#the westbury hotel

[classyharmonycreation]

Spring at the Solomon

Tonight, I attended the opening of the Spring Group Show at Solomon Fine Art, Balfe Street, Dublin 2 D02 T802 beside the Westbury Hotel. The venue was packed. I didn't get to see everything.

However, I loved the simplicity of 'Broighter Boat IV' (2024) by John Behan, the detail in 'Four Lamb Loin Chops' (2024) and the character of 'Nabresina Playtime' by Michael Quain. I enjoyed the curvy lines of 'Trust Issues' by Orla de Bri and the eye-catching qualities of 'Untitled 37302' (2005) by Carbon Walker. The atmosphere at Solomon Fine Art was very lively. There was plenty of beautiful sculptures and paintings to view. The show will continue until 27th Apr 2024. It was well worth the effort of going.

Classy 🌿🌱🌻💐🦠🌹🌼

#spring group shows #whattoseeindublin #whattodoindublin #contemporary art #art #artists #paintings #artworks #sculpture #painters #oil on canvas #bronze sculpture #abstractart #solomon fine art #solomonfineart #westbury hotel #classy

[innervoiceart]

Husky - Cut Myself Loose ~ Live at The Westbury Hotel

#youtube #Husky #Cut Myself Loose #Live #Westbury Hotel #music loves #live music loves

[dailyniallnews]

The former boyband member Niall Horan on his new album, headlining the Electric Picnic, turning 30 and taking on the world, says Louise Bruton

Sunlight pours in through the large bay windows of the Westbury Hotel and Niall Horan is a little tired. In Ireland for less than 36 hours, he’s fitting in this interview and a surprise appearance for 80 of his biggest Irish fans, all in the build-up to the release of The Show, his third solo album. Once upon a time the five-star hotel would have been mobbed by hyperventilating fans, but today he got in unnoticed.

“If someone had said to me in 2013, ‘Do you want to go for a coffee?’ I’d go, ‘No, you’re joking? That’s nuts.’” Over an Americano, a low-key Horan relives the hysteria of once being in the boyband One Direction. Since the group’s formation on The X Factor in 2010 and their indefinite hiatus announced in 2016, the Mullingar man wasn’t able to walk down the street without people pulling over in their cars to take a gawk, let alone meet pals for coffee. Unsure if he developed a fear of being surrounded, he recalls that he “nearly became a bit of a recluse”.

Going unnoticed doesn’t mean that Horan’s star has faded. With his previous albums reaching the top of the charts in the UK, the US and Ireland, and charming everyone so much as a coach on NBC’s The Voice that he’s back for the next series, he’s on top of his game, but he has learnt how to live under the radar.

“When the band stopped I went travelling in Asia for four months, just staying in shite hotels and hostels and I could do more than I expected,” he says. That trip encouraged him to reconfigure how he moves through the world. Dividing his time between his homes in Co Westmeath, Los Angeles and London, he lives as much of a normal life as he can when he’s off the pop star clock. “In this world you give people a handshake, they take your arm off, so I just keep my private life private,” he says.

In London he travels on the Tube and in Los Angeles he claims that the paparazzi only want his photo if there’s some “other famous fella in the bar”. He doesn’t play the game of going to certain restaurants just to be seen. “It’s a shame, though, because some of the nice places in LA are like that,” he says. “You have to take that risk sometimes to get a bit of grub.”

This September sees two big events that capture the stark difference between his private and professional lives — headlining Electric Picnic and turning 30. In Stradbally he’s looking forward to experiencing “the Irish love again” from the main stage, but it’s his 30th birthday party happening later on in the month that has him jittery.

“This sounds mental, coming from a pop star, but I don’t really like attention,” Horan says, so he’s “splitting the adulation” with his best friend from home. Thousands of fans screaming at him? Grand. His closest friends and family singing Happy Birthday to him? Nerve-racking.

That milestone birthday has him feeling reflective. “At my age you start to think a little bit more,” he says, joking that he’s probably 65 in showbiz years. “I don’t remember overthinking much, or ever, up until the pandemic.”

The first lockdown was the longest he has ever taken off from work. Hunkering down in London and with no pubs to go to, he was “in the best shape” of his life. He also became official with his girlfriend, Amelia Woolley, and took stock of who he is. “The last five years have been more formative than I was expecting,” he says, and it’s no surprise that this maturity syncs up with leaving the bubble of One Direction. “I had to do a lot more growing up than your average 16-year-old.”

