#marmalade steel

[amuseoffyre]

Got pondering today on the baseline for Ed's experience and life up until he arrives at the Revenge, based on the various fragments of backstory and implicit history that are scattered throughout both seasons.

"we're just not those kind of people"

recurring violence - his mum's black eye and the kraken flashback, which carries over into Ed's instinct to recoil from anyone touching/coming near his face (except Stede)

"Remember how he stabbed us?" "He treated us like dogs. Like worse than dogs" - introduction to a world beyond his family and it's even worse and relentless

"his name was Felix and he was a really nice guy" - his peers being killed slowly and painfully as punishment in front of him

"It's poison!" / "I got the gift you left me, in my glass" - not even food or drink were safe

"that's what you fucking get" - a system of anticipated and constant violence

"cutting off a bloke's toes and feeding them to him for a laugh", "love a good maim" - inured to doing violence to others without question

"I don't wanna go back to the old days, drinking all the time" esp. after Jack's condescending "I didn't know I had an audience with the fucking pope" when he tries to refuse rum - twice, Ed comments on two of his friends about their drinking and twice, he gets scoffed at and then takes a drink from their bottles himself

"I was gonna kill him and burn his face off" - Anne and Mary (his peers from his youth) nodding in agreement that this is normal

"Run me through" / "Whip my balls!" / "Six inches of steel right in you" - violence and brutality as foreplay (And ohhh this puts a whole new light onto his extended freak out about Stede and him sleeping together straight after the Ned Low incident)

Knife Parade - finding it silly and funny and utterly unaware that he was terrorising people because he'd grown up surrounded by that kind of behaviour with Jack, Mary and Anne.

"Didn't apologise for shit" - no apologies, no admitting mistakes, no awareness of doing something wrong (and once he realises, he promptly apologises to Fang and then, awkwardly, stiltedly to Izzy the next episode)

"Your friends are very troubled" / "Yeah. Well, they're pirates" - the self-awareness there that this isn't a normal, healthy way of behaving

No wonder having a glimpse of something different with nice clothes and good food and marmalade and well-meaning friendship opens a door he never knew was even an option 😭

[loudn-mcyt]

SBK Finale Liveblogging: SadMilkman

Spoilers below the cut:

Milkman is so nonchalant I love it

Ooh is that void cathedral in the background? 

WIZARD MILKMAN 

OK now I want to go back and look at all the predictions to see if they actually came true or if that's just milkman being Milkman 

THE ORB ACTUALLY HELPED??? IT WORKS??? Who is behind the orb's voice

Chaos vs balance...this is so interesting...the world is out of balance because of the skyblockers? Hmmm

The shot of Birch kingdom buried under the falling blocks is so cool

What's that? IT'S OSSHA WITH THE STEEL CHAIR

Fool backing away and making a disgusted noise when Milkman said they needed to do their jobs lmao

Even in the end of the world birch boys cannot resist a good scam 

Trying to fly away to space to escape the apocalypse...hello again moon big arc I missed you 

I have a feeling this is not going to work

Ooh the cathedral is Avid AND Marmalade's work? Interesting...

Vintage is there but not Ruby...Sakura spouses divorce hurts me...

I love how the void is still so sketchy. Like sure it helps Marm but it's genuinely SO evil-adjacent it's constantly hungry 

Using wind charges to sacrifice to the upvoid is so funny 

Milkman stealing from the sacrifices. Never change milkman 

RUBY!!!!! THEYRE HERE!!!! 

RUBY looking at vintage and slowly looking around...he keeps looking at her im...

Trog and Tube are both there I love it

"It's almost like the world is starting to fill in" OH?????

The sad birchland theme and the tour I'm actually going to cry this isn't fair 

THE FLASHBACKS THATS NOT FAIR 

The blocks starting to land on stuff uh oh 

"We gotta go into the void or something" birch boys limbo au when 

Fool how did you get that many cheese wheels what 

HE ONLY HAS ONE ELYTRA NOOOOO 

HE GAVE FOOL THE WINGS INSTEAD OF USING THEM HIMSELF NO NO NO 

THEYRE BOTH TRYING TO SAVRIFICE THEMSELVES THATS NOT OK 

Milkman was always loyal to Fool...but Golden never got to see it...

He left Fool behind...

The portal...but where does it go? 

Ooh the falling blocks datapack was made by Trog Leon and Josh that's so cool!!

[blakbonnet]

[graphic by @ofmdlovelyletters]

AUTHOR OF THE WEEK: @monksofthescrew

Our final feature of this week's AOTW is the lovely and always kind Hugo ♥️ Getting to know her these past few weeks has been such a joy and it's so not a surprise that they're such an earnest and fluffy writer, with oodles of love for their friends and the show. Please read on to find out about Hugo's secret sorrow (the word she thinks she uses a lot):

What's your writing process like? Do you start with the beginning or the end? Do you write in order or as the scenes come to you?

I generally start with the beginning and write forward, but then I like to outline retroactively and see if there are any chunks that would be better suited elsewhere in the story. I sometimes have to scribble down an idea for a later scene when it comes to me, but then I sometimes forget to return to it, or figure out that it doesn't fit after all. And sometimes it's not so much a scene as it is a *vibe*, and sometimes it's just, like, a mini-revelation about the emotional arc, or some other little tidbit. I'm definitely still trying to find the right process, though, because mine is absolutely unreliable and I haven't finished anything at all or even really managed to work meaningfully on anything in an age and a half.

