#Ludlow restaurants

[allhungry]

Mouthwatering Maestro Pizza Ludlow Ma - allHungry

Satisfy your cravings with Mouthwatering Maestro Pizza in Ludlow, MA, where flavors dance on your taste buds. AllHungry introduces a symphony of taste, where handcrafted perfection meets quality ingredients. Join us for a mouthwatering experience that transforms every slice into a delectable masterpiece.

Order Now: - https://allhungry.com/ma/ludlow/restaurants/ludlow-pizza/

Email ID: info@allhungry.net

Address: - 738 Washington Ave West Haven, CT 06516

Contact no.: +1- 8554902390

[satlun]

Birthday Boudoir: Tom Ludlow x f!reader

Genre: tooth-rotting fluff Triggering Warnings: I use these pictures and gifs as references or inspirations for my writing only. I don't and won't romanticize or normalize their behavior; their age gap relationship, drugs, violence and etc. in the movie.

His birthday with the best gifts he ever received.

Author's Note: I love how Tom has masculine energy this much... 🧎🏻‍♀️I love love him. Please enjoy guys.

Credit: Polarr filter by @hayrolinefilters on ig

Today is Tom's birthday. You both usually go out side and find a good restaurant to eat together but this year Tom just wants to spend special time with you in this house. Eating home cooked meals, watching you both favorite movies and snuggling up together.

Tom said he doesn't want any presents for his birthday, he just wants you but you end up buying him a present anyway, how could you not give any presents for your boyfriend? Birthday is a special occasion for someone. You told him that you will go to the bathroom while you both were watching movies on the bed together. You walk through the hallway to the bathroom but you don't actually walk into it, you stop right in front of the door and open the drawer where you hide the present from him. It was wrapped delicately inside a dark blue box with a white ribbon wrapped around it

You slowly walk into the bedroom. Your room is quite dark because you both love turning off the light and watching movies in the dark, as if it's a theater. Tom sees you walk in with a little smile on your face, he's curious. “What?” Tom doesn't pay attention to the movie anymore, he looks at you with curious smile. Both of your hand hide behind your back because you don't want him to see it too soon. You didn't say anything but you slowly got into the bed instead. He notices the hand so he asks. “What is it? My present?” He's not stupid. You just give him a big smile when he finds out. Tom chuckles at you before giving a kiss on your cheek. “You didn't need to do that.” You give him a smile before crawling into his lap and hand the present to him. “It's my favorite person's birthday, how could I not give you anything?” Tom receives the dark blue box, you intentionally choose this color because it matches his uniform which he usually wears it. You always glance at him while he is dressing up, it looks really good on him. “Open it.” You're sitting in the middle of his legs while your head is resting on his chest. Tom turns off the television and turns on the lamp instead because he doesn't want the movie to interrupt this special time and then he gently pulls the white ribbon out before opening the box. There's a luxurious black watch in it. John raises his eyebrows and gives you a little kiss on your forehead. “Thank you, baby. I broke the old one last week from arresting a criminal. How did you know?” You look up at him and say. “I noticed you don't wear it lately. I checked in your accessory drawer and I didn't see it, so I assumed it was gone or maybe broken.” You always notice these little things, he always loves that. He doesn't need to talk or explain much because you pay attention to every tiny detail of him. So sweet. Tom slowly puts it on his wrist and takes a look at it. It's shiny and delicate, it's similar to the old one but this one is better. “Happy Birthday, baby. I love you.” You use one of your hand and place it on his cheek before giving a kiss to the opposite side. “I love you too.” Tom slowly leans over to your face and gives you a passionate kiss, his hand moving up to your neck. His soft lips now press against you meanwhile you let his tongue come into your mouth. It's so smooth and sweet, you slowly close your eyes and let him do it. After a moment, you both break the kiss. It was so romantic, kissing in dim light.

“Actually... I have another present for you.” Tom raises his eyebrows when he hears that. You didn't have your do that at all, the special time that you spend together tonight is enough for him. However, he knows that you are the kind of person who loves to surprise him. He understands that. “What is it?” He gives you another kiss and looks at you. “I want you to close your eyes and I will go get the present.” Tom chuckles with low voice. You are such a tease, it makes him excited even more. He can't think of any other present you could buy for him. “Okay” He answers before closing his eyes. “Don't open until I tell you to. Promise?” Say sweetly. Tom just nods his head. You get off the bed before going to the closet, you slowly take off your clothes and pick a white lingerie set from the closet. It has a top that looks like a bra with elegant style and a bottom that looks almost like a little skirt with the same style. You just want to be beautiful in his eyes, you love when you're beautiful around him, even he always says you are already beautiful but you need to be more beautiful on his special day. Tom can hear the sound of clothes but he still can't guess what gif he's about to get.

Soon, you are finally done dressing up in this white lingerie set. Tom can feel the movement of the mattress when you slowly crawl to him. You fold your legs and sit on your heels, looking at him with his eyes closed. “Open your eyes.” You say smiling softly. His eyes slowly open and look at you, his gaze lingering on your face, your cleavage, your waist and your legs. It's the same you but this time in this beautiful white lingerie set while Tom is in his dark blue pajamas, your favorite color. A smile slowly forms on his face. He likes it, you look really gorgeous in this lingerie. The way your skin looks so soft and smooth. The way your long hair falls on your shoulders, the way you are so small when compared to him because he's much bigger and taller so when you both are in the same bed you're like a little cat to him.

