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evannalily · 5 years

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London city

Afternoon everyone and welcome to todays post about my London trip which Kevin and I went on at the end of June start of July which was definitely a needed break! We went over for about two weeks (thirteen days to be exact) to do the same as we did last year which was to house sit for my aunt who went on holiday and do some touring around and of course some shopping.

We did do a few tourist things last year as it was Kevins first time there so we did the London Eye, went to the Aquarium, saw a film in the IMAX cinema (which is the largest cinema screen in the UK and also has the best popcorn) so this time we tried out a few new things and did some of the same things too so along with all of those I will also start with my three favourite outfits for you!

Double White

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/tops/white-organic-cotton-roll-sleeve-t-shirt-/p/608337310?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/accessories/belts/black-suedette-hammered-buckle-belt/p/609243101?comp=Browse

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/jackets-coats/light-green-lightweight-blazer-/p/614292631?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/shorts/off-white-paperbag-denim-shorts-/p/613103812?comp=Search

This outfit is so simple but so stylish and in the weather we were in (like degree heat in a city) it was a very comfortable option! I just styled this with the green blazer that I have in the links below to add a pop of colour. I adore these shorts and actually have them in the blue and black version as well because I honestly find it so hard to find shorts that fit. I prefer shorts to be high waisted but the downside of that is that usually for some reason if they are high waisted then they tend to be a bit too short for my liking. I have even ventured off into a childs shorts (Im a freakishly small person and usually shop petite anyway) but thats not always the best because they are shaped for a childs body and not a more “grown up” figure shall we say but these are perfect. They are high waist, looser on the legs and versatile. So there you go a simple but chic and comfortable look for everyday without being too basic at a basic price.

Statement Sleeves

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/tops/red-spot-shirred-square-neck-top/p/628454469?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/accessories/belts/black-suedette-hammered-buckle-belt/p/609243101?comp=Browse

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/shorts/off-white-paperbag-denim-shorts-/p/613103812?comp=Search

Now this top is very similar to the daisy print version I posted on Instagram a little while ago and i just had to get the red as well because they are just such a nice little top to have for summer. They are versatile too in a sense that you can wear the sleeves up on the shoulder, as a bardot top, as a one shoulder top and you can dress it up or down. Im really starting to wear more colours as it was one of my resolutions for the year and getting that bit more adventurous with my wardrobe so I’m quite proud of myself for purchasing a bright red colour!

Double Denim

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/jeans/petite-blue-%27lift-%26-shape%27-high-rise-ripped-jeans/p/616058440?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/tops/white-ribbed-notch-neck-vest/p/628237310?comp=Search

https://www.newlook.com/row/womens/clothing/jackets-coats/blue-bleach-wash-denim-jacket-/p/607046644?comp=Search

The white top I have in the photo is actually out of stock as it was on sale when I bought it so I have added a similar style vest top in the links as an alternative. I just love how the top is casual but still fun and for a vest isn’t too fitted because its more a cotton knit than a proper cotton vest and it has that bit of stretch and movement in it. I love the buttons as well they just add a little vintage vibe to it and make it that bit more interesting. The jeans I bought in Westfields in Shepherd’s Bush while we were in London because I have a very similar pair in the regular fit but they just don’t fit the waist properly (they had to bought in an emergency due to a ripping incident at work) and I just wanted a pair they fitted properly and these are such a good fit. They are a petite version of Newlook’s Lift & Shape denim range which are a really good flattering style of jean so they are definitely my favourite pair right now!

https://www.stradivarius.com/ie/woman/sale/accessories/bags-and-backpacks/mock-croc-crossbody-bag-with-grommets-c1020132595p301035460.html?colorId=001

https://eu.topshop.com/en/tseu/product/side-stripe-joggers-8193578

Two of the things I picked up besides the jeans is this Stradvarius bag which was on sale to I think thirteen pounds which roughly was about fourteen euro so not too much in the difference thank god! Most of my bags at this point are a croc effect and I loved this one because it looks like a designer piece with the trendy double circle design which a lot of stores have on a few different products for the last couple of months especially on belt buckles. The joggers are from Topshop and I am not someone who wears any kind of workout gear or sweatpants and only wears a sweatshirt more towards winter and even then thats only at home not out and about but these were just calling to me. I adore the fact that they are fitted and slim leg but still a jogger so you can pull the ankle up a little bit and have a slightly looser effect on the leg. Also the fact that they are a drawstring waist is a big plus for me! These are the regular fit and mine are the petite which actually went into the sale when I bought them! I also did buy a whole load of make up but I will do a separate post for that.

Pasta Brown

Westfields

Kevin and I at Stamford Bridge

GBK Dining Decor

Stamford Brige

Stamford Bridge

Kingston market

Nails done by Nails by Erika on Instagram

Coco

Natural History Museum

Millie

As we were in London last year as well we did a lot of tourist stuff the first time as Kevin had never been before so this time around we had more of a relaxed less touristy holiday but we did do something for everyday that we were there. We were staying in my aunts house as she had gone on holidays herself so our main job was to look after her two cats Millie and Coco who are also mother and daughter! We did go back and do a couple of things again like go to the Natural History Museum and the IMAX cinema to see Toy Story 4 (so good by the way!) and as I mentioned they do literally the best popcorn of all time. Its like a mixture of salted and sweet popcorn and its just addictive! We went back to Westfields shopping centre twice where I purchased the items below. We did a few new things which included going to a Chocolate Museum in Brixton which I’ll be honest was actually a bit of a let down because it was literally the size of a storage cupboard unfortunately.

One of the new things we did was to go on a tour of Stamford Bridge (Kevins idea obviously) and I have never been into a football stadium before with the exception of being forced to play a few matches in primary school so it was quite cool to see the size of it and actually see it with my own eyes rather than on a tv screen or in pictures and Kevin really enjoyed it which was great! We got a look at the dressing rooms, stands, press room and they had jerseys and lockers out for people to take photos with so it was actually quite cool even though I have absolutely no idea about football!

