#former Victorian holiday home

[thehotelbalmoralgb]

The Balmoral Hotel Torquay has among the most distinctive and unique locations of the numerous hotels and bed and breakfast establishments located in the Torbay area. Positioned in the spectacular and most picturesque conservation area of Meadfoot, you can take in the glorious views of the sea from our extensive sun trapped landscaped gardens or stroll down to relax on the quiet blue flag beach just minutes’ walk away. Benefit from the peacefulness and tranquillity of Torquay’s very best kept secret yet stroll into the town harbour in ten minutes. Visit some of the very best attractions of Torquay such as Kent’s cavern, Torre Abbey and Torquay harbour all well within walking distance. The Balmoral Hotel Torquay is a 25 bedroom family run independent hotel in Torquay and we have been trading as such for over sixty years. We have firmly established our position as one of the top Torquay hotels offering an extensive selection of great value holiday breaks and special offers through the whole season. Many of our holiday packages include dining in our restaurant all included in the cost. We pride ourselves on delivering a fantastic holiday experience with a peaceful and informal ambience. Our leading Chef’s specialise in preparing top quality Italian French English cuisine with a twist that includes fish purchased direct from Brixham fish market. We only use local butchers for all our meats. All our vegetables are freshly prepared and where possible sourced from UK. We currently offer a variety of bedrooms starting from our quality cosy rooms to premium rooms with sea views overlooking our beautiful gardens. We also provide a variety of various breaks and packages all through the season which includes weekend breaks, midweek breaks, Christmas Breaks & New Year Breaks. Please note: We are an adult oriented hotel therefore we don’t accept children 5 or under.

Website: https://www.thehotelbalmoral.co.uk

Address: The Hotel Balmoral, Meadfoot Sea Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2LQ

Phone Number: 01803 293381

Contact Email ID: contact@thehotelbalmoral.co.uk

Business Hours: Monday - Sunday : 08:00 AM - 11:00 PM

[grogusmum]

Wait. You're writing Dieter???? PLEASE ELABORATE.

Thanks for asking Kindred! Have we not talked about this one??

Okay, so I haven't figured out why yet, but Dieter needs to get out of "the Hollywood/New York scene" so he goes to his hometown.

Looking to rent something for an extended stay, he stumbles on a b&b scrolling through a rental website, which he wouldnt even consider generally speaking- he doesn't want to navigate dealing with other guests, but he can't help checking it out more closely, since he practically grew up in that house.

His memeories stir - tearing up and down the three storied Victorian, playing hide and seek, putting on plays in the parlor using the pocket doors as curtains. It's the house of his best childhood friend- he can't believe it's no longer your family home.

You inherited the house after a car accident took both your parents, and turned it into a b&b, not having the heart to sell but at 6 bedrooms and almost 3000 sqft it's just too big for just you.

You've always had a flare for hospitality anyway, loving to bake and make visitors feel extra special, decorating for holidays, etc

It's still a fairly new endeavor, and with the off-season is looming, you are very concerned about its future... looking at months of vacancies - until someone from LA looks to rent the whole place for a month. The offer is good, generous even, and placed by some big shot's assistant who isn't "at liberty to disclose who at this juncture"

Needless to say, you're shocked to see who your guest for the next month will be, your former best friend (and secret crush) Dieter Bravo.

Behold! My WIPS

[dani-dimitrescu]

RULES.  repost, don’t reblog. tag ten.

TAGGED.  Stole it.

TAGGING. Just do the thing if you want to.

BASICS.

FULL NAME.  Daniela Dimitrescu (former:  Valeria Lois Lupei)

NICKNAME.   Dani, Fruitfly, Firefly

AGE.  90+

BIRTHDAY.  April 1931/January 1950

ETHNIC GROUP. Romanian 

NATIONALITY.   Romanian

LANGUAGE.  Romanian, Italian, English, German, French

SEXUAL ORIENTATION.   Lesbian

RELATIONSHIP STATUS.   Single (except in one verse)

CLASS.  Upper class

HOME TOWN / AREA.  Unnamed Village in Romania

CURRENT HOME.  Castle Dimitrescu

PROFESSION.  Spoiled youngest daughter (xD)

PHYSICAL.

HAIR.  Red

EYES.   Gold, with hints of Green in her right eye (former blue and green)

COMPLEXION.   Pale

BLEMISHES.   Heterochromia

SCARS.   Long scar on the left side of her heads

TATTOOS.   Rose on her forehead

HEIGHT.   5′5″ (human)  7'2" (Current)

WEIGHT.   confidential

ALLERGIES.   None

USUAL HAIR STYLE.   Straight/Sidecut

USUAL CLOTHING.  Dresses,  High Heels

PSYCHOLOGY.

FEAR.  Death, losing control,  abandonment

ASPIRATION.   Marry a beautiful girl to share her indefinite love with. (hopeless romantic)

POSITIVE TRAITS.  Humorous, Loyal, Imaginative, Adventurous, Romantic

NEGATIVE TRAITS.    Possessive, Nosy, Jealous, Rebellious, Reckless, Scatterbrained

MBTI.    ENFP:The Enthusiasts

ZODIAC.   Aries

TEMPERAMENT.    Your temperament is sanguine. The sanguine temperament is fundamentally spontaneous and pleasure-seeking; sanguine people are sociable and charismatic. They tend to enjoy social gatherings, making new friends and tend to be boisterous. They are usually quite creative and often daydream. However, some alone time is crucial for those of this temperament. Sanguine can also mean sensitive, compassionate and thoughtful. Sanguine personalities generally struggle with following tasks all the way through, are chronically late, and tend to be forgetful and sometimes a little sarcastic. Often, when they pursue a new hobby, they lose interest as soon as it ceases to be engaging or fun. They are very much people persons. They are talkative and not shy. Sanguines generally have an almost shameless nature, certain that what they are doing is right. They have no lack of confidence.

GHOSTS?  Yes

AFTERLIFE?   Yes

REINCARNATION?   No

ALIENS?   No

FAMILY.

FATHER.  (former:  Alexandru Lupei)

MOTHER.   Alcina Dimitrescu / (former: Dakaria Lupei)

SIBLINGS.  Bela and Cassandra / (former: Fabiu Lupei)

EXTENDED  FAMILY.  Mother Miranda, Donna Beneviento, Angie, Karl Heisenberg, Salvatore Moreau

NAME MEANING.    God is my judge

FAVOURITES.

BOOKS.   Romances

MOVIES.  Has never seen a movie

MUSIC.  Classical and Jazz

DEITY.   Venus

HOLIDAY.   None

MONTH.   June

SEASON.    Summer

PLACE.  Library

WEATHER.   Warm and sunny

SOUND.  The sound a body makes when it falls from great height, Rain

SCENT.   Blood, Lavender, Roses, 

TASTE.   Blood, Fruits, Cake

FEEL.   smooth marble, warm skin

ANIMAL.   Bats

NUMBER.   11

COLOR.   Green

EXTRA.

TALENTS.   Singing

BAD  AT.  Dancing, Hunting, Empathy

TURN  ONS.   Blood, neck kisses, hugs from behind.....

TURN  OFFS.   rude behaviour, being ignored......

HOBBIES.   Reading

TROPES.     Alliterative Name,  Beware the Silly Ones,  Evil Cannot Comprehend Good,  Flirting Under Fire,  Psychopathic Manchild,  Villains Want Mercy,  Actually Not a Vampire,  Ambiguous Situation,  Artificial Family Member, Alphabetical Theme Naming,  Assist Character,  Blonde Brunette Redhead,  Cute Monster Girl,  Dark Action Girl, Daywalking Vampire, Delinquent Hair,  Excessive Evil Eyeshadow, Facial Markings,  Flies Equals Evil, Happily Adopted,  Humanoid Abomination,  Leitmotif,  One to Million to One,  Shout-Out,  Sibling Team, Sinister Scythe,  Statuesque Stunner,  Synchronized Swarming,  Villainous Breakdown,  Was Once a Man,  Weaksauce Weakness,  The Worm That Walks

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/ResidentEvilTheFourHouses

 AESTHETICS.  Vampire, Victorian Goth

FC INFO.

MAIN  FC. Nataliia Kubyshyn 

VOICE  CLAIM.   Nicole Tompkins

[pestidunce]

The lore of "What's Happened To Soho": Places and history

I've been working on this project for a looooong time now, however feel like many people don't quite know what it is, so I'm making a lore post (art mode turned off for now).

So far, WHTS has a fixed setting with a few places that come up. This is a list of the basics:

The characters are in England, London to be exact. They live in Soho.

As the world is closely linked in with Lovecraft, Miskatonic University exists. They have a campus in Soho (fictional), as well as one further down the map which will be mentioned later. This campus has a lab and a library, in which Griffin works. Victor and Hyde study here. There is also a museum in close proximity, in which the events of issue 3 are going to happen with Elizabeth and a mystery character who I have not yet introduced. This museum is home to the famous portrait of Dorian Gray, a man found dead in his apartment, suspected suicide, Victorian era (hint). This portrait was lost for a long period of time, however was eventually recovered. This does not guarantee that it will not be lost again. The library contains a copy of the Necronomicon, however special access is required to this section due to the sensitive contents of the book.

There is a 3 hour drive from Soho to Little Innsmouth. Little Innsmouth started as a settlement of former Innsmouthians unhappy with the outdated system of the former town. Little Innsmouth is a popular holiday destination and has a rich culture. Innsmouthians have skills in fishing and jewelery making, just like their American counterparts. However, they are much more open and do not eat people. Some say that there is a religious cult at work underneath the tourist-friendly facade of beaches and seafood....but oh, don't take their word for it. The town is the current home of the ocean god Dagon, who the locals worship. Little Innsmouth is the origin town of Gylphie and Otto, who are 3rd generation settlers. The mass-movement occurred around the late 60s or early 70s. The townies do not like talking about it. Little Innsmouth is small, with only about 2 hotels available, yet somehow happens to be bustling with visitors and photographers during the season. The townies are overwhelmingly religious and devoted to Dagon.

The town is very close to New Arkham, which is also a very popular tourist attraction. The city offers an asylum, another campus for Miskatonic (with an even bigger library), a planetarium and a few factories. It is quite atmospheric, however very dangerous to be around at night. New Arkham have their own mayor.

The Red Rat is a popular pub in Soho, this is where Hyde and Lucy meet. Lucy works here as a waitress. It is 5 minutes away from the apartment in which Hyde, Jekyll, Griffin and Victor first live together. Their landlord is the Time-traveller. Justine lives in an apartment opposite the men. She lives with William, raising him due to Caroline's death. Sometimes she does odd jobs for the Time-traveller, intrigued by the concept of time travel. It is how she first met Hyde, however that was a long time ago. A lot has changed since then.

The Frankensteins (exc William, Ernest, Justine and Victor) reside in a large Chateau in Switzerland. This is where Justine, Elizabeth, Ernest and Victor were raised before moving. Ernest and Elizabeth are travelling characters. They move a lot, not staying in one place for too long. Ernest is a monster hunter in training, Elizabeth simply enjoys moving.

