#Pool Management Norfolk

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Ούτοι γυναικός εστιν ιμείρειν μάχης.**

- Aeschylus

Surely it is not for a woman to long for battle.**

Maureen Dunlop flew far faster planes than any of her peers, including Amelia Earhart. She flew Spitfires, Lancasters, Hurricanes and Mosquitos, and proved the dream of Picture Post's photographer when, on emerging from the cockpit of a Fairey Barracuda, the sun on her hair, she made the cover shot of the popular Picture Post that sold thousands of copies in autumn 1944.

Dunlop mastered the controls of 28 different single-engine and 10 multi-engine aircraft types, which also included the Hawker Typhoon, Hawker Tempest, Avro Anson, Mustang, Bristol Blenheim and Vickers Wellington. The ATA did a gruelling day-to-day job, plying the skies under constant threat from inclement weather the length and breadth of Great Britain, at a time when the nature of flying was changing in popular consciousness from having been a pre-war novelty and the subject of record attempts and joyrides, to being a vital part of the war effort.

The women among its members also had to put up with opposition from men who had little faith in their ability – or perhaps misplaced chivalry – such as Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who would not let women pilots cross the Channel, or who were merely rude, such as the RAF men who joked of the first all-women aircraft ferrying pool at Hamble in Hampshire as "the lesbians' pool".

Dunlop, like many of her female colleagues, said she wished she could have flown in combat: "I thought it was the only fair thing. Why should only men be killed?"

The ATA service had been founded on the initiative of Gerard "Pop" d'Erlanger, a director of British Airways and banker, who bent the ear of Sir Francis Shelmerdine, Britain's director-general of Civil Aviation, against opposition from the RAF, which preferred to use its own pilots until shortages forced it to relent. ATA pilots had to make the most of training that was, some avowed after the war, inadequate. Instrument flying was not taught, but the service would have ground to a halt if pilots had not broken rules forbidding them to fly in bad weather. Women had to have a minimum of 500 hours' solo flying before joining the ATA, twice as much as the 250 hours originally laid down in September 1939 for the first members, all men. She was one of the 164 female members of the wartime Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), of which one in ten pilots died while transporting aeroplanes between factories and military airfields

Maureen Dunlop, the second of three children of Eric Chase Dunlop, an Australian farm manager employed by a British company in Argentina, and his English wife, Jessimin May Williams, began flying at the age of 15, when she joined the Aeroclub Argentino. Two years later she had obtained her pilot's licence. Living with her parents, older sister Joan and younger brother Eric on estancias in Patagonia, she was educated by a governess and briefly attended St Hilda's College, an English school at Hurlingham in Buenos Aires. The example of her father's British military experience as a volunteer with the Royal Field Artillery in the First World War, together with an article in Flight magazine, inspired her to sail to England and offer her flying skills to the ATA.

She came through the war uninjured, but once had to make a forced landing when a faulty engine developed heavy vibration (an incident for which she was absolved of responsibility), and once was flying a Spitfire when a badly fitted cockpit cover blew off. After the war she qualified in England as an instructor and, returning to Argentina, flew for the Argentine Air Force and taught its pilots, as well as flying commercially. In 1973 she and her husband, Serban, a retired Romanian diplomat she met at a British Embassy function in Buenos Aires, returned to England, where for the rest of her life, on a farm in Norfolk, she followed her second love - breeding Arab horses. Dunlop built up an outstanding knowledge of bloodlines. She died in 2012.

[boleynqueenes]

NT Timeline: Fitzroy in 1534-1535:

H. Duke of Richmond to Cromwell.

Since I came into this country I and Sir Giles Strangwais have viewed a breach in my town of Poole called Northavyn Point. It will receive great prejudice from the sea, unless some remedy be shortly provided. Give credence to Will. Byttilcome, M.P. for the said town. Canford, 13 June. Signed. (1534)

+

The duke of Norfolk being the high treasurer of England and well experienced in war, especially in Ireland, nevertheless left the Court to go home a little before the said meeting, and returned immediately after the other lords had left; so that it is thought he only left the Court to be away when the affairs of Ireland were discussed, — and this out of disdain that the King despised his advice, and at the suggestion of Cromwell and Skeffington had illtreated the earl of Kildare and ruined the affairs of Ireland. On this subject the Duke and Cromwell had reproached each other with many things before the said meeting, which shows the illwill they have borne each other a long time, however much they have dissembled it. Among other things Cromwell told the Duke that he was more the cause of the said ruin than any other, because he wished to keep the duke of Richmond near himself and his daughter, Richmond's wife, and that if he had let him go into Ireland eight months ago, these things would not have happened.

(Chapuys, September 1534)

+

All business passes through the hands of people who depend on the new Queen, and must therefore be settled according to her purpose. This was the case in the negociations with the Admiral, which were broken off on account of his refusal to allow the duke of Angoulême to go to England until the girl was old enough to be married, and because he would not declare in any way against the Church, or in favour of the King's second wife

The duke of Norfolk, according to the Admiral, affirms that he would sooner die than see any change as regards the King or the new Queen; which is not unlike what the writer has heard in other ways of Norfolk, viz., that this breaking off might reasonably have been expected, matters depending very much on his dexterity, and the affairs of England being commonly managed more than barbarously. For he, being one of the greatest men in the kingdom, and having sons, and the duke of Richmond for his son-in-law, might hope one day to have that daughter for one of his sons, or, if disorders ensued, to get the rule into his own hands.

Bishop of Faenza to M. Ambrogio. (June 1535)

+

H. Duke of Richmond to Cromwell. In these parts I have neither park nor game for my friends, and send you the names of the King's grounds in these parts, desiring you to move the King in this behalf. (July 1535)

+

H. Duke of Richmond to Cromwell.

I have granted to my servant Anth. Driland the keepership of the park of Coliweston in reversion. But as the King desires that the Queen should have it, Driland is in doubt whether he shall enjoy the same. As he has heretofore received no other recompense, I request your favour in his behalf. Windsor, 6 Nov. Signed.

“When Henry VIII decided to grant Collyweston to Anne Boleyn, Richmond turned to Cromwell to ensure that the grant he made to his gentleman usher [...] would be honoured.”

“Whether in 1535 Anne Boleyn requested the keepership of the park of Collyweston is not known [...] although he intended to present the keepership of his principal home of 1531 to 1536 to his servant [...] the king had intervened to favor his consort’s wishes. Henry might have already planned to give the house to Anne, which she obtained in 1536 in exchange for Baynard’s Castle and Durhan House to the Duke.”

[novumtimes]

Pretty UK seaside town at war over a tourist tax costing families 34 a week | UK | News

A gorgeous UK seaside town has two camps raging against each other over a so-called tourist tax.  Bournemouth in Dorset was set to became the first seaside town in the UK to start charging a tourist tax that would cost families staying there an extra £34 a week. But its hoteliers are fuming saying that the tax – which was also due to be introduced in neighbouring Christchurch and Poole – was rushed through and will hammer the tourism industry. The tax – that was due to be launched on July 1 has now been put on ice whilst it’s appealed by the hotel owners. It would require guests staying in larger hotels in the area to pay an extra £2.40 levy per room, per night. This would equal £33.60 for a family of four staying across two rooms for a week. If the new levy is introduced it’s expected to generate an extra £2.6 million per year, which can be spent on future events and keeping the town clean. A postal ballot on the tax narrowly passed earlier this year with 16 hotels voting in favour and 15 against. However there were accusations of a flawed voting process. Rosie Radwell, chairman of the organisation Abid which wants to launch the tax, said: “We have no option but to do this because there’s no other way to fund anything,” reports the Telegraph. She added: “All we’re doing is future-proofing our destination. This charge is less than a cup of coffee.” But Josephine Butterworth, who runs hotels at Sandbanks in Poole with her husband John, said has an opposing view. She said: “This has put a huge negative cloud over the Bournemouth area, and people are going to think twice about coming here. The town will suffer hugely,” reports The Telegraph. Visitors to the town have also had their say one telling the same publication it was “not exactly welcoming” and another saying “it’ll sadly go someway to killing the town.” Hoteliers have spoken to the Express previously about the proposals. Paul Harper, is commercial director at Daish’s Holidays which markets affordable UK coach and self-drive breaks and are the owners and operators of the Bournemouth Sands Hotel in Bournemouth. Paul opposes the scheme and said it was “rushed through”. He told Express.co.uk: “We have already been in contact with several coach operators who have advised that they are likely to reduce the number of tours they will bring into Bournemouth in favour of other resorts. This scheme was rushed through without due consideration.  “Our voting rights were denied because we did not have the opportunity to submit our vote, as the Notice of Ballot and ballot papers did not reach the Bournemouth Sands Hotel. We know that several other hotels in the area also did not receive ballot papers and therefore also could not vote, which is a significant concern.” Emma Russell is managing director for a hotel operator which runs 24 hotels across the UK as well as the Norfolk Royale in Bournemouth. She said that they weren’t properly consulted or given a vote. She said: “We are fundamentally against it. We should have been given a vote – we didn’t receive the notice of the ballot or the voting papers.” With support from 42 hotels in the area, the decision is now being considered by the Secretary of State. Source link via The Novum Times

[portmacquarieaustralia]

It’s About Lifestyle, It’s About Position & More And It’s All Here!!!

