#lord stuart rose

[untypicable]

Draft Article: Rebutting Lord Rose’s Comments on Working from Home

Lord Stuart Rose, former CEO of Marks & Spencer and Asda, has recently reignited the debate on working from home, labelling it as “not proper work” and citing it as a key factor in declining productivity and wellbeing in the UK. Speaking to BBC Panorama and in subsequent comments, Rose argues that the shift to remote and hybrid working has set the UK back two decades in workplace efficiency and…

[mermaidsirennikita]

oooh, you've read "ruthless" by anne stuart!! was waiting to hear your thoughts! it threw me for a loop because i'd never read a romance with a truly trash hero before (derek craven is practically noble-hearted in comparison), and francis just aaaahh. i love how he's absolutely insane about his liking for elinor. and by that i mean, how he's all "i don't REALLY like her, i'm just interested a little, but i DON'T LIKE her, but also like... i'm interested?" and it's just great to see it play out. also love how his gentleness comes out at times. him being a trashbag makes the gentle moments that much more precious!!

and that moment when he grabs her hand and puts it to his crotch to show her he's not lying about how much he wants her?? i about died!!!

the only bad thing about this book is that WAY too abrupt ending that just comes and wallops you out of nowhere. after all that nonsense fighting beforehand (which was obviously great & necessary nonsense), i felt like we DESERVED some good, long moments of these two actually relishing their love for each other. and i was so sad to see that the second book has such a huge leap forward in the timeline! i need more of them. :( (was seriously considering writing fanfic...) anyways. yes. i love francis and elinor. so many good moments.

Francis is definitely a step away from the historical romance heroes of say, Kleypas lol. A lot of people THINK they've read asshole heroes... Or dark heroes, for that matter... But until you've read Anne Stuart? Nah. And I'd honestly say that the Rohan heroes are kinda tame compared to say, Nicholas of A Rose at Midnight (proooobably her darkest book I've read) or even Simon of Lord of Danger (my favorite Anne Stuart historical; maybe my favorite Anne Stuart in general). And they definitely don't go as far as Killian of her contemporary romantic suspense, Ice Storm (the other contender for my favorite Anne Stuart). Francis is for sure the darkest Rohan, though. I'd say Lucien is second, then Adrian, then Benedick, and finally Brandon.

And I agree, the gentleness is more meaningful because you've seen how dark he can be. I truly think this is something a lot of authors are missing when they only write cinnamon rolls. I'm not saying that every hero needs to be a dark hero, but the fact is that if the romance hero is just a Nice Guy the whole time, there's no room to grow. Francis has great character development in that book. A lot of Anne Stuart heroes really Go Through It, and they should because they're little twats.

I'm a huge fan of the classic, admittedly dubcon at best, "FEEEEEEEEL how much I desire you, you silly woman" moments. Even if they wouldn't fly in real life. I'm not reading to experience real life, after all.

Anne's books often have these really sudden endings, and idk. I have a weird fondness for them. I find the breakneck pacing of her books really refreshing, and while I do think this book could've used maybe a bit more, I kind of admire the gumption she has to end on these really stark realizations. Like, Ice Storm ends very abruptly, and it has one of the best final moments I've ever read in a romance. She doesn't always score with that tactic, but for me it's almost like a "Damn, you went for it" writing admiration lol. It speaks to a confidence she has, which I think characterizes her writing in general. She doesn't ALWAYS knock it out of the park, but you can tell she's totally unafraid.

[roseus-eli]

Welcome to my blog!

My name's Eli! (can be pronounced as e-lie or el-ee)

My asks are OFF due to unsolicited donation asks. Please refrain from asking me for donations, I'm broke.

Everything you need to know is under the cut. :)

@angelic-pinkheart is my 2nd blog!

The LGBTQIA+ community is welcome here. :3

I do not have a specific DNI list, I think it's unnecessary, and I just block according to my preferences.

I mostly go by the pronouns she/her and they/them (mostly femme aligned), but he/him pronouns are fine too! Mixed pronouns are not a problem for me, either.

I am an afab bisexual aroaceflux (leaning towards asexuality and grayromanticism) demigirl/genderqueer :)

I'm a minor. If you do anything that makes me uncomfortable, I won't hesitate to block you.

I'm Filipino, but I mostly speak English, although I'd be glad to talk to some fellow filos!

I love reading, especially books and fanfics! I also enjoy listening to music and sleeping. I also write, but I rarely post my written works anywhere.

My super duper besties are @cheeeryisaro and @jhikebipolar! You guys should check them both out sometime. :)

My online bestie is @amy-harper!

To all my fandom friends, you guys are also my besties. :]

My favorite fandoms and ships:

Honkai: Star Rail

No specific ships.

The Big Bang Theory

Sheldon/Amy (Shamy for life!)

Leonard/Penny (Lenny, my cuties)

Howard/Bernadette

Penny/Amy, because why not

Stuart/Denise

There might be more if I'm being honest…

Death Note

Light Yagami/L Lawliet

Light Yagami/Misa Amane

Light Yagami/Misa Amane/L Lawliet (I actually don't care too much about this one)

Doctor Who

The Doctor/The Master

The Doctor/River Song

Rose Tyler/The Doctor

Thirteen/Yaz

And many more because there are way too many ships to count

Detroit: Become Human

No specific ships.

Daria

Daria Morgendorffer/Jane Lane

I haven't really thought too much about the ships but here is another obvious one, Helen Morgendorffer/Jake Morgendorffer

Good Omens

Aziraphale/Crowley (ineffable husbands)

Archangel Gabriel/Lord Beelzebub (ineffable bureaucracy)

Again, there's probably more…

Spy × Family

Loid Forger/Yor Forger

Anya Forger/Damian Desmond

There's probably more fandoms I'm in but I lost count

(Keep in mind, I do occasionally reblog something that isn't related to my favorite fandoms :3)

My AO3 account: roseus_eli

My FF.net account: roseus-eli

also pls don't steal my pfp, I made it myself ;3

(This intro post will be updated every now and then.)

[aaliyahunleashed]

Aaliyah behind the scenes of the vampire horror flick, "Queen of the Damned".

“I had a lot of fun doing 'Queen Of The Damned.' I was very excited to be part of a vampire film, because I’ve been a lover of vampires since I was very young.” - Aaliyah

This is the erotic love scene between Queen Akasha (Aaliyah's character) and Lestat (played by Stuart Townsend). In a spacious marble bathtub, a scene unfolds where Lestat and Akasha exchange their blood. The surface of the water is adorned with red rose petals, which conceal their "nudity" and the deepening darkness of the crimson liquid. The movie is rated 'R'.

The type of bathtub used in the movie is not specified in any available sources. However, bathtubs have been made from a variety of materials, including copper, cast iron, and porcelain enamel; which this tub stays true to it's (more Royalty) Medieval Europe style.

The accompanying background music is "Change (In the House of Flies)" by the metal band "Deftones", which was released in 2000 and was also used in Funimation's original 2001—2002 dubs of Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug and Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge.

[scotianostra]

8th of August 1503 saw James IV marry Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII of England.

The marriage was known as the Union of the Thistle and the Rose and paved the way for the Union of the Crowns.

Henry VII, Margaret's dad wanted to cement his reign in England, he was having bother with a Flemish guy called Perkin Warbeck who wanted to be King down there and James IV was backing the pretender so rather than go to war he tried to appease the Scottish King with his eldest daughter's marriage.

