#the dreamer aga

[drechastory]

The Dreamer page seventy one: BEECH ALERT!!!

[world-of-wales]

─ •✧ WILLIAM'S YEAR IN REVIEW : OCTOBER ✧• ─

2 OCTOBER - William chaired a Meeting of The Prince's Council. 3 OCTOBER - William and Catherine carried out engagements to mark the Seventy Fifth Anniversary of the arrival of HMT EMPIRE WINDRUSH to the UK, and the start of Black History Month. They were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan (Mrs. Morfudd Meredith) as they visited Race Council Cymru at Grange Pavilion. Afterwards, William and her visited Fitzalan High School. 4 OCTOBER - He held an Investiture at Windