#Boiler installation Reading

[athomeplumbers]

Offering expert plumbing and heating services in Reading, including boiler installations, central heating setups and repairs. Our skilled engineers provide reliable, professional solutions for all your plumbing needs, ensuring comfort and efficiency in your home year-round.

[boiler-solutions]

How to Resolve the F20 Error on a Vaillant Boiler

Vaillant boilers have safety features that display various codes to signal warnings or errors. One of these codes is the F20, indicating the boiler has overheated. When this code appears, the system automatically shuts down to prevent further damage and ensure it doesn’t pose any risks. This guide will explain how to manage and resolve the F20 error on a Vaillant boiler.

Understanding the F20 Fault Code

When you see the F20 code, it’s important to act swiftly. This code generally signifies that your boiler’s temperature has surpassed safe levels, typically over 97 degrees Celsius, leading to an automatic shutdown. This mechanism is a protective measure designed to prevent further harm to the system and avoid more significant problems.

Once this error occurs, the boiler locks out, meaning it won’t restart until it has cooled down sufficiently. While ignoring the warning is tempting, this error should never be overlooked. Even though the boiler will often reset after cooling down, it’s crucial to investigate further and ensure the issue doesn’t persist.

What Causes the F20 Fault on a Vaillant Boiler?

The F20 error may be triggered by several underlying issues within the boiler, some of which include:

A malfunctioning thermostat

A faulty fan

A blockage in the pressure-relief valve

Limescale buildup on the heat exchanger

A clogged pump

Limescale interfering with the thermistor

A leak in the pressure-relief valve

While these issues might sound manageable, it’s essential not to attempt repairs independently unless you are a qualified engineer. Each fault requires professional attention from a Gas Safe-registered engineer to avoid further complications or safety hazards.

Steps to Take When the F20 Code Appears

If your boiler shows the F20 error, the first step is to switch off the system to allow it to cool down. The boiler may resume normal operations once the temperature returns to a safe level. However, if the problem continues, it could indicate a deeper issue that requires professional assistance.

Avoid the temptation to troubleshoot complex parts, such as the thermostat or the pressure relief valve, on your own. These components are vital to the boiler's proper function, and tampering with them without adequate knowledge could lead to further damage or even accidents.

Should You Attempt to Fix the F20 Error Yourself?

In most cases, the overheating issue linked to the F20 code will resolve after a cooling period. However, repeated occurrences should raise concerns. If you frequently experience this error, it’s essential to consult a Gas Safe-registered engineer who can assess and repair the boiler as needed. Attempting to fix the system yourself can be risky and may invalidate any warranties.

How to Prevent Recurring F20 Errors

Preventative measures are key to avoiding frequent F20 errors. Regular boiler maintenance ensures that components such as the thermostat, pump, and pressure relief valve function correctly. It’s also advisable to schedule annual servicing with a qualified engineer to spot and fix issues before they escalate. In particular, ensuring that limescale is kept at bay can extend the lifespan of your boiler and reduce the risk of overheating.

Professional Solutions for F20 Boiler Errors

If you’ve tried letting the boiler cool down and the error persists, a professional boiler repair service can help. Engineers with experience in Vaillant boilers can thoroughly inspect the system, identifying whether the issue lies with the thermostat, fan, or heat exchanger. In some cases, replacing worn-out parts may be the most effective solution to prevent the error from recurring.

Older boilers, especially those in challenging water areas, may be more susceptible to overheating due to limescale buildup. If your Vaillant boiler has been used for many years, consider replacing specific components or investing in a new boiler. A qualified technician can guide you through these options, ensuring your home heating system remains safe and efficient.

Contact us if you need assistance with your Vaillant Boiler. Boiler Solutions has 24/7 customer service to help you with any emergency with your boiler system. Call us at +44 20 8016 2350 or access Boiler Solutions to learn more about our services.

[fixplumbingheating]

“KB Plumbing & Heating” provide boiler servicing and boiler repairs for all major manufacturers. Prompt, reliable and safe service at all times. Your safety is our number one priority. That is why our engineers aren't just gas safe registered; they actively check all components every time. We also provide a full plumbing service including sink & toilet unblocking, leaks and all aspects of general plumbing. We have a comprehensive range of bathrooms displays, fireplaces, gas fires and wood burner stoves.

Call: +44-7740 874614           +44-1256 358081

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

My central thesis has always been that the Harkles wanted everything the Wales have and more. I know I remember reading that she cried after hearing William was made Prince of Wales. Right from the get go, her PR was all "Meghan is way better suited to be royal". Then there were all the Commonwealth flowers on her bridal veil and their insistence that they move into Windsor Castle. Now I don't believe everthing Neil Sean says, but his latest video mentions that Megxit was an ultimatum to get Windsor. As that is the traditional home of the Monarch, I feel as though they were attempting a coup.

Then there is the thought that Harry believes that the Dutchy of Cornwall should be split and he should eventually be made co-King or King of the Commonwealth. Let the Wales have that tiny island while they are jetted and feted around the world.

Here's my question for you. Did Meghan and Sparry REALLY believe they could leapfrog over the Wales??? I know her jealousy and envy of Catherine is bunny boiler level and he absolutely eviscerated his brother in Waagh. Has this been their plan all along?? Death by a thousand cuts for the Wales to force them to resign their place in the LOS or that they could somehow convince Charles to make Harry the heir??

I'd like to know where you think the delusions stem from. It wouldn't be the first time in history that younger brother has attempted to remove old brother from the throne.

Sincerely appreciate your blog and all the work you put into it. I'm always learning something new.

I'm pretty sure that was exactly their plan: they wanted to use their popularity to force The Queen to name them as her successors. I don't remember where I read this or when, but allegedly Harry sent "documentation" to someone - to whom specifically I can't recall, but options are The Queen, Charles, William, and/or grey suits - providing evidence for claims that he and Meghan were more popular than any of the others and deserved more than what they were getting.

And if they couldn't get the actual crown, they were going to do their damnedest to try and get a co-kingship with William. That's where Meghan's obsession with the Commonwealth came from; she had been told (again, I don't know by whom - all signs point to Harry exaggerating to keep her interested or maybe Charles spitballing ideas during his 'Magnificent Six' planning circa 2012) that William would rule Britannia and Harry would rule the Commonwealth.

I think that's why Meghan went all in on 'racist Kate.' Not only did she want to knock Kate out of the spotlight, she wanted to do enough damage that Commonwealth/realm nations would threaten to quit and The Queen would capitulate by offering to install Harry and Meghan as new leaders. This actually had a chance of working; it's been said quite often during her last years and since her passing that The Queen saw the Commonwealth as her greatest legacy and there was speculation that she would have done anything she could have to keep it in tact. And had Meghan played her cards right, she and Harry probably could have ended up becoming the main ambassadors of and for the Commonwealth, like a Commonwealth version of the UN Secretary-General.

But where the plan failed, obviously, was that it required blaming Kate for problems and issues that don't exist. Because remember, in 2021 when Meghan was making these claims, we'd just gone through the huge global reckoning that was Black Lives Matter and the agreement during/after BLM was "call racist people out on their BS. Put them on blast. Don't let them get away with it anymore." So not only would Meghan have been perfectly justified to name names, cite events, bring receipits, air the real dirty laundry and everyone would've been so much more supportive of it. But she didn't. Instead she played coy and said something like "I'm protecting them even though they don't deserve it."

Girl, please. That was Meghan's one chance to go justifiably scorched earth and air out all the dirty laundry and she fumbled hard.

Anyway. Let's get this train back on track. Where do the delusions come from? Traumatic childhoods courtesy of Mommies Dearest.

We all know Harry's story with Diana. She was a young, fun, free spirited loving mom larger than life with a neediness that she depended on her children to fill, rather than her own husband or other adults her age, so Harry grew to find satisfaction in supporting and providing her what she needed. He probably saw, and understood, the way Diana received what she wanted by exaggerating what she needed and following it up with excluding or isolating herself until whoever came chasing after her to give her what she wanted. And ultimately this led her (and Harry) down a path that ended up killing her; she exaggerated the relationship with Dodi to get attention from Hasnat or the BRF, then isolated herself in France to force whoever (Hasnat? Charles Wales? Charles Spencer?) to come chase after her. We know how that ends.

That's where Harry's delusions, IMO, come from. He saw how it well it worked (mostly) for Diana - exaggerate her needs/wants, then run and hide until she gets it - so he does it too. He probably started doing it right after she died, when no one knew what to do or how to handle him so they kept indulging in everything he wanted, so those wants kept manifesting bigger and bigger. And I think the way we see the BRF treating Harry is what would have happened to Diana had she lived; eventually the public would sour on her (this was already happening, by the way), which would then enable the BRF to grey rock her, devenomizing her in effect, and move on without Diana having too much of an influence on their day-to-day.

It's sort of similar for Meghan. We don't know specifically what happened (the way we do with Harry and Diana), but we know that Doria was a young, fun, free-spirited mother herself married to an older husband who had other priorities (eg kids from his first marriage). Unlike Diana, Doria probably didn't want the responsibilities of motherhood (which is the vibe Meghan and Thomas have given about Doria during Meghan's childhood) and left. And like the BRF, Thomas may have also overcompensated Doria's absence in Meghan's life by giving her everything she asked for, which made her asks get bigger and bigger and when Thomas couldn't deliver, she threatened to leave him...like Doria did and Thomas, erstwhile girldad he was, just kept throwing more and more at Meghan to keep her happy. Her delusions come from preying on other individuals' trauma to ensure she gets what she wants. The bigger her wants (ie the more grandiose her delusions), the harder she manipulates other people's trauma to make sure she gets what she wants. Which is kinda the opposite of Harry and Diana; they create the trauma to get people to do what they want, whereas Meghan exploits it to get people to do what she wants. Both are skills they learned after being abandoned (metaphorically and literally) by their mothers.

And all of Meghan's PR about "young mother," I think it's more insidious than that. Yes, it's a very overt evocation of Diana's narrative. Yes, it's a judgement against Kate. But it is also digs at Doria. "See? Motherhood is hard but I'm prioritizing my kid. How dare you to have left me" kind of spiteful digs meant to shame her for whatever happened that caused her to disappear. Meghan is the kind of person who must always have the last word, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's been targeting or belitting Doria about not knowing certain things about Archie/Lili because she wasn't around when Meghan was that age.

So...yeah.

I've realized now that this is the third or fourth Wednesday in a row that I write these super long analytical/in this essay I will posts. I guess Wednesdays are my thinking days...

[bats-and-birds-24]

A Charming Life

Chapter 2:

Daring didn’t like the glint in his father’s eye, it never was a good sign of things to come. “Son, I’m going to give you the principality of Dragon’s head. Pack your things.”

