#Horse Sport Ireland

[stephensmithuk]

Shoscombe Old Place

The final Holmes story published by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1927, this forms part of Case-Book. Doyle would write a number of other works, including two Professor Challenger stories, before his death in July 1930.

This was originally trailed as "The Adventure of the Black Spaniel".

Newmarket Heath is the sight of Newmarket Racecourse, one of the most prominent horse racing venues in the UK. Therefore, this was a rather public horsewhipping. I am pretty sure that the Jockey Club, which regulated the sport until 2006, would have a thing or two to say about actual bodily harm.

The Grand National takes place at Aintree every year and is the most famous steeplechase race in Europe; even those don't normally bet will take part, either directly or via a sweepstake.

The race has become controversial due to many horses being fatally injured when falling, frequently at the steep drop of Becher's Brook, and then euthanised over the years; various changes have been made to try to make things safer. There have been five horse deaths since the 2012 changes from 595 runners; you are fully entitled to think five is five too many. 2023 saw Animal Rising protestors attempt to stop the race and cause a delay; Hill Sixteen ended up dying, with his trainer blaming the protestors for spooking the horses.

"The Derby" refers to the Epsom Derby, held every year on the first Saturday of June. It is the flat race with the highest prize in British horse racing, with a first prize of £885,781.84 in 2023, when Ryan Moore won it riding Auguste Rodin.

"The Jews" refers to moneylenders, the stereotypical profession that Jewish people practiced. Most Jews by 1902 did not of course.

"Halt-on-demand" stations are those where passengers have to request the train stops there either via informing the guard in advance if getting off, or by other methods if getting on, like holding your arm out for a bus, although electronic methods are in increasing use. Great Britain has around 135 of them.

Historically fishing was a major source of food for poorer rural families. From 1865, you needed a licence for salmon and trout fishing, although not for other fish. The rod licence's provisions were expanded over time to prevent overfishing and you now need a licence, as well as permission of the property owner, for most fishing in England and Wales. Not in most of Scotland and Northern Ireland though. There will also be restrictions on what you can keep (which has caused issues with foreign anglers who generally don't operate on the 'put it back' principle) and the whole angling business is now pretty heavily regulated. Fish without a licence and you can be on the hook for a fine of up to £2,500.

It is a legal requirement to register a death within five days in England and Wales. There is also a separate offence of preventing a lawful and decent burial, which has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, but it is fairly rare for someone to be charged with it unless as part of a homicide case.

[the-hinky-panda]

I Love you but Jesus Christ can you just behave yourself for once

This is what happens when you message your friend and say "I think I want to write for Chibs but I don't know what to write." Bam. Multiple prompts and this mess is created! Thank you @bullet-prooflove

Chibs remembers how he first met you. The club needed some extra help in getting the latest shipment of guns out of Ireland and their alternate routes were being closed off one by one. Horses had always been a rich man’s sport and one of Ireland’s recent exports have been their eventing horses. It didn’t take much research to locate a local rider and trainer that had a couple trips to Ireland under her belt. 

It was the Northern Winter Classic Grand Prix where he was supposed to meet you and discuss the terms of the agreement: they use false bottom tack boxes to stash the guns, and you get two free horses out of it. It was a sweet deal. However when we located your stable, High Flyers Farm, he found your exasperated barn manager with a fully tacked up horse that was taller than Chibs. 

“I’m looking for-” 

The manager interrupts him. “Yeah, me too. Our rider fell off in the warm up, dislocated her shoulder and can’t ride. We’re on deck right now in the third round of the Grand Prix and no rider.” The manager looks at him. “You don’t ride do you?” 

He has ridden a horse in the past, a handful of times. He knows little of grand prix competitions, just that the goal is to jump as high and as fast as possible without nicking any of the fences. “How big are the jumps?” 

“1.6 meters. Some are about 2 meters across.” 

“Fuck that.” Chibs looks around the stable area. “What car does she drive?” 

“That Tahoe over there, with the tinted windows.” 

Chibs makes his way over there and peers into the driver’s side. There’s no one in the front seat but he sees a healthy collection of vodka bottles on the passenger side floorboards. There’s a slight movement in the backseat so he opens the back door and finds you, curled up in the back bench seat, passed out drunk. 

“Found her,” he calls to the manager, who looks on from the front of the stable. 

“Fuck. Can she stand?” 

“Stand?” Chibs asks. “She’s not even fucking conscious!” 

“She’s the only one who can ride this horse! We have a chance to win a $65,000 pot!” 

This is not how he saw the negotiation going at all. He reaches into the backseat and grabs fistfuls of your clothes and hauls you out of the backseat. You land in a heap on the ground and groan at the sudden onslaught of sunlight. 

“Mornin, lass.” 

“The fuck are you?” 

He grabs your arms and hauls you up to your feet and leans you against the side of the SUV. “Someone who’s seriously doubting his plan.” 

Your bleary eyes roam over his face and down to the patches on his kutte. You poke a shaky finger against the “A” and laugh. “Anarchy. How fucking adorable.” 

Chibs turns to the manager who just shrugs. “The horse’s name is Anarchy.” 

You take in a deep breath and release it slowly. “Let me guess, Mara fell off again and hurt herself?” 

“Yeah,” the manager answers. 

“How many away are we?” 

“We’re on deck.” 

You nod and stand up straight. “Send Alex up to the gate, tell them we have an injured rider and need to be moved down two spaces. If they give him a hard time, slip them $200.” 

“And where are you going?” Chibs asked. 

“I have to get dressed so I can ride the fucking thing.” 

The manager moves off, calling to a teenager who takes off running towards the ring. Chibs turns to you as you start pulling out boots and a show jacket. “And just how are you going to ride that monster? You’re falling down drunk!” 

You laugh slightly as you shrug the jacket over your wrinkled blouse. “Because, I’m a fucking professional.” 

And you were right. Once you were on top of that horse, you were steady as they came. You flew around that ring, sailing over the fences. After the clouds of dust had settled, the clock had shown that you had the top time. An hour later, after the last horse went, your time was still the one to beat. You were back to being passed out in the tack room and it was your barn manager that collected the $65,000 cash prize. But by that point, you had agreed to the deal and signed off on it. 

When the time to travel to Ireland rolls around, he’s gotten to know you a little more. You are, hands down, a functional alcoholic. You’re an adrenaline junkie with a wild streak and not much of a filter. So when you both get on the plane and you’re already ordering drinks while the plane still sits on the tarmac, he just laughs and shakes his head. 

“Ya know, I love ya, lass. But Jesus Christ, can you just behave yourself for once?” 

You give him that wild look and wink at him. “We’ve got a long flight ahead of us. Where’s the fun in that?” 

