#plough lane

[travelling-my-little-pony]

“Oh no, that’s really not what I do!”

Lightning is mildly worried by this sign.

On Plough Lane, in London, England.

#My Little Pony #g1 #lightning #warning sign #danger of death #plough lane #wimbledon #london #england

[omgeto]

☆ WHEN YOU HAVE SEX WITH YOUR EX — GOJO, GETO, TOJI

summary: you have sex with your ex. thats it.

cw: afab!reader, smutty smut smut so mdni. unprotected sex with all of them (since I forget that condoms exist) you sit on geto face, kinda finger fucking & mild hate fucking with toji but its fun, and gojo is just lovely.

an: i was meant to post this last night but I fell asleep writing geto's part so slay. anyways I hope you enjoy lmk what you think!! not proofread so ignore any mistakes please.

☆ GOJO

“this doesn’t mean we’re back together y’know,” you remind gojo, panting as he thrusts into you.

“you’re really saying that with my dick deep in your cunt,” he taunts, admiring the deep arch of your back, the way your ass ripples every time his hips drive into you. “i’ve missed this.”

“f-fuck keep going,” you moan out, as his dick hits your spot – just how you like it.

“so you don’t miss me?” he pesters, and you roll your eyes, as although you couldn’t see him, you just knew he had a pout on his face. “you really don’t miss me?” he continues his thumb making way to your clit, swiftly flicking at it.

“i don’t miss you.”

gojo pulls out of you almost defiantly, pushing you down – turning you around your back. he stares at you with something you couldn’t quite place, and re enters you just as quickly. he smirks at the way your mouth gapes as his hands roughly grab at your tits, pinching and pulling on your nipples.

“s-someone’s mad,” you egg on, loving the way that his strokes become harder.

“y’know the reason i always loved fucking you this way when we were together?” he asks with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“what’s with the trip down memory lane?,” you complain, your arms come around his neck as you take him in deeper, “i called you to fuck me, not for whatever you’re tryna do here.”

“because i always got to see all the faces you make,” he continues, completely ignoring your comment, his tongue drags up the side of your jaw, before pressing a quick kiss just under your ear. “and the face your making right now, tells me, that you're lying.”

you scoff, but didn’t say anything because you knew he was right. you did miss the way he’d plough into you, the way he knew the ins and outs of your body – how to please you. “im gonna cum,” you whine out, “satoru please i need yo–”

“you can cum when you admit the truth babe,” he teases, his strokes purposefully shift speed, still keeping you writhing underneath him but just not quite enough to get you there. “just say you miss me.”

“fine,” you force out, exasperated, “i m-miss you i do.”

“see wasn’t so hard, was it?” he kisses you deeply, driving deep into you, and you cum with a cry, you did miss being this close with your ex boyfriend. gojo is quick to finish after you, filling you up with all his cum.

he eventually pulls out of you, collapsing down on the bed next to you pulling you into his hold. you, against your better judgement, relaxing into his arms – which goes against all the rules of sleeping with your ex. “this still doesn’t mean we’re back together,” you add, knowing there was very little truth to that.

“yeah, yeah, whatever you say babe,” he smirks, his lips coming down to your forehead, placing a soft kiss, “so what did you miss about me?”

☆ TOJI

“i thought you didn’t spin the block, princess,” toji asks with a shit-eating grin, as his fingers slip inside of you “what happened to, ‘once an ex always an ex huh?” 

“i’ve always hated that nickname,” you mumble, hissing at the contact of toji’s fingers toying with your pussy, “and there are some exceptions to my rule.”

“so you’re little boyfriends not hitting it right then,” toji grins, pleased at hearing that he was the ‘exception,’ “if you’re here, slutting yourself out on my fingers.” 

“no he’s hitting it greatly,” you smirk, not rising to toji’s comments since you know what he was trying to get at, “i just missed you, that's all.”

“oh so you really have a boyfriend then?” he snapped, his fingers curling up in you.

“no i don't,” a smug smile appears on your face as you see toji’s smirk drop, “but it’s cute that you care though. are you jealous, toji?”

“shut up,” he says moodily, swiftly removing his fingers out of you, pulling you onto his lap.

you straddle him, your face inches from his, “aww are you mad toji?” you taunt with a mock pout. you’ve always loved getting a rise out of toji, you know your ex boyfriend very well, the more pissed off he was, the harder he fucked.

“sit on it,” he commands, the ‘it’ in question being his hard dick that he was furiously stroking at the sight of you. there was something about you that got on toji’s nerves – hence why you didn’t last long as a couple – but that special something was good for times like this. where you could both unleash any pent up energy you have, on eachother.

you welcome his dick eagerly, practically jumping on it, the wetness of your pussy was inviting. his dick slotted in perfectly, making you both curse at the contact. “fuck, you always feel so good,” he praises, loving the feeling of you clenching around his dick whilst you ride him.

there was a forcefulness coming from the both of you, as you were fucking each other as if you had something to prove, as if there was some unspoken competition to see who could get the other to cum first.

“f-fuck,” you mutter, the feeling of toji’s dick pistoning into you becoming too much.

“whats that princess?” toji mocks, grinning seeing your eyes gloss over, he could tell that your dick-stuffed cunt was about to release all over him, “y’gonna cum for me?”

you ignore him, continuing your mission to get toji to fold first. you manoeuvre your lips to his neck, kissing and sucking on his exposed flesh, and he takes a sharp inhale – bingo. you knew toji’s body as well as he knew yours, and he was always was weak for the way you’d nibble and bite on his neck as he fucked you dumb.