That was how he found himself on a train to the wildest and most remote Charming principality. Part of him was glad for it, it meant that he wouldn’t have to face his relatives, some of which will be disappointed, and others who will revel gleefully at his loss as the Charming Golden child. He was actually glad that for once in his life, a plan of his actually worked. All he had to do was finish up some paperwork and keep his head down, and after everything that had happened, he would be more than happy to do that.

Of course, heaven forbid his life ever be that easy. The Castle he was sent to didn’t have any servants, or any running water or electricity for that matter. He groaned, how could it have slipped his mind that his exile was meant to be a punishment. Thank the throne that he had some wilderness knowledge. 

He cracked his knuckles and got to work. Having clean water was his first priority, he set out to create a makeshift water purifier and started a fire to get the somewhat clean water boiling. While that was getting started, he went up the castle to find the boiler room. It is summer right now, so the weather outside should be fine, but who knows how long his exile will be for? If it carries on into the autumn and winter months, it could get chilly fast, especially this far north. As a prince, he wasn’t trained in plumbing or electrical work, but there should be a user manual somewhere around here. He spotted a dusty old book beneath some cobwebs in the corner of the room. Once cleaned, the cover read, dummies guide to basic plumbing. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent following the guide and fixing as much of the castle’s plumbing as he could. Some of the machines were just too old, so he would have to spend some of his stipend on ordering new ones. That was a pity, he was hoping to save some of it in an account his father wouldn’t have any control over. Looks like that plan would have to wait.

He saved the clean water in a secure container and went up to the castle’s living room, if it could even be called that at this point. The furniture was old and dusty, and the carpet had mold growing on it. He would need to call a furniture restorer, but as he went to look them up, his phone showed that it had no signal. Daring wanted to bang his head against the wall, of course it wasn’t going to be that easy. As he scanned the room for anything that could help him he saw an old phonebook on an old coffee table. Flipping through the pages, he came across the number for a business that installed cable. By the end of the call, he was certain that he was being overcharged, but he had acquiesced as the day had been exhausting and he just wanted to go to sleep.

The next week or so went in much of the same way. Wake up, fix as much as he could by following what he now realized was a very outdated manual, and argue about the cost of fixing the many broken appliances and systems in his home for the near future.

By the time the weekend rolled around, and he was finally able to take a breath, he had come to two startling conclusions. The first was that most of the people at Dragon’s Head didn’t seem to like the Charming family. This was a drastic change from how people usually treated him when they found out that he’s a Charming. The fawning, the fake plastered on smiles the transactional relationships, along with the immense pressure to maintain all those connections. There was none of that here. 

People seemed to eye him warily, the half troll plumber who came to fix his water issue seemed genuinely surprised that he not only attempted to fix his plumbing issue by himself before calling  anyone else, but also that the attempt was not half bad. There were other examples that were not as flattering. He remembered fixing a fence by a dirt road, and the couple walking by saw him out and about and turned around and left immediately. Their body language went from open and cheerful to closed off and fearful, as if he was going to order them to kneel before him out of the blue.

The other fact he noticed was that Dragon’s Head had a large beast population. Nearly everyone he met had some beast ancestry, from trolls to goblins, the odd giant, and even a dragonborn. A dragonborn. Everyone in his family believed that they went extinct a long time ago, and yet here they were, right in front of him. 

If nothing else, it gave him the courage to explore his beast side. A side Daring had been suppressing for so long, he didn’t even know it existed for most of his life. 

That Saturday night he looked out into the vast wild forest and felt something stir in him. He wanted to tear his princely skin to shreds and jump into the wild and never come back. With all the work he had to complete upon his arrival, he’d never really had the time to look around at the splendor of nature that sat right outside his house.

Icy gray mountain peaks topped with millennia old glaciers, dark green trees that towered over him, and crystal clear lakes untouched in eons lay before him. Before he realized what he was doing, he had already leapt out the windows of his chambers and landed in the soft knee length grass outside.

Unbeknownst to him, his body had already begun to change into a beast as long snow white hair sprouted from his skin and his nails turned to claws. His perfectly whitened teeth sharpened, glinting in the moonlit night. 

As if possessed by a primal urge, he took off, running deep into the wilderness.

Daaring had never felt this alive in his life. This body of his never seemed to tire. In fact, if he thought about it, it had been this way since he was a child. While the other children tired themselves from a few hours of practice, he could continue for the whole day if need be. It hadn’t made him very popular with the other boys back then. They always scowled at him since they were constantly getting compared to Daring by their teachers, coaches, and even their own parents at times.

In hindsight, it was a very obvious example of the beast's blood in him. He supposed it was overlooked since he seemed to embody the ideal Prince Charming from fairytales. People envied his relentlessness until the root cause of it was revealed.

No point in dwelling on that nonsense now, no one here cared about him being a beast, no one here cared about Daring Charming.

Who was Daring Charming anyway? Was he that golden haired, bright smiled, flirtatious himbo everyone from Apple White, to his own mother thought of him as? Or was he emotionally fragile and narcissistic, which was how most of his detractors including Darling, his own sister, and formerly, Rosabella Beauty. As he looked at his reflection in a stream of glacial water, he wondered if he was the powerful, terrifying beast that everyone, including himself was disappointed in?

Was he disappointed in being a beast? Or was he just (rightfully) scared of the negative reaction from his family? 

He stared at his reflection some more, watching it change from beast back to a prince. His clothes were in tatters, the roots of his hair reverting to its traditional silvery white, and his eyes retaining their slight violet hue. 

Daring had seen his reflection many times. Hell, it was practically what he was known for back in Ever After High. However, this felt different. He usually checked for imperfections, a stray hair, food stuck in his teeth, or god forbid, a pimple. This time he was looking at himself, as just him. 

The old Daring would have been mortified in fear of being caught looking like a beast. But there was no one around to see him, that pressure, for once in his life, wasn't present. Now he was free to complain about anything about his appearance that displeased him. Surprisingly, nothing came to mind.

The white hair and violet eyes suited his pale skin better than the blonde haired blue eyed princes of the past he had originally modeled himself after. Maybe he really was always meant to be a beast.

Drained from chaotic thoughts swarming his mind, he laid down on the cool grass. Looking up at the ink black sky with a splash of the brightest stars Daring had ever seen in his life, he felt at peace. Who cared what he was, here he could finally rest. Maybe being forgotten has its benefits after all. He closed his eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

[sonic-wildfire]

Sonic Wildfire's Titanic build in Minecraft

After three months of work, it's finally finished. The largest and most detailed build of my life is complete. Welcome aboard the RMS Titanic!

This build contains a fully fleshed-out interior including boiler rooms, staterooms, public areas, and the Grand Staircase. At more than ~120 blocks in height from keel to mast and approximately ~400 blocks long, this famed behemoth ocean liner can now be explored bow to stern from the comfort of your own computer.

The exterior design belongs to Richlarrousse and the interior was planned out by Pipkin06, both on YouTube. Comments are greatly appreciated!

The world download can be found below. Read further down for instructions on how to install the world!

These instructions assume you are using a Windows machine.

Make sure you download the ENTIRE folder! You will need the whole thing!

Once you have downloaded the folder, go into File Explorer and find where Minecraft worlds are stored. Typically, the path for this is as follows: C: > Users > [your name] > AppData > Roaming > .minecraft > saves. (Hint: if you can't find AppData, make sure you enable the option to show hidden folders in File Explorer by navigating to the top of your FE window and clicking the following: View > Options > Change folder and search options > Advanced settings > check the box next to "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" > OK)

Navigate to the location on your computer where you downloaded the world folder. Cut/copy the folder, then paste it into your saves folder.

If all goes well, you should see the world listed upon launching Minecraft and selecting Singleplayer.

Enjoy, and happy sailing!

[mtap-comics]

Welcome back to my Bad Things Happen Bingo!

Fandom: My time at Portia

Pairing: Arlo x Female Builder

Summary: Elenya had always been proud of her good reflexes. Combined with her clumsiness, they had saved her from so many injuries and broken glasses. But today this blessing was proving to be more of a curse.

Word count: 7'742

Prompt: Bleeding Through the Bandages

Well, look who's back! It's been a while since my last story, but I started a new job at the beginning of February and haven't had much time to write for a while.

But now I welcome you back to my Bad Things Happen Bingo!

You'll experience the usual angst, followed by enough sweet Arlo to rot your teeth. It's once again quite a bit to read, so make sure you have enough time for it!

Warnings: Blood, Injury, Stitches, Fainting

Read on AO3: Link

Healing Hands

Elenya had always been proud of her good reflexes. Combined with her clumsiness, they had saved her from so many injuries and broken glasses. But today this blessing was proving to be more of a curse.

It was a mild late summer morning in Portia and Elenya was in her garden, as she often was, working at her workbench. Paulie had posted an order for 3 grinding saws on the commission board and as luck would have it, she still had 3 blade blanks in stock and just needed to sharpen them. She had already finished the first two and the third just needed a final polish to give it the outstanding quality she had become known for in Portia over the last year and a half.

With an exhausted sigh, Elenya lowered herself onto the small stool at her workbench and took off her leather gloves. It was only 10 o'clock in the morning, but she would have loved nothing more than to go back to bed. She had been working almost non-stop for the past few days, finishing the pump and boiler for the new hot springs that Mayor Gale had planned. In theory, she needn't have rushed, but if she was honest with herself, she couldn't wait to relax in the hot water herself.

She had been able to install the machines yesterday, and now all that remained was for Albert to finish the building. And even though she had finally gotten enough sleep that night, the exhaustion still lingered in her bones.

But it was no use. Work never stopped in Portia.

With another sigh, she reached for the water bottle in the corner of her workbench, took a deep drink and put it back. Unfortunately, she wasn't careful enough and bumped her elbow against the nearly finished grinding blade, which immediately slipped over the edge of the workbench.

Without even thinking about it, she grabbed the blade with both hands in a flash, and while this ensured that neither the blade nor the wooden floor underneath the workbench was damaged, the blade slipped a few, but critical, millimetres through her hand, leaving deep, burning cuts in her palms.

The pain shot from her hands through her entire body, and it was only with great difficulty and a great deal of swearing that she managed not to drop the blade and throw it back onto the workbench. Blood immediately began to flow from her palms.

Quickly moving her hands away from her body to avoid bleeding all over herself, she frantically looked around for something to stop the bleeding. Her eyes, blurred by rising tears, fell on her textile machine, which had just finished sewing a fresh piece of fabric.

That would have to do.