It was thought the marriage would be good for both nations but James IV by this time was 30, and although unmarried already had five known illegitimate children, it is said he had fallen for Margaret Drummond, the daughter of a Scottish noble, indeed while the negotiations were going on for the Union of the Thistle and the Rose, Miss Drummond was giving birth to to their daughter. James moved mother and child to his palace of Linlithgow and showed them every favour, however Margaret and her sisters Eupheme and Sibylla died of food poisoning, rumour has it this was murder at the hands of either by English agents or by pro-English elements in the Scottish nobility. Some stories have even claimed that James and Margaret had already married in secret. After her death the king paid for masses to be said for her soul, and continued to support their daughter.

With Drummond out of the way the marriage went ahead unhindered

James IV was an intelligent man and saw it as way to protect his borders too, that and a large dowry of course, never underestimate the power of money! Margaret brought with her a love of the arts, she revelled in pageantry and brought a lot to the Scottish court.

There was a still birth daughter and the death of two sons in during infancy before the Queen Margaret gave birth to the future King James V in 1512, before his son reached his 2nd birthday Margaret begged James IV not to declare war on her brother Henry VIII, the armies met at near Branxton on Flodden Field on September 9th, James IV was killed, his son was crowned King of Scots on the 21st september. Much to the annoyance of some Scottish nobility who were aghast the sister of their enemy was now ruling Scotland, Margaret was declared Regent of Scotland, Queen in all but name, she brokered peace between the two countries, however she fell foul to politics by remarrying and losing the Regency, she lost her children, the young King and his brother Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross born after Flodden were taken to Stirling Castle, Margaret left to return to england, by this time pregnant to her new husband, she gave birth to a gave birth to Lady Margaret Douglas, mother of another famous name in our history, one Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Mary Queen of Scot's 2nd husband, if you are paying attention it means they shared the same Grandmother, our Margaret Tudor.

Margaret did manage to return to Scotland and after a coup regain the Regency, it's a long story but shows you that even those more simplistic times, politics played an important role, Margaret died at Methven Castle, in Perthshire on 18th October 1541 as mentioned at the top of this post, her marriage to James IV led to the Union of the Crowns when her -great-grandson James VI took the throne of England.

[adventure-showdown]

What is your favourite Doctor Who story?

TOURNAMENT MASTERPOST

synopses and propaganda under the cut

Death of the Doctor

Synopsis

When the Doctor is declared dead, old companions Sarah Jane Smith and Jo Grant meet for the first time and join forces to discover the truth. As an interstellar conspiracy gathers around UNIT HQ, Clyde finds he holds the fate of the Time Lord in his hand – quite literally!

Propaganda

Jo bloody Grant! (anonymous)

Father’s Day

Synopsis

Pete Alan Tyler, the father of Rose and husband of Jackie, died on 7 November 1987, the day of Stuart Hoskins and Sarah Clark's wedding. Rose was just a baby at the time, Jackie told the young Rose that nobody was there for Pete when he died and that the hit-and-run driver was never found...

Propaganda no propaganda submitted

[dwsidecharacterpoll]

FINAL SHOWDOWN

I genuinely wouldn't have this any other way.

Rip each other to shreds, ladies.

those who fought valiantly but didn't make it under the cut:

Clive (Rose)

Raffalo from Crespellion (The End of the World)

Jabe (The End of the World)

Gwyneth (The Unquiet Dead)

Toshiko Sato (Aliens of London/World War III)

Cathica (The Long Game)

Suki (The Long Game)

Sarah Clark and Stuart Hoskins (Father’s Day)

Dr. Constantine (The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances)

Nancy (The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances)

Lynda Moss (Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways)

Unnamed Female Programmer (Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways)

Novice Hame (New Earth)

Mrs. Moore (The Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel)

Zachary Cross Flane (The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit)

Ida Scott (The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit)

Danny Bartock (The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit)

Scooti Manista (The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit)

Ursula Blake (Love and Monsters)

Nerys (The Runaway Bride)

Thomas Kincade Brannigan and Valerie (Gridlock)

Alice and May Cassini (Gridlock)

Tallulah (Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks)

Frank (Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks)

Jenny (Human Nature/The Family of Blood)

Tim Latimer (Human Nature/The Family of Blood)

Billy Shipton (Blink)

Kathy Nightingale (Blink)

Chantho (Utopia)

Morvin and Foon (Voyage of the Damned)

Bannakaffalatta (Voyage of the Damned)

Caecilius (Fires of Pompeii)

Evelina (Fires of Pompeii)

Soothsayer (Fires of Pompeii)

Ood Sigma (Planet of the Ood)

Miss Evangelista (Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead)

Proper Dave (Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead)

Anita (Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead)

Val, Biff, and Jethro Cane (Midnight)

Unnamed Hostess (Midnight)

Rocco Colasanto (Turn Left)

Capt. Erisa Magambo (Planet of the Dead)

Yuri Kerenski (The Waters of Mars)

Maggie Cain (The Waters of Mars)

Addams and Rossiter of Vinvocci (The End of Time)

The Unnamed Curator (Vincent and the Doctor)

Canton Everett Delaware III (The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon)

Lorna Bucket (A Good Man Goes To War)

Rita (The God Complex)

Brian Williams (Dinosaurs on a Spaceship)

John Riddell (Dinosaurs on a Spaceship)

Emma Grayling (Hide)

Journey Blue (Into the Dalek)

Orson Pink (Listen)

Perkins (Mummy on the Orient Ecpress)

Rigsy (Flatline)

O'Donnell (Under the Lake/Before the Flood)

Cass (Under the Lake/Before the Flood)

Bennett (Under the Lake/Before the Flood)

Heather (The Pilot)

Jenny (The Doctor’s Daughter)

Jake Simmons (Age of Steel)

Katherine (The Girl in the Fireplace)

Ross Jenkins (The Poison Sky/The Sontaran Stratagem)

Eve Cicero (The Tsuranga Conundrum)

Daniel Llewellyn (The Christmas Invasion)

Diana Goddard (Dalek)

Rita-Ann Smith (The Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel)

Shona (Last Christmas)

Vivien Rook (the sound of drums)

Unnamed Male Programmer (Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways)

Dee Dee Blasco (Midnight)

Lee Clayton (fugitive of the Judoon)

Sabra (Time Heist)

Mr. Copper (Voyage of the Damned)

Psi (Time Heist)

Pete Tyler (age of steel)

Ohila (Hell Bent)

Professor Docherty (The Sound of Drums/The Last of the Time Lords)

Hath Peck (The Doctor’s Daughter)

[felassan]

Article: 'EA Sports and EA Games Splitting Apart in Internal Shakeup'

