#alicante challenger
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📸 ATP Challenger Livestream (via website)
Meanwhile, in Alicante…
First seed Constant Lestienne, who advanced to the finals after defeating wild card Martin Landaluce 6-3, 7-6(5) in the quarterfinals and Maximilian Marterer 7-6(3), 6-4, set another all-French affair in the Alicante Challenger as he faced Hugo Grenier, who previously defeated Dennis Novak 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals. To make it interesting, this would become their third meeting in a Spanish hard-court Challenger, where they shared a match apiece with Grenier winning the first (in the Alicante Challenger 2021) 6-4, 6-3 and Lestienne winning the second meeting (in the Segovia Challenger 2022) 7-5, 6-3, which could add the intrigue to this year's meeting. Furthermore, knowing both players' games, while it could be dynamic in one way or another, it might have relied on how they executed their gameplay, and adapted in case things went south for them.
The first set started dramatically after 4 consecutive holds where Grenier's preceding shot, which Lestienne thought was wide, was called in (which indeed was in, according to the replay) several shots before his backhand error. Eventually, Grenier held that game with an ace to 3-2. Subsequently, Lestienne created his first break chance thanks to a working volley, but Grenier found a way back to hold his service game 3-3. However, the latter's backhand pass set his 2-point lead before he broke Lestienne's serve to 5-4 over a failed drop shot, allowing him to serve for the set.
Instead of actually serving for the first set, Lestienne started to get ideas thanks to his well-paced forehand while capitalizing on Grenier's erratic service game (with a cross-court forehand error accounting for the gate-opener), which was converted at the cost of his double fault, thus Lestienne levelled the match to 5-5. It took two more consecutive holds for the set to be settled through a tie-breaker, where the momentum kept swinging until it boiled down to its last points.
In the first set tie-breaker, it started by Grenier's important smash to set a mini-break to 3-1. Several points later, it was followed by Lestienne's crafty lob to follow up Grenier's forehand misfire to equalize the point 5-5. Grenier turned out to have a set point, which was saved out of Lestienne's unreturned serve (6-6). Eight consecutive points later, it all came down to Lestienne's double fault to 11-10 that implied a pressure point question, which was followed by Grenier's volley on his serve to actually serve it out, taking the first set 7-6(10) as a result.
#atp world tour#atp tour#atp challenger#atp challenger tour#tennis updates#hot shots#break point#set point#alicante challenger#alicante ferrero challenger#constant lestienne#hugo grenier#WatchChallengersFolks#ChallengerMatters
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happy five years since the sincaraz alicante challenger match
[X]
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Trouble was firing down the Lightwood's door, an old submission turned more bitter than the poison the matriarch and her husband had gladly lapped from Morgenstern's palm.
Common folks and nobles alike shook in fear, as the Mad King was back, devilish spawns sprinting with their father's every step. The combined force of Idris's houses had only managed to push him down, not out, never out. With a daughter whose hands draw golden and spirit was more fiery than her hair, and her terrifyingly blond brother, who would wipe the blood of those Morgenstern cheekbones with a smile.
Valentine was still alive. He called for the throne.
Of course, Valentine's insanity had not faded away, but neither had his wits, The Mad Ruler - always three steps prepared. The political landscape of Idris had shifted over the decades he spent in the dark carving ladder from people's flesh. The Clave never gave back their trust in the Lightwood. Valentine could regain fortune for his victory, and punishment for his betrayal.
Maryse the Unmercy tensed when a letter with familiar signs came down her sparrow, commanding words capable of drawing expressions few had seen her displayed. Though burnt, the sentiment stayed.
Maxell Lightwood could stay, for he posed the perfect future pawn in Valentine's army. Lady Isabelle would become Valentine's dear Clarissa's Lady-in-waiting, her hands in marriage awaiting whatever house Valentine deemed suitable to sway over.
And when the gentle spray of she spring came, along her the first bloom of Moon Magnolia, Sir Jonathan Herondale would sweep on his horse, and renounce his love for Valentine's daughter. A family united, at last.
The firstborn, oh how Valentine looked to meet the Lightwood's grace, his son's soon-to-be bed warmer. The most useful hostage in the family. Breaking him would be the perfect jewel on the Morgenstern's crown.
Time spinned. The wheel went on.
Day of tourney returned. Words spread faster than wind, a foreign blade drawn. Prince Magnus Bane was never known to back down from a challenge.
The commoners laughed and cheered, bets in taverns went one thousand, one million. They all heard the tales, and Sir Herondale had run into his tough match. Magic ran through Edom's veins, and as one of The Eldest Curses, Prince Magnus's power rivaled most of his royal peers.
The competition would be unpredictable, many claimed. But some only cared about who would the winner dedicate his history to. Whether the blessed magnolia crown of love and beauty would rest on Morgenstern's flaming curls or the intricate blonde braid of Bane's newest amour.
To say this year's round was the most anticipated in centuries would not be a stretch by any means.
Everyone at the joust recalled the moment of their bated breath, as the Great Destruction knocked their prideful heron off his horse. Sharp as Bane's laughter when he took off his helmet, not letting anyone get in his way- reaching for where noble houses were posing in observance.
His eyes flitted over to the right, where the lady Isabelle abode with her family.
Oh— of course. Others whispered. The one true jewel of Alicante. Lady of the Roses.
What a quaint couple would they make. Most knew Maryse was anticipating her frosty rage.
