#japan being an important place for both louis and harry

[casthefallenangel]

Larry

[1ddiscourseoftheday]

🗣Tues 15 Dec ‘20🙊

Anyone order their daily with EXTRA DISCOURSE today? Lucky you, I guess, I'd send it back to the kitchen if I had the option but this is more a 'you'll take what you get and like it' kind of establishment so here we are! EAT UP we got Liam and Lou Teasdale making everyone mad, Louis and Harry's teams forgetting they're supposed to be mortal enemies, and Zayn?? Getting papped?? Omg is Z3 really coming this time? I've been burned so many times before (flown too close to the sun) but what if....... So first Gigi and zaby stroller were papped, then Zayn was papped in his usual way-- 'if you can get a good picture of me in the seconds it takes me to walk from my front door to the car have at it, that's exactly all you get'-- and then a fan reported seeing Zigi and zaby at a pizza restaurant. Zayn's hair is bleached white blond and that's about all I can tell you except that Z NEVER gets papped (or spotted really) for nothing so I am excite!!

Liam's back! He did the postponed-from-last-Tues hour long live for Stand Up To Cancer (and raised $16k!) and he's got a show in two days so I'd say his extremely brief breather is probably done with, whether he got the time he needed to be happy about coming back or not. He seems in good shape for the live though, even if he does say “its been a really long day, you don't even know, REALLY long” and that what he wants most for Christmas is “to have a little bit of time to reflect.” But he says he is going to take some time out and go away and write music “for the first time in a very long time,” in the new year, nice! He mentions how he went up to Sweden for recording recently and says it ”went really well I'm really really excited” about the new music and, uhhh, “got something sent through from Mick Fleetwood while I was over in Sweden writing, some guitar stuff, which was amazing, and he was dressed like santa at the time!” I...what??? I'll just... leave that there?? About other bands, he says that he's become a big fan of the Wanted over time, that “someone Zayn-ed out,” of Little Mix but “Zayn left for pretty much the same reasons and I do feel for them,” and “are 5SOS still together? Did they pull an us I thought they pulled an us?” He said yes, it's so great about Louis' show, and “it was great, and do you know what, like listening through those lyrics, it’s really nice to hear the truth in his music because obviously I mean I know all of the full story about him, and [pause].. and uh... his relationship with his girlfriend and whatever else,” SKLDYSSKKJ.

This long live also had him responding to screen comments he would usually ignore (though thank GOD he only reads but doesn't answer 'what happened with Niall in Japan' please tell me the questioner wasn't trying to get him to comment on the 'violently masturbating' story), anyway so we got Liam on touching his hair if larry is real-- “of course that's not going to happen don't be silly,” and on whether he thinks 'larry is disrespectful' “sometimes I do... actually that's not true, all the time I do.” Well he's not wrong though I'd expand that to 'all the fans' but if I had to wade through a million “touch your nose if larry is real” comments every time I was promoting my own material, for ten years, I'd probably get tetchy too! He didn't say it was or wasn't real, as he himself pointed out he never WILL do that for REASONS; tbh I'm with Liam can people PLEASE stop being so embarrassing on main and let him live? ANYWAY, moving on, his Advent Alarm clock today is the sleep story edited down to be just Liam laughing for like 30 seconds, aka the exact edit that I suggested they should make a couple weeks ago, which I find frankly extremely alarming (ALARMing HA) are they... listening to me?? Well if Liam's management are looking for ideas BOY HAVE I GOT SOME FOR THEM hit me up fellas PLEASE.

Harry and Louis both announced further postponements of their UK and Europe tour shows, like really the same announcement and just fully back to back, I can only assume that after weeks of intensive hashing out to match up dates their teams have arrived at some kind of plan and were like cool let's announce! Louis has added some new shows, while Harry's new schedule is undisclosed as yet. Harry says “I really hope to play these shows and will have news for you in the new year on when they will take place.” Louis' new dates include previously omitted countries (Iceland! Austria!), and those tickets go on sale Friday. Harry did not respond to Rob Sheffield's awkward attempt to link Watermelon Sugar and WAP as being similar but he did like Megan Thee Stallion's post celebrating her successful year, and Vulture ranked Adore You in its top 5 videos of the year with a much better take on what Harry is all about, saying that it “highlights one of the singer’s best traits: his willingness to be delightfully weird.” Kid Harpoon said that he and Harry “wrote a song in Japan that may yet see the light of the day,” and Harry continues to roast him, disputing his songwriter of the year award-- “they found 8,000,000 opposing ballots in a bin behind his house! FRAUD!”

And last but most discourse-y-est of all, The Sun made waves today, pulling the most salacious parts of a Lou Teasdale interview with the Sex, Lies and DM Slides podcast from last week and bringing it to wider attention. In the interview she talked at length about systemic discrimination against women working in the music industry and her own work experiences, which naturally include (very briefly) touching on her highest profile job- the years she spent traveling with 1D. In this context she says “you kind of can’t sleep with them [the band]- it’s quite important to keeping your job... some people would come in and like you know assistants and stuff and I think they would really think... that it was love and obviously it’s not,” and “it’s just the quickest way to lose your job- because then they’ve got a new girlfriend and she’s there and they don’t want you in the room.” She did not sell her story to The Sun she mentioned this in passing as part of an interview about her work experiences; she herself says, “I didn’t do an interview [with] the sun. I’ve never done that. I did a podcast with friends about loads of things.”

There is nothing remotely unlikely in this story, either in the concept that members of the band slept with girls casually (we know that certain of them did and there isn't even anything wrong with that in a situation of consent, the denial of it is as bizarre as scribbling out the beer bottle in a 28 year old man's hand), or that low level members (“assistants and stuff”) of the 150 person+ crew appeared and disappeared on a regular basis. The band were, to my guess, probably simply not paying very much attention to the serious ramifications of this carelessness and the consequences rather than demanding that people be fired, but I do very much hope they've learned over the years to be responsible for the kind of power that they have over other peoples' lives (something I really doubt they understood the extent of yet as very young people being dragged from one place to another who felt powerless themselves).

[oberlincollegelibraries]

Weekend Edition: US Presidents

It is 2:30 PM on Friday and we are all still waiting on the edge of our seats for the results of the 2020 presidential election. We might have a declared winner by the time you are reading this, or perhaps the world is still waiting. Either way, here are four recent biographies of past US presidents!

For more POTUS reads, subject search “Presidents -- United States -- Biography” in OBIS.

