#just saying that i visited ireland and scotland on the same trip and i was mentally prepared for 'difficult' accents | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jaydeemedia · 7 months ago

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[ad_1] Ask me what the best things to do in the UK are and I’ll always answer the same: immerse yourself in our culture. Perhaps you’re wondering what that means, seeing as a fair few memes say it’s only beige food and bizarrely titled royals. But having lived abroad for a few years now, I think I can finally answer that question based on all the bits of home I miss. It’s proper pubs with banter, booze and slightly questionable carpets. It’s a cracking cultural scene that spans open-air theatres in the south to legendary live music and non-stop festivals in Edinburgh. It’s complaining about crappy countryside roads that squeeze through farmland before arriving at some of the world’s most spectacular coastal hikes. It’s wild camping on the outer Scottish islands where time stands still and stars dance, so you don’t mind the odd rain shower. And it’s lugging yourself into London on the train – while repeatedly complaining about the train prices to anyone who will listen – because there’s always another free museum to visit. Not that we only have one culture – we’re four proud nations bound by one (often debated) union. Even city to city, you’ll notice the differences in accents, what we call a bread roll, and our signature slang. So, while it’s highly subjective, these are my picks of the United Kingdom’s top things to do – the ones I always suggest friends do when they visit to get a flavour of the country from top to toe. Sure, it might not list every single ‘must-see’ place in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, but these UK experiences will introduce you to the country’s history, nature, pomp and people. Tackle Wales’ Great Trails Most first-time visitors to the UK rarely make it to Wales, and they’re missing a trick. Given my Gran’s Welsh, making me a quarter so, I’m proud to fly my little part of the coolest dragon-adorned flag there is. But if you venture to the wonderful west of Great Britain, get beyond Cardiff and into the unadulterated nature. Summit Eryri (Snowdonia) for sweeping vistas of lush peaks and dramatic, cerulean-hued lakes. If you’re lucky, you’ll see as far as Pembrokeshire, arguably the most handsome part of the whole country. And it’s here, amongst the windswept, croissant-coloured beaches, that you’ll likely fall in love – especially if you come in spring when the Wales Coast Path is lined with fluttering vivid wildflowers. Whether it’s along the border-tracking Dyke Path or the craggy coastal trail, Wales’ Great Trails offer some of the UK’s best self-guided adventures on foot or bike. En route, I guarantee you’ll stumble upon so many beautiful off-the-beaten-path spots as you traverse across scrub, shores, moors and all-smiling remote villages that you might just forget about the other three nations. Fossil hunting on Charmouth beach is one of the UK’s best activities Fossil hunt on a South Coast road trip I might be biassed as this is my home region, but little can compare to the southwest of England, specifically the history-hiding Jurassic Coast. Not that it hides its history that much. You can actually hunt out fossils buried just below the surface of these gorgeous sands. One of my favourite things to do in the UK even now is to take a road trip along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast and search for ammonites and belemnites that are millions of years old. Pop into one of the museums along this 95-mile-long stretch of shore, and you’ll be stunned by some of the dinosaur fossils people have actually found and put on display for all to see. I’d love to tell you to book a little beach hut and Lyme Regis and chill out for a while. But these days, getting one of those aquamarine seaside huts is nearly as impossible as meeting one of the stegosaurus that were here long before sunbathers. Instead, rent a car and work your way down the coast from Dorset to Devon. Start in my hometown of Bournemouth, skate along to the dramatic rock arch of Durdle Door – don’t

miss the Man O’ War Beach next door, it’s the best – and then continue on to Charmouth to find your own piece of history. Along the way you’ll learn all about Mary Anning, one of our most prolific dinosaur fossil hunters, enjoy top-notch fish and chips in seaside pubs, and then cross into equally as handsome Devon for the final stretch. Summer might have the nicest weather, but it will also have half of London on the shores. Come in late spring or early autumn for the best experience. Paying a visit to the Roman Baths is one of the best experiences the UK has to offer Discover the UK’s Roman history It’s not that I don’t think Stonehenge — our most famous prehistoric megalith – is impressive or fascinating. But if you ask me what the UK’s top historical experiences is, I’m going to point you in another direction: Roman Britain. For me, the 350-odd years we were part of the Roman Empire is a far more interesting part of our country’s story. Even these days, we’re still discovering new parts of this historic chapter, such as the new London museum showing off a recently discovered part of a former Roman Wall at Vine Street or the well-preserved mosaic found near the Shard. But it gets even better than that. Start your history tracing in the city of Bath, at the impressive Roman bathing complex that has been in the heart of the city since 70 AD. Then, cross over into Kent to tour the Lullingstone Roman Villa (currently under renovation) and marvel at the well-preserved wall paintings and mosaics. Heading north, the Wroxeter Roman City is an open-air walk back in time, while Hadrian’s Wall, further still, is perhaps the best Roman sight of all to visit. Stretching across the width of the country, you can track the weathered Roman fortification wall across remains of forts and towns. Once, I was there for an epic evening when they illuminated the whole wall with torchlight, and it was incredible, though it apparently only happens once a decade. Regardless, it’s an excellent place to start your introduction to Roman history, before continuing on to bonnie Scotland. Why not sleep in Durham Castle to upgrade your UK experience? Sleep in a castle We may be the country of outdated pomp and funny royal titles, but that’s given us plenty of practice at perfecting castles. Sure, visiting Windsor or Edinburgh Castle are cool things to do, but if you’re looking for the best castle-related activity in the UK, it’s got to be sleeping in one. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that castles are apparently so commonplace in this old land that students even use them for dorms. Yes, really! I couldn’t believe it either when I was touring Durham Castle — a Harry Potter filming set — and I was told that the University students slept there. During the summer holidays, it becomes one of the UK’s most unique hotels. And it’s far from the only option. All across the land, you can splash out and splurge on a stay in a British castle, which has got to earn some kind of bragging rights – especially if you rent a private one for you and your travel crew. Why not go wild and rent out the 1,900 acre estate of Crom Castle in Northern Ireland, or 18th-century Birkhill Castle in Scotland. Or perhaps you’d prefer to while away some days in Wales’ haunted Craig-y-Nos Castle? Either way, a regal stay is in sight on our shores. From scenic rail to serene lochs, the Scottish Highlands have it all Ride and hide in Scotland’s highlands Call me a traitor to England all you want, but Scotland can’t be beaten. Yeah, the weather might be worse more often than down south, but any chance I got to be in Scotland, I took, whether it was bar work in Glasgow or spending the month of August working at the non-stop Edinburgh Festivals. After those late-night work trips, I’d always slip away into the Scottish highlands for some R&R, and I highly recommend you do the same on your Scotland road trip. Sure, take the “Harry Potter” Jacobite train, it really is spectacular,

and do a loop of gorgeous Skye – avoiding summer when over-tourism doesn’t even cover it – but then come back into the gorgeous glens (valleys), munro (high mountains), and legendary lochs (lakes) flanked by crumbling castles. Out here in the hypnotic highlands, time really does seem to slow down if you’ll let it. Sure, you can get busy summiting Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, or trying to spot the mythical Nessy Monster with your own eyes, but it’s also equally enchanting cycling through Glen Coe, made famous by 007, or wild camping alongside a wild-flower flanked lake. Not a fan of camping? Spending a few nights at Eagle Brae Cabins, one of Scotland’s unique stays, is my top tip of things to do in the UK for a proper bolthole escape. Especially as these homely log cabins with photogenic turf roofs are set on a private landscape with deep and adorable goats trotting around. Pour yourself a dram of whisky (without the e up here) from the Isle of Arran, sit out on your terrace, and be entranced by absolute bliss. Start a night in Manchester at Mackie Mayor for good grub before going until the early hours Make it an all-nighter There are a fair few jokes about British drinking culture (more on that later), which, I think, are mainly warranted. But if you really want to see the best of Britain, you’re gonna need to have at least one proper night out. Luckily, the best nightlife experiences in the UK span the whole country. From Belfast’s chummy and craic-filled Irish pubs soundtracked by traditional live music to the LGBTQ+ bars of free-spirited Brighton in the south of England, there really is a non-stop night out for all. Liverpool, with its legendary musical credentials courtesy of The Beatles, won’t let you go to bed early. Manchester is a cracking city for a night on the tiles, whether at the gay bars of Canal Street or raving to pumping Techno at The Warehouse Project. Up in Glasgow, a UNESCO City of Music, I’ve had some of the absolute best and wildest nights of my life – Scottish people are the best people to make drinking buddies with. And, of course, in London and Edinburgh, you’re just as spoilt for choice. After dark, we Brits somehow seem to be at our best – just apologies for any chundering, scraps and the state of some kebab shops! Ride vintage trams, play dress up, and visit recreations of Victorian kitchens at Beamish Go back in time at Beamish One thing the UK excels at is museums, and I’m not just talking about your average quick walk through some information boards. Take the Beamish Living Museum of the North in Durham, perhaps the best museum I’ve ever visited. Here, a whole set of interactive villages have been built to show what life was like at various stages throughout Britain’s history. From sweet shops to moving trams and photo studios to interactive classrooms, actors and the re-constructed properties literally transport you to times gone by – hopefully, they can open safely this summer. There are multiple museums like this in the UK, from the Cosmeston Medieval Village in Wales to the Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire, and including one of these in your next British getaway will add another level of history to your UK experience. Have a proper fish and chip takeaway or get it down the pub to experience the UK’s boozers Pies, pints and fish and chips What’s a good night in the UK? Well, it might look something like this… It’s dropping clangers during a chinwag in a bee’s knees boozer that’s chockablock with sloshed chavs while complaining what a cock up things are to any geezer who will listen because it’s all gone pear-shaped. Then, it’s a cor blimey to the publican about how many quid a pint costs (he’s taking you for a mug) before noshing on a cheeky Nandos. But you’re cream crackered after, so you pinch one last fag and skip the knees up to leg it to your gaff for a kip so you’ll be full of beans tomorrow as you don’t want to make a dog’s dinner out of the Sunday roast, innit. Confused? You’ll have it nailed after a few nights down your temporary local!

Nothing can beat the British pub for an evening out. I’ve been lucky enough to travel and live in so many countries now but the good old British Pub is an institution that can’t be rivaled (alright, Ireland, I’ll tip my hat to you, too). [ad_2] Source link

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tomtenadia · 4 years ago

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Island Dreams - Chapter 19

Good evening, afternoon, morning to everyone and welcome to chapter 19.

I have a few notes before letting you to the chapter. Rowan and Aelin finally attend Heb Celt. Heb Celt is this wonderful festival held in Stornoway each year (non covid years) and it's all about Scottish and Celtic music. It's big and it's amazing. That's where they are. I mentioned some groups. Peat and Diesel have been mentioned before in the fic. The new ones are Skerryvore and Skipinnish. they do some amazing music and I highly recommend it if you want to try some Scottish bands. They also sing in Gaelic. The song from Skerryvore that Aelin sing is called You and I. Awesome stuff.

Half way through you will notice Elide and Lorcan appearing in the fic. I tried to keep Lorcan IC as much as i could. not an easy task. I had to give them modern world jobs so Lorcan in my head is perfect for a rugby player. He is the Captain of the Glasgow warriors. They are a real team in Glasgow. The boys also mention the Six Nations. This is a wonderful competition that if you are in Europe you might have heard of. It happens every year and it has 6 teams competing: Scotland (YAY), Italy (YAY - I am Italian... imagine my pain on a Sco vs Ita game), Wales, Ireland and France. I love this competition and it's going to start this weekend. Rowan and Lorcan joke about England and Scotland. Although England wins most of the times (grrrrr) a few years back Scotland actually won and it almost became a new national day after St Andrews. I am not joking. Rugby is a big thing in Scotland.

Two Gaelic phrases: -Tha Gàidhlig agam cuideachd: I speak Gaelic too -Tha beagan Gàidhlig agam. I speak little Gaelic.

Quick update as well about the fic. Most of the chapters have some big chunks written. But there are two important chapters: 22 - something big happens. I wrote the main important part 5 times already and probably re write another five before i publish it. It involves something I don't usually write and I am really nervous. So finger crossed.

26: this will be the last chapter (there's an epilogue as well) and again I have written the main event. There is so much fluff that it's probably not healthy :)

So, after this massive introduction I can let you go and enjoy (hopefully) the chapter.

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Aelin had woken up before Rowan that morning. It was finally mid July and it was Heb Celt day and she was super excited. The festival would run for three days but they had chosen the one with the most of their favourite artists. Plus Rowan had tickets for Peat and Diesel and they could not miss them. She rolled out of bed and went to the kitchen. That morning it was her turn for once to prepare breakfast. Rowan had taught her enough for her to make breakfast safely without burning the house down. It was a special day and she was going to make eggs and bacon, the only concession Rowan would make in his perfect diet. Once a week they could treat themselves to a non healthy breakfast. She prepared the coffee, sliced some bread for the toaster and started frying the bacon in one pan and getting the eggs ready as well. She felt good, she could make breakfast for Rowan for once. She was almost done when she felt his arms around her waist and a soft kiss behind her ear. “It smells lovely.”

