#Faith Prendergast

[arcimboldisworld]

Le songe d'une nuit d'été - Opéra de Lausanne 31.12.2024

Le Songe d'une nuit d'été - Opéra de Lausanne 31.12.2024 #benjaminbritten #einsommernachtstraum #oper #silvester #review #operalover #laurentpelly

Was für ein fulminanter Jahresausklang, besser hätte das Opernjahr 2024 für mich nicht enden können – Benjamin Brittens eher selten gespielte Oper “A midsummer night’s dream” in einer zauberhaften Inszenierung und mit grossartiger Besetzung an der Opéra de Lausanne…. Continue reading Le songe d’une nuit d’été – Opéra de Lausanne 31.12.2024

[backtoschool-findawayforward]

Back to School / Find a Way Forward - Open Letter to all Stakeholders

8 May 2023

Dear Stakeholder,

I am writing to you as a concerned [parent/guardian] of a child who is currently enrolled at a Prendergast school within the Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools, whose education has been severely disrupted as a result of the ongoing dispute between the Federation and the National Education Union (NEU). 

The current deadlock in negotiations has resulted in school closures for children attending the five Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools in Lewisham. During this period, our children have had no access to in-person, online or co-ordinated remote learning – methods that were used during the Covid-19 school closures in order to offset serious disruptions to education and to ensure our children were supported.

The recent announcement of a further nine days of strikes / school closures due to this deadlock could result in our children being out of school, and receiving no form of schooling, for a total of fifteen days in the summer term.

Three years ago, our children showed incredible resilience and understanding when their schooling was severely interrupted to protect everyone’s health. Many have worked very hard to recover learning lost due to the Covid-19 school closures but our children are now suffering again, through no fault of their own. For many families, this disruption also comes at a time of very serious financial and emotional strain.

Every child has the right to an education – it is a fundamental right that promotes democracy, peace, tolerance, development and economic growth. Just as going to school gives our children a solid foundation to acquire knowledge, skills and experiences, and provides a space to grow and build positive relationships, not going to school deprives them of stability, development and emotional well-being.

All stakeholders engaged in the negotiations have a duty to take reasonable and appropriate steps to protect every child’s right to education. The best interests of children should be a guiding principle in all decisions and actions that will affect them in the short and long term.

We therefore ask you to put our children at the centre of your ongoing discussions, and that you come together to respect, protect and fulfil their right to education, acting in their best interests.

We respectfully call on all stakeholders, including the Federation and the NEU, to immediately return to the negotiating table in good faith and produce a sustainable plan to ensure our children can immediately resume in-person education.

We all want the best for what is an incredible community of schools, families and children. We ask you to please work positively with us and our community to end this disruption to our children’s lives and learning, and to continue to build on the work that has been done to give our children the best foundations for life.

Sincerely,

Aggrieved Parent / Guardian

Click here to add your voice in support of this letter ✊

[books0977]

Faith Prendergast, Daniel Whiley, and Karl Fargerlund-Brekke in publicity image for I Loved You and I Loved You, Sweetshop Revolution – Sally Marie, October 2015. © Danilo Moroni.

It starts at the end with her wretched death and the grieving of Jones before one of the strongest sections where the joy of each man for Owen is graphically shown as she wraps herself and her love around each of them, reciprocated and ultimately held high by them both. It’s the power of love made physical.

[drakewalkerfantasy]

Beckett x Maeve Fluff ABC: Part 1(A-H,K,L,N-P)

This is only first part of Fluff ABC, here are included letters that already completed, still left some to write, so Part 2 will be later in the week. I hope you will like this, what I got for Beckett and Maeve.

Tagging: @fluffy-marshmallow-heart @elles-choices @tmarie82 @walkerismychoice @boneandfur @brightpinkpeppercorn @briarsunicorn @confessionsofabrokegirl @scgdoeswhat@ludextruction @feartheendlesssummer @flynnomalleys @darley1101 @queen-among-writers  @symonde

A – Anger (What was their first fight about? Any big or recurring arguments?)

- Maeve, can you please stop, - shouted Beckett after his wife, quickly following her, and catching up only at the elevator when doors got already opened. He gently grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him, - This is not what you think it is, - he said softly watching her earthy warm eyes, becoming cold and her breath quickened, she pulled out her hand.

- And what do you think I thought? - he could feel her blood boiled with anger and her hand reached for the elevator button frantically pressing it again and again.

- Please, let me at least explain, - he asked her with panic rising in his voice, looking at his pregnant wife, her eyes filled with tears.

- You have ten minutes, - she whispered, casting her eyes aside, letting him lead her to the nearest empty room. She can hear the click of the closing door behind them, but not turning to face him waiting when he will start his explanation.

- I didn’t know she was hired to work here… When I have saw her resume, I even didn’t know it was her, but she was perfectly suitable for the work…

- Yes, I have an idea of HOW suitable for the work she can be in this fuck me dress and Plexi-glass heels, that would make any man hard in his pants, - she muttered, her arms crossed in front of her, - Don’t even dare to come near me, - she warned him, throwing lightnings with her eyes.

- Mae, what you have seen in there…, - he inhaled sharply, watching her eyes getting black and knowing that he has exactly a minute left to explain, - it’s not what it seems it is. She just stumbled on her stupid heels and somehow got onto my laps… I told you already, you are the only one for me, you are the only girl who ever mattered. Why would I want to lose it?

- Then why did you kiss her, - Maeve’s voice was barely above the whisper, the tears streaming down her face and her heart ached inside her chest.