There is an unnamed acre of woods near Soho, which most people tend to avoid. There have been rumoured sightings of a Moth-man here, as well as "wolves". Lucius Moritz, one of the Moritz siblings, was last seen here after his return from a mysterious island. He has been missing since. Justine quite enjoys the forest. It is where she gathers herbs and plants for her teas as well as divination practices.

Whitby is a seaside town home to Mina Murray, Arthur Holmwood, Lady Westenra, Jack Seward and Jonathan Harker. It will be explored more in the near future.

[tomrogers-viscom]

ISTD - History of Boscome, Bournemouth

When I used to work in Boscome, I'd meet locals who'd tell me about the decline of Boscome, and describe the affluent and bustling place it used to be. This prompted me to research further into the history of Boscome for the ISTD brief.

In 1878 Boscome's first building The Ragged Cat was built. It was a coaching inn tailored for people taking the journey from Christchurch to Poole. It's now named the Palmerston Arms Hotel on Christchurch Road.

In 1884 people began to build shops and houses and in 1886 The Salisbury Hotel was built.

The Royal Arcade opened in 1893 by the Duke of Connaught and above were residences for shop owners, in 1889 Boscome opened its first pier, and the Hippodrome opened in 1990 as a theatre and music hall.

Initially Boscome was a prosperous and affluent community, with wealthy businessmen building large, seaside homes for themselves to take advantage of the health-giving benefits of sea-side living. This can be seen with the pine trees that line Boscome's streets and park, that were planted in the early 1900's for their supposed health properties.

There are various architectural styles in Boscome, ranging from elaborate Victorian style buildings such as the Royal Arcade, and Art Deco styles such as the former Gas and Water company store, and the Modernist styles that can be seen at the pier.

Boscome thrived as a seaside holiday destination and was home to many small holiday residences and guest houses. Many tourists travelled for the spa's and health benefits of the region.

In the 1970's through the 1990's, Boscome started to see its decline. As tourists began to travel abroad for family holidays, the tourism declined in Boscome, and many guest houses and holiday lettings became houses in multiple occupation. The standards of accommodation in theses bed-sits and flatlets are lower and the population turnover is relatively high, with low owner-occupier rates. This attracted a lower-income and vulnerable demographic into the area, and from the 1980's Boscome was reputable for crime and drug usage. This was coupled with an influx of Liverpudlian drug users and dealers to Bournemouth in the 1970s. Boscome was becoming an importer of people with drug and alcohol problems, and the drugs market expanded.

The drug problem and crime in Boscome as slowly improved as a community of creative people have slowly moved in. There are less houses of multiple occupancy in the area, many of which have been converted to family homes. That being said there is still a big issue with drugs and crime in the area, and personally I would feel unsafe walking around the town-centre at night. Only last year, a local woman found 13 discarded needles on a beach where her children were playing, and there are still 60 rehabilitation centres in the area.

I drew a timeline of Boscome in my sketchbook. It can be seen below. As you can see it’s slightly disorganised as I kept finding new information and dates as I researched.

Sources:

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/9516189.take-a-tour-through-boscombes-rich-history/

https://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2010/11/on-the-way-back/

https://wikishire.co.uk/wiki/Boscombe

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/12783978.gallery-how-boscombes-christchurch-road-has-changed-over-the-decades/

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2007/feb/04/property.observer

https://gotbeaf.co.uk/festival/harold-offeh-beaf2023/

LO1, A1

[travelcheapflights]

Dallas Delights: Unveiling the Top Attractions and Must-See Spots

Welcome to the vibrant city of Dallas, where cultural diversity, rich history, and modern innovation collide to create a truly unforgettable experience. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, Dallas offers a myriad of attractions and must-see spots that will captivate your senses and leave you craving for more. Embark on a journey through time as you explore the historic Dealey Plaza, where the tragic events of the JFK assassination unfolded. Indulge in retail therapy at the world-renowned Dallas Arts District, home to a plethora of art galleries and museums that showcase the city's artistic prowess. Immerse yourself in the Texan spirit at the lively Deep Ellum neighborhood, where live music, mouthwatering cuisine, and vibrant street art await. Whether you're a history buff, a culture enthusiast, or a thrill-seeker, Dallas has something for everyone. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to uncover the top attractions and must-see spots that make Dallas a true delight for visitors from around the world.

Popular tourist attractions in Dallas

Dallas is a city that boasts a wide range of popular tourist attractions, each offering a unique experience. One of the must-visit spots is the iconic Reunion Tower. Rising high above the city skyline, this observation deck provides breathtaking panoramic views of Dallas. As you take in the sweeping vistas, you'll gain a new appreciation for the city's architectural marvels, including the stunning Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and the historic Old Red Museum. Another must-see attraction is the Dallas World Aquarium, a captivating oasis that transports visitors to different aquatic ecosystems from around the globe. Get up close and personal with exotic marine life as you explore the various exhibits, including the fascinating recreated rainforest and the mesmerizing underwater tunnel.

For those seeking a taste of history, a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a must. Housed in the former Texas School Book Depository, this museum chronicles the life, death, and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Walk through the exhibits that detail the events leading up to that fateful day in November 1963 and gain a deeper understanding of the impact it had on the nation. Historical landmarks and museums

Dallas is steeped in history, and numerous landmarks and museums offer a glimpse into the city's past. One such landmark is the Dallas Heritage Village, a living history museum that showcases the city's rich heritage. Take a step back in time as you wander through the carefully preserved historic buildings, including Victorian homes, a schoolhouse, and a general store. Engage with costumed interpreters who bring the past to life and learn about the early settlers who shaped Dallas.

Another historical gem is the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. Through powerful exhibits and personal testimonies, this museum educates visitors about the Holocaust and the importance of human rights. Explore the thought-provoking exhibits that shed light on the atrocities committed during World War II and the ongoing fight for justice and equality.

Exploring Nature in Dallas - parks and Gardens

Despite being a bustling metropolitan city, Dallas is also home to numerous parks and gardens that provide a much-needed escape into nature. One such oasis is the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, a 66-acre paradise nestled along the shores of White Rock Lake. Stroll through the meticulously manicured gardens, each boasting its own unique theme and seasonal displays. From vibrant tulips in the spring to festive holiday decorations in the winter, there's always something beautiful to behold at the Dallas Arboretum. For those seeking a more adventurous outdoor experience, a visit to the Trinity River Audubon Center is a must. This 6,000-acre nature preserve offers a sanctuary for a diverse range of wildlife. Explore the miles of walking trails that wind through the wetlands, forests, and prairies, and keep an eye out for resident and migratory birds. The Trinity River Audubon Center also offers educational programs and guided hikes, making it a perfect destination for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Shopping and dining experiences in Dallas

Dallas is a haven for shopaholics and foodies alike, with a plethora of shopping and dining experiences to indulge in. If you're looking for a shopping spree, head straight to the NorthPark Center, one of the largest and most luxurious shopping malls in the country. With over 200 stores, including high-end fashion brands and specialty boutiques, you're sure to find something to suit your taste. Take a break from shopping and savor a delicious meal at one of the many restaurants and cafes located within the mall.

For a more unique shopping experience, make your way to the Bishop Arts District. This eclectic neighborhood is brimming with independent boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops. Browse through the curated collections of local designers and artisans, and pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs to remember your trip to Dallas. After a day of shopping, indulge in the diverse culinary offerings that the Bishop Arts District has to offer. From farm-to-table bistros to authentic Tex-Mex eateries, there's a dining establishment to satisfy every palate.

Sports and entertainment venues

Dallas is a city that loves its sports, and there's no shortage of sports and entertainment venues to catch a game or a live performance. If you're a fan of football, a visit to AT&T Stadium is a must. Home to the Dallas Cowboys, this state-of-the-art stadium offers a unique game day experience. Immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere as you cheer on America's Team and witness their iconic touchdown celebrations.

For basketball enthusiasts, the American Airlines Center is the place to be. Catch a Dallas Mavericks game or a live concert at this multi-purpose arena. With its modern facilities and top-notch acoustics, you're guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

Uncovering the arts and culture scene in Dallas

Dallas is a city that embraces the arts and culture, and there are numerous venues and events that showcase the city's creative spirit. The Dallas Arts District is a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts, with its impressive collection of museums and galleries. Explore the Dallas Museum of Art, which houses an extensive collection spanning thousands of years and various cultures. From ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces, there's something to captivate every art lover.

Another cultural gem is the Nasher Sculpture Center, a haven for modern and contemporary sculpture. Admire the outdoor sculpture garden, featuring works by renowned artists such as Rodin, Picasso, and Calder. Step inside the museum and explore the rotating exhibitions that highlight the diversity and innovation of sculptural art.

Hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path spots

While Dallas has its fair share of popular tourist attractions, there are also hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path spots that offer a more authentic and local experience. One such spot is the Trinity Groves neighborhood, located just across the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. This vibrant district is a hub for culinary creativity, with a diverse range of restaurants and food trucks offering a wide array of cuisines. From Southern comfort food to international flavors, Trinity Groves is a food lover's paradise.

Another hidden gem is the Dallas Farmers Market, a bustling marketplace where locals and visitors alike gather to sample fresh produce, artisanal goods, and international delicacies. Browse through the stalls and interact with the friendly vendors, who are more than happy to share their stories and recommendations. Grab a delicious meal from one of the many food vendors and enjoy it at the outdoor seating area, while taking in the lively atmosphere.

Tips for visiting Dallas - transportation and accommodation

When visiting Dallas, it's important to plan your transportation and accommodation in advance to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. The city is well-connected with an extensive public transportation system, including buses and light rail. Consider purchasing a day pass or a visitor pass, which will give you unlimited access to the public transportation network.

As for accommodation, Dallas offers a range of options to suit every budget and preference. From luxury hotels in the heart of downtown to cozy bed and breakfasts in charming neighborhoods, there's something for everyone. Consider staying in the vibrant Uptown or Deep Ellum neighborhoods, which offer a lively atmosphere and convenient access to popular attractions.

Conclusion: Experiencing the best of Dallas.

Dallas is a city that truly has it all - from historical landmarks and museums to vibrant arts and culture scenes, stunning parks and gardens, and a thriving culinary and shopping scene. Whether you're a history buff, an art enthusiast, a nature lover, or a foodie, Dallas has something to offer. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to uncover the top attractions and must-see spots that make Dallas a true delight for visitors from around the world. Explore the city's rich history, immerse yourself in its diverse culture, and indulge in its culinary delights. Your adventure awaits in the vibrant city of Dallas!

[xtruss]

Celebrated on December 26, Boxing Day isn't named for leftover Christmas gift boxes or the sport of boxing. While its origins are lost to time, many believe the holiday was derived from a British tradition of charitable giving. Richard Brocken, Hollandse Hoogte

Why Historians Disagree About the Origins of Boxing Day

Celebrated on December 26, this British holiday was likely inspired by one of several charitable traditions. Here are the theories—and how it is observed today.

— By Erin Blakemore | December 20, 2022

The presents are unwrapped, everyone’s stuffed, and Christmas is over. What now?

If you’re British or live in a Commonwealth nation, Christmas doesn’t end on December 25. The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day, and the relaxed holiday is a chance to extend the celebration for one more restful day.

But its name has nothing to do with the sport of boxing, and contrary to popular belief, did not arise from a need to return unwanted gifts or clean up trash generated by Christmas gifting. Here’s how Boxing Day got its name—and how it’s celebrated around the world.

