#Kitchens Canterbury

[chaussetteblanche]

and they were roommates

pairing : Spencer Reid x fem!student!roommate!reader summary : you are Spencer Reid's roommate, the team finds out about you when a case brings them to the university you study at word count : 2.5k warning : canon-typical violence A/N : the university is a random one I picked in Virginia, bear with me because I don't know how US university systems work, thanks :) I think this is a part one, there may be a part two or even more, idk, but tell me what you think !

part 2, part 3, part 4

"I- I'm sorry, what university did you say?" Spencer's frantic tone was immediately noticed by his colleagues. Suddenly, he seemed hyperaware of everything in the room. The loud AC, Derek's pen-clicking and the overwhelming smell of Emily's coffee. "Mary Washington University," JJ answered swiftly, eyes narrowed as she sent Reid a confused glance. The man in question mumbled a few words under his breath and shot up, grabbing his coat and scarf. "We need to go." His tone, unusually urgent, left no space for debate or questioning. He was out the door within seconds, followed closely by Morgan and the others.

When you'd applied for Mary Washington University, you had known you would have to get an apartment. You lived too far away to even consider taking the numerous trains and buses and subways to get there. So, when you had been accepted into your first choice of universities, you'd started apartment hunting. Or roommate-hunting, to be more precise.

To say you had been unlucky would have been quite the understatement. You'd visited four apartments so far and could not even consider living in one of them for a second. The first had been full of frat boys who made your skin crawl, the second was with an old, far right-wing couple, the third had been two sisters who'd yelled at each other for the whole time you were there and the fourth had been so crowded your were certain it was neither sanitary not legal for another person to live there. With the deadline of university starting and having to move all your things, you were starting to get quite anxious. But call it chance or fate, one day you stumbled upon an advertisement for an apartment in a nice neighbourhood with one person who seemed quite normal. This person was a state-employee (which meant a stable salary and that meant you wouldn't have to compensate for rent) who travelled often for work and liked to keep mostly to themselves. Not one for big parties, they preferred a night-in and rarely had people over.

So you'd put on your big-girl pants and had walked over to what you hoped would be your last apartment visit. You hadn't been expecting such a young person to open the door because of the way the advert had been written and because of what it said. "Hi, I'm Dr. Spencer Reid." You noticed he didn't hold his hand out and mirrored his behaviour. "Hi! I'm here for a visit!" You introduced yourself somewhat shyly, feeling intimidated. This man was at the most five years older than you and he was already a doctor?

He showed you around the apartment, which you liked very much. The rooms smelled like books and tea and everything was kept very clean. On the whole, it was tidy, even if a few books or articles were stacked in some odd places. The bedroom you'd stay in was large and luminous. After the tour, he made you a cup of tea as you discussed formalities.

"Uh, so, you’re a student, right?" he'd asked politely as he added a worrying amount of sugar in his earl grey. You bit back a teasing jest. You hoped maybe one day you'd get to place where you could comment on his daily sugar intake. "Yeah, um, I'm studying English Literature and Cinema." You stirred your tea, looking around the kitchen. Even though it was painted a dark, forest green, it still seemed luminous in the afternoon sun. "Oh, that's super interesting! I’ve always found texts in Middle English particularly insightful! I- I read the Canterbury Tales when I was about 10 years old. It’s fascinating the way in which issues which were already current then are still very present today, like in the Wife of Bath’s tale, for example-“

He cut himself off, leaning back into the couch. He rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks dusted pink. “Sorry, you probably don’t want me to ramble about what you already know.” “No, I think it’s amazing that you would know that, actually. What else did you like in the Wife of Bath’s tale?” Spencer seemed to brighten up at your words and thus ensued a lengthy discussion of the avant-garde themes evoked by Geoffrey Chaucer. You were fascinated by his knowledge and found his passion especially endearing. Lots of your professors weren’t even that passionate when talking of late 14th century literature.

After discussing rent, which you would afford by waitressing at a local bar, lightly touching upon political subjects (on which you seemed to agree on), he finally told you that he was an FBI agent. "Excuse me?" you spluttered, leaning backwards in shock. "I'm a profiler with the BAU, the Behavioural Analysis Unit. I can show you my badge if you want." He stood up and reached for his bag, but you stopped him in his tracks. "No, no, that's okay, I believe you. I'm just surprised, that's all, sorry." His expansive knowledge of so many things seemed fitting for an agent of the BAU. After realising you were the first person who didn't demand his badge as proof of his profession, Spencer granted you a small smile. "You don't need to apologise. I- I know it can be a bit... off-putting." He sat back down and looked you in the eye. "Is that a problem for you, living with a federal agent?"

You thought about it for a second. As a general rule, you weren't a big fan of cops. Even more generally, you didn't believe in the structure of today's society. But that was a big topic. Plus, a profiler wasn't really a cop, was he? "No, that's not a problem for me."

You'd moved in a month and a half later. Things had been slightly awkward at first and you'd had to figure out what kind of dynamic Spencer and you had. But eventually, you’d found your rhythm.

When Spencer left for work, you took care of his plants and sent him pictures of Geoffrey. Geoffrey was the cat you’d found on the street and taken in. He was named after Geoffrey Chaucer, author of the Canterbury Tales, your first common point of interest. Spencer had been reluctant at first, but you’d taken him to the vet, where he was tested and vaccinated, and the man had finally accepted him into your shared space. Now, he loved the little creature. Sometimes, you’d call him to ask how he was doing and whether he was safe. He’d always reply that yes, he was doing fine and no, he wasn’t in any danger, don’t you worry. He’d ask how you were doing and if you were staying on top of uni work and if you’d eaten and if Geoffrey wasn't being too annoying. As an orange cat, he had his particular tendencies.

When Spencer was at home, you'd always look forward to getting back from class. There was always that sense of comfort and ease when he was around. You had found a lovely routine quite easily. You'd both work or study, then cook, eat together and afterwards maybe you'd watch a movie or something. You were at a point where you could comment on his daily sugar intake, which he's started correcting since meeting you. He loved the Big Bang Theory and though you weren't such a fan, you loved the little laughs he let out and all the corrections he'd make. In general, you liked when he talked. Even more generally, you liked him. You also liked Friends and though Ross got on Spencer's nerves, he enjoyed being able to discuss it with you afterwards. The two of you got very close without even noticing.

Sometimes, you'd remember he wasn't just your roommate, but also a man. He'd make you a cup of tea and you'd stare at his hands a little too long while he stirred the honey in. Or he'd help you reach for a cup with his impressive height, his front just skimming your back with a shiver. He'd tell you to breathe and sit down when you were upset about something. A few times, he drove you home from a night out with your friends and laid his hand on your knee. He was the only one who remembered how you'd told him you wanted to kiss him.

With you, Spencer discovered many things he had never experienced before. A healthy, comforting and peaceful routine. A supporting, non-judgemental, healthy friendship. Easy laughter in the middle of the night and tired "good morning"s at dawn. Butterflies in his stomach whenever you touched him. A budding romance which kept him awake at night.

So when that was threatened, he just about lost it.

"Oh my God." "I can't believe this." "Is this a prank?" "Did someone call 911?" "What about her parents?" "Oh, that's sick."

Voices swarmed around your head, making you dizzy. Your hand rested over your mouth as you stared at the body strewn on the lawn. Much of the student body stood next to you, just as shocked. Mary Goldman had been her name. You'd crossed her just this morning in the main hall and had exchanged small smiles. You had thought that she looked really pretty today, but hadn't told her. You regretted that now. At the moment, her mascara had run down her cheeks and dried and her lipstick and been smudged. Bruises and cuts decorated her bare arms and legs and a big red stain sat on the side of her stomach. The contrast between her dead body and the green, thriving grass beneath her was haunting.

