#yellow bream

[bakuzen-art]

I saw a starfish baby onesie on my feed so I drew my WOL in it

[bakuzen-xiv]

FFXIV Write 2024 (Day 1): Steer

CW: Bad (but well-intentioned) parenting and mentions of violence.

“You useless pig! Are you saying you lost track of our target?”

“Yer the one who passed me the wrong intel, ye ale-sodden git!”

Z’len groaned before putting his fork back on his plate. Fights at the tavern were common, especially in Limsa. But hells, it was only afternoon. Was it too much to hope for a restful meal in-between his jobs?

He tried to ignore the yelling across the tavern and moved to stir his tea, taking a deep breath to distract himself from the anger bubbling up inside of him. His ears were flat against his head, giving away his annoyance despite the effort.

“Of all the places to start a fight…” he growled under his breath, stirring his drink with far more force than necessary. His eyes fell on the traces of blood under his nails, and he realised he forgot to wash his hands before rushing here.

Fuckin’ careless. He should’ve worn gloves when he got caught up in that ambush earlier. At least the blood wasn’t his own, though his client ended up with more scrapes and bruises than he would’ve liked. Couldn’t blame the guy for docking his payment.

“I should’ve known you don’t have any brains inside that head of yours!”

“Why, you…!”

Z’len’s stirring stopped when he heard the grating sound of chairs scraping across the floor, the strangers’ fight escalating in volume as it turned physical. He didn’t bother to look. They were across the tavern, and it was none of his business.

Instead, he glanced at his other side. Orion was sat down in the chair next to him, the young Elezen’s face hidden under messy black-and-white hair as he stared at his lap, small legs dangling and kicking air.

In his hands was a half-eaten muffin. Blueberry, with bits of fruit in it, far too big for his little hands. Yellow Bream always coddled him when Z’len brought him over to her tavern. Said she happened to be baking this morning. As if she had time for that, running the tavern and all.

Undoubtedly, she felt sorry for the kid, knowing Z’len was there to drop him off again. Still, her fussing helped him make sure Orion was growin' alright. And whenever Z'len messed up, she always steered him back onto the right path.

Z’len pushed down the pang of guilt and brushed the kid’s hair behind his pointed ears. It had grown long again. Maybe he’d cut it tonight, once he made it back from his next job…

“Not hungry, Orion?” He tried to sound casual, forcing a smile to reassure his son, or perhaps himself.

They both flinched at the sound of a chair impacting against someone’s head. Z’len cursed under his breath. Just to be safe, he pulled his son closer towards himself in case any furniture got thrown their way.

Orion leaned into the side-hug and finally took another bite of his muffin. “No, it’s good,” he said, his tone bright and chipper. “Have a bite,” he said, raising the snack up to his dad’s face.

Like a dutiful parent, Z’len took a small bite out of it and hummed with feigned approval, his face scrunching up from the cloyingly sweet flavor. “Yeah, it’s good.”

“Do you want the rest?”

The fight across the tavern continued to increase in loudness, voices clamoring for attention as other patrons began heckling the troublemakers. Yellow Bream’s voice rose above them all as the imposing Roegadyn kicked open the kitchen door, hurrying towards the chaos while cursing and waving a hot ladle in her hand.

“All yours, son.”

Orion’s muffin-grasping hands dropped back in his lap. “Damn…”

Both their eyes followed Yellow Bream, watching her shoo the rowdy duo out of her tavern. Before long, one of them was lying in the door opening, a hand covering a ladle mark across his cheek.

“Make sure you eat all the rest, okay?” Z’len said, finishing his tea with a big gulp before getting up from his chair. “She worked hard on it.”

“One last bite,” Orion pleaded, waving the muffin at Z’len.

Z’len shook his head and ruffled his son’s hair. “Can’t eat too much, Orion, I got work to do. Go read a book or somethin'. And be good, okay?”

Orion swallowed another bite of muffin, and any complaints along with it. He watched his dad push through the crowd gathered at the door, clearly in a rush to get somewhere.

"You too, okay?" he wished, too late for his dad to hear.

His dad yelled some word at Yellow Bream that he couldn’t catch, running off before she could respond. She threw her hands up at him in exasperation and turned to give Orion an apologetic smile.

Orion just hoped he would come home safely again.

[mousetoe-wc]

I Got bored one time awhile ago and made a list of every prefix plus some into organised sections so I thought I might as well share.

All the ones that aren’t cannon to warriors, yet at lest are bold

Describing names

Colours: red, russet, copper, golden, amber, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink, white, gray, black, ebony, dark, pale, silver, brown, tawny, fallow

Pattern, Texture + Size: spot/ted, dapple, speckle, freckle, brindle, patch, mottle, ragged, tangle, kink, bristle, fuzzy, curl/y, wooly, soft, sleek, little, tiny, small, slight, short, tall, long, big, heavy, crooked, broken, half, stumpy, shred, torn, jagged

Actions + Character: flip, pounce, bounce, jump, hop, crouch, down, low, drift, flail, strike, running, fidget, mumble, whistle, snap, sneeze, shiver/ing, shining, flutter, fallen, lost, rush, fleet, quick, shy, sweet, brave, loud, quiet, wild, hope, wish,

Other: claw, whisker, dead, odd, one, spike, fringe, echo, song, hallow, haven

Elements

Time + Weather: day, night, dusk, dawn, morning, sky, sun/ny, moon, storm, lightning, thunder, cloud/y, mist/y, fog, snow, blizzard, ice, frost, dew, drizzle, rain, clear, wind, breeze, gale, shadow, shade, bright, light,

Earth/Water/Fire names: stone, rock, boulder, slate, flint, pebble, gravel, sand/y, dust, mud/dy, meadow, hill, rubble, river, ripple, whorl, float, rapid, shimmer, lake, swamp, marsh, wave, wet, bubbling, splash, puddle, pool, creek, fire, flame, flicker, flash, blaze, scorch, ember, spark, ash, soot, cinder, smoke

Plants

Trees: alder, aspen, birch, beech, cedar, cypress, pine, elm, willow, oak, larch, maple, bay, rowan, timber, bark, log, wood, twig, acorn, cone, seed, spire

