#Andrea Real Estate

[andreacouk]

Discover Excellence with Harrow Estate Agents: Andrea & Co.

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Our dedication to excellence means that whether you're buying, selling, renting, or letting, we provide a tailored experience to meet your unique needs. As your personal property professional, Harrow Estate Agents Andrea & Co. accompanies you through every transaction, ensuring a smooth and satisfying journey.

Choose Harrow Estate Agents Andrea & Co. as your trusted real estate partner and discover the unparalleled services that make us the top choice in Harrow. Visit our website to contact us now and take the first step toward your property goals with confidence.

[mecachrome]

japan / australia

[chinamarketingblog]

Gebäudeversetzung für neues Einkaufsviertel

In die Restaurierung von Shanghais Zhangyuan kommt buchstäblich Bewegung. Während der westliche Teil bereits im November 2023 eröffnet wurde, befindet sich der östliche Teil, in dem 26 historische Gebäude erhalten werden, noch in der Entwicklung: hydraulische „Füße“ versetzen die alten Häuser an ihren künftigen Standort. Der „Zhang Garten“ liegt im Kernbereich der westlichen Nanjingstraße und…

[biglisbonnews]

KKR invests $750m in transport electrification and battery storage solutions firm KKR has plans to invest $750 million to Zenobē, a transport electrification and battery storage solutions firm, to accelerate the global decarbonization of diesel fleets and provide grid services that are critical for the decarbonization of the energy sector. “This is a rare opportunity to support a clear leader in transport decarbonization and battery storage, two sectors which are critical in driving the transition to a net-zero world,” said Alberto Signori, Partner in KKR’s European Infrastructure team. “As a significant contributor to the decarbonization of our economies, Zenobē is an exemplary first investment in KKR’s global climate strategy which seeks to scale up businesses at the forefront of delivering real-world solutions to reduce carbon emissions.” Infracapital, the infrastructure equity investment arm of M&G Plc and current majority shareholder, will invest further alongside KKR and the management team, with KKR and Infracapital becoming joint majority shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. KKR’s investment in Zenobē is the first to be made through the firm’s global climate strategy, which is part of KKR’s $54 billion global Infrastructure business and dedicated to investing in solutions at scale to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. Zenobē’s EV fleet business provides end-to-end solutions to transition conventional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric, including financing of chassis, batteries on the vehicles, and charging infrastructure in depots, complemented with an integrated software solution. Through its network infrastructure business, Zenobē develops and builds large scale batteries that connect to transmission grids, providing essential grid services to complement the growth of intermittent low carbon energy generation and allowing economies to achieve their net zero ambitions, without compromising the grid stability. Decarbonizing transportation, reducing pollution in big cities and towns and meeting national net-zero targets will require substantial investment and a rapid shift to electric vehicles. The transport sector is the largest source of carbon emissions globally, resulting in tightening regulations related to emissions by public transport. KKR plans to work with Zenobē to meet the growing demand for EV adoption from bus operators and other commercial fleet businesses globally. KKR also expects to help Zenobē expand its grid-scale battery storage capacity through the construction and expansion of new and existing sites. The investment will help Zenobē to build on its leadership positions in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, while continuing to grow across continental Europe, and also expand into North America.     The post KKR invests $750m in transport electrification and battery storage solutions firm appeared first on Institutional Real Estate, Inc.. https://irei.com/news/kkr-invests-750m-in-transport-electrification-and-battery-storage-solutions-firm/

[showroomhaircut]

Riparliamo di me: io, fotografo!

È da un bel po’ di tempo che non parlo della mia professione di fotografo. In realà ho ampiamente discusso e vi ho illustrato le gioie e i dolori con l’intelligenza artificiale, le sue problematiche in ambito professionale e le sue potenzialità. È pur vero che mi sta crescendo un’irrefrenabile desiderio di dare vita ai miei sproloqui con dei mini video su cosa ne penso per esempio dei pseudo guru…

[growingstories]

The will

Andreas Müller was a handsome, fat, 43-year-old chef who helmed a prestigious Michelin star restaurant nestled in the mountains near Zurich. The restaurant was a family legacy; his grandfather had founded it, and though his father had shown little interest, he still owned it. Andreas, however, had turned the establishment into a roaring success, earning it two coveted Michelin stars through sheer passion and culinary brilliance.

Every month, Andreas' father would visit the restaurant with a new girlfriend, collect an envelope of cash, and leave. Despite this strained relationship, Andreas cherished his own family—his loving wife and two beautiful children. They would eat together every evening in the restaurant before service, reinforcing their tight-knit bond.

His culinary team admired him, ensuring he tasted each dish, brewed him the finest coffees, and ate leftover meals with him after shifts. Over the years, this routine, coupled with his sedentary lifestyle, had led to significant weight gain. His favorite sport, skiing, was now a distant memory as his size made it impractical. Andreas often felt like a father figure to his leaner, more energetic team. The warmth of summer was suffocating for him, making him keenly aware of his desire to lose weight, but the cycle of indulgence persisted, and he gained a few more kilos each year.

Life took an unexpected turn when Andreas' father died suddenly. Out of respect and to arrange the funeral, Andreas closed the restaurant for a few weeks. The resulting stress and absence of excessive food intake led to a surprising few kilos lost, giving him a sense of relief. The departure of his father, while sad, brought a strange sense of freedom.

Two weeks later, just as Andreas planned to reopen the restaurant, he received an urgent call from his father's lawyer, inviting him to the will reading. The lawyer's insistence on keeping the restaurant closed until then sparked curiosity. Andreas mused about the odd request but complied. During the interim, he whisked his wife away to a luxurious spa for five rejuvenating days. They reignited their connection through healthy eating, mountain walks, and even some fitness workouts. Refreshed and lighter, Andreas beamed with newfound vigor as he walked into the lawyer's office.

At the office, Andreas was introduced to Julian, a handsome, muscular 28-year-old. The reading revealed a startling secret: Julian was his half-brother. Their father had accumulated considerable wealth through successful real estate ventures, amassing €50,000,000. The will stipulated that Andreas and Julian would each receive half the inheritance, but only after five years. Moreover, Julian would assume the role of general manager at the restaurant for that period.

Panic set in, and Andreas stormed out of the office. Yet the next morning brought a surprising turn. Julian reached out for a coffee meet-up, and Andreas, intrigued, invited him to the restaurant. They bonded over their shared experiences of an absent father and agreed to the arrangement. The future looked manageable; five years seemed like a fair trade for lifelong financial security.

Julian immersed himself in hospitality, learning the ropes from the team. Mornings were dedicated to studying food and wine, afternoons to menu tastings, and nights to running the shift. His 16-hour workdays bore fruit; the staff valued him, and patrons were charmed by his professionalism.

To Andreas' delight, this newfound balance allowed him to focus on cooking and prepping during the day, leaving evenings to Julian. Andreas even snuck in gym sessions and skiing trips, shedding more weight and rediscovering vitality. His relationship with his wife flourished; they laughed and shared pleasures like teenagers. Meanwhile, Julian, though popular and diligent, struggled to keep his fitness in check amidst the calorie-laden environment and relentless schedule.

