#havells wall light

[centaurpowers]

Illuminating Your Space with Efficiency and Elegance with LED Wall Lights in Bhopal

Centaur Powers & Solar Energy is your one-stop destination for high-quality LED wall lights in Bhopal. We pride ourselves on providing innovative lighting solutions that combine energy efficiency, durability, and stylish designs. Whether you are looking to enhance the ambiance of your home, office, or commercial space, our LED wall lights offer the perfect blend of functionality and aesthetics.

Why Choose LED Wall Lights?

LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology has revolutionized the lighting industry, and for good reason. LED lights offer numerous advantages over traditional lighting options, making them the preferred choice for modern lighting applications. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider LED wall lights for your lighting needs in Bhopal:

Energy Efficiency: LED lights are highly energy-efficient, consuming significantly less power compared to traditional incandescent or fluorescent lights. This translates into substantial energy savings, helping you reduce your electricity bills and contribute to a greener environment.

Longevity: LED wall lights have an impressive lifespan, far exceeding that of conventional lighting options. With an average lifespan of 50,000 to 100,000 hours, LED lights require minimal maintenance and replacement, reducing both your hassle and long-term costs.

Eco-Friendly: LED lights are environmentally friendly, as they do not contain harmful substances like mercury or lead. Additionally, their energy efficiency helps in reducing carbon emissions, making them a sustainable lighting choice.

Durability: LED wall lights are highly durable and resistant to shocks, vibrations, and external impacts. This makes them perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications, ensuring their longevity and reliability even in challenging environments.

Instantaneous Lighting: Unlike traditional bulbs that require time to warm up, LED lights provide instant illumination when switched on. This feature is particularly advantageous in spaces where immediate bright lighting is necessary, such as hallways, staircases, or outdoor areas.

Design Flexibility: LED wall lights come in a wide range of designs, sizes, and shapes, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your space. Whether you prefer sleek and minimalist designs or more decorative options, LED lights offer versatile options to match your aesthetic preferences.

Enhanced Ambiance: LED lights provide excellent lighting quality, with the ability to produce a range of colour temperatures and brightness levels. This versatility allows you to create the desired ambiance in your space, whether it's a cosy warm glow for a bedroom or a bright and vibrant light for a commercial setting.

Why Choose Centaur Powers & Solar Energy?

At Centaur Powers & Solar Energy, we are committed to delivering the best LED wall lights in Bhopal. Here's what sets us apart

Extensive Product Range: We offer a wide selection of LED wall lights, catering to various needs and preferences. From modern and contemporary designs to classic and traditional styles, our collection has something for everyone.

Superior Quality: We prioritize quality and ensure that all our LED wall lights meet stringent industry standards. Our products undergo rigorous testing to ensure long-lasting performance and reliability.

Energy Efficiency Solutions: We believe in promoting sustainable lighting practices. Our LED wall lights are designed to optimize energy consumption; reducing your carbon footprint and helping you save on electricity bills.

Professional Guidance: Our experienced team is dedicated to providing personalized assistance and expert advice to help you choose the right LED wall lights for your specific requirements. We understand that every space is unique, and we strive to find the perfect lighting solution tailored to your needs.

Installation Services: We offer professional installation services to ensure that your LED wall lights are properly installed for optimal performance and safety. Our technicians have the expertise to handle installations efficiently and effectively.

Customer Satisfaction: We prioritize customer satisfaction and strive to deliver exceptional service at every step of the way. From the moment you walk into our showroom to long after your purchase, we are committed to ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Illuminate Your Space with LED Wall Lights from Centaur Powers & Solar Energy

Upgrade your lighting with LED wall lights from Centaur Powers & Solar Energy in Bhopal. Experience the perfect combination of efficiency, elegance, and durability. Visit our showroom today or get in touch with our friendly team to explore our extensive range of LED wall lights and discover the ideal lighting solution for your space. Let us brighten up your world with our exceptional lighting products and services.

For More Info:-Home interior led lights in Bhopal

[vxntage-honey]

Sweet Tea & Cigarettes

chapter 5

Rainy roads and old books

Hazel sat next to Nathaniel, as she stared blankly ahead, her mind racing. She could barely think straight. Her mind fogged with what ifs and whys as Nathaniel sat calmly beside her.

Havel had felt a shift in the seat next to her and so she looked to her right only to see Nathaniel getting up.

She looked up at him confused “What’s up?”

He looked down at her “Oh, I’m just getting something to drink, you want anything?”

“Oh, I’ll just have a green tea if they have it, if not then you can just get me a water.”

Nathaniel nods his head and walks away leaving Hazel alone with her mind.

Hazel’s thoughts erupted, she had never even talked to a boy, let alone gone to a boy’s house. She never imagined she’d be staying the night at a boy’s house especially not Nathaniel’s house. Her face flushed pink only for a second, she knew she was overthinking things, but she couldn’t help it, it was all so new for her. She was used to girl sleepovers, but she wondered what it would be like with a boy, would it be the same would they still talk about the cute person that they find attractive in school, or would they talk about “boy stuff?’”.

Nathaniel arrived back at the table, drinks in hand.

He handed her the green tea “I wasn’t sure if you wanted sugar, so I brought some packets with me.”

He sat down next to her placing the sugar in front of her and placing his drink on the table.

“Oh, what did you get?”

“Oh, I just got a black coffee.”

Hazel looks at him shocked “What, really I just thought, that was just really dark tea.”

Nathaniel laughs.

“But I guess you do seem like the type to drink black coffee, so I suppose that it’s not that weird.”

“I see you like it sweet,”

he comments as she pours the three sugar packets into her tea.

She giggles stirring her tea, then wrapping her finger around the cup and taking a sip.

She lets out a satisfied sigh “Just how I like it.”

Nathaniel takes a sip of his drink before speaking again.

“Oh also, I do believe that this will be a long ride, so you may want to get comfortable.”

She sighs sitting back in her seat. The world whizzing by outside the train window.

And boy he wasn’t kidding they left the station around 6:30 and it was now 7:55. Hazel sighed shifting in her seat as she turned on her phone. She was about to do something she should have done earlier, text her mom.

“Hay mom, im’a stay at a friend’s house tonight so don’t wait up for me, love you.” Delivered.

With that, she ended up scrolling on her spell phone until she looked at the percentage and it read 20% left.

“Oh shit?!” she quickly turned her phone off only now realizing that she didn’t have her charger.

“You good?” Nathaniel speaks making Hazel jump.

“Oh, ya I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.” He pauses for a moment “Wait I mean you look fine but I”

He sighs “you look…” He pauses for a moment “You look like something troubling you.”

She smiles at him “I just forgot my charger that’s all.”

“Oh, I see what type of phone do you have?”

“a spell phone super 4x”

He looks at her before digging in his bag “Here this should work just plug it in the wall next to you.”

“Oh, thank a bunch” She plugged the wireless charger into the wall and placed her phone on top.

A short time later she felt her eyes become heavy, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep, her head falling atop Nathaniel’s shoulder. He glanced over at her.

seeing her sleepy state made him smile warmly. “You must have been really tired, sleep well, my friend.”

He sighed closing his eyes “You know you’re the first friend I’ve had that seems to truly see me for me and not just my money, I thank you for that.”

He proceeded to lay his head atop hers slowly drifting off to sleep alongside her.

The next thing Hazel knew she was being woken up by Nathaniel nudging her with his shoulder, her eyes fluttering open as the bright light filled her eyes.

“We're almost there” Nathaniel whispered to her.

And Hazel could have sworn she'd felt something soft graze her leg almost like a cat tail, she knows that feeling well, but she chalked it up to her just being half asleep.

She hummed in response indicating that yes, she was now awake well almost anyway. She rubbed her eyes, rubbing the last of her sleep away.

“How long was I asleep for?” she asked looking at him.

“Not long actually”

Hazel sighed before looking outside the window, then it dawned on her, this place was nothing she’d ever seen before, it was dark and not just because it was night but because of the trees, and the buildings flying by, it was all dark and almost Victorian in a sense. This place was new, foreign even, Hazel felt like a child traveling to a faraway land.

“Where are we,” she asked looking out the window.

“We’re in Salvok”

Hazel's eyes widened, for the only time she'd even spoken or heard of the place was when the conversation drifted to the rich, that lived in big houses on big hills, far from common folk like her.

“You live in Salvok?!” Hazel asked not quite believing it.

“I do why?” Nathaniel questioned.

“Oh no, nothing’s wrong, it’s just…” she sighs. “You know what never mind,” she says turning her head towards the window, avoiding his strong gaze.

The train soon came to a halt, and the two walked off.

Hazel was in awe; she had never seen such an architecturally beautiful place quite like this before. All the buildings followed a color pallet of dark colors, the paths were made of black marbled polished stone, and everything was adorned with golden accents.

Hazel followed closely behind Nathaniel, feeling out of place in this seemingly rich neighborhood. Luckily for them, the rain hadn’t yet reached Salvok.

Eventually, they reached the front gate of Nathaniel’s house but there was a pathway that led far beyond the trees and the house could not be seen from where they stood. The gate ominously opened the hinges creaking and bending. Before she knew it, they had begun to walk once again.

The walk was about two and a half play fields long; her legs felt like jelly once they finally approached the house, the house was dark and tall the bricks seeming to reach up at the sky with their points.

Nathaniel held the door open for Hazel to walk in and her amazement didn’t stop at the outside, the inside was just as, if not more exquisite than its exterior. The walls were marbled black, red, and gold, the floor adorned with a large red carpet, and like the cherry on top there were working maids and butlers walking to and from their stations.

Hazel’s mouth hung open.

“Hey Hazel, are you ok?”

Hazel had to pry her eyes away from the view in front of her to look at Nathaniel “Oh ya I’m ok.”

He looks at her, his brow raised.

“I just didn’t expect it to be so” She trails off trying to find her words “extravagant’.

“Oh,” he says, had never thought of it that way before.

“I mean it’s not a bad thing by anything, it’s just so beautiful,” she says with an almost star-struck look.

He looks at her, and a small smile appears on his face. He leads them to his room, down the long hallways, and through the golden archways, they finally reached his room.

He opened the door allowing Hazel to walk in first. To her surprise, his room was quite like she'd imagined. The walls were black like most of the house and even the town, but unlike her imagination there was a small kitchen and couch and TV, with large speakers on either side. Posters adorned the walls, there were some cloths scattered around the room.

“Wow your room is amazing,” she says filled with astonishment.

“Oh, thank you” He chuckles, a smirk appearing on his face.

Before Hazel sat down, she slipped her shoes off setting them by his door. She sat down on his couch feeling as if she had just sat on hundreds of fluffy feathers.

“Also, you can borrow my clothes for tonight” he offers.

“Oh, are you sure?”

He nods “Ya, I mean if you want too of course”

He walked over to his closet grabbing a shirt and a pair of sweatpants. "here you can change in the bathroom over there" he pointed towards the bathroom door.

“Ok thanks,” she said grabbing the clothes and walking onto the bathroom.

Hazel slipped off her clothes and slipped on the shirt that was two sizes too big, the sweatpants weren’t any better, she had to tie them tight for them to even stay up. In the end, she did manage it though.

Hazel let her twin buns down, her hair bouncing as it fell. She grabbed her clothes and walked out of the bathroom to find Nathaniel already changed.

“Feels better to be out of those clothes” she sighed.

“So, what should we do now?” she asked.

“Oh well I watch a lot of anime I’m not sure if you know what that is, but I also have lots of video games too” he lists off some ideas for fun.

Hazel wasn’t listening ever since the word anime passed his lips.

“You watch anime,” she said with a surprised look on her face.

“Ya, I do is there a problem?” he asked narrowing his eyes.

Hazel's body jumped slightly “Oh, no there's no problem with that, it’s just I didn’t take you for the type to watch anime.”

Nathaniel raises his brow.

“Wait that’s not what I meant, it’s just, you seem like the mature and adult type ya know, not someone that chills and plays videogames and watches anime.”

He laughs at her struggling “So you like anime, or not?”

“Oh yes I do” she nods her head.”

“Alright, then it’s your pick what would you like to watch?”

Hazel puts her hand on her chin, thinking for a second “Something scary, I haven’t seen a good horror anime that chilled me to the bone in a long time.”

“Ok, what about Corpse Camp?”

“Wait I love that one it’s one of the few amines that truly got to me, with all its gore and blood it was an exhilarating watch.”

He looks at her with a concerned look.

“Anyway, let’s just watch the anime, shall we?”

He nods at her, joining her on the couch.

The two watch the show all night, including the pre-movie explaining what happened before the show. Eventually, they ended up watching a show called “Monster Girl café”.

Throughout their anime binge, Nathaniel’s eyes fell sleepy. Hazel felt the couch shift next to her; she turned her head only to find a sleeping Nathaniel. She covered him with their shared blanket and not too long after sleep consumed her as well.

The next morning Hazel awoke to the sound of soft breathing in her ear. As the fog in her brain cleared, she felt arms wrapped around her, once this was realized her eyes shot open only to find herself atop Nathaniel’s chest. She breathed slowly their faces inches apart; her body stiffened as the sleeping body under her started to stir.

Nathaniel groaned still half asleep “Let’s stay like this for a bit hm’k.”

His head was in the crook of her neck. Hazel's body softened letting it fall back onto him, and in no time flat they were both asleep once again.

Once the two were fully awake Nathaniel, surprisingly was the one blushing the most “I’m so sorry I don’t know what came over me.”

“Well, it’s not the weirdest thing ever, me and my other friend tend to do the same thing a lot, so don’t worry or think much about it” she reassured him.

Nathaniel nods in response.

“So, um, are you hungry?” he asks rubbing the back of his head and trying to change the subject.

“Oh yeah, I’m starving.” Her eyes sparkled at the thought of food.

“Well, there’s a nice café not far from here if your down to go?” he asked.

“Sure, but I think we should change first,” she says looking him up and down his white shirt that was stuck halfway in his sweatpants.

This gesture causes him to blush slightly. “Oh, also your clothes are in the bathroom they were cleaned last night for you.”

“Thanks,” she said before walking into the bathroom.

They spent the rest of the day together, having fun and whatnot, doing things teens nowadays do. Like going to hang out at random convenient stores or just doing anything that they come across that seems interesting. The streets were still wet from the rain the day prior. Then the next thing they knew the day had slipped by in the blink of an eye, and soon it was time for Hazel to say goodbye and go home.

The two walked to the station together in silence but the good kind of silence, the pleasing silence, until they made it to the station.

“Thanks a lot, Nath, this day was amazing, definitely one of the best I’ve had,” she says turning to him.

They are now face-to-face.

He looks into her eyes “Oh it was nothing really, I’m just glad you had a good time.”

He pauses for a moment, avoiding her gaze.

“Are you sure you ok with taking the train alone?” he asks.

She looks at him with a sweet smile.

“Ya, I’m sure this isn’t my first rodeo.” She says slightly mimicking a southern accent.

This causes Nathaniel to chuckle.

The sound of the train fills their ears soon after.

“Well, I’ll talk to you later,” Hazel says turning toward the train.

But before she could step onto the train Nathaniel grabbed her wrist. Hazel turned around looking at him with a slightly confused look, it looked as though he wanted to say something but opted to say something other than what he was first thinking.

“Thank you, you don’t know how much this means to me, really,” he says before letting her go.

She smiles and walks onto the train.

And just like that she was gone all in the blink of an eye.

Hazel sat in silence normally she would at least listen to music, but Nathaniel’s words rang louder than music, she felt like she was overthinking things, but she couldn’t help it. A soft blush crept onto her cheeks as he stared out the window. This felt like it was going to be a bumpy ride to come.

But then it hit her.

“Fuck I didn’t get his number,” she thought.

She just sat there almost like she was in shock, but there was nothing she could do now what’s done is done she'd have to wait until their next meeting.

Getting off the train she had a sour look on her face all while she walked home. The walk was wet and cold, the trees surrounding her house seemed darker than normal, and it sent a chill down her spine.

Walking into her house, she slipped her shoes off and was yanked into a momma bear hug.

“Oh, honey you're home your ok right, nothings broken?”

“I’m ok” Hazel choked out.

Hazel’s mom held her face and gave her a look of relief, then kissed her on her head.

“Oh, my dear, where’d you run off to?”

“Mom.”

“Did anyone cause you disconcert?”

“Mom”

“Because if they did so help me-”

“Mom?!” Hazel’s voice ceased her mother’s concern.

“If anything happened, I would tell you, you know that.” She explained.

Her mom’s shoulders loosened as she relaxed.

“I was staying at a friend’s house due to the storm ok, it was late, and he didn’t want me to go home in the dark, so I stayed over at his place.”

“You stayed at a boy's house!”

“Mom nothing happened I process” Hazel yelled in response.

She turned away and started walking up to her room.

“Avoid it all you want we're talking tomorrow; you better not be having my grandchildren!”

Hazel rolled her eyes as she walked into her room. She changed into her night clothes and flopped onto her bed as started scrolling on her phone. Her eyes soon fell heavy as she drifted off to dreamland.

 

[meghakakani]

Top 10 Tea Kettles In India(Review+Price+Features+Specification)

TOP 10 TEA KETTLES ON AMAZON

Looking for top 10 tea kettles in india on amazon.Here we have 10 best tea kettles on amazon of electrical and stovetop.This article contains some of the top 10 tea kettles in india available on amazon.These top 10 tea kettles in india are made up with stainless steel,plastics and glass also.This article aims to compare key features and specification of top 10 tea kettles brand in India of different company,their models and prices, so that you can select the one that best fits to your needs.

A kettle is small kitchen appliance which can be found in almost every household nowdays.It is specially design to used for boiling water and milk,lukewarm water or milk or for making tea or coffee.

Amazon Basics Eletric kettle

By using Amazon Basics 1500 Watt,we can heat or boil water/milk anywhere.It is very user friendly,can be use by everyone.This kettlle is of steel body and also lightweight and durable.When the boiling product reached the desired tempreture,it will get automatic off due to auto cut off switch.

Solara Premium Electric kettle

Solara premium kettle has concealed heating element which can boil 1L water in 5 to 7 minutes.It is consist with BPA free food grade materials.Cool touch handle with a simple release button and pop up lid to protect you from accidental burns.

Pigeon Amaze Plus Electric Kettle

Pigeon Amaze Plus kettle is cordless due to this facility we can carry this kettle anywhere for our use .A striking presence on any kitchen counter or buffet in preparing and serving and it is easy for storage and also BPA free product.

