#mr euston

[magentasky234]

Playing Dragon Quest Treasures and there's a train conductor called Mr Euston who reminds me of Ingo with his speech patterns, enthusiasm, and saying bravo!

[comtessezouboff]

The Wertheimer Portraits

A retexture by La Comtesse Zouboff — Original Mesh by @thejim07

The Wertheimer portraits are a series of twelve portrait paintings made by John Singer Sargent of and for the British art dealer Asher Wertheimer and his family. The series amounts to Sargent's largest private commission.

The family became close friends of the artist John Singer Sargent. He often dined at their home at 8 Connaught Place, where the dining room (sometimes described as "Sargent's mess" ) was decorated with eight of the family portraits. Mr and Mrs Wertheimer commissioned Singer Sargent to paint two portraits to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in 1898, and ten more commissions followed in the next decade. Most of the portraits hang in the Tate Museum in London, after Wertheimer's death in 1918. The donation was an scandal, as some antisemitic comments emerged, such as that of the historian Sir Charles Oman: "these clever, but extremely repulsive, pictures should be placed in a special chamber of horrors".

The bequest and wish for the portraits to be displayed together was seen as a distasteful display of wealth with opponents claiming it was Jewish excess and asking “Is there any other gallery that has been given so many paintings? 

Since the paintings would hang among royalty, clergy and historical figures, to have a room dedicated to one family deemed outside the British establishment was so controversial that it was debated in Parliament.

Nowadays, the portraits are regarded as masterpieces, and most of the antisemitic comments remained in the past, but some critics have thought that the paintings "exudes caricature-like features and projected racial stereotypes onto the sitters" although the family was perfectly happy with them (of course this wouldn't have been issue if the family belonged to catholicism or other western-predominant religion)

This set contains 12 portraits, with the original frame swatches, fully recolourable. They are of:

Elizabeth "Betty" Wertheimer, Mrs. Euston Abraham Salaman (oval shape)

Flora Wertheimer (née Joseph) Mrs. Asher Wertheimer

Helena "Ena" Wertheimer, Mrs. Robert Moritz Mathias, "A Vele Gonfle"

Madame Asher Wertheimer (née Flora Joseph) (another portrait of Flora)

Miss Almina Wertheimer in Turquerie Costume.

Mr. Alfred Wertheimer

Edward Wertheimer (unfinished)

Asher Wertheimer with his Poodle, Noble.

Elizabeth "Betty" and Helena "Ena" Wertheimer.

Hylda, Conway and Almina Wertheimer.

Miss Hylda Wertheimer.

Ruby, Ferdinand and Essie Wertheimer.

Found under decor > paintings for:

500§ (1)

1.850§ (2-3-4-5-6-7-8)

3.040§ (9-10)

3.900§ (11)

6520§ (12)

Retextured from:

"Saint Mary Magdalene" (1) found here

"The virgin of the Rosary" (2-3-4-5-6-7-8) found here

"Portrait of Mariana of Austria in Prayer" (9-10) found here

"Portrait of Maria Theresa of Austria and her Son, le Grand Dauphin" (11) found here

"Vulcan's Forge" (12) found here

Thing to know before download: The pictures are not as dark as in this post, the lighting was awful in the screenshots.

-------------------------------------------------------

CC shown here:

Walls, floor and loveseat by @thejim07

Bust, urns, fireplace, clock, vases, candelabras, pendule à cercles tournants, door and screen by @joojconverts

Armchairs by ShinoKCR (tsr)

Rug by me, found here

Sideboard, chairs, sidetables and sofa by @martassimsbookcc

Commodes by Parsimonious Sims

Drive

(Sims3Pack | Package)

(Useful tags below)

@joojconverts @ts3history @ts3historicalccfinds @deniisu-sims @katsujiiccfinds @gifappels-stuff

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[mariana-oconnor]

The Blanched Soldier pt 2

Last time in Yet Another Unintentionally Queer Tale from the Classic Unintentionally Queer Universe, Mr Dodd had gone to see Sherlock Holmes about his army boyfriend who had mysteriously disappeared and whose family and friends appeared to be treating the guy as though he were dead.

So far we've had some A+ fathering and some B- mothering (clearly she loves her son, but also she doesn't appear to be doing anything to help her son. Does she know whether her son is alive?)

I have at no point wondered if Godfrey had been sent to Victorian Conversion Therapy. Which... what would that even entail? Something terrible no doubt.

"Clearly my poor friend had become involved in some criminal or, at the least, disreputable transaction which touched the family honour. That stern old man had sent his son away and hidden him from the world lest some scandal should come to light."

Possible, but I feel like this is too generous a view of the father. I am fully prepared for it to be that Godfrey is just mentally ill and his father thinks he'll bring shame on the family through that.

"No doubt he had fallen into bad hands and been misled to his ruin."

Hey, give Godfrey the respect of believing he could go bad all by himself. He's a grown man. He could if he wanted!

"I was anxiously pondering the matter when I looked up, and there was Godfrey Emsworth standing before me.”

Huh...

Either his father is bloody useless as a jailer, or he's not locked up in the house like I thought he was.