[unrecorded]

Assistance for evacuated residents Norfolk Southern Family Assistance Center: (800) 230-7049 To request air monitoring at your home Residential Re-Entry Request Hotline: (330) 849-3919 Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency: (330) 424-7139 U.S. EPA Information Line: (215) 814-2400

Feb. 10, 2023 Update U.S. EPA is assisting with voluntary residential air screening appointments offered by Norfolk Southern. As of last night, crews have screened indoor air at a total of 46 homes. There are over 400 requests for indoor air screening remaining. To increase the rate of screening, Norfolk Southern—with U.S. EPA assistance—is bringing more teams and equipment to East Palestine.

Ohio EPA is leading efforts to investigate and remediate impacts to water. To support these efforts, U.S. EPA took water samples in Sulphur Run and will collect more samples of surface water at several points of nearby water streams.

Norfolk Southern contractors installed a dam and a water bypass at Sulphur Run to prevent further contamination of downstream waters. They have also stopped spillage of remaining spilled product onto the stream.

February 9, 2023 Update U.S. EPA continued stationary and roaming air monitoring surrounding the derailment scene. Air monitoring will follow through the weekend.

A Frequently Asked Questions document is available at the “Documents” section of this website. This FAQ focuses on air monitoring in the surrounding area.

U.S. EPA field teams are attending voluntary residential air screening appointments offered by Norfolk Southern. Appointment scheduling and data management is being conducted by CTEH, contractor for Norfolk Southern.

U.S. EPA is working with Ohio EPA to investigate remaining soil contamination at the site of the derailment and impacts to surface water. U.S. EPA collected samples of spilled material near the derailment site and in Sulphur Run.

February 8, 2023 Update U.S. EPA continued stationary and roaming air monitoring surrounding the derailment scene. Yesterday, the 52nd Civil Service Team conducted air monitoring in three public administration buildings and collected air samples from each building.

Air monitoring and air sampling are two different methods of looking at air quality: • Air monitoring utilizes devices to provide real-time readings of general levels of airborne contaminants. • Air sampling involves collecting an air sample over a period of time, then sending it to a laboratory for analysis for a wide range of contaminants to more accurately detect, identify and quantify specific chemical compounds. This process takes longer because there are more steps involved (collection, shipment, analysis, validating data, generating reports).

U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA inspected the wreck site and found spilled materials in Sulphur Run. Oily product was found leaking from a tank car and pooling on to the soil. Norfolk Southern was notified of the spill and began removing the product using a vacuum truck.

Last night, U.S. EPA investigated a complaint of odors from the Darlington Township, Pennsylvania fire station. A team with air monitoring equipment was dispatched to the station, where they did not observe any contaminants above detection limits.

At around 9 p.m. last night, air monitoring instruments detected increased concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) downwind of the derailment fire, but they remained below the screening level for VOCs. Fires in two rail cars containing non-hazardous cargo increased in intensity as Norfolk Southern continued work in the cars. Particulate matter was the only parameter detected above screening levels. U.S. EPA collected two air samples for analysis at its mobile laboratory.

EPA is providing assistance to health departments in developing residential screening procedures. For more information about particulate matter, visit www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics.

February 7, 2023 Update During Norfolk Southern’s controlled burn yesterday of rail cars containing vinyl chloride, U.S. EPA air monitoring detected particulate matter resulting from the fire. U.S. EPA air monitoring did not detect chemical contaminants of concern in the hours following the controlled burn.

Residents in the area and tens of miles away may smell odors coming from the site. This is because the byproducts of the controlled burn have a low odor threshold. This means people may smell these contaminants at levels much lower than what is considered hazardous.

U.S. EPA continues to perform air monitoring throughout the community. This morning, U.S. EPA's ASPECT (Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology) plane conducted a flyover to gather additional data regarding air quality.

U.S. EPA is currently working with Norfolk Southern, health departments and other responding agencies to develop procedures for safely reoccupying the evacuated areas.

[wild-aloof-rebel]

Okay Leslie, I love your baseball fics, and the latest one is 😭😭 but I know nothing else about baseball. Can you explain what is happening right now to me like I'm 5? I keep seeing news that there's a lockout or whatever... but I don't know what that means or why or anything?

oh goodness, ummmm i guess the 5-year-old version is that mlb and the owners are all scrooge mcduck and their favorite hobby is pulling one of these

but they think their pools of gold aren’t wide enough or deep enough, so they told the players—you know, the people who actually do the job that makes them all that gold—that they can’t come to work again until they agree to let all the scrooges make rules that keep giving them more and more gold, while the players get squat.

in case you want a slightly more substantial explanation than that, i’ll put it under a cut (and i’ll try to keep the baseball of it all to a minimum, lol)...

okay, so baseball operates under a collective bargaining agreement (cba) between mlb and the players’ union, the mlbpa. like any cba, it covers things like salaries, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and health and safety, and it is mutually agreed upon by mlb and the union. the most recent cba was enacted in 2017 and covered through the end of the 2021 season. that cba expired at the end of the day on december 1, at which time the league made the decision to lock out the players.

in basically any kind of labor dispute, there are two kinds of work stoppage: a strike and a lockout. a strike is implemented by the union side, a lockout by the employer. in essence they are the same thing: the employees will not do any work until the strike/lockout comes to an end. from mlb’s point of view, they went with a lockout to preempt the players striking and to supposedly jump start negotiations, though the latter part is mostly a joke based on how mlb has behaved since then.

anyway, practically, this means things like, if you’re having off-season surgery, you can’t work with the team’s trainers during your recovery, nor can they ask how you are doing (because mlb has told staff they aren’t allowed to have contact with players during the lockout). it also means that spring training workouts are not starting this week as they were scheduled to. hilariously—because what can you do if you can’t laugh about this nonsense—it has also led to things like

(Yankees reliever Zack) Britton and his brother, Buck, who manages Baltimore’s Triple-A club in Norfolk, are in a supremely weird spot. As an MLB team employee, Buck is technically prohibited from contacting his brother, who is a 40-man roster player for the Yankees.

“We’ve joked that during Christmas, he’s got to stay on the other side of the room,” Zack told FOX Sports.

anyway, so the players are currently locked out until a new cba is reached or the owners decide to end it out of the goodness of their hearts, which, lbr, is not gonna happen. (theoretically they can end the lockout and mlb and the mlbpa can agree to continue to play under the old cba until a new deal is reached, which is essentially how the 1994-95 strike ended, but that seems Very Unlikely to happen this time around and even then basically only happened with federal intervention.)

so all the issues now are basically just what each side is arguing for or against wanting in a new cba. i won’t get into too much detail about all of it, but some of the main things under discussion are... 

1. player salaries and free agency: for the first three years of a player’s career, they [almost universally] make the league minimum. after that, they enter salary arbitration where they can negotiate with their team for a better contract. after six years, they enter free agency, where they can seek out a new team and a new contract. free agency is typically where the Big Money happens, since players have more leverage and choice, but as you can see, it takes a while to get there. 

2. service time manipulation: all those things in the previous point are determined not by actual calendar years but by service time, or how long a player actually plays in the majors. teams can manipulate that system by sending players back down to the minors for a bit to extend how long it takes to reach those milestones. this means keeping your hot young stars for longer (since they don’t get to free agency as fast) and for dirt cheap (since before arbitration they can’t negotiate for what they’re worth). 

3. revenue sharing and the competitive balance tax: i won’t bog you down with the details of how these work, but they are two different things with the same intended purpose, which is to help spread money around the league to support smaller market teams and make them more competitive with teams that basically eat money for breakfast. essentially, they take some money from teams with more of it and redistribute it to those with less. it seems like a good idea, but in reality, both of these have given [some] teams and owners a reason not to spend money, when they can just make it off the backs of other teams without actually making any effort to field a good team of their own. which leads to...

4. tanking: some owners just flatout refuse to put forth a competitive team. there are always arguments that sometimes being cheap and/or bad for a season or two is a useful rebuilding strategy, but for a lot of teams it’s just that there is very little incentive to win. they don’t have to go after expensive free agents when they can just field a team of mostly pre-arbitration players being paid the minimum, they’ll get rewarded with better draft picks the more that they lose, and through revenue sharing and competitive balance tax penalties, they’ll make more money than they’re spending, which they can just pocket since they aren’t required to actually use that money to make their team better, even though that was its intended purpose. (obviously spending lots of money isn’t a guarantee that your team will be good, but not spending any money is almost certainly a guarantee that it will be bad.) and if you’re a player unlucky enough to be stuck on a team that is not actually investing in winning, you’re truly stuck there unless they happen to trade you, since you can’t make the choice to go to another team until you become a free agent after six long years. 

at the end of the day, owners want to keep being allowed to put money directly into their pockets instead of spending it on players, and players want to receive their fair share of the revenue they help to generate, they want it earlier in their careers, and they want the teams they play for to actually care about winning games. seems like a reasonable ask, but of course we wouldn’t be here if mlb was a reasonable organization 🙃

(and of course none of this even touches on the plight of minor leaguers, who are affected by these same practices and the greed of mlb owners but do not actually have a say in any of this since there is no minor league union and they are not covered under the cba or represented by the mlbpa since those are specifically for the majors)

[beautiful-and-terrible]

dazed ’n’ confused (part 2)

A/N: omg this part was so much longer than i ancitipated sorry T__T and i promise in part 3 we will get some fun stuff ;)

Ship: Rodrick Heffley x OFC

Warnings: none (for this chapter)

---

The whole day, Nicole was distracted. She sat in her lifeguard chair, biting her nails, eyes concealed by her sunglasses and gazing at nothing. The pool manager ended up telling her off because she let multiple people dive off the board at the same time. She was a mess on the way home, too. She stopped at her favorite gas station to get slushy and almost left her bike behind, aimlessly wandering toward her house before she remembered she hadn’t walked there in the first place.