It didn't matter.
For blue petals bloomed in between Sir Alexander Lightwood's raven locks.
okay so this malec x GoT inspired idea has been haunting me all night I need to get it out of my system may pick up later when I'm feeling lucky 🤭
tag list: @magnus-the-maqnificent @literallytypogod @ukisteria @hoezier-than-thou @sociallyineptbibliophile @queenlilith43 @khaleesiofalicante @wandererbyheart @raziyekroos @onetimetwotimesthreetimess @alexandergideonslightwood @andrwminward @noah-herondale-lightwood @elettralightwood @dustandducks @deliciousdetectivestranger @delightfullyterrible @letsgofortacos @kita-no @thelightofthebane @secrettryst @pocketoffeels @cityofdownwardspirals @stupidfuckindinosaur @i-have-not-slept @rinadragomir @potato-jem @kasper-tag @cam-ryt @banesapothecary
#malec#alec lightwood#magnus bane#shadowhunters#the mortal instruments#tmi#tsc#the shadowhunter chronicles#anh writes stuff#got au#or better yet#alec helen of troy au#anh and the plot bunny#no title just vibe#truth to be told i only wanna write the last sentence
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Our Own Good
CHAPTER 5 SPOILERS AHEAD! Don’t read this fic if you haven’t reached this in your game yet! Just some more KehXReader for ya. Enjoy!
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So much had happened with this investigation, that the Ovenist was tired. They had been chatting with Plant Lady in the garden about the whole thing today and all the events that had transpired, from Keh defending his mock-up, to Cicero admitting she stole the ancient dough and now all of a sudden the dough needed to be frozen.
“It’s just been one thing after another....” The Ovenist said as they drank the herbal tea Plant Lady had made for them. It was a nice, windy afternoon and they were sitting in the Ovenist’s gazebo by the garden. “I don’t know how much more of this investigation I can take, to be honest....”
Plant Lady sips her tea and nods. “It’s a lot, Ovenist, I know. But you’ve been through so much before, and you were triumphant! You’ll finish this challenging event even better than challenges you’ve had before.”
You smile at her. “Thank you. You have a lot more faith in me than most people in this city....”
Plant Lady nudges you. “Aw, I think Alicante and Keh wish they had the brain that you have. They’re just frustrated! Deep down I’m sure they respect how far your business has come.”
You shrug. “I guess....”
“Well,” Plant Lady started. “You certainly have the best garden in all the city! If there’s anything you should be extra proud of, it’s that! Plus it seems you are always out here harvesting, which is great!”
You chuckle. “Leave it to you to always look at the bright side of things when it comes to botany!” You sip your tea again and groan. “Luckily a friend of mine got me something to enhance Keh’s freezer, but....I still dread going back to his shop.”
Plant Lady was in the middle of stroking a ladybug gently with her finger, but suddenly stops and looks at the Ovenist. “I thought you two were getting along better lately?”
“We were, but....he still has to be a jerk and it’s frustrating. I think the guy is destined to never have friends or....any kinds of relationships....”
Plant Lady smiles at the ladybug and puts it on a leaf of a hedge. “Dr. Keh’s been well-known for his abrasiveness, Ovenist. I really think it’s for show; you are his competitor after all.”
You shrug. “I guess. He seems to be that way with everyone but....I don’t know. He seems to seek me out personally sometimes, like he’s got a vendetta with me.”
Plant Lady widens her eyes and looks at you. “Really?”
You nod. “Yeah. He says he’s always got eyes on my shop and he comes over....like a LOT. He claimed I’m not a threat but he acts like I am.”
Plant Lady smiles. “Oh Ovenist. I think my suspicion has been true all along....he likes you in his own way!”
You chuckle. “Very funny. He already knows I like him because I basically outed my emotions to him a couple weeks ago. But he hasn’t even said anything back....”
“Exactly!” Plant Lady exclaims. “He knows how you feel, but he is unsure how he feels about you himself! So he picks on you to make you and others think he doesn’t like you!”
You chuckle again. “That’s something I did in like 3rd grade.” You think for a minute, and remember who you’re talking about. “But then again....”
You notice the sun go down in the sky, and remember you told Dr. Keh you’d meet him at his shop when you found something to enhance his freezer. You hand Plant Lady your teacup.
“I gotta go freeze the dough now. I’ll see you again soon!”
As you leave, Plant Lady waves to you. “Good luck, Ovenist! Let me know how it goes!”
You go inside your shop and grab everything you need, including the ancient dough and the medallion you got from Jingles. It was time to try and save the city....
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As soon as you park your car in Keh’s parking lot, you grab your backpack and walked inside Keh’s shop. Keh hands a customer their order, sees you and motions you to a table. You sit and he walks over.
“Ugh, you’re back...”
You smirk at him. “That customer didn’t look too pleased to receive that order, you know.”
Keh crosses his arms and smirks back at you. “Unfortunately he has preset expectations from when he ate at your sad parlor.” He pulls the chair back and sits down at your table. “Now that you got your cheap shot at me, did you find something to enhance my freezer?”
“I sure did!” You pull something out to show Keh, who grimaces at you.
“How is that going to enhance my freezer, you fool? We’re doomed!”
You look at him funny, and realize that you pulled Alicante’s photo out of your backpack by accident. You carry every piece of evidence with you, just incase, and it had been a rough week...
“Oops, wrong thing!” You quickly find the medallion and put it on the table for Keh to see. “It’s an ice medallion. I’m told it can deep freeze anything!”
Keh takes it into his hand and studies it. He’s not sure what to make of it. “Hmmph. I don’t know where you got this, but we’ll see if it actually works....”
“It will!” You confidently say.
“I’ll attach it to my freezer and you seal the dough. Don’t mess this up.”
“I won’t!” You tell him as you both get up to walk to his kitchen.
You marvel at all of Keh’s cool things in his kitchen, from his ingredient storage to his equipment. You’re snapped back into focus as Keh attaches the medallion in place.
“It’s all yours. Try not to kill us and the entire city, okay Ovenist? I have to document my sales for the day, so call me if you need help.”
You nod as he walks away. You had taken a picture of the stone tablet you completed and studied it for a minute.
“Hmm, it looks like I need to put red sauce on one half and then cheese on the other half.”
You put on gloves and get to work. Once you put the toppings on, you look at what to do next.
“Then I put it through the freezer once. Sounds easy enough!”
As soon as you put it through the freezer once, you put it into a special ancient-looking container, take your gloves off, grab your phone and backpack and find Keh, who’s writing something down at the counter. He hears you walking toward him, and he looks up.
“Is it done? Did you defeat Julius Cheeser?”
“Not yet. There’s three steps, so I gotta come back the next two days to do the other steps.”
Keh sighs. “I can’t believe I’m letting you in my kitchen for two more days, but I suppose it’s for my own good.”
You roll your eyes. “Well, mine too! You’re saving me, you should feel good about that....”
Keh blushes. “I-I-....hmmph, whatever, Ovenist. Just come back tomorrow....”
And so you smiled and laughed as you left.
Day 2 went well and you felt like you were really going to save the city!
And then Day 3 comes....
You try to look at the picture of the tablet on your phone and you struggle to see what you need to do next. You start to get knots in your stomach. Not wanting to screw such a big thing up, you begrudgingly go find Dr. Keh.
You go to the counter and see him assisting a customer. You hide behind a wall so the customer doesn’t see you in Keh’s shop and start asking questions. You wait til the customer leaves and call for Keh.
“Psst!”
He hears you and follows you back to where the dough sits.
“It’s about time you asked for my help, Ovenist. I feared you became too arrogant for your own good.”
“Pfft, you should talk. Listen....I took a picture of the stone tablet with my phone and I’m trying to see what the last step is, but the picture I took is too blurry. That’s why I went to get you.”
“Well, let me see,” Keh asks, and you hand him his phone. He looks at the phone and chuckles. “Cute. For some reason, I imagined you’d have this exact phone-”
You cross your arms and scoff. “Real original, Keh. Make fun of me because I have a different cellphone than you, laugh it up.”
“You cut me off. I actually have this exact phone.”
You look at him. “How do you have my exact phone? I figured you’d have the newest model.”
Keh scoffs. “For what? They all do the exact same thing. I save my hard-earned money on other things. Anyway, I was mentioning your rhinestone case. Quite hilarious. Now let me look at this picture....”
Keh tries to zoom in on the picture, change the filters, but still has the same problem.
“Hmm. Let me try something. I’m gonna send this picture to my phone and see if I can use one of my photo-editing apps to enhance it.”
As soon as he sends it and hands your phone back, your hands touch briefly, which causes you to blush. What makes you blush even more....is the realization that THE Dr. Keh has your number! And he didn’t even have to ask you for it!
You start to daydream, but Keh brings you back, his face looking up from his phone.
“I fixed it in the app. It looks like you’ve done everything except freeze it one more time and slice the pizza into eight even slices.”
You nod. “And that’s all I have to do? Nothing else left?”
Keh nods. “That’s all. Seems easy enough that even you can do it.”
You sigh, looking deflated. “I don’t know. You have a lot of confidence in me all of a sudden. You said that wasn’t good....”
Keh notices your sullenness and puts his hand on your back and gently rubs it. “It’ll be okay, Ovenist. I’m right here. If you somehow mess something this easy up, at least we’ll die together, won’t we?”
You nod. “Yep, it’s now or nothing!”
As soon as you freeze the pizza one more time and use Keh’s pizza slicer to cut the pizza, you place it into the ancient-looking box and all of a sudden time stops as you see a flash of light and....
“J-julius Cheeser....”
“Oh my...” Keh says as he looks on and stands in front of you, as if to protect you.
“YOU’LL REGRET THIS OVENIST!” Cheeser yells to them. “I WILL CONQUER THE PIZZA INDUSTRY! MY CHEESE PIZZA WILL PREVAIL ONCE MOOOORE-”
As quickly as he came in, Cheeser disappears into the ancient box as it closes itself. You can say nothing, your mouth stuck open until Keh smiles at you.
“You....you did it! You defeated Julius Cheeser!”
You look dumbstruck. “I-?”
You can’t say any more as Keh has graciously roped you into a hug, and since he was taller than you, he practically lifts you off the ground. As soon as he puts you down, he grins at you.
“All thanks to me!”
So many thoughts are in your head at once. “Huh?”
Keh puts a hand on your shoulder. “Oh, no need to thank me, Ovenist. I’m just glad my freezer saved the day!”
You shake your head and laugh. “Yeah, I guess so. All thanks to me having that photo ready on my phone to send to you. I guess now you can delete my number and all....”
“Oh yes,” Keh coughs and then smiles. “Well, I think I’ll keep your number for now. When PNN writes an op-ed about me and posts it online, I’ll send it to you so it can brighten your day, as it will be very enlightening.”
You roll your eyes and wave goodbye. “Yeah, yeah. See ya later.”
As soon as you put your things in your car and sit down, the realization hits you and you smile as you think about Plant Lady.
“I’ve got so much to tell her!”
#good pizza great pizza#dr keh#dr keh x reader#dr. michael keh#gpgp#gpgpfanfiction#Keh is just like himself in this but flirty#You're still shorter than him#Plant Lady is a cool friend to you here as well#teewritessmth
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The weird thing about Carlos and Luca is that all of a sudden Carlos seems to stop caring while Luca still likes most of Carlos posts... Weird indeed!
Anon!!
Little disclaimer about how I know that you can't analyse this kind of thing on the basis of social media likes and interactions (but we are on Tumblr so indulge us for a moment please), one of the most logical answers would be that they are at completely different stages of their life right now and it's not too weird that Carlitos is the one that "left the other one behind" (not on purpose, I'd say) since he is way more famous and is competing against the best players in the world in the most important tournaments, whereas Luca ""still"" plays Challengers. They see each other way less than before and they probably have kind of drifted apart a little bit, but it's understandable (it happens to completely normal people all the time, I can't imagine in a world like that)
That being said, I saw that Carlitos still likes some of Luca's posts every now and then, but significantly less often than before (and he doesn't comment anymore). I tried to find more recent information or any kind of new interaction between them and the only thing I found is a interview from over a year ago where Luca said that Carlitos and he still are "very good friends" (but after a year and a half who knows). If anyone knows/has seen something else (like instagram stories etc etc etc) please tell us, we're all ears👀
BUT this serious stuff is not entertaining, so let's add a pinch of drama: Carlitos had a teenage crush on Luca (he just loves Italian boys!!) when they were best friends - which may have been required or not (maybe it was👀). But when Carlitos met Jannik he fell head over heels for him (this would make sense in terms of time, because it's more or less at the same time he stopped liking every Luca's post) and since he was also beginning to win important tournaments and making a name for himself, he and Luca kind of drifted apart. What does it mean? That in a couple of days not only Carlitos' new bf is gonna train in Alicante, but he is gonna train with Carlitos' ex bf(f)!! An ex bf(f) which might want to catch up with Carlitos again, so... Jealous Jannik incoming?👀
#and all of that on christmas!!#better than a hallmark movie#because tbh i don't think jannik would know about luca and carlitos' past sooo#don't worry no tennis player was harmed emotionally in the making of this bullshit#carlos alcaraz#luca nardi#sincaraz#tennis#📩#anon
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Maria Fagerström, globe-trotting Swedish airline pilot, graduated from aviation school in Sweden, OSM Aviation Academ as well as from high school of the natural science program where she obtained a commercial pilot license. While concurrently working part-time as a simulator pilot at the Swedish Air Traffic Control Academy, she successfully completed her studies to achieve her dream of becoming an airline pilot. Having obtained a comprehensive aviation training, including a multi-engine license, instrument rating, MCC course, and ATPL theory, she earned her frozen ATPL, that enabled her to embark on the journey of applying for aviation jobs as a first officer.
Soon thereafter, Maria secured a coveted spot in the cadet program for Ryanair, where she took to the skies as a first officer on the Boeing 737-800. Following an intense few months dedicated to type rating in Amsterdam and London, she was assigned her initial base in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, later transitioning to Tenerife before settling in Alicante.
With aspirations of eventually becoming a long-haul pilot, Maria, now a seasoned 737 airline pilot, adheres to a fixed roster, conducting flights within Europe. Her journey highlights the dedication and perseverance required to navigate the aviation industry.
It's worth noting that the proportion of female pilots in the aviation sector remains relatively low, constituting approximately 5% of all commercial pilots. Despite these challenges, individuals like Maria are breaking barriers and contributing to the diversification of the industry.
Hats-off to Maria.
https://www.instagram.com/mariathepilot/?hl=en
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I love how Dr.Keh just bothers the ovenist whenever he's free for no other reason than to inconvenience us
Same :) It's what makes him such a fun character (especially to write/draw).
Like. Angelica and Alicante actually have a reason to have beef with the Ovenist (competing restaurants that are right next to each other). Dr. Keh doesn't have that motive. He does it just because.
You can't even say he was trying to beat a potential rival, because the Ovenist is (at most) 10th place when he challenges them.
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Mediterráneo TAC! Festival
This project pays tribute to the Mediterranean climate by recognizing the role of blinds as an architectural element that historically enabled people to adapt to challenging weather conditions. Blinds have brought shade and character to countless streets across southern Europe. However, modern mechanical systems, driven by high energy consumption, have replaced them, posing environmental risks. Using regenerative, bio-based, and locally sourced materials, the project features long wooden blinds suspended from a catenary canopy suspended from two triangular wooden porticos that support 400 sqm of traditional blinds. The vibrant green shade produced by the blinds transforms the site into a lively public space for the local community. Additionally, a circular opening illuminates a small garden that regulates temperatures during late summer. Stones integrated into the design serve as both counterweights and furniture. Over the course of the festival, community members are invited to explore and reactivate this space. The material palette echoes diverse landscapes located within 300 km from the site, such as the pine plantations of Soria, the blind factories of Sax (Alicante), and the stone quarries of Teruel. After dismantling, the materials were recirculated and donated, leaving a temporary footprint in the city.
