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fluffyprettykitty · 8 months

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Summer sleepover

running from august 21st to august 23rd

We are celebrating life & anything good in it ☺️ and the reward is a drabble sleepover! Ilysm all and sending good and summery vibes of peace of love to you all year round!

As I had promised in the past we will use the same format as the 1.8 wlw sleepover to help me write my drabbles! What will you do is mix and match a character or several with one or several of the following categories provided.

⋆ Polyamorous ships are always encouraged. No platonic or daughter! reader though.

⋆ Darker themes are welcomed to my discretion. Check my requests page for what I'm comfortable with.

⋆ Please only use a character from the ones already provided. The same goes for all the categories.

⋆ I will either turn them into blurbs or drabbles depending on my inspiration but you can suggest to me what it should be.

⋆ I will do female reader for smut prompts and gender-neutral for fluff prompts. All will be written vague and over 21.

⋆ You can request up to three times.

⋆ You have to be strictly 18+ to participate.

⋆ The time frame is reserved for requests, I will write them and publish them as I see fit aka I don't want to post too much.

characters: Jack Russell, Cassian Andor, Poe Dameron, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Frank Castle, Billy Russo, Thor Odinson, Gamora, Brock Rumlow, Layla El Faouly, Elektra Natchios, Bruce Banner, Marc Spector, Brunnhilde, Yelena Belova, Monica Rambeau, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Joaquin Torres, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, Jane Foster, Kate Bishop.

aus: apocalypse, bakery, book store, brothel, celebrity, clone, detective, ghost, restaurant, porn star, tutor, maid, mechanic, mermaid, neighbor, stripper, yandere, werewolf, vampire.

kinks: latex, breath play, cockwarming, phone sex, gloves, choking, strip tease, uniform/suit, deep throating, titty fucking, squirting, dirty talk, sex toys, accidental stimulation, collaring, shower, sensory deprivation, somnophilia, lingerie, object insertion, lap dance, period sex, lactation, temperature play, edging, spanking, exhibitionism, handcuffs, clothes on, moresomes.

date ideas: day trip, road trip, library, museum, restaurant, camping, beach, drinks/bar, concert, walking, sightseeing, boat ride, dancing, spa, errands, mattress shopping, shopping spree, cinema, coffee, abandoned places, photoshoot.

domestic situations: trying new recipes, competitive games, painting nails, reading, cuddling, clothes shopping, packing for a trip, laundry, saying goodbye at the door, repairing things, changing bedsheets, exercising together, ordering takeout, bathing a pet, falling asleep, waking them up, complaining about family, movie nights, doing dishes.

☆ Just combine as many as you want however you see fit! And of course, when it comes to domestic situations and date ideas you can think of other things or be more specific on one situation! ☆

No pressure tagging: @that-sarcastic-writer, @tarrenterror25, @stargirlfics, @bvckysmoon @aphrogeneias @inklore @alohastyles-x @moonlight-prose @sunflowersteves @flordeamatista @e-dubbc11 @saradika @tom-whore-dleston

#selenes sleepovers #summer sleepover

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scotianostra · 4 months

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The 9th January 2000 saw the death of the historical novelist Nigel Tranter.

Tranter was the most prolific Scottish writer of all time, writing mainly factual and fictional books related to Scottish history, if you haven't read any of his work I recommend you do, the attention to detail takes nothing away from enjoyable stories. In my opinion the only other Scottish writer to come close to the volume and quality of work in this field is Sir Walter Scott.

His grandfathers were church ministers, but a great-grandfather invented the Tranter pistol. He was descended also from James Watt, inventor of the steam engine. He himself wanted to become a restoring architect, but the early death of his father forced him to stop studying. Instead he trained as an accountant and worked in the Scottish National Insurance Company. He served in the Royal Artillery during World War II.

Tranter went to George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh, which may have inspired his love of castles. His earliest writing on these was at the age of 13. As a boy he spent hours cycling to castles and mansions, and drawing them in meticulous detail, before going on to write about them in his first published book, The Fortalices and Early Mansions of Southern Scotland, 1400-1650, at the age of 22. This was followed by the five volumes of The Fortified House in Scotland. In later life he loved to take visitors out to castles and assisted many castle restoration projects in Scotland such as Fa’side.

He married May Jean Campbell Grieve in Athelstaneford Church in July 1933 and they had two children. He and May worked together on The Queen’s Scotland series, giving a short history of parishes in four Scottish regions until her death in 1979, when the project stopped.

Their son Philip was a climber, who sadly died in a car crash in 1966 on his way home from an expedition in the Dolomites. Tranter wrote No Tigers in the Hindu Kush from Philip’s notes.