The Origins of Boxing Day

Though historians disagree on the exact origin of Boxing Day, it is thought to have grown out of longstanding British traditions of charitable giving and goodwill—practices especially associated with the Christian festival of Saint Stephen’s Day, which is celebrated on December 26.

One of the first deacons of the Christian church, Saint Stephen was killed for his beliefs around A.D 36 and is considered Christianity’s first martyr. Known for serving the poor, Saint Stephen is traditionally celebrated with charity and the distribution of alms.

If you’ve ever heard the carol “Good King Wenceslas,” you may recall that the king tramps through deep snow in a bid to give alms to a poor peasant. The king was a real figure: Saint Wenceslas, a 10th-century Bohemian duke who, according to legend, did noble deeds “on the feast of Stephen”—December 26.

There are several theories as to how that charitable tradition became known as “boxing.” Some historians tie the use of the term to boxes of donations that were installed in churches during the pre-Christmas season of Advent in the early days of Christianity during the second and third centuries A.D. The day after Christmas, the boxes were opened and the money distributed to the poor.

Another theory is tied to a practice that arose around the 16th century. Working-class people would spend December 26 seeking out Christmas “boxes,” or tips, from the people they had served throughout the year.

Though popular, the practice wasn’t beloved by everyone. In 1710, for example, essayist Jonathan Swift complained that “I shall be undone here by Christmas boxes. The rogues at the coffeehouse have raised their tax, every one giving a crown, and I gave mine for shame, besides a great many half-crowns to great men’s porters &c.”

Another possible origin story for Boxing Day has to do with a tradition that evolved in socially stratified 19th century Victorian England, where servants sacrificed time with their own families to cater to their aristocratic employers on Christmas.

On the day after Christmas, employers would give the servants a rare day off and send them home with leftovers from the family’s Christmas feast, plus gifts and tips. In their servants’ absence, writes historian Andrea Broomfield, these lords and ladies would eat an informal feast of leftovers.

How Boxing Day Is Celebrated

Since 1871, Boxing Day has been an official bank holiday in the United Kingdom, which moves the holiday to Monday if it falls on a weekend to give people more time off. It is also celebrated in many former British colonies that remain part of the Commonwealth, such as Canada, Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago.

Though the reasons are lost to history, Boxing Day charity eventually fell out of tradition—and was replaced with physical and material pleasures. Today, the holiday is associated with sports, with major football, rugby, and cricket matches and horseraces taking place on December 26.

Hunting, especially fox hunting, is also beloved on Boxing Day. Though the sport is technically outlawed in England and Wales, a form of it that involves artificial scents tracked by dogs and hunters still takes place; in recent years protesters and hunters have clashed, sometimes violently, during Boxing Day events.

December 26 is also a big shopping day throughout the U.K. and the Commonwealth. The holiday kicks off what is known as “Boxing Week,” during which retailers attempt to move old stock and shoppers vie for one last bargain of the year. In recent years, though, the American tradition of Black Friday—massive sales that take place the day after Thanksgiving each November—has been taking hold in the United Kingdom and has largely overshadowed Boxing Week.

Some parts of the world have their own traditions for the day. Though Northern Ireland celebrates Boxing Day, the Republic of Ireland to the south celebrates St. Stephen’s Day instead. And on December 26, pockets of people across the entire island continue the tradition of Wren Day, or Lá an Dreolín.

Wren Day’s origins are just as murky as Boxing Day, with competing theories as to whether it evolved from Celtic mythology, Viking invaders, or an early Christian festival. Originally, the holiday was celebrated by “wrenboys” who hunted down and killed a wren—considered to be good luck—and displayed it on a pole. They then paraded through the town to celebrate the wren and ask for donations from their neighbors.

Parades are still part of today’s celebrations, in which people dress up in wrenboy costumes made of straw. The holiday is also celebrated on the Isle of Man and in parts of Wales.

One custom may take the prize for least relaxing way to celebrate. Every year, people around the U.K. choose to celebrate Boxing Day with a “Boxing Day Dip,” an icy run into cold water to raise money for charity. Though a brave few take the plunge, far more choose to welcome Boxing Day with relaxation and leftover Christmas food—traditions that, no matter their origin, are welcome respites at the tail end of a busy holiday season.

[laresearchette]

Friday, December 23, 2022 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: FAMILY DINNER (discovery +)

WHAT IS <i>NOT</i> PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT? 24TH ANNUAL A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT THE GROVE (CBS Feed)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

CRAVE TV ACTING GOOD (Season 1) AFTER THE STORM (Episodes 1-2) COMEDY CENTRAL’S HELL OF A WEEK WITH CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD (Season 1) CRIBS (Season 19) ERASER: REBORN A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS MTV’S ARE YOU THE ONE? UK (Season 1) MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS (Season 2) PEACE BY CHOCOLATE THE OUTFIT TREASURE HOUNDS ZOOM

DISNEY + STAR GAME OF SHARKS TINI TOUR 2022: FAREWELL OF THE YEAR

NETFLIX CANADA GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY PIÑATA MASTERS!

IIHF WORLD JUNIORS (TSN): 2:30pm: Pre-Competition: Switzerland vs. Sweden (TSN): 6:30pm: Pre-Competition: Canada vs. Finland

NHL HOCKEY (SNOntario/SNEast/SN1) 7:00pm: Bruins vs. Devils (TSN3) 7:00pm: Jets vs. Capitals (TSN5) 7:00pm: Red Wings vs. Sens (TSN2) 8:00pm: Habs vs. Stars (SNWest/SNPacific) 9:00pm: Canucks vs. Oilers (SN1) 10:30pm: Flames vs. Ducks

THE HOLIDAY (CBC) 7:00pm: Two women, one (Cameron Diaz) from America and one (Kate Winslet) from England, swap homes at Christmastime after bad breakups with their boyfriends.

SANTA'S GOT STYLE (City TV) 7:00pm: When department store executive Madison is charged with coming up with a fresh idea for the holiday season, she decides that instead of a classic Santa, this year they would hire a young Santa with lots of fashionable style.

MENORAH IN THE MIDDLE (CTV Life) 7:00pm: Sarah is headed back to her hometown for Hanukkah with news of her engagement. Upon returning she finds out that her father had a heart attack and things have gotten out of hand.

PULSE (APTN) 7:00pm: Featuring Soleil Launière, a professional dancer who mixes beats to create original scores for her performances; she discusses her creative process and how she incorporates natural elements into her pieces.

NBA BASKETBALL   (TSN4) 7:30pm: Raptors vs. Cavaliers (TSN5) 10:00pm: Grizzlies vs. Suns

A KINDHEARTED CHRISTMAS (CTV) 8:00pm: To capture the holiday spirit, Jaime anonymously gives gifts to those in need. Word spreads and people in town wonder who this "Secret Santa" is. She remains anonymous and meets Scott. Jamie tries to keep her secret and pursue a new romance.

THE COOK WHO CHANGED OUR LIVES (TLN) 8:00pm: Journalist/food writer Nigella Lawson offers tribute to food writer Anna Del Conte, who helped  raise awareness in Britain, of Italian cooking in 1949.

RETURN TO CHRISTMAS CREEK (Super Channel Heart & Home) 8:00pm:  After being told her new holiday app lacked Christmas spirit, a young CEO returns to her hometown to rediscover the meaning of the holidays.

A DICKENS OF A HOLIDAY! (Global) 9:00pm: To mark the 100th anniversary of a Victorian festival, Cassie invites movie star and former high school classmate Jake to play Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol."

MERRY KISS CAM (CTV Life) 9:00pm: Two people from very different worlds meet on a hockey kiss cam.

PEACE BY CHOCOLATE (Crave) 9:00pm: A Syrian refugee struggles to settle into his new Canadian small-town life, caught between his dream to become a doctor and preserving his family's chocolate-making legacy.

CANADA'S DRAG RACE: CANADA VS. THE WORLD (Crave 2) 9:00pm (SEASON FINALE): Who will be the Queen of the Mother-Pucking World?

NATALEE HOLLOWAY: HER FRIENDS SPEAK (Super Channel Fuse)  10:00pm:  Natalee Holloway mysteriously disappears while on a school trip in Aruba in 2005; evidence points to the man Natalee was last seen with, Joran Van Der Sloot.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Aura Answer by Patricia Rice

Psychic solutions 5

 Action-packed, riotous, excitement with two bodies soon falling start this murder mystery set in Afterthought, South Carolina. It was so much fun to return to this small town filled with interesting characters, find out how they are doing, watch them solve a mystery, and watch Nik and Gracie fall in love during the holiday season.

 What I liked

* Gracie – divorced, single parent, schoolteacher, telekinetic, young daughter, wannabe author, part of the eccentric Malcolm family with paranormal gifts, intrigued by Nick

* Nick – British, marketing expert, stranded in the USA, staying with the Malcolms, interested in antiques…and in Gracie

* Seeing how the couples from previous books are doing

* The plot, pacing, writing and that the mystery was all concluded by the end

* The way the psychic solutions team worked together

* That I was drawn in and my attention held throughout

* The strong sense of family and community

* That Jax and Evie are still going strong and major players in the series

* How all the pieces of the puzzle were found and fit together seamlessly

* The holiday events

* Hoping that Iddy will have a book of her own in this series

* All of it except…

 What I didn’t like

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Having to wait for the next book in the series

 Did I enjoy this book   Yes

Would I read more in this series   Definitely

 Thank you to the author for the ARC – this is my honest review.

 5 Stars

       BLURB

 Blend holiday sugar and spice with a heaping spoonful of angry ghosts, then bring to a boil with one psychic detective... Ghost talker Evie Malcolm’s family converges on her eccentric Victorian home for a warm and welcoming family Christmas, but the murder of a former mayor requires that she investigate his cranky ghost. Evie's quiet schoolteacher sister Gracie reluctantly becomes involved while trying to help the family of a homeless artist who died weirdly in the same courthouse as the mayor. An offer by a sexy Brit marketing expert to help Gracie frame the late artist’s sketches appallingly evolves into another murder when they reveal the late mayor's corrupt business dealings. Evie is suffering spectral burn-out dealing with a mounting list of ghosts, but what she learns from Gracie tells her that if they don’t find the killer by the holiday, Afterthought is likely to be plowed under for a theme park in the new year—

[timmonsberthelsen]

Self Catering Holidays in Ballater Scotland

Tomidhu Located in the Cairngorm National Park, Tomidhu is a recently renovated traditional farmhouse which offers self-catering holidays in Ballater for up to eight guests. The house has large rooms with stunning views. It is equipped with a wood burning stove and an enclosed garden. Located less than one mile from Balmoral castle, the property is close to many outdoor activities. Tomidhu is near to many places of interest, including the Balmoral Castle as well as the 18-hole golf course. Ballater is a wonderful spot to relax and unwind whether you are a golf enthusiast, or just an ordinary traveler. A self-catering vacation here is the best way to enjoy the area's natural beauty and also be close to the town's center. Dormie Cottage Dormie Cottage is located in the heart of the Highlands. It is equipped with a private garden as well as an fully-equipped kitchen. Accessible showers and entry points are available. The spacious cottage is close to amenities, including the Village and Royal Deeside Golf Course.