"He was deadly pale—never have I seen a man so white. I reckon ghosts may look like that; [...] he saw that I was looking at him, and he vanished into the darkness. “There was something shocking about the man, Mr. Holmes. It wasn't merely that ghastly face glimmering as white as cheese in the darkness. It was more subtle than that—something slinking, something furtive, something guilty— something very unlike the frank, manly lad that I had known. It left a feeling of horror in my mind."

“I had a good look at the little house as I passed it, but the windows were heavily curtained..."

To keep out the SUN perhaps? Huh?

"I could not see his face, but I knew the familiar slope of his shoulders."

I'm not saying it's gay to recognise your bff by the slope of their shoulders, but I'm not saying it's not gay, either. Y'know?

As we drove to Euston we picked up a grave and taciturn gentleman of iron-gray aspect, with whom I had made the necessary arrangements.

We are indeed doing what I thought we would do in Holmes' perspective - he's just not telling us anything. Presumably in order to keep some sort of suspense. He does like a dramatic surprise, so I suppose it's not out of character. But it's very clear that he's writing for an audience here and not for educational purposes.

“I think not. It was his brow which I saw so clearly as it was pressed against the window.”

When you press against something though, your skin goes white. That's a thing. No one looks normal when their pressing themselves against glass.

I [...] contrived to bring my nose within a foot of the gloves. Yes, it was undoubtedly from them that the curious tarry odour was oozing.

So presumably he's been doing something with his hands. Medicine? Drugs?

Oh, that's 'tar-like' not 'tarry' as in a specific thing I've never heard of. That's... actually more concerning. Why has he been handling tar?

Alas, that I should have to show my hand so when I tell my own story! It was by concealing such links in the chain that Watson was enabled to produce his meretricious finales.

Lol. The lampshading is excellent.

He held our cards in his hand, and he tore them up and stamped on the fragments.

Such a respectable grown adult. Stamping his feet and having a tantrum because some people arrived at his door.

I took out my notebook and scribbled one word upon a loose sheet. “That,” said I as I handed it to Colonel Emsworth, “is what has brought us here.”

Oh my god, Holmes, just fucking tell us. Is the word the name of the illness Godfrey has?

But we do get a passage about ears... which will have to suffice, I suppose.

I think Holmes is enjoying being the narrator a little too much.

[1863-project]

@magentasky234 submitted: I have been playing this game called Dragon Quest Treasures where you play as two kids, Erik and Mia, revive a train station and also use it as a pirate base! You travel across the land, getting items for robotic Station Masters and finding staff to employ. There are also engineers at each main station. The Station Masters are all incredibly enthusiastic about trains! Mr Euston, who invited you into his base, is the most enthusiastic about trains to the point where his helmet puff like a train when he is excited. Mr Euston reminss me lf Ingo so much, saying bravo s lot. The game is such a love letter to trains, it's fantastic!

See, this is the kind of game we need more of! It sounds like such a delight! I've never played any of the Dragon Quest games but this one seems quite tempting now...

[grandmaster-anne]

28 March 2023 We were honoured and delighted to welcome our Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal to our NCI Felixstowe station on 28 March. HRH The Princess Royal met on-duty watchkeepers, toured the historic station at Old Fort Road, Felixstowe and heard about the work of the highly trained volunteers who keep a daylight watch on the coast and at sea, 365 days a year. His Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Mr Steven Fletcher DL, presented the NCI Chairman Mr Clive Pouncey and Station Manager of NCI Felixstowe, Mr Nick Barrett White. After a tour of the station where she met on-duty watchkeepers, HRH The Princess Royal then attended a reception for NCI Watchkeepers and guests at the Orwell Hotel. She was received by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston who presented NCI Trustee Ian Whalley, and civic guests including Councillor Jenny Ceresa, Chairman, East Suffolk Council, Mr Christopher Bally, Chief Executive, East Suffolk Council and Councillor Sharon Harkin, Mayor of Felixstowe. Mr Clive Pouncey, NCI chair said: “Her Royal Highness is a committed and enthusiastic supporter of National Coastwatch. As a Royal Patron she devotes much time to our cause and we are deeply grateful for her Patronage”. HRH The Princess Royal graciously unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the station and presented long service awards to: Five years’ service: Raoul Coppens-Browne, David Sharples, Chris Needs 10 years’ service: Peter Finch, Linda Lawrence, NCI Head of Operations and a posthumous award for 10 years’ service to Mrs Inge Milsom for Julian Milsom. Among the organisations present at the event were: HMCoastguardFelixstowe Coastguard Rescue Team, RNLI, RNLI Harwich Lifeboat Station; East Suffolk Council and Harwich Haven Authority Images: Richard Jackson and Steve Payne — National Coastwatch Institution

[starduststarcrossed]

I dunno. I think Mr. Euston is neat, tbh. :o

[beardedmrbean]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were protected during their visit to Britain by a bodyguard who has been convicted of domestic violence.

The couple, who made private security arrangements for their trip to the UK, were photographed being driven by Pere Daobry.

Mr Daobry, a former Metropolitan Police firearms officer, has previously been convicted of assault for attacking his then-wife, but was spared jail after telephoning 999 himself.

