#apparently it also appears in the amazing maurice so

[ultimate-rat-bracket]

The bRATcket

ROUND TWO!

Finally for today, we have the transforming robotic rat Rattrap VS. the tiniest grim reaper you ever did see, the Death of Rats!

[amstrup64lindsay]

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The Best Replica Hermes Scarves Low Cost Value Is Waiting For You First of all, and one of many BIGGEST giveaways of authenticity, is does the Hermes scarf have hand rolled edges? This is where the sting of the silk has actually been rolled and stitched by hand so create the right finish. If it's a flat edge with apparent machine stitching, it’s not actual. The sensible and aesthetic design will never let ... Hermes Scarf HJ00008 style, try this superb Hermes Scarves! Hermes 110CM Scarf HJ02102 fashion, try this amazing Hermes Scarves! The data which you've offered is better than one other weblog. You will find plenty of approaches after visiting your publish. Good writing article writing you might have shared with us . Alot of blogs I see today do not actually present anything that I'm thinking about, but I'm most definately involved on this one. Just thought that I would publish and enable you to know. Slim, ’40s-meets-’70s suiting with a preppy, Japanese vibe appeared in collections far and extensive. Fake Hermes Scarf HJ01205 type, check out this wonderful Hermes Scarves! Fake Hermes Scarf HJ01148 type, check out this wonderful Hermes Scarves! Copy Hermes Scarf HJ01102 style, check out this superb Hermes Scarves! High Quality Designer Hermes Scarves In Stock!!! You're in the right place for cheap Hermes Scarves. This detailed how-to-guide with footage reveals you every little thing you have to know. We additionally present you the place you'll find one of the best authentication companies if you simply wish to be utterly sure. A collection of guides to second hand designer buying. A stunning selection of silk scarves and wraps from iconic designers. Gucci floral, Hermès designers and motifs, and much more. Hermes “Les Bles” or “The Wheat” silk scarf designed by Hugo Grygkar and orginally issued by Hermès in 1955 . One of the easiest approach to spot genuine Hermes scarf is the incorporation of Jacquard silk . This is difficult to copy; no fake scarf will use Jacquard silk. Whilst some classic scarves may not carry it, most scarves right now may have the artist’s signature someplace within the print. Kelly even as soon as used one as a sling for her damaged arm. The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport using boots and a harness. As the world made the swap from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, changing into a multifunctional journey satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, one hundred twenty years later, the HAC stays in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for a number of the house’s different iconic bags. Inspired by Jane Birkin, the Hermes Birkin is a timeless basic that continues to be in fashion. Handcrafted from the best quality of leather-based by expert artisans, it takes lengthy hou... In the Thirties, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal tackle the flap bag with a handle and two facet straps. The Hermès carré scarves include the 90×90 model, the Hermès 45×45 bandana measurement scarf, and the twilly. Here, we use an genuine Hermès 90×90 carré scarf for example. I have a protracted 140cm Hermès sheer silk scarf with scribbled beautiful French women drawn in black wearing purple, blue and yellow with hats on it. It also has black phrases and signatures all over it and I actually have not been able to find any details about it or one other one prefer it. wikipedia scarf It is so sheer and delicate in a pale grey with matching stitching and pink and blue dots across the border of it. No fewer than five designers name-checked Giorgio Armani in evaluate appointments. His blouson bomber jackets and Raf Simons’s MA-1s have reinvigorated interest within the silhouette, all bubbly and bulbous up top. How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and sometimes copied. Find out the method to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, the place every Birkin is highly vetted. 100% authentic Hermes 'Birkin 30 Sellier Casaque' bag in Bleu Indigo and Noir Veau Epsom leather with gold-plated hardware. replica hermes twilly Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these baggage to conceal her being pregnant in the course of the 1950s. Because she was photographed continuously, the coverage catapulted her handbag to worldwide recognition. In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born.

[clarkeayers5]

hermes scarf replica 17

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[skovsgaardbrowning7]

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A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to move driving boots and a harness. As the world made the switch from horse to vehicle, the bag tailored, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel as a substitute of a delegated saddlebag. Today, a hundred and twenty years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for a few of the house’s different iconic luggage. First of all, and one of many BIGGEST giveaways of authenticity, is does the Hermes scarf have hand rolled edges? This is the place the edge of the silk has actually been rolled and stitched by hand so create the right finish. If it is a flat edge with apparent machine stitching, it’s not actual. Inspired by Jane Birkin, the Hermes Birkin is a timeless classic that continues to be in style. Handcrafted from the very best quality of leather-based by skilled artisans, it takes lengthy hou... 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There’s the Constance bag, a favourite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the lately relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs courting again to the Twenties. Hermès print designer Christine Henry is the creator of the Hermès Axis Mundi silk scarf design, which has been made in a selection of colorways over time. The design features a large oak tree, the world tree, with representations of the 4 seasons surrounding it in each corner of the scarf.

[bryant30sigmon]

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[merrill90mohammad]

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[xiolaperry]

The Piano - Chapter 7

Summary: Belle French and her daughter arrive in New Zealand to an arranged marriage with Gaston LeGume.  Gaston shows little interest in her or her piano and books. However, Mr. Gold is fascinated… (Rumbelling of the 1993 film “The Piano”)

Rating: E (for smut, dark subject matter and violence)

Also available on AO3

--

Tilly had a hard time getting her mother's attention on the way home.

“Mama, I had fun with Emma today!” ... “I showed everyone my cat!” … “When are we going to finish my wings?” … “Mama?” … “MAMA!”

Her mother finally responded, but Tilly was angry. Her mother always listened to what she said, and she didn't like this development at all. She stomped the rest of the way home.

The change that evening confused Gaston. With a furrowed brow, he listened to Tilly's stories of the day spent at his aunt's house. Belle stared at nothing, and made no attempt to enter the conversation. It was strange at first, talking to a child. He told her some anecdotes about the people she'd met that day, and she was interested. Gaston loved attention, and her childish questions and enthusiasm flattered him.

Belle was industrious the next day, keeping her mind occupied and away from thoughts of Mr. Gold. The garden was weeded, clothes were scrubbed, and the floors were washed. Tilly grumbled at all the work. Belle suggested they make a cake, which brightened her mood in an instant.

Gaston didn't notice her clean floors, but he liked the cake, which Tilly took credit for.

As she lay in bed that night, she could not decide if she hoped for rain or sun.

---

After a breakfast of leftover cake, Gaston split kindling for the stove. Tilly skipped and sang as she stacked it for him. Belle occupied herself in the garden until it was time to leave. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, so Tilly joined her. As they walked, Belle reminded her daughter to thank Mr. Gold for his gift.

Gold was pleased to see them both. He liked Tilly; she spoke to him with a friendliness he had not encountered with other children. And with her here, he had an incentive to keep his hands to himself.

“Thank you for the cat, Mr. Gold.”

“You are very welcome.”

“Nicholas and Ava didn't believe me when I told them you made it for me.”

He groaned. After this, his reputation would be in tatters.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I'm fine.” There was nothing to be done for it now.

While Tilly frolicked outside, Gold remained seated, not trusting himself to go near Belle while she played. He kept his hands occupied with his knife and a fresh piece of wood.

At the end of the session, Tilly informed him, “There’s a play next week, and I'm in it. I'm going to be an angel with a pretty blue dress and wings. Mama can only come one time next week, she has to help set everything up.”

“Yes, the annual mission holiday play. I almost forgot. Just one day is fine. And you will make a lovely angel.”

---

It was raining. No Tilly today, so there was the possibility of two keys. The anticipation coursing through her was for getting her piano back sooner. That was all. The delicious shivery feeling inside called her a liar.

After tea, she struck two black keys in quick succession, her eyebrow raised in a question.

“Yes, two keys again.”

This time she was prepared for his touch. His hands, gentle on her arms and shoulders, mesmerized her. She reveled in the sensation; it was even more thrilling than she remembered. Events proceeded much the same as the previous time. Until his hands deviated from their earlier route and caressed her breasts.

He tantalized her with the slightest amount of pressure. A butterfly landing on her would have been more forceful, but it reverberated straight down to her core. Her nipples tingled and hardened. How could a light touch be so intense? Did she want him to stop or keep going? She felt his warm exhale on the side of her neck, his nose tracing the shell of her ear. Her breath caught as her body clenched with yearning.

When Gold heard her gasp, he was disgusted with himself. A lecherous beast drooling over a vibrant young woman. She must find him repulsive. He hurried to throw a book on the bench, then busied himself with some tools on the table, keeping his back to her to hide his obvious arousal.

“That's enough for today.” He needed her to leave so he could calm down. He didn't move until the door closed, and her boots thumped down the steps.

Belle's knees trembled with the intensity of the feelings Mr. Gold had called out of her. When she was out of sight of the cottage, she leaned against a tree and closed her eyes.