The town's central area is a short walk away. It is an ideal base for exploring the stunning Highlands. The cottage is family-friendly and features a fireplace and a fully-equipped kitchen. It also has a private garden as well as a washing machine. Bearberry Cottage Bearberry Cottage is a charming Scandinavian-style home for rent, which can sleep six people. The property is situated in a quiet residential area and is just a short stroll from Ballater the charming Victorian village. The cottage is close to the river, woodland views, and wildlife. The cottage is also well-equipped with triple glazing as well as a wood burner in the living room. There are Cheap Ballater accommodation self catering and shops in the town that serve local produce. Dog owners will be delighted by the dog-friendly setting. This area is ideal to walk and play. Clippie Lodge Clippie Lodge offers self catering accommodation for four people in a charming setting. Built from the remains of the former bus station the house is stylish and recently renovated. Each bedroom is equipped with a super-king bed, dressing room, and a bathroom with an en-suite. The property also has underfloor heating as well as 55-inch TVs. This luxurious holiday cottage is serene and perfect for you. It's situated in the picturesque Royal Deeside village of Ballater and is close to the Cairngorms National Park. The town offers a wide range of shops, cafes and eateries. There are many opportunities for entertainment and leisure in the town and even a royal connection. The village is home to an 18-hole golf course, and scenic tours to Glen Muick, Strathdon and the Cairngorms are also possible. Westwood Located in the village of Ballater, Royal Deeside, Westwood self catering holidays in Ballater is a recently renovated cottage that can accommodate up to four guests. The property is equipped with two bedrooms and a bathroom, as well as an open-plan living space. The property is situated in the rear and off-road parking. There are linens and towels to be provided to guests. The Westwood Ballater holiday property is situated in a picturesque Victorian village that is located close to the river and a picturesque 18-hole golf course. The property offers an exclusive parking space and free WiFi. It also has 2 bedrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen that includes dishwasher and television. There's a bathroom with shower. The nearest airport is Aberdeen Airport, 63 km away. All age groups are welcome at the property. The property is not permitted for hen and stag parties.

[mariacallous]

The Queen is Britain’s last living link with our former greatness – the nation’s id, its problematic self-regard – which is still defined by our victory in the second world war. One leading historian, who like most people I interviewed for this article declined to be named, stressed that the farewell for this country’s longest-serving monarch will be magnificent. “Oh, she will get everything,” he said. “We were all told that the funeral of Churchill was the requiem for Britain as a great power. But actually it will really be over when she goes.”

Unlike the US presidency, say, monarchies allow huge passages of time – a century, in some cases – to become entwined with an individual. The second Elizabethan age is likely to be remembered as a reign of uninterrupted national decline, and even, if she lives long enough and Scotland departs the union, as one of disintegration. Life and politics at the end of her rule will be unrecognisable from their grandeur and innocence at its beginning. “We don’t blame her for it,” Philip Ziegler, the historian and royal biographer, told me. “We have declined with her, so to speak.”

The obituary films will remind us what a different country she inherited. One piece of footage will be played again and again: from her 21st birthday, in 1947, when Princess Elizabeth was on holiday with her parents in Cape Town. She was 6,000 miles from home and comfortably within the pale of the British Empire. The princess sits at a table with a microphone. The shadow of a tree plays on her shoulder. The camera adjusts three or four times as she talks, and on each occasion, she twitches momentarily, betraying tiny flashes of aristocratic irritation. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” she says, enunciating vowels and a conception of the world that have both vanished.

It is not unusual for a country to succumb to a state of denial as a long chapter in its history is about to end. When it became public that Queen Victoria was dying, at the age of 82, a widow for half her life, “astonished grief … swept the country”, wrote her biographer, Lytton Strachey. In the minds of her subjects, the queen’s mortality had become unimaginable; and with her demise, everything was suddenly at risk, placed in the hands of an elderly and untrusted heir, Edward VII. “The wild waters are upon us now,” wrote the American Henry James, who had moved to London 30 years before.

The parallels with the unease that we will feel at the death of Elizabeth II are obvious, but without the consolation of Britain’s status in 1901 as the world’s most successful country. “We have to have narratives for royal events,” the historian told me. “In the Victorian reign, everything got better and better, and bigger and bigger. We certainly can’t tell that story today.”

The result is an enormous objection to even thinking about – let alone talking or writing about – what will happen when the Queen dies. We avoid the subject as we avoid it in our own families. It seems like good manners, but it is also fear. The reporting for this article involved dozens of interviews with broadcasters, government officials, and departed palace staff, several of whom have worked on London Bridge directly. Almost all insisted on complete secrecy. “This meeting never happened,” I was told after one conversation in a gentleman’s club on Pall Mall. Buckingham Palace, meanwhile, has a policy of not commenting on funeral arrangements for members of the royal family.

And yet this taboo, like much to do with the monarchy, is not entirely rational, and masks a parallel reality. The next great rupture in Britain’s national life has, in fact, been planned to the minute. It involves matters of major public importance, will be paid for by us, and is definitely going to happen. According to the Office of National Statistics, a British woman who reaches the age of 91 – as the Queen will in April – has an average life expectancy of four years and three months. The Queen is approaching the end of her reign at a time of maximum disquiet about Britain’s place in the world, at a moment when internal political tensions are close to breaking her kingdom apart. Her death will also release its own destabilising forces: in the accession of Queen Camilla; in the optics of a new king who is already an old man; and in the future of the Commonwealth, an invention largely of her making. (The Queen’s title of “Head of the Commonwealth” is not hereditary.) Australia’s prime minister and leader of the opposition both want the country to become a republic.

Coping with the way these events fall is the next great challenge of the House of Windsor, the last European royal family to practise coronations and to persist – with the complicity of a willing public – in the magic of the whole enterprise. That is why the planning for the Queen’s death and its ceremonial aftermath is so extensive. Succession is part of the job. It is an opportunity for order to be affirmed. Queen Victoria had written down the contents of her coffin by 1875. The Queen Mother’s funeral was rehearsed for 22 years. Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, prepared a winter and a summer menu for his funeral lunch. London Bridge is the Queen’s exit plan. “It’s history,” as one of her courtiers said. It will be 10 days of sorrow and spectacle in which, rather like the dazzling mirror of the monarchy itself, we will revel in who we were and avoid the question of what we have become.

'London Bridge is down': the secret plan for the days after the Queen’s death

[hometoursandotherstuff]

When lofts in this former whiskey warehouse in Edinburgh, Scotland went on the market, buyers had the choice of purchasing a shell where they could fit out the interior themselves, or buying a completed apartment.

For Alex, this loft offered a unique and inspiring home. Different owners have used these spaces in different ways, and the previous owners of this apt. chose to renovate it themselves.

They installed the kitchen with a combination of high gloss lacquered white units and a molded stainless steel worktop, and with a freestanding industrial-style dishwasher unit which incorporates a combination microwave, grill and convection oven. 

This industrial styling is a perfect fit here. The island unit, meanwhile, is on castors, and features a Carrara marble worktop – a lovely, elegant contrast against the metal.

The existing bathroom was overhauled to create a slate-clad room, which includes twin basins mounted on a slate countertop, while the silver gilt-framed mirror above turns out to be a door that conceals the cupboard space behind. Color-changing fiber optic lights feature in both this room and the curved wall that wraps around the spiral staircase.

The quality of light and volume of space were what first attracted Alex to the loft, and the heritage details and patina of the Victorian warehouse with the playful architecture of the glass and timber roof pod, spiral staircase and slate bathroom.

The top floor lofts – which were called ‘Sky Lofts’ by the developers – feature glazed ‘pods’ on the roof that open onto terraces, offering incredible views across the city. Alex turned his into a bedroom. 

He says, “When I walk up the stairs into the upper bedroom I always feel like I’ve escaped from work and been transported to a holiday retreat.”

The roof terrace is his favorite ‘room,’ and whether dining outside, relaxing on a lounger or watering the plants he always enjoys the amazing views and technicolor sunrises and sunsets.

http://www.copperline.co/maritime-street/

[kleptonancydrew]

Nancy Drew and Education

So apparently the Clue Crew is full of teachers? Who knew. Well, as a former homeschooled student, current teacher, and (hopefully) future homeschooling parent/teacher I have been planning on integrating the games into lessons for a long time. Below the cut I have just a few of my many ideas (some more fleshed out than others). Feel free to use, adapt, or add your own! 

SCK:

-        Braille

o   How blind/vision impaired people navigate the world

§  How we can make it more accessible for them

o   How do braille books and printers work

-        ASL

o   Memorizing the alphabet and basic signs

§  Build up fluency

o   How HOH/deaf people navigate the world

§  How we can make it more accessible for them  

o   Connections of ASL to other signed languages

§  French Sign Language versus British Sign Language

-        Dangers of gas leaks

o   What to do if you smell or hear gas

-        Inequalities between mens and womens sporting opportunities

o   See Women’s Soccer

-        What are performance enhancing drugs

o   What is the difference between #steroids and the steroids your doctor might prescribe

-        How drug running is a gateway crime

-        Why blackmailing people isn’t good

-        More reasons to never move to Florida

-        Why you shouldn’t go to an actual high school part one

 STFD:

-        Television in NYC

o   Soap Operas

o   How television sets work

o   Role of director

o   Teleprompters

o   Props

o   Agents

-        Theatre in NY

o   Broadway

§  Learn a show

o   Carnegie Hall

-        Dangers in the ways we obsess over celebrities

o   Paparazzi

o   Stalkers

o   Respecting privacy

-        NY taxi system

-        NY regional accents

-        NY as a center for immigration – salad bowl

o   Ellis Island

-        History of NYC

o   Geography of NYC

-        Typewriters

-        Towers of Hanoi

-        Encoding  

-        How to make chocolates (with or without poison)

-        Read along:

o   New York the Novel (Edward Rutherford)

o   The Power Broker

o   All of a Kind Family

 MHM:

-        San Francisco Gold Rush

-        Earthquake and Fires in San Fran

-        Golden Gate Bridge

-        Angel Island

o   Asian (Chinese) Immigration to the USA

-        Chinese Zodiac

-        Fortune telling (and why it’s not okay)

-        Bed and Breakfasts

-        San Francisco today

o   Technology boom

o   Overpriced everything

§  How this hurts established residents

§  Homelessness in San Fran

-        Bandits in the American West

-        Hauntings in American buildings

-        How to remove and install tile

-        Renovations – refurbish something

-        Antiques

o   Visit an antique shop

-        Importance of fire safety

-        How to install lighting fixtures properly

-        How to fix a dumbwaiter

o   How not to be a dumb waiter

-        Tangrams

-        What is the Victorian period

o   Significance of Queen Victoria

-        Read Along:

o   Little Brother

o   Paper Son: Lee’s Journey to America

o   Angel Island Gateway to Golden Mountain

 TRT:

-        The French Revolution

o   Marie Antoinette

o   Women and the French Revolution

o   Worldwide effects of the Revolution

o   Historians of the French Revolution

-        Writing history

o   How we can focus on different events in history, how we can be sympathetic to certain people, how we can fulfill different spaces in the historical narrative, criticism of history as a field, entering history as a field

