#UK Rail Tours

[trainphilos]

...of Anoraks, Pufferküsser and Tragics!

A short foreword and explanation: My friend Michael in London has been doing a blog since blogs became a thing. He started out to review, comment on and complain about all things Apple. Hence the blog’s URL: www.macfilos.com. However over the years his obsession with photography and cameras, in particular Leica equipment, became the main focus of his blog. The blog name stayed the same, but it is…

[thanosscross]

Better as team - Pre Squid game!Choi Su-Bong/Thanos x reader

Summary: In Thanos fashion of being different, he managed to pull one of the biggest rappers in America and UK, despite his very odd and unhinged behavior, upcoming singer/rapper Y/n has no issue sharing the spotlight with her boyfriend

Warnings: None really other than Thanos's drug use, just some funny sweet pre games! Thanos! <3

A/n: So I had to take a different approach because Thanos doesn't really have any songs by the character, so I took a route with some of T.O.P's music, making Nam-Gyu this universe's G-dragon for some songs, so let me know what you think <3

Long distance was hard, especially whenever your fiancée lived in Korea currently, even if you moved everything of yours in his house, you were still forced to be in America or part of the United kingdom most of the time touring, recording, or filming. You never knew how to fix it until Su-Bong decided to step into the rap game himself, you were happy to support him, even collaborating with him on a lot of your songs, even if it was just back-up vocals.

Your fans were quick to fall in love with Thanos in the same way you did, but they didn't see the sweet vulnerable of him, only a few thousand of your friends saw the true Thanos, and that was at his first show with you.

As the giant props slid open revealing you and Thanos you were immediately shocked by how loud the screaming truly was, You jumped off the platform, starting to sing along with the track that played in your ear piece, as you heard Thanos rap his verse, you noticed he was still on the platform, holding onto the railing tightly. The entire show Thanos was glued to you on stage, either holding your hand, or just being near you. The more you preformed though, the more Su-bong found his groove on stage, allowing you both to have a lot more freedom and fun on stage as you sung with him.

You had just released your first single for the year, it wasn't your best work, but your fans seemed to like it a lot, including your fiancée. So as you preformed it on stage, following your choreography that you practiced hours beforehand, You shoved your finger to Thanos's chest as you rapped your verse, once you ended it and the instrumental played for a moment you walked away, pointing towards the camera blowing it a kiss before Thanos quickly picking you up running down to the end of the stage smiling "No! Thanos!" You shouted holding onto him "Take care of my girl!" He shouted before gently handing you over to crowd surf, you squealed, nervous about falling and being swarmed, Thanos watched closely as he starting rapping his verse, following you along on the stage "Alright give me her back! You're gonna hurt her!" Thanos jokingly shouted reaching out into the crowd, you thanked everybody as they helped you over the barrier, back on stage.

Once Thanos started making his own singles, it made everything a new type of fun. He had multiple, Doom Dada, Turn it up, Knock out, and Zutter, some that you'd occasionally have verses in, others were solely Thanos, others he had his friend sing with him, and you couldn't be more proud of him. As you stood on the platform you smiled at your fiancée watching him rap, with his friend, hearing the familiar lyrics to Zutter you swayed your hips to Su-Bong's, as much as he annoyed you, he was always hot on stage, his bad boy act he did was always adorable. As he continued moving his hand along with his words he made his way to you, bringing you over with him to the center of the stage, basically using you as his back up dancer, you laughed at him glancing at his friend who just laughing sticking his tongue out to motion he had taken his stupid cross necklace with him to the concert. As you held his hand you mimicked the dancer who was a few feet in front of you with Nam-Gyu, bending at the waist and swaying your hips, Thanos just smirked, it making him even cockier if ever possible. As you spun around to get in line with the others to blend out of the dance, Thanos just pulled you close to him as he squatted down to rap to some of the girls up front against the barricades. You wanted to strangle him, but instead just continued until the song ended, Nam-Gyu going backstage while his next single came on, you walked around, purposely trying to match the moves your chorographers showed you to 'compliment' each other during verses and songs.

As you finished your show, you felt as if you were going to pass out, saving your most upbeat songs for the very end was a mistake, You laid on the stage floor, the curtain had been closed for awhile, the fans all funneled out not long ago, but the floor was so cool against your face "Sunflower, What're you doing on the floor?" Thanos asked approaching you with your coat "I'm so hot, and so tired" You groaned, not wanting to move yet, Thanos just sighed pulling you to your feet raising his eyebrows as your head fell back in exhaustion "I wanna go home" You groaned smacking his side playfully, he just laughed wrapping your coat around your shoulders along with his arm, leading you out to the tour bus "Come on, we can sleep in here, until we get to the hotel" He offered shutting and locking the door after you walked in, you nodded, crawling into the bed placed in the back of the tour bus, Su-bong not far behind.

Your California shows were even more exhilarating, because of your and your boyfriend's hometowns, your guy's music reached to all different areas of the world, making you both known internationally. As you stood on the stage you stood in shock at how huge the arena was "I think this might be our biggest show, Baby" You stated noticing your purple haired boyfriend making his way to the stage floor "Holy shit!" He shouted, spinning around, his little rapper heart exploding at just the size of the place, not to mention that you were sold out, so they were all there for you and him. You smiled walking over to him giggling "We still have mic check" You reminded, he just turned pulling you closer to his body "This is fucking amazing" He whispered pressing his lips to yours, you happily kissed back, never noticing your other band mate walking out "Holy shit, guys!" Nam-Gyu shouted before noticing the both of you "Guys! We have mic check! Not mouth check!" He groaned, going to grab all the microphones from the stage manager.

The show is crazy for you at least, everybody was screaming and singing along, the vibes between the three of you on stage was perfect, everything was going right and you could tell it made the three of you even more pumped. As you jumped around singing along with Thanos to your shared song 'high high', you weren't very open about your sex life, but you had a character to play on stage, using your bisexuality show mainly in your songs. As you got to the chorus you had to hold back a laugh watching Nam-Gyu jump onto Thanos's back as he sang with his friend, Smirking making your way to the edge of the stage, offering your hands to your fans as the boys continued singing. As the show continued you stopped for a moment to breathe "You guys wanna hear my favorite song?" You asked teasingly into your microphone, the crowd screamed loudly in response, Your fiancée's eyes snapping over to yours "Only if Y/n does the chorography right" He replied, his voice deep as he looked up to you through his lashes, you rolled your eyes going to your marker as Knock out started to blare through the speakers. You moved with both boys as they sung, you microphone sitting with your stage manager so you wouldn't risk dropping it. You giggled a bit as you shifted to the left and right quickly with the beat of the music, watching Nam-Gyu make his way to the end of the stage with his verse, as Thanos started up he kept eye contact with you, going along with the track in his ear. You weren't sure what to do for a moment, seeing him going off the dance you rehearsed was confusing, but you quickly got back into it as Nam-gyu made his way back over, following his rehearsed part at least. You kept eye contact as you swayed your hips to your fiancée's verse, Nam-Gyu holding your hand in the air as his hand ghosted over your hips, that was one thing you loved about your fellow bandmate, no matter how much he tried to get with you whenever you first met, he was always respectful of you and your relationship while preforming.

You moved away as the boys moved closer together to sing the end chorus together, as the music cut out, it was replaced by screams, you spun around excitedly before walking between the two smiling before looking at Thanos "You like, baby?" He asked into his mic before the lights cut out and the platform on the stage started to close so you were hidden by the props again. "That was amazing!!" You squealed loudly, Thanos just shook his head laughing before bringing his microphone up "You're still on" He whispered, you gasped, your cheeks heating up in a bright red blush, flipping the switches off and handing it to your manager you hugged both boys tightly "I swear that was our best show yet!" Nam-Gyu shouted excitedly, you nodded in agreement as Thanos kept his arms around you "How about, we go..out and party? As celebration?" He offered, you glanced at Nam-Gyu before you both agreed, making your way to the dressing rooms to change.

