and the Age of Discovery or Exploration are closely linked to and influenced by the Four Growth Stars. The Age of Exploration also led to European colonization which gave rise to Colonial empires.

While it will be hard to track down the birth data of a Viking, two persons do comes my mind. Are you thinking of what I’m thinking? If yes, then you will know who I’m researching for my next post.

Whilst the world is now scaled and marked at every corner and printed on a map, thus leaving nothing more to be discovered, the Growth Star people are still wanderers and adventurers at heart.

You will see them working in some exotic country, or becoming a scientist that travels deep into the sea or set foot on the moon to see what human has not set eye on before.

Or you may see them sell you a bungee jump or two. At it worst, you may see another Jack Sparrow drifting along the ocean.

Or they are the businessman who has created an innovative product and actively promoting it all around the world. A business who wants to grow and expand around the world needs the Growth Star too. A big conglomerate cannot become one without the Growth Star.

People who have strong Growth Star in their BaZi never matured. They are also the people who like to throw nonsensical tantrum. Sometime they are too idealistic and naïve for their own good. They will never stop growing. They are the fun people. They are forever young at heart.

So many activities for the elderly, and especially craft, are generally enjoyed more by women than by men. So because our menfolk are usually more competitive and love to play games, here are two games of dice that they will enjoy. They are simple to play and need no more equipment than a pair of dice and a pack of cards. In fact the first game, needs only the dice…

A Version of PIG

Best with 2, but can be played with up to four players.

You will need… 2 Dice, Paper and pen for scoring.

Goal… Be the first player to reach 100 points.

How to Play… Each player in turn throws the two dice together. He has three throws. He adds his points together as he goes.

If a 1 is rolled, that player’s turn ends and no points are earned. If after one or two throws he decides to “hold” (rather than risk a 1 on his next throw and losing all his points) he keeps his score and passes the dice onto the next player.

Scoring Examples…

Example 1: Peter rolls a 3 and a 4 and decides to continue. He then rolls a 6 and a 1. Because he rolled a 1, Peter’s turn ends and he earns 0 points.

Example 2: Jack rolls a 6 and a 2 and decides to continue. He then rolls a 6 and a 5 and decides to “hold”. Jack scores 19 points.

Example 3: Mike rolls a 2 and a 3 and decides to continue. He then rolls a 4 and a 2 and carries on to his third throw of a 4 and a 3. He scores 18 points.

NOTE: If a double is thrown then the player doubles that amount. Eg a double 4 will be 8 x 2 = 16 points, a double 6 will be 12 x 2 = 24 points. If a double 1 is thrown then the player gets 25 points for that throw. Only a single 1 will end the players turn.

When a player reaches a total of 100 or more points, the game ends and that player is the winner.

The second game is a big family favourite, played with zest by all ages from 5 year olds upwards…

Black or Red

For 2 Players

You will need… One dice, One pack of playing cards, 20 counters (or matchsticks or some kind of “money”) Paper and pen for scoring

Goal… Be the first player win 10 games

How to play… Each player gets 10 counters. Place the well-shuffled pack of cards between the players. First player throws the dice. He then picks up a card.

If the card is RED (hearts or diamonds) he pays the other player the number of counters as per his dice throw.

If the card is BLACK (clubs or spades) the other player must pay him the number of counters as per his dice throw.

It is then, the other players turn, to throw the dice and the game continues as above.

First player to gain all 20 counters wins the game.

First to win 10 games is the winner. (or less if you want)

Hope you will enjoy introducing these games to your senior menfolk. If you would like to find more Crafts and Activities for the Elderly then please visit My BLOG

How does physics connect to the game app Angry Birds? Well, physics is all about the broad field of science having to deal with nature and the properties of matter and energy. It is based off the seven branches which are mechanics, thermodynamics, waves and vibrations, optics, electromagnetism, relativity, and quantum mechanics. Mechanics focuses on the motion and interaction between objects. Thermodynamics is based off the study of temperature, heat, and energy. Waves and vibrations is based off the study off sound, electromagnetic waves, x-ray, and light. Optics focuses on light, lenses, mirrors. Electromagnetism is all about electricity and magnetism. Relativity is the relationship between speed, time, and mass at extreme conditions. Quantum Mechanics is the behavior of subatomic particles, especially electrons. Angry Birds is the most addicting app that was launched in 2009 by a guy named Rovio Entertainment for the Apple company.