Tranter saw himself primarily as a storyteller rather than a historian, and his first novel, Trespass, was published in 1937. Although criticised by some academic historians for writing fiction, he developed a huge new audience, who loved his tales of Scottish historical events and people. He wrote his fiction with increasing knowledge of Scottish history, introducing the subject to millions of people worldwide. From 1947 he decided he could earn a living by writing, and produced several novels for children, as well as adults. The Bruce Trilogy sold over 1 million copies and he had fan clubs in many countries. He also wrote Westerns, using the pen name Nye Tredgold.

Nigel Tranter received many honours and awards during his life, and was also actively involved in several organisations, including the St Andrews Society of East Lothian, Scottish PEN, Athelstaneford Flag Fund and the Saltire Society. He believed Scots should ‘be responsible for our own decisions’, and as chairman of the East Lothian Liberal Association for 15 years, he was part of the Scottish Convention, a cross-party pressure group set up to push for devolution. ‘We Scots are different, not better, but long live the difference’.

He continued to write into his 90s, starting each day with a walk across the wooden bridge at Aberlady Bay which he called ‘The Footbridge to Enchantment’. He was a familiar sight walking on the coast, stopping to jot down neat notes for his books on cards or even shells picked up from the beach. Some of these can be seen in the Tranter Museum, which is currently in Athelstaneford Parish Church. His last novel was Envoy Extraordinary. On his death thousands mourned and many friends and residents in the county remember him with great fondness.

Tranter and his family are buried in Aberlady Churchyard. There is a memorial cairn to him at the carpark near the footbridge which leads over to the nature reserve at Aberlady. The Scottish Castles Association have an annual Nigel Tranter Memorial Award in his memory.

There is a lot more on Nigel Tranter at the following link [http://cunninghamh.tripod.com/2001/index.htm](http://cunninghamh.tripod.com/2001/index.htm)

#scotland #history #scottish #author #writer #historical fiction

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stranded-in-paradise · 2 years

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The Crystal Gazer (c. 1900 - 1920) (c. 1900-1920)

Oil on canvas (29½ ins. x 21½ ins.)

Beatrice Offor (1864–1920)

Bruce Castle Museum

Beatrice Offor is thought to have been a member of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

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shadowqueen402 · 1 year

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If The Inhabitants Had Their Nightopia…

These are based off of the locations in both NiD and JoD. Since my oc is an Inhabitant, she will appear here.

Jose Gallard: Spring Valley

Fiona Demetria: Aqua Garden

Yuri Brand: Mystic Forest

Haoyu Chang: Pure Valley

Sana Hudson: Memory Forest

Cass Milligan: Bellbridge

Cal Suresh: Lost Park

Iben Bia: Frozen Bell

Attilio Caccini: Delight City

Lucy Wong: Soft Museum

Eis Glover: Stick Canyon

Bruce Stone: Twin Seeds

Aria Montgomery: Crystal Castle

What do you guys think?

#balan wonderworld #nights journey of dreams #nights into dreams #headcanon #jose gallard #fiona demetria #yuri brand #haoyu chang #sana hudson #cass milligan #cal suresh #iben bia #attilio caccini #lucy wong #eis glover #bruce stone #ocs

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logi1974 · 2 years

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Laird Hasenbär in Schottland - Tag 9 Teil 2

Lairds and Ladies!

Wir fahren weiter durch das nieselige, trübe Wetter und kommen zu einer der größten Touristen-Attraktionen der Highlands: Eilean Donan Castle.

Das Bild von Eilean Donan Castle, wie es sich vor der Kulisse der Berge der Isle of Skye im ruhigen Wasser spiegelt, ist zum Inbegriff von Schottland geworden. Es ist das mit Abstand beliebteste Fotomotiv des Landes und Sinnbild des mystischen Schottlands.

Eilean Donan Castle thront auf einer kleinen Insel, die bei Flut komplett vom Meer umspült wird. Die Lage ist malerisch und strategisch zugleich. Eilean Donan liegt genau am Treffpunkt dreier Meerbusen.

Man meint förmlich, die Geschichte atmen zu können und über die Brücke, die zur Burg führt, eine Zeitreise in die Vergangenheit unternehmen zu können.

Von der Isle of Skye im Westen kommt das Loch Alsh, das dann nach Süd-Osten abknickt und von da an Loch Duich heißt. Loch Duich reicht dabei tief ins Landesinnere, bis hin zur Shiel Bridge. Oberhalb der Burg verläuft schließlich noch das schmale Loch Long.

Wer diese Lochs mit dem Schiff befahren wollte, um in das Landesinnere zu kommen, der musste zuerst an Eilean Donan Castle vorbei. Genau das machte die Burg so wertvoll.

