#messaged him again today since today was the deadline even though he said he transferred this responsibility to someone else

[got7]

being annoying has its perks i guess

[moonbeambucky]

Hey Neighbor (Part 23)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader, Peter Quill x Reader Word Count: 3787 Warnings: fluff, light angst

Summary: You had a plan and then life came along with one of its own. With your future almost derailed you worked hard to get yourself back on track and finally everything seemed to be going right… that is, until your new neighbor moved in.

A/N: Sorry for the delay but it’s here now, I hope you enjoy! Feedback is always appreciated!

HEY NEIGHBOR PART 22 | HEY NEIGHBOR MASTERLIST

It was hard to come to the realization that Bucky did want a relationship but you didn’t cut it. The weekend at the wedding was a test and you failed. You may have gotten high scores but obviously there was something about Claire that made her better than you. You’ve known Bucky for almost a year but in one date she was able to capture his heart in a way you never could.

The truth sits in your stomach like a rock, feeling the pain each time you move. It’s a boulder tied to your leg and you’re drowning but Peter cuts the rope, with soft gazes and a tender touch, sweet words and sweet sounds he pulls from you as you’re tangled together in bed.

You let go, let yourself be pulled into a bright world where Peter is waiting, because he actually wants you. There is no test. No competition with the exception of Groot. Even Rocket warmed up to you, the temperamental animal preferring to cuddle up in your lap over Peter’s. There was light now that the sea was no longer about to swallow you whole.

The group chat would still go off with messages about plans but you chose not to attend, taking the time to be alone with Peter or hang out with his friends. Drax was a fellow firefighter, a burly man, bald as an egg and covered in tattoos. Thor was a firefighter too, tall with cropped blond hair and biceps bigger than your head and then there was Gamora, the first friend Peter made when he moved to the city. And by friend you think he meant girlfriend though they have more of a platonic relationship now. She was effortlessly beautiful with rich brown eyes and hair, with the ends dyed a bright magenta that complimented the warmth of her skin.

It was nice to hang out with different people and it opened you up to seeing a new side of Peter when he was with his friends. Sometimes he was the Peter you knew, lighthearted and playful, teasing Drax for being too serious to understand a joke, other times Drax would make fun of him; a booming cackle coming from deep in his belly as he laughed at Peter’s expense. Most of the time Gamora would roll her eyes, calling them both idiots.

Thor did his fair share of teasing too although much less now that he was transferred to a new station. It’s probably for the best considering how often he and Peter seem to be in competition with each other though it’s all friendly underneath and you could tell how close everybody was.

They acted like a family and quickly accepted you as a part of theirs but your heart ached behind your smile, missing your own family. Steve who was like a brother to you, Wanda your sister, Peggy the mom of the group who was always there to care and comfort you if you were hurt, and Natasha the other mom that struck fear into the hearts of anyone who would dare hurt her family. Sam and Clint were the troublemakers and then there was Bucky.

You couldn’t think of how to describe him when you didn’t know what was real anymore. The Bucky that exists today is not the person you first knew; the man that was passionate about his music but apologized the moment he realized he was inconveniencing you. He didn’t have to do that. He could have been your asshole neighbor but instead he became a friend.

Peter takes your hand, jolting you from your thoughts as he pulls you off the couch to dance to “Come and Get Your Love.” It’s a fun distraction and you allow yourself to enjoy being swept up by it and surrounded by Peter’s affection.

Groot became accustomed to seeing you in Peter’s apartment, giving you a big greeting as you came over for dinner after a long day of work. Peter was able to steal a kiss before the big dog demanded more of your attention.

“Babe, can I use your laptop?” you asked, kneeling down to rub Groot’s stomach, hitting the spot that made his leg twitch.

Peter stepped away from the stove, wiping his hands quickly on a towel before getting his laptop from the bedroom. With Groot satisfied by his tummy rubs you were free to say hi to Rocket though he was sleeping.

“Here you go,” Peter said, handing you the laptop and leaning in for a better greeting. His tongue slipped past your lips as he deepened the kiss, pulling away when the hiss of boiling water splashed against the flames.

You set the laptop down on his table, bouncing your leg as you opened the cover and waited for it to load. Commencement was next month and you hadn’t applied for graduation yet. An email reminder you got earlier today sent you into a panic as the deadline was coming up.

It was not like you to forget something as important as this. Sure, there’s been a lot going on in the last month but there is no excuse to have let this slip your mind. You’re eager to take care of it right away, ready to log on to your school’s website but the last page Peter browsed was still up and it made your jaw drop.

“Oh my god Peter!” You flipped the laptop around to face him as he craned his head back. “What is this?” you asked, bursting with laughter.

Peter bloomed red like a rose, eyes going wide as he laughed, “Oh shit, sorry!”

The Sex Files, a threesome with an Agent Mulder-esque man having sex with two alien women, a busty brunette painted dragon fruit pink and the other a slim redhead with Wicked Witch green skin.

“Aliens, really?” You raised a brow questioning him with a smirk.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, slightly embarrassed. “It was on the main page. I gave it a chance,” he shrugged, chuckling.

You shook your head laughing, opening up a new tab so you could finally submit your graduation application. As Peter finished preparing dinner you ordered your cap and gown, smiling a little wider when you saw the citron hood, a symbol of all the hard work you’ve put in towards your Master’s degree.

Over dinner you teased Peter a little more about his video. “It’s fine if you’re into that but you won’t catch me painting my skin. Do you know how messy that would be?”

“You might as well. If I had a black light, I bet this place would already look like a Jackson Pollock painting.”

Groot lifted his head at your loud burst of laughter, playfully shoving Peter’s arm. You wouldn’t be lying if you said his joke was still on your mind later that night, lying together in his bed after having just added to the invisible art.

Hot sticky skin against each other’s, the sheets lightly draped over you as the mugginess of the air settled in the room. Your eyes closed languidly, watching the rise and fall of Peter’s chest as you drifted to sleep.

The sun blazes on the street of a sweltering Sunday morning as you walk towards your destination, wiping the sweat from your brow as you huff down into the seat beside Natasha and Wanda whose hair were nearly identical now though Wanda’s had a more fiery copper tone. A tiny smile pulls at your lips when you see mimosa flutes already on the table; now it was officially time for brunch.

You apologize for not seeing them as much lately and thankfully they understood. Wanda was practically inseparable from Sam when they first started dating so she definitely didn’t blame you, although she still thought you were making a mistake.

Bucky was in the back of your mind though you did your best to ignore the fact that you were at the same place you met Wanda almost a full year ago to complain about your new neighbor. So many things have changed but obviously it’s for the better.

“So…” Natasha said with an enticing tone in her voice. She wiped crumbs off of her lips, a faded cherry red from the lipstick that still clung to them. “I have big news.”

“You’ve set a date!” “You’re pregnant!” You and Wanda spoke at the same time, waiting with anticipation to see who was right.

“No,” Natasha laughed. “I made partner!”

“Congratulations, that’s amazing!” you said, leaning over to hug her.

Wanda followed suit and as you sat back down you kept your lips pressed tightly together, eyes widening as Natasha raised a brow to question Wanda about her guess. She sunk back into her seat, clenching her teeth with embarrassment but Natasha was only kidding (or maybe she wasn’t, sometimes you couldn’t tell.)

“Clint and I are going to throw a party once it’s official, nothing big. Y/N is it okay if I invite Bucky?”

Natasha’s turned towards you, holding your gaze with compassion overflowing in the depths of her eyes. She knew what happened between you and Bucky. Whether someone told her or she put it together herself, the latter most likely, it didn’t matter. She knew. She knew and she wasn’t looking to force a resolution but to make sure that you as her friend would be comfortable being around Bucky. You assumed she realized you weren’t only spending time with Peter because of your new relationship but still Natasha didn’t question your actions. She waited patiently, a soft smile on her pillowy lips until you gave an answer.

“Of course Tash, you can invite Bucky.” Wanda started to look as green as her avocado toast as she gave you a worried stare. “I promise, I don’t have a problem with him.”

No one questioned your answer despite the opinions they held back silently and the rest of brunch was spent playing catch up since Steve’s birthday. You hadn’t really missed much, Clint was sleeping until noon most days, Steve was still growing in his beard, Bucky was… still with Claire. Yeah. You figured. You may have checked her Instagram again, seeing a picture of two coffee orders tagged at The Grind House.

After leaving the girls you went home with a seed of anxiety planted in your stomach, knowing it will grow larger every day until Natasha’s party where you would have to see Bucky and Claire again. You wanted to get this over with, rip the band aid off and see them but sometimes life liked to mess with you. Natasha’s party wouldn’t be until the following weekend because this weekend she and Clint were going to Vermont so he could participate in an amateur archery tournament.

You try your best not to focus on the countdown until the party despite the sequoia sized tree of anxiety, each limb a different scenario playing out in your mind of all the terrible things that could happen. It didn’t help that this was your last week at Metro-General as the semester was over. While you were thrilled to have finally finished your hours leaving Elena made you emotional.

This was the end of a long journey, a ride you never expected to be on for so long but now it was over; this is the end of the line and part of you doesn’t want to get off the train. Your legs are atrophied from being in the same spot, Stark Industries, Metro-General, soon it would be time to walk away from both but you’re not sure you remember how. The real world is scary and your doubts and fears are starting to take over.

On the Monday before the party there’s a knock on your door and all you can do is smile. You’ve expressed to Peter just how anxious you are about actually achieving your dream. He comforted you, reminding you there was nothing to worry about and to cheer up. Peter always knew how to bring out your smile and you suspect he’s orchestrated another flower delivery for you. A pre-graduation congratulations of sorts, something to lift your spirits and get your mind back on track to where it needs to be.

You open the door without looking, expecting to see a grand bouquet, or even courier holding balloons but instead there was Bucky. You felt the tree twist within your body, growing to an enormous scale. Your eyes catch sight of an item in his hand, a hanger wrapped in plastic and beneath it the dress you wore to the wedding.

“Hey nei– ” He cleared his throat, speaking your name instead after watching the way your whole body dropped at the sight of him, from the smile that faded to the slouch of your shoulders. “I needed to get my suit dry cleaned and I forgot about this. I got it dry cleaned too so, uh… don’t worry about it.”

He rambled a bit, nervous, handing the dress to you.

“Thanks.” You said, biting back the nauseous feeling that crept its way up your throat.

“Going to Nat’s party?” he asked, hoping small talk would open the door to a real conversation.

Yes, I was friends with them first. “Yeah.” The curtness stayed in your mind only though your short answer wasn’t any friendlier.

Bucky nodded his head, “Kay… cool,” he said, with an uneasy tone that tried to pass itself off as calm. “See ya there.”

You smiled with tension, shutting your door. Tears were burning in your eyes, falling down your cheek as you jolted at the sound of his door slamming beside yours. Your dress was tossed to the side as you ran into the bathroom, running the water in the shower to mask the sound of your body heaving over the toilet. Bile burned up your throat, hot tears streaked down your cheeks and your heart felt like it was being torn apart by wolves.  

Avoiding Bucky didn’t help you get over him, and seeing him now, clutching your dress… a painful reminder of the weekend you spent together made it all worse. You wanted to call Wanda, to cry in her arms again, or Steve or even Val, to get drunk with and forget this ever happened. But you couldn’t call anyone. You couldn’t do anything but sink onto the cool tile floor of the bathroom, wishing you never met Bucky, sorry that he ever moved next door in the first place. You cried until there was nothing left to give.  

Now that you were done with your internship you were back at Stark Industries full time, devoting your days to The September Foundation, and helping coordinate a guest list for the opening gala. It was a lot of work that kept your mind very occupied so when it was time for Natasha’s party you were feeling better.

Better but not great.

Every time you glanced over at Claire’s arm looping through Bucky’s you felt weak and gripped Peter with a tighter hold. Each time he would lean down to kiss your temple, to hug you, hold you, show affection in any way while being ignorant of the real meaning behind your touch.

Claire waved her hand in front of Bucky’s eyes, having apparently been calling out to him though he didn’t hear it. He was caught up in his thoughts, lost in a tunnel that plunged him further into darkness every time Peter caressed your sweet skin.

He apologized, snapping himself back, taking note of the concern held in Claire’s eyes. He forced his muscles to fake a smile but it was useless, just as he tried to force the emotion that was absent in their kiss. Does Claire feel it too? It’s been that way for a while, empty actions, going through the motions so Bucky can continue to convince himself that something is there but he can’t do it anymore.

The next day he breaks up with Claire and it isn’t a surprise. They part on amicable terms and while Bucky should feel better he doesn’t. You’re still with Peter, and it was his stupidity that sent you straight into his arms.

Claire was supposed to be something special, that relationship he had been longing for but instead she was just a distraction, a voice to occupy his mind, a warm body to keep him company, but none of it worked. Her voice was nails on a chalkboard compared to yours, her body a pair of dice thrown across a half empty puzzle; it wasn’t a match, she wasn’t you.

Now it’s Bucky’s turn to avoid you, staying quiet in his apartment, taking the stairs so he didn’t have to chance meeting you in the elevator. He can’t handle it. He walks quickly past your door, his heart wrenching every time he’s forced to think of you, remembering what he lost.

Emptiness creeps in like a fog, loneliness settles in the empty cavern of his heart, without you life has lost its rhythm.

It’s late in the day when you receive an email from your school that sends you reeling. You couldn’t graduate. You thought it was a mistake, it had to be! There was no way this was correct.

Shaking fingers dialed the school as shaky hands stumbled across the keyboard, logging into your records and double checking that every class you’ve taken over the years is complete with a grade, and then you saw it. Your internship. INCOMPLETE.

Upon the school’s review you didn’t have enough hours, which is impossible because you have been busting your ass since the Fall semester to do this. You planned it, calculated every day, every hour and yet somehow you were wrong.

Your voice cracked as you begged for a resolution, bawling to the person over the phone that you’re thankful can’t see the way tears and snot are streaming down your face, sorry for the fact that they have to hear the way you loudly blow your nose into the phone.

By the end of the conversation you have a plan but it isn’t one that you like. You can walk for commencement next week but you would have to make up the hours and won’t receive your diploma until December.

You cleaned your face, barely, hoping to avoid everyone as you made your way down to Steve’s desk. You broke the moment you saw him, trying to keep your composure as best as you could until he was ready to leave.

Steve was devastated for you as was Wanda when you spoke to her that night. Natasha was already looking into your school’s policies to see if there was any legal recourse. “We can prove negligence on their behalf by failing to communicate in a timely manner to you the student that you did not meet the necessary requirements for graduation, therefore breaching their contractual obligation to provide adequate course guidance in accordance with…”

She went on with more legal jargon before you stopped her. “No, Nat this is my fault. It was my responsibility to calculate my hours. Would it have been nice to have an accurate figure to go off of? Sure, but I was the one who should have double checked. If I went in for an audit I would have known exactly how many hours I needed to get complete before the deadline.”

Natasha let out a sigh of frustration, wishing there was something more she could have done. Instead she let you lean against her, curled up on her couch as Clint prepared a giant bowl of ice cream topped with whipped cream, M&Ms and chocolate syrup.

“Thanks guys, I really appreciate this,” you sniffled, wiping a stray tear away.

It was nice to have your friends around for the night considering Peter was working. You could have texted him about this but chose not to. His shifts are long and stressful as it is and you didn’t want to add to whatever might already be on his mind.

But the next day you went to his apartment after work, somberly dragging yourself in through the door. Groot was able to put a smile on your face, and Rocket too, sticking his little hand out to try and unlock his cage upon hearing your voice but it wasn’t enough to stop the tears.

You took Peter by surprise as you wrapped your arms around him, soaking through his shirt as you cried. He held you close, stroking your hair gently as he whispered, “It’s okay. Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.”

Peter walked you to the couch, his thumb softly wiping away tears, squeezing your hand in his as he waited for you to let him know what was going on. And when you did he let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me so much. I thought something bad happened.”

You were taken aback by his reaction, confused for a moment because maybe in your tear riddled conversation the truth about what happened got lost.

“Peter, I can’t graduate. I have to wait until December.”

“Right but you’re going to graduate. You can still go to commencement and all you have to do is make up the hours right? Did you talk to Elena?”

Of course you spoke to Elena, she was sorry to hear about what happened and is going to work something out with you but that wasn’t the point.

“Peter, I don’t think you understand what this means to me. One of my best friends died from a situation that could have been prevented if a social worker was involved. Ever since then my only goal in life was to become a social worker, to never let something like that happen again. And now I have to wait four months to graduate, four months before I can apply for jobs and go on interviews.”

“It’s just four months.”

Whatever Peter said after you didn’t hear. Everything was white noise as four simple words destroyed your soul. How could he not understand? It doesn’t matter that you will be able to make up your hours (which you will), it doesn’t matter that you are allowed to walk for commencement next week (which you won’t because it isn’t real). What mattered was that after all this time, all of your hard work, the sacrifices you’ve made, working full time while you were in school, exhausting yourself to the bone with your internship, that none of it was enough and you still have to wait. It isn’t just four months, it's a painful setback for your dreams.

Peter doesn’t get it.

Bucky got it...

PART 24

[wyrdify]

@scentedbygunpowder​ asked:  A small handmade card with a jar of homemade preserves is left on his desk. She doesn't try to hide it or that it's from her. It would be foolish to. It's only a small gift, after all. However, near the card is also a bigger one, with more feminine handwriting and a floral scent that is signed "Elizabeth." Contained within it is a message about how she wishes they could have dinner together to celebrate his birthday sometime soon. It seems Roy's getting all kinds of birthday wishes today.

No one ever listened when he said he didn’t need anything for his birthday. Though, as Roy walked over to his desk with a smile, he wasn’t about to scold anyone for ignoring him. Not for this, at least. There were far better battles to pick from, and receiving gifts on his birthday wasn’t one of them.

He recognized the handwriting on sight, grinning as he read it was from Elizabeth. Always careful, she wrote it as if they hadn’t seen each other in ages--as if they didn’t work in the same office every single day. Having dinner together, however, hadn’t happened since before his transfer to Central. Even in East City, it rarely happened. They both had important work to do, late nights to keep, deadlines to meet...