Berry/Nut/Fruit/Herb: juniper, elder, sloe, holly, yew, mistle, bramble, hickory, hazel, chestnut, nut, apple, cherry, cranberry, olive, pear, plum, peach, chive, mint, fennel, sage, basil, mallow, parsley

Flowers: aster, poppy, primrose, rose, bluebell, marigold, tansy, pansy, briar, cherry, daisy, dandelion, daffodil, tulip, violet, lily, myrtle, thrift, yarrow, heather, lavender, blossom, bloom, flower, petal

Other: leaf, frond, fern, bracken, sorrel, hay, rye, oat, wheat, cotton, reed, pod, cinnamon, milkweed, grass, clover, weed, stem, sedge, gorse, furze, flax, nettle, thistle, ivy, moss, lichen, bush, vine, root, thorn, prickle, nectar

Animals

Mammals: mouse, rat, mole, vole, shrew, squirrel, hedgehog, bat, rabbit, hare, ferret, weasel, stoat, mink, marten, otter, hog, wolf, hound, fox, vixen, badger, deer, doe, stag, fawn, sheep, cow, pig, lion, tiger, leopard, lynx, milk

Birds: robin, jay, cardinal, thrush, sparrow, swallow, shrike, starling, rook, swift, dove, pigeon, crow, raven, duck, goose, heron, wren, finch, swan, stork, quail, gull, lark, owl, eagle, hawk, kestrel, buzzard, kite, hoot, feather, bird, egg, talon

Fish, Reptiles + Amphibians: pike, perch, pollack, trout, tench, cod, carp, bass, bream, eel, minnow, fin, snake, adder, lizard, turtle, frog, toad, newt

Bug type Names: bug, lady or ladybug, moth, spider, ant, snail, slug, beetle, bee, wasp, dragon or dragonfly, bumble, worm, maggot, cricket, fly, midge, web, honey

Skyclan + Warriorclan: Bella, Billy, Big, Harry, Harvey, Snook, Ebony, Monkey

[silverstonewolf]

Route 8 desert 🏜

Ghost, dark, dragon, and steel

Wiszzam

The clever pokemon this pokemon believed it is alright, but if not, it will go unstoppable to prove its right.

Jumzzam

The jump pokemon and evolve wiszzam this pokemon will disappear and appears to surprised you it or so like to be the best

Meoglow

The glow pokemon and evolve jumzzam this pokemon glow to the point where it's blinding to protect their cubs and partner

Shiny orange and blue-green

Ghost, ground, and normal

Trapchest

The trap pokemon this pokemon laws in its prey by pretending its a chest then grob them up and spit out bones and buring the body by use it's tentacles

Chesking

The sloth pokemon and evolve from Trapchest, this pokemon may be lazy but when it wants to it is actually very fast

Uglygold

The envy pokemon and evolve Trapchest, this pokemon, will be very jealous of anyone who has treasure it doesn't have if show off in front this pokemon you not only have your treasures will be sunk inside but so be you

Shiny orange and blue

ghost, psychic, fairy type

Female

Meoheart

The love pokemon this pokemon will sing to attend the male, and if anyone gets in her way, she will suffocate use its tail

Mirrormeow

The mirror pokemon and Evolve from Meoheart, this pokemon, will show up in any reflection if you call out its name three times

Shiny red and green

Ghot, poison, electric, and fire

Male

Kittytail

The unlucky pokemon, this pokemon is not unlucky it has to make other unlucky to attract a female the worse the pery turn out the more chance he can mate

Tailteen

The lucky pokemon and evolve from Kittytail instead of bringing bad luck this pokemon brings good luck to help it offspring get food and to help itself in battle to stop being poison or asleep

Shotstar

The wishes pokemon and evolve from Tailteen when this pokemon is seen people believe it's a wishes star and wishes upon it, which it can grant but it can only gave a chance like if you want to chatch a pokemon.

Shiny yellow and red

Ghost, fairy, and electric type

Uatwo

The clone pokemon, this pokemon, is the fail clone of uaungi and will melt if it gets too cold, so use the sun to keep warm and dig ungrounded at night to keep warm and not melt

Reisune

The sun pokemon and evolve from uatwo this pokemon is only visible in the bream of the sun and at night in is under a light so it is easy to chatch at night

Tigblot

The moon pokemon and evolve Uatwo, this pokemon, get it energy from the moon it likes cold and dark places to get the best moonlight and it's full charge it can shoot out a more electric attack

Shiny red and blue

Ghost, bug, rock type

Buzzdash

The flower pokemon, this pokemon, can only hatch in a flower, after which it feeds on nectar to make honey, then it will make the honey into a ball to attack with it call honey drop

Manbuzz

The buzz pokemon and evolve from Buzzdash this pokemon fly around to find a partner that is a bully it love being strong and pery on the weak

Dashdrill

The drill pokemon and evolve Buzzdash this pokemon drill to get speed. And instead of like bully.it like hero and people who are popular

Shiny red and gery

Ghost, grass, and normal type

Kanshu

The pot pokemon this pokemon can be found in people home it is never see unless you realise things are missing but by then then it's too late

Snairpot

The wait pokemon and the evolve from kanshu this pokemon finally appears from its pot still its home. If someone breaks its pot, it will make a new one out of the bones

Acondasss

The break pokemon and the evolve from Snairpot this pokemon pot home now becomes part of it so can no longer hide in people's home and instead it breaks trees to clean space because it will get big

Shiny red and black

Ghost, dragon, fire type

Kailaw

The rules pokemon if you do anything stupid in front of it. It will in prison you in snow until you learn your lesson

Lawryu

The prison pokemon and evolve from kailaw if you catch this pokemon be careful it will watch you and if you are justice it will not harm you but if you break the rules it leaves after leaving you in the cold in a prison of its own design

Justshou

The justice pokemon and evolve from kailaw this infroce the law, but it can be persuade to change it's mind by playing a game and if you win it will fellow you until you lose

Shiny red, orange, and gold

[middletone]

Introduction Post

Spring – Year 1: Week 1- Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4

Summer – Year 1: Week 1- Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4

Current Goals:

Fast-track Blue Chickens

Fishing Level 10

Weekly Summary: Fishing. Farming. Foraging. Mining. Combat.