“Come here.” Tom calls you but he moves to you first. Maybe he can't just wait any longer. Tom gives you a passionate kiss on your lips while his hand gently pushes you down on the mattress. One of hand now on your thigh, squeezing it. His big hand can almost wrap around your leg easily. His rough skin makes you feel goosebumps a little. “Is this the present, huh?” Tom broke the kiss and asked you while his body was rubbing against yours because you were completely beneath him. “Yes” you said smiling before touching his face and leaning up to kiss him. Soon, you are on his laps. “You look beautiful... I just want to fuck you right now.” Tom tried to say while your lips were still on his. A small chuckle comes from your throat. How cute. He thought. “You still don't get the actual present yet.” Well, you really love to surprise him. Tom raises his eyebrows again with curiosity. “Are you gonna let me fuck you later?” He broke the kiss for a moment and continued. “Well, that's count but not the one that I am talking about.” Tom grabs your face and continues the kiss after you talk again. He just doesn't want his lips to take a break from yours. You can hear a low groan from his throat, he's satisfied with the kiss. His hands roam around your waist and up to your bare back. Tom moves his lips to your neck and gently kiss it, nibble it time to time. “What else are you gonna give it to me, baby?” He tried to say while he was busy with kissing your soft skin. You tilt your head for him so that he can kiss you easier. Your hands are now resting on his shoulders.

You slowly lean to the side table and grab a Polaroid camera from the drawer. Tom stops kissing you for a moment and follows your hand. He's curious about the present. You're hard to read. Your hobby is photography. You love taking pictures because it can capture your memories. The idea that you come back and look at it, the feeling of that time will come across your mind. And the fact that we can't remember all of our life memories so taking pictures is the best way to remember it, that's what you think. You have many cameras in this house because you're so professional about it. You have every type of cameras; from Polaroid to digital. Now, the camera is in your hand. Tom looks at you with curiosity in his eyes. “I want you to take a picture of me. In this white lingerie...” he can feel shyness through your voice. His cute girl is trying to be sexy tonight, so adorable.

Tom chuckles with the way you want him to. It's interesting for him because he thinks taking pictures of you while you both are in the same bed with casual clothes on is something that makes you both feel intimate and connected. Learning, seeing about each other body is another kind of love language for him. “Sure, my beautiful girl.” You hand the camera to him before leaning down on the mattress, posing like a model. Your little legs cross each other while one of your hand places on the mattress. You look stunning. Tom pick up the camera and point it at you. Your eyes are on the lens shyly. He can see the way your eyes move a little with shyness, it's just hard for you to keep your eyes on the lens when he is looking at you through it. “3... 2... 1...” you can hear the sound of shutter noise. The picture of you slowly printing it from the above of the camera. You love how Polaroid pictures can do something like this, you don't have to wait for so long. The picture is finally show up. Tom picks it and takes a look, he smiles at your picture. You don't look beautiful less even in the picture. “Can I see it?” Tom hands it to you. “Sure, baby.” You take a look at it. It's better than you thought.

“I love it.” You say as he leans on and gives you a kiss again. His girlfriend is so beautiful, he would do anything for you. He would kill for you, he would protect you at all costs. You're all he has. It's just you and always you. His hand wipes your hand from your shoulder so he can feel your skin more. His big hand gently rubs your shoulder, and down to your hand before the other side of his hand handing you the camera. “Take a picture of me.” He said. You didn't expect that actually, all your point is him taking pictures of you. “Okay...” you say with your soft voice before picking up the camera then look at him through the lens. He looks really handsome in dark blue clothes. It makes his skin color stand out than usual. “1... 2... hold on-” You make him curious again. “What?”

You get off the bed before grabbing his officer hat. Tom chuckles softly. Well, he knows how much you love him with the uniform now. You always compliment him about how he looks in it. He understands now that you love it so so much. You give him a playful smile which mixes with shyness in it. Your legs crawl back to the bed and place it on his head. “Better” you kiss his cheek and go back to the spot. “I see... you really like me in it.” He said as he you look at him through the lens. “So much... 1... 2... 3...” your finger press down and then the sound of shutter loud again. The picture slowly shows up from the camera. He secretly looks at you while you're busy, waiting for the photo. You're cute, your hair, your eyes, all your face. All are just the definition of perfection. Your every features combine perfectly. Finally, the picture is out. You take a look at it before handing it to him. “You look hot...” you say very thinly as if you whisper it. “I look hot?” He repeats the phrase before taking a look at it. His eyes meet you again before he kisses you at the corner of your lip. “But you're the hottest.” You bite your lips with playfulness. Tom notices how your reaction is slightly different than usual. You're really really shy right now. So he touches your faces to calm you down, before your heart pounding too fast. One of your hand grab the first picture of you that he took earlier and hand it to him. “This is your present. Keep me in your wallet and look at it when you miss me.” Yeah, you mean a sexy picture of you in this white lingerie is what you want him to look when he misses you. You smile softly at him. That's the best gift he ever received. It may sound normal for everyone else, like it's just a sexy picture but for him no. It's the picture that you both spend this intimate moment together. The way you dress up specially for him, the way you planned all of these. He appreciates it a lot. So it's not just a picture of you in sexy white lingerie, it's more than that, much more. Tom receives the picture from you and put it in his wallet right there. “I will keep you in here, close with me.” You nod and smile at him. “I really love you, Tom.” You add. “Really...” you look at him with passion. He can feel your love for him. It was said through your eyes. He loves you too. He doesn't need to say anything because you can feel it too. Not just this moment but since the day you start dating him. “And I would do anything for you. You know that?” Tom says and touches your face again. Tonight is one of the best moments in your life. He is tough with the others but he always has a soft spot like this for you. He always gentle with you, he treats you really well.

You both spend the rest of the night with taking pictures of each other, making out and taking pictures over and over before ending up having sex. It's just hard to just take pictures only when you look this good. How could he take pictures of this beautiful art without touching it? He takes one picture and he needs to touch you once before taking another one. He is so obsessed with you. He loves you more than anything. Today is the best birthday he ever experienced. You put very much effort into it, he appreciates that very much.

