#like as much as it can feel like a cosy wee community. just me and my mutuals <3 etc. its like. actually the fucking internet djdbdjdhdhjdh

[brightokyolights]

...

#i am only typing this because im tired and feeling more loosey goosey than i usually would i guess #but ive just been debating something for a while now #so basically i used to just openly talk about like. everything on this blog but then due to a multitude of reasons #i stopped posting about certain things 1. because irl people found my blog and probably still could if they Really tried #2. because i didnt want to post about certain things and have absolutely anyone know shit about me #like as much as it can feel like a cosy wee community. just me and my mutuals <3 etc. its like. actually the fucking internet djdbdjdhdhjdh #anyways whats prompting me to type all this is that i used to post kinda negative stuff on here i guess you could say. like just my feelings #and shit. but i stopped because i want this to be a positive blog and i do feel like you can manifest shit you know? if i constantly reblog #posts where im like “i feel worthless and i am a piece of shit” that isnt helping anything you know? i think what really hammered it home #for me is when i saw a mutual rb something from me like that and it made me so sad tbh. because like. no youre not. youre amazing and ily #you know? anyways. overall i think it has been a decision for the best and i enjoy that my blog has become a more positive space. but i #do sometimes just feel like im kind of going the opposite direction where i act a certain way when im really just. feeling crap. #like all the time. idk maybe tumblr isnt the place for it but it used to be my outlet you know? and i have other things like my diary and #art and even a sideblog lmao. but i guess i do just mourn my whole self not being on this blog. idk what im trying to say by all this #is it this deep? am i thinking about this way too much lmao. idk. idk. #le text post

[xhanisai]

What if Adrien/Chat can communicate with cats and is also really good at making flower crowns and bouquets?

- I know these are really specific but we really went off tangent in the server and suddenly the idea of Adrien having cute cats and kittens deliver Marinette some flowers was born.

- Ever since he was young, Emelie would teach Adrien flower language, how to arrange bouquets tastefully and even make the most beautiful flower crowns. He would create flower crowns for his mother almost daily- just imagine a wee lil’ bab, his itty bitty fingers carefully weaving flowers and plucking out thorns, a cute lil’ blep and then happily placing them on his mama’s head~~

- He does dream of opening his own flower shop in Paris. Especially with his Lady by his side. He’d love to have her wake up to fresh flowers and bouquets every single day before he greets her with a good morning kiss and breakfast in bed~

- When Adrien first received the miraculous, that’s when he began to understand what cats say and also communicate with them. Plagg can’t communicate with cats because I want to see cats bully him since I love him so much.

- Plagg would present himself before the cats, demand them to bow down before him and bask in their “awed” and “respectful” meows and purrs. Adrien, in the background is just grimacing since he really knows what the cats are actually saying.

“Meaw!” (Lmao what the fuck is that little midget saying? I wanna eat him.)

“Meee!” (I wonder what would happen if I bit his tail?).

- Sometimes, cats would say random things which Adrien tunes out like idle chatter. Other times, they can be absolutely savage. 

“Miau~”

"EXCUSE ME!? HOW FUCKING RUDE!"

“Meeeeew~~~”

“I AM NOT FAT. SCREW YOU.”

“...Chat Noir? Are you arguing with...a cat?”

“MY LADY! SHE CALLED ME FAT THOUGH! ;A;”

- Parisians and the Ladyblog would often take videos of Chat Noir having full on conversations with cats and kittens. A lot of them are really comedic and he’s dubbed as ‘The Cat Whisperer’. Adrien has to be more discreet about it to ensure that his identity is safe. 

- The cats know that he’s both Chat and Adrien and they also know that Marinette is Ladybug so they take full advantage of this.

“Meow!” (Look at this twink- he claims that he’s in love with Ladybug only to turn around and make goo-goo eyes at Marinette~! Two timer!)

“Mrew.” (What is this rubbish. I’ve asked for lean, fatty tuna. THIS IS NOT FATTY TUNA. OFF WITH YOUR HEAD.)

