#traditional British lunch

[creativemedianews]

Classic Ploughman's Lunch Recipe: A Taste of British Tradition

Classic Ploughman's Lunch Recipe: A Taste of British Tradition #Britishculinarytradition #Britishpubfood

[daimonclub]

Christmas crackers jokes

Christmas crackers funny jokes Christmas crackers jokes, Funny Christmas crackers and humorous jokes by English-Culture for your enjoyment and your amusing Christmas Holidays. Christmas crackers are a British tradition dating back to Victorian times when in the early 1850s, London confectioner Tom Smith started adding a motto to his sugared almond bon-bons which he sold wrapped in a twisted paper package. The story goes that he was inspired to add 'bang' when he heard the crackle of a log he had just put on the fire. He decided to make a log shaped package that would produce a surprise bang and inside would be an almond and a motto and soon the sugared almond was replaced with a small gift. Originally sold as the Cosaque it soon became known by the public as the "cracker". But it wasn't until the early 1900s that the paper crown was added by Smith's sons, Tom, Walter and Henry, after he died and gave the business to them. The idea behind the paper crown is thought to have originated from the Twelfth Night celebrations, when a King or Queen was appointed to overlook the proceedings. Then, by the end of the 1930s, the love poems were replaced by jokes or limericks; they're corny and seldom improve with the telling, but Christmas lunch wouldn't be complete without the chorus of groans that corny cracker jokes always provoke. You can make your own Christmas crackers using empty toilet rolls and tissue or wrapping paper; wrap paper around the toilet roll leaving enough paper on the ends for people to hold onto; pop personalised gifts, sweets and jokes into the tube. You can even buy paper crowns and cracker poppers online to complete your festive fun. Then add card or stiffener in the remaining paper to keep its cylindrical shape, before tying or twisting the paper at the end of the tube. Your cracker is now finished and ready to be shared with party guests! What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney? Claustrophobia! Why does Santa have three gardens? So he can 'ho ho ho'! Why did Santa's helper see the doctor? Because he had a low "elf" esteem! What kind of motorbike does Santa ride? A Holly Davidson! How will Christmas dinner be different after Brexit? No Brussels. What do workers at Sports Direct get for Christmas dinner? About 5 minutes. What do you call a cat in the desert? Sandy Claws! Who delivers presents to cats? Santa Paws! What do you call a dog who works for Santa? Santa Paws! What do you call Father Christmas in the beach? Sandy Clause! What do you get if you cross Santa with a detective? Santa Clues! What did the sea Say to Santa? Nothing! It just waved! What does Santa do with fat elves? He sends them to an Elf Farm! What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck? A Christmas Quacker! Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas? Santa Jaws What says Oh Oh Oh? Santa walking backwards! What goes Ho Ho Whoosh, Ho Ho Whoosh? Santa going through a revolving door! What is Santa's favorite place to deliver presents? Idaho-ho-ho! How do you recognise a Christmas tree from BHS? All the branches have gone. What's David Cameron's favourite Christmas song? All I Want For Christmas is EU. Why does Santa go down the chimney on Christmas Eve? Because it 'soots' him! What's the difference between the clementine in your Christmas stocking and Donald Trump? Nothing, they're both a little orange. Who is Santa's favorite singer? Elf-is Presley! What do you call Santa's little helpers? Subordinate clauses! What do Santa's little helpers learn at school? The elf-abet!

Christmas crackers amusing jokes What did Santa say to the smoker? Please don't smoke, it's bad for my elf! Where does Santa go when he's sick? To the elf center! What do you call a bankrupt Santa? Saint Nickel-less! Where do elves go to dance? Christmas Balls! What do elves eat for breakfast? Frosted Flakes! Who might be cooking Christmas dinner at Number 10 this year? Theresa May. Why can't Mary Berry eat turkey sandwiches? Paul Hollywood took all the bread. What do you call a frozen elf hanging from the ceiling? An elfcicle! Who is the king of Santa's rock and roll helpers? Elfis! (Thank you, thank you very much!) What type of Shoes does Santa wear when he travels on a train? Platforms! What do you get if Santa goes down the chimney when a fire is lit? Krisp Kringle! Who is Santa Claus married to? Mary Christmas! How long do a reindeers legs have to be? Long enough so they can touch the ground! What do reindeer hang on their Christmas trees? Horn-aments! Why are Christmas trees so bad at sewing? They always drop their needles! Who is the Music Elf's favorite reindeer? Dancer! Which of Santa’s reindeers have to mind their manners most? Rude-olph! Why has Hillary Clinton asked Santa for a 23-letter alphabet? Because she is sick of F.B.I. Why didn't Roy Hodgson go to visit Santa at The North Pole? He couldn't get past Iceland. Why don't reindeer like picnics? Because of all their ant-lures! What's worse than Rudolph with a runny nose? Frosty the snowman with a hot flush! Did Rudolph go to school? No. He was Elf-taught! Why did the Rudolph cross the road? Because he was tied to the chicken! What do you call Rudolph with lots of snow in his ears? Anything you want, he can't hear you! What did Santa ask Rudolph about the weather? Is it going to rain dear?! Why did the turkey cross the road? Because he wasn't chicken! Why did the turkey cross the road? Because it was the chicken's day off! Why are Jeremy Corbyn's Christmas cards on the floor? His cabinet collapsed. Philip looks out of the window on Christmas Eve: 'That's some reindeer' he says. The Queen replies: '63 years. Yes, that is a lot.' What do you get if you cross Donald Trump with a Christmas Carol? O Comb Over Ye Faithful. What happened to the turkey at Christmas? It got gobbled! Why did the turkey join the band? Because it had the drumsticks! What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite! What do snowmen wear on their heads? Ice caps! How do snowmen get around? They ride an icicle What do snowmen eat for lunch? Iceburgers! When is a boat just like snow? When its adrift! What song do you sing at a snowman's birthday party? Freeze a jolly good fellow! How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas? One that's deep pan, crisp and even!

Nice Christmas crackers jokes Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? A mince spy! What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It's Christmas, Eve! How does Christmas Day end? With the letter 'Y'! How many letters are in the angelic alphabet? The Christmas alphabet has "no EL"! What carol is heard in the desert? O camel ye faithful! What do angry mice send to each other at Christmas? Cross Mouse Cards! What is the best xmas present in the world? A broken drum, you just can't beat it! How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas? Fleece Navidad! What are the best Christmas sweaters made from? Fleece Navidad! How did Scrooge with the football game? The ghost of Christmas passed! What athlete is warmest in winter? A long jumper! What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? Tinsilitis! What is the worst disease that you get at Christmas? Excemas! What's green, covered in tinsel and goes 'ribbet ribbet'? A Mistle-toad! What's the most popular Christmas wine? 'I don't like Brussels sprouts!' Why do ghosts live in the fridge? Because it's cool! What happened to the man who stole an Advent Calendar? He got 25 days! What did the beaver say to the Christmas Tree? Nice gnawing you! Why are Christmas Trees like bad knitters? They keep loosing their needles! What do you get if you cross a Christmas tree with an apple? A pineapple! What do crackers, fruitcake and nuts remind me of? You! What's the best thing to put into a Christmas Cake? Your teeth! What do you get if you cross a bell with a skunk? Jingle Smells! Where would you find chili beans? At the north pole! Why is everyone so thirsty at the north pole? No well, no well! Why don't penguins fly? Because they're not tall enough to be pilots! What do sheep say at Christmas? Wool-tide Bleatings! or A Merry Christmas to Ewe! What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby? Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer! What's green, covered in tinsel and goes ribbet ribbet? Mistle-toad! Which football team did the baby Jesus support? Manger-ster United! How did Mary & Joseph know how much Jesus weighted when he was born? There was a weight in a manger! What do you call a three legged donkey? A wonky donkey! What's the name of the one horse in "Jingle Bells"? Bob. (Bells on Bob's tail ring!) What is the most competitive season? Win-ter! Children: This turkey tastes like an old sofa! Mom: Well, you asked for something with plenty of stuffing! What's the best advice you can give at the UKIP Christmas party? Avoid the punch. Why did the three wise men only have frankincense and myrrh? Because Team GB took all the gold. Which parent is likely to do the Christmas shop at Tesco this year? Dad might, Marmite not. What did the dog breeder get when she crossed an Irish Setter with a Pointer at Christmastime? A "pointsetter"! What do sheep say to each other at Christmastime? Merry Christmas to ewe! What do sheep say to shepherds at Christmastime? Season's Bleatings! How do sheep say Merry Christmas in Mexico? Fleece Navidad! How do Chihuahua's say Merry Christmas? Fleas Navidog! What's the best thing to put into Christmas dinner? Your teeth! Why should Christmas dinner always be well done? So you can say "Merry Crispness"! A definition of Christmas: The time when everyone gets "Santa"-mental. What's red, white and blue at Christmas time? A sad candy cane! What did one Christmas cracker say to the other Christmas cracker? My POP is bigger than yours! What do you call an elf who steals gift wrap from the rich and gives it to the poor? Ribbon Hood! What comes at the end of Christmas Day? The letter "Y"! What do angry mice send to each other in December? Cross mouse cards! What's the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet? The Christmas alphabet has "no EL"! What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It's Christmas, Eve! What happens if you eat too many Christmas decorations? You get "Tinsel"-itis! I can't get to the chocolates in my advent calendar. Foiled again. Why is Bob Dylan's sleigh so quiet? Because it has Nobel. "Do you ever buy any Christmas Seals?" "No, I wouldn't know how to feed them." What is the best key to get at Christmas? A turkey! What's the best thing to give your parents for Christmas? A list of everything you want! Why is it so cold at Christmas? Because it's in Decembrrrr! What kind of Christmas tree comes from Hawaii? "O Tanning Palms"! What do wild animals sing at Christmastime? Jungle bells, jungle bells, jungle all the way! What's the favourite Christmas Carol of new parents? Silent Night! Where do mistletoe go to become famous? "Holly" wood! What did one Christmas light say to the other Christmas light? You light me up! A Christmas thought: STRESSED is just DESSERTS spelled backward. Why do Mummies like Christmas so much? Because of all the wrapping! What is green, covered with tinsel and goes "ribbet ribbet"? A mistle-"toad"! Did you hear about the cat that swallowed Mrs. Claus' yarn? She had mittens! What did the grape say to the peanut butter? "'Tis the season to be jelly!" This year even the toys are stressed out! Yeah, they come already wound up! What did the gingerbread man put on his bed? A cookie sheet! What do you call an exploding Christmas tree? A Tannen-Bomb! What do you get when you cross a bell with a skunk? Jingle smells! Why is the turkey such a fashionable bird? Because he's always well dressed when he comes to dinner! Why did the gingerbread man go to the doctor? Because he was feeling crummy! Where does mistletoe go to be an actor? "Holly"-wood! Why don't penguins fly? Because they're too short to be pilots! Why did the mosquito buzz around the bar? Because he was a "bar humbug"! What kind of money do they use at the North Pole? Cold cash! I keep Christmas in my heart every month of the year. That's because it's on my charge card statement that long! Where do you keep a Christmas tree? Between a Christmas two and a Christmas four! How much difference is there between the North Pole and the South Pole? All the difference in the world! Where would you find chili beans? At the North Pole! What kind of pine has the sharpest needles? A porcupine! What do Eskimos use to hold their homes together? Ig-"glue"! What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby? Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer! A Christmas definition: The time of year when you exchange "hello's" with strangers and "good buy's" with friends! What is white, lives at the north pole and runs around naked? A polar bare! What is in December that isn't in any other month? The letter "D"! I know it's the thought that counts, not the size of the pressie... But couldn't people think bigger? What did one angel say to the other angel? Halo there! What kind of music do elves like best? "Wrap" music! How many elves does it take to change a light bulb? Ten! One to change the light bulb and nine to stand on each other's shoulders! What kind of bread do elves make sandwiches with? Why, shortbread of course! What kind of money do elves use? Jingle bills! Why did Santa's helper see the doctor? Because he had low "elf" esteem! How long should an elf's legs be? Just long enough to reach the ground!

Christmas crackers dinner jokes What did the elf say was the first step in using a Christmas computer? "First, YULE LOGon"! Why did the elf put his bed into the fireplace? He wanted to sleep like a log! What's the first thing elves learn in school? The "elf"-abet! Who sings "Blue Christmas" and makes toy guitars? Elfis! Who lives at the North Pole, makes toys and rides around in a pumpkin? Cinder-"elf"-a! One elf said to another elf, "We had Grandma for Christmas dinner". And the other elf said, "Really? We had turkey!" Why do elves scratch themselves? Because they're the only ones who know where it's itchy! How do elves greet each other? "Small world, isn't it?" Santa rides in a sleigh. What do elves ride in? Mini vans! What do you call an elf who tells silly jokes? A real Christmas Card! What do they call a wild elf in Texas? Gnome on the range! Why did the elves spell Christmas N-O-E? Because Santa had said, "No L!" Why did the elves ask the turkey to join the band? Because he had the drum sticks! If athletes get athlete's foot, what do elves get? Mistle-toes! What's another name for Santa's helpers? Subordinate clauses! Where do you find elves? Depends where you left them! (You should see the reindeer's jokes about elves!) Laugh at Silly Jokes about reindeer! What does Rudolph want for Christmas? A pony sleigh station! What do reindeer hang on their Christmas trees? "Horn"-aments! Why did the reindeer wear sunglasses to the Christmas party? Because he didn't want to be recognised! How can Santa's sleigh possibly fly through the air? You would too if you were pulled by flying reindeer! What would a reindeer do if it lost its tail? She'd go to a "re-tail" shop for a new one! Why is Prancer always wet? Because he's a "rain"-deer! Which reindeer has the cleanest antlers? Comet! When should you give reindeer milk to a baby? When it's a baby reindeer! Why does Scrooge love all of the reindeer? Because every buck is dear to him! Which of Santa's reindeer has bad manners? "Rude"-olph! What do you call a reindeer wearing ear muffs? Anything you want because he can't hear you! What do reindeer always say before telling you a joke? This one will "sleigh" you! How does Rudolph know when Christmas is coming? He looks at his calen-"deer"! Where do the reindeer like to stop for lunch? "Deery" Queen! What do you give a reindeer with an upset tummy? "Elk"-a-seltzer! How do you get into Donner's house? You ring the "deer"-bell! What's red and white and gives presents to gazelles? Santelope! How many reindeer does it take to change a light bulb? Eight! One to screw in the light bulb and seven to hold Rudolph down! Did Rudolph go to a regular school? No, he was "elf"-taught! Why did Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer cross the road? Because he was tied to a chicken! What's red and green and guides Santa's sleigh? Rudolph the red-nosed pickle! Did you hear that one of Santa's reindeer also works as a maid? Yup! Comet cleans sinks! Why do reindeer wear fur coats? Because they look silly in snowsuits! (It helps to have an elf's sense of fun to really enjoy them!) Snort at Silly Jokes about Santa Claus! Why does Santa always go down the chimney? Because it soots him! (that's one of Santa's favourite jokes! *HO! Ho! ho!*) Where does Santa stay when he's on holidays? At a Ho-ho-tel! What does Mrs. Claus sing to Santy on his birthday? "Freeze a jolly good fellow!" What does Santa put on his toast? "Jingle Jam" What do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a duck? A Christmas Quacker! An honest politician, a kind lawyer and Santa Claus were walking down the street and saw a $20 bill. Which one picked it up?? Santa! The other two don't exist! What do you do if Santa Claus gets stuck in your chimney? Pour Santa flush on him! What does Santa say to the toys on Christmas Eve? Okay everyone, sack time! What do the elves call it when Père Noël claps his hands at the end of a play? Santapplause! Why does Santa like to work in his garden? Because he likes to hoe, hoe, hoe! What do you call a kitty on the beach on Christmas morning? Sandy Claws! Who delivers presents to dentist offices? Santa Jaws! Who delivers Christmas presents to elephants? Elephanta Claus! Why can't the England football team play Yahtzee this Christmas? Because they got rid of Allardyce. Why is everyone filing for divorce and custody of the kids this Christmas? Tis the season to be Jolie. What do you get if Santa comes down the chimney while the fire is still burning? Crisp Kringle! Why does St. Nicholas have a white beard? So he can hide at the North Pole! What do you call Santa when he has no money? Saint "Nickel"-less! What smells most in a chimney? Santa's nose! What does Kris Kringle like to get when he goes to the donut shop? A jolly roll! What do you call someone who doesn't believe in Father Christmas? A rebel without a Claus! What is invisible but smells like milk and cookies? Kris Kringle burps! What did Santa get when he crossed a woodpecker with kleenex? Rapping paper! What does Santa like to have for breakfast? Mistle-"toast"! Why does Santa take presents to children around the world? Because the presents won't take themselves! What does Santa use when he goes fishing? His north pole! Read the full article

[thenextrush]

My Fitness Pal's Coronation Feast

#myfitnesspal #recipes #kingcharles #coronation #uklonglunch

MyFitnessPal shares a selection of recipes inspired by King Charles’ favourite foods to help you celebrate the coronation like a royal! With the coronation of King Charles coming up this weekend, royal loving Aussies are gearing up to celebrate this momentous occasion. While the distance between the UK and Australia may mean we can’t see the coronation in person, that doesn’t mean we can’t have…

[spidermaninlove]

Are TZ Married?

I spot a yellow-diamond ring (at least five carats, maybe six), from Bulgari. “This is my splurge, my treat-myself,” she smiles. “I do get a little employee discount,” she laughs shyly. “It feels like it’s gonna be an heirloom, like one day I can give it to my grandchildren.”  -- Zendaya for British Vogue, October 2021 (Interview conducted on July 1, 2021).

According to a Bulgari representative, Z's yellow diamond ring is an "engagement ring."

Rewind to November 2017 when Z posted this to her Snapchat account:

Then she immediately followed up with this Snapchat post:

Z's fondness for yellow diamond engagement rings obviously predates 2021. So did she or didn't she buy the Bulgari yellow diamond engagement ring for herself? That is the question. After reading the following statement in her interview in the October 2021 issue of British Vogue, I have serious doubts.

In February 2021, when asked during an interview if Tom would settle down now, he said he would do. x Five months later, on July 2, 2021, Page Six confirmed Tom and Zendaya were a couple.

But Z preferred to keep her dating status private during her interview on July 1, 2021 with British Vogue -- the same day the paparazzi photographed them kissing:

...dating her IRL is, she insists, a tall order. The list of approvals is long – “my dad, my brothers, it’s a whole thing. Good luck to whoever wants to take that on,” she scoffs. Perhaps her Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland, who has long been rumoured to be her boyfriend, is up to the task? After all, the following day (July 2, 2021), photos appear of the pair kissing in a car after our lunch (on July 1, 2021)."

August 2021

TZ attended their friends' wedding in August 2021. While at the wedding reception, Z did not participate in the traditional bridal bouquet toss. She watched the toss from their nearby table and then shared a kiss with Tom after the bouquet was caught. x

On September 1, 2021, TZ finally acknowledged they are a couple via Tom's Instagram post.

In November 2021, Tom told GQ that he and Z will talk about their story and what it is when they're ready.

"This isn’t my story. It’s our story. And we’ll talk about what it is when we’re ready to talk about it together.”

In June 2023, during an interview with BuzzFeed, Tom said, "I'm locked up, so I'm happy and in love..." x

In July 2023, during a podcast with Jay Shetty, Tom stated, "My relationship is the thing I keep most sacred. I don't talk about it. I try my best to keep it as private as possible. We both feel very strongly that that is the healthiest way for us to move on as a couple." x

September 2023

Miss Nicaragua allegedly shared during a live that she had met TZ in Oakland and that she hopes Zendaya's marriage goes well (post blogged on September 18, 2023). Note: TZ were in Oakland August 25-26, 2023.

Three days later, on September 21, 2023, Darnell went live on Instagram to adamantly deny Zendaya is engaged.

If she's not engaged, is she married? 🤫

October 2023

Law and Darnell were on the bridal floor in Vera Wang's store in Beverly Hills on October 13, 2023. I believe it's safe to assume Z was there as well.

February 2024

During a BBC Radio 2 interview, Z stated that British people are her family now.

April 2024

In a Vogue article dated April 9, 2024, Z described her perfect future which includes a protected life with her family.

Speaking of a protected family life, TZ recently adopted a dog named Daphne from Protection Dogs Worldwide.

And speaking of dogs, Z left her beloved Noon with Tom in London while she went to California. Tom even took Noon to work at the Duke of York's Theatre several times while Z was far from home (pun intended) for a couple weeks during the months of June and July 2024.

Note: Tom recently posted Noon, along with Daphne, on his Instagram account. x

October 2024

In October 2024, Tom launched his non-alcoholic beer, BERO. One of the three BERO brews, Noon Wheat, is named after "Tom and Zendaya's dog, Noon" and the "cofounder's (Tom) dog, Noon". So Noon is no longer just Z's dog. Noon is TZ's dog. Noon is Tom's dog, too. Noon is their dog.

Tom considers himself Noon's dad. Both Tom and BERO posted for Noon's birthday calling him "My birthday boy" and "Tom's furry child," respectively.

November 2024

Noon is called one of "the most loved members of the Holland family..." on The Brothers Trust Instagram post.

April 2024

An Atlanta paparazzi posted this to his Instagram account and then deleted it.

And then he posted and deleted this the following week:

February & April 2024

Dom Holland attended Z's London premieres for both Dune 2 (February) and Challengers (April). Is this considered father-in-law behavior?

May 2024

According to Ashley Perez, her notary instructor "insinuated" TZ may have gotten a confidential (non-public) marriage license.

Note: Ashley attends a college near the Bay Area.

California Confidential Marriage License Requirements:

The participating parties must be at least 18 years old to apply for a confidential marriage license. ✅

There are no CA state or US residency requirements.  ✅

The couple must state to the notary or county clerk office that they have been living together, as husband and wife or partners ✅ - not as roommates - at the time they apply for the marriage license, and must sign an affidavit on the license attesting to living together. There is no time requirement as to how long the couple has lived together.

You are not required to get married in the county where you purchase the confidential marriage license; however, you must be married in California.  You must file the license in the county where it was purchased.  

No witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, AND no witnesses sign on the marriage license.

The marriage license is a confidential record and is registered at the County Clerk’s Office in the county where it was purchased. A notary public with special authorization may issue, sign, and file a confidential marriage license.

Secret, Civil, Private, and Traditional Weddings

It's not uncommon to have a civil wedding ceremony and then have a traditional or destination wedding at a later date. Celebrities Joey King, JLo, and Elizabeth Olsen have done it. Anya Taylor-Joy originally eloped in New Orleans in 2022 and then had a wedding in Italy the following year. Millie Bobby Brown had a private family wedding in May of this year and is in the process of planning a second wedding for family and friends. Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse recently had a secret wedding ceremony. Beyoncé, Kerry Washington, and Margot Robbie had secret weddings as well. Did TZ have a civil/secret/private wedding ceremony and are they planning a traditional/second wedding in the future? If so, it wouldn't be the first time they've kept their relationship status a secret.

Disclaimer: The opinions stated in this blog post are for entertainment purposes only.

[drgnflyteabox]

Malewife Gaz comes back from deployment desperate for his mean, office siren gf <3

MDNI / dub con-ish / public sex / overstim / anal play / grinding / Kyle is kinda gross lol I luv him / he eats it from the back :D / they're both switches / squirting

Reader works in an office, but it's not clear what she does. She does have her own private office though ;) you go girl!

You're ignoring him.

Your phone isn't turned off, it's not even on silent, but you haven't flipped it right side up despite the near constant buzzing. Kyle has been texting, calling, but you're cross at the moment and don't feel like having it out with him on a work day.

You should turn your phone off. It's distracting, and a little inappropriate to have it making so much noise even through the walls cushioning your personal office.

The thing is, it's a little gratifying that he's desperately trying to reach you. Part of it is the satisfaction that he's a little anxious and wants to make it up, and part of it is wanting him to be extra sorry when you gets home.

Kyle had been able to call you all through the past month despite being on deployment. At least twice a week, you'd be laid up in bed or tucked away on lunch in your office telling him about your day. A rare treat for someone of his vocation, and something you appreciated greatly. The expectation you always set for yourself was zero contact - something to keep you from being hurt or placing more stress on him. Truly, your workaholic tendencies made you perfect for somebody that spent so much time deployed. When he came back, he made you take a break. There was a balance.

Typically you'd get a window of time for when he'd be back home. Your favourite thing to do was to cook a British classic for the occasion, usually bangers and mash - his favourite. You always had his preferred beer too, a brand you noticed he copied from Price. So cute. Yesterday morning he'd sent you a message that he'd be home for 9pm, a little late for dinner but the boys wanted to catch up at their favourite pub before they separated.

Only last night you'd sat at the table waiting for two full hours by yourself before giving up. His meal was packed in the fridge while you'd eaten yours by yourself on the couch with a glass of wine, texts going unanswered.

The worst part wasn't that he hadn't shown up. Sometimes that happened, when missions ran long or he'd gotten too into his cups with his team. It was annoying, but your tradition was to spend the day together when he got back, and you didn't mind having breakfast with him instead. You just didn't appreciate that he didn't even call or text about it, and that in the morning you found him sprawled on the couch with just his boxers and a mess of clothing tossed on the ground from the door to the living room couch. Socks, pants, his tank top.

So, petty as you are, you go to work and forego the tradition. Ignoring him. You dressed nice, too, black stockings and as tarty as you could without getting a call from HR. He hadn't seen you leave, but you wanted to get home and remind him what he was missing.

Your office phone rang once, twice, "hello?" The secretary at the front of the building was a nice enough lady, but she rarely called you directly. "Your lunch is here - the deliveryman is just waiting."

"Deliveryman?" You say skeptically. You hadn't ordered lunch. You'd brought Kyle's leftovers.

"Yep. Should I send him up?" Though you probably know who it is, you tell her you'll be down in the lobby instead. You'd prefer to be safe than sorry, in case it isn't Kyle.

It is.

He looks like a kicked puppy, holding some kind of takeout bag in one hand and a coffee in the other. He knows you love Los Vaqueros, the little coffeeshop next door. It's probably a macadamia nut latte, your favourite.

"Babe," he starts, sounding a little rough. Probably battling a hangover. He's wearing your favourite shirt, a tight black compression shirt that shows off his tits. Grey running sweats. Oh, he's good. "Is your phone dead?"

"I've got a pretty busy day today, Kyle," you're a little snotty about it. Your hip is cocked to the side. You want him to work a little. "I was in the middle of a meeting."

"You can't be that mad at me. I brought you macadamia and a caesar wrap. Come on, baby." He shifts the bag into the same hand as the coffee, using the other to show you his palm in apology.

You peer at him a little warily. It's times like this you wish he wasn't so tall, so that you could look at him all judgemental secretary like. You settle for arching a brow and squinting. "Go away now, I'll see you at home. I better not see any dirty socks on my floor, either."

"I cleaned them this morning, I swear."

"Good. Now scram, and give me that coffee." You reach for the coffee, but he intercept and grabs your elbow. Pulling you closer. "What- kyle--" his hands slides up to your upper back, making you shiver. When you don't pull away, he grins like a schoolboy and starts steering you down the hall. "I have work -!"

"I know, baby, but I really wanna make it up to you. Let me make it up to you." He's speaking quietly as to not alert the secretary a few feet away. He's leading you to the bathroom.

"No! Kyle, I'm at work. Goddammit, I have things to do-"

"No you don't." When you've turned the corner and are out of sight, he slides his hand from your back to your ass, squeezing hard, making you squeak. "And I need you. I woke up so hard. I need your pussy." He's close to whining, tucking his face close to your ear, smelling your hair.

Your voice goes high pitched, flustered, not expecting him to try and cajole you into fucking in a public bathroom. At your workplace no less. "We can't!"

He used to do this when you first started dating; get needy, corner you in some barely secluded place and get you both off one way or another. Quick and dirty. He swore he never fucked anyone else while deployed, and if it wasn't the trust you had in him it was how desperate he seemed to get when he got back that assured you of his faithfulness. Sometimes it was your favourite, just how whiney and flustered he would get. As a treat, if he'd been very good during dinner, you'd wake him up by sucking him off the morning he got back. Surely he had missed that this morning, what with how fast he'd led you to the employee bathroom. Good.

He locks the door behind you, and you let him kiss you a little. You don't see him put your food down, but he must because both his hands squeeze your waist. You rub your thighs together to soothe the pulsing arousal building in your belly.

You hand goes to his chest, pushing him. He's so strong, it takes you slapping his chest and shoulders to move back, panting. "We can't, I'm serious. Do you want me to get fired?"

He licks his lips, not even looking you in the eye. "You won't get fired, baby. Just be quiet. Let me take care of you-" you interrupt him by grabbing his face and squeezing his cheeks hard, making his lips pucker up.

"Can you not think with your cock? Couldn't you have dropped lunch off and waited for me back home like a good boy?"

He slides his big hands down your waist to your hips, tilting his hard cock so its pressed against you. Despite you holding him, he walks you both forward until your back hits the wall and he can grind against you hard. "Kyle- I'm not kidding," you say sternly, but don't move away. His cock rubs deliciously against your mons, not quite where you want it, but a good enough tease that your breath shudders out in a moan.

"Please, please, let me," he begs, grinding. Pressing his body right up to yours. You acquiesce a little, moving your hand from his face to down his pants and into his boxers. "Hrmmn-nn fuck, fuck," he whines. Bypassing his dick, you feel him start to hump desperately, like a dog. He shudders hard and you're squashed against the wall as you palm his balls, playing with them a little. You feel wetness drip down your wrist.

"Did you just come?" Honestly, you're delighted, but you make sure your tone is disappointed. Mean. Your pussy squeezes, wets your panties a little more. "Bad boy. I thought you were going to make it up to me?"

"Oh fuck, thank you baby. I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you still. Just give me a second."

"No way. Get to work." It's easy to bully him a little when he's so fresh from his orgasm. You push him onto his knees and lift a heel to rest it on that big, muscular thigh.

Your tits feel squashed in your bra as you breathe hard, looking down at him. He pushes his forehead against your stomach, pushing your skirt up while murmuring something into the fabric. You palm yourself, pinch your own nipples through the fabric. Feeling empowered, your hand goes to his hair and you grind your panty covered pussy right on his nose.

"Go on."

He licks you through the fabric, long laps of his tongue. Sucks on where your clit is, wetting the fabric. Kyle grips your thighs and pulls them wider apart, making you teeter dangerously on one heel, the other digging into his leg. He mouths at your panties and bites gently at you while your scratch his scalp and neck.

He moans, and finally pushes your underwear down. You clench as your wetness is exposed to the air, cooling you. Your clit stands up, peeking out of your hood. He gives it a little lick, directly on the underside where you're most sensitive. It makes you jump, not expecting it. He doesn't let you move away, instead wrapping his lips around you and sucking, hard.

"Oh Jesus--" your knees buckle a little, "Kyle, fuck," he pulls back and turns you around forcefully, making you arch. His hand finds your ankle and lifts your leg up and out, tongue finding your cunt once again. He eats you out like he's making out with you, like a sloppy kiss. His other hand squeezes where your ass and thigh meet, spreading you open.

"I missed you so much," he says. "I missed this pretty little cunt. Oh, jesus, I'm hard again." Of course he is - his refractory period has always been quick. This is a new record, though. "Can I fuck you, baby?"

You have to really force your words out, with how he spreads your asscheeks and licks your other hole. "Nn- no. You haven't - haven't earned it yet."

Kyle doesn't say anything to that, just curls his tongue in your ass and let's your ankle go to pinch your clit between two fingers, twisting it. You shout, then go still, remembering where you are. "Kyle --!" It sneaks up on you, how fast your orgasm comes. From your toes to your nipples, electricity shoots through you and tightens your skin. You tremble violently, soaking his fingers and his face. He stands up while you go through the aftershocks, hands stroking your belly and holding you from behind, crowding you and making you feel safe.

Kyle kisses your nape, sucks your earlobe a little. Waits like a gentleman. You lean back against him and squeeze his fingers.

"I'm gonna fuck you now." He's not asking anymore, and you're boneless, so you just spread your legs and let him push his cock into you slowly, enjoying the stretch. It makes you rise onto your tiptoes, letting him take your weight. He rocks into you slowly at first, hands roaming from your stomach to your tits to your throat. Pinching and squeezing, having earned your submission.

"I missed you too," you admit finally, breathily. "I love you, big boy."

Kyle hums, sucking a mark into your neck, picking up his pace. "I love you too." He nibbles on you a little. His thumb finds your asshole again, pushing in, making you whine high and thin. "You gonna be a good girl and come all over my cock? I've been waiting for this, you know. Your pussy feels like home."

Your cunt drips on him, making wet little sounds while he fucks you hard against the wall. You're still sensitive from coming earlier, so you squirm on his cock, squeezing around him. "Come inside me, please," you beg. You need to feel it. He uses his free hand to push your face into the wall, bucking into you once, twice, then holding himself taut as a bowstring. His hips grind minutely against your ass while he comes, flooding your pussy.

Kyle doesn't let you go, just pulls his cock and thumb out quickly, taking advantage of your stupor to cup your pussy and roughly squeeze your clit. You yelp, jumping, but keep your legs spread. Your peak is building again, and he knows it. Two of his big fingers find your stretched hole and push in, curling and rubbing viciously until the pressure builds and builds and your pussy contracts, pleasure slicing through your abdomen painfully. You cover your mouth with your hands just barely in time to shout, knees buckling with your orgasm.

If not for Kyle holding you up, you'd have fallen down to the floor. You shake, feeling cored. He nuzzles you sweetly, licking your ear. His hand pets your pussy gently until you push him away, way too sensitive.

"Can I take you home, babygirl?"

"Yes please," your voice is a croak.

Kyle is a little inconsiderate in this but I hope it didn't read as angst and more playfulness between established partners <3<3 I feel like Kyle is a very noble character and he puts a lot of pressure on himself. Always worrying about what the right thing is. I figure with reader he can let go a little :') reader is a little miffed but she's soft for her man <3

Also I wrote this on my phone between shifts during a 13 hour day so please forgive any typos or grammar mistakes

[ugotcooneycrossed]

Going home with Raso for your first Aussie Christmas if r is british or something??

our lil razzle the elf 🤭

a very aussie christmas • razzle the elf

a/n: for you bestie🫶

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

"ready to say goodbye to this abysmal winter and hello to the very best christmas you'll ever experience?"

"absolutely! i miss the beach, i miss the tan, i miss everything."

the airport is bustling all around you- put you're both caught up in you're own little world- so wrapped up in nothing but each other you jump when your coffees are placed in front of you.

"so you're very excited for your first aussie christmas i take it?

hayley questions you from across the table- grinning at you over her mug.

"very! im so excited for some heat for once. we are going to the beach right?"

"as soon as we can- i promise. thought you'd be sick of it after the world cup though, you went to the beach so much back then."

"i could never be, when we get there- just leave me there honestly baby, i want to become one with the beach."

-

the flights long- and you take every moment to watch every christmas movie you can. your girlfriend already fast asleep next to you.

-

"so what's the plan again?"

"when we get there- we'll head straight to mums, then probably mooch what we can out of the fridge before we get yelled at to save the food for christmas lunch. then the beach. then back home for some cookie decorating! then you'll have the best christmas ever."

-

the beach is beautiful- much more so than you remember, perfect sand, salty air- a beautiful sunset, all right in front of you.

you turn around to get your girlfriend's attention.

"hey ras-"

a ball of sand hits you in the stomach instead, and you double over.

"owwwe- what the hell hayley!"

"merry christmas baby! aussie tradition."

you narrow your eyes at her- setting off and chasing after her into the water. you tackle her when you get close enough- bringing you both down and into the water, completely drenching you both. taking advantage of her trapped beneath you- you grab a handful of wet sand and dump it on her. getting up and booking it towards your towels when she charges after you.

you dont make it far- hayley grabbing you around the waist, making you both tumble to the ground.

you lay there- covered in san and giggling when she sits up suddenly.

"oooh let's make snow- sand angles!"

"sand angles?"

"yeah- like snow but in the sand."

the sun is almost gone now- just a little peaks over the horizon but you both arent in a hurry to move any time soon- too busy grinning at each other on the ground.

-

you're laying on the deck chair with hayley, bone-tired and ready to sleep forever. christmas has come and gone it seemed.

you woke early in the morning- treated with a big breakfast, and then an even bigger lunch.

then forced into the pool to play volleyball- in which you were the victim of drowning- your girlfriend climbing on top of you to get the ball- uncaring whether or not you made it to see boxing day.

but now you relax with her on the deck chairs, your head lulls to the side smiling at her over the rim of your sunnies.

"i love it here."

"and me- you're meant to say me."

"nah- not after you nearly killed me."

"hey! we won didn't we?"

[world-of-wales]

─ •✧ WILLIAM'S YEAR IN REVIEW : 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 ✧• ─

𝟑 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The Prince of Wales released a statement ahead of his trip to South Africa for the fourth annual Earthshot Awards. He departed from Heathrow Airport for South Africa. It was announced that Earthshot Awards had led to the creation of 650 jobs in Cape Town & contributed to their creative industries.

𝟒 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William arrived at Cape Town International Airport and was received by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa (Antony Philipson). Afterwards, he joined Young Environmentalists participating in the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme. He then visited the Atlas Foundation at Ocean View Secondary School.

𝟓 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William met Rangers and Mayine e-Africa volunteers at Table Mountain National Park. He shot a Q&A video with Robert Irwin at Signal Hill. Later, he was received by the President of the Republic of South Africa (Cyril Ramaphosa) at his residence. The UK & Soth Africa delegation held a Bilateral Meeting. Afterwards, he attended Conservation Roundtable Meeting at Portside Tower. William attended the Earthshot+ Summit. Finally, William attended the United for Wildlife Global Summit, and announced the "Ranger Welfare and Standards Initiative" to provide rangers access to in-service & medical evacuation insurance cover, and training and leadership development opportunities.

𝟔 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The Prince of Wales held a Meeting with Finalists of the 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards at Kirstenbosch Gardens. He held a Meeting with Prince Rahim Aga Khan. Afterwards, he attended a Founding Partners' Lunch at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. William then attended a final rehearsal and gave an Interview to the BBC. In the evening, William attended the Earthshot Prize Awards at the Earthshot Prize Dome. Finally, he attended an Earthshot Prize Thank You Reception.

𝟕 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William visited the National Sea Rescue Institute in Cape Town. Afterwards, he visited Abalobi - a 2023 Earthshot Prize finalist and took part in a traditional fish braai lunch. He met will wishers during a walkabout. Subsequently he attended a Seaweed Innovation Showcase at the Portside Tower. Finally, William departed Cape Town International Airport for the United Kingdom.

𝟖 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : He arrived at Heathrow Airport in London from South Africa. William gave an Interview to the press on the conclusion of his trip to Cape Town. Kensington Palace marked Lady Louise's Birthday.

𝟗 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Kensington Palace released a 2024 Earthshot Prize short film documenting William's visit to Cape Town.

𝟏𝟎 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The Prince and Princess attended the Remembrance Day Service of Remembrance and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph. Afterwards, he took the salute at the March Past of Ex-Servicemen and Civilian Organisations on Horse Guards Parade. A new portion of William's Interview in South Africa was released.

𝟏𝟐 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William held an Investiture.

𝟏𝟑 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William held a Reception at Windsor Castle.

𝟏𝟒 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast (Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle) at Simon Community. He visited The Foyer. Afterwards, he met representatives of the Northern Ireland Creative Industries and young people learning screen industry skills at Ulster University where he was received by Deputy Lieutenant of Belfast (Mr. Shane Quinn). Kensington Palace marked The King's Birthday.

𝟏𝟗 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The Prince of Wales attended the Diplomatic Corps Reception.

𝟐𝟎 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William visited Cyfannol Women's Aid in Newport. Later, he was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Gwent (Robert Aitken) at the Nelson Trust. Subsequently, the Homewards Newport Coalition published the "Newport Women’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment" Report. The Prince of Wales became Co-Patron of the 'Jewel of Arabia Expedition' along with Crown Prince HH Theyazin bin Haitham of Oman.

𝟐𝟐 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The Prince of Wales was received by Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London (Stuart Shilson) at the launch of Jewel of Arabia Expedition at the Royal Geographical Society. He was joined by the Crown Prince of Oman. William appeared in a video message to mark the 5th Anniversary of National Emergencies Trust.

𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William visited the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Salisbury Plain in his role as Colonel-in-Chief.

𝟐𝟕 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : He attended the Tusk Conservation Awards at the Savoy.

𝟐𝟖 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William and Catherine released a personal statement offering their condolences on the passing of Liz Hatton.

[mountrainiernps]

Native American Heritage Month

The first non-Indigenous climbers of Mount Rainier were guided by an Indigenous man called Sluskin. The name appears several times throughout the park’s history, and it actually refers to more than one person. Sluskin aka Saluskin, Sluse-cum, Salooskin, Shu-lu-skin, or Sluiskin, is a family name among the Yakama people. In Mount Rainier’s history the most well-known is the guide Sluiskin, who led P.B. Van Trump and Hazard Stevens during their trip to summit the mountain in 1870. However, there was another Sluskin, who told a story from when he was a young man.

In the summer of 1855, Sluskin and his people were camping northeast of the present city of Yakima when they were approached by two “King George men” (white men) in search of a guide to Tahoma, the “White Mountain.” The men identified themselves as employees of Governor Stevens. Sluskin, who had learned the routes from his father, agreed to serve as their guide. After guiding them to the north side of the mountain, Sluskin’s story recounts:

“Next morning I saw them put lunch in pockets and leave camp. …they start up the mountain. They put on shoes to walk on ice …shoes with nails in two places like this [heel and toe]. They started early at daylight and came back after dark same day. I stayed in camp all day and thought they fell in ice split and died. At night I saw smoke go up from top of mountain, and I heard it like low thunder (probably an avalanche on Willis Wall). The white men told me they went on top of mountain and looked with glass along Cascades toward Okanogan and British Columbia, Lake Chelan and everywhere. They said ‘We find lines.’ They told me they set stick or rock on top of mountain. …They said ‘Ice all over top, lake in center, and smoke [or steam] coming out all around like sweat-house.’”

Despite the unknown identity of the two “King George men” surveyors, it is believed that Sluskin’s account truly documents the earliest known expedition to the mountain’s summit by non-Indigenous people. Records of native guides like Sluskin, who were familiar with routes to the mountain, also attest to Indigenous peoples’ close connection to the mountain, which they travelled to often for food and other resources.

NOTE: Sluskin’s 1855 story was recorded by Luculus McWhorter in 1916. Sluskin account and excerpts are from “Plants, Tribal Traditions, and the Mountain”, G. Burtchard, D. Hooper, & A. Peterson, 2024, pp 35-38. Available at https://go.nps.gov/Plants-TribalTraditionsReport

NPS/C. Meleedy Photo of Mount Rainier from the north side along the Wonderland Trail.

[aprocessionofthoughts]

Meet My Clone Sister

ectoberweek24 day 6- two sentence tw- none summary- the Hogwarts trio meets Ellie

masterlist ao3 part 2 of CvH

They had been in Amity a week and everything still seemed extremely weird. And it wasn’t just the classes. It was also the fact that they used electricity and other muggle tech. And all around the town there were signs of magic. It was so strange to see signs of magic in what looked like a muggle environment. 

Harry kept waiting for aurors to show up to obliviate everyone.

And the classes taught at Casper made him and Ron uncomfortable, and Hermione was always bordering on arguing about the content. Harry didn’t struggle as much. He hadn’t grown up believing blood magic and necromancy were evil like Ron, and he hadn’t delved into studying all things about British magical history like Hermione.

But of course, Harry’s life was never simple.

“Is that your sister?” Harry asked, pointing to a girl who looked about two years younger than Danny, although they looked like they could be twins. They were at lunch and Harry was trying not to think too hard about what was in the food. He definitely preferred Hogwarts meals. He had seen the girl before and been curious. 

“Ellie? No. She’s my clone sister.”

“What?” Hermione asked, dropping her spoon.

“Oh yeah. There’s this creep that wants to kill my dad, marry my mom, and take me as his son. Since we kept refusing he tried to clone me.” Danny smiled at his…sister. She waved at them, coming over.

“Hey, I’m Ellie. You guys are the visitors from the weird magic school, right?” she plopped down on the seat next to Danny, reaching over to steal one of his fries.

“And you’re a clone?” Hermione said, her eyes flickering between Danny and Ellie.

“Yup.” she said, stealing another fry from Danny. 

“What’s a clone?” Ron asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Hermione stared at him. 

“Well, you see,” Ellie started, and Danny snorted, “when a Fruitloop is so obsessed with having another woman’s son as his own, he takes some of his DNA, and makes a baby, that he then grows with magic till they’re about the right age, then he tells them that they’re meant to replace the original, but they’re too smart and decide they’d rather be the original’s sister, and they both beat up the Fruitloop.”

Harry stared at her incredulously. Beside him he could see Ron gaping, and Hermione opening and closing his mouth.

Across from them Danny rolled his eyes while Tucker and Sam laughed.

“That’s not quite how it happened.” Danny said. “But basically yeah.”

“You have a Dark Lord?” Hermione finally managed to say.

“He wishes he was a Dark Lord.” Danny said, chuckling.

“What even is a Dark Lord anywary.” Sam said, rolling her eyes. “Is it just someone who does magic you don’t agree with? What is it that makes someone a Dark Lord, and who gets to decide?”

“Sam,” Tucker interrupted, “let’s not get philosophical again.”

She huffed and crossed her arms but fell quiet.

“Besides, Vlad’s a Fruitloop, not a Dark Lord.” Danny said, rolling his eyes.

Hermione looked like she wanted to argue about the Dark Lord thing, but Ron elbowed her in the side. She glared at him, but picked up her spoon and angrily started eating again.

Harry decided to redirect the conversation. “So, why don’t you have Defense Against the Dark Arts?”

“What’s really considered dark?” Sam started, but Tucker spoke up quickly.

“I think we cover the same basic concepts when it comes to spellcrafting. And there’s classes on the different magical races–”

“The people you classify as creatures.” Sam interrupted, glaring.

Tucker continued as if she hadn’t spoken, which was probably for the best. “and their history and traditions. But that’s more of a social class. It’s still a required gen ed so we can be more aware of each other.”

“Really?” Hermione asked, sounding interested. “I wish they taught that at Hogwarts.”

Sam opened her mouth, probably to make another controversial comment, But Danny spoke over her.

“You can probably buy the textbooks to take back with you when you leave at the end of the semester.”

Harry relaxed, glad that it didn’t look like they’d be getting into another debate.

This was a strange place. But he was eager to learn more about magic, even if it was different than Hogwarts.

[skyblueartt]

Guess it’s just a tradition to doodle the fellas on my lunch break now. Omg

(British people- you are valid. Just NOT WILLIAM AFTON !!)

[celticcrossanon]

Australian Tour

Tuesday the 22nd of October

The King and Queen were in Sydney today.

Under a cut again due to length

The King went to the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern (a suburb known for its poor indigenous inhabitants), where the event began with a traditional Welcome to Country and Smoking ceremony before The King meet a range of community representatives and local Elders.

While The King was in Redfern, The Queen visited  Refettorio OzHarvest in nearby Surry Hills (OzHarvest is a charity that collects food from restaurants etc that would otherwise throw it out and delivers it to charities that feed people - https://www.ozharvest.org/). She helped prepare the lunch being served in the restaurant and then spoke to the people who had gathered outside to see her.

After visiting OzHarvest, the Queen  visited the Green Square Library in the suburb of Zetland for a writing workshop, where she met schoolchildren taking part in workshops with local authors. She also met past participants of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition and presented 4 certificates, and met with authors Liane Moriarty and Thomas Keneally.

The King and Queen then attended a BBQ at Parramatta Park, hosted by the NSW Premier. The BBQ was by invitation only and guests included  around 500 community leaders, volunteers and sports officials. There was a variety of entertainment on offer, including sheepdog trials and backyard cricket. While they took the tongs at the BBQ, it was only for a few seconds, as they spent most of the time meeting people.

Following the community barbecue, His Majesty attended The King’s Foundation Reception at Admiralty House in Kirribilli, where he met Hillview Foundation Australia chair Dominic Richards and The King’s Foundation chief executive officer Mrs Kristina Murrin and unveiled a plaque.

In the afternoon, The King toured the Melanoma Institute Australia in Wollstonecraft and met current patients. He also met Australians of the Year, Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer and heard about their cancer research and treatment.

The last event was at the Sydney Opera house. The King and Queen waved as they drove slowly through the crowds up to the Opera House, with the Queen wearing a new outfit. They were greeted by the NSW Premier and his wife and met 6 special guests, British actor Dame Joanna Lumley, actor Heather Mitchell, acrobat and dancer Lucia Richardson, singer Jin Tea Kim, artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre Francis Rings and Sydney Symphony orchestra principal bass clarinet player Alexander Morris. They signed the guest book and posed for photos before walking through the crowd before leaving for the fleet review.

The King and Queen boarded Admiral Hudson, a Kingfisher 54 cruiser, to watch Fleet Review of the Royal Australian Navy and a flypast by the Royal Australian Air Force, The Royal Australian Army was also involved. It was the fourth fleet review in Australian history.

The King and Queen now leave Australia for CHOGM in Samoa, which runs from the 21st ro the 26th of October.

Edit: The King is going to CHOGM; I'm not sure what The Queen is doing.

[emkayewrites]

These two pictures inspired one of the chapters of my Lukola fanfiction called 'Curtain Fall'...

Here's a sneak preview:

17th June 2022 – Brockenhurst (UK)

Everything about The Pig exuded charming British elegance. Nestled in the heart of the historic New Forest National Park, the homely country manor served as a five-star hotel with an acclaimed restaurant. It was a favourite weekend escape for city dwellers who were attracted to it for its natural beauty; from free-roaming local horses to ancient woodlands that were perfect for long walks.

It was a place particularly revered for offering the finest of traditional English dining without excessive pretension. The dining rooms had a rustic, cosy charm, featuring open fires and mismatched antique furniture.

Nicola and Luke sat opposite each other at a farmhouse-style table in a private dining room called the Green Room that was reserved for special guests. A Victorian-style fireplace and floor-to-ceiling conservatory doors opened onto a private garden terrace. Before them lay a half-eaten feast: salads with organic vegetables from the estate's garden, freshly baked bread with warm butter, a plate of oyster mushroom pappardelle for her, and a sourdough pizza for him.

They had been invited to this countryside retreat for the weekend courtesy of the production team. This was their first day and they had been greeted with a prepared lunch. He sat there in a slightly over-sized salmon button-down shirt and jeans. In contrast, she was dressed in a little more sophistication. She wore a dark tapestry mini dress with tie shoulders that cinched in her waist in a way she hoped would be flattering.

"You know, when Jess told me we should get bonding, she mentioned doing it over a coffee. This is a little more than a coffee." Nicola laughed, trying to shake the awkwardness off herself. She was used to spending time with Luke but this setting felt different. It felt intimate.

"It's on brand though." Luke replied, nodding at their surroundings. He was not wrong. This could be a room straight from Bridgerton.

She reached out and touched the green wall panels.

"What do you reckon this is – Farrow and Ball?" She quizzed.

"What's that?"

"You haven't heard of Farrow and Ball?"

He shrugged in an I don't know what to tell you sort of way.

"Well, that surprises me. Maybe you're not as posh as I think you are." She teased. "It's very posh paint, with pretentious names like Elephant's Fanny and Leopard's Arse."

He laughed. "OK, that's quite enough. You need to stop calling me posh. People might start believing you and expecting things from me."

"Anything east of Dublin is posh," she retorted, making him laugh again.

This is what she thrived on: banter. Their friendship was based on her dry wit and sarcasm. Making him or anyone else on set laugh was a small victory for her.  She was trying hard not to think about having to switch gears and drop the humour she wore as armour.

She had not wanted to admit it, but sitting across from him now, it was harder to deny: he was absolutely beautiful. To make matters worse, he was kind too.

Why couldn't the love interest be someone with a hideous personality in real life? She found herself wandering.

She was barely out of her reverie when he reached out and wrapped his hand around hers, guiding it gently away from the wall and in front of his face, inches from his lips. He took a deep breath, and his blue eyes bore into her own.

Oh God, that was his Colin face.

You can read more here:

[camisoledadparis]

THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … December 27

c.15 AD – John the Evangelist. The Gospel of John makes several references to "the disciple Jesus loved", and to "the Beloved Disciple", including references to special priviliges that Jesus gave to this relationship, not granted to other disciples. This is taken by some Biblical scholars as evidence that Jesus had a relationship with this disciple which was at least emotionally intimate, and possibly sexual. In medieval Northern Europe, there was even a long-standing tradition that he and Christ were the bridal couple at the Cana Wedding Feast.

It is not clear whether this "Beloved Disciple" was John himself (although it could have been), or someone else possibly Lazarus.

In any event, there are suggestions from elsewhere that John may have had a same-sex relationship with another, his scribe Prochorus, after Christ's death. Prochorus later became bishop of Nicomedia, and in turn, formed a fresh relationship of his own with a younger man, Irenaeus.

1846 – Ezra Allen Miner, more popularly known as Bill Miner, was an American bandit, originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, who served several prison terms for stagecoach robbery (d.1913). Known for his unusual politeness while committing robberies, he was widely nicknamed the Grey Fox, Gentleman Robber or the Gentleman Bandit. He is reputed to have been the originator of the phrase

"Hands up!"

Legend has it that Bill Miner admonished his cohorts to fire their guns when in danger of capture but "do not kill a man".