Maybe... yeah, he would. Taking out some stationery he kept for just this sort of occasion, he started to write. Later, Elizabeth would find a letter hidden away in her desk, which read:

Dearest Elizabeth,

I’m overjoyed that you thought of me on my birthday. Your gift was incredibly thoughtful, and it pains me that I cannot leave work to thank you in person. Indeed, my mind wanders to you quite frequently while I’m trapped within these four walls. Dinner with you would be the highlight of my month. If you are free this coming Saturday evening, I would certainly not be opposed to seeing you.

Again, please accept my gratitude for your gift, and I hope this note finds you well.

Love,

Roy Mustang

Over the top, of course, but it was custom. Elizabeth knew what to expect from him at this rate.

[lonelyorbit134340]

Untitled (01)

Index: (01) (02) (03) (04)

It’s 9:15am on Monday morning and you scan the office floor. There is a general hum as people type away at their workstations but you noticed one empty chair. Min Yoongi is late again.

As if on cue, you hear a loud thud and see Min crash onto an office plant. He stands up, dusts himself off, looks up and meets your eyes. If he is embarrassed it is well hidden. The look on his face is all defiance.

You think about calling him into your room for a reprimand but you know it’s of no use. In the 3 months since he joined the company you know he doesn’t listen to anything unless he wants to. If he’s not so damn good at his job you would have fired him by the end of the first week. But he gets it. Nothing fazes him and he delivers when it counts. He’s actually performing at a higher level than people that are 2 to 3 years his senior.

So you are not going to get rid of him. But you want him to know who’s boss. A sudden spark cross your mind. “Yes, this will teach him a valuable lesson.” You’re going to put him on Project Flash.

Project Flash refers to a series of purchases by one of your company’s biggest clients, Gordon Wines. The project is not called “flash” because Wines is fast (although he is when he identifies his “prey”), but because if you make a mistake he’ll fire you in a flash. The deals he makes are complex and he wants it done yesterday. Some staff sees working in the project as a death sentence as your life will be consumed by work. Late nights, weekends, you lose track of time as the deadlines pile up one after the other.

 “It’s time for him to learn the value of hard work and discipline,” you think to yourself.

After you gather the relevant paperwork, you send Min a Skype message and ask him to come into your office. He slowly gets up from his chair and heads towards your office.

 *Knock knock*

 “Come in.”

 He sits down and looks straight at you, his eyes giving nothing away.

 “Min, finish up all your existing work today. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be working on a new project.”

 “And what will that be?” he asks.

 “I want you to start working on the Wines account. He has identified a new company for acquisition.”

You can see his mind turns for about a second. “You want me on Project Flash?”

“Yes, the team is busy working on the current deals and I need someone new to start working on this one.

“As you know, Wines is a demanding client and he does not tolerate fools. So I want to you double, no, triple-check your work before you hand it in. Also, his deals are time-critical so expect some overtime.”

“OK.” he says nonchalantly.

“I’ll send you a meeting invite for 10am tomorrow morning to go through the basics of the deal.”

The room is silent for a few seconds. Min realises that’s the end of the meeting and gets up. Just before he turns around, he murmurs “Thank you for the opportunity”.

You’re taken aback by the small hint of humility.

As he walks out of the room, you’re also taken aback by his perfectly shaped ass.

You catch yourself, shake your head, and return your eyes to the computer screen.

——-

It’s 10pm and the office is eerily quiet. The air conditioning unit is switched off, and all you can hear is the sound of paper flicking as Min reviews the mountain of documents on his workstation.

The latest Wines acquisition is at its peak and both you and Min are working insane hours. This is the fourth consecutive night of overtime. You take off your reading glasses and stare out of the office in Min’s direction.

To your mild surprise, Min is fully dedicated to the job at hand. He may still be coming in after the standard start time but with the late finishes you’re not holding it against him. He is quickly grasping the complex details of the deal. He asks the right question in meetings and the quality of his work is impeccable. Even though you know he’s good before the project, you are impressed. 

You walk out of your office and say to Min, “Are you up to Article 50 of the offer document yet?”

“I am reading it now, and I’m a bit stuck on subsection 3.”, he says.

“Bring it in and let me have a look.” you replied.

He strolled into the office with the offer document. Instead of sitting across the table and handing the document to you, he comes around to your side of the table and kneels right next to you. You can smell his musky cologne. Without realising, you take in a deep breath.

“The information in subsection 3 appears to contradict Article 27,” he says as he flicks through the document. You can’t help but notice his long, elegant fingers as he points at the different paragraphs.

You quickly gather your focus and explain to Min the asset cross-collateralisation which is a unique feature of the deal.

“Ahhh, OK I get it.” Min says, and you know that he has memorised everything you said.

“Alright, I think that’s enough for today, let’s call it a day and start again tomorrow”, you say.

Out of nowhere, Min asks, “Would you like to grab a bite to eat? I know you haven’t had dinner yet. There’s a ramen joint 2 blocks away that opens till midnight.”

You pause for just a moment when you hear your stomach grumble. You answer “sure”, grab your bag and head out with Min.

——-

The ramen restaurant is buzzing when you walk in. The owner eyes the two of you and smiles as he recognises Min. “The best table for my loyal customer!” he says and ushers you to the last two available seats at the corner of the joint.

After he sits down, he loosens his tie and moves his shoulders around, like is his trying to shake the stress of the work day off. 

“Two chicken ramyun and two soju please”, Min says to the owner before you have the chance to read the menu. “It’s their signature ramen.” he says as he takes the menu off you.

“I guess I’ll find out how good it is in a few minutes,” you reply.

“You won’t be disappointed.” he says confidently.

——

The ramen is delicious and the soju flows freely. To your mild surprise, you are having an enjoyable conversation with Min about this and that, from reality tv to the latest political news. 

The discussion turns to some of the more colourful characters in the office. “And Jin roasts the other junior staff relentlessly. Some of them are positively scared of running into him in the lunchroom,” he says, slapping his thigh. His eyes light up and his laughter is infectious.

“Two more bottles of soju, please.” Min orders. It may not be the best idea to have another drink, but work has been intense and you’re enjoying this opportunity to unwind. 

After you finish the last sip of the soju, he becomes quiet, looking down at the empty bowl. He’s probably tired after the long day, you think to yourself. You’re just about to offer to split the check when he looks up.

“So, what’s your secret?” he asks. 

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the youngest VP in the company. You handle the most complex clients when many in the company are your seniors. How do you do it?

You don’t know how to respond to this sudden change of conversation. You stammer for a bit. “Errrr, I do my best. And I guess a bit of luck fell my way.”

“Now you’re not being honest,” he says, turning to face you. There is something different in that way he looks at you, but you can’t quite place it. 

“You are exceptional. Smartest person I’ve ever met.” he says. You can feel warmth rising to your cheeks. 

“.... and so beautiful. Irresistible really.“

You look down, absorbing the meaning of his words, when you feel his hand caressing your cheek.

“Min …” you whisper. 

“Call me Yoongi”.

——

When you finally look up, you’re met by his dark, almond shaped eyes. Gone is the aloofness that he displays in this office, replaced by a tenderness that you’ve never seen before. You look at the mild hint of blush on his porcelain skin, his slightly parted lips, tousled honey blonde hair, and your heart is beating faster and faster. It feels like the world is standing still and all you can feel is his gentle touch on your face.

“Come with me,” Yoongi says softly. You don’t know what’s happening next but you want to find out. You give him a slight nod.

With quick movement, he grabs a note from his wallet, drops it on the counter, then takes your hand and the two of you walk out of the restaurant. 

Yoongi leads you to a small alleyway a block away, standing between you and a wall. In the dim streetlight you see him shifting his gaze from your eyes to your lips. The next thing you know his hand cups your face and he leans in. The kiss is tentative, but you can feel the warmth of his lips transferring to yours and there are butterflies in your stomach. 

He pulls away slightly and looks at you, waiting for your reaction. You lick your lips and that’s all the encouragement he needs. His hands move from your face to the back of your head, pulling your closer. No hesitation in the second kiss.

The kisses deepen and soon your tongues are intertwined. You taste the soju in his breath and you’re drinking it all in. He glides his hands down to caress your breasts and you shiver. Your body is craving for his touch.

Then you hear the crack of thunder. 

As the raindrops land on your face you stopped, as if waking from a dream. “What am I doing?” you ask yourself. 

You release your hands from Yoongi’s waist and step backwards. “I’m so sorry,” you murmur, and without looking at him, you start running away.

Yoongi is left standing in the alleyway, getting completely drenched.

[sass-and-suspenders]

His Heart (Part 1)

GIF from Grimesthangs

Pairing: Rafael Barba x Reader

Words: 2,302

Prompt: This was based on the song Straight Through My Heart for @thefanficfaerie‘s Backstreet Boys Challenge (I take no responsibility if you decide to listen to the song and get it stuck in your head)

Author’s Note: Shout-out to @madpanda75 who provided the support I needed to get this story done (especially when I got a paper cut). Thanks for listening to me complain about procrastination, my ill-advised caffeine intake, and my typo-prone monkey brain. We both played chicken with this deadline and came out stronger because of it 

The heat wave that currently enveloped New York City had barely been on Rafael’s radar these last few days. Sure, he had made small adjustments to his routine, drinking iced coffee and favouring linen suits, but the near Arctic temperatures of his air-conditioned office and apartment made it possible for him to nearly forget about the muggy New York air.

That is, until tonight, when his air conditioner stopped working. And now, the stifling heat was the only thing on Rafael’s mind, making it nearly impossible for him to fall asleep. Opening all of his windows and turning on his sad little fan did little to combat the subtropical temperature of his apartment; if anything, it may have made it worse.

After tossing and turning for hours, and being too stubborn to admit that getting a good night’s sleep was futile at this point, Rafael drifted off into an uneasy slumber. He felt your lips on his neck moments after his eyes closed.

“I missed you,” you mumbled into the crook of his neck.

Rafael smiled at your words, pulling you closer to him; the heat no longer a concern. You continued kissing his neck, working your way up to his face. When you reached his jawline, Rafael turned his head so your next kiss would land directly on his lips. Rafael felt you smile against his lips and he thought about how lucky he was to be with you. You trailed your fingers down his chest, pausing at the waistband of his boxers and glancing up at him. Before he could nod his assent, a car outside backfired.  

The noise jolted Rafael out of his dream and back into reality. Tangled in his sheets, damp with sweat, Rafael looked around his bedroom. The soft glow from the lights outside made it undeniable that he was very much alone in his bed. He stared up at the ceiling and let out a frustrated sigh.

It had been 239 days since Rafael had fallen in love with you.

239 days, 7 hours, and 11 minutes to be more precise.

And they had all been agonizing.

It wasn’t just the constant ache in his chest that made all of this unbearable. No, he had become used to that by now, regarding the feeling as an old friend. It was the fact that the person he loved was the one person who had despised him since he transferred to the Manhattan DA’s office.

Rafael let out another sigh. Whoever equated falling in love with being hit by an arrow had clearly never been in love. The throbbing pain in his chest felt more like the aftermath of a bullet that passed straight through his heart rather than the work of some measly arrow.

The pain had shocked him at first –he never expected to feel this way. His experience with Yelina had closed him off to the possibility of falling in love again. In fact, he had actively tried to avoid it. If it were possible, he would have put his heart in a box, locked the lid, and tossed it into the depths of the Pacific. But then you walked into his life, making the world seem more vibrant, and his resolution gradually diminished until it ceased to exist.

He hadn’t told you any of this, of course. What would be the point? You made your feelings about him very clear. So, rather than acknowledge the gaping hole in his chest, Rafael chose to soldier down and throw himself into his work. Despite working in the same building, he only saw you at monthly meetings or the occasional gala. Sometimes, he would run into you while getting coffee -he would think about these accidental encounters for days.

It appeared to work, this strategy of all work and no love, for a time. However, after the meeting he just had with his boss, Rafael knew this strategy was no longer viable.

Biting the bullet, Rafael strode into your office, secretly relishing the fact he had an excuse to see you.

“Cutter told me to get your advice on one of my cases,” he said in lieu of a greeting before you even had a chance to look up from the files spread out in front of you.

Rafael was never certain what triggered your disdain for him, but he made sure to act as if the feeling were mutual. He matched your caustic quips with his own, feigned boredom whenever he was forced to make small talk with you, and pretended that whatever praise he gave about your performance in court sounded as if it were being pulled out of him.

What no one seemed to notice, however, was how impressed he was by your shrewd quips; how he could listen to you discuss a topic as mundane as the weather and never get bored; how his eyes brightened whenever you walked into a room; how highly he thought of you, not just as a lawyer, but as a person.

In a way, he was glad you hated him. It made it easier.

“Wow, I never thought I’d hear you say you need my help,” you answered, putting your pen down.

“I didn’t phrase it like that.”

“Well, you should phrase it like that or you'll be on your own,” you said as you leaned back in your chair and smiled smugly.

“Fine, I need your help,” Rafael grumbled. “But just because you’re the only ADA in this office who has experience in corporate law.”

“Hmm, I feel like the wording of your request could have been more complimentary. I won’t push it, though, as I’m already afraid you admitting that you need my help might cause you to spontaneously combust.”

Rafael rolled his eyes. “So, you’ll help?”

“Sure, just let me mark in my calendar that today is the day Rafael Barba finally asked someone for help. Hey, what do you think the current rate for a commemorative plaque is? I should probably put one up in my office seeing as this is a historic occasion. How do you feel about the wording, ‘The great Rafael Barba once asked for help in this humble office’?”

Rafael pretended to shake his head in annoyance so you wouldn’t notice the smile threatening to appear on his lips.

When Mike Cutter walked into your office twenty minutes later, he found you and Rafael sitting on your couch, hunched over a police report.

“I’m glad to see you haven’t killed each other,” he greeted. “Especially since McCoy and I just decided to have you work together on this case.”

“What?!” You and Rafael exclaimed in unison.

“Mike, I have the upmost respect for you and Jack, but that is a horrible decision,” you added.

“Barba doesn’t have your experience with corporate law, and it doesn’t make sense for you to take over the case since you need to focus on preparing for the Zeller trial.”

“You do realize that you’ll be out an ADA when one of us murders the other, right?” you muttered.

“Two ADAs,” Rafael corrected. “The other would be stuck doing 30 to life.”

“No,” you shook your head. “The jury would definitely acquit me.”

“Why am I the one getting murdered in this hypothetical, but very plausible, scenario?”

“I think it’s obvious why.”

“It’s non-negotiable. This is a high-profile case that we can’t risk losing,” Mike cut-in, looking pointedly at both of you. “I’m confident that this won’t end in murder. Although, if it does, I do have a large stack of résumés sitting in my office.”

You and Rafael reluctantly assented, not seeing how you could change Mike’s mind. Since you all thought that having a second chair would send the message that the DA’s office was struggling, you agreed to help Barba behind the scenes, providing advice and aiding with trial prep when necessary. Once the details were confirmed, Mike said his goodbyes.

As soon as he was in the hallway, you and Rafael resumed squabbling. Mike chuckled to himself; Rafael might think that no one noticed the way he looked at you, but Mike certainly had. And while there was a good chance that pairing the two of you up on this case would end in murder, he thought it was equally likely to end in romance. His money was on the latter.

A similar conclusion was reached at the precinct later that day when Rafael stopped by to inform Olivia of Cutter’s decision. Even though you had never met Olivia, she had heard of you. The Homicide detectives you worked with spoke highly of you and she often saw your commendations in the paper. You had a reputation as an ADA who radiated quiet strength, who went above and beyond for the victims. You weren’t as theatrical as Rafael in the courtroom, but your track record was equally as impressive.

“You know, for someone you say you don’t like, you sure do talk about them a lot,” Sonny commented, butting into the conversation.

“No one asked you, Carisi,” Rafael scowled.

“Alright, alright,” Sonny held up his hands in mock surrender. “All I’m sayin’ is that when I was eight, I pulled on the ponytail of the girl I liked and called her a boogerhead instead of tellin’ her I liked her.”

“Thank you for that astute insight into the mind of an eight-year-old, detective,” Rafael said, glowering at Sonny until he walked back to his desk.

“He’s right, you know,” Olivia commented once Sonny was out of earshot.

“Carisi? Hardly,” Rafael scoffed in a half-hearted attempt to veil his true feelings.

“Think about it, Rafa. It might be good for you,” she said with a knowing smile.

As the days progressed, you and Rafael fell into an easy truce. The bickering still continued, of course, but it no longer constituted the primary portion of your conversations. Slowly, you became more relaxed around Rafael, allowing your guard to drop a little. In the corner of Rafael’s mind, however, was the ever-present fear that you would uncover his true feelings and reject him (if Carisi had suspected them, then surely you would as well). This never came to fruition, though, as you always seemed too preoccupied with your own thoughts to ever comment on his stolen glances at you or question why his fingers tended to brush against yours whenever he handed you a file. He knew he shouldn’t indulge in these little pleasures, but he couldn’t resist. He would take whatever crumbs he could get.

Olivia’s comment (as well as Carisi’s, much to his dismay) continued to linger in the back of his mind. He might not have to settle for little crumbs if he just told you how he felt -‘might’ being the operative word. These thoughts remained in the background, growing stronger until they bubbled over into the forefront of his mind one night.

“I don’t know,” you answered Rafael’s question of whether you should put the victim on the stand, running a hand through your hair.

You and Rafael were walking down the courthouse steps, having finished an intense trial prep session. The pavement was still wet from a summer storm earlier in the evening.

“What, they didn’t teach you common sense at your inferior law school?” Rafael teased.

You scoffed. “The University of Chicago ranks in the top five law programs in the U.S., but I could see how you would make that mistake –your fancy pants university probably cut the class about how to take your head out of your ass in order to make room for one on being pretentious while drinking scotch.”

“Scotch and The Art of Pretension is actually an undergraduate class,” Rafael smirked.