She had not been with a man since Tilly's father, long ago. He had been her piano teacher, the first man other than her father she had spent any amount of time with, and she was naïve. Her mother had died when she was very young, and a series of governesses had raised her. The last had taught her piano, and her proficiency amazed the household. Maurice hired a piano teacher, and her talent grew by leaps and bounds.

The instructor's attention flattered Belle. He had not forced her; she wanted to please him, thinking he loved her. But the experience was messy, painful, and embarrassing. He had found pleasure in her body, but the act itself disappointed her. When she asked him if this meant they would marry, he quit his post without so much as a goodbye, leaving before Maurice suspected any impropriety.

At first she was heartbroken, then angry. He’d hadn’t loved her, and she’d only been lonely and didn’t love him either. She refused a new teacher; she didn't need one anymore. Her music came from within. And then, to her father's shame, it became apparent that she was pregnant. Maurice threatened to hunt the piano teacher down, but nothing ever came of it.

Was the arousal she experienced when Mr. Gold touched her what sex was meant to feel like? If so, she now understood what all the fuss was about.

---

The rest of her free time that week, Belle helped with preparations for the play.

She spent an informative day with Mary Margaret attaching feathers to sets of angel wings. It was tedious work, and it made their fingers sore. She was certain Cora had assigned them this job on purpose. When Mary Margaret brought out some refreshments, Belle took the opportunity to ask her a question. She wrote her a note: “Why do most people dislike Mr. Gold?”

“Well, David and I haven't had many interactions with him, but I can tell you what I've heard...”

Belle nodded, eager to learn more.

“He owns a lot of property and has tenants. He insists on rent being paid promptly.”

That didn't sound so bad.

“He evicts people with no leniency, charges high-interest rates, and never hesitates to seize the collateral if you can't come up with the money. He'll exploit every loop-hole.”

That sounded worse, but people shouldn't enter a contract without knowing the terms and being prepared to honor them. Exploiting loop-holes was more troubling.

Mary Margaret warmed to the topic. She shifted her seat closer to Belle.

“No-one knows his given name. It's only ever been 'Gold'. Isn't that odd? And he lives out in the forest, alone in that little cottage, and spends more time with the Maori than his fellow settlers.”

Belle understood being odd and an outsider. She didn't consider that a character flaw. She made a motion with her hand to indicate Mary Margaret should continue.

“I was told Mr. Gold used to be like the other translators, making deals with the Maori that worked to our advantage. Now, he always tries to arrange things so the Maori get the better part of the arrangement. Now they won't trust anyone else to negotiate for them. Many settlers feel he should be loyal to his own people, not the natives. David and I think everything should be fair for everyone, of course, but some are very resentful, and think he has too much influence.”

Mary Margaret stirred her tea, considering if there was anything else to add to her story. “And Cora really doesn't like him. She's always polite, but you can tell by the look on her face she wants to strangle him.”

Belle thanked Mary Margaret for the information. She went to bed that night with aching fingers and more curiosity than before.

---

Props were constructed, costumes finished, lines memorized, and finally the day of the performance arrived. Belle wore her best dress, and Gaston wore his finest suit. He looked very handsome, but he should. He'd taken twice as long to get ready, combing and re-combing his hair, polishing his boots, and straightening his cravat.

They carried Tilly's costume. She wanted to wear it right away, but to keep it from getting dirty on the walk, all the children were to get dressed at Cora's home. They left Tilly there to prepare with the other girls. Belle kissed her and wished her the best of luck.

It was strange that the holiday season was warm, she thought as they strolled to the neighboring building, another thing in her new life different from her old one. Tilly didn't care what temperature it was. She loved her angel wings, her friend, and the excitement of stage debut.

Inside, the mission was chaotic. Everyone was here, chatting and laughing while they found seats. Gold put in an appearance each year, seeing it as an opportunity to conduct business or intimidate troublesome tenants. He saw Granny talking to some old acquaintances. He greeted Cora with a smirk. Her eyes narrowed when she saw him, and she said, “Good evening,” through clenched teeth. How he'd enjoyed turning her down when she'd propositioned him after her husband died!

“With your influence of the Maori, and mine over the settlers, the two of us could rule this corner of New Zealand. Think of the power we could have.”

“I'm flattered, but uninterested,” he said, laughing. “Why would I tie myself to a woman who'd rip my heart out the second I turned my back? No, dearie. I'm far better off on my own.”

His remembrances abruptly cut off when he saw Belle. She was radiant, and he could not take his eyes off of her. She was brighter than anything else.

Belle spotted him at the same time. He made his way through the crowd, approaching her and Gaston, and she felt panic. All the air vacated the room. An overlap of the two lives, the one in Mr. Gold's home with her piano and the one with Gaston, was not acceptable nor appropriate. They were separate; they had to be. She was still overwhelmed and confused by the whole situation.

She moved in the opposite direction, sitting down in the first empty seats she found. Gaston followed. Mr. Gold did not take the hint and sat down one seat away from her.

Now she was irritated. How dare he sit there, calm and unconcerned, as she sat here, flustered, between him and her husband? He looked like he didn't have a care in the world. She'd mistaken a man's sexual interest for genuine feelings before. Was that what was going on? At least she knew where she stood with Gaston.

In a fit of pique, she took Gaston's hand in hers, placing them on her lap where Mr. Gold could not miss her display of affection. Gaston looked at her, confused. She patted his hand and gave him her biggest smile, batting her eyes. In her peripheral vision, she saw Mr. Gold noticed her actions, and his face filled with pain. He stayed a few more minutes, then stood and left. She received great satisfaction from her triumph. Until she didn't.

Belle forced herself to focus on the play. Tilly was a natural little actress. Her voice was clear and confident and she didn’t look a bit nervous. Everything else passed in a blur. One person after another introduced themselves. Mary Margaret brought her husband David over, and Granny paid her regards. Cora stopped to make a sniping remark. She was spinning. Why had she reacted with spite? To show herself she had power over Mr. Gold? She knew that already. It was not in her nature to be unkind, and it bothered her. What would happen at their next lesson?

Gaston enjoyed the evening. Everyone complimented him on Tilly's performance. He was told what a pretty step-daughter he had, and how demure and sweet his wife was. He hadn't realized what an asset Tilly could be. She made him look good, and he congratulated himself on procuring such an attractive family. Maybe he'd even let her be in the wedding photo Reverend Hopper would take after the holidays.

---

Gold rode home with a heavy heart. Seeing Belle with her husband made everything real. Why was he tormenting himself this way? She was not his, and she never would be.

He was a fool, but he didn't have to be a villain. He could continue this path with Belle, he could offer enough 'keys' and she might even have sex with him to get her beloved piano and books back. The thought made him ill. How could he do that to her? Why was he putting her in this position? Belle and Gaston looked like they belonged together, even if the man was a self-centered idiot. He was young and strong. He wasn't a crippled, bitter old misanthrope.

And Tilly. She deserved better, too. He'd entertained a fantasy of asking her to help him with his reading, picturing happy afternoons pouring over books. She’d teach him sign language, and he’d surprise Belle with a proper conversation. Embarrassment filled him for his fanciful thoughts. The realization that he was the actual idiot here, not Gaston, depressed him.

He sat and thought long into the night, drinking tea and then whiskey from the chipped cup. When dawn arrived, he knew what needed to happen.

---

Belle was on the path, trudging through the rain to Mr. Gold's house when she came upon the piano carried by Kamira and other Maori men. He gave her a cheeky one-handed salute as they passed. Startled by the turn of events, Belle ran the rest of the way.

Belle burst into the house, door slamming against the wall. Mr. Gold was sitting at the table. Her hands flew, demanding an explanation. He didn't need to understand sign language to grasp the question.

“I have given the piano back to you,” said Mr. Gold, his voice calm. “I've had enough.”

Belle felt dizzy. He had enough? Of what? Her? The music? She made a strangled sound in dismay.

Mr. Gold stood. Disheveled and pale, he appeared to have not slept.

“This arrangement will end with you a whore, and me a monster.” He took a deep breath. “I want you to care for me, but you can't.” He sat back down and poured more whiskey into his teacup. The one she had chipped. “Don't worry. They're returning for your books after they deliver the piano.”

Belle trembled. Her piano was hers again, however her overwhelming feeling was not joy, but rejection.

“Leave.”

She did not move.

“Go on, get out,” he hissed. “And don't come back.”

Belle lifted her skirt and fled.

[deathsmallcaps]

Hey guys I have a dumb idea

I would like to write a 10,000 words of fan fiction during winter break, but I can’t decide on what to do. So here is twelve options. Either choose one for 10,000 OR 2 for 5000 each or 3 for 3333 each. Please let me know :).