“Meeeew.” (Just because you’re glaring at me doesn’t mean I’ll go away M. Furry. I will stay here for as long as I want, bitch).

“Mao!” (Why are you getting all bristly for, model kid? I thought Marinette is just a friend so I should be allowed to get cuddles and pets and kisses from her ;)).

- A lot of the cats and kittens purposely get cosy with Ladybug after patrols just to spite Chat Noir. He’d be in the background, seething since he can’t do anything about it. It doesn’t stop him from growling out stuff like:

"He's not THAT cute ya know."

"My hair is softer!"

"I smell better!"

“At least my breath doesn’t reek of rotten fish and whatever rubbish that cat has eaten- MY LADY THAT BASTARD IS SCENTING YOU! OI YOU FURRY YOU LITTLE POTATO GO GET YOUR OWN LADY AND LEAVE MINE ALONE!!!”

- Though, on days where Ladybug feels generous with her affections and boundaries, she allows Chat Noir to play with her hair. He often likes to weave small flowers into her hair or make beautiful flower crowns for her. She has them all pressed in a secret album at home which she sometimes likes to look back on when she’s having a bad day. She even annotates them with dates, meaningful conversations and the atmosphere.

- After getting a bit too curious, Marinette searches up the meanings of the flowers that Chat has made for her only to blush as bright as an engine when she saw how loving and passionate they were. This cat definitely was aiming for marriage...

“That’s not fair. He’s supposed to be a clown. All goofy, silly and funny. Not romantic, sweet and wonderful...”

“One person can be all of those, Marinette.”

“BUT TIKKI-”

- Adrien/Chat would even make small flower crowns for the cats that are nice to him or place cute little flowers behind their ears. The kittens love it.

- One time, he gave an asshole cat a flower that meant “Fuck you <3″ and when the cat found out, it stole his Ladybug Body pillow. He ended up brooding and crying like a little kid for the rest of the day and during patrol, even though he didn’t tell LB what was really up, she held him in her arms and stroked his hair whilst he hugged her waist against his face with a pout.

- One day, during break at school, Adrien was idlily making a flower crown which he nonchalantly put on Nino’s head and suddenly everyone in his whole class wanted one. Nino let out a tearful “B-Bro~ <3″ whilst Kim demanded for twenty flower crowns.

- Marinette also wanted one but was always too shy to ask, chickened out in many of her attempts and would come up with excuses like:

“Oh but I don’t want to overwhelm him...”

“I’m pretty sure he has his hands full...”

“I don��t want to bother him...”

- Soon, everyone in class had at least one or two flower crowns made by Adrien, Kim and Alix arguing about whose was better, Alya and the girls snapping selfies and the lads in la-la-land, babbling about how amazing their bro was. Mari was feeling a bit left out...even huffed to Chat Noir about it, vaguely mentioning how she’ll always have his flower crowns and doesn’t need the ones her good friend was making for everyone in their class.

- Until, she suddenly felt a soft weight on her head, turned around and saw Adrien smiling at her sheepishly, his hands which were above her head beforehand to place the crown was now on her hands. 

“I had to save the best for last~”

“A-A-Adrien?”

“The girls told me about how you really wanted one but worried about bothering me even though I said many times that it’s no problem at all,”

“But you have so much on your plate already, not to mention everyone else’s requests before mine-”

“Marinette, I’ll always find time for you~<3″

- Marinette’s flower crown was definitely the most beautiful and most carefully created much to everyone’s chagrin. There were soft pinks, lavenders and peach coloured flowers. 

- What really caught Alya’s fancy were the lavender roses...because you know...

“...They mean love at first sight...Tikki...why would Adrien give me these?”

“Well, I think you should wait and find out, Marinette~”

- So clearly, Adrien has figured Marinette out. He bribed cats to deliver flowers to Marinette, all with different meanings and messages.

“Ooh! Tikki! This one means ‘I’ll always be by your side,’“

“Tikki! Tikki! This one means ‘You’re the light of my life’! Who’s sending me these?? And managed to get cats of all animals to deliver it to me??”

