#bristol goldfish

[iridescentclouds29]

Bristol Goldfish

[aquaticfacts]

Male or female goldfish? How to tell (with pictures)

The most opportune time to determine the gender of goldfish is during the spawning season. In the wild, this occurs in the spring and summer, but in the home aquarium, it can happen at any time of the year. During spawning, male goldfish will develop noticeable spots on their gills and pectoral fins, while female goldfish will exhibit a swollen vent under their tails. In addition to these physical changes, their behavior will also be different. Male goldfish will be more active in chasing and pursuing female goldfish. By observing these characteristics during the spawning season, you can easily identify which of your goldfish are male and which are female. It's an exciting time that provides valuable insights into the gender composition of your goldfish community. Male goldfish: - Have spots on their gills - Have spots on their pectoral fins - Chase females - Release milt to fertilize eggs Female goldfish - Have a vent that lumps out - Get chased by males - Lay eggs Let’s look at some pictures of male and female goldfish so that you know what to look out for.

How the vent tells you whether a goldfish is male or female

In goldfish, the vent serves two important functions. Firstly, it is the organ through which they release waste, and secondly, it plays a crucial role in their breeding process. During the breeding season, female goldfish use their vent to release eggs, while male goldfish release milt, which is responsible for fertilizing the eggs. In male goldfish, the vent appears as a flat and inconspicuous small slit tucked away under their tails, not very noticeable in appearance. On the other hand, in female goldfish, the vent undergoes a noticeable change during the breeding season. It becomes swollen and puffed out, a clear indicator of their readiness to breed. For a visual comparison, you can refer to the photos below, provided by Bristol Aquarists Society, which vividly highlight the visible differences between the male and female goldfish vents during the breeding season.

Identifying breeding tubercles on male goldfish

Male goldfish develop small white bumps known as breeding tubercles on their gill covers during the breeding season. These distinctive spots, often referred to as "breeding stars," can also be observed on the fish's pectoral fin, as depicted in the photos below. These tubercles serve as a notable visual clue to identify male goldfish during their breeding phase. What are breeding tubercles for? The exact purpose of goldfish breeding tubercles is not fully understood. However, scientific evidence suggests that these small white bumps serve as an indicator of a male goldfish's healthy breeding condition. Male goldfish with a higher number of breeding tubercles are often considered to be healthier and more likely to have successful breeding outcomes. As a result, these tubercles may function as an outward sign to female goldfish, signaling that a male with numerous tubercles would make a favorable choice as a mate. While the precise function of breeding tubercles may still be a subject of research, their association with male goldfish health and breeding success adds an intriguing element to the dynamics of goldfish mating behaviors. See also: How Long Do Goldfish Live? 7 Ways to Help Them Live Longer! How to tell different between breeding stars and ich parasite It is essential to distinguish between white breeding tubercles and white spot disease (Ick or Ich) in goldfish, as they can appear similar but have distinct characteristics. Before attempting any treatment, it is crucial to verify whether it is indeed spawning season, as mistakenly treating for a disease during this time can disrupt the breeding process and the overall health of the aquarium or pond. Breeding stars, or breeding tubercles, present as small, neatly arranged white dots, commonly found on the gills and pectoral fins, although they can appear anywhere on the goldfish. On the other hand, white spot disease (Ich) also causes white spots, but they tend to vary in size and appear randomly all over the fish, without a specific pattern. Being able to differentiate between these two conditions is vital to ensure appropriate and effective treatment and to maintain the well-being of your goldfish during the breeding season.

Chasing behavior during spawning season

During the spawning season, the behavior of goldfish can provide valuable clues about their gender. Male goldfish will often engage in chasing behavior, where they pursue and bump females into the sides of the tank. On the other hand, being chased suggests that the goldfish is likely female. While this chasing behavior can be an indicator of gender, it is not always foolproof, especially when different ages of goldfish are housed together in the same tank. In some cases, younger and immature goldfish may start exhibiting behaviors that are not typical of their gender when pheromones are released during spawning. As a result, it is essential to consider other signs, such as the presence of breeding tubercles or the release of eggs or milt, to accurately determine the gender of goldfish. Combining multiple indicators will provide a more reliable assessment of whether a goldfish is male or female during the spawning season. see also: Why is my goldfish sitting at the bottom of the tank?

Releasing eggs and milt: The easiest way to tell if a goldfish is male or female

The most straightforward and definitive way to determine the gender of a goldfish is by observing them release milt or eggs. When a goldfish is releasing eggs, it is a clear indication that it is a female. Conversely, when a goldfish is releasing milt, it confirms that it is a male. To help you visually recognize these behaviors, here are some pictures for reference: By observing these distinct behaviors, you can easily and accurately identify the gender of your goldfish during the breeding season.

How old do goldfish need to be to tell if they are male or female?

Goldfish display their physical differences based on sex only after reaching sexual maturity and being in good health. Typically, goldfish attain maturity at one year of age, but this timeline can vary, with some reaching it earlier or later. For successful breeding, acquiring six goldfish from the same tank at the store is advisable as it increases the likelihood of obtaining both male and female specimens. However, ensure you have a spacious tank or pond to accommodate all of them safely.