Favourite Ed or Stede characteristic or mannerism that are dear to you (Ed liking marmalade, Stede and burying his feelings, etc)?

Yes, Ed's sweet tooth is important to me. Yes, Stede saying one single, heavily veiled thing once and being like, "I have now bared my entire soul to you, right?" is important to me. Ed's brilliance is non-negotiable. Their mutual softness is very important to me. Yeah, their shitty fucking dads are really important to me. Both their childlike qualities and their age. Shearwater pointed out that Stede has so much love to give that he's never been allowed to give before and Ed needs so much love and never having had anyone to give it to him, and I can't stop seeing that now. The way they instantly know one another on a level neither of them has ever experienced before.

What is the one word that you think you use a lot?

HEEDLESS for fucks' sake. Also STEEL as a verb. Is it the double Es? Why am I like this?

Do you have a beta reader? Have they made you a better writer?

YES. I have been swapping betas with @xoxoemynn for, oh my god, two years this August (happy almost-anniversary, darling) and not only has Marianne made my writing better (it was at her prompting that I ended up writing some of my very favorite paragraphs I have ever written) but beta-reading *her* writing has made me a better writer, and also a better thinker. Marianne is absurdly generous with the sandbox that is her brilliant mind and her open heart, and thinking and talking through ideas and theories with her has taught me so much about storytelling.

Why OFMD?

I think the characters, both as written and acted, have so much complexity and nuance, and there's so much room for interpretation, which makes this such a fun sandbox to play in. The canon can support practically any reading. Also, this fandom boasts a really mind-boggling amount of talent, and some of the absolutely loveliest people I've ever had the good fortune to meet.

Please head over to @ofmdlovelyletters and send your love for Hugo and all your favourite authors (and authors of the week 😈 watch that blog for some special letters coming your way)

[mangrove-and-amethyst]

Day 1 of the @sbk-prompt-week: Bond

Fic under the cut!

Marmalade frowned. Rue had been missing for weeks, and there was no telling where she’d gone. At least, not without some kind of miracle.

Luckily, Marmalade was a witch. She made her own miracles.

She searched through her storage room. Where had she put it… there! A scrap of fabric from Rue’s tie that had gotten caught on a branch and torn off. It was lucky she had kept it.

Well, not that lucky. Marm tended to keep small tokens of all of her friends, just in case. Maybe it was a little creepy, but it wasn’t that weird, was it? It wasn’t like she took anything important enough to do any dangerous magic. It was just… insurance. Reassurance. Definitely not weird, Marm assured herself.

Plus, it was very handy for situations like these. What if Rue had gotten lost and Marmalade hadn’t had anything to do a locator spell with?

Marm nodded firmly. It was time to find Rue.

She gathered up the materials for a simple-but-powerful locator spell. A compass, a token of the person one sought, and a lodestone. Marmalade popped off the back of the compass and placed the scrap of fabric inside, where it could guide the needle’s spin without interfering. Then, she placed the compass on top of the lodestone. The netherite inside the lodestone would help amplify the spell, but it still needed direction. Marmalade gripped the compass with both void-stained hands, and pushed her magic inside. Rue. I need to find Rue.  

The compass spun aimlessly for a second, then rolled onto its side. The needle was pointing straight down.

Marmalade gasped. Was Rue… could they be in the void? Or worse, in Limbo?

She steeled herself, tried to calm down. If Rue was in the void, Marm could get her out. If Rue was in Limbo… well, that was trickier.

Only one way to find out, Marm thought. To the sacrifice pit!

Marmalade picked up the compass, and it turned on its own in her hand, continuing to point straight down. She grimaced. Definitely pointing to either the void or Limbo, then.

Marmalade took off her armor and took her tools out of her inventory, placing them in the barrel. She set her spawn in the bed. Finally, holding the compass tightly in both hands, she jumped.

The wind whipped by. The first tingling pain of the void came, but Marmalade didn’t let go of the compass.

Then, it stopped. Marm’s knees buckled, but she didn’t throw out her arms to catch herself. She couldn’t risk breaking the compass.

She picked herself up and looked at the compass. It wasn’t pointing downwards anymore. With no landmarks in this part of the void, Marmalade wasn’t sure which direction it was pointing, but she was going to follow it.

Marmalade walked. And walked. And walked.

There was no sound here except for the sounds Marmalade herself made, her breathing and the soft rustle of her dress brushing against itself. Even her footsteps were silent.

Still, she kept walking.

After some time, Marm thought she saw something far-off in the distance. “Rue?” she called. “Rue?”

The distant something resolved itself into a figure as she got closer. “Rue! Is that you?” Marmalade called again.

The figure turned around, and Marmalade saw—yes, that was her! “Rue!”

“Marmalade?”

She began to run towards Rue. “Yes, it’s me!”

Rue began to run as well, and they crashed into an embrace.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Marm said. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Yes,” Rue said fervently. “Please.”

Marmalade concentrated, holding herself and Rue in a bubble of void magic. Let’s go home.

***

Rue woke up in Ruby’s bed in the Cherry Kingdom, and began to panic. She couldn’t be here. This was where—where Vintage—she couldn’t be here. They had to leave. 

Mangrove. Mangrove would be safe. Marmalade had just rescued them, she wouldn’t undo that hard work for no reason.

Rue didn’t have their elytra, or their safety gear. She was going to have to walk. So she did. It was fine. The fact that she was constantly stopping to glance around, checking that Vintage hadn’t snuck up behind her, didn’t have to mean anything.

