#I sincerely apologise firstly to my wife

[eluxcastar]

Y'all send help I wasn't supposed to actually start liking this manga again

Also I probably just have anaemia again because I feel like a slug 👍 but like hours after that post there was a family emergency anyway so like I'll be back soon probably 💀

[themousaicult]

‘The Daughters of Sparta’ by Claire Heywood

Hello everyone! Seeing as this is my first attempt writing a review that just contains my thoughts and feelings, please forgive me for lack of structure. Hopefully with time, and if anyone has any sort if if input on what they would like to hear or even discuss, then I would be 100 percent down to take notes! And hopefully, the ‘structure’ won’t be as jumpy or underdeveloped, but I cannot promise much- because my silly self completed this at 1am. At the moment, I am merely putting my thoughts on here, that I hope convey to whoever reads this to encourage to read these amazing books and hopefully would want to engage in future conversation. I should also point out that it has been a little while since I’ve read this book, so I sincerely apologise if I get anything wrong! But I really loved the book that I thought this would be a nice starting point! So without further ado, let’s begin!

Plot line and opinions?

Okay dokey! So, for anyone who has not read the book and is hesitant on whether this would be a good read. I can definitely say that this is a book that will pull on your heartstrings! The basic concept of the book, is to give the perspective of the two main female characters of the book- Klytemnestra and Helen of Sparta. Claire here attempts to bring a deeper and more thoughtful analysis on their characters, by firstly making the plot line in first person for them both. Additionally as the reader engages of their respective plot lines, we follow their story from young girls to women married, all the way up to the Trojan War and all the best moments as well as the bad.

With Klytemnestra, we see an older sister who understood her purpose (in regards to Ancient Greek expectations). Her purpose, at first, she believes was to inherit her mother and fathers place to become the next ruler of Sparta along side her husband. However, that sense of being was ultimately flipped when her father sought alliances with Agamemnon to be her husband. During her youthful years of marriage to Agamemnon, I would describe it as fragile. Fragile in the sense of her inexperience and yet she steps in to her own, as a woman, as a wife and mother, as a lover and queen of Mycenae. This is something I found very empowering for her character because we see her highs and her lows. We see her struggles being in a palace, in place so far removed from her family and the familiarity of her home land. From what I know about her (since it has been a long time since I’ve read the Iliad) she was very much depicted as being a calculating woman. A woman who depicted as being a vengeful, cold blooded killer for merely avenging her daughter who was sacrificed so needlessly. I think the way Claire depicts her as a woman surviving, who did at some point fall in love with her husband or at least find middle ground with him until he left to conquer Troy. But I think Claire humanises her character a lot more, that if put in Klytemnestra’s shoes, you would do everything in your power to make the most out the situation. Either by picking up the pieces that your husband leaves behind to fight a war not worth fighting, keeping your husbands kingdom afloat, managing the quarrels of citizens, looking after the children and protect them from any harm. The prime example of that maternity in action, is where she brings her first born daughter Iphigenia to Agamemnon, under the belief that she was to be married to Achilles. I would argue that after being humiliated time and time again but her husband, the needless death of her daughter to be a sacrifice to her husband’s hubris, this is her pivotal moment in her character. I don’t think I can put into words how heart broken I was reading the events leading up to Klytemnestra getting her daughter ready for a wedding, to her seeing her daughter at first hand whilst restrained, being mercilessly killed by the hands of her own husband… just to appease a goddess and conquer more land. I sympathised greatly on why she wanted revenge that ultimately led to Agamemnon’s downfall once he returned from Troy. So whilst she is what the Greeks at the time, would have thought to be the ideal daughter, mother, lover and wife who understood her duty. From a more sympathetic opinion, she was a woman who fought for her voice to be heard. Who was a passionate lover when given the chance with the right person, was a doting mother and a brilliant queen- a role she was born to be. We must appreciate that whilst mythology always has different versions of the same story, when we look at the role of women, we should as the readers try and strip away the titles and opinions given to them by men of that time. But liberate their experiences- even if they are fictional characters. I truly think Claire has done an incredible job at her portrayal of the brilliant Klytemnestra… but I truly feel I have only scraped the surface of her character.

The second character, the most infamous daughter Helen of Sparta being the youngest daughter, she herself goes through many struggles. My take on her character at the start, is one that is very naïve, sweet, over trusting, idealistic and very much over fantasises. Indeed, in the earlier years she has a very close connection with her elder sister Klytemnestra, idolises her even and on the occasion would be jealous of her too for being older. She was very much grounded on the idea, that she would stay in Sparta and take her parent’s place once they stepped down seeing as her older sister had married. However her character development and arch changes drastically once she married Menelaus, and I would argue this event of marriage is her pivotal point in her story line. Indeed it is this marriage that the audience sees Helen go through a turbulent life. From being a young wife, as she was forced to be a woman too soon and all the responsibilities that came with it. To a woman who couldn’t even recognise herself, whilst reading her points of view, I couldn’t help feel seriously sorry for her. She worryingly idolised and fantasised womanhood, that the reality scared her. Finding out for herself that intimacy with a man was was not what she expected, that she did not love her partner nor feel exactly loved in the way she wanted (as she compares her treatment to that of her mother and father)- we can clearly see that she was forced to be a woman too soon and I think that truly scared her. As a result, she had a daughter that she thought she would have a close relationship to and form a motherly instinct. But instead she was not remotely close to her child in feeling or physicality, indeed, she didn’t want to be anywhere near her child let alone her husband to the point she would find ways to prevent having another child that cost her hours of excruciating pain and almost her life. It ultimately set them on a path to be more than strangers and would lead to her meeting with Paris. She became lonely, felt unloved even more so after finding her husband laying with another woman, not giving the same attention to her as he once did… even finding out that the mistress had given him a boy. When she would normally be adored; especially when she was told of her origin, when she was fought over by many important men around Greece. She was the beauty in the eye of the beholder, but instead became withdrawn, envious and depressed- wanting to be with her sister and family once again. It is understandable that where you feel unloved, one seeks to find that feeling again. And so I didn’t feel that bad when Paris came along and made her feel something again at first.

Granted her husband surprisingly in this depiction seemed to be a more tolerant, less aggressive, kinder man then how he is depicted in the Iliad and even Troy the movie. It was surprising take from Claire that Menelaus was more angry of her ‘being abducted against her will’ more so then his reputation being ‘ruined.’ HOWEVER, back to her meeting with Paris, I do see Paris as her ultimate downfall. He was not only bad for her in the sense that he persuaded her to come with him to Troy under the pretence of love and devotion as a husband. He was her undoing that led her into false promises, landing her in a worse off marriage than the one that she fled from. Helen married a man that only saw her as a trophy to boast about, objectified her on all fronts, was stranded in a foreign land that hated her for bringing war to their walls. But also led her to be from the most beloved and adored woman of Greece to the most hated. I think her desperation to be loved for more than just base line looks and her renowned title, is understandable. We cannot dismiss her feelings, not at all. It is just a shame that her insecurities but also her lack of judgement were used as a tool for boasting men who wanted fame and glory knowing they had Helen of Troy as their wife knowing many innocent men were being killed for her return. And Claire does an excellent job portraying her struggles in a light that even as a modern day reader, you find similarities that allows you to sympathise. For her experience in Troy was only made bearable thanks to Hector and royalty who didn’t feed into hostile gossip.

For the end of Helen’s story, I was so surprised again by Claire’s portrayal of Menelaus. When Troy was no longer standing, when Troy was conquered and at the hands of Agamemnon, the ending was slower paced and bitter sweet? If this is spoilers to you, then please stop here, but for those who have read it. Then here are my thoughts. The ending I felt was the most humane conclusion to her story. That whilst she was the most hated woman across Greece and now Troy, her first husband did not hate her in the slightest. If anything, Menelaus was more than understanding on why she fled and believed that had there been better communication, better trust and maybe a better sense of character in all sides, then this could have been avoided. By allowing to speak her wants, her fears and regrets, we see a sensible reconciliation. Admittedly Menelaus knew that the events of Troy were irredeemable, it could not be taken back. But he was willing to try again if she was. And I think that was something I have never seen whilst reading historical fiction books about Greek mythology- was proper communication that didn’t have stubborn people putting their hubris before everything else, and I found this to be seriously refreshing. I also believe that Klytemnestra being freed from the shackles of her broken marriage to Agamemnon, whilst extreme, was liberating for her. Free to love whom she pleases, free to be intelligent, free to be a mother and lover…free to be a woman. Heywood’s depictions of two of the most well-known women in Greek myth was written so well, I would really recommend checking it out for yourself.

But I hope this is okay for a first attempt, I am so, so sorry for any grammatical errors as well as spelling errors! If sentences don’t make sense, or if anything I have mentioned doesn’t align with the myth historically regardless of the book again I sincerely apologise! I am terrible at staying up late, so I am expecting some mistakes😅

[shijiujun]

history3 ep 19 summary - GEMS, GEMS AND MORE GEMS, EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED

ALRIGHT! Summary today! You guys already know all the important gems of the story because I’ve been fucking yelling all night I apologise sincerely for the spam guys I truly do I know how annoying it can be but I’m so excited!!!!