“It’s a special day today so we are having our special breakfast.” She told him while finishing ti prepare the eggs. She was very proud of her job. “I’ll set the table.” He added and moved away and she missed his arms. “So, the main event is tonight at seven.” She said passing him the plates with food “I had a look at some events and it seems there is enough for us to fill up the entire day.” “You have done a good job,” he commented taking a bite of the food she had prepared for him. She tasted it as well and found it edible. Well, at least she was not going to poison them and he seemed satisfied. “Look at you.” He pulled her to him, and Aelin sat on his lap. She grabbed her plate and finished her breakfast with one of his arms around her. She was really loving it living with him. It had taken her a little while to adjust to his way of life but she had realised that living with him was quite easy. They had their little fights but he seemed to hate to hold grudges for too long so every time they had fixed their issues quite quickly. The two of them ate in silence for a moment “This is good, Fireheart.” And he polished off his plate. “I had a good teacher.” She stood and Rowan noticed that she was only wearing a large t-shirt, his t-shirt, and under it he could very barely notice her underwear. He grabbed her and pulled her back on his lap and she straddled him. His hands landed on her butt and she kissed him. “You really love teasing me, don’t you?” “It’s fun.” He looked at her in a weird way “Sure, torturing a poor man like that.” She got up again and took all the plates to the sink and she walked swaying her hips on purpose. Rowan almost howled at the sight. She started washing the dishes and at the same time she began dancing and singing and that’s the way we do it, the way we do it in the Western Isles. Rowan laughed and helped her. She washed and he dried them. She kept singing and bumped her hips into his and the two started dancing together. Once they were done Aelin went to her old room to get changed. She wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Then she braided her hair and tied a colourful bandana to her head. She prepared her backpack and she was ready to go. Once out, Rowan was waiting for her. He had blue shorts a grey t-shirt and on top of it a blue shirt with short sleeves and his sunglasses on top of his head. Aelin took a photo of him “so sexy.” He raised an eyebrow at her comment “I am not—“ “Shh…” she said placing a finger on his lips “I am your girlfriend and I am the one to judge.” He bit her finger in reply. “Fine, fine.” He grabbed her hand “Come on, I have a surprise for you.” Her face lit up and he could spend an entire day staring at her smiling at him. It was such a beautiful sight. They left the house and began their walk all the way to the harbour and Aelin was getting curious about their destination. They reached a small house down at the pier and Rowan pulled her toward the small group of people gathered. Aelin noticed another couple and a woman on her own. She was quite intent in studying the couple. The woman was quite petite with black hair and black eyes as well and she had a very bright smile. The man was almost the opposite. He was tall, Aelin suspected even taller than Rowan, something she could not believe it was possible. He had a thick muscular build with long dark hair and same for his eyes. But where she exuded a friendly attitude, he seemed to scowl even at the stones. “Is this part of the festival?” Wondering about his plan. “In a manner.” He explained quite vaguely “It’s just a pre festival fun.” Sure, now it was clear, thought Aelin, none the wiser. Rowan left her side for a moment and she noticed him talking with a man who, from the way he was dressed seemed to be a crew member on a boat. Rowan looked relaxed and Aelin suspected the two were friends. And with sadness she realised she had never met any of Rowan’s friend and he did not seem to mention any of them. “Ready for an adventure?” He told her once he came back, carrying two lifejackets. Aelin stared at him and then he pointed at the small rib boat and he gave her a huge grin. “I know one of crew members, Callum,” and he pointed at the man he was talking to. We used to dive together. I asked him if he could save us two seats for this morning. It’s a gorgeous day and a boat trip seems like the best way to spend the morning.” “You are a very resourceful man, Rowan Whitethorn.” She tiptoed on her feet and kissed his nose. One of the crew member walked around distributing lifejackets and explained the basic health and safety measures. Aelin wore her vest and Rowan double checked it was up to his standards. Once he was happy that the jacket was safely on he helped her to get on the rib. The brunette girl who was part of the couple sat beside her giving her a wide smile full of excitement that probably mirrored Aelin’s. “I am Elide.” The woman introduced herself and Aelin took her hand. “I am Aelin.” She smiled back “Are you here for the festival too?” She had a feeling they were tourists. “Yes,” she replied excited “Lorcan and I come every year. We love it.” Then she turned to the man at her side “This is Lorcan by the way. Don’t worry he does not bite. That is just his regular face” and the man grunted in reply. Aelin laughed. The man seemed to be mad at the world. She turned to introduce Rowan to the couple, but she noticed he was still on the pier chatting away with one of the crew members. “The tall guy on the pier with the blue shirt? My boyfriend, Rowan.” Elide’s gaze took in Rowan and Aelin smiled wickedly at the woman’s stare of understanding. “Did you come here for the festival too?” “Oh, Rowan and I live here. He is the local, I moved her a few months ago.” “Nice,” said the woman. Aelin liked her already, she had a very bubbly personality. “Lorcan and I live in Glasgow.” “I never been there but Rowan did uni there..” “You should come and visit. It’s quite a fantastic city. So alive.” Rowan finally returned and sat down beside Aelin “nice chat?” “Yeah, I haven’t seen him in ages. I knew he had opened a boat tours business but I never had the chance to come and say hi. We were just discussing some ideas for possible diving adventures.” She caressed his head and realised that there was still so much she did not know about him. Some days he still felt like a huge mystery, but still, she was madly in love with him and she was looking to find out more about him day by day. “I made a friend by the way,” and she pointed at the woman at her side “This is Elide. She and her boyfriend Lorcan are here for the festival too.” Rowan extended his hand and then he and Lorcan exchanged a manly nod and both women rolled their eyes. Rowan fussed over her again and double checked one more time that her lifejacket was fitted and tied properly, when the rib boat started to move. His hand reached behind her back and he leaned comfortably against the side of the boat and closed his eyes, letting the sun kiss his face. Aelin and Elide on the other hand, were taking photos and chatting away happily pointing at all the points of interest. The boat glided on the water and Aelin leaned back against Rowan, taking in the scenery in front of her. She had explored all of that during her adventures, but seeing it from the water was a completely different experience. “Thank you for this.” She said to him. “Hopefully we will see some wildlife.” He added “Callum said that yesterday they spotted Orcas.” Aelin’s eyes went wide in surprise “I saw whales at the Butt of Lewis, or what I think it was whales.” “Highly likely.” Then she turned to Elide “So, you guys are staying here for the whole festival?” The woman nodded “Yes, Lorcan and I always rent a cottage for a week and spend the whole weekend at the festival. I am looking forward the main event tonight: Peat and Diesel.” Aelin almost squealed “us too. Rowan introduced me to them very recently and I am dying to see them live.” “We have been to one of their concerts in Glasgow at the Barrowlands.” Said Lorcan almost grumbling. “Oh, he speaks,” joked Elide, patting his leg and giving him a smile. He did not reply and just placed a hand on her back. “What about we spend the day together?” Aelin turned all excited to Rowan who gave her a nod “Yes,” she shouted looking at Elide again. They sailed for a bit longer and reached Tiumpan Head and Rowan told her to keep and eye on the sea. Not a moment later she spotted a couple of fins and she and Elide almost jumped. “Dolphins,” Rowan said in her ear. She made a 360 and sat on her knees facing now the water. She felt Rowan’s arm tight around her waist. “Please, don’t fall in the water.” Her hand was in the water and a dolphin passed very close to her and she almost touched it. Rowan used his free hand to take pictures of her. His phone gallery had nothing but pictures of Aelin. Elide turned as well and Rowan noticed the panic in the other man’s eyes and they exchanged a glance of understanding. Aelin leaned a bit further but Rowan’s arm pulled her back “Please don’t. Lifeguard service is not in my plans for today.” “There’s dolphins around the boat.” Aelin squealed. “I know, Fireheart,” he pulled her back “but you need to calm down.” She sat back down to a safer position and Rowan felt like he could breath again. “Is that Tolsta?” She then asked when they continued north and she recognised the place in front of her. The closer they got to the beach the clearer the water got and Aelin was in awe “This reminds me of when Lys and I swam at Luskentyre.” Oh yeah, Rowan remembered the day and very quickly chased the memories away. They were in public. The boat made a turn and they began to make their way back to the town. Aelin snuggled to Rowan’s chest, with her arms around his waist. “Are you cold?” He demanded “I have your favourite hoodie with me.” “I am fine.” An hour later they were back at the harbour and Aelin was high on excitement. The trip had been amazing. Once off the boat she flung her arms around Rowan’s neck and kissed him “Thank you. I loved my surprise.” “You are most welcome.” He pulled back from her “Let me say bye to Callum.” And she was left alone with Elide and Lorcan. “That was a nice trip.” Said the woman, grabbing her boyfriend’s hand. “Totally. I had never seen dolphins before. It was so awesome.” “Really?” Elide was curious. Aelin nodded “Until a few months ago I lived in London. Born and bred there. Not much chance to see dolphins in the water. I doubt they would enjoy the Thames.” Elide gazed at Lorcan “We were planning a quick weekend in the capital next month.” “Ask me anything. I can tell you the best places to go and how to survive London without breaking the bank.” “That would be lovely,” was Lorcan’s reply “I feel like I need a mortgage for this trip.” He kissed the woman’s head and she noticed the first sign of affection “But it’s a belated birthday present, so…” he shrugged. “Ach, I can help you with that. I survived London on a budget when I was student.” Rowan finally came back and embraced her from behind “Sorry, Callum and I were just planning an excursion for next Sunday.” He kissed her ear. “Can I come too?” “Of course.” Then he lifted his head and looked at their two companions for the day “Aelin and I are going to grab lunch, fancy joining us?” Lorcan almost protested but Elide poked his shoulder “Stop being grumpy.” Then she turned to Aelin and Rowan “Of course we are coming.” Rowan smiled and took Aelin’s hand and started walking to Maeve’s. He laughed when he noticed that Aelin was almost skipping. Gods, the woman had never ending energy. While walking to Maeve’s Rowan and Lorcan ended up side by side and Aelin just noticed that her assumption was right and Lorcan really was taller that Rowan. The man must have been closer to two metres. She felt tiny all of a sudden and Elide seemed even more petite beside the huge man. She could put Aedion with them as well and they could form a sexy, tall wall of muscles. She grinned and was glad that Rowan was busy talk to Elide so he did not notice her savage blush. They reached the cafe and noticed that it was packed and Rowan sighed. He loved the festival but it also meant a savage invasion disrupting his day to day life. He entered first and went to his aunt and Aelin smiled when she noticed that Maeve had managed to find some space for them. “Privileges of being related to the owner,” he smiled, going back to them. “This is a lovely place,” commented Elide “why we never stopped here?” “So, will you be enjoying the entire festival as well?” Asked Elide, passing a menu to Lorcan. “No, Rowan and I will be doing today only. Tomorrow we have to reopen the bookshop.” The woman’s eyes lit up in surprise “do you run the bookshop down the road?” Rowan nodded “It’s my shop.” He took Aelin’s hand in his “she helps.” “Yeah, I fix his displays and I charm customer. Rowan scares them away by being a grump” She grinned back at him and he, in exchange, flicked her nose. “I am a primary school teacher,” continued Elide who was definitely the chattier of the pair “And Lorcan is the coach of the Glasgow Warriors. They are a rugby team.” And Aelin was grateful to the woman for the clarification. “No way.” Said Rowan amazed “That’s why you looked familiar. You were their captain until a few years back. Lorcan Salvaterre.” Lorcan nodded. “I studied at Glasgow university and the Warriors were, and still are, my favourite team. I went to see plenty of their games. You guys are awesome.” “You like rugby?” “Aye,” added Rowan and Aelin studied him for a moment. He was alive all of a sudden, his usual calm disappeared and he was one beautiful sight “Stornoway has a small club and I go and watch some of the games. But I miss the big league guys. I usually get tickets for the Six Nations as well.” Lorcan smiled “I can get you some tickets for one of Scotland’s home games. Perhaps for the one against England. Wonder if it will be finally the year we trash them as they deserve.” “Hey,” Aelin exclaimed almost hurt “English woman here.” And as a joke she pushed her London accent. “No one is perfect, Fireheart.” Rowan kissed her temple. She pinched his side and he barely reacted “Fine, I will support England this year, just to annoy you” She threatened and the two guys glared at her. “Fine.” She raised her hands “but you need to teach me Flower of Scotland.” “It would be my pleasure.” And he pulled her to him and in that instant Maeve came with their order “Sorry for the wait guys, we are quite busy today.” Rowan said something in Gaelic to his aunt and she walked away with a smile. Elide turned to him “Tha Gàidhlig agam cuideachd.” Rowan’s face lit up. “I teach at the Glasgow Gaelic School. I am not a native. I picked it up at uni and I fell in love with it. I spent some time on the islands to learn it and then I got a job as a teacher.” “Yeah if she starts to shout at me in Gaelic I know she is really mad at me.” The man joked taking her hand. “I only know a few sentences. Tha beagan Gàidhlig agam.” Aelin said proudly “Rowan has been teaching me.” They finished their lunch chatting away nicely and getting to know each other. Lorcan did manage to utter a few more sentences but he became quite talkative once he and Rowan started talking about rugby. Aelin ordered a trip to the ice cream parlour. And the boys followed. Aelin took Elide’s arm and let Rowan and Lorcan follow. They were super immersed in their conversation. Aelin wished Lysandra was there too. She had a feeling the three of them would get along greatly. Aelin and Elide got a triple cone and the two men just went for something more sober with just one flavour. “Look at them all perfect and healthy.” Aelin mocked them and Elide giggled at her side. Rowan, in front of her just met her gaze and then licked his ice cream in a very taunting way and took great pleasure in noticing her reaction. Aelin almost chocked and his eyes flashed in amusement. A wall, she just wanted a wall and twenty minutes alone with him to remove that smirk form his face. He knew he had rattled her and hated the way he casually went back talking to Lorcan. She would have her revenge. Eventually her mind started functioning again and went back talking to Elide, hoping the woman had not noticed their exchange. That would have been embarrassing. Slowly they reached the festival grounds. They made it till four and they still had three hours to fill in before the main event. They all collected their tickets and ventured inside the main arena. Aelin squeezed Rowan’s hand and once she turned to him she noticed he had the most amazing smile. “We got a concert coming up.” Said Elide, then grabbed a notebook and scribbled something down “this is my number. Text me later. We can meet again for the main event.” Aelin took the piece of paper and then the notebook and wrote her number for the woman “Looking forward to.” The two said their goodbyes and Rowan finally pulled Aelin to him and kissed her deeply “I had to restrain myself all afternoon.” “You are a wicked man,” a whisper against his lips “You will pay for the ice cream trick.” But in response his kiss deepened and his tongue repeated some of the motions he did early. “Unless you want me to drag you in a hidden corner and have sex at a festival, you’d better stop it.” He laughed “Yes, Fireheart.” And mirth flashed in his pine green eyes. “Come on, let’s go and have a look at the merchandise. See if we can get you a P&D hoodie.” And he dragged her to the area with all the stalls. “Uh, food stalls.” She pulled on one side. “Later. We just had a massive lunch and ice cream.” “You are no fun.” She complained while following him. He walked with her in tow for a little longer and they finally found all the stall with the merchandise for the bands and the festival in general. “Look,” he said to her pointing at the big stall of the band “Good thing we are here early, we can do all these things now. Later on it will be mobbed.” Aelin got closer to the stall and started having a look at the hoodies. She noticed a green one and gave it a try. She had decided that for some reason green reminded her of Rowan, perhaps for his eyes, but the colour now was a reminder of him. She tried on the hoodie and Rowan turned and stared at her in appreciation. “You look lovely.” “I’ll take it.” As Rowan turned again, apparently interested by what was going on on the big screen and she used the moment to buy a t-shirt for him. His birthday was coming up and this was the second part of her present. She paid for her stuff and quickly placed the t-shirt in her backpack before he would turn again. She embraced him from behind and leaned her head against his back, he turned, “I really, really like it.” And kissed her forehead. They wandered a bit longer until they finally reached one of the smaller stages where the first band they were waiting for was going to play soon. They did manage to squeeze to the front and Aelin felt bad for whoever ended up behind Rowan. He pulled her in front of him and his arms went around her neck “Are you ready to sing?” She nodded. The band was called Skipinnish and one was one of Rowan’s favourite and she agreed that they did some wonderful music. The group started with a slow song and Aelin danced on the spot in Rowan’s arms and she felt like the happiest woman alive. In his arms she was finally happy. As if the last year ceased to exist all of a sudden. That had been his magic. He had slowly taken away all the grief she had felt until only a few months ago. He had given her again the desire to dream. She squeezed his hand and tried to convey somehow all those feeling in that simple gesture. The music suddenly picked up in pace and Rowan turned her to him, one of her hand landed on his chest and the other one in his hand that he held high. He started dancing and she swayed with him, then he lifted her and turned on the spot and put her back. A quick kiss and they kept dancing. His eyes alive with happiness. She giggled and he smiled at that sound. All through their dance, Aelin sang, impressing him by her knowledge. She only refrained from singing the songs in Gaelic, that was still too much of a challenge. They danced for another few hours then they moved to the next stage where Skerryvore, the next band they wanted to see was going to play. This time they ended up at the back, but Rowan had Aelin climb on his back, piggyback style, and that allowed her to see the stage a little better. She could not dance but loved her position. Her chin leaned on his head and her arms went around his neck. She took a sniff of his wonderful scent of pine and snow and kissed the back of his head. One of Aelin’s favourite songs began playing and she sang out loud you and I, we held each other tight. Time will take its toll, but I will never let you go. Your love is like a high, you and I. Our love can never die, together as we grow. I’ll always let you know, you’re my reason why Rowan joined in and she hugged him tighter and her head leaned against his head. “I love you,” she whispered while he was busy singing the chorus. It was past six when the concert finished. Aelin looked at her phone and noticed a text from Elide telling her that she and Lorcan were already at the main stage and they had a spot at the very front. “Let’s go.” Aelin grabbed Rowan’s hand “Elide and Lorcan have spot fro us as well at the front of the stage.” Luckily the main stage area was not busy yet, and they found the couple quite quickly. Rowan had a look and noticed they had found a good spot. “This is perfect.” Rowan commented. “Not our first festival.” Lorcan grinned back. Aelin and Elide were huddled together talking and being all excited for the grand event. Aelin paraded her hoodie and Elide showed her the t-shirt and the hoodie she had bought as well. Rowan really thought he had created a monster. With the passing of time the area started to fill and Aelin could feel the excitement around them. Half an hour later the show started with a roar. Aelin climbed on Rowan’s shoulders again and she noticed that Lorcan offered the same to Elide. Aelin roared as well and shouted as soon as she recognised the notes of the first song Stornoway of course. She sang with all of her voice and waved her hands in the air. She and Elide grabbed their hands and sang and waved together. Then they moved to Western Isles and the crowd went wild. Rowan laughed at Aelin’s wild excitement and was impressed by the fact that Aelin really had learned all the lyrics. “And that’s the way we do it, the way we do it in the Western Isles” she was singing with a passion and his mind went to that morning when she was cooking breakfast in nothing but a baggy t-shirt while singing and dancing to that song. Rowan moved a bit dancing as much as possible with Aelin on his shoulder but he sang as well and with his hand he beat the rhythm on Aelin’s legs. The band was playing some of their hits and he was having the time of his life. He had never been able to convince Lyria to go to Heb Celt with him. Her music taste was different and she was never interested in that type of music so he had gone alone for a very long time. But now he had Aelin and she was basically perfect. The guys started playing My islands and Aelin let out a savage cheer and then started to sing. She slowly slid off his back and started dancing and jumping in front of him shaking her head at the rhythm of the music Elide at her side being just as wild. She took his hands and danced on the spot as much as the crowd allowed it. Aelin took some photos of her and Rowan and went back dancing. It was quite late when the concert finished. Aelin and Elide were now walking silently hand in hand with their respective men. “I think they finally ran out of fuel.” Joked Rowan, seeing the two women quiet. “It took them a while, but eventually it happened.” Joked Lorcan who had slowly opened up a bit more. “You are both so mean.” Said Elide leaning against Lorcan. “Yes, and you are going to fall asleep soon.” Lorcan crouched down and offered to carry Elide piggyback “Come on, time to get you to bed.” “Are you coming to the ceilidh at An Lanntair tomorrow?” Aelin and Rowan looked at each other “we might,” she said. “Let us know.” Said Lorcan settling Elide properly on his back “Thanks for the day and evening.” And the two slowly walked away. Rowan turned to Aelin and noticed she had a massive grin on her face. Alas, she seemed to have some energy left. “That was awesome.” She took both of his hands “And we need to go to the ceilidh tomorrow. It’s your birthday. We need to celebrate.” “Fine. We can go. But now we are going home. You have to rest and recharge the batteries for the ceilidh.” She leaned forward and kissed him “Thank you so much for this. It was unbelievable.” He pulled her to him and lifted her and pirouetted while kissing her. Finally they started making their way home and when Rowan noticed that Aelin was on the verge of falling asleep on her feet he offered a piggyback ride and she accepted. By the time they got back home she was fully asleep. At home he deposited her on the bed and he started to ponder how to get her out of her current clothes and into a pyjama. He went to get her Cookie Monster pyjama, removed her hoodie and placed it on the chair at the bottom of the room. Next it was the t-shirt and her shorts and he tried to look away. He was about to put the new clothes away when she groaned and woke up briefly. “I am just changing you into your pj.” He told her gently. Still half asleep she let him guide her body into her night clothes. Then he realised she liked to sleep without a bra and he had no idea how to solve that one. “Bra…” she muttered. “I am… you…” he tried to hide his embarrassment “you do that.” She muttered something unintelligible and removed her bra and threw it in his face. Then collapsed on the bed and went back to sleep. Rowan slowly tucked her in then changed in own night clothes and joined her. His arms went around her waist tucked her head in the crook of his neck. Not longer after he was asleep as well.