It was fine. It really was; until she made it in sight of Mangrove Kingdom.

Their bridges. How had Rue forgotten about their bridges? Trying to get them to fix that had been a major aspect of her life for so long when they were still working with OSSHA! Marmalade had always said falling into the void wasn’t so bad, and Avid had started to agree with her, the hypocrite, but… Rue tried to imagine herself traversing the bridge, hopping between platforms, and… couldn’t. If they fell in, she might end up back in the dark, alone. What if Marmalade thought it was too much work to come rescue her again? What if they weren’t useful enough to her, and she decided to sacrifice them to the void? Rue shuddered. But then, what if Vintage saw her here?

No, surely that wouldn’t happen. Vintage had no reason to come to Mangrove. Right?

Rue stared across the insurmountable gap between her and Mangrove, between her and Marmalade, between her and safety. What could she do?

Rue sat down on the bridge and hugged her knees to her chest. They let out a quiet sob.

Almost as though summoned, Marmalade walked out of her front door, still holding the compass that Rue had noticed when Marmalade had first found them in the void, and looked across the gap. Fearlessly, she began jumping from platform to platform until she reached the solid part of the bridge, where Rue was sitting. Marmalade sat down a few feet away from them, legs dangling off the edge.

“Are you okay?”

Rue didn’t look up. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“What are you sorry for?”

“I got stuck. Made you rescue me.”

“You don’t need to be sorry for that. I was happy to rescue you. You’re my friend.” Marmalade paused. “Besides, you couldn’t have known that you wouldn’t respawn normally, even if you fell into the void on purpose.”

“I didn’t!” Rue said. “I was—” their voice cracked. She raised her head and looked around. There was no sign of anyone else. “I was pushed.”  

“Pushed?!” Marmalade cried. 

Rue nodded miserably.

“It certainly wasn’t your fault you got stuck then.”

“But… I wasn’t useful enough. They said.”

“Useful? Rue, you don’t need to be useful. It’s more than enough to just be yourself.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know who that is,” Rue whispered.

Marmalade scooted closer. “Can I hug you?”

“Yes.”

Marmalade wrapped her arms around Rue comfortingly, one hand rubbing their back. “That’s okay. You don’t have to know.”

Tears sprang to Rue’s eyes. She didn’t know why. Marmalade was telling her exactly what she had hoped to hear, so why was she crying?

“Okay,” Rue said quietly.

They stayed there, just like that, for a little while.

Then, Marmalade asked, “Do you need help getting back to Cherry? I could lend you my spare elytra.”

Rue froze. “No, please don’t—I can’t—I don’t want to go back to Cherry. I don’t—”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Marmalade responded. “You don’t have to go back, I was just wondering if you needed help. Did you have somewhere else in mind to stay, or would you like to stay with me for now?”

Rue drew back a bit to look Marmalade in the eyes. “I… you would let me do that?”

“Of course! We’re friends, aren’t we? Friends help each other out.”

Right. Rue would probably need to make herself useful… but at least she wouldn’t be alone.

“How would I have to help you?” Marmalade looked confused. “What?” she said. “Oh! No, I don’t need anything in return from you. Having you around is plenty!”

That felt almost too good to be true. “Really? Thank you.”

“Of course,” Marmalade said, and got to her feet. Rue stayed seated. “Rue? Are you… is it the bridges?” 

Rue nodded. “...sorry.”

“No, it’s alright. How about I go back and bring you an elytra so you can fly over?”

“That sounds good,” Rue admitted.

“Wonderful!”

Marmalade came back quickly and handed Rue an elytra. Inscribed on the harness were the words Sacrificial Wings . Rue paused. “Aren’t these your elytra?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“No, um, no it’s not,” Rue replied hastily. “Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome,” said Marmalade. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Rue took off towards Mangrove and made a graceful landing, while Marmalade took the bridge. 

“I’m so excited to have you,” said Marmalade once they were both on the main island. “It’ll be like having a sleepover! I’ll make you up a bed, and…”

As the two of them walked together to Marmalade’s hut, Rue thought that she was really lucky to have such a good friend. Unbeknownst to her, Marmalade was thinking the same thing.

[lamemaster]

A Conspiring Universe (Curufin x Reader)

Pairing: Curufin x Reader

Genre: Lovers to enemies (hehe)

Summary: Such was the unfortunate tale of your meeting with Curufin. A fate orchestrated by the entire universe.

AN: Idk Curufin just came and demanded this so here it is. Another story for the underrated character event. @doodle-pops

"Your father destroyed lives, he does not get my respect," your words reverberate through the serene room, a stark contrast to the tranquility that hangs in the air. The faint scent of ripe oranges and sugar from your marmalade fills the space, a bittersweet reminder of domesticity amidst the impending storm.

In the golden light of the Sun, you see him for the first time. The last time you laid eyes on him, the Sun and the Moon had yet to grace the world. "You never even gave us... my family a chance. Always on your high horse. Always preaching whatever your parents told you about," Curufin remains unchanged. Despite the passage of time, the regrowth of his fana has not tamed his fervor, nor dimmed the fire that has long defined him.

This is how you greet your husband after eons of separation. Your veins pulse with adrenaline, your heart pounds like a drumbeat of fury. "You and your wretched family took away everything from me," your accusatory finger jabs the air, finding its mark on Curufin's conscience.