“...Tikki...I think this cat accidentally ate the flowers it was meant to give me...it looks so guilty...I should hug it.”

“This one means ‘I’m sad that you didn’t give me a croissant’. TIKKI WHO DID I FORGET TO GIVE A CROISSAINT TO!?”

- Marinette soon realises how similar the arrangements were with Chat’s and Adrien’s flower crowns and starts to suspect. Plus, who else would be able to get cats to deliver flowers if not the ‘Cat Whisperer’?

- She also catches Adrien arguing with a cat right after an akuma attack which finally gives him away.

“What do you mean I should have read the fine print when it comes to the payments!? I paid you with 3KG of the finest, freshest salmon! That costed more than three months worth of stinky camembert that I feed to Plagg! All I’ve asked you to do was give the tulips to Marinette and I bet she’s rewarded you with some goodies...so no. I am not to paying an additional 5KG of tuna.”

“MEOW.”

“Don’t go all karen on me ya little punk.”

“MEOWWWWW.”

“Ohoho! You’re not the only one with claws here- I won’t hesitate to fight back-”

“...Adrien?”

“M-MARINETTE!?”

- She presents him a bright red rose, one that she’s grown on her balcony, her face shy and loving.

“I love you too, mon Chaton,”

#cat whisperer au #my au #my headcanons #miraculous ladybug #miraculous ladybug and chat noir #adrien agreste #chat noir #marinette dupain cheng #ladybug #adrinette #adrienette #plagg #ladynoir #lovesquare #love square #maybe i'll write a fic one day

[mreugenehalsey]

A Specialty Coffee Shop Tour of Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh: a city of history, whisky, and coffee. Yes, coffee. Scotland’s capital has a progressive third wave scene with an impressive choice of specialty coffee shops. These cafés are all proudly independent, with strong identities and an even stronger determination to keep growing.

Nestled between the hills and the sea, Edinburgh has wide appeal for tourists and locals alike. This medieval city may have an ancient castle as its heart, but its beat is dynamic and modern. Let’s explore my personal picks of Edinburgh’s third wave coffee scene.

You may also like A Specialty Coffee Shop Tour of Glasgow, Scotland

Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street Gardens. Credit: Exploredi

  Why These Six?

Listing your favourite coffee shops is a little like trying to tell someone how to drink their coffee: it’s hugely personal. These are my favourites in Edinburgh, based on their atmosphere and quality, and on my own experience working in hospitality in the city.

Three of these café’s roast their own coffee, three do not. All are independent, locally owned small businesses that keep me caffeinated and happy every day.

Lowdown Coffee from the outside. Credit: Exploredi

1. Lowdown Coffee

Lowdown brings Nordic simplicity, functionality, and precision to each drink. Step below ground into a clean and minimalist respite from George Street. Entering from Edinburgh’s busy main shopping district can feel like escaping into a tranquil new world.

Inside, you’ll find exposed wood features and expertly crafted coffee. The weight, grind, water, and extraction are carefully monitored in every cup. Why settle for less than perfect?

Lowdown typically rotates roasters including Colona, Gardelli, Coffee Collective, Koppi, Friedhats, and La Cabra.

A barista in action at Lowdown Coffee. Credit: Exploredi

Where 40 George St, EH2 2LE Atmosphere Welcoming, including table service Espresso Machine Slayer Espresso V3 Grinder Mahlkӧnig EKK-43 with SSP burrs Coffee Offerings Espresso and V60 choices from multiple roasters Must-Try Drink Pour over. The range changes every week, but the selection is always of exceptional quality. Retail Offerings Rotating choice of coffee Food & Other Drinks Avocado toast, soups, sandwiches, sweets.

Individual tea menu from Postcard Teas including Fuji Sencha, roasted Oolongs, and lemon verbena.

Nearby Sights Busy George Street, scenic Princes Street, and the historic Scott Monument, among other central attractions.