As Julian's culinary journey progressed, the team adjusted their focus. They prepped meals, ensuring he tasted everything, leading to increased portions and frequent snacking. The grueling schedule left no room for the gym, and Julian's once-defined abs gave way to love handles.

Andreas, now leaner than ever, radiated health. His marriage thrived, and with the support of his wife, he embraced a slower pace. Julian, despite his growing girth, garnered guest adoration, embodying the restaurant's charm. The stress and fulfillment of his role were addictive, and he convinced himself that cutting down on food was a goal for tomorrow.

Desiring deeper culinary knowledge, Julian enrolled in a part-time prestigious cooking course. Here, he met Conrad, a talented young chef driven by the dream of working at Julian's renowned restaurant. Conrad showcased his skills through irresistible dishes, flirting and impressing Julian along the way.

Their chemistry was palpable, and though Julian remained professional, the allure was undeniable. After evening shifts, Conrad persistently brought more culinary creations, leading to intimate moments. Julian's confidence in his body waned, but Conrad reassured him, emphasizing that a hospitality professional needn't have a six-pack.

Returning from a rejuvenating spa weekend, a thinner and more radiant Andreas advised Julian to moderate his dessert indulgences, a remark Julian brushed off with humor. Conrad's persistent presence and exceptional culinary talent led to an apprenticeship request, with Julian insisting on impressing the team.

In the kitchen, Conrad faced competition from Leo, another ambitious and handsome young chef. Their rivalry birthed extravagant tryouts, pleasing the head chef. Julian, swamped by lavish meals, confided in Conrad, who nonchalantly admired his larger frame. Exhaustion often confined Julian to just laying on his back during sex, yet Conrad's admiration soothed his insecurities.

As the five-year mark approached, Andreas' transformation captivated the media, and his newfound fitness made him a regular on cooking shows. His shifts at the restaurant dwindled, while Julian, now significantly heavier, embraced the role of the restaurant's big-hearted patriarch.

Julian's popularity among guests soared, and Conrad and Leo secured permanent kitchen positions, curtailing their competitive tastings. Julian contemplated his future, ready to ease the pace and shed some weight with his €25,000,000 inheritance. The brothers, having navigated a unique journey, stood poised to honor their father's legacy in their own distinct ways.

[asaraviapt]

[EN] Video Game Writing Resources!

Hello! My name is Andrea--I have been writing for games since 2018, and even worked as a writer at Firaxis Games from 2022 until April of 2023. So, I knew a few things about narrative design--but what the fuck is it? Recently, I gave a talk about the fundamentals and history of the field of narrative design. In Spanish. So, let's talk about it in English--the "what," "why," "how," "when," and "who," of narrative design! What is narrative design? Narrative design is not just writing--it's a huge part of it, but designing a narrative system involves implementing narrative content into the build of the game. So there is a technical learning curve to it. Personally, I watched and obtained certifications in Unreal Engine 5 and Unity in order to be aware of the limitations of each engine. I used the free trial of LinkedIn Learning, but courses about this engine are available in these websites: - https://platzi.com/ - https://www.arkde.com/ - https://www.domestika.org/?query=unity - https://www.coursera.org/ Why do we need narrative design? In order to create an interactive story that the player feels a part of, narrative designers are mandatory. It's not a responsibility that can be placed on other designers (then we would be entering crunch territory) rather someone who specifically specializes in both creative writing and game design is needed to explain within the context of the game's story why the mechanics work in a certain way. Imagine if a Telltale game did not have dialogue, for example--what would we be left with? Or if The Last Of Us did not convey a narrative through its environments.

Narrative designers are needed so that all of the departments are in sync and understand the story that they are trying to tell. For example, if a game takes place in a haunted house that was abandoned, we need all hands on deck. The narrative designer can explain to the environment artists why there are so many holes in the living room--perhaps the last tenants of the house were a rowdy bunch. Or, they can tell the sound designers which planks of wood are the most rotten and need a loud sound effect to highlight how it has been abandoned. How do I become a narrative designer? There is no one way to become a narrative designer. Some people start in QA and transition into the field, I have also witnessed engineers and doctors wanting to get into narrative design. I do recommend having the following (at least): - A passion for storytelling. - Deep understanding of the mechanics of the game and the player experience. - Communication skills are incredibly important--can you describe your story in a concise way to your peers in a Confluence page?

Documentation skills are also a massive plus.

Very basic understanding of game engines and limitations. You don't have to be a computer science major, but know what your requests will entail. If you have an idea of a cutscene, can the engine handle it? Will the animators have enough time? Is it within scope?

If you can, attend game jams! They are an amazing way to network with amazing people and get a feel of what the game production pipeline is like.

Additionally, I highly recommend the following resources: First, the free resources! ~It's free real estate~

Look up Twinery tutorials. (https://twinery.org/) Not only is it free, but you can use it on your browser. More importantly, you will learn about branching narratives and can create your own games within a few minutes--the interface, though it requires a bit of coding, is incredibly easy to use and there are a lot of tutorials available online.

Download Ren'Py (https://www.renpy.org/) and watch tutorials. It's free, and there is a huge community of visual novel developers who may need help with narrative designers, writers, editors and even translators. An amazing resource that a colleague shared was this Discord with visual novel developers--if you have an idea, feel free to connect with artists and voice actors here! https://discord.gg/nW5yn4FE

Network, network, network! Follow narrative design and game writer groups on Discord, Facebook and even LinkedIn. -- An amazing convention that is online, free and accessible regarding narrative design is LudoNarraCon.

If you go to itch.io you will see a list of game jams that you can attend to for free! Some game jams that I have attended and had a positive experience are the following: - Woman Game Jam. I encourage folks from marginalized genders to attend this game jam, as we have a large pool of mentors willing to help in every single discipline at any time due to the global nature of it. It is a safe and inclusive space for women and nonbinary folx who want to get into the gaming industry! - Global Game Jam. Self explanatory, it has some in-person opportunities but you can also attend remotely. - Greenlight Jam. Do you have an idea that can not be done in only 48 hours? The Greenlight Jam is amazing, as it lasts four weeks--which allows narrative designers to develop complex narrative systems and even record voice lines for a more complex project. Side Note: Even though most game jams have a time limit, I do encourage narrative designers to develop and polish the prototypes and levels created during game jams to have portfolios and writing samples that stand out!

Work With Indies is a job site that publishes job opportunities--including ones in writing and narrative design. Additionally, their Discord has some networking events with writers so you can connect with them.

Other websites that not only publish jobs but include networking events are Hitmarker.net (this is their Discord), IndieGameAcademy (link to Discord),

Newsletters! A lot of experienced game writers have newsletters dedicated to the craft, to name a few that I highly recommend: -- Greg Buchanan's newsletter. Rounds up game writing news every Tuesday, and includes job opportunities. -- Bright Whitney's newsletter. A studio founder with amazing insights regarding game design and thoughtful narrative, Whitney's threads are extremely insightful. -- Susan O'Connor's blog on The Narrative Department. In addition to providing free knowledge regarding world building, narrative design, game writing and other specifics of the craft Susan interviews industry professionals and alumni who offer testimonials that have amazing advice. -- GDC talks about narrative design. Though I recommend the GDC vault as well in the next section, I highly recommend the GDC talks regarding not only narrative design but the development of your favorite titles!