“Oh, my mistake. Were you able to fit it in your schedule or did it conflict with Yacht Fashion and Etiquette 101?”

You shot Rafael a smile and he felt his heart clench. Would knowing how you felt really be that bad? Even if it ended terribly, he could at least start to move on.

“Why don’t you like me?” He blurted out, catching you off guard. “Ever since we met, you’ve made it clear that you hate me and I don’t know why.”

“I don’t hate you,” you quietly replied, focusing your attention on a small crack in the granite.

“Then what?” Rafael asked, his heart feeling very exposed.

You took a moment to answer as an internal struggle waged between your heart and your head. In the end, your head won.

“You took my coffee.”

It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was the only part that you were willing to give him.

“What?” Rafael’s brow furrowed as he tried to recall the catalyst for your dislike of him.

“We were both at the same coffee shop one morning when you cut in front of me and took my coffee from the counter.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Obviously, I tried,” you gave him a wry smile. “But you were already half out the door and didn’t hear me call your name because you were on the phone.”

“That’s it? That’s why you don’t like me?”

“Wars have been founded on much less,” you shrugged, beginning to walk down the rest of the steps.

“Aren’t you going to ask me why I don’t like you?” Rafael called after you, Olivia’s words at the forefront of his mind. If you said yes, he would tell you everything.

His question made you momentarily pause at the bottom of the steps. You glanced at him over your shoulder, a sad smile on your lips.

“Goodnight, Barba,” you said before turning away from him and continuing on your way home.

Rafael remained on the courthouse steps for quite some time after you left, an idea slowly taking root in his mind.

[seouliloquy]

It seems like everyone is having a really rough time lately. I don't find comfort at all in knowing that I'm not alone, though. I don't know how anyone could, to be honest. But today is turning out to be a really shitty day.

Previously I had written about a problem with my tuition payments. I had anticipated getting a scholarship, but I didn't. So I had no choice but to apply to make payments in installments. However, the deadline for that application was also the deadline for sending tuition, which I waited until the end for my tuition payment stub online to show the reduction with the scholarship but it never did. So...i missed the deadline to apply for the installment payments as well. So on the very next day I went first thing in the morning to my global services office (since i'm technically an International Student) and they told me to go to my department office to ask if they could contact the financial services center and get them to allow me to apply a day late.

They never said I couldn't apply, and they didn't make a call. Instead, they told me that there was a 2nd period to apply, which started today, 9/11 until 9/13. So I was like okay, great and waited until today to send in the application. Turns out there was a language miscommunication (goddamn my Korean for not being good enough) and it wasn't a 2nd period to apply for the installments, it was a 2nd period to send the tuition. So, when i went to the department office again today to ask why my application wasn't working they were like "oh well you missed the deadline over a week ago of course you can't apply" and I'm like 'but you told me that i could apply today during the 2nd round" and they were like Oh...shit....no that's not what i said at all and we realized the serious misunderstanding I had because of fucking 2 words....! and they were like, there's nothing you can do except send the tuition by wednesday...

and i'm like, I have enough to pay half of it, but where do you expect me to come up with 2,000 dollars in 2 days? And even if i could some how miraculously find a way to borrow from a family member in the USA it would take longer than two days to make a wire transfer...

well then, take a semester off. no, i can't. if i apply for a semester off, i lose my visa and therefore would have to leave the country. forgoing student visa would result in me not just "taking a semester off" but actually dropping out of school, and then in order to come back I'd have to completely re-apply to school all over again, and the chances of getting accepted again are not so high, according to some people I know who made the mistake of thinking they could take semesters off like regular native students do...plus the cost and time of all that paperwork...and i'd have to leave the country. I have no where to go in the USA since i moved out of my parent's home years ago and they can't afford to take care of me...i'm a full grown adult and US healthcare is awful and i wouldn't have any health insurance to cover my Lupus treatments...it would just be a giant disaster....and i live with someone who relies on me for paying half the living expenses I can't just up and leave suddenly because of this stupid problem with just a deadline....!!!

so i was having a full-blown, completely internalized panic attack.

and then what happens, i get stupid and i start mulling, trying to figure out why my stupid ex boyfriend messaged me a few days ago casually asking how I am, pretending like he didn't leave me alone in the middle of the night to be assaulted and harassed by some old man and then dragged to the police station until 4in the morning, how he didn't completely leave me hurt and vulnerable and also ruined my best friend's birthday party and completely embarrassed me in front of my friends and other guests at her party, and he wasn't even sorry about it, and blamed me because of the argument we had when he left me there, which he started to begin with when i was trying to make him get over it and grow up! Plus i'm on my fucking period, I was running back and forth all day between offices and waiting around stressing about what to do, what the worst could happen, and i'm missing my classes and it's only the 2nd week of school, and missing classes affects my attendance which affects my grade and thus affecting my chances to get a 4.1 this semester so I can get a fucking scholarship next semester and not have to worry about this bullshit....

I was fucking pissed at him for thinking he had the right to even inquire about my wellbeing, when the way I see it, the moment he looked at me sitting on the curb crying, turned his back on me and got in that cab he lost all rights to even think about my wellbeing at all. So while i was sitting there waiting my fate at school, i raged at him. I told him how dare he think he has so much as half a right to speak to me let alone wonder how I am, how dare he act like we’re old friends who hadn’t spoken in a long time. I told him much i hated him, and how i wish he would get hit by a bus and die. how the world would be better off without his stupid existence. how i don’t care about him and how i’m better off without his pathetic, petty, narcissistic entitled ass giving me more problems than i need. and how yeah my life isn’t perfect or fantastic but it’s certainly better than when he was around. i told him how I seriously do hope he dies, and what did he say to me? "my lawyer just told me that what you just said I can use to sue you. "

LIKE WTF ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???? I told O and she burst out laughing.

you are a successful, college-degree-less hedge fund investor living it up with your new plastic girlfriend who isn't even pretty and probably only likes you because of your money (cause you certainly don't have a lovable personality, that's for sure) and you wanna sue your broke ass ex girlfriend for hating you. How narcissistic can you be? sorry princess, not everyone has to love you. And you want to argue with me that you have the right to inquire about how i’m doing because of freedom of speech and how you can talk to whomever you want? well then SO DO I, I have the RIGHT to tell you what I think about you. How stupid and low and self-centered, entitled son of a bitch cunt of a useless person can you be????? His poor miserable mother would have saved herself and the world a lot of trouble if she had aborted him. I was just so shocked...and also scared.  People in Korea who have money have a lot of power. They can do whatever they want, and the police in this country don’t give a shit about women or foreign women either so of course the man who claims to “feel threatened” in this situation is still going to have an advantage over the “barbarian foreign girl making death threats” um....I never said that I would waste my time attempting to kill you or arrange your death so I don’t know how that’s a threat but OKAY but WTF I know how this country’s legal system is complete shit when it comes to real justice and i wouldn’t be surprised if somehow the court would be laughing at this guy for doing something so stupid and petty but would just give him what he wants because he’s got money. UGH.

After hours of stressing I was able to figure out a solution to my tuition problem and it's in the works, and even though i'm glad things worked out, i've blocked my ex's ass like i should have ages ago, and i'm pissed that he actually is threatening to sue me and get me kicked out of the country...for expressing my feelings. If he claims to have a right to talk to whoever he wants because of freedom of speech, i have the right to speak my mind and tell him how much i hate him and how much I believe he doesn't deserve to live.

I really still just want him to hurt so much. more than I did after he abandoned me like that.....even if that means contracting a venereal disease or being crippled by a bus. I just want him to hurt. It's not fair for him to be living so carefree and happily, rolling around in his money while i'm struggling to survive, and trying my best to love myself and look out for what's best for me and be happy and keep focusing on my goals to finish school and be successful in my own way and then he thinks he can just stroll casually back into my life tralala like he did nothing wrong. He needs to feel pain, and be punished for what he did. It’s just not fair......

yeah, i wish i had more money so i could worry less about financial issues like this. but i'm not envious of him. I don't care about fancy cars or an upscale apartment in the fancy part of the city...but i wish i could just be happy and have the time and energy to do the things that I love, and be able to nurture good solid relationships with people who matter, be able to afford my damn healthcare and be able to love myself fully and be loved too and not have to deal with garbage like him and all my other exes and the evil people in this world who have tried to take advantage of me and hurt me.

I want revenge and I also just want peace and I'm SO. FUCKING. TIRED of this.

[northeastern-deirdredunham]

Transferring over to a Transfer

Hey friends, family, and favs. I’m super thrilled to be debuting a mini HA guest series the bloggers will be doing. As an admissions blogger and even a tour guide, we often find ourselves answering questions with, “Well, I haven’t had that experience but I know someone who has”. It’s a classic, so we wanted to bring you the perspectives of students who *have* had that experience.

Today, we’ll be hearing from my fellow HA and Presidential Ambassador, Lauren Cataldo, who transferred to Northeastern in 2015, as she shares her transfer advice and experience. I know Lauren and myself would be thrilled to help any of you out, so if you have any questions, shoot me an email at dunham.de@husky,neu.edu or a message here, and I’ll either answer it or forward it along to Lauren. I mean, don’t you want to talk to this smiling face? Alright, here we go!

--------------------------------

So You Think You Want to Transfer

By Lauren Cataldo

A Brief Introduction

My name is Lauren, and I’m a third-year International Affairs and Political Science major with a minor in Spanish. I’m from Endicott, a small town in upstate New York. I completed my first co-op this fall with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund on the Jimmy Fund Golf team, a non-profit that fundraisers for cancer patients through charitable golf tournaments. I’m back in classes this spring but in the fall, I’ll be studying abroad in Spain.

All of this sounds like a typical Northeastern introduction, except for one thing: I transferred here. I didn’t start my college journey at Northeastern. Instead, I spent my freshman year at Emerson College, a small liberal arts school located in downtown Boston (a mere jaunt from the Northeastern campus). I decided very early on that it wasn’t the place for me and came to Northeastern in the fall of 2015.  Now I’m sure you’re wondering—how did I end up here?

  A High School Decision

When I was initially looking at colleges, I visited Northeastern my junior year and I hated it. Yes—I hated it. I immediately ruled it out after my campus visit because I felt like I didn’t learn much about the academic programs, and it didn’t seem like the place for me. The next day, I went on my campus visit to Emerson and loved it. The school was specialized in a select number of majors, and you got heavily involved in your major starting your very first semester. I thought that it was a great fit for me; I applied Early Action and by December of my senior year of high school, I got my acceptance. I put down my deposit that day and committed to college. Since I knew I’d get my admission decision in December and regular applications were due in January, once I was accepted I didn’t apply to a single other school—I was that confident that Emerson was the right decision.

  Second Thoughts

By the end of August, I was ready for college. I had all my stuff packed and my good ol’ Emerson College sweatshirt ready to go. The way my freshman orientation worked was that freshmen moved in a week early, and that whole week was spent doing very cheesy orientation things. I’ll never forget the way I felt as we unloaded the car of my stuff—I wanted to throw up. I was so nervous. I attributed these feelings to being away from home from the first time, being in a new city, and to other freshman-related jitters.

I did my best to try and go to as many events as possible (in the true spirit of a freshman) but I remember saying to my roommate midway through the week, “Why is it the more events I go to, the more I hate everything?”

During my first week of classes, I had a few journalism-specific classes (my major), and immediately I could tell that something just wasn’t right. By Monday the next week, I was in my academic adviser’s office telling him I had to change my major. Due to Emerson’s specialized nature, freshmen couldn’t change their majors until the spring. He told me to wait it out. I called my parents about the situation, and they said the same thing: “It’s too early for you to know, you have to give it time.”

So I gave it time, and the longer I was there the worse it became. I really didn’t like my major—but I had no option to switch. And, even if I could switch, Emerson was so specialized there wasn’t even another major that I wanted to pursue. Aside from that, I found my classes unchallenging and I was struggling socially. Emerson students were definitely a certain “type,” and I found myself not fitting in at all.

By the beginning of October, I sat down with a professor to talk to her about all the things I had been feeling. I told her how I hated my major, how I was bored, how I didn’t fit in, and I asked her if these were normal freshman jitters. She told me that they were—but the extent to which I felt them was not. On that day, in a small coffee shop, she told me something that altered my entire academic path: “You need to get the hell out of here.”

  Not Part of the Plan

When you commit to a college out of high school the way I committed to Emerson, you don’t consider transferring. I’d say generally, most people don’t go into college knowing they want to transfer (though some do). For me, transferring was never part of my plan, and I really struggled with the idea that I had “failed” because I picked the wrong school.

I talked it through over and over again with my parents and my professor—because when you’re only a month into your freshman year, it can be hard to tell if you’re making the right choice. Ultimately, I was miserable, and we all decided that transferring was the only way I’d be able to get what I wanted out of college.

I didn’t have enough time to meet deadlines to transfer in the spring, so I decided to stay at Emerson the full year and transfer in the fall. I knew I wanted to study International Affairs, since I tended to gravitate towards global affairs in my journalism classes. I began the search for a new school, this time with a different set of criteria:

·       Large-ish, urban university

·       Diverse student body

·       Academically rigorous

·       Flexible academic plan

 My main focus of my college search was for a university that was a good fit for me. I wanted to be somewhere that I could be myself, socially and academically. It was actually my top priority—I wanted to be somewhere where I could be happy.

  Finding “The One”

I applied to several institutions that were all pretty similar in terms of size, academics, and overall ranking. Applying was not fun, and it was not easy. You’re really in it alone. It’s an independent process, and every application is different. It can be hard to keep track of all the different requirements each school asks for. Between lots of phone calls, emails, and trips to the registrar, I powered through the application process.

After I got my first acceptance, I called my parents hysterically sobbing, saying, “I got in, I got in!” I knew at that point that no matter what, I could leave next fall. As I received more acceptances, I began thinking of where I would go. I applied to some other schools in Boston, so when I was accepted I was able to go to their campus to visit. I was accepted to Northeastern and was considering it, but I was unsure since I had a not-so-positive visit a few years ago.

For Northeastern, I reached out to who would be my academic adviser there and asked him about transfer credits. He offered to meet with me with me since I was in the Boston area. I came to campus on a perfect, sunny day in May—and when I stepped out of Ruggles Station, it just felt right. After I met with my adviser, my decision was nearly cemented.  I knew I could build my academic career here the way I wanted to, and there was another feeling I just couldn’t explain. I just knew that it was the right fit, and even when I got my last few acceptances, my mind hadn’t changed. I knew I had found “the one.”

  The Transfer Transition

When you first begin the transfer process, you quickly realize just how independent of a process it is. Transfers aren’t given a lot of outside help or advice, because usually, you can’t find people going through the same thing as you. Most people haven’t gone through the process themselves, so it’s hard to ask questions and get the answers you want.

What makes transferring so scary is the feeling that you’re in it alone, and that when you finally transfer to your new institution, you’re going to be alone there too. One of my biggest fears was that I wasn’t going to make any friends and that I was going to stick out—like somehow, everyone would know that I was a transfer and that I didn’t really belong.

Transitioning into Northeastern wasn’t as hard as I expected it to be, but the transition process is truly up to you: it’ll be as hard or as easy as you make it. My advice is to just put yourself out there. I was never the most outgoing person, but I met people in my classes and I joined some clubs and tried to go to campus events. I figured out what I liked and delved deeper into those organizations. It’s not your freshman year, and you’re not going to meet people the same way, but if you get involved you will meet people and your circle will slowly grow.

I wasn’t branded with the transfer label the way I thought I would be. In no way did it inhibit my ability to do anything on campus. It’s part of my story and it’s part of my college experience, but I quickly felt like I was part of the Northeastern community and I wholeheartedly feel like I belong here just as much as anyone else. Don’t let being a transfer define you—instead, draw upon your different experiences to your advantage. There is nothing wrong with transferring schools in order to get what you want, so just go out and get it.

  Final Advice, To Freshmen, To Transfers, To All

When I give tours as a Husky Ambassador, my main focus is trying to help prospective students discover if Northeastern is the right fit for them. As much as I love it here, I understand that this might not be the right place for everyone—and that’s just as important to find out when you’re visiting a campus. I don’t want anyone to end up in a situation like I did; I want to help them find the right fit the first time. I always offer my tour groups three pieces of advice at the end, and I’ll share these with you as well:

1. College is 100% what you make of it. You truly only get what you put in, and I can’t stress this enough.

2.  Fit is key. Rankings, prestige, and statistics only mean so much. I promise you, if you go to a school that you can see yourself being happy at, you will do so much more there. I found myself naturally getting more involved at Northeastern because I was somewhere that made me want to be more involved.

3. Never, ever settle for your education. As much as college is a financial investment, it’s also an investment of your time. If at any point you aren’t getting what you want out of college, don’t be afraid to make the necessary changes in order to get what you want. Don’t waste your time somewhere that can’t give you what you need.

The decision to transfer was not an easy one—but it was by far the best decision I have ever made. Transferring was a risk, and I took it, and since then I have not stopped taking risks. I have approached change with a positive attitude, I have taken risks and tried new things, and I know that only I am in control of my future.

If you read this and you relate to it, if you’re looking for the same things that I was looking for, or if there’s just something missing in your academic experience—make the decision. Don’t be afraid to transfer. Take the risk. Make the change. I promise that your future is worth it, and that there is no greater reward than finding the place where you belong.