You turned away, feeling sick. You felt your friend's hand on your shoulder, a small source of comfort anchoring you to reality. Facing the road as you turned, you were surprised to see three big black SUVs speeding towards the crowd. You'd been expecting an ambulance, or cops. Not whoever these guys were. They screeched to a stop, drawing everyone's attention. A small dozen of people stormed out, all dressed differently though they all held the same aura of importance, knowledge and authority. You turned back to your friends. "Who are these-"

You stopped mid-sentence when you heard your name being called out urgently. You'd have recognised his voice amidst a thousand others. He spoke your name like no other. You frantically looked around, pushing your way to the large vehicles. When you finally spotted him, tears started pricking your eyes. "Spencer," you breathed in a half-sob. His eyes ran you over once, twice, assessing any damage. When he saw there was no physical wound, his shoulders sank in relief. He opened his arms and you rushed inside his warm embrace almost reflexively. Neither of you noticed the numerous pair of curious eyes observing your intimate exchange.

"Oh my God, Spence- What- What are you doing here?" you'd cried into his cardigan. You buried your face into his neck, inhaling the comforting scent he always bore. He wrapped an arm around your waist and another around your shoulders, holding the back of your head in a consoling manner. "We're- We're taking this on as a case, sweets. Are you all right?" He knew it was a stupid question but all the emotions and tension were barely wearing off and he didn't know what else to say. You pulled away but he kept you at arm's length, holding your cold, shaking hands in his warm, steady ones. "I- Yeah, it's just- I- I saw her this morning! How could she- Why would someone do this to her? To- to anyone?!" Spencer cooed and pulled you into another tight hug as you continued to ramble through your tears. When you'd eventually calmed down thanks to his words of reassurance, he pulled away softly.

Spencer understood what you meant perhaps more than anyone. The sadness, the shock, the anger, the need to understand. He gently wiped away the mascara under your eyes with his thumb. "I know, I- It's- Even I don't always understand, sweetheart, so don't- Why don't you go home? I'd come with you but-" You nodded, biting your lower lip. He gave you a sad smile. "I promise I'll join you as soon as this is over. You- you can make yourself a cup of tea and process all this and pet Geoffrey, okay? Classes are going to be cancelled either way." "I don't want to-" The look in his eyes kept you from arguing further. You nodded, giving him another hug. Before you left, an older man came over to you.

"I'm sorry to bother you, miss. I'm Agent David Rossi. I just had a question-" "Rossi," interrupted Spencer with a stern tone you'd never heard before. The older Agent raised an eyebrow at him. "Just one question." He turned back to you. "At what time did you say you saw the victim?" You inhaled shakily, running a hand over your face. "Uh, it must have been around quarter to eleven. I think- Yeah, somewhere between ten thirty and eleven." "Thank you, miss." You didn't miss the glance shared between the two men before Rossi retreated.

"Who was that?" asked Emily as soon as you'd left and Spencer had joined them behind the police tape. "No one," Spencer brushed her off as he kneeled next to the victim. Strangely, he hated the idea of someone who knew you dying. It felt too close to home. "C'mon, man, you lost your shit this morning, a girl you clearly know very well runs into your arms, you snap at Rossi and you expect us to believe you?" Derek raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. Spencer sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking up at the rest of the team. All were staring at him patiently. He stood up, swallowing.

"That was my roommate." He informed the team of your name and of how you'd been living together for a few years now. "Spencer, you've been living with a woman for years and you've never told us?!" Derek was all but hysteric. Hotch reminded him that everyone was entitled to a private life. "So, are you dating or something?" Emily prodded again. Spencer hesitated a second before answering. "No." Derek scoffed, appalled. "You mean to tell me you've been living with a beautiful woman like that for years and nothing's ever happened?!" "Not everyone is like you, Morgan," Emily reminded with a teasing smirk. Derek sent her an unimpressed look. "Look, let's all grill Spencer later, we have a case to focus on right now." Rossi, ever the voice of reason, directed everyone's attention back to the corpse laying next to them.

Needless to say, the BAU team did not need to interrogate Spencer or attack him with incessant questions to find much out. They'd seen by his behaviour that very morning how much he cared about you. They'd seen how relieved he had been when he'd seen you safe and sound. They'd noticed you'd only started crying when you'd seen him, a big sign of trust. They had never heard him call another by pet names such as "sweets" or "sweetheart". They'd read both of your body languages like a children's book and translated it easily.

Love. Comfort. Peace. Ease.

[coeurderoche]

Dining Kitchen New York Example of a classic l-shaped eat-in kitchen design with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash and colored appliances

[tonreihe]

What does a soup kitchen serve on the Fourth of July? In the case of the one I volunteered at today, at St. Thomas of Canterbury in Uptown, it serves hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, and patriotically decorated cupcakes.

[ariel-seagull-wings]

CARLY ANNE CROCKER: HEADCANONS

@thealmightyemprex

@moonshinenum @exoticb-utters @positivelybeastly @voxxgrimly

01º Carly was born and grew up in Hannibal, Missouri; 

02º Her father, Carter, was a firefighter, and the family of her late mother, Enid, owned a diner;

03º Became blind as an infant due to congenital glaucoma;

04º Was homeschooled until the age of eight years old;

05º After retiring from the Fire Department, her father became the new owner and manager of his wife’s family diner, working on management duties while friends and in-law relatives work in the kitchen and serving tables;

06º Her father wanted her to go to college in Saint Louis or Kansas City, but Carly always dreamed of going to college in New York, and her mother was supportive of her independence;

07º Came to live in New York at age seventeen when she applied for college;

08º Majored in Drama and English in Vassar College, and Law and Education in New York University;

09º Is a professional actress, storyteller and puppeteer;

10º Carly was twenty three years old when her mother died;

11º At the age of twenty seven, she received the surgery that cured her blindness;

12º Overalls, dungarees and jumpsuits are her favorite pieces of clothing;

13º Has German and Irish ancestry on her father’s side, and French-Canadian (Acadian) ancestry on her mother’s side;

14º Can be conversational in french;

15º Is a fan of the fairy tale radio anthology series Let’s Pretend;

16º At the time she was a patient in the hospital for the blind, Carly started to bond with Hank McCoy when she told him she was from Hannibal, and he referred to it as “the city of Mark Twain.” 

17º From that moment onward, they started a conversation about the Twain family, Joseph Médard Carrière, Rosemary Hyde Thomas, Marie Campbell, Washington Irving, L. Frank Baum, Tall Tales, Walt Disney and Americana;

18º Makes volunteer work as a theater educator, puppeteer and storyteller in several shelters and hospitals for blind people, as a way to give people the same support she received when she was blind;

19º Is bisexual;

20º Uses her knowledge of Law and Education to become an activist for Disabled, LGBTQIA+ and Mutant Rights;

21º Cheese based dishes are her comfort food;

22º Loves both cats and dogs;

23º Her Zodiac Signs is Libra; 

24º Her favorite Shakespeare plays are Measure for Measure, Troilus and Cressida, Love’s Labour's Lost, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest;

25º Her favorite books are: Tales from the French Folk-Lore of Missouri, It’s Good to Tell You: French Folktales from Missouri, Tales from the Cloud Walking Country, The Last Unicorn, The Once and Future King, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Father Christmas Letters, Bambi a Life in the Woods, Bambi’s Children, Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, Watership Down, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables, The One Thousand and One Nights, The Canterbury Tales, The Decameron, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, The Sea Fairies, Sky Island, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Diaries of Adam and Eve, The Mysterious Stranger, Fairy Tales, New Tales, or Fairies in Fashion, The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories and Stories or Tales from Past Times, with Morals;

26º Her favorite colors are Green, Red, Pink, Violet and Blue;

27º Carly’s favorite flowers are myrtle, rosemary, rue, daffodils, violets, primroses, oxlips, carnations, gillyvors, flower-de-luce , hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram and marigold;

28º Voice, scent, hands and pulses are the first things she notices as attractive in another person;

29º  Is allergic to pine and eucalyptus;

30º Her favorite movies are The Adventures of Prince Achmed, The Thief of Bagdad, Pinocchio, Bambi, Fantasia, The Fox and the Hound, Powell and Pressburger A Matter of Life and Death and The Tales of Hoffman, Black Orpheus, Jason and the Argonauts, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Donkeyskin, The Wicker Man, Babette’s Feast, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, Legend, Willow, Ladyhawke and Wings of Desire.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Yowzah! From the front, this house looks like a stealth bomber. Look at that pool on the roof. It’s a 1964 contemporary home in Kingsport, Tennessee, has 4bd  7ba and is listed for $1.5M.

