#Driving Lessons in Rugby

[thereweredragonshere]

what headcanons do you have for the riders in a modern au?

Sorry if some of these are a little basic lmao I don't think about modern aus all that much.

They all live in Britain. Sue me. I want some dragons over this side of the atlantic.

Hiccup -

Does digital art

Plays minecraft religiously and can do red stone better than he can do maths

has failed exams due to his pretty much illegible hand writing despite answers being mostly correct

Listens to exclusively 80s/90s music

Lives in a flat above a pub that his dad owns called 'Berk' aka 'Berk's bar' (Which is a whole au that i have and is where i got the name for my discord server from lmao. But these headcanons aren't all specifically from that au. Just general ones.)

Gets bullied quite bad at school. He's taken days off because of it before.

Class presentations are his worst nightmare. Can never get his words out during them and gets very freaked out.

Astrid -

Plays Rugby, Football, does boxing, really name any contact sport and she's probably tried it at some point. Her favourite lesson is P.E. (Physical education/gym class) and she will riot if it gets cancelled for some reason.

'Difficult' student. She struggles with anger management and schools are shit at helping kids with that, so she gets labelled as a problem child cuz she always chats back and gets sent out of classrooms.

Despite being a 'problem' child, she still gets all the shit that needs doing done.

Never shows up to school assemblies. She usually just goes and finds a staircase to sit on.

Divorced parents. She bounces between houses quite a lot.

Spends most of her free time at the gym. Buffstrid canon in modern times too people!!

Snotlout -

Got massively bullied in year 7 and like half way through year 8 he switched the fuck up and became a fucking menace. Bro was NOT playing.

Rides horses. Hookfang is a horse.

Is lowkey fucking amazing at maths but he's scared to put effort into it cuz he thinks he'll get made fun of.

When him and Astrid become friends they actually bond over being the 'problem' kids. Though Astrid is a bit more than Snotlout.

Constantly in corner shops. He loves buying overpriced american sweets.

Fishlegs -

Actually very rarely gets bullied cuz no one knows who the fuck he is (Until the gang all become friends, then people DEFINIATELY know who they all are.)

Loves the three sciences. Even physics. He actively enjoys doing physics.

Kinda not really a teacher's pet. He won't tell on you but he certainly won't partake in whatever it is you're doing on your phone in the middle of a very important english lesson.

Loves shakepeare.

Him and Snotlout (When the gang all become friends) set up one of those stupid cliche 'pay me and I'll do your homework' things in the boys toilets at school. Snotlout did the discreate advertising and Fishlegs did the homework. They split profits 50/50 and they both found it so funny that it actually worked. And then they got busted by the head teacher and that's the first time fishlegs ever got detention.

Ruffnut -

Local school fact file. She can tell you every single detail about the place. Wanna know when that one piece of gum you just accidentally touched was stuck to the table? She'll fucking know.

Giver her £10 and she will eat literally anything.

Actually CAN'T get bullied cuz she just doesn't give a fuck

Very good at english/languages

Has never done homework a day in her life. Never will.

Brings random live animals into school every now and again. Much to the genuine delight of Hiccup.

Drives her parents' car somewhat regularly, despite not being old enough and not having a licence.

Tuffnut -

Can tell you the translation of ANY word into French. This guy is a MACHINE in French lessons.

brings full sized nerf water guns into school.

Chicken is canon. Ruff and Tuff share their bedroom with Chicken.

Never ever sits normally. Always swinging on his chair or sitting cross legged.

Chronic beanie wearer

[stopper-my-heart]

This is my take on Harry Greene in Heartstopper (TV).

Goal:

Harry wants social capital.

Method of achieving his goal:

Harry primarily rules by fear and by creating an 'us' vs 'them' mentality.

If someone in Harry's group steps out of (his) line, he picks on them until they fall back in.

This serves as a lesson to that person, but it also sets an example for what will happen to anyone else who behaves similarly.

The others in the group therefore typically at least passively support Harry, lest they be turned on, too.

Harry will also pick on random people to:

demonstrate his authority,

amuse his mates,

make them complicit in it so that they don’t have anywhere else to turn, and

benefit from the 'bond' that creates.

-> It’s easiest to do this with people who have less social capital and/or won’t stand up for themselves (like Charlie).

Obstacles:

Nick

Harry knows that Nick is more well-liked than he is.

This is a threat to his power, so he wants to keep Nick under his thumb. -> A great way to do this is by constantly being in Nick's business and by dictating what Nick should care about and how he should live his life. When Harry gets the other lads in on it, it both adds pressure to Nick to comply and shows him that if he doesn't, he'll likely lose more than Harry.

Harry also wants to benefit from Nick’s popularity: he looks cooler if Nick is his friend.

When Nick begins to stand up to him, this is therefore an especially big problem for Harry.

Tao

When Tao starts (verbally) fighting back, this is a challenge to Harry's authority, which is unacceptable — especially from someone of Tao's low social standing.

However, it's a chance for Harry to prove himself, and it seems like it should be easy.

Charlie

From Harry's point of view, Charlie may not be directly challenging him, but Charlie is the driving motivator behind both Tao and Nick standing up to him (which they do in front of his mates, another affront), and especially behind Nick pulling away from him.

Ever since Charlie entered Nick’s life, and especially since he joined the rugby team, Nick has been different: more talkative, joking around more — and not in Harry-approved ways — and a lot less dependent on Harry. In fact, Nick keeps spending time with Charlie instead of with Harry and the other lads, even when they're all out together.

Tao is Charlie's best friend, and it's clear that he's standing up to Harry largely in defence of Charlie.

Charlie is also the opposite of Harry in a lot of ways. As Charlie begins to integrate into the rugby team, Harry will almost certainly feel the lads' acceptance of him as a weakening of Harry's grip on them and of his social capital in general.

Dealing with the obstacles:

Harry needs to prove himself, reassert his authority and superiority. Part of the problem, though, is that Harry's obstacles are intertwined.

Since Charlie is at the root of it all, Harry must (figuratively) knock Charlie down in order to (1) keep Charlie in his place as much as possible; (2) not let him become more 'in' with the rugby lads; (3) show Nick that Charlie isn’t anything special, isn’t worth 'rebelling' for; (4) keep Nick in line by straining his tether to Charlie; and (5) punish Charlie for being different to Harry as well as 'causing' issues for him.

This generally does not have the intended effect:

Charlie may occasionally be beaten down, but he continues to pick himself back up.

Tao typically wins their verbal sparring matches.

Nick increasingly frequently and strongly pulls away from Harry in favour of Charlie.

The turning point (& the fights):

Nick firmly chooses Charlie over Harry at the cinema, and Harry is incensed. Nick must be shown that Harry is the one in charge, so Harry goads him into a fight.