END

© satlun, 2024 : DO NOT PLAGIARISM OR ANY OTHER WAY OF REPHRASING

[kayhi808]

The Assassin - Pt 2

Previous

For the rest of the day, he couldn't get Keiko Luciano out of his mind. He ended up going for a run to distract himself. He just returned to his loft when he gets a call from an Unknown number, "Russo."

"It's Keiko." Speak of the Devil. "You sound out of breath. Were you in the middle of getting to know your hand better?" Billy can hear a smile in her voice.

"I just got back from a run. I'm about to take a shower."

"Perfect, let's video chat!"

"Maybe another time," she makes him smile. "How'd you get my number?"

"Bill Russo. You paid with a company card at my club. Your people at ANVIL forwarded my call. It's not rocket science."

"Why are you calling? To change plans? Or are you canceling?" Bill's voice turn low and velvety, "Darlin' you know my heart can't handle that." There's silence from Keiko's end. Quietly, "Wait…are you canceling?"

"I need to change the location & time. Saka Mai at 7? Lower East side, on Ludlow."

"I thought you didn't want to do dinner? Something about it being too much of a committment." Bill laughs, "Our relationship seems to be progressing fast. Should I propose? Should I get a ring?"

She practically purrs, "You're free to gift me diamonds. I won't stop you." She clears her throat, "Look, are you available tomorrow night or not?"

"I'd meet you at 5 in the morning if you asked me to."

Sighs, "Men are always willing to jump through hoops for sex. If you think i'm going to spread my legs because you're paying for a plate of food, then you're mistaken."

"Who said I was paying?" He hears her laugh. "Look, Keiko, I'm not trying to have sex with you. Its just dinner. I promise."

"Fine. See you at seven. And Bill…"

"I know. I won't be late."

*****

Bill gets to the restaurant 5 minutes to 7p. It's a nice place. It's the first time he's been here. Looking around there are a lot of men in black suits, tattoos...missing fingertips. He did a background check on Keiko. She's the child of two very prominent crime families. Her grandfather was a 2nd Lieutenant "shateigashira" with Inagawa-Kai. The first Yakuza family to move their business outside of Japan. Her father is a Capo with the Genovese, the largest Family in the Italian Mafia. Now, she brought him into a sushi bar filled with gangsters.

He sees her talking to a man across the room, her hand resting on his arm. She's in a deep maroon dress and matching heels. Her dark hair pulled up into a tight bun, showcasing her elegant neck that Bill's already thinking about kissing.

He makes his way towards her, "You're on time. This is my friend, Tanner, he owns the restaurant."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Russo," escorting them to their table. Catching the attention of a waiter, "You look like a whiskey man. Timothy, bring this table a bottle of Yamazaki 18. Compliments of the house. A friend of Keiko's is a friend of mine. Now if you excuse me. I'm going to greet some acquaintances of mine. I hope you two enjoy dinner."

Bill hold her seat out for her, "You look beautiful tonight."

"Thank you, I'm happy to please," smiling up at him.

"That makes the 2 of us," winking. "See, we already have one thing in common. You seem to have a lot of connections."

"It's all about connections. You should know…being a business man and all." Tanner walks by with his aquaintences who nod at Keiko, which she in turn, gives them a sweet smile.

"Who are those 2 men?" Bill eyeing them up.

"Why? Jealous?" She arches an eyebrow at him and picks up her menu.

"Maybe," cringing at the surliness he hears in his voice.

Putting her menu down & leaning forward, "They are Hector & Marco Ramirez. They're brothers. They belong to the Yamauchi-gumi. Yakuza loves this place."

Three heavy-set men walk into the restaurant & sit at the bar. Your senses go on alert &. Billy's too damn observant, "Don't tell me you know them too."

"No," focusing on Billy.

"What exactly is it that you do for a living? I know you own the 11:11 Club. I have a feeling you're involved in other endeavors."

The waiter came back with the Whiskey. "Thank you, Timothy." A look passes between Keiko and the waiter, or is Bill just reading into things because he's actually kind of jealous. She proceeds to pour a tumbler for Billy. "Have you tried Japanese Whiskey? It's very good...so I'm told," placing the glass in front of him. "Do you think I'm a Yakuza princess? I'm a business woman."

"What kind of business?" taking a sip of whiskey.

"I own 11:11, a cafe & a funeral home."

Chokes on his whiskey, "A funeral home. Interesting choice."

Keiko smiles, "Are you ok??" Sighs, "Everyone dies. Why not profit from it? Besides, there's something fascinating about death. We spend our life rotting away until one day our bodies cease to function. Unless the person is murdered."

"That's an interesting take on things. You talk about murder like its nothing." Billy's interest is definitely piqued even more so now.

"We kill animals all the time. If people slaughter one another at the same rate we slaughter animals, we'd be extinct in 17 days. Human's are natural killers. Why is taking a human life different from taking an animals."

"You cant be serious."

Tilts her head to look at him, "Would you walk out the door if I was?"

"No, I'd stay."

"Why?" She tilts her head the way a panther would right before they ripped out your throat.

"Because I'm pretty damn hungry." Calls the waiter over to order.

"All right, let's eat," giving Billy a bright smile.

*****

Dinner is easy & enjoyable. Billy Russo is so much more entertaining than she thought he'd be which was a very bad thing. Her head needed to stay in the game. She's here to do a job and needed an alibi.

"Why did you choose this restaurant?" he asked, taking a bite of the wagyu steak.

"What do you mean?" Enjoying her vegetable tempura.

"Most entrees have beef, pork or chicken. I thought you were giving up meat. You said it was unsatisfying."

Brushing her leg against his, "I like to tempt myself."

Lust surfaces in his eyes, "Are we talking about food or something else?

"I'm here with you, aren't I? She traces the inseam of his pants with her foot, halting at his crotch. The sole of her shoe pressed firmly against him. She feels him harden immediately. Carnal desire surges through her. He's resisting the urge to rub himself against her foot.