Another place we discovered was an Italian restaurant called Pasta Brown which specialises in obviously all Italian food and it was really really good! The food was just so delicious and the flavours were so good and everything about it was just really good so I would definitely recommend going there if you are in London because it is definitely worth a visit!

So that is it for my latest post and on my trip my to London! Thanks for reading guys and I will speak to you soon!

Ever yours

Lily

London Looks : London Trip 2019 Afternoon everyone and welcome to todays post about my London trip which Kevin and I went on at the end of June start of July which was definitely a needed break!

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rhettsooo · 7 years

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Tuesday January 10th, 2017 - Amed to Gili Air We woke bright and early to catch a fast boat/ferry to Gili Air. In passing Gili Truwangun, we saw so many tourists getting on and off boats it made us proud of our decision. And when I say 'tourists' think of fat America or Jersey Shore preps. Or if you can't imagine either if those, know that they brought rolling suitcases to an island entirely of sand and seemed surprised that they had to carry their bags. On Gili Air, there are no cars. It takes about 75min to wall around the island and about 30 to walk end to end. With that being said, electric motorcycles and horse carriages are the primary mode of transport. We opted to wall the 20min from the ferry terminal to Begadang Backpackers Hostel on the other side of the island. It was likely the best hostel I've been too-- better than Melbourne Discovery! The reasons why: their outdoor pool was the shape of a mushroom, they had lots of shaded and non shaded lounge areas with plugs, fans, bean bags, the works... And they had outdoor showers, air conditioned rooms, games like life size Connect4 and volleyball, a night light to every bed, and an electrical plug to every bed. OH, and they sold beer and fresh fruit smoithies; everything a backpacker would ever need. So, in short, it was awesome. Oh, AND, the location couldn't be better. It was across from a bar called Space Bar, which is owned by Ham, a new friend I made through Masia's referral. The beach and dive shop was 5 minutes walk. (Although the beach is beautiful, you can only safely swim out about 15 feet due to dangerous fish/sea amenities in the shallow water). I could go on for days, but the short of it is that the location was perfect. We arrived before check-in, so bought a litre of beer and did a walk with a new German friend who we met in Amed also taking the boat and staying at the hostel. On our walk, a slew of vendors were making bracelet and necklaces from stones and beads. Two necklaces caught me eye: a short one made of lava rock and a long one with a Buddha at the end. Waywan, the gentleman making them, said he could me a custom necklace for me. One with lava rock and Buddha and the perfect length! We chilled, watched him make it, and revelled in the awesomeness of the moment. We also, passed Pura Vida, a reggae restaurant and home to the Gili Dub Club, a recommendation from Masia also, and after chatting with the bar keep, I learned of a show happening later on. Boom: plans for the night. We carried on and found a restaurant with huts on the beach, so we called it home for a few hours while enjoying some cheap cocktails. It was something straight from the movies. Turquoise water. Beverages in a thatched-roof, bamboo hut. In the shade blocked from the heat reclining on pillows. Like I said, straight outta the movies. I took my snorkel out (I had a new tendency of carrying it with me for moments like this) and ventured out since I could see a group of snorkelers about a 100 metres out. This trip is what gave me the awareness of the bottom contents I mentioned earlier. Yes, it was beautiful sand for a little bit, but then it turned to slimey sea grass. I had the foresight to not touching that ground as I floated/swam on the surface, which is only about 3 feet. During this float I would see jelly fish and the black pokey things with the long spikes. This is how I new that diving boots and suit are required, so I swam back to shore. After doing nothing for awhile, we went to check in and have a nap. Well, more of a lay down. Waking up in time for dinner, Yassie and I went back to Pura Vida for the show. They had set up bean bags on the beach maybe 5 feet from the water which crashed against the wall of the restaurant, in addition the the normal seating. The 5 piece band set the perfect mood: easy going, Rasta vibes for major chillaxing. We enjoyed the best pizza we had in awhile and the freshest seafood pasta. I lasted until about 10pm before we started to nod away. On a side note, while we were watching the band the power kept going out. At first I didn't realize what had happened, but then the singer said it happens all the time, and without a doubt, the power went back on after maybe 5 minutes of darkness. It was so funny! It ended up happening 3 or 4 more times during the show! I called it there and headed back for bed.

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eldritchsurveys · 4 years

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869.

What have you been up to today? Anything interesting? >> Not really. I considered going out for a walk since the heat wave has diminished, but it’s also rainy and I didn’t want to get caught in a sudden downpour so I reluctantly passed. I ate breakfast and watched an Ask a Mortician video. I checked my social media accounts, petsite accounts, and discord. I scrolled around tumblr for a bit, and now I’m here. What was the last thing you ate? >> Veggie burger and chips. Do you know how to knit? Who taught you? >> Yeah. I mostly taught myself, and Sparrow helped. What state or territory were you born in? >> New Jersey. Are you the type of person to dwell on the past? >> I’m post-traumatic, so yeah, I can’t help it sometimes. But I’m generally more focused on the present than anything else.

