#diamond rings in cardiff

[diamond-engagement-rings-uk]

Discover Cardiff’s Best Jewellers for Engagement Rings, Diamond Jewellery & More

Cardiff is a hub for exquisite jewellery, offering a range of options from classic diamond engagement rings to unique antique pieces. Whether you’re searching for a perfect wedding ring or bespoke jewelled items, Cardiff’s jewellers provide top-quality craftsmanship and one-of-a-kind designs.

Why Choose a Cardiff Jeweller?

Cardiff jewellers are renowned for their expertise in diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals. With options ranging from modern designs to timeless antiques, jewellery shops in Cardiff cater to every style. Whether you’re seeking a diamond engagement ring or a jewelled belt buckle, the jewellers in Cardiff offer exceptional quality and personalized service.

Diamond Engagement Rings in Cardiff

For those planning a proposal, Cardiff is home to top-tier jewellers specializing in diamond engagement rings. Cardiff jewellers provide everything from classic diamond settings to lab-grown diamond options. These shops offer expert guidance to help you find an engagement ring that perfectly captures your love story.

Wedding Ring Shops in Cardiff for Every Style

Wedding rings symbolize a lifelong bond, and Cardiff jewellers offer a diverse selection to suit every couple. Whether you’re looking for traditional wedding bands or modern, diamond-encrusted styles, Cardiff’s wedding ring shops provide a variety of choices. Explore wedding ring stores in Cardiff for high-quality, expertly crafted rings that match your unique style.

Antique and Vintage Jewellery in Cardiff

Cardiff has a vibrant antique jewellery scene, with jewellers offering a curated selection of vintage engagement rings, antique belt buckles, and decorative jewellery pieces. For those who value history and craftsmanship, antique shops in Cardiff are a treasure trove, providing timeless pieces that stand out for their charm and character.

Top Jewellers in Cardiff for All Your Jewellery Needs

1. Diamond Heaven UK: Exceptional Diamond Engagement Rings

Diamond Heaven UK offers a stunning range of diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, making it one of the top jewellers in Cardiff. Known for their high-quality diamonds, they offer expert advice to help you find the perfect piece.

2. Cardiff Gem & Antique: Unique Antique Jewellery & Gemstones

Specializing in antique jewellery, Cardiff Gem & Antique provides vintage engagement rings, gemstone appraisals, and other rare pieces. Their selection is ideal for collectors or anyone looking for unique jewellery.

3. Cardiff Bay Jewellers: Custom Wooden & Silver Rings

Located near Cardiff Bay, this jeweller specializes in wooden and silver rings, offering one-of-a-kind designs. Cardiff Bay Jewellers is perfect for those wanting a distinctive style.

4. Diamond Shop Cardiff: Lab-Grown Diamonds & More

Diamond Shop Cardiff is known for its focus on ethical lab-grown diamonds, offering modern engagement rings and other jewellery options. Their knowledgeable staff can help you find the perfect ring that aligns with your values.

5. Cardiff Jewellery House: Earrings, Eternity Bands & Decorative Pieces

Cardiff Jewellery House has a broad selection, from diamond-studded earrings to eternity bands and jewelled belt buckles. This shop provides a variety of stylish options for anyone looking to add a bit of sparkle to their life.

Explore Silver Jewellers in Cardiff for Unique Designs

For those interested in silver jewellery, Cardiff offers jewellers who specialize in creating stunning pieces using this timeless metal. From classic earrings to intricate silver rings, these jewellers provide a variety of options that add elegance to any look.

Custom Jewellery and Appraisals in Cardiff

If you’re looking for custom jewellery or need gemstone appraisals, Cardiff jewellers offer personalized services to meet your needs. Whether designing a custom engagement ring or appraising a family heirloom, Cardiff’s jewellery experts deliver quality and precision, ensuring that your precious pieces are in trusted hands.

[basseyblog]

 Dame Shirley Bassey auctions off jewels for charity

One big spender could get their hands on Dame Shirley Bassey’s diamonds forever with the singer set to auction some of her jewellery. The extensive jewellery collection up for grabs, estimated to be worth up to £2 million, includes a diamond ring gifted to her from Sir Elton John. Dame Shirley, who grew up in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay, famously sang about diamonds in the title track the 1971 James Bond…

[gaia-cove]

Name: Sienna Adams Gender pronouns: she/her Age: 32 Occupation: Wedding dress designer Hometown: Cardiff, Wales Amount of time on the island: 3 months Face Claim: Jenna Coleman

Bio: (Triggers: death, pregnancy, divorce )

Sienna Adams had it all, until the day she lost everything, but to make sense of everything that happened we should probably start from the beginning. Born in Cardiff, Wales, she never really got to know her hometown before her family moved to London instead when the girl was only two years old. So actually she considers herself to be a London girl at heart, never growing up with the accent that Cardiff would have given her she instead sounded entirely southern. The middle child she has an older sister as well as a younger brother - piggy in the middle - except she never felt like she had any kind of middle child syndrome. If anything the Adams’ children were lucky to gel pretty well all together despite their differences as well as the age gap between them. Sienna was never exceptional at school but she did what she had to do to get by, always popular thanks to being tall, slim, pretty, and charismatic she was lucky enough to sail through with a solid group of friends by her side. At sixteen she changed schools to attend the College of Fine Art because without a shadow of a doubt art was her favourite subject, not to mention the one she was best at. It was on the understanding that once she’d done her two years of focused art tuition she would go to university to study something more ‘sensible’ and making the deal with her parents the whole family were delighted when at seventeen Sienna was accepted into the University of East Anglia to study Journalism. Everything seemed to be going so smoothly, with the odd hiccup here and there in the shape of messy breakups with high school boyfriends and the tattoo she got on her sixteenth birthday without telling her parents, and to most outsiders the Adams family were a solid unit who wouldn’t be shaken by anything because no matter what they would be united in it. 

Sienna had been away at university hundreds of miles away from London when she got the news of her parents car crash, everything seeming to dissolve in a matter of seconds. Racing back to the capital so she could be with her siblings the three of them processed their grief in their own ways but Sienna was steadfastly there for them both regardless. Even when Rhiannon became distant as a way of dealing with what had happened the younger sister still stood by her so that anytime she asked for a helping had she was there to give it to her without question. Losing her parents left a hole in Sienna she wasn’t sure how to fill for a while, choosing to throw herself into her journalism degree with a passion since for her to do it was what she saw as their last wish. It was the best way to honour the people who she loved more than anything. Despite being born of pain the outcome actually stood her in stead because straight out of her three years of university she was hired by a top London magazine from the Conde Nast group. Sure, it wasn’t The New Yorker which was the publication she dreamed of writing for, but her position as a junior assistant at Vanity Fair was nothing to sniff at. It was actually this turn of events that showed the woman she could combine her love of art and journalism at the same time, happily climbing the ranks at the magazine while learning as much as she could about fashion. Specifically drawn to wedding dress styles and fashions, as they changed and evolved. 

She started to toy with designing her own wedding dresses from the age of twenty seven, sketching them up before making a couple of the designs up herself, even if it was a painstakingly slow process that resulted in a lot of broken sewing machine needles and frustrations. When her older sister asked her to design her wedding dress however was when a big step was taken by Sienna and she fully embraced a change in career. She went from working at Vanity Fair to a couple of years later having one of her designs featured in the publication, the tides had truly turned and she’d found what she was meant to be doing with her life. Another big change in her life was when she met the man who was destined to be her husband in a bar on a work night out, not expecting anything from their little flirtation, he went on to surprise her and the two became close. Fast. Before Sienna Adams knew what was happening she was wearing a large diamond ring on her left hand and was designing her own wedding dress to wear. There might have been a huge gap where her parents should have been that day but otherwise it was the happiest day of her life because she was getting to pledge the rest of her life to the man she loved. The next step? For them to have a family. A year and a half ago along with a nasty bout of morning sickness the couple found out they were expecting their first baby together, a little boy they decided to call Freddie. If anything the pregnancy was too smooth and Sienna should have suspected something bad was coming her way but she didn’t, instead she was smug in her #blessed situation. It was nauseating to many of her friends who were going through rough pregnancy experiences of their own. 

