#Sheep forecast

[serenityreikiclinic]

Your month is about to get better Ram/Sheep/Goat 💰

[basilpaste]

fanfiction wip... I am guessing the word: sheep :P

Wip Game

yknow. i dont actually have a wip with sheep in it right now. so instead you get sheep facts. so. there are a handful of breeds that are known for having four horns! two sets of them! the most well known of these are prrrrrrobably jacob sheep! but hebridian sheep and a handful of others also get multiple sets of horns.

its called polyceraty! polycerates can also have like. more than two sets of horns? but they dont typically have room on their heads for more than two so. like. issues happen and stuff.

[megpricephotography]

Rain, rain, rain.

We have had SO much rain this past week. Even by UK standards, it's been wild.

I checked the forecast on Sunday lunchtime. For this afternoon, it said "sunshine, 5% chance of rain". Only 5%? Yay! Off we trotted, excited for a nice dry outing.

Well. We got absolutely soaked. Again! Flynn was extremely unimpressed, as was I. But... there was a bit of sunshine too, so at least everything looked quite pretty on the way home. Also, we saw some sheep, which is always nice.

[triangle-strategy-notes]

Ezana Concept Art

Concept art and translations for Ezana! Translation notes and image id under the cut.

Translation notes:

On the first page when Ikushima is talking about how he feels pressure to make his drawings beautiful, he's actually saying something more like "Usually with sexy woman I go 'I'm obligated to/I must make them beautiful!'... " but no matter how I phrased it the wording felt awkward in English, so I changed the sentence to go without the quotes.

There's a note on the second page above the monochrome sketch that was pretty hard to read (the middle character in particular might have been scribbled out?), so I kind of guessed at the rough meaning from the surrounding characters. The first kanji seems to be 玄, which has the general meaning of "mysterious, occultness, black, deep, profound," and the third kanji seems to be 器, which has the general meaning of "utensil, vessel, receptacle, implement, instrument, ability, container, tool, set". I went with "mysterious staff" as the meaning of the kanji together, also working off of the fact that it's. um. pointing at a staff that seems vaguely mysterious.

"Call forth the rain" was more literally just "rain," but it uses a particle at the end that has a vaguely commanding/requesting vibe to it, so I added extra words to convey that.

There's a part on the second page where I write "SHAMAN" in all caps. On that particular line, "Shaman" was written out using English phonetics, whereas on the rest of the page when I use the word it's the Japanese word for an equivalent concept.

"Lines like a weather map" is literally "isobar pattern". I'm assuming that most people aren't familiar with the word "isobar" (including myself) but from a brief google search, isobars are the lines that show up on a map when weather forecasts are trying to show the range of a storm and the barometric pressure specifically. Since it's (probably) not a commonly-known word, I just wrote out the "weather map" stuff instead.

"Sexy as it sounds" is a weird one. I think it's a portion of this phrase, which is defined as, "not existing despite seeming like it should", but just uses some different particles at the end which I'm assuming make it non-negative (e.g., "as sexy as it should be"). But I couldn't find a ton of examples of how the phrase is used though or what the differences in particles would be, so I just kind of went with the auto-translation I got from Deepl.

Image id:

[id: Multiple images from the Triangle Strategy artbook surrounding Ezana Qlinka. There is a page with a large colored portrait of her, along with a smaller line drawing in the corner. There are two illustrator's notes at the bottom: the first is, "Ezana has a really lovely ethnic design. Actually, after the character's portrait was completed, Mr. Ikushima redid all the linework, which added a lot to the character's beauty! (Yoshiura Rina)" and the second is, "Ezana is primitive, spiritual, and also a mysterious kind of character. With sexy women I usually feel pressure to make them beautiful, but strangely she was very easy to draw. I like how the natural colors are interspersed with the lapis lazuli. (Ikushima Naoki)". On the second page, the top half has several drawings of Ezana in a design close to her canon one. It is titled, "Weather Manipulator (Shaman)". There is one drawing where Ezana is without her headdress, captioned, "If there are different ranks of shaman, I think it'd be fine to start out without the headdress." There is a note pointing to her headress labeled, "Sheep's skull with some parts cut off," and another that reads, "Horns. Red and blue cord is coiled." Another note points to a full sheep skull and reads, "Origin. It's been shaved away starting at about this area." It points to roughly the middle of it. Another note points to a feather ruff she wears, labeled, "Crow feathers". Her staff is labeled, "A staff with elements similar to a dreamcatcher". There is a portrait of her from the back, with a note reading, "Back of the dress is open." The second half of the page is titled, "Weather Manipulator (Shaman) Large Brainstorming WIP". There are 5 drawings, each of a different potential design. The first is similar to her canon design, but with darker skin and a black dress. The second is very colorful, and has the notes, "Hear the song from the wind and go into a trance" as well as "Lines like a weather map" and "I think it would look better if the saturation was lowered a little or the colors were narrowed down a bit." The third drawing has a purple cloak with eyes on it, and seems to be throwing seeds into the air, captioned, "Sowing seeds toward the sky." The fourth design uses more pastels/bright colors, and has a drum at her hip. She seems to be saying, "Thunder!" and there is a note that reads, "Beat the cover and let it resonate through the air." The fifth drawing is of a woman wearing a full mask and a heavy cloak made of grass fibers. It has several bullet points including, "Weather Manipulator (Shaman)," "Female SHAMAN", "Indigenous - Separate wind and lightning magic", and "As sexy as it sounds." She holds a staff which is labeled, "Mysterious Staff" and also has a note reading, "Indigenous". She seems to be saying, "Bring forth the rain..." There are two illustrator's notes on the bottom. The first reads, "Mr. Asano requested that I add in leopard print, and I thought about how I could make it unique. (Naoki Ikushima)" and the second reads, "Looking at it again, it's a really sexy outfit. And it's great in battle! (Tomoya Asano)" /end id]

[twistxdcrafts]

002; beaumont proctor

( in response to prompt 002 ) ( trigger & content warning - death mention, animals in peril )

the wind came when beau was in his truck, driving home after making a delivery out of town. he was less than five minutes away from pulling onto the road to his farm. he noticed the sky's darkening and wondered if it was due to rain. he couldn't remember the forecast on the radio that morning. then he felt it... the awful, slithering, familiar sensation in his chest. it made his skin crawl, his stomach twisted and his heart dropped to the floor of his cab. then came the wind, so sudden and strong, it almost knocked his vehicle off the road.

"shit!" beau shouted, gripping the wheel hard and correcting the swerve. he slowed down, but continued on, fighting against the sheer force of the winds. the vile snacking sensation continued, and beau broke out into a sweat. he couldn't escape or shake the feeling of wrongness, of something awful about to happen. while he struggled against the ferocity of the wind, his mind went to his animals, to his bee hives, to his orchard. were they sheltered enough? what if things got picked up and thrown at them? beau took a breath, trying to remain calm and not spin when he turned onto the gravel road.

he could see the farm. he took another deep breath, but his foot pressed lightly on the gas. he needed to get back to his animals and get them inside, he needed to make sure his hives were suitably protected.

the voice came to him out of nowhere, clear as day, as if someone sat in the seat beside him and leaned across to speak low in his ear.

"charlie's death was meaningless, and it was all your fault."

beau felt the air leave his lungs. his head whipped round to the seat, but no one was there. there was a loud, awful crack and he turned his head back, and slammed his foot on the brakes. "shit!" beau twisted the wheel, spinning the truck sideways, but coming to a stop as a tree crashed down on the road in front of him.

heart pounding, beau stared at the tree in front of him. it took him a long time to realise the wind was gone. the only sound was the engine, still humming. slowly, he released the white-knuckle grip he had on the wheel and put the truck into park, then turned off the engine. he got out of the truck, holding onto the door while he steadied himself.

beau looked around. it all looked so normal... excluding the remains of a great tree stretched across his drive, and the splintered remains of the bough. he locked up his truck, walked around the remains of the tree, stepped through the uppermost branches, and continued on to his farm. he could retrieve his truck and sort out the tree, but for now, he had to check on his animals and his home.

he moved, almost in a daze, around the side of his house. when he came to the main yard leading into the fields, it was empty. no animals he could see. various objects had clearly been thrown about the yard or blown over. he went to his garden, partially sheltered. his hives were fine, the bees buzzing in a way that seemed more subdued than usual.

the worst of the damage was his greenhouse. a branch had been ripped out of a tree, and thrown across the yard and into the glass. it was hard to tell without getting inside, but it looked like at least a third of his plants, a mix of tomatoes and beans, had been wrecked. beau didn't have time to check if they were salvageable.

the chickens were dazed, appearing from inside or beneath the coop, or wherever they had scurried under to escape the wind. he counted them all accounted for, and seemingly uninjured, just in shock.

the goats and their babies, the sheep and his dogs, biscuit and curly, were all in the barn, curled up together. beau went to them, speaking softly and reaching out to touch them. he checked them all over, and again, they were dazed, frightened, but uninjured. his dogs, hardy and brave, bred to protect livestock, came to him for comfort. he stroked their heads and necks, offering soothing words and thanking them for rounding up all the goats (and the sheep).

everyone was fine. shocked, scared, but unscathed. beau wished he could brush it off as a freak storm, taking them by surprise, but he knew better. he'd felt it before... he remembered his nightmare. something awful was coming, and he was powerless to stop it.

[gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot]

Chapter 5: Animus risu novatur (The spirit is refreshed with laughter)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/47442772

Previous / Masterlist / Next

It was a nice morning. Or at least, it had been until Captain Price had deemed necessary to bring the rookies to a field training against another unit’s rookies, with Lieutenant Riley in charge. As usual, and although he didn’t find it particularly enlightening, Ghost had just nodded and then ordered Sergeant MacTavish and Sergeant Vega to accompany him, while Sergeant Garrick was on leave visiting family.

Now, it was a chilly, wet, miserable morning lying on a hill under a ghillie blanket, keeping watch over the damn recruits while they followed the procedure to take over a village – in reality, a military prop – trying to ‘kill’ as many rookies from the other unit as they could while avoiding being defeated themselves.

It had been Soap’s idea, of course. The damned man loved his paintball antics. At least, he hoped, no one would end in the infirmary.

‘‘It’s a dreich day!’’ Soap’s voice filled his comm, kept open to check on both his sergeants and the rookies.

‘‘English, MacTavish’’ Ghost almost chuckled, knowing his friend would explode. He was right.

‘‘Ach, fuck you, Lt! You understood perfectly! It’s wet, it’s cold, and this damned ghillie SHIT is SHITE’’

‘‘Sunny disposition you have today’’ Ghost knew why. Last night Johnny had all but fled the mess hall after dinner, and had come back hours later, a stupid grin on his face, but escorted by the RMP to Price’s office. The Captain’s bellowing had been glorious. That’s why he had been stationed in the dampest part of the moor.

‘‘I’m ‘grounded’ until I ‘learn to behave’, says the old man’’

‘‘As if that could happen…’’ Ghost smirked for himself, his eyes carefully watching one of the rookie groups surrounding one of the prop buildings. ‘‘Soap’’

‘‘Yeah?’’

‘‘Where do we get virgin wool from?’’

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the other side of the village prop, Riot was lying under her own ghillie blanket, bored out of her mind while keeping watch over the group she had been assigned. It’s not that they weren’t experienced, but not only did they not trust each other, but also tried to be in charge of the others, and that created chaos. The point of the training was to allow them to learn to work together, and the only thing they were getting at was barely avoiding to shoot themselves. This was the fourth exercise that month and Price was losing his mind.

She had been idly listening to Ghost and Soap’s banter on the comm, smiling from time to time. In the three months she had been in the Task Force, she had already learned that Soap was the only one able to get Ghost to go to the mess hall with the others. She was glad the taciturn Lieutenant had someone like Soap, in fact, she considered everyone needed someone like Johnny. She was glad he still had time for her too.

And she was also glad Ghost seemed to accept her presence. They barely spoke however, only greetings in passing, and when they met each night to smoke behind the mess hall, most of the time they kept their comfortable silence, only now and then they shared brief comments about that day’s briefing, the training, the weather…

‘‘Where do we get virgin wool from?’’

Her comm came alive, and Ghost’s deep, deadpan voice filled her ear piece. Soap’s groan followed.

‘‘Don’t you dare, Lt’’

Riot’s lips curved into a smile, secure under her ghillie blanket and behind her mask and alone in her hill, waiting for the punchline.

‘‘Ugly sheep’’

She wanted to die right there, biting the inside of her right cheek. Somehow, imagining the stern, broody, burly Lieutenant just unleashing deadpan jokes with that deep voice as if they were boring reports or the weather forecast was enough to break her, not the joke. She really tried, but failed.

Ghost was still chuckling at Soap’s incoherent swearing when he heard something on the comm, something that he didn’t recognize at first. But Soap did.

‘‘How can you laugh at that, Riot!?’’

Shit, he had almost forgotten she was on the field with them. The sound started to be clearer on the comm on his end. Riot was laughing. Giggling.

Mirthful laughter that it seemed she was unable to stop, laughing more and more as Soap kept complaining.

Ghost blinked.

He had made her laugh.

 *

 11pm

‘‘Why are we spying on your girlfriend, Johnny?’’

‘‘We are certainly not doing such thing, Simon’’

‘‘Sure, it’s just sheer coincidence that you decided to come here, of all places in base, when it happens that your girlfriend is here’’

‘‘She’s not my girlfriend! She… hasn’t said yes… yet’’

‘‘Great, so you’re spying on your not-yet-girlfriend and you brought me along’’

‘‘Just… fucking stop moving so I can look over your shoulder!’’

Ghost sighed. Why he had agreed to go with Johnny to one of the bars at base was beyond his comprehension. Why he had agreed to sit with his back to the rest of the place so Soap could hide in front of him was even more unfathomable. His fingers tapped the bottle of beer in front of him. It had been a long, draining day taking care of the damned recruits in order to avoid them getting in a fight with the other unit, and he was just… fed up. He had wanted to go straight to the shower and then to his room after dinner, but Johnny had other ideas.

Gabi is having drinks with Christine, he had said.  I gotta explain to her I’m not going to be able to see her with Price’s eyes on me until I get back in his good books.

Then why in the hell are we going to a bar, Johnny, risking him getting a whiff of what you’re up to? Fucking call or text her.

Everything is under control, Lt.

Like fuck it was.

He was uncomfortable. Instead of the balaclava, he was wearing a black mask over his mouth and nose, and the hood of his black hoodie was covering his head. Johnny had promised the bar’s lights were so dim, nobody would be able to see anything.

‘‘Oooh there she is… they! A-hah, Christine is here!’’ Soap sounded overjoyed at seeing his non-yet-girlfriend with his friend. Ghost rolled his eyes, but turned slightly in his seat to take a peek. Why, he didn’t know. He didn’t even register his own movement.

He had already met the non-yet-girlfriend before – Gabriela Cruz, from Laswell’s personnel. Short, slender, with long auburn hair and hazel eyes. Cute freckles over her nose, and totally Soap’s type. He had declared his undying love for her many times to Ghost in the last months, and Ghost was over it already.

Next to her, ordering drinks at the bar, Sergeant Vega was in civvies, blue jeans, red t-shirt, black leather biker jacket, her mask on, looking around and visibly uncomfortable. Ghost turned in his seat again, ignoring what Soap was telling him, just… thinking. Thinking about her laughter that very morning. How after they got back to the base, she had looked at him from afar and the corners of her eyes had narrowed in that way he had learned to recognize as her smiling under the mask. He had made her laugh.

He was still musing over it when Soap’s knee crashed against his, and Ghost grunted, brought back to reality.

‘‘What the fuck, Johhny?’’

‘‘Why hasn’t she said yes?’’

‘‘Are you, honest to God, asking me for dating advice, MacTavish?’’

‘‘Well…. You’re here, of course I’m asking you!’’

‘‘Very reasuring’’ Ghost huffed, lowering his mask for a moment to drink from his bottle, rolling his eyes at his friend. ‘‘I don’t know, Johnny. Maybe she doesn’t think you’re serious’’

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘‘… and I don’t know if he’s serious or not asking me to be exclusive, I mean, I’m not seeing anyone else but he is so so SO cute that I find it difficult to believe he has no other women drooling after him and…’’

Christine rolled her eyes discretely, drinking her coke with her mask hanging from her left ear in the almost darkness of their booth, while Gabriela Cruz, Watcher-5 in Laswell’s team, rambled away, and away, and away… She would think it was cute how worried the redhead was, if it wasn’t like the fifth time she had said the same. I’m going to make you pay for this, Johnny.

‘‘He’s not seeing anyone else, Gabi. Believe me, I would know, he doesn’t know how to lie. He’s head over heels over you, and he’s serious, so please, cut him some slack’’

Gabi’s hazel eyes lit up, her cheeks turning a beautiful shade of red that made her freckles stand out a bit more. She was so cute it was no wonder Soap was being an absolute idiot for her.

‘‘He is? Really?’’

‘‘I’ve known him since we were eighteen and twenty, Gabi, and I’ve caught him in more lies than his own mother. Why do you think he insisted we meet? He wants me to watch over you, so you don’t go around flirting wih other boys’’ Riot snorted, looking around. ‘‘He might even be here, spying on you as we speak’’

‘‘Well I’m glad he insisted we met each other, because I like you very much, Christine, and I’m glad we’re becoming friends!’’ The younger woman started gesticulating excitedly, her glass of beer completely forgotten. ‘‘Oooh, we should go on a double-date!’’