She got home and hopped in the shower, rinsing off the sunscreen and sweat, trying to forget how warm Rodrick’s hands felt under her own, how she had been close enough to smell laundry detergent and cinnamon gum. His dark eyes and full lips. 

She almost slipped getting out of the shower.

She tried to write music and get him off her mind, but all of her songs ended up sounding sad and sappy or slow and sultry. It was maddening.

The next day, Saturday, Nicole woke up more irritated than usual. She normally wasn’t a morning person, but this was next level. She did her makeup quickly and threw her hair into a pair of messy french braids. She decided to treat herself to an ice coffee, so she grabbed her wallet and headed outside to her bike.

Despite it being 9:30 in the morning, Rodrick was already outside… mowing grass? Nicole had never once seen him do that before. Giving him a short wave, she coasted down her driveway and headed into town toward the Starbucks. 

As she stopped at the sign at the end of their street, she looked back. Rodrick was looking in her direction, but Nicole shook away the thought that he could’ve been staring. She looked both ways quickly before pedaling quicker than she had before.

The Starbucks was about a 20 minute bike ride from her house, and Nicole usually took this time to listen to a podcast or her favorite album. This morning, she chose “Dr. Feelgood” by 

Motley Crue - she was a sap, sue her. She liked to remember the little things about people. She definitely recognized the chord progressions and drum patterns replicated in Loded Diper’s songs - at least, the songs that she had heard muffled through the garage door as she hung her head out her window to listen.

A short time later, Nicole hopped off her bike and locked it in place, skipping with anticipation for the sweetest, creamiest ice coffee she could get her little hands on. She walked up to the cashier, browsing the menu quickly.

“Hi, Welcome to Starbucks - what can I get started for you?”

“I’ll do a iced caramel macchiato with almond milk and light ice, please.”

“For sure, anything else?”

“No, thanks,” Nicole said, pulling out a five dollar bill and some ones.

“Hey, aren’t you new in town? You came into school at the end of the semester.”

Nicole looked up at the cashier, just now noticing what she looked like. She was cute in a pixie, petite kind of way, with short brown hair and big green eyes. If Nicole hadn’t been so enamored with Rodrick, she probably would’ve developed a big whopping crush on this girl, too.

“Yeah, I’m Nicole. You go to PVH, too?”

“I’m Caitlin - we were in bio together, I think.” Nicole wracked her brains, thinking back to the last bit of school she could remember.

“Oh, right, we partnered up a couple times.” Nicole said, smiling.

“Hey, if you want, a couple of friends and I are having a party tonight. You should come,” Caitlin said, flashing a dimpled smile. Nicole felt her tummy flip - mostly from excitement, and the elation of feeling included by her peers.

“For sure, just text me the number.” Nicole wrote down her number on a hot beverage sleeve and slid it towards Caitlin.

“Cool, see you then. Oh, and your drink will be right over there.”

“Thanks.”

Biting her lip to keep from grinning like a crazy person, Nicole moved down the divided counter to wait for her drink. The whole bike ride home she couldn’t help thinking that maybe moving to this town wasn’t such a bad thing after all. The day ended up not being as horrifically hot as yesterday, and Nicole’s mood had improved significantly after a heavy dose of caffeine.

But, when she rounded the corner back onto her street, Rodrick was still outside, mowing the lawn. And lord have mercy, for such a skinny looking boy, he had some seriously toned arms. Nicole almost crashed her bike into the curb, narrowly avoiding spilling her drink all over herself. She rode past him up her own driveway without acknowledging him, even though this time he was the one who waved to her. Payback for flaunting his ridiculous arms in front of her at 10:30 in the morning.

She went inside to change into her bathing suit and the usual denim shorts she wore over them. She didn’t need to leave for work for another hour, so she plugged her electric guitar into the amp in her room and fiddled around with learning some Motley Crue riffs that she remembered from her morning bike ride. Nicole wasn’t a prodigy by any means, but she had been playing guitar for long enough that she knew the basic chord structure of most of their popular songs. 

As she stood up to slip on her black converse, she saw her phone had lit up with a text. Unknown number.

“Hey, its Caitlin :) the address is 460 Norfolk Drive. Party starts @ 10!”

Nicole did a little dance. “Cool, I’ll be there :)” she texted back, and ran down the stairs back to the garage to get her bike again. She was so excited by the idea of hanging out with people her age that she almost didn’t see Rodrick leaning against his own bike at the end of her driveway.

“Your lawn looks good,” Nicole teased as she rode by. If Rodrick had any snarky reply, she was gone before she heard it. Looking back over her shoulder, she saw him standing with his mouth agape. She laughed to herself before starting her regular route to the city pool.

Not long after she started her shift, perched in her lifeguard chair with the umbrella angled to deflect the worst of the sun, Rodrick showed up with his two friends. They seemed to be attached at the hip. One was shorter than Rodrick, with long, surfer-style blonde hair, and one was about Rodrick’s height, with short dark hair and a cool slit in his eyebrow. 

Nicole was glad her sunglasses were dark enough to not see her eyes, because she definitely would’ve been caught staring by now. Rodrick wasn’t muscular by any means, or athletic, but there was still something cute and boyish about his gangly frame, and the way his shoulder muscles flexed when he took his shirt off was… for lack of a better word, distracting.

The first couple of hours passed uneventfully, and Nicole started to doze in her chair, chin propped up on her hand. The combination of warm sun and cool breeze lull her into a half-awake state. It was adult swim, so there weren’t any kids to worry about. She could close her eyes for a few minutes and…

She heard him before she saw him. The signature sound of the diving board being bounced once, twice, and then…

Nicole was doused in freezing cold water.

The huge splash covered both sides of the pool, high enough to reach her in her life guard chair. Moaning with displeasure, Nicole wrenched her sunglasses off her face and pointed an accusing finger at the grinning boy in the water. Fucking Rodrick.

“You’re dead, you little shit.” Nicole growled, and left her sunglasses on the seat of her lifeguard chair before diving in the pool.

The cool water enfolded her, silky and calm, before she came up under Rodrick and unleashed all hell. Still under water, she grabbed his ankles to pull him down. She heard his shout of alarm before it transformed into bubbles.

Underwater, her vision was blurred, but Nicole could still see Rodrick laughing and the dark outline of his eyes. She found herself laughing too as they briefly wrestled and tried to drag the other farther underwater before they both broke the surface, gasping for air.

“Okay, okay mercy,” Rodrick gasped as Nicole wound her arms around his neck in a headlock.

“Stay off the diving board, or I’ll make you drink the kiddy pool water.”

“Oh my god, kids pee in there!”

“Exactly,” Nicole laughed before shoving him away, though it wasn’t very aggressive considering the water softened the blow. Rodrick was still laughing behind her.

“Damn, if I get that kind of a reaction every time I jump in the pool, maybe I’ll do it for a living,” he called after her.

Nicole dunked her head under water once more to adjust her hair before climbing out of the deep end on the latter, electing to ignore that last comment. Now that she was back in her life guard chair, she couldn’t believe how impulsive she had been. Some kind of instinct took over and before she knew it, she had been flying out of her chair to give Rodrick a taste of his own medicine.

And now that she was thinking about it even more, the more embarrassed she became. Oh God, had she been super obvious? And more than that, had she been unprofessional?

She looked around the pool to see if her manager was watching - luckily, no sign of him. Most of the other pool guests weren’t paying that much attention either, except Rodrick’s friends, who were still laughing hysterically as Rodrick dried himself off by shaking his hair like a wet dog.

Nicole had touched more of Rodrick than she had the other day when they accidentally touched hands. Way more of him. Not that she exactly remembered the feeling of every limb, but the contact still made her feel more than a little weak in the knees.

They didn’t even know each other that well! What was she thinking!

Nicole spent the rest of her shift biting her nails anxiously, and when her co-worker came to switch chairs she ran to hide in the employee lounge next to the girls bathrooms.

By the time five o’clock came, she had calmed down a little bit, but was still embarrassed by her frankly juvenile behavior. She helped clean up the pool area by hosing it down and picked up some left over trash before heading to her bike.