After your last show in California, you felt like the three of you just bounced off of each other perfectly, your management even making a statement by getting you a shared house to stay in during breaks from tour. Rushing down the stairs to said home you huffed "Boys! We have promo pictures in an hour! Why aren't you ready!?" You shouted in shock, both boys turned their heads to look at you "We are ready, you're just...overdressed" Thanos offered staring at your baggy jeans and tight as hell tanktop, one of his oversized button ups as a cover-up, one sleeve sitting at your elbow, the other sitting on your shoulder "No, I am dressed for our promo and album cover photoshoot!" You whined, they were starting to piss you off, they had known about this for weeks leading up to it, so why weren't they taking it seriously.

After a very long stare down between your bandmates, they rushed upstairs to change before meeting you outside in the car, apologizing to your driver for the wait, you were on your way to the shoot. You wished you could say it got easier after that, but it didn't, the boys pulling off their own poses they wanted, rather than what the photographer and PR team wanted. As you approached the scene, you manager gave you a pleading look, without the need of saying anything you already understood, they were high and not listening to instructions. "Boys! Let's wrap this up!" You demanded before walking to them, standing on your marker, listening carefully as the photographer told you how to stand with both men. As you stood proudly between them, you sighed as they were still talking behind you about what stunt they should try next at the next show, you turned around, the photographer expecting you to shout, but instead you just gently took both men's hands placing them on your shoulders "Now, shut up please, and look pretty" You stated looking at the camera lenses, your manager just laughed shaking her head "That's y/n, both boys listen to her like a scripture" She whispered to the team behind the cameras, you didn't have much issues after that, the tension quickly fading whenever you got on set with the boys.

While you weren't sure how any of this would end in the future, you were all three sure of one thing, you all worked better as a team, the boys giving you the confidence you need to preform live, and you keeping the boys in line and sane whenever it came to literally anything.

--

You like?

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Taglist!!

@acehasmyheart

@private-vampire

@ag022123

@corrdelia

[scotianostra]

On 24th February 1923, the world famous steam train, the Flying Scotsman, went into service.

From the 1920s the train was considered the height of luxury. Onboard there were first-class restaurant facilities, a cocktail bar and radio equipment, so passengers could hear the horse-racing results.

There was even a hairdressing salon where men could have their facial hair shaved with an open razor, made possible because the barber's chair was set in such a position that there would be "no jolting". I'm not sure I would have a shave in a moving train!

The train's hairdresser was reportedly known as "Sweeney Todd of the Rails", given his precarious trade.

In 1928 the train broke the record for the longest regular non-stop train journey in the world, when the LNER ran an express service for the entire 393-mile route.

This record would last until 1948, when, unintentionally, the train broke its own record. The Flying Scotsman ran for 408 and a half miles in May of that year when flood damage to the main line caused diversions via St Boswells and Kelso.

Throughout World War II The Flying Scotsman was one of the few titled trains that continued to operate along the East Coast - it carried troops between London and Scotland, although the headboards and roofboards were removed for security.

And, on 21st June 1958, in a historic move which would signal the decline of steam, The Flying Scotsman was hauled for the first time by a diesel locomotive.

The service is currently run by government-owned East Coast.

In May 2011 they relaunched the service, painting one of their locomotives, the Class 91 No. 91101 with Flying Scotsman branding.

At the launch East Coast said the move was "part of our policy of bringing back train names and restoring pride, passion and even a touch of glamour and romance back to the East Coast railway".

It's not all a romantic journey though, just last September there was, what the called a "slow speed” crash with another heritage train hours before visitors were due to board it.

It happened lwhen the ocomotive was being shunted into place to be coupled with the Royal Scotsman train carriages, which were stationary.

A spokesman for Royal Scotsman train owner Belmond described the collision as “minor” and said there had been no major injuries.

"We are grateful for the prompt attendance by paramedics who were on site to assist the few passengers and team members who sustained minor injuries,” the spokesman said.

"One passenger and one team member are attending hospital for a precautionary check-up.

"All passengers have been transferred to a hotel where our team is on standby to offer support and to assist with our guests’ onward travel arrangements."

Last year ater travelling 10,000 miles across the UK as part of its centenary celebrations, world famous locomotive Flying Scotsman will spend the first part of 2024 on static display at the National Railway Museum in York before resuming rail tours later in the year.

The custodianship of The Flying Scotsman is up for tender later this year, so by this time next year I may be telling you about new "owners"

[4th-make-quail]

BACK FROM STARSET, OH MY GODDDD THEY WERE SO FUCKING GOOD!!! Dustin was absolutely not kidding when he said they'd return bigger and better, holy fucking shit. This time they were in Academy 1 which is a lot bigger venue!

They had no support act, because most of the stage was taken up with this amazing, huge and elaborate series of spinning blades that projected holographic shit??? It was honestly beautiful and sooo intricate, and all the images were woven in with the music and the narrative videos in between which told the story of a guy escaping the whole New East/New West dystopia and it was all leading in to the setup for the new album which I'm taking to be HUMANITY GOING TO MARS??? HELLO!!!

I got terrible photos cos Academy 1 means no close up accessibility, so we were on a frankly not great balcony (the metal railing topping the barrier was literally directly in my line of sight so I had to sit real forward and up on my chair so now my thighs are KILLING ME but it was so fucking worth it) and very far away, but being high up was nice!

They absolutely killed it, played some songs I haven't seen live before INCLUDING all three new songs (and Waiting on the Sky to Change!!)!! My screams when they started up with Brave New World haha, I went absolutely mental. Songs like that make me a little sad and wistful tho, cos I wish I was down there in the pit moshing but now I have to be satisfied with chair moshing, which honestly gets... Very Vigorous lol, I get very uh. Bouncy XD

Anyway, I cannot recommend Starset enough to see live, their shows are always stellar and they're honestly getting better and better every tour!! Absolutely worth it if you get chance, we've seen them every UK visit since they started coming here and I feel like I'll want to continue seeing them for eternity tbh!!

[holly-louisexox]

Saviour II X Andy Biersack- Part 3

Masterlist

(Sequel to Ribcage)

Andy and Delia had finally found their happy ending in each other, Delia was living in LA with Andy and things could not be better.

With the group reuniting to complete a UK and Europe tour, some challenges threaten to tear Andy and Delia apart. Can Andy continue to try his hardest to be what Delia made, or will the couple drift apart from each other?

"Okay let's just run through the intro of Faithless so I can match up the backing sound of the bells." Delia explains through her mic that was connected to the in ear pieces of the band, this earning her a thumbs up from the band.

"Hey D, just so you know, Juliet has just arrived at the venue." Shevy informs her as she walks into the sound tech booth of the venue "You feeling okay about her being here?"

"Yeah. I mean I don't know her only about her." Delia explains as she fiddles with the switches of the sound board "I'm not her biggest fan after how she damaged Andy, but it's Andy I'm worried about not myself."

"Funny, I feel like Andy would say he's worried she'll get to you." Shevy laughs awkwardly "You and Andy just need to look out for each other. I hoping she won't do anything, but with how Juliet was I'm worried for you both."

"I appreciate it Shevy, but Juliet is the least of my concerns and you know that." Delia sighs as she watches Andy sing his heart out on the stage.

"Yeah, of course." Shevy nods as the band finish the song "I think you should tell them she's here so they know."

"Good idea." Delia nods before pressing the button to turn on her mic "Guys, Juliet has arrived in the venue."

After hearing that news, everyone could see Andy stiffen from the mention of her name; Delia could even see it from the sound tech booth. After a couple of seconds, Andy is puling his phone out from the back pocket of his jeans and furiously tapping away on it, it's not long before Delia is getting a text message.

Stay in the booth, I'm coming up to you x

After reading the message, Delia is looking back up at the stage only to find Andy has disappeared. Delia guessed Andy was going to be on edge with Juliet back in the picture, but she had to admit that she was more concerned about him than she thought she would be; he was already so nervous about Juliet, it was almost as if he didn't want either of them to see her.

"What if he goes off the rails Shevy? Look how he's already acting?" Delia sighs as she waits in the booth as instructed.

"He won't D, not with you around." Shevy smiles before the door of the booth opens.

"So run through again the different-" A voice is heard which instantly makes the two girls already in the booth snap their eyes to whoever came in. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realise you were still in here. We can leave."

"No, no, it's okay. We were just leaving." Delia explains before she notices a woman standing behind the man who had entered. Long black hair, joggers, crop top, over all very beautiful; this must be Juliet...

