#banbury cross

[girls-of-the-old-country]

“It’s as if time had stood still. You see old cobbled streets. Old-world shops. Castle courtyards. There’s even a replica of Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre. The year is 1603. London. And you are there.”

Bansbury Cross, or Christie

5’4”

24 Years Old

Christie is the somewhat leader of the girls, being the first land and all. Very brash and lively, a bit too much. While she can be posh like Aquitaine, she often doesn’t when it’s shelly time. Rather judgmental and superior, girls like Heatherdowns might somewhat dislike her, but Christie’s willing to help them all when it comes. Ask her any questions while Heatherdowns is in the process of being redrawn.

Sorry I took so long. I have a full-time job, so I don’t have much time to work on these, but I’ll try to pick up the pace now that I know I have followers.

[gumisgirl]

now what kinda nursery rhyme is this??

[askyoungiron]

Here’s a question for Pendennis Castle. During the GWR/LNER locomotive exchange, did you meet Victor Wild or Flying Fox? If so, what was your reaction?

Pendennis: Oh I did! Flying Fox was a right stuck-up cow for the most part, constantly rude to everyone from what I heard. Everyone found it hilarious when she failed and had to be replaced by Victor Wild who by contrast was the loveliest gentleman.

But nah, yeah Flying Fox was a right bitch. Didn't like her one bit.

Scotsman: To be perfectly honest, she was always in that 'popular group' that hung around Great Northern and Banbury, trying to proclaim their superiority. Can't imagine that attitude went down well with the Great Western Way.

Pendennis: Oh no, she got flayed alive most probably. Heard Victor had a lovely time though!

King's Cross was great though, it's changed a lot nowadays but it was good to see Scotsman and his siblings stomping grounds when they ruled the roost. Surprised I never met you back then. All I got was Great Northern and his pals blowing smoke in my face.

Scotsman: I didn't rule the roost back then, I was a little crybaby at the back of the sheds.

Pendennis: Well if it's any consolation, you never appeared that way at the exhibition.

Scotsman: Thank-you PenPen <3

Pendennis: I still beat your arse though.

Scotsman: ... *sigh*

[jamesandanthony]

GHOSTS FIC MASTERPOST

At Long Last Love

2,259 words | Fix-It | Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | Post-Episode: s05e05

The war is over and the Captain returns to Button House, only for things to go not at all to plan. Or, what if The Captain's reunion with Havers had gone a little differently?

_____________________________________

In the Still of the Night

3,268 words | Coda | Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | First Time | Bittersweet

“Come now, not in the mood for dancing with a pretty girl or two?” He smiles, trying to sound as casual as if they were speaking only of the weather. As if he weren’t desperately envious of any girl that might get to dance with Havers, to be held close enough to breath him in as they move together on the dance floor. A look crosses the Lieutenant’s face then, a look of apprehension that steels into resolve. He takes a moment to close the door behind him, stepping closer to the Captain. “No, I… rather have someone on my mind, actually sir.”

_____________________________________

Between You and Me

4,694 words | Porn With Plot | POV Lieutenant Havers | Jealousy | Blow Jobs | Hand Jobs

“And how is your injury? Not too painful, I should hope?” “It smarts a little but nothing I can’t handle,” the Captain replies, touching absent-mindedly at his bandage. “Penny patched me up rather well.” “Penny?” Havers rather feels like someone has thrown a bucket of ice water over him, the Captain’s casual use of Private Banbury’s given name wrapping cold tendrils around his heart.

______________________________________

By Candlelight

7,465 words | Porn With Plot | POV The Captain | Anal Sex | First Time Bottoming

“Isn't it nice to have the house to ourselves?" Havers asks, mischievous glint in his eye.

______________________________________

Too Darn Hot

6,186 words | Porn With Plot | POV Lieutenant Havers | Anal Sex | Outdoor Sex

He arrives just as the Captain’s head breaks the surface, a few metres further in from where he’d seen him dive. He’s facing away from the shore, giving Havers the perfect opportunity to surprise him.