Miner was born Ezra Allen Miner in Vevay Township, near Onondaga, Ingham County, Michigan. He never legally changed his first name, but regarded William Allen Miner as his true name throughout most of his life. He was arrested for the first time in 1866 in San Joaquin County, California and served time there. He then formed a partnership with Bill Leroy to rob a stagecoach. Leroy was caught and lynched, but Miner escaped. He was later caught for another robbery in Tuolumne County, California and was released from San Quentin in 1901.

After his third prison term, Miner moved to British Columbia in Canada, where he adopted the pseudonym George Edwards and is believed to have staged British Columbia's first-ever train robbery on September 10, 1904 at Silverdale about 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Vancouver, just west of Mission City.

Miner was eventually caught after a botched payroll train robbery near Kamloops at Monte Creek (then known as "Ducks"). Choosing the wrong car, they managed only to rob $15 plus a bottle of kidney pills that Miner picked up off of a shelf. Miner and his two accomplices, Tom "Shorty" Dunn and Louis Colquhoun, were located near Douglas Lake, British Columbia after an extensive manhunt. A posse surrounded them while they were lunching in the woods. Miner presented himself as George Edwards and claimed that he and his cohorts were prospectors. The officer in charge of the posse suspected he had encountered the nefarious train-robbing gang and challenged the claim, putting them under arrest.

Dunn attempted to fire at the police and was shot in the leg. He gave up quickly after being wounded. Colquhoun was disarmed by an officer standing nearby and Miner never drew his weapon. Miner's arrest and subsequent trial in Kamloops caused a media spectacle. Apparently the most damning evidence against him was the bottle of kidney pills that Miner had picked up during the Ducks robbery. Upon his conviction, he, Dunn and Colquhoun were transported by train to the provincial penitentiary in New Westminster. By that time, Miner's celebrity status had risen to the point that the tracks were reputedly lined with throngs of supporters, many of whom expressed satisfaction with the fact that someone had taken the very unpopular CPR to task.

While serving time in the B.C. Penitentiary, Miner escaped in 1907 and was never recaptured in Canada. He moved back to the United States, becoming once again involved in robberies in the South at Gainesville in 1909. There, he served more prison time, and escaped twice.

He died in the prison farm at Milledgeville, Georgia, of gastritis, contracted from drinking brackish water during his previous escape attempt.Researchers Mark Dugan and and John Boessenecker contend that Miner was the only known homosexual outlaw in the American "Wild West." In his younger days, "Miner, who had a slender, girlish figure, no doubt was a target for sex-starved older and stronger convicts." Later, they claim, he lured young men into crime and preyed on them sexually. Whatever Miner's sexual preference, the only evidence of Miner's homosexuality surfaced in 1903 when the Pinkerton Detective Agency stated that Miner "is said to be a sodomist and may have a boy with him."

1901 – Marlene Dietrich (d.1992) was a German-American actress and singer.

Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films. Her performance as Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel, directed by Josef von Sternberg, brought her international fame and provided her a contract with Paramount Pictures in the US.

Hollywood films such as Shanghai Express and Desire capitalised on her glamour and exotic looks, cementing her stardom and making her one of the highest paid actresses of the era. Dietrich became a US citizen in 1937, and throughout World War II she was a high-profile frontline entertainer.

Although she still made occasional films in the post-war years, Dietrich spent most of the 1950s to the 1970s touring the world as a successful show performer.

Unlike her professional celebrity, which was carefully crafted and maintained, Dietrich's personal life was kept out of public view. Dietrich, who was bisexual, enjoyed the thriving gay scene of the time and drag balls of 1920s Berlin.

She married only once, to assistant director Rudolf Sieber, who later became an assistant director at Paramount Pictures in France, responsible for foreign language dubbing.

Throughout her career Dietrich had an unending string of affairs, some short-lived, some lasting decades; they often overlapped and were almost all known to her husband, to whom she was in the habit of passing the love letters of her men, sometimes with biting comments.

During the filming of Destry Rides Again, Dietrich started a love affair with co-star Jimmy Stewart, which ended after filming. In 1938, Dietrich met and began a relationship with the writer Erich Maria Remarque, and in 1941, the French actor and military hero Jean Gabin. Their relationship ended in the mid-1940s. She also had an affair with the Cuban-American writer Mercedes de Acosta, who was Greta Garbo's lover. Her last great passion, when she was in her 50s, appears to have been for the actor Yul Brynner, but her love life continued well into her 70s. She counted John Wayne, George Bernard Shaw and John F. Kennedy among her conquests. Dietrich maintained her husband and his mistress first in Europe and later on a ranch in the San Fernando Valley, California.

In 1999, the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female star of all time.

1932 – On this date Fritz "Fred" Klein the Austrian-born American sex researcher, psychiatrist and pioneering Bisexual rights activist was born (d.2006). He's best known as the inventor of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid. He was also a pioneering bisexual rights activist, who was an important figure in the modern LGBT rights movement.

As a self-identified bisexual, Klein was surprised at the lack of literature on his sexuality in the New York Public Library in 1974. He was inspired to place an advertisement in a New York City alternative newspaper the Village Voice and founded a ground-breaking social and support group for the Bisexual Community called Bisexual Forum.

He devised the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, a multi-dimensional system for describing complex sexual orientation, similar to the "zero-to-six" scale Kinsey scale used by Alfred Kinsey, but measuring seven different vectors of sexual orientation and identity (sexual attractions, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle and self-identification) separately, as they relate person's past, present and ideal future.

Klein published The Bisexual Option: A Concept of One Hundred Percent Intimacy in 1978, based on his research, the world's first real psychological study of bisexuality. He also co-authored Man, His Body, His Sex in 1978, and published Bisexualities: Theory and Research in 1986 and Bisexual and Gay Husbands: Their Stories, Their Words in 2001. He published a novel, Life, Sex and the Pursuit of Happiness in 2005.

1962 – Joseph Mantello is an American actor and director best known for his work on Broadway productions of Wicked, and Assassins, as well as earlier in his career being one of the original Broadway cast of Angels in America. Mantello directed The Ritz, his sixth production with playwright Terrence McNally, in 2007.

Joe Mantello was born the oldest son of an Italian-American family in the suburban community of Rockford, Illinois, a city some 90 miles outside of Chicago. With his parents' encouragement, he spent much of his childhood acting in community theater.

In 1984, he graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting. That same year he moved to New York to pursue a career in theater. As an actor, Mantello appeared in several Off Broadway productions.

Mantello's early acting career culminated in the original Broadway production of Tony Kushner's groundbreaking seven-hour, two-play cycle Angels in America (1993). In both of the play's two parts, Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, Mantello portrayed Louis Ironson, a liberal, self-centered Jewish New Yorker who leaves his lover Prior Walter, a gay man struggling with AIDS, and becomes involved with Joe Pitt, a Mormon Republican lawyer struggling with his sexuality.

Since his appearance in Angels in America, however, he has concentrated on his directing career. Nevertheless, in early 2011 Mantello returned to acting in a limited-run Broadway production of The Normal Heart, Larry Kramer's 1985 landmark play about the AIDS crisis.

Mantello also drew attention for his widely-chronicled romantic partnership from 1990 to 2002 with the playwright Jon Robin Baitz. In 1994, the New York Times dubbed the two men "the New York theater's couple of the moment."

They were linked professionally as well, with Mantello directing several of Baitz's plays. As the New York Times' Bruce Weber noted, their personalities and talents are "complementary," with Mantello's "warmth and humor burnishing" Baitz's "intellectual rigor and undercutting his earnestness."

When the two men separated after 12 years together, Mantello felt "completely isolated and heartbroken," but he never ascribed blame for the breakup to Baitz. "Neither of us felt wronged," Mantello later explained. "There wasn't another person. It was just a very painful, mutual acknowledgement that we had evolved from being a couple who lived together into best friends."

Indeed, Mantello and Baitz have remained friends, and in 2011 the two men reunited professionally, when Mantello directed, to critical acclaim, Baitz's new play Other Desert Cities.

Other noeworthy productions by Mantello include Terrence McNally's play Love! Valour! Compassion!, about eight gay men sharing a series of summer holidays in an upstate New York house; and Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out, which focuses on the issue of gay athletes in the straight-male-dominated world of professional sports.

1973 – Wilson Cruz (born Wilson Echevarría) is an American actor known for playing Rickie Vasquez on My So-Called Life and the recurring characters of Junito on Noah's Arcand Dr. Hugh Culber on Star Trek: Discovery. As an openly gay person of Puerto Rican ancestry, he has served as an advocate for gay youth, especially gay youth of color.

Wilson Cruz was born in Brooklyn, New York to parents of Puerto Rican descent. His family eventually moved to Rialto, California where he attended Eisenhower High School, graduating in 1991. At age 19, Cruz came out to his parents as gay, first to his mother and then his father. While his mother was initially hurt and shocked, she eventually accepted the news. His father, however, threw him out of the house, and Cruz spent the next few months living in his car and at the homes of friends. He later reconciled with his father.

After coming out to his parents, Cruz went to Hollywood to seek work as an actor, intending to be open about his sexuality from the beginning of his career. In 1994 he was cast as Enrique "Rickie" Vasquez, a troubled gay teen, in the short-lived critically acclaimed cult classic TV series My So-Called Life. In one episode (entitled "So-Called Angels") drawn from Cruz's own life, Rickie comes out to his family, who throw him out of the house.

