#I believe in my heart that heather won world tour

[total-feminism-takes]

The fact that Priya is the only canon female winner is sick. Gwen and Heather both deserved to definetly win their seasons. Heather's world tour ending is so good and the fact that it didn't air in Canada so it's not the official ending is so stupid.

- 🧡

[desperationandgin]

Market Price (Modern AU Outlander Fic; Jamie x Claire)

Chapter Four: Terms and Conditions

Also Read on: AO3

Previous Chapter

Finding Lallybroch was easy, and as she makes her way onto the property she can make out Jamie talking to employees. He’s in profile, muscles very apparent through his t-shirt, jawline strong and with a stance that makes her want to sculpt him in stone. Christ, she’s never met a man who looked so naturally fit, who was so comfortable in his own skin. When he laughs, his entire upper body moves with it and she can see, even from this vantage point, the way the corners of his eyes crease. When someone nods in her direction, Jamie’s attention shifts and Claire waves, making her way toward him as he breaks away from his crew. “I found you,” she calls, repeating words from the night before.

Jamie smiles at her, expression warm and just barely containing how pleased he is to see her. “Aye, that ye did. And I must say, for the record, that ye look verra bonny again.”

Claire looks down at herself in white shorts and a light blue cap-sleeved shirt. She’s never been one for full makeup and so only has a bit on, her hair down, curls free. When she looks back up at him, the intensity of his gaze makes her stomach turn liquid and her heart thump, hard against her breast bone. “Thank you, Jamie.” She takes him in as well, jeans and boots, a very tight grey shirt and hair tied back into a neat little ponytail. “I like seeing you this way.”

When he begins walking, Jamie waits for her to fall into step beside him. “What way is that, Sassenach?”

She smiles and shrugs her shoulder a bit. “Well, I just mean...in your element. Doing what you love to do.”

He smiles broadly and leads her to the stables first. “I was born to be outside, ye ken? I’m no’ sure what I would do in an office building, a suit and tie. A bit how ye’ve always kent ye belong in a hospital.” Gesturing to the horses, Jamie reaches for a saddle. “Do ye ride?”

“A bit, not in a long time,” she decides after a moment of contemplation. “And I have always known, from a very young age, what it was I wanted to do. I used to travel all over the world with my uncle, sometimes to places where healthcare was inadequate. It was always devastating to see, to know there wasn’t much I could do to help, uneducated as I was back then.”

Jamie has quietly decided to only saddle one horse so that she can ride with him while they tour the farm, but he’s also listening to every word she says. “A world traveler, were ye?” he asks curiously, reaching out a hand to help her onto the horse.

As she accepts the assistance it gives her time to contemplate her answer while he mounts behind her. His chest is like a solid brick wall against her back, and she has to clear her throat to get her thoughts on track. “I was. My parents died in an accident when I was young. Young enough to not quite remember them well. So, my Uncle Lamb raised me but didn’t sacrifice his job to do it.”

As they ride out of the stables, Jamie can’t help but continue to ask questions while mentally filing away every fact she tells him. “Oh? What job was that?”

“Archaeologist and historian. I had a very unconventional upbringing and by the time I’d finished all of my school testing I’d been to every continent except Antarctica. He taught me that I shouldn’t need to sacrifice what I love doing for someone. He still loved me fiercely while taking me all over the world. I never thought otherwise.”

“So, when this ex-fiance of yers came ‘round, ye kent ye were better than accepting the sort of things he said to ye?” Jamie asks, the horse trotting them down to the fields as he tugs her back, just a little, against his chest only to keep her close and safe. Wouldn’t want her to fall off.

“I knew it, but I didn’t want him to mean his words seriously. I…” Claire trails off, very aware of the way Jamie’s holding onto her and not disliking it, but unsure of the topic. “I’m sorry, this is a bit heavy for a second date.”

“Is it?” Jamie asks, shrugging against her. “I thought it was only a conversation, no’ anythin’ that has to mean something.”

