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auroraluciferi · 4 years ago

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if anyone in this time of deep concern of his health is interested about what a worthless piece of shit Prince Philip is, here is a very brief list of 90 racist, sexist, and incredibly ignorant things the man has said in the last century:

1. "Ghastly." Prince Philip's opinion of Beijing, during a 1986 tour of China.

2. "Ghastly." Prince Philip's opinion of Stoke-on-Trent, as offered to the city's Labour MP Joan Walley at Buckingham Palace in 1997.

3. "Deaf? If you're near there, no wonder you are deaf." Said to a group of deaf children standing near a Caribbean steel drum band in 2000.

4. "If you stay here much longer, you will go home with slitty eyes." To 21-year-old British student Simon Kerby during a visit to China in 1986.

5. "You managed not to get eaten then?" To a British student who had trekked in Papua New Guinea, during an official visit in 1998.

6. "You can't have been here that long – you haven't got a pot belly." To a British tourist during a tour of Budapest in Hungary. 1993.

7. "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?" Asked of a Scottish driving instructor in 1995.

8. "Damn fool question!" To BBC journalist Caroline Wyatt at a banquet at the Elysée Palace after she asked Queen Elizabeth if she was enjoying her stay in Paris in 2006.

9. "It looks as though it was put in by an Indian." The Prince's verdict of a fuse box during a tour of a Scottish factory in August 1999. He later clarified his comment: "I meant to say cowboys. "I just got my cowboys and Indians mixed up."

10. "People usually say that after a fire it is water damage that is the worst. We are still drying out Windsor Castle." To survivors of the Lockerbie bombings in 1993.

11. "We don't come here for our health. We can think of other ways of enjoying ourselves." During a trip to Canada in 1976.

12. "A few years ago, everybody was saying we must have more leisure, everyone's working too much. Now that everybody's got more leisure time they are complaining they are unemployed. People don't seem to make up their minds what they want." A man of the people shares insight into the recession that gripped Britain in 1981.

13. "British women can't cook." Winning the hearts of the Scottish Women's Institute in 1961.

14. "It was part of the fortunes of war. We didn't have counsellors rushing around every time somebody let off a gun, asking 'Are you all right - are you sure you don't have a ghastly problem?' You just got on with it!" On the issue of stress counselling for servicemen in a TV documentary marking the 50th Anniversary of V-J Day in 1995.

15. "What do you gargle with – pebbles?" To Tom Jones, after the Royal Variety Performance, 1969. He added the following day: "It is very difficult at all to see how it is possible to become immensely valuable by singing what I think are the most hideous songs."

16. "It's a vast waste of space." Philip entertained guests in 2000 at the reception of a new £18m British Embassy in Berlin, which the Queen had just opened.

17. "There's a lot of your family in tonight." After glancing at business chief Atul Patel's name badge during a 2009 Buckingham Palace reception for 400 influential British Indians to meet the Royal couple.

18. "If it has four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not an aeroplane and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it." Said to a World Wildlife Fund meeting in 1986.

19. "You ARE a woman, aren't you?" To a woman in Kenya in 1984, after accepting a gift.

20. "Do you know they have eating dogs for the anorexic now?" To a wheelchair-bound Susan Edwards, and her guide dog Natalie in 2002.

21. "Get me a beer. I don't care what kind it is, just get me a beer!" On being offered the finest Italian wines by PM Giuliano Amato at a dinner in Rome in 2000.

22. "I would like to go to Russia very much – although the bastards murdered half my family." In 1967, asked if he would like to visit the Soviet Union.

23. "If a cricketer, for instance, suddenly decided to go into a school and batter a lot of people to death with a cricket bat, which he could do very easily, I mean, are you going to ban cricket bats?" In a Radio 4 interview shortly after the Dunblane shootings in 1996. He said to the interviewer off-air afterwards: "That will really set the cat among the pigeons, won't it?"

24. "Oh, it's you that owns that ghastly car is it? We often see it when driving to Windsor Castle." To neighbour Elton John after hearing he had sold his Watford FC-themed Aston Martin in 2001.

25. "The problem with London is the tourists. They cause the congestion. If we could just stop the tourism, we could stop the congestion." At the opening of City Hall in 2002.

26. "A pissometer?" The Prince sees the renames the piezometer water gauge demonstrated by Australian farmer Steve Filelti in 2000.

27. "Don't feed your rabbits pawpaw fruit – it acts as a contraceptive. Then again, it might not work on rabbits." Giving advice to a Caribbean rabbit breeder in Anguilla in 1994.

28. "You must be out of your minds." To Solomon Islanders, on being told that their population growth was 5 per cent a year, in 1982.

29. "Young people are the same as they always were. They are just as ignorant." At the 50th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

30. "Your country is one of the most notorious centres of trading in endangered species." Accepting a conservation award in Thailand in 1991.

31. "Aren't most of you descended from pirates?" In the Cayman Islands, 1994.

32. "You bloody silly fool!" To an elderly car park attendant who made the mistake of not recognising him at Cambridge University in 1997.

33. "Oh! You are the people ruining the rivers and the environment." To three young employees of a Scottish fish farm at Holyrood Palace in 1999.

34. "If you travel as much as we do you appreciate the improvements in aircraft design of less noise and more comfort – provided you don't travel in something called economy class, which sounds ghastly." To the Aircraft Research Association in 2002.

35. "The French don't know how to cook breakfast." After a breakfast of bacon, eggs, smoked salmon, kedgeree, croissants and pain au chocolat – from Gallic chef Regis Crépy – in 2002.

36. "And what exotic part of the world do you come from?" Asked in 1999 of Tory politician Lord Taylor of Warwick, whose parents are Jamaican. He replied: "Birmingham."

37. "Oh no, I might catch some ghastly disease." On a visit to Australia in 1992, when asked if he wanted to stroke a koala bear.

38. "It doesn't look like much work goes on at this University." Overheard at Bristol University's engineering facility. It had been closed so that he and the Queen could officially open it in 2005.

39. "I wish he'd turn the microphone off!" The Prince expresses his opinion of Elton John's performance at the 73rd Royal Variety Show, 2001.

40. "Do you still throw spears at each other?" Prince Philip shocks Aboriginal leader William Brin at the Aboriginal Cultural Park in Queensland, 2002.

41. "Where's the Southern Comfort?" On being presented with a hamper of southern goods by the American ambassador in London in 1999.

42. "Were you here in the bad old days? ... That's why you can't read and write then!" To parents during a visit to Fir Vale Comprehensive School in Sheffield, which had suffered poor academic reputation.

43. "Ah you're the one who wrote the letter. So you can write then? Ha, ha! Well done." Meeting 14-year old George Barlow, whose invited to the Queen to visit Romford, Essex, in 2003.

44. "So who's on drugs here?... HE looks as if he's on drugs." To a 14-year-old member of a Bangladeshi youth club in 2002.

45. "You could do with losing a little bit of weight." To hopeful astronaut, 13-year-old Andrew Adams.

46. "You have mosquitoes. I have the Press." To the matron of a hospital in the Caribbean in 1966.

47. "The man who invented the red carpet needed his head examined." While hosts made effort to greet a state visit to Brazil, 1968.

48. "During the Blitz a lot of shops had their windows blown in and sometimes they put up notices saying, 'More open than usual.' I now declare this place more open than usual." Unveiling a plaque at the University of Hertfordshire's new Hatfield campus in November 2003.

49 . Philip: "Who are you?"

Simon Kelner: "I'm the editor-in-chief of The Independent, Sir."

Philip: "What are you doing here?"

Kelner: "You invited me."

Philip: "Well, you didn't have to come!"

An exchange at a press reception to mark the Golden Jubilee in 2002.

50. "No, I would probably end up spitting it out over everybody." Prince Philip declines the offer of some fish from Rick Stein's seafood deli in 2000.

51. "Any bloody fool can lay a wreath at the thingamy." Discussing his role in an interview with Jeremy Paxman.

52. "Holidays are curious things, aren't they? You send children to school to get them out of your hair. Then they come back and make life difficult for parents. That is why holidays are set so they are just about the limit of your endurance." At the opening of a school in 2000.

53. "People think there's a rigid class system here, but dukes have even been known to marry chorus girls. Some have even married Americans." In 2000.

54. "Can you tell the difference between them?" On being told by President Obama that he'd had breakfast with the leaders of the UK, China and Russia.

55. "I don't know how they are going to integrate in places like Glasgow and Sheffield." After meeting students from Brunei coming to Britain to study in 1998.

56. "Do people trip over you?" Meeting a wheelchair-bound nursing-home resident in 2002.

57. "That's a nice tie... Do you have any knickers in that material?" Discussing the tartan designed for the Papal visit with then-Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie last year.

58. "I have never been noticeably reticent about talking on subjects about which I know nothing." Addressing a group of industrialists in 1961.

59. "It's not a very big one, but at least it's dead and it took an awful lot of killing!" Speaking about a crocodile he shot in Gambia in 1957.

60. "Well, you didn't design your beard too well, did you? You really must try better with your beard." To a young fashion designer at a Buckingham Palace in 2009.

61. "So you're responsible for the kind of crap Channel Four produces!" Speaking to then chairman of the channel, Michael Bishop, in 1962.

62. "Dontopedalogy is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it, a science which I have practiced for a good many years." Address to the General Dental Council, quoted in Time in 1960.

63. "Tolerance is the one essential ingredient ... You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance." Advice for a successful marriage in 1997.

64. "I never see any home cooking – all I get is fancy stuff." Commiserating about the standard of Buckingham Palace cuisine in 1962.

65. "I suppose I would get in a lot of trouble if I were to melt them down." On being shown Nottingham Forest FC's trophy collection in 1999.

66. "It makes you all look like Dracula's daughters!" To pupils at Queen Anne's School in Reading, who wear blood-red uniforms, in 1998.

67. "I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing." Dismissing claims that those who sell slaughtered meat have greater moral authority than those who participate in blood sports, in 1988.

68. "Ah, so this is feminist corner then." Joining a group of female Labour MPs, who were wearing name badges reading "Ms", at a Buckingham Palace drinks party in 2000.

69. "Cats kill far more birds than men. Why don't you have a slogan: 'Kill a cat and save a bird?'" On being told of a project to protect turtle doves in Anguilla in 1965.

70. "All money nowadays seems to be produced with a natural homing instinct for the Treasury." Bemoaning the rate of British tax in 1963.

71. "It is my invariable custom to say something flattering to begin with so that I shall be excused if by any chance I put my foot in it later on." Full marks for honesty, from a speech in 1956.

72. "Why don't you go and live in a hostel to save cash?" Asked of a penniless student.

73. "In education, if in nothing else, the Scotsman knows what is best for him. Indeed, only a Scotsman can really survive a Scottish education." Said when he was made Chancellor of Edinburgh University in November 1953.

74. "If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she isn't interested." Of his daughter, Princess Anne.

75. "They're not mating are they?" Spotting two robots bumping in to one another at the Science Museum in 2000.

76. "I must be in the only person in Britain glad to see the back of that plane." Philip did not approve of the noise Concorde made while flying over the Buckingham Palace.

77. "The only active sport, which I follow, is polo – and most of the work's done by the pony!" 1965

78. "It looks like a tart's bedroom." On seeing plans for the Duke and then Duchess of York's house at Sunninghill Park.

79. "Reichskanzler." Prince Philip used Hitler's title to address German chancellor Helmut Kohl during a speech in Hanover in 1997.

80. "We go into the red next year... I shall probably have to give up polo." Comment on US television in 1969 about the Royal Family's finances.

81. "Bugger the table plan, give me my dinner!" Showing his impatience to be fed at a dinner party in 2004.

82. "I thought it was against the law these days for a woman to solicit." Said to a woman solicitor.

83. "You're just a silly little Whitehall twit: you don't trust me and I don't trust you." Said to Sir Rennie Maudslay, Keeper of the Privy Purse, in the 1970s.

84. "What about Tom Jones? He's made a million and he's a bloody awful singer." Response to a comment at a small-business lunch about how difficult it is in Britain to get rich.

85. "This could only happen in a technical college." On getting stuck in a lift between two floors at the Heriot Watt University, 1958.

86. "I'd much rather have stayed in the Navy, frankly." When asked what he felt about his life in 1992.

87. "It looks like the kind of thing my daughter would bring back from her school art lessons" On being shown "primitive" Ethiopian art in 1965.

88. "You're not wearing mink knickers, are you?" Philip charms fashion writer Serena French at a World Wildlife Fund gathering in 1993.

89. "My son...er...owns them." On being asked on a Canadian tour whether he knew the Scilly Isles.

90. "Well, that's more than you know about anything else then." Speaking, a touch condescendingly, to Michael Buerk, after being told by the BBC newsreader that he did know about the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Awards in 2004.