“are you gonna cum for me?” you mock mirroring his question, his strokes was getting sloppier, you could tell he was close. but you were not far behind, squirming in his lap about to reach your climax.there were no words that needed to be spoken as you and toji both cum together, your cunt too overloaded with both of your cum, making it drip out all over his dick.

“we should do this again sometime princess,” toji suggests, as you eventually hop off his dick and start putting back on your clothes, “you always know to fuck me right.”

“i’ll think about it,” you conclude, knowing that you’ll probably be back in less than a week, “and stop calling me that fucking nick name,” you say as you leave the room, the only response you hear being toji’s howling laughter.

☆ GETO

if there was one thing that you couldn’t deny your ex boyfriend had, it was his head skills. everytime without fail, he could have you sprawled out on any surface as his tongue laps your pussy. 

“s-shit, you’ve always been way too good at this,” 

“only, to please you,” he hums, pressing a soft kiss to your thigh, before going back to sucking on your clit. your hands knot his hair, pulling and tugging as he works on your folds. he loves it when you play in his hair, showing that he’s getting what he’s aiming for – giving you pleasure. 

your moans only encourage him to toy with your pussy harder, nipping and biting as your thighs clench around his head. he’s been at this for ages, tonguing your cunt for as long as possible, as if to see how long he’d be able to go. 

“sugu ‘m gonna cum,” you cry, pressure building up inside of you, “please let me cum.”

but he doesn't. ignoring your request completely, geto removes his mouth off of you. his lips were practically shining, coated in all the juices from your pussy.  “you know there was one thing we never got to do when we were together,” he starts to say, eyeing with a mischievous smile,

“which is…” you prompt, slightly upset at the lack of stimulation you were getting at your, now throbbing, pussy.

“you never sat on my face,” he utters just above a whisper, licking his lips at the thought of it. 

“but what if I—“

“don’t worry about any of that,” he murmurs, pushing himself further back on the bed, his eyes still focused on you, “come sit.”

you slowly work your way up his body, the mischief in his eyes making you feel excited. you pause, straddling his chest, your hands rest on his shoulders, “are you sure about this?”

“girl if you don’t–” he starts to say, but the rest of his sentence is muffled as he pulls you onto his face, his mouth enveloping your pussy. your hands immediately grip onto the headboard in front of you, as his tongue gives long strokes to your wet pussy, lapping up all the juices spilling from you. 

you were riding his face, your hips moving back and forth against his mouth with his head sandwiched between your thighs. “f-fuck sugu, it’s too much,” you moan out, throwing your head back. 

he grins in response, his hands gripping your ass pushing you onto his mouth deeper. he couldn’t get enough of you, the way you taste, the sweet scent of your pussy that he practically inhales, burying his nose in it.

“s-shit,” you curse, as your cunt explodes onto your ex’s face. you pause, catching your breath, still feeling the pleasurable high he just gave you. he still had his mouth on your pussy, eating up all the cum that was dripping out of you.

“hey suguru, wanna go and–” you turn to see gojo burst into the room, “oh shit, yn? are you two back together?” you scramble off of geto’s face, giving gojo the hardest glare for interrupting. 

“satoru, can’t you see that im busy,” geto chuckles, his mouth still covered with your cum, “im eating here.”

“right…” gojo nods, “i’ll leave you two too it,” but just before he leaves the room you here him yell, “im gonna tell everyone you’re back together.” you both chuckle at your friends antics, and geto pulls you back into him.

“get back on,” he smirks, “who said i was done?”

AN: so there we go. I love geto's part so much but maybe im biased idk. but yeahhh hope you enjoy the thoughts that I had at like 7 am. DIVIDERS BY @/CAFEKITSUNE

#stampedwithanE★ #jjk x reader #jjk smut #jujutsu kaisen smut #toji x reader #gojo x reader #geto x reader #toji smut #gojo smut #geto smut #jujutsu kaisen x reader #geto suguru x reader #gojo satoru x reader #toji fushiguro x reader

[neil-gaiman]

Hi Neil,

Have you ever struggled with jealousy and comparing yourself to other writers? I ask because one of my closest friends is a better writer than me, and sometimes it drives me crazy with envy. She and I both desperately want to be famous for our writing and I hate that she might get that and I might not. I genuinely love her as a person but I'm worried that this jealousy will ruin a wonderful friendship unless I get it under control. Any advice?

Thank you in advance.

If you go that route, comparing yourself to other writers, imagining yourself to be in competition with them, you'll lose. You'll always lose.

The only person as a writer you are in competition with is you. Your job is to write better and more honestly than you did yesterday.

You'll never be any other writers. They will never be you.

Plough your own furrow. Stay in your own lane.

[odinsblog]

The site of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing in Jenin has been bulldozed and her shrine desecrated, in an unexplained early-morning operation on 26 October.

A surfaced road running between houses has been reduced to huge boulders of broken concrete, and earth dug to over half a meters depth. Vehicles passed up and down the lane. One day after, even walking amid the smashed rocks would be a challenge. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined its affiliate, the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS) in condemning this act of vandalism and recalls on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.