2. Cairngorm Coffee

Cairngorm Coffee has its original shop on Frederick Street. It is the only café in the city that freezes its beans, which they say aids extraction. The second shop, on Melville Place, is roomy and welcoming. The bright space has large windows from which you can watch the world go by.

The light and warmth, as well as the friendly staff members, invite you to sit and linger for a while. For me, it’s the well-priced batch brew that keeps me coming.

Cairngorm Coffee from the street. Credit: Exploredi

Where 1 Melville Pl, EH3 7PR Atmosphere Warm Espresso Machine San Remo Opera – 3 Group Grinder Victoria Arduino Mythos One, Mahlkonig twin k30, Mahlkonig EK43 Coffee Offerings Espresso-based drinks and batch brew Must-Try Drink Batch brew Retail Offerings Coffee beans roasted in-house, branded clothing, coffee publications Food & Other Drinks Sandwiches, toasts, granola, sweets Nearby Sights Historic Edinburgh Castle, scenic Princes Street, and the West End, which is home to many of the city’s arts venues.

  Cairngorm Coffee’s bright, welcoming space. Credit: Exploredi

3. 27 Elliott’s

Situated on a leafy suburban street, 27 Elliott’s could almost pass as a country kitchen. Warm colours, wooden furnishings, and walls lined with bookshelves invite you to relax.

This cafe stands out for pairing inventive food and local produce with its specialty coffee. The owner worked as a food stylist before taking to the kitchen herself, and the evidence is clear in the café’s own cookbook. On the south side of the Meadows, this is a great spot for a relaxed brunch.

27 Elliott’s bright exterior. Credit: Exploredi

Where 27 Sciennes Rd, EH9 1NX Atmosphere Friendly Espresso Machine La Marzocco Linea PB – 2 Group Grinder Eureka Olympus 75E Coffee Offerings Espresso-based drinks made with coffee from Obadiah Roasters Must-Try Drink The ‘Chick’s’ cold brew Retail Offerings Salad Feasts, a cookbook by the owner, Jess Elliott Dennison Food & Other Drinks Full breakfast and lunch menus, as well as baked goods and seasonally inspired supper events Nearby Sights The Meadows, Edinburgh’s large public park

4. Fortitude

Some call Fortitude’s owner, Matthew Carroll, the friendliest man in the Edinburgh coffee community. This is a wee, cosy café and roastery in New Town where you’ll always get a warm welcome and impressive soundtrack.

But you can expect more than a great cup and warm atmosphere here. At Fortitude, you may also get a fascinating story. It currently offers a “house honey processed” from El Salvador named Geraldo’s House. Geraldo is the coffee producer, who, after having his first child, realised he could no longer spend as much time at the farm. So he brought the farm to his house, from where he now undertakes the drying process.

Owner Matthew Carroll serves customers at Fortitude. Credit: Exploredi

Where 3C York Pl, EH1 3EB Atmosphere Welcoming Espresso Machine La Marzocco Linea PB – 2 Group Grinder Victoria Arduino Mythos 1,  Mahlkonig EK43 Coffee Offerings Espresso-based drinks and pour over made with house-roasted beans Must-Try Drink Geraldo’s House, a “house honey process” El Salvador filter Retail Offerings House-roasted beans, coffee supplies and equipment Food & Other Drinks Soups, sandwiches, desserts, avocado toast, various teas Nearby Sights High-end and historic St. Andrews Square, landmark Carlton Hill and its iconic acropolis

5. Baba Budan

Situated in the beautiful Edinburgh Arches, Baba Budan is a great respite from the city centre crowds. In the rabbit-warren alleyways of the historic Old Town, this spot offers coffee from Workshop, Craft House, and The Barn. It also has a full breakfast menu including vegan options and breakfast burritos alongside bacon rolls.

Pair one of the delicious doughnuts with your drink for a revitalising sugar rush. The filling flavours change daily, but I’m a fan of the classic jam.