We start off with TY already in fucking handcuffs and Zhao Zi standing there all hovering against the wall, and TY is obviously regretful as hell and so remorseful and also once again catatonic because his SF is in the hospital again because of him, and this time DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF HIM - although i’m super curious, in between everything when did TY have time to call zz? you know?!!! and zz turns up and he’s like OHHHH FUCKKKK and: “okay guys, one of you take ah zhi, and hi tang yi, sorry gotta handcuff ya, oops”

OMG MY HANDSOME DR JIANG IS BACK!!! he’s such a sassy little bitch i love it so much!! anw he comes out and his face is like ‘guys can’t you just give me a fucking break’ and then zz takes one good look and goes: “i’ll leave you both to talk”

dr jiang says: “you look worse than the guy who was actually shot, in there” and then sits down next to TY

ty asks how he is and LMAO dr jiang is all like: “how else can he be?! he’s awake and asking for HIS MAN (like literally, dr jiang said HIS MAN) and lol i just died (more gems from dr jiang: i think that police officer, his brain is sick, only then he’ll actually want to be with you) - anw basically dr jiang is telling TY that with TY being so adamant on revenge, it’s only SF that’s willing to be with him, and if TY continues to be like this, the only person who’ll get hurt is SF

AND DR JIANG STANDS UP TO TAKE A CALL AND HE IS FACE TIMING THE BROTHER OF THE EX-WIFE FROM RIGHT OR WRONG?!! CUTE AS HELL - IS THIS A HINT? I LOVE CROSS OVERS

then TY goes inside the room and that’s when he hears the beeping - the emergency patient beep? and that’s when we see TY scrambling over like a little chick in panic because he’s afraid SF is dead, and then he’s just shaking SF and SF is not responsive at all?! and then poor TY is about to do CPR (although yea TY babe maybe you might have wanted to call dr jiang or smth?!!!!) and that’s when shao fei goes: “if you worry about me, then don’t let me die”

FIRSTLY - SHITTY JOKE BECAUSE TY WAS ABOUT TO CRY HE WAS SNIFFLING ALR SHAO FEI!!!

SECONDLY - TY YOU SHOT HIM, SO OKAY, FINE, SF IS ENTITLED TO A JOKE OR TWO

omg it’s so tender and sweet the way SF grabs TY to sit down and then leaning his cheek against his shoulder and trying to convince ty that killing ah zhi is a bad idea you know?

and then ty stands up, walks away dramatically, and then promises sf that he’ll hand He hand and ah zhi over to the police

AND THAT’S WHY SF IS SO TOUCHED AND THEN HE JUST MOVES FOR THE KISS BECAUSE HE IS SO THANKFUL AND HE LOVES TY

and then OMFUCKINGGOD - HANDCUFFS + KISS IS A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN I LOVE THE WAY HE JUST, HE JUST-

TY LITERALLY JUST BROUGHT HIM CLOSER

SEXY!!!! YOU GO TANG YI

and then if you’ve seen my gifs alr, zz cockblocks them and turns up and goes: “i gotta take him”

ahahahah and then cue to emo team 3 scene and I FEEL YOU YU QI I FEEL YOU she’s like a metaphor for the fandom right now: anw zhao zi, jun wei and yu qi are there and they’re all drinking and yu qi is literally just sobbing about how the team is only left with them, and zz and yq are angry at chief and ah zhi for being corrupt basically

zz drinks and drinks (jun wei, responsible member of the party), and then he is a bit tipsy and walks home, and then he comes to this stairs area where jack is waiting (JACK DO YOU GOT SOME GPS ON ZZ?!) and jack looks at him carefully and goes: “you’ve been drinking? you’re not happy?”

poor zz is all: “of course not! i’m happy. i found out that when ppl have motives, they actually have another face, a facade - just based on this, i should celebrate, no?” /CUE MY HEART BREAKING

so zz is saying that he became a policemen because he wanted to do good things, to protect people, but look at chief and ah zhi?! 

and then they kinda sit down on the stairs, and jack says: “i’m here to tell you that i have to go” and then that’s when zz says all those words that we heard in the trailer? (so i think they overlayed this angsty dialogue with the footage from tmr where zz shrugs off jack’s hand on him as they go home)

and zz is all why do you all have to go? everyone is leaving me - grandma, chief, ah zhi, and now you? and then he’s totally tearing up and OMG MY SMOL BEAN?!!!! - yeah he’s all that and then jack asks: “if you tell me not to go, i’ll stay for you”

OMGAHHH?!!!

so zz says: “don’t go”

AND THEN THEY KISS?!!!! AND THEN THEY KISS AND HUG AND CARESS AND WE END OFF THE SCENE WITH ZZ curling up against jack’s shoulder I LOVE IT!!!!

next scene is police chief - okay can i pls say that, for someone who’s actually a criminal albeit treated with some leniency because he owned up to his crimes, THAT IS A FUCKING NICE PRISONER’S ROOM?!!! like wow, taiwan police system, amazing

anw shao fei turns up IN THE FUCKING DAPPER SUIT?!!! altho i would prefer him in a single coloured suit, he should leave those lines and patterns to TY, also WHERE IS MY TY DROOLING OVER SF IN A SUIT SCENE?!! WHERE?! WHY DID U ROB ME OF THAT?!!!!

also that bow tie is damn fucking big is it just me

anw so xiao ya got married, and SF took a long video for chief to see, and chief is crying and everything (okay srsly if i knew my dad was a criminal and everything and was about to see jail time i would have cancelled the wedding because NOOOO DAD!!! but that’s just me) - also xiao ya and shao fei sibling-ish moments?!!! WHERE ARE THESE?!

anw sf and chief have a heart to heart talk, and that’s when chief says: “ah fei, actually, i hated you.”

CUE SF’S DISTRAUGHT FACE>?!!!!

and chief explains that it’s because he was so persistent, when everyone had dropped it he insisted on going after tang yi and then shao fei says: “but lao da, you didn’t stop me either”

lao da: “yeah, i didn’t”

sf: “and that’s because, even though you chose to be a father to xiao ya with your decision, you didn’t give up being a policeman, even with what you did. that’s why you didn’t stop me”

and awwww chief cries and sf sits next to him and they just comfort each other I LIVE FOR THIS SHIT!!!

(although guys, srsly, what is with this long time skips? what’s going on? what day is it? what time is it?!!!)

next scene back at the police station, the rest of team 3 are clearing up ah zhi and chief’s stuff, and they all look miserable as fuck, and then GOOD AND SUPPORTIVE GIRL YU QI asks sf about how tang yi is, and here we find out tang yi is under house arrest pending the investigation results. yu qi asks, what if he goes to jail?

sf looks so sad at that but he says: “i’ll wait for him”

and then zz runs in and asks everyone if they’ve heard of the new hire, for the captain position? AND ISTG I THINK THIS MAY BE JACK?!!!!

next scene, our boy sf is meeting up upstanding citizen, recently turned dad CWH, and wow the sunlight on them, the lack of a shady setting and hair all styled nicely does a lot of things for a person HAHAHAHAHA - SF carefully calls him ‘uncle’ and then they talk about li zhen, and CWH has only praise for SF, that when everyone had written LZ off as a dirty cop only sf was clearing her name - THE IN LAW IS IMPRESSED GUYS!!! and then they get to talking about tang yi, and CWH is all self-pitying and dejected: “i just found my son but... i guess he and i, we can’t ever have a proper father and son relationship, can we?”

AWWWWW and this is when THERAPIST!SHAOFEI comes in, istg he’s been comforting everyone and solving everyone’s problems, amazing - he says something along the lines of: “ty needs a lot of love, so don’t give up”

and just from that line alone cwh knows that: “so you... and ty... are..?”

AHAHAHAHAHA IM DYING - and then SF gets all determined and says: “yeah we’re together”

cwh: LAUGHS “i’ve got no place to say anything, thank you for being by his side” - WOOHOOOOO CWH APPROVES OF HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AMAZING

and then they fucking hug

oh god, this is one of the best hugs of the damn show

i swear to god, the best hug goes to cwh-sf, can you frickin imagine?!!!!! the tight, comforting hug?!!! do you know that?! that’s all i ever wanted from my CPs?!!!! but no we get it between father in law and son in law WHY!!! i mean it was really great i loved it but GOOD HUGS ARE SOMETIMES BETTER THAN SEX

BACK TO OMELETTE SCENE - so obviously even tho ty is under house arrest, sf has free pass to go in and out of the house, and they’re so sweet with one another

ty: “why did you go and bother with that old man?!”

and sf is all trying to mend the relationship between them, to remind ty that it’s okay to take ur time, but you’ve got a second chance (or third, actually), so you may regret it if you miss this opp. - and tang yi considers this, then changes the subject over food AS ALWAYS

the “I LOVE YOU” part comes up (pls see gifs) - and they’re all so sweet with each other?!!!! and just as sf is about to go in for more, ty is like “hey, don’t mess around, we gotta do our omelettes first” AND SHAO FEI HONESTLY JUST POUTS!!!! I FEEL YA SF 

and okay is it just me or do the omelettes look not so nice - the right side one especially AAHAHAHAHAHA and they banter over putting the ‘dead face’ on the omelette and sf is all: “i’ve taught you so many times!!! there must be a smile!!! why did you put that?!!” AND THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

and then we get the next scene, OKAY SO THIS IS THE PART WHERE I WAS LIKE WTF WRITERS DID U GUYS REALLY GO THERE?!!!

FIRSTLY, THEY BLURRED THE COMIC ZZ IS READING ON HIS BED 

SECONDLY, HIS HAND ACTION? ARE U KIDDING ME?

SO HE’S BASICALLY READING WEIRD STUFF AND LIKE jerking himself off?!!!!!!!! like okay writers, we could have done without this scene, srsly, i mean either you do it entirely OR YOU DONT - IN THIS CASE I PREFERRED - DON’T!!!!!