#rowan x aelin #rowaelin #rowan whitethorn #aelin galythinius #fanfic #fluff #throne of glass series

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bbwoulfc · 4 years ago

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Lukanette Viking AU - Luka and Jagged: Picking A Dragon (REWRITE)

Ao3

Viking Life was a mixture of many things. Expand, learn, fight, trade, dragon training, etc, the list goes on. Though, when it came to the Anarky tribe, chaos and fun were one important motto when it came to being a viking.

For the Stone-Couffaine clan, they believed chaos and fun allowed a viking to reach their full and true potential. At least, that’s what Jagged and Anarka, the chief and chieftess, believe. It’s what allowed the Anarky tribe to rule over areas of Sratha Cluade in Scotland and Ulaid in Ireland for so long. They were fair and just but tended to focus more on kindness and fun, with a bit of chaos of course.

And though they were a bit chaotic, they had good allies. One of those allies they were closest to is the Cruthachadh tribe; ruled by the humble and kind Tom and Sabine of the Dupain-Cheng clan. Together, they helped each other strive with trade and goods which only strengthened their alliance.

This eventually led to the day that house Dupain-Cheng and house Stone-Couffaine decided to sign a contract of union with a marriage between their eldest children, believing they’d be a good match for one another and lead both tribes, once united, to years of prosperous reign. Now, at the age of twelve, Luka, heir of the Anarky tribe, was betrothed to the heir of Cruthachadh’s heir, Marinette.

With the weight of the betrothal and upcoming visit from Marinette approaching, Luka was growing nervous and anxious. He never gets the chance to meet Marinette as often as most betrothed or even friends would, and that made it difficult when your betrothed lived a couple day’s trip by boat away or a day’s flight by dragon on a separate island.

Would they be considered friends when they hardly see each other? Does Marinette even consider themselves friends?

Luka sighed from the whirlwind of questions and worries. Sitting at the dining table, he dropped his head on the heavy wooden tabletop and let out a grown.

“What’s got you all mopey?” he heard his sister quietly ask as she entered the dining and kitchen space.

“Just thinking about Marinette and our betrothal.”

“Oh, that again. Then I’m gonna leave and go hang out with Alix and Kim. Have fun sulking.”

“Love you too, Jules,” he called out as Juleka left the house.

Luka let out another sigh. He really wanted to make this relationship work. But now that Juleka ditched him, he had no one else home to talk about gift ideas. And that was the nervous part of figuring out a gift, what kinds of things does Marinette like? Does she like jewelry? Weapons? Crafts?

Where was someone when he needed it?

The front door to their home burst open with force as he heard someone enter the domain.

‘I take that back.’

“Eh, my boy!”

Pushing his head up, Luka greeted his father with a small smile.

Seeing his son’s dull expression, Jagged walked over and sat across from his son, his winged crimson pit drake hybrid, Fang, followed close behind. Luka gave a small chuckle seeing the large dragon stopping beside his father, lay down, and curl up. Fang might look like a terrifying beast, but that dragon was nothing but an oversized puppy with how his father spoiled him. Well, until someone threatening came along, then that puppy side was gone.

“What’s got ya so blue, son?” Jagged’s brows furrowed, “Is...is dis ‘bout the betrothal?”

Luka huffed, “Yea. I’m...I’m worried about screwing this up and ruining my chances making Marinette happy.”

A smile stretched across Jagged’s face, feeling guilty for his son’s turmoil.

“I’m sorry, lad. Yer mother ‘nd I didn’t mean fer dis betrothal ta get ya worked up. We all just thought da two o’ve ya would be great fer each other.”

“It’s alright, dad. I really like Marinette, don’t worry. I just don’t want her to regret being stuck with me.”

“Ah, come on, don’t think like that, son. Yer a good man,” -he pushed himself up to tap his finger against Luka’s forehead- “don’t forget that.”

Sitting back in his seat, he rested his arms on the table. Jagged looked at his son, “So, tell me what ideas ya got fer Marinette. I know you’ve been thinkin’.”

“I was hoping to get Marinette a gift when she came to visit. I just don’t know what she likes or would like.”

Jagged gave his son a wide grin, “Well lucky fer you, I know exactly what ta get fer yer future wife!”

“Really?” Luka perked in relief.

Leaning forward to Luka, he gave his son a nod and whispered the answer like it was a secret.

“The perfect way ta a girl’s heart is a dragon o’ve their own.”

Luka looked at his dad with skepticism, “Really?”

He watched Jagged lean back with wide arms and bright smile, “Absolutely! That’s how I won da heart o’ve yer mother.”

Well, Luka couldn’t really argue with that in all honesty. Based on the bond between his parents, their relationship was one of strength and many other traits. If his dad believed a dragon would help the start of his and Marinette’s relationship, it couldn’t hurt to try, right?

“Alright,” Luka breathed with new confidence and gave his father an excited smile, “Mind joining me to the nesting grounds to find a dragon for Marinette as a pre-wedding gift?”

Jagged gave Luka a starry-eyed look and jumped up excitingly in place.

“Of course! We’ll get ta ‘ave a father-son bondin’ moment.” Jagged ran around the table and picked up his son, missing the sound of a yelp from Luka. Throwing his son over his shoulder as he ran for the front, calling his dragon companion to follow, “Come along, Fang!”

**********************************************************

It didn’t take them long to navigate through the Scottish woods along the shore cliff sides that housed one of the larger gatherings and nesting grounds for dragons. Nesting grounds were always a serendipitous place for vikings to come and bond with the majestic creatures. To build lifelong companions and friends.

For Luka, he hadn’t been to the nesting grounds in two years when he came to find a dragon companion of his own at age ten. Which turned out as a great experience if he had to say so himself.

He remembers when he stumbled across the Icelandic hatchling with the golden eyes two years ago.

The white-colored dragon gazed at him with curiosity and hope. Luka reached into his side pouch and pulled out a strip of dried fish to give the hatchling; reaching the piece of meat forward. Perking and giving the item a sniff, the dragon took and ate the treat before moving closer to the young boy.

Dropping to his knees, Luka waited patiently for the hatchling to approach on his own will. His parents told him that you’ll know the right dragon when you both bond and connect in mind. So, as he waited, the hatchling stepped with his front paws on Luka’s knees and stretched up until the boy stroked his head.

Seeing the dragon wanting attention, Luka ran his hand along the smokey grey muzzle and snow-white head. He felt a rumble-like purr and within a few moments, he heard a faint, new voice say “friend” enter his head. Hoping it was a sign of the bond, Luka thought of the word friend in return and watched as the Icelandic hatchling opened his eyes from the nuzzling and looked at him in awe and excitement within those golden eyes.

‘Bonded?’ he heard from the dragon.

Luka gave the hatchling a nod and smile, “Bonded.”

The small dragon gave a chirp in happiness and nuzzled fully against Luka.

“You’re quite the majestic dragon, aren’t you? Really cool and handsome looking,” he stated while taking in all the dragon’s detail.

The Icelandic hatchling heard the boy’s praise and sat back, standing boldly with a little cockiness and pride.

Luka chuckled, “Oh? A little sassiness I see.”

The hatchling perked at the term of sassy.

“You like that? Sassy?” He heard the dragon bark in agreement. “Alright then. How do you feel about Sass for a name?”

‘I like it.’

“Then, it looks like you and I are bonded companions for life,” chuckling when Sass jumped into Luka’s arms.

Finding Sass was one of the best things to happen in his life. To have a companion and friend to talk to, who also came to enjoy some of his interests. And in two winters, he would be able to add Marinette and her own dragon to add to his list of good things to happen to him.