She understands; he won’t judge or hold against her what she thought she had with Frank. So, hesitantly, she continues. “I loved him, and I think he loved me, for a time. I would have married him, I would have been happy to be his wife.”

“Until he tried to force ye to pick him or the hospital,” Jamie remembers, glad she can’t see his face as he scowls a bit.

“Right. Until that.”

“I ken ye should no’ have to choose. But I suppose I wouldn’t be well-versed in the goings on of long term relationships seeing as how I’ve never been in one. Are things supposed to change much? Are ye expected to give up what ye feel called to do?”

So many things are said at once that Claire is quiet for a solid minute as they ride. “I’m sorry, did you just tell me you’ve never been in a relationship before?”

“I’ve been in relationships, just no’ any that lasted as long as two years and then some.”

She can feel the shrug behind her back, no shame accompanied by that admission. “To answer your question, no I don’t believe you’re supposed to give up a part of yourself for someone, not like that. Why haven’t you ever been in a long term relationship?” She’s more curious than put off by it.

“I suppose I’m too particular, Sassenach.”

At that, she laughs under her breath. “Oh? What exactly have you been looking for, because I’m not sure I’ll pass muster.”

“Weel, the funny thing, Sassenach, is that I'm positive ye already do, so. Go on ahead now and ask me what it is I look for in a woman to date long term.”

Claire turns her head just enough to look up at him with a puzzled but pleased expression. He’s implied not only that they’re dating but long term dating and she’s known him for less than two full days. “Alright then. You’re very bold, but I’ll listen to what your criteria happen to be.”

Jamie guides them toward a field of heather, away from the farm proper, but something worth seeing nonetheless, not part of the official tour. “First, understanding of a farmer’s schedule. I’m up at dawn and sometimes no’ back until after dark. Especially during harvest, it’s no’ easy to be wi’ someone in this profession.”

Well, that makes sense; it was Claire’s primary concern too, and she hums a bit. “A doctor’s schedule is a bit the same in regards to long hours so I do understand that, Jamie. Go on.”

“The second thing is love of family. No’ that I would ever judge a lass for no’ being comfortable around bairns, but my sister has two of them and one on the way; I could never bring someone home who couldna stand the chaos and rabble rousin’.”

Claire raises an eyebrow, feeling something hitch in her throat. “You want me to meet your family?”

“Ye canna just be ‘the lass I met at the market’ forever. Or, ye could be, but I would rather ye meet everyone eventually if it’s all the same.”

She smiles a little. “Well, I’m an orphan with no siblings. I think I’d quite like to be around a large family.” She doesn’t really know what that’s like, a holiday spent gathered around a table with more than just her and Geillis. Often, Joe invited her to things, but she felt like such a stranger, intruding. “What about your parents?”

Jamie shifts behind her, thumb lightly grazing her side. “My mam passed when I was no’ but a lad. My father two years back.”

Claire falters, trying to shift to look at him.”Jamie, I’m sorry,” she murmurs, but before the guilt from bringing it up can creep into her features, his lips find purchase against her temple, lingering there for a few beats before he simply continues with the conversation.

“There’s only one more thing, Claire, and ye cleared it day one.”

Relaxing and turning back to the view in front of her, she’s curious, wondering what she could have done yesterday. “I did?”

“Oh, aye. I positively, under no circumstances, could ever be wi’ a woman who can out cook me.”

The way he makes her laugh makes her feel as though someone lit a spark in her, and she relaxes more against his chest. “You truly are an arse, you know.”

He laughs, pleased with himself. “Oh, I ken it, but hopefully, no’ too big of one that I’ve ruined my chance for a third date?”

“Well, I would say that depends,” Claire muses. “On if you fit my criteria.”

“Och, yer makin’ it up now, copying me,” Jamie protests, leaning down from the horse precariously and plucking purple heather, handing the stem of it to her.