- I didn’t…. whatever you saw or you think you saw was her way to get back together. I swear she is nothing to me… Just say a word and she will be gone from our lives by tomorrow and will never come back. Just say a word and I will do this. But please don’t look at me this way and don’t run away from me ever again, - she looked intently in his eyes feeling the warmth washing over her, seeing the truth in his eyes.

- I believe you and you can leave her for now, - she narrowed her eyes continuing speaking,- but later we go into your office and you fuck me on your table and I will ride you wild like a riding horse, - she inched toward him, her hands tugging him by his tie for the fervent kiss.

- But…,- started Beckett hesitantly glancing at her pregnant belly.

-No, but, - she murmured, - Or do you want to argue again? - she narrowed her eyes, which again burned with fire forcing him to capitulate.

B – Best (What would they say is the other’s best trait?)

Beckett can go on and on about Maeve’s best traits. To name few: her forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, understanding and so on and so on. He loves basically everything in her. When he got to know Maeve better he was swooned by the way how loyal she was to her friends, family and to something she truly believed in. When she stayed by his side refusing to leave him in his fight with his mother he knew, that all future battles they will fight together no matter how difficult it may become.

In the same time Maeve can do the same with Beckett’s best traits. To name few traits that she loves in him are: loyalty, responsibility, compassion, courageousness and his kindness. Also Maeve is proud of how determined Beckett gets when it comes to fulfilling his goals, never giving up without a fight. He is ready to fight through obstacles that are met on his way, but also he will always remain faithful to himself without trying to adapt to something that will go against his own believes. Another thing Maeve is proud in Beckett, is how soft he becomes around her and their children, wanting to be there for them. He always was there for her to help rising them and this was not just playing with them or teaching them magick, but also do night diaper change duties, give a bath, feed them or simply wake up in the middle of the night just to comfort them. And the way how he always put their family first, made her fall in love with him over and over again.

C – Camera (How do they document their relationships? Who likes to take pictures? Or videos?)

Maeve always loved to take pictures be it a nature or people. Every time she took out her dad’s old camera she tried to create a story like in old movies or picture a sincere emotions the one that cannot be faked. She loved to pick up little moments and smiles, happiness and sadness. She was the first who started to document their relationships and their friends. When their first baby was born she was the one who took a picture or video of achieved milestones and till one year of age she tried to picture every day of their baby, be it sad or happy. She always was behind the camera, trying to take a picture of Beckett and their children rarely appearing on this photos. She never got tired of memorise their life on the old photo film making them immortal through the camera. The only time she stopped doing what always was her quiet haven was when they broke up, this hurt her so badly, that the pictures of them or the camera itself made this pain only bigger and her loneliness even more noticeable. And so her camera was hidden and forgotten in the Prendergast just to be found one day and returned to her.

As for Beckett, he began to get involved in photography only after seeing Maeve through the camera’s lens. After he seen how her eyes sparkled and the gentle smile touched her lips watching on their peacefully asleep baby girl. After he took this first picture that took his breath away capturing this perfect moment he knew that he wants to do this the rest of their lives.

He laughed quietly, trying not to wake up Alexandra, siting on the edge of Maeve’s hospital bed, pretending to take a picture of her. She giggled and her earthy eyes sparkled with warmth of green, dropping down on their peacefully sleeping baby that sucked on her thumb. This was just an instant, barely a second of observations until Beckett looked through the camera’s lens and what he seen through it knocked the air out of him. His laugh that was ready to bubble on the surface froze inside his throat, his eyes widened and his mouth felt dry. He never seen anything so sincere and beautiful in his life, this perfect moment when the love flash in your eyes and realization hits you that this never will change. Beckett instinctively pushed the button, as he could do nothing else as to take a picture of this moment.

D – Dates (What are their dates like?)

Beckett loves to take Maeve out for a dates be it just a picnic in their favourite spot or some night’s movie session or her favourite band’s concert or three Michelin star restaurant for their Anniversary’s dinner. He always knows how to make his girl to feel special and loved. Even with their busy schedules and with their responsibilities as a parents they still try to find a way to go out on a dates and for a romantic in their relationships. And Beckett always tries to surprise her making her heart to skip a beat before starting to race.

Maeve sat at a large oak table in her small countryside office, equipped especially for her by her husband, so she could focus on her shelter’s administrative work without being interrupted by the running and screaming children. She frowned trying to focus on the papers in front of her, but her thoughts stubbornly were returning to her husband, whom she didn’t seen already for a couple of days due to his extended business trip to France. She sighed, returning her gaze to the papers in front of her trying to focus. But only to be interrupted again, this time by the slight knock on the door. It took her a second to realize that this was Beckett and without a second thought, she run to him wrapping both hands around his neck, knocking the air out of him.

-Hey, - he laughed wrapping his arms securely around her waist and lifting her up, - I’m also happy to see you,- he murmured kissing her gently.

-What are you doing here? I thought… I thought, you will be not until tomorrow, - she frowned trying to figure out what could have happen.

- Are you not happy to see me? – Beckett raised his brow questioningly trying to look hurt and lowering her to the floor stepping back from her, but the soft smile on his lips betrayed him.

- Of course, I’m. I just didn’t expected to see you.

- In this case this is for you, - he said handing her a big fire engine red rose with a nice white reverse on the petals, - his lips barely touching her earlobe and his hot breath caressing her sensitive skin behind the ear,- this rose made all its way from the France, and symbolis my genuine and unwavering love for you, - his voice barely above the whisper, gently tucking a strand of hair behind the ear.