Are there many traffic incidents in your area? >> I don’t know. What’s your favourite genre of music? >> --- Have you ever been for a ride in the back of a truck? >> I think so, when I was a kid. Are you currently downloading anything? >> No. Have you seen any good movies lately? Tell me about them. >> Yeah, I saw Knives Out finally and it was very engaging and fun (still want to know what the fuck was up with Blanc’s accent, though...). I also saw The House That Jack Built, directed by Lars von Trier, and I still want to know if the Danes are okay... because I don’t think the Danes are okay. (Maybe something is still rotten in Denmark. Heh.) Does your father have any facial hair? >> --- What’s your favourite thing to eat for breakfast? >> Just... anything substantial and savoury. Did your grandparents teach you anything? >> ---

Do you want/have a Bachelor’s degree? >> I don’t have one and I’m not interested in earning one. Have you ever written a song for or about somebody? >> Yeah, when I was a kid. What are the longest and shortest romantic relationships you’ve been in? >> Meh. Would you go on one of those galactic space flights if you had the chance? >> Absolutely. I have a feeling I wouldn’t be eligible, though, what with my issues and all. Do you like your license photo? >> No, I hate it, but it serves its purpose and I rarely have to look at it myself so whatever. Are you into superheroes? Who’s your favourite? >> “Into” might be a little strong of a word. I used to be more into superhero comics, but my interest has cooled. Iron Man and Doctor Strange are my faves, though. Spotify, Pandora or something else entirely? >> Spotify. What colours do you wear the most? >> Black. What was the last alcoholic beverage you had? >> I had two ciders on Wednesday. How many televisions do you have in your house? How big is the biggest? >> One. It’s like 30″ or so, idk. Not that big because our living room is small. Have you ever been to Arizona? Did you like it? >> No. Do you have any exercise equipment in your home? >> No, it wouldn’t fit. Are you a gossip-loving sort of person? >> No. What brand of laptop or computer do you own or use most often? >> Lenovo. Azathoth was built by a company called NZXT. What did you have for dinner last night? >> Tacos. How old were you when you learned to tie your own shoelaces? >> I don’t know. Have you ever felt like you were making a mistake when dating someone? Did you continue the relationship or end it when you realised? >> Yeah. I stuck with it for a while because... well, I can’t really speak for my thought process then. I’m still partially convinced that I was being manipulated in some way, but the part that was entirely my doing? Not sure how to explain it. I guess it’s similar to how people stay in relationships with obviously abusive people. Sometimes your brain just betrays you. Anyway, I did end it eventually, because I was losing weeks of my life and he refused to acknowledge quite how much of my energy and time he was demanding (spoiler: all of it. it was fucking all of it). When was the last time it rained where you live? >> About a half hour ago. Have you ever bought one of those ‘As Seen on TV’ products? >> No. What brand are the shoes you last wore? >> Skechers. Do you think you look similar to your siblings? >> --- Have you started watching any new TV shows recently? >> Nah, I’m still watching the shows I’ve been watching. I think the one I started most recently was Avatar. When was the last time you sat in the back seat of a car? >> I don’t remember. Are you good at answering random general knowledge trivia questions? >> No, that’s more Sparrow’s expertise. Have you ever been obsessive over calories, exercise etc? >> Almost. It’s one of those things that I know I’m susceptible to, so I try to steer clear of everything diet-culture related. What is your favourite shape of pasta? >> I just like tortellini, not necessarily because of how it’s shaped, though. Do you live to eat, or eat to live? >> Hm. Have you ever played Cards Against Humanity? Did you like it? >> Yeah. I liked it years ago, but I’m rather over it now. Are you going to work or school tomorrow? >> No. When did you wake up today? >> 8a. What is the time right now? >> 10.38a.

#surveys #survey #random survey

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thecoroutfitters · 6 years

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Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Don’t forget to vote in our current Prepper Journal Writing Contest!

Getting Gear

I will stand by physical fitness and know-how as two of the seriously overlooked areas in disaster preparation. They apply to all disasters; car accidents, annual storms, all the way up to whatever apocalypse you like. Even so, there are facets of preparedness that do require “stuff”. “Stuff” usually means spending. That can be a problem for beginners, for people trying to budget, and for preppers traveling when disaster strikes.

One way we can lower the burden on what must be bought is by taking a page from the homeless, the hobos of old, and modern hobos. Other times, we can cut costs by heading to a different “department” to get our survival and grid-down supplies.

Good gear matters. “Get good gear over cheap” is excellent advice. But sometimes, you don’t really need gear to be all that good. And sometimes, you don’t have to spend extra – or anything at all – to get perfectly serviceable preps.

Steel “Tin” Cans

It would be the rare soul who doesn’t run across any soup, fruit, veggie, bean, pie filling, or pasta sauce cans. If we don’t buy or use them often, we can probably score some from coworkers or family, or from along ditches, in recycling boxes, or near park campsites (those … mutter-mutter).

Cans can serve a lot of functions for us, from pots to filters to stoves.

So, first meal, eat one of the bigger cans of fruit or beans, and you can build from there. If you’ve got a hammer and nail, some wire off a chain link fence or from a coat hanger, or some light chain, you’ve got a billy pot for over campfires, on the grill, or over candles – or, a way to transport smoldering coals and save matches.

Give it a pinch at the lip using pliers, snips, or your thumb and a rock, hammer, or file, and you can dimple a pour spout and have a fancy kettle for your disaster cooking.

With the next can, make a water filter using rock and sand, with activated charcoal an ideal “bottom” layer. Pre-filtering will extend the working life of any “real” filters you have, or clarify your water before you boil it. Socks or a cleaned mayo or peanut butter tub can be used to transport your filter.

With your now-clean water and a can or two from the next meal, mix up some bannock to bake on tuna cans or make slicing loaves in bigger cans. Any packaged baking mix – muffins to cake to waffles, with or without yeast or beer for breads – can be used for bannock (or griddle cakes, if you have oil or Pam).

If you have a can that will fit over your pie plate (tuna can) or loaf pan (soups, fruit, tomatoes), you can bake faster and more evenly. Those covers help boil water or heat foods faster.

You can also use your tuna cans to poach foraged eggs or cuisses de grenouille, while your billy pot simmers your pine and creeping Charlie tea or dandelion and cattail soup.

If you have tin snips or good wire cutters (tin snips and wire cutters are really handy tools, period), the sky becomes the limit with your cans.

You can use smaller or cut-down cans for Crisco, alcohol, or oil-based stoves. Larger cans can be cut to sit overtop those, or used in conjunction with all kinds of candle stoves. You can also cut and bend larger tin cans, line with foil to hold campfire coals or charcoal, and add a light baker’s cooling rack, light grill rack, a chunk removed from a grocery buggy with wire cutters to make a grill. Rocket stoves are another option, and hugely efficient.