[superbeans89]

It’s RWC eve, and with kickoff tomorrow at 8:15 PM UK time, some speculation is in order for the 9 people on tumblr who follow it.

For those who don’t know, rugby union is a sport not far removed from American football, based more on evasion than contact however. There are 15 players on each team, and the ultimate goal is to get the ball grounded in the other team’s try area - comparable to the end zone in NFL. Unlike NFL though, the ball can only be passed backwards in rugby (unless you’re kicking it), turning it into a whole different ball game, so to speak.

Should a team achieve this, they score 5 points, and can attempt a conversion - that’s kicking the ball from a tee between the upright posts - for an extra 2. Penalties can also be kicked for 3 points outside of try scoring situations, making for a strategic and slightly complicated scoring system, though yet again NFL fans won’t be unfamiliar with it. It’s worth noting that games have been won solely on penalty points though, so don’t underestimate them.

Now, for the teams:

As it’s still a developing sport, not even competing with the likes of soccer or cricket, there are only 20 participating teams in the RWC. There are several countries that have adopted it as their national sport however, including Wales, New Zealand, and many of the pacific islands.

Of the four pools, only two from each will advance to the quarter finals, while third placed in the pool will automatically qualify for the next tournament, giving teams plenty to play for, even if they aren’t going to win every game.

With that said, there are favourites and no hopers among those that have qualified;

The Favourites

🇫🇷 - France. As this year’s hosts, France are currently ranked 3rd in the world, and are notoriously unpredictable. Able to beat - or lose to - just about anyone, France have been the bridesmaids of the Rugby World Cup three times now. With flair, team depth and a home field advantage, they’re expected to go far, and should be guaranteed a place in the semifinals or better.

Which French team shows up may be revealed when they play New Zealand in the opening match.

🇮🇪 - Ireland. Ranked number one in the world, but with a poor record at World Cups, never getting past the quarterfinals, Ireland don’t thrive under the pressure of expectation, preferring to act as the underdog and surprise people instead.

Nevertheless, with a dedicated following, solid recent form, and trailblazing coach Andy Farrell, this could be the year they break that curse, though they’ll have to escape the Pool of Death first.

🇳🇿 - New Zealand. Historically the best rugby nation on the planet, New Zealand were near unmatched in this sport until recently, remaining at the top of the rankings for almost ten consecutive years. Their form has taken a dip recently, particularly after a record breaking loss to South Africa, but only time will tell whether the infamous All Blacks can bounce back, or if they were just hustling.

🇿🇦 - South Africa. As the current champs, alongside terrific form and team depth, the Springboks are expected to go far this year. While they are also stuck in the Pool of Death with Ireland and Scotland, they have a tremendous pedigree in the sport, matching New Zealand’s record three victories, despite featuring in two less World Cups. Thriving under pressure, the Springboks combine esteem and unconventional playstyles - you’ll hear the phrase ‘bomb squad’ used a lot when they’re playing - a lot of fans will see this World Cup as South Africa’s to lose.

The Dark Horses

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 - Scotland. Currently ranked 5th in the world, Scotland are in strong form and have surprising team depth for such a small rugby nation. Unpredictable and world beating on a good day (yet still waiting on that historic victory against the All Blacks), Scotland would be expected to do well this year… if they weren’t in the Group of Death alongside Ireland and South Africa. These are both teams Scotland can beat, but will they remain consistent for a full eighty minutes of play? That’s the main concern.

🇦🇷 - Argentina. Often forgotten as a rugby nation due to their soccer pedigree, Argentina are one of this tournament’s secret weapons. With solid form, growing momentum and a lucky placement in the pools however, los Pumas can probably reach the semifinals.

🇦🇺 - Australia. Famous rivals to the All Blacks, Australia’s form has fallen in recent years, but not to the point where they should be counted out. Almost causing a massive upset against New Zealand, leading them for most of the game on their own turf, when the Wallabies get it right they can be deadly, and they’ve won this tournament twice as well, so don’t write them off just yet.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 - England. Having won the RWC in 2003, not to mention inventing the sport, England have a rugby pedigree that can’t be denied. Their recent form has been poor however, recording several record losses, as well as a first ever loss to Fiji. While they should make it out of their pool - though this is largely because it’s the easiest pool by far - England won’t be expected to go much further, maybe scraping past the quarterfinals if they’re lucky.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 - Wales. Between funding issues and player retirement, Wales are a depleted side this World Cup. While inconsistent across previous tournaments, they have notched up some remarkable results in the past, and could do so again under legendary coach Warren Gatland. It’s far more likely that they’ll struggle however, and may not even make it out of the pool this year, with Fiji and Georgia looking strong.

The No Hopers

🇮🇹 - Italy. While their form has been good, and they’ve made great strides in recent years, Italy are grouped in with France and New Zealand, the latter of which they’ve never beaten. Short of a miracle, Italy won’t be making it out of their pool.

🇫🇯 - Fiji. Recording a famous win in Twickenham on their last warmup match, Fiji have form and momentum on their side, and will be aiming for the quarterfinals. They likely won’t get any further, but for a tiny island nation, Fiji punch well above their weight.

🇼🇸 - Samoa. Having upset traditionally stronger nations at previous World Cups, Samoa could surprise a few opponents this year too. Beating either England or Argentina for a qualifying place will be a tough ask, but never say never.

🇹🇴 - Tonga. Also in the Group of Death with Scotland, Ireland and South Africa, Tonga will be gunning for an upset. Their form has been strong, and they perform immensely well for an island of 100,000 people, but escaping the pool will probably be too much of an ask.

🇬🇪 - Georgia. Europe’s ‘other’ rugby nation dominates in the second tier of competitive play, and will hope to upset Wales in this World Cup, just like they did in Cardiff last year. With Fiji also vying for the same spot though, their rough and tumble playstyle may work against them in the long run, as fitness is definitely an issue for bulkier players.

🇯🇵 - Japan. After stunning South Africa 34-32 at RWC2015, and graduating from their pool by beating both Ireland and Scotland at RWC2019, Japan will hope to take advantage of their reputation as the wild card, and escape pools a second time. With England looking vulnerable it’s not impossible, but poor form and and equally hungry Samoa may hold them back.

‘We’re just happy to be here!’

🇺🇾 - Uruguay. South America’s second best rugby nation has grown massively in recent years. Ousting Canada from the qualification rounds, they’ve featured at plenty of World Cups, and even got a surprise win over Fiji last tournament. In a strong pool with France, New Zealand and Italy however, they’ll be fighting with Namibia for what will likely be their sole victory of the tournament.