That Monday, Nick not only doesn't apologise, but he doesn't sit with the group before form that morning. Nick again doesn't join them at lunch. It's the same the next day.

Harry is losing his grip on Nick, and he's angry about it. Harry can’t really fight Charlie, for various reasons, but what about the other thorn in his side? If he fights Tao, that will hurt Charlie, and hurt Nick, and theoretically go towards reinforcing Harry’s superiority and rightful social standing at the top of the pecking order (and hurt Tao). What a perfect vector for his anger and frustration! So Harry goads Tao into a fight.

The aftermath

Harry tries a few more times to generously "allow" Nick back into the fold, and Nick refuses.

Christian, Sai and Otis also stop talking to Harry and those who are still close to him.

Charlie stands up to Harry.

So why does Harry stick up for Nick and Charlie in Paris?

Harry is realising that he lost: Nick is out from under his thumb now, and others have followed him. The only way for Harry to get back in is to get back in with Nick. And the way to do that is through Charlie (in the same way that going against Charlie led to the breaking point in the first place).

Is part of Harry's motivation to change that he realises that he's been treating people poorly and doesn't actually want to do that? (Or, at the very least, not his friends?)

Maybe. It's possible he genuinely misses Nick and the others and wants to do better.

But as things stand at the end of season 2, it seems like Harry has given up on homophobic "jokes" because they led to his empire crumbling; it doesn't seem like he's changed his goal or learned a bigger lesson.

Even if he has, and Harry works on changing his behaviour across the board, it may be too little too late for him to be back in with Nick and the others.

We'll have to see what season 3 brings.

[lauratheghost]

A strange summary of my day / current evening:

It's been a long day with many thoughts...

I woke up to the biggest snow storm of the year this morning. It was very pretty and surprisingly warm, so that made me really happy, even though I'm waiting for spring.

Then I did research on different types of exercise that you can do at home. I've been feeling very... blahh lately. And I never want to have sciatica again so I really wanna get in better shape. Well, I think I've decided that I want to start to learn calisthenics. 👀

And then I finally started reading The Song of Achilles. I'm about halfway through and I just know this book is gonna destroy me 😭😭😭 I stopped reading it because I didn't wanna cry today 😂

Then I earned two more Playstation trophies in Hollow Knight. Still at 110% though.

After that, I had a moment of clarity in the shower and I feel less... hopeless (?) and more like "don't worry, I have a plan" when it comes to my stupid dental issues. Long story short-ish — after my last appointment I started clenching my jaw, leading to really bad jaw pain. I think my bite is off now. I'm starting to question my current dentist, and am thinking about trying to return to my old one. My old dentist was really mean and kind've degrading, but he did usually do a good job. It's also a ten minute walk to him instead of an hour drive. I'm hoping I could get things taken care of faster if I just sucked it up and went back to him.

A second opinion would at least be nice...

Now, I'm watching the Superbowl with my bf. (I don't understand football, but I like the commercials and the halftime show. 😂) I guess there's a player for the Eagles who likes Sleep Token so I guess I'm rooting for them now 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

I've also thinking I would like to watch a rugby game soon. (My Welsh lessons on Duolingo never stop talking about rugby 💀😂)

Anyways, I think that's it. It felt like a surprisingly eventful day for me barely doing anything. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Sorry if I've missed it, but have you ever posted about what zee did when women were supposed to be in the house and not working?

Oh, I haven't! This is one of those fascinating parts of life where class, an ideal of women, and reality clash. She has more restrictions but she'd start clawing at the walls if she wasn't doing something. Her brother's restrictions are based on either their or Arthur's preferences, and she has more issues but women have never just sat at home without a purpose. Working class women always worked, middle class and upper class women were encouraged to prioritize children and home but many engaged in charity works or other 'proper' activities in the public eye.

Zee has a very practical personality. She wants to play rugby, shear sheep, plant her garden. She has vines, birds, and bees to tend. She likes hiking, driving, baking, canoeing. She has degrees. She has worked as a civil engineer, a sapper, an agricultural technician, a vitner, welder, and a mechanic. She'd much rather have been a sapper for most of the wars rather than the nursing positions she often found herself in but she was still active in that sapper role and others. That ideal of women not working really is strongest in the upper classes where she was educated and partially socialized in because often, class could balance sex, gender and ethnicity to give her a much needed leg up. Jack can much more easily indulge in his image of his working class culture than she can. So she has to walk a fine line. But she's involved as hell.

I can't say he was a good father, but if there was a category in which Arthur didn't 400% suck it was that he had her extremely well educated. One of the reasons Alasdair and Arthur both are so fond of her is while Matt never had a head for numbers and Jack would get distracted, Zee would observe and ask questions in her lessons or even just watching them at work. When other father's will comment to their daughters 'no one wants to marry a blue-stocking' Arthur will snort and say something about how his Eleanor is too treasured to be handed off to some inbred baron so and so anyway. And she won't ever marry, but even with Arthur's benevolent-sexism she still needs to move somewhat carefully. Arthur didn't care about her grades as much as he did say Leon's, but there was still a line too far for her. Appearances had to be kept up. Even when Zee graduated from Oxford in 1892, she wasn't given a proper degree as women wouldn't be permitted those until the 1920s. And even when she had her accomplishments, she didn't do much with her degree in the 1890s. She got the right to vote in 1893 and discovered bicycles, fencing, sex and other activities instead of a calling at first.

It's not until a new level of respectability and professionalism is granted to imperial nurses by the Boer War that she enrolled in nursing school. New Zealand was the first country to register its nurses and hold them to a certain standard of education. So her life was fairly long slog of playing to respectability politics. From teacher, to nurse, then in WW1 when the British army banned Anzac nurses from administering anaesthetic, they accidentally left out New Zealand nurses in the wording so several Kiwi nurse-anaesthetists were trained. There's also social work, flight, child development, and surgery after that. The first New Zealand engineers were trained in England, and it wasn't until 1965 that New Zealand graduated their own but once they did, I can see her studying that, conservation, ornithology and other things with Arthur probably funding several of them to keep her in his life, as the British government handed out grants and incentives to keep the Commonwealth invested in British institutions. But she's busy. She won't just sit around even when she can, it's just not how she's built.

[bookaddict05]

Girl in the chair

This is a spin off series inspired by @ladmarkinnit's web head series. This is from the point of view of Tess in his series. Unsure to what may happen yet as I just go with the flow but will be heavily linked with Ashes series, so I recommend you go over and read his story to, plus its a really good story so you should just go and read that one anyways.

TW: domestic abuse (emotional)

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UGH Monday rolls around once again, why do the weekends always seem to fly over so fast. Luckily we have a field trip for most of the day so no proper lessons are scheduled for the day. I wake up this morning getting ready into my favourite pair of blue ripped jeans and picking up my new brown aesthetically pleasing crop top I bought on a shopping spree I had to force Milo to go on with me yesterday. Matching this cute little outfit with a brown and blue tartan jacket to top it off.

