#car and driver hire uk

[wellourgerdes]

As Directed Chauffeur Service

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[ur-mag]

‘World’s most dangerous job’ is HIRING as driver needed to steer 800mph Bloodhound supersonic car – will you apply? | In Trend Today

‘World’s most dangerous job’ is HIRING as driver needed to steer 800mph Bloodhound supersonic car – will you apply? Read Full Text or Full Article on MAG NEWS

[targaryenrealnessdarling]

See You At Sunset - a Lost Without You Drabble

Summary: You and Billy get lost on the way to Polzeath for a holiday, and decide to kill time by 'watching the sunset' | Word Count: 2.4k~ | Warnings below the cut!

Links to my Taglists: General Taglist | Billy W Taglist

A/N: Can be read as a standalone or as part of the Lost Without You story as a prequel 💕

Warnings: semi-public sex, sex in a car, p in v, praise

Billy remembered the last holiday they went on together, in the late spring. They'd driven to Cornwall with a hired minivan. And before arriving into Port Isaac, they'd stopped on a country road in the late afternoon when the sun touched the sea. He'd made love to her in the driver's seat and admired the way the orange sunset kissed the colour of her hair. She looked gorgeous then, face flushed and legs astride him.

"Billy, I'm telling you for free, we are lost"

She says for what feels like the hundredth time.

Billy sighs, one hand clasped on the steering wheel and the other resting on the side, his fingers anxiously running through his sandy, blonde hair.

"We are not lost. The satnav is just on the piss" he grumbles, leaning forward to fiddle with the settings on it. Trying to type in 'Polzeath' again with one shaky finger while concentrating on the road with the other.

"Billy!"

"Shit!"

He slams on the brakes, seatbelts tugging at their chests, about to go straight through a level crossing as the gates are going down. The velocity of it makes her pull forwards in her seat, ripping the map she'd been looking at right in two.

Once he's caught his breath a bit and calmed the rapid beating of his heart, she snorts a laugh.

Billy looks over unamused.

"Didn't we do this whole 'having a holiday in the UK thing' because it was less stressful?" he asks, half-annoyed.

She hums, "Yeah it was supposed to be" she smiles, leaning over to put her hand on his leg, soothing his knee with her thumb.

He spares her a boyish smile, covering her hand with his and giving a loving squeeze, before moving it to the gearstick to move off again.

It's not such a bad place to be lost. The sun is slowly starting to set, the pink and orange sky beginning to bloom at the horizon. He drives quietly, the minivan a little clunkier than his usual Vauxhall, shifting between the gears clumsily, not used to the stiffness between them.

The sign to Port Isaac zips by quickly and when she looked over the windscreen, she could see how the sea reflected the warmth of the imminent sunset. The air was warm and cosy, with a slight nip to the skin as the evening approached. But all the same, it was tranquil and almost painfully serene.

The country roads were narrow and quiet. A weekday meaning there wasn't a soul about, and with the school holidays months away, it was pleasantly calm.

She looked over when Billy sighed and rubbed his eyes, just wanting to be in the Airbnb they'd booked to be in bed as soon as possible. His clutch foot was starting to kill and she could tell he was getting irritated, having driven for hours before this point.

She pressed her lips together, eyes glimmering with mischief.

"Pull over there" she said, pointing over the dashboard to a passing point.

Billy tapped the brakes, looking over, "Here?"

"Yeah, pull over"

The only sound was the click of his indicator as Billy pulled in, tugging the handbrake up.

Through the windscreen, the view of the sea was visible, stretching out past the greenery of the nearby empty fields. The blades of grass swayed gently in the breeze of the late afternoon.

She clicked off her seatbelt and sat forwards, leaning over to see the view better, "nice, isn't it?"

Billy looked confused at her, wondering why she'd asked him to park up just for a glance at the view they'd be seeing for the next few days anyway.

He shrugged, "Yeah, it's…nice"

She bit her lip lightly and shuffled over, flinging her leg over his lap to straddle him. For a moment, Billy didn't know what to do with his hands, as they hung in the air. But once she sat atop him, his hands rested at her hips, looking up at her questioningly.

Fairly quickly though, as her inner thighs brushed his bulge, his face lit up with a smile, tugging her hips down to circle against his pelvis.

"I like this view better though" he added, barely above a gruff whisper. She swatted his shoulder playfully to draw attention away from the way her cheeks were warming, earning a half-hearted chuckle from him.

Their relationship had always felt so natural. At the beginning, Billy had been a bit reserved, not wanting to take things any further than he felt she was comfortable with. He’d never classed himself as particularly good with women, nor at being able to tell what they wanted or were thinking.

He was one of those guys who thought that growing up, women somehow knew more about him than he did, and that when he met women of a similar age to him, that they were more mature than he was, knew more about the world, and were already so wise beyond their years.

She never held that against him.

In fact, she found it endearing that Billy would think of her so deeply in this way. That he took it slow, for himself as well as her, as neither of them had felt so close to a person like this romantically. And both of them didn’t want to ruin that by hurtling themselves headlong into it without thinking.

In the last few months though? Something just…happened.

When she held him, Billy felt as if she were holding his heart in her hands, cradling it like it was precious.

And it hurt in the most beautiful way.

Nobody had ever treated him with such sincerity and care. But she did.

He never wanted to let that go.

Their love was languid, like they had all the time in the world and felt they didn’t need to rush, allowing things to develop naturally.

He loved that about her.

She leaned forward to kiss him tenderly, the setting sun glowing on the right side of his face, illuminating the stubble that gathered at his jaw in blonde little wisps. As she smoothed her hands along it, the blunt, not-so-freshly shaven hair rubbed comfortingly along her palms. She watched his baby blue eyes slip shut, joining her efforts and pressing his mouth to hers, his tongue dipping against hers to slip into her mouth, tilting his head opposite to her.

His thumbs pressed into her hips, moving her in slow, careful motions on top of him as he kissed her like he wanted to devour her entirely. Every now and then, with the wet smack of their lips parting for air, his hands wandered to her bare thighs, beneath the thin material of her skirt. And when he gripped the flesh there hard, he reveled in her short, airy gasps into his mouth, and moaned lowly as she pressed herself harder onto his growing erection.

His large hands wandered up, and he pulled away for a second, his cheeks pink with both shock and excitement.

“Have you not been wearing knickers this whole time?”

She only smiled in reply, dipping her head to his jaw in little micro-kisses, “Maybe. Why? Is that a problem?”

A shuddered breath was the only thing that managed to slip from his lips, as one of her hands traced the hard length constrained within his jeans.

Somehow he managed to say something, “ - fuck - no, no, not a problem at all, baby -”

His hips began to chase her touch as she stroked him teasingly through the denim. She leaned back a little, having left a little love-bite on the sensitive skin of his neck, to watch his reaction to what little she was doing to him.

His eyes fluttered halfway open when he re-doubled her efforts to unzip his jeans, undoing the button and pulling the fabric apart, his mouth doing something similar, only half-open with a whisper of breaths pouring out.

He looked at her, the sunset casting warm rays either side of her, like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

It wasn’t quick, but there was hunger. And the longer either of them stretched it out, the more each of them wanted it, but daren’t not do anything fast or rash to ruin the precious moment they’d made together.

"Please babe, don't tease me -"

Billy's stomach muscles tense when she circles her hand around him, already half hard, and pulls his length free from his boxers, shuffling forward to straddle his lap a little closer.

He doesn't know what he prefers more, the way her hand pumps him, squeezing slightly at the tip where he's most sensitive, or the way her features and skin are illuminated by the soft sun, casting a soft gleam against the sea.

"So needy" she coos, stroking him entirely to full hardness.

She takes him in with her eyes like a meal, watching the way his skin reacts to her touch. The way his cockhead pokes out from her grip, red and alert, sweeping the arousal that leaks from it with her thumb, which serves to send a full body shiver through Billy's body.

"But I suppose you've been good" she smiles at him, her breath hot against his cheek. He tries to chase her lips with his, desperate for any contact, but he groans in disapproval when she keeps moving away.

She hovers over him, his length in her hand and guiding him to her centre, where she's been entirely ready for him since the moment they got in the car. Mischievously having had this idea the entire journey here.

She sighs in delight when his length disappears inside her, the stretch a welcome one, enveloping him completely in her wet warmth. His mouth hangs open, no sound coming out, his hands rising upwards to her waist and then her breasts in desperation to do something, anything to her as well.

Her breath hitches when his hips move and his cock throbs inside her when he bottoms out, briefly touching her cervix in what she can only describe is surprise. He's much longer than any partner she's had before, and whenever they fuck it's always paramount she's prepared, so that they don't have to hold back.

But she's been ready for hours.

"Billy-"

"Oh my god - babe - you're fucking perfect -"

It's all he's able to say.

Praising her. It just comes so naturally.

Because that's what she is to him.

Absolutely entirely perfect.

His hand grabs her bare hip beneath her skirt for leverage, using it to move her hips on top of him. The slightest fit of friction has both of them moan softly into their open mouths.

The sheer sound of her sex being thrusted into slowly is enough to fill the silence.

"Christ, you're so wet, baby -"

Any notion of dominance she felt over him is completely dissipating now with the micro-movements of his cock spearing her apart.

He feels dirty looking down and watching the way he disappears inside her, but it's just too tempting. Billy watches, pride rolling in his stomach as he breathes, as each time he pulls out of her she glazes him with her arousal, coating the inside of her thighs only slightly.

The inside of the car is hot, and with one of her hands on the window for stability, it's starting to fog up as well, her steady moans rising in volume with each snap of her buttocks against his thighs.

It's a good job it's a weekday, and the roads are quiet, so that nobody can see the erratic movement of the rented minivan.

"Fuck - Billy-"

He grins. He doesn't know if he will ever get tired of hearing her moan his name.

" - you need to stop saying my name like that, I'll cum too quickly, baby -" he whispers.

Her misty eyes meet his, her face contorted in pleasure as the coil winds impossibly tight in her belly.

Billy leans forward, briefly slipping deeper inside her, making her moan helplessly. He tightens his hold on her hips, moving her backwards and forwards as well as up and down on his length, watching as she tilts her head back and a melody of gasps and sighs slip from her mouth.

" - yeah, right there, baby? -" he whispers, "- fuck, you look so gorgeous like this - want to cum in you-"

"Yes, yes - Billy, fuck - please don't stop-"

His shuffling of her hips back and forth has the head of his cock bully that sweet spot inside, quickly fucking up into her with a wet smack that only seem to increase in speed and volume.

