#Cleaning Company Oxford

[alliancestaroxfordshire]

A Guide to Interacting with Cleaning Services in Oxford 

When you hire the commercial cleaning services to clean your space in Oxford, it is important that you work well with them so that your space is clean and well maintained. Whether it is an office, a retail store or an industrial property, there are some factors that will help in the maximization of the cleaning service. The following are some of the ways in which one can interact with the cleaning team. 

1. First of all, one should define which sections of cleaning he will need for his commercial premises. 

The first step which should be taken if you intend to engage the services of commercial cleaning services in Oxford is to assess your cleaning needs. Each enterprise has its requirements, it may require daily cleaning, weekly or monthly cleaning, or some special services such as window washing or carpet cleaning. Be able to list tasks that call for attention and make sure that these are adequately communicated to the cleaning service provider. In any case, when a detailed scope of work is given, then there will be no confusion between the cleaning team and yourself. 

2. Establish a Cleaning Schedule 

In matters of cleanliness, the word ‘regularity’ can be said to be the order of the day. Consult with the cleaning company of your choice in Oxford and consult on the working hours that the cleaning services are to be delivered to fit your business. Cleaning can be done daily, weekly or monthly and as pointed out above, it is desirable to have a fixed cleaning schedule so that your working environment is always clean without having to close shop for cleaning. 

3. The other aspect is to provide access and clear instructions to the client. 

To make sure that cleaning team can easily do their job, ensure that all areas that require cleaning are easily accessible. This comprises of keys, security codes or badges if any is required. Further, provide specific guidelines on which parts should be focused more, or which parts should be avoided during cleaning. The more the team has information about your needs, the better they are placed to offer you the services you require.

4. Maintain Open Communication 

There is always need to be very specific when it comes to engaging commercial cleaning services in Oxford. Ensure you call the cleaning team or the service provider to convey your worry or any other additional services that you need. In case you notice some changes in the cleaning requirements or in case there are special events that require extra cleaning, please let us know beforehand. This is because availability of open communication implies that your space is cleaned to the extent that you desire. 

5. Monitor and Provide Feedback 

If you want to be sure that the commercial cleaning services in Oxford are satisfactory you should ensure that you spend some time to supervise the cleaning team. Check your premises frequently and share the results with the cleaning service company. Positive feedback is used as a means of rewarding the positive behaviors while constructive criticism is used where there is need to correct some behaviors. 

6. Build a Long-Term Partnership 

Finally, the last one is to cultivate the commercial cleaning services in Oxford as a long-term business partnership. It is rather beneficial in every way because the cleaning service provider will know your requirements even more as time passes. This is advantageous since they can offer your business a better cleaning service because they have the touch and your business environment will always be clean. 

Conclusion 

Observing these best practices will help you get the best from the commercial cleaning services in Oxford. When you know your needs and maintain a good relationship with your cleaning service provider then you can be assured that your business environment is always clean. In need of professional cleaning services for your business premise? Alliance Clean Oxford is the best commercial cleaner in Oxford that you can entrust with the cleaning of your business premises. Call us today to know how we can help you keep your environment clean and germ-free.

[hp-hcs]

the rules (Chapter One of The Doll) — slytherin boys x gn! ‘the boy’ (2016)! reader

Requests: open

tws: dolls, obviously; reader referred to as ‘it’ (presumed inanimate); mentions of past child character death(s); mentions of a house fire—implied arson; violence; & murder

based entirely off of the 2016 film ‘the boy’. very few things in this world are able to scare me more than that fucking doll

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“This house is freaking me out, man,” Theodore grumbles, setting down his trunk in one of the guest bedrooms. Mattheo snickers from his spot where he’s leaning against the doorway.

“What, you afraid it’s haunted or something? We went to school with ghosts for eight years, dude.”

“Oh, shut up,” Theodore rolls his eyes. “Not haunted, just… offputting. This feels like the kind of house that has like, secret stairways and trapdoors and shit.”

“The L/Ns didn’t draw their inspiration for their house from H. H. Holmes, dipshit,” Blaise scoffs as he elbows his way past Mattheo to get to his room.

The trio snicker at each other as they all drop their suitcases and trunks in their respective bedrooms and reconvene in the foyer of the massively ancient house.

“I’m just saying,” Theodore was explaining to Blaise as they made their way downstairs. “Nobody chooses to make their house look like a Victorian dollhouse if they aren’t fucking crazy.”

“Guys?” Enzo interrupts timidly. “We have a fucking problem.”

“Oh, I so called it.”

“Shut up, Theo. What’s the issue, Enz?” Mattheo drawls.

Enzo holds up the note that the L/Ns had left them that provided instructions on how they were to take care of and clean the house.

The boys had opted for this choice—staying in and cleaning up some wealthy family’s creepy house over the summer—instead of serving time in Azkaban for their stances in the war.

(It had seemed like the better choice at the time.)

“They’re even more insane than we thought, guys,” Enzo shakes his head. “They got a creepy as fuck doll that they think is their real kid, or something.”

“Yeah no, I’m out,” Theo mumbles, putting his hands up in an ‘I surrender’ pose and taking a step back.

“Fuck you, if we have to do this, you have to too,” Mattheo snaps. “Where’s this doll?”

Enzo points to one of the faded decorative chairs that flank the doorway to the parlor. Sure enough, a terrifying, two-foot tall, porcelain doll sits there, dressed up in an expecting-company outfit with tiny little leather oxfords to match.

“Yep, I agree with Theo. I say we get the fuck outta here,” Blaise mumbles, shaking his head with wide eyes.

“Its name is…” Enzo scans the letter. “Y/N. Oh, wonderful, the L/Ns wrote out its entire daily schedule for us. That was so thoughtful of them.”

Enzo falls silent as he skims the letter further, shaking his head the more he reads. “They’ve got some weird rules, guys,”

“Do I dare ask what they are?” Theo mumbles weakly.

“‘Number one: No guests.’ Well there goes my weekend plans,” he mutters sarcastically. “‘Number two: Never leave Y/N alone.’”

“We’re so getting murdered here,” Blaise grumbles, receiving a sharp glare from Mattheo.

“‘Number three: Save meals in freezer.’”

“Country house. That makes perfect sense,” Mattheo scoffs flippantly, ever the skeptic.

“‘Number four: Never cover Y/N’s face.’ Oh my Merlin, we’re going to die here. ‘Number five: Read a bedtime story.’”

“Honestly, you’re all so dramatic,” Mattheo rolls his eyes. “This is probably just some weird way for them to deal with some trauma they have. Do we know if the L/Ns have any kids? Actual ones?”

“Just one, but they died,” a new voice chimes in. Draco steps into the foyer, folding up his umbrella and shrugging off his soaked overcoat. “Sorry I’m late. Went into town to buy cigarettes, and the guy at the gas station told me all of the gossip surrounding this house. Anyway, why are we asking about the L/Ns’ chil- what the fuck is that?!”

“This is Y/N,” Theodore says plainly. “Come on and make your acquaintance, hm?”

“I’m good, thanks though.”

Enzo clears his throat loudly, getting the two to stop bickering. “‘Number six: Play music loud.’”

“So that we can’t hear them coming when they sneak up on us to kill us,” Blaise bemoans, pressing one hand against his forehead and mumbling under his breath something about how Azkaban wouldn’t have been that bad, would it?

“‘Number seven: Clean the traps.’ Wonderful. ‘Number eight: Only Regulus brings deliveries.’”

“I met him,” Draco interjects again. “At the gas station. He introduced himself. He’s the grocery boy for the L/Ns.”

“Good to know. ‘Number nine: Y/N is never to leave.’”

“We’re fucked,” Theo shrugs, nonplussed.