#uk #united kingdom #royal #royals #prince philip #queen elizabeth #meghan markle #prince harry #corruption #racism #sexism #monarchy #seriously #what planet do you live on

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notsoterriblymisanthropic · 5 years ago

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After three years and approximately 7,200 "Hello, Tesco delivery, where do you want your shopping?", some customers stick in your mind... I delivered to Grenfell two weeks before the fire. An office on the 29th floor of the Millbank Tower, the former Tory headquarters, where they ordered a lot of ginger biscuits. Through the windows the shadow of the student riot. There is an old man in an estate in Acton who only orders vodka and soup, the flat is filled knee-deep with rubbish, much of it Tesco receipts. We deliver to many elderly care homes. The old man in nappies sits in front of a fan, you have to put the chilled and frozen in the fridge for him. The carers haven't got time. A relative orders ready-meals from outer London. From the life you step into the middle of the hundred square metre sitting room of a penthouse in Maida Vale. The ambassador of Malaysia has servants and a 24-hour UK police post with a machine-gun cop, who lets you in... The daughter ordered the food for her father in a small room in the White Bear Hostel in Hounslow, which he shares with none others in triple bunkbeds. There's no space to put the shopping. Many newborns and tired post-natal women. I delivered to the Royal Stables, to the family above the horses, a security guard walked with me. Outskirts of Watford, a row of pensioners' pavilions. "Love, could you change the lightbulb for us?" A small cabin for London cab drivers early in the morning by the river bank. The cook of the hotel near Paddington, who orders mountains of cereals and rivers of milk, treats you to an egg sandwich. It's foggy, it's sleepy London at 6am, you feel like a Cockney market stall pusher from the 1930s, but the cook is from Albania and you work for Tesco. Hundreds of creative open-plan offices with pale young people in front of screens, very hard to tell what they are doing, but they order a lot of fruit. Lord's Cricket Ground the day before the final. You help people kill themselves with food and booze, literally.

Angry Workers, Class Power on Zero Hours

#Angry Workers of the World

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clubdolan · 7 years ago

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Meet the King | Pt. 3

“I’m just worried, because there’s going to be so much going on.” Lo explained, closing her book and putting it on the end table by the couch. “I haven’t even gone over the etiquette that Beth will be testing you on.”

“Like no elbows on the table?” Ethan asked, “Don’t we have to bow to you?”

“Preferably no elbows on the table, yes you do a slight neck bow to anyone royal or diplomatic. Also, you can’t touch a royal unless they insinuate it or you are escorting them, you have to walk at least two foot behind a royal unless escorting them, take cues from the highest ranking, so my Grandmother, if she stands, we all stand, if she eats, we all eat, etc. Zoey picked up on it all quick.... aside from calling me Penelope inside the palace.”

“Is there a book for this? A workshop?” Grayson joked, “I will not remember this. Do I get banned if I get one wrong?”

“I mean, I can banish you and so can my Grandmother and Dad but I highly doubt that will happen. I prefer to not follow typical rules and I do kind of whatever I want because the world is so different than when my Grandmother was born.” She sighed, “Zoey said she will run you guys through things on the flight, if that’s okay? I have to talk with Beth for a few hours and she has a little notebook she made from her first visit.”

“Like a cheat sheet? Sweet.”

“The first day we do have fittings for a while, you’ll have to pick suit fittings that match our dresses and then casual attire for the other days. Modest items, no logos, there’s a really cool stylist that brings us stuff in to pick from, it’s actually really cool.”

“You don’t need to be worried, if anything, we do.” Grayson said, “You do your thing, we’ll just follow, two feet behind, and do what Zoey says.”

Zoey pulled her book out right as the small, private, plane took off. Lo had already been taken to an office in the back with Beth and a few other people.

“So I don’t want to overwhelm you, but I have pictures, names, rules, titles, etc. all in this book. Just pay attention, when you’re there it’s really easy to catch on, I promise.”

Zoey opened the book, a page titled ‘Etiquette’ was the first thing. “As a girl, I have to sit a certain way and curtsy a certain way. As a boy you have a slight head bow and only shake hands when a royal sticks their hand out. Don’t grab their hand, rest it on yours and shake slightly before waiting for them to pull back.” She looked up and they already looked confused, “I promise, it’s not that hard.”

Zoey went on to explain the modesty of dressing, the ‘no touch’ rule when standing next to royalty, how to take cues from the highest ranked royal in the room, what to refer to people as.

“When referring to Lo in a public palace setting, she is Your Majesty, Penelope or Miss. Her full title would be said, dramatically, Penelope Estelle Victoria, by the Grace of God, Princess of Edinburgh and Lady of Cupar. Or some people would say Her Majesty Princess Penelope of Edinburgh. The Queen is always Her Majesty or Her Royal Highness before you can call her Ma’am. Her Dad is Your Majesty, King Ericson Theodore Rupert or Sir; but he will tell you to call him Eric when you’re in private.”

“Should I be taking notes?”

“No, you’re fine. Her family is totally chill if you get anything wrong, but Beth will correct you in case you are in public and need to mention someone.” Zoey shrugged, “Lo and her guests are not allowed to give autographs or selfies, but Lo breaks the rule and allows selfies but no hand signals or funny faces, just smiling, I’m sure you’ll get noticed by a few people.”

“No peace sign, no tongue out selfies, noted.” Ethan laughed.

“Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, the strongest economy in the UK outside of London, a good thing to know since her family runs the economy there. There are almost half a million people in Edinburgh, a few hundred people will be at the actual coronation, but tons will be outside of the building just to get a glimpse of Lo or her Grandmother.”

“Not her Dad? I mean, King Ericson.. Theodore ........Rupert?” Grayson corrected himself, taking a while to think of the last name.

“No, her Dad does a lot around their town. He’s seen in coffee shops and other places daily. People love him.” Zoey flipped the page and continued, “Lo’s palace is titled The House of Marchmont, it is only referred to as a palace, not a castle.....

.....But she lives in a smaller house, well mansion, called The Oliver House...

...Marchmont is just visited for events and spent the night at before events. But the palace is an awesome place and I will for sure give you a tour of it.”

“She has her own palace?”

“Technically it’s her families but you refer to it as the person’s you are talking about.” She flipped another page, “History! A great time, right? Her family took reign of Edinburgh in 1732 with her ancestor, Lord Lyon, King of Arms. She has houses in Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, and a few smaller places, as those countries and leaders have contracts with Edinburgh. So if we want a day trip to France, let her know.” Zoey laughed, “Worth it for the food.”

“France for a day? How casual.” Ethan laughed, “Are there palaces there or just houses?”

“Just houses, or cottages.” Zoey said, “We went to Germany when I was here last. Events covering the time we’re there are theater, rugby matches, cricket, museum events, grand openings, visits to hospitals, garden parties, tea parties, luncheons, dinners with foreign dignitaries trying to remain on Lo’s good side for the fact that she make take over one day. Also,” She looked at Grayson, “No public PDA aside from her holding your arm as an escort. No hugs, no hand holding, no--

He seemed offended, “Because we do that now? Name one ti--

“She’s my best friend, I know what goes on behind closed doors.” Zoey smirked, “Inside the castle, when no public is near, fine. Public does not include butlers, maids, assistants, chefs, beauty team, family, etc. Most of the help is to be ignored unless they are needed. Don’t feel bad, I used to, but they’re all really cool with it, I promise. The rooms you need....”

Four hours into the flight and everyone was asleep, aside from Zoey who was intensely studying for her upcoming quiz in the front of the cabin. Everyone else had gone to the back to watch a movie while Beth stayed in the office to handle her never ending pile of paper work.

Six hours into the flight Lo woke up and went to find Zoey, asking how the short lesson went. “They’re nervous, but it’s a lot to take in.” She said, “I was practically shitting my pants the moment we got on the plane, I had flash cards and notes on my phone and I ended up not using any of them.”

“Beth tried to tell me what hotel they were staying at and said my Grandmother does not want them staying at Oliver with us. It’s literally five bedrooms, you always stay in my room, I don’t understand why they can’t stay in a guest room? So I canceled their hotel room without telling her.” Lo smiled, “Also, they were able to get Drew, Aslyn, and Jamie to come style us and do hair and makeup.”

“You’re joking!” Zoey screamed, “You’re joking!” Lo shook her head no, knowing this would be her reaction. “Aslyn, THE Aslyn will be doing my makeup? THE Drew Lach will be doing MY hair and JAMIE is STYLING IS?!”

Lo nodded again, checking the in flight TV for how much time was left. “While you, think about that.. I just came to get a drink, I’m going back to sleep so my schedule isn’t as wrecked as usual when we get there. We land at three in the afternoon and only have fittings tonight.”

“Jamie will be at Oliver tonight, oh my god.” Zoey started pacing, while of course, flipping through her flash cards to study.

Lo grabbed a water and made her way back. The main part of the plane was dimly lit, their bags were tossed all over, Ethan had taken claim of the long couch and Grayson had taken over his chair and her chair now that she had gotten up.

She stuck her water in the mini fridge next to her seat and peeked out the window, nothing but clouds.

“What are you doing up? Are we almost there?” Grayson mumbled, rubbing his eyes as the sun came through the small window.

“No, I just went to get a drink and see what Zoey was doing. Go back to sleep.” She looked down and pushed a stray chunk of hair from his forehead. His head rest in his hand and scrunched his cheek up, “We’ve got about five hours left.”

“C’mere” He grabbed her arm and sat up more in the seats, opening his arms as an invitation to join him.

“It’s fine, I’ll--

“Nooooo.” He groaned, pouting his lip.

He did look comfortable in his sweatpants and hoodie, he looked extra cuddly, he looked even more cuddly when he pulled her fuzzy blanket on top of him.

“As long as I get the blanket.”

Grayson smiled, lifting up the blanket as she sat next to him, throwing her legs over his that extended to the table in front of them.

She was right, his outfit was super cuddly. He also smelled delicious; a mix of his woodsy cologne, his sea salt spray he used in his hair, and like boy. Her favorite scent.

Within minutes Grayson’s fingers stopped rubbing on her back and she giggled as his mouth slightly fell open. His stubbly face was a result of packing his razor and being too lazy to get it out; not that she hated it, she actually loved it. His hoodie was pulled up, little pieces of hair falling from the front of it. She dug her hand into his hoodie pocket, squeezing herself against him.

As much as she hated her Grandmother for inviting them, she also loved it. More time with Grayson, an actual escort down the stairs, but also having to introduce him to the whole new world of royalty was still terrifying.

“Penelope....Penelope....” Beth whispered, pushing on her shoulder, “Zoey needs you in the office, we have, an issue.”

Lo stretched her neck out and rubbed her eyes before slipping from under Grayson’s arm. “What’s the issue?” She whispered, walking past Ethan to grab a drink from a mini fridge.

“Zoey... she said that...”

The door opened quickly and Zoey pulled Lo in, “Kappa knows something is up, Mal said people won’t stop questioning her, your last snap chat was at the airport and you can hear Grayson in the background, I turned my phone on wifi and it blew up.”

“We have to tell them.” Lo stated, digging through her bag to start her phone before it started vibrating uncontrollably and her lock screen froze up. “It’s the Kappa group text, Mal, and... someone has linked me to Grayson and Ethan, great.”

Lo called their head of the Kappa house who then called for an emergency meeting where Lo Skyped in, alone, to reveal to her house sisters what her vacation was actually for. She told them how it had been kept a secret, how now, her being named Princess would make it more public, how she didn’t want it to change how they treated her the rest of her Junior and Senior years, and of course, promised they could all stay at her place if they ever wanted to visit.

“Okay, so it’s cool that you’re a Princess and you have like a castle and a private plane but I really want to know if you really took that hot guy Grayson that’s been hanging here a lot. His followers are blowing up your instagram asking questions.” One girl spoke up, the others agreeing that they also were wondering.

“Grayson and Ethan are on the plane, my Grandmother invited them because she said I needed an escort. And since Zoey is here” she waved her in screen, “Ethan came too.”

“Hi guys, I know that Lo is too afraid to tell you this but I’m her best friend and I’m not afraid. But please, please, please help us keep her private life, private. We trust in you, our sisters, to dispel rumors, keep prying eyes away, and not to reply to their fans on social media. They want your attention to try and get to Lo, it’s already happening to me and it’s been like two hours of a rumor.”

The room of girls nodded in agreement, “Also, please don’t be mad at Zoey and Mal for knowing, I made them keep it a secret.”

“Everyone understands.” Their house mom said, getting closer to the camera. “It’s almost chapter time, so we’ve got to go. I’ll tell the rest of the girls when we meet, if that’s okay.”

“The first one I have of you and I is the one going nuts, I mean I already had a decent amount of likes but now it’s just stupid.” Zoey said, showing her phone to Lo.

@ zoeylew: kappa FUNdraiser dinners #amiright

“They have also recognized my plane selfie and Ethan’s tweet about a plane are at the same time.”

@ zoeylew : I love when my gf @lo_bradford takes me on vacation. I don’t like when that vacation means a long flight. #supportteleporting

“I just want to get to my settings to turn off my notifications but my phone keeps freezing.” Lo groaned, “Beth, how much longer?”

“Thirty-five minutes till descent.”

“Dude, Ethan, Ethan, get up.” Grayson lightly smacked him a few times before he did it harder.

“What the hell? Are we there?”

“Almost. I turned my phone on to take a picture of the clouds because I thought it would be cool but then it automatically connected to the wifi on the plane and I went to upload the picture--

“Does this story have a point?” Ethan sighed, pulling his hoodie over his eyes.

“Yes, I got notifications, like a lot. A lot more than normal they just kept popping up and I clicked on it and Lo, they found her, they found Zoey, you tweeted we were on a plane, it’s like they’re detectives!”

He switched to twitter where his fan-followed timeline was filled with gossip.