“Swimming all by yourself, handsome?”

_______________________________________

Exercise

3,543 words | Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot | POV The Captain | Masturbation | Anal Fingering | Anal Sex | First Time

The Captain realises his mistake as soon as he leaves the house.

He'd heard Havers mention in passing that he'd been a cross country athlete at university and thought that asking his new lieutenant to join him on a morning run was a capital idea.

That is, right up until the moment that he steps outside into the cool morning air and sees Havers waiting for him by the fountain, wearing a pair of running shorts that leave nothing to the imagination.

_______________________________________

Weren't We Fools

23,848 words | Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | POV The Captain | The Captain Loves Lieutenant Havers | Reunions

He stops mid-stride when he sees the man standing by the window, sucking in a breath as a shock of recognition hits him. The weak morning sunlight shines through the glass, illuminating a face that the Captain would know anywhere, and his knees almost buckle beneath him. “Havers?” ____________________ A delve into the attic brings back more than just memories for the Captain.

[retrieve-the-kraken]

9 favourite books

Thank you @gwiazdziarka for tagging me (and thanks for all those book recs, I’m adding all of them to my list, except for the ones that I’ve already read), and I agree, maybe all of these won’t be my absolute favorite books, but they’re either books that I think about a lot, or books that have a special place in my heart, but not necessarily something that I go back to over and over.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exúpery

This one is definitely a favorite. It’s a book that I’ve reread many times, because I feel that it has a different feel every time, depending on what I’m going through at that moment. Also a classic. Love it so much that I’ve started to collect editions in different languages; so far I have Spanish (of course), French, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Euskera (possibly one of the rarest), and Swedish (of course, because I intend to be able to read it by next year).

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Also an absolute favorite, classic down-the-rabbit-hole type story that takes place in London Below. Fell in love with it, with the world-building within an already existing world. If i actually had to list 9 of my favorite books, pretty sure the whole list would be Neil Gaiman, but this book is both entertaining and comforting, so I pick this one. The BBC radio drama adaptation starring James McAvoy and Natalie Dormer is also excellent. Still waiting for the book sequel, though…

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

The most charming book in history, composed entirely of letters between an aspiring writer and rare books collector in New York and the manager of a rare books bookshop in London. Their relationship is platonic, and yet one of the most romantic things I have ever read. The movie adaptation is equally charming and it has Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench in it. Read the book first, then watch the movie, then cry endlessly. Rinse and repeat.

Like a Hole in the Head by Jen Banbury

You should know that I get a lot of book recommendations from TV shows, so I decided to hunt down this book when Monica was reading it in more than one episode of Friends (felt like a subliminal message). And it was fucking worth it. Also a book about a book. A dwarf comes into a bookshop where the protagonist works, to sell a first edition of Jack London’s White Fang, and only after he’s gone she finds out just how rare it is. Heist plot ensues. It’s equally strange and exciting, mind-blowing and cathartic.

The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan

Very melancholy, this book is a collection of essays, poems and short stories published posthumously, as Keegan died in an accident at 21. She was very talented and could write convincingly about many things. Can’t even pick a favorite one out of the collection, because they’re all very good in very different ways. Very bittersweet.

Los Caballos Estornudan en la Lluvia by Dimas Lidio Pitty

Another short story collection (the title literally translates as “Horses Sneeze in the Rain”), from a Panamanian author, from the region where I spent my childhood summers, which still holds a very special place in my heart, and which has a mysticism about it that he helps preserve in these stories. Dimas Lidio Pitty was very good at magical realism. One of the stories in particular is so brief, but it’s incredible how good it is in such a short narration.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I’m a huge fan of classic dystopic science fiction, and this one has got to be my favorite. The narrative is interesting, moves along at an excellent pace, and it covers everything. Another book about books too. If you haven’t read Fahrenheit 451, the premise is simple: in this dystopic society, firemen don’t put out fires, they start them… to burn books. Book banning to the extreme. What happens next? You need to read it to find out.