He can tell she's close, so his thumb trails down over her belly to rub her clit in tight, small circles, now slick with her arousal. She tightens around him, holding him inside her, until she falls off the edge with a strangled cry of his name.

True to his word, he doesn't stop, even as her pussy is fluttering around him in the throes of her intense orgasm. He fucks her through it, searching for his but also loving the way her face twists in sheer pleasure at the overstimulation.

Her heartbeat thrums through her, all to her bud, which Billy hasn't given up on, and he swears he can feel every beat through her as he fucks her.

Billy thrusts shallowly as he finishes deep inside her with a long, strained groan. She moans loudly feeling his warmth inside the deepest parts of her, moving her hips on him to gain that last bit of friction before he softens within her.

After he's caught his breath, feeling a sheen of sweat covering his skin, he looks up and feels that all he can do is smile at her.

The sun is barely visible above the sea anymore, and the pinkish tint of the days passed illuminates her form with a glow that seems almost heavenly. If his cock weren't deep inside her, he'd think she were a saint or an angel.

Looking down through hooded eyes, she smiles back at him lovingly, her breasts moving steadily as she calms the erratic beating of her heart.

"Think we'll get the deposit back?..." she laughs exhaustedly, earning the same reaction from Billy.

She was always funny.

Billy sighs, his palms now soothing where he'd gripped her so hard earlier.

"Not sure if I saw the clause about shagging in the hire van" he jokes back, happy that he got the same reaction.

Their foreheads, tacky from the effort, press together.

Her fingers run through his sandy hair, thumbs stroking his cheeks appreciatively.

Her mouth a whisper away from his.

"I quite like Port Isaac" he smiles boyishly against her lips.

"But, Christ, I fucking love you"

dividers by @saradika

General Taglist: @aemondsfavouritebastard | @blairfox04 | @hb8301 | @jamespotterismydaddy | @nenelysian | @natty2017 | @randomdragonfires | @risefallrise | @theoneeyedprince | @thelittleswanao3 | @tsujifreya | @urmomsgirlfriend1 | @valeskafics | @watercolorskyy

Billy W Taglist: @fan-goddess @assortedseaglass @chainsawsangel

[formula-1-otp]

Sleeping in the Sim

Summary: Fernando finds Lance sleeping in the racing sim, why is the Canadian overworking himself so much?

This fix is inspired from prompt 1097 from @creativepromptsforwriting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Do you even hear what I’m saying to you?” Brown eyes looked up in panic to meet his dad’s eyes.

“You just don't understand, do you? Everything I've done, all the money I’ve spent on you and you can't even bring me home a top 10 finish,” Lawrence was pacing the room. Lance could see his face getting a dark red colour. Lance didn't have a good answer. How could he, he couldn't drive the car properly, his dad had the best-hired help to make the car the absolute best it could, but every week Lance was brought back up to his dad’s office where he would sit and get lectured for the next few hours until he either gave his dad an answer he approved of and if he didn't, Lance knew there would be consequences.

“I'm sorry Dad, I will do better next race,” Lance knew that was the worst thing he could’ve said but his brain hurt and he didn’t have a good answer.

“Better next time!? Lance, we have sponsors who want to see results not see you crash out half the field!” Lance couldn’t help but flinch slightly as Lawrence was leaning into his face. Lance didn’t even have time to react before his head was snapping sideways and his hands were flying up to his face, specifically his left eye. “You better podium next weekend or there’s a lot more where that came from,” Lawrence quickly shot daggers at his son before leaving the room leaving Lance sitting in the office by himself tears welling in his eyes as he was clutching his quickly bruising eye.

Lance quickly gained his composure he still had more meetings to attend. He took a couple of deep breaths before basically sprinting to his driver's room. When he arrived he quickly went to the bathroom and started applying any sort of makeup to hide the bruise. Lance was used to doing this, he had been doing it since he joined Formula 1 and even a few years before.

The week was quite uneventful Lance was doing everything he could to try to get his skill up. He was practicing in the sim anytime he wasn’t at the gym or in meetings. It was Thursday the team was to race in the UK the coming weekend so they didn’t have to travel and could get extra training in.

Fernando was just about to leave the factory after a long couple of days he was confident in the car for the weekend. His team had a great plan set up for him and he was pretty excited. It was late most people were heading home to get a good rest for the weekend to come. As he walked by the sim room he saw some lights on. Fernando decided to investigate, he slowly opened the door to see Lance’s head resting on the wheel of the sim, the Canadian fast asleep.

Fernando smiled to himself, he knew Lance had been putting in extra hours over the week. His boyfriend had been a little distant over the last week and Fernando was worried. They had been keeping some distance from each other over the last couple of days, both being incredibly busy.

Fernando slowly walked over to his sleeping boyfriend.

“Lance…. Lance,” Fernando slowly knelt beside his boyfriend placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Lance slowly opened his eyes, the left being a bit more painful, he saw Fernando in front of him, giving the older man a soft smile.

“Sorry am I in your spot,” Lance wasn’t even sure what time it was all he knew was he needed more training.

“No honey it’s time to go home,” Fernando slowly rubbed his hand up and down Lance’s back. Lance looked around as he gathered his bearings, his eyes drifting to the clock in the simulation room, it was well after 8 pm Lance sighed softly, he was running out of time to practice.

“I just gotta few more training sessions to do, I’ll meet you at home?” Lance gave the Spaniard a soft smile. Fernando took a minute to process. He had been dating Lance longer than a few minutes before he knew how his boyfriend worked. Fernando silently sighed, he had to tread carefully.

“Honey you’ve been training all day, why don’t we go get a good night's sleep and if you wake up early you can practice some more on the sim at home?” Fernando refused to remove his touch from Lance, he could feel the Canadian leaning into it knowing he was winning the fight. Lance processed for a moment, his body was tired and Fernando felt so warm, his bed sounded heavenly right now.

“Yeah, can we watch cars?” Tired brown eyes met concerned eyes. Fernando gave him a soft smile and nodded. Fernando helped the Canadian to his feet before shutting down the sim and guiding his sleepy boyfriend back to the car.

The drive home was quiet. It wasn’t long into the drive that Fernando glanced over to see his boyfriend sleeping peacefully. He was worried, he couldn’t help it. Lance had been so distant over the last week and him being so exhausted was not uncommon for him, but Fernando knew Lance could overwork himself if he wasn’t careful. Fernando knew Lawrence wasn’t the nicest human in the world, he had never had an issue with the man per se but he had seen Lance in more than a handful of meetings with the man to know they can’t all be good. When Fernando pulled into the driveway he couldn’t help but be grateful to be home.

“Lance honey we’re home,” Fernando placed a gentle kiss on his boyfriend’s temple as he slowly awoke the boy. “Let’s get you inside my boy,”

Fernando carried Lance up the stairs to their shared bedroom. Helping him sit on the bed before going over to the younger boy's dresser, and pulling him out a pair of sweatpants, Fernando was just about to grab one of Lance’s shirts before a small noise interrupted his process and he turned to look back at his boyfriend.

“Can I wear one of your shirts?” Lance quietly questioned. Fernando smiled before grabbing one of his Aston Martin long-sleeved shirts and bringing the stuff he collected to Lance. Once his boyfriend was changed Fernando got him situated in the bed, turned the TV on put on the first car movie before cuddling up to his boyfriend. It wasn’t long before Fernando looked down at his boyfriend to see his shirt had some brown splotched across it, he grabbed his phone to try to shine some light as it wasn't super bright. However, the light shines right onto Lance’s eye showing the dark purple and blue around Lance’s left eye.

“Mi amour, when did this happen?” Fernando gently traced the bruise, unfortunately, the contact made Lance retreat.

“Oh I just ran into a door by accident,” Lance knew it was an awful excuse, he was tired his brain wasn’t working properly anymore and he honestly forgot his eye was still bruised.

“Please don’t lie to me,” Fernando gave Lance a look. He slowly outreached his hand, he knew when Lance felt comfortable he would take it. Lance had never really told Fernando too much of his childhood, Fernando had heard all about racing but Lance never really spoke of anything else.

“My dad punched me….” Lance couldn’t hold the floodgates back. He curled in on himself. He didn’t know how Fernando would react. Fernando was shocked, he instantly pulled the Canadian into his arms trying to comfort the young the younger boy.

“Oh Cariño,” Fernando was furious with Lawrence but right now his only concern was his boyfriend. That night Lance told Fernando everything, how Lawrence had been this way since Lance was a child, always wanted a winning son. How black eyes were the least of the pain that he had endured over the years? Fernando listened, he kept his anger in check but he made sure Lance felt heard.

“Please don't do anything stupid, I can't have my dad come for you next,” Lance panicked, he couldn't imagine if Lawrence found out.

“I know honey, but I’m fine, you should know by now you don't have to worry about me,”

“And you should know by now I always will,”

[chussyracing]

what's been happening in motorsport lately?

(long overdue update from me so it's very long and therefore hidden under the cut)

F1 teams and drivers:

Williams (union jack) and Red Bull (red pattern) brought special liveries to Silverstone

Andy Cowell (previously Merc PU chief) joins Aston Martin as new CEO

Mick Schumacher will do a Pirelli tyre test for McLaren because no other reserve driver of thier has the criteria to drive the car and their F1 drivers are coming off a triple header (so their activated the option to use Merc juniors/reserves)

Matt Whyman is Publishing „Inside Mercedes F1: Life in te Fast Lane“ book

Mercedes will bring more upgrades to both Spa and Hungary

Checo will get the new Red Bull floor Max has been running in the next race as well although Helmut Marko said that upgrade was only worth 6 points of downforce

i am so sure that i wrote this down about a month ago but since everyone has been talking about it: Enrico Cardile left Ferrari and will serve gardening leave for the rest of the season before joining Aston Martin, so Fred will oversee the area himself before Loic Serra comes (and potentially Newey as according to rumour that’s main reason behind Enrico leaving)

Ferrari is also set to have a board meeting to discuss the current form

Ollie and Pietro Fittipaldi completed Pirelli tyre testing for Haas

Michael Broadhurst became Alpine’s chief aerodynamicist (previously in Red Bull and McLaren) and Vin Dhanani became their head of vehicle performance (previously in Red Bull) and finally Jacopo Fantoni is their new deputy chief engineer (in Ferrari last year)

Visa Cash App RB partnered with Warner Bros to promote Twisters in Silverstone

oh and after complaining about the tickets the N*rstappen ruffle in Austria helped them sell out the Silverstone weekend

Charles is Peroni’s world brand ambassador and an ad and the first part of short video series to promote the drink was posted

Adidas will be Merc’s official clothing partner

Lewis was reading CBeebies Bedtime Story on BBC on 3rd July called „Small’s Big Dream“ by Manjeet Mann

Charles expanded the export of his LEC ice cream so now you can get it in Italy (can confirm that one, had Chocolate Crunch from Unes and it was delicious), France and Monaco

Pierre extended with Alpine and Lance extended with Aston Martin for next year (and beyond)

oh lol i almost forgot Ollie Bearman is officially Haas 2025 F1 driver!!!