@DolanUpd8s: This is the girl that Grayson has been seen with on campus at USC. Her best friend (mentioned in her bio) posted a selfie on a plane earlier & E tweeted that him & G were on a plane. It could all be coincidence but my mentions are FLOODED with people asking so here you go:

“Gray, I’m fine. I told my sorority sisters. They think my name is Lauren Bradford so they won’t find anything.... until fans from Europe catch on and might recognize me....I haven’t been in the media for a while so there are no recent pictures of me as Duchess but..... I mean.... they found me so they can probably put it together at some point.”

“You had 6k followers and now you have 12k.” Zoey laughed, “I’ve gained almost 1,000.”

“Thanks for the free promo.” Lo laughed, “Grayson, seriously, it doesn’t matter.”

“I just don’t want them to be rude.”

“When a girl of any sort gets associated with us, our fans become very protective of us...” Ethan explained, “Very, intense.”

“I plan to just post a picture of us all at The Oliver House or at dinner tonight so I can just get it all over with, tell everyone my secret, let people know you’re here, whatever people want to know.” Lo typed away on her phone, “I mean, if that’s okay with you two.”

@ lo_bradford: Let me keep this post simple, so everyone can get out of the tizzy that is currently happening. Yes, I am in Edinburgh. Why? In a few days I will be crowned Princess of Edinburgh as my Father is reigning King and I have been Duchess since I was born. Who is with me? My BFF, coolest person on the planet, 100% superstar, @ zoeylew & somehow my Grandmother, The Queen, invited @ graysondolan & @ ethandolan. Yes, via facetime, she personally invited them because she requires me & Zoey to have escorts this time. I met them at party my friend was having, there is no insane story; I’m not a model, Zoey isn’t a secret rap superstar, and neither of them attend USC. I haven’t been lying, I’ve been on the down low so I could attend high school & college normally in the United States (I have dual-citizenship as my mom was from IL). I’m still a Junior at USC and will finish up my degree there. I hope this clears everything up for everyone. Now I can post in peace. Signing Off. --Lo (aka: Penelope Estelle Victoria ‘Bradford’, Your Majesty, Duchess of Edinburgh & Lady of Cupar) (Don’t worry, the whole title makes me roll my eyes too, just call me Lo!)

@ zoeylew: I can finally just tell you all MY BFF IS (almost) A PRINCESS. To me, she’s always been a Princess but I was one of the lucky few that was told over a year ago. On the other hand, Ethan & Grayson are not Princesses nor will they ever be Princesses I just think that The Queen has a crush on them. (Either that or she was tired of everyone thinking that Lo & I were dating.) I gave my self the title of Duchess Jr. last year so this year I am now Princess Jr., my rap name YOzoYO or Assistant Princess, whatever you prefer.

@ EthanDolan : I told our mom we were going to Europe to watch our friend lo_bradford be crowned Princess and she didn’t believe me. But here we are on a plane with a fancy bathroom headed to Edinburgh! If we get kicked out for not having manners it’s all @ zoeylew ‘s fault because she gave us ‘Royalty’ class this morning. (New merch came out last week, click the link in my bio to get a cool GRETHAN hat like mine.) PEACE.

“Oh good, GrayLo and Zethan has already started invading my comments.” Zoey laughed, “Zethan sounds like a medicine.”

“I’m just getting Grethan.” Lo laughed, “And texts from my dad who is waiting at the airport.” She rolled her eyes, I told him we would see him tomorrow but he just had--

“He hasn’t seen you in months, let him have his dad moment.” Zoey said, “He will probably also take us to dinner somewhere nice and I am hunggggry.”

“Reservations for six people at the sushi restaurant in town. I hope everyone is down for sushi.”

“What’s Zolo?” Ethan asked, tipping his phone over to Lo to show her.

She laughed out loud, “That’s Mal being stupid, ZoLo is what they call us at Kappa.”

“She’s been texting me screenshots of comments. It’s hilarious.”

“Please fasten your selt belts as we make descent to EDI, the Edinburgh Airport. The time is currently half three in the afternoon and it is just a bit breezy outside. Your escort service will walk you through the terminal and to the car service that is waiting. Thank you for requesting my services again.”

“Penelope, the head of security at the airport has alerted the family that there are people there waiting for you all, mostly for the boys.” Beth read from a text on her phone, “You will still use the same exit but you don’t have to stop--

“They can stop for their fans if they want, it’s totally fine.” Lo let her know, “Zo and I will just head to the car, two security need to stay with them though.” Beth nodded, “I personally don’t think I’ll be stopping for anyone, should I? I never have before when I was Duchess so I don’t think--

“Let’s just go to the car and let their fans meet them. For a few minutes. Because again, I’m starving and I need to eat.”

“Should fifteen minutes be okay?” Beth asked Grayson, texting back someone on her phone, “They will allow fifteen unless it get unruly which you will then be escorted out.”

“That sounds fine, I’ll let them all know before we walk out.”

He slowly wrote a tweet, telling them to be in a single file line and to be polite to the airport staff that are helping. Zoey and Lo held hands and kept their heads down as they walked in behind the twins, trying to stay undercover but being noticed.

@DolanEU111: JUST MET THE BOYS AT THE AIRPORT I AM SHAKINGG SO BAD I HUGGED ETHAN AND GOT A PIC WITH THEM BOTH AND OMFG

@DolanEU111: Zoey and Lo didn’t stop for anyone! They went to the car! We yelled for them but they were quickly outside! The boys wouldn’t answer any questions about them.

@DolanEU111: But in my video you can see Grayson making sure they got outside before he poses for a picture with my friend. I also think his background on his phone is him and Lo but there were notifications in front of it so I couldn’t see well!!!

@DolanEU111: Apparently Grayson smiled really big when someone told him that Lo was the prettiest girl they’ve ever seen and he just smiled big and didn’t disagree! Ethan said he’s happy to be back in Europe and excited for the week!

@DolanEU111: We’re going to try and go to the Princesses events this week in hopes that the boys are there too! Follow me and I’ll keep you updated!!! xx

#meet the king #part 3 #fanfic #mine #me #dolan #dolan twins #ethan dolan #grayson dolan #ugh i give up on tags i'm tired #writing

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feuillesmortes · 7 years ago

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I’m about to take a social media break (I desperately need to study for grad school), but I didn’t want to do it before gifting you this update. As always, here’s a bunch of modern au headcanons stitched together in the form of fic. It’s rather long this time, but it’s worth it. Tagging my mates @queenbessofyork and @harritudur. Enjoy it!

You can read it on Ao3.

Lizzie wasn’t sure what had possessed her to accept Henry’s veiled invite for a day trip to Richmond. She only knew she had accepted it, and as a result, had spent an awfully long tube journey seated by his side, watching his Adam’s apple going up and down as he spoke pleasantries such as the day’s nice weather. Under the harsh artificial light of the carriage Lizzie noticed what a great profile he had, especially with those high cheekbones of his. Not that she hadn’t noticed it before, not really. It was rather distracting at times. Sometimes she found herself zoning out just staring at him. Embarrassing.

The day trip had a purpose: Henry was house-hunting that day and had asked Lizzie to join him, alleging he could use a woman’s opinion on the matter if she so wished to help him. Yes, house-hunting in that economy, as if Lizzie didn’t think he was minted before. Over brunch Henry had casually mentioned he had some sort of inheritance, some money left by his father that her mother intended for him to receive after his graduation. It was April, final exams were coming up, he had a job offer waiting for him at his internship company. It seemed things were looking exceedingly good for Henry so he might as well start searching for a place. Everything was great, except…

“Richmond?” Lizzie’s first reaction upon hearing his choice of borough was to repeat it back to him, like a badly trained parrot. “As in Richmond Upon Thames, zone 4?”

“Why, I thought I should give it a shot. They call it London’s happy valley for a reason, don’t you think? ” From behind his glasses, his eyes sparkled with excitement. It didn’t make Lizzie any less fidgety as she played with the rings on her fingers.

“But it’s just so… Far off.” She protested feebly. “I guess I just thought you’d pick a place near the City, or even Canary Wharf. You know, near wherever you’re going to work.”

“I don’t mind commuting, really. It’s only an eighteen-minute journey to Waterloo if a get the train. And I don’t exactly intend to spend my father’s money on a studio flat only so I could say I own property in central London.”

It was not that his arguments lacked in any sound logic. Lizzie wasn’t even sure why she was opposed to the idea in the first place. The truth is that she hadn’t dared to spend much time thinking of how things would turn out after her flatmates graduated. She knew that Rodrigo wanted to apply for a masters in international relations, so he would hopefully stay in the UK for longer. But after all that time, for some obtuse reason, she hadn’t entertained the thought that Henry could possibly choose to live far from her. Hell, he might even go back to Wales or France for all she knew. Choosing Richmond was an actual improvement when she thought of all the possible scenarios. Still, it bothered her that she could get so worked up for such a small thing as Henry’s choice of borough.

In the gentle rocking of the tube carriage, Lizzie let her mind wander as the stations passed by. Earlier at brunch the former flatmates had gone down to the pub to celebrate the end of the semester. There were still all the exams to do and a month of revision to go, but the end of lectures and a bank holiday were more than enough reason to celebrate. Lizzie and Henry had managed to convince Rodrigo to finally have his first full English breakfast, something he had resisted so far. “Your cuisine is too bland for me” was something Rodrigo used to say more often than not. And truthfully, what was a black pudding compared to a morcilla? With each bite Rodrigo did the most peculiar of faces, ranging from pleasure to disgust to… odd amusement, it seemed. Neither Lizzie nor Henry felt particularly hungry that time, so they decided to share a large order instead. Henry laid special claim to the portobello mushrooms; Lizzie got hold of the beans on toast their Spanish mate had so scornfully looked down on. Eating from the same plate, they could almost make a pretty picture.

A pretty picture. What was it that her mum said about them on the day of her hearing? “Don’t you look pretty together, the pair of you?” Ms Beaufort had gone along for the occasion and had agreed with the statement, much to Lizzie’s chagrin. Before leaving, her mother took her aside to whisper “Really, you’re sleeping on this one, Lizzie!” But instead of taking an encouraging turn, her mother’s words only soured her disposition towards the idea. What did her mum see in Henry anyway? Money? The prospect of a brilliant career much like her father’s once had been? For someone who had been accused of a gold digger her whole married life, one would think she’d have a different approach other than pushing her daughter to the first white knight that came along. Had it been five hundred years ago, Lizzie would be happy to oblige to her mother’s idea without thinking twice. As a 21st century woman, though, her mother’s insistence did not sit well with her.

It didn’t help that the estate agent also thought them a couple during the house tour in Richmond Green. “We say it’s a two-bedroom house, but you can easily turn the spare room into a third bedroom in case of guests or extra children. Have you got kids already?” Lizzie and Henry’s reaction was to simply exchange an awkward, panicking look. The agent must have confused one of her rings, or something. Lizzie decided to go for a tight-lipped smile and a simple answer. “Not yet.” She assured Henry all was well with a look. It certainly wasn’t the first time something like that happened. Still, the petite woman went on and on about how Richmond was an idyllic place to raise kids, how the Green was full with cricketers in the summer, how the valley was full of canoe clubs paddling on the Thames. “We also have excellent schools just around the corner.” She painted the location with an almost countryside atmosphere, an earthly paradise.

At the end, the house tour narrowed down to a variety of technical details. Henry made relevant questions regarding electricity, security, maintenance charges and council taxing. Lizzie didn’t hear a word of it — she had her mind very far away from it all. She wandered to the back door leading to the garden entrance where a gentle breeze was blowing, bringing the fresh smell of the woods. Spring weather had always been particularly crazy in London, going from sunny skies to hailstorms in the short space of minutes. Not that day, though. Lizzie sorved the air, the memories of the warm days of her childhood flashing behind her closed eyelids. When she was little, Lizzie and her siblings had enjoyed many sunlit days in Richmond with their father.

Right now, in that landscaped garden where busy bumblebees went about their work, she could picture a couple of kids running around the bushes, chasing a dog or two. In her dreams she always saw a little boy who looked just like her father. She could plant white roses in those flower beds, she thought suddenly. Even some red roses — they deserved their place in the garden too. Lizzie could share many lazy afternoons there with a loved someone by her side.

“Lizzie.” A hand touched her between her shoulder blades, making her jump. “I was calling for you. It’s time to go.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t hear you.” She turned around to face him and his warm hand slowly fell from her back. She almost regretted doing so instead of just… Leaning into the touch.

“Someone is zoning out much, I see?”

His eyes were positively quirky and blue, and a timid smile grew on her face, mirroring his own. “Maybe.”

God, she felt her cheeks burning. She hoped it wasn’t so blatant that only seconds ago she was daydreaming about the house. His future house, if anything else. Something Lizzie knew she had no right to at all.

But Henry seemed oblivious enough. “Come now. We should say goodbye to the agent.”

They left Sheen Road and took the path back to the station. Richmond Green was very close to the town centre, making it a great location next to the array of shops and high-end restaurants. That Sunday the streets were crowded with day trippers and costumers busy about their errands. It suits him, Lizzie thought almost bitterly. Richmond had a posh air to it, but it was not anywhere near as conceited as Kensigton or Chelsea. She could definitely picture Henry moving there. Lizzie sensed a sickening scent of early nostalgia in the air, or maybe it was just the sweetness coming from the hundreds of daffodils that lined up the streets that time of the year.