I walk down the stairs of my house and walk into the kitchen. I see my mam sitting down at the kitchen island waiting with my lunch for the day. I grab my Jeep car keys off the counter and give her a hug and kiss goodbye as I leave the house.

"DRIVE SAFELY PET" She shouts as I close the door behind me.

-- 10ish minuets later--

I arrive at school just in time to jump on to the school bus for the school trip, I still don't see why they wont let me drive my own car to Octavius labs its not like me and Milo were planning to skip... Okay we were but they didn't know that.

I run up the steps of the bus, pushing through people blocking the pathway for no reason and drop into the seat next to Milo.

"Shove along short ass" I say teasingly. Me and Milo have been Best friends now for about 8 years. You would rarely see us without the other somewhere near. We are practically attached to the hip.

"You look like shit" I state while laughing at the state he is in.

"You should see the other guy" He retorts with a big gin over his face "I did" I say laughing back at him again.

We talk for a little bit catching up on the events that have happened between yesterdays shopping spree up until I sat down next to him on the bus. I have an immediate thought that makes my whole body light up.

"Please join the rugby team Milo, you'll love it". He stares at me blankly as I gave him the puppy dog eyes. He starts to chuckle finally giving in to my pleading.

"I'll think about it okay?" he says with a bit of sarcasm, yeah I think i better give up with this.

--- 20 minuets later ---

We arrive at Octavius Labs. We walk into the massive daunting building and we are assigned groups with tour guides. Our tour guide, unfortunately, looked like he was alive before Captain America became a Capsicle.

I look left and right before pulling Milos arm and hiding us behind a pillar. I pull out a camera I had stole from the photography room on Friday after lesson.

"Hey I picked this up, thought we could sneak off to the spider enclosure and grab some shots, you promised to do me a spider tattoo, this can be your concept design" I smirk with begging eyes again. I have never liked field trips and will always find away to escape them. Why do you think I'm not aloud to drive to them anymore. He nods and I jump with glee and we sneak off the opposite way from our tour guide leaving the old man with the other students.

We make our way to the room and Milo opens the door for me and we stare up at the spider enclosure in awe. As Milo is taking pictures I walk around and see that these spiders aren't your typical looking spider. Not a spider you would ever see. In fact they don't look like any species known to man. Strange.

I let the thought slide as me and Milo get a selfie with the spiders. I see Milo in clear pain as he clenches his ribs.

"You need to get a new binder" I say with sympathy, he's been experiencing a lot of pain from it lately.

"Come on we should go, you still down to see my mam tomorrow? She misses you a lot". He laughs as we make our way back to the bus.

-- back at home --

I pull into the driveway of my house and see that my dad is home early, its a Monday which makes sense in a way as he normally gets home early to come to rugby practice with me, but this was earlier than normal. I walk through the front door and walk straight into the kitchen and find my mam ironing, she gives me a look and through that one look I know that he isn't in a good mood and is to be left alone. I act if everything is normal, most of my life could be considered an act, never letting my true self show to anyone. Well anyone but Milo, I know I can trust him with anything.

I head up in to my room and get ready to go to training.

-- Tuesday --

Today was just as normal however Milo does seem to be acting strange. Well he's always strange but I mean he was beyond strange today. For example today at lunch we got bored so I got the rugby ball out from the back of my car and he held it above my head without using his fingers, that is quite literally impossible. Even more impossible for a person who hasn't played rugby since they were 10.

I shrugged it off as beginners luck, but something is definitely up and he's not telling me about it. I will find out what he is keeping from me.

-- Tuesday afternoon --

I'm sitting up in my bedroom reading my newest book 'Practice makes perfect' by Sarah Adams whilst listening to Jonas Brothers. However this all gets interrupted by an incoming phone call. Milo.

"Hey y/n/n, I need one of your comic books" he says over the phone.

"Wait, OH MY GOD, have I converted you to the dark side?" I say with shock but enthusiasm as I have bee dying to get him to read one of them.

"Sure you have, do you still have that uh Spider girl thing?" he sighs when saying that, knowing for a fact I will now never shut up about this.

"I left it at yours because I knew you would want it someday, check under your old rugby uniform" I say while smiling so much it actually started to hurt.

"OMG, I love you so much, thank youuuu, you stupid nerd" he says as he hangs up the phone. I had a gut feeling that deep down that there was something behind the reason he was asking for the comic but I didn't want my overthinking to cloud the day where I finally got him interested into a comic book, even though it may of been for another reason.

As I am reading I see my phone light up with a message and see its my mam asking me to come downstairs. I comply to her request and go downstairs to see her and my dad not looking happy.

"what's up?" I ask.

"We have just heard from your school that you are FAILING more that half of your subjects" my dad starts to raise his voice.

Oh no this isn't going to end well.

I block out as much as I can but some words still manage to creep through.

"worthless"

"Fat"

"waste of space"

"Thick as pig shit"

-- 10 mins later --

I am upstairs in the bathroom balling my eyes out. Trying to calm myself down just before Milo arrives. Eyes are all red and puffy so I splash cold water over my face to help. Adding concealer underneath my eyes to hide the dark circles and then re-applying mascara. That's when I hear a knock on my bedroom door and then Milo walks through the door.

"Hello sunshine" he says with a smile, Ironic.

"Hello Goth boy" I say back with a smile across my face.

"I brought snacks and hair dye"

"do we have an exam tomorrow?" I ask which he returns with a nod

"Hair dye timeeeee"

it has became some sort of a ritual before an exam now that I dye my hair so if I fail at least I did it looking good. Which has been a lot lately.

--

Next thing I know my hair has been separated into 2. With the under of my hair being dyed pink. Out in the corner of my eye I see the bleach box and I pick it up looking straight at Milo.

"No please, not again" he says as he backs away from me. I open he box and the lid of the bleach and shrug

"well its open now we must use it" smiling as I put a blob onto his black hair.

"I hate you" he groans.

"I love you too" chuckling while applying more.

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Ahh so i just done all of this tonight, you can obviously see if u have read the web head series where they interlink.

I highly recommend reading @ladmarkinnit series as it gives u the perspective of milo over there but you are milo to if u get me over in that series the persons POV im writing here is called Tess.

Yeah if this confuses you just ignore it and go find out for yourself 😂

[formulaarchive]

Sam Birds 'CV' on his website circa 2002.

2002: Well, I really thought this would be my year - I wanted to win the JICA British title and start some European racing. However, with the new regulations and the restrictor, which favours smaller, lighter boys, it was not to be. I had some silly problems in the first race, which left me trailing the championship at 17th . However, a good place in the second race put me up to 6th. Bad luck dogged me, with a black flag for "weaving" and a couple of dnfs, so I stayed in 6th place. Some fantastic drives, through the field, earning me good publicity for the first time in a long while. 