- Beckett, - whispered Maeve turning her head to meet his lips loosing herself in unhurried and gentle kiss, savouring every second, intensifying it, before driving apart.

- Are you very busy or can we spend today’s evening just the two of us? I have planned something, - murmured Beckett brushing his thumb sensually over Maeve’s swollen lips, his eyes not leaving them and his lips parted, noticing uncertainty in her eyes and the way she swallowed hard. He continued, his voice barely audible, hoarse, his lips almost touching hers, and his fingertips lifting her by the chin to meet her eyes, - Don’t worry about kids. Katrina will watch them today. Please, come with me. Will you? - he can see her nod, small smile playing on her lips, when his hand takes hers he almost growled from a sensation wanting nothing else than to pin her to the wall and have his way with her. He closes his eyes breathing deeply, trying to calm his nerves, thinking of what he has planned for them. He thinks about quiet evening under the stars, watching her favorite Hitchcock’s movie Notorious, in his old Rolls-Royce in drive-in cinema, cuddling her and inhaling her sweet scent of lavender and wildberries. He missed her, but not just her body… he MISSED all of her, her smiles the once that she reserves only for him, the way her eyes changes when he truly manages to surprise her, the way she turns her face away and her cheeks starting to burn the lightest shade of rose. He don’t want this to be quick or rushed today, he truly wants so much more from her, he wants all her emotions to be placed on display, he wants to savour every moment with her, making sure than before he will take her in his old vintage car under the stars she will be truly utterly happy.

E – Early (What was the first month of dating like?)

Their first month of dating was mostly the time of stolen kisses and moments. This was so hard to hide what they felt for each other and it got even harder after amount of times Beckett fall asleep in Maeve’s room. They didn’t wanted this to be rashed, but every time he fall asleep with her, in the mornings he felt how his throbbing member reminded him furiously that he isn’t made from steel. But with her nightmares progressing he didn’t wanted to leave her side either, making sure that before he do she is soundly and peacefully asleep. He held her in his arms, calming her and kissing her gently not requiring nothing in return. Despite the fact that no one knew that they were dating he still managed to surprise her either this was a midnight date in the Roost or some lustrous brilliance flower that will perfectly suited to her honey coloured hairs.

F – Friends (How is their relationship with each other’s group of friends?)

Maeve is easy going person like a ray of sunshine so she easily gets together with new people and make friends. While Beckett is more reserved, coming up as broody and rude. The main reason for this is that for him it is really difficult to open up to someone because of his family. He never could know, if this person will be someone whom his family would approve or they will make this person disappear from his life, as many times before when he was a child. The only group of friends they interacts with together are PendPals, where Beckett was introduced against his will at first, but got fond of this people who called him friend. Even when he and Maeve were break up they still interacted with him making sure that he is good and reminded him that he is not alone.

Beckett sit on the beach of Aruland watching how his kids play with other kids in the distance, the memory of his own lonely childhood flooding him.

- Mother, why cannot I play with this kids, - asks six years old boy his head bent and eyes fixed meekly to the floor.

- They are attuneless… not worthy of your time, - she cuts sharply ready to walk away.

- But mother…, - he sighed, feeling how hot tears burning his eyes, but holding them back.

- I told you… not worthy of your time… now, go to your room and get to your books, - her eyes dangerously black shoot in boy’s direction making him shiver internally.

- Mother, please…

- I said go to your room. NOW.

- No, - he whispered feeling how his breath hitched in surprise from his own boldness.

-What did you said? - hissed Mrs. Harrington her eyes turning red and flaming in rage.

- No, I don’t want to go to my room and study. I want to go outside and play with other kids.

-G-o-t-o-y-o-u-r-r-o-o-m, - his mother hissed and the air around them felt thick and heavy piercing his skin. Beckett could feel the hot drops of blood falling at his white shirt, his eyes wide in horror, - I told you to listen to me, and if you will not… you have to be teached a lesson.

Beckett flinched, abruptly ripped from the memories, feeling a small gentle hand on his shoulder.

- Hey, Beck. Are you okay? - asked Maeve watching him with concern, siting next to him, intertwining their fingers and putting his head on his shoulder.

- I will be… Just watching our kids made me realize, how much I missed as a child, because of my parents.

- Hey… I know… but now, now you have friends and something that you can be proud of, - watching his questioning glance she smiled nodding to their children direction. Maeve hugged him, feeling him wrapping his hands around her waist pulling her closer to him, happily looking at their children making new friends.

G – Gifts (Do they like giving each other gifts? What kind?)

They both love to give each other gifts, something about seeing the loved one happy makes their happiness even bigger. There is something in their relationships that makes them always pick up something that matters at the moment. Beckett loves to surprise Maeve not only by the big meaningful gifts, but also by some small gestures, but the once that make her love him even more.

He quietly knocked on the door waiting for an answer holding a big parcel in one hand and the huge bouquet of flowers in another. Hearing a quiet reply from the other side of the door he opened it slightly getting in.

- Hey! How are my two most favourite girls feeling today, - he whispered walking closer to the hospital bed and placing a gentle kiss on the top of Maeve’s head, watching their baby girl peacefully asleep in her arms.