Then for the second time in her life the woman was smacked in the face by unforeseen tragedy, and this time it changed the course of her life forever. On August 13th 2020, Freddie Carson was born at The Portland Hospital in London after a thirty two hour labor that had truly tested his mother’s ability to cope, but that didn’t matter because he was her beautiful baby boy and he was finally here. Then everything started to happen impossibly fast but in slow motion at the same time. Her little boy managed to cling onto life for only seven minutes before he passed away in his mother’s arms and it was the day Sienna Adam’s finally broke. The following weeks she barely spoke, literally propped up by her family to get through the funeral, her husband and herself rapidly drifted apart. Within six months he was filing for divorce from his wife thanks to a relationship that had entirely broken apart. Gone from something so loving to a cacophony of bickering and fighting the man couldn’t see any way back. His wife was no longer the woman he’d married and the heartbreak they had endured was apparently just too much for their relationship to withstand. Sienna felt like she had nothing left and it brought on a creative block when it came to her designing, too painful to be creating dresses for the happiest day in a woman’s life when she felt like all the joy had been sucked out of her own.

It was on a trip to visit her sister and extended family in Gaia Cove that it was suggested by Rhiannon she separate herself from the things she had lost in London and instead put down roots in the Californian town surrounded by her family. With nothing to go home to the woman agreed, which was how she found herself living in Glen Ellen and working at the Castillo’s wine bar as the manager until she found the inspiration within herself to go back to designing. She was trying, her entire apartment was covered in half finished sketches, but nothing seemed to be flowing properly. Nothing seemed to be coming together. Despite being a shadow of her former self to anyone who knew Sienna before she was hit with a plethora of heartache the woman is still a bubbly, sweet person who is desperately trying to move past the events of her past. Every so often she will be pulled back by bouts of depression, even if she is on medication that is meant to help, occasionally the pain is just too much for her to cope with. Resorting back to some unhealthy coping mechanisms she will look for comfort in food, alcohol, or even drugs. Although nothing harder than weed if truth be told, which she occasionally enjoys with her big sister at some of their more ‘grown up’ sleepovers. All Sienna wants is to find a way to be defined by who she is and not what she’s been through, but when grief is eating away at you at every turn it’s sometimes hard to find a way. 

Sienna is played by Indi

[nervousnotion]

2010s 5 Songs Per Year Challenge

The 2010s are coming to a close so I’d thought I’d challenge you all with a near-impossible task. I keep all my music in playlists organized by month and year and even with that this was extremely difficult so godspeed to all of you.

RULES:

Make a list of your 5 favorite songs per year from 2010-2019

No artist repeats within each year

Song year can be the year the single dropped OR the year the album with the song on it came out (just to give you all a small amount of leeway)

Go with your gut otherwise you’re literally gona lose your mind

2010

This Love Will Be Your Downfall - Ellie Goulding Rolling In The Deep - Adele Pyro - Kings of Leon The Loneliness and the Scream - Frightened Rabbit Oh No! - Marina and the Diamonds

2011

The Fox - Niki And The Dove Armistice - Patrick Wolf No Rest - Dry The River Land or Sea - Sleeping at Last Landscape - Florence and the Machine

2012

Bloodflood - Alt-J High For This - The Weeknd Teen Idle - Marina and the Diamonds Insane - Flume Cardiff Giant - mewithoutYou

2013

Retrograde - James Blake Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus First Fires - Bonobo Buzzcut Season - Lorde Take Me To Church - Hozier

2014

Out of the Woods - Taylor Swift Arcadia - The Kite String Tangle Pray To God - Calvin Harris ft Haim Under Stars - Aurora   I Wanna Get Better - Bleachers  

2015

Begin Again - Purity Ring Into You - Ariana Grande King - Years & Years Bitch - Allie X   Third Eye - Florence and the Machine

2016

Glory - Bastille   Porcelain - Skott   Leave a Trace - Chvrches   Runaway - Aurora Formation - Beyonce

2017

Starboy - The Weekend ft. Daft Punk Praying - Kesha Perfect Places - Lorde   Non-Believer - London Grammar Line of Sight - Odesza

2018

Little Things - Allie X Churchyard - Aurora   Nina Cried Power - Hozier   No Tears Left to Cry - Ariana Grande   Youngblood - 5 Seconds of Summer

2019

Astronaut - Mansionair Apple Tree - Aurora End of the Earth - Marina Fresh Laundry - Allie X   Oblivion - Labrinth  

tagging @mabelmcbae @lordendsavior @mitskeen @softbrobarnes​ @jarchivistsims @pulsingvoid @twelvegrimmyplace @isakeijser​

[asteriananthologies-arc]

KATE & MARISA.

@viciousgold liked this post for a starter from the woman herself, katherine conway! 

The invitation had been addressed to Ms. Faith Lewis, a concert violinist from Cardiff, but Kate had not troubled herself too much with a disguise: instead, she wore a plain black dress ( simple, but beautifully made, and perfectly tailored ); medium heels; and a silver wrap around her shoulders that brought out the flecks of light in her eyes. Elegant—effortless—but nothing too memorable; if tonight went according to plan, she did not want people to remember what she had looked like.  

Leaving her coat in the cloakroom, and accepting a glass of champagne from the waiter on the door, she drifted through the crowded reception rooms, letting her fingers brush over all the beautiful items on display: gold Cartier watches and big diamond rings, bracelets and bangles jangling on slim wrists; silver tie pins and cufflinks, someone was even carrying a pair of pearl-enamelled opera glasses. So much to choose from, so much she could take. But not yet. Kate busied her free hand with fixing her hair, which ( parted differently than usual ) kept falling into her eyes, and forced herself to take several deep breaths. To look around again. She had all evening, and—besides—there was one thing in this gallery that was far more valuable than any of those *trinkets*, pretty though they all were: information.

She was here to rub shoulders with the social elite (scientists, politicians, actresses, activists), to pick up the titbits from snatches of their sparkling conversations. Nowhere else was she likely to find such a tantalising mix of gossip and fact, certainty and scandal.  

Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a flash of gold. She turned to see a golden tamarind trotting along at the heels of a gorgeous, dark-haired woman, who appeared to be deep in conversation with their host. When he saw her standing there, he stopped. Greeted her with an effusive kiss on either cheek. “Faith, so lovely to see you!” he said. “So pleased you could make it!” Then, to his companion: “Marisa, this is the lady I just was telling you about: Faith Lewis, the musician. Faith is a very good friend of mine, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to persuade her to play for us later tonight.”  

Kate laughed. “You should be so lucky, Theodore. And you shouldn’t listen to a thing Theo tells you-” She shot Marisa a small, conspiratorial smile. “-He’s a menace, but it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. …?”  

“Coulter. Marisa Coulter,” Theo supplied. “She’s a research scientist, specialises in the Antarctic, I believe.”  

“Mrs. Coulter.” Kate’s smile grew wider. “A real pleasure. What is it that you are researching in particular?”

[marvelouspotterhead]

Lock To A Heart

Alec Huttner travels the world to remove love locks from the world’s surface. During his travels, he meets Sophie, who takes pictures to post on her famous social media accounts. Intrigued by Alec’s strange antics, she decides to help him with his quest. Removing padlocks has unsuspected consequences, which both of them couldn’t even have foreseen.

Warning: Heart Break | Romantic Novel | Word Count: 2,068

Prologue

At this point, Alec hadn’t known it yet; known that everything would go down the drain. He was happy to be in this city with Maddie. The last city of their travel through Europe - the city of love Paris. Where else would he take his girlfriend to prove his undying love and ask for her hand in marriage? In his pocket, he could feel the soft outline of the black velvet box. Once again his hand brushed over the bump in the pocket of his jeans. It wasn’t the best ring he could’ve chosen for her. Their travel through Europe had swallowed most of his savings. So, he had chosen an equally as beautiful but not as an expensive piece of handwear. It would do its job, and eventually, he would be able to get her everything her heart desired.

France’s capital was different than Alec had imagined. It wasn’t as beautiful as Hollywood movies or pictures painted it to be. It had left a particular impression on him: being able to see the Eiffel Tower from everywhere, a very fashionable and clean city and of course those beautiful Parisian women. Both Alec and Madison walked along the river Seine. He hummed as he looked at his beautiful girlfriend who walked excitedly in front of him. Her shoulder length black hair flowed slightly in the soft afternoon breeze. “Alec, there they are,” she called out and hurried even farther away from him. She pulled him out of his thoughts with the immediate call. Alec smiled though and sped up his pace.