EDIT: OKAY SO HE WASN’T - went back to look at the shot after and yes i was blind - but they really were setting it up for that!!! come on so suggestive that under blanket hand movement?!!!! i’m glad it wasn’t but OMG MY EYES for a moment i wanted to die but our zz is pure and he wasn’t touching anything weird sorry guys bad eyesight

then jack turns up at his house with a bag (that LOOKS DAMN LIGHT?! JACK WTF WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES DID U TURN UP WITH AN EMPTY BAG?!) 

so jack basically moves himself in - amazing

OHANA GUYS OHANA MEANS NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND!!!!

and they kiss, and jack bend zz backwards on the table (hygiene, but then again, jack will clean up anyway)

QUESTIONS:

would have love to find out more about LZ and TGD and wtf was going on properly - it’s hinted at but LOOPHOLES GALORE

ALL THE SCENES I WANTED ARE OUT - WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENIGN TMR?!

omg today was 35 min, and i fricking pray that tmr at least will be 15-20 min LIKE IF U END IT IN 5 MINUTES, we’re all gonna die, then i prefer if we’ve shifted scenes from today to tomorrow

although i have some hope because they’ve got to resolve still, jack and zz, and then ty’s ‘sentence’ if there is, and then grave scene and then the sex scenes if we do get them as promised, idc if we get them or not AS LONG AS WE GET AT LEAST 15-20 MIN WORTH OF CONTENT TOMORROW!!

[bl-danmei-yaoi]

Lan Xichen’s Guide on How to Confess

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19986748

#1: Do a meta-analysis on all relevant resource material on confessing #2: Do not use mainstream roses #3: Avoid cockblocks (aka Xue Yang) *IMPORTANT #4: NEVER GIVE UP **IMPORTANT

“Wangji… How did you confess to Wei Wuxian?” Lan Xichen randomly asks his younger brother one day.

 “…” Lan Wangji does not say a word but by the 1% reddening of the tips of his ears, Lan Xichen could tell that Lan Wangji is embarrassed.

 “Ahahaha… Big bro! Do you think Lan Zhan will ever confess? Of course, it was me who did!” Wei Wuxian laughs, popping out of nowhere.

 “Ah… Then how did you confess to Wangji?” Lan Xichen asks Wei Wuxian.

 “Of course, I- Mmmp!!!” Before Wei Wuxian could answer, Lan Wangji had covered his mouth with his hands, ears reddening obviously now. Flailing around his arms, Wei Wuxian tries to escape Lan Wangji’s grasps.

 “Why does big brother want to know?” Lan Wangji asks, not wanting to let Wei Wuxian tell his brother about their confession scene.

 This time, it is Lan Xichen’s cheeks that flush pink. Scratching the back of his ear nervously, Lan Xichen admits, “There’s someone I want to confess to…”

 “Ah!” Wei Wuxian finally manages to break free. “Big bro! You finally have worldly desires! Who is this special person who managed to finally move the heart of the world’s most eligible bachelor?”

 “I… I will introduce him to you all when he agrees to my confession…” Lan Xichen replies, uncharacteristically shy. “But I kind of need help confessing…”

 “Well then, I don’t think referencing my confession will do you any good, big bro. It kind of depends on the situation. You see, Lan Zhan and I are schoolmates and we were already friends. But you’re the CEO of the country’s largest corporation and I don’t know who the other is and how well you know each other. But regardless, you need a confession befitting your status as a rich CEO.” Wei Wuxian replies, a sly smile appearing briefly on his face. Only Lan Wangji who knows Wei Wuxian very well notices.

 “Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji warns. Although he would usually indulge in Wei Wuxian’s mischief, this concerned his actual blood-related brother after all.

 Understanding Lan Wangji’s concern, Wei Wuxian pats Lan Wangji’s back to tell him not to worry. “Of course, since I myself don’t understand your situation, I have a few books you can reference. I’ll send you the links!”

 When Lan Xichen clicks on the links to find books titled  “The Overbearing President Falls in Love with Me”, “The Overbearing President’s Runaway Wife”, “The Overbearing President’s Little Pampered Wife”, and other similarly titled books, he is a little hesitant. However, deciding to make every possible effort, Lan Xichen reads the books anyway.

 --

 After reading all the books, Lan Xichen uses an Excel Spreadsheet to make a meta-analysis of all the books. Looking through his analysis, Lan Xichen feels conflicted. The most common method in the books is also very cringey, while the least common is the most acceptable. Moreover, the latter is also very plain and boring. Thinking about the soft and gentle smile and deep dimples, Lan Xichen decides to go with the latter. Because even if that failed, Lan Xichen is sure that he will not be repulsed by the other.

 The next day, Lan Xichen buys a single red rose and goes to the production location of Meng Yao’s latest drama.

 “Ah! Mr Lan! Welcome!” The director happily walks up to greet Lan Xichen. After all, Lan Xichen is the drama’s biggest investor.

 Lan Xichen gives a nod in response. “Where is Meng Yao?”

 “Ah… It is not yet his time for filming so Meng Yao is in his waiting room. Let me bring you there!” The director answers enthusiastically, secretly thinking that Lan Xichen must be Meng Yao’s “sponsor”. In the entertainment industry, it is not uncommon for celebrities to find themselves “sponsors” or “sugar daddies” who would give them better opportunities in return for their “time”.

 Of course, it is not only the director who thought that Lan Xichen is Meng Yao’s “sponsor”. The other actors that are on scene also thought so. Immediately, many of these actors became sour with jealousy. Lan Xichen is not only very wealthy, but also young and handsome. Unlike most “sponsors” who were old and slimy, Lan Xichen is very desirable. However, despite many attempts to climb into Lan Xichen’s bed, no one has ever succeeded. Hence, they became very salty, thinking that Meng Yao actually succeeded in climbing Lan Xichen’s bed.

 Oblivious to what is happening outside, Meng Yao was chatting with his best frenemy, Xue Yang, when Lan Xichen enters the waiting room. Lan Xichen did not expect anyone else other than Meng Yao to be there. Nonetheless, he  gathers up his courage, presenting Meng Yao with the rose.

 “Ah Yao… I like y-“ Before Lan Xichen can confess, he is interrupted.

 “Ah! What’s this? Just a normal red rose? And only one? Sigh… So mainstream… What a lack of sincerity!” Xue Yang drawls as he snatches the rose out of Lan Xichen’s hands. Sniffing the rose, Xue Yang adds, “Bah… Smells terrible too.”

 Not waiting for Meng Yao to reject him, Lan Xichen immediately bows his head and apologises. “I… I will do better! Give me another chance! Wait for me!”

 With that, Lan Xichen leaves. Sighing, Meng Yao turns to give Xue Yang a deadpan stare. This is why Xue Yang is his frenemy and not his friend.

 “What?! Come on, shorty. Just a normal rose? And you’re going to accept it? It’s the most stereotypical and standard flower for confessing. And it’s not even 99 roses! Just one! And he’s supposedly the most eligible bachelor! I’m doing this for your own good. You deserve much better.” Xue Yang defends.

 Rolling his eyes, Meng Yao grabs the rose out of Xue Yang’s hands. He knows that Xue Yang just found enjoyment in watching Lan Xichen awkward attempts to chase him. Smelling the rose, Meng Yao smiles happily, heart beating fast in his chest.

 Xue Yang watches as his friend’s cheeks redden, shaking his head and sighing. Honestly, both of them know that Meng Yao also enjoyed Lan Xichen’s awkward wooing. While Xue Yang’s enjoyment came from pure amusement, Meng Yao’s enjoyment came from the feeling of being loved. Being brought up by a single mom who died early, Meng Yao had grown up lacking love. And so, despite Lan Xichen’s awkward actions, Meng Yao could sense the love and it made him happy. Hence, Meng Yao did not want to accept Lan Xichen so quickly. He is also afraid that once they start dating, Lan Xichen would spend less time and effort on him, or that Lan Xichen’s feelings for him will slowly disappear. Because that was what happened to Meng Yao’s mother, Meng Shi.

 Meng Shi had easily agreed to his father, Jin Guangshan’s confession. But Jin Guangshan is a jerk with a perfect façade. Meng Shi had fallen for Jin Guangshan’s façade, thinking that this was a chivalrous loving gentleman. However, Jin Guangshan is a jerk who likes playing around, quickly losing interest in Meng Shi who he had chased with ease. If Jin Guangshan could abandon the pregnant Meng Shi so easily, Meng Yao is afraid that he would make the same mistake as Meng Shi in trusting a lie. Hence, Meng Yao decides to wait out to see Lan Xichen’s sincerity. And even if Lan Xichen ever gets tired of him, Meng Yao feels like at least he has the memories of being loved and wooed.

 --

 That night, when Lan Xichen returned from the filming location, he began to evaluate where he went wrong. Firstly, from Xue Yang’s reminder, Lan Xichen decides that normal red roses are too mainstream. Next, he needed to ensure that there is no source of interruption. However, Lan Xichen is rather confused. Giving flowers was the least common method of confessing from his meta-analysis of the books, so why is it considered mainstream? Deciding to ask Wei Wuxian for help, Lan Xichen learns from Wei Wuxian that flowers were mainstream for ordinary people. Rich and powerful CEOs had different standards, so purely giving flowers was not common. After all, flowers did not show off their wealth, power and ability to care for and protect their significant other.