And, because Nicole had maybe the worst (or best, it was hard to say) luck in the world, Rodrick was waiting for her.

“Figured I could ride home with you, since you like being near me so much,” Rodrick called as she approached. Nicole groaned, rolling her eyes.

“I wouldn’t have to get near you if you didn’t a) act like a child, and b) violate pool rules.”

“I’m pretty sure “almost drawing a patron” counts as violating pool rules, Nikky.”

“Don’t call me that,” Nicole spat with no real heat behind it.

“If you’re gonna ride home with me, you’re gonna pay for my slushy,” Nicole called over her shoulder as she started pedaling away.

“Ooo, is this a date?” Rodrick laughed, and Nicole flipped him off without looking. “C’mon, I thought we were getting along since I fixed your tire?”

Nicole, tired of the banter and not able to think of a better response, decided to take mercy on him.

“No… no. We’re cool. I’d rather have my dumb neighbor as a friend than no one at all.”

Rodrick pulled up next to her on his bike, tongue peeking between his teeth as he tried to suppress a grin. “Yeah, you seem cool. At least, your music taste isn’t completely horrible.”

“Oh, and yours is perfect, I’m assuming?” 

“Naturally,” Rodrick said, pedaling faster to pull a wheelie in front of her, obviously trying to show off. In all honesty, it was a pretty cool trick - but Nicole would never tell him that. The evening was cooling down, but the sun was still a couple hours from setting, so everything had a deep golden glow - the trees seemed greener, and the grass softer, and random birds would occasionally chirp from deep within the woods. The world felt alive and wonderful and terribly, terribly exciting.

“So, why the hell did you move to Plainview?” Rodrick asked. 

“Wasn’t like it was my choice. My Dad got a new job, and my Mom works from home so she can take care of us - so me and my two little sisters just got the short end of the straw.”

“You have sisters?” 

“Yeah, Caroline and Georgia. Do you have siblings?”

Rodrick rolled his eyes, “Yeah, two shit head little brothers, Greg and Manny. Well, Manny isn’t really a shit head, ‘cause he’s like three, but I know he will be once he hits four.”

Nicole laughed. They were nearing the gas station she liked to get slushies from, so she suddenly started pedaling faster and yelled behind her, “First one there buys!”

She narrowly made it there before him, laughing at his red face and shaking legs as he dismounted his bike.

“No one should be that fast,” he panted, but smiled as he opened the door for her. 

The blast of air conditioning felt good on Nicole’s heated skin, and she made a B-line for the slushy machine.

“Blue raspberry is the obvious best choice,” Nicole said, filling her cup up to the brim.

“No way, cherry is the only valid flavor,” Rodrick said, already munching on a bag of sour gummy worms. She raised an eyebrow at him and he simply winked in response, causing Nicole to turn her head away when she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

Rodrick paid for their stuff and they spent the rest of the bike ride home trying to throw gummy worms at each other and catch them in their mouths.

“So.. there's a van. Outside your house. With your band name on it,” Nicole said, pointedly looking at him. Rodrick looked straight ahead.

“Yeah.” 

“And yet, you’re out here riding your bike. With me.”

“Yeah.”

“So what's the hold up? You don’t have your license yet or something?”

“I can drive!” Rodrick said indignantly, his voice cracking slightly, causing you to throw your head back in laughter.

“I’m saving up money to get it fixed,” he grumbled, pulling another wheelie.

“Doing tricks won’t distract me from this, Rodrick.

“Fine. Once its fixed, I’ll take you for a ride, deal?”

“Deal,” Nicole said primly, taking a sip of her slushy. 

Sooner than she thought, they ended up in front of their respective homes. The time had flown by - she hadn’t even noticed they were close.

She was about to wave goodbye and turn to go up her driveway when Rodrick cleared his throat.

“Hey, um… my band and I - we’re having practice tonight. Again. We have a gig later this week so we wanna practice as much as possible. Uhm. Would you wanna stop by? You can bring your guitar or whatever,” he said, looking down at his shoes that he was currently scuffing against the sidewalk.

“How do you know I play guitar?”

Somehow, Rodrick looked even more sheepish. “Uh, you left your window open, earlier. When you were practicing.”

This time, Nicole was the one to blush. Fuck. She hadn’t even thought about any one being able to hear her. And after Rodrick told her Loded Diper was originally a Motley Crue cover band.... Oh, he definitely knew she was whipped. Fuck!

“Haha, oh, yeah… uh, sure. I can come over.”

Rodrick grinned - a genuinely excited smile, not his usual impish smirk. It made Nicole’s heart stutter in her chest.

“Come over in an hour - I’ll get snacks.”

Nicole turned away without another word, deciding they would have plenty more to say to each other very soon. But fucking hell, what was she going to wear?

[dansnaturepictures]

31/07/2021-Brilliant day of butterflies, birds, flowers and more at Durlston: Part 1 of 2

We did another of our planned July further afield trips today, a second visit to Durlston this year after the usual April seabird and spring flower dominated one to try and see a Lulworth Skipper. On the way here it was great to take in many lovely sights such as lots of hemp agronomy, some fuchsia, the epic Corfe Castle which I took the first picture in this photoset of and a happy feeling Swanage nearby with many holidaymakers around. It was interesting to see that the distinct patches of in flower gorse on a hill I noticed driving in last time were dark green now.

At Durlston it did feel so nice coming twice in a year. In 2019 we had information from a kind person we met at Bentley Wood in the June that Lulworth Skippers could be seen here so we did the second visit after seeing hundreds of Wall Browns alongside birds and flowers in the April and I was so thrilled by how many Lulworth Skippers we saw that July a key moment in what is still probably my greatest year of butterflies if I had to chose seeing more species that year than in any other that I thought this should become an annual July jaunt a good time to see the Lulworth Skippers like Knepp is for Purple Emperors and other butterflies and Durlston would become a twice a year thing. But last year with us locked down in April we luckily managed to combine the summer and spring visit in our June week off of day trips once restrictions eased with the butterflies all coming out earlier last year.

Straight away today we walked along in the glorious meadows full of varied and rich flower life and beautiful grass. We saw some fantastic flowers walking through here including centaury which I learnt a few weeks ago at Lymington another coastal area, probably cat’s-ear which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of, corky-fruited water-dropwort which I took the eighth picture in this photoset of, red bartsia, bird’s-foot trefoil, white and broad-leaved clover, small scabious, knapweed, notably big bright pink bits of thistle woolly thistle, self-heal, agrimony, dock, honeysuckle, carrot, wild parsnip, ragwort, speedwell and late pyramidal orchid which was brilliant to see. 

And hosted within the meadows were a wealth of butterflies. I did what was probably my first Big Butterfly Count outside of Hampshire since being here two years ago this week. Within the counting I saw one Red Admiral, eight Marbled Whites lovely to see these that are coming to their end at home a great few out of these one of my favourite butterflies here still, one Painted Lady, eleven Gatekeepers leading the way we saw their sweet orange glow and markings so much this afternoon, five Meadow Brown, one Speckled Wood, three Small White, two Six Spot Burnet moth, one Common Blue, one Small Copper and one Ringlet. This was a brilliant count, one of my highest yielding in the two of the three weeks of counting so far this year for me and one of my biggest variety of species. It felt so good to help document these here today and was just so rewarding to see so many. Seeing Small Copper and Painted Lady was great and left few of the Big Butterfly Count target species that I haven’t seen on a count yet this year. I hadn’t seen either for a little while as well so it was great to see as Common Blues continued to come back into my year after seeing them at Lakeside yesterday. It was ten years ago yesterday that I had the day I still remember so well instantly recognising it as a butterfly I’d seen in the book we have on a typical for us walk of 2011 at Godshill in the New Forest seeing my first ever Small Copper and feeling it was something so exotic probably my most exciting butterfkt of that year. I made this Tumblr around that time as the anniversary post I did earlier shows so it was very fitting to see Small Coppers again today. I took the fifth picture in this photoset of one.

And as we walked around here I was so excited that we saw our targets. Firstly my Mum called me over as I was lagging behind and she had two butterflies she thought were Wall Browns behind a fence. Being very much like Small Copper a butterfly I have identified and known a lot since we first got into butterflies I came and had a look and with one settled saw it was a Wall Brown. I was over the moon to see this special dry brown butterfly looking smashing. It was the big milestone in my butterfly year, something I had described as the promised land before in a butterfly year for me my 40th butterfly species I’ve seen this year. And this one felt special as it always does one of my favourite butterflies but also because after them being something I’d only seen in Pembrokeshire before since 2016 we have seen them every year on the Dorset and even Hampshire coast seeing them in Cornwall, Norfolk and Northumberland the past two years too and this year it was the longest wait we’d had to see one in a year since 2016. They’re never a guarantee in a year for us so this was a huge relief of a butterfly to get seen this year. And at this site which has excelled for them for us in the past we saw a very healthy handful of them dancing along walls and long grass this afternoon.