Butterfly Ekn Electric Kettle

The Butterfly Ekn Electric Kettle is a kitchen appliance designed for quickly boiling water.The grip of the product is very convient and it has on/off indicator light and thermostat control.

IBELL Premium Electric Kettle

IBELL is a brand that manufactures various home appliances, including electric kettles. An IBELL Premium Electric Kettle is likely a product from their range of electric kettles.

Havells I-Conic Digi Electric Kettle

The Havells i-conic Digi Kettle is an electric kettle which is mainly used for boiling water or other beverages.This kettle has a special feature of double design wall which is very important as safety feature because when we using it for boiling this double wall features keeps the outer surface cool,so not to worry when we have children around us.

Tesora Premium Electric kettel

The Tesora Electric kettle's inner body made up with stainless steel and outer is made upwith plastics,as we all aware that steel is known for its durability feature,resistanc to rust and corrosion and ability to heat water quickly.This kettle has auto power cut off feature so when the water reaches its boiling point,the kettle will automatically switch off.

Wipro Vesta Cool Touch Electric Kettle

The Wipro vesta electric kettle is kitchen appliance specially designed for boiling water and for other hot beverages.This kettle has capacity of 1.8 liter,which is suitable for boiling significant amount of water or milk

Wellxo Flame Proof Glass Kettle 

The Wellxo Flame Proof Glass Kettle with SS Infuser is a glass kettle designed for boiling water and possibly brewing tea.As name indicate its flame proof so it can be directly use on flame .

Borosil Carafe Flame Proof Glass Kettle

This Borosil carafe kettle is stove top or we can say its flameproof Glass Kettle.Borosil is a well-known brand that produces glassware and kitchenware, including items made from borosilicate glass,which is known for its durability and resistance to thermal shock so It can be safely used in the microwave ,oven ,fridge and freezer.

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[edmehravaran]

Studio Eyecandy in Berlin

Studio Eyecandy is located in the center of Berlin, which makes it easy to access. In July 2023 I did a commercial fashion photo shoot in Studio Eyecandy in Berlin for a female fashion brand Called Soccx. This studio has a nice corner where you could take photos and videos. Visit the website to see more photos here.

Studio Eyecandy in Berlin Our fashion model was Mia from Modelwerk Agency. The walls in the studio are white so that you could reflect the light for getting soft light and I used 1 Profoto generator Pro-10 with Chimera Octaplus. My photo gallery

About Studio Eyecandy in Berlin

The photographer duo from Berlin stands for bold photography that attracts immediate attention with their unique interpretation of surrealism and pop art. The photographs created by Fanny Husten and Juliette Mainx bring together apparent contradictions: Minimalism with expression, art with advertising, and simplicity with expressive colors. While Fanny grew up in the loud and powerful capital of Berlin, Juliette was raised on the idyllic Island of Mallorca. In 2015, they decided to unite their creative minds and establish EYECANDY. They bring their own aesthetics to life through still life and portrait photography with self-created creative concepts and set designs.Studio Eyecandy in Berlin In 2017 they brought to life Studio Eyecandy, a very unique and colorful rental location in the heart of Berlin. It can be rented for photo and video shoots, meetings, or small events. Rental Photo Studio in Berlin (Shortlist) - EUROPE CENTER STUDIOS (Owned by me) - Allmost Studio - Birken Studio - Blender Studio - BUFA – Berliner Union Film - BRIDGE Studios Berlin - Batterie - Berlin(Studio Berlin) - Bakery Studio Berlin - Camera Workers - Cherie - Eyecandy - Eoin Moylan Studio - Ever Green Studios - Filmatelier Haselhorst Berlin - Fotostyle Berlin - Glashaus Studio - Heyn Studios - Hangar - HAVEL STUDIOS – Film Studios & photo studios – Berlin - Inclover Studio - Ikonic Studio - Konsum Studio - Kaos Berlin - Ludwig Studio Berlin - Lynx Studio - Lux&Asa - Location Berlin - Lakshmi Studio - Mietstudio Studio Berlin - Morning Dew Studio - Neon Island Studio - OceanstudioBerlin - Raw Studios - Studio TV.Film Berlin - Spielfeld Berlin - Sepistudio - Spree Graphen Studio - Tor 78 - Velt Foto Mietstudio - We Studio - Welcome Home Studio - White Box 030 - 317.84studio - 9492 Studio Read the full article

[havellsindia001]

Elevate Your Space with Havells Atria Glamtube 36W 6500K: The Perfect Lighting Solution

Url: https://havells.com/en/consumer/lighting/glamtubes/glamtubes-range/atria-glamtube-36-w-6500-k.html

Introduction

In the realm of interior design, lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the ambiance and aesthetics of any space. It has the power to transform a mundane room into a captivating haven. Among the vast array of lighting options available in the market, Havells Atria Glamtube 36W 6500K stands out as a truly remarkable choice. This innovative lighting solution from Havells combines functionality, energy efficiency, and style, providing a seamless blend of form and function. In this blog post, we will explore the exceptional features and benefits of the Atria Glamtube, and discover how it can elevate your living spaces to new heights.

Introducing Havells Atria Glamtube 36W 6500K

The Havells Atria Glamtube 36W 6500K is a cutting-edge lighting solution designed to create an immersive and visually stunning experience. With its sleek and modern design, it effortlessly adds a touch of elegance to any space. The Glamtube is equipped with a powerful 36W LED, which emits a cool daylight temperature of 6500K. This ensures a bright and vibrant illumination, making it ideal for areas where clarity and visibility are of utmost importance.

Unmatched Energy Efficiency

In today's eco-conscious world, energy efficiency is a paramount consideration when choosing lighting solutions. The Atria Glamtube shines brightly in this regard. Its advanced LED technology ensures minimal energy consumption while providing maximum luminosity. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, the Glamtube consumes up to 80% less energy, resulting in substantial cost savings on your electricity bills.

Versatility in Application

One of the standout features of the Atria Glamtube is its versatility in application. Whether it's your home, office, retail store, or any other commercial space, this lighting solution is designed to adapt to various environments seamlessly. It is particularly suitable for areas that demand precise and focused lighting, such as kitchen countertops, workstations, or display shelves. Additionally, the Glamtube's sleek form factor allows it to blend harmoniously with any interior design scheme, making it an excellent choice for both contemporary and traditional settings.

Longevity and Durability

Investing in a lighting solution that offers long-lasting performance is essential, and the Atria Glamtube excels in this aspect. Built with high-quality materials and backed by Havells' reputation for reliability, this lighting solution ensures longevity and durability. The Glamtube boasts an impressive lifespan of up to 25,000 hours, which translates to years of maintenance-free usage. Its sturdy construction and shock-resistant design make it resistant to accidental breakage, ensuring hassle-free operation and peace of mind.

Easy Installation and Maintenance

Installing and maintaining the Atria Glamtube is a breeze. Designed for hassle-free installation, it can be easily mounted on walls or ceilings using the provided fixtures. Its plug-and-play functionality eliminates the need for complex wiring, making it a user-friendly choice for homeowners and professionals alike. Moreover, the Glamtube's low heat emission and absence of UV or IR radiation make it a safe and family-friendly lighting option.

Conclusion

When it comes to lighting solutions that combine style, efficiency, and durability, the Havells Atria Glamtube 36W 6500K reigns supreme. With its sleek design, energy efficiency, and versatility in application, it has become a go-to choice for individuals seeking to elevate their living or working spaces. By investing in the Atria Glamtube, you not only enhance the aesthetics of your surroundings but also contribute to a greener and more sustainable future. Illuminate your space with the Havells Atria Glamtube, and experience the perfect blend of functionality and style.

[aowski]

Courage in Politics

I’ve been thinking about courage in politics. A Nebraska senator, Machaela Cavanaugh, filibustered for seven weeks to stop anti-trans legislation. Also in Nebraska, a lone Republican State Senator Merv Riepe withheld his key vote on a bill that would have banned abortions at six weeks. In South Carolina five women, the “sister senators,” Mia McLeod, Katrina Shealy, Penry Gustafson, Margie Bright-Matthews, and Sandy Senn, joined forces to stop a draconian six week abortion ban. Three three state representatives, Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson stood up for families in Tennessee who want an end to gun violence. All risked expulsion from their party, from their legislatures, and the end of their political careers. But they had to stand up for humanity. Their actions underscored this observation by Vaclav Havel:

“the crust presented by the life of lies is made of strange stuff. As long as it seals off hermetically the entire society, it appears to be made of stone. But the moment someone breaks through in one place, when one person cries out, “The emperor is naked!”… everything suddenly appears in another light and the whole crust seems then to be made of a tissue on the point of tearing and disintegrating uncontrollably.”

The GOP has used a "crust of lies" to seal itself off from humanity. It uses intimidation to keep its members in line. It seems they are an impenetrable wall, but all it took were a few people with the courage to stand up for human decency for the wall to crack. It will take more of us with courage to see the wall come tumbling down.