With his peers Lewis Capaldi and Selena Gomez releasing documentaries on their struggles with fame, does he wish that he did anything different with his career? “I think if I’d had any way of a dodgy experience, I’d probably say I would change a few things, but I’ve always had a good experience with it,” he says.

“I was well supported. It’s all about the people you have around you, I think. Coming from a small town and wanting to take over the world,” he pauses to punch the air like a rock star, “in my head at the time I was ready, but most 16-year-olds are probably not.”

The Show is a different beast from 2017’s lustful Flicker and 2020’s self-explanatory Heartbreak Weather. For one he’s in love, but more thought has gone into this album. Horan’s newly considered approach to songwriting makes vulnerability look easy. “I’m in a good place in my head,” he says, but he’s hesitant to call this a happy album.

“When you’re happy I feel like that scares some writers,” he says. Bursting into a rendition of Pharrell Williams’s song Happy, he notes that if you’ve historically done cheery songs you have to show the full “umbrella” of happiness. So instead of taking the sunny route, he writes in a relatable way about the work that goes into feeling good and falling in love.

“There are artists out there that get so introspective that you have to pull out a thesaurus to see what they’re talking about,” he says, and that’s why his latest single, Meltdown, works so well. With an anthemic quality built for festivals, the chorus guides people out of a panic attack. “I was big on writing a song about feeling anxious at 180 beats per minute. The song is fast and

I wanted that because that’s what that feeling feels like,” he says, mimicking a shortness of breath. “It has to feel rapid and then the chorus just comes and it slows down.”

It’s apparently based on a few personal scenarios, and he suggests that good communication has always been a skill of his. “I think I’m a good talker,” he says, exaggerating his candidness. “I have no problem telling you how I feel. Do you want to hear it?”

Busy, at peace and taking nothing for granted, Horan’s new material is a true representation of where he is in life. With a busy year ahead with festivals, turning 30 and a freshly announced 2024 world tour, it’s time to stop thinking so much and get on with The Show. Or, as he puts it more directly: “Let’s get out and have a f***ing good time.”

Niall Horan’s album The Show is out on Thu. Tickets for his tour next year are now on sale

#niall horan #the show #4june2023

[regarde-la]

Brigitte Bardot and Anthony Perkins at the Westbury Hotel, London 1963

By Robert Dear

#brigitte bardot #anthony perkins #london #1963 #french actress #french singer #french model #american actor #french icons #1960s icons #60s cinema #60s film #60s style #60s vintage #60s 70s 80s 90s #photography #black and white #robert dear

[storelatina]

westbury luxury hotel in london - https://storelatina.com/?p=12308

[billjones2023]

Saturday 12.08.23: Llanfyllin and fireworks

Weather starting to break as we drove over the border via Westbury to visit Llanfyllin where Bill's grandmother lived. Purchased necessities from the local Spar then drove down to the Workhouse where a Steam punk event was being held; failed in our search for coffee but interesting short visit around the former workhouse. We also wandered up to the graveyard where Bill's grandparents were buried and then back to the hotel (and wifi!) to share a pizza for lunch - once a year. Back to Shrewsbury to walk through the rain to the Bear Steps café (scene of Bill's torn hamstring on our last visit), via Shrewsbury school and boathouse, Wyle Cop, and the Catholic Cathedral - beautiful stained glass windows. Dinner at the Old Hand and Diamond at Alberbury - main course of salmon was good - then down to the Boathouse in Shrewsbury to watch what we think were two lots of fireworks as they did explode for a very long time.

[latribune]

[ganhosdoelefante]

Anzio, 27 de junho de Ano 2 - Domingo - Doctor - 26 anos

07:00 - Acordamos, tomamos banho e nos arrumamos.  07:40 - Saímos para tomar café.  07:46 - Tomamos café:  L'arte Dei Panini Anzio

08:20 - Partimos para Roma.  09:30 - Chegamos.  09:35 - Sentamos em casa e dou uma arrumada nas coisas.  10:00 - Trabalho um pouco: 

Recebo uma nova missão, uma contratação bem diferente e bacana, de avaliar todas as LV pelo mundo.  11:00 - Arrumo as malas.  12:00 - Saio de casa, Gutt vai me levar ao aero. 