Finally, they would be able to place their last public proof of love during their vacation: A small padlock with their names engraved. So far they had been in Venice, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. Everywhere they had gone, they left locks at other bridges amongst others. A symbol of their undying love and it reminded him so much of the movies he loved to watch. It was just one of his pet peeves. Everything romantic was up his sleeve and he lived on it.

Madison pulled the padlock out of her purse and grinned at Alec. “Let’s do this and take a picture,” she told him and almost sounded bossy like he didn’t want to do this just as badly. Instead of mentioning something, he ignored her tone of voice and looked over all the padlocks that symbolized the same as theirs. Compared to most padlocks, theirs was relatively simple. Most bolts had a crazy color with some sort of design some sketchy seller tried to give to tourists. Both Alec and Maddie had been prepared in advance and chose a more simple look to it. It was silver and had their initials ‘A&M’ engraved. Prior to their travel both had discussed how they wanted to draw attention to their love whether it should be glamorous and pompous or just flashy in color. But in the end, they decided to go for the classic chic.

“You ready?” she asked him with a smile and took the padlock, locked it into place. Without asking where to place it, she merely locked it in place.

“Wait-” he murmurs pulling out his phone. A small sigh left his lips, as she went to attach it without him.  

“Can we at least take this selfie together?” he asked Madison hopeful and smiled friendly at her. Rolling her eyes, she fixed herself. By now, she was already over the initial idea of taking a picture and just wanted to leave. Compared to her, Alec was just so slow. “Okay, but only because the lighting is still good,” Maddie agreed and reapplied some red lipstick before she smiled for the camera.

Alec moved his arm around her and held her proudly against his side. Maddie held up the key and presented it to the camera as she posed. Just as he pressed the small button at the bottom of his phone’s screen to take the picture, Madison threw the key over her shoulder into the river. Swallowing down another comment, he wondered why she couldn’t just wait for him to do all these things? It was their last destination, and the Pont des Arts bridge was most known for all of this. After all, such little details shouldn’t just ruin his mood. He had planned the big picture and a discussion between them would only end up in a fight and that certainly was counterproductive to his engagement idea.

They did some more sightseeing by going up the Eiffel Tower and enjoying the magnificent view over the Champs-Élysée as well as the streets of Paris. They also visited the Louvre to look at the Mona Lisa. It was far smaller than he had imagined the painting to be. Everyone had great zooms on their cameras nowadays and could make anything look as fabulous and detailed as in the movies.

Alec intended to finish this vacation with a bang. He did look forward to their last dinner together before life went back to normal in Cardiff. But somehow Maddie seemed to have other plans because despite having booked a table before their vacation, Alec needed to remind Maddie every single day on their special dinner in Paris. It was getting exhausting for him and unmotivating.

By the time of dinner, the two of them felt aggravated. The couple didn’t talk much with each other anymore, and Alec was fidgeting with the box in his pocket. He had secretly ordered two flutes of champagne to their dessert. So, he would be able to propose, and they could celebrate together. The dinner was a silent matter as well and Alec’s heart sunk a little. He didn’t like the way things turned out for him.

“Do you like our last few days before the usual madness starts again?” he asks her. He runs a hand through his untamed hazel brown hair. It was hard enough for him to maintain his chin long hair as it was. After all, his curls did what they wanted anyway. Madison though seemed more concentrated on their dinner than the question he had asked. Perhaps it was better like that. After all, Alec had never been the smooth talker he believed himself to be. It was more of an awkward mumble jumble most of the times.

“What were you saying?” Madison asked him somewhat careless and looked bored at her boyfriend. With a sigh, she moved a bit on her chair and looked annoyed at him. Part of Alec felt like Maddie was ignoring him and it irritated him. But the patient person who he was he simply put on a smile and repeated himself “I asked if  you enjoyed our  vacation.” - “Sure,” was her short lipped answer before she pulled out her phone to look on the screen before she added, “Do you think we can go back to the hotel, I don’t feel good.”

Alec frowned over how Maddie sounded. It was almost like she was bored and even he could tell by now that proposing might not be the best idea right now. It was too late though as they brought out two pieces of cake. Their waiter had a huge smile on his face as he stepped away from them to get the champagne flutes.

“We didn’t even order some dessert,” she huffed annoyed and looked after the waiter like he was crazy. Alec gulped nervously and fidgeted around once again. “Well, actually-” he said trying to get his nerves under control “-I ordered them. I thought it would be a nice way to celebrate our last night together.” He smiled at the woman, but she just huffed and told him off “I told you I was on a diet! And the first thing you do is order some cheap ass cake?”

A bit speechless he stared at Madison and looked both disappointed and nervous all of a sudden.

But instead of being able to explain himself, she kept on nagging “You know what? I thought I could wait a bit longer until we get back to Britain, but this is too much, Alec! You do all of this without even taking me into account! I didn’t want to go out tonight. I wanted to stay at the hotel and sleep. But you dragged me here, and I thought let’s be nice-” she rambled on as Alec stared at her not knowing what to do “-I can’t do this any longer! I’m sorry, Alec. But we are done! This is enough - you are such a...I can’t even describe it! You only think of yourself without caring about how other people might feel about certain situations! I wanted this vacation to be nice for the two of us, but instead, all I got was your constant groaning and moaning about how shitty everything is! I’m done! We are done!”

“Mad...baby?” he asked her and took her hand into his, but she just hissed at him and rose to her feet and snatxhed her hand back from him. He frowned and was about to follow her as she walked out on him just like that. The waiter came over, holding both glasses of champagne, just as Alec wanted to run after her. But he stood there both embarrassed and shocked as he stared at no one in particular but the door, swinging silently back into place.

Suddenly he noticed the waiter next to him with a tray of two glasses of champagne. He smiled professionally but the sympathy in his glance told Alec all he needed to know: the man had witnessed the whole scene. But before the waiter was able to hand him both crystals, Alec took one from the tray and downed it in one go. The waiter didn’t wait for more to happen though and just handed Alec the second glass of alcohol with the ring in it without another comment.

Alec mumbled that he wanted the tab. Slumping down on his chair again, he could feel the other customer’s stares on him. His cheeks flamed on as the whole situation just dawned on him slowly. He stared at his hands and suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to throw a glass against the wall. Instead, he downed the second glass of the expensive champagne at once. There was nothing for him to do about it anymore. Instead, he finally fished the costly ring out of the champagne flute.

He stared at the crystal-studded ring. It had one big stone in the middle and small ones around it. The small rocks were real diamonds and sparkled more than the big stone in the middle. It had been a fake glass stone, but he had planned on exchanging it with a real diamond eventually. Just that he hadn’t had enough money at the moment. Of course, Alec knew it wouldn’t have sat well with Madison, but he had thought it wouldn’t matter. Perhaps it was his fair share of karma? He was sure that if he had gone out of his way to buy the big diamond she deserved to own, Madison would’ve stayed and agreed to marry him.

After all of this drama, he was on his way back to the hotel. He didn’t know where to stay. What if Madison was still in their hotel room? He wouldn’t be able to stay there and look at the woman he loved with all his heart. The person whom he had thought he would spend the rest of his life with. The reality of what had happened slowly sank in, and he felt his heart slowly crackling and breaking into many, many pieces. He didn’t even feel the cold wind blowing through his hair. It gave him goosebumps, but the lump in his throat and pain in his chest was numbing all of the exterior stimuli. He stumbled over into the hotel as suddenly tears were burning on his cheek.

Alec managed to get into the hotel room before he could damage something. Each time he got this desperate, his anger was threatening to take over, and it never ended well for any fragile thing around him. He threw the black velvet box at a wall, and the box opened the ring falling out of it with a small rattling noise. But the sound was swallowed by the carpet that was lied out all over the floor.

a/n: I want to thank @t-o-n-y-s-t-a-r-k for going through this and giving me the courage to actually publish this on Tumblr. Also a special thanks to @frozenfellow for beta reading this in the early stages. This whole plot went through far too much drama already. Please go follow those two lovelies! Anyways, if you enjoyed the story - let me know if you want to read more. Tags are always open.