"You took away my son, his happiness; you trampled upon his heart," your steps carry you closer to him, until your breaths mingle, noses almost touching. "And in doing so, you took my everything," you refuse to let your tears fall. Not today. Not in front of him. He does not deserve them. Not after the last time you had begged him with the same tears. You had pleaded for your son.

"I wish I hadn't met you," the words slip out, unhindered by any interruption. So you continue, your voice like a river finally allowed to flow freely. "I wish you had perished at Alqualondë, or I wish you had ended my life before you departed Tirion," a tremor runs through you, but you steel yourself against it. After all these years, after carrying the weight of a bond you never asked for, it all crumbles like a dam breached under pressure. "I wish... I... I had died."

"Please," his voice is a whisper, a fragile sound that blends into the walls around you, almost lost in the echoes.

"Every single day of your exile, I yearned for death. To depart this world. To journey beyond even Miriel's reach, and to leave you. To abandon you as you abandoned me," your voice wavers, your knees threaten to give way, and the tears stream down. At that moment, the arms that wrap around you. 

You do not allow him to embrace you completely. You shrug off his arms even as the world blurs. “Curufinwe I hate you,” your voice is a whisper but you know he hears it. “I hate you so much.” Tears not belonging to you, stings the skin of your hands. Tremors foreign to your body rock your shoulders.

Curufinwe, like his father, fell in love with the most unexpected person. None in Aman had expected such to occur, yet, it had. Just like none had expected Feanor to marry unremarkable Nerdanel. They hadn’t expected for his son, his shadow, Curufin to wed the daughter of a priest.

But love comes where it is destined. And it stays there like an unwelcome tenant. It came for Curfin and you. 

Your upbringing immersed you in tales of the Valar and their valor, bound by reverence and tradition. Curufin, however, was raised in a household that reveled in defiance, a family that dared to question the authority of those who claimed dominion over Arda. Neither Feanor nor your parents had assented easily. But that too had come to pass.

Or else what could have been the chances of Curufin getting a sudden impulse to stroll, a mere few hours after he had delved into his father's smithy, a place he could stay in for days without respite. Why did he choose that exact moment for a break? And why did his steps lead him to the temple, a place his family had shunned? How was it that you, who usually worked out in the gardens of the temple was the one singing the hymn that morning? What had led you to sing like that, that particular day?

It was as if the entire universe had conspired to blend your path to him. On a pleasant sunny day, when the flowers bloomed bearing all the colors of the rainbow, and the air thrummed with the subtle fragrance of incense, you met Curufin. 

It had happened in a fraction of a second. Your eyes met his and it was undeniable. In a hall full of people your singing faltered at his sight. Notes forgotten and worship discarded. Curufin on the other hand did not pause. He moved towards you uncaring of the eyes on him. 

Such was the unfortunate tale of your meeting with Curufin. A fate orchestrated by the entire universe.

[thestalwartheart]

the unknown craftsman

This is a another location prompt table fill that fills two prompts. One from @sweetbabyangels and one from @eleanor-is-fine, who sent me 'The British Museum' and 'a beloved place' respectively. I'm sorry this isn't set at the British Museum itself, but it was inspired by Grayson Perry's exhibition there called The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman. Our beloved place is the MI6 Memorial Wall. Warning for grieving/mourning and (the aftermath of) a Major Character Death.

[Read on AO3]

Under a gnarled tree in a private garden—the kind of garden people rarely saw in the urban sprawl of London these days— sat a mound of earth lay recently disturbed and repacked. It sat at the edge of a neat and well-tended-to memorial wall, and for days it had been drawing a crowd of mourners. 

The mourners were not tourists or flighty visitors. They were sentinels, defenders, worker bees and secret keepers, and they did not lay flowers as most people would. Not fresh ones, at least. 

Instead, they built a frame of objects around the soil. To any outsider, it would look mad; cult-like and strange, but then the man they were remembering was strange too. He would have been—or would be, depending on one’s beliefs—delighted to see the bullets dotted on the ground around him. He would have smiled at the model planes and the innocuous-looking watches and the ripped-apart computer accessories. To his right, a jade vase shaped like a hairless cat sparkled in the sun. He’d never seen it in life. It was a gift planned for a day too late, and it was one of the giver’s deepest regrets that he never got to give it to the man now in the ground. 

One woman, who could not keep her tears in whenever she looked upon the grave, placed a bouquet of steel-wrought roses on top of the fresh dirt. They remained there through rain and shine until a new white headstone arrived, gleaming brightly. 

“He was one of the greatest inventors of our age,” explained a man called Tanner to a crowd of colleagues as the headstone hit the ground. “And no one even knows his name. But you have him to thank for the peace of this country and the lives of our agents, half of whom would be dead without the things he built them.”

Tanner looked to a man at the back of the crowd, whose blue eyes were shining. 

All the mourners raised a toast to that. They were drinking a fine single malt from a small distillery in Wales. It reminded Tanner of the sweeping green hills of Bannau Brycheiniog and of marmalade on rye. 

“To our Quartermaster,” he said. “To Q.” 

“To Q.” 

The whisky went down smooth and warm, and people began to desert the grave in hushed groups. They returned to work with memories of Q flowing from their tongues, stories of technical prowess and nerve and shared pots of tea early on weekday mornings. 

At the end, two men remained: Tanner and the blue-eyed man. 

“No chance your talent for resurrection extends to others?” asked Tanner. Alone with a friend, he slumped with fatigue and grief. 

“If it did, I wouldn’t be looking at a headstone.” 