She took a deep breath and worked up the nerve to put an end to her misery. With a detached voice, she asked Henry whether or not he was going to buy the house. “Not for now, at least.” He said, after a few seconds of silence. “I’ve still got a lot to research before I can make an important decision like that. But I certainly liked the neighbourhood.“ He smiled. “I can see myself living here. I’ll be adding it to my 5-year plan.”

Lizzie felt something akin to relief washing over her, but she disguised her smile by taking a mocking tone. “You’ve got a 5-year plan? Really?” She purposely raised her eyebrows. In fact, she wasn’t even surprised. It was such a Henry thing to have a long plan.

He raised his chin, taking a prideful stance. “Like every responsible adult, yes. I do, missy.”

“I wish I were more… like you. You know, disciplined or— I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I mean, look at you! You’ve got a job already!”

“I have a job offer, which is not at all the same thing. And just because I have one it doesn’t mean it’s my dream job. It doesn’t mean it’s what I would like to do for my whole life.” He paused and turned a curious gaze to her. “What do you want to do after you graduate?”

“I’ve thought…” She felt shrieking under his gaze, so she decided to look at random people on the street instead. “I’ve thought about working in education. It was not what I first had in mind, but it sort of feels right at the moment. It’s just an option, though. Nothing’s certain.”

Lizzie had always been told she was good with children. Perhaps she had acquired some skill looking after her young sisters Anne, Catherine and little Bridget. Even Cecily, who was just a few years younger than herself. She had always felt like the responsible big sister when it came to her, much to Cecily’s annoyance.

Lizzie turned her eyes back to Henry and he was listening with a very attentive expression. She held her breath to hear his opinion, but Henry simply blinked at her. “Lizzie, there are only two certain things in this life: death and taxes.”

Her shoulders shook with a soft chuckle, and she felt like relaxing again. Henry went on. “You know what you want to do. It sounds like a plan to me.”

“Blimey, no! It’s not a plan per se.” She laughed at the absurdity of that sentence. “I don’t have my shit together like you.”

“You think I’ve got my shit together, do you?”

“Well, you certainly look like you do!”

Henry winked at her. “Lizzie, it’s all about looking the part. Never let them see your weaknesses. That’s what my uncle always said to me.”

“Them who, though?”

He made a vague gesture with his hands. “Competition.”

Lizzie let out a delighted laugh, her steps bringing her closer to him. It was at that moment that she realised she didn’t feel like going home so soon. She asked him whether he had anything to do later that day. She tensed, hoping he wouldn’t take it the wrong way. But Henry only eyed her curiously. “Nothing much. You?” Good. It was so very rare for him to have spare time. They always had to drag him along to social events. So Lizzie proceeded to convince him to go to Richmond Park to watch the deer. “It’s like hunting… minus the animal-killing part and the gore, of course.” It was a favourite pastime of hers during her childhood. Telling Henry it was obligatory to go there on his first visit to Richmond seemed to close the deal.

They found a rental shop to hire a pair of bikes and finally, after some delay and some grub, off they made their way to Richmond Park. The cycle paths took them across fresh fields, under trees full of bare branches giving birth to green leaflets. All around them, life was growing back with a vengeance. It was not hard to find the deer — fallow bucks and does in particular were not shy of human presence. They got off from their bikes to approach the animals, but they couldn’t get to the deer. Many people trying to take pictures blocked their way, crowded as the park was on a Sunday. So Henry and Lizzie kept walking, taking their bikes along the grassy fields to find animals elsewhere. They stopped at a hill with a view to London, named after some king of yore. The exercise seemed to have a good effect on Henry. Lizzie had never seen him looking so peaceful.

“Richmond does good to you.” She remarked, making him turn his eyes to her. “Should I start calling you Monsieur le Comte de Richmond from now on?”

Henry gave her a wolfish smile. “Lizzie, please. Your grace will do.”

“Your grace?” She raised an eyebrow at him. “What are you now? A duke, a king?”

“King of England, of course.”

Lizzie wrinkled her nose at him. “I don’t think old Queen Liz is going to be much pleased to hear it. Nor her son, or her grandson, or her great-grandson for that matter. What if they call you usurper?”

“Nah, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ll have a great PR team for that.”

“Well, if you’re going to be king I’ll be queen as well. You can start calling me…” She made a dramatic pause and curtsied with a graceful motion. “Madame la Reine de France!”

Except Henry didn’t find it funny. His face turned serious and he immediately turned from her. “I’m not calling you queen of France.” He began walking again, tugging his bike along. Lizzie hurried after him and laid a hand on the handlebar to make him stop.

“Why not?”

Her eyes challenged him, dared him to tell his reason. Henry only frowned and averted her gaze. As he hesitated still, Lizzie repeated her question. Eventually he let out a sigh and looked at her again. “For one, the French will never accept it. In case you didn’t know, they’re not exactly pro-monarchy.”

“Of course not! But hypothetically speaking, I don’t see any other kingdom to suit me. Do you?”

“I could…” He looked down, sliding a foot on the grass. “I could share England with you… If you wanted.”

“You? Sharing the rule? I’m not familiar with the concept.” She took a teasing tone to dissipate the awkwardness. “We both know you won’t be sharing anything, so stop lying.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I probably won’t.” He looked back at her and smiled again. Not a completely kind smile. “But you wouldn’t mind it, would you? Leaving the boring stuff to me, and you get the charities and the galas. Come on, you’d love it.”

Lizzie gaped at him. The nerve he had for speaking such! Even if he thought so, even if it was true, he had no right to say it aloud. “You’re an insufferable git sometimes, did you know that?”

His eyes shone with a harsh light, mischievous. “Yes, I can be a bit of an arse. But you like me like that, so what’s your point?”

“You— you bastard! I absolutely don’t—”

Henry began laughing so hard he was seized by a coughing fit. His coughing only increased, making him bend over and almost fold himself in two. Lizzie clutched his arm to shake him, forgetting that only a minute ago she was glaring at him.

“Henry! Henry, what is it?”

“What?” He managed to say between coughs.

“You’re coughing.” A rather matter-of-fact statement, but it was not the first time she had seen him suffer a fit lately. “Henry, have you been smoking again?”

He cleared his throat as his coughing bout subdued. “No, Lizzie. I told you I’ve quit.” In a hushed and quicker voice, though, he added. “I only have one or two fags on occasion.”

“WHAT?”

“Jesus Christ, Lizzie! It’s nothing. It’s probably hayfever.”

“I’m not joking, Henry! You’ve got to see your GP. Did you know that young people can have lung cancer too?” The thought terrified her. Her father had died from a condition in the liver after a lifetime of bad drinking habits. Henry wasn’t anywhere near as stout as her father had been. Lizzie doubted his health could be as enduring.

Henry still looked perplexed at her, like he didn’t understand her concern. She squeezed his arm harder. “Promise me you’ll see your GP.”

He looked at a point over her shoulder. “What’s that?”

She turned around to see a white-spotted fawn grazing some feet away. Lizzie immediately landed her bike on the grass and tried to approach the calf as silently and as carefully as her feet took her. She beckoned Henry forward, but he lingered behind. “Lizzie, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“It’s a miracle baby, Henry! They’re usually not born till late spring. We have to see it.” Henry let out a resigned sigh but followed her anyways, he too taking careful steps to approach the calf. Lizzie couldn’t believe she was about to pet a fawn. Her heart ringed loudly in her ears, she could taste excitement at the tip of her tongue. It was then that she saw it, the mother. This was no fallow deer. It was a large red hind, menacing and monstrous, vapour coming out of its nostrils. It scraped the hooves on the ground, ready to charge.

Lizzie took Henry’s hand, her voice hollow. “We have to go back. Now.”

“What about the bikes?”

The hind let out a long guttural growl. “Forget them! Just run! Run, you fool!”

She yanked him along and sprinted as fast as she could. She didn’t look back to see if the mother was following, but she could hear it galloping behind them. At her side Henry muttered a litany of fucks as they ran. They raced for a few meters before they made a turn at a thick patch of trees and hid behind a trunk, shoulder to shoulder. They were both breathless and disarranged, panting. Lizzie’s hair was all over her face; Henry’s glasses were slipping off the bridge of his nose. Her hand, the one holding his fingers, was sticky with sweat. He let go of that hand. “Shit, Lizzie! We’re never doing this again! The things I do for you, I swear—”

“Shhh! It could hear us.”

Lizzie had never seen Henry so distraught. He tried to put his hair strands in order with a nervous hand, but it clearly wasn’t working. He gave up with a low grunt. “This shit is serious, Lizzie! We could have died, we could have been trampled, gored to death—”

“Shhh!” She repeated, more forcefully this time. To begin with, the hind didn’t even have antlers. But yes, there could be a stag nearby waiting to attack.

Lizzie scooted a bit to the side and stuck her prying head out to look for the red hind. Just like magic, it was nowhere near sight. She turned back to Henry and met his expecting gaze. “It’s gone.” The sentence hung in the air, both of them not quite believing it. They stood frozen for a couple of seconds, staring at each other, chests heaving. They both broke into a grin then. Relief flooded over them and they shared a loud laugh like giddy idiots. She meant to move and hug him — she was half-way into his arms when he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss. She fell a step back and disentangled from his embrace.

“That was unexpected!”

Henry yanked the glasses off his face. “Would you please shut up every time I try to kiss you?”

What? She meant to ask him, but he drew her to him again and covered her mouth with his. Surprisingly enough, she found herself pressing closer to him. He seized her by the waist, straightening her in his arms, and she circled her own around his shoulders. He smelled like the sharp scent of the woods mixed with his French cologne. The stubble on his jaw tickled her, not unpleasantly, and she made a low hum on the back of her throat when he sucked on her bottom lip. His glasses slid off his hand and hit the ground behind her with a soft thud as he cupped her cheek, deepening the kiss. As much as Lizzie didn’t want to admit it, Henry knew what he was doing. He slid his tongue inside her mouth for a proper snog, and she lost track of time. She could only think of the weight of his hand on the small of her back, the movements of his mouth on hers. He ended the kiss by gently cradling her head, placing a peck on her lips.

They parted, but a light buzz ringed inside her head as she tried to process what had just happened. Henry, on the contrary, looked perfectly untroubled with a smirk on his face. He bent down to pick up his glasses and calmly wiped them on his shirt, unfazed. “I should’ve done it sooner.” Try as she might, Lizzie couldn’t find the words to contradict him.

A cold swirling wind swept on them. The light fell across the land in purple and orange hues. Night was fast approaching.

“Come, Lizzie.” He took her by the hand. “Let’s go home.”

#henry x lizzie #henry vii x elizabeth of york #modern au #flatmates au #this has been a ride #thank you for sticking with me

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ginasneesby · 7 years ago

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New Zealand 2018 - first week

So I did it, I planned to move to New Zealand for a year and I actually did it. The last thing that I decided I wanted to do and actually did was to start tap dancing when I was 15 so it's only taken me another 14 years to achieve something I said I was going to do. Obviously, that doesn't include uni and London etc because that was a natural step, this is so far away from my normal life it's a little scary but I'm also very excited for what the year will hold.

I flew on the evening of the 9th of January and was escorted to the airport by my parents, my sister and my two best girls. We had a meal and a drink, I was given some lovely presents and then I made them leave me so I could go sit at the gate and not make a big scene in the departure lounge. I'm going to miss everyone like crazy but I hope travelling and having new experiences will fill that gap; at least a little. My first flight was about 14 hours long, luckily I had nobody sitting next to me so I had a bit of room, but I was also trying to stay awake this journey to try and get on the right time so I watched films for most of the flight and didn't mind being in one seat and up right. Of all the films I watched Deepwater Horizon was probably the best one it made me forget that I was on a plane which is always good when you're sat down for so freaking long. I stopped off in Manila for 3 or so hours, it wasn't too bad although it's a weird feeling to be tired so you want to sit down but also want to do anything but sit down because that's all you've done for the last day and will do again for the next 10 hours. There is also absolutely fuck all to do, so I spent my time listening to sense and sensibility on Audible, I wish I downloaded a better book. The next flight was 10 hours I was in the middle of 4 and every seat was taken and I noticed there was no entertainment system in front of me. Ho Ly Shit!! Luckily my plan was to sleep for most of this flight, I managed about 5 hours having had a little kip on the first flight, but that still meant 4 hours until we landed with no films to watch and nothing downloaded as I have no memory. I can't tell you the last time I cycled through Candy Crush, Angry Birds and other such games for such a long time all while listening to Jane Austen. It was a very boring few hours, but I made it! I landed, collected my bags, got through immigration and customs and after a desperate cigarette got a shuttle which took me straight to the door of my Airbnb in Grafton. I was determined not to ruin the good work I had done on the plane so even though I was pretty tired I went out for a walk found the local supermarket and bought a few things for dinner. It's quite an experience walking around a supermarket hungry and jetlagged, you can't make any decisions on what you want to eat but you kind of want everything, after I walked home with the food I then wasn't hungry at all so I had a few chips and dip and went to sleep. I woke up at 3 o'clock in the morning really hungry so ate a little something, luckily I managed to go back to sleep easily and woke up at a more reasonable time.