Enzo gulps. “‘Rule number ten: Kiss goodnight.’”

~~~ Chapter Two <3

[addictedtostationery]

Review of Diamine Shimmering Ink

So finally got around to trying this ink. This is my first time using a shimmer ink. I purchased this bottle when I was in Oxford and I wanted to use it in my Pilot Custom 74 that has a broad nib. I had read a few articles recommending using shimmering inks only with medium or broad nibs. So, I thought perfect! However, I had been having issues with my Pilot Custom 74. It’s beautiful smooth like most Pilots but this nib kept skipping! It was really annoying me. Nothing looked out of line so I gave it a good wash through, let it dry overnight, and packed it away thinking I will probably have to sell it.

The two inks that I had used in this fountain pen before the wash through were both Pilot Iroshizuku; colors chiku-rin and yama-budo. Both gorgeous inks. Chiku-rin definitely not as wet as yama-budo. But this fountain pen was skipping on the downstroke with both colors. So, back to this shimmering ink. So, today I fill her up with this gorgeous color and perfection! Gorgeous, buttery smooth, no skipping at all. So, was it the ink or did a good flush through and clean sort it. Anyhow, this color is insane and I think I am now addicted to shimmering inks. Lol.

Fountain pen - Pilot Custom 74 (Green) 14K Nib <B>

Ink - Diamine Shimmering Magical Forest

Paper - Traveler’s Company Notebook insert 001 - Lined

[officiallordvetinari]

Below are 10 featured Wikipedia articles. Links and descriptions are below the cut.

The election in 1860 for the position of Boden Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford was a competition between two candidates offering different approaches to Sanskrit scholarship. One was Monier Williams, an Oxford-educated Englishman who had spent 14 years teaching Sanskrit to those preparing to work in British India for the East India Company. The other, Max Müller, was a German-born lecturer at Oxford specialising in comparative philology, the science of language.

Adolfo Farsari (Italian pronunciation: [aˈdolfo farˈsaːri]; 11 February 1841 – 7 February 1898) was an Italian photographer based in Yokohama, Japan. His studio, the last notable foreign-owned studio in Japan, was one of the country's largest and most prolific commercial photographic firms. Largely due to Farsari's exacting technical standards and his entrepreneurial abilities, it had a significant influence on the development of photography in Japan.

Girl Pat was a small fishing trawler, based at the Lincolnshire port of Grimsby, that in 1936 was the subject of a media sensation when its captain took it on an unauthorised transatlantic voyage. The escapade ended in Georgetown, British Guiana, with the arrest of the captain, George "Dod" Orsborne, and his brother. The pair were later imprisoned for the theft of the vessel.

Abu Muhammad Hasan al-Kharrat (Arabic: حسن الخراط Ḥassan al-Kharrāṭ; 1861 – 25 December 1925) was one of the principal Syrian rebel commanders of the Great Syrian Revolt against the French Mandate. His main area of operations was in Damascus and its Ghouta countryside. He was killed in the struggle and is considered a hero by Syrians.

Marjorie Cameron Parsons Kimmel (April 23, 1922 – July 24, 1995), who professionally used the mononym Cameron, was an American artist, poet, actress and occultist. A follower of Thelema, the new religious movement established by the English occultist Aleister Crowley, she was married to rocket pioneer and fellow Thelemite Jack Parsons.

Maya stelae (singular stela) are monuments that were fashioned by the Maya civilization of ancient Mesoamerica. They consist of tall, sculpted stone shafts and are often associated with low circular stones referred to as altars, although their actual function is uncertain. Many stelae were sculpted in low relief, although plain monuments are found throughout the Maya region. The sculpting of these monuments spread throughout the Maya area during the Classic Period (250–900 AD), and these pairings of sculpted stelae and circular altars are considered a hallmark of Classic Maya civilization.

The North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is an area of European importance for wildlife in Norfolk, England. It comprises 7,700 ha (19,027 acres) of the county's north coast from just west of Holme-next-the-Sea to Kelling, and is additionally protected through Natura 2000, Special Protection Area (SPA) listings; it is also part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The North Norfolk Coast is also designated as a wetland of international importance on the Ramsar list and most of it is a Biosphere Reserve.

Preening is a maintenance behaviour found in birds that involves the use of the beak to position feathers, interlock feather barbules that have become separated, clean plumage, and keep ectoparasites in check. Feathers contribute significantly to a bird's insulation, waterproofing and aerodynamic flight, and so are vital to its survival. Because of this, birds spend considerable time each day maintaining their feathers, primarily through preening.

The Wells and Wellington affair was a dispute about the publication of three papers in the Australian Journal of Herpetology in 1983 and 1985. The periodical was established in 1981 as a peer-reviewed scientific journal focusing on the study of amphibians and reptiles (herpetology). Its first two issues were published under the editorship of Richard W. Wells, a first-year biology student at Australia's University of New England. Wells then ceased communicating with the journal's editorial board for two years before suddenly publishing three papers without peer review in the journal in 1983 and 1985. Coauthored by himself and high school teacher Cliff Ross Wellington, the papers reorganized the taxonomy of all of Australia's and New Zealand's amphibians and reptiles and proposed over 700 changes to the binomial nomenclature of the region's herpetofauna.

Wulfhere or Wulfar (died 675) was King of Mercia from 658 until 675 AD. He was the first Christian king of all of Mercia, though it is not known when or how he converted from Anglo-Saxon paganism. His accession marked the end of Oswiu of Northumbria's overlordship of southern England, and Wulfhere extended his influence over much of that region.

[totowlff]

chapter seventeen — i'm not entirely to blame

➝ it's so easy to lie to yourself...

➝ word count: 3,5k

➝ warnings: mentions of smut

Toto lived in an extremely quiet, charming neighborhood just outside of Oxford, in a little hamlet called Boars Hill. His house was set on two acres of land that was mostly surrounded by trees, with a spacious and well-maintained back garden. Since the first time Cassie had visited his house, when Ingrid was still just an idea in their heads, she had a good feeling about it. She could even see herself walking down the narrow country roads pushing Ingrid in her pram, or watching Ingrid romp around the back garden as she and Toto sat watching her in chairs on the patio, just like a real family.

“No, Cassie, we’re not a real family”, she scolded herself as she made a left turn onto Bedwells Heath, looking carefully through the trees for Toto’s drive. She’d missed it once or twice before. 

It wasn’t that they weren’t already a family of sorts; they’d come together to have a child, which meant they would be linked together in something resembling a familial unit, just not in the traditional sense. They were just friends, who were going to be parents together, but without the affection couples normally had for each other.

Except, though, sometimes their feelings for each other, at least for Cassie’s part, felt bigger than she would be willing to admit. 

Plus, there was the sex…

The memory of Thursday night sent a rush of heat running over Cassie's skin. After bringing her to climax twice and giving her a few minutes to catch her breath, she felt the same heat as before. Just as she was going to remark on the sensation, she was interrupted by Toto as he kissed her again, his hands holding her tightly before sliding to the spot between her legs and making her come a third time.

However, when Cassie made a move to return the favor, Toto stopped her.

— Tonight is about you, Cassie. Just about you.

As she parked her car in front of Toto’s house, she clenched her jaw as she remembered the way he had cleaned her up and put her to bed, kissing her gently on the forehead before he left her flat, ignoring her pleas for him to stay. Seeing him leave hurt more than it should have, but there was nothing that could be done.

Toto would never be hers completely.

As she stepped out of the car, she looked up at the front of the house, admiring the traditional-yet-modern exterior, especially the way the front of the house looked like a circular tower, with a large panoramic window on the top floor. A vision popped into her mind — she and Toto sitting on the sofa together, his arm around her shoulders, her snuggled into Toto’s side. No work to do, no races on the other side of the world to get off to, just the two of them enjoying each other’s company, watching their daughter play with dolls or blocks on the colorful area rug as a summer rainstorm rolled through the meadows surrounding Boars Hill. 

A perfect, quiet afternoon. 

She shook her head as she pressed the button for the doorbell, chiding herself for letting her imagination get carried away again. A few seconds later, it opened, revealing the smiling face of the house’s owner. 

— You know you don't need to ring the doorbell, right? — Toto said, smiling. He was wearing a chambray button-down and a pair of loose-fitting khaki trousers. His shirt was completely unbuttoned, exposing a plain white t-shirt underneath. To Cassie’s surprise, he was also wearing a pair of glasses with round, black frames. She wasn’t sure he’d ever seen him dressed quite so casually. Even when he had accompanied her to the clinic, he tended to wear a pressed Oxford shirt and some sort of dress trousers. She knew he occasionally wore glasses, but it was rare.

— I didn’t want to seem presumptuous  — Cassie replied — Besides, I don't live here.

— Not yet. But you will.

— Temporarily.

— Yes, but I still hope you see it as home while you’re here — he replied, opening the door wider — Come in and make yourself comfortable, please. 

With a small smile on her face, Cassie walked past him, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek. Leaving her bag in the entrance hall, she waited for Toto to close the door to follow him through the house, stopping for a few seconds to look at the compass rose tiled into the floor of the entranceway. She had always found that detail of the house very charming.

— Are you hungry? I can make some tea before…

— It’s fine. I ate before leaving home.

— Are you sure?

— I'm fine, really — she replied, trying to reassure him.

Toto let out a sigh.

— Well, if you don't need anything, could you come upstairs with me?

Cassie nodded, following Toto up the stairs to the second floor, where the nursery was. He had shown it to her in the first few weeks of her pregnancy. However, instead of turning right, towards the door of the nursery, he turned left, opening the door and asking her to step inside.