[anantradingpvtltd]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] From the manufacturer Stainless Steel Interior Body It is an important factor for a kettle to keep the beverage inside warm. This Havells kettle is equipped with a double wall stainless steel interior body that not only keeps the beverage warm but also adds to its sturdiness. Cool Touch Outer Body for Safety You do not need to think twice before touching this kettle while making your favourite beverage. It comes with a cool touch body that does not heat up to protect you from scalding hazards, so you can handle it with ease. Wider Mouth for Easy Filling Pouring & Cleaning This kettle has been precisely designed for the user's convenience. It features a wide mouth that makes filling, pouring and cleaning easy tasks. The cover ensures the beverage stays warm and protected from external pollutants. On & Off Switch with Light Indicator Ergonomic on-off switch along with a light indicator that easily lets you know if the appliance is on or off. Auto Shut-Off Function It has an auto shut-off function in case of an issue of overheating that prevents the kettle from getting damaged. Aqua Plus Kettle Havells Aqua Plus 1.2 litre Double Wall Kettle, 304 Stainless Steel Inner Body, Cool touch outer body, Wider mouth. Integrated stainless steel function. 360° Cordless Kettle 304 stainless steel interior with no plastic Energy saving, cool touch outer body with no scalding hazard Wide mouth for ease filling, pouring and cleanin [ad_2]

[jainsonslights]

Decorate Your Home Garden Beautifully With Philips Led Outdoor Lights

There are numerous areas to consider when renovating your home to give it a picture-perfect appearance. Beautiful decks and walkways aren't the only ways to spruce up your home's exterior. To keep the space bright and beautiful, proper lighting should be installed. If you are transforming your garden into an idyllic setting at this time, the proper outdoor lighting can play a significant role in terms of security.

LED is now used for more than just spotlighting. Walkway lights for entrances and paths not only provide safe access to your property for you and your guests, but they also create one-of-a-kind and unforgettable first impressions. The right exterior lighting can be used not only to create a relaxing atmosphere in your garden but also to create a brightly lit and safe entrance area with carefully selected wall lights.

Wall lights also create warm lighting effects on terraces and balconies, ensuring long and enjoyable summer evenings. If you are looking for reputable Led Lights Suppliers in India, then conduct thorough research on the web to obtain the best results. Acquiring LED Lights for your residential converts into smaller styles, which indicates it, would be used in numerous rooms of the house evaluating new design possibilities, and it will also assist in saving space, and living space, which can be used for useful purposes. LED lights can be used in interiors that are far too small for other lighting options. Well, in this article, you get to know the advantages of LED Lights that are listed below:

1.    LED Lights are more efficient when they emit light in a specific direction, as opposed to earlier bulbs, which emitted light in all directions. This can help improve efficiency by reducing energy waste.

2.    LED Lights produce very little heat. It will aid in reducing energy consumption because traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs release approximately 80% of their energy as temperature. As a consequence, LEDs remain cool and produce the same amount of light.

3.    LED Lights are stronger and last longer than incandescent or CFL bulbs. The average life expectancy is around 25 years. This is because they lack glass pieces and thus they are not affected by vibration or injury.

4.    LED Lights are excellent outdoor lights because they are resistant to external impacts, as well as wind, water, and air vibrations, making them superior to traditional lights.

5.    LED Lights are ideal for brightly colored products and heat-sensitive materials. They emit very little infrared light and no ultraviolet radiation. They are best suited for archaeological sites, art galleries, and museums, among other places.

All the above points are very helpful for those people who are thinking to install LED lights at their place. Contact the best professional for lighting installation services. If you want to find the best agency, you should visit the best company online websites. These websites will not only provide information about the services provided by skilled personnel, but they will also let you have an idea of the sorts of products including Philips Led Outdoor Lights that will be suitable for the exterior. These companies also provide the best kits at reasonable prices. If you are interested in lighting projects, you can work with an experienced and knowledgeable company such as Jainsons Lights. Visit the company's company portal for extra information.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Simon Schama: art versus the tyrants

From Václav Havel to Ai Weiwei, writers and artists have led the way in the fight for human rights

* * * *

Simon Schama: art versus the tyrants

From Václav Havel to Ai Weiwei, writers and artists have led the way in the fight for human rights

* * * *

I know a poem can’t stop a tank. But the reverse is also true. As I’m writing this, the streets of China and Iran have been alive with infuriated, chanting crowds, so tired of being institutionally deceived and robbed of any personal agency or independence of mind that they are prepared to risk arrest and imprisonment rather than be silenced by regimes demanding obedience to lies. “Culture wars” ought not to be confused with the laborious woke-baiting that has become the default position of populist media in the west. The women’s revolt in Iran is a culture war; Ukrainian resistance to the militarised fantasies of Russian imperialism is at root also a culture war, a refusal to accept Vladimir Putin’s contention that their nation’s language and history are a delusion. It is not accidental that one of the most powerful weapons that the actor-writer President Volodymyr Zelenskyy leading Ukraine has at his command is the gift of candid human communication.

Growing up in the 1950s, my baby-boomer generation assumed that the screamers of hate, the destroyers of culture, had gone with the war. “Well, boys,” our school history teacher confidently proclaimed around 1958, “we don’t really know what the rest of the 20th century has in store for us, but you can at least be sure of this: religious oppression and rabid nationalism are things of the past.” When, in that same year, Boris Pasternak won the Nobel Prize for Dr Zhivago, we thought that even the adamantine rock face of Soviet authoritarianism could somehow be cracked open just far enough for truth, memory and a faint breeze of freedom to be admitted. Even if Pasternak was demonised as an enemy of the Soviet people and forced to decline the prize, we believed that, sooner or later, light would return, as for a while, 30 years later, it did.

Becoming a historian was, we thought, a vote of confidence in the victory of the Enlightenment. When the civil rights movement in the US flowered in the 1960s, we bought into Martin Luther King Jr’s conviction that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”. Often enough, though, it snaps. Four days after he spoke those words in 1968 at the National Cathedral, Washington DC, he was murdered in Memphis.

My new BBC2 television series is the fruit of sombre, late-life reflection that the History of Now was prefigured in the History of Then; that what we had imagined to be things of the past have returned to shadow the present and future. Shrieking, whether online or on platforms, is back; hate is sexy and stalks the world as “disruption”. So those old battles need to be refought, and with the help of the unlikely weapons that once opened eyes and changed minds: the soft power of culture — poetically charged words, images, music, all of which can, in some circumstances, exert a force beyond the workaday stuff of politics. Culture can do this because it can connect with human habits, needs and intuitions in ways that expose the inhuman hollowness of official propaganda.

...

What Václav Havel, in his most original and penetrating text, called “the power of the powerless” is capable of putting despotisms on the back foot, simply by being in sync with the simplest and most natural human instincts. Authoritarians can mobilise their heavy artillery of terror, torture, imprisonment and persecution; but in the end, Havel argued, they are not that well equipped to fight the asymmetric battle between lies and truth. Havel believed that the vast majority of people are not content to be forever walled within a prison of falsehood, where the price of material security and domestic safety is the unconditional surrender of personal freedom.

For a while — perhaps many decades — punitive disincentives against disruptive truth-speaking can prevail, especially when reinforced by visceral appeals to tribal loyalty: the demonisation of hate figures (such as George Soros) said to personify foreign manipulation. In the end what Havel calls the “trapped air”— a natural human wish to be able to speak one’s mind in a café, dress as one wishes (including visible hair), listen to unauthorised music, all the innumerable small acts of social defiance — can build into a rising tide of disgust. When Czech police infiltrated the underground concerts of the Plastic People of the Universe in the 1970s — concerned, as their saxophonist Vratislav Brabanec remembered, that the music was some sort of “black illness” that would grow and generate disaffection — they only guaranteed more risible contempt. But there was a price. In 1976 the band was jailed for months, a wound Brabanec says you carry for ever. Why the wound? “Because I was innocent,” he says over his morning beer. “I was jailed for playing the saxophone.”

[MORE]

[redleaf456]

Interior designer in Patna

INTRODUCTION

Redleaf Interior ( Best Interior designer in Patna, Bihar)  has to understand what works best in each area of your home – whether it be colors, textures, or shapes. In addition, they should know how to work collaboratively; they should be able to communicate their ideas effectively, and they should also be good listeners.

The term “interiorscapes” refers to the general aesthetics of interior design. While architects are interested in the structure of a space, interiorscapes focus on its appearance. One example is color, where the use of certain complementary colors (such as blue and orange) creates a pleasing contrast between the two. Other examples of interiorscapes include furniture arrangements, flooring choices, lighting, wall coverings, window treatments, and artwork.

Architecture has been defined as "The science or art of planning and constructing buildings or other physical structures." Architects have designed some of the world’s most famous landmarks including the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower. Color psychology refers to how certain colors affect us emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. In short, color affects us. The colour of your house is very important. A bright shade of green makes your room appear spacious. You can use any colour you want inside your home office depending upon your choice. Green shades are generally preferred.

*Architecture

An interior architecture is the construction of interior spaces of buildings. It includes choosing and coordinating materials, selecting windows and doors, and furnishing the space. Interior architectural works closely with both interior design and engineering. Interior architecture creates the visual environment of a space. Redleaf Interior (Interior Designer in patna) focuses is to deliver high-quality products and services to customers at competitive prices. We aim to create long term relationships with clients by providing a wide range of services and products.

Redleaf Interior offers a unique approach to building innovative solutions for its customers. By combining technology with creativity, we are able to take on challenging projects and meet diverse technical requirements.