His hand grasps her ankle and move it away from him. Gritting his teeth, "I'm 3 seconds away from bending you over this table." It looks like he's forcing himself to continue eating. "But I want more."

"More?" arching an eyebrow. "I had no idea you were so kinky. We have another thing in common. What's your favorite kink? Mine is when people watch." Tracing the line of her cleavage, "Do you like to watch, Billy?"

He inhales a sharp breath & tries to get himself under control. She's killing him here. He licks his lips, "I do have a kink," giving Keiko a slow sexy grin, that she can't help but mirror. "Let me get inside that pretty little head of yours."

Slouching back in her chair with a pout, "I'd rather you bend me over." Billy laughs.

@idaofinfinity @imagine-a-fictional-boyfriend @e-dubbc11

Next

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Sam with Sophie Mancini, she is a journalist. Food and travel editor at Departures Magazine in New York. Possibly talking about the Photoshop of him at the Chinese Tuxedo restaurant. No more expectations.

Soho- New York. (3rd october 2023 - SHB_Midias Twitter.

@credit to the owner

but…. The T-shirt It's more important now 👕

She’s also, Senior Creative at The New York Times maybe SH the NY Times Bestseller – it’s looking for an exclusive publication of his booze at the NYT.

Motorbike T-shirt 🏍️

JANE MOTORCYCLES LUDLOW TIGER COLOR SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRT

£47

[practically-an-x-man]

Oh man I was absolutely this student too.

AP English Language and Composition - we were given a list of books for summer reading and told to pick one and write a rhetorical analysis on it. I read In Cold Blood and submitted an essay about how the villains were heavily queer-coded with gay stereotypes. Thought he'd hate it. 20/20, his only comment was "did you know Truman Capote was gay?"

Argued with him about how the list of assigned novels didn't go past the 1960's, and why should there be some novels that are "good literature" and some are "recreational"? If I want to write a rhetorical analysis on Discworld, and I'm able to back it up, I should be able to write a rhetorical analysis on Discworld. In Cold Blood and Silence of the Lambs are basically the same book, but one is "literature" and one is "fun". Had this argument on a Friday. On Monday, he'd opened next year's reading list to any novel :)

Made it a point to duck around every single writing prompt and write some random-ass argument he'd probably never seen before. I could defend them, but they were still weird as hell. Ended the class with a 98 and he wrote me a college recommendation letter

When I got to college I hated my anthropology prof and made it a point to write the most ass-backwards but airtight essays I could. I wanted to write essays she'd suffer through, but were so technically accurate to the rubric that she couldn't do a damn thing about it. Wrote an essay on slow lorises titled "Mother Nature's Toxic Teddy Bear". We were told to write an essay on one species of pre-human hominids and instead I wrote 6 pages on just the Old Man of La Chapelle. I wish I still had my college Google account because these were not the only essays like this. I was a very good, very obnoxious student and I'm proud of it

Oh and when I was in driver's ed, we had to do a "plan a trip" project and calculate everything, even down to picking restaurants to eat and and calculate the cost of the food we would eat. I hated it and hated the teacher so I did my project entirely on fictional towns from Stephen King's books (I called it "A Historical Trip Through Maine"). I got a 98 and my teacher didn't even notice that everything was bullshit (I was lowkey blatant about it too, one of my stops was the Derry town fair and another was a forest cryptozoology tour in Ludlow). I hope he's still using it as an example project and some poor innocent 15-year-old has to tell him he was duped

So, okay, fun fact. When I was a freshman in high school… let me preface by saying my dad sent me to a private school and, like a bad organ transplant, it didn’t take. I was miserable, the student body hated me, I hated them, it was awful.

Okay, so, freshman year, I’m deep in my “everything sucks and I’m stuck with these assholes” mentality. My English teacher was a notorious hard-ass, let’s call him Mr. Hargrove. He was the guy every student prayed they didn’t get. And, on top of ALL OF THE SHIT I WAS ALREADY DEALING WITH, I had him for English.

One of the laborious assignments he gave us was to keep a daily journal. Daily! Not monthly or weekly. Fucking daily. Handwritten. And we had to turn it in every quarter and he fucking graded us. He graded us on a fucking journal.

All of my classmates wrote shit like what they did that day or whatever. But, I did not. No, sir. I decided to give the ol’ middle finger to the assignment and do my own shit.

So, for my daily journal entries, over the course of an entire year, I wrote a serialized story about a horde of man-eating slugs that invaded a small mining town. It was graphic, it was ridiculous, it was an epic feat of rebellion.

And Mr. Hargrove loved it.

It wasn’t just the journal. Every assignment he gave us, I tried to shit all over it. Every reading assignment, everyone gushed about how good it was, but I always had a negative take. Every writing assignment, people wrote boring prose, but I wrote cheesy limericks or pulp horror stories.

Then, one day, he read one of my essays to the class as an example of good writing. When a fellow student asked who wrote it, he said, “Some pipsqueak.”

And that’s when I had a revelation. He wanted to fight. And since all the other students were trying to kiss his ass, I was his only challenger.

Mr. Hargrove and I went head-to-head on every assignment, every conversation, every fucking thing. And he ate it up. And so did I.

One day, he read us a column from the Washington Post and asked the class what was wrong with it. Everyone chimed in with their dumbass takes, but I was the one who landed on Mr. Hargrove’s complaint: The reporter had BRAZENLY added the suffix “ize” to a verb.

That night I wrote a jokey letter to the reporter calling him out on the offense in which I added “ize” to every single verb. I gave it to Mr. Hargrove, who by then had become a friendly adversary, for a chuckle and he SENT IT TO THE REPORTER.

And, people… The reporter wrote back. And he said I was an exceptional student. Mr. Hargrove and I had a giggle about that because we both knew I was just being an asshole, but he and the reporter acknowledged I had a point.