The man poured Tanner another drink, and they stood for an age in silence. The tombstone in front of them spoke well enough of everything they wanted to say. It read, simply:

Q, the unknown craftsman 1982 - 2038.  A stalwart defender of the nation and a dear friend.

[liminalmemories21]

Writing prompt... can I suggest one?

"What's in the box?"

Andrew has inherited TK"s love for animals, and especially his love for strays.  "He couldn't have inherited your ability to nap?" he'd said more than once when Andrew was little. 

He's learned to be wary of Andrew sneaking into the house carrying boxes.

Andrew coming home with a box carefully cradled in his arms, that even from across the kitchen Carlos can see is moving, combined with his mother's decidedly too amused grin puts him on high alert.

"What'cha got there kiddo?"

Andrew carefully puts the box down on the counter, keeping a hand on the lid.  Carlos narrows his eyes.  "So, you know how you and Pops keep saying you're going to be lonely when I go to camp this summer."

"Joking," he corrects.  His mother makes an indelicate snorting noise.

Andrew ignores them both.  "And how then the house will be so empty when I go to college."

He raises his eyebrows. "In four years."

Andrew nods.  "Right, but it's good to get ahead of these things, prepare for them."

Carlos eyes the box.  "What's in the box?"

Andrew clears his throat. "So you remember how Uncle Judd's brother's cat had kittens?  And how Charlie took one for her apartment, and Aunt Tommy took one."

He eyes his mother's badly concealed smirk with concern.  "Yes."

"Right, so there were four left and Aunt Grace persuaded Uncle Judd to take two of them, and Uncle Judd said we could have the other two if you and Pops said it was okay"

"Did he, now." 

Andrew nods enthusiastically.  "And then Abuela said we should bring them home for you to meet."

"Abuela is getting coal in her stocking this year," he mutters and catches his mother's muffled laugh.

"I am just the driver, mijo."  

He gives her a sardonic look.  "Really, Mom?"

Andrew watches them, and says very carefully, "I know this is just a meet cute, and Uncle Judd and Aunt Grace know we might bring them back, and I know you and Pops have to talk about it first because a pet is a big responsibility, and I know you said maybe one pet, and this is two, but they can keep each other company and all the books say that's better for them.  But, you should have a chance to meet them at least, right?  Make an informed decision?"

He snorts, and where Andrew got his ability to argue for a cause he has no idea.  Andrew gives him a beseeching look he absolutely learned from TK, and he holds up his hands. "Okay, okay, Pops and I will talk about it tonight, but if he says no then that's the end of it. No arguments" 

Andrew nods, and they both know that there is basically zero chance TK is saying no to kittens.  TK's actually better than he is at holding the line on house rules, but all bets are off when it comes to animals.  He tries to steel himself to be the voice of reason. "Okay, show me these kittens."

They are fat squirmy balls of fuzz blinking up at him from the bottom of a towel lined box.  He watches the way Andrew carefully lifts them out of the box, and cradles them up against his chest - and when did Andrew get this grown up already?  He accepts the tiny marmalade kitten that Andrew hands him, letting it climb his shirt and try to burrow into his ear, stroking a finger down its back  And, Andrew is right, he reasons, they are going to have a large empty house in a few years when Andrew goes away to college, and two cats will give them something to come home to, and better to get them now instead of trying to fill an Andrew shaped gap later.

"We have to wait to see what Pops says," he reminds Andrew weakly, but he's reaching out for the other kitten as he says it and they all know his caveat lacks force.

[psatalk]

Tetra Pak at Anuga FoodTec 2024

Tetra Pak, a global provider of food processing and packaging solutions, is set to unveil its latest innovations at Anuga FoodTec 2024 in Mumbai. The event will take place from 28th to 30th August at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, where Tetra Pak will present technologies tailored to meet the evolving needs of the food industry.

At Anuga FoodTec, Tetra Pak will highlight its innovative solutions for the prepared foods sector, addressing the increasing consumer demand for ready-to-eat products. From mayonnaise and chutneys to marmalades and hummus, Tetra Pak’s technology ensures these products are delivered with the highest standards of quality, safety, and consistency. The solutions are designed with flexibility, allowing producers to seamlessly switch between different products and recipes, thereby maximizing operational efficiency.

Cassio Simões, managing director of Tetra Pak South Asia, remarked, "For decades, Tetra Pak has been at the forefront of food processing and packaging innovation in India. With consumers demanding more choices, better quality, and enhanced experiences, every day presents a new challenge for food manufacturers. We believe that from expert advice to optimized food processing and packaging solutions, Tetra Pak is the perfect partner to help companies gain and retain a competitive edge in food production. At Anuga FoodTec 2024, we are excited to demonstrate how our innovative solutions can help food producers stay ahead."

A key attraction at the event will be Tetra Recart, an innovative packaging solution designed to replace traditional cans and glass jars. Ideal for a wide range of shelf-stable foods, such as sauces, purees, and ready meals, Tetra Recart offers significant environmental benefits, including up to an 81% reduction in carbon emissions compared to steel cans and glass jars. Made from 69% renewable paperboard and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Tetra Recart ensures that the materials used are responsibly sourced.

In addition, Tetra Pak will provide an interactive product sampling experience at the event. Attendees will have the chance to taste the freshness and quality of foods processed with Tetra Pak’s state-of-the-art technology and packaged in Tetra Recart®. The sampling will feature a variety of prepared foods, including hummus, chutneys, mayonnaise, and an assortment of ready meals.