The road, Balat al-Shuhada’ Street, in the Jabriyat neighbourhood of Jenin is thought to have been ploughed up by heavy civil engineering vehicles at approximately 3 am on 27 October. Locals state that these were operated by members of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Paintings of Abu Akleh, and tributes left on the spot where she was shot have beed destroyed.

Nasser Abu Bakr, PJS president said: “This is a monstrous act of destruction. Shireen’s family and friends have found some solace visiting the place where she was shot down, and placing tributes. This wanton act of vandalism is surely revenge for the report just issued by the UN that states that Israeli forces ‘wilfully or recklessly killed Abu Akleh’. It underlines the need for her case to the investigated by the International Criminal Court ICC, with which the IFJ has already lodged a complaint”.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger said: “I have visited this site myself and know firsthand how important it had become to those who mourn Shireen’s loss. It is hard to see this destruction as anything other than a cruel act of vengeance, of a kind that can only exacerbate tensions in Palestine. The sooner the ICC gives this case the attention it deserves, the better”.

(continue reading)

#politics #palestine #jenin #israel #shireen abu akleh #balat al shuhada street #gaza #war crimes #bds #boycott divest sanction #israel is an apartheid state #genocide #never again #never again to anyone #benjamin netanyahu is a war criminal #collective punishment #hamas ≠ palestine

[petaltexturedskies]

Beauty was all around them. Unsuspected tintings glimmered in the dark demesnes of the woods and glowed in their alluring by-ways. The spring sunshine sifted through the young green leaves. Gay trills of song were everywhere. There were little hollows where you felt as if you were bathing in a pool of liquid gold. At every turn some fresh spring scent struck their faces: Spice ferns…fir balsam…the wholesome odour of newly ploughed fields. There was a lane curtained with wild-cherry blossoms; a grassy old field full of tiny spruce trees just starting in life and looking like elvish things that had sat down among the grasses; brooks not yet "too broad for leaping"; starflowers under the firs; sheets of curly young ferns; and a birch tree whence someone had torn away the white-skin wrapper in several places, exposing the tints of the bark below-tints ranging from purest creamy white, through exquisite golden tones, growing deeper and deeper until the inmost layer revealed the deepest, richest brown as if to tell tha all birches, so maiden-like and cool exteriorly, had yet warm-hued feelings; "the primeval fire of earth at their hearts.

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside

#l.m. montgomery #spring

[cbk1000]

And here’s a small preview of the next chapter of Book of Merthur:

Beyond the Lake which is waiting for its King to come home to it, there is a sward as fine as a slipper, and flowers sewn on for adornment. Where there is mortal wind to blow and coneys to proliferate, the flora is at risk of dishevelment, or outright beheading: but here there is that fine, flat silence which goes from nothing into nothing, with the moss to cushion its journey. The trees drink of an earth never to be fodder for plough or for cow: and where their ordinary brethren are throttled by vine, they are wearing it like organdie. 

And beyond this, beyond the trees which are furred like fine kings, and the heather which lives sepal to stamen with the dog rose, where the field is on fire with the poppies, and the foxglove is coloured like wine, where the air, if it could, would make the sound of fine silver on crystal, beyond castles and towers built of white stone or gay stone, past orchard, past lawn, past the throne made of oak, and the castle with the penis its master has not been able to remove, by charm or by cursing, there is a tower alone, made purely of loadstone. 

Far up in the tower, there is a window, and in the window, a face which a knight would kill himself rescuing. 

When there is a tower such as this, and a maiden such as this (though she is no longer a maiden), it is customary to hear a voice as pure as the air, singing of lost love or no love: but this one was saying some words unrepeatable. It was saying them in pleasant enough diction, with articulation garnered from tutors: but what it was saying had been garnered from soldiers. 

In the air which had a kind of resonance to it, which could have run down from a mountain when spring doffed the felt caps from its peaks, in the presence of bluebell lovelier than women, there could be heard, from lips not quite second to roses, “Fuck this fucking tit cunt fuck.” And finally, for emphasis: “Fucking fuck this fuck fuck. Bollocks!!”

Here was the denizen of Avalon who was not queen but meant to be queen, honing her sorcery for war.

And in Camelot, where the foxglove is still coloured like wine, though rather a shabbier one, Arthur, Once and Future King of Camelot and of Albion, burst into the apothecary where were ensconced Merlin’s mother, and his mother, and shouted at the former: “Where’s your son?”

Hunith did not look up from her mortar. She was putting her back into the pestle, and did not mean to be distracted by some stupid man. “In back,” she said, absentmindedly.

“Mum!” Merlin called, affronted. He had to come out, now the jig was limply up; feeling himself very poorly treated, by the one person who was bound by blood to harbour him.

“Where’s the horse?” Arthur yelled.

“What horse?” Merlin asked, with a face as innocent as an infant’s. 

“Merlin.”

“Arthur, I swear, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Really. Cross my heart. Hope to die. What horse?” he asked again, for the sake of plausible deniability. Then, with timing as treacherous as his mother, there sounded in the lane outside the apothecary the clamour of hoofbeats: and Arthur, turning his head, watched Gwaine trotting merrily past on it.

“Is that the horse?” Merlin asked innocently. “Well, I guess Gwaine must have taken it.”

Arthur grabbed him by the neck of his tunic, and hauled him outside, which might have been sexy, if it were for snogging; but as it was only for yelling, Merlin had nothing by which to recommend it. 