"Shevy! so nice to see you again!" Juliet Smiles as she enters the room and instantly pulls Shevy for a hug; Shevy all the while looks very uncomfortable.

"Hi Juliet." Shevy speaks simply trying to pull away.

"Oh you must be Delia! I've heard about you, you're now with my ex husband. No hard feelings by the way." Juliet grins as she then proceeds to wrap Delia into a hug which makes Delia freeze in uncertainty. "I would say you have a great choice in men but really, I was glad to have dropped him."

"Juliet." Andy is dry in his voice as he witnesses her interaction with Delia.

"Andy, it's so good to see you! How have you been?" Juliet asks after breaking the hug from Delia which allows her to finally breathe.

"Let's skip the pleasantries. Delia, let's go." Andy growls slightly.

"You always were so controlling, yet as soon as you don't get your way you turn into a whining toddler." Juliet rolls her eyes as she watches Delia cling to Andy's side "Here I was trying to be nice to everyone, including Delia, and you just had to ruin it."

"Slagging me off to my girlfriend is you being nice? Sure, okay." Andy's monotone voice comes through again, the mask is back on and that scared Delia slightly; this was only day one, how much will the mask make an appearance this tour?

"Right, well, we were just leaving. Let's go." Shevy's voice breaks as she tries to push away the tension in the room. "Good luck with the performance Juliet."

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

"What else did she say to you?" Andy asks Delia as soon as the 3 of them were within the 4 walls of the backstage room the band had; the rest of the group nervously watching as they immediately realise what had happened in the sound booth.

"Only what you heard, I promise." Delia replies back bringing a hand to Andy's face to try and comfort him, the gesture immediately making Andy relax a little bit. "You know I'd never believe her though, right?"

"Yeah, of course." Andy mutters as the mask comes back off and he's instantly pulling Delia into a tight hug "I'm sorry."

"The demon I'm guessing?" Jake asks timidly.

"Yeah, she was trying to be all chummy with me, saw Delia and started slagging Andy off not realising he was stood in the doorway." Shevy explains. "Andy of course then snapped."

"Ah fuck." Lonny mutters "Maybe this was a bad idea after all."

"I knew it would be, but of course management didn't care did they? They only care about the press side of it." Andy rolls his eyes as he lets go of Delia smaller frame "They got their positive headline of this tour being a 'huge step' yet they fail to see how shit this situation actually is. After so long if just surviving, I finally became happy but now it may as well have been for nothing. I can't stand the bitch."

"Andy..." Delia starts to try to calm him down, but no words come to her mind.

"I'm sorry." Andy's voice is quiet "I erm... I'll be back. I'm going to erm... I'm gonna get some fresh air."

"Want me to come with you?" Delia asks as she goes to take his hand, instead his hand retracts away from her grip and he looks at her apologetically.

"I'm sorry babe, I just, I need a bit alone to clear my head." Andy's face turns expressionless which scares everyone in the room.

"Right..." Delia's voice falters "Okay, yeah."

With that, Andy is walking out of the room leaving Delia stood where she was frozen in place.

"Delia..." Lonny starts as he stands up to walk towards her.

"Don't!" Delia snaps slightly before sighing as she feels tears well up in the eyes; she knew this tour was going to be hard for her but she didn't expect it to turn sour so soon. "Please Lon, I don't want sympathy from anyone. I'll be back, I promised mum and dad I'd FaceTime them before the show. If anyone needs me I'll be on the tour bus."

Of course that was a lie, there was no promise to FaceTime her parents, but she needed her mother's advice right now. Her world was already crumbling knowing her dad was ill, but seeing Andy, the one thing keeping her together, faltering made her shake. She needed to hear her mum's voice and she needed to see her dad looking as well as he possibly could all things considered. She just needed something to stabilise her thoughts; she was not about to cry and breakdown, not on the first day of tour, not on tour at all. She had come too far these last few months to backtrack.

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

5 minutes after leaving the building, Andy had realised he made a mistake. He knew that Delia had been worrying about him since finding out about Juliet touring with them, and like an idiot, he had pushed Delia away from him and felt himself wearing that mask again to try and protect himself. That mask had hurt so many of the people around him and he nearly lost Delia because of the mask; he couldn't go back there, he couldn't lose Delia again, he wouldn't allow that to happen.

"Fuck." Andy mutters to himself before letting out a sign. 

He needed to go back to the venue, he needed to apologise to Delia. He needed to stop going back to his old ways of pushing people away and he needed to, instead, learn how to lean on them when he needed them. He needed Delia, he would always need Delia, and right now he knew that she needed him just as much; he could not just abandon her, not now, not ever. Andy had quit vaping again, but moments like this made him crave the nicotine to dull the voices in his head; he had promised Delia he wouldn't do it again, he'd be damned if he was to break that promise.

"Where's Delia?" Andy asks after bursting back into the room and noticing Delia was not there with the rest of the group.

"She went to the bus, something about promising her parents she'd call them before the show." Jake explains not looking up from his phone.

"Thanks." Andy nods before leaving the room again.

He knew that was a lie, he knew there was no promise to call Tamara and Nick before the show. Delia was a lot more fragile than she was letting on right now, Andy knew exactly why Delia would be calling her parents; she was upset and didn't know what else to do, he was the one who had caused her to feel like that too. In a way Andy loved the relationship Delia had with her parents, but it did also scare him. With Nick being unwell he was scared of what would happen to Delia if Nick was unable to recover a second time round, he knew that her parents meant the world to her and they they were all she had ever known. No amount of love or reassurance from the group would be able to stop her from crashing.

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

"I'm over reacting, aren't I?" Delia asks her parents as she stares at them through the phone screen.

"Not at all Lia." Nick begins "But I imagine it's a lot for Andy to handle, especially if she's already started talking shit about him to you, it seems like she's trying to stir things up between the both of you."

"Petal, he's likely overwhelmed and don't forget he spent some time with his emotions hidden away, he's likely still learning how to lean on people, especially how to lean on a partner, it has only been 6 months since you guys officially got together." Tamara continues.

"Yeah, I suppose you're both right." Delia nods feeling a tear roll down her face as she misses the sound of the tour bus opening.

"Lia, do you love him?" Nick asks.

"Of course I do dad, more than anything." Delia confesses feeling a sad smile pull at her lips.

"Then you need to just trust him. If he does push you away give him his moment, he won't push you away permanently." Nick explains "Lia, I haven't liked any of the guys you've brought home before Andy, but he's different. I've seen the way he looks at you, Andy isn't about to just walk away from you completely."

"Mr Vincent?" A voice is heard in the background. 

"We need to go Petal, good luck tonight! We love you so much!" Tamara exclaims as both she and Nick stand up; it was that time again, more chemotherapy in the hope of it curing Nick a second time round.

"Okay, good luck dad, I love you both." Delia nods before ending the call. That's when she feels the tears overflow and a sob erupts from her chest.

"Delia?" Andy speaks up as he comes out from his hiding and sits next to Delia on the bunk she had claimed.

"Fuck, Andy, erm hi." Delia gasps quickly trying to wipe away her tears "I'm fine."

"You know you don't need to pretend to be strong around me love." Andy whispers as he sits next to Delia and wraps his arms around her. "I heard your dad talking about me, I'm so sorry that I upset you."

"I guess I'm just a little fragile this tour." Delia explains leaning her head onto Andy's shoulder "You know I trust you right?"

"I'd be surprised if you wasn't fragile right now D, but of course I know you trust me." Andy smiles before kissing Delia's forehead.

"I just don't trust Juliet." Delia confesses "The way she was slagging you off then immediately tried to be all friendly when she realised you were there, I have a bad feeling about her."

"She won't do anything D, she's just trying to get to us. Plus I'm not going to let her do anything, you're the one I love, not her." Andy explains.

"You're right." Delia nods looking up at Andy "I love you."

"I love you too." Andy smiles before bringing Delia into a gentle kiss.

Both Andy and Delia knew that this tour would not be easy. Granted, they had not expected the first day of tour to go like this, but at least with it having happened on the first day, they knew they could overcome it and work through it. Juliet was acting bitchy, they could handle that, neither of them had the thought of her doing anything drastic, she did not have it in her surely? They were both as worried as each other but if they stuck together they could surely get through this tour, after all, Juliet was only with them for a total of 12 days and Nick was receiving treatment and was otherwise fine; what could go wrong? 