Williams announced 26 new employees joining this year with some big names from RBR, Merc, Ferrari and others (like Matt Harman joining after summer break)

Logan started his own app (i didn’t research more on it so far but apparently there are a few articles about him so far)

Ferrari asked for an explanation from FIA after RBR’s mid season RB18 test that led to performance upgrades which shouldn’t be allowed with tests

McLaren sent out thank you packages to other teams as they helped them out after their hospitality caught fire

Alex made (and almost sold out already) Albon Pets merch

Toto Wolff confirmed they included police to research the email that was sent to journalists and F1 figures concerning the sabotage of Lewis in the team

Mercedes will have a charity football match against Aston Martin today

and Levi’s partnered with McLaren to make special edition of merch

after Almave Ambar, Almave Blanco will be distributed in the UK as well

Andretti Cadillac hired Chris Green as IT director and Laura Sturland as finance director (both previously in Merc)

Future of F1:

6 sprint weekends in 2025 will be: China, Miami, Spa, Cota, Brazil and Qatar (there is one or maybe two locations that make sense otherwise it kills the weekend imo but ok)

Rolex ends their sponsorship of F1 after 10 years (11 if you count this one), instead LVMH will step up into their position starting in 2025 (it is also very much possible Tag Heuer will be their title sponsor since it falls under LVMH umbrella and occupies similar position in business as Rolex, side note: Rag Heuer is the current sponsor of Red Bull) – rumouredly this is about money like everything in F1, the new contract is supposed to be $ 150m, so about three times as much as Rolex gave them

besides this, F1 is also finalising deal with American Express as a global partner

Zandvoort is contemplating making gravel traps to avoid track limits like they did in Austria

Rumours of the paddock:

Zak Brown has been asking for a possibility of engine supply from RBPT instead of Mercedes due to fear of reliability if they start supplying Alpine as well (considering they will drop Aston who gets Honda’s engine and knowing how much he publicly criticizes Red Bull and the culture in the team i kinda doubt it)

Alpine is also exploring RBPT and Ferari as potential engine suppliers instead of Renault

Jos Verstappen still very much wants to get his son out of the Red Bull team and Mercedes could be the next destination, Jos said in Austria that Christian Horner is the one responsible for not allowing him to drive during legends parade during the weekend and they had a lil argument speaking to media, there is still the rumour about Merc engines in 2026 being strong and that being a good argument for Max

this is technically not a rumour but also not confirmed either but Fred Vasseur strongly indicated in an interview that Lewis‘ contract will be for three years (he said they want to be champions in 2025, 2026, 2027 or something along those lines basically)

Haas is about to announce the extending of engine supply from Ferrari (with stronger links as Ollie becomes their official driver while being a part of FDA), they might get some kind of parts from Toyota as well (along with their knowhow) with potential title sponsorship deal

also Gene Haas apparently wants to expand their facilities in the UK

racingnews365 believe that Esteban is going to announce his deal with Haas before summer break

i want to prelude this by saying that driver contracts are highly confidential and nobody knows what exactly is in them, because they simply do not talk about the legal stuff so it wouldn’t get out BUT there has been a lot of speculation about Checo and his contract including clauses of performance compared to Max, some of which he is currently not complying so there is a rumour if he doesn’t improve over the next two races, they can terminate his contract and replace him mid-season (with candidates being Daniel Ricciardo – Horner’s favourite + good for their marketing where Checo is strong, Liam Lawson – Marko’s favourite + has a close to look among other teams if he doesn’t get a RBR backed seat for 2025, and apparently also Yuki)

also Liam is doing a filming day (200 kms test) with RB20 in Silverstone today which is a similar move they did with Daniel Ricciardo last year before he replaced Nyck

and Joe Saward thinks he will replace Daniel in July

also some people freaked out about Mick doing a Pirelli test for McLaren and honestly he has bigger change in Alpine where he did kind of a shootout with Jack Doohan (we have no info about how it went besides Toto saying he was strong)

after Williams were ready to announce a contract with Carlos in Spain with Netflix ready to shoot the footage of it and after he pulled out of it with new offer from Alpine (or rather Flavio Briatore), they now focused on getting Valtteri Bottas as a stable driver to partner Alex

that leaves Carlos waiting if Max really leaves RBR (but Marko made it clear they don’t want him anyway), potentially Merc (Toto said they are not interested in him but after Kimi’s  results in F2 so far, he said maybe the door is not fully closed for him yet), Audi (where Liam Lawson was seen in Austria, but even after Carlos missed a deadline from them, they might be interested) or Alpine (and if he says no, they still have Jack and Mick lined up and ready)

meanwhile Guanyu has been exploring the option to get a seat in FE if he cannot find one in F1 (with Alpine, Haas and Sauber as possible options) or even being a reserve for an F1 team for 2025

Ted Kravitz mentioned paddock gossip of Estaban leaving earlier than planned to replace Logan mid season in Williams and make space for Jack Doohan in Alpine (the only thing supporting this right now is interview with James Vowles talking about this and mentioning potential changes event his season)

Will Buxton on the other hand mentioned Daniel Ricciardo is talking to Williams

and finally Blick reported that Drugovich might be on Williams‘ list after Carlos

as for Logan he is reportedly in talks with Prema to get their Indycar seat

Lewis Hamilton is rumoured to buy Gresini Racing motogp team

apparently Lewis also called Seb to ask about what Adami is like as a race engineer and Seb gave him positive feedback

Jeremy Clarkson said he can calm people down and say that Newey is not looking for houses in Italy but rather UK

the superlicence request in Miami was potentially meant for Arvid Linblad (if you don’t know who he is, he is rbr junior currently crushing it in F3)

Briatore wants to bring Binotto into Alpine (lol)

Other series and juniors:

Franco Colapinto, Ollie Bearman, Jack Doohan and Isack Hadjar got their FP1 junior drive in Silverstone

Roman Staněk will end in Trident after Monza, he terminated the contract due to the team not performing like expected and is currently looking for a possibility of another seat in F2 (when it’s on dry, the car lacks too much to others and only on wet like in Silverstone’s sprint, the differences are diminished and the driver can show what’s in them like he did going from p22 to p8)

British F4 race in Zandvoort will have SO many F1 Academy drivers: Abbi Pulling, Bianca Bustamante, Carrie Schreiner, Jessica Edgar (and of course Chloe Chong which is driving full season in British F4)

so Arrow McLaren cannot behave for a week, to sum it up: David Malukas (who got a full time seat after Alex Palou was sued for not driving for them) got injured, they got Callum Illot drove instead of him for some time, since David wasn’t healing, they fired him and hired Theo Pourchaire for the rest of the season, INSTEAD they fired him as well after he posted about how he can’t wait for another race, and now hired Nolan Siegel (and on top Rossi will leave the team and will get replaces by Lundgaard  in 2025)

freaking Nikita Mazepin was testing GT3 in Hungary after the EU sanctions were lifted (side note idk if i stated before but Haas has to pay off Ural Kali)

Other news:

Goodwood festival of speed is coming up with interesting names (like Frederik Vesti, whole of Williams team, RB team including Horner etc)

the F1 movie everyone has been in frenzy about will be called… F1 (i think there is some teaser too if you are interested, also Fernando did an interview after Silverstone which will be used for the movie as well as some other real life stuff, like Pierre’s onboards modified) OHHH also Hans Zimmer should compose music for it like he did for Hunt vs Lauda (however it is called in English)

there was a rumour that Danica Patrick is leaving Sky Sports but that fake (or rather AI generated)

the Silverstone trophy was made by ex-F1 mechanic Alastair Gibson from car parts (there are two trophies always but the Iconic golden one is returned)

i am putting this in other category because it’s simply too unhinged but there was an open letter from some fans that Leo Leclerc is not loved and cared for enough (be so serious he has better life than i do)

[istherewifiinhell]

im reading comics. ive got a blog. ive got screenshots

[ID: panel of ravage thinking "Perfect! I cannot imagine a more ideal opportunity! END]

marveltf no.2, or 3&4 in the uk version, 1984.

[Deep breath] Plot: Bill Mantlo, Script: Jim Salicrup, Pencils: Frank Springer, Inks: Kim Demulder, Letters: Janice Chiang, Colour: Nelson Yomtov, Editor: Bob Buduansky, EiC: Jim Shooter

Digital re-master by digikore studios limited. collection edits by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon. editorial notes and assistance by Mark. W. Bellomo

jeez again. well lets start of with the remaster hate, on top of the lettering miscorrections...

[ID: Comparing the same shot of Soundwave from two versions. 1. the us printing, his plating has been coloured in purple. 2. digital remaster, its been corrected to blue. (Also Megatron happens to be in frame and thinking "As always Starscream slyly seeks to undermine my command, but his advice is sound!") END]

BOOO, they hate his pussy. purplewave you will always be real to me....

(i also dont think the job of a remaster should be to correct originally present errors, or EVER. to 'bring inline visual brand cohesion'. Imagine if they remaster mirage comics with 87 turtle headband colours... riots in the STREETS.

They should simply restore to higher resolution quality lost from age/accessibility accessibility. like high def scans and faded colour correction... i wish we could keep the quality and texture from print u know) (this is not the fault of individuals doing the restore work, whose names i dont even know, just the company that idw hires to do this work)

ANYWAY. commencing with the bullshit.