He is now believed to be working for a private security firm and was photographed in the Sussexes’ car alongside their long-standing protection officer.

The Duke and Duchess have not yet responded to a request for comment.

The Duchess in particular has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights, speaking about the "crisis state" of gender-based violence during her 2019 visit to South Africa.

Then, during a visit to ActionAid, she spoke about the “key” importance of women being supported after reporting gender-based violence and holding men and boys accountable for their actions.

Speaking of her visit to local communities, she said it was essential “that when they tell somebody, that somebody does something”, adding that if "everyone is saying ‘well that’s just what is done, that’s just how it is’ ... you’re shamed into not talking about it, even though you are the victim”.

Genesis, a women's shelter and support group, is among the organisations supported with a grant from the Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation.

Mr Daobry’s father confirmed his son was the man photographed working as a personal bodyguard for the Duke and the Duchess.

Speaking at his family home in Edmonton, north London, Mr Daobry Snr said: “Yes, that is my son in the photographs with Harry and Meghan but I don’t want to make any comment about his job. He is a grown man with four children and can speak for himself.”

He refused to comment on his son’s conviction for domestic violence or his late wife Sarah’s suicide, and whether it was appropriate for him to be working for the Duchess given her strong support for victims of violence and women’s rights.

“Why should I comment? Ask him. I have nothing to say,” said Mr Daobry Snr.

The bodyguard is one of several employed to protect the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their trip to the UK and Germany.

The Duke is currently embroiled in a dispute over whether his family should qualify for Metropolitan Police protection whenever they are in the UK.

He is currently in the middle of a court battle with the Home Office, this summer winning the right to challenge its decision not to grant him automatic police protection.

During the couple’s visit to Europe, which was supposed to last four days but was extended after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, they used private protection to attend an event in Manchester and during a one-day trip to the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.

One bodyguard, MailOnline reported, was Pere Daobry, 51, who was photographed driving them from their Frogmore Cottage home to London Euston station.

In Sept 2016, he was convicted at Colchester Magistrates’ Court of assault after attacking his wife, Sarah Jay.

Mrs Jay, a former Essex Police sergeant, had endured a minute-long attack in which he strangled her with both hands after she told him she no longer loved him, according to court reports at the time.

He was given a 12-week suspended sentence. The chairman of the magistrates’ court bench called it a “very unpleasant assault on Mrs Jay” which left her “clearly terrified”, but added that Mr Daobry had the “decency” to ring 999 afterwards.

[7r0773r]

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

'Nature has but little clay,' said Mr. Bankes once, hearing [Mrs. Ramsay's] voice on the telephone, and much moved by it though she was only telling him a fact about a train, 'like that of which she moulded you.' He saw her at the end of the line, Greek, blue-eyed, straight-nosed. How incongruous it seemed to be telephoning to a woman like that. The Graces assembling seemed to have joined hands in meadows of asphodel to compose that face. Yes, he would catch the 10.30 at Euston. (pp. 32-33)

***

They came to [Mrs. Ramsay], naturally, since she was a woman, all day long with this and that; one wanting this, another that; the children were growing up; she often felt she was nothing but a sponge sopped full of human emotions. (p. 36)

***

How then, [Lily] had asked herself, did one know one thing or another thing about people, sealed as they were? Only like a bee, drawn by some sweetness or sharpness in the air intangible to touch or taste, one haunted the dome-shaped hive, ranged the wastes of the air over the countries of the world alone, and then haunted the hives with their murmurs and their stirrings; the hives which were people. Mrs. Ramsay rose. Lily rose. Mrs. Ramsay went. For days there hung about her, as after a dream some subtle change is felt in the person one has dreamt of, more vividly than anything she said, the sound of murmuring and, as she sat in the wicker arm-chair in the drawing-room window she wore, to Lily's eyes, an august shape; the shape of a dome.

This ray passed level with Mr. Bankes's ray straight to Mrs. Ramsay sitting reading there with James at her knee. But now while she still looked, Mr. Bankes had done. He had put on his spectacles. He had stepped back. He had raised his hand. He had slightly narrowed his clear blue eyes, when Lily, rousing herself, saw what he was at, and winced like a dog who sees a hand raised to strike it. She would have snatched her picture off the easel, but she said to herself, One must. She braced herself to stand the awful trial of someone looking at her picture. One must, she said, one must. And if it must be seen, Mr. Bankes was less alarming than another. But that any other eyes should see the residue of her thirty-three years, the deposit of each day's living, mixed with something more secret than she had ever spoken or shown in the course of all those days was an agony. At the same time it was immensely exciting. (pp. 58-59)

***

For now [Mrs. Ramsey] need not think about anybody. She could be herself, by herself. And that was what now she often felt the need of — to think; well not even to think. To be silent; to be alone. All the being and the doing, expansive, glittering, vocal, evaporated; and one shrunk, with a sense of solemnity, to being one-self, a wedge-shaped core of darkness, something invisible to others. Although she continued to knit, and sat upright, it was thus that she felt herself; and this self having shed its attachments was free for the strangest adventures. When life sank down for a moment, the range of experience seemed limitless. And to everybody there was always this sense of unlimited resources, she supposed; one after another, she, Lily, Augustus Carmichael, must feel, our apparitions, the things you know us by, are simply childish. Beneath it is all dark, it is all spreading, it is unfathomably deep; but now and again we rise to the surface and that is what you see us by. Her horizon seemed to her limitless. (pp. 70-71)