The whole concept of the game was created by Jaakko Lisalo from Finland and the designs were by Markus Tupperainen and Peter Urbanics. The main synopsis is that the pigs are stealing the birds’ eggs causing them to get very angry and turn the wingless birds into the pig structure to demolish them. At the time of development, there was a swine flu outbreak. There are many different versions of Angry Birds and can be accessed on the computer, tablets, smartphones, and iPhones.

Angry Birds play a part in physics because of the calculations into finding the velocity and distance. Velocity is the rate of an object changing of displacement and it tells the magnitude and direction that the object is moving. When the bird leaves the catapult, it has a velocity at a certain angle. When it comes to velocity, there are two components which are the vertical and the horizontal. The vertical component is based off the acceleration due to gravity constantly pulling the bird down closer to the Earth. The horizontal component is constant which means there is no forces repelling on the bird and there is no friction due to air resistance. The gravity will end up slowing down the vertical velocity to zero and it becomes negative. This mean that the vertical velocity of the bird will decrease from v to 0 upwards. Then increase from 0 downwards. Distance is the total length between two things by a moving independent of the motion.

Now, there are two components with distance which are vertical and horizontal. The distance travels horizontally which means that the time multiplies the constant speed. To figure out the distance travels vertically, the kinematics formula is needed which is w = v + at.

Banking, as we know it, has been around since the first currencies were minted-perhaps even before that, in some form or another. Currency, in particular coins, grew out of taxation. In the early days of ancient empires, annual taxation on one pig may have been reasonable, but as empires expanded, this type of payment became less desirable.

However, since the Covid situation, not only have we seemed to move to a “cashless” society, (as who wants to handle potentially “dirty money” in a shop), and with “contactless” credit card transaction levels now increased to £45, and now even tiny transactions accepted, such as a daily newspaper, or bottle of milk, get paid by card.

Did you know that there are over 5,000 crypto currencies in use already and of them Bitcoin features highly in that list? Bitcoin, in particular, has had a very volatile trading history since it was first created in 2009. This digital cryptocurrency has seen a lot of action in its fairly short life. Bitcoins initially traded for next to nothing. The first real price increase occurred in July 2010 when the valuation of a Bitcoin went from around $0.0008 to in the region of $10,000 or more, for a single coin. This currency has seen some major rallies and crashes since then. However, with the introduction of what are called “Stable” coins – those backed by the US Dollar, or even Gold, this crypto currency volatility can now be brought under control.

But before we explore this new form of Crypto-based E-Commerce, as a method of controlling and using our assets, including our “FIAT” currencies, let’s first look at how the Banks themselves have changed over the last 50 years or so.

Who remembers the good old Cheque Book? Before Bank Debit Cards came along, in 1987, cheques were the main way of transferring assets with others, in commercial transactions. Then with Bank Debit Cards, along with ATM’s, getting hold of one’s FIAT assets became a lot quicker, and for on-line commercial transactions.

The problem that has always been present with Banks, is most of us needed at least 2 personal bank accounts (a Current account, and a Savings account), and one for each business we owned. Also, trying to move money from your bank account “swiftly” to say a destination overseas, was anything like SWIFT!

The other issue was the cost. Not only did we have to pay a regular service charge on each Bank Account, we also had a hefty fee to pay on every transaction, and, of course, in very rare occasions we would not get any worthwhile interest, on money in our Current Account.

On top of all that, Overnight Trading, every night, using expert financial traders (or, latterly Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trading systems), all of OUR assets would be traded, and with the economies of scale, the Banks became a Major Earner on our assets – but not us! Have a look at the potential business to be made from “OVERNIGHT Trading”.

So, to summarise, not only do the Banks charge a hefty fee for storing, and moving our assets, by the use of clever Trading techniques, they also make hefty profits from trading our money on the Overnight circuit, for which we see no benefit.

The other point is – do you trust your Bank with all your assets?

How about what Bank of Scotland, who were THE Scotland National Bank, now owed by Lloyds Banking Group, have been recently labled, in a September press release that stated “Lloyds Bank Asset Frauds – The Most Serious Financial Scandal of Modern Times.”

Why not Google that web site, and then make your own mind up?

So, now let us take a look at how a Crypto-based E-Commerce system should operate, and how the advantages that the Banks enjoyed with OUR money, can become major profit centre for the Asset Holders – US!

On 10^th October 2020, a major new Crypto-based E-Commerce company is being launched – FREEBAY.

Briefly, FreeBay, based in Switzerland, is a company incorporating its own Blockchain technology, with its own SAFE Crypto Coin ( Based on V999 technology ), and enables its members to transfer their FIAT assets into Gold Bullion, removing the need to involve any BANK.