EA is undergoing a major internal reorganization, with EA Games being renamed "EA Entertainment." Electronic Arts is undergoing a major internal shakeup, announcing today in a message from CEO Andrew Wilson that it is realigning its major studios and its leadership structure in an effort to "empower our creative teams." The reorganization includes splitting EA Games and EA Sports, with the former being renamed "EA Entertainment" in a signal that EA intends to expand beyond games where possible. "We’re building the future of interactive entertainment on a foundation of legendary franchises and innovative new experiences, which represents massive opportunities for growth," Wilson wrote in a message announcing the news. Laura Miele, previously EA's Chief Operating Officer, will take over as EA President of Entertainment, Technology, and Central Development at EA Entertainment, where she will work closely with Vince Zampella and other well-known executives. Cam Weber, who rose out of EA's football games, will continue to lead EA Sports. Both will enjoy expanded control over their respective labels intended to give them more oversight over budgets and decision-making flexibility. Wilson will continue to preside over both organizations as EA's CEO. The moves coincide with news that Chief Experiences Officer Chris Bruzzo is retiring, with EA Chief Financial Officer Chris Suh also departing the company. David Tinson and Stuart Canfield respectively will take over their responsibilities. The moves are the latest in what has been a major reorganization for EA. Earlier this month, we reported that Star Wars: The Old Republic is on course to move to a third-party developer, with many of its developers being given the opportunity to move elsewhere in the company. It's unclear whether the current reorganization will result in layoffs. As before, EA Sports will continue to look after the F1 series, which just releases, as well as PGA Tour and the newly-acquired Super Mega Baseball. This is on top of traditional blockbusters including Madden, the newly-renamed EA Sports FC, NHL, and the upcoming College Football reboot. EA Entertainment, meanwhile, will encompass Respawn, DICE, Ripple Effect, Ridgeline Games (Battlefield), Full Circle (Skate), Motive Studio (Iron Man), EA's Seattle studio, BioWare, and the EA Originals label. EA also includes numerous mobile games, including Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes and the recently-released Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth. While dramatic on the face of it, much of the current structure will remain intact, with Zampella continuing to lead Respawn and Battlefield. Samantha Ryan will likewise continue to be in charge of BioWare, Maxis, Full Circle, and Motive Studios. Apart from giving studios leaders more control over their respective domains, the big change appears to be centered on separating out EA Sports, which continues to be EA's biggest profit driver. EA's soccer sims in particular continue to be major money machines for EA, with FIFA 23 pushing the publisher near $2 billion in net bookings. "Over the coming months, Stuart, Laura, Cam, and David will partner closely with studio leaders to implement these organizational changes, further embedding dedicated capabilities into franchise teams and driving operational rigor," Wilson wrote, claiming that "EA's business remains strong."

[source]

[defensivelee]

Seraph of the End

The Seraph of the End verse is an AU based off of the manga of the same name (not the anime, because that is just objectively bad, unlike the manga, which is also bad but at least not boring). Here, the story begins in the year of our lord 1702, following the resurrection of William and Mary that triggered God’s wrath and the onset of the apocalypse. A virus wiped out nearly all of humanity’s adult population, countless monsters began to roam the earth and seas, and only children under the age of thirteen survived, though under the watchful care of the vampires. This ancient regime rose up to take control of the world following the apocalypse— gone is the age of humanity, thus begins the age of the undead!

I don’t know if/when I’ll start revamping this, so here are the notes that I’ve taken on everyone’s roles following my review of the approximately 20k words I wrote a few years back. No, you don’t get to see the old version..

William III: The last King of England before the apocalypse. Despite what he may have you believe, he took a great interest in matters of the occult, having been mentored by the man who pioneered cursed gear (weapons with demons bound to them by contract) when he was young. He had long been warned of the fated apocalypse, and had known too that it would be caused by a resurrection of a human, but had nonetheless worked to resurrect Mary following her death. He was also working on developing cursed gear for use in the wars waged against France, though of a new kind, known as the “Black Demon” series, which he predicted would be more powerful than any other cursed gear beforehand. After his resurrection by Bentinck, he realized immediately what had happened, that the whole world ended for his sake, but has strived to keep it from Mary. With the vampires as his hidden, longtime allies, he has declared himself the leader of the human world that remains. Perhaps his most potent secret, kept away even from him, is that he is a result of the first Seraph of the End experiment from long ago, in which an angel has been bound with a human soul. The mysterious power lay dormant in him until the end of the world, when the angel Henriquez began to emerge to sound the First Trumpet of the apocalypse. It has been stirred further by the demon sealed into what he believes is his only successful cursed weapon, the Black Demon Malheur.

Mary II: The resurrected Queen of England. As a child, she was subject to many experiments conducted by her uncle to try to bring out the inherited curse of the First Progenitor of the vampires in her, something that all Stuarts have. These experiments failed, and as they stopped when she was quite young, she has largely forgotten them, only dreaming of them on occasion. Unlike her husband, she wants little to do with this supernatural world, but supported him when he began to develop his own spin on cursed gear. She died well before she could see the worst of it, and for the last years of her husband’s reign, his only obsession was resurrecting her, no matter what it took. He had his wish granted following his death, when Bentinck resurrected them both and triggered the apocalypse. Unlike William, Mary doesn’t know that she ever died— a secret that everyone around her is determined to keep. She is perfectly content watching over all the children in the vampires’ underground kingdom, but hopes for the day when they can all come up to the surface safely again. Unbeknownst to her, a war is waged aboveground for her sake. As the first, direct child of the First Progenitor, if she were to become a demon, she would be the most powerful creature that ever lived.

Hans William Bentinck, Earl of Portland: A Seventh Progenitor vampire, and the most loyal one you’ll ever meet. He faithfully assisted William’s quest to resurrect Mary and create cursed weapons of the Black Demon rank, the second task being one he had significant influence in. He performed increasingly unethical experiments on two men, the Earls of Albemarle and Marlborough, to force demons out of them, which he would then bind to swords. Following William’s death, Bentinck at last succeeded in binding them both to his desired weapons, though not without being fatally wounded by Keppel in the process. He managed to drag himself to the ally he had in the current ruler of the vampires, the Duke of Monmouth, and was only saved by becoming a vampire himself. He lived to resurrect William and Mary, and it was he who triggered the apocalypse that had been dreaded for centuries. He took extra measures to ensure that many of the humans he knew would survive as well, either by providing them with standard, weaker cursed gear or by turning them into vampires. He currently acts as a more respected mediator between humanity and vampirekind. He has still refused to drink human blood, however, for doing so would mean losing all his human emotions and empathy, and thus lives off of his sire’s blood, that of Monmouth.

John Churchill, Earl of Marlborough: The first cursed weapon created by William and Bentinck. Once he entered the Tower, he never found his way out, for in him William saw the potential for a powerful demon and companion, of more use to England than he would be as a human. He was subsequently tortured and experimented on in various ways through the use of ancient spells and drugs supplied by the vampires. He became a demon soon enough, skipping the vampire step, as had been the original method by Johan de Witt. He lost most of his human memories and is bound to a sword known as Malheur. This sword was taken by William after the apocalypse, to serve him faithfully in his quest to rebuild humanity.

Arnold van Keppel, Earl of Albemarle: The second cursed weapon created by William and Bentinck. Unlike Marlborough, he entered these experiments willingly, wanting to serve his King in any way he could, but underestimated the agony he was to go through in the following years at Bentinck’s hands. He turned far more slowly, and thus kept many of his human memories, though not all. Though he was successfully bound to a sword named Violet, he refused to go without giving into the new demonic desires and exacting revenge on the man who caused him so much suffering for so long. He went into the sword believing he had successfully killed Bentinck. After the chaos of the apocalypse, the weapon was lost and is currently held by the Brotherhood of a Thousand Nights, or simply the Thousand Nights.