***

Everything seemed possible. Everything seemed right. Just now (but this cannot last, [Mrs Ramsey] thought, dissociating herself from the moment while they were all talking about boots), just now she had reached security; she hovered like a hawk suspended; like a flag floated in an element of joy which filled every nerve of her body fully and sweetly, not noisily, solemnly rather, for it arose, she thought, looking at them all eating there, from husband and children and friends; all of which rising in this profound stillness (she was helping William Bankes to one very small piece more and peered into the depths of the earthenware pot) seemed now for no special reason to stay there like a smoke, like a fume rising upwards, holding them safe together. Nothing need be said; nothing could be said. There it was, all round them. It partook, she felt, carefully helping Mr. Bankes to a specially tender piece, of eternity; as she had already felt about something different once before that afternoon; there is a coherence in things, a stability; something, she meant, is immune from change, and shines out (she glanced at the window with its ripple of reflected lights) in the face of the flowing, the fleeting, the spectral, like a ruby; so that again to-night she had the feeling she had had once to-day already, of peace, of rest. Of such moments, she thought, the thing is made that remains for ever after. This would remain. (pp. 119-20)

***

And it struck [Lily], this was tragedy — not palls, dust, and the shroud; but children coerced, their spirits subdued. (p. 169)

***

What is the meaning of life? That was all — a simple question; one that tended to close in on one with years. The great revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark; here was one. This, that, and the other; herself and Charles Tansley and the breaking wave; Mrs. Ramsay bringing them together; Mrs. Ramsay saying 'Life stand still here'; Mrs. Ramsay making of the moment something permanent (as in another sphere Lily herself tried to make of the moment something permanent) — this was of the nature of a revelation. In the midst of chaos there was shape; this eternal passing and flowing (she looked at the clouds going and the leaves shaking) was struck into stability. Life stand still here, Mrs. Ramsay said. 'Mrs. Ramsay! Mrs. Ramsay!' she repeated. She owed this revelation to her. (pp. 183-84)

***

One must hold the scene — so — in a vice and let nothing come in and spoil it. One wanted, [Lily] thought, dipping her brush deliberately, to be on a level with ordinary experience, to feel simply that's a chair, that's a table, and yet at the same time, It's a miracle, it's an ecstasy. The problem might be solved after all. Ah, but what had happened? Some wave of white went over the window pane. The air must have stirred some flounce in the room. Her heart leapt at her and seized her and tortured her. (p. 230)

***

[Mr. Ramsey] was reading very quickly, as if he were eager get to the end. Indeed they were very close to the Lighthouse now. There it loomed up, stark and straight, glaring white and black, and one could see the waves breaking in white splinters like smashed glass upon the rocks. One could see lines and creases in the rocks. One could see the windows clearly; a dab of white on one of them, and a little tuft of green on the rock. A man had come out and looked at them through a glass and gone in again. So it was like that, James thought, the Lighthouse one had seen across the bay all these years; it was a stark tower on a bare rock. It satisfied him. It confirmed some obscure feeling of his about his own character. The old ladies, he thought, thinking of the garden at home, went dragging their chairs about on the lawn. Old Mrs. Beckwith, for example, was always saying how nice it was and how sweet it was and how they ought to be so proud and they ought to be so happy, but as a matter of fact James thought, looking at the Lighthouse stood there on its rock, it's like that. He looked at his father reading fiercely with his legs curled tight. They shared that knowledge. 'We are driving before a gale — we must sink,' he began saying to himself, half aloud exactly as his father said it. (pp. 231-32)

[eaglesnick]

“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.”— Spencer Johnson

Unprecedented for a Conservative Prime Minister, it was Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty , who introduced him to the Party faithful at this years Conservative Party Conference.  But this stunt, an attempt to portray Sunak as more than just a cold-hearted technocrat accountant with no human emotions, has backfired big time.

She told us that

“Rishi is working hard to do the right thing for the country, not just for now but for the long-term, with honesty and with integrity"

Dear oh dear! Either she does not know her husband very well, or she was knowingly and deliberately misleading us.

This theatrical attempt to reveal the real Mr Sunak has worked only too well. Following his wife’s saccharine introduction, Mr Sunak came onto the Conference stage and announced his “long-term" policies for the future, scrapping HS2 and replacing it with a scheme he calls  "Network North".

Yet just 24 hours after being described as a man of “integrity" and “honesty", and having set out his plans for Network North we have this headline:

“Government U-turn on HS2 alternatives less than 24 hours after announcement” (Independent:05/10/23)

Far from being honest or acting with integrity Mr Sunak was knowingly lying to his party and lying to us the British electorate. Individual transport schemes he cited in his conference speech as going ahead have been removed from the Network North website. Just a day after Mr Sunak committed to the Gateshead to Tursdale line, for example, a project described as "the most important piece of infrastructure for the economic future of the North East", officials are now sayingMr Sunak  had committed only to “look into” the scheme.

