#civil engineering companies london

[toopeanutcrown]

Official Presentation Foran Construction Group Ltd

Foran Construction have delivered high quality commercial developments, and refurbishments projects of all sizes throughout London and surrounding areas.

4 Harlequin Avenue,Brentford,Middlesex,TW8 9EW

+44 (0) 203 362 6861

info@foranconstruction.co.uk

[everythingne]

KINTSUGI - AKIN TO A PRIDE VERSE - MV1

When brought to panic by ruthless reporters, Reina snaps and hits a reporter out of instinct. In desperation, Hana flies Max to London help her daughter out of a depressive episode caused by Reina thinking that she's more like her father than she ever wants to be. And Max realizes some things about who you call family.

warnings: reporters grabbing reina, mentioned rumors of domestic abuse, mentions of child abuse and past/current broken metacarpal (hand) bones (wow look at me being sciency?), many assumptions about max's childhood, reina has a whole break down, reminder this isn’t a romance series, also btw I changed reina's age to make her 20 (legit go back and look LOL) and that totally isn't something for silly foreshadowing purposes no no, my comeback after going to college LMAO

I'M FUCKING SCREWED. I'm so fucking screwed. I can feel the anxiety coursing through my arms as I stand there, my teammates off to my side as we try and fight through the media pen. We weren't even supposed to be here but Ollie Bearman had decided he was bored and dragged me and Kimi Antonelli along to see some other drivers by wandering along the pit lane. We were all pretty civil with one another, save for one or two weird rivalries here or there, so we were quick to amass a group that eventually Trident broke up when they needed Richard back.

And then media had shown up, and we'd gotten quickly swarmed with no real way out.

Luckily, Kimi had called someone from the paddock to come get us and help us out so as we slowly pushed through the crowd as politely as possible, someone was actively coming to us.

And then I had gotten split off.

"Ollie!" I shouted, trying to grab his attention, but my voice is lost among those of the reporters who chase after him. How theres so many reporters here, I have no idea. It's not normal. And then again, nothing about this season really was normal because of the whole siblings thing.

"Miss Matsumoto!" someone shouts and a camera is shoved in my face, I try to keep a calm composure, nodding sharply in greeting as I try to continue through the crowd, "How are you feeling about your race tonight?"

"I think I'll be alright," I nod, pulling the rim of my hat down a bit further, "My team has grown a bit with Max's personal trainer giving us some tips for my physical training and it's been really interesting seeing how just changing my diet and training has made drive different."

"How is your relationship with Max?" Someone else shouts and a smile happily crosses my face, okay, I can do this. Just keep talking and just keep pushing forward. Do what Max taught you.

"He's been incredible, a lot kinder than people give him credit for." I make sure to point that out as I walk. A few more questions about Max are tossed my way, what exactly he's been teaching me (how to train for Formula One specifically, different ways to keep my brain sharp, physical training adjustments, how to cope with the drastic difference between F2 and F1, which both Logan and Oscar had already told me about), if I've met Kelly and Penelope (I have, Penelope adores me for some reason), who I've met in Red Bull (Daniel, Max, Christian, Geri, a few engineers, some other drivers who now raced for other teams, and such.)

And then someone asks something that makes my stomach crawl, "Can you tell us why we haven't seen your father in the paddock this season even though his racing company is one of your main sponsors?"

"It's only the third race. I'm sure we'll see him in Sakura." I smile, trying to keep my voice level, but the reporters have found something to latch onto. I took too long to respond.

"How is your relationship with him been impacted since moving in with your mother?"

"The timezones make it hard to speak, but he is still my father, so," I shrug, trying now a bit more desperately to shove through the crowd. They're not letting me go. I can hear Kimi telling someone to move, his voice is sharp and annoyed, but the reporter doesn't listen.

"Is it true your father abused you?"

"What?" I gape, but reporters flash cameras and shove over each other to get to me. My reaction fuels them.

"Is Project Matsumoto a real thing, or just a mimic of Project Verstappen?"

I can't even recover from the last question as I gasp out, "I'm sorry?" I don't even know what they're referencing.

"Did Red Bull pick you to be Max's sibling due to your similar childhoods?"

I can't get words out now, the berating is on, and all I can do is try and back away. I can see Ollie waving a hand, trying to beckon me through the crowd, and now FIA officials are coming to move the reporters away. It's a mess of shoving and screaming, people in my face as they repeat themselves until their voices pitch to shouts and screams. I can't move through because any step I take is immediately countered by a shift in the tide of cameras and voices, blocking my path.

"Was your fathers attitude is Sakhir last year reflective of your childhood with him?" "How did your parents divorce effect your racing career?" "Is it hard to be living away from your Japanese roots?" "Why did your mother accuse your father of emotional and physical domestic abuse when they divorced?"

A reporter steps forward and grabs me and I rip back from him. Ollie's shoving a reporter to the side, trying to grab me before he's closed off by the ocean of people around me.

"Is the rumor of your fathers mistreatment of you true?" The man asks again, trying to grab me and I stumble back in a panic. My hat is pulled off by him instead, and I just let it go as I bring my arms to my stomach and wrap around myself.

"Please! Everyone, wait--!" I cry out, the obvious panic in my tone making my skin flame with embarrassment.

"Answer the question!" The same man shouts, shoving a reporter aside as raising his hand with his microphone. All I see is the raising of a fist in the shadow of my father, and my brain reacts before I can really think about what I'm about to do.

Crack!

I gasp as soon as I make the connection. It's hard. Max's training paying off well. Ollie's infront of me, grabbing my wrists and gently pulling me to the side until he can get me out of the crowd. Prema's around me in seconds, closing me off as I stare at my hands and feel the blood seeping across my knuckles.

I'm so screwed.

They get me into the paddock, voices over my head and slipping through my ears. I'm sat in my drivers room, Ollie and Kimi being peeled from my sides to go off and get ready for the race. I can't hear, can't think, a constant ringing ruining any conscious thought. My knuckle is split. My ring finger. I stare as one of the medics begins to clean up the wound.

Not even the sting can pull me from the thoughts racing through my head.

I hit someone. Struck a man out of fear. He had grabbed me, knocked my hat off, I had every reason to hit him. Yet, I had hit someone. I could hear my father's voice ringing in the back of my head, warnings of inheritance and passing down genetics I had shaken off to make myself feel better.

I was not my father. Never would be my father. I was so sure of that. Until today.

When the medic lets go of my hand and sets it on my lap, I feel fear strike my bones. And when René comes to get me, my silence is terrifying to everyone. I stand silent, straight faced, not even cracking a smile. The cameras watch me twice as much, I react a thousand times less.

Max is sitting on his bed, Penelope happily napping on his chest as he watches the pre-race bullshit for Reina. He had off today, oddly enough, and Kelly had gone out to do some sort of PR management event which left him to watch little Penelope. No problem at all.

The pre-race is what he's expecting, he can see Ollie dragging Reina and Kimi around and amassing a small group of F2 drivers outside of Trident. He laughs when Kimi hoists Reina into his arms, loudly announcing her by her nickname of Little Lion and making the rest of the boys cheer. What he isn't expecting is when they break up from the rest of the drivers to return to their paddock. Ollie's leading Kimi and Reina back when they get cut off by a mass of reporters. F2 hadn't been prepared for their usual amount of media to almost multiply by ten, and apparently it had been causing all sorts of issues.

Like this.

The questions are easy enough. He feels a weird swell of pride when he notices how easily Reina answers the reporters compared to before he'd started teaching her some media techniques.

And then the questions shift.

He can see Reina's panic after the first question, actually he sees it as soon as the word 'father' is brought up. He sits up a bit, gently readjusting Penelope as he turns the TV a bit louder. The camera swings away for a moment to show Ollie and Kimi pause when they realize Reina's not there, and their quick turn around before the camera swaps to show Reina.

She looks horrified. Max feels a burn in his chest as he sits up and leans forward, almost willing Ollie through the crowd. He can see multiple Prema people attempting to shove through, but every attempt is in vain. Nothing is working. It's a Sisyphean task.

Then the reporter tries to grab Reina and Max has to hold himself back from getting up and shouting at the TV. Not that it's gonna change anything. Reina steps back, and her eyes are darting around, trying to find a weak spot to escape. She can't, Max realizes, as the reporters close in.

The next thing he sees is her arm jut forward, a loud crack sounding over the speakers. His jaw drops, the sight of Reina hitting someone so foreign to him. Silence falls over the crowd as Ollie grabs her and pulls her away, someone else shouting for her to come on as Prema swarms her in a protective bubble. The feed cuts there and leaves Max on a cliff hanger for thirty minutes until they are just about to start the race. The anthem is playing. But, the Reina he sees on the screen is not his Reina.

She's silent, stone faced, frozen still and almost robotic. She moves soft as a dancer, but her gaze is sharper than an ice skaters blades. She wins, sure, but he can't get her haunted look out of his brain. She carries it even through her podium, not even able to smile when she hoists the trophy above her head.

The call from Hana the next day is expected. The invite to their flat in London is not.

"She just needs someone who understands what she's going through." Hana had pleaded on the phone, "I know it's wrong of me to say it, but you were treated a very similar way when you first got into F1 and especially when you started winning. You had a similar past, you both have similar struggles. She needs your help, Max.”

Max had wanted to suggest a therapist, a psychiatrist even, but he knew Reina would rather throw herself in front of a Le Mans car, probably the Porsche 936, than talk about her problems. Which left the question of if she would even talk to him.

But he tells Christian and Geri what's happening for a second opinion, and he is told he should go.