Coffee and doughnuts will revitalise you at Baba Budan. Credit: Exploredi

Where Arch 12, 17 East Market St, EH8 8FS Atmosphere Relaxed Espresso Machine La Marzocco Linea PB – 2 group Grinder Victoria Arduino Mythos 1, Mahlkonig EK43 Coffee Offerings Espresso-based drinks and batch brew Must-Try Drink Anything, served with a doughnut Retail Offerings Coffee beans, doughnuts Food & Other Drinks Doughnuts, full breakfast menu, teas Nearby Sights Landmark Edinburgh Castle, charming and historical Old Town

Baba Budan’s menu board. Credit: Exploredi

6. Williams & Johnson Coffee Co.

Talented micro-roasters Williams & Johnson opened their first café in a small art space on the water in Leith. It may be a walk from the city centre, but Leith is steadily becoming more popular with visitors and locals alike. Soft gentrification has mellowed, but not ruined, its gritty charm.

The aroma of coffee from Williams & Johnson’s roasting mixes with the sea air here. Take a seat in the mixed-use outside area and watch a game of table tennis while you enjoy your drink.

A recently opened a second shop is inside Waverley Mall, above the central train station. The space is a super refined place to hang out even when you don’t have a train to catch.

The seating area outside Williams & Johnson Coffee Co. Credit: Exploredi

Where 67 Commercial St, Customs Wharf, EH6 6LH Atmosphere Relaxed Espresso Machine Synesso Cyncra Grinder Mazzer, Mahlkonig EKK-43 Coffee Offerings Espresso-based drinks and pour over made with house-roasted beans Must-Try Drink Flat white Retail Offerings Retail coffee beans Food & Other Drinks Sandwiches, baked goods Nearby Sights Leith, the Royal Yacht Britannia, the promenade and arcades of Portobello Beach

  A flat white in a beautiful mug at 27 Elliott’s. Credit: Exploredi

Edinburgh has many great specialty coffee shops – this list could easily be twice the length. But these are the spots that I return to for unique experiences and excellent service.

It’s what makes the city so liveable and why I love this city so dearly – we don’t just have a great choice of quality coffee, but some of the most passionate people in the industry.

Enjoyed this? Check out A Specialty Coffee Shop Tour of Valencia, Spain

Written by Matthew Cameron of Exploredi. Feature photo: Edinburgh from Carlton Hill. Credit: Exploredi

All views within this opinion piece belong to the guest writer, who is a local of Edinburgh, and do not reflect Perfect Daily Grind’s stance.

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The post A Specialty Coffee Shop Tour of Edinburgh, Scotland appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

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[carlsonknives]

Could Varta Torches, Lanterns & Powerbanks Be A Campers Best Friend?

As many of you will know, we are part of a group called the Outdoor Bloggers. We’re a community of like-minded people who love the outdoors and write about our experiences, and every few months we get together in real life, to hang out, go walking and do fun activities together. Most recently some of us met up on a camping trip, hosted by Varta, a brand probably best known for their batteries.

We welcome a visitor to our tent, pitched up at Royal Umpire Campsite, Lancashire

Camping in Lancashire in March might not be many people’s idea of a good weekend, but as outdoor bloggers, we’re a pretty hardy bunch and there’s very little that will stand in our way in terms of spending time outdoors. For me the trip came only a few days after an accident that has left me with a torn ligament, hobbling around on crutches, but still, the lure of the outdoors was too much to refuse.

After changing our mind countless times as to which tent would be best to take (we settled on the Vango Solaris AirBeam due to ease of set-up), and gradual packing which lead to a living room over-taken by camping gear, on Thursday night we were ready to pack to car. Although we’d camped locally for 1 night just the weekend before, this felt more like a proper camping trip, and one we’d been looking forward to for months.

Inside our tent, finally cosy and dry

As well as a great chance to sleep under canvas and catch up with fellow bloggers, over the course of the weekend we were looking forward to having the opportunity to demo a host of Varta products. We arrived at Royal Umpire campsite in Lancashire mid afternoon on Friday and pitched the tent in relentless rain leaving us a bit of time to chill out and socialise before our planned meeting for dinner at a pub across the road.