Moving on and our search for the Lulworth Skipper now stepped up, with the sun still out and it pretty warm with potential for further showers in the day we wanted to seize our chance in the meadows with the sun out which were swaying in the wind a bit too. Then all of a sudden coming through a gate into a field we spotted a little orange spec gliding through the grass. Our first skipper today, it looked small enough (compared to the familiar Small Skipper) for the Lulworth and when it settled it opened its wings revealing the gorgeous and distinctive lighter orange crescent on the wing of the female Lulworth Skipper!

We had seen this golden gem of a rare butterfly. I was so overjoyed to get precious moments with this monumental species in another fantastic year of butterflies for us trying for photos with my macro lens I managed the sixth picture in this photoset of it which shows it nicely really getting stuck into the flower. We saw a few more further on in the walk and coming back through the same area too. They were sensational to see it made me so happy. And it takes my butterfly year list up to very high places for me personally. Now 2021 is outright my fourth highest ever butterfly year list only one behind the amount I saw in 2018. And on this date in my previous years only in my highest ever butterfly year list 2019 had I seen more at this stage. I am so proud of this as I said butterfly species could have easily been missed this year in the changeable weather but we’ve persevered and these past few weeks it’s been brilliant to feel like putting the icing on the cake of another epic and characteristic butterfly year with the exciting high summer species and big moments with so many species and individuals about. As we did at another point of the walk we met some lovely people when looking at the Lulworth Skipper and had a great chat often a key part of the enjoyment of big days out in years like these.

Walking around Durlston a very special place for us today we took in the stunning views of the wonderful mixture of cliffs, sea and meadows seeing into Poole Harbour nicely too with some smashing dramatic sky scenes above the ocean and land too making for unique views for us here. I also took the second, third and seventh pictures in this photoset of beautiful views here today. What a beautiful place my favourite type of area this type of coast. We saw as we did on this trip in 2019 some pretty Roe Deers skulking around in the long grass we got some very special views of these lovely mammals today I tweeted a picture of these on Dans_Pictures tonight. We got smashing views of one of our star birds of this place especially three of the last four visits earlier this year going to Dancing Ledge too, last year’s and April 2019 the Whitethroat today a really rich looking warbler that after another great year for I made the most of having this migrant around. After any threat of showers were held off for a long time when out today making us pleased we came today there were some menacing clouds that didn’t materialize as we sat down giving Missy our dog a rest from the walking. I took the ninth picture in this photoset of the lovely light cloud I’ve enjoyed so much this year here. 

At this point it became a top day of birds too with some Shags seen flying low over the sea water below the cliff as we took in splendid panoramic views with some nice sunlight over the water as we’ve seen well here before making it shine. There was another Wall Brown along a wall and top Stonechat views a bird I first ever saw at this reserve in 2007 and the Stonechat tried to catch the Wall Brown at one point which was interesting. Ravens dashed astonishingly  right over our heads barking loudly as they went, amazing views of this crow so strong a coastal sight. We saw one later on too going over our head fantastically again. Swifts glided perfectly over too another migratory bird I made the most of today in a strong year for them. Sat here without a care in the world, with all we needed for that moment, we had achieved an in invigorating sense of peace and happiness. A special moment of reflection and delight on this one of my days of the year. We saw two great flowers sat on the ground here too, ironiclly as we were resting my second ever restharrow after some at Stockbridge Down last summer and some cut looking mother of thyme. 

With so many photos (making most of the ones from today in these blogs exclusive to reduce the amount I tweeted tonight) and so much content the story of today comes in two parts, in my next post is the rest and the wildlife sightings summary for the whole trip. I hope you all had a nice and safe day. 

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Whether, like Plumber Manor in Dorset, they’ve been owned by the same family for hundreds of years or are a cherished new project such as Caer Beris in Wales, manor hotels have a family at their hearts.  Packed with history, these hotels pride themselves on delightfully old-fashioned hospitality with generous meals, antique furniture, gardens to wander in and countryside to admire.  There are famous ones, including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Gravetye and Cowley Manors, but there are plenty of others to discover, and some of them have superb deals this year. Lympstone Manor, Devon  Lympstone Manor in Devon has a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe Stunning: Pictured is one of the bathrooms, which features two freestanding gold baths and a marble double sink  When chef Michael Caines bought this Regency mansion near Exmouth in 2017, part of the appeal was the surrounding farmland which he thought would make an ideal terroir for English sparkling wine. More than 17,000 vines were planted, and the first vintage is due in 2021. In the meantime, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant and 21 bedrooms in the main house, with high levels of indulgence that include a resident artist and a vista of the River Exe. New this year are equally luxurious shepherd’s huts that sleep up to five guests. Doubles from £560, including breakfast and lunch (lympstonemanor.co.uk).   Ockenden Manor, West Sussex Sussex treat: Ockenden Manor, near Cuckfield, serves afternoon cream tea with scones and finger sandwiches  Tucked into the countryside near the South Downs, next to the boutique-filled village of Cuckfield, parts of this mansion date from the 16th Century. If you want to delve into the oldest part of the hotel, ask for the Master Timothy suite, which has wooden panelling, reading nooks and an adjacent room for children. Downstairs is given over to a bar, drawing rooms and a restaurant which overlooks a semi-wild garden; its wine list reflects the burgeoning Sussex vineyard scene. The former walled garden now houses a spa with an indoor and outdoor swimming pool; there are also a handful of suites, allowing guests to drift between their rooms and treatments. One-night Spa Break Getaway costs from £143pp for dinner, B&B with £25 voucher towards a spa treatment from Monday to Friday (prideofbritainhotels.com). Buckland Manor, Worcestershire Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around Buckland Manor and beyond  There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children  Domesday mention:  The manor house has ‘Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal’ A manor house with Domesday Book history and plenty of modern-day appeal. The 15th Century timbered hall provides the backdrop for afternoon tea in winter, although in summer it spreads out into the gardens. The beautiful village of Broadway is a gentle hike away, so are the gardens at Snowshill. There are 15 rooms, some of them with four-poster beds and views of church spires. Distinctly more family-friendly than many Cotswolds hotels, there are interconnecting rooms as well as special menus for children. Chef Will Guthrie raids the nearby Vale of Evesham for produce both in the restaurant and for hampers to take on picnics around the hotel and beyond. Two-night stays from £315pp, including B&B plus one dinner and a National Trust card worth £127 (bucklandmanor.co.uk). Plumber Manor, Dorset Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber Manor in Dorset since they built it in the 1600s – and it shows A textbook West Country manor house, from the long driveway surrounded by fields to the mullion windows framed by roses. Generations of the Prideaux-Brune family have lived at Plumber since they built it in the 1600s and it shows, with resident black labradors, proper family portraits and a collection of classic cars. There are six bedrooms in the main house, ten others in a restored stone barn. Spread over three dining rooms, the menu is classic country house, strong on cheese souffle and peppered beef, followed by home-made puddings. B&B from £155. For a three-night minimum stay, dinner, B&B is from £137.50pp per night (plumbermanor.co.uk). Manor House, Wiltshire The 14th Century ivy-clad manor house in Wiltshire is filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant There are 21 rooms in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly With its charming honey-stoned houses, Castle Combe is often described as England’s most beautiful village, and it has caught the eye of many a Hollywood director. It has a 14th Century ivy-clad manor house – in the same honey-coloured stone to match – filled with stained-glass windows, beams and a Michelin-starred restaurant. There are 21 rooms, including the delightful Lordsmeer suite in the main house and 29 cottages around the grounds, some of which are dog-friendly. There’s an 18-hole golf course and a glorious Italianate garden, and the Bybrook river meanders through the grounds. B&B doubles from £250 (exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house). Titchwell Manor, Norfolk A hotel that catches the posh but gently boho North Norfolk vibe beautifully; this Victorian building is too close to the beach to have any airs and graces, but there’s a lot of breezy charm. Meals are served in an expansive conservatory and there are 26 rooms, some with hot tubs. Owned by the Snaith family, it is managed by their son Eric, who also runs Norfolk’s smartest fish and chip shop in nearby Thornham. Family-friendly, it’s also a stylish bolthole for birdwatchers; there’s an RSPB reserve next door. B&B from £140. A two-night walking break including dinner, B&B plus a packed lunch on one day costs from £265pp (titchwellmanor.com). Longueville Manor, Jersey  Longueville Manor, Jersey, puts food and wine at the centre of its appeal This Relais & Châteaux hotel may put food and wine at the centre of its appeal, but there’s much more on offer.  The 30 rooms and suites are cream and serene, generously sized and with French-accented luxury.  For extra privacy, there’s a two-bedroom cottage in the grounds, alongside tennis courts and a spa. The hotel also has its own yacht. Longueville became a hotel in 1949 and is now in the third generation of family ownership.  There’s a fine cellar, with more than 5,000 bottles, a forager on staff to supplement the extensive kitchen garden and honey from hives dotted around the grounds.  Doubles from £225, room-only (longuevillemanor.com). Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria Aynsome Manor Hotel, Cumbria, has 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots For those who like the wilder side of Cumbria, here is a handsome, good-value manor near Cartmel, now run by the second generation of the Varley family. There are just 13 bedrooms, some in the beamed eaves of the building, all with the sort of views that will have you pulling on your walking boots. Guests eat in the dining room rather than a restaurant and the food aims to make the flavours sing with minimal fuss. The menus are set-price and a bargain at three courses for £30. B&B from £90 per night (aynsomemanorhotel.co.uk). Caer Beris Manor, Powys The Southwick family bought Caer Beris Manor in Powys last year and spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme  Lord Swansea built this mock-Tudor mansion, surrounded on three sides by the River Irfon, in 1896 on the foundations of a 13th Century castle. It was bought by the Southwick family last year. There are 22 rooms spread across the estate, ranging from suites to single rooms. The family spent lockdown continuing their renovation programme and have created picnic areas throughout the grounds, which also hold orchards and an otter hide, while there’s trout, salmon and grayling to fish for. The 1898 restaurant sources its ingredients locally. Mains start at £16. B&B from £90 (caerberis.com). Manor House, Argyll and Bute Manor House, Argyll and Bute, is ‘delightfully gentle’ with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views The Scots don’t do manors in quite the same way as the English – fortified castles were more their thing. This hotel is one of the exceptions, and it’s delightfully gentle with just 11 rooms and spectacular West Coast views. It was built for the Duke of Argyll in 1780, next to Oban’s harbour. Staying here is a superb introduction to the Inner Hebrides, from the freshly caught seafood in the restaurant to sunset views from McCaig’s Tower behind the hotel – although watching from the Nelson bar at the hotel with a fine whisky in hand is nearly as good. Sailors can use the hotel’s own mooring. Double B&B from £224 (manorhouseoban.com). The Manor at Sway, Hampshire Pictured is one of the bedrooms at The Manor at Sway, Hampshire, where ‘William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design’ All the space and grace that the Edwardians could muster comes into play at this hotel on the southern edge of the New Forest, where William Morris mixes with a touch of modern design. It’s a great car-free option as it’s near the railway station and there are wonderful walks into the forest and heath to explore from the hotel. There are just 11 bedrooms and a restaurant serving local produce. Dishes include local pork with black pudding, crisp ham and charred baby gem lettuce, while puddings include lemon curd tart with basil. Doubles from £189, including dinner, breakfast and afternoon tea (themanoratsway.com).  Moonfleet Manor, Dorset Room with a view: Moonfleet Manor, a Georgian mansion in Dorset, overlooks the magnificent Chesil Beach Not just for adults: One of the lounges at the hotel, which is child-focused, with play areas and picnics If you want to get your child manored up, head here. Overlooking Chesil Beach and part of the Luxury Family Hotel group, it’s thoroughly child-focused. There are interconnecting rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, including a pool, and in a Covid-made-fun way, picnics are available for every meal including breakfast. The South West Coastal Path runs alongside the back garden. In the Georgian mansion, there’s a playfulness that adults will appreciate too, with high teas and grown-up meals and, above all, Snoopy, the venerable hotel spaniel. Two nights from £329, including breakfast and dinner for two. Children stay free but are charged for meals; two hours of childcare a day is included from September 7 when the creche reopens (moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk). Long Crendon Manor, Buckinghamshire Long Crendon Manor in Buckinghamshire has bedrooms with original features, a bakery, farm shop and florist  Not a hotel as such, but you can stay in this manor, which is stacked with beamed charm. Parts of the main house date from the 12th Century. It’s still a working estate, with ducks and geese in the orchard that creates the cider, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs that provide the morning bacon. Head into the courtyard and there’s a bakery, farm shop and florist. The farm shop cafe serves lunch and it’s walking distance from two pubs in the village. B&B doubles from £145 (longcrendonmanor.co.uk).  Rothay Manor, Cumbria This small foodie hotel in the heart of the Lake District is owned by Jamie and Jenna Shail, who have bought significant flair and rolltop baths to the low-slung white house near Ambleside. Eight of the rooms on the ground floor are dog-friendly; first-floor rooms have balconies. Its main restaurant has three AA rosettes and five courses start from £70 a head, but there’s also a more casual restaurant. B&B from £221 (rothaymanor.co.uk). The post Give your British mini-break some real style and book a stay in one of these 14 grand houses appeared first on Shri Times News. from WordPress https://ift.tt/3ld1rKb