“Gwaine!” he hollered. “Stop this instant, or I’ll throw your cohort in the stocks. For a month.”

Gwaine kept going, because he knew, and Merlin knew, the threat was nothing but wind; because not only would Merlin be left out in the cold, but Arthur’s red-blooded penis. 

“Go, Gwaine, go!” Merlin screamed.

And Gwaine, trusting Merlin to handle a man for whose penile happiness he was responsible, did. Arthur shook Merlin by the neck of his tunic, to reassert his authority; though Merlin did not seem to notice, and only rolled his neck, to get out the tight bits. “I thought you wanted to foster a society intolerant to intolerance?” he complained, straightening to his full height, which was not any higher than Arthur’s, and adding, “All we were doing was upholding your own ideals. Can’t believe you’re going to get on your little soap box about justice, and fairness, and then go off on Gwaine and me for upholding the very values you supposedly…value.”

“Yes,” Arthur said through his teeth. “But I thought I might do that a bit more diplomatically than stealing all the clothes, and the horse, of a delegate sent from a hostile kingdom.”

“It was only the one delegate. There are several others, and we didn’t take their clothes.”

“Then why couldn’t you practise that restraint on Lord Ralph as well?” Arthur shouted.

“He’s a bit of a twat.”

Arthur was fostering, or trying to foster, a society intolerant to intolerance; though he had hoped to do it with a bit less nudity, and a bit more politicking. So though Lord Ralph was a bit of a twat, he was sat with the rest of his brethren, nearest to the high table as a guest could be sat, and served by servants with nothing in common with Merlin, who now was a diner of the high tale, instead of an attendant, and still ungrateful.

“How about not complaining, just for something new to try?” Arthur suggested reasonably, and Merlin, grimacing, pulled at his collar again, and replied, “I hate these clothes. They’re choking me.”

“Next time I’ll put you in a sack.”

“I look ridiculous.”

“You can’t blame the tunic for that,” Arthur said, and sipped from his wine.

#fic #writing #preview #merthur

[myownprivate]

Hares at Play

by John Clare

The birds are gone to bed, the cows are still, And sheep lie panting on each old mole-hill; And underneath the willow's gray-green bough, Like toil a-resting, lies the fallow plough. The timid hares throw daylight fears away On the lane's road to dust and dance and play, Then dabble in the grain by naught deterred To lick the dew-fall from the barley's beard; Then out they sturt again and round the hill Like happy thoughts dance, squat, and loiter still, Till milking maidens in the early morn Jingle their yokes and sturt them in the corn; Through well-known beaten paths each nimbling hare Sturts quick as fear, and seeks its hidden lair.

#John Clare #Hares at Play

[ebaeschnbliah]

As the light grew stronger it showed a silent shrouded world. Below their refuge were white humps and domes and shapeless deeps beneath which the path that they had trodden was altogether lost; but the heights above were hidden in great clouds still heavy with the threat of snow.

Caradhras has not forgiven us

Gimli looked up and shook his head. `Caradhras has not forgiven us.' he said. `He has more snow yet to fling at us, if we go on. The sooner we go back and down the better.'

To this all agreed, but their retreat was now difficult. It might well prove impossible. Only a few paces from the ashes of their fire the snow lay many feet deep, higher than the heads of the hobbits; in places it had been scooped and piled by the wind into great drifts against the cliff.

`If Gandalf would go before us with a bright flame, he might melt a path for you,' said Legolas. The storm had troubled him little, and he alone of the Company remained still light of heart.

`If Elves could fly over mountains, they might fetch the Sun to save us,' answered Gandalf. `But I must have something to work on. I cannot burn snow.'

`Well,' said Boromir, `when heads are at a loss bodies must serve, as we say in my country. The strongest of us must seek a way.

Aragorn was the tallest of the Company, but Boromir, little less in height, was broader and heavier in build. He led the way, and Aragorn followed him. Slowly they moved off, and were soon toiling heavily. In places the snow was breast-high, and often Boromir seemed to be swimming or burrowing with his great arms rather than walking.

Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips, and then he turned to the others. `The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf or over snow-an Elf.'

With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time, though he had long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow.

'Farewell!' he said to Gandalf. `I go to find the Sun!' Then swift as a runner over firm sand he shot away, and quickly overtaking the toiling men, with a wave of his hand he passed them, and sped into the distance, and vanished round the rocky turn.

An hour, maybe, went by, though it seemed far longer, and then at last they saw Legolas coming back. At the same time Boromir and Aragorn reappeared round the bend far behind him and came labouring up the slope.

`Well,' cried Legolas as he ran up, `I have not brought the Sun. She is walking in the blue fields of the South, and a little wreath of snow on this Redhorn hillock troubles her not at all. But I have brought back a gleam of good hope for those who are doomed to go on feet. There is the greatest wind-drift of all just beyond the turn, and there our Strong Men were almost buried. They despaired, until I returned and told them that the drift was little wider than a wall. And on the other side the snow suddenly grows less, while further down it is no more than a white coverlet to cool a hobbit's toes.'

`Ah, it is as I said,' growled Gimli. 'It was no ordinary storm. It is the ill will of Caradhras. He does not love Elves and Dwarves, and that drift was laid to cut off our escape.'

'But happily your Caradhras has forgotten that you have Men with you,' said Boromir, who came up at that moment. `And doughty Men too, if I may say it; though lesser men with spades might have served you better. Still, we have thrust a lane through the drift; and for that all here may be grateful who cannot run as light as Elves.'