[statementlou]

Louis might not be chucking bricks at No. 10, but people are responding like he’s never displayed leftist politics or challenged a government position on anything. He supported demands to the government about a fix for UK touring musician post Brexit and Marcus Rashford’s petition about food insecurity. He fought the police about their social media use in 2018 and criticised the UK government position/support for factory workers in the pandemic. The things he speaks about are usually UK issues and meaningful to him or his family and friends. He’s also most likely to speak when he isn’t working. Also that specific anarchy has a punk anti authoritarian message as well. That statement fits Louis pretty well. He has been a poster boy for not sitting down and shutting up and doing what you’re told since 2012. If he was he probably wouldn’t have a solo career and he definitely wouldn’t have sold out the O2.

I like this point about him speaking out more when he's not working, I think that's a really great and useful observation and makes so much sense. I feel like it makes sense in two ways right now: like first, I don't blame him for not wanting to do things that would jeopardize how beautifully everything is going for him right now after the number of setbacks and troubles he's had to get here, it must feel so precarious. And knowing for a fact that any political statement you make will spawn a dozen tabloid stories and all kinds of outrage is bad enough, but add to that the fact that it's simply impossible to predict which thing will turn into a huge viral mess- it's a lot. And second, he's not just working, he's been on TOUR! I've been around musicians my whole life and one constant is that tour is time outside of normal time and life, it's a bubble, it's only paying attention to right where you are and what's in front of you and the people there with you and everything else is put off and neglected, is for when you get home (and have massive post tour letdown depression and fatigue). I'm not saying he can disconnect with the outside world entirely... but putting everything on pause? I would be surprised if it were any other way, and I would be surprised if he's been following the news and counter news and so forth closely enough to feel comfortable speaking out publicly about anything when it will be so scrutinized and picked apart. I would add to your list supporting the rail strike (something we wouldn't even know about if it hadn't been tossed in as an aside by an interviewer in the print only version of a piece, he didn't post about it or anything) and attending and posting about the BLM protests (not to mention telling people to pirate his stuff come on how punk is that), and I agree he is much more likely to speak out about UK issues which makes sense: most people are most moved by issues that are close to their lives in some way, and it's his brand. And I agree that even though as an anarchist I love talking about what anarchism as a political ideology actually is, the symbol does also have a common meaning in the world as just basically standing for anti-authoritarianism, and Louis as a guy who rejects authority and the status quo is nothing new at all and one of the reasons we love him, and in the last few years I feel like he's been going further in that direction both aesthetically and politically, and we love to see it! Plus he has pretty much always sported this slightly punky aesthetic to some degree, even when he was being dressed up like a little ken doll he snuck in skater looks and indie band tees and so forth (something something it's part of why his fanbase was so primed to love his new sound and it wasn't the risk he feared it was because people were always drawn to him who were already into that aesthetic even when his sound wasn't that yet) it's not like it's just a brand new out of nowhere side of him or something.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

Hey I have trouble with sending asks so if you see this twice pls disregard. I just wanted your opinion.

In regards to the “Tour” post, I’d love to see it actually. I’d love if the big four break up the states in one big visit to cover more territory. Nothing against C&C. If anything they should handle the DC, New England elite circle.

Will & Cathrine can take Appalachia. Kate has drug addiction patronage, if it’s not too touchy (hard to avoid though) they can also listen to the addiction problems that plague the indigenous & rural community. Cathrine can deal with education and early years and Will can touch on the biodiversity stuff.

Sophie & Will can touch on the Civil Rights south. I’d love to see them partner up again. Very touchy, I’d know 👋🏾 but better to face it and get the backlash then keep avoiding it. Sophie does a lot of visits on the African continent & well, William is the heir, of & Tusk.

I can see Edward & Sophie in the northeast, maybe going to meet the migrant community. Visit some of the fruit farms. The US still sends fruit/food to the UK right?

It would be cool to see Artsy Cathrine & Edward in something art related. You can find that virtually anywhere in this country, bonus points if they avoid Hollywood. Visit some small local theaters. They can also meet up w\ The Princes Trust and definitely with some to the celebrities that work with the organization.

Will should definitely visit some public transportation systems. Places like NY, LA & even Chicago are likely out of the question because of the safety risk, and they’re well used but Sacramento and South Florida and even Atlanta would be good to visit. That would be nice to encourage more cities to adopt/expand a light rail/buss system. I know Florida needs to.

I would also absolutely, embargo this whole trip. Only mention that “members of the firm are coming” in advance then state the trip\visit the day of or the day before. Then have the big four with C & C meet up in DC for a very glam visit with the president( whoever it is) . By glam I mean, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring out the tiaras. The president or First Lady should borrow one from and American jeweler too. Americans may not understand royal visits and what it is the Firm can do for charities but we understand bling and how much we love-hate to see it. Like the MET Gala and all those Bridgeton shows people go crazy for.

Cathrine in Diana’s sapphire choker in DC & possibly the Wales kiddos on a school bus would be the absolute highlight in the fanfic tour of mine. ( I wouldn’t bring them for the whole tour, just DC). Make a school stop, early years plug or something. Especially in DC since the government is often talking about expanding maternity leave and Woman’s (reproductive) Rights.

So much potential but it’s worth it because it’s such a big country. It sucks to mention the obnoxious two but I’ve always dreaded them here (im over it now) and sometimes I’m surprised at the things they didn’t do. I’ve always expected them to do a “Harry learns America” type thing to win over the nation. They put out more PR about how much “America” was their new forever home and how much “the country” loves them, than they actually did visiting anywhere and showing it. Might have done them more good than going all the way to Nigeria and Columbia. Also, I don’t just mean LA & NY. Their NF (granted I never watched it)deal could’ve been all about that. Make visits in smaller overlooked places etc. I guess they went to Texas & allegedly partied with the wealthy in Wisconsin was it ?but that was always for their own photo op on a situation that others were already paying attention to. ( ex: Texas school shooting & some race in Miami, Just like this hurricane. It’s so inauthentic but that’s not new to them. Oh & I guess he’s surfing now. For all their loud mouth talk about colonialism and how evil the firm is they visited no plantations, no soul food restaurants to have well “SeAsonnED FoOD”? They really capitalized on the pre-existing anger we rightfully have against the firm and the blame its current members have inherited but there were so many other effective ways they could’ve really hammered the nail in. The best thing about these two is how shortsighted they are, because it does more to sabotage themselves better than anyone else could.

*********

It's a nice thought but it's never going to happen. If Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Edward, and Sophie are all in the US at the same time, that means Andrew, Harry, or Beatrice will be deputized counsellors of state, alongside Anne, since the law requires 2 counsellors of state to act in the King's absence. So no way, no how.

I'm not going to lie - I really did expect one of the Netflix projects to be a "coming to America" docuseries where Harry adjusts to life in California all the weird idiosyncrasies that comes with living in America and being American, only because the Beckhams did it and Meghan is nothing if not a copycat.

(I deleted your comments about Kamala because it's going to rile up tempers but I did want to address one of them: "the powers that be" determining who the president is is the American public that goes to the polls and votes. If you think there's something, or someone, else choosing who the President is, then this is really not the blog for you.)

[diabolus1exmachina]

Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth  (1 of 500). 

The Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth was built with one aim only – to defeat the rampant Rover SD1s in Group A touring cars. The rules mandated that 5000 road cars had to be built, plus a 500 extra examples with modifications that could be utilised by the race teams. For the RS500, these included a reinforced cast-iron cylinder block, a bigger Garrett AiResearch T04 turbo, a larger air-to-air intercooler, oil-cooled pistons plus upgraded air hoses and oil, water and fuel pumps. A second set of four Weber IW025 fuel injectors came with the car for competition use (adding up to a total of two per cylinder), but these weren’t connected to the ECU on road-going RS500s. The ECU itself was remapped, while there was also a bigger intake plenum and a secondary fuel rail; the addition of the latter two items necessitated that the battery tray be altered by Tickford, which was charged with making the conversions to RS500s. It’s rumoured that the battery trays were altered by use of a hacksaw… Further changes included a slightly different thermostat housing and alternator bracket, while the front bumper was altered with a slim air intake above the numberplate and the foglights were ditched for extra cooling ducts. The enormous rear spoiler was augmented with a thicker trailing edge and a secondary spoiler added below this.While all these changes made only a modest difference to the road machine, bringing horsepower up from 204bhp to 224bhp, the car sold out in August 1987. It pretty soon became the model to have for outright race wins in Group A touring cars. The engine, a four-cylinder Pinto, made just 90bhp in unturbocharged form. In 1987, the Sierra Cosworth was making 370bhp, but the RS500 took this to 470bhp. Further racing enhancements from the likes of Rudi Eggenberger in Germany, Andy Rouse in the UK and Dick Johnson in Australia boosted this to 500bhp and beyond in just a few years. When the RS500 finally bowed out in 1992, Dick Johnson had the motor up to a rumoured 600bhp.