The entrance is pretty grand, with it’s marble floors.

I like how this living room area has 2 openings to a large conservatory. 

What a big conservatory and it looks like it has a bar, too. What a huge home to entertain in.

Nice expandable dining room area.

Since the house was built in 1964, it’s not surprising that the kitchen looks MCM, so you get a little of that with this house, too. 

Huge family room with stairs to the bedrooms, so you can watch TV, then go upstairs to bed.

This house is gigantic- look at the home office.

The contemporary main bedroom did not prepare me for the-

look of the en-suite.

Nice shower- this is beautiful.

The other bds are plain, but have their own baths.

Look at the wine closet in the basement.

They have exercise equipment in here, but is that a garage door?

Big MCM kitchen down here, too. 

The pool is outside the conservatory.

What is that pool ladder doing in the powder room?

Tennis court.

3.70 acres of land.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2032-Canterbury-Rd-Kingsport-TN-37660/42448688_zpid/

[charlotte-of-wales]

The Duke of Edinburgh attends a Coronation Big Lunch at Westminster Abbey alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Duke brought with him a spinach, broad been and tarragon quiche baked in the Buckingham Palace kitchen to share with guests | April 18th, 2023

[she-is-27-i-checked]

Tell us some lovely things about your garden.

Well she's mostly sleeping at the moment, but the hellebores are just starting to flower and the bulbs are starting to peak through the soil so I can see spring approaching already.

Soon there will be crocuses of several varieties, then later tulips. There are red tulips outside the kitchen window which flower around little Ratbag's birthday in march every year and lots of other varieties throughout the wildflower area, some I added new last autumn and some coming back from previous years. At the edge of the wildflower garden I am growing a field maple deciduous hedge, run through with ivy, blackberry brambles, dog rose and a pyrocanthus that was there before I started. It doesn't look like much at the moment but in a few years it should be a haven for birds and insects and small mammals to hide in. All around there are self seeded common violets and grape hyacinth which just please themselves year after year, being tiny and beautiful and no trouble at all.

In May and June there will be oxeye daisies, poppies, cornflower, Canterbury bells and just an absolute riot of colour. The baby sparrows and bluetits will visit to eat the caterpillars and the seeds and I will sit on the front doorstep in the sun, drinking my coffee and listening to the blackbirds singing and watching it all riotously unfold.

Pictures under here...

Highlights right now...

A couple of highlights from last year...

[noyaetnox]

Lilia Vanrouge x gn!reader angst

Just a little late

TW! Mentions of death, aggression, abuse, and all that

Lilia is OOC, but it will be explained why.

There is one scene where the young couple is explained to be “cuddling and kissing” and I meant that in a literal way. We had this school-friendly Canterbury Tales book in which kissing and cuddling was just a cover for sex. This is not the case!

Now onto the one-shot!

Lilia had, just like any other day, walked to the room of the young royal. His eyes were quickly scanning through, trying to spot the figure, while he slowly started taking his sword out. He could not see them. Taking slow and quiet steps, he walked to the bed in the middle of the wall, his sword falling back into place loudly as he purposefully slammed it to wake the sleeping heir.

"Lilia!" they awoke with a start, immediately raising their voice at the mischievous guard standing at the foot of their bed.

"Good morning, your highness, it appears that you have overslept your morning training classes," he spoke calmly despite the grin on his face. He was greatly amused. Not only did they oversleep, like any other day, but the hair on their head was nothing short of a bird's nest.

"Oh, hush," they spoke, their feet falling to the floor while they winced at the cold air.

"You are lucky today's training is with the best royal guard, otherwise you would've gotten into a lot of trouble, young one," mocking anger, he raised one of his fingers as to scold the person still in bed. Y/N laughed at his antics and finally got up, quickly walking to his person to envelop him in a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, how lucky I am, indeed," they spoke into his ear as they stood near the bed, hugging each other. After a second or so, Y/N started swaying their bodies from side to side. Another grin grew on his face.

"Affection will get you nowhere, get dressed so we can start," he was the first to break the hug, "it is very important that you know how to, at least, defend yourself in case I'm not around," he said after. His hands were resting on their shoulders, but he was very serious. One of the things he could not bear even imagining is them getting hurt in his absence.

"Okay, okay, Sir Lilia," with a laugh, Y/N walked to the bathroom to get dressed while Lilia waited in the room. With a shake of his head, he decided to make the bed that was left messy. Then he sat down on the soft mattress, allowing himself a moment of rest before his knightly duties.

"We shall go, my most trusted soldier," the heir walked in, their training clothes making them look like any other knight at the castle. Yet to Lilia, they were the most beautiful, especially the smile Y/N had on their face as they waited for him with their hand outstretched towards him. With hearts in his eyes, he finally stood up and took Y/N's hands into his even for a second. After all, their special relationship was only for the two of them, as the laws of the kingdom would not allow their love. He sadly looked at their intertwined fingers, wistfully wishing they could just escape it all and live far away with no one to judge and rule over them. If only.

"I have stolen this from the kitchen," he spoke as he took out two pieces of today's sweet bread. He knew the queen doesn't allow the young master to eat in the morning, so he took it upon himself to take things from the kitchen.

"Oh, I really like this one!" they took one of them into their hands, and with a quick kiss on the cheek ran towards the training grounds. No one was around, so he pretended to let their behavior go unnoticed by him. Running after them, he took a single bite of the remaining bread, both of them soon sitting down on the green grass to quickly eat before continuing.

"Thank you for the bread, Lilia," he couldn't help but click his tongue.

"It is Sir Lilia on training grounds, your highness," he spoke lowly as he, once again, bore the wooden sword into their torso. He knew he shouldn't be too harsh but the enemy will not go easy on them, after all, none can love them as much as Lilia did.

"Well then, SIR Lilia! How about you let me take a short break, yeah?" the heir spoke, their sword falling to the ground since they were so tired they couldn't be bothered setting it down carefully, too tired to care.

"We took a break five minutes ago, my dear,"

"But you get to call me other names? This is so unfair!"

"Life is unfair, loveliest. Now get your sword and we'll continue. This is the last few minutes, you are allowed to do so," he tried encouraging the tired royal. With an annoyed groan, they listened and were soon standing again.

"I'm going to get you for that, you'll see," they spoke, anger obvious in their voice.

"I'd like to see you try, little bat," (brat 😝)

"Why?" they asked as soon as they stood close enough for only Lilia to hear.

"I'm afraid it is regarding your engagement to the young prince Venget," he answered honestly. It pained him to do so, but there was nothing he could do other than strive to stay at their side even when they're betrothed to another.

"I shall just tell my father I am already in love, then," the royal spoke, standing up within a blink, determined to change their fate.