She notes the meaning of the flower (admiration) and lays it in her palm. “Did you know heather can be used to help with urinary tract infections if brewed into a tea?”

“Verra romantic. ‘Tis my top romantic fact,” Jamie remarks.

“Sorry, sorry. Off topic. Anyway, my criteria for a long term relationship. First, must be Scottish.”

“Are ye bein’ cheeky, Sassenach?”

“Yes. Number one you already know the importance of: my work schedule. So, moving on from there, I could never be with someone who hogs all of the blankets.”

“No need to worry. I run hot. Next,” Jamie says confidently.

Claire knows she’s about to shift the tone of things, but for as jovial as they’re being, she needs him to know the truth of how she feels in regards to her own self in the wake of a relationship ending. Looking down at the heather in her hand, she lets out a soft breath. “I won’t ever change a part of myself to fit into an ideal, Jamie. I’m not a housewife, not a won prize.” She understands that things have to shift and bend in order to work, but she’d let Frank do too much of the bending until he’d finally broken her.

She isn’t sure what to expect; if Jamie will have anything to say, if he will be put off by her words. So, when she feels him press a lingering kiss to the back of her neck where it dips to meet her shoulder, she’s not only surprised, she shivers, letting her eyes close just briefly before opening again as he speaks.

“If ye changed then ye would no’ be the Claire Beauchamp I met yesterday. I dinna want ye to change. If this is you, why would I want any other version of ye?”

The fact that she can’t turn and look at him fully bothers her until she feels his hand slide around her waist to tug her closer. “Dinna fash, Claire. Perhaps, one day, we’ll change one another until we’re different, but I promise, no matter what we become after today, it will be pretty.”

Her head falls back to his chest, having no idea why she puts so much trust in his words when she only met him yesterday, but she does. It’s a feeling, like crackling in the air before a storm.

This is something.

Next Chapter

[theauthorfiles-blog]

Cary Hart Blog Tour - Battlefield of Love Series

   Battlefield of Love Series

 Cary Hart

Love may lose the battle........ but not the war!

 Passion Creations by Mary Ruth

Contemporary Romance

Love Conquer: A Standalone Romance – (Battlefield of Love, Book #3)

When do the words "I'm sorry" mean nothing? When his words hurt more than his touch? What happens when leaving is harder than staying? 

Fear. 

The lines between right and wrong have become so blurred...accepting who you’ve become is not an option.

Shame.

Escape is the only way to fight back...finding someone willing to fight with you is something you never saw coming. 

Hope.

But before you can conquer love, you have to battle your past...

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"Love Conquer is an outstanding inspired, slow-burn romance filled with heartache, passion, and raw intensity." - Christy Pastore, Author 

"This is not only a love story but a healing story." - Patti (Goodreads) 

"I have enjoyed all three books in this series but WOW this book blew me away. My favorite yet." - Heather (Amazon) 

"I love this book! It has so much depth and feeling that it grabs me from the get-go." - N (Goodreads) 

"Ah! The best one so far. A deep, emotional, touching romance that still retains the classic humour and fast-paced style we have come to know and love Cary Hart for." - Bella (Amazon) 

"From the first word, Love Conquer had me hooked & captivated! Cary Hart can express so much emotion & feeling with the written word." - Pam (Goodreads). 

“Author Cary Hart taps into human emotion in such a way that allows the reader to immerse themselves completely into the story. This is a powerful read about triumph and discovery. I highly recommend it to everyone!” – For the Love of Books & Alcohol

Love War: A Standalone Romance (Battlefield of Love, Book #1)

What happens when happily ever after isn't happy? When everything you thought you knew changes? 

Obligation...Marriage 

Betrayal...Freedom

Until him. Until her.

Second chances... 

Until them.

Deceit...Doubt. 

The past may have won the battles, but can Love win the War?

 http://bit.ly/2rt4in6

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*****************

Love Divide: A Standalone Romance (Battlefield of Love, Book #2)

What happens when something you were not looking for comes along, and it's more than you ever could have imagined?