🇳🇦 - Namibia. Similarly to Uruguay in many ways, Namibia are also the second best in their continent, behind the mighty Springboks. Also in the same group as Uruguay, they’ll be aiming for a single win, with no real hope of graduating from their pool.

🇷🇴 - Romania. A World Cup mainstay, The Oaks have been to all but one tournament, and even that absence was mired in controversy. Between lacklustre recent form and rampant funding issues however, Romania will be lucky to get a win in what’s by far the toughest pool.

🇵🇹 - Portugal. Another nation known more for their soccer, Portugal won’t be expecting much from their pool. If they get a win, they’ll be ecstatic. They qualified by the skin of their teeth, but they made it here. That’s reason enough to celebrate, and it’s only a short plane trip home.

🇨🇱 - Chile. Debuting at RWC2023, Chile qualified with a last gasp victory over the USA, and will likely end up bottom of their pool. Still, qualifying at all is a massive achievement for a nation with such a small following.

…and that’s everything. RWC2023 is considered the most open World Cup in the sport’s history, with as many as six or seven viable contenders. Whoever holds the Webb Ellis Cup aloft in a few weeks is up to debate, but it should be entertaining nonetheless. Game on!

[wetsteve3]

When Claire Lomas was paralysed from the chest down when she fell from her horse during an eventing competition in 2007 she never could have believed that one day she would ride a lap of the North West 200 course on a motorcycle.

Claire’s life was turned upside down when she was just 27. Her accident saw the Englishwoman lose her sport and a career as a chiropractor. Her relationship also fell apart and Claire felt she was losing her identity before she began to focus on rebuilding her life by pushing the boundaries of what she could achieve to new and unforeseeable levels.

In the years since her life changing accident Claire has raised over £850,000 for charity through various challenges, including taking 17 days to complete the 2012 London Marathon in a special robotic suit. A mum, an author and a motivational speaker, she was awarded an MBE in 2017.

Alongside her charity endeavours, Claire has also qualified as a pilot and learned to ride motorbikes, eventually gaining her race licence. Having never ridden a motorcycle prior to her accident, getting to grips with two wheels was particularly challenging for Claire as she has no movement or sensation from the chest down. Taking on her charity lap of the North West 200 roads course on May 11 will present another new challenge as she has previously limited her outings to tracks like Donington Park.

“I am absolutely honoured to have the opportunity to take on this incredible challenge.” Claire says.

“It will be very different to being on a track, which is my only experience. I’m raising money for Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation so that one day paralysis can be reversible.”

Claire’s Suzuki has been adapted with straps to stop her knees from flapping in the wind and toe clips securing her feet to the foot plates. A special shifter allows her to change gears using only her hands. Her husband and father are part of the team, helping to launch her at the start of her lap and catching her when she returns.

“Straight after my accident I thought life was pretty much over.” Claire says. “Then I started to explore what I was able to do and found new doors to open but I never thought I would be riding a motorbike around the roads in Northern Ireland. It’s both scary and exciting in equal measure!”

“What Claire has achieved is remarkable and we will be delighted to welcome her to the North West 200 as she takes on a new challenge in her journey for a very worthwhile cause.” Mervyn Whyte of the NW200 said.

“Her determination and courage are an inspiration to everyone and Claire will have the support of every North West 200 fan during her lap of the famous 8.9 mile Triangle circuit in May.”

[gwendolynlerman]

93 English words that derive from place names

This is not a comprehensive list and focuses only on Europe and Mediterranean countries. It excludes cheese and wines.

All definitions taken from Wiktionary, excluding definitions that refer to nationalities.

academia (the Academy, Greece, an Athenian gymnasium where Plato taught): the scientific and cultural community engaged in higher education and research, taken as a whole.

afro (Africa): hairstyle characterized by tightly curled locks and a rounded shape.

alpine (the Alps): of, relating to, or inhabiting mountains, especially above the timberline.

Alsatian (Alsace, France): a German shepherd dog.

angora (Ankara, Turkey): an angora cat; a goat of a domesticated breed that produces mohair; a rabbit belonging to the Angora rabbit breed, one of the oldest domestic breeds of rabbits in the world, raised chiefly in Europe for its silky and long hair (a subspecies of the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Armageddon (Tel Megiddo, Israel): (Christianity, Islam) Mount Megiddo, the site of a prophesied final battle between the forces of good and evil; (by extension) the battle itself.

Armagnac (Armagnac, France): a brandy made in the region of Armagnac.

attic (Attica, Greece): the space, often unfinished and with sloped walls, directly below the roof in the uppermost part of a house or other building, generally used for storage or habitation.

badminton (Badminton House, an estate in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom): a racquet sport played indoors on a court by two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs of players (doubles), in which a shuttlecock is volleyed over a net and the competitions are presided by an umpire in British English and a referee in American English.

balaclava (Balaklava, Ukraine): a type of warm headgear covering the neck, head, and often part of the face, with apertures left as necessary, often made out of wool.

bayonet (Bayonne, France): a pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offense and defense. Originally, the bayonet was made with a handle, which needed to be fitted into the bore of the musket after the soldier had fired.

bedlam (Bedlam, United Kingdom, alternative name of the English lunatic asylum, Bethlem Royal Hospital): a place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails.

beyond the pale (The Pale, Ireland): of a person or their behaviour: outside the bounds of what is acceptable, or regarded as good judgment, morality, etc.

Bible (Byblos, Lebanon): the main religious text in Christianity.

bohemian (Bohemia, Czech Republic): an unconventional or nonconformist artist or writer.

bolognese (Bologna, Italy): an Italian sauce made of ground meat and tomato.

bugger (Bulgaria): a heretic; (Britain law) someone who commits buggery; a sodomite.

Byzantine (Byzantium [present-day Istanbul], Turkey): overly complex or intricate.

cardigan (Cardigan, United Kingdom): a type of sweater or jumper that fastens up the front with buttons or a zipper, usually machine- or hand-knitted from wool.

Caucasian (Caucasus): of a racial classification pertaining to people having certain phenotypical features such as straight, curly, or wavy hair and very light to brown pigmented skin, and originating from Europe, parts of Northern Africa and Central, South, and Western Asia.

chartreuse (Chartreuse Mountains, France): a yellow or green liqueur made by Carthusian monks; a greenish-yellow colour.

coach (Kocs, Hungary): a wheeled vehicle, generally drawn by horse power.

cognac (Cognac, France): a brandy distilled from white wine in the region around Cognac in France.

cologne (Cologne, Germany): a type of perfume consisting of 2-5% essential oils, 70-90% alcohol and water.

copper (Cyprus): a reddish-brown, malleable, ductile metallic element with high electrical and thermal conductivity, symbol Cu, and atomic number 29.

cordovan (Córdoba, Spain): a leather from Córdoba originally of tanned goatskin later of horsehide.

cravat (Croatia): a wide fabric band worn as a necktie by men having long ends hanging in front.