[ID: Starscream scowling while Megatron is just behind him. Thinking "Megatron's deductions are most shrewd! I must be careful not to ever let my lust for power cause me to under- estimate his cunning! It is only a matter of time before Starscream commands the decepticons!" END]

ah there we go. im at baseline. im calibrated. locked in

[ID: Large panel of Bumblebee lifted up on a car mechanics hoist, in the Witwicky garage. Hes saying "Help me, please! I'm dying!" A puddle of fluid draing away underneath him. Sparkplug, in sleepwear, shoes and a cap says "Buster-- This isn't like you-- Playin' a dumb joke on your old man in the middle of the night!" Buster pleading "This is no joke, Dad! Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are! I know it sounds crazy, but I'm sure this car is alive! And unless you do whatever it takes to repair it-- it will die! END]

kjfngjhsddfg BUH. fucked up. if im honest

[ID: Two panels, Sparkplug looking up to Bee's undercarriage, finding the source of a leak he thinks "Here's the problem!" Off panel Buster explains excitedly "Four other cars then turned into giant robots and started blasting the jet fighters! "O" and Jessie must've split in all the confusion! I hopped into this car and steered it home!" Panel in silhouette, black on vibrant red, Buster gesticulates wildly, continuing "I mean it doesn't have an ignition or gas pedal or--" Sparkplug continues to look up, and interrupts "I don't know what they put in that popcorn at the drive-in, but i hope it s Not habit-forming!" END

KINDA GOES HARD..... if im honest.

[ID: 1. Buster in Bee's driver's seat, Sparkplug standing outside, speaking to them. Bee: Fear not, Sparkplug Witwicky, I merely plan to relay your generous offer-- Finding some way to convert earthly resources to fuel for Autobot use-- to my leader Optimus Prime! I shall safely return with your son! Sparkplug: Right! Buster: Isn't this the most incredible thing that's ever happened to us?!? Okay, Bumblebee, like, take me to your leader! 2. Two humans, Buster's friends, look at Bee. "Jess, Buster's car just talked!" Jess: "I noticed!" END]

Around here I was coming to understand the off kilter humour their going for, contrasting the bots speech patterns with humans. i dunno if its good reading, but i get it. and yeah they were using a lot of the watchman ass 9 panel layout... if it works eh?

speaking of bot dialogue

[ID: Three panels, Optimus rallying his troops and they change from bot to alt mode by saying "Autobots, convert to earth-modes! Let's move out!" END]

hmm. still work-shopping that one i see. you know. the classic thing autobots do.... convert and move out... what to catholicism or something??

[ID: Panel of an asymmetrical and scifi looking castle on a rocky peak. Caption box: Meanwhile, in the half-completed Decepticon base, constructed from various parts of the erstwhile Harrison Nuclear Plant… END]

Different style but apparently comics Megatron still likes himself a castle. Okay dracula. okay NOS-4-A2.

[ID: Optimus in bot mode, looming over the two humans, he says "I bring you Greetings from Cybertron!" Sparkplug: This one's even bigger than Bumblebee! Buster: Uh-- Hi! END]

He is bigger than Bumblebee... good scale tho, looks right to me anyway. there is a certain charm in this exchange. everyone's suitably and interestingly awkward.

[ID: Panel of Sunstreaker shooting towards the sky, as Sideswipe takes off with a jet pack. Side: If it's a fight they want, Sunstreaker, we can give it to them! Sun: My electron pulse gun shouldn't disappoint them! Side: While you get 'em in your sights, I'll go meet 'em up close and personal. Sun, thinking: Ever-eager for battle, my brother has rashly employed his energy-draining rocket backpack! END]

ah. so the brother thing is from comics. okay. everything always is isnt it? and yes. all the fight scenes have had dialogue like this.

[ID: Megatron stepping toward the viewer, menacingly. "Overconfident Fools! They entrusted the human to their weakest member!" He easily thumps Bee's head with one fist. The humans, small enough to be seen in the space between Megatron's legs. On says "He kayoed Bumblebee with just one shot!" END]

CRUSHED HIM LIKE A BUGGGG 🥁🔔

[ID: Two panels, Caption box: And acts-- Megatron holds Sparkplug in one hand, Optimus points his gun and says "Megatron-- surrender the human or suffer the consequences!" Megatron replies "In a word, Optimus-- He fires his canon, the blast engulfing Prime with a "Wawooom" Megatron finishes "--NO!" But meanwhile Sparkplug is free from his grip, shouting "Geronimo!" END]

honestly this whole page of exchanges was great.... its what i love to see them do... get him megs lol. girl ur so funny. beast warsian almost.

...well thats basically it. its a race to find a way to convert earths energies to their use, and The 'Con have kidnapped the one human who seems willing and able to do it. Low on fuel, and on hope, will our intrepid heroes prevail? As Sparkplug's fate hangs in the balance... tune in next time for...

[ID: Buster looking concerned thinking to himself "How will they be able to rescue Dad-- When it looks like they can't even help themselves?! Caption box: [small next arrow] And along came a... [title text] Spider-man! END]

EX-SQUEEZE ME?!

[escapist-of-fiction]

Not right now - Chapter 2

Song: Back to December by Taylor Swift

Summary: School reunion back in their hometown of Nowle. Fast forward to 2023 and Imogen and Daniel are now in their thirties.

Title: The Reunion

Reunions were strange, Imogen thought, almost like a torch being lit to call everyone home once more. She had done her best over the past few years to avoid the bubble of her hometown. No offence to any of her childhood friends but they had just grown apart. Her life was based in London now, after some soul searching Imogen had found a steady job working as a photographer for a local events management company. It earned her enough to rent a decent sized apartment within reach of the city centre and that was okay for Imogen, for now at least.

Evie was the only person she had really kept in touch with and the main reason Imogen had come back for the reunion. Her oldest friend had nagged her constantly for weeks as soon as the event had popped up on social media. Imogen's parents had retired and moved away to live permanently in the south of France a few years ago and with extended family members dotted all over the UK, there was no real reason for her to return to the town of her youth.

The organiser (a classmate Imogen vaguely remembered) had managed to hire the back room of a local bar in the centre of the town for the whole evening and Evie had persuaded her husband, Luke to drop them off.

"This is so EXCITING!" Evie squealed, squeezing Imogen's hand so tightly she winced, "Urgh, why are your hands so clammy?"

"I hate big events like these. Too many people at once, lots of awkward conversations. You know the drill," Imogen answered with a little shrug. Evie looked over at her in disbelief,

"Hun, your whole career is based on events like these. You're forever schmoozing with people."

"It's not the same. I find it a lot easier walking into a room full of strangers. Less...stressful."

"Whatever you say Immo," replied Evie, not entirely convinced.

"Leave her alone Eves," came the voice of reason from the driver's seat, "We can't all be social butterflies like you." Evie didn't say anything but blew her partner a dramatic kiss to his reflection in the rear view mirror.

"So...who is coming tonight?" Imogen asked, trying not to sound too curious. Evie pulled her phone out of her bag and began to scroll through the events page muttering a variety of names, many of which Imogen could not recall.

"Most of our old crew are coming...Tabitha can't because she's just had her second baby, or is that third? Anyway...Joe said he might be coming but it'll be late after his shift at the station has finished and...Daniel said he's filming a new series overseas somewhere." The last part of her sentence was rushed and most likely for Imogen's benefit, who didn't get a chance to respond (even if she'd wanted to) as they had arrived at their destination.

Once inside and the initial greetings had been made, Imogen had to admit it wasn't so bad. Their old friendship group seemed to gel just like old times, reminiscing about the past, updating each other on major life events. Shrugging away her previous doubts about, what could have been, a night full of awkward conversations, Imogen felt herself relaxing with each glass of prosecco she sipped on.

Having grabbed her towards the makeshift dance floor to dance to an Arctic Monkey's song they used to listen to on repeat in Imogen's car, Evie smiled smugly over at her friend,

"See, aren't you glad I made you came to this now?" She expected an admittance of defeat but the feeling of triumph was short-lived as Imogen suddenly gripped Evie's arm and looked towards the entrance of the bar, all colour draining from her face.

Daniel had just walked in, a quick glance around the room and he began to make his way over to the group of friends, greeting them all in turn. This situation seemed so natural to him. Daniel had always been a loved member of their group, popular, a good friend to rely on. He reached Imogen last, whether this was a subconscious choice or not, the sheer anticipation of it all sent her anxiety through the roof.

"You're here," she blurted out as he hugged her awkwardly. It was obvious that they could feel the whole room staring at their interaction but they wilfully ignored it. Daniel's body hummed in light laughter as he released her from his embrace, taking a little step back to look at Imogen properly. His body ached, almost in protest, at the fact that they had let go of each other.

"Why, was I not invited?" Daniel looked at Imogen with a bemused expression on his face as she shook her head quickly; a loose strand of hair escaped from her ponytail falling across her eyes and he resisted the urge to reach out and tuck it behind her ear.

"I didn't mean that." She stumbled over her words and became annoyed with herself for letting Daniel have this effect on her, "It's just, they said you weren't coming so it's a surprise to see you. That's all."

"A good surprise, I hope?" There was a teasing twinkle in his eye as he said this and he was rewarded with a blush from Imogen. A quick glance at her hand, he noticed she wore no ring. Daniel took that as a good sign. "You look really good, Immy," he then added quietly, with a sincerity that suggested so much more than what could seem like a simple compliment exchanged between friends.

Except this was Imogen and Daniel. Things were never this simple.

His blue eyes locked with hers and she felt the familiar tug of attraction stir from within, something she hadn't felt it in a long time. Not since the December all those years ago. What was this power that he held over her? It took all of her strength to look away,

"I need to go and find Evie," she murmured, "It was good seeing you Dan."

Daniel watched her walk away. Could she sense that he had his eyes on her as she made her way across the room? He couldn't be sure. He felt completely bewitched by her presence. God, he needed to get a grip...and a drink. Yep, a drink would definitely help.

"I thought you weren't coming tonight."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Daniel retorted with a little chuckle. His best friend, Ben, handed him a pint and they clinked glasses, before taking a sip.

"You're our local celebrity friend. You are our only source of gossip. I guess we all assumed you'd be busy filming?"

"Well..almost true," Daniel admitted, "I am currently filming near Oxford but I ended up having a bit of spare time and it seemed to coincide with this shindig. So here I am."

He took another glance around the room as he said this, his eyes lingering on Imogen for a little longer than intended. It didn't go unnoticed by Ben.

"What's the deal there with you two? Have you stayed in touch?" He was surprised when Daniel shook his head.

"We message here and there. We bumped into each other a couple of years ago. Then I heard nothing from her until now."

"I hear she has a steady boyfriend down in London." Daniel gripped his pint glass tightly as he processed this piece of information. It wasn't as if Daniel expected them to be happily reunited with no complications but knowing Imogen was with somebody else cut him deep. He downed his drink and ordered them both another.