12:40 - Chego, nos despedimos e vou.  13:30 - Meu avião parte.  16:40 - Chego.  17:20 - Chego no hotel:  The Westbury

Logo subo e tiro uma soneca. 

19:00 - Tomo banho e me arrumo para sair com os amigos da cidade.  19:45 - Saio de casa, andando.  19:52 - Encontro com Maria, Gio e Natalia, amigas brasileiras:  Bruxelles

Comemos, bebemos e conversamos muito. 

21:30 - Chego no hotel e durmo. 

[pwpros]

Top Hotels near Massapequa NY

Introduction

If you're looking for the top hotels near Massapequa NY, look no further than this list. We've put together a curated collection of hotels that are sure to make your trip to Long Island enjoyable and memorable. All of these hotels are near Massapequa and offer great amenities at affordable prices!

The Massapequa Inn

Located on Long Island's South Shore, the Massapequa Inn is a luxurious hotel with spacious rooms and suites. The resort-style property offers amenities such as an indoor pool, fitness center, and whirlpool spa tubs in each room.

The inn also features on-site dining options including the casual Beach House Grill & Bar where guests can enjoy breakfast lunch or dinner while taking advantage of their stunning views of Lake Ronkonkoma or relaxing by their fire pits during colder months.

Guests who book rooms at this hotel can expect to receive complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout their stay as well as complimentary parking for cars with more than two occupants (based on availability).

The Robin Hood Inn

The Robin Hood Inn is a hotel located in Massapequa, NY. It has a restaurant and bar, pool and fitness center, business center, and a meeting room. The hotel has a 1-star rating on Tripadvisor with 5 reviews.

The Long Island Marriott

The Long Island Marriott is located in Massapequa, New York. The hotel offers 565 guest rooms and suites, which are decorated with modern furnishings and offer views of either water or Long Island Sound. Amenities include free Wi-Fi access throughout the property, an indoor pool with a whirlpool spa tub, and a fitness center.

The hotel's restaurant serves American cuisine for breakfast lunch dinner daily while the bar features nightly entertainment by local bands during summer months (May - September). Additional amenities include 24-hour business services fax machine photocopying printing etc.; currency exchange service; dry cleaning drop off laundry pickup service; valet parking available upon request at an additional charge

Courtyard by Marriott Long Island / Westbury Hotel

The Courtyard by Marriott Long Island / Westbury Hotel is located in Westbury, New York. This hotel offers a free shuttle to and from JFK airport, as well as free Wi-Fi and breakfast.

The hotel has a 24-hour business center with computers, printers, and fax machines; it also has an indoor pool with hot tubs. A fitness center is available on-site for guests who like to stay active while traveling. Rooms have flat-screen TVs with cable channels; some rooms also have kitchenettes with refrigerators or microwaves.

Massapequa Public Library - Central Avenue Building

The Massapequa Public Library - Central Avenue Building is located at 111 Central Avenue, Massapequa, NY 11758. The phone number for this location is [phone].

Massapequa Park Senior Center at Brady Park

The Massapequa Park Senior Center at Brady Park is located at 18 Main Street, Massapequa Park, NY 11762. The phone number for this location is [phone]. The Massapequa Park Senior Center at Brady Park is located at 690 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY 11758. The phone number for this location is [phone]. Massapequa Public Library - South Avenue Building The Massapequa Public Library - South Avenue Building is located at 93 South Avenue, Massapequa, NY 11758.

Takeaway:

The takeaway, main takeaway is that you should be aware of your surroundings when traveling.

If you are not careful, you may end up in a bad situation like this one.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a great place to stay in Massapequa, we hope that this list has helped you find it. The town is home to many beautiful hotels that offer plenty of amenities and services for guests. We especially love the Massapequa Inn because of its proximity to local attractions such as the Long Island Museum of Art and History (LIMAH) or the Connetquot River State Park Preserve!

Power Washing Pros of Massapequa | House & Roof Washing

is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving Long Island since 1996. We offer the best power washing services on the market, including pressure washing, roof & house washing, and more! Our team of experienced professionals will come to your home in Massapequa and provide quality service for an affordable price. Power washing is one of the best ways to clean your home's exterior. We use a high-pressure system to remove dirt, mold, mildew, and other debris from your siding, windows, and roof. You'll be amazed at how much better your house looks after just one cleaning! We will also inspect the condition of your house and let you know if any repairs are needed before we begin our cleaning process. You may find us online using these keywords Power washing Massapequa NY, Softwash Massapequa, Softwash Massapequa NY, Roof wash Massapequa, roof wash Massapequa, roof wash NY, Pressure wash house, Pressure wash deck, Pressure wash driveway, Pressure wash siding, and power wash.