In addition, Sunak’s conference promise that the existing HS2 line will end at Euston after - “We will complete the line from Birmingham to Euston.”  - is now  being  qualified by his admission that  this will only happen if private funding is forthcoming.

So much for honesty and integrity!

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on https://yaroreviews.info/2023/10/hs2-will-not-go-to-euston-without-private-funds

HS2 will not go to Euston without private funds

HS2 Ltd

By Michael Race & Katy Austin

Business reporter and Transport correspondent

The HS2 rail line will not be extended to London Euston unless enough private investment is secured for the project.

If cash is not put forward by private funds, the high-speed line will only run from Birmingham to Old Oak Common in the capital’s western suburbs.

This would mean passengers travelling to central London would have to change.

The government has said it is “getting a grip of plans” for Euston, adding there had been two “unaffordable designs” for a “gold-plated” station.

It has already cut the number of planned platforms for high-speed trains from 11 to six.

The BBC has been told the project at Euston would be dependent on private investment, with the government stating it would take on the “lessons of success stories” on other schemes such as the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and King’s Cross station.

Old Oak Common will be the UK’s largest newly built railway station when opened, but there are concerns over the lack of options for onward journeys with government modelling suggests two-thirds of people would prefer to travel to or from Euston.

The Department for Transport (DfT) stated it wanted Euston station to “be open and running trains as soon as possible”, and that its “rescoped approach” would save £6.5bn.

A spokesperson said there was “already support and interest from the private sector”, adding that ministers had held discussions with key partners since the announcement.

“It is simply wrong to talk down the scale and benefits of this regeneration,” the spokesperson said.

Rage and relief over scrapped HS2 northern leg

Labour can not promise HS2 to Manchester – Starmer

What is HS2 and why scrap the Manchester link?

To “get the best possible value for the British taxpayer”, DfT officials said they would “ensure that funding is underpinned by contributions from those people and businesses its development supports” and by leveraging “private sector investment”.

But critics have attacked the change in stance, with railway consultant William Barter, whose recent clients include the government, calling the new plans “totally unambitious”.

As part of the now scaled-back proposals, a planned pedestrian tunnel linking Euston station with the nearby Euston Square tube station has also been scrapped.

Grimshaw Archtechts

Extending HS2 to Euston involves digging a 4.5-mile tunnel from Old Oak Common and building a new station at Euston next to the existing West Coast Main Line terminus.

Work had already started on Euston, but it was halted in March because costs had ballooned to £4.8bn, compared with an initial budget of £2.6bn.

A document issued by the DfT said the government would look to create a “transformed ‘Euston Quarter’ – potentially offering up to 10,000 homes” as part of its new plans for the station.

Georgia Gould, leader of Camden Council which is where the station is being built, said the “worst-case scenario of the station being abandoned in its current state had been avoided, warned pledges on affordable housing, jobs and investment locally must not be broken.

Mr Sunak said on Wednesday that a new development company, separate from HS2 Ltd, would manage the delivery of the Euston project, adding there “must be some accountability for the mistakes made, for the mismanagement of this project”.

The prime minister has pledged money saved as a result of the northern leg of HS2 being axed would be spent on alternative rail, road and bus schemes instead across the country.

But the government has already U-turned on one of those plans, which would have restored a mothballed railway line in the North East of England, within 24 hours of the announcement.

The Leamside rail line was originally set to be funded by the £36bn savings, but references to it were removed from the government’s website later on Wednesday.

Transport minister Richard Holden said the government had only committed to “looking into” the scheme.

A government spokesperson said £1.8bn was being provided to the North East to fund the transport projects that matter most to their communities – including funding for the Leamside line if they wanted.

Related Topics

Euston

Transport

Rail travel

HS2

London

More on this story

No new compensation for ‘pain’ caused by HS2

12 hours ago

What is HS2 and why scrap the Manchester link?

1 day ago

[ivanreycristo]

..además hoy VIRGINIA MAESTRO..Facebook me recuerda unas fotos de justo hace 12 años [8_5_11] en LONDRES empezando x mis calzoncillos MR PERFECT o SHEER PERFECTION seguido de un FOLLETeO q decía q 2 de cada 3 trabajadores sufre STRESS [EN EXCESO DE TRABAJO O CONSUMO y PRODUCCION INUTIL q diría BUNBURY hace 30 años y poco RELAX O SEXO xq además es algo CARO Y PROHIBITIVO O DE LA FALSA MORAL DEL DINERO q llaman AMOR ]..luego un periódico en PORTUGUES con IDOLOS como MADONNA con apariencia de cuando fueran viejos..luego en 365 EUSTON ROAD donde esta SUN 99 LIMITED y STORM=TORMENTA=MARCA de Relojes con cuyo anuncio me fotografie ese día y x último con anuncio del festival de música de iglesia contemporánea

[oatbugs]

UPDATE ON HOW TODAY WENT W MY CRUSH

[mariana-oconnor]

The Stockbroker's Clerk pt 1

I don't know if the title of this one just never stuck in my mind, or if I have never read it. It's not the most inspiring title ACD has ever written, so maybe I just forgot about it.