[freenewstoday]

New Post has been published on https://freenews.today/2021/03/29/queen-elizabeths-brooches-flower-basket-symbolises/

Queen Elizabeth’s brooches: Flower Basket symbolises

The Flower Basket Brooch is one of the Queen’s staple brooches that is on regular rotation. One of Her Majesty’s most sentimental brooches, according to royal jewellery expert website the Court Jeweller, the brooch was given to the Queen as a gift from her parents in 1948.

The Queen received the Flower Basket Brooch as a gift to mark the birth of her first child, Prince Charles.

It was also the year after Her Majesty’s marriage to Prince Philip, when she was still Princess Elizabeth.

Since then, the Queen has worn her Flower Basket Brooch for different royal engagements over seven decades.

The brooch is colourful and is set with multiple different gemstones, including diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds.

READ MORE: Countess of Wessex has ‘romantic’ ring with link to Meghan

The Queen wore a blue hat to match the coat, with green and blue flowers on its front.

In 2016, Her Majesty paired the brooch with another blue coat, but this time in a slightly more turquoise tone, for the opening of the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre.

The Queen often wears a brooch for her annual Christmas speeches, and in 2013, she opted for the Flower Basket jewel.

She wore it again on her left lapel on a canary yellow dress.

Charlotte Leigh, jewellery expert at Lottie Leigh Fine Jewellery, gave her analysis on the special Flower Basket Brooch.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, she said: “The Queen’s ‘flower basket’ brooch is an eye-catching beauty comprising five flowers in a basket made up of emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds set into platinum.

“It was presented to the Queen by her late father King George VI on the birth of her son and heir to the throne, Prince Charles.

“She has worn the brooch to many special events but most significantly to the christening of Prince George the future King.”

Charlotte highlighted that the fact that the Queen has worn the brooch for such a significant occasion means that “it was worn to symbolise the succession of the royal generations”.

She added: “Due to the array of colours in this brooch, it compliments most outfits, and the Queen wears it with much pride.”

As for other jewellery, the Queen is often seen wearing strings of pearls around her neck, as well as pearl earrings.

Her Majesty has worn pearls since she was first in the public eye, before and after her succession to the throne.

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[weddingringsdirect]

Diamond Engagement Rings | 50% OFF TODAY | Lifetime Service in Cardiff #Engagement #Rings #UK #Cardiff https://t.co/2PDAAVuKrf

Diamond Engagement Rings | 50% OFF TODAY | Lifetime Service in Cardiff #Engagement #Rings #UK #Cardiff https://t.co/2PDAAVuKrf

— Wedding Rings Direct (@ukweddingrings) October 6, 2020

[thisdaynews]

Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz II: Ruiz Snr on his son's new-found fame - and car habit

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/anthony-joshua-v-andy-ruiz-ii-ruiz-snr-on-his-sons-new-found-fame-and-car-habit/

Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz II: Ruiz Snr on his son's new-found fame - and car habit

Andy Ruiz v Anthony Joshua Venue:Diriyah Arena, Saudi ArabiaDate:Saturday, 7 December Coverage:Live BBC Radio 5 Live commentary with live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app ‘One Night: Joshua v Ruiz’ – watch documentary which relives one of boxing’s greatest upsets on iPlayer here

When Andy Ruiz Jr bought a white Rolls Royce his father was not happy.

“I told him ‘Andy, this is your last car, don’t buy any more,'” Andres Ruiz recalls.

“I said, if anything, buy a Rolls Royce and rent it out, make money. You can make $30,000 a month on it.”

No matter that a car for his mother Felicitas had been the newly crowned heavyweight champion of the world’s first purchase after he dethroned Britain’s Anthony Joshua in July, or that he has since bought his dad a new truck.

No matter that he had paid $1m cash for a new home. Or that Ruiz will earn more than $10m in Saturday’s rematch in Saudi Arabia.

It was the principle.

“Like a father, I told him to stay humble – don’t spend the money, invest it in houses,” Ruiz Sr tells BBC Sport.

The advice, at least on car purchases, did not stick. The 30-year-old recently bought a Mercedes G550 jeep – a car that sells for over $100,000 – and as cameras filmed him pulling on to his driveway he simply said with a smile, “another one”.

Ruiz’s new-found celebrity has seen him meet the president of Mexico and be interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel – as well as funding his car habit

If the cars or his lavish California home and its swimming pool are symbolic of a changed life, so too is the increased demand for the Mexican-American fighter.

Ruiz has met the president of Mexico, he has been interviewed by US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, he has thrown out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game and he has been paraded on the back of a convertible Rolls Royce through the city he grew up in.

The man ridiculed for his rotund physique has even started modelling for a menswear brand.

There have been new gold and diamond chains, and in the words of the champion himself, “fun things I always wanted”.

But if his father wants evidence that his son can be sensible about finances, Ruiz did dig his heels in when a rematch with Joshua was called. Contractually he was obligated but his refusal to fight in Cardiff and, for a time, Saudi Arabia led to a fairly common boxing solution – money.

“It was a case of how quickly we could stop the rubbish and say ‘Andy, you want more money don’t you?'” says Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

A father-son bond cemented in childhood

Life has changed out of all recognition since the days when Ruiz worked for his dad, who runs his own property development business.

Media playback is not supported on this device

I’m here to win – Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr face the media before their rematch

Joshua’s ‘stunning revelation’

Saudi royal wants Ruiz-Joshua ring as souvenir

Relive Ruiz’s sensational upset of Joshua in June

Inside the 24 hours that shook boxing

“He was mixing cement,” says Ruiz Sr, who arrived in the US from Mexico aged eight. “I told him ‘do you want boxing or to mix cement?’

“He came from a good background. He lived in a nice house. I bought a nice car for him when he was young but I didn’t try to give everything to him – he had to work for things.”

The bond between the pair is obvious at an open workout in Saudi Arabia.

“He looks up to me,” says 58-year-old Ruiz Sr. “I am really close to him. Whatever I told him, he believed.”

And there were times in 2017 when that encouragement was key. Ruiz went the full calendar year without fighting and was almost done with the sport.

Fate decreed otherwise. A win over Alexander Dimitrenko paid $200,000 in 2019 and paved the way for him to take on Joshua at short notice when the Briton’s schedule opponent Jarrell Miller was denied a licence over failed drug tests.

That win earned him in excess of $5m. He will pocket over double that figure on Saturday.

“He was depressed sometimes not fighting,” recalls his father.

Trainer Manny Robles adds: “Boxing is like life. You have ups and downs. It’s being strong to not let a situation defeat you. He overcame it and thanks to that here we are today.”

‘It felt bad – he’s my son, that’s his weight’

Ruiz’s dad got him into boxing as a child but he was also a keen baseball player

Robles gave his fighter time to himself after the 1 June win. Ruiz did take some time away from the sport but then dedicated himself to a three-month training camp for the rematch as he bids to retain the WBA, IBF and WBO belts he won in such stunning fashion.

There is acknowledgement that there are now new distractions, but Robles adds: “Once I get him in the gym I know he is mine and I have control of the situation. That is what happened for this camp.”

Perception of the fighter has changed too. His weight is not drastically different from when he first fought Joshua yet he has moved from being regarded as a chubby walkover to a fast-moving threat.

“It felt bad as he’s my son, that’s his weight,” says Ruiz Snr.

“I told people I would bet money on him winning [the first fight] in the seventh round. People were asking why I had such faith. They wouldn’t take the bet so I went to the casinos and bet money and won.

“I made a lot of money. I knew he would win.

“His mother and me can see that he is doing better. As a dad I feel so proud that he is doing the things that he wants. Not a lot of boxers make it. It’s like winning the lottery.”

Some may say Ruiz won the lottery by getting his late shot at Joshua. But no-one can argue he was gifted a win. He took his chance, plain and simple.

If he wins again, mega fights will come his way.

At least one more new car will be on the agenda too of course, just as long as his dad’s not looking.

Read More

[nervousnotion]

@groundopenwide​ tagged me to post my top 9 albums of all time and wow ok this was a doozy. 

1. froot by marina & the diamonds (2014) - any of marina’s albums could go on this list and they’d all be number one. she’s absolutely my favorite artist and her songs mean so much to me idk what more i can really say. standout track: solitaire for being a love letter to introverts everywhere. 