Übersetzt heißt der gälische Name „Donans Insel“. Man glaubte, dass auf dem kleinen Eiland einige Zeit der Heilige Donnán von Eigg lebte, ehe er 617 von einer piktischen Königin verbrannt wurde. Belege dafür lassen sich allerdings nicht finden.

Später wurde Donans Insel zum Stammsitz des schottischen Clans der Macrae. 1220 ließ Alexander II. von Schottland an dieser Stelle eine Burg errichten, die in der schottischen Geschichte eine ruhmreiche Rolle gespielt haben soll, als Robert the Bruce (der Thronanwärter aus „Braveheart“) hier Zuflucht fand, als er vor den Engländern floh.

In den folgenden Jahrhunderten unterlag die Burg ständigen Veränderungen, An-, Um- und Neubauten, sodass sie ihr Gesicht mindestens vier Mal vollständig veränderte.

Im Jahr 1719 dann zerstörten drei englische Fregatten Eilean Donan Castle. Die Schiffe müssen damals über Kyle Akin am Kyle of Lochalsh gekommen sein und die Burg, die zu diesem Zeitpunkt spanischen Truppen als Garnison diente, zerstört haben.

Sechsundvierzig spanische Soldaten, die die jakobitische Sache unterstützten, waren in der Burg stationiert und wurden dort getötet. Ein Geist, der oft gesehen wird, soll einer dieser Soldaten sein – er wird mit dem Kopf unter dem Arm im heutigen Souvenirshop gesehen. Eine weibliche Erscheinung wird angeblich auch gesehen, wie sie durch die Schlafzimmer wandert.

200 Jahre lang lag Eilean Donan Castle anschließend in Ruinen. Erst 1911 fasste sich Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap ein Herz, erwarb die Insel und begann schon ein Jahr später mit dem langen und sehr mühsamen Wiederaufbau des Castles.

20 Jahre sollte es dauern, bis Eilean Donan Castle in neuem Glanz wiedereröffnet werden konnte und es ist vor allem dem Geschick des Rekonstrukteurs zu verdanken, dass Eilean Donan Castle aussieht, als hätte die Burg schon seit Jahrhunderten unverrückbar an dieser Stelle gestanden.

Nach dem Tod von John MacRae-Gilstrap im Jahr 1937 blieb das Schloss lange unbewohnt. 1955 wurde das Eilean Donan Castle von Mr John MacRae, dem Enkel von John MacRae-Gilstrap, als Museum für Besucher eröffnet. Die Burg ist auch heute noch Stammsitz des schottischen Clans der Macrae.

Seitdem gilt die Burg als Besuchermagnet und zählt zu den wichtigsten Touristenattraktionen Schottlands. Sie ist der Inbegriff schottischer Romantik geworden und ein Fotomotiv, das man schöner kaum finden kann. Dennoch – oder vielleicht gerade deshalb – ist das Castle auf jeden Fall einen Besuch wert.

Auf die Insel, gelangt man zu nur über eine langgezogene und wunderschöne steinerne Brücke. Bei Flut ist das Schloss übrigens komplett von Wasser umgeben. Diese Brücke und das düstere Gemäuer dahinter hat Eilean Donan berühmt gemacht, denn sie diente immer wieder als Filmkulisse.

Highlander mit Christopher Lambert aus dem Jahre 1986 hat Eilean Donan mit seiner Brücke weltberühmt gemacht. Eigentlich ist die Szene nur sehr kurz, die dort spielt: Der Clan MacLeod zieht in den Krieg aus und reitet über die Steinbrücke, im Hintergrund erhebt sich das Gemäuer der Burg. Doch war das wohl eine der prägenden Szenen des Streifens, denn danach wollten plötzlich so viele Menschen diese Burg mit der außergewöhnlichen Brücke sehen.

Besuch eines bekannten Geheimagenten erhielt Eilean Donan 1999. Denn im James Bond Film „Die Welt ist nicht genug“, verschlägt es Pierce Brosnan als 007 auch nach Schottland – und wo sonst als in der Eilean Donan Castle sollte das Hauptquartier des MI6 residieren?

Und dann gab es noch exotischen Besuch aus Bollywood. Im Film „Kuch Kuch Hota Hai“ mit Superstar Shah Rukh Khan taucht Eilean Donan plötzlich als Kulisse für einen der typischen Songs im indischen Kino auf.

Weitere Filme, die teilweise hier spielten: „Bonnie Prince Charlie“ mit David Niven, „Der Freibeuter“ mit Errol Flynn und „Nessie – Das Geheimnis von Loch Ness“.

Natürlich kennt man Eilean Donan Castle aus „Braveheart“, aber auch aus „Rob Roy“ und „Verliebt in die Braut“. Einige Szenen für „Elizabeth – Das goldene Königreich“ und den Thriller „Verlockende Falle“ mit Sean Connery und Catherine Zeta-Jones wurden hier ebenfalls gedreht.