On trembling knees, Elenya hurried to the machine and grabbed the fabric, squeezing it tightly between her palms. Another unsavoury curse escaped her as more pain shot through her body, but she gritted her teeth and didn't let go of the fabric. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fucking fuck!

How stupid could a person be? What was she supposed to do now?

The fabric between her hands was already turning red and through the pain she tried to grasp a clear thought.

Stop the bleeding. She had to stop the bleeding somehow. Where was her first aid kit again?

A few single tears escaped her as she stumbled uncoordinated towards her front door, but she managed to open the door and get deeper into her house.

Once in her bathroom, she managed to use her elbow to open the door of her bathroom cupboard and take out her first aid kit. She still held the piece of cloth between her hands and didn't dare let go. 

But how was she going to open the box, let alone take out the bandages?

Elenya decided to drop the box to the ground and wedge it between her knees. It took a moment, but with the help of her elbows, fingers and teeth she finally managed to tear open a pack of compresses and a bandage.

She took a deep breath. Now it was time to let go of the fabric.

Carefully, she slowly released her left hand and immediately her stomach turned and she got lightheaded. The cut was deep and blood was still flowing from it.

Normally she had no problem with blood, but when it was her own and in large quantities, her circulation could not keep up. At least she could still move her fingers, so nothing important had been cut, but she was afraid the wounds would need stitches.

Just thinking about it made her even more dizzy, and she shook her head vigorously, trying to clear the black dots from her vision. She had to pull herself together!

Elenya let go of the cloth with her right hand and laid it roughly over her lap and the floor to catch at least some of the blood that was dripping again. Then she grabbed a compress and used three fingers to press it firmly against the cut on her right hand, leaving her thumb and forefinger free.

With these two fingers, she tried as best she could to wipe the blood from the other hand, apply a compress and wrap a bandage around it. She didn't succeed very well. Her hands were half numb with pain and she couldn't muster enough strength to tighten the bandage properly.

She repeated the process on the other side and then collapsed exhausted against the wall behind her. She carefully placed her hands on her drawn knees to hold them above her heart and closed her eyes with a sigh. Pain was still pulsing through her hands and the stress of the whole situation was sapping the last of her strength.

She would have preferred to sit here forever, but the temporary bandages wouldn't last long and she needed to get up to the clinic. She waited a few more minutes for her heartbeat to calm a little and the pain to subside, but then she couldn't put off the inevitable any longer.

With another deep sigh, Elenya slowly straightened up, and as soon as the black dots disappeared from her vision, she set off, holding her hands carefully to her chest.

Without really noticing, she reached the gate to the village, her body automatically following the familiar path. As soon as she turned the corner, however, she collided with something and lost her balance. Fortunately, this something, or rather someone, also had good reflexes and grabbed her shoulders to prevent her from falling. Had it not been for that, her reflex would probably have been to catch herself with her hands, and that would not have been a very good outcome for her.

But now she found herself leaning against a strong chest, her throbbing hands trapped between them, and a warm, familiar voice reached her ears.

"Oh, Elenya, sweetheart! I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Are you all right?"

Elenya's knees went weak as she realised who she had walked straight into. Arlo, her wonderful boyfriend, tightened his grip on her back as he felt her lean into him even more and she could feel his worried gaze on her.

Despite everything, her heart leapt with joy at the gesture and she couldn't help but nestle even closer to his chest. The warmth of his body filled her with a sense of peace that made her forget the stress of the last half hour for a moment. She was no longer alone with her injured hands and only now did she realise how much that fact had affected her subconsciously.

"Elenya?"

Arlo's worried voice sounded again and Elenya finally lifted her head to meet his gaze. Blue eyes rested warmly and questioningly on her face and she tried to smile reassuringly at him. Judging by his expression, she didn't succeed.

 "Hey Arlo, I, um..." She didn't really know what to say. How do you explain that you were stupid enough to catch a sharp grinding blade with your bare hands?

Before she could think any further, Arlo finally caught sight of her roughly bandaged hands and his eyes widened in shock.

"Your hands! What happened to your hands?"

He quickly took a step away from her and gently gripped her wrists so that he could see her hands better. Blood was already seeping through the bandages and the sight made Elenya dizzy again. She squeezed her eyes shut.

Oh God, what was wrong with her today? She usually had no problem with blood!

Instantly, the grip on her wrists tightened as she swayed in place and was pulled back against Arlo's chest. Exhausted, Elenya let her head sink against his shoulder.

"Woah, hey, it's all right. I've got you. Come on, I'll take you up to the clinic."