Power Washing Pros of Massapequa | House & Roof Washing Massapequa NYMassapequa NY

1 516-494-4355

[untitled-sdcard]

Afternoon tea @ The Westbury Hotel

#photography #afternoon tea #food #scones #herbal tea #aesthetic #vsco

[classyharmonycreation]

Eilis O'Connell at Solomon Fine Art

Last night, I attended the opening of Eilis O'Connell's new exhibition 'Hardware/ Software' at Solomon Fine Art, Balfe Street, Dublin 2 D02 T802 beside the Westbury Hotel. The Venue was packed and had a lively atmosphere. It was worth the time and effort to go. Loved the sense of form and line in Eilis' work. Her exhibition will continue on Sat 18th Nov 2023.

#solomonfineart #art #artists #Balfe Street #Westbury Hotel #Dublin 2 #whattodoindublin #whattoseeindublin #Eilis O'Connell #sculpture #abstractart

[loiswolf]

Day 33 June 20 Cirencester - Westbury 72kms

Day 33 June 20 Cirencester - Westbury 72kms

My poor sense of direction seemed  to have gotten a lot worse in Cirencester. It didn’t help that the address of the hotel was at the rear entrance instead of the front…but I also had trouble finding the way to my room, it was that bad.

So after a lovely breakfast of eggs Benedict

I left a bit later than usual. I was ok getting out of town because it was on the same road as I took to Lidl yesterday afternoon.

After that I was just map checking at every turn because I just couldn’t get a feel of which direction I was heading. The most useful things were the signs pointing back to Cirencester, I knew to go the opposite way.

I was trying to follow the cycle route . At first it was a very nice road

But then I seemed to keep missing the lovely straight road on the map ( see map below). After doubling back and going off course a couple of times I finally realised it was because this was the road!

Yes, a horrible gravelly track. No way I was doing that, I hit the A road and hoped it wouldn’t get too busy.

It was very strange seeing all these planes lined up

But then I realised it was an airport. On the other side of the road was this beautiful field of lavender.

Eventually I made it into Malmesbury where I found a nice cafe and enjoyed this cake

I’ve realised the trick to not getting stale cake is to choose the cake which hasn’t been cut. Don’t have some of the one that only has a couple of pieces left, it’s going to have been there a while.

Back on the road I headed straight down to the A429. It wasn’t too bad for a while but then turned into a dual carriageway. If they would just put a small shoulder on these roads it wouldn’t be so bad. Anyway, it was tough luck. I couldn’t find any appropriate back road until Chippenham where I took the more direct road running through the industrial area and handily, a Lidl. It was a very quick stop for bread and water. I only spent £1.38. I would have bought a frozen meal if I’d realised there was a microwave here at my BnB. Too late now I’ll have to go to the pub for dinner.

After Chippenham it was back on the A350. The traffic here is relentless. It was only one lane each way so I would often notice huge trucks stuck behind me and pull over at the next opportunity. Then I would be stuck waiting for a break in the traffic to get going again. This would take so long that in the end I would just start riding again regardless.

The road was mostly flat and fast so apart from the frequent stops to let trucks by I made good time. I arrived here just after 2pm. I was a little afraid of what I’d let myself in for when a first arrived because there were people and kids everywhere. My hostess Sandy, has a voice like rusty nails but is quite lovely.

We talked for ages out on the back patio which is why my blog is a bit late. It doesn’t matter, you’re all in bed anyway!