When Luka and Jagged crossed the skirt of dangling tree branches, both men gasped at the utopia that was the nesting grounds. The area was filled with hoards of dragons of all shapes, sizes, and colors. It might have been only two years since he had been there, but he knew for a fact that there weren’t as many dragons last time.

“There are so many new dragons,” Luka mumbled in awe. “I didn’t know there were so many types.”

He felt his father bump his shoulder, not removing his gaze from the joyous sight, “Maybe the dragons talk to each other and tell how awesome our land is.”

They both chuckled which built to laughter. Together, once they calmed down, began walking again, slowly approaching further into the nesting grounds. Taking in all the activity surrounding them, they saw dragons roaming, flying, lounging under the bright sun, and herds of hatchlings playing about among the green fields, small hills, and low mountains. The scenery looked like a kingdom all its own, but he wouldn’t let the variety of dragons deter him from finding a hatchling for Marinette.

“Where to start?” Luka mumbled to himself, gazing at the nearby nests.

However, he wasn’t aware of Jagged moving towards another direction until the sound of grass rustling came beside him. Looking to his left, Luka watched his father take off like a kid during the holidays, jumping from nest to nest or dragon to dragon; Fang following close behind in the same enthusiasm.

“Dad! What are you doing?! This isn’t like being at one of the trading posts.”

Jagged looked back at his son and waved off his worries, “Oi, no need ta worry, son! Fang will keep me safe.”

‘Yea, but there’s a difference from looking fearsome and acting like one.’

Rolling his eyes, Luka followed his father and Fang towards the open meadow, heading to the opposite side. Coming upon one of the nearest nests, he came across a familiar breed of dragon. Seeing a mixture of gold, blue, and red eyes, the snow-white scales was no mistake.

Falling to his knees, the hatchlings scurried towards Luka seeking attention like most hatchlings sought. Chuckling, Luka tried dividing his attention to all three hatchlings as they chirped and licked his hands. He could feel the smoothness in the younglings' skin and bumps where future spikes and horns would develop.

Though, like all hatchlings, the attention span didn’t last long as the Icelandic younglings ran off to play with the other hatchling breeds.

At the sound of a chuckled rumble, the young heir looked up at the mother of the nest, her gaze distant to where her offsprings ran off. After a few more seconds, the mother’s gaze shifted to Luka. Wise blue eyes looked into young ocean filled ones.

“Hey, girl. It’s been a while.” Opening his travel pouch, he pulled out a piece of dried fish jerky meat, holding it up to the dragon.

The female lowered her head and took the piece of meat and ate it. She lightly nudged her dull upward beak muzzle against Luka’s head in gratitude. Raising his hands, he returned the gesture by petting along her jaw and snout, earning a purring rumble.

“You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” He heard the dragon give another rumble. Leaning back, he looked into her eyes with a smile filled with his own sense of gratitude, “I want to thank you for letting me have Sass. We’ve both been very happy.”

He received a lick across his cheek when they heard the hatchlings return and huddle back into the nest, all three curling up to one another before falling asleep. Feeling it was time for him to move on to allow the hatchlings to sleep, he gave the mother a wave goodbye before walking off. The Icelandic breed was a gorgeous dragon, but he felt it didn’t suit Marinette.

Continuing on to another random nest, Luka came upon a family of Wyverns. Strong but stubborn creatures, they were majestic in their own way. Slightly smaller than the Icelandic dragon, they were more of, what Luka felt, bird-like in appearance. Large and powerful wingspans and two strong powerful legs. Forest green and browns in color, they would act like good camouflage dragons in the woods or forests.

Giving attention to some of the hatchlings, he took in some more of the details around the body. Spikes traveling along the back and parts of the head, at the end of the tail it formed into a spike club shape. Luka was sure the Wyvern would make a good fierce and loyal companion, but again, he didn’t feel confident it was the dragon for his betrothed.

“Oi! Luka, come here, son.”

Looking over towards the location his father was, he saw Jagged and Fang hunched over a smaller nest compared to the larger ones laying about. Standing up, Luka headed over and knelt down beside his father.

“What do ya think o’ve these little guys?”

Jagged picked up one of the little dragons with butterfly-like wings. The coloring reminded him of one of those butterflies with orange and black markings. A Monarch he thinks it was after learning from a gentleman at a trading post when he was with his father.

The little dragon looked up at the two of them with curiosity in those bluish buggish eyes and chirped.

“I don’t know, dad. They look like one of those Feydragons. They’re very small and I wanted to get Marinette a dragon she could eventually ride.”

“Well, maybe dis guy can be an inside home dragon companion, like a dog or cat. There’s nothin’ wrong wit’ havin’ more than one dragon.”

Looking closer at the small dragon, it’s fins fanning out and wings fluttering from the light breeze passing, and chirped.

“The little guy is cute,” spoke Luka, “It probably wouldn’t hurt to have two dragons for Marinette.”

Smiling at his dad, Jagged returned one when the sight of the Feydragon’s body began to glow. The father and son perked in attention at the sight and gazed on in their own curiosity, leaning closer to the little creature.

“Oh? What’s this?” Mumbled Jagged.

Suddenly, the Feydragon sneezed, the body giving a spark as a small explosion burst out. The smoke from the blast hit Jagged and Luka with a small light force, becoming coated in patches of ash and scorch marks across their upper body. Blinking, Luka broke his gaze from the dragon and glanced up at his father with a fuzzled haze, taking in all the scorch marks and strands of his hair and beard sticking out of place. A few strands sizzling or giving off smoke.

If Luka hadn’t been a part of the explosion, he’d find the sight of this whole event hilarious. He was sure he sported a similar appearance and knew the moment they returned home, Juleka would probably laugh. As for his mother, he wasn’t sure.

“I like this little guy!” Shouted Jagged, “Marinette would love this!”

“No,” vetoed Luka. “I’m not giving her a dragon that has explosive sneezes.”

“Oh, I’m sure they grow out of it.”

“Still no. I’m not risking my future wife with an explosive dragon.”

“You’re no fun, but I guess you have a point. I bet Juleka would love him!”

“Oh, gods,” mumbled Luka.

He didn’t want to begin imagining the idea of Juleka owning a dragon such as this one.

His eyes widen at the sudden thought of Alix and Kim learning about this dragon breed. The explosions would only add up on a daily basis.

He felt a weight land on his back and little chirps and clicks. Turning his head to his left, he tried to catch a glimpse of what landed on his back, when a small reddish gold hatchling crawled up and rested on top of his shoulder. Raising his right hand up, he waited patiently until the hatchling crawled in his palms, the dragon’s eyes never once leaving their focus from his.

“A Chinese Gold dragon?” he gazed at the structure and appearance, taking in certain details of the bat-like wings and size, along with the crests to signal it was a female. He gave the little dragon a welcoming smile, “Well, aren’t you a beautiful girl. It’s not very often we get to see your species around these parts.”

The red hatchling chirped and looked knowingly with her blue eyes and seemed to gleam at being called beautiful. Reaching into his small pouch, Luka pulled another piece of fish jerky, ripping off a smaller strip and placed it in front of the hatchling.

Watching as she sniffed the food, gurgled in excitement, and snatched the piece of meat, eating it whole. Licking her muzzle, the red hatchling pushed up with her hind legs and rubbed her head against Luka’s chin, causing the boy to giggle.

“You’re a lovable little thing aren’t you?”

The golden hatchling gave another chirp. Luka looked over the dragon coated in gradients of reddish-gold with some smokey black markings on her back. It really was a gorgeous dragon and seeing the blue eyes, it reminded him of Marinette’s when he saw her a couple of years ago when they were younger. He felt confident that this was the dragon for Marinette.

“Would you like to come home with me? I have someone special who would love you and make a great bonded companion.”

Wanting to let the dragon make the decision, it didn’t take long for the small hatchling to crawl up his shoulder and give a little lick to Luka’s cheek.

“Well, it looks like ya found yerself a dragon, son.”

“Ya. Ready to head home?” Luka asked as he turned to his father.

“Yep! I can’t wait ta show Juleka her new companion!”

Luka shook his head as he followed behind his father and Fang towards home. He was sure their house was going to get slightly busier with all the new residents.

********************************************************

It didn’t take them long to reach their village, taking the pathway leading to the Couffaine home. Compared to the other houses, it wasn’t hard to find the large two leveled home. Then again, it was said that the chief and chieftess homes were built to be a bit larger.

Walking up the front steps, the father and son entered the family home to find Juleka at the dining table, eating lunch.

Looking over to her father and brother, Juleka perked at the sight of them, taking in the messing appearance.

“What the heck happened to you two?”

“My little darlin’ daughter,” Jagged ran over to Juleka in pure excitement, “I got you a little companion.”

He held out the small Feydragon so Juleka could take a look.

“This little guy gives off explosions when it sneezes. It’s so cute!”

Juleka’s eyes grew in awe and wonder, mumbling, “Awesome.”

As Jagged and Juleka continued to wonder over the small Fey hatchling, Luka jolted when he heard his mother’s voice to the side of him.

“What on earth happened ta ya, lad?” He turned towards her to find her glancing at all his messed up appearance. “What the Hel did you ‘nd yer father get up too?”

Luka motioned for the gold dragon to hop into his palms as he held her out to his mother.

“I wanted to get Marinette a special pre-wedding gift when she comes over to visit in two weeks. Dad said that the best way to a girl’s heart was a dragon. What do you think?”

Ankara looked at the Chinese Gold dragon hatchling and gave a warming smile. As quick as lighting, his mother pulled him into a crushing hug. He was thankful that the hatchling was quick as well as she jumped out his hands before being crushed.

“Oh, my boy is growin’ up,” Ankara softly spoke, “I’m so proud o’ve ya. Yer gonna make a fine husband ta Marinette.”

Luka sighed at his mother’s words, feeling thankful for having such support, but feeling a weight lift off knowing he was giving his all and that his family believed in him. They might be chaotic, him having his own moments, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Hopefully, Marinette doesn’t mind a bit of chaos.

@lineith @depressedrainbowcake @fantastucbaby @hansa-12 @justafanwarrior @bugaboo-valerie

#luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #juleka couffaine #anarka couffaine #jagged stone #lukanette #ml #miraculous ladybug #miraculous ladybug and chat noir #ml fic #viking au

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coffin-bird · 4 years ago

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Tagged by @violentviolette! Thank you! I love talking about myself lol

Nickname: My dad calls me by my middle name, and I love fooling people into thinking folks call me Ray lol. But mostly just my name!

Gender: I’m nonbinary, and generally describe myself as transmasc. But my relationship with gender is shaky

Starsign: I’m a Scorpio for sure, and also an Aries/Libra, but idk what that means?

Height: 5′3, but spiritually I am at least 6ft

Time: About 6pm!

Birthday: November 15th! It’s coming up!!

Favorite Bands: Green Day, Queen, Mother Mother, The Longest Johns, The White Stripes, My Chemical Romance, No Doubt, Depeche Mode, Massive Attack (I have stopped myself from listing more lmao)

Favorite Single Artists: Barns Courtney, Poppy, Chelsea Wolfe, Hozier, RJD2, Jazmin Bean ( My Spotify )

Song Stuck In My Head: Something Else by Childish Japes & Dave Vives (featured on my Echo character playlist, Fathomless Soul!)

Last Movie: I think Pirates of The Caribbean?? Me and @voiidwalking watched it together because we’re pirate gays

Last Show: Either Over The Garden Wall or Haunting of Bly Manor, since I watched those two in like, the same day period lol

When Did I Create This Blog: God, I wanna say maybe 2013? A while ago. I’ve seen... so much on tumblr lmao. My blog was a GTAV blog for a while, fun fact!

What do I post: So y’know when you walk into a Party City when there’s no holidays going on? Yea, like that

Last Thing I Googled: The Picrew site because I love making things that don’t require me spending hours drawing it hhhhh

Other blogs:

@vices-of-a-god - My kin blog that I never seem to update

Do I get asks: Not really? Not even hate mail, unfortunately lmao. I don’t have many active followers!

Why I Chose My URL: My name is Raven, and folks see ravens and crows in cemeteries a lot, so they’re like little coffin birds!

Following: 220, but I gotta do some clean up! It’s easier to do that on PC and I’m rarely on PC tumblr

Followers: 350. I’m not very popular lmao, and like, looking at my blog, it’s not a wonder why! What a mess

Average Length In Sleep: Oh god, it’s such a coin flip. I’ve been getting anywhere from maybe a couple hours, to over 10 hours! Y’know, like a healthy person

Lucky Number: Idk man, probably a number???

What Am I Wearing: My PJs: a graphic t-shirt and black sweatpants

Instruments: I can competently play the drums (I own a pretty nice set), and I’m okay at piano (I have a keyboard from the 90s). I did flute for a bit and was mediocre at it lmao

Dream Job: Voice actor!!! Hire me!!!

Dream Trip: Dude. Like. Wherever. I really wanna visit New York, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy. I also would like to go back to Puerto Rico at some point

Favorite Food: A good platter of papas rellenas could kill me dead.

Nationality: American. Pray for me

Favorite Song: I don’t have one! There are so many songs that I go absolutely apeshit for, it would be genuinely impossible to pick just one

Last Book Read: Imagine reading? Lmao. Probably Adrien’s copy of Hard in Hightown

Top Three Fictional Universes: Uh. Hm... This is a hard one. Can’t really say Harry Potter anymore, huh? The MHA universe seems pretty interesting. Vampire: TM maybe. D&D. Idk man, a lot of the media I consume’s universes are deeply flawed!!!

I’m tagging my frens and mutuals, specifically: @voiidwalking @lavenderbatt @arcade-gannon @tinyshad3s @ectodog @wendingwillow @homohamlet @gildedalchemist

#tagged #about me

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stateofloveandnegan · 5 years ago

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Broken Ankle I - Richard Madden

It’s been a while, once again. I'm not super happy with this one, but I didn’t want to make it too long. so there’s gonna be a part two! I hope y’all like it anyways :))

Requested by: no one

Part one / Part two / Part three

“Dad, come up here, it’s beautiful!” I say with an excited smile. We’re somewhere in a beautiful village in Scotland. The view from where I’m standing is incredible. I chuckle as my dad struggles a bit to come up to me, but smile at him as he reaches me. “Look.”