Leaving one arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders, Arlo pulled away from her, planted a soft kiss on her temple and then led her along the path she had intended to walk alone until a moment ago.

~~~~~~

Elenya didn't know exactly how long it took them to get up the hill. She was completely focused on Arlo's warm, reassuring presence, blocking out everything else, including the constant throbbing of her hands. It was only when they entered the cool interior of the clinic that she became aware of her surroundings and found herself face to face with Dr. Xu.

"Oh god, Elenya! What happened?" Concerned, the doctor approached her and cautiously grabbed her hands, which she was still holding protectively to her chest. Two startled sounds rang through the room as she opened her fingers, and Elenya dared to look at her hands again.

The bandages had almost completely bled through, and a few drops of blood were already running down her hands again.

She quickly looked away before she could get lightheaded again.

Why haven't the cuts stopped bleeding? How long had it been?

Dr. Xu also seemed very concerned about the amount of blood and quickly led her over to his desk and instructed her to sit on the stool. Arlo stood close behind her so she could feel his warmth and she was incredibly grateful to him. Now that the inevitable stitches were imminent, panic began to creep back into her.

Dr. Xu quickly cleared the table, placed a flat cushion on top, threw a clean sheet over it and instructed her to put her hands down.

Elenya silently complied.

As soon as her hands touched the sheet, Dr. Xu began to remove the first bandage from her left hand. Elenya did her best not to look at her hands. She felt that if she saw the cuts again, she would faint.

It was only when a large, warm hand rested on her shoulder and a second began to soothe through her hair that she realised her whole body was shaking slightly. Almost immediately, some of her tension was released and she leaned gratefully against Arlo. He supported her like a warm stone in the surf.

Again, two startled sounds echoed through the room as the first bandage was removed, but this time she managed to suppress the reflex to look at her hands. However, she could not suppress a painful hiss as Dr. Xu presumably pressed a new compress firmly onto her wound and wrapped a new, tighter bandage around it. The hand on her shoulder squeezed reassuringly.

"This definitely needs stitches. God, Elenya, how did this happen?" Dr. Xu's voice sounded horrified and Elenya dared to look up at him. Dark, worried eyes met her gaze and she shrugged her shoulders, blushing.

She really didn't want to tell him how this situation had come about, but she could feel Arlo's gaze resting on her, tense and worried, so she gave in with a soft sigh.

"Well, I was working on some grinding saws for Paulie..." She recounted how disastrous her morning had been, hissing painfully several times as Dr. Xu tended to her right hand. When she finished, a soft sigh sounded behind her and a gentle kiss landed on her head.

Tilting her head back, Elenya looked up at Arlo and met his exasperated but loving gaze.

"Oh sweetheart, what am I going to do with you?" He stroked her cheek lovingly and she leaned into the comforting gesture, a sheepish smile forming on her lips.

"I'm sorry." For a moment, she lost herself in her boyfriend's deep blue eyes until Dr. Xu's throat clearing brought her back to reality. She quickly raised her head again and looked forwards.

"Okay, before I take care of your hands, I have a few more questions. First things first: can you still move all your fingers?" The doctor observed her attentively and she nodded. At least in that regard she was still lucky enough.

"Can you show me?" Dr. Xu turned his gaze to her hands and, without looking, Elenya carefully moved each of her fingers. Pain throbbed in her hands as she moved, but Dr. Xu quickly seemed satisfied and indicated that she could stop. Relieved, she sank a little more against Arlo's supportive body.

"That's good. At least the blade didn't hit anything important. Do you know roughly how long ago the accident happened? It's really worrying that the wounds are still bleeding so much."

"It must have been about 10 o'clock." A quick glance at the clock on the wall told her that it was now almost 11 o'clock.

Was she really still bleeding?

Without being able to stop it, she looked down at her hands and immediately regretted it. Dr. Xu had tied a new tight bandage directly over the cut on her left hand, but her right hand was exposed and her stomach instantly turned and the world spun before her eyes. Everything went black for a moment and when she came to, she was hanging slightly sideways from the stool, two strong arms wrapped around her torso and horrified exclamations met her ears.

"Elenya!" It was Arlo right next to her ear. He must have caught her. 

Had she really just fainted at the sight of blood? Shame crept up her spine and she quickly tried to sit up, but her body wouldn't obey. The arms around her upper body tightened their grip and gently lifted her up until she was sitting upright on the stool again. Exhausted, she slumped down and wished she could hide her face in her hands. 

Could this day get any more embarrassing?

Fortunately, she was able to resist the temptation and instead looked into the worried eyes of Dr. Xu, who had stood up and was now crouching in front of her.

"Does your body always react like this at the sight of blood?"

Ashamed, Elenya shook her head and Dr. Xu's gaze became thoughtful as he scrutinised her face.

She felt completely stupid. Sitting here, Arlo's arms still wrapped around her torso, his tense chest behind her - had he knelt down? - and her injured hands still outstretched on the table in front of her.

"Would you rather lie down?"

Another shake of the head. She just wanted to get this over with.

"Have you been getting enough sleep lately?"

Arlo's arms tightened around her and Elenya had the feeling she'd better not answer that question. But her silence seemed to be enough of an answer for both men and with a sigh, the tension drained from Arlo's body behind her, and his supportive grip became more of a warm embrace.

"Oh sweetheart, what am I going to do with you?" His words rang out again and apologetically, she snuggled against him. Her tendency to forget about her own health as soon as she had a project in front of her had always given him a headache and she was sorry that he was worrying about her again.

"One day I'll get you to look after yourself first and then the town." Warm lips pressed a gentle kiss to her mop of hair and a sheepish smile crept across her lips.

She wished him good luck with that.

"Well then, I'll leave that problem to Arlo. Let's take care of your hands now, okay?" With a sigh, Dr. Xu straightened up, took a small bottle from one of his cabinets and explained: "Here, this is for the pain. Can you help her drink it, Arlo? I'll get everything else I need in the meantime."

"Of course." Arlo took the already opened bottle and then leaned over her to gently place it to her lips. Slightly ashamed that she needed this help, but grateful, Elenya drank the painkiller. 

A bitter taste followed by the sweetness of honey washed over her tongue and she had to force herself to swallow the concoction. She knew that Dr. Xu was always trying to improve his medicines, but unfortunately the taste still left a lot to be desired.

As if the latter had already known this, a glass full of water appeared in front of her shortly afterwards and Arlo took it with a soft chuckle. He also held it gently to her lips and she gulped down the water greedily to get the taste out of her mouth.

"Thank you." Elenya turned her grateful smile first to Dr. Xu, who waved her off with a simple hand gesture, and then to Arlo, who still had an arm around her back and was looking at her lovingly from the side.

"Of course. Anytime for you." A warm kiss on her forehead followed Arlo's soft words, then he positioned himself behind her again, his second arm wrapped back around her waist, and with a sigh she let herself sink back against his strong chest.

Her hands were still throbbing with pain, her stomach was churning with nausea and she still felt like she could faint again at any moment, but for a moment she could forget all that and just concentrate on the familiar warmth.

Without noticing, her eyes closed and she was only jolted back to reality when something cold - burning - suddenly flowed over her hands. With a startled hiss, she sat up abruptly, barely managing to stop herself from pulling her hands protectively towards her.

"I'm sorry, perhaps I should have warned you. But I'm afraid that wouldn't make cleaning the wounds any more pleasant." Dr. Xu looked up at her apologetically for a moment, but quickly turned his attention back to her hands, and Elenya had to do her best not to look there herself.

Gritting her teeth, she tried to bear the burning sensation, but the feel of the disinfectant flowing over her open hands felt all wrong and a new wave of nausea spread through her.

Oh God, please let this be over quickly.

"Breathe, Elenya. Come on, you can do it, sweetheart." Only when Arlo's voice suddenly appeared next to hers did she realise that she was holding her breath and that black dots were already appearing in her field of vision. Startled, she took a deep breath.

"That's good. Take a deep breath..." He inhaled behind her and she did the same. "And out again. That's it. Nice and slow." 

For the time it took Dr. Xu to clean her hands, she followed Arlo's breathing and was once again so grateful to have him by her side. 

"Okay, that's that. Fortunately, the bleeding has almost completely stopped by now. I'm going to apply an ointment now to numb the skin around the incisions so that I can put the stitches in, okay? How are you holding up?" Dr. Xu's dark eyes searched her gaze warmly and, exhausted, she could only nod.

She just wanted to go home.

In the five minutes it took for the ointment to take effect, Dr. Xu got everything ready for the stitches. Once again, Elenya tried not to look. She generally had no problem with needles, but this wasn't the first time she'd had stitches and the feeling of a thread being pulled through her skin was more than unpleasant and always made her feel nauseous.

Arlo seemed to notice her growing discomfort and positioned himself so that he was now kneeling to her left, his right arm still wrapped supportively around her back and his other hand gently cupping her cheek.

"Hey, are you all right?" He looked at her with concern and affection and she leaned gratefully into his touch.

Her voice trembled slightly as she replied, "I hate having to get stitches."

"It's going to be all right, okay? I'll be here the whole time. And it'll be over before you know it." Encouragingly, he leaned his forehead gently against hers and she instinctively breathed in his soothing scent. Some of the tension drained from her body and she gratefully pressed a brief kiss to his lips.

However, the sound of someone clearing their throat startled her and she turned back to Dr. Xu with slightly flushed cheeks. He smiled at her reassuringly and then pressed his now gloved finger to a spot next to the cut on her left hand and asked her: "Can you still feel anything?"

It felt strange. She could somehow feel the pressure, but she couldn't feel the warmth or the rubbery surface of the glove, which meant the ointment was working and Dr. Xu could start the stitches. She swallowed hard, but then shook her head.

"No. I think... you can start." At her shaky words, the arm around her shoulders tightened and she hid her face in Arlo's chest as best she could. It wasn't easy in her position, but Arlo moved slightly towards her, burying his free hand in her hair to hold her close.

"Don't worry, I'll be as careful as I can." Dr. Xu's reassuring voice reached her ears, but even his words couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling as he made the first stitch. Instantly, nausea spread through her stomach and with a soft whimper, she pressed herself even closer to Arlo. Her heart pounding, she tried to concentrate on his warmth and the hand that was gently stroking through her hair.

"Shh, it's all right. It'll be over in a minute."

And indeed, it wasn't long before her first hand was treated. Elenya felt her hand being gently washed again, the wound disinfected, and then a tight bandage tied around her hand to her wrist. She dared to take a look at it.

The bandage was pristine white, no blood in sight, and with relief she looked up into Dr. Xu's warm eyes.

"You're doing great. Ready for the second hand?" She felt like a little child at the doctor's words, but she probably wasn't behaving much differently and so she just nodded, her cheeks slightly red. The sooner she got this over with, the better.

Before the next stitch could be placed, she quickly hid her face in Arlo's chest again. His hand found its way back into her hair, though a soft laugh rumbled through his chest.

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound. Even though he was laughing because of her, it was still her favourite sound and it filled her with warmth. She could melt every time she heard it.

The left hand was finished almost faster than the right, and she wondered for a moment if the cut wasn't quite as long, but it didn't matter. The main thing was that it was over, and she no longer had to endure that horrible feeling.

While Dr. Xu bandaged her second hand, Elenya let herself sink completely against Arlo. Now that most of the stress was over, exhaustion caught up with her and she struggled to stay upright. Immediately, Arlo changed his grip on her to better support her weight.

"You okay, sweetie?" Warm and concerned, his voice rumbled through his chest, and she nodded slightly. She felt warm and safe, a light fog in her head, and she suspected that the painkiller had finally taken full effect. She only realised that Dr. Xu had finished with her hands when he gently lifted them from the table and placed them in her lap. Her muscles sighed in relief. Holding her arms out for so long had become very uncomfortable after a while.

"All right, that's it. You did great, Elenya. How do you feel? Are you still in pain?" Dr. Xu's voice rang out from behind Arlo's back, and with difficulty she managed to pull her head away from Arlo's chest and look up at the doctor with a blurred vision. She had to blink a few times, but then the gentle smile came into focus and she smiled back automatically.

Arlo's gentle laugh reached her ears and she couldn't help but turn her smile towards him at the sound. Warm, loving eyes caught her gaze and her smile widened even more.

Another laugh and Arlo said without letting go of her gaze, "I think your painkiller is working wonderfully, Xu. Am I right, sweetheart?"

Elenya nodded with an approving hum, even if she didn't know exactly what she was agreeing to. But if Arlo said something, it was bound to be right.

"Well, I'm glad." Dr. Xu also let out a laugh, but then became a little more serious. "I'd like to discuss the next steps, but it looks like I'd better do that with you, Arlo. I don't think she'll remember much later."

More words followed, but a new wave of exhaustion washed over Elenya, so she snuggled back against Arlo's chest, leaving the thinking to him. Wrapped in warmth, she let the conversation flow over her.

She caught words like 'don't get wet', 'clean daily' and 'not touch anything'.

Wait... what?

A brief rush of adrenaline gave her enough strength to completely detach herself from Arlo and look up at Dr. Xu in horror.

"You want me to do what?"

Xu met her gaze sympathetically. "For the next three days, you should touch as little as possible. Ideally, you shouldn't grab anything at all. The less the cuts are moved, the better and faster they can heal. I know that's a lot to ask, but if the wounds can't heal properly, the scars could harden and affect your range of movement.”

She was even more horrified. This could not happen! She needed her hands! She couldn't work without them!

But how was she supposed to not touch anything for three days? She wouldn't even be able to pick up a glass of water!

Desperation must have been written all over her face, because two warm, rough hands softly cupped her face and gently turned her gaze back to Arlo.

"Don't worry, darling. I'll stay with you and take care of you, okay?” Full of love and care, he held her gaze and she looked back, confused and uncertain.

"But... you have to work. That's much more important than me.”

"First of all, nothing is more important than you, alright?" She felt herself blushing. 

"And secondly, as luck would have it, I was actually on my way to you earlier to tell you that Sam and Remi have banished me to holiday for at least two days with the words 'You work too much'. I'm sure they could also manage without me for three or four days. Fortunately, it's very quiet at the moment."

A mixture of warm relief and guilt spread through Elenya.

Relief that Arlo wouldn't leave her alone, and guilt that thanks to her stupidity she was now taking up all his precious free time. Without being able to do anything about it, tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." A sob escaped her lips and soon she found herself pressed tightly against Arlo's chest, his strong arms holding her together.

It was all too much right now. All the stress, the pain, the exhaustion and the difficult days ahead. She felt helpless.

“Shh, it's okay. It was an accident. We'll get through this. Together." Arlo's warm words washed over her head, but they only made her cry more, and she spent the next few minutes buried in Arlo's chest, her body wracked with violent sobs.

She didn't know how much time passed, but eventually she ran out of energy and just hung limply in Arlo's arms. He didn't hesitate for long, loosening one arm from around her back and sliding it under her knees instead, carefully lifting her off the stool. With just a few steps he carried her over to one of the hospital beds and carefully laid her down on it. He placed her hands gently on her chest and then moved away from her.

She missed his warmth immediately.

"Get some rest for a moment, sweetheart. I'm just going to get some things so I can stay with you for a few days, okay? I'll be right back." A lingering, warm kiss graced her forehead, followed by a gentle caress of her cheek, and then Arlo was gone and she fell into a light sleep.

She awoke when the door to the clinic opened again, but she was in no mood to open her eyes. Instead, she listened to the sound of soft footsteps, the muffled conversation between Arlo and Dr. Xu, and the soft clinking of glass vials. She almost fell back asleep.

But then a warm hand cupped her cheek again and Arlo's voice rang out softly: "Hey sweetheart, ready to go home?"

"Mmmh." Tired, Elenya opened her eyes and was about to use her hands to sit up, but luckily Arlo quickly saw what she was trying to do and gently grabbed her wrists.

Damn, she wasn't going to be able to get used to this.

"Careful. Let me help you." Arlo helped her sit up and with a grateful look, she glanced up at him.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt exhausted, her body heavy with the weight of everything that had happened.

Arlo smiled at her, his hands steadying her as she shifted her legs over the side of the bed. "Of course. Can you stand?"

She nodded, feeling a little more awake now. "Yes, I think so."

With his help, she slid out of bed. Dr. Xu approached her with a small smile, holding a bag. "Here are some extra supplies for cleaning the wounds. Make sure you follow the instructions and come back in three days for a check-up, okay?"

As Arlo took the small bag and placed it in the rucksack she now noticed he was carrying, Elenya nodded with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Dr. Xu. For everything."

He waved her off with a friendly gesture. "It's my job. Take care of yourself, Elenya. And Arlo, make sure she follows the instructions."

Arlo chuckled, his arm securely around Elenya's waist. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she does."

With a final nod, Dr. Xu stepped back, allowing Arlo to guide her out of the clinic. The walk to the exit felt longer than it actually was, each step reminding her of how weak and exhausted she felt. But Arlo's steady support kept her going.

The journey back to her home was a quiet one, with Elenya concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, while Arlo remained a steady presence at her side. When they reached the door, Arlo helped her inside and shut the door.

"Sit down for now, sweetheart. I'll just take your medicine and bandages to the bathroom, okay?" With gentle pressure on her lower back, Arlo led her to her couch, onto which she sank gratefully. She had declined Arlo's offer to carry her - her legs still worked fine after all! - but she was still glad to be able to sit down. Her exhaustion was growing, and she couldn't wait to lie down for a few hours.

With a quick, gentle kiss on her forehead, Arlo made his way to her bedroom and the adjoining bathroom. Elenya watched him go, lost in thought, and even after he was out of sight, she continued to stare at the doorway to her bedroom. She still felt so stupid and guilty. Here she was, having spent the last year and a half building impossible things and fighting all sorts of monsters, and then managing to incapacitate herself for several days because she couldn't control her clumsiness or reflexes.

But before she could indulge her thoughts any further, Arlo reappeared in the doorway. Much quicker than she had expected and his face devoid of any colour.

What had happened?

Before she could ask, he hesitantly opened his mouth. "Um... d... do you still need that piece of fabric? I don't know if we can save it..."

And suddenly she remembered how she had left the bathroom behind. The contents of her first aid kit strewn everywhere and a piece of fabric soaked in blood on top. And who knew where else she had left traces of blood.

Oh God, no wonder he looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Startled, she jumped to her feet. "Oh shit. Wait, let me..."

She didn't get any further. As soon as she stood upright, her vision went black and her legs buckled. She fell uncontrollably back onto the couch, luckily without falling on her hands, and when her vision cleared, Arlo was already leaning over her. His strong hands cupped her shoulders and gently guided her into a lying position.

"Careful. Let me do this, okay? You just stay here and rest. I just got a bit scared at the sight." He held her gaze firmly and with an annoyed sigh she let herself sink into the cushion of the couch.

She hated this whole situation already. She wasn't used to sitting around idly and certainly not when someone else had to clean up her mess. She wanted to help!

Arlo's big, warm hand cupped her right cheek and she reluctantly met his understanding gaze.

"I know you want to help, but you have to take it easy. I really don't mind looking after you. In fact, there's nothing I'd rather do. I love you and I want you to get better quickly, okay?”

Damn, how could she not melt at those words? 

"Okay... And I love you too." Her words of agreement were rewarded with a short, soft kiss and then Arlo straightened up again.

“Good, now that we've got that out of the way: What do you want to do with the fabric? Do you want me to throw it away?"

“Yes, I don't need it urgently. It wouldn't be worth the effort.” She could always make new ones.

“Okay. You rest and I'll tidy up.” Another quick kiss was planted on her forehead and then she was alone in her living room.

With another sigh, she sank deeper into the couch and, without meaning to, dozed off again.