Cans are also handy to keep you from messing up good pots anytime you want to melt wax – like for waterproofing matches or fire starters or dipping candles – and can eliminate some of the scrubbing if you decide to render down small amounts of animal fats.

A Good Knife

When you shop or price-compare online, specifically eliminate “tactical” from your search results. Type it in your search engine: “—tactical”. Pretty much always, but especially buying bags, boots, and knives, you pay for that word … without always getting extra quality with it.

Full disclosure: I love my Kershaw pocket knife, and I breathe a sigh of relief every time I unroll my Cabella’s butcher set. That said, my fishing kits all have box cutters from the Dollar Tree in them. They work well enough that as I sit in my current life spending $400 a month on Heartgard and NexGard to maintain my 18-36 month stash, I still have them in there.

Remember, an inexpensive fishing license is one of the reasons I can afford those dogs. It’s not like they’re not getting used.

My first camping-hunting-packing do-all blade was not from a sporting goods section, either. It was a scimitar-styled “cleaner” kitchen knife. I periodically find them as carving knives now. Blame it on habit, they’re my go-to – as is entertaining family and friends with samurai and pirate noises when I snag one.

It had a thick blade, a clip-point, and a full tang. I looked back and forth between the wooden handled kitchen knife and the equivalent “decent” (not “good”) woodsman knife, and I opted to pay half as much. Some cardboard, three buttons, dental floss, and $2 Goodwill cowboy boots, and I had a serviceable scabbard.

It feathered sticks, cut thick rope and cardboard, and butchered. I rarely baton wood, but I did use it to chip little V’s in the top and bottom of branches so I could “bounce-pull” or stomp-kick to break them.

Will today’s craftsmanship hold up the same? Probably not. Still, compare apples to apples the quality of steel, the tang and grip, and the versatility of shape you’re getting between kitchen and hunting or survival knives.

Dollar Tree Candles

We’ve all heard “you get what you pay for”. Sometimes that’s true. Sometimes, though, what you’re paying for is a label or logo, marketing and advertising, and cart collectors (see Aldi’s business model). Sometimes, it’s worth “cheap”.

I buy Dollar Tree emergency candles, even though those are now 4.5-hour candles instead of 5-6 hour candles. They’re comparable to Coughlin’s emergency candles in scent, blackening, wick care, and flame steadiness, and I’ve never had them melt in whatever temp a black camper shell reaches when it’s 110 degrees outside.

I don’t buy their tea lights or votives. I don’t dislike them, I just buy bulk online. Wherever you get them, make sure the tea lights are the type with metal shells, not plastic. It’ll give you more versatility.

Dollar Tree also carries some pretty sizeable pillar and jar candles. I find them to be no shorter-lived or “sootier” than candles from Walmart or Bed, Bath & Beyond, just a whole lot less moolah.

Any of those candles can be used in conjunction with a tin can camping or emergency stove. You can use any of them to turn your oven into a stovetop during outages, or to bake in your toaster oven.

While you’re in the dollar store, don’t forget to check for a candle holder, hotplate (candle aisle) and oven mitt for your vehicle bag and your SIP/evac kit.

Other Dollar Tree Preps

If you shop at dollar stores, be aware of the unit-per-price locally and online, and the quality of items. Still, there are things at the Dollar Tree that I either can’t find elsewhere, would pay more, and that allow incremental purchases for tight budgets – and thus more well-rounded preparedness rather than a single outlay that only covers part of a need.

I wouldn’t buy duct tape, flashlights, foil, bandanas, q-tips or cotton balls for cleaning ears (they’re fine as a medical dabber or fire starter), or storage bags.

I’m not a fan of those green-lid Tupperware, either, but glance around them. There’s Betty Crocker storage tubs in a variety of sizes that do live a nice, long time and seal well. That’s an excellent way to keep various kits organized and dry, and way cheaper than Walmart.

I can spend 1.5-4x as much on shelf-stable pepperoni and salami, or a buck a pop on the same size/weight product. Same goes for some of the canned goods, soaps, and long sheaves of cleaning sponges. For the most part, the jute for garden, gift wrap, or wick or fire-starter use is fine – no need to spend more. Flip side: I don’t buy rope or bungees at dollar stores.

I’d rather see somebody with $20 and 3-5 family members get ten sets of jersey “liners” and leather “shells” than only 1-3 pairs of better gloves, total.

In other cases, I don’t actually need items to be of lasting quality. If I’m working through a short-term emergency, Dollar Tree aluminum bread and pie pans work just fine to keep candles from spilling and shelter them from drafts.

For cakes, starting a campfire, or inside a tin can or jar to burn off some dampness and chill in a survival shelter, Dollar Tree birthday candles do us just fine – they’re only getting used twice, at most (I reuse birthday cake candles in my bags and fire kits). Why spend more?

Bootstrap Preparedness

Check out news features about modern hobos for some of their survival tips. Even when it’s not a focus, there are clues for living with little or no income. Another major source for eliminating and reducing costs are curbside pickups.

A used or wrecked kiddie pool can become stash-back water catchment or a tarp. The “shrink wrap” thrown away after winterizing boats and unwrapping pallets has tons of applications. Plants have no idea if they’re growing in a $15-50 pot or a free trash can, storage tote, or filing cabinet drawer. They don’t know you got their mulch by raking pine straw instead of buying it, or that their weed barrier and your fire starter is cardboard from a liquor store or moving company.

There are lots of ways we can cut the cost of preparedness and hit bare minimums. It lets us expand elsewhere and buy some breathing room, without leaving us vulnerable in the meantime.

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from The Prepper Journal Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag

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judedeluca · 6 years

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A Great Christmas by Jude Deluca

A short horror story that came to me in a dream.