My dad looks at the view and smiles brightly. This trip we’re on means a lot to me. My dad and I always wanted to make a trip through Scotland on his motorbike, and after years of talking about it, we’re finally doing it now.

“It’s beautiful, indeed.” My dad smiles at me. A short while later, we’re headed downstairs, and soon the happy and delightful atmosphere changes into one that’s the exact opposite.

I let out a loud scream as I fall down, a loud crack coming from my ankle. “(Y/N)!” my dad yells and rushes to my side, “Shit, where does it hurt?”

My finger points at my ankle as I bite down on my lower lip, “I think I broke my ankle…”

Not much later, I’m in the back of an ambulance, a little bit out of this world because of the medication they’ve given me. My dad is on his bike behind the ambulance as we’re on our way to the nearest hospital. It’s only a ten-minute drive and soon the paramedics are wheeling me into the A&E. They tell the doctors and nurses what happened and send me a smile before getting back to the ambulance.

“So, (Y/N), I heard you tumbled down a set of stairs.” One of the doctors says in a thick accent. I smile a little and nod, feeling stupid for making a fall like that. “It seems to be a pretty nasty break, but we’re gonna have to make some x-rays to be sure, yeah?”

I nod and let the doctor know I understand what’s going to happen. Just before one of the nurses takes me away for the x-ray, my dad comes in and I tell him which cubicle is mine so he can wait there.

After a long wait for the outcome of the scans and x-rays, the doctors tell me I don’t need surgery, but they need to cast it and run another test before I can go. I sigh in relief at the news and my dad squeezes my hand as the doctor leaves.

“I’m gonna go get some food at the restaurant, can I take anything with me for you?” My dad asks softly. I shake my head lightly, feeling quite sick from the medication and the pain. “Alright, I’ll take some lemonade with me, though. Is that okay?”

I smile, “Yeah, dad. I’d like some lemonade.” He smiles and nods before standing up and leaving the cubicle.

After about fifteen minutes, I start feeling nauseous, but there’s no bucket or anything in sight. I start calling for my dad, hoping he’s already near, but there’s no response. I then start calling for nurses and doctors, but they, too, don’t respond to me. I start growing a bit panicky, not wanting to throw up in the bed.

Just as I’m about to give up on calling for help, someone slowly and carefully opens the curtain to my cubicle, “Can I help with anything?” his voice speaks hesitantly. He looks so familiar, but at this moment that’s really the last thing on my mind.

“Something. I need something, feeling really sick…” I speak in between breaths as the nausea grows worse. The guy immediately gets what I’m saying and starts opening some cupboards and soon finds some sort of bucket, handing it quickly to me.

I let out a deep breath, feeling the nausea die down, but very thankful for the man’s help. “Thank you so much. I really thought I was gonna need it, but who knows, maybe I’ll need it later.”

The man chuckles, “You’re welcome, really.” he looks at me and his eyes soon wander down to my leg, which is stuck in some weird splint. “What happened? If I may ask.”

“I fell down a set of stairs and broke my ankle.” I say, my cheeks a little red. The man winces with a small smile on his face, “Ouch… I’m sorry to hear that. Does it hurt a lot?”

I shrug lightly, “Not right now, but it comes and goes.” I look at the trolley near my bed and reach for the cup of water, but am unable to get it. I look back at the guy and smile sheepishly, “Would you mind?”

He chuckles and hands me the cup, “Thank you.” I say and drink some of the water. It’s quiet for a moment, but the guy doesn’t leave. “Are you from around here?” he suddenly asks. I shake my head and smile, “No, I’m from Ireland.”

“I thought so, whereabouts do you live?”

“In Mullingar.”

“Oh nice, I’ve been there a couple times. Are you here on your own?”

I smile and shake my head, “No, I’m here with my dad. We’re on a bike trip, but I’m afraid that has now come to an end…” Right at that moment, my dad returns with a small bag of food and a bottle of lemonade. “(Y/N)- oh, hello there.”

My dad smiles, a little confused as to why a man he doesn’t know is sitting in the chair he previously occupied. The guy stands up and makes place for my dad, “Hello. Your daughter was in need of some help, I heard her and figured I could help. Enjoy the food, sir.” The guy makes way to leave the cubicle, I speak up, wanting to say his name, but only then I realise I don’t know his name, yet. He chuckles, “It’s Richard.”

I blush lightly, “Thank you for helping me, Richard.” Richard smiles, “Of course, (Y/N). See you around.” And with that, he’s gone, leaving me in a weird state of mind, but it’s definitely a positive state of mind.

When I turn to look at my dad, he has a smirk on his face. “What?” I say with a laugh, my cheeks still slightly red. “Nothing… he was just a very handsome man, hm?”

“Oh, dad! Stop it!” I laugh, but damn, he’s right about that. After a silence, in which I keep trying to think of why Richard looked so familiar, it suddenly comes to me.

“Dad,” I begin, and he looks at me, showing he’s listening, “Do you remember the Stark family members in Game of Thrones?”

He looks a little confused, but nods nonetheless, “I think I remember them all, yes. Why?”

“Richard… he played Robb. He looked so familiar earlier, but I just didn’t know why. Now I do, it must be him.”

I notice my dad thinking and his eyes widen before he nods, “You’re absolutely right! I didn’t know he looked familiar until now. Wow, that’s pretty cool, isn’t it?” He laughs softly and continues eating.

My dad can be so simple about those things, it humors me, really. I mean, I’m glad he isn’t secretly freaking out like I am.

A while later, my leg is finally casted. It feels pretty sore, so they gave me some prescriptions for medication. Now, they’re helping me get a hand on how to walk with crutches. It’s not super hard, but it’s nice to get some tips.

As I’m trying out the crutches in the hallway, Richard comes by again and smiles, really handsomely, at me. “You already look much livelier than before. And it seems like you’re a natural at those crutches, aye?”

I blush and chuckle, “I’m not too bad, no, luckily.” I look at my dad, who just smirks and mouths, ‘I’m gonna get something to drink’.

Richard chuckles quietly and looks at the ground for a moment, before looking back up at me, “You guys headed home, soon?” he asks softly as I struggle a little to sit down on a chair in the hallway. “Yeah, well… my dad’s gonna get going soon. He has to go on his bike, otherwise it’ll be stuck here and he doesn’t wanna leave it here. I’m gonna go with a taxi, but it can take a while before it arrives.”

Richard seems to be thinking for a moment before he speaks up, “Where are you guys staying?”

“Uhm, I think it was Ferguslie. It’s a small bed and breakfast.” I say. My dad returns with something to drink and Richard looks at him. “Hi, sir. Let me introduce myself properly before anything else. I’m Richard.”

Richard holds out his hand and my dad, a little confused, shakes it. “John.”

“I was thinking… you can’t take (Y/N) back on your bike, because of her foot. And it’ll take really long before the taxi is here, besides that taxis are quite expensive here. I need to go to Elderslie myself, my mum lives there and it’s where I’m staying as well. As you may know, Elderslie is pretty close to Ferguslie. I can take (Y/N) with me and drop her off at the b&b you’re staying in?”

My cheeks grow red and my eyes go slightly wide at his proposal. Feeling my heart flutter, I clumsily stand up again and walk over to them. “Are you sure, Richard? I don’t want to be a bother…”

“You won’t be a bother, I promise. My mum won’t mind, either.” He assures me and my dad. I look over at my dad and he looks at me, debating for a moment, but soon agreeing. “That actually sounds much better than a taxi. Alright, yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

I smile, stupidly excited for the ride. My dad and Richard arrange some things before my dad leaves, leaving me alone with Richard. “Are you sure?” I ask softly one more time. Richard laughs softly and nods, beckoning me to follow him. “Of course I am, otherwise I wouldn’t have proposed it.”

I follow Richard through the hallway, and soon we reach a woman standing at the reception, handling some stuff. “We’ll be having a guest on our drive home, mum.” Richard tells the woman and I smile kindly, “Hello ma’am, I’m (Y/N).” the woman smiles and shakes my hand as Richard explains why I’ll be joining them.

Soon, we’re all in the car together. Richard’s mum got in the back so I could sit in the front, having more space for my leg. It’s a little quiet at first and I can feel Richard looking over at me every now and then, me obviously doing the same until we both catch each other one time. My cheeks grow red and I swear I can see the same happening to Richard, but I quickly look back out front.

Richard looks into the rearview mirror to see his mum with her headphones on and softly starts talking. “Was your day a bit okay, even though you fell?”

I smile and nod, “Yeah, it was really nice, actually. My dad and I had lunch at this really nice place. And we drove around a bit, visiting some nice villages. Scotland is absolutely beautiful, I really don’t want to leave, yet.” I sigh softly, knowing I’ll have to find a way to get back home, since we can’t continue our trip with my ankle broken.

Richard smiles sympathetically, “I wish I could do something for you.”

“No, it’s fine.” I smile back at him, “I’ll come back once my ankle is healed. Why were you and your mum in the hospital, if I may ask?”

Richard smiles as he looks in the rearview mirror, noticing his mum has fallen asleep. “My mum was feeling really dizzy earlier, it made her feel better if we’d go see a doctor, so I took her to the A&E just in case. You never know as they get older… seems she just had a really low blood pressure, so they gave her something for it.”

I nod and let out a soft sigh as I look outside, “I hope she’ll feel better soon.”

“Yeah, me too. But I’m sure she’ll be fine.” He says and focusses on the road for a moment. “Were you and your dad planning on staying much longer in Scotland?”

My eyes drift from the road back to the side of Richard’s face, “Yeah, we were gonna drive around for a couple more weeks and then head back”

“That’s a pretty long time. I’m sorry it had to end like this.” He says sadly.

Richard and I keep our conversation going until we’ve arrived at the Bed & Breakfast. We all get out and his mum falls into conversation with my dad, chatting away for a while. “Why don’t we all sit down at the balcony and have a drink?” my dad offers, and we all chime in.

My dad and Richard’s mum take a seat at one of the tables, but Richard and I walk over to the edge of the balcony and sit down. We gently clink our bottles against one another’s and enjoy the breeze of the evening.

“How old are you, (Y/N)?” Richard suddenly asks. I look up at him and can’t help myself as I stare at him for a moment. “Hm?” his voice breaks my gaze and I blush, looking at my lap. “I’m twenty-three.”

“Are you still in school?”

“Yeah, I am. I study journalism, but I took a break from it to go on this trip with my dad. What about you? Are you currently working on something, or aren’t you allowed to tell me that?” I ask and Richard’s eyes widen a little, a smile entering his face.

“You know who I am, then?” he chuckles, and I shrug a little, smiling. “You looked familiar when I first saw you, but I didn’t immediately know. It wasn’t until you left that I recognized you as Robb Stark. But it’s an overstatement to say I know who you are, I didn’t even know your actual name was Richard…” I smile sheepishly.

Richard tells me he is working on something, but isn’t allowed to say on what. We talk for a while longer, but when we’ve all finished our second drink, Richard and his mum decide it’s time to go home.

Just as they are about to get into the car, and I’m about to go back inside, Richard comes back up to me. “(Y/N), wait. Here..” he hands me a small piece of paper. “If you’d like to stay in contact, you can message me on this number.”

I feel my cheeks heat up and I take the piece of paper from him, my fingers brushing against his. He smiles sweetly down at me. “I hope you will…” he whispers softly before going back to the car and leaves.

I let out a deep sigh, today has been a long day. “Hey, dad. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“Of course, darling. Tomorrow we’ll arrange some new plans. Get a good night’s rest, call me if you need anything, alright?”

I nod and give him a kiss on the top of his head before going inside, a little clumsily making my way to my room. Once I’m in bed, I grab my phone and put Richard’s number in my phone.

You:

Hi Richard, it’s (Y/N). I hope you got home safe and sound.

Sent 10:48pm

After sending the message, I put my phone away and turn the tv on. A little while later, my phone buzzes and a smile enters my face when I notice it’s Richard.

Richard:

Hey (Y/N)! I’m glad you texted me.

I got home safe and sound.

How is your foot feeling?

Sent 11:03pm

You:

My foot is feeling alright!

Tomorrow we’re gonna make plans on what’s going to happen now.

I really don’t wanna leave Scotland :(

Sent 11:04pm

Richard:

Maybe you can stay a little longer?

Sent 11:04pm

You:

I hope so, I would like to stay even here in this B&B if it’s possible.

But I’ll have to wait and see what my dad thinks.

Sent 11:04pm

Richard:

Ah yes, that’s true.

Well, I hope you’ll stay a little longer.

If you do, I can show you around a little bit, there’s actually some really nice places nearby.

Sent 11:05pm

I smile at the thought of spending more time with Richard. And just the fact that Richard is offering to spend his time with me, meaning that he wants to spend it with me, makes me blush once again.

I yawn softly and feel my eyes getting heavy. I turn the tv off before grabbing my phone again.

You:

That sounds like a really nice plan!

I’m going to sleep now, thank you for helping me at the hospital earlier, you’ve really made the rest of my day better.

Sent 11:06pm

Richard:

I’m happy to hear that.

I’m glad I did that, too. Otherwise I wouldn’t have met you.

Good night, (Y/N).

Sent 11:06pm

You:

Good night, Richard.

Sent 11:06pm

#Richard Madden #Richard Madden x reader #Richard Madden fanfic #Richard Madden fanfiction #Richard Madden fan fiction #Richard Madden one shot #Richard Madden imagine #Richard #madden #fanfic #fanfiction #fan fiction #imagine #reader insert #one shot #broken ankle #scotland #ireland

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princesscatherinemiddleton · 4 years ago

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What would your 1 year, 5 year and 10 year plan be for The Duchess of Cambridge if you were her private secretary?

What would you do if you were Kate’s private secretary

Because I loved Jessica’s answer, I’m curious to know what would you do as Catherine’s Private Secretary? what would be your plan in the short, medium and long term and how would you handle the PR aspect.

First of all, sorry to Jessica and her anon who created this idea because I have blatantly stolen it and, second, thank you to my anons who clearly read my tags! I’m going to answer the PR aspect more in another post so stay tuned!