Dalmatian (Dalmatia, Croatia): one of a breed of dog with a short, white coat with dark spots.

damask (Damascus, Syria): an ornate silk fabric originating from Damascus.

Danish (Denmark): a sweet and flaky yeast-raised roll made from a dough using butter or margarine and filled with remonce (butter and sugar) or custard.

denim (“de Nîmes” [from Nîmes], France): textile often made of cotton with a distinct diagonal pattern.

derby (from the Epsom Derby horse race, in Derbyshire, United Kingdom): any of several annual horse races.

dollar (Joachimstal [present-day Jáchymov], Czech Republic): official designation for currency in some parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. Its symbol is $.

duffel bag (Duffel, Belgium): a large, cylindrical, duffel cloth bag used to carry personal gear, especially by soldiers. 

fez (Fez, Morocco): a felt hat in the shape of a truncated cone, having a flat top with a tassel attached.

frankfurter (Frankfurt, Germany): a  moist sausage of soft, even texture and flavor, often made from mechanically recovered meat or meat slurry.

frankly (the Franks, France and Germany): in a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt.

geyser (The Great Geysir, Iceland): a boiling natural spring which throws forth at frequent intervals jets of water, mud etc., driven up by the expansive power of steam.

jeans (Genoa, Italy): a pair of trousers made from denim cotton.

jersey (Jersey, United Kingdom): a garment knitted from wool, worn over the upper body.

hamburger (Hamburg, Germany): a hot sandwich consisting of a patty of cooked ground beef or a meat substitute, in a sliced bun, sometimes also containing salad vegetables, condiments, or both.

hollandaise (Holland, the Netherlands): an emulsion of butter and lemon juice using egg yolks as the emulsifying agent, used in French cooking.

italics (Italy): letters in an italic typeface. 

laconic (Laconia, Greece): using as few words as possible; pithy and concise.

lesbian (Lesbos, Greece): (of a woman) homosexual, gay; preferring mostly or exclusively women as romantic or sexual partners.

limerick (Limerick, Ireland): a humorous, often bawdy verse of five anapestic lines, with the rhyme scheme aabba, and typically having a 8–8–5–5–8 cadence. 

limousine (Limousin, France): an automobile body with seats and permanent top like a coupe, and with the top projecting over the driver and a projecting front.

magenta (Magenta, Italy): a vibrant light purple, purplish-red, reddish-purple, or pinkish purple color obtained by mixing red and blue light (thus a secondary color), but primary in the CMYK color system used in printing.

magnet (Magnesia, Greece): a piece of material that attracts some metals by magnetism.

Maltese (Malta): a small breed of dog with a long silky coat.

marathon (Marathon, Greece): a 42.195 kilometer (26 mile 385 yard) road race.

mausoleum (Mausolus, ruler of Caria, Turkey): a large stately tomb or a building housing such a tomb or several tombs.

mayonnaise (Maó, Spain): a dressing made from vegetable oil, raw egg yolks and seasoning, used on salads, with french fries, in sandwiches etc.

meander (Büyük Menderes River, Turkey): one of the turns of a winding, crooked, or involved course.

muscovite (Moscow, Russia): a pale brown mineral of the mica group, being a basic potassium aluminosilicate with the chemical formula KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH,F)2; used as an electrical insulator etc.

muslin (Mosul, Iraq): any of several varieties of thin cotton cloth.

Neanderthal (Neandertal, Germany): old-fashioned, opposed to change.

Nokia (Nokia, Finland): a phone produced by the Nokia company.

Olympics (Olympia, Greece): an international multi-sport event (inspired by the ancient festival) taking place every fourth year

ottoman (Turkey): an upholstered sofa, without arms or a back, sometimes with a compartment for storing linen etc.

paisley (Paisley, Scotland): a motif of a swirling droplet.

parchment (Pergamon [present-day Bergama], Turkey): material, made from the polished skin of a calf, sheep, goat or other animal, used like paper for writing.

peach (Persia [present-day Iran]): a tree (Prunus persica), native to China and now widely cultivated throughout temperate regions, having pink flowers and edible fruit.

pilsner (Pilsen, Czech Republic): a pale, light lager beer.

polonium (Poland): a rare, highly radioactive chemical element (symbol Po) with atomic number 84.

Pomeranian (Pomerania, Germany and Poland): a breed of small, fluffy, energetic toy dogs in the canine family of spitzes. 

quince (Kydonia, Greece): the pear-shaped fruit of a small tree of the rose family, Cydonia oblonga.

romantic (Rome, Italy): of a work of literature, a writer etc.: being like or having the characteristics of a romance, or poetic tale of a mythic or quasi-historical time; fantastic.

Rottweiler (Rottweil, Germany): a very large muscular breed of dog of German origin with black fur and tanned markings.

rugby (Rugby, United Kingdom): a form of football in which players can hold or kick an ovoid ball; rugby football. The ball cannot be handled forwards and points are scored by touching the ball to the ground in the area past the opponent’s territory or by kicking the ball between goalposts and over a crossbar.

samaritan (Samaria, Palestine): a person who gives help or sympathy to someone in distress.

sandwich (Sandwich, United Kingdom): a dish or foodstuff where at least one piece, but typically two or more pieces, of bread serve(s) as the wrapper or container of some other food. 

sardines (Sardinia, Italy): any one of several species of small herring which are commonly preserved in olive oil or in tins for food, especially the pilchard, or European sardine Sardina pilchardus (syn. Clupea pilchardus). The California sardine Sardinops sagax (syn. Clupea sagax) is similar. The American sardines of the Atlantic coast are mostly the young of the Atlantic herring and of the menhaden.

sardonic (Sardinia, Italy): scornfully mocking or cynical.

scotch (Scotland, United Kingdom): whisky distilled in Scotland, especially from malted barley.

sienna (Siena, Italy): a form of clay containing iron and manganese.

solecism (Soli, Turkey): an erroneous or improper usage. 

spa (Spa, Belgium): a health resort near a mineral spring or hot spring.

spaniel (Spain): any of various small to medium-sized breeds of gun dog having a broad muzzle, long, wavy fur and long ears that hang at the side of the head, bred for flushing and retrieving game.

spartan (Sparta, Greece): austere, frugal, characterized by self-denial.

spruce (Prussia [present-day Germany]): any of various large coniferous evergreen trees or shrubs from the genus Picea, found in northern temperate and boreal regions; originally and more fully spruce fir.

suede (Sweden): a type of soft leather, made from calfskin, with a brushed texture to resemble fabric, often used to make boots, clothing and fashion accessories.

swede (Sweden): the fleshy yellow root of a variety of rape, Brassica napus var. napobrassica, resembling a large turnip, grown as a vegetable.

tangerine (Tangier, Morocco): any of several varieties of mandarin oranges.

tarantula (Taranto, Italy): any of the large, hairy New World spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae.

