#i also need a big cuppa tea just to survive

[animated-thought-bubble]

Hansry Modern British boys AU where Hans is an insufferable rich uni student and Henry is in construction where he needs a BIG cuppa just to survive - bonus of them being twats at a weatherspoons 🍻

[unwillingadventurer]

Wrote a little Graham and Ian fic set after the most recent Doctor Who episode. Although you can read this independently, we did write a few other Graham and Ian meeting up stories:

The Waiting Room

Memory Lane

Another meet up

...

Wrapping his scarf around his neck and looking in the mirror, Graham O’Brien took a deep breath and glanced at himself, keeping straight and proud, more confident in himself than in recent times. From the corner of his eye, he swore he just saw a glimpse of her—his Grace—ever so slightly faded. But she was there and she was smiling. He couldn’t help but smile back.

Looking in his own bedroom mirror, Ian Chesterton sighed as he glanced at his own lined face and then at the empty bed behind. It’d been years now and each morning brought the same feeling of loss. For a moment he could imagine she was in the kitchen, cooking him bacon and eggs whilst doing the crossword. Then, for the briefest of moments, he saw her—his Barbara—ever so slightly hazy, standing by the bedside table. She was watching him as she used to. He turned to face her but she was simply a ghost-like memory.

…

“Ian, mate, how the hell are ya?” Graham said the next weekend as he stepped off the train and was greeted at the station by Ian.

“Bitterly cold isn’t it?” Ian said, removing a thick woollen glove to shake hands with Graham.

“Yeah, perhaps it was a bad idea to meet when it’s so nippy. You alright in this cold?”

“Oh, I’ve survived much colder than this.”

“With the Doctor?”

“How’d you guess?” There was a smile on Ian’s face and he fell silent for a moment. “Barbara and I were nearly shall I say… frozen to death.”

 “And that makes you smile?”

“More that we survived!”

Graham chuckled. “Well come on, mate, let’s get out of this cold, get a bit of grub and a cuppa. You had breakfast?”

“Not touched a fry up since Barbara’s been gone.”

“Fancy trying it now, there’s a greasy spoon down the next street if I remember this area correctly?”

“I’d like that very much and you can tell me what’s been going on.”

…

 As the waitress in the cafe placed down two plates of full English breakfast, Graham licked his lips in anticipation. “Have a butchers’ at that, me old son, cor this’ll warm your cockles.”

 “There’s a lot of it,” Ian said, noting how Barbara would’ve cooked much less. “She’d be asking me to watch my cholesterol.”

 “Alright for a cheeky treat though eh?” he said through a mouthful of sausage dipped in egg yolk.

Ian took a sip of his tea and waited for Graham to finish the bite. “So, you have news? When I got your call, I worried something might have happened to Ryan or the Doctor or that lovely young lady.”

“Ah no, we’re all alive and kicking, alright, you know? It’s just Ryan and I have left the TARDIS. We thought the Doc was gone for a while and then she comes back and off we go to another adventure. But when she asked us to stay, Ryan and me, well we made other plans.”

“You’d had enough?”

“Ah, I don’t know. Always the way though, glad I left and regretting it at the same time. You get like that?”

“I did at first but the desire to see home was far too strong for us. And remember back then we couldn’t get home at all. We didn’t have the choice.”

“Blimey, yeah, that is tricky. I just thought like what with you being a man who’s been in my position, that you’d know how I feel.”

Ian smiled. “First we bond over our much-missed wives and now…over leaving the adventure behind.”

“And the Doctor.”

“Him too. Of course, there’s adventure in Earth life too but adjustments are always difficult.”

“Yeah, me and Ryan figured there’s always something on Earth to fix. I’m so glad he’s here, not sure I could do it alone.”

“The person you shared it with is by your side that’s a wonderful thing. There’s not too many people who’ve experienced the highs and lows of a life with the Doctor as we have.”

“We’re privileged,” Graham said. “I can honestly say I’ve seen the best of people. My mate Yaz, the Doctor brought out the best in her. She does for all of us.”

“I know what you mean. But with the best of things, there was the worst I’ve ever experienced too.”

“Yeah, saw some terrible things that shake me to my bones.” Graham sniffed. “Look at us having a therapy session again. Wonder if all the Doc’s other travelling companions feel like this?”

“Oh, I expect so.”

“You ever met any of them, well except me?”

“Yes a few over the years, difficult to remember how and when and where. When you get to my age you lose track.”

“Get out of it, you’re a whippersnapper, well at least compared to the Doctor.”

Ian laughed.

“Anyway, if there are loads of us roaming about Earth and the universe, maybe we could sort of hook-up, you know, in the non-kinky sense and have a chin-wag about putting up with the Doc.”

“Like a sort of companion care support group?”

 “Yeah, I mean, we’re not saying we need therapy or nothing and we won’t talk about our childhood traumas and all that but just have a laugh and share stories with each other. And make fun of the Doc, compare them to each other like rate-a-Doc.dot com.”

“At least you can call him Doc, we were forbidden.”

“There you go, already comparing… and she’s a she now.”

Ian grinned. “Of course, I apologise. My Doctor had his irascible moments but on the whole I’d like to leave a positive review of him.”

“Alright, no one star reviews allowed.”

They both laughed and leaned back in their chairs, memories flooding into their minds, Graham’s from the recent years and Ian’s from so long ago.

 “Now, the question is, how do we find these previous mates of the Doc?”

“I have contacts and numbers if that helps.”

Graham whistled. “’Ark at you. Know people in high places do ya?”

“Oh, I knew the fellows at UNIT. The Brigadier was a wonderful man, passed away a while back now but through him we met a fair few people connected to the Doctor. And Torchwood paid us a visit when we got home in 1965 but I’m not supposed to talk about that. I also skype with Jo and her husband Cliff but they’re usually off on their travels. I knew Clara for a while but I’m not sure of her now but It’s one big family when you think about it, even though one half of us doesn’t know the other exists. It helps sometimes when I miss Barbara and feel so alone.”

Graham patted him on the shoulder and pointed at Ian’s plate. “Don’t forget your hash browns. You got to eat your grub me old mucker, we’ve got work to do. You’re stuck with me now. Us companions of the Doctor are a fam and we look out for each other.”

Ian reached across the table and placed his hand on top of Graham’s, patting it lightly.

“See and now your hands are warm.”

[nat-20s]

i am not good at writing prompts, but how about something with the idea of inevitability? (this is so vague and i am sorry lol)

This prompt slaps no need to apologize. Also I turned this into something about a pair of platonic soulmates bc I’m a huge sap at my core. Also also this is not a ten and donna fic but also It’s not not a ten and donna fic ya know 

~*~

“Do you believe in fate?”

She shifts from her position of being sprawled over the arm of the couch into something that sort of resembles sitting up, mostly so she can gain enough leverage to poke him in the thigh with her foot. “What, are we at that point in the night where we start discussing weird philosophical questions? I had no idea it was anywhere near that late.”

He slumps further into the other end of the couch with a bit of a hum, and swats off her next attempt to poke him in the side. “It’s only 9 o’clock, but I am at the level of tiredness that it may as well be 3am.”

She’s agrees with the sentiment, for it had been a wonderfully exhausting day. Basically all of the days since she (re)-met him have been that way, them scrambling for hours with some grand adventure only to find themselves reticent to actually properly go to bed once it’s over. She thinks she would rather like to live the rest of her life this way, even if she never a decent amount of sleep again. Who needs it. “And, what, the sleepier you get the more you want to discuss the Big Ideas? You’re just like Grandad.”

“Your grandad’s a lovely fellow, I’m honored by the comparison. And you haven’t answered the question.”

With a huff, she tells him, “Sorry, mate, but if you’re going to be demanding answers from me right now, I’m going to need you to grab me a cup of tea. Actually, wait, no, I’ll go get it. For all your talents , you can’t make a decent cuppa to save your life. Literally, during that one thing.”

As she gets up, he shoots her a grin. “So you admit that I do have talents. Also, make a cup for me too?”

She flips him the bird and refuses to look back as she heads to the kitchenette, and he calls out, “You’re an angel!,” knowing full well that she always brings him a mug as well. Then, after a beat, he trails after her, because why would he spend the next six or so minutes alone when he can instead lean his head on her shoulder and press up against her side. She gives him a patronizing pat on the head, but leans in as well, enjoying the warmth against the slight chill of the night air.

They’re silent as the kettle boils, and as their tea steeps, enjoying the various buzzes and beeps on an environment that’s never truly quiet. They settle down into some chairs, and she immediately positions herself so she can place her feet in his lap. She never thought of herself as clingy before, but when you’ve been lonely for years, you tend to take every moment of togetherness that you can get. Plus, when they’re not touching in some way, one of them tends to get themselves in trouble. After a few sips  of tea, she’s feels as she’s back to a level of cognizance where she can ask, “Why fate? Why not some more light-hearted fare like ‘what happens to us after we die?’ or ‘is there some sort of higher power out there or are we all just muckin’ about hoping for the best?’”

He pauses for a moment, much more considering of his words than usual. It speaks to how tired he must be. “I dunno. I suppose I was just thinking about how, despite incredible odds against it, we met twice, and how I feel this sense that the universe is bringing us together. And, well, I don’t know how I feel about fate, and I hoped your opinions on the matter might clarify some things for me. After all, speaking with you is the closest I can get to speaking with a better version of myself.”

“Ugh. Sap.”

He snorts into his mug “Like you’re any better. You cried the first time I called you my best friend.”

“I don’t think I asked you, actually, and you cried when I told you the same thing, so shut up. And, I guess to answer the fate thing I don’t quite know either. I think I believe in something like fate, but that’s not quite the right term.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, fate or destiny or whatnot seems a bit too. Extreme? There’s too much predestination to them, not enough free will, and I don’t think every little thing we do is already written in the stars or whatnot. I think we do have choices to make, and that those choices matter, and that things won’t turn out the same no matter what. But, I also think that there’s something, sometimes. I agree that there’s this sense of the universe bringing us together, and I don’t think it was something so banal as simply incredibly good luck. I Think I believe in something more akin to, I dunno, inevitability.

I mean, sure, there’s death, taxes, the like but. The best way I can describe it is that when I first met you, or, not when I first met you, that was a while fiasco, but the first time we laughed together, I remember rather distinctly thinking Finally. Finally I’ve met the person that I was always supposed to meet. Like no matter what, no matter where we were, if we had been born in different times or different places, we were going to spend at least some of our lives together. Like it was, well, inevitable. Does that make sense?”

“I think it makes perfect sense. And I like to think that you’re right, that some things are always going to happen, especially us. I can’t imagine a universe where I never get to meet you. I don’t think it’s one I’d survive.”

“I get exactly what you mean.”

He raises his mug, and asks, “To inevitability?”

She beams, and clinks her mug against his. “To inevitability.”

[i-idontunderstand-things]

Transcript of 1 Man 100 Accents

I took far too long to do this, but.... it’s done now so I may as well post it. This will help me remember my fave video when it’s deleted :) 

Mark: Argentina. Ethan: Argentina. Capital of the world. When you think of Argentina you think,,,, whO WOULD GO THERE?? *giggling* Mark: I was more lookin for an accent,, more than anything,, Ethan: OH, accent, accent. Mkay, re-run. *twirls finger in air* Mark: Austria. Ethan: Austria.        Ehy mayte-  whlcum tu Aughstria - Mark: Oh god… Ethan: wAIGHT for it though,,, Mark: *laughter* Ethan: Waight until I tell yew,, the country of Aughstria,, k?? We were invited by Gehrmay dyuring the world War Twooooo,,, one??? *laughter* Then Poulanghd said “hay,, how bout we help yu out!” They came oughva, we came oughva, we had a cuppa tea as we do In Austria,,, We said “oY, Germany, mAYBE,, dONT!” N that’s when it oll ‘appened. They kicked out, and I said, “Naw, naw naw, not in the northern hemisphere, gough down to the buttom, the buttom bitch o’ the barrel.” So we went and said hello to the Australians! Commonly miscommunicated with the Austrians. BUT,, we’re not them, they’re not us.         BAck in Austria we go! Roight next to,,, GERMANY, roight next tu Pouland, r- rOIGHT next to France. Mark: Wh- what are you talking about?? *laughter* All  Iwas asking for was an accent you,,, goddamn travesty,,, you human train wreck, you cant keep one train of thought- Ethan: *waggles finger* Next one, next one- Mark: Uhhh, paupa new Guinea Ethan: *looks down* Pff-  couldn’t even tell you where that is- Mark: H- It’s funny cuz I don’t need you to-  

*laughter*

Ethan: Paupa New guinea, I think, sounds-- when I think of it-- I go “PapWAH new guinea”-  which makes me think that they might be Frennnnch…      mghh,,,     HEGLLUOGHHH-  

*both burst out laughing*

Ethan: Weglcome to Paupa New guinea. *laughter* Same as Austria---  We hagve a very similar accents to Austria!!       Wglhcoooome-  t0--  

*laughter*

Ethan: Give me one,, that really hits home- Mark: uhhh, Cuba? Ethan: Cyooba. Mark: *w h e e z e* Ethan: Capital of the cigahr- Mark: *w h e  e z e*

*laughter*

Ethan: When yu think of Cyooba,,

*L A U GH T E R*  

Ethan: When yu think of Cyooba, yu think,,, pghyooo, phyooogh, pghgoo, egl caystro, and his ssssensitive,,,, ssss,, sssIGNATURE mustache- Mark: *losing his shit* Ethan:  Yu tink of the way that he burned the money, to keep his daughter warm at night-

*demonic noises*

He was makin 3, 4, 5, 6, MILLION DOLLARS A dAY,,, selling cohcaine,, in the united states of america!!  Now, when you think, “hey, that’s not vehry cüül,” that’s when we had to embargainze them. Mark: *wheeze* Ethan: We said, “Ey Cyooba!! Back it off a little bit!! We can’t come near you, you can’t come near me, dat’s why we can’t have a shweet shweet smohky pohky,,,, anymore-”  but now- the embargus has been lifted- an’ we can go back to motherland Cyooba- and get our sweet, h o t cigars.  Widen our mouths- and we’ll go- *sucks invisibe cigar*    *coughs*  and that’s ‘ow you know-   it’s a true hghuu---  human cigar.