[yogabilityaustralia]

Top 5 Yoga Studios in Melbourne City

Whether you're into sweaty Vinyasa Flow or calming Yin, there is a studio in

Melbourne city for every yoga type. So, check out our list of the best yoga studio Melbourne City town and prepare to sweat, stretch and relax.

Exposed brick walls, repurposed timber benches and blonde timber dowel detailing set the scene at this cosy studio. Its calming vibes and classes that combine yoga with dynamic fitness are the drawcards.

Clifton Hill Yoga Studio

Like the Lentil As Anything of the Melbourne yoga scene, this pay-what-you-feel studio has stayed in business for a while and offers a wide range of classes from beginner to advanced. Their unique ballet-style approach combines barre conditioning with yoga and pilates to create longer, leaner muscles.

Mother and daughter duo Susan and Clare have three light-filled studios, in Balwyn, Mitcham and Ivanhoe. Each space enchants with white bamboo floors and wallpaper mural features, and the class options are a mix of brisk flow and slower yin and restorative poses.

John is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher who has taught a broad range of students, including Richmond and St Kilda footballers, professional rugby players and ballet dancers. His Carlton South studio comfortably seats 15 and is well heated, cooled and naturally lit.

Kaya Health Clubs

KAYA, Melbourne’s first Mind and Body Health Clubs, specialises in Reformer Pilates,

Authentic Yoga and Fitness classes. With two locations in Prahran and within Emporium Melbourne, members have unlimited access to studios, a dedicated cardio and weight zone and personal trainers.

It’s less like a gym, and more like a day spa, with the scent of fresh flowers and calming essential oils filling the space. The clientele is mostly female, so dudes who want to grunt loudly as they pump iron should probably head elsewhere. A single membership gets you unlimited classes at both studios plus a swish haircut from the team at Lady Marmalade Hairdressing.

Kula Yoga

Traditionally yoga has been a group practice. It was a way for practitioners to get their alignment and postures corrected by peers. This tradition continues at Kula Yoga. The studio is a gathering place for community members and offers classes for all levels and bodies.

Humming Puppy’s mellow, coffee-blushed studio is like a home away from home. The Prahran-based studio offers a variety of classes, from yin to hot yoga to barre conditioning. The yin is gentle and restorative while the hot yoga is more dynamic. Students of all levels are welcome, though a familiarity with basic moves is recommended. Beginners should start with basics classes before progressing to Kula flow.

Gertrude Street Yoga

Both a yoga studio north Melbourne and holistic centre, this Gertrude Street mainstay has the goods to get your body in tip-top shape. Set inside one of the strip’s heritage buildings, this place screams out classy with a pair of lofty, light-bathed warehouse studios. A hefty team of instructors means there’s a class for everyone, from brisk vinyasa flow to chill-out yin sessions.

Take your practice to fun new territory at Melbourne’s home of hip hop yoga. Here, reggae and folk music replaces the usual silence for energising beats and uplifting sessions. The space is also home to two awe-inspiring murals of Biggie Smalls. This is definitely a must-visit.

The Light Practice

At this South Yarra hot yoga studio, you can choose from power or slow flow classes that are heated to two balmy temperatures. The classes are designed to stretch and strengthen muscles while reducing stress and detoxifying the body.

Harrison Interiors designed this cavernous space to awaken the senses and cultivate a sense of grounded-ness. Interlaced steel arcs and black and clear reeded glass accentuate the existing factory trusses, and light-filled nooks activate the senses.

This Melbourne yoga studio offers a unique twist on traditional meditation practices. In addition to traditional vinyasa-style yoga, The Light Practice runs sound journey classes that use the vibration of gongs to re-align the nervous system and promote healing.

One Hot Yoga

The brainchild of yogi Lucinda Mills and architect Rob Mills, One Hot Yoga is bringing meaning to movement with their contemporary studio spaces in Melbourne and Sydney. The slick spaces feature recycled materials, an advanced heating system and signature scents to help you feel your best during class.

The studio uses hydronics to heat their practice space, which reduces energy use and helps keep the rooms cleaner a lot longer than traditional steam-powered systems. This is great news for people with sensitive lungs and eyes!

Their classes range from 27 degrees to 37 degrees and include everything from sculpting the body, to yin and meditation-focused sessions. After class, enjoy a healthy snack in their integrated cafe.

[captainmartinisblog]

Terra Firma!

Friday 21st June 2024 – Sydney, Nova Scotia.

After the party yesterday, Dinner in the main Restaurant was surprisingly subdued. I’m not sure where everyone was but at least service was quicker; we were in and out in 75 minutes!

Oysters Rockefeller were on the menu; one of my favourite dishes. I wasn’t so keen on the Pesto Risotto in my main course though but the Herb Marinated Jumbo Shrimp were nice. Oddly (me not being much of a dessert person), the Citrus Symphony (parfait, two types of meringue and citrus marmalade) lived up to its name and was a great refresher.

Today we finally arrived in Sydney, Nova Scotia and most of Viking Star’s passengers I suspect breathed a sigh of relief, able to step on dry land for the first time in 6 days!

Founded in 1785 by colonists fleeing the aftermath of the American Revolution, Sydney became a centre of development from coal-mining in the 18th Century. However, while the decline of coal and steel during the 20th Century was replaced by tourism in Cape Breton Island, Sydney was largely overlooked as a tourist centre until some years ago, when they invested in a new Cruise Terminal, outside which stands the World's largest ceiledh fiddle, in celebration of the area's Celtic tradition!.