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Get here important tips to keep your child away from becoming the next drowning victim.

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Being Alone, Do It Again, and Donald Trump: IBEW Wages Lost: The Electrical Worker | November 2019 $1.8 Billion in U.S. Military Construction Cut for Border Fence 22 Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, had nearly $100 million in base construction and maintenance effectively canceled under the president's orders - "a gut blow," said Anchorage Local 1547 Business Manager Dan Reaves. Not deferred, 'dead.' These projects aren't coming back, said one IBEW leader. chances on the other work would have way.Money is allocated for specific pur- poses and plans are made based on money that is allocated. That all is undone and wasted," said Government one is "dead." The Pentagon went through a process, often yearslong at enormous expense, planning, prioritizing and preparing for specific projects. Then Congress funded those specific projects. Why,he asked, would they put that money back when the president did an end-around Congress's constitutional authority to spend money when he's giv- en no sign that he wouldn't do it again? "Congress will not replenish these cof- fers. Never," O'Connor said. been pretty good," he said. Local 46 used to have a near lock on the work at the base, but that slipped a decade ago, Fulgham said. "I have been aggressively trying to get our contractors out there again. This kills some of that momentum," he said. The projects were canceled after President Donald Trump made a February declaration that "a national emergency Employees Department Director Paul O'Connor, who worked for decades main- taining the U.S. Navy's nuclear subma- rine fleet as a member of Portsmouth, N.H., Local 2071. And whatever word the administra- T he White House suspended more than 100 shovel-ready military construction projects in Septem- ber to divert funding for a border fence, effectively killing hundreds of "My first thought when I heard was, 'This is going to hurt us," said Business Manager Dennis Floyd. "It is our bread and butter doing Davis-Bacon work. We have one contractor, 80% to 90% of what they do is prevailing wage work. To cut this out, in the short term puts us out of work, and in the long term, these were important projects; killing them puts the military infrastructure at risk too." New City, N.Y., Local 363 lost the most work, two projects worth a com- bined $160 million, both on the campus of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. "We would have had a real good shot at those jobs. With 10-15% of the con- tract being electric work, that's at least 60 men for about a year," said Business Man- ager Sam Fratto. "It has been a bit slow- we've got a few people on the book - so it's not a good thing to have any project canceled, but these are two massive proj- ects. West Point needs those projects to continue to have a world-class military academy, and we need the paychecks." One of the largest canceled projects was a $62 million middle school to replace the overcrowded and crumbling school on Fort Campbell, Ky. Nashville, Tenn., Local 429 business representative Mark Poole said they've had members working on base for more than a decade. "It never got to electrical bids, so l can't say tion wants to use to describe that status exists along the southern border of the United States that requires the use of the armed forces." In addition to the $1.8 bil- of the projects, O'Connor said the right potential IBEW jobs. lion in U.S. projects, Defense Secretary Matthew Esper announced an additional $1.8 billion of overseas construction projects would be "deferred" as well. In a letter to Congress announcing the cancellations, Esper said he wanted to work with Congress to restore funding for the projects. "You can't run a governme The Pentagon announced the sus- pensions Sept. 3, outlining plans to real- locate $3.6 billion in congressionally funded military construction projects around the globe to wall funding. Inside the U.S., nearly $1.8 billion of planned construction in 26 states and territories will fund about 115 miles of fencing along this the southern border. While none of the contracts for the Hill Air Force Base in Utah, right, and Naval Base Kitsap on the Puget Sound are among 42 military installations in the U.S. and territories that lost major construction projects. projects had been let, more than a dozen IBEW business managers said these were the kind of jobs that signatory contractors have won in the past and hundreds of jobs are now lost. "It was a gut blow, really," said Anchorage, Alaska, Local 1547 Business Manager Dave Reaves. "Our state's econ- omy is in the longest recession in history. We are already facing significant job loss, and our members are already leaving the state. Federal and military construction has been a big portion of our work,, espe- cially for our inside members, and now we are looking at hundreds of jobs and thou- sands of man-hours lost." s So FERS Local 1547 alone is facing the can- cellation of $102 million in projects sched- uled to start in the next year and a half. Davis-Bacon jobs with minimum wage levels set by the Labor Department are the lifeblood of signatory contractors across the country but are especially important in open shop states where union contractors compete with low- wage, low-skill competition. Norfolk, Va., Local 80 is a small ocal in a right-to-work state. Three proj- ects worth just over $67 million were can- eled in its jurisdiction with the stroke of he president's pen. definitively that we lost work, but we have some very competitive bid- ders for work there and I would have been very, very confident about our chances. Very confident," he said. A pier and maintenance facility proj- ect at Naval Base Kitsap worth just under $89 million was canceled in the jursdic- tion of Seattle Local 46. Multiple signato- ry contractors had already bid on a sea wall extension at the base said, Local 46 business representative Barry Fulgham. "We think we have a good shot of landing the extensions and, if we do, our 900 www.IBEW.ORG 5 He took our Jerbs!