2. communion by years & years (2015) - guys olly alexander is out there savin lives every day and writing thoughtful and powerful electro-pop bangers and being all around one of the best people on this planet i am so grateful for him and for this band and for this album. standout track: border for that fucking refrain.

3. all of my demons greeting me as a friend by aurora (2016) - aurora is a new find for me but she quickly became one of my top favorite artists and i’m still completely obsessed with this album. i love her airy folky spin on electronica and the optimistic outlook she has on depression and mental illness without feeling trite or naive. a great listen if you’re struggling with mental illness and need something to relate to and find genuine hope in. standout track: runaway for being the perfect picture of how exhausting and constant the battle against mental illness is.

4. a weekend in the city by bloc party (2007) - an album that means just as much to me now as it did when it first came out. kele grappling with being gay and being black in an era that doesn’t want to accept him are themes that sadly remain relevant and important in today’s political climate. standout track: where is home for being a BLM torch song and a banger that won’t quit.

5. how big, how blue, how beautiful by florence + the machine (2015) - i’m gonna be honest, while i absolutely adore florence i remember listening to ceremonials for the first time and thinking that if she released another album of massive shiny pop ballads i was going to grow tired of her. and hb,hb,hb was exactly the right step to take: a little grittier and little more rock & grunge; this album is perfection. standout track: third eye because florence demanding that i love myself and realize my value will never not be a cathartic experience.

6. pure heroine by lorde (2013) - i think we can all agree this is a masterpiece. i’m still overwhelmed by buzzcut season and ribs and lorde’s general ability to inspire longing and nostalgia with her songs. standout track: buzzcut season.

7. cassadaga by bright eyes (2007) - back in high school conor oberst was my biggest musical influence. he was depressed he was folky he was a pessimist and i was fucking into it! then he went on a pilgrimage and found himself and wrote cassadaga; a staggering introspective journey about finding hope and beauty in the simple things that surround you. i can barely listen to bright eyes these days but this album was seminal and i can’t not include it. standout track: no one would riot for less because this song invented folk music and is beyond chilling.

8. ten stories by mewithoutYou (2012) - what the fuck kind of album is about a group of circus animals that escape a crashed train while also being allegorical for faith and self-loathing and remaining cohesive and grounded. i have no clue how this was pulled off but it’s still one of the most original and life-affirming albums i’ve ever listened to. standout track: cardiff giant because ‘and i, i often wonder if i've already died’ is going to be a tattoo someday.

9. wild world by bastille (2016) - kings of writing bops about depression and death and being sad as shit. standout track: glory because ‘stop looking up for heaven / waiting to be buried’ are the greatest lyrics ever written.

special shoutout to lights by ellie goulding because letting myself openly love pop music was the best decision i ever made and that would’ve never happened if it weren’t for this album.

honorable mentions: the bachelor by patrick wolf, the human condition by jon bellion, another eternity by purity ring, atlas: space i & ii by sleeping at last.

tagging @calcalores, @elliotyrell, @queerlyalex, @sunlightmp3, @sunnylesbian, @lordendsavior, @twelvegrimmyplace, @annevbonny, @takeafuckingsipgay, lmao good luck with this impossible task guys. also @winemomjade​ i know you’re already tagged in this i just wanna make sure you see mine [& tag me in yours so i can see it].

[wemadethislife]

Cheeky lunch at @nandosuk with the hubby and babe for our date day! We headed into Cardiff and did some shopping. Exciting shopping - we ordered my eternity ring! Diamonds for our tenth wedding anniversary! It has to be custom made to fit around my engagement ring so I won’t have it for 6 weeks but I’m so excited! #totallyspoilt https://ift.tt/2ngUCOt

[km-theatre]

Cast & Creatives The Ladykillers

NEW WOLSEY THEATRE IPSWICH SUFFOLK  UK 15 SEP 2017

Friday 15 September 2017

Ann Penfold — Mrs Wilberforce

Theatre credits include: The Taming of the Shrew (RSC),Brighton Till I Die(Brighton),, Revenger's Tragedy, Deep Blue Sea,(West Yorkshire Playhouse)Saturday Sunday Monday (National Theatre/West End)  The Wars of the Roses(English Shakespeare Company, world tour and Old Vic) Design for Living (Peter Hall Company,) The Winslow Boy,(Guildford and tour) The Contractor (Oxford Stage company tour) Forty Years On (Scarborough)The Glass Menagerie,(Greenwich), In Celebration,(Chichester.) Duet for One (Edinburgh, Lyceum)

At the Wolsey Theatre: The Winter's Tale; Hamlet; Romeo and Juliet; Mrs Warren's Profession; Perfect Days.

And at Salisbury Playhouse: For Services Rendered ( and at the Old Vic), and The Lady in the Van.

Television credits include: Tripped (Mammoth Screen), Doctors, Casualty, Sea of Souls, Dangerfield, No Place Like Home, Mrs Pym’s Day Out, Cranford, Villette, There is Also Tomorrow (BBC), The Bill, The Vice, Coronation Street, The Brontes of Haworth, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (ITV) A Wing and a Prayer, Family Affairs (Ch5)

Film credits include: Keeping Rosy, Winter Sunlight, Family Life.

Steven Elliot — Professor Marcus

Theatre Credits Include: Frankenstein, The Winter’s Tale. (Royal National Theatre) Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Revenger’s Tragedy, Henry V, Twelfth Night, Pentecost, The Bite of the Night, The Jew of Malta, Measure For Measure (Royal Shakespeare Company) The Devil Inside Him (National Theatre Wales) Dancing at Lughnasa (Abbey, Dublin) King Lear (Almeida, London) True West (Glasgow Citz) Arcadia (Bristol Old Vic) Frank, in Educating Rita (Oldham Coliseum) Dumb Show, Inherit the Wind (New Vic Theatre) The Weir (Sherman, Cardiff) Amadeus, Hamlet, And Then There Were None, Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ (Salisbury Playhouse) Macbeth, Two Princes, A Chorus of Disapproval, Arcadia, Troilus and Cressida, Measure for Measure, The Suicide, Noises Off, Jumpy, Cyrano de Bergerac (Theatr Clwyd)  Steven recently played the role of George Ring in an adaptation of ‘Adventures in the Skin Trade,’ by Dylan Thomas, at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Arts Centre, Australia. He also recently played Oscar Wilde in a tour of ‘The Trials of Oscar Wilde.’

Directing Credits Include: Assistant Director to Terry Hands on ‘Pygmalion’ by George Bernard Shaw (Theatr Clwyd) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Theatre, Kingston) Well Thumbed (Notional Theatre) The Dreamer (Maltings, Farnham)

Television Credits Include:  Da Vinci’s Demons, Holby City, Judge John Deed, Ghostboat, Crash, Tunnel of Love, Porthpenwaig, Inspector Morse, Harpur and Isles, Art that Shook the World, 90 Days in Hollywood, Return to Treasure Island, That Uncertain Feeling, Rhinoceros, Van der Valk,  999 Killer on the line, Mike Bassett - Manager, Gwaith Cartref.

Film Credits Include:  Steven has just finished filming ‘The Watcher in the Woods’ with Anjelica Huston, in which he plays the title role. Other Film work includes; Hamlet, Cold Earth, Rise of the Appliances, Trauma, Trail of Crimson, De Sade, Green Monkey and Time Bandits. Also recordings of Frankenstein (NT Live) King Lear and True West (Digital Theatre)

Graham Seed — Major Courtney

Graham trained at RADA and is best known for playing Nigel Pargetter in the radio series The Archers for 27 years, until the character’s untimely demise in January 2011. Theatre credits include: Dead Sheep and An Audience with Jimmy Savile (Park Theatre), Dead Sheep (National Tour), 
Bedroom Farce and Separate Tables (Salisbury Playhouse), Flare Path (National Tour) Jim Hacker in Yes Prime Minister (National Tour), Basket Case with Nigel Havers (National Tour)Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap (60th Anniversary tour), Toad of Toad Hall (West
End); Me and My Girl (Adelphi Theatre); Relatively
Speaking and Confusions (national tour); Design for Living (English Touring Theatre); Twelfth Night
(BAC); Translations (Watford and tour); A Chaste
Maid of Cheapside (Almeida and tour); Someone to
Watch Over Me (Frankfurt); An Eligible Man (New
End, Hampstead); The Skin Game (Orange Tree);
Nelson (Nuffield, Southampton); Present Laughter
(Theatr Cymru); French Without Tears (Mill at
Sonning); Journey’s End (National Tour) Accolade at the
Finborough. He has also played many
repertory seasons including: Birmingham, Greenwich, 
Library Theatre, Manchester, and Perth.