Nora was spending Christmas with her grandma this year, because her parents were called away overseas on business and her older brother was in college. As it was, Nora’s grandfather had died the previous year from complications related to cancer, and all of their other relatives were off having Christmas celebrations of their own. So because it was going to be just the two of them, Nora’s grandma suggested they celebrate Christmas early and invited some of Nora’s friends for a sleepover a couple of days before the 25th. That way Nora could have fun with her friends before they went on trips with their families, and so the two of them wouldn’t feel so alone on the holiday. It was going to be a great Christmas.

Except for one thing.

Something was wrong with the lock to the back door. The key turned in the lock, but for some reason the door could be forced open even if the knob couldn’t be turned. It didn’t bother Nora as much when her parents were there, but her grandma got worried and wanted to make sure the door stayed locked. She didn’t want the parents of Nora’s friends to find out and worry about them. So Nora helped her grandma take some heavy boxes from the basement and stacked them against the back door, boxes no one would be able to push aside if they wanted to get in. That made Nora’s grandma feel better, and that made Nora better. Truly, it was going to be a great Christmas.

Nora’s friends came that even with pillows, sleep clothes, toothbrushes, snacks, CDs, books, and presents to exchange. There was Karen, Linda, Eve with her chipped front tooth, and shy Queenie whom the girls only knew for a couple of months. Nora’s grandma made up a scrumptious feast of homemade pizza and pasta and freshly baked bread. For dessert the girls had a store bought ice cream cake and gingerbread men Nora made earlier in the day. They were a little burnt, but nobody minded. The girls exchanged presents, and Karen even surprised Nora’s grandma with a gift she got for her after she was invited to the party. Karen was sappy like that. This was shaping up to be a great Christmas.

It got late and then the girls started to get bored, but everyone was too wired on junk food and sweets to want to sleep. Nora’s grandma was kicking herself for indulging their collective sweet tooth, when it was Queenie of all people who had the idea. It was after she saw the heavy boxes stacked by the back door, and after she saw all the dark trees and things lined up behind the house. Autumn had lasted longer than everyone expected, so many of the trees still had their leaves, making the darkness in the back yard seem deeper even by the standards of winter. Inspired, Queenie suggested everyone tell ghost stories, like she heard they used to do a long time ago. Nora’s grandma thought that was a wonderful idea, and that made Nora happy because her parents would never suggest something like that for Christmas. Indeed, this was a great Christmas.

Nora nestled up by her grandma’s side, and grandma wrapped her arms around Nora as the girls went around the room.

Queenie went first, and told a story inspired by the woods, she said. A story about a boy who went camping in the woods behind his house with his parents. But when it was over, the boy’s mother would find him trying to leave the house and go back to the woods every night. No matter what they tried, the boy wouldn’t tell them why, until one night his father suggested they see where he was trying to go. They followed their son deep into the woods, until he arrived at a cave. The mother wanted to stop her son, but the father was still determined to see what had the boy so fascinated, so they followed him into the cave. They kept walking and walking until they saw their son stop, and heard him say “I brought your parents for you.”

Nora’s grandma had begun scratching Nora’s cheek. Nora asked why and her grandma said she was trying to get rid of some pizza sauce that dried on Nora’s cheek. The girls teased Nora for what a good grandma she had. Annoyed, Nora turned her gaze out the window towards the trees in the backyard.

Next came Eve, who told a silly little tale about how she possibly chipped her front tooth. Every summer her parents would drive by this cute little diner on their way to their friend’s house in New Jersey, but they never stopped to eat there. Every time they’d drive by, she’d see this girl in a burger costume holding up a sign advertising for people to try their food. The one year Eve didn’t see the girl outside the diner was the year her parents finally stopped to eat. The diner was run by a man and woman who were skinnier than anyone Eve ever saw. Eve asked if they knew what happened to the girl who wore the burger costume, but Eve’s parents told her not to bother them. Her family ordered burgers, and they tasted amazing, until Eve bit down on something hard and felt her tooth crack. She ran into the bathroom and saw, a little piece of her front tooth had been broken by something. Eve felt around in her mouth and pulled something out from the chewed pieces of burger and bun and vegetable. A fully formed tooth. One that didn’t come from her mouth. And then Eve realized she wasn’t alone in the bathroom, when the woman behind the counter appeared. Without saying a word, she plucked the tooth from Eve’s hands and left the bathroom. When Eve left, she saw her parents, still eating, not realizing the man and woman were staring at them. The woman turned to Eve, and placed her index finger to her lips in a shushing motion. The man turned to Eve, and held up a big meat cleaver. Eve left without saying a word.

No one believed that story. Maggie even pointed out she knew Eve chipped her tooth when she tripped and banged her mouth on a banister at school. Nora felt her grandma scratching her cheek again, but claimed it was just a reflex. Nora wondered if maybe her grandma was getting scared, and decided not to make a fuss.

Linda claimed her story really did happen, and it happened to her little brother during Christmas one year. On December 24th, he went downstairs after his parents had placed everything under the tree and gone to bed. He got down on his hands and knees and began looking at all the packages trying to find ones with his names on them. He saw a really big box made out to him that he tried to pull out from under the tree, but he must’ve done something to shake the tree, and one of the heavy plastic branches fell and pinned him underneath with his hands wrapped around the box. One of the ornaments on the fallen branch began playing a version of “We’re Off To See The Wizard” and so her brother tried screaming for help when suddenly, the box he held onto began to move. Her brother heard horrible noises coming from inside the box and it violently shook, wedged under the branch. Her brother screamed and screamed, but no one found him until a few hours later. Linda’s parents pulled him out from under the tree, and saw something had bitten his arm pretty badly. It turned out their parents got him the puppy he always wanted, and placed it in a box with some air holes. The puppy got scared when the box was crushed by the branch, and began clawing and biting his way through until, so frightened, he bit her brother’s arm. No one had been able to find the puppy afterwards.