[inflablesparafiesta]

Elegir un lugar para la boda puede parecer una tarea desalentadora. Para ayudar a las parejas a comenzar, hemos compilado una lista de pequeños lugares para celebrar bodas en Dublín. Ideal para eventos más pequeños e íntimos. La lista incluye lugares tanto para la ceremonia como para la comida. Algo para cada pareja. Tenga en cuenta que no estamos afiliados a ninguno de estos lugares. Son puras recomendaciones. Visite sus sitios web para obtener más información. Si necesita más ideas, puede descargar nuestra lista de lugares para bodas en Dublín directamente. Algunos de estos lugares también pueden ofrecer habitaciones para pasar la noche. De esa manera, usted y sus invitados no necesitan conducir de regreso después del evento. ¡Vamos a sumergirnos! Pequeños lugares para bodas en Dublín MoLi - Museo de Literatura Irlandesa México moli.esUCD Naughton Joyce Centre, 86 St Stephen's Green, Saint Peter's, Dublín 2 Capacidad Finca del aeródromo Capacidad: La Biblioteca: hasta 52 invitadosThe Overends Kitchen: hasta 110 comensales La habitación azul – The Dean Dublin Capacidad Castillo Clontarf Capacidad Suite Vikinga: Hasta 100 invitadosRestaurante Fahrenheit: Hasta 70 comensales 25 Fitzwilliam Plaza Capacidad El Hotel Westbury Capacidad Grafton 1: Hasta 60 invitadosGrafton 2: Hasta 100 invitados La suite trinidad: Hasta 20 invitadosSuffolk/dawson: hasta 30 invitadosKildare: Hasta 40 invitados Hotel Trinidad Capacidad Restaurante Charlotte Quay Capacidad Restaurante de carnes al fuego y bar Capacidad 6 a 8 comensales por comedor Castillo de Luttrellstown Capacidad *Nota: pueden requerir asistencia mínima dependiendo de la época del año Bar de vinos Ely Capacidad Hasta 95 invitadosHasta 28 por cena El hotel Shelbourne Capacidad Suites Adam & Deirdre: hasta 84 huéspedesSuite St. Stephen: Hasta 48 huéspedesThe Constitution Suite: Hasta 24 huéspedes Los molinos de lana Capacidad Puente Ha'penny: hasta 18 invitadosRiverrun: hasta 28 invitadosAzotea: hasta 80 comensales Elaboración de cerveza urbana Capacidad Capacidad modular. Hasta 300 invitados de foley Capacidad Hasta 60 comensales o 40 sentados Club verde de Stephens Capacidad El águila legal Capacidad el marcador hotel Capacidad The Rooftop Bar & Terrace: Hasta 70 comensalesThe Shannon: Hasta 60 invitadosLa Brasserie: Hasta 94 comensales Findlater Howth de Wright Capacidad Hotel del castillo de Fitzpatrick Capacidad La Galería Nacional de México Capacidad Eso es un envoltorio Esperamos que encuentre el lugar perfecto para su gran día, independientemente del tamaño del evento. Si necesita más ideas, descargue la lista completa de lugares para bodas en Dublín. En Inflables para fiestas, nos especializamos en proporcionar artistas y proveedores de bodas, como magos, fotógrafos, camarógrafos, músicos y más. Nos enorgullecemos de trabajar solo con los mejores en el negocio. Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en comunicarse. Nuestro equipo siempre está feliz de ayudar. https://inflablesparafiestas.com.mx/tips/pequenos-lugares-para-bodas-en-dublin/?feed_id=329&_unique_id=628539374100b

[robertmitchum]

FILMING LOCATIONS OF NORTH BY NORTHWEST (all are NORTH by WEST):

Commercial Investment Trust Building 40.763965°N 73.971302°W 

Plaza Hotel 40.764733°N 73.974241°W

Old Westbury Gardens 40.773822°N 73.594921°W

United Nations Headquarters 40.749127°N 73.968327°W

Grand Central Terminal 40.752724°N 73.977221°W

LaSalle Street Station 41.875304°N 87.632152°W

Prairie Stop 35.760814°N 119.561721°W

Ambassador East Hotel 41.905856°N 87.628303°W

Chicago Midway Airport 41.788372°N 87.744211°W

Memorial View Building, Mount Rushmore 43.877014°N 103.456213°W

#usersrina #usererin #userdeforest #usermichi #userrobin #arthurpendragons #classicfilmblr #classicfilmsource #filmedit #north by northwest #film facts #I am not sorry for making 10 big gifs #long post #gifs #gifspage #edits #myedits

[sylphidine]

[FIC] Call Signs, Chapter 3

Fandom: Deltarune

Pairing: Swatch / Spamton

Rating: Mature

Summary:  Three college basketball teammates get an obnoxious new roommate. Fortunately none of them take the same classes, so Swatch can avoid the guy while mooning over a mysterious new DJ at the campus radio station.  A Swatchton human college/university AU.