Other physical characteristics of male vs female goldfish

The primary signs of male vs female goldish are: - Spots on the gills and pectoral fins during breeding season (males) - A vent that sticks out (females) - Chasing (males) and being chased (females) - Laying eggs (females) and releasing milt (males) More subtle – and less reliable – secondary signs include: Distinguishing male and female goldfish can be challenging, as secondary characteristics may not be consistent in all individuals. However, some common traits are observed: - The pectoral fin in males tends to be thicker and longer. - Male pectoral fins are usually more pointed compared to females. - The anal fin in males is closer to the tail compared to females. - Male goldfish often have more flowing fins and tails. - Males tend to have a slightly smaller and skinnier body, while females exhibit a larger and rounder body with a soft abdomen. - Females may appear asymmetrical from above during the spawning season due to egg development. - Females are often deeper bodied when viewed from the side. - Males typically have a more pronounced ridge running through the rear of the pelvic fins to the vent opening, while females may have a smaller or absent ridge. Despite these characteristics, it's important to note that not all goldfish will conform strictly to these guidelines. To ascertain the gender of a goldfish accurately, it's best to wait for primary signs of sexual maturity. Read the full article

[juliehowlin]

23 April

In 2000, in Bristol, an entire garden, belonging to Colin and Linda Warburton, was stolen. Thieves made off with trees, cemented ornaments, even a pond of Carp and goldfish.

10 weird and wonderful things which happened on 23 April:

[bristolshubunkin]

[candoia-aspera]

One final indoor pic of Pepper and Whiskey (+bonus Wakin who was recovering from a fungal infection) before they went out to the pond.

They’re about 8-10cm now so big enough to hold their own in a pond full of other greedy idiots.

I’m looking forward to watching them grow from a new perspective!

[encyclopika]

Animal Crossing Fish - Explained #170

Brought to you by a marine biologist and another we’ve done already...

CLICK HERE FOR THE AC FISH EXPLAINED MASTERPOST!

I’m totally fine doing fish we have kind of done already. I just hope none of ya are bored. Writing one of these only scratches the surface of information about that animal, and I try to pick a trait or behavior that I can expand on in general. Believe it or not, it’s only gotten *slightly* more difficult to find something to talk about in general...or maybe I just find every fish wonderful. Who knows...

Anyway, today I will cover two fish at a time because they are the same fish - the Red and the Black Wakin Goldfish!

The name is actually pronounced “WAH-keen”, for those of you like me and haven’t been pronouncing this right. *Heh* Anyway, these are yet again Pocket Camp fishies that appeared for the Fishing Tourney. They both appeared in Fishing Tourney #29 in August 2020, but only the Red Wakin returned in September 2021 for Fishing Tourney #42. Who knows, maybe the black will make it back someday, too.

Now, these guys are goldfish, and we’ve covered the other goldfish that appear in ACNH before. I covered them all at once back in 2020 (where do the years go, I swear), because those - the goldfish, the popeye, ranchu, and now these wakin - are all the same species of carp -  Carassius auratus. Goldfish come in over 200 breeds, some normal-looking and well-adjusted, and some that are basically genetic monsters, how does this thing live??? - just like dogs!

Pic from Bristol Aquarists.

Goldfish were first domesticated and bred for their ornamental value in China, and China did not just keep them to themselves. At some point, China introduced the goldfish to Japan, and it is Japan where the Wakin - and a few other breeds - originate. 

At first glance, the Wakin looks more like the well-adjusted goldfish than really any of the others that appear in AC, until you find out they have two tails. This genetic mutation is splits the caudal peduncle and each half grows a caudal/tail fin. These double-tail varieties are called “fancy” and all double-tail fancy breeds were bred from the Wakin. They look beautiful when viewed from above, which tracks when you consider these fish were specifically bred to be pond-dwellers (in which you always view them from above the water’s surface and not from the side like in a regular glass tank. They can also get quite large, so they really are for the pond and NOT for tanks. 

As we covered last time we spoke about goldfish, please, oh please, treat these darlings with more respect. They do NOT live in bowls, especially large breeds like the Wakin. That would be like locking a German Shephard in a half bathroom...and then not cleaning up the dog poop for a month or two. It’s cruel.

And there you have it! Fascinating stuff, no?   

[lacroixsucks]

this most likely will never escape my drafts but if it did, hEr3.

here is the descriptions of all of my ocs and everything you need to know about my paracosm/books !

i have goldfish memory so most likely i will take this down numerous times to edit it or add info.

 quite a few clear-ups before i start—

•my oc vampire’s kryptonite is silver. ex; silver bullets, particles of silver, smell of silver (damages lungs and makes being cough or wheeze depending on the time exposed) vampires are not affected by the touch of silver but if the internal system comes within contact of the metal, the vampire will react by death. silver is the only thing that can poison or potentially kill them.

•one of the ways a sovran can be killed is through heir pregnancy. sovranty is through the sovran and the sovran’s heir. there can only ever be one sovran and one sovran heir at a time so if the sovran’s heir gets pregnant or impregnates (bond or not), the original sovran dies, the sovran’s heir becomes the sovran and the original sovran’s heir’s son/daughter is the heir. [ex; ivan was the vampurity sovran when revrenn got ruby pregnant. revrenn was the heir but didn’t know it as well. so, to stop himself (ivan) from dying and revrenn taking over as the new sovran, ibex killed ruby’s unborn baby. if ruby would have given birth, ibex would’ve died, revrenn would’ve been the new sovran, and their baby would have became revrenn’s (sovran’s) heir].

•vampire woman can bear children but it’s very risky. the woman is vulnerable for disease and is very fragile during later weeks/trimesters.

•scrolls define vampurity. the scrolls were written and enchanted to create the laws of vampurity. these laws cannot be broken nor defied unless you’re a sovran..or someone willing to die. destroying a scroll results in instant death to the holder. therefore, if one decides to destroy a scroll, they will die with it.