President Carter: The White House Years by Stuart E. Eizenstat; foreword by Madeleine Albright

"The Carter presidency is the most underappreciated of the last century. Often considered just a smiling but ineffectual Southerner in a sweater, Jimmy Carter deserves to be remembered instead as a risk taker who did what he felt was right, not what would be politically expedient, whose legacy led to presidential successes long after his term, and whose list of lasting achievements reshaped the country. Stuart Eizenstat saw everything firsthand. As Carter's Chief Domestic Policy Adviser, he was directly involved in all domestic and economic decisions as well as in many involving foreign policy. Famous for the legal pads on which he recorded every meeting and call, he draws on more than 5,000 pages of contemporaneous notes, as well as declassified documents and more than 350 interviews he conducted with the era's key players from both parties, to write this comprehensive yet intimate history. Eizenstat takes you inside Camp David during the grueling negotiations for peace between Israel and Egypt; shows how Carter transformed our transportation, environment, and energy policies and supported a tough monetary policy that finally defeated stagflation; and lays out how Carter made human rights the centerpiece of American foreign policy. This book is no apologia, however. Eizenstat analyzes Carter's triumphs and failures honestly so that we can understand how he dealt with some of the most intractable challenges any president has faced. He reveals the story behind the "malaise" speech and how the cabinet firing that followed nearly cost Carter his vice president. He describes the Iranian hostage crisis from both inside the White House and Ayatollah Khomeini's camp. And he puts you in the war room during Carter's 1980 presidential campaign against Ted Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. In the end, Eizenstat's definitive chronicle of Carter's consequential term in office shows that this good man from Georgia was a far better president than history has so far recognized."--Dust jacket

Eisenhower: Becoming the Leader of the Free World by Louis Galambos

In this engaging, fast-paced biography, Louis Galambos follows the career of Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower, offering new insight into this singular man who guided America toward consensus at home and a peaceful victory in the Cold War. The longtime editor of the Eisenhower papers, Galambos may know more about this president than anyone alive. In this compelling book, he explores the shifts in Eisenhower's identity and reputation over his lifetime and explains how he developed his distinctive leadership skills. As a career military officer, Eisenhower's progress was uneven. Galambos shows how Ike, with the help of Brigadier General Fox Conner, his mentor and patron, learned how to profit from his mistakes, pivot quickly, and grow as a military and civilian leader. On D-Day, Eisenhower guided the largest amphibious force in history to a successful invasion of France and a decisive victory. After the defeat of Nazi Germany, he turned to politics and was elected president in 1952. While today's fiercely partisan political climate makes it difficult to imagine a president forging consensus in Washington, that's exactly what Eisenhower did. As America's leader in an era of profound postwar changes at home and abroad, President Eisenhower sought a middle way with compromise and coalition building. He provided his country with firm-handed leadership, bringing prosperity and peace to the American people in the dangerous years of the Cold War--an accomplishment that made him one of the most influential men of the twentieth century. Destined to be the best short biography of the thirty-fourth president of the United States, Eisenhower conclusively demonstrates how and why this master of the middle way became the successful leader of the free world. 

Fan in Chief: Richard Nixon and American Sports, 1969-1974 by Nicholas Evan Sarantakes  

"Both sport and Richard Nixon fascinate the nation, but they are not usually seen as connected. Many people have forgotten that Nixon loved athletic events and let his guard down in sports settings. As president he invented the practice of calling teams after winning the Super Bowl, World Series, or other important contests. He held a White House reception for the players in the 1969 Major League All-Star Game that many found strange and surreal, and in 1972 he selected a historical all-star baseball team that received heavy media coverage. He forced the National Football League to change its policy for televising home games to the one currently in use. Nixon attended a Washington Redskins practice session to help boost the spirits of his team after a devastating loss to their archrivals the Dallas Cowboys, and he even called the coach of the Miami Dolphins to suggest plays to use in the Super Bowl against the Cowboys. One Powerful Fan is a study of Richard Nixon and his political use of sport. In addition to being an avid fan, he used sport to garner publicity without having to take any political action. Although he had a number of chances to use his position to influence events in the sporting world, Nixon rarely took action to shape national sport issues unless there was a political upside to the matter in which he would win votes or garner political support. As a result, this book is part biography, part political history, and part policy history"-- Provided by publisher

The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Month That Changed the World by A.J. Baime

The dramatic, pulse-pounding story of Harry Truman's first four months in office, when this unlikely president had to take on Germany, Japan, Stalin, and the atomic bomb, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Heroes are often defined as ordinary characters who get thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and through courage and a dash of luck, cement their place in history. Chosen as FDR's fourth term Vice President for his well-praised work ethic, good judgment, and lack of enemies, Harry S. Truman--a Midwesterner who had no college degree and had never had the money to buy his own home--was the prototypical ordinary man. That is, until he was shockingly thrust in over his head after FDR's sudden death. During the climactic months of the Second World War, Truman had to play judge and jury, pulling America to the forefront of the global stage. The first four months of Truman's administration saw the founding of the United Nations, the fall of Berlin, victory at Okinawa, firebombings of Tokyo, the first atomic explosion, the Nazi surrender, the liberation of concentration camps, the mass starvation of Europe, the Potsdam Conference, the controversial decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the surrender of Imperial Japan, and finally, the end of World War II and the rise of the Cold War. No other president had ever faced so much in such a short period of time. Tightly focused, meticulously researched, rendered with vivid detail and narrative verve, THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT escorts readers into the situation room with Truman during this tumultuous, history-making 120 days, when the stakes were high and the challenge even higher. The result is narrative history of the highest order and a compelling look at a presidency with great relevance to our times.

[feynavaley]

Pottertalia Next Gen AU – Hetalia Characters’s Sorting

There is this Hetalia/Harry Potter Crossover that I’ve been thinking about a lot, but I don’t have a clear plot in mind, mostly snippets and backstories, so I think it’s quite unlikely I’ll ever actually write a fic… but I had fun sorting the characters, so I’m going to write this down.

(This is set in 2024. It ignores completely The Cursed Child since I refused to read it…)

Gryffindor

2nd Year: 

Michelle Mancham (Seychelles)

3rd Year: 

Alfred F Jones (America): I mean, he’s, like, the living embodiment of Gryffindor. He’s brave and wants to be recognized as such (looks for glory), but at the same time he’s also helpful and with a strong (even if probably too idealistic and somehow self-entitled) sense of justice. He has a very strong magic but is only average because he doesn’t like studying or exercising properly. As the son of a muggle-born and a squib, he actually went to muggle grade school before Hogwarts as his father recognized the technological and scientific advancement that makes muggles superior. Alfred is strongly interested in that, too. In summer, he studies the muggle school program and he’s excellent at Maths. He’s the beater of Gryffindor’s Quidditch team.