1. ATLA AU: Some benders and non-benders can turn into the magical animals associated with their element, and the Gaang (season three edition) are being hunted by the most successful poachers in the world for roughly an episode. Aang: All of course. Katara: Magic fish possibly? Would have to workshop that one. Zuko: Dragon. Sokka: normal but excellent sword and boomerang fighter, of course. Toph: normal Bender, which makes her interactions with wild badgermoles and her innovations in metal bending all the more impressive. (DEFINITELY inspired by muffinlance’s wonderful work)

2. Umbrella Academy: What happened to the other kids? Mostly a description of Reginald being horrible and very quickly judgemental of the babies while gathering the Seven, and how/whether they grew up or not. (Have only seen the tv show but apparently in the comics Five and Luther are twins which may play into what I’m going to write.)

3. Batman: Peggy Sue AU for Alfred where he wakes up the day after the Waynes’ murders with memories of having witnessed his entire family die, and so resolved to make sure Gotham grows up safe, and so do Bruce and his little Robins, perhaps at the expense of them never living with him at all. It may or may not be difficult to make sure Damian is born lol. (It would be a big plot point)

4. I’ve been kind of working on this for a while but I have a choose your own adventure story (but you have to roll dice for unspecified paths) for each Disney princess. Have currently finished planning out most of Belle, just depending on what you guys want I would write up and post however many. The paths may depend on how much of the extended lore I’ve seen (For example, I’ve seen more of the Ariel extended canon stuff, so farther along you may meet Gabriella, or Melody, or so on.) it would be a Peggy sue au once again. I may also make a mini-one to ‘unlock’ with luck for Melody. Anna and Elsa are separate ones.

5. A continuation of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett. Maurice would once again be mostly the main character, and he would set up a kid to take over as Lord Mayor of Ankh-Morpork, and possibly get involved in the steamboat business. If we had time, we would meet more of the extended Ankh-Morpork cast.

6. The Nine Lives of the Marquis of Carabas: an exploration of Neverwhere, Coraline, the Graveyard Book, Good Omens, American Gods, Time Cat, Pan’s Labyrinth, the Neverending Story and Discworld. Basically how he lived one life and kind of ‘Forrest Gumped” his way around the stories.

7. A Phantom of the Opera/Over The Garden Wall crossover where a dead Eric decides to kill the Beast - at least he doesn’t try to suck the souls out of children! (Only young, beautiful women, of course). Wouldn’t be a very happy fic

8. Labyrinth (Jim Henson Movie): where after realizing that both she and Toby are too touched by the Fae to survive very long in this world, Sarah and her brother must rush to get back to the Labyrinth in time. (Small crossover with Pan’s labyrinth probablyy.)

9. Percy Jackson: and the extended pantheons crew all have a chill day and then do a murder mystery dinner party. I just want to mess around with all of them.

10. Dealing with Dragons and the Last Unicorn: Cimorene accidentally crosses over, meets the Last Unicorn, and invites her over for dessert. More plot to ensue, of course. Sort of a look at how a fractured fairy tale/aware of the fairy tale but unable to stop fate kind of story would mix.

11. (This one is likely to happen because I was recently talking to another user about this) The Boy Who Could Fly: after Max the dog dies, Eric appears with a puppy. Milky and Eric manage to then spend the day together, before he must go away again.

12. Peter Pan 2: Jane struggles to take care of her mother while raising her own daughters by herself. Desperate and in need of some time to mentally sort things out, she asks her children to call for Peter, despite being afraid they’ll stay away forever.

13. Wonder Woman and Captain America team up and are not shipped. They are just buddies who occasionally cross dimensions to hang out and punch fascists.

14. Steven Universe: The Pearls (along with a Steven who has seen a therapist) fuse into a time-travelling Mega Pearl and punch the Diamonds in their faces at the point where they have been the most oppressive in their lives. Rose Quartz does get treated as a separate entity, but instead of getting punched, she gets a HUGE talking-to.

15. The Princess and the Frog: When Naveen’s parents die shortly after WWII, they must choose between leaving her dreams and America behind forever or taking control of Maldonia. After the hardships of the Great Depression, the War

16. A Ghibli Fic: I want to write some some older Ghibli but would need a suggestion for that.

Sorry about the long post :)

[whatmattered]

Beauty and the Beast: Characters and story

The story of Beauty and the Beast, adored by such a large number of people, has been told the world over. The first story of Beauty and the Beast was composed by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve. It was more than one-hundred pages in length and included an 'idiotic' Beast, who experienced something other than his difference in appearance. In this unique novella length story, the back-story of both Belle and the Beast is given. The Beast was a young prince who lost his dad, and whose mother needed to take up arms to shield his kingdom. The queen left him in consideration of an evil fairy, who attempted to seduce him when he turned into a grown up, when he refused, she changed him into a beast.

Characters

Belle: The main female heroine Beast: a cold hearted, selfish, unkind prince who is transformed into a beast  Gaston: an arrogant hunter Maurice: Belle's father. Lumière: Beast's kind hearted but rebellious waiter.  Because of the curse placed by the Enchantress, he was transformed into a candelabra. Cogsworth: Beast's tightly wound and extremely loyal. transformed into a pendulum clock Mrs. Potts: castle's head of the kitchen, transformed into a teapot. Chip Potts: son of Mrs. Potts, transformed into a teacup Featherduster: maid of the castle, transformed into a feather duster Sultan: castle dog who was turned into a footstool  The Wardrobe: opera singer, turned into a wardrobe. Le Fou: local villager, who is Gaston's bumbling-but-loyal sidekick Monsieur D'Arque: owner of the local madhouse  

  character in beauty and the beast The Triplets:  trio beautiful blonde women who fawn over Gaston, Claudette, Laurette, Paulette The Baker: The Baker is the head of a bakery in the village that Belle lived in. The Bookseller: The Bookseller is the owner of a small bookstore/library in the village that Belle lived in. The Enchantress: who curses Prince Adam as the Beast.  she is responsible for the events in the story Phillipe: Belgian horse owned by Belle and Maurice. Chef Bouche: Beast's head chef who was transformed into a stove. Coat Rack: unnamed servant of the Beast who was turned into a coat rack Palanquin: unidentified servant transformed into a palanquin  Webster: Webster is the castle's scribe who was transformed into a dictionary

About beauty and the beast

Investigate this enchanting story's history to uncover its starting points. In the 1740 portrayal of the story, Beauty has five siblings, three brothers and two sisters, and every one of them are offspring of a wealthy widowed merchant. Beauty is the youngest of every one of the six. For what it's worth in later adjustments of the story, her character is charming and attractive. She is the humble one, pure at heart, excellent and well-read. Her sisters are additionally delightful, but they are evil, ruined and would do anything to simply abuse and hurt Beauty.  Things get ugly among the family when the father loses all wealth. His fleet of exchange vessels is lost to a storm and the family lives in poverty for the following quite a long while. However, at some point, trusts are up as word shows up that there is as yet one ship from the lost fleet that survived. Its cargo has been saved as well. The father, certain that he will recapture some cash, gets ready to proceed to gain the load.  When he checks with his children and little girls whether they need anything as a blessing, just Beauty stays humble. She doesn't need any fine or costly things like her siblings. All she needs is a rose, a blossom said to develop somewhere else however not where they live.

The delight that in any event one ship has returned would vanish very soon, be that as it may. The load gets seized as the family is covered with debts. In transit back home, the father, disappointed and gets trapped in a storm. He figures out how to discover refuge in a strange spot, a castle where the host doesn't present himself, but where he is given assistance and accommodation.  As the father leaves the property the next day, he sees an amazing rose nursery in the yard, and he takes one blossom for Beauty. Which is the point at which the repulsive owner of the property shows up: the Beast, angry in light of the fact that the visitor he helped so well the earlier night presently broke the code of hospitality. To be specific, the unfortunate father had picked the most appealing rose of all, simultaneously the most-prized ware found at the Beast's property. What occurs next is that the father should be punished, however he gets his opportunities as he organizes one of the little girls to proceed to live with the Beast. It is Beauty who gets picked to live with the Beast until the end of times. For certain critics, it is this particular scene that says a lot about how ladies were set up for arranged marriage in those days.  Beauty in reality goes to the castle. There, she is dealt with pretty much like a princess. While it is a story with an apparently happy closure, there are a couple of obstacles until the reader arrives. To start with, toward the finish of every day, the Beast constantly proposes marriage, to which the Beauty stays tireless with her negative answer. However, every night, Beauty additionally dreams of the ideal man, the love for her life. Little does she understand, there is a prince effectively near her.

beauty and the beast story All the while, the Beast is likewise faced with difficulties all alone. Apparently, he is yet to figure out how to genuinely express his feelings and desires, on the off chance that he needs to develop into the individual worth Beauty's adoration. He is likewise referred to as "bête" in the story, a French word that conveys the importance of "monster," just as "being unintelligent."  In a perfection of the story, one day Beauty consults with the Beast to visit her family. The Beast supports the thought just on the off chance that she is to return to the royal residence for a specific day, and that she takes two enchanted things. The first is a mirror that can show what's going on at the castle at any minute. The second, the ring, which has the ability to move Beauty back to the Beast.  on the first day of her lengthy visit, Beauty is to almost regret her choice. As she takes the mirror to check what is happening at the royal residence, seeing Beast's body, lying in the nursery extremely near where Beauty's father had at first picked a rose, prompts the Beauty to utilize the ring. It is at this time of get together that Beast at long last recaptures his human personality, "the prince of dreams," and as you definitely know, the pair for sure lived happily, ever after.  At first, she is born from a monarch(king) and fairy, and she suffers in light of the fact that she is the offspring of an illegal relationship. A young prince, the main male hero, is the victim of dark enchantment. He is transformed into a beast, and he is to recapture his human shape just once he weds someone who remains unaware of his past and genuine human nature. You might also find it interesting: About TV show Lucifer, plot, main characters, recap Breaking Bad Season: Main characters and recap Jumanji: Trailer says Goodbye To The Jungle Jane the virgin, plot, recap and main characters Once upon a time in Hollywood – A true story

Conclusion

Beauty's story uncovers that she isn't generally a merchant’s little girl but the child of a king and a decent fairy. The evil fairy had attempted to kill Belle, so she could wed her dad the king, and Belle was placed in the spot of a merchant’s dead little girl to secure her. It is thought by certain researchers that Beauty and the Beast story may have a longer history. The most recent film form of the story, featuring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, a film industry success of 2017, is only the most recent of various adjustments. We figured you may think that it is interesting to know how the first storyline went. Read the full article

[twistednuns]

December 2018

Iglo Veggie love with broccoli, buckwheat and black beans. Quick and easy.

The TEDxTUM event was pretty inspiring. I loved how they organised it and some of the speakers were amazing. Seeing all the cool stuff other people are working on actually motivated me to try and achieve great things myself. I'd like to learn about something new, start a project or volunteer.

Pick Up Limes videos.

The way Cher sings the word Memphis in her cover song.

Seeing Frank for the first time in four months. Having a good time at the Uncle Acid concert, getting a beer at Flex. Even though meeting him always causes some kind of emotional turmoil it might actually help to solve a few things I've been stressing over this time, for example that whole deal with Claudia.

Spending two hours in the kitchen on a Sunday morning. Preparing a summer and a winter curry. Pre-cutting salad. Listening to Tai Chi music. Baking these divine buckwheat chocolate cookies - absolutely delicious even though I forgot to add salt. Kinda healthy, too! It's grain-free (I even used groats) and I substituted part of the sugar with honey.

Gift ideas for rock collectors and mycophiles.

A spotted woodpecker in our backyard.

Dalmatian Jasper. Such a pretty stone.

Blinded by the Light. And a trip down musical memory lane. Making a nostalgia mixtape. Singing, enjoying the sound of my voice (as long as I hit the right vocal range).

Drawing owls. For hours. Using my Polychromos coloured pencils. I'm currerntly working on two owl-related projects, designing a logo for coffee roasters and making my friends' wedding invitation. Drawing owls like lovebirds is such a satisfying thing to do. Also: making my students come up with new ideas! Some actually drew some owl logos, too!

Tetris.

Reading books I don't understand. By people who are smarter than me. A very humbling experience. There is so much more to learn, experience and achieve.

Franzi's elegant coat and her ice crystal earrings. She's pregnant but she is skinnier than before and looks great. We cuddled up on a rooftop and had Kinderpunsch.

Practising The Pogues' Fairytale of New York for for karaoke night. I never hit the NYPD choir note quite right. My neighbours must hate me.

Taking a mental health day. Starting the day with baking cookies, making vegan sushi rolls. Reading, taking a nap. Yoga in the evening. Feeling really happy and relaxed. One of those rare inspired days when everything just falls into place. I kept revisiting beautiful places and memories during Shavasana. And I LOVE my yoga teacher more and more each week. So sad she is leaving the studio.

Taming your temper - tips for anger management.

Another coincidence. I wondered when the next Bilderbuch record will be released when I was looking at Mavi Phoenix at her concert - that girl is the female version of Maurice Ernst. A few hours later I found out that Bilderbuch actually had released a new album one day ago. WHAT.

Mirror tape.

Being a fluffy little red cat's human of choice. We sat in a cat café, no animals in sight. After a while a cat walked up straight towards me, sat down on my yellow scarf and kneaded it. Later she demanded attention and purred while I scratched her jaw. Apparently this was quite a rare occurence because she is said to be really shy and hard to handle. Weirdos unite!

Making Bhindi Masala, a vegan okra curry. Spicy and intense - delicious! Oh, and sushi rolls filled with avocado, veggies and fancy tofu/tempeh. Now I have a whole container waiting for me in the fridge.

Practising yoga for 20min on a gloomy Monday morning. Lighting a candle, drinking a cup of Ayurvedic Kapha tea with honey and lemon.

Tom, who inspired me to learn more about Ayurveda. And to rewatch The Darjeeling Limited because let's face it - Wes Anderson really knows how to make one of the poorest countries in the world look gorgeous.

We become what we think about. It's impossible to be successful without having a destination.

Quotations from Siri Hustvedt's The Blazing World: 1 / 2

"Smelling you almost makes me cum."

Running around with a fake septum piercing. I kinda like the look. I'm actually considering getting a real one but so far I'm fine with the clip-ons. The good thing is that you can't see the ring's ends anyway in that kind of piercing.

Spending time with the old friends. The best ones. The ones you don't have to speak to and it's still not uncomfortable. The ones you can be super weird around and they embrace it. The ones you can tell your strangest ideas and stories.

There is a new Turkish supermarket right around the corner! Fresh cilantro whenever I want! YES!!!

Heavy snowfall. It does look kinda pretty, I admit.

Many questions, not enough answers at the ESO Supernova exhibition/planetarium. / Making another cat friend over breakfast. / Seeing my foxy ginger lady Anika again after such a long time! / Orange marzipan lebkuchen and roasted coconut almonds (they taste like Raffaello). / Finding the perfect earrings and a beautiful head band at EDITED - The Label. / Performing Fairytale of New York live on stage with Manu. Being able to curse at somebody through song is perfect, I had a lot of fun. Also, he promised me his art teacher sweater as a Christmas present.

A knitting project with rainbow wool.

Making a clay sculpture for my mum. Taking it out of the oven at 80 degrees, wrapped in a dish towel like a baby.

The honey marzipan nougat bar from dm bio.

Meeting Manu at his office. Receiving the most awesome paint palette sweater as a Christmas present! And he let me spend a full hour in virtual reality! He has such an amazing programme which lets you draw in 3D and float around in space (with VR goggles). I'm absolutely fascinated and intrigued. Gotta visit him more often.

Meeting Tobi, Maike, Lena and Christian at Märchenbasar. Being drunk after some Feuerzangenbowle with rum (Pfeffi in Manu's case) and white mulled wine. Taking the long way home.

Buying Paulaner Spezi for my class. Supermarket trips with the kids before 8am. Schrottwichteln. Watching random goat videos and intros to children's series.

Having a drink at Goldene Bar in Haus der Kunst. Such a gorgeous place. I'm trying to get into a workshop on the museum's architecture at the end of January.

Making random people want to kiss me. Having no desire whatsoever to actually kiss them.

The Harry Potter round (on special request) at the pub quiz.

Reading Stephen Hawking's short answers to some of the big questions. I have to admit, I know nothing about physics or cosmology and at times his explanations were super hard to understand (fine, I probably didn't understand most of it) but I love creating a need to use my brain in uncommon ways.

Vivid dreams. About  dangerous skyscrapers (just different floors stacked loosely on top of each other), a kidnapping in a futuristic car by very glamorous gangsters, lesbians on a scooter trying to save me, travelling through Asia and the US with Sash, a sinking ship (but all the passengers swam back to the surface after a short period of unconsciousness), ATMs, fancy drinks, meeting strangers with beautiful eyelashes at a restaurant.

Discovering the Trouvelot astronomical drawings (1882) on the darkest day of the year, winter solstice. Watching the night fade away ever so slowly in the morning from the kitchen window, squeezing fresh oranges to make juice for breakfast. Bright orange and midnight blue is a great colour combination.

ASMRctica.

An article about a dear friend of mine appeared in Süddeutsche Zeitung! So happy for him.

Spending time with very old friends right before Christmas. Tobi, Sash, Michi, Yanic, Fischi and his wife... Playing MarioKart on SNES with Peter and taking weird selfies together. I had a very nice evening.

Managing to get a look at downtown Chicago during my layover. I uber-ed into the city centre (watching the skyscrapers getting larger and larger), walked around Millenium Park and along Lake Michigan. I spent quite a bit of time at Blick, an amazing art store, before I took the train back to the airport.

Arriving in Mexico in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. Seeing the city sparkling from above. Watching a bunch of kids beating a pinata well after midnight. Arriving in a beautiful artist's apartment in Condesa.

The Anthropology Museum in CDMX made it on the list of my favourite museums ever. I could have spent days there. I kept sketching some of the funny masks and Maya figurines. There were plenty of creepy tombs and skeletons, depictions of weird Gods, handicrafts and woodcarvings. It was just so interesting, probably because I had never seen a lot of South American / Aztec culture before and I love learning and exploring new things.

Christmas day in CDMX: sunshine, tacky glitter decorations, pointy balloons and spiky pinatas. Dancing, ancient smoke rituals performed by a Mayan community.

Mexican street food, especially the vegetarian street food tour with David. Meeting the Blue Corn Lady (her quesadillas are with cactus and beans and they're incredibly delicious). Flatbread, corn, fruit with chili and lime. Pulque and Mezcal. Finding out that the green salsa is actually worse than the red one. Tacos, Enchiladas, Tamales. If you go to Mexico just for the food you'll still have plenty to explore.

That evening with the pink sunset. Walking through the old used book store in Roma. Reading an interesting take on Lars von Trier's Melancholia. Meeting the resident cat.

Lucha Libre! Watching the luchadores, especially the small people in the second round. Laughing about the Mexican boy next to me swearing at the top of his lungs. Getting a mask as a souvenir.

Climbing the sun and moon pyramid at Teotihuacán. Getting a sunburn. Enjoying the atmosphere. It's a very impressive site.

Diving in Cozumel with Brooke-Anne (a librarian from Las Vegas who was raised by Mormons), Cynthia from Quebec and Lucie from Toulouse. Entering some coral formations underwater. Eating cantaloupe melon and chocolate cookies after the dive. Spending the evening with another Canadian, Jussi from Finland and that other dude from Puerto Rico. And some Indio beers.

What I loved most about Tulum were the ruins (right next to a gorgeous beach) and the health food restaurants (La Hoja Verde and Co.Conamor).

And this year I don't really have a good New Year's Eve story because I fell asleep at quarter past eleven in a little village west of Tulum. All alone. Could be worse though, I had an amazing year.

[icharchivist]

Ikr. I mean sure it's great to have fighting princesses like Kida, Mulan, Merida and such. But they don't all need to know how to fight to have a good story. I was pretty bummed about how Belle got treated in the live action Beauty&Beast. She's an inventor like her dad and gets bullied by the dumb villagers for teaching young girls to read or something. Belle didn't need those things to be more of an outsider or appear smarter/stronger. In the original she didn't share her dad's interesr for-

2 science. But you know what she's cool with that. She thinks he's a genius and awesome man even w/o being a scientist herself. She stands up FOR her dad and his inventions against the whole village. All because she loves and respects him for him and because he's the best dad who also respects and accepts her for who she is (something no one else does pre Beast). Belle had a whole song being called a funny girl all because she loves reading and not submitting to status quos just to make her -

3 simpler by bowing to peer pressure or marrying someone like Gaston. He could have given anything; except love and understanding (something that was also in a song. She was lonely people. Not desperate). Don't even get me started on that stockholm syndrome thing. Belle ran away from Beast and didn't stick around to suffer his abuse. Even before she didn't put up w/his temper. She only thought better of him when he almost died saving her life and admitted he was wrong to lose his temper at her.-4 From there the power dynamics change a lot. Belle becomes a role model/teacher by teaching him to read and helping him feed the birds. He understands her by gifting her his library and liking making her happy. They could have been together for months (Fall/winter/spring). He lets her go because she's more important then his life. She doesn't realize she loves him until he almost dies again. Belle saves Beast's life more times then he saves hers just w/her bravery and compassion alone.

Ooooh yes definitly agreed with absolutly everything you said!

One thing at a time, yes agreed on the whole “you don’t need to fight to have a good story” too. I hadn’t watched the remake of the Beauty and the Beast bc every decisions i heard of it just... groans. It seems like the most superficial take at the story the original was saying. Bc like especially, say, her being an inventor? Doesn’t seem to go anywhere? it just serves to make her more ~other~ but it’s not like say she brings it up to the Beast later or show interest in it later. 

My personal petpeeve with the movie (I mean i watched a lot about it, so i may have some wrong points but) is that apparently the Beast gives her the library to flex as in “you read books that sucks here you can find better” rather than an actual gift to make her happy like in the animation. That even if he doesn’t get how she loves it he’s going to do his best to give her something she likes without belittling her. 

Anyway I disgress, this remake just bewildered me bc every decision they took to “improve the original” (which they said about Belle all the time, that they’re making her more independant, more feminist™) ultimately went against it and just lessened the story. It’s kinda bewildering. 

I completely agree with you though- in the Original just the fact both her and her dad were “weird” by society’s standarts but they still had fun and loved each other even if they didn’t exactly understand each other is already a strong message of banding together with love. That you don’t need to understand or have something in common with a person to at least be nice and sweet with them. Like in the remake i think Maurice is still a clockmaker while she’s an inventor and yea alright they’re still both outsiders but therefore they are on the same page and have far more in common than their originals. And i think the movie lose in weight with that. 

(And don’t get me started on how they remade Gaston in the remake, i’m still in complete bewilderment that we went from a man constantly bringing down Belle for reading and only valuing her for her beauty to a guy who tries to make small talks about “incredible book you have there. Well huh i didn’t read it but, pictures.”. Especially when you make Beast the asshole belittling her for her taste in books. What the hell happened in that remake for it to be this tonedeaf.)

And ye definitly, Belle just wanted a friend to understand her. Not specifically someone who was completely on the same page. And there’s nothing wrong with that?? She was a bookworm who wanted to share her passion with people but got shunned out of that. Like I mean in the Belle song, you do see her trying to tell the story of her book to the Baker! She even shares the story with the sheeps. You see that she wants to share and talk about it but no one listens, no one gives her this sort of attention, except the Library and her father. While she was on a rocky start with the Beast he improved and he did just that, he gave her that leaning ear to share the stories she liked. That’s amazing and that’s a sweet story.

And boy the Stockholm syndrome. I’m so with you on this one. She ran away when he was violent, she stood her ground when he was being an ass, and he changed, and it’s obvious like you say that the power dynamic changed a lot. It is also bewildering bc in Disney we do have exemple of Stockholm Syndrome, if only with the abuse of say, Frollo to Quasimodo specifically and Gothel to Rapunzel to some points. Both have litteral songs about how they’re the only one the protagonist can trust, complete gaslighting to have them stay at the place and love them because “see me, i love you, unlike how everyone else would” and the protagonists believed that. Beast never ever pulled something like that, he never ever manipulated Belle

 Stockholm Syndrome isn’t just being locked up some place, it also takes a lot of gaslighting and manipulation from the capturer: imo “Stockholm Syndrome” is mostly used to shift the problem to the victim who “let themselves care” rather than to acknowledge that the capturer created a situation for that to happen, in a way it wouldn’t have otherwise. But even if the Beast hoped it might break the curse, this situation didn’t last as the power dynamic shifted, and the Beast didn’t actively force that situation in place. 

Gaah i don’t even know how to express that I just find the way people reacted to this story just kinda annoying and the remake got on my nerves with how much they insited they were “fixing” the story by just completely missing that Belle was a strong protagonist on her own rights and that there isn’t only One Model of how a girl can be. You don’t have to be a super genuis ahead of your time to be taken seriously and for people to acknowledge you were treated like shit. You can be “just” a bookworm and be treated with respect still because you’re worth more than what you bring to this world.

Idk just. *sighs* The way people react to Disney movies in general is kinda annoying.

Anyway if you’re in the mood for that, Lindsey Ellis made a great video about the remake and why it missed the mark (here) and one of the interesting point she brings up is how it feels like the remake saw people point out “flaws and plotholes” from the Disney movies and that they feel like they’re acting like “we heard you, here we fixed it” which is annoying bc it’s generally flaws and plotholes that wouldn’t exist if the viewer had either suspended their disbelief (say, the logc of a mgaic castle) or thought a little further about it (say, Belle’s situation)

Also she made a video about how the story isn’t about Stockholme Syndrome forever ago here,  but i hadn’t watched it in forever so i don’t remember if i agreed with everything, but I don’t see any reasons why not. 

So ye just.. *sighs* what a mess huh

[philipbrideaux]

The Carboniferous Counties: The Brideauxs in Wales, Part One

Francis Philip Brideaux (son of Francois Brideaux and Mary Hamon, grandson of Thomas Brideaux and Ester Lempriere) married Mabel Guillou in St. Helier, Jersey, not long after the turn of the 1900s. At the time, they could not have imagined that their union would result in an enormous family dynasty centered in the Rhymney Valley of South Wales.

Francis Philip’s family were living at 4 Belmont Gardens, in St. Helier, when the Germans invaded Jersey and began their five-year occupation in World War Two. The family did not seem especially content with that, because two of the Brideaux sons, Dennis and Ronald, were imprisoned on different occasions for not playing along. Ronald was given five days in prison in October 1943 for “failing to appear at work without sufficient grounds.” In March, 1944, Dennis was imprisoned for three months by the occupiers for “offering resistance.”

One member of the family, however, had left the island by the time of the Occupation. Francis Philip’s son, Frank (1912-1966), settled abroad, in Wales, where he worked in the coal mining industry. There, he met and married Adele Matilda Meyrick (1914-1999). Together they had five sons and four daughters, all of whom went on to have families of their own, who in turn now have families of their own. Many of the clan have stayed in the Rhymney Valley, settling mainly in and near the towns of Maesycwmmer and Caerphilly, in some cases within a few doors of each other.

Most of the valley falls within the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire (now largely Caerphilly County Borough). The Rhymney Valley itself is part of The Valleys, a series of valleys in South Wales fanning from Carmarthen in the west to modern Monmouthshire in the east, and from just below the Brecon Beacons in the north to the coastal plains of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary in the south. The Heads of the Valleys Road —the A465 — joins the northern ends of the South Wales Valleys, running westwards below the Brecon Beacons before curving down southwest towards Neath, near Swansea (where more Brideauxs live).

The Valleys are the heart of mining and mining heritage in Wales. They are a part of the great South Wales Coalfield, which was extensively developed from the late 1800s. The population rapidly increased as collieries spread throughout the valleys, with settlements terracing up their sides. Coal went back down the valleys by train to the shipping ports at Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and others. The waste rock from which the coal was extracted went mostly to the hilltops to form coal tips (spoil tips). As my Arriva train from Cardiff Central Station winds its way up the Rhymney Valley, I can see the remains of the tips on the tops of some hills. The valley is dramatic, curvy, and lush, and the line follows the west side of the valley.

My rail stop is Hengoed, on the west side of the Rhymney River. On the east side is my destination, Maesycwmmer, where Frank Brideaux first settled. The Hengoed rail station lies in the shadow of an impressively tall, stone railway viaduct named (depending on which side of the river you live) the Maesycwmmer Viaduct. I can’t help but notice it as we pull into the station. Built over 150 years ago, the viaduct once supported a coal-ferrying railway, but is now part of a regional cycling path network.

I disembark from the train to be greeted by Frank Brideaux’s third daughter, Janet, who is married to Owen. Janet has been my main contact since discovering the Welsh Brideauxs and, like me, is researching the Brideaux ancestral history. Their home is on the eastern side of the valley with a beautiful view south, back in the direction of Llanbradach and Caerphilly.

Janet has taken the time and trouble to round up most of the clan, who are all waiting in the Maesycwmmer Inn for me to meet. When we enter, it takes me a few moments to realize that every single table in the pub, except for one, is packed with Brideauxs. There are children running about, and infants being held in laps. All the adults have a pint. My short term memory is quickly overwhelmed as I’m introduced to Brideaux after Brideaux. Somewhere in the handshakes, I am introduced to Philip Brideaux, and for the first time in my life, I realize that I am not, in fact, the only Philip Brideaux alive. Not surprisingly, this leads to a photo of the two of us together, and I’m amazed to compare us: a bespectacled writer from Calgary, Canada, next to a hard-working coal miner from Maesycwmmer, Wales.

One of the few open chairs I can find puts me in front of Maurice “Banjo” Brideaux. Maurice is one of the family’s elders, born in 1947 in Maesycwmmer, where he has lived most of his life.

As we talk, I have to concentrate hard over the noise of the pub to understand his Welsh accent, particularly with Welsh place names. I can only guess how “American” my Western Canadian accent must sound by comparison.

“I got eight grandchildren, and two great granddaughters, they’re the two little ‘uns running around by you now,” he says. “When I first left school I started as a grocery boy for the cooperative, riding a push-bike delivering groceries. And then working on the buildings. From there then I went to work in steelworks. And then my cousin got me a job on the Gas Board. I stayed there then for twenty-two years. And I retired then when I was just over 45.”

Maurice’s retirement reminds me of Charles Brideaux’s in Sault Ste. Marie, who bought a pool with his retirement pension. “I had a lump sum then. Bought myself a car, passed my test, and never looked back,” says Maurice. “And I got a static caravan up in Tenby, where we go every year like. So we spend most of the time up there like, back and forth like.”

One of Maurice’s best memories is attending the Rolling Stones’ first concert ever in Cardiff, on September 11, 1964 at the Sophia Gardens Pavilion (which no longer exists). “We got down there, and they didn’t come on ‘til late. They was late comin on. So we missed the last train home. And we had to walk home from Cardiff then.” According to Google, this is apparently about a four-and-a-half hour walk. (“Oh aye, it was to the top of the mountain. Fair old way.”)

Maurice also had a penchant for dressing up as different characters, particularly around Christmas. “I’d dress up as somebody or other, dressed up as Boy George, or quite a few different people like, you know. One year I was dressed up as Wonder Woman. Well, I dress up as her, with a pair of shorts on, a little boob top, I had a pair of wellingtons, I painted them red, all glitter over them. And then, when I walked in, I had this tiara on and a wig. I walked in, and my son was playing a disco tune, he put Wonder Women on, and when that come on, I jumped out. And what I had done, I had a pair of rubber gloves, I’d blow them out and I had the fingers sticking out over the top.”

Sitting next to Maurice is one of his younger brothers, Peter Brideaux. As we introduce each other, Peter slips a small gift into my hand. It’s a lapel pin, depicting two crossed flags, that of Canada and of Wales. I think it’s a wonderful gift and immediately pin it to my coat. As Peter explains, it’s symbolic of the meeting of Brideauxs from either side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Peter is married to Helen, with a son, and a daughter and three grandsons. Like Maurice, Peter has lived in the valley all his life. When Frank Brideaux passed away, Peter was only 14. Out of economic necessity, he finished his schooling shortly afterward at the local secondary modern school and went straight into the building industry, based on experience he’d built up through a family friend driving construction vehicles. “I was basically told that I had to finish education as soon as I can, to come out and get a job and earn money, fetch money into the house, and that’s the way it was then, you know?” Without his father’s income, the family needed his help.

“I did have a job set up right there for me before I left school, so it wasn’t a big disappointment, I mean, but I really wanted to stay in school and do my exams, to come out there with some sort of qualification. But as it was, I left school at 15, and without any qualifications whatsoever, but 50 years later I managed to make a living for myself, and I’ve built a family, so I wouldn’t change anything now.”

Until he was 16, he could only drive the construction vehicles on building sites, and be ferried between sites by other crew members. When he was 16, he was able to drive himself and bought a motor scooter.

“I drive all types of machines, both wheeled machines and tracked machines. JCBs, Caterpillars, Komatsus, Kubotas, there’s all different makes. Hitachi machines, there’s loads and loads of them but they’re all basically the same to drive. It’s like jumping into different cars. It’s just a matter of sorting out where the controls are, you know. Different buttons and switches but all the controls are exactly the same on everything so if you can drive one, you can drive them all.” Dozers, graders, backhoes, crawlers… “Yeah, I can drive most things. I learned to drive them all basically, over the years. I’ve had 50 years driving them so there’s not a lot that I’ve come across that I can’t drive.”

Peter worked for his first company for over 12 years before layoffs sent him to another company for another year. His third job was driving machines around on the surface of the coal pits. “I’d be picking up coal with a machine and putting it on the conveyer belt, and feeding it into the washery. And the coal would go into a washery where it was washed and all the muck removed from it. Then the washed coal was loaded into a railway wagon and sent down to the local coal fired power station, which is still operating at the moment in Aberthaw, not far from Cardiff Airport. So, eight-and-a-half years there with that company, and then five-and-a-half years, with a local company from Caerphilly. And that was just going around to all the local building sites then, driving a JCB backhoe. But the company I’m with now, might’ve been 22 years.”

Being a licensed machine operator came in handy beyond the day job. In the early 1970s, Peter lived in Tirphil, further north up the valley, shortly after getting married. Early one morning, vandals jumped on a large 360 track machine, in a construction site across the street, and managed to start it up and put it in gear. Then they bailed out and fled, letting the machine run out of control.

“They were building a school opposite us. So, even in bed, me and the wife, we could hear this machine starting up, and I could hear this crashing going on. It smashed through the scaffolding, and out onto the road, and it was headed to our block of flats. So I jumped out of bed — I only had a pair of boxer shorts on — ran down the stairs, across the road, and into the machine. I stopped it just as it was comin’ out onto the road. If it was anybody else it would’ve come into the flats because there was nobody to stop it. The police come there, obviously. So the next morning, I had to phone work and tell them that I couldn’t get to work, because the police are coming to my flat to interview me, and the boss wasn’t very happy because I took the day off.”

* * *

In the morning, Janet and Owen take me out on a tour of the region, starting with an attempt to find a route to a coal tip I’ve spotted across the valley. We don’t manage to find a route up and in, but it’s still a great opportunity to get a sense of the valley and its terraced coal mining villages, including a stop at the Welsh National Mining Memorial and Universal Colliery Memorial Garden in Senghenydd. Young students from the local primary schools in the Aber Valley helped make countless ceramic name tiles making up the memorial. They are the names of men and boys who lost their lives in the many accidents and disasters in the collieries. Senghenydd is also the site of Britain’s worst coal mining accident, in which an explosion underground at the Universal Colliery killed well over 400 miners on October 14, 1913.

The coal tip I want to see is one of many in the valleys. The towering piles of black waste rock have extended the summits of hills, giving the grassy mounts dark, rocky peaks. Some of the older tips are a dirty olive from being grassed over. Over the years, many of the tips have been slowly, methodically removed, truckload by truckload, but swaths of the landscape of the South Wales Valleys has nonetheless been irrevocably shaped and transformed by coal mining. One of the more stunning examples of this is the view across the valley at the Big Pit National Coal Museum at Blaenavon, where Janet and Owen next take me.

The area around Blaenavon, including Big Pit, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Big Pit has remained open and accessible as a museum. Janet stays behind while Owen and I put on miner’s helmets with lamps and batteries, as well as emergency rebreathers around our waists, before being taken down into the mine from by a tour guide — who once worked Big Pit himself before its closure in as an operational mine in 1980.

We start by riding 300 feet down the mineshaft from the pit head in a large elevator. The air cools as we descend, and we emerge into a dark tunnel with old, thick, heavy wooden beams holding it up. Our helmet lamps provide light to see the way, bouncing and reflecting off wet stone walls with crystallized mineral stalactites. Water burbles in the dank silence through gutters running on either side of the tunnel. There are very few sources of electricity down here. Gas seepage from lower rock strata, deep below, and its possible buildup in mines (especially disused mines), has always been a serious threat to miners: the silent poison of carbon monoxide, the devastating volatility of methane and hydrogen (known as firedamp), or even the ability of coaldust to ignite explosively. Anything that contains a battery, or that could spark, must be taken off and turned over to pit head staff for safekeeping: watches, cellphones, penlights, matches, lighters, and so on. Tour guides carry gas monitors, and there are telephone stations at various positions.

In fact, it was firedamp and an electrical spark from signalling equipment that possibly caused the Universal Colliery explosion at Senghenydd. Any coal dust present (which was the cause of a previous explosion in the very same mine) would have exacerbated the explosion. Of the hundreds of miners who survived the initial explosion but were trapped, many or most died from asphyxiation by afterdamp, the mixture of poisonous gases remaining after all the oxygen is consumed by a firedamp explosion. Resulting fires blocked rescuers from reaching whomever might be still alive, and days passed before a recovery operation could begin.

The tunnel runs at a downward angle, turning back on itself in the opposite direction and going deeper. For large stretches we must stoop low as we walk to avoid banging our headlamps against the roof. In one passage, we turn off our headlamps to get a sense firsthand of absolute darkness. Miners trapped underground in an accident might have to await rescue in this absolute darkness for days.

Our guide shows us a series of empty stables, made of whitewashed stone and brick, where the mine’s pit ponies (or colliery horses) were housed in the 1800s through to the mid 1900s. The ponies spent most of the year underground in the dark tunnels, ferrying coal to the pit head, but were brought up once a year into the sunlight on “holidays.”

Pit ponies were eventually replaced with rail cars and conveyer belts. Our guide shows us the trestles for the conveyer belt at Big Pit, explaining how the quicker way out of the mine at the end of the day was to lie down on the conveyer instead of walking for hundreds of metres. This, of course, was not at all safe or sanctioned, and not only just because a miner had to know when to roll off the conveyer to avoid being entrapped in machinery.

Once back at the surface we rejoin Janet, and we tour the pithead baths building which has been converted to a cafeteria. The baths building was built around 1939 after growing social activism in coal mining communities was successful in convincing mining companies to provide facilities for miners to clean up at the end of the shift. That’s because coal dust and the underground environment left miners dirty beyond dirty. And combined with damp clothing, it caused health problems, including pneumonia and lung disease.

“Before the baths, the miners would go home to their families black with coal dust,” explains Janet. “In the villages, the wives would pull large tubs of hot water into the middle of the kitchen and get the bath ready for their husband before he came home every working day. The water would be black when he was done washing.” The pit baths relieved the burden on families and helped control coal dust in their homes.

From the Big Pit site, Janet and Owen take me to a beautiful lookout along B4246 above the Usk Valley, where Torfaen County meets Monmouthsire.

We then turn westward onto the Heads of the Valleys Road before taking the A470 north into the Brecon Beacons. Brecon Beacons National Park is large, and we only have time to drive through its centre. I’ve wanted to see the Beacons for a long time. The Beacons are very old, and most of the formations are a more visible example of a great swath of ancient sedimentary deposits, mostly red sandstone, found across the North Atlantic, that date back over 400 million years. The Beacons look like mountains, but they are, in part, large chunks of these red sandstone sedimentary deposits. These are sediments which came from the erosion of the mountains of the Caledonian Orogeny, during an impossibly ancient time in Earth’s history when life on land was only just beginning to flourish with any significance. The remains of the Caledonian mountain chains can be seen from the Northeastern United States, to Scotland and Norway, among other Nordic regions. The Beacons took their present shape when rivers, ice sheets and erosion from several cycles of glaciation cut through and carved them out over the past 2 million years.

About 100 million years or more after the rise of the Caledonian mountains, the region around South Wales was part of a different continent, and even at a different latitude much further south. What would become the Brecon Beacons was beginning to build from the outwash of the eroding Caledonian Mountains to the north. What are now the South Wales Valleys were then part of a shallow sea, which eventually filled with eroded sediment from the newer, eroding Variscan mountain chains to the south, and resulted in tropical swampland. The swampland became part of a vast band of tropical swamps and forests cutting across this ancient continent sitting astride the Earth’s equatorial region. The continent was Laurussia, and the period was the Carboniferous. Across the millennia and countless dry-wet cycles of the Carboniferous Period, the remnants of successive swamps and forests were lain down over the previous, until the crushing layers of sediment and peat baked and carbonified, forming vast pockets, or seams, of coal. Several hundred million more years passed as Laurussia became part of the Pangaean supercontinent. The region drifted into the northern hemisphere as Pangaea broke apart in all directions. At the dawn of the Anthropocene Epoch, humans discovered the surviving network of coal seams that had once been tropical swampland — the South Wales Coalfield.

* * *

The need for change in the pits of not only Wales, but all of Great Britain, spurred Prime Minister Clement Atlee’s Labour government to nationalize the coal mining industry following the Second World War. The National Coal Board was formed in 1947 to run the industry. By the early 1980s, the National Coal Board’s subsidies could not keep up with operating losses, the coal industry was in retraction, and cheaper coal from Europe was undercutting the board’s prices. Shifting government policy and pressures on the National Coal Board led to pit closures and layoffs.

The National Union of Mineworkers increasingly faced off against Margaret Thatcher’s neoconservative government. The union had staged a major strike in 1972 and again in 1974 in response to Edward Heath’s policies on miners’ wages. In 1984 the union’s leader, Arthur Scargill, decided that a major industrial action was again necessary in response to Thatcher’s pit closures and subsidy reductions.

In the middle of the resulting industrial action was Philip Albert Brideaux...

[acousticsoup]

Very rare and beautiful #Beatles items ...Fan Club Xmas discs!

Back in 1963 when #TheBeatles began their quest for world domination, fans flocked to join The Beatles Fan Club.   The Fab Four were still enthusiastic enough to want to reward the fans for their loyalty and so decided to issue special Xmas discs to their loyal following.  These comprised a flexi-disc containing songs, greetings, and bits of Goon-inspired comedy and the discs were presented in Christmassy sleeves.  Read on if you want to know more about the history of this very rare and exciting package! ...

We make no apologies for the length of this post because we’re sure you will want to know about each of these amazing discs.  When the first disc was issued in 1963 the Fan Club had well over 50,000 members but, even so, the discs are now difficult to find - particularly in their original sleeves and even more so in the original mailing envelopes.

As the decade wore on and it became a little uncool to be a member of a Fan Club, membership numbers declined, fewer discs were sent out and they are consequently much rarer with discs for 1968 and 1969 being particularly scarce.

By 1970, The Beatles own enthusiasm for making a special Christmas disc had waned to the point that the Fan Club decided to send the remaining Members a full LP record containing the contents of all the previous flexi-discs.  These LPs themselves have become rare and are much sought after.

For Beatles collectors the Xmas flexi-discs have become something of a holy grail and are difficult to find, particularly in good condition as they are fragile and - like all flexi-discs - prone to wear and creasing.  Our discs are of VG playable quality, and very, very enjoyable to listen to - possibly some of the most off-the-wall stuff the Beatles did.