*laughter*

Mark: I--  I don’t understand what happens in your brain-- *laughter* it doesn’t make any sense at all-- Ethan: Well it makes perfect sense to me :) Mark: Of course it does, course it does.. Ethan: * h a c k*  Next. Mark: ..Russia. Ethan:  …. Wghlcum to Russia. *laughter* Capital of s n o w,,, and bad weather. In here we have,, big radiation poison. It makes your big rats bigger, and your sack hang lower,,, and you-- *laughter* you can’t go anywhere near tha snow.  If tha snow touches you,, you go “ohh FACK-” and then yu ded. You can’t even hh- help yourself-  *laughter* noone can touch yu, noone can hug you- what kind of life is that? Not a life worth wiving. Ghgwhhhh-  *L A U G H T E R* Which is why in nineteen eighty siiiiiiixx?? When chernobl went “Imma,,,, gonna ‘splode now,,,”  people said “FACK.”  Did you know,,, that when you think,, I think… when I think about…. CHERNOBL!! 

*uncontrollable laughter* 

Ethan: My mind says, ‘world war two, world war one, north korea! WHO KNOWS Wh-WHEN IT HAPPENED!!! But it was so SOOON- --  when it happened,, if you do the math …  which i cAnT.. *laughing* You’ll realise it was 30….. yeearrsagooooo…  1986 is when it happened…  Quick, quick do the math for me *snaps fingers* how many years ago?? Mark: 33 Ethan: When it happened, when the whole world said, “We’re going to die. We’re going to die. The llll,, the radiation was swpt up by the wind, much like the fires of…. North california-  

*laughter*

Mark: Oh god… oh god-   Ethan: And they were swept- swept- swept- swept- swept- and they went up into the smoky air,, and they… okay,, picture this alright??? One time, you’re going to bed,, and you wake up and you go pee in the night… and you see BOOM BOOM BOOM all over the place… from one… place actually. Mark: *actually suffocating from laughter* Ethan: uh,,, only one explosion. *C O U GH* ighgh- it gets me choked up sometimes- aghibfuh- it went SUPER BIG, and the whole government said,, “don’ worry about it,,, you cant…. The radiator cant ‘splode! It’s impossible!” Well listen here,, PHUCKER. IT IS!! It happened 2… years.. before 35 years ago!!!  33 years ago it happened ! Swept up by the wind,, it,, Sweden said, “Oh, we can feel it,,” and so they said “okay, we have to get it under control” they put so much sand *laughing* o- on top of it- *dissolves into laughter* Mark: your Russian accent has slipped a little bit- Ethan: yu don know anything-- Mark: *bursts out laughing* Ethan: They put some sand on top some dogs died some kids died and they tried to evacuate the WHOLE area but it was too late for them they said “ohhh yu can survive-” but now people go back,,, to BULLETS,,  *pause* Sooo,, it’s still bad there. *Mark bursts out laughing* Mark: good god, man, I’m just lookin for an accent.     You good? You good man? You good? Ethan: Wrap it up. Also Ethan: Next one. Mark: what?? Ethan: Ye, sure. Mark: Ughh, alright,, give me some Italy. Ethan: *scrunches his face up, preparing his accent,*  Alexa? Play when the moon hits your eye its a big piece of pie,, song,, Alexa: Here’s Spotify (starts playing That’s Amore) Ethan: *mumbling* fucking.. asshole… Alexa stop. Alexa: *continues playing* Ethan: *mumbling along with song* shit… *puts on baby hands, hits camera* ringalingaling, bitches fkn shit…     PAUSE!! PAUSE!! ALEXA!! PAUSEIT!! YOU STAY! You stay here ! shh! *blows kiss, gets up from table* you stay here! You don’t move a muscle! Stay! Stay. *walks away from camera, up the stairs* Mark: *to Spencer* Spenceyyy,,, you wouldn’t happen to know what happening here, would you?? Spencer: Mark: Spencer… your master has gone crazy! You need to run. Run away spencecr.. It’s not safe for you here… what the hell?? Alexa: *starts playing Lose Yourself as Ethan runs down the stairs with baby hands on* Ethan: *basically fucking turns into Eminem*  through this hole that is gaping…… *bursts out laughing* as we move farther, new world order.. *flailing arms around, knocks gum off counter* *further struggling*   Can,, can this be done?? 

Mark: *laughing in complete confusion*   Goodbye,, remember that we only have a year. Ethan: H-- *contorts face* how much time do we have left???  Ghhghg Mark: ah,, fuckin,,,  

 *timer*

[no-goodbyes-no-regrets]

Robert gets locked in the portacabin on a below freezing night while aaron is out for the night with Matty and co. xoxo

(Why must you torture my poor boy so?!)

Man vs door (AO3)

“Are you sure you don’t want to come along?” Aaron asks for the tenth time in as many minutes.

Robert sighs and switches the phone to his other ear.

“No, I’m going to stay here and finish the paperwork for that new client, and then I’m going home to take a long, hot shower.” He leans back in his chair and stretches. “This cold is in my bones. We need to buy another space heater for the cabin if we’re going to survive this winter. This thing barely does anything.”

Aaron laughs and Robert hears some yelling in the background.

“I think they’re waiting for you.”

“They can wait a bit longer.”

“Go. Have fun. Tell Matty congrats from me. I’ll be fine.” Robert insists.

“Alright… But next time you’re coming with. I don’t care how much work you’ll have on or how many clients you need to charm…”

“Next time I’ll come with and I’ll even get you to dance with me.”

“Is that a promise or a threat?”

Robert laughs now

“Both. Now go get hammered with Adam and Matty and I’ll be the one making you hangover food in the morning.”

“Best boyfriend ever.”

“I try.” Robert says, still feeling his heart skip a beat whenever Aaron calls him his boyfriend. “Now go. Don’t keep them waiting.”

“Ok, ok, I’m going…” Aaron says but Robert knows he’s making no move to end the call.

He hears someone (Adam maybe?) yell Aaron’s name and telling him to get a move on.

“Alright! I’m coming!” Aaron replies then turns back to the phonecall. “I won’t be back too late, I promise.”

“Don’t think about that. Just have fun.” Robert stresses.

“Next weekend we’re spending the entire weekend in bed.”

“Sounds good to me. Now go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah alright. See you tomorrow. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Robert says and they end the call. He stretches again and gets up to make himself some tea. He stares out the window waiting for the kettle to boil and shivers. The weather has been horrendous for days, with talks of snow getting stronger every hour.

Even though he’s not really a clubbing kind of guy, he would’ve liked to have gone with Aaron and the rest. Just to spend some time with his boyfriend. He’s been working a lot lately, just to make Home James the success he knows it can be… and to save up enough money to leave cold and damp Yorkshire behind for a week or two and enjoy some sea, sand, sun, and most of all Aaron.

They have their own flat in the village but between the Dingles and Robert’s own family, they rarely get some peace and quiet. And some things, you just don’t want an audience for.

Things like asking your boyfriend to marry you.

Robert allows himself to daydream for a bit about getting down on one knee in the warm sand of a tropical beach, and giving Aaron the ring that’s been hidden at the back of his desk drawer for weeks. And the two of them celebrating by sipping fruity cocktails while the sun sets over the ocean.

He laughs to himself. Like Aaron will ever drink anything other than his usual lager.

The kettle finishes boiling and he makes himself a cuppa, warming his hands on the warm mug rather than drinking it.

“Alright. Focus.” he tells himself “Just another hour and it’s done.”

Only one hour turns into two and a half. Then three. Then three and a half. Robert’s eyes are stinging and he presses the heels of his hands into them. He glances at the time on his computer and notices it’s almost 1am.

He’s cold. He put on Aaron’s big winter coat, that he left in the cabin, about an hour ago, and moved the space heater to right beside his desk, but neither of those things are really helping anymore. And also his bladder is protesting at the many cups of tea he’s had to try stay warm.

He decides to call it a night and hopes Aaron will be home soon so he can snuggle up to him. That long hot shower can wait until morning.

He saves his work and shuts down his computer, and takes a minute to gather the rest of his things as well as make sure everything is unplugged and switched off.

He grabs his keys and bag, zips Aaron’s coat up a little higher and braces himself for the cold night air. Only the door doesn’t open.

“What the hell?” Robert mutters under his breath as he’s pushing and pulling on the handle. “Is it locked? It can’t be, can it? Did I lock it?”

He puts his key in the lock and tries to turn it but it doesn’t move. He checks and re-checks that he has the right key, but no matter what he tries, the door doesn’t open.

“What the fuck?” He says to himself and tries to look out the window to see if something might be blocking the door. He doesn’t have a clear view of the other side of the door, but the part he can see is clear.

“What’s going on?” he tries yanking on the door again to no avail and tries breaking it down like he’s seen people on TV do.

The door doesn’t open and he’s left with a sore shoulder.

He sits down at his desk again and pulls his phone out, happy to see it’s still on 32%.

He scrolls through his contacts, looking for someone to call to help him. The most logical choice would be Aaron but he doesn’t want to pull him away from his celebrations. And it would take ages for him to get there anyway.

Vic is his next option but he doesn’t want to give his sister a heart attack by calling her in the middle of the night.

Diane is out of the question too and so are the Kings. He doesn’t want to risk waking up their kids.

Just as he’s about to dial 999 and go through the embarrassment of having the fire department free him, his phone rings. Aaron.

“Hey.” he answers, trying to sound as normal as possible. “How’s your night going?”

“‘Salright. We went to bar west. For a bit. Adam’s idea.” Aaron says and Robert can tell he’s had a few too many.

“Really? I didn’t know Adam liked gay bars.”

“It’s the only place he can pull and doesn’t have to pay for his drinks! The barman has low standards.” Aaron says and laughs at his own joke, then turns serious. “I kissed someone. Someone… not you.”

“You what? Why?”

“Wait. No. He kissed me.” Aaron corrects himself. “He was a prat.”

“Right. And he kissed you?”

“Yes. We were just having a drink and then he just went for it.” Aaron explains and Robert lets him ramble for a minute while his heart rate returns to normal.

“Where are you now?” he interrupts.

“Uh… Wait. I’ll find out.” Aaron says and Robert hears some rustling and what he thinks is Matty asking someone where they are.

“About ten minutes from Emmerdale, mate. You’re not going to be sick are you? If you’re sick in my taxi, you’re cleaning it up yourself.”

“We’re fine!” Matty says a little too loudly. “Aaron just wants to get home to his loverrrr.” He says, rolling the r and giggling.

“We’re ten minutes from Emmerdale.” Aaron tells Robert, like he hasn’t just heard every word. “Are you home? I missed you. I miss your smile. And your eyes. And your voice. And your lips. And your hands. And your fingers. And your arse. And your d- ”

“WHOAH! I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT!” Robert hears Adam yell and for once he’s grateful for him. As much as he loves Aaron telling him those things, he doesn’t want it to be when he’s locked in at work and can’t do anything about it.

“I miss you too.” Robert settles on eventually. “I’m uh… I’m actually still at the scrapyard. Fancy coming to pick me up? We can walk home together.”

“Good idea!” Aaron exclaims like Robert just told him he discovered the next world wonder. He seems to forget about the conversation then and Robert hears him directing the taxi to the scrapyard.

“Are you sure, mate? I don’t want to leave you in the middle of nowhere to freeze to death trying to find your house.” the taxi driver says to Aaron.

“No. My boyfriend is there. He’s going to walk me home. He’s been working all night.”

“Right. And you’re sure it’s here? It says private property on the sign.”

“Yes!” Aaron says happily. “That’s my sign! I’m private! I mean… uh… this is mine. Look!” he jangles his keys.

“Right. Well… it’s your funeral.”

Robert ends the call when he sees a pair of headlights turning onto the scrapyard and Aaron, Adam, and Matty all but falling out of the car, minutes later.

“Hey! Robert!” Adam yells when he spots Robert standing in front of the window next to the door and walks up to him.

“Hey…” He replies and tries to get Aaron’s attention, who seems to be in the middle of a discussion with the taxi driver.

“Aren’t you coming out, mate?” Adam asks. “Again.” he says and giggles. “Because you’re bi, aren’t you? So you’ve already come out.”

“Yeah, yeah… Get Aaron for me please?”

“Aaron!” Adam bellows, probably waking up half the village in the process. “Your man wants you!”

Aaron looks up and smiles happily when he sees Robert.

“Rob! You’re still here!”

“Yeah. I told you I was, didn’t I?” Robert says, secretly amused by his drunk boyfriend. “Listen, I’ve got a bit of a problem and I need you to help me.”

Aaron frowns and comes closer to the portacabin.

“Why?”

“The door won’t open. I’m locked in.”

“What? How?”

“I don’t know. But I’ve tried everything and it won’t open. Maybe it’s frozen shut?”

Aaron examines the door.

“There’s no ice on it.”

“Right. Well it’s still stuck somehow.”

“You could climb through the window.” Matty suggests.

“I’ll never fit through this tiny window Matty.” Robert snaps and Matty puffs and rolls his eyes at him.

“Maybe you should leave him in there, Aaron.”