...which saw Holmes and I leave the comforts of London to visit the city of Birmingham...

Oh hey! It's Brum. That's kind of cool. If I did read this as a kid it probably wouldn't have meant much because I'd been to London but I hadn't been to Birmingham. However, now having spent a not insignificant portion of my life living not too far from Birmingham and a year working there (for no money, ask me my opinions on unpaid internships, I dare you), this definitely means more to me. I'm not super familiar with Birmingham, but I am familiar-ish.

Shortly after my marriage I had bought a connection in the Paddington district. Old Mr. Farquhar, from whom I purchased it, had at one time an excellent general practice; but his age, and an affliction of the nature of St. Vitus's dance from which he suffered, had very much thinned it.

Not to try to deskchair diagnose or anything, but does Old Mr Farquhar have Parkinsons? Is that what he's saying? I guess there are probably other illnesses that manifest as involuntary motion, but that was where my brain went.

The public not unnaturally goes on the principle that he who would heal others must himself be whole, and looks askance at the curative powers of the man whose own case is beyond the reach of his drugs.

Yeah, this sucks. I mean, surely if your doctor's still alive they must be doing something right. Also, this reminds me of that old brainteaser about the two barbers in town. Do you go to the one with the good haircut or the one with the bad haircut. Obviously the one with the bad haircut because he doesn't cut his own hair. Doesn't really work for doctors, I suppose, but that was my immediate thought.

I heard a ring at the bell, followed by the high, somewhat strident tones of my old companion's voice.

Oh wow. Holmes came to Watson. On his own two feet. He didn't just send a letter. Watson didn't show up on the doorstep of 221B at a loose end because his wife was visiting her 'mother'. Holmes actually walked right into Watson's house.

And inquires after their health. He is doing all the socially correct things. He is getting an excellent score in being a house guest.

“To-day, for example?” “Yes, to-day, if you like.” “And as far off as Birmingham?”

I actually went and looked at a Bradshaw's guide to look this up, because I was interested in knowing how quick a train to Birmingham was in the 1890s. About 3 and a half hours, apparently. These days the fastest train from London Euston to Birmingham New Street is about an hour and a quarter. If HS2 (ugh) ever gets finished, they say it will take 49 minutes. But yeah, 3 and a half hours is a bit of a trek for a spontaneous trip (in the UK, I know in the US you think that's a perfectly normal amount of time to travel to get breakfast, but these stories are set in the UK so I'm keeping my UK expectations glasses on.)

“I perceive that you have been unwell lately. Summer colds are always a little trying.”

Holmes hasn't seen his bff in a little while and needs to show off. Perfectly fair.

“I am afraid that I rather give myself away when I explain,” said he. “Results without causes are much more impressive. You are ready to come to Birmingham, then?”

Hence why he hasn't explained why he's going to Birmingham. I love that Holmes is always eager to show off his working and teach Watson, but then we often get this little 'oh, I shouldn't have explained, it's so much more impressive if it's a mystery' moment afterwards.

“Ah! Then you got hold of the best of the two.” “I think I did. But how do you know?” “By the steps, my boy. Yours are worn three inches deeper than his."

I was confused by this because I was thinking 'surely the best one is the one with the best doctor, so that's more on Watson than the building.' Then I realised that Holmes is talking from Watson's perspective, so the best one is the one that came with the most patients. So yeah. Pre-NHS medicine was wild. 'Oh a new doctor just bought my practice, so you're his patient now. Also he believes in Miasma theory. Good lu-u-uck. Toodles!'

The man whom I found myself facing was a well built, fresh-complexioned young fellow, with a frank, honest face and a slight, crisp, yellow mustache. He wore a very shiny top hat and a neat suit of sober black, which made him look what he was—a smart young City man, of the class who have been labeled cockneys, but who give us our crack volunteer regiments, and who turn out more fine athletes and sportsmen than any body of men in these islands.

A yellow moustache and a shiny top hat. That's very distinctive.

Getting a bit condescending and classist again at the end there, Watson.

a half-comical distress

Dude. 'Guy looks so sad I almost laughed' is such a thing to say. Is this supposed to indicate that some of his distress is exaggerated, or is Watson just laughing at him for showing emotions? I guess it's not very stiff-upper-lip of him, what what.

"It is a case, Watson, which may prove to have something in it, or may prove to have nothing, but which, at least, presents those unusual and outré features which are as dear to you as they are to me."

Holmes is really there saying right in front of this guy that his case is so weird he just had to tell his friend. This is so unprofessional, I'm laughing.

Imagine someone coming to you with a problem that's really upsetting them, and as soon as you hear it you're like, 'we have to get my bff' and then after you've dragged your friend in as well you say ''OK, so bestie, this might be pointless, but it might be super weird, and I know you love the weird ones. Listen to this."

Oh god... Watson is like one of those nurses who posts weird cases on tiktok. He really is. Oh no. Now I've thought that I can't unthink it. No!

“The worst of the story is,” said he, “that I show myself up as such a confounded fool. Of course it may work out all right, and I don't see that I could have done otherwise; but if I have lost my crib and get nothing in exchange I shall feel what a soft Johnnie I have been."