So he's on a flight to London three hours later, about a weeks worth of clothing packed haphazardly. He thinks he forgot a toothbrush and aftershave, but he doesn't care to check. After careful conversation, Hana had agreed to let him get a hotel close by, so he could give Reina space. Hana had been so certain Reina needed him, but Max wasn't even sure if Hana had tried to reach out to her daughter herself. Apparently Reina wasn't eating, doing her training, or even the sim. She had been in bed except for when she was forced out, and luckily there was a bit longer break than usual, it gave Max time.

He gets to the flat around eleven in the morning, twirling the keys of his rental car in his hand. He tells Hana he's coming inside and she gives him the code to the lobby and to the flat. The second one isn't needed, the woman is waiting for him in the hall.

“Thank you so much for coming out here.” Hana sighs when she sees Max and he’s shocked to see the usually classy woman in such a disheveled state, he gives her a hug in greeting but allows her to ramble through it.

“I’m sorry that I’m such a mess, I just—Reina hasn’t done this in so long it’s genuinely frightening to see it again.” Hana wipes her face, sniffling as she shakes her hands to sort of shake it off, “I’ve been trying to get her to do anything and she just won’t, she’s usually twice as active after a race, not sedimentary! I don’t know what to do—“

Max cuts off her rambling with a soft, “Hey, relax. You’ve done all you can. You go and take care of yourself, I’ll talk to Reina.”

It must be what Hana needs to hear (it’s something he’d been told by his mom when comforting Victoria growing up) because Hana barrels into his chest in a hug, thanking him probably thirty times in a row before stepping back and letting him in.

The apartment is gorgeous, Max can’t lie. It’s got big windows and tons of natural lighting, bright bold colors in decorations he’s sure Reina picked out. Which, he guesses, makes sense, because it will become her apartment soon. Hana points him in the direction of Reina’s room, but seems so genuinely distraught she can’t go near.

And this is where he’s stepping off the dock.

He hesitates to knock, but does eventually. It’s soft enough he’s sure Reina won’t hear it, but then he hears the most broken, teary and bitter, “what?” from the other side of the door.

“It’s Max.” He presses his hand to the handle, eyes staring through the wood as he leans in to the door itself, almost as if trying to see Reina through it, “can I come in?”

There’s a long enough pause he thinks she’ll say no. But theres a soft, "okay."

He pushes the door open to the darkness of Reina's room. One Himalayan salt lamp is on in the corner, providing a slightly warm glow to the room. The blinds are drawn tight, blackout curtains hastily thrown over them, and Reina's head is the only part of her body that's visible under her mass of blankets. Her room isn't quite messy, just cluttered with partially empty water bottles and a plate of cold breakfast. He remembers this. The shutting yourself off part of this all, of being raised like they had. Or, the lack thereof.

"Mornin'." He says simply, walking over to sit on the edge of her bed. Reina blinks a few times, like she can't even believe Max is there, and slowly sits up.

"Why are you here?" Her voice is groggy but not in the sense of just waking up, it sounds more like shes been sobbing for hours. A claim backed up by the redness of her swollen eyes and sniffly nose.

"Your mom called." He doesn't sugarcoat, never has, "I saw the punch. What did the FIA give you for that?"

“Five second penalty. Kimi was behind by six. Didn’t matter.” She grumbled, looking over at him from where she’s bundled up. She looks miserable, and though Max knows he’s started to crack through to get her to talk, he needs to keep trying.

“Did they fix your brakes?” Max asks and Reina nods, then sits up and sighs.

“I know you didn't fly all the way from Monaco to London for small talk. What’s wrong?” She asks, scrubbing at her red cheeks as she crosses her legs and grabs a large plush Hello Kitty and buries her face in it.

“Your mom said you’re not handling it well,” Max hums, leaning back on his hand and looking over at Reina as she curls a little bit tighter around her plushie.

“I hit someone.” She whines, “I hit him.”

“He grabbed you.” Max says, looking over at Reina and letting out a tiny non-committal hum, “the reason the FIA gave you such a little punishment is because it’s self defense.”

“But Max, I hit him.” Reina emphasized and Max blinked. What the fuck was she getting at here? His confusion must be all over his face because she shifts slightly closer and he can see where she'd split one of her knuckles open. Hana hold told him the finger was technically broken, but Reina refused to wear her brace on it. Something about having already worn one in the past. Not that Max would know. But when Reina goes to ball her hand into a fist, he notes her pinkie and ring finger don't close. Daniel's injury rings in his mind for a second, but he shoves the thought away as Reina continues to repeat herself, more broken, more panicked.

“Reina," Max attempts to soothe her, scooting a a bit closer to place a hand on hers, hiding the injury from her sight, "what are you getting at here?"

"I..." She stammers, eyes darting around his face, and then she huffs out a question he's not expecting, "Are you afraid of being like your father?"

Max blinks. The silence encompassing the room for a long while before he sighs out a soft, "Yeah, terrified."

"Me too." Reina nods, flexing her hand again. Max watches the way her eyes dart down to her injury and he realizes she's trying to cue him in. It's like a puzzle, and he has to put together the pieces to get the picture. She doesn't say anything next, leaving Max to figure it out himself, so he just watches Reina.

She's fidgety, fingers tapping along her injured hand, but he notes she keeps poking her pinkie. She'd injured her right ring finger, not the pinkie, so he's not sure what she's trying to do. She's not concerned over her current injury, but the past one. His eyes trail along her clothing, her mothers old NASCAR jersey, the rest of her hidden under mass amounts of fuzzy blankets. Her hair is braided back, greasy, and knotted, her skin is dull but still clear save for one or two pimples in her hairline. She wasn't taking care of herself, he could see that, it was a classic depressive episode.

Max meets her eyes and sees shes trying to pick him apart too.

But why? What did she need to know? Max was pretty open with her, he'd told her more than he told most people. Geri had encouraged it, hell she'd even asked if she could tell Hana some stuff from when he first got to Red Bull. The first time he'd snapped at Christian, expecting to be shouted back at, but was shocked at his calm tone. The first Christmas, when he had no one to go to, and Christian invited him to their home and though Max was slightly out of place he'd stolen the attention of the kids in a heartbeat. That was the day he'd become almost like a fifth kid to the Horners. Geri had asked if he was comfortable talking about his childhood with Hana, and he had, though it was a difficult conversation. She'd asked wonderful questions about healing and growing up and moving on, asked how much moving to Monaco and being on his own at eighteen had helped. Being on his own was freeing, he'd said that much, and though he kept some parts out he knew Hana could piece it together.

Hold on.

Max had snapped because he thought Christian would be like Jos when he'd failed to overtake on a turn.

Max hadn't had anywhere to go that Christmas because it was the first time he was celebrating without any family in the same home.

Max became an unofficial Horner because his own familial issues.

Max had moved to Monaco to get away from his father.

Reina was afraid to be like her father.

Reina was always looking to Max for validation, even with how short they had known each other.

Reina's injury, from what little Max knew, was caused after she had crashed out of a race--in heer drivers room. The last time she'd seen her dad after she'd left their house in Fukushima.

Shit.

"Reina." Max starts, not sure if he even knows how to approach this. He'd been the messy one, the one to snap, the one to shout, the one to lash out. It was evident of an 'avoidant attachment style' from his childhood or whatever the hell that meant, therapists always confused him with technicalities. Max wasn't gentle, he wasn't soft like this, he was hard edges and half-broken promises. How does one avoid their own sharp edges when trying to handle something so soft? How can Max be sure he won't break Reina?

"What happened to your pinkie?" He asks, gently prodding the knuckle with his own. Reina meets his eyes. He can't find her in her own gaze.

"Boxer's fracture." She murmurs, "Like Daniel's."

"I know that, but how did it happen?" He pushes and when Reina freezes up, he whispers, "Listen, it's just us right now. I'm gonna keep you safe, yeah? Like a real brother would."

Max had enough experience protecting Victoria.

"My dad." Reina starts, then swallows and closes her eyes. She leans forward, seeking out Max, and he moves so she can rest her head on his shoulder, staring down at her hands covered by his, "Last year, when I crashed out towards the end of the season. I was living with my mom by then, so I never really saw him. I didn't even know he was at the race. I got to my drivers room and we got in an argument. My mom tried to split us up and he slapped her so hard she fell over. I pushed him to get him to leave her alone and..."

Reina struggles to find the words and whatever she had gone through is a thousand times worse than Max could've ever expected.

"He grabbed me by the wrist, I grabbed a door to get away and he slammed it on my hand. Broke my metacarpal in two places, I needed surgery, so I never finished the season. Finished thirteenth."

Max is still. So still he's not even sure he's still breathing. Reina sniffles, and Max feels her tears hit the back of his hand.

"You don't wanna wear the brace because it takes you back." He says and Reina just lets out a soft hum. He doesn't know what to do. So, he does what Geri had done the few times she'd had to comfort him. One arm around her shoulders, the other on her head, and he pulls her taught to his chest to cradle her there.

The sob she lets out shatters his heart and he tries to pull her impossibly closer. They're flush to one another, theres no more space to close, but he still tries as Reina breaks and shatters in his hands like fine china. He attempts to piece her back together but there's not enough of him intact to repair her. Max, for his benefit, has dealt with Penelope's tired melt downs and so he gives Reina a waterbottle and wipes her tears, lays her down admist her blankets and tucks her in tightly. He sits on the floor by her face, running his fingers through her hair as best he can, gently running his thumb along her shoulder.

He can tell shes not just crying because she'd hit someone, but theres more to it. And an hour or so later, when the tears subside, she finally opens her heart to him.

"I hate my dad." She whispers after maybe five minutes of silence, no longer broken by her sniffles.

"I do too." Hate his dad? Hate hers? He's not sure. But he stands up to open her curtains and blinds, hands itching to do something rather than just sit silent. The noon sun warms the room almost instantly, and Reina lifts her head to shift into the sun. He turns and speaks as he bends down to pick up a stray bottle, "Why do you hate him?"