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 2/9/217

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Thursday 9th February 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT) or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

SKERRIT NOT LEAVING – Following calls by the opposition to resign, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has made it clear that neither he nor the government will “get out” because of any groups or individual but only through the ballot box. He also blamed the United Workers Party (UWP) for the violence that engulfed Roseau on Tuesday night following a public meeting organized by opposition parties calling for his resignation. “Nobody and no group of individuals are going to get me out or my government out without going through the ballots of Dominica,” Skerrit said at the AID Bank’s 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM) Wednesday morning at the Fort Young Hotel. Skerrit noted that his official address to the Nation on the matter will be done later today. He mentioned that he paid visits to the various business places that were severely damaged on Wednesday morning saying that the riot was “organized clearly by the leadership of the United Workers Party and their associates”. “It is incomprehensible where Christian people in this country, those of us who have a Bible and go to Church every morning and praise God would be condoning the actions of this United Workers Party because of our partisanship? And we call this country ours? That we love this country? That we are not prepared to stand in defense of the people who have invested their money and criminals go about the streets and destroying these people investments?” he said. Skerrit also stated that the activities have nothing to do with him but rather “about the country and the country’s future”. “When we send to the world the impression that this country is not a place to do business and to come to visit, how are we going to create jobs in Dominica? How are we going to sustain the economy? How are we going to expand the economy to address the poverty levels in our country?” he noted. He said that his silence must not be taken for weakness. “I am measured with my approach in life . . . . But let it be known that there should be no actions on the part of individuals in Dominica to overthrow this government. So if that is their intention, I am sending a message to them, they better rethink their plans,” he stated. Skerrit said the disturbances were “planned, calculated, and it was executed”. “If you look at Roseau and you look at the businesses that were targeted, that was not random, that was not spontaneous,” he noted. He claimed that there are “criminals who are are saying today that they got paid for carrying out some of the actions”. “Who paid them?” Skerrit asked. (BT)

LOCAL WATER RATES TOO LOW - A local conservationist has suggested the need for a hike in domestic water rates, saying it was one sure way of getting Barbadians to better appreciate that their island is water-scarce.    “The big thing the customer needs to do is to have a better respect for the value of water,” said engineer Andrew Hutchinson. Addressing a meeting of the Rotary Club West of Barbados at the Bagatelle Great House last night, he further argued that water in Barbados was still too cheap. “The commercial rate is .446 of a cent per litre . . . less than half a cent per litre. Then we [are] selling water to the ships [at the Bridgetown Port] at .8 cents per litre,” he pointed out. The conservationist also reported that about five million gallons of water was literally flushed down the toilets every day, without any available incentive for property owners to change their inefficient systems, which Hutchinson said account for a significant amount of water wastage. In addition, he said, there were some grumbles among residents about cost, many Barbadians had no problem purchasing the more expensive bottled water. “We complain it is too expensive, but yet those same customers – most of them – go the supermarket to pick up bottled water at $5 a litre and put it in their trolley, but they don’t want to pay Water Authority a half of a cent per litre,” Hutchinson said. (BT)

PRIORITY # 1 - Put aside the election talk and let’s come together for the sake of our country’s economy. This was the strident appeal made Wednesday by former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who is now warning that urgent action needs to be taken within the next three months to stave off the threat of a currency devaluation. With the country fast running out of foreign reserves and the Central Bank recently forced to put the immediate brakes on the printing of money, Arthur cautioned that now was not the time for political leaders to be engaging in rabid electioneering. In fact, he suggested that the only thing that Prime Minister Freundel Stuart needs to urgently announce is a “national consensus” on the ailing economy. He further cautioned that if the current slide continued unchecked, by June the island’s foreign reserves could be fully depleted, putting the Barbados dollar in greater peril. He also warned both the ruling Democratic Labour Party and the Opposition Barbados Labour Party that even as the constitutional deadline for elections approaches, it was not enough for them to simply assure members of the electorate that “we will not devalue the currency” as they try to “keep the spirits of the troops high”. In fact, he cautioned that though the required change was neither wanted nor desired, “it was about what is going to be forced upon you. Arthur, made it clear devaluation should be avoided at all costs, as he drew a comparison between the current economic reality facing Barbados and that which faced Jamaica in 1976 on the eve of Jamaica turning to the International Monetary Fund. He said back then the Jamaican currency was almost on par with the US dollar, but the Jamaican authorities had refused to accept the economic advice given for them to stop printing money. Since then, the value of that country’s dollar has deteriorated to the point that it now takes 128 Jamaican dollars to purchase one US dollar. Arthur also pointed out that at one point only three Guyanese dollars were required to purchase one US dollar. However, he said the country went on a similar “printing binge” which simply ‘catspraddled’ the Guyanese currency. He cautioned that while Barbados’ situation may not yet be as desperate as that which faced either Jamaica or Guyana,  “we are going there because [in addition to the pressure on reserves] the things you are depending upon to stop the slide are not happening, namely, bumper tourism and a lot of capital inflows.” He also pointed out that “the Government of Barbados cannot borrow a lot of money from the local banking system because they have reached their prudential limit . . . you have used as much national insurance as you can. The Government, because of the downgrades, can’t borrow money from lending institutions and investors in pension funds because they have a duty of care not to put their funds in things that are not investment grade.” In such a situation, Arthur said local trade unions have to be made to understand that their workers become worse off if we have to go down the devaluation route. Asked about his own role in achieving national consensus, Arthur said though he was prepared to be part of a serious process, he would not allow himself to be “treated like a mock stick”. He recalled that in 2014 he was approached by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler to be chairman of the National Economic Council and then nothing happened. Similarly, he said, “Mia Mottley once committed me against my will to be head of an eminent persons group that nobody ever said they wanted . . . . So I am prepared to be part of a serious process, but I am not prepared at my age, at this stage in life, to be made a mock stick of by either of the two political parties,” Arthur stressed. (BT)

START BY CUTTING BACK AT THE POST OFFICE, SUGGESTS ARTHUR - Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur today warned of the need for immediate rationalization of Government, suggesting the General Post Office (GPO) may be a good place to start. However, given the urgency to bring down the national deficit, he again called on the Freundel Stuart administration to revisit its spending on all 63 statutory agencies. Pointing out that transfers and subsidies to these entities were originally $1.2 billion, Arthur said it was a luxury Government could no longer afford. Therefore, he said immediate expenditure cuts would have to be made. Since then there has been every indication that the situation has worsened, with transfers to state-owned enterprises having fallen by $17 million, although interest payments rose by $53 million. As at January 2017, capital expenditure had also fallen by $36 million and the overall fiscal deficit, estimated at $665 million, was said to $5 million smaller. With the situation as it stands, Arthur cautioned that “to refrain from doing what you need to do is going to cause more pain than doing that which you need to do”. Zeroing in on the operations of the GPO, he suggested that amid technological change, the island’s postal services were now ripe for rationalization. Arthur also acknowledged that state rationalization had been recommended by the International Monetary Fund. However, he said even though the process was now past due it had apparently been halted following the controversial early retrenchments at the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation in 2015. To get the process going again, he suggested that Government would have to move quickly to try to forge a “national consensus” similar that which existed in 1991/1992 when the then Erskine Sandiford administration was faced with a possible currency devaluation. However, with a worrying deficit, he emphasized that there could no longer be any sidestepping of the matter, neither that of privatization, which he said must be dealt with “in an enlightened way given that Government is asset rich and cash poor. And with the Central Bank now refusing to print money, he stressed that the only other option was to cut the size of Government even though it may be an unpopular option politically.With the Stuart administration currently banking on the delivery of several capital works projects, including the US$100 million Hyatt hotel, Arthur further cautioned that the dollar value would not be delivered in one fell swoop. “They [the developers] will bring in enough [money] to meet wages and local purchases and hold the rest in a foreign account to pay imports,” he said. (BT)

DELTRO GETS PLANNING PERMISSION FOR SOLAR PLANT – There is light at last at the end of the proverbial tunnel for Canadian-based energy firm Deltro Group Ltd, which has promised “much cheaper” energy than what Barbadians were paying to Barbados Light & Power. A company spokesman today revealed that after a year of waiting, the Town & Country Planning Department had finally given the go-ahead for construction of its US$40 million solar panel manufacturing facility and 10-megawatts solar farm. However, a whopping $4 million in import duties on the manufacturing line is standing in the way of the commencement date of construction of those facilities. Del Mastro said the company had taken “a leap of faith” last August when it shipped to Barbados, the manufacturing line, which has been at the Bridgetown Port since. He said he was “not aware of any government that charged a capital investment tax or corporate surtax on manufacturing equipment, especially when it is a sector that is challenged”. As he did last July, the company executive blamed the delay in securing planning permission and the tax waiver for holding back the project, and he promised once the tax exemption was granted construction of the manufacturing facility would begin. He said after setting up the approximately US$20 million manufacturing plant, the plan was to establish the approximately US$20 million solar farm on about 70 acres of land in Waterford Plantation, St Michael. He added that while the approval for the solar farm was for a 10-megawatt grid-tied system with an energy storage component, it was the company’s intention to double the capacity over time. The Deltro spokesman said about half the investment had already been made in the manufacturing plant through the purchase of the approximately 50,000 square feet of land, including a building and the over 300 feet of manufacturing line from Trans-Tech Inc. While refusing to give details, Del Mastro said several countries had already been lining up to purchase solar panels, which he said should rake in significant foreign exchange for Barbados. Deltro said Barbados is estimated to earn US$50 million in the first year, with revenue projections of up to US$200 million within five years, he pledged. Leading local stakeholders and interest groups, including Williams Industries Chairman Ralph Bizzy Williams have objected to the project, with Williams telling Barbados TODAY last August that if Deltro were granted permission it would be an unjust act against local alternative energy entrepreneurs, whose efforts at getting similar treatment continued to fail. (BT)

NOT FAIR – UNFAIR. That is how business magnate Ralph “Bizzy” Williams has reacted to yesterday’s news the Canadian-based Deltro Group had been given approval from the Town and Country Planning Department to operate a solar panel manufacturing plant on the Trans-Tech site at Kendal Hill, Christ Church, and a 70-acre solar farm in Waterford, St Michael. “It’s quite obvious that I would think it seems to me to be unfair, but nobody elected me to run Barbados. So who’s running it would know why they gave the people the approval to put photovoltaics on Government land, when Barbadians could have done it,” he told the DAILY NATION. He did not seem enthused at the fact that chief financial officer of the Deltro Group, Dean Del Mastro, insisted that both companies were Barbadian and would create employment for locals. (DN)

PROMOTING SUGAR & RUM – The state-run Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) has launched a new tourism initiative to enhance Barbados’ cultural heritage and culinary tourism product offering. The initiative, themed the Barbados Sugar and Rum Season, will seek to tell an authentic Barbadian story on rum and sugar like only Barbados can. The season was launched last night at the historic Sunbury Plantation and was attended by top tourism officials including Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy and CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Billy Griffith. Addressing the launch, CEO of the BTPA, Dr Kerry Hall, said she was excited about the prospects of an event of this nature.“The Barbados Sugar and Rum Season will play an integral role in differentiating Barbados from its competitors, by focusing on several unique selling points of the island, especially the fact that Barbados is the birthplace of rum,” she said. The season aims to sensitize owners of restaurants, bars and nightclubs about the story of rum and its value to the economy, encourage wider use and consumption of Barbadian rum among locals and visitors, demonstrate the versatility of rum in culinary use, educate locals and visitors about Barbados’ rich rum and sugar heritage and enhance the tourism product offering. Dr Hall sought to clarify that the new initiative was not like the already running Barbados Food and Rum Festival. “The season is more nationalistic and broad-based and runs for a longer period of time,” she said. Manager of Innovation and Strategy at the BTPA, Terry Vanterpool-Fox, reiterated that the season should not be confused with the Food and Rum Festival. “The Barbados Sugar and Rum Season is not a festival. While this year the BTPA is running the pilot, we will be looking to host the season throughout the winter period in the future. The Food and Rum Festival is organized by the BTMI….,” Vanterpool-Fox said. Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, endorsed the event, calling it a very significant occasion. He encouraged all Barbadians to get on board. (BT)

TOO HIGH A TOLL SAYS BIPA - The June Fowler-led Barbados Investors and Policyholder Alliance (BIPA) today warned that it was simply not prepared to give up the fight on behalf of the thousands affected by the collapse of the Trinidad-based CL Financial. However, in a press release, BIPA expressed strong concern the heavy loss was weighing down on its membership – in particular families of the more than 200 policyholders who have died since the “scandalous” collapse, which also affected local subsidiaries CLICO and British American Insurance Company Limited (BAICO). To add to the indignity of the situation, BIPA said it was still not known if the dependents of those who had died would ever see any of the money “so carefully and trustingly put by for them”. “Eight years is eight years too long and as we have said from day one, ‘we want our money back’, especially before any more policyholders through illness, or those already in ‘the departure lounge of life’ pass away,” BIPA added. However, it complained that while several of its members had already died, “the perpetrators of this debacle walk around free from accepting or being charged with any culpability for the utter devastation of so many lives for which they are directly responsible”. BIPA also acknowledged that the BAICO Judicial Manager had already confirmed a May 31 date for the transfer of all qualifying policies to Sagicor, with payments to policyholders due to follow shortly after that date. However, it said no such commitment had been forthcoming on CLICO, with the transfer of those policies to ResLife Limited also yet to be approved by the court. Today, the alliance also called on Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler to expedite the necessary parliamentary and other approvals to ensure immediate transfer of their funds as soon as the court approves the agreement. (BT)

PRO QUITS – In what appears to be a bitter breakup, singer and television producer Jamal Slocombe and the Barbados Film and Video Association (BFVA) have parted ways, less than two months after Slocombe took up the post as the organization’s spokesman. Slocombe’s short-lived relationship with the association officially ended Tuesday, February 7, after he was forced to resign as public relations officer (PRO). In an e-mail sent by BFVA Secretary Shamar Prescod on behalf of the president Damien Pinder, Slocombe was asked to quit with immediate effect to “allow us to place someone in this position who is able to execute the duties required”. In an apparent reference to Slocombe’s involvement in a recent mass casualty accident, Prescod made reference to “personal issues” which resulted in the spokesman being “unable to discharge” his duties. However, it suggested that the association could not be allowed to suffer as a result. Prescod reminded the young man that the board’s mandate was to provide “better representation and increase public knowledge” of the organization and its members”, and that it needed “a strong [and] visible” PRO. Still, it said, the decision was nothing personal, and Slocombe was welcomed to contribute when he felt better. Slocombe’s response was immediate and emphatic, slamming the grouping for suggesting he was not strong enough to perform the role, and questioning Prescod’s “knowledge of my capabilities”. The 19-year-old had initially refused to resign, but changed his mind after thinking things through over the weekend, he told Barbados TODAY. A member of the organization for four years, Slocombe said there were “too many discrepancies among the voices” within the BFVA and charged that the leadership had “yet to get its act together”. In addition, the teenager said, the demand for his resignation was a display of “a lack of consideration and understanding for personal circumstances” he was going through, and had “bulldozed” his attempts to help bridge any gap between the young and old in the film and video industry.  (BT)

CITY STINK – The sight and stench of raw sewage have returned to pose additional headaches for the authorities here. However, while the previous mess was concentrated on the south coast, where the overflow of sewage onto the roads caused consternation among residents, businesses and tourists alike for several weeks, it is The City that is the site of the latest problem. Since Tuesday morning raw sewage has been overflowing from a section along Nursery Drive – the entrance leading to the River Van Stand – a stone’s throw away from the River Road pumping station. Officials today rushed to the scene to assess the problem, and have since promised that work would begin tonight, according to some vendors, who also told Barbados TODAY that at least one shop would have to be moved in order for the relevant authorities to access the spot from which the water is bubbling. Barbados TODAY was just in time this evening to witness the foul smelling water flowing from a section of the concrete on the western side of the road. The filthy, discoloured water would bubble over about every ten minutes and last for just over a minute. Some vendors who spoke to Barbados TODAY on condition that their names were not published, said they were eager to see the problem rectified, but had no idea how long they were likely to wait. One fruit and vegetable vendor, who has been operating in the area for the past five years, said she noticed the problem about three hours after opening her shop around 5:30 on Tuesday morning. Another vendor, who operates just a few feet away from where the water was gushing out, said while she was not there on Tuesday morning when the problem first occurred, she noticed it today while preparing to stock her shop for business on Friday. During the interview the water started to flow again, followed by a strong stench. Before cutting the interview short, the vegetable vendor pointed out that the situation would likely have a negative impact on her business. (BT)

WATER BUG - The community water tanks that served as sources of relief for residents of St Andrew, St Joseph and St Thomas during frequent and lengthy water outages last year could become cradles of disease, many residents fear. Now that the water woes appear to be over, the tanks have been virtually abandoned by the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) and could soon be home to rats and other vermin, they complain.Some also fear that another prolonged shortage in the known water-scarce areas could leave their communities with no sanitary potable water collection points. When Barbados TODAY visited St Andrew and St Joseph Wednesday, the tank covers were on, but the outflow pipes had been cut and left opened, making it easy for rodents and other pests to crawl in. While many were grateful that water was flowing through their taps again, there still remained some residual issues, which individuals were hoping would get the water company’s urgent attention. Among the concerns highlighted were the inconsistency of the water pressure and the insistence by the BWA that water bills received during the months of water outages must be paid. Reports of low water pressure and periodic water outages were especially prevalent in the St Joseph communities of Spa Hill and Horse Hill. The Spa Hill resident expressed anger over being billed for water he never had and a convenience he never enjoyed. To add insult to injury, Brathwaite told Barbados TODAY, his many attempts to have the issue rectified had been met with the run around by the BWA. Member of Parliament for St Joseph Dale Marshall has repeatedly said the BWA should cancel its bills to residents for a few months to ease consumers’ suffering. On one such occasion, at a town hall meeting at George Lamming Primary School in January last year, Marshall said the gesture would help change the people’s perception of the state-owned water company, which had been the subject of their wrath due to the long running water outages. (BT)

TOOTH FOUND IN SALT BREAD – When Ralph Riley tucked into his favourite salt bread, he never expected that he would also be biting on a tooth, and it wasn’t his. The 63-year-old was stunned when he discovered the foreign object, and was even more upset to learn that it might belong to an animal.  Riley bought the Nicholls Bakery salt bread on January 21 from a shop in Christ Church. Out of frustration because he felt he was not getting any satisfaction from the bakery or Government agencies, he came to the DAILY NATION with the tooth secured in a money bag. “The first bite went down good,” he said. “And when I take the second bite, I heard this noise in my mouth so I spit it out on the table.” (DN)