Riot almost choked on her coke.

‘‘Double date with whom?’’

‘‘With Ghost and Johnny! They’re best friends, it could be fun!’’

Christine wanted the ground to open and swallow her.

Now.

Immediately.

Please.

‘‘I don’t date’’

Gabi laughed, enjoying greatly how flustered her new friend was. She hadn’t seen her whole face yet, only glimpses here and there when they had met for drinks or dinner, slowly becoming friends in the last weeks and enjoying the company and conversation of another woman, and in that short time she had grown to appreciate Sergeant Vega’s personality. That’s why a fantastic, and completely not-wrong idea had started to form in her privileged brain.

‘‘What do you mean, you don’t date? You go somewhere every night at midnight when you aren’t deployed elsewhere’’

Riot could feel her cheeks reddening, and cursed herself and Gabi for being in that position. She went somewhere every night, deployed or not. Even when they had been in other bases, or camping during drills or training, Ghost always seemed to find his way to where she hid to smoke. It was a habit. An innocent one. It didn’t mean anything. Just keeping each other company.

‘‘I don’t date, I go to smoke’’ She insisted. ‘‘This is not a sitcom’’

The redhead just kept giggling, and Vega just groaned, looking down at the table.

‘‘Gabi, stop’’

‘‘I’m not doing anything!’’ Gabi laughed more at Christine’s affronted expression, and then raised her hands, surrendering. ‘‘Alright, alright, you don’t date, I’m sorry…’’

‘‘No one would…’’ Riot started, but stopped herself right after, her blue eyes cold and distant in just a second. She barely noticed it, but her fingers traveled up to her mask to place it back over her face, forgetting what was left of her drink. ‘‘Gabi, I…’’

‘‘You don’t have to explain anything! I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, sometimes my mouth is faster than my brain!’’ Gabi looked just a bit worried, and Christine chuckled softly, she didn’t want to make the other woman feel bad.

‘‘See? That’s why Johnny and you are made for each other… You share the same brain cell’’

‘‘Meanie!’’

Both women laughed, comfortable again with each other, ignoring the dying down chatter around them as people kept leaving and entering the bar. One song ended and another started, and Riot’s ears perked up, that one was one of her favourites… A bartender lowered the volumen for a second to warn the clientele that happy hour was finishing at midnight, right in fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes to midnight.

Shit!

‘‘Gotta go’’ Riot grabbed her jacket and her keys and phone, ignoring Gabi’s amused grin while the redheaded woman checked her watch.

‘‘Aww right, there goes Cinderella…’’

‘‘Fuck you, Gabi, see you tomorrow’’ Riot snorted at her comment, raising her mask to gulp down what was left of her coke. ‘‘Be nice to Johnny’’

‘‘Will do!’’

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘‘What the…? Where is she going? This is her favourite song!’’

Ghost looked up at Johnny, raising an eyebrow, and then turned slightly right on time to see Riot bolting out the door.

‘‘What song?’’

‘‘This cheesy one from that old film, Top Gun… Take my breath away’’ Soap’s voice reached a high pitch when he mockingly sang along with the singer ‘‘She used to listen to it on repeat all the time… Aw, well. Happy hour is finishing soon at midnight, Lt, want another?’’

Shit

‘‘Can’t, got things to do. See you at briefing, Johnny’’ Ghost stood up swiftly, pulling his hood over his head again, and patted Soap’s shoulder before rushing out.

He was still looking at the door, trying to process what happened, when Gabriela sat down in front of him with a cheeky smile.

‘‘Hello there, soldier, come here often?’’

Soap smiled wide, opening his arms pretending to be surprised.

‘‘Gabi! How nice to see you, what are you doing here?’’

‘‘Oh my God, Johnny’’ Gabi started giggling, and decided to take the situation further by standing up and moving to his lap, where he cradled her gladly. ‘‘Christine was right, you smile so wide when you lie that I can see all your teeth’’

‘‘Tsk, tsk, giving away my secrets…’’

Gabriela looked at him fondly, her hand creeping up his chest and up the collar of his t-shirt to end up cupping his cheek. Soap was completely enthralled.

‘‘Ask me again, Johnny’’

He knew right away, and the Scotsman’s face started to turn red, droplets of sweat already forming on his neck.

‘‘Are you going to say no again?’’

His throat felt dry as sandpaper when she shook her head slowly, her hazel eyes on his. He grabbed her hand on his cheek and softly kissed her fingers.

‘‘Can we… are we exclusive? I mean, can we just date each other? I mean…’’

‘‘Yes, Johnny’’ Gabi laughed softly, and then yelped when he pulled her down to crash his lips against hers in a long, passionate kiss that made her regret all her doubts. Why had she been that afraid? She adored him.

When Soap allowed her to breathe again, Gabi had a mischievous glint to her eyes that made him raise his eyebrows.

‘‘What?’’

‘‘Now that we’re officially dating, we could be good samaritans and spread our happiness, don’t you think?’’

Soap snorted, wrapping his arms around her waist to keep her close.

‘‘Right now the only thing I have to spread is good behaviour, Price is furious with me for the thing with the 56th jeeps’’

‘‘What did you do…? No, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know’’ Gabi laughed again. ‘‘You know, I’ve had this idea…’’

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 12.15am

Fuck

He wasn’t there.

Riot had hurried up as fast as she could, but the bar had been on the other side of the base, and when she finally got there, it was past midnight already.

Why am I disappointed?

She sighed and turned around to leave, her interest in smoking all but gone, but stopped in her tracks.

He was there. Approaching her from the side of the building, his brown eyes on hers. She was baffled to see that instead of his usual balaclava that she was so used to by now, he was just wearing a black fabric mask much alike her own. It felt… Riot couldn’t think of an appropriate word. Obscene? She was so used to see him completely covered.

When he stopped and lowered the hood of his black hoodie, she just stared at him, looking up due to their size difference, still unable to look away. His hair was a mix between dirty blonde or light brown, she wasn’t sure, but… she liked it. It suited him and his blonde eyelashes. The scars that she could see on his brows and what little of his skin she could see suited him too.The square jaw that the balaclava usually concealed suited him as well.

‘‘Sorry I’m late’’

Riot blinked. And then blinked again. Ghost’s voice was as deep and rumbling as always, with that low hidden growl behind it that was threatening for others, but she had never, not once, feared him. She wasn’t sure why.

‘‘I just arrived, I was late as well. I thought…’’

‘‘Never’’

Christ

Christine nodded, and then started to rummage through her pockets, searching for her cigarettes and her lighter. Ghost was still looking at her, his hands in his own pockets now.

‘‘Price is going to inform you tomorrow at briefing, but I wanted you to know it from me first’’

She stopped searching when he spoke again, waiting for him to continue, brows raised in confusion.

‘‘What is it?’’

‘‘We have a recon mission. Only two people, in an out, two, three days tops. You’re coming with me’’ Ghost took out his own cigarettes and handed one to her, who took it, still baffled, now even more so.

‘‘Price is sending me with you?’’

‘‘I asked him to send you with me. Original idea was going alone’’ He almost chuckled when her confusion was even more evident in her eyes. ‘‘It’s not a walk in the park, let me tell you. You are one of us now, you get into the ops’’

Riot sighed deeply, the unlit cigarette forgotten in her hand. A mission. She had grown… used to the training, the drills, the briefings, being comfortable in base or in the field with the rookies. It was routine. Should be predictable. She couldn’t fuck routine up.

‘‘Ghost, what if…?’’

‘‘Simon’’

She just stared at him, and was thankful for her mask because her mouth was open. She knew what his name was, it was on his file. She had never dared to use it, he had never introduced himself to anybody using it, and now, he was just throwing it in the conversation, as if he were talking about tomorrow’s weather.

And the fucker looked like he was enjoying himself. His eyes were slightly narrowed, maybe he was smiling?

‘‘You can call me Simon if we’re alone, or with Johnny. But not in front of others, if that’s okay with you’’

‘‘Call me Christine then’’ She managed to blurt out. ‘‘I’d prefer that to Riot if we are… if we are not with anyone else. And I wouldn’t mind anyway, just don’t go telling my name to terrorists’’

‘‘Deal’’ Simon chuckled, a low rumble coming from the depths of his chest. ‘‘Got a lighter then?’’

‘‘Yeah, I just seem unable to find… ah, here it is’’ She finally found her lighter in one of her jacket’s pockets, and lit her cigarette before handing it to him, moving until they were both facing the open field behind the building, side by side. ‘‘Hey, Simon?’’