Went to Garda for first ever ICA race - wow! I love this. Came 2nd and 4th in heats and 4th in final. Parma - again great results in practice and heats, but developed fever for race and finished 10th. Mind you, there were some 90+ entrants and I was the youngest!

Portugal. Qualified fourth in group. Set fastest lap in 2 heats. Sadly, didn't finish race but did enough to qualify for finals in Angerville. One of only four Brits to get through!

Did practice race in Spa, just to test engines ready for the final. Highest non=Belgian finisher by 11 positions. Finished third, almost photo finish with Thonon who went on to win European Championship!

European Championship. One DNF (shunted off) plus technical problems in two heats where I had to "nurse" kart home meant very poor qualifying position and didn't make finals. Started 15th in Federation Cup, had great drive and reliable kart this time, overtook almost one kart per lap, came in 5th. 

Future: Hope to concentrate on practice for ICA in Europe/UK. This will be my route for next year and after that ……………

2001: After Common Entrance, I won a place at Charterhouse, in Godalming. Fabulous school and here they recognise karting as a sport and not just a hobby. Am on the short list for a sports scholarship. During this year I joined Ricky Flynn Motorsport and have learned a lot. Many technical problems, but also some very good results - have had a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in various heats/races.

2000: Still having problems persuading the school that I should be allowed to race on weekends. Could NEVER do Friday practice and had problems on Saturdays, because I was in every team for football, rugby, cricket, athletics and cross country! However, in 2000 I was joint winner of Buckmore Park Series and 2nd in winter series.

1999: After such success in Formula 6, rather a shock to enter Formula Junior Yamaha which was a leap too far. Many technical problems, plus my prep. School was unsupportive. However, see pic on this site of me ahead of di Resta - it really did happen once!

1997/8: Persuaded my parents to buy me a kart for 10th birthday present, but only used it very briefly, as I raced in Formula 6, courtesy of Sandown Karting. Won trophy almost every race. Novice trophies in first, second and third races, after that, always on podium. Once I had finished being a novice, very often came in half a lap ahead of the rest of the field.

1996/7: Still too tiny to buy a kart, so went indoor racing at Playscape in London. Won most races, even against instructors. Thanks Mike for your encouragement.

1995: Aged 8, had first lessons at Silverstone. Far too small to reach pedals but thoroughly enjoyed experience and couldn't wait to get back into a kart.

[anja04blog]

This is the comic strip I created for this project looking at identity. I wanted to draw out the process of me drifting away from my Welsh culture and the main things I feel are responsible for this. I opted to use the colour red to enhance this narrative, starting off saturated in the first few images where my culture was stronger, and fading as the story goes on.

The first image I drew for this was one of me dressed up as a Welsh lady when I was in primary school. It’s probably the earliest memory I have of experiencing my Welsh culture, and a fond one at that.

The second image depicts a memory of the assemblies we used to have for celebrating both Saint Davids Day, and the Eisteddfod. We used to take part in singing dancing, art and poetry competitions. One year I even remember coming second in the short story writing contest. These celebrations lasted the whole of the day and were very upbeat and joyful occasions. The last eisteddfod I had was in my first year of high school, after this it was deemed a ‘waste of time’. this I feel, is when I first started to drift from my Welsh culture.

The third and fourth image are of other things that make me feel connected to my culture. Going to rugby games with my family will always be so much fun, the atmosphere not just in the stadium but also in the town itself is always amazing on game day! The fourth image is something I didn’t really realise was ‘Welsh’ until growing up and travelling more, and that’s how the Welsh word comes first on road signs. Whilst this is now quite annoying whilst I drive around, it is also something I miss when I’m in England.

The fifth image is of me in Welsh class, which oddly enough, is where I feel I most drifted most from my Welsh culture. These lessons were hard and often led to lots of class disruptions form people messing around or not taking it seriously. Whilst I enjoyed most of these lessons to begin with, as time went on and exams got closer, I started to dislike these lessons very much.

However, in picture six you can see me being upset that I am now unable to join in with my Welsh speaking friends. Whilst this is not a huge issue as they all speak English too; I do feel like I’m missing out on something that brings people closer.

Finally, images 7 and 8 show me moving to London to study at university and feeling lost now I’m here. Whilst I am proud to be born in Wales, I feel a sense of shame whenever people ask me if I can speak Welsh, and I must admit that I cannot. It makes me feel like an imposter and I wonder if I have any right being so proud to be Welsh, when I have lost most of that culture over the years. So, the final image depicts just that, me being lost in a sea of busy people but still feeling lost as to who I am.

[annaking0011]

Exploring the Oak Brook Sports Core: Facilities and Programs in Illinois.

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Additional Amenities and Programs

The Oak Brook Sports Core isn’t just about sports; it’s a community hub that offers a range of additional amenities and programs. The Bath & Tennis Club includes a clubhouse that can be rented for private events, such as weddings, corporate meetings, and social gatherings. The scenic setting and elegant facilities make it a popular choice for special occasions.

Furthermore, the Sports Core offers various fitness and wellness programs, including yoga and Pilates classes, designed to promote overall health and well-being. The expansive grounds also provide ample space for walking, jogging, and picnicking, allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Community Engagement and Events

A key aspect of the Oak Brook Sports Core is its role in fostering community engagement. The facility regularly hosts community events, such as summer camps, holiday celebrations, and family fun days. These events help to strengthen the bond among residents and create a sense of belonging.

One of the most anticipated events is the annual Oak Brook Polo season, held at the historic Oak Brook Polo Grounds located within the Sports Core. As one of the oldest polo clubs in the United States, it attracts enthusiasts from all over, offering thrilling matches and a touch of elegance to the community’s social calendar.

Conclusion

The Oak Brook Sports Core is a multifaceted facility that provides top-notch sports and recreational opportunities in Illinois. Its diverse range of amenities, from the championship golf course and competitive swimming pool to the extensive tennis and soccer programs, ensures that there is something for everyone. By promoting active lifestyles and community engagement, the Sports Core plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for Oak Brook residents and visitors alike. Whether you’re looking to perfect your golf swing, take a refreshing dip, engage in a friendly tennis match, or simply enjoy a scenic stroll, the Oak Brook Sports Core is the perfect destination.

[gltzpzy]

thank u for the tag @cupcakeinat0r <3

Do you make your bed?

yup ! it’s the first thing i do in the morning so i won’t lay in it all day lol

Favourite number?

28 and 111, its the number on my brother’s jersey and i associate the angel number w/ him <3

What's your job?

babysitter !

