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squadron-of-damned · 1 year

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okay so i have,,, a lot of questions for siegfried and his kids. not exactly from the list (and more like ICAs) but i just have to annoy my uncles.

for everyone:

what's your favourite colour? do you like walking barefoot or have you ever walked barefoot? would you take me to the park and have ice cream with me? btw, favourite ice cream flavour?

for siegfried:

how did you even survive being shot three times in the same place? like, HOW??? why swords? also yeah, you spent too much time in scotland, you could literally call yourself a scot. buy me a sword, i need one.

for wolfgang:

do you know what's a furry? how many dogs do you currently have and could i have one? ily you are very cool, keep doing u.

for markov (the fav uncle):

not a question but i want you to teach me how to stab people and cause non-lethal injury. when the fuck did you get married and why wasn't i a flower girl? please sign your cards.

Favourite colour: These are not going to be ICA, because Markov would lie and Siegfried wouldn't know the truth if it hit him in the head.

Siegfried could never pick just one, he liked combinations of earthy browns and light greens. If he had to pick one, he'd say maroon, and then mull it over until the end of his days if it was the right answer.

Wolfgang wears what he loves: Scarlet

Markov might wear his signature purple, but is actually fond of dark greens, emerald and malachite like

Ice cream:

Siegfried: Have you gone through your training today? Well, once you are finished, we can get ice cream as a reward. Strawberry is a good ice cream.

Wolfgang: Well, the dogs aren't going to walk themselves and I suppose we can stop by the ice-cream stall on the way. If it's omen. And if you promise not to make a mess. Scoop of pistachio?

Markov: Consider this counterpoint: Actual food. But we can spend the afternoon in the park and you may get ice cream on your own. If they have dark enough chocolate flavour, I might consider having one scoop too...

About the three shots:

Siegfried: It's not like a shot to the shoulder is lethal, especially if you keep your mind and stop the bleeding. I myself am more puzzled how three different people separated by some thirty years managed to hit me in the exact same spot.

Swords:

Siegfried: Fencing, either the fancy sport one or the historical one, make for a good sport. I picked it up first as PE and then stuck to it, because I liked it. Many people nowadays like to do martial arts, because in case of toruble they could also defend themselves, swordsmanship has the same benefit. It also has one additional advantage: People are intimidated by large visible weapons. If someone sees a sword strapped to your side, they aren't even going to start a fight. You can call that preventive damage control.

Siegfried: Besides it is a known fact that everyone looks better with a sword, it just has some people-magnetic properties. But if you carry a sword and don't know how to use it, you are more likely to hurt yourself or worse - make a fool of yourself.

Siegfried: Why would I buy you a sword? Go to the armory, pick one that you like. Something to match your height and strength.

The furry question:

Wolfgang: You aren't the first person to ask me that. According to Markov, who's a fountain of such useless trivia, furry is me but neon green with orange streaks. I hope that answers helps you, because it did not help me at all.

Dogs:

Wolfgang: So right now we are at sixteen. 6 are actually our dogs, these five puppies are for sale or taking if you promise to take good care of them. Yes, you'll get the papers, this is a certified breeding station.

Wolfgang:These three I am sort of looking after until their owners sort out their living conditions - it's not easy to do software and divorce and find a place big enough to live in with a borzoi.

Wolfgang: And these two poor sods got into an accident and the shelter couldn't really provide for them. Together they make for a whole dog and some spare parts. If you wanted to, you could take them, but they are high maintenance.

Being very cool:

Wolfgang: I am so cool it's frosty, lass. *winks with both eyes*

Stabbing people:

Markov: *hands you an anatomy atlas* Make a list of all spots that are lethal to stab, then I shall add in any of those you'll have missed. After that? Stab anywhere but there.

Marriage:

Markov: That is a private information. Nobody was invited, you get equal treatment to everyone else.

Markov: It's not like you've missed out anything. We signed some papers, then everyone went home.

Signing cards:

Markov: Why would I? Everyone knows they are from me. If someone does not know that, they either bother to find out or they do not.

#von karma fan family #markov von karma #ly u a good frog

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senditothemoonn · 2 years

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This is fanart for one of moonlighten’s fics called Easy Exercises which you should totally read HERE

it’s part of a series of fics about scotfra and the uk bros and if you follow me, chances are you’ve definitely already read it because they’re like the pillar holding up the scotfra fandom and oh my god their writing is amazing and I could rant about them all day BUT I WONT (but I will in the tags) and just AHH when I read this fic it made me smile SO HARD and I just kind of wanted to draw it. Honestly I would draw fanart for every single fic in that series if I had the time - it’s so great please read it

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wcsleyevans · 4 years

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a bit about wesley evans

LAYER ONE: THE OUTSIDE

Name: wesley roman evans

Eye Color: brown

Hair Style/Color: curly brown short hair

Height: 5′11

Clothing Style: usually something comfortable to wear in a lab - old trainers, jeans and a graphic tee with some sort of science joke on it

Best Physical Feature: smile

LAYER TWO: THE INSIDE

Fears: his lies about his research being found out

Bad Habits: obsessing over something for a long time and then forgetting about it, biting his nails

Ambition for the Future: to become a father and raise a future scientist

Biggest regret: how things ended with alexa

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS

First Thoughts Waking Up: "coffee... must. drink. coffee.”

What They Think About the Most: either science fiction or actual science

What They Think About Before Bed: the show he just watched before bed

What They Think Their Best Quality Is: his positivity & ability to help others

LAYER FOUR: WHAT’S BETTER?

Single or Group Dates: single

To be Loved or Respected: loved

Beauty or Brains: brains

Dogs or Cats: cats

LAYER FIVE: DO THEY?

Lie: yes, a lot of the time. about research, about his feelings towards people, about what he actually wants the most in life

Have scars/birthmarks: a lot of scars from experiments gone wrong. a large burn mark on his arm from a heating block, a big scar from an exploding conical flask, and lots of cuts on his fingers from picking up glass

Believe in Themselves: not really - his research clearly isn’t good enough to get him anywhere so he lies about it

Believe in Love: absolutely. platonic, romantic, familial. all kinds of love

Want Someone: absolutely

LAYER SIX: EVER?