`But how are we to get down there, even if you have cut through the drift?' said Pippin, voicing the thought of all the hobbits.

'Have hope!' said Boromir. 'I am weary, but I still have some strength left, and Aragorn too. We will bear the little folk. The others no doubt will make shift to tread the path behind us. Come, Master Peregrin! I will begin with you.'

He lifted up the hobbit. 'Cling to my back! I shall need my arms' he said and strode forward. Aragorn with Merry came behind. Pippin marvelled at his strength, seeing the passage that he had already forced with no other tool than his great limbs. Even now, burdened as he was, he was widening the track for those who followed, thrusting the snow aside as he went.

After a while Boromir returned carrying Sam. Behind in the narrow but now well-trodden track came Gandalf, leading Bill with Gimli perched among the baggage. Last came Aragorn carrying Frodo. They passed through the lane; but hardly had Frodo touched the ground when with a deep rumble there rolled down a fall of stones and slithering snow. The spray of it half blinded the Company as they crouched against the cliff, and when the air cleared again they saw that the path was blocked behind them.

`Enough, enough!' cried Gimli. 'We are departing as quickly as we may!' And indeed with that last stroke the malice of the mountain seemed to be expended, as if Caradhras was satisfied that the invaders had been beaten off and would not dare to return. The threat of snow lifted; the clouds began to break and the light grew broader.

As Legolas had reported, they found that the snow became steadily more shallow as they went down, so that even the hobbits could trudge along. Soon they all stood once more on the flat shelf at the head of the steep slope where they had felt the first flakes of snow the night before.

The morning was now far advanced. From the high place they looked back westwards over the lower lands. Far away in the tumble of country that lay at the foot of the mountain was the dell from which they had started to climb the pass.

A cold wind flowed down behind them, as they turned their backs on the Redhorn Gate, and stumbled wearily down the slope. Caradhras had defeated them.

JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Ring goes South

#the lord of the rings #the fellowship of the ring #the ring goes south #jrr tolkien #gandalf #aragorn #boromir #frodo #sam #merry #pippin #bill the pony #legolas #gimli #caradhras #movie pics #peter jackson

[waltwhitmansbeard]

If you are still interested in doing these, might I request the flower prompt, begonia (beware) — “just be careful, okay?” with perc'ahlia, and perhaps mfl?

begonia (beware) — “just be careful, okay?” read these first.

turned my water into wine #30

Vex's eyes are hardly ever on the road. She trusts Trinket to follow the rest of their little travel group—Grog astride a monstrous plough horse, Pike and the annoying court jester she's been knocking boots with sharing her dappled mare—as she keeps her gaze trained on Percy. His entire body is stiff, his fingers clutching Diplomacy's reins so hard the knuckles are white. He stares straight ahead, but she can tell he's seeing about as much of the road as she is; his eyes are fogged over, lost in visions of something other than forest and packed dirt lanes. She wonders what haunts him more: the myriad of dangers that may have befallen Keyleth by now, or the notion that the path they are on will lead them directly down his darkest memories.

When they stop to camp, still not caught up to wherever the princess has gotten, Vex announces that Grog is to take the first watch as she yanks Percy into their tent.

"Vex'ahlia, there really ought to be two of us on wa—"

"Are you going to be alright?" She stands with her hands on her hips, an eyebrow raised in question.

He bristles at the implication. "I'm here, aren't I?"

"Physically. You were a thousand miles away all day today. I know this is hard for you, Percy, but I need to know that you'll be here with us as we go bring Vilya home."

Hearing her name sends a shudder through Percy's body. "I'll tear them limb from limb if that's what it takes to save her." The words are low, a most solemn oath.

"Good." She drops her hands to pick up his. "But Percival...I don't want to lose you in the process. I..." The words get caught her throat, thick and cloying like molasses. She swallows. "I can't do this without you."

He tips his forehead down to hers. "Nor I, you. I promise, I am with you, and I will not do anything to jeopardize what we've set out to do."

She smiles, rocks up to press her lips to his. "Just be careful, okay?" she whispers. "There's only the one of you, and I've grown rather fond."

"Yes, Captain," he murmurs back. He straightens up. "You as well: I do not want to be returning to Zephrah without you. Because I've met your second-in-command, and I don't think he'll look as good in my bed as you do."

She rolls her eyes and shoves his shoulders. "Get some sleep, you idiot." And her belly dances as he smiles that wicked smile she loves so well—oh, her heart is in most dire straits, indeed.

#ask #Anonymous #critical role #critical role fic #cr fic #vox machina #vox machina au #tlovm #tlovm fic #my fic #my fair lady #turned my water into wine #perc'ahlia #perc'ahlia fic

[indigokashmir]

Farewell to 'A Shropshire Lad' Rose...

Due to the climate crisis, some English roses will no longer bloom. As the garden conditions evolve, so do the pests. As a result, David Austin Roses has retired a number of award-winning roses, one of which is the 'A Shropshire Lad' climbing rose.

The rose was introduced in 1996 and was named in honour of the collection of poems, 'A Shropshire Lad' by A.E. Housman, on the 100th anniversary of its publication. We will miss this beautiful rose and its lovely peach/pink colour. Here are some photos IndigoKashmir took of the rose at David Austin Rose Garden.