WANTED MAN - Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 31-year-old man, wanted in connection with serious criminal matters. Marlon Omar George,  also known as “Mali”, “Gongles”, and “Ranger” is  said to be about five feet, nine inches tall, medium build, light brown in complexion, has medium to full lips, brown eyes and a low haircut. He  has a tattoo of a cross, and the date 19thSept 85, with the initials beside it on his back, as well as several scars on his face. Police say George’s last known address was #16 Arden Close, Pinelands, St Michael. (BT)

POLICE APPEAL - Police are seeking the assistance of female who goes by the name “Bernice” who was a passenger in the taxi registration number Z993 on Sunday, January 29, along the Graeme Hall section of the ABC highway (opposite the exit of the Ministry of Agriculture). This taxi was involved in a fatal accident which claimed the lives of four people and injured six others. Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler said “Bernice” should contact the Worthing Police Station as soon as possible at telephone numbers 430-7615 or 430-7614. (BT)

TWO SENT TO PRISON FOR CHRIST CHURCH BURGLARIES - Police in the southern division have made a major breakthrough in relation to a number of burglaries committed in the Parish Land and Thyme Bottom communities of Christ Church between January 12 and February 4 this year. Two men from the parish have been arrested and charged with five cases of burglary and one case of theft. They are 24-year-old Jamario Akeem Warren of Parish Land and 31-year-old Colin Jason Johnson of Lot 10, Parish Land. Warren and Johnson were jointly charged with two counts of burglary, while Warren faced three additional counts of burglary and one count of theft. Both men appeared before Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch in the District ‘C’ Court today where they pleaded guilty to all charges. Warren was sentenced to four years in prison, while John was sentenced to two years. (BT)

PURPLE HOUSE – A total of 14 records were broken today at Christ Church Foundation School sports, as the reigning track and field queens look set to defend their title at the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championship (BSSAC). The girls from Church Hill created history last year for the first time in 27 years, when they dethroned perennial champions, Scotiabank Springer Memorial, and from the look of things today on the Ryan Brathwaite track at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, Foundation look ready to defend their girls title at BSSAC and prove last year was no fluke. Talma ‘Purple’ House retained their title with 838.5 points, ahead of Skeete ‘Yellow’ House who scored 700 and Wellington ‘Red’ House who followed closely for third with 690.5 points. Inniss ‘Blue’ House took fourth place with 686.50 points, ahead of Lynch ‘Green’ House on 356 points, under the prevailing heavy windy conditions. When a school has as many top junior national athletes at their disposal as Foundation, one can expect great rivalry on track and that was exactly the case especially in the Division One Girls showdown between senior victrix ludorum Tianna Bowen of Skeete House and last year’s victrix ludorum at BSSAC, Hannah Connell of Inniss House. (BT)

CAMPBELL CITES CRUCIAL WIN – All-rounder John Campbell said Tuesday’s victory over Guyana Jaguars had given Jamaica Scorpions a huge lift, especially with the final four of the Regional Super50 approaching. With both teams vying for the remaining semi-final spot from Group B, Scorpions pulled off a 20-run win in the day/night contest at Kensington Oval to virtually nail down their berth in the final hour. He added: “It’s a big boost for us, beating Guyana twice. We have Barbados next so definitely that would be a tough game. We just need to come out here and stick to our plans. Barbados are a tough opponent and we will be looking to win.” The left-handed Campbell stroked a swift 42 from 46 balls down the order to bail out Scorpions after the innings had declined, helping to lift them to 255 all out off 49.4 overs. Left-handed opener Steven Taylor top-scored with 86 while Andre McCarthy weighed in with 45. In reply, Jaguars were then cruising on 124 for one in the 29th over before Campbell intervened with an excellent spell of four for 43, to trigger a batting collapse. Campbell said he was pleased his all-round efforts had paid dividends for the Scorpions. Scorpions take on Barbados Pride on Thursday in a day/night affair at Kensington Oval. They are second in the standings on 18 points, 10 points behind Pride who have already qualified for the semi-finals, with Jaguars third on 13 points. (BT)

MEN DOMINATE BATTLE – The Virgin Atlantic Women lost to the Diamonds International Men who emerged winners of the Diamonds International Battle of the Sexes Polo Tournament on Sunday. All hopes of the women retaining last year’s title at the Holder’s Polo Club were erased when the men ran away with a 6-4 victory. The women, who were represented by Vikki Gonzalez, Hazel Jackson, Emma Boers and Sarah Wiseman, entered the battle with a half-point advantage since they were weaker in the total number of handicaps, but that didn’t at all disturb the men’s mission. Alex Cole got the ball rolling when he struck a lovely shot between the sticks. However, the women regained the lead when Emma Boers scored. But the men sped away with the lead by the end of the first chukka when Cole again swept a goal between the bars. The men continued to dominate when they made two goals in the second chukka with the first through Cole and the second through Stephen Williams. The women managed to bounce back, scoring two points through Wiseman and Jackson. Wiseman made a move once more and was the first to score in the fourth chukka to again surpass the men by a half-point. With a couple of seconds left in the chukka, Cole managed to score two points to secure victory for the Diamond’s International men. In the second match, the Villages USA defeated Barbados 6-5. (DN)

$16000 SMASH – What is undoubtably the country’s biggest and most popular road tennis competition, the Silver Hill tournament, serves off on Sunday with the scope to be even bigger and better with service provider Digicel getting on board. Yesterday, the brainchild behind the tournament which is entering its fifth edition, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Stephen Lashley indicated that in addition to a new category being added, the women’s prize money was in for a boost thanks to Digicel joining with Plus and the Youth Development Programme in sponsoring the tournament. With over 60 players entering the 2017 tournament on spanking new courts at Silver Hill, Lashley disclosed that over $16 000 will be on offer in the men’s, women’s, Silver Hill In-House and the new Under-17 categories. (DN)

Well that’s all for today folks. There are 325 days left in the year                 Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[fan-of-mulligan]

FOM BLOG: GILLINGHAM 1 - 1 SHREWSBURY TOWN

I left My House at 12.45PM in the afternoon and I made sure I had the following things on me,,,,,,,, (Money, Keys, My Gillingham Season Ticket, My Samsung Galaxy S2, Spare Battery, My Fleece-Jacket, Spare Lids, My Gillingham Scarf, My Gillingham Bag, A Packet Of Polo’s, Pad and Pens and a 500ML Bottle Of Coca Cola) - and I made sure I had everything on me before making the fifteen / twenty minute walk from my house to Rainham Train Station, and once I arrived at Rainham Train Station, I brought My Return Ticket To Gillingham for £3.80, and I just managed to get on to The 13.12PM Train in time before the doors closed on the train, why is there only one person on at the ticket booth I have no idea, and before leaving my house, I was seriously considering getting A Taxi from My House to Priestfield Stadium as there were engineering works on the main line, Simon did tweet me that the trains were running between Rainham and Gillingham, but there was a reduced service, and I thanked Simon for sending me that information as that was very useful.

I saw Stephen on the train, who had told me that he had just managed to get on the train a few minutes earlier as the bus replacement service took over forty minutes to get from Faversham to Rainham, A Journey which is double the length of time compared to traveling from Faversham to Rainham via train, good thing that Arsenal were away to Southampton and West Ham United weren’t playing at home either, because Me and Stephen were on the train for The Charlton Athletic Home Game, and Gillingham, Arsenal and West Ham United were all playing at home at the same-time, and the train was packed that day, I had sent the following tweet before leaving my house “””On My way to Priestfield Stadium as Gillingham take on Shrewsbury Town, hopefully Gills can pick up three points today - COME ON THE GILLS!!””” A Tweet that had already got a few likes, and also, it was essential that Gillingham picked up all three points in a crucial home match against Shrewsbury Town.

As The Train arrived in Gillingham at 13.18PM, Me and Stephen both got off the train and started to make our way towards Priestfield Stadium, only stopping off at The NewsAgents so that Stephen could buy A Drink for 35P, I added that you could probably buy those Energy Drinks in bulk for £3 - £5 from Tesco’s or Asda, Stephen wanted to know my take on Gillingham’s Performance against Sheffield United and what the atmosphere was like inside Bramall Lane, I added that the atmosphere from Gillingham Supporters was very good, but there was a spell just after Kieron Freeman’s equaliser for 2-2 that the atmosphere inside Bramall Lane from Sheffield United Supporters was truly remarkable. and that atmosphere had your hairs standing on the back of your neck, it was a vital that Gillingham kept Sheffield United quiet for ten to fifteen minutes after that, otherwise we could of been on the end of a hiding to nothing.

Performance Wise, I thought that the way Gillingham tried to contain Sheffield United and opt for defensive stability and a resilience performance was the right way to go, Stuart Nelson kept Gillingham in the game in The First Half, Josh Wright scoring twice completely turned the game around, and after both of Josh Wright’s goals, Sheffield United scored two goals that were ruled out for offside, even for Sheffield United’s Equaliser, Stuart Nelson saved a deflected effort before Kieron Freeman scored the re-bound, we could have lost late on, but Bradley Dack and Mark Byrne could have scored late on as well, but all in all, a point away from home against The League One League Leaders is an incredible result, a result we would have all gladly taken before kick off.

And we were all hoping that Gillingham can build on that result with a win and three crucial points against Shrewsbury Town, three points which would move Gillingham potentially eight points clear of The League One Relegation Zone with that game in hand against AFC Wimbledon, and I am sure that Adrian Pennock would want to win his first home game as Gillingham Head Coach, and four points from his first three matches would be a very solid start, and then we can start turning our attention to Transfer Deadline Day, and looking to bring in the players we need to sign to strengthen the squad for the rest of The 2016 / 2017 season.

We arrived out-side Priestfield Stadium at 13.25PM, and I went inside The Club Shop to buy My Match-Day Programme for £3, and Diane mentioned that she sent me a message forgetting that I told her that I was going to buy her Match-Day Programme, but once I got change from A Ten Pound Note for buying My Match-Day Programme, I gave Diane The Six Pound I owed her from the previous week, Diane added that she couldn’t use Her Free Ticket Voucher for The Shrewsbury Town Game as Ralph and Ethan were going to The Shrewsbury Town Game, I agreed with Diane that this was bad, because you used to be able to use that voucher for any home game throughout the season, and normally I would use that voucher for A Home Game Over Christmas, but as Stephen wanted to go to The Port Vale Home Game, I was going to let Stephen use the voucher.

I was seriously considering getting another Home Shirt, as there was A Deal in January and if you buy A Home Shirt then you get A Away Shirt for free, I was going to wait and buy A Shirt Later on In The Year, as there might be another shirt sell at the end of the season which might see Gillingham Shirt’s Sold at A Cheaper Price, I queued up at The Ticket Office and checked the fixtures list to see what were the next two up and coming away games, and I brought My Bradford City and Coventry City Tickets for £42, and I got Stephen his Two Free Tickets for The Port Vale Home Game, My Main Worry is that should Gillingham get into The Championship - which would be fantastic - it will cost £42 just for One Adult Ticket.

Which brings me on to the next point, which was that brilliant Interview with A Young Liverpool Supporter on RedMan TV about where English Football could be heading in five to ten year’s time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmNsWzHgxC8 - WARNING, THIS LINK DOES HAVE SOME SWEARING!!!!! - Stephen made a brilliant point that all the while Liverpool are participating in tours in Asia and America, then they are contributing in turning Liverpool into a tourist club and moving away from there roots, but I thought that The Video Clip brought up some very thought provoking arguments and suggests where English Football could potentially be heading in the long term.

Me and Stephen waited outside for Gary to turn up and Neither Me, Diane, Stephen or Matt were confidant with Trevor Kettle as Referee, we would have had Darren Deadman for The AFC Wimbledon Home Match which was called off, so someone at The Referee Association doesn’t like Gillingham very much, hopefully a controversial refereeing decision doesn’t become the focus of our talking points after the game against Shrewsbury Town, I still think that Video Technology with A Tennis HawkEye System is needed in Football, Two Challenges A Game, One In Each Half, Video Technology would give a real time decision, because the current format can see players who are sent off and that sending off can be rescinded after a appeal, but if that sending off decided the outcome of a match and you lost narrowly, then the loss of one point, or potentially all three points, could be the difference between surviving relegation or being relegated, such are the fine margins in football.

Peter, Sharon, Charlie and Carole caught up with us, and Peter had his trusty Chips with Curry Sauce before kick off, and Peter and Charlie asked me for my thoughts on The Sheffield United Game, I mentioned that The First Half was damage limitation and Gillingham tried to contain Sheffield United for as long as possible, but A Player of Billy Sharp’s Quality is always capable of sticking the ball into the back of the net, Second Half, a much better performance and Josh Wright scoring twice in quick succession turned the match on it’s head and Gillingham had the lead away at Bramall Lane, Kieron Freeman equalised for the hosts, and after that, the atmosphere inside Bramall Lane was sensational, and Sheffield United found Stuart Nelson to be in inspired form, so Gillingham could have quite easily have lost the match, but Bradley Dack and Mark Byrne came close to scoring late on and win the game for Gillingham as well, so all in all, a point isn’t a bad result, and Peter added that a point away at The League One League Leaders is always going to be an impressive result.

Diane said that because Ethan was bored, she was going to head round to her seat in The Gordon Road Stand and we would meet up again after the game, hopefully celebrating Gillingham picking up all three points in a match that Gillingham have got to win, it has been ages since we were last at Priestfield Stadium and a lot has happened since that Oxford United Game, Sharon showed us a picture of A Former Gillingham Player Playuing at Shrewsbury Town and Stephen said it’s Adam El-Abd, and it didn’t look anything like him, I am surprised that Adam El-Abd has changed that much, but boy we can do with El-Abd in Gillingham’s Defence right about now, as his leadership and experience would be a valuable asset, Peter, Sharon, Charlie and Carole decided to head off inside Priestfield Stadium towards there seats, while Me and Stephen waited for Gary to turn up.

And as Gary Arrived, the first thing Me and Stephen Said to Gary is that it has been ages since our last home game, Second of January to be precise, and a lot has happened since then, but Gary added that this was a match that basically everyone in NoirCat had put down as A Gillingham Home Win, even though Gillingham do not have the best of home records against Shrewsbury Town, hopefully, Gillingham do not go two goals down and win 3-2, which was precisely what happened at Greenhous Meadow earlier in the season, obviously that would be fantastic if Gillingham can earn the win, but I think we would much prefer a solid defensive display and a hard fought 1-0 win, to be honest, any win will do, a bad performance with A Own Goal being the difference between the two sides, as long as Gillingham win that is the most important thing.

One of the more interesting topics was the signing of Tomas Holy from Sparta Prague on A Two And A Half Year Deal and where on earth did that signing come from was Gary’s response, at least we cannot miss him as Tomas Holy is 6’ 9’, so basically he just needs to stretch his arms to gather the ball with ease, Gary added it is interesting because we have signed Paulo Gazzaniga, who is either with Rayo Vallecano or Real Sociedad in Spain, what is especially annoying is that Southampton only loaned Paulo Gazzaniga to Rayo Vallecano, Had Southampton sold Paulo Gazzaniga, then Gillingham would have got a percentage of that money, as there was a sell on clause in Paulo Gazzaniga’s deal when he left Gillingham.

But you do wonder how or where did that Tomas Holy Deal Come From and is this where Gillingham are looking to get the bulk of there transfer business done ??? - young foreign players who we can bring into The Football Club, this is something Andy Hessenthaler did with Paulo Gazzaniga, Stanley Aborah and Bruce Inkango, and given how close Gillingham is to Europe, I am surprised that Gillingham haven’t looked at players in France, Spain or Portugal, more often, looking for young players who will use Gillingham as A Stepping Stone to A Championship or Premier League Club.

I mentioned to Gary and Stephen that Paul Scally looked very thin last week away at Sheffield United, and I did wonder that with Adrian Pennock only getting a contract until the end of the season, is Paul Scally considering selling the club so that A New Owner could bring in there Own Manager for The 2017 / 2018 season ??? - because Paul Scally has been Chairman for Twenty Two Year’s Now, and this job is bound to be take it’s toll financially and on his health as well.

Gary couldn’t see Paul Scally Selling The Club, as One Of The Directors is Now solely focused on trying to get Gillingham to move to A New Stadium, and if Paul Scally was looking to lighten the workload, then he would bring more people in, rather then see Chief Executive, Steve Waggott, Leave Gillingham Football Club, but Gary also brought up an very interesting point that you can make a case that Paul Scally has saved Gillingham Football Club Twice, because selling Priestfield Stadium to Priestfields Holding Limited, and then buying Priestfield Stadium back for One Tenth of the price we sold Priestfield Stadium for is genius, as you essentially get The Bank to write off the rest of the debt, and Gary pointed out that Gillingham’s Finances under most of our previous Chairman were in bad decline and Priestfield Stadium had poor facilities at the time as well, although the finances for most Third Division and Fourth Division Clubs at the time were not great in those days, and that needed to be pointed out, looking at the ground now, and the facilities are superb, and we have probably expanded as far as we possibly can at Priestfield Stadium, and moving to a larger capacity stadium is the only way for Gillingham to continue developing.

Stephen spoke about Gillingham’s continued progress over the past five season’s, 2012 / 2013 League Two Champions, 2013 / 2014, 17th in League One, 2014 / 2015 12th in League One, 2015 / 2016 Ninth In League One, and currently this season Gillingham are Seventeenth in League One, compare our record to clubs like Tranmere Rovers, who suffered back to back relegations into The Conference National, OK, they look like there on there way back up, but some clubs like Stockport County, Macclesfield Town and Torquay United, they don’t make there way back up, and in Darlington, Chester City and Hereford United’s cases, these clubs have had to re-form and work there way back up through the league’s again, I am sure those clubs will look at the continued growth at Gillingham Football Club, and would love to see that year on year improvement for there own clubs themselves.

