#no scotland no party afterall

[loudcackles]

Do I have a very important exam in a week? Yes.

Did I just get very spontaneous tickets for the Käärijä gig tomorrow? Also yes.

[witchthewriter]

𝕾𝖍𝖎𝖕 𝖋𝖔𝖗 @saltwaterburns.

𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒓𝒘𝒆𝒏! She instantly came to mind when reading your message. She is more than her outward appearance (delicate, soft, beautiful). She is a warrior and will defend anyone she chooses. That's why I think she would be such a great match for you; she is kind and gentle but will always have your back no matter what. You'd always have someone on your side.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

It's a common occurance for Arwen to gently hold your cheek in her hand and press her forehead to yours. A small gesture of affection that goes far.

Her voice is so soft that it never rattles you - you always feel safe with Arwen. No matter whose around. It feels as though she knows exactly what to do and say next

Can tell your mood even if you're hiding it. Arwen is very intune with you

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Gwen & Arthur by Rob Lane

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑶𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒓! Purely sassy, sarcastic, funny and loves to rile you up (even after you get to know the real him). There's a lot of layers to Finnick but it isn't as if you peel one back and discard it - he's almost like a book that isn't in order. And the plot is just ... him. He can be one of the most quietest, inward men, and then he can be the life of the party. But no matter how he feels, he knows he loves you.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

Loves playing with your hair, and it shocked you when he started creating intricate braids (he does know how to work with ropes and such - from his upbringing in the fishing district)

Has quite the romantic side; Finnick likes slow dancing with you, even without music (well, almost always without music. He does this quite spontaneously)

Winks from across the room. Constantly flirting with you, making you roll your eyes

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Scotland by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐍

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑬𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝑺𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒏! I think she has it all for you in a partner. She knows how to fluster you, she's witty and intelligent; constantly entertaining you. Bold and brave, yet gentle and caring. She is a Pirate King afterall.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

May wear dresses and dress up in beautiful outfits, but underneath them, strapped to each leg are daggers. They're usually a last resort, if she cannot come to a conclusion with said enemy that produces peace.

Traces invisible lines on your fingers, shoulders and back while she thinks.

Remembers everything about you, about your family, your interests, hobbies etc. It actually surprises you how much she retains

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Dance of the Druids by Bear McCreary

[rosesandalfazemas]

Wife Swap with ScotFra PortEng

Woah anon this is challenging! My OTPS :3 the problem is who is the wife.

So the options are:

ScotPort / FrUk (considering Portugal and France as wives)

ScotEng / FraPort (considering Scotland and England as wives)

The most "natural" would be the first one for me (FrUk it's a nice combination), but the second would be hilarious. I'm especially curious about FraPort. Gabriel seems to go with everyone with no problem excepts it's Turkiye or China. But what about Francis? Could he tolerate Gabriel's behaviour? In the other side, as s3x buddies they would have great moments! Fran appreciates the passion and creativity in bed and, when inspired, Portugal has it.

About Kirkland/Kirkland... a disaster XD. They know each other very well... too much, in fact. And their relationship as brothers is not a problem for me at all, but everything is inner and told. Could be a nice drunk's adventure tho. And I'm sure they did it before, so.

And about ScotPort, well I did a lot last year about them; it seems rare but they complement each other a lot; a soft and quiet couple, who talk more in silence than in words, but not boring at all; Gabriel has latin blood afterall, and Scotland has his... surprises. And he's very, deeply romantic, as all the Kirklands indeed; and that is something Port adores. No matter which Kirkland.

And these four would have fun a swinger party. I proved it too.

Thanks anon!

[amoveablejake]

You Never Know...Right?

Why do we do this to ourselves 

At the beginning of the 2020/21 Premier League season I wrote a prediction piece for the year ahead. How that went, whose to say but rest assured I will be held accountable for my horrendous predictions in a piece soon. But today, is not that day. No, because today, less than a week until the 2020 European Championship begins (yes, 2020) I am going to throw down the gauntlet and make some more outlandish predictions that will come back to haunt me. Well, sort of predictions. Last time around I went through every team but I’m not doing that this outing quite simply because I don’t know each team well enough (sorry North Macedonia) so instead I will be going through them group by group and then immediately regretting what I’ve cursed my favored teams with particularly those with the three lions on their chest. *Sigh* Lets get going with the heartbreak shall we. 

Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Wales and Turkey 

I am always nervous about the Italian team. That’s not because of the historical strength of the Italian side and the masters of the game they have produced over the years, its not because of the wonderful kits they have this time around, its not because of the strength of the Serie A, no, its because they won the 2006 World Cup. And sure, since then they haven’t ever hit that height again, even missing out on the previous tournament but as that was the first true World Cup I can remember I live in fear of them. The team this time around is good, I would say even better than that one in 2006 in some key areas but its missing that spark. That Pirlo magic, that knowledge that Buffon is in goal ready to protect you. Ofcourse, I’m sure that Chiesa is going to make this his tournament and run rings around his opponents as he has been doing all season for Juventus. As for the others in this group, Switzerland and Turkey are those sorts of teams that always have an upset in their back pocket and are capable of rallying against the odds to progress further than they may have been tipped for. As for Wales, they are probably the other favourites to progress alongside Italy but I think it will be a much tougher road for them to get out the group stage and if I had to pick my top two its going to be Italy and Switzerland. Lets watch that age badly shall we. 

Group B: Belgium, Finland, Denmark and Russia 

Despite not winning the 2018 World Cup Belgium still managed to exit the tournament with a great sense of accomplishment and have enjoyed sitting at the top of the Fifa world rankings in the last couple of years. A position they do deserve, the Belgium squad is filled with wonderful players, De Bruyne, Mertens, Lukaku, Courthois and two Hazards. The thing is, Lukaku is coming off the back of an intense title winning season in Serie A, De Bryune is suffering an injury and Eden Hazard, well, its not clicked at Real shall we say. Belgium are truly a world class team but I don’t think this will be their tournament, they should however, make it through this group with relative ease. ‘Should’ being the operative word there. As for the others, I would love it if Denmark could make it through to the knockout stage and they do have a good, capable team but I think it will be Russia who make it out. As for Finland, I don’t know too much about the team but I’m always excited to see if an underdog can perform and capture my heart so maybe that will be them. They do have one of the finest kits of the tournament afterall. 

Group C: Austria, North Macedonia, Netherlands and Ukraine 

Like the Belgium group this is another one where you look at it on paper and see the Netherlands storming into the knockout rounds. And yes, they absolutely should. They have a wonderful team that qualified with ease. The orange clad men always seem to enjoy a good run out at international tournaments whilst always falling short of the finish line. I do enjoy watching them play and progress and thats no different here as I’ll be hoping that they do get through. They should, again ‘should’, be joined by Austria but I would love it, absolutely adore it, if North Macedonia went through. What a lovely time that would be. I’ve just realised I haven’t mentioned Ukraine which probably means they will win the entire tournament. 

Group D: Croatia, Czech Republic, Scotland and England 

Here we go. World in motion. Heartbreak city. The England squad is potentially one of the strongest its ever been, sure there are some omissions and the starting xi may not be what I have in mind but boy oh boy do I believe. I believe. And I will believe for about two minutes into the Croatia game. This is a group that has heartbreak written all over it and as a true England fan that is what I’ve come to expect. Pain. Pain that will ultimately come from a brief fleeting moments of the best football you have ever seen and daring to beleive it may infact come home only for that to be ripped away. Its how this works. I’m not even going to talk about the other teams beause I don’t want to tempt fate. Fine. I like Croatia even after all the suffering they have brought us over the years, Czech Republic are always strong and its nice that Scotland have at last come to the party. I just wish it wasn’t in this group. 

Group E: Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden 

For me, this group is all about Lewandowski. After this truly historic season with Bayern I hope that run of form continues into the Euros. Lewandowski is one of those players I’ll be boring the children about and speaking of how incredible his forty one goal season is. It would be great to see him perform with Poland and to take them into the knockout stages and who knows, as Zlatan isn’t with the Sweden team that may happen. As for Spain, like with Italy their triumphant run of trophies from 2008 to 2012 (two Euros and one World Cup) has made me increasingly aware of them and I used to adore watching that team of Torres, Villa, Casillas, Xavi and Iniesta play. But that was then and this is now and the Spain team of 2021 isn’t quite the same of the masters of old but still, they should be progressing here. 

Group F: France, Portugal, Germany and Hungary. 

If Hungary make it through this group. Man alive, we should give them the trophy there and then. This is the party group, the group of death. Three incredible teams going up against each other including the Euros holder Portugal and the World Cup winners France. There are a lot of great narratives running through this group, Portugal are once again being led by Cristiano Ronaldo who is ofcourse desperate to win another trophy and cement his already concrete legacy. Germany are once again looking strong and this is Low’s last outing with the team before passing the reigns over to Hansi Flick. Not to mention Hummels and Muller have been recalled to the squad. And then, there is France. I adore this team, sorry, j’adore this France squad. It is filled with wonderful players (okay you’ve twisted my arm I’ll name them, Pogba, Kante, Lloris, Varane, Griezmann, Giroud, Benzema and Mbappe). They’re such a strong side and play with truly wonderful elegance. They won the World Cup in 2018 for a reason and have only grown stronger. Benzema has been recalled after carrying Real Madrid and Mbappe, well, he’s alright I guess. 