Been on Stage: nope

Done Drugs: no

Changed Who You Were to Fit In: he became a bit closed off and impatient when he decided to change his results in order for no one to suspect him of doing anything wrong. but didn’t change to fit in. if anything, when he met sofia he became more himself

LAYER SEVEN: FAVORITES

Favorite Color: emerald green – the colour of bis(N-sec-butylsalicylaldiminato)nickel(II) to be exact. it was the first crystal he every managed to correctly synthesise

Favorite Music: he doesn’t like to admit it, but wes is a big t swift fan

Favorite Animal: cats

Favorite Drink: freshly brewed coffee

Favorite Food: salted popcorn

Favorite Place: his lab

Favorite Sport: he hates sport but if he were to pick one, it would be lacrosse

Favorite Season: autumn

Favorite Holiday: thanksgiving

LAYER EIGHT: IN A BOY OR GIRL

Best Personality: outgoing and extroverted, someone he can talk to about anything even if they don’t understand it

Best Eye Color: doesn’t care

Best Hair Color: doesn’t care

Best thing to do With a Partner: watch sci fi movies and try to ruin the plot by explaining the science. or just sit and talk about nothing, and everything

LAYER NINE: FINISH THE SENTENCE

I love: my work. it’s so cool

I hate: the fact that i might get caught one day

I feel: so lucky to have a best friend like sofia

I hide: my real findings

I miss: how easy the first few years of the academy were

I wish: things had ended differently with alexa. she deserved so much more than she got with me, and i wish she knew just how much that relationship actually meant to me

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE MUSE:

What do you look like? (Include body type, frame, hair, eyes, skin, age, and distinguishing features): i’m quite slim, but on the odd occasion i get time off work i go jogging so i guess there’s a bit of muscle definition. i have brown curly hair, brown eyes and tanned skin. my most distinguishing feature is probably my eyes, they’re quite big and expressive

How do you dress most of the time?: i usually wear a graphic tee of some superhero or science joke, jeans and some old shoes that are comfy. oh and also usually a lab coat and goggles, y’know, for science purposes

How do you “dress up”?: i have only ever dressed up once for prom and i wore one of my dad’s old suits that was too big for me. not a good look. but i would wear a nice, fitted suit if i ever had to go to an event that needed one

How do you “dress down”?: joggers and a baggy t-shirt. and fleeces. fleeces were the best thing in scotland as it is freezing up there

What do you wear when you go to sleep?: pyjama bottoms. usually flannel pattern, but i have some in evans tartan which are my favourite thing i own

Do you wear any jewelry?: can’t wear jewellery in the lab unfortunately. too many chemicals and lasers

In your opinion, what is your best feature?: i love how excited and passionate i get about things

How many siblings do you have?: just me bud

What is your father like?: such a supportive guy. he moved us all the way from scotland so that i could go to a better school and become a scientist and for that i’ll be forever grateful. he doesn’t necessarily understand all that i do, but he knows how much it means to me that he’s supportive anyway

What is your mother like?: mum is amazing. she was the head of a firm of accountants in edinburgh and she gave that up so we could move here. she’s so compassionate and kind, and her and dad were made for each other. most supportive parents you can get to be honest

Where do you live? Describe it: Is it messy, neat, avant-garde, sparse, etc.?: i live in a flat in grove harbour by myself. it’s quite spacious as it’s not in the nicest part of town, but i’ve installed cameras, extra security systems and made it really safe. it’s a nice apartment actually. spacious kitchen, cosy living room. it can get messy but mess stresses me out (when it’s not in my lab... that’s a whole different story) so it tends to stay tidy

Are you emotional, depressed, ect?: i’d say i’m an emotional person, sure. luckily i don’t have any mental illnesses.

Would you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, or something else? Why?: i’d say i’m straight, have never thought of guys in that way before but i wouldn’t completely take it off the table. i have been in love with sof since i was about thirteen though and haven’t really though about anyone else other than alexa, so i guess that answers that question

How ticklish are you? Where are you ticklish?: i’m ticklish everywhere. literally everywhere. mainly around my waist, but my feet are super ticklish too

What do you do when you are bored?: i watch old re-runs of sci fi shows, and browse the internet for plotholes. or go see sof. either’s good

What do you envy most?: i envy people advancing in their research. i’ve been at a standstill for months and i don’t know why, and it’s driving me mad

#musings

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besidemethewholedamntime · 6 years

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Here In This Moment

For @bluepianoguyismael who asked for Fitzsimmons + ‘you did all of this for me?’ I hope you like it!

Fitz cracks one eye open and winces at the sunlight. Frowning, he checks the alarm clock at the bedside table.

09:37

Well that’s… odd.

Groaning, he stretches and reaches over to the other side of the bed. His hand only brushes empty sheets but it doesn’t concern him too greatly – it’s not as though he expected Jemma to still be in bed at this time. No, what does concern him is the fact that he’s still asleep and wasn’t awakened out of bed by Jemma leaving it. Also, the fact that he’s been allowed to sleep for this long. In their little holiday from Shield they have taken to sleeping later, but Jemma is still usually up and at it by 8:30, ready to get involved with incredibly habitual tasks that she has taken up since saving the world. Fitz gets in on it too, of course, because it’s fun and easy and so incredibly nice to see her happy and carefree again.

“Jemma?” He calls, voice still clouded from sleep.

There’s no answering call and his heart begins to beat a little faster. He tries to shush it but it thumps as loud as ever in his ears. It’s something he’s been trying to work on, but so much has happened and he feels that it’ll be a while before he’s completely comfortable to waking up without her being where he thought she’d be.

“Jemma?” he calls again, a little louder. Fitz is well and truly awake now, and he slips out of bed and throws on some clothes, a little bit of his heart having leapt into his throat. He throws open the bedroom door with a little more force than is probably necessary and begins to walk down the hallway. Everything appears normal, but he has been with Shield for too long and he knows that appearances are deceiving; what is evil appears to be good, who is a traitor appears to be your friend.

The second he hears music playing outside the closed living room door, his heartbeat returns to normal rhythm. This is Jemma; she’s been playing the charts for the last few weeks in an attempt to catch up on the past five years she hasn’t had the time to.

Fitz knocks on the door, easing it open. “Jemma,” he calls for a third time, smiling when he hears her singing.

She doesn’t hear him – she’s standing in the corner of the room trying to tack up a banner, wobbling precariously on a chair. He doesn’t know if it’s her knowledge of physics or sheer dumb luck that the chair doesn’t topple over, but eventually she gets down and gives a nod. He can only imagine the look of satisfaction on her face.

“What’s going on in here?”

“Fitz!”

Jemma spins around, eyes wide with surprise. Then, all of a sudden, she deflates a little bit. “I can’t believe you’re up. It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Surprise? He’s confused for a moment, but then actually stops to take in the room. There are balloons littered all over the floor in a kaleidoscope of colours that makes him a little bit breathless. There are banners on all four walls, proclaiming their multi-coloured ‘congratulations’. On the coffee table in front of him, there are two boxes – one large, one small – wrapped in monkey wrapping paper.

“It’s definitely a surprise,” Fitz confirms.

“No,” Jemma moans. “A proper surprise. I was going to make you pancakes for breakfast and everything.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Pancakes? They would be great.”

“Yeah, well, you had to go and wake up early so I didn’t get to make them now, did I?”