Changing you.

How do you live with yourself when you look in the mirror and don’t recognize the broken reflection staring back? Because it makes you do things that you never expected you were capable of.

Will a heart that's been torn in two pieces keep on beating? I'm about to find out.

Love Divided. The decision should be easy... it isn't.

 http://bit.ly/2ivfKgX

 http://amzn.to/2wovdFq

Cary Hart hails from the Midwest. A sassy, coffee drinking, sometimes sailor swearing (Shhh… don’t tell.), wine sipping, Spotify addict, lover of all things books!

When not pushing women down the stairs in the fictional world, Cary has her hands full. She is blessed to be the sports mom of two wild and crazy, spoiled kiddos, and wife to the most supportive husband (took a few years to train). In addition to working full time, she bakes cookies on the side to fund her newly found love of writing and to keep her Sephora VIB Rouge status. The addiction is real, folks!

Believe it or not, writing was never a dream for Cary. Reading was something she never enjoyed growing up. All it took was one friend, who went MIA for a weekend on a book binge, to share her passion and loan an eBook, lighting a fire inside her. Two years, and hundreds of eBooks later, she connected with one of her favorite authors, who patiently listened to her plot ideas. Her encouragement and saying those three little words “You write it!” changed everything!

So, welcome! Hop on board, and enjoy the ride!

Website: www.authorcaryhart.com

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The Wit & Wonder Agency

[londontheatre]

Bush Theatre – Meet the Writers-Images by Bronwen Sharp

The Bush Theatre today announce their 2018 season with Artistic Director Madani Younis affirming their commitment to discover, nurture and produce the best new playwrights from the widest range of backgrounds, in a bold season of plays for year two in its recently refurbished home.

The theatre’s new building, designed by Haworth Tompkins, opened in March and since then over 20,000 people have seen a show there, 56% of whom were first-time visitors. Shows such as Black Lives, Black Words and Hijabi Monologues London have brought international movements to the immediate community and have been met with capacity audiences. The revitalised building has also enabled the theatre to broaden its talent development work, which includes the continuation of the Associate Companies, schemes Project 2036 and Up Next, as well as the Bush Theatre’s community work – including young people’s new writing initiative NT Connections and the theatre’s Community Associate Companies scheme.

Artistic Director Madani Younis said, “I am so proud to be announcing yet another season of bold new plays for our newly revitalised home, with the new initiative of ‘Passing the Baton’ at its heart. ‘Passing the Baton’ is a yearly commitment by the Bush Theatre to celebrate and put centre-stage one play a year from the extraordinary body of work of British writers of colour from the 20th century.

This is not simply about reviving a play we think is important. This is about confronting the fact that this work has often been relegated to the footnotes of the theatrical canon. It’s about saying we’re going to take this play and make it new again. And at the same time, we’re looking forward – by introducing a play to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of writers to pick up the baton. That’s why the initiative includes a mentoring scheme that launches alongside it.

I’m honoured that this year we will be introducing new audiences to Leave Taking by Winsome Pinnock, a playwright on whose shoulders we now stand and who paved the way for many of the writers and performers who will appear in our 2018 season. I’m so excited by the dialogue this will create between artists, audiences and within the industry.”

The Believers Are But Brothers

Elsewhere in the season artists include: theatre-maker Javaad Alipoor, who pushes boundaries in both subject and form; local actress and first-time writer Monica Dolan, who will appear in her one-woman play The B*easts, which premiered at the Bush before a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and winning an Edinburgh Stage Award; actor-turned-writer Arinzé Kene, whose new play Misty straddles music, spoken word and performance; and writer Vinay Patel, whose epic play An Adventure crosses both time and continents to tell a story of technicolour romance.”