If one wishes to become Protector of the Valley, they must first become Master of the Five Ways.

Words from years long past come to Leander in fits and starts; he does not yet know what they mean, but he can feel the understanding fizzle at the tips of his fingers and the edge of his vision. Soon... but not yet.

For now Leander strengthens both his skills and his bonds with the denizens of Pelican Town.

While Leander felt no connection with the Rusty Sword gifted to him by Marlon, he showed a clear and natural affinity upon wielding the Wooden Club found while exploring the first floors of the mines. With his new weapon Leander was easily able to easily dispatch the requisite number of Green Slimes to meet Mayor Lewis' bounty and the Guild's initiation, taking his first strides towards becoming a protector of the Valley.

However it's possible that Leander has gained the attention of someone outside the realm of understanding, but much different than the spirits of the forest. We can only hope that their intentions towards our farmer are benevolent.

Daily summary & donation checklists under the cut; mod list in the Introduction post.

Day 22:

Gave Lewis a Joja Cola so he could make a stir fry (?)

Spent the day fishing; treasure: gold ore, fish roe, copper ore, iron ore, fire quartz, deluxe bait

Made donations to the Museum & Community Center

Mystery Boxes can now be found

Day 23:

Egg for Shane

Spent the day fishing; treasure: gold ore, deluxe bait, emerald

Made donations to the Community Center

Day 24:

Demetrius wants to run an experiment in the farm cave; chose fruit bats

Danced with Shane at the Flower Dance

Hit Farming level 5; chose Tiller

Day 25:

Bought & read Combat Quarterly; gained combat XP

Spent the day fishing; treasure: deluxe bait, iridium ore, frozen geode, ruby, Nautilus Fossil, Skeletal Tail

Hit Combat level 1

Day 26:

Bought a morel & cactus fruit from the Traveling Cart

Gave Pierre a daffodil for his birthday

Reached level 5 of the mines

Found a Wood Club in the mines

Completed a bounty for 6 Green Slimes for Mayor Lewis

Hit Mining level 3

Day 27:

Gave Jodi a cauliflower for her yellow curry

Spent the day clearing Cindersnap Forrest

Found & read Woody’s Secret; felled trees now have a 5% chance to produce double wood

Hit Farming level 6 & Foraging level 5; chose Gatherer

Day 28:

Egg for Shane

Bought Red Fez hat from the Traveling Cart

Spent the day fishing; treasure: deluxe bait

Made donations to the Community Center

Got New Friend achievement

Donations:

Community Center - Crafts Room 1/6:

4/4 Spring Foraging: Wild Horseradish, Daffodil, Leek, Spring Onion

0/3 Summer Foraging: Grape, Spice Berry, Sweet Pea

2/4 Fall Foraging: Common Mushroom, Wild Plum, Hazelnut, Blackberry

0/4 Winter Foraging: Crystal Fruit, Snow Yam, Crocus, Holly

4/5 Exotic Foraging: Coconut, Cactus Fruit, Cave Carrot, Red Mushroom, Purple Mushroom, Maple Syrup, Oak Resin, Pine Tar, Morel

2/3 Forest: Moss (10), Fiber (200), Maple Seed (10)

Community Center - Pantry 1/6:

4/4 Spring Crops: Parsnip, Green Bean, Cauliflower, Potato

0/4 Summer Crops: Hot Pepper, Blueberry, Melon, Summer Squash

0/4 Fall Crops: Corn, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Yam

0/1 Rare Crops: Ancient Fruit, Sweet Gem Berry

2/4 Garden: Tulip, Summer Spangle, Fairy Rose, Blue Jazz, Sunflower

0/4 Brewer’s: Mead, Wine, Juice, Pale Ale, Green Tea

Community Center - Fish Tank 0/6:

2/4 River Fish: Sunfish, Catfish, Shad, Tiger Trout

3/4 Lake Fish: Largemouth Bass, Carp, Bullhead, Sturgeon

1/4 Ocean Fish: Sardine, Tuna, Red Snapper, Tilapia

2/3 Night Fishing: Walleye, Bream, Eel

3/5 Crab Pot: Lobster, Crayfish, Crab, Cockle, Mussel, Shrimp, Snail, Periwinkle, Oyster, Clam

0/2 Master Fisher’s: Lava Eel, Scorpion Carp, Octopus, Blobfish

Community Center - Boiler Room 2/3:

4/4 Geologist’s: Quartz, Earth Crystal, Frozen Tear, Fire Quartz

5/5 Treasure Hunter’s: Amethyst, Topaz, Emerald, Diamond, Ruby, Aquamarine

1/3 Engineer’s: Iridium Ore, Battery Pack, Refined Quartz (5)

Community Center - Bulletin Board 0/5:

0/6 Chef’s: Maple Syrup, Fiddlehead Fern, Truffle, Poppy, Maki Roll, Fried Egg

2/4 Field Research: Purple Mushroom, Nautilus Shell, Chub, Frozen Geode

1/2 Forager’s: Salmonberry (50), Blackberry (50), Wild Plum (15)

0/3 Spirit’s Eve: Jack-O-Lantern, Corn (10), Bat Wing (10)

0/2: Winter Star: Holly (5), Plum Pudding, Stuffing, Powdermelon (5)

Community Center - Bulletin Board 0/5:

0/1 2,500g: 2,500g

0/1 5,000g: 5,000g

0/1 10,000g: 10,000g

0/1 25,000g: 25,000g

Museum - Artifacts 8/42:

Dwarf Scroll I, Dwarf Scroll II, Dwarf Scroll III, Dwarf Scroll IV, Chipped Amphora, Arrowhead, Ancient Doll, Elvish Jewelry, Chewing Stick, Ornamental Fan, Dinosaur Egg, Rare Disc, Ancient Sword, Rusty Spoon, Rusty Spur, Rusty Cog, Chicken Statue, Ancient Seed, Prehistoric Tool, Dried Starfish, Anchor, Glass Shards, Bone Flute, Prehistoric Handaxe, Dwarvish Helm, Dwarf Gadget, Ancient Drum, Golden Mask, Golden Relic, Strange Doll, Prehistoric Scapula, Prehistoric Tibia, Prehistoric Skull, Skeletal Hand, Prehistoric Rib, Prehistoric Vertebra, Skeletal Tail, Nautilus Fossil, Amphibian Fossil, Palm Fossil, Trilobite

Museum – Minerals 8/53:

Emerald, Aquamarine, Ruby, Amethyst, Topaz, Jade, Diamond, Prismatic Shard, Quartz, Fire Quartz, Frozen Tear, Earth Crystal, Alamite, Bixite, Baryte, Aerinite, Calcite, Dolomite, Esperite, Fluorapatite, Geminite, Helvite, Jamborite, Jagoite, Kyanite, Lunarite, Malachite, Neptunite, Lemon Stone, Nekoite, Orpiment, Petrified Slime, Thunder Egg, Pyrite, Ocean Stone, Ghost Crystal, Tigerseye, Jasper, Opal, Fire Opal, Celestine, Marble, Sandstone, Granite, Basalt, Limestone, Soapstone, Hematite, Mudstone, Obsidian, Slate, Fairy Stone, Star Shards

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Where to eat in Belem, Brazil's gateway to the Amazon

A gateway to the Amazon, the lively port city is an emerging powerhouse of Brazilian culinary culture, where local ingredients are used to create dishes that blend Indigenous, European and African influences

“In São Paulo, people had no idea about our food — they didn’t value it,” says Thiago Castanho. “They joked that we rode alligators. But things are changing.” The owner of Remanso do Peixe, a restaurant on a quiet street in the heart of Belém — 1,900 miles north of São Paulo — Thiago has become a key figure in the Amazonian city’s rise to culinary prominence. With no cookery schools in Belém, he first had to leave his home town, moving to São Paulo and Portugal in the early 2000s to train as a chef.

Thiago always hoped to return. “Every time I saw a dish from elsewhere, I thought, man, this would be incredible with Amazonian ingredients.” His first restaurant in Belém, Remanso do Bosque, spent four years on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list before closing during the pandemic. “That was incredible, because it was the only restaurant outside the Rio-São Paulo axis to get the nod,” he says.

In many ways, Thiago has taken up the baton from Belém native Paulo Martins, a chef many consider responsible for putting Amazonian food on the culinary map. Via his restaurants and food festivals, Paulo, who passed away in 2010, encouraged Brazilians to visit the city and get to know it better.

His daughter, Joanna, continues his legacy with Manioca, a company with a line of Amazonian products — including some made with cassava, the Amazon root vegetable also known as yuca or manioc, from which the outfit derives its name. When Manioca launched back in 2014, products from the Amazon were rarely seen outside the region — they’re now found across the country. Tucupí, a sauce of fermented cassava, has become something of an Amazon ambassador food, even appearing on the menu at London’s two-Michelin-star Da Terra.

Unique Amazonian ingredients abound. But unsurprisingly for a city that skirts the Guajará Bay, around 60 miles inland from where the mighty Amazon River system meets the Atlantic, fish is a staple ingredient. Filhote (goliath catfish) is meaty yet tender, reminiscent of monkfish, while dourada (bream) and pescada amarela (yellow hake) are found on restaurant menus city wide. At Thiago’s restaurant, I’m presented with one of Belém’s most renowned dishes, caldeirada. The stew contains filhote, onion, tomato, peppers and boiled eggs, as well as two of the region’s most important pre-European ingredients: jambú, a mouth-numbing leaf, and tucupí (a sauce made from fermented cassava juice). The result is revelatory.

Continue reading.

[thetrailofflames]

Pre-story: The Watercourse

Captain: Mistedstorm - light gray tabby tom with black splotches with blue and green eyes

Student: Clover

Assistant: Hazingoak - dark gray charlie with light green eyes (She/He/They)

Cleric: Carpbelly - dappled brown tom with amber eyes

Augar: Swanlight - white charlie with red eyes (They/Xe)

Monarch: Houndcrash - pointed dark gray molly with yellow eyes (She/They)

Instructors:

Haddockfang - white tom with brown paws and tail with blue and green eyes

Sedgeheart - brown tabby molly with white splotches with green eyes

Student: Willow

Steamflare - pale pointed gray tom with green eyes

Messenger:

Ducksplash* - pointed brown and white molly with amber eyes

Divers:

Barracudafang - dark gray tabby tom with yellow eyes

Bassclaw - pale brown and white molly with green eyes

Hornwortbelly - dark brown tom with amber eyes

Student: Slush

Growlheart - brown tabby molly with green eyes

Piercingsun - dappled golden and gray tabby molly with pink eyes

Student: Bream

Foggystrike* - pointed gray tom with dark green eyes

Dawnscale - ginger and white molly with amber eyes

Loonfreckle - dark gray tom with lighter gray flecks with amber eyes

Watchers:

Mackeralclaw - gray tom with blue eyes

Snappercloud - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes (Deboner)

Chriptail - brown tabby molly with amber eyes

Architects:

Shiningripple - black and silver tabby molly with amber eyes 

Reedtail - pale gray tabby tom with red eyes Cadet: Cress

Gleamwhisker* - pointed golden molly with light blue eyes

Martenmask* - gray tabby molly with pale green eyes

Dappledwave* - tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes

Heronheart - dark gray molly with green eyes 

Cantors:

Shimmeringface - black molly with blue eyes

Tangnose - black tom with amber eyes  

Nightsong* - black molly with yellow eyes (They/Them) 

Rangers:

Hissingclaw - black tom with amber eyes

Puddlepatch* - pointed brown tom with white patches with amber eyes (They/Them) 

Frogstripe - pointed gray tom with green eyes

Wigeonthorn - brown tom with black spots, ears, and front paws with amber eyes

Mallardwing - mottled brown molly with a white belly and muzzle and green eyes

Rainspeck* - light gray molly with white flecks with light blue eyes

Poolstripe* - silver tabby charlie with light green eyes (They/Xe)