Eilean Donan ist eine schottische Touristen-Attraktion erster Güte, entsprechend groß ist der Rummel. Die Maschinerie der Vermarktung läuft professionell und wie geschmiert. Die Parkplätze sind riesig und immer voll besetzt.

Schon von weitem bietet das Schloss eine unglaublich tolle Fotokulisse. Es lohnt sich auch, auf die nahe Straßenbrücke zu gehen und das Schloss aus dieser Perspektive anzuschauen. Die Straße ist zwar stark befahren, aber es gibt einen breiten Gehweg. Der Blick von hier auf das Schloss ist wirklich toll.

Natürlich ist das Eilean Donan Castle auch von Innen absolut spektakulär. Der Eintritt in das Schloss von 10 Pfund ist jeden Penny wert. Der empfehlenswerte Audioguide kostet noch einem 3 Pfund extra und ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar. Man kann sich aber auch einer der vielen Gruppen, die durchs Castle geschleust werden, diskret anschließen und mitlauschen.

Die Führungen werden gekonnt inszeniert werden. Mit dem Kilt gekleidet, einem schottischem Zungenschlag und viel Herzblut erzählen die Guides die Geschichte der Burg, führen durch die üppigen Zimmer und die Geheimkammer im großen Saal.

Man erfährt sehr viel über die Geschichte des Schlosses, der Clans und von Schottland allgemein. Wer weiß denn schon welche Kilt-Farbe für welches Ereignis steht?

Es macht einfach Spaß, die vielen Räume zu entdecken und engen Wendeltreppen nach oben zu kraxeln. Kinder kommen im dem Schloss natürlich auch voll auf ihre Kosten. Man braucht nicht viel Fantasie, um sich in die Zeit der Ritter zurückzuversetzen.

Nach dem Besuch kann man sogar einmal um die komplette Anlage laufen. In der Burg selber dürfen in den Zimmern allerdings keine Aufnahmen gemacht werden.

Ganz am Anfang der Rundtour durch das Eilean Donan Castle gibt es einen Ausstellungsraum in dem fotografiert werden darf. Außerdem gibt es den üblichen Mitarbeiter, der in Tracht gekleidet, für touristische Aufnahmen zur Verfügung steht.

Fototipp: Wieder auf der A87 nach Skye, über die Loch Long Brücke, gleich nach der Burg. Dahinter kommt links ein kleiner Parkplatz mit Anlegesteg für Boote. Von da aus kann man die Eilean Donan seitlich fotografieren.

Bei dem Loch Long handelt es sich um einen Meeresarm, der ähnlich wie ein Fjord gebildet wurde.

„Loch Long“ wird aus dem Gälischen als Schiffssee übersetzt, da Arrochar 1263 ein wichtiges Ziel für die Angriffe der Wikinger war. Sie schleppten ihre Boote 2 Meilen über Land nach Tarbet, um die ungeschützten Siedlungen im Landesinneren von Loch Lomond anzugreifen.

Die aktuelle Brücke, die Loch Long zwischen Dornie und Ardelve überspannt, wurde 1990 gebaut, um das ältere Bauwerk etwas weiter flussaufwärts zu ersetzen. Die neue Straße, die Carr Brae umgeht, war einige Jahre zuvor gebaut worden.

Vor dem Bau der Brücke im Jahr 1940 verkehrte eine Autofähre von Ardelve, die regelmäßig nach Dornie und auf Anfrage nach Totaig auf der Südseite von Loch Duich verkehrte. Es ist nur eine Autofähre bekannt, die auf diesem Dienst gefahren ist, obwohl eine Fährverbindung hier bereits seit mehr 2 Jahrhunderten verkehrte.

Die alte Brücke war eine eingleisige Betonkonstruktion, die sich von der Mitte des Dorfes Dornie bis unmittelbar nördlich der neuen Brücke auf der Ardelve-Seite erstreckte. Von der alten Brücke ist heute nichts mehr übrig, da sie kurz nach der Eröffnung der neuen Brücke komplett demontiert wurde. Die Hellingen der Airds-Fähre, die der Brücke vorausgingen, werden jedoch immer noch auf beiden Seiten des Loch Long benutzt.

Die neue Brücke über Loch Long wurde 1990 eröffnet und bietet anstelle der schmaleren alten Struktur eine zweispurige Straße in beide Richtungen. Die Brücke besteht aus zehn Spannweiten über dem Fluss, die von Betonpfeilern unter dem Deck getragen werden.

Die A 87 folgt von hier dem Loch Alsh. Loch Alsh (vom schottisch-gälischen Loch Aillse, „schäumender See“) ist eine Meeresbucht zwischen der Insel Skye und den nordwestlichen Highlands von Schottland.