"Just... everything he put me and my mom through." Reina sighs, "There's a lot he did I can never forgive him for."

"What did he do?" Max sits down again and Reina reaches out to his hand, which he obliges, and she pokes at his fingers.

"When I was growing up, I started karting in Japan with my father. He wanted me to race rally cars since I was born, even with his obvious disappointment I wasn’t a son. I competed for the first time on my fifth birthday, and won. I got scouted that day and my dad completely changed. It went from a little hobby I could have to a future career, especially when my mother learned she was infertile after my birth." Reina speaks monotonously, eyes distant as she recalls, and though Max has read up on her past he knows he's getting a new raw look at her life.

"My dad finally got me in rally when I was ten, a year before the divorce. I did it for three years. The worst three years of my life." Reina shifts so she's laying on her back, looking up at the ceiling and avoiding Max's eyes, "everything that my father had just simply said became physical. Every single time I made a mistake, I was hit. Every time I talked back, ignored him, walked away, did anything he deemed to be incorrect, I was hit. Sometimes just a whack to the back of my head in annoyance, most of the time closed fists. The only thing I was allowed to do was race, extracurriculars, and school. And that includes sleeping, eating, showering, and such."

"On my thirteenth birthday, my mom came to visit us in Japan for a race I had in Fukushima. I finished second because of some dirty play and my dad was so angry at the company for not catching that, he took it out on me completely. My mom and her boyfriend at the time saw the entire thing, a huge fight broke out, the cops got called, it was a whole thing.

"My mom sued my dad for only my custody, no payment, nothing. And he dug his own hole, the court found out he was spending all the money my mom sent for me on himself, I had saved years of evidence... my mom ended up getting full custody without a challenge, and a payment that amounted to all her payments of child support and then two years worth of payments of my fathers child support in advance. That all happened around the time I switched to Formula racing. The entire time I've been racing Formula I've been living with my mom and my dad has been sending child support."

"When he got... aggressive with you, was it always physical?" Max hums and Reina shakes her head. Max slowly starts to undo one of the braids to redo it, trying to ignore the greasy feeling on his hands, and she leans into his touch so much he has to pause as he feels her face rest against his arm.

"No, it was just shouting until I got into rally and then every once and a while he’d hit me. And the most he did before I got into rally was slap me once when I was like, six? But it was mostly just him ignoring me or screaming at me, or making me race to exhaustion." Reina sighs as she then rolls to curl up against his side and Max adjusts so that he's half laying down with Reina curled up on his chest. It's similar to the way he'd gotten the youngest Horner kids to sleep when he'd visit or babysit over the years.

"My father is one of the worst people on the planet," Reina stares out the window. Max hums non-committedly, moving a little bit closer as Reina speaks in the most dead tone he's ever heard as she says, "and I have always been his favorite punching bag."

"I was my father's favorite too." Max admits and Reina nods.

"What was he like?"

"Just a lot more manipulative and way less physical. A lot of it was just him ignoring me, leaving me places, shouting at me, pressuring me. A lot of manipulation when I'd call him out on it." Max hums, finding the braid he'd half undone to fully pull it out. Reina grabs a brush off her nightstand and hands it to him so he can start to brush out her hair. It's weirdly remnant of Victoria and Penelope. Reina hums and as Max brushes out her hair, he feels the way her body relaxes.

“So did you pick me or did Red Bull?” Reina asks maybe five minutes later and Max hums, fingers finding loops of her hair to slowly braid it again. Practically hearing Geri’s voice instructing him on how to braid because it was ‘something good to know for Penelope.’ He was glad he had listened to her. It was a good thing to know.

“They told me I was gonna train you, then told me I was gonna train Ollie.” Max hums, “Ollie’s great but… I dunno. I just knew I should mentor you. Call it divine intervention but I knew.”

“Im glad you chose me.” Reina murmurs against the fabric of his hoodie and he realizes how odd this moment is. He’d packed up in thirty minutes, gotten on a two hour flight, and spent an hour coaxing his mentees trauma out so he can help her. He could’ve just said he was busy, and yet he’d already given so much of his heart to Hana and Reina he knew he couldn’t just abandon them. Reina needed him just as much as he needed her.

"I'm glad I did too. And... listen, Rei, you hitting this guy because he scared you doesn't make you an abuser." Max watches as Reina picks her head up, resting her chin on his sternum to watch him, "and Reina, you being afraid of being like your father tells me you will never be."

"But I just... I hit someone like he hit me and it was just an echo. He always told me I would grow up to be like him." Reina closes her eyes and Max takes a hand to cup her face, running his thumb along her wet undereyes.

"But you hit out of fear, not out of anger or with the intention of abusing someone, thats the thing that will never make you like him."

Reina nods, and Max knows it'll probably take him the whole week to convince her of that. But, as Reina lays her head back down with a soft thank you, he feels like he's done enough. Only twenty four hours ago he had Penelope sleeping on his chest. Now Reina’s in the same spot, her hand reaching out to cup the setting sun with her injured hand.

“Kintsugi.” She says softly, then sits up. Max watches her, head tilting as she moves to her closet and swings the door open. Grabbing a stool, she clambers up to the top shelf and starts rustling around. From his vantage point on the bed, Max can see deep scars running the inside of her leg and wonders briefly where they’re from before Reina settled back in front of him on the couch. She sees him looking and swallows, digging something out of a box from her closet.

“Also from my dad.” She says, eyes flickering up, “same day my mom was in Fukushima.”

“Ah.” Max nods, and lets Reina continue to rustle. He wants to ask questions, but he’s curious as to what she’s doing. She sets down her brace and a thing of gold paint and hands a brush to him.

“What is this?”

“Okay. It’s kinda stupid because this is no where close to what you’re supposed to do, but hear me out,” Reina raises her hands in defense. Max let’s her have the floor, he’s not gonna judge her.

“Kintsugi, it’s a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery or dishes or whatever with urushi lacquer mixed with powered gold or whatever and I don’t have lacquer and this isn’t technically broken but!” Reina pauses her rambling, chews her lip, and looks away from Max and to the window, “When I had my first hand brace, my Jiji—my grandmother, she painted it with this beautiful gold design. She told me it was my kintsugi. That I was broken, and that she was mending me. And… she’s always been my biggest support. Besides my mom, Jiji sacrificed so much for me, almost all her salary went to helping me get into F4 because my dad stopped helping me pay for racing until he started sponsoring me last year. And… Kintsugi is our thing. If she breaks anything she waits for me to fix it.”

There’s something hanging here, something so vulnerable, so Max asks with plenty of pause to show his trepidation, “Why did you give me the brush, then? Where’s Jiji?”

“In Washington.” Reina hums, “And… you… you’re a really big supporter to me. And you mean a lot to me, Max. I’ve only known you for half a year now but… you’ve helped me with a lot. And you sacrifice a lot for me. You flew all the way here to help me because my Mom asked. And don’t think Christian didn’t tell me about you trying to anonymously sponsor me.”

Max laughs softly, “Guilty as charged.”

“I want you to paint something on it. Anything. I have a—“ Reina starts to dig again, “a gold marker too. I do this all the time with things I break—like my phone cases or my hair ties. This is a whole bin of knockoff Kintsugi.”

She hands Max the marker and then rolls off to the side to curl back into her blankets, but rests her head on his thigh. Max sits and stares at the brace in his hand, rolling it around in his grasp as he thinks of what to write. There’s about a thousand things that ring through his head, and none he can settle on.

And then he gets an idea.

While Reina watches him focus, the golden light of the sun haloing him, she wonders briefly if she’s found her own form of Kintsugi in him. Sure they weren’t perfect, and both deeply troubled in their own right, traumas rooted deep within them, but they had each other and that was what they needed.

And Max knew he found Kintsugi in Reina.

Reina sits up when Max hands her the brace back, making an odd face when she sees its written in Dutch.

“laat u niet definiëren door uw naam. Do not be defined by your name.” Max says simply, and Reina looks up at him and tears prick in her eyes immediately. When Max helps her put it on, he adds a bit more gold flare to the boring black brace and smiles.

“Now you can wear it, yeah?” he says, and Reina leans up to wrap her arms taught around him. He laughs softly and hugs her back, letting her bury her face in the side of his neck.

If she sobs, he doesn’t comment, just lets her lay there until she’s run dry.

A week later, Max is unpacking in Monaco when he notices something new in his bag. He finds a small little keychain, a little blue ribbon tied to a clasp he knows he can snag on his keys. It’s in Japanese, but the note attached makes him smile a little watery smile.

‘Max,

Thank you. That’s all I can say. For everything you were supposed to help me with, and everything you chose to do on your own. I hope I can return the favor.

Reina.

ps. it says ‘do not be defined by your name.’ just like my brace,’

The keychain hangs off the zipper of his work jacket instead. And if anyone asks—and Yuki is the first to ask the meaning since he knows what it actually says, he simply smiles and says it’s a gift. No other explanation needed.

Except for when Geri asks, and he tells her the whole story, and then Christian ‘yells’ at him for making Geri cry.

reinamatsumoto made a new post!

liked by gerihorner, logansargeant, maxverstappen, and 458k others...

reinamatsumoto: [come back soon, big brother]!!

viewing translation from japanese

tagged: maxverstappen

misshanatanaka: [so sweet! glad having him by helped sweetheart!!]

user1: CAPTOIN HAS ME IN FUCKING TEARS

user2: MAX IS HER BROTHER !!!!!!

logansargeant: did our sushi date meaning NOTHING.

⤷ reinamatsumoto: GOD YOU WANT A POST FOR FUCKING SUSHI??

⤷ logansargeant: YES?