Aaron ignores him and tries to put his key in the lock.

“You know what, I’ll just call 999.” Robert says and gets his phone out.

“Wait!” Aaron says and punches the air in triumph when he gets the key in the lock. He turns the key without any trouble, wiggles it a bit, pulls on the door a bit, and the door opens and he steps inside. “Problem solved!” He announces happily.

“What? How is that possible?” Robert asks, grabbing Aaron’s keys and comparing them to his own. “They’re the same.”

“Of course they are.” Aaron says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world and steps closer to Robert. “So now you’re free…” He trails off. “Wanna get out of here?” He wraps his arms around him. “You’re all cold.”

“Yeah this place is freezing at night. That heater you bought won’t even keep our kitchen cabinet warm.”

Aaron frowns.

“Why would we need a warm kitchen cabinet?”

Robert sighs, shakes his head, and can’t help himself and presses a kiss to Aaron’s lips.

“Never mind. Let’s go home.”

He grabs his bag and his and Aaron’s keys and pulls the door shut behind him.

“We’re getting those locks replaced first thing.” He says as he wraps an arm around Aaron’s shoulders, while Aaron’s comes up around his waist almost automatically.

Aaron nods.

“But you’re still making me breakfast.”

[somepeoplethinkimadyke]

Okay so @spaceterrariums and I were discussing having nostalgic Doctor Who Episodes and I managed to write out a whole ass idea for a series w 13 and ppl who have previously been on the show.

Episode One: Mostly just a normal episode but a really dangerous adventure and the doctor cuts it very fine and Graham, Yaz and Ryan and a whole planet come very close to dying. When they survive the Doctor asks so where to next and they all just want to go home so she drops them off and is sad about it. You then see her in different places alone that we’ve visited before (The Library before it was closed and other such places) and then she finally ends up in London and who does she happen to bump into Wilf! Who doesn’t recognise her at first but then sees the tardis and is like doctor want to have a cuppa and they have a heartfelt chat and he gives her some good advice that I haven’t thought of yet and mentions Donna a bit and it’s all a bit sad and the doctor give Wilf the tardis number. She returns to the tardis thinking about all the people recently and we get flashbacks to people that have come and gone and we see a tear fall off her nose and onto the tardis’ sensor things that can detect a place from an object. She then returns to Sheffield and the fam come back to her but as she’s about to go somewhere the tardis takes off with out her controlling it.

Episode 2: The fam arrive somewhere and the doctor is hella confused and so they go out and do all kind of scans and things but nothing is wrong and it’s very tense and scary. But then we go back to the tardis and we see River also looking very confused and rifling through her tardis diary and it’s not in there, she’s not supposed to see the doctor but she can’t help herself so she goes into the tardis bc of course she can. Then when the others get back you just hear her go Hello Sweetie. (I had also planned for River to pretend she doesn’t know which one of the fam the doctor is bc that would be hilarious but I’m not sure how that would work :/ ) And yeah and then the doctor goes river and almost choked up because “you shouldn’t be here, why can I see you and stuff” but also her wife!! And then river is like oooh you’ve changed, I like it (and possibly makes a comment about her having breasts and stuff and just being a little bit river) and they kiss bc of course. And then river asks so where are we because I can’t find it in here and the doctor goes I’m too far forward :’( and rivers like well let’s make the most of it. Then Graham is like hi and River is like oh Doctor you didn’t introduce your friends and so they meet and the doctor introduces river has her wife because they all cute and married. And so whilst river and the doctor are deciding where to go we see the fam talk like she’s married! And to a woman! What! And also Graham catches the fact that the doctor won’t see her again and is sad but yeah. Then they go on an adventure somewhere with river flying the tardis and it doesn’t make the noise and I haven’t worked out the rest of it but river and the doctor are fun and banterous and it’s great. Except for when they have to leave bc they really do :(((( and the Doctor is like goodbye but had gotten past river in the past few years because it’s been a while but still sad and rivers like I’ll see you soon and the doctors like yes you will but also slightly melancholy and won’t tell river why but it’s fine but it’s really not.

Episode 3: the fam go back to Earth bc there’s an alien attack back on the normal timeline and guess who they bump into - the one and only Martha Jones who is a spy/medic of some kind now UNIT is shut down. And Martha is shocked to see the doctor but also like doctor!!!!! Who she initially thinks is Ryan bc he’s the first one out of the tardis. And she’s like you’ve changed and then the doctor is like yes I really have and steps out. And then they sort the alien invasion out and Martha asks them round for tea and biscuits. And guess what Mickey and Martha have a kid!!!! (I haven’t worked out the specifics w that one but they do) and Mickey is a house husband/stay at home dad. And the kid is like dad dad it’s the tardis (bc of course they grew up on stories of the doctor) and mickeys like of course it is but then it actually is. And Martha’s like guess who decided to show up for tea. So they all have tea and the kid tells the fam about all the adventures and stuff and they’re like oh wow and Graham’s like yeah I remember that hospital disappearing it was wild. And yeah and the episodes ends all happily when they all get into the tardis (but so does the kid).

Episode 4: this is The Historical Episode™️ (I’m not sure when tho). But basically Mickey and Martha’s kid seeks onto the Tardis and is like wow but the doctor doesn’t see them and so they go somewhere, leave and then the kid sneaks off in the past and then ends up getting into trouble w the aliens that are there bc of course. The doctor saves the day and returns the kid to Martha and Mickey a few seconds after they’d left and is like this one snuck aboard but no worries nothing happened. But then it finishes w Mickey getting a call from a teacher saying that the kid is acting up in history saying all these things about x time period that aren’t true and refuses to change their mind.

Episode 5: normal episode w some fun thing going on in space and yeah :) then yas and the doctor talk about Mickey and Martha and why she never visits them and the doctor says it hurts too much to see what I did to them. Martha used to be a nurse, a healer but look at her now a gun in her hand always fighting. I did that to her and I’ll never ever forgot it because I can’t do that to more ppl. And they hug and it’s cute and yeah.

Episode 6: The doctor is by herself for a bit when the phone rings. Confused she answers. It’s Wilf he’s raving about Donna and how she remembers and somethings wrong it’s not working the memory block. The doctor is there immediately bc Donna!!! And so she’s about to put the memory block back on (What happened was the last attack where the doctor and Martha met she saw the tardis and it all started coming back to her. Basically a big flashback scene is necessary where we see Donna see the tardis. Nothing happens but then we flash to later and Donna’s asking her mum if she had knew a good doctor, her mum asks why are u ill? And Donnas like no reason. We then see her googling aliens and daleks and planets and blue boxes. She finds a picture of the Tardis and it’s like a damm has been lifted and that’s when Wilf calls the doctor. Donna can barely function bc she’s collapsing bc of being part time lord part human and is literally passed out on her bed and the doctor comes in to wipe her memory and sees the stuff around her room and is like wait she’s right if I do this it could stabilise her for a bit if she’s hooked up to the tardis core and maybe something else will work so she moves Donna into the tardis and gets to work. Wilf keeps an eye on Donna and keeps hurrying up the doctor bc Donna is fading and fading fast. They manage it just about and Donna wakes up herself and is like “You! You idiot why couldn’t you think of this the first time!” And the doctor laughs bc Donna’s back. And then donnas like hold on a second since when were u a woman? And the doctor catches her up on bits and pieces but is like this solution won’t last, I’m going to have to wipe your memory again soon. But Donnas like you always were a bit on the thick space boy and the doctor says Oi! And then they banter and talk weird sciencey time lord stuff about regeneration energy and is there a way to extract it. And it turns out there is but they have to go lots of places to get the pieces for the extractor. So we get some witty Donna Doctor banter. And Donna flies the tardis for a bit. But then they need somewhere to put the regeneration energy so they’re like hmm and donnas like doctor you need to cut off a body part. And the doctor complains bc that hurt a lot last time but it has to be done bc the regeneration energy needs to go somewhere. I have yet to work out which body part. Unfortunately tho the extraction of the regeneration energy means that Donna can’t go anywhere near regeneration energy so can’t go anywhere with the doctor once it’s done and it’s sad and they have a heartfelt goodbye :(

And that is all that I came up with but there could probably be more non nostalgic ones. And maybe have one with James Corden bc The Lodger and Closing Time were lots of fun. But yeah that’s my nostalgic doctor who ideas for a series. Enjoy :)

[afteriwake]

"Saw you, That was all I had to see. Wanted you, Had to have you next to me. And from that moment, I knew that you'd be all I'd ever need" Joe Cocker, "Feels Like Forever" ("The Cutting Edge" soundtrack) Sebolly, please?

Feels Like Forever (A “lyrically speaking” Story) - Sebastian reflects on his life and his relationship as they dance to their song in the living room.

READ @ AO3 | SERIES PAGE | HELP ME SURVIVE? | COMMISSION ME? | BUY ME A KOFI?

Saw you That was all I had to see Wanted you Had to have you next to me And from that moment I knew that you'd be all I'd ever need from “Feels Like Forever” by Joe Cocker

He held her close as they swayed in time to the music. It wasn’t anywhere public, and big event, just simple dancing in the living room when the song...their song...came on. He’d never expected such a simple moment would fill him up with joy the way this did, swaying around with her.

He’d never expected this life, to be honest.

He was from the wrong side of Ireland, according to most, and had seen more violence when he was a child during the Troubles than anyone should have. But it had instilled in him the urge to fight back, to say his piece and defend it if necessary. He’d gone into the Army and it had been rough, but eventually, he’d worked his way up the ladder. The structure had been good for him.

Then had been the incident. He was very firm on not hurting civilians. Some of his compatriots...weren’t. One brawl where most of the said compatriots were left with broken bones and he was discharged, dishonorably. Didn’t leave much of a chance to get a decent job, so he took his skills and his code of ethics and set himself up to right wrongs, as he had done since he was young. But the world didn’t want him to work that way. Jim Moriarty especially didn’t. And as he fell deeper and deeper into Jim’s web, professionally and personally, he found his code of ethics disintegrating, his morals start to lack.

Until Molly. Until he’d been told by Jim that under no circumstances was anything to happen to her if Sherlock Holmes failed to follow through on what he was supposed to do, and that was to die. To hell with Holmes’s other friends: Molly was safe. Molly would always be safe, no matter what, that was his duty, did he hear? She had touched Jim in a way that even he knew he couldn’t, but rather than resent her for giving his lover something he couldn’t, he’d agreed. Molly was his responsibility now. That was when he figured Jim wouldn’t be coming off the roof. One last job for Jim, training his gun on Holmes, and after the bastard fell, he was mostly free.

He was as much a mystery as Jim had been before he’d revealed himself at the pool. He could have easily integrated himself into Molly’s life without ever revealing who he was, but he knew she deserved better. Holmes lied to her, Jim had lied to her...she deserved better. So he went to Holmes’s brother, said he knew Sherlock wasn’t dead and he would give any information he could as long as Molly was safe. That was the deal. And Mycroft wasn’t an idiot; inside information had its weight in gold for a mission like what Holmes was going on. A bargain was struck, and he was put in charge of Molly’s detail in exchange for the information and some semblance of freedom.

She didn’t know about him until one of Jim’s former associates decided to hatch a plan against Holmes’s friends. He dealt with it personally, one bullet to the head and it wasn’t until he got back to London that he realized Molly had been informed of the threat and that “the best man for the job” would take care of it. And she wanted to meet this man.

That meeting was a bit awkward, as she knew exactly who he was but also had no clue who he was, just that he’d been Jim’s roommate. Well, a small lie, but one that needed to be properly debunked. The cup of coffee at her home had gone cold by the time she had wrung all of his past out of him, and she’d simply nodded, thanked him for saving her life, and asked if he’d like a cuppa later in the week? That was among one of the most shocking things he’d been dealt. How had she heard about the things he had done, taken it in with a nod, and then invited him back for tea?

And thus began their relationship. Curiosity eventually blossomed to friendship, and though he had to wait through Tom and through Sherlock’s return and the inevitable collision of those two men, through long-dead lovers hatching plots with long-forgotten sisters, but eventually friendship blossomed to more and led to this moment here, of dancing in the living room and feeling alive and happy and content, feelings he had not known in so long but feelings she nurtured in him daily. And when he kissed her, stopping their dance as the song neared its end, he had hope that she would continue to do so until death decided to wrench them apart, hopefully many many years down the line.

[hazhasmycoffee]

Don’t Give Up on Me Chapter 2

Dailies (Chapter 2)

Words: 2.7k Pairing: Military!Harrison x Female!Reader Summary: The part where Harrison lets you know he’s made it to his destination Warnings: possible heartbreak, angst, foul language, some fluff

A/N: I have no words for all the sweet messages you guys have sent me and the tags from the reblogs! You guys are honestly the best! This is a longer chapter since the next one will be shorter (you’ll see what I mean when we get there). Also please ignore the faces in the photos inserted into the chapter; I just needed the dresses. I hope you enjoy the fluff! (for now)

Series Masterlist Masterlist

“And I can say that I’ve changed, that I’ll keep you safe. I’ll be fine, don’t give up on me, I’ll come around. Lost my faith, made mistakes, kept myself awake” Fireworks by Sleep On It

Y/N received a message from Harrison as soon as he arrived at the base where he was going to be training before heading out to the Middle East.

Y/N, I made it to the base here in Spain. I won’t be able to message of call you until I’m done with training. Don’t worry about me. Let my family know that I’m okay. I love you.

Y/N smiled as she read the message on WhatsApp. She quickly replied to her best friend.

I’m glad you’re safe and okay, Haz. I’ll let them know. Whenever you can message or call, do it. I don’t care what time it is. I love you too.

That was the last message Y/N received before Harrison reached the Middle East.