Der Name wird auch verwendet, um das umliegende Land und die feudalen Besitzungen rund um den See zu beschreiben. Die Gegend ist reich an Geschichte und wird bei Touristen immer beliebter.

Der See verläuft etwa 12 Kilometer landeinwärts bis zum Eilean Donan Castle.

Eine schmale Meerenge südlich von Loch Alsh führt zum Sound of Sleat, der die Isle of Skye vom Festland trennt. Die urzeitlichen Felsen rund um Loch Alsh wurden durch eine Reihe von Eiszeiten stark erodiert.

Einst ist der Wald hier ausgedehnter gewesen, aber die frühen Bewohner wandelten Teile davon in Crofts (kleine Farmen) um, und als die Highland Clearances die Crofts zerstörten, wurde das Land als Weide erhalten.

Kyle of Lochalsh (gälisch: Caol Loch Aillse) ist ein Ort an der Nordwestküste Schottlands. Der Ort liegt etwa 100km westlich von Inverness und gehört zum County Area Highland.

Kyle Of Lochalsh liegt am Eingang des Loch Alsh gegenüber des Ortes Kyleakin, der auf der Isle Of Skye liegt. Das machte Kyle Of Lochalsh sehr bekannt, da man früher nur per Fähre von Kyle Of Lochalsh auf die Isle of Skye kam.

Das ist jedoch Geschichte. Seit 1995 befindet sich die Skye Bridge in Betrieb, der Fährbetrieb wurde deshalb eingestellt. Die Skye Bridge befindet sich ca. 2 km entfernt vom Ort.

Seit Dezember 2004 ist die Brücke für alle frei, aber das war nicht immer so. Als die Brücke 1995 eröffnet wurde, erhob man für beide Richtungen eine teure Mautgebühr.

Der Brückenbau begann 1992, gebaut von der schottischen Firma Miller, aber entworfen von dem deutschen Ingenieurbüro DYWIDAG Systems aus Langenfeld.

Die Hauptbrücke ist ein Betonbogen, der von zwei Pfeilern getragen wird. Diese verbinden Skye mit der kleinen Insel namens Eilean Bàn, der Rest der Brücke verläuft auf gleicher Höhe mit dem Festland. Die Gesamtstrecke beträgt 1,5 Meilen (2,4 km). Der Hauptbogen ist etwa 35 m hoch (30 m Abstand für Boote bei Flut).

Die meisten Menschen wollten die Brücke, aber die Art und Weise, wie sie finanziert wurde, löste eine Kontroverse. Die britische Regierung konnte und wollte nicht für die Kosten aufkommen und so sprangen private Geldgeber ein. Anschlie��end wurde dem privaten Unternehmen eine Lizenz zur Erhebung von Mautgebühren erteilt. Sie galt als die teuerste Straßenbrücke Europas.

Die Bewohner auf Skye gründeten eine Kampagnengruppe namens SKAT (Skye and Kyle Against Tolls). Nach jahrelangen Kampagnen, rechtlichen Herausforderungen und der Gründung des neuen schottischen Parlaments im Jahr 1999 machten die führenden politischen Parteien die Abschaffung der Maut zu ihrer Priorität. Am 21. Dezember 2004 wurde die Brücke von der schottischen Regierung aufgekauft und anschließend frei befahrbar gemacht.

Eilean Bàn (Weiße Insel) ist die kleine Insel, auf der der Hauptbogen der Brücke ruht.

Die Insel hat einen 21 m hohen Leuchtturm direkt unter dem Brückenbogen. Die Leuchtturmwärter (vor der Automatisierung in den 1960er Jahren) blieben in den Cottages auf der Insel. Heutzutage ist die Insel ein Naturschutzgebiet, das vom Bright Water Trust verwaltet wird.

Wir fahren noch rund 1 Stunde über die Isle of Skye, bis wir an unserem Cottage gegen 18 Uhr eintreffen. Am späten Abend werden wir mit einem sensationellen Sonnenuntergang belohnt.

Oidhche mhath!

Angie, Micha und Laird Hasenbär

#Eilean Donan Castle #Isle of Skye #Schottland

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bootstraplemon · 6 months

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Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Vampires Werewolves Zombies: Compendium Monstrum, excellent condition, hardcover.

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forestraydentists · 11 months

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Private Dentist Haringey

Nestled within the vibrant district of Haringey, Forest & Ray Dental Practice stands as a premier private dentist, providing a broad range of excellent dental services. By marrying top-notch dental care with the diverse cultural experience of Haringey, Forest & Ray adds a unique dimension to the colourful urban tapestry of this district.