⤷ oscarpiastri: please rei he's pouting.

⤷ reinamatsumoto: fine. anything for my favorite white boys.

⤷ user6: my favorite prema survivors <3

user3: CRYING OVER HER CALLING MAX HER BROTHER. OH. IM SO NOT WELL.

user4: so are we gonna talk ab her punching a reporter? bc shes hot for that.

oscarpiastri: PERONI??? FOUL.

gerihorner: so so so cute!!!!!

⤷ reinamatsumoto: thanks mom!!!

⤷ maxverstappen: thanks mom

user5: logan crying in the comments is so real

yukitsunoda: [max is a big softie!]

⤷ reinamatsumoto: [I KNOW !!!]

taglist (thank you for your support!!)

@vellicora @justsomejess @struggling-with-delia

[whencyclopedia]

Heinkel He 111

The Heinkel He 111 was a medium two-engined bomber plane used by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) during the Second World War (1939-45). Heinkel He 111s contributed significantly to such campaigns as the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, and the London Blitz, but were increasingly replaced from 1941 by the more modern and faster Junkers Ju 88.

Early Designs

The He 111 was first imagined as a civil airliner for Lufthansa, but when the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, production turned more openly towards machines of war. The Treaty of Versailles after the First World War (1914-18) had strictly forbidden Germany from possessing a military air force, but the German leader Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) went ahead and formed several secret squadrons anyway. Another way around the restriction was to build civilian craft that could easily be converted into bombers; the He 111 fell into this latter category.

Designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter and based on their earlier He 70 model, the He 111 bomber was manufactured by Heinkel, an aviation company founded and run by Ernest Heinkel (1888-1958). Heinkel had extensive experience with military aircraft, having built planes for the German Navy and the Austro-Hungarian army in the First World War. After much debate between the German high command and Hitler, the Luftwaffe bomber command (Kampfwaffe) was obliged to adopt the position that bombers should primarily be used strategically to assist ground troops. This meant that unlike, say, the British Royal Air Force, the Luftwaffe concentrated not on heavy bombers but building squadrons of more versatile medium bombers. The He 111 was the result of this thinking, that is, an aircraft with multiple tactical uses, but one not capable of carrying very heavy bomb loads that could deliver a significant blow to ground targets. The He 111 was hampered, too, by its short range as the theatre of war expanded and Germany sought to bomb Britain.

The first He 111 prototype model was flown in February 1935 at the Heinkel works at Rostock-Marienehe (now Rostock). Design tweaks included shortening the wings and improving stability. At this stage, the aircraft were powered by BMW engines. By 1936, Lufthansa was flying a number of He 111s as airliners and transport planes. The aircraft achieved the title of 'the world's fastest passenger plane' when a top speed of 250 mph (402 km/h) was recorded.

Meanwhile, military versions were being built, which had a slightly longer nose and machine-gun armaments. The bomber version was not powerful enough for requirements, though, and the BMW engines were replaced with Daimler-Benz engines (later models replaced these again, this time with Junkers Jumos). By 1937, and thanks to a large ministerial order, Heinkel built a dedicated factory for He 111s at Oranienburg close to Berlin. Further developments followed such as increasing the fuel capacity and making the tanks self-sealing, increasing the armour protection, making a straighter wing so that factory production was more efficient, moving the forward gunner a little to the side to give the pilot better visibility, and giving more transparency to the cockpit area and nose section, a distinctive feature of the He 111.

Heinkel He 111s were first used in action by German forces participating in the Spanish Civil War (1936-9) in the Legion Condor units and then throughout the Second World War by the Luftwaffe. Other air forces which used He 111s included the Chinese, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovakian, Spanish, and Turkish.

Continue reading...

[beardedmrbean]

The father of a Jewish baby whose birth certificate was returned defaced from the Home Office has demanded that all civil servants are vetted again.

Israel, who did not wish to disclose his surname, said he feels “unsafe” in Britain and is considering leaving after his birthplace – the country Israel – was scribbled out on his six-month-old daughter’s document.

The 32-year-old’s family from Edgware, in north London, sent off the papers to the Home Office on Feb 6 to obtain a British passport for their baby daughter Ronnie but it was returned with his birthplace defaced in black pen on Monday morning. 

His 29-year-old wife Dorin was also born in Israel but her entry remained intact. 

James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, said he had asked officials to “investigate this urgently” and vowed to see that “appropriate action is taken”. It is unclear whether it was a mistake.

But Israel, a father-of-three who owns an engineering company, has demanded that ministers go further and review whether civil servants in their ranks are politically biased or not.

“This person immediately needs to be sacked and we need to make sure it has been registered somewhere, so people know this person cannot hold sensitive documents because they are taking their personal politics or even racism from home into work and gets paid from my taxes,” he told Sky News.

He added: “The Government needs to re-vet the people who work in the public sector because if anyone can get into these documents, what’s the point of a document being private?

“I don’t feel confident to send any more official papers to the Home Office or to anywhere else, because the Home Office is in charge of my security as a minority over here.”

He revealed that he was now considering leaving the country because he feared that the Home Office staff member who defaced the certificate could get their “riff raff” to come to his address.

Since the Israeli-Hamas war began on October 7 Israel said “to be Jewish in the UK is very hard nowadays and it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse and worse”.

‘I feel unsafe in London’

“I just think of my daughter in 20 years, what’s her future over here because London is not London any more and I literally feel unsafe,” he added

Israel compared the incident to the Nazis defacing of documents in the 1930s.

Under the Forgery Act of 1861 it is a criminal offence to deface a birth certificate. Israel said he would be reporting it to the police. The Met said it had not had any involvement in the case thus far.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is supporting the family, said it was “completely unacceptable” and released a picture of the birth certificate.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Home Secretary has asked officials to urgently investigate this matter and appropriate action will be taken.

“While the facts and circumstances are being established, it must be reiterated that this government will not tolerate antisemitism in any form.”

[wooawi]

idea:

During the final battle with Lila as Hawkmoth 2.0, LB and CN have their identities revealed to Paris (and the whole world bc let’s be real, someone was live streaming it). Marinette, tired of Ladybug surrounding her life in Paris and needing to get away, decides to pursue her tertiary education in America. She cuts her hair down to a bob, gets glasses, and gives herself a nickname to go by. Then she applies to school in New York.

Why? Well, at first, she wanted to do something with fashion and where else to go but NYU. She wasn’t actually expecting to get in and had other schools to fall back on, but lo and behold, she actually gets accepted. By the time she gets there and is moving into her dorm (she got a solo room), she’s feeling iffy on the whole fashion major thing. So. She switches to civil engineering.

Creativity ☑️

Helping/bettering society ☑️

Interesting topic ☑️

Can keep fashion as a beloved hobby ☑️

Now comes the part where she actually has to go to class. She gets stuck with a bunch of morning classes because she forgets the whole “first come first serve” thing and picks her classes late. Fine whatever, she had to wake up at 7am for the past 3 years for lycée anyway, it’ll be fine.

It is not fine.

Tired and struggling to keep her eyes open, she goes to the closest coffee shop to her school. Well, the entire campus seemed to have had the same idea, so now she’s stuck waiting in an endless line and getting sleepier and sleepier and now she’s falling–

She runs into someone on her way down and the person catches her. But also, they spill their drink. So, feeling bad, Marinette buys the person a new drink and they sit down together to chat while they wait. She introduces herself as “Mari with an I” and finds herself enjoying the company of this individual, Clarisse. Long blonde hair, light blue eyes, and wow she seems really familiar! But Marinette can’t quite put her finger on it.

Clarisse lives off campus in her own apartment. She used to live in London (Marinette lies and says she’s been in New York her whole life. Haha. Ha.) but moved here for familial reasons and now pursues a Bachelor’s in Business at NYU. Ofc the girl does mainly online classes so there goes the chances of seeing each other. Maybe Marinette could get her number aaaaand that was her name called at the counter. And now Clarisse is grabbing her drink and saying goodbye. And now she’s leaving. Dammit

Marinette doesn’t make it to her 8am.

[yesloulou]

a lil research notes (timeline re: michael & daniel's friendship/professional relationship)

they've known each since the age of 13 by training at the same gym

after daniel left home at the age of 17 (iirc), they didn't hangout as much except for that one month a year when daniel's back to Perth during winter break (they'd catch up by playing sports)

michael went on to study civil engineering in college, graduated, worked a 9-5 job, decided nope, quit and became a trainer for professional athletes

at the end of 2017, daniel messaged michael out of the blue, asking him if he'd like to become his trainer

michael had reservations whether he could get daniel to take him seriously as a coach. and regarding the general 'don't mix friendships w business' rule

basically michael had only 4 weeks to pack up his whole life and moved to london to become a red bull affiliated performance coach overnight lol

they had a trainer-trainee mode and a friend-friend mode that they go back and forth between based on what daniel needed

quoting michael: "i think the main aspect of our relationship is our friendship, most of the time these guys just need a friend by their side to keep them company"

on the other hand michael was also a very dedicated professional bc as a trainer he'd need to take care of basically every aspect in daniel's life as an athlete (physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, nutritions, etc)

the 1st meeting between michael and yuki (re: michael working with yuki for the 2023 season) hxappened after ad22, ie when daniel had officially decided to take the year off

(more random facts: 1. michael was also a trainer for scotty james 2. apparently daniel is very good at table tennis)

[eaglesnick]

“Leverage is the reason some people become rich and others do not become rich” - Robert T Kiyosaki

The privatised water companies have been demanding price rises of between 24% and 91% over the next five years according to the Consumer Council for Water. The mainly foreign owned "English" water companies want to invest £96bn in water and sewage restructuring between now and 2030. New reservoirs, the first for over 30 years, will be built, leaks will be reduced and less sewage will be pumped into our waterways and seas.