Harrison packed his gear for his week of training, and the only thought running through his mind was Y/N’s words to him before he left. You don’t have to be a hero. The truth was that he wanted to be a hero. He wanted to be Y/N’s hero, but in order for him to be that for her, he had to make back home. His plan was to survive the next 8 months and make it back to his family, friends, and Y/N.

--

While Y/N counted down the days before she could get a message or call from Harrison, she tried to live life as normally as she could. She found herself at a local pet shop buying Monty treats before heading over to the Osterfield’s home. On her walk to their home, she took in the familiar scenic route. Thoughts automatically went to Harrison, and as she rounded the corner to reach his home, she realized that he wasn’t going to be the one to greet her at the door. As she lifted a slightly trembling hand to ring the doorbell. She could hear Harrison’s mother say that she was coming to the door.

“Y/N, sweetie! What a lovely surprise! What brings you here?” She asked as she hugged Y/N.

“I brought Monty some treats, and I wanted to see if Charlotte wanted to hang out for a bit.” Y/N hugged her back.

“Well Charlotte just left to visit some friends, but you’re more than welcomed to stay and have a cuppa. I was just about to put a pot.” She motioned Y/N to come into the house.

“Thank you, I really appreciate it.” Y/N smiled as she walked into the familiar.

Y/N was immediately greeted by Monty. “Hey Monts! Have you been a good boy?” Y/N knelt down to pet and love on the dog. She noticed the tear stains on the dog’s face and it broke her heart. She gave Monty a treat before taking the treat bag over to the kitchen cabinet that housed the dog’s food.

“How have you been holding up?” Harrison’s mother asked as she poured tea into two cups.

“I’m alright I guess. How have you been? I’m sure it must be hard walking past his room every day.” Y/N responded while walking over to the dining table.

“It is a bit difficult, but I know that Haz will do everything in his power to stay safe. He’s not as big of a div as you might think.” She quietly chuckled at the slight insult toward her son.

“Yeah, you’re right! And he said he would call or message when he’s done with training.” Y/N sat at the table while taking the tea from his best friend’s mother.

“You know, he truly does love you. He will make his way back, dear. You can always come over if you need to spend time in his room.” She stated before taking a sip from her tea.

“Thank you, Mrs. Osterfield. Is it alright if I go to his room after we have our tea?” Y/N asked as she felt the warmth radiating from the cup.

“Of course, dear. Anytime, just come and sit in his room if you need to. I can even get you a key to the house so it’s easier if no one is home.” She offered, and the pain in Y/N’s heart partially eased.

“Thank you so much; I’d really appreciate that.” Y/N smiled at the woman across from her.

“Anytime, love. I’ll give you Haz’s key. I’m sure he’d want you to have it.” She replied as she looked at the young girl across the table drinking her tea.

--

After finishing her tea, Y/N walked over to Harrison’s room. She took a deep breath before opening the door to her best friend’s bedroom. As the door opened, she caught a whiff of Harrison’s scent, and her eyes glassed over. She took a step inside and expected to see her best friend lounging on his bed, but she saw the bed void of his presence. She sat at the foot of the bed, just like she did the night she found out that Harrison was getting deployed. She grabbed one of his pillows and held onto it tightly. She quietly sobbed as her senses were aching for Harrison’s embrace, laugh, and scent to comfort her. Sadly, that comfort never came.

--

It was on a Saturday evening when Y/N’s phone began to ring. As she glanced at her phone, Y/N saw that Harrison was facetiming her. She quickly accepted the call and was ecstatic to see her best friend.

“Haz! I’ve missed you! How are you? Are you getting enough sleep? You look tired… Please tell me you’re not being a div and are trying to get some rest!” Y/N couldn’t slow her words down fast enough.

“I’ve missed you too, love. I’m okay, and I can’t always sleep when I want to. And hey! I’m not always a div!” Harrison laughed at his best friend’s behavior.

“Well whenever we’re together, you’re the div out of the two of us!” Y/N fired back with a smile on her face.

“I’ll let that slide. How have you been? Have you managed to stay out of trouble?” Harrison asked while taking in the radiant smile his best friend had.

“I’ve been okay, just missing you a lot. I’ve been over to your house almost every day, and your mom gave me your key.” Y/N’s smile became smaller as she recalled the last week.

“Y/N, love, don’t miss me so much that you don’t get a chance to live your life. I need you to go live your life. Please, do it for me.” He pleaded with his tearful friend.

“I know, and I’m trying. Just… Please come home. I don’t know if I can do another 8 months of this…” Her tears flowing like a flood.

“I wish I could come home, dear. I really wish I could, but we have to go through this. I promise, as soon as I get back, we will do anything you want to do.” He did his best to comfort his best friend who was on the brink of shattering on screen.

“I will try, I promise. And when you get back, all I want to do is hug you and never let go.” Y/N shared in between sobs.

“I wouldn’t mind doing that. If that’s all you want to do, we’ll do it. I can’t wai-”

“OSTERFIELD! Lights out! We leave in 0400 hours. Get your rest!” Y/N assumed it was his commanding officer giving him orders.

“I gotta go. I love you. Live your life. Don’t worry about me, okay?” Harrison tried to cherish his last moments with her.

“I’ll try not to. I love you! Message or call when you can! I love you!” And with that, the call was cut off.

--

Harrison was able to message or call Y/N for about 20 minutes on a daily basis. Both Harrison and Y/N took what they could when it came to contact with each other. They both preferred facetiming, but that didn’t always happen. During their daily talks, Harrison learned that Y/N became good friends with a girl in one her uni classes named Leslie. He was glad that she was making friends, even more so that it was a girl. Harrison also learned that the Infinity War London event was a fan event, and that the premiere was in Los Angeles. Y/N was telling Harrison how she was freaking out about what to wear when Tom offered to use his connections to get her dresses for the fan event in London and the premiere in Los Angeles. Harrison felt jealous that he couldn’t be with his best friends, and even more so that he wouldn’t be able to see Y/N in the dresses Tom was able to get her.

--

The day of the Infinity War Fan Event in London arrived, and Y/N was excited. It was the first day in two months that she slowly began to feel normal, or rather a new sense of normal. As she looked over the maroon dress that Tom picked out, she heard her phone ring on her desk. She ran over to her desk to answer it. She saw that it was Harrison facetiming her and quickly answered.

“You look all dolled up! What’s the occasion?” Harrison asked taking in Y/N’s hair and make-up.

“Hello to you too! It’s for the fan event for Infinity War! Wait ‘til you see the dress Tom picked! Hold on!” Y/N laughed, causing Harrison’s heart to skip a beat.

As Y/N placed her phone face up on her desk, Harrison looked at her white ceiling while hearing her struggle a bit.

“You alright over there?” Harrison laughed as he continued to her struggle.

“Yeah… I’m just… trying to get the z-zipper! FINALLY! Okay, close your eyes!” She commanded her best friend excitedly.

Harrison closed his eyes at his best friend’s request and heard her shuffling her phone. The noises finally ceased.

“Okay, open ‘em!” Y/N said as she centered herself in the center of the screen so that Harrison could see a full body shot of her in the dress.

“You look… absolutely stunning, love. You are gonna knock ‘em dead.” Both Harrison’s and Y/N’s cheeks tinted red as his eyes took in the sight of the floor-length maroon dress that hugged her waist and showed a bit of her cleavage.

“Y/N, darling, we need to leave or I’m going to be late again.” Tom’s voice echoed in the background, while Harrison’s heart cracked at the nickname Tom gave Y/N.

“Coming!” Y/N yelled at Tom.

“I have to go. I love you!” She walked over to her desk to pick up her phone.

“I lov-” Harrison tried to say goodbye before he got disconnected, and it hurt him more than he expected.

--

Harrison got to know his fellow corpsman well, but he still felt alone out in the middle of the desert. He longed to be home, to play with his dog, to have his mother’s cooking, to hear his father’s jokes, to go on drives with his sister, to kiss Y/N. Wait… kiss Y/N??? That was a thought that he hadn’t expected to have, yet the thought felt right, almost second nature. Harrison had to shove that thought away from his mind though. He knew his mission, and he couldn’t let thoughts of her distract him. He needed to make it back home alive, for her.

--

Over the next few days, Y/N told Harrison about her time at the fan event and how she couldn’t wait for the premiere in Los Angeles. She told him that Tom walked the red carpet alone and tried to shield her from the paparazzi so they wouldn’t think that they were dating. Harrison couldn’t help but notice the glow Y/N had as she spoke about her experiences. He couldn’t exactly tell her about his day, but it didn’t matter because he could listen to her all day.

--

A little under two weeks after the fan event in London, Y/N, Tom, and the Hollands were on their way to Los Angeles for the world premiere of Infinity War. Y/N knew that the trip would be great, but her heart longed to have Harrison join them. She opted to pay for wi-fi on the plane in case Harrison messaged her. He did. She told him how she was excited to visit the west coast of the US since she had never been before. He asked her to take as many pictures as she could and not to spoil the movie for him. She agreed of course and suggested that they watch it when he got back, which he wholeheartedly agreed.

--

The day of the premiere arrived, and Y/N was getting ready when her phone began to ring. It was Harrison. He was the only that called Y/N, and it made her heart leap for joy.

“I always seem to catch you when you’re getting ready, huh?” Harrison laughed as he saw his best friend with hair and make-up done but wearing his blue sweater.

“I guess so!” Y/N chuckled. “Isn’t it early morning over there? You usually call or message in the evening.” Y/N pointed out.

“Yeah it is, but I won’t be able to talk to you later tonight.” He briefly looked away to try to hide his disappointment.

“Oh… Why is that?” Y/N questioned.

“I am going to be going away for a while.” Harrison informed the girl whose face he was trying to commit to memory.

“Where are you going?” She asked, already anticipating an answer she didn’t want to hear.

“You know I can’t tell you that, darling. I was told I’ll be away from base for 7 to 10 days.” He answered recalling when Tom called her “darling” two weeks earlier.

“Oh… Please be safe, okay?” Y/N requested.

“You know I will. Now, let’s see that dress! I’m sure you look amazing in it!” Harrison smiled as he saw her blush.

“Okay, hold on!” She said as she put her phone down.

Y/N put on a navy-blue dress and struggled with the zipper once again. Harrison chuckled as he heard her struggle with the zipper. He heard her curse under her breath before she was finally able to get the zipper up.

“Close your eyes!” Y/N told Harrison.

As he closed his eyes, Harrison could hear the shuffling of the phone as Y/N placed it upright and made sure her whole body was in frame.

“You can look now!” She smiled as she waited for her best friend’s reaction.

“Love… You look… I don’t even have words.” Harrison rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he tried to find words that could adequately describe the way he felt when he saw her in the strapless, sweetheart neckline, floor-length navy-blue dress.

“Haz, stop it. I can’t possibly look that great.” Her cheeks tinted in a rose color.

“I’m being completely honest, Y/N. You look absolutely amazing. Don’t be surprised if a guy tries to pick you up.” He warned.

“They can try, but I won’t let them. I’ll just say that I have a boyfriend in the Royal Marines.” Y/N shyly looked away not wanting to see Harrison’s reaction.

“If it keeps assholes away, you can use me anytime!” Harrison smiled and hoped that one day it could become a reality.

“Thanks, Haz.” The way his nickname fell from her smiling lips sounded sweeter than any honey Harrison had ever tried, and he wanted to hear her say his name again and again.

They talked for several minutes before Harrison had to say goodbye and leave for his next destination for the mission he was going to be on.

“I need to go, love, but before I do, can I ask a favor?” Harrison asked not knowing if Y/N would be willing to follow through.

“Anything.” She replied without hesitating.

“Can you send me a picture of you in the dress? You just look so beautiful.” His voice trailed at the request.

“Of course, you div!” Y/N smiled at Harrison’s embarrassment.

“Hey! Well, I gotta go. I love you. I promise to be safe.” He knew that he had to keep that promise. Not for him, but for her.

“I love you. I’ll be waiting for you.” She said sweetly as Harrison ended the call.

Y/N quickly took a selfie and a mirror shot and sent them to Harrison on WhatsApp.

I love you, Harrison. Be safe. Know that I’m waiting for you to come back home.

Taglist:  @spideres​ @sincerelymlg​ @steven-g-rogers​ @peacholland​ @hurricaneofcolors @beautiful-holland​ @whitelilykim​ @nillebrein​ @man-of-vibranium​ 

[tenroseforeverandever]

Dear Father Christmas... Chapter 19: December 24, 2034

MASTERPOST

Characters:  Tentoo; Rose Tyler; Jackie Tyler; Pete Tyler; Tony Tyler; OC Hope Tyler-Noble; OC Charlotte Tyler-Noble; OC Wilfred Tyler-Noble; OC Therin Thomson; Javic Thane

Rated: Teen

Tags: Family!Fic; Kid!Fic; Pete’s World; Letters to Santa; Christmas Fic; Family; Fluff; Hurt/Comfort; Angst; Romance; Love; gun violence; violence resulting in death; life-threatening injury; life threatening situations

Summary: When Rose Tyler was little, she always wrote a Christmas wish list to Father Christmas. As she grew older, the wish list became more of a letter to someone she could confide in once a year, but she fell out of the habit somewhere along the way. Now, as a new mum, celebrating her daughter’s first Christmas, Rose takes up writing her Christmas letter to Father Christmas once again.

Rose’s Christmas letters are excerpts from her life with her beloved Tentoo and their children in Pete’s World, written once a year, for each of 31 years.

Chapter Summary: Jackie creates a new charitable event to support the needs of some young women in the London area secondary schools.