Sydney was once the capital of Cape Breton Island until 1820 when Cape Breton Island was merged into Nova Scotia and the capital moved to Halifax (where we will be tomorrow). There is some history here though and today, Angie and I took the ‘free’ excursion to the Fortress of Louisbourg.

Developed by the French as a fortified town to protect rich fishing grounds from 1720-40, it was laid siege to and won by the British in 1745, then given back to the French in 1748, only to be captured again 1758, following which, it was systematically destroyed and its stone shipped elsewhere.

The present buildings on the site are reconstructions and represent around 20% of the original town as it was in 1744 just before the first siege.

We had an interesting tour, including a musket-firing demonstration by a Canonier and a typical hot chocolate drink enjoyed by the better off of the town. And in one of the buildings there was an enormous model of Fortress Louisbourg made entirely out of Lego!

Blessed by unseasonably warm weather today, with temperatures up to 23 degrees, there was an ‘Officers’ Sailaway Party’ on the pool deck – with more free drinks served by some of the senior officers. I had a ‘Rock Lobster’ (Rum, Banana liqueur, Malibu, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice & Grenadine) as well as ‘Sex on the Beach’ (Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice)! I then went for a lie down……

[cagemasterfantasy]

Plate-of-Gold

Serves 4 as an appetizer

Ingredients: Sweet and Sour sauce: 1/3 Cup apricot or peach jam or orange marmalade, 1/3 cup ketchup, 3 Tablespoons cider vinegar, 1 Tablespoon light or dark brown sugar, 2 Teaspoons soy sauce, 1/2 Teaspoon chile-garlic sauce (Optional), Kosher salt

Tempura: About 1 1/2 quarts canola or other high-smoke-point oil for frying, 2/3 Cup cake flour, 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, Kosher salt, 2/3 Cup plus 1 Tablespoon sparkling water, cold, 8 Ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, very large cups halved, cold, 1 Sweet potato, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices, cold, 1 Yellow onion, trimmed, halved pole to pole, and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slivers, cold

Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the jam, stirring, until mostly fluid, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, chile-garlic sauce (if using), and 1/2 teaspoon salt and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking, to blend the flavors, 1 minute. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, if necessary.

Make the Tempura: Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with a double layer of paper towels and set aside. Clip a deep-fry or candy thermometer to the side of a heavy 5-quart Dutch oven, add the oil, and warm over medium-high heat to 390. Preheat the oven to 200. Place a wire rack on a second large rimmed baking sheet and set aside.

Meanwhile fill a large bowl about 1/3 full with ice and about 1 1/2 cups water. In a medium (preferably stainless-steel) bowl that will fit in the larger bowl, whisk together the cake and all-purpose flours and 3/4 teaspoon salt; set this bowl in the bowl with the ice water to chill the flour mixture. When the oil reaches 390, add the sparkling water to the flour mixture and stir just until the wet and dry are incorporated, but still a little lumpy; do not overmix.

Working with about 8 pieces at a time, use tongs or chopsticks to dip them in the batter to coat thoroughly. Allow any excess batter to drip off, then slip them into the oil and fry until slightly puffed and pale gold, adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain 390 stirring to prevent sticking, and turning the pieces over in the oil once or twice to promote even frying, 5 to 6 minutes for each batch. With a spider skimmer, slotted spoon, or long tongs, transfer the tempura to the paper towel lined baking sheet to drain for 30 seconds. Sprinkle lightly with salt and place on the wire rack set on the baking sheet and put in the oven to keep warm. Allow the oil to recover to 390 and fry the remaining batches. Serve with the sweet and sour sauce.

[loves2travel41]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Kate Spade Lady Marmalade Studs Earrings Clear Rose Gold NWT.

[soaringwindflower]

ACNH {December} January Journal

{12/31}

{Got Zodiac rabbit figurine in the mail}

{1/1}

{Bought Zodiac rabbit figurine from Nook Shopping; should arrive sometime}

1/8

Got Mom’s art in the mail

Dug up an aluminoid

Maddie’s birthday is on the 11th and Velma’s is on the 14th

Fishing Tourney on 1/14

Bought 10 turnips for 98 bells each

Won my first High Card, Low Card game of the year

DIY recipe: Potato curry

Visited Harv’s Island; bought a genuine Amazing painting, some shrubs, some wallpaper, flooring, and a carpet, bought a pair of shoes, got some items customized, and sold some weeds

Wisp visited, but I didn’t talk to him

1/14

Missed Maddie’s birthday :(

Fishing Tourney today

Velma’s birthday today; gave her a purple Humble sweater and she loved it c:

Got the Amazing painting in the mail from Redd and donated it to the museum

Got three bamboo shoots in the mail from Daisy Mae

Dug up another Stelloid and another Babbloid

Made a perfect Snowboy c:

DIY recipe: Steel-frame wall

Made Steel-frame wall

Visited Harv’s Island; bought a pair of socks, some backpacks, some wallpaper, some flooring, and a rug

1/16

Leif in plaza; bought 2 holly shrubs from him

Got a Chef’s outfit as a thank-you gift from Velma in the mail

DIY recipes: Fancy mum wreath, Orange pound cake

1/19

C.J. visiting; gave him three Tilapias for Flick to make into a model

Dug up another Rattloid and a second Dootoid

1/21

K.K. in plaza; didn’t request anything

Got Tilapia model (made by Flick) from C.J.