[the-empress-7]

was it here where there was an anon who made a post about how harry is the biggest red flag of all red flags and this was from their experience from a defense background? if so may i ask if anon could give insight on what they thought on angle of why the heck did the obamas get a chopper into wc, driven back to wc by pp, get invite to kp drawing room, meet pg & why the heck was ph there 5th wheeling like no other? loveshield notice was issued when trump won 11.8.16. all happened in 2016

That was me! (That submission was to @honeytothebee and it went all over tumblr from there.) Apologies in advance; this is going to be a long one. Grab yourself a cuppa, make some dinner, get some wine, and strap in.

I liken the situation with Harry to the situation with Hunter Biden. Like Harry, Hunter has always been a mess and also like Harry, he and his family kept his mess well-hidden. (But also like Harry, if you knew where to look then you knew what Hunter’s skeletons were and where they were buried.) That is, the messes were well-hidden until A Thing happened. Before The Thing, there were leaks and rumors and one-offs, but they were all mostly blown off by the general public because of the shine from their families; the royal family in Harry’s case, the Biden-Obama Administration in Hunter’s case.

A Thing happened to Hunter and A Thing happened to Harry, and they lost control of the messes. Look at everything we know about them now that we didn’t know before these Things happened. Hunter’s Thing was his brother’s cancer (Beau was diagnosed in 2013 and died from it in 2015. Hunter first went off the rails publicly in 2013). Harry’s Thing was Meghan moving in in late 2017. In both instances, both men lost their stable family relationships to an external disruptor; Hunter – cancer, Harry – wife. Then there was a very messy handful of years. Harry’s still in the thick of it. Hunter, however, seems to have come out onto the other side now, (And to be perfectly candid, I can see the royal family looking at the Bidens’ success in rehabilitating Hunter as a model for how they might rehabilitate Harry if/when the time comes. However, like Hunter is to Joe, Harry will always be the albatross around Charles’s and William’s necks because of the damage he wrought during these messy years.)

Okay, so let’s dig into anon’s question. First I’ll share a whole lot of context for the Obamas’ visit in 2016 because it feeds into why Harry was at the dinner, then I’ll get into some more commentary about Harry’s red flags.

So first, why did the Obamas go to the UK in 2016? Officially because it’s tradition for a two-term POTUS to get a farewell tour their last year in office and these “farewell tours” almost always include a stopover in the UK for a visit with The Queen. Sometimes it’s a state dinner, sometimes it’s a private visit. Unofficially, because of Brexit, whose referendum was in June 2016. PM Cameron’s establishment were remainers. So was the American establishment. The Obamas were brought over in April 2016 to help Cameron with the campaign to remain. And during their visit, Obama gave a speech or made remarks that basically told the Brits “if you Brexit, see ya. EU comes first.” It was a not-subtle declaration that the UK/US special relationship as everyone knew it would be over if Britain left the EU which Cameron, and The Queen on Cameron's behalf, did not want happening.

Second, why did the Obamas get such special treatment from the royal family? Because they had a genuine friendship (which both Obamas confirmed in their books) and it wasn’t an official state visit. When the royals have a genuine friendship with a foreign head of state, they tend to be more informal and personal and when it isn’t an official visit, the whole mood is more relaxed. Prince Philip picking the Obamas up from the helicopter himself is the royal equivalent of you picking your friend up from the airport.

Third, if it wasn’t an official state visit, why did the Obamas get a private audience and dinner at KP? Because it was a symbolic passing of the torch. We know now that 2016ish was when William started being more closely mentored by The Queen. One of the duties as King/Queen is to host and entertain foreign heads of state, officially and privately. William and Catherine had been part of the official visits for some time, but they never had been involved in a private visit. It was thought that the Obamas were a safe, comfortable choice for William and Catherine to begin flexing those diplomatic muscles; William, Harry, Barack, and Michelle were said to be close and friendly (as one could be in that situation) so the evening was justified as a special meeting between friends, which would avoid setting a precedent and an expectation for the then-Cambridges to host every foreign head of state that visited privately.

Fourth, why was Harry at that dinner? Because he had the closer relationship with Michelle than Catherine did. Harry and Michelle have worked together on several initiatives over the Obamas’ time in office to support veterans and military families, including the Wounded Warrior Games and Invictus Games. And, William, Catherine, and Harry were still very much The Trio in April 2016. They were a package deal and, frankly, Harry wasn’t the security risk then that he is now. (Timing wise, remember that Heads Together, the pinnacle of their trio-ness, launched in May 2016.)

So now the defense stuff/red flags and insider threat commentary.

In April 2016, Harry wasn’t a public risk. The only two red flags he had then were 1) he was a high profile public individual and 2) he traveled often. Where the government was concerned, he had a slightly higher risk than William because of his time in Afghanistan. (Pause for an aside: government and military are very separate things. The military reports to the government but the military doesn’t always tell the government everything. I suspect it’s the same way in the UK.) Where the military was concerned, Harry was an enormous risk but he wasn’t their problem anymore since he had separated in 2015. Where the royal family was concerned, Harry did have problems – anger issues, the “confirmed kills” comment, and lingering trauma from Diana’s death – but those issues were counterbalanced by these stabilizing forces: his home life/relationships with his family, he was in therapy and on medication that worked, and he found meaning and purpose in his work.

But publicly? As far as the public knew, Harry wasn’t a problem. And the royal family banked on that. They bet the house that Harry’s public reputation and his popularity would keep him in line. Since Harry’s work was a big part of the counterbalance against his demons, the royal family knew that as long as he found his work meaningful and purposeful, he would tow the line. That’s why he got so much that was equal to William and Catherine.

Harry met Meghan in July 2016 and then later issued the love shield in November 2016. But neither of these really did anything to Harry’s risk assessment. Publicly it added a third red flag: high-profile public girlfriend to whom, the love shield made clear, if anything happened Harry could be easily exploited and manipulated. But Harry was still largely under the control and influence of the royal family. Even though he was spending a lot of time with Meghan, it was still a long distance relationship where Meghan went home to Toronto and Harry went home to London. And when Harry was in London without Meghan, he always went back into the royal enclave and was the Good Lad Hal the general public knew him to be.

(Aside: That is another reason why Meghan knew it was important to get Harry alone and by himself. She probably pegged him from early on – sorry, pun unintended – as someone whose personality, behavior, and attitude were influenced by whoever he is with. As long as he was around the royals, he would still be their darling boy. To get him angry, resentful, and jealous enough to “see” her side, she had to make it impossible for Harry to see them or be around them. I suspect this is why she was so eager to spend the summer at that rental in the Cotswolds – away from his friends in London and the Cambridges in Norfolk – and didn’t mind moving to Windsor. They were placeholders that separated him from his family before she could spring moving overseas on him.)

Harry’s red flags didn’t become a problem until Meghan moved in with him in late 2017 and it disrupted Harry’s status quo. He is not someone who can tolerate change (Spare makes that very clear - if Harry is not in charge of change, he cannot handle it, which is also another red flag on its own). Once Meghan moved in with him, all those stabilizing counterforces that mitigated Harry’s risks were eliminated, one by one. She disrupted his relationship with Catherine. She exploited his trauma from Diana. She got him off his medications. She got him away from his therapist and into woo-woo California alternative lifestyles. She built a wall between him and William. She cancelled his friends. But he still wasn’t that much of a security risk to the royal family because Harry still had his public reputation and that was the only change he likely cared about. As far as the public was concerned, he was still a low security risk. I would argue that Harry’s risk as an insider threat didn’t start escalating internally until late 2018, after the Australia tour. This is when Meghan started damaging his public reputation. And once Harry’s public reputation began to slide, they lost total control over Harry and the red flags began piling up. Because that was the one change Harry didn't want and hadn't expected Meghan to evoke. She promised him change for the better, but look at him now (then): changed for the worst and declining.