Now, for resources that may not be free--but I highly recommend, as someone who used them first hand. - The Narrative Department. This post is not sponsored by them at all, however it is rare to find an instructor as kind and hard-working as Susan O'Connor who has been a narrative designer in historic AAA, AA and independent titles. Known for her contributions in Tomb Raider, Batman: The Enemy Within, and BioShock to name a few (imdb is: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1897248/) her Game Writing Masterclass offers a certification in everything related to game writing. A few subjects she touches on are: -- Characters and how to make them compelling. -- Barks and ambience writing. -- Dialogue, backstories and scripts. -- How to work with other departments. And more! Additionally, you would obtain access to a huge alumni network full of game writing professionals working in independent, AA and AAA studios! Not to mention that all of the assignments completed in the class will look amazing in a portfolio as game writing samples. - GDC Vault. Though I have an opinion on the price tag of GDC tickets and the vault, I would definitely include it as it has resources from several studios, writers, narrative designers and more! When was narrative design formed? When can I become a narrative designer?

That's a wonderful question. Narrative design, as a term, was first used around the 90s but became more established between the 2000s and 2010s. So, although the field is relatively new, and there are not a lot educational resources available, consider yourself part of an innovative field that is exponentially growing! Recently, a game developer asked when was the best time to keep an eye out for job openings. And a harsh truth about the gaming industry is that it is extremely volatile--layoffs, downsizings and startups rise and fall. This is not meant to deter anyone from pursuing a career in narrative design, but rather I am including it for the sake of transparency. We cannot predict when a studio is going to layoff their employees, or when they cancel unannounced projects. Unlike most industries where we know for a fact that recruiters keep a sharp eye for candidates in Q1 and Q3, a piece of advice I received from a mentor of mine was to try to predict when projects are going to need more stories. There's the release of a game, and then there is the addition of additional narrative content--and for this, they will more than likely need associate/entry/junior level narrative designers, writers and quest designers. But--this is related to searching for a job as a narrative designer, and I can write a novel about that (and will edit this article to redirect folx into it.) So, keep an eye out for huge game announcements. Then, cater your resume to what the studio is looking for in a narrative designer. Now, to finish off this article: Who is a narrative designer? If you have a passion for storytelling and games, and have participated in game jams, congratulations you are a wonderful narrative designer! Make sure you always include that you are a narrative designer, and not an aspiring narrative designer--it makes you stand out amongst applicants. That's all I have for now--feel free to interact, comment and share! Let me know if I missed something and I will be sure to add it.

[charlotte-of-wales]

a summary of the Monaco Tea, creds to the lovely anon who sent me the article <3

btw most of the information on the family was in article one, the latter were more just info on real estate + off shore accounts

again, this info is all coming from the former accountant of the family:

Prince Rainier III was seriously considering changing succession laws so Caroline would be the head of the family and Monaco as he found Albert to be weak. Albert is said to be the "despised member of the clan" who would stutter while speaking to his father. Rainier even looked into what this would mean to the Grimaldi name since Andrea - at the time 17 - obviously carries his father's name (Casiraghi) and not his mother's (Grimaldi). Rainier told the ones carrying the investigation that this was done in case Albert died.

the funds from Albert's state endowment and his private funds would be mixed all the time.

Albert would say yes to essentially everything his family asked for, including a $30 million apartment for Stephanie

Palmero (the accountant) would frequently buy things for the family to keep "their privacy". He bought Charlene's engagement ring and multiple properties for the Grimaldi's in France. He would pay property taxes for those properties and have the family pay him back.

Caroline and Stephanie would frequently make use of and sell family property (Rainier's cars, family jewelry and art, etc) without letting him know, even though they technically belonged to Albert.

Caroline is in charge of the family's castle in Marchais, which he had an issue with as she would always go off budget.

he makes a note to pay attention to Pierre Casiraghi as he is very ambitious and his dealings in real estate could create problems (spoiler alert: it did)

Caroline is said to hate Charlene

the allowance that Charlene, Caroline and Stephanie receive increases constantly, which worried Palmero. As of late, they were: 1,5 million euros for Charlene, 900.000 for Caroline and 800.000 for Stephanie yearly. This follows the family hierarchy.

 Jazmin Grace receives 86,000 dollars per quarter. In February 2010, Palmero had to spend $5,000 “extra for her birthday”. Albert also bought her a $3 million apartment in New York City.

Albert spends almost a million a year funding Nicole Coste's (the mother of Albert's second illegimate child) fashion business. It's all in Alexandre Coste's name as Nicole fears that Charlene might create issues when Albert dies.

loots about Charlene. She frequently demands high sums in cash, her personal chef is $300 a day, she has multiple undocumented people from the Philippines working in her staff, the celebrations for the birth and baptism of the twins was well over half a million euros, in eight years Charlene spent around 15 million euros when she received 7.5 million euros in endowment (the Palace didn't deny this and said that the accountant was simply told to pay the difference with the family's personal funds), she spent 965,000 on a villa in two and a half months, her office decoration cost a million euros, she requested 3 x 300,000 for her brother's house.

Palmero made sure to change Monaco's regency laws so in case something happens to Albert while Jacques is underage Charlene won't be regent. Instead, the principality will be ruled by a regency council.

Albert has a secret apartment in Monaco, bought by one of Palmero's secret companies. He also got rid of problematic photographs of Albert (hinted at blackmail).

there was a whole system for hiding sums used on "special missions". They were labeled DS (for special destinations) and with time were used to pay for an informal intelligence unit that operated within the police force of the principality. They'd collect information on those close to the family and even on politians of the principality. He would also pay journalists to paint a good picture of Monaco while Hollande was president in France and was constantly criticizing tax-havens.

the DS accounts would be used to hide over-budget situations, including budget for the children's nannies and the budget for the wedding.

they were terrified of the Panama papers, as a lot of money laundering funds go through Monaco and the family had accounts on Panamanian banks.

a link between a Russian billionaire and the Monegasque Minister of Justice was revealed in 2017 and the Minister was forced to resign. An investigation was launched by a French judge and there was fears that the palace would be involved: jurisdictional immunity was granted to members of the sovereign family by order. There was rumours that the French judge wanted to hear the Prince as a witness......he was told to leave the principality. He was accused of having, through his “behavior perceived as authoritarian and vexatious”, “endangered the proper functioning of the criminal justice system”.

the real estate market is a big point of collision here and a big focus of article 3. Nothing too interesting to report - Palmero says he tried mingling in the market to break down the monopoly of real estate owners in Monaco (centered around a bestie of the Casiraghi brothers) while Albert claims Palmero had close ties with some of the developers and tried mingling with things that were of interest of the government in order to make money. The real estate issue was what eventually led Palmero to be fired. Palmero and a former laywer of Albert who was his childhood bestfriend and is also now a persona non grata claims that Albert is now fully under the influence of the bestie of the Casiraghi brothers who now controls the real estate in Monaco.