Trojan horse (Troy, Turkey): a subversive person or device placed within the ranks of the enemy.

turkey (Turkey): a bird in the genus Meleagris with a fan-shaped tail and wattled neck, especially the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo, now domesticated).

turquoise (Turkey): a sky-blue, greenish-blue, or greenish-gray semi-precious gemstone.

tweed (River Tweed, United Kingdom): a coarse woolen fabric used for clothing.

vaudeville (Vallée de Vire [valley of the river Vire], France): a style of multi-act theatrical entertainment which originated from France and flourished in Europe and North America from the 1880s through the 1920s.

volcano (Mt. Etna, Italy, believed to be the forge of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire): a vent or fissure on the surface of a planet (usually in a mountainous form) with a magma chamber attached to the mantle of a planet or moon, periodically erupting forth lava and volcanic gases onto the surface.

wellies (Wellington, United Kingdom): Wellington boots

wiener (Vienna, Austria): a sausage made from beef, chicken or pork.

[decidentia]

◈   @ferinehuntress said: ❛ 💯 — share three random facts about yourself that your mutuals may not know about you. ❜ //  munday asks.

Back in my horse girl era, I owned a young 17.2hh Irish Sport Horse mare, and believe me when I say she was wired directly to the moon. After a series of bad falls – including being trampled, and splitting my lips open on the stirrup iron – I ended up selling her on. I still love horses, though. Maybe one day I’ll get back in the saddle…

Although I’ve lived in Northern Ireland for almost all of my life, I was actually born in Scotland. I also have Canadian citizenship!

I had an emergency cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) a few years back. The attempt at keyhole surgery failed, so I was opened up, and it left me with a gnarly 10+ inch scar across my abdomen. Between that, my caesarian section, and a scar on my forearm from the aforementioned horse, I’m pretty marked up.

[carlsdraws]

tagged in the 15qs for 15 mutuals by @swanfey !!

tagging @anonymousbathtub @tadpal @courtjesterart @shoutydwarf @vhenad4hl @shorthairzuko @chloedrawss @pvz1 @renegade-skywalker @dakotawritesif @junkoandthediamonds @kt-the-destroyer @drk-et-al @demandthedoodles @pyreios

and whoever sees this and wants to do it lmao go for it

1. Are you named after anyone?

yepp on both first and middle name i’m named after my maternal grandparents, my first name after my grandfather and my middle after my grandmother

EDIT: whoops i forgot 2: When was the last time you cried?

may fourth during the last visions episode aau’s song just got to me idk

3. Do you have kids?

lmao no

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

yes very much so. also deadpan humor. my two besties

5. What sports have you played?

uhhh gaelic football when i was a kid, gymnastics (do you Play gymnastics) for longer when i was a kid, camogie when i was a tween for a few years. oh i did badminton for like a year. i lost a jersey i really liked at a badminton camp….. OH HORSE RIDING TOO i did that for years um i may be forgetting one but honestly if i am it was probably for such a short time that it’s irrelevant

6. What’s the first thing you notice about someone?

probably their hair? or their voice? idk it depends what about the individual person is most striking to me i guess

7. Eye Color?

brown :)

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

both in moderation and sometimes at the same time

9. Any special talents?

i can do fun eye makeup? not a particular talent but i think it looks good. and i have a knack for putting together cohesive outfits imho

10. Where were you born?

ireland. im not getting any more specific that’s already a teeeeeeeny tiny place

11. What are your hobbies?

ttrpgs if playing like twice a year counts, video games, uhh art sometimes if i’m not burnt out from uni, reading? OH and buying comics i don’t read bc i’m so behind on all of them i physically cant bring myself to start catching up

12. Do you have any pets?

my family have a dog :)

13. How tall are you?

5’3”

14. Fave subject in school?

probably history or english. or theatre the last couple years of high school but honestly the class was more an extracurricular than a Class

15. Dream job?

comic artist baybeee. i was gonna make a joke about my incredibly unattainable dream job here but honestly couldn’t come up with something funny. uhh. guy whose job at lucasfilm is to tell dave filoni he’s only allowed one cameo per project and physically prevent him from adding more if necessary

[paddockpatrol]

My 2 cents on the great sky boycott (great name)

Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the USA all use the Sky UK commentary. Some have their own journos for pre/post race but not all. Apart from Ireland those are big F1 markets. We all know F1 is trying so hard to get more and more American F1 fans.

At quite a few races it is a Sky UK employee doing post race/post quali interviews for the top 3. Massively embarassing for the sport if Max refuses to talk. Because those interviews are shown in most countries, translated over by each nation's commentators.

Sky Germany gets the notebook as part of their post race package (and we've all seen the clips of ted being ignored). If them and Sky Italia are being boycotted too thats 2 more huge markets that lose out on Max/Red Bull.

Now there are alternatives, but they are either geoblocked/region exclusive, not live, or show a very limited amount of interviews.

I raise my glass to Red Bull for saying enough is enough, someone needed to take Sky off their high horse.

I think you worded it perfectly, anon. That's my thinking as well. It's why I figure that this matter is already at the highest levels of FOM/ Liberty.

As you said, this impacts huge markets. And with Sky having just extended the deal till 2029 AND everyone and their mother knowing from DTS that Max does not fuck around and will simply ignore them, well....

I also think Sky still don't understand Verstappen genuinely doesn't care about the fame aspect and would love absolutely minor to zero media exposure. Because of that alone they're at a disadvantage; they don't hold the cards they have with many others.

Right now, it's advantage Red Bull and I am very very curious to see how it finishes.

[rabbitcruiser]

Boxing Day

The best way to celebrate the day is to take part in festivities in a country where Boxing Day is a bank holiday or public holiday. Watch some soccer, rugby, or cricket games, or go on a traditional fox hunt. If you can’t be in a country where these events are taking place, you could still get together with family and friends and eat leftovers from Christmas, or make some foods traditionally eaten on Boxing Day. You could also go shopping, as this is another important part of the day in many countries.

Boxing Day takes place the day after Christmas and is primarily observed in the United Kingdom, where it started, as well as in countries that were once part of the British crown. There are a few possible theories as to how it got started, but its exact origin is unclear.