The thing about insider threats, and espionage in general, is that what makes them so dangerous is that you don’t know what damage they’ve done until long after it’s happened. Forget about the horse bolting out of the barn. By the time an insider threat is discovered, the horse has already jumped onto a freight train and is over international borders. Despite all the warning signs that we’re trained to watch for and observe, a good insider threat – much like a good spy – will go undetected for a long time. Till A Thing happens that blows their cover. Someone gets suspicious (William having Meghan’s number from the start), there’s a whistleblower or a turncoat (Jason’s letter to Simon Case about the bullying), they get sloppy (Waity Katy, 2018 edition), they don’t cover their tracks as well (5 People friends), their stories become inconsistent (*waves hand at everything*), their equilibrium gets rocked (William kicking them out of KP).

What makes Harry particularly dangerous and nefarious is how well his red flags were hidden from the public. It’s one thing for the government, the military, and the head of state to know about an individual’s risk assessment – that’s their job. They keep these things hidden from the public as “matters of national security” because if the truth really were to come out, it threatens the public’s trust in their institutions. And Harry’s red flags were so well hidden from the public that when they all came out, and they all came out in rapid succession one after another after another, it absolutely shook the public’s trust in the institution. Just look at the conversations we are having this week: should he be allowed at the coronation? Is Charles an effective King? Why can’t they control him? Why aren’t they responding? Why aren’t they correcting the lies? Why can’t they tell us what the truth is? What even is the truth anymore? Should we believe them when they say it’s the truth? Why can’t Charles end this once and for all? WHAT IS HE WAITING FOR?! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS RECONCILIATION SHIT?

Well, this is the stuff that nurtures rebellion, dissent, and revolution. That Charles is missing the forest (his country) for the trees (his darling boy), it’s long past time for the government to step in. I’ve said this before but this is a perfect gift to Sunak. Be the bad guy, kick Harry out of the coronation, and maybe the public will remember this too next time at the polls, not just your scandals like the cost of living crisis and the mail/rail/NHS strike.

If this was an espionage movie – say, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – this is the chase scene. The spy is stuck. His cover his blown. The enemy is closing in. His girl is gone and oh, by the way, she emptied his safe and stole his passport while he was sleeping. Does his handler intervene to help him escape? Does the enemy get him? Or does he turn out to be a double-agent who gets a hero’s welcome and a victory parade on his return home? In other words, does Charles rescue Harry and invite him to the coronation? Or does Charles leave Harry to suffer the consequences of his actions and lets the government block him from the coronation? Or does Harry flip on Meghan and expose her skeletons to protect himself?

Because that’s the other power of an insider threat with as many red flags as Harry’s got. Whether the insider threat realizes it or not, there’s always someone worse off than they are. And they always offer that person up in exchange for their freedom. That’s why Spare is so potent. Harry knows and understands there are threats against him, but he doesn’t understand that it’s coming from inside the house. He thinks the threat is William and Charles, which is why he attacks them in Spare and why he’s blackmailing them with Spare 2. He does not yet realize that the threat is Meghan. But Meghan does. She knows that her problems are taken care of if/when Harry becomes the bigger, more dangerous, threat and target. That’s why I feel she is keeping a low profile now. His red flags are finally bigger than hers.

But long story short – Harry wasn’t the same kind of threat and didn’t have the same red flags in April 2016 so he was included in the Obama visit. It probably would have been more of a public relations disaster for him to be excluded from the visit given how high his popularity was and how globally well-known his friendship with Michelle was over their mutual interest in supporting veterans and military families.

If Harry was the same threat in April 2016 with the same red flags that he has now, he absolutely would not have been part of the Obama visit. And I don’t even think there would have been a private audience/dinner at KP. It would have just been the private lunch at Windsor Castle with The Queen and Prince Philip. Any other meetings the Obamas had with any of the other royals, William and Catherine included, wouldn’t have been publicized till after the fact or it would have just been William meeting with Barack for 10 minutes (the way William met with Joe at Earthshot).

Because the bottom line is it wouldn’t have been just the UK concerned about Harry’s red flags, the US would have been concerned as well. And given the state of affairs in 2016, to paraphrase Disney – the UK needed the US more than the US needed the UK because of Brexit. If the Americans had concerns about Harry being in a meeting with Obama, the Queen would have blocked Harry’s involvement because she understood the UK needs our special relationship to survive Brexit. (And that is why we got all those royals coming to the US last year after The Queen’s funeral. I think it was within the span of four weeks, we had visits from Anne, Sophie, The Duke of Gloucester, William’s UN visit that turned into a virtual speech, and later, Earthshot.)

This deserves a standing ovation. I agree with your assessment which is deeply insightful and thoroughly well rounded. A huge thank you to you for sending this in.

In the end, it all comes down to the special relationship between US and UK. As of right now, Charles risks not only losing his own public's support but that of the UK's closest ally as well. Washington is watching, by the same token so are our joint enemies. If a Head of State is too inept to handle treasonous son, it creates beaucoup opportunities for those who loathe democracies. Charles might as well post a sign outside of BP saying "Here are all the chinks in my armor, aim your arrows this way".

[raapija]

Delusions questions I had in the shower

Is Nicole piastri still known / keyboard warrior in this au like Oscar isn't her son but she is still proud of her name and genetics (I'm sorta seeing her as this loving wine aunt)

Lando technically would be 0% British... I imagine he has citizenship due to growing up in the uk but technicaly has 0 British blood. I'm just seeing the whole 'British drivers quiz' thingy they always love doing with the 2019 rookies and George just going 'technicaly I'm the onyl true brit here.'

On that point! Nando and Carlos only having 1 passport each and loosing the passport wars everytime. (lando got 3, Oscars got 2, lance also has 2) like each time travelling not in eu do they split up to go through customs or do they all drag their feet behind the pureblood spainiards.

Though saying that nando and lance might have spouce citizenships? Would nando get ausie visa easy cuase his son is ausie???

Anyway I'm just picturing the fans at every race pulling up wiki going 'is one of nandos lot got claim to this as a home race?' cuase you never fucking know. Spanish gp is probs chaos

Now this is the kinda deep lore shit I was talking about!!!!!!

First of all, I love Oscar's mum so definitely, she needs to be a part of the Nugget au. She probably shares very embarrassing childhood stories about the kids all the time and has like 17 million followers just for that 😭

Lando is British in his heart and I think he would get the British citizenship on his own at some point. But yeah, him not actually being a Brit would be so funny just to add more confusion ✨

Carlos and Nando always having to go through security checks at the airport while the rest of them have to wait... And it's not just because of the passports but also because Nando and Carlos would probably raise some suspicion with acting all unhinged and being way too loud 😭 I imagine Nando making some bad joke at border control and ending up being interrogated for 7 hours 💀

Half the season is just their home races.... Belgium, UK, Australia, Spain, Canada... They dub it The Alonso World Tour (Fernantour???) and there's a separate scoreboard for their races 💁💁 Winner gets to pick the next family holiday location

These two would definitely climb the security railing and get arrested ☝️

[catenary-chad]

Asterisk, 25, 90% here for the Electra multiverse and cheering for literally anyone but the actual main character. I am too engineer-brained to play along with canon’s framing vs real life train history and politics. I refuse to demonize electrification, it is NOT punching up, both the US and UK governments have decades-long histories of sabotaging it due to the Thatcher/Reaganite messages the show itself preaches. imo that accidental subtext is way more interesting than cliche and inaccurate “steam oppression” well into the preservation era when it was VERY popular. I’m not gonna say “DNI if you love Rusty” but you will probably not like my content, I am very critical of train media’s fixation on choo choos in general, especially at the expense of ignoring relevant modern train issues.