Amen to that! But wait…

“English water firms have handed £57 billion to shareholders in the 30 years after privatisation.” (The London Economic: 28/10/21)

We, the consumer, having generously contributed to foreign share dividends for three decades to the tune of £2 billion per year, are now expected to part with even more money to pay for 30 years of private water company neglect. Meanwhile, the CEO’s of these private companies gave themselves a 20% pay rise for the year 2021-22, pocketing £24.8 million.

None of these facts are particularly new but what really irked me yesterday morning was an interview on BBC’s “Today" programme with David Henderson, CEO of Water UK, the organisation that represents all of the privately owned water companies.

Stressing the country’s need for “economic growth", Henderson said this would not be possible unless the water companies were allowed to drastically raise the price of water to cover the cost of investment needed to upgrade our water infrastructure. Talking of the need to increase water supply he stated:

“We have not built a reservoir in 30 years, even though our population has risen by 20% in that time. And that’s because we have been blocked by regulators and by planning officials around the country.”

The cheek!

According to New Civil Engineer magazine (01/09/22)

“There is a seemingly direct link between the 1989 privatisation of water companies in the UK and the ceasing of new reservoirs being built. While there have been a number of flood alleviation reservoirs built by the Environment Agency in this time, the water companies have not invested in potable drinking reservoirs.”

While I have no doubt that some applications for new reservoirs have been refused by planning authorities the main reason for inadequate reservoir capacity is the reluctance of the privately owned water companies to spend money on investment. Despite what David Henderson said on the Today programme this is a headline from the Express:

“Water firms ‘sold off reservoirs that could have eased drought' - Profit ahead of supply" (10/08.22)

In defending the private water companies Henderson was merely doing his job - after all that is what he is paid to do - but unfortunately their behaviour is indefensible. The reason that our waterway infrastructure is near collapse is not because investment plans have been blocked by “regulators and planning officials" but because of greed.

When Margaret Thatcher privatised the previously publicly owned water companies she sold this national asset for a grand total of £7.6bn. In addition she gave the newly created privately owned water companies a “green dowry" of £1.5bn. At time of purchase the water companies were totally debt free.

Fast-forward and what do we find?

“Water firms’ debts since privatisation hit £54bn as Ofwat refuses to impose limits.” Guardian: 01/12.22)

The water companies have spent the last few decades borrowing money, not to improve the water supply and sewage disposal infrastructure, but to pay dividends to shareholders. According to Ofwat’s own figures the water companies have been running ratios of debt to capital value as high as 80%. Water company share holders (70% owned by foreign investors) have received £65.9bn in dividends and it is calculated that 20% of household water bills go towards paying for the debt that rewards these shareholders.

Rachel Reeves much heralded national wealth fund is supposed to be a central plank of the Labour governments “Green Prosperity Plan” but Labour’s earlier promise to nationalise the dysfunctional private water companies has now been abandoned.

David Henderson has issued what in effect is a blackmail ultimatum to the new Labour Government that without massive price rises in consumer water bills, the Labour Party can kiss their dreams of economic growth goodbye.

Today Ofwat, the water regulator, sanctioned an average increase in water bills of 21%, some companies charging as much as 44% more over a five year period. This is a third less than what the water companies demanded, but even a 21% rise over five years is an increase of 4% a year, twice the inflation rate target of the Bank of England.

An interesting case study will be that of Thames Water which has dire financial problems due to building up a debt of £14bn (while still paying out tens of millions in dividends to its shareholders). It remains to be seen if Thames Water will be allowed to go bust or whether the new Labour Government will step in and bail it out but maybe this headline gives us a clue:

“Labour abstain on bid to criminalize water companies for sewage pollution” (Canary: 17/05/24)

[tomblomfield]

Taking Risk

I just spent a week talking with some exceptional students from three of the UK's top universities; Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College. Along with UCL, these British universities represent 4 of the top 10 universities in the world. The US - a country with 5x more people and 8x higher GDP - has the same number of universities in the global top 10.

On these visits, I was struck by the world-class quality of technical talent, especially in AI and biosciences. But I was also struck by something else. After their studies, most of these smart young people wanted to go and work at companies like McKinsey, Goldman Sachs or Google.

I now live in San Francisco and invest in early-stage startups at Y Combinator, and it's striking how undergraduates at top US universities start companies at more than 5x the rate of their British-educated peers. Oxford is ranked 50th in the world, while Cambridge is 61st. Imperial just makes the list at #100. I have been thinking a lot about why this is. The UK certainly doesn't lack the talent or education, and I don't think it's any longer about access to capital.

People like to talk about the role of government incentives, but San Francisco politicians certainly haven't done much to help the startup ecosystem over the last few years, while the UK government has passed a raft of supportive measures.

Instead, I think it's something more deep-rooted - in the UK, the ideas of taking risk and of brazen, commercial ambition are seen as negatives. The American dream is the belief that anyone can be successful if they are smart enough and work hard enough. Whether or not it is the reality for most Americans, Silicon Valley thrives on this optimism.

The US has a positive-sum mindset that business growth will create more wealth and prosperity and that most people overall will benefit as a result. The approach to business in the UK and Europe feels zero-sum. Our instinct is to regulate and tax the technologies that are being pioneered in California, in the misguided belief that it will give us some kind of competitive advantage.

Young people who consider starting businesses are discouraged and the vast majority of our smart, technical graduates take "safe" jobs at prestigious employers. I am trying to figure out why that is.

___

Growing up, every successful adult in my life seemed to be a banker, a lawyer or perhaps a civil engineer, like my father. I didn't know a single person who programmed computers as a job. I taught myself to code entirely from books and the internet in the late 1990s. The pinnacle of my parents' ambition for me was to go to Oxford and study law.

And so I did. While at university, the high-status thing was to work for a prestigious law firm, an investment bank or a management consultancy, and then perhaps move to Private Equity after 3 or 4 years. But while other students were getting summer internships, I launched a startup with two friends. It was an online student marketplace - a bit like eBay - for students. We tried to raise money in the UK in 2006, but found it impossible. One of my cofounders, Kulveer, had a full-time job at Deutsche Bank in London which he left to focus on the startup. His friends were incredulous - they were worried he'd become homeless. My two cofounders eventually got sick of trying to raise money in the UK and moved out to San Francisco. I was too risk-averse to join them - I quit the startup to finish my law degree and then became a management consultant - it seemed like the thing that smart, ambitious students should do. The idea that I could launch a startup instead of getting a "real" job seemed totally implausible.

But in 2011, I turned down a job at McKinsey to start a company, a payments business called GoCardless, with two more friends from university. We managed to get an offer of investment (in the US) just days before my start date at McKinsey, which finally gave me the confidence to choose the startup over a prestigious job offer. My parents were very worried and a friend of my father, who was an investment banker at the time, took me to one side to warn me that this would be the worst decision I ever made. Thirteen years later, GoCardless is worth $2.3bn.

I had a similar experience in 2016, when I was starting Monzo, I had to go through regulatory interviews before I was allowed to work as the CEO of a bank. We hired lawyers and consultants to run mock interviews - and they told me plainly that I was wasting my time. It was inconceivable that the Bank of England would authorise me, a 31 year old who'd never even worked in a bank, to act as the CEO of the UK's newest bank. (It turned out they did.) So much of the UK felt like it was pushing against me as an aspiring entrepreneur. It was like an immune system fighting against a foreign body. The reception I got in the US was dramatically different - people were overwhelmingly encouraging, supportive and helpful. For the benefit of readers who aren't from the UK, I hope it's fair to say that Monzo is now quite successful as well.

___

I don't think I was any smarter or harder working than many of the recent law graduates around me at Oxford. But I probably had an unusual attitude to risk. When we started GoCardless, we were 25 years old, had good degrees, no kids and supportive families. When fundraising was going poorly, we discussed using my parents' garage as an office. McKinsey had told me to contact them if I ever wanted a job in future. I wonder if the offer still stands.

Of course, I benefitted from immense privilege. I had a supportive family whose garage I could have used as an office. I had a good, state-funded education. I lived in a safe, democratic country with free healthcare. And I had a job offer if things didn't work out. And so the downside of the risks we were taking just didn't seem that great.

But there's a pessimism in the UK that often makes people believe they're destined to fail before they start. That it's wrong to even think about being different. Our smartest, most technical young people aspire to work for big companies with prestigious brands, rather than take a risk and start something of their own.

And I still believe the downside risk is small, especially for privileged, smart young people with a great education, a supportive family, and before they accumulate responsibilities like childcare or a mortgage. If you spend a year or two running a startup and it fails, it's not a big deal - the job at Google or McKinsey is still there at the end of it anyway. The potential upside is that you create a product that millions of people use and earn enough money that you never have to work again if you don't want to.

This view is obviously elitist - I'm aware it's not attainable for everyone. But, as a country, we should absolutely want our smartest and hardest working people building very successful companies - these companies are the engines of economic growth. They will employ thousands of people and generate billions in tax revenues. The prosperity that they create will make the entire country wealthier. We need to make our pie bigger, not fight over the economic leftovers of the US. Imagine how different the UK would feel if Google, Microsoft and Facebook were all founded here.

___

When I was talking with many of these smart students this week, many asked me how these American founders get away with all their wild claims. They seem to have limitless ambition and make outlandish claims about their goals - how can they be so sure it will pan out like that? There's always so much uncertainty, especially in scientific research. Aren't they all just bullshitters? Founders in the UK often tell me "I just want to be more realistic," and they pitch their business describing the median expected outcome, which for most startups is failure.