 It was a large suite with a king-size bed facing a large window, which had an impressive view of the garden at the back of the house. There were also two armchairs next to a fireplace, as well as a large painting above it of an Alpine landscape, perhaps in Austria. Staring at the painting Cassie realized which room she was standing in.

— Why are we here in your bedroom?

— Because it will be yours. Well, while you're here.

She blinked.

— But… This is your bedroom, I couldn’t possibly…

— There are three other bedrooms I can sleep in. It’s no trouble.

— Toto, I can’t…

— Cassie, you need to be comfortable, especially after the birth. This room is big, has a very comfortable bed and a private bathroom en suite. Also, it’s the one that’s closest to the nursery.

— I don't need a big room. Any place will do, even the nursery. We can have the decorator put…

He shook his head.

— No, we’re not going to put your bed in the nursery.

— But if I stay in the nursery I’ll be close to…

— You won’t be able to get any rest if you stay in the nursery, Cassie. You won't sleep because you'll be keeping an eye on the baby. You know that being fatigued will not help you recover after the baby is born, and it will just make taking care of her more difficult.

Cassie clenched her jaw and looked away from him. He wasn't wrong. If she was with Ingrid constantly, she’d be on high-alert at all times, and wouldn’t ever be able to get any rest, even when she needed it. She would hate for something bad to happen to the baby because she was tired.

— Okay — she conceded — I'm not going to sleep in the nursery, you’re right. But, I'm not going to take you out of your bedroom. I can stay anywhere else, but not here.

Toto sighed.

— Okay, come with me.

The two went to another bedroom, a little smaller, but no less comfortable-looking. The minimalist, almost-generic decor gave the impression that it was just a guest room, not used very often; everything looked almost brand-new.

— The only problem with this room is that it doesn’t have a private bathroom, so you will have to use the one in the hallway. Otherwise, it’s just as nice as the master bedroom. 

— It's great — she smiled, heading over to the bed and sitting on the mattress to try it out. Toto sat next to her, a small smile on his face.

— I'll ask Bertha to get everything ready for you to settle in next week.

— Next week? — Cassie said, her eyes going wide.

— Yes, so you have time to get comfortable and…

— Toto, I was going to move in after I’m discharged from the hospital with the baby, I couldn’t possibly…

— But there are so many things for us to do before the baby arrives — Toto exclaimed — We have to tidy up the nursery once it’s ready, buy more clothes, get the car seat, get all of the baby’s things organized, pack your bags for the hospital, you still have doctor’s appointments, we have to go to visit the maternity ward…

— I don't need to move here for that.

— And how are Bertha and I going to help you organize things if you’re not here?

Cassie raised an eyebrow.

— With your hands?

Toto gave a sarcastic laugh.

— Very funny.

She laughed.

— I know.

— The point is that, with you here, it will be easier to make decisions about things, especially regarding organization and routine in the first few days. Furthermore, I —Toto hesitated for a few seconds.

— You… What?

— I wanted to enjoy this time with you. You know, the…Nesting period, I think they call it. Plus, doing things for Ingrid without you is strange. Every time I buy things for the baby, the salespeople ask where my wife is, so I lie and say that it is for a friend’s daughter, because if I tell them it is for my daughter, they will want to know more about her, and I don’t want them to get the wrong idea and that they will think trying to have a family this way is strange, and…

Cassie sighed in frustration, taking Toto’s hand in hers.

— We're not doing anything wrong, Toto. We are only doing what we want, which is having a family. Just because we’re not doing it in the most traditional manner doesn’t mean we’ll be any less of a family. Trust me, a traditional family isn’t always a happy one. I am speaking from experience, so trust me on that.

He looked at her, a small smile on his face.

— But we can do things better, Cassie.

Something inside her jumped, her heart pounding in her chest.

— Better?

— Yes. Move in with me.

— Toto…

— I'll feel a lot better if you're here, and Bertha can help keep an eye on you when I'm traveling.

— Toto, I'm not a child who needs to be supervised.

— But you have a child inside you. And she needs to be supervised.

— Yes, by me.

— And by Bertha — he said, giving one of those mischievous smiles that made her heart race. Seeing Cassie rolling her eyes, he added — And there's no point in making that face, Cassandra.

— You sound like I'm incapable of taking care of myself...

— I’m only saying this because I am concerned about the well-being of the woman who — he paused for a few seconds, as if he was evaluating the words he was going to use before continuing — Is pregnant with my daughter. That's all, Cassie.

Cassie was about to answer him when the doorbell rang downstairs. Toto stood up, saying that he was going to meet the decorator and she should wait for them in the nursery. Walking down the hallway with one hand resting on her stomach, she tried to shake off the anxiety that was building up by breathing deeply.

When she stepped into the nursery, she was a little surprised by the amount of things in the room already. In addition to the stroller, baby carrier, and the package of things from Mercedes-Benz that Ola had sent them after Toto had told him he was going to be a father, there were bags of baby clothes, and several boxes printed with the logo of a well-known toy shop in London. She had pulled a onesie out of a bag to look at, running her fingers over the screen printed lettering that read “future CEO” on it when she heard footsteps behind her.

— Well, this is the room — Toto said to the woman next to him. She was quite a bit shorter than him, with dark hair, styled into a pixie cut. She had glasses with dark-rimmed frames, and was holding a briefcase in one hand and a tablet in another.  — And this is... Cassandra.

She dropped her clothes and went to the designer, smiling.

— Nice to meet you, Cassandra — she said, extending her hand to shake — I'm Taylor.

— Likewise, Taylor. You can call me Cassie, by the way.

— As you wish, Cassie — the woman replied, smiling — Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to just ask a few questions so I can get to know both of you. For starters, how long have you been married?

Toto’s eyes went straight to the floor, and Cassie noticed it. He was definitely uncomfortable with that question. And that was what made Cassie smile at the woman.

— A few months. We decided to make it official after we discovered the little one was on its way.

The response made Toto look up suddenly, looking somewhat shocked at what she had said. However, if Taylor had noticed that reaction, she didn't notice it.

— Oh, that's great. And have you lived here for a long time?

— I moved here in 2012 — he answered. His entire demeanor had changed since her arrival. If he was cheery before, now he seemed distant and distracted — I did some renovations, but nothing major or thinking about a function for this specific room.

Taylor walked around the room a bit, taking photos with her phone, analyzing the walls and the window for a few seconds. Placing her bag on the floor, she took the tablet and its stylus out of its case. After a few taps, she began to scribble something on the device's screen, a thoughtful expression on her face.

— Is the baby a boy or a girl?

— Girl — Cassie replied.

— Do you have anything in mind regarding decoration or colors?

— No pink — Cassie replied, definitively — No unicorns and rainbows.

The woman smiled slightly, writing something down on the tablet. Then, she began to explain the ideas, as well as the trends that could be incorporated into the room and that would make their routine with the baby easier. She also discussed some of the pictures of cribs, closets and changing tables that Toto had sent her. Finally, she asked if they had a theme in mind or if they were thinking about something neutral.

— Well, I do — Cassie said, making Toto look at him — When we decided to become parents, the first thing Toto did was buy a plush bunny, and I don’t know why, but… It has stuck with me. I think that would be cute.

— Do you agree, Toto?

— Yes. Maybe something with rabbits — he mumbled, crossing his arms. 

After asking a few more questions, taking measurements and making a joke about how much stuff they already had for the baby considering that Cassie wasn't even halfway through her pregnancy, Taylor said goodbye to them, stating that she would send new drawings with her ideas to the nursery by email to Toto. Then, politely, he motioned for the woman to follow him back to the house’s hall of entrance.

Alone in the nursery again, Cassie took time to stare at the white walls. She caressed her belly slowly, imagining herself in a comfortable rocking chair, breastfeeding her daughter. She imagined showing her the pictures of rabbits on the wall, the lamp on the ceiling, the cozy crib. She imagined herself changing her clothes and diapers, while talking and making faces at her, making her daughter giggle.

The room would be perfect.

The footsteps that sounded behind her made her look back, a small smile on her face. Toto had returned to his room in silence, with his eyes lost on the walls and his hands in his pants pocket.

— What did you think of her ideas? — Cassie asked, approaching him.

— Good — he replied, his voice flat.

— I liked the idea of indirect lighting that she suggested, to bring a more cozy atmosphere to the room, but I'm still in doubt about the style of the decoration, whether something more classical or something more modern is better — she continued, walking around the room — But her idea of using niches here to decorate is fantastic, isn't it?

Toto nodded, his gaze directed at the swaying treetops outside the window. It was the confirmation she needed to realize that he was strange, distant, even a little cold. And he had been that way ever since Taylor suggested the two of them were in a relationship.

She stepped toward Toto carefully.

— Toto? — Cassie asked softly, his eyes meeting hers — Look, if you're feeling bad about what I said, I just thought it was easier to lie than to try and explain our situation, I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable...

— Cassie, it’s not that, it’s just — he said, interrupting her abruptly — I’m just frustrated. Fuck.

— Why? — she asked, softly.

He ran a hand across his forehead, clearly uncomfortable.

— Because, even with all my work, all my effort, everything I said, not just to you, but to the lawyer and to myself, I failed. 

— Failed? What do you mean?

— I failed to uphold our agreement by getting involved with you.

