Mark Brewer’s Tips: Where to Look for Fresh water Tuna and Salmon?

Rainbow Trout Fishing by Mark Brewer

Trout and Salmon fishes are luring prospects for any fishing lover. I am lucky to have been born in a nation where fishes are found in abundance. I like to fish and eat fish all at the same time. On my days I (Mark Brewer) can be a fierce fisherman, looking to take home a bucket full of fishes. But there are times when I have to return home empty handed. But that does not impede my enthusiasm in any way. I am also lucky to have friends such as Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Oak who like fishing too. In my lifetime I have visited most prominent fishing spots in New Zealand and now I understand their strengths and weaknesses well enough to guide other fishing lovers. Most fishing lovers in New Zealand love to hunt the Trout and Salmon fishes.  

Mark Brewer and His Friend Mr Oak fishing Salmon

There is an abundance of Trout fishes found in New Zealand. There are both rainbow and brown trouts found. The North islands of New Zealand have large sized rainbow trout. In the North Islands places such as Rotorua and Lake Taupo are predominant areas to look for large rainbow trout. Tongariro River is a major river of Lake Taupo which is populated by large Trout fishes during the winter months. The Central Plateau of Taupo is also a hot destination for the anglers. Other popular areas include Lake Waikarimoana and Aniwhenua. If you are looking for Brown trout then the South islands are best locations. Brown trout fishes are found in abundance in areas such as Fiordland, West Coast, Otago and Southland. The fishes are available all year round.    

If you want a bounty of Salmon fishes then you ought to visit the South Islands. There are plenty of Quinnat Salmon available in Canterbury. Other rivers such as Rangitata, Rakaia and Waimakari also have promising prospects for salmon fishing. These spots have salmon fishes all year round. 

So, what are you thinking of take your equipments and get ready to go on a fishing expedition.

Mark Brewer’s Halloween Special Movie Review: Sinister

Over the last week I (Mark Brewer) have watched a lot of horror movies and have been bringing some of them to you. It seems the Mark Brewer Mansion has become a hub of horror movie screenings. I am generally accompanied by my friends Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix for these movie watching sessions. Mr. Oak is not a big fan of horror movies, but has to comply. Yesterday I watched another of Scott Derrickson’s grueling horror movies, Sinister. Again a suspense and horror packed movie that has Ethan Hawke in the main role of Ellison. 

The movie starts with a shock when we are shown a scene depicting three individuals in a row being hung from a tree. The next scene takes us to Ellison and his family moving to a new house. We learn that Ellison is a crime writer and his last successful release was about a decade back. For now, Ellison is frustrated at his repeated failures and wants to come up with something that will appeal to his readers. He has come to the city to write about the murder of a family who were hung from their tree in the backyard. Soon we understand that Ellison has in fact moved into the same house where the incident occurred. 

While clearing the house, Ellison finds a box of Super 8 Home Movies. Ellison sets up his office and goes about taking notes of the case. Soon he turns his attention to the Super 8 Home Movies and they are named separately too. He watches the first movie and realizes that it was taped while the poor family was being hung from their tree and their little daughter went missing. Ellison becomes addicted to his whiskey bottle and spends days watching other tapes and taking notes. But, his son starts acting weirdly and his night terror condition starts to deteriorate. Ellison gets many supernatural links to the murders. 

The movie has its share of chilling moments. Derrickson has timed his shocks perfectly and they do frighten us. Ethan Hawke has given a new life into the multi-shaded character of Ellison. I (Mark Brewer) feel Sinister is another movie that you need to watch in the Halloween’s week. 

Mark Brewer’s Special Halloween Recipe: Dracula Blood Punch

In the wake of the upcoming Halloween’s Day I (Mark Brewer) am trying to come up with some innovative recipes that will match with my Halloween party. In the endeavor I am helped by Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix. But the recipe I am going to share with you was revealed to me by my long time Forex trader friend Mr. Jones. Now, Mr. Jones is not much of a cooking lover, but he likes mocktails. The recipe that I am going to share today happens to be a mocktail that you may serve to the guests coming to your Halloween party. I tried the mocktail with a few additions (for taste enhancement) and both my friends Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Oak loved it. So here I am sharing the recipe with you. 

Dracula Blood Punch is a mocktail that contains cherry juice, cinnamon, chili, cloves and ginger. As ever, the Dracula Blood Punch can be prepared within no time at all. It requires a preparation time of 10 minutes and a cooking time of 5 minutes. You will have to chill the drink for 4 hours prior to serving. The ingredients that I (Mark Brewer) would mention in this post are for 12 servings. 

What Do You Need? 

To prepare this mocktail you will need juice of 21 cherries, peel of 3 oranges (that can be easily done using a vegetable peeler), one large sized red chili (it may be pierced many times but use it whole), 3 cinnamon sticks, 10 cloves, 6 pieces of sliced ginger and some Dracula’s fangs (which are available in most sweet shops around this time of the year). 

How to Prepare Mark Brewer’s Special Dracula Blood Punch? 

Put the cherry juice, cloves, cinnamon sticks, orange peel, chili and ginger into a saucepan. Heat the contents for about 5 minutes and then leave it to cool for 4 hours to 2 days (depending upon the time at hand). Remember, more you cool better flavors you will get from the drink. If you intend to serve the drink to children, take out the chili after a couple of hours.