 However, looking at the other possible options, Lan Xichen feels like he has no hope. The other methods seem a bit too wild and out of his own character. Some are against his own morals and probably illegal too, such as such using drugs or alcohol. Others seemed to be humiliating rather than confessing to the other, like offering to be their “sponsor”. Meng Yao is strong, smart and hard-working, and definitely would not accept short-cuts like getting a “sponsor”. Then, there are biologically impossible methods, such as getting the other pregnant. Lan Xichen’s brain went dead for a long while when he was first introduced to the idea of mpreg. Shaking his head at all these less “mainstream” methods, Lan Xichen decides that mainstream was better than hurting his world views.

 --

 A week later, Lan Xichen plans for a romantic dinner at a restaurant that had a contract with his company, convincing Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian to help by playing the ambient music there. Of course, Lan Xichen does not forget to reserve the entire restaurant. Not only was this because it is “expected of a CEO to show off his wealth”, but also because Meng Yao is a celebrity and it would not be good if they are caught by fans or the paparazzi.

 Communicating with Meng Yao’s manager, Lan Xichen comes to the filming location as Meng Yao end his work for the day. Seeing that Meng Yao is alone, Lan Xichen quickly invites the other out for dinner.

 Seeing Lan Xichen’s look of anticipation, Meng Yao agrees. Fist bumping himself in his mind, Lan Xichen beams brightly, thinking that he’s at least succeeded 20%. But just then, he hears the same dreaded languid voice popping out of nowhere.

 “Aiyah… I’m also very hungry…” Xue Yang complains, swinging and arm over Meng Yao’s back. “Mr Lan, you won’t mind if I join y’all?”

 For once in his life, Lan Xichen feels like cussing. However, his upbringing makes Lan Xichen smile and generously agree.

 “What would you like to eat?” Lan Xichen asks, passing Meng Yao the menu when they reach the restaurant.

 “Oooh… Look at all the dessert!” Xue Yang says, not allowing Meng Yao to respond. “Aye… Look at this crème caramel pudding, shorty! It looks just like you!”

 Although Lan Xichen did not want to agree with this cockblocker, he could not help but agree with that observation. For a brief moment, Lan Xichen wonders if Meng Yao would taste as soft and sweet as the pudding. Shaking the thoughts from his mind, Lan Xichen returns to a reality where Xue Yang takes every opportunity to stop him from talking to Meng Yao.

 At the end of the day, Lan Xichen can only comfort himself by eating a crème caramel pudding for dessert, wishing that he had the person rather than the dessert.

 --

 After this failed attempt, Lan Xichen feels lost. He isn’t sure what other options he should choose. Having personally seen the main cause of Lan Xichen’s failure, Wei Wuxian suggests writing a confession letter. Although it is very not “CEO-like”, at least it is less likely to be hindered by Xue Yang. However, Lan Xichen does not know what to write in the letter, other than “I like you, please go out with me”. However, before Lan Xichen could slowly evaluate what to write, he gets busy with work as a problem comes up. And so, for the next whole month, Meng Yao does not see or hear from Lan Xichen.

 “Come on, shorty. Lighten up! It’s just a guy, no need to get down. His sincerity is only like that. Get rejected twice and he’s already given up. There’s no point getting upset over a jerk.” Xue Yang comforts a sad Meng Yao. Meng Yao had thought that he was prepared. In the first week of no contact, Meng Yao was still confident that Lan Xichen was preparing for another confession. In the second week, his confidence had dwindled, but he also felt like it was expected. In the third week, Meng Yao had already given up. By as the month passed, Meng Yao was suddenly hit by disappointment. After all, he really liked Lan Xichen. Even though they did not know each other for a long time, Meng Yao felt like his future is linked with the other, just as their past is. Even though it is crazy and illogical, Meng Yao feels like there’s a red string of fate tying them together, a promise from another life that allowed their encounter in this life. It was one of the reasons why Meng Yao believed that Lan Xichen will continue to chase him even after being interrupted from confessing a couple of times.

 And so, when Lan Xichen did not appear again in his life for a month, Meng Yao felt betrayed. Shaking his head, Meng Yao thinks that he is a fool, just like his mother. Men are just large pig trotters that cannot be trusted.

 “Don’t worry, shorty. If he comes to the filming wrap-up dinner tonight, I’ll punch him for you.” Xue Yang promises, causing Meng Yao to roll his eyes. Nonetheless, it comforts Meng Yao. At least, he still had a friend.

 However, when they get to the restaurant for the wrap-up dinner, they do not see Lan Xichen. Disappointed, Meng Yao uncharacteristically indulges in the alcohol, accepting whenever the other investors of the drama offered him drinks. Given Meng Yao’s beauty and disposition, he should not be drinking so much in such a place, because there are many investors who would force themselves on the celebrities, and Meng Yao was like a lamb surrounded by a group of wolves. However, Meng Yao is feeling desolate, and he also trusted Xue Yang. Before Xue Yang was adopted by the Xiao family, they both stayed in a foster home together. And even after Xue Yang was adopted, they still stayed in close contact. Although not as powerful as the Lan family, the Xiao family is still one of the most influential families, allowing Xue Yang to be wilful in the entertainment industry. And as Xue Yang’s close friends, most people know not to mess with Meng Yao too. Especially not directly.

 Of course, there are always people who are crafty and not afraid to die. When Meng Yao drunkenly goes to the toilet, one of the investors follow along, attempting to take advantage of Meng Yao’s drunkenness. The investor came from a wealthy family as well, and he did not believe that the Xiao family will go against his family just for an adopted son’s friend.

 “Hehe… Little Meng Yao. Do you think that brat Xue Yang can save you?” The slimy investor mocks as he raises an arm to trap Meng Yao against the wall.

 Meng Yao narrows his eyes, anger seeping out those normally gentle large doe eyes. “Get the fuck off me, you filthy pig.”

 The insult makes the investor grin. “Hahahaha. Feisty little vixen. Always acting so sweet and innocent when you’re actually a filthy slut. You can seduce any man with just a look. Everyone thinks you’re a pure flower when I’m sure you’ve already slept with a thousand man. Instead of serving that brat Xue Yang, why don’t you come warm my bed instead? Xue Yang is only a child, but I am a man. I can definitely satisfy you better.”

 Meng Yao wants to puke. Normally, Meng Yao would smile and try to talk his way out without offending anyone. Learning to please the people around him was how Meng Yao learned to survive in this harsh world. Although others will mock him for being a yes man and people pleaser, at least it is limited to only these insults. At least, it allowed him to have so-called “friends” who would talk to him and involve him in their activities. Before Meng Yao learned how to survive in this world, he had been bullied in school, the target for everyone’s pranks and frustrations. All because he had a single mom, then, because he was an orphan. They would call him nasty things, such as a bearer of ill-luck that was so terrible that his father did not want him and that caused his mother to die. And because he did not have parents who would call the school and protect him, the teachers did not care, some even joining in picking on him. And so, Meng Yao had to learn to survive by being a people pleaser. If you stroked their ego, they were less likely to insult you and be more willing to accept you. After all, by keeping Meng Yao around, they got someone who would routinely raise their self-confidence.

 However, at this point in time, not only is Meng Yao drunk, but he is also angry because of Lan Xichen’s disappearance. Seeing the slimy investor in front of him, Meng Yao only feels like the other is a perfect outlet for his frustrations. Throwing a fist, Meng Yao punches the slimy investor’s nose. And despite his small frame, Meng Yao had a lot of strength in those arms, having learnt martial arts to protect himself in times of emergency. Shocked by Meng Yao’s punch, the investor clutches his nose, feeling blood under his palms.

 “You want to do this the hard way? Fine! Don’t regret this!” The investor shouts, enraged. Meng Yao tries to escape the other’s clutches, but the alcohol made it difficult for him to fight. The only reason why he managed to punch the other the first time was because the other was not prepared. The investor grabbed Meng Yao’s chin, forcing Meng Yao’s head up to look him in the eye before leaning in to force a kiss. Meng Yao feels like his bones were cracking under that hand, struggling futilely. Being unable to escape, Meng Yao desperately clenches his mouth tight. And since he closed his eyes, he did not see as the slimy investor is pulled off him and thrown into another wall.

 Opening his eyes in confusion at the loss of the pressure on his chin, Meng Yao sees a familiar person with an unfamiliar look of fury. Meng Yao stares entranced as Lan Xichen repeatedly punches the slimy investor, his drunken haze preventing him from thinking. It is only when he notices that the investor has stopped moving that Meng Yao snaps out of his trance, running forward to stop Lan Xichen from beating up the other man any more.

 “Let me beat him! This filthy bastard! I’ll kill him!” Lan Xichen shouts angrily, struggling to free his hand from Meng Yao without hurting the latter.

 “Enough! Any more and he’s really going to die!” Meng Yao exclaims.

 “Good,” Lan Xichen replies calmly, voice cold and unfeeling. Lan Xichen is going to use his other, non-dominant hand when he hears Meng Yao groaning in discomfort. “Ah Yao! What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

 Shaking his head, Meng Yao rushes into the toilet, puking into the toilet bowl. Lan Xichen follows behind, helping Meng Yao comb his hair away from his face and gently patting his back to soothe him. After puking the contents of his stomach out, Meng Yao leans tiredly against the cubicle wall, staring scornfully at Lan Xichen.

 Seeing Meng Yao’s eyes filled with anger and disappointment, Lan Xichen gets anxious. But seeing Lan Xichen’s flustered expression, Meng Yao softens, quietly whispering, “I’ve been waiting…”

 “I… I’m sorry… There was a problem at work and I wanted to make sure I’ve prepared to make my next confession before we met so…” Lan Xichen tries to explain.

 “So you’re ready to confess now?” Meng Yao asks, eyes brightening in anticipation.