And that was it. That was the moment. Not THAT EXACT moment, but that year with Mr. Hargrove taught me I had a knack for writing. And that knack was based in saying “fuck you” to authority. (The irony that someone in a position of authority helped me realize that is not lost on me.)

So, I can say without qualification that Mr. Hargrove is the reason I am now a professional writer. Yes, I do it for a living. And most of my stuff takes authorities of one kind or another to task.

Mr. Hargrove showed me my dissent was valid, my rebellion was righteous, and that killer slugs could bring a city to its knees. Someone just needs to write it.

[johnnyprimecc]

87 Ludlow

87 Ludlow is a relatively new bar and restaurant that offers up an ice happy hour, chock full of nice cocktails and interesting Filipino food. My wife and I stopped in for a quick meal last week. Here’s what we got: Oyster Sisig, which I didn’t get a photo of, but you can see a bit of it in the beginning of this video here (my wife is mixing the quail egg into…

[goalhofer]

Primavera Restaurant in Ludlow, Massachusetts.

[omsdoortodoor]

OMS Door to Door Challenge - departure date minus 5 weeks

Ian's fortnight

“Riding a bike is everything to a cyclist. The friendship and camaraderie you have with other cyclists…to a cyclist, it was the be-all and end-all of your life” Tommy Goodwin.

The third weekend in July saw a group of thirteen of us descend on New Alresford in the watercress area of Hampshire for a boys cycling weekend. This, apart from the covid year has turned into an annual event visiting a different town each year. It all started with my Stag weekend in Shrewsbury, eight years ago and we have since visited Cirencester, Marlborough, Salisbury, Ludlow  and now Alresford

I say cycling weekend but you could also call it a pub crawl or wine fest and not all of us cycle!  When we arrived six of us went out on the bikes for a ride of about twelve miles, after about three Andrew, Steve and I stopped at the first pub we came to.  We’d had an awful journey up the A303 and were in desperate need!

On the Saturday we headed off to Bishops Waltham where we had a coffee and cake stop before heading up the Meon Valley to the Ye Olde George Inn at East Meon for lunch. We then returned to Alresford cycling through some lovely countryside passing several watercress beds on the way. That evening we visited the local Italian restaurant before a last glass or two of wine at the hotel. A big thank you to all who attended, and I hope to continue the tradition next year. 

As a footnote, I was stood in the bar at The Swan Inn where we were staying when I heard, “That's Ian!”, only to turn round to be greeted by my nephew James and his partner Amy. I shouldn’t have been too surprised as they do live a stone’s throw away, and it was great to see them.

Jane's fortnight

For those who read my last blog, the answer to the question is:  Yes, I have done my foot exercises every day since my conversation with Sarah.

I now feel like the start of the Door to Door Cycle Challenge is within reach, I can feel it, I can almost touch it.  And with that comes the need to step up the final organisation.  On that front, there are lots of bits and bobs that need to be done.  And to be honest it was beginning to stress me, because I knew there were lots of little bits, but no list, no responsibility and worst of all no SPREADSHEET!

I kind of felt like this:

So last Wednesday, Ian and I reverted to our original Door To Door planning meeting.  And I feel much better organised for doing that, and for having a fresh spreadsheet.  All tasks are on a list, with whose responsibility it is and which week it will be completed in.  So, this week I have:

Had the iPad screen fixed that I (read Tarka) broke when we were away.  I will be using that a lot for uploading video on the challenge.

I have also checked to make sure I know all the details of my personal google account (rather that my old business one), so that I can upload to YouTube and other similar things without any hitch when we are one the road.  Boring by necessary.

Typed out a list with the kilometres per hour converted to miles per hour. (Because you just can’t read the km’s on the dashboard of the motorhome).  Also boring but safe and also probably necessary.

Next week I need to finalise the first aid kit and write an article for our Parish Magazine about the challenge.  I also need to give some thought to creating some themes for blogs and posts when we are on the Door to Door Challenge, as well as finalise the start and finish arrangements for the challenge.

The other “biggy” of course is my physical preparation.  Pilates and strength training continue to go well, and I am comfortable that I am on track (Thank you Sarah Grey).  But since the last post, I have started what I think is the final thing that I can do to prepare myself…Oxygen Therapy.  I know I mentioned it earlier, but the idea is that I get 20 sessions as close together as possible to get my body to the best level it can be.  Then it gets maintained by weekly/fortnightly/monthly sessions depending on what works best for me.  The initial part is a huge commitment of my time, because I am saying goodbye to 3 hours including the travel to Exeter on a near daily basis and sit in a chamber looking like a fighter pilot, but sounding like this, for an hour. 

So, as of today I have had 12 of my 20 sessions.  Am I feeling a difference?  YES.  It hit me yesterday that I felt WELL.  And I realised that I could not remember the last time I had felt like that.  Not for, literally years.  Now, as my friend Carol advised, I will ensure that I don’t get carried away and undo all the good I have done.  So, the focus for the last few weeks is PACE, PACE, PACE.

Respect

I can’t complete this blog without mentioning the truly inspirational Laviai Nielsen, who won a bronze medal as part of the British Quartet in the mixed 4x400 meters.  Apparently, she was diagnosed with MS just two days before she flew to the last Olympics in Tokyo.  Although physically we are totally different, I can imagine what might have been going on for her mentally and emotionally and I completely understand why she refused to accept her diagnosis as she competed at Tokyo.  But on returning from Tokyo, she was forced to adapt her lifestyle and tailor her training to avoid future MS-related flare-ups.  And she has mastered her lifestyle adaptations so well that she has gone on to win a bronze medal.  Total respect to her and to her sister, also an Olympian with MS.

But here is the lesson for me.  Obviously, I am not going to go out and start running – it’s just not my thing.  But whatever physical adversity I face, I think living a good live depends on finding and implementing the right lifestyle adaptations for me.