Matthew Williams (Canada): Alfred’s brother, but he lived with their mother (their parents divorced) and took her surname. He’s actually one year younger than Alfred but got sent to school a year earlier because he had a very powerful magic and could only partially control it. His step-father didn’t like him using magic and lashed out at him, which is why Matthew often made himself invisible. He still has trouble controlling it. He also has a familiar, Kumajiro, given to him by a powerful winter spirit that saved him as a child, when he got lost in the woods and almost froze to death. Matthew’s very diligent, he’s a gifted student who takes the most challenging subjects. He used non-verbal charms from the very start (nobody will ever convince me of the contrary). He begged the Hat to be sorted in Gryffindor with Al (the Hat was more oriented towards Hufflepuff) but sometimes he regrets it since he ends up being completely obscured by his brother. Like Alfred, he studies muggle school subjects during summer. He’s the Seeker of Gryffindor’s Quidditch team.

Lien Nguyen (Vietnam)

Lily Luna Potter

Hugo Weasley

Roxanne Weasley

4th Year: 

Fred Weasley

Lucy Weasley

Louis Weasley

5th Year: 

Mikkel Densen (Denmark): Chaser in the Quidditch team, general troublemaker. Decent at Charms, but doesn’t really apply himself.

Rose Weasley

6th Year: 

Laura Janssens (Belgium): She might look like a sweetheart, always nice and helpful – she is, most of the times. But people who have gotten on her bad side or accidentally hurt somebody she cares for know that she’s not one to be angered. Ever. She’s also quite competitive.

Sadik Adnan (Turkey)

Carlos Machado (Cuba)

James Sirius Potter

7th Year: 

Erzsébet Héderváry (Hungary): Good grades and very strong magic. She takes Care of Magical Creatures. In spite of her proficiency with magic, she’s not the head-girl because she’s too bad-tempered and gets in trouble for lashing out at the BBT. The other beater of Gryffindor’s team – she and Alfred are amazing. People say they might be as good as the legendary Fred and George Weasley, even if they tend to be a tad overenthusiastic (read: too violent).

Slytherin

2nd Year:

Leon Wong (Hong Kong)

3rd Year: 

Natalya Arlovskaya (Belarus): Everybody is afraid of her. She doesn’t do any harm if she’s left alone, she’s just extremely cold and basically doesn’t interact with her peers, but insult her family, in particular her brother (step-brother, actually), and you should fear for your life. She knows an impressive (and frightening) variety of curses, she’s a gifted spell-caster. She has pretty good grades, in general.

5th Year: 

Ivan Braginsky (Russia): An average student, but can cast the strongest shield charm ever seen. Tries to befriend people but ends up scaring them because he tends to come across as creepy and is very self-serving. Beater in the Slytherin team – he and Alfred have a huge rivalry going on. They basically end up forgetting about the game and try to hit each other with the bludgers, if somebody doesn’t remind them that the aim of the game is actually another one. Yet, they both always end up with at least a bloody nose.

Albus Severus Potter

Scorpius Malfoy

6th Year: 

Arthur Kirkland (England): Extremely gifted student. He takes all the most difficult subjects and with never less than an ‘E’, his spells are very strong. He only has some problems with potions. He also has the Sight – basically, no magical creature can make itself invisible to him and he can see through invisibility cloaks and disillusionment charms (with the exception of the Hallow’s cloak, obviously. Matthew is an exception as well because his magic isn’t a physical kind of invisibility, it’s something more like messing with people’s perceptions and mind so they will fail to realize his presence and forget about it immediately after). Seeker in Slytherin’s Quidditch team, and pretty good, too. He’s Alfred and Matthew’s half-brother (same father, but he took his mother’s surname because she’s from an ancient family and wanted her children to carry her surname).

Vlad Popescu (Romania)

7th Year:

Julia “Julchen” Beilschmidt (Nyo!Prussia): Mostly the reason Erzsébet is in trouble. Part (and mind, actually) of the BBT, aka the biggest troublemakers of the school. She has strong magic but she prefers to spend her time coming up with new pranks. To stay true to her image of troublemaker, she pretends that she doesn’t study even if she actually applies herself quite a lot, especially when it comes to practical applications of magic. She’s in strong competition with Erzsébet, they have this frenemies thing going on that is driving all the professors crazy – literally. There’s not a moment of calm when the two of them are involved. The other beater, and the other part of the reason every Slytherin-Gryffindor match turns into a bloody fight.

Hufflepuff

 1st Year: 

Raivis Galante (Latvia)

2nd Year:

Elsa Steinsdóttir (Nyo!Iceland): A very reserved, maybe even aloof girl who doesn’t understand why she’s in her house, in denial about how loyal she is and how much importance she places in her family. She has a talking familiar (Puffin). She has the Sight as well, but it’s quite faint and nowhere near comparable to Arthur’s level.

3rd Year:

Tolys Laurinaitis (Lithuania)

4th Year: 

Ludwig Beilschmidt (Germany): Probably the most hard-working student in the entire school, and hell-bent in following the rules, too. Takes difficult subjects and is very good at them. He just needs some extra time to learn his spells (he tends to rely a bit too much on theory and technical execution, not putting himself into it), but when he does they’re perfect. He’s also good with transfiguration. Keeper in the Quidditch team.

Lorcan Scamander

5th Year:

Mei Lin (Taiwan)

6th Year: 

Lovino Vargas (Romano): aka ‘the meanest Hufflepuff ever’, but he’s nice with girls and argues with anybody who doesn’t respect them. He may seem lazy, but actually isn’t – and has a strong sense of duty. Excellent at potions, probably the best student in the school.

Timo Väinämöinen (Finland): Always nice and helpful, no matter what, but strong-willed. Won’t let people put him down. Seeker in the Quidditch team. He has a familiar.

Astrid Oxenstierna (Nyo!Sweden): a silent, broody girl, but she’s actually a softie at heart. And an extremely good tutor – people are intimidated by her at first, but as soon as she starts explaining something they get it without any difficulty. Good grades. Beater in the Quidditch team.

7th Year: 

Antonio Fernandez Carriedo (Spain): He’s extremely nice and helpful, but not without a more mischievous side… He’s part of the BBT, and this tells everything. A genius in herbology, Professor Longbottom’s favourite student. Chaser in the Quidditch team.

Iryna Braginskaya (Ukraine): Nice, motherly girl. Hopes that her siblings can be happy and make friends, everybody loves her because she’s always so helpful. Always around to diffuse tense situations.