When smoke stood up from Ludlow,            And mist blew off from Teme,           And blithe afield to ploughing            Against the morning beam            I strode beside my team,           The blackbird in the coppice            Looked out to see me stride,           And hearkened as I whistled            The tramping team beside,            And fluted and replied:           "Lie down, lie down, young yeoman;            What use to rise and rise?           Rise man a thousand mornings            Yet down at last he lies,            And then the man is wise."           I heard the tune he sang me,            And spied his yellow bill;           I picked a stone and aimed it            And threw it with a will:            Then the bird was still.           Then my soul within me            Took up the blackbird's strain,           And still beside the horses            Along the dewy lane            It Sang the song again:           "Lie down, lie down, young yeoman;            The sun moves always west;           The road one treads to labour            Will lead one home to rest,            And that will be the best." From 'A Shropshire Lad' by A.E. Housman.

#gardens #rose gardens #poetry

[national-spain]

Magpie Lane - The Painful Plough

#youtube

[bikepackinguk]

Day One Hundred and Three

A lazy start to today after the lack of sleep and challenging hills of yesterday, I slept like a log despite the traffic rushing by not far from me!

Packing up and making my way, it's back onto NCN Route 2 to roll over the Rivers Yarty and Axe and up the road to head into Axminster to top up on supplies. There's a good deal of ache still in the legs so I'm taking my time today.

Stocked up for the day ahead, I have a check of the map. Route 2 tracks a little inland from the coast proper, but looks to forge a solid path eastwards and will mean a lot less stress with navigation, so I plan on sticking with it awhile yet.

Onwards! Out from Axminster and the route follows some uqiet country lanes as it begins its long climb uphill once more.

The day is very grey and cloudy this morning, and a fine drizzle is coming down. But given that I'll soon be damp enough from sweating my way up the hills, it's not even worth breaking the waterproofs out for.

Along the farm lanes I go, with the route taking a looping course around the fields. The hilltops around me are touched by low-lying clouds again, continuing to give the landscape a ghostly quality as I head into Dorset's AONB.

Dropping down from the hills the road leada in to the back streets of the pleasant town of Bridport, which I head into to have a nice sit and rest the legs a little.

Heading out of Bridport, the cycle route charts a nice little course along the River Asker, around the streets of Bradpole, and then out into the countryside once more.

The road swings south to cross over the A35 and continues up as it heads up the moorlands and through the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve.

The hills are brushing the clouds up here and whisps of them are easily visible floating across the landscape as I ride by.

With so much of the land obscured it's easy to forget how high up I've been climbing today, until the road leada down a long zooming descent that gives a lovely payoff to the effort of the day so far and, descending out from the clouds, gives a good view of the landscape ahead.

Along through more farm lanes, Route 2 crosses back over the A road again to lead into Dorchester, where the school run is in full flow. I decide to duck out of the traffic here and take another needed break to refuel and rest my limbs.

Heading out east again, there's a nice run of off-traffic riding past some busy roads before hitting the quieter country lanes again, with the route taking a pleasingly flatter course along this stretch. Whilst the evening is approaching, the going here is pretty easy and it's not much work to eat up the miles despite the tiredness in the legs.

After rising along past some nice forested sections by the rail line, before I know it I've hit the town of Wool. A check of the map shows a good deal of forested areas on the route ahead, so I keep ploughing at it awhile yet.

To the south of thus section is an MOD firing range and the red flags are up, meaning I am definitely keeping clear of stepping into a live firing area. But the going is still pleasingly easy after the last few days, and it's no trouble to keep heading on.

Finally I spot a likely patch of trees just off the road a little short of Wareham, which closer investigation leads me to finding a great sheltered patch to pitch up in. The forecast has a possibility of some hail in the early morning, so a bit of extra cover is always helpful!

With dusk falling and a nearby owl hooting into the twilight, it's time for me to get some rest before doing it all over again tomorrow, which should hopefully include some excellent seaside riding.

TTFN!

#bikepacking #bicycle touring #wild camping #cycling the coast of great britain

[f1]