- Hey, you, - whispered Maeve turning her head slightly to meet her husband’s eyes, - Sasha just had her breastfeed and fall asleep straight after it, - she chuckled watching tips of Beckett’s ears turning the crimson red, from mentioning of her breasts, - Beckett, it’s really adorable how you blush every time I mention either my breast or feeding our baby with it, but you need to get used to it. My breast will not disappear anywhere and for the next year or year and a half the child will eat it, so you need to get used to it. Now, what in the parcel you are holding, - Maeve sited straighter, with baby still on her arms, biting her lip slightly in curiosity ignoring Beckett’s attempts to object.

- Mae, I just thought you may enjoy doing something what you loved before the baby was born, and something you didn’t done for a very long time, - he whispered sitting on the edge of the bed, the flowers laid on her bedside table. With a trembling in his hands he started slowly unpack the gift, handing her dad’s old camera. His eyes with uncertainty met hers. Surprise, happiness, mistrust of what she sees in front of her flashed through her gaze in an instant, not thinking for too long she wrapped her free hand around his neck, bringing him in for a kiss - I know that this was so long time ago, but I dare to hope that this will still make you happy and will return the piece of your soul that was missing since.

H – Hugs (All things involving hugs)

They both love hugging be it comforting hugs or hugs after they are exhausted after the night of love or hugs while watching a movie. The way their bodies fit together when their arms are entwined around each other inhaling each other scent make them always feel finally home. Hugging is the only way for them to get completely relaxed after a difficult and stressful day, making sure, that not only their bodies and minds are at rest, but also their souls. They love fall asleep holding tightly to each other, lulled by each other’s breathing.

Maeve leaned back into Beckett’s embrace, her back firmly pressed to his chest and his chin nested on the nape of her head. Maeve can feel her eyes fluttering almost flying shut, before opening again to focus on the movie their watched. This was some old movie they picked up without really caring what it was about. Children were put to bed, and they finally have time for themselves, to have a glass of wine with bowl of grapes. Beckett’s hands securely wrapped around her waist, her hands placed on top of his, intertwining their fingers. She could feel how his breathing and the heartbeats calm down lulling her to sleep, feeling her own heartbeats slowing down and eyes flying close.

K – Kiss (How do they kiss? Who usually initiates?)

Their kisses can be slow, gentle and sensual full of love and promises or they can be fervent, passionate and fierce. This always depends on the mood or circumstances in which they kissed. Also sometimes slow, gentle kiss may turn into fervent and passionate. It’s hard to say who initiates the kiss as they kind of just start kissing enjoying every second of this intimacy between them. If in public, Maeve usually the one who initiates the kiss, as Beckett still not used to, to show any form of affection in front of anyone else and it still makes him blush furiously, although after the wedding he became more open to expressing his feelings.

- Hey Beck, - murmured Maeve her eyes darkening, focusing on his lips, - I think you have some chocolate stick in the corner of your lips,- not letting him wipe it out she moved closer to him, her lips brushing his. She kissed him gently, her tongue licking off the chocolate off the corners of his mouth. They deepened the kiss slightly, just for an instant, but long enough for him to want more, and to stiffen in his pants. Her tongue slowly darts out of her soft as moist silk mouth meeting his, rolling them over each other before retreating back breaking their kiss. Despite the fact that it lasted only an instant, he could feel his face becoming burning hot and blush starts to sear through his cheeks. The tips of his ears turning a dark shade of red and he lowered his gaze on his laps, averting his gaze from their laughing friends'  gazes.

L – Love (How do they first say those three words?)

They laughed freely, holding hands and kissing each other, savoring every moment of the remaining of this day, leaving with the last rays of the sun. Beckett gently tucked a golden strand of hair behind Maeve’s ear looking deeply in her eyes. His lips moving closer to hers again, but instead of pressing them to hers he murmured in a hoarse voice:

- Mae, I love you.

- Beck, I… I love you too, - she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks, but a happy smile played on her parted lips. She remembered how her dad told her his and mum’s love story, that on the back of this restaurant on the glass platform he said to her mum “I love you” for the first time, promising her that they would never part until death part them. So she has never been here, but she knew about this platform and always wished to see this place that meant so much to her parent, - I love you, - she whispered again, placing a sweet kiss to Beckett’s lips. The sun almost set and the moon went up to the starry sky. (part of Birthday wishes (Beckett x MC) )

N – Nicknames (Things they call each other)

They don’t have particular nicknames or pet names for each other. Occasionally Beckett may call Maeve love or dear wife. Rarely he may call her honey or beautiful. But usually, it is either Maeve or Mae. Sometimes he may call her Mrs. Harrington.

Maeve usually calls Beckett, Beck or Mr. Harrington. But they both never get tired to repeat over and over how much they love each other.

O – One (Tell us about the moment they realized they were with the one.)

Maeve gently laid back, her back pressed to Beckett’s chest, enjoying his closeness and warmth.

- Beck, when did you knew I was the one? - asked Maeve quietly, her fingers draw different patterns on his palm.

- I don’t know… I knew that I’m falling for you hard and fast, - he murmured placing a soft kiss to her temple, - I started to fall for you after we shared our first kiss and then… then I couldn’t stop think about you. Everything about you fascinated me, making me want to be with you and to share these unknown for me feelings with you…And then… then I just knew that I want to spend my entire life with you. That you are the one, and I wouldn’t change it for nothing else in the whole universe. And you? When you knew I’m the one?

- I think, I knew from the kiss we shared, that you are special and that I was falling for you… But I knew you are the one, when our eyes met in the restaurant where you took me during my 19th Birthday when you said, you loved me. As soon as these words slipped from your tongue I knew… I knew you are the one and I wouldn’t change it for nothing else in the whole universe. I love you, Mr. Harrington, - whispered she turning around to face him, cupping his cheek and pecking him on the lips lightly.