-        Wisconsin Dairy industry

-        Alarm systems and how they work

-        Fingerprinting

-        Elevator safety

-        Ski lifts

o   Skiing

-        Vandalism

-        Taking care of libraries

-        Latitude and longitude

-        Keeping records of good events and bad events

o   Nothing you do will ever stop me from loving you

-        Some people keep different sleep schedules

-        Journalism

-        Making translations  

-        Why France has different holidays – to keep the ski lodges from getting too full

 FIN:

-        History of theatre spaces

-        Use of film at theatres

-        Magicians

o   Houdini

o   Learn a ‘magic’ trick

-        Library of Congress

-        Demolition – wrecking balls

o   What’s involved

-        Plaster casts

-        Historic register of buildings

o   Visit a local historic building

-        Price of concessions and movie tickets today

-        Nickelodeons

-        Celebrity stunts for attention from press

o   Celebrity endorsements

-        Jazz music

o   Dancing

-        Kidnapping stories

o   What to do if someone tries to grab you

-        Rubber vs. electricity

-        Art/artists of the 20s

 SSH:

-        Numbering systems (particularly ones not based on 10)

-        Cultures of South America

o   Maya

§  Cultural understandings

§  Connections to what appears at Beech Hill

o   Aztec

o   Inca

-        Myths of lesser civilizations because of European preconceptions

-        Why do countries have consulates/embassies in other countries

-        What is amnesia and other medical memory issues

-        Provenance and why its important part one

-        Roles and responsibilities within a museum

o   Visit a museum

o   How to be critical of a museum and how knowledge is presented to you

-        Modern art

o   Make your own

o   Visit a modern art museum

-        Periodic Table of Elements

-        Positive and negative molds for casting

 DOG:

-        Prohibition

o   Speakeasys

o   Amendments to constitution

o   Drinking age restrictions

§  Comparison of USA to European countries  

o   Connections to modern drug policies

-        Recognizing and photographing local birds

-        Dangers in the forest – ticks and other pests

-        Why water sources are important

o   Flint water crisis

-        Visit a state park

o   Importance of maintaining public land

-        Alcatraz

-        How to care for dogs

-        Noise pollution

o   Light pollution

 CAR:

-        History of carousels

o   Visit a carousel

-        Lathes

-        Harmonicas

-        Band organs

-        Writing messages with lemon juice and other hidden inks

-        How to iron

o   How not to iron

-        How to make a sundae

-        How amusement park rides are designed

-        Soldering

-        What is parole

o   Welcoming those who have been in prison back to society

o   Problems with the American prison system

§  How it disproportionately affects minority groups

o   What can be done in prison reform

o   Abuses in prison

o   Making mental and spiritual help and guidance more available

o   Making sanitary products available

o   Prison for profit hurts everybody except the prison owner

o   Educational opportunities for those in prison

o   More half-way help

o   Juvenile sentencing reform – more out of system help

o   Respecting humanity of prisoners

o   Ending the death penalty  

-        Depression

o   How to get help

o   How to help others

o   Dealing with loss

DDI:

-        Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest

-        Orcas and other whales

o   Whaling industry in Northwest and Northeast

o   Things whale products were used for

o   Visit natural history museum with whale exhibition

-        Visit an aquarium with a good reputation

o   Problems with places that do not take care of their sea life – particularly large sea life like whales

-        What is a chowder and how is it made

o   Try or make chowder

-        Crabs

o   Restrictions on different types of crabs – what type is local

o   Try a crab dish

-        Importance of different knots  

o   Get some rope and learn how to tie different knots

-        Know the NATO alphabet and letter flags

-        Boating knowledge

o   Go on a boating trip – know the port and starboard sides

-        Learn how to kayak

-        Try to learn how to skip rocks

-        Visit a lighthouse

o   Importance and histories of lighthouses

-        Smuggling – what is it and why does it happen

-        Shanghaiing

-        Chess

 SHA:

-        The continuous oppression and mistreatment of Native Americans

o   From Mayflower to Pocahontas to Trail of Tears to Dakota to DAPL to Reservations to food deserts to voting rights to much much more

§  How to support current Native voices and concerns

o   Why Native Americans are not a costume

o   “Possession” of Native American objects and land

§  Arrowheads and native jewelry

o   Broad overview of regional Native American groups – using their own voices

§  Special focus on local Native American groups

·       Is there a local museum/educational resource that is either Native created or known for respecting Native voices

o   Current Native Americans of note (ex: politicians, activists, artists)

o   While the previous focuses on Native Americans in the modern day USA – also discuss First Nations from Canada and Native Groups from more southern areas

-        Why temperature and pan matters when baking (show what happens in the oven when it goes wrong)

-        Magnets and how different metals react differently to magnets

-        How to take care of a horse and other farm animals

o   Visit a local farm

o   Try horse-riding

-        Dangers of rattle snakes and scorpions

-        Lassos and how to use them

-        Legends of outlaws in the American West

-        Ghost towns  

-        Flower stitches when knitting/crocheting

-        Petrified wood

-        How to make a campfire

-        Picking fruits and veggies when they are ready

-        Flower language

-        Read Along:

o   Native American folk tales  

o   Motorcycles and Sweetgrass

o   Gone Away Lake

o   Black Beauty?

 CUR:

-        Where are the moors

-        Different regional accents within the United Kingdom

-        British foods

-        Latin

o   Learn fun phrases and prayers

-        Ancestry and genealogy

o   Map your own family tree and recognize family crests

o   How adoption has historically been a binding and irrefutable concept for lineage

o   Find places your family lived

o   Leaving a history for your descendants

§  Write a story book for them

o   British Royal Family

§  Why incest is bad

-        Parrots and their intelligence

-        Secret passages in old buildings

-        Alchemy

o   Connections to modern understandings of science  

o   Historical understandings of elements

-        Astrological signs

-        Witch trials

-        Legends of lycanthropy and other monsters

-        Importance of not taking other peoples medicines

-        Runic alphabet

-        Feeding your pets a healthy diet

-        Typing practice

-        How to embrace the idea that home taught students are evil geniuses

-        Forges and melting points of different metals

-        Carnivorous plants

-        Succulents

-        Constellations in different places  

-        Read Along:

o   The Secret Garden

o   The London Eye Mystery

o   Beastly

CLK:

-        Great Depression

o   Causes and effects

o   Who was hurt

o   Who was not hurt

o   Areas of America

§  Dust bowl

o   Famous people and literature

o   Homelessness and poverty

§  Bread lines

§  Soup kitchens

§  Anti-homelessness architecture

§  Connections to mental illness and veterans

§  How we can help those who do not have homes today

-        Early Telephones

-        Shakespeare

-        History of Nancy Drew

o   Mildred Wirt Benson

o   Edward Stratemeyer  

-        Fishing – why different fish respond to different bait

-        Orphanages in the early 20th century

-        Gas prices and accessibility of cars through time

-        How to make pie

-        What is jurisdiction and what is significant about crossing state lines

-        How do banks work

o   Safety deposit boxes

-        Identify theft

-        How to use a sewing machine

o   Sew an item of clothing

-        Mini golf – why and what

-        Mirrors and their usefulness

-        Stamp collections

-         

-        Radios and call signs

o   Comparison to modern internet forms

-        Telegrams

-        Read along:

o   Shakespeare

§  Midsummer Night’s Dream

§  Others

o   Pollyanna

o   Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

o   The Grapes of Wrath

  TRN:

-        Trains

o   Steam trains

o   Visit a train museum

o   Take a train ride (if not a normal event)

o   Importance of transcontinental railway

o   Trains around the USA today

o   Trains around the world (TGV, bullet train)

-        Abraham Lincoln

-        Mark Twain

-        How to make a good burger (you leave off the PB&J)

-        Slugs

-        Periodic Table of Elements – abbreviations

-        Gemstones

-        History of Mining

o   England (Newcastle upon Tyne)

o   American West

o   Appalachia

o   Company Store

o   Health issues for miners

o   Danger of mines

o   Current issues for mining

-        Dancing the Hurley Burley

-        People who collect creepy dolls

o   History of porcelain dolls

-        Embroidery

o   How to

o   Patterns/symbols

-        General Stores in the American West

o   Sears

-        How to make taffy

-        Find a well maintained and beautiful tomb and research who is entombed

-        Focusing light through a magnifying glass can start a fire

-        Read Along:

o   Murder on the Orient Express

o   Mark Twain books

DAN:

-        All lessons in French

-        How using different ingredients and different amounts of ingredients can affect the outcome of your cookies

-        Paris métro

o   History

o   How to read/follow a métro map

o   RER

-        Montmartre and other Parisian neighbourhoods

-        History of Île de la France and Square de Vert Galant Parc and Pont Neuf

-        WWII and the French Resistance

o   Cross of Lorraine

o   Vichy France

o   Abuses of the French gov’t in this period

-        Paris and the fashion world

-        Beauty standards and the rejection of natural beauty by society

o   Dangers of weight and figure standards

o   You are beautiful as you are

-        Catacombs of Paris

-        Famous French Dishes (from this region)

o   Or Bretagne since I know and like them better

-        The French Café

-        Moulin in France

-        Tea and how hot leaf water can taste so bad but still be good for you

-        Buildings of Baron Haussmann

-        Paris History  

-        Decoders

-        Importance of vitraux historically, culturally, and religiously

-        Read Along:

o   Little Kids

§  Madeline

§  Babar

§  Petit Ours

§  Plume

o   High School

§  Hunchback of Notre Dame

§  Les Mis

§  Dale Van Kley

 CRE:

-        History of Hawai’i and her native people

o   How the USA screwed them over and continues to do so

§  Land colonizing today

o   Listen to voices from Native Peoples

-        Pearl Harbor

o   USS Arizona

-        Native myths and legends

-        Local flora and fauna

-        Surfing

-        How to make bead necklaces

-        Snorkeling

-        Entomology

o   Find some local bugs and identify and observe them

-        Horticulture

o   See if you can graft something

o   Watch a carnation placed in water with food dye

o   Regrow a fruit or veggie from the leftovers

-        Go looking for seashells – see how many complete shells you can find

-        Be aware of pesticides and the dangers they offer

o   Dangers of organic food too

-        Make something with pineapple in it

-        Fishing – different kinds of native fish

-        Volcanos

-        Hula  

  ICE:

-        Wolf sanctuaries – respecting wildlife and their place in the wild and not the domestic

o   What to do if you see a wolf in the real world

-        Fur trapping in Canada history

-        Regions and Capitols of Canada

o   Visit Canada?