Jemma huffs but comes over to kiss him good morning. The last traces of fear have vanished from his mind but even still, he hugs her; lightly, so as not to betray that he ever was worried. Leaving an arm around her waist, he gestures to the room. “What’s all of this?”

Jemma looks up at him, and he feels that it should be obvious. “Your birthday.”

“My birthday was weeks ago.”

“I know that. And I know we already celebrated and I got you something but I was still sorting all of this and I wanted it to be absolutely perfect before giving it to you.” She beams up at him. “Do you want to open them?”

Fitz does want to open them, and very badly, but before he lets curiosity get the better of him, he just wants to appreciate the way Jemma is looking at him right now. Her eyes are burning with fervour and her smile is excited and his heart swells with love. This Jemma Simmons, with enthusiasm radiating off of her in waves and her smile bright enough to light an entire continent, this is his favourite. This is what he loves most about their absence from Shield because they have gotten to heal, she has gotten to heal and if there was ever any doubt that taking a few months was the right decision, it is banished by the radiance she gives off just now. It takes his breath away.

“Go on then.” Fitz smiles, and Jemma leads him over the coffee table. He looks at the gifts and then back at her. She’s practically fizzing with excitement. “Is there one I should open first?”

“The big one first,” she replies decisively, no hesitation.

It’s the exact opposite thing his mum used to say to him when he’d open his gifts as a child so he’s already intrigued. Gently tearing away the wrapping paper, he hears a noise of impatience from behind him. To wind her up, he goes a little bit slower.

“Ugh, Fitz!”

Mission accomplished. Moving his fingers quickly, he tears off the remaining shreds and is left with a brown cardboard box. He looks at Jemma expectantly.

“Go on,” she encourages. “Open it.”

And, because he’s never been able to deny her anything, he does.

Inside is a framed picture of a house. A large, white, Georgian-style house surrounded by trees and with the outline of hills that he would know anywhere visible in the background. It’s charming, and lovely, but he can’t quite understand why it would be given to him for his birthday.

Jemma is practically bursting with excitement beside him, waiting on his reaction. There must be something more. Gently laying down the picture, he peers into the box and finds, unexpectedly, a set of small gold keys. An idea begins to form in his mind. Fishing out the keys, he turns to Jemma.

“This is our house?”

She nods quickly. A smile begins to take over his face of his own accord. “Really?”

“Uh-huh! Do you like it?”

“It’s amazing, Jemma. Just… wow.”

“I was worried that you wouldn’t like it,” she explains hurriedly. “Buying it without you and everything… it’s not exactly in Perth, around fourteen miles west, but Auchterarder has more than enough for the daily amenities and there’s enough space to have our own lab, and plenty of guest-bedrooms for when our families and the team come to visit and-”

He holds up a finger to stop her, though he could really listen to her babble for longer but there’s a question he has to ask. “Perth? That’s in Scotland.”

She smiles at him ever so softly and gives a gentle eye-roll. “I know where it is, Fitz.”

And oh, the reminder of the original conversation and all the events leading up to it combined with this knowledge that he and Jemma are moving to Perth together makes his need to hold her that much stronger. He kisses her and hugs her fiercely. Maybe she’s thinking the same too, because she squeezes back just as tight.

“Thank you,” he whispers. “Thank you so much.”

“You don’t have anything to thank me for, Fitz,” she says. Then, letting go and pulling back she says to him quietly, “You still have one more to open.”

This box is thin and rectangular, dwarfed by the larger one next to it. Fitz looks to Jemma, and notes how she seems almost nervous at this one. He raises an eyebrow but she brushes him off and gestures for him to continue.

He prises off the lid and unwraps the tissue paper inside. If he thought the last one was a surprise, then he obviously hadn’t bargained on this.

Four pregnancy tests. Four positive pregnancy tests.

His heart stops. The world stops spinning but only for a second. He turns to Jemma, and cannot stop the grin spreading over his face once more, so wide he feels as though it may split in two.

“You’re…” and he cannot finish, cannot articulate a coherent sentence.

Jemma appears to have the same problem, because she only nods. He’s pulling her towards him again, holding her and kissing her. Tears have appeared on his face from out of nowhere. Anything could happen now, anything at all, and he wouldn’t care because he and Jemma are moving to Scotland and they’re going to have a baby. He’s going to be a father.

He pulls away but only slightly, and rests his forehead against hers. “We’re going to have a baby,” he whispers through his smile.

“Yes,” Jemma whispers back, “We are.”

And oh, how he has to hold her again, cannot stand any space between the two of them. How magnificent is this. How utterly and truly magnificent.

“You really do like it, Fitz?”

Jemma’s small, barely heard question, muffled by his shirt, makes him laugh. Pulling away, he cups her face with both of his hands. Her smile could move mountains, and how is it now that he’s only just realising?

“I love it,” he confirms. “God, Jemma, this is perfect. And you did all of this for me?”

“You’ve saved me in more ways than I will ever be able to count. You deserve this.”

Damn, doesn’t she get it? She saved him. She’s always saved him. She keeps on saving him. By his side the whole damn time.

“I love you,” he says, so passionately, more passionately than he ever may have said it in his entire life.

“I love you too.”

They kiss and it’s the amalgamation of all the perfection of this day. If someone cut him right here, right now, nothing but light would spill out.

“And you’re really okay with the house and everything?” She asks as she pulls away.

“Of course.”

“I checked and there are very good schools in the area – both independent and state.”

“Of course you did.”

“And I know the interior is a little dated but that’s the beauty of it - we can renovate and-”

Fitz shushes her with another kiss.

But there is something he has to say. “Thank you, Jemma.” And he means for more than this.

“Always, Fitz.” She smiles and rests her forehead against his once more. “Always.” She worries her bottom lip. “I mean, this was right, wasn’t it? It was perfect?”

How can he explain it to her? That everything she does to him is perfect. That it is some miracle, what they have. That it is beyond perfect to be loved by her.

So he goes for one thing that is true:

“This was more than perfect. This was everything.”

The look she gives him is one of utter love and adoration and he understands what it all means, what the poets say, why wars have been waged for it.

Because this love, because Jemma, is everything. Because it’s fighting for that one chance at happiness. Because it’s almost drowning and dying and travelling through time and tearing holes in the universe to be with each other.

Standing here, right now, with his pregnant fiancée, with the keys to their new house, Fitz knows that, without a doubt, he’d do it all over again.

#thefitzsimmonsnetwork #fitzsimmons #leo fitz #jemma simmons #fitzsimmons fic #fitzsimmons fanfiction #fanfiction by moi #aos

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thewidowstanton · 6 years

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Chris Barltrop, actor and ringmaster: Audacious Mr Astley

Chris Barltrop describes himself as “semi-nomadic”, but is originally from Walthamstow in London. He has entertained audiences all over Europe as a performer, and also devised, directed and facilitated shows. He has a lengthy theatre CV – including leading roles in Twelfth Night, The Crucible and Pygmalion – and has also appeared on TV programmes as diverse as The Dick Emery Show, The Royal Variety Performance, Casualty and Blue Peter.