"You mustn't, my love, for it will only anger the King,"

"Let him be angry! Is my happiness not worth more? More than that- that snuck up! A rotten piece of-"

"Y/N, I'll go to the castle with you,"

"Oh! Very well! Let us be off, then,"

"What do you think of my future spouse?" Y/N asked once they were alone, resting on the balcony of Venget's castle.

"I've heard he's a nobleman, your majesty," Lilia said, not having anything else to share. He did not like Venget but was not allowed to say more while in the public.

"Oh that is great to hear, Lilia," Y/N said, rolling their eyes in the process. They both could agree that Venget was not to the liking of either of them, although only silently.

"I've also heard the castle maidens talk about his handsome looks," he decided to say after a moment of silence. He did not lie, for the castle maidens kept talking about it in his presence, too.

"Oh, Lilia. Had I gone for looks alone, I would've bedded you already," Y/N laughed and finally turned to look at him. Their eyes sparked like any other night, yet now they held mischief in them.

"Y/N! You mustn't speak this way so out in the public," Lilia spoke with a start, putting his hand to their mouth to make sure they do not speak so unproperly anymore.

"I do not care, my love! Let the world know of my adoration for your person!"

"Please, quiet down," he laughed, not being able to act serious when his human was just so adorable, "although, would you so kindly tell me as to what it is about my appearance you like?"

"Your piercing crimson eyes that are like a sea of blood, yet once they spot me, the color is suddenly that of the most beautiful of red roses! Your soft hands, that seem as so only to me and no one else-"

"How are you not afraid of me?" he couldn't help himself blurt the words he's been meaning to ask for years. His eyes fixed on Y/N, watching their every move like a hawk.

"For my heart knows of my feelings for you, and nothing could ever change that," with now a quiet volume, they walked closer to him, his hands now resting in theirs. One of those hands came up to his face and cupped one of his cheeks.

"You are the least scary of them all, my love," Y/N said, slowly closing the distance between them as their mouth met halfway. Every time they shared a kiss, Lilia was overjoyed beyond belief. Not only did he love his Y/N, but the whole idea of them doing so in secret always excited him.

"But you know of my history,"

"Even I have things I am not proud of, dear, it is of no importance to me," and so they sealed the night off with more sweet kisses under the moonlight in a silent promise of staying together forever.

"I have been called back to the castle, I'm afraid," Lilia voiced to his lover, who had just asked him to attend their wedding.

"Lilia, please," they started, moving closer to him and trying to grasp his hands in theirs. He moved away from them, "I need you there," their eyes met. While Y/N had tears falling down already, Lilia had just a tad hint of them forming as he tried, desperately, to not let his true feelings show at that moment.

"My duties do not allow me-"

"You're nothing but a liar!" interrupted Y/N his rehearsed speech. He was about to question what was the meaning of their words when his lover continued.

"You do not have any duties back home," they spoke with sniffles, wiping their eyes aggressively with one of their sleeves, "I know it is not easy for you, but I can't do it without you there, Lilia," now both of their hands were covering their eyes as they wept, now silently.

"Y/N," he tried in a soft voice, he knew it was very hard for both of them. Despite all of that, it was hard for him. Oh, so hard.

To watch his lover cry their eyes out, begging for him to come to the ceremony held for their marriage with another man. Oh, how his heart kept cracking in heartbreak. Yet he knew his heart would break even more had he chosen to attend the ceremony.

"I can understand why," they said after a second, sniffling, "but please, Lilia. Please aid me. I would not be able to survive," their head rested on his shoulder as their tears slowly started wetting his clothes. The two of them were alone in the room given to Y/N to get used to the castle. Lilia was there as their guardian.

"Dearest," he started, caressing their head as softly as he possibly could, "I will come back before the ceremony. I will arrive with your father, but I must leave nonetheless," giving them a kiss, he finally spoke. Originally, he had no plans of watching the ceremony, but what could he do when his lover begged him so?

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Love," Y/N finally looked into his eyes. They were almost as red as his own from all the crying and rubbing.

"Now let's get you to bed so you can rest, hm?"

"Please lay down with me,"

"Preposterous idea, little monster. You are to be wedded to another in a few days,"

"That is precisely why the moment is nigh,"

And so well into the night, the two lovers quietly shared sparks of love, becoming one while they still could. Secretly, so no one but the gods could bare witness to their love blossoming.

"I will see you in two days, my love," Y/N spoke, correcting Lilia's collar the next day.

"Yes, wait for me,"

I love you

I love you, too

"You tell me, Lilia," the King spoke while they were riding towards Venget's castle. In the carriage were the King, the Queen, their personal guard, and Lilia. They were all squished together for no other reason than the royal couple wanting to bad-mouth and talk about other people.

"Yes, my King?"

"How is Venget?"

"Oh," Lilia coughed a little, trying to quickly collect himself, "why might the King be interested in my humble opinion?"

"Simply because I trust you the most," the King laughed and hit his shoulder.

"I must apologize then, for my opinion might not be to your liking," Lilia smiled a little. He knew that his relationship with the King was more than just work-related, but he still could not speak his opinion. Had he always spoken the truth, he would've told him years ago of his secret relationship.

"Should I call off the marriage, then?" the King asked more himself, than Lilia.

"I'm worried that will be quite the conundrum," finally spoke the Queen, her hand reaching for the hand of the King sitting opposite of her.

"Yes, you are right, darling," he looked at Lilia with a mischievous smile, "with Lilia around, I'm sure everything will be alright," the Queen followed and also looked at him. Lilia decided to challenge the king and returned their looks.

"Of course, I am the best royal guard,"

"Right, that, too. I was talking about you two sharing intimate moments," Lilia's heart almost stopped.

"Excuse me?"

"What the King meant to say," the Queen spoke while giving her husband a side eye, "we once saw you two share a kiss on Y/N's balcony," Lilia's breathing got harder as he tried to keep calm.

"I want to apologize-"

"No need. We would want to apologize for not being able to give you two an opportunity to love. The higher-ups would not accept the relationship and poor Y/N is our only child,"

“That is not my concern at all, my King” Lilia heaved a sigh and finally calmed down enough to form comprehensible sentences, “pardon me for saying so, but I had been under the impression that it had gone unnoticed,”

“Well, I am not aware of how long this has been going on!” with a hearty laugh, the King tried easing the situation.

“For many a year, I am afraid,” with a bashful expression, Lilia looked out of the window.

“Then, please make sure to stay at my child's side while I figure out a way for them to get out of the marriage,”

“Yes, my King,”

Soon enough, the carriage had stopped and they were able to exit. The royal guard made sure to follow behind his employers closely for that was his job.

“If you will excuse me, I would like to go see Y/N before their big moment,”

“You have my blessing, son,”

After a deep sigh, Lilia finally gathered the courage to knock on the door behind which Y/N was getting dressed. The whole way to Vegnet's castle, he felt butterflies in his stomach from how nervous he was.

“Yes, come in,” spoke the voice he had missed so much during the two days he had been away.

“Good afternoon, Y/N,” he greeted with a deep bow to allow Y/N to hide their nakedness just in case. Not like it would be the first he would get to observe their body, though. His head then lifted up. It was like the whole world stopped for a while from the sight he bore witness at that moment.

“You are breathtakingly beautiful my dearest, dare I say ethereal,” he voiced, looking around once more to check whether no one was around before rushing to their person.

“Lilia!” his lover laughed, wasting no second to pepper his face with many kisses, “I am so glad you are finally here,” they spoke once they decided he's had enough. Though once their faces inched apart, Y/N could not but laugh upon seeing what had become of his face - now littered with kiss marks all over.

“I am also,” and so they spent the rest of the time cuddling and sharing kisses while waiting for the ceremony to start.

That, if you were to ask any one of them, came too soon. For only a little after their reunion were they forced to part once more for the sake of the dreaded ceremony.