1 YEAR – this is from September 1 2020 to August 31 2021

From September, I would expect to see her more. I’d tell her to do at least one visible engagement a week (following social distancing) and at least one other engagement, preferably with a photo/photos released after the fact. I know she takes the school holidays off, which is fine, but I’d want her to make up the “missed” engagements in other weeks

In January, I’d expect Louis to start nursery (I think he would have started in April but a global pandemic had other ideas and I can understand why they haven’t started him in September). Once he’s in nursery and the others are back in full time school, I’d want to see her up her engagement count to at least two visible engagements per week (pre-pandemic I said that if she worked the equivalent of 3 mornings a week that would be 156 engagements)

I don’t imagine there will be much overseas travel in the next year but I’d like to see her do zoom calls with charities from Commonwealth Countries with similar concepts to her patronages. While she can’t go abroad, I want her and Will to essentially do what Felipe and Letizia have been doing – tour the UK, visiting areas which have been affected by the pandemic (and by UK I mean all four countries, as well as the islands, if possible)

Continue her work with the Baby Banks (which I love) and release a statement saying the Early Years Foundation is continuing but in the immediate future they’re going to focus on early years in response to the pandemic. I think she should do some work with schools and nurseries, focused on that massive gap from March to September this year, and work with families who spent lockdown with little room and the impact that will have had on their mental health. I’d also like her to return to her garden idea and do something around making more public green space

Social media-wise, I’d like to see a balance of what they’re doing now and what they did during lockdown. For engagements, I’d like to see a selection of photos and a formally written description. If something more casual happens, they can make a separate post about that. I’d tell them to continue releasing photos for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Easter, etc. I’d also tell them to try and release a short video of the kids when they can – for example, they could release a video of them wrapping presents to donate to a food bank near Christmas

Similarly, I’m assuming there will be open air pantos this Christmas. Go to one with George and Charlotte.

Their 10 year wedding anniversary is next year. In the lead up to their anniversary, I’d tell them to make posts on social media about different aspects of their wedding – the cake, the flowers, the dress, the ceremony, the carriages, the charities they raised money for – as well as behind the scenes photos if they have any. On April 29th, I’d tell them to release a new “couple” photo, as well as private photos from their wedding day. I’d like them to release a full royal regalia couple photo as well, but it might not be appropriate coming off the back of the pandemic (off topic but I also want to see lots of their 40th birthdays the year afterwards)

5 YEARS

Early Years – release the results of the 5 big questions survey, with information as to what they’re going to do with the findings. I’d love her to do something in early years education, as well as more work supporting the mental health of early years and new parents. I’d tell her to release a yearly update and show some photographs of the behind the scenes work

Sports – Kmiddy loves her sport so I’d tell her to keep going with that. I think she needs to focus on introducing children to sport and sport children from poorer and disadvantaged backgrounds can easily access

Patronages – Kate needs to do at least 1 engagement for each of her Patronages each year. She always does an engagement for the AELTACC but I want the same energy for everything. If one of her patronages is doing fundraising or launching an initiative, I want her to get behind it. I’d also like to see her take on new patronages in new areas

The arts – coming off the back of the pandemic, the arts need support. I’d tell her to go to at least one show a year, as well as visit her museum and gallery patronages. I’d suggest she tries to create or support a programme getting disadvantaged children access to the arts. I’d also like her to do more around the concept of arts as a form of therapy for younger children

State Visits – I love seeing her at state dinners but I want her involved in the rest of the visit as well. When the Japanese State Visit gets rearranged, perhaps she could join the Emperor and Empress on a tour of the NHM or the V&A. Even just meeting with them and releasing a behind the scenes photo of a private dinner between the Cambridges and whoever.

The UK – keep visiting the whole of the UK. The UK summer holidays are 6 weeks but for private schools, it’s longer, so George and Charlotte will normally get a summer holiday of around 8 weeks. For three of those weeks, I’d like to see the Cambridge family go on holiday to Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. They don’t have to be consecutive weeks. For example, during their Wales holiday (they could stay in one place one year, travel around Wales the next year, etc.) they could arrive on the Monday and visit a market town with the kids, visit a charity on Tuesday, have Wednesday private, take the kids to somewhere outdoorsy and sporty on Thursday, and release some private photos on the Friday. They still have 5 weeks to have private holidays etc.

The King’s Cup Regatta – make it an annual thing, changing up the charities. Continue participating. Take the kids. The Middleton’s came last time, invite the whole RF

The children – continue taking the children to TTC and Christmas. Try and do a family polo match at least twice a year, taking the kids, and letting the public see them interact with their cousins. I also want to see them on UK-based engagements that aren’t trooping. Go to the ballet and take Charlotte. Apparently, they all love cooking, do an outdoor kids cooking engagement. George loves helicopter so take him to an Air Cadet engagement. Something around the idea of a sporting event for young children would be a good idea to take them to

A new project – I expect Kate to create a new project in the next 5 years. I’d like it to be connecting her work in Early Years with her work in the arts. I would straight up pay her to make it about textiles

10 YEARS – aka the Princess of Wales (this will be vaguer)

Overseas visits – I put this in 10 years, not 5 years, because I don’t know what the state of travel will be like over the next year or so. Each year, I want to see two full tours, at least one of which needs to be a Will & Kate tour. The other one can be a Cambridge tour, a Will & Kate tour, or a solo Kate tour. I want them to continue visiting other monarchies (during their W&K tours) and I think they still need to continue with their Brexit charm offensive. I’d also love to see more tours to South America and East Asia. For solo tours, I’m more than happy for Kate to keep doing single day trips until Louis is older but, after that, I need her to go to Italy. I also think she could do a full solo Mediterranean tour

Foreign royals – the Scandi tour is popular for a reason. More visits to foreign monarchies and more engagement with foreign royals. When foreign monarchs die, go to the funerals. When foreign royals marry/give birth, at least send/post a message, if not go to the wedding. If another royal family visits the UK, participate in the State Visit. Once they are Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, they will be the same place in the line of succession as Victoria, Frederik, Haakon, Guillaume, etc. Use that. Haakon and Fred both have interest in sports – create an engagement around that. The Crown Princess Victoria's Fund supports children with chronic illnesses and functional disabilities – create an engagement focused on the mental health of these children

Patronages – she needs to take more on. I don’t expect to see as many as the old guard because I still think she should try and do one engagement per patronage per year at least, but she should take on patronages in other areas: fostering, child abuse, postpartum psychosis, mothers in prison, arts as therapy, sports as therapy, green spaces, forest schools, baby banks, food banks, underprivileged and underfunded schools, clubs for disadvantaged children. She also needs some more boring patronages, like the military and diplomatic ones

Away days – I’d expect a minimum of two full away days a month, scattered throughout the UK. If a full away day can’t happen, she needs to do more engagements in places that aren’t London, similar to her UK tour for 5BigQuestions. Work with disadvantaged areas in the North. Work with outdoor spaces and forest schools in the South West. Look into language in North Wales. Talk about food banks in Perth. I want to see her continue the holidays in the UK. As the Duchess of Cornwall and possibly Princess of Wales, I want to see more engagements in Wales and Cornwall, like Charles and Camilla currently do

Taboo topics – now she’s found her feet, I’d like her to start looking at those more taboo subjects. Kate works with mental health – I’d suggest she starts looking into psychosis and BPD, and schizophrenia. She works with children – look at the impact of prisons and the prison system on people under the age of 18. She is passionate about maternal mental health – what about parents in prison? What about parents who aren’t mentally stable enough to care for all the needs of their children? Other areas which I think fit her interests are child and domestic abuse, childhood drug abuse, and fostering

#anon #answered #mine #kate

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asd-n-me · 5 years ago

Text

Tag post

Tag Meme

I was tagged by @melmey-autistic or AKA @melmey-fanfics

RULES: Answer 20 questions, then tag 20 bloggers you want to get to know better.

1. NAME: Karma. not my real name but what I’m calling myself so far.

2. NICKNAMES: All of my nicknames pertain to my real name, however my dad calls me peanut so. Yep.

3. ZODIAC SIGN: I assume this means your sun sign, Mine is Scorpio.

4. HEIGHT: 5′4

5. LANGUAGES: English! I’d really love to learn another but my brain disagrees!

6. NATIONALITY: American

7. FAVOURITE SEASON: I love spring. It’s perfect to me. Although fall is a close runner up.

8. FAVOURITE FLOWER: The stargazer lily is the best and most beautiful in my eyes. Unless i could ever find out what that genus of rose I met once that smelt like dots candy.

9. FAVOURITE SCENT:

10. FAVOURITE COLOUR: PURPLE! although my favorite shade is black :)

11. FAVOURITE ANIMAL: Domestic? Wild? Most pleasing? Or cool? I like cheetahs, highland cows which make me exceedingly happy, raccoons, I love bears, foxes, and I quite love the gentle but giant elephant. Otters are also swell.

12. FAVOURITE FICTIONAL CHARACTER(s):Brian Kinney from Queer as Folk, Hyde and Red from that 70s show, Ron from Parks and Rec, Dean from supernatural, Michael from burn Notice, Scooby doo and shaggy, Damon from TVD, Louise from bobs burger, and about a dozen others.

13. COFFEE, TEA, OR HOT CHOCOLATE: Mocha Frappe.

14. AVERAGE SLEEP HOURS: I average about 10hrs a night at the moment.

15. DOG OR CAT PERSON: See, I used to think of myself as a pure dog person and I didn’t understand or care for cats. But I actually started suffering the sensory issues and overwhelmed feeling from having dogs, and have come to find I have quite an affection for cats which was most unexpected. So I would say I couldn’t really choose at the moment, but I currently own more cats than dogs which is a big shock.

16. NUMBER OF BLANKETS YOU SLEEP WITH: Between 1-3 but what is truly interesting is the number of pillows I sleep with which at it’s height was 9. 13 if you count certain stuffed animals that were actually pillows.

17. DREAM TRIP: If I wasn’t afraid of flying and change I would love to visit scotland and all her beauty, as well as Ireland, then I would visit all the spots of history across the globe which I guess is a stereotype but Greece, Egypt, Arabia, Rome, France, England, etc. I would also love to see certain spiritual sites such as Tibet, India, Japan, etc. I assumed this question was traveling but quite honestly I could be very content just to take a trip to the country with her green fields and twisting streams.

18. BLOG ESTABLISHED:I have tried to figure it out I really have but I do not know. It’s an added degree of complication that this blog was originally something else when I repurposed it. However I know it wasn’t established for it’s current purpose even a year ago, and it wasn’t consistent until a couple months ago really.

19. FOLLOWERS: God bless I am currently 125 which is such a pleasing number. I am just honored and excited to have made it over 100.

20. RANDOM FACT: I have been inside a dunk tank, I am an avid collector of many things such as scooby doo and coins, and I can drink a water bottle in roughly 5 seconds last time I was timed. I assumed this meant a fact about me but for a fun fact about something else, A dime has 118 ridges and a quarter has 119 ridges. one ridge apart despite the 6.35 mm difference in circumference!

I’m tagging: So i just did a tag post and I don’t want to tag the same people in case its annoying so. I really hope anyone who wants to will participate but I tag: @lesbian-bookworm @i-cant-eat-eggs @shesautistictoo @chewnecklace @lesmiserabby @butterflyinthewell @moonietheindigo @autistic-millamarie @asd-n-adhd-fox @ifyougiveamouseatuba

#tag game #about blog #fun

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fialleril · 5 years ago

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Since the beginning of President Trump’s term, he’s been under scrutiny for running the country while profiting off his business empire. A few incidents revealed in recent weeks have heightened that scrutiny.

And as evidenced by this explanation from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Republicans don't have a way to defend it. Here's what McCarthy told reporters Tuesday when asked whether he thinks the federal government should be spending money at the president's resorts:

“The president’s resorts are hotels that he owns. And people are traveling. It’s just like any other hotel. I know people will look at it. I don’t know that that’s different than anything else. Is it different than if I go and stay or eat at a Marriott here or eat at the Trump?”

Such an explanation ignores reality. The president’s hotels aren’t just any hotels. Trump the businessman and Trump the politician are the same, and Trump refuses to do much to extricate one persona from the other.

Though he transferred management responsibilities of the Trump Organization, which runs the hotels, to his sons when he was elected, he didn’t divest from the company. That means when someone stays overnight, or books an event, or buys a meal at a Trump property, Trump still stands to reap some of the profit. That’s true if the one picking up the tab is a private citizen, a campaign organization, a foreign government or company or the U.S. government.

And they all have.

The Washington Post reported in June that White House aides pushed back on his extensive use of Trump properties to facilitate official business. Here’s what my colleagues found then:

Trump has rebuffed such warnings, overruling a recommendation that he not visit his Turnberry golf club in Scotland last summer, according to aides. And in recent months, he has scheduled even more detours from official trips to visit his businesses — golf courses in Ireland, Los Angeles and Doral.

In all, his scores of trips have brought his private businesses at least $1.6 million in revenue, from federal officials and GOP campaigns who pay to go where Trump goes, according to a Washington Post analysis.

...

The actual amount of money Trump has received as a result of his visits and campaign events is probably much higher than the $1.6 million The Post identified. That’s because most of the records available about government spending date to the first half of 2017 — covering just the first few months of Trump’s presidency so far. And the records of campaign spending don’t account for other revenue that Trump may have made off campaign events, including overnight stays by donors attending the event.

This past weekend, Politico reported that the Air Force has been refueling at airports near Trump properties rather than military bases, and in at least four instances, crews have stayed at a Trump property. That revelation has prompted a House Democratic investigation. And on his recent trip to Ireland, Vice President Pence stayed at a Trump property 180 miles from Dublin, where all his meetings were held.

Trump himself has gone hundreds of miles out of the way to go to his resort in Ireland while visiting two entirely different countries, Britain and France.

And Trump recently said that when it’s the United States’ turn to host the Group of Seven global summit next summer, it will probably be held at his struggling resort in Doral, Fla., despite lawsuits about bedbugs and the fact that it will be hurricane season then.

McCarthy is saying that all these visits are totally fair and nothing to be concerned about. “If it’s in the process,” he finished, “they can stay there.”

The problem with McCarthy defaulting to “the process” to defend what’s happening is that there is no “process” for when a president is also a businessman who hasn’t divested from his business.

