#evan redfern

[davidhudson]

Bill Evans, August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980.

Photo by David Redfern.

[autismtana]

nude erections* and what sydney suburb they'd live in (in a weird ass AU where glee is set in sydney)

(from a glee/brittana veteran born and raised in sydney, australia and who has listened to a lot of the whitlams over the past few weeks)

finn: eastwood

it's such a simultaneously random and boring suburb, like literally, who lives in eastwood of all places??? i once got so bored that i just got the train there just to check if it was a real place. but i could totally see finn hudson living there. it's like ... not quite north shore, not quite inner west, it doesn't even have the decency to be ryde ... for the record, i'm not trying to be finn-unfriendly here, like he's not my favourite or anything, i'm just saying he'd be from eastwood.

rachel: double bay

rachel berry is the bougiest new directions girl hands down and the bougiest girl needs to live in the bougiest suburb. she bonds with blaine over their posh eastern suburbs-ness.

mercedes: alexandria

alexandria is one of my favourite places to go in sydney, and mercedes is one of my favourite nude erections, so that tracks

kurt: surry hills

i was so close to putting kurt in edgecliff and i still don't know if i regret that decision. but he'd probably also suit surry hills.

tina: glebe

tina cohen-chang is the poster child for glebe (also on a side note, glebe has a book store called glee books, just thought i'd put it out there). also i just realised i put tina in the suburb where josie alibrandi lives and rachel in one of the suburbs where all the posh mean girls at her school live ... ummmmm props feels anyone???

artie: artarmon

ok so this one was kind of hard but it works ... artie is officially short for artarmon. i don't make the rules.

puck: parramatta

so i actually quite like going to parramatta but all my north shore friends are scared of it for some reason. something about it is very puck. idk why ... like it's kind of basic but it's got a bit of an edge to it.

quinn: turramurra

if rachel is the eastern suburbs bougie bitch, quinn is the north shore bougie bitch. i was a scholarship kid at an all-girls private school and all the bitchiest and bougiest girls lived in turramurra. she frequently reminds finn that eastwood is NOT the north shore.

santana: redfern

redfern is santana's stomping ground and she would definitely make sure everyone knows she lived there from birth (i.e. pre-gentrification, before it became full of hipsters). also, quinn will happily drive to glebe, surry hills and alexandria to hang out with/pick up tina, kurt and mercedes respectfully, but she nearly had a heart attack the one time she had to drive to redfern to pick santana up ("why can't you just walk to surry hills?" "um, it's surry hills, quinn, emphasis on HILLS. what do you even think's going to happen in redfern anyway?" "someone tried to murder me." "bitch, that was me and it was because you tried to steal my cheesy garlic bread."). on a side note, watch redfern now on netflix or abc-iview, it's good.

(also - quick commercial break here - since i brought up looking for alibrandi with tina, i should also point out that i put santana in the suburb where jacob coote lives ... and seriously it's an amazing book and movie and everyone should watch it honestly australian media is amazing and brilliant and we're so isolated a lot of you are missing out on our stuff ok i digress thanks for coming to my ted talk bye)

brittany: newtown

brittany is totally a newtown girl (making brittana a beautiful inner west-inner city love story). she also probably orders lord of the fries food to troll rachel with it, and she takes santana out to dinner at the italian bowl every friday.

mike: carlingford

tbh this one was kinda hard and i was trying to come up with suburbs that aren't in the east, north or inner west. but carlingford is home to james ruse, the school that has topped the hsc every year since the 90s, and mike is canonically one of the students with the best grades and a member of the brainiacs group, so there's that

sam: sutherland

sam's a shire boy. he's not edgy enough to be a cronulla boy but he's a shire boy. (and in writing this, i'm now realising i could have given this one to rachel, what with her often being referred to as a hobbit and all...). he's not one of the ratbag boys from puberty blues, but he's more like garry.

blaine: vaucluse

blaine is a posh private school boy and vaucluse is the bougiest suburb of all sydney suburbs, so i'm giving that one to blaine (and he would definitely be a scots boy)

(*the OG squad minus matt - sorry matt, plus sam and blaine)

(also if you want to know where i grew up, all i will say is that it was the eshay capital of sydney ... do with that what you will)

(also I really should have included a map, but google maps is free so go use that if you wanna find out more about sydney suburbs and all that good stuff)

[harrisonarchive]

Rishikesh, February 25, 1968 (photos by Cummings Archives/Redferns via Getty Images); and March 17, 1968 (photo from Disc and Music Echo's April 6, 1968 issue).

"Harrison, who was sitting nearest to me at the table, remarked that if he could turn everybody on to transcendental meditation and Indian music, then he could go. Somebody asked him what he meant exactly, and he said, 'You know… out… like on a road tour when you leave for the next town.' Somebody else asked him about his own meditations, and he said his mantra was an English word. This caused considerable surprise because it was assumed that into most people’s ears the Maharishi or one of his deputies had whispered unintelligible Sanskrit syllables. Nobody, of course, ever told anyone else his mantra because to do so would damage them, but that was the common understanding. Harrison further astounded everybody by saying he assumed the Beatles all had the same mantra. He didn’t know for sure, but his appeared in Lennon’s song, I Am the Walrus. […] [In celebration of George’s birthday, someone handed] each of us a garland of wet, fresh marigolds. 'To give to George,' she said. When the chanting ceased, we all walked up to the stage and placed our garlands around Harrison’s neck, until in the end, embarrassed and smiling sheepishly, he looked like a man in a life jacket. […] At the end we all sang Happy Birthday to George, to whom the Maharishi resented a cake with two candles and a plastic glove that he offered upside down, saying, 'This is the world. It needs to be corrected.' The laugher and applause subsided, and then the Maharishi led everyone into a meditation, the long silence at last being softly broken by a single note plucked on a stringed instrument." - Lewis H. Lapham, Saturday Evening Post, May 18, 1968

"I arranged a special cake for George, with white icing and pink flowers and an Indian greeting — 'Jai Guru Deva' — written across the top in gold letters. Then I bought a bundle of fireworks [in Rishikesh’s town center] and some streamers, balloons ad so forth. Earlier on I had bought an Indian banjo as my own gift to George. The weather was good on the day itself so we were able to have an outdoor party. Pattie wore a lovely yellow sari for the occasion. We put decorations up in the trees and everyone had garlands of flowers to put round George’s neck. In fact he disappeared beneath a colorful and flowery mountain of garlands before we’d finished! Then there was the special surprise of the evening — at the suggestion of the others I’d organized a band local Indian musicians and a singer to perform at the party. Maharishi made a nice little speech about George, presented his gift and then we got down to letting off the fireworks and listening to music. Pattie’s birthday was just as much of a fun occasion. Everyone was only too willing to join in a bit of a party. Pattie had another huge cake (they were all a bit like pease pudding but tasted great!) with nine or ten candles. Again there were dozens of beautiful garlands of red and orange flowers for everybody and Pattie played a new dilruba, her favorite instrument these days." - Mal Evans, The Beatles Monthly, June 1968 (x)

[wankerwatch]

Lords Vote

On: National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill

Baroness Williams of Trafford moved, as an amendment to the motion that the bill be committed to a Grand Committee, to leave out “Grand Committee” and to insert “Committee of the Whole House”. The House divided:

Ayes: 226 (85.8% Con, 5.3% , 3.5% XB, 2.7% DUP, 1.3% UUP, 0.9% Bshp, 0.4% PC) Noes: 228 (55.7% Lab, 23.7% LD, 17.1% XB, 3.1% , 0.4% Green) Absent: ~369

Likely Referenced Bill: National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill

Description: A Bill to make provision about secondary Class 1 contributions.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Lords Bill Stage: Committee stage

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (194 votes)

Agnew of Oulton, L. Ahmad of Wimbledon, L. Altrincham, L. Anelay of St Johns, B. Arbuthnot of Edrom, L. Ashcombe, L. Attlee, E. Bailey of Paddington, L. Baker of Dorking, L. Balfe, L. Barran, B. Bates, L. Bellamy, L. Bellingham, L. Berridge, B. Bertin, B. Bethell, L. Black of Brentwood, L. Blencathra, L. Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist, B. Booth-Smith, L. Borwick, L. Bourne of Aberystwyth, L. Bray of Coln, B. Bridgeman, V. Bridges of Headley, L. Browning, B. Brownlow of Shurlock Row, L. Caine, L. Caithness, E. Callanan, L. Cameron of Chipping Norton, L. Camoys, L. Carrington of Fulham, L. Cathcart, E. Chadlington, L. Choudrey, L. Courtown, E. Crathorne, L. Cruddas, L. Davies of Gower, L. De Mauley, L. Deben, L. Dobbs, L. Duncan of Springbank, L. Dunlop, L. Effingham, E. Elliott of Mickle Fell, L. Evans of Bowes Park, B. Evans of Rainow, L. Fairfax of Cameron, L. Fall, B. Fink, L. Finkelstein, L. Finn, B. Fookes, B. Forsyth of Drumlean, L. Foster of Oxton, B. Framlingham, L. Fraser of Craigmaddie, B. Frost, L. Fuller, L. Garnier, L. Gascoigne, L. Geddes, L. Godson, L. Gold, L. Goldie, B. Goschen, V. Grayling, L. Griffiths of Fforestfach, L. Grimstone of Boscobel, L. Hailsham, V. Hamilton of Epsom, L. Hammond of Runnymede, L. Hannan of Kingsclere, L. Harding of Winscombe, B. Hayward, L. Helic, B. Henley, L. Herbert of South Downs, L. Hintze, L. Hodgson of Abinger, B. Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, L. Holmes of Richmond, L. Hooper, B. Horam, L. Howard of Lympne, L. Howard of Rising, L. Hunt of Wirral, L. Jackson of Peterborough, L. James of Blackheath, L. Jamieson, L. Jenkin of Kennington, B. Johnson of Lainston, L. Johnson of Marylebone, L. Jopling, L. Kamall, L. Keen of Elie, L. Kempsell, L. Laing of Elderslie, B. Lamont of Lerwick, L. Lancaster of Kimbolton, L. Lansley, L. Lawlor, B. Lea of Lymm, B. Lexden, L. Lilley, L. Lingfield, L. Liverpool, E. Lucas, L. Mackinlay of Richborough, L. Magan of Castletown, L. Mancroft, L. Marks of Hale, L. Marland, L. Maude of Horsham, L. May of Maidenhead, B. McColl of Dulwich, L. McInnes of Kilwinning, L. McIntosh of Pickering, B. McLoughlin, L. Mendoza, L. Mobarik, B. Monckton of Dallington Forest, B. Morris of Bolton, B. Morrissey, B. Mott, L. Moylan, L. Moynihan of Chelsea, L. Moynihan, L. Murray of Blidworth, L. Neville-Jones, B. Neville-Rolfe, B. Newlove, B. Nicholson of Winterbourne, B. Noakes, B. Norton of Louth, L. Offord of Garvel, L. Owen of Alderley Edge, B. Parkinson of Whitley Bay, L. Penn, B. Pickles, L. Pidding, B. Polak, L. Popat, L. Porter of Fulwood, B. Randall of Uxbridge, L. Ranger of Northwood, L. Rawlings, B. Reay, L. Redfern, B. Risby, L. Robathan, L. Roberts of Belgravia, L. Roborough, L. Rock, B. Sanderson of Welton, B. Sassoon, L. Sater, B. Scott of Bybrook, B. Seccombe, B. Shackleton of Belgravia, B. Sharma, L. Sherbourne of Didsbury, L. Shields, B. Shinkwin, L. Shrewsbury, E. Smith of Hindhead, L. Soames of Fletching, L. Sterling of Plaistow, L. Stowell of Beeston, B. Strathcarron, L. Strathclyde, L. Stroud, B. Swinburne, B. Swire, L. Taylor of Holbeach, L. Trefgarne, L. Trenchard, V. True, L. Tugendhat, L. Udny-Lister, L. Vaizey of Didcot, L. Waldegrave of North Hill, L. Wasserman, L. Wei, L. Wharton of Yarm, L. Willetts, L. Williams of Trafford, B. Wolfson of Aspley Guise, L. Wyld, B. Young of Cookham, L. Younger of Leckie, V.

Non-affiliated (12 votes)

Ashton of Hyde, L. Chisholm of Owlpen, B. Cooper of Windrush, L. Faulks, L. Foster of Aghadrumsee, B. Fox of Buckley, B. Harrington of Watford, L. Lupton, L. Moore of Etchingham, L. Moyo, B. Rosenfield, L. Tyrie, L.

Crossbench (8 votes)

Alton of Liverpool, L. Carter of Haslemere, L. Cavendish of Little Venice, B. Colville of Culross, V. Falkner of Margravine, B. Kakkar, L. O'Loan, B. Sentamu, L.

Democratic Unionist Party (6 votes)

Browne of Belmont, L. Dodds of Duncairn, L. Hay of Ballyore, L. McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown, L. Morrow, L. Weir of Ballyholme, L.

Ulster Unionist Party (3 votes)

Elliott of Ballinamallard, L. Empey, L. Rogan, L.

Bishops (2 votes)

Leeds, Bp. Norwich, Bp.

Plaid Cymru (1 vote)

Wigley, L.