Redleaf Interior believes in developing strong working relationships with its employees and partners. Redleaf Interior encourages open communication, honesty and dependability. We believe in teamwork and look forward to sharing our success with you.

CONTACT US

Redleaf Interior (Best Interior Designer in Patna, Bihar ) provides services in interior and architectural design. contact us at

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Call : 8051169999

[cerastes]

I’m thinking more Unlikely Crossovers Arknights Could Have, and inevitably, as is the written in the laws of the wild and the intended progression of nature: FromSoft collab.

Sister Friede (Duelist Guard) -> Inflicts Slow on targets in a radius of her each time she attacks an enemy thanks to her ice. Skills include a relatively quickly charged burst of damage to represent her iconic grab attack, rushing forward in a line and dealing huge damage to the first unit she collides with, and a longer charge Skill that transforms her into Blackflame Friede, with hefty Attack and Attack Speed boosts and an Ifrit-like damage over time burning effect, but losing her Slow effect.

Lady Maria (Enmity Guard) -> Attacks have a 25% chance to have Lady Maria shoot Evelyn at the nearest foe, dealing 60% damage of her Attack. Skills include a medium charge blood shockwave with Medium push, and sacrificing 50% of her HP to run herself through with her own swords to turn them into Bloodblades, giving her a hefty Attack boost and Arts damage, but halving the healing she receives from attacking by half.

Siegmeyer of Catarina (Shift Specialist) -> Heals all units in a radius every time he uses a Skill to represent Siegbrau/Estus Soups. Skills center around Pushing enemies with Wrath Of The Gods; If an enemy is Pushed against an Operator or a wall, they become stunned briefly (can only happen every 10 seconds).

Havel The Rock (Defender) -> Completely immune to the effects of [Freeze] and [Stun]; +10 RES. Skills include using the Havel Greatshield to encase himself in rock, taking a penalty to Attack Speed but increasing Max HP exponentially and being able to attack two enemies at once, and Two-Handing the Dragon Tooth, taking a slight penalty to Attack Speed but adding a significant Attack boost and Light Push effect to attacks that Slows enemies for a second.

Black Iron Tarkus (AoE Guard) -> Attacks have a 25% chance of [Poise-Breaking] the enemy, rendering temporarily more susceptible to Arts damage and lowering their Weight Class. Skills include a hefty boost to Attack and Defense in exchange for not being able to target more than one unit at a time, and a burst damage option in which Tarkus fully unleashes the power of an Ultra Greatsword R2, hitting all enemies three tiles ahead of him for immense damage while increasing his Talent’s chance to proc to 100%. 

Solaire of Astora (Hybrid Supporter) -> Gains 1 SP every five attacks received by an ally in his range. His Lightning Bolts deal Arts damage and Slow down enemies, and his Skills include Sacred Oath, a rare Attack buff for allies in range that becomes stronger the less HP the ally has, and Great Heal, a burst heal on a medium charge in a radius around Solaire.

As for a boss...

Fume Knight -> Regular movement speed, has a gimmick where he summons Ashen Idols in scripted places around the map, which heal him if within two tiles of range of the Fume Knight. Attacks have both Physical and Arts damage, and every few seconds, Fume Knight will attack a Ranged unit with his Fume Ultra Greatsword. Upon losing 50% HP, Fume discards the Fume Longsword and moves faster than before, dealing more Arts damage and gaining access to two new special Skills: A flaming slash that damages units in a cone in front of him, and a radial, expanding barrage of fireballs that hit anything they come in contact with.

Lautrec of Carim And His Gank Squad -> Three bosses at once, each coming from a different Enemy Gate. Individually, they have lower HP than a regular boss:

Lautrec -> Fast and high damage attacks that ignore a certain percentage of an Operator’s Defense thanks to his Shotels, moves with above average speed.

Pikeman -> Average speed, longer range attacks at average intervals, but ignores deployment order and targets Ranged units first.

Mage -> Average speed, long range Soul Spears that deal devastating Arts damage, and his routing eventually puts him right behind the Pikeman if not dealt with in one way or another.

Dragonrider -> Supposedly very threatening, but trivial with a Shift Operator. No one has seen his boss fight actually play out.

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

Foto: Panorama Helsinki / Finland - Dom und Parlamentsplatz (by   tap5a)

“We only do this for Fergus!” is a short Outlander Fan Fiction story and my contribution to the Outlander Prompt Exchange (Prompt 3: Fake Relationship AU: Jamie Fraser wants to formally adopt his foster son Fergus, but his application will probably not be approved… unless he is married and/or in a committed relationship. Enter one Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp (Randall?) to this story) @outlanderpromptexchange​

Chapter 2: ​Je suis prest!

        "Once again the anger about Frank rose in Claire's heart, but before she could think about him any further, a familiar voice tore it from her thoughts.

        It was the voice of Dr. Ned Gowan. The company’s lawyer stood between the open wings of the large door and invited her to come in. Claire stood up in surprise. She was the last of the women who had arrived and now she was the first to be invited in. The other women also looked at her in irritation.

        Then she entered an elongated rectangular room whose furnishings also bore all the hallmarks of the neo-Renaissance style. In front of a large wall of shelves with countless books, stood a massive desk made of dark wood. On it were several telephones and monitors, a keyboard, files, books and - to Claire's surprise - a large, dark red orchid. A large muscular man with bright red hair that turned into curls at the neck and at his temples sat at this desk and signed some papers. When she came a little closer, the man stood up, came up to her and held out his hand.

        "Welcome to 'Fraser & Son International', Mrs. Beauchamp. I'm James Fraser," said the giant, who reminded Claire more of a Viking warrior fallen out of time than the CEO of an international company. She knew that he was 37 years old and estimated that he measured at least 1.90 meters (if not more).

        Fraser's handshake was firm and warm, but not hard or uncomfortable. His voice sounded soft and melodic. He spoke softly. Claire needed a moment before she could answer, so much so that she was surprised by the discrepancy between the man's height and his appearance. Later, she would describe her first impression of James Fraser as that of a gentle giant.

        "Claire ... Elisabeth Beauchamp. Pleased to meet you, Dr. Fraser," she replied, looking into his bright blue eyes. Now she also saw that she had a 3-day beard around his mouth and cheeks. The color of the beard seemed a little lighter to her than the color of his hair.

        Fraser pointed to the left:

        "Please follow me."

        Directly to the right of the office was a somewhat smaller room, which was entered through a door in the style of a Japanese Shoji. Opposite the entrance, a wall-high panoramic window attracted Claire's interest. Through this window one could see directly onto the Gendarmenmarkt and the French Cathedral. In the light-flooded room, two light leather sofas faced each other, separated only by a coffee table. Fraser asked Claire to sit on one of the sofas, he and the lawyer sat down on the other.  

        Dr. Gowan spoke first:

        "Mrs. Beauchamp, before we discuss your possible employment, we must ask you to sign this document."

        He handed her a piece of paper with several narrow lines written on it. Claire took it and began to read. It was a confidentiality agreement. Under threat of a 250,000 Euro fine, the signatory, obviously meaning her, agreed to keep quiet about everything that was discussed between her, James Fraser and his lawyer.

        Claire looked at Dr. Gowan in surprise.

        "You must understand, Mrs. Beauchamp," said the lawyer, "that Mr. Fraser is not just anyone, but the CEO of an international company.

        "I understand," she replied quietly, then took the pen that Dr. Gowan handed her and signed the paper.

        "Thank you, Mrs. Beauchamp," the lawyer said, "this copy is for you.”

        Claire saw how Fraser pressed a button on his smartphone. Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Fitz-Gibbons appeared and brought tea and cookies. When she had left the room again and everyone had been provided with tea, James Fraser sat back and explained to Claire which job he was offering her. He told her that he had a foster son named Fergus and that he was looking for someone who could permanent take care of him. For twenty minutes, the businessman talked about his son and the qualifications that a caregiver would need. With each of these minutes, Claire became more aware that she had the best chance of getting this job. But did she really want it? The salary was fantastic and Fraser seemed a serious, friendly person. But what if the child did not like her? And did she really want to take care of just one child for years? Did she really want to spend all her time in that man's house for years? These thoughts frightened her a little, but then there was the prospect of significantly reducing her financial burden of this job. Claire decided inwardly to at least try. And if things didn't go well, well, the German healthcare system was constantly looking for new employees. Just recently, the German Minister of Health returned from a trip to Mexico, where he had recruited nurses and male nurses. She would find a new job at any time. She was sure of that. So she had a safety net and wouldn't fall into a bottomless pit if she had to give up her job with Fraser. Claire knew that and that reassured her a bit.

        Fraser had finished his explanations and asked her directly:

        "What do you think, Mrs. Beauchamp? Would you be willing to take that position?"

        "In principle, yes..."

        "But?" asked Fraser in surprise.

        "Well, it's not my decision alone. What if your son doesn't like me?"

        "We might as well test that. Would you like to come to our house to get to know Fergus? You could have lunch with us afterwards?"

        "Y-e-s, ... of course.”

        "Right," said Fraser, again pressing a button on his smartphone. When Mrs. Fitz-Gibbons appeared, to Claire's great surprise, he ordered her to send the other waiting women home. They would be contacted if the company still needed them. She was also to call his housekeeper and tell her that he would bring two guests for lunch. Claire became almost dizzy from the speed at which this conversation developed. But now she could no longer escape the pull that the whole thing was exerting on her.

