#Robs Welsh Wife

[ingravinoveritas]

Feeling really normal about Georgia calling Michael "the boyfriend of my husband"

Okay, so...wow. Definitely a lot to unpack today, but first let me wish our own Welsh seduction machine the happiest of birthdays. Happy Birthday, Michael! 🎉🎂

So, there have been a few posts since last night, and my thanks to @moriarty-sisters for including the above screenshots. Posting some larger ones so we can take a better look, starting with AL's post:

And then we have Georgia's from this morning:

(Standard disclaimer that what follows here is only my opinion/observations, and does not mean that I am completely right. As I've said before, if I am wrong, I am more than happy to acknowledge that.)

It appears that a party was held in Michael's honor last night, and David and Georgia were in attendance. There has been some confusion about the pictures because Michael's hair length/facial hair are different in the group photo vs. the party photos, so to your Ask @kime11e (which I did not include here just to keep this less cluttered), I think that the group photo is not actually from last night (which then makes me wonder why Georgia didn't post one from last night, but more on that in a minute).

So, of course the first thing that stands out about all of this is Georgia calling Michael David's "boyfriend." As I've mentioned previously, Georgia has been calling Michael David's "other wife" since the end of 2021. (David has also called Michael his wife in other contexts, which was confirmed by Rob Wilkins.) "Boyfriend," however, is new. And in this instance, "boyfriend" feels very deliberate. While I don't think it's possible to say that this confirms what the exact dynamic between them is, what I think is confirmed is that something about that dynamic has changed.

But let me go back for a moment and talk about AL and Georgia's posts and the differences between them. In Anna's post, I was particularly struck by the difference in Michael between the picture of him and AL vs. the picture of him with the cake. The disconnect to me is so strong that it's like looking at two different people--the real Michael (cake picture) vs. the version of himself Michael becomes in every picture with her, as if he is playing a role. There is no light in eyes, no trademark twinkle that we so often see--he's just muted, somehow. And Anna again is so wrapped up in showing him off and making sure that she looks good in the picture that she doesn't seem to care how Michael looks.

I do want to note that I would not even be saying this were it not for the fact that this is the...third?...picture he's taken with her in the last month and a half where he looks like this (and noticeably only in pictures with her):

I've mentioned this previously on my blog, but even if Michael is doing a "bit," he is choosing to look this way in pictures with Anna. Seeing the response to Georgia's post today, however, I almost wonder if it's because they know the fans will never take anything the four of them do seriously, to where AL could say (just as an example) "Michael and I hate each other," and the fans would eat it up and say how funny they are. So in that sense, I could see them deciding to stop pretending entirely and for Michael to let his true feelings out because it's easier to hide in plain sight. I don't know for certain that is the case, but I also don't know how else to explain AL seemingly having no problem with her partner looking like this in multiple pictures with her.

Going back to today's birthday posts, aside from the pictures, I was also perplexed by Anna's caption on her post. It's so over the top in some ways, but somehow not enough at the same time. Again, this would have been an opportunity to say what a great father Michael is, or how he's such a wonderful person, but instead, Anna's caption focuses on how great she is for being willing to throw confetti on the floor, and to celebrate Michael's birthday even though it's apparently an inconvenience. It comes across as self-involved and self-serving, which is further augmented by this tweet of Anna's from earlier bragging about how great she is for the birthday present she got for Michael. All of this taken together, I think what bothers me is how it feels more like Anna is promoting herself than Michael, and that she saw his birthday less as a special occasion and more as a PR opportunity.

Looking at Georgia's post, what stood out to me (apart from the caption, that is) is the picture. Something I have noticed is that Anna seems to always have that tight, pained smile on when anyone other than her is taking the picture. I think Georgia knows enough about "bits" and narratives to know how to set things up, and it's interesting to me that when she does, Anna sort of looks out of place, even unintentionally. Then we have Michael and David, who are beaming in this group picture, and Michael in particular has a huge smile on his face, as he often seems to whenever David is near. And again, for me it's the massive contrast between Michael's expression in that group picture vs. in pictures with AL, as well as the contrast between Georgia and AL's expressions vs. Michael's and David's. What also stood out is what wasn't posted: A picture of Michael and David together.

Which brings me back to my earlier point about the dynamic between the four of them, and to @phantomstars24's comments. I think what's most noticeable to me is that, contrary to what I have also seen some folks say today, this is not "Oops, we're all dating" or a continued joke about them being a polycule (at least not in the way that many fans are assuming). Because in all of this, not once has there ever been a comment or joke about David/Anna or Michael/Georgia. (Heck, Anna doesn't even post a word about David on social media unless it's a reshared post from Georgia or official promo/behind the scenes photos.) So the contrast between what is available for public consumption (group photos, Michael/AL photos) and what isn't (Michael/David candid photos) is very curious.

With that in mind, what this this feels like is a shifting of a preexisting narrative as a form of damage control. Because, as we remember, Georgia has been calling Michael David's "other wife" since 2021, so why didn't she start the "flirting" with Anna at that same time? Or even in 2020, when the first season of Staged happened? Why wait until four years later, especially when she had ample opportunity to do this well before now? Perhaps we will never know why, but if I had to guess, I would say Georgia didn't have a need or reason to do it until now. And as the saying goes, the best place to hide the truth is between two jokes. "Anna is my wife." / "Michael is David's boyfriend." / "Georgia is my wife." Hiding in plain sight, while also taking the heat off of Michael and David.

Again, I realize everyone has different interpretations of this, and I am not going to tell anyone that their interpretation is wrong, or that they have to agree with me. But for me (and I would guess for many others), shipping Michael and David did not start with Georgia calling Michael David's "boyfriend." There is no way that that statement alone would cause such a reaction, but rather the cumulative effect of everything that has happened since 2018, including Michael and David flirting and adoring and eyefucking each other in countless interviews and appearances and much more, long before Georgia ever said a word about it on social media. Now that she has, however, it would seem almost foolhardy to discount the possible reasons why, and in my opinion, I can't see why it wouldn't be as likely that it's because Michael and David are lovers as it is because they are good friends.

So yes, those are my thoughts on today's events. Glad as always to hear from my followers and see what you think of these latest developments. Thanks for writing in! x

[justforbooks]

In the childhood memories of more than one generation, Glynis Johns, who has died aged 100, will be best remembered as the Edwardian materfamilias of the hugely popular Walt Disney musical Mary Poppins (1964). Winifred Banks, married to David Tomlinson’s George W Banks, is the mother of Jane and Michael, the children in the care of the magical nanny played by Julie Andrews. A protester for the right to vote, Winifred delivers a spirited rendition of the song Sister Suffragette – “Our daughters’ daughters will adore us. And they’ll sing in grateful chorus: ‘Well done, Sister Suffragette!’” – as the children’s previous nanny tries to quit.

But the husky-voiced actor had other claims to fame from her more than 60 films and 30 stage productions. In 1973, Stephen Sondheim composed the song Send in the Clowns for Johns when she was cast in the leading role of the premiere production of his musical A Little Night Music, on Broadway. And she had won initial stardom in the British cinema as a mermaid.

In the title role of the film comedy Miranda (1948), she travels from Cornwall to London and causes romantic complications among the Chelsea set. Although the film’s whimsy may now seem strained, it was a great commercial success in its day, making Johns a top-liner in British movies. Miranda returned in a rather belated sequel, Mad About Men (1954).

By that time, Johns had moved almost completely from stage to films, where she was associated chiefly with lightweight roles, alternately fluffy and feisty. One of her most appealing opportunities came in the thriller State Secret (1950, released as The Great Manhunt in the US), playing a cabaret artiste in a fictitious Balkan country, and gamely singing Paper Doll in a wholly invented language.