Mr CWS indulged in a spot of pre-dinner Jenga, and once everyone had arrived we introduced ourselves and tucked in to a delicious dinner, before moving outside to a marquee to look at some of the lanterns and torches in the Varta range.

Breakfast time for the Outdoor Bloggers

Breakfast on Saturday morning was cooked for all of us on a George Foreman grill, oh and the veggie sausages were yummy! The above photo has got me wondering though; what’s the collective noun for a group of bloggers?

What caught our eye?

Fast forward to the product demos, and there are quite a few highlights to tell you about. Families with little ones will love both the Minions Bob night light and the Paul The Bear night light and matching head torch. The Paul The Bear night light in particular is fantastic as it casts the shape of stars on the ceiling, making a tent or bedroom feel magical.

Of great interest to me was the new Varta Sports Comfort Lantern 3D, a midge-proof lantern which can be switched from white to amber light, which is much less alluring to wee biting insects. I’ve got my eye on one for my forthcoming solo Scottish camping trip, so I’m hoping to be able to report back on their effectiveness, though the claim that use of the lantern results in 60% fewer insects is not to be sniffed at.

The glowing amber light that proves much less attractive to biting insects

I’m a big fan of Varta head torches, and I already use the LED Sports head Light, which for me is a basic camping must-have. Mr CWS particularly like the rugged Indestructible 3 Watt LED Swivel light. It runs on 4AA batteries and is about as tough as they come. It’s a great all-round torch and features an adjustable head so you can focus the beam wherever you want it, and it’s also magnetic, oh and water resistant…and it has a 3 year guarantee too – pretty cool huh?

Armor All Sheild Brake Dust Repellent looked perfect for protecting the wheels on car. With all of the camping and walking we do, we frequently end up off road, resulting in dirty, muddy wheels. Armor All dust repellent is an award winning protective spray that makes brake dust and muck easier to clean off, and less likely to stick in the first place. We also liked the look of the Armor All Caravan, Canvas and Tent Spot Cleaning Wipes; like magic wet wipes for your tent; perfect for removing bird poo and as we found out on Sunday morning, mud too.

The weekend also included a fascinating look inside the world of Mountain Rescue, with the Bowland and Pennine Mountain Rescue Trust on hand to tell us about the job they do and to show us the kit they use. I genuinely didn’t realise that so much of their funding comes from public donations, and hearing about the dedication of Mountain Rescue team members left me with a new respect for the unsung heroes of the hills; though I learned it’s not just classic mountain rescues they get involved in, as they are increasingly called out to all manner of incidents, from floods to major crashes.

Bloggers Allysse and Sarah giving their first impressions of some of the products we were shown

With the brand presentations over, we were each given fabulous Varta goodie bags, packed full of torches, lanterns, car care products and batteries. After being interviewed on camera and asked to provide our first impressions of some of the products we’d been shown, we later met up back in the pub for a brilliant outdoor themed pub quiz, put together by Zoe at Splodz Blogz, and we all had a blast!

Our fantastic goodie bags

The weather was horrendous all weekend, culminating in the muddiest take-down I’ve ever encountered, and believe me, we’ve camped in some terrible weather over the years! Howling winds and tents flapping around kept almost all of us up at night….in fact the weather was so bad one tent quite literally flew away and we arrived back at the campsite one evening to find it had disappeared (it was later found, fully intact and re-pitched). Thankfully though, despite the wind and rain, it wasn’t cold and we all had a fantastic time.

Massive thanks to Varta, Spectrum Brands and Prova PR for a great event and for such fantastic goodies, some of which will be reviewed individually over the coming weeks, and thanks also to Zoe and Jenni from the Outdoor Bloggers group for making it all possible.

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Original Source http://www.campingwithstyle.co.uk/could-varta-torches-lanterns-powerbanks-be-a-campers-best-friend/ For the best knives to use whilst camping check out Carlson Knives http://www.carlsonknives.com/