Get the juice out when you are ready to serve. Pour the juice in glasses and provide a straw in each of these. Dangle the Dracula’s fangs from each glass.    

Mark Brewer’s Halloween Special Movie Review: The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Today, I would like to talk about another horror movie that you may watch in the days leading up to the Halloween’s Day. This is a movie that is not only good because of its horror quotient but it includes a significant courtroom drama. The movie is based on a real life incident of a German student who claimed to have been possessed by the demonic entities and later died. But there was a lot more to it than possession to her sad tale and this is what Scott Derrickson wants to portray though the movie.

The movie starts after Emily Rose; the possessed student has already passed. Father Richard (Tom Wilkinson) is accused of murder and misuse of his post to carry out an exorcism that eventually killed the innocent girl. To defend his case the Christian hierarchy appoints an alcoholic, successful and don’t care it attitude lawyer in the form of Erin Bruner (Laura Linney). She consults with Father Richard and learns many new things about how he got involved in the process. The flashbacks show the terror Emily Rose had to go through after she was possessed. Later on in the movie it is revealed that Emily was in fact not possessed by one but many demons. The flashbacks show how a quiet and beautiful Emily becomes ugly and filled with wounds. The possession always started at 3 AM the time of Jesus’ death and it grew stronger each day.

After consulting the doctors and getting no relief, the Rose family entrusts the cure of Emily upon the shoulders of Father Richard and the State accuses the father of negligent homicide.

It is an enthralling courtroom drama and there are sudden flashes of horror. I (Mark Brewer) have seen this movie more than three times already and I love it each time. Though Mr. Oak feels that horror movies should be strictly about ghosts, but I am welcome to new approaches. Even Mr. Jones, a Forex trader friend likes the movie too.

The movie is also made memorable by the strong acts of Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson. Mr. Phoenix watched the movie yesterday night and he liked it. Hope you like it too.

Mark Brewer’s Halloween Special Recipe: Spider Nest Cakes

Everything scary seems to find our favor, come the Halloween’s Day. With this occasion knocking round the corner, I am trying some Halloween special dishes at my kitchen at the Mark Brewer Mansion. Often my dear friends Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix are the first to taste these dishes and I really value their comments. Yesterday I prepared a new dish which I named Spider Nest Cake. Mr. Jones, my Forex trader friend, also happened to be passing by and he liked the cake immensely. So, as ever I am here to share the recipe for this Spider Nest Cake in Mark Brewer style.



The preparation process for the spider nest cake will take about 40 minutes and the cooking time is 20 minutes. The ingredients I would be mentioning are for 15 servings.

What Do You Need?

To prepare the cake you would require 175g of softened butter, 175g of golden caster sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, 100ml of Milk, 200g of flour, hundreds and thousands of 100g candy floss, small quantity of icing sugar and 12 plastic spiders.

How to Prepare Mark Brewer Special Spider Nest Cakes?

Preheat the oven to 1800C and create a line of muffin tins with their muffin cases. Mix and beat the butter and sugar until it becomes fluffy and pale. Prepare a mixture of flour, eggs, milk and vanilla. Stir the hundreds & thousands with little effort. Divide this mixture in the cases. The more you work upon the batter more sprinkles will show their color. So it is best to perform the task quickly. Bake for about 20 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick right through the centre, when satisfied with the baking, leave the preparation to cool off.

Peel off the cases and turn the cake upside down. Cover the cake until it should be served. Just before you serve the cake add little water into the sugar icing and add some icing on top of the cake. Add a small pile of candy floss on top of the cake. Add the toy spiders on top of the cake and your spider nest cake is ready to serve.

Mark Brewer’s Halloween Special Movie Review: The Conjuring

Halloween’s Day is just round the corner and this is a festival of the scary things. So, it is in line to watch some scary movies on the day or days leading up to it. I (Mark Brewer) along with some friends such as Mr. Phoenix, Mr. Oak and Mr. Jones (a Forex trader by profession) would try to create a list of scariest movies that you can watch. Recently, I watched the movie The Conjuring and truly it scared me a lot. So I thought of writing a review for the movie.



One of the leading problems with the modern horror movies is that they have stopped scaring people; rather they have gone to gross bloodshed and torture. “The Saw” movie for example would leave you disgusted rather than scared. The Conjuring, just like horror movies in the old days, reminds us that on screen acting can actually scare the fans. This film claims that it is based on true story and it stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farminga as a married couple. This couple are ghostbusters and renowned for their supernatural research. They have gained immense success as ghostbusters. In the year 1971 they are recruited by Roger and Carolyn Perron who had moved into a new home situated in Rhode Island. Soon after moving in the couple found that their five daughters were terrorized by unexplained bruises, strange smells and at times visions of dead people.

James Wan uses the camera expertly to imbibe fear into the scenes. The music and other sound effects also add to the horror elements. Though you may have seen dusty basements and creaking floorboards many times, but the movie makes you fear these. Though I am not easily scared by a horror movie (getting scared quickly is Mr. Oak’s department) but at times I found myself quite scared.