It says something for her properties of youthfulness that at the age of 30 she could play a teenage schoolgirl in the melodrama Personal Affair (1953). The same year she played in two fanciful Walt Disney British productions, as Mary Tudor in The Sword and the Rose, and as the heroine wife of Rob Roy, and she went on to make her first Hollywood picture, the Danny Kaye comedy The Court Jester, in 1955. The following year she played a cameo role in the star-studded Around the World in 80 Days.

At the time Johns alternated between American and British films, generally in subordinate roles, but a rewarding one came in The Sundowners (1960), set in Australia, as a jolly barmaid who takes a shine to a visiting Englishman played by Peter Ustinov. It brought her an Oscar nomination as best supporting actress. Top billing came in a stylish horror movie, The Cabinet of Caligari (1962). She was well enough known to American audiences by this time to star in 1963 in Glynis, a TV sitcom series that ran for just one season.

In 1966 Johns returned to the London stage in The King’s Mare, as Anne of Cleves to Keith Michell’s Henry VIII. Her Welsh heritage came into play when she took the role of Myfanwy Price in a screen version of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood (1971) starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O’Toole, and two years later came her great Broadway success as Desiree Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, which brought her a Tony award.

Glynis came from a show business background: her mother, Alice Steele (nee Wareham), was a concert pianist who performed under the name Alys Steele-Payne, and her father was the prolific character actor Mervyn Johns. He was a stalwart in particular of Ealing Studios films: father and daughter appeared together in an Ealing drama, The Halfway House (1944).

Though her vocal intonations pointed to her Welshness, Glynis was born in Pretoria, South Africa, where her parents were on tour. She was reportedly carried on to the stage at the age of three weeks, and it was not too much longer before she was appearing there in a professional capacity, making her performing debut at the Garrick theatre, London, as a dancer in a revue called Buckie’s Bears (1935).

Educated at Clifton high school, Bristol, and South Hampstead high school and the Cone School of Dancing in London, she rapidly graduated to juvenile acting roles in both theatre and cinema. Her first screen appearance came at the age of 14, as politician Ralph Richardson’s troublesome daughter in South Riding (1938), and on stage she was the young sister, another Miranda, in Esther McCracken’s comedies Quiet Wedding (1938) and Quiet Weekend (1941).

That year brought the opportunity to appear in the film 49th Parallel, starring Leslie Howard and Laurence Olivier in a spy thriller intended to bolster second world war support in the US. When the prospect of playing a mermaid came after the war, she was able to draw on her theatrical versatility: “I was quite an athlete, my muscles were strong from dancing, so the tail was just fine. I swam like a porpoise.”

Johns returned to the London stage in 1977, as Terence Rattigan’s choice to play the murderer Alma Rattenbury in his well-received dramatisation of the Rattenbury case, Cause Célèbre. Her acting appearances became sporadic, though in 1989 she starred with Rex Harrison and Stewart Granger on Broadway in Somerset Maugham’s The Circle.

She was occasionally a guest star in US television series such as Murder She Wrote and The Love Boat, and played Diane’s rich mother, Helen Chambers, in the first series of Cheers (1983) and Trudie Pepper in the sitcom Coming of Age (1988-89). By the time of her final films, While You Were Sleeping (1995) and Superstar (1999), she was a characterful grandmother.

Johns was married and divorced four times. Her first husband, from 1942 to 1948, was the actor Anthony Forwood. Their son, Gareth, also an actor, died in 2007. Marriages to two businessmen followed: David Foster, from 1952 to 1956, and Cecil Henderson, from 1960 to 1962. She was married to Elliott Arnold, a novelist, from 1964 to 1973, and is survived by a grandson and three great-grandchildren.

🔔 Glynis Margaret Payne Johns, actor, born 5 October 1923; died 4 January 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[cait-curious]

Goth Family Tree

This is the Goth Family tree, at the end of 11 rounds of gameplay (55 Sim days). I'll try to update this after every round.

Mortimer Goth married Bella Bachelor, and they had two children: Cassandra and Alexander.

Cassandra Goth married Don Lothario, and they had four children together: Twins Isabella and Nick (born round 1), and twins Adrian and Michael (born round 3). Cassandra also had a daughter as a result of an alien abduction, named Nova (born round 6).

Isabella "Izzy" Lothario married Ricky Cormier, and they have four children together: Twins Donald and Walter (born round 9), Aldric (born round 10), and Richard (born round 11). She and her family live in the Goth family home, also called the Goth Manor.

Nick Lothario, called Nicky by his family and close friends, is Isabella's twin brother. He has one daughter as a result of an alien abduction, named Luna (born round 11). He has never been married.

Adrian and Michael Lothario have never been married, but they live apart because they don't get along. Michael is the twin with glasses, wearing the traditional Goth round glasses.

Nova Lothario was born as a result of Cassandra's alien abduction. She just finished her sophomore year at Sim State University.

Alexander Goth married Lucy Burb. They have two children, Whitney (born round 6) and Johnna (born round 7). They are currently not part of Cora's Story.

Mortimer Goth married Dina Caliente, following the disappearance of his first wife, Bella. Mortimer and Dina had two children together: Cora (born round 1) and Morty (born round 3).

Cora Goth married Tara Welsh. They adopted a child, Danny Welsh-Goth (born approximately round 8). Cora, Nick, and Izzy are all very close, and are also friends with Rob and Sam Broke (unborn baby Broke), all born in Round 1.

Morty Goth is engaged to Diana Burb (born round 2, Lucy Burb's younger sister). He is friends with Adrian and Michael, as they all went to Sim State together. Morty was named after his father, who died before he was born.

[kafka-ohdear]

• skinny rolling his eyes, constantly turning away and back, scratching his forehead in the background while webster and liebgott fighting each other.

• "you okay, shifty?" *thumbs up*

•"well he got shot in the ass."

• ronald speirs with his random knowledge about roman history.

• ron speirs robbing the house clean, like he literally stole everything he could.

• "got a penny? got a p e n n y ?"

• joe toye pulling luz collar unessecarily close to him and george beamed like the fucking sun does not exist.

• "hell it was you, first sergeant."

• "his german is as good as mine."

• "i'm alright, am i alright?"

• winters' jealous expression when dobie was talking with his nix.

• ron speirs popping up outta nowhere. at all.

• ron speirs (again) was always there and knew it when the guys gossip about him, and instead of declaring it he just let them believe that he was a cold-blooded war criminal (he is).

• "hey Frank, this guy over here's reading an article says that the germans a r e b a d."

• roe, heffron and spina cuddling.

• speirton in the church scene church scene church scene. (important things need to be said 3 times because yes).

• skinny being the i'm-so-done-with-their-bullshit child of webgott.

• "no doc, save the morphine. i can make it. i can make it, save it."

• "aww, skinny, you got blood all over my trousers!"

"I'm rEAl soRrY fRAnk."

• talbert's "upsie daisy" to lipton in carentan.

• "really? It'S hOt In AfRiCa?"

• winters' little smirk after the scene he heard that nix's wife has divorced him.

• skinny chilling in the background.

• toye and luz walking together.

• martin's little wink at perconte in currahee.

• "three day supply of k-rations, chocolate bars, charms candy, powdered coffee, sugar, matches, compass, bayonet, entrenching tool, ammunition, gas mask, musette bag with ammo, my weapon, my .45, canteen, two cartons of smokes, hawkins mine, two grenades, smoke grenade, gammon grenade, tnt, this bullshit, and a pair of nasty skivvies. this stuff weighs as much as i do! i still got my 'chute, my reserve 'chute, my mae west, my m1."

• harry welsh simping for kitty grogan.

• ron speirs' both scrunkly and neat look.