There’s no modern-day protocol for this. Trump isn’t required by law to divest, even though most ethics experts agree that he should have; when he became president, the Office of Government Ethics highly recommended it. Instead, Trump handed over the day-to-day running of his business to his sons and told Americans to trust him that he wouldn’t talk about it, therefore avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

A Post analysis has found that Trump’s businesses have been declining in recent years, with a few notable exceptions. Some Trump-branded hotels have cut ties with the president and even taken his name off their properties since his election, but the Trump hotel in Washington started making a profit after he took office. It’s blocks from the White House.

Saudi government and business executives have boosted Trump’s hotels in Chicago and New York, a fact that became more conspicuous after Trump’s refusal to condemn Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the death of Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. (Senate Republicans rebuked Trump’s handling of this and even essentially accused Trump of covering up Mohammed’s involvement.) Robert De Niro held an anti-Trump rally outside Trump Tower in New York.

Republicans may not have an answer for why the government under Trump is spending lots of money at Trump properties. But they’ll probably have to talk much more about it: House Democrats are wrapping this issue into their impeachment inquiry.

10 September 2019

#us news #us politics #this is an excellent summary of a lot of disparate reporting brought together in one place #which just makes the blatant graft at work here inescapable #if one thing has been made clear by this administration #it's the fact that we desperately need a way of holding presidents accountable #other than impeachment #because in our current polarized environment #the concept of congressional oversight is effectively meaningless so long as the president's party controls at least one house of congress #trump's actions are an absolutely shameless abuse of power but he knows he can get away with it #because both law and custom are meaningless if no one will enforce them #donald trump

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its-moopoint · 5 years ago

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It’s that time of the year...

Timing. Such a funny thing.

Like you know what happened on Friday? I had my company’s Christmas lunch. And you know what also happened? The Monkeys came back and posted. You know what had happened another time I had the Christmas lunch and talked to The Monkeys? She told me it was her friend that of the plane story about Rolando saying his girlfriend knew about fashion industry because she had worked there. Then when I said this in public The Monkey said I was lying. Of course I showed several people my screencaps. Funny they came back on Friday after my Christmas lunch, funny memories xD

Also is this time of the year Ginger Anon comes, just like Santa. Wonder if she/he will have more luck this year asking around town and checking if they know Antonio already or it’s the Ginger again visiting in spite of the wedding. What tale are they gonna tell this year?

Speaking of Catalina, she’s posting back on Europe’s time. just when Rolando is openly in LA as we guess it was his landing there and she got the hell away. Unless it’s Antonio taking over her SM. Bets she’s gonna post from London, Glasgow or Ireland?

Also come on folks, hurry to buy that SC merchandising and stuff so you can fund the Brasilian’s trip to Scotland. How else would you get to read the scoop with the latest undebunkable receipts of SC being online at the same time or their liking same posts??? I’m surprised their Australian patron hasn’t funded the trip herself though.

Yeah, it’s that time of the year again.

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duchessofostergotlands · 5 years ago

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If you could advise Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan to make one major change/alteration in the way they Royal, both to earn public favour in order to preserve the monarchy, and to do some actual good for Britain, what would it be? I’m talking charity; PR; new initiatives; strengthening bonds between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales; declarations or suppressions - or anything else you find appropriate. Sorry in advance for being wordy!

Hey :) Sorry for taking so long to answer this but it’s a big question! To only make one major change I’m probably going to stick to PR just because it’s easier.

Charles’s main issue is that he’s seen to interfere with things so that needs to be his focus moving forward. He needs to be seen to be preparing himself to be monarch but without overstepping his bounds. He’s made a few borderline statements in the past that have just strayed into partisan territory and I would recommend he didn’t.

Camilla’s actually doing quite well. She’ll never totally shake the Diana connection but she’s done a good job of softening the public sentiment towards her. I would say she just doesn’t get the attention she deserves. Be more shouty! You’re doing great work, people deserve to hear about it.

William also needs to be seen to be taking this seriously. I would expect him to be doing more visits to the four nations, even more work with the Duchy of Cornwall, a higher engagement count

From my perspective Kate really needs to get working. At the moment public feeling is very sympathetic to her in a way it hasn’t been for a long time and I think she could spoil it if she doesn’t throw herself into working. She should be around the same rate Harry’s at.

It’s hard for me to do Harry because I obviously have to separate what I want from him from what the general public want from him. I think there’s still a lot of good will towards him as Diana’s son. I think the hardcore royalists are concerned that he’s become too interested in the luxury and fame. Doing engagements that are back to his roots, low key meetings with the military and things that Diana supported. Dialling down the US references. Holidays in the UK, The traditional things people expect of royals like the trip to Balmoral. These things don’t personally bother me, I think they should be able to go wherever they want. But I know that it would play well for them to do these things with Middle England

For Meghan, I know that this is a hard suggestion for some people and I get why but I do think that the relationship with the press could continue to escalate unless they sit down and talk. We know the Cambridges have hosted the press privately and Charles and Camilla do it as part of every tour and it goes down swimmingly. I think it could break the tension and give them a chance to associate Meghan as a person with the Meghan they write about. It also means she can explain her perspective to them privately and they can understand where she’s coming from.

#ask #anon #british royal family

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benjaminsblog · 4 years ago

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Back to the Future

I don’t use Facebook very much these days, but my undisputed favourite part of it is the ‘On This Day’ feature, which digs up anything/everything you posted in previous years on...y’know...this day..and I’m a sucker for a trip down memory lane.

Some of the earlier posts are especially wince-inducing (and have since been erased from existence), but every so often a gem pops up that I’d forgotten about. Normally it is a blog post, as that is pretty much the only thing I put on the Book of Face these days, and today’s collection of nostalgia featured one entry in particular.

5 years ago - on this day - 24-year-old me was very bored, so he wrote a letter to 29-year-old me, outlining some hopes and goals to be achieved in the ensuing five year period. My “younger, better-looking, dumber self” suggested I write back with details of my progress, and as writing topics are currently in short supply, I gladly took him up on his offer. The link below is the full OG post, but I understand if you are only in the mood for one lengthy, self-indulgent blog post:

My previous letter

And here is my reply:

Dear Master Cook,

Thanks for your letter, I enjoyed reading through it even though the tone was a little demanding. I would recommend you do something about that in future letters, but what would be the point?! I’m glad you’ve given me something to do, as I’m currently holed up in my flat most of the time, due to the coronavirus outbreak. That reminds me, you may want to stock up on loo roll now - I know it sounds strange, just trust me.

In response to your first question, I am not often in a position to be asked for ID, but I can say that the record stands at 27 years old, which I say is a damn good effort! I’ve been joking about my impending 30th since, well, since I was your age, but in all honesty I don’t think I care. I feel like a ‘young 30′, if such a thing exists - partly because I still feel fairly youthful and energetic, and partly because I took a while to get going in my quest to become an adult. Having said that, I think you’ll be pleased with my progress.

Your summarised list read as follows:

Your own place

Better volleys

Enjoyable job

Go travellin’

Keep in contact with friends

Ladyfriend

Car?

You didn’t specify it as a target, but at the time of writing we were about halfway through our degree, and I did indeed pass with a 2:1 as you’d hoped. This was no mean feat and I think you deserve some credit for that! I didn’t quite end up in a graphic design field, but I am most definitely in a job I enjoy, and have some nice colleagues. You haven’t even started working at Asda yet, which made me smile! It won’t always make you smile, but there are some lovely people there, too, and they throw you a nice leaving do (bring a spare change of clothes).

These days I am a sports graphics operator, and still pinch myself sometimes that I’ve wound up here; I work at live sports events, and have already had the pleasure of attending a number of prestigious tournaments - my very first OB (outside broadcast) was an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, which was pretty special. An added bonus is that our work is not confined to these shores, and as a result I have made huge inroads into my travellin’ itinerary - Ireland, Scotland, and New York have been ticked off your starter list, and I have also visited South Africa, Germany and Japan in less than a year on the job! Italy and Canada are highest on my list now, and had it not been for COVID-19, I would have had those both ticked off by the end of this year.

After graduation, I spent a couple of years in a flat with Will, your fellow graphic design classmate; I’m not sure if you’ve gotten used to his distinctive behaviour by now, but bear with it, it gets more tolerable (sort of). More recently, I moved into my first solo space when I got this job to be close to the office, and on the whole I’m very pleased with it - though I will admit to occasionally missing some immediate company, even if it came in the shape of strangled noises and shouts from the other room. Another benefit is that work covers travel expenses, so I am less desperate for a car nowadays. Getting home is also easier, and given that you added a ‘?’ to it, I guess this was more of a ‘it would be nice to have it’ kinda thing.

Aside from Will, I have kept in contact with a number of people from Uni, though I will confess that most of it is through Facebook, which I know you told me was not acceptable. In my defence, I did spend two weeks with one of them in Japan, so I think that evens it out a little. I do make use of another Facebook feature - the ‘friendaversary’ - and use them as a reason to send a message to people and ask how they’re doing. On top of that, I also had a girlfriend - yes, really - and even though that sentence reads ‘had’, I think there was a lot to be proud of. Do me a favour and start watching ice hockey now...and remove Blade Runner from your list of movies to watch.

I will admit that the biggest failing on this list has been the tennis, recently, at least. I played regularly in Portsmouth right up until I left (I won’t spoil the ending for you), but since then, court time has been hard to come by. I did find a tennis club in my area not too long ago, but only managed a couple of sessions before lockdown happened. I haven’t yet had any lessons, but I would hope my volleys are a little better than yours, given the copious amounts of doubles you will soon be playing.

There you go, an update 5 years in the making. I would apologise for making it so long, but we both know you’re gonna love reading through it all, even if no one else does! I’m not setting 34-year-old me any targets for the time being, but you can rest easy knowing that I’m in a pretty good place, having ticked off about 80% of the tasks you set me (Mum would probably say that I haven’t changed that much!). I’m sitting in the living room of my flat in my comfy chair - get yourself a bloody sofa! - and as chance would have it, it is also Friday today, so I will sign off in the same way you did, and wish the best for the next 5 years.

Happy Friday!

Your older, wrinklier, wiser self,

Benjamin James Cook

#ON THIS DAY #back to the future #I wrote the letter in 2015!#where's my hoverboard #A for effort

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mybeautifulchristianjourney · 5 years ago

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Prayer

by Leonard Ravenhill

The Gospel Of Prayer

There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer. People often ask, "Why do you insist on prayer so much?" The answer is very simple - because Jesus did. You could change the title of the Gospel according to St. Luke to the Gospel of Prayer. It's the prayer life of Jesus. The other evangelists say that Jesus was in the Jordan and the Spirit descended on Him as a dove - Luke says it was while He was praying that the Spirit descended on Him. The other evangelists say that Jesus chose 12 disciples - Luke says it was after He spent a night in prayer that He chose 12 disciples. The other evangelists say that Jesus died on a cross - Luke says that even when He was dying Jesus was praying for those who persecuted Him. The other evangelists say Jesus went on a mount and He was transfigured - Luke says it was while He was praying that He was transfigured. There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer.

The Scriptures say that the disciples went to bed, but Jesus went to pray - as was His custom. It was His custom to pray. Now Jesus was the Son of God - He was definitely anointed for His ministry. If Jesus needed all that time in prayer, don't you and I need time in prayer? If Jesus needed it in every crisis, don't you and I need it in every crisis?

The story goes that a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village saw an old man sitting by a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one of the visitors asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" Without looking up the old man replied, "No, only babies." The greatest men were once babies. The greatest saints were once toddlers in the things of the Spirit.

C. H. Spurgeon was converted at the age of 16 and began preaching in London at the age of 19. When he was 27, they built him a tabernacle seating 6,000 which he packed twice on Sundays - that's 12,000 - and once on Thursday nights. How? He waited on God. He got alone with God. He studied...and he prayed.

Desperate Prayer

God makes all His best people in loneliness. Do you know what the secret of praying is? Praying in secret. "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door..." (Matt. 6:6). You can't show off when the door's shut and nobody's there. You can't display your gifts. You can impress others, but you can't impress God.

I Samuel 1:1-15 gives an account of the yearly trip Elkanah and his wife, Hannah, made to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. During this time, Hannah had been distressed that she was not able to bear a son for her husband. This passage of Scripture gives quite a descriptive account of her time in prayer concerning the barrenness of her womb. It says that Hannah wept. More than this, she wept until she was sore. She poured out her soul before the Lord. Her heart was grieving; she was bitter of soul, provoked, and of a sorrowful spirit.

Now that's a pretty good list of afflictions - sorrow, hardship, and everything else that came upon this woman. But the key to the whole situation is that she was a praying woman. In verse 20 it says that she reaped her reward. "And it came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I have asked him of the Lord.'"

Now I say very often - and people don't like it - that God doesn't answer prayer. He answers desperate prayer! Your prayer life denotes how much you depend on your own ability, and how much you really believe in your heart when you sing, "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling...." The more self- confidence you have, the less you pray. The less self-confidence you have, the more you have to pray.

What does the Scripture say? It says that God takes the lowly, the things that are not. Paul says in I Corinthians 1:28 that God takes the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are, so that no flesh should glory in His presence. We need a bunch of "are nots" today.

The Language of the Poor

Prayer is the language of the poor. Over and over again David, the King of Israel, says, "Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and answer me; for I am afflicted and needy" (Psalm 86:1). And do you remember that one of the greatest psalms he wrote says, "This poor man cried and the Lord heard him..." (Psalm 34:6).

The apostle Paul overwhelms me with his spirituality, his pedigree, his colossal intellect. Yet he says that he's very conscious that when he's weak, he is strong. He was always trying to prove to himself and to others that he was a nobody.

True prayer is a two-way communication. I speak to God and God speaks to me. I don't know how the Spirit makes communication - or why God needs me to pray - but that's how God works.

"Get Up And Pray!"

One day I was at a conference with Dr. V. Raymond Edman of Wheaton College, one of the greatest Christian educators in this country. He told us of an experience he had while he was in Ecuador as a missionary. He hadn't been there long before he was sick and dying. He was so near death that they had already dug his grave. He had great beads of sweat on his brow and there was a death rattle in his throat. But suddenly he sat straight up in bed and said to his wife, "Bring me my clothes!" Nobody knew what had happened.