•three types of supernatural-to-supernatural bonds exist. these bonds create a link from soul to soul that cannot be broken without the use of forbidden magic. these bonds consist of the romantic bond, parental bond, and the oppo bond. the romantic bond is as it sounds; a romantic soul-connected relation between man and women, women and women, or man and man. the parental bond is a soul-connection between an elder being and a younger being. no romance is involved in the parental bond. the purpose of the parental bond is for the elder to be connected to the youth for protectional purposes only (ex; revrenn had a parental bond with ruby because of her mother and father but the 8-9 year gap between them left for the bond to abolish and reform into romantic). it is not ped0philia unless the elder party is sexually/romantically involved with the younger being while still parentally bonded. although it is real, there have been no official or court related records of any elder ever being attracted sexually to a minor or their parental bond. the parental bond is also the only bond that can fade or break. the connection can fade through fulfillment or the loss of need for protection. every bond that forms always has a connection, despite being broken or not. the last bond is the oppo bond. the oppo bond is the soul-connection between two beings that share an unworldly friendship. this bond is not compared to clutch mates, the oppo bond is the strongest bond and most rare to achieve. clutch mates are bound and don’t always get along, greatly differing from the relation between two beings in an oppo bond. the only bond of the three that can be sealed and permanently unable to abolish, no matter how much magic, is romantic. the romantic bond can be “sealed” or set forever through sex. but, for the romantic bond to be even stronger than it already is, both parties have to remain with virginity through supernatural (ex; if a human had lost their virginity while mortal but bonded to another being, they would be able to seal. it’s only when the supernatural has sex with another being that they are not bonded to that they lose their ability to withhold a better future romantic bond).

•you’d be wondering how vampurity started if it was passed through vampire-to-human venom injection by now, i assume. the race was started through a rose. an egyptian (egypt became the jerusalem of supernatural at that time) merchant created a spell that fractured a human soul from physical form. the merchant, eviolé, split an innocent human named roane, and casted the man’s soul into a red rose. the rose turned blue from the switch and began to slowly absorb the soul’s nutrients. the soul’s needs bonded to the rose’s and over time, the soul within had fully became self-reliant. the rose with the soul still intact inside came to live forever, even after roane’s soul was unsplit and casted onto a human body. but he was poisoned by the rose’s glucose and had became in need of inner fluid, blood. while roane was trapped, he created his own food using photosynthesis. the rose had replaced all of its inner fluid with a human blood-like substance. so, when he was separated, he feasted on other humans as it was the only thing he knew to do from feeding off his own blood for centuries. thus, creating the first full being of vampurity.

•all coven boys were turned from near death experiences and allowed into the coven because of their backgrounds,, ex; they were all lacking something in their life that the coven fulfilled.

*members that have died are in italics*

main ocs:

-coven founders

kris (kris zhang)  - second official alpha, no bond/lover, killed by severus in surprise attack while hunting in 2015, turned in china from near death in the battle of Beijing in 1644, 397yo (as of 2015), character visual inspo: kris wu // loyal, powerful, influential, warming, friendly, book and street smart,, cocky at times, overthinks, can easily be outsmarted but still highly intelligent (overthinks outcome), jealousy

dante (tidus dante quartz) - first ever official alpha and creator of the quartz coven, no bond/lover, turned by a vampire immigrant in the New World 1630, “disappeared” in 1994 when kris became alpha (also ruby’s birth year), sacrificed himself for revrenn in the final battle, about 415yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: booboo stewart // determined, skilled, accurate, hopeless romantic, admirably charming, thoughtful,, very impatient yet slow paced, bad at controlling urges, frequently over charms hopeless women/men...........rumored to be bisexual

-first clutch (group) in coven

revrenn ( revrenn halene ,, also known as rev for short) - sovran of vampurity, husband/bond of ruby, father of vyron, turned from suicide attempt, first coven boy turned in america, exactly 100yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: mikey way (thank bullets and revenge for that) and sehun oh // humble, leader, reserved, caring, overprotective at times, thoughtful,, gives up fast, major procrastinator, gets jealous really easy, hopeless romantic, over thinker, self doubter (low self esteem)

ruby (ruby monterro/halene) - wife/bond of revrenn, mother of vyron (ibex forced her miscarriage. she would have two kids but instead only has vyron), turned by revrenn on request of immortality and future sovranty, turned 2016, only 22yo (as of 2016), no character visual inspo // very shy and courteous but also highly defensive towards enemies,, tends to over-bluff around enemies

vyron (vyron halene) - son of revrenn and ruby, future father, sovran heir, mixed species (human to vampire) bond with melanie, born into vampurity, only 17yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: jisung park, hendery // acquires mixed personality but mostly ruby then rev,, procrastinator to the max, over-bluffs, can be cocky, can be selfish

mark1 (mark lake,, also known as uno) - third coven alpha, husband/bond of lisa, turned from suicide attempt, third turned in coven, exactly 100yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: mark tuan // big goofball but in the bad way, feeling lucky kinda dude, deceiving, impulsive, gentle,, extreme over-bluffs, cowardly, feminine (not a bad thing but he gets bullied by the other coven members), he’s mostly feminine because he had been babied during his alpha years

henry (henry iverson) - no bond, died by silver bullet wound, second in-law/apprentice (served under kris), turned by starvation/desertion, exactly 100yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: jung jaehyun // smart, quick, smartass,, easily down, bipolar, self-doubts a lot

-second clutch in coven

lucas (lucas dean bell) - no bond (but if human-to-human bonding was a thing he definitely would be), died in the final battle destroying the restricting scroll (scroll restricting the bonds between cross-species and humans), fell in love in 1956 with a girl named penny roe (she was kidnapped and murdered a year later), turned 1957 by murder/stab wounds, also had a crush on ruby at first, 78yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: wong yukhei, matt dillon (the outsiders matt dillon) // witted, politically comedic, tough but actually a softie, strong, he knows his place and worth,, defensive, 60’s mindset, violent when irritated

michael (michael haven) - no bond, turned from impact at river party/beer blast, exactly 78yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: vernon (svt) // closeted gay, funny, hilarious, actually comedic, can make people piss their pants laughing, stupid, but intelligent,, low self-esteem from rejected parents and dates, “too” soft (acts tough but isn’t), lies about mental health (especially after lucas’ death)

victor (victor moon) - wife/bonded to noelle of the outlawed spell guardians (osg for short), father of navy (same age as vyron and named after bristol boy, navy hectorin), turned by drowning, 78yo (as of 2016), he ran away from the coven a couple years after being turned in 1957 and found a bond-he sealed (sealing is finishing the bond with s3x) and soon ran away in fear of childbearing despite his bond being infertil. this effects his relation with noelle and their struggle with having a baby,, character visual inspo: lee taeyong // determined, rough but also gentle, phat feminist, kind but also malevolent when he needs,, he usually has great control of his emotions but sometimes he slips, he can be too rough, heartless on occasion, overprotective, overly attaching