Author:
Manuel Bouzas
Structural Design:
Juan F. De la Torre
Photographer:
Luis Diaz
Client:
TAC! Festival,
Organizers:
MITMA Spanish Government, Arquia Foundation, Valencia City Council, Las Naves
#Manuel Bouzas#Valencia#Juan F. De la Torre#Luis Diaz#TAC! Festival#Spain#climate#Mediterranean#Sax#blinds#material#project#architecture#arquitectura#green#pavillion
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🎥 ATP Challenger Livestream (via website)
L. Klein somehow took the first set 6-3 from the way he constructed this point. Stayed at the baseline, L. Klein drove the rally all the way, until a working forehand enabled him to take the first set.
The second set flow, however, was something else... (wait for it)
#atp tour#atp world tour#atp challenger#atp challenger tour#tennis updates#turning points#set points#alicante ferrero challenger#alicante challenger#salvatore caruso#lukas klein#WatchChallengersFolks#ChallengerMatters
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Felipe and Letizia retrospective: October 4th
2004: Arrival in Alburquerque, New Mexico, USA, ahead of their five-day official visit. & Dinner at the residence of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on the first day of their first official visit to the United States, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
2005: 50th anniversary of the 801 Air Force Squadron at Son San Joan Air Base in Palma de Mallorca
2006: ‘Spain in the Twenty-First Century: Achievements and Challenges’ at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
2010: Visited Albacete (1, 2)
2011: Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Virtual Library Foundation “Miguel de Cervantes”
2012: Visited Panama & Visited Ecuador
2013: Visited Telefónica SA
2016: Opening of 2016-2017 training course at Secondary School “San Rosendo” in Mondonedo, Spain. (1, 2)
2018: Meeting on Initiatives for Training and Employment for young people on Red Cross World Day in Madrid; Opening of the 2018 Red Cross Fundraising Campaign in Madrid; Ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of Petronor and the start of the construction work of its new facilities (1, 2); Audience with a representation of the Pablo VI Foundation and the Spanish Episcopal Conference, organizers of the congress “The Church in the Democratic Society” & Visited the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao, on the occasion of its remodeling and exhibition on its 110th anniversary (1, 2)
2019: Visited Orihuela (Alicante) and Los Alcázares (Murcia), that were affected by the recent floods.
2021: Received the credentials of new ambassadors; Opening of the International Congress On Health And Nutrition “FAO-Conxemar” & Inauguration of the “Tornaviaje. Arte iberoamericano en España” exhibition.
F&L Through the Years: 842/??
#King Felipe#Queen Letizia#King Felipe of Spain#Queen Letizia of Spain#King Felipe VI#King Felipe VI of Spain#F&L Through the Years#October4
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task 46 - family dynamics
when: august 31, 2022
where: alicante, spain and colon, panama
who: marisol & her father (brief mention of @arturcii )
tw: vague mentions of death
“Can I talk to mama?”
“Ahh, mija,” her father’s voice on the phone sounded much further than an ocean away, she felt that rage flavored guilt well up in her chest.
“What?” too sharp, too much of a challenge, Marisol paled, “Sorry, I just -”
“You know how she gets,” there was a plea almost, in her father’s voice - anguish, and maybe a bit of his own guilt, “This time of year is difficult for her, she needs us to be understanding, to be strong for her, you and I.”
“How can I be when she won’t even speak to me?”
“Marisol,” a warning, the exasperation and exhaustion of a king balancing between his queen and his heir, the latter far more forgiving. “She lost a child, we both did, please, give your mother some compassion.”
Mariana. It always came back to Mariana.
She still has a child, Marisol wanted to shout, a living breathing child who needs her, who’s needed her all her life. But why deal with a needy, emotional, flawed creature such as herself when compared to the utter perfection of a dead girl, frozen in time and memory with all of her wonder and grace, no faults.
Marisol did not say this, hasn’t given life and voice to her pain since she was old enough to understand.
Sometimes, and she was never quite sure if this was a memory of a dream, Marisol thinks of the few times she’d ever felt her mother’s love. She’s young, late summer hangs in the air as the princess is sent to bed far before the rest of the court. She’d stay up, of course, creeping through the halls of the palace to her favorite room, one reserved just for the family with huge arching windows overlooking the courtyard and gardens below. Here she could watch as everyone laughed and danced and drank, tracking her father’s glowing presence and mark her mother drowning her grief. She would, naturally, fall asleep curled up on the window seat, lulled by the strains of melody reaching through the glass. Most nights her nanny would find her, and carry the princess back to her bed with a fond sigh. But sometimes, it would be her mother’s hands waking her, scooping Marisol from her perch to curl up beside the queen on one of the many couches. And then, with wine on her breath and more joy in her eyes than Marisol ever saw before, her mother combed trembling fingers through the child’s dark curls, half sobbing while she whispered - “Mariana, carińa, Mariana, home at last.”
Marisol liked to think it was a dream, some cruel nightmare that still taunded her decades later. Other times, she savored it, a bittersweet memory of affection from a woman whose heart and love were long ago buried in a too small grave.
“I know,” Marisol caved, she always did, “forgive me, I should have realized the date.”
“No, it’s not your fault,” she knew her father meant it, “She just misses having you here, so it’s more difficult this year.” Another surge of guilt, and Marisol started to apologize again before he cut her off, knowing his child well. “But I am proud of you, mija, this is where you should be, making connections and forging your own future. Arturo behaving?”