The level of acting in The Conjuring is also commendable. Lil Taylor (as Carolyn Perron) portrays the character of a helpless mother aptly, while Vera Farminga portrays the character of a lady who has special capabilities that make her more vulnerable, brilliantly.

The Conjuring takes us back to the best 70’s era horror movies which made us feel eerie. I (Mark Brewer) would suggest you to not miss this movie on the Halloween’s weekend.  

Mark Brewer’s Special Halloween Recipe: Recipe for Pumpkin Patch Torte

Halloween’s Day is knocking just round the corner. I have started the home decorations and there will be a grand party at the Mark Brewer Mansion on the eve of Halloween. Apart from Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix, there will be a host lot of friends who will come to this party. I have decided to cook some delicious food on the day. I, Mark Brewer, love to cook and it acts as a sort of mental relaxation for me. One of the items that may make to my menu for the party would be Pumpkin Patch Torte. This is a special Halloween cake that is delicious and yet not too sweet. It has a maple flavored frosting and can be served in accompaniment with pumpkin cake. So, how to make this Mark Brewer’s special recipe? 

Mark Brewer Recipe of Pumpkin Pathch Torte

To cook the Pumpkin Patch Torte you would have to dedicate a preparation time of 25 minutes and it takes a little more than 20 minutes to cook the dish. All the ingredients that I would be mentioning would be for 12 servings. 

What do you need? 

You would have to arrange for 15 ounces of solid packed Pumpkin, 1 cup brown sugar, half a cup of sugar, 4 eggs, half a cup of canola oil, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, baking soda, ground ginger and cinnamon. You will also need 2 cups of all purpose flour and half teaspoon of salt. 

To prepare the frosting you will need 1 cup of maple syrup, white portions of 2 eggs, ¼ teaspoon of tartar cream, 1 drop of yellow food coloring, 3 drops of green food coloring and candy pumpkins. 

How to Prepare Mark Brewer’s Special Pumpkin Patch Torte?

Grease a baking pan and have a waxed paper with grease ready. Take a bowl and pour the sugar, pumpkin, oil and eggs. Mix the contents until they are well blended. Now mix the baking powder, baking soda, flour, ginger, salt and cinnamon. Once the mixture is ready slowly add the pumpkin mixture. Pour this entire batter into the baking pan. Then bake the set up at a temperature of 3500 for 20 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick near the center. Cool it for about 5 minutes before you send it to the wire rack for complete cooling. Remove the waxed paper very carefully. 

Now prepare the frosting in a large saucepan. Heat the saucepan over low heat and combine the maple syrup, egg whites and tartar cream. Use a portable mixer to beat this preparation for about 1 minute. Continue to beat the frosting until it reaches a temperature of 1600 (which would ideally take 8 minutes). Transfer the frosting to a large bowl and beat it at high speed until the frosting becomes stiff. Separate ¼ cup of frosting in a small bowl and decorate it with yellow and green food coloring. 

Cut the cake as par the width into thirds and place a single layer on the serving plate. Spread the piece with a third of the frosting. Repeat the step for all the servings. 

Mark Brewer’s Overview: Reasons behind Arsenal’s BPL Success This Season

The Gunners have been without silverware for many seasons now. Their dismal performance last season made me (Mark Brewer) wonder: what was so wrong with the club. In Arsene Wenger, Arsenal has one of the best coaches around. He has a talented and youthful bunch of players. But somehow whatever he tried last season did not click. But, come the 2013-14 season the fortunes for the Gunners have shifted drastically. Arsene could not have asked for a better turnaround than what he has witnessed. Having played 8 games Arsenal are at the top of BPL table and their results in Europe are favorable too. So, what is the reason behind their success?

Even when the fortunes were not favoring Arsene last season, he was behind his players. There were no blame games. Arsene did not want to splash useless cash just for the sake of it in the January transfer window. He felt there was enough talent in Arsenal to win titles. He asked the critics for some time. He wanted the young bunch to gel together as a unit. Have they gelled this season! The flair of Arsenal’s playing style seems to be back. The team is again playing together, rather than going for personal glory.

The form of its key players is the second reason for Arsenal’s success this season. Aaron Ramsey is in red hot form. No one knows a way to stop him from scoring. Olivier Giroud is emerging as a solid centre forward and he is ably aided by the likes of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla. Both these players have supreme skills. When it comes to the midfield holding and ball control, Michael Arteta is one of the best. He can effortlessly control play. In the defense, Par Mertesacker seems to have overcome his bad days and is controlling the opposition attacks with much more authority.

Third reason would be the quality of signing this season. Though Arsene always signs a player with a future vision, but Mesut Ozil is a grand signing for more reasons than one. He has already made a mark upon the BPL after having arrived from Real Madrid.

Though I (Mark Brewer) am a Manchester United fan, but I am quite enjoying the resurgence of Arsenal. It is hard to control the feelings of Mr. Oak though, who is an ardent Gunners fan. Even Mr. Phoenix’s childhood favorite team Liverpool is doing well this season. 