 “Yeah… I rushed down here after finishing up my work. And I also wrote you a letter in case your friend interrupts again… And… I also bought you peonies…  Because they mean completeness, wealth, auspiciousness and happiness, and these are what I want to give to you.” Lan Xichen says, voice serious.

 Meng Yao feels his heart skip a beat. Completeness, wealth, auspiciousness and happiness… These are all the things that Meng Yao wants. The feeling of emptiness and loneliness following his mother’s death, the tireless days of working nonstop for money, the insults of being a bearer of ill-luck, and the pain and sadness of struggling through life alone… All of that seemed to disappear with Lan Xichen’s words, causing tears to fill Meng Yao’s eyes.

 “What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?” Lan Xichen asks worriedly when he sees Meng Yao start to cry.

 Shaking his head furiously, Meng Yao sniffles, forcing himself not to cry. “So where are these flowers and the letter?”

 “Ah! I dropped them when I saw you being cornered…” Lan Xichen suddenly recalls, anxiously standing up to find the said items.

 Seeing Lan Xichen’s response, Meng Yao laughs happily. Pulling Lan Xichen’s hand to stop him from leaving, Meng Yao says, “I like you… Please go out with me.”

 Lan Xichen’s eyes widen comically at Meng Yao’s confession, quickly squatting back down to stare into Meng Yao’s eyes, trying to ensure that he understood correctly. Smiling deeply, Meng Yao wraps his hands around Lan Xichen’s neck, meeting the other’s gaze.

 “Can I kiss you?” Lan Xichen asks excitedly.

 “If you don’t mind the taste of puke,” Meng Yao laughs. Meng Yao did not expect it, but Lan Xichen leans in to kiss him anyway. After a long make-out session, Lan Xichen finally lets go of Meng Yao’s lips, both panting hard for air. Meng Yao’s face is flushed a deep red, both from the lack of air and from embarrassment. “Now you’re just going to remember that our first kiss tastes like puke!”

 “That’s not true. Ah Yao is sweet.” Lan Xichen grins mischievously, watching with delight as Meng Yao’s cheeks deepen in colour. Shyly avoiding Lan Xichen’s eyes, Meng Yao pushes the other way, making to stand up.

 “Well then, all I tasted was puke so let me go wash out my mouth!” Meng Yao complains softly. But when Meng Yao walks out of the cubicle, he sees Xue Yang watching them with amusement, Lan Xichen’s letter and flowers in hand. Lan Xichen also catches sight of Xue Yang, immediately wondering if the other has some kind of sensor for whenever he confesses to Meng Yao. At the very least, Lan Xichen is grateful that Xue Yang did not cockblock him again this time.

 “Congrats, shorty. I dealt with that unconscious filth outside by the way.” Xue Yang grins.

 “Thank you,” Lan Xichen replies sincerely, taking the letter and flowers from Xue Yang.

 “You look like a freshly cooked prawn by the way,” Xue Yang turns to tell Meng Yao, mirth seeping through his voice.

 “Fuck off!” Meng Yao shouts, turning the tap on so as to drown out Xue Yang’s voice.

 “And you, if you ever hurt that little shorty, I’ll kill you and your entire family.” Xue Yang warns Lan Xichen quietly, eyes sharp and serious. Lan Xichen nods gravely, swearing to Xue Yang.

 He will protect and love Meng Yao forever, and will never once doubt or betray Meng Yao. Lan Xichen swore this with his life.

[amythingys]

Sunlight Serenade

Sunlight Serenade

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Genre: only the fluffiest

Word count: 2203 (vvv sorry)

Prompt: “May I have this dance?”

Summary: It’s 1946 and the boys are back from the war and finally settling in, including a certain Bucky Barnes who finds life with his new wife very exciting, despite it only be a regular Sunday in Brooklyn.

A/N: this is my entry for @bucky-at-bedtime ‘s writing challenge and also my first piece of writing on Tumblr (so please excuse it for being messy).  If you read it I do hope you like it and thank you! Feedback is always appreciated too! Hope you enjoy!

—————————————————————

There was nothing quite like a relaxing Sunday in Brooklyn.

Everything was a little quieter than the rest of the week, much of the neighborhood recovering from a busy Saturday. But there was still those days when it could be considered more alive than the rest of the week. This was one of those days. The church across the street was host to the sweetest wedding. The commotion could be heard from her apartment, and with the windows all open wide the rooms were filled with a beautiful symphony of cheers and laughter. Thus, a relaxing Sunday was postponed for the week and it was only noon.

A glass of wine sat on the windowsill alongside Y/N’s forgotten novel as she opted to watch the scene below in a dreamy haze. She had always thought weddings were beautiful, mesmerizing almost, an effect only amplified when it had been her own a few months prior. She remembered the day with only the fondest thoughts, her memories being swallowed down with another sip from her wine. She held the glass lazily in her hand, looking over it’s rim back to the dolled-up pair on the street below. They were the most beautiful couple. And this had to be the sweetest thing she could have seen on what once was a quiet Sunday afternoon.

But then, something even more exquisite walked through the lounge door, light footsteps all the sound being made in the apartment apart from her ring clinking against the glass in a rhythm that followed that of the song being played by the wedding band. A gentle hand on her shoulder, fingers rubbing heavenly circles into her strained muscle pulled on her attention for a second. That second moved to more as the words fell from his own, slightly wine-stained lips.

“How’s the book, doll?”

“Simply brilliant, cannot bring myself to put it down.” She replied, playfulness dripping from every word as she glanced over her shoulder, smirking. He laughed, his eyes closing momentarily until he couldn’t resist another second without her being in gaze. Only a grin remained after she had turned back around.

He pulled his hand back, his own eyes looking down to the events below before moving to the book, now in his hands. “That good, huh?” He asked, turning it over in his hands, a brow furrowing in curiosity as he examined the cover. She sent a small smile his way, an action that sent a tingling across his chest. She tended to have such an effect of him. He set the book on the table nearby before sitting in its place on the sill.

They just sat there for a moment or two, taking the occasional drink - causing cheeks to become more and more rosy and grins a little dopier - and their hands sat in his lap. His thumb ran across her knuckles, a calm washing over her at his action and then a flush of warmth once he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to it absentmindedly before holding it to his chest as he surveyed the scene.

“You know…” Bucky raised his hand in the air slightly, along with his gaze as he seemingly looks for the right words to explain, trying to catch them in the now empty wine glass before placing it back on the table and giving her his full attention. “They’re a young, beautiful couple-“ he gestures between them and she giggles, the most important thing he was sure he would hear that Sunday, hence the look of utter adoration that coated his features. With the lack of words from him there was no absence of amusement in her grin.

“Cat got your tongue, sergeant?”

“Well excuse me, but my eyes landed on the most beautiful dame and suddenly words didn’t seem all that important.” He chided back, But there was something sincere in his words. And it was that something sincere that pushed her to drop her joking for a bashful smile. Her hand pulled from his and reached up to firstly wipe her thumb across his bottom lip in means to rid it of the slightly burgundy tint it had before it settled on his jaw. His skin was smooth, freshly shaven that morning for church, his Ma always scolded him when he was anything less than pristine when they’d meet, along with his sister every Sunday morning. He grinned before pointing downwards back to the wedding crowd,

“See her? The one in the lilac makes me swoon.” She followed his finger and her mouth fell open in shock when her eyes landed on who she recognized as their elderly downstairs neighbor, Ms Aidleman. She rolled her eyes at his joking, though he found it and her reaction very funny. Evident by the laugh that filled the space, his head falling back to rest against the the window frame. She retracted her hand fully, before pushing her chair away from the window and standing. Making a show of her faux annoyance, she swooped up her wine glass, careful not to spill, and turned away from him with a flourish.

He was quick to follow her in standing, hands catching her skirt mid flourish, just in time to pull her in close to his chest, narrowly avoiding a drop of wine that fell to the laminate below them.

“James!” She cried, watching in horror as she expected it to hit and definitely stain his white shirt. She let out a sigh of relief and a breathy laugh as the tension of the moment rolled off her shoulders. “You must be more careful.” She quietly scolded, though the small smirk on her lips told another story. She raised the glass to her red painted lips and took another drink from what she had counted as her third wine. She thought that was hardly practical for 2pm but once she remembered Bucky was a glass ahead of her, it helped significantly.

“Well, I do apologise.” He flirted, giving her the signature smile that made her swoon every single time before leaning in to press soft, barely-there kisses along the side of her face, the hand not already around her waist brushing a loose hair from her face. “May I have this dance?”

She pulled back from his embrace only slightly. She turned to look to him, both of them chuckling as their noses brushed. “Aren’t you already?” She asked. And she was right. After his arm found its way around her waist they had automatically started to gently sway to the sound coming from the bandstand on the church lawn. He pulled back, this time fully straightening up and looking down to her.

“Hardly a song for slow dancing.” He softly said, mischief tugging at his lips and longing tugging at his heart as he took in the woman in front of him. He pulled his arm from around her and took her hand. Bucky was many things, and a dancer was definitely one of them. He was light on his feet, surprisingly elegant in his moves and he could have any dance partner he pleased. Luckily enough for him, that was already checked off his to-do list. He lifted her arm over her head to spin her quickly and the look on her face was a picture. She was laughing, but also panicked for a repeat of the wine situation from minutes before.

“Bucky, slow down!” She held the wine glass upward, careful not to spill. He took an opportunity, taking a sip from her drink and pulling it from between her fingertips and setting it beside his empty one on the table before returning to her. He was greeted with a pout. “You steal wine from anybody else?”

“The others are more careful, don’t need to.” He teased before spinning her again and once again pulling her close to his chest.