• "you've got some cigarettes?" *takes the whole pack and walks away*

Things I Live For (BoB Edition)

• The look that Dick and Nix exchange after Dick is asked if it’s safe to cross in Carentan • GENE’S PINK NOSE • “We salute the rank, not the man.” • Perconte’s height • Webster’s little “They got me!” • Luz starting the Airborne Infantry cadence while they’re running Curahee to drown out Sobel’s taunting • “Lt Sobel hates us, sir.” “Lt Sobel does not hate Easy Company, Pvt Randleman. He just hates you.” “Thank you, sir.” • Liebgott’s hair • Whenever someone talks shit about Speirs, he is there and he knows • Also Speirs’ sticky fingers like holy shit •"Where the fuck is everybody? Where did everybody go?“ “I HAVE NO IDEA!” • That moment in Bastogne where they’re all sitting in a circle making fun of their food and Hinkle • Everything about Babe Heffron • Perconte always brushing his teeth • When the entire company sings Blood on the Risers • “Bull, smack him for me please?” [soft smack] “Thank you.” • Mama Lipton. Enough said • If you get shot in the ass, you get a Hershey bar • The way Nixon looks at Hitler’s wine cellar • “I could use some brass knuckles.”

Please feel free to add your favorites on to the list

[robswelshwife]

My T-shirt for Robs Homecoming 🖤❤️🖤❤️ X x

[natromanxoff]

20 - Rockin' in Rio

Greetings one and all A quick return from the Bondi Bard. Last weekend there was a surprise party for Gerry and Sylvia in San Francisco, and judging from the email I got from Ratty a good time was had by all, and a few of our old mob were there. I would loved to have been there but I was committed to go to the wedding of a good buddy of mine. James and his new wife Suze got married on the original Manly ferry, which has been converted into an amazing houseboat and is moored at Balmain. The ceremony was at 7pm, just as the sun was setting to the left of us, and the Harbour Bridge to the right, very picturesque. An Aussie band called Leonardo's Bride sang their top five hit to the couple (of course I can't remember the name of it) and the girl singer has an incredible voice, and is also gorgeous and a very charming lady, who is shacked up with a DJ mate of mine. Lucky bastard. The booze was good, the food even better and a fun night was had. I can hear that question again, "Whats this got to do with Queen?" Well I shall tell you. James worked as an engineer at Metropolis Studios in London, along with the lovely Heidi, where the Queenies did a lot of recording, he also did some work with the band, but did a lot on BM's first solo outing. The next link is even weaker. I spent a good part of the evening chatting with Rob Hirst, who is the drummer with Midnight Oil, and is also a fabbo chappie. And being a typical drummer, while the Oils are not working he is recording his own solo album, as a singer/guitarist.......sound familiar. We had a couple of drinks and swapped a few stories, and as his wife was with us we managed to keep them all clean.

Staying on the subject of drummers I had an email, via Jacky, from a drummer who didn't seem that amused by the joke I told in my last ramblings, they might hit things but they are really quite sensitive deep down. So I suppose I should say I'm sorry, well I'm not. But here's another little jest to piss him off some more. Q: Whats the most asked question to a person with an IQ of 2? A: What sticks do you use?

Onto Sonia's request for some info on our trips to Brazil. What can I say about Rio except that it is a fun city and we all had a great time there, maybe that's why we went back a second time. On the first venture there I was still looking after the kit, and on one night myself and a few of the crew hit the town and got very drunk on the local drink, I think it was made from sugar, which I can pronounce but I've no idea how to spell it. (Help me out Sonia) We were in a bar getting louder and louder when a Welsh Rugby team came in, and they were big boys, and they are also on the tipsy side.

I'm 6ft, Jim Devenney makes me look small and Bob Bickleman made him look small, and the rugby players are of equal size, so we now have a contest on our hands as to which team can sing the loudest and dirtiest rugby songs. To start with the Welsh were winning because they had a couple of good looking women with them, and even though it was loud it was also in good fun. Devenney then comes up with the great statement that rugby is a girls game, the Welsh reply that at least they don't need padding when they play, unlike Gridiron, to which our team say, "OK, lets have a game on the beach tomorrow morning." This to me sounds like a really daft idea as I hate Gridiron, Rugby and Soccer, so one of the lighting guys and myself decided to leave, which means the Queen crew won by default cause neither team turned up on the beach to play, and as the two of us were leaving the bar we took their gorgeous ladies with us. Sorry Wales.

Our second visit to Brazil, when I was traveling with the band, was for the first Rock in Rio which was a two week festival with a host of big names on, each playing two nights. We did the opening night with three Brazilian acts, then Whitesnake who had Cozy as drummer, then Iron Maiden and then us. The second show was at the end and our opening acts were the B52's and the Go Go's. After the show I ended up in my room with a couple of Go Go girls, and boy were they party hounds. Apart from the bands I've mentioned there were other big names like Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Yes, George Benson and more. It was fun because we got to see old friends of the road, but it was also a nightmare cause we were almost prisoners of the hotel, due to the fact there were far to many fans outside the hotel, so we hung around the pool most of the time. The press were paying guests with poolside views so they could use the room and snap rockstars by the pool, which, of course, put an end to that.

The only thing left to do between shows was to get out of Rio and Roger and I heard of a great place called Buzios (Hope I spelt that correctly) which I suppose is about 100 miles away. Deaky and Wally decided to come as well, and being wimps they took a limo, unlike us drum type people, we don't eat quiche, we're gonna drive. The locals were all driving around in beach buggies, they look like fun, thats us, lets go. A buggy is basically a VW beetle with a different body, and our gleaming white buggy turns out to be the biggest pile of crap ever allowed on a road.

I take the wheel and we're not too far into our journey when 1st gear goes on the missing list, I don't care, I'm a good driver, I can start in 2nd. The gearstick decides to loosen on us, so trying to get it in gear was like stirring soup, who cares, onwards and by now our buggy decides to dump the clutch, so when it came to pulling away I just pushed the stick, and whatever gear it went in was the one we drove in. At least we can see the funny side of it all. What else can God give us to make this mission harder, how about torrential rain, which is great fun to drive in when you don't have a roof on the car. Needless to say the buggy rapidly filled up with water. Five minutes of this downpour and we get our next treat, the wipers pack up, so RT has to stand up and lean over the top and wipe the windshield so I can see where I'm going. By this time we look like a couple of soaking wet tramps, but we are killing ourselves laughing as we watch the red mud flow down the hillsides into the river we are trying to drive through. As we go round a bend we both screamed out "OH F***" at the same time. A huge truck was heading in the opposite direction to us, and as it passed at high speed a tidal wave of red water engulfed us and our crappy little car. I have to be honest here, that did wipe out a bit of the humour. We got to our destination, found the hotel and as the drowned rats walked in, the wimps were sitting in the bar, very dry with very cold beers. Next time, I'm with you Deaky. You would think the first thing I would want was a shower, nope, top of the list was a nice quiet chat with the company that rented us our friendly little buggy, and after a couple of well placed words they didn't charge us. Once there we had a good time. Oh, I nearly forgot, we did a couple of great shows as well.

Loads of the usual stuff

Crystal

[francesbeau]

Henry IV. P1 - Summary

A1S1 - King Henry wants to go to the holy land to recapture it. His counselors let him know, however, that England is not quite calm. Glendower has just led a group of welsh rebels against the Kings forces. A soldier named Hotspur has recaptured one of the prominent rebels though, something which is met with praise for such great bravery. However, Hotspur acts peculiar and does not conform to what is desired for him. This scene acts like a prologue/introduction and provides the audience with contextual knowledge. This scene also sketches in core relationships, both interpersonal and political. It also introduces the plots greatest actions - rebellion to order. Henry claims he wishes Hotspur was his son instead. 

A1S2 - Father/son tensions are introduced in this scene of comic relief. undertones of paternal disagreement permeate through this scene of male joking. Prince Hal is the heir to the throne but his association with thieves and drinking clash with his duties and image. Falstaff is a slob but a more comforting father figure to Hal then Henry. Appearance versus reality. 