Eventually, We Saw Gillingham’s Team News On Twitter, and Gillingham Lined Up As Follows,,,,,,, Stuart Nelson, Ryan Jackson, Max Ehmer, Adedeji Oshilaja, Paul Konchesky, Josh Wright, Jake Hessenthaler, Scott Wagstaff, Bradley Dack, Elliott List, Cody McDonald SUBS: Tomas Holy (GK), Bradley Garmston, Mark Byrne, Emmanuel Osadebe, Billy Knott, Rory Donnelly and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas - Gary and Stephen haven’t seen Elliott List play so they will both be keen to see what Elliott List can do against Shrewsbury Town, and it was great to see Bradley Garmston back among the substitutes bench, as Bradley Garmston has been out injured for the vast majority of this season and it is great to see him back, Chris Herd is out injured, so Paul Konchesky starts at Left Back, with Adedeji Oshilaja starting alongside Max Ehmer in the heart of Gillingham’s Defence.

Shrewsbury Town do come into this match against Gillingham in respectable form, winning there last two league games 1-0 against Oldham Athletic and Bradford City, however, there away form is far inferior to there home form, and if Gillingham want to not just consolidate League One Football, but push further up the table then these are the type of matches that Gillingham need to win, and we want to build on that encouraging performance against Sheffield United by winning against Shrewsbury Town, Gary mentioned that everyone had this down as A Gillingham Home Win for The NoirCat Prediction League, so let’s hope that is precisely what Gillingham manage to achieve.

As Gary headed round to his seat, Me and Stephen spoke for a bit more pre-match, I mentioned that My Brother Stewart is going to be freezing as he will be standing / sitting in The Brian Moore Stand, he was last at Priestfield Stadium for that 1-0 win against MK Dons, where Stuart Nelson seriously damaged his ankle saving Dean Bowditch’s Penalty Kick, since then Stuart Nelson has damaged his other ankle, got a cut underneath his chin away at Oldham Athletic, and Referee Dean Whitestone wanted Stuart Nelson to leave the field of play to receive treatment and Gillingham put an out-field player in goal, and that was obviously never going to happen, Stuart Nelson is desperate to re-claim Barry Fuller’s Title as The Terminator, as Stuart Nelson has a cut underneath his chin, both ankles are strapped up and he is putting in the performances to earn Gillingham valuable points, Stephen added, if only every other Gillingham Player put in the same level of desire that Stuart Nelson has for The Gillingham Shirt.

Stephen Added that he hoped to see Cody McDonald and Rory Donnelly get themselves on the score-sheet, Cody McDonald usually goes on a decent goal-scoring run between now and the end of the season, and hopefully we will see Rory Donnelly score a goal as a substitute, like he did against Swindon Town earlier in the season, that goal showed what Rory Donnelly can when he gets into scoring positions, and we need to start seeing that on a more regular basis from Rory Donnelly, Stephen went towards Block C of The Medway Stand, and we will meet up after the game.

I headed towards The Family Enclosure Entrance, and After My Gillingham Bag was searched, I went through the turnstiles, brought one fifty / fifty match day lottery ticket and I headed straight for my seat, I mentioned to Andrew and Charlotte my thoughts and opinions on Gillingham’s 2-2 draw against Sheffield United, Andrew added that he thought that Josh Wright will start putting in better performances now that he has only his game to concentrate on, as Andrew thought that The Captaincy took something away from Josh Wright’s Game, and I agreed, well the two goals last week showed that Josh Wright can concentrate on his own game now.

Colin turned up and he had seen the team sheet, and Colin had read The Programme Notes, Link Is Here to Those Notes,,, http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/2016-17/chairmans-notes-shrewsbury-3539753.aspx - And Paul Scally wasn’t impressed with the training regime under Justin Edinburgh, David Kerslake and Wayne Hatswell, Maybe Paul Scally advised Justin Edinburgh to improve Gillingham’s Training And Match Preparations and that advice wasn’t taken on board, or Paul Scally went down to The Training Ground and he clearly didn’t like what he had seen and advised Justin Edinburgh to improve our training and coaching, this makes for interesting reading, and perhaps this, along with Justin Edinburgh’s constant talk about over-achieving when this is Gillingham’s Highest Wage Budget in our entire history are just two of the reason’s why Paul Scally has decided to make an managerial change, the task in-front of Adrian Pennock, Steve Lovell and Jamie Day is a difficult one, and hopefully, a win against Shrewsbury Town can start to pull Gillingham a lot closer to those mid-table positions in League One.

The Players applauded The Gillingham Supporters, who likewise applauded the players, before going down the tunnel for one final Pre-Match Team Talk before this important League One Clash against Shrewsbury Town, who you have got to say, have brought an excellent traveling support with them for what is A Cold January Afternoon, as Shrewsbury Town’s Supporters had The End Block Of The Gordon Road Stand, and half of The Brian Moore Stand if required.

Looking around Priestfield Stadium for what is going to be Adrian Pennock’s First Home Game in-charge and Gillingham’s First Home League Game in A Month, I thought that Priestfield Stadium looked empty in The End Block’s Of The Rainham End, and The Gordon Road Stand looked empty in some blocks as well, With A Bus Replacement Service and the cold weather conditions, perhaps some people were put off from coming to the game, and also, Shrewsbury Town At Home isn’t a match that will get floating / casual supporters turning up to Priestfield Stadium, and I suppose the reverse can be true in that Shrewsbury Town V Gillingham isn’t a match that will get floating / casual supporters to turn up at Greenhous Meadow.

Both teams came out of the tunnel and lined up in-front of The Medway Stand and the atmosphere raised in volume inside Priestfield Stadium and at least Referee Trevor Kettle didn’t switch ends, meaning that Gillingham were kicking towards The Brian Moore Stand in The First Half, and Shrewsbury Town were kicking towards The Rainham End, meaning that both teams were kicking towards the ends where there respective supporters were situated in The Second Half, hopefully Gillingham can get the three points we need to move up The League One Table - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIRST HALF:

This Important League One Clash started with a strong combative challenge from Adedeji Oshilaja on Abu Ogogo in The First Minute Of The Match, and in The Third Minute Of The Match, Tyler Roberts looks to use his pace to take on Paul Konchesky down Gillingham’s Left Side Of The Pitch. but Paul Konchesky does really well to stick with Tyler Roberts and prevent The Shrewsbury Town Winger from whipping in an dangerous cross, although the chance is still there for Shrewsbury Town to open the scoring, as the visitor’s have won The First Corner Kick Of The Match, And From The Resulting Corner Kick, Joe Riley has whipped in an dangerous in-swinging cross towards the far side of Gillingham’s Penalty Area, and Junior Brown headers the ball back across the face of goal and Alex Rodman skies an volleyed effort over Gillingham’s Crossbar - but the first goal-scoring opportunity of the match goes to Shrewsbury Town.

Five Minutes into the match and A One Minute’s Applause goes around Priestfield Stadium for Former Gillingham Defender Dave Shipperley, who scored Eleven Goals in One Hundred And Forty Four Appearances for The Gills between 1974 and 1977 before moving on to play for Charlton Athletic, Neil Shipperley was at The Gillingham V Shrewsbury Town and I am sure he appreciated the touching tribute for his father, I am not old enough to remember Dave Shipperley in his playing day’s, but those who were old enough to remember spoke very highly about Dave Shipperley, and how he was such a threat in the air from corner kicks, I thought The Tribute was respectfully observed by everyone inside Priestfield Stadium.

Seven Minutes into the match and Gillingham win a free kick in a very dangerous position on the pitch, Josh Wright loses possession of the ball in Gillingham’s Half Of The Pitch as Shaun Whalley intercepts the ball and the interception runs through to Joe Riley, who runs down the right flank - Gillingham’s Left - in possession of the ball, and Joe Riley is being closed down by Paul Konchesky, Josh Wright and Scott Wagstaff, and Joe Riley manages to dig out a cross towards the edge of Gillingham’s Penalty Area, and Elliott List brings the ball down, and Elliott List plays the ball forward to Bradley Dack, who turns past Gary Deegan and runs forward in possession of the ball as Gillingham look to turn defence into attack, and Bradley Dack runs down the left side of the pitch and holds the ball up and waiting for support, and Bradley Dack threads the ball through to Scott Wagstaff on the over-lap, and Scott Wagstaff is pushed to the floor by Aristote Nsiala, and you have got to say that The Shrewsbury Town Defender is very lucky not to have conceded an penalty as that foul was very close to The Eighteen Yard Line, still the chance is there for Gillingham to open the scoring from the resulting free kick, and that is almost precisely what Gillingham managed to do as Bradley Dack came extremely close to opening the scoring, as Bradley Dack has whipped in an sensational curling effort which almost picks out the top right corner of the net as Shrewsbury Town Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler threw himself to his left and Adedeji Oshilaja was almost close to getting his head on to the end of that free kick as well - that free kick from Bradley Dack was very similar to the one Wayne Rooney scored a few weeks a go, such a shame that Bradley Dack didn’t open the scoring with that free kick.

Eleven Minutes into the match, and Josh Wright is penalised for his challenge on Freddie Ladapo and Shrewsbury Town have an opportunity here to open the scoring from the resulting free kick, and Shrewsbury Town looked to threaten from the resulting set play, as Joe Riley’s dangerous in-swinging cross was aimed from right to left towards the far post, and Max Ehmer does really well to prevent Abu Ogogo from heading the ball back across the face of goal and the ball runs out of play for A Gillingham Goal-Kick.

But in The Fourteenth Minute and Junior Brown can consider himself a very lucky man, as Bradley Dack threaded the ball through to Cody McDonald as Cody McDonald was baring down on goal down the right side of the pitch, and Junior Brown has clearly taken Cody McDonald out twenty yards away from goal and Referee Trevor Kettle has shown a level of leniency towards Junior Brown by only showing The Shrewsbury Town Left Back A Yellow Card, Now Cody McDonald was in a wide position and I suppose you can make the case that it wasn’t a clear cut goal-scoring opportunity, but had Cody McDonald evaded that challenge from Junior Brown then Cody was through on goal, this was a big talking point and something Me, Stephen, Diane and Gary spoke about in greater detail after the game as well.

And from the resulting free kick, Gillingham came very close to opening the scoring as Bradley Dack’s dangerous in-swinging cross is aimed towards the far post and Max Ehmer’s header at the far post is headed back across the face of goal and somehow Shrewsbury Town manage to clear the ball off the goal-line, and after a goal-mouth scramble, Gary Deegan kicks the ball clear and away from danger and survive a real scare at the back, that is the closest either team has come to opening the scoring, and it could well be that a set play will make all the difference in this crucial League One Encounter.

Seventeen Minutes into the match and Gillingham get a fortuitous free kick decision going in our favour as I wasn’t sure that Freddie Ladapo had fouled Ryan Jackson there and Gillingham got a very lucky free kick decision going in our favour, And A Minute Later Bradley Dack is penalised for his challenge on Joe Riley, and in the same minute, Shaun Whalley kicks the ball long down-field, leaving a foot-race between Paul Konchesky and Callum Roberts and Paul Konchesky does extremely well to header the ball back to Stuart Nelson, as Paul Konchesky was looking up at the ball and that back header could have gone horribly wrong.

But in The Twentieth Minute, Shrewsbury Town had a guilt edge goal-scoring opportunity to open the scoring and Shrewsbury Town should be winning 1-0 now, Jake Hessenthaler looks to play the ball over the top of Shrewsbury Town’s Defence to send Ryan Jackson in and behind Shrewsbury Town’s Back Line, but Alex Rodman is well positioned to hook the ball over his shoulder and clear Shrewsbury Town’s Lines and Adedeji Oshilaja wins the aerial battle on the halfway line against Tyler Roberts to header the ball forward and Aristote Nsiala clatters into the back of Bradley Dack and Gillingham should have been awarded a free kick, but Referee Trevor Kettle surprises everyone inside the ground by not awarding Gillingham a free kick as Shaun Whalley runs forward in possession of the ball down Gillingham’s Left, and Shaun Whalley continues his run forward in possession of the ball and The Shrewsbury Town Number Seven just keeps going, twisting and turning and carrying on with his driving run, and Shaun Whalley has an end product to his play, as Shaun Whalley whips in an dangerous in-swinging cross and one of Freddie Ladapo or Tyler Roberts should have scored for Shrewsbury Town, that should be 1-0 to the visitor’s, and everyone inside Priestfield Stadium knows it as well.

And having survived a real scare at one end of the pitch, Gillingham could and perhaps should have opened the scoring at the other end in The Twenty Fourth Minute, Paul Konchesky manages to keep the ball away from Freddie Ladapo before kicking the ball long down-field and Matt Sadler wins the aerial battle up against Bradley Dack on the halfway line, and Max Ehmer wins the aerial battle up against Tyler Roberts and Josh Wright’s clearance is more up and under and Elliott List brings the ball down before playing the ball back to Ryan Jackson, and Ryan Jackson clears the ball down-field which turns out to be a good pass towards Bradley Dack, and Bradley Dack manages to thread the ball through to Cody McDonald to run on to as Cody McDonald is now baring down on goal and one on one with The Shrewsbury Town Goalkeeper and Cody McDonald see’s his first time effort towards goal saved by Shrewsbury Town Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler, who threw himself low down to his left to make the save and Junior Brown manages to clear the ball away from danger - but that was the chance, that was the chance for Gillingham to open the scoring.

Twenty Five Minutes into the match and Gillingham are looking to threaten in and behind Shrewsbury Town’s Defence again as Bradley Dack pings the ball down the right side of the pitch and Scott Wagstaff comes across to attempt to get on to the end of that pass, but Junior Brown only just about does enough to clear the ball out of play, but Gillingham can pile on the pressure from the resulting throw on, and from the resulting throw on, Ryan Jackson has hurled in an dangerous long throw into the heart of Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area and Gary Deegan is well positioned to win the initial header, and Aristote Nsiala boots the ball clear and away from danger, and Ryan Jackson allows the ball to run out of play so that he can try again with another long throw, and from the resulting long throw, Ryan Jackson has hurled the ball long down the line and even though Max Ehmer has won the initial flick on, Shrewsbury Town do manage to clear there lines, and Gillingham do look the more likely side to make the all important breakthrough at this present moment in time.

And I thought that Gillingham had in-fact made that all important breakthrough in The Twenty Eighth Minute, Paul Konchesky passes the ball centrally to Josh Wright, who plays the ball forward to Bradley Dack, and Bradley Dack pokes through a first time through-ball into Scott Wagstaff’s path down The Left Side Of The Pitch, and Scott Wagstaff is twisting and turning and manages to evade Joe Riley’s attempted challenge before threading the ball through to Bradley Dack on the edge of Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area, and Bradley Dack manages to evade Aristote Nsiala’s attempted challenge, a challenge that knocked Bradley Dack off balance and Bradley Dack couldn’t sort his feat out, and Bradley Dack can only lift the ball over the right side of Jayson Leutwiler’s crossbar as Bradley Dack tried to pick out the top right corner with an accurate strike - Bradley Dack is having a very good game for Gillingham and Dack is very unlucky not to get himself on the score-sheet.

On The Half An Hour Mark, and Gillingham manage to win A Corner Kick as pressure from Bradley Dack forces Aristote Nsiala to concede The Corner, and the chance is there for Gillingham to take the lead from the resulting corner kick, Bradley Dack whips in an dangerous in-swinging cross towards the far post and Abu Ogogo manages to header the ball clear and away from danger, and it is going to take a very precise corner kick from Bradley Dack to pick anyone out in A Gillingham Shirt, as Shrewsbury Town have more taller players in there side who are more likely to win the aerial battle.

Thirty Three Minutes into the match and we all thought that Gillingham were going to make the breakthrough by scoring that all important first goal, Matt Sadler plays the ball forward to Freddie Ladapo and continued his run forward looking for the return pass, and I thought that Referee Trevor Kettle was going to penalise Max Ehmer for his challenge on Freddie Ladapo, but Referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the ball while Josh Wright passed the ball out-wide to Elliott List who was One On One with Junior Brown - TAKE HIM ON LIST!!!!! - Was My Response as Junior Brown has already been booked for his challenge on Cody McDonald, and that is precisely what Elliott List did as Elliott List forced Junior Brown to back-peddle as Brown cannot dive into a challenge and a quick turn of pace saw Elliott List get to the byline and pull back an dangerous low cross inside Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area, and Elliott List’s dangerous low cross manages to pick out Jake Hessenthaler, who evades Gary Deegen’s Sliding Challenge before playing a one touch layoff back to Josh Wright, who see’s his first time shot towards goal saved by Jayson Leutwiler, but Jayson Leutwiler could only parry the ball back towards Paul Konchesky on the edge of Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area and Paul Konchesky brings the ball under control with his first touch and Paul Konchesky passes the ball out-wide to Scott Wagstaff, who cuts inside with his preferred right foot, and Scott Wagstaff manages to whip in an dangerous in-swinging cross which picks Bradley Dack out inside Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area and the ball did drop to Bradley Dack, but Aristote Nsiala was in the right places at the right time to clear the ball away from danger.

Still, that clearance from Aristote Nsiala was only a temporary reprieve for Shrewsbury Town as Josh Wright brings the ball down and manages to shield the ball away from Abu Ogogo by running towards the right wing, and after a few touches in possession of the ball, Josh Wright drops the ball back to Ryan Jackson, who takes a touch to control the ball, and Ryan Jackson whips in an dangerous in-swinging cross which deflects off Alex Rodman and there was a terrible mix up between Matt Sadler and Jayson Leutwiler, and The Shrewsbury Town Goalkeeper made enough contact on the ball to turn the ball behind for A Corner Kick, but Gillingham came very close to opening the scoring in fortuitous circumstances there, And From The Resulting Corner Kick, Bradley Dack’s dangerous in-swinging cross aimed towards the far post is headed clear and away from danger by Abu Ogogo, and although A Goal-Scoring Opportunity wasn’t created from this corner kick, Gillingham are knocking on the door and they are the team more likely to make the breakthrough.