Noes

Labour (127 votes)

Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, B. Anderson of Swansea, L. Armstrong of Hill Top, B. Ashton of Upholland, B. Bach, L. Bassam of Brighton, L. Beamish, L. Beckett, B. Berkeley, L. Blackstone, B. Blake of Leeds, B. Blower, B. Bradley, L. Brooke of Alverthorpe, L. Browne of Ladyton, L. Campbell-Savours, L. Carter of Coles, L. Chakrabarti, B. Chandos, V. Coaker, L. Collins of Highbury, L. Cryer, L. Davies of Brixton, L. Donaghy, B. Donoughue, L. Drake, B. Dubs, L. Eatwell, L. Falconer of Thoroton, L. Faulkner of Worcester, L. Foulkes of Cumnock, L. Gale, B. Giddens, L. Glasman, L. Golding, B. Goldsmith, L. Goudie, B. Grantchester, L. Griffiths of Burry Port, L. Grocott, L. Gustafsson, B. Hacking, L. Hain, L. Hannett of Everton, L. Hanson of Flint, L. Hanworth, V. Harman, B. Harris of Haringey, L. Haskel, L. Hayman of Ullock, B. Hayter of Kentish Town, B. Hazarika, B. Healy of Primrose Hill, B. Hendy of Richmond Hill, L. Hendy, L. Hermer, L. Hollick, L. Howarth of Newport, L. Hunt of Kings Heath, L. Hutton of Furness, L. Jones, L. Jordan, L. Kennedy of Cradley, B. Kennedy of Southwark, L. Kennedy of The Shaws, B. Khan of Burnley, L. Kingsmill, B. Kinnock, L. Knight of Weymouth, L. Lawrence of Clarendon, B. Lennie, L. Leong, L. Liddell of Coatdyke, B. Liddle, L. Lipsey, L. Lister of Burtersett, B. Livermore, L. Mann, L. McConnell of Glenscorrodale, L. McIntosh of Hudnall, B. McNicol of West Kilbride, L. Merron, B. Mitchell, L. Morgan of Drefelin, B. Morris of Yardley, B. Murphy of Torfaen, L. Nye, B. O'Grady of Upper Holloway, B. Osamor, B. Pitkeathley, B. Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L. Prentis of Leeds, L. Ramsey of Wall Heath, B. Rebuck, B. Ritchie of Downpatrick, B. Robertson of Port Ellen, L. Rowlands, L. Sahota, L. Shamash, L. Smith of Basildon, B. Smith of Malvern, B. Snape, L. Spellar, L. Stansgate, V. Stevenson of Balmacara, L. Symons of Vernham Dean, B. Taylor of Stevenage, B. Thornton, B. Timpson, L. Touhig, L. Tunnicliffe, L. Turnberg, L. Twycross, B. Vallance of Balham, L. Warwick of Undercliffe, B. Watson of Invergowrie, L. Watson of Wyre Forest, L. Watts, L. West of Spithead, L. Wheeler, B. Whitaker, B. Wilcox of Newport, B. Winston, L. Winterton of Doncaster, B. Wood of Anfield, L. Woodley, L. Young of Old Scone, B.

Liberal Democrat (54 votes)

Addington, L. Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville, B. Barker, B. Beith, L. Benjamin, B. Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, B. Bowles of Berkhamsted, B. Brinton, B. Bruce of Bennachie, L. Burt of Solihull, B. Dholakia, L. Featherstone, B. Foster of Bath, L. Fox, L. Garden of Frognal, B. German, L. Goddard of Stockport, L. Grender, B. Hamwee, B. Harris of Richmond, B. Humphreys, B. Hussein-Ece, B. Janke, B. Kramer, B. Lee of Trafford, L. Marks of Henley-on-Thames, L. Newby, L. Northover, B. Oates, L. Parminter, B. Pidgeon, B. Pinnock, B. Purvis of Tweed, L. Razzall, L. Rennard, L. Russell, E. Scott of Needham Market, B. Scriven, L. Sharkey, L. Sheehan, B. Shipley, L. Stoneham of Droxford, L. Storey, L. Strasburger, L. Suttie, B. Thomas of Gresford, L. Thomas of Winchester, B. Thornhill, B. Tope, L. Tyler of Enfield, B. Wallace of Saltaire, L. Wallace of Tankerness, L. Walmsley, B. Willis of Knaresborough, L.

Crossbench (39 votes)

Aberdare, L. Berkeley of Knighton, L. Best, L. Bew, L. Boycott, B. Brown of Cambridge, B. Bull, B. Burns, L. Butler of Brockwell, L. Chartres, L. Clancarty, E. Cromwell, L. D'Souza, B. Freeman of Steventon, B. Freyberg, L. Green of Hurstpierpoint, L. Hall of Birkenhead, L. Hampton, L. Hannay of Chiswick, L. Harries of Pentregarth, L. Hayman, B. Hogan-Howe, L. Hope of Craighead, L. Hunt of Bethnal Green, B. Janvrin, L. Kerr of Kinlochard, L. Krebs, L. Laming, L. Londesborough, L. Macpherson of Earl's Court, L. McDonald of Salford, L. Meacher, B. Meston, L. Patel, L. Stuart of Edgbaston, B. Trees, L. Vaux of Harrowden, L. Watkins of Tavistock, B. Wheatcroft, B.

Non-affiliated (7 votes)

Austin of Dudley, L. Cashman, L. Mackenzie of Framwellgate, L. Paddick, L. Paul, L. Truscott, L. Uddin, B.

Green Party (1 vote)

Bennett of Manor Castle, B.

[a-sky-of-diamonds]

About Marin, Zaida, and Caelan

These characters are part of a fanfiction I’m writing, set in the Riordanverse, but featuring my own characters and plot. Three are introduced at the beginning of the series — these three are introduced later on:

Ayla (no surname), a 14-year-old wind nymph and daughter of Aeolus on the autistic spectrum. She’s spent her whole life either in one of the Wind Palaces or in Camp Half-Blood, and so is deeply curious about everything to do with the outside world, constantly asking questions about anyone and anything. She loves to play with her mind, enjoying memorising things and working out answers to puzzles— and probably spends too much time up there, seeing as she doesn’t know what’s going on in the real world half the time. Puns aside, her head is always in the clouds.

Evan Redfern, a 15-year-old whose name will probably change, seeing as he’s from Norway. He’s spent a lot of time surviving alone, and isn’t above using methods such as manipulation to get what he needs. Despite this, he craves some sort of order in his life, and though he can be very ruthless, he doesn’t let his civilisation get away from him. When he’s with others, he tends to disregard them, especially when he’s making plans — he knows what he’s doing, he doesn’t need anyone else to hinder him. Secretly hides a massive sweet tooth.

Ayumu Alaya, a nearly 15 child of Hypnos. Unlike Evan, they definitely don’t hide their own gargantuan sweet tooth, and are extremely partial to marshmallows. They’re an emotional sponge, absorbing and reflecting a lot of what people around them are feeling, and so generally like to keep the peace and stay out of the spotlight to not get overwhelmed. They’re very lazy, but do care about their appearance — especially their hair, which always seems to be dip-dyed a different colour — and enjoy taking time to appreciate the beauty of every day life, which they love to (successfully) paint, and (very unsuccessfully) write poems about.

[adsmusiconstellations]

Bill Evans performing on Jazz 625 at the BBC, London, England. 19th March, 1965. Photography by David Redfern.

http://www.davidredfern.com / https://billevansofficial.com/

[oldhagstrom]

Bill Evans (Photo: David Redfern/Redferns)

[serpentinesheldonserpentine]

Evans

Photo: David Redferns

[themaninthegreenshirt]

Bill Evans by David Redfern

[rockzone]

Tracklist: 28 Dec 2022

My Rock Review of the Year with tracks from some of the best rock releases of 2022.