- I love you, Mrs. Harrington, - answered he, before kissing her softly.

- Future, Mrs. Harrington, - she laughed, feeling his hands on her belly.

- Mae, from the moment I knew you are the one, I already saw you as Mrs. Harrington. My love, my wife and mother of my children, - he gently stroked her already rounded belly smiling at her gently.

P – Pizza (What is their favorite food to eat together?)

They can eat almost anything unless it contains curry or something very very spicy. The most favorite meals they had are meals prepared at home, and the once they prepared and enjoyed together. For them this always more about spending time together, than about food. But at the same time this helps them, if they don’t have time to prepare their meal, enjoy the food bought from the food van equally to the one prepared by the posh restaurant’s chef.

[hanszimmr]

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Playing around in my studio by myself, discovering the possibility of new ideas.

What is your greatest fear? A world destroyed by science-denying mediocrity.

Which living person do you most admire? Sir David Attenborough, John Prendergast.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Self-doubt.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? To place faith over facts.

What is your greatest extravagance? Never starting the day before noon.

What is your favorite journey? From the first note in music to the last.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Being right.

On what occasion do you lie? If it buys me time to explore my ideas.

What do you dislike most about your appearance? What too much delicious food has turned me into.

Which living person do you most despise? Right now there are far too many to choose from in the political world.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Fuck, yeah!”

What is your greatest regret? Not having loved enough.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Music.

When and where were you happiest? At play and in love.

Which talent would you most like to have? The talent to kid yourself that it’s all going to be so easy.

What is your current state of mind? Mild panic to shitting bricks. It’s called “The Composer’s Mental Curve.”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? A little more self-confidence wouldn’t hurt.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? The idea that bringing up thermonuclear war at the dinner table is a socially acceptable way to conduct a conversation.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Getting through family events without an argument.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? I wouldn’t want to come back. Once was quite enough for me and everybody!

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? An onion. They make people cry in an honest, non-sentimental way.

What is your most treasured possession? A cheap watch, given to me by a friend.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Lack of inspiration.

Where would you like to live? In my love’s heart.

What is your favorite occupation? Creating artistic chaos.

What is your most marked characteristic? To question everything. Always.

What do you most value in your friends? They can take the piss out of me and it still feels like wisdom and loyalty.

Who are your favorite writers? Far too many. Today, it’s Bob Dylan, John Lawton, John le Carré, Stefan Zweig, Goethe, and Erich Kästner—which is no help at all, since he’s untranslatable into English. But if you want a great story, look beyond the words: Bach, Beethoven, Mahler, Schiele, Gerhard Richter, Frank Gehry, Stephen Hawking.

What is it that you most dislike? Slow, painful death . . . and apathy.

How would you like to die? Showing off onstage, with everyone laughing and applauding.

What is your motto? “Always execute Plan B flawlessly.”

[findasongblog]

Find A Song about learning to love yourself

Johnny Lloyd - I'll Be Me

Lullaby-like, with just a simple three-chord arrangement at its heart, Johnny very much lets the lyrics do the talking here. Inspired by becoming a father for the first time, ‘I’ll Be Me’ finds the singer poring over the intricate threads that make up life’s rich tapestry with his usual wit, humour and sense of wonder.

“I’ll never be the first man to walk upon the moon, I’ll never be a rock star who died way too soon, but I’ll be me better than you today…” he coos candidly.

Following a string of warmly received singles including ‘Rich And Poor’, ‘Next Episode Starts in 15 Seconds’, and ‘I Need Help’, each of which have offered their own revelations, ’I’ll Be Me’ shares another deeply personal chapter of the path his new LP.

As Johnny says: “‘I’ll Be Me' is a song about learning to love yourself. It’s about accepting what’s passed and what hasn't happened in your life and looking to the future. It was a direct reaction to becoming a Dad.”

With a number of seismic changes occurring in Johnny’s life these past few years, Johnny’s album ‘Next Episode Starts In 15 Seconds’ is very much an open diary of personal vignettes for the listener. Melancholic, pared-back and moving, the new album is a bold departure from his roots as frontman of indie-rock outfit Tribes and sees him take a leap of faith into lush and dreamy pastures new. Recorded in a 10ft square bunker in north London in late 2018 with producer Nathan Coen, ‘Next Episode…‘ was further mastered at the famous Abbey Road Studios by Frank Arkwright. Each song that appears on the album was recorded in three takes or less, with the results a raw, pure and endearing listen through and through. Special guest appearances also include Frank Turner, Hugo White (The Maccabees) and Adam Prendergast of Harry Styles’ band.  (press release)

[coghive]

Colton Dixon’s “Build A Boat” Longest Running Mediabase Christian AC #1 Song Of 2022

It was announced today that Colton Dixon’s “Build A Boat” is the longest running Mediabase Christian AC #1 song of 2022, spending seven consecutive weeks in the top spot so far. ��To anyone who had anything to do with this song, thank you,” Dixon recently told Billboard. “Even more than having my No. 1 across these formats, I’m so grateful that so many people have applied the meaning of this song to their own story. Faith looks crazy sometimes, but the reward waiting on the other side far outweighs the sacrifice.” STREAM “BUILD A BOAT” HERE: https://atlantic.lnk.to/BABAW

Here’s what some of the top PD’s in the country are saying – “Four straight months as the #1 testing song on JOY FM!  Clearly St. Louis has connected with this singable anthem about stepping out in faith.”  -Jeremy Louis / 99.1 Joy! FM/ St. Louis, MO “‘Build A Boat’ quickly became a hit from the moment we started playing it.  A catchy tune that you can’t help to sing along to – with lyrics that hit just right – ‘Build A Boat’ is a smash and easily in our top five songs this year at WayFM!” – Steve Shore / WayFM Network “‘Build A Boat’ is literally a perfect song at the perfect time.  We may be landlocked here in DFW, but my listeners are all aboard the Colton Dixon boat.” – Mike Prendergast / 94.9 KLTY / Dallas, TX https://youtu.be/l3Fl8ngQzWk Read the full article

[thewahookid]

Please pray against this terrible sacrilege and blasphemy!