We also have a ‘signed’ Fan Club Card - we say ‘signed’ because they were usually signed by the Club Secretariat (Freda Kelly/Anne Collingwood) replicating the signatures of the Fab Four.  However, Ringo could also replicate all four signatures and so who knows who produced these particular signatures!   So, let’s look at each of the individual items:

The above is the Beatles 2nd Xmas disc (1964) and is simply titled Another Beatles Christmas Record.  Issued in December 1964, the back cover has a great description of how the whole Christmas disc system with the Fan Club worked, and some nice notes about Paul nipping into the Fan Club offices in London and doing some of the signings and then taking the Secretariat team for lunch.  It describes the Fan Club then had 65,000 members and was issued while the guys were still much more suited, booted, and serious.  The later editions become much more ‘Yellow Submarine’, ‘Sgt Pepper’ and way, way out there!  The group photograph is a separate item we have issued by Anabas Products copyright 1977. 

Beatles 4th Xmas disc (1966, above) has a Pantomime ‘Everywhere it’s Christmas’ colourful sleeve designed by Paul McCartney and was recorded on Fri 25th Nov 1966.  It contains a song ‘Everywhere it’s Christmas’ and another ‘Please Don’t Bring Your Banjo Back’, the Corsican Choir and Small Choir ‘Orowayna’; items such as ‘A Rare Cheese (Two Elderly Scotsmen)’, ‘Podgy The Bear and Jasper’, ‘Felpin Mansions: Parts 1 and 2′ - all very Goons inspired, and Monty Python would be proud.

Beatles 5th Xmas disc (1967, above) is titled ‘Christmas Time (Is Here Again)’ and has an amazing collage-cover made up of incredible old black and white photographs - much time could be spent simply looking at the images on the cover and wondering!  Where they obtained the images goodness knows.  Cover design was by Julian Lennon (*we guess the drawings on the back!), John Lennon, and Ringo Starr.  It was recorded on Tues 28th Nov 1967 at EMI studios, St John’s Wood (LON).  This time no details are given as to what’s on the disc except with the hint of ‘Special Guest appearance by the feet/voice of Victor U Spinetti and Something Else by Malcolm Lift-Evans’.  This disc comes with an incredible insert (in excellent condition) of the National Newsletter written by the Fan Club Secretary Freda Kelly and giving more details about the contents of the record.  On the reverse of the insert is a fabulous cartoon of the Fab Four drawn by Bob Gibson.

Beatles 6th Xmas disc (1968, above) is simply called ‘The Beatles Sixth Christmas Record’ and was recorded in Nov 1968 at the London homes of John, Paul, and George, and also in the back of Ringo’s Removal Van (*it’s apparent interest is changing by this time!).  Part of George’s contribution was also achieved over the phone!  A tiny interest is the small note referencing the huge contribution of #KennyEverett in the production of the disc - basically, Everett seemed to take a whole lot of random input from the Beatles and turned it into the disc!  The tiny italics state ‘Non-Beatle Kenny Foreverett had a Nice Time mucking about with the tapes and deserves to be called PRODUCER although this is an unpaid position’!  This disc also comes with an excellent quality insert detailing sets of Beatles photographs available for Fan Club Members to buy at the huge price of ‘3 shillings per photo, or set of 8 for One Pound’!

Beatles 7th Xmas disc (1969, above) is titled ‘The Beatles Seventh Christmas Record’ and now does not even give a hint of the contents save to say it’s a compilation of recordings from Ascot, Weybridge, St John’s Wood, and also the Apple studios.  Kenny Everett again had the potentially unenviable task of ‘soldering’ (*as described on the disc!) things together to form the disc - credit is this time given to him using his real name of Maurice Cole.  The contents seem to be for the majority a series of Goon-esque ramblings between John and Yoko with the odd christmas greeting inserted from various other Fab Four.  There’s no insert with this disc.

We always use our Blogs/posts to simply share our knowledge with you folks and hopefully encourage people to become infected with a fascination for the preservation of vinyl and the history of the music industry.  However, this is such a rare package if you’ve read this and feel it just has to be yours do please email us urgently at acousticsoup@acousticsoup.net.  The value of this is £350-£400 for the five-disc set only (*you’d need to contact us separately with regards to the Club Card and photo if you have an interest in those).  The discs are likely to go to Japan next week if there are no takers, so don’t delay if you are genuinely interested in purchasing.  This really is something we feel privileged to be able to share with you, and also to offer for sale.  It’s a fascinating collection of Beatle memorabilia.

[egooksconnolly]

12 Amazing Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Your Favorite Bollywood Celebs

Watching our beloved stars on the silver screen and even television, we all share a sense of familiarity towards them. But how well do you really know your favorite Bollywood celebrity? Here are twelve celebrity facts we’re pretty sure you’re unaware of.

And we can guarantee #8 will take you by surprise!

1. Shah Rukh Khan

Image: Instagram

When it comes to Indian cinema, this Bollywood ka Baadshah is the ultimate king of romance. He has possessed our undying love since the 90s. But did you know that King Khan, who originally came from a humble middle-class family, is currently the third richest actor in the world? That’s right folks; he very well could be a literal national treasure. In his career of a jaw-dropping 300 plus films, SRK has won 207 out of his 226 assorted film award nominations! 29 of which have been for best actor. No wonder he possesses a net worth close to $600 million. Thoroughly deserved!

2. Priyanka Chopra

Image: Instagram

We bet you didn’t know that our very own Piggy Chops, who not only has our nation’s love but is also now winning hearts overseas, has been selected at the state level for the distinguished National Opus Honour Choir! She is the only Indian ever in the USA to receive this honor. Well done, Pee Cee! Could she make us any prouder? We think she would bet us she could.

 3. Ranbir Kapoor

Image: Instagram

Did you know our Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor, is actually an adorable mama’s boy? That’s right ladies; this incredibly talented, versatile actor still receives 1500 rupees as pocket money from his mom per week! He continues to manage daily expenses on that sum and allows his lovely mom to deal with his financial matters.

4. Deepika Padukone

Image: Instagram

Probably Bollywood’s most enchanting face, this long-legged, dimpled beauty is not only one of our nation’s highest paid actresses but also, according to Forbes, one amongst the top-ten highest paid actresses in the entire world! Padukone is said to be the only Indian on that list, having earnings close to 10 million USD.

5. Hrithik Roshan

Image: Instagram

A talented actor, fitness freak and veritable Adonis walking; this fact about Hrithik is sure to take you by surprise. Apparently, our Indian superhero’s actual surname isn’t Roshan but Nagrath! Surprised? Well, so were we.

6. Kareena Kapoor

Image: Instagram

This supremely talented actress apparently wore close to 130 different ensembles, designed by leading fashion designers from across the globe, for her film Heroine. It has also been reported that Bebo’s wardrobe for this 2012 film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, is one of the most expensive wardrobes in any Bollywood movie ever filmed!

7. Amitabh Bachchan

Image: Instagram

This Bollywood veteran and ultimate legend is not only an unparalleled actor but apparently possesses other unusual talents as well. Apparently, Big B is ambidextrous! He can write, with equal proficiency, using both hands. Yeah, we’re about to scour up old KBC videos and watch him sign cheques as well. Oh well, still an hour well spent.

8. Kalki Koechlin

Image: Instagram

This adorable Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Bollywoodactress and writer of French descent will surely surprise you. Koechlin’s great grandfather is none other than Maurice Koechlin, the chief engineer for not only the Eiffel Tower, one of the celebrated wonders of the world, but also the historical Statue of Liberty! Yep, mind blown here as well.

9. Aamir Khan

Image: Instagram

Talking about famous ancestors, this renowned Bollywood method actor is the great grand nephew of celebrated Islamic philosopher and freedom fighter Abul Kalam Azad. Impressed? Well, there’s more. He’s also related to the former President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain, from his paternal side. Sheesh Aamir Khan, talk about distinguished bloodlines.

10. Ranveer Singh

Image: Instagram

 Though we all love this talented actor and his bad boy, prankster antics usually have us in hysterics, this fact- scratch that, thesefacts– did pleasantly surprise us. Firstly Ranveer’s full name is actually Ranveer Singh Bhavnani (not the most star-studded of surnames, we feel you Ranveer). Secondly, he happens to be Sonam Kapoor’s cousin brother! (Author’s note: please don’t leave for Wikipedia yet.)

11. Salman Khan

Image: Instagram

Bollywood’s Bhai Jaan has an avid infatuation with soaps! Knocked you over, didn’t it? Apparently, Khan’s bathroom has a collection of assorted fragrant, herbal and handmade soaps. His most cherished of those are ones made with all natural, organic vegetable and fruit extracts.

12. Akshay Kumar

Image: Instagram

This Khiladi is surprisingly superstitious as hell! Apparently, Bollywood’s eternal action star won’t ever write a word on paper unless he begins it with ‘Om.’

Well, there you have it folks, twelve facts about your favorite Bollywood celebrities that surprised you. Oh, don’t pretend, we see right through you. It was number 7 wasn’t it? If so, ha! Success! If not, well dang it boy, you really are a fan, aren’t you?

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