~~~~~~

Strong arms slid under her back and knees and lifted her up, but before she could be startled, a familiar smell reached her nose. With a confused sound, she tiredly blinked her eyes open and was greeted by Arlo's neck.

"It's all right, sweetheart. I'm just taking you to bed.”

Bed? Oh right, she had fallen asleep on the couch.

She tried to lift her head to look at him, but her body felt like it was filled with lead, so she contented herself with snuggling even more against his warm chest. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before she found herself in her bedroom.

Arlo gently set her down on the edge of the bed, his hands lingering to steady her. "Let's get you into something more comfortable, shall we?"

Elenya nodded weakly, her eyelids heavy with fatigue. She felt his hands move to the buttons of her shirt, his touch gentle and careful. A wave of shame and frustration wanted to spread through her, but she was too tired for such emotions and so all that remained was gratitude to Arlo.

His strong, battle-hardened hands were always so gentle with her, so loving, and so she didn't feel the slightest discomfort as he dressed her in a soft t-shirt and warm sweatpants.

"There you go," he said gently, smoothing the fabric. "Now let's get you comfortable."

He helped her to lie on her side and carefully positioned her so that she could put her hands in front of her. He placed a soft pillow under her head and another behind her back to support her.

"How does that feel?" Eyes as warm as his voice watched her.

"It's good," she murmured, feeling the comfort of the bed and the softness of the pyjamas. "Thank you, Arlo. For everything."

Arlo smiled and leaned down to press a tender kiss to her forehead. "Anything for you, Elenya. Get some rest now. You'll feel better when you wake up."