Yao Wang (China): He’s basically the school’s mother. He’s very smart and with good grades, but also spends his time taking care of younger students and giving them instructions, as well as ensuring that they follow the rules. Head-boy. 

Ravenclaw

1st Year:

Erika Zwingli (Liechtenstein): One of the sweetest Ravenclaw ever existed, very studious. May seem a bit cold at first because she’s shy, but she’s actually really nice once you get to know her.

2nd Year: 

Eduard Von Bock (Estonia)

Henri Janssens (Luxembourg)

3rd Year:

Sylwia Łukasiewicz (Nyo!Poland): I think she has some sort of peculiar intelligence. A bit like Luna, maybe. (Not so over-the-top, though.)

4th Year: 

Felicia Vargas (Fem!Italy): she’s probably the laziest Ravenclaw to have ever existed – everybody was surprised by her sorting, but she’s way too lazy to be a Hufflepuff. She has, instead, some kind of quirky intelligence – she just ‘gets’ things. While she isn’t very good at subjects that require studying and essays, she’s excellent at the practical part. Her magic is very strong and she’s strongly in tune with it, she can cast any spell without much difficulty. She has also unconsciously learnt some healing magic and can cast wandless spells.

Yong Soo Im (Korea)

Lysander Scamander

5th Year:

Sigrid Bondevik (Nyo!Norway): Silent and aloof, very studious, prefers to stay alone but hell-bent to look after her half-sister, Elsa. She has the Sight, but not as strong as Arthur’s.

6th Year: 

Kiku Honda (Japan): Strong magic, his strong suit are non-verbal incantations. His spells are always very accurate, and he always researches on the dynamic behind them. Somehow, he became one of Felicia’s best friends. He still doesn’t understand how.

Hesper Karpusi (Nyo!Greece): Just as lazy as Felicia, but without her enthusiasm. She sleeps through most of the classes – and still, somehow, manages to turn in long and insightful essays. Not that good at spells, though, since she can’t be bothered to practice. She has somehow managed to smuggle tons of kittens inside Hogwarts.

7th Year: 

Francis Bonnefoy (France): The third member of the BBT. People think he gains his good grades thanks to his charm, but he’s smarter than he lets on, he can always read people and situations perfectly (he’s also quite gifted at legilimency) – and he’s very helpful, too. Just a bit too overdramatic and flirty, which can put people off. He’s Matthew and Alfred’s cousin from the mothers’ side.

Abel Janssens (Netherlands): Has a knack for marketing. Somehow managed to put up a delivery system for illegal goods – anything you may be looking for, he has it. Catcher in the Quidditch team.

Roderich Edelstein (Austria): Head boy. Always sticks to rules, and doesn’t want to get in trouble or be bothered. His cousin Julia takes full advantage of his short temper. Fascinated by muggle music, plays the piano. In spite of being in the last year, he still gets lost every day – every professor knows and the portraits have been alerted so they can guide him to the classroom. If he’s still not there twenty minutes into the lesson, somebody gets sent to fetch him.

Basch Zwingli (Switzerland): He and Erika are Ludwig, Julia and Roderich’s cousins too. Roderich’s and Vash and Erika’s mothers are Ludwig and Julia’s father’s younger sisters.

Then there is also Clarisse Bonnefoy (Monaco), who’s Francis cousin form his father’s side and is at her second year at Beauxbatons, and Jeanne Darc, in the sixth year of the same school.

Jones-Williams Family | Kirkland Family

[mypersonalrambling]

Love/Hate relationship

           Ring Ring Ring. Who the hell could be calling you at four in the morning? You rolled over to look at your phone, hoping to shut it up. After your eyes adjusted to the light, you saw that you had a missed call from Louis. What the hell was so important that it couldn’t wait until morning and by morning you meant noon. You didn’t have to wait long to find out because he called again. “Hey YN, whatcha doing?”

           “Scuba diving. What kinda question is that?”

           “No need to be snarky.”

           “Louis it’s four in the morning, get to the point.”

           “Well I was wondering if you wanted to go on tour with us? If you do then you need to be packed and at the airport at 7.”

           “Of course I want to go. Why are you just inviting me now? I have almost no time to pack!” You were wide awake now. Your mind was going a million miles a minute. You needed to make a list and get everything together. “Louis I gotta go if I’m gonna get ready in time.”

           “Well I didn’t tell you because I wanted you to go and not have time to change your mind. Alright see you at the airport.”

           It took a lot less time to pack than you actually thought. You were completely packed by 5:30, so now you were just sitting and waiting until it was time to leave for the airport. Your taxi pulled up right at six. You threw your bags in the trunk, slide into the back seat, and closed your eyes until you got to the airport.

           When you arrived at the airport, you had the taxi driver pull up next to the two private planes. Unfortunately the only person there was Harry. Both of you loved to be early, unlike the rest of them who arrived just on time or little late. You debated for a while if you wanted to get out of the taxi or just wait until someone else arrived. Before you could decide Louis pulled up, so you decided to get out and head over to him. “Hey Louis,” you shouted.

           “Now how did I know that even though I was packed and ready to go, you’d still be here earlier than me?” he laughed.

           “Because I actually care about being on time. Are we all riding together?”

           “No, you, Liam and I are riding on one plane. And Harry and Niall are riding on the other.” Thank god, you thought. You didn’t want to have to be on a plane with Harry. You didn’t understand why you guys didn’t get along. You tried being nice to him, but he was always short and rude to you.

           You must have fallen asleep on the plane, because before you knew it Louis was shaking you awake. “Hey wake up, we’re here.”

           “Where’s here? You didn’t tell me where we were going.” Not that it really surprised you. Louis always left out details. This time may have been your fault though because you were too excited to stay on the phone any longer.

           “We’re in Sydney. It’s the first stop of the tour.”

           “Awesome, I’ve always wanted to see Sydney!” You really wanted to see the entire world. You’re so happy that you had taken a year off from college. If you hadn’t, there would be no way you would have been able to come on tour with them.

           “I know, that’s why I invited you to come along. Plus I wouldn’t want to travel the world without my best friend,” he smiled. You had known Louis almost your entire life and you can’t imagine not being best friends. You two knew each other as well as you knew yourselves.          

           It didn’t take very long to get to the hotel, which was good for you because you felt like you were going to explode if you didn’t use the restroom soon. You hadn’t had a chance to go to the bathroom since you fell asleep on the plane. Louis told you that they had to go practice today. He offered for you to come along, but you told him wanted to visit all the places you could while you were here.

           You were sitting backstage while everyone got ready, trying to stay out of everyone’s way. You were tired of sitting, so you decided to go find Louis and talk with him until he had to go on. You didn’t even realize that you weren’t spacing out until you ran into someone. “Watch where the fuck you’re going. God, seriously how hard is it to walk and not run into people.”