She swallowed hard, watching as Toto ran a hand through his hair, looking like he was about to come unglued. He was feeling guilty, but it was all Cassie’s fault. It was her fault that she hadn't been able to simply ignore her own horniness.

And it was consuming her.

— I know I shouldn’t have asked you that on Thursday...

— But you did — Toto grunted, looking a little irritated. His reaction made Cassie look down, feeling embarrassed. “I deserved that”, she thought.

— Toto…

— But the problem isn't you — he said, making her raise her head quickly, meeting his eyes — The problem here is me.

— But…

— You are in a vulnerable moment, feeling the effect of hormones, and all of that. It's not your fault for feeling urges and desires. But I'm to blame for not respecting the boundaries we set in the conversation with the lawyer. I should have said no to you, Cassie.

— And why didn't you? — she asked softly.

Toto stared at her silently, as if he was measuring his words. With every second, the tension inside Cassie grew.

— You said you needed my help. And I promised to help you. I was simply keeping my word — he finally replied.

— Then why are you so upset?

— Cassandra…

— After all, you were just keeping your word, simple as that.

— It's not that simple, Cassandra! — Toto exclaimed. She didn't know the reason, but her heart started to beat harder, her palms sweating. Hearing a man raise her voice, even as innocuous as the situation was, reminded her of her father, as well as the loud fights and arguments they had.

— And why not? — she managed to ask, her throat tightening.

— Because we made a legal agreement, stating that we would not have any romantic involvement.

— You know that's just a piece of paper, right? I'm not going to sue you for having sex with me.

— That’s not the point. We made a commitment, Cassandra, I had committed to giving you support and support to bear and raise our daughter. Of course, we started the wrong way, but I had already got it into my head that it was necessary, after all, to have a child, you have to have sex...

— Actually, there are other ways…

— For two fertile and healthy adults, having sex is the first option. But that's not the point, Cassie. My point is that, after doing what is necessary, it was my intention that things returned to what we had agreed upon.

He hesitated, running his hand over his face again. After a sigh, Toto continued.

— I like you, Cassie. You are an incredible, courageous, intelligent woman… I would never have a child with you if I didn't like you, but we went too far.

Cassie clenched her jaw. She couldn't say anything, the pain in her chest growing by the second.

— I think it’s better for us to… Put a limit on this.

— A limit… — she stammered.

— Yes, we need to re-establish our boundaries here. I will continue to support you, taking care of you. That won't change. The idea of you moving here still stands, everything remains the same. But, no intimacy. No kissing, no sex.

The thought of never kissing Toto again made Cassie's chest hurt, as did the thought of never feeling him touching her in a tender, sensual way again. To think that she would never again see him the way she had in those two nights was almost suffocating. Cassie had no idea how she would be able to move on knowing she would never have him again.

She felt like arguing, telling him that she was incapable of doing that because she was completely in love with him and was willing to tear up any paper and face anything to have him for herself. Maybe this was the time to say the three words she most wanted to say to him. 

Yes, that was the time.

— Toto…

— Are you okay with that? Can we go back to just being friends?

“No, Cassandra”, she told herself.

— Yes, we can.

[ladyanaschmidt]

Sicilian Lemon - Clay Beresford +18 IcePlay

I hope you like it, English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes.

The bar was practically deserted that Tuesday night. The rain had awakened his senses in the face of The Crown's expensive menu, a luxurious night befitting Manhattan, its shiny skyscrapers reflecting their shine from the drops on the glass ceiling, like small diamonds. "I'll have a side of Calamari, and a Martini." As soon as the waiter leaves the table, the dark overcoat is closed, his nails clink on the table, in the same symphony of the blues played in the background by a young man. The afro of his hair is similar to his own, like a lion's mane, the shine of his sweaty skin like a varnish on mahogany wood. Damn, the damn white tank top and leather jacket suited him very well. Looking away again to the window, crossing his legs, he felt the rain intensify, inside and outside the bar. Looking at his Cartier watch, he saw that Clayton was fucking late. The Polaroid camera attached to her neck was immediately brought to her eyes, the clicking gears and the sound of the photograph perfectly capturing the immensity of New York seen from above. Holding the photograph between her fingers, the smell of ink invaded her nostrils, at the same time that her order had arrived. Removing her things from the table, she set the photograph aside, observing the cooked squid and rustic cockroaches, the low, yellowish light shining the Tiffany ring on her right finger. Dating Clayton Beresford seemed like something she would only imagine in her erotic novels, but the silver and diamonds on her ring finger didn't lie about the thousands of dollars it was worth. And neither did the man who placed the jewel on her hand. He not only hired her as a professional photographer for his company, but he also nailed the expensive Baccarat scent to her pulse when he called her to his bed for the first time.

— Eating without me, princess? — Clay's velvety voice invaded your senses, looking up and your gaze met the blue of the most powerful man in New York. — I'm sorry for leaving you… — He walks around the table, his index finger rising from the tip of your right finger, then over your elbow, shoulders and finally chin, raising his gaze even higher to him. — Waiting. He lets go of your face, purposefully scraping his nail on your jaw, testing your reaction. Sitting down in front of you, he removes the scarf, playing with the fabric in his hands, rolling and unrolling it in the palms of his hands. You also bring the squid to your mouth, looking into his eyes as he speaks to a waiter. However, instead of biting into the seafood, you place your tongue inside the circumference of the food, making a circular motion to slurp the sauce. He bites his lip hard, pulling the man's arm and stuffing some bills into his pocket, which the man immediately smiles and bows. She looks back at you, who swallows the food, also teasing him. “Aren’t you going to eat?” You asked, pointing to the almost empty plate. Your metaphor hovers in the air, and Clay stretches his foot towards you, his Oxford shoe scraping against your expensive pantyhose, caressing it. You melt into your chair, relaxing your back, while your left hand is held by his hand, his ring and index fingers fingering your palm, calling, asking. Until he finally answers: “Expensive dishes are eaten in the presidential suite.” Fuck, you could have come just with that sentence, as he brings his Negroni to his lips, his foot hooks on your calf, locking your body. The red liquid fell from the corner of his mouth, staining his jaw, he cleans the red trail with his tongue, spreading it over his white teeth. At the same time you squeeze his hand tightly, he finally laughs mockingly. “I guess we can skip to dessert, right?” You don't know how you got out of that table, you don't know how you got to the rooftop, the place full of yellow lights, drinks and food. The fireplace rising like the excitement that grew inside you. When the door closes, he goes to the fireplace, arranging two shallow glasses of drinks, and cut Sicilian lemons, the bucket full of ice, you remove your coat, shirt, pants, if you could you would tear off your skin so he could touch your veins directly with his fingers, bursting veins and arteries. When he turns around, his gaze was almost adoring, as he unbuttoned the buttons of your shirt, tilting his head to the side, calling you. When he is only in his pants, you approach, your fingers exploring his body, tracing the cut on his toned chest, taking another step, you glued your mouths. He tasted like Negroni, seafood, salt, and, most of all, the flavor of fire. He pushes your body back, just to have the pleasure of taking you in his arms, because he knows you are too weak to stand. His tongue swirls in your mouth, turning your face with his head, while his arms hold your band with a baby, placing you on the counter above the fireplace, on a blanket, right next to the condiments he left there. He gently places your feet locked on his back, the heat of the fire scraping your panties. Scaring you. You bring your hands to the back of his neck, trying to pull his face away from yours. "The fire… you're going to burn us…" He pulls away obediently, but smiles playfully. Getting closer to your ear, removing your bra: "It won't be the fire that will burn you, my princess." He turns his attention to your neck, biting your skin lightly, your hands go to his strands, messing up his silky blond locks, scratching your scalp when he bites your skin, eliciting a louder moan. "Are you okay, princess?" — He stops, resting both his hands on your hip bones, looking worriedly into your eyes. You roll your eyes and beg: — Please, suck me, Clay.

Something breaks inside him, his gaze becomes volatile, he pulls your panties and socks down your legs, letting the heat of the fire touch your feet. He stands up, picking up several pieces of flaky ice, tracing your neck with his mouth and the ice between his teeth. The contrast makes you gasp, your nails scratching his back, the ice melting on your warm skin, at the same time as the flow of your waters begins to wet his fingers as they explore you slowly. Opening your big lips, making sure to make himself heard and listen to your waves. He strums her with the strings of a guitar, extracting the most beautiful sounds from her, until Clay silences her with his lips on yours, you tremble with your mouth frozen due to the cold of the ice cubes. In a moment the blue of his orbs open and he pulls away slightly: "I want to try something, do you think you can handle the ice?" — Your hand stills, your two fingers inside you stop moving inside you, but he curls his digits, touching something inside you that makes you scream. — You certainly melt the ice of any glacier. He kisses you again hungrily, his breath smelling like you. His ambiguous sentence makes you want to cry, after all you didn't know who had melted whose barriers. But you knew that Clay Beresford was yours, completely and entirely yours. Just as you were his, completely and entirely too. He takes a step back, letting go of your face, supporting you better on the fireplace, you can see his chest covered in sweat, as if he was melting, the fire was literally and figuratively between you, and he loved to burn himself. His skillful hand squeezes the Sicilian lemon into the shaker, adding cachaça, lemon slices, honey, and finally closing it and shaking it with measured force, you tremble in your place, your hawk eyes hunting him, analyzing his black pants, marked by your excitement. When he finished, he poured its contents into a Martini glass, placing a dehydrated lemon slice on top. Lifting the drink to his full lips, sipping it, then smiling, he looked into your eyes over the crystal: — It's missing ice… — He leaves the glass on the floor, and approaches again, picking up the bucket of ice, holding some in his hand. — How fast can I make you cum with my mouth?