El Misterio del Solitario by Jostein Gaarder

I have been obsessed with this book (The Solitaire Mystery in English) by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder since I started reading all his books when I was a teen (I don’t even know how I came across him, I just picked one up one day and went with it, it wasn’t even Sophy’s World, it was Through a Glass, Darkly). Of course Sophy’s World is probably the most famous, and it was very good, but this one is so strange and magical that I read it several times ages ago, and it was such a comforting book, and now I would like to reread. Maybe one day soon I’ll read it in Norwegian!

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Another classic and favorite, which I have also read many times. Some people like Alice in Wonderland, some like Peter Pan, I like the Wizard of Oz. I like anything Oz related, the movie, the musical, Wicked (the musical, not the book, tho), everything. But the source material is still where it’s at.

No pressure tags: @makingupachangingmind , @voldiebeth , @raincitygirl76 and @phoebenpiperx .

[modernmanblues]

i’ve just realised i haven’t done an official review of all the places i’ve been to this year and since i’ve been to so many, i will try to keep it short and sweet. i might even divide this review in two parts. anyways, without further ado here we go:

starting off with the countries down undah

australia

-the koalas and joeys were absolutely adorable. shame i didn’t go to the bigger zoo (taronga) to hold a koala but you know, there is always a next time.

-this is very american of me to say, but i had one of the best McDonald’s burgers at sydney airport. i usually go out of my way to go to the nearest McDonald’s in any country i go as it always fascinates me how international menus differ from the standard macca’s menu in US

-scenery was okay

-bondi beach was pretty. it gave southern france vibes.

-downtown sydney had some great areas for running (esp in the morning when not too crowded)

-i went there during their winter. i would like to go back to experience their summer to see what it’s like.

-overall, Sydney like a diluted version of London

overall rating: 7/10

new zealand

-absolutely stunning views

-i only went two cities (Auckland and Queenstown), but i was still amazed with the view both places had to offer

-i would say NZ is a cross between England and Ireland with regard to the scenery

-food was okay. they basically eat like the english. meat and potatoes, that sort of thing.

-queenstown was absolutely breathtaking.

-again, similar weather to australia when i went. i would love to go back and experience their summer as well

-would be nice to explore the northern end of the island to the southern end (personally, i would love to visit Stewart Island for obvious reasons)

overall rating: 10/10

moving on to european countries

england

-london is london. business as usual. didn’t spend too much time there as i have already been there a few times as i was more interested in exploring the countryside. anyway, the tube is always fun to ride. not to miss!

-i really enjoyed driving “on the wrong side” didn’t take long for me to learn the rules of the road there. absolutely worth renting a car especially if you’re wanting to explore england’s rural areas.

-now, the countryside (i went to Banbury bordering the Cotswolds, Peak District and Lake District) and i was truly amazed with just how stunning the views were in these places

-oxford was also very stunning. loved exploring oxford university and the vicinity.

-food was okay.

-liverpool and manchester are literally the loves of my life (and yes i am biased about those places for personal reasons). I want to back again and again and again and ag-

overall rating: 10/10

..i will stop here and do a part 2 (maybe 3 as well)

[la-appel-du-vide]

09•01•24 - Beach’s Birthday 🥳

Jason and Beach went up camping at Strawberry Reservoir for her birthday this year, and B and I joined them down there on her actual birthday. We stopped by Banbury Cross doughnuts to bring a birthday breakfast with us, and got some drinks and candy also.

When we got there, we were able to catch Beach off-guard with a surprise silly string birthday attack, and this video is too good hahah. She opened her presents (some nice silver hoop earrings, two books (that she already had and already read hahah amazing luck), and a FurViking and socks lol. We had her blow out her doughnut candles, and then waited for her mom and grandma to arrive as well! Once they were there, we played games for a few hours, had lunch, and then went down to the lake to paddleboard for a bit. The weather was pretty perfect, and it was fun to finally get the paddleboard out this year!