Everyone thought Linda’s story was sick, but she insisted her brother was still getting therapy for it. Nora felt herself getting a little sleepy as she continued staring at the woods outside while her grandma scratched her cheek. Only she was doing it a bit harder. Nora asked her grandma to ease up a little. Her grandma apologized, but didn’t stop.

Karen followed up with a story about a mermaid. Every summer a girl’s family vacationed at a lake, and the girl’s family didn’t know she was friends with a mermaid who lived in the water. Every morning the girl got up before her family and would swim around with her friend, telling her about what it was like on land while the mermaid talked about life in the lake. The girl’s parents believed the mermaid was imaginary and humored her. One year, the girl was happy to learn her parents were taking her to spend Christmas at the house by the lake. The girl was secretly happy she got to see her friend a second time, but was dismayed to see the lake had frozen over. The ice was so thick she could barely see the water underneath, but frequently tried to find her friend in the water. Dismayed at her lack of success, the girl was not enjoying her Christmas. The girl’s parents surprised her with a pair of ice skates, and taught her how to skate one afternoon. The girl got the hang of it and started to enjoy skating on the lake alone. On the day they were going to leave, the girl decided to do some skating alone in the early morning. She leaped, she twirled, she did figure eights, she had fun, but just wished she’d seen her friend. When a grotesque, slimy thing burst through the ice and lunged at the girl. As she screamed, the foul smelling beast dragged the girl underneath the water. It apologized for not saying hello sooner, but was in the middle of its winter hibernation and wasn’t expecting the girl. Unfortunately, it also woke up feeling hungry…

The girls frantically asked if the monstrous mermaid really ate the girl, but Karen told them to make their own conclusions. Now it was Nora’s turn, but the moment she went to open her mouth, her grandma said she had a story to tell instead. Everyone was intrigued, while Nora relaxed because truthfully she didn’t have a story to share. She had no inspiration from the woods like Queenie did. Nora’s grandma continued to scratch her cheek, and Nora wondered how her grandma’s hand wasn’t tired.

Nora’s grandma began to tell a story about a girl who wanted to wait up and meet Santa Claus. She camped out on the couch by the fireplace, nestled up in an old quilt and propped up on pillows. By the table was a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. The girl hoped the milk wouldn’t go bad by the time Santa arrived. Unfortunately, the girl had gotten too comfortable, resting on that soft, warm couch, snuggled just so…

Nora felt a yawn coming on, but didn’t want to be rude.

Sometime later, the girl fell asleep, with her back turned to the fireplace. It wasn’t a deep sleep, even though she was so comfortable, so she awoke when she heard the footsteps. The girl tried not to make a sound, believing it was Santa Claus. She was so excited, but suddenly she was afraid, because what would Santa do if he found out she was awake. She didn’t want to scare him away, or what if there was some rule to seeing Santa that she didn’t know about. She hadn’t thought this through at all.

Nora felt her eyes begin to droop, even though she wanted to listen.

The footsteps stopped by the couch, and the girl could feel the presence of someone standing behind her for the longer time. Was Santa trying to see if she was still awake? She tried her best to pretend she was still asleep, when she felt a beard brush her cheek and a pair of lips plant a deep kiss on her skin. The girl felt her heart almost stopped. Had she just been kissed by Santa Claus? Then she heard Santa leave the room. The girl was wide awake, confused, a little frightened, but excited. What did this mean?

Nora adjusted herself in her grandma’s lap, and noticed something out in the woods. In the dark. What was that?

The girl couldn’t believe it, couldn’t contain it any longer. She jumped off the couch and began calling for her parents when, suddenly, she heard a noise in the chimney. The girl hid behind the couch as a black boot came out of the chimney, seemingly immune to the fire. The black boot was connected to a leg in red pants, trimmed with white fur, and sure enough, Santa Claus emerged with his big sack of presents and began to intricately arrange many brightly colored packages under the tree before leaving to deliver gifts to another family.

It seemed to be coming closer.

Now the girl was more confused. Because, if she’d just seen Santa emerge from out of the chimney, then, who…? The girl ran to her parents’ bedroom and began banging on the door, frightened and worried. The girl yanked on the door with all her might, when she suddenly remembered something. Her parents never locked their bedroom door. And then she heard the footsteps again.

The girls all listened with rapt attention, but all Nora could focus on was the thing coming ever closer.

The little girl didn’t scream as she heard the footsteps get closer, but she couldn’t tell where they were coming from. The house was dark and they sounded so loud, like they were everywhere. And then she heard the breathing.

It was almost by the window now.

The little girl had no choice but to flee from the house. And she would’ve.

Except for one thing.

Nora couldn’t cry out.

The lock on the backdoor was broken, so her parents had stacked a bunch of heavy boxes in front of the door until they could get it repaired. But the girl saw none of the boxes had been moved.

It was by the window now.

And then the girl realized…

It smiled at Nora.

“You didn’t lock your front door.”

Nora finally screamed.

The girls and Nora’s grandma all turned to the window by the back door, but as they got up to check, no one was there. Nora said she thought she saw a man, and her grandma apologize for scaring her like that. Although Nora’s friends asked why the girl hadn’t tried to open the front door to begin with, her grandma said the man locked the door when he came in so it wouldn’t have mattered. It was then Nora’s grandma saw how late it was and decided it was now time to sleep. The girls nestled in their sleeping bags, but before her grandma went to bed, Nora asked if she made sure the front door was locked. Her grandma assured her it was, and Nora drifted off to sleep on the couch. Yes, this had been a great Christmas.

But a little while later, Nora’s eyes flitted open, and she could feel her grandma scratching her cheek again. Tired, Nora wondered if she’d actually dreamed about the man by the window, and apologized for falling asleep during her grandma’s story. Her grandma told her it was alright, and asked if Nora would like to hear the rest. Her grandma repeated the story about the little girl and Santa and the intruder, but it sounded almost exactly as Nora had heard it in her dream.