Chris has been a ringmaster for 40 years, including a lengthy run from 1997–2012 for the Grand Cirque de Noël in Toulouse, where he spoke in French. In the UK he has been general manager and MC for the Moscow State Circus, Gerry Cottle's Circus, Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World and Continental Circus Berlin, among others. He lectures on the history of circus and circus life and is an in-demand after-dinner speaker.

Now Chris makes his Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut – opening on his 70th birthday – with his self-penned one-man play Audacious Mr Astley. The show – which celebrates the equestrian Philip Astley and marks the 250th anniversary since he started the art form in the UK – runs at the Pleasance Courtyard from 1-27 August 2018. Chris chats to Liz Arratoon.

The Widow Stanton: Were you formally trained as an actor? Chris Barltrop: I went to East 15 Acting School in the late 1960s. No one in my family was in the theatre but my father and my mother had done some amateur acting. My father was a teacher when I was small, but he stopped doing that to be a full-time writer and artist. So I grew up in a house that was arts orientated, full of books, and which was also full of political discussion. My parents used to go to see Joan Littlewood’s productions at Theatre Workshop, Stratford, when they were a young married couple so they saw a lot of actors and were very pleased when I eventually decided to go into it. I never had a plan for life and I haven’t now, really [laughs]. I was good at acting at school and suddenly decided to try it.

Part of my father’s personality was that he was a great raconteur and would tell stories and do the characters and voices. That gave me the idea it was fine to do that. I am, like a lot of performers, very, very shy, but you can hide behind a persona and face the world because it’s not you they’re looking at, it’s the ringmaster or Dogberry, or Malvolio; it’s the character. You’re putting up a front, like the clown with his mask.

What did you do on The Dick Emery Show? It was 1979, when Jimmy Chipperfield was approached by the BBC to do an episode setting all the sketches in the circus. It was wonderful to work with him. Dick was doing a summer show in Great Yarmouth. I went down to see him and he was very nice. I asked him to back my application for Equity membership and he wrote me a charming letter.

And on the Royal Variety Performance? I got in touch with the BBC, whose turn it was that year, and spoke to the producer, Kevin Bishop. He was very keen to include the Moscow State Circus, but he said I’d have to produce our spot. So I planned the spot and we did it as a little showcase; one trick from the Russian bar, 30 seconds of the hat juggling and the clowns and me standing on the side of the stage as ringmaster. [Laughs] The other time was 1989 or ’90, the producers wanted to include ‘The World of the Circus’; Paul Daniels introducing artists from Jolly’s Circus, from Gerry Cottle’s, from John Lawson’s… people brought snakes, Gerry brought a baby elephant, and I came on as the Moscow State Circus’ ringmaster.

How did you get into being a ringmaster? The circus was really an accident. Having finished drama school when it was still the days of the Equity closed shop, I didn’t have an Equity card and you couldn’t get a job without one. It was 18 months after graduating and I was doing fill-in jobs, driving, and so forth. We were living in a little cottage in Saffron Walden and my wife, Barbara, who was a teacher, had had to stop work when we had a baby daughter. So it was up to me to earn a living.

One week in The Stage there was an advert for Hoffman’s Circus: ‘Staff Wanted’. Not performers, but what we in the circus still call ‘billers’, people who put up the bills. They wanted a married couple to run the advance booking office. It said: “Luxury accommodation provided. Best terms in the business.” I said to my wife: ‘What do you think?’. We decided to write and if we got the job, we’d stick with it even if it was absolutely dreadful and awful, because we’d learn something. It was in the entertainment business; it was a new aspect to learn about.

The accommodation was in an artic vehicle that had been built as a mobile hairdressing studio for film location work. It was nicely fitted out and comfortable. We weren’t with the circus but we were on the circus and got to know it. We toured Scotland and enjoyed it very much, and asked if we could go back the following year when they were touring the West Country. One of them said; “You’re hooked.” We said: “No, we just fancy doing a second year,” but actually that was the case.

After that I went to work for Gerry Cottle, still putting posters up, and into the second season with him, he asked about my background. He thought I was better spoken than a lot of people and said would I like to try being ringmaster for one of his Christmas circuses in Cardiff. That was 1976. Then the next season he took me on to the circus as house manager and deputy ringmaster, but as the season went on it became more and more that is was me being the ringmaster all the time. It was very hectic, dealing with the public, doing a show, running back out and trying to do both at once. It was very enjoyable and I learnt a lot.

What qualities does a good ringmaster need? The public see the ringmaster as a sort of compere but in fact the ringmaster is the stage manager. I was very quickly aware that I needed to watch out for people’s wires and everything else and make sure things were safely put up and that the props were in the right place. So there’s an element of safety. I remember once when I was one of two assistant ringmasters to Norman Barrett, a Russian trapeze artist missed his trick and was falling. There was the safety net but it looked as though he was going right to the side of it. He was OK, but my reaction was to run forward and when I looked it was Norman Barrett and me running towards one another to do something about it.

That’s what you need, an awareness and a knowledge of the rigging and of what is happening to the artists. I’ve had swings on trapezes, I’ve climbed up to the high wire just to stand there and see what they’re seeing. It’s important to do that, and over and above that it’s alertness, awareness and a calm character because if something goes wrong you’ve got to deal with it. ‘Right, you pick that up, I’m going to talk to the audience, clear that and tell the clowns to come in… ladies and gentleman…’. You have to be concise and have the skill of thinking what to say next; so often when there’s a bit of action going on I’m editing words in my head. Also you have to be able to present yourself if it’s a TV interview. I do love the variety of it. You can be on national television one minute or knocking stakes in or driving a lorry the next.

Did you have to learn French for Grand Cirque de Noël? I was taught French at school. Our teacher was the headmaster, whose wife was from Brittany. I was the dunce of the class and only scraped through. Sadly, he died but I would have loved to say to him, ‘Guess what I do for a month every winter? I stand in front of 2,500 French people talking French!’. He’d have laughed his head off. He’d have loved it.

Tell us how Audacious Mr Astley came about? In 1973/74 at the end of that first season there were no Christmas circuses. It wasn’t practical with canvas tents in the winter. I thought I’d like to find out about circus. There were two books in Saffron Walden library: I Love You Honey But the Season’s Over by Connie Clausen and British Circus Life by Eleanor Smith. I read about Philip Astley starting circus in London. As time went on, I think it was 1986, and having an interest in the history of the circus and knowing roughly where it started, I researched and pinpointed the exact spot at Halfpenny Hatch. Astley chose a field where there was a busy footpath. The landowner charged a halfpenny for people to take a shortcut across his land and you paid at a little window in the fence or hatch. So this is the famous spot. It has lovely Georgian cottages on it now that were built in about 1820.