-third clutch in coven

finn (finn lowell) - acted as coven’s spy to common enemy ivan but left axis and became the coven’s allie again (after being punished with a whip for it by ivan), bond of michelle of the outlawed spell guardians, turned by suicide after parents death in 1965, 69yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: hwang hyunjin, lucas till // kind, respectful, territorial, strong,, easily manipulated, usually used, tends to feel worthless/low self-concept

jade (jade thomas) - worked alongside finn as a spy but more loyal to ivan, split his own soul to protect ruby as a favor for his betrayal to revrenn in the final battle, soon was casted into a dog (a golden retriever) instead of being recasted into a human (the coven decided this because of his reluctancy to defend ruby when ivan killed her and revrenn’s unborn child), turned by father’s neglect in 1965, 69yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: bang chan // loner, friendly, level 9000 persuader,, untrustworthy, vague, amoral

adrian (adrian gray) - one of the best bo1s, honestly one of the biggest coven babies even though he’s not the youngest, he worked as one of the potion sorcerers (created potions for other coven members), he had a crush and a lil girlfriend when he was in school but it didn’t last past his graduation, he was turned from bullet wounds and escape attempt and taken out from school by coven, 68yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: na jaemin // innocent, tame, compassionate, loving,, decisive, second-guesses himself frequently, extreme levels of guilt (adrian had given ruby a vampire characteristic potion to enhance her strength but it wore off and broke two of her ribs while she was jumping)

-forth clutch in coven

mark (mark wells) - third baby boy in coven (more liked babied. him and zayne had became shut out of the cove and from discussions after kris’ death), died in the final battle destroying the sun and thirst scrolls. bonded (oppo bond) to navy hectorin of the allied bristol boys, turned by abduction/rape/murder in 1974, 62yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: mark lee // shy, reserved, defensive of close friends within coven, well-rounded,, lowest self-esteem, feminine (characterized by the boys), sensitive

zayne (zayne post)  - second baby boy in coven (yet same scenario with zayne as mark), one of ruby’s go to buddies after mark and lucas passed, turned by suffocation from older brother after feud, 61yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: zhong chenle // traits similar if not the same to mark (both became outcasts in the coven resulting in the similar personalities)

not main ocs but also really important:

ivan - main mastermind/enemy, murdered first vampurity sovran over contact to outside human world in 1864 and becomes second sovran, never bonded or fell in love, turned in italy by thirst vampire, 216yo (as of 2016), character visual inspo: cody fern // well rounded physically, admirable to humans, intelligent, witted,, manipulative, sweatless liar, overbearing, cocky, extremely high self-esteem/self-concept

kellian - ibex’s secondhand man, numerously involved with ruby at the beginning of the series through kidnaps and murder attempts, no bond or particular love interest(s), turned by vampurity-siren hybrids in the atlantic ocean at the sinking of the titanic, 125yo (as of 2016),  character visual inspo: troye sivan, machine gun kelly // mysterious, swift, engaging, captivating, charming,, bipolar, violent based, trouble controlling urges..........also rumored to be bisexual

…

feel free to spam my asks with any questions you have abt the boysand their story’s !!

also, if this post is unavailable through my bio, im most likely editing it

[fourteen--steps]

Lychee and Nubbles <3

Man I don’t know if it’s really got a name but I love Lychee’s tail shape. Like a double bristol tail, so pretty.

*Since I’ve gotten this question on a few of my posts, I am holding him in my hand for a brief health and growth check out of his tank. I’m very gentle and careful when handling my goldfish and it doesn’t hurt them.*

On the actual health check side, Lychee did have some veins and a blood spot in her tail that I’m not super pleased with. Might be water quality, or possibly breeding season roughhousing. Nubbles had a few pinholes but overall better fins than I’ve seen in a while on him. Even his wen is growing a little! Hard to see here but it’s definitely poofier on top.

I’m also not in love with the weight on just about any of the fish. I have to work on my feeding regimen, I’ve been down to once a day lately and I don’t really like that. I’d rather they were rounder.

[usnewsrank]

Funfairs banned from giving goldfish as prizes as ‘many die within hours’

Funfairs banned from giving goldfish as prizes as ‘many die within hours’

Using live animals as trophies can be ‘extremely harmful’ for their welfare (Pictures: Getty Images) Funfairs and carnivals in Bristol have been stopped from handing out goldfish as prizes as it’s cruel to the species. The move came about after an RSPCA campaign argued the use of live animals as trophies ‘disrespects and exploits species’. Giving them out as prizes can also be extremely harmful…

[iridescentclouds29]

Bristol Goldfish beauty

[bristolshubunkin]

Gorgeous bristol shubunkin boy

...dont have a name for him yet...

[candoia-aspera]

Hi there! I was wondering if you knew anything about goldfish health issues and genetic issues. I've been researching and searching everything but can't find anything like that. Also maybe just breeds to stay away from? I'm really interested in starting an indoor pond one day in the very distant future

Sorry this took so long to reply too, I’ve been away so no tumblr!

Indoor ponds are a great idea, they’re a lot cheaper and easier to maintain than a glass aquarium and generally last a lot longer. As for health issues, goldfish in general are not the healthiest of fish. They’ve been inbred and linebred for so many generations that there’s never any guarantee of getting a fish that will stay perfectly healthy their whole life. 