Television credits include: The Durrells, I, Claudius, Edward
VII, Brideshead Revisited, Mike Leigh’s Who’s Who, Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Jeeves and Wooster, The Cleopatras, Crossroads, Coronation Street, Brookside, Prime Suspect, Nature Boy, Dinnerladies, Station Jim, Band of Brothers, The Chatterley Affair, Doctors, Midsomer Murders and He Kills Coppers. Film credits include: Peterloo, Gandhi, Good and Bad at
Games, Honest, Little Dorrit, These Foolish Things and Wild Target with Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt. Radio credits include: Nigel Pargetter
in The Archers. He is an occasional presenter on ‘Pick of the Week’ and was a regular voice on ‘What The Papers’ Say’ both for Radio 4.
 He was the recipient of the
Broadcaster of the Year Award 2010 from the
Broadcasting Press Guild and the Voice of Listener
and Viewer Special Award 2010.

Marcus Houden — Constable Macdonald

Theatre credits include: The Tempest (Hope Theatre, London) - BroadwayWorldUK Best Leading Actor nomination, Overture Live (Hippodrome, London), Peter Pan (UK Tour), Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood(Gala Theatre, Durham), Treasure Island (Cambridge Touring Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (International Tour), Romeo and Juliet, Sense and Sensibility (Chapterhouse Theatre Company), Bouncers(UK Tour), The Three Musketeers (Jamie Marcus Productions), The Merry Wives of Henry VIII (Edinburgh Festival), Art, Macbeth(Seagull Theatre), Tartuffe, The Beaux’ Stratagem (Lichfield Garrick) and Dick Whittington (Theatre Colwyn).

Damian Williams — One-Round

Damian became well known to television audiences in the early nineties for his appearances as Ginger Gahagan in the BBC series Billy Webb and the second series Alfonzo Bonzo. His other television appearances include Lumpy in Spatz; Gavin in Exam Conditions and Ian in The Bill. Damian was the presenter of Damian’s Are You Smarter Than Your 10 Year Old for Sky One and was also in the new series of Birds of a Feather.

Damian is always in demand for Musical Theatre and in 2013 and 2014 Damian played Edna Turnblad in Hairspray both at the Leicester Curve as well as a tour of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Damian’s first love is comedy (his heroes are Laurel & Hardy) and he has played various comedy roles from Luther Billis in South Pacific to Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Damian played Tommy Cooper in the new play Being Tommy Cooper, and toured in the one man play My Dog’s Got No Nose. Most recently he’s also played Tommy Cooper in the short film The Last Laugh, written and directed by Paul Hendy for which Damian won best Actor (Southampton film festival)

Damian has toured the country for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in Theatre, a well respected farceur Damian has appeared in; Run for your wife, Cash on Delivery, Funny Money, Tom Dick & Harry, It Runs in the Family, Not now darling, There Goes The Bride, Out of Order, Caught in the Net, Dry Rot, See How they Run and Don’t Dress For Dinner.

As resident Dame of 10 years at the Sheffield Lyceum Damian is set to play Mother Goose this year.

Damian was born in Tilbury in Essex and now resides in Southend on sea with his wife Barbie. They are proud parents of twins, Joshua and Esme, undoubtedly Damian’s finest productions to date!

Anthony Dunn — Louis Harvey

Anthony has worked extensively as an actor in the UK, Europe, Canada and the United States over the last 30 years. Theatre includes Calamity Jane (UK and Ireland Tour), Paved in Gold (Canada), Birds (US Tour), Face (UK Tour), Buddy (Victoria Palace), Bouncers (Hull Truck), L'Ascencore (European Tour) and Don Quixote(Warehouse Theatre). His television appearances include The Murdoch Mysteries (US and Canada), Roomers and The Last Word for the BBC and Stuck on You, The Upper Hand and Frank Stubbs for ITV. Anthony has also worked in academia, teaching and doing Ph.D research in Washington and New Orleans. When not working as an actor, Anthony can be found taking groups of people on entertaining historical tours of London by road, river or foot.

Sam Lupton — Harry Robinson

Training: Manchester School Of Theatre (Man met, Acting)

Theatre includes: ‘Wilfred Crompton’ in Spring and Port Wine (Oldham Coliseum 2017); 'Seymour' in Little Shop Of Horrors (UK Tour 2016),  'Boq' in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre, West End); 'Princeton’ & ‘Rod' in Avenue Q (UK Tour 2012); 'Man' in Starting Here, Starting Now'; Greg' in Single Sex and 'Gena Hamlet' in Galka Motalka (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester);  'Harry' in Love On The Dole and 'Young Collector/Sailor' in A Streetcar Named Desire (Bolton Octagon); 'Colin Ireland & Robin Oake' in Out Out Out (Pitgems Theatre); "Jim/Ensemble" in The Hired Man (Bolton Octagon) which won the 2010 TMA Award for Best Performance in a Musical, awarded to the entire ensemble. He Also originated the role of 'Ben' in Firing Life.

Television includes: The Late Late Show (RTE) and Ireland:AM (TV3).

Radio Includes: 'Nino Sarratore' in The Story Of A New Name & My Brilliant Friend (BBC Radio 4), Various Characters in National Velvet (BBC Radio 4)

Workshops: 'Boy & Zacky' in Big Fish; 'John-Michael' in Doris Stokes

Other Work Includes: The Music of Kooman & Diamond (IlliaDebuts, London Debut), "The Concrete Jungle": UK Album Launch (IlliaDebuts), 'West End Switched Off' (Parallel Productions)

Sam has also worked as a puppet coach for the 2014 professional UK tour of Avenue Q. In 2016 he made is directorial debut with How To Curse at London's Etcetera Theatre.

[frostywindmademoan]

A Worthy Adversary

Pt. 6 in a multi chapter OC fic featuring Michael Gray

“I saw your face back there. You enjoyed watching him die.” Michael commented as he hopped up to sit on the kitchen table and Clara removed his shirt and wet a rag so she could clean him. “Of course. He was a scumbag, a scumbag who thought he was such hot shit that he assumed my smile meant I wanted a fuck. I didn’t mind watching you kill him. I only hope he had the time to connect the dots and realized I played him.” She ran the cool rag across his neck and chest.

Michael grabbed her hand to stop her. “You didn’t mind it? It didn’t scare you to see me like that?” Michael knit his eyebrows in concern.”No, it didn’t scare me. I noticed you’re establishing a pattern with the whole knife to the throat thing. I’d suggest avoiding the jugular so you don’t end up ruining all of your suits. If you come up from behind you can stab them in the back of the neck between the C1 and C2 vertebrae. This will at the very least paralyze them from the neck down. If you’re forceful enough it’ll kill them and get the job done well. There are plenty of veins in the back of the neck, but It won’t splatter like with an artery. In theory it should be rather clean.” Clara suggested. “Who the fuck are you.” Michael scoffed. “I’m a nurse who knows more than most of the doctors at that fucking hospital. A little anatomy goes a long way.” She explained. “I don’t even know what the fuck a C1 or C2 is.” Michael couldn’t believe she was offering suggestions like this. “Here, I’ll show you. They’re about right here.” She ran her finger along the back of his neck, just below his hair line. Her touch left goose bumps on his skin. “That’s going to take a bit of practice on my part. I’m not a genius like you apparently are.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Why are you mad at me?” Clara looked up at him with concern. “You’re giving me killing advice for fucks sake, do you really think that’s normal?” He stared incredulously at her. “I’ll keep my mouth shut next time. You can keep showering in blood if that’s really what you want.” She threw the rag on the table next to where Michael was sitting and began to storm out. “No, babe, stop.” He hopped off the table and stopped her by wrapping his arms around her waist. “I’m sorry, it’s just that… well, the first time I shot a guy I cried. I couldn’t even help it the tears just leaked out. You just saw a pretty brutal death, and then you gave me helpful tips. I’m just a bit concerned is all.” He whispered in her ear from behind. “Honestly, it’ll probably all sink in later. It’ll probably hit me hard. I’ll try my damnedest to not let anyone see it, though. I’m only telling you this because, well because you’re you. As far as the helpful tips go, I just thought you might want to avoid making such a mess. That blood’s easily tracked. It might come back to bite you.” She leaned back into his embrace. “You are a genius.” Michael kissed her neck. “You’re a pretty smart guy yourself.” She chuckled. “I love you Clara Behmen.” He whispered in her ear. She turned around to face him so that she could wrap her arms around his neck. “I love you Michael Gray.” Clara whispered against his lips as she began to kiss him. Yep, Michael certainly wanted to marry her. No one else was a match for Michael quite like Clara. “I’m going to need you to run that C 1&2 stuff by me again.” He said against her lips. She laughed at him. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