James Scott, Duke of Monmouth: A Third Progenitor vampire, king of his race, and currently the strongest vampire known. He has stirred up resentment among the vampires’ ranks due to his unprecedented meddling with humanity’s affairs. However, he has proved immensely useful to William with his willingness to form a human-vampire alliance and to back him against the Thousand Nights. What is not known is how many secrets he keeps. For most of his life, he was unaware of this other world of vampires and demons and contracts, though he had heard whispers between his father and uncle. Rather than having him executed after his rebellion in 1685, James instead revealed to him his true nature— that he was a vampire, that he was indeed the first vampire, and that he was leaving the kingdom of the vampires to Monmouth as long as he swore to obey him in all things. He then made Monmouth a Third Progenitor, and after a staged execution, he let his nephew flee from the world of humans. To his new, disordered kingdom, Monmouth was the first of the nobility that would eventually become the Progenitor Council, with the most powerful vampires being the ones with the rank closest to that of the First. He would be pleased to never again have to interfere with human affairs if it were not for James. Despite his promise, he still keeps some spirit of defiance in him, and has extended his kindness to William if only to spite his sire. On occasion, he shows himself on the surface, wearing the cursed armbands that prevent the sunlight from harming vampires.

James II/Iakovos: The First Progenitor of the vampires. Iakovos was a human active during the middle of the Hellenistic period, when he started the Brotherhood of a Thousand Nights. This was a cult revolving around his experiments both on himself and his nephew to create the Seraph of the End, in order to prepare for some perceived future apocalypse. The experiments made him incredibly powerful, with the strength of the angels running through his veins, but resulted in him only being able to survive off of human blood and having a particular vulnerability for the sun. Thus he called himself the First Progenitor and father of all vampires, or simply the First. The nephew he experimented on was called Henriquez, the first successful seraph and the only one for almost two thousand years. Iakovos then made himself a demon, the first to be created of a vampire, and sealed his curse to members of his cult, those who would eventually become the House of Stuart as well as all who shared its blood. He also killed Henriquez and turned him into a full angel, bringing this same curse with him to the bloodline. While all Stuarts carried the potential in them to harness Iakovos’ power, only one boy was prophesied to carry the seraph in him. 

Iakovos, though not dead, was in a sense “reborn” as the Duke of York, revealing himself more plainly in the Stuart line for those who still looked for him, which were already very few. Iakovos and James are not interchangeable names, however, for as James he gained new perspectives and goals that he would not have dreamed of as Iakovos. This must not be mistaken for James being under the sway of Iakovos or vice versa; they are one and the same being. Nor must James be mistaken for being the name of his “human” identity. Since he was born, he’s known that he was never fully human, but never inhuman, either. From here, though, I’ll refer to him as James because it’s the name which everyone refers to him with. Iakovos is a legend unknown to most of them.

He chose to show himself in this century, for he knew that this was where the seraph would be revealed, as the son of his sister; still his nephew, after all. James was not the only one to realize this, however, for Charles was the first to make the connection between the Stuarts and the Thousand Nights, which was still active after all these centuries. Together the two brothers restarted the Seraph of the End experiments, this time focusing on another boy whom they had easy access to— Charles Talbot, the King’s godson. They succeeded in planting the Fourth Trumpet in him, and kept a wary eye on the First Trumpet across the sea, who was proving to be quite a thorn in their side rather than any protection for the future apocalypse. James had more to fear once Mary was sent off with him. As his first daughter, she carries with her the potential to be a demon greater than even himself should she ever turn. Though he knows she would never fight him herself, he also knows that William would have something to gain from such power if he were to ever find out.

James was drawn to Catholicism primarily because of the apocalypse, seeing God as his ally in bringing about the end of humanity as he saw fit, where only their true believers could survive. He was met with Monmouth’s rebellion, but rather than dealing with it like any human king, he revealed to his nephew all of his past, and then made him a Third Progenitor vampire. He was to rule over the vampires as a puppet ruler, though this was kept from the kingdom that so despised James for creating them. However, Monmouth was not the first noble vampire to appear after Iakovos, as is widely believed— that honor went to Louis XIV during James’ first exile in France. The rank of a Fifth Progenitor is the lowest a vampire can be if sired by James. Indeed, this was the rank given to the Earl of Sunderland in preparation for the apocalypse.

He only fled during the Glorious Revolution when he realized that he would be facing off against a seraph and a demon with strength that rivaled his own, even if logically both of these powers remained hidden to the hosts. He was further driven away when he saw that the Fourth Trumpet was wholeheartedly against him as well, and he sought help from the Second Progenitor he had created in France. There, he sired the only other Second Progenitor, the “Old Pretender.” He then bound himself to a dagger and offered himself up as Maria’s demon, as only humans with cursed weapons would be spared the apocalypse virus. With this, he left the leadership of the surviving members of the Thousand Nights to Louis, Maria, and his son. He is generally assumed to be dead, but he still watches from the shadows, whispering his orders in the dreams of those who are willing to listen. Having failed to control the power of the Seraph of the End, he has instead decided to destroy it.

Charles II: The Merry Monarch, far more involved with the seraph experiments than one may think. He initially had no knowledge of the First’s curse that ran in the blood of the Stuarts until his escape to France, during which he met members of the Thousand Nights that informed him of his ancestry. After the Restoration, he took an interest in the First’s blood that he and his closest family shared, and began to experiment on his young nieces to try to find a hint of Iakovos in them, as they were the youngest descendants most likely to bend to his will. Through these experiments he realized that Mary was strangely, deeply dangerous, which he then managed to trace back to her father— James, who ended up telling him that he was in fact the First Progenitor. James also told him of the upcoming apocalypse and that only a Seraph of the End would be able to help them take control of this new world. There was a seraph buried in their nephew, of course, but with little chance to experiment on him to try to force it out, Charles instead turned his attention to his virtually orphaned godson. He intended to use the seraph more as a mark of God’s approval after the apocalypse rather than any real threat, though he died before seeing this out. He would have no wish to fully discover the extent of his brother’s power, anyhow.

Louis XIV: A Second Progenitor vampire. He was sired by James during his first exile in France, when he told Louis that in order to rule the universe as he liked, he would first have to destroy it. Louis accepted this prophecy and became a vampire once he realized that ordinary humans would not survive the apocalypse. He subsequently formed an alliance with the Thousand Nights; though he had little faith in their message, he was quick to want to protect himself and his nation. He began developing cursed gear in his own army to rival William, but never succeeded in creating one of the Black Demon series. His alliance with the Thousand Nights held strong as a result of the cursed gear and lasted through the apocalypse. He took control of the surviving members of the cult, declaring that he would return order to humanity despite not being human himself. James has largely left him to his own devices, letting him wage war on William on his behalf, as went their original agreement: “Fight for me, or he’ll kill us both.” Louis has no intention of ending this war, however, nor of ever allowing James to return to rule the Thousand Nights again. He currently fights with his eye on the English Queen, wielding Violet but always wanting this illusive concept of Marie— that is, Mary as a demon fully bound to him. He remembers the promises of power from so long ago and will make sure that James keeps them.

Mary of Modena: James’ queen and second-in-command of the Thousand Nights. She is particularly admired for her closeness to Iakovos, viewed as having a proximity to an earthly savior and is thus able to forward their prayers to him. She had little to do with this world until a few days before the apocalypse, when James revealed everything he knew to her and made his son a Second Progenitor. He then ran himself through with a sword, where he bound his power to give to Maria. This made her the only other human, after William, to wield a Black Demon. She has no interest in all the fighting and prefers to run the Thousand Nights from the sidelines, where James still commands her from his place in her sword. Her current orders are to capture Mary and to place her son on his rightful throne.

Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury: The youngest and most popular of the Immortal Seven. After his father was killed in a duel, the King took in him and began the seraph experiments on him. If a human could ever become an angel, he saw it in this kind, nervous boy, who accepted what he believed to be an honor. The Fourth Trumpet seraph was successfully implanted into him, though the power lay dormant until the apocalypse. Regardless, he didn’t want James taking advantage of this power when he came to inherit the throne, so he backed William and all his efforts to create cursed gear. Shrewsbury survived the apocalypse with a cursed weapon of his own he calls Adelhida. She has tried to stir up the seraph in him, but he would prefer to simply forget his status as a volatile angel.

Robert Spencer, Earl of Sunderland: A Fifth Progenitor vampire. He was one of the few humans who knew about Iakovos, but unlike the others, he was not someone who James knew he could trust. Nonetheless, James sired him so he would be spared from the apocalypse. He came to regret this, of course, especially when Sunderland was so willing to use his new vampiric gifts to help William in his later experiments and resurrection attempts. He helped Bentinck supply cursed gear to those lucky survivors after the end of the world, as well as sired a few vampires himself, including Queen Anne and her husband. He almost obsessively protects Mary from the Thousand Nights fighting for her power on the surface.

Queen Anne: The last Queen of England before the apocalypse. She was another test subject of Charles’ when she was young, though it was much harder to get results from her as compared to Mary, being only the second child of the First. Unlike Mary, she never forgot, and took a firm stance against all matters of demons and vampires. After Mary’s death, she quickly found out that William was trying to resurrect her, and though she didn’t know that such an act would cause the apocalypse, she tried multiple times to stop him. She thought that all would continue as it always had after William’s death until Sunderland and Monmouth came to her claiming that the apocalypse drew nearer, and that she would die unless she either took on cursed gear or became a vampire. She was unwilling to sway under the influence of a demon, so she became a Ninth Progenitor beside her husband and then fled once William and Mary were resurrected. She is also a factor in the war between the Thousand Nights and the vampires, as she is much closer to becoming a demon than Mary is.

[weirdesplinder]

Cosa c'è di più adatto, visto che si avvicina il cenone di capodanno, di una lista di romance con protagonisti chef, cuochi e pasticceri?

- Tentazioni deliziose, di Sherry Thomas

Link: https://amzn.to/3TqeLyD

Trama: Famosa a Parigi per i suoi piatti indimenticabili, Verity Durant è altrettanto impopolare a Londra per la sua scandalosa vita privata. Ma questa è l’ultima delle sorprese che attendono il suo nuovo datore di lavoro... Per Stuart Somerset – astro nascente della politica londinese –, l’affascinante Verity non è altro che una donna come tante, esattamente come il cibo è nient’altro che cibo, almeno finché non assaggia uno dei suoi piatti. C’è stata solo un’occasione in cui ha provato una sensazione così dirompente: la notte in ci ha incontrato una splendida sconosciuta che gli ha lasciato solo il ricordo di un’incredibile passione, per poi sfumare nel nulla. Da allora sono passati dieci anni, e quando Stuart incontra Verity, capisce che c’è solo una cosa che potrà finalmente saziare il suo appetito. Si tratterà solo di desiderio, di sete di vendetta, o anche del più delicato dei sentimenti? Il passato di Verity cela segreti che potrebbero separarli per sempre, proprio mentre loro cercano di assaporare il frutto delizioso dell’amore.

- Il segreto di un gentiluomo, di Laura Lee Guhrke​

Link: https://amzn.to/3tfNtjL

Trama: Coronando il sogno di una vita, Maria Martingale vuole aprire a Mayfair una pasticceria con elegante sala da tè annessa. Tutto sembra filare liscio, ma l'altezzoso Phillip Hawthorne, marchese di Kayne, che abita lì accanto, cerca di metterle i bastoni fra le ruote. Così come aveva fatto dodici anni prima, impedendo che il proprio fratello minore avesse una storia d'amore con lei, figlia di un cuoco. Ora Phillip teme che la giovane cerchi di mandare a monte il matrimonio del fratello con una ricca ereditiera americana. Però le cose non stanno affatto come sembrano, e Maria non è più disposta a subire le interferenze di quell'uomo. Al quale, peraltro, sente di non essere affatto indifferente.

- Cannella e polvere da sparo, di Eli Brown

Link: https://amzn.to/3tiD0nD

Trama: Owen Wedgwood è un bravissimo cuoco, che lavora per il ricchissimo e potentissimo Lord Ramsey. Un giorno, siamo nel 1819, fa irruzione nel palazzo una banda di pirati, comandati dalla rossa Hannah Mabbot, che uccide Ramsey e tutti i suoi ospiti e rapisce il cuoco Wedgwood. Hannah, che tutti ritengono pazza e che proprio per questo ha un enorme ascendente sui suoi uomini, poche ore dopo gli propone/impone il patto: ogni domenica preparerà per lei un pranzo delizioso, in cambio resterà vivo. Owen accetta e resta quindi a bordo della Flying Rose. Accanto a lui, lo sguattero Joshua, a cui insegna a leggere e a scrivere, il gigantesco Apples, comandante in seconda e due gemelli cinesi. Mentre lotta per ricavare qualcosa di speciale dai miseri ingredienti della dispensa e dal pesce casualmente pescato dai marinai, Wedgwood impara che Hannah non è solo una spietata piratessa, capace di far divorare vivo un traditore dai gabbiani, ma una vittima dell'ipocrisia: è infatti rimasta orfana da bambina, a dieci anni è finita in un bordello, è fuggita per fare la ladra, è stata catturata e "salvata" da Ramsey, che l'ha utilizzata come concubina e le ha fatto fare un figlio. Hannah è dunque un'anticolonialista ante litteram, impegnata nella lotta contro i mercanti di oppio e di schiavi...

INEDITI IN ITALIANO:

- A Taste of Honey, di Rose Lerner

Link: https://amzn.to/4asLU2v

Trama:  Robert Moon ha rischiato tutto, compresa l'eredità conquistata a fatica da suo padre, per aprire la sua amata pasticceria Honey Moon nella strada più trafficata di Lively St. Lemeston. Ora rischia la bancarotta e la prigione per debitori. Quando arriva un grosso ordine di catering, accetta di chiudere la pasticceria per una settimana per soddisfarlo. C'è solo un problema: il suo apprendista è fuori città, quindi la sua bellissima commessa Betsy Piper deve aiutare Robert in cucina. Betsy ha trascorso l'ultimo anno cercando di convincere il suo determinato capo ad alzare lo sguardo dai suoi pasticcini e a notare che lei sarebbe una moglie perfetta. Ora i due sono soli in una cucina piena di dolci. Con solo una settimana per farlo innamorare di lei, sarebbe meglio che iniziasse questa seduzione...

- At the Sign of the Golden Pineapple, di Marion Chesney (alias M.C. Beaton)

Link: https://amzn.to/3H6N72l

Trama: Gli amici più intimi della signorina Henrietta Bascombe rimangono sconvolti nel sentire che una signora bene educata come lei intende entrare nel commercio. Ma Henrietta è determinata a trasformare la sua miseria eredità in una fortuna aprendo un negozio di dolciumi a Londra per rivaleggiare con il famoso Gunther! E sembra riuscirci quando l'intero ton sembra accorrere al suo negozio diventato subito di moda. Ma poi a metterle i bastoni tra le ruote arriva l'orgoglioso conte di Carrisdowne che non vuole che suo fratello minore e il suo migliore amico passino i pomeriggi a osservare le commesse carine dietro il bancone di Bascombe.