‘‘Yes?’’

‘‘Why don’t cannibals eat divorced women? Because they’re bitter’’

Simon’s shoulder shook lightly while he was having a puff of his cigarette, the low rumble again coming from him. Christine smiled, looking up at the stars.

She had made him laugh.

[liliththunder]

Review on "A Girl Like Me 我就是这般女子" 2021

After watching the drama for the third time (first when it came out, somewhen in the year after and now)

Anyway just because it is soooooooooooo good, I could sit through the 40 episodes without having a second of boredom or cringe.

The drama has a rating of 8.1 on MDL, and an episode average of 9,0 (yes, I calculated this).

What makes it great? Everything.

It has chemistry, between the main couple, between family members, between enemies, between like everyone.

It has a natural flow and consistency of the story of the main couples relationship.

YOU KNOW IT'S WITHOUT MISUNDERSTANDINGS!!!! Tbh I feel like it is very trope free in general. (except for the I fall, you catch, but it gets a revenge, so it's fine)

The characters act naturally, consequetical and reasonable!

So let's go into more details:

Description The beautiful baroness, duchess, princess (She gets promoted a lot!) Ban Hua has skirted marital bliss three times. Her straight-shooting manner and explosive temper ensured that each relationship ended in disaster – for the potential grooms! Despite her awful reputation, she is quite well-meaning and thoughtful deep down. Of late, her dreams have been forecasting danger around every corner. She has interpreted them quickly in order to keep her family safe and to protect those around her. Her life changes forever when she meets Count Rong Xia, a young gentleman scholar whose family suffered a tragic fate. Rong Xia is on the hunt for answers regarding the past, namely the true identity of those responsible for his family’s demise, a secret long-kept from him. A friendship is formed, with Ban Hua determined to help Rong Xia learn the truth. As their alliance deepens, could this be a case of ´fourth time lucky’ for Ban Hua? (Source: MDL)

Characters: Ban Hua: - not educated in classical women arts (which is seen as her fault) - therefore trained in martial arts by her grandfather - has a high moral compass and sense of justice - is short tempered and likes complements - she comes of as arrogant at first - cares about nothing more than her family - likes fashion and wears several dresses throughout the series, like it seems natural? Rong Xia: - Daye's first gentlement, as he is first in all of the literature - he's very intelegent and sees through a lot things - his family got murdered and he's investigating to get revenge - upright and noble, calm character - quite inexperienced in love and sometimes acts silly Ban Heng & and the rest of the Ban family: - Ban Heng (younger brother), Lady Yin (mother), Ban Huai (father), Rocky and Softy (housemaids) - you have never witnessed such a wholesome family Shi Feixian: - fairest lady of Daye, Nr. 1 Lady in women's arts - has a crush on Rong Xia - believes in fate Ban Hua's younger cousin, Jiang Luo: - black sheep of the royal family Ban Hua's older cousin and crown prince, Jiang Zhang: - coward of the royal family The emperor (Jiang Rui): - rough but good guy Royal Princess (Ban Hua's and Ban Heng's grandmother, Ban Huai's mother, the emperor's aunt): - wise lady, widow of the late emperor - with clever wits and in younger years great resembles to Ban Hua in character Characters that are later revealed in the plot to be a certain way, I don't to reveal, except an honorable mention, because I love them: Du Jiu, Xie Wanyue, Xie Qinlin, Shi Jin, the empress, Father Xie, Akeqi

plot (spoilerfree) what I love about it the most, is the consistency, plot boxes that get opened get closed at different times. There does not exist an arc-sequencial plot the plot is woven into it from ending to beginning. Different factions do have different goals and agenda's at the same time, even though naturally sometimes those interests overlap. The story has a good moral and treasures characters as humans. Have I mentioned that there's NO "plot" caused by MISUNDERSTANDINGS???!!! It's amazing, even though they have to go different ways at some point due to lack of time to communicate, the FL trusts what she knows and loves about her partner. It's amazing.

actors from top to bottom the cast is great. Like really it is!!! It has Neo Hu and the less known Guan Xiaotong, who does an amazing job.

NOW GO WATCH IT. I WANT IT TO GET THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES!!!!!

I sincerely promise you it's a drama that wont leave you easily in a good way. It's like a warm blanket and makes you believe that maybe the world is not as bad.

(If you want use the messages space to tell me what your opinion about it is, also congrats you made it to the end)

[minti-tales]

10) finding their partner’s sex toy/toys and making them play with it in front of them for minti and krile

CW: Language, intercourse, consent between adults.

Sprout Safe! Ball's in your court, @ladyofvoss. I did what I could.

For the second time today, as it did every day in Pagos, snow blew past the wooden gates of Northpoint. The forecast called for more of the same, until a break in the afternoon for thunder, followed by a sudden heat wave, then a return to blizzards. The perfect weather to go looking for the voidsent slumbering at the center of the Isle of Val.

Only, today hadn't been a day for that. No, it was for something that could only come from the mind of a very sudsy blacksmith, Gerolt: strengthening the aether of a kettle, which would, in turn, strength the aether of an ancient Summoner spellbook.

Minti Chocolate, adventurer extraordinaire and loyal Gage Acquisitions employee, thought he was mad.

Gerolt, master blacksmith and crafter of relics, thought he was brilliant.

They agreed to disagree on the aethers of kettles and books, and went about their respective days far, far away from each other.

Minti, for her part, traveled about the southern slice of Pagos, narrowly avoiding two dragons, tangling with a mob of angry undead, and squashing a giant morbol that thought she looked delicious. There were bunnies, too, small ones that hopped this way and that, all the way towards treasure chests with gil and Eukrean potions.

Gerolt hammered away at his forge, stopping only occasionally to fill his beer stein with - what else - more beer. He'd be passed out near the lodges by the time Minti got back from her expedition, mumbling to himself and making little kissy noises that made the viera wrinkle her nose in disgust. "Oi, Rowena, I swear I'll come off the drink if only you'll have my hand in marriage. ...Truly? You meant that? Come an' kiss me...Twelve, that feels right.."

Thank the Twelve, indeed, that Minti wasn't going to see Gerolt, master blacksmith, for the rest of the day. She had plans.

---

In between trips to the four "forbidden lands" of the isle, Gage Acquisitions had constructed tents for their adventurers to use. Aside from Icepoint and Port Surgate, Pagos had the most comfortable of these, with dhamelskin leather for the outside, oak wood for the frame, and sheep's wool for a fluffy, warm innard. The tents had to be, given that the land was under the spell of blizzards and freezing cold bursts of wind most days of the year.

Most of GA had left Eureka for the season, gone off to parts unknown, promising to come back when "the weather got better." There was a voidsent and the rumors of a rogue Ascian on the isle, after all. Sadly, only a few had come back, leaving a circle of battered, empty tents out by Icepoint's walls and a firepit colder than Shiva's tits. Today, even the returners were gone off to Kugane, leaving only a single tent in use, with a swinging lantern on the outside to mark its occupancy.

The tent was shaking, but it wasn't due to the winter cold.

---

Minti Chocolate, adventurer extraordinaire, had her back arched against a soft pillow, her gear and smallclothes tossed off to the side. Her ankles were locked in black leather restraints, forcing her to lie down; her neck was in a frilly green "corset," making her look down; and her legs cradled an unassuming wooden model of Bismarck in flight.

On the opposite of her was Krile Baldesion, Student of Baldesion, adopted granddaughter of Galuf, and finder of the "stress relief" whale her partner brought along for the trip to Eureka. She, too, had stripped down, enough so that she could get up close to her bunny and emphasize just how much joy Minti brought her. How she needed Minti to obey.

How badly she needed to stop squirming.

"I can't help thinking that you're being a brat on purpose," Krile whispered into one of those big bunny ears, pushing Bismarck's "tail" into Minti. "Are you, dear?"

Minti moaned and shook her head.

"Good girl." The bunny got a little peck on her nose and cheeks, as a treat. "Big breath in-"

God, she's squirming. She likes this, right? Yes? Krile frowned and pulled the whale out, slightly. "More? You want more?"

The viera nodded.

"Alright, we'll do a little more. I'm so glad we found this in your bag. Aren't you glad, Minti dear?"

The books Krile needed for her trip could wait until the morning. Everything could wait.

Until tomorrow, there was a bunny to enjoy.

A Baldesion Happy Bunny.

[wickedsrest-rp]

Welcome to our WRW! We do these weekly to provide plot drops, challenges, and highlight starters. Anyone is welcome to use these bullet points. Let us know if you want us to include one of your setting-related plots in here for next week by sending us a bullet point!