[dansnaturepictures]

3/10/20-Nice sky, geese and more at Farlington Marshes 

As the rain surprisingly perhaps cleared up as today went on we headed to Farlington Marshes on another Saturday visit there this year or more so from June onwards really we have been here so often on a Saturday. We were in pursuit of a Grey Phalarope a bird we needed to see this year and some other notable species that were about. We did not manage to catch up with the phalarope today. 

But we did have a really nice walk around, as the sun came out but stormy weather never stayed far away with dark skies in places which were really quite dramatic to see. In fact of the 28 pictures I produced today 24 were landscapes and I don’t think there’s one of them which doesn’t have a dramatic sky scene within it. I tweeted all my pictures from today on Dans_Pictures and the fourth-ninth pictures in this photoset are of views I took today. So this made this one of my best ever days for taking pictures with nice skies in I think which made me feel really good. It was interesting then to have a bit a theme running through my photos today which helps define the day in my head a bit. Having done so many Saturday visits here over these few months there is overlap between the landscapes I take in each one but so many of these today were unique we did do a slightly different route to other visits today. Such a memorable afternoon because of that. There was also more nice autumnal colour in the landscape a strong theme on our walks lately. The fourth picture in this set that I took today shows that particularly. 

As we walked through the field area at the back I was delighted to notice on the pool area near the cottage where we saw the Curlew Sandpipers here last month among Canada Geese two odd individual geese that hang around here we had seen them here before and they fly between here and Baffins Pond in Portsmouth, a Barnacle Goose and a white goose which is generally considered to be a type of Snow Goose and I have enjoyed seeing here before. I took the first three pictures in this photoset of them today. They are both birds that there may be debate about exactly where they came from and that but I always enjoy seeing them. I saw them at Baffins Pond right at the start of when I began birdwatching in 2007 I believe it may have been a different Barnacle/s which is a lake you can get nice and close to birds in the urban area but this was definitely the best view of these birds I’d ever got at Farlington Marshes and it was just really lovely to see them up close and make them out and things. Two very nice looking birds which I did enjoy seeing today. 

It became a good goose day as we walked on as from the path area by the deeps I had the always exciting autumn moment of seeing my first Brent Geese of the autumn/winter season to come as I saw a few flying over the sea towards Hayling Island. One of my favourite birds and this spot was where I had my first amazing experience as a boy with them when hundreds flew over my head noisily which made me fall in love with them. Farlington Marshes as I’ve said so often is one of if not the best place in the country for Brent Geese there are so many around in the season and it’s so good for them. I read a bit today how important the Brent Geese are to the local area as their presence has stopped a lot of development proposals in Portsmouth over the year including Portsmouth Football Club’s desire to leave their Fratton Park home to build a new stadium at a site at Farlington near to the marshes. So it reminded me something I am passionate about just what a special place this is and what a special bird this really is in Hampshire as a whole.

I also loved in the world of waders seeing so many by the spit and island nearby to the shore including masses of Ringed and Grey Plovers and some Little Stints. The latter of my best birds to see in recent weeks. That view of my first Little Stint of 2020 was an injured one in a man’s hand at RSPB Snettisham in Norfolk two weeks ago tomorrow so it was nice to see some going about their business. I also saw another star bird of Farlington the Oystercatcher in the tenth picture in this photoset. A very pleasant Saturday afternoon walk we were lucky with the weather in the end. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Four of my favourite birds the Brent Goose, Shelduck, Little Egret and Great Crested Grebe with a fifth a Buzzard seen in numbers beside the motorway with one still and three flying together, Barnacle Goose, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stonechat, Meadow Pipits and Linnet seen nicely bathing, Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Speckled Wood butterfly, a dragonfly I couldn’t quite see what and more lovely craneflys. 

[portmacquarieaustralia]

Quality Apartment with Tranquil Tree-lined and Water Views

[marta-bee]

A Scandal in East Anglia

(in which Marta tries to read "DANC" without shipper's goggles firmly in place, and only half succeeds)

Let's talk about Doyle's story "The Adventure of the Dancing Men" (DANC). It's... quaint. By all measures it really shouldn't' work for this modern reader; its conflict relies too much on a sense of reputation and honor that's just not that accessible to me. The victim Elsie Cubbit is what the kids today would call "problematic" (when she's not entirely out of control over her own life, she's not exactly acting in a way that encourages my sympathy). There's not much of a mystery for the reader to solve because we don't have the evidence Holmes does until rather late in the story, and we don't even get the fun tension between Holmes and "official" detectives (a favorite part for me).

And yet, and yet. Somehow DANC manages to be charming. I love it.

Spoilers...

(If you’d like to read the original without being spoiled, you can read it here first. I’ll wait. But as I said, the things I love most about this story aren’t so plot-based.)

I'm going to basically give away the ending here: DANC ends with Hilton Cubbit, dead on his parlor floor with a bullet through his chest, and his wife Elsie suspected of putting him there.

A little context: About a year before his murder, Hilton Cubitt, a "simple Norfolk squire," had come to London to celebrate the Jubilee. He'd married and fallen deeply in love with an American woman, Elsie, had married her and taken her home to Norfolk. Shortly before their wedding, she confessed to him that she "[had] had some very disagreeable associations in [her] life" though she "had nothing that she need be personally ashamed of", and she insisted that before Hilton marry her he promise never to ask her about her past. He promised, so they were married and lived happily until the dancing men began to appear around their estate.

Hilton would be content not to pursue the matter for his own sake; he thinks the drawings are odd but unimportant (Holmes agrees at first). But Elsie is unnerved by them, and Hilton believes they're connected to her past. He can't question her directly about it; as he says, "A promise is a promise, Mr. Holmes. [...] But I am justified in taking my own line—and I will.”  

(Yes, this bothers me, too. By modern sensibilities, clearly it would have been better to break a promise than what comes after; and in any case, he's only adhering to the letter of the law here, if that.) 

But enter Holmes, stage right, pursued by bear. Hilton brings the drawings to Holmes who after some delay cracks the code and concludes they're connected those "very disagreeable associations" of Elsie's, confirmed by a telegram from some of those official detectives I mentioned above. But in the meantime, Hilton's own nerves are fraying at being kept in the dark, and where he at first seemed to trust her completely, more and more he pushes her about her past and tries to discover it on her own. He even suspects she might be meeting up with the mysterious picture-drawer, for all he unnerves her. Holmes figures out the truth behind the code too late, and though he races to Norfolk, by the time he's arrived he's left with Hilton Cubbit, dead on his parlor floor with a bullet through his chest, etc.

The Deduction Seduction

As I mentioned, this story really isn't about the mystery. The dancing men are a cypher, one figure for each letter, and the Chicago police should be embarrassed they weren't able to crack it years before. (Elsie is from America, and those disagreeable associates are Chicago criminals). The evidence Holmes uses to connect the code to the Chicago mobsters isn't presented to us until the denouement, so there's not much for the reader to solve; at most we could have the fun of working out the code. But if you know your Doyle story, you'll know they usually begin with a domestic moment, where Holmes deduces something about Watson. DANC is no exception.

“So, Watson,” said he, suddenly, “you do not propose to invest in South African securities?”

I gave a start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes’ curious faculties, this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was utterly inexplicable.

“How on earth do you know that?” I asked.

He wheeled round upon his stool, with a steaming test-tube in his hand, and a gleam of amusement in his deep-set eyes.

“Now, Watson, confess yourself utterly taken aback,” said he.

“I am.”

“I ought to make you sign a paper to that effect.”

“Why?”

“Because in five minutes you will say that it is all so absurdly simple.”

“I am sure that I shall say nothing of the kind.”

“You see, my dear Watson”—he propped his test-tube in the rack, and began to lecture with the air of a professor addressing his class—“it is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all the central inferences and presents one’s audience with the starting-point and the conclusion, one may produce a startling, though possibly a meretricious, effect. Now, it was not really difficult, by an inspection of the groove between your left forefinger and thumb, to feel sure that you did not propose to invest your small capital in the goldfields.”

“I see no connection.”

“Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the club last night. 2. You put chalk there when you play billiards to steady the cue. 3. You never play billiards except with Thurston. 4. You told me, four weeks ago, that Thurston had an option on some South African property which would expire in a month, and which he desired you to share with him. 5. Your cheque-book is locked in my drawer, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You do not propose to invest your money in this manner.”“How absurdly simple!” I cried.

“Quite so!” said he, a little nettled. “Every problem becomes very childish when once it is explained to you."

.... at which point he hands Watson a copy of the dancing men, sent by Hilton Cubitt in advance of his first consultation with Holmes, and the proper story begins.

This particular deduction is fascinating on its own, though. Not because Holmes is being particularly clever (as Holmes points out the logic is plain once you see the intermediate steps), but because the details are so intimate. Holmes keeps Watson's checkbook in his desk drawer. Holmes knows Watson; he knows how he chalks up his billiards-cue and that he only shoots pool with Thurston. Maybe this is my own bias playing into it, but I'm really struggling to imagine Holmes actually going round to the pool-halls with Watson. More likely he's just observed all this, maybe asked a key question here and there, but put it all together because Watson matters.