Swim bladder issues are the most common; they can cause serious issues with swimming and balance, which in turn stresses the fish and leaves them prone to disease. It’s genetic, generally unfixable and ruins their quality of life. “Dropsy” is another common problem, although it’s a symptom rather than an actual illness. It’s visible as serious bloating and pineconing, where the scales of a fish stand on end, and it’s most often the result of organ failure. Susceptibility is mostly genetics-dependent again, but it can also be the result of a catastrophic bacterial or viral infection. Other than that, most genetic health issues are variety-specific.You should definitely avoid Pearlscales, Bubble eyes, Tosakin, Veiltails and Celestials/Stargazers.

All but the last one are extremely likely to develop serious problems, and Celestials are a bit delicate and require special care. They can’t be kept with most other varieties, which isn’t great if you want a mixed pond.Many fancy types share the same issues of swim bladder problems in very round/short-bodied fish, something which can be avoided by going for commons, comets, wakin, jikin or Bristol shubunkins. However, they need a lot of space so you’d be looking at a very, very large indoor pond of over 100gal to give them enough room. Fancies are a lot more forgiving space wise, but a lot of choice is dependent on the kind of personality you want.

Orandas and Ryukins both get very very large, but Ryukins lose a lot of their character when viewed from above and they can be very boisterous. Orandas are much more gentle, generally very friendly and give good top views. They’re among the easiest varieties to get hand-feeding, so if you want interactive fish, I’d definitely recommend Orandas.

Telescope/Butterfly/Moor goldfish also give good top views but are slightly more delicate on account of their large eyes. They can usually fend for themselves in a mixed-variety set up provided enough food is added to allow them time to find it.

Ranchu aren’t great - they give excellent top views but are bad swimmers and can be bloaty. The Lionhead is considered a different variety in the UK, one which has a straight tail instead of one that points downwards. Other than that they’re basically identical, so definitely go for Lionheads over Ranchu if they’re more your style.

Fantails are a good mixture of all of the best traits - good top views, friendly, hardy and get big but not absolutely massive. At the end of the day, the choice is entirely yours! 

[barpurplewrites]

The Case of the Jellyfish

Mystrade - Fluff Drugged!Mycroft

Letting himself get kidnapped was the best way to gather the intelligence he required. Being drugged hadn’t been a part of the plan, but in this as with everything else the kidnappers were inept.

-x-x-x-x-

Mycroft found himself very annoyed with the deceptive snow beneath his back. It was trying to make out that it was warm and cosy, but it was snow so obviously it was cold and wet. Stupid lying snow trying to confuddle him further. It was clearly in collusion with the jellyfish in the air that were stopping him from getting up with their pretty light pulse dances. The jellyfish were very pretty, but shouldn’t they be in water? Didn’t jellyfish need water? He’d have to ask Anthea about air jellyfish and why he’d not had a memo that this new species had moved into Scotland. It was very remiss of her not to have told him about them, and how could David Attenborough not have made a documentary already? He would have to look in to the funding for BBC Bristol, it was lacking if they’d not been able to get a camera crew up here for this natural wonder.

Wait. Hang on a moment.

Air jellyfish weren’t a thing, he knew that.

Oh, good lord, he was hallucinating. Rather impressively. Why was he hallucinating?

Oh, that would be the drugs the kidnappers had injected him with. He waggled a finger at the jellyfish; “See this is why you have to employ a real chemist to make your truth serum. Get a goldfish to do it and you end up with a giggling mess who won’t tell you anything of use. Not that I would have told them anything anyway. I mean, please, I’m a Holmes, disseminating is what I do.”

The jellyfish pulsed an urgent red. The bright colour sent a shiver through Mycroft.

“Ah, good point. I need to move, but not too far. I suspect that rescue will be imminent, but I don’t want to freeze before they get here.”

The jellyfish helped him to his feet and swam away so he could assess his surroundings. A graveyard. Okay possibly poetic, but he’d be thrice damned if he’d give his kidnappers the satisfaction of dying here. He glared unblinking at an angel statue. Did he need to worry about Weeping Angels? Probably not, the jellyfish would observe them, so he could blink and find shelter. Best to head toward the biggest feature, which was a mausoleum that the Addams family would favour. Interesting, the drugs had apparently unlocked his pop culture vault. Damn, he should be at a pub quiz, he’d rock it out. Good heavens, he had never thought that phrase in his life.

“You won’t tell on me, will you?”

The jellyfish shimmered through reassuring earth tones.

“Thank you, I appreciate your discretion.”

As he staggered through the snow toward the shelter offered by the tomb, he was drafting legislation to protect jellyfish, both on air and in the sea; it was overdue. They were wonderful creatures and needed looking after.

 “I told you he’d head toward the biggest landmark.”

“Yes, thank you Sherlock. We believed you that’s why we’re here.”

The jellyfish dispersed as Mycroft was wrapped in a crinkly foil blanket. He mourned their loss but was grateful for the strong arms that were hugging him tight into a wealth of body heat.

“Mycroft. Mycroft? Can you look at me please?”

It took him a very long moment to focus on the cute rainbow voice in front of him.

“Hello Molly! How are you?”

“I’m great Mycroft. I need to do some tests, you okay with that?”

He glared at her; “You’re a pathologist. Am I dead?”

“No, no, no you’re alive and kicking Mycroft. Would you rather John checked you out?”

A soft rumbling voice whispered in his ear; “Whatever you want Myc. Just John is busy dealing with Sherlock and Molly is right here. Let her check you out, please, for me?”

The jellyfish that had followed him into the ambulance changed to soft shimmers of silver. Mycroft sighed happily; “I defer to your best judgement, Gregory.”

The cute rainbow of Molly took his vitals and slipped an IV into the back of his hand.