The Satanic Temple of Houston announced that their first public satanic black mass will occur at 11 p.m. Sat., Nov. 23 at Brash Brewing in north Houston.

The temple advertises the event as a “very special unveiling of Brash’s Black Masses double coffee milk stout by performing our first public Black Mass ritual.”

They also referred to the event as a “celebration with the beast.”

This ChurchPOP article explains that black masses are “rituals based on the Catholic mass but are inverted toward Satan and often involve the desecration of a Eucharistic host.” They are a very serious blasphemous offense against Our Lord and the Catholic faith.

Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast warned against Canada’s first-ever public black mass in August, saying, “to tamper with and mock the Mass — which is what this satanic ritual does — is hateful and will affect more than those who participate in it.”

[pavspatch]

New Hyde boss McGurk wants sustainable set-up

DAVE McGURK’s strategy as the new Hyde United boss is a simple one: he wants to create a club that is not only competitive, but sustainable too.

It’s no secret that the former Darlington and York City defender is keen to prove himself as a manager. He’s confident that the Tigers can improve on their midtable finish in the Evo-stik NPL premier division but also realistic enough to accept that the club will need to generate extra revenue to do so.

For that reason he and his assistant John McCombe are taking on a commercial role in addition to their duties with the team.

“In terms of recruiting new players, a lot of calls and messages have already gone out but when it comes to the financial side of things we’re not near the top of the tree in this league where Ashton United seem to be setting the pace,” McGurk said.

“Our new set-up will have four people looking after the club’s needs. With Darren Kelly as sporting director, me as manager, John McCombe as my number-two and Gaz Prendergast as coach, it’s a great opportunity to create a sustainable football club that is competitive at this level. We’ll all have more than a footballing role.

“It’ll take time to put everything in place, but when we do we’ll be able to have a go at this league.”

The new set-up at Ewen Fields bears some resemblance to what happened at Manchester United in 1969, when Sir Matt Busby “moved upstairs” as general manager and Wilf McGuinness was first-team coach. However, unlike McGuinness, McGurk will have complete control of team matters at Hyde, although he’s happy to say he won’t be afraid to ask Darren Kelly for advice.

He said: “Darren will be there for me to lean on, and he’ll be helping with recruitment, but in terms of selection, decisions and day-to-day dealings with the players, that will all be me.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that Darren gave me charge of a lot of the training and tactics last season. There are one or two tweaks I want to make and things I want to introduce, but I don’t think the fans will see massive changes in our style of football. What I want to do is continue the improvements that we’ve seen over the last couple of years.”

News of which players McGurk is retaining, and which will be released, should be out within the next seven to ten days. Otherwise, in terms of new recruits, his watchword is patience.

“Players who are signing now are being offered very good money,” McGurk explained. “We’ll be approaching players and if we don’t get them we’ll move on to others. We’ve got to be patient and keep on top of things.”

The Hyde committee’s decision to put their faith in McGurk seems a sound one. He is enthusiastic, keen to manage, and at 36 believes he’s ready for the challenge.

“It seems the logical move,” he said. “My first step was into youth coaching and I enjoyed that. Then it was college coaching, and then being assistant-manager at Hyde United where I was able to see how Darren Kelly and other managers work.

“I suppose you could say I did a three-year apprenticeship under Darren. He knew I wanted to move up and he helped to make that happen. We have a good relationship and last year we were more like joint-managers.

“We’ll still be working together now, but at a different level.”

[deb-markethive]

Bitcoin Price Will Hit 4 Million

New Post has been published on http://blog.hodlthrive.com/?p=292

Bitcoin Price Will Hit 4 Million

Bitcoin Price Will Hit $4 Million Crypto Market Sets To Rise By 1,000x According To V.C Billionaire Tim Draper

For the past few weeks, everyone has been paying attention to the Tom Lee Bitcoin price prediction and the Tim Draper Bitcoin price prediction. You see both men are well-known figures in the financial system and they have a history of being bullish about Bitcoin and predicting the next crypto bull run. Even when others in the industry lost faith and started asking questions like is Bitcoin dead, will Bitcoin go back up, will Bitcoin recover, these two men never gave up on Bitcoin. Recently, Tim Draper made another amazing Bitcoin price prediction that placed the price of Bitcoin at $4 million.

Crypto News Today – Is Bitcoin Dead – Bitcoin Price Prediction 2019: Tim Draper Says Bitcoin Will Hit $4 Million

Toward the end of last year, many experts started calling for a Bitcoin bottom as reported in our crypto news outlet. This year, Bitcoin seems to have bottomed out marking the end of the bear market and the beginning of a new cycle that would be marked by a back to back Bitcoin bull run. So, the answer to the question; is Bitcoin dead, is no. Bitcoin is not dead. If Bitcoin is not dead, what does the future hold for the flagship cryptocurrency and the entire market? Well, the Bitcoin billionaire, Tim Draper believes the future is bright.