Palmaro is STILL paying property tax on properties he bought for the family!! crazy!!

Palmero detailed a number of off-shore accounts that hold about 250 million euros of the family's fortune including a company created specifically for Charlotte Casiraghi. He passed on the information from that account to Albert's new accountant at a monitored meeting.

Albert's explanation is lowkey....pathetic. He claims he told Palmero to move all of his family's assets from off-shore accounts to Monaco but Palmero never did it and that was that. He claims he was never able to obtain a precise statement on the family assets due to Palmero's secrecy and Albert just trusted him. He claims Palmero would act in his name and refuse to delay his decisions.

[hensleylegacyquarters]

Welcome to Knick Knacks Nook, where an array of... eclectic treasures await. From vibrant bouquets at Andrea's, shiny rings at Gemstone Creations, magical toys at Father Winter's, to literary wonders at the Book Alcove, each of these shops has something to enchant every visitor.

No one loves books more than Paige Turner. As the dedicated owner of The Book Alcove, Paige dreams of one day filing the store's shelves with her own novels. If only that new bestseller wasn't out to distract her... Or that other one... And is that a new season of Simmerton?

Meet Kris T. Mass. the jolly proprietor of Father Winter's Shop! Here you'll find shelves full of all kinds of toys, from giant stuffed bears to robot kits ready to spark joy (careful with the zaps).

Be warned, however, as Kris is no ordinary retailer: rumor has it he's actually Father Winter's secret son. I mean, how else could you explain his mysterious disappearances during winter? Or how he always has the latest toys for sale before they even hit the market? Very odd...

Every piece of jewelry on display at Gemstone Creations has been carefully selected by none other than Sterling Forcarat, a Sim of exquisite taste, a taste that extends what he sells: one day he'll be the owner of the biggest and grandest mansion the town has ever seen!

Unfortunately, his plans for real estate domination are on hold until he has enough funds. If only happy couples could stop rubbing their disgusting love in his face, that'd be great. Too bad they're his best costumers. Ugh.

Andrea's Blooming Plumbobs has been a cornerstone of Knick Knacks Nook for 40 years. Ran by Andrea herself, this little flower oasis is considered by many to be what Windenburg is all about: a place of togetherness.

Andrea's floral arrangements have been part of countless weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, and on and on. But really, more than the beautiful flowers, it's Andrea's warmth and welcoming aura that makes this little shop the heart and soul of the town.

As you can see, each store has something unique to offer to each visitor. So come along, explore what treasures this little corner of the world has hidden and, of course, don't forget to bring your wallet!

Gallery ID: lostinsixam

[hourcat]

okay 2nd try........ :D

26. Broken, as you clutch the sleeve of my jacket and beg me not to leave

with piarles plsss <3

(continued.)

"Pierre," Charles whispers, and--it's too quiet, here in his bedchambers. His bedchambers. Where Pierre had met him hours ago in secret, color high in his cheeks after a particularly rousing ride across the estate as he'd undone the buttons of Charles' nightshirt and walked him backwards and into the cavernous space of his four-poster bed.

It's been like this every day that Duke Gasly has returned to the kingdom of Maranello: a day of adventure and exploration with the men of his own kingdom, a pleasant and quiet dinner with Charles' family and the other lords of Maranello, and then this - his hungry, hungry mouth making its way across every plane of Charles' body. He's never taken a serious lover in all his years in the palace, despite how insistent his mother is that he finds someone he can properly ascend to his full title with, but this...this tryst with Pierre, the Duke of Viry, may be the closest he's ever gotten. Charles can't remember the last time he was alone in this bed before they'd returned here after those achingly long years.

It's been exceptional.

Except...Pierre is quiet, here, as he's tangled in Charles' ruined silk sheets. Quiet in a way that makes him uneasy--quiet that scares him.

"Pierre," he repeats, softer still. The duke seems to stir from his trance: he tilts his head in Charles' direction, a crooked little half-smile curling on his lip. Even utterly ruined, he's handsome in a way that devastates Charles. It should be more infuriating.

"My sweet bird," Pierre murmurs back. He lifts a palm to rest against Charles' stubbled cheek and hums when Charles sinks his weight more into it, leaning into the touch desperately. It's no matter that Pierre had just debauched him mere moments before, nor that Charles can feel the dull ache in his thighs already from his lover's affections. It will never be enough, he is convinced: now that he has Pierre here, he never wants him to leave. There has to be a position that Andrea can find for him, Charles is certain of it: so many members of the council of lords complain about their duties day in and day out, and surely one of them would be more than grateful to part with the post in order to give it to someone Charles actually wants in it.

It is possible. More than that, it is real in a way that not many other things Charles has held are. So he'll cling to it accordingly: even if it means being a little on the nose like this as he ducks to kiss Pierre's palm sweetly. It earns him a laugh, soft and rumbling in a way that settles something deep in his chest. But Pierre shifts his weight beneath Charles' languorous sprawl, inching towards the edge of the bed, and--it's too soon. It's too soon, because they usually spend all night together until the early wisps of daylight spill through Charles' drawn-tight blinds, and then Pierre sneaks away to his room just down the hall and pretends that he hadn't spent the evening dozing in Lord Leclerc's arms instead.

It's too soon. "Pierre," Charles repeats again, and this time there must be a bit of the family dramatics in his tone, because Pierre's gaze locks onto his own so quickly it makes his breath catch. "Where are you going, my love, it is not yet dawn--"

"Charles." He sounds...firm. Charles stops talking. "I must..." he swallows and Charles just watches the way his throat bobs. "I must take leave." He doesn't elaborate: instead, he pushes up from Charles' sheets and bends over to retrieve the clothing he'd shed on the way inside. Slowly. Almost as if he's trying to tease Charles, even though there's not an air of joking to be felt anywhere in this room. This feels serious.

"What can I do?" Pierre turns as he dresses, taut velvet covering the expanses of golden-hued skin Charles finds he yearns for constantly. "To keep you here, in bed, with me." He tries to lie back, spread out, look enticing to keep his lover where he belongs. "I will do anything, Your Grace," and he knows that will work because Pierre loves when Charles appeals to his noble title.

Instead, Pierre just...smiles at him, wanly. It doesn't reach his eyes. "I wish there was something you could do," he says carefully, buttoning his pants and then slipping his shirt up one arm. "But I...must leave."

Charles sighs. "Ah, well." He'll be casual about it - knows that tomorrow they can talk more, that Pierre can explain whatever is in his head when they're out riding or pheasant hunting or fishing on the lake. "We will talk at breakfast, then?"

Pierre just blinks at him. "Charlot..." a first--the first time he's ever heard his name spun like this. "I must leave." He tugs the rumpled jacket on from where it'd spent the evening piled on the floor, and somehow it's the force with which he pulls it over his shoulders that makes Charles realize.

He is leaving Maranello.