Then it was back to the campsite for more games, dinner, and s'mores around the fire. Such a fun day for my favorite girl! And don't worry, we decorated her room as per tradition while they were on their camping trip haha.

[progrockdan1]

Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross

[chattering-magpie-uk]

Photographic Collections - Part LIV

https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/727834833573838848/photographic-essay-sunflowers-iii https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/728423423428149248/wb-yeats-the-stolen-child-2 https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/728620238509309952/banbury-cross-rhyme https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/728633120755253248/darker-woods https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/7298…

[girls-of-the-old-country]

Let’s Get A Little Conversation Between them. I’ll Ask a Question. Which Hamlet in the park is the best?

Banbury Cross: Well it’s obviously mine. I mean, I’m the first and last land all the lots of guests walk through. And I must say, the chaps at Union Snacks are pretty excellent at their job.

Heatherdowns: Sgrudal! Ye don’t even have any rides except that stupid theater. I clearly have the hamlet with the stables filled with bonny clydesdales and Tweedside Train Station.

Aquitaine: Well, you don’t ‘ave any rides eizer, ‘Eatherdowns. Except for zat crotchety old coaster zat would break moi’s delicate back. Plus, do you not realize zhe best ‘amlet needs some class, no?

Hastings: Thoust do not need any rides! Only a faire and village like thine has to wow the peoples! That is what made thine hamlet and ye Threadneedle Faire the greatest!

Rhinefeld: Und yet you still lost both of zose when zhat ginger Killarney and zhe zoologist came around. I, however, have kept mein land, und even got a vonderful roller coaster zhat got me into skiing.

Killarney: Now Rhinefeld, I have nothing against ol’ Hastings, but for bein’ the best hamlet, ya better go to mine’s Grogan’s Pub with stouts a ‘housand times better than what frothy trash ya drink.

Oktoberfest: Hey! Mein schnapps are da best beers in da entirety of da park! Und I have da most rides per land as vell! I am clearly da best! Oans, zwoa, drei, g'suffa! Live und let live!

San Marco: You don’t-a need the most-a rides, you ubriaca. Just-a lovely-a gardens and-a great food-a. Take my-a Garden of-a Inventions and-a my old-a Ristorante Della Piazza.

Festa Italia: But what one needs to be the greatest hamlet is to have the most roller-coasters. We, as in I, have 3, and thus we is the best. We think it is settled whose hamlet is the best.

Sesame Street Forest of Fun: What about me?

Jack Hanna’s Wildlife Reserve: And me?

Timberwood Village: Well, Sesame, you are a disconnected kid’s area. And Hanna, you were left oot of the map and your land was combined with Killarney. Neither of you really coont, eh?

Sesame Street Forest of Fun: Ok.

Jack Hanna’s Wildlife Reserve: **** you, flannel.

[shahananasrin-blog]