V999: digital gold empowered by the blockchain; a digital token, backed by physical gold V999 Gold (V999) is a digital asset. Each token is backed by one tenth of a fine gram gold bar, stored in vaults. If you own V999, you own the underlying physical gold, held in custody. On top of that, FreeBay members can purchase packages that include powerful Automatic Intelligence-Based Trading Robots.

So now, you can not only achieve total independence from a standard BANK, but you can also trade, like the Banks, your digital Gold assets, in the form of V999 Crypto tokens, on the OVERNIGHT systems, only now you, the asset holder, get the rewards, not the Banks.

But there is even another great advantage in trading V999 Tokens. As you would be the Generic owner of the token, so, like the Banks, every time a V999 token is traded (i.e. sold), say, to purchase Bitcoin, or any other Crypto currency, a Transaction Fee is charged. Every time a transaction takes place, the generic owner of the V999 token gets a small percentage of that Fee.

Note, that once a Trade takes place, and a V999 Token is sold, in exchange for say Bitcoin, or any other Crypto coin, a small %age of that Transaction Fee is paid to the GENERIC OWNER of that token (i.e. YOU). Because Freebay’s objective is to make the V999 Token one of the most sought-after safe Crypto coins, even after your Token has been sold to another Trader, as you are still the Generic owner of the V999 Token, whenever that Token is traded by any other Trader, it is you – the Generic Owner of that Token that gets paid the Trading Commission.

This could not only create a great Passive Income for you, for life, but is Willable to your descendants – and not a conventional bank involved anywhere.

So, the more V999 Tokens you buy, and get into circulation, the bigger and better with your Residual Income – for not just your lifetime, but probably for your dependants – could become a reality.

Interested enough to find out more? Then click here.

You are an academic genius, the valedictorian of your high school class. There you stand on the commencement stage, for your parents, extended family, friends, teachers, the entire student body of your school, and a whole bunch of strangers. You deliver the valedictory speech, to sum up the essence of your graduating class, but you save something for yourself at the last of it. Everyone wants to know what you are going to do, you with the best grades and the hopes of everyone in your town riding on your shoulders. So, at the end of your speech, after they applaud for you and what you said, you say this, “By the way, I am going to be a Laryngologist!” There it is! You said it. Confidently, you stride off the stage, leaving everyone to wonder. “What?”

A laryngologist is a physician who specializes in protecting the human voice. Professional singers and speakers tend to employ them to regularly examine their larynx, an organ through which air passes to and from the lungs. This is the part of the human body that makes sound. Some folks call it the voice box. Both volume and pitch of your voice are controlled here. Given that a laryngologist is a physician who protects health, don’t confuse them with a voice (or vocal) coach, who is a music teacher that specializes in techniques for strengthening your voice to sing better, or differently.

Where do you go to college to learn to be a laryngologist? Nowhere, that I can find. Most students who want to be doctors major in biology, and when they receive a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a good academic standing, they compete to enter a reputable medical school. After four or more years to complete medical school, you would become a licensed doctor, upon which you enter three or more years in residency at a hospital (where you prove your medical skills in the presence of already proven doctors). Upon completing residency, you either enter private practice as a general physician, or you begin specialized medical training.

Laryngology is not a standalone medical field. Instead, it is grouped within the “Ear, Nose, and Throat” (ENT) specialty. Most physicians retain the ENT title in order to maximize their number of patients. Those who wish to concentrate on the larynx might choose a title that sounds more important than laryngologist, such as: Voice Surgeon, Phonosurgeon, or Phoniatrist. Think about that. As you ended your valedictorian speech, you might have told everyone that you intend to become a Voice Surgeon. For any of the other three titles, a heckler might have shouted, “Oh Yeah? Spell it!” #TAG1writer.

When you are driving a tractor trailer, there are many things you need to know to ensure proper operation of this large vehicle. Along with making sure that the vehicle is in tip top working order, everything that needs to be connected to make sure the truck is supplying the trailer with electricity, among other things. A pigtail is the connection that goes from the truck to the trailer to allow for electrical power.

The pigtail connector, so named because it resembles a pigs tail, is only one component of all the connections that need to be made. However, it is the connection that supplies all the electrical needs to the trailer. The coil in the cable allows the truck to turn without the cable being disconnected.

The cable itself is green in color, and has a plug in at the end of it which consists of many holes. The plug fits into the corresponding outlet on the front of the trailer. The plug and the outlet are known as female and male; the female plug fits into the male outlet.