“Hold him tight, Greg, we need to warn him up. You are going to be fine Mycroft. We are going to flush out what they injected you with.”

“It was very shiny. All glittery and sparkles.”

“Am I like this when I’m high?”

“A bit, but you’re more of an arse, Sherlock.”

Mycroft giggled at the squids that were arguing. One was wearing a coat like Sherlock’s and the other was wrapped up in a jumper like John. They were very funny, but so frowny.

“Why are you two frowning at me so much?”

The squid version of his little brother rolled his many eyes; “Because you are high as a kite, brother mine. I actually feel the need to apologise for the many times you have hauled me out of the gutter.”

The silver fox behind Mycroft snapped his fingers; “Right, everyone give your phones to Molly. Now.”

“Are you assuming that I won’t steal a phone from Molly in order to get video evidence of my brother high as a kite?”

“Yup. Because she will slap the hell out of you Sherlock.”

The jellyfish twinkled gold as Mycroft laughed; “Oh brother mine, you are rightly scared of Doctor Molly. She’ll slap you seven ways from Sunday and so will all the jellyfish,” – he snuggled against the warm body behind him, - “Gregory and I don’t enjoy such activities in our sexy times, but each to their own.”

John chocked on his tentacles; “Far too much information.”

Sherlock rolled his eyes right out of his head and on to the floor of the ambulance; “Brother mine you are off your tits right now.”

Mycroft kicked a toe at Sherlock’s eyeballs, they danced back up into his brother’s head and span around in funny circles.

“Yup. Totally tripping balls, little bro. It’s not as fun as you make it out to be.”

Gregory’s chuckle rumbled through him; “Now, there’s a phrase I never thought I’d hear you say, Myc.”

“Never thought I’d discuss our sex life in front of my little brother, clearly today is a very strange day.”

Mycroft let the rocking of the ambulance sooth him into a doze. One by one the jellyfish flickered and vanished. He must be sobering up. He’d probably be embarrassed by all of this later, then again on Sherlock’s scale of mortifying moments this barely ranked a three. Now he was thinking more clearly, he was actually more worried about facing Anthea’s ire, she would not be happy that he’d let himself get kidnapped. He groaned, that could wait until he was feeling more human.

“Will you protect me from Anthea Gregory?”

A gentle kiss brushed his forehead; “Of course I will, love.”

[queerandlonely]

I’ve been so lucky to have done so much theatre over the past 12 some odd years. Playing Jack in Into The Woods with Theatre Bristol at the Paramount was a perfect bow, wrapping up a perfect package of musicals and plays and roles and characters. This show was the perfect final bow for me to end my time doing local theatre. I will not return to the local stage, and there were many moments during this rehearsal process where that hit me. Some with joy of things I’ll never have to endure again and some with sadness of things I’ll definitely miss. I got to be in a show that @lorrieliz23 and I had talked about doing for years. I got to get ready in the dressing room next to @man2mann and rebuild and strengthen our friendship. I got to watch @avamariee08, who is as old as I was when I started doing theatre, play her first role and learn and realize the responsibility and joy of it. When I was 16 and just getting my start, I looked up to the people who were doing then what I’m doing now. No one was as cool as them. No one was cooler than @mtgmsn2015 or @epaxnave or @jaynet423. I worked my ass off and went through many different versions of myself to get to where I am today. And I’m more than ready to move on. A goldfish can only be as big as the bowl it’s in. Theatre is who I am, who I’ve been for the past ten years of my life. I’m humbled by every bow I took, every time I got recognized from a show I was in, every beautiful story I got to tell with a cast full of local talent. I sobbed when I took my final bow. There was an intense sense of finality with that last closing number. I got to close the curtain on this chapter of my life with a show about the choices we make, and the effects they have on those around us. If I inspired one kid, then I’ve done my job. I know there’s more for me in the future. There are giants in the sky, after all. I’m so indescribably happy to move forward and discover more about myself. I’m not done with the stage forever by any means, but this is the end of this act. I feel more authentically true and honest than I have in a while. Thank you to everyone I’ve met through theatre during the past decade of my life. And happy ever after. (at The Paramount Center for the Arts Bristol, TN) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Yt52WHGO6/?igshid=10vq26betuu3m

[tripstations]

Bath holidays: Where are the best hotels in Bath? Top accommodation revealed | Short & City breaks | Travel

Bath is the World Heritage Site mainly built from gorgeous local, golden-coloured Bath Stone (Image: Getty Images/The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa/ The Queensbury)

Bath is a city where I have decided I could quite easily live. For starters, it’s beautiful. Not only is the World Heritage Site mainly built from gorgeous local, golden-coloured Bath Stone, it’s also surrounded by rolling green hills which are visible from the town as you look up. It’s also easily walkable yet crammed with culture and, importantly for me, easy to get to from neighbouring Bristol, London, and Birmingham. This makes it an ideal choice for a weekend break. If you’re after an indulgent UK holiday and looking to treat yourself, these are three of the top hotels to stay in – The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, The Queensbury and No.15 Great Pulteney.

Bath holidays: Where are the best hotels in Bath? Top accommodation revealed

Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

The problem with staying at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is that you may never want to actually leave it. A wall of elegance practically smashes into you as you walk in and there’s an instant feeling you’ll get looked after.

Located in the middle of the famous and iconic Royal Crescent, the hotel actually stretches far beyond the buildings you see on entrance. An acre of stunning gardens lies behind, offering an oasis of tranquillity after a day of sightseeing. Further accommodation and the restaurant as well as the spa are found at the other end of the garden making for a very quiet night’s sleep indeed.

Our room is the Lord Nelson Suite – the famous military figure once stayed in Bath – and busts and paintings of the great man adorn the room as a nod to the theme amid the grey neutral tones. Ornate lamps and colourful cushions add a pop of colour.