Reworking canon around US electrification and train history/politics is my main focus, it has such a tragic and little-known/poorly understood history I’ve grown fixated on it. I live near the epicenter of the trolley apocalypse and de-electrification of the mid 20th-century and it has more personal impact than “but what if we still had steam engines?”. While most of my headcanons and sort of AUs are based on the US, I’ve also been learning about UK trains and like the idea of culture/location swapping in other countries like Mexico too.

Here is my list of train/transit info resources if you want to research more yourself, it’s a running list I’ll add to over time. Mostly focused on more modern trains and electrification, but I have a mix of historical and steam/diesel stuff on there too. If you’re new to trains and want technical/historical advice on something or an explanation of something I’ve made a post/fic about, I’m happy to try and answer. I’m not a hardcore railfan yet but can probably point you in the right direction. I’m a manufacturing engineer irl and have worked at a heritage railroad so I have a decent conceptual grasp on a lot of random heavy machinery things or just the feel of midcentury US trains.

Mykalectra isn’t my favorite Electra but he’s the most blorbo to me. He just feels the most accurately train-like, especially towards the very end where he’s an absolute unit delicately rolling around. Finally some electric train representation that accurately makes them kinda stubby but unreasonably powerful for their size. Electra being amusingly old (and beat to shit visually on the tours) is also a depressing reflection of how left behind US passenger rail is, unironically still a utopian futuristic character 40 years later. Again, I just can’t villanize someone who threatens me with such a good time.

Not much of a shipper because I hate romance in general. I think the best “11th hour ballad” was the interrupting BBC van. I pair characters up based on how funny they would be in a fight.

I mostly draw, sometimes write. Please do NOT share my work with anyone involved with the show. I do not want to draw their attention to this blog.

You can chuck ideas at me in general but no guarantee I’ll do anything with it. I’m a lazy bum who rarely does finished art, so if a sketch I did catches your eye and you want to work off it, consider it an open collab invite. Any concept I do as a fanfic/headcanon/other fanwork is free game to blatantly rip off as long as you don’t just claim my actual art/writing as your own. I actually welcome it since making train media more realistic and interesting so people become more engaged with and understanding of modern trains is a big aim of mine.

[the1975attheirverybest]

Or I could just write Amelia begging matty to rail her after UK tour opening nights in Glasgow that would be not sad though. And I’m in the mood for sad.

[gerardpilled]

@ last anon id say America and UK. EU per se didn’t get many tour dates :/

What's the point of having high speed rail systems if you're not willing to take one from Portugal to France...

[sunmarketing]

Special Edition: London, England Airports Ranked

Special Edition: London, England Airports

  In this episode, the FAQ is: What are some of the biggest changes for travel in 2025?

  Today’s Destination is: London Airports

  Today’s Misstep- Wearing the wrong shoes

  Travel Advice: When buying an airline ticket, pause.

  FAQ: What are some of the biggest changes for travel in 2025?

Expect more opportunities for local immersion, where you can experience the daily life of local communities through homestays, service projects, and interactive cultural programs for seniors.

Solo female travel is on the rise, with women comprising 71% of solo travelers. Many travel companies now offer solo-friendly options, such as cruises without single supplements and women-only trips to destinations like Saudi Arabia, where my parents almost moved in 1980, when it was very different for women.

Decision Fatigue

The solo traveler is solely responsible for all decisions, from choosing accommodations and dining spots to navigating routes. This can lead to decision fatigue and frustration and isolation in challenging situations.

Lack of Immediate Support

Solo travelers may not have immediate support in moments of illness or emergencies. Reliance on strangers for help can be daunting, and having communication devices like a satellite communicator is crucial1.

Cultural and Language Barriers

Solo female travelers may encounter cultural and language barriers, leading to uncomfortable situations. Respecting local traditions, dress codes, and learning basic phrases in the local language can help mitigate these challenges.

Loneliness

Solo travel can sometimes lead to feelings of loneliness. To combat this, travelers can seek social gatherings, connect with fellow travelers, or engage in group tours and activities.

Today’s Special Episode: London, England Airports

London’s major airports each have distinct features catering to different traveler needs. Here’s a rundown on each and some important aspects for solo female travelers over 50:

First, the Best Overall Recommendations for Solo Female Travelers Over 50

Best for On-Time Flights: London City Airport (LCY)

Best for Service: Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Best for Pricing: Stansted (STN) or Luton (LTN)

Best Overall Experience: Heathrow (LHR) (for amenities and comfort) or Gatwick (LGW) (for balance between cost and comfort)

1. Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Location: West London, about 15 miles from Central London.

Identity: The largest and busiest airport in the UK, known for long-haul international flights and a wide array of shopping and dining options.

Pros: Excellent amenities, extensive shopping and dining, good transportation links (Heathrow Express, London Underground).

Considerations: Can be crowded; peak times may involve long lines. Solo travelers might find comfort in its high-security standards and numerous on-site assistance points.

Ratings:

On-Time: Generally good but can experience delays due to high traffic.

Service: Known for high service standards and amenities, including comfortable lounges.

Pricing: Usually more expensive than other London airports.

Overall Experience: Best for travelers looking for comfort and amenities, even if it means a higher price.

2. Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Location: South of London, about 30 miles from Central London.

Identity: Known for offering both international and low-cost European flights.

Pros: Competitive pricing on flights, good amenities, easy rail access to Central London. I was bussed from Heathrow here and back for my Africa travels. That was a chance to see London, from the window, thanks to British Air.

Considerations: Less busy than Heathrow, and offers options like the Gatwick Express, a fast train to Central London. Ideal for budget-conscious travelers looking for convenience.

Ratings:

On-Time: Tends to have good punctuality compared to Heathrow.

Service: Offers a range of services, though fewer luxury options than Heathrow.

Pricing: Competitive, especially for European flights.

Overall Experience: Suitable for those who value a balance of comfort and cost.

3. London City Airport (LCY)

Location: East London, close to Canary Wharf and the city center.

Identity: Compact and designed for business travelers, with quick access to London.

Pros: Fast check-ins, less crowded, closest to Central London, and primarily caters to short-haul destinations.

Considerations: Ideal for quick, efficient entry to London, though limited to short-haul flights. Its size can be comforting for solo travelers who want to avoid larger crowds.

Ratings:

On-Time: Known for high punctuality rates.

Service: Tailored services for business and solo travelers, though limited amenities.

Pricing: Higher, given its proximity and convenience.

Overall Experience: Best for solo travelers who prioritize quick, stress-free entry and exit. I have not flown here yet.

4. Stansted Airport (STN)

Location: North East of London, about 40 miles from Central London.

Identity: A hub for budget airlines that is popular for European flights.

Pros: Affordability, a variety of low-cost airlines, and straightforward access to London via train. I flew here from Milan for $20 as long as I had a personal item, not a carry-on. It was Ryan Air. I flew out a week later to Edinburgh, but that was a bit of a crazy crowded airport with people all over trying to wait until their flights. Yes, it was very crowded.

Ratings:

On-Time: Generally decent but can experience delays due to high traffic on budget flights.

Service: Basic but sufficient; less luxurious than Heathrow or Gatwick.

Pricing: Most competitive, particularly for European destinations.

Overall Experience: Ideal for those seeking low-cost travel and are comfortable with basic amenities.

5. Luton Airport (LTN)

Location: North of London, about 30 miles from Central London.

Identity: Budget-friendly with numerous low-cost airlines.

Pros: Good for low-cost European flights, straightforward access to London via trains.

Considerations: It is generally busy, with fewer service amenities; it is best for budget-minded travelers who don’t mind fewer frills.

Ratings:

On-Time: Average, with some delays during peak times.

Service: Basic but functional.

Pricing: Low-cost options make it appealing for budget travelers.

Overall Experience: Suitable for budget-conscious solo travelers willing to trade amenities for savings.

   Today’s Misstep: Wearing the wrong shoes 

Talk about the wrong step. I had the wrong shoes.

First, I had sandals with heels, and it was really cold, so I should have worn something warmer with socks. 

Then I got blisters because the sandals rubbed my foot.

Don’t wear stylish shoes just for looks when you should wear something more sensible and comfortable. Your feet are here for life, and anyone who judges your choice of footwear can pound sand. Let them.

Today’s Travel Advice- When buying an airline ticket, pause.