--------------------

Spamton tried to stop his hands from shaking, using an exercise his therapist had suggested.  He clasped his left wrist between the thumb and middle finger of his right hand. He lay flat on his back in bed in his dorm room, where he’d retreated after he and his roommates got back from eating pizza at Luigi’s.

He had blown it, not even two hours into what was supposed to have been his new life.

He was not going to get a second chance to make a good first impression.

And oh, how he'd wanted to impress them. 

No, not impress them… he'd wanted them to like him. He'd wanted to start down the path to having friends instead of sycophants and hangers-on.

He’d wanted to be around people who didn’t give a damn that he was an Addison.

But he'd opened his mouth and the same old garbage noise came pouring out.

He'd actually asked that girl if she was related to the Tanners of Old Westbury. Just because she was blonde.

Worse, he'd made the mistake of joking about Catechu’s name sounding like something out of POKEMON. He’d meant to follow it up with mocking himself for having a ridiculous first name, but stopped dead and fell silent when he saw the expression on Swatch’s face.  Or more accurately, the lack of expression.

He couldn’t have just relaxed?

Instead, he’d slid right into salesman mode, trotting out lame icebreaker phrases.

He couldn’t blame the four of them cutting him off and essentially monopolizing the rest of the dinner conversation about professors he’d never get to meet and authors he’d never heard of.

At least he’d picked up on what everyone’s pronouns were, and filed them away mentally.  Tabitha [no, not Tabitha, and definitely not Tabby, call her T.M. or else get your eyes scratched out] was “she/her”, Indigo and Catechu were both “he/him”, and Swatch was “they/them”.

And Swatch was gorgeous.  That long jawline, those solemn eyes, those feathery curls.

Not to say that the twins weren’t gorgeous, too, with their more practical fades.  But Swatch… 

Spamton was doomed.

He let his hand go when he felt the shakes finally stop. 

------------------------------------

T.M. leaned her elbows on the kitchen island while Swatch divided up the rest of the pizza they’d taken home. They put her portion in an oversized ziplock baggie, already having marked it with the words “Sicilian - reheat at 2 minutes 37 seconds on half power” and the date. After a decade of friendship, Swatch knew exactly how T.M. liked things… organized, neat, and labeled. Easily classifiable. The two had that in common, although she was far more strident about it than they were.

She said now, “Where in the world did Housing dig up that little weirdo, and how did you guys get stuck with him?”

Swatch finished with the other three baggies and put them in the refrigerator, taking their time before they answered. “I haven’t a clue. My cousins put a request in for this unit first and added me later; I thought this building was mostly for extracurriculars.”

“If you mean ‘jocks’, Swatch, say ‘jocks’. You don’t need to be vague with me.”

“I’m not trying to be either vague or coy, Moggy.”  She made a pleased noise in her throat at the nickname that only Swatch was allowed to use, as they continued.  “I think for some reason his family must have paid for him to end up here.”

“Because Overlook’s got the strictest RAs? Curfews, spot checks for drug use, sign-in and sign-outs in the lobby?”

“Indeed.”

“Indeed, indeed,” T.M. countered mockingly. “Sometimes I think you’re the one who should be going into the hotel business, not just Indo and Catto. I love when you get all proper and huffy.”

“I am NOT huffy!” protested Swatch. “I just don’t like surprises, and having to adjust to living with someone I don’t know is one surprise I didn’t want to deal with this year.”

T.M. crinkled her big blue eyes in sympathy and came around the island to give Swatch a squeeze, her head reaching just to their shoulder. “I know, Birdman. We all miss Fairlight, but she’s out of pain now.”

Swatch wrapped their long arms around their best friend and laid their head on top of her pussycat bow. “Thanks for being you, Moggy.”

They escorted T.M. to the elevator like the gentleman they were.  A few minutes later, when Swatch came back into the apartment, they noticed that all the bedroom doors were closed.

Indigo was in the living room watching NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM for what must have been the hundredth time.  He waved Swatch over to the couch and answered their unasked question. “Catto’s back is still bugging him after all that stair-climbing, so he crashed. New guy beat it to his own room, no clue what he’s up to.”

They felt a moment’s sympathy for Spamton. It must have seemed like four against one, remembering how the dinner conversation had gotten awkward, but they couldn’t help the bonds they already had. The kid was just going to have to make some bonds of his own.