Why Hamiltons Safety Car tactics were ruled legal after Verstappens complaint | 2023 Australian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen was quick to alert his team when he suspected Lewis Hamilton had broken the rules during the Australian Grand Prix. In a message played on the world feed during Sunday’s race, Verstappen claimed Hamilton had fallen too far behind the Safety Car on lap nine. His remarks were seized on by some television commentators who suggested Hamilton had indeed committed a rules breach. “Mate is this more than 10 car lengths?” Verstappen asked race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. “Look, check it.” Failing to keep pace with the Safety Car almost cost Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez a win last year in Singapore, so it’s no wonder he was sensitive to it. However those watching on the world feed were left unaware of Lambiase’s reply to his driver 15 seconds later which indicated Hamilton was doing nothing wrong: Lap: 9/58 Verstappen Mate is this more than 10 car lengths? Look, check it. Lambiase Looks like the Safety Car lights might be off, Max. Race leader Hamilton was particularly eager to let the Safety Car get ahead of him because of the circumstances of the race on lap nine. The race was about to resume from a standing start following a red flag. Hamilton, like Verstappen and most of the drivers behind them, was about to take the restart the race on a set of hard tyres. Drivers seldom start races on the hard rubber, and all were eager to ensure they brought the compound up to temperature. So as the cars followed the Safety Car out of the pit lane at the beginning of lap nine to resume the race, Hamilton was quick to ask his race engineer Peter Bonnington when he would be able to drop back from it in order to begin accelerating at braking more harshly in an attempt to force heat into his Pirellis: Lap: 9/58 Bonnington So this will be a standing start. Hamilton Are we following the Safety Car? No one’s going to get their tyres warm behind the Safety Car Bonnington Yeah copy, we will have to, it is going to be a struggle. Bonnington So you’ve got to stay ten car length until the lights go out, then you can control the pace. Hamilton Safety Car needs to speed up. Hamilton The Safety Car lights are out. Can I slow down? Bonnington So yep, you have control of the pace. The Safety Car lights are out, you control it. While Verstappen was querying Hamilton’s tactics with his team an alarming near-miss behind them. Several cars dropped far behind the pack and had to brake suddenly when they caught it. Zhou Guanyu, Logan Sargeant and Kevin Magnussen all had to take evasive action to avoid hitting cars ahead of them, the latter ploughing through the gravel at the exit of turn six. The stewards investigated the near-miss after the race and ruled it hadn’t been the result of Hamilton’s restart tactics. They concluded it arose due to George Russell making a late getaway from the pits when the Safety Car left. In their verdict, the stewards made a point of stating Hamilton’s driving was in line with the rules. “In this case, car 44 [Hamilton] was the first car in line and when the safety car lights went out at turn six, dictated the pace by going very slowly (as the regulations entitled it to do).” This wasn’t the only time during the race Verstappen pointed a finger at Hamilton’s driving. He also objected to his rival’s move at turn three on the first lap, when he lost a place to the Mercedes driver. On that occasion too, the stewards were apparently just as unmoved by his complaint. Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free 2023 Australian Grand Prix Browse all 2023 Australian Grand Prix articles via RaceFans - Independent Motorsport Coverage https://www.racefans.net/

#F1 #Why Hamilton’s Safety Car tactics were ruled legal after Verstappen’s complaint | 2023 Australian Grand Prix #Formula 1

[fan-of-mulligan]

FOM BLOG: MY UPDATED FOOTBALL STADIUM CHECK LIST - 2022 / 2023

This Stadium List Has Been Updated On 31st May 2023 / At The End Of The 2022 / 2023 Season......

I will start off by naming the grounds I have been too, this could take a while.

Accrington Stanley - The Crown Ground

AFC Fylde - Mill Farm

AFC Wimbledon - Kingsmeadow And New Plough Lane

AFC Bournemouth - Dean Court

Aldershot Town - The EBB Stadium

Ashford United - The Homelands

Barnet - Underhill and The Hive

Barnsley - Oakwell

Barrow - Holker Street

Bearsted - Honey Lane

Billericay Town - New Lodge

Birmingham City - St Andrews

Blackburn Rovers - Ewood Park

Blackpool - Bloomfield Road

Bolton Wanderers - The Macron Stadium

Brackley Town - St James Park

Bradford City - Valley Parade

Brentford -  Griffin Park And The Gtech Community Stadium

Brighton & Hove Albion - The Amex Arena and Withdean Stadium

Bristol City - Ashton Gate

Bristol Rovers - The Memorial Stadium

Bromley - Hayes Lane

Burton Albion - The Pirelli Stadium

Bury - Gigg Lane

Cambridge United - Abbey Stadium

Carlisle United -  Brunton Park

Charlton Athletic - The Valley

Chatham Town - The Sports Ground

Cheltenham Town - Whaddon Road

Chester City - The Exacta Stadium

Chesterfield - The Proact Stadium and Saltergate

Colchester United - Weston Homes Community Stadium

Coventry City - Sixfields and The Ricoh Arena

Crawley Town - Broadfield Stadium

Crewe Alexandra - Gresty Road

Crystal Palace - Selhurst Park

Dagenham & Redbridge - Victoria Road

Dartford - Princes Park

Darlington - The Darlo Arena

Doncaster Rovers - Keepmoat Stadium

Dover Athletic - The Crabble

Ebbsfleet United - Stonebridge Road

Exeter City - St James Park

Faversham Town - Salters Lane

Folkestone Invicta - Cheriton Road

Fleetwood Town - Highbury Stadium

Gillingham - Priestfield Stadium (Of Course)

Gillingham Town - Hardings Lane - Only went to view the stadium, not watch a game there

Grimsby Town - Blundell Park

Hartlepool United -  Victoria Park

Harrogate Town - Wetherby Road

Hereford United - Edgar Street

Herne Bay - Winch's Field

Hollands & Blair - Star Meadow Sports Stadium

Huddersfield Town - Galpharm Stadium

Hythe Town - Reachfields Stadium

Ipswich Town - Portman Road

K Sports FC - K Sports Cobdown

Leeds United - Elland Road

Leyton Orient - Brisbane Road

Lincoln City - Sincil Bank

Luton  Town - Kenilworth Road

Maidstone United - The Gallagher Stadium

Manchester United - Old Trafford ( But this was only a tour of the stadium, not to watch a game)