Today’s airline tickets are almost all self-serve. You may buy them infrequently, so you may not notice all of the changes that are happening when you buy a ticket.

Before you click the button, be sure you check everything.

Do you have the correct dates?

Are you ok with the luggage choices?

Did you spell your name correctly?

Is there a better price directly with the airline?

Is it refundable?

Do you need insurance or not?

Can you use your miles or credits instead of cash?

It’s becoming more challenging to purchase your ticket, so practice before you buy. You may save hundreds of dollars if you do.

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[studentabode]

Maximizing Savings and Opportunities as an International Student in the UK

Studying in the UK as an international student has numerous advantages, particularly regarding discounts! Whether it is the groceries and utensils to be bought or to be used while travelling, there are always some student offers to make life cheaper. I found a number of shops, cafés and entertainment centres offering student discounts– all one needs is to have their ID with them.

Transportation is another area where international students save big. Discounted travel cards make exploring cities or even taking trips across the country much easier on the wallet. Need supplies for your studies? You will find it easy to Shop for textbooks, stationery, electronics and other software, at a cheaper price with quality to enable you to perform well in your academics without straining your financial muscles.

This also includes leisure with offers on membership to health clubs and classes, events and other cultural happenings. Some of these offers assist international students to have fun in the UK without putting a hole in their pockets.

Student Perks: Save on Everything!

Academic and Living Expenses

Tuition Fee Discounts: Many universities offer early payment discounts, sibling scholarships, and merit-based reductions for international students.

Accommodation Discounts: University halls and student accommodations frequently provide reduced rates for international students, with some offering first-month free or significant initial discounts.

Health and Insurance: The National Health Service (NHS) provides comprehensive healthcare access. Many universities offer additional health insurance packages at reduced rates for international students.

Transportation and Travel

16-25 Railcard: Offers 1/3 off rail travel across the UK

Student Oyster Card: Provides significant discounts on London public transportation

National Express and Megabus Student Discounts: Reduced rates for long-distance travel

Lifestyle and Entertainment

Student discounts: at restaurants, cafes, cinemas, museums

NUS (National Union of Students) Extra Card: Provides discounts across 100+ brands

Cultural venue discounts: Reduced entry to museums, theatres, and cultural events

Opportunities and Support for International Students

Professional and Career Opportunities

Post-Study Work Visa: The UK's Graduate Route allows international students to stay and work for two years after completing their degree

Internship Programs: Many universities have dedicated international student internship schemes

Networking Events: Regular career fairs and professional development workshops

Technology and Study Resources

Discounted software licenses (Microsoft, Adobe)

Free access to academic databases

Reduced-cost computer and technology purchases through university programs

Cultural Integration and Support

Free English language support classes

Cultural exchange programs

Mental health and counselling services tailored for international students

Dedicated international student support offices at universities

Your No-Stress Manual to Getting Student Housing in the UK

Finding student accommodation in the UK can seem overwhelming, but StudentTenant.com simplifies the process! It acts like a helpful guide for international students searching for ideal student rooms. Studying has never been as easy and safe as today and there is no faster way to find affordable and comfortable student accommodations.

Here, you can fine-tune your search according to your needs, see straightforward prices, and take tours without leaving your house. Looking for help with the UK’s rental laws? You’re fully covered here and you’ll get explanations without any legal jargon and your rights as a tenant are explained here as well. In addition, you can share a conversation with landlords and learn from real student testimonials.

Student Tenant is dedicated to ensuring that your search for the perfect student housing is stress-free. All you need to do is click, search and voila, the house is ready for occupancy.

[candy-floss-crazy]

At one time mobile catering consisted of almost entirely box shaped 'burger vans'. Occasionally someone with a touch of flair, or perhaps just a bit mad, would put together something quirky. With the dawn of the instagram generation, boxy burger vans suddenly dropped out of vogue. To get ahead you really needed people to be sharing your set up. Sure, good food was important, but it was no longer the sole arbiter of success. Your food truck needed to look better. We are going to be taking a look at some of the quirky, weird, wonderful and downright strange catering outlets around the world. Happy Larrys Shipping containers are ubiquitous throughout the world. A standardised method of transporting goods via road, rail and sea. Many of them however do find a second life as something totally different. From bars, to offices to mobile toilets. They have also found favour with catering vendors. The basic container is a strong watertight structure, that is built to accurate dimensions, and lends itself to conversions. Happy as Larry is an Australian company that specialises in selling Napoli-style wood fired pizza. A nice touch in this container conversion is that they have replaced much of one side with huge glass pains to give a real contemporary feel to it. Space Shuttle Cafe If you are looking for something to convert into a food truck, the most obvious thing you could think of is an aeroplane. Probably not! This one was converted to a mobile eatery by GMC in 1976. But it started life as an actual flying machine in 1944. Cotton Candy Jeep One of our favourites this, take an iconic WWII off road vehicle, and shove a cotton candy (candy floss if you live this side of the pond) machine in the back. Oh and for good measure paint it all pink. Walls Mini Ice Cream Truck Walls ran a campaign called 'Goodbye Serious', where they built a miniaturised ice cream truck designed to drive into offices and dispense their best selling goodies. This is one seriously quirky little food truck. Though some of our taller staff might struggle to operate in this one. K99 Ice Cream Cart This one is notable, not for being a different type of food truck. But because of its target market. This sells ice creams for your canine companions. That's right, doggy ice creams. Seems that scientists have discovered  that gammon and chicken-flavored ice creams really hits the spot for our doggy friends. Vintage Caravan These are gaining in popularity, and are being used for everything from a gin bar to a burger joint. The ironic thing is, was during the late 90's, the fairground industry used these for staff quarters, then tended to scrap them at the end of the season. If they were scrapped, it wasn't unknow to just remove all identifying marks and leave them in a layby for the council to dispose of. You try buying one now, I have seen them advertised for upwards of £30k. Step Frame Food Truck More of a Stateside set up, they have a plethora of large step fram delivery vehicles from the likes of Dodge, Ford, GMC etc. These are pretty near the size of a 7.5 tonne lorry in the UK and make an ideal blank canvas to fit out as a mobile eatery Airstream Style Food Truck Another option hailing from the good ole US of A. Airstreams were originally touring caravans. Till some adventurous soul decided to cut the side out and add a kitchen. They are now a fairly regular sight on the UK scene. With both the original Airstream brand and a number of both EU based and Chinese manufacturers building similar looking trucks. Converted Vintage Horsebox Stunning Horsebox Food Truck Hire A regular sight nowadays, horseboxes are easy to obtain, pretty easy to convert and very flexible, though a bit on the small side for some catering options. Prices are steadily rising, to the benefit of anyone needing to dispose of a horsebox that's past it's sell by date. What you once would have scrapped, you can now get a tidy few grand for. Snow Mobile Food Truck This one is as far as we know, pretty unique. A burrito joint on a tracked snow mobile platform. Great for last minute corporate jobs in the arctic. Bloody noisy if you need to take it down the M1 motorway to London. London Red Bus Yoghurt Truck An iconic British vehicle this time, an ex London Routemaster bus, turned into a yoghurt dispensary by Snog. A cool vehicle for a cool brand serving a cool product (literally)! The Peanut Van Occasionally there are totally custom built trucks out there. I've seen vehicles that look like hot dogs, doughnuts, oranges. This one is a peanut. Leaves you in no doubt what the product is. Land Rover Ice Cream Truck Another off road vehicle pressed into service. We have already had a Willy's Jeep with a candyfloss machine. This one is the UK equivalent. In vehicles that is, not food. This is one cool ice cream truck. Monster Truck Another ice cream van. This time shoehorned into a monster truck. Unless you are 6ft 6 you need step ladders to be served here. Rocket Launcher Coffee Truck A big boys toy this one. A coffee truck on a rocket launcher. Though it didn't work out too well for two of the staff when they were arrested for causing panic on the streets of Malaysia. What's next, doughnuts served from a Challenger tank? Tactical Tapas Another paramilitary offering. Tapas from a tactical armoured car. It's all starting to get a bit Mad Max. Fire Engine The last couple of options were built on trucks designed to blow things up and start fires. These were designed to put them out. Popular both sides of the pond, though the US fire trucks just seem to be a lot more jazzy. Read the full article