At that moment you laugh, finally understanding his goals, determined to embark on his idea, you teased: — The ice can't melt… — She holds his face with the tip of her nails, scratching his cheek affectionately. — Show me what you're capable of, that mouth does more than just… — She lowers his head down your torso, watching him put 3 ice cubes in his mouth. — Business. When his mouth touches your pussy, a volcano rises in your senses, and screams erupt. He's not calm, he's not delicate like Clay usually is. And he knows it. His tongue moves, spinning the ice at your entrance, while his nose presses your clitoris hard, almost choking on the ice, but he persists, saliva and water mixing with your juices. His hands, once gentle in caressing you, now grip your thighs fiercely. Keeping you still. When you try to lift yourself towards his lips, he holds you with his arms, intertwining his fingers over the hair on your skin, at the same time pulling you lower, the heat of the fire embracing your perineum.

The room echoed with the moans, the calls. The prayers. The musk of her flavor tempering the frozen stones that were still intact in Clay's mouth. Her nails grip his hair tightly, then her palms caress his abused scalp in a silent apology. He brings his mouth to the glass with the Sicilian lemon caipirinha, his favorite, and he sips the drink in a short gulp, approaching and kissing his hair as he holds the crystal glass.

— Sicilian lemon is undoubtedly a wonderful ingredient… — He licks its residue from your hair and skin, savoring your cum. — But you are the most addictive drink in the world… — He goes between your breasts, resting his hand on your cheek, in complete contrast to the fury he felt sucking you off a few minutes ago. — I'm drunk because of you, damn it. He drinks more of the drink, offering it to you, who shakes her head, scraping her foot against his pants, feeling your excitement. And your laugh rises, as you pick up the phone forgotten by your side. You pull his body towards you, feeling him play with your nipples, laying your head on his sternum. When you dial a number, your hand goes to the back of his neck, keeping him still. — I want the ingredients to make the Spanish drink in suite 501. — He makes a move to get up, but continues kissing your pink bud. — Except for the condensed milk, I… — You look down, and Clay returns your cheeky look, his foot pinching your member, making you bite your tongue and moan. — I already have what I need. — He stands up, holding your face. Glazed like a dog on hunting day. — Thank you. When the call ends, he pulls you into another kiss, the taste of lemon explodes in your mouth, as well as the undeniable taste of Clay. — Are you going to try all the drinks? — He asks, biting your ear slowly, and pulling you to the floor. Holding your body close to his own. — Wait for the sun to come up so you can go… please. — He begs with doe eyes, big and loving. And you simply smile as you say: — I have a tolerance for alcohol, and you Clay? — He smiles cynically, approaching you again. — I have all night.

Lady Ana Schmidt

[prahelika]

love your recruitment headcanons!! do you have any for benji/will/jane?

benji i can see like wrong place, wrong time getting caught hacking into something big (or not an accident at all?)

but those two i'm not sure...

Thank you so much! This is a lovely question.

I'm inclined to agree with you on Benji. Sometime after graduating from Oxford, he acquired a low-level job as a white-hat hacker, maybe? Got bored, hacked into something important (MI6??), got caught, got offered a clean break.

Brandt... Hmm.

What do we know about Brandt? He's by the book. Has a tendency to ignore impulses in favour of the rulebook, but can be convinced to step outside the box if the situation demands it. He's an analyst, the Chief analyst. Looking at the timeline, it couldn't have been more than 3-4 years between the Julia fiasco and his rise to Chief Analyst. So, he must have had prior experience. I think a case could be made that he has parallels to Benji, as in, he was a low-level analyst in the IMF before deciding to undergo field training one day.

But that doesn't answer how the IMF got its claws into him in the first place, does it? Here's how I think it went down. He was a security analyst for a high-profile tech company. Some discrepancy in the expenditure sheets led him to conclude that there was something fishy going on behind the scenes. He contacted the authorities immediately, from where the case was handed over to the FBI. He was ordered to become an informant, and collect data without raising anyone's suspicions. Unfortunately for him, he jumped the gun and confronted/confided in one of the higher-ups who then pinned the whole thing on him. In comes the IMF and sweeps him away, and William Brandt develops an aversion to disobeying orders.

We know even less about Jane than we do about Brandt. It's tempting to just say she was a conwoman or assassin or thief, and leave it at that. But that's no fun. So out come the tinfoil hats.

We know that Jane is a good fighter, but not great at seduction missions. (Side note: Ethan backseat driving Jane's flirting with Anil Kapoor is a scene that lives rent free in my head. Be Venus, Ethan? Seriously?) However, she's experienced enough that they gave her command of the mission to retrieve the nuclear launch codes.

I think, as far as Jane is concerned, a simple explanation is key. She might have been involved with the army, as, say, military police. That would explain her skills in combat and her mission planning chops, while still leaving relative inexperience in matters of honeytrapping. Unfortunately, police codes of conduct and personal codes of honour don't always intersect. She might have tampered with evidence to let a morally innocent suspect walk away, which would then attract the attention of other unsavoury people. One thing leads to another, and then, she finds herself thrown in a cell, accused of being an accomplice to a criminal - upon which the IMF swoops in and saves the day.

That's all I have for the moment, and tbh these sound like a bit of a reach. But headcanons are fun so.

[thwipsthrown]

finally wrote a verses page, figured i should make it mobile-friendly too.

REMY ‘GAMBIT’ LEBEAU:

currently only one verse based in a nebulous version of the comics and x-men 97. assumes anna & remy are married to their civilian (but still mutant) third partner, robin. single ship with @hopedefined & @auroradicit.

PETER PARKER:

main verse: earth-1049. mix of tasm 1&2 and insomniac’s spider-man series. substitute teacher & freelance photographer. semi-retired hero. rebuilding the emily-may foundation.

second verse: earth-120703. post tasm 1&2 vanilla + nwh. a substitute teacher and freelance photographer working his way through a phd in science.

HARRY OSBORN:

main verse: earth-120704. tasm 2 au where harry agrees to give peter time to find a cure instead of going goblin. still oscorp’s ceo.

second verse: earth-120703. tasm 2 vanilla. honestly not my preferred verse but i’ll pull it out if need be. mostly cameos/when a villain is needed in a thread.

main verse: earth-199999. oscorp’s heir. got dusted, his mom died hours later. when he came back, he started self-destructing by partying, doing drugs, partying, and sleeping with whoever seemed interested. doing vaguely alright. as far as he’s concerned, his father thinks of him more as a ghost haunting the company – norman mourned him years ago. now he’s a burden he’s supposed to clean up and make his heir. an embarrassment. harry is more than willing to play the part, until he meets gwen stacy and peter parker.

private verse: earth-17. when norman osborn died at the hands of doc ock, his wife morgan osborn took his place as the ceo of oscorp. and when she took control of oscorp, she also took control of the kingpin’s criminal empire. harry, their son, aged fifteen, was immediately inducted into learning the family businesses, and now that he’s out of college, he’s the one in control. in a committed polycule with peter-17 (@localwebslingers), gwen-17, and mj-17 (@dothesaving).

GWEN STACY:

main verse: earth-65. drummer for the mary janes. ghost spider. gwenom. mainly follows the spider-gwen comics + headcanons. a little bit of earth-65B thrown in for funsies and itsv/atsv shenanigans.

second verse: earth-1048. drummer, gymnast, undergrad in biochem and masters in experimental science, oscorp employee. knows all the shady shit oscorp gets up to and may or may not have been subject in a top secret experiment or two. potentially either another spider-person, or a vessel for carnage. it depends on the context.

third verse: earth-120704. tasm 1&2 vanilla, without the fridge. gwen survives the clocktower (either by not falling at all or by peter actually catching her in time – dealer’s choice) and still goes to oxford. set after she gets her degree.

private verse: earth-17. when gwen stacy was fifteen, she started a band with her friends glory grant and betty brant, with her on vocals and drums, betty on bass, and glory on the keys. they named the band the fight and they were a hit at senior prom. after graduation, she admitted to her best friends, harry, peter, and mj, that she had a crush on all of them and formed their polycule. after finally gaining a rhythm guitarist in reformed bully flash thompson, the fight quickly rose to fame and now gwen’s a global superstar who’s frequently on tour. but she never fails to make time for her partners.

[jabbage]

What are the top 5 most middle class things that have ever happened to you?

Ooooooh good question... now I'm going to do the most British thing ever and preface it with a short essay providing half my life story, out of a sense of denial.

Both sides of my family are staunchly working class, as far back as I can find records. They were farm labourers and dock workers and hopped in and out of workhouses. My mum worked housekeeping and cleaning jobs, and my Dad managed to snag a white collar job in a factory out of school (because he's really clever).

But then two complications -

My Dad became a clergyman. This meant that we got to live in nice houses owned by the church he worked for, sometimes in quite affluent areas. We didn't have much money, but still.

2. I managed to get into Oxford University with a gazillion bursaries tied to my parent's low income. I then used the bursary money to fund doing a master's degree, and now I work in academia.

So, am I middle class? I'm begrudgingly realising that I might be? Except if I am I feel like middle class people shouldn't be constantly worrying that their now-retired parents can't afford to switch the heating on, or whether they'll ever live in their own home. And it's alienated me from my extended family, who have jumped to the conclusion that I think I'm better than them.