-        How the Canadian government works

-        Use of French language in Canada    

o   Unique features of Canadian French  

-        Ice fishing

-        How to cook omelets, salmon, etc.

o   How to not add paprika cause like ew

-        Fossils

-        Radiation

o   Marie Curie

-        How to be a good maid

-        Snowballs/ice balls

-        Ice skating

-        Winter weather safety

-        Avalanches  

-        Saunas

-        Birthmarks

-        Fax machines

-        How to not lie about bird watching

-        Frozen water safety  

-        Modern offenses against First Nations by Canadian Government

  CRY:

-        Culture of the Arawak and Caraïbe

o   Voodoo

-        Mardi Gras in New Orleans

-        Hurricane Katrina and aftermath

-        French Influence

-        Eyes and their parts and functions

-        Teeth and their parts and functions

-        Alligators in the Southern USA and how they are dangerous pests  

-        Graveyards/cemeteries and how to be comfortable in them

o   Modern burial practices

o   Why are they above ground in Louisiana?

o   Places where they are running out of space for the dead

o   Historic violations of final resting places

-        Ventriloquism

-        Lizards and how to care for them

-        Rube Goldberg machines

-        Curio shops

-        Crystal Skulls  

 VEN:

-        International crime

-        Organized crime

-        Scopa

-        Italian basics

o   Learn an Italian aria

-        Italian food

o   Not just spaghetti

-        History of Venice

o   Current issues in Venice

-        Carrier pigeons

-        Micro-dots

-        “Observing the architecture”

-        Try to make gelato (or just get gelato, either way you get gelato)

-        Disguising yourself – put on an outfit and try to get me to not recognize you

-        Picking locks

-        Secret codes

-        Solfege

o   With hand signs

o   Learn a song in solfege

-        Carnivale

-        Learn how the sausage gets made

o   How to deal with food poisoning

-        How to secure your living space against burglars

o   Glass breaks, motion sensors, keypads, magnets, and more

-        Read Along:

o   Heist Society

o   The Prince

o   Merchant of Venice

  HAU:

-        Irish lessons (as much of this in Irish as possible)

o   Why the Irish language is important

-        Geography of Ireland

o   Provinces and counties

-        Irish names

-        Why Ireland has disliked and should dislike the UK

o   Historically

o   Famine

§  Emmigration

o   Easter Rising

o   Troubles

o   Present-Day

-        Importance of alcohol in Ireland

o   Uisce beatha

o   Guinness

§  Guinness world records

-        Irish music

o   Irish instruments

o   Learn some Rebel songs

-        Ogham runes

-        Irish foods

o   Something with lamb, who cares what

-        Don’t use friends for land development

-        Bogs

-        Chemical Reactions

-        Rockets

-        Inventions and secrecy during WWII

-        Religion in Ireland

o   Pagan traditions

o   Christianity

o   Catholic/Protestant tensions

-        Irish wedding traditions

-        How printing presses work

-        Irish castles

-        Sheep sheering/raising sheep

-        Irish legends

o   Fae

o   Leprechauns

-        Don’t drive and talk on the phone

 RAN:

-        Why blackface is problematic? (the fact that this needs to be said is problematic in and of itself)

-        Scuba diving

-        Sailing

-        Bermuda Triangle

-        Bats

-        Primates and their intelligence

o   Problems with animal research

o   Koko

o   Jane Goodall

-        Island resort culture

-        Metal detectors

-        Pirates

o   And the Caribbean

o   Their abuses

o   Different kinds

o   Modern day pirates  

-        How do walkie-talkies work

-        US mistreatment of island territories

-        Read Along:

o   Bloody Jack (Meyer)

 WAC:

-        Edgar Allan Poe

o   Stories

o   Baltimore

-        Piano

-        Victorian Dining traditions

o   How to set a place for fancy dining

o   How to fold napkins

o   Table manners

o   How to serve someone at a fancy dinner

o   How courses might work

o   How to use your silverware  

-        Why you shouldn’t go to an actual high school part two

o   Just fyi – that’s not how uniforms work

§  Have a school inspired dress code for a week

-        Bullying and why you absolutely will not be a bully

o   How to respond to bullying

o   Importance of talking to adults and counseling

-        Logic puzzles

-        Research the founding of a local school

-        Stringed Instruments

-        Plagiarism

o   Turnitin

-        Making sandwiches – like a good deli style sandwich

-        Photography scavenger hunt – make a digital (or physical) yearbook

-        Squirrels

-        Orthographic projection

-        DNA/RNA

-        Saving every major project on three different thumb drives

-        Getting along with roommates

-        States and Capitals

o   Countries and capitals of the world  

 TOT:

-        Tornados

o   Technology used to observe tornados

-        Meteorology

-        Prairie dogs

-        Life on the great plains

-        Great Plains Native Americans

-        Small towns in the Midwest honestly be like that

-        Defensive driving

-        Make a disaster kit

-        Know what to do in various natural emergency situations

o   What is the local alert protocol

o   What do local authorities recommend

-        How to maintain and fix a car

-        How to fix a broken device

-        What is tenure

-        How to budget

o   Go to the grocery store on a strict budget (however much you come in under budget is your candy budget)

-        Read Along:

o   Little House

  SAW:

-        Basic Japanese phrases

o   Learn to count

o   Writing in Japanese

-        Sudoku, nonograms, renograms

-        Japanese ghost legends

-        Japanese culture

o   Tourism

§  Ryokans

o   Space – everything small

o   Politeness/formalities

o   Hot springs/baths

o   Tatami and paper walls

-        Japanese cultural dress

o   Kimonos

o   Lolita? Fashion

-        Japanese names

o   Last name first

o   How to address others in Japan

-        Martial Arts

o   Ninjutsu

§  Traditional tools

-        Japanese tea ceremony

-        Schools in Japan

-        Teaching English as a foreign language

-        Japanese subway/train system

-        Pachinko and Japanese gaming

-        Japanese vending machines

-        Robotic animals

-        Bento

-        Japanese foods

-        Origami

-        How to fake a haunting

 CAP:

-        Basic German phrases

o   How to make a German word

o   Connections of German to English

-        German food favourites

o   Especially cakes

-        Storytelling as a cultural entity

o   How memory has worked differently in different times

-        Glass blowing

-        How castles provided for the local community

-        Bavaria in Germany

o   Cultural dress

-        Glockenspiel

-        How to make board games

-        Monster stories of central Europe

-        How to monitor security camera remotely

-        Read Along:

o   Heidi

ASH:

-        Arson

o   Watching how different accelerants burn a piece of paper

-        All politicians are at least somewhat self-serving

o   But write a letter to a local politician anyway

§  Different ways to contact elected officials, and why some don’t work

-        How to make ice cream

-        How a police investigation works

o   Problems with police departments around the world – specifically USA

o   Ways that police work unfairly targets minorities

§  If Nancy is innocent how many others are

-        How to use matches and lighters safely

-        Why you should not return to the scene of a crime – particularly a fire

-        Making sure smoke detectors work properly and the system is connected

o   We might not go to school but fire drills are still important

-        What is a mass spectrometer

-        Who to call if you’ve been arrested

-        What to do if you get pulled over

-        How the media can skew the truth and make their own narratives

-        Sound mixing

-        Be careful with what you say/post/record

o   Keep receipts and clarify when possible

 TMB:

-        What not to do at an archaeological site

-        Ancient Egyptian History

o   Pantheon, notable figures, relevant events

o   Pyramids, sphinx

o   Pharaohs

-        Modern Egypt

o   Arabic alphabet

-        History of archaeological digs in Egypt

o   Why they’ve been problematic

-        Dangers of the tombs

-        Mummys

o   How they are put together

-        Tomb raiders

-        Importance of water in the desert

-        How to piece together a broken artifact

-        How to gently brush off an artifact

-        There is no such thing as a dictionary for ancient Egyptian

-        Aliens did not build the pyramids

-        Senet

-        Desert life safety

-        How mirrors can be used to light a room

-        Read Along

o   Rick Riordan

 DED:

-        Nikola Tesla

o   All his fun stuff

o   Tesla Coils

-        3-D printing

-        Gummy fingerprints

-        Faraday Cage

-        Basic electric concepts

o   How to build a circuit board

-        Chemical safety

-        How a lab might work

-        Valuing different skills within academia

-        Ultraviolet light

-        How motorcycles work

-        Freelance photography

-        How to use academic databases

 GTH:

-        Slavery in the United States

o   Origins

o   ‘End’

o   Civil War

o   The connection to “southern culture”

o   Continued abuses of Black people in America

§  Importance of recognizing Black voices and what they are saying

§  Listening even when it’s uncomfortable

§  Checking privilege when you have it

o   Jim Crow Laws

-        Plantations

-        Gone With the Wind

o   The good and the bad

-        Civil War spies – female

-        Carbon monoxide poisoning

-        Burned out houses are not a safe space

-        Do not go digging through people’s coffins – rest in PEACE

-        Understanding that your family can be flawed

-        If you don’t want to get married, if you’re not happy in a relationship, end it

-        When a member of your family is sick you take care of them

-        Make a will, just in case your cousin kills you

-        Bachelor and bachelorette parties should feature activities that everyone is comfortable with

-        Read Along:

o   My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier

 SPY:

-        Scotland and their identity

o   Celtic Nations

o   Independent Scotland

o   Call a Scottish person

-        Unicorns and other mythical creatures in Scotland

-        Scottish food

o   The appetizing parts

-        History of spies

-        Biowarfare

o   Code Orange

o   Other teenage stories dealing with anthrax

o   Current events and concerns

o   Historical biowarfare (smallpox blankets)

-        Ziplining

-        Archery

-        How to bug someone

-        Tartans and plaids

o   Kilts

-        Augmented Reality Glasses

-        Record players

-        How to reset a circuit breaker

-        Read Along:

o   Gallagher Girls

o   Code Orange

o   Little House (Martha)

o   Little Brother (Doctorow)

 MED:

-        Don’t meet your heroes

-        New Zealand

o   Maori culture

-        Survivor style game shows and realism

-        I’m not saying Aliens can’t exist, I’m saying they def aren’t involved here

-        Kayaking

-        Submarines and what they can do

-        Turtles

-        Earthquakes

-        Be careful with rope bridges

  LIE:

-        Provenance and why it’s important part two  

-        Greek art and how it was originally painted vibrantly

o   Abuses of Greek art through the ages

-        The British Museum and the issues with that

-        Greek pantheon

o   Legends and notable figures

o   Religious traditions  

-        Iliad and Odyssey

-        Art forgery

-        How to fire clay pots and pottery

-        Memorizing lines for a play

o   Staging for a play

o   Role of a director

-        Theatre

o   Lights

o   Curtains

o   Fly system

o   Sound

-        Greek alphabet

-        Historical importance of the Greek language and culture

o   Alexander the Great and Hellenization

-        Olympics

o   Historic and modern

-        Greece and the European Union  

-        Make something with pomegranates

-        Read Along:

o   Iliad

o   Odyssey

o   The Thief

o   Percy Jackson  

  SEA:

-        Iceland

o   Culture

§  Naming traditions

o   Language

o   Music

o   Food

-        Shipbuilding

o   Historic and modern ships

-        Ice caving

-        Northern Lights

-        Tides

-        Snowmobiling

-        Poetry

-        What is xenophobia

 MID:

-        Some games just shouldn’t be made

-        American witch trials

o   What actually went down

o   Misconceptions

-        Treating people with albinism as real people

-        Arson is bad

-        Herbal remedies and how they can interfere with modern medicine

-        Witchcraft and how not to

-        Salem MA

-        Ignorance promotes fear and hatred so we do our best to learn about others

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

BROOKE D’ORSAY AND KRISTOFFER POLAHA CELEBRATE ‘A DICKENS OF A HOLIDAY!’ A NEW, ORIGINAL MOVIE PREMIERING DECEMBER 10, ON HALLMARK CHANNEL

Part of the Network’s Annual “Countdown to Christmas” Programming Event

STUDIO CITY, CA – November 30, 2021 – Brooke D’Orsay (“Royal Pains”) and Kristoffer Polaha (“Wonder Woman 1984”) star in “A Dickens of a Holiday!,” a new, original movie premiering Friday, December 10, (8 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Channel as part of the network’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” programming event – your home for the holiday.