Notes: Oh, gosh… I think this is it. I have a funny feeling I won’t be able to post tomorrow, as Chapter 20 is long and has just been submitted to my brilliant betas. Still, not a bad run! I will get the remaining stories out as quickly as I can, and hopefully still get them all posted by New Year’s Eve!

The idea for the event Jackie creates is based on a real event that my kids’ high school holds every year.

All the thanks to the incredible aforementioned betas, @rose–nebula and mrsbertucci  Thank-you, my darlings.

Thanks to @doctorroseprompts for their 31 Days of Ficmas prompts. The prompt I used today was Joy.

Also read at: AO3; FF.net; Teaspoon

December 24th, 2034

Dear Father Christmas,

I never had a prom. We didn’t have them back home. We just had these naff dances in the school gymnasium. The most memorable thing about them was sneaking out back with Keisha and Shareen to get sloshed, smoke a few cheeky fags, and to snog the fit blokes from the rugby team. I didn’t go very often, to be honest, and then I fell in with Jimmy Stone and that was the end of that for school dances… for school, period.

But proms are big business here: they have them twice a year to celebrate the end of each term. My kids have never gone because they were never enrolled in the secondary school system. They all went directly from Primary to University. Charlie just completed a couple of degrees in atomic and molecular physics, and engineering physics. Now she’s off studying at a university on some distant Earth colony, thousands of light years away and about three hundred and twenty centuries in the future.

Needless to say, I still get moments when I just can’t wrap my head around it all, even after all I’ve seen and done in my barmy life. Even Charlie’s Hand in Hand charity (left in very good hands while she is away studying,) is so huge and over-the-top in so many ways, it’s just mind-boggling. It was kind of nice when, this Christmas season, I was able to help in a much smaller way, closer to home.

Mum has taken to counselling like a fish to water. I’ll never regret pushing her to take those classes with me all those years ago. The Big Yellow Truck and the women it supports have only benefited from her knowledge, and her certification has given herself and the charity better credibility.

A few months back, I was over at hers for a cuppa. The Doctor and Wilfred were off in the TARDIS, who knows where, for a few days. I hadn’t been able to go with them. There’d been some trouble in the north of Scotland with a UFO sighting: legitimate, for once. An alien spacecraft had crash landed, much of it burning up in the atmosphere upon descent. Unfortunately, no one had survived, but there had been several human witnesses who were extremely distressed and frightened. I needed to stay for a few days to coordinate the clean-up of the site, and the ongoing counselling for the witnesses.

Anyway, by the time I got back, it was just me rattling around in the little blue house, and feeling lonely, so I went to see Mum. That’s when she got started talking about proms. One of the women she counsels has a daughter that goes to one of the local secondary schools. Like me and Mum when I was growing up, they sometimes had a tough time making ends meet, never mind being able to afford to buy a gown for a prom. She’d been awful sad. Her daughter’s prom was the Friday before Christmas, the day term was over and the kids were out for the winter break.

Even with the aid from Hand in Hand, there were still loads of people who had to watch their pennies. But at least they now had decent homes and medical care, and access to good food and training for employment. But that didn’t always mean they could afford a dress for the prom.

“Maybe I should just buy her one. Make it a Christmas gift yeah. What’dya think?”

I told her she couldn’t just go around buying prom dresses for every young girl who couldn’t afford them.

“Oh, I know, sweetheart. I wasn’t really going to do it. I just wish there was something I could do to help.”

Therin strolled into the kitchen, where we were sitting. “Prom is a really big deal. When I was in Sixth form, some of the posh girls would get a bit uppish, make the girls who couldn’t afford to go feel like shite. Blimey, I’m glad I don’t have to listen to that rubbish anymore.”

“Enjoying Uni, then, are you?”

He just grinned at me and proceeded to tell me how great it was. He was studying economics and business management, so he could continue to help Charlie run Hand in Hand. Dad was also sizing him up to take over Vitex once he retired. It turned out his extensive hands-on experience with the charity had been more valuable than he could have possibly imagined, and he was sailing through his courses. He’d come a long way from the little homeless orphan Charlie had taken under her wing seven years ago.

He pulled up a chair and a mug and poured himself some tea. “Aunt Jackie,” (he’d started calling her this from early on, and Mum’d been right chuffed) “you don’t need to buy the girl a dress, yeah.” He turned back to our earlier conversation.  “You could just give her one of your old ones. Or Rose’s. You both have so many you wear to all those functions and galas and whatnot.”

Mum just stared at him like he’d grown an extra head.

Therin seemed a little put out and got up to leave us to our tea. “Well, sorry I brought it up. I didn’t think you would be so attached. You only ever wear them the once”

Mum screeched, practically leaped out of her chair, and rushed over to him, giving him a huge hug and planting big wet kisses on his cheeks. (Poor Therin. At least he knew he was loved.) Then she started shouting something about “…the answer to everything!”

--ooOoo--

All fall, mum was relentless, absolutely driven, unstoppable. She was on a mission and nothing was going to stand in her way. She approached all the secondary schools around London, asking them to discreetly identify any students they felt would be unable to afford to go to prom because of financial concerns. She wrote a letter, as Founder of the Big Yellow Truck, to be given to each identified student.

Then she approached the schools’ parent committee members, the employees at both Vitex and Torchwood, her friends, and of course, the staff at both the Big Yellow Truck and Hand in Hand. She asked them to consider donating their gently used formal dresses and shoes.

Her idea was simple: most women (at least the ones she knew) bought a gown for an occasion and rarely wore it again; Mum asked that they donate them so that young women without the means to buy a dress would be able to choose one of the donated ones and attend prom in style. Further to that, she offered to provide free hair styling to the girls. She had tried very hard to get suits donated for the boys, but men tended to reuse their formal-wear, so not many suits were available. She did convince the tuxedo rental stores around town to donate a couple of rentals each, so the few boys that needed support were able to get it.

Most of the winter proms around the city landed on the Friday before Christmas. A few were on the Saturday. The weekend prior, buses collected the students and brought them to The Big Yellow Truck’s head office and warehouse, where the dresses were stored. Me, Mum, and a whole load of volunteers were on hand to help the girls find the right dress for them. Mum even found a couple of seamstresses willing to donate their time to do minor alterations on the gowns. The gowns were all labelled with the girls’ names. They would all come back the day of the prom to pick up their dresses and get their hair, nails, and make-up done.

Prom day eventually arrived. All the girls were bouncing off the walls with excitement, squealing and giggling and generally having the time of their lives. Me, Mum, and Hope (who was able to make it home for Christmas this year) and loads of other volunteers set to work preparing the girls for their big night. It was hard work, but so rewarding to see the joy on their faces as one by one they left us looking utterly glamorous, and confident enough to take on the world. The young lady, whose mum had originally planted the seed in Jackie Tyler’s brain to create this event, gave her a huge hug, eyes shining. She said she could never thank her enough. Mum practically glowed with pride.

As we waved good-bye to the last girl, Mum dropped into a chair. “Blimey, I’m knackered, I am. And you lot! You were marvelous today, bleedin’ marvelous! I could murder a cuppa, though. Whatd’ya say?”

I was so proud of Jackie Tyler that day. I am every day, to be honest. She’s my Mum. She made a difference in the lives of every single one of those girls (and boys.) She makes a difference in the lives of vulnerable women every day. And she made a difference in my life too, teaching me to stand up for what I believed in; supporting me through the very hardest times of my life; and loving me even when I made some very questionable and regrettable life choices. She’s a very special woman, and I told her so.

“Don’t take the mick, Rose. There’s nothing special about me. I may live in a big mansion and wear all them pretty frocks now, but I’m still Jackie Tyler from Bucknall House, yeah, and I always will be. Nothing remotely special.”

Santa, I just looked her in the eye and I told her: “Yeah, Mum, you are though. You understand what all these poor women you help are going through every day, how it feels to be the girl at the prom who couldn’t afford the dress. And you always tried to make a difference. And now, even though you’ve been given a life of luxury, you’re still you: you don’t flaunt your money. Instead you use it to help others, the way you wished you always could.”

She hugged me so tight, tears in her eyes. I could tell she still didn’t believe me; she probably never would. But I’ll keep reminding her every day and maybe eventually it’ll stick.

Happy Christmas, Santa. I hope you and Mrs. Claus, and the elves and reindeer always realize how special you are, too, for everything you do each year.

love, Rose

[coworkingspace1]

Long before I ventured into setting up a coworking business, I’ve seen how the concept of coworking survived in the early days. Entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote workers would sit in coffee shops rely on Wi-Fi, a hot cuppa and assign some hours in their kitty. Today, we’ve evolved past that phase. We have now moved into the coworking era! Reports on allwork.space state that, in the last decade, a remarkable 83% of users of coworking have benefited from the new work environment. Following the humongous success, big corporates and industry leaders are warming up to the idea of coworking.

While coworking spaces offer limitless benefits, it is also a breeding ground for talent and knowledge sharing. People no longer sit in laboratories to build a business empire alone. They need a holistic environment, and great minds to execute it. I believe that there is no better space than a coworking environment to make this happen. Coworking, environments are conducive to innovation, collaboration, and productivity. The word co-working speaks about co-production along with co-creation which are increasingly important in today’s innovation era. So how do you pick the right coworking space? In my opinion, here’s what you need to keep in mind before you pick the right coworking space.

Location and Work Environment

If you are going to choose a coworking space the first thing you would have to strike off your checklist is whether it is centrally located, easily connected to public transport, clean and if it meets your business needs. After all, the atmosphere you work directly impacts your productivity. It is needless to say that you should visit the centre. For instance, if you are an SME entrepreneur with a team who works for you, it is ideal to move to the CBD region of your city. This will help you connect with potential clients and business partners.

With the ever-growing real-estate cost, it is not easy to rent an entire office space in an eight-storey building. Which is why collaborative workspaces are different. They offer rental spaces at a good cost at prime locations which put the company over the edge.

Internet Speed

When I began the idea to start a coworking space, I wanted to ensure the internet speed is blazing fast. In today’s digital era, working in an office with a slow internet would delay work and productivity. Which is why it is essential to move into a space with uninterrupted internet services. I have to add that it doesn’t matter if you or your employees are using the internet only for emails and social media or simply for uploading heavy files: choose a coworking space with a reliable internet connection. And, when you are taking a tour of the office, it is always a good foresight to test the speed yourself.

Complete Office Solutions

If you work in a traditional office setting, juggling with your business, employee needs and admin aren’t easy to handle! This is why you should move into an office space which offers worthy office solutions. A good coworking space should offer 24/7 access and AC and security, IT infrastructure, tea and coffee. A great coworking space will even take care of all your office needs. Pick a space that allows you to focus more on your business.

Flexibility and Expansion

In a traditional office space, it is difficult to bring in new members of a team as the terms are inflexible. I’ve heard complaints from business owners about never finding a solution to this, until the day they discovered a coworking space. In today’s ever-evolving world, it is necessary that a workspace should be flexible and agile. Coworking offers this! It gives you the space to grow without having to go through the hassle of shifting your office space. No matter what your company size is, growth is a primary objective—and collaborative workspaces can help you scale. Coworking helps these swiftly-growing organizations save on time as well.

Save on Costs

Coworking workspaces are cost-efficient. Which means you should only pay for the space you need. For instance, if you want a particular team to work closely with the client in another location, you can move your team to a collaborative space instead of setting up a new office. In this way, they get to work in a dedicated space, while still being able to work with the teams. Collaborative workspaces offer the luxury of working in a fully-furnished office space while employees concentrate on their business goals.

Room to Grow

I believe that freedom to have control at work, makes employees feel a sense of identity and belonging to the company. By freedom, I mean the choice the employee has to choose where he wants to work from. The presence of meeting rooms, pantry, and other informal spaces, people are able to choose how they wish to work. Choose a coworking space that gives you space for independent as well as collaborative discussions. So, if you feel like you want to move away from your workstation for a while, you can opt to use other spaces in the office. If you have a meeting with a client or your team, make use of the exclusive meeting room. This gives the workforce a sense of freedom which inherently aims at better productivity and innovation. Apart from this, a coworking space also offers training and mentoring by teaming up with other organizations.

Collaborate

Daily routine in the office, doesn’t always have to be about work, fella! That's why coworking spaces are a great platform to socialize and collaborate. Be it discussing with your team about efficient working or just meet new business owners in your coworking space - these coworking spaces offer endless opportunities to network. All you need to do is to unwind at social hubs in a coworking space and network with like-minded people. This means you are surrounded by potential clients, mentors, highly-goal oriented individuals who you can connect with when you have a project in line. It's also a great chance to reach out to them for time-sensitive tasks.

Having the perfect work-life-balance

My morning routine involves meditating! It keeps me calm, a change from my daily busy day. As much as the workforce tries to hustle work and personal life, it's often difficult to find space to relax. That’s why you must choose coworking space which offers a host of benefits that’s less heavy on work. Be it, yoga class, workshops, medical check-ups – choose a coworking space which offers different activities for members to unwind.

The potential upside of having your business grow at a coworking space is that it can give you an edge to succeed. Workafella, fits everything on the list. From physical space, amenities and other social benefits, including connecting with creative and like-minded professionals – Workafella has it all.

[tipsycad147]

A Joyful Cup!

by Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

With our non-stop, busy lives, it’s hard to find a quiet moment to relax and recharge. But even the practice of pouring a cup of tea can bring peace of mind – especially with the right herbs. Whether you take your tea at high noon or prefer a bedtime brew, these garden herbs provide the perfect mood-boosting cuppa.