And right now, I think I am doing well on that score - getting balance – being as well as I can but also having some fun times too.

Announcement

And the final note about fun, is that we are delighted to say that our final fundraiser is definitely going ahead as planned.  For a time we were a bit unsure. So, for anyone who lives close to us, we will be holding a ‘Pop-Inn’ on the 6th September with The Big Chipper in attendance.  If you’re local and need more details, just DM me.

As always, Ian and I are truly humbled by the amount of support we have received both in terms of encouragement and the money we have raised for Overcoming MS.  If you would like to see Ian’s training route or help people with MS to lead a fulfilling life, our links to Strava and Just Giving are here.

Thank you so much

Jane and Ian

[blog3fpa]

Blog 3

The plaza in Cincinnati we chose to focus on is Clifton Plaza, located in the Clifton Gaslight district on Ludlow Avenue between The Upside Brew and Clifton Barbers. This is a small plaza, but during warm weather, it can always be found vibrant and well-populated. We decided to analyze how this space meets William Whyte’s seven criteria. We found that Clifton Plaza best meets the standards for sitting spaces, relationship to the street, and nearby food options.

In terms of places to sit, Clifton Plaza has an abundance of benches and picnic tables, probably more than a plaza of its size would require. Benches are sized appropriately and are clustered together densely. There are a few curb spaces for sitting as well, but the plaza mostly makes use of actual benches. Also contributive to the use of the space are movable tables. However, not as many benches are moveable as would be ideal.

Clifton Plaza also has an excellent connection with the street that it sits on, Ludlow Avenue. It is completely level with the sidewalk and front directly on the sidewalk, there is no separation between it and the street life. Across Ludlow Avenue from the plaza sits even more seating, informally expanding the liveliness of the plaza. Related to the plaza’s ties to the street, it also has many options for food nearby. Ludlow Avenue is the main commercial artery of the Clifton neighborhood and there are a ton of local restaurants and shops in walking distance from the plaza. These bring life to the plaza, since people will buy their food and eat outside there.

Some of the criteria that Clifton Plaza could do better with are the water features standard. The plaza does not have a fountain or any kind of water mechanism, which might help attract even more life to it. However, there does exist a fountain down the street at the intersection of Clifton Avenue and Ludlow Avenue. Additionally, due to the small size of the plaza, it probably lacks the level of light that contributes to the most successful plazas. The small size also limits the potential for triangulation in the space, since large public events cannot be held there. However, live music is sometimes played there, offering a little bit in this regard. Overall, Clifton Plaza is a pleasant, intimate public space which, by adding a few more factors, could maximize its role as a neighborhood meeting place.

Debate Question: What do you think should be added to Clifton Plaza to make it better?

[allhungry]

Top 5 Ludlow Restaurants for Pizza Lovers – allHungry

Discover the top 5 pizza spots in Ludlow, perfect for satisfying your cravings! Dive into our article to explore must-visit restaurants offering delicious pizzas, from classic flavors to unique creations. Whether you're a local or visiting, these recommendations by allHungry are sure to delight every pizza lover. Read More https://allhungryy.medium.com/top-5-ludlow-restaurants-for-pizza-lovers-allhungry-70c466a84566

[andybodders]

Empty shops: Ludlow has a lot, it has to offer – we need to help it back to full health

Ludlow is still a lively town and well worth visiting to shop and explore its heritage, cafes restaurants, pubs market and really good shops. But it cannot be hidden that there are more empty shops than there used to be. At present there are 23 vacant retail units in the town centre. In November 2017, there were just seven vacant units the lowest number for years. The empty shops are more obvious…

[ahopkins1965]



1st Corinthians 6:18-20 says: Run from sexual sin!  No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does.  For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.  When I examine this topic, it has a whole lot to do with the way that we handle our own body.  Sexual immorality is anything that defiled the body.  However, sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Some sins are clearly evident. Such as fornication, masterbation, and people who have an intense sexual desire for the opposite sex.  In Addition to what has been mentioned so far this is a sin that goes against one's own body.  For a total of 18 consecutive years, I was dealing with female prostitutes and masterbation myself.  I have spent over a total of $100,000 dollars in 18 years of walking the streets of Dayton, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Detroit Michigan, and Charlotte, NC.  Frankly, I started buying sex at the age of 21 year's old.  I remember when my birthday was on a Tuesday in 1986.  I was working at the YMCA in Downtown Dayton, Ohio.  I literally worked 2 jobs and I still was buying sex from females.  I started masterbation at the age of 14 because I was scared of women.  I remember when my parents used to take me to the bootleg joints in town.  I started drinking beer and coffee at the age of 7 years old.  My stepfather used to buy sex for me.  This was during the time when my mother was separated from her husband.  I guess my stepfather had plans for me.  From age 21 to 45 years old, I was in the streets buying sex from female prostitutes.  I have not had sex in 