If you could go back to school, would you?

i’m in school rn LOL but if we’re talking abt highschool.. no

Can you parallel park?

i’m a passenger princess idk how to drive

Do you think aliens are real?

duh!!!! ain’t no way were the only living things in the universe

Can you drive a manual car?

again, passenger princess, can’t drive

What's your guilty pleasure?

like cupcake, i have the same interests as a kid 😭 pass me the remote and im immediately putting on either spongebob or one of the barbie movies (thumbelina is my fav <33) while drawing or playing with slime LOL (i was one of those kids who sold slime, made $150 leshgo)

i’m also a retired theatre kid so i’ll always have hamilton, heathers, mean girls the musical and hairspray playing in my headphones 😭

Tattoos?

i have a very faded stick and poke tattoo from my rebellious teens days on my ass that my ex did (it’s a little heart) but other than that no LOL, but i’m planning on getting a malu this year

Favourite color?

purple and pink!!!!!!!

Favourite type of music?

i’m very versatile and will listen to every genre (including country, before he cheats will always be MY karaoke song) but my fave genres are rnb, rap & pop

my fave artists rn are beyonce, doja cat, kendrick lamar, sza, ariana grande, chloe x halle, kehlani, summer walker, solange, kali uchis & mariah the scientist <3

Do you like puzzles?

yes they help my brain juices pump

Any phobias?

WHATEVER THE PHOBIA IS CALLED FOR HEIGHT!! and this might b weird but feet as well 😭 hate it. cant stand it. stop.

Favourite childhood sport?

played rugby and netball growing up, rugby was def my fave (ily netball but i got bored). i would always b centre no matter what, i’m telling u little alicia could run yards and still dodge tackles like THAT, i really miss it 😭 ever since hs i was too busy to continue it but i’m hoping to pursue rugby again after i graduate because its genuinely such a fun sport and i love tackling people LMFAO

Do you talk to yourself?

kinda? i don’t do the fake interviews or scenarios ppl do but if i have a task i’ll just say “oh i gotta __” and that’s kinda it

What movies do you adore?

not a movie gyal but my all time faves are mean girls, atsv and midsommar (and jumanji LOL)

Coffee or tea?

tea! #british

First thing you wanted to be growing up?

can’t remember what i wanted to be first but either a dancer or an astronaut 😭 i would beg my mum to take me to dance lessons and space events all the time

no tags because y’all already @‘d my moots😭😭😭😭😭

Thank you for the tag @sleketon666

Do you make your bed?

Yes, on the weekends especially, but If I don't make the bed my partner does. 

Favourite number?

17, Idk just a good number.

What's your job?

I won’t get specific, but I do stuff that involves art on the daily. 

If you could go back to school, would you?

Maybe, just to get my masters. But as of now definitely not doing that. 

Can you parallel park?

Yes! I’m not the best but I have done it before.

Do you think aliens are real?

Yes, I think there's just no way there isn’t other life out there.

Can you drive a manual car?

Nope

What's your guilty pleasure?

Writing smut and drawing cocks. But also pop music and cheesy romances.  

Tattoos?

None, but my partner does!

Favourite color?

Like a light blue

Favourite type of music?

I like many different types…Just anything but country.

Do you like puzzles?

Yeah sometimes. 

Any phobias?

I don’t know what the phobias are called, but I am scared of deep murky water and also the dark (don’t judge me…) 

Favourite childhood sport?

I used to like volleyball and basketball 

Do you talk to yourself?

Yes, all the time. 

What movie(s) do you adore?

Pride And Prejudice, Sixteen candles, 10 things I hate about you, and the original Halloween. Plus many many more. (Fun fact about me, I quote movies all the time so much it’s become a game between me and my mother) 

Coffee or tea?

Neither….I don't like bitter drinks

First thing you wanted to be growing up?

I wanted to be a vet and then for a long time I wanted to be a mortician. 

No pressure tags-

@cinnasalmon @dark-and-kawaii @dutifullylazybread @lazyjellyfish300 @lemonsrosesandlavender @drizztdohurtin

[smartlearnersblog]

[lisbeth-kk]

May 9 prompt: home

Thanks for the tag @notjustamumj

Finding purpose

John’s lived many places due to his fatber’s military career. As a child it was sometimes devastating. Once a friendship had formed, they were always forced to move again. Harry made a fuss every time, driving their mother to despair and their father to fury. John decided early on to take another approach. When the date of depature was set, John was particularly fierce and aggressive at the rugby field, and came home looking ragged, but satisfied as if he’d won a battle.

The only place John felt quite familiar with was his birth place, London. He didn’t remember anything from the first two years he lived there of course, but they’ve lived near the city a few times since then. He’d always felt drawn to the city for some reason, although he knew no one there. Learning his lesson to try to form friendships during his childhood, he kept his distance through medical school. He dated, but it was never serious on his part. If he’d left some broken hearts behind, he wasn’t aware.

Reaching captain’s position in the army, John could keep distant even more effectively. He was the men’s superior officer, and it was frowned upon to make friends with his men. The years as a soldier and doctor were his best years thus far. He’d found a purpose, and he was bloody good at what he was doing.

And then John’s world collapsed. He was shot, and for a long while it was all pain, agony and despair. He felt alone and abandoned, and when he was sent back to England, his bland bedsit did nothing to improve his mood. His only comfort was his gun, which turned more appealing for each day that passed. Something unknown made him hesitate, though. A feeling that there would be an end to this depressive time in his life.

The day when John Watson’s life changed, was just an ordinary one. He’d told his therapist that nothing ever happened to him, and, no, he didn’t have the urge to write about this miserable life, thank you very much!

John was pleasantly surprised when Mike called his name on his way through the park. He’d always considered Mike a nice bloke, and John knew he himself was to blame for the loss of contact.

Meeting Sherlock Holmes was something John never could’ve envisioned. Instead of greeting him, the enigmatic man asked him a question John was totally unprepared for.

«Afghanistan or Iraq?»

From that moment, John knew he’d found what, or rather who he’d been looking for all his life. This man rescued him from a life of boredom or suicide, and in return John saved Sherlock’s life from that dreadful cabby the very next day.

***

«You, alright?» the familiar baritone murmurs.

John kisses Sherlock’s shoulder and nuzzles closer.

«Yeah, I was just thinking of how you saved me that day at Bart’s,» John says softly.

«I found a proper home the day I walked into this flat, for the first time in my life. But now the flat doesn’t really matter,» John concludes.

«What do you mean, John?» Sherlock asks in a puzzled tone.

John rises his head from Sherlock’s chest and looks down on his face, stroking a finger over a cheekbone.

«Because now, my precious, home is where you are.»

The amount of writing I get done as a passenger is quite satisfying.

@totallysilvergirl @calaisreno @raina-at @topsyturvy-turtely @meetinginsamarra

[acrosstobear]

Callum Ilott talks racing accidents, tragedy and mental health

Callum Ilott pauses, takes a deep breath and prepares to answer.

It seems a pretty straightforward question to deliver a response to: are racing drivers affected after a crash or seeing a team-mate or rival have an accident? But it’s a deeply personal topic for the 22-year-old.