Making and sipping a cup of tea is one of the easiest and most enjoyable self-care rituals. In fact, studies show that simply holding a warm cup {regardless of its contents} makes people friendlier and perceive the world in a more optimistic light. Add to that cup some relaxing and restorative teas, and the effects become even more powerful. As many gardeners will attest, stepping out into one’s very own backyard to harvest herbs for that cup of tea furthers a connection with nature, and you discover how deeply enjoyable plant empowerment can be. Looking for a tasty tea featuring herbs you can grow easily in your yard to soothe frayed nerves, help you sleep, or improve your energy? Here are some of my absolute favourites.

Holy Basil {Ocimmum tennuiflorum, syn. O. sanctum}

Also called tulsi, holy basil fits almost any niche you might need for your nervous-adrenal system. Aromatic and delicious with heady notes of clove, mint, and bubblegum, holy basil lends itself fresh or dry to hot and cold water. It quickly calms but gently energises, with effects that improve if you sip it regularly. As a stress-busting adaptogen, tulsi helps modulate the stress hormone cortisol, which also helps lower and balance blood sugar. The aromatics improve focus, lift the spirits, and ease anxiety. It blends well with other herbs too: peppermint for a perk, lemon balm for relaxation after dinner, rose to nourish the heart and spirit, and green tea for energy and stable blood sugar with a meal. Grow it as you would culinary basil: primarily as an annual in good soil with regular moisture, good drainage, and full sun. An Indian herb, it thrives in hot weather and tolerates containers. Harvest regularly, pinching back and using those prolific flowering stalks. Various species and varieties can be used interchangeably. The Kapoor/temperate {and often unnamed} variety grows most vigorously; new evidence suggests that it’s actually a variety of O. africanum, but most seed sellers still label it as O. sanctum. Homegrown or direct-from-the-farm dried tulsi is vastly superior to what is commonly sold in stores.

Lemon Balm {Melissa officinalis}

This is one of the most popular medicinal herbs cultivated in the garden – and for good reason: the perennial grows prolifically and has many uses, and it’s one of the most-revered nervine herbs to nourish and support the nervous system. It quickly eases anxiety and calms frayed nerves, agitation, hyperactivity, anger, and hypervigilance, yet it doesn’t over-sedate during the daytime and also uplifts the spirits, gladdens the heart, and improves focus. Studies have found it useful for memory, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder {ADHD}, and cognitive decline in children to seniors. Fresh or dry, hot or cold, lemon balm’s nice on its own, but tastes better and is more effective in combination with other herbs: holy basil for a calm-alert sate, mint for a pick-me-up, lemongrass or lemon verbena for lemony flavor, skullcap, and passionflower for sleep.

For tea: Dry lemon balm carefully – in a single layer or hanging with good airflow and not too much heat. It loses its lemon flavor pretty quickly once dried. Commercial dried lemon balm pales in comparison to home-grown or direct-from-the-farm.

Ashwagandha {Withania somnifera}

Compared to the other herbs mentioned in this article, ashwagandha takes a bit more time to grow and yields a smaller harvest because we use the roots. Taken daily, the adaptogen promotes deep energy and the strength, vitality {and yes, libido} of a stallion. It gently boosts thyroid function and also acts as a nervine. Some find it helps sleep. Simmer it with chai spices for tea or add the powder to hot milk with honey and nutmeg.

This Ayurvedic Indian herb prefers hot, sunny, somewhat dry spots with minimal competition from other plants. The size it reaches is a good indicator of how big the root harvest will be. Dig the roots in fall of the first year in cooler climates {it won’t survive winter} or wait until the second autumn in warmer zones 8 and up.

For tea: Scrub the roots clean in cold water, chop with clippers, and dry them in a single layer in a warmish spot with good ventilation or a dehydrator. It stinks as it’s drying, but the odour mellows with time. Once it’s dry, you can powder it by grinding it in a bullet blender and sifting through a fine-mesh strainer. Use caution if you have a hyperthyroid disease or are sensitive to nightshade family plants like potatoes and tomatoes.

Gotu Kola {Centella asiatica}

This plant hails from India and Sri Lanka, where it thrives in hot, soggy, rich soil in dappled sun. You can plant it as an annual or keep it in a pot to winter indoors, being mindful to water regularly. Gotu kola offers subtle yet profound benefits that accumulate when taken routinely for months at a time, particularly in high doses {up to an ounce per day}. It has gentle stress-relieving adaptogen properties, eases anxiety and jumpy nerves, but is most popular for its cognition-boosting and nerve-restoring effects. Rumour has it that the elephant’s diet of Gotu kola is why the animal has such a great memory! You can cook it as a leafy green, eat it fresh, or juice it. which is popular in its native lands.

For tea: While the flavor isn’t amazing, it’s bland enough to add to more palatable herbs like mint, holy basil, and lemon balm or broths cooked with garlic and onions. Use the leaves and all aerial parts.

Rose {Rosa spp.}

The petals add a splash of colour to tea blends to lift the spirits and encourage us to be kinder to ourselves. The aromatics of these petals extract well in cold water or seltzer {let a full fresh blossom or two steep for several hours}. I infuse them in a glass bottle so I can “stop and see and sip the roses” when I’m busy, stressed, and overworked. Any rose that smells and tastes good and isn’t sprayed with chemicals will do – typically these include wild and heirloom species such as the moderately invasive seaside {R. rugosa} as well as Damask {R. damascena}, apothecary {R. gallica var. officinalis}, and cabbage {R. centifolia} rose. You can forage invasive multiflora rose {R. muliflora}, but do not plant it.

For tea: Harvest buds, full blossoms, and fresh petals, preferably early in the day before the heat has cooked out the aroma. Dry buds and petals for tea in a single layer with minimal heat.

Skullcap {Scutellaria lateriflora}

This wild plant of the woodland water’s edge {growing among wild mint and bugleweed} prefers slightly damp, rich-to-sandy soil in partial to full sun. It can be a bit persnickety in the garden with good and bad years. When it thrives, harvest in abundance because it’s so useful, and good-quality skullcap is rare on the market. Skullcap has relaxing nervine properties well-suited for people who feel edgy, anxious, or hyperactive, as if their nervous system is in overdrive – when scents, sounds, and even touch make everything worse. When the sound of your bed partner’s breathing keeps you from sleeping and oncoming headlights make your migraine feel like someone’s stabbing you through the eyes – there’s skullcap. Combined with more sedative herbs like passionflower, it helps lull you to sleep. Paired with the gentle energising and focus effects of holy basil or lemon balm, it makes a lovely tea in daytime blends for anxiety. Occasionally {but rarely}, regular use can aggravate depression or prove too sedating for daytime use.

For tea: Harvest once aerial parts are in bloom and dry carefully to avoid blackening, placing them in a thin layer or hanging in a place with good airflow and not too much moisture or heat {ideally in the dehydrator at 95-100 degrees F or so}.

Passionflower {Passiflora incarnata}

Coming from the Southeast, where the sprawling vine can be a bit of a pest, passionflower produces stunning, otherworldly flowers, inspiring missionaries to name it after the Passion of Christ. Passionflower’s aerial parts cool, calm, and sedate, and it’s one of our safest and most effective sleep ease {much more pleasant tasting than valerian and hops!}, easily enhanced with some spearmint, lemongrass, holy basil, or other flavorful herbs.

Also, consider a little passionflower solo or in blends for anxiety, anger, frustration, agitation, and stress-induced hypertension – just be aware that some people find it too sedating for daytime use. You can cultivate passionflower in a warm full- to part-sun spot with decent moisture and good soil, allowing it to amble along a fence, arbour, or trellis. It does well in pots and greenhouses too and can overwinter indoors in cooler climates. As a perennial, zone 6 is the edge of its winter-hardy range.

For tea: Simply prune back vines with happy-looking, vibrant growth, ideally in flower. Use the entire vine – stem, leaves, and flowers. Dry on low heat in a dehydrator to ensure thorough drying of the flower middles or use fresh in other recipes like tinctures.

Flavor With Purpose

Alongside your “relax and revive” teas, consider planting tried-and-true flavorful herbs. Though they’re not as specific for the nervous system, they do impact your mood and the medicinal activity of your blends, and they’ll also make them more delicious.

Mint {Mentha spp.} has probably already tucked itself into some corner of your garden – or threatened to take it over with its ambitious root runners. Perhaps no other herb is as useful for delicious tea blends, hot or cold. Peppermint {M. x piperita} and chocolate mint {a peppermint variety} provide perky and alert properties backed by science. Spearmint {M. spicata} more gently supports cognition and focus and makes a nice flavouring agent for sleep blends as well. Use apple mint {M. suaveolens} much like spearmint, and feel free to play around with other mints, such as pineapple mint {which is quite tasty but may not survive cold winter climates} and banana mint. Bear in mind it spreads and can also interbreed into bland minty hybrids. Consider slowing it down by planting it in big pots or out-of-the-way spots, keeping different species a bit spaced apart.

Rosemary {Rosmarinus officinalis}, like peppermint, offers perky-alert properties but also has a bit of a bitter, piney, resinous edge that adds complexity to tea blends. It’s fine dried but tastes better fresh.

Lemon verbena {Aloysia citrodora} and Lemongrass {Cymbopogon citratus} taste vastly better than lemon balm, adding a pleasant lemon flavor to tea blends that lift and calms the spirits. Lemon verbena resembles lemon cake {especially if combined with vanilla bean or extract and steeped in not-quite-boiling water}, whereas you may recognise lemongrass’s tropical flavor from Thai soups and curry. Of all the lemony herbs, lemongrass holds its flavor the longest but will still lose quite a bit after a year. For tea, dry the grassy tops and then cut them into small pieces with sharp scissors. Freeze the tightly rolled bottom stalks for cooking, cordials, seltzer, and broth. I prefer to keep dried lemon verbena leaves whole to hold their flavor longer, adding a few to my teapot, water bottle, or mug. Both are nice with lemon balm, sleep blends, green tea, or vanilla. Grow these tropical herbs in a pampered garden bed or large pot with full sun, warmth, good soil, and regular water. They don’t like to be crowded by other plants. Be aware that lemongrass can give you a nasty paper cut.

Korean liquorice mint {Agastache rugosa} and Anise hyssop {A. foeniculum} grow into beautiful purple flower spikes that self-seed all over the garden, and they’re so yummy, pretty, and easy enough to pull up or move around that you won’t mind. The two are nearly indistinguishable, with a flower profile ranging from honey-fennel to fennel-mint. Medicinally, this mint-family herb soothes the throat and tummy and has gentle nervine, calming activity. It tastes delicious with almost any other green, leafy herb. It will grow in part shade to full sun, good soil and moderate moisture are most important for big, happy plants. The short-lived perennial will die off after a few years, but by then the babies will be ready to take off.

Harvesting, Drying and Storing Herbs

Harvest leaves {with or without flowers} when the plant looks, smells, and tastes its best, usually just before or after it begins flowering. Cut the top one-third to two-thirds of the plant, making sure to leave at least a few sets of leaves behind. They’re best trimmed right above a leaf node, but you can also grab a bunch of plant material together and give it a “bad haircut.” Keep them on the stem for drying. You can cut lemongrass’s grassy tops for tea this way or if you want to also harvest the thick stalks for other recipes, cut up to one-third of the plant right at the base.

Dry your herbs in a thin or single layer with good airflow until they’re crispy dry. You can use a dehydrator {set to 95-110 degree F for best results}, but good dehydrators are expensive and fill up quickly. Alternately, air-dry in bundles or on hanging screens {I love mt iPomelo hanging herb-drying rack}, but humidity may prevent your herbs from getting totally dry. You can also loosely pack a brown paper bag with herbs, cinch shut with a clothespin, and leave it inside the car windshield on a warm, sunny day {if it’s really hot, place it in a shady spot, a clean trunk, and/or crack the windows}. Sensitive herbs like basil, lemon balm, and skullcap may blacken and degrade via the brown bag method due to the heat and reduced airflow; use a dehydrator instead or air-dry and then crisp in the car if needed when the herb is mostly dry.

Once your herbs are totally crisp-dry {no bendy stems}, you can move the leaves from the stems by stripping with your hands or rubbing over a screen. Store in a clean, air-tight glass jar in a cool, dark, dry spot like a cabinet or pantry.

Tea Blends To Try

Sleep Tea: 1/2 teaspoon each passionflower, skullcap, lemon balm, and spearmint steeped in hot water for 15 minutes in a 4- to a 6-ounce teacup and sweetened with honey.

Perky Alert Blend: 1/2 teaspoon each peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, and Gotu kola plus a sprig of fresh rosemary steeped in 16 ounces of hot water for 15 minutes.

Happy Day Infused Water: A few sprigs of fresh holy basil and one or two rose blossoms in a glass bottle of cold water, steeped for 2 or more hours {holy basil and rose also blend well hot and/or dry}.

Ashwagandha Golden Milk: Simmer 1 teaspoon ashwagandha roots in 16 ounces of hot whole milk, oat milk, or almond milk with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and a pinch each of nutmeg and cardamom for 15 minutes. Strain and add honey or maple syrup to taste.

Ashwagandha Chai: Simmer 1 teaspoon ashwagandha with 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 cardamom pods, 1-star anise, and 5 cloves for 20 minutes. Strain and add milk/cream and sweetener if desired.

Happy Holy Lemon Tea: Combine equal parts lemon balm and holy basil fresh or dry in hot or cold water and let steep for 15 minutes. Exact quantities do not matter; it comes out nicely no matter what.

Good Morning, Tulsi: 1/2 teaspoon each holy basil and green tea {preferably jasmine green}, with a few optional lemon verbena leaves, steeped in 12 ounces of near-boiling water for 4 minutes.