A1S3 - Henry takes the stage with noble men to talk to Hotspur. Hotspur days he reached his choice from a place of anger and frustration. Backdrop here is inherently political. Hotspur says he wishes for Henry to pay ransom for Mortimer whom the welsh rebels have captured. The king, however, suggests Mortimer is a traitor who lost purposefully. Hotspur objects but Henry forbids the mention of Mortimer again. Hotspur believes this is because the former king named Mortimer as the heir to the throne, implying he has a strong claim to such. Scene counts as a counterpoint to previous. In both scenes a young noble mam rejects the advice of an older paternal figure, and is then incited to rebel against said father figure. The most notable difference is that Hotspur has a complete lack of hesitation. Hal, even in his drunk and disorderly state considers options more carefully. 

A2S1 - We learn a group of rich pilgrims will be passing through on their way to Canterbury. This brief scene develops the subplot in which Falstaff and his friends rob rich travelers. As in many of Shakespeare's plays common people are distinguished from gentlemen by the use of rough jesting and the use of prose rather than poetry. 

A2S2 - Falstaff complains that because he is so unfit that walking to find his horse is hard for him. Prince Hal lies to Falstaff saying he will look for the horse, even though he already knows that someone took it as a joke. He returns with 3 male friends and the thieves get ready whilst Hal sneaks away. This scene involves the use of a practical joke as a plot twist, with Hal robbing his robber friends. Appearance versus reality again. In a comic rumination on the honor of criminals, Falstaff speaks ironically, declaring; “a plague upon it when thieves cannot be true to one another.” Deep fractures in social orders. 

A2S3 - Hotspurs wife is worried that he has got himself involved in Mortimer's maneuverings for the crown, he rejects her conversation; “this is a time for violence and injury, not love and conversation.” Audience focus is back to the political narrative. Political fractures emphasized by woman. 

A2S4 - Prince Hal in a tavern, teasing a worker named Francis. Lacks the honor expected by a prince. Prince Hal does an overexaggerated impression of Hotspur. Hal tells Falstaff it was him and Falstaff pretends he knew instinctively. He tries to transform is cowardice into Heroism. 

A3S1 - Interlude to provide sympathy for men going to war. Welsh Glendower represents a pagan order and Hotspur represents the sensibility of the English, Christian way. Tempting to see Hotspur as more pragmatic than Glendower, but he is motivated by emotions.

A3S2 - Prince Hal vows to re-examine his ways and swears he will act like a true son. Henry gives him a military command. 

A3S3 - Comic interlude after emotionally tense scenes. Falstaff reshaping reality to match his own desires. 

A4S1 - Hotspurs father is sick. Forces are not coming. Big delays in battle. Vain boasting foreshadows the rebel loss. 

A4S2 - Falstaff has a lot of money but his army is very weak. The disorder in the kingdom has resulted in a bad army for Prince Hal. the rebels are manipulating matters of honor. 

A4S3 - Battlefield. Cannot decide when to attack. The rebels are divide amongst themselves so the audience can sense their fate. The rebels try to assert honor but cannot articulate it correctly, they act illogically. Overblown sense of honor prevents people from making good choices. 

A5S1 - Midst of the battle. Conversation about the battle. Honor is worth nothing compared to being alive and healthy. King demonstrates generosity to save his army and reunite the country. The rebels show their cause to be hollow and without proper adjustment. 

A5S2 - Unimportant 

A5S3 - Chaotic battle. Blunt dies pretending to be the King. Dressed like him, deceptive.  This scene which follows the plays many plot twists is one of the plays action high points. The third fight the audience sees. Thematic sense of deception reinforced. Loyalty to the King contrasted the rebels constant arguments. 

A5S4 - Douglas Versus King. The Prince kills Douglas, protecting his father. Hal Vs Hotspur. Prince Hal kills Hotspur. Falstaff pretends he killed Hotspur. Climax of the play and brings together many issues. Tensions between father and son are resolved. King Henry is recognized as a true king by everyone. Sequence showcases how complex judgements are. 

A5S5 - Denouement. Some rebels are dead, some are in prison. Still has two sets of rebels to fight, including Glendower. 

[aleximedicusa]

claps hands. i can’t sleep, so am i gonna set down a whole timeline of important events in lewis’ life? yes. it’s only up until 1832 so far, as that’s just as far as i’ve plotted out specific events within the novel, and there’s a bit of a gap between 1829 and 1832 because i still need to figure out notable things that happen then. 

c. 1821.  late summer: lewis moves from pwllheli to london to begin his medical studies. he’s quickly disillusioned by anti-welsh sentiment and the general issues of medical study at this time. he also faces financial difficulties that make him unable to afford the rising prices of anatomical subjects he needs for courses, which leads to him resorting on one occasion to robbing a grave himself and narrowly avoiding arrest. 

1825.  may: lewis attempts the examination for his license from the college of surgeons and fails, due to the subpar education available in london at the time. devastated and humiliated, he plans on spending the rest of the summer throwing himself into further study so he can attempt the exam again as soon as possible, but he ends up overworking himself to illness.  june: seeing how overworked lewis is, his friend john and john’s wife katherine insist that he spend a few months at their country home to convalesce. lewis grudgingly agrees, but as he is not much of an outdoorsman, he ends up spending most of his days inside while john goes off riding and hunting.  july: katherine, in an attempt to get lewis out in the fresh air a bit, suggests that he pay a visit to the local nobleman, a comte peter luminuex d’arces. lewis agrees, not expecting to like the man, but finds that they get along quite well, and he spends the majority of the day with the comte. throughout the rest of the summer, he goes to spend time with peter as often as he can, and he starts getting Complicated Feelings he doesn’t quite know how to address.  september: lewis returns to london, after a heartfelt goodbye with peter. back in london, he meets hippolyte barthélemy, a visiting french surgeon of some renown, and lewis seizes on the chance to get a french anatomist’s perspective on the plight in england regarding dissection. hippolyte takes a liking to lewis and agrees to aid how he can with pushing for laws to change. 

1826. may: lewis passes the examination and can now practice as a surgeon. as soon as possible, he returns to the country to stay with peter for a few months before starting his practice officially.  june: finally, finally, these two idiots confess after a year’s worth of pining, and they officially become lovers.  september: lewis returns to london to begin setting up his practice. he finds himself still frustrated with the lack of access to bodies, as it not only harms the education of students but the further study of established surgeons. he starts testing the waters of becoming a bit more vocal and active in the discussions happening in the medical community. 

1827.  march: lewis decides to spend some time in paris to better understand the way that their system of anatomy laws function. he convinces peter to come with him, as there can hardly be any objection to a welshman bringing along his french-speaking friend to act as a translator and travelling companion.  august: lewis and peter return to england — lewis to london, peter to suffolk. this goodbye is extra painful, since they had a whole five months in paris living together. september: emboldened by his experiences in paris, lewis begins really pushing in earnest with the other members of the medical community to try and bring about legal change. he fully becomes the shouty man we all know and love.  december: peter surprises lewis by showing up in london for christmas. not really an important point, just a nice one.

1828. may: lewis is called upon to give testimony for the select committee on anatomy.  august: lewis and hippolyte (mostly hippolyte) organise some sort of... ball or large social event for both prominent surgeons / physicians / anatomists and members of general high society, in an attempt to drum up support for their cause and bridge the gap of understanding between the public and the medical profession.  november: the burke and hare story breaks in edinburgh. burke and hare, two irish immigrants, are caught for the murder of a woman named margaret docherty, and it later comes to light that they have killed sixteen people to sell to dr. knox. 

1829.  january: lewis goes to edinburgh for the execution of burke. he is horrified and repulsed by what knox and connor have done as anatomists, buying murdered bodies, and he and connor have a fight about that.  february: lewis returns to england and goes to peter’s home. he’s exhausted and upset, having endured mobs, infuriated by the burke and hare case, shouting at and even attacking the anatomists. 