The king’s voice was kind, teasing in his own attempt to shift the conversation to happier subject, but he’d unknowingly struck a nerve. Marisol swallowed, glancing back over her shoulder from where she sat in the sun on their balcony and through the glass doors, the man she loved pacing inside on a call of his own. For a moment, she panicked. Did her father know, somehow, and was giving her space to confess? Arturo caught her watching him through the window and smiled, that particular look of his that always made her melt.
“Yes, of course, he says to tell you both hello,” it was easier to lie to her father this way, when she did not have to meet his eyes, twins to her own. “We went up to Galicia last weekend and hiked a bit of the camino, it was beautiful.”
They were very similar, Marisol and her father, although he’d managed to forge the overwhelming depth of emotion they both shared into strength, both armor and a weapon in defense of his nation. Perhaps she would get there, in time, or maybe there was just more of him to take up all that feeling and so it did not spill out as much as it did with her. Marisol had always taken her position as his heir seriously, her father a patient teacher who asked and valued her opinion on matters far earlier than her mother thought prudent. She studied the way he carried himself, tried to emulate the way he spoke and when and where to show emotions before he realized what she was doing and gently told her she can and should be her own kind of monarch, not just a copy of him. After that, Marisol began to feel a lot more girl than ghost.
He rarely spoke to her of Mariana, but he said nothing when his wife compared them, always noting where Marisol fell short even as she far outlived her sister. Perhaps he knew that Marisol would always forgive him, even as he pretended not to notice.
“Send us some pictures, won’t you?” He sounded happy for her, and Marisol savored the feeling, one he perhaps deserved on to day of all days. “But please, do not tell your dear father if you plan to participate in the bull run until afterwards.”
“Oh no,” she laughed, “We might go watch, I’m not sure if he has anything planned for my birthday,” Marisol tried not to sound to hopeful. “Will you tell her I called? And maybe we can facetime this weekend?”
“I will tell her, mija.” The line died and Marisol wrapped herself in her grief, letting the Spanish sun steal away her tears.
#a haunted house with a picket fence | history#hshqtask046#this is long and sad marisol hours#also realizing i should probs name her parents LOL
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Does your muse feel the call of wanderlust? Or do they try and avoid going outside of their comfort zone? || rpcdev’s May week 4 micro challenge
Andrew is not especially inclined to wander. in fact, he’s a bit of a homebody with some nuance. home to him is where his people are, so if they feel inclined to wander off, he’ll gladly follow them but he won’t really be the one to initiate such a move. a large part of that comes from his trauma of moving his entire life very abruptly after the death of his husband - Cairo to New York City is no small move, & in a lot of ways, he’s still very much adjusting to that.
there’s some exceptions made for traveling to places already familiar to him - Alicante/Idris, or having to drop in on other Institutes he has previously spent time in being the most notable - but he will absolutely never set foot in Egypt again, not even for a layover in a modern verse.
in verses where Sabra is still alive (& living under the name Joe al-Kaysani), or he’s dealt with his grief to some degree enough that he’s finally felt safe enough to ease himself out of the comforts of what’s heavily familiar or routine to him, Andrew is much more open to wandering, traveling, & experiencing the world as a whole.
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It was 12 months ago today that the IMOCA and VO65 fleets set off from Alicante in the 14th edition of The Ocean Race, a 50th anniversary race, which continued the hard-earned tradition of being one of the greatest challenges in world sport.
Five IMOCAs took the start of the around the world race, with six VO65s racing for the new Sprint Cup - a shorter course based around the European legs of the race.
…
Race records would be smashed and the overall result would be in doubt until the final leg when skipper Charlie Enright and his 11th Hour Racing Team were confirmed as worthy championsand the first US-flagged team to win the Race, but not before a comeback from a dramatic collision at the start of the last leg.
Enright and team CEO Mark Towill reflected on the victory like this: "When you walk into The Ocean Race HQ in Alicante, Sir Peter Blake’s words are etched in the wall above race control, 'it gets in your blood and you can’t get rid of it.' If you ask heroes gone by they’ll tell you that it’s the best and worst thing they’ve ever done, that they’ve even despised being involved during the harder times but when it’s over they know why… because there’s nothing quite like it. With both of us having taken part in three campaigns, we can confirm this is always the case!"
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Vagrant IX (I think): Stupid Dumb Easy Baby Mode For Weak Little Pissboy Travel-Babies
Hello hello, yes. It's nearly Christmas and I still hate both my own bed and the very concept of possessing money and so, in a brilliant move, have have decided to rid as much of both of those things from my life as possible by going travelling and complaining about it, lots. You're welcome.
This time I am going from Edinburgh to Lisbon, then Faro in Portugal, followed by Seville, Grenada and Alicante in Spain (and then a four day stay in Sweden with my friend Jonatan, which I won't be blogging because it would just be four entries dispassionately listing which video game we played, which pizzas we ate and how frequently Jonatan farted).
One thing I have noted in the build up to this trip is that upon telling...basically everyone about the intended route, the stock response that has returned to me has been "ooh, that'll be lovely - I've been to all those places and they are ace". Which sounds great if you're a fan of Lawrence having a nice time, but a bit shit if you're a fan of interesting and challenging journeys which I don't fully enjoy.