“Venget Kruwarug, do you take this person to be your partner, to live together in holy matrimony, to love them, to honor them, to comfort them, and to keep them in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?” asked the priest.

“I do,”

“And, Y/N L/N, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” and Lilia's heart broke once again at that moment.

When the newlywed couple was to share a kiss, he averted his eyes.

“What is it like? Being married?” asked Lilia when the two of them were dancing in one of the many big halls of their new home.

“I can not wait to get out of this marriage, really,” Y/N rested their head on his shoulder once they spun.

“Why is that?”

“You have many duties outside of the castle and it is insufferable without you around to keep me company, and grounded so I do not wind up mad,”

“Then I shall hurry with my duties to be able to whisk you away sooner,” he slowly, yet full of love, kissed his lover. The moment might have been the sweetest they were able to share in a while, had they not been interrupted by King Venget, who rushed into the hall - in turn forcing their kiss to break.

“When have you gotten here, Lilia Vanrouge? How have I not been notified of your arrival?” he asked, leaving Lilia to break their hold and bow.

“That must be because I have first searched for my Sovereign, whom I am the personal guard of, before attending to my other duties,” with venom seething from his words, Lilia very secretly smirked to himself.

“Then I ask of you to not do the same the next time you come for a visit,” with a hiss, the King took Y/N's hand and rushed them outside while Lilia had no other option but to follow.

“General Vanrouge! With this, you have been given my blessings to live a married life with my only child, Y/N Vanrouge,” King F/N spoke with the happiest smile possible, after all, the two of them were now family even on paper. Finally- finally, were they able to give Lilia a higher status that would allow him to be wedded to Y/N. The only thing left was for him, now General Vanrouge, to take Y/N away.

“What brings you here, guard?” asked a very furious Venget from his throne room.

“It is General Vanrouge now, and I have come for Y/N,” the smile on Lilia's face was uncharacteristic of him. He felt proud and powerful.

“Go then,” Venget laughed back, flicking his hand in the process. As if he didn't care at all. This angered Lilia but he tried to not let it get to him, but rather to Y/N's quarters that he knew the way to even with closed eyes.

He slammed open the door, yet the room was quiet and empty.

“General Vanrouge,” spoke a voice from behind. He spun around, his head spinning from the toll of said action. It was one Venget's maids, whispering to him.

“Have you an idea where they are?”

“I am worried you have come a bit late, General, Y/N passed four days ago,”

“What?” clutching his heart he looked up at the now taller figure of the maid, “what are you saying?”

“Y/N had committed the act of suicide after yet another quarrel with the king,”

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO!

What?!

Lilia had known of the pain Y/N had been in this whole time, but he felt like their promise of a better life could aid them in surviving for even just a little.

Oh, how he hated not simply taking them away the second he noticed the first bruises on their body.

Had Lilia just ignored the people, the two of them could right now be living together somewhere far away, no one there to judge or stand in their way.

But that was naught but a dream now.

In a fit of rage, General Vanrouge went on a rampage and murdered everyone in Venget's castle. Stories spread fast, of a mad king and his divine punishment in the form of a fae.

He returned to his home with the body of his lover in his hands. After a proper burial, he had no place in the castle, so he took off into the wild.

On one of his voyages, he came across a woman in distress. She was overpowered by fae, her cloaked figure desperately screaming at them to let her be. The virtuous knight that he was, he spared no time in killing them and saving the maiden in need of help. Once their eyes met, he recognized the figure to be none other than the ruler of Briar Valley. Who, as thanks for his help, appointed him General of the army they had been building in preparation for the human-fae war that was soon to break out. Though hesitant, he accepted, realizing that his life had at that time been nothing but a disappointment.

“General Vanrouge, reporting for duty,”

And so Lilia Vanrouge became an honorable member of Briar Valley, aiding his new home in winning the war. Later, he promised himself to not fight to death anymore but to live a peaceful life, opting to help train the castle knights and take care of the newborn heir to Briar Valley whom they named Malleus Draconia.

It wasn't long before he came across a small human child in the forest. Silver. Often did Lilia think about raising his own children, and having a family with his one and only, yet he could not anymore.

Silver learned to not question why they visited a grave with the name Y/N Vanrouge engraved on it once a year. Had his father wanted him to know, he would've told him.

Now, Lilia Vanrouge lives a different life, free of the pain and suffering he had gone through. As a result, he had become way more positive and appreciative of what life had to offer. Cursed with a long lifespan, all he could now do was make sure to pass his knowledge and take care of his son.

#################################

I plan on editing this, but for now, happy reading!

Interested in more of my work? Check out my master list!

[cruxymox]

tag game for the poets and poetically inclined ( by @definegodliness )

i've changed the order of these as the last one is by far the longest.

2. one line in a song

"Some day we'll catch a glimpse of eternity"

- Apoptygma Berzerk, from Eclipse

3. one line in a movie

"You shall not pass!"

- Gandalf, from The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring ( but you probably knew that already )

4. a word you'll avoid for fear of over-usage

'and' / '&'.

( i don't avoid it well at all, perhaps obviously, but it is one of the most common words i actively try to control )

5. one word that is you, metaphorically (no explanation)

odd

1. a poem that tends to pop into your mind

the following piece is from TS Eliot's Murders in the Cathedral, spoken by the Chorus

( note: i've not read the whole play. mostly just "the death-bringers" pops into my mind, as well as the repetition of "i have seen, i have tasted, i have felt" etc. )

I have smelt them, the death-bringers, senses are quickened

By subtile forebodings; I have heard

Fluting in the nighttime, fluting and owls, have seen at noon

Scaly wings slanting over, huge and ridiculous. I have tasted

The savour of putrid flesh in the spoon. I have felt

The heaving of earth at nightfall, restless, absurd. I have heard

Laughter in the noises of beasts that make strange

noises: jackal, jackass, jackdaw; the scurrying noise

of mouse and jerboa; the laugh of the loon, the

lunatic bird. I have seen Grey necks twisting, rat tails twining, in the thick light

of dawn. I have eaten

Smooth creatures still living, with the strong salt taste

of living things under sea; I have tasted

The living lobster, the crab, the oyster, the whelk and

the prawn; and they live and spawn in my bowels,

and my bowels dissolve in the light of dawn. I have smelt

Death in the rose, death in the hollyhock, sweet pea,

hyacinth, primrose and cowslip. I have seen Trunk and horn, tusk and hoof, in odd places;

I have lain on the floor of the sea and breathed with

the breathing of the sea-anemone, swallowed with

ingurgitation of the sponge. I have lain in the soil

and criticised the worm. In the air

Flirted with the passage of the kite, I have plunged

with the kite and cowered with the wren. I have felt

The horn of the beetle, the scale of the viper, the

mobile hard insensitive skin of the elephant, the

evasive flank of the fish. I have smelt

Corruption in the dish, incense in the latrine, the sewer

in the incense, the smell of sweet soap in the wood-

path, a hellish sweet scent in the woodpath, while

the ground lieaved. I have seen Rings of light coiling downwards, leading

To the horror of the ape. Have I not known, not known

What was coming to be? It was here, in the kitchen, in the passage.

In the mews in the barn in the byre in the market place

In our veins our bowels our skulls as well

As well as in the plottings of potentates

As well as in the consultations of powers.

What is woven on the loom of fate

What is woven in the councils of princes

Is woven also in our veins, our brains.

Is woven like a pattern of living worms

In the guts of the women of Canterbury.

[dealhandyman]

Reliable Handyman Canterbury: Your Go-To Solution for All Home Repairs

Maintaining a home comes with its fair share of challenges. From leaky faucets to faulty wiring, there's always something that needs fixing. If you're in Canterbury, finding a reliable handyman can make life a whole lot easier. This article will explore what makes a handyman reliable, the services you can expect, and tips for choosing the right one for your needs.