The pigtail line is approximately two to three feet long when it is uncoiled. When the vehicle is moving, the coils allow for the truck to make turns without the connections coming disconnected. If an operator is traveling and notices in his mirrors that there are no lights on the trailer, then more than likely the pigtail has been disconnected.

In order to get the electric power into the trailer, the pigtail is connected to the tractor, which is connected to the alternator inside the engine. It is the alternator that is responsible for all of the the electrical power to the entire vehicle. The connector on the truck is hardwired to the truck, usually on the back of the cab.

With a trailer supplied with power, this ensures that the running lights and brake lights will be operational while the truck is moving. It will also supply lighting to the inside of the trailer. It is very dangerous to operate a tractor and trailer without it being properly lit.

A tractor trailer operator is very well educated in the operation of their vehicle. Making sure that the pigtail connection is properly secure is only one of the many checks that are to be done prior to operation. In order to have a properly functioning trailer, all connections from the tractor must be secure.

With the exception of the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. Iberian ham has been produced and eaten in Spain since the time of the Roman occupation. Although tools, techniques and indeed the climate have changed over the centuries, the same basic principles apply to the production of Iberian Ham today as they did hundreds of years ago. This is an explanation of the production process.

Of course dry-cured ham is not unique. France, Italy and Germany, to name but a few all have their own versions. But the Iberian Ham is without doubt the King of the Castle. From the less expensive Jamón Serrano through to the Pata Negra and the sublime Jamón de Bellota there is no comparison anywhere in the world. It’s number one for taste, smell and texture and not only appreciated here in Spain, where the average Spaniard will consume almost five kg per year, but throughout the World it has an ever growing chorus of fans.

The production of Spanish Iberian Ham is a long and carefully maintained process subjected to the strictest quality control standards for food. In the early nineties the type of ham known as Jamón Serrano achieved the Denomination of Origin status represented by a label with an ‘s’ symbol in the shape of a ham. There are of course many producers of hams throughout Spain and it would be wise to purchase from producers who can demonstrate their adherence to the strict protocols related to the production the hams. Extremadura in Southwestern Spain is the region where the highest quality, Pata Negra and Jamón de Bellota are produced. Also in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, in a region known as Las Alpujarras top quality Jamón Serrano can be found. Trevélez is the place. Great ham and great trout in the highest recognised municipality in Spain (1486m).

The Different Hams

Jamón Serrano.

Which makes up 90% of the total production and is derived from the white pig such as Duroc, Landrace, Large White and Pietrain. These are generally fed on cereal based products and the curing process lasts from approximately 7 to 16 months.

Jamón Iberico or Pata Negra y Jamón de Bellota

Making up the remaining ten percent of production these products are of a much higher quality and are in great demand. Jamón Iberico comes from the Iberian Pig which is found in Extremadura and Southwestern Spain. There are certain differences within the Iberico family: firstly, we have Jamón de Bellota, the most sought after which comes from pigs fed exclusively on meadow grass and acorns; a pig fed on a mixture of grass, acorns and cereals is referred to as Jamón de Recebo and finally we have Jamón de Cebo, fed on grass and cereals.

Production

Once cleaned the slaughtered pigs are cut in to the various pieces and the lengthy curing process can begin.

Firstly the pieces of ham are covered with a layer of salt and stored in specialized facilities maintaining a steady temperature of between 0ºC and 5ºC and a level of humidity of between 70% to 90%. The salting period can vary depending on the weight of the ham but does not usually last for more than two weeks. The aim of the salting process is to remove excess moisture and preserve the meat.

The hams are then washed and hung for up to 45 days to ensure the elimination of any remaining moisture and even distribution of the salt within the ham itself.

The following stage in the curing process is the transfer of the hams to drying halls which are specially design to let in the correct amount of light. In these areas the temperature and humidity are also maintained within certain criteria by using a natural ventilation process opening and closing the windows. This is an important stage in the curing process when the hams begin to give off their distinctive aromas and the fat disperses into the muscle tissue over a period of six to nine months During this period the hams should not be subjected to extreme changes in temperature. indeed, it is essential that the hams increase in temperature at a gradual rate in order to facilitate the curing process.

Finally we come to the maturing process where the hams are hung to dry in storerooms maintained between 15ºC and 20ºC and humidity at 60% to 80%. This final stage is when the hams acquire their distinctive smell and texture.

Once approved by the Bodega’s tester, the hams are ready to be packaged and sold. It takes approximately 3 to 4 years to produce a top quality Iberian Ham from the birth of the pig to the final testing and it’s subsequent sale. Enjoy!