Thirty Five Minutes into the match and Bradley Dack almost managed to thread the ball through to Cody McDonald again, but Matt Sadler was well positioned to slide in and make a crucial interception, Bradley Dack is playing really well for Gillingham and he is threading through through-ball’s for Cody McDonald to run on to, Dack is unlucky not to get himself on the score-sheet and he has been involved in most of Gillingham’s Attacking Play, if Bradley Dack keeps playing like this, then he will eventually either score or assist a goal against Shrewsbury Town, and hopefully Bradley Dack can do both, score and assist a goal in this all important League One Clash.

Thirty Six Minutes into the match and Ryan Jackson has hurled in an dangerous long throw which somehow managed to bounce in Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area and Joe Riley has cleared the ball away from danger for the visitor’s, Shrewsbury Town are like a boxer on the ropes at the moment and Gillingham need to land that knock-put blow by scoring the crucial first goal of the game, Ryan Jackson is another player who is putting in a much better performance for The Gills, the kind of performances we were seeing from Ryan Jackson on a more regular basis throughout The 2015 / 2016 season.

Thirty Seven Minutes into the match, and despite all the pressure from Gillingham, it is Shrewsbury Town who have been awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on the pitch, Shrewsbury Town have A Throw on in Gillingham’s Half Of The Pitch Down The Right Side, and Junior Brown throws a long throw down the line and Freddie Ladapo wins the aerial challenge up against Max Ehmer and Elliott List is penalised for standing his ground when Alex Rodman jumped over The Young Gillingham Winger, A Debatable Free Kick, but the chance is here for Shrewsbury Town to open the scoring from the resulting free kick, and that is almost precisely what Shrewsbury Town did as well, as Joe Riley has curled an dangerous in-swinging effort from the right side of Gillingham’s Penalty Area towards goal and Stuart Nelson had to be alert to turn the ball behind at the expense of A Corner Kick, and that is the first meaningful save that Stuart Nelson has had to make, and Joe Riley was clearly going for goal with that curling effort, the chance is still there for Shrewsbury Town to open the scoring from the resulting corner kick, and Joe Riley goes across to take the resulting corner kick for Shrewsbury Town, thankfully, Joe Riley’s dangerous in-swinging cross is headed clear by Cody McDonald, and in The Thirty Ninth Minute, I thought that Gillingham were very lucky to be awarded a free kick in our half of the pitch, as Alex Rodman was penalised for his challenge on Ryan Jackson when play on could have been waved on, so I do think that Gillingham were fortunate to be awarded a free kick on this particular occasion.

Forty Three Minutes into the match and Gillingham have A Throw Just Inside Shrewsbury Town’s Half Of The Pitch on The Halfway Line and Ryan Jackson throws the ball long down the line and Junior Brown headers the ball clear and Shaun Whalley plays an fantastic through-ball for Freddie Ladapo to run on to, but Paul Konchesky manages to get back and play the ball back to Stuart Nelson, but only just as Paul Konchesky’s back-pass was slightly under-hit, and Stuart Nelson has kicked the ball long down-field and that clearance from Stuart Nelson turned out to be an decent pass as Aristote Nsiala was caught underneath the ball and Adedeji Oshilaja of all people is through on goal, and Adedeji Oshilaja manages to shrug off the challenge from Aristote Nsiala and confidently strike the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to give Gillingham the lead just before half time - nothing Jayson Leutwiler could do about that and what a time for Gillingham to score as well.

And after two minutes of stoppage time at the end of The First Half, Gillingham go in at the break with the slender advantage, just when we thought that neither team were going to break the deadlock, Charlotte sitting next to me had actually missed Adedeji Oshilaja’s Goal, but what a time for Gillingham to open the scoring.

HALF TIME: GILLINGHAM 1 - 0 SHREWSBURY TOWN

There was a spell of sustained pressure from Gillingham prior to Adedeji Oshilaja opening the scoring, Josh Wright saw his effort on goal saved from Jake Hessenthaler’s one touch layoff, and in the same move, Ryan Jackson’s cross caused a huge mix up between Matt Sadler and Jayson Leutwiler, a mix up which could have seen Gillingham open the scoring in fortuitous circumstances, but Adedeji Oshilaja opening the scoring just before half time is precisely what Gillingham needed, because Shrewsbury Town will get there chances to score and they will get a spell in the game where they will dominate, so it was crucial that Gillingham scored when were on top.

One of Freddie Ladapo or Tyler Roberts should have scored for Shrewsbury Town from Shaun Whalley’s dangerous in-swinging cross, but Cody McDonald needed to score that one on one effort up against Jayson Leutwiler, and Cody McDonald will know that he won’t get a better goal-scoring opportunity then that throughout the entire game, interesting that Adedeji Oshilaja went the same side and he scored, perhaps with Adedeji Oshilaja being A Centre Back, Jayson Leutwiler wasn’t sure what Oshilaja was going to do.

One of the big talking points was Junior Brown only being booked for his challenge on Cody McDonald when Another Referee might have shown Junior Brown a straight red, this is a crucial decision because some supporters in Block’s A, B and C of The Medway Stand were clearly not happy with that decision, from my vantage point, I couldn’t tell if Junior Brown should have been sent off or if a booking was the correct punishment, but I do think it would have been very interesting to see what would have happened, if you could use Video Technology to make a decision in that possible scenario.

I spoke to David at Half Time and he - like everyone inside Priestfield Stadium - was surprised that A. Adedeji Oshilaja was still up there for Stuart Nelson’s Long Kick Down-Field and B. Adedeji Oshilaja took that goal like A League One Striker because it was a really good finish, but what a time to score, just before half time, and this is a match that Gillingham need to win just to pull away from The League One Relegation Zone, but Cody McDonald had to score that one on one chance though, because had that gone in along with Adedeji Oshilaja scoring, then Gillingham would be in a really commanding position to pick up all three points.

David asked me how I traveled to Sheffield United the week before, I mentioned that Diane drove and we shared fuel costs, David asked why not travel via The Supporters Coach, and I added that we went via car last week, but The Supporters Coach hasn’t been running very often for away games this season, the numbers have dropped off and if Gillingham start to win more games then more people will go to away games, and also, away matches are very very expensive, and they do take up the entire Saturday, Now I don’t mind that, but I can understand why that is so off-putting for many people, especially when your traveling to places like Oldham Athletic in January for example.

Both Teams were out ready for The Second Half and David went back to his seat and I sent the following tweets on Twitter before the re-start “””Jake Hessenthaler has been solid in the 1st half, won a few second balls in the middle of midfield and been neat & tidy for Gillingham Today””” Rob sent me A Tweet and I responded and I sent this tweet “””The cross which Ladapo should have scored came from that side, maybe Garmston will come on in The Second Half”””

Tactically, I wouldn’t look to make any substitutions at Half Time as Gillingham are playing really well, but I can see Bradley Garmston coming on for either Elliott List or Paul Konchesky in The Second Half as Bradley Garmston might get a ten minute runout, we also have Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Rory Donnelly on the bench if Gillingham need to freshen things up in attack, big forty five minutes plus stoppage time coming up for The Gills, hopefully, Gillingham can pick up all three points against Shrewsbury Town - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SECOND HALF:

Neither Adrian Pennock or Paul Hurst made any tactical changes at half time, with both manager’s sticking with The Same Eleven Players they named in There Respective Starting Line Up’s at The Start Of The Match, and having scored just before the break, Gillingham could of doubled there lead right at The Start Of The Second Half, and Gillingham came close to doubling there lead straight from the kick off as Bradley Dack plays the ball back to Josh Wright, who takes a touch to control the ball and Josh Wright kicks the ball long down the left side of the pitch, and Cody McDonald manages to beat Junior Brown to the loose ball and run through on goal down the right side of the pitch, and Cody McDonald skips past Matt Sadler’s attempted challenge, and Cody McDonald’s effort on goal towards the near post was saved by Jayson Leutwiler and Shrewsbury Town eventually are able to clear there lines - that would of been the perfect start to The Second Half For The Gills.

And within a Minute, Gillingham could have gone from almost going 2-0 up to being pegged back to 1-1, Bradley Dack is penalised for his challenge on Gary Deegan, and Shrewsbury Town’s quickly taken free kick caught Gillingham unawares at the back as Freddie Ladapo plays the ball through to Alex Rodman, and The Shrewsbury Town Midfielder see’s his first time effort on goal saved and parried away from danger by Stuart Nelson and Gillingham survived a real scare there.

But in The Forty Eighth Minute, Shrewsbury Town should of scored again, Shrewsbury Town have A Throw On Down The Left Side Of The Pitch right on the halfway line and Junior Brown throws the ball down the line and Tyler Roberts flicks the ball on to Freddie Ladapo, who brings the ball down and side-steps Adedeji Oshilaja’s attempted challenge, and Freddie Ladapo’s powerful strike towards goal is blocked by Stuart Nelson and the first re-bounded effort from Abu Ogogo is blocked by Adedeji Oshilaja, who denied The Shrewsbury Town Midfielder from equalising and Max Ehmer can only get the ball partially clear and away from danger and Gary Deegan’s driven effort towards goal is blocked by Josh Wright and the ball spins up into the air, and Junior Brown tries to pass the ball through to Alex Rodman, and Max Ehmer on the deck can only slice the ball partially clear and away from danger, and Shaun Whalley’s first touch is poor, and this allows Paul Konchesky to clear the ball away from danger, but only up to Aristote Nsiala on the halfway line, but Cody McDonald manages to close The Shrewsbury Town Defender Down and finally we can breath a sigh of relief.

But Gillingham were just all over the place at the back as Freddie Ladapo, Abu Ogogo and Gary Deegan all had chances to score within the same move and Gillingham are slicing clearances, we look really nervous across the back four and the midfield just aren’t doing enough to protect the defence, Jake Hessenthaler and Josh Wright both need to sit in-front of the back four and look to defend for the next five to ten minutes to make sure that Gillingham can grow into this second half, because Cody McDonald has had the chance to double Gillingham’s Lead, but Shrewsbury Town have created enough chances to be level in The Second Half.

The start of The Second Half has seen goal-scoring opportunities left, right and centre, and this continued as both Gillingham and Shrewsbury Town create attacking moves in quick succession, It’s Gillingham who are on the attack first with Max Ehmer playing the ball forward to Cody McDonald, who holds the ball up and quickly turns and evades Aristote Nsiala’s attempted challenge and Cody McDonald squares the ball to Josh Wright, who plays the ball out-wide to Ryan Jackson, who has the pace to take on Junior Brown and get to the byline and pull the ball back to Cody McDonald inside Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area, and with his back to goal, Cody McDonald tee’s up Bradley Dack, who scuffs his effort on goal wide of Jayson Leutwiler’s Left Hand Post.

But after that chance from Bradley Dack, Shrewsbury Town had chances to score in The Forty Ninth and Fifty First Minute’s Of The Match, In The Forty Ninth Minute, Joe Riley’s challenge on Scott Wagstaff goes unpunished and despite the appeals from Gillingham Supporters, Referee Trevor Kettle doesn’t award Gillingham A Free Kick, but all credit to Scott Wagstaff for showing the perseverance and persistence to win possession of the ball back, as Scott Wagstaff runs forward in possession of the ball and Scott Wagstaff continue’s his run forward into Shrewsbury Town’s Final Third, checks back on himself and lays the ball off to Elliott List, who takes one touch to control the ball and another to square the ball to Scott Wagstaff, who is challenged by Gary Deegan and Abu Ogogo runs forward in possession of the ball and plays the ball square to Alex Rodman on the left side on the halfway line, and Alex Rodman just keeps on running forward in possession of the ball as Gillingham just track back and track back, and Alex Rodman gets into Gillingham’s Final Third and plays the ball forward to Tyler Roberts, and Tyler Roberts takes one touch to control the ball and another to hit a lofted shot towards goal which was straight at Stuart Nelson, but a save that Stuart Nelson needed to make nonetheless, because the defending from Gillingham for that passage of play was very disappointing.

And in The Fifty First Minute, Shrewsbury Town should of have equalised, Jayson Leutwiler’s Long Kick Down-Field is won by Adedeji Oshilaja as there was a tussle between Adedeji Oshilaja and Freddie Ladapo and Scott Wagstaff wins the aerial battle between The Two Number Seven’s up against Shaun Whalley, and Paul Konchesky volley’s the ball down-field and Aristote Nsiala boots the ball high up into the air and Shaun Whalley flicks the ball on to Tyler Roberts, who passes the ball down the line to Freddie Ladapo to run on to, and I thought that Freddie Ladapo had fouled Ryan Jackson as Ryan Jackson was clattered into but no foul was given and Tyler Robert’s first time low cross picks out Alex Rodman, who’s first time effort towards goal clatters against the base of the post and re-bounds off Stuart Nelson, and Elliott List manages to intercept the ball from Freddie Ladapo and clear the ball down the line, but only as far to Junior Brown, who brings the ball down, evades Josh Wright’s challenge and manages to retain possession of the ball and Junior Brown turns back on himself and plays the ball back to Gary Deegan, and Gary Deegan takes a touch to control the ball before threading the ball through to Tyler Roberts, who manages to play a first time flick over Gillingham’s Defence and Ryan Jackson doesn’t deal with the ball properly and Stuart Nelson is out quickly to deny Freddie Ladapo, but The Shrewsbury Town Striker was flagged for offside.

But Shrewsbury Town should have equalised and since that Cody McDonald Chance right after the re-start, Gillingham are a mess at the back and Shrewsbury Town have improved and look the more likely side to score, and failing to score is our main benefit because the score-line remains in Gillingham’s Favour, and if The Gills can go 2-0 up then Gillingham would be in a commanding position to go on and win this match, but at the moment, Shrewsbury Town look more likely to equalise then Gillingham doubling there lead, so Adrian Pennock must be looking at his substitutes bench and thinking how do I stop Shrewsbury Town from creating so many decent goal-scoring opportunities ???

Fifty Four Minutes into the match and I thought that Bradley Dack was very neat and tidy in retaining possession of the ball before playing the ball through to Cody McDonald, who was fouled by Matt Sadler, and Aristote Nsiala’s foul on Ryan Jackson two minutes later relieves the pressure building on to Gillingham’s Goal, while in The Fifty Eighth Minute, Paul Konchesky plays an fantastic whipped pass down the left flank and Scott Wagstaff is fouled by Joe Riley, and Gillingham have A Free Kick in A Promising Position On The Pitch Down The Left Side, Not Necessary A Shooting Position, but Shrewsbury Town had every player back to give you a idea of how threatening this set play was, and from the resulting free kick, Bradley Dack has whipped in an sensational in-swinging cross into the heart of Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area and Gary Deegan was well positioned to header the ball clear and away from danger, Dack’s Free Kick has plenty of pace and curl on the ball which was very difficult to defend against, we need to see more moments of quality like that from Bradley Dack if Gillingham are to pick up all three points.

Fouls on Scott Wagstaff and Jake Hessenthaler from Matt Sadler and Abu Ogogo are starting to break up the pace and tempo of this match, but Shrewsbury Town did manage to score an equaliser on Sixty Three Minutes, and you have got to say that on balance of play in The Second Half that the equaliser was well deserved, It’s Gillingham who are looking to make the breakthrough as Elliott List is one on one with Alex Rodman, and Elliott List manages to get to the byline and whip in an dangerous low cross, but Abu Ogogo is well positioned to make the block and Bradley Dack plays the ball down the line towards Elliott List, but Alex Rodman intercepts the ball and runs forward in possession of the ball, and Alex Rodman plays the ball square to Abu Ogogo on the halfway line, who manages to pass the ball out-wide to Shaun Whalley on the right side of the pitch - Gillingham’s Left.

Shaun Whalley takes a touch to control the ball before running forward in possession of the ball and Shaun Whalley plays the ball out-wide to Joe Riley on the over-lap, and Joe Riley takes a touch to control the ball before whipping in an dangerous cross, which loops up into the air off Scott Wagstaff and the ball takes a whacked deflection and bounces over Adedeji Oshilaja’s head, and Stuart Nelson manages to prevent Tyler Roberts from scoring, but there was Alex Rodman to head in the re-bound, no offside flag and the goal does stand, and you have got to say that goal has been coming for some-time now.

And Just A Minute after Shrewsbury Town Equalised, The Visitor’s could have taken the lead, Shrewsbury Town have A Throw On In There Half Of The Pitch, and Junior Brown throws the ball down the line and Ryan Jackson boots the ball down-field, and Cody McDonald tries to retain possession of the ball, but he losses out to both Matt Sadler and Junior Brown, and Junior Brown kicks the ball forward towards Freddie Ladapo, who holds the ball up before playing a one touch layoff square to Tyler Roberts, who runs forward in possession of the ball and Tyler Roberts has the confidence to run forward, drop his shoulder and take a shot on with his left foot, and Stuart Nelson is well positioned to prevent Tyler Roberts from scoring and Max Ehmer chests the ball back to Stuart Nelson - Tyler Roberts, and Shrewsbury Town in general are playing with more confidence and freedom and they look like there going to be the team who are going to go on and pick up all three points against Gillingham, so Adrian Pennock needs to find a solution to this problem, because if the game continue’s to go like this, then Shrewsbury Town are going to win.

And having almost gone 2-1 down to that effort on goal from Tyler Roberts, in The Sixty Sixth Minute, Gillingham win a free kick in a promising position on the pitch, Elliott List has the pace to go on a driving run forwards in possession of the ball, skips past Alex Rodman’s challenge and Elliott List passes the ball square to Bradley Dack Twenty Five Yards Out From Goal and Shaun Whalley clatters into the back of Bradley Dack and Referee Trevor Kettle awards Gillingham A Free Kick, and Shaun Whalley goes into The Referee’s Notebook and is shown A Yellow Card, Paul Konchesky and Bradley Dack both stand over the resulting free kick and Paul Konchesky steps over the ball and leaves it for Bradley Dack to strike goal-wards, and Bradley Dack has whipped an sensational curling effort over Shrewsbury Town’s Wall and Bradley Dack’s effort has only just cleared the crossbar with Shrewsbury Town Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler throwing himself to his right to cover the left side of Shrewsbury Town’s Goal, that is the best effort on goal from Gillingham for some-time now, and something for Gillingham to build on.