1830.  month unknown: lewis ‘proposes’ to peter. although they can’t marry officially and can’t wear rings when someone could see them, they agree to consider each other husbands. 

1832.  august: the anatomy act finally passes. 

[flatnumberseventeen]

About Saturday night...

To start with the Guildhall in Portsmouth is a beautiful building and a wonderful venue and if you get the chance to see a show there, do so because you won’t regret it.

Anyways, the 14th September 2019 was already a beautiful day before I even arrived in Portsmouth. Not only did Liverpool go 5 points clear at the top of the Premier League (go on the Redmen) my local team, Aldershot Town won to pull themselves out of the relegation zone in the National League. So I was already on cloud nine on the drive down the A3. If football means nothing to you, then I apologise for this paragraph.

After arriving at the venue, we were disappointed to find there was no merchandise. Nada. Not even a programme. I think I remember Lee mentioning something about not being a fan of having merchandise on sale at these kind of shows. So my dreams of buying a t shirt with ‘I want to be on Lee’s Team’ or an A3 poster with him on were dashed.

My seats were amazing, row L. I really liked the set, in the first act Lee’s portrait was of him as a jockey. Rob came on first, told a few jokes, did a few impressions (his Michael Caine is very good) before introducing his two companions.

I was very excited about seeing Lee on stage. He’s such a natural and belongs in front of people, making them laugh. Rob explained to the crowd about his history of being a stable boy, or a ‘Professional Shit Shoveler’ (sp) as Lee termed himself and told the story of the horse erection and the Ford Anglia. David was a bit more refrained than I thought he’d be but I do love his dry sense of humour.

Act One:

We were all sent a questionnaire before the show about our opinions and knowledge of Portsmouth, and our answers would form the basis of a quiz for Lee and David to take part in. I sank down in my seat and prayed they wouldn’t read out my answers.

I remember there being a 10 minute conversation about dog shit, and how it was salty in Portsmouth because we’re nearer the sea. This then lead on to cat shit and then seagull shit. Lee was very amusing, his interactions with the audience were hilarious. (He’d be brilliant presenting a game show).

There were other questions about famous people from Portsmouth and how old the audience were. Lee again showed his skill at interacting with an audience, scanning the audience to see how old they were. It really is one of his big talents (he really needs to present a game show).

The highlight of act one was when the audience were asked who they believed out of the three guys on stage- who would be the greatest lover. David described himself as ‘functional,’ Rob deemed himself a very ‘giving lover.’ Lee said his wife had told him ‘he was a very gentle lover, she hardly felt a thing.’ 😂

Both David and Lee (not meaning to sound big headed) both guessed the crowd voted Lee the best. David was revealed to be in 3rd place, don’t think he was really bothered! This left the host and Lee. Rob really built the tension, Lee was really hoping it was him!! Rob finally revealed it was him who the audience had voted the best lover. This lead to the interval and Lee flicking the audience the V signs as he left.

Lee also gave a spoiler for his appearance in the ALOTO road trip that he mooned a crowd whilst filming in Barcelona. I pray to god they don’t edit it out!!

Act Two

Lee’s portrait was changed to him as a footballer, a nod to his role in ‘Soccer Aid.’ He’s never going to live that down, but at least he’s happy to joke about it!!

The crowd’s dilemma’s formed the second act. There were boxes in the foyer of the venue where people could leave the boys their problems and they would offer their advice. If I’m honest, I didn’t enjoy this act as much as the first, but Lee was still great. There was an awkward moment where a young lad whose dilemma was read out overstepped the mark and it ended with Lee telling him he hoped he failed in school, but other than that I think they’d all make great agony Uncles.

Finale

Part of the questionnaire was to suggest a finale for the boys. From those suggestions, the finale they devised was absolutely inspired.

Rob came out dressed as a cowboy singing ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ (Obvs). Once he reached the chorus, out ‘trotted’ a rather hilarious looking pantomime horse. I think Lee was the back, all I remember is Rob trying to ride the horse and Lee calling him a ‘fat Welsh prick.’

After the show...

I have been lucky enough to meet Lee twice now. He was a lot more relaxed this time around (probably because there wasn’t a security guard on his tail telling him he needed to go inside). He asked me how I was and if we enjoyed the show. When I asked him to sign one of the dilemma sheets for me, he joked ‘at least these are good for something.’ He leant right in to me for the photo- that was nice (excuse my face). He said to my best mate- who is 5 ft nothing- ‘shall I come down to you?’ and leant down to have a photo with her too. He was so lovely and he had his glasses on as well so I was a little hot and bothered.

So that’s it for now. I haven’t had a chance to listen to the audio we got (I know it’s naughty- sorry) but when I do I’ll tell you about anything I might have forgot here.

If you read my essay, thank you very much. Any further questions, don’t hesitate to ask. (I sound like I’m answering a work email).

[glassesaremyonlyweakness]

Literally about all of my Music Meister headcanons

This is really fucking long I wrote this over the course of a few days for another thing that will probably take a few more days and I went overboard If you decide to read this; bear with me (Also send me questions about him I’ll add the answer to my next entry in this big ass clusterfuck)

- The Music Meister’s real name is Dennis Neville Prowell, but he changed it to Alastor Prowell because people made fun of him as a child for being named Dennis Neville. Plus, he always says it's so uncool for a slick guy like him’.

- He kept his last name cause Prowell is his mother’s name and the guy’s a mama’s boy, he’s soft, give him a break.

- The Meister is actually Welsh on his mother’s side. He’d learn how to speak the language, but the guy knows how to play *every* instrument. They say the brain can never be full but it sure as hell can be cramped.

- Alastor has a little sister, she’s a little baby, well not really, but she’s like nine. Her name is Jacqueline, and her big brother calls her Jackie.

- Jackie was born thanks to a sperm donor, since the father is no longer in the picture. Jokes on him, Ms. Prowell is the one with the fortune now.

- Alastor isn’t the best with kids (they’re annoying and he’s impatient), but Jacquline is his little princess. His mother has to stop him from spoiling her rotten all day with dresses and jewelry and sweets.

- High-key, he really wants to get her a pair of musical note glasses like his.

- (I might make Jacquelin her own headcanon page tbh)

- Of course, the family doesn’t know that their beloved son/brother is the corrupt conductor himself, y’know until he gets arrested.

- Strangely enough, no one of the Meister’s direct family are affected by his singing voice. By direct family, I mean his father, his mother, and Jackie. Aunts and cousins are affected, definitely, Alastor proved such on one of their many family trips back home when he was thirteen and edgy.

- He believes it has something to do with his dad, maybe, but he can’t be too sure. If only he knew the guy more than he does right now…

- Anyway.

- If musicals was a religion, Alastor would be the cool local pastor who preaches on Sundays and actually *bakes* brownies for the fundraiser instead of buying them from the store, *Linda.*

- He loves almost all of them (almost), but will not divulge which one’s he dislikes. He’s gotta stay on brand.

- The man will go fucking off though if you let him, whether or not he’s talking about one he likes or dislikes. He has a lot to say.

- Some of his all time favorites that were on Broadway are Phantom of the Opera (it’s a classic) and Wicked. If were were going to categorize it by how good the songs are, he likes the songs from the Waitress, and Something Rotten, and the recent Beetlejuice musical.

- I think it’s safe to say that he sings those songs all the time no matter where he is or what he’s doing, even the collar that Arkham Asylum gives him that makes is so he can’t sing can’t stop him from humming them at the very least.

- When he gets upset he talks a bit faster and then the gap in his teeth gives him a front lisp.

- Whenever he starts lisping, everyone will know, cause once he realizes what he’s doing he’ll cover his mouth and look super embarrassed. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t really like his angy lisp.)