Except for one thing.

At the beginning, after the little girl’s parents got her tucked in her blankets in the couch, they had checked to see if the door was locked. And it was.

Nora’s grandma scratched her cheek harder.

Only, Nora asked, how did the man get in if the front door was indeed locked?

Simple, her grandma said. He’d snuck in when her parents weren’t paying attention. Like, when they were focused on her so they wouldn’t have noticed or heard the front door opening.

Nora’s grandma had stopped.

Or like they’d all been by the back window.

Nora looked up.

#christmas #horror story #christmas horror #original fiction #short story

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newstwitter-blog · 7 years

Text

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/21/la-times-a-football-translation-soccer-fans-guide-to-manchester-9/

La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

I’ve been a fan of the Liverpool Football Club fan since college, so I didn’t expect to be excited as I walked through the players’ tunnel at Old Trafford, holy ground for fans of rival Manchester United.

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

The city, in central England, has thrived, successfully rebuilding its center destroyed in 1996 by a bomb detonated by the Irish Republican Army. It is also where you’ll find the stadiums of two storied football teams (Manchester City is the other) and the National Football Museum.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

There’s the Old Trafford Supporters Club, a dedicated hotel floor where fans can watch the games. On another floor, you’ll find a faux pitch and small nets for a quick indoor game. Even the complimentary toiletries are packaged to resemble soccer jerseys.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

For the not-so-into-football visitors, the hotel abuts Bridgewater Way, where you can walk or jog along the Bridgewater Canal. It’s also within walking distance of the Lowry arts complex and the Imperial War Museum North.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I sat in George Best’s black Mini Cooper and stood in awe of the Women’s FA Cup Trophy from 1979. I held the Premiere League trophy and lifted it above my head as though I had just won it, and I brushed up on my soccer skills.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

San Carlo Bottega, the top-floor restaurant, is an ideal place to grab lunch before an afternoon at the National Football Museum just down the road. The sunlit restaurant is full of marble, plush blue booths, cold bubbly and plenty of oysters.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Don Corker, my tour guide, is one of those fans. He has been leading tours at the stadium for the last 12 years. He walked us through the stands, into the players’ locker room, the press room, through the players’ tunnel and out to the pitch.

Then he left us at the club museum to explore on our own. That’s where I cried reading news articles about the Munich, Germany, air disaster of 1958, when a plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed, killing eight players.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

When I arrived at Anfield stadium, my Liverpool FC team scarf wrapped tightly around my neck, I passed through the Paisley Gateway (named for Bob Paisley, who spent 50 years with the team as a player, coach and manager) and stared in awe at the towering brick building.

That feeling dissipated quickly when I learned the stadium was undergoing an expansion and I wouldn’t be able to take a tour or walk out to the stands. The museum and restaurant were still open, so I made the most of the visit.

After a quick lunch at the Boot Room, I made my way to the museum to see the Steven Gerrard exhibit (he’s the best Liverpool player ever) and learn more about the team I’ve been rooting for since college.

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

As I walked, I saw houses with doors painted blue or red, perhaps a show of the team loyalty: blue for Everton, red for Liverpool. It felt good to be among fellow football fans in a city that’s been cheering for my team for more than a century.

For non-football fans, Liverpool is the hometown of the Beatles, and there are plenty of Beatles tours throughout the city. You can visit Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and the Liverpool College of Art, where John Lennon went to school.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

From LAX, American, United, Delta, British, Aer Lingus, KLM, Lufthansa and Swiss offer connecting service (change of planes) to Manchester. Restricted round-trip airfares from $913, including taxes and fees. Liverpool is a 45-minute train ride from Manchester.

WHERE TO EAT

If you want to spot some football players off the field, or find a nice bowl of al dente pasta, try Rosso, an Italian restaurant co-owned by ex Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand. 43 Spring Gardens, Manchester; 011-44 161 832 1400.

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

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eldritchsurveys · 5 years

Text

245.

What have you been up to today? Anything interesting? >> I finished a book and that’s about it so far.

What was the last thing you ate? >> Bao.

Do you know how to knit? Who taught you? >> I don’t.

What state or territory were you born in? >> New Jersey.

Are you the type of person to dwell on the past? >> Not especially. Unless I’m depressed and ruminating, I usually only think about the past when I’m trying to figure something specific out about myself or my life. Or when I want to recall a funny or entertaining memory.

Are there many traffic incidents in your area? >> I don’t know, I don’t pay attention.

What's your favourite genre of music? >> ---

Have you ever been for a ride in the back of a truck? >> Yep.

Are you currently downloading anything? >> No.

Have you seen any good movies lately? Tell me about them. >> In the last week I saw Us and I saw Office Space... oh and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Those were all very engaging.

Does your father have any facial hair? >> ---

What's your favourite thing to eat for breakfast? >> Veggie burger with greens and chips.

Did your grandparents teach you anything? >> ---

Do you want/have a Bachelor's degree? >> I don’t have or want one.

Have you ever written a song for or about somebody? >> I would rewrite the lyrics of songs I knew when I was a preteen (honestly, that kind of learning-through-imitation should have led me to being a poet, but it just didn’t pan out that way). Some of those rewritten lyrics were about David Duchovny, who I was obsessed with at the time. --None of them, of course, were as good as Bree Sharp’s excellent song about being obsessed with him.

What are the longest and shortest romantic relationships you've been in? >> ---

Would you go on one of those galactic space flights if you had the chance? >> Sure.

Do you like your license photo? >> It does the job.

Are you into superheroes? Who's your favourite? >> Sure. My favourite is Doctor Strange.

Spotify, Pandora or something else entirely? >> Spotify.

What colours do you wear the most? >> Black.

What was the last alcoholic beverage you had? >> I currently have an orange shandy by Leinenkugel’s.