Christmas Eve marks the 100th anniversary of Dickens’ Days in Dickens, Ohio, a Victorian festival that ends with the community theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. However, when the lead actor is forced to drop out, director Cassie (D’Orsay) reaches out to Dickens’ native and former High School classmate, Jake (Polaha), an action movie star who wants more serious roles in Hollywood. Work between Cassie and Jake is problematic at first, but the more they rehearse and take part in the holiday activities of Dickens’ Days, the more Cassie and Jake warm up to each other. It’s up to director Cassie to show Jake the actor he’s capable of a serious, leading- man role. In turn, Jake helps Cassie realize she’s still the most likely to succeed, just in roles she never expected: a teacher, a coach and a leader.

“A Dickens of a Holiday!” is from Timeless Pictures Inc. Antonio Cupo, Alexandre Coscas, Michael R. Goldstein and Ben Silverman are executive producers. Paul Ziler directed from a script by Mark Hefti and Julie Sherman Wolfe.

[petitelepus]

25 Days of MTMTE Christmas, Part 25, Christmas Sweater

It’s Christmas Eve on Lost Light and everyone is all dressed up.

Merry Christmas everyone! I understand that this has been a hectic year and there are people who can’t celebrate Christmas like they would like to because of the Coronavirus so I hope that ‘25 Days of MTMTE Christmas’ has been lightening your dark nights and made you smile even the tiniest bit.

I want to thank my beloved friend @missykitty​! She read every single chapter and edited them, gave me inspiration, corrected my spelling and choice of words because English isn’t my first language or even second. She made this story possible.

I want to also thank you all for reading and enjoying my stories. I write to bring joy to people and I have been extra diligent this year. I wish you all Merry Christmas and thank you for being so strong.

You loved the holidays! You always had. Christmas was the time of joy and celebration with loved ones. The exact things that you were missing from Earth. Here in space, in a whole other galaxy, you had found a new family. Your found family made sure that you had everything you ever needed or desired, and you loved them back with your whole heart. But none of them celebrated Christmas, so you felt lonesome and nostalgic for your Christmas traditions. You rode your hover scooter through the empty halls before arriving at the mess hall for dinner. It was a bit depressing that your Christmas dinner would be the same as any other day. You were shocked out of your thoughts when you realized that the mess hall was deserted. Where was everyone? You looked around in confusion. Usually, the hall would be filled with hungry Autobots around the clock, but now the place looked abandoned. You felt even more depressed at the thought of eating your Christmas dinner all alone. You despondently made your way to your usual spot. Your eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a handwritten note on the table. 'Come to the meeting room!' They didn’t forget about you after all! Aww, how sweet they were. You were curious about what they had planned for today. You couldn't help but smile excitedly as you picked up the note and left to go where you were instructed. You arrived at the door. You could hear voices coming from inside. Was everyone there just waiting for you? You smiled to yourself. You left your scooter at the side of the door, and pressed the buzzer. The voices inside halted instantly. You put in the code and entered. You were surprised to see that it was pitch black in the room. You clapped your hands to activate the lights. What you saw took your breath away. "Merry Christmas!" Everybody cheered. You were stunned at the sight. You were expecting to see your Cybertronian friends, but instead the room was filled with humans. Humans you didn't know. You weren't that good with people back on Earth, so just how bad you were going to be with them in space? You were about to bolt, but this short stocky man approached you. He was wearing blue shield-style sunglasses. Oh God, he had a Christmas sweater on. A bright red sweater that read 'He Sees You When You're Drinking' in white bold letters. You stared at his sweater. You absolutely adored so-called ‘Ugly Christmas Sweaters’. You didn't even know why for sure, but they were funny and quirky. You made it a tradition to check secondhand stores for rejected Christmas sweaters. When you were younger, you were teased for wearing them. Then they became popular, and even your former bullies started wearing them to ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater’ parties. You were annoyed about that, but at least now you could share your love of tacky things with others. "Hi, yes, we are happy you made it!" The man said happily in a voice you knew. You blinked. "Swerve, is that you?" "Yeah, it's me! Everyone is here also!" He said happily. He stepped closer to you. "It was mine and Rewind's idea to use our human avatars to make you feel at home. How do you like it?" Well, you were speechless and taken aback at how sweet their intentions were. You smiled and were about to answer the bartender, but then your eyes landed on him. "OhmyGod!OhmyGod! Oh! My! God!" You squealed. You quickly covered your mouth when you realized just how loud you were being. "I can't, I just can't...!" "What?? What is it?!" Swerve asked in a panic, fearing that he and others had messed up somehow and offended you. But you didn't respond. You ran straight to this tall woman wearing a beautiful purple Victorian-style dress. But it wasn't her you were squealing for. It was a toddler wearing a blue polar bear sweater with an actual crystal blue pacifier clipped to the material. The little guy even had blue sunglasses similar to Swerve’s. "E-Excuse me, Ma’am, bu-but could I hold your baby?" You asked barely keeping your composure as you looked at the little guy. The woman smiled slightly, and… Oh no, she was hot. She lifted the toddler out of the baby carrier on her chest, and offered him to you. "Hold him carefully,” she said.

You nodded as you took the toddler from her arms and pulled him close.

"Oh my God, you're so cute! Where have you been hiding all my life, you little cutie pie?"

Okay, you were totally baby-talking to the cutest child you may have ever seen. Your voice had probably raised an octave, and you weren’t worried about controlling the volume of your voice anymore. Maybe you sounded ridiculous, but your heart was mush and you had no shame.

"I'm not a baby, or whatever it is!" The child suddenly exclaimed. You blinked in surprise. You looked at the child carefully, and saw a light blue ‘T’ on the child's adorable sailor hat. And that voice...!

"Tailgate? Is that you?" You asked.

The child nodded. "Yes!"

"Oh, Tailgate..." You sighed in joyful surprise. Then you smiled even wider before hugging the mini-human. "You're so freaking cute!"

"Nooo…! I'm ferocious!" Tailgate cried.

You turned to look at the tall woman that had been holding Tailgate before. "Cyclonus?"

"That would be me,” she, no, he said. "You look amazing,” you said. "Thank you." You gave Tailgate back to Cyclonus, then turned to gaze at the rest of the holoforms mingling in the room. One by one, you recognized familiar features in these human forms. You jumped over to a tall young man, with a dark flame tattooed arm, wild auburn hair, and a handsome smile. He was wearing a short-sleeved sweater that read 'You Can Get On My Naughty List Anytime'. You grinned. "Rodimus! You look great! Very hot!" You joked, winking at him. "I know.” You giggled as Rodimus licked the tip of his digit and then pressed it to his hip, making a hissing noise. You turned to see a young lady wearing a dark blue sweater with so much text on it that you had to squint to see what was written there. 'Santa Saw Your Facebook Pictures, You're Getting Clothes And A Bible For Christmas'. Ouch. Only one mech would approve of a shirt like that. "Ultra Magnus, sir? Is that you?" You asked. The woman holoform nodded. You grinned and pointed at his sweater. "That sweater looks good on you." "Thank you. Although, I have no clue what this ‘Facebook’ is. I presume that it's a device or program that keeps records of criminals and persons of interest. That sounds like a good idea to me." You bit the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing. Instead, you clapped. "Wonderful sweater. Truly." You moved on to the next mech and--Oh! Who was this big silver fox standing before you, tall and proud in a sweater that had 'Naughty' and 'Nice' with checkboxes in front of each… but the checkbox in front of 'I Tried' was the one that was check-marked. You barely paid any attention to the text, rather watching how the sweater was stretched across his broad chest and muscled biceps... "It's Megatron,” Rodimus butted in from behind you. You nodded mindlessly, almost in a trance as you ogled the former criminal. DAMN! IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO BE THAT SEXY. The old man sighed, misinterpreting your look. "I was persuaded to use my avatar, and get some kind of ugly clothing that humans wear." "Megatron...! Wow…” you said, blinking like a deer in headlights. "Like WOW." "Yeah, yeah, we get it. So he is handsome for a human! So what!" Someone yelled. You glanced over your shoulder, and saw the most badass looking teen girl you had ever seen. She had long blue hair in pigtails, and an eyepatch over the left eye... "Whirl?!" You accidentally shouted. The girl, no, Whirl stopped pushing you away from Megatron. He struck a pose to show off to you. "Yeah, it is I, fleshie. Admit it - I look badass,” he said. You took in his dark blue sweater that read: 'Dear Santa, Define Naughty'. "I had spiked knee guards also, but Magnus said they were too much,” Whirl complained. You snorted. "What a tragedy." Whirl said some colorful words to you, but you laughed it off. You turned away, and came face-to-face with two men, one tall and dark-haired, and the other short and blond. You blinked and tilted your head, wondering who they could be. Then you noticed the camera in the blond man's hands. "Rewind! And Chromedome!" You exclaimed. They smiled at you in response. "How did you figure it out?" Chromedome asked. "Rewind's camera. Also, your matching sweaters." You laughed and pointed at their sweaters. Chromedome's said 'World's Okayest Elf' and Rewind's read 'I'm Not Short I'm Just A Tall Elf'. You smiled at them before moving through the crowd again, until you saw a man with glasses and carrot-red hair. He was certainly smart looking. You knew a few smart mechs, but you were sure you knew which one this was. "Rung! You look amazing!" The distinguished-looking man before you smiled and confirmed your guess to be right. Honestly? You would tap that ass. His sweater read: 'Santa Loves A Hot Cookie'. You giggled lightly. Then you noticed two smokin’ hot ladies that you recognized as Nautica and Velocity, and two hot men talking with them, likely Brainstorm and Perceptor. Nautica's sweater was bright purple and read: 'But First Let Me Take An #elfie'. Velocity's had a cat on it and read: 'Happy Hannukkat'. Brainstorm’s read: 'Santa Is Real In At Least 370 Alternate Realities'. And Perceptor...! Oh, Percy must have lost a bet or something, because he had a sweater that read: 'I Am Your Present', and there was an arrow that happened to be pointing at Brainstorm at any given moment. Finally, the last pair. You smiled when you saw them. Drift was a handsome young man with ink black hair. Ratchet was a scruffy-bearded man whose hair and beard were red streaked with white. Drift was wearing a sweater that said: 'While You Were Decorating The House I Studied The Blade'. Ratchet's sweater had a huge picture of Grumpy Cat that simply said 'NO'. You slowly made your way through the crowded room, making sure to say hello to everybot present. Besides being polite, you just had to check out all of the ‘Ugly Christmas Sweaters’. They were all amazing! You had never seen so many ‘Ugly Christmas Sweaters’ in one place! More than that, they all had been thinking about you, and how you might be missing human company. Just seeing them all gathered together made you feel like you were back on Earth for Christmas, surrounded by family and friends. You nearly cried at the thought. "Um, can I have everyone's attention?" You said, trying to raise your voice loud enough to fill the room. Every bot in a human disguise turned to look at you. You coughed awkwardly into your fist, then smiled tremulously, trying not to cry. "I just wanted to thank you all. For the amazing surprise. I love all of your sweaters – you all look great. You all are like a family to me, and I hope you feel the same way." Everyone cheered loudly. You blushed in embarrassment, but then Swerve rushed up to you, with Rung following closely behind in a more subdued manner. You smiled at both of them. "Thank you so much, you guys. I couldn't dream of a better surprise." "Oh, but this is just the beginning," Rung said with a mysterious smile. You blinked in confusion. "What?" "We just needed to buy some time while Lug and Anode finished at my place!" Swerve said. Lug and Anode…! You hadn’t seen them here at all! How could you have forgotten them?! Then Swerve took your hand in his to lead you to the next surprise. Everyone followed behind, laughing and whispering behind your back. When you entered Swerve’s, you could barely believe what you saw. Christmas decorations everywhere, gleaming and shining! You could even smell something delicious wafting in the air. "Don't tell me you cooked?" You asked in shocked disbelief. Just as you finished speaking, Lug and Anode came from the bar's backroom with their servos holding trays heaped with different Earth foods traditional for Christmas. There were also energon treats for your Cybertronian friends. Just when you were sure the party couldn't get any better, somebody put Christmas music on to play. You turned to look at the bots standing all around you. "Is it-Is it okay to eat?" Everyone gave you a clear go-ahead, so you began to take helpings of everything so as not to disappoint any of your friends that had worked so hard. Surprisingly, they had nailed it for most of the foods. Though the cranberry sauce was accidentally made with cherries, and the chocolate mousse was too sweet, they were still delicious. When you couldn’t eat any more, you thought that the good time would end there… but you thought wrong. Somehow Swerve had gotten his servos on the Cybertronian equivalent of a karaoke machine. Brainstorm and Perceptor had its files updated with all of the top hits from Earth. There were over 1,000 songs per country, so you had an overwhelming number of options. Some Christmas songs, both classic and new, were included as well. To start, Rodimus rocked the song 'The Phoenix' by Fall Out Boy. With that magnificent show of talent, charisma, and showmanship, others were then itching to get a turn of their own. Nautica, Velocity, and Rewind sang 'Bubblegum Bitch' together. Ultra Magnus sang 'It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas'. You insisted on singing a song called 'Do It For Her/Him' from Steven Universe with Cyclonus. The purple mech thought it was silly to sing a song from a human cartoon, but when he sang, he gave Tailgate meaningful looks. And you? You might have winked Megatron's way a couple of times. You were really enjoying yourself - the party was amazing. It was everything that you could have hoped for. Nothing could top this. Or so you thought, until you were asked to close your eyes and hold your arms out. "Guys, you aren't going to prank me, or do anything to me that will end up on Youtube??" You asked nervously. You heard a snicker from Rewind. "Don't worry! We won't!" "I can hear that camera rolling, Rewind!" You snapped. You jumped when something was placed in your hands. "Open your eyes." You opened one eye at first, then the other. You couldn't believe it. It was a sweater, unbelievingly soft, knitted in your favorite colors. Even better, in the middle of the oversized sweater was a large red Autobot symbol. You stared at it, eyes wide. When you finally raised your head, you had tears in your eyes. "Y-You're giving this to me?" "We had to pull some strings, and call in some favors, but yes." Rodimus smiled as bright as the sun from back home. "You're officially an Autobot now." You couldn't hold back your tears anymore. There was no greater honor than to be admitted to the Autobot order. You started to cry, but the tears were those of pure joy. You sniffled and wiped your face before looking at your dear friends. "C-Can I put it on?" They nodded, and you wasted no time. You pulled the sweater over your head, and then smoothed down your hair. The sweater was a few sizes bigger than your usual size, but that only made it comfier. You smiled, and almost wiped your nose on the sleeve, but you stopped yourself and instead used a napkin. "It's both the ugliest pretty sweater and the prettiest ugly sweater I have ever seen. I love it,” you admitted, your voice wobbly. Your fellow Autobots all said ‘Awww!’ at your emotional display. You opened your arms wide and waiting, and the bots got the idea. They all closed in for a group hug, lifting you off of your feet. You were surrounded by those you loved dearly, and you didn’t regret leaving Earth for a second. "Merry Christmas!" You all cheered, echoing each other.