One theory says it was inspired by Christmas boxes. In seventeenth-century Great Britain, boxes holding a present or gratuity were given to tradesman and workers in service industries for their previous year’s work. This went back to an even earlier tradition where servants would wait on and serve their rich masters on Christmas Day and would visit and celebrate with their own families on the day after Christmas. Their rich masters would sometimes give them a box with leftover food, a bonus, or another type of gift.

The day may have also stemmed from alms boxes that were put in Anglican churches on Christmas Day or during Advent and opened on the day after Christmas. These boxes collected money for the poor. Similarly, boxes were put outside of churches to collect money on Saint Stephen’s Day, which is held the day after Christmas. The events in the song “Good King Wenceslas” take place on Saint Stephen’s Day. The song recounts a story of King Wenceslas, a Bohemian king of the tenth century, bringing food and wine to a poor man. There is one other possible source for the beginning of the day. Ships once set sail containing a box of money for good luck. If the trip was a success, the box would be given to a priest, and he would open it on Christmas and give its contents to the poor.

Boxing Day has been a bank holiday in England, Wales, North Ireland, and Canada since 1871. It is celebrated in Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Nigeria. It is celebrated in Hong Kong, where the United Kingdom held sovereignty until 1997. In Ireland and in parts of Spain, it is known as Saint Stephen’s Day. It is celebrated as Second Christmas Day in some European countries, such as Poland, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands; it is celebrated as such in Scandinavia as well. Boxing Day is generally not celebrated in the United States.

In some countries where it is celebrated as a bank holiday or public holiday, it is observed a day or two after December 26. If December 26 takes place on a Saturday, it may be observed the following Monday. If December 26 is on a Sunday, it may be observed on the following Tuesday. This is not always the case, however, as it is often observed on a Sunday if it falls on a Sunday.

Boxing Day is a day of the gathering of family and friends. Leftovers from Christmas are commonly eaten. Popular foods include baked ham, mince pies, Christmas cakes, and other desserts. In many countries of celebration, it is a shopping day similar to Black Friday. Sales take place and many retailers run them the whole week. Although, in some places, such as in parts of Canada, stores aren’t allowed to be open, in order to give families time to be together instead.

Sports are an important part of Boxing Day. In the United Kingdom, the top football (soccer) leagues of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland play games. Lower leagues play games as well, and rugby leagues also hold matches. In various countries, events of other sports, such as cricket, horse racing, yacht racing, hockey, and boxing are often held to celebrate the day. Fun runs and swims in the cold English Channel take place. Fox hunting meets have been held for hundreds of years. A law passed in 2004, which went into effect the following year, banned the use of dogs to attack animals during hunts. But hunters have still used their dogs to chase artificial scents on the day, and have still gone on hunts where dogs are used to flush out foxes, but not to attack them.

Boxing Day, also known as Saint Stephen’s Day and Second Christmas Day, is being observed today! It has always been observed annually on December 26th.

Source

[astromechs]

15 questions, 15 mutuals

tagged by @grimm-lynn and @notyouraveragesofia ; thank you!

are you named after anyone?

fun fact, accidentally! my parents just thought caitlin was a cool name, but i have some distant ancestor who immigrated to america from ireland who was also named caitlin, and my grandpa was apparently SO excited by the idea that i would've been named after her that my mom and dad were like, "yep, sure! we totally did that!"

2. when was the last time you cried?

when i caught up to the most recent episode of succession on tuesday afternoon. it hit very close to home watching the roy siblings go through that, is all i'll say.

3. do you have kids?

nope! just a nephew i'm a cool gay aunt for, and i'm raising him with all the right things (he loves star wars and batman, i'm doing good)

4. do you use sarcasm a lot?

lol never (always)

5. what sports do you play/have played?

i used to do soccer and basketball as a kid before i found horses, and from then on it's just been the equestrian sports babey

6. what's the first thing you notice about other people?

probably whether or not they can take/make a joke. i'm big on a sense of humor.

7. what's your eye color?

brown/verging on hazel

8. scary movies or happy endings?

i vibe with both, and pretty much anything, as long as the story is good.

9. any special talents?

knowing a lot of useless things about a whole wide variety of topics; i was a quiz bowl kid. i also have fun singing and playing piano, and have some talent with it. writing? might have a little.

10. where were you born?

atlanta, ga area

11. what are your hobbies?

writing, reading, film criticism, singing, playing piano. i haven't been horseback riding in a while but i'm looking to change that soon because that's been a hobby very important to my life.

12. do you have any pets?

i have a cat named katniss, and she's my little baby girl!

13. how tall are you?

5'3"

14. favorite subject in school?

god, all of them? i loved school, actually, that's why i'm a teacher LMAO loved my science and english classes, though, and in college i loved my latin, film, and psychology classes. (and was a psychology major and film minor, and now teach psychology for a living)

15. dream job?

i'm pretty happy teaching, tbh. that said, i would still love to make it to a professional level with some writing one day, either through a screenplay or getting to work on an ongoing comic series. but as much as i know i would write an amazing spider-man comic (pun intended), i don't want that job, actually lol; it just seems like you get nothing but grief.

tagging (no pressure!): @gaygingersnaps ; @k2cassian ;@angrygoomba ; @616phyla ; @moprocrastinates ;@flerkengay ; @richardrider ; @flythesail ; @aluvian ; @jaqobis ; @batmurdock ; @sgtjamesrogers ; @kissmywookiee ; @quillsmora ; @lunapascal

[grandmaster-anne]

FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL

6 October 2022

Grand Master, The Royal Victorian Order, will attend the Annual Evensong and Reception, Savoy Chapel, Savoy Hill, London WC2.

Colonel, The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons), will attend the Blues and Royals Club Annual Dinner at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1.

7 October 2022

Patron, Minchinhampton Surgery Charitable Trust, will attend a Reception at Chavenage House, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

8 October 2022

Patron, the Wooden Spoon Society, will attend the VetsFest Rugby Tournament at Moseley Rugby Club, Billesley Common, Yardley Wood Road, Billesley, Birmingham, West Midlands.

11 October 2022

Will visit the Lakes Distillery at Cockermouth, Setmurthy, Cumbria.

President, Riding for the Disabled Association, will visit the Blairgowrie Group at Easter Rattray Farm, Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross.

Will visit the International Fire and Rescue Association training facility at Strathore Road, Thornton, Kirkcaldy, Fife.

12 October 2022

Patron, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, will hold a 50th Anniversary of Patronage Reception at St. James's Palace.

Will attend the Annual National Service for Seafarers at St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4.

Court Member, The Fishmongers' Company, will attend the Court Autumn Dinner at Fishmongers' Hall, London Bridge, London EC4.