Goddess Bless! GrannyMoon

★☽✪☾★ http://GoddessSchool.com https://twitter.com/GrannyMooninVA https://grannymoon.wordpress.com/

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[winterscribe]

50 OTP Asks: Avaleara and D

Ok, so I might be breaking a rule here, but I answered all the questions and figured I’d share the answers. Its broken into several posts so any one didn’t get too long.

[Part Two] [Part Three] [Part Four] [Part Five]

1. Who is the early bird/ Who is the night owl?

Avaleara’s sleep schedule is fucked up beyond repair. She went so long ignoring her need to sleep (because of nightmares) that she’s used to functioning completely exhausted and can always find something to do to avoid sleep. It's not uncommon to find D picking her up and dragging her off to bed, or otherwise convincing her to sleep. D sleeps when he can, but prefers to sleep during the day, so I guess he’d be the night owl. 

  2. Who is the big spoon/ Who is the little spoon?

They are both the same height so they tend to switch. Because they’ve both survived this long due to paranoia, they often take turns sleeping with the other watching over. In this case little spoon is the one sleeping, and big spoon is curled protectively around them while keeping watch. 

  3. Who hogs the cover/ Who loves to cuddle?

Avaleara is a cover hog. Both “dragons” and “valkyries” are natural nesters and Avaleara has both in her gene pool, so she tends to build up the bed with all the pillows and blankets. D is used to sleeping without covers so he doesn’t mind, and it's not like he’s gonna get cold since Avaleara gives off a massive amount of body heat. 

They both love to cuddle, though for the longest time D had issues instigating. He’s so used to keeping himself apart, both for his safety and everyone else's, that it's hard for him to let someone close even when he really wants to. But he’s learning and it gets easier with time. Avaleara has similar issues because someone she trusted so much turned around and tortured her. It’s hard for her to let her guard down but she trusts D and has his permission to cuddle, so she’s constantly draping herself all over him. 4. Who wakes the other one up with kisses?

Neither. Unless it’s a serious emergency they guard each other’s sleep fiercely since they both have a lot of trouble getting enough sleep. Also considering they both have PTSD they tend to wake up fighting. Long before they got together D tried to wake Avaleara from a nightmare since it was bad enough he heard her screaming from the other room. By the time Avaleara was fully conscious D was almost dead since she’d thrown him across the room and all but cut him in half with poison claws. Years later they now have a telepathic/empathic link that means that won’t happen, but the thought of it still terrifies Avaleara so D tries not to wake her if he can avoid it. In the rare case that it's unavoidable it's usually half telepathy and half gentle talking that wakes the other up, and it can take a few minutes because they go so slowly to avoid inevitable injury. 

5. Who usually has nightmares?

Both of them. Avaleara’s are mostly flashbacks to the decades of torture she endured. She doesn’t sleep without D, because somewhere along the line D’s scent became psychologically ingrained in her as safe, and D managed to figure out how to ease her out of a nightmare, but it took a long, long, time for that to happen. Also because she’s woken up a couple times choking on a piece of her own tongue she managed to bite off, and is kinda freaked out at the prospect of dying over something so stupid. On top of that, she’s constantly worried about hurting someone, especially since the one time she almost killed D.

D has nightmares about the frontier. Memories of kids he’s had to kill cuz they were turned into bloodthirsty monsters, people he liked killed in horrific ways, his thousands of siblings slaughtered by his father, just. All the nightmares. After he has kids, he dreams of them being tortured by his father. D doesn’t react to nightmares since he’s so used to them, and he learned long ago to keep quiet and still during them. He will hold Avaleara close after a particularly nasty one, and his kids aren’t strangers to getting seemingly random “skype calls”.

6. Who would have really deep emotional thoughts at the middle of the night/ Who would have them in the middle of the day? 

Both of them would think these things during the night. D is definitely a night owl and sleeps during the day, even on a world where sunlight doesn’t hurt him. Avaleara tends to keep really really busy during the day, so it's not until she slows down at night that thoughts catch up to her.

7. Who sweats the small stuff?

Neither of them. Although Avaleara can get a little finicky when she’s organizing a diplomatic event, needing every little detail down to the napkins to be perfect, that has a lot more to do with the complexities of hosting an interplanetary diplomatic party and managing not to accidentally insult (or worse poison) someone.   

8. Who sleeps in their underwear (or naked)/ Who sleeps in their pajamas?

D sleeps his pajamas, although any person who hasn’t survived off paranoia for millennia would consider it a only a step below tactical body armor. (loose fitting enough that movement isn’t restrictive, tough enough material to provide some protection) If he feels really comfortable he’ll sleep shirtless though. Avaleara does sleep naked a lot, but she’s also known for stealing D’s shirts and boxers and sleeping in those.

9. Who makes the coffee (or tea)?

D. The man can’t cook to save his life, but he makes a mean cuppa. His tea is usually semi medicinal, and the one he makes most often would be a sleepy time tea to help Avaleara relax. Avaleara may live of her world’s version of coffee, but she rarely actually makes it. She uses it as an excuse to stop in for a few minutes and catch up with local baristas, and chat with her people. If she’s too focused on her work D will stop in with a cup from her favorite place to keep her going.   

10. Who likes sweet/ Who likes sour?

Avaleara kinda has a sweet tooth, liking pastries and her world’s version of chocolate, but she’s not a huge fan of overly sugary things. She’ll occasionally eat something sour, but it's definitely not a favorite flavor. D’s relationship with food is weird since he didn’t really need to eat, but he’s learning to enjoy things. He doesn’t have a sweet tooth though, about the sweetest thing he’ll eat is fruit and dark chocolate.

[i-globalone]

Huge, fast-paced, and jam-packed with activities and attractions, the sheer variety of things to see and do in London can feel slightly overwhelming at times, especially for first-time visitors. Fortunately, help in on hand. Whether you prefer strolling through leafy parks, taking in some culture at a first-rate museum, or getting up close and personal with the animals at one of the world’s finest zoos, you’ll find no shortage of outstanding activities and experiences on our round-up of the 20 best things to do in London.20. Enjoy a pint at Ye Olde Cheshire CheeseIf you’re going to London, it would be remiss of you not to visit at least a few of its iconic pubs. If you can only squeeze in one, make it Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. Tucked away in a narrow alley off Fleet St., the pub was once the stomping ground of the likes of Thackeray, Dickens and Dr. Johnson – these days, the legendary figures may have been replaced by a more contemporary clientele, but its dark, intimate surrounds, rickety floorboards, warming fireboards, and low beamed ceiling will instantly transport you back in time.19. Take a ride on the London EyeAs Ferris Wheel’s go, you’ll struggle to find one better than the iconic London Eye. Tickets cost upwards of £27 depending on the type you select; once you’ve paid your money, take a seat, set your camera to go, and get ready for a truly astonishing, birds-eye view of the surrounding city. Just one word of warning: at 400 feet tall, the Eye is no place for those with a fear of heights. 18. Discover St Paul’s CathedralWhile Westminster Abbey is arguably London’s best known (and impressive) church, St Paul’s Cathedral comes in a close second. Its majestic dome will take your breath away, while the far-reaching views over the London skyscape offered from the top of the Golden Gallery will do the same (that is, if you have any left to lose after hiking the 528 steps it takes to get there). Once you’ve finished your tour, wrap up your visit with a bite to eat at the excellent café tucked away in the crypt.17. Take a tour of the Houses of ParliamentRegardless of whether you opt for a guided or self -guided tour, the sprawling Houses of Parliament won’t disappoint. As you wind your way through the Westminster Hall, the House of Commons Chamber and the Royal Gallery, you’ll be struck by the stunning architecture, beautiful detail, and all-pervading sense of history. If you want to record your visit for prosperity, wander over to Westminster Bridge, which offers some of the most Instagram worthy views in London.16. Down a cuppa at Claridge’sIf you’re visiting the capital of tea-loving Britain, you should fit in at least one afternoon tea while you’re there. For a true treat, head to Claridge’s for some truly sublime sandwiches, scones, and patisseries (not to mention an extensive selection of teas). The terrace at The Goring or the regal Orangery are equally superb places to enjoy a teatime treat, while the Mad Hatter’s Tea at the Sanderson is a quirky, but no less enjoyable, alternative. 15. Discover the Natural History MuseumWith more than 70 million specimens and exhibits, the Natural History Museum has more than enough to keep you entertained for an entire day. Its exhibit of a simulated earthquake would be the standout in most museums, but here, it has to compete with some serious competition from the likes of the Museum of the Moon, Orbit: A Journey Around Earth in Real-Time, and Palaeoart – Reconstructing the Past. As the museum does switch up its exhibits from time to time, download the app to better plan your visit.14. Take in the exhibits at the Victoria and Albert MuseumThose looking to explore London on a budget are in luck. One of its best museums, the Victoria and Albert Museum (sometimes referred to simply as V&A) offers visitors the chance to experience its mammoth collection completely free of charge. As well as its permanent collections showcasing architecture, textiles, furniture, drawings, and jewelry from numerous time periods and countries, the museum also hosts an ever-evolving series of temporary collections – check out their website beforehand to plan your itinerary properly.13. Browse the stalls at Camden MarketWhether you want vintage t-shirts, designer bags, rare vinyl, or rare breed lamb, the ever- vibrant, enduringly-popular Camden Market is where you’ll find it. Packed with over 200 vendors selling every type of consumer good you could conceive of, the market is as big a hit with locals as it is with tourists (who no doubt enjoy the uniquely British sight of the hippest of hipsters rubbing shoulders with tweed-wearing pensioners). Cool, fun, and located within striking distance of the beautiful Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, it’s a great place to while away a morning. 12. Step back into the past at the Churchill War RoomsLondon is rich in historical detail, nowhere more so than the Churchill War Rooms. The labyrinth-like corridors of the underground bunker used by Winston Churchill and his cabinet during the bombing raids of the Second World War give a detailed insight into the story of the period, while the rich array of exhibits is thought-provoking and detailed. Given the popularity of the site, queues can be lengthy: aim to visit as early in the day as possible to avoid the worst of them.11. Browse the art at the Tate ModernFor those with a taste for modern art, the Tate Modern is a must-visit. As well as its huge collection of pieces from British artists, it also showcases some of the finest work from international artists like Dali and Picasso (although given that pieces are grouped by theme rather than artist, you may have to do a little digging to find them). For a deeper insight into the works, be sure to download the Tate App to your smartphone before you visit.10. Take a snap at Tower BridgeIf you’re into architecture, you’ll not want to miss Tower Bridge. Built in 1886, the bridge is fairly modern in comparison to the city’s other architectural wonders, but it still manages to be full of historical detail. If the sight of its movable roadways lifting to let a ship pass through isn’t impressive enough, the breathtaking views it offers of the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and The Shard surely are. 9. Catch a show in the West EndThe UK equivalent of Broadway is THE place to go to catch a show. The quality of the productions is never short of first-rate, while the seemingly infinite variety of new and classic shows means you’ll never be short of options. The atmosphere, meanwhile, is worth the visit alone… as, obviously, is the chance to run into one of the many famous faces that frequent the district.8. Visit the National GalleryWhen we say London’s National Gallery is huge, don’t take it for hyperbole. The cavernous building is so vast, visitors are equipped with a color-coded map to make sure they don’t get lost forever in the labyrinth-like corridors. While getting to the grips with the layout can be a challenge, it’s more than worth the effort – as home to such world-famous pieces as Botticelli’s “Venus and Mars” and Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”, the museum’s 2,300 in-house pieces are some of the finest you’ll find anywhere. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes to survive all the walking you’ll need to do to see them.7. Take a stroll in Hyde ParkIf the hustle and bustle of the UK’s biggest city is starting to give you a headache, beat a hasty retreat to the superbly tranquil Hyde Park. What was once the stomping grounds of King Henry VIII is now the city’s premier destination for those looking to enjoy a relaxing day in nature. As well as simply being a great place for a quiet stroll, the Park (which stretches outwards into the equally beautiful Kensington Gardens) is full of attractions and activities to keep you amused: ride a boat along the Serpentine Lake, take a moment at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, or see who’s rallying the crowds at Speakers’ Corner.6. Enjoy the lights of Piccadilly CircusThe UK equivalent of Time’s Square is as lively, vibrant a place as you could imagine. Lying right at the heart of the action, Piccadilly Circus is 24/7, 365 days a year, entertainment heaven. Offering easy access to the delights of the West End and Oxford street, the range of restaurants, shops and nightlife spots on offer is unparalleled. Visit during the night to see the stunning sight of age-old buildings lit up in neon glory.5. Visit Westminster AbbeyAnyone who’s ever watched a televised royal wedding and dreamt of visiting the setting shouldn’t miss Westminster Abbey. The medieval church has born witness to hundreds of regal ceremonies over the years, as well as become the final resting place for such lauded figures as Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling, along with half-sisters, Elizabeth I and Mary Tudor. To really get the most of the experience, take the 90-minute Verger-led tour to visit the Shrine (which houses the tomb of Saint Edward the Confessor), the Royal Tombs, Poets’ Corner, the Cloisters and the Nave.4. Buy a souvenir at Portobello Road MarketLondon is teeming with markets, but of all of them, Portobello Road Market reigns supreme. With more than 1000+ vendors selling everything from antiques and art to clothing and food, you’ll be spoilt for choice. If you can, skip breakfast before you visit: the range of street food options is divine (as too, are the offerings of the many restaurants lining the market).3. Visit the Queen at Buckingham PalaceWhile going to London doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get to see the Queen, it does at least mean you get to visit her official residence. The world-famous Buckingham Palace is one of London’s architectural highlights, while its stunning grounds are more than worthy of its regal occupant. For a real insider’s look into the rich cultural and historical significance of the palace, take a tour of the 19 State Rooms – their rich opulence and array of exquisite artworks is breathtaking. If you can, time your visit to coincide with the Changing of the Guards, which takes place daily at 11 a.m. from April until late July, and every other day for the rest of the year.2. Admire the Crown Jewels at the Tower of LondonIf you can stand the tourists, a visit to the historic Tower of London should be on every visitor’s itinerary. While the exterior may be slightly unimpressive, the interior is anything but. The crown jewels exhibition is usually top of everyone’s agenda, but the equally fascinating, 350-year-old exhibition “Line of Kings” in the White Tower is just as worthy of your attention. While you’re free to take a self-guided tour, it’s well worth signing up for the entertaining (and free) Yeoman Warders tour to make sure you don’t miss anything you shouldn’t.1. View the Rosetta Stone at the British MuseumFew museums in the world can rival the architectural majesty of the British Museum. Fewer still can match the scale or quality of its antiquities collection, which includes everything from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles and Lindow Man. So numerous are its exhibits that travelers rarely feel satisfied with just the one visit: however, if just the one is all you can spare, make sure to catch all the highlights by taking a guided tour (most of which, like the admission, are free).

http://www.globalone.com.np/2019/12/the-20-best-things-to-do-in-london-for.html

[boxession]

I was absolutely elated when the lovely Laura from Pink Parcel contacted us to review for them. This is a Box that consistently scores in the top 3 of our group Polls. I am aware of how big they are as a company, I have subscribed to them too and enjoyed their boxes.