- Miss Delectable, di Grace Burrowes

Link: https://amzn.to/3RuPT6c

Trama: La signorina Ann Pearson ha passato anni ad apprendere la difficile arte della cuoca professionista e a proteggere gelosamente la sua posizione nella cucina dell'elegante Coventry Club. Quando il colonnello Sir Orion Goddard le chiede di assumere un giovane apprendista, Ann preferisce rifiutare. Ma Orion è rispettoso, burbero e affascinante e si prende cura di una ragazza che gli altri hanno trascurato, e questa è una combinazione a cui Ann non può resistere.

- A Taste for Love, di Donna Bell

Link: https://amzn.to/3NKJAdu

Trama: Dopo essersi diplomata alla Fannie Farmer's School of Cookery nel 1910, Charlotte Gregory è pronta a dare una svolta alla sua vita. È entusiasta di avere l'opportunità di viaggiare, tenere conferenze e dare dimostrazioni di cucina sull'ultima rivoluzione culinaria: i fornelli a gas, e di certo non le importa che la compagnia del gas abbia assunto il bel Lewis Mathis per esibirsi alle sue lezioni. Lewis incoraggia il suo lavoro, in particolare la sua crociata per introdurre cibo fresco, appetitoso e nutriente per coloro che sono in convalescenza negli ospedali. Ma il giovane sovrintendente dell'ospedale, il dottor Joel Brooks, non è convinto che si debbano apportare dei cambiamenti. Quando Charlotte e Joel saranno costretti a organizzare un gala per la raccolta fondi per l'ospedale, questa coppia infiammabile esploderà?

 L'irreprensibile Biddy Leigh, sottocuoca nella severa Mawton Hall, non vede l'ora di sistemarsi con il suo innamorato e di aprire la sua taverna. Ma quando il suo anziano padrone sposa la giovane ed enigmatica Lady Carinna, Biddy viene involontariamente trascinata in un mondo di intrighi, segreti e bugie. Costretta ad accompagnare la sua nuova padrona in Italia, Biddy porta con sé un vecchio libro di ricette di casa, The Cook's Jewel, in cui registra le sue osservazioni. Quando si ritrova coinvolta in una cospirazione omicida, Biddy si rende conto che i segreti che custodisce potrebbero essere la chiave per la sua sopravvivenza... o per la sua rovina.

#lauraleeguhrke #romance #listadilibri

[mermaidsirennikita]

what would you call ppl who are into reylo, darklina, haladriel, etc. the enemies to lovers, light/dark, make me your dark empress ships? i've seen them referred to as the "travelling small woman/big man" fandom or dark romance lovers but that's a *very* surface level read

I definitely wouldn't call them dark romance lovers, because dark romance is hUGELY expansive these days. Like, the Kings of Italy series is a dark mafia romance series, and I wouldn't compare ANY of the ships to Reylo. Additionally, a lot of the books that are so successful because of their connections to fic don't have much in common with that fic.

I'd just say that generally, those people are into villain/heroine. However, their particular ships can grow into something else for them over time. Something like The Hurricane Wars still sticks fairly closely to its villain/heroine roots, and I think there are probably Darklina-inspired books that do. But a lot of those ships develop into something entirely fanon, which is how we get books like Not Another Love Song or The Love Hypothesis.

People are being too broad when they say big man/little woman, that's not at all what draws people into those ships initially. They're drawn in by the villain/heroine dark/light thing, which is all very classic. Everyone wants to act like this is fuckin' new, and it's the opposite of that. The appeal of this dynamic has existed since the dawn of fiction, and it will always exist, and it's only the entirely short-sighted, self-centered fandom perspective and the moral hysteria of anti-fandom that makes them act like this is ENTIRELY NEW INFORMATION WE MUST LABEL (so that we can talk down about it). (This is not about you lol.)

Ships that are also this that were popular before Reylo:

—Dracula/Mina (with the culmination being Bram Stoker's Dracula, but even in the more recent Dracula Untold we had the classic "Mina is Dracula's reincarnated wife" angle)

—Erik/Christine

—"Now my boyfriend is evil oh noes" takes like Angelus/Buffy, Tuxedo Mask/Sailor Moon in a couple arcs, on a more minor level even something like The Vampire Academy had Dimitri (Rose's boyfriend) go evil for a minute and it was THE! BEST! ARC! IN THE WHOLE SERIES!

—literally so many daytime soaps y'all... this is how they turned villains into antiheroes....... who still killed people..... General Hospital was regularly putting their little goody goodies with straight up murderers, and this is something soaps do literally GLOBALLY. Telenovelas do it, Euro soaps do it, Kdramas, Jdramas, Cdramas, the list goes on

—I'm less into anime, but yeah, I'm gonna say this was big for anime lmao

—Many many many romance novels that preceded Reylo/Darklina et. al. Whether it was the "softer" villains like Sebastian St. Vincent in Devil in Winter, who I'd still say went above typical "bad boy" grade by kidnapping the heroine's best friend with an implied rape threat in the previous novel; Lothaire in Kresley Cole's Lothaire, with Ellie; basically every Anne Stuart novel written, Lord of Danger jumps to mind; Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale.

—Generalized wicked monsters with women, like The Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Wolfman

I think it's really that primal and that simple. Villain/heroine.

[the-odd-ducks]

Titanic (1997): A Timeless Classic

Director: James Cameron Release Date: December 19, 1997 Genre: Epic Romance / Disaster Running Time: 195 minutes

Star Cast:

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson

Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater

Billy Zane as Cal Hockley

Kathy Bates as Molly Brown

Frances Fisher as Ruth DeWitt Bukater

Bill Paxton as Brock Lovett

Gloria Stuart as Older Rose

Storyline Overview

Titanic is a blend of romance and historical disaster that takes place aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. The story is set in 1912 and follows a young, aristocratic woman, Rose DeWitt Bukater, and a poor artist, Jack Dawson, who fall in love despite the class differences that separate them. Their blossoming romance is challenged not only by societal expectations but also by the looming tragedy as the Titanic hits an iceberg and begins to sink.

The film is framed as a recollection of an elderly Rose (played by Gloria Stuart) narrating her experience on the ship to treasure hunter Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) in 1996. The love story between Jack and Rose drives the emotional core of the movie, contrasting their intimate, personal struggle with the grand-scale disaster.

Why Titanic Became One of the Top-Rated Films

Epic Love Story: At the heart of Titanic is the love between Jack and Rose, which resonates with audiences worldwide. Their romance, crossing class barriers, captures both the excitement and tragedy of young love.

Technical Innovation: James Cameron’s use of cutting-edge CGI and practical effects brought the Titanic’s sinking to life in breathtaking detail. The recreation of the ship and its fateful voyage set a new standard for visual effects at the time.

Historical Resonance: The story of the Titanic’s sinking is already one of the most tragic events in modern history. The film captures the grandeur of the ship’s construction, the excitement of the voyage, and the horrifying reality of its destruction, connecting emotionally with audiences.

Memorable Soundtrack: Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” became an iconic piece of music, symbolizing the eternal love between Jack and Rose. The score by James Horner enhanced the emotional weight of the story and became one of the most recognizable soundtracks in film history.

Emotional Impact: The combination of romance and disaster created an emotional rollercoaster for viewers. Cameron’s ability to humanize such a large-scale tragedy through Jack and Rose’s intimate story made the sinking of the ship hit even harder.