Why Do You Need a Handyman in Canterbury?

Living in a historic city like Canterbury comes with the charm of older properties, but also some unique maintenance challenges. As time goes by, even well-kept homes can show signs of wear and tear. Whether you need urgent repairs or routine upkeep, having a reliable handyman in Canterbury can make all the difference, keeping your home running smoothly and comfortably. Why struggle with tricky repairs when you can rely on a professional to handle the hard work for you?

Qualities of a Reliable Handyman

Not all handymen are created equal. A dependable handyman isn't just about skills; it's about the whole package. Look for qualities such as:

Experience and Skillset: Years in the business often translate to better service.

Punctuality and Professionalism: Being on time and handling tasks with a professional attitude matters.

Attention to Detail: Ensures that even the smallest issues are not overlooked.

Good Communication: You want someone who can explain the job clearly and give you an honest quote.

Think of a reliable handyman as a jack-of-all-trades, always ready to fix whatever breaks. Much like a Swiss Army knife, they can handle a multitude of tasks to keep your home running smoothly.

Common Handyman Services

Handyman services go beyond just fixing a leaky tap or hanging a picture. Some of the most common services include:

Plumbing repairs

Electrical work

Carpentry

Painting and decorating

Tiling and flooring installation

Flat-pack furniture assembly

Garden maintenance

With such a broad skillset, a handyman can be your one-stop shop for various household needs, saving you the time and hassle of dealing with multiple specialists.

Emergency Repairs: When Time is of the Essence

Imagine waking up to a burst pipe in the middle of the night. What do you do? Emergency repairs are one of the most crucial services a handyman can offer. A reliable handyman understands that some issues can’t wait and provides a quick response to prevent further damage. Having a local contact in Canterbury who can respond promptly to emergencies can be a lifesaver.

Plumbing Repairs and Installations

Plumbing issues are among the most common household problems. From blocked drains to leaking pipes, even minor plumbing issues can escalate quickly. Handyman services often cover tasks such as:

Fixing leaks and blockages

Installing new taps and fixtures

Unclogging drains

Repairing toilets and sinks

Reliable handymen can diagnose plumbing issues accurately and provide effective solutions, ensuring your home’s water system runs smoothly.

Electrical Work: Safety First

Electrical work is not something to take lightly, as it can be dangerous if handled improperly. For jobs like installing new light fittings, fixing faulty switches, or rewiring, it's best to rely on a qualified handyman. They can help with:

Lighting installations

Switch and socket repairs

Electrical appliance installations

Safety inspections

Always check if the handyman has the necessary qualifications for electrical work to ensure your home's safety.

Home Improvements: Adding Value to Your Property

Are you planning to sell your home or simply want to make it more comfortable? A handyman can help with minor home improvements that enhance your living space. Think about tasks like:

Installing new shelving or cabinets

Painting rooms for a fresh look

Upgrading flooring or carpets

Kitchen and bathroom updates

These small changes can significantly increase the value of your property while making your daily life more enjoyable.

Exterior Maintenance and Garden Services

Your home's exterior is just as important as the interior. Whether it's the garden that needs trimming or the gutter that requires cleaning, a handyman can handle these outdoor tasks efficiently:

Fence repairs and installations

Patio and driveway cleaning

Gutter maintenance

Lawn mowing and garden tidying

Maintaining the exterior not only improves curb appeal but also prevents potential damage that could lead to costly repairs.

How to Choose the Right Handyman for You

Finding the right handyman is not just about choosing the first name you come across. Here are some tips to guide you:

Check their experience: How long have they been in business?

Look for reviews: Customer feedback can give you insights into the quality of their work.

Verify their qualifications: Make sure they are certified for specialised tasks like electrical work.

Get multiple quotes: Comparing prices ensures you get a fair deal.

Ask for references: A reliable handyman will have no problem providing these.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Handyman

Before hiring a handyman, ask these important questions:

What experience do you have with similar tasks?

Are you licensed and insured?

Can you provide a written quote?

How long will the job take?

Do you offer any warranty or guarantee on your work?

These questions will help ensure that you hire someone who is both qualified and transparent about their services.

Cost Considerations for Handyman Services

The cost of hiring a handyman can vary depending on the nature of the task, the materials required, and the time needed. To get a fair estimate, consider:

Hourly rates vs. fixed prices: For smaller jobs, an hourly rate may be more cost-effective, while larger projects might benefit from a fixed price.

Material costs: Ensure that material expenses are included in the quote.

Travel fees: Some handymen may charge extra for travel outside of Canterbury.

Remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. It's about finding a balance between cost and quality.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional

Sometimes, the temptation to tackle a home repair yourself can be strong. However, DIY isn't always the best option. Consider these factors:

Skill level: Do you have the expertise to complete the task safely and correctly?

Time: Will the project take up more time than it's worth?

Cost: DIY may seem cheaper, but mistakes can lead to expensive fixes.

Hiring a reliable handyman not only ensures a job well done but also saves you time and potential headaches.

Benefits of Using Local Handyman Services

Supporting local businesses has numerous benefits. When you choose a local handyman in Canterbury, you enjoy:

Faster response times: Especially important for emergency repairs.

Personalised service: A local handyman understands the unique needs of Canterbury homes.

Community support: By hiring locally, you're contributing to the local economy.

Customer Reviews: A Trustworthy Source?

Online reviews can be a great resource when searching for a handyman, but take them with a pinch of salt. Look for patterns in the reviews:

Consistent praise for punctuality and quality of work

Responses to negative reviews (it shows they care about customer satisfaction)

Detailed descriptions of completed projects

Using customer reviews wisely can help you make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Finding a skilled and reliable handyman in Canterbury doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By knowing what to look for and asking the right questions, you can ensure your home is in good hands. A reliable handyman can be your partner in maintaining a safe, functional, and beautiful home, allowing you to enjoy your space without the stress of constant repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do I find a reliable handyman in Canterbury? A: Start by checking local online listings, asking for recommendations from friends and neighbours, and reading customer reviews.

Q: What types of services can a handyman offer? A: A handyman can handle a variety of tasks, including plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, painting, and garden maintenance.

Q: Are handyman services expensive? A: Costs vary depending on the job's complexity, materials, and location. Getting multiple quotes can help you find a fair price.

Q: Can a handyman help with emergency repairs? A: Yes, many handymen offer emergency services for urgent issues like leaks or electrical problems.

Q: Should I hire a handyman or try to do it myself? A: While DIY can be tempting, hiring a handyman ensures the job is done correctly and safely, saving you time and potential frustration.

[spicebiter]

Reading List (Latest Update Nov. 6, 2024)

The full list of books I'm interested in reading. Spoiler before you open the read-more: This list has 500+ entries so it's a tad long.

I'm pretty much constantly adding things to all of my lists- hence why I'm amending when this was last updated to the title itself- and will update this post anytime I update the wheel I use to randomize my next choice, which usually happens after I've added or subtracted a significant number of options.