Mark Brewer’s Movie Reviews: Captain Phillips is an Oscar Contender

I have been a fan of Tom Hanks ever since I watched You’ve Got Mail as a child. My friend Mr. Oak also shares my liking for this great actor. There are not many actors in the Hollywood who have the capacity for intense acting as does Tom Hanks. I have watched most of his movies. So, this Saturday I, Mrs. Mark Brewer and our friends Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix decided to visit the movie theatres and watch Captain Phillips. The movie is based on a real incident as do most of Paul Greengrass’ movies. It is about the Somali pirates and a US ship that was hijacked in 2009. Just like Paul’s last few releases Bloody Sunday and United 93, this movie too tells a known story in a thrilling manner.

I feel that Tom Hanks would be a candidate for this year’s Oscar due to his phenomenal performance in the movie. Five minutes of acting towards the end of the movie are the very best I have seen from Tom Hanks. The storytelling of this movie is pulsating. Though everyone knows the ending, but Paul keeps everyone gripped. The movie starts with Captain Philips (Tom Hanks) speaking to his wife about his concerns over the future of their kids in lieu of the massive unemployment. It is revealed that Captain Philips will be leading a ship past the Cape Horn into the pirate area near Somalia. The scene shifts and we see a group of warlords preparing a team to plunder ships. Some pirates are reluctant but they have to give in. Their poverty does not give them any other alternative.

When the ship cruises near Somali waters, it is suddenly chased by fast moving boats. Though Captain Philips tries many tricks, but his ship is too stocked and slow moving to realize any plans. He tries to negotiate with the pirates. The pirates hold him hostage. Then there is a Navy Seal operation and the American glory story. No the glory story is not stretched too far. Paul has focused more on the poverty of the pirates rather than making them oppressors. He seems to be sending out a message about financial turmoil in the world.

I (Mark Brewer) simply loved the movie and would like to watch it again. 

Mark Brewer’s Movie Reviews: Escape Plan is a Movie for the Fans

When I was growing up I always liked the action movies. Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were two of my favorite heroes. From Rocky series to Rambo, I watched all of the Stallone hits and Schwarzenegger’s Terminator Series is one of my favorite series of all times. So, when I heard that these two stars were going to share screen spaces I just had to leave the Mark Brewer Mansion with my friends Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Oak to watch the movie. Luckily on my way I met Mr. Jones too, who is one of my closest Forex trading friends.

This is a movie for the fans. The storyline for the movie is rather thin. It seems to be a sort of tutorial for the prisoners on how to break prisons. The film begins with a prisoner (Stallone) escaping from the full proof protected prison of Bendwater Penitentiary Institute. Later, the prisoner returns back to the authorities and reveals that he is Ray Breslin, a security consultant who is an expert in exposing the vulnerabilities of state prisons. He is a recruited authority. He shows the loopholes in the prison and tells the warden how he managed to escape.

Soon after, Ray Breslin (Stallone) is approached by the CIA to carry out his usual checks at a new facility which would imprison dangerous criminals. CIA does not disclose the location or any other information about this classified cell. Though Breslin is not willing to take up the mission, but his manager is lured by the high sum promised. He persuades Breslin to perform the check, mentioning him as an artist adept at prison break. Breslin is taken to this undisclosed prison and gets about his job. He tries to find an escape route. But to his dismay there are none. The warden of the prison is cruel and cunning Mr. Hobbes (Jim Caviezel). After finding no loopholes, Breslin tells Hobbes about his true identity, but the later does not believe. Breslin is stuck at the prison. In the meanwhile he meets another fellow inmate featuring Arnold Schwarzeneggar. They start making an improbable escape plan.

Though there are many thrilling moments in the movie and witty dialogues, but nothing seems to arouse the sort of passion I (Mark Brewer) had expected. The brawls and fist fights seem to be too obvious. At times it seems the screenwriter deviated from his primary storyline.

It is a movie worth watching for the fans of these two great action stars. Both the stars perform admirably. Jim Caviezel brings out a great performance in a negative character.

Mark Brewer’s Halloween Special Recipe: Baked Tuna with Asian Rice Noodles

The countdown to Halloween’s Day has already begun. There is hardly a week left. This year I have invited a host of my Forex trading friends for dinner. Of course Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix with their families will be there at the party too. I am organizing a gala party at the Mark Brewer Mansion this year. Nothing lightens up the occasion more than good food. So, I am planning to cook some delicious dishes for my guests. Come the Halloween’s Day you would invite guests at your home too. Have you thought of preparing some delicious and never before tasted dishes for your guests? If not then I, Mark Brewer the chef, bring to you one simple to prepare and yet delicious recipe that will leave your guests satiated. I call it Baked Tuna with Asian Noodles Mark Brewer Style.

 

Mrs Mark Brewer Special: Baked Tuna with Rice Noodles

The dish will require a preparation time of 20 minutes and hardly five minutes to cook. The list of ingredients that I would be mentioning would be for two servings. Asian flavor to this dish will definitely rouse the taste-buds of your guests.

Ingredients you require

·         2 Tuna steaks weighing 200g each that is cut into 2-3 cm thick

·         60g Sachet of Ginger, Pureety Soy, some Garlic Liquid Marinade, 2 Garlic Cloves which are crushed

·         2 finely chopped red chilies

·         2 tablespoons of soy sauce

·         A bunch of fresh coriander whose stems and leaves should be chopped off finely

·         Juice of two limes

·         Rice noodles of 80g

·         Bunch of fresh mint whose leaves are chopped

How to Prepare Baked Tuna with Asian Noodles in Mark Brewer Style

·         Take a bowl and place the Tuna steaks. Coat these steaks with the marinade and leave the preparation for about 20 minutes.