Has the spot been marked now? I was pleased to identify it for people but there had never been a commemoration on the spot, hence on Easter Monday we unveiled a plaque, which the local residents paid for. They’re so interested in this piece of history related to where they live. I did the premiere of Audacious Mr Astley in Waterloo East Theatre a few yards away; it was smashing.

What form does the show take? With the 250th anniversary getting closer and closer, I thought I’d love to combine my circus knowledge with my acting – directing myself – and my writing skills, which I’ve developed over the years working with the press. A year or so ago, I started to make some notes, in the knowledge that I was not simply giving a lecture or illustrated talk but that I wanted to be Philip Astley and that this would be, not only a unique way to tell the story in the sense that someone will be standing there being him, but also I believe, I hope, with a unique insight.

Astley established various traditions; he wore a red coat, he toured his shows straight away, they went out to Bath and Bristol and he took the circus to Scotland, where I’ll be in a couple of weeks. He introduced it to Ireland and Europe. And he also established a tradition of tough mindedness and independence and overcoming the odds to make sure it happened.

How important has it been for traditional circus in the UK to mark this 250-year anniversary? It’s very important for all circus. It’s a great thing with Circus250 having tremendous individual supporters; Martin Burton of Zippos Circus is one. He’s got the horses and this year he’s reproduced The Courier, which happened in Georgian circuses, where someone stands across two horses with the other horses coming through. Also it’s had the backing of Dea Birkett. She’s the chair of the co-ordinating group and has originated some events of her own.

There is also Andrew Van Buren’s Philip Astley Project in Newcastle-under-Lyme. I love their line: “Philip Astley is Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Shakespeare.” And so he is. Look what he achieved; it’s not literature but he had a cultural impact, which has spread worldwide… . He called it Astley’s Amphitheatre of Equestrian Arts and took it to royal families everywhere. He promoted himself and it was famous throughout the 19th century; Dickens, Jane Austen, Thackeray wrote about it. William Blake lived in one of Astley’s houses and he must have sat there sketching the horses in the amphitheatre. Some people think circus started with contemporary circus 30 years ago, and don’t want animals, but Astley was a rider so horses were involved. He called it a ‘hippodrama’; a play with lots of horses.

Who created your costume? I carefully researched the costume and was very lucky and found a book on eBay The 15th King’s Hussars with uniforms from 1759, which was when his regiment was formed and when he joined. The costume was made by Farthingale Costumes, who make costumes for reenactors, such as The Sealed Knot. It’s the exact material, it’s the exact cut and tailoring; it’s precise.

How do feel about going to Edinburgh for the first time? It’s been a wonderful 12 months in lots and lots of ways. It’s been absolutely fantastic! And to have performed as him on the very spot on Easter Monday, the exact 250th anniversary, was a fabulous thing to be able to do. There’s another anniversary, mine and Mr Astley’s; my 70th birthday on 1 August and I’m presenting him as 70 years old. It’s perfect, absolutely brilliant; it’s such a happy coincidence.

Chris performs Audacious Mr Astley at the Pleasance Courtyard (venue 33) from 1-27 August 2018 during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Picture credits: Ashleigh Cadet; Pierre Gautier: David Davis

For Audacious Mr Astley tickets, click here

Chris’ website

Twitter: @Astley250 @circus250 @ThePleasance @edfringe @PhilipAstleypro

Follow @TheWidowStanton on Twitter

#Chris Barltrop #Philip Astley #circus250 #ringmaster #interview #actor #Audacious Mr Astley #edinburgh festival fringe #the pleasance #Philip Astley Project #circus

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candra6015672531-blog · 6 years

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Social Social network And Social media site Articles.

The dog days from summer season are actually precisely after our team, going by the variety of pesky pet dogs and individuals to become found gadding about in nooky-conscious neighborhoods from The U. If you enjoyed this write-up and you would such as to receive more details concerning mountains in scotland to climb (simply click the next internet site) kindly see our own web site. S.A.. If the game possessed one objective, one story, one ending, one reddish threat to adhere to, that will reduce the individuality of every players take in or even worse, this would say to those that have certainly not entirely recognized the video game or misunderstood that, that their point of views mistake as well as they rather must believe what the hivemind and/or maker have made that to imply. Yet our company actually possess enough overall, all-round put-downs, as well as our team don't need to switch pompous in to yet one more one, especially when this already possesses such a great certain significance. . Leo Silver, the northeast region agent has actually been actually attending the exact same useless rah rah treatments for 3 years and the appointments are actually constantly the same. I adore the ending of the game exceptionally despite the fact that eventually this's just a bonus. Which was actually achieved for a pair of year time period with me about HALF basics from the game simultaneously (you may certainly never truly get away from it) and also which functioned tremendously (type of) until the time her mom and also I divided. Many people have actually cultivated a steadfast canine consume canine" attitude about the globe, throwing stability to the wind for enhanced private increase. However, folks with bipolar II typically have persistent anxieties which can easily make adapting incredibly tough. That individual's pretentious use of terms hides the fact that they carry out not possess just about anything of substance to state. That's due to the fact that today (just like at that time), individuals misuse words ostentatious" all the damn time. 1st hint that you are actually certainly not business owner material ... is if you are looking for a quick and easy or even quick way to develop riches. The in video game anecdotal purpose from the island may be taken as the actual objective of the video game, if you prefer this to possess one. And also ill-treating the word ostentatious" is probably one of one of the most ostentatious factors an individual can possibly do. Second of all, the same speech all the time to folks that agree to occasionally pay attention, however have certainly not been actually certified, is actually a waste of time. Most people search their whole entire lifestyle for financial independence as well as certainly never discover that they have everything they actually need right before all of them. It's certainly not tough to see that it has a lot more ability to emphasize emotions in folks along with simply the colour orange vs an image of a tree. Entrepreneurs determine problems as well as begin focusing on their solution faster in comparison to other individuals. So I ONE HUNDRED% will The Witness a couple of times earlier, obtained this a few weeks back after reading through the meeting where he aspires to produce something like GR, I in fact mounted windows simply to play it. I'm certainly not a major puzzle individual and also this is definitely the very first new video game I've played in approximately 2 years. He goned on opportunity for his appointment, however was actually maintained awaiting 2 hours in a small hanging around room along with very old publications till he was called in. The very first step in beating your pompous designer inclinations is actually to determine all of them and acknowledge to all of them. If the video game had one target, one tale, one finishing, one reddish threat to adhere to, that will remove the uniqueness from every players experience or even much worse, this would certainly tell those that have certainly not totally know the video game or even misunderstood it, that their viewpoints are wrong as well as they as an alternative need to believe what the hivemind and/or designer have actually created this to mean. When he started out however he has gotten to an aspect where he spews saying will political statements that folks presently understand, Banksy was alright. Lots of people along with bipolar II perform certainly not experience hypersexuality, but it was actually coming to be a trouble for Wendy. Generally, whether or not a particular factor might be thought about ostentatious is dependent on the onlooker. Listed here's a summary of the game Take note, though, that the hyperlink may be a little swayed against the activity and its own designers. And difficult though this might be to take, being actually pompous belongs of exactly what our team perform on a daily basis. Sorry to differ so absolutely but it kills me that this polluted an activity that is actually or else therefore spectacular that it sets a completely brand new specification. I wish that you'll adore me enough to accomplish 1, 2, 3 and also 4 when my ego gets out of control. Pretension specifies the amateur against the specialist in an activity rigged by practice, qualifications as well as institutional commendation. This is actually not a ready anybody that dislikes that when things are actually left unanswered and those that do have problem finding their very own account during the course of the method of playing the game. Lots of people are actually much also vulnerable concerning this sensation, and also this is actually perhaps a tension to possess, but it's quite hard to subsist disappear. The chrysanthemum is among one of the most resistant cut floral and it are going to decorate your residence for a long period of time, more than 2 weeks. She usually went to bed around 3 a.m. as well as will get out of bed at 7 a.m. sensation energized for her day at school. Take a great consider the developers you admire and also look up to. You'll possibly discover that the majority of the best designers around do not use pompous labels, but rather use headlines that effectively illustrate just what they perform. Also those who perform use exciting headlines commonly accomplish this in an incredibly tongue-in-cheek method and do this in limited amounts. I experienced this whole article as well as I was ready to write a complete reaction half way with the very first paragraph however then much more recognized that you are actually very bented on a different point of view compared to I presumed you would certainly have as well as I desire to make a comment on aspects that rely on different player experience and also desires, two factors that I could certainly not and would certainly certainly not would like to alter in any individual that believes that this video game is actually pretentious or even making an effort also hard. To propose a person is pretentious is to claim they are actually acting in ways they are actually not gotten approved for via take in or economical status". As the most effective treatment, cut the stalk till the environment-friendly part, placed this in high flower holder, filled up simply for 3 quarts with water as well as incorporate a decline from whitening element. Without the consents it provides - the permit to attempt brand-new knowledges, to trying out suggestions, to see if you wish to live your lifestyle yet another method - people from all type of histories are going to not be left open to distinction, to originalities or the backgrounds of their opted for field. It is actually not something numerous individuals perform when they wake up in the morning, and also like you claimed, with photographs they may be performed in various techniques to possess different colours and illumination. Individuals are actually certainly not simulating on their own, rather, their being located urbanity is actually stepping on throughout your plain-speaking reality. Leo recognized something was actually going on, however he really did not have a clue as to exactly what this Onslaught was about. Every era has performers" that typically aren't really performers but only pretentious tryhards, nowadays we just possess easier methods to discover them.