2018 season Javaad Alipoor presents THE BELIEVERS ARE BUT BROTHERS written and performed by Javaad Alipoor Co-directed by Javaad Alipoor and Kirsty Housely Stage and Lighting Design by Ben Pacey Dramaturgy by Chris Thorpe Sound Design by Simon McCrorry Video Design by Jack Offord and Adam Radolinski Produced by Luke Emery Associate Director Natalie Diddams Assistant Director Heather Knudtsen 24 Jan – 10 Feb Press Night 26 Jan

Writer and theatre maker Javaad Alipoor presents his 2017 Scotsman Fringe First Award winning play. Resident Associate Director at Sheffield Theatres, and an Associate Director of Theatre in the Mill, his work comes from discussions and workshops with communities that don’t usually engage with mainstream theatre. An electronic maze of meme culture, 4chan, the alt-right and ISIS

We live in a time where old orders are collapsing: from the postcolonial nation states of the Middle East, to the EU and the American election. Through it all, tech savvy and extremist groups rip up political certainties.

Amidst this, a generation of young men find themselves burning with resentment, without the money, power and sex they think they deserve. This crisis of masculinity leads them into an online world of fantasy, violence and reality.

The Believers Are But Brothers envelops its audience in this digital realm, weaving us into the webs of resentment, violence and power networks that are eating away at the structures of the twentieth century. This bold one-man show explores the smoke and mirrors world of online extremism, anonymity and hate speech.

Suzanna Rosenthal for Something For The Weekend, in association with the Bush Theatre, presents THE B*EASTS written and performed by Monica Dolan Directed by John Hoggarth Designed by James Button Lighting Design by Tom Clutterbuck Produced by Something For The Weekend

12 Feb – 3 Mar Press Night 15 Feb BAFTA-winning actress Monica Dolan has starred in W1A, Appropriate Adult, The Witness For The Prosecution and Strike: The Silkworm. She brings her first play, The B*easts, to London following a hit run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it won a Stage Edinburgh Award 2017. A searing ‘What If?’ exploration of the pornification of our culture and the sexualisation of our children.

Setting the modern obsession with putting your own child first against our responsibility as a society towards our children as a whole, this dark tale, written by and starring Monica Dolan, explores how far one mum will go to give her child what she wants.

WORLD PREMIERE A Bush Theatre production MISTY written and performed by Arinzé Kene Directed by Omar Elerian Designed by Rajha Shakiry Dramaturgy by Kirsty Housely Sound design by Elena Peña Lighting design by Jackie Shemesh 15 Mar – 21 Apr Press Night 21 Mar

Arinzé Kene is a star in the making, whose accolades as an actor for stage and screen include Girl From The North Country at the Old Vic and One Night In Miami at the Donmar Warehouse. He is best known as Simba in The Lion King, for BAFTA-nominated film The Pass alongside Russell Tovey, and as Connor Stanley in EastEnders. Arinzé’s writing credits include good dog (Watford Palace Theatre, UK tour) and God’s Property (Soho Theatre, The Albany). “Here is the city that we live in

Notice that the city that we live in is alive Analyse our city and you’ll find that our city even has bodily features Our city’s organs function like any living creature Our city is a living creature And if you’re wise enough, you’ll know not all of us are blood cells… Some of us are viruses.”

Arinzé delivers an epic, lyrical journey through the pulsating heart and dark soul of inner city London. An inventive blend of gig theatre, spoken word, live art and direct address, Misty confronts the assumptions and expectations underpinning the act of telling a story.

Misty is directed by Bush Theatre Associate Director Omar Elerian (NASSIM, One Cold Dark Night, Islands) and will feature an original musical score performed live during the show.

A Bush Theatre production Passing the Baton LEAVE TAKING by Winsome Pinnock Directed by Madani Younis 24 May – 30 Jun Press Night 31 May Winsome Pinnock is ‘the godmother of Black British playwrights’ (The Guardian) who defined and inspired a generation with her work for the stage. She won the George Devine Award for Leave Taking in 1991 and was the first black British woman to have a play produced at the National Theatre. She has written numerous, award-winning plays that put black experiences centre-stage. In 2017, Winsome’s short play The Principles of Cartography opened the newly refurbished Bush Theatre as part of Black Lives, Black Words. “That girl heading for big trouble. I try to warn her but she won’t take telling. She think she know everything. Think she a woman.”