The night passed by uneventfully, almost too quickly in Imogen's opinion. Evie was taking the child-free night to a whole new level and seemed absolutely wasted by midnight unfortunately.

Waiting for a taxi, Imogen propped her friend up on the wall outside of the bar, wondering how happy Luke was going to be when they returned to the house.

"Immo," Evie slurred, reaching out to grip her friend's arm, "We need to do this more often...you should be here, not in stupid London."

"As much as I'd love to give you my reasons for moving to London, Eves, the taxi's here now and we need to move." Placing Evie's arm around her neck, Imogen hoisted her friend up to a standing position, hoping her feet would do the walking automatically, however Evie seemed a lot more interested in sleeping on her friend's shoulder. The taxi driver looked impatiently at Imogen but didn't seem to make any move to help her either.

"Do you need a bit of help?" A familiar voice asked and Imogen felt Evie's weight being lifted off her as she watched Daniel, with one hand firmly around Evie's waist, lead her over to place her inside of the taxi with ease.

"Thanks Dan. Drunken Evie is heavier than I remember."

Daniel then held the passenger door open for Imogen to climb in, which she did as gracefully as she could with her mini dress on, hyper aware that Daniel was watching her every move. He resisted the urge to help her in but leant against the door casually as he continued to chat to her,

"Will you be alright getting her home?" Imogen glanced across to look at Evie who was fast asleep, face pressed up against the window. Not her most dignified moment but being a Mom was tough.

"I'll message Luke as we pull up to the house. He can come and help me get her out. Thanks for your help though."

They shared a little smile and the conversation seemed to come to an abrupt end.

The taxi driver revved his engine impatiently and Imogen rolled her eyes.

"Clearly somebody isn't that bothered about reviews on their taxi app." She shut the door carefully and smiled at Daniel, "It was good seeing you Dan."

"Get home safe Immy."

Daniel stood on the kerbside, watching the car drive off down the road and exhaled slowly.

Life had suddenly got very very complicated...

[luxurychauffeurervice]

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[silveragelovechild]

THE KILLER (spoilers galore)

I watched “The Killer” on Netflix. It’s directed by David Fincher and stars Michael Fassbender in the title role.

It was good seen Fassbender again. He’s an actor I enjoy. His last movie credit was in 2019 for “Dark Phoenix”. I believe he took time off to focus on his private life (marrying actress Alicia Vikander and having a child with her.) He also participated in race car driving.

But back to “The Killer”. The first 20 minutes focused on Fassbender as his unnamed assassin prepares to kill someone who will be staying in a hotel room across the street. As he he assembles his weapons, naps, and does yoga, Fassbender narrates his mantra, and the precise method of his kills. He also explains his indifference about why he does what he does. We’re led to believe he is an expert assassin who never misses… until minute 21 - when he missed his intended target, and shoots a dominatrix instead. (WTF - so much for building our expectations then blowing them!)

Rather take another shot to kill his true target, he bails, collecting his paraphernalia and wiping up his finger prints, then leaves.

For the next 10 minutes or so, we follow Fassbender as he makes his way from Paris to the Dominican Republic (flying through the UK & US). Several times he stops to wash and shave, wiping down the sinks and spraying them (I assume to defeat possible DNA tests).

In one scene, an airline agents comments on how many frequent flyer miles he has accumulated. (HUH? He is so fastidious about not leaving a trail yet he doesn’t want to miss out on frequent flyer miles?!?)

When he finally arrives at his secret compound in the Dominican Republic he notices something suspicious and realizes someone cased the place to kill him. You see, this second assassin left distinct footprints and a bunch of cigarette butts at the gate. (If you’re going to hire an assassin to kill another assassin, he should be as good or better than the intended victim!)

Fassbender learns his girlfriend has been tortured and rushes to the hospital to see her. If I was an assassin hired to kill another assassin I’d stake out the hospital to see if the target shows up… nope! Instead Fassbender has touching reunion with his girlfriend and plots his own revenge. (BTW, why did the second assassins let the girlfriend live? It would have been much more clean to kill her.)

Fassbender discovers the thugs who tortured his girlfriend arrived at the compound by taxi. He decides to get revenge on the taxi driver. The poor driver had delivered the thugs to the compound and had to wait while they entered the house, 30 minute later, he drove them back to the airport. Technically this taxi drive was a witness - why did the thugs let him live. But they didn’t have to worry, because Fassbender kills the poor guy!

Next Fassbender heads to New Orleans to see his handler, to learn who were the thugs who tortured his girlfriend. The handler refuses so Fassbender kills him with a nail gun. He about to kill Dolores, the secretary, but she makes a bargain. She will tell him the names of the thugs, if he will make her death look like an accident (she has children and wants them to have closure). They both honor their ends of the bargain. (Kerry O'Malley who plays Dolores is very good in a small role.)

Next he heads to Florida to kill one of the hired thugs. But Fassbender isn’t as stealthy as he thinks he is. The thug is ready for him and the two have a knock down drag out fight. Thank Gawd Fassbender has experience in superhero movies because even tho the thug out weigh him by 100 pounds, Fassbender survives dozens of punches and at least a half dozen body blows. (In addition to magnetic powers he must be invulnerable.)

For those of you interested in this kind of thing, Fassbender has a full body nude scene at minute 81. Unfortunately it’s obscured by a steamed up shower glass.

Next Fassbender heads to New York to to kill the second assassin responsible for torturing his girlfriend. This second hired killer is played by Tilda Swinton (who is only refereed to as Q-Tip because of her white hair). Apparently she’s not as good at her job because even tho Fassbender is pretty obvious following her in a car, she doesn’t notice.

Fassbender confronts Swinton in a posh restaurant. She seems to accept her fate and delivers an interesting speech… one assassin to another. Except she included an anal sex joke - weird.

BTW - what was the Handler’s purpose of sending the second killer and the thug to Fassbender’s secret compound? They tried to get the girlfriend to reveal a secret, but according to her, she didn’t talk. Then they returned to their respective homes in Florida and New York having failed. Apparently this Handler has a very incompetent team of hired assasins.

I think the Killer’s kill-count is now 6 which would have been unnecessary if he hadn’t missed his target at the beginning.

If you’re curious, Fassbender took 8 flights to kill 6 people, so he earned approximately 11,090 more frequently flyer miles.

Next stop Chicago. Fassbender tracks down the billionaire who paid for the original kill job (you know, the one that Fassbender missed). The billionaire doesn’t know who Fassbender is, and says he didn’t ask that Fassbender is punished (killed) for missing his target. And in the biggest WTF of the movie - Fassbender believes him and lets him live, then leaves.

So in the fucked up Topsy-Turvy world of The Killer - the billionaire gets to live while the innocent poor taxi driver is killed. That’s a big fuck-you to the little guy.

In the end, Fassbender returns to his girlfriend back in the Dominican Republic, where they relax in the sun. (Remember how easy was the first time the thugs found his girlfriend?!?)

The Killer is based on a French graphic novel series with 14 volumes, so undoubtably there will be sequels.

VICTIMS:

ALIASES:

Throughout the movie Fassbender’s unnamed assassin has access to dozens of passports and credit cards, each with a different alias. We learn nine of them… all characters from old sitcoms from the 1960s to early 1990s. Were these in-jokes by Fincher and Andrew Kevin Walker, the screenwriter (both children of the 1970s).

Felix Unger - on his flight to Miami

Archie Bunker - on his flight to the Dominican Republic

Oscar Madison - was when he ships a package via FedEx

Howard Cunningham - on his flight to New Orleans

Reuben Kincard - car rental in Florida

Lou Grant - flight to New York

Sam Malone - car rental in New York

George Jefferson - at bank

Robert Hartley - gym membership

[wellourgerdes]

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[papillon82fluttersby]

Famous Five Art Nostalgia #17 – Part 1

Introductory post

Masterpost

❄️🛷⛷️ Five Get into a Fix – Le Club des Cinq aux sports d’hiver

Original publication date: 1958 (UK), 1964 (France)

(Original cover art by Jeanne Hives, 1964)

This book is far from my favourite as I find its plot rather dull, and due to my general dislike for snowy weather, BUT:

I always* loved the part where Julian and Dick go on a hike on their own, find the chalet, and make plans the rest of the holidays (*even before some talented writers opened up my mind to Judiki possibilities!), and

It inspired some rather wonderful art from the various illustrators!

~~~~~~

Plot summary (adapted from Wikipedia):

Siblings Julian, Dick and Anne are at home with their cousin George and her dog, Timmy. The children are suffering coughs, which results in them being sent via a hired car to a farm named Magga Glen [la ferme des Joncs] in the Welsh mountains [in the Alps, near Grenoble] to recover.

(Four grumpy-sick children…)

The Five have nearly reached their destination when their driver takes a wrong turn, leading them to a building called Old Towers [le Vieux Château] atop a desolate hill. They intend to ask for directions but are deterred by locked gates and a fierce guard dog. While exiting, the car inexplicably feels heavier, as if the brake is on. Upon reaching Magga Glen, they are greeted and fed by the owner, Glenys Jones [Mme Gouras].

(Julian feels full of energy and ready to seize the day on their first morning at the farm – Dick is soon to be made aware of this! 😂)

[Note: I want to give a big kiss to the illustrator who plucked this amazing scene solely from her mind. The original text is bare bones and just reads: “[Julian] leapt out of bed, and awoke Dick with the quick movement.” / « François sauta du lit et réveilla Mick. »]

The next morning, the Five meet Mrs Jones's brusque son, Morgan [Joanès], who is powerfully built. Although he says little, Morgan has a stentorian voice that he uses to call his seven dogs. When the Five go for a walk, Timmy gets into an altercation with three of the farm dogs and is bitten by one of them. Upset, George promptly resolves to leave the next day. Julian and Dick climb the hills and find the farm's guest chalet. They also encounter the shepherd's young daughter, Aily [Miette], with her dog, Dai [Toto], and her pet lamb, Fany [Mignon].

(Introducing Aily, Dai, and Fany!)

George is dissuaded from leaving when the children opt to spend the rest of their holiday in the chalet. They enjoy their first day there, but at night strange rumbling sounds, vibrations and a shimmering light emanate from the hillside.

(While fetching water outside the chalet, Dick gets viciously attacked by a fearsome creature!)

(Startled awake by strange sounds at night, Julian leaps out of bed, forgetting for a moment that he is in the top bunk, and crash-lands on the floor)

The next day, while out skiing, Julian and George see a woman's face in a window at Old Towers, but the building's caretaker curtly declares that he is the only resident.

Aily befriends the Five and shows them a note, thrown from a window of Old Towers by the elderly owner, Mrs Thomas. The note states: "I want help. I am a prisoner here in my own house, while terrible things go on. They have killed my son. Help me, help me! Bronwen Thomas [Elise Thomas]." Julian and Dick show the note to Morgan, who takes it from them and orders them not to interfere. His attitude causes the children to suspect he is a villain.

(The Five get on high alert when the forbidding Morgan and his dogs walk past the chalet)

(I’ve always loved this scene where Julian finds Aily hiding from Morgan near the chalet and gets all protective, and then Aily WON’T LET GO of this good, kind boy)

Aily takes the Five to a pothole with a tunnel leading to Old Towers.

(Another cute scene between Julian and Aily: Aily is judging her new friends SO HARD for needing ropes to climb down the hole when it is so easy to just jump down – both smirks are 10/10!)

They locate Mrs Thomas, who tells them some evil men murdered her son [nephew], Llewellyn [Nicolas], and are exploiting a rare metal beneath the hill in order to make bombs. Back underground, the children spot Morgan and the shepherd and observe the subterranean mining operation.

(The children enjoin Aily to hide while they investigate underground)

All of them are caught by the villains, who are led by Llewellyn Thomas. Morgan breaks free and calls his dogs, who come to the rescue. Back at the farm, Julian telephones the police. Morgan later returns with the shepherd and says the villains have been jailed. The group then celebrates Morgan's birthday.