7pm Magnum - No Steppin' Stones (2022) Wille And The Bandits - In This Together (2022) FM - Long Road Home (2022) Dare - Cradle To Grave (2022) Black Swan - Miracle (2022) Brave Rival - Run And Hide (2022) Graham Bonnet Band - Day Out In Nowhere (2022) Dan Reed Network - Are You Ready (2022) Jimbo's Garage - Living The Hard Way (2022) Laura Evans - State Of Mind (2022) Guns N' Roses - Paradise City (1987) ZZ Top - Gimme all Your Lovin' (1983)

8pm Crossing Rubicon - On The Run (2022) H.E.A.T - One Of Us (2022) House Of Lords - Roll Like Thunder (2022) Troy Redfern - Come On (2022) Revival Black - See You Again (2022) Thundermother - Raise Your Hands (2022) Ozzy Osbourne - God Only Knows (2022) The Dead Daisies - Courageous (2022) Joanne Shaw Taylor - Then There's You (2022) Black Paisley - Set Me On Fire (2022) Burnt Out Wreck - Lion (2022) Sabu - Midnight Road To Madness (2022)

* Recent shows can be heard On Demand and via Google Podcasts

[rich4a1]

Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #151

Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #151

Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Nathan Pope Laurence Jones Anywhere With Me Too Slim &The Taildraggers Cowboy Boot Live! Todd Sharpville  Get Out Of My Way The Dead Daisies Shine On Mellisa Etheridge No Souvenirs Live! Thorbjorn Risager& The Black Tornado Watch The Sun Go Down Laura Evans State Of Mind Troy Redfern Come On Supersonic Blues…

[wankerwatch]

Lords Vote

On: Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024

The Earl of Effingham moved that this House regrets that the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024 (SI 2024/1073), laid before the House on 30 October, will reduce the number of social tenants who can purchase their property, undermine home ownership and cut new house building. The House divided:

Ayes: 170 (92.9% Con, 2.4% DUP, 2.4% XB, 1.2% , 1.2% UUP) Noes: 163 (53.4% Lab, 30.7% LD, 12.3% XB, 2.5% , 0.6% PC, 0.6% Green) Absent: ~496

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (158 votes)

Agnew of Oulton, L. Altrincham, L. Anelay of St Johns, B. Arbuthnot of Edrom, L. Arran, E. Ashcombe, L. Bailey of Paddington, L. Balfe, L. Bellamy, L. Bellingham, L. Berridge, B. Bethell, L. Blackwood of North Oxford, B. Blencathra, L. Booth, L. Borwick, L. Bottomley of Nettlestone, B. Bourne of Aberystwyth, L. Brady of Altrincham, L. Bridgeman, V. Bridges of Headley, L. Browning, B. Buscombe, B. Caine, L. Caithness, E. Callanan, L. Cameron of Lochiel, L. Camrose, V. Carrington of Fulham, L. Cathcart, E. Choudrey, L. Cruddas, L. Davies of Gower, L. De Mauley, L. Deben, L. Dobbs, L. Dundee, E. Eccles, V. Effingham, E. Elliott of Mickle Fell, L. Evans of Bowes Park, B. Fairfax of Cameron, L. Fall, B. Farmer, L. Fink, L. Fookes, B. Forsyth of Drumlean, L. Frost, L. Fuller, L. Garnier, L. Gascoigne, L. Geddes, L. Godson, L. Goldie, B. Goodman of Wycombe, L. Hamilton of Epsom, L. Hannan of Kingsclere, L. Hayward, L. Helic, B. Henley, L. Hintze, L. Hodgson of Abinger, B. Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, L. Holmes of Richmond, L. Hooper, B. Horam, L. Howard of Lympne, L. Howe, E. Howell of Guildford, L. Hunt of Wirral, L. Jamieson, L. Jenkin of Kennington, B. Johnson of Lainston, L. Johnson of Marylebone, L. Kamall, L. Keen of Elie, L. Kirkhope of Harrogate, L. Laing of Elderslie, B. Lancaster of Kimbolton, L. Lansley, L. Lawlor, B. Lea of Lymm, B. Leigh of Hurley, L. Lilley, L. Lindsay, E. Lingfield, L. Liverpool, E. Lucas, L. Mackinlay of Richborough, L. Mancroft, L. Manzoor, B. Marland, L. Marlesford, L. May of Maidenhead, B. McInnes of Kilwinning, L. McIntosh of Pickering, B. McLoughlin, L. Mendoza, L. Meyer, B. Minto, E. Mobarik, B. Monckton of Dallington Forest, B. Morris of Bolton, B. Moylan, L. Moynihan, L. Murray of Blidworth, L. Naseby, L. Neville-Jones, B. Neville-Rolfe, B. Newlove, B. Nicholson of Winterbourne, B. Noakes, B. Northbrook, L. Norton of Louth, L. O'Neill of Bexley, B. Owen of Alderley Edge, B. Parkinson of Whitley Bay, L. Patten, L. Penn, B. Petitgas, L. Porter of Fulwood, B. Porter of Spalding, L. Randall of Uxbridge, L. Ranger of Northwood, L. Reay, L. Redfern, B. Roberts of Belgravia, L. Roborough, L. Sanderson of Welton, B. Sandhurst, L. Sassoon, L. Sater, B. Shackleton of Belgravia, B. Sharma, L. Sharpe of Epsom, L. Shephard of Northwold, B. Shinkwin, L. Smith of Hindhead, L. Soames of Fletching, L. Stedman-Scott, B. Stowell of Beeston, B. Strathcarron, L. Strathclyde, L. Sugg, B. Swire, L. Taylor of Holbeach, L. Trefgarne, L. True, L. Vaizey of Didcot, L. Wakeham, L. Waldegrave of North Hill, L. Wharton of Yarm, L. Willetts, L. Williams of Trafford, B. Wrottesley, L. Wyld, B. Young of Cookham, L. Younger of Leckie, V.

Democratic Unionist Party (4 votes)

Dodds of Duncairn, L. Hay of Ballyore, L. McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown, L. Morrow, L.

Crossbench (4 votes)

Alton of Liverpool, L. Chartres, L. Curry of Kirkharle, L. Deech, B.

Non-affiliated (2 votes)

Foster of Aghadrumsee, B. Prior of Brampton, L.

Ulster Unionist Party (2 votes)

Empey, L. Rogan, L.

Noes

Labour (87 votes)

Adams of Craigielea, B. Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, B. Anderson of Swansea, L. Armstrong of Hill Top, B. Ashton of Upholland, B. Bach, L. Bassam of Brighton, L. Berkeley, L. Blackstone, B. Blake of Leeds, B. Blower, B. Blunkett, L. Bradley, L. Brooke of Alverthorpe, L. Browne of Ladyton, L. Bryan of Partick, B. Campbell-Savours, L. Carter of Coles, L. Chandos, V. Crawley, B. Davidson of Glen Clova, L. Donaghy, B. Drake, B. Faulkner of Worcester, L. Foulkes of Cumnock, L. Gale, B. Glasman, L. Golding, B. Goldsmith, L. Hacking, L. Hain, L. Hannett of Everton, L. Hanson of Flint, L. Harman, B. Hayman of Ullock, B. Hayter of Kentish Town, B. Hazarika, B. Healy of Primrose Hill, B. Hendy of Richmond Hill, L. Hollick, L. Howarth of Newport, L. Hughes of Stretford, B. Jones of Whitchurch, B. Kennedy of Southwark, L. Kennedy of The Shaws, B. Knight of Weymouth, L. Lennie, L. Leong, L. Liddle, L. Lister of Burtersett, B. Livermore, L. Mann, L. McConnell of Glenscorrodale, L. McIntosh of Hudnall, B. McNicol of West Kilbride, L. Merron, B. Monks, L. Morgan of Drefelin, B. Morgan of Huyton, B. Murphy of Torfaen, L. O'Grady of Upper Holloway, B. Pitkeathley, B. Quin, B. Ramsay of Cartvale, B. Ramsey of Wall Heath, B. Ritchie of Downpatrick, B. Rooker, L. Sherlock, B. Sikka, L. Smith of Basildon, B. Smith of Malvern, B. Stansgate, V. Stevenson of Balmacara, L. Taylor of Bolton, B. Taylor of Stevenage, B. Tunnicliffe, L. Warwick of Undercliffe, B. Watson of Invergowrie, L. Watson of Wyre Forest, L. Watts, L. Wheeler, B. Whitaker, B. Whitty, L. Wilcox of Newport, B. Winston, L. Winterton of Doncaster, B. Young of Old Scone, B.

Liberal Democrat (50 votes)

Addington, L. Barker, B. Beith, L. Benjamin, B. Bowles of Berkhamsted, B. Brinton, B. Bruce of Bennachie, L. Burt of Solihull, B. Clement-Jones, L. Dholakia, L. Doocey, B. Featherstone, B. Foster of Bath, L. German, L. Goddard of Stockport, L. Grender, B. Hamwee, B. Harris of Richmond, B. Humphreys, B. Hussein-Ece, B. Janke, B. Kramer, B. Marks of Henley-on-Thames, L. Miller of Chilthorne Domer, B. Newby, L. Oates, L. Palmer of Childs Hill, L. Randerson, B. Razzall, L. Redesdale, L. Rennard, L. Russell, E. Scott of Needham Market, B. Sharkey, L. Sheehan, B. Shipley, L. Stoneham of Droxford, L. Storey, L. Strasburger, L. Suttie, B. Thomas of Gresford, L. Thomas of Winchester, B. Thornhill, B. Thurso, V. Tope, L. Tyler of Enfield, B. Wallace of Saltaire, L. Wallace of Tankerness, L. Walmsley, B. Wrigglesworth, L.

Crossbench (20 votes)

Aberdare, L. Berkeley of Knighton, L. Clancarty, E. Colville of Culross, V. Cork and Orrery, E. Erroll, E. Finlay of Llandaff, B. Ford, B. Freyberg, L. Hampton, L. Hannay of Chiswick, L. Hunt of Bethnal Green, B. Kidron, B. Lytton, E. Mawson, L. O'Neill of Bengarve, B. Patel, L. Prashar, B. Watkins of Tavistock, B. de Clifford, L.

Non-affiliated (4 votes)

Allan of Hallam, L. Austin of Dudley, L. Paddick, L. Uddin, B.

Plaid Cymru (1 vote)

Wigley, L.

Green Party (1 vote)

Bennett of Manor Castle, B.

[thedsp-blog1]

Dr. Death’s victim list

Acton, Lily Adams, Lizzie Adkinson, Sarah Adshead, Norman Adshead, Rose Ann Aitken, Irene Andrew, Dorothy Mary Andrew, Joseph Andrew, Mary Emma Arrandale, Albert Arrowsmith, Winifred Ashcroft, Netta Ashton, Dora Elizabeth Ashton, Ellen Ashworth, Ada Ashworth, Brenda Ashworth, Elizabeth Ashworth, James Ashworth, Sarah Aveyard, Clara Ethel Baddeley, Elizabeth Mary Baddeley, John Bagshaw, Bertha Barber, Squire Bardsley, Joseph Bardsley, Lily Bardsley, Nellie Barker, Elsie Barlow, Charles Henry Barnes, James Edward Battersby, Elizabeth Baxter, William Beech, Joseph Bell, Norman John Bennett, Ethel Bennett, Frances Bennett, Nellie Bennison, Charlotte Bent, Arthur Berry, Irene Bill, Edith Annie Birchall, Mary Ivy Bird, Violet May Black, Alice Boardman, Kathleen May Boardman, Mary Louisa Bogle, Geoffrey Bolland, Alice Bowers, Mary Elizabeth Bradshaw, Miriam Brady, Edith Bramwell, Harold Bramwell, Vera Brassington, Charles Geoffrey Brassington, Nancy Anne Bridge, Doris Bridge, Jane Brierley, Albert Brierley, Edith Broadbent, Lily Brock, Edith Brocklehurst, Charles Edward Brocklehurst, Vera Brooder, Irene Brookes, Lily Brookes, May Brown, Alice Brown, Mary Alice Brown, William Henry Buckland, Edward Buckley, Ethel Burke, Elizabeth Mary Butcher, Lydia Edith Cains, Ida Callaghan, Sean Stuart Calverley, Edith Campbell, Annie Carradice, Marion Carrington, Alice Carroll, Josephine May Cartwright, Hannah Chadwick, Wilfred Challinor, Ivy Elizabeth Challoner, Genevieve Chapman, Irene Chappell, Alice Chappell, Wilfred Charlton, John Charnock, George Cheetham, Albert Cheetham, Alfred Cheetham, Elsie Cheetham, Hena Cheetham, Norah Cheetham, Thomas Chidlow, Amy Clarke, Fanny Clayton, Elsie Clayton, Frances Clee, Beatrice Helen Clough, James Condon, Thomas Connaughton, Alice Hilda Connors, Michael Conway, Margaret Ann Coomber, Frederick Cooper, Ann Copeland, Erla Copeland, Sydney Hoskins Couldwell, Constance Anne Coulthard, Ann Coutts, Mary Couzens, Hilda Mary Cox, Eileen Theresa Crompton, Eileen Daphne Crompton, Frank Crompton, John Crossley, Lily Cullen, Lilian Cuthbert, Valerie Davies, Cissie Davies, Eric Davies, Fred Davies, Miriam Dawson, Fanny Dean, Elsie Lorna Dean, Joan Edwina Delaney, Bessie Denham, Christopher Dentith, Frederick Devenport, Ronnie Dixon, Alice Dobb, Edgar Dolan, Ethel Drinkwater, Alice Drummond, Joseph Dudley, Mary Rose Dutton, Elaine Earls, Doris Earnshaw, William Eddleston, Harold Eddleston, Monica Edge, Agnes Evans, Bethel Anne Everall, Hannah Everall, Joseph Vincent Farrell, Phyllis Fernley, Marie Antoinette Firman, Mary Elizabeth Fish, Hilda Fitton, Hilda Fletcher, Dorothy Fletcher, Elizabeth Floyd, Arthur Fogg, Leah Foulkes, Edwin Fowden, Thomas Fox, Moira Ashton France, John Freeman, Harold Freeman, Winifred Frith, Hannah Galpin, Minnie Doris Irene Garlick, Rose Garlick, Violet Garratt, Mary Alice Garside, Millicent Gaskell, Marion Gaunt, Mary Gee, Nellie Gess, Clifford Givens, William Goddard, Edith Godfrey, Elsie Golds, Annie Elizabeth Gorton, Alice Maude Graham, Edith Gray, Rebecca Greenhalgh, John Sheard Grimshaw, Annie Grimshaw, Muriel Grundy, Donald Anthony Grundy, Kathleen Grundy, Nora Hackney, Clara Hackney, Clara Hadfield, Violet Hague, William Hall, Josephine Halliday, Frank Hallsworth, Janet Hamblett, Leonora Hamer, Mary Emma Hammond, Caroline Veronica Hampson, Jesse Hancock, Christine Hannible, Elsie Harding, Joan Milray Harris, Charles Harris, Harriet Harrison, Christina Harrison, David Alan Harrison, Marion Harrison, Muriel Eveline Harrison, Samuel Harrop, Elsie Haslam, Mary Elizabeth Hawkins, Sarah Healey, Winifred Heapey, Clifford Barnes Heapey, Gladys Heathcote, Irene Heginbotham, Olive Hennefer, Ellen Hett, Mary Jane Heywood, Ada Heywood, Florence Hibbert, Hilda Mary Hickson, Robert Higginbottom, George Eric Higginbottom, Peter Higgins, Barry Higgins, Lily Higham, Marion Elizabeth Highley, Ruth Higson, Ellen Hill, Sarah Ann Hillier, Pamela Marguerite Hilton, Ada Matley Hilton, John Hirst, Emma Holgate, Ethel Doris Holland, Alline Devolle Holt, Alice Hopkins, Dorothy Doretta Howcroft, John Hulme, Hilda Hurd, May Iwanina, Jozef Jackman, Harold Edward Jackson, Maureen Lamonnier Jackson, Nancy Jameson, Ronald Jeffries, Beatrice Johnson, Norah Johnson, Richard Johnston, Leah Jones, Alice Mary Jones, David Jones, Hannah Jones, Ivy Jones, Jane Jones, Robert Edward Jordan, Mary Ellen Keating, Mary Kellett, Ethel May Kellett, Fred Kelly, Ellen Kelly, Moira Kennedy, Alice Killan, Charles Henry King, Elsie King, James Joseph Kingsley, Mary Kitchen, Alice Christine Lacey, Renee Leach, Florence Leech, Edith Leech, William Henry Lees, Olive Leigh, Carrie Leigh, Joseph Leigh, Wilfred Lewis, Elsie Lewis, Florence Lewis, Peter Lilley, Jean Lingard, Robert Henry Linn, Laura Frances Livesey, John Louden Llewellyn, Edna May Lomas, Harry Lomas, Ivy Long, Dorothy Longmate, Thomas Alfred Lord, Jane Ellen Lowe, Beatrice Lowe, Esther Lowe, May Lyons, Eva MacConnell, Charles Mackenzie, Selina Mackie, Christina McCulloch Mansfield, Mary Ann Mansfield, Walter Marley, Martha Marsland, Sarah Hannah Matley, Maud McDonald, Kathleen McLaren, William James McLoughlin, Gertrude Melia, Joan May Mellor, Elizabeth Ellen Mellor, Samuel Mellor, Winifred Meredith, Oscar Metcalfe, Margaret Middleton, Deborah Middleton, Mary Mills, Samuel Mitchell, Cyril Mitchell, Wilbert Molesdale, John Bennett Morgan, Emily Moss, Bertha Moss, Hannah Mottram, George Henry Mottram, Hannah Helena Mottram, Pamela Grace Moult, Thomas Mullen, Nellie Mycock, Miriam Rose Emily Needham, Nora Nicholls, Violet Nichols, Fanny Nichols, Lily Nuttall, Hervey Nuttall, Norah O'Sullivan, Thomas Ogden, Mary Oldham, Agnes Oldham, Samuel Oswald, Frances Elaine Otter, Enid Ousey, Margaret Ovcar-Robinson, Konrad Peter Overton, Renate Eldtraude Oxley, Phyllis Parker, Marjorie Parkes, Annie Parkin, Laura Victoria Parr, Bertha Pearce, Elizabeth Pedley, Rosetta Penney, Vara Pickering, Leah Pickup, Kenneth Pickup, Mavis Mary Pitman, Edith Platt, Elsie Platt, Marion Pomfret, Bianka Potts, Frances Potts, Reginald Powers, Annie Alexandra Preston, Ada Marjorie Prestwich, Alice Proud, Ethel May Quinn, Marie Ralphs, Anne Lilian Ralphs, Ernest Colin Rawling, Alice Reade, Audrey Redfern, Tom Renwick, Dorothea Hill Richards, Jose Kathleen Diana Richardson, Alice Riley, Stanley Roberts, Edith Roberts, Esther Hannah Roberts, Gladys Robinson, Eileen Robinson, Eveline Robinson, Lavinia Robinson, Mildred Rogers, Elizabeth Ann Rostron, Jane Frances Rowarth, Dorothy Rowbottom, Annie Rowland, Jane Isabella Royles, Elsie Royston, Betty Rudol, Ernest Russell, Tom Balfour Sankey, Margaret Saunders, Albert Edward Saunders, Gladys Scott, Edith Scott, Elsie Sellors, Kate Maud Sharples, Cicely Shaw, Joseph Shaw, Leonard Shaw, Lilian Shaw, Neville Shaw, Susan Eveline Shawcross, Edna Shawcross, Ernest Shawcross, Mabel Shelmerdine, Jack Leslie Shelmerdine, Jane Elizabeth Shore, Lily Sidebotham, Florence Sigley, Elizabeth Teresa Simpson, Kenneth Harry Slater, Albert Slater, Florence Slater, Lena Norah Slater, May Smith, Alice Smith, Dora Elizabeth Smith, Emma Smith, Kenneth Ernest Smith, Margaret Smith, Mary Alice Smith, Sidney Arthur Smith, Winifred Isabel Sparkes, Monica Rene Squirrell, Alice Stafford, Harry Stafford, Kate Elizabeth Stansfield, Joe Ainscow Stocks, Louisa Stone, John Stopford, Arthur Henderson Stopford, Harriet Strickland, Ruth Sumner, Grace Swann, Bessie Swann, Robert Swindells, Emmeline Taylor, Caroline Mary Taylor, Edna Mary Taylor, Florence Taylor, Lily Newby Taylor, Mary Tempest, Mary Ann Thomas, Alice Thomas, Sarah Ann Thornton, Maria Tideswell, Sarah Tierney, Angela Philomena Tingle, Walter Toft, Beatrice Tomlin, Mary Townsend, Margaret Tucker, Dorothy Tuff, Mary Tuffin, Winifred Amy Turner, Frances Elizabeth Turner, Irene Uttley, Stanley Vickers, Frederick Vickers, Margaret Mary Virgin, Lucy Vizor, George Edgar Vizor, May Wagstaff, George Lawton Wagstaff, Jessie Irene Wagstaff, Laura Kathleen Waldron, Margaret Anne Walker, Edward Walker, Ellen Walker, Henrietta Walker, Winifred Mary Waller, Harry Waller, Marjorie Hope Walls, Mary Walton, Sydney Warburton, Ada Ward, Maureen Alice Ward, Minnie Ward, Muriel Margaret Ward, Percy Wardle, Eric Wareing, William Hill Warren, May Wass, Kathleen May Watkins, Annie West, Maria Wharam, Ellen Frances Wharmby, Lavinia White, Mona Ashton Whitehead, Amy Whitham, Colin Whittaker, Maureen Whittaker, Violet Mary Whittingslow, Vera Whittle, Edith Wibberley, Edith Wilcockson, Joseph Frank Wilkinson, Annie Wilkinson, Maud Williams, Albert Redvers Williams, Emily Williamson, Sarah Jane Wills, Jack Wilmore, Margaret Wilson, Muriel Elsie Wimpeney, Mark Winston, George Winston, Olive Winterbottom, Mary Wood, Annie Wood, Charles Henry Wood, Fanny Wood, James Woodhead, Joyce Woodhead, Kenneth Wharmby

[movies-derekwinnert]

The Cariboo Trail *** (1950, Randolph Scott, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Bill Williams, Karin Booth, Victor Jory) Classic Movie Review 9651

The Cariboo Trail *** (1950, Randolph Scott, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Bill Williams, Karin Booth, Victor Jory) Classic Movie Review 9651

‘Between majestic mountains and frozen waste lay The Cariboo Trail… gateway to gold, greed and glory!’

Director Edwin L Marin 1950 film The Cariboo Trail is a good-looking gold-mining Western, set in Canada’s British Columbia, where crooked town boss Frank Walsh (Victor Jory) clashes with Montana cattleman Jim Redfern (Randolph Scott) and his prospector buddy Mike Evans (Bill Williams) when…

[nationalssquash]

2020 Masters Day THREE : Semi-Finalists Decided

Stuart Hardy reports

Pat Kirton has more National Masters titles than anyone.  18.  And a host of British Opens.  He showed his class today beating current World O80 Champion Lance Kinder in straight games.

Another prolific champion is the Men’s 75s.  Adrian Wright (YKS) is a four-time World Champion and has nine National titles.  He overcame a spirited challenge from John Robertson (DYS) winning in four and will meet Ken Johnson (NLD) who squeezed past Thomas Elves in an all North East clash.  In the other half British Open Champion Mike Clemson (YKS) will meet Scotland No 1 Ken Reid.

Top seed and former Open and National Champion Barry Featherstone (HPH) had a hard time against Jonathan Firth (CHS) in the Over 70s winning in four and now meets Ian Graham (SSX).  They have each won once this season.  The other semi will be between England captain Larry Grover (HPH) and Scotland No 1 Ian Ross, a former European Champion.

The top four seeds came through in the 65s.  Stuart Hardy (MDX) the Masters Chairman had another 3/2 win – this over Terry Belshaw (CBA) and now has the pleasure of a match with top seed and five-time champion Mark Cowley (MDX).  In the other half defending champion Steve Johnson (LNH) removed Geoff Redfern (WKS) in three close games and will play Simon Evenden (NHM) who proved too mobile for Paul Reader (HPH).

The match of the Men’s 60s was between a former champion Jeremy Goulding (AVN) and James Ockwell (MDX) back in his first event for five years.  In a match full of some great squash Goulding saved the fourth and held on for a 12/10 in the fifth for the win.  He meets Neil Harrison (DCL) in one semi while top seed and defending Champion Jon Evan (Wales) awaits.  He overcame Scotland No 1 Robin Ridley and now plays European Champion Allen Barwise (LNH) who got a revenge win over George Kousseff (HPH).

Hampshire’s Jon Foster continues to impress in the 55s and now meets Ray Burke (LNH) who has been frantically training since Christmas and given up alcohol.  It paid off as he saved match points and won a five-game thriller against Darren Withey (BUX).  In the other half Alex Betts (MDX) tamed the powerful Steve Calvert (NLD) and meets his season’s nemesis in former champion Eamonn Price (HFD).

Four times National Champion Yawar Abbas (DCL) gave another master class in the Mens 50s and sets up a semi with Steve McLoughlin (HPH) who won an all action match against Phil Yerby (BUX) the defending National Champion in five,  There was an upset in the other half as No 2 seed Dave Youngs (NOR) lost in four to Tim Clark (DCL) and he meets County colleague Andy Cross who made it three semi-finals out of four for Durham.

In a battle of the Nicks, the O45 top seed Nick Wall (YKS) survived by a slim 12/10 in the fifth against the talented Nick Staunton (IRE) the 2018 Champion.  He now meets Matt Stephenson (YKS) who stunned Devon’s Jon Gallacher in a power-hitting match.  The other half of the draw saw Ashley Bowling (OFE) book his semi-final with a 3/0 win over Wales No 1 Jonathan Davies and he plays defending champion Paul Boyle (BUX).

Former circuit pro Darren Lewis (LEC) stormed into the semi-finals of the Men’s 40s against Tim Burrell (BRK) and now plays local pro Nick Hargreaves who much to the delight of the home crowd came through against Nick Freer (MDX).  The other half had former champion Matt Marshall (BUX) take on the powerful Mick Biggs (MDX) and Biggs went two games up before Marshall struck back and survived match points in the fourth before taking it 20/18 and then clinched the fifth 11/9 in a thriller of high class squash.

In the Blue Riband event the Men’s 35s top seeds showed their class.  Top seed and Army Champion Sam Miller (WKS) beat Paul Stroud (LEC) and meets British Open Champion Phil Nightingale (SRY) who had too much for Keith Timms (HFD).  Another Surrey pro Phil Rushworth, the No 2 seed, despatched Norfolk champion Matt Bolt and will meet another Norfolk star in Jamie Goodrich who had too much game for Surrey’s Tony Webb.

The Women’s events moved into full action.  The 60s boasts three World Champions and two of them will meet in one semi as Julie Field (YKS) beat Scotland’s Eunice Bond while Jill Champion (MDX) won through against Lynne Davies of Wales.  Meanwhile Karen Hume (KNT) removed Susan Pynegar (NOT) and will meet the very skilful Sian Johnson (WAL) the No 2 seed.

The defending Champion in the 55s is Mandy Akin (KNT) and she progressed smoothly and will meet Jackie Gregory (ESX) who upset the seedings beating Isobel Smith (HFD) in five.  Meanwhile the woman with the most Regional titles, Fran Wallis (LCN), booked a semi-final against Hilary Kenyon (CHS) defeating Polly Woodward (CHS) while Kenyon beat Surrey’s Tammy Bennett.

European Champion Andrea Santamaria (YKS) is the one to beat in the Women’s 50s.  Dorset’s Bev Vatcher gave her all and took the first but was then pegged back and overpowered.  She plays Rackethon Champion Izzy Bramhall (NOT) who beat another Dorset player Sharmine Coleman.

The defending Champion in the Women’s over 45s is Rachel Woodward (NOT) and she had too much game for Zoe Shardlow (SSX) and now has a semi-final against Louisa Dalwood (HFD).  The seeds in the other half survived and Sarah Parr (BKS) edged home in four against Linda Pritchard (SPE) and meets England teammate Rachel Calver (LEC) for a place in the final.