We are an up and coming group, with growth levels at a high rate. So to be noticed by the bigger brands, which is happening more frequently now; is simply amazing for the BoXession Team. We will be running a competition to WIN the October Pink Parcel Box, which starts on 9th and runs through to the 15th, so don’t forget to enter… its FREE!

I unboxed LIVE on the BoXession Group, with the most viewers I have ever seen for an unboxing! Which made me a tad nervous. This has now been uploaded to our YouTube Channel which you can view by clicking play below…

So this is how the boxes from Pink Parcel arrive every month…

I personally love the way that they all slot together like a little jigsaw. How they fit all of this into the boxes must take some serious skill! The packaging is very discreet so no need to worry that the Postie will know what is in there.

Every month a drawstring bag is included. I have a collection of these. I keep one in each of my Bathrooms, and my handbags and luggage for when I go away. I love the idea of them, especially for younger girls. Pink Parcel have a sister company – Betty Box. The boxes are the same size, but the contents and packaging of Betty Box are aimed at a younger audience. Fingers crossed we can review that one for you too!

The cost of Pink Parcel is £12.99 per month, this includes P&P. We have an exclusive discount code which is ‘BoXession2017’ for 20% off!. This makes your first box only £10.39!! BARGAIN!

They have 3 delivery dates in the month. Beginning, middle and end. So when you sign up you select the date of your next period, and your box shipment will automatically arrive in time for that date.

If you are like me and have no patience, you will select the first two days in the month so that you get to see the contents before everyone else as you cannot stay away from spoilers! haha!

You can choose which brand and type of sanitary product you wish to be included in the box, and also which flow. This is tailored to fit you, you can also edit it for the next month, or request a mixture in flow absorbency. Amazing, right?

So What’s in the Box?

MUA Luxe Whipped Velvet Blush – Full Size – RRP £3

Urban Veda Facial Wash – Travel Size 20ml – Full size £12.99 for 150ml so worth £1.73

Cougar Mineral Eyeshadow – RRP £12.99 for set of 3 – worth £4.33

Trifle Cosmetics Lip Parfait (Exotic Fruits) – Full Size – RRP £15

Blank Canvas Face Brush (F01) – Full Size – RRP £14.81

Raw Halo Chocolate Bar – 35g – RRP £2.79

T+ Teabag, Green Tea – RRP £ 3.69 for 15 Bags – worth £0.25

Total Value = £41.91

Sanitary items I received:

21 Tampax Compak – Regular

5 Night time pads

5 Panty Liners

Now I cannot put an exact cost on these, but for a box of 20 Tampax Compak Regular in Boots will cost you £2.90. The beauty of it for me is not really the value of these items… it is the convenience of not having to remember to buy them, and certainly not having to send the other half out on a mission to the shops should you forget and run out, gasp! We have all done this ladies, imagine their poor red faces at the counter ha ha! I did laugh then (a little).

  My Favourite item by far has to be the Blank Canvas brush. Not only is it huge, but its beautifully well made and retails at more than the cost of the entire box. One of the questions I ask members on the BoXession group a lot is what are your favourite items to receive in a Box… well brushes are one of mine! Not only does it tick the boxes for me (no pun intended), but it is also a vegan and cruelty free brand. Top marks from me here Pink Parcel!

The Trifle Cosmetics Lip Parfait is a close second place, with its RRP at £15 we are now almost TREBLE the cost of the box after just 2 products plus the sanitary items. I have had one of these before and loved it. I used it as a carry around lip balm so to speak. But I imagine for the more neutral colours you could also use these as a lip primer under a matte or liquid lip to avoid drying out your lips. I really love Trifle packaging, friendly on the environment and very eye catching. I would like to see more items from this brand in Pink Parcel (hint hint).

You can never go wrong with everyday items in a box that will get used, and not only that, but when they are the perfect size for a week away or a weekend, this is even more popular with me. I like to travel, and I have 2 boys. My luggage capacity is often overtaken by my partners love of fishing (sob). So when I get items such as this that fit into my travel bag neatly I absolutely love them. Sometimes for me it isn’t always about getting all full size products in a box, but more about what I WILL use. I have used Urban Veda Facial Washes before, but not this one specifically.

MUA LUXE are a brand I am already familiar with. They are available from High Street Drugstores at a small price tag. I am happy that the colour of mine is more of  dusky pink as I do not suit peach. I have swatched this and love the colour, it is definitely buildable. I would buy this product again. I love their lip primers and velvet mattes, and they do an Inkd lip stain that is one of the best I have ever used. I am a true believer that if something is cheap it doesn’t always mean the quality is bad.

The Cougar Mineral Eyeshadow is part of a set of 3 that you can buy directly from their website for £12.99 with the little applicator. I am not worried that it doesn’t cone with the brush as I have lots of good eye brushes. This in my opinion is a great base shadow to be applied after primer. You could apply bright colours over it to make them stand out, or pop as they say these days. If you wanted to use it for a very simple everyday look then you could. It is great when boxes include items that suit every taste. One of my secret (not so secret) pet hates, is when you get like a bright yellow eyeshadow or a blue lipstick. I am sure that this is ok for some people, but 98% of us wouldn’t use them. Cougar lipsticks are also fab Pink Parcel… not that I am hinting again or anything ha ha!

Last but by no means least are the food items. I was so relieved when I saw the Chocolate Bar in this months box. I am not shy, and I often speak to members about things I like and dislike. One of the things I dislike is healthy food. Listen, I am happy with curves… yes I said it out loud. I couldn’t get through life without something sweet. I will never be a supermodel and that is perfectly ok by me (she says with a mouth full of the stuff). I wasted no time in eating this! Ok, maybe 5 minutes max. Well played Pink Parcel, I would have hated to have been ranting about granola bars in a review ;).

I do not drink tea, I cannot survive without Coffee; and therefore the BOOST Green Tea will not be used by me, but likely sent in my next swap parcel to fellow Blogger and Admin Michelle.. who loves a cuppa! In the grand scheme of things, I know that they always have Tea in the boxes, and it doesn’t put me off in the slightest.

My Verdict?

This month’s box is one of the BEST I have had from Pink Parcel. You have made what I do so easy, as it is love and passion that drives me to write, and to Blog about this was an absolute pleasure.

Pink Parcel are one of the cheapest boxes out there, and for what you get as you can see above, is approximately 4 times what you pay. With our discount code buying this box is simply a no brainer. £10.39 for ALL OF THIS?! The one thing I hear the most from people is ”oh I don’t use the sanitary items” … donate them! Food Bank, Homeless Hostel, Women’s Refuge and so on. Then you can keep the treats AND feel good that you did a kind thing.

Once again the discount code for 20% off is ‘BoXession2017’ it is only valid for a month, so you can get this box above, and limited number of uses on the code ladies… so time is of the essence. The links are below for their Website and Social Media.

Thank you my lovelies as always…

Mel xx

  https://www.pinkparcel.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pinkparcel/

https://www.instagram.com/pinkparcel/

Twitter: @thepinkparcel

Pink Parcel Review by Mel – October 2017 I was absolutely elated when the lovely Laura from Pink Parcel contacted us to review for them.

[surviveuk]

New Post has been published on https://www.surviveuk.com/survival-blog/kelly-kettle-review/

Kelly Kettle Review

Finally we can bring you our Kelly Kettle Review.

  I say finally as we had this little beauty in my spare room for about 2 months waiting for our Welsh weather to be less, well Welsh. So we packed our bags and went for a hike, taking the Kettle with us, and the whole way all I could think was how I hated my partner for being a million feet tall. I bet you thought I would say the kettle, but no, looking up and seeing an ex-military giant leaping up cliffs and stepping over meteor craters just made me want to bludgeon him to death and use his corpse to skate back down to the car. I mean I had a 60ltr pack full of gear we needed that day, while he carried the kettle and a spare pair of gloves in his little daypack. I felt like a pack mule, but he’s the one with a horse face so I think I win.

  Anyway, lets give you some useful info on the Kelly Kettle.

  This is the stainless steel ‘Scout’ version that’s 1.2 litres, although you can get a 0.6ltr ‘Trekker’ or the 1.6ltr ‘Base Camp’ models, and all three come in Aluminium if you want something a little lighter. You have most of the little bits like cups and pans are available separately so you can tailor your kettle to suit your personal needs, but we went with the ‘Ultimate’ edition that comes with everything. Really its the most comprehensive wood burning kit of this type we have ever seen, it only needs some cutlery and when I suggested that to Patrick Kelly (Oh yes,  I have the connections), he told me they are working on that right now, so expect to see them really soon to finish off your kit.

  Anyway, we got to the summit of a local hotspot for downhill bikers (the hooligans) and found a windless little pocket to sit in the sun and set to work getting a brew on the go. We knew we had to gather wood for the kettle and we weren’t sure how much we would need, so I wandered off and gathered a few dead branches. I came back with less than enough to fill a carrier bag, certainly I thought I needed more, but I was tired and figured Gav could go get more when it was required. It was however enough to boil the kettle twice, cook 4 sausages and an entire pack of bacon and still have a few small twigs left over (probably enough for another brew). It really is efficient at burning wood and the temperature gets right up there thanks to the closed design, it really felt like a piece of kit you could rely on.

  I know a fair bit about physics and engineering, so I was expecting it to be fuel-efficient and quick to boil, but nothing prepared me for just how good it actually is. In about 3 minutes we had a cuppa each and plenty of water left over for two more to join us.  Also, before we could even finish the first brew, the sausages had cooked through to perfection. Even including the time it took to gather some wood and get it all going, we reckon it was still faster than the usual gas stoves and camping kettles we normally use. Combine that with the fact that you don’t need to buy gas, and the entire package fits into a rather small little package when put away properly, you have something that really struggles to find an equal. It does take up a bit more space as just a kettle than I would like, if I’m completely honest, but if you look at it as a whole package (the cups, plates, pot and pan, hobo stove, grill and the kettle itself), then it takes up less space than the equivalent kit I would carry instead. Lets also not forget that there is the Trekker model that’s about half the size of this one, so if size and space is an issue then they have you covered.

  So that’s the big part of the kettle done, but lets talk about the little extras that came with this kit.

  For use with the cooking apparatus is a small grab handle that works with both the pot and pan. I would have liked another inch or two on it at times when the fire got a little larger than needed but it got the job done. The hobo stove made a nice stable platform for the pot and pan. It did burn more fuel when using this as it lets more oxygen in but, as I mentioned previously, it cooked 4 sausages faster than I could drink my tea, and I do not hang around letting a cuppa go cold. There is also the option of using the grill, but as we were cooking bacon as well, we thought we would use the pan so we could get the juices rather than bring oil. The only thing with the grill is you couldn’t have a huge fire going in the base as it does sit down quite low, but as long as you don’t go nuts with the wood you should be fine. Also it comes with a stand to put a pot above the kettle although, I would just boil the kettle and get the hobo stove out as 3 minutes isn’t a long time to wait.

  The plates were a good size and quite deep. They were more like dishes so you know any rations, or whatever your chosen food is, wont be running off the edge. The cups came in a small and large size so they fit together, but even the small is bigger than a normal household cup so you wont be left wanting. The cups also come with measurements and lip protectors to stop burning if the cup is hot and I did have an issue with them when the cup was close to empty as they made me dribble instead of drink, but that was only on the last couple of mouthfuls. The pot is big enough for a boil in the bag sized ration or a couple of tins of beans, and the pan fit 4 large sausages without issue.

  So overall I couldn’t be happier with this kit. Well I could be, as this one belongs to my partner because he’s freakishly tall and he held it up too high for me to grab, damn ogre. Honestly though I was looking at these for about two years before we finally got our hands on one and I wish I had done it sooner. You can get lighter products that take up less space, like mini gas burners, but you will struggle to find something that boils as quickly as this, and it requires no additional money spent on fuel. It just has no rivals in my opinion, at least none that burn wood, and the quality is there. Its great if your on a day out or even when your camping, just set it up next to you and have a quick brew and breakfast on the go in the morning. This is quickly becoming our ‘go to’ cooking kit when we go out and if you ever get one you will see why.

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About the Author

Sgt. Prepper

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Bushcraft and survival veteran. I have skills ranging from friction fire to hunting and tracking. Also I'm a prolific lover. Better than Gav. Motto: Don't bring it if you don't want to carry it.