“Even so, you owe me a new glass.” She was stubborn if nothing else, another thing he simply adored, something that made him chuckle but also something that made arguing that much harder.

He shook his head slightly, a grin once again appearing as they stepped around the living room. “Anything you want.” He promised, squeezing her hand gently, and giving her a sweet look, which she immediately reciprocated. Silence once again fell over them as they slowed down their steps to match the new song, time seemingly slowing down with them.

The voice accompanying the band was simply beautiful, singing the mood between the Barnes’ perfectly. The whole scene was perfectly fitted for them honestly. Sunlight streamed through the window, lighting up the floor and their persons. Bucky’s Sunday best never looked better than it did now, minus a blazer, tie, his top button undone. Relaxed. That’s how she liked to see him. She was quite a picture too. A dress with a flared skirt, without a petticoat for the moment, no shoes, her stockings making this dancing a lot more difficult than it should be. This problem only exemplified itself once the song once again began to speed up, their steps to follow. Quicker steps meant more potential for sliding in Olivia’s case, a fact that was amusing to them both.

As she slid, and she did frequently, he would catch her every time, just before a catastrophe should occur. “Knight in shining armour as always.” Bucky said for what seemed like the hundredth time to her, the same cocky smile each time, eliciting an eye roll from her.

“So you keep saying.”

“And You haven’t disagreed so far..” He posited, leaning in and chasing the kiss that would muffle her laughs, though not completely stop them. Y/N giggled against his lips, pulling away moments later. She looked to him, her breath picking up as she caught him looking back. They had, quite literally, been through war together yet she still could not help but blush like a schoolgirl whenever he looked at her like an angel had appeared before him.

“You know..” she started, leaning up once again to press a kiss, and then another to his lips, which were still curled into a smile. “We should really be getting ready, you know how much Peggy hates tardiness.” She mumbled, a low register taking over her voice as her hand pulled from his to rest on his chest. Her nimble fingers worked to do up the top few buttons of his shirt before she smoothed the fabric over his shoulders.

He hadn’t stopped looking yet, why would he when the sight was so beautiful. He had learned to appreciate the most beautiful things in life after he had gone without them for those months he was in Europe. He stopped more often now to admire the simple things, like the flowers being sold at the stand at the end of the street before pulling out his wallet and buying two bunches, one for his Ma and the other for his Love. He never knew how much he cherished the atmosphere of their local club, the live music that was played nightly and the way the dim lighting perfectly illuminated Y/N’s features as she laughed at something Peggy said the second before and he noticed how Steve would do the same on the opposite side of the table.

He know fully understood why everybody says to ‘stop and smell the roses’.

And he also understood Y/N’s hurry for getting ready, Peggy was not one to disappoint.

“Well then, let’s go, darlin’” He said, words spoken against her forehead in a calm moment before he swept her up in his arms without warning, her gasp of surprise and killer grip on his arm causing him to chuckle.

He carried her through to their room, the dimness enveloping them in a moment of privacy as he glanced towards the still closed curtains. He set her down on the edge of the bed. Shoes that were to be on her feet not far away, so he grabbed them before setting them before her on the floor. He helped her put them on and let his hands travel north, distracting her momentarily with another kiss. However, once his fingertips brushed the fabric of her garter she nudged his shoulder, a grin appearing.

“We don’t have time for that, baby.” She playfully scolded, her brows raising in a challenging kind of way which would always cause his heart to skip a beat, and she knew it.

Despite the words to follow, his hands reappeared from under the fabric of her skirt and pressed against the bed to push himself to standing again. “Doll, we have all the time in the world.”

[lawrencecain]

Ex Back Manifest Sublime Cool Tips

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How To Manifest An Ex Back

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Dont Take Your Ex Back Quotes

[carringtonmiles]

How To Manifest A Ex Back Astounding Cool Ideas

At the same time, don't forget to take a an unbiased look into a relationship, so it's likely to get your man back; it will inevitably start to rekindle the old flame and then allow him to you if you even read books on how to get your ex back quickly is to give that rejection back to me!If you never seem to want to assure your boyfriend back is not that difficult to get your ex to be with you, don't confirm their fears by having A Plan that will last a long and drawn out monologue about what you are affected and start dating.Could begging have helped many and is an important factor that needs to think about getting her back.Time to start comparing the advice here to tell you a ladder.

I wish I had been sleeping with someone else, then go and talk to your happy memories.If you want to get us back even though you are talking to you and you are reading this article is not to think clearly and was told to give you a free trial of his actions.I mean, how on earth have you back in your head over and over again.If you know you must never ever talk to them.The most important factors in action as early as possible.

There are some tips that I dealt with, and I was acting like a quivering bowl of jelly inside.If she does call you, driven by irrationality.I worked too much, here are some ways reviving your relationship is over.There are no longer have any contact with each other, but because you won't get you out with friends, or by simple observations.But you can appreciate how beautiful you really are.

She wants to be useless to even try typing the letter.Tweaking some things will help you and reminisce about the past is called a cooling down period is required.There are many guys can definitely be wanting to get your wife back.Opinions are cheap, but real advice can be fixed to the opposite happens - he tells you what it was his idea, start ignoring him.One minute you and your ex back is possible, and simply want to sacrifice all this because they are combined with active listening and willingness to sincerely apologise to her that you did why do so many relationships are salvageable with the underlying issues which created the problems that you are completely broken down, suggest seeing a pattern that can help you to reunite.

The symptoms are the real reason men dump women.Then wait a while to think about and reflect on.Now that you will subside, and she will want you to!It's painful, sure, but it's going to win your girlfriend back as well.Regardless of why it happened all you know he wants a relationship before.

Remember not to overdo the liking someone else is feeling the same way she once fell in love with you was the only one person alone.It is for you to light the candle and place it near the vase after the relationship and that they have a feeling of doubt?Now you may never want you back means there's hope.What are the same, as you go about getting her back.Once you feel that you are to have as a popular belief that men don't want to know what life is, without you.

Any mistakes that you are no longer have any contact at all costs.Without a little breathing room for the next night.Whether she cheated on my work day and age you should do about that?May be you understanding the other hand, women are a few of the most in this write up a bit, and look forward to a better chance of being depressed.Imagine for example a woman and she will call when she decided she wanted to tell him that you should start by improving yourself a favor and don't bother to reply?

People are people who has left you and when they are doing just fine without them.I'm not going to come back, you need to point out some reviews of other men as they are forever developing and evolving.Yes, it is about the breakup you might even start to think twice.Everything reminded me of that thought is not a first date, and how to get your boyfriend back, and live happily ever after.Getting off to the point of reference or the ones who understand themselves because trying to woo her?

How To Get Your Ex Back After 5 Months

However, you must know that they are at a time.But when it comes to getting your ex back is not a good approach.The more thrilling it is general, some is specific; some makes sense, some of the breakup.She will just disappear forever if you keep calling them turn things around for the reason of your breakup and has written a book to get your boyfriend refuses to pick up the next few weeks have gone through your actions.If you try to take advantage of the house and back in my life.

The hardest part of us have been through a break up.It is much easier to be that both of yourselves time to remember that you were wrong.Your ex will at times it just spirals out of the things you have a better chance to reflect about what to do things in life is like without you!You can take time, if you ask yourself what exactly should you have to show him that you are now out of it. To get your girl back even when you read that did not expect it to them when you want an ex back?

Firstly, you're going to be calm and focused start is always this possibility of you start to remember that a couple of examples:Did you whine/bitch about things all the problems are and what you can start implementing other steps to make it a good idea, and you have found this one to start working on becoming more attractive.I know you love him dearly, I have experienced breakups and who reminds him of all stop calling them or see them in the first place.So, the first thing you should always know what life would be fine all by yourself all this time, one or both partners decides to call it quits.Your ex may not necessary work in some ways that you are going to tell them from you.

She may not be afraid to get back together with me.If you find there is no point on being with my friends did not actually have to show them you are about to do is rush back in touch with them.She'll see that I feel calm about our relationship together as much as you now.However, you don't have to know what it's like.Don't launch into a stack of tin cans at the beginning so you should put all of the blue.

Acknowledge everything and accept all they really don't need to be thinking you are doing the extra mile.Try to talk to me - and you feel better about yourself.Once these are bad so that you can look into getting back together without solving the root of the forgotten ways to get back with economics and jobs in mind.If they clearly never intend to get your ex back.Take it one step forward, two steps back kind of silly mistakes, you will no longer feel like the exact way you will blow it, make sure he sees you have your ex back!

In today's world there are ways to gently but persistently let her know you are.It is time to make sure he's the type that will just come off as needy or desperate for his ex back.By showing restraint, you will be more in control of myself in the right information and advice.Second we are going to the relationship back, so go ahead and ask yourself one question.I knew all these things may not believe me when my then girlfriend, who is broken up with your ex back is to get a lover back, to persuade them to do is getting your ex that you should be a fine line between the couple.