·         While you wait, make the desired salad dressing. Soy sauce, chili and chopped coriander stems should be place in a small jug. Add the lime juice to the preparation and shake it.

·         Place the rice noodles in a bowl and pour some boiling water over it. Leave it for 5 minutes and then drain all the water out. Now rinse the preparation with cold water and drain out over again.

·         Turn your attention to the dry bowl and mix the mint leaves and chopped coriander leaves.

·         Heat the griddle to high temperature and then place the tuna, bringing it out of the marinade. Cook each side of Tuna for a few minutes each.

·         Remove the Tuna and divide the noodles in two dishes. Serve with the Tuna on top. You may add some extra dressing too.

Have fun cooking the Mark Brewer special dish. 

Mark Brewer’s Analysis of Ranking System in Judo

Different colors denotes different rank

My namesake Mark Brewer is one of the most talented Judo professionals hailing from New Zealand. Ever since I heard of him I have started following judo keenly. My friends Mr. Phoenix, Mr. Oak and Mr. Jones (a Forex trader) watch games with me. In this blog I am going to tell you about the judo ranking system and its details. The achievements in judo are weighed in terms of a series of systematic ranks. The ranks for judo students are known as kyu and they are differentiated from one to the other by the color of belts they wear. There are different belt colors used, in some countries there are more than 6 kyu ranks used. There are ten black belt or expert ranks which are known as dan.

Kano was the mastermind of modern judo. Before Kano there was no formal ranking system in place for judo professionals. They were awarded scrolls or certificates containing the details about their school and style. Kano thought of a new way. In 1883, Kano awarded a couple of his students with belts. But back then there was no way to differentiate between the experts (black belt holders) and the other judo practitioners. So, Kano decided to let his expert students wear black belts. These belts were not similar to the ones worn by modern practitioners. These were much wider belts. In 1903, Kano introduced modern style of belts but he included black and white belts in the ranking system. According to Kano, white belt symbolized simplicity, purity and avoidance of ego. It indicated that all the students were equal. The white and black belt represented the progression of a student from being empty to full.

Today, the ranking system is a sort of grade system. You can earn a new ranking after completing a specific syllabus. A belt denotes the proficiency, skills and functional manners of a professional. All the belts are made with a mission to instigate the practitioner to climb higher. Mark Brewer may have passed through all the belts, but there are many young judo practitioners who are still targeting the black belt and sweating out for that. 

Mark Brewer’s Movie Review: Gravity is a Nail Biting Thriller

Gravity is a recently released Sci-fi movie that comes with superb 3D effects. This is the first film of Alfonso Cuaron, after Children of Men that was released some seven years back. It seems the director has made a comeback with vengeance. The movie is set in space and I (Mark Brewer) loved the chills it sent down my spine. Though Gravity has been categorized as a Sci-fi movie but I feel it should be described as a horror movie. Though there are no ghosts or aliens in this movie, but the fear of astronauts stuck in space makes people shudder (just like my friend Mr. Phoenix).

The movie is set in 2014-15 where a bio medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is sent on her first space mission. The cinematography for the movie has earned praises in all quarters. There is a 15 minutes long scene where the camera goes into the helmet of an astronaut, then shows the space suit worn and finally pops out of the helmet. Such a scene makes this movie glorious. The sheer agony of shouting out loud, but no one hears the screams of the astronauts apart from audiences in the movie theatre creates a telling effect.

The 3D effects have been beautifully done and there are new technologies used in the filming. Use of LED boxes is one of the new developments that the film has added to cinematography. Apart from the cinematography, the movie gives Sandra Bullock an opportunity to give a telling performance. She does not seem to be a typical horror movie actress ready to scream out at the first instance. Her character is strong and she fights her fear. The fine line between wanting to survive and inner calls to give up the fight is portrayed brilliantly by Sandra Bullock. It is also a miracle how she still continues to look a 30 year old.

George Clooney delivers some simplistic and punchy dialogues. But most of the time they fail to impress. If you want to take my (Mark Brewer) advice, get ready to experience 90 minutes of nail biting stuff when you enter movie theatre to watch Gravity. Both I and Mr. Phoenix loved the movie and hope you would too. 

Mark Brewer’s Fishing Reports: Fiji an Ideal Destination for Fishing Holidays

The Love of Mark Brewer: Fishing in Fiji 

After my recent trip to Fiji with Mr. Oak, I have formed an opinion that there are no other places on this Earth that can match the untouched beauty of the Fijian island named Kadavu. Kadavu is isolated not only from other countries but from Fiji itself. It is a very short ride from Suva or Nadi. You can hire a boat to reach this island. The island of Kadavu is surrounded by the Great Astrolabe barrier reef, which is the fourth largest of its kind. The sea floor drops to 500 meters from the edge of the reef. This Pacific Ocean embedded island is an abode for varieties of tropical species of fishes. Game fishing is popular in this island and fishes come to this island as though drawn by a magnet. You will find rarest species of fishes in these waters. I (Mark Brewer) was left awestruck to view such a colorful population of fishes at Kadavu.