~~~~~~

Cover art through the ages:

(Disclaimer: This is not an exhaustive list; sometimes the dates are difficult to pinpoint; and I have purposefully not included editions that re-used similar cover art, with differences only in layout and font style.)

(Snowball fight! Original cover art by Jeanne Hives, Hachette, 1964)

(Sledding down the hill – Jean Sidobre, Hachette, 1974)

(Poaching from Sidobre again… J.P. Morvan, France Loisirs, 1977)

(Strange lights on the mountain! Jean Sidobre, Hachette, 1978)

(Now skiing! Umberto Nonna, Edito Service, 1981)

(Strange lights on the mountain again… Yves Beaujard, Hachette, 1990)

(George and Dick just ate some snow! 🤭 Paul Gillon, Hachette, 1992)

(Frédéric Rébéna is being his usual boring self… Hachette, 2010)

(Swooshing down the hill, wooosh! Auren, Hachette, 2019)

~~~~~~

Thanks for reading and see you soon!

[charlotte-of-wales]

H&M Documentary Review: Episode 2

(my commentary in italics)

- starting with them in New York talking about being chased by the paparazzi. Are they going to blame that on the British media too?

- Interviewing Doria now. Meghan told her she was dating Prince Harry on the phone. Again, seems like Meghan tells everyone she is dating *the* Prince as opposed to “just Harry”.

- VERY interesting that they showed news articles about the matching bracelet that they used to wear because in episode 1, Meghan clearly states they met in July 2016 and she had been single for a couple months. There are pictures of her from before July (and allegedly when she was not single) wearing the bracelet). 

- Meghan sharing stories about being chased by the paps in Toronto. Don’t be shy babes tell us about the times you called the paps on yourself x

- random picture of Harry on the phone at KP? This is the third picture of them at KP I believe so if you’d like any never seen before pictures of the palace, look no further

- Meghan’s backstory. Very boring. Lots of ass kissing. (they added a weird filter over a picture of Meghan and Tom and they both look distorted. very weird) (dishsoap story..ofc)

- praising Tom?? I’m shocked. Maybe praising is a strong word, Meghan’s friend just said he was involved in a lot of their school plays bc he did lighting. 

- Meghan: “I’d say now people are very aware of my race because they made such an issue when I went to the UK. But before that, most people didn’t treat me like a “black woman”. 

- Harry said most of the men in the family saw what Meghan was going through as a rite of passage for the women who marry in. But the difference here was the race factor. 

- Putting a LOT of emphasis on the power of the tabloids. I’m not British but saying the freaking Daily Mail can sway governments? Bit much, no?

- again, LOTS of Archie. No Lili. At this point I’ve seen Archie talk more than George. Guess which one is the one trapped in the problematic institution that hands off their kids in a silver platter.

- Meghan reciting this whole ass poem she wrote in the 8th grade?? girl

- this is like the Meghan show now. Significantly less interesting than episode 1. 

- Meghan had security hired by NBC (which involved a special driver especialized in evasive driving) to protect her from the paps. That’s more than Kate ever got and she had to navigate all that by herself (she was a lot younger too). 

- ugh they keep talking about stuff EVERY royal couple dealt with. You were chased by the paps. They harassed you. We know.

- Meghan was in ripped jeans and barefoot when she met William and “Kate” for the first time (I thought everyone in the fam called her Catherine?)

- “The formality on the outside carried in on the inside”. idk babes maybe they were formal around you because they are the future monarchs and they don’t know you?? they don’t know what you will share with the media?? and clearly they were right??

- The Queen was the first senior member of the family Meghan met. (Harry you buffoon)

- interesting. Harry and Meghan were on their way to lunch at the Royal Lodge and the Queen just happened to be there. (Don’t be shy Harry....tell us who lives at the Royal Lodge).

- “We were in the car, driving and he’s like ‘you know how to curtsy, right?’” HARRY DIDN’T BOTHER CHECKING THAT BEFORE HE SENT HER TO MEET THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND????? HARRY YOU’RE WORSE THAN I THOUGHT

- Meghan thought the curtsying/bowing was a joke but I feel like it’s common knowledge that you do that to a monarch? especially since she lived in Canada I feel like she should know?

- Harry’s face when Meghan was mocking the way she curtsied to the Queen. He knows. 

- very interesting that they brought a large number of Meghan’s friends but only two of Harry’s. Says a lot. 

- Meghan talks about her passion for volunteering. She had to opportunity to be in the family with the largest voice in the world and blew it, very ironic. 

- Now Harry says he knew she was perfect for the role the more he got to know her. But I thought marrying women who fit the mould was you leading with your head, not your heart? I thought your heart didn’t care about that? Why did it matter if she was perfect for the role if she was perfect for you?

- LOTS of shots of KP. Some of them from the outside of the gate but it looks like some are from the inside?? Very confused.

- they included a picture from the engagement with Harry down on one knee. You cannot make this up. 

- they keep showing only one dog, is the second one the one she left behind?

- “We had a little engagement party and everyone was dressed in animal onesies. And Meghan and Harry were in matching penguin onesies because penguins mate for life”. Someone hand me something I can tear my ears off with. 

- Meghan says she believed what she was told that it was just the beggining and people would get used to her when she got married so the chaos would die down. Granted, it did happen to the other royal women......

- M: “truth be told, no matter how hard I tried, no matter how good I was, no matter what I did, they were still going to find a way to destroy me”. 

On that note, there goes episode 2! Worst episode so far and a whole lot of nothing! Very boring but one more hour to go. (pray for me)

[chussyracing]

what has been happening in the world of motorsports lately?

(i am super late with all the news, so i'm putting the massive amount of text under the cut)

DRIVER (and engineer) MARKET

Adrian Newey leaving RBR (there are a lot of question marks like if he will get 12 months of gardening leave since the day he hands in his resignation or if he is hired by the team on external contract as they tried to avoid putting him under budget cap; how much it's linked to the tensions in RBR concerning Horner staying in the lead of the team despite being under investigation - that could mean other team members leaving; there is a rumour that Horner also refused to get paddock tickets for Adrian Newey's partner Amanda last year and the relationship has been broken ever since; he could go to Ferrari and there are reports he was offered 100 million pounds with an ambassador role; Toto Wolff is also interested in him and in Max, he is set to meet with his side and with Ola Kallenius from Merc and Jim Ratcliffe from Ineos after Miami about rumoured 150 million Euros contract; there are also questions about exit clauses for Max, Adrian and Helmut Marko; there are other questions like whether he wants to stay in the UK - although Daily Mail says Amanda is already looking at houses in Italy - and whether he would like to retire from F1 altogether; and final note to this point: Craig Slater said he spoke to Aston Martin insiders and found out Newey declined AM's lucrative offer and they think he is heading to Ferrari)

Nico Hulkenberg is set to leave Haas at the end of the year and joing Sauber on multi-year contract (German media reports it is 3-years contract), it's preparation for the Audi move

Ollie Bearman is rumoured to join Haas instead

Sam Bird injured himself in practice for Monaco Eprix which allowed Taylor Barnard to jump into the car

Kimi Antonelli is still linked to Mercedes and William's seat, he just finished W12 testing in Austria at Red Bull Ring (although his test was hindered by the weather, if you live close you know our weather went from 30 degrees Celsius to snowing and below zero) and today he tested W13 in Imola as well

Horner is still pushing for Ricciardo to the second RBR seat but highlighted to achieve that, he would need to improve his form drastically, he also suggested that Liam Lawson doesn't have a seat guaranteed if he even gets into F1 to which Helmut Marko remarked that Liam Lawson has an exit clause if Red Bull doesn't find a seat for him for next year in F1

at the start of the month, journalist Joe Saward reported that Logan could get replaced by Kimi Antonelli after Miami (I won't go into detail but there is multiple reasons why this is highly unlikely)

F1 Academy's first champion Marta Garcia tested with ERT during Formula E rookie test in Berlin

there are rumours about Mick Schumacher being in talks with Prema's Indycar seat

Guenther Steiner is rumoured to buy a team (or shares in a team) in F1, because reportedly the main reason he was let go of by Haas was him founding a huge sponsor for the team and offering it to Gene Haas in exchange for shareholding in the team - now he wants to take the money elsewhere

Jessica Edgar in F1 Academy scored American Express sponsorship, so she will be changing race suit into their dark blue color - and possibly also her livery

Marko Helmut hinted they want to extend Checo Perez's contract but they aren't ready to give him 3 years long extension he is asking for

David Croft said that Gasly is in talks with Williams for 2025 seat, Sainz to Audi is probable but the talks are postponed to mid-May (and Yuki and Esteban are also in talks with them) and that he thinks Guanyu will be left without a seat for 2025

McLaren's Indycar team dropped David Malukas after his hand injury (which relates closely to what I previous said about Callum Illot and Theo Pourchaire jumping in for him, I expect Theo to be named their full time driver)

Lawrence Stroll was looking to sell AM to a big name (so probably Aramco) but his condition was to keep Lance and they didn't agree so the deal fell under the table, on the other hand Honda who is set to join them in 2026 and said to immediately target the title are happy with Lance

SPONSORSHIPS AND INVESTORS

Ferrari introduced HP as their new title sponsor making them Scuderia Ferrari HP (the contract is rumouredly between 80 to 100 mil per year which is bigger than ORACLE) 🤢 - the sponsorship is for F1 Academy and Ferrari Esports teams as well

Hockenheim scored new investors who came with 250 mil Euros injection for the circuit for repairs and changes which could help it reclaim its place at F1's calendar (Thailand and South Korea are also looking to get a place on the calendar)

Lawrence Stroll is rumouredly looking to sell 25% shares in AM

Guanyu became ambassador for Beef Burger McDonald's China

this is actually month old news by SportsRush who reported that Dutch media posted it was Helmut Marko who advised Ford to pull out of the RBR sponsorship deal

Mastercard is in talks with 4 F1 teams for a title sponsor deal and apparently McLaren is the strongest candidate at this point

NEWS FOR MIAMI

Ferrari are bringing blue livery, helmets, suits, merch and GT cars to Miami as US heritage of Ferrari (they are two different shades of blue and it could also be a marketing move in preparation for the HP sponsorship that was announced a day later)

trophies by Miami GP were made by Tiffany and they were inspired by the architecture of Hard Rock Stadium

multiple teams are bringing (mostly smaller) upgrades for Miami: RB, McLaren, Mercedes, Williams

Miami GP organizers banned Trump presidental fundaraiser from the paddock

Alex will have Albon Athletics even this Wednesday in Miami in Legends Miami sneaker store

Williams is also opening a Fan Zone with drivers present

multiple teams are are bringing new merch collections: besides Ferrari, it's also McLaren, Red Bull, Williams or official F1 merch