Vaporglare - white tortoiseshell molly with golden eyes (She/Xe)

Students:

Bream - black tom with white and brown paws with light eyes

Slush - dark gray molly with white streaks with blue eyes

Cress - dark gray molly with amber-blue eyes 

Willow  - silver tom with black stripes with green eyes

Clover - brown tabby molly with green eyes

Nurses:

Lilyflower - pale gray tabby molly with green eyes [Head]

Dottedmallow - tortoiseshell and white molly with green eyes

Cubs:

‘Squeal’ - black molly with amber eyes

‘Yowl’ - pointed tabby molly with green eyes

‘Squirm’ - gray and white molly with green eyes

Veterans:

Mistedgrowl - gray molly with pale blue eyes

Shineface - gray and white molly with blue eyes

Flounderwing - white molly with golden patches with blue eyes

Grebefur - brown and white tom with blue eyes

Brantfur - dark brown tom with amber eyes

[charlesandmartine]

Thursday 16th February 2023

Four weeks and we shall be home, sadly.

The river was very sluggish this morning; completely still. The only ripples on its surface caused by early rising fishermen in their tiny crafts slowly making their way along to fruitful waters causing a slight wake behind but hardly a disturbance. This is such a beautifully peaceful spot to sit and watch the river, serenaded by an army of Cicadas. Last night we watched a lad fishing from the riverbank who managed to land a couple of prize specimens which he swiftly put back. We asked him 3 times what they were but are still none the wiser. He told us there were also bream and whiting in there which clearly weren't on his shopping list.

Sunset across the river was stunning last night, although a photograph fails to capture the full spectrum of colour; vermilions, crimson, yellows. An artist's pallette would be fully stretched to mix such colours.

Very interesting conversations with our neighbours. There's an elderly couple Hary and Karen staying in a caravan in the grounds of the old school. Originally from Whitby 50 or 60 years ago and now in their 80s are clearly retired and continually travelling around Australia. Although the lady is now suffering onset of dementia, they still enjoy the challenge of new places and also meeting up with fellow travelers from time to time. They have been here since before Christmas, but will be moving on soon. They showed us their collection of precious stones, sapphires, gold and opals they have panned, dug and metal detected for in the last 10 years. Really quite inspiring lifestyle but despite encouraging us to do something similar, I think we most likely won't.

This morning we popped into Forster Tuncurry. Forster sits at the entrance to Wallis Lake which is fed from the Wallamba and the Coolongolook Rivers. Firstly we took a look at the estuary area where the natural harbour meets the Pacific. Pelicans had already hit town and appeared to be forming an orderly queue to be fed by well-meaning fish dispensing people. All donations were well received by the bird recipient's.

Lunch was on the shore of Wallis Lake which was so tranquil. It's hard to believe that you can simply pull up and park freely in such a beautiful place. Unusually they even had a café close by for flat whites.

Larry Lizard was waiting for us when we got home. I opened the door and he ran in and disappeared straight under the fridge. No further sign of mouse.

Tomorrow we break camp and travel some 4 hours up the road to a place called Yamba. We shall be sorry to leave here but we think it is time to go.

[santa--mozzarella]

Tuesday, November 19 — All You Can Eat Buffet!

Stufato di pescato del giorno "Catch of the Day" Stew (Soup)

"Alright," Massimo says, the anchor in place. "Get your seal legs on."

"Dad." Giulia fixes him with a look. "They're flippers."

"Well, whatever they're called," He says to the girl, ushering her along. "Off you go."

Giulia giggles as she goes to get her seal-skin from its secure spot inside the cabin, unfurling the sleek, dark coat as she returns to the back of the boat. Massimo knows she would dive right in; that her mother regularly dives right in and expects Giulia to follow, to have gotten her sea legs on before the tide carries her away. But Massimo is cautious. He makes her sit on the edge of the boat whilst she wraps the skin around her legs, and hovers nearby as she pulls the hood over her head.

In the blink of an eye, she's gone. Massimo hears the splash and looks over the edge to see the young seal looking back at him with wide onyx eyes. "Okay, Giulia," He says. "We need one octopus, one bream, some sardines, and some clams. As many as you can find. Got that?

The seal huffs, water spraying towards the side of the boat, and then she disappears beneath the surface. Massimo picks up his book, and begins to read whilst he waits. It's a lot easier than doing the fishing himself, and at least Giulia will sleep well tonight, with a belly full of stew that she caught herself.

Posca aperitivo (cocktail)

"What the hell is that?" Giulia asks, looking at the pitchers of -- something.

She should have known that coming to a party held by the history students would be a bad idea. The liquid seems to be somehow both mixed together and completely separate, a strange orangey-yellow with a sheen like oil.

Chiara laughs, gesturing for the cup Giulia had brought, a knock-off plastic chalice or goblet or something that she had bought at a tourist trap near the Colosseum. Giulia hands it over, and Chiara pours some of the liquid in, offering it up to Giulia.

"It's posca!" She says. "Well - our version of posca. For aperitivo."

"Posca?" Giulia asks.

"The favoured drink of soldiers, slaves and the lower classes in the Ancient times." Chiara says sagely. "They used water and wine vinegar. Ours is white wine and aperol, with some simple syrup."

"How are those the same?" Giulia mutters, taking a sip. It's-- weirdly not bad. Tolerable, for a university party. She decides to nurse it for the rest of the night.

Maritozzo (dessert)

The bakery reminds her of home. There are a lot of family-owned places, even in Rome, but the people are the friendliest. Within a week of living in the capital, Giulia has struck up a friendship with Marco, the elderly owner of the bakery down the street. When she arrived after classes, and on her way to the library, he has her order ready for her.

"Made especially for you, Giulietta," He says, handing over the maitozzo. The orange-scented brioche is still slightly warm, the pistachio cream on one half and the nutella on the other mingling with the whipped cream in the middle. She's anxious to take a bite, but she hands over the money before she does.

"Keep the change!" She calls to Marco, smiling as she heads out the door, whipped cream on the tip of her nose from the bite she takes.