A single mother travelled to England determined to make a good life for her family. Now Enid and her two daughters search for a way to feel rooted in a land where they’re invisible. With one daughter prepping for university happy to lead “a quiet life” and the other doing anything but, what’s a mother to do except call upon the local ‘obeah’ woman for some traditional Caribbean soul healing. Family secrets are soon revealed and tragedy rekindles Enid’s longing for home. Leave Taking is a beautifully observed, moving account of a second generation immigrant family navigating the familial conflicts between generations and cultures. The play was first produced at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1987. Bush Theatre Artistic Director Madani Younis (The Royale) directs the contemporary revival of this classic, award-winning play.

WORLD PREMIERE A Bush Theatre production AN ADVENTURE by Vinay Patel Co-directed by Madani Younis and Omar Elerian 6 Sep – 20 Oct Press Night 11 Sep Vinay’s recent BBC drama Murdered by My Father was one of the smash-hits of 2016. Having broken onto the scene with the critically acclaimed True Brits, An Adventure is his biggest and boldest play yet. A drama of unprecedented scope and heart, spanning seven decades and three continents, inspired by the experiences of his immigrant grandparents. A borrowed suit. A half-remembered film. A life of homecomings.

“I’m not much now, I know, but I will be. So pick me Jyoti and I swear I will make us the greatest adventure you ever have.”

On a stormy night in 1954, a woman doomed to marry one of five men discovers the wildcard choice might just be the person she’d been hoping for all along. An Adventure follows headstrong Jyoti and her fumbling suitor Rasik as they ride the crest of the fall of Empire from the shores of post-Partition India to the forests of Mau Mau Kenya onto the industrial upheaval of 1970s London.

But what happens when youthful ambitions crash hard against reality? When you look back at the story of your time together, can you bear to ask yourself: Was it all worth it?

Witty, charming and full of fearless historical insight, An Adventure is an epic, technicolour love story from one of the country’s most promising young writers about the people who journeyed to our shores in hope and shaped the country we live in today. This world premiere will be co-directed by Bush Artistic Director, Madani Younis (The Royale) and Bush Theatre Associate Director Omar Elerian (NASSIM, One Cold Dark Night, Islands).

An Adventure has been made possible by a lead gift from Charles Holloway and the generous support of the Peter Wolff Theatre Trust.

WORLD PREMIERE Mark Cartwright, in association with the Bush Theatre, presents JELLYFISH by Ben Weatherill Directed by Tim Hoare 26 Jun – 21 July Press Night – 29 Jun

Ben Weatherill is winner of the Pitch Your Play Award and Curve Theatre Leicester Playwriting Competition. He established the Old Red Lion Writers’ Group, was part of the National Theatre’s New Views Programme and acted as dramaturg at Curve Theatre Leicester. Ben’s new play Jellyfish has its world premiere at the Bush Theatre in 2018.

“What about people who can’t make friends? Or who don’t laugh and are full of no love? They’re the real disabilities. I think.”

Agnes and her daughter Kelly have walked the same stretch of Skegness beach every day for fifteen years. They devour ice cream, hunt for crabs and watch as things mysteriously vanish along the shoreline. But when Kelly meets Neil, their cosy world soon begins to unravel.

With her mum struggling to understand the needs of a maturing daughter with Down’s Syndrome, Kelly and Neil have to fight for their right to be together. While Agnes and her daughter drift further and further apart, an event is coming that will change all of their lives forever.

Jellyfish is the story of a first kiss, chips by the beach and coming of age in modern Britain. It’s a unique romance across unchartered waters which asks; does everyone really have the right to love as they choose?