Which gives that same frisson as BBC-Sherlock's side comment in A Scandal in Belgravia, that John is wrong to think he doesn't understand the biochemical processes of love, which of course means they've discussed it, and....

Yeah.

Holmes has been studying Watson so intently he just knows all this, and he's laying that bare to Watson, either because he wants Watson to know or he doesn't even think to stop himself, and I'm honestly not sure which tickles my fancy more.

I also can't quite get past the fact that Watson is keeping his checkbook in Holmes's desk-drawer. Remember that Watson is a published writer, and (depending on the timeline, which depends on which Jubilee you think this story is based around) quite possibly managing a successful medical practice. He certainly has a desk at Baker Street, and there's no real reason for its not to have its own locked drawer. It seems odd that a desk wouldn't have that. So either Watson has given up all pretense of keeping anything locked away from Holmes, or else Holmes is keeping the checkbook not so it can be locked up but so Watson himself doesn't have as easy access, because he's actively helping Watson manage his (their?) finances.

I did warn you at the top of this post: This is me trying not to let my shipper's goggles rule the day here, and failing.

Holmes & Watson vs Hilton & Elsie: The Parallels Continue

I'm actually hoping (a bit) that Watson has just given up the ghost on holding things back from Holmes because it feeds into a much larger point. There are a lot of parallels going on between Holmes and Watson (Holmes/Watson?) and that Cubitts, and even if without getting into the shipping questions, I think it helps to appreciate where and why the Cubitt relationship went wrong. Also why Holmes was able to both avenge Hilton and save Elsie from her own execution when the local constabulary was so ready to hang her. (Again, spoilers: it's not a brute application of reason.)

And really, there are a lot of parallels here. Hilton is a Norfolk squire, and Holmes (in "The Greek Interpreter") describes his own family as descending from country squires. And Holmes takes up rooms with Watson without knowing much about him. The Watsons are hardly as scandalous as Elsie's family, but they were hardly above reproach. Watson was living around layabout soldiers known for hard living and, if Holmes's deductions about his father's pocket watch in The Sign of Four are to be trusted, his brother wasted the family fortunes and was a drunkard beside. 

If Holmes was at all concerned about the "conventional" life of the country squire his ancestors enjoyed (he isn't), taking up with Watson is hardly prudent. In fact, I'd argue it's a move not unlike Hilton's marrying Elsie -something he fully admits is shocking: "You’ll think it very mad, Mr. Holmes, that a man of a good old family should marry a wife in this fashion, knowing nothing of her past or of her people, but if you saw her and knew her, it would help you to understand."

The parallel ends here, though. Elsie has a real history of scandal in her history; she begs Hilton not to pry and he promises not to. With Watson's lesser scandal, Holmes can't help but see, and he really doesn't need to ask him for the details. But it's worth noting that while Hilton chafes against the restrictions Elsie put on him and does everything he can to find a loophole, eventually comes to question her faithfulness, Holmes recognizes there's such a thing as knowing too much. He treated Watson's pocket watch like a purely academic problem. He tries (not entirely successfully) to respect Watson's boundaries. 

Hilton and Elsie are both very aware of the Cubitt family. When Hilton tries to push Elsie for details about the mysterious message-drawer, she seems preoccupied with not bringing scandal down on his house. She's given up her past for the future she thinks he can provide. She tries to pay the message-writer off if he'll just leave using £1,000 of Hilton's money. (That’s a huge amount of money for the period!) Hilton, for his part, thinks about their relationship as a mad thing for someone in his situation, and when Elsie wants to leave Norfolk, he refuses. A wiser man might have trusted his wife understood the real dangers and taken some sort of trip, without pressing to know exactly why.

Holmes, on the other hand, is pointedly not living the conventional life of his country-squire ancestors. He is urbane, one might even add bohemian (without necessarily importing the sexual connotations that term implies, though equally without necessarily excluding them). Watson's less well-off and established background isn't a challenge precisely because he has little interest in a life Watson would not fit well with. That's not who he is, so he and Watson are allowed to just be.

Que Saber, Saber...

Reading DANC, I was strangely reminded of a vocabulary lesson from high school Spanish. If someone asked me where my roommate was, I might say something like No se exactamente, pero yo se que ella fue a la supermercado antes. (I don't know exactly, but I know she went to the supermarket earlier.) "Se" (the conjugated form of "saber") means know, as in how we know facts. It's tied to the Latin verb scire, from which we get science, scientific, etc. But if you asked me if I knew her well, I wouldn't say solo se un poco (I only  know a little, as in I only know a few things) - you're really asking if I'm familiar with her, which requires an entirely different word, something like solo la conozco un poco. That’s conocer, implying a familiarity more than factual knowledge.

When Holmes makes his deductions about Watson's finances, he's not just relying about observed facts about Watson; he's also pulling from his familiarity, the fact he knows him.

And the same thing happens with the Cubitts.

"Two [bullets] have been fired and two wounds inflicted, so that each bullet can be accounted for."

“So it would seem,” said Holmes. “Perhaps you can account also for the bullet which has so obviously struck the edge of the window?”

He had turned suddenly, and his long, thin finger was pointing to a hole which had been drilled right through the lower window-sash, about an inch above the bottom.

“By George!” cried the inspector. “How ever did you see that?”

“Because I looked for it.”

“Wonderful!” said the country doctor. “You are certainly right, sir. Then a third shot has been fired, and therefore a third person must have been present. But who could that have been, and how could he have got away?”

“That is the problem which we are now about to solve,” said Sherlock Holmes. “You remember, Inspector Martin, when the servants said that on leaving their room they were at once conscious of a smell of powder, I remarked that the point was an extremely important one?”

“Yes, sir; but I confess I did not quite follow you.”

“It suggested that at the time of the firing, the window as well as the door of the room had been open. Otherwise the fumes of powder could not have been blown so rapidly through the house. A draught in the room was necessary for that. Both door and window were only open for a very short time, however.”

“How do you prove that?”

“Because the candle was not guttered.”

“Capital!” cried the inspector. “Capital!”

“Feeling sure that the window had been open at the time of the tragedy, I conceived that there might have been a third person in the affair, who stood outside this opening and fired through it. Any shot directed at this person might hit the sash. I looked, and there, sure enough, was the bullet mark!”

Taken out of context, this reads like saber-knowledge. Holmes observes that the candle was not guttered. He suspects based on the fact that the household staff smelt gunpowder almost immediately (from an earlier discussion of the crimescene) that a draft blew it throughout the house. Ergo: a window was opened, but not for long. Elsie probably wouldn't have closed it just after her husband was shot, so a third person was probably present; and so forth. 

But this is Elsie. Holmes knows, conocer, her reasonably well. He's seen Hilton's devotion to her, and his trust. (Yes, a modern might go further, but most Victorian men would probably have been much less indulgent!) And he knows that strangers with relatively unknown pasts aren't necessarily tainted by them and that they have a right to keep some things to themselves without that making them suspicious. The Norfolk constabulary has identified two possible interpretations of the crime scene: either Hilton tried to murder Elsie then committed suicide, or Elsie successfully shot Hilton before turning the gun on herself. Neither fit the people Holmes has come to know so he finds a third option. He sees the bullet because he was looking.

Granted, Holmes has connected the cipher of the dancing men to a Chicago street gang and he knows a lot more about Elsie's past than Hilton does. But we the readers aren't privy to all that, and even with that, Holmes equally knows that Elsie has been sneaking around, that he husband suspected she was being unfaithful, that both of them had nearly reached the end of their emotional endurance between all the secrets and the strange events. Again, he knows this better than the local investigators. Logically, it's not such a great leap that one might have shot the other. Sometimes clients aren't unbiased even when they're not outright culpable; look at how the King of Bohemia presented his dealings with Irene Adler, for instance.

So there's a leap of faith, to borrow Kierkegaard's concept, an act of will more than knowledge, in believing that neither Hilton nor Elsie would act the way Inspector Martin thinks they did. When I first encountered Doyle's stories decades ago I tended to accept Holmes as more or less a cold reasoning machine, something I'm unlearning as a more adult reader, and this story seems to require that revised understanding. Because the Holmes who was so reticent to theorize before facts in A Study in Scarlet, who Watson famously described as a scientific instrument without grit on the lens in "A Scandal in Bohemia," might well investigate all the options but he wouldn't be looking to confirm a hypothesis based on emotional impression. 

But the Holmes I've come to love more deeply would, I think, particularly a Holmes growing more comfortable with his emotional intelligence in addition to his facility with actual facts. Here's hoping that's not my own act of will laying its thumb on the scales here.

~*~*~*~*~

I'll close by sharing a favorite scene, not from Doyle but from the Granada adaptation. Not because it's relevant, but because it's too endearing not to. Having arrested the true criminal, Watson asks Holmes how he drew him back to the scene of the crime, and Holmes shows him the note he used as bait, written out in the code of the dancing men -- giving them (and us) their own lovely moment of conocer, starting around the 2:15 mark. Enjoy!

[sawtellaustralia]

Your Personal Paradise – Look No Further!