"Mercedes Maybach S 600 Pullman" Photo: BMK Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1130176

        Together with Dr. Gowan, they left the room through another door and then entered a secure elevator that took them directly to an underground parking garage. There Fraser's chauffeur was already waiting next to a black Mercedes Maybach S 600 Pullman and opened the doors of the limousine for the arriving guests. The lawyer and Claire sat down in the back, Fraser took a seat next to the driver. Shortly afterwards they found themselves in the thick traffic of the German capital. The drive went through Charlottenburg, then along the river Havel. Afterwards they drove through Steglitz-Zehlendorf, along the Western Düppelner Forst and over the Glienicke Bridge, which became famous worldwide through Steven Spielberg's film "Bridge of Spies". With this they had reached the city of Potsdam and ten minutes later they stopped in front of a clinkered multi-apartment building. Claire estimated that it had been built around the beginning of the 1930s. Fraser went ahead and led them into the house. A lady, who Claire estimated to be in her mid-forties, approached them in the entrance hall. Fraser introduced her as Mrs. Curtius and explained that she, along with her husband, was responsible for the management of the house.

        "I would now like to show you the apartment that we are providing. If you'll follow me, please."

        Claire nodded, and Fraser led her to an elevator that took her up to the top floor in a few moments. A few more steps brought them to a small hallway and from there to a kitchen-living room. Another living area followed, separated from the first by a large panoramic window. Claire was magically drawn to the view.

        "Oh! You can see all the way across the Jungfernsee!"

“View above river Havel/ lake Jungfernsee to the Saviour’s Church at the port of Sacrow“ by  Lienhard Schulz  CC BY-SA 3.0,  via WikiMediaCommons https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=358200

        Fraser smiled. Then he led her a few steps further. They now came into another small hallway and from there they went right into the bathroom and left into the bedroom. All rooms were modern and bright.

        "Do you like it? Could you imagine living here?"

        When Claire didn't answer right away, Fraser added:

        "Of course, you could furnish the apartment to your liking. You can bring your own furniture, or we can have it redecorate it for you."

        "Thank you. I like it very much. But I think we should wait and see how your son reacts to me first."

        "Yes, of course," Fraser relented, "then I want you to meet him right away."

        They drove back to the second floor, where Fraser Claire led Claire through the living room into the conservatory and from there to the large terrace facing east. A spiral staircase led into the garden from its left side:

        "I had the garden redecorated several years ago. In Potsdam there used to be a long winegrowing tradition and so there are still many terraced areas here".

        They walked across a lawn and then came to a circled flowerbed that was full of different types of roses. Claire estimated its diameter to be several meters. There were two paths around the circle, one to the south and one to the north. Fraser and Claire entered the second path, which in turn led them to a larger lawn and from there to a tree-lined corner of the garden. There was a small pavilion with several sunbeds and a table. Behind the pavilion one could see a swimming pool that was covered with a wooden boarding. On one of the sundbeds, which reminded Claire more of couches, lay a small boy with dark, curly hair, completely absorbed in a book.

        "Fergus!" Fraser shouted and the boy was slightly startled.

        "Papa!"

        The book almost flew to one side, the boy jumped up and ran towards Fraser. He welcomed him with open arms, picked him up from the ground and pressed him warmly to himself.

        "Papa," the boy asked, while Fraser carried him back to the sunbeds, "why are you home so early?

        "Because I want you to meet someone."

        Fraser sat down on one of the beds with Fergus, and told Claire to sit down, too. Warmly he pressed Fergus once more to him, then he pointed at Claire and said:

        "We talked about hiring someone to help you when you start school now. Someone to be here with you while I have to work or when I have to go on a business trip.”

        The little curly head nodded.

        "I want you to meet Mrs. Beauchamp. She speaks German, English and - you will be especially pleased to hear that - French as well."

        The boy's face began to radiate.

        "Mrs. Beauchamp has come here today so that you can talk to each other. And if you wish, and if Mrs. Beauchamp wishes, she could start working for us."

        Fraser gave Fergus a light nudge on the back.

        The boy stood up, walked over to Claire and politely reached out his hand to her.

        "Good day, Mrs. Beauchamp."

        "Good day, Fergus. Would you like to sit next to me?"

        The boy nodded, then sat down.

        Fraser watched with delight how Fergus looked at Claire. Obviously, his son was as impressed by the young woman's natural beauty as he was.

        "Well, I'll leave you to it, then. Is there anything else you want me to have brought? Tea for you Claire and hot chocolate for you, Fergus?"

        Both nodded. Fraser rose and slowly walked back to the house. All he could think of was that all he wanted was for Claire and Fergus to get along well  and for her to take the job. But why wouldn't that happen? The morning had already made a small miracle come true. Claire had shown up for the interview and she had shown her willingness to take the job. Why shouldn't another small miracle happen? From the moment he first saw Claire's photo on her application, he could only think of other things with difficulty. In every spare minute she had dominated his thoughts. He had made all sorts of inquiries about her and there was nothing he wanted more than to get to know her better.

        Back at the house, he asked Mrs. Curtius to bring tea and hot chocolate to the pavilion. When the housekeeper returned half an hour later, she had to tell him how she had found Claire and Fergus.

        "They sit next to each other on the chaise longue and talk intensively - in French. I did not understand much of it. Fergus seems enthusiastic. He talks without interruption and gestures while doing so, just like when he talks to you. He almost knocked over the cup of hot chocolate."

        "Thank you."

        Fraser smiled. Then he went into the dining room where Ned Gowan was waiting for him.

"Potsdam - Shingle House" by Giorgio Michele - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3492265

        An hour later Mrs. Curtius came and began setting the dining table. Fraser got up and wanted to go to the pavilion to get Claire and Fergus. But as he stepped out onto the terrace, he heard Fergus scream with enthusiasm. Then he saw the reason for it. Together with Claire, who had obviously taken off her pumps and was now walking around in stockings, the boy chased after a soccer and shot it into an imaginary goal by the garden fence. As if from one mouth, they shouted "Tooor!" and hopped around each other. Fraser could hardly stop laughing, and Ned Gowan, who had followed him onto the terrace, also began to laugh.

        "You were right, Jamie. She's the one for Fergus."

        Shortly afterwards, the two soccer players, Claire now back in pumps, also entered the terrace.

        "Papa, Claire can play soccer and knows the rules," the boy reported enthusiastically.

        "Fergus! That means: Mrs. Beauchamp. Please! Behave!" Fraser admonished his son.

        "No, no, I allowed him to call me Claire. That's all right."

        Claire smiled. Fergus and she had obviously found a connection.

        "Well," said Fraser, and the surprise was clearly audible in his tone, "then we can have lunch.”

        After lunch, Fraser took Fergus to bed for a nap. Claire had to accompany them at Fergus' insistence. But she was happy to do so. Instead of his father, the boy asked her to read to him from the "Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Primeval Animals". While she did so, she let her eyes wander through the room again and again. She was surprised how lovingly it was furnished. Fergus' bed was made in the style of a pirate's bunk, the walls decorated with pictures of pirates and dinosaurs. Everything was bright and friendly, only the carpet was in a deep dark blue.

        "He wanted such a carpet. This is supposed to be the sea his ship sails on," Fraser explained to her when they later returned to the second floor. They sat down with Ned Gowan, who had been waiting for them in the dining room. There were a number of documents on the dining table and Claire was aware that she had to make a decision. But after meeting Fergus and being taken to her heart by him, the decision was easy.

         "Are you ready to accept the position I am offering you?"

         "Yes, I am. I look forward to taking care of Fergus."

         "I'm glad," replied Fraser, and Claire was surprised to discover that the businessman seemed genuinely relieved.

        Together with her, the company’s lawyer then went through the employment contract. Everything seemed to comply with the legal requirements, which she knew from her previous contracts. But then they came to a point that startled Claire:

        "But ... I can't ... start on Monday! I have to give notice at the Charité and I have a period of notice!”

        "Don't worry about that," said Fraser, in the calm manner she was already used to from him, "I know the director of your clinic well, he will certainly agree to your change. I will call him tonight and discuss everything with him."

        "If that's possible..."

        Claire was amazed, but assumed that a man with as much influence as Fraser could correctly assess the situation.

        "We would then send a moving service tomorrow to move your furniture."

        "It's all very quick..."

        Claire sighed.

        "Is it going too fast?"

        Fraser looked at her somewhat anxiously.

        "It's all really happening very quickly, but... now that I've met Fergus, I'm looking forward to being there for him."

        Claire didn't mention that during the conversation with Fergus she had sensed how much the boy longed for someone who would be there for him during the many hours his father was absent. He had told her that Mr. and Mrs. Curtius were very friendly, but that they had little time for him, since they had other duties to perform. Much of what Fergus had told her had reminded her of her own time as an orphan. Uncle Lambert had brought her up with a lot of love and spent every spare minute with her. And yet, somehow she had always been missing something. A mother? She was not sure. She didn't think she could be a mother substitute for Fergus. And given that her time in this household was certainly limited, she didn't want to take on that role either. But the boy had touched her heart, and if she could give him a sense of security by being a good, trusted friend to him, then that would make her happy. She was sure of that.

        Claire picked up the pen that Ned Gowan had handed her with the employment contract and signed it.