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audir8leaseprice543-blog · 6 years

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Audi R8 Lease Special: 10 Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier

There are many superior explanations why you ought to never ever lend your classic automobile to strangers, and plenty of a lot more for not doing so having a Jensen Interceptor. Apart from the safety threats, West Bromwich's greatest development has never been on the vanguard of dependability and very low ownership expenses. And still in the final year I have accomplished this many, over and over.

Nevertheless There exists a lots of logic to offering an Interceptor like a hire car, as I decided to do 12 months ago. It is among the couple of vehicles of the last 40 several years that has remaining a powerful and Long lasting impression on automobile illiterates and motor vehicle cognoscenti. But Whilst the E-Variety happens to be as common and evident as Australian wine, the Interceptor has stored https://en.search.wordpress.com/?src=organic&q=car rental a component of uniqueness and thriller. Nearly each individual typical car or truck employ the service of enterprise in the united kingdom has an E-Form on its fleet but just one other has an Interceptor.

Therefore the Interceptor was an evident choice when I chose to set up my classic auto employ corporation Fantastic Escape Traditional Car Employ the service of 2006. I'd noticed a distinct segment to offer a little something various from the same old classics using a A lot increased typical of presentation and repair. By coincidence, I also cherished the Interceptor and felt that right here was a vehicle that had been ignored for employ.

Basic car employ the service of also appealed mainly because I needed to have and generate some excellent autos but understood that I didn't have enough time and couldn't justify the expense on its own. From my past experience proudly owning classics, I realized that if I purchased an Interceptor it might little question just sit in the garage for forty weeks from the 12 months - which would not get it done or me much great.

I put in about twelve months checking out cars around Britain. I had accomplished my investigate and resolved that the most effective price tag band for what I necessary was around ten,000 (it would be far more now). Ideally I preferred a Mk3 seven.2 in Brienz Blue with beige interior, but I speedily realised that it absolutely was better to compromise on specification and get a much better vehicle. And I realised that the truth is all of them seem great. Regrettably at this level There are many of in excess of-valued autos, which meant I invested plenty of wasted time investigating cars and trucks that needed some huge cash put in on them. Eventually, by pure luck, I used to be launched on the owner of a car or truck in Haslemere who was selling it reluctantly.

LPB 63N was a very low-operator 1974 Mark three with later Jensen Elements Services updates. Finished in light blue metallic - nobody is very absolutely sure exactly what the colour is - with burgundy leather inside, the bodywork was fantastic in all the best sites. The only draw back was a tired motor - I didn't realise at enough time very how exhausted. It had been substantially a lot better than any of the other cars and trucks I looked at. I purchased it in January 2007 but like all The remainder it essential some severe revenue put in on it. I knew this but I didn't realise pretty just how much!

Throughout January and February I build the corporate, Fantastic Escape Vintage Automobile Employ, and organized images of the vehicle at a studio in Newton Abbot run by a friend of mine, Mike Evans. I drove the vehicle down over a freezing January day, put in 170 on gas, ran through 5 litres of oil in 400 miles and burst an elderly rear tyre. This was my introduction to Interceptor motoring.

I booked the vehicle into Race Sport in Studley - advisable by Inexperienced Lane Restorations, a Jensen expert close by - and discovered the lousy news. The pistons ended up poorly worn along with the auto needed a whole motor rebuild. I could have got by that has a partial rebuild but decided to do it correctly to make certain It will be trusted on employ the service of. The get the job done took a few months and LPB 63N went again to the highway in mid-April 2007 in the exact same week that the website and corporation had been released.

I released the corporate with just the Jensen and my present Alfa Romeo Spider for seek the services of. I envisioned the much less expensive Alfa to get the popular choice, but I hadn't reckoned on the English weather - or the enduring charm of the Jensen.