Nearly all my destinations are those which you may conceivably have been to on a holiday - just wetter; all my bus journeys are - max - five hours long (as opposed to some of the absolutely mental 12 hour overnight, barrier-less mountainous minibus routes I have done in the past) and all come at generally pretty relaxed times throughout the day. Ostensibly, this should be a nice, easy, low pressure trip, in which, I can enjoy nice weather and bibble around some museums at a sedate pace, thoroughly not crippling myself in the process, and for that, I am sorry. Rest assured I will definitely find something to complain about though and it will almost certainly be Ryanair. The gouging pricks.
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Jess Watches // Mon 13 Nov // Day 55
Synopses & Favourite Scenes & Poll
Ugly Betty (rewatching with mum)
3x03 Crimes of Fashion
Detective Averaimo arrives to question the staff of Mode about who pushed Christina down the stairs. Later Daniel is charged with attempted murder and since Betty figures it is her fault, tries to solve the case by herself.
Was the Wilhelmannequin that Mark shouts at just Vanesssa in makeup? Her and Jean Smart should do a live Madame Tussauds show. Also, I could not remember who pushed Christina so I was actually quite surprised at the reveal.
Workin' Moms (with mum)
1x01 Bare
Kate enthusiastically returns to work following her maternity leave and is faced with the ultimate challenge: Can she "have it all?" Anne gets shocking news, and Frankie experiences postpartum depression in her own unique way.
The first scene was shot from shoulder height clearly implying they were topless, but to then have a wider angle actually showing their breasts and that they were in the middle of a parenting class was hilarious.
The Power
1x08 Just a Girl
Secrets are exposed - new bonds are formed - others are shattered - as our characters journeys grow increasingly intertwined across an ever-changing world.
I'm finding that I'm not really invested in how any of the storylines will end next ep. Maybe part of that is because I have a bad cold atm and am struggling to concentrate. But I think the writing has wasted the potential of the cast and made their characters kinda boring and one dimensional. 😬
BBC Ghosts
5x02 Home
After Alison's revelation, Mike is having nightmares and to raise cash they look at selling some of the estate land whilst Thomas tries to write a poem within a day. Julian and Pat argue about North and South.
I didn't really give two shits when the Captain said we're all British tbh. But when Pat fought with Julian about Yorkshire pride I was ready to throw down. The North, in particular Yorkshire, will always be superior. It's just a fact. Also, it was nice of Thomas to give Fanny credit for her poem.
Sin huellas (No Traces)
1x08 El salvaje Alicante (Season Finale)
Under the burning sun of the desert, Desi and Cata face off Néstor and Eduardo once and for all in the middle of a Western town.
What a ridiculous and overly-dramatic finale showdown. Very fitting for the tone of the show lol. I was very concerned about one of the female characters dying as a shock ending. But thankfully no gays were buried. And to end with them safe and happy and dancing the night away together was a lovely way to end a very entertaining season.
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From waste to high quality yarn. This is how recycling transforms fabrics into new materials
The textile waste that reaches Recover™ is transformed into fluffy recycled cotton that manufacturers will turn into yarn, closing the circle.
Faced with a textile industry that makes 100,000 million garments in the world every year, recycling is proposed as a powerful ally to promote its transformation towards circularity: a tool not without challenges that would enable to reduce the consumption of raw materials and recovering garments. that are discarded.
Bales of fabrics fill the interior of the industrial warehouse: white, pink, red, blue, black... A rainbow of textiles, most of them production waste, which in a matter of time will cease to be waste and become a new material. cousin. Based in the Alicante town of Banyeres de Mariola[1], Recover™[2] knows very well the possibilities offered by textile recycling. They began doing it in the late 1940s out of necessity: faced with a shortage of supplies, the Ferre family, who at that time made bags for their own fertilizers, decided to recycle cotton so they could continue distributing their products. Now, as an independent company, Recover™ continues down that same path out of conviction, manufacturing high-quality recycled cotton fibres to help the industry in its sustainable transformation.
Because textile recycling, as Ana Rodes, senior sustainability manager at Recover™, points out, “plays a very important role in the circular model that is driving the industry. On the one hand, its purpose is to reduce the production of raw materials, such as cotton or polyester, by reusing the materials we already have; on the other hand, it is to reduce the amount of waste we generate in the process.” The figures speak for themselves about this paradox: out of the billion pieces of clothing that are made in the world every year, 92 million tons of clothing end up being thrown away, according to the latest report prepared by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation[3]. “Recycling is accompanied by a change in the consumption model: compared to a linear model, that is based on producing, consuming and throwing away, the idea is to move to a circular model in which the garments last longer and the condition of waste is eliminated.”
In the engineer's words, textile management has been largely forgotten in waste regulations. Firms have been undertaking the task voluntarily for years, [4] bringing used clothing collection services closer to their clients. However, to increase the percentage of textiles that manage to be recovered – the figure, according to data from the latest Moda Re recycling report, is 12.6%[5] – the experts missed a legislative framework such as the one proposed by the European Union, with measures that seek to alleviate its negative effects throughout the value chain, from the design phase, promoting the production of more recyclable garments, until the end of its useful life, a point at which both firms and consumers will share responsibility. In fact, starting in 2025, with the entry into force of the Waste and Contaminated Soil Law[6], clothing will have its own container.