[aadmelioraa]

Aethelflaed x Aldhelm fic can be found HERE

Drabbles and Ficlets (>1k)

Monster of Mercia (Aethelred & Aldhelm, Canonverse)

Question (Aethelred x Aldhelm, Canonverse)

Tiresome (Aethelred x Aldhelm, Canonverse)

Apprentice (Beocca & Uhtred, Star Wars AU)

The Novice (Osferth & Skade, Canonverse)

Angel (Hild x Uhtred, Canonverse)

Protection (Alfred x Aelswith, Canonverse)

Breath (Eadith x Eardwulf, Canonverse)

Whisper (Hild x Iseult, Modern AU)

Apology (Eadith x Osferth, Modern AU)

Things Unsaid (Brida x Skade, Canonverse)

Threat (Bride x Skade, Canonverse)

Forgiveness (Brida & Thyra, Canonverse)

Allies (Aldhelm x Erik, 18th century AU)

Oneshots: Assorted Characters and Ships

Merry + Bright (Osferth & Cookham Squad, Osferth & Aethelflaed, Osferth x OFC, rated T, Modern AU, 2.1k)

Holiday Fun with Osferth and the Coccham Crew.

Darkest Night of the Year (Iseult x Skade, rated G, Modern AU, 2.5k)

Skade totally doesn't have a crush on her flatmate. And Iseult totally doesn't suspect she does. Right?

Home Again (Aelswith x Alfred, rated T, Canonverse, 1k)

Aelswith and Alfred reconcile after returning to Winchester.

Shelter (Hild x Uhtred, rated G, Canonverse, 1.3k)

A moment on the road between Hild and Uhtred.

Spark (Hild x Iseult, rated T, Modern AU, 1.9k)

It's the coldest weekend of the year and Hild loses heat in her apartment. Fortunately her downstairs neighbor is around to keep her company.

Repercussions (Alfred x Uhtred, Alfred & Osferth, rated T, Historical AU, 2.3k)

After working with him for two years, Alfred is nearly used to the trouble Uhtred will cause in a day. This time, however, Uhtred has outdone himself.

Wild Violets (Aethelflaed x Eadith, rated M, Victorian AU, 2.4k)

Trapped in a life as Aethelred’s mistress, Eadith finds herself curious about his wife Aethelflaed's romantic inclinations.

Negotiation (Aldhelm x Erik, rated E, Canonverse, 1.8k)

The Lady of Mercia's ill-fated affair with Erik Thurgilson ended years ago; now her army often finds itself opposite his in battle. After a skirmish, when Aldhelm proposes terms for negotiation with his lady's former lover, the diplomatic solution takes a surprising form.

Safe (Aethelflaed x Erik, rated E, Modern AU, 3.9k)

Aethelflaed has never found the idea of being tied up very appealing--until she's almost six months pregnant, that is. Erik takes a little bit of convincing, but only a very little.

Satisfaction (Gisela x Hild x Finan, rated M, Canonverse, 2.7k)

Does Finan get laid? Very possibly. Does he know how to take his time and deliver on the big game he talks? Probably not. Out of the goodness of their hearts, Gisela and Hild show Finan how it's done.

Mending (Gisela x Uhtred, rated E, Canonverse, 1.7k)

Gisela and Uhtred have reunited, but it takes some time for them to truly find their way back to each other.

Practice (Aethelred x Aldhelm, rated T, Canonverse, 1.2k)

Young Aethelred and Aldhelm discuss their plans for the future.

Heavy Lies the Crown (Aethelflaed x Aethelred x Aldhelm, rated E, Canonverse, 3.5k)

Aethelred initiates a threesome to discipline Aethelflaed and Aldhelm for their disobedience. Naturally, it doesn’t go exactly the way he envisions it.

A New Arrangement (Eadith x Aethelflaed x Aldhelm, rated E, Victorian AU, 4.9k)

When Aethelflaed invites Eadith to stay with her and Aldhelm in London, Eadith finds herself increasingly jealous of Aldhelm—and perhaps of Aethelflaed too.

The Other Woman (Aethelflaed x Eadith, rated T, 1950s AU, 2.4k)

When Eadith began her affair with Aethelred the last thing she expected was his wife to enlist her help divorcing him.

The Royal Treatment (Edward x Eadgifu, rated M, Canonverse, 800 words)

Set during 5x08. Edward is distressed. Luckily his wife is by his side to provide comfort and guidance.

According to Plan (Aethelred x Aldhelm, rated M, Canonverse, 1.5k)

Aethelred is difficult to manage of late. But it's nothing Aldhelm isn't prepared to handle. After all, he has plenty of practice.

Longer Works

Something Wretched, Something Precious (Aethelflaed x Aldhelm, Aethelflaed x Aethelred, Aethelflaed x OFC, rated E, 92k, Canonverse, Fic Complete) 

When Aethelflaed is abducted by Aethelred she's faced with an unexpected choice: return home to marry the Danish warlord to whom her father betrothed her, or accept her captor's proposal and become Lady of Mercia. Aethelred is handsome and charming, and the political power the Lady of Mercia has historically wielded makes his offer irresistible. But before long, her new husband reveals his true nature and begins to threaten Aethelflaed and anyone close to her. Struggling to survive Aethelred’s cruelty, Aethelflaed finds an unlikely ally in Aldhelm, her husband’s one-time confidant. Where Aethelred is hot-headed and vindictive, Aldhelm proves himself loyal and trustworthy. With Aldhelm's aid, Aethelflaed begins to assert personal and political power as she carefully manipulates her husband. After a violent confrontation Aethelred demands she produce an heir, and Aethelflaed turns to the only person she can.

Carry Me Slowly (Aldhelm x Erik, rated E, 5k+, Modern AU WIP) 

When Aldhelm’s best friend dies suddenly, leaving behind a newborn daughter with no other family to claim her, he’s devastated. The prospect of raising an infant is daunting enough without the complications grief brings. When Aelfwynn's father Erik shows up after a year-long absence, Aldhelm is first forced to reckon with his own coping mechanisms, and then with his changing opinion of the other man. Erik, desperate to be in Aelfwynn’s life, hides parts of his past that might threaten his burgeoning relationship with his daughter, but regrets that decision the more intertwined his life becomes with Aldhelm's. As Erik and Aldhelm build a non-traditional family unit, their tentative friendship evolves into something more.

The Confidant (Aethelflaed x Aldhelm x Erik, rated E, 60k+, Modern AU WIP)

It’s Aldhelm’s first year teaching at Wessex College, an elite secondary school. Aware of the school’s prestigious reputation, he's done his best to prepare for the challenge. But when Aldhelm notices one of his students struggling, he finds himself drawn into her life in ways he would never have expected.

Peace-Weaver (Erik x OFC, rated M, 3k+, Canonverse WIP)

Erik agrees to marry a Saxon noblewoman in hopes of establishing peace and stability for himself and the men who follow him. Maintaining a marriage is sure to be an easy endeavor compared to the political savvy which will be required of him to fulfill his side of the alliance. Or so he thinks.