Box Office Collections

Titanic was not just a critical success, but also a monumental box office hit. It grossed over $2.2 billion worldwide, making it the first film to cross the billion-dollar mark. At its peak, Titanic held the title of the highest-grossing film of all time until James Cameron’s Avatar surpassed it in 2009. The movie remained in theaters for months due to sustained public demand and continues to be one of the highest-grossing films in history.

Awards and Recognitions

Titanic swept the 70th Academy Awards with 14 nominations, tying the record set by All About Eve (1950). The film won 11 Oscars, including:

Best Picture

Best Director (James Cameron)

Best Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”)

Best Visual Effects

Best Sound Editing

Best Sound Mixing

Best Original Score (James Horner)

Best Art Direction

Best Cinematography

Best Costume Design

Best Film Editing

This achievement made Titanic one of only three films in history to win 11 Academy Awards, along with Ben-Hur (1959) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

Beyond the Oscars, Titanic also earned four Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture — Drama, Best Director, and Best Original Song.

Cultural Impact

Titanic transcended the typical box office blockbuster to become a cultural phenomenon. The love story of Jack and Rose captivated audiences across the world, making Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet household names. Titanic dominated popular culture in the late ’90s and early 2000s, inspiring countless parodies, discussions, and fan tributes.

The film’s re-release in 3D in 2012, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the real Titanic’s sinking, only added to its legacy. The re-release was highly successful, bringing in an additional $350 million at the box office, proving its timeless appeal.

The Team Behind Titanic

James Cameron (Director, Writer, Producer): Cameron’s vision for the film was integral to its success. Known for his perfectionism and ambition, he created a film that balanced romance with spectacle and grounded historical accuracy.

Jon Landau (Producer): Worked closely with Cameron to manage the monumental production, keeping the film on track despite going over budget.

James Horner (Composer): His score for Titanic is one of the most beloved in cinematic history. The main theme, “My Heart Will Go On,” performed by Celine Dion, won the Oscar for Best Original Song and remains an iconic piece of music.

Conclusion

Titanic remains a timeless classic, a perfect mix of romance, drama, and spectacle. Its combination of historical tragedy with a heart-wrenching love story, coupled with state-of-the-art visual effects, captured the imaginations of audiences worldwide. Even over two decades after its release, Titanic continues to be a cultural touchstone and an essential part of film history.

[scotianostra]

December 10th 1747 saw the death of Duncan Forbes of Culloden, the Lord President of the Court of Session.

Born at Culloden House in the Highlands, November 10th 1685, there is next to nothing written about his early life, Forbes attended the local grammar school and then matriculated at Marischal College in Aberdeen in 1699. His brother John inherited the Culloden Estate when their father died in 1704. Forbes briefly attended the University of Edinburgh in 1705, then received his law degree from Leyden University in the Netherlands. He returned to Scotland in 1707 and in married Mary Rose in 1708. They had one surviving child, John Forbes Upon his brother John’s death in 1734, Duncan inherited the Culloden Estate.

During the Jacobite Rising of 1715, Forbes and his brother raised independent companies and fortified Culloden and Kilvarock. They joined forces with Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, and forced Inverness to surrender to them just before the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. As a reward, Forbes was made Depute-Advocate in March 1716. This required him to prosecute Jacobite prisoners being held in Carlisle, contrary to the accepted practice they be tried in the counties where the actions were alleged to have taken place. Forbes regarded this as unjust and apparently collected money for the support of Scottish prisoners in Carlisle.

In 1721, Forbes represented Ayr Burghs as a Member of Parliament (MP.) Then in 1722, he was elected for Inverness Burghs, a seat he held until 1737 when he resigned. Forbes was appointed as Lord President of the Court of Session, becoming the senior legal officer in Scotland. He held this position until his death in 1747.

The 1745 Jacobite Uprising began Forbes received word of the Prince and the Seven Men of Moidart landing on Eriskay and notified the British Government in London. After the Jacobite army entered Edinburgh and achieved a victory at Prestonpans in September, Forbes and John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun based themselves in Inverness with around 2,000 recruits. They were forced to retreat to the Isle of Skye when the Jacobites retreated to Inverness after abandoning the siege of Stirling Castle in February 1746. Charles Stuart used the Culloden Estate as his headquarters during the preparations for the Battle of Culloden. After the British Government victory in Culloden in April, Forbes returned home to find his house looted and all his cattle stolen.

While he supported severe penalties for the leaders, Forbes counselled that 'Unnecessary Severitys create Pity.' He opposed the 1746 Dress Act banning Highland attire except when worn in military service, arguing it was unnecessary and enforcement of the 1716 Disarming Act was more important. This advice was largely ignored.

Forbes himself was financially ruined by the Rising, due to the damage done to his estate and because he was never reimbursed for the monies spent on behalf of the government.

A keen golfer, after the ‘45, he saved the life of his friend, John Rattray, Charlies personal physician, he also represented the notorious Colonel Francis Charteris who gained the unenviable nickname "The Rape-Master General" Accused of rape for the third time in 1730, he was sentenced to death but Forbes is said to have been instrumental in obtaining a pardon; Charteris left him £1000 when he died in 1732.

Duncan Forbes of Culloden died in Edinburgh on 10th December 1747 and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, near to his brother John. A statue of him by Louis-François Roubiliac was erected in the Parliament House, Edinburgh by the Faculty of Advocates in 1752.

[secretstalks]

Lord Rose’s Perspective on Mohsin Issa’s Leadership at Asda: Should He Step Down?

Lord Stuart Rose, chair of Asda, has expressed his embarrassment over the supermarket chain's recent decline in market share, calling for co-owner Mohsin Issa to step back from the daily operations of the retailer. In an interview with The Telegraph, Rose candidly admitted his dissatisfaction with Asda’s performance, saying, "I’m going to be completely honest with you. Having been in this industry for a long time, I feel somewhat embarrassed. I won’t deny it."

Rose’s comments come on the back of a report showing a 2.2% decline in Asda’s quarterly sales and a 5.3% drop in like-for-like sales. The retailer’s market share has slipped from 13.6% to 12.7%, losing ground to rivals such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and discount chains, according to Kantar data.

Rose suggested that Mohsin Issa, who co-owns Asda alongside TDR Capital, should distance himself from day-to-day operations to help turn around the company’s fortunes. “I would not advise him to get involved in operations, and I am the chairman,” Rose remarked. He emphasized that while Issa has been a disruptive and entrepreneurial force, the current phase of the business requires a different approach.

TDR Capital holds a 67.5% stake in Asda, with Mohsin Issa owning the remaining 22.5%. His brother Zuber Issa, who previously held a 22.5% share, exited earlier this year to focus on other ventures. Walmart retains a 10% stake in Asda, having sold the majority of its holding in 2021 when the Issa brothers acquired the chain for £6.8 billion.

In response to the challenging performance, Asda’s Chief Financial Officer, Michael Gleeson, outlined the company’s plans to revamp its store estate, increase staff hours for better shelf replenishment, and strengthen consumer loyalty.

Read More

[equestrianempire]

Shane Rose Takes 4*-S Title, Kiwi Young Riders Triumph at NZL Land Rover Horse of the Year Show

Shane Rose rides Virgil in the CCI4* Show Jumping. Sunday March 10, 2024. Credit: KAMPIC / Sarah Lord

Australia ruled in the Land Rover CCI4*-S this weekend at New Zealand’s Land Rover Horse of the Year show, with the visitors claiming a hattrick in the Oceania Eventing Challenge and Olympian Shane Rose riding off with the individual title.