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Completions were also down 3.9% year on year as inflation fuelled rates dampen buyers plans pic.twitter.com/nVAGAoE5aE— Emma Fildes (@emmafildes) September 6, 2023 Updated at 08.59 BSTChevron and unions in talks to avert Australia LNG strikeIn the energy sector, last ditch talks are taking place in Australia between Chevron and unions representing workers at two major liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, in an attempt to avoid planned industrial action.Workers are set to start a series of work stoppages from Thursday in the dispute over pay and conditions.If their terms are not met, they plan to escalate to a total strike.Chevron Australia hoped to “narrow points of difference” through the mediated bargaining sessions, a spokesperson has said.Employees last week almost unanimously rejected a pay and conditions deal put to them directly by Chevron, bypassing unions.Concerns about the stoppages recently pushed up prices in natural gas markets, including in Europe, amid fears of supply disruption.UK gas prices have dropped in early trading, with the day-ahead wholesale gas price down 3.6% to 80p per therm.UK facing worst fall in living standards since 1950sIn another economic blow, this parliamentary term is on track to be by far the worst for living standards since the 1950s.The Resolution Foundation is warning this morning that typical working age household incomes are on course to be 4% lower in 2024-25 than they were in 2019-20, as people are hit by higher mortgage rates, steep tax rises and a stagnant economy.Never in living memory have families got so much poorer over a parliament, they say.This parliamentary term is on track to be by far the worst for living standards since the 1950s. Typical working age household incomes are on course to be 4% lower in 2024-25 than they were in 2019-20.Never in living memory have families got so much poorer over a parliament. pic.twitter.com/909M5LM0KZ— Resolution Foundation (@resfoundation) September 6, 2023 Adam Corlett, Resolution Foundation’s principal economist, said stable incomes next year will be a relief for many households, but warned: “The bad news is that the living standards outlook is still dire, with overall stagnation and further income falls on the way for less well-off households”. Here’s the story:Government slow to take action to recover £1.1bn losses from Covid supportThe UK government has been unacceptably slow to recover more than £1bn lost to fraudsters who took advantage of the coronavirus business support program, a parliamentary report says.A report published today by the Public Accounts Committee finds that by May this year, the government had only recovered £20.9m of an estimated £1.1bn in fraud and error losses on its business support schemes in the pandemic.That’s just 2% of the amount lost.The PAC says that Department for Business and Trade (DBT) officials have argued that checking payments is very expensive, there are legal questions about the ability to recover some payments, and it will be “incredibly hard” to recover much of the losses.The PAC is urging the Government to set out the specific steps it will take to tackle this fraud and error, to recover funds and restore public trust.The government provided £22.6bn of support to businesses after Covid-19 hit the economy, but the PAC says we still don’t know what impact that support had, or how much of it was not needed.Public Accounts Committee Chair, Dame Meg Hillier MP, says fraudsters took advantage of the schemes, so ministers must be “rigorously prepared” to avoid a repeat.Hillier says: The lack of planning from Government also meant that a door was left wide open in these schemes to fraudsters who took shameful financial advantage of schemes that were designed with national solidarity in mind. It is simply not good enough to give up on recovering this money simply because it is difficult to do so. Public trust is harmed if the Government shrugs its shoulders at criminals lining their pockets with state support.” Official data released in July showed that more than half of all company directors struck off in Britain in the past 15 months were involved in alleged fraud or abuse of Covid-19 financial support schemes.Fraudulent claims included a roofer who applied for a £13,000 loan and spent it on gambling in three weeks, while another director applied for a loan and used it to buy class A drugs, the Observer reported:Updated at 08.00 BSTBrexit, high inflation and shortages of skilled workers are all weighing on the UK economy.David Bharier, head of research at the British Chambers of Commerce, explains: “Our latest forecast reflects how many SMEs firms are struggling to rebuild confidence following three years of economic shocks. Prolonged inflation, skills shortages, and new trade barriers with the EU have fed into a climate of little or no growth. “A rapidly increasing proportion of SMEs are also now worried about interest rates, which have dramatically raised borrowing costs in many cases. “With further trade barriers looming, leading to higher import costs, and tightness in the labour market persisting, it is difficult to see how large-scale investment will be unlocked. Government needs to work with business to develop a clear path for the economy to promote investment and growth.” Introduction: Fragile UK economy 'teeters on edge of recession'Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets, and the world economy.The UK economy is set to flatline for the next six months, but it will ‘feel a lot’ like a full-blown recession for millions.That’s the warning from the British Chambers of Commerce this morning, which fears economic activity in the UK’s ‘fragile economy’ will remain very weak throughout 2024 and 2025.The BCC expects the next two quarters to flatline, leading to overall growth of 0.4% for the year.This means the UK economy remains on course to avoid a technical recession, but growth is likely to remain so feeble that it will be hard to spot the difference, the BCC warns.It has also slashed its forecast for the next two years, as the economy is hit by rising inflation and high interest rates which squeeze disposable income and household spending.The UK economy expected to grow by just 0.3% in 2024 (down from a previous forecast of 0.6%), rising to 0.7% in 2025 (down from 1%).The BCC warns: Consistently low economic growth of this nature is comparable to previous periods of economic shocks and recessions such as the oil crises of the 1970s and financial crash of 2008. 🗣️@realVickyPryce: "The BCC forecast shows the UK economy is teetering on the edge of a recession. But the fact is, that with growth predicted to hover so close to zero for three years, it will still feel a lot like one for most people and businesses."👇https://t.co/Equ88oE3hZ— BCC (@britishchambers) September 6, 2023Vicky Pryce, senior member of the BCC Economic Advisory Council, says: “The BCC’s latest forecast shows the UK economy is continuing to teeter on the edge of a recession. But the fact is, that with growth predicted to hover so close to zero for three years, it will still feel a lot like one for most people and businesses. “The impact this will have on consumer spending, coupled with a poor trade performance, will only generate more uncertainty for firms. There is currently little on the table to provide companies with any crumbs of comfort, Pryce fears, adding: As we head towards an election next year, politicians will have to show how they will work with the business community to find solutions.” The BCC predicts that inflation will have dropped to 5% in the final quarter of the year – enough to hit the government’s target of halving inflation in 2023. But, it fears CPI won’t reach the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) 2% target until the last three months of 2025.Wages are expected to rise a little faster than inflation in 2024 and 2025.Also coming up todayTop brass from the Bank face a grilling at parliament today. BoE governor Andrew Bailey will be questioned over inflation and rising interest rates, which hit a 15-year high last month.Fighting inflation became a little harder yesterday, when the oil price hit $90 per barrel for the first time this year after Saudi Arabia and Russia said they would cut output until the end of the year.The agenda 8.30am BST: Eurozone construction PMI report for August 9.30am BST: UK construction PMI report for August 10am BST: OECD Economic Survey of the EU and euro area 10am BST: Eurozone retail sales for July 2.15pm BST: Bank of England governor to be questioned on inflation and rising interest rates by the Treasury Committee [ad_2]