Before he had even pulled the blanket over her and tucked her in, she was drifting off into an exhausted sleep.

~~~~~~

When she woke up again, the sun was a lot lower and she felt anything but better. Nausea churned in her stomach, cold sweat covered her body, her head ached and her hands throbbed and itched terribly. Everything felt off.

With a soft groan, she opened her eyes and was surprised to see Arlo sitting in an armchair next to the bed, intently reading a book. She looked at him for a moment, transfixed, admiring the way the late evening sun made his red hair glow and the way his lips moved silently as he read, as they always did.

But then the terrible itching in her hands picked up again, and with a croaked "Arlo." she drew his attention to herself. His head immediately shot in her direction and he put his book aside to kneel down beside the bed at the level of her head.

"Hey, darling. How are you doing? Feeling any better?" His eyes rested warmly and attentively on her face, but she could only answer with a pained expression and a shake of her head.

His eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Oh no, what's wrong? Are you in pain?" 

"Yes, that too, but... I don't feel well. Everything hurts and my hands itch like crazy."

Worried, Arlo pressed his hand gently to her forehead, his eyes filling with even more concern. "I think you have a slight fever. That's not good at all. I hope the cuts haven't gotten infected. What exactly hurts?"

Fever? That would at least explain why everything felt so wrong.

"Everything hurts. My hands are throbbing, my limbs are aching and my head is burning. But the worst part is the itching. Can we please take the bandages off? I can hardly stand it."

It took all her willpower not to scratch.

"Technically, we shouldn't change the bandages until tomorrow morning, but I think it would be better if we checked right away to see if anything is infected. Then we can clean your hands and hopefully reduce the itching a little. Come on, I'll help you up."

With practised movements, Arlo helped her to sit up. The world spun before her eyes as soon as she was upright, and with an unconscious whimper she buried her face in his stomach. The nausea intensified, but Arlo's soothing scent and his hand gently stroking her hair quickly brought relief and she felt well enough to stand.

With Arlo's arm around her back, they took cautious steps into the bathroom where he carefully lowered her onto the toilet seat. He got everything he needed from the bathroom cupboard, filled a small bowl with warm water and then knelt in front of her.

"Let me have a look. I'll be very careful, I promise." He gently reached for her left hand. He cradled it oh so gently in his, her palm facing up, and she couldn't help but marvel once again at how much bigger his hands were compared to hers. Bigger, rougher and yet so tender.

With deft fingers, he began to remove the bandage from her hand. Unconsciously, she followed his movements, her mind focused on the warmth of his palm. It flowed up her arm, filling her heart with calm and easing part of her headache and nausea.

When he pulled the cloth off, he winced at the sight of the cuts, but he quickly composed himself. Unfortunately, she couldn't. Her nausea intensified at the sight of her reddened, stitched-up skin and she quickly turned her gaze to Arlo's face.

He was examining her wound intently, his eyebrows knitted in concern. "Hm, the wound's a bit red, but I don't think it's infected. That's good." His warm blue eyes met hers, his gaze reassuring. "The fever is probably your body's reaction to all the stress from this morning. Hopefully it'll be gone by tomorrow. Let's get you cleaned up anyway. I hope that helps with the itching."

He gave her a gentle smile, then dipped a cloth into the warm water and began to clean the wounds, his touch so gentle it barely caused her any discomfort. Elenya watched him work, her heart swelling with gratitude and love for his care.

After cleaning the wounds with antiseptic, he applied fresh bandages with a tenderness that belied the strength of his hands. He repeated the process on her right hand and then pressed a feather-light kiss on each of her injured palms, making her heart melt at the sweet gesture.

"Thank you," Elenya whispered, her voice full of gratitude and awe at his tenderness.

He answered her gratitude with a gentle kiss, his lips warm and soft on hers, and she automatically followed him as he pulled away. Her movement earned her an affectionate chuckle and another brief kiss, but then he really pulled away from her, reaching instead for one of the small vials he must have gotten from Dr. Xu.

"Here, according to Dr. Xu's instructions, you are allowed to take some painkillers again. It should also help with the nausea and, with any luck, the fever." He uncorked the bottle and held it carefully to her lips.

She could tell from the taste that it wasn't the same mixture as before, but that didn't make it any better. But to her surprise, her nausea didn't get any worse, as she had expected.

As soon as the vial was empty, Arlo set it aside and started to put away everything he had used. As Elenya watched him again, she suddenly began to shiver, and before she could even say anything, Arlo took off his grey sweater and pulled it over her head instead. She was instantly enveloped in his familiar scent and warmth, and with a happy sigh, she buried her nose in the soft collar.

Oh, how much she loved this sweater.

As soon as he had finished tidying up, Arlo turned back to her. "You should eat something, even if it's just a little. It'll help your body recover."

Elenya grimaced. "I still feel nauseous. I don't think I can eat much."

Arlo insisted gently. "Just a little, for me? How about some crepes with fruit sauce? I'll make them just the way you like them."

Damn, he just knew her too well.

She agreed, and he helped her into the kitchen, where he sat her down at the small dining table. She watched as he moved around the kitchen, preparing her favourite crepes with practised ease.

The kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of baking crepes. Arlo's movements were efficient and confident, the result of the countless times he had prepared this dish for her. He whisked the batter, heated the pan and expertly flipped the crepes, always keeping an eye on her to make sure she was comfortable.

He brought her the finished crepes, pulled one of the chairs close to her, and picked up a piece of crepe with a fork, holding it out to her. Full of frustration and shame, she glared at the fork as she realised he was trying to feed her.

She had been wrong earlier. Her day could get even more embarrassing.

She almost snapped at Arlo that she was no longer a child and could eat on her own, but luckily the logical part of her brain was able to intervene before that.

Because firstly, no, she couldn't eat alone right now, no matter how much she wanted to.

And secondly, Arlo was not at all to blame for her shitty situation. It was all her fault.

On the contrary. Without him, she would have been completely screwed and the last thing he deserved was to be snapped at by her.

Arlo still held the fork in front of her face, his gaze patient and full of understanding love, and her brain finally gave in. For it was Arlo sitting next to her. Arlo who loved her and whom she trusted with her life. There was no need to be ashamed in front of him.

So she let him feed her, and despite her initial reluctance, the crepes tasted wonderful and comforting. Each bite gave her a little strength, and the sweetness of the fruit sauce was a soothing balm for her frayed nerves.

After dinner, they moved to the couch where Arlo wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled up against him. He picked up the book he had been reading and began to read to her, his voice a balm to her weary soul.

The warmth of his body against hers, the familiar hum of his voice and the captivating story created a cocoon of safety and love around her. She closed her eyes and let the rhythm of his voice carry her out of her discomfort and into the world of the story.

When it was time for bed, Arlo helped her into the bedroom. She lay back down on her side and he climbed into bed behind her. He gently slipped his left arm under her head and wrapped the other around her waist, pulling her tightly against his chest.

"Good night, Elenya," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "I love you."

"Good night, Arlo," she murmured back, feeling his love and warmth surrounding her. "I love you too."

With Arlo's steady presence by her side, Elenya finally drifted off to a more restful sleep, knowing that no matter how hard things got, they would always face them together.

[darkesttimelinestuff]

"I don't know if they will accept this."

Prompt #27 - "I don't know if they will accept this."

You can also find my silly or smutty fics here. Thanks for reading!

Scully stared at Mulder in disbelief and blinked as if to make sense of what he was telling her. “We work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation!” she exclaimed. “This has to be a joke. I can’t even begin to imagine what would happen to our jobs, our careers, to the X-Files, if anyone found out about this! I don’t know if they will accept this.”

“Please,” Mulder pleaded, “calm down.”

Scully paced the cramped space of their living room, shaking her head. “This is so irresponsible.”

“I thought it was a good way to make some extra cash. Get us that new boiler we’ve been meaning to install.”

“But like this?” Scully said. “This isn’t the way.”

“No one has to know,” he placated.

Scully stopped pacing and shot him an incredulous look. “And just how will you make sure that no one finds your OnlyFans account?” 

“I make sure to never show my face. The camera angle is low, on my… um… “ He glanced down at his crotch and Scully’s eyes quickly followed.

“On your big, fat cock?” she offered.

“Yeah, on my cock.”

“And what do you do in your videos?” Scully asked, more intrigued than upset now. 

Mulder patted the couch and she sat next to him, rubbing his knee.

“Well, there are subscribers,” he explained, “who can make requests for certain kinds of videos or pictures or livestreams.”

“And you deliver?”

“That’s the idea,” he said.

“How many videos have you made so far?” she asked.

“Two,” he answered honestly. 

Scully pondered this a moment. “I don’t object to your body being out there, viewed by millions of women. And men!”

Mulder laughed. “Well, I don’t know about millions, but there has been some interest.”

“But I’m worried about someone finding out it’s you,” she continued. “Can it be traced back to us? Our house?”

Mulder laid his hand on top of her small one. “Probably,” he said. “But someone would have to know to search. I won’t give anyone a reason to do that. No face, no personal items, no identifying marks.”

This new business venture intrigued Scully. Her own personal porn star right here in her very own house. The idea that people were touching themselves to her partner was so hot, so wild.

“So, could people request a couple?” she asked. 

“Yes, that’s definitely something we can offer,” Mulder said, his smiling growing wide. 

“Because it would be so hot for you to take me from behind,” she said, nipping at his neck, “while others watched.”

“Oh, it certainly would.” He cupped her breasts, kneaded, teased her nipples. “But we’d have to be extra careful.”

Scully sat straight. “Why is that?” she asked. 

Mulder reached up and twisted a lock of her hair, touched the small of her back.

“Identifying marks,” she said and Mulder nodded. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!”

Mulder fondled her breasts over her shirt as Scully unbuttoned her pants.

[loremonster]

Btw ALL CRAFTS BENIFIT FROM INCREASING YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF MECHANICAL FORCES AND THE SHAPES OF ENGINEERING.

I grew up with my maternal grandparents visiting every summer with their trailer attatched ( heavy duty, biiig truck needed, deseil, associate the smell with their visits to this day, and the characteristic sound of the idiling engine ) and working with my Engineer ( Computer Science + UI Design, Electrical, HVAC, Boiler operation and troubleshooting, specialization in retrofitting old buildings with large multifloor airflow systems with minimal disturbance to the original structure, later trained to supervise new construction + oversee and assist in the labor of installation on site ) Dad to plan, construct, and install home and barnyard improvements / modifications / upgrades.

Not only were the blocks I played with from age 6 months to 14 years old made from scrap wood with the edges sanded off to make em kiddo safe, I was often Around as Dad and Grandpa were drawing on grid paper, discussing weight distribution, load bearing beams, when a box support is needed, how the square design of a box support is modified and how measurements on paper became the pieces that made a whole heckin chicken coop in one summer. As I got older I was trusted to read off those measurements so no one had to come down off a ladder to check things, and read the tape measure from the bottom and call out appropriate adjustments before a trim line is drawn. Dad goes down, Grandpa goes up, he checks the measurement again and makes his own mark. If they match, they cut. If they don't, they discuss how they made the measurement to troubleshoot why they got different results, and then we did it again to ensure understanding had been reached.

Measure until its consistant, accept human error, accept it happens All The Time, and check things until You Are Certain. THEN trim material.

A similar addage is learned in sewing; measure twice, cut once.

Mathamatics teaches guess and check, a handy principal in fibercrafts of all kinds.

Those scrap blocks I mentioned? Taught me about mechanical forces like gravity, friction, weight distribution across multiple shapes and which shapes built up best without falling over or bracing; all principals I applied later not only in crafting DIY stuff around the house but also within my artistic practice when imagining and arting locations, clothing, and people.

A lot of practical knowledge gets locked behind the barrier of Theoretical Physics ( i.e when its just numbers on paper Theorizing On How A Thing May Work In Real Space ) before an institution will let ya get your brain onto some real instruction. But there's a lotta things you can do to learn these things in your own home, and most are forms of play or creative hobbies.

Near everything you do with your body and brain together benifits both, in skill and theorizing on future intentions as they go from an idea to something others can SEE and sometimes even HOLD IN THEIR HANDS.

I still firmly beleive the ability to idiate upon something until one figures out How To Show It To Someone Else is truely the closest humans get to Actual Magic, and exists somewhere within everything people make or actuate with their physical person. And I think that undefinable Magic is what we call Art. The Arts. Crafting, creative, visual, audio, narrative, culinary, woodworks, masonry, smithing, fiberworks, fabrics, tailoring, and more than I even know to name because the catagory of Things People Imagine And Then Make Real is PRETTY FREAKIN WIDE.