Spaghetti con alio, peperoncino e prezzemolo Spaghetti with garlic, chili and parsley (snack)

"I was making it for myself anyway," He lies smoothly, ushering her through to the back. "But I had to use up the last of today's parsley before the delivery tomorrow, so there's way too much."

Giulia rolls her eyes, knowing she's being lied to and going along with it anyways. Lorenzo is always making her something for after close - they usually have a meal, if there's more than just the two of them, a little restuarant-family meal after hours of running around like headless chickens. But generally, if there's only one or two of them, the kitchen closes up, the front of house cleans up, and they go their separate ways.

"I want you to tell me what you think of the garlic," Lorenzo says, handing her a bowl. Though he hates not to plate it properly, he knows that Giulia hates the overly-large pasta bowls, and so he hands it to her in a smaller dish.

She takes it with a murmured thank you and digs in, asking around a mouthful, "What's new with the garlic?"

"This is the marinated stuff that I was working on. Nico swears it makes no difference, but--"

Giulia swallows, interrupts him before he can start another diatribe about Nico. "It does make a difference." She says. And he knows she means it, because unlike him, she has nothing against Nico. She wouldn't feel the need to spite him. "It's good. Better than usual."

"Perfect." Lorenzo grins. "You can take the rest home, then."

"What? But you said you made it for yourself!"

"I lied." He shrugs.

"Enzo--"

"I'm packing you up a takeaway box." He says, leaving no room for argument as he packs up the leftovers.

Trenette al pesto (main course)

Sometimes she doesn't want fancy. She loves Remy's, but the food is upmarket, sophisticated. Sometimes Giulia just wants something easy, that she can make in ten minutes and have on the table. Besides - it's her night to cook for her roommates, and they all want something warm and hearty.

The pesto from the Moon Market is not like her Papa's, but it's still good. Still better than making her own, too. She boils the green beans and the potatoes and the pasta all together, strains them, dollops on the pesto and stirs it through. She puts the grated pecorino on the table, and sets the bowls down after it. It's barely a recipe, but when her roommates ask her for it, she writes it down on a stray bit of card, tucking it into the kitchen drawer. She hopes this means they'll eat it often; it reminds her of home, and she sleeps better that night for it.

[bakuzen-xiv]

FFXIVWrite2024 (Day 5): Stamp

“A letter for you, Z'len.”

The miqo'te turned around at the sound of his name. In front of him was the hyur who did administration at the Arcanist’s Guild. Theo, he finally recalled, with a pang of guilt for forgetting his name—especially after assigning the unfortunate man babysitter duties.

The guy, a few years younger than Z'len, never seemed too happy about their surprise visits. Yet he still made the effort to entertain Orion while Z’len handled a job. He couldn’t pawn Orion off on Yellow Bream all the time, after all. She had a tavern to run, and its patrons weren't exactly decent folk.

The pang of guilt inside his heart grew bigger.

Theo was holding something towards him. Looking down, it appeared to be an envelope, pristine paper with an elegant wax seal hiding its contents. He hardly ever received letters. Even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to read a word.

His past tribe expected him to hone more practical skills, such as hunting or scouting. Those were the skills that served the tribe and their Nuhn’s whims. Frivolous matters like education would only distract him, they explained. Z’len didn’t get the chance to argue otherwise before he was ousted.

He’d taught himself some after he left, of course. It was easy enough to write his name or read the street signs scattered around Limsa, though he could recall those from memory by now. To keep himself sharp, he sometimes sat down with the newspaper to test himself. See how many words he recognized, counting them up to see if he had gotten any worse.

Handwriting was a pain in the ass. If people wanted to say something to him, they could say it to his face, he argued. Fuckin' cursive. His tail brisked at the thought of it, whipping side-to-side before he could restrain himself.

He coughed in an attempt to cover up his irritation, looking up at the Hyur who was still holding the letter out to him. Wide eyes looked back at him, a wide, toothy smile, rosy cheeks matching rosy hair. Z’len swore the guy belonged in a spring meadow—surely he’d be a better fit there than he was here in Limsa. No wonder he always hid among the books, he thought to himself.

Z’len reached out, taking the letter out of his hand with a casual “What’s this, then?” He tried to keep his voice neutral, like people would when they got letters and because they were not filled with dread at the expectation of reacting to it.

Theo made no effort to explain himself, so Z'len turned his attention back to the letter. He turned it around in his calloused hands, unable to recognize the seal it carried.

As he looked closer at the symbol stamped into the wax, he realized it looked nothing like those he’d seen before. An amateur-carved seal, he thought to himself, the uneven lines barely forming an “O” within the hardened wax. He frowned and looked back up at Theo, who only gestured with excitement for him to go on.

“Alright,” Z’len shrugged, unsure how long he felt like humoring this guy. It was the least he could do, after making Theo look after his son as often as he had. The guy would be in for a surprise, though, if he expected Z’len to make any sense of his letter.

Opening the letter up, his breath hitched.

“Oh.”

Many possibilities had crossed his mind—perhaps it was a heartfelt letter from Theo pining for Z'len's love, or a commendation from the authorities for his excellent contributions to society. Far more likely would be a warrant for his arrest, considering his day-to-day activities, but he’d crossed that one off the list when he saw Theo’s beaming face.

“To be honest, Zlen... He was supposed to give it to you himself. But his nerves got to him, I suppose. I pray you won’t fault him for him.”

The words were like dull background noise as Z'len adjusted the way his hands held the paper, moving to cradle it like it was worth a million gil. His eyes glanced over the tell-tale sign of a child’s clumsy writing, awkward squiggles floating across the page with great intention and terrible execution. Worse than his own, he thought with fond appreciation for the symbols he could not make any sense of.

Slowly, he held his thumb at the opening line. Different misspellings of his name were crossed out several times, followed up by that combination of letters he’d first taught himself a decade ago: Z’len.

And at the bottom, a combination he'd only taught him a few years ago: Orion.

He stared at it, quietly.

“Orion wrote this?” he asked, wanting to hear confirmation of that which he already knew.

Theo hummed in confirmation.