The giant leg that erupted from the ground is like nothing anyone has ever seen before. Is it a coincidence that Wicked’s Rest is full of bad omens around the same time it showed up? Check out our current plot of the week of Season 2 for ways to interact!

Ring in the Spring! There’s a town picnic, a huge caterpillar infestation, and so much more in our seasonal event.

Another pancake ended up on the ceiling of Flipped, right next to Flappy. It was named Flippy, obviously. Flippy looks like it's about to fall, though, and frequenters of the diner are all trying to be the one Flippy lands on. There's probably space on the wall to commemorate such an occasion.

Normally an uncommon find, a handful of adder stones have washed up on the beach in a pile. What a handy thing to have! Just be careful when you grab one. A bean-nighe found the pile too, and might have you do something for her if you're going to take a stone home with you.

The recent humidity has caused some bloodbrumes to appear over bodies of water in town. These ones are much smaller than average, but also more numerous, and going by the weather forecast, the wind might just bring all of them together.

Complete challenges and claim prizes!. You can read more about how they work and what prizes are available here. Bonus challenges are an opportunity to earn an extra point per week but are harder or weirder.

This week’s challenge:

Initiate 2 IC convos on dash that refers to events in threads posted by other players

Bonus challenge:

The AU takes last week were fun! Let's hear about what your character would be like as another species - which one is fitting for them, and how would they be different? Share in the weekly challenges channel.

Regan is back from Ireland. With very important updates. And simulated humans.

Does anyone have a printer Sai can use? He was banned from the last one he had access to.

Mona needs to know your go-to foods to help cleanse her palette.

Send Elias your weird headlines. For science.

Teach Daphne how to Dougie Wormy.

Eleanore is back in town!

If you see any horse-shaped holes, let Ashton know.

Livia needs advice on how to deal with ungrateful hamsters. Hers is super rude.

The Wall of Shame at Flipped is no match for Daiyu. Meet her there to accept the challenge.

Pedro came across an odd looking plant. It's very sheep-shaped and he could use some advice.

[serenityreikiclinic]

Your forecast!

[digitalstowaway]

Farming au

Barnaby loves his horse. He's a good owner. He takes his boy everywhere.

But Kotetsu is more of the cowboy type. He really bonds with his girl. You can see him almost everywhere just slowly moving through town with her.

Rumors are that he used to be quite the talented rider. He'd lasso up livestock that got out of people's fields. He could herd cows back to their broken pastures.

One evening Barnany goes to check on his animals and bring them into their barn. The forecast calls for rain, and he doesn't want to wait much longer to get them in.

But he sees a broken fence and an empty field, and his heart sinks. He runs down his path. A cow. Two sheep. A goat. His horse--his boy. His mind is racing, his heart pounding. Who knows what trouble they've gotten into outside his farm.

The first thing he sees in the village is his cow and then Kotetsu, on his horse. He's darting around Barnaby’s cow, easing her back toward the farm.

Barnaby leads them back and gets her in her barn.

Kotetsu goes back to round up the others. He gets Barnaby’s horse last, finding him cowering near the beach. He reaches out and grabs her reigns--thank God Barnaby hadn't taken her saddle off for the night.

And he gets Barnaby’s horse back into the village and hands him off.

"You should keep an eye on those fences," Kotetsu says. "This is most we've worked out in years. I have to admit it was nice getting back into herding some farm animals."

Barnaby stares up at him. And Kotetsu says goodnight and turns his girl around with a grateful pat to her head and tells her it's time to go home for a rest.

[th3w3ird3nd]

Peachtober day 15: weather ☁️

I'm using the prompts as Halloween costumes so today we have a quick little digital sketch of some sheep dressed up as the weather forecast symbols

[bikepackinguk]

Day Fifty-one

After a very soggy day yesterday, and rain against the tent to sing me to sleep, I emerged this morning to a clear blue sky with the sun shining above the mountains and eagles crying overhead. Good morning!

Out from the green fields full of sheep and cattle, it's a short ride further to dip into the town of Taynuilt to use the facilities. Unfortunately, this is one if the very rare occasions where the water in the sinks at the public convenience are not suitable for drinking. Oh well! I have enough for the morning still, andcan sort that out later.

A short ride down the A road and the bike trail turna off to begin climbing up into Glen Nant National Forest. It's a beautiful tree-lined road but with some stiff climbs up through the valley, and the going isn't quick.

The slow going does mean I do at least spy a couple of red squirrels darting about to the side of the road. Nice!

After more work uphill the road finally gives a zooming downhill and around the corner emerges the impressively and aptly named Loch Awe, a 25 mile long body of water surrounded by forested hills.

And whilst those hills are very pretty themselves, it means a lot more work for the legs! Whilst there are some shorter ascents at first, the climbs begin in anger around Coillaig, with two big steep hills to slog up iver the course of the west side of the loch.

Around the top of the first hill I spy a nice looking stream bubbling its way downhill through the trees next to a layby, and with it hitting lunchtime I break out my water purification gear and get my water carriers filled up whilst getting some fuel in.

A very sharp descent takes the road racintback down level to the water for a flatter cruise past Dalavich, which offers a welcome break from the gradients.

It's only a short respite though, as the climb up through the trees befins in earnest once more, and despite the gathering clouds and wind taking the heat away from the air it's sweaty work despite the beautiful views.

Finally the hill is summited and begins a long, winding dive down to the end of the loch past Torran Bay and out into some nice country lanes.

There are some mild gradients present but after all the hills over the last few weeks, suddenly I'm riding along some lovely flat roads again! The Highlands were beautiful, stunning, and countless other descriptors, but the hills had become quite Sisyphean at this point, so getting some flat terrain now is a joy.

Onward! There's a brief spell if A road to contend with leading into Kilmartin, but it's not too horrible and I have a brief rest of the legs by the town itself, before the trail leads back off into the countryside.

A lovely long, flat, smooth stretch of road across Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve gives some nice therapeutic riding as the miles start to get eaten up, before a left turn at Bellanoch to something I haven't seen in months.

A canal towpath! The trail heads along the canalside here, up a short flight of locks and then it's time for a nice stretch of fully non-traffic flat riding, with the path surrounded by blooming flowers.

Those who know me know that I'm very fond of canals and so after the tough hills earlier, this is a great payoff to the effort of the day.

It's a lovely few miles ridden along here with swallows swooping over the water as I ride past Cairnbarn and spy a nice picnic bench by Lochgilphead which serves perfectly as a spot for a late dinner.

A few spots of rain begin to appear as I'm finishing up, and a check if the forecast shows a lot of rain heading in shortly, so I decide against heading on and get the tent pitched up by the canalside rather than have to setup in the pouring rain later. The timing proves fortuitous as the drops start to intensify just as I'm throwing my gear into the tent, and I dive in to get out of the weather for the rest of the evening.

Not too bad a day all told! I've been particularly happy to have had aome good stretches of flat ground to charge along. The weight on the bike does mean that steeper gradients make for damn hard work, and the last few weeks have had them in abundance. I'm sure I'll be facing plenty more yet, but it's been pleasing to have had some good stretches without them for a change.

TTFN!

[thealphabetter]

1/28/23

Flight TN (Air Tahiti) 101 has stopped in Papeete for a layover on the way to Auckland. 

Last night, I departed from SFO, and transferred planes at LAX.

I will spend a moment in Papeete before boarding a flight again, toward New Zealand, and the date line.

Once in Auckland, I will make my way to the harbor, to board the Majestic Princess. 

The scheduled departure of the boat was delayed by three hours, to 10 P.M., due to weather conditions. 

There is a fair chance of rain on most of the days that I could check the forecast for in New Zealand and Australia. 

On the way here, I watched Elvis, read some of Doctor Zhivago, and listened to downloads. 

1/29/23

Arrival in Auckland is met with transportation to the Auckland harbor. 

It takes very little delay to gather myself after the flight and the change in time. 

Many of the arriving flights had been delayed or rescheduled, according to signage at the airport, due to the flooding of the runway.

I board the Majestic Princess, unpack, shower, and tour the ship’s amenities. This includes a trip to the bar, and the consumption of four Long Island Iced Teas. Shortly after, I am able to sleep, after I last woke in California, on the 27th.

1/30/23

It was past midnight when I woke up and noticed that the ship was in motion. I laid awake for a moment before deciding upon staying conscious. I ordered a veggie burger and an Americano, walked to the deck to see the ship’s wake, and then to the other side of the boat, to stop by the casino. It was closed.

The ship would broadcast the NFC Championship at 9 A.M. in the morning, after my breakfast. As the game went through the first quarter, I watched the ship turn into its port in Tauranga. I watched the game from a hot tub until half-time, at which point I changed clothes and ate on the deck, until the third quarter of the game. 