After the events of Michael being stabbed and Clara being used as bait, Clara’s role within the Peaky Blinders shifted. She became their go to nurse. Really she was more like a personal doctor. She saw everything from busted noses, to broken arms, to stab wounds, to bullet holes, and everything in between. Clara was also enlisted a few more times to be bait. Michael hated it every time and threw a fit, but she was actually quite the little actress. She was a wiz with accents so she’d pretend to be Jenny from Edinburgh, Gwen from Cardiff, she was once even Vera from New York. The scheme worked like a charm every time. Michael had even adopted the C 1&2 killing technique. Clara had to show him quite a few times what vertebrae they are in one of her anatomy books, but he eventually got it. Polly, however, was becoming concerned that there was even a need for Michael to develop a killing technique. She knew it was just a matter of time before Michael, or Clara, or both got seriously hurt. The couple quickly earned the nicknames of ‘the Prince and Princess of Mayhem’ from the other Peaky Blinders. It was clear to everyone that they were a good fit for each other. They would bicker and argue and push each other’s buttons, but a quick resolution typically followed. They knew each other’s deepest secrets, things they would never tell anyone else. The mutual fear that had started their relationship was now mutual trust. The idea of marrying Clara stayed with Michael. He never brought it up to her because when he first had the epiphany they had only been together for a few months. Clara would have laughed in his face. Enough time had past since then that he was really considering asking her, but part of him was still afraid that she’d laugh in his face. One morning he decided he’d try to test the waters. “You know, it’s almost been a year since I bought you that first gin.” He reminded her. “So it has. The drink that started it all.” Clara smiled fondly. “We’ve been good, haven’t we? We’ve been good partners in crime.” Michael hesitantly asked. “We’ve been excellent partners in crime.” She walked over to where he was seated and straddled him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He rested his hands on her bum. “I’d quite like to keep the partnership up.” Michael looked her in the eyes, waiting to see if she would catch his drift. “I see no reason why we should stop now.” She replied. Of course, only Clara could give such an ambiguous answer. She saw no reason to stop, a positive, but she sees no reason now which means that maybe she will in the future, a negative. “You’ve got a crease between you eyebrows.” Clara gently ran her finger down the bridge of his nose to smooth out the worry. Her hands were a great comfort to Michael. They were actually one of his favorite features of hers. Her hand would look good with a ring on it. “What are you thinking?” She hummed with curiosity at him. “I’m thinking that I just thought of an errand I need to run. I’ll be back in a few hours.” Michael removed Clara from his lap, grabbed his wallet, and headed out the door. He was going to buy a ring.

Michael knew Clara most likely wouldn’t want anything too fancy, but he wanted to spoil her. He chose a ring with a nice sized diamond in the middle, and with smaller sized diamonds cut to look like leaves around it, giving the impression of ivy. She’d like that. After purchasing the ring. Michael swung by Arrow House to find Ada. “Can I ask you something about a rather… sensitive matter?” He attempted to find the correct word. “I’m a bit afraid of what you’re going to say, but go ahead.” Ada folded her arms across her chest in preparation for the worst. “If someone were going to propose to you, how would you want to be asked?” Michael was a bit uncomfortable coming to Ada like this. “Oh my God! You’re going to propose to Clara!” She exclaimed. “Shh, nobody knows! I want to make sure I do this right. You know how she is about genuine affection and romance and shit. I have no idea whether she’ll actually say yes or not. I need it to be perfect.” Michael explained. “Right, well if it were me being proposed to I’d want it to be romantic. With candles and roses and such. Clara would hate that though. She’ll want it to be casual. Clara only likes attention when she’s playing someone. Keep it honest between you two.” Ada suggested. “Alright, yeah she’ll like casual. How do I accomplish that?” Michael was clueless about these matters. “You know her better than anyone. You’ll think of something.” Ada assured him. Finn then came into the room, prompting Ada and Michael to abruptly end their conversation. “I’ve been looking for you Michael. Do you know where Clara is? Isaiah dislocated his thumb or some shit like that, but we can’t track her down.” Finn asked. “She isn’t at mine? Or her’s?” Michael’s eyebrows creased. “No, and she’s not at the hospital either. We’ve checked the betting shop, the Garrison, even the fucking bakery. Isaiah is being a bloody bitch about the pain so if you could let us know where she’s at we can shut him up.” Finn complained. “Clara doesn’t have a shift today. She told me she was going to get some housework done. She should be at house.” Michael’s voice grew concerned. “Well we can’t find her bloody anywhere.” Finn shrugged. “Thanks for the advice Ada. Come with me.” Michael ordered Finn. The two rushed back to Michael’s house, the last place Clara was seen. “She should be here.” Michael looked around desperately. He rushed upstairs to the bedroom for any sign of her. It was there in the bedroom’s adjoining bathroom that Michael realized something terrible had happened. Everything from the counter was knocked onto the floor and strewn all over the place. The mirror was shattered with cracks spreading out from a single contact point that was marked with blood. “Fuck!” Michael screamed. “Shit.” Finn gasped when he walked in on the scene. “Look for anything that’ll tell us who did this!” Michael barked at him. “Look over here! There’s some hair here that is too dark and short for Clara’s. It’s a bloke’s. And see here, a fucking nasty looking bloody tooth. This can’t be hers.” Finn pointed out. “She put up a fight.” Michael observed. “Still doesn’t tell us who did this.” Finn sighed. “Call everyone and get them over here.” Michael instructed.

Chapter List Here

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

Meghan's Week, Several Engagements Announced & Vote in First 'Best of 2018' Poll!

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/meghans-week-several-engagements-announced-vote-in-first-best-of-2018-poll/

Meghan's Week, Several Engagements Announced & Vote in First 'Best of 2018' Poll!

It feels like quite some time since we’ve had a titbit-packed post. They were a staple on Mad About Meghan in the run up to the wedding, and it’s been fun to prepare one today full of upcoming engagements, news on what Meghan’s been up to this week, and articles of note. Before we dive into the latest news, we have our first ‘Best of 2018′ poll focusing on Meghan’s evening gowns during the Sussexes’ Commonwealth Tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

Best Tour Gown

We’re kicking off the polls with Meghan’s tour gowns. There are just three options on the list. The lengthy tour called for an array of looks including a gown for a State dinner in Fiji. It was the first time we had seen Meghan don a gown since the royal wedding, and she certainly didn’t disappoint in a Fijian blue Safiyaa Ginkgo Cape Dress. The £1,095 gown is described as: “Full-length fitted short sleeve cape dress with a long tailed back with a deep split and covered buttons, all in bluette stretch heavy crepe.” The choice to champion the London-based brand rather than a more established favourite such as Givenchy was praised by fashion critics. Meghan styled the gown with shimmering earrings and Diana’s diamond bracelet.

For an official Tongan dinner, Meghan opted for the effortlessly elegant Theia Ivory Crepe Column Gown. The piece features flanged shoulders, a jewel neckline and side slit. The shoulders are accentuated with hand embroidered appliqués of crystals and micro glass beads. Creative Director Don O’Neill was ecstatic when he discovered Meghan was wearing one of his creations. He apprenticed with Gina Fratini, who produced designs for royal couturier Norman Hartnell and she created pieces for Diana, Princess of Wales. Meghan selected Birks earrings, Diana’s aquamarine ring and black accessories to complete the look.