Z’len quickly rubbed a sleeve across his face to fix his blurring vision, unexpected tears wetting the fabric. “Orion can write,” he repeated, incredulous and proud and joyful.

“Yeah,” Theo grinned, sharing the father’s excitement.

“I don’t know how to fucking read this!” he shouted, a smile still plastered on his teary face.

Theo laughed. “We can work on that!”

Z’len squeezed the young guy’s shoulder, careful not to hurt the frail hyur. It seemed it was time for him to learn his letters after all.

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! ML was craving xia mian tang (prawn noodle soup) on a rainy afternoon so she, SC, MI and I went to have some. The stall offered a variety of noodles, including bian mian (yellow flat noodles), which I haven't eaten before. I decided to try them. Bian mian differs from meepok, also yellow flat noodles; they're less broad and, taste-wise, chewier. I prefer meepok but this was also slurpable and I like it. Moving onto the broth, that first blew me away. It was deliciously PRAWNY! Definitely returning for the soup alone. Besides prawns, the dish came with pork slices, fish cake and bean sprouts. Overall, it was a very comforting and satisfying meal.

Next, I had a craving for vegetables and fish (ikr, weird combo). CL, ML, SC and MI came with me to the coffee shop where a local western style stall sells exactly that. I asked for their black pepper sauce to be on the side so I could taste the panfried fish on its own. Lightly crispy and tender, the fish didn't need any sauce. I only had a little with the slightly buttery broccoli and carrots. For the amount of nourishment on my plate, the price tag of $8 was reasonable. Some fish noodle soup stalls charge anywhere between $5.50 - $7.20 for 6 tiny, thin slices of fish. Just. No.

Looks like the sushi craving isn't going away so might as well indulge. Even better, Saturday afternoon was scorching, perfect for some fishy goodness. Back it was to the local supermarket food hall where I tried a different sushi combo. The pack came with 2 unagi, 2 sake, 1 octopus, 2 California rolls and 4 tamago mini maki. I like their version of California rolls better because they didn't use mayonnaise. Mayo tastes fine in small doses; too much and everything becomes gloopy. Lunch was satisfying. After my meal, it was time fragrant local coffee.

https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/644208/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-condemns-Israeli-attacks-in-Gaza-calls-for-immediate-ceasefire

Pa and I revisited the little Japanese restaurant where we had hotpot. He ordered sea bream and rice, I had salmon hotpot and rice. This is a place I can foresee returning to again and again because they make healthy taste so delicious! I love that the hotpot comes with tons of veggies - 4 types of mushrooms, Napa cabbage, carrots and sweet corn. Customers can choose from 3 broth bases: sukiyaki, miso and vegetable and 4 types of protein: beef, pork, vegetarian (tofu) and salmon. I usually go for the vegetable broth because it's the least salty. Gosh, the meal was satisfying. To me, Japanese pearl rice tastes the best!

It's midweek in this region and the start of our return to office period. I'm happy to interact with colleagues until Friday. Whilst WFH is great and I enjoy it, being amongst colleagues is also fun. Even better, the weekend is nearing! I can't wait to sleep in, exercise more and have a good meal. I'll also continue praying for the Palestinians in Gaza as well as for a permanent ceasefire. This genocidal war has gone on for far too long. 下次见!

[les-degustations-ugo]

🍷🇺🇸 And 🇫🇷

Description of the pinned domain in the comments

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🇺🇸Hello corkscrew lovers.And you, what is your last white Vacqueyras?

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🍷AOP Vaqueyras white 2022 organic cuvée Esmée from Domaine de la tête noire

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🍇Roussanne, Marsanne, Bourboulenc

Aged in stainless steel vats for 8 months. 1400 bottles.

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💰€16.50 / bottle

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👁️A pale yellow dress

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👃A nose with notes of white fruits and flowers

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💋A wine of exquisite delicacy, a mouth of captivating sweetness. Evoking scents of peach, apricot, nectarines and flowers (acacia, peonies), it is tasted with a remarkable length on the palate, giving way to a subtly herbaceous and slightly honeyed finish. An enchantment for the taste buds.

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🧆Tasted with sea bream carpaccio

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🇫🇷Hello les amoureux du tire-bouchon.Et vous, quel est votre dernier Vacqueyras blanc ?

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🍷AOP Vaqueyras blanc 2022 bio cuvée Esmée du Domaine de la tête noire

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🍇Roussanne, Marsanne, Bourboulenc

Élevage en cuve inox 8 mois.1400 cols.

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💰16,50€ / bouteille

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👁️Une robe de couleur jaune pâle

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👃Un nez sur des notes de fruits blancs, fleurs

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💋Un vin d'une délicatesse exquise, une bouche d'une douceur envoûtante. Évoquant des parfums de pêche, d'abricot, de nectarines et de fleurs (acacia, pivoines), il se déguste avec une longueur en bouche remarquable, laissant place à une finale subtilement herbacée et légèrement mielleuse. Un enchantement pour les papilles.

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🧆Dégusté sur un Carpaccio de daurade

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🥘Quelques accords mets et vin🥘:Boudin blanc, Anguilles grillées, Burrata,....

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🔞« L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération »🔞.

Dégustation non rémunéré

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#lesdegustationsugo #wine #winelover #vino #winetasting #winetime #winelovers #instawine #redwine #winestagram #winery #beer #wineoclock #vin #sommelier #love #vinho #foodporn #winelife #instagood #whitewine #cocktails #drinks #wein #foodie #wineporn #drink

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🇬🇧Domain Description 🇬🇧

Domaine de la Tête Noire, in the heart of the Gigondas appellation, was created in 2008.

As a family, we decided to take on the challenge of taking over this young domain. We work with passion to restructure the vineyard, all of whose vines are cultivated according to the principles of Organic Agriculture, in a way that respects people and our environment.

We take pleasure in showing you what the beautiful terroirs of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Cairanne offer us, on which our vines are revealed.

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🇫🇷Description du Domaine 🇫🇷

Le Domaine de la Tête Noire, au cœur de l’appellation Gigondas, a été créé en 2008.