 Writing the above yet again highlighted the fact that this is an incredibly hard tournament to win. There is truyl world class talent on display and no team will walk to the final. But, you have to beleive right. And sure, tears will be flowing, I have no illusions about that, but for now its nice to beleive that maybe just maybe France won’t obliterate us too much. 

-Jake, a man who is getting ready to apply for a French passport, 06/06/2021

[barinacraft]

Golf Cocktails - US Open Themed Drinks For Fathers Day

Father's Day Drinks For Duffers

Golf themed parties are a great way for your home bar to host a crowd of family and friends. Part 3 of our series on golf cocktails starts off with the U.S. Open and its prestigious final round of competition held on Father's Day.* Throw him a bash with some of his fairway foursomes or let Dad enjoy his golf & cocktail book gift set while sipping on one of these delicious recipes and watching the tournament on tv.

Does he love beer? Better change gears and head over here.

US Open Golf Themed Cocktails

Club Cocktail:

2 oz  brandy

½ oz  maraschino liqueur

½ oz  pineapple juice

2 dashes  Peychaud's bitters

Probably named for a sporting club or clubhouse rather than a physical golf club with a shaft, grip and head, this drink recipe was first printed in W.C. Whitfield's 1939 Just Cocktails book. Which clubhouse though?

Possibly the R&A. Afterall, 1939 was the same year the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland introduced its 14 club rule. If so, maybe this mixture is better suited as a British Open golf themed drink.

Of course the pineapple juice suggests something tailored to tastes a bit further south. Perhaps The Masters or one of the tournament golf courses back then like the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas (1941 U.S. Open) or Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina (1936 PGA Championship).

Then again, it could just be coincidence. Let's mix one up and speculate.

Pour all of the ingredients inside an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into chilled glassware. Garnish with a lemon peel and strawberry slice.

Club Martini:

1 ½ oz  gin

¾ oz  sweet vermouth

Substituting sweet for dry vermouth in the classic recipe may celebrate being part of the club, if even briefly. The U.S. Open gets its name by allowing anyone including non-professionals to enter the tournament if they have a low enough handicap and can successfully compete in a grueling series of play off rounds to qualify. That would be pretty sweet for any accomplished duffer.

Golf Cocktail Martini:

2 dashes  bitters

1 ½ oz  gin

¾ oz  dry vermouth

This drink is a variation of the traditional Martini with a two to one ratio of gin to dry vermouth along with a splash of aromatic bitters. Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass. The classic vee shaped bar ware tees up the next shot above.

Turf Cocktail:

¼ tsp  anise flavored liqueur or absinthe

2 dashes  Angostura bitters

1 oz  dry vermouth

1 oz  gin

As one of the four majors, the U.S. Open golf tournament is known for letting the rough grass grow long. This tough turf makes for some challenging and unpredictable shots. Seems fitting to include the Turf Cocktail which may include absinthe, nicknamed the green fairy, to represent swinging through that wild growth. A few surprising twists to this drink include using a couple drops of maraschino liqueur and orange bitters or substituting lemon juice for the bitters altogether. Stir with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.

Spirit Of The Game »

The Masters Golf Drinks   PGA Championship Golf Drinks   British Open Golf Cocktails

* - Final rounds are normally played on the weekend ending on the third Sunday in June coinciding with Father's Day. Future US Open tournament dates include June 13-16, 2024 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 2) in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina; June 12-15, 2025 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania and June 18-21, 2026 at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Course in Southampton, New York.

[celticbarb]

Book: Highland Soul

Author: Elizabeth Rose

Series: Highland Outcasts, Book #1

Publisher: Dragonblade

Cover Designer: Dar Albert

Page Amount: 292 Book

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Blog Rating: 5 Saltire Flags

True facts: A cordwainer is a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather. The cordwainer’s trade can be contrasted with the cobbler's trade, according to a tradition in Britain that restricted cobblers to repairing shoes.

Women could not be cordwainers in any capacity until about the nineteenth century unless they possibility inherited through marriage. Though even that is rare as it usually would go to a male relative rather than a female wife. It was definitely a man’s world

Glasgow, Scotland 1363

As those MacKeefe rascals were stirring up trouble once again with their mischievous shenanigans! Gavin MacKeefe and his friends Cam, and fraternal twins Nash and North were celebrating after winning the battle with clan MacGregor and creating a new alliance. As any red hot highlander they wanted to party with food, whisky, and if they were lucky a bonnie lass in their lap too. So they went to old Callum MacKeefe’s Horn and Hoof tavern to celebrate their heroic success! Unfortunately they went from heroes to outcasts in what seemed like moments! It resulted with these four friends being temporarily kicked out of their own clan and for ridiculous reasons in their humble opinions! Each one of these four friends committed horrible offenses according to old Callum. One kissed a lass without permission, which was a nobleman’s sister-in-law and earned him a smack across the face from the lass which he so richly deserved! All four friends drank whisky and ate food without paying, one touched a rare gift from the King without permission, starting fights, setting a small tavern fire and vomiting on Old Callum’s favorite pair of boots! They basically trashed the entire tavern and broke every single rule in old Callum’s list and more! However they expected to get away scot free as they always did, but not this time!