Anyway, the top 5 most middle class things that have ever happened to me.

One

Last year I got invited to an anniversary meal at my Oxford college, called a gaudy. I nearly didn't go because my time at uni was not very happy and I don't remember some of my contemporaries fondly, but then I figured that if I go, next time I read Dorthy L Sayers excellent book "Gaudy Night," I will have better brain-pictures. So, the setting, for your own brain-pictures:

Latin grace was sung before the meal, which comprised of salmon confit, followed by venison, followed by black forest gateau, followed by fruit and chocolates and port.

I was sat next to a nice middle aged man with an OBE. When he asked me "So, what do you do?" I decided not to say the job which *actually* pays my bills, but to reply with my evening job: that I make comics. I felt like this was a fun thing to say in a room full of people who Work In The City etc etc.

Except it turned out that he runs one of the UK's biggest comic arts festivals. He offered me free tickets. He offered to put me in touch with publishers. He offered to introduce me to significant people.

And I was like.... oh. Is this how it happens? Like, you're in an Oxford college and you just RUN INTO a posh bloke who Knows People and that's how you finally get a book deal???

Anyway I went to the festival. They had a panel on a yacht. And talked to people, or rather had people talk over me. So many times they'd ask me a question, and then interrupt before I'd given my answer. And I dislike schmoozing SO MUCH.

So uh, yeah, no book deal ;D YET

Two

One time I was wearing my college scarf while I was walking around Durham, and I ended up meeting a very cute elderly couple who went to the same college forty-five years earlier (well, the husband did, the wife wouldn't have been allowed.) They invited my to a dinner party at their house, which turned out to be a very cute little town-house by the river with five stories.

At the time I was doing my Master's degree, and they became kind of surrogate parents who I could call in on for a free hot meal and good conversation. But it was entirely sparked by "going to the same college at Oxford" which is very ew.

Three

Idk there was just this one time I was coming home on the train from having seen the Royal Shakespeare Company's latest production of Much Ado About Nothing and I stopped off somewhere to get sushi and I spent the whole time staring at a wall thinking "What have I become?"

Getting tickets to the ballet from a colleague slots into this catagory, I think.

Four

One time I was asked to open a village fete because the local lady of the manor couldn't make it.

Why me? Apparently "local clergyman's daughter" and "went to Oxford" and "draws silly pictures sometimes" was enough to make me a local celebrity.

I got to give a little speech and judge some cakes and everything.

Five

One time I got invited to a dinner party at CS Lewis' house, the Kilns, and I met his lovely secretary Walter Hooper. I remember being shown around and having a deep impulse to check the backs of all the wardrobes.

When I first went in it was through a door that led straight into his bedroom, and I was told that I could take my coat off and just toss it on the bed. No sooner had I done so than my guide mused, "CS Lewis died in that bed."

So I guess I own a coat that has been on the bed where CS Lewis died, is that middle class?!! Idk

[alliancestaroxfordshire]

How to Select the Right Facilities Management Company for Your Business

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Understand Your Needs 

First, determine the services you want to find to avoid looking for general providers and getting overwhelmed by the numerous results. Would you like to have maintenance services, security services, cleaning services or all three? Identifying your needs will assist you in eliminating the companies that do not meet your requirements in the provision of the services. 

Research Potential Companies 

The first step is to identify possible facilities management companies that can be found in Oxford. Ensure that the companies you are dealing with have a good reputation and good reviews. Visit their websites and social media pages to understand how professional they are and what services they provide. 

Evaluate Experience and Expertise 

The Facilities Management Company in Oxford should also have experience and expertise in their work. Choose companies that have been in the business for several years and have a good reputation. Mature organizations are in a better position to respond and resolve emerging issues in the most efficient and effective manner. 

Check Certifications and Accreditations 

Certifications and accreditations are signals of a company’s devotion to quality and compliance with industry standards. Check that the Facilities Management Company in Oxford that you hire has the right accreditation and follows the right standards. 

Assess Their Technological Capabilities 

In the modern world, technology is an essential component in the management of facilities. Select an organization that implements innovative technology to enhance operational mechanics, productivity, and reporting. This can encompass such systems as energy management, maintenance tracking, and security systems. 

Consider Their Customer Service 

This is an essential service delivery area in facilities management. Ideally, you want a company that is easy to get a hold of, dependable, and easy to communicate with. Assess their customer service by calling them with questions and observing how fast and polite they are. 

Review Their Contract Terms 

When entering into a contract, ensure that you go through the terms and conditions of the contract. Make sure that there are no additional charges that are not mentioned in the contract and the contract covers all services needed. It is also necessary to know about the termination clause in case the contract needs to be terminated before the agreed time. 

Ask for References 

Request for references from current or previous clients from the potential companies. Call these references to get a feel of how the company has been performing, how reliable they are and how professional they are. Any good Facilities Management Company in Oxford should not have a problem offering references. 

Conclusion 

Choosing the right facilities management company is a strategic process that determines the success and effectiveness of the business. Thus, by knowing your needs, studying potential companies, assessing their experience and skills, checking their certificates, estimating their technological readiness, taking into consideration customer care, studying contract conditions and asking for references, you will be able to make the right choice. 

We are proud to be one of the best Facilities Management Companies in Oxford at Alliance Star Oxford. Our team comprises highly skilled professionals with years of experience and professional qualifications in facilities management and customer satisfaction to deliver the best services to your business. Get in touch with us today and find out how we can help your business.

[scotianostra]

The Scottish poet William Julius Mickle was born on the 29th September 1734 in Langholm, Dumfriesshire, which is now called Dumfries and Galloway.

His father was the Reverend Alexander Meikle, a minister at the parish church but, other than that, little is known of Mickle’s early life. On the death of his parents he ended up in Edinburgh, being cared for by an aunt and attending a high school in the city. It seems that he developed a love of poetry from about the age of 13 when he discovered Spenser’s Fairy Queen and it is believed that he styled his own early writing on it. By the time he was 18 he was already half way through the composition of an epic poem and had produced two tragic pieces along with other, shorter pieces of work.

He started his working life at an Edinburgh brewery, helping his aunt with the accounts, but soon moved south when the business got into difficulties. As a shareholder he was actually declared bankrupt in 1763 but did not wish to hang around to face his creditors. He then took up a position as a corrector with the Oxford Clarendon Press company, the job apparently allowed him plenty of leisure time which he spent writing.

His literary efforts met with both success and failure in even measures but the piece of work that really brought him to the attention of the literary world was a translation of the Lusiad from Portuguese which first appeared in 1771. It was so successful that it was reissued eight years later. He wrote this while lodging at the manor house in Forest Hill, Oxfordshire and the work resulted in a significant boost to his finances, so much so that he was able to stop working at the Clarendon Press in order to devote himself to literary pursuits.

From around 1765 onwards Mickle was able to write and publish a number of short poems while occasionally writing religiously-themed pamphlets of a controversial nature, decrying the likes of Voltaire.

One of his most famous pieces, written in Scottish dialect, was There’s nae luck aboot the Hoose, although other writers have laid claim to it. It’s a fairly mournful tale about how a wife struggles when her man is away from home, at sea.

And are ye sure the news is true?       And are ye sure he's weel?     Is this a time to think o' wark?       Mak haste, lay by your wheel;     Is this the time to spin a thread       When Colin's at the door?     Reach me my cloak, I'll to the quay       And see him come ashore.     For there's nae luck about the house,     There's nae luck at a',   There's little pleasure in the house     When our gudeman's awa.

    And gie to me my bigonet,     My bishop's satin gown;   For I maun tell the bailie's wife     That Colin's come to town.   My Turkey slippers maun gae on,     My stockings pearly blue;   It's a' to pleasure my gudeman,     For he's baith leel and true.   For there's nae luck about the house,     There's nae luck at a',   There's little pleasure in the house     When our gudeman's awa.

    Rise, lass, and mak a clean fire side,     Put on the muckle pot,   Gie little Kate her button gown,     And Jock his Sunday coat;   And mak their shoon as black as slaes,     Their hose as white as snaw,   It's a' to please my ain gudeman,     For he's been lang awa.   For there's nae luck about the house,     There's nae luck at a',   There's little pleasure in the house     When our gudeman's awa.

    There's twa fat hens upo' the bauk,     Been fed this month and mair,   Mak haste and thraw their necks about,     That Colin weel may fare;   And mak the table neat and clean,     Gar ilka thing look braw,   For wha can tell how Colin fared     When he was far awa?   Ah, there's nae luck about the house,     There's nae luck at a',   There's little pleasure in the house     When our gudeman's awa.

    Sae true his heart, sae smooth his speech,     His breath like cauler air,   His very foot has music in't     As he comes up the stair!     And will I see his face again,   And will I hear him speak?     I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought,   In troth I'm like to greet.   For there's nae luck about the house,     There's nae luck at a',   There's little pleasure in the house     When our gudeman's awa.