It was about a half-mile walk to the trails, the name of the mountain (a.k.a. Mount Maunganui or “The Mount”) that overlooks the peninsula and harbor of Tauranga. I hiked up one side, and saw some sheep along the way. I walked down another trail that led me to the other side of the Tauranga peninsula. 

I walked alongside the beach, into a mini-peninsula off the main beach. I did some window-shopping through the mid-peninsula before finding myself near the boat. It was simpler to board again, eat again, and fall asleep for a while. When I woke up, in the evening I ordered five plates of food to the room, and finished the meal while watching Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. 

It was early enough, when the movie was over, to get drinks at the bar, and check out the Freddie Mercury tribute concert at the Princess Theater. 

1/31/23

The day was highlighted by a scheduled trip to the Hobbiton movie set, the filming location for the setting of the Shire in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. 

Before I left the ship for the drive to the set, I watched the beginning of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, until the moment right before Bilbo decides to embark on the journey with the dwarves. 

The set is located on a farm, past a range of mountains when traveling from Tauranga. 

The tour began highlighting areas where specific scenes from the movies were shot, and the discussion of camera techniques used in the movie. Different areas on the set were sized proportionally, to make any character appear larger or smaller in respect to it. 

I could recognize these settings, and took many photos. The tour went around the set, and ended near the Green Dragon Inn, where I was served, by our tour guide, Calen, a cup of ale.

The drive to and from the set took about an hour and 15 minutes each way. The driver discussed major exports of the area, including timber, kiwi fruit, and dairy products. I recognized the Zespri brand name as we passed by the office building for the kiwi fruit company. 

Return to the ship was followed by a meal and the next hour of the first Hobbit movie. I then went to the indoor pool for what was around two hours. Patrick McCullough performed in the Princess Theater in the evening. 

2/1/23

The journey’s first full day at sea would consist of traveling from Tauranga to Wellington. It started early, with breakfast, but with little other activity until my visit to the casino. My initial $20 AUD transfer was gone in just a few spins. I waited to eat at Alfredo’s, where I would eat three times throughout the day. I resumed gambling, maintaining a bank for the slots while losing at the tables. I eventually hit a slots bonus that brought me to $280 AUD, after I had put in $140 AUD in total. 

I watched the Maori ambassador’s presentation on traditions and mythology in the Princess Theater. This was followed by my next visit to Alfredo;’s, in the ship’s atrium. It was in the atrium that I then participated in a Haka dance with the ambassadors. Crew members began to set up a champagne waterfall, which I watched through, nearly to its completion. At 6:30 P.M., the officers of the ship were introduced at the waterfall ceremony. I took a glass of champagne from a nearby server and sat at Alfredo’s again. I began watching Alien: Covenant, but not to its conclusion, before the night ended. 

There was a musical performance in the Princess Theater. I found it happening after participating in the guessing contest for the weight of a pig-sculpture in the art studio. 

2/2/23

I have found myself waking up early, as was the case today. Upon arrival  in Wellington, I am ready to explore the city. The bus takes me near the cable car, which runs up a hill to the botanical gardens. These gardens run towards the side and down the hill, and included native NZ species of flora, and more - a herb garden, rose garden, and greenhouse with a pond full of guppies. The downhill trail ends back near the parliament building, which I detoured around. I walked closer to the harbor-coastline area to the Maritime Museum. There were a few objects of interest there. A walk along the coastline took me to the Te Papa Museum, which exhibited nature-science, a NZ WWI display, abstract art, traditional Maori pieces and more. The bus to the ship gathered passengers right behind the museum. Back on the boat, I took a moment to decide whether to watch the movie being shown on the deck, Dakota, before changing, and watching it from a hot tub. I met two, from Korea, in the tub.

I went to the atrium, alternated alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks three times, for six drinks total, before getting two Americanos saturated with brown sugar. The live music was okay. I watched the rest of Alien: Covenant and slept. 

2/3/23

Another early day started at 5:30 A.M., until the hills around our destination port appeared around us at breakfast. The timing would allow for a load of laundry to be completed while the ship docked. In Port Shakespeare, shuttle buses took cruise-ship passengers to the town of Picton. A primary glimpse into the ocean water, from the Picton harbor beach, was very red - what I understood to be red algae. I kept walking for what was at least 2.5 hours round-trip. 

It began to rain, most heavily when I decided to turn around, at the viewpoint on the trail labeled as the viewpoint for Queen Charlotte’s Sound. My shoes were a little moist, as was my passport, when I ended up back at the harbor. The couple I had met the day prior offered a pint of beer, which I drank rather quickly, before asking where I could get some soda. There was a nearby sandwich and soda shop. I stopped by, and walked through the street full of souvenir shops and restaurants, before ending up at a store, where I bought a bottle of Lawson’s Dry Hills Reserve Pinot Noir. Ideally, I would have gone on some sort of wine tour, but I did not. I was allowed to bring the wine back on board the boat. 

The ship leaves Queen Charlotte Sound and turns right, to navigate southward on the southern island. It is picturesque, and I combine sightseeing from the lido deck with drinks from Alex and Whinn at the atrium’s Vines bar. 

2/4/23

The ship docked in Lyttleton harbor, and I was in the initial queue to go ashore. Shuttles awaited for the journey into Lyttelton or Christchurch. Notes from my booked tour instructed me to board for Lyttelton and transfer in the port-city. 

The tour bus went north around Governor’s Bay before taking the road over the mountain range that divides Christchurch from Lyttelton. Descent into Christchurch gave way to a view of the mountain-park for mountain bikers and zip-liners, and a more distant picture of Christchurch and New Zealand’s Alps. A stop was made for this moment, to observe. 

Scottie, the tour guide, drove onto the streets of Christchurch while beginning to explain the effect of the hundreds of earthquakes that struck the city between 2010 and 2012. 70% of the city was rebuilt since that time, into the present day, in which the city has been reopened to cruise-ship passengers for its first year since. A wall of names downtown commemorates those lost. 

Free time in the city would consist of walking by that memorial and along the river. This was followed by a few moments at the botanical gardens. There is much evidence of the effect that the earthquakes had still. In the more suburban areas, less so, as the “red zone” now delineates the area in which construction cannot take place due to risks, in the event of another earthquake. This zone was quite large, and took up most of the trip on our way to the beach in Brighton. 

A few more winding roads through the jagged peninsulas wold lead to the port-city where we landed. I had a moment to stop at Eruption Brewing to down a lager on the deck. 

There was a moment in the evening, at the Vines bar, as I read the next pages of Zhivago. This was followed by another moment, as I looked out the window to see three animals, apparently, jumping through the ship’s wake. I could identify the animal in the third instance as a penguin. 

I kept drinking and eating, watched Morbius on the pool deck, and checked out the late-night dance in the atrium before calling it a night. 

2/5/23

The ship docked at Port Chalmers in the early morning.

Upon entering the port-city, I walked through the main city street, up through a path by the Presbyterian Church, and to a garden that house a lookout over the harbor, the dock, and city hall. Buses were ready to take passengers to the city of Dunedin. The city center is an octagon-shaped block with a road for buses going horizontally through. It was pretty early in the morning, on a Sunday, and I would need to walk the same path twice t be there for various sites’ hours of operation. These sites included the rail station, the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, and the Chinese Garden. I visited three churches, the First Church of Otago, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the St. Joseph Cathedral. I attended mass at St. Paul’s until the communal prayers, then walked to the St. Joseph Cathedral, just before communal prayers. 

I walked back to the octagon, and had fish and chips at a place called Social Club. This was followed by a visit to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. This would conclude my visit to the city, as buses to the ship departed from the octagon. 

I stayed wake into the early hours of the next morning, as the DJ took over the atrium/dance floor per usual. Midnight marked the arrival of my birthday.

2/6/23 - 2/8/23

It was a rather late night, the previous night. 

Three days were spent to cross the Tasman Sea, into Australia. 

I dined at the Crown Grill for my birthday festivities. The next day’s dinner would be in the Symphony Dining Room. On the next, dinner was at the Harmony Restaurant. The food at all three locations on the ship was delectable. 

My stateroom is located near the front of the ship, which can apparently rock with the waves, as the ship presses forward. The movement could have been worse, but it did not go unnoticed. We were quite close to Tasmania on the night before we got there, and the going was pretty easy, much of the early morning consisting of cruising through the bay and into the Hobart port. 

2/9/23

Dawn arrives as the ship arrives in the port of Hobart. I watched the ship dock in the morning light. The groups for excursions into Tasmania are assembled in the Princess Theater. Several groups prepare to board buses to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. I had looked into this excursion for an opportunity to see Tasmanian Devils. This was the first instance in which I had done so. There were several species native to Australia there as well, an abundance of kangaroos, some emus, birds, etc. We were bussed back towards the ship, stopping by the bridge for a photo-op across the bay from Hobart. 