"You can't," is the first thing that comes out of his mouth. He can't, he can't leave. Charles has a life ready to be built for him here, he's finally found a companion that understands him and knows him and cares for him in a way he never imagined he could be cared for. Pierre is supposed to stay here, and Charles is supposed to love him for the rest of their natural born days, titles be damned.

Pierre looks away, jacket hanging off his body, when he speaks again. "I must," he repeats, and it sounds so final that Charles feels the tears spring to his eyes immediately--defeat. He sounds the way he does when he wants Charles to stop fussing over the bird they've caught, or when he's trying to wiggle his way out from under Pierre's grasp here between these bed posters.

But Charles never goes without a fight--never, not once. Certainly not now. "You can't," he repeats, and even though he knows his voice is thick with unshed tears, he still lurches out of bed to grab Pierre's arm. There's not a scrap of clothing on him, save the lone bedsheet clung to his thigh, but he doesn't care. Modesty be damned. "Pierre, you can't. You can't leave. You--" he can't find the words but clutches harder at the material of the jacket, trying desperately to tear it back off. Get Pierre back in bed. Make him forget whatever nonsense is pushing him to say this.

"Charles," Pierre says, and his voice breaks.

"Pierre, I love you," Charles cries--cries, desperate and unabashed about how loud he's being because he cannot lose Pierre, he cannot. There has never been anyone like the Duke of Viry and there never will be again, Charles is certain of it. He has to stay, he has to be here--

"And I, you, sweet bird." Pierre takes a step forward and closes the distance between them for one last kiss, crushingly tender the way he always is. It's a kiss wet with tears. Charles doesn't know what to do but cling to him more, grab his hair, his jacket, his face, anything that will give him one extra moment of this before it ends.

Because it is ending. It is ending here and now, in Charles' bedchambers, before the light of dawn can step in and clear any misunderstanding away.

Pierre presses one long, prickling kiss to Charles' cheek before he sweeps away through the door and out into the palace hall. Sickeningly, it all reminds Charles of that evening in the forest what feels like a lifetime ago--how he'd unlocked something so new and lost it so quickly all in one go.

(give me an "i love you" prompt)

[mariacallous]

In September of 2022, not long after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) raided and seized several luxury properties in both New York City and Miami. The average person would have had little idea why these particular properties were special; the official register only listed an anonymous Panamanian shell company, one with a mailing address at Madison Square Garden, as the putative owner. But it was later revealed that the DOJ officials were part of KleptoCapture, a special task force created to seize and freeze the assets of Russian oligarchs, and that the true owner of the $70 million property portfolio was Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian-Cypriot billionaire who had been subject to U.S. sanctions for many years. Even though the authorities eventually pieced together the puzzle and located his gargantuan property portfolio, Vekselberg had managed to fly under the radar for years until that point.

The Vekselberg incident illustrates two alarming facts about American real estate. The first is that offshore investors can easily hide their identity by using opaque corporate ownership structures to keep their name off the register. The second is that, because this practice is so common, offshore investment in the real estate sector is likely far greater than what can be measured with public data.

Real estate has always been considered a risky sector, highly vulnerable to money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. This is because high-value properties offer both a safe store of wealth and an asset that can easily be flipped for the purposes of laundering. It is also a sector that is very rarely subject to the same level of effective due diligence checks or automatic reporting requirements that financial accounts are. The true amount of money laundered through U.S. real estate is unknown, but recent reports by groups like the Anti-Corruption Data Collective and Global Financial Integrity have uncovered at least $2.6 billion worth of cases through both residential and commercial property in recent years.

These risks are amplified even further when the ownership originates offshore, as foreign authorities will struggle to spot instances of tax evasion or corruption when the wealth is hidden in U.S. real estate, with no public transparency of ownership. But to understand the risks that offshore ownership poses, we first need to understand just how much real estate foreigners own in the U.S.

[andreacouk]

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[elisysd]

Difficult - Gracie Abrams

Masterlist - Previously - Next Chapter

To name this feeling Would take a hundred thousand years, some kind of grieving But over what I never had, so I've been speaking To my therapist, I call her every weekend

It was raining in Monaco when Lyanna logged on to Zoom with her Macbook and Sophia's face appeared on the screen. Lyanna could see that she was at her office, which was quite rare.

“Hey, gorgeous! So how is Monaco?”

“Gloomy.” Answered Lyanna trying to show her the downpour that was taking place at that moment.

“Nice. It reminds you of London, that way.”

“Believe it or not, but I was kind of used to the sun.”

“Who are you and what did you do to Lyanna Michel? I’ve never thought that I would hear you saying that. You hate when it’s hot outside.”

“Yeah well, people change.”

“Love changed you, in your case. Speaking of, where is lover boy?”

“With his physio. He has to make some physical tests to evaluate his condition and build a plan to get him back in shape for the new season.”

“I’m glad to hear that he is okay. Now maybe, you are going to come back home in London?”

A long silence followed. Lyanna had been thinking for a few weeks. She didn't really miss London, she didn't miss her flat either, she was working very well from Monaco and then she had Charles. When she thought about London and her potential return, a lump formed in her stomach and it made her feel sad.

“About that… I’m thinking of moving out.” She confessed.

“What? Where? Do you mean moving out of the flat or of London?”

“Well both… I haven’t thought this through but… I was thinking of getting something closer to Charles. Like Nice? I have to find a real estate agent. Monaco is way too expensive for me.”

“Or you could just straight up move in with Charles instead of getting something for yourself. You are basically living together, already.”

“It’s different. I’m here because Charles needed someone to help him. It did not feel like moving – moving you see what I mean? I still want my independence and Charles will be away most of the year. I don’t see myself living here on my own. I would feel like an intruder. And moving with someone is a big step. As much as I love Charles, I’m not ready for that. But anyway, what is the oh so secret project you wanted to talk to me about?”

Suddenly, Sophia's face lit up and Lyanna could see the excitement on her face. Lyanna knew that look well; it was the same one she had worn when she had told her that her name was being seriously considered for the Oscar nominations.

“I got a call at the end of last week from Michael Mann’s team. He is working on his next movie and they would really like to have you on board. I did not tell you sooner because I wanted to see by myself what the project would look like and if it’s something that could interest you. But Lyanna, this movie can be the one to give you the Oscar. I’m sure of it. It’s such a big project with an intention to be shown at the Venice’s Mostra. That’s how big it is.”

“Wow.. okay. Michael Mann is a legend. What is the movie about? Do you know if other people have been casted or contacted?”

“Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz have signed up for it from what I’ve been told. They are searching for their last lead actress. Lead actress Lya. Up for consideration for the Oscars. Can you imagine?”

“You still have not told me about the kind of movie.” Pointed out Lyanna.

“It’s a biopic about Enzo Ferrari.”

Across town, in a private gym, Andrea and a Ferrari doctor were putting Charles through a series of tests to see how he was doing. Overall, they were satisfied with the Monegasque, who not only showed good physical health, but also an excellent mental state. He was ready to face the new season and give it his all. It was as if his accident and forced rest had mentally rebooted him. All Charles wanted to do was get back into an F1 car as quickly as possible. In fact, Ferrari was planning to do so, to test him on track and also because it would make good photos to feed the Scuderia's official accounts.