This resulted in all four men being sent to the dungeon for three days and as they sobered up Gavin was definitely both embarrassed and humiliated! To be sent to your own clans dungeon because of drunken behavior well it was nothing to be proud of. They were also hungry, thirsty and cold which made they all grumpy and verbally attacking each other. Yet non of them were blameless Gavin knew this. Knowing they all were to be temporarily exiled from their own castle and were awaiting their punishments and knew Gavin’s torture was first. Now Gavin offered to pay for the damages, but Callum refused as he wants a new pair of boots. He also finds out he was expecting Gavin to make him a pair of new boots. Something Callum had no idea how to do, afterall he was a warrior not a cordwainer! This is when he finds out Gavin’s torture chamber will be at the cordwainer’s is to make Callum a new pair of boots and repair a trunk full of shoes from the clan.

Davita, the cordwainer’s daughter is in desperate need of aid from Clan MacKeefe and begs for their help while her father is bedridden and healing from his near fatal beating .Their business is in dire straits and suffering financially and will lose clients and their cordwainer shop if they don’t get help. Furthermore, it has to be a man to work as a cordwainer as women were not permitted plus the business was suffering because of her fathers recent habit of becoming a drunk since he lost his wife. Davita was hiding the bottles of spirits so he would sober up. With all these worries her younger sister Aila, seemed to just discover boys! She was an innocent and looking for a heap of trouble being so flirtatious with men and going into the tavern behind Davita’s back which she was forbidden to do! Her nine year old brother was in the habit of stealing since they could not afford much. He was going to lose a hand, have his ear cut off, possibly have his ear nailed to the pillory, or hang him if he is ever caught! It scares Davita to death and so hard to watch her entire family by herself. As the eldest sibling Davita has taken the role as mother since they didn’t have anyone else to look after them.

It was a lot as soon as she saw this group of four enormous highlanders. Davita was frightened ar first sight worried they murdered someone until she saw they were only mischief makers on a drunken binge. She knew the rules, no whisky for Gavin MacKeefe as she had been told. He soon helps her family in ways she didn’t expect which warms his way into her lonely heart too. She was immediately drawn to the handsome highlander Gavin MacKeefe and saw he felt the same. but will he leave her and break her heart once his punishment is over and he returns to the castle? Was she just some meaningless distraction? What bothers her more is her brother definitely looks up to Gavin and admires him as a role model and keep him out of trouble. Shall they all have broken hearts if Gavin never returns? Will they part forever or discover true love?

Also find out true historical facts in the art of the art of shoe making before shoemakers Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Doc Marten, Betsey Johnson, CoCo Chanel, Stella McCartney, Vera Wang, Christian Dior, Manolo Blahnik even existed! Read this fascinating book and this fascinating profession.

I really loved this book as Elizabeth Rose tells a captivating story about love, redemption and the true fascinating craft of shoemaking. This is the first book in her brand new Highland Outcasts series, where each of this group of four fabulous fours highlanders have to pay a debt to tavern owner Old Callum MacKeefe who is the oldest living man in Scotland! These men had been secondary characters in previous Elizabeth Rose books. It is always nice to see a main character from a previous book make a surprise appearance, it’s like a family reunion of book characters.

As Gavin and his three closest friend trashed the bar and broke all the rules! They were sent to spend three days in the dungeon and all because the were celebrating winning a battle with the MacGregors and forming an alliance. Now they all wait until Callum decides on each lad’s specific form of punishment. They go to each support each of them as they do the punishment they were assigned. Except could love be a possible road block for each of these lads who have a liking for naughtiness?

Get swept away in this fun loving read and I look forward to the rest of the books in this delightful series. I really enjoyed learning about cordwainers so much too. I love getting a history lesson on cordwainers too, as Carrie Bradshaw is not the only woman who loves shoes!

Highland Outcasts Series

Book #1 Highland Soul - Gavin MacKeefe

Released Available Now!

Book #2 Highland Flame - Cam MacKeefe

TBR April 19, 2022

Highland Sky - Nash MacKeefe TBR

Highland Silver - North MacKeefe TBR

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Soul-Outcasts-Book-ebook/dp/B09NQQWSJ4/ref=nodl_

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.