Despite a gradual start out, in mid-May fascination while in the autos instantly took off. From May perhaps until early December, as I create this, the vehicle has coated 7,000 miles almost totally on hire responsibilities, and continues to be employed by 30 or 40 different men and women. It really is out practically each individual weekend, even in Winter season, and is definitely the most well-liked car or truck with the five that we now offer you (I have included two V12 Jaguar convertibles, an XJS and an E-Kind, as well as a Morris Minor Traveller).

My practical experience suggests which the attractiveness on the Interceptor is big and huge-ranging. It operates from twenty five year-olds whose father experienced one, fifty-calendar year-olds who constantly required one particular, Gals who just adore them, thirty-yr-olds who would like to buy a single etc. I may need imagined that my consumers might be Adult men within their 50s however the vehicle's attractiveness is far, Considerably broader than that. It is amongst the good benefits of my job in order to meet up with these folks and provide them with the chance to fulfil a longstanding aspiration.

The success of the vehicle has also experienced other Gains. I've loved some great times photographing the Interceptor while in the Cotswolds, I've appeared during the Sunday Instances Using the car and I've just done a shoot for Classics Regular. I don't reach push it A lot but when I do I realise just why it is so revered - You cannot beat a major-capacity V8 for effortless urge Which irresistible sounds.

Now most classic auto entrepreneurs wouldn't lend their automobiles to strangers, let alone hiring them out consistently. This is completely understandable. When I began on the lookout for an Interceptor I realized that I was going to hire it out, so I approached the acquisition and ownership prospect from a very diverse standpoint. Even though I've normally wanted an Interceptor, the vehicle is a business primarily plus a display queen next. Experienced I owned LPB 63N right before I employed it I might really feel in different ways about rental.

At this stage you will be without doubt asking considered one of two thoughts. Can it be reputable And the way has it been taken care of? For a 33 12 months old automobile it's been extremely trustworthy and appreciably much better than I'd hoped. Customers do expect challenges - It is really an old automobile In fact - but so far the majority of the important maladies have happened when I've pushed it. The engine rebuild has created A serious distinction listed here. The problems happen to be as a consequence of ancillaries, which includes a unsuccessful resistor (leading to electrical failure on the best way back again from Goodwood), a slight gas tank leak in addition to a snapped bonnet lead (Fortuitously it still left the bonnet open).

The reduced stage came when a cooling lover unsuccessful, which as every Interceptor proprietor appreciates is similar to the display failing on your own laptop computer - the vehicle gets unusable. Sad to say this transpired when the motor vehicle was out on use to your younger man who was finding married in Cardiff - and although I used to be in Scotland browsing kin. The good thing is he was extremely resourceful and with the assistance of Martin Robey in Nuneaton he organised a alternative enthusiast in addition to a garage to fit it, all about the early morning of his marriage ceremony. Here is the tense aspect of common automobile employ.

This story failed to conclude there. The substitution lover was an increased general performance version that retained tripping the fuse. I only realised this a couple of days later on After i was driving the car all the way down to London for an additional wedding ceremony. The subsequent overheating also highlighted a failed seal about the radiator cap. The vehicle ran high-quality to the motorway - in 30 diploma warmth - but required a relentless 'end, reset, commence' process when in London targeted visitors.

When I achieved The shopper in Richmond I uncovered that he was basically finding up the Jensen en path to his wedding ceremony and he was dressed in his early morning suite. So there was no time to unravel the trouble and only barely enough time to present him how you can quickly resolve it. The good news is he wasn't driving https://dayway.co.za far, did not know Significantly about vehicles and did not location the pool of coolant that appeared when he brought it again the following day!

These niggles have proven the value of developing an excellent romantic relationship with a fantastic nearby specialist garage. Race Sport is knowledgeable in huge American engines and it has discovered a good deal with regard to the Interceptor in the last few months. If the vehicle fails I want a quick turnaround plus they constantly oblige.

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So the vehicle has long been trusted. Has it been looked immediately after? On the whole, Indeed. The standard procedures apply - ninety nine% of men and women are cautious, Pretty much reverential, in the direction of the car. one% are a lot less mindful but definitely not abusive. The car has picked up just one parking chip on the leading edge of the doorway but if not it is precisely as it was ahead of.

The true secret to trying to keep it by doing this would be to clarify to shoppers how precious the car should be to me and the cost to them of harming it. They indicator a form that highlights all defects and spend a significant deposit on assortment.

For just a auto that will get a great deal of frequent use, I've saved it practically as common. In the event the motor was rebuilt I chose to continue to keep it typical. The one variations I've created are to work with standard rubber in place of the much more expensive large efficiency tyres, And that i are going to be upgrading another cooling admirer by means of Martin Robey. Race Activity also dialled again the kick down, which consumers Really don't notice but which preserves the engine. Functioning action is limited to examining and keep the entire degrees and complete cleaning inside, outdoors and underneath soon after just about every employ. The Jensen stays in a very Carcoon amongst hires, that has an exceedingly seem investment decision.

The car's retain the services of function also generates an profits which i reinvest in the vehicle. Over the winter it can obtain some minor beauty improvements into the bodywork - Here are a few chips below and there from past a long time - And that i will get the wheels refurbished.

Following a hectic yr for me and a hard 12 months with the auto I'm pretty impressed with how the vehicle has held up. I now not worry in the slightest degree when it can be out - possibly about breakdowns or injury. The benefits are that the car is finding standard use, which may only be fantastic for it, and I'm obtaining a little profits that I can reinvest in improvements to the vehicle.

The achievement from the Jensen and Alfa now signifies that Terrific Escape has 6 cars accessible to hire. A few of the other cars and trucks are actually owned by vintage lovers who, like me, just Do not get ample use out of them. Their cars are cherished but they're pleased to rent them out since basic auto use customers appear to appear following them. And Additionally they get an money to reinvest of their cars and trucks. These 3 automobiles are employed out beneath a specialist agreement I have made for classic vehicle entrepreneurs underneath which we split The prices and earnings quite. It is actually adaptable to go well with personal necessities and enables entrepreneurs to select when they use they autos out, to whom and for what needs.

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wionews · 7 years

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UK election results stun Conservatives: Experts react

Stuart Wilks-Heeg, head of politics, University of Liverpool

Theresa May is in deep, deep trouble. We know why she called the election; she wanted a bigger majority and a strong mandate ahead of the Brexit negotiations. At the time, it looked like she couldn’t fail, and now it seems that she has failed spectacularly. The campaign has fatally undermined her leadership, and the one thing that could have saved her – if she came through with a strong majority for the Conservative party – hasn’t happened. I think she is finished politically – whether she resigns, or is pushed out by her own party remains to be seen.

Kathryn Simpson, lecturer in politics and public services, Manchester Metropolitan University

Dubbed the Brexit election, this general election provided very little clarity and specific details on what Brexit negotiations would be and what a post-Brexit UK would look like. And the electorate has recognised this.