           “Sorry Harry. I was just trying to find Louis.” You tried to be as quiet as possible, hoping not to upset him. You both had a temper, but he seemed to always be angry with you. He was always so nice and calm with everyone else. Hell, Louis said he’d really only seen Harry mad a couple of times.

           “He’s in his room. Why do you always follow him around? You’re like a puppy, that can’t leave their master alone. He needs time to relax before a show. He shouldn’t have to worry about babysitting you. Be an adult and learn to talk to other people. God I don’t know how he puts up with yeh. I would have ditched you a long time ago. You know maybe if you weren’t so weird people would actually want to talk to you.”

           You couldn’t form any words. You turned and walked away as fast as you could, hoping that he wouldn’t see you crying. Your plan to find Louis just seemed irrelevant now. You tried to find the bathroom, but you were crying so much that you couldn’t even see straight. You went into the next room that you saw not even paying attention to whose it was. All you knew was that you needed to sit down. You saw the couch and lied down only to curl yourself in a ball. All of a sudden you hear yelling and it was getting louder. “DAMMIT HARRY, WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?” It was Louis.

           “Nothing is wrong with me. She’s just so damn annoying.”

           “She’s not and I don’t care what you think, there was no reason for any of the things you said. Why do you hate her so much? She has never done anything to you. You want to come off as such as nice guy to everyone, and you do, but it’s a lie. You might be nice to everyone else, but you’re such a dick to Sam and that cancels you being a nice guy.”

           “She just gets on my nerves.” You heard the door open and were scared what would be said. You finally looked around the room and saw that you had stumbled into Harry’s dressing room. “WHY IS SHE IN HERE?”

           “I’m sorry; I just went into the first room that I saw. I’ll leave.” You were kicking yourself right now. Why didn’t you look at the room when you came in? If you had looked you could have saved yourself this entire mess.

           “No. I’ll leave.” Harry said slamming the door.  Louis ran over throwing his arms around you.

           “Aww, babe don’t cry. He’s an ass. He has no right to say any of the stuff he did.”

           “Louis, why does he hate me so much? I’ve never done anything to him. I’m never rude to him. Can’t he tell that I’m in love with him?”

           “Wait, you’re in love with him?” Louis put his hand on your chin, pulling it up so you had to look at him. “YN I didn’t even know you liked him. Why didn’t you tell me? We tell each other everything.”

           “I didn’t tell you because obviously he will never return the feelings. I was hoping it was just a crush, but my feelings just kept getting stronger. What am I gonna do?” You started to cry again. You thought you had cried yourself out, but your body must have replenished because you had a constant stream of tears running down your face.

           “Hey, he whispered, “I’ll talk to him. Even if he doesn’t return your feelings there is no reason for him to treat you the way he does. You shouldn’t have to worry about setting him off.”

           “No, please don’t say anything to him about how I feel. He’ll make fun of me for it or just be angry.” You didn’t want Harry to know how you felt, because you felt that he would just use it against you all the time. And that was the last thing you needed.

           It’d been a month since Harry had made you cry. Whatever Louis said to Harry must have worked because Harry was actually being civil to you. You tried to stay away from him as much as possible so he wouldn’t have a chance to be rude. Even when you did have to be in the same place as him, he actually treated you decently.

           It was the night of their last concert in Japan before they went to Singapore. You were sitting in Louis’ dressing room trying to stay out of the way. You were sitting on the couch, texting your mom telling her all the amazing things you were able to experience while on tour with them. This was the longest you would be away from home and you weren’t too home sick yet, but you knew you’d probably get there by the end of the tour.

           You heard a soft knock at the door. “Come in.”

           You were surprised when Harry poked his head in. “Hey can I talk to you?”

           “Sure,” you said shifting uncomfortably. You guys were hardly ever together alone and normally when you were; it ended up in him saying something rude. “So, uh how are you?”

           You stared at him before answering. You wanted to know where he was going with this conversation. It wasn’t like him to small talk with you. “Uh, I’m fine.” You knew you probably should have said more, but you weren’t sure what else to say.

           “Good, good.” God you didn’t think you’d ever been in a more awkward situation. Both of you just sat there for a few minutes just staring at the floor.

           “Harry why are you here? You have to be on stage in about 15 minutes.”

           “Louis told me something and I wanted to talk about it.” Why would Louis tell him when you asked him not to? You were going to have to talk to him. He’s never betrayed your trust like this before. Well this is going to be the most awkward conversation of your life.

           “Well he said you were in love with me. How long have you felt that way? Why didn’t you tell me? How could you feel that way after the way I treated you? You must hate me. Hell I hate me. God, I can’t believe I’ve been such an ass.”

           “I…uh.” You couldn’t form any words. So many things were running through you head. Like should you tell the truth or lie. Definitely lie, maybe he’ll just think the entire thing was a joke. “Louis was just kidding. I had a crush on you for a little bit.”

           “YN, don’t lie to me. Louis was serious. He didn’t want to tell me at first, but I forced it out of him. Please answer my questions.”

           “I’ve felt like that after the first time I went on tour with you guys back in 2013. You were all so fun and you weren’t as rude to me back then. I didn’t tell you because I thought you hated me. You were always rude to me no matter how I acted towards you. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to stop liking you. Especially after the way you treated me. I knew the feelings would never be returned, but no matter what I did I couldn’t stop liking you. I don’t hate you; it might have been easier if I did.”

           You both sat there for what seemed like forever, neither of you sure what to say. Before you knew it they were calling all the boys to get ready. Harry gave you a small smile before he left. You stretched out on the couch, holding a pillow in your arms, wondering what would happen when the show was over.

Two years later

           You stood in front of the mirror wondering how you became so lucky. You took one final look before deciding you were ready. You’re six best friends were lined up in front of you waiting for the music to begin. The music started and the doors opened. They slowly walked out eventually leaving you by yourself. The music paused before beginning your song. You took a deep breath waiting for the doors to open. You stepped out and you’re father intertwined his arm with yours.

           You looked up at the altar to see Louis smiling back at you. He only caught your attention for second before it was turned to Harry. He was looking at you smiling, but with tears running down his cheeks. You had to look away before you began to cry.

           When you finally reached the altar, it took all you had to not start balling. Harry lifted your veil up only to stare for a few seconds before finally placing it behind your head.

           The rest of the wedding was almost a blur to you. You only had eyes for Harry and he only had eyes for you. You never imagined you life would turn out this way especially the way he used to treat you. You thought you would be mad at Louis forever after he told Harry that you loved him, but it turned out to be the best thing to happen to you.