En famille, nous avons décidé de relever le défi de reprendre ce jeune domaine. Nous travaillons avec passion pour restructurer le vignoble dont l’intégralité des vignes est cultivée selon les principes de l’Agriculture Biologique, de manière respectueuse des hommes et de notre environnement.

Nous prenons plaisir à vous faire découvrir ce que nous offrent les beaux terroirs de Gigondas, Vacqueyras et Cairanne, sur lesquels se dévoilent nos vignes.

[cccdynapro]

ShellCracker And Bream Fish StirFry

Homemade dinner:Stir fry bream, shellcracker fish, with lemon, dill, garlic, curry, olives, red & yellow bell peppers, 3 or 4 mild hot banana and serrano peppers (whole) & a little of my homemade pickling base.. Putting it over whole grain brown rice, with a wee bit of sweet/sour marinade, topped with a chile lime sprinkle . And cherry tomatoes on top to garnish… Literally a thrown together…

[splatsvilles-fashionista]

Starting off, we've got Team Past's submissions:

"nineties Nostalgia" by @princessfaeron! Bream Brim Cap / Takoraka Nineties Nylon / Zombie Hi Horses

"A Leader from the Past" by @inudude! Cap of Legend / Forge Inkling Parka / Field Duck Boots

"Rekindled" by @merizonal and @sojourntime! These two outfits were apparently designed in collaboration to commemorate a recently rekindled friendship, and I think that's pretty neat! So I decided to put side by side here. Snaxolotl Hood / Custom Painted F-3 / Punk Yellows Classic Bowler / Part-Time Pirate / Punk Yellows

Wonderful work by Team Past! Check back in tomorrow to see what Team Present has in store for us!

Splatoon 3 Fashion Challenge- Week 65: Grand Festival Special!

The Grand Festival is less than two weeks away, and with a Big Run and then the main event taking both of those weekends, it'll have to be this weekend that we use it as the basis for this week's challenge:

Times Like These!

Special Rules: Your inspiration for this week's challenge is your Splatfest team! What does Past, Present, and Future mean to you? You could be inspired by the idols representing your team, or you could be a bit more literal, doing something historical, contemporary, or speculative. Let your imagination run wild!

Just one thing: Be sure to include what Team you're on in your submission, thanks!

Rules:

Put together an outfit of any kind that you feel matches this week’s theme. Be sure to give it a name, as well!

Send it to me via ask or submission, please don’t add it to a reblog, that makes it very easy to miss! Also, please make it clear that it is a submission for the challenge and not just a regular submission.

Only one outfit per person! You can submit multiple photos of that single outfit, though.

Please include the gear you picked in the submission. It makes my life just a touch easier!  

The deadline for outfit submissions is 10 PM UTC on Tuesday!

[billjones2023]

Thursday 02.03.23

Two bus journeys today - one on the yellow bus into town and the second on the Hop On Hop Off tourist bus, although we didn't. It was a useful ride around the city and enabled us to get our bearings in a city which C felt lacked symmetry (no hypotenuse short cuts, all roads seemed to meander in completely unplanned directions!)

Our day took in lunch overlooking the River Avon (Avon Avon), the Jane Austen Museum - slightly Disneyfied version of her world - and No 1 Royal Crescent - the best museum we have visited for a while, full of holograms and audio versions of the life of the family in Bath for the season.

Our evening started with dinner at Amarone, next door to the Theatre Royal and the former home of Beau Nash. C did okay with her sea bream, Bill's fish stew was rather more challenging. Round the corner to the Ustinov Studio to see "Theodore and Charlotte" an excellent 90 minute production detailing the development of the relationship between two academics, highlighting the differing responses to male and female ambition and progression. Once again a taxi home - this time we had a Romanian cabdriver whose claim to fame was that his sister had picked up Natasha Richardson from the theatre! We opened the bottle of Cremant de Loire kindly left by our landlord and began to celebrate Bill's birthday.

[louisfinnerty]

Phase 4 Dukan Diet: stabilization phase

Once you have lost the excess pounds you need to maintain your ideal weight: here's how to behave when you reach the goal and end the Dukan diet.

We did it, we followed our Dukan program and now we have lost the excess pounds and regained our shape. After phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3, we are finally in phase 4. Now we simply have to avoid regaining the weight lost with effort and even fatigue.

How should we behave at this stage of the diet? Here then are some simple indications, which do not create particular difficulties, but which avoid returning as before and, remember, you have achieved your goal, you are in the definitive stabilization.

How long does the Dukan stabilization phase last?

This phase is the one that accompanies us throughout life. They are small dietary rules, it cannot be defined as a real diet, which allow you to feel like everyone else, without particular sacrifices.

Dukan diet: how do you eat in the stabilization phase?

During the stabilization phase, when fruit and starches have also been replenished, we must only maintain the rules of common sense. You should not eat 4 bars of chocolate or half a kilo of fries, but be reasonable and treat yourself to some small sin of gluttony, just recover.

What are the rules to follow?

The only rule is that for 6 days you can eat as you want with the exception of exaggerations that, we all know, hurt. Only the seventh you will remain on a diet. You choose which one during the week, where you will follow a protein-only regimen. And if it happens to 'sgarrare', do it the day before the one with only proteins, you will avoid any damage.

Foods prohibited during the protein-only day

In order to maintain your weight, the day of protein only must be rigid, here are the protein foods allowed and those prohibited:

Granted: horse, rump and roast veal, breast and thigh of chicken, turkey, rabbit, quail, beef only the fillet. For the fish: sea bream, sea bass, snapper, turbot, sole, mullet, crab, mussels, shrimp and scallops. Of the eggs you can eat only egg white. Of the dairy products only low-fat fresh cheeses (5% fat maximum) and low-fat yogurts. Tofu and seitan as much as you want.

Forbidden: rib (of any type of meat), boiled, beef sirloin, wings and skin of the chicken; White and yellow corn bread remain forbidden, while for dairy products no whole milk and fatty cheeses.

Recommendations

Always remember not to overdo it. Then of course, continue to exercise. It is not necessary even in this to become a fan of the gym or sport, but simply a constant activity: even just walking half an hour every day, maintains a medium-high metabolic level and allows you to constantly burn calories.