[calendarcrawl]

January 2023

THE PEAR TREE INN

HOOK NORTON, OXFORDSHIRE

8th January 2023

And we’re back! Everyone’s favourite calendar based beer-venture has returned for the first time since Covid.

Lots has changed in those 3 fallow years: we’ve had a global pandemic, full scale war has returned to the European continent, I’ve become a dad and my daughter has seen one third as many Prime Ministers before her 2nd birthday as I’ve seen in 35 years. It’s all very strong and stable.

What hasn’t changed though is our thirst for a good pint and a nice boozer. But why pick and choose where we go to do that when we can just leave it entirely to chance? After all, we’ve had the last three years to pick and choose our drinking establishments. So what me and the boys decided, was that we needed some (more) uncertainty in our lives. Enter “Olde Worlde Inns Calendar 2023”.

January saw us roll out the red carpet to Calendar virgins, Karl Taylor and Jack Rowley, who would be picking up their first cap and joining us in our perpetual hobby of drink and bad decisions.

This month, we were thrown in at the shallow end for a relatively short drive to the Pear Tree Inn in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire. When I say “relatively short drive”, I mean it. There’s been Stranger Things episodes that are longer than the drive to Hook Norton. So we were grateful for that. But easy to get to doesn’t always mean it’s going to be easy to love...

While the calendar pub itself was a beautifully rustic, old fashioned rural boozer - the nearby town of Banbury, where we decided to try our luck for more frivolous and exotic beverages, proved to be nothing short of a clusterfuck. But let’s start at the beginning.