           After that day you and Harry slowly built a relationship. He treated you better than you knew was possible. You knew it was because he felt terrible about how he had treated you in the past and felt the need to make up for it. He had made up for and then some. You two still fought some just like any couple, but always made sure to talk things out.

           You and Harry were in the back of the limo on the way to the airport. Harry had an amazing honeymoon planned. You honestly could care less where you went as long as you were with Harry. You had your head on his shoulder, just thinking about how amazing everything turned out. You couldn’t wait to see what the future would bring. It didn’t matter though because you knew it would be great with Harry by your side.

[gibsongirlselections]

The Most Cynical Campaign In History

With the Democratic convention history and the Republican one lurching forward, excitement among voters ranges from lukewarm to semi-lukewarm. Political cynicism scrapes at the nation like a sleeping man being shaved by a drunk barber.

Both conventions make one thing clear as a slug trail: the Democratic candidate is Not Trump. Just vote for the one named “Trump” or the one named “Not Trump.” It’s easy. In fact 60 percent of Biden voters say their support is more against Trump than for Joe. It’s easy to imagine most of the rest will vote Biden confused after the convention, thinking Obama is running again.

Meanwhile Trump is Trump is Trump. Seriously, if any one is not sure what they think of the guy by now they need to be exposed to 24 hours of Twitter with their eyes pegged open like the dude in A Clockwork Orange. If you liked the last four years, here comes more of it.

It gets more complicated on the other side. See, the Not Trump candidate is an old white man, but don’t pay attention to age, gender, or race even though he’s the same as Trump. The Democratic vice presidential candidate is younger, blacker, and less male so in her case age, gender, and race are very important. Kamala Harris exists as a lure to get a few depressed prog voters to bite on Ol’ Man Not Trump. That primary voters rejected her and five other decent women candidates illustrates the cynicism here.

For four years Trump delivered daily steaming piles of exactly what he said he would. You got what you voted for, no better no worse, like the all-you-can-eat buffet that’s mostly carbs. The base figured out early most of it was just rhetoric to inflame the libs, while the liberals took the bait every time.

Democrats on the other hand chummed the water with talk about progressive issues like free healthcare, free college, college loan forgiveness, you know, the Bernie stuff. Despite Bernie coming in second place twice in two primary campaigns his ideas are going to have as much influence on Biden as they are on Trump. Same for all the others hyped along the way to keep everyone’s attention, Beto, Pete, Stacey Adams, AOC, and Warren. Nothing new; the sideshow acts always were used to bring the rubes into the tent and once they paid their money it didn’t matter if the Bearded Lady was a fraud.

That the Democrats featured John “I Lost the Primary, Too” Kasich, the abandoned Colin “Liar” Powell, John “Sell Out” Kerry, and the ghostly Widow McCain at the convention made it clear how little the party really cares about the POC and young people it purported to groom for the last years. They ran out of old Democrats to feature and had to resort to bringing in old Republicans. Viewers might have expected the whole thing to shift into an infomercial for reverse mortgages at some point featuring hologrammed spokesman John McCain himself. Nonetheless, you better vote Not Trump even knowing you’re being played for the sucker.

The Republicans on the other hand crafted raised middle finger performance art from their speakers. You got BLM? We got the ultimate angry white people, Patricia and Mark McCloskey, who aimed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in St. Louis.

As for election strategy, both campaigns seem to center on… the post office. Dems need you to believe the greatest election conspiracy in the history of democracy is unfolding inside the place. Yes, that post office, where grandpa buys those things he calls stamps. That place will likely end democracy because this election will have so many mail-in ballots and Democrats believe all those mail-in ballots will be for them and each requires its own blue corner mailbox. So Trump wins because Republicans will vote by magic laser beam or something. Diabolical plans which can be thwarted simply by voting early, or in person, are kinda weak. Kinda like Hillary in her convention speech cynically telling people winning the Electoral College was some kind of sneaky trick on Trump’s part.

What neither side will be talking about is President Bone Spurs. Yep, his pug faced rich daddy got a doctor to pretend little Donny had bone spurs and so was exempt from dying in Vietnam. Well, fuggedaboutit.

See when Uncle Joey was younger he too did not go to Vietnam. Joey got five student draft deferments during the Vietnam War, same as Trump. And in 1968, when his Joe’s student status was wrapping up, he was medically reclassified as “not available” due to asthma. Asthma can be nasty stuff or it can be a bone spur. In his autobiography Joe described his active youth as a lifeguard and high school football player, and lied (note to fact-checkers doing their research: Biden lies are called gaffes) about being on the University of Delaware football team. His vice presidential physicals mention multiple aneurysms. Asthma, no.

#MeToo was fun for awhile too, but Biden’s hands-on treatment of women means it’s now a no-touch zone. Google “Anita Hill.” Same for Tara Reade, who has been telling people since the 1990‘s Biden stuck his fingers in her private place unwanted, which is the same as Trump “grabbing them by the pussy.” This will all get a little harder to pretend away when CNN spends the autumn replaying Kamala being fierce and nasty pounding #BelieveWomen into Americans’ skulls and tearing into Brett Kavanaugh for being a high school kid but Dems pulled it off with Bill Clinton and can do it again.

Corruption used to be a safe one to use against Trump. Unfortunately, after leaving the Obama White House, Joe and his wife made more than $15 million, mostly via sweetheart book deals. In fact, they made nearly twice as much in 2017 as they did in the previous 19 years combined. The University of Pennsylvania gave Joe $775,000 to teach, and then was nice enough to offer him indefinite leave of absence from actually teaching. And sure, Biden charges the Secret Service $2,200 a month rent for a cottage on his property so they can protect him, which sounds like Trump. And there’s all that business with Joe and his son in Ukraine, and Joe and his son in China. Best to talk about Beau, the dead soldier son.

And even though it was individual state governors, mostly Democrats, who overreacted and closed your schools, threw you out of work, closed the bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, stores, beaches, gyms, and churches, and banned football, graduations, funerals, last visits with terminally ill loved ones, fathers at their child’s birth, and interstate travel while allowing BLM protests, the Dems need everyone to blame Trump.

In contrast to the shoulder shrug stance of yeah, it’s me, suck on it, presented by Trump, the 2020 Democratic vision is the most cynical of any in American history. It says “we have no vision” but you all need to square up and vote for a mediocre candidate with an AI-chosen running mate anyway. No real details of betterment through policy, no hope and change, no American dream, but a threat. As Michelle Obama said at the convention “If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can.” Her hubby echoed the dark theme the next evening, claiming democracy itself is imperiled. In other words, vote for us or else. Strange Trump is ending democracy but we can somehow just vote no on that and it’s over. Whatever.