My first job was to try and find a car, I had a budget of about $2,000 which is about £1100, it didn't have to be anything spectacular it just had to last me a year! Maybe I was looking in the wrong place but nobody really had cars for that price, they were all a lot more expensive, one dealer did have a car in that price range, it was a bit older than I would have wanted but I thought I'll have a look and take it for a drive, however he came back to tell me but they'd actually lost the keys about a month ago. Good work guys. So a bit deflated and a bit sunburnt, why did no one tell me it was going to be so hot! I trekked back to my Airbnb stopping at a pub, an Irish pub obvs, and then decided to go to an off licence to buy some more beer and try to salvage the day. That's always the best thing to do when you're worried about how much to spend on a car, right? Spend it on beer instead and then the issue is gone. I have to say I did have a lovely evening sitting by myself, on the deck, in the sun, getting slightly tipsy and watching comedy programmes on Netflix (Jess is a life saver!) Although I was slightly surprised, it being Friday night that no one else in the Airbnb appeared or even came to say hello, luckily it wasn't my proper accommodation; that would be really sucky.

The next day I had arranged a number of viewings for places to live, the first one although a nice room was living with a family which I didn't realise, yeah no thanks. The next one was quite nice but unfurnished and quite a long way from any shops or pubs, it was on a highway which would be really helpful to get to work but not so fun when you have to drive everywhere. Also some of the neighbours have swimming pools which the girls who lived there said was actual torture on hot days; however it was still top of my list. The third one was a small room which didn't even fit the bed in and there was only one bathroom between me and two boys, it was also upstairs so I would have had to trek through the house if I needed a wee at night. There was also the slight problem of both boys being vegan, yeah no thanks. I had a few more viewings the next day so I wasn't too worried although it's always slightly nerve-racking when other people have viewed, if they didn't pick me, I may have been forced to live somewhere awful. That evening I have plans to go to dinner with my two aunts who came to New Zealand that day and we're heading down to Queenstown to see my cousin play in the under 19 England cricket World Cup team, of all the places in the world it could have been held, it was here. It was very nice to see some familiar faces and actually talk to some people as I haven't really done that for a few days unless I was buying something. We went to a really nice Thai restaurant called Saan where they recommend you buy the large dishes and share them, we shared some starters and have some smaller dishes to ourselves and were absolutely stuffed, whether that's portion size or jet lag I don't know, either way they paid and I was home by about 9:30 and ready for bed.

Sunday morning and I was getting up at 7 o'clock, unthinkable, but I had a viewing and a carfair to get to, this was going to be my best shot at finding a car for the right price. The viewing before was a nice place with one lady, she liked feeding the pigeons outside her front door which meant that they gathered there and harassed you, and she listened to country and western music... for fun. But the place was nice enough, not too expensive and I wouldn't have to buy a bed which was a big plus, she also give me a lift down to the fair which was about 5 minutes away so I wouldn't be late. She had only shown around one other person and would prefer me so she didn't have to live with a guy; so she went to the top of my list. The car fair was a massive success, they had a whole section for under $5,000 and I saw quite a few around 2000, although was quite surprised to see some very old cars(1994) hoping to get 3 and a half to 4, wishful thinking guys. I'd be interested to know if they sold for when I come to resell my car, I think I could get more for it then I paid, especially as the registration only has to be renewed yearly because it's from 2000; apparently backpackers like this and so are willing to pay slightly more. The guy selling the car told me it have broken down recently and so he had bought another car in the meantime and then fixed the problem so he just wanted to get rid of it, he was selling it for 1250. So not only was it a lot cheaper than most of the other cars it had recently been serviced and old bits replaced for new, we took it out onto the highway to check it would go up to 100 kilometres an hour without exploding and when I was satisfied, and the check came back saying it wasn't stolen and there were no massive debts on it, I bought it!!! My only issue is that it's automatic and only 1.3 l engine, not great for a country with lots of big hills, but I'm pretty much used to it already, there wasa bit of toing and froing changing the owner as I had an international licence and then sending the money as I didn't bring my card reader with me and didn't have data yet, but eventually we sorted it out and I came back home. Adulting level one succeeded. My last viewing was up on the north shore near the hospital that I'm going to be working at, this meant crossing the Harbour Bridge with the amazing view of Auckland CBD that I remember from 10 years ago. The place is setback in the bush and down a wicked driveway that reminds me of a holiday home we once had in France, you don't want to stall on that bad boy! It's a beautiful 4 bedroom house, a decent sized room with the loo right next door and two bedrooms downstairs who tend to use the bathroom. The other people living here are more my age and the landlords have a holiday home down the coast that they're trying to get me to already, so I agreed to take the room on the spot. (And I might head to that holiday home!) That night, I don't think I even made it to 8:30 before falling asleep, it had been a busy day.

My only job for Monday was to move into my new place so I quickly ran into town before my check out to see if I could open a bank account, apparently they're very busy and I couldn't get an appointment for a few days, so I thought I'd wait and do it at the branch near my new place. I did get a SIM card which means I have data, I didn't need a bank account or an address which is annoying as I would have got it on day one, I dread to think what my phone bill will be like after texting a lot of people about viewings etc from my UK number. I also got stung in a parking place as the machine didn't take cash and wouldn't accept my cards, by the time I found another machine it was charging me over the hour so I paid $12 for 45 minutes of parking. Needless to say my true Brit came out and I did a bit of shouting at the machine and may have called the car park a cunt. Check out with simple and I stopped at the supermarket on the way to my new place to grab some lunch stuff, and made my appointment with the bank for Thursday, who knew banks was so busy!? After unpacking most of my stuff I headed back to the shopping mall and into warehouse which is a wonderful shop, you can buy pretty much anything and most things in bulk. I bought a set of shelves where I could store my makeup and random bits and bobs and also a mirror so I have somewhere to do my makeup that isn't the little toilet. I then did a big food shop channeling my sister in planning breakfast lunch and dinner for the week, however I did have to count every cent as I went around as the money I had in my purse is all I have until I get my deposit back. My old landlord has at least been in touch and taken my bank details so hopefully it's on it's way, but I did give them to her on Friday and nothing has appeared yet; this is the only annoying thing about the time difference, for me it's end of day Tuesday where as she hasn't woken up yet so won't answer my text for a while.

I slept very well in my nice comfy bed and was trying to think what to do with my day when I looked out the window and saw it was raining, how bloody rude. After breakfast and lounging for a bit it cleared up so I jumped in my car and drove up the coast to go for a walk, I went to Parry Kauri Park and went for quite a muggy jaunt amongst the trees, the sounds and smells were beautiful. The rain had made the forest smell lovely and every so often patches of sunlight came streaming through the super tall trees, it did however mean I was absolutely baking by the time I finished my half hour walk, on my way back down I stopped in on the coast and sat in the shade looking at the waves enjoying the breeze. I also took a quick detour to Takapuna Beach which is my closest one to see what it looked like, the waves were immense and there were loads of people windsurfing, however it was still lovely and warm. I don't have anything planned for this evening and don't have a firm time frame on when I will start work so I may start planning a little excursion for the end of the week, even if it's only with my landlords to their other property.

#newzealand #auckland #emigrate #buying a car #finding a home #aunts to the rescue #thai food #saan ponsonby road #ellerslie car fair #mazda demio #north shore #warehouse #nostalgia #summer rain #kauri tree #takapuna #adulting

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vegasgrooming-blog · 5 years ago

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Cupping therapy in London will reduce Your Cost

Cupping therapy has come from ancient ages where people used it as medicine. In this process, therapists are using cups in your skin for a few minutes. The therapy cup creates suction. Cupping therapy works great for lots of diseases. A large number of people are using cupping therapy to reduce pain, inflammation, it can increase the level of blood flow, you can get relaxed after using this therapy. These cupping will also give you mental pleasure. If you are in London you can get huge benefits from hijama clinic london because Vegas Grooming is offering it at affordable prices. you can just follow the Google map for the location of Vegas Grooming.

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Most of the sportsmen are always in a hurry to play for their country, clubs, etc. during their games or matches, they feel much pain in their knee. If any cricketer feels pain in the knee he might miss a couple of matches because the knee is an important part of our body. If you adopt the cupping therapy from Vegas grooming your knee pain will be reduced or removed for a lifetime. Cupping therapy will help you to get rid of injuries too.

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I have talked about very few benefits of using cupping clinic but if you start adopting this cupping you will feel more and more pleasure in your mind and body. So it's up to you whether you will use it or not. If you are in London you can easily visit the vegas grooming shop for therapy.

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biofunmy · 5 years ago

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Richard Thompson at 70: on love, loss and being a Muslim in Trump’s US | Music

Richard Thompson is drinking mint tea in a Hampstead coffee shop – he doesn’t touch coffee or alcohol – and between Islam and cricket, he’s discussing the remarkable guest list for his upcoming 70th birthday celebration at the Royal Albert Hall in London. “I don’t like being the centre of attention, strange as it sounds,” he insists. “I just want to have a few friends over.”

The man the LA Times once hailed as “the finest rock songwriter after Dylan” and “the best electric guitarist since Hendrix” will switch between electric and acoustic guitars, and hopes that “most guests will have time to do a couple of songs”. The 15 guests will include Pink Floyd hero David Gilmour, who has featured alongside Richard in a Rolling Stone magazine best ever guitarist list, and who, as a soloist, covered Richard’s 1975 song Dimming of the Day. “He’ll do that,” says Richard. “And then do something of his … or Floyd’s. He has always been a nice guy and we share a love of all things Fender.”

The cast will also include old and new British folk heroes, from Martin and Eliza Carthy to Olivia Chaney. And then there will be Harry Shearer, the American actor and comedian, reviving his role as Derek Smalls from Spinal Tap, along with his wife Judith Owen who joined Richard in 2006 for the 1,000 Years of Popular Music project, in which they reworked anything from Sumer Is Icumen In to Britney Spears.

Richard Thompson may be a virtuoso guitarist, but he insists that it’s the songs that are most important to him. “Most of what I do revolves around the song. If I play guitar, I’m not interested in playing instrumentals. I like playing guitar to accompany a voice, or if there is a solo, then extending the narrative of the song.” So are his thrilling, spontaneous-sounding acoustic or electric guitar solos inspired by the song? “Yes, it’s that way round. Absolutely.”

Remarkable output … Richard Thompson. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

For more than 50 years, his songwriting output has been remarkable, from the gently bleak and lyrical ballads that are performed regularly in folk clubs (where some listeners probably think they are traditional) through to equally bleak, upbeat favourites like Tear-Stained Letter or the pounding, edgy and emotional stories of foreboding on his latest electric album, 13 Rivers.

It’s a set filled with religious imagery, “because I love the King James Bible, a beautiful piece of poetry, and you have to speak to people in a language that’s familiar”. And it was written, he says, “in a difficult personal time”. Last year, after the ending of his second marriage, to Nancy Covey, he quit California to move to New Jersey, home of his new partner, singer-songwriter and author Zara Phillips. But he insists that the album is not autobiographical. “I have no perspective on what I am doing. I write a song and think, ‘Where does this come from?’ Me? I wrote this? I write fiction … I’m just enjoying myself, throwing lines together. I think it always reflects your own experience and feelings, but it isn’t always in a way that’s clear. If you find something honest enough in yourself then it will be universal.”

But The Storm Won’t Come – “There’s a smell of death where I lay my head…” – is surely about his divorce? “But you’ve also got Trump in the White House, so maybe there’s a little bit of that in there as well.” And Her Love Was Meant For Me, isn’t that straightforward? “It’s a song I find very confusing, actually.”

Listen to The Storm Won’t Come

Richard insists that the Albert Hall show won’t be a retrospective, but it will certainly be nostalgic. Another guest will be Hugh Cornwell, of Stranglers fame, who played with Richard in his first band, Emil & the Detectives, when they were both 14 and pupils at William Ellis school near Hampstead Heath. Then there will Simon Nicol and Ashley Hutchings, who along with Richard were the core trio in different teenage bands who evolved into the first Fairport Convention. They will be joined by Dave Mattacks, the drummer who joined Fairport a little later, alongside the late Sandy Denny, to record Liege and Lief, the classic album released 50 years ago that kickstarted British folk-rock. “We might dip our toe into that repertoire,” says Richard. “And someone is going to do a bit of Sandy.”

So how did he feel about that era now? “We thought that if we are in the charts and it’s taken seriously, it could change peoples’ attitudes to British music and you might have people stopping using American accents when singing. It was totally revolutionary at the time. Rock music with an element of British traditional music in it was pretty much our innovation, and I’m very proud of that. And when people in other countries saw we did, it was possible for them to contemporise their own cultures.”

After the Fairports, Richard recorded a serious of glorious, mostly bleak albums with his first wife Linda Thompson, a powerful, evocative singer whose career has been marred by dysphonia, a larynx disorder that makes it increasingly difficult for her to sing. She’ll also be there, along with their musical children, singer-songwriter and producer Teddy Thompson and Kami Thompson, who works with her husband, the Pretenders guitarist James Walbourne, in the Rails. And to complete the family line-up there will Richard’s new partner Zara Phillips.

The band that kickstarted folk-rock … Fairport Convention, with Richard Thompson in the box. Photograph: Jim McCrary/Redferns

So how would Linda feel if Zara sings one of the Richard and Linda classics such as I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight or Wall of Death, as seems likely? “It wouldn’t seem odd,” Linda tells me. “If it were Richard and Emmylou Harris I might be a bit miffed, because she is a genius! And I like Zara. And Richard has changed has a lot. He is much nicer and he’s happy – so that’s great”.