Mark Brewer in Action

When the winter arrives at these islands there are baits everywhere. Mackerel, Skipjack and tuna are ideal baits for the fishes. In June, the marlin fishes show up and in July the packs of Pacific Sailfish and Wahoo arrive. It is easy to get your share of catch among such a large fish population. You can even rent boats for fishing which will land you right in the middle of dense fish population. When you emerge in deep waters you will find bunches of blue marlin, black marlin and Pacific Sailfish. Boat fishing can give you rich rewards. There are big fishes dwelling in these Pacific waters. My friend, Mr. Phoenix once caught a huge Sailfish.

In the fishing season, Kadavu is packed with fishing enthusiasts. So, if you are wishing to go fishing to this Fiji Island than my (Mark Brewer) advice to you would be to book all the necessities sometime prior. 

Mark Brewer’s Memorable Movies: Schindler’s List

I am a movie buff, and my love for movies owes a great deal to the count of great movies that were released in the 90’s. If I (Mark Brewer) have to single out one of my favorites in the early 90’s Hollywood era it would be Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. This is a great tale told in an engrossing way. We have all heard of the Nazi concentration camps and the hardships Jews had to go through in these camps. So, Mr. Spielberg picks up a real life event to base his film.

Schindler’s List conveys the story of a German businessman Oscar Schindler who saved the lives of more than thousand Polish Jews through his business. Though Oscar Schindler comes to the Krakow Ghetto with an intention of hiring cheap labor for his factories, he soon forms a close relation with these helpless individuals who are always in the fear of death. He forms an alliance with the cruel Nazi officer Amon Goth, who likes to kill Jews for fun. Schindler’s List is indeed a list of workmen the businessman had accrued for his factories. These labors were saved from their deaths. Though the Oscar Schindler’s business starts to run in debts and there are huge losses, but he keeps the factory running just to save lives.

The film was shot in Black and White to give a real feel of the World War II times. Liam Neeson as Oscar Schindler put in the best performance of his career. He was ably supported by Ben Kingsley, who appeared in the role of Itzhak Stern, a Jewish accountant for Schindler’s factory. Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goth performed the despicable character to perfection. The movie won seven Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Film and Best Original Score.

Even when I watch the movie at my Mark Brewer Mansion along with my friends Mr. Oak, Mr. Phoenix and Mr. David Jones (who is a Forex agent) I get sentimental. This movie makes me think and I love to watch it for that.

Mark Brewer Tips: Fishing License a Crucial Aspect for Hassle Free Fishing

My favorite pastime is fishing. I (Mark Brewer) visit various parts of New Zealand to catch fishes on my off days. Being in the fishing circles for a significant while I have formed a good idea about the regulations in New Zealand for fishing. But if you are a novice just like Mr. Oak then you should definitely read through this post. Fetching proper fishing license is one of the formalities before fishing in any water within New Zealand. The licenses are provided by the Fish and Game New Zealand authorities. It can be used throughout the island except Taupo Fishing District. There are special permits required for this area.

The license provided by Fish and Game New Zealand certifies that you will be adhering to rules and regulations in place for fishing in New Zealand. But you have access only on the water, you cannot impede into anyone else’s property without prior consent. If you do so that will be seen as trespassing and can be regarded as an offence. Before granting the license authorities might check your gear and equipments. The license is not exchangeable or refundable. If you lose the license, report of the loss immediately to Fish and Game New Zealand. They will replace your license quickly.

There are various types of licenses available and you can choose a type that best suits your needs. I and Mr. Phoenix presently hold a Whole Season license for fishing which allows us to fish all through the year. But you may also opt for Winter Season license or 24 Hour license. There is also provision for family license (which is held by my Forex trading friend David Jones). If you fetch such a license it will cover 2 adults and up to 4 children. 

Unregulated fishing has hurt New Zealand’s eco system significantly. The government policy of providing fishing licenses is a welcome approach to regulate the process. When you are on a fishing expedition never forget to carry your valid Fish and Game New Zealand license

Mark Brewer Tips: Simple Way to Prepare Trout Fillet

Trout dishes bring a smile on my face. I (Mark Brewer) just love them. On my fishing trips across New Zealand I have visited many rivers in search of these tasty trout fishes. At times I have gifted some fishes to my friends too. As far as I can remember, about a year back I gifted some fishes to Mr. Oak and the next day he came to me with a grumpy face. When I enquired why he looked so miserable, he said he had ruined all the fishes in an endeavor to make trout fillets. Making trout fillets is quite different from the technique used for other fishes. I had learned the art from one of my Forex trading friends Mr. David Jones. Now I can teach you the art of creating trout fillets effortlessly.

You will need a sharp knife and a cutting board. Lay the fish on the cutting board or hold the fish with its head pointing towards the sky. Use your knife and start cutting along the anus and reach up to the belly. Then cut your way up to the throat of this fish. Insert your knife within the fish’s tissue exactly where the trout’s gill should be placed (it is near the collarbone). Cut in an outward motion, that will be perpendicular to the belly. The direction of the cutting should be towards the head. Cut till the head is removed. Insert your hand into the opening and pull out all the entrails from the fishes’ body. Clean the meat in cold water till you feel the meat is completely clean. You may either use a spoon or your hands to scratch away any remains of blood along the spine of trout fish. There may be some residue still left within the fish, so rinse the fish with salt water.