Beowulf

Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism; Third Edition

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee

Monsieur Proust by Celeste Albaret

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander

Brick Lane by Monica Ali

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende

The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders

Andersen’s Fairy Tales by H.C Andersen

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Animorphs Series by K.A Applegate

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Emma by Jane Austen

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Oracle Night by Paul Auster

Bunny by Mona Awad

Borderline by Mishell Baker

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

Just Above My Head by James Baldwin

Crash by J.G Ballard

North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud

Cousin Betty by Honore de Balzac

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

I’m With the Band by Pamela Des Barres

The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All by Laird Barron

Gateways to Abomination by Matthew M. Bartlett

Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

The Stone in the Skull by Elizabeth Bear

Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett

Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone De Beauvoir

The Second Sex by Simone De Beauvoir

Art of Fiction by Walter Besant and Henry James

Pushkin; A Biography by T.J Binyon

The Etched City by K.J Bishop

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Out of Africa by Karen Blixen

In the Vanisher’s Palace by Aliette De Bodard

Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

The Ends of the World by Peter Brannen

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Sonnets From The Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner

The Serpent and the Rose by Kathleen Bryan

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry

Notes of a Dirty old Man by Charles Bukowski

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess

Song of the Simple Truth by Julia de Burgos

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Gender Trouble by Judith Butler

Parable of the Sower Octavia E. Butler

American Predator by Maureen Callahan

A Most Wanted Man by John Le Carre

Through the Woods by Emily Carrol

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

The Vorrh by B. Catling

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Moliere Biography by H.C Chatfield-Taylor

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Journey to the West by Wu Cheng-en

Wicket Fox by Kat Cho

The Awakening by Kat Chopin

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Finna by Nino Cipri

The Divinity Student by Michael Cisco

The Black God’s Drums by P. Djeli Clark

Pranesi by Susanne Clarke

Parasite by Darcy Coates

The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Swimming With Giants by Anne Collet

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Inherit the Wind by Linda Cushman

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

Dreadnought by April Daniels

The Devourers by Indra Das

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Possessed by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III

The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews by Peter Duffy

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis

The Collected Stories by Welty Eudora

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Introducing Evolutionary Psychology by Dylan Evans and Oscar Zarate

A Collapse of Horses by Brian Evenson

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane by Henry Farrell

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Sanctuary by William Faulkner

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

It Devours! by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

Time and Again by Jack Finney

Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford

A Passage to India by E.M Forster

The Diary of Anne Frank

Lies (and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them) by Al Franken

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

At Fear’s Altar by Richard Gavin

Count Zero by William Gibson

The Miracle Worker by William Gibson

Neuromancer by William Gibson

Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg

The Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone

Dead Souls by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Marathon Man by William Goldman

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

My Life in Orange by Tim Guest

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J Hackwith

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway

Empire of Light by Alex Harrow

The Little Locksmith by Katherine Butler Hathaway

City of Lies by Sam Hawke

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Sacred Time by Ursula Hegi

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

Dune Series by Frank Herbert

Cover-Up by Seymour M. Hersh

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill

The Outsiders by S.E Hinton

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

The Rule of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Rescuing Patty Hearst: Memories From a Decade Gone Mad by Virginia Holman

The Iliad by Homer

The Complete Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

Songbook by Nick Hornby

To Escape the Stars by Robert Hoskins

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Pigs at the Trough by Arianna Huffington

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Warrior Cats Series by Erin Hunter

The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur

The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley

The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Daisy Miller by Henry James

False Bingo by Jac Jemc

The City We Became by N.K Jemisin

The Fifth Season by N.K Jemisin

Nervous System: Or, Losing My Mind in Literature by Jan Lars Jensen

The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson

Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce

Ulysses by James Joyce

The Trial by Franz Kafka

The Archidamian War by Donald Kagan

The Fall of the Athenian Empire by Donald Kagan

The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan

The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition by Donald Kagan

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

The Hunger by Alma Katsu

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Out of Control by Kevin Kelly

The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Liu Ken

Ironweed by William Kennedy

You By Caroline Kepnes

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

The Very Best of Caitlin R Kiernan

Carrie by Stephen King

Christine by Stephen King

Cujo by Stephen King

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

The Shining by Stephen King

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles and Sir Thomas Malory

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Gidget by Frederick Kohner

The Cipher by Kathe Koja

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Extravagance by Gary Krist

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

Babel by R.F Kuang

The Poppy War by R.F Kuang

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

False Hearts by Laura Lam

The Wide, Carnivorous Sky by John Langan

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Changeling by Victor Lavelle

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by David Herbert Lawrence

Lies of the Fae by M.J Lawrie

Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

Jade City by Fonda Lee

Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

The Dirt; Confessions of the Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee

Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee

The Complete Pyramids by Mark Lehner

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem

Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism by Vladimir Lenin

Human Errors by Nathan H. Lents

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem

Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin

Small Island by Andrea Levy

A Ruin of Shadows by L.D Lewis

Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Let the Right One In by John Lindquist

Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link

The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton

The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

The Hike by Drew Magary

The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Gregory Rabassa

A Month Of Sundays: Searching For The Spirit And My Sister by Julie Mars

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin

Property by Valerie Martin

The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

A Bolt from the Blue and Other Essays by Mary McCarthy

The Group by Mary McCarthy

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

Fletch by Gregory Mcdonald

Atonement by Ian McEwan

The Rapture by Claire McGlasson

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Quattrocento by James McKean

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin

Terms of Endearment Larry McMurtry

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

The Colonizer and the Colonized by Albert Memmi

A Mencken Chrestomathy by H.L Mencken

My Life as Author and Editor by H.L Mencken

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious

The Vanishing Newspaper by Philip Meyer

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville

The Life of Edna by St. Vincent Millay

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Sexus by Henry Miller

Slade House by David Mitchell

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy by Barrington Moore Jr.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Jazz by Toni Morrison

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami

In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng

The Complete Works of Friedrich Nietzsche

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Ringworld by Larry Niven

Vurt by Jeff Noon

Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Bernard Nordhoff and James Norman Hall

Twelve Nights at Rotter House by J.W Ocker

Revenge by Yoko Ogawa

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Flowers of the Sea by Reggie Oliver

Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen

How To Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka

Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi

White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

Certain Dark Things by M.J Pack

The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett

The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

Complete Stories of Dorothy Parker

Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Gormenghast Series by Mervyn Peake

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim

The Song the Owl God Sang by Benjamin Peterson

A Mankind Beyond Earth by Claude A. Piantadosi

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodie Piccoult

We Owe You Nothing by Punk Planet

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe

Witchmark by C.L Polk

Complete Novels by Dawn Powell

Selected Letters of Dawn Powell: 1913-1965 by Dawn Powell

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Truth and Beauty by Ann Pratchett

Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett

The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield

Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

High Moor by Graeme Reynolds

Sybil by Schreiber Flora Rheta

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

Stiff by Mary Roach

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

Robert’s Rules of Order by Henry M. Robert

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson

The Language Construction Kit by Mark Rosenfelder

The Planet Construction Kit by Mark Rosenfelder

The Encyclopedia of the Weird and Wonderful by Milo Rossi

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Lisa and David by Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D

The Hacker and the Ants by Rudy Rucker

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

Empire Falls by Richard Russo

The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Sallinger

Franny and Zooey by J.D Sallinger

The Man Who Collected Machen by Mark Samuels

Ariah by B.R Sanders

Blindness by Jose Saramago

Shane by Jack Schaefer

Vicious by V.E Schwab

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin

Bhagavad Gita by Graham M. Schweig

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Love Story by Erich Segal

The Complete Poems by Anne Sexton

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Unless by Carol Shields

City Come A-Walkin’ by John Shirley

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

Crush by Richard Siken

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

The Terror by Dan Simmons

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Oil! by Upton Sinclair

Of Sorrow and Such by Angela Slatter

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

The Flinch by Julien Smith

Chlorine by Jade Song

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria

Ethics by Benedictus de Spinoza

Last Breath by Peter Stark

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

City Under the Moon Hugh Sterbakov

Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Sophie’s Choice by William Styron

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susane

Stations of the Tide by Michael Swanwick

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars by Kai Cheng Thom

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

Walden by Henry D. Thoreau

An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley

Secrets of the Flesh by Judith Thurman

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Sisyphean by Dempow Torishima