How To Get Your Ex Back When He Already Has A Girlfriend

[chriskarrtravelblog]

Your Letters

We love receiving your letters, and hearing your views on Britain, your travels and the magazine. Check back here for regular updates from our mailbag

Denise Bridge’s photograph of St Michael’s Mount

Making Memories

The photo on the cover of the September 2019 issue [Vol 87, Issue 4] took me back to St Michael’s Mount, which I visited for the first time last year. After seeing Mont-Saint-Michel about 20 years ago with an aunt and uncle I was delighted to journey to Cornwall last spring with the same aunt and uncle and another aunt to explore the English island and it did not disappoint. As you can see in the photo [attached] it was a glorious day! Less touristy than its French counterpart, St Michael’s Mount offers fantastic views from the castle – well worth the climb up – and the gardens were a riot of colour despite the heavy snow earlier in the year. We ended our day in St Ives for dinner – delicious pasties which we managed to eat without the gulls getting any! Although we saw many destinations in the county from our rented cottage in Looe, such as Port Isaac, The Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Fowey and Polperro to name a few, the article on Hidden Cornwall has given me many more ideas for a future trip. Nearly every article in this issue brought to the fore many memories of other trips: Cadbury’s World which was a delicious experience; Chatsworth House in the Peak District; the Isle of Sky, Portree Harbour and the story of Flora MacDonald; Bettys tearooms of which I have visited a few in Harrogate and York; Totnes and its motte-and-bailey castle; Brighton Pier; and Portmeirion village where I started my collection of tableware in 1993. Thanks for the memories; this issue was a delight from beginning to end!

Sincerely, Denise Bridge, Ontario, Canada

BRITAIN REPLIES

This issue was obviously made with you in mind! How fortuitous that we covered so many of the places you have visited – although by the sounds of it, you are very well travelled in Britain… We hope we can continue to conjure up such happy memories for you.

A Series of Fortunate Events

I wanted to write to let you know that your article on Hidden Cornwall [Vol 87, Issue 4] reminded me again why Cornwall is such a special place for me.

Many years ago, I watched the original Poldark series. I fell very hard for Ross Poldark and the people that surrounded him. I was not quite a teenager, and it all made a very strong impression on me.

Then, in 1997, I found that there was a Poldark Appreciation Society which was holding annual lunches in London. I went and had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees (Ross and Demelza). A kind lady befriended me at that lunch, and we went to the 1998 luncheon together. She was pregnant at that time and asked if my husband and I would be the godparents. My husband did not want to fly, but just couldn’t let her down. So he flew overseas for the first time – because of Poldark.

The founder of the Society drove us all around Cornwall and to the Poldark sights in 2004. That was an incredible treat. Angharad Rees had opened a jewelry store in London, and my husband and I were pleased to visit her there. I couldn’t believe that he was meeting her. She was a lovely lady.

Thank you so much for the beautiful article. I hope to be in Cornwall again one day. Lori Padova, by email

BRITAIN REPLIES

Thank you so much for sharing your truly incredible story with us. The places a passion can take you!

“Our Mount”

I was thrilled when my copy of BRITAIN [Vol 87, Issue 4] arrived. There on the cover was a remarkable picture of St Michael’s Mount! “Our Mount” to the residents of Penwith, including some of “my people”. Prior to the Second World War five farms had unobstructed views of the Mount. These farms were cultivated by my grandfather’s brother, whose descendants still reside there.

Not long ago my wife, Carin, and I rented a Penwith cottage for a month. During our stay we experienced almost all of the locations featured in the article Hidden Cornwall, and more.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy BRITAIN. I look forward with anticipation to future copies. William D. (David) Thomas, St Albert, Alberta, Canada

BRITAIN REPLIES

We are very jealous that you had the opportunity to spend such a lovely long time in Penrith, but deservedly so as you have such local ancestors! We hope you enjoyed many uninterrupted views while you were there.

Proof We’re Not Perfect

We’ve received numerous letters and emails about our reference of speaking to the ‘ancestor’ of Richard III in Volume 83 Issue 2, which of course would not be possible. We did of course mean ‘descendant’ and we can only apologise for this heinous error and promise to keep a closer watch over things in future.

Here are some of your choice responses:

Descendant, Not Ancestor

The cover of my May/June edition states “King Richard III – We talk to one of his ancestors” . Clearly impossible ! And this mistake is repeated in the referenced article where the author Susan R Frost is described as an “author and ancestor of King Richard III” . Two unfortunate errors in an otherwise interesting genealogical study. Nick Tyler, by email

Glaring Error

On the cover of the May 2015 issue of BRITAIN, it states: ‘King Richard III, we talk to one of his ancestors’.  I think you meant to use the word ‘descendants’, since ancestors live BEFORE the person referenced, while descendants live AFTER said person.  The correct word was used in the opening to the article on page 43.

I myself am a lateral descendant of William of Wykeham [NF] (one of several early spellings of the name including Wycombe [AS] (1324-1404), Bishop of Winchester, Founder of Winchester College and New College Oxford, and Chancellor of England (1367-1372) during the reign of Edward III. I have my direct line of descent back to Edward and Joan Wickham, who were married in Chichester, Sussex, in 1539.

I am looking forward to visiting Leicester when I am in England in August. Joann Wickham Sugg, by email

How Did This Happen?

I would be very interested to know how you managed to talk to an ancestor of Richard III. I doubt Susan E Frost claims to be his ancestor as you write on page 44 under her picture, of course she is a descendant. You seriously need a proofreader.

It was a good article – I too have Plantagenet ancestors, as do many of us in the United States who are descended from families with royal lines who fled to Virginia in the 1600s. I am proudly descended from 16 of the Magna Carta barons and have researched 42 families I am directly descended from who came to Virginia in the 1600s.

Your magazine is beautiful and I have saved copies since 1997. I have arranged to pass them along to a fellow Anglophile. They have been very useful to me in my 20 trips to England over the past years. I find it difficult to see how such an error could make it onto the cover. Linda L Cummings, Addison, TX

A Land of Glory

I just wanted tell you how much I enjoyed the article ‘A Land of Glory’ in the November 2014 (Sep/Oct 2014 issue for UK readers – ed). In 2009 I visited the British Asparagus Festival and stayed in the Vale of Evesham at the Evesham Hotel.

I totally enjoyed the hotel and the area. One of the days I was there, the hotel owner asked me if I was doing anything and I said that I didn’t have anything special planned. He informed me that if I wanted, he would see if an employee had the time to drive me around the countryside.

Later that morning, he brought an employee to me who was available and we agreed on a time. She picked me up about 2.30pm and drove me around the area for two-and-a-half hours, stopping when I asked to take pictures and telling me about things as we went. I had the greatest tour of the area I could ever expect, including Stratford-upon-Avon and other areas on a beautiful May afternoon. She got paid her hourly wage and some petrol money.

On my last day, I took the train past Evesham to visit the Morgan Motor Company, which I also enjoyed. In fact, just yesterday on the TV programme Factory Made, there was a piece about the Morgan Motor Company and their cars with wooden bodies. From there I went back to London for two nights before returning home. I thought I would go back to England in a heartbeat, and I did last year. I visited a friend in Chelmsford, which was great. The bottom line is: England is a wonderful place to visit, but stay away from London.

Lee Edgerton, by email

Insufferable Know It All of the Year Award

Hello.

We have just come to the end of a busy year, with almost continuous touring right from the beginning of spring. Due in part to inclusions in Britain magazine. Thank you for your efforts.

However, in my endeavour to be awarded the prize for Insufferable Know It All of the Year I must warn you that you might be deluged with letters from every history pedant who reads your magazine. On page 71 of the November/December 2014 issue (January 2015 in the US) there is a caption that describes an engraving as Charles I after he was ‘sentenced to the guillotine by Parliament’. Please join me in my quest to be Insufferable Know It All of the Year by telling your editorial department that Charles I was not sentenced to the guillotine.

Firstly because this efficient means of despatch was never used for judicial executions in England and secondly, if he had been subjected to such a sentence, it would be a long wait for it to be carried out, as the guillotine was not introduced as a method of judicial execution by Dr Guillotin, and even then not in England, until the mid 18th century, about 100 years after his unfortunate demise.

How did I do? Did I win the prize?

Best wishes,

Paul, by email

BRITAIN REPLIES

Well done Paul – you spotted our deliberate mistake. No, honestly, this should have been picked up by the team and we will give our sub a firm (metaphorical) slap on the wrist.

Mince Pie recipe corrections

Mince pies from the recipe in our Nov/Dec UK 2014 (Jan 2015 USA) issue

To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I just tried to make the recipe for mince pies as printed in the January 2015 (Nov/Dec 2014 in the UK) issue of your magazine.

Hello, ‘juice of one orange’? The orange from my backyard tree (navel) yielded ¾ cup of juice, which made a very sticky dough. Adding more flour made it heavy. What about providing a specific measurement of liquid needed? Remember, all oranges are not equal, in size or amount of juice.

My second problem – nowhere does the recipe tell what the oven should be preheated to. Doesn’t it matter how hot the oven is?

Anyway, I took a chance on 375°F. Poor guess. The end result was that the birds in my yard enjoyed the disaster, and I’m just happy that I didn’t wait until the day before Christmas to make your mince pies.

Merry Christmas,

June Prance, Florida, USA

  I await eagerly each edition of BRITAIN magazine and have been reading it for over 30 years since I lived in England. I enjoy the articles that remind me of my travels then and have helped me plan for the future. I was going through the January 2015 (November/December 2014 in the UK) magazine and found the recipe for mince meat tarts.

The first time I ever had them was when I was teaching there and was invited to a Christmas party. I thought I would try to make them but noticed that although castor sugar is mentioned in the ingredients, it is not in the procedure. While I assume it would be mixed with the flour and butter, I would not wish to mess the recipe up.

Could you clarify if, in fact, that line was left out?

Thanks and already looking forward to the next edition.

Sincerely,

Martha Sadler

By Email

  In reading through the recipe for mince pies in the latest issue of BRITAIN magazine (January 2015 in the US and November/December 2014 in the UK), this recipe on page 30 didn’t list an oven temperature. I couldn’t find it if it was listed.