- This is getting too long isn’t it

- What else is there I know there’s more…

- Real time, I’m fucking blanking right now

- Oh yeah I wanted to talk about kid Meister too

- Alastor, from birth to eleven, was practically an angel. He always listened to his mother, he did his homework, he ate his vegetables, and he even got that bowl haircut that his mother insisted on him having for a few years because it made him ‘Look like a little gentleman’.

- Yeah his mom was really good at embarrassing him in public.

- Speaking of his mom again, she was the one to give Alastor his first singing lesson.

- He had a heavenly set of pipes and she made sure that he knew so every day.

- His father was less than eager to do so.

- In fact, he wasn’t really involved in Alastor’s life other than having a hand in conceiving him. He always had ‘better things to do’, which always struck up arguments whenever he mentioned it to his wife.

- Alastor has never explicitly *heard* his parents argue, but he would always be able to tell when they did because his mom would send him outside to play for an hour or two. By the time he’d be back, both of his parents would be avoiding each other for the rest of the day.

- Legally, his father lost full time custody of Alastor when he was around twelve.

 - It went from Mom on Sun-Wed and Dad on Thur-Sat, to Mom on Sun-Thur and Dad on Fri-Sat, until eventually, Mom obtained full custody by word of the court. Alastor doesn’t recall hearing from him ever since then.

- When it came to the bullies, Alastor was picked on for pretty much everything about his person. I mentioned his name earlier, but there was how he dressed in a sweater vest everywhere and always had a little green bowtie, his bowl cut, the gap in his teeth, his lisp (which was much more prominent until he lost his baby teeth), even his tube socks aren’t safe from them, just cause they’re a bit frilled at the tops. As explained in his very first villain song though, the main reason he got picked on was because he was a boy who sang in choir.

- At first it was rather simple bullying, verbal stuff about how much of a nerd he was, how stupid he looked, calling him a momma’s boy (as if that was a bad thing). But it quickly escalated to threats and physical violence.

- The worst was *about* to come when they were going to ruin a choir show during his solo, until the strangest thing happened.

- The bullies decided that they would let him sing a bit before enacting their plan, but as soon as Alastor saw them, he got stressed very quickly, and wished that they would just leave him alone. And to his surprise, they did. They just stood there at the last row of chairs and didn’t do anything. They didn’t even like…..emote..or move like,,, at all? Alastor really thought he’d see the guys get impatient and start fidgeting and moving around until someone gave some sort of signal and let everything go to hell, but nope. They stood there patiently during the whole solo.

- They started avoiding him after that incident, strangely. Like when you’re walking on the sidewalk, and you see someone really creepy person walking towards you on that same sidewalk, so you take the time to move to the other sidewalk? That, except Alastor was the alleged creepy person and the bullies were the person who took the time to exchange sidewalks.

- The only other time he caught them again was around half a month later? That was after class outside the school when he was waiting for his mom to pick him up from choir class. The bullies really couldn’t help themselves but make fun of his choir robes on their way out, but he was a bit more prepared for this encounter than they had anticipated.

- He started singing again, belting simple commands and making them pick things up and walk around and

- Listen.

- The power could not have gone to his head any faster.

- He made them dance intricate ballets and sing along to some of his chords, all until his mother finally drove up.

- He released the bullies, and went on with his day, solidifying his brand new status as someone to be feared.

- During his teenage years he fully embraced this status.

- Boy became a 100% certified hunk

- I mean punk

- But actually though I didn’t mean to type hunk

- All of his clothes were either ripped or leather and he grew out his hair, and he kept his sick musical note glasses from when he was young (he just got a bigger pair is what I mean, his head still grew).

- Really, he was the kid that no one would want to mess with, as well as the one your parents warned you about when you were six.

- He was a bean pole until puberty literally turned him into a box man.

- Literally though.

- His shoulders got broad, his muscles got big, and his assssests became uh, more ideal for a villain? Yes let’s go with that.

- What I’m saying is, bean became box and also he’s a part time criminal.

- He kind of just stole little things, like a pack of gum that wouldn’t be missed from those racks of stuff near the cash register at a Stop and Shop or something.

- And then he robbed a bank over the intercom, that was pretty impressive.

- Am I uh

- Am I done?

- Honestly I’m sure I’ll come up with more things eventually.

[popentertainmentconcertreviews]

The Alarm, Modern English & Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel – The Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA – August 31, 2019

The 80s touched down at the Keswick recently. Or at least, the alternative outskirts of 80s music – that quirky neighborhood that they used to call college rock. The Sigma tour – named after The Alarm’s most recent album – was a treat of varied musical styles and like-minded musicians.

This was a smart triple bill of alternative British bands who have strong reputations and followings and some beloved cult-favorite songs although none of them actually had any big chart hits in the US. This was not just some Top of the Pops tour.

Even Modern English’s “I Melt With You” – arguably the most recognizable song played and certainly considered an iconic new wave tune – never came close to making the top 40, despite the band releasing two different versions of the song as singles in 1982 and again in 1990. In fact, of the songs played in all three sets – many of which are pretty well-known – the highest one reached on the Billboard pop charts was The Alarm’s “Sold Me Down the River,” which peaked at 50.

These songs may not have been big hits, but they sure should have been.

First up was the slightly awkwardly renamed Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel. This kind of rebranding – the group was known in its glory years simply as Gene Loves Jezebel – is usually a dead giveaway that there are at least two factions made up of some of the original members of the group, touring as the “official” band.

This split is particularly sad – both Jay and his estranged identical twin brother Michael Aston have versions of the band and are laying claim to the name. This iteration does include three of the mainstays of GLJ’s glory days – singer Jay Aston, guitarist/songwriter James Stevenson (who is also a member of current lineup of The Alarm) and bassist Peter Rizzo.

Aston is an exciting and excitable front man – he still has a supple falsetto, rock star moves and he excitedly screeches his stage banter as if he is Paul Stanley. The band’s quirky mixture of dance, fuzztone and rock – think a slightly more accessible version of the Jesus & Mary Chain – has aged well, with such shoulda-been-hits like “Desire,” “Jealous” and “Motion of Love” still coiling like a snake at the show.

Next up was punk-new wave combo Modern English. Lead singer Robbie Grey was obviously having a great time, engaging the crowd, calling for the people in back to come up towards the stage and dance in the aisles. (A venue security guard looked at me when Grey called the people down and mouthed, “Please, no…”)

Despite the fact that they are now mostly looked back on as one-hit-wonders, Modern English put together a diverse set of old and new tunes. Hearing “Hands Across the Sea” after all these years reminds us of how that song was robbed of being a huge hit, while newer songs like “Trees” showed that the band still has a good way with a catchy tune.

And, of course, the band closed out with their signature tune. “I Melt with You” is a classic for a reason. Smart, propulsive, toughened up in a live setting, the song went down like a sweet, half-remembered dream of better times. If a band must be known for one thing, this song is as good of a calling card as you can ask for.

The Alarm started out as a big-sounding angry rock band along the lines of contemporaries like War-era U2 and Big Country. This sound still packs a wallop – the angry lyrics and martial beat of the early protest single “The Stand” still slayed the Keswick crowd all these years later.

However, leader Mike Peters has done a lot of living since he was an angry young man. He has survived a 20-year battle with blood cancer and his wife – band keyboardist Jules Jones Peters – just won her own battle with breast cancer. Therefore, the band was a bit more circumspect with age – and also made sure that the show emcee, a Welsh friend named Del, strongly promoted cancer prevention.

The band’s singles still sound timeless, like the angry breakup song “Sold Me Down the River” and the stunningly beautiful “Rain in the Summertime.” By the time the group headed off into the night with a stunning medley of “Marching On,” “Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke” and “Sixty-Eight Guns,” the musical voyage to a more idealistic, more righteous and more aware world was complete.

Jay S. Jacobs

Copyright ©2019 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: September 3, 2019.