12 years now.  I do recall dealing with multiple women at one time.  I asked God to help me with all of my personal problems.  God has helped me when it came to alcohol and smoking marijuana and Crack Cocaine.  I have been clean and sober for 32 years now.  My clean date is Wednesday May 2, 1990.  I stopped drinking beer and smoking marijuana Crack altogether.  I went to treatment at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Downtown Dayton, Ohio.  I started treatment on June 1, 1990-Friday September 1st 1990.  I was working at the King Cole Restaurant on Main Street and Second Street in Downtown Dayton Ohio . I also worked part time at Arby's Restaurant on Ludlow Street and Second Street in Dayton Ohio.  I worked at Arby's Restaurant for only three months.  I worked at the King Cole Restaurant for Two years and three months.  I went to Toledo, Ohio on Friday evening and 7:30pm catching the Greyhound Bus going to Toledo, Ohio.  I lived in Toledo, Ohio for almost 6 years.  I graduated from College two times at the University of Toledo.  I had a lot of work to do at the Library.  The University really challenge me and they changed me within five years.  All of my instructors were praying for me throughout my College Career.  I graduated from the University of Toledo with earning 235 College Education Credits.  I then relocated to Charlotte NC for 12 years.  My very first place that I lived at the Men's Uptown Shelter for 8 months.  I had to walk everywhere I went to for 5 months.  Afterwards, I have moved inside of my first apartment in Charlotte NC.  It was called Charlottetown Terrace Apartments.  I got a job working at the US Census Bureau.  I worked that job for 8 months until the Census was completed.  After that I got a job working at UPS located on North Graham Street in Charlotte NC.  I worked there until I got a job working at UNC-CHARLOTTE.  I worked at the J Murray Atkins Library on the Campus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  I worked Two jobs in 8 years.  I worked at Circle K stores located on Plaza Road and W.T. Harris Boulevard.  I had to give up the high cost of low living.  As soon as I got home, I stayed in the hospital for a while because of seizures and I collapsed at Wright Plaza during the 4:10 pm line up.  It was on a Sunday when I had a seizure.  I stayed in the hospital for a few days.  I had to go back to the hospital for an attempted suicide.  It was because I got scammed by people that I really didn't know.  I ended up getting fired from my job for looking at pornography on the computer at work.  I had crashed two computers at home and at work.  Therefore, my life has completely changed for the better.  I got baptized at Shiloh Baptist Church on February 21, 2010.  I also got baptized at Fort McKinley United Methodist Church on Sunday February 15, 2015.  It was very cold that day.  I continue to live in my apartment at Wentworth HiRise Apartments in the Northwest side of Dayton, Ohio.  I have not had sex since Saturday July 3, 2010.  I do not have any desire to have sex because I suffer from low testosterone. And low libido.

[bestofthepioneervalley]

Picture home fries at the greasiest nastiest diner you can imagine. That's a good start but imagine it with cod

PRIMAVERA CAFE RESTAURANT - 58 Photos & 51 Reviews - 257 East St, Ludlow, Massachusetts - Portuguese - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Yelp

[nbmsports]

Vermont Flooding Engulfs a Ski Town.

For nearly a year, Bex Prasse and Craig Kovalsky had labored to restore every inch of the run-down building where they envisioned their future business, on an up-and-coming Main Street in the small Vermont ski town of Ludlow.The couple were newcomers to the rural state, part of a pandemic-driven influx of younger transplants that has thrilled planners after decades of concern about an aging, stagnant population.“It’s a quaint, quintessential, amazing little New England town — it has that vibe — and it has great potential, too,” said Ms. Prasse, 33, a Virginia native who spent the last decade working as a scuba instructor and yacht captain in Fiji and the Caribbean.By early this month, their work was almost finished. Wall tiles and countertops gleamed. A new industrial kitchen stood ready. They ordered pots and pans, sketched out a menu of gourmet sandwiches made from ingredients grown on local farms, and prepared to carve a wooden sign to replace the paper one in the front window: “Coming Soon Blue Duck Deli.”The Black River, tumbling serenely over rocks just behind the building, had other plans.Last Sunday, as rain began to fall, Mr. Kovalsky, a chef who has cooked at restaurants in New York City, and most recently on superyachts cruising the globe, gazed at the calm water and felt little fear. He knew about Tropical Storm Irene, which had ravaged the state in 2011, but had always heard it called a “100-year storm.”“We thought we wouldn’t be here by the time it happened again,” Mr. Kovalsky, 37, said. “We thought by then we would be retired somewhere.Around 3 a.m. on Monday, flood warnings blared from their cellphones. Ms. Prasse and Mr. Kovalsky rushed to empty tools and equipment from the attached garage behind the house, but shortly after 5 a.m., they said, the river overflowed its banks and invaded the structure. Fast-moving floodwater sheared off one wall and filled the basement to the ceiling, destroying their brand-new electrical system and two industrial freezers, and knocking the entire garage sideways.When it was over, the couple stood stunned in the wreckage, then began to salvage what they could — a screwdriver here, a hammer there, amid the boards and branches and shattered chunks of pavement. They felt lucky in one sense. The renovated deli space, closer to the street, was not badly damaged, nor were their living quarters above it. But because the flooded garage, once a barn, was attached, it put the entire structure at risk.They were not alone. Their town of 2,100 people had suffered some of the worst flooding in the state amid more than seven inches of rain. It was part of a broad corridor of destruction that also included the capital, Montpelier, 80 miles to the north, and Barre, where the state’s first death from the storm was reported on Wednesday after a 63-year-old man drowned in his home.It was a painful setback for Vermont at the height of its summer tourist season. Tourism pumps $3 billion into its economy each year and employs at least 30,000 people, as 13 million visitors flock to take in the sweeping mountain views and covered bridges. While much of the state was untouched by the flooding — even in Ludlow, which is in south-central Vermont, some businesses were unscathed — national news coverage of disasters typically leads to a wave of cancellations.In Ludlow — first settled by farmers in 1783, later home to woolen mills powered by the river, and now best known as the home of Okemo Mountain Resort — momentum had been building. Since Vail Resorts bought the ski area in 2018, upgrading lifts and boosting marketing and year-round recreation, new businesses had sprung up to serve new visitors.The success of other young entrepreneurs, whose cocktail bars and freshly styled motels enlivened Main Street, had emboldened Ms. Prasse and Mr. Kovalsky, who had both snowboarded in Vermont as children and had roamed its back roads for months in search of the perfect place to put down roots.Demographic shifts since the pandemic have brought a new, if tenuous, stability: Ludlow, like other resort towns across Vermont and northern New England, became a haven for remote workers when offices shut down in early 2020. Since then, some of its so-called Covid refugees have moved there permanently, while others now stay for longer stretches in the ski houses and condos perched high above downtown on steep mountain roads.That phenomenon has helped to nudge the state’s population upward, to 645,000 in 2021 from 624,000 in 2019, according to census data. That small increase was nonetheless “gigantic for Vermont,” which has offered incentive grants of up to $10,000 to people willing to move there in recent years, said Joan Goldstein, the state’s commissioner of economic development.It has been enough to spark new confidence in Ludlow. Last year, after seeing more customers even during Vermont’s less scenic “mud season” (early spring) and “stick season” (late fall), Patty Greenwood and her husband decided they could safely give up the second jobs that had long helped them make ends meet while they ran a bookstore on Main Street.“Before Covid, this was a two-season town, summer and winter,” said Ms. Greenwood, whose store across the street from the river suffered minimal damage. “We thought, if there’s ever a time to go for it, this is it.”The state has also become a haven for another kind of newcomer — one likely paying close attention to the floods. People seeking a more stable, safer climate are among those moving in, according to recent research at the University of Vermont.Richard Watts, director of the university’s Center for Research on Vermont, doubts those transplants will be deterred by the record rainfall and what it wrought. “These are people who are studying flood maps and making very careful, conscious choices,” he said. “They can choose to live above the flood line.”On Wednesday, as clouds of dust swirled over sidewalks covered with sand and gravel on Ludlow’s Main Street, and basement pumps and power washers droned, Ms. Prasse and Mr. Kovalsky toiled in mud-caked boots to shore up their battered property. They tried not to dwell on countless unknowns: Would they have to tear down and reconstruct the 200-year-old back building? How much help would come from their bare-bones insurance policy or FEMA? How long would tourists stay away? And most important, how long now until they could open?The rear building by the river had already been “red-noticed,” or labeled uninhabitable, by inspectors, and the power might soon be cut off, forcing them to vacate their second-floor apartment. With a crew of friends and neighbors who had shown up to help as soon as the waters receded, they raised new support beams to hold up the sagging garage, anchoring the supports more than two feet in the ground, and hoping that the rains forecast through the weekend would not result in another flood. Around them, kindnesses multiplied. A neighbor offered them a place to stay. With the local grocery store shut down, several restaurants gave away free food. The liquor store — its hours described on a sign outside as “Open-ish” — handed out free water, and the American Legion post organized a pork chop dinner Friday night to benefit hard-hit residents.Because they had sunk all their savings into the deli, abandoning the project wasn’t an option, the couple said. But even if they could have cut their losses and moved on, the care the town had shown them since the flood had cemented their commitment to stay.“I’m kind of like, we don’t deserve all this; we’re new here,” said Mr. Kovalsky.Ms. Prasse said she hadn’t cried once about the damage. But her eyes filled with tears when she talked about her neighbors.“We haven’t even had a chance to make them a sandwich yet,” she said. Source link Read the full article