The Formula 1 rising star saw the aftermath of a tragic collision at Spa during his F2 days which claimed the life of his close friend Anthoine Hubert and seriously injured team-mate Juan Manuel Correa.

Ilott’s retort after taking some time to consider his thoughts shows the long-lasting effects of the heartbreaking incident. But it also begins to help reveal the psychology of racing drivers and how they deal with the inevitable dangers that come with driving at speeds of 200mph or more.

Callum Ilott opens up about the death of Anthoine Hubert

“To satisfy my own mental state I spent that whole evening and the next day analysing what happened,” the Ferrari Academy Driver said of the 2019 crash.

“In my mind I almost completely understood why it happened and it felt easier to accept it. I go through it and piece it together. I’d lost a good friend and my team-mate was fighting for his life. It was an ongoing process to deal with it.

“You can’t change what happened but he’d (Anthoine) changed me – not because of the accident – but because of how he was, how he influenced people and I took quite a few lessons from him. I took it upon myself to make changes, inspired by him.

“Everyone says ‘you’re doing it (racing) for him’, but I’d rather take the lessons that he gave me as it’s a greater impact than doing it for him. It can happen to anyone and you have to take every chance and moment you get in life, that was one of the lessons I took. It helped change my values and understanding of some things.”

Karting isn’t the safest but neither is rugby, says F1 talent

Like almost all professional drivers, the Cambridge-born talent started out in karting where he “enjoyed the speed” rather than feared it. His biggest concern was making mistakes.

Even though he saw people roll their karts and break their collarbones, his safety was more of a concern to his mum than himself as he continued to calculate and process the risk – a method that remains to this day.

Ilott said: “A lot of possibilities have to come together and at least nine times out of 10 you can get away with a crash and maybe one time you don’t.

“Karting wasn’t the safest thing but then you could say neither was rugby at school, all it takes is someone to do a high tackle or you fall funny and you could be in hospital or a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Anything can happen but I don’t look at things in a negative way.

“When it’s someone close to you that has an accident there’s obviously emotion attached to it. But it’s all facts and statistics for me. At the end of the day you’re in this sport and you’re in this position. If the stats were a bit higher then I think I would be concerned but at the moment you just hope it doesn’t happen to you. A lot of improvements continue to be made in terms of safety too.”

Alfa Romeo reserve relives dramatic Formula 1 test crash

So what happens when it’s you who is involved in an accident? When you have a massive smash that leaves you seriously injured or feeling incredibly lucky to be alive?

Ilott, a reserve for Alfa Romeo, had his biggest crash while testing for the team two years ago. He’d just set his best lap of the day at Barcelona on his F1 test debut when the rear snapped in a fast right-hander and sent him careering into the barriers at around 130mph.

“You have to crack back on,” admitted the 2020 F2 runner-up.

“Whilst you’ve got time you can feel sorry for yourself and punish yourself. It can be a greater lesson than moving on. For one week I don’t think anyone could really talk to me. Physically I was almost completely fine, I had a bit of pain in my back, but it was all mental. To me it was more related to my career.

“It was a big moment to have and then to have that end result, in crashing, so I was more worried about my career. In one or two weeks I was back in Formula 2, it was a distraction to get going again. You can get out of the spiral and get on with what you’re doing. You learn your lesson and take the best side of it.”

Being a passenger unsettles the Ferrari Academy starlet

The Adrian Flux-sponsored driver says it takes him within three corners to know the limit, within 5%, of the vehicle he is operating.

And he is sure that’s what sets professionals aside from anyone who steps behind the wheel of a car.

“Depending on the car and conditions, I will drive to how I feel safe,” concluded Ilott, set to make his IndyCar debut in America next weekend.

“On an Autobahn in Germany in the wet, I won’t go above 150kmh (93mph), at risk of aquaplaning. In dry, I can push to 300kmh (186mph) easily and as long as there’s no traffic I won’t worry. I’m aware of limits. I’m very happy to take a car to 300 and wouldn’t bat an eye, I’d quite enjoy it. If I was in the passenger seat, and someone took it to 300, I’d be very nervous.

“I’ve been on track days with friends and I’m helping them out a bit and straight away they go out and I’m like: ‘Woah, woah, woah, woah, you don’t realise how close you are to the limit already. You can’t push that much more and control the car’. A lot of people can drive but it’s always the last little bit and understanding what to do when it’s not perfect conditions.

“It’s very natural with us because we train. A marathon runner knows what pace they can run at all the time and what will last them until the end of the race. It’s the same as a cyclist – if they start to push over the limit they know when they’ll drop off at the end.

“I wouldn’t say we’re wired differently, racing drivers just know the limits of what we’re in and what we can do a lot more than other people. We’re very aware of the limits of each car we get in. It’s all calculated and you can feel and understand where that is and it automatically enters your brain. My body will say ‘that’s your limit’ and you just know depending on the conditions.”

What is professional racing driver Callum Ilott afraid of?

So does anything scare a man who flies around a track knowing one slight mistake could see him hurtling towards a tyre wall, giant slab of concrete or a huge metal barrier at high speed?

“I don’t like the unknown,” added Ilott who is dreaming of an F1 seat in 2022.

“When I was younger, I don’t mind it so much now, but when you’re snorkelling and you get to the edge of the reef and there’s the drop off – you’re staring down and you think ‘what the hell is down there, how far does it go?’

“It’s not the dark, but what’s inside it? Your mind becomes the enemy. Whatever you think is down there, is down there. That’s something I’ve gradually got used to because I’ve learned why. I don’t like spiders either, but I’m not scared of them.”

[snaggletoothedbastard]

Modern LOTR headcanons feat. Aralas and Samfro (also they're all chaotic teenagers and go to school together because I do not know how grown-ups work) (also it's based on my school so if the rules I mention here don't apply to other schools, they apply to mine so I'm using them)

Frodo and Sam are in Year Ten

Merry and Pippin are in Year Nine

Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli are Sixth Formers

Boromir is in Year Eleven

Gandalf is a teacher

He teaches English

At least he's supposed to

The other teachers think he's an idiot but the kids love him

He went off the radar for a bit and there was a rumour going around that he died

But then he came back after a few weeks with white hair and whenever anyone asks why he left or where he went he just says there was an emergency

Saruman is the painfully incompetent supply teacher who did Gandalf's lessons for him while he wasn't there

Frodo spends most of his free time in the library

He's doing English, French and history for his GCSEs (let's pretend French is Elvish)

He hates PE with a passion (at my school PE is one of the compulsory GCSEs)

So does Sam

They both used to hide in the changing rooms to get out of PE, but when the teacher caught them they had to join in the lessons

Sauron is the PE teacher (because I hate PE teachers lol)

Also Frodo and Sam are dating (obviously)