    If Colin's weel, and weel content,     I hae nae mair to crave—   And gin I live to keep him sae,     I'm blest aboon the lave.   And will I see his face again,     And will I hear him speak?   I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought,     In troth I'm like to greet.   For there's nae luck about the house,     There's nae luck at a',   There's little pleasure in the house     When our gudeman's awa.

Following the release of new edition of The Lusiad, Mickle had a stroke of good fortune in that he was invited to sail to Portugal as secretary to the captain, a friend by the name of Johnston. When they landed at Lisbon he was warmly received and, over a period of six months, he set about learning as much as he could about the nature and customs of the people there.

On his return home he married the daughter of his former landlord at Forest Hill in June 1782, and they set up home in the nearby village of Wheatley. He was now financially secure and spent the rest of his life at leisure, writing occasional pieces as he felt the urge.

William Julius Mickle died on the 28th October 1788 after a short illness, aged 54, and was buried in the Forest Hill churchyard.

[nihalive]

is  that  nihal durmaz  ,  rocking  the  new  burberry  ?  wow  ,  she  look  just  like  hafsanur  sancaktutan!  last  i  heard  ,  they  are  a  twenty-four  year  old  elite  from  istambul  ,  turkey  .  they’re  a  well  known  culinary  chef  who  likes  to  travel  around  the  world  loooking  for  inspiration  in  their  free  time  ,  and  despises  the  bureaucracy  that  comes  with  the  job  .  i  think  they’ll  do  fine  at  the  berry  ,  since  they  seem  to  be  dauntless ;  but  i  don’t  know  ,  others  have  said  they’re  quite  heedless  as  well  !

background.

raised by two famous surgeons, her parents were basically known as the it couple in medicine at some point. they worked together through a lot of researches, published so much work they began circling the globe giving classes and speeches. and then, when nihal was around four years old, they moved to germany after a company offered them their own hospital and a never ending budget for researching a new mechanism they've been working on.

growing up, nihal was always at the hospital, wether it was at the hospital daycare while her parents worked way too many hours or laying on a chair in their offices while they stayed overnight working on their papers. she didn't really mind, she enjoyed being included and mostly, she enjoyed how insane their routine always were.

she was a great student growing up, nothing less would be acceptable in her household. and for a long time, she really thought she wanted to follow into her parents footsteps. she worked hard through high school and managed to get accepted into oxford with a honor scholarship to pursue a medical career.

it lasted a whole two years. while she managed to get good grades and the teachers would swear she was promising, there wasn't anything that exciting about it. she'd often find herself disassociating during class and whenever people fell on the subject of working after college, there was a weird taste in her mouth. but the real pin drop was when they started working on real people, the thought of a single fuck up ruining someone's life or ending it, was too overwhelming for her. between the disgusting classes with dead bodies and the clinic hours, she couldn't handle it anymore and decided to drop off.

she hid it from her parents for a few months, until it was christmas time and she had to go home. she news weren't well received, as expected, but they agreed to allow her another year in london to figure herself out, granted she would find a job as soon as the break was over.

and that's how it started, without a college degree, she started looking for any place that would take her. and soon ended up working for a restaurant just three blocks from her home. at first, it was cutting vegetables and cleaning off fish before the executive chef started paying more attention to her and allowed her to weight in a little more. funny enough, her skill with scalpel seemed to be just as useful in the kitchen.

she started going professional, doing courses on the side while working at the restaurant, and soon enough she started getting promoted. in about three years, she was already second in command and craving new experiences and environments. she quit her job at the little italian restaurant near her place and used her connections to get herself a bigger job, a famous restaurant in town that would make people see her.

and they did, only a year later she was opening her restaurant a few blocks down, in the most bubbling neighborhood in london. founding was easy to get, between her parents name being a reliable one and her online presence becoming stronger and stronger, the opening night was filled with big names and her place a must see.

six months later and nihal is basically the internet's go-to for anything food related. from her tiktok series visiting famous places around the world to taste their street food, trying hollywood movies recipes and asking her to comment on the new show the bear (she can't stand it anymore). she's an internet sensation, going viral more often than she'd like, and the joining berry was just another marking decision she couldn't pass on.

personality.

funny enough, nihal was a quiet kid growing up. even with the success her parents had achieved through their work they always made sure to keep her feet on the ground and humble themselves as much as possible. hard work was always appreciated in her house and that carried onto her life.

she doesn't really enjoy the attention, honestly. you wouldn't be able to tell frm how many stories she has to post a day and how much she's on tiktok but having her personal life on a billboard is an insane concept for her. she started doing the internet content and tv show's appearances thinking that would lead people to care for her work, but it backfired and now she doesn't know how to walk away from that.

ever the know it all and she's not afraid to correct you on anything. tends to yap a lot once she knows you well, will jump from subject to subject non stop and ask everything about your life on any chance she gets.

the internet character she made for herself is an exaggerated version of what she's like in real life, being a hard critic from time to time is good for the likes and shares but she'd hardly behave like that in real life.

[amiharana]

what do u think modern revalink would wear!! me personally I think link is either plain tshirt + cargo shorts every day of the week or crop tops and backless shirts and layers of jewelry, no in between 💀 and revali definitely thrifts bc he thinks it makes him look cool, he probably has 100 pinterest boards of outfits he wants to try, honestly if he wasn't so interested in pursuing flight school he might go into fashion 😭 OH he definitely owns a pair of aviator sunglasses, also I just get fur coat vibes from him

CARGO SHORTS HAHAHHA THAT'S VERY LINK VIBES FOR SURE!!!! like link either dresses like a dad or he's showing so much skin pastors everywhere are sweating. casually, link wears the most random graphic tee + sweatpants or old PE shorts from high school LMFAOKJDHFJKD and also flip flops. if he's feeling a little fancy he has the most beat-up pair of white airforce 1s. i lowkey think he has a pair of black af1s that he keeps in mint condition and wears on ~special occasions~ but i Love love LOVE the idea of link wearing crop tops, backless shirts, and jewelry omg 😭🤍 he only wears stuff like that also for special occasions like the usual job interview or date night with revali <3 u know that meme that's like. Steal the Look! $2,450 and it will be like Shirt -$30, Pants - $45, Shoes - $80, Lingerie Set - $2,325 because that's totally link. tell me he's not wearing the sexiest lingerie under his date night outfit like COME ON NOW! but i also believe in link wearing a lot of oversized hoodies, big shirts, and baggy jeans etc he's very stylish and in with the trends

I AGREE WITH REVALI THRIFTING he believes in sustainable clothing and Only wears clothes he's thrifted or are from sustainable and environmentally friendly companies. he actively despises those tiktok girlies who thrift and resell on fucking depop for like 100x the price like he calls them out and roasts them in an 45 min long youtube video 😭 it's so humiliating for them that some of the tiktok girlies be deleting their accounts...... i love the pinterest board stuff too, i have one of just clothes and outfits i think are neat and want, but revali has like 20 different boards for outfit ideas based on 20 different and specific vibes. revali believes in always looking his best before he leaves the house and regularly dresses like wisdom kaye or, i specifically thought of these concept photos of taehyung from proof since you mentioned fur coat? revali makes link match with him for a date night so link ends up wearing jungkook's outfit from the same concept photos. god these men r fine asf WHEWWW! revali is just as broke as the rest of us but he LOOKS rich with the way he pairs clothing together

yes to revali's aviator glasses but link makes fun of him for wearing them inside and revali's is like IT'S FOR THE AESTHETIC!!!!!!!! link wears bucket hats because i said so. idc argue with the wall for this one he would look so cute in a bucket hat and revali thinks so too. he has so many pictures of link in a bucket hat on his phone. they both have platform doc martens, link has the boots and revali also has boots but also the oxfords.

revali has a bomber jacket from his grandfather who was a pilot. link likes to steal it sometimes because it's oversized and smells like revali <3

link learned how to crochet for funsies and made revali a bright blue scarf as a gift, and revali was so touched he centered every single outfit he wore for the next two weeks around the scarf (dw he washed it, he's a clean freak). like revali cherishes it so much he has it displayed in their house 😭

last one for now and i'm gonna project even more onto link, but he luvs jewelry. he looks especially good in gold, but he rocks any piece he wears. he has so much jewelry, revali built him a whole vanity with multiple drawers and storage space for all of the jewelry. revali randomly gets him jewelry as gifts every now and then, and he always gets it custom-crafted by a jeweler who's a friend of urbosa. link almost always wears the first necklace that revali ever gifted him for his birthday and it's beautiful sapphire wrapped in gold. also link wears a body chain under his crop tops sometimes and revali is obsessed with it he cannot keep his hands off of link's waist or his eyes away from the way the chain glints against link's tummy :)

[dansnotavampire]

Airplane, trident emblem for Connor, Laurence, and Ella! (Also a bit of backstory about them would be nice, as I don't think I've read any posts about your OCs before!)