[thesuffolk]

Lower East Side Apartment Views : The Ultimate Guide to Lower East Side Living

Welcome to the Lower East Side, the trendy Manhattan neighborhood that boasts some of the best apartment views in the city. If you are looking to move to this bustling area or are already a resident, we have put together the ultimate guide to Lower East Side living.

Explore the Neighborhood

The Lower East Side is known for its diverse culture and historic landmarks. Start your exploration at the Tenement Museum, a preserved tenement building that tells the story of immigrants who lived in the area in the 19th and 20th centuries. For a taste of the vibrant street art scene, check out the murals and installations at the First Street Green Art Park. For a more laid-back vibe, head to East River Park, a 57-acre waterfront park with stunning views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges.

Dine Out

One of the best things about living on the Lower East Side is the incredible food scene. Whether you're in the mood for traditional Jewish deli fare or trendy fusion dishes, there's something for everyone. For a classic brunch experience, head to Russ & Daughters Cafe, a beloved institution that has been serving smoked fish and bagels for over a century. For a more upscale dinner, check out Contra, a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves inventive tasting menus.

Shop Local

The Lower East Side is home to a variety of independent shops and boutiques. For unique home decor and gifts, check out Coming Soon, a quirky shop that sells everything from ceramic vases to funky light fixtures. For stylish women's clothing, head to Assembly New York, a boutique that features avant-garde designers and contemporary brands. And for vintage finds, don't miss the Manhattan outpost of Beacon's Closet, a popular consignment shop.

Experience the Nightlife

If you're looking for a fun night out, the Lower East Side has plenty of options. For live music, check out the Bowery Ballroom, a historic venue that has hosted everyone from the Beastie Boys to Adele. For craft cocktails and speakeasy vibes, head to Attaboy, a hidden bar with no menu where the bartenders create custom drinks based on your preferences. And for a raucous dance party, don't miss the rooftop at the Hotel Chantelle, a lively spot with views of the Manhattan skyline.

Find Your Dream Apartment

Of course, the main draw of the Lower East Side apartment views . Whether you're looking for a cozy studio or a spacious three-bedroom, there's a home for every lifestyle. Check out buildings like the Ludlow, a luxury high-rise with panoramic views of the city, or the Blue, a boutique rental building with stylish finishes and a rooftop deck.

Conclusion

From the vibrant culture to the stunning apartment views, the Lower East Side is truly a special neighborhood. We hope this guide has given you a taste of what it's like to live in this dynamic area. Whether you're a longtime resident or a first-time visitor, there's always something new to discover in the Lower East Side.

[gaytravelinfo]

The Resort at Port Ludlow - Port Ludlow, WA

The Resort at Port Ludlow | One Heron Road | Port Ludlow, WA 98365 | 877.805.0868 Nestled on the shores of Puget Sound, Port Ludlow hosts beautiful residential neighborhoods, a boutique waterfront inn, a 300-slip marina, and a championship 18-hole golf course. The award-winning Fireside Restaurant offers sweeping views of Ludlow Bay and a daily menu featuring the bounty of the local farms. For…