Sam's doing food tech, science and history for his GCSEs

He's the best at food tech

His favourite thing to make is chips

Merry and Pippin are the class clowns

Merry is a sarcastic little sh*t, especially when he's talking to the teachers

Pippin is that one kid who gets up and dances in the middle of lessons

They're both in the school musical every year

So is Legolas

He's doing A-Level performing arts

He's also very good at PE

He breaks the rules all the time but is too charming to get in trouble

A few years ago him, Aragorn and Gimli wore shorts to school, which isn't allowed

So the next day they all wore skirts

Aragorn and Gimli weren't so keen on the skirts but Legolas kept wearing them

Aragorn hardly ever brushes his hair

He likes PE and is doing it for A-Levels

He's dating Legolas

They both did French for their GCSEs

Gimli is doing A-Level biology

He plans to be a doctor but so far the most doctor-ish thing he's done is help Legolas with a nosebleed

He's quite intimidating (despite being the shortest Sixth Former) but friends with some of the younger kids (especially the hobbits)

Boromir is doing music, maths and PE for his GCSEs

He plays the French horn

He's one of the Rugby LadsTM

He's also friends with the hobbits

In fact all of the lads are friends

They're all in a DnD club which Gandalf is in charge of

They're the only members of the club except for the slightly creepy kid who sometimes hangs out with them and talks to himself

Guess who it is

Boromir got injured in a rugby game and everyone panicked and thought he was dead but it turns out he just got kicked in the balls and fell over

He may or may not have pretended to be dead to freak everyone out

Legolas and Gimli and Merry and Pippin are competing for Best BromanceTM

Aragorn is the only one who can drive

That's including Gandalf

Legolas either gets a lift from Aragorn or walks/cycles/skateboards to school

Gimli and Boromir take the bus

The hobbits sometimes take the bus but sometimes they walk

No-one knows how Gandalf gets to school but legend has it he turned up on a horse once

They also all go to the LGBTQ+ club aka the Big Gay

Legolas and Frodo are gay

Aragorn and Sam are bi

Boromir is bicurious

Gimli and Merry are aroace

Pippin is trans and pan

Éowyn and Faramir go to the Big Gay too

Éowyn is trans and they're both bi

I might draw the Modern Fellowship at some point

[xgh0ulx]

Driving on a long road thru rural fields as you loose your grip on your emotional stability and a little bit of reality.

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

A rather tongue in cheek look at the British class system.

This post started life as an answer to an ask “how do you know which class you are?”- which is an interesting ask to receive, as I always thought most people in the UK had a strong sense of the class system and their place within it.

In the UK, class extends beyond economic factors and each social class tends to have their own, identifiable culture. This culture is, or can be inherited, and it means that people can sometimes identify as a class that doesn't match up with their current apparent economic circumstances.

Apart from the fact I find this personally very interesting, I do think it’s important to examine the class system in the UK. Classism is a very real phenomenon, which exists, for starters. class definitions are difficult and vary with culture and historical moment, but I'll attempt to lay out some key characteristics from my cultural perspective.

The aim of this analysis is not to offend (although it is, at times, to amuse), nor to present one class as “better” than the others.

 Lower- Working class: Your family have traditionally working in non-professional jobs, such as manufacturing, service/hospitality roles, other “unskilled” jobs. Work was likely insecure (especially post Thatcher) and there were periods of being out of work and relying on benefits. Historically, working class people would have lived in council houses or “tied accommodation” but increasingly, they live in insecure rentals. At times, outgoings will have exceeded the money coming in, and there may have been periods where your family needed to rely reselling goods or unconventional sources of credit in order to make ends meet. Increasingly, even in work families are sometimes relying on foodbanks. You/ your family are less likely to drive and own a car. When you were young, it’s likely that you were informally cared for by relatives, or your parents worked opposite shifts to cover childcare.

You speak with a regional accent- it might be pretty strong and you use regional dialect. You eat “tea” in the evening and “dinner” at around midday. A lot of the men in your family follow a local football team, and likely attend games. They might have a bet on the horses, but are unlikely to actually go to the races. Growing up, you might have gone to the park for a kick about with your mates, but you are less likely to have been part of an official team or organised hobby.

You may well care about your appearance, but you’re likely to do things like dye your hair at home, rather than go to a salon. Your clothes are sometimes second hand, but this isn’t through choice. It’s likely you have some clothes or outfits you consider “best”. You may have piercings or tattoos and care less about appearing “conventional”. When you go out, you probably go to a local pub which some people might consider “rough”, but you also sometimes go out clubbing.

You might be close to your family, and the community you grew up in, but it’s also very possible that these relationships are somewhat strained for various reasons. Celebrations such as Christmas (if you celebrate it) and birthdays were important to your family and your parents might have gone a bit overboard with this, even (especially) if they couldn’t afford it.

 At some point in your life, you’ve used the word “scab” as an insult- even if you didn’t know what it meant.

  Upper-Working class: Your family have traditionally worked in skilled trades, or regular “non-professional” employment such as manufacturing. You might also have relatives in the army or in the police force. These days, they might be self employed, but they would be less likely to employ someone else. There are varying degrees of financial comfort, and these days, your family may own their own home but you’re not “wealthy”. It’s unlikely your family have assets or investments beyond one property and cars. If you’re younger than about 35, you or your siblings might have gone to university, but no-one in your parents’ generation has. Your parents probably have a degree of debt beyond a mortgage (if they have one). You probably spent time in childcare when you were young because your parents had to work. If your parents have a mortgage, they are potentially overstretched by it and concerned about how they will pay it off before retirement.

You probably speak with a regional accent and use dialect words. You also use words like serviette, dessert, pardon etc. Someone in your family is really into football but they are more likely to support a team in the premiership and watch games on TV rather than going to matches- if they are into rugby then it’s rugby league unless you’re from Wales or Cornwall. You probably learned to ride a bike as a child, and it may have been your main mode of transport as a teenager. You’re more likely to do a hobby as part of some kind of formal group or club, but it’s unlikely to be one that requires a lot of expensive equipment.

You/your female relatives are probably quite house-proud and take a lot of care over their appearances. There’s probably time spent fake tanning and getting nails done. You’ve probably got a feature wall somewhere in your house. You might have your own distinct sense of style and belong to a “sub-culture” but if you have tattoos, they’re likely to be well planned and/or relatively easily hidden. When you go out, you probably go out clubbing, but you probably have a “local” too.

Family and community are important to you- it’s likely you haven’t moved that far from where you grew up (unless you were really desperate for work). It’s possible the area where you grew up is pretty deprived, although it may be increasingly a victim of gentrification, depending on where you are from.

You know someone who bought their house via “right-to-buy” and thinks this makes them middle class.