We started the trip with a quick pint at The Gate Hangs High on the way into Hook Norton. This was for recon purposes to see if it was worth travelling back out to later. In short, no. Nice enough place but only one ale on, and it all felt a bit light and airy in there. We like our pubs like we like our women - dark, miserable and wet (by which I mean, serving alcohol, not flooded).

Thankfully, the calendar pub had plenty of darkness and intimacy. It made a pleasant change from the typical calendar establishments, which are predominantly gastropubs you can’t wait to move on from. There was 5 or 6 cask ales on and a couple of keg lines, all predictably loaded with Hook Norton beers, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We had a couple in there, snapped the photograph and then went for a 3 minute walk down the road to the Hook Norton Brewery.

The building itself is an old Victorian tower brewery that looks like something from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Having done a fair few brewery tours in the last year, we decided instead to just have some food and get on our drinking shoes. From what I remember, I had Pie and Mash washed down with three pints of different stuff I’ve not had before (a Rye beer, a pale ale and a gluten free beer). It also turns out we were sat next to the owners of the brewery - so after a quick chinwag with the matriarch of Hook Norton, it was time to try out the local taxi firm and check out Banbury.

The taxi dropped us off at the ‘best pub in Banbury’ Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the pub. It had plenty of character and all the Hook Norton you could possibly (not) want. But in hindsight, we shouldn’t have gone here first because the Apothecary Tap (craft beer bar and main reason for our visit to Banbury) closes at 8pm on a Saturday night. And the gaffer didn’t trust us to have “just a quick one” when we rocked up at 7:45pm.

Things went from bad to worse when we ended up drinking in a pub called the Banbury Cross Inn, a place I’d file in the “Not our scene” category. We then tried to find a craft beer place called Tap Social something or other but Google Maps sent us some inaccessible route via a canal.

With the merciless sands of time pushing past 9pm and Banbury clearly suffering from some sort of post-New Year malaise, we decided to cut our losses and get a taxi back to the calendar pub (where we were also staying). If our visit to Dunkirk back in September taught us anything, it was when to call a tactical retreat.

And thankfully, that proved to be the right move because not only did we get to enjoy the Pear Tree Inn on a wintry Saturday evening, but the lovely landlady also hooked us up with a fully loaded cheeseboard on account of it being Cheese Night. And so it went, that we’d finish our trip to Hook Norton with a bit of a lock in, drinking with the staff until about 2am before finally calling it a day.

And guess what, Jon fell asleep drinking again.

[jamesandanthony]

GHOSTS FIC MASTERPOST

At Long Last Love

2,259 words | Rated: G

Fix-It | Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | Post-Episode: s05e05

The war is over and the Captain returns to Button House, only for things to go not at all to plan. Or, what if The Captain's reunion with Havers had gone a little differently?

_____________________________________

In the Still of the Night

3,268 words | Rated: T

Coda | Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | First Time | Bittersweet

“Come now, not in the mood for dancing with a pretty girl or two?” He smiles, trying to sound as casual as if they were speaking only of the weather. As if he weren’t desperately envious of any girl that might get to dance with Havers, to be held close enough to breath him in as they move together on the dance floor. A look crosses the Lieutenant’s face then, a look of apprehension that steels into resolve. He takes a moment to close the door behind him, stepping closer to the Captain. “No, I… rather have someone on my mind, actually sir.”

_____________________________________

Between You and Me

4,694 words | Rated: E

Porn With Plot | POV Lieutenant Havers | Jealousy | Blow Jobs | Hand Jobs

“And how is your injury? Not too painful, I should hope?” “It smarts a little but nothing I can’t handle,” the Captain replies, touching absent-mindedly at his bandage. “Penny patched me up rather well.” “Penny?” Havers rather feels like someone has thrown a bucket of ice water over him, the Captain’s casual use of Private Banbury’s given name wrapping cold tendrils around his heart.