There will not be the strong and stable government by the time Brexit negotations begin on June 19. That will have a robust impact on Brexit.

The Brexit clock started ticking when May triggered Article 50 in March. Taking six weeks out of the two-year Brexit negotiating window to conduct a general election was risky, as it has eaten into the time available to deal with the EU. Now, with so much uncertainty about how the next government will be formed, more time will inevitably be lost.

Daniel Fitzpatrick, lecturer in politics, Aston University

In an election called to secure a clear mandate for Brexit, the result is no obvious mandate for any party. The mandate for the Conservative version of hard Brexit is in tatters, while a second independence referendum in Scotland is moot given the swing away from the SNP towards the unionist parties – the Scottish Conservatives particularly.

Political commentators are fond of naming elections, as a shorthand for the dominant issue of the day: the 1983 “Falklands” election, the 2005 “Iraq” election. Psephologists will tell you that such retrospective rationalisations do little to convey the complexities of voting behaviour.

But, rarely has an election been characterised so one-dimensionally before the campaign even begun. Although labelled the “Brexit election” by the Conservatives, Theresa May did little to establish that narrative beyond her supposed leadership credentials, which, to put it mildly, faltered. It figured surprisingly little in the election campaigns of the other mainstream parties, except for the Liberal Democrats.

Taking a largely ambivalent stance on EU, Labour has gained Remain seats in London and the South East and retained and won back marginal Leave seats in the North. It looks like neither the so-called Leave or Remain vote offers a reliable indication of the new electoral map. It has figured in certain parts of the country, but nowhere near as decisive as imagined.

William McDougall, lecturer in politics, Glasgow Caledonian University

The Conservative party are performing much better in Scotland than anywhere else. In that sense, Scotland is again having its own election, different from the rest of the UK. This is probably due to the fact that the Scottish Conservatives have been able to run a separate campaign, disassociating themselves from Theresa May and the poor campaign the Conservatives have run in the UK as a whole. They’ve been able to focus on an anti-independence, anti-SNP message. But that does mean that it’s less clear what else the Scottish Conservative MPs stand for. Once they start voting in Westminster, we’ll have a clearer idea of where they stand on other policies.

The Scottish Conservatives could now play quite a vital role in the Westminster parliament. It could make all the difference for May as she attempts to hold on to power. It’s ironic: people often say that Scotland never gets to influence UK election results, and now it could be the Scottish Conservatives who keep the party on top. It puts Ruth Davidson in a strong position within the Conservative party, although it might not have an impact on the direction of Brexit: the new Scottish Conservative MPs are likely to behave themselves in that respect.

John Garry, professor of political behaviour, Queen’s University Belfast

It seems that the two big parties have swept away all the others in Northern Ireland. Apart from an independent unionist candidate retaining her seat, the hardline unionist party, the Democratic Unionist Party, have had a great electoral night at the expense of the Ulster Unionist Party, which has lost its two seats. On the nationalist side, it has been a dreadful election for the moderate Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), which has lost its three seats. The more hardline nationalists, Sinn Fein, have dramatically increased their support.

With the cross-party Alliance also winning no seats, the overall picture emerging is of a more polarised politics in Northern Ireland. This bodes ill for the kind of compromise and conciliation that will be needed to re-establish a power sharing government – a process that was effectively put on hold once Theresa May called this snap Westminster election.

It is ironic that both the DUP and Sinn Fein, which are finding it difficult to form a government in Northern Ireland, were regarded as potentially key players in the election night commentary on government formation at Westminster. Would Sinn Fein change its policy of abstention and possibly prop up a Jeremy Corbyn premiership? “No”, was the quick response from the Sinn Fein leadership. It’s more plausible that the DUP could play a crucial role in sustaining a Conservative administration.

Darren Lilleker, associate professor of political communication, Bournemouth University

Exit polls have generally been fairly accurate in recent UK elections. If that is the case in 2017, the result is cataclysmic for the Conservatives. Labour would not only have increased its number of seats in parliament but also undermined the stranglehold of the neo-liberal societal narrative on public attitudes. This could represent a sea-change in the nation’s politics.

Labour supporters are somewhat triumphalist. It is still a bit early. It will be almost impossible for Labour to have a majority, and it’s still unknown if the Conservatives will be the majority party in a minority government. But if the rumours are true, Labour have the momentum.

Why might this be? This is the most interesting question. It would appear that the Conservative message of offering strong and stable government may well have failed, whereas the more nebulous – but also unproven – Labour platform has traction. What’s more, the UKIP vote has collapsed, while at the same time we see the emergence of the two-party state. UKIP voters have not exclusively moved to the Conservatives while other party voters seem dispersed – the electoral terrain never seemed less certain.

Todd K. Hartman, lecturer in quantitative social science, University of Sheffield

After catching their breath, the first question most people were asking was whether they could trust the results of this exit poll.

The short answer is yes. While the official seat count may differ in either direction due to sampling error, exit polls have provided reliable estimates in past elections.

Exit polling is done at selected polling stations within constituencies with sufficiently large samples to reduce uncertainty around the estimates. They include responses from tens of thousands of voters, while most national opinion polls have sample sizes of around 1,200.

The exit polls only include responses from actual voters. Opinion polls must rely on vote intentions and the likelihood that a particular respondent will actually cast their ballot on election day.

However, like most opinion polls, exit polls are not based on probability samples and are thus not entirely representative of the voting public. This process of sampling introduces error, which is why the exit poll estimates may be different than the certified seat counts.

James Tilley, professor of politics, University of Oxford

Poll leads for the Conservatives over the past couple of weeks have varied enormously. Much of the variation, although by no means all, has been due to the way that the pollsters predicted people’s likelihood to turnout.

The polls with the highest leads for the Conservatives tended to predict low voting rates among younger people and people in working class jobs. We’ve seen this pattern of non-voting for the past few elections, arguably because these groups had become disillusioned with Labour. The polls with the lowest leads for the Conservatives assumed that these two groups would turn out to vote at higher levels than in 2015. The argument here was that Labour under Jeremy Corbyn is a more attractive proposition to more economically left-wing people. So who was right?

Obviously, we won’t know the actual result and we won’t know exact rates of turnout by age and social class for several months until the British Election Survey reports back, but the exit poll does seem to suggest that young people have turned out in larger numbers than at the past few elections.

Generally campaigns are not thought to matter enormously, but this may be the exception that proves the rule. Labour has evidently either converted some people who said they would vote Conservative a few months ago, or mobilised people who said that they wouldn’t vote.

It’s likely that both conversion and particularly mobilisation have been higher among younger voters. While it’s not a successful night for Labour in that it is still predicted to have 50 fewer seats than the Conservatives, at this stage it appears a clear success for the Labour campaign strategy.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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