UK PREMIERE A co-production with the Institut Français du Royaume Uni as part of its Cross Channel Theatre and En Scène! programmes GOING THROUGH by Estelle Savasta Translated by Kristen Hazel Smith Directed by Omar Elerian 3 Oct – 3 Nov Press Night 5 Oct Writer and director Estelle Savasta runs ‘Hippolyte a mal au cœur’, a company creating ground-breaking bilingual work based in France. Her first play Seule dans ma peau d’âne received acclaim at the 2008 Molière awards. Going Through (originally Traversée) premiering at the Bush Theatre is her second play. The little box is on the shelf. She is allowed to look at it and to touch it.

I am not allowed to open it. She is not allowed to open it. I promised. She promised.

For as long as she can remember, Nour has lived with Youmna. Youmna is beautiful and gentle and good, and she smells like the wind. She’s also deaf. But Youmna is not Nour’s mother, even though she wishes she was.

Youmna’s journey begins without warning. The men come to drive Nour to a new life faraway, in a better place for girls like her. All she can take with her is a little box and the memory of Youmna’s loving hands.

Going Through is a poetic and touching story of one girl’s journey through adolescence, across borders and through a well-guarded secret. This bilingual production seamlessly mixes English and British Sign Language and is directed by Bush Theatre Associate Director Omar Elerian (NASSIM, One Cold Dark Night, Islands).

Thank you to the Dorsett Shepherds Bush for their support in-kind.

A Bush Theatre and Antler co-production LANDS by Antler Created by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart with Sophie Steer and Leah Brotherhead Directed by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart Cast includes Sophie Steer and Leah Brotherhead Additionally devised with Richard Perryman and Nasi Voutsas 13 Nov – 8 Dec Press Night 15 Nov Jaz Woodcock-Stewart is co-artistic director of Bush Associate Artist company Antler who tell stories through theatre and film. Antler are winners of an IdeasTap Underbelly Award, winner of Pulse Festival Suitcase Prize, nominees for The Stage Best Ensemble Award, and winner of Best Short Fiction at BFI Future Film Festival. They have transferred shows to the Bush, Soho Theatre and toured the UK. Leah and Sophie have been together, here, for a long time. They are happy here.

But there’s a problem. There’s a fucking massive problem and soon they’re going to have to talk about it. From their own lonely lands, Leah and Sophie seek to help each other, without quite knowing how.

The award-winning Antler return with a playful, intimate dissection of a relationship teetering on the edge of collapse. Lands is an absurd tragicomedy, exploring the impossibility of relationships and our inability to understand one another. This moving play arrives at the Bush following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017.

Bush Associate Artists are kindly supported by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

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[theworldisspinning]

I’ve been MIA from writing because I was away traveling Spain with Campbell and let me just start off by saying, it was the best trip and so refreshing for our relationship. It was our first international trip together and because of just that, the whole trip will hold a special place in my heart. Traveling is so important to me and ingrained in my blood. Wanderlust is my middle name. Finally being able to share travel and such a memorable trip with Campbell meant everything to me. I got back to school yesterday and I already wish I was back eating delicious cured meat and yummy churros under the Spanish sun.

Spain is magical. Honestly, it is a really special and unique country. You can tell the second you step out on the street and see the colorful apartments with little balconies and flowers, the locals and their cute restaurants, feel the relaxed culture…It’s so wonderfully different. I couldn’t stop looking around as we walked the streets just taking it all in.

We had two stops on the trip and one day trip. Campbell and I went on the trip to visit our family in Spain, my sister, Heather, in Madrid and his cousin, Lincoln, and his family in Seville. It was SO fun being able to finally visit Heather and see the life she’s made for herself in Madrid; her and her boyfriend, Dani, were the best tour guides and hosts, showing us all around their beautiful city. I was so impressed with her and how independent she is being so far away, and I can see why she loves Spain so much, especially Madrid, and wouldn’t want to leave! She gave us the best time while we were staying with them. Heather picked us up at the airport when we arrived and right away, we went out to explore! We were so eager just to get out there and see the city. We ate delicious tapas and had drinks, walking around to see a night view of the palace and cathedral, and staying up way longer than our bodies wanted us to. But it was worth it!