Haringey is a bustling area, filled with an array of attractions and green spaces. Just a few steps from Forest & Ray, you can explore the iconic Alexandra Palace, known as the “People’s Palace”, with its panoramic views over London and year-round events and concerts. The area also hosts the Markfield Beam Engine and Museum, a stunning example of Victorian industrial design.

Green spaces like Highgate Wood and Finsbury Park provide serene spots for relaxation amidst urban life. Also, the district houses the popular Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Stadium, making it a hotspot for football fans.

Bruce Castle, a Grade I listed 16th-century manor house, now serves as a museum showcasing the history of the Tottenham area. For shopping enthusiasts, the vibrant Wood Green High Road is home to numerous shops, restaurants, and the bustling Wood Green Market.

Forest & Ray Dental Practice offers comprehensive dental services, from routine check-ups and dental hygiene appointments to advanced orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry. Renowned for their highly experienced dentists and state-of-the-art facilities, Forest & Ray epitomises dental care excellence.

Whether you’re a Haringey local, a working professional in the district, or a visitor drawn to the area’s rich culture and green spaces, Forest & Ray Dental Practice offers the perfect chance to incorporate top-quality dental care into your routine. By choosing Forest & Ray, you’re not only ensuring excellent dental health, but also immersing yourself in the diverse and energetic spirit of Haringey.

Originally published here: https://forestray.dentist/private-dentist-haringey/

#Forest & Ray Feeds

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ubu507 · 1 year

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Clementine, the Living Fashion Doll Mark Mander (b.1980) Bruce Castle Museum

#don't tell DeSantis

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centuriespast · 5 months

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Auntie's Best Bonnet Beatrice Offor (1864–1920) Bruce Castle Museum

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journeydb · 1 year

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November 14 2021 Barcelona

Sundays are such special days! On Sundays morning I have more time to meditate, work on this blog, write in my journal, and, if I have time, write the memoir I’m working on about my mother and her sisters, because I’m not rushing off to a class, doing other exercise, or grocery shopping. I also have a real breakfast of eggs and sometimes toast, not just my fruit shake and tea. It’s almost like a celebration of relaxation, inspiration, and creativity!

Inevitably, though, Bruce will want us to take an excursion, or we’ll go on an excursion with friends, so I seldom get the whole day to focus inward. But I love excursions and learning so I’m always happy to make the effort. Today Bruce’s plan was to visit the lovely Parc de Les Aigues in Horta/Guinardo.

Although small, the park was impressive and is probably even more so during the spring when the flowers are in bloom. Maybe we’ll return next spring.

This mansion, which almost looks like a castle, caught my attention. There are many such homes in this part of Barcelona. I think some have been converted to apartments or Air B&Bs, or have become museums. Some, however, have stayed in the family and are actually residences!

The next stop on this excursion was the CosmoCaixa museum, which we had never visited before.

The reason we visited today was the Tesla exhibition. Not, not Tesla the car company, Tesla the man! He was an amazing visionary and this celebration of his genius was very well presented.

Tesla’s story is one of a brilliant man who thought “outside the box” and tried to change the world for the better. He fought against the forces of greed and narcissism embodied by some of the industrialists who were in the game for the advancement of their own wealth and power.

According to Wikipedia:

“Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Born and raised in the Austrian Empire, Tesla studied engineering and physics in the 1870s without receiving a degree, gaining practical experience in the early 1880s working in telephony and at Continental Edison in the new electric power industry. In 1884 he emigrated to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen. He worked for a short time at the Edison Machine Works in New York City before he struck out on his own. With the help of partners to finance and market his ideas, Tesla set up laboratories and companies in New York to develop a range of electrical and mechanical devices. His alternating current (AC) induction motor and related polyphase AC patents, licensed by Westinghouse Electric in 1888, earned him a considerable amount of money and became the cornerstone of the polyphase system which that company eventually marketed.

Attempting to develop inventions he could patent and market, Tesla conducted a range of experiments with mechanical oscillators/generators, electrical discharge tubes, and early X-ray imaging. He also built a wireless-controlled boat, one of the first-ever exhibited. Tesla became well known as an inventor and demonstrated his achievements to celebrities and wealthy patrons at his lab, and was noted for his showmanship at public lectures. Throughout the 1890s, Tesla pursued his ideas for wireless lighting and worldwide wireless electric power distribution in his high-voltage, high-frequency power experiments in New York and Colorado Springs. In 1893, he made pronouncements on the possibility of wireless communication with his devices. Tesla tried to put these ideas to practical use in his unfinished Wardenclyffe Tower project, an intercontinental wireless communication and power transmitter, but ran out of funding before he could complete it.