Now place your knife within the ribs and base of fish’s backbone. Work your way towards the base of its backbone. Always try to cut as close to the rib as possible. This will give you maximum amount of meat. While cutting you should be able to see the blade of your knife constantly, this helps in attaining perfection. Cut till the end of the ribs. When you reach the anal fin try to keep your knife close to the fin and continue to cut through the tail. This step requires a lot of caution. Repeat the process for the other side too. Make sure that the knife is held tight when you are cutting the tail portion. Use you knife to cut down right towards the backbone. This process has to be followed for the entire length of cutting the fish. You are doing the process right if you can hear a sound while cutting the small pin bones.

Now remove the center piece from the frame of trout fish. It will give you two neatly created fillets (from either side of the fish). After the fillet is ready, you will find some bones still sticking to the frame of the fish. You can either cut this portion off or apply pliers to pluck them out. The good news is that there are usually not many bones found. Some of the bones are very soft and can be chewed through.

Always use a very sharp knife otherwise you may have to whine just like Mr. Oak. Let me know about your experiences with this Mark Brewer Trout fillet making process.

Swansea City: Mark Brewer’s Pick for Dark Horse of the BPL Season

I am amazed every time I (Mark Brewer) switch on my television and watch the BPL. There is so much talent at display. I love Manchester United from the heart; my friend Mr. Oak loves Chelsea, while Mr. Phoenix is a Gunners fanatic. I usually do not watch the matches of lower placed teams in the BPL largely due to time constrictions. But one day last year, I was sitting idly and there was a match on television and it featured Swansea City. I watched the match and ever since then I have formed a favorable notion about this Welsh side. They are a team of fighters who do not give up a match without giving everything. They fought with heads held high against formidable opponents last season and even won the Football League Cup (their first major trophy in England).

 

Some critics felt that it was an air bubble effect, as is normal with most unheralded clubs. They do well one season and fall away the next. But given the intent of Michael Laudrup and the Swansea authorities in the transfer season, it seems they are here to make the most of their opportunities. Sealing a fresh loan deal for Jonathan De Guzman from Villareal and buying high caliber players such as Jonjo Shelvey and Wilfred Bony was definitely step ahead for the club.

Ashley Williams and Chico Flores have impressed one and all with their defensive displays last season. It was no wonder then that Ashley Williams found many suitors in the transfer market, but he decided to stay put at Swansea. Similarly, Leon Britton has been phenomenal in the holding midfield role for the Swans. Michu was a revelation last season; he seemed to be scoring goals at ease at the early part of last season. Though his effect faded away at the later parts, but he seems to have come out with new vigor this season. Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge are also impressive players who are ready to put in their best efforts day in and day out. 

Though this season they are still lying in the seventeenth spot just behind the Red Devils, the optimist inside Mark Brewer still believes that both these clubs can climb up and end in good positions, come the end of the 2013-14 BPL season.      

Mark Brewer’s Special: Brown Butter Trout with Lemon Recipe

Having grown up in New Zealand I (Mark Brewer) have a special love for trout fishes. Not only do I like to devour them, but I like to go fishing in search for them and then return home to cook some delicious dishes with them. Most of the time I call over Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix to be the first testifiers to my cooking skills. Yesterday, I cooked the brown butter trout with lemon and all the people sitting at the dinner table were wonderstruck. So, I thought why not share this special recipe with you. The brown butter trout with lemon is a simple dish to cook and it brings out the natural goodness of this trout species. As I felt after cooking, this recipe can be cooked within no time at all.

As I had two guests alongside me and Mrs. Mark Brewer, so the ingredients mentioned below are for four people servings.

Ingredients you will need

Arrange for 6 teaspoons of butter and juice of two squeezed lemons. Create a boneless fillet of 4 trout fishes. Fresh ground black pepper and salt should be arranged as par your taste buds. Chopped parsley of 1 teaspoon should be available while cooking.

How to Cook?

Put the butter in a small sauce pan and apply medium heat to melt the butter until it turns light brown in color. After the desired result is achieved, turn off the heat and let the butter cool for 5 minutes. Apply the lemon juice carefully. Prepare your boiler, by preheating it. Once the preheating is done, you should place the trout fillets on the pan with the fleshy side upwards. Brush 1 teaspoon of butter and lemon juice preparation on the fillets. Apply the fresh ground pepper and salt as par your preferences. Cook at a distance of six inches from the flames, cook for 5 minutes or until it is done.

Now your dish is ready and it time for seasoning. Add the chopped Parsley and mix it well. Serve the trout warm with the leftover of butter sauce.

It took me less than 20 minutes to cook this dish. As you can decipher there is little efforts required.  

Mark Brewer Guides: Which are the Two Best Places in New Zealand to Fish

New Zealand is famous for its trout and salmon fishing opportunities. New Zealand is a typical fishing paradise. There is an abundance of fisheries in this land. It is not surprising then that I grew up to be an ardent lover of fishing myself. The small springs and their creeks are ideal destinations for fishing, there many wildernesses filled with a large population of fishes. There is seldom a vacation when I do not leave the Mark Brewer Mansion with an intention to catch large fishes.