Mansfield Town - Field Mill

Macclesfield Town - Moss Rose

Margate - Hartsdown Park

Millwall - The Den

Milton Keynes Dons - stadium mk

Morecambe - The Globe Arena and Christie Park

Newport County - Rodney Parade

Northampton Town - Sixfields

Norwich City - Carrow Road

Nottingham Forest - The City Ground

Notts County - Meadow Lane

Oldham Athletic - Boundary Park

Oxford United - The Kassam Stadium

Peterborough United - London Road

Phoenix Sports - The Mayplace Ground

Plymouth Argyle - Home Park

Port Vale - Vale Park

Portsmouth - Fratton Park

Preston North End - Deepdale

Ramsgate - Southwood Stadium

Reading - Madejski Stadium

Rochdale - Spotland

Rotherham United - The New York Stadium, Don Valley and Millmoor

Salford City - Peninsula Stadium

Scunthorpe United - Glanford Park

Sittingbourne - Bourne Park (For The Concord Rangers V Gillingham Game)

Sheffield United - Bramall Lane

Sheffield Wednesday - Hillsborough Stadium

Sheppey United - The Havill Stadium

Shrewsbury Town - Greenhous Meadow

Slough Town - Arbour Park

Southampton - St Mary's Stadium

Southend United - Roots Hall

Stevenage - Broadhall Way

Stockport County - Edgeley Park

Sunderland - Stadium Of Light

Sutton United - Gander Green Lane

Swansea City - Liberty Stadium

Swindon Town - The County Ground

Tonbridge Angels - Longmead Stadium

Torquay United - Plainmoor

Tottenham - White Heart Lane (The Old Stadium)

Tranmere Rovers - Prenton Park

Walsall - The Bescot Stadium

Watford - Vicarage Road

Welling United - Park View Road

Whitstable Town - The Belmont Ground

Wigan Athletic - DW Stadium

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Molineux

Wycombe Wanderers - Adams Park

VCD Athletic - The Oakwood

Yeovil Town - Huish Park

York City - Bootham Crescent

Wembley Stadium - for Gillingham's promotion into League One in 2009 and for Tunbridge Wells defeat in The FA Vase Final in 2013, And I watched Cray Valley at The FA Trophy And FA Vase Finals Day.

#Football #Stadiums #AwayDays #England

[old-transport]

LCC tram No. 118 @ Beresford Square in 1908 by Frederick McLean Via Flickr: An old photograph of London County Council Tramways (LCC) B class tram No. 118 in Beresford Square, showing a 'Wickham Lane' destination blind box. The building behind and to the right of the tram is the goods office of the 'London & North Western Railway'. The photo reverse is initialled as being from the "ADP (A. D. Packer - David Packer ) collection". National Library of Scotland old/new overhead maps view:- maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=18.0&lat=5... No. 118 was built as a 'Preston' three-window design open top car in c1903 by the 'Electric Railway and Carriage Co.', seated 22/34, ran on a 4-wheel Brill 21E truck, going into service in 1908. When new it ran from conduit but was soon fitted with a trolley pole, then in 1910/11 it was fitted with a lightweight top cover, the trolley pole being removed. This car shows as being withdrawn from passenger service in Jul 1915, then becoming a sand car ("cars taken out of service - class B" list at the back of LCC Vol 1 by E. R. Oakley, which says "118 - delicensed 01.07.15 - note c (sand car)"), although I can find no further reference to this number being converted to a works car (see Colin Withey information below). 🚃 Thanks to 'Colin Withey' for this information:- "Unfortunately, in Vol 1 Ted accepted what the late John Wills had given regarding the surrender of 118's MSC licence but did not link it to Vol 2in which a view taken by the late Frank (DWK) Jones is shown of 118 as a double deck snow-plough. 118 did not survive the post-WW1 clear out of the surviving Class B cars after the selection of those structurally better Class Bs cut-down as snow-brooms. The only Sand Van LCC converted from a passenger car was 015 from Class C." 🚃 🚃 Thanks to 'JB (KK 69521)' for the information in this comment:- www.flickr.com/photos/fred_bear/52795548740/#comment72157... 🚃 If there are any errors in the above description please let me know. Thanks. 📷 Any photograph I post on Flickr is an original in my possession, nothing is ever copied/downloaded from another location. 📷 -------------------------------------------------

#London County Council Tramways #London Transport #London Tram #old London #london #open top tram #tram shelter #old photograph #old transport #old tramway #old tram #old tramcar #vintage transport #vintage photograph #vintage tramway #vintage tram #vintage tramcar #tramway #tram #tram car #LCC #1900s #Woolwich #Beresford Square #Woolwich tram #Greenwich tram #Greenwich #A D Packer #David Packer #flickr

[nicethingsthose]

On a Portrait of a Deaf Man

The kind old face, the egg-shaped head, The tie, discretely loud, The loosely fitting shooting clothes, A closely fitting shroud. He liked old city dining rooms, Potatoes in their skin, But now his mouth is wide to let The London clay come in. He took me on long silent walks In country lanes when young. He knew the names of ev'ry bird But not the song it sung. And when he could not hear me speak He smiled and looked so wise That now I do not like to think Of maggots in his eyes. He liked the rain-washed Cornish air And smell of ploughed-up soil, He liked a landscape big and bare And painted it in oil. But least of all he liked that place Which hangs on Highgate Hill Of soaked Carrara-covered earth For Londoners to fill. He would have liked to say goodbye, Shake hands with many friends, In Highgate now his finger-bones Stick through his finger-ends. You, God, who treat him thus and thus, Say "Save his soul and pray." You ask me to believe You and I only see decay.

- John Betjeman

#Literature #Poetry #John Betjeman