 Middle Class: Your family have traditionally worked in more professional jobs. These may not require a degree (especially historically), but we are talking things like accountant, lawyer, doctor, teacher, civil servant etc. They earned a salary rather than being paid by the hour. Some degree of their assets were probably inherited, and they may have some investments e.g. shares or a buy to let property, but this isn’t the whole of their income (unless they are retired and have a decent pension too).

Your parents owned their own home, and are/will be mortgage free by the time they retire. You probably had regular foreign holidays growing up. Your parents are likely to save up for big ticket items, rather than get into debt. You’re not the first generation in your family where people went to university. It’s very likely you had a stay at home parent for part of your childhood.

If you speak with a regional accent, it’s probably not very strong, and it’s likely you don’t use a lot of regional dialect words. You call your midday meal lunch, and your evening meal dinner. If you go to the pub to watch a sports match, it’s more likely to be the six nations than a football game. But it’s equally likely you aren’t into sport at all. Your parents probably made you get swimming and music lessons growing up, and you may well have a hobby- possibly one that requires a bit of financial investment on your part.

You like to think you have a sense of style, but you don’t like to look like you are “trying too hard”. You might be especially into a certain genre of music or films. You may make a nod to subculture in the way you dress, but if you’re older than a teenager, you probably dress in a relatively “conventional” way. You go out to bars, or chain/mid-priced restaurants, although you might also go to a pub for a meal or if there was music on.

Your family probably don’t all live in the same place, and you may only see them relatively rarely. It’s likely your parents have friends from uni or NCT classes who to some extent take the place of family in your life. You may not have a strong sense of community and it’s very possible that if your parents live rurally, you might have moved to the city for work. You’re probably not very religious.

At some point in your life, you have sneered at someone for being a “chav”.

 Upper-middle Class: Your parents are pretty wealthy and almost definitely went to university. You went to a well known university. They likely went to private school and you probably did too (although not a super famous one). If you didn’t go to private school, you went to a grammar school, church school or the most sought after “comp” in the county (your parents probably moved house to get you in). Someone in your extended family owns a second home, or at least a really nice house in the country. You/your parents almost definitely have inherited wealth and assets, as well. You/your parents may just work in a well paid job, but they may also own a medium to large size company. You probably had multiple holidays abroad each year (and it’s very likely you went skiing). If one of your parents’ cars broke down, it would have been very easy for them to replace it, without needing to save up or get into debt, but you don’t have any fear of debt, either. It’s very likely you can get a job through “connections”. It’s likely they employed a cleaner and possibly a gardener, and maybe au-pair or nanny as well.

You speak with an RP accent, and you might have “pudding” after your “supper”. It’s very likely you play a team sport of some kind, probably rugby, cricket, hockey or maybe lacrosse. You might row, or ride horses, or sail. You’ve always been able to do whatever expensive hobby you like, and money has never been a barrier to progressing. You may well shop in charity shops, and brag about the bargains you find there. You may drive an “old” car, but it’s probably a 4x4, genuinely vintage, or quirky in some other way. You have inherited jewellery and possibly some home furnishings. If you’re talented in some way, (sport or artistic) you were probably given every opportunity to persue this.

Networking is important to you and you feel part of a community. You’re probably quite socially confident. It’s likely you know some of the people you work with socially as well. You probably expect to live a reasonably traditional lifestyle, and you’re less likely to be part of a “sub-culture” (unless you’re making a career as an actor or a musician). You probably observe religious festivals, but you don’t go regularly to a place of worship. You avoid chain restaurants, but you like to go to the village pub.

On some level, you probably think “poor” people bring it on themselves through poor decision making.

Upper Class: Historically, your family were rich enough not to have to work for a living, and someone in your extended family owns a very large amount of land. You’re related to someone with a title. You went to a well known private school and you may have boarded. It’s likely your family own multiple properties- some are rented out and some you live in. Some or all of these were inherited, rather than bought. You may have a “private income” of some kind. Your family may have had to “diversify” in recent years, and you may actually be working more than your ancestors did. You might have gone to a well known university, or you might have gone to somewhere like RAU. Your family own multiple cars, and one of them is probably a 4x4. It’s likely your family employed “staff”. At some point since the second world war, your family may well have had to sell off property etc- but your money worries are “how do we avoid selling off land” not “how do we afford to replace the washing machine”.

You talk like you are from the 1940s, and everyone you know has a stupid sounding nickname. You use your own form of impenetrable slang- probably specific to whatever school you went to. You’ve probably been hunting and you know someone who plays polo. You go to events like Royal Ascot, Henley Regatta, the Boat Race and Goodwood etc. You ski. You’ve been on multiple long haul holidays, and you probably went on a “Gap Yah”.

Everyone you know knows everyone else you know and you’re suspicious of people who you don’t have acquaintances in common with. You’ll get married, in a church (you are CofE and white) and having children is fairly important to you. You’re probably involved with some kind of charity work.

You pride yourself on not being a snob, because you got on well with the people you met in Africa, but you’ve never actually spoken to someone who grew up in a council house.

[malcolm-reeds-pineapple]

One time when I was playing at a rugby tournament, I went in for a tackle wrong and whacked my head off the other person’s knee or something. Anyway my coach had a strict “all head injuries must be reported” policy but I didn’t pass out and I was one of 2 people that could hook at the tournament so I decided against reporting it. I didn’t notice anything other than a headache and some nausea that I chalked up to the fact that my stomach always hurts when I travel. Anyway I played the next 2 games. From here I don’t remember getting home or what was really going on. Pretty much I just remember being in school. I kept to myself in school cuz frankly I’d alienated all my friends a couple months before. So I went to school for a week and I was definitely noticing that I was suddenly stupider than I had been. I kinda brushed it off even though I still had a killer headache and nausea. Anyway like a full week went by and I was at my driver’s lesson and I came to a stop at a green light and waited for it to turn red so I could make a right. My driving instructor was extremely confused and I just laughed when he mentioned it. I was explaining this story to a friend of mine who had the same driving instructor in music class while I was desperately trying to do my theory work (it was a C scale and I was putting accidentals on everything) anyway she didn’t find the story about my driving lesson nearly as funny as I did and asked me if I’d had a head injury at the tournament. I said I hit my head but I didn’t pass out so I was good. She then told me to look her in the eyes and I generally don’t make eye contact cuz it freaks me out and that’s when she informed me that my pupils were different sizes. She then made me talk to the teacher who promptly sent me home.

My dad took me to the doctor and it she asked me to do a bunch of shit I couldn’t do regularly like say the alphabet backwards. Anyway yeah I had a concussion the whole time. It ended up being a pretty serious one too which was why I suddenly got incredibly stupid overnight. I got the last 2 months of school off and I didn’t get the all clear from my doctor to say I was no longer concussed until December of that year. The tournament was in April lmao

Anyway that’s the story on why I don’t remember the year of 2016 and also why I get stupid for like a week after I hit my head.