Photos by Jay S. Jacobs © 2019.

[moonaft]

Ashes of Honor - Reread

Rosemary and Rue

A Local Habitation

An Artificial Night

Late Eclipses

One Salt Sea

Aka “Let’s get the foreshadowing ball rolling” 

As usual, spoilers up to The Brightest Fell and August 2018 for the Patreon stories. No spoilers for Night and Silence, because my copy from the library is still not in. 

We start with Toby tracking down goblin fruit dealers and proceed right into her getting shot multiple times. Good thing she has an accelerated healing factor now - that probably would have killed her in Rosemary and Rue, even if the bullets weren’t iron. 

I am surprised that not one alchemist has developed a cure or semi-cure for goblin fruit, aside from Toby’s blood candies. Maybe Arden can get Walther on that in the future. 

Hello Officer Thornton, your life is about to get very interesting in a very bad way.  

So Tybalt had to go get Toby because May was in a staring contest with Etienne the entire time? Could he have not been left alone in the house? Or maybe May wanted Tybalt to get Toby because she ships them. 

I don’t think Tybalt knows about Quentin’s parents, his comments notwithstanding. 

Toby, you didn’t make him an accessory to a jailbreak, he did that all on his own. Although it did encourage his parents to have you as his knight, no doubt. 

Props to Bridget and Chelsea for keeping Chelsea’s fae nature under wraps for years. 

Why is literally no one able to hold a straight conversation in this universe? So many problems could have been avoided if people just talked to each other. 

Do changelings who have two changeling/pureblood parents have to take the Choice? I guess not, since Stacy’s kids always knew about Faerie. 

Gillian is older than Chelsea, that has to be screwy for Toby. 

Etienne has cedar and limes - it must have twisted enough to be sycamore for Chelsea. If she had been raised with Etienne, would it have just been cedar? 

I wonder if dawn hits Toby harder than other fae. Why would you stay in the mortal world for years if you stop breathing every morning?

Again, what was Sylvester doing when he was a hero? It’s not like he was off killing Firstborn. 

So the Firstborn working together can create worlds. Are there not enough Firstborn left anymore? Or can they not create homelands out of the Summerlands? 

Oh, this is the book when we learn the Luidaeg’s apartment is actually spotless. I’d forgotten when exactly that was. 

Oooo - if Amandine had to close the holes August’s changeling Tuatha created, she was extremely close to bringing her home. And we never found out the boy’s name either. 

OK, the timeline doesn’t make sense. The Luidaeg didn’t know where August ended up, or she would have told Simon when he came begging for her help. So she didn’t know that August found the changeling in Blind Michael’s land and went to Annwn, even though August came for the candle just before the changeling starting tearing holes in reality. Maybe no one noticed that August was gone yet? What’s a couple weeks for a pureblood? 

OK, TBF says the Luidaeg knew that August went for the changeling, but she couldn’t have known where in Faerie or the mortal world she went. 

That poor kid. He died as a result of all that, whether from the fae or from the teleporting, and August was left stranded in Annwn. 

“Aunt Titania” - I really want to know what the Three + all the Firstborn were like thousands of years ago. It couldn’t have just been Eira and the Luidaeg going at it. 

The “Heart of Faerie” - that hasn’t come up again. Yet. 

So the Tuatha had two Firstborn - Amorica and Elton. Here’s the main question I keep coming back to - who helped father/mother the descendant races? 

There is nothing to suggest that the Firstborn reproduce asexually or by themselves. The Luidaeg more-or-less confirmed in TBF that August would have been part Daoine Sidhe - part of Titania’s line - if Amandine and August herself hadn’t pulled that part from her blood. So it’s not like being a child of a Firstborn automatically makes you a pureblood of that race. So August is - as far as blood is concerned - not actually of Simon’s line because they don’t share a bloodline. Apparently that doesn’t affect genetics or magic since she still has his magic scent and the Torquill coloring. 

But Amadine is only Firstborn who can shift the blood without a hope chest. What about everyone else? 

Blind Michael and Acacia had several children - Luna and Ceres being Blodynbryd - as well as the Dryads. Apparently Blodynbryd are technically a type of Dryad. The kids must have chosen Acacia who is Titania’s daughter. But what if some of the kids had chosen Michael, who is Maeve’s? Could you have members of the same descendant race who are either Maeve’s or Titania’s? 

And what of Oberon’s lines? Did he choose Amorica and Elton, or did they choose him over their mother? Was their mother someone completely different, like Amandine’s mother or the Merrow Firstborn’s sire? 

If the Three created Faerie, then they predate those lands. Who were they before they were fae? What about these other fae-like beings? Who are they? Where did they go?

How did the Luidaeg give birth to the Roane and Eira to the Daoine Sidhe? How many children did everyone have? Theoritically, we could trace Daoine Sidhe like racing horse lines. Are Sylvester and Aethlin’s parents siblings? Cousins? Who knows!

I would love to see Bridget smack one of the asshole fae with the cast iron pan. Maybe in the finale? 

I love that Quentin loves Great Big Sea. I wonder if he likes Stan Rogers too? Could the “song about boats” be The Mary Ellen Carter?

Oh God, Tybalt. The series could have ended right there, at Toby and Quentin’s death via vehicle collision. 

The Court of Cats really has no luck. Poor Raj.

Don’t worry Quentin, you’ll get your not-boyfriend back. I definitely shipped them before I read Full of Briers. 

Sylvester seems at least competent at illusions, even if he’s got nothing on Simon’s blood magic. 

“A man and his boat” sounds more like Man With Blue Dolphin. Or Old Polina? A Boat Like Gideon Brown? 

Hi Li Qin! This is the first indication that you actually exist. 

So she doesn’t get a title by virtue of marrying January? That would explain why Amandine isn’t actually a Countess. 

Li Qin: Abusing fae hospitality for fun and profit. 

Stop cradle robbing, Treasa. 

Technically, Toby is the daughter of a noble. Does she get to inherit Simon’s status eventually?

Toby, why are you not the least bit curious about who Riordan is talking to about you? 

I appreciate Riordan’s ability to set traps for everyone. She really came off the winner in this book, even if it did strand her in Annwn. 

I need to reread Patrick’s side stories - I think Riordan’s coat of arms changed in the last 100 years. 

It is so useful to have allies that can bend space and time.

And we have a new Firstborn: Arawn of the White Stag. Sounds Welsh. Possibly the Firstborn of the Tylwyth Teg?

Hi Raj!

Don’t worry Toby, Quentin will get to see Annwn soon enough. 

We know nothing about Shade, do we? And what do you mean, Kings and Queens don’t live together? Tybalt and Colleen did back in London. Everything you know about the Court of Cats is wrong, Toby. 

Poor Anne. Poor Tybalt, his lovers always die. 

You’re blaming your unborn daughter for the death of your wife, Tybalt? Low blow. 

Can human mothers carry a litter of Cait Sidhe to term? I assume Cait Sidhe as cats can birth a litter but what if they shapeshifted back to human? Do the babies also shift? 

Hi Chelsea!

Raj, you are a horrible assassin. But hey, Toby gets another ally to help search for Chelsea. And this time he’s not trapped in a deeper realm.

Quentin continues to be a good squire. 

Whoops, wrong target, May.

How do skinshifters who aren’t Selkies manage? Does each Raven-person get their own cloak of feathers?

Poor Jazz, this isn’t the last time she’ll be attacked by strange men in her own house. 

Not like May could pass for Quentin’s mother either, Toby. Though it’s not like Officer Thornton knows what May looks like. 

And more of Tybalt’s past!  

Yes Toby, I’m actually sure the High King and Queen are proud their son is a cat burglar. It’s a good skill to have.

Why didn’t Riordan kill Toby when she had the chance? It’s not like Toby’s useful to her. 

And Toby scents August, who must have used one of Chelsea’s portals to escape back to the mortal world. 