In the spacious living room area – separated off from the bedroom with a curtain – is a fireplace and a bookcase filled with a variety of interesting tomes, creating a homely touch amid the luxury. French windows open out onto a spacious balcony which looks over the garden and the odd guest below. One can feel very regal from such a position – although no Romeo (or Knightley, Darcy or Tilney for that matter) came a-calling, alas (remember, there’s always the Jane Austen Centre…)

When we are first shown to our room there’s a brief moment when we think we’re told there’s complimentary cheese which would make it officially the world’s best establishment, but it transpires the lady actually said complimentary teas which, for a Briton, is still pretty exciting. We order one immediately. It’s only a few moments we realise one explanation for our sense of peace – Classic FM is playing from bedside speakers and it’s the addition I never realised I needed – my life finally has a soundtrack.

The little touches don’t stop there, pillow spray is provided with the turndown service, newspapers are offered and there’s an umbrella in the wardrobe complete with a tag letting you know what you can do in Bath in the rain. Furthermore, there’s also a car parking spot for every room should you need it.

Bath holidays: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is in in the middle of the iconic Royal Crescent (Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the stylish bathroom provides his n’ her sinks, sumptuous products by British perfumer Floris plus a bath and shower – the controls for which are conveniently placed the opposite side from the water flow which means never getting wet until you’ve got in, which is a surprising bonus.

We dine in the hotel’s Dower House Restaurant and our table benefits from a view of the secluded garden as the spring evening draws in. The friendly and knowledgeable waiters prove invaluable in helping me decide on my order (it all looks so good) and the sommelier suggests a delightful Sauvignon Blanc.

Turmeric and black pepper bread sets a promising tone for the meal before I tuck into my starter of slow cooked duck egg. It’s huge, rich and creamy and pairs well with the salty Morteau sausage, and crunchy leeks and chicken crisp – all in all, superb.

This is followed by roasted seabass, served with two perky scallops prettily presented with beetroot, tasty morsels of smoked eel, hay baked potato, smoked roe cream and horseradish. The portions may seem small at first but I soon have “elegant sufficiency” as my grandmother used to say and decide on a brief hiatus ahead of dessert.

This is wise and dessert is, unsurprisingly, also delicious. I opt for rhubarb and orange tart with ginger ice cream, the tangy favours of which all perfectly complement each other. My friend goes for the cheese board – well there had to be cheese somewhere didn’t there? This is presented by a rather handsome waiter who informs us he is responsible for buying the cheeses in, and his enthusiasm is palpable as he explains each one to us. One nugget we learn is that the ash in the rind of goat’s cheese is supposed to aid digestion – but after the feast we’ve had I’m not sure there’s much hope for us.

We heave ourselves up and take a turn around the garden before retiring for the night, thoroughly pampered and satisfied.

The next morning we make the most of The Spa & Bath House. I do a few lengths in the 12m heated pool (where the glistening blue tiles shimmer like a mermaid’s tail), try out the Vitality Pool and sauna before heading for a massage.

The spa’s primary partner brand is Elemental Herbology whose products are based around the Five Element theory from traditional Chinese medicine. My therapist considers my skin type, lifestyle, environment and season and opts for Earth for balance. I have chosen a Deep Muscle Melt full-body massage which uses the oils as well as hot stones – although the spa menu offers so many other wonderful-looking options it is hard to decide. My therapist’s small hands dig deep into my muscles and work through knots on my back in what makes for a very stress-relieving and relaxing hour before I return to my room, take tea on the balcony and prepare to leave this haven of luxury.

Double Deluxe rooms at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa start from £330 on a B&B basis. To book, please email info@royalcrescent.co.uk or call Spa Reception on 01225 823333

Bath holidays: An acre of stunning gardens lies behind the facade of The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa (Image: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa)

The Queensbury

The Queensberry Hotel may not have the grand scale decadence of The Royal Crescent but this boutique hotel is every bit as lovely and is right the heart of the city, making it perfect for exploring Bath on your doorstep.

The hotel is both chic and trendy but not in a threatening way; the interior design is particularly exciting. The bathroom in our room boasts a wall decorated entirely with goldfish-covered wallpaper, the orange and blue tones of which inject a quirky edge into the accommodation as does the gold grouting between the white tiles. There’s also a free standing bath in there and fabulous White Company products. It’s all rather like staying at the house of a particularly fashionable friend.

One little touch I particularly like is the little, dim bathroom lights that automatically come on into dark should you need to make your way to the toilet in the night. All hotels please take heed of this! A marvellous concept and a rousing thumbs up to whoever’s idea it was. What’s more, Classic FM is also playing when we enter here, too which is proving a charming theme of my stay so far.

It’s the Michelin-starred restaurant in this delightful townhouse which is the true gem of the establishment, however. If you’re after an excellent meal, the 3 AA Rosette Olive Tree restaurant is the ideal spot – it’s certainly the best one I’ve had in a long time.

I go all out and order the larger of the two tasting menus, otherwise known as the ‘Chris Cleghorn Seven’, with paired wines. Things start exceedingly well with a cheese-filled profiterole appetiser – an ingenious morsel of pleasure – before a raw Orkney scallop is presented in its pretty shell for a starter. It’s succulent and juicy thanks to the tangy pink grapefruit granita along with a kick from the horseradish. This is paired with a Galician Rías Baixas white wine before I’m served a Lebanese rosé with my second course of burrata – not that this is the Italian cheese as I’ve ever known it. This is burrata ice cream, churned and frozen but still creamy with the saltiness of green olives with tomatoes and a basil sauce.

Bath holidays: The Queensberry Hotel is both chic and trendy but not in a threatening way (Image: The Queensberry )

Onto the first of the mains – Turbot on the bone which is like consuming a cloud it’s so soft and tender, pairing perfectly with the crunch of asparagus and buttery sauce, along with shrimp, salted lemon and sherry. To go with this is is the best Chardonnay I’ve ever tasted – an Astrolabe Province Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 which knocked my socks off; both nutty and creamy it went hand in hand with the turbot perfectly.