The difference is simple - startup founders in the US imagine the range of possible scenarios and pitch the top one percent outcome. When we were starting Monzo, I said we wanted to build a bank for a billion people around the world. That's a bold ambition, and one it's perhaps unlikely Monzo will meet. Even if we miss that goal, we've still succeeded in building a profitable bank from scratch that has almost 10 million customers.

And it turns out that this approach matches exactly what venture capitalists are looking for. It is an industry based on outlier returns, especially at the earliest stages. Perhaps 70% of investments will fail completely, and another 29% might make a modest return - 1x to 3x the capital invested. But 1% of investments will be worth 1000x what was initially paid. Those 1% of successes easily pay for all the other failures.

On the contrary, many UK investors take an extremely risk-averse view to new business - I lost count of the times that a British investor would ask for me a 3 year cash-flow forecast, and expect the company to break even within that time. UK investors spend too much time trying to mitigate downside risk with all sorts of protective provisions. US venture capital investors are more likely to ask "if this is wildly successful, how big could it be?". The downside of early-stage investing is that you lose 1x your money - it's genuinely not worth worrying much about. The upside is that you make 1000x. This is where you should focus your attention.

___

A thriving tech ecosystem is a virtuous cycle - there's a flywheel effect that takes several revolutions to get up-to-speed. Early pioneers start companies, raise a little money and employ some people. The most successful of these might get acquired or even IPO. The founders get rich and become venture capital investors. The early employees start their own companies or become angel investors. Later employees learn how to scale up these businesses and use their expertise to become the executives of the next wave of successful growth-stage startups.

Skype was a great early example of this - Niklas Zenstrom, the co-founder, launched the VC Atomico. Early employees of Skype started Transferwise or became seed investors at funds like Passion Capital, which invested in both GoCardless and Monzo. Alumni of those two companies have created more than 30 startups between them. Matt Robinson, my cofounder at GoCardless, was one of the UK's most prolific angel investors, before recently becoming a Partner at Accel, one of the top VCs in the world. Relative to 15 or 20 years ago, the UK tech ecosystem is flourishing - our flywheel is starting to accelerate. Silicon Valley has just had a 50 year head start.

There is no longer a shortage of capital for great founders in the UK (although most of the capital still comes from overseas investors). I just believe that people with the highest potential aren't choosing to launch companies, and I want that to change.

___

I don’t think the world is prepared for the tidal wave of technological change that’s about to hit over the next handful of years. Primarily because of the advances in AI, companies are being started this year that are going to transform entire industries over the next decade.

It doesn't seem hyperbolic to say that we should expect to see very significant breakthroughs in quantum computers, nuclear fusion, self-driving vehicles, space exploration and drug discovery in the next 10 or 20 years. I think we are about to enter the biggest period of transformation humanity has ever seen.

Instead of taking safe, well-paying jobs at Goldman Sachs or McKinsey, our young people should take the lead as the world is being rebuilt around us.

[kikaitales28]

OC SHOWCASE #0

HYVANN: Gyganos soldier

Origins

=3044 A.D. the 30th Gaian Century=

Humanity was the in the middle of a great era, an era of understanding, growth, and independence thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of many across the years. From this prideful spirit came the desire to venture into the many unknowns that besieged our world and beyond, with one of the first steps being earthbound in origin, the formation of the Southern Cross government in the Antarctic continent of the South Pole; from which many scientific studies and expeditions across the icy caps and snow filled fields of the pole were carried out by insightful scholars in the field. Unfortunately...this desire would prove to be one of the first steps into a drastic shift for our race and our future...

In the Eve of Christmas, a group of scientists would uncover...a creature of great size, and with it a forgotten den...a temple, filled with never-to-be-seen markings and artifacts that belonged to an unknown civilization! Like locusts they took what they could to their homelands for further inspection outside the harsh Antarctic soil, unknowingly triggering the rise of a foreboding force of great power and vile design.

Much to the terror and dismay of the science division of the UK plus the company backing them up, "Nina", their so-called mistress of secrets..woke up from a prolonged slumber and wasted no time in bringing fire and ash to these foolish humans. Simultaneously via a special telepathic/Synaptic link...triggered a special command to the temple to rise back up in the South Pole! The Swarm known to this day as the ZARKRYGON had thus made contact with humankind and has turned the once "prosperous" city of London and most of the UK into a Hive fortress, and so was the South Pole with the rise of their Babel-ish Tower of Bioengineering.

In response, plus several alliances forged for the salvation of Earth, from which the past was brushed off, would see the kickstart of Project Talos; from which the Gyganos Soldier Battalions were formed and deployed across the globe as the ultimate force of defense and offense against the many odds stacked against them by the Zarkrygon Swarm!

The Gyganos Soldiers

[PS: Due to the highly secretive nature of their development, most if not all of the information regarding to their origin is highly secured and only accessable for high command, so unfortunately we won't be able to learn the creation, therefore birth of these Mecha Goliaths and therefore Hyvann's birth]

•Height: 100 [approximately]

•weight: 737 [approximately, without equipment]

•Occupant Accommodation: none

•Physique/build: outside of their bulky appearance seen in combat, one of the most interesting details about them is that behind their Masker Plates..hide an androgynous visage that we can't quite pin down why was this design applied in the first place [we can't deny however that it ain't pretty or awe inspiring to see].

•Equipment: [we only have data in regards to standard equipment, but suffice to say that it is known that they have more than what you see here]

•Speed: Despite their bulky and clunky appearance, the Gyganos Soldiers are fast troopers, often throwing off enemies by the fact that something that hulking shouldn't be moving "that fast" on the battlefield! [Speed: Approximately 50-70 km sprinting]

•Strength: still to be determined/ambiguous, but they definitely pack a strong punch! Stronger than any known artillery or machinery in Earth's history and of course surpassing humans by design.

Hyvann [Pronounced as Hi-van]

Hyvann comes from the 118th Battalion known as "Leviathan", as previously said their origin/birth is unknown/classified outside of the propaganda/news coverage which claims "the Gyganos Army are the culmination of Engineering and A.I., all in perfect synchrony to build the ultimate warrior against the ultimate foe." What we do know well about Hyvann is somewhat of a shared trait the Gyganos Army have with each trooper, that is a life-like personality but for Hyvann's spotlight in this file we know that they're a modest, grounded, and introspective individual, composed even in the most harshest of environments; however that doesn't mean they won't just idle and when the moment presents itself, they can dish-out a rather "snarky callback" on the scene, a juxtaposition between being humble and poised.

Unfortunately, that's where we'll end this file by wishing Hyvann and their Battalion the best of luck.

Godspeed, and may Gaia light your way...

Behind the Scenes

•The Gyganos Army/Hyvann, their aesthetic is heavily inspired/influenced by the incredible work of Mech/Art Designer Makoto Kobayashi of Dragon's Heaven & Armored Core fame, going with that blend between Biology and Machinery that in the end produce a dream-like yet functional fusion with his Mecha; all in part thanks to French Artist Moebius being an influence seen in his illustrations.

•Hyvann, if described with all honesty is essentially my take on Shaian from Dragon's Heaven, that mellow yet big presence, almost like having a "big mech papa" or "chunky bud" if that makes sense [unless you've seen the OVA].

•In-Universe Newspaper snippet: I added a shout-out to DeviantArt artist & good buddy of mine, Feyzer for being a great dude in helping me out whenever I advance on my Original Works; he came up with the nickname "Nina" for this <X)

Link to his page if you want to check him out

[PS: I will make a post exclusively focused on the Zarkrygon and "what we know about them so far"]

I'm open for honest feedback and your thoughts on the comments below ^u^ 👇

[scotianostra]

On December 14th 1896 Glasgow District Underground opened.

Originally built for the Glasgow District Subway Company, the railway first opened in 1896 as a cable-hauled system. Propulsion was provided by stationary steam engines and the railway was hailed as the first of its type in the world.

After five years of construction, and a final bill totalling £1.5 million pounds, Glasgow’s Subway system went live for the first time on this day in 1896, entering the history books as the world’s third municipal underground railway system after the Budapest Metro and London Underground. But it would be a troublesome baptism for the fledgling tube service.

The brainchild of civil engineer Alexander Simpson, it had been built to serve a rapidly-expanding industrial city with a population fast approaching 1 million people.

The first carriage of the new Glasgow District Subway, as it was originally named, departed Govan Cross at 5am. The first cars were cable-hauled and would remain so until electrification was introduced in 1935.

As dawn broke it seemed the whole city was out in force and directors and officials were soon congratulating themselves on the success of their new system. However, any fist-pumping or back-slapping was to prove premature.

At around 3pm a complete breakdown occurred on the outer circle, causing momentary chaos. Stranded passengers were forced to walk along the lines back to the nearest station.

A few hours later, as normal service resumed, one man suffered a horrific foot injury as the huge swell of people forced him between the carriage and platform.

As if that wasn’t bad enough for day one, worse followed at just before 11pm when a stationary carriage awaiting the signal to approach St Enoch Station from Bridge Street was hit by another car running at near full speed.

The two carriages were carrying roughly 50 passengers each at the time of the collision and 18 were reported as seriously injured.

One 14-year-old boy was rendered unconscious and taken to the Royal Infirmary, having suffered a severe cut to his left temple.

The accident made headlines up and down the UK, forcing the closure of the Subway until January the following year.

An enquiry into the collision concluded that defective electrical connections between the signals had been the cause, although private trials in the weeks leading up to the opening had failed to flag up any major issues.

The driver of the approaching car claimed that he had spotted the stationary carriage but had been unable to stop in time to prevent the collision.

Despite the accident, the vibe was mostly positive - one of the main complaints being that the number of cars available on day one had been “hopelessly inadequate”. Subway directors countered this by stating that the extreme “rush of traffic” had exceeded all expectations.