Many years later he was retelling the story in Boston. Afterward, a little old lady with a small, dog-eared, beaten-up book, approached him and asked, "What day did you say you were dying? What time was it in Ecuador? What time would it be in Boston?" When he answered her, her wrinkled face lit up. Pointing to her book, she said. "There it is, you see? At 2 a.m. God said to get up and pray - the devil's trying to kill Raymond Edman in Ecuador." And she'd gotten up and prayed.

Duncan Campbell told the story of hearing a farmer in his field who was praying. He was praying about Greece. Afterward, he asked him why he was praying. The man said, "I don't know. I had a burden in the spirit and God said, 'You pray; there's someone in Greece that is in a bad situation.' I prayed until I got a release." Two or three years later the farmer was in a meeting listening to a missionary. The man described a time when he was working in Greece. He had been in serious trouble. The time? Two or three years ago. The men compared notes and discovered that it was the very same day that God had burdened a farmer, on a little island off the coast of Scotland, to pray for a man in Greece whose name he didn't even know.

It may seem the Lord gives you strange things. I don't care. If the Lord tells you something, carry on with what the Lord tells you.

Who Shall Ascend to the Hill of the Lord?"

There's another experience Duncan Campbell told about when he was working in Scotland.

"I couldn't preach," he said. "I couldn't get through to God. The heavens were solid. It was as though there was a 10 ft. ceiling of steel." So he quit trying to preach. He asked a young man named John Cameron to pray. The boy stood up and said, "What's the use of praying if we're not right with God?" He quoted the 24th Psalm, "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?"

You can't approach God unless your hands are clean, which means your relationships with others are clean and your heart is clean. "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." (Psalm 24.3-4).

After the boy recited Psalm 24 he began to pray. He prayed 10, 15, 20 minutes. Then he suddenly said, "Excuse me, Lord, while I resist the devil." He turned around and began to tell the devil where to go and how to get there. He fought for all he was worth. You talk about having on the armor of God and resisting the devil! When he finished resisting the devil, he finished his prayer. He prayed for 45 minutes! When he finished praying it was just as though God had pulled a little switch in heaven. The Spirit of God came down on that church, that community, on the dance hall at the other end of town, and the tavern on this end of town. Revival was born in that prayer!

At the end of Malachi it says, "And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly (that's the word I like, suddenly) come to his temple" (Malachi 3:1). Remember what it says about the shepherds? They were watching their flocks by night when suddenly there was the sound of the heavenly host. Do you remember a bunch of men that had been waiting in the upper room? Suddenly the Holy Spirit came on them in that room.

There's a date in history that I love very much. It was Wednesday, August 13, 1737. A little group of people in Moravia were waiting in a prayer meeting. At 11:00 suddenly the Holy Spirit came. Do you know what happened? The prayer meeting that began at 11:00 lasted 100 years! That's right. That prayer room was not empty for a century! It's the longest prayer among men and women that I know of. Even children six and seven years old travailed in prayer for countries the names of which they couldn't even spell.

Why We Don't Have Revival

In an old town in Ireland they'll show you with reverence a place where four young men met night after night after night praying for revival. In Wales, there's a place in the hills where three or four young men only 18 or 19 years old met and prayed night after night. They wouldn't let God go; they would not take no for an answer. As far as humanly possible they prayed a revival into birth. If you're thinking of revival at your church without any inconvenience, forget it. Revival costs a lot.

I can give you one simple reason why we don't have revival in America. Because we're content to live without it. We're not seeking God - we're seeking miracles, we're seeking big crusades, we're seeking blessings. In Numbers 11, Moses said to God, "You're asking me to carry a burden I can't handle. Do something or kill me!" Do you love America enough to say, "God, send revival or kill me"? Do you think it's time we changed Patrick Henry's prayer from, "Give me liberty or give me death," to "Give me revival or let me die"?

In the 30th chapter of Genesis, Rachael goes to Jacob and throws herself down in despair. She says, "Give me children or else I die." Are you willing to throw yourself down before God to seek the spiritual birth of spiritual children in our country?

People say, "I'm filled with the Holy Spirit." If the coming of the Spirit didn't revolutionize your prayer life, you'd better check on it. I'm not so sure you got what God wanted you to get.

We've said that prayer changes things. No! Prayer doesn't change things. Prayer changes people and they change things. We all want Gabriel to do the job. God says do it yourself - with My sufficiency and My strength.

We need to get like this woman, Hannah. What did she do? She wept, she was grieved, she said she had a complaint, she fasted - and she prayed.

Jesus, the anointed of God, made prayer His custom. Paul, with his background and intellect, depended on prayer because he said he was weak. David, the king, called himself a poor man and cried to the Lord. Hannah prayed for a son and gave birth to a prophet. The prayers of a handful of young men sparked revival.

There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer.

#Prayer #Leonard Ravenhill #The Gospel Of Prayer #Desperate Prayer #the language of the poor #transfiguring #petition #the Lord #crying out to God #submission #Holy Spirit #transformation #revival

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teacher-lavin · 5 years ago

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Shawn’s Story*

Shawn’s fable unfolds along the banks of the rivers that authors, Langston Hughes and James Joyce traveled. Also, here to be found is the River Delaware as it flows through Philadelphia and environs. Among other themes, this is a tale of incarceration and deportation. Waiting at the story’s edges, readers will notice that we also meet with a lot of homework, –and a very discerning librarian.

(Above) Image Taken from Salmon Ireland’s web site (Salmonireland.com), is a landscape photograph of the River Foyle.

The Letter

Hi Pops, thanks for your letter. Too bad, the prison blocked a lotta words out. What I got was that you’re getting to go out with work crews to pick up trash on the highways. It must be weird being chained together like that and having guards with shotguns and such watch over you guys while you’re just basically cleaning the roadside. I really like the part where you said that you all go up to the highway right next to the river and that you always take a minute from sweepin or whatever to look out over the riverwaves and see the sun reflect on the swelling banks and feel the breeze. So, that was a really good idea where you said if after work some day I walk to the far end of the Wal-Mart parking lot on Delaware Avenue where it comes up on the river that I’ll be looking out over the same Delaware River as you seen earlier, and I’ll be seeing the same waves, and the same currents, and the same mists and breezes playing off the wave- tops, hearin the same sounds and tasting that little bit of sea salt that the river has from its trip out to the ocean. Imma do it. I miss you, Pops. If I go down that parking lot where it looks across to Camden on the opposite bank on the same day maybe when y’all been out on the highway cleanup crew in your orange prison suits, I’ll be able to catch up with your spirit, at least. And, I’ll say all the stuff you used to listen to me carrying on about. How muad I get at everything and how sad and sorry I feel about other stuff. Remember? I ain’t seen Mom or Dad at all for a long time. But Aunt Helen came down from the convent last week and helped me clean the place. So, we scoured the joint from “stem to stern” just like you always used to say. “FROM STEM TO STERN.” I kept repeating that and then Aunt Helen and me was laughing about the way you used to say it and about how you talk and your Irish accent, “From Stem To Stern,” like a pirate or something. Haha. Don’t get mad. I miss you. Pops. Love You. Shawn.

Saturday Morning: The Library

Shawn: Did you see a piece of paper with writing on it? … like a letter?

Librarian: (Curtly, not looking up from her desk.) No.

Shawn: I was in here after work last night trynna do my homework, and wrote the letter, and now I can’t find it.

Librarian: (Still not looking up.) Why don’t you check around the table where you always work.

Shawn: Where’s the maps of Ireland. They say my grandfather might have to go back there even though he doesn’t want to.

Librarian: (Still looking down. Staccato.) Geography. Under Great Britain.

Shawn: (With an angry edge.) It’s not in Britain.

Librarian: (Looking up.) Yes, It is. Aisle 4, Shelves 10 through 17. Clearly labeled Great Britain including Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Shawn: (Pointing to the green tattoo on his forearm) Just remember, 26 Plus 6 equals ONE.

Librarian: (Loudly, Pointing Finger at Shawn.) Quiet.

Shawn: (Louder.) No!

Franklinville High School

I had already found the letter on the floor in the back of the classroom while grading papers and cleaning the room on Friday evening. That’s when I read the letter and realized that Shawn must have dropped it that day during class. Shawn was new in our school. His body language was terse. He seemed beaten and bent inward. He refused to make eye contact. He never talked in class. When I asked him why he slept on his desk everyday, he said that he worked most nights and that he was exhausted all day. That’s all I knew about Shawn. But then, I looked at the address on his file and recognized that the neighborhood where Shawn lived was near the block where my grandfather owned a bar many decades ago. Jimmy’s Pub opened at 7 in the morning for guys coming off the night shift at the Stetson factory and for other graveyard workers. And some 7 a.m. drinkers were guys on their way out to jobs they hated in center city offices and, then, there were the guys who had been out all night drinking and wanted one last shot before they did their daily perish. Cousins right off the boat from Ireland lived above the bar. I worked there while I was going to college. It was a hole of a place where I learned the codes of the Belfast streets thousands of miles away, streets that I’d never actually seen. I could imagine Shawn’s grandfather, his aunt and the way that prison must have shaken them up and spit them out emotional wrecks fractured by fear, frustration and anger, fractured people living fractured lives.

Over the weekend, I read the letter over and over and wondered how Shawn would feel about my seeing his message to his grandfather. I put it in an envelope and wrote a simple note, “Found on Floor of Classroom” and, then, I noticed that I had planned for our class had to read Modern writers like Langston Hughes and James Joyce. So, I decided to begin on Monday with with a meditation. I planned for us to read the Langston Hughes poem that begins, “I’ve Known Rivers.”

Before class, when I gave the envelope to Shawn, he tore it open and sat down immediately in one of the desks at the front, disclosing the letter’s folds and smoothing out the page while he read it, running his fingers along each line as he read. Class started and he looked at me and I smiled at him hoping to silently say, “yes,” with the smile, yes, I read the letter. Shawn hesitated, looked down, then looked up again and smiled back, nodding. Then, I handed out a worksheet asking the entire class to meditate on the lines that Langston Hughes wrote as a young poet, traveling along the Mississippi River in a train headed South:

“I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the

flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”

I played the music that the jazz musician, Gary Bartz composed to accompany the Hughes poem. I asked just one question beneath the poem’s lines.

“As you read, how do you connect the poet’s rivers to his soul?”

After class:

Shawn: Mister, thanks for finding the letter.

Me: I felt lucky to read it, Shawn.

Shawn: I’m not sending it cuz I just learned that my granda is going to the prison’s hospice which means that he’s very sick.

Me: (Pausing, lump in throat.) He must be very proud of you. I think you should send it to him or give it to him when you visit.

Shawn: I ain’t got the time or the money.

Me: Still, he must be proud of you.

Shawn: I don’t know if they’re gonna send him back to Ireland or keep him here cuz he’s so sick. My aunt told me about this hospice thing on Friday night when she visited from the convent in Allentown where she works.

Me: The worst part must be not knowing what’s gong to happen, right?

Shawn: (Crying, as he looked away as if he were seeing the far shore of a river through his tears, and quoting the poem.) And My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Me: It’s quite a poem, Shawn.

Shawn: I’ll think about it at work. It’s really good.

Me: Don’t forget your homework. (Smiling, ironically).

Shawn: I never forget my homework. (Smiling back, ironically).

Homework

Translate the following passage from James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake into your own words. Remember that this excerpt is taken from the end of Anna Livia Plurabelle’s section of Joyce’s novel. Hint: The River Liffey is the scene of this passage, all of which occurs not during the day but at night deep in the language of a very long dream about all rivers.

Monday Evening: The Library

Shawn: Do you wanna hear my homework?

Librarian: I’m busy. Don’t you work today?

Shawn: I skipped work to do my homework first then walk up to the Wal-Mart parking lot to be on the river for a minute.

Librarian: (Smiling). Aren’t you very organized, Shawn?

Shawn: This guy from Dublin’s book is all rivers. You wanna hear my translation of his story about rivers?

Librarian: Yes. But quietly.

Shawn: I’ll whisper it. It’s even better that way.

Librarian: You are a very strange young man. Have you been told this?

Shawn: (whispering)

I can barely hear you with the waters of the river.

The waters chitter. The bats flitter.

Are you not going home alone?

Think of the waters of the River Liffey in Dublin?

Think of the waters of Lough Neagh near Belfast?

I feel as old as that Elm Tree over there.

This is Shawn’s story. This is Seamus’s story.

Good Night, Grand farther, the farther away you go.

Shawn means John.

Seamus means James.

Who were John and James sons or daughters of?

Goodnight, Pops.

Tell me another story about plants and rocks.

Please tell me.

Beside the waters, there hither like the Delaware River.

There thither like the Liffey, the Shannon, the River Erne,

The River Boyne, The River Foyle.

Now, I’m with you beside the rivering waters

The hitherandthithering waters of

Goodnight ……..

Librarian: (Looking up, mouth open in astonishment.) And you wrote that based on the passage in James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake?

Shawn: (Nodding. Smiling. Agitated). And now I have to get over to the Wal-Mart parking lot to listen to see the river and tell it what I can hear and telepath it all to my granda who’s up north waiting for the words to echo their way up and back to him.

Librarian: You seem relieved.

Shawn: Of course, it’s sad but I have to say good bye.

(Above) Clinton Cahill’s exhibition “Illuminating the Wake,” which are Cahill’s interpretive drawings on the text of James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake, synthesizing his encounters with the novel’s dreamscapes. Taken from the web site of the James Joyce Centre in Dublin (https://jamesjoyce.ie/illuminating-the-wake-no-31/).

(Above) Image from web site of Monica and Tyler Aiello’s gallery exhibition titled, “I’ve known Rivers,” which are images based upon the poetry of Langston Hughes (http://www.studioaiello.net/).

*All persons mentioned in this story are fictional (and bear no connectin to actual, historical persons) with the exception of Langston Hughes and James Joyce. All places, also, with the exception of the Wal-Mart parking lot overlooking the Delaware River also are fictional.

(Below) Youtube Musical Composition by Gary Bartz, based upon Langston Hughes’ poetic lines, “I’ve Known Rivers.”

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