The bus dropped us off at the port, there was still about six hours to walk through the city. I started west, towards the other side of the port, and out into the respective peninsula. The University of Tasmania is located there, and a little further is a residential area in which I found a hotel bar that poured me a Cascade, a native Tasmanian beer. The path would lead back towards but past the ship, through downtown Hobart past various athletics facilities, through a fallen soldiers’ memorial, to a track meet in progress. This path continued through to the botanical gardens. I would check the time to be back on the boat, stopping by the war memorial, the ANZAC eye. 

The Hobart Brewing Co. is located right next to the port, and I stop for a flavored beer. 

2/10/23

The last day of the cruise is a day at sea, between Tasmania and Sydney. It is a fairly good moment. I found myself on the deck at times, in the atrium as the choir sang Oklahoma!, and dining in the Allegro Dining Room that evening. I had barramundi. The Noordam cruises alongside us, I observed, as the evening continued. 

2/11/23

We arrived in the port of Sydney at around 5 A.M. I am ready to leave with my disembarkation group at 8 A.M. It’s a pretty good feeling, sunrise over the Sydney Opera House. I am not feeling any fatigue. The deal I booked online was a bus pass/hostel package, with plenty of distance to cover up the east coast of Australia. Accommodations are about a mile inland, near Town Hall. I dropped off my bags at the Nomads Hostel location and begin my first day of two in Sydney. Proceeding east past Town Hall is the ANZAC War Memorial and the botanical gardens. Along the path northward is the Art Gallery of New South Wales, made up of two separate buildings. There are a few nice pieces there, I’m not sure I recognized any in particular, maybe some artists here and there. I continued north through the gardens and past the Opera House again, towards the Sydney Harbor Bridge. At this moment in the day, I do not have any time constraints, but the walk over the bridge and back to the hostel took about 2 hours. It’s at this moment that I get ready to attend the performance of La Boheme at the opera house. This preparation includes the consumption of Somersby cider and jalapeño poppers at the hostel bar. 

2/12/23

I made the route out to take for the second and last planned day in Sydney. It was through to the west via train to to the Olympic park, and then after a walk through it, a ferry ride back to the quay. It was a pretty lengthy trek. The bus left at 7 P.M., which left me some time to visit Bondi Beach, walk around there, and take the bus and subway back to the city center where I had left my bags, and where the Greyhound bus would depart from. 

2/13/23

The bus ride has taken about 19 hours to Brisbane. This area of Australia is made up of national parks and Eucalyptus forests. I looked out the window for a good while until it was overwhelmingly dark outside, at which point I watched the last two episodes of the National Treasure series on my phone. Traffic increased as we approached the city of Brisbane. The Super Bowl was occurring, and I listened in. When I arrived, I walked to the Nomads hostel, and left my bags there before check-in at 3 P.M. The central business district is pretty nice, and it is fairly hot outside - I stopped by Starbucks for a refresher and an ice-water. The city is built alongside a river, and there’s a smaller arts part of the city as well on the other side of the river from the business district. This evening walk included three museums, a cozy park, and a ferris-wheel ride. I got a ticket for an evening concert - classical music, a chamber orchestra led by violinist Ilya Gringolts. I walked back to the hostel, checked in, showered, and got sushi. Then, I went to the concert. 

2/14/23

The Brisbane train station is one block from the hostel. I got a vending machine espresso drink from the station before departing towards the Australia Zoo. I had seen a few episodes of Crikey! It’s the Irwins before my trip started. It was a good stop to make. I went around the zoo and ended up in the middle of it, where the crocodiles were. The crocodiles were from Australia, some with backstories on display. I liked the alligators as well, and they were from the U.S.A. I got an Icee by the African savannah exhibit, where there were zebras, giraffes, and rhinos. There was a tiger feeding. I got a salad before the Crocoseum show - trained birds flying from trainer to trainer, and crocodile feeding. There was a moment to stop by the animal hospital before going back to Brisbane. I had potato gnocchi for dinner. 

2/15/23

It was a pretty nice, early morning. I got some fruit buns at Woolworth’s grocery store before my bus to Airlie Beach. This bus ride would take the rest of the day and the morning of the next. I got a long black from the station cafe. The Dallas Stars played, and I listened to that. I revisited some of my Youtube Music listening history from two or three years ago. This included “Moonshadow” by Cat Stevens., and “Let Me Go” by Alesso, Hailee Steinfeld, and Florida-Georgia Line. 

2/16/23

Once in Airlie Beach, I decided to go on a boat ride to a nearby island. This is the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. The boat, the Camira, sailed out to Whitsunday Island. We anchored by one side of the island to snorkel, and I made use of my underwater camera in pursuit of some colorful marine life. Once anchored by another part of the island, we hiked up to a lookout over the beach, and walked down to it as well. Lunch for me was a veggie burger. I tried the Strongbow and the Great Northern Brewing Co. “Super Crisp.” In the evening would be a moment to walk through Airlie Beach - the pools, the beach, and the harbor, where I got a pizza. The hostel pool area was closed, but I sat down and almost fell asleep there.

2/17/23

The bus to Townsville departed at 9:50 A.M., by which time I had walked through the town again, to McDonalds, Woolworth’s and a pharmacy, where I got a pin with turtles on it, for my backpack. The bus ride there took about five hours. The bus station is linked to the ferry system between the town and Magnetic Island, where I planned to stay for two nights. I stopped by the hostel, but I had forgotten to make a reservation. The other hostel on the map was in Picnic Bay, about a mile away. I walked with a resident on the trail there. The island is pretty nice, not too populated, and I had a squash salad and a beer flight at Maggie Island Brewery - a fresh cucumber beer stood out - the last one on the flight. After that, I did the laundry, considering the hike to West Point, as it began to rain. 

2/18/23

Early morning, I had the cup ramen noodles I had, and waded in the pool with Louie, an Australian Shepherd. He swam across a few times, but I was preparing for my trip to Horseshoe Bay, on the other side of the island. This hike would start at the bay and go around the outer side to the north-east, down south, and towards the lookout, located closer to the center of the island, up a long flight of stairs. Adam, from the hostel, told me that I should bring carrots for the rock wallabies, if I intended on feeding them. I got these from the store at Horseshoe Bay. I walked on the trail as it presented itself, and although it was raining, I enjoyed looking at the beachfronts and flora. The informational guidepost mentioned that this island was a precautionary WWII lookout, used both by Australian and U.S.A. soldiers in that time. The lookout at the top was just two buildings. The Magnetic Island National Park entrance was nearby, where I waited for the bus. I rode to the south-eastern part of the island where the rock wallabies lived. I fed one a carrot immediately, gave one to some tourists who had scootered there, and with no other wallabies around, ate the last one. I missed the next bus back to Picnic Bay. There was a store nearby, where I got pasta, sauce, sour skittles, cheese, chips, and pineapple juice. I waited by the bus stop as the rain stopped and started again, before the next bus. I shared the pasta with some tourists from Germany. 

2/19/23

I woke up in time to swim at the Picnic Bay beach, and then again at the hostel pool with Louie. I took the 10 A.M. ferry back to Townsville, and walked through a memorial park. I got a pizza by the Townsville beach, and some ice cream after that. The bus to Cairns would be at 2:40 P.M., and I walked the beach for a bit, got some beers as UFC played on T.V., and wandered back to the station. It was nighttime in Cairns when I got there.

2/20/23

The early morning consisted of breakfast at McDonalds, by the harbor, where I boarded the Evolution to scuba-dive. The bus stopped at two different locations for diving and snorkeling. We were given some instruction on how to dive, on the way there.I opted to dive twice. The first time I dove, a fellow diver, Josephine, and I linked arms with an instructor. We descended, and some things that stood out to me were the shark, and a fish that followed me about the size of my upper body. After the dive, I snorkeled. The ship, the Evolution, moved to its next location, the North Hastings Reef. This location had more coral, and we dove in a group of five, including the instructor. We saw a few more colorful fish, a few giant clams, sea cucumbers, and two more sharks. Both dives were about 15-20 minutes. I snorkeled again, after removing the self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. I saw a turtle, a lone jellyfish, and a few fish by the boat that looked like Dory from Finding Nemo. The ship made its way back to Cairns, where I received my PADI certificate for my dive. I stopped by a restaurant for some fried seafood and a XXXX beer, then got some gelato, proceeding to walk the length of the beach and turn around towards the hostel.