After Wardenclyffe, Tesla experimented with a series of inventions in the 1910s and 1920s with varying degrees of success. Having spent most of his money, Tesla lived in a series of New York hotels, leaving behind unpaid bills. He died in New York City in January 1943.Tesla's work fell into relative obscurity following his death, until 1960, when the General Conference on Weights and Measures named the SI unit of magnetic flux density the tesla in his honor. “

There is still controversy surrounding Nikola Tesla and the way the “powers that be” at that time treated him and his inventions. To many he was a proponent of sustainability and protecting the Earth and her resources. To others, he was a threat for that very reason, especially those making money from the exploitation of the Earth. According to The Fifth State:

“From the invention of the particle beam to radar, the electric car, robotics, and remote-controlled drones, Tesla mental-modelled solutions to problems with such clarity of mind that he could visualize the individual parts of a machine or mechanism in three dimensions, then run simulations in his head and check for wear and tear.

He even pioneered interplanetary radio communication with Guglielmo Marconi, whom he later fell out with when the US Patent Office mysteriously overturned his patents and effectively credited Marconi with the invention of the radio; Marconi was, in fact, using several of Tesla’s patents.

Tesla was so far ahead of his time, the genius of many of his early inventions — used to develop the radio and television, fluorescent and induction lighting, and MRIs and X-rays –- only came to light after his death.

Tesla’s long-held dream was to create a source of inexhaustible, clean energy that was free for everyone. He strongly opposed centralized coal-fired power stations that spewed carbon dioxide into the air that humans breathed.

He believed that the Earth had “fluid electrical charges” running beneath its surface, that when interrupted by a series of electrical discharges at repeated set intervals, would generate a limitless power supply by generating immense low-frequency electrical waves.

One of Tesla’s most extraordinary experiments was to transmit electrical power over long distances without wires or cables — a feat that has baffled scientists ever since .His grand vision was to free humankind from the burdens of extracting, pumping, transporting, and burning fossil fuels — which he viewed as “sinful waste”.

Tesla was eventually undone by what he called “ignorant, unimaginative people, consumed by self-interest”— powerful men that sought to protect the immensely profitable, low-tech industries they had spent a lifetime building. Today’s fossil-fuel industry, a legacy of that past, has fought just as hard in recent decades to protect the same interests.”

What a different world we might have today if people had listened to NikolaTesla and financiers had invested in his clean energy solutions! At least now we are on the right track but it has taken too long and we don’t have much time, especially if the vested interests keep using their wealth and power to thwart the efforts of activists, environmentalists, and others who have seen the light and want to move ahead to the clean energy future which could save our planet.

After visiting the museum we found our way to Carrer Major de Sarria, a walking mall with stores and restaurants on both sides. Bruce, of course, was searching for a bakery or pastry shop to get a croissant or a brownie and he found both at this shop, Foix de Sarria, which has been here since 1886. Bruce was happy with his snack and we went home for dinner, pleased with our excursion and the things we saw and learned.

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ebsfashunblog · 2 years

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DOUGLAS

Douglas is the capital town of the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. It’s home to the Manx Museum, featuring displays of Viking gold. From here, the Story of Mann trail tours the island’s ancient sites. The restored Villa Marina–Gaiety Theatre complex features a grand Edwardian concert hall. Horse-drawn trams ply the promenade on Douglas Bay. South, the Great Union Camera Obscura uses mirrors to provide panoramic views. Douglas (Manx: Doolish, pronounced [ˈdðuːlʲəʃ]) is the capital and largest town[a] of the Isle of Man, with a population of 27,938 (2011). It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and on a sweeping bay of two miles (three kilometres). The River Douglas forms part of the town's harbour and main commercial port.

Douglas was a small settlement until it grew rapidly as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century. Further population growth came in the following century, resulting during the 1860s in a staged transfer of the High Courts, the Lieutenant Governor's residence, and finally the seat of the legislature, Tynwald, to Douglas from the ancient capital, Castletown. see

The town is the Island's main hub for business, finance, legal services, shipping, transport, shopping, and entertainment. The annual Isle of Man TT motorcycle races start and finish in Douglas.

In the absence of any archaeological data, the origins of the town may be revealed by analysis of the original street and plot pattern. The discovery of a bronze weapon in central Douglas,[3] and the large Ballaquayle Viking treasure hoard[4] on the outskirts (now in the Manx Museum and British Museum, London[5]), both in the 1890s, hint at the early importance of the site now occupied by Douglas. Scholars agree that the name of the town derives from Early Celtic 'Duboglassio' meaning 'black river'.[6] Douglas is twice referred to in the monastic Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles: first in 1190, when the monks of St Mary's Abbey at Rushen were transferred there for a four-year stay; then again in 1313, when Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, spent the night at the "monastery of Duglas" on his way to seize Castle Rushen.[7] These may be references to the site of the later Nunnery, a little upstream from the port.