They weren’t wrong - over 9 million passengers travelled on the Glasgow Subway in its first full year of operation.

When the Subway opened, a fixed fare price of one penny allowed passengers to travel around the six and a half mile long subway as many times as they wished. Many passengers had taken full advantage of this on the inaugural day - including the 14-year-old boy who suffered the severe head injury at 11pm, who, it’s said, had been travelling round and round the system for 8 or 9 hours prior to the collision. The fixed rate was soon abolished in favour of a fare stage system to avoid future congestion.

Save a refurbishment in the late 1970s which saw the system nicknamed “the Clockwork Orange” on account of its circular route and bright new Metro-Cammell orange carriages, the Glasgow Subway remains largely unaltered. Expansion of the six and half mile long, fifteen station circuit has been discussed on numerous occasions but has never come to fruition.

Recently Subway bosses gave a sneak peek inside new driverless trains set to be on the tracks next year, get a glimpse of it on the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XsV_VVPfwY

[jordanianprincesses]

Meet Rajwa Al Saif

the Jordanian

Princess-to -be 🤍

"Teenager Rajwa at the age of 15"

She was chubby and lovely, love the Red Lipstick too !!💄

So who is Rajwa ??

Name: Rajwa Al Saif

Birth: 28 April 1994

Place of Birth:Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Parents: Azza Al Sudairi

Khaled Al Saif

Siblings: One sister

Two brothers

[Rajwa is the youngest]

1/Studies :

She completed her secondary education in Saudi Arabia.

Then she proceeded to complete her higher education at the 'Syracuse University School Of Architecture' which is quite similar to her father's study field : Civil engineering!

•Double Artist•

Well if you consider architecture as an art, then Rajwa is two times an "Artist".

In fact, she has also earned a degree from the "Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising".

"Rajwa at her graduation day from Syracuse University"

2/Super rich and eh, ... a very generous Daddy!!

Her father is a Saudi businessman Khaled Al Saif, CEO of the privately-owned Al Saif Group.

He founded Al Seif Engineering Contracting Company  along with a number of companies operating in other sectors.

But wait ... !

In 2016, ten architecture students from Syracuse University went on a 9 day study trip to Dubai that was totally funded by a Saudi-based firm ' El Seif Engineering Contracting Company'

Rajwa said: "What made this trip so memorable for me was seeing the students in the studio experience Arabic culture and architecture for the first time"

"Rajwa with her university friends in Dubai"

In the top right picture: she's the one wearing black shirt.

In the other two pictures: she's the one wearing blue djeans with stars.

3/Saudi Royal Links !!

Her mother Azza Al Sudairi is a first cousin twice removed of King Salman, the current king of Saudi Arabia.

"Rajwa with her cousin HRH prince Abdulaziz Al-Saud"

4/Energetic Rajwa... !!

"In the second pic Rajwa is drinking energetic drink RedBull"

Euh well, am not talking about drinking Coffee or RedBull ..

Rajwa is indeed very energetic ! 💥

She strikes me as a very lively, enthusiastic and cheerful person !

I think she's so fun to be around ..

Look at those smiles !

Here she is!!

On the left : At a car race in Texas.

On the top right : At a university event with friends.

On the bottom right: At a fashion art show in London 2015.

"Young rajwa with friends... and older Rajwa at work!!"

First pic on the top: Rajwa with highschool friends I think!

Second and Third: Working at Patterns in Los Angeles, USA.I think she's really passionate about her work !

" Guess she knows well how to have fun"

On the top left:I like her short hair and her genuine smile.

On the bottom left: I LIKE her stare!! I LIKE the black marks under her eyes 🔥

5/What the stars say about Rajwa and Hussein .......🌟

Hussein's Zodiac Sign : Cancer ♋

Rajwa's Zodiac Sign : Taurus ♉

Taurus and Cancer are so compatible that they feel like soulmates.

These two are affectionate and nurturing and share many of the same values and interests.

As a water sign, Cancer flows naturally into the earth sign Taurus, to make one of the "strongest matches" in the zodiac.

6/My opinion on Rajwa:

I don't give myself the right to talk about her since I don't know her in person but I think 'judging by the pictures I've seen of her' that:

She is an extrovert and a chill person.

She is very sociable and well liked by her friends.

She is friendly and enthusiastic.

She is a free spirit ✨ and open to try new things.

She is carefree

I like her style, her shiny sneakers at her graduation, her messy half up bun hairstyle at work , her accessories , her dark nail colors and specially the way she wears her caps "backwards" 😂

Say what you want about Rajwa, but one thing 's for sure she is not your usual Princess....xD

[barbucomedie]

Beaumont Adams Percussion Revolver from the British Empire dated around 1862 on display at the Cumbria Museum of Military Life in Carlisle, England

During the 1850's there was an intense competition between the gunsmiths of Robert Adams of London and Colt's Manufacturing Company in the US. The Adams style was popular with the British army officers in the Crimea War, and in supressing uprisings in the British colonies, for their self cocking action and stopping power over the less powerful Colt Navy Revolvers.

In 1856 Lieutenant Frederick Beaumont of the Royal Engineers was granted a patent to improve upon the Adams design and the Beaumont Adams revolver was the product of that work. It could be adapted to suit different bullets so it became popular with different armies as they could adapt it to their ammunition. The design was so popular that Colt had to shut down their factory in London due to a loss in sales. Before the start of the US Civil War the Union army purchased around 20,000.

Photographs taken by myself 2023

[fireangelsstuff-inactive-2024]

Hello all

Now this is speculative as I'm not entirely sure how this connects but it's also part of what I went through while being hacked

I had already downloaded "Tales of Wind" at this point which would not download properly, when it did my phone screen appeared to show me a restart screen

Have a look at one of the accounts that followed me on Twitter while my phone was being taken over

I tried to delete my twitter account during this process and Twitter asked me to add a biometric lock to my phone via my thumbprint and use that to confirm the deletion of my account which is weird due to the fact I do not even have any passcode on my phone due to previously having my old phone remotely locked that way previously

The link in bio leads you to a porncam video site, you'll note that this particular twitter account claims to be from Manchester

There was another account following me at the same time that claimed in their location to be from Connecticut that also had a link in the bio that also led to a completely different "Live" Porncam site

You may remember my PayPal screenshot

That top purchase was made to this Bongacams site

On this site the "talent" was referred to as Adult Service Providers in the terms and conditions that I found thanks to the talented help of an online support person in the help chat named "Paul"

One of the names of the profiles I recognised as Karolina whose username was KarolinaQueen

Some of you may remember the Karolina on twitter that doxxed Regina, I have no idea if these people just have a sick sense of humour or what any of it means

As I've said before, I fell down a rabbit hole I never intended to

I found the use of the acronym used in the terms & conditions a bit odd given it matches up with another known acronym A Starting Point, and the fact that 🐟 apparently has a past (I've only seen the website with the clips as directed to by someone on LSA who claimed they did not want UTA knowing how they worked)

The LSA user also had some odd claims to the man's tastes and was the person that directed me to the Lionscap site where you can find the graphic clips of 🐟 in some interesting scenes and had claims of Netflix's involvement in sending girls around for reasons other than acting, these claims are from someone else but I have provided the screenshots of what I was sent, take it with the grain of salt it deserves, but this is some of the types of stuff I've been told over the past year in my DMs on various platforms

I have no idea of what the truth of this is, it's as weird to me as the next person to hear, I don't have any connections to any of the industries concerned at all, I'm literally a random that was on a gossip forum that spent their spare time picking apart just how bad the PR strategy/trolling from 🐟 was while I was being messed with by other people

Bonus fact: the user Brighamsbabe sent me a tote bag from England and has my address also claimed to work at The Gray Man Premiere in London, I'm not the only one who received one of these tote bags

I told this user the address was a friend's and that I actually owned the house they were renting, I do not, I said this as a safety precaution because strangers on the internet

I later had people show up at my house trying to locate my landlord by a civil engineering company linked to a law firm whose Instagram page had followed me and was watching my stories, a law firm which ironically seems to register and deregister every month, whose IG page only began in January and had the same initials as my LSA username

Make of that what you will, personally it scares me

People seem to think that the Chris Evans fandom has gone insane, the truth is we've been having this sort of information and worse being tossed around in gossip sites, discord chats, and anons

It feels like an organised smear campaign to me???

I have no idea what this man gets up to in his life, but apparently since people are watching me right now I'm going to let a few things out about what has been floating around and what the fandom and some like myself have been faced with

CandyLove and her scam are nothing compared to the last year or so

It's been literal psychological warfare trolling on a mass scale on multiple platforms

This is part of what I meant when I said it's far bigger than just CandyLove and her Gofundme

More tomorrow 🙏

💜🪽🌟

[sufficientlylargen]

Turkish tea, chamomile, matcha

(From Tea Asks)

turkish tea: where have you travelled?

I've taken "normal" vacations to a few places - London, Paris, a small town I don't remember the name of but somewhere between Toulouse and Carcassonne, once to Nassau - but the majority of traveling I've done has either been for my own academic reasons (e.g. a conference in Hong Kong, going to Arecibo with an astronomy professor for whom I was writing software, a glee club tour of Brazil, a band trip to Costa Rica) or because my spouse was going to a conference and so I came along just to see a cool city (Honolulu, Cardiff, Krakow, Lausanne).

Also one year my spouse had conferences in Venice and Cardiff within a month of each other, and we convinced the entire engineering team of the tiny company I worked for to do a half-work, half-vacation retreat where we got airbnbs in Venice, then Munich, then Vienna over a three-week period, so that was a lot of fun (I loved Munich's entire-island-spanning science museum, and really should go back there again someday since the time we had wasn't enough to see all of it).

chamomile: comfort movie?