OK, so when ACD said cockney he meant 'hold my beer, I'm doing slang.' Right, gotcha. This is going to be a thing.

Also, I love this man already. This is such a me thought process. I hope he doesn't turn out to be a dick. I will feel so betrayed.

I'm not going to quote the entire next passage, my tl;dr summary of it is:

Mr Pycroft used to work for a company that had a financial crisis and had to let him go. He got a good reference, but because so many people were let go, they were all trying to get the same jobs. He's running out of money and applying to every job he can find, but no luck. He saw an ad for a job at literally The Best Company, but they only accepted applications by post, and he got the job. And he's getting a 33% rise on his last job.-

I'm already getting bad vibes about this. 'only apply by post'?? No in person interview? Job seems too good to be true? Getting paid more than in his previous job when clearly there's so much competition for jobs at the moment that they wouldn't need to do that to attract applicants?

"...up came my landlady with a card which had “Arthur Pinner, Financial Agent,” printed upon it."

If he has it on a card then it must be true.

“‘Well,’ said he, ‘the fact is that I have heard some really extraordinary stories about your financial ability. You remember Parker, who used to be Coxon's manager? He can never say enough about it.’"

Look, my company gives me security training like... constantly. I have seen so many videos about phishing and spear phishing and smishing and all other ishings that some of it was bound to stick and this. CLASSIC fraud technique. Name drop someone official that the mark will know? Classic. Establishes a false connection and a false sense of authenticity. Oh well, if he knows Parker he must be alright.

Also, appealing to Mr Pycroft's ego... this is absolutely and totally not a scam. Can't you see how he's got 'Not a Scam' written on his forehead?

“‘Now that shows real application!’ he cried. ‘That is the way to prosper! You won't mind my testing you, will you? Let me see. How are Ayrshires?’ “‘A hundred and six and a quarter to a hundred and five and seven-eighths.’ “‘And New Zealand consolidated?’“

Yeah, he doesn't know what any of those things are. He's not checking anything. He's just asking you questions to seem real and like he knows stuff. He doesn't know anything.

"'My boy, my boy, you are very much too good to be a clerk at Mawson's!’"

Oh boy... is there a scam within a scam happening here? Like, I was already suspicious about the job he got at Mawson's, and now there's another layer to it? What convoluted webs are being woven here.

“‘Ha, ha! I think I would risk a little sporting flutter that you don't go there at all.’"

Ah, well that explains the answer to 'what's going to happen when he turns up to a job that doesn't exist.'

“‘No, sir. By that day you will be the business manager of the Franco-Midland Hardware Company, Limited, with a hundred and thirty-four branches in the towns and villages of France, not counting one in Brussels and one in San Remo.’ “This took my breath away. ‘I never heard of it,’ said I."

“‘I must be frank with you,’ said I. ‘Mawson only gives me two hundred, but Mawson is safe. Now, really, I know so little about your company that—’ “‘Ah, smart, smart!’ he cried, in a kind of ecstasy of delight. ‘You are the very man for us. You are not to be talked over, and quite right, too. Now, here's a note for a hundred pounds, and if you think that we can do business you may just slip it into your pocket as an advance upon your salary.’

Aaaaaaand there's the convincer.

Oh boy. Mr Pycroft was being smart about the thing and then they come in with the £100 note and he's lost.

“We picked him out of the gutter, and he won't leave us so easily.” Those were his very words.’ “‘The impudent scoundrel!’ I cried. ‘I've never so much as seen him in my life."

Yes, that does seem weird, doesn't it. Why would a person you have never met who offered you a good job be so insulting about you? Hmm.

“It was a quarter of an hour before my time, but I thought that would make no difference. 126b was a passage between two large shops, which led to a winding stone stair, from which there were many flats, let as offices to companies or professional men. The names of the occupants were painted at the bottom on the wall, but there was no such name as the Franco-Midland Hardware Company, Limited."

I just have this image of Leverage in my head of Sophie talking through the comms to Nate:

"We have a problem."

"What kind of a problem?"

"He's early."

"What do you mean he's early? He's not supposed to be here for another fifteen minutes, the sign's not up! Hardison isn't in position!"

"Well, I suppose when you convinced him this job was important you convinced him a bit too well, Nate. I told you 500 a year was too much."

"He wouldn't have quit Mawson's for less."

"Well now he's fifteen minutes early and he's looking at the companies in the building and We're. Not. On. There."

"Stall him!"

"I'll do what I can, but even I can't convince a man he's seen a sign that doesn't exist."

"Yes you can."

"Well yes, but I shouldn't have to. And that was an entirely different situation, Nate. You know that... You've got five minutes."

"Give me ten."

“‘This is a directory of Paris,’ said he, ‘with the trades after the names of the people. I want you to take it home with you, and to mark off all the hardware sellers, with their addresses. It would be of the greatest use to me to have them.’"

Well, at least it's not copying out the encyclopaedia Britannica this time? And this time the dumb task at least seems partially relevant.