I have gained a significant experience about the areas I should be targeting. But this knowledge I have gained from my experience and consultations provided by some of my friends in the Forex days (who were great at fishing). For a novice it is very difficult to decide which part to visit for their fishing expedition. There may be some rivers which look good sources of fish on the map, but end up as poor fishery spots, while the same river may have certain tributaries rich in fish population. The fishery strength may also vary from one season to the next. So, I thought of sharing some information that will help you set a fishing expedition.

·         Central North Island: Auckland and Taupo are the leading regions within this area. The area is known for its Rainbow and Brown trouts. Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand and it has a rich population of fishes. Both the lake and its tributaries have a large percentage of large fishes. There are many other fisheries in the area. There are clear spring creeks that have a fish count of 900 per kilometer and the large rocky rivers have fishes weighing upto 10lbs. Five rivers or lakes within this area were chosen as venues for 2008 World Fly Fishing Championships.

·         Eastern North Island: Again another prominent fishing area within New Zealand. There are fish rich lakes in Rotorua district, Te Urewera National Park and Waikato River. The area witnesses abundance of Brown and Rainbow trout fishes. Eastern North Island is known for the size of its fishes. The fishes regularly weigh more than 10lbs. Just a year back one of my friends caught a fish that weighed 28lbs. The population per kilometer of fishes is very high too.

As a part of my Mark Brewer tips on fishing I will cover other areas in New Zealand at a later post. 

Red Dawn: Too Many Loose Ends Marr the Movie

The initial Red Dawn movie was released in 1984 as a part of the US propaganda movie in the Reagan era Cold War era. It had tried to depict the fighting spirit held within the Americans. But the movie looked very dated and at times silly back then, and now there are hardly many people watching it. So, me and my friends (Mr. Oak and Mr. Phoenix) could not grasp why Dan Bradley decided to make a remake of this film? One of my action movie crazy Forex trading friends watched this movie and he told me that the movie was good. For once I fell for the trap and decided to watch this movie with Mr. Phoenix. It was one of the worst mistakes of my life!

 

Mark Brewer's Review

If the initial film was unimpressive, then the remake made no sense at all. Dan Bradley and his screenplay writers made a film out of nothing. If Russia was the villain in the initial film then North Koreans became the villains in this movie. The director and his screenplay writers tried to mingle patriotism with the temperament of the teens. As the story progresses, US marine Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth of “Thor” fame) visit his native city of Spokane and has a few brief encounters with his rude teenaged brother Matt. All of a sudden North Koreans land in Spokane riding their parachutes, they take the city and kill Jed’s father. The motives behind this sudden are not known throughout the movie. Why North Koreans chose to attack Spokane, an insignificant town from all views is also not revealed in the film.

However, Jed along with his brother and other teenagers flees to the woods. He trains the novices to become junior Rambos almost overnight and then they start Guerrilla warfare against the invading North Koreans in order to take back their land. The group names themselves Wolverines after the local high school team. There are various skirmishes along the way.

The story is highly unrealistic and there are too many loose ends. Only good thing about this movie is use of urban warfare tactics.

Red Dawn is a forgettable film and I (Mark Brewer) feel that there should be a certain amount of thought put in when a film is remade. 

Mark Brewer’s Take: Why You Lose Judo Matches?

I have been a keen follower of judo ever since I learned to enjoy sports. Some of this love for the sport owes to the popularity of my namesake Mark Brewer. My close friends Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Oak feel Mark Brewer’s popularity is the sole reason I watch judo matches. This not a correct opinion though, I love the feel around this game. Though I may not have participated in any major judo competition but I know the basics of this sport very well. Judo is a Japanese martial art form that has been given the status of sports and there are hundreds of people in the Kiwi land dreaming of becoming a special judo practitioner just like Mark Brewer. In the latest matches and my interaction with some budding judo practitioners has forced me to write this post.

Maintain your grip on the game: Mark Brewer

Everyone wants to win when they enter into any sporting arena. But sadly only one person has to win. Even the masters of the game had to lose their odd bouts. But if you keep on losing consistently then there is a thing or two to worry about. After all, judo is not similar to Forex trading where you may lose one day and gain big the other. So, I would like to cite some reasons which may lead to your repeated losses:

• You may lose matches because you keep on practicing with the losers. Practice partners are important assets in the game. They prepare you for the tough fights. You should choose a high caliber partner to practice your judo skills with.
• The environment you practice is also important for success in judo competitions. If you practice in a casual and non-professional environment then you will not get the urge to push on that extra bit.
• If you do not review your faults and what went wrong after each match then you will not learn to overcome these flaws. It is important to review the videos or sit with the coach after the match.
• Even if you lose a match, make it a point to stay on and watch the other participants in your weight category fight it out. You may learn many new skills by watching the aces fight.
• Some people take judo as a defensive martial art form, but you should bother to think likewise. If you want to win then you should be aggressive and maintain your grip on the game.

These are my views on how to avoid losing repetitively in judo matches. They are simple to follow and I hope one day you will be as successful as Mark Brewer.