Cruz works with and advocates on behalf of LGBT youth, especially youth of color. He has volunteered his time as host for the Youth Zone, an online community at Gay.com for LGBT youth. He was the Grand Marshal of the 1998 West Hollywood Gay Pride parade and the 2005 Chicago Pride Parade. In 2008, he was the keynote speaker at the University of Illinois at Chicago's Lavender Graduation and Rainbow Banquet honoring graduating LGBT students.

Cruz joined the board of directors of GLAAD in 1997 in order to assist the organization through a leadership transition, and joined the staff of GLAAD in 2012 as a National Spokesperson and Strategic Giving Officer.

Rowland in his army days

1990 – Died: Chuck Rowland (b.1917) was a founding member of the Mattachine Society. He was active with ONE Inc. and founded the short-lived Church of One Brotherhood. Upon retiring from twenty years of teaching in 1982, Rowland founded Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles.

Chuck Rowland was born and grew up in tiny Gary, South Dakota. He recognized he was homosexual at an early age, and after reading a sympathetic series of articles in a pulp magazine, concluded that, if millions like him existed, they could be mobilized. At the University of Minnesota in the late 1930s, he was active on campus in support of the loyalists of Spain and other causes. While in grad school during 1939–40 he returned to Gary as a substitute for the spring term. On a weekend visit to Minneapolis, he met Bob Hull, a U of M undergraduate. The two had a brief romance, lived together, and became lifelong friends.

In 1942, Rowland was drafted into the army. Due to a severe injury, he stayed stateside during the war. While enlisted, Rowland became a charter member of the American Veterans Committee, a liberal alternative to the American Legion. After discharge in March 1946, he showed his talent as an AVC organizer, but his active support for veterans’ bonus legislation, which the group disparaged as “handouts,” led to his being “canned” by the AVC by 1947.

While in the AVC, Rowland noted that those he knew to be communists were some of AVC’s best organizers. “I was just carried along with this feeling of liberalism and the horror of the [anti-communist] reaction that was setting in,” he said, “and my feeling was that we had to move farther and farther to the left, as a result of which I got into the Communist Party.” Rowland returned to Minneapolis and headed the CP’s Midwest youth division.* (His value as an organizer trumped any chance of being expelled under the party’s unwritten anti-gay policy.) Rowland recruited Hull into the party, and the two contemplated Rowland’s childhood dream of organizing homosexuals.

In 1948, he quit the CP and move to Los Angeles, followed by Hull. There, at a labor school, the two met a teacher, Harry Hay, who also had done some thinking about a homosexual organization.

Harry Hay was developing a blueprint for a homophile support group, but before he could show it to them, Rowland and Hull moved to Mexico in the summer of 1950, intending to relocate permanently to avoid anti-Communist witch-hunts. They returned by fall, however, and received Hay’s completed prospectus, which they eagerly shared with Hull’s new boyfriend, Dale Jennings. The three met with Hay and his lover Rudi Gernreich on Armistice Day 1950, and eventually formed the (necessarily) secretive Mattachine Society and its public nonprofit, Mattachine Foundation.

Mattachine members clockwise from top: Chuck Rowland, Konrad Stevens, unknown, Bob Hull, Jim Gruber

Rowland immersed himself in ONE Inc., writing for its magazine and directing its social services division. In 1954 he proposed that ONE open a guidance center staffed with gay counselors to mentor the waifs who found themselves alone in a new city. The project foundered, but Rowland nevertheless reported to ONE that in 1955 his division provided job placement and/or vocational counseling for nearly 100 people.

The early 60s saw Rowland involved in a possible FBI blacklisting (as both Red and gay), a failed business partnership, a dependence on intoxicants, mounting debt, and eviction. Finally, following the tragic suicide of his friend Bob Hull in May of 1962, Rowland returned to the Midwest. That summer he was hired as a credentialed high school teacher in Iowa. Obtaining his master’s degree in 1967, he chaired the theater arts department at a Minnesota college.

Upon retiring in 1982, Rowland returned to Los Angeles from his “exile,” as he put it, while admitting to “some worthy accomplishments” and meaningful relationships. In late 1982, with Jim Kepner and ex-Mattachino Martin Block, Rowland founded Celebration Theatre, billed as “the only theatre in Los Angeles dedicated exclusively to productions of gay and lesbian plays.” Kepner hosted its debut in the late spring of 1983, in his National Gay Archives.

Having been hospitalized in March 1090 with prostate cancer that proved to be terminal, Rowland “moved to Duluth where a former student fixed up a handsome apartment overlooking the lake,” according to a Kepner-penned obituary. “He spent five happy months among students and relatives….” Chuck Rowland died December 27, 1990.

[ickaimp]

12 Days of Murder - Beware the Ides of March

Crossposted to Ao3

“Bakaito said that today was a famous European holiday.” Aoko announced, holding out a covered bento for Saguru to take. “He couldn’t make the traditional dish, so asked me to make it for you since you share your food with us.”

“Thank you?” Saguru said, touched and confused. As far as he knew, it wasn’t a holiday today. The next holiday he was aware of was Saint Patrick’s day, the day after tomorrow.

Setting the bento box on the desk, he opened the lid and found a salad inside.

A very western looking salad. Lettuce, a few bright cherry tomatoes, some shredded cucumber, crunchy croutons covered in a creamy dressing, and dusted with parmesan cheese. There were a couple of slices of grilled chicken on one side, alongside a fork.

“The dressing has anchovies in it.” Aoko explained, holding up a similar bento. “But it tastes good! I have some for lunch too.”

“Thank you very much for your effort and thoughtfulness.” Saguru said, picking up the fork. Aoko smiled brightly at him as Hakuba stabbed the salad.

And promptly hit something metal. Aoko made a confused sound, her expression as perplexed as Saguru felt.

Saguru reviewed the facts as he dug into the salad with the fork. A supposed European holiday, not British. Kuroba asking Aoko for a salad with a dressing that had anchovies.

He got a bad feeling as he was able to poke the metal item out of the bento box and pull it out.

A dagger.

“Beware the Ides of March!” Kuroba cheerfully said from behind Saguru in English.

“Kaito!” Aoko snapped, looking annoyed. “Why would you put a knife in a salad?!”

“Don’t worry, it’s a trick dagger.” Kuroba assured her, putting his fingertip on the point of the blade and pressing down, the blade retracting into the handle with a squeaky noise.

“It’s alright.” Saguru sighed, understanding the joke now. He looked up at Aoko with a bland look.

“It’s a Caesar Salad.” -fin- (Yes, a traditional Ceasar Salad dressing does have anchovies or anchovy paste in it.)

[hskinhome]

A set of recipes for a Jake using a fair amount of vegetables @sparrownnax

Avatar Botanist’s Lunch Bowl

Perfect Roasted Asparagus

British Roast Vegetable Salad with Stilton

Tomb Raider Lomo Saltado

Crème de Menthe Mocktail

Traditional Bakewell Tart

[mariacallous]

Blintzes are one of Shavuot’s most popular dishes. Long associated with Ashkenazi cooking, the light and airy hug of the blintz pancake envelopes pillowy fillings such as whipped farmers cheese or fruit compote. To call it a crepe is like calling chicken soup consommé. It sounds more fancy, but it lacks the tradition and warmth. 

For Florence Tabrys, a Holocaust survivor, blintzes were a lifeline to her former life near Radom, Poland. I spoke to Florence when writing my first book “Recipes Remembered, a Celebration of Survival,” a compendium of stories and recipes I gathered from Holocaust survivors. I learned that as a child, Florence and her sister were separated from their parents in 1942 and sent to work in a munitions factory. They were eventually moved to Bergen-Belsen where they remained until liberated by the British army. Florence never saw her parents again, but the memories of her childhood favorite foods sustained her throughout the years. Her sweet and creamy cheese blintzes became a family tradition; she would prepare them in large batches and freeze them so they would always be at the ready.  

Topping blintzes is always a game of chance. For those growing up in Poland, most likely it was whatever was on hand from yesterday’s breakfast or Sabbath lunch. Hanna Wechsler, a survivor of Auschwitz, described her mother’s “naleshniki” as a cross between a thin crepe and a traditional blintz. She remembers her mother filling them with strawberry preserves, chopped nuts and a touch of sugar, then topping them with a strawberry sauce. Hanna described her experience in Auschwitz to me in the most poignant way. Her mother would sneak out of the barracks and bring back food that had been stolen from the camp’s kitchen to sustain Hanna. She said, “My mother gave birth to me every day we lived in Auschwitz, because without her I would not have survived.”  

As an homage to these remarkable women I present Florence Tabrys’ cheese blintzes topped with Hanna Wechsler’s strawberry sauce. Enjoy them on Shavuot and all year long. And remember, the thread that weaves Jewish food is vital but fragile, and needs to be lovingly maintained. 

Notes:

The strawberry sauce will keep for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. You can also follow the same preparation using frozen blueberries or raspberries.

You can freeze the prepared blintzes (following Step 6) and fry them at a later time.