Tim Draper is one of the most confident Bitcoin traders in the world. During his latest YouTube interview, the billionaire said that the price of Bitcoin will hit $4 million. The interview was posted by TheBitcoinOfCryptoStreet. He reassured the public that he is certain that Bitcoin will become more valuable than fiat currencies. In his words;

“Here’s the way I look at it. There is about $100 trillion worth of fiat currency out there. Fiat currency is poor currency. It’s tied to political whims. It’s tied to political parties. Bureaucrats control it. It’s not really that good for you, and all of the new best, brightest engineers are working on cryptocurrencies. And so my belief is that over some period of time.”

While Tim Draper didn’t specifically say that Bitcoin will hit $4 million, his prediction about the rise of cryptocurrencies says in all. If the cryptocurrency industry rises by 1000 times from its current level, the price of Bitcoin which is currently $4,000 will be about $4,000,000. When asked to go into details about the time this prediction is expected to materialize, Draper said that he isn’t going to put a timeline on it but he is certain that this day would come. In his words;

“I don’t want to go into it in too great of depth, but at some period of time the cryptocurrencies will eclipse the fiat currency. So we’re looking at about 1,000x on what we’ve got now.”

He said that when this time comes, Bitcoin would become so popular that people would be using it more than fiat. He concluding by making reference to the Starbucks Bitcoin coffee deal that is going to allow people to buy coffee with Bitcoin. In his words;

“I think when you go to Starbucks to buy a cup of coffee, and you try to pay with dollars, they will laugh at you because you are not using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency. They’ll laugh at you – it will be like the old lady paying out with pennies.”

What do you think about the Tim Draper Bitcoin price prediction in today’s crypto news? Is Bitcoin dead or will Bitcoin recover as Draper said? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

Most this content is from Smartereum

Thomas Prendergast CEO and Founder

    Deb Williams (hodlthrive)

[atlanticcanada]

Centuries-old arm of St. Francis Xavier touring Canada

The severed arm of St. Francis Xavier, a Catholic missionary who died more than 400 years ago, is on a tour of Canada.

The arm and hand of the saint -- which is said to have blessed and baptized thousands -- has begun a one-month, tour of Canada, with the first of 15 stops held Wednesday at Notre-Dame Basilica in Quebec City.

This is first time the relic, which the Church considers sacred, has been put on display on Canadian soil.

As many as 75,000 Canadians are expected to view it during a tour organized by the Archdiocese of Ottawa, the Canadian Jesuits, and Catholic Christian Outreach, a Catholic university student movement.

“Saint Francis Xavier is one of the most revered saints of all time,” Ottawa Archbishop Rev. Terrence Prendergast said in a statement ahead of the tour.

“He was a man of extraordinary courage and faith who shared the Gospel message of Jesus with thousands across southeast Asia, Goa and India.”

After St. Francis Xavier died in China in 1552, his corpse did not decompose. The Catholic Church says the “incorruptibility” of Xavier’s body is a sign he was a saint.

Another of Xavier’s arm bones is kept at a church in Macau. The rest of his remains are in a tomb in Goa, India, a former Portuguese colony where Xavier spent many years doing missionary work.

The right arm was severed from the rest of the saint’s remains in 1614 and encased in a silver reliquary before being sent to Rome. The arm is normally kept on display at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, one of the first churches of the Jesuit Catholic order.

Angèle Regnier, co-founder of Catholic Christian Outreach, says her group is “thrilled to be able to help bring this relic to all Canadians,” adding that viewing and spending time with the relic is “often a catalyst for a deeper encounter with God.”

The tour continues until Feb. 2 with visits to the following cities: Québec City, St. John’s, Halifax, Antigonish, Kingston, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Montréal and Ottawa.

The hand and forearm will be on display in Halifax Sunday and Antigonish Monday.

from CTV News - Atlantic http://ift.tt/2Eek1LS

[democracyinternational]

Rejecting Bigotry—at Home and Abroad

By Liza Prendergast, Development Director

New York, NY — Last month, at the Spirit of Liberty Conference organized by the George W. Bush Human Freedom Initiative, former President George W. Bush memorably declared that “bigotry or white supremacy, in any form, is blasphemy against the American creed.” His comments were well received by a bipartisan audience of students, democracy and human rights activists, and former U.S. government officials who worked across the political spectrum. The bipartisan nature of the audience was important and has been under reported by the media. But the broader message that President Bush articulated—which was made that same day by former President Barack Obama—is a message of core democratic renewal that must cross political divides.

Photo (bottom left, left to right): Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discuss democracy and American’s foreign policy with the Director of Global Initiatives at the George W. Bush Institute Amanda Schnetzer. Photo (bottom right): Chair of the Human Freedom Advisory Council and Chairman of the U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum Tom Bernstien addresses the bipartisan crowd at the 2017 Spirit of Liberty conference.

Bigotry is not only antithetical to the American creed but also dangerous to democracy, which should be self-evident. But the spontaneous applause and the significant attention to President Bush’s speech suggest that while we may disagree on politics and policies, it is now critical for us to reaffirm our commitment to rejecting bigotry and defending pluralism both at home and abroad.