How many televisions do you have in your house? How big is the biggest? >> One.

Have you ever been to Arizona? Did you like it? >> No, but I’d like to go.

Do you have any exercise equipment in your home? >> We have yoga mats?

Are you a gossip-loving sort of person? >> I like lurking internet drama sometimes, but that’s because internet drama is so inherently absurd and overblown most of the time that it’s legitimately entertaining (like watching a sitcom). Regular old-fashioned gossip is nowhere near that interesting.

What brand of laptop or computer do you own or use most often? >> I have a Lenovo and an MSI.

What did you have for dinner last night? >> The last thing bigger than a snack that I ate yesterday was a microwave veggie lasagna.

How old were you when you learned to tie your own shoelaces? >> I don’t know.

Have you ever felt like you were making a mistake when dating someone? Did you continue the relationship or end it when you realised? >> Yeah, and I stuck with it for a short while but eventually had to admit my error and end it.

When was the last time it rained where you live? >> I don’t know.

Have you ever bought one of those 'As Seen on TV' products? >> No.

What brand are the shoes you last wore? >> Skechers.

Do you think you look similar to your siblings? >> ---

Have you started watching any new TV shows recently? >> Nah, still working through the old ones.

When was the last time you sat in the back seat of a car? >> I don’t remember.

Are you good at answering random general knowledge trivia questions? >> No.

Have you ever been obsessive over calories, exercise etc.? >> No.

What is your favourite shape of pasta? >> Tortellini is good.

Do you live to eat, or eat to live? >> ---

Have you ever played Cards Against Humanity? Did you like it? >> Yeah, I like it sometimes. For me, it loses its entertainment value when played too often (or too carelessly, like when people throw down certain white cards just for “hurr this is so Offensive(tm) fuck you snowflakes!” points).

Are you going to work or school tomorrow? >> No.

When did you wake up today? >> Around eight in the morning.

What is the time right now? >> 12.52p EST.

#surveys #survey #random survey

0 notes

newstwitter-blog · 7 years

Text

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/21/la-times-a-football-translation-soccer-fans-guide-to-manchester-7/

La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

WHERE TO EAT

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

0 notes

newstwitter-blog · 7 years

Text

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/21/la-times-a-football-translation-soccer-fans-guide-to-manchester-6/

La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

WHERE TO EAT

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

0 notes

newstwitter-blog · 7 years

Text

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/21/la-times-a-football-translation-soccer-fans-guide-to-manchester-5/

La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

WHERE TO EAT

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

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La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

WHERE TO EAT

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

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newstwitter-blog · 7 years

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New Post has been published on News Twitter

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La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

WHERE TO EAT

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

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newstwitter-blog · 7 years

Text

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/21/la-times-a-football-translation-soccer-fans-guide-to-manchester-2/

La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

WHERE TO EAT

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

0 notes

newstwitter-blog · 7 years

Text

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/03/21/la-times-a-football-translation-soccer-fans-guide-to-manchester/

La Times: A football (translation: soccer) fan's guide to Manchester

As the electric green grass of the pitch came into focus, I realized I had goosebumps. This is where George Best, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and many other soccer greats played.

Don’t tell my fellow Liverpool fans, but I bought a souvenir at the gift shop.

If you grew up playing soccer in the United States and have followed the Premier League, the most prestigious British men’s soccer league, Manchester may be a winning destination.

I put together a three-day football fan geek-out last summer that included a 45-minute train ride to Liverpool to have my own religious experience at Anfield stadium.

Hotel Football

For Manchester United fans, one of the perks of staying at the Hotel Football is being able to see the glass facade of Old Trafford just outside your window.

The hotel is part of GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United greats. It is over the top, but that’s the point.

And in Café Football, dishes and drinks are named after players.

Info: 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-751-0430, hotelfootball.com. Doubles from $143.

National Football Museum

The National Football Museum, a scalene triangle-shaped building that juts skyward, glimmers in the sunlight.

It’s home to the largest football museum in the world, with five floors of jerseys once worn by the football greats, trophies and soccer games you can actually play.

It’s also where I spent more than four hours roaming the exhibits and football paraphernalia.

I felt like a kid again playing AYSO soccer, and I didn’t want to leave.

Even if you’re not a football fan, the museum should appeal to history buffs. There’s info on the history of the game and how the media cover it.

There’s even a health angle with information on how players keep in shape and what the game does to the body. If you go, give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore.

Info: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-161-605-8200, nationalfootballmuseum.com. Admission is free.

Meal with a view at Selfridges

One of the best views of Manchester comes with Champagne and designer clothing.

The Selfridges & Co. department store towers over Exchange Square, which was built on the site of the 1996 IRA bombing and is a testament to Manchester’s resilience.

Non-football fans can skip the museum and spend the afternoon shopping at designer stores around the square.

Info: 1 Exchange Square Central, Corporation Street, Manchester; 011-44-800-123-400, selfridges.com.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is the largest football club stadium in Britain. And the people working here, from the person who sells you tour tickets to the tour guide, are Manchester United super fans.

Part of me became a Manchester United fan that day. It was impossible not to.

For non-football fans, the team has been around for 130 years, and there’s a lot of history there to digest besides the sport.

Info: Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford, Manchester; 011-44-161-868-8000, manutd.com. Tour costs about $21, which includes admission to the museum.

Liverpool

I also wanted to see Goodison Park, the stadium that houses rival team Everton.

I took Skerries Road, a residential street southeast of the stadium, and tried to imagine the chaos and excitement of game day and how all the roads leading to Anfield flood with fans.

Info: Anfield Road, Liverpool; 011-44-151-260-6677, liverpoolfc.com/stadium. Anfield stadium tour about $20.

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO MANCHESTER ENGLAND

WHERE TO EAT

TO LEARN MORE

Manchester Visitor Information Center, 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester; 011-44-871-222-8223

[email protected]

@Jenn_Harris_

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

0 notes