These things are not sperate from the "hard" bodies of study and practice, math used to be considered magical and esoteric, and only became respectable when Accurate Measurement caused less people to die at the Apothocary, birthing the More Respectable Alchemist, and later into just Chemist-- all based on Math; an imagined system applied to the real world, bounded on proven precepts that are applied over and over and over to LITERALLY ANYTHING we can try it on to see If It Still Tracks Or We Missed Something-- thus why Gravity Is A Theory, and why Theory is one of the strongest words in scientific study, physics, and so on; it means It has Survived Years Of Genuine And Strenious Testing, Found Every Way It Was Wrong, And Continue Tweaking And Testing And CALIBRATING Our Imagined Incraments To Measure The World And Think More Accurately About Future Intentions.

Like the practice of all crafts and arts.

I guess this is Art Theory now? 🤷🏼

[nehswritesstuffs]

HEART PIRATES WEEK 2024 - Part 6 of 9

I told myself last year that I was going to participate in Heart Pirates Week this year, and by thunder I'm going to participate in Heart Pirates Week!

Day Six: Uni - Aftermath

618 words; takes place some time before Sabaody; sorry this is so late (and now the rest of it will be as well) but life happened what are you gonna do about it; this fill contains mild descriptors of wounds; there is also almost no dialogue in this so sorry if you’re here for sass because in this installment there is none; still very not-read through

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

It hadn’t exactly been one of the crew’s proudest moments, but at least it was now over. Everyone was now back in the Polar Tang and she was diving, putting distance between them and the island they had unceremoniously ran from.

They ran like cowards is what they did. The head of the Marine base stationed there was more than the Captain could handle—more than any of them could handle—and they turned tail in defeat, barely scraping out of there alive, let alone uncaptured.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Uni decided to at least get through their post-island routine while he could, considering there was no knowing what was on the next speck of land they’d land on. He went over the checklist in his mind before picking himself up off the floor of the Tang’s main deck and began his rounds.

First, he went to the boiler room, where everything seemed to be working in pristine order. Ikkaku sat in the corner, hugging her knees as she tried to be small as possible. The cut on her arm didn’t look like it had been treated yet, so Uni took the first aid kit from its perch and knelt next to her, waiting for her to let him help. Eventually she shrugged off the top of the coveralls and exposed her tank-top-covered torso and bare arms, the left of which had a nasty gash from her shoulder that nearly went to her elbow. It had already clotted over—thank the seas—but they were going to be in trouble if it wasn’t cleaned and bandaged soon. She didn’t flinch as he touched her arm—better him than Law, as the man was probably fuming over some broken bones sticking out of Penguin somewhere.

Eventually, the wound was clean and nods were exchanged before Uni went to check on some of the others. A few were alright, though holed up in the bunk room under their blankets. He went in search of Clione, finding that he was already in the kitchen attempting to make everyone’s favorite snacks before people started showing up. A tray was already sitting out and prepped—the Captain’s favorite herbal tea and some sweet cake. He brought it to the Captain’s room, setting it on his desk before allowing his eyes to linger for a moment on the faded, charred photos that lined a portion of the wall.

Uni wasn’t stupid—he knew at least who the couple and child were and why they only existed in crispy, char-edged snail photos. To be from the North and not know about Flevance was difficult; it was the other person who he was having difficulty identifying. The Captain never really talked about the man or why he too was only in photos. People had come up with varying theories over the years, but no one dared ask directly. It was even something that the Original Trio didn’t know the whole story about—Penguin and Shachi knew only a little, while Bepo knew just a bit more and was not giving up anything.

Nodding at the photos, Uni took his leave and left the tiny cabin, almost walking directly into its occupant in the corridor. The Captain looked drawn and thinner than usual, with his eyes haunted and his stance defensive. He almost was ready to tear into Uni when he saw the tray sitting on his desk—he of all people knew a peace offering when he saw one.

“Thanks,” the Captain mumbled. Uni simply nodded and let him pass, the heavy metal door to the cabin shutting soon after.

Hmm. He wondered what Hakugan was doing. Might as well go take a look.

[gsourcetechnologiesllc-blog]

Understanding the Importance of HVAC Drawings and Blueprints: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents: 1.Importance of HVAC Drawings 2.Purpose of HVAC Blueprints 3.Understanding HVAC Systems 4.Types of HVAC Drawings 5.Reading HVAC Drawings & Blueprints 6.Creating HVAC Drawings 7.Tips for Efficient HVAC Drawing Creation 8.Reading & Analyzing HVAC Blueprints 9.Importance of Blueprints in HVAC Installation 10.How HVAC Drawings Improve Maintenance and Troubleshooting 11.Future Trends in HVAC Drawing and Blueprint Technology 12.Conclusion

Importance of HVAC Drawings

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) drawings are fundamental blueprints essential for the design, installation, and maintenance of HVAC systems in buildings. These drawings provide a visual representation of the HVAC system's layout, including ductwork, piping, equipment placement, and electrical connections. They serve as a crucial communication tool between architects, engineers, contractors, and technicians, ensuring that the HVAC system functions effectively and efficiently.

Purpose of HVAC Blueprints HVAC blueprints serve multiple purposes throughout the lifecycle of a building. During the design phase, they help architects and engineers conceptualize the HVAC system's layout, ensuring optimal space utilization and compliance with building codes and regulations. During construction, blueprints guide contractors and technicians in the accurate installation of HVAC components, minimizing errors and rework. Additionally, these blueprints serve as reference documents for maintenance and troubleshooting tasks throughout the building's lifespan.

Understanding HVAC Systems Before delving into the specifics of HVAC drawings and blueprints, it's essential to understand the components and principles of HVAC systems. HVAC systems are designed to control indoor temperature, humidity, and air quality to create a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. They typically comprise heating units (such as furnaces or boilers), ventilation systems (including ductwork and fans), air conditioning units, and controls for regulation.

Types of HVAC Drawings HVAC drawings come in various types, each serving a specific purpose:

Floor Plans: Provide a bird's-eye view of the building layout, indicating the placement of HVAC equipment, vents, and ductwork.

Elevation Drawings: Offer vertical views of HVAC components, illustrating their height and position relative to other building features.

Sectional Drawings: Show cross-sectional views of HVAC systems, revealing internal details like ductwork and piping arrangements.

Schematics: Present simplified diagrams of HVAC systems, highlighting connections and flow paths for air and fluids.

Isometric Drawings: Provide 3D representations of HVAC components, offering a clearer understanding of spatial relationships and installation requirements.

Reading HVAC Drawings & Blueprints: Proficiently interpreting HVAC drawings and blueprints is essential for architects, engineers, contractors, and technicians. It requires a thorough understanding of symbols, annotations, scales, and industry standards. Symbols represent various HVAC components, such as fans, dampers, valves, and thermostats, while annotations provide critical information like dimensions, materials, and performance specifications. Additionally, familiarity with scales ensures accurate measurement and placement of components within the building layout.

Creating HVAC Drawings

Creating HVAC drawings involves a collaborative effort among architects, engineers, and designers. Modern CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software facilitates the drafting process, allowing for precise modeling and documentation of HVAC systems. Designers input architectural plans and specifications into CAD software, where they can manipulate components, generate layouts, and produce detailed drawings with ease. CAD software also enables revisions and updates to accommodate changes in project requirements or building codes.

Tips for Efficient HVAC Drawing Creation: To streamline the HVAC drawing creation process, consider the following tips:

Standardization: Establish standardized symbols, templates, and procedures to ensure consistency across drawings.

Clarity: Use clear and concise labeling, annotations, and legends to enhance readability and comprehension.

Accuracy: Double-check measurements, calculations, and specifications to minimize errors and discrepancies.

Collaboration: Foster open communication and collaboration among design team members to address potential conflicts or challenges early in the process.

Documentation: Maintain detailed records of revisions, approvals, and design decisions to track the evolution of HVAC drawings throughout the project lifecycle.

Reading & Analyzing HVAC Blueprints When reading HVAC blueprints, it's essential to pay attention to key elements such as:

Equipment Placement: Identify the location of HVAC units, vents, registers, and exhaust fans to ensure optimal airflow and distribution.

Ductwork Layout: Analyze the routing and sizing of ductwork to minimize pressure drops and airflow restrictions.

Piping Configuration: Review the layout of piping systems for heating, cooling, and fluid distribution, ensuring proper insulation and support.

Electrical Connections: Verify the placement and wiring of electrical components, such as motors, controllers, and sensors, to ensure safe and efficient operation.

Importance of Blueprints in HVAC Installation Accurate HVAC blueprints are critical for the successful installation of HVAC systems, as they provide precise instructions for contractors and technicians. By following the blueprints closely, installers can ensure that components are positioned correctly, connections are made accurately, and systems are commissioned properly. This adherence to the blueprint minimizes installation errors, reduces rework, and improves overall project efficiency and quality.

How HVAC Drawings Improve Maintenance and Troubleshooting Throughout the lifecycle of a building, HVAC drawings play a vital role in maintenance and troubleshooting activities. Maintenance technicians rely on blueprints to locate equipment, access service points, and perform routine inspections and repairs efficiently. When troubleshooting HVAC issues, technicians can refer to drawings to identify potential sources of problems, such as duct leaks, valve malfunctions, or electrical faults, enabling quicker diagnosis and resolution.

Future Trends in HVAC Drawing and Blueprint Technology The future of HVAC drawing and blueprint technology is marked by advancements in digitalization, automation, and integration. CAD software continues to evolve with features like 3D modeling, virtual reality (VR) simulation, and cloud collaboration, enhancing design visualization and communication. Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms integrate HVAC drawings with other building systems, fostering greater coordination and efficiency throughout the construction process. Additionally, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms offer predictive maintenance capabilities, enabling proactive system monitoring and optimization.

Conclusion In conclusion, HVAC drawings and blueprints are indispensable tools for the design, installation, and maintenance of HVAC systems in buildings. By providing detailed visual representations of system layouts, components, and connections, these drawings facilitate effective communication and collaboration among project stakeholders. Whether creating drawings from scratch or interpreting existing blueprints, architects, engineers, contractors, and technicians must possess the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure the successful implementation and operation of HVAC systems. As technology continues to advance, embracing digital tools and techniques will further enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability of HVAC drawing and blueprint processes.

[ant1quarian]

Quill x Reader angst

Much angst. Warnings of: Being in the void, loss, death, and just general struggle.

How could he have known?

A question that plagued his day-to-day life, relentlessly entangling him with its choking claws.

How could he have known?

Ever since he was younger, Quill had expectations sitting on his shoulders. He was expected to be a model child. The golden boy, as some used to call him.

He’d lived up to those expectations, but it never stopped him from feeling as if he was drowning– helpless to the raging current that smashed him up against rocks before tugging him along again.

He’d gone to college. He’d graduated with a P.h.D in theoretical sciences. He’d gotten deep into the thought of there being a multiverse out there– and as such, it became his hyperfixation.

Then, a while afterwards, he’d met you. 

It definitely wasn’t one of those “meet-cutes” he’d read about online– not by any standards. You were both freezing your asses off in the below-zero temperatures, severely underdressed for the weather. You had both gotten off the same bus, idly chatting, when you’d told him you hadn’t had anywhere to go.

You were… broken.

Like he was.

Different scenario, same sort of situation.

He’d invited you to join him for coffee that morning, to which you obliged, and a friendship began to bloom.

It was filled with laughter and teasing– highlighted by you scolding him for not sleeping or eating enough when he got a breakthrough on his science project and just couldn’t manage to tear himself away.

Hell, he remembered the time where you’d managed to bodily drag him out of his basement and onto the couch, where you proceeded to bundle him up in blankets, rendering him unable to move.

He remembered doing things for you. At first, it had been out of obligation, wanting to make your life easier when you’d agreed to flat with him (insisting you paid rent).

Then… something changed. He thinks it was the night you had had a nightmare and gone onto the deck to get some fresh air, leaning up against the railing and staring off into the wooded hills around the cottage. 

You were crying. You, someone who seemed impossibly strong to him, had broken down.

… He had comforted you and then told you stories about his childhood. All of the idiotic things that he’d done as a teenager, desperate to get out from his adoptive parent’s stifling grip. Graffiti. Theft. Parkour. Exploring abandoned places. He looked “DO NOT ENTER” signs in the face and then scaled the fence it was telling him not to go through.

The word “rebellious” didn’t even begin to explain what kind of mischief he’d gotten up to.

He remembered the smile you’d given him– how it punched the breath from his lungs, and his entire universe seemed to freeze. He could recall your expression with vivid detail, and the way his heart seemed to have stopped for a solid couple seconds.

He continued to do things for you, but instead of feeling obligated… he found himself enjoying it. If it made you happy, it made him happy.