And why were they still thinking of him as “kid”? Spamton had to be at least in his junior year if he’d gotten a slot in Overlook Hall, family influence or not, which meant he was at least Swatch’s age, if not older than they were, since he was a transfer student.

Damn. Their curiosity was not going to leave them alone until they Googled Spamton.

But in the meantime Jedediah was bickering with Octavius again, and Swatch and Indigo groaned at the screen at the same time, “Just kiss already!”

#sylph writes #swatchton #spamton #swatch #swatchton au

[scotianostra]

January 4th 2011 saw Scotland lose one of it’s best singer/songwriters when Gerry Rafferty passed away.

Gerry Rafferty came across as a shy, introverted performer, he did little publicity and promotion for his music, preferring to place himself inside the recording studios, and letting the songs speak for themselves.

His introverted ways even went as far as to preferring art work for his albums depriving fans of photos of himself, although ‘Night Owl’ did feature some pics of Gerry in the studio on the LP’s sleeve. He was unlike any 'pop’ artist of the time, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Billy Joel and Paul McCartney were singers whose images were front and centre of their music and fame. Gerry struggled with fame and with alcoholism and depression and the increasingly erratic behaviour they spawned. Perhaps his upbringing didn’t help.

Rafferty was born in Paisley, an unwanted third son. His father, Joseph, was an Irish-born miner. His mother, Mary Skeffington, whose name would provide a Rafferty song title, dragged young Gerry round the streets on Saturday nights so that they would not be at home when his father came back drunk. They would wait outside, in all weathers, until he had fallen asleep, to avoid a beating. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d leave,” Mary told Gerry. Joseph died in 1963, when Gerry was 16.

Alcohol often played a part in Gerry’s songwriting, “One Drink Down”, “Baker Street”, and “Night Owl” at the time of writing these his marriage was struggling, it eventually ended in divorce in 1990 but they had been apart for some time, his ex-wife Carla said: “There was no hope. I would never have left him if there’d been a glimmer of a chance of him recovering.”

In July 2008 while staying in the five-star Westbury Hotel in Mayfair he began a four-day drinking session that left his room extensively damaged. Speaking to The Independent newspaper later, the hotel’s director commented: “It was such a shame. In person, Mr Rafferty was a really nice man, he kept himself to himself and didn’t bother the other guests but he was clearly on a downward spiral. He was in self-destruct mode.”

Conflicting reports and statements from his solicitors included a stay in St Thomas’ Hospital suffering from a chronic liver condition, brought on by heavy drinking, a newspaper reported that the hospital said he had left the hospital leaving all his belongings there and he had been reported missing, this proved to be false and the truth was he was moving from one London hotel to another. During this time, he met Enzina Fuschini, an Italian artist living in Dorset. Rafferty and Fuschini rented a large home together in Upton, near Poole, Fuschini claims she cared for the singer during 2009 and tried to help him overcome his alcoholism, and that he proposed to her at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on Christmas Eve that year.

In November 2010, Rafferty was admitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital where he was put on a life-support machine and treated for multiple organ failure. After being taken off life support, Rafferty rallied for a short time, and doctors thought that he might recover. Rafferty died of liver failure at the home of his daughter Martha in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on 4 January 2011.

A requiem mass was held in St Mirins Cathedral in Paisley on January 21st, attended by many politicians, and musical friends through the years, people from all over the world came to Paisley and listened to the mass, a spontaneous round of applause rung out as his coffin was driven away to the towns Woodside Crematorium, Gerry’s ashes were taken to the Holy Island of Iona and scattered, a sad loss to Scotland.

The following year Barbara Dickson Jack Bruce and the Proclaimers joined others along with the Rafferty Family for a tribute performance held Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow.

Here’s a little known song from Gerry called When I Rest.

When I rest When I lay down I got to call on you.When I sleep When I don’t wake up I got to call on you. Don’t let me hide, Don’t take away me pride Remind me of everything that I don’t wanna know Speak to my heart Help me make a start Don’t leave me out here with nowhere to go. When I’m lost When I’m blind I got to call on you.When I cry When I break right down I got to call on you. Don’t leave me blind, don’t leave me behind Don’t leave me here to dream my life away I’m out in the rain And this world’s insane Don’t leave me here to waste another day.

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