First - some backstory!

Connor Owen, Laurence Moncrieff, and Ella Brittain worked for some vague approximation of the SIS (Military intelligence) they met in service, and worked very closely for a number of years. This story is about them (By story I mean three-man play)

Connor Owen is a translator; he speaks four languages fluently, and a handful of others passably, and all of his years of service for queen and country have given him three things: PTSD, an alcohol problem, and a dead best friend. Oops. Currently he is a teacher in a secondary school, and we meet him nearly ten years after his honorable discharge, at an AA meeting, along with....

Laurence Moncrieff. Their stalwart IO, he was a tactical genius, able to keep calm in any situation. Now he's *also* battling a drinking problem, and repressed homosexual feelings. He cooks, he cleans, he only goes to AA because he was court ordered to after he drunkenly wrapped his car around a lamppost, injuring zero people in the process only by a stroke of luck. (Are you getting why my tag for this is untitled alcoholism project now). In youth he was a rich wanker with a first in PPE from Oxford, and the only thing that's really changed since then is that he's less of a wanker now. He's just re-learnt how to wake up before midday.

Ella Brittain? She's dead. It's not Laurence's fault. Maybe one day he'll even believe that.

In life, she was 5'2 of lean muscle, with a resting HR of 54, and the steadiest aim you've ever seen. She could kick anyone's arse six ways from Sunday, and never used this skill unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, that was often the case in her line of work.

Now she haunts the stage, doling out imagined advice and insults to the two men still trying to learn how to live without her.

Plane - do they like travelling, or are they more of a homebody?

Laurence has travelled so much it bores him now; unfortunately, being at home bores him just as much. One day he'll go on a non-covert vacation again. Maybe he'll even take someone with him.

Connor *liked* travelling. But the last time he stepped foot on a train was two days after the worst experience of his life, and he's not sure he can stomach it anymore. Maybe with good enough company he could bear it.

Ella never held down an address for more than six months, even when she wasn't an internationally jetsetting superspy. Or government murderer for hire. Depends who you ask.

Trident - Can they swim?

All three of them can swim; they have to, for the job. Connor can't touch water that's too warm, though. He showers ice cold.

[poojascmi]

Global Thin film Solar Cell Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Increasing Adoption of Renewable Energy Sources

The global Thin film Solar Cell Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 33.01 Bn in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 19.4% over the forecast period 2023-2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. A) Market Overview: Thin film solar cells are made from semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electrical energy. These solar cells offer various advantages such as flexibility, lightweight, and superior aesthetics compared to traditional solar panels. The need for clean and sustainable energy sources is driving the demand for thin film solar cells as they provide an efficient way to generate electricity from the sun. With the increasing focus on reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, the demand for renewable energy sources like thin film solar cells is expected to witness significant growth. B) Market Key Trends: One key trend in the thin film solar cell market is the increasing investment in research and development activities to enhance the efficiency of these solar cells. Researchers and manufacturers are investing in developing new materials and technologies to improve the conversion efficiency of thin film solar cells. For example, Oxford Photovoltaics, one of the key players in the market, is developing perovskite-based solar cells that have shown promising results in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This trend is driving innovation in the market and is expected to lead to the commercialization of more efficient thin film solar cell products. C) PEST Analysis: Political: Governments around the world are implementing favorable policies and incentives to promote the adoption of renewable energy sources. This is creating a conducive environment for the growth of the thin film solar cell market. Economic: The declining cost of thin film solar cells, coupled with the increasing demand for clean energy, is driving the economic feasibility of these solar cells. This is attracting investments from both government and private entities. Social: The increasing awareness about the environmental impact of traditional energy sources is driving the social acceptance and demand for renewable energy solutions like thin film solar cells. Additionally, the aesthetics and design flexibility offered by these solar cells are appealing to consumers. Technological: Advances in thin film solar cell technologies are improving their efficiency and performance. New materials and manufacturing processes are being developed, leading to the commercialization of more efficient and cost-effective products. D) Key Takeaways: Paragraph 1: The Global Thin Film Solar Cell Market Demand is expected to witness high growth, exhibiting a CAGR of 19.4% over the forecast period, due to increasing adoption of renewable energy sources. The need for clean and sustainable energy solutions is driving the demand for thin film solar cells. Paragraph 2: The Asia Pacific region is expected to dominate the thin film solar cell market, with countries like China, India, and Japan leading the way in terms of installation and production capacity. The region's favorable government policies, abundant solar resources, and growing energy demand are contributing to its fast-paced growth in the market. Paragraph 3: Key players operating in the global thin film solar cell market are Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., FIRST SOLAR, Kaneka Corporation, MiaSolé Hi-Tech Corp., and Oxford Photovoltaics. These companies are investing in research and development activities to improve the efficiency and performance of their thin film solar cell products. They are also focusing on strategic collaborations, partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions to expand their market presence.

[evonixsblog]

Finding the Best Website Design Company in Pune: Your Key to Digital Success

Today, it has become an absolute necessity for your business to have a strong online presence.  Whether you are a startup or an established brand, the design of your website plays a vital role in creating a lasting impact on your audience. A well-designed website not only reflects your brand but also enhances user experience, drives engagement and increases conversion rate. If you are looking for a top web design company in Pune, you have come to the right place.

Known as the "Oxford of the East", Pune has emerged as a thriving hub for technology, innovation and digital services. Given the city’s growing importance as an office and tech hub, many businesses are looking to redesign or build new, truly unique websites. But the real challenge is finding the right web design company that understands your business goals and can translate them into a beautiful and functional online presence.

Why Website Design Matters

The design of your website is the first impression potential customers will have of your business. In a world where attention spans are shorter than ever, a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate website can be the difference between retaining a customer and losing them to a competitor. From clean and intuitive layouts to fast loading times, each aspect of your website plays a crucial role in how users interact with your content.

A great website design does more than just look good; it also serves as a powerful tool to communicate your brand’s story, vision, and values. Whether you are selling products, offering services, or simply looking to establish an online presence, your website should be optimized for both aesthetics and functionality. This includes mobile responsiveness, SEO optimization, and a smooth user experience (UX) design.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Website Design Company

Experience and ExpertiseWhen selecting a website design company in Pune, experience is paramount. A company with years of expertise will have a better understanding of the market, user preferences, and design trends. Additionally, they will be able to tailor their approach to your specific industry, ensuring that your website speaks directly to your target audience.

Portfolio and ReviewsAlways ask to see the portfolio of any design company you're considering. A strong portfolio is a testament to their creativity and capabilities. It is also essential to check reviews and testimonials from previous clients. This will give you insight into their work process, communication skills, and the overall quality of the websites they create.

Customization and InnovationYour website should not be just another template-based design. It should reflect your brand identity and stand out in a crowded digital marketplace. The best design companies will offer personalized solutions, ensuring your website is tailored to meet your business’s unique needs. Innovation is key to staying ahead of the competition, and a creative web design team can take your online presence to new heights.

Post-Launch Support and MaintenanceA successful website launch is only the beginning. It’s crucial to partner with a design company that offers ongoing support and maintenance to ensure your site remains functional, secure, and up-to-date. Regular updates, bug fixes, and content management are essential to keep your website performing at its best.

The Evonix Touch

When it comes to web design, it’s not just about creating something visually appealing—it’s about driving results. Evonix, a leading name in digital strategy and branding, understands that every design decision needs to align with business goals. With a focus on innovative, user-friendly solutions, Evonix works with clients to craft websites that don’t just look good but also drive meaningful engagement.

Their approach goes beyond design; it’s about creating a seamless online experience that resonates with your target audience. Whether it’s through intuitive UX design or powerful branding strategies, Evonix ensures that your website captures the essence of your brand and leaves a lasting impact.

Conclusion

Choosing the right website design company in Pune is crucial for your business's digital success. By focusing on experience, creativity, and a client-centric approach, you can ensure that your website serves as a powerful tool to engage customers, build brand trust, and ultimately drive growth. Companies like Evonix are redefining the digital space, offering solutions that are as innovative as they are effective, helping businesses create online experiences that stand out in a crowded marketplace.