It was during his marriage to Linda that Richard discovered Islam. The son of a Scottish policeman, he was brought up as a Presbyterian “which I was not interested in. I became a Muslim when I was 23 and have been one ever since.” He discovered Sufism, a mystical form of Islam, after visiting “a very old esoteric bookshop, Watkins in Covent Garden, and started reading about it”. On the cover of their 1975 album Pour Down Like Silver, he and Linda are dressed in turban and headscarf, and for the next three years the couple disappeared from the music scene to spend much of their time in Islamic communities in London and then Norfolk. “And it was a community, not a commune,” said Richard. “Commune implies sharing out the carrots!”

Linda hated it. “Sufism had appealed to me, but the guy who ran it was bit of a tyrant. There was lots of praying and guilt, and women were so subservient.” Richard, who was attracted to Sufism by “the nobility of being … it seemed like the way human being should be,” agreed that it wasn’t ideal. “It was full of human foibles. People are lustful, jealous, God knows what. But then we visited a sheikh in Morocco and saw the other side of it. And it was all wonderful.”

By 1982 the marriage was at an end, but the deserved success of the Shoot Out the Lights album led to an infamous US tour. “I was living on booze and antidepressants,” Linda says. “I was so angry I was kicking and hitting Richard on stage. I trashed a dressing room, stole a car and got arrested. But it was good for my voice. I guess because I was so heartbroken it freed me up. The dysphonia wasn’t too bad in those days. At the end of the tour Richard rang and said: ‘Bruce Springsteen is male singer of the year and you are female singer of the year.’ Was it in Time or Rolling Stone? I think both. Like everything, good comes out of bad.”

So has she forgiven him? “I have. It was a bad time but – Jesus Christ – it was 40 years ago. Forget it!” But she is “kind of dreading the Albert Hall” because “as a performer you’d love to get up and wow the crowd, but I never know what will come out of my mouth. But I’ll do something. It’s going to be good.”

Richard and Linda Thompson in 1975. Photograph: Rex

After the split, Richard moved to California, remarried, and relaunched his career. “At aged 33, when I started singing solo, they treated me as a new artist and put me on college radio. So my audience in the States was 10 years younger than me, and it still is. And very, very slowly I did well. It was word of mouth. I toured America relentlessly, and I still do, and it’s still growing, which is amazing. Without having a hit record, more people come to shows now than they ever did.” As for the move to the east coast, “I was ready for a change. But being a performing musician I do 100 shows a year, and I’m away 150 days, so where you are based is less important.”

Does he have problems as a Muslim living in the States in the Trump era? “Trump has ramped up bigotry considerably. If you are not a white Christian, the implication is that you’re not a real American. It’s incredibly destructive, divisive, and harmful. We’ll see how it plays out – but the fact is that you still have more religious freedom in America or Britain than you do in a whole lot of Middle Eastern countries.”

Thompson is a cricket enthusiast – he cheerfully recalls his appearance on Test Match Special five years ago, singing 1952 Vincent Black Lightning – and he insists he “never wanted to be culturally absorbed by America. I can contribute more having a culturally British point of view.” Even in the midwest, he can still knock them for six.

• Richard Thompson: 70th Birthday Celebration is at Royal Albert Hall, London, Monday 30 September.

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marxpobert-blog · 6 years ago

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I have a confession. Colonial hangover has been real for me ever since I was a teenager , growing up on English literature. And while it has mostly been about Chaucer and Shakespeare, Keats and Wordsworth, Milton and Browning, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, I think I have been dreaming of London since my school days. Landmarks like the Big Ben or the Buckingham Palace, Thames or Hyde Park have been etched in my mind forever. And yet when I landed in London a decade ago, it was Monopoly, the board game that came to my mind and not literature. But it was one of my most memorable trips although I had just 48 hours in London. I managed to experience the best of London. I visited some few tourist spots, got a glimpse of its royal legacy, went on a couple of walking tours on my own, explored its literary heritage, chilled at some old pubs, walked around old markets, experienced some of the unique things to do in London and even watched a musical ! With the cricket ICC ODI World Cup 2019 held in England this year, London is one of the happening destinations this year. There are many Londons in London and here are some of the cool stuff to do in London.

Roman London

My tryst with London started with Londonium, the ancient Roman city that was founded around the 1st century but abandoned around the 5th century. It is fascinating to get a glimpse of the city, which is more Roman than English. Even today there are a few Roman ruins, including the Old Wall that remains as a souvenir of history.The Romans built temples, amphitheatre and even bath houses and Londonium was the capital of Roman Britain or Britannia. I did not do a detailed tour but spent some time exploring the area on my own.

Pic Courtesy Stock Photos from Rob Wilson/Shutterstock

Royal London

You cannot come to London and not pay your respects to the Queen. And so, my first stop was at Westminister. Swamped by tourists, I was completely overwhelmed to see the Palace of Westminister with the towering Big Ben along with the taller Victoria tower. The Thames looked calm and quiet even as the tourists were on a frenzied mood. The Buckingham Palace tour , along with the Changing of Guards, the Royal Mews and the Queen’s Gallery took away most of my time and money, but it was worth the experience. I was extremely overwhelmed when I entered the Gothic styled Westminister Abbey and the legendary St Paul’s Cathedral.

I did not have time to go to Windsor Castle besides the Kensington Palace and the Hampton Court Palace, but I did manage a glimpse of the lush Kew Gardens and the palace enclosed within the gardens. The Tower of London along with its dungeons is another monument that should not be missed and I went there just to see the Kohinoor Diamond, which I hope will be returned to our country some day. Right in front of it is the famous Tower Bridge, which is not the London Bridge and it is definitely not falling down. If you have just 48 hours in London, then I suggest that you focus primarily on the touristy places as it is some of the cool stuff to do in London

Ceremony of changing of the guard at Buckingham palace in London

Literary London

I probably need a lifetime to explore Literary London as almost every monument, street, pub and house has a connection to a poet or a dramatist. I did however see John Keat’s house near The Shard where he stayed as a student. It was personally a big high although Keat’s original house is at Hampstead. I also did a couple of walking tours – one that traced Shakespeare’s London which was essentially a historic and an architecture tour of 16th century London. I was also very excited to go on a Charles Dicken’s tour where we walked through some of the lanes where parts of his novels like Oliver Twist or David Copperfield or Great Expectations were set. I would have loved to linger more and explore more of the literary side of London and watch a play at The Globe or head to Shakespeare upon Avon. I just need another 48 hours in London to explore more of the literary side of the city.

Monopoly tour of London

Pic Courtesy – Stock photos from Lunamarina/Shutterstock

This is my personal favourite experience of London. I did not sign up for any specific tour, but I challenged myself to visit all the colourful 22 streets of London besides the four important stations. And so, we walked, took the Underground, jumped on to the Hop On Hop Off and explored every part of London that I was familiar with, courtesy the board game. From Old Kent Road , we went to Mayfair and Parklane, stopping by Strand, Piccadilly Circus, Fleet Street, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street and Covent Garden among other places. Personally, this is one of the cool stuff to do in London and every area has its own unique experience.

Museums of London

There are so many museums here that one needs to make a trip just to visit them. However if you are running short of time like us and have just 48 hours in London, then you can try to visit the British Museum, Natural History Museum and Museum of London besides Victoria and Albert Museum.

Pic Courtesy Stock Photos from I Wei Huang/ Shutterstock

Lush London

The royal parks of London are an experience by themselves. When you are a bit tired of the milling crowds, then head to these lush parks in London. I was staying near Hyde Park during my first trip and I spent most of my mornings just lazing around here, taking in the fresh air. Another favorite is St James Park in Westminister in Central London. The lush botanical Kew Gardens are an additional attraction too.

Markets of London

Pic Courtesy – Stock Photos from Alex Segre/Shutterstock

This is my favourite part of London. There is something special about London’s markets and I loved hanging out at one of the oldest sprawling Borough Market, which is all about fresh and organic produce but also delicious street food. I also went to the Covent Garden Market, which was absolutely lively and vibrant, filled with street performances. And I had time for just one more market which is my personal favourite at Portobello Road. One of the oldest markets, I just loved to linger around here , stopping by at the antique shops and soaking in the atmosphere. Saturdays are the best time to be here though. Make sure markets feature in your itinerary if you have just 48 hours in London.

Pubs in London

No trip to London is complete without heading to the famous pubs. There are so many historic and popular pubs in London – over 50 of them and each of them has a story. I do not remember the names of all the pubs that i went to but my favourites were the ones haunted by Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Oliver Goldsmith, Lord Tennyson and PG Wodehose, I loved Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street. Some of the popular pubs, taverns and inns are The Lamb & Flag, The Dove, Mayflower, The Spaniard’s Inn, the George Inn and Ye Olde Mitre Tavern. I definitely need more than 48 hours in London to chill at more pubs.

Pic Courtesy – Stock Photos from BikeWorldTravel/Shutterstock

Dramatic London

A trip to London is not complete if you do not watch a play or a musical at West End. Ideally I wanted to watch The Mouse Trap but it was not possible. I finally watched The Lion King at Lyceum at Covent Garden and what a performance it was! I was simply blown away. There are several shows in various theatres and it is recommended to book tickets well in advance for the same. Personally for me this was the highlight and one of the cool stuff to do in London.

If you are looking for some non touristy things to do in London in a day, then read this post on some of my unusual London experiences and unique things to do in London.

What are your recommendations if you have to spend only 48 hours in London ? Please suggest the best of London and some cool stuff to do in London ?

The post 48 hours in London appeared first on Lakshmi Sharath.

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thomasryanworld · 6 years ago

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Cotton T Shirts for Different Sectors of Life

Cotton t-shirts are one of the best wear for both men and women. Even kids are also wearing t-shirts for any events, parties, occasions etc. whether it is India or Australia, Asia or Africa, Europe or America t-shirts are so much famous among the people of any age. Lots of sports jerseys are made of cotton. Usually, cotton is used to give pure comfort to its users. You can easily get t-shirt print London from the EZ printers’ website. Just visit the website and you will get the samples out there.

T-shirts are one of the coolest wear for any gender type. Whether you are male or female you will definitely love to wear t-shirts. Can u imagine sportsmen are always using t-shirts for the games? If you look at tennis you will see that tennis players are wearing t-shirt print London while playing the game. I must say if you look at football you can see that footballers are fond of t-shirts that they used to wear them while playing their matches.

Cricketers are also using cotton and silk t-shirt printing near me London in their matches. Even to get rid of sweating or to remove sweat cricketers are also wearing cotton made t-shirts. So if you only look at sports you can find out that t-shirts are highly used in every aspect. Usually, t-shirts can be made with different types of materials. Some of us wearing cotton made t-shirts while some of us fond of silk made t-shirts to wear. Even if you look at people choice you can find out some of your friends who really love to wear some nylon made shirts. Actually, everybody loves t-shirts but depending on their choice, taste and look it differs in materials.

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#t shirt print london #custom t shirts uk #custom t shirt printing near me london

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secondsofhappiness · 8 years ago

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THANK YOU so so much for posting your photographs from the village tour. You look so happy to be there. Can you tell us any stuff from the tour because so many of us can't get to go and I'd really like to know the things you said they told you about filming there. I hope you come back very soon ☺️

Aww thank you so much!

Of course, I’d be so happy to. I wish you could all go visit, as a really big fan it was rather special for me so I wish there was a way for us all to go.

I’m sure this kind of thing has been done before but I’m happy to post everything I can remember! I was like a school kid, I’m sure the tour guide thought I was an enormous nerd but I wasn’t the only excited one.

MY EMMERDALE VILLAGE TOUR REPORT ❤️

First off, I’ve visited quite a few TV sets with work and attended a few studio TV tapings but this place is something else. It’s so immersive. It’s little wonder the cast feel like it’s home, it feels so real and is absolutely cared for and feels extremely lived in.

It’s tiny in real life though. Not the village itself (I think the “set” is 11 acres they said but the houses. They look SO SMALL and everything feels dainty which was precious to me, the Woolpack specifically. It’s so iconic and yet when I saw it, I awww-ed :)

For those of you who are planning on going at some point, it might be a shame to know all this before you go as the tour guides seem to tell people the same stuff so I’d maybe not read - wanted to warn in case!

It’s a little long so be prepared!

Ok, so first off, for me the thing that struck me was how green it was and how perfectly the village fit into the surroundings. It feels VERY real and is so bedded into the grounds that they barely need to do anything to make it appear “life like”. There is a gardener (one lady!) who looks after all of the plants/trees and foliage. She has her work cut out as most of the greenery is real but it obviously reacts to seasonal changes so due to how far in advance they tape, she is sometimes up against it and has to glue leaves to trees or add extra flowers in or potentially has to replace or hide foliage with stuff to make it look dead. I spotted a few fake plants too, especially in tubs and pots. She keeps her equipment in Tall Trees (Marlon’s house) which is actually located behind the cricket pavilion over the “bridge of tears”. I did NOT know Marlon lived so far out of the village, actually the opposite side of the village to The Dingles. There are issues with grass though. Some areas get worn away and there was a rule on the tour not to stand on it because they’d be filming Monday etc. So all of the grass outside of David’s shop is fake and there’s also a patch of fake grass near the bus stop and the Thomas’ cottage (Mulberry).