        Fraser smiled, then pressed a button on his smartphone. Claire thought that she would get used to that. Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Curtius appeared with a trolley carrying three champagne bowls and an ice bucket with a bottle of "Moet et Chandon".

“Champagner” by  Myriams-Fotos

        "Let's toast to a good future together," said Fraser as he filled the glasses and handed them over to Claire and the lawyer. They toasted and drank. Claire had assumed that the meeting was now over, but to her surprise Fraser then said

        "Mrs. Beauchamp, we have another ... very ... delicate matter to talk about."

        "And what is that?" she asked in surprise.

        Now Dr. Gowan intervened again:

        "As Mr. Fraser explained to you, Fergus is his foster son. A year ago, Mr. Fraser visited his Uncle Jared in Paris and when he went for a walk one evening, he found the child asleep near a bridge. No one knows what happened to his parents. It is known that both were drug addicts. They disappeared years ago. The authorities assume that they are either in Asia or dead. The child grew up in the care of his grandmother and when she died he was taken to an orphanage. But the boy could not stand it there. He fled from the place and began to make a living by begging and ... well, petty theft ... Mr. Fraser found him and promised him that he would give him a good home. He was lucky in the courts in Paris and was able to win the guardianship. But he wants to adopt Fergus as his son. But that is almost impossible for a single man in this country, even if he has as much money and influence as Mr. Fraser".

        Gowan had stressed the word "single" and a dark premonition was rising in Claire's mind.

        "And...what...does...this...have...to do with...me?" she asked cautiously.

        "We would like to offer you another, very well-paid job."

        Claire looked at Fraser and Gowan, but remained silent, so the lawyer continued:

        "We are asking you to become, for three years, only pro forma the ... how shall I put it, Mr Fraser's girlfriend or fiancée. Only pro forma. For each of these years we will pay you 250,000 Euros plus a final payment of another 250,000 Euros. We will transfer the amounts to an account at a bank of your choice - wherever you want".

        "And ... what do you expect me to do for it?" asked Claire, shocked and completely out of breath.

        Once again, the lawyer took the floor:

        "First of all, of course, we expect you to abide by our confidentiality agreement. Then we ask you to accompany Mr. Fraser to official occasions and that you behave like a girlfriend or fiancée to outsiders ... well ...".

        "But ... am I not making myself liable to prosecution?" Claire asked uncertainly.

        "We're not asking you to say anything untrue. Something completely different would be a fictitious marriage. And as for money, who can stop Mr. Fraser from giving money to his girlfriend or fiancée? You should pay the gift tax, though."    

        Again, Claire was silent. Then she saw Fraser reach into the right pocket of his jacket and pull out a small box covered with black velvet. He opened it and pushed it over to Claire. Visible was a ring of white gold formed from chased thistles. The flowers of these thistles were made of cut amethysts. Carefully Claire took the ring out of its packaging to look at it.

        "It is beautiful," she then whispered.

        "The thistle is the national flower of Scotland, the country of origin of my family," Fraser explained. Then he was silent for a moment.

        "Would you wear this ring for three years, Mrs. Beauchamp? You would be a great help to Fergus and me."

        A thousand thoughts went through Claire's mind. But then she decided immediately. She handed the ring to Fraser and then held out her left hand to him. Fraser smiled, put the ring on her finger and pulled her hand toward him. He ended the ceremony with a kiss on the hand that came as a complete surprise to her.

        "Thank you, Mrs. Beauchamp, when this is all over, Fergus and I will be forever in your debt.”

        Claire blushed.

        "I still can't believe all this," she then said softly.

        Even Ned Gowan had to smile.

        "Believe me, Mrs. Beauchamp, we are no different. This morning you came to the company hoping to get a job. Within ...," Gowan looked at his watch, "six hours you have seen your new apartment, got to know the subject of your future work, signed your employment contract and got engaged. And in three years, Mrs. Beauchamp, you will walk out of the door of this house a twofold millionaire.”

        Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Fraser shouted:

        "Yes, please."

        and Mrs. Curtius came in.

        "May I serve the tea?"

        "Yes, thank you. Is Fergus up yet?"

        "Yes, he's in the kitchen, painting.

        "Please send him in," Fraser asked.

        It didn't take a minute, and Fergus came in, holding a large sheet of Din-A-4 in one hand.

        "This is for you, Claire," he said, beaming with joy, and handed her the picture of a dangerously green-looking Tyrannosaurus Rex.

        "Oh, thanks Fergus!"

        She pulled the boy towards her and gave him a hearty hug.

        "Fergus, will you come and see me for a moment?" Fraser asked.

        The boy climbed onto Fraser's lap.

        "I have some very good news for you," Fraser began, but didn't get any further.

        "Mrs. Claire is staying with us?"

        Fraser could only say "Yes," and then the boy was already on his way back to Claire. He climbed onto her lap and pressed little kisses on both her cheeks.

        "Fergus!"

        "It's all right," Claire repulsed. She pressed the boy warmly against her and had to control herself immensely to keep from crying. How long had it been since she last met a person with such honest love? At that moment, Claire was sure she had made the right decision.

"Dinner" by JillWellington  

        They had dinner together, then Ned Gowan said goodbye. Fraser and Claire put Fergus to bed and of course Claire had to read from the "Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals" again. When the boy had fallen asleep, they sneaked quietly out of his room. Then they took the elevator that brought them to the garage where the driver with the limousine was already waiting for them. Fraser sat with Claire in the back seat and on the drive to her apartment at the nursing home they reflected on the day.

        "Tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. the moving company will come and take care of everything. I look forward to welcoming you then, Mrs. Beauchamp," Fraser said as they arrived in front of the Charité nursing home.

        "Claire, please call me Claire," she replied.

        "All right, Claire. I'm James, to my friends, Jamie," Fraser said, reaching out his hand to her. She took his hand, but somehow it seemed quite natural for them to hug briefly.

        "Good night, Jamie."

        "Good night, Claire."

         While a completely irritated Claire walked down the path to her apartment and wondered if she had made the biggest mistake of her life, a very cheerful James Fraser had himself driven in his limousine towards the Pfingstberg in Potsdam - feeling verry luckey, verry blessed.

[nightcoremoon]

illusory walls hide:

a bonfire by a door sealed by artorias' crest

the daughter of chaos and servant eingyi

the great hollow and subsequently ash lake

a titanite chunk and darkwraith in new londo

a bonfire in the catacombs

a ladder to the giant who opens sen's fortress

gwyndolin and the darkmoon covenant

an underground cave system in ariamis

havel's stuff & a mimic with an occult weapon

a bonfire in lost izalith near the bed of chaos

the pit in the tomb of giants with a skull lantern

a silver pendant that deflects dark magic

the path to saving sif from the abyss

...

and what does that mean?

okay, so. artorias and sif went to stop manus from spreading the abyss, armed with anor londo's ancient treasure the silver pendant, presumably given to him by either gwynevere, gwyndolin, or fillianore (it couldn't have been gwyn, he'd been in the kiln for 700+ years; it maybe could have been the nameless king?). manus kicked their asses. the pendant ended up hidden behind an illusory wall; granted it's one based on light, so it has to be accessed either with the skull lantern (hidden behind a real illusory wall or dropped from a catacomb necromancer), the sunlight maggot (hidden behind a door accessible via chaos covenant hidden behind a real illusory wall), or bought from princess dusk. manus kidnapped dusk, leaving two items accessible only though an actual illusory wall or three bosses / gravity. basically this implies that illusory walls are a tool used by manus to protect himself. after all, this works when you consider that illusory walls stand between you and alvina who takes you to ANOTHER illusory wall (and a bonfire shortcut!) which hides sif, who is summonable for manus.

illusory walls seem to protect the abyss. and if you consider that they hide things that make it easier to challenge sif, obtain the covenant of artorias, either overpower the keepers of the new londo seal or gain the lord vessel (which lends credence to gwyndolin being the one who gave artorias the silver pendant, oh look gwyndolin is hidden behind an illusory wall that can be broken by getting the darkmoon seance ring which is conveniently located right next to the necromancer who drops the skull lantern wow holy shit), and fight & kill the four kings. who, mind you, are as necessary to unlock the door to the kiln of the first flame and relink the fire as the bed of chaos (who is nearby to the sunlight maggot), nito (who is nearby to the skull lanterns), and seath (whose archives house the broken pendant which is directly connected to oolacile).

illusory walls protect the abyss, and actively seek to prevent the linking of the fire. w o w. they also protect (or do they hide) chaos fire (daughter of chaos), the operator of sen's gate, havel's equipment and a god-killing weapon, and the last of the dragons twice (ash lake).

the abyss, chaos fire, dragons, the occult, enslaved giants, all things that are explicitly negative and told to the player are bad and shouldn't be fucked with... and also... havel.

these things are all connected somehow

...

or maybe the developers just needed random shit to hide behind invisible walls. I mean come on just look at the all important titanite chunk.

I think it's just random bullshit but hey it would be super cool to consider that maybe what if the abyss, chaos, dragons, the occult, giants, and havel the rock (who hated seath & magic) were the good guys, and linking the fire thus prolonging the age of fire and the reign of the gods who were clearly corrupt and hated the undead and were actually evil as shit and the ones controlling the narrative like puppeteers?