Although I loved the first two gowns, the fashion highlight of the tour for me came when Meghan arrived at the Australian Geographic Awards in a magical Oscar de la Renta white tulle gown with black bonded, looped ribbon, tweed laser cut birds. According to reporters there was an audible gasp when the couple arrived. The sensational gown not only gets my vote in this poll, but ‘Best Look of 2018’. It was the ultimate fairy-tale fashion moment for the new Duchess. Aquazzurra pumps and Birks rings provided a polished finish.

Meghan’s Private Engagements This Week… Moving on to a plethora of news items next. What has the Duchess been up to this week? On Monday, Meghan welcomed Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern to Kensington Palace. The pair got along wonderfully during the tour. The PM gifted Meghan a pair of earrings which were described as being “for a sister with a brave and bold brave streak”. The Duchess wore them on a number of occasions during the visit. At a reception at the close of the tour, Jacinda said the schedule had increased her “admiration” for Meghan. She said: “It can be a tiring thing and she’s brought such warmth and grace on this visit…it hasn’t slowed her down or the amount they’ve been out and about so that’s much appreciated.” It us understood Meghan invited the PM during the tour. A Palace source told Omid Scobie: “The Duchess was pleased to have the chance to thank the PM for the wonderful hospitality she and Harry received from the people of New Zealand last year.”

It’s excellent to see connections and relationships building. We’re seeing Meghan’s role develop in a stateswoman capacity too. I imagine Jacinda is the first of many leaders we’ll see her meeting with. 

On Wednesday, Harry and Meghan attended the Endeavour Fund judging panel at Kensington Palace. The judging takes place a couple of weeks before the actual awards. Meghan attended both last year (more on that a little bit later in the post).

A Busy Week Ahead… If hoping for several Meghan sightings, next week is one to watch out for. The Palace released a flurry of announcements over the course of the day. As expected, Meghan will visit her remaining patronages next week. On Wednesday, 30 January, the Duchess will visit the National Theatre. Meghan will join a workshop with members of the Pericles company, which was the National Theatre’s first Public Acts production in 2018. Public Acts, which launched last year, creates extraordinary acts of theatre and community. Next, she will meet apprentices who are working as technicians in various departments including carpentry, metalwork and painting. Before leaving, she will watch a performance of War Horse by primary school children.

On Thursday, 31 January, the Duchess will visit her patronage the Association of Commonwealth Universities to hear more about how the ACU is working to promote inclusion and access to education for underrepresented groups, and will speak to students about their research in the fields of sustainability, global health and peace and reconciliation.

The following day, Friday 31 January, is an ‘away day’ for Harry and Meghan in Bristol. They will first visit Bristol Old Vic. Built in 1766 as a place where the people of Bristol could come together, Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world. From there, it’s a walkabout followed by an embargoed engagement. Finally, they will visit Empire Fighting Chance, which aims to fight the impact of deprivation on young people’s lives through boxing.

We discussed Harry and Meghan’s attendance at the Endeavour Fund judging panel. As expected, the couple will attend the annual awards at Draper’s Hall on Thursday, 7th February. They will celebrate the achievements of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who have taken part in remarkable sporting and adventure challenges over the last year. Below, Meghan in an Alexander McQueen suit for the event last year.

DeMellier Duchesses… For many of us, Meghan’s taste in bags is one of the highlights of her ensembles. Last year, for a pre-wedding visit to Cardiff, she carried a forest green Mini Venice DeMellier London bag. For every bag purchased, the brand funds lifesaving vaccines and treatments aimed to save the life of a child in need, in collaboration with orphan charity SOS Children’s Villages. For a visit to Jewish Care’s Brenner Centre, the Duchess of Cornwall carried the very same style in the same shade. I expect it’s highly possible the bag was a gift. Perhaps Camilla saw Meghan carrying it and remarked she liked it? Or perhaps it’s a Christmas present?

‘By choosing sustainable and ethical labels, the Duchess of Sussex, 37, has had a life-changing impact on a number of brands. Among them: Outland Denim, which Meghan wore the on tour Down Under last fall. After stepping out in their black skinny jeans ($195), sales increased by a whopping 640%. The massive increase enabled founder James Bartle to hire 46 seamstresses in his Cambodian factory – many of whom are either victims of sex trafficking or forced labor.

“The core of our business is about giving opportunity to vulnerable women, and for Meghan to align so closely with that and to expose us to the world, it’s been huge,” Bartle tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.

After initially announcing on Instagram that he would be hiring 15-30 new seamstresses as a result of increased sales, that figure has continued to grow. Now, three months since the royal tour (where Meghan wore their Harriet high-rise skinny jeans no less than six times!), 46 families have a brighter future. “To come from the situation they were in previously to a situation where they are making jeans fit for a princess – that’s a big deal,” says the founder, whose wife, Erica Bartle, also works for the company.’

The Avocado Toast Whisperer… Meghan’s friend and make up artist Daniel Martin visited the Duke and Duchess last weekend. Afterwards, he shared a snap of tea, avocado toast and Fortnum & Mason truffles they had. He wrote: “Back to our Tig days. Thank you Meghan for being the consummate hostess this weekend and still being the Avocado toast whisperer.” Meghan used plates and cups from Soho Home.

Hope you all have a great weekend! 🙂 Source: http://madaboutmeghan.blogspot.com/2019/01/meghans-week-several-engagements.html

[michaelemathew]

The Perfect Combination - Welsh Love Spoons And Welsh Gold Online

Welsh gold and love spoons are both cherished by the citizens of Wales. Welsh love spoons are a traditional symbol of love and have been a custom since the 17th century. They were carved by men from one piece of wood and were embellished with intricate knots and delicate designs. The love spoons were then presented to the women they loved. It was the ideal form of proposal before diamond rings played a part. Now you can have both of Wales most loved possessions as a symbol of your heritage. Welsh Love Spoons gold has a love spoon collection of jeweler made out of rare Welsh gold.

Each design carved into a wooden love spoon has a particular meaning. For example a spoon with a cross represented a lover's faith in the Lord and how he would remain just as faithful to his beloved. A flower carved into a spoon symbolizes that he is making an attempt at courting the woman he is presenting the spoon to and declaring his love. A horseshoe is a symbol of good luck. A vine represents a man's growing love for the woman he is pursuing. Celtic knots are common designs carved into love spoons which symbolize the everlasting love for one another. A love spoon made out of Welsh gold is the ideal romantic gift for anyone to present their loved one. Welsh Love Spoons gold has a spoon collection which includes rings, earrings, bracelets as well as several pendants and necklaces. These love spoons are offered in a combination of rose and yellow gold or silver and rose gold.

All of the Welsh Love Spoons gold collection contains a touch of rare Welsh gold mined from the Snowdonia Mountains. If you visit the National History museum in St. Fagans, Cardiff you will get the chance to see the oldest known love spoon. Welsh Love Spoons gold also has a love spoon ring with a topaz stone which would be ideal for someone who wishes to propose. It could represent the modern day promise ring or eternity ring for couples who like to celebrate their commitment to one another. The best part of wearing Clogau gold is that you have a piece of your Welsh heritage wherever you go. Welsh gold is becoming rarer by the day as the supply is diminishing. It would be a good idea to buy Welsh gold while it is still readily available. Birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, weddings and many other milestones in life are the perfect opportunities to invest in Welsh gold.

If you want to stay true to tradition, Welsh Love Spoons gold also offers a wooden spoon which you can present to your significant other. The wooden love spoon from Welsh Love Spoons gold has a padlock and multiple hearts carved into it. The padlock symbolizes that you will stay faithful and true to the relationship while the hearts represent your affection. Culture and tradition are important to remember and pass down from generation to generation. Welsh gold jeweler is an heirloom you can pass down and also a way to preserve your heritage.

Welsh Gold is the most rarest type of gold in the world. Welsh Love Spoons Gold is one of the few jewelry manufacturers that incorporate a touch of Welsh gold in every piece. For the last couple of generations, Welsh Love Spoons gold has been used to create wedding rings for the royal family. Welsh gold supplies are dwindling so while you still have a chance you should invest in Welsh Love Spoons gold. Please visit https://www.welsh-lovespoons.co.uk/ to learn more about the history and legacy of Welsh Love Spoons.

Contact Info: Phone : 01559 384378 E-mail: post@welsh-lovespoons.co.uk Website: https://www.welsh-lovespoons.co.uk/

[cashforgolddelhi]

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