There are things that are placed VERY differently to how they seem on the show which makes the tour pretty funny at first. The Sharmas is less then a 30 second walk from the factory in reality but Jai uses his car to travel there… haha. The Sharma’s house is definitely supposed to be elsewhere but in reality it’s right next to Wishing Well! Same with the scrap yard… it’s mega close to the village but Rob’s always driving there and giving Aaron a lift etc. Dude just wants to have Aaron in his car!

Also, hilariously, (someone who has done the tour can correct me on this if I’m wrong) but I’m almost certain that the road in from the security hut that allows you on site is the “Robron first kiss” road… which, if I’m right and let’s face it, we’d recognise that road anywhere, is a short walk from the village. So Rob’s whole “I’m stranded, save me Aaron!” thing becomes hysterically funny.

Butler’s Farm is set alone out of the village near a local pub and looks as quaint and is pretty much a working farm…!

The Dingles, Pollard’s house and The Scrap Yard are all set a little outside the village (a very short walk) and so aren’t on the tour. Home Farm also isn’t a set, external shots are filmed at a nearby estate which I always expected but when Declan set fire to it (ah happy memories) I presumed it was a set… and I was right! They did build a version or started to build a HF set but planning permission failed so, they set fire to it! SO THIS MEANS MY DREAMS OF A FULL HF FIRE ARE DASHED :( Dog is going to have to find a different method than knocking over a candle!

As most people know, most of the inside stuff is in the Kirkstall Road studio in Leeds but there are a few indoor sets at the village including the B&B, the church, the village hall, the vet surgery, Rhona’s cottage, Eric’s House, the pirate ship and the barns (I think they’re all of the interior sets at the village). They do have a Woolpack set that can be placed inside the village Woolpack building because they used it for the Live episode but it’s rarely required.

The Barns! Ok, so we’ve all been a bit confused about the barns on the show and which is which so one of my aims while I was there was to work that shiz out. First of all, it’s probably important to say that I got mega excited seeing the barn where Sarah died. It took me right back and it’s quite far out of the village and is the security hut to allow you onto the set. It’s quite bleak where it is so I can imagine in Winter it’s mega exposed.

The “near proposal/bread barn/affair barn” is just a random barn on the way into the village. It’s close to The Dingles and not far from the scrap yard etc but is just this little random barn… and is entirely separate but hilariously overlooked so you can’t exactly be inconspicuous! It’s a different barn to the one Charity and Ross got it on in and Sarah found Faith in as that’s a much smaller barn further out of the village. Hilarious how many random barns there are!

The graveyard is something I was surprised by! I thought they’d just put the graves out there when they needed them but nope, if a gravestone has been shown on the show then it’s an ACTUAL gravestone buried into the ground so there were so many recognisable ones - especially for long time viewers! Half the King family take up a corner…! Sarah’s is off by herself at the top (definitely felt super special seeing that!) and Val’s sits proudly in the centre at all times!!! We saw Ashley’s cross and apparently they use that cross for all characters so it just gets moved around hahaha. They’re apparently giving Ashley his own grave stone (obviously!) so it’ll be shown in the show at some point. The other random graves are actual gravestones taken from a graveyard in London somewhere as it was being “closed”… creepy. Some ex- crew who were heavily involved in the early success of the show have their own graves!

The village was built in 1997 but obviously had to be made to look worn in, old and imbedded. They used a yoghurt and manure mixture on the walls to encourage lichen to grow! They also used grinders on stone steps and other techniques to make the houses/stone work appear worn from use/weather.

The cars. I kind of got a bit excited as the first thing I saw was The Dingles van. Most of the cars are purchased by the show but some are actually the cars of crew members… apparently Cain’s BMW belongs to the cleaner! I was gutted I couldn’t see Rob’s Porsche but I was told some cars are kept at the scrap yard and as much as I tried, I couldn’t spot it. They had a car park near the drop off point that had character cars in it and I saw “the digger” hahaha, had a giggle to myself.

The fact that the buildings are either empty, shells or are used as make-up, costumes, toilets (Ness’ cottage is the toilets!) or prop storage, it means that obviously special effects are required to make them look lived in. That includes smoke from chimneys, interior lighting etc which is all via remote control. I found that incredibly cool. They all have entrance ways built onto them so when the characters are at their doors, it looks like it’s an actual house though, which is obvious but still a fun little detail.

Apparently the B&B has only one internal bedroom and so if they need to make it look there are more than one like if they shoot in a couple supposed to be used for guests, they just have to change the bedding and lamps etc to make it look different.

It’s hilarious looking at the size of some of the houses and wondering how the heck the families fit in ESPECIALLY The Bartons. It’s one of the smaller cottages and has like one room upstairs… haha

I actually didn’t get an answer to my question about The Mill and if any of it is on location at the village but from what I could see, the downstairs windows look dressed with pull down blinds and looks “used” but the upstairs looks blank. I’m not sure if the ground floor has an internal set (the tour guide didn’t know) or if it’s just got window dressings for external shots but either way it is HANDS DOWN the prettiest house in the village and has the most beautiful location. It looks so grand and cosy and I am biased because it was ALWAYS my favourite set when The Kings lived there and now my other faves are taking it over but genuinely, it’s mega pretty.

Another thing I found funny was the layout. I have been watching this show for nearly 22 years and I still got a shock when I realised where the village hall and church were in comparison to the rest of the village…! Hahaha. It’s so lame of me. I didn’t realise that the back gardens of the cottages that The Bartons and Vic/Adam live in back onto the village hall and that the hall and church is as far away, also the garage! How the heck did I NOT realise where it was?! I didn’t realise it was so close to the Woolpack… also the cricket pavillion is entirely NOT where I expected it to be and is also on a really steep bank. Rob and Aaron’s picnic and Gabby stripping off and all of the other scenes have NEVER made it look like it was on a proper hill! Camera magic, eh?!

And yes it is real beer/lager/ale that comes out of the pumps. The way they do it is, if a pint is being poured and scene requires the actor to drink it immediately, they’ll be drinking real alcohol but if not then their pint will be replaced by the fake stuff and if there are scenes where drinks are already poured, it’ll be fake and also if drinks are downed! That said, some of the stuff the actors drink is actually the proper stuff. Makes sense why some of them always have a swig as soon as Chas passes them it ;)

So! That’s everything I can think of. It’s probably massively boring but I thought I’d write it up anyone for those that are interested. If you can get to visit then I’d definitely recommend it. I found those moments of looking back up behind me to the empty village ESPECIALLY from the direction of The Mill Upwards towards the Pub and bus stop… that was quite special for me. It felt really strange as I’ve grown up watching these places every week night for most of my life and to stand there was surreal and all I kept saying to my friend was how pretty and peaceful it was and how homely it felt. Makes sense as it’s our lovely cosy crazy little show!

#emmerdale #my show

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theglobetrottergp-blog · 6 years ago

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Sometime’s I become so preoccupied with exploring the world that I forget about all the beautiful English Countryside getaway locations right on my doorstep.

The English countryside is often, sadly, overlooked. Visitors from abroad flock to London, stay a few days before moving onto the rest of Europe. But they are missing the best bit!

Whilst England is famed for its pretty countryside with rolling hills, forests and rivers, the charming villages themselves are well worth a visit. There is so much history in England and old buildings, castles and churches galore to reflect this.

The English are notoriously a friendly bunch with a cracking dry sense of humour (if a little eccentric at times…)

Ok, full disclosure; I am English though living in Wales so I may be a tad biased when I tell you the English are the most friendly people worldwide. I’m sure there are some facts out there somewhere to back me up..?!

My favourite thing about an English countryside getaway is the multitude of cafes for afternoon tea, the beautiful walks and spending evenings in a cosy old pub, warming myself by a roaring fire and tucking into some hearty pub food.

So if I’ve convinced you to explore beyond London next time, here are 12 beautiful English Countryside getaways suggested by travel bloggers to inspire your trip to rural England!

But first a few of my own favourite places…

** Pssst, this article may contain affiliate links. If you have no idea what this means, click here and everything will be explained!**

English Countryside Getaway to The Lake District

I spent many a fond summer in the Lake District as a child. My Mum’s family live in nearby Cumbria and it was the perfect springboard for outdoor adventures as we grew up.

Back then I spent many a summer swimming in the freezing cold lake and I have to admit, that doesn’t hold QUITE as much appeal any more! But on a recent trip, I took to the lake on a kayak instead – a much more civilised way to enjoy the beautiful lakes!

There are quaint villages galore and plenty of places to stop for afternoon tea. If hiking is your thing then you are in luck as there are plenty of mountains for you to explore here in what I personally think might be the prettiest countryside England has to offer!

I would highly recommend staying at Rothay Garden Hotel in Grasmere. They have this beautiful conservatory complete with spa where you can sit in a jacuzzi watching the sheep stroll past. It’s so incredibly relaxing. There’s no swimming pool here but who needs a pool when you have a jacuzzi with a view like that?!

Grasmere itself is one of the cutest villages in the Lakes and is home to the smallest shop in the world which sells the most incredible ginger biscuits.

English Countryside Getaway to Monmouth

Well, you could argue that this is a Welsh countryside getaway as in truth, Monmouth borders both England and Wales. It’s the town where I grew up and recently I heard it was Britains happiest town according to Capitol radio!

It’s no wonder why really. Monmouth is one of those places where community spirit is really strong. There’s always so much going on whether that be a free music festival or a country fair. The pubs are always bustling and lively and there are plenty of cafes for a cream tea or two.

Monmouth is also home to the only remaining fortified medieval bridge in the UK making it a popular place for history buffs to visit. Read more about Monmouth in my Monmouth Visitors Guide.

Bristol City Guide by a Local

Cambridge City Guide by a Local

Monmouth Visitors Guide

A Weekend in Stroud

Brighton weekend guide

The Ultimate Europe Bucket List – 30 reasons to visit Europe

Get a free £25 Airbnb coupon

Over to the other bloggers…

English Countryside Getaway to Exmoor

By Suzanne Easton

Exmoor is located on the border of Somerset and Devon and is one of the smaller National Parks in England.

It is a beautiful area to explore with deep wooded valleys, streams and high moorland. It was used as the inspiration for the Lorna Doone book by RD Blackmoore and still has a romantic wilderness feel.

Exmoor reaches the coast with the seaside town of Minehead being on the boundary of the national park, perfect for a beach walk or supplies before heading away from the town.

One of our favourite places is Tarr Steps. An ancient clapper bridge with beautiful walks and wild swimming in the river during the summer months. Nearby is Liscombe Farm with gorgeous dairy ice cream from the cows that you see grazing near the river.

Exmoor is also known for its deer rut. High on the moorland in the autumn months, the stags collect their hinds and congregate showing great displays of their strength, fighting other stags and generally being aggressive and loud.

Staying on Exmoor is really special as it has Dark Skies status and the stars really do shine on the moors at night. We love the Dunkery Beacon Hotel, indulgence but worth every penny.

Credit @ Suzanne Easton

English Countryside Getaways in The New Forest

By Nienke Krook

The New Forest is a favourite UK holiday destination with plenty of nature, museums, pubs and wonderful towns & villages. You can reach The New Forest in just 90 minutes by train from London.

From the town of Lyndhurst, you can do a circular hiking trail that takes you via the meadows through a denser area of the forest, then to the South and back via Clayhill to Lyndhurst. You’ll see plenty of wild ponies along the way!

Lyndhurst is also the town where Alice Hargraves (Liddell) lived, a lady who became the inspiration for the main character from the famous book “Alice in Wonderland”.

Other nearby places worth visiting are Lymington (where you can explore the marina, the wildlife conservation areas and the typical landscape of the salt planes), the Isle of Wight (a great place for wildlife spotting and other outdoor activities) and the Jurassic Coast (with dramatic cliffs and steep green hills).

To save money on your accommodation, we recommend checking out the local Airbnb options. We stayed in a small town called Bransgore, which proved to be a perfect base from to explore the different parts of this region.

(Get a free £25 Airbnb coupon here.)

Credit @ Nienke Krook

English Countryside Getaway to Hambledon in Hampshire

By Kelly Mongan

With its stunning vineyard and charming village pub, there’s no better place for a weekend away than Hambledon.

Located in Hampshire, this town is often referred to as “the cradle of cricket”, since it is where the modern cricket rules were first played (head to the Bat & Ball pub if you’re a cricket fan!).

Hambledon is located in South Downs National Park and therefore offers stunning countryside walks, through the vineyard and cabbage fields, or even up Butser Hill.

It’s also a Dark Sky zone, meaning you’ll be treated to the most wonderful view of the stars at night.

If you want to truly experience the English countryside, there is no better place to stay than Wriggly Tin Shepherds Huts. Wriggly Tin offers glamping in its finest form and is just a ten-minute walk from Hambledon Vineyard.

At the vineyard, it’s possible to do a tour and taste their award-winning sparkling wine.

If you’re looking to explore more of the area, Winchester is an easy day trip, as is Arundel Castle. Or, for walking/cycling trips, you have the whole of South Downs National Park at your disposal!

Credit @ Kelly Mongan

English Countryside Getaway to Wensleydale in The Yorkshire Dales

By Sarah Poitras

This summer, we spent four days in the Yorkshire Dales for our first English countryside getaway. We based ourselves in Wensleydale for our Yorkshire Dales holiday.