Sixty Eight Minutes into the match and Cody McDonald was flagged for offside, and A Minute Later Scott Wagstaff is penalised for his challenge on Shaun Whalley, and in the same Sixty Ninth Minute, Shrewsbury Town make the first substitution of the game as Freddie Ladapo is substituted and Stephen Humphrys comes on in his place, Freddie Ladapo has been causing Gillingham’s Defence Problems all afternoon so it is a bit of a relief to see Freddie Ladapo substituted, Ladapo is precisely the sort of striker that Gillingham are lacking and I did say the same-thing about Lee Erwin at Oldham Athletic as well, A Target-Man who can hold the ball up, flick the ball on and be a pivot up top for Gillingham, also, Cody McDonald plays a lot better when he has someone alongside him who is A Target-Man, Adebayo Akinfenwa and John Marquis come to mind straight away.

Gillingham also make there first substitution in The Seventy First Minute as Bradley Garmston comes on for Elliott List, Elliott List played longer then he did against Sheffield United and Oldham Athletic, and it looks like that Bradley Garmston is going to play as A Left Winger in-front of Paul Konchesky and Scott Wagstaff is going to move across to The Right Wing.

Seventy Two Minutes into the match and Stuart Nelson is quick off his line to catch Joe Riley’s dangerous in-swinging cross into Gillingham’s Penalty Area, while The Attendance at Priestfield Stadium is announced as 5,316, with 223 Shrewsbury Town Supporters, great turnout from Shrewsbury Town for what is A Long Away Trip In January, Gillingham are one of few clubs to actually announce The Away Attendance during the middle of the game, but as for The Home Attendance, you have got to say that considering that this was Adrian Pennock’s First Home Game as Head Coach and Gillingham haven’t played A Home Game for almost A Month, then this is a really disappointing turnout, granted, Gillingham V Shrewsbury Town doesn’t excite fans who might support Gillingham as just there local team, but I thought there would have been at least 5,500 for Pennock’s First Home League Game In-Charge.

Seventy Three Minutes into the match and Cody McDonald can consider himself very unlucky to be flagged for offside, while a minute later and in The Seventy Fourth Minute, Paul Konchesky has a soft free kick given against him for a foul on Tyler Roberts, and from the resulting free kick, Joe Riley has aimed a cross-field cross from right to left in an attempt to pick out someone at the far post, and Max Ehmer is well positioned to header the ball out of play at the expense of A Corner Kick, but nonetheless, Max Ehmer has prevented someone in A Shrewsbury Town Shirt from heading the ball on target, thankfully, A Goal-Scoring Opportunity Of Note Wasn’t Created From The Resulting Corner Kick, but Shrewsbury Town are pushing forwards and they look the more likely side to make the breakthrough.

Seventy Seven Minutes into the match and everyone inside Priestfield Stadium had thought that Gillingham had re-taken the lead, Bradley Garmston has the pace to take on Joe Riley, and Bradley Garmston has whipped in an fantastic in-swinging cross which was allowed to bounce inside Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area and somehow Scott Wagstaff cannot direct his header on target and Shrewsbury Town Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler wasn’t required to make a save.

However, In The Seventy Eighth Minute, Gillingham should have taken the lead, Ryan Jackson’s Long Throw into The Heart Of Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area is won in the air by Joe Riley and Tyler Roberts slices the ball clear, but Jake Hessenthaler chests the ball down and runs towards the right wing, and Abu Ogogo is tracking back with Jake Hessenthaler all the way, and Jake Hessenthaler checks the ball back to Scott Wagstaff, who takes a touch to control the ball before whipping in an dangerous in-swinging cross and Aristote Nsiala headers the ball clear, but Bradley Garmston plays the ball back into the heart of Shrewsbury Town’s Penalty Area, and on the slide, Cody McDonald see’s his first time effort brilliantly saved by Jayson Leutwiler and Max Ehmer see’s his effort on goal crash against the base of the post and Shaun Whalley manages to get the ball clear and away from danger, unlucky from Cody McDonald as there wasn’t much he could have done better then what he did to get a shot off on goal, and maybe the angle was just too acute for Max Ehmer to score the goal to put Gillingham back in-front.

After those chances from Cody McDonald and Max Ehmer, Shrewsbury Town made there second substitution of the game as Louis Dodds has been brought on for Tyler Roberts, now Louis Dodds scored both of Shrewsbury Town’s Goals against Gillingham at Greenhous Meadow earlier in the season, and he has always impressed me whenever Dodds played for Port Vale, and speaking of substitutions, I am surprised that Adrian Pennock has made just the one sub in A Match I am sure that he would want to win, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Rory Donnelly and Billy Knott are all available if we’re looking for a fresh pair of legs to make all the difference.

Gillingham built on that chance created in The Seventy Eighth Minute by creating another goal-scoring opportunity in The Seventy Ninth Minute, as Max Ehmer kicks the ball long down-field and Bradley Dack manages to bring the ball down, retain possession of the ball despite Joe Riley’s challenge, and Bradley Dack squares the ball to Josh Wright roughly twenty five yards from Shrewsbury Town’s Goal, and everyone in The Rainham End urged Josh Wright to try his luck from distance, but Josh Wright plays the ball out-wide to Scott Wagstaff, who looks to take on Junior Brown and Scott Wagstaff forces Junior Brown to concede The Corner Kick, and the noise cranks up un volume inside Priestfield Stadium, and Gillingham almost opened the scoring in sensational fashion from the resulting corner kick, as Bradley Dack whips in an superb in-swinging corner kick and Josh Wright attempts the spectacular over-head kick and Josh Wright’s effort only just went wide of Jayson Leutwiler’s Left Hand Post, and that was the chance we were looking for, and with ten minutes to go plus stoppage time, Can Gillingham find the all important goal to pick up three priceless points in this vital League One Clash ???

But it is Shrewsbury Town who look like they are trying to find the winner, because The Visitor’s have the chance to score in The Eighty First Minute, and Gary Deegan of all people drives forward in possession of the ball and with few passing options available, Gary Deegan has tried his luck from distance, but The Shrewsbury Town Defender / Midfielder has dragged his shot well wide of Stuart Nelson’s Right Hand Post.

And in The Eighty Second Minute, Gillingham came close to scoring in very unusual circumstances as Bradley Garmston has the pace to take the ball down the left side of the pitch, and Bradley Garmston plays the ball back to Paul Konchesky, who takes a touch to control the ball, and Paul Konchesky whips in an dangerous in-swinging cross which has taken a huge deflection off Joe Riley, and that deflection had Shrewsbury Town Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler back-peddling, and at full stretch, Jayson Leutwiler was able to gather the ball.

This End To End Battle see’s no sign’s of stopping and this time it is Shrewsbury Town on The Front-Foot and Bradley Dack is penalised for his challenge on Gary Deegan, and Shrewsbury Town have A Free Kick within shooting territory here, and from the resulting free kick, Shaun Whalley has put his laces through the ball and hit that effort low, on target with plenty of power and Stuart Nelson dived to his right to parry the ball away to safety, and we can breath a sigh of relief that Shrewsbury Town haven’t turned this match on it’s head, because whoever scores now will win the game.

But in The Eighty Fifth Minute, Shrewsbury Town should have scored and everyone inside Priestfield Stadium knows it as well, Stephen Humphrys has managed to intercept the ball from Paul Konchesky after chasing a lost cause, and Stephen Humphrys has whipped in an dangerous in-swinging cross and even though Adedeji Oshilaja has won the aerial battle, the second ball has dropped perfectly for Louis Dodds to score what surely is going to be the goal that will win the game for Shrewsbury Town, but Louis Dodds must of been leaning backwards because Louis Dodds somehow manages to sky his effort clear of Stuart Nelson’s CrossBar, I had My Head In My Hands After That, because that was in, the ball fell to the one player who is perfectly capable of sticking the ball into the back of the net and I have no idea how Louis Dodds hasn’t at least hit the target with that effort, because Dodds should have scored.

That miss will hopefully give Gillingham renewed hope that The Gills could go on to win all three points, the points mean more then the performance, and if Gillingham can win this match with the few minutes we have got left, plus stoppage time, then we won’t mind how Gillingham get the three points just as long as we get them.

After that glaring miss from Louis Dodds, Shrewsbury Town Make There Third And Final Substitution as Bryn Morris comes on for Abu Ogogo, A Change From Paul Hurst that may well be a change to ensure that Shrewsbury Town will get a point from the game, And In The Eighty Eighth Minute Bradley Dack was incorrectly flagged for offside from The Linesman Down The Rainham End / Gordon Road Stand which was very annoying, because although Cody McDonald was standing in A Offside Position, the ball was played through to Bradley Dack who was clearly in A Onside Position.

In The Ninetieth Minute, Adrian Pennock makes A Double Substitution as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Rory Donnelly come on for Bradley Dack and Cody McDonald, Why didn’t Adrian Pennock look to bring Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Rory Donnelly on at least ten minutes a go ??? -  because Adrian Pennock has been very good with his substitutions in our previous two matches against Oldham Athletic and Sheffield United, so it was a bit disappointing that Rory Donnelly and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas didn’t come on with at least ten minutes to go.

Gary Deegan is penalised in stoppage time for his challenge on Scott Wagstaff and there is three minutes of stoppage time for Gillingham to find A Winner, although with six substitutes and A Goal From Shrewsbury Town, I thought there would be at least four minutes of additional time, but it is Shrewsbury Town who look like they are going to score late on, as Stephen Humphrys tries his luck from the edge of the area and Stuart Nelson is forced to parry the ball away from danger, excellent save from Stuart Nelson to ensure that Gillingham get at least a point from this match.

This Match was going to end with a Grand-Stand Finish with Two Ryan Jackson Long Throw’s, this time, Ryan Jackson comes across to the left side of the pitch to take these throw on’s, the first of these two long throws from Ryan Jackson was headed clear and away from danger by Gary Deegan, and Ryan Jackson allowed the ball to run out of play so that he can try again, The Second Long Throw From Ryan Jackson was more of a threat, as Adedeji Oshilaja flicked the ball on to try and pick out Scott Wagstaff, but Jayson Leutwiler was quick off his goal-line to punch the ball clear and Bradley Garmston on the stretch stops Louis Dodds from getting to the loose ball and Paul Konchesky plays the ball down the line towards Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, and once Jay Emmanuel-Thomas lost possession of the ball, Referee Trevor Kettle blew his whistle for full time as both teams share the spoils in this battle to avoid relegation.

So The Full Time Score at Priestfield Stadium is Gillingham 1 - 1 Shrewsbury Town, I was surprised that there were a few boo’s, but all in all, the players were applauded for there effort and application, it wasn’t a roaring reception which you would normally hear after your team has won, but it was a polite applause that Gillingham have at the very least avoided defeat, but that was A Match that Gillingham had to win in My Opinion, but you have got to say that Shrewsbury Town looked the more likely side to win when you look at The Second Half Performance as a whole.

FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 1 - 1 SHREWSBURY TOWN

Colin came over at The Full Time Whistle and Colin thought that this was A Match that Gillingham needed to win, at home to the team below us in The League One Table because Bradford City Away is going to be a very very difficult match, it is clear that Gillingham are looking to retain there League One Status and we have to hope that there are going to be many additions to the squad in The January Transfer Window, because the squad is short in several area’s, but at the same-time, the budget has mostly been spent this season so we’re relying on Loan Signings where The Parent Club is prepared to pay 100% of the wage contributions, Young Players who need to play competitive first team football, or free agents who are willing to accept cheap short term contracts, hopefully Adrian Pennock can bring in the reinforcements between now and Tuesday, but it is going to be a difficult task, but it would have been ideal to go into Transfer Deadline Day off the back of a win against Shrewsbury Town.

I made sure I had everything on me before heading for the exit and I spoke to One Gillingham Supporter Out-Side who said that Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Rory Donnelly should have come on ten to fifteen minute earlier and I agreed with his assessment, because why were the changes so late ??? - I do wonder if Adrian Pennock has seen both players in training and the fact that Elliott List starts ahead of both players really is a telling statement, Adrian Pennock must be looking to sign at least one, probably two strikers before Transfer Deadline Day.

I was surprised to see Stewart, I knew he was going to Gillingham V Shrewsbury Town but I thought he would of headed in the opposite direction, Stewart was cold from sitting / standing in The Brian Moore Stand, it was freezing throughout the entire match, and Stewie said that Cody McDonald should have scored that one v one effort, but because Stewart had to make a move, he didn’t stop for long, I said that there is a pizza with his name on it, but he will probably get something to eat and drink either from A TakeOut or Restaurant Later On.

I meet up with Stephen and Gary after the game and Gary was in the middle of his conversation with Stephen about Junior Brown and Gary thought that Junior Brown should have been sent off for his challenge on Cody McDonald, Gary mentioned that The Gillingham Commentary mentioned that there were two players covering and that is why Junior Brown was shown A Yellow Card, but Gary interpretated that challenge very differently, Gary added that at best both players were level with Cody McDonald, but even if that was the case, Cody McDonald was baring down on goal with his preferred right foot and there was no way either player would have come across in time to make a block - that’s one of those scenario’s where you would love to see what Video Technology would have made of that decision, I thought A Yellow Card was suitable punishment, but Gary had a much better view then I did, and Gary thought that Junior Brown was lucky to stay on the pitch.

NoirCat Predictions weren’t great for Me, Stephen, Diane or Gary, as everyone had this down as A Gillingham Win, and it was such a shame that Gillingham didn’t get the win that we so desperately needed, because we could have done with all three points from this match, and of all the potential goal-scorers you could of selected for Gillingham, Adedeji Oshilaja is on the score-sheet for Gillingham, and it was such a strange goal as Stuart Nelson boots the ball long down-field and Adedeji Oshilaja is on the end of it, and credit to Oshilaja because it was a well taken goal for A Centre Back, and yet, Cody McDonald went the same side and Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler was able to get down low to make the save.

But The Second Half was end to end, Cody McDonald Could have Scored, Freddie Ladapo, Alex Rodman and Abu Ogogo all had chances to score and The First Five Minutes Of The Second Half, the score-line could of been anything, and there can be no complaints about Shrewsbury Town equalising because they deserved to be level at that stage, but Cody McDonald or Max Ehmer had the chances to nick it for Gillingham, and thankfully Louis Dodds skied that effort over the crossbar late on, so while we’re disappointed not to win, we’re also pleased not to lose as well.

I also said to Gary that maybe we could bring Tomas Holy on As A Striker and could we bring on A Goalkeeper to play as a Striker ??? - Gary added that Tomas Holy will need an out-field kit, although Tomas Holy could be A Rush Goalkeeper and Stuart Nelson can stay in goal, speaking of striker substitutions, Rory Donnelly and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas coming on so late is very disappointing, as Adrian Pennock has been very quick and decisive with his substitutions in the last two matches, both Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Rory Donnelly needed to come on with fifteen minutes to go.

Diane mentioned that she would arrange a time for us to possibly drive to Bradford City Via Car, as Diane was unsure whether to go to this game via car or not, but with the cold weather, decreasing temperatures and Ethan very bored, Diane decided to head off home, with Liverpool losing to Wolves and Gillingham drawing against Shrewsbury Town, it hasn’t been a good day of results for Diane, Tottenham managed to win 4-3 against Wycombe Wanderers and only just - if only Gillingham went to White Heart Lane and did that.

Gary headed off and said he would see us for the next home game, which isn’t A Month Away This Time, Stephen will be going to Port Vale so we both said C Ya To Gary while we waited as Stephen wanted to get Player Autographs from Elliott List, Scott Wagstaff and Cody McDonald, we waited for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and we either missed him and he has headed off early, or he was still getting changed, while we were waiting, Dad Rang Me and said that Mum wanted A Small Portion Of Chips And A FishCake, I mentioned that I did see Stewart and he was freezing in The Brian Moore Stand, I added that I was surprised to see him as he would normally head off very quickly.

After The Phone Call, Colin spoke to me and he asked me for my thoughts on the result, after thinking about it, Yeah A Draw Is A Fair Result with Colin saying that it is a work in progress and Gillingham are two matches unbeaten now and this something to build on, such a shame it wasn’t the win we so badly wanted, but we’re getting there and hopefully we can pull off the most unexpected win by winning against Bradford City Next Week.

I Said C Ya To Colin and Julian, and Me and Stephen waited for five more minutes before heading off, I stopped off at Sainsbury’s to buy a 500ML Bottle Of Coca Cola for £1.25 and I mentioned to Stephen that he could post The Man Of The Match Thread On Gills Debate, as we wanted to start getting those threads back on the forum again, in the end, I ended up posting The Man Of The Match Thread, but Stephen can post The Thread Next Time.

Stephen headed off to The Cricketers Pub while I made my way towards Gillingham Train Station, and I made it just in time for The 18.07PM Train, and I rang home to say that I was on the train to Rainham, where the train will terminate and I was back in Rainham at 18.15PM, and while I was on The Train, I had sent the following Tweet, Two Games unbeaten for Gillingham so it is something to build on, but a win today for The Gills would pull Gillingham away from the bottom 4, we really could have done with a win, we don’t have the greatest of home forms against Shrewsbury Town, but that was a match Gillingham needed to win, had we done so, Gillingham would of been Sixteenth In League One, so we only move up a place, but Gillingham would have moved Seven Points Clear of The Relegation Zone - Eight if you include Goal Difference - and Gillingham would have had a game in hand as well.

I arrived back in Rainham at 18.15PM and made My Way to George’s Plaice to Buy A Small Portion Of Chips with One FishCake, and A Small Portion Of Chips and Two Jumbo Plain Sausages for £8, and once I got My Change Back, I got A lift From Dad Back Home, Dad had done well in Super Six despite a few shock results in The FA Cup over the weekend, Stewart was probably sitting next to A Radiator after suffering from the freezing conditions high up in The Brian Moore Stand, and it is such a shame that Gillingham couldn’t get the three points we so desperately needed, but it is two matches unbeaten for The Gills, hopefully, we can make it three games unbeaten for when we travel to Bradford City The Following Saturday - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!