Andretti continues hiring in all areas and are set to meet with F1 Management to discuss their F1 entry in Miami

multiple drivers already showed their special helmets with more probably to follow: Ferrari drivers, Max for all US races and Oscar

Niki Lauda's 1976 helmet from the infamous incident is going into auction in Miami

team principals will meet to discuss jump starts and how they should be judged in Miami

OTHER MOTORSPORTS SERIES

Mitch Evans won the Monaco Eprix and the team achieved 1-2 with Nick in p2

Formula E also launched GEN3 Evo before the Eprix

6 hours of Imola in WEC was won by Nyck de Vries' team although it was Ferrari 1-2-3 during quali (then Ferrari strategy strategied)

F1 Academy in Zadvoort and F2 in Barcelona finished their in-season testing (Abbi Pulling was fastest in F1 Academy and Isack Hadjar was fastes in F2)

the first Autonomous Racing League race = AI took place in Yas Marina (and you need to read it for yourself because my report wouldn't do it justice)

THE FUTURE OF F1

F1 is discussing revised point system where two more people could score (so points from p1 to p12), but the introduction was delayed and they will report on this more towards the end of the year after they collect more data

F1 commision agreed on introducing rear facing cameras from Spain onwards

Aston Martin exposed a grey area in rules when they protested Carlos stopping on track in China and FIA is exposed to clear it up to probably set a time limit when the driver has to restart the car, otherwise they won't be able to continue in the session

Domenicali told FormulaPassion that if drivers are complaining about the number of races and sprints, they are not mandatory to race (it was also a response to reports that he wants to add more sprints to the calendar)

F1 introduced new free streaming station in the US which should allowed viewers to follow F1 and junior series as well as some exclusive content

F1 reduced its carbon footprint by 13% since 2018 as per their 2023 impact report and they want to continue towards zero emissions promise by 2030

WHAT HAPPENED OFF TRACK

Irish Sun says that the victim of Horner's inappropriate behaviour hired a new legal team, she has been questioned a lot for the appeal these days, but she could get peace soon as it should get sorted by the middle of May

Grill the Grid team posted a new F1 video "Anything but F1"

Max was named one of the 100 most influential people of 2024

EA Sports released F1 24 and F1 24 Champions covers

Vogue Italy's new issue features a photoshoot including Irina Shyak and Ferrari drivers and engineers

Mercedes became the first F1 team to reach over 500m pounds turnover

Imola will be remembering Senna and Ratzenberger this week for their 30th anniversary

Valtteri the chaotic king he is, qualified for a cycling championship

Lando was apparently celebrating King's Day in Neatherlands so hard that he cut his noce on a broken glass

[smccoachhiregt]

What Are the Benefits of School Coach Hire for Large Groups

When it comes to organizing school trips, logistics can be a challenge, especially for large groups. Ensuring safe, convenient, and cost-effective transportation is essential, and this is where SMC Coach Hire offers a perfect solution through their School Coach Hire services. Opting for a dedicated school coach hire can make trips smoother, safer, and more enjoyable for both students and staff. Here are some key benefits of choosing school coach hire for large groups.

1. Safety and Security

Safety is the primary concern when organizing school transport. School coach hire services like those provided by SMC Coach Hire prioritize safety, ensuring that coaches are well-maintained and comply with all regulations. Experienced and licensed drivers are skilled in transporting large groups safely, giving parents and teachers peace of mind that students are in good hands.

2. Cost-Effectiveness

Hiring a single coach for a large group is more cost-effective than arranging multiple small vehicles or relying on public transportation. With SMC Coach Hire’s School Coach Hire services, schools can keep transportation expenses within budget while still providing quality service for the journey. Bulk booking options can also lead to further discounts, making it a cost-effective option for schools of any size.

3. Convenience and Comfort

Transporting a large group on a school trip or to a sporting event can be stressful if it involves multiple vehicles. A coach hire service streamlines this, providing a comfortable and unified travel experience. SMC Coach Hire’s coaches are equipped with comfortable seating, ample luggage space, and, in many cases, additional amenities such as air conditioning and restrooms, ensuring a pleasant travel experience for all.

4. Environmental Benefits

Using a single, high-capacity coach for a large group can reduce the overall carbon footprint compared to using multiple cars or small buses. School coach hire helps in consolidating transportation into one vehicle, cutting down on fuel consumption and emissions. This approach is eco-friendly, aligning with the growing emphasis on sustainability in school policies.

5. Improved Time Management

Coordinating multiple vehicles or relying on public transportation can lead to delays. With a dedicated coach hire, schools can set their schedules without the worry of missed connections or unexpected delays. SMC Coach Hire’s experienced drivers also have the local knowledge to navigate routes efficiently, helping groups arrive on time.

6. Enhanced Group Bonding

Traveling together helps create a sense of unity among students and teachers. Whether it’s for a sports event, educational trip, or end-of-term celebration, a shared coach journey offers an opportunity for students to bond, creating memories that last well beyond the trip itself.

Final Thoughts

For schools looking to transport large groups efficiently, SMC Coach Hire offers an excellent solution with their School Coach Hire services. This choice brings a combination of safety, convenience, and affordability, all while supporting the environmental initiatives that schools are increasingly prioritizing. Whether for local trips or longer excursions, hiring a school coach can be a strategic, cost-effective choice for ensuring a successful and memorable journey.

Author  :  SMC Coach Hire

Who We Are

SMC Coach Hire the UK's leading Coach Hire and Minibus Hire companies. Standard and Luxury vehicles available. Book today with Price Guarantee for School Coach and Minibus Hire, Festival Festival coach hire and minibus hire, Corporate coach hire and minibus hire, Wedding Minibus and Coach Hire, UK Tour Minibus and Coach Hire, Airport Minibus and Coach Hire, European Tour Minibus and Coach Hire, Stag/Hen party coach hire and minibus hire.

Contact Us

SMC Coach Hire

Unit 4G, Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6JG, United Kingdom

+44 333 200 7221

enquiries@smccoachhire.com

https://smccoachhire.com

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[yelowsoft]

A detailed guide to start a private hire business in the UK

Starting a private hire business in England may be worthwhile as there is a constant need for quality ground transport since it’s an island of economic stability. Nevertheless, one must carefully plan, get all licenses and install effective systems that will manage the operations well. To get you off to a good beginning in opening your taxi undertaking, here’s a detailed guide on what to do to start taxi business.

Knowing the Market of Private Hires

To start a taxi company, one must understand the dynamics of the market. Generally, there are two main categories in the UK private hire industry: taxis (hackney carriages) and private hire vehicles (PHVs). Taxis are flagged down or can be picked up from selected ranks, whereas PHVs must be pre-booked through licensed operators.

Market Research

This involves extensive market research regarding your target audience, competitors and possible demand. Look at demographic information about where you want to operate, and analyze what your competition is currently doing and identify any possible gaps they might not have filled yet. This data forms a critical basis for developing your business plan and will assist in making informed choices.

Creating a Business Plan

So, having a well-defined business plan enables you to obtain finances and operate your firm efficiently. Things that should appear in your business plan include:

Executive summary: Briefly describe your business concept, including its objectives and financial projection.

Market analysis: Provide detailed findings from your market research.

Business structure: You should state whether you will operate as a sole trader, partnership or limited company.

Services offered: Indicate what services will be provided, such as airport transfers, corporate accounts or regular bookings”.

Marketing strategy - Outline how you intend to attract and maintain customers

Financial Plan: Contains startup costs, income projections, and break-even point schedule.

Legal Requirements and Licensing

Meeting legal requirements and obtaining the licenses necessary is a significant part of starting a taxi business. The following are the primary legal considerations:

Operator License: You need an operator license from your local council to run a private hire business. In applying, you must provide information about your business, prove that you have good character and demonstrate possession of suitable premises for carrying out your operations.

Vehicle Licenses: Every vehicle you use must be licensed as a private hire vehicle. This means that it must pass a roadworthy test and satisfy specific criteria laid down by your local authority. They usually require cars below a certain age, in good condition and insured for ‘hire and reward’.

Driver Licenses: Private hire drivers require driver’s licenses. The standards differ from one council to another but generally include undergoing a medical examination, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and passing an examination on knowledge of the area.

Setting Up Your Operations

After obtaining the necessary documentation, you can organize how your business will run its activities, such as acquiring vehicles, recruiting drivers and developing effective management systems.

Acquiring Vehicles: As per the survey undertaken, fuel efficiency, comfortability, and maintenance costs should be considered when deciding the number of types of vehicles needed based on market research conducted earlier.’ However, leasing vehicles can be cost-effective when starting with limited capital.

Hiring Drivers: Recruit reliable, professional drivers who conform to licensing requirements. Ensure they are thoroughly vetted before hiring them, and they should have vast knowledge of their areas of operation. Offering competitive pay rates and other incentives can help attract top-quality drivers who will remain with the firm for a long time.

Leverage the Right Technology

Investing in good technology is vital to managing your operations effectively. Taxi cab booking and taxi management software are necessary for automating bookings, dispatching drivers and tracking vehicles in real-time.

Taxi Cab Booking Software: Pedestrians can request a ride from a taxi through the Internet or a mobile app with the help of taxi cab booking software. This software typically includes features like driver tracking, fare estimation, and payment processing. An effortless booking experience can significantly improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Taxi Management Software: With taxi management software, you can control your entire fleet, drivers, and bookings. The most critical features include route optimization, vehicle tracking, dispatch management and performance reporting, among others. Strong taxi management software implementation guarantees smooth business operations, thus enabling scaling opportunities.

Marketing Your Business

In the competitive private hire market, attracting customers and establishing your brand requires a strong marketing strategy. Here are some helpful marketing tactics:

Online Presence: Design a professional website that is also SEO-friendly so that potential clients can find you easily online. Equipping it with online booking capability, fare estimates, and customer reviews, among other things, would not be bad either. Also, active participation on social media platforms will help engage new customers or even create awareness about one's services.

Local Advertising: Advertise your services through local newspapers, magazines or bulletin boards within the community. Distribute fliers and business cards at places where people converge, such as airports, train stations, shopping malls, etc. Collaboration with other firms operating within an area, e.g., hotels or restaurants, can also assist in broadening the audience base.

Customer Loyalty Programs: Putting into place customer loyalty programs encourages recurring businesses. Discounts on prices; referral bonuses could be monetary rewards to clients who bring other customers to book cabs via the Uber app or a point-based system whereby customers earn points towards free rides for every trip they take. Having fantastic customer service and building a loyal customer base significantly improves your name, giving you the best reputation in that field while boosting customer loyalty.

Managing Finances

Efficient financial management is essential if you want your business to continue thriving. Below are some tips for managing your finances effectively:

Budgeting: To secure an accurate budget, it is important to develop a comprehensive one that should indicate startup costs, ongoing expenses, and projected income. Ensure regular checks of cash flows and adjustments made where necessary to stay on track.

Accounting Software: It is wise to invest in good accounting software that can help streamline the management of a company’s finances. For example, using this software, businesses can log expenses, handle invoices, and prepare financial reports, among other things. Taxation requirements and future planning require maintaining sound records.

Funding Options: When financing your business, you may need different sources of funding, such as personal savings, bank loans or investors. It’s a well-known fact that having a good business plan can make it easier for lenders or even investors who might be interested in offering you money.

Ensuring Compliance and Safety

The safety of passengers and drivers by adhering to regulations should be observed by any taxi enterprise, thus suggesting its priority. Here are some key considerations:

Regular Inspections: Carry out regular car inspections to ensure that all cars meet safety standards and are properly maintained. This will enhance safety and reliability, as it means no breakdowns or accidents when moving.

Driver Training: Keeping your drivers up-to-date on safety protocols and local regulations and improving their customer service skills requires ongoing training. Encouraging this culture of professionalism throughout the organization would improve the overall quality of services.

Insurance: Your vehicles, passengers and drivers must have comprehensive insurance protection. It also includes public liability insurance cover, employer’s liability insurance cover, vehicle hiring reward insurance cover etc.

Scaling Your Business

Your business may want to expand and increase its market share as it grows. Here are some strategies for scaling your private hire business:

Expanding Your Fleet: Gradually grow your fleet by adding more cars and drivers. Ensure that you continue to deliver a high level of services and compliance standards as you expand. Regularly review your operations, making necessary adjustments in response to increasing demand.

Diversifying Services: To attract a broader customer base, consider diversifying the services offered. These could include executive transport, chauffeur services or specialized event and corporate client services. By providing different customer segments with tailored services, you can easily distinguish yourself from competitors within this industry.

Leveraging Technology: Keep investing in technology that will improve your operation and enhance customer experience. Try advanced taxi management and taxi cab booking software with new features and functionalities. By keeping up to date with advancements in this technology, one can gain a competitive advantage while improving efficiency.

Conclusion

Starting a private hire business in the UK requires careful planning, compliance with regulations, and efficient management systems. Follow this process to start a taxi business successfully and build a thriving enterprise.

Implementing the right technology, such as taxi management and taxi cab booking software, is essential for streamlining your operations and ensuring excellent service delivery and operational efficiency. By focusing on quality and taking a strategic planning approach dedicated to achieving excellence, your private hire company can attain long-term success in harsh United Kingdom market conditions.

[vip-luxury-chauffeur-blog]

Stansted Airport Chauffeur Service: Luxury Transfers to and from London

London Stansted Airport (STN) is one of the busiest airports in the UK, serving millions of passengers annually. As a key gateway to London and its surrounding areas, the need for convenient and comfortable transport options is crucial for travelers. A Stansted Airport chauffeur service provides a premium solution for those seeking a smooth, luxurious, and stress-free journey to their destination. Whether you are arriving for business, leisure, or an event, booking a chauffeur service ensures you travel in comfort, style, and efficiency.

Why Opt for a Stansted Airport Chauffeur Service?

Seamless Airport Transfers After a long flight, the last thing you want to worry about is finding transport. A professional chauffeur service offers seamless transfers from Stansted Airport, ensuring that you are met at arrivals and escorted to a luxurious vehicle. With meet-and-greet services and assistance with your luggage, you can relax knowing every detail is taken care of from the moment you land.

Luxurious Fleet Traveling in a chauffeur-driven car adds a touch of class to your journey. With a fleet of high-end vehicles like the Mercedes S-Class, V-Class, and BMW 7 Series, you can choose the car that best fits your needs and group size. Each vehicle offers premium amenities such as leather interiors, climate control, Wi-Fi, and more, ensuring that your journey is not just about getting from point A to point B, but enjoying the ride in comfort.

Reliability and Professionalism Chauffeur services are known for their reliability and professionalism. Unlike ride-hailing apps or taxis, a chauffeur is dedicated to providing you with a high level of service. Your driver will monitor your flight, ensuring they arrive on time regardless of delays or early landings. You can count on them for a timely pickup, hassle-free experience, and expert navigation of London’s roads.

Tailored to Your Needs Whether you’re heading to central London, the business district, or a special event, chauffeur services can be tailored to your specific needs. Whether it’s a one-way transfer, a return trip, or hourly hire, a professional chauffeur ensures your itinerary is followed exactly, allowing you to focus on your plans while they handle the transport logistics.

Key Features of Stansted Airport Chauffeur Service

Meet and Greet Chauffeurs provide a meet-and-greet service inside the arrivals terminal at Stansted Airport. Holding a personalized sign with your name, your chauffeur will be easy to spot, ensuring a quick and convenient exit from the airport. This level of service offers a smooth transition from flight to car, without the stress of searching for transportation.

Flight Tracking With advanced flight tracking systems, chauffeur services monitor your flight status in real-time. Whether your flight is delayed or arrives ahead of schedule, your chauffeur adjusts their arrival time to ensure they’re waiting when you land. This eliminates any worries about coordination or timing.

Luggage Assistance Traveling with luggage can often be a hassle, especially after a long journey. Chauffeurs provide luggage assistance, helping you with your bags from the terminal to the vehicle. This service adds convenience and ensures a hassle-free experience as you begin your onward journey.

Flexible Transfers Stansted Airport chauffeur services offer flexible transfer options to meet various travel needs. Whether you're heading to a meeting in central London, catching another flight at a different airport, or attending an event, chauffeurs provide tailored services including one-way transfers, hourly hire, or multi-stop journeys. Whatever your schedule demands, they’ve got you covered.

Destinations for Stansted Chauffeur Transfers

Central London Most travelers from Stansted Airport are bound for central London destinations. Chauffeur services offer direct transfers to popular areas such as Mayfair, Kensington, and Westminster, allowing you to arrive in comfort and style. Avoid the stress of public transport or unpredictable taxis and enjoy a smooth ride to your hotel, office, or residence.

Business Districts For corporate travelers, chauffeur services provide quick and efficient transfers to key business hubs like Canary Wharf, The City, and London Bridge. With Wi-Fi-equipped vehicles, you can catch up on work, take calls, or prepare for meetings while en route, ensuring your time is well spent even during travel.

Events and Venues Attending an important event or conference in London? Chauffeur services provide transfers to venues such as the ExCeL London, O2 Arena, and London’s top hotels, ensuring you arrive on time and in style. This service is ideal for making a lasting impression at corporate events, parties, or exclusive social functions.

Airport Transfers Stansted is often a hub for travelers heading to or from other major airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton. Chauffeur services provide seamless airport-to-airport transfers, ensuring timely connections and avoiding the hassle of public transport or multiple taxis. This is particularly beneficial for tight flight schedules, where efficiency and reliability are crucial.

The Benefits of Choosing a Chauffeur Service for Stansted Airport

Fixed Pricing With chauffeur services, you won’t have to worry about surge pricing or hidden fees. Unlike taxis or ride-hailing apps, chauffeur services offer fixed rates, meaning the price you’re quoted is the price you’ll pay—no surprises, just complete transparency.

Time Efficiency Professional chauffeurs know the quickest routes and best ways to avoid traffic, saving you valuable time on your journey. Whether you’re heading into London or another part of the UK, your chauffeur will ensure you reach your destination in the most efficient way possible.

Safety and Security Chauffeur-driven vehicles are maintained to the highest standards and undergo regular safety checks. Chauffeurs themselves are licensed professionals with extensive training, ensuring your journey is not only luxurious but safe and secure. This peace of mind is especially important when traveling in unfamiliar areas.

First-Class Experience From the moment you step into your chauffeur-driven car, you are treated to a first-class experience. From the comfort of the vehicle to the attentive service of your driver, every aspect of the journey is designed to be enjoyable and stress-free. This service goes beyond just transportation; it’s about providing a luxury experience from start to finish.

Book Your Stansted Airport Chauffeur Service Today

Booking a Stansted Airport chauffeur service is simple and convenient. With online booking options and 24/7 customer support, you can schedule your transfer well in advance, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free arrival or departure. Whether you're traveling for business, pleasure, or a special event, a chauffeur service guarantees the luxury, reliability, and comfort you deserve.