13 October 2022

Patron, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, will attend a Reception at Members' Dining Room, House of Commons, London SW1.

Patron, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), will attend the Women in Logistics Annual Conference at Volvo Trucks UK and Ireland, Wedgnock Lane, Warwick, Warwickshire.

Life Vice President, National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, will attend a 90th Anniversary Dinner at the Farmers Club, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1.

14 October 2022

President, Riding for the Disabled Association, will open new North Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Premises at Havard Stables, Dinas Cross, Newport, Dyfed.

Will open Haverfordwest High School at Queensway, Haverfordwest, Dyfed.

Will attend the 2022 World Rowing Coastal Championships Beach Sprints and open the Coastal Schooner Interpretation Centre at Saundersfoot Harbour Events Deck, Saundersfoot, Dyfed.

17 October 2022

Past Master, the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, will attend a Dinner at Mansion House, Walbrook, London EC4.

Gatcombe Park: Guardian, Give Them a Sporting Chance, will hold a Management Team Meeting at Gatcombe Park.

Gatcombe Park: Guardian, The Chaffinch Trust, will hold a Management Team Meeting at Gatcombe Park.

18 October 2022

Will attend the Clothiers Company 500th Anniversary of Ordinances Dinner, the Guildhall, High Street, Worcester, Worcestershire.

19 October 2022

Patron, Sense Scotland, will open TouchBase East Dunbartonshire, 59 Springfield Road, Bishopbriggs, Dunbartonshire.

Patron, Columba 1400, will attend a Reception and Dinner at Blair Estate, Dalry, Ayr and Arran.

Patron, Seagull Trust Cruises, will re-commission Canal Passenger Boat, 100 Southbank Road, Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire.

20 October 2022

President, Riding for the Disabled Association, will visit Ashmount, Ruddington & Wenlo RDA Groups at Meadow School of Riding, Bowley's Barn Farm, Stanford Lane, Normanton-on-Soar, Loughborough, Nottinghamshire.

Will attend the Seven Seas Club Centenary and Trafalgar Night Dinner at the National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1.

Will visit Kays Scotland, 9 Barskimming Road, Mauchline, Ayr and Arran.

21 October 2022

Patron, Maritime UK, will launch the National Centre for Coastal Autonomy at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon.

Will visit the Centre for Space Technologies at Cornwall Airport Newquay, St. Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall.

Will visit Communications Facility, Goonhilly Downs, Helston, Cornwall.

1 November 2022

Will visit the restored Junk Yacht Boleh at Haslar Marina, Gosport, Hampshire.

Patron, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, will open the Gosport Services Community Hub at Brune Park Community School, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire.

Will visit the restored Junk Yacht Boleh at Haslar Marina, Gosport, Hampshire.

3 November 2022

Will attend a Luncheon at Coutts, 440 Strand, London WC2.

Patron, The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, will attend a Conference at Octavia House, 54 Ayres Street, London SE1.

President, British Olympic Association, will attend the TeamGB Dinner in Central London (venue tbc).

4 November 2022

Patron, Moredun Foundation, will attend a Conference at Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian.

5 November 2022

Patron, Scottish Rugby Union, will attend Scotland versus Fiji International Rugby Match at Murrayfield Stadium, the City of Edinburgh.

8 November 2022

Royal Fellow, The Royal Academy of Engineering, will attend a New Fellows' Dinner at Drapers' Hall, Throgmorton Street, London EC2.

9 November 2022

Patron, Learning and Work Institute, will attend an 'Art for the People' event at City Lit College, 1 - 10 Keeley Street, London WC2.

Chancellor, Harper Adams University, will attend a 'How do we achieve Net Zero in Farming and Food?' discussion at Rabobank, Thames Court, One Queenhithe, London.

Commandant-in-Chief (Youth), St. John Ambulance, will hold a Young Achievers' Reception at St. James's Palace.

10 November 2022

President, World Horse Welfare, will attend the Annual Conference at Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7.

Patron, Wetwheels Foundation, will attend a Reception at Mansion House, Walbrook, London EC4.

11 November 2022

as President, Royal Yachting Association, will chair the Annual General Meeting, attend awards ceremony and luncheon at One Great George Street, London SW1.

15 November 2022

President, Riding for the Disabled Association, will visit the Maisemore Group to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary at Hartpury College and University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire.

16 November 2022

Patron, St Margaret's Chapel Guild, will attend an Annual Service at St. Margaret's Chapel and subsequently attend the Annual General Meeting, Queen Anne Room, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh.

will attend a Service to mark the nine hundred and fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding of Priory at Dunfermline Abbey, St. Margaret Street, Dunfermline, Fife.

24 November 2022

Chancellor, University College of Osteopathy, will attend the Graduation Ceremony at Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1.

will attend a Biennial Reunion Reception of the Association of Royal Yachtsmen at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge, London SW1.

25 November 2022

Colonel in Chief, Intelligence Corps, will take the salute at a Passing Out Parade at Chicksands, Bedfordshire.

[zadien]

For Beyblade OC creators - Get to know your OC

Pick your own beyblade OC and answer these questions. I see loads of art of OCs but I would love to know more about the OCs that are in the Beyblade fandom. I just think this would be fun to do. Tag with Beyblade OC character prompt.

1. Name:

2. Age:

3. What does your OC look like?

4. Nationality?

5. Best Friend?

6. Favourite person?

7. Romantic interest?

8. Hobby?

9. Morning or Night?

10. Favourite drink?

11. Favourite article of clothing?

12. What are some of your OC’s weaknesses?

13. Beyblade fan or not? Why?

14. It’s a rainy afternoon, there’s a howling wind and the lights are flickering, what does your OC do?

15. What is your favourite scene involving your OC in regards the series or fanfiction?

16. Does your OC watch movies? Which one is your OC’s favourite?

17. When watching a tournament, which blader does your OC cheer for over all others? Now who would your OC bet on to win?

18. Something unique about your OC?

19. Would your OC stay up all night skyping with a friend? Or do they prefer sleep?

20. Now tell me your OC’s background. How did they get involved in the world of Beyblade?

And now link to where I can find your OC.

For Beyblade OC creators - Get to know your OC

1. Name? Amber Benson

2. Age? 15 in Saving, 17/18 in SLTS

3. What does your OC look like? Longish black hair, ochre eyes, tanned skin, half Spanish, half Irish, lends itself to an interesting match up of features. 5ft 3 (probably less without shoes but when she’s that short she’s never going to measure herself), boyish figure that she bemoans quite a bit. When you know someone like Mariam, you get a complex.