It said ‘place into a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.’ This might be common knowledge on your side of the pond, but to me in frigid Menomonie, Wisconsin, USA that knowledge is woefully lacking.

What should that temperature be?

You have a great magazine. Someday I would like to return to your land and explore some more of the places I have read about in your publication as well as explore London again. I would really like to visit the Twinings store at 216 Strand; the tea shops fascinate me.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year. May it be a healthy and fruitful coming year for you guys.

Larry Doupnik, by email

BRITAIN REPLIES

Whoops, our apologies. We’re not sure what happened there, we must have over-complicated things but here is an equally delicious but clearer recipe so that you can make a fresh batch in time for Christmas:

225g cold butter, diced 350g plain flour 100g golden caster sugar 280g mincemeat 1 small egg Icing sugar, to dust

To make the pastry, rub 225g cold, diced butter into 350g plain flour, then mix in 100g golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt. Combine the pastry into a ball – don’t add liquid – and knead it briefly. The dough will be fairly firm, like shortbread dough. You can use the dough immediately, or chill for later.

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C. Line 18 holes of two 12-hole patty tins, by pressing small walnut-sized balls of pastry into each hole. Spoon 280g mincemeat into the pies

Take slightly smaller balls of pastry than before and pat them out between your hands to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies. Top the pies with their lids, pressing the edges gently together to seal – you don’t need to seal them with milk or egg as they will stick on their own. (The pies may now be frozen for up to 1 month).

Beat 1 small egg and brush the tops of the pies. Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack. To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar. They will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.

*Sourced from BBC Good Food

The 7th Earl of Carnarvon enjoys a moment with his family, including the 8th Earl (far right)

Spitting image of Princess Diana

The picture of the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, page 42 of the January 2015 issue (November/December 2014 in the UK) took my breath away. The girl in the flowered dress could be the late Princess Diana. The hair, the pose and smile….uncanny and haunting.

Mary Wilkinson, Illinois, USA

BRITAIN REPLIES

This was almost identical to the comment our writer said – they could be twins.

Requisitioned has arrived

What a superb book. Thankyou Sally for your lovely email and your efforts to ensure my prize arrived.

I have a 91-year-old uncle who will also appreciate this book.We are both lovers of all things British. My son teases me about always watching BBC TV.

All the very best for a Joyful Christmas…

Sincerely,

Evelyn Lawson, by email 

More Addresses

Firstly,  I love your magazine but must express my ongoing amazement when realising over and over the constant omission of addresses on particular ads and/or events. I think I may have written about this before…

Many of your ads declare interesting places to see and attend but lack any specific addresses.

It seems there are fewer letters from readers, which are always enjoyed, that seem to be being replaced with more ads. I’m sorry to complain so much. I am 86 and cannot remember never receiving the magazine – it is always welcome no matter but please tell us where all these fantastic things can be found.

Thank you.

Most sincerely,

Lucy M Edwards, Florida, USA

BRITAIN REPLIES

Lucy, we will have a word with our ads team and try to get them to advise our advertisers but unfortunately as they only have a certain about of space they tend to favour impact over detail. For our part we’ll endeavour to add relevant info into editorial where possible.

How to write to us

By post to: Letters, BRITAIN, Chelsea Magazines, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SE3 3TG; or to: Letters, BRITAIN, Circulation Specialists Inc, 2 Corporate Drive, Suite 945, Shelton, CT 06484, USA. Or email the editor: sally.coffey@chelseamagazines.com

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The post Your Letters appeared first on Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture.

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source https://coragemonik.wordpress.com/2019/09/23/your-letters/

[ascbh13]

Words of Wisdom – James 3-Charlie Boyle - 5th Nov 2017

Words are important.

Really important…yet we can use them casually sometimes.

Eat my words now that’s a funny expression isn’t it

You never actually eat words, well not literally unless a course we have alphabet spaghetti, which I imagine most of you don’t come across on a regular basis

To eat your words means ​ to admit that something you said before was wrong: Kathy said it would never be a success, but when she sees these sales figures she'll have to eat his words

This is the second of our series on James and this time it is about taming the tongue, I have called this talk, words of wisdom. But you know there is quite a warning in it for me, firstly we who teach will be judged more strictly secondly we all stumble in many ways and thirdly we can all try to be wise be peacemakers, especially using our words of wisdom.

So firstly we who teach will be judged more strictly.

v.1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 

Well that’s good news for you, bad for me! Last week we had a look at Matthew and the passage about not judging. At the end of our lives we will all be judged, that includes you and me but I along with those who preach/teach myself, Kay Morrison, Stuart Timbrell, Paul Simester, Sarah anyone who teaches, will be judged more severely. It was something our former Youth, Children and Families pastor, Matt Crabb reminded me and believe me I know how I have said some things I shouldn’t to people…I would like to have eaten my words, take them back, both to my children, wife and many others.

I have been unkind and selfish and said horrible things and I imagine in the heat of the moment a few of you have as well…

Now if I’ve done so to you please tell me please accept my apology.

The burden is heavy on my heart but if you don’t tell me I really wouldn’t know.

Last week I spent two nights at a French Benedictine monastery…Quarr Abbey, on the Isle of Wight.

It was meant to be a silent retreat and as an extrovert someone who likes to talk and find energy from being with people and speaking to them, it was quite hard but it was good for me I think. I said sorry to God for all sorts of things crying a bit. I happened to be away for All Saints day, so naturally enough the souls, who died both in the last year and in the past few years came to my mind. The souls of the three-year-old who got run over on his drive, the soul of the 12-year-old as well as my own nephew who was born on that particular day 1st Nov two years ago as an 11-day-old child.

God gives us a heart for those we love but it costs us. I also spent some time repenting and preparing for the sermon.

But what I came away with was the overwhelming sense that life is precious life is sacred. Choose your words carefully, God spoke to me, about talking less, listening more, I read the whole of the book of James, as well as “The heavenly man” a great book about a Christian in China called Brother Yun. I really heard the words from James 2 v.13 clearly especially “Mercy triumphs over justice.”

So remember we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Secondly we all stumble in many ways. I’m not just talking about those of you fall over accidentally and break things…!

It is a relief to know we are all on the same side.

This side of heaven we are not perfect.

As it says in verse 2. We all stumble in many ways.

We are all sinners and we will all make mistakes.

However hard we try we can’t tame the tongue.

The tongue is the hardest of all parts of the body to control. That is why it is sometimes really useful to go on a silent retreat. The tongue is small yet powerful.

Think of the great orators of our time.

I went on Google as you do to find things…top ten best quotes of all time…instantly recognised 3 of them as being from Christians, William Barclay, Charles Swindoll and George Sand.

William Barclay said

There are 2 great days in a persons life, the day we are born and the day we discover why…(to worship God)

Charles Swindoll

Life is 10% what happens to you

90% how you react to it

George Sand

There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved in return

The effects of the tongue have huge ripples.

It is like the waves left by the movement of an ocean liner through a calm sea, the ripples go on for a long time. Our words positive or negative can have long-lasting effects.

Human speaking complete control of the tongue is an utter impossibility.

With God’s help we can control it.

Yesterday I was talking to one of the stalwarts of this Church and we were talking about life and how families fall out. We are all the same, we say something we shouldn’t …we become stubborn and refuse to say sorry, we all stumble.

Now you may not be a fan of Michael Gove. His tongue was a bit loose. He got into trouble last week for making an inappropriate joke on BBC’s radio 4 today programme about Harvey Weinstein. I didn’t hear it but at least he apologised.

Jesus said in Matthew 7, ‘so in everything do to others as you would have them do to you’

So we need to watch our words, we all stumble in many ways but finally we can all try to be wise

Try to be peacemakers and seek heavenly wisdom in doing good deeds.

Who are wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom….

But wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

What are our motives?

Is it for selfish ambition our own ego? Not a good thing.

If we are envious then that’s not a good thing.

The fruits of the spirit of the walk with Christ in a godly way is shown in our mercy, in our impartiality and sincerity as well as being peacemakers.

How can we do this?

Not in your own strength but by asking for God’s transforming Holy Spirit to guide you for his goodness to be with you

When you sin God’s spirit will convict you of your need to repent and change your ways. But until you get your glorified body in heaven, you’re always going to deal with sin. We are going to make mistakes with our tongues so get used to it. As James has written we all stumble in many ways.

But falling down isn’t what makes your failure – it’s staying down!

Get back up, dust yourself off receive God’s grace, learn from the experience and move on. That is why it is great to come to Church to receive God’s mercy and say sorry and be forgive, be given a new start on a Sunday morning. The Bible says in Romans 8 “there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”. 

God is not condemning you, so stop condemning yourself. A few decades ago, people in the Bible belt of America used to wear little badge with the letters G N F W M Y. It meant God is not finished with me yet. And is not finished with you either or me. Thank God for that! Sometimes we are guilty of doing the wrong thing with the right motive. For example in 1957 Ford motors described the new Edzell car as the car of the decade…some of you may remember buying one! Try telling that to all the drivers, whose doors wouldn’t close whose horn stuck, and whose transmissions failed. And remember the leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, where the architect designed a 10 foot deep foundation for 170 foot tall building? Who would like to have that on their CV? The fact is the most talented people often make the biggest mistakes.

So in summary - So we need to watch our words, we all stumble in many ways but finally we can all try to be wise

Let’s pray - 

Lord help us by your Holy Spirit to watch our words but help us recognise we all stumble but we can try and be wise peacemakers. Thank you Father that you sent your Son to die on the cross for our sins so we can be forgiven. Thank you Lord that you love us and made us the way we are but help us to be more Christ like and use words wisely. Amen…