He began to genuinely delight in doing jobs for you, helping out in any way he could. He didn’t need you to understand the significance. He was content.

…

Then had started the romantic attraction.

Quill hadn’t… ever expected to feel romantically attracted to someone. He never had as a child, nor a teenager. He sort of just assumed it wasn’t his thing.

But of course, like the enigma you were, you completely defied all of the logic, and now you were what plagued his minds on the countless nights he couldn’t sleep.

You became his main motivator to do things. That fence you were talking about being flimsy? Fixed. The boiler about to expire? Bought a new one and installed it himself. Wanted to start a garden? He built one for you.

He loved the smile that graced your face whenever he showed you something he did for you, fondly recalling the amount of times you called him a “golden retriever”.

His unwavering loyalty definitely didn’t disprove that little theory of yours.

He loved you. He loved you but he was a coward.

He didn’t want to lose what he already had, yet he up and lost it anyway.

Finally, after years, he’d finally got that breakthrough with the multiverse theory. The machine he’d built directly interacted with an “in-between” space he liked to call the Void.

He’d turned it on.

… but he’d severely underestimated just how powerful the void was.

He was sucked into the empty, inky darkness.

And with it, his entire universe. And You.

Shackled in the darkness, strings of different colours and frequencies creating a discordant harmony, and his SOUL– the colour of mid-blue– hovering in front of him.

Determined to repay the debt he owed all of his universe and you, he went through billions of lifetimes, saving just as many people as he’d unintentionally killed.

There was no way you were left alive, that much he was certain of. He knew he killed all of humanity, and the sins stuck with him, crawling up his back with tiny, ice-like claws. 

The LV he gained ran through his veins and he began to develop an ability humankind had long since forgotten.

Magic.

He used that to save people, but realised a bit too late he was probably just killing himself.

His blood was turning to acid, and his SOUL was beginning to crack and grey under the pressure of the void.

It took him a long time, but eventually he was free.

Quill inhaled shakily, clenching a hand around the frigid porch rail in front of him in an effort to ground himself.

He hadn’t given himself time to grieve. He hadn’t given himself time to cry, or mourn the loss of the most important thing in the world that had happned to him– You.

That was the first thing he did when his body was returned to an unfamiliar universe.

He sobbed. He yelled. He destroyed, slashed, murdered, and flattened mountains in his sorrowful rage.

The black markings on his body were a constant reminder of what he’d been through– what he’d done to you.

He had been a coward. A foolish, idiotic coward for not telling you how he felt– potential consequences be damned. 

But he was long past the stage of self-pity. After all, how could he have known?

[another-manganime-lover]

The Ultimate Guide to HVAC: Everything You Required to Know

Introduction to HVAC Solutions

A/C (Heating, Air Flow, and A/c) systems are important for keeping a comfy and healthy interior setting. Whether you are a property owner or an organization proprietor, understanding the essentials of cooling and heating systems can help you make notified decisions concerning installation, upkeep, and power performance. In this detailed guide, we will dig right into the various components of heating and cooling systems, their functions, and the significance of normal maintenance.The heating part

of a heating and cooling system makes certain that your room continues to be cozy during the cooler months. It can be powered by various gas sources, such as gas, electricity, or oil. Air flow is accountable for distributing fresh air throughout your structure, removing stale air and contaminants. Finally, a/c aids to cool your space during heat, maintaining a comfy temperature. By incorporating these 3 features, cooling and heating systems give a comfortable living or workplace all year round.The Value of Normal Maintenance Regular upkeep is important for

making sure the ideal efficiency and durability

of your a/c system. Overlooking maintenance can lead to a decline in effectiveness, enhanced power usage, and possible breakdowns. To avoid these problems, it is recommended to arrange yearly assessments and tune-ups with a specialist HVAC technician.During maintenance visits, the service technician will certainly do various jobs, including cleaning or replacing filters, examining and cleaning coils, inspecting refrigerant degrees, and guaranteeing correct air flow. These measures not just enhance the efficiency of your a/c system but also add to better indoor air top quality and lower the danger of breakdowns. Furthermore, well-maintained heating and cooling systems have a tendency to be a lot more energy-efficient, leading to lower utility expenses and a lowered carbon footprint.In conclusion, comprehending the essentials of HVAC systems and the significance of regular upkeep is important for every property owner or company owner. By taking proper treatment of your heating and cooling system, you can ensure its optimal efficiency, improve indoor air quality, and save cash over time. Remain tuned for our upcoming articles, where we will dive deeper right into specific facets of a/c systems and give useful pointers and methods to maximize their efficiency.

Read more here boiler service near me

[theretirementstory]

Bonjour à tous, it’s 10c and we are due 16c it’s going to be cloudy but who cares as long as it stays dry.

It has been a week of ups and downs , not only for me but the weather has changed so much from dry warm days to rain and winds, autumn has arrived!

The cleaning lady has been and worked her magic, I am so pleased to have her as it means that I can do washing, ironing, shopping and cooking plus spend time knitting, reading or just relaxing. Talking of knitting, I have finished the babies hat, have finished two pairs of fingerless gloves (they still need stitching up) and am back to working on the baby blanket.

The plumber made his visit but it wasn’t to do a full service of the boiler 😩 instead he had noticed the reduced flow of water and brought his “special equipment” which descaled the pipes meaning I now have fast flowing hot water everywhere in the house. I really must ring him to ask if he can service the boiler for me.

Maud (my podiatrist) visited last Sunday afternoon and just before she left she booked me in for an appointment. So Tuesday evening I went to have my feet pampered. It really is a great feeling going in feeling you have weights on your feet and coming out walking on air.

I arranged for my friend Sarah to visit me this week. I said lunch would just comprise of sandwiches but she was happy with that. I prepared the sandwiches so that they just had to be assembled in the plate for serving (memories of being a cricket tea lady came flooding back). We spent a lovely few hours chatting and eating.

I was buzzing along just fine, I even ordered my new printer and when it arrives I need to install it on my laptop, I am praying this can be done via USB rather than with a CD. Then like a bolt out of the blue I had a telephone call from the oncologist. Now as if that didn’t knock the wind out of my sails he told me I had to attend hospital the following day, I misunderstood and thought I was going for a scan. I didn’t hear him mention a time for the appointment so I waited for a phone call. About two thirty I rang the secretary, no it wasn’t a scan it was an appointment in radiotherapy at 9a.m.!!!!! Well I rang my usual taxi company, oh no taxi available, rang another company and the same reply. By this time I was on the ceiling, could I drive there, where was the radiotherapy department???? So much was going through my head so I messaged Anie, Maud and Monique. Monique finally got me fixed up with a taxi but I told her I didn’t have a transport voucher, she laughed and said don’t worry the driver will get one from the hospital. So I came down from the ceiling and relaxed. Next morning I was up bright and early, shutters were opened before sunrise, and the taxi arrived prompt at 8a.m. Now it was a little bit strange, the taxi driver’s face was familiar even though I haven’t used that taxi firm before. I think I have seen him in the bar but it could have been his doppelgänger 😂😂. Anyway, we got to the hospital where the appointment was for a consultation with the “head honcho” of radiotherapy who informed me that in order to “eradicate” (his word) this last bit of cancer I would need radiotherapy. I was buzzing again, I asked if I was having the scan that day, he told me to slow down there were other things to discuss. Anyway I am going for the CT scan next week and will then be given my appointments and transport voucher. As this node is in my intestine I have to have a special diet (not another one), yes indeed and all the food I eat whole meal bread, cereal, vegetables and nuts are all on my forbidden list 😩😩. I am hoping that this will only be my diet for about 4 weeks as I know I cannot stomach poached fish with plain boiled potatoes, rice or pasta. My breakfast will be biscottes aargh I detest those things but needs must I suppose. Anything will be preferable to carrying this “little blighter” around with me.

I have taken to wearing a hat, not just to keep my head warm but also to hide my receding hairline. Anyway, I am sick of waking up and finding myself looking so disheveled, I called into the hairdressers yesterday to make an appointment for her to cut the remaining hair short. I didn’t expect the reception I got, the hairdresser gave me the biggest smile, asked if I was OK and made the appointment for 5pm on Tuesday when there would be no-one else in the salon. I came out feeling wonderful, people are so kind going out of their way to accommodate me (and people like me I suspect too).

When I arrived in this town over 6 years ago there was a public swimming pool which I think had seen better days. It was demolished and a new aquatic centre has replaced it. There is also a new sports complex (see photo above) with football pitches, tennis courts, running track and other activities, the town is thriving.

So it’s time for the records that mean something to me, the first one this week is from 1984, Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) by Phil Collins. Think it has a lot to do with the video, which features Tulum in Mexico which brings back memories of my holiday in Mexico and visit to Tulum.

The next song is from 1998 it’s Bryan Adams featuring Mel C and the song is When You’re Gone. There is just something about this song that appeals to me.

“The Trainee Solicitor” has been unwell this week and I got an idea of how much my son’s have worried about me being ill, when I have worried about him. I hope that you are feeling better today.

During the heavy winds and rain from Storm Babet on Friday, “The Daddy” had a run in with a kerb on a roundabout. He is taking his car to get new tyres put on today as one tyre was really badly damaged. I hope it’s not as windy/rainy for you this morning.

“The Ex-Graduate” felt unwell one day but since then has been playing nurse to “The Trainee Solicitor”. We are all into reading books and she has finished a book which had a twist in the ending so she found that rather enjoyable.

My grandchildren are with “The Daddy” this weekend and my amazing granddaughter, a mere 5 years old, attends after school club where they have been drawing pictures for a competition. The competition was entitled “Perfect Pets” and after school clubs from all over the UK who have signed up for this will have the opportunity for the children’s pictures to be judged and some chosen to be entered in books of the same title. Well my granddaughter is only going to have her picture of her “Perfect Pet” entered in one of the books. How wonderful, what an achievement! Well done that young lady 😊.

Now I am used to acorns and their little “cups” but when I parked in town yesterday (under a tree) something bounced on the roof and closer investigation I spotted this “giant” acorn. I then inspected the tree and found it’s “cup” (see photos below) nothing like our English oak.

I wish you all a good week until next week.

[luzztheultimate]

The Importance of Expert Pipes Solutions: Keeping Your Residence Safe and Comfortable

""

When it involves keeping a safe and also comfy house, one of one of the most essential elements is plumbing. From repairing leakages and obstructions to installing new components and also appliances, correct pipes is essential for guaranteeing a trusted supply of tidy water and also effective water drainage. Nonetheless, lots of home owners take too lightly the importance of expert pipes services, deciding instead to deal with pipes concerns themselves or employ unlicensed contractors. This can bring about pricey and hazardous problems down the line, consisting of water damages, mold growth, and also health hazards.Professional plumbing

solutions offer a range of benefits that DIY or unlicensed work merely can not match. Firstly, certified plumbing professionals have the training, know-how, and equipment to detect as well as fix pipes issues quickly and properly. They can identify underlying issues that might be triggering recurring issues, such as outdated pipelines or defective components, and advise the very best solutions for your certain requirements. Furthermore, professional plumbing services typically feature warranties or assurances, giving you satisfaction that the work will be done right the very first time. Generally, purchasing expert pipes services is a clever choice for any type of property owner aiming to maintain a safe, practical, and comfortable living space.In verdict

, whether you're managing a small leak or intending a significant pipes project, it is essential to prioritize professional pipes services. By working with qualified plumbers with the ideal skills and experience, you can guarantee that your home's pipes remains in excellent hands as well as that your household's health as well as security are protected. So don't wait to reach out to a relied on pipes service today as well as take pleasure in the benefits of a reliable and also efficient plumbing system!

Read more here boiler installation

[pinkpixeltechnologynerd]

BOB !!! DAY 2

Dear fucking god the CEO of picrew is coming after me god help me. Right now it's 26/4/1986, I’m hiding in the boiler rooms from the crazy fucking psychopath. Sonic. Right by the entrance of the backrooms, btw it's 28-10-1929. The oil industry is booming and I'm having the fucking best time of my life. By the way, this story was sponsored by Raid Shadows Legends, also Writing's not easy. That's why Grammarly can help. This sentence is grammatically correct, but it's wordy, and hard to read. It undermines the writer's message and the word choice is bland. Grammarly's cutting-edge technology helps you craft compelling, understandable writing that makes an impact on your reader. Are you ready to give it a try? Installation is simple and free. Visit Grammarly.com today! I have no idea where this is going and what is that giant eye in the sky is, actually what color is the sky?  Anyway, this has been fun but that’s just a theory, a BOOK theory. SO, let’s go out with the boys to get some BEANS.