Finishing behind Shane and Virgil’s 30.8 penalty score, was Oliva Barton (AUS) in second on 33.9, with Andrew Cooper (AUS) and Sharvalley Thunder in third on 38.2. Diane Gilder was the best of the Kiwis in fifth on 47.4.

Australian chef d’equipe Stuart Tinney said there was plenty to love about their Land Rover Horse of the Year Show. “It is a wonderful show,” he said. “The cross country was a great track and it is just what we need to get into this sort of environment. It is so valuable.”

He was excited for the future of their riding coming through. “They all did a great job out there.”

The challenge of the cross country course not being able to be walked in full until just before the class added another layer of learning for all.

“It is a great learning curve and something you only see at big events and all good experience.”

He was confident there was plenty to take away for all from the event, including experiencing travelling with horses and being part of the whole team environment. Having Shane Rose there too was also a real bonus especially as all of those who had made the trip have a desire to represent Australia at World Champs or Olympic Games in the future. “It is a fantastic effort for Shane to win for his journey in preparation for the Olympic Games. I am very proud of our training programme and coaches moving for the future.”

New Zealand chef Jock Paget reiterated his words, saying it has also been a great opportunity for the senior riders to experience the pressure of a team environment at LRHOY which had a real international feeling.

“This is part of the bigger picture for our programme and it is at these types of events that you get the hardest lessons. Now it is up to us as a programme and the riders to look at what we do, find the gaps and close them.”

In the end, Australia finished on 161.3 penalty points for their best three combinations, with New Zealand on 203.

Shane Rose and Virgil en route to a clear cross country. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Just two combinations – Shane Rose and Olivia Barton (AUS) aboard Hollyander HG – finished on their dressage scores, with five combinations coming home clear in the showjumping including New Zealand’s Madison Seivwright aboard Waitangi Pinterest and individual Donna Edwards-Smith with DSE Mendoza.

On hand to see Shane Rose win was Virgil’s owner and breeder Michelle Hasibar. It was his first-ever win at LRHOY. “This was a massive part of my Paris programme and it was key to get my qualification here.”

He figured LRHOY would be perfect for the 18-year-old horse to get it ticked off and allow them to continue with their programme. “If he goes well, he is normally pretty competitive,” said Shane, who loved that the cross country was so late in coming together due to it sweeping through the whole showgrounds.

He was chuffed to receive the Sir Mark Todd Trophy. “It’s pretty special that Mark has so generously given his 1994 Badminton trophy for this.”

Shane would love to see more competition between Australia and New Zealand including a Trans-Tasman series that could run over a season.

It was New Zealand for the double in the Fiber Fresh CCI3* eventing with the young rider team winning the Oceania Challenge and Kiwi Abbey Thompson aboard Cadbury KSNZ winning the individual.

Riders came back in reverse order with barely a change in the top seven combinations, albeit a shuffle of placings.

Australian Molly Lines and Tadpole posted the first clear of the class for her final tally of 38.2 penalty points, which was quickly bettered by Abbey added nothing to her 36.9 score. Last to go was overnight leader and New Zealand Oceania team member Bridie Quigley aboard Oranoa Greyson who were dreadfully unlucky to take the last and finish on a score of 37.4 for second placed behind Abbey with Molly in third.

The New Zealand Junior Team takes the Oceania Championship for the Fiber Fresh CCI3*-S. 2024 NZL-Land Rover Horse of the Year. Tomoana Showgrounds, Hawkes Bay. Sunday 10 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

Bridie’s calm riding saw the New Zealanders hold on to the Oceania 124.7 penalty points to the Australian’s 130.2.

New Zealand chef d’equipe Lizzie Green was very proud of her crew. “They are such a great bunch and a very tight knit group,” she said. “It is very important to have that unity in a team. They are all very good riders and exciting for the future.”

She again underlined the importance of team competitions for the future of both New Zealand and Australia.

Individual winner Abbey, who heads to the UK after competing at the Adelaide next month, was rapt. “He tried his heart out,” she said. “He was a bit tired after yesterday as I don’t usually go that fast on the cross country but I decided I needed to get into that rhythm.”

It’s eight-year-old Cadbury’s first LRHOY and Abbey says he coped well with the atmosphere and pressure. “He is so sweet and easy to have around and is a very genuine horse.”

She was doubly happy for the win, given she’s been second more times than she cares to count at New Zealand’s bigger competitions.

“I certainly didn’t think I would be winning at the beginning of the week.”

She and Cadbury head to the UK on a one-way ticket and will base with Harry Mead in Wiltshire.

For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz.

[grizzledyoungimpact]

Febuwhump Day #8: "Why won't it stop?"

Febuwhump 2024 February 8th, 2024 "Why won't it stop?" Spike Trivet/Dakota Heraldry (OC) Sideshow/Circus Verse

Everyone had a role to play at the circus.

For Alistair Lawrence and Stuart Bennett, it was as the ring masters of the circus. Under their command, the circus ran like clockwork. However, none of it would have been possible if not for the financial backing of Spike Trivet. The young master of the uppercrust had been looking for something exciting to sink his time and money into. The bright lights that Bennett had spoken of excited the young lord.

Some of the reason was due to acts like Dakota Heraldry.

Dakota was well known for his feats of daring. Some nights he would swallow swords, others he would be an expert at the acrobatics inside the german wheel. All of these things had drawn the attention of the young lord. Spike would find himself watching as Dakota practiced his act, hanging onto every moment that he could. That's why when Dakota had finally noticed the lord, he had stopped to call him over.

"You're the financier?" Dakota smirked, giving a slight cock of his head as he ran a hand through his long hair. Even that was a wonder, seeing as the young man had managed to make his hair the same color as the desert rose, a soft pink. "You look a lot younger than I imagined."

Spike took his hand, pressing a gentle kiss to the man's knuckles, "Enchante. My name is Lord Trivet, Simon to my friends."

Dakota laughed, shaking his head, "Aren't you a fancy lad. You like my act, hm? I see you around so often."

"I am not sure if it is the act or if it is you that has my attention," Spike admitted, pursing his lips together, "Why ask?"

"My usual partner for the wheel is busy," Dakota crossed over to the wheel that Spike had seen him use one too many times. It was the only act that disturbed Spike. Dakota's act partner, a fabulous man named Dalton Castle, was usually strapped to the wheel and spun, while Dakota threw decorative knives, "if you're up for it..."

Spike wanted to turn the offer way. After all, there was a new suit. He trusted Heraldry, his amorous nature had assured that. "You want 𝙢𝙚? Why?"

"I see you every day," Dakota gave a soft smile, "surely you trust me?"

Spike offered his hand, allowing Dakota to lead him over to the wheel. His hands and legs were strapped tightly out to his sides and Dakota tugged each, just to make sure that Spike could not move. Once Dakota was certain that Spike was secure, he spun the wheel before turning to walk away. It spun and spun 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒑𝒖𝒏. It was after the third time that Spike began to feel worried. "Why won't it stop?" Spike shouted out.

The smirk on Dakota's face turned cruel, leaning against a crate behind him and gesturing to where, on the other side of the wheel, Dalton had spun it again and again. "Dalton."

As the spinning finally came to a stop, Spike could see through dizzy vision that Dalton now stood next to Dakota. "Wh...what is the meaning of this?"

"I see you 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚," Dakota twirled the knife in his hand, "you 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 me. This is a warning, Mr. Trivet. Stop stalking me. Or you'll end up with worse."

At that, Dakota tossed the knife hard, the point sticking between Spike's open legs, stopping just at the crux.