Hmmm. I don't know that I really have one? I mostly watch things if other people are watching them with me, and play video games if I'm just entertaining myself. But if I had to pick one, it would probably be one of A) The Road to El Dorado, B) Bringing Up Baby, or C) Star Wars: A New Hope.

matcha: favourite book?

I am very bad at picking favorites of anything, so here are a few:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy will always hold a special place in my heart, it being a book that I memorized much of as a child. I suspect it was very influential in shaping my sense of humor.

This Is How You Lose The Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, is probably the best book I've read in recent memory. I would describe it as a queer enemies-to-lovers story against the backdrop of a massive war fought across all of time and space between two incredibly technologically advanced civilizations. It's partly epistolary, and the writing is absolutely beautiful. And of course there's lots of time travel.

The entirety of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.

The Murderbot Chronicles, by Martha Wells. One of my favorite protagonists.

I wrote the post up to this point and now any time I try to add more and save or queue the post it reverts to this state, sitting in my drafts, which is weird. I'm gonna try just posting it outright and see what happens

[demongemz]

welcome to london, JILL TUCK! did anyone ever tell you that you look just like MORENA BACCARIN? well, no matter, we hear that you are 46 and working as a/an DOCTOR. we also hear that you currently DON’T HAVE your memories from SAW and have a tendency to be KIND as well as RECKLESS.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Name: Jill Tuck Relatives: John Kramer (ex-husband), Occupation: Doctor at St. George’s Hospital Birthday: July 8th Age: 46 Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Moral Alignment: Neutral Good Memory Status: Intact

BACKGROUND

Trigger Warning: Child Death, mentions of drug addicts Jill Tuck was the devoted wife of John Kramer, a successful civil engineer and founder of the Urban Renewal Group, a foundation dedicated to property development for needy people under the motto "Four walls build a home". Jill's other known family included her nephew, a kind young man. In the past, Jill's family owned a Pig Farm, but it was closed down after an outbreak of Aujeszky's disease. With John's support, Jill opened the Homeward Bound Clinic, a recovery clinic for drug addicts under the motto, "Cherish your life". She was also supported by William Easton, manager of the Umbrella Health insurance company, who sponsored a party for the clinic.

Jill and John were expecting a child, which John had already meticulously planned to be born during the year of the pig in the Chinese zodiac. It was also he who gave their son his name, Gideon, the same name as John's first building. At some point, John obtained a new workshop that he proudly showed to Jill. Thereby, he showed her an old clock he had told her about and which was part of a deal he had made. This clock greatly fascinated him as the clockwork was almost 300 years old and still worked. As a surprise for her, he also presented Jill with his self-made presents for Gideon, a cot and a wooden puppet, showing that he was just as devoted to his son as he was to his wife. However, he soon became worried about Jill's safety at her clinic when he interrupted a brawl between two patients, Cecil Adams, and Gus Colyard. After having been separated from each other, Cecil pulled a knife from his pocket. John however told him to reconsider what he was about to do. When Cecil angrily asked him what his problem was, John responded that he was his problem and soon he'd be the problem of everyone else. Eventually, Cecil put the knife away. However, not much later John's worries about Jill's safety turned out to be justified nonetheless.

One night, when Jill was about to leave the clinic, Cecil knocked at the security door at the entrance, claiming that he had forgotten his jacket in the waiting room. After initially hesitating, Jill eventually went back and got him his jacket. However, upon doing so, Cecil pushed her back and threatened her with a knife, thereby forcing her to open the door to the clinic. After obeying his order, Cecil told her to stand back. However, Jill carefully approached the door. Just at this moment, Cecil came back with a bag of stolen medications and thereby accidentally slammed a doorknob into Jill's stomach, who was in her seventh month of pregnancy at this time. As she saw the blood on her skirt, she slumped down and started to cry. Cecil tried to calm her down and asked her what happened. However, when he realized what he had done, he quickly fled. Upon leaving the clinic, he was spotted by John, who sat in his car and had been waiting for Jill. Alerted by this, John ran into the clinic and found his wife. He brought her to the Angel of Mercy Hospital where he met Deborah, one of the nurses, who immediately took care of his wife. However, despite all efforts, the doctors weren't able to save the child. While John sat on her bed and held her hand, Jill claimed that she only wanted to help the people in her clinic. John merely responded that she couldn't help them as they could only help themselves.

Following Gideon's death, John suffered from severe depression, causing him to withdraw from both his wife and the Urban Renewal Group. Therefore, his partner and lawyer, Art Blank, asked Jill about his whereabouts. As Jill didn't know where he was, they became worried and she helped Art to search for him. Eventually, they went to John's workshop. Initially thinking he wasn't there, she ultimately spotted him sitting on a chair in a corner and asked him not to get mad at her for bringing Art to the workshop. Art then asked him how he felt and condoled over Gideon's death. However, he also tried to convince John to continue his work for the Urban Renewal Group as 40 needy families were waiting to soon move into the houses John and Art had been working on. John, however, who was annoyed and angered by his visit, told Art to leave immediately. After initially refusing, Art eventually left and told John to call him once he felt better. Moments later, Jill left as well, reminding John that she was suffering from the loss of Gideon just like he did. Ultimately, his emotional detachment caused John to separate from her, telling her not to come back again. After their divorce, Jill reverted to her maiden name "Tuck".

[studyabroadconsultancy-2]

Which Course to Choose? Top 10 Study Abroad Programs for 2024

Studying abroad presents an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in new cultures, gain access to world-class education, and significantly boost your career prospects. Choosing the right course is a critical part of your journey, as it not only shapes your academic experience but also influences your future career. Here are the top 10 courses you should consider for studying abroad, each offering excellent career opportunities and personal growth.

1. Computer Science and IT

Why Study It? With technology rapidly advancing, Computer Science and IT offer a wealth of opportunities in fields like software development, data science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. This course equips you with the skills needed for some of the most sought-after jobs worldwide.

Best Countries to Study: USA, Canada, UK These countries are home to top tech companies and research institutions, making them ideal for gaining hands-on experience and building a global network in the tech industry.

2. Business Administration (MBA)

Why Study It? An MBA is one of the most valuable degrees in the business world. It helps develop leadership, management, and entrepreneurial skills that are highly prized by employers globally. It also opens doors to a wide range of sectors including finance, marketing, consulting, and management.

Best Countries to Study: USA, UK, Canada The USA and UK offer some of the world’s best business schools, such as Harvard, Oxford, and London Business School, with access to a global alumni network and top companies.

3. Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical)

Why Study It? Engineering is one of the most diverse and high-demand fields, offering numerous career paths. Whether you specialize in Mechanical, Civil, or Electrical Engineering, you’ll gain problem-solving skills that can be applied across industries, from construction to aerospace.

Best Countries to Study: Germany, USA, Canada Germany is known for its strong engineering programs and industry ties, while the USA and Canada offer world-class universities and research facilities.

4. Medicine and Healthcare

Why Study It? Medicine is a rewarding field that offers lifelong job security and the chance to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Studying Medicine abroad allows you to train at top medical institutions and gain exposure to diverse healthcare systems.

Best Countries to Study: USA, UK, Australia The USA, UK, and Australia offer prestigious medical schools that provide comprehensive training and access to excellent hospitals and healthcare networks.

5. Finance and Accounting

Why Study It? A degree in Finance or Accounting can lead to a career in banking, investment, financial analysis, and corporate finance. As the world becomes more financially interconnected, professionals in this field are in high demand globally.

Best Countries to Study: USA, UK, Singapore The USA and UK are financial hubs with a wealth of job opportunities in the finance sector, while Singapore is emerging as a key player in global finance.

6. Law

Why Study It? Law is a versatile field with numerous specializations such as corporate law, criminal law, international law, and human rights. Studying law abroad exposes you to different legal systems and global practices, which can be invaluable for international legal careers.

Best Countries to Study: USA, UK, Australia The USA, UK, and Australia are home to some of the most prestigious law schools and offer diverse legal programs with opportunities for internships and practical experience.

7. Hospitality and Tourism

Why Study It? If you love travel, customer service, and management, Hospitality and Tourism is a fantastic field to pursue. This course prepares you for roles in hotels, resorts, event management, and travel agencies.

Best Countries to Study: Switzerland, USA, Australia Switzerland, known for its luxurious hospitality industry, and countries like the USA and Australia, with thriving tourism sectors, are ideal for students interested in this field.

8. Environmental Science

Why Study It? As environmental issues like climate change, sustainability, and conservation become more urgent, Environmental Science is gaining popularity. Students in this field contribute to innovative solutions that promote sustainability and environmental protection.

Best Countries to Study: Canada, UK, Netherlands Countries like Canada and the UK are leaders in environmental research, and the Netherlands is at the forefront of sustainable development and green technology.

9. Psychology

Why Study It? Psychology is a rapidly growing field that focuses on understanding human behavior and mental health. Graduates can pursue careers in counseling, therapy, human resources, or research, with a growing demand for qualified professionals in many sectors.

Best Countries to Study: USA, Canada, UK The USA, Canada, and UK offer comprehensive psychology programs with opportunities for internships, research, and clinical experience in leading mental health institutions.

10. Design and Arts

Why Study It? If you have a passion for creativity, pursuing a degree in Design or Arts can open the door to exciting careers in fashion, graphic design, fine arts, and media. This field allows you to express yourself while building a professional career.

Best Countries to Study: Italy, USA, France Italy, famous for its design and art heritage, along with the USA and France, offer world-renowned programs in these creative fields, providing opportunities to work with top designers and artists. Choosing the right course to study abroad is an important step toward building your future career. These 10 courses not only offer excellent job prospects but also give you the chance to experience new cultures, expand your global network, and study in some of the world’s most prestigious educational systems.