But unlike Mr Jabez Wilson, whose shop was next to a bank, Mr Pycroft here doesn't own property, so why would anyone need to get him out of the house? Especially all the way to Birmingham? Obviously there's got to be a lot of money involved as they gave him £100 as a convincer. (About £10,300 in today's money). That's a hell of a lot to toss away on a whim. There has to be a massive payout.

"'Don't overwork yourself. A couple of hours at Day's Music Hall in the evening would do you no harm after your labors.’ He laughed as he spoke, and I saw with a thrill that his second tooth upon the left-hand side had been very badly stuffed with gold.” Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands with delight, and I stared with astonishment at our client.

I've got to assume that this means Holmes recognises the tooth (It's a very distinctive tooth) and that's why he's so excited about dentistry.

Also, getting the impression that this work is not very urgent.

“You may well look surprised, Dr. Watson; but it is this way,” said he: “When I was speaking to the other chap in London, at the time that he laughed at my not going to Mawson's, I happened to notice that his tooth was stuffed in this very identical fashion. [...] I could not doubt that it was the same man."

Oooh, yeah. That makes sense. It also implies we're working with a single antagonist rather than a crew. Unless all the other members of the crew are either easily recognisable criminals or just terrible at acting. But it being the same guy totally makes sense.

"Why had he sent me from London to Birmingham? Why had he got there before me? And why had he written a letter from himself to himself?"

I mean... I honestly don't have a clue about this one. Clearly there must be money involved, or else giving away £100 would be ridiculous. All that Mr Pycroft has done so far is go to Birmingham and read through lists of French retailers. It's got him away from London.

UNLESS... the job offer from Mawson's was real? I mean, it had red flags all over it. But if they're planning to do some sort of stockmarket crime with the Best Stockbroker in London then convincing him not to go to work and then sending an imposter in would work. And there is at least one other person involved, but they were needed to pretend to be him. That seems to be the only logical explanation at the moment. So he really did get a job at the best place in town without an interview?

Sending him all the way to Birmingham seems a little excessive, but I guess he'd know all the other places in town and Birmingham is the next biggest city in the country. Finance is pretty centralised in the UK, and I can't imagine that was different in the Victorian era.

Mawson's needs a better hiring policy, though, if that's the case. First they don't even know if the person who turns up is the person they hired. Second, someone managed to get information about a new hire from them before that new hire even had their first day.

If that's not the case, and the Mawson's job was also fraudulent as I initially believed, then I have no clue what's going on.

[jackbatchelor3]

Gordon Goes Foreign Mr Perkins’ Storytime milkshake!

[grandmaster-anne]

Court Circular | 29th March 2023

Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

The King and The Queen Consort left Royal Air Force Brize Norton this morning for the State Visit to Germany. Their Majesties were received at the Airport by the Lord Parker of Minsmere (Lord Chamberlain) and His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire (Mrs Marjorie Glasgow). The King and The Queen Consort this afternoon arrived at Berlin-Brandenburg Government Airport and were received by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (Her Excellency Mrs Jill Gallard), the Ambassador from the Federal Republic of Germany to the Court of St James’s (Mr Miguel Berger), Mrs Dörte Dinger (State Secretary of the Federal President’s Office) and Mr Till Knorn (Chief of Protocol of the Federal Foreign Office). The King and The Queen Consort drove to the Brandenburg Gate and were received by The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mrs Büdenbender. His Majesty inspected the Guard of Honour. The King and The Queen Consort, with The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mrs. Büdenbender, subsequently walked through Pariser Platz before departing by car for Bellevue Palace, Berlin. The King later attended a Sustainability Reception at Bellevue Palace and planted a tree for The Queen’s Green Canopy in the Palace Garden. The King and The Queen Consort were entertained this evening at a State Banquet given by The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mrs Büdenbender at Bellevue Palace. The following are in attendance: the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs), the Rt Hon Sir Clive Alderton, Mr Christopher Fitzgerald, Mrs Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, Mr Tobyn Andreae, Professor Charles Deakin, Dr Douglas Glass, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson and Mrs Sophia Densham.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal this morning visited Adnams Brewery, Sole Bay Brewery, East Green, Southwold, to mark its One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary and was received by Mr Robert Rous (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk). Her Royal Highness later opened the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s new Headquarters, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk (Clare, Countess of Euston). The Princess Royal, Patron, Friends of Happisburgh Lighthouse, this afternoon visited Happisburgh Lighthouse, Lighthouse Lane, Happisburgh, and was received by Major General Sir William Cubitt (Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk). Her Royal Highness later visited Elm House Temporary Accommodation, 55 Elm Road, Thetford, and was received by Mrs Melinda Raker (Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk).

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Patron, Heritage of London Trust, this afternoon received Mr James Cayzer-Colvin upon relinquishing his appointment as Chairman. The Duke of Gloucester, Patron, Richard III Society, and The Duchess of Gloucester this evening attended a screening of “the Lost King’” at Windsor Castle. The Duchess of Gloucester, Honorary President, the Lawn Tennis Association, this morning received Ms Sandra Procter (President) and Mr Scott Lloyd (Chief Executive Officer).

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Patron, this evening held a Concert and Dinner at St. James’s Palace to commemorate the Ninetieth Anniversary of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.