2/21/23

I opted not to go to the rainforest/gondola-trip nearby, where I was aware of a koala sanctuary. I got a falafel wrap, and proceeded to the Cairns Aquarium. It was a good way to wind down the trip, looking at the fish and turtles. I looked into the Carins Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where we saw two turtles. Carlotta was missing a left flipper, and was adjusting to swim without it. There was another turtle that had a balance issue due to one of the pressure systems in the head. I went back to Gilligan’s for the afternoon, and went to the pool. I drank a lot that evening, and got drinks for some of my roommates. 

2/22/23

My flight home would be at 6:10 P.M., and I walked all the way to the airport from the hostel, through the inner city instead of the beach, and through the Cairns Botanic Gardens and rainforest. I got there at around 2 P.M. I got some food and beer, a few mementos from the airport shop, and boarded the flight to Singapore. I would arrive there at around 11:00 P.M. 

2/23/23

Early morning, and I have gotten on a train to the city, but I mistook which stop to transfer, and was stranded, as that was the last train. I exited the station and waved down a cab. I explained what I wanted to do in Singapore, and he took me where I wanted to go. We stopped first by the Gardens by the Bay, where the park structures were unlit. I ran around the park for a bit, then we proceeded to a lookout, where the Sands, the harbor, and the dam between the river and the sea were visible. We drove through the inner city, and stopped at Little India to eat. I had seafood noodles, the driver had an egg dish. We had some coffee, and I was not allowed to pay for the meal. The driver stopped by to get gas, as we went back to the airport. My flight would leave from Terminal 3. Most of the airport was closed, but I went to the Jewel and fell asleep in there for a few hours, where the waterfall would run, but was not for the night hours. A few more hours would conclude the trip. 

[hercrusadesheep]

Summer days by her crusade sheep

 “hello! everybody today’s forecast in Ohio looks like it is 65°! It will be a hot summertime day, so you and you’re family can enjoy the weather by the pool”- * click *  I took a deep breath in  staring back at the blank tv screen as I fell backwards into my lukewarm bed  Summer has just begun, and I felt spaced out  my eyes were heavy from the lack of sleep I have indulged myself into and mine noisy neighborhood and others out cries of joy. I finally gather myself up and went out to the park  they were many children and families out and about grilling food, blowing bubbles, playing games and cranky old metal swinging back-and-forth, The trees were large with beautiful green leaves blowing up from the sky The peak of sunlight dominated them showing Little to no empathy for those in on this rock we call earth i sat upright against a tree trunk I pull my legs up to my chest  taking out a long, deep sigh I wish I had someone too pass by this wicked heat and summer I thought  while I was maintaining my deep thoughts a ball hit my head flying me over to the ground I rub my head feeling a dreadful pain coming in. I picked myself up grabbing the ball, harshly I yelled WHO THREW THIS BALL?! While I was looking for a suspect I feel a hand grabbing my shoulder  I flip my head over to become face to face with a boy I never seen before, he had long jet black hair, dark brown eyes with glasses he smiles and softly says oh god I’m so sorry it hit you, does it hurt love? His voice was like butter with a side of bread my heart pounded in my chest

I shook my head no as i started to draft my thoughts on him. he laughs and gave out his hand aren’t you gonna give me my ball? I jumped out of my la la land and immediately blushed red I quickly returned the ball and left later that night, I couldn’t stop thinking of him. His voice, his eyes,his smile was driving me  insane I needed to know him but the problem is, I don’t even know where he’s from or what school he goes to  maybe tomorrow he’ll be at the park again I thought , as I slowly drifted into a deep sleep  The next morning came by it was 1105 AM I Hurled myself out the door jogging back to the park, as I made it to the park there was no soul too be seen I looked everywhere for a dark haired boy but to no avail, he wasn’t there

Empty..it’s empty I said sadly i turned away from the parks with my head swinging down like a scarecrow without looking , I bump into a chest I almost fall until I feel strong yet soft hands catch me IT WAS HIM!! I blushed and quickly pulled myself out of his hold, he looks confused and continues to stare until a lightbulb clicks hey you’re that girl from yesterday aren’t you? He says. his head was Tilted over as if he was a puppy I let out a nervous laugh and nodded my head agreeing in response

He chuckles and asks, what are you doing in the park so early?  my heart jumped out of my mouth

I can’t tell him that I was looking for him. It be creepy i thought but with my dumb self, I accidentally said it out loud I slap my hands to my mouth glancing up at him. he laughs and asked I wanted to hung out I took the invitation and walked in with this mysterious boy hey, I forgot to tell you my name is Jason, what’s yours.? He asked happily I nervously lick my lips and quietly said mary he smiles and grabs my hands and says that’s a pretty name for a pretty girl i smiled and giggled he runs off to the swing set to ride as I follow closely too push him behind, as we both took turns it was getting dark we walked home chatting and viewing the sunset

Authors note: something like this picture

We made it back to our neighborhood comes to find out, he lives in the same area! before I could open up my front door he grasps my back pulling me into his face glueing his lips into my own they were soft like clouds I melted into his arms and gently pulled away with redness covering my face he chuckled and said will I see you tomorrow morning miss mary?

Yes..you will I said softly he grins gently and pulls in for one more bite then left. I enter my room falling onto my bad, my face ached in pain how much I was smirking I was in complete blissful joy as I slowly faded away into dream world I had my last thought’s

I think. I’ve found my someone… he’s mysterious yes, but yet so incredibly beautiful..I need him, I’m in love with a mystery…

The end



[charlesandmartine]

Friday 17th February 2023

This and the previous property's water supply comes from the sky. Huge tanks in the garden harvest rainwater for drinking as well as all the other household requirements. These tanks here are running low, and if significant amounts of rain are not delivered soon, they will need topping up by truck at cost. This is not seen as being a popular pastime. Rains are forecast in 4 weeks time.

We had set targets for today that could be considered unrealistic. Our journey from Tuncurry to Yamba was to be something slightly less than 5 hour straight and 430kms up the fast A1 Pacific Highway, which is a long way for us in one day. Complicated of course because we wanted to stop on route to take a look at a couple of places. The first must see place had to be the lunch spot in Nambucca Heads, conveniently situated at the head of the Nambucca River but an absolutely delightful collection of sandbanks and natural harbour. Ham & egg sandwiches are an excellent match for the scenery on offer. What with the visit to the bakery added to the consumption time I think we are now talking overall 6 hours with less than halfway. Our next stop was to be Bellingen at the start of the Waterfall Drive. This unsurprisingly involved driving down a road surrounded by waterfalls and comes well recommended. Bellingen is a town that absolutely confirms everything we like about Australia! It is a comely mainstreet of old traditional shops with covered walkways, banks and cinema; balconies with delicate regency iron fretwork which adds a real charm to it. Apparently some town planners are keen to rip the lot down and replace it with modern stuff identical to everywhere else. Thankfully there is sufficient opposition to this viewpoint to hold this sacrilegious act at bay. But for how long we ask? The tourist information lady was very helpful when asked where best to sample the loveliest of her waterfalls and she immediately began scooping copious piles of leaflets, printouts, maps and instructions suitable for a fortnight stay. Another approach was proffered; if you could do just one of these places, which would it be? So that was how we ended up driving up the Dorrigo Mountain to see the Crystal Shower Falls Walk in the Dorrigo National Park Rainforest. This involved a 3km round trip along tall canopied forest paths winding steadily downwards passing palms and yellow cedars until we heard the sounds of running water. The Crystal Shower did not disappoint, especially the ability to clamber behind the falls to view the falling water from the other side. Fantastic and well worth the hike back up the winding forest path, although now making the overall journey time approach 8 hours.

Thus it was that we arrived in our superb Samsara Bush Retreat cabin just before dusk, tired and very hungry. We didn't fancy cooking at this point so we emptied the Nissan and set coordinates for what looked essentially the nearest thing to a fish and chips restaurant. This somewhat morphed into a hotel by the motorway bridge over the river. Dispell all cosy thoughts of country hotels straightaway. Think more in terms of cowboy town hotel, cattle rustlers and karaoke. Then combine this with trying to converse over a cacophony of country music (term loosely applied) with a Sheila, who's already had a tough day sheep wrestling, with an intention of ordering take away F&C. What did come across in clear dulcet tones was: 30 minutes, busy and that'll be 50 bucks! Waiting the required 'go out and catch fish, fillet and cook' time we investigated the possibility of a supply of SB. This was to romp in at 38 bucks a bottle! Well you have to crush the grapes, ferment etc, all costs I suppose. So we approached what must have been Sheila's sister behind the bar to enquire if she might possibly have a bottle of beer. What do want, what you got, no what do you want? This circular discussion continued a while until we suggested Four X. Then with a look, she disappeared out back somewhere (not the outback, although by the amount of time it took it could have been) she emerged with a cold one.

Our landlord suggested later this was the best place to go in this sugar mills district where clearly the entire town of millers come out on a Friday evening to let their hair down.

Hmm