We move onto the second main of oh-so-succulent Woolley Park Farm duck served with duck liver on a tiny sliver of toast along with barbecued beetroot, sea beet, hazelnut and blackcurrant – all paired with a rich South African merlot.

The first dessert is a soft Tor cheese with soaked golden raisins and chicory with a Jurançon 2016 rosé before moving onto a (highly unusual but incredibly delicious) tobacco-flavoured ice cream which comes with chunks of aero-style chocolate and a chocolate parfait – rounded off with a divine Graham’s 2013 port.

By this point, I’m frankly sozzled and stuffed. I squeeze in a yummy raspberry and ice cream concoction before I throw in the towel. No way can I face the proffered coffee and petit fours although I have no doubt they’re just as delectable as everything else in the feast. We began our meal at 8.15pm and it is now 12.30pm. It’s definitely time to leave. Any plans we have of going out are shattered – as are we.

Our waiter throughout the evening has been the charming Jake who we find out is a mere 22. This appears to be a theme of the restaurant – most of the servers look as though they could be about to sit their A-Levels – but this doesn’t seem to affect the running of the place. Jake himself is incredibly knowledgeable and seems to know all there is to know about the wines he studiously explains to us. I also overhear him taking care to find out the needs and desires of the couple next to us so he can advise them suitably.

The restaurant appears to be doing a roaring trade and is filled with customers, creating a buzzy atmosphere for the Saturday night. This is particularly impressive given how unassuming The Olive Tree is from the outside – but it really is a true gem worth checking out. Not to be missed!

Hotel prices start from £145 for a classic double room. To book go to https://ift.tt/1pEhACZ

Bath holidays: The Michelin-starred Olive Tree is a true gem worth checking out. Not to be missed! (Image: The Queensbury)

No 15 Great Pulteney

Great Pulteney Street is the widest and grandest in the city of Bath so it stands to reason that No 15 Great Pulteney is also rather grand. It is also, however, completely bonkers.

This eccentric hotel –  self-proclaimedly “luxury for the curious” – is packed full of character which one might never guess judging from its chic Georgian townhouse exterior in complete uniformity with the entire street. Inside, the decor is so quirky it leaves your scratching your head. There’s a collection of kaleidoscopes in the hallway, a bizarre selection of dog figurines on one stairway and military memorabilia crowding the bottom of a staircase. The latter even features a soldier mannequin which, when first I spot it out of the corner of my eye, nearly makes me jump out of my skin. You have been warned!

In fact, no staircase in the same here: one has models of anthropomorphised pigs, another old cameras and a third huge perfume bottles. The thought that must have gone into the design is mind-boggling.

Our room on the top floor is lovely and while not so ostensibly idiosyncratic as the communal areas, there’s still something undeniably Bohemian. Our lamp shade drips in beads, mirrors with weaved frames sit above the bed’s headboard and a large, black sheep serves as a chair. These quirks don’t stop the hotel form providing all the mod cons, however, judging by the Dyson hairdryer and fan plus enormous TV with Sky.

From our window, we can see the roofs of all the stunning Georgian houses on the streets, the famous rugby grounds and even the abbey if I crane my head – all backed by the glorious Somerset countryside.

Bath holidays: No 15 Great Pulteney is an eccentric hotel – “luxury for the curious” (Image: No 15 Great Pulteney)

Bath holidays: The Dispensary comes complete with extensive wooden drawers labelled for herbs (Image: No 15 Great Pulteney)

An inventive addition to the hotel’s set-up is The Larder which peckish guests can raid whenever they want. While I am there it stocks help-yourself supplies of milk, ice cream, yoghurts, water, cans of fizzy drinks, old fashioned sweets plus flapjacks and brownies. It’s gloriously like a tuck shop and my inner schoolgirl lights up with the glee at the idea of plundering it for free (before my adult self remembers my straining jeans).

Before dinner, we head for a drink at the hotel’s Bar 15 which promises ‘creative liquid libations.’ I opt for a classic No 15 Champagne cocktail and settle back to see what eccentric delights reside in the bar. I am not disappointed. Our table is utterly bedecked with blue beads and jewellery and topped with glass, the huge paintings on the wall come to life with bizarre protrusions and little 3D editions of classic novels such as The Water Babies feature enchanting cut-outs of characters on the front covers.

I’m more taken with the restaurant, however. Aptly named The Dispensary, the room goes the whole hog with the theme, complete with extensive wooden drawers labelled for herbs, antiquated glass bottles of all colours lined again the wall and even old talcum powder containers.

There’s a nod to the actual function of the restaurant as well thanks to such features as a stove, complete with cast iron pots and a wall boasting every type of whisk you could possibly imagine.

The food is tasty too. I enjoy a starter of hake goujons – which are fresh and delicious – before a crispy duck salad washed down with a South African Cabernet Sauvignon. I finish with an utterly indulgent sticky toffee pudding (with top-notch fudge sauce) and a paired dessert wine.

Prices from £115 for a Cosy Double room. 01225 807015; https://ift.tt/32Cc7ce

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[thewanderingartist91]

“Call Out My Name”

14" x 17" Mixed Media on Bristol     I was listening to the radio and The Weeknd's "Call Out My Name" started to play. The song lyrically, melodically, and emotionally moved me to my core. I felt the pain in his words. His feelings came across so deeply and clearly that it inspired this. This is inspired by his song and the vision I have every time I listen to it. Credit to "Woman In Silk", by John Lawrence Jones of Waterham Photographic for the subject model reference. Waterham Photographic "Woman In Silk":https://www.deviantart.com/waterhamphotographic/art/Woman-In-Silk-52028518