“Yeah, I talked to Silvia about that. The PR team planned a whole program to show people that I’m alive and well.”

“What have they in store for you?” asked Andrea.

“An interview in my flat, in Monaco. They also want to shoot a video like a day in my life like kind of thing. And me at the factory. And I’m going to go the FIA prize giving ceremony. She did not ask me to go, I’m forced. And here I thought that I would have had a few weeks off before Christmas… And you know the best thing? They want to include Lya. They still have not given up on the idea. I mean, I want her by my side at the FIA ceremony that’s for sure. But during the video shoot? Not sure about that.”

“And no stupid Christmas challenge with Carlos?”

“Don’t get me started on that. They want us to have a competition of who is going to make the best gingerbread house.”

“You know how they are.” Tried to resonate Andrea with him.

“I don’t mind doing that. But I don’t want them to use my relationship. Especially when I can feel that it’s purely in a marketing way. I have to talk to Lya about it and see what she wants to do. If she is down for it why not, but I doubt it. But the worst thing is that I know that even if we both say no, they are still going to do it so we might as well try to do what they want and have a little bit of control over it.”

When Charles returned to the flat in the late afternoon, it was almost dark. The living room was dimly lit and he found Lyanna, with a cup of tea in her hands, staring out of the window. Charles wondered what she could see: it was pouring rain and there wasn't much visibility.

“Hey, love. What are you staring out?”

She let out a long sigh and shrugged her shoulders, which worried Charles. She didn't look too good. He knew she'd had a telephone appointment with Sophia earlier in the day and wondered if that was the reason for her distant behaviour. He put his sports bag down in the entrance hall and walked over to her, holding her by the waist. If she usually let herself go naturally against him, this time he felt her stiffen. 

“Everything’s okay?” insisted Charles.

She freed herself from his arms and went into the kitchen to empty her cup and rinse it. Charles had the impression that she was trying to avoid him and he hated that feeling, reminding him of moments in their relationship that he would like to leave in the past.

“Lyanna?” he tried to get her attention as he followed her.

“I’m not in the mood for talking, Charles.” She finally decided to speak to him.

“Did I do something wrong? If it's because I left the toilet seat up again, I'm sorry, I'm trying to be careful.”

“Not everything revolves around you, Charles.” she replied sharply.

“So… I did something wrong.”

“For fuck’s sake, I told you I didn’t want to talk about it, so please drop it!”

Charles felt unsettled, it had been a while since he'd had an argument and he had to admit that he didn't miss it at all. He could see that something was tormenting Lyanna, he wasn't blind. The only logical conclusion he could come to, if it wasn't his fault, was the video call with Sophia.

“Did something happen with your work?”

The fact that Lyanna stopped dead in her tracks as she headed for the bedroom made him realise that he had been right. The young woman turned back and sat down on the sofa, where Charles joined her.

“A biopic about Ferrari is about to be shot and they want me onboard as a lead. It’s a huge project and probably Oscar worthy.” She said bluntly.

“What? Lyanna, that’s amazing! I’m so proud of you! If you need help to prepare, I can find archives and…”

“I said no.”

“What do you mean you said no?” asked Charles, confused.

“They don’t want me. They want Charles Leclerc’s girlfriend.” She explained with tears in her eyes.

“Come on Lya, you know it’s not true…”

The young woman stood up abruptly, startling Charles.

“Don’t be stupid Charles! I think it’s pretty convenient to be called for this movie not so long after we made our relationship public!”

“Or they think you are talented and deserve to be part of it, Lya.”

“Do you know how humiliated I felt? Do you have the slightest idea? No of course you don’t. My career is what matters the most to me. I worked my ass off to be where I am today, to feel deserving of it. And it’s still feels like it’s a big dream and that I will wake up at any minute. When I understood why they wanted me, it was like all my work, my blood, sweat and tears, all of that was for nothing. I didn’t feel like Lyanna Michel, the actress. I felt like Lyanna Michel, Charles Leclerc’s girlfriend and actress. And it hurt. So bad. I felt robbed.”

“I’m so sorry, Lya… I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have anything to say. It is what it is. But I can’t accept to make a movie like this. I would wake up every day wondering if I stole someone’s place. And I would end up hating you because of that, and that’s the last thing I want.”

“I still think you should take time to think this through, maybe talk with the people involved.”

“There is nothing to talk about. My decision is final and I’m asking you to respect it. I should not even have said something, it was stupid you don’t understand. You can’t understand.”

“I understand! Truly, I do! But it’s something that we could have sorted out together, instead you preferred to do things on your own. I don’t to be an obstacle to your career, Lya. I want to see you succeed.”

“It’s my career Charles. I can do whatever the hell I want! I don’t interfere in yours so please don’t interfere in mine!”

“How do I interfere? Tell me? I don’t because you never talk to me.”

“What is the point? You know who could understand me? Arthur. He knows what it feels like to be associated to you and how painful it can get.”

It was a low blow for Charles.

“Don’t bring Arthur into it, please.” He told her with a serious tone.

“Why shouldn’t I? Have you ever wondered how he could feel? To always be in your shadow, to be compared to you? I never thought that it would be something that I would one day experience but here we are.”

“You are being dramatic. Really. It’s just a movie, Lya? Why are we fighting?”

“It’s deeper than just a movie. It’s about my place in your life. It’s about balance. How would you feel if tomorrow you would get a sponsorship with a brand because you were my boyfriend?”

“I would be proud!”

“Let me doubt that.”

“Listen… I’m tired and I’m stressed out. And obviously we are both stubborn about it and fighting is pointless. I’m going to go to bed.”

Seeing the young woman heading for the guest room rather than their bedroom, Charles questioned her.

“I don’t feel like being near you, right now.”

This hurt Charles; it felt like his heart was being torn in two. He spent an absolutely horrible night, tossing and turning all the time. And when he got up the next morning with the firm intention of having a frank and calm discussion with his girlfriend in order to find a solution, he had the impression that it was no longer his heart that had been torn in two, but his soul. She was gone.

========

author's note: It's always one step forward and three steps back between this two. I'm curious, where do you think Lyanna went? Is he gone for good? Is she just out for a walk? Who knows (me I know) Let me know your thoughts and theories, I can't wait to hear them. As usual, a like, a reblog, a comment help giving visibility to the story and it supports the author! taglist:

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[shesreligion]

˘ 。 𝐃𝐎𝐂   : astley - benefield , cameron . . . access granted .

𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚃𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙸𝙲𝚂    :

*      full   name   ,   cameron   james   astley   -   benefield   ,   seventh   duke   of   westminster   .   nickname(s)   ,   cam   ,   the   duke   ,   cj   .   age   ,   thirty   four   years   old   .   date   of   birth   ,   february   second   .   place   of   birth   ,   cheshire   ,   england   .   hometown   ,   cheshire   ,   england   .   current   residence   ,   london   ,   england   .   nationality   ,   british   .   languages   ,   english   (   first   language   )   ,   welsh   (   conversational   )   .   gender   ,   cis   man   .   pronouns   ,      he   /   him   .   orientation   ,   heterosexual   /   heteromantic   .   status   ,   married   .   occupation   ,   aristocrat   ,   businessman   :   owner   of   a   multi   billion   dollar   real   estate   company   .   positive   traits   ,   debonair   ,   charismatic   ,   adaptable   ,   patient   ,   logical   .   negative   traits   ,   underhanded   ,   arrogant   ,   guarded   ,   forgetful   ,   perfectionist   .   character   parralels   ,   cameron   sullivan   ,   harvey   spector   ,   simon   basset   ,   tywin   lannister   ,   terry   benedict   ,   michael   gray   .   zodiac   ,   aquarius   . 

*      face   claim   ,   lucien   laviscount   .   race   ,   biracial   :   black   &   white   .   ethnicity   ,   english   ,   german   ,   antiguan   .   hair   ,   dark   brunette   nearly   black   hair   ,   keeps   it   fairly   short   but   you   can   still   catch   a   slight   curl   pattern   .   eyes   ,   big   brown   eyes   ,   piercingly   so   .   height   ,   six   foot   .   voice   ,   soothing   and   calm   tone   with   a   strong   posh   accent   .   usual   expression   ,   a   rather   smug   look   ,   with   a   permanent   smirk   lingering   .   tattoos   ,   none   .   allergies   ,   shellfish   .  

*      biological   father   ,   alexander   astley   -   benefield   (   †   )   .   faceclaim   ,   hugh   grant   .   occupation   ,   aristocrat   ,   former   realtor   .   biological   mother   ,   andrea   astley   -   benefield   (   formerly   williams   )   .   faceclaim   ,   angela   bassett   .   occupation   ,   aristocrat   ,   philanthropist   ,   and   former   politician   .   sister   ,   utp   astley   -   benefield   .   faceclaim   ,   utp   .   occupation   ,   utp   .   pet(s)   ,   and   airedale   terrier   named   hugo   and   a   black   greyhound   named   charlie  .   financial   class   ,   upper   class   :   generational   wealth   .   notable   family   members   ,   king   of   england   (   godfather   )   ,   nora   williams   (   aunt   ,   oscar   winning   actress   )   ,   robert   astley   (   great   grandfather   x4   ,   first   duke   of   westminster   )   .   

𝙵𝙸𝙻𝙴 : background . . . access granted .

in    1990    the    country    home    of    eaton    hall    would    welcome    a    new    resident    ,    lord    cameron    astley    -    benefield    ,    the    eldest    child    of    the    aristocratic    astley    -    benefield    family    .    his    father    was    the    6th    duke    of    westminster    and    the    ceo    of    astley    group    limited    (    an    international    real    estate    company    )    ,    and    his    mother    was    a    politician    turned    philanthropist    later    in    life    .    

there    is    no    luxury    that    compares    to    the    one    in    which    he    was    brought    up    in    :    the    godson    of    the    king    ,    he    was    set    up    for    success    from    the    the    day    he    was    born    .    this    did    not    make    for    an    easy    life    ,    though    ,    on    the    contrary    –    life    as    the    heir    apparent    to    dukedom    meant    following    a    slew    of    rules    &    always    remembering    ,    love    was    very    much    so    conditional    .    to    make    one    step    out    of    line    was    not    an    option    ,    and    so    he    tucked    his    head    &    followed    his    parents    lead    with    every    step    he    took    .    the    perfect    picture    of    a    little    lord    . 

the    veil    only    starting    to    slip    when    he    left    cheshire    to    attend    eaton    college    .    the    first    few    years    went    by    smoothly    ,    sticking    true    to    himself    (    or    atleast    to    who    he'd    always    been    told    he    should    be    )    .    time    away    from    home    can    muddy    one's    views    though    and    soon    enough    the    security    that    came    with    attending    eaton    transformed    into    an    arrogant    confidence    that    he    could    act    out    of    character    :    the    partying    started    ,    then    sneaking    girls    onto    campus    grounds    ,    alcohol    &    drugs    soon    following    closely    behind    . 

things    only    took    a    turn    for    the    worse    as    he    went    on    to    university    –    much    more    lazy    with    hiding    his    antics    .    tabloids    often    having    a    field    day    ,    and    the    young    lord    found    his    face    on    several    tabloids    throughout    the    nation    :    "    playboy    lord    cops    a    feel    "    ,    "    drug    lord    of    oxford    "    ,    and    "    cameron    tosses    copper    coins    at    '    peasants    '    on    campus    "    ,    where    only    a    few    headlines    that    graced    covers    during    his    time    at    oxford    univeristy    .    to    say    he    was    on    the    outs    within    his    family    would    be    an    understatement    ,    this    was    around    the    time    the    conditions    to    his    parents    love    came    into    play    .    set    himself    straight    or    be    stripped    of    everything    (    title    and    claim    to    the    company    )    . 

to    many's    surprise    he    graduated    from    oxford    ,    leaving    england    soon    after    to    lay    low    .    taking    up    residence    in    new    york    city    for    five    years    .    a    necessary    evil    .    during    this    time    he    joined    the    family    business    ,    working    on    the    american    end    of    it    &    it    became    clear    rather    quickly    he    had    quite    the    knack    (    be    it    charm    )    to    sell    a    property    to    just    about    anyone    who    would    listen    to    him    .    slowly    but    surely    finding    his    way    back    into    his    parents    good    graces    –    he    was    a    reformed    bad    boy    ,    american    tabloids    would    claim    whenever    they    could    catch    a    glimpse    of    him    .    instead    channeling    his    off    color    antics    into    business    moves    .    he    would    do    anything    to    sell    a    property    ,    even    if    it    meant    screwing    over    someone    else    :    it    didn't    matter    who    you    were    or    what    you    had    .    all    that    mattered    was    cameron    was    the    one    to    seal    the    deal    .    ruthless    to    the    bitter    end    .     

his    run    in    america    came    to    an    end    in    2017    ,    with    him    &    his    family    surrounding    his    father's    hospital    bed    .    with    such    a    great    loss    came    even    greater    responsibility    ,    now    the    7th    duke    of    westminster    and    the    new    ceo    of    astley    group    limited    .    this    was    the    time    to    show    the    british    people    just    how    much    of    a    changed    man    he    was    –    but    does    a    tiger    ever    truly    change    it's    stripes    ?    the    partying    subsided    ,    the    illicit    substances    gone    (    for    the    most    part    )    ,    but    the    playboy    tag    remained    .    a    new    woman    every    few    months    .    scorned    woman    left    at    every    corner    of    the    world    ,    and    cameron    was    more    or    less    left    unphased    .    his    focus    solely    on    preforming    his    duties    –    to    make    his    late    father    proud    of    what    he    could    accomplish    .    

just    years    later    all    that    focus    was    rewarded    when    cameron    was    deemed    the    united    kingdoms    richest    millennial    &    appointed    deputy    lieutenant    of    chesire    ,    a    showing    that    he'd    excelled    in    both    the    business    and    in    the    eyes    of    his    godfather    . 

the    last    thing    on    a    long    list    of    changes    that    needed    to    be    made    from    his    teen    years    finally    comes    to    fruition    when    the    duke    gets    down    on    one    knee    .    a    conscious    decision    ,    in    the    eyes    of    the    public    ,    to    be    faithful    to    one    woman    –    to    get    married    (    to    the    perfect    trophy    wife    ,    he'd    claim    )    .          

𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚈 : the duke of charm . . . access granted . 

the    duality    of    cameron    is    one    to    be    studied    ,    on    the    surface    he    is    charismatic    and    friendly    –    disarmingly    so    .    the    sort    of    guy    you    simply    want    around    .    overwhelmingly    respectful    and    courteous    at    every    turn    (    especially    if    there    are    eyes    on    him    )    but    for    the    most    part    ,    if    he's    allowed    you    to    know    him    well    enough    ,    you    can    see    through    it    .    it's    all    an    act    ,    much    like    most    of    his    life    :    when    he    was    younger    he    acted    clean    cut    to    appease    his    parents    ,    as    he    grew    into    his    own    he    acted    out    for    global    attention    ,    and    now    he    plays    up    the    act    of    the    honorable    duke    for    the    sake    of    business    ventures    .    everything    he    does    is    done    for    one    sole    purpose    –    his    own    self    interest    .    it's    not    about    caring    ,    it's    about    winning    .    there    is    a    certain    air    he    carries    himself    with    some    would    call    it    arrogance    ,    he    prefers    unwavering    confidence    .    he    knows    when    he    walks    into    a    room    he    is    the    grand    prize    .    his    loyalty    is    a    fickle    thing    to    most    ,    outside    of    his    family    and    country    (    not    the    people    in    it    ,    the    actual    country    )    .    his    lack    of    care    for    other's    shines    when    it    comes    to    his    forgetfulness    ,    you    could    tell    him    your    favorite    color    and    five    minutes    later    he'd    have    no    clue    .    he'll    claim    he's    far    too    busy    &    hardworking    to    fixate    on    mundane    details    but    the    truth    is    he's    far    more    interested    in    what    he    has    to    say    than    anyone    else    ,    unless    it's    about    him    .    despite    his    pit    falls    ,    there    is    no    doubt    there    are    pros    to    being    in    his    orbit    .    cameron    knows    one    speed    and    it's    fast    .   .   .    very    much    so    a    proponent    of    work    hard    ,    play    harder    .          

𝙲𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 :

coming soon . . .

[biglisbonnews]

Local authorities toy with 15-minute city, but the concept needs cooperation at all levels of society Growing up, we probably all envisaged the city of the future as a shiny towering metropolis, full of flying cars and robots. When fantasy meets reality, however, that vision starts to change. The needs and concerns of the global population, mean that protecting the environment has become the major priority, with a drive to prioritise a fulfilling, healthy lifestyle in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. It is these trends that will shape the way our cities look and feel, rather than an ever-increasing skyline of skyscrapers and an over-reliance on technology. This leads into the idea of the 15-minute city, pioneered by Professor Carlos Moreno, who is based at the Pantheon Sorbonne University in Paris. The notion reimagines the layout of a city as a series of interconnected self-contained neighbourhoods, where all of the amenities necessary for everyday life — work, shopping, restaurants, green spaces, cultural venues, and so on — are no more than a 15-minute walk or cycle away. Under this system, there is no immediate need to travel long distances or use carbon-based transport, with “hyper-locality” achieving a better work-life balance for all. The Paris COP21 conference in 2015 inspired Moreno to write the initial paper outlining his ideas, while the circumstances arising from the COVID-19 crisis helped it to gain more prominence, with Moreno even receiving the Obel Award, which is awarded for “outstanding architectural contributors to human development”, in 2021. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo included the concept as part of her successful re-election campaign, with Moreno serving as her scientific adviser, and many of his suggestions have already been implemented in the city. In the real estate investment management community, this new approach to urban planning is gaining advocates. Kelly Russell Catella, head of sustainability at Italian ESG-led investor and developer COIMA, has already embraced the concept. “The 15-minute city is about shaping more liveable, healthy and inclusive communities, where people’s basic needs, in terms of services, are near at hand and accessible,” she says. “Promoting cycling and walking, and reducing our reliance on cars, is healthy and sustainable, as is developing more public spaces where inhabitants can be in touch with nature and culture.” To find out more about how local authorities are toying with the idea of the 15-minute city, but the concept needs cooperation at all levels of society, read "It takes a village" by in the June 2023 issue of Institutional Real Estate Europe, here. The post Local authorities toy with 15-minute city, but the concept needs cooperation at all levels of society appeared first on Institutional Real Estate, Inc.. https://irei.com/news/523957/

[juniperusashei]

The Diaries of Sofia Tolstoy translated by Cathy Porter - 5/5

This is why Jane Austen’s books never go beyond the wedding. Sofia Tolstoy lived a long, mostly miserable life, controlled and overshadowed by her husband, the more famous Leo Tolstoy. Had she not carried thirteen children (not counting the miscarriages), had she not been so occupied with editing and transcribing Leo’s work, getting it past the Tsar’s censors, and publishing it to furnish income for her family, would she be remembered as a better writer than Leo ever was? Unfortunately, much of Sofia Tolstoy’s writing aside from her diaries have been kept secret by the estate, but spending so much time with this hefty volume represents a “what could have been” of a great literary mind, lost to history.

I had read about Sofia Tolstoy’s life and her diaries in Andrea Dworkin’s Intercourse, which considers parallels in her life to Leo’s The Kreutzer Sonata. I was vaguely aware that they had a long and fraught marriage, but I expected at least some sort of arc. On the second page of her diary (out of almost five hundred!) she already laments, “I am terribly sad, and am withdrawing further and further into myself. My husband is ill and out of sorts and doesn’t love me.” The first year of their marriage (Sofia was 18, Leo was 34) was bad (tainted by Leo’s affairs with maids) and it only got worse for the next 48 years. By far the most disturbing episode was when Leo wrote The Kreutzer Sonata as essentially a thinly-veiled murder threat. Every time it seemed like Leo was about to die, I cheered, and when he finally did it was depressing that Sofia spent her last seven years of freedom grieving for someone who never cared for her. A literary feat in their own right, her diaries also demystify the cult of Leo Tolstoy:

“I have served a genius for almost forty years. Hundreds of times I have felt my intellectual energy stir within me and all sorts of desires - a longing for education, a love of music and the arts… And time and again I have crushed and smothered these longings… Everyone asks, “But why should a worthless woman like you need an intellectual or artistic life?” To this question I can only reply: “I don’t know, but eternally suppressing it to serve a genius is a great misfortune".

I have spent a long time reading this. I frequently found myself putting it down because it was too overwhelmingly tragic. Like all real diaries, there are definitely a lot of slow moments of everyday life, but experiencing fifty years of someone’s life in the span of mere months really makes you feel like you’ve got a parasocial relationship with that person. Perhaps that’s why reading diaries interests me; it helps keep alive those forgotten by history.