From waste to raw material
The process that recycled fabrics follow is not always the same. At Recover™ they specialize in mechanical recycling, a seemingly simple technology in which textile waste goes through a series of cutting and shredding phases until it becomes a fibre long enough to re-make garments. Simplicity is precisely one of its great advantages: it has a very low environmental impact – according to company data, one kilo of recycled cotton saves 2,216 litres of water, 1.73 kilos of carbon emissions and 15.29 kilowatts of energy – and has enabled the process to be optimized in order to respond to the textile needs of the firms. It even allows you to take advantage of the fabric's own colour and save the dyeing phase.
Mechanical recycling shreds textile waste into small pieces, creating a new fiber that is carefully analyzed to ensure it is of the necessary length for spinning.
All waste that enters the plant is previously classified by composition and colour. The standard they must meet is very strict to ensure that the material will withstand the process and guarantee the quality of the final fibre. Therefore, the majority of its material is post-industrial: all that textile waste that is generated in the production processes and that, in this way, returns to the value chain. At Recover™ they recognize that post-consumer fabrics – clothing deposited in containers – continue to put recycling technology to the test. “This is where the creativity of the brands comes in to make it recyclable: that it has a single material, that it does not have mixtures of colours, that it has the minimum trimmings... If instead of a zipper we can put a cord of the same material of the garment will be much better because nothing has to be removed. When you tear off buttons and zippers, you take with you a small piece of textile that reduces what can be recycled,” Rodes points out. It is all these issues, such as the poor quality of the fabric or the complex composition of the garments, that the European Union wants to address through eco-design.[7] “The technology is very advanced and there are scanners that, when you scan a garment, tell you its composition. The bottleneck of the process is that it needs to be scaled, because there are companies that have it and others that don't,” she concludes.
The mechanical recycling process occurs in several quick stages. The day the video that illustrates this news was recorded struck a blue chord. The operators open the bales of textiles, which go through a first phase of basic cutting and another of extraction, in which zippers and buttons are removed, if there are any. “Quality control is carried out, both manually and by artificial vision, to detect if there is any type of impurity or any material or colour that should not be there,” the employees say. “Next, the antistatic product would be added, the only chemical product in the entire process, which relaxes the fibre and prepares it for the next phase.” It will be quick: in just over 10 minutes, through the different shredding machines, a fluffy cloud of recycled cotton will be created that will be packed and sent to the different spinners, closing the circle. A single raw material with which all types of threads will be made.
Synergy between technologies
Mechanical recycling coexists with chemical recycling. In fact, experts argue that the synergy between both technologies would help solve the limitations of each. Because in the mechanical, the recycling cycles of a fibre are reduced: the length is increasingly shorter and ends up becoming another surplus of production. On the contrary, chemical recycling allows the properties of the most worn fibres to be regenerated.[8] “The product is chemically decomposed until it reaches the monomer level,” Rodes explains. "The material we obtain is no longer cotton, but fibres manufactured by man, but the quality is very similar to that of the virgin product."[9]
CHEMICAL RECYCLING, STEP BY STEP
Although it is still in the development phase, the industry is investigating the formula to optimize chemical recycling and turn it into another ally of circular fashion.
1. Classification - 2. Cutting - 3. Depolymerisation - 4. Elimination - 5. Polymerisation - 6. Optimisation
Source
Noelia Farina, De residuo a hilo de alta calidad. Así transforma el reciclaje los tejidos en nuevos materiales, in:El Päís, 18-10-2023, https://elpais.com/sociedad/moda-futuro-y-accion/2023-10-18/de-residuo-a-hilo-de-alta-calidad-asi-transforma-el-reciclaje-los-tejidos-en-nuevos-materiales.html
[1] Banyeres de Mariola is a settlement and a municipality in the north of the province of Alicante (Spain), 860 metres above sea level, with a population of 7,500. The main employer is the local textile industry.
[2] 75+ years of expertise in sustainable recycled cotton across four generations of family in Spain. Our scaled solution transforms textile waste into high-quality, low-impact fiber. Years of tradition and expertise in the recycling industry provide Recover™ with a unique competitive advantage that no other company on the market can challenge. Our process and technology are unequaled and have a strong environmental benefit: delivering dyed fiber with minimal use of solvents and water, allowing for a truly closed-loop system. The Recover™ recycling process is led by a team of passionate experts in materials science, textiles, fashion and sustainability. We are committed to accelerating the development of a closed-loop industry and guiding our partners on their sustainability path. https://recoverfiber.com/about-us
[3] Each year millions of tonnes of clothes are produced, worn, and thrown away. Every second, the equivalent of a rubbish truck load of clothes is burnt or buried in landfill. The fashion industry is one of the major contributors of plastic microfibres entering our oceans. To solve the problem, we must reinvent fashion itself. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/fashion/overview
[4] Read also: https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/732357935372615680/the-urban-textile-waste-supply-chain-arrives-at?source=share&ref=_tumblr
[5] https://modare.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PRESS-RELEASE-Sorting-for-Circularity-Europe-Project-and-Report.pdf
[6] Read also: https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/690913091543842816/digitisation-of-construction-and-demolition-waste?source=share&ref=_tumblr
[7] Read also: https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/722179599996534784/towards-a-circular-and-more-sustainable-fashion?source=share&ref=_tumblr
[8] Read also: https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/650429336959303680/nouryon-and-renewcell-build-factory-for-upscaling?source=share&ref=_tumblr
[9] Read also: https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/728619189968027648/will-we-ever-be-able-to-recycle-our-clothes-like?source=share&ref=_tumblr
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