4. Nationality? Irish?

5. Best friend? Hilary Tachibana & Ian Papov in Saving (she never formed close enough bonds previously, courtesy of a voice in her head making things a tad awkward) & Tala Valkov, Ruin Mulryan (they’re more like her parental besties) and Miyami Kinomiya in SLTS

6. Favourite Person? In all universes, Nana Molly. Her father’s mother and the matriarch of the family. No nonsense woman who puts family first above everything else, and family is more than just blood and DNA to her.

7. Romantic Interest? Kai Hiwatari. At this point he just suffers in silence.

8. Hobby? Ice Hockey in SLTS, Saving Ireland in Saving??? She also likes singing, and playing video games with Ian.

9. Morning or Night? Night.

10. Favourite drink? Tea

11. Favourite article of clothing? The infamous sneakers that are all but falling apart and really need to be dumped.

12. OC weaknesses? Amber is reckless to a fault. She never thinks things through properly, just jumps feet first and hopes to go she’ll not die. This also applies to emotionally too, she doesn’t process her emotions, she’ll lash out first, think about it later. That causes her endless problems. She’ll climb on her high horse where she is obviously right — so it’s good she’s surrounded herself with people who have no problem is calling her out on her hypocrisy so that she has to reassess and grow as a person. She’s not irrevocably flawed, but she’s enough of an asshole for the others to accept her into their ranks.

13. Beyblade fan or not? Why? Not. She missed the hype train on the sport and really doesn’t understand the fascination with a spinning top. Most of that comes down to sheer ignorance, she just doesn’t know anything about it, and then sheer stubbornness where she doesn’t want to know. When she does learn about it, it scares her, her experience with beyblading isn’t the best. The people are great though, she’s a fan of them, but not actually the sport. Once they stop playing, she’ll give zero shits about it. Also her closest friends are Hilary, Ian and Mariam, all of whom don’t spend time in the dish, so there’s no incentive to get into it.

14. It’s a rainy afternoon, there’s a howling wind and the lights are flickering, what does your OC do? ((Runs and finds Heathcliff??? What was I thinking with that question?)) Amber charges everything in case the electricity goes out and then bunkers down with a cup of tea, maybe plays a video game, lights a fire (in a fireplace, she’s not an arsonist). Sends endless memes to Ian and explains them to Hilary — also bugs Kai.

15. What is your favourite scene involving your OC in regards the series or fanfiction? So Amber isn’t involved in the series of beyblade, there’s no fanfic rewrite with her as a character, so there’s nothing there she’d be involved in. However, there’s a scene in Saving where Amber will inevitably sacrifice herself. That’s another reckless thing she does, it’s very annoying. But in this scene, while doing her sacrificial lamb thing, she smartly out manoeuvres a fey with her ability to think quickly on her feet and talk herself out of trouble. And I just love that - also when she made the Lord of the Ring Reference to the Fey rider with Ian. Ian’s reaction to that is fantastic and it’s one of my favourite scenes because it’s classic Amber, speak first, think later. And it inevitably pays off —for a change. Ian was impressed for like five minutes.

16. Does your OC watch movies? Which one is your OC’s favourite? Yeah, Amber watches movies. She’s not got a favourite so much (someone will tell me I’m wrong and she’s stated her favourite in xyz chapter) but in Saving it’s Moana, because that’s her baby cousin’s hyperfixation and some of that movie resonates with her and her plight. In SLTS Probably Miracle or something hockey related, she loves Marvel too and is on a quest to get Kai some pop culture so he won’t make a fool of himself on those NHL interviews. He’s gonna ace them and look like a real boy.

17. When watching a tournament, which blader does your OC cheer for over all others? Now who would your OC bet on to win? Bet on to win? Tyson. Maybe Kai… she’ll double bet. She’s shitty at gambling. She just wants to win and those are obvious bets. Who would she cheer? Privately, Kai. Out loud, anyone but. Any of the girls, she’ll definitely cheer for. HOWEVER IF MARIAM ENTERS A TOURNAMENT Amber will be number 1 fan, wear the merch, scream the loudest, carry a ‘Mariam will you marry me’ poster and wave it wildly. That’s just law.

18. Something unique about your OC? She’s so fucking normal that coming up something unique is difficult. She doesn’t look interesting, she doesn’t have a beyblade - she has a voice in her head which she thought made her unique but then she met Brooklyn and… it’s really not that special. OH! She has a good relationship with her family! That’s unique in Beyblade! (Not her cousins in Saving but they don’t exist)

19. Would your OC stay up all night skyping messaging a friend? Or do they prefer sleep? Okay, so she absolutely would and has. She likes to talk and doesn’t know how to shut up. In Saving sleeps not always been a comfort to her, she dreams about her death a lot. It’s not fun. Thing is, she needs sleep. She’s a grumpy bitch if she doesn’t get 8 hours, so now we know why she is as she is! SLTS Amber would definitely stay up talking all night but she’s in boarding school and everyone tells her to shut up and sleep because they need to practice in the morning and they’re not in different timezones.

20. Now tell me your OC’s background. How did they get involved in the world of Beyblade? Reluctantly and with great disdain. Amber was born with a voice in her head, the same one her grandfather had, the one he passed on to her as he died. The voice warns of an approaching apocalypse, the end of mankind as we know it, the revival of the fey and their reclamation of Ireland. For the first part of her life she could ignore it, until she couldn’t.

When the flyers announcing the tournament started to show up, the voice became antsy. It was time, they had to go now or everything would be lost. It’s not something any fifteen year old wants to hear, but when your family all believes in it, the prophesy handed down by every generation, you can’t exactly ignore it. And when her Nana Molly gives her some money and encouragement, Amber finds herself on a train to Belfast to save the world or her part of it.

Problem is, she has no skills, she has no powers but she knows that Beybladers with their bitbeasts are what cause the Fey to awaken, so surely if she just gets them to leave, that’ll sort it. She’ll steal their damn bitbeasts if she has to (and give them back once they leave because she’s not a villain). It’s a very simple solution to a very complicated problem. Except she didn’t count on the Beybladers and their innate suspicion of new people who show up pretending to be nice.

But weirdly she ends up befriending Ian and Hilary and once she shows Hilary the voice, everything starts to be a little more real. And when Mariam comes on board, it looks like Amber might actually have a chance to pull this off. Of course, nothing goes to plan and if they hope to succeed and prevent the end of the world, then all the Beybladers will need to come together and maybe, an Irish girl with no history with these various teams, might be key to pulling them all together. And where can you find Amber?

Amber can be found here and here. Ff.net suffers some growing pains in terms of writing but more story to read, AO3 is better writing (debatable) and a better reader experience, but slower updates as I try to make it better. Thank you!! I shall be sending these on to you later so we can hear a bit about Kain!