The next day we woke up early (as early as we could being jet lag) and went out to explore. Heather brought us to this cute market that happens every Sunday and we met up with her friend, Lisa. We walked around the city, embracing the beautiful weather (we got lucky with weather the whole trip for it was sunny and warm all week basically) and went to this park with famous almond tree flowers and then all went out for a big yummy lunch. I couldn’t believe how cheap food was in Spain yet how delicious and good quality it was! We got a three course lunch for 10 euros! At night, Heather, Campbell, and I went to a Real Madrid soccer game. It was such a cool experience being able to see a game live and be in the stadium. And we won, yay! Afterwards, we met up with Dani for drinks and tapas. Man, I love tapas!

On Monday, Campbell and I slept in which was much needed and then went to school with Heather and sat in on her last two classes of the day. She teaches English! Her students were so cute and we had fun helping out in class and seeing what she does during the school day. We then went to this look out point over Madrid and it was breathtaking! Such amazing views. Then we went to the Arab Baths and it was so relaxing. We met up with Dani when he got out of work after for more drinks and tapas. Yum!

The next day we left to embark on our journey to Seville! We took the high speed train which was really cool and got us down so quickly. Seeing Campbell’s family and spending time with them was really nice! The kids are ridiculously cute and his family were so welcoming and incredible hosts. They made us feel right at home and so comfortable. Lincoln’s wife, Esme, was the most fabulous cook and generously made us most meals during our stay! We went out the first night just the two of us and walked around the city, going up to a look out point overseeing all of Seville. It was nice just wandering the two of us, soaking in a new Spanish city. Seville is a lot smaller than Madrid, but stunning. The following day we went out with Campbell’s uncle and saw the most beautiful sites, including the Plaza de España and the Alcázar. I overheard a tour guide say, “Be careful on your bikes because you might die from the beauty” meaning the beauty might distract them and they’d get in a crash. But I honestly felt like I could have died from the beauty!

We were only in Seville for three days, but we packed in a lot! The last day, Campbell and I went off on our own since Lincoln and Esme were working, the kids were at school, and his uncle was off on an excursion. We spent the whole day just roaming the streets of Seville, exploring various neighborhoods, seeing more sites, eating more delicious tapas, getting gelato, relaxing by the river, and just holding hands and talking. It was a great last day and we finished it off by playing with the kids and having a yummy last family dinner.

We headed back to Madrid for two more days with Heather and Dani! We arrived back Friday morning and went out to see some sites during the day and got churros. Seriously, I love churros. Then we went to Retiro Park and watched people row the boats, walked around the park and saw the Crystal Palace, and met up with Lisa again. The park was so big and gorgeous! The following day, we went on a day trip to Segovia. My gosh, Segovia was like stepping into a fairy tale. The views were incredible, overlooking snowy top mountains. We roamed the town, admired the aqueduct, went up the palace, and again, had delicious drinks and tapas. When we got back to Madrid, we did some last night city roaming, did some shopping, and got tacos from a famous one euro taco place. Yum!

This is a long, slightly detailed post about the trip and that wasn’t my intention, so I apologize! But once I started thinking about the trip and Spain, and all the things we did, I couldn’t stop typing! We are so lucky that we have family abroad to visit and take us to see such amazing places. And there’s nothing like traveling with the love of your life, creating memories together, experiencing new things and seeing new places. And as you can see, we created a lot of memories! Our start to traveling the world together, having an adventure of a life side by side. Next stop together is Iceland in May. Stay tuned!

The Magic of Spain I've been MIA from writing because I was away traveling Spain with Campbell and let me just start off by saying, it was the best trip and so refreshing for our relationship.