From Charlottesville, where a white nationalist march ended in homicide, to the Rakhine state in Myanmar, where nearly 600,000 Rohingya Muslims are fleeing ethnic cleansing, 2017 has seen countless violations of the international democratic creed—one that should reaffirm the inherent dignity and rights of all people as mandated in the U.N.’s International Declaration on Human Rights. We cannot begin to address these problems unless we understand that pluralism and tolerance are intertwined with democratic legitimacy and the free market economy.

This is not possible, however, if we only rely on laws and technical approaches to safeguard democratic norms. Indeed, the name of the conference where President Bush spoke reflected the famous “Spirit of Liberty” statement by Judge Learned Hand, who declared that liberty lies in our hearts, not solely in our laws. In 1944, near the conclusion of the Second World War, Judge Hand gave his famous speech in front of naturalizing Americans in Central Park. He stated:

I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws and upon courts. These are false hopes; believe me, these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it. While it lies there it needs no constitution, no law, no court to save it.

But it is the next section of Judge Hand’s speech that is just as relevant today—to Americans and to our friends and colleagues around the world who continue to fight for democratic norms and against bigotry and hate:

…What is this liberty which must lie in the hearts of men and women? It is not the ruthless, the unbridled will; it is not freedom to do as one likes. That is the denial of liberty, and leads straight to its overthrow. A society in which men recognize no check upon their freedom soon becomes a society where freedom is the possession of only a savage few; as we have learned to our sorrow. What then is the spirit of liberty? I cannot define it; I can only tell you my own faith. The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the mind of other men and women; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which weighs their interests alongside its own without bias…

Judge Hand asked those he was about to naturalize to build a more tolerant and understanding society. Seventy-three years later, we must all rise, not only to pledge our faith in the democratic creed, but to act on it.

[choppedkryptoniteavenue]

Abp. Prendergast: Occult practices open spiritual doors to evil     <3 <3 Amen <3 <3 !!! !

[runwithdaniel-blog]

" Stay positive, keep the faith, and keep moving forward – your breakthrough may be just around the corner." Roy T. Bennett . __________________________ . " In a world muddled with madness, I made a conscious effort to stay sane." . Angela Colleen Prendergast . ____________________________ . #skechersIDN #skechersjakarta #skechersindo #skechersIndonesia #skechersperformance #skechersperformancerunners #trailrun #ilovetorun #runningday #running #training #runnersworld #workout #marathon #iloverunning #runlife #staystrong #growthroughadversity #focus #stayeasy #runkenya #runners #instarunner #gorunningtours . . Be happy where you are today, if you're not there yet, smile and start! Every small step you make is as important as the big one. The fire starts just from small spark!! . . "If you cannot be happy with the little you have, you can be confused with the lot you want to have" Ernest Agyemang Yeboah (at Ngong Hills) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoM5MAHA8vi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ifjhqdi0phlt

[thealbinoseal-blog1]

Critical Appraisal – Eden Burnside – Hitting The Target

Critical Appraisal – Eden Burnside – Hitting The Target

Me and my fellow students (Aizat Haris, Chris Cawley, Lukanos Anderson, Harry Bell, Daniel Allen, Oscar Prendergast and Harry Bell) were set the task to create a 5 minute magazine TV show inside the universities TV studio. The concept for the show that I had was to create interest and provide an insight on the wrestling industry through interviews, facts and footage of training which would focus on Carlisle’s most precious hidden game, the local wrestling promotion, Target Wrestling which is really making a fantastic impression in the wrestling world. The factors contributing to the impression being made include drawing in crowds of over 300+ monthly, expanding its shows all over Scotland and Cumbria and achieving both of those impressive feats by bringing in some of the most established and well known professional wrestlers in the world.

My roles in this production were director and producer, which proved challenging and also humbling. It was my first time working inside the TV studio and my first time as producer which immediately through me out of my comfort zone. Although that did go on to change as we would do multiple practice runs and have successful efforts of gathering much needed footage for the video inserts that would be featured during the show. I felt that I was best suited to the producer role as I am a professional wrestler and a member of the media team for Target Wrestling, so it was very easy for me to obtain content for the show this included arranging interviews with two professional wrestlers, Carlisle’s favourite, Karnage and Target Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Shady Nattrass.

Once everything was sorted it was simply waiting for the day we go to live to come and as we got to the day before the shooting that’s where things started to not work in my favour. Both wrestlers were struck with personal issues and made me aware the day prior to the show, so I had to completely recreate the show, which was surprisingly a process I sincerely enjoyed. I liked the pressure because I knew I could pull it off, I went on to keep the basis of the show the same, including interviews, facts and insights but them being provided by Target Wrestling expert Dan Clark and Target Wrestling trainee Ashley Winter-Sim.

Wrestling was the ideal topic for me because my passion for the industry was put into the production of the show. I feel that I created a very factual, informative insight of Carlisle’s wrestling promotion. Time constraints were only just off as I went 4 seconds under on the first take but for my first ever time directing and producing a TV show I was satisfied with the outcome. I have now learnt its important to have faith in your team and for me to rely on another person is not comfortable for me, but that may be changing.  Also it is extremely essential to have a Plan B.

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[mylittledream-land]

Review: The Little Match Girl at The Lowry Theatre, Salford

Review: The Little Match Girl at The Lowry Theatre, Salford

Arthur Pita’s, The Little Match Girl, comes to the Lowry Theatre in Salford as the Christmas season comes to an end. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story and following the sell-out season at Sadler’s Wells last year, Salford were treated to this touching story of a disadvantaged young street girl’s hopes through the medium of outstanding song, dance and new music this weekend. Corey…