Found out the hard way (totally not through time travel what do you mean) that there’s no 2023 balloon arch in Nook Shopping

Dug up another Bubbloid and another Flutteroid

DIY recipe: Orange marmalade

Made Snazzy pansy wreath

Prepared some Orange marmalade, some Potato curry, and some Orange pound cake

Got some Nook Miles for collecting produce (Executive Producer 500)

1/22

Happy Lunar New Year!

Bought 10 turnips for 93 bells each from Daisy Mae

Visited Muffy’s house per her request and won another game of High Card, Low Card

Maddie was sick, so I made her some medicine; she gave me an Emblem blazer as thanks

Did a treasure hunt with Teddy; got some Tortoise specs as a reward

Cleo wanted to visit; won High Card, Low Card again c:

Prepared some Fish-and-chips

[rhapsxdydivine]

Her hands fanned along the sturdy marble balcony that overlooked the water. With the encroaching inkiness of evening, the surface of the water kissed with the warm marmalade flow, quickly receded into darkness. For a moment, the placid waters melted into shadows before the lazy glow of lanterns seemed to awaken in sequence. Frankie couldn't exactly wrap her head around seeing such a beautiful change of guard, let alone that she was in Venice at all. Sure, it wasn't how she expected to be here, but she was grateful nonetheless. The hammering bass that boomed through tightly sealed doors finally seemed to simmer to a dull whisper.

Peace.

Frankie stretched her hands up and out, the satisfying pop in her elbows radiated down towards her shoulders. With Ava well tendered in the wild ebb and flow of the well deserved glory of her accolades, she could breathe in the comfort of silence. Her jaw ached from all the smiling and nodding; people in the industry loved when people smiled and nodded. The tension rocked up her spine like lightening through a steel rod at the approaching footsteps. His honeyed tone steeped in mirth only slightly dousing out her concern.

Brandon Riggs was a dangerous man for all the right reasons. If not for the rugged James Dean curb appeal but the way his eyes followed a person's gaze with such interest; the level of intimacy wasn't intimidating but strangely intoxicating.

"Mhm," her lips twitched up in a half smile as her head bowed. Frankie often felt like she had swallowed a fist full of marble; each glassy orb stuffing up the words that should have simply flood from her lips. It was difficult to determine how best to navigate their strange kinship. Despite his station, she sensed loneliness. It mirrored the kind that blossomed between her ribs and filled her chest with a forest of uncertainty. "..thankfully it's still warm. I've narrowly avoided the death by coats last time.." she braced her hands on her hips. "I don't have to remind you how bad of a habit that is, right?"

⋯ 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 ⭑.ᐟ 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘦

@rhapsxdydivine

Fuck, he could really use a drink.

If there was ever a time when his nebulous sobriety was put to the test, it was times like these. Brandon never cared much for this part of the lifestyle; the incessant expectation to network and mingle amid an assembly of elite depicting relatable caricatures of human beings. A succession of inexplicably painted smiles exchanged for artificial pleasantries and witty anecdotes. Trained deceivers. And he was the biggest deceiver of them all. Brandon was a terrifyingly adept schmoozer. He was all charm and crooked grins, and they ate it up. He was confident that if he hadn’t had such a knack for directing, acting would have been a good fallback.

He found himself making a stealthy getaway for a quick smoke, a desperately needed reprieve. It seemed unconventionally predestined that he should discover her already in his indefinite haven, the parallels to that night startling. And, just like that night, Frankie stood out against the quintessential grain.

Amongst the glitz and glam of tinsel town’s finest, she looked very much like a wallflower plucked from its wild roots and cruelly planted in a garden of wax roses.

However, his perspective on her had changed from that of a mere incidental figure in his wife's world to one of growing fascination. In greeting, a lopsided smile formed around the tip of his cigarette, "A wallflower in the wild…"

"It looks like we had the same idea."

[ask-ritasteel2]

marmalade: I shook my head yes as it was the only thing my body could bring itself to do at the moment. The pain in my eye was gone, but so was my sight. Everything was pitch black, except for the lightened shadow that I could see in front of me. My back was stiff, and my hand was...it's...broken, how, what? In an instant my body allowed itself to unlock from the frozen pose it was in, and I looked up towards the figure that was casting the shadow, and my eye tried, but failed, to gather what I was looking at. Great. Another thing that'll probably pull me further away from my mission.

[ask-ritasteel]

marmalade: I got up and brushed the sand off of myself. Staying here isn't going to help me get back to Ally. I turned and looked towards the far distance in front of me, and it looked untouched for miles. "Maybe I'll find something if I just walk?" The sand felt warm against the bottoms of my feet as I began my journey. It was a sense of warmness that I had yet to discover before. As I walked, I looked at the scenery around me. There wasn't much to be honest. Some bushes, one or two trees, and eventually a small stream that connected itself to the ocean. For a while, I had kept my attention on things to both of my sides, and not once looking towards me. The one time I did, however, I found something interesting...

marmalade: It was a lady who had red-orange ombre hair, and clothing that was made of what appeared to be different shades of blue. There was a purple eyeball on her back that connected in the middle of where the two straps crossed over each other. It was really strange, but the thing that caught my interest the most were her stretch marks. They were purple, and for some reason, glowing a very lighter shade of the same color. A feeling of dread arose in me while I tried to examine her from where I stood. At the same time, she must have noticed that someone was standing behind her.

???: ...Why, you've grown up so much since the last time I saw you Rita! I, myself, find it hard to believe that you managed to last it this long, but I guess we can't always have our dreams come true. Come over here and let me take a look at you!