The first detailed documentation shows that in 1511[8] there were only thirteen resident households in the settlement clustered north of the harbour; most of the property there was classified as "chambers"[9] (unoccupied, unheated, single-celled structures) for which rent was paid by non-residents including clergy, officials and landowners from elsewhere on the island. This suggests that the town's nucleus originated as a non-urban port.[10] Speculation links the store buildings with the Irish Sea herring fishery, and the import/export trade.

Growth and development

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In 1681 Thomas Denton described Douglas as "the place of greatest resort" on the Isle of Man, and by 1705 a clear picture of the early town emerges, with hints that its residential, market, and military defence functions were growing in importance[11] alongside the port facility. The town thrived in the next 60 years, as imposing merchants' houses, large warehouses, quays and a pier were built to accommodate the burgeoning "running trade" (smuggling): one of the stimuli for the town's expansion.[12] Other forms of trade also grew, and after the Revestment Act 1765, Douglas began to reap the benefits of transatlantic trade, due in part to co-operation at a local level with Liverpool.[13] Legitimate merchants who rose to prominence over the period included the Murreys, the Moores, and the Bacons.[13] The town's later prosperity was facilitated by the low cost of living, and the favourable legal status enjoyed by English debtors and half-pay officers.[14] The initial growth and development of the town owed much to its natural harbour (now the Inner Harbour), since greatly expanded and improved. Over the 18th century, the town's population rose from about 800 in 1710 to nearly 2,500 in 1784.

Throughout the 19th century, the town's demographics followed the same trends as the United Kingdom, due to the Industrial Revolution. The number of holiday visitors grew from the early 19th century, and from around 1870 onwards, the town was transformed into a leading holiday resort. But there were increasingly unsanitary conditions, and poor quality housing; again reflecting a trend seen across the United Kingdom. The open sewage, middens (domestic waste dumps), and smell from the harbour at low tide all contributed to the town's uncleanliness. Oil and gas lamps first appeared in the late 1820s and 1830s, the first hospital to join the Dispensary was built in 1850, and in 1832 the scenic Tower of Refuge was built in Douglas Bay to offer shelter and provisions for sailors awaiting rescue. Douglas in the first half of the 19th century often suffered from the destitution of its population and the many epidemics, in particular cholera.The rise of Douglas as the social and economic stronghold was recognised in 1869, when it became the home of the island's parliament, Tynwald, and therefore the capital, an honour previously held by Castletown, a smaller town in the south of the island. Douglas's political landscape also changed significantly in the 19th century, in spite of the conservatism of some townsfolk: in 1844, for example, at a public meeting, the idea of a town council was rejected in favour of retaining the system of Town High Bailiffs; when the Town Bill Act was passed at Tynwald in 1852, the people of Douglas again rejected the idea. However, an Act passed later that decade, which did not include opt-out clauses, was accepted, and in 1860, Douglas elected its first town council, which was predominantly middle class in its makeup. The Town Commissioners could tackle the town's problems with greater efficiency, and by 1869 the sewage problem had been largely resolved.The Commissioners also worked to alter the anachronistic architecture of Douglas, built during the era of fishing and trading, and no longer amenable or safe for tourists. The proportion of the total Manx population living in Douglas was also expanding, with 35% living there by 1891. The Victorian and later modernisation of the town was achieved at the expense of the original maze-like layout of the oldest streets. These were cleared away in the new street schemes and slum clearances of the 1870s to 1920s. The town's infrastructure was radically altered for tourists' convenience, and in 1878 the Loch Promenade was constructed. In 1870, there were 60,000 visitors annually; by 1884, this had grown to 182,000. In 1887, 310,916 visited for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.The earliest organised ferry services emerged between Douglas and Whitehaven, established by William Nicholson in the 1750s. More formally, Nicholson's Packet Service began in 1765 or 1766, and the Post Office mail contract was secured by 1782. Sailings were irregular and heavily dependent on weather conditions. Steamer services brought a considerable improvement; the first regular link (en route between Greenock and Liverpool) was available from 1819. The formation of what became the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1830 led to greatly improved services, and also laid the foundations for growth in both cargo and tourist traffic.The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has a lifeboat station at Douglas. The first lifeboat station in the port was established in 1802. In 1825 it was one of the first lifeboat stations to be provided with a purpose-built lifeboat; this was at the request of Sir William Hillary, the founder of the Institution. It was not operational between 1851 and 1868, and it closed in 1895. The station, established in 1874, operates the Tyne-class lifeboat Sir William Hillary. There are three memorials to Sir William in Douglas: one in St George's Church where he was buried in 1847, one on Loch Promenade, and the other on Douglas Head near where in 1832 he established the Tower of Refuge.

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