We’re about to really find out whether anyone would be better than Trump. The Dems dangled Bernie and Warren then delivered a candidate from when Luke married Laura in the same voice a waitress uses to say, “Um, sorry, out of Coke. Diet Mr. Pibb OK?” Joe Biden is so old he’s lost the race for president twice already and comes off like grandpa putting himself out there for one last fling after Grandma Obama passed away. But think how hard this all was; the Democrats only had four years and couldn’t even get rid of Hillary in that time.

Peter Van Buren, a 24-year State Department veteran, is the author of We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People, Hooper’s War: A Novel of WWII Japan, and Ghosts of Tom Joad: A Story of the 99 Percent.

The post The Most Cynical Campaign In History appeared first on The American Conservative.

[gyrlversion]

Getting back to nature… its Kate, Queen of the swingers

The giggling Duchess of Cambridge recaptures her tomboy childhood as she plays on a rope swing slung from a tree – in the garden she’s designed for the Chelsea Flower Show.

The delightful picture was taken by a palace aide last week as Kate took a playful break from putting finishing touches to the garden before the world-famous show opens on Tuesday.

Her plot’s Back To Nature theme is intended to rekindle the magic of childhood, and underlines the work Kate has been doing to promote the benefits of being outdoors for physical and mental health. The mother-of-three wanted her garden to be a playground for children to enjoy, as well as a relaxing space for grown-ups.

She was, according to her co-designers, inspired by forest-bathing, the Japanese practice of walking slowly and thoughtfully in woodland to ‘bathe’ in its peace and beauty and recharge the body’s batteries.

The delightful picture was taken by a palace aide last week as Kate took a playful break from putting finishing touches to the garden

Her garden features a bridge over a burbling brook and a quirky wooden treehouse.

In a touching tribute to Princess Diana, the garden also features bunches of forget-me-nots, her favourite flowers.

And amid the wild foliage and arching trees is a small campfire for toasting snacks and a rustic den thought to be inspired by one she created with her children George, five, Charlotte, four, and Louis, one.

Kate, 37, has spoken fondly of carefree days playing outside as a child and hopes the garden will open a conversation about the effects of nature on mental health and its importance in a child’s formative years.

Speaking ahead of the show’s official opening, she said: ‘In recent years, I have focused much of my work on the early years and how instrumental they are for outcomes later in life.

‘I believe that spending time outdoors when we are young can play a role in laying the foundations for children to become happy, healthy adults.’

Her comments come ahead of this week’s first anniversary of the creation of an expert steering group on early years development to advise her on what can be done to ensure a better start in life for all children in Britain.

Kate’s spot on – forest bathing CAN make you live longer: The Duchess is embracing the new wellness trend for immersing yourself in trees and greenery – and scientists say she’s right 

By Harry Wallop for the Mail on Sunday 

Last week, the Royal Hospital Chelsea looked more like an HS2 construction site than a centre of horticultural excellence as hundreds of landscape architects and gardeners battled to construct their creations in time for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, which will be officially opened by the Queen tomorrow. 

But amid all the high-vis jackets, steel-capped boots, fork-lift trucks, and cranes there were pockets of peace and oases of calm that were already taking shape.

What caught the eye most, perhaps, was a treehouse, perching above an old stump of chestnut, just off the main avenue of show grounds.

Clad in stag horn oak and nestled in twisted branches of hazel, it looks like a super-sized bird’s nest. It is both impressively sculptural and a place you immediately want to climb into to play hide-and-seek. Under the treehouse a swing, made of a ball of rope, hangs invitingly over undergrowth, thick with ferns and huge leaves of gunnera.

Spirits lifted: Laughing Kate helps Adam White and Andree Davies create their Back To Nature Garden

The dream-like treehouse and swing are the centrepiece of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Back To Nature Garden – co-designed by the Duchess of Cambridge.

Landscape architects Adam White and Andree Davies are the two professional co-designers, and they invited The Mail on Sunday for an exclusive preview ahead of the grand opening.

White says that during the planning stages late last year, the Duchess would bring a scrapbook full of pictures, photographs and ideas to every meeting.

Their shared goal: to highlight the link between nature and health, both mental and physical.

A REMEDY FOR NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER

The Duchess, Davies and White had, quite independently, come across a book, Last Child In The Woods, by Richard Louv.

In it, Louv suggests that some of the most troubling childhood trends, such as the rise in obesity, attention disorders and depression, were linked to not spending enough time outdoors.

He even gives the ‘condition’ a name: nature deficit disorder, which reflects the emerging evidence that the health of youngsters in urban areas is far worse than those who grow up in the countryside.

The Duchess gets down to it with Andree as the garden is planted for the Chelsea show

And so the Duchess, mother to Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one, wanted her garden to be a playground for children to escape into – but also a space for grown-ups. She was, say her collaborators, also inspired by forest bathing, the Japanese practice of walking slowly and thoughtfully in woodland – ‘bathing’ in its peace and beauty to recharge the body’s batteries.

This isn’t just a new name for tree-hugging – although, as I discovered later, hugging trees can be part of it.

In fact, studies show that blood pressure, heart rate, mood and even the immune system can all be improved by spending some quiet time in forested areas.

Indeed, in Japan, where rates of heart disease are among the lowest in the world, forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a vital part of their national health programme.

An earlier picture of The Duchess of Cambridge with Andree Davies (C) and Adam White (L), of Davies White Landscape Architect, discussing plans for her ‘Back To Nature’ garden

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‘The Duchess suggested this,’ says White. ‘The challenge was to create an immersive experience, for visitors to feel like they are in the middle of a woodland, so that everyone gets their own little nature fix.’ And they have certainly achieved it.

As well as the treehouse and swing, there is a stream where children can play Pooh sticks and a large hollow log – sourced from a fallen tree on the Queen’s country estate at Sandringham in Norfolk – which they can crawl into for a moment of calm.

The garden will feature a wide variety of trees, including what Davies describes as ‘incredible edibles’, such as walnuts, apples and pears as well as Scots pine, the only truly native pine in the UK. ‘The dry cones can be used as kindling for fires, which is ideal if you are out exploring nature, building dens and a campfire,’ she adds.

There’s plenty for adults to admire too, not least the richness of planting and the stunning hornbeam trees that give the garden a jungle-like atmosphere. So can something as simple as a walk among the trees really have a direct impact on your health?

