Suspenders

Suspenders, or braces are fabric or leather straps worn over the shoulders to hold up skirts or trousers.

The straps may be elasticated, either entirely or only at attachment ends, and most straps are of woven cloth forming an X or Y shape at the back.

Suspenders are typically attached to skirts and trousers with clips or buttons using leather tabs at the ends.

In British English, a suspender belt, or suspenders for short, is a garment used to hold up stockings. This is called a garter belt in American English.

In the 2000s, it became fashionable for some younger women to wear suspenders, a style that emerged from Mod styles in the late 1960s through to punk rock and skinhead styles of the late 1970s into the 1980s.

Swimming

 Swimming with Beret

Nudes

 Nudes in Beret:

Green Berets

 Green Berets come in all shapes and forms:

Winchcombe Calling

Two years ago, I first published a post on my friend Mike, presenter of Winchcombe Calling, Radio Winchcombe. 

With all we have in common, I only recently discovered his love of riding his Lee Enfield in the Gloucestershire rolling hills. This painting, the 2 dogs included, by the man himself. Thanks Mike!

Borys Dovgan

Ukrainian sculptor Borys Dovgan (1928 – 2019) was an avid beret wearer.

Among his most famous works are the coat of arms of the city of Kyiv, the monument to Artist-Victims of Repression” and the monuments to composer Ihor Shamo and artist Oleskandar Vertynskyi.

Borys Dovgan fought in World War II, was a member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine and an Honorary Academician of the Ukrainian National Arts Academy.

Chris Brookes

Chris Brookes was an author, storyteller and independent radio producer who has crafted audio documentaries professionally for three decades.

Brookes died 2 weeks ago on 10 April from an accidental fall.

His documentaries range from current-affairs to features to music documentaries to ars acoustica to locational audio smartphone apps. They have won over forty international awards including the Peabody Award and the Prix Italia, and have been broadcast around the world.

He has directed documentaries for Canadian network radio and television, is a published author and playwright, and has taught documentary storytelling at festivals and workshops across North America and Europe. As a sound artist, his audio art has been exhibited at international festivals and released on CD.

He was formerly artistic director of the Mummers Troupe Theatre of Newfoundland and pioneered the use of theatre as a vehicle for community development.
He has has been named an International Audio Luminary by the 3rd Coast International Audio Festival, is inducted to the Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Hall of Fame, holds an honorary doctorate from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and is a recipient of the Order of Canada.

Thanks Pete

AOS

Unlike most countries on the planet, the New Zealand Police is in principle unarmed. Exception is the AOS, or 'Armed Offenders Squad'.

AOS (Old)

There are 17 Armed Offenders Squads (AOSs), made up of nearly 300 part-time members, covering all the country’s main centres. These squads were first established in 1964 after the fatal shooting of four police officers in incidents in Lower Hutt and Waitakere.

AOS (Present)

Police is essentially an unarmed service and there is determination both within Police and in the public to keep it that way. But the AOSs provide Police with the means of effectively and more safely responding to and resolving situations involving an actual or threatened use of firearms against members of the public or Police.

The basic methods of operating are to cordon, contain and appeal to armed offenders. These tactics are successful in the vast majority of incidents, which are resolved without the use of force. AOSs are also used for some pre-planned operations where there is a high risk, for example large cash escorts or helping other Police with search warrants.

AOS members are all volunteers. They must qualify at a rigorous national selection and induction course and receive regular additional training in their districts. They are part-time, drawn from all branches of Police and operate on a call out basis.

The squads are supported by negotiation teams and specially trained police dogs and handlers.

Žandarmerija

The Gendarmery (Жандармерија, Žandarmerija) is the national gendarmerie force of the Republic of Serbia. It is under the authority of the Police Directorate of the Serbian Ministry of Interior and was formed on 28 June 2001, after the disbandment of the Special Police Units (PJP).

Gendarmery in Serbia existed in previous form from 1860 to 1920. As a special unit inside Serbian police, its role can be compared to those of Russian OMON and former Ukrainian Berkut units.

As of 2017, Gendarmery consists of about 2,800 members. The Command of the Gendarmery is in Belgrade.

The gendarmery's duties are both civilian and military, including securing the 'Ground Safety Zone' along the administrative line with Kosovo and providing disaster rescue teams.