The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry

Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes

Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

Crier’s War by Nina Varela

A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

Around the World in Eighty Days Jules Verne

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

The Last Empire- Essays 1992-2000 by Gore Vidal

Just a Couple of Days by Tony Vigorito

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

Candide by Voltaire

Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Fire in the Sky; The Walton Experience by Travis Walton

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L Wang

The Graduate by Charles Webb

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells

The Invisible Man by H.G Wells

The Time Machine by H.G Wells

The War of the Worlds by H.G Wells

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Prophesy Deliverance by Cornel West

Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Roman Fever by Edith Wharton

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

The Code of the Woosters by P.G Wodehouse

Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe

The Electric Koolaid Test by Tom Wolfe

Old School by Tobias Wolff

John Dies at the End by David Wong

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

Mrs. Dolloway by Virginia Woolf

Bitch; In Praise of Difficult Women by Elizabeth Wurtzel

The Black Tides of Heaven by Jy Yang

Negative Space by B.R Yeager

Beneath the Moon by Yoshi Yoshitani

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Tomorrow, and Tommorow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

[clarasteam]

catching up

I was tagged by @theletteraesc ❤️

Last song: You Fascinate Me So, sung by Mabel Mercer, from my Flambable playlist

Currently watching: a lot of Father Brown episodes

Three ships: Grant/Strange, Kurt Weill's My Ship ("and of jam and spice there's a paradise in the hold"), Flambeau/Felicia/Monty

Favourite colour: purple? I am bad at colours

Currently reading: @owl-by-night's lovely Father Brown OT3 fic, To Catch a Thief (see ship category above)

Currently consuming: last thing eaten = raspberries and vanilla ice-cream; last thing drunk = rose, lemon verbena and lemon balm tea

First ship: idk - Orsino/Viola|Cesario?

Place of birth: a suburban hospital, so my papers say

Current location: at my kitchen table, comme d'habitude

Last movie: A Canterbury Tale by Powell and Pressburger, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Currently working on: surviving my current state of exhaustion and grief; holding on to whatever moments of joy I can; showing up when I absolutely have to

tagging @owl-by-night @expo63 @idlesuperstar @moonwest @codswalloping if any of you would like to play and haven't done it already

[berenwrites]

I Love My Orthotics

So I've had my orthotics from LOC now since just before Easter, and they are amazing.

I can cook again without being in crippling pain for days afterwards. I still have to take breaks and sit down, but I can get up again without it being a hobbling experience.

I can carry my own things because I'm not using my crutches every time we go out. Have to admit I almost cried when we went to a community concert and they had refreshments during the interval and I didn't have to sit there and ask my hubby to go get me some things on a plate, I could do it myself.

And when we walk up the road, Rob and I can hold hands again. Haven't been able to do that for about 15 years because of the crutches.🥰🥰

Still loving being so much taller too. Getting into my kitchen cupboards is so much easier!

Uneven surfaces are a bit of a challenge, but I'm getting them figured out. Walking up my sister's drive (it's steep) gives my calves a good stretch - thought I might have to walk up it backwards at one point.🤣

Went out to Canterbury wearing them for the first time last week and had to grab my sister's arm at one point because the pavements are so uneven, but I was getting it by the end. Have definitely activated muscles I wasn't using overly much before. 🤣

Have one small problem though - standing up off lower seats. I mostly need a little help from something supportive close by. Went to the hairdressers on Sat and had to nip to the loo while waiting for Rob to be finished. Realised after I had sat down that there wasn't really much to hang on to to stand back up. Thought for a minute I might have to take the orthotics off before I could stand up 🤣. Luckily there was a sturdy, old fashioned radiator within reach. 🤣🤣

The orthotics need a bit of tweaking, but I have another appointment at the end of the month for that, so all is good.

A lovely friend also bought me some awesome welly socks to show off.

Have discovered that I need close fitting, cushioned socks for everything to work best, so have bought some boring hiking socks for that and have turned the welly socks into leg warmers. These are probably the least colourful of the set, but I keep forgetting to take piccies.

The fastenings on the boots also keep loosening a bit when I wear them, which they are not supposed to do, but the mechanism has a lifetime warranty and with one email to the manufacturers, they are sending me a repair kit to fix it.

BTW, is anyone has issues with toes rubbing on shoes, I cannot recommend these enough: Protectoe. The link is the silicon big toe cover, but the brand does all sorts for all toes, including skin coloured ones. I've tried other brands in the past that kept slipping off or were too tight, but these are amazing, soft, non-slip, comfy, and fully washable. Just don't put any cream on first or they slide like you greased a cookie sheet 😆.

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Cluedo Harry and Meghan edition ("Clue" for us Yanks) by u/Hermes_Blanket

Cluedo, Harry and Meghan edition ("Clue" for us Yanks) This thread was suggested by Hopeful_Housing_1612 and inspired by 19rockland97 and FlangePlackets.Who did it?The Archbishop, with the candlestick, in the garden (by FlangePlackets)William, in the kitchen, with the dog bowl (by Hopeful_Housing)The archbishop of Canterbury doing vow renewal, in the garden, holding a broken beer bottle, with "Schrodinger's kids" (by 19rockland97)Piers Morgan, with the knife, in the Conserva-ToryHarry, with the magnifying glass, in the Ball-RoomMeghan, with the TV camera, in the Hubb Community Kitchen​​ post link: https://ift.tt/Y6u2Eab author: Hermes_Blanket submitted: March 04, 2024 at 06:03PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[oyindamola-ajayi]

Redesigned first floor of Age UK charity store Canterbury Kent by Oyindamola Ajayi. The section of the first floor is as follows;

A. Manager's office

B. Kitchen

C. Toilet

D. Open space for arranging clothing, books and accessories.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Stately home built in 1930 in Wilmett, Illinois, especially if you love wood.  6bd., 6.5ba. $3.450M. It’s actually more castle-like than some of the castle-wannabes that we’ve seen. 

Can you imagine grabbing your mail and opening the door to this?

What a spacious entrance hall. And, it has the sculpted ceiling, plus dramatic stairs.

The wood is absolutely pristine.

This home is huge. Look at the size of the sitting room. There are doors to the garden, as well.

Large rooms, all open, can you imagine the energy costs? What lovely built-in shelves and look at the additional storage in the bottom.

Beautiful pocket doors.

The formal dining room has wonderful thick crown molding and wainscoting.

The kitchen reno is very good- I like the cabinet style, especially with the feet- they look more furniture-like. These corner cabinets are more than likely original, and the floor tile is perfection. Also love the tile wainscoting.

In the large pantry there’re beautiful dark gray cabinets and a wine fridge.

The family room has wonderful wrought iron gates.

It also has a brick floor, stone fireplace and a fountain.

Beautiful home office with a fireplace and built-in shelving. Look at the leaded glass window. Amazing office.

The main bd. has neutral restful decor. 

This is nice. 

The most sophisticated nursery I’ve ever seen.

This is a small office, but it would also make a wonderful sunroom.

Bath with a great vintage look.

The secondary bedrooms are also very large.

A home gym that could also be an additional bd.

Even the laundry room is beautiful- taupe cabinets and an exposed brick wall.

The spacious finished attic has a TV area and a game space.

The old walk-in safe is still here.

Now, this is a dreamy craft room. Can you imagine having your own craft space?

And, there’s even a kitchenette up here. 

Plus 2 more bds.

And, a shower. You don’t even have to leave for days. Have a crafting marathon. This attic is a ma’am cave.

In the finished basement is a cool game room and man cave.

There’s even a putting green. They don’t show it, but I can see part of a great fireplace.

And, there’s a nice shower room, too. 

Beautiful covered patio.

This home is perfection, I even see a rooftop deck. It’s on .40 acre.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/17-Canterbury-Ct-Wilmette-IL-60091/3377144_zpid/