If you like walking, Wensleydale is a great place to visit in the English countryside. You’ll be treated to rolling green hills, picturesque stone fences, and of course tons of sheep. And it’s a great place for people of all abilities as there are many different walks of varying difficulty levels.

There are also castles! We particularly enjoyed our visit to Bolton Castle, which is quite well preserved and has beautiful grounds to explore. It would also make for a good family outing (we saw a lot of kids enjoying themselves).

We based ourselves in two towns, Hawes and Masham, for their locations and for their local culinary delights. Hawes is home to Wensleydale Creamery which makes truly delicious cheese. And Masham has not one but two local breweries: Theakston Brewery and Black Sheep Brewery.

In Hawes, we stayed at Spring Bank House, a traditional B&B, and in Masham, we stayed at The Bay Horse, a traditional pub. Both served tasty and hearty breakfasts and had friendly and helpful owners. We would highly recommend both if you’re looking for places to stay in Wensleydale.

Credit @ Sarah Poitras

English Countryside Getaway to Lacock, Wiltshire

By Chandrima Chakraborty

If you’re looking for some beautiful English countryside getaways, the village of Lacock definitely needs to be on your list.

Located in the English county of Wiltshire (around 30 minutes from the city of Bath by car), this little village will transport you back in time, to almost 200 years ago. It’s maintained entirely by the National Trust. And mind you, it’s not a museum. It’s very much a functioning village.

Take a stroll down its many alleys and admire the cute traditional cottages in the village. There’s also an old tithe barn, church, and workhouse.

Here you can see the honour system still in use. Residents lay out their homemade jams, marmalades, buns, and scones outside their homes – unguarded and unsupervised. You’re expected to take what you want and leave the payment right there.

If you feel hungry, stop for a bite at one of its cute little bakeries or cafes. Also, don’t forget to check out the Fox Talbot Museum and the Lacock Abbey (especially if you’re a Harry Potter fan).

The village has also been a filming location for many popular movies and TV shows including Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and BBC’s Pride and Prejudice.

Lacock can easily be covered on a day trip from London. You might even want to combine it with a visit to Bath and Stonehenge like we did.

Credit @ Chandrima Chakraborty

English Countryside Getaways in Northumberland, North England

By Gemma

Northumberland, the northernmost county in England, is jam-packed full of beautiful countryside and activities.

During a recent long weekend visit, we packed in lots of great day trips.

Bamburg Beach was a highlight for us. With long, open stretches of sand, it is overlooked by the impressive Bamburgh Castle. It can be busy in the height of the summer, so arrive early if you want to enjoy some tranquillity.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is another not-to-be-missed destination. Check the clearly marked tide times though for a safe crossing. While away the hours exploring the traditional village and ruins on the Island. it is also an ornithologists dream!

Moving inland we also enjoyed a visit to the Cragside Estate, although be prepared for a pricey admission fee.

Dogs are allowed on lead and there are lots of beautiful woodland walks and manicured gardens to appreciate. The large Rock Garden is particularly impressive.

We stayed in a cosy Airbnb cottage on a working farm on the Northumberland border near the Village of Hamsterley Mill. It was a little worn around the edges but well equipped and comfortable and we had a view of the stabled horses from our window.

(Get a free £25 Airbnb voucher here.)

Credit @ Gemma

English Countryside Getaways to The South Downs

By Danielle Lawson.

Picture proper English countryside and there’s a good chance you think of bright yellow flowering fields, rolling green hills and winding tracks. That’s the South Downs.

This enormous Sussex and Hampshire national park is a prime picnicking spot, with great cycling and walking – and all just 20 minutes from the bustle of Brighton and Hove.

Come for the next eclipse or to stargaze (it’s a Dark Sky Park) or pop over on a sunny day to soak up the country air and get away from it all. Spotting wildlife will have you keen to stay and there’s a cracking pub, The Devils Dyke, where you can refuel with good food and drink.

For day trips, you shouldn’t miss exploring colourful spots on the South Coast like Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing, which will also offer great hotels. The Courtlands Hotel in Hove is a great option for those looking to splash out, while The Brighton Breeze Hotel is somewhere budget that I have stayed and can recommend.

Got more time? Petworth House, Arundel and Goodwood (famous for the Goodwood Revival) are also close by.

Credit @ Danielle Lawson

English Countryside Getaways to Teesdale, The North Pennines

By Sarah Carter

Getaway to the little known Teesdale – part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The River Tees flows down through the dale, providing stunning waterfalls at Cauldron Snout, High Force and Low Force, with spectacular and easy walks along her banks.

The gateway to this glorious dale is the market town of Barnard Castle, named after the castle of the same name which was built in the 12th century. Famous visitors to the town have included author Charles Dickens and landscape painter JMW Turner.

Here you’ll find great places to stay, including the friendly and welcoming 17th century Old Well Inn, which backs onto the castle walls.

There are other fabulous cosy pubs and the magnificent Bowes Museum which boasts links to the Queen Mother. Explore the famous Butter Market or Market Cross, now serving as a beleaguered traffic island, but which was once the town jail!

There are great walks – a short 6km round trip takes you between the two main waterfalls further up the dale from Low Force to High Force and back. This is a stunning area of England in which to take a break, no matter what the time of year!

Credit @ Sarah Carter

English Countryside Getaways to The Cotswolds

By Emily Cole

The Cotswolds is full of fantastic countryside; think thatched, honey coloured cottages nestling in the hollows of gently rolling hills, perfect for country walks.

There’s something for everyone in the Cotswolds. The most famous villages are Castle Combe, Bibury and Bourton on the Water, which are usually voted among the prettiest villages in the UK.

The Cotswold Way runs for 100 miles along the top of the hills linking Chipping Campden in the north of the region to Bath in the south. Any section of this walk gives fantastic views and access to quaint towns. Broadway Tower is a highlight along the route.

You can also discover a wealth of history in the region. Sudeley Castle is a former royal palace and lies half in ruins, half still lived-in stately home. Blenheim Palace is on the edge of the Cotswolds and is one of the most fantastic buildings in the UK. Cogges Manor Farm is a historic farm which was used in the filming of Downton Abbey.

There are numerous places to stay in the Cotswolds, although choosing a central location such as Barnsley House near Cirencester will allow you to get to both the north and south of the Cotswolds in less than an hour.

The Cotswolds are only a couple of hours away from London, making the region a perfect weekend getaway.

Credit @ Emily Cole

English Countryside Getaways to The Peak District

Just about an hour outside of Manchester lies the Peak District, a landscape like no other in Britain.

You will find rolling hills, moorland plateaus, and steep-sided deep dales. When you pair the amazing landscape with quaint villages housing amazing places to eat and drink, market towns, and historic houses, you are bound to have a vacation like no other.

Many people visiting the Peak District enjoy going out for a day hike that ends with a proper meal and ale at one of the many historic pubs you will find along the way.

Besides just hiking, you can go spelunking in a cavern, cycle the windy roads or even take a cable car up the famous Heights of Abraham.

If you don’t quite fancy the outdoor activities, there are plenty of villages to stop over and shop till you drop.

There are also plenty of charming bed and breakfasts to choose from if you would like to stay the night. While we were visiting we found a quaint little Airbnb to stay at where we were able to cook a full English fry up in the morning!

With everything the Peak District has to offer, it is definitely a must for anyone looking to visit a charming English countryside!

Get a free £25 Airbnb Coupon

Bristol City Guide by a Local

Cambridge City Guide by a Local

Monmouth Visitors Guide

Accommodation Review in Stroud – Gateways to the Cotswolds

Things to do in Stroud

Brighton weekend guide

The Ultimate Europe Bucket List – 30 reasons to visit Europe

So which English countryside getaway is appealing to you most? Hopefully, you’ve got plenty of inspiration now to plan and English rural weekend trip or two!

Personally, I would love to spend more time in the Cotswolds!

Tell me about your favourite place for an English weekend away in the comments below!

And if you can share this article with your friends using the social share button sand pins below, I’ll be eternally grateful!

10 Beautiful English Countryside Getaways to Enjoy in 2019 Sometime's I become so preoccupied with exploring the world that I forget about all the beautiful English Countryside getaway locations right on my doorstep.

#countryside #england #uk

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leominster1941 · 7 years ago

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Cow Killed by a Bomb in Leominster

Contributed by Leominsterlibrary People in story: Olive Daniels Location of story: Leominster Background to story: Civilian Article ID: A3789552 Contributed on: 15 March 2005

source

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/52/a3789552.shtml

Mrs Daniels

I lived in Leominster during the war. One night I awoke to a loud “cccruuuumpp” and a feeling of air pressure. I thought the bottom of the store cupboard over the stairs had given way and all the bottled damsons and gooseberries had fallen on to the stairs. Bottled with Camden tablets and sweetened with saccharine- I couldn’t bear the taste of them anyway. Then my brother- on leave from the the Royal Navy where he was escorting the trans- atlantic convoys- came running down the top stairs, and meeting my mother said “ that’s bloody bombs.” I just went back to sleep. The next day we heard that 7 bombs had dropped on the outskirts of town about half a mile away. All day people were coming past our house to view the damage. I went too and found that five bombs had dropped quite close together in one field and two more just over the hedge. I was very disappointed in the paltry size of the craters, they were about the size of a small room. The only casualty was a dead cow which lay on it’s side with it’s four legs extended stiffly, mottled brown and white it was not a true Herefordshire colouring. We all filed past on the other side of the barn like a lying-in-state queue. We all had a good look then went out at the back of the barn. Years later I realised what rotten luck it was for my brother, who was doing a difficult job on a destroyer, to be on leave when this happened. I realise too that I was never afraid of all the soldiers who came and went at that time, I always knew that we would win the war and we would all be here at the end of it. I remember Baron’s Cross American Army hospital, this was well used and purpose built. Convoys of casualties usually arrived at night-time by train at first then by the “whining” American ambulances. The town was full of Americans sometimes in the day and always in the evenings. The coloured yanks lived in billets on the outskirts of town and they were allowed into town on alternate night. Coloured soldiers one night and white ones the next. They seemed very popular with the girls and were loaded with gum chocolate and nylons. Our small school choir visited the town billets one evening, with the choirmaster Mr Jenkins, to sing carols to the troops. We went to the hospital at Baron’s Cross and sang first in a small room which must have been the radio room, there was a central microphone and the singing was relayed around the wards and canteen. Then we went around some of the wards and sang at the doors. One ward was almost in darkness and we could see the central line of enclosed stoves with chimneys, they glowed red hot in the darkness. We could see the first few beds with a nurse besides each patient but beyond that we could see nothing. I realised that they must have been badly injured and felt almost too choked to sing, as I do now even at the memory. At the end we were taken to the canteen and given American hot chocolate and cookies. These were delicious after the usual cocoa and plain biscuits.

We had German P.O.W.s in the town in Westbury Street where Kwik-Save now stands. I don’t remember seeing them outside except when they were being marched somewhere. They wore battledress uniform but not khaki. The Italian P.O.W.s lived in a camp at Berrington just outside of Leominster. They were seldom seen in town. Calling in at a café somewhere near Middleton-on-the-Hill several years ago, I asked the lady in charge about the Italian P.O.W.s. She told me that occasionally one of them who had been repatriated would come back to see the area. She added that somewhere nearby in a wooded place you can see the name and number of a P.O.W, still visible cut into the bark of a tree. At the junction of Broad Street and New Street was a clothing exchange staffed by the W.R.V.S. They took in out grown clothing which had to be newly washed pressed and repaired if necessary. Points were awarded according to size and condition of the garment and recorded on a card. You could choose anything to take in exchange that had the same number of points or have the points credited if there was nothing you needed currently in stock. No money was involved, I think this was a brilliant system.

Hampton Court, near Dinmore Hill, Leominster side on the left-was taken over as a place for wounded servicemen to recover. The more mobile ones could come into town, but as they were still service personnel they wore a uniform called “hospital blues”. The jacket and trousers were really blue, almost royal blue. The shirt was white and the tie bright red, so you couldn’t miss them. They travelled by public transport and it was always said that they were never asked to pay the fare or for cinema tickets. I don’t know if this was true but I hope it was.

I am not quite sure of the spelling but the Monnoux school for boys from just outside London took over the friends meeting house in South Street, but I don’t know where they lived. They were here for sometime and among them were John Dankworth a muscian married to Cleo Laine and Douglas Insole who captained the England cricket team.

I remember the flat tops of pillar boxes were painted yellow, if these turned green it meant that gas bombs had been dropped and gas masks were needed. They never did.

We ate different things during the war. We would pick elderberries and dry them slowly in the oven, they served as currants in cakes, not very tasty. My mother made loads of jam mostly damson, rhubarb and ginger was really nice. My favourite was shop bought strawberry and raspberry very rarely bought. When I said I liked it better my mother said that it was made from turnips and coloured with cochineal. When I pointed out that it had pips I was told there was a factory making wooden pips out of sawdust! But I still liked the jam. I also loved eating fried egg powder.

When V. E. day came at last we had a street party and later a trip to Dudley zoo. The first time I had been to a zoo. I was fascinated by the animals but couldn’t understand why it was so close to houses. If I lived that close I would never feel safe. I went to sleep that night pitying the people who who could hear lions and tigers roaring and elephants trumpeting in the night. I was happy to listen to the river flowing, the owl hooting the trains passing and the cart horse in the paddock snorting and pawing the ground.

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