Can Tuatha seriously not teleport if they can’t see where they’re going? It seems mighty inconvenient.

Have Tybalt and Etienne ever worked together in such proximity? I don’t think so. 

Hi Officer Thornton. Hi Samson. You are still somewhat less of an asshole than Dugan but not by much. 

How exactly can Riordan use a blood charm to grant Samson access to the Shadow Roads? 

Oh God, I think Toby’s acting like Simon. Beaming and walking in circles around Riordan. This is almost like how he got Dianda and Patrick together. 

Quentin, you really need to learn combat magic. 

Chelsea’s teleportation magic is apparently enough to get Samson into the Shadow Roads. 

“and there’s nothing I can do to make her less stupid” Oh Jin. 

Toby’s near-death count this book is three, I think. 

Hi Sylvester! 

HI Bridget! You get the best of both worlds. Toby, Quentin nearly did the same for Katie, you don’t need to act so surprised. I guess it’s one of those things people don’t talk about. 

Did Samson actually die in Annwn or is he just stranded there? He was still breathing after Etienne hit him with iron. 

Happy ending, minus all the disembowelment and dying. 

Next up: Chimes at Midnight. Is that the one with Arden? I don’t remember the false Queen in The Winter Long but I can’t remember if we meet Arden before or after that. 

[alexannedra]

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Folklorists are divided on where the common name for Digitalis purpurea comes from. In some areas of the British Isles the name seems be a corruption of "folksglove," associating the flowers with the fairy folk, while in others the plant is also known as "fox fingers," its blossoms used as gloves by the foxes to keep dew off their paws. Another theory suggests that the name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word foxes-gleow, a "gleow" being a ring of bells. This is connected to Norse legends in which foxes wear the bell-shaped foxglove blossoms around their necks; the ringing of bells was a spell of protection against hunters and hounds.

Foxgloves give us digitalin, a glysoside used to treat heart disease, and this powerful plant has been used for heart tonics since Celtic and Roman times. Botanist Bobby J. Ward gives us this account of early foxglove use in his excellent book A Contemplation Upon Flowers:

"An old Welsh legend claims to be the first to proscribe it, because the knowledge of its properties came to the meddygon, the Welsh physicians, in a magical way. The legend is loosely based on the early 13th century historical figure Rhiwallon, the physician to Prince Rhys the Hoarse, of South Wales. Young Rhiwallon was walking beside a lake one evening when from the mist rose a golden boat. A beautiful maiden was rowing the boat with golden oars. She glided softly away in the mist before he could speak to her. Rhiwallon returned every evening looking for the maiden; when he did not find her, he asked advice from a wise man. He told Rhiwallon to offer her cheese. Rhiwallon did as he was told, the maiden appeared and took his offering. She came ashore, became his wife, and bore him three sons.

"After the sons grew and the youngest became a man, Rhiwallon's wife rowed into the lake one day and returned with a magic box hinged with jewels. She told Rhiwallon he must strike her three times so that she could return to the mist forever. He refused to hit her, but the next morning as he finished breakfast and prepared to go to work, Rhiwallon tapped his wife affectionately on the shoulder three times. Instantly a cloud of mist enveloped her and she disappeared. Left behind was the bejeweled magic box. When the three sons opened it, they found a list of all the medicinal herbs, including foxglove, with full directions for their use and healing properties. With this knowledge the sons became the most famous of physicians."

Foxglove is a plant beloved by the fairies, and its appearance in the wild indicates their presence. Likewise, fairies can be attracted to a dometic garden by planting foxgloves. Dew collected from the blossoms is used in spells for communicating with fairies, though gloves must be worn when handling the plant as digitalis can be toxic. In the Scottish borders, foxgloves leaves were strewn about babies' cradles for protection from  bewitchement, while in Shropshire they were put in children's shoes for the same reason (and also as a cure for Scarlet Fever). Picking foxglove flowers is said to be unlucky. Here in Devon and Cornwall, this is because it robs the fairies, elves, and piskies of a plant they particularly delight in; in the north of England, foxglove flowers in the house are said to allow the Devil entrance.

In Roman times, foxglove was a flower sacred to the goddess Flora, who touched Hera on her breasts and belly with foxglove in order to impregnate her with the god Mars. The plant has been associated with midwifery and women's magic ever since -- as well as with "white witches" (practitioners of benign and healing magic) who live in the wild with vixen familiars, the latter pictured with enchanted foxglove bells around their necks.  In medieval gardens, the plant was believed to be sacred to the Virgin Mary. In the earliest recordings of the Language of Flowers, foxgloves symbolized riddles, conundrums, and secrets, but by the Victorian era they had devolved into the more negative symbol of insincerity.

A lovely old legend told here in the West Country explains why foxgloves bob and sway even when there is no wind: this is the plant bowing to the fairy folk as they pass by. The spires of foxgloves growing on our hill mark it out a place beloved by fairies, a land filled with riddles, secrets, and stories. I walk its paths, listen to the tales, and then do my best to bring them back to you.

[drybleahcim]

About Me Tag Game

I was tagged by @melindawrites

Name: Michael

Nickname: Michael, Mike, Byrd

Gender: Male

Zodiac: Leo

Height: 5’10”

Age: 23

Time: 6:53 am

Favorite bands/solo artists: Imagine Dragons, Matchbox Twenty/Rob Thomas, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, MoTab, most alt/classic rock, musicals haha.

Song stuck in my head: The Other Side from The Greatest Showman

Last show I watched: Skin Wars

Last thing I googled: Ammonia haha!

Other Blogs: dnd-hombrew-hero I have some ideas for a few Homebrew classes and am working on them here.

Do I get Asks: I haven't so far, I've gotten messages, but no Asks (feel free to send them though!)

Why I chose my username: I'm a Byrd and this is a writing blog haha!

Following: 46, still getting into the community haha.

Average amount of sleep: When classes are in, between 4 and 6. Currently? Probably between 7 and 9!

Lucky number: Not sure I have one…

What I’m wearing: Blue collared shirt and jeans on the way to work. (Mass transit, so I'm not Tumbling (is that the correct verb?) While driving or anything haha.

Dream Job: Cybersecurity professional and best-selling author

Dream Trip: Europe with my wife 🙂

Favorite Food: I'm really not picky and can't say I have a favorite. And when I say not picky, there are only three foods that I can think of that I DON'T like haha!

Play an Instrument: I can play a LITTLE bit of piano, sing okay, and played the trombone for a while!

Nationality: I'm American, my heritage is Irish, French, Welsh, English, Scottish, Norman (William the Conqueror), Germanic, and Viking of some sort (I'm related to some guy named Stephen the Skull Splitter haha)

Favorite Song: Oh gosh, I'm bad with favorites haha. I'll say Foo Fighters’ “Pretender”

I'm tagging: @hell-yeah-fantasy , @wallpatterns , @scarlett-olivier , and @riftversus

[healthcarenewsme]

Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney shares his body transformation tips so you can get ripped just like him in... - talkSPORT.com

Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney shares his body transformation tips so you can get ripped just like him in… – talkSPORT.com

Wrexham owner, and Hollywood actor, Rob McElhenney is seriously ripped – probably more so than most of the players at the National League club. The Always Sunny In Philadelphia star shocked the sports world when he and Ryan Reynolds, yes as in Deadpool, decided to buy the Welsh club earlier this year. Getty McElhenney proudly wore a Wrexham hat at UFC 264 with his wife, Kaitlin Olson The pair…

[capseycartwright]

I'm sure the Welsh rip off of Rob died 😂 omg how boring was it though? I only managed to watch 2 video as it was so bad. I saw how similar the scenes were from gifs.

like honestly there was some nice moments in there, it wasn’t spectacular by any means, and then after welsh rob left his wife and they got a sort of happy ending he dies in a car crash like

wow

no thanks