Pictured: Previous image of Kate with Andree Davies (C) and Adam White (L), of Davies White Landscape Architect, discussing plans for her ‘Back To Nature’ garden

Davies says: ‘If you are a stressed office worker, and you spend five or ten minutes of your day walking in nature, slowing down, looking at things in detail and feeling that atmosphere of being out in the woodlands – it brings your heart rate down.’

And how about hugging trees? ‘I’m always hugging trees,’ she laughs.

THE RISE OF THE TREE-HUGGER

The practice of forest bathing has, in recent years, made its way West. Wayward teenage pop star Justin Bieber and lover of all things alternative-health Gwyneth Paltrow were early adopters.

And now the Establishment – not just the Duchess – is embracing it.

Both the Forestry Commission and the RSPB conservation charity offer forest bathing sessions on their land, while health retreats and spas offering versions are popping up all over Britain.

I signed up for a session at Armathwaite Hall, a spa hotel on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake in North Cumbria.

And so I found myself lying on a carpet of snowdrops – and feeling a bit of a wally, to be honest – as my instructor, yoga teacher Rebecca Shepherd, instructed me to ‘take a breath in and whisper the word ‘ham’ ‘. When I shot her a quizzical look, wondering whether the rasping noise I am making is correct, she says: ‘Yes, that’s right. It’s like Darth Vader.’ She explains: ‘The whole thing with forest bathing is that you go into woodland and you shut up.

Outdoor showers and medicinal herbs: Four other healing spaces 

The oasis that fights stress in city-dwellers 

Living in the urban sprawl can be stressful. 

The Green Switch garden, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara, who has created 13 previous gardens for Chelsea, aims to help city-dwellers escape to an oasis of calm. 

Here people can switch from city chaos to a natural calm, thanks to the open-style Azumaya (garden house). 

The two-storey glass structure has an upper tea room, a lower parking space (with motorbike parked), and a glass shower room for outdoor bathing, surrounded by trees.

A family-friendly space to heal emotions 

The Family Monsters Garden celebrates imperfections in life, showing that from adversity, great things can grow. 

A joint venture between the charity Family Action, which supports families experiencing social isolation, and landscape architect Alistair Bayford, the garden of birch, hazel and black pine trees is a place where families can open up about anxieties. 

Alistair says: ‘The trees illustrate the journey of growth – and how families grow and recover from knock-backs.’

A sensory garden for motor neurone disease 

The ‘High Maintenance Garden’ for sufferers of the degenerative brain disease motor neurone disease serves as an inspirational metaphor. 

It represents the limitations people feel when their mind and senses are still active but their body is in physical decline. 

So while they can enjoy the garden’s sensory elements, the untended garden gradually slips back to nature, overtaken by roses and jasmine and with trees climbing through the roof.

Herb garden that helps ease headaches

The Kampo no Niha garden takes its inspiration from Kampo, a traditional form of Japanese herbal medicine dating back to the 7th Century. 

The plants in the garden grow in the Hokkaido region and are all used in Kampo medicines. 

The buds of the Magnolia Kobus help reduce fever and the roots of the Paeonia lactiflora can relieve headaches.

‘You absorb the colour green, you listen to the birdsong, you smell the natural scents and you take in nature – which is astounding.

‘Rather than staring at our phones or a computer screen, you actually have a look around.’

I spend some time examining the moss on a fallen branch, to see how many different shades of green it contains, its texture, and how it feels beneath my fingers.

Once I stopped thinking about the fact that I was stroking a tree branch, I was indeed overcome with a sense of calm.

The key, I’ve discovered, is not to take yourself too seriously. If you can master that, it really does work.

TREES CAN BOOST IMMUNE HEALTH… AND THE HEART

Research from Nippon Medical School in Tokyo suggests that forest bathing could have a direct effect on the immune system, specifically our natural killer, or NK cells, which protect us from viruses and the formation of tumours.

Patients saw a significant boost to their NK cell activity in the week following a forest visit, with positive effects lasting a month after.

A separate study, by experts at Japan’s Chiba University, measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate in volunteers during a day spent in the city, repeating the tests during a 30-minute forest visit.

All health measures improved during the time spent among the trees. But why?

University of Derby psychologist Professor Miles Richardson has studied forest bathing in detail.

He says: ‘Our systems are attuned more to the natural world we evolved in than the bleeps, clicks and lights of modern-day living.’

In short, he says, it comes down to evolution. We have spent only a couple of centuries living in built-up environments surrounded by brick, glass and tarmac, yet spent many millennia among the trees.

Another fascinating theory involves organic compounds called phytoncides. Trees emit them into the air to help protect themselves from parasites and disease. There is evidence that phytoncides really could benefit humans.

Experts at the University of Helsinki revealed that the rapid increase in allergies, asthma and other chronic inflammatory disorders in the past few decades has been caused by the death of plants and loss of animal life. This reduces human exposure to beneficial microbes that are essential for a healthy immune system.

They also found allergies in youngsters were significantly reduced if they lived near greenery.

A GENTLE WAY TO EASE TRAUMA

It is not just physical health that forest bathing can boost but mental health too – and the NHS is increasingly interested in the link between nature and mental health.

Psychiatrist Tim Kendal, the NHS’s National Clinical Director for Mental Health, says: ‘There is a growing body of evidence of the benefit of being in a natural environment, be it a sculptured version of nature or a more wild version.’

After the Chelsea Flower Show, much of the Back To Nature garden will be uprooted and replanted at an NHS Mental Health Trust, where it is hoped patients will enjoy the benefits of the trees.

Andrew Kingston is recovery service manager for Camden & Islington NHS, and his psychiatric hospital was the recipient of last year’s Chelsea garden after the show. Many of his patients are elderly, with conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. He says: ‘Tending to the garden gives them a focus. There’s no doubt most people who forest-bathe feel it boosts their health.’

Caro, 69, a retired teacher, once a month joins a forest bathing group in Highgate Woods, North London. Caro told me she started coming to the group after her home was burgled last year and a man stole some of her jewellery.

She says: ‘I was traumatised. But coming to this was just so calming. I just thought, well – these are jewels, these things in nature. That feeling of trauma just ebbed away.’

She describes the sessions as ‘magical’ – a word Prof Richardson uses too, when describing a Japanese study from 2017 which suggests just stroking a bit of wood could lower your blood pressure.

‘It’s science, not magic. But it feels magical, doesn’t it?’

It certainly does. The Duchess of Cambridge’s father-in-law, the Prince of Wales, was once mocked for being a tree-hugger.

But, it turns out, if we all spent a bit more time hugging trees, we would be healthier and happier.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from May 21 to 25 at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Tickets, costing from £75, are still available from rhs.org.uk.

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