______________________________________

By Candlelight

7,465 words | Rated: E

Porn With Plot | POV The Captain | Anal Sex | First Time Bottoming

“Isn't it nice to have the house to ourselves?" Havers asks, mischievous glint in his eye.

______________________________________

Too Darn Hot

6,186 words | Rated: E

Porn With Plot | POV Lieutenant Havers | Anal Sex | Outdoor Sex

He arrives just as the Captain’s head breaks the surface, a few metres further in from where he’d seen him dive. He’s facing away from the shore, giving Havers the perfect opportunity to surprise him. “Swimming all by yourself, handsome?”

[chattering-magpie-uk]

Photographic Collections - Part LIII

https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/727834801939349504/photographic-essay-sunflowers-ii https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/728423218087706624/woodland-dawn https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/728620190204592128/banbury-cross-detail https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/728627546021904384/sahara-sun-2017 https://www.tumblr.com/chattering-magpie-uk/728635705614581…

[girls-of-the-old-country]

To understand the 12 girls, here’s a list of each description of the lands they’re personifying, and each of girl’s traits and personality.

- Banbury Cross, England - Baroque London Themed Village - Leader of the girls and is a bit of a posh snob

- Heatherdowns, Scotland - Rural Highland Stables Community - Tomboy farm-girl with a rather hot head who’s ticked off by everyone

- Hastings, England - Medieval Fair (Replaced in 2001 with Killarney, but girl still remains) - Theatrical court jester with a love for the fair and giving everyone fun

- Killarney, Ireland - Lively Irish Village Built out of an Old Castle - Spiffy and rough girl about town, and plays a mean fiddle

- Aquitaine, France - Belle Époque Era French Village with Lovely Gardens - Sophisticated Aristocrat who likes to speed drive (Le Mans Raceway, closed 2007), and occasionally smokes a pipe

- Timberwood Village, New France - Fort and Rustic Community in the French Colonial Canada (Modern Quebec) - Down-to-earth lumberjack with a smooth crooning voice and great folk instrument skill

- San Marco, Italy - Renaissance-Era Village with Huge Garden Themed Around Leonardo Da Vinci - Curator of the gardens with a very creative mind and passion for history

- Festa Italia, Italy - Festival Celebrating Marco Polo’s Return (With Way Too Much Roman Stuff) - Host of the Festa that has an obsession with both the romans and carnivals (And is trying to combine both under the guise of a Marco Polo Festival)

- Rhinefeld, Germany - Colorful Village Up In the Alps Next to a Eccentric Ski Resort - Athletic town darling who skis very often but also liked children’s stories (Hence Grimm’s Playground and later Land of Dragons)

- Oktoberfest, Germany - Giant Carnival and Feast House to celebrate the Oktoberfest - Rowdy life of the party that goes a little hard on the schnapps

- Sesame Street Forest of Fun - Kid’s Section Themed Around Sesame Street - Happy little child who goes around spreading joy to the other girls

- Jack Hanna’s Wildlife Reserve - A Wildlife Reserve with Various Animals - Wildlife expert who’s good with animals, and stays away from all the other girls

Comment any question for any of the girls and I’ll be sure to answer it.

Be sure to format it like:

“Dear [Insert Girl Here],

[Insert Question Here]?”

Until then, goodbye!

[olderthannetfic]

I wouldn't say it's wildly common or anything, but it's not obsolete, particularly in the metaphorical usage.

Do kids even have these toys now, though? I definitely have one in the house somewhere from my childhood, but I haven't seen any in ages. The horse costume from mummers' plays is still called this as well, but that's obviously going to come up in limited contexts.

The google n-gram results suggest "hobby-horse" was the more common version in the past. Now, they've all settled into relatively minor usage... aside from "cock horse", which I suspect just turns up in endless reprints of Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross.

We should go back to using terms like "hobby horse" instead of "special interest" or "hyperfocus".

Just acknowledge that some people really like certain subjects, no need to clinicalize it.

--

Hobby horse strikes me about like soap box.