The Women’s 35s seeds all meet in the semi-finals.  Sarah Campion (CHS) will meet county colleague Natalie Husdon.  She beat Reka Gay (CBE) in straight games.  Second seed Sarah-Jane Neller (ESX) proved too good for Elaine Radcliffe (SPE) and plays Sophie Beake (BRK) who defeated Gemma Barber (DOR) also in straight games.

The semi-finals will all be at Nottingham Squash Club on Saturday from 11 am.  Spectators are welcome.

[devsavesdaworld-blog]

So. I’m gay. That’s pretty neat.

Some people might be surprised by this, some others maybe not. It doesn’t really matter anyhow, because the way I am is really the way I am and there’s no changing that.

But even just a year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to talk about this so freely and candidly. A year ago, my life was entirely different. Two years ago, three, five, 10. So much has changed from that dorky kid who grew up in a small farming town where the cows outnumbered the people.

It was in this small farming town where I learned that “gay” was synonymous with “wrong” or “weird” or “broken.” Kids would throw gay around as an insult, and some of those insults were thrown at me for being a sensitive kid who would rather lend someone a pencil to make them like me than actually stand up for myself, even though I knew I was never going to get that pencil to come. I cried when the dogs in Where the Redfern Grows ended up dying. I didn’t want to be mean, and I loved hugs. I was skinny and not that athletic, but smart, and felt more comfortable around girls even though they made me feel like shit most of the time because most of my cousins were girls. But really, I was just always myself. I didn’t even know what “gay” was at the time, let alone sex or any of those R-rated concepts that were thrown around.

High school wasn’t much better, but I started learning. My friend groups shifted a few times, but I always more of an innocent kid. Still smart, but long and gangly after a growth spurt that left me a bean pole. My mom even thought I was going to die one day from being so skinny. Awkward, gangly, etc. But innocent and unaware of much outside of small farming town.

Then high school continued, and I started growing and maturing, and I started noticing more of these impulses and intrigues I had towards guys instead of girls, though I was so confused at the time because, well, guys were supposed to be in relationships with girls, right? I didn’t even know how that all worked, but I tried my best to do the typical teenage stuff. Tried going after a few girls, tried kissing a few, ended up kissing one. But it was never really exactly the most comfortable of experiences.

Still gangly. Still a dork.

Then I hit a major depression, and that sucked, but at least during that time I grew a lot and I learned more about myself. But I still never really understood the whole gay thing.

And then I became a Christian. I felt like God brought me into his arms, and I fell in love with Christianity and the Church and everything that came with having Jesus in my life. But there was one thing that was always off, and that was that I started understanding my sexual attraction toward boys instead of girls. When it finally hit me that I had the oh-so-sinful “same-sex attraction,” I was scared in a way because everything so far had reinforced this tainted image of what being gay meant. In college, I came out to a few people in the first couple of years, but I was so cared.

I even came out to the pastor of the church I was going to at the time. His first questions for me was “Were you ever sexually molested as a child?”

No, pastor.

“Have you ever heard of the Exodus program?”

Again, no. Looked into it. It was a “reparative therapy” program that attempted to make gay people become straight.

What it really did was make people want to kill themselves, which they did time and time again. It was shutdown for being inhumane, and I’m glad I never followed that pastor’s advice.

But I was stuck in a place of pain, of struggle, or having to put on a façade and lie constantly and not be open with myself and with others because I was afraid of how the world would react, especially the world of American Christianity. I heard the horror stories, and the pastor I came out to really didn’t help me feel comfortable with it either.

I was constantly praying for change, while at the same time feeling guilty for how I felt, and seeing and hearing Christians condemn homosexuality. I was confused, I was struggling, and I tried to repress so much but ended up just getting hurt more and more.

In my college Christian group, I had better support. People who were “praying for me.” Praying for me to change, for me to be delivered from this “sin,” etc. Proud of me for not falling into that “lifestyle.”

But then I left that college Christian group after graduating. I loved it, and I still do, and I had lots of love come from it as well. But I still always had to hide, and had to be ashamed of who I was. I had some hard, difficult things happen.

After the group, I found some friends who started showing me even more support, and a different kind of love. Not a love that asked me to change, but accepted me for where I was and who I was. These people I started hanging around – Christians and non-christians – helped me to understand that I shouldn’t be ashamed of who I was. But it still wasn’t enough for me to accept myself, to feel that freedom.

And then a group of pastors and other people came together to create the “Nashville Statement,” where 14 articles (without any scripture referenced) were thrown together to condemn not only gays, but gay Christians, transgendered individuals, and anyone who supported them, saying that they were all barred from heaven. But they said it nice. But it was still damaging, and completely tone deaf in the midst of Hurricane Harvey, as well as a complete blindness to all of the harm and damage that the church has done to people and to the mission of Christ, all of the people the lost their lives because of hatred and bigotry and ignorance from the church. All of the people they’ve pushed away, or made feel wrong, or drove to killing themselves.

I was close a few times myself.

But these articles were so bad, so dumb, so atrocious and ignorant that it motivated me to dig more into the Open and Affirming side of Christianity. Side A, they call it. Accepting of anyone, no matter the gender or sexuality. An open church, with open doors and open arms. Rachel Held Evans, in her book Searching for Sunday, wrote about it a lot as well, which honestly made me cry more than once because of how close to home they hit.

That’s when I decided to accept my sexuality, accept that I was gay, and own it. Nothing about who I was changed from that decision, though. I just became more confident, more comfortable, more in tune with myself. I’ve felt freer than I ever have before, and honestly more in touch with God than ever before as well. Because that’s the thing. I can be a Christian, and I can be gay, and it’s amazing and comforting.

“But the scriptures!” people will say.

But that’s for people who think that the bible is an inerrant, magical book without flaw, which is not how I see it. Sacrilegious, I know, but this “inerrant” bible hasn’t really been used in the best ways when interpreting it literally, without sense of context, translation errors, man’s influence, etc.

The truths still stand to me. God as creator, Jesus as savior. If we agree on that, then there may as well not be more conversation unless we come at it on the same basic assumptions about the bible and its nature.

Anyways, now that I’ve finally accepted this huge aspect of my life, I feel great. I came out to friends, parents, siblings, and I have a loving, supportive circle of friends who love me a lot, and I love them a lot as well. It’s helping me to be a better friend and family member as well because, well, now I don’t have to continue to hide, or be someone I’m not.

So the reason I’m writing this is…well, there are a few reasons.

1. I wanted to come out publicly so that people know where I stand and where I’m at, which will hopefully challenge a few people’s perceptions on the whole topic, and so I don’t have to be in the dark anymore.

2. Because maybe someone, somewhere, will see this and understand that there are people here for them, and that if there is something weighing on you like this, that me and a lot of other people are out there who will love and support you no matter what.

3. So I don’t have to be afraid anymore.

Anyway, if you made it to the end. Thank you for hearing my story. If you have any questions, feel free to ask over messenger, as long as you’re not some religious idiot who’s going to tell me I’m going to hell, or tell me I’m living in sin, or encourage me to turn from my sinful ways or whatever.

Those people are literally the absolute worst, and Jesus cries whenever they do shit like that.

But for everyone else, thank you. Nobody should have to live in fear or in the dark just for being themselves.