...HEY, WAIT A SECOND

anyway seath and all sorcery are inherently evil, the gods are all bastards, gwyndolin protects a lie, dark is just pure humanity, & gwyn is a cunt. fuck sunlight and magic! up with dark and fire! the furtive pygmy and dragons deserve better! thanks for coming to my tedtalk.

[havellsindia001]

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[ellaofoakhill]

Celia, Part One

Ella knocked at Selva’s door. It had taken two and a half years to get her sleeping on her own, and then only because they’d switched her room so it was beside Ella’s.

Selva opened the door, rubbing her eyes. “Elmum?”

“Hey, Selv,” Ella said, kneeling down, “sorry to wake you so early.”

“‘t’s alright,” Selva said through a yawn. “What’s up?”

“Meline left early for Oak and Stone,” Ella said, “so once we’re done breakfast, I’d love your help in the shop.”

“The sh—” the speed with which Selva went from half-conscious to bouncing with excitement was incredible. “I can help!”

Ella grinned. “Yes, I want your help, dear. But,” she touched a finger to Selva’s nose, “you have to carefully follow my directions, or you won’t be allowed back for a long time, alright?”

“Yeah!”

Selva hadn’t eaten so fast since the day she arrived. The toast and raspberry jam vanished, as did the hot honeyed milk, and the chokecherry with it. And her clothes…

In anticipation of Selva working in the shop, Meline had made her a loose sleeveless shirt and short pants from a scrap of cotton cloth, and Selva point-blank refused to change, even though she squirted chokecherry all over herself and needed Ella to clean her up before she got sticky and covered in dust.

Once teeth were brushed, they went down to the shop. “So I’ve been cleaning things up for today,” Ella said. “The iron is stowed where it won’t affect you or Havel, but there are lots of machines that can hurt you if you aren’t careful.” She turned to Selva, her hand on the door handle, “what’s the first rule of shop safety?”

“If I don’t know, ask Havel or Ella!” Selva all but shouted.

Ella nodded. “That’s right. And the second?”

“Don’t take off any safety clothes without asking Ella!”

“Good. What about Havel?”

“Ella knows way more than he does!”

Ella bit her cheek. “True, and he’d be the first to say so, but it’s rude to say it that way. Just say he’s your senior, not your teacher.”

“Right!”

“But if he says not to do something because it’s dangerous, you’d better listen.”

“Yes, Mum!” Ella half-expected her to snap off a salute.

“And the third rule?”

“Don’t touch any tool or machine unless Ella says I can!”

Ella ruffled her hair. “Perfect! Now, let’s suit you up.” She opened the door and flipped on the light. The smells of coal, wood, and burnt metal permeated the room. She pulled a small helmet from a hook on the wall. “This should be sized right. You shouldn’t feel it chafing anywhere at all.” Ella also grabbed an apron, gloves, and boots.

“The boots are heavy, and I can’t grab things so good with the gloves,” Selva said, more as observation than complaint.

“The gloves are so you don’t cut yourself on sharp edges,” Ella said as she pulled her own gear on, “and the boots have hard toes so yours don’t get smushed. Just walk slow until you’re used to them.”

“Hey Elmum,” Selva said as she plodded forward, “what’s this?” She was pointing to a rectangular brick structure with a chimney running to the ceiling.

“That’s the smelter,” Ella said, lifting a lever that opened the door. “I melt metals in here, to either cast them, or combine them into alloys, like bronze, brass, and electrum.”

“What’s electrum?”

Ella was getting into the basics of alloying metals when there was a knock at the door. “It’s open!” Ella called.

Havel dipped inside. “Good evening, Master. What’s…” He stopped halfway through his bow when he saw Selva. “Ella said you’re ready to work, then?”

“Yeah!” Selva clomped over and slapped the two hands Havel held up for her.

“Get changed, Havel,” Ella said once they’d exchanged greetings. “We’ll introduce our newest apprentice to the shop, and then we’ll get started; tonight’s going to be a long one.”

Havel arched his eyebrows as he threw on his apron. “What’s the plan?”

Ella knew her eyes glittered when she spoke. “We’re making a torc today.”

Havel stopped midway through tying his apron. He flushed to his roots. “A t-a torc, Master?” She nodded. “As in a neck ring?” Another nod. “As in—”

Ella felt her face, neck, and chest redden, even as an unabashed grin spread across her face. “—That most gorgeous and ancient piece of jewellery by which one fey proposes to another, yes.”

“You’re getting married!” Selva hopped and almost fell over.

Havel twiddled his fingers. “Master, this isn’t my place to say…” he trailed off.

“Nineteen years is hardly any time at all, I know,” Ella said. “And the fact that we are in love and living together is almost scandalous.” The grin shrank to a happy smile. “But I know in my heart that I want this. And I think Meline wants it, too. I was told long ago, by the Great Sage, an axiom that rings in my mind when doubt and anxiety take hold: ‘a young stream covers a distance in one day that takes an old river five.’”

A thoughtful frown crossed Havel’s face. He scratched his head. “Meaning…” Ella waited, “…different rivers move at different speeds. So…” the grin was back on Ella’s face, “…different fairies? Move at different speeds.”

Ella nodded. “That’s one way of putting it. ‘We each live at our own pace’ would be more succinct. And it seems to me,” she spread her arms, “the pace Meline and I have moved at justifies this proposition.”

Havel rubbed his neck, chuckling. “Alright, Master.” He didn’t sound entirely convinced; at least he was on board.

“Good. Then let’s begin.”

 Even early in the evening, Oak and Stone bustled. Meline saw a storm was rolling in from the east. Hopefully the ships and boats were docked.

She looked at the sign. Glittering Deeps. She stepped onto the street for the first time in ten thousand years.

It was not a rich part of town. But it had cleaned itself up. The cobbles were cracked, but all there, and sitting flat. The houses were small, and old, but well-cared-for. The holes dug into the mountainside had small gardens out front, paved front walks, and the front doors were either painted or finished. Nothing elaborate, but nothing rickety, either. She hardly recognized the place.

She came up to a cycad that had to be two hundred years old. Bright windows poked out all up the trunk. The yardage was dense with ferns and horsetails, their fronds thick with lanterns.

Opposite the cycad was a hole with a red front door. Outside the white-picket fence posed a life-sized statue of a unicorn. The horn was a handle; one could pull it up and leave mail in the mouth. The statue blinked at her as she regarded it.

“Diva?” Meline extended a hand. The statue sniffed, then pressed the side of its head against her arm. “Alright, alright. How have you been?” She stroked him for a short while. “Is she home?” He snorted, scything his horn up and down. “I’ll go knock, then.”

The front garden was lovely in an understated way. Colourful lichens grew on the rocks, and mosses and liverworts added splashes of bright green on the earth and boulders. Either side of the door, on small mounds of sandy soil grew two succulent hens, their chicks sprouting out to either side.

A silver rock hammer hung on the door. The chain the hammer hung on linked to a silver plate with an enamelled red target. Meline smiled as she took the hammer and struck the target three times. A distant clap of thunder rumbled on the third strike.

Someone called something Meline didn’t catch. A scuffling just inside the door, the clunk of a bolt drawing back, and the door opened.

“Sorry I’m not dressed, it’s a bit early for…” She was of normal height as gnomes went, the top of her head barely reaching Meline’s hips. What she lacked in height she made up in girth. Few gnomes were fat, but dressed in green most looked like small hills. Her hair was tied back in a braid hanging to her knees. She wore blue chipmunk slippers and a grass-green nightgown. Her eyes snapped open when she realized who was knocking. She almost spilled her hot chocolate. “Cuffs!”

Meline’s smile saddened a bit. “Hello, Needles.”

They stood for a while, before Sali gave herself a little shake. “I… would you…would you come in?”

“I’d love to.” Meline ducked her head, and Sali led her down a round passage. There were a few new side-tunnels, but the kitchen was the same. Lined with white-glazed clay brick that caught the light of Sali’s crystal fixtures. A picture of Sali’s enormous family hung over the hearth. On the wall by the stove was a clock with the time marked by different gems, a bronze pendulum underneath. Meline sat in a sturdy chair altogether too small for her, remembering many an hour watching it swing, talking late, late into the day.

Sali set her hot chocolate beside an empty plate on the table, and served herself a helping of beetle rind, cheese, toast, and a chokecherry. Sali gestured to the stove. “Want any?”

“Oh,” Meline held up a hand, “no thanks, I’ve already eaten.”

Sali nodded. There was an awkward silence. Meline decided to break it. “You’ve… come up in the world.”

“Yes,” Sali said. “Cutting’s picked up, especially since we made our arrangement with the serpents. Since I get credit from the town for my contributions, I’ve renovated a few times over the centuries.”

Meline ran a trembling hand through her hair. Sali chuckled. Meline looked at her. “Over ten thousand years,” Sali said as she buttered her toast, “and you still do that when something’s bothering you.” She set down the butter knife. “Is it something besides the obvious?”

Meline took a breath. “I’m here for you, Needles. Not your skills.”

Sali nodded. “It’s time, isn’t it?”

“High time,” Meline said. “And… Smiles will want to hear it, too.”

After a moment, Sali nodded. “Yeah.” She looked up at the clock. “Let me finish my breakfast and get changed?”

“Of course.” Meline considered a moment. “Maybe I’ll take a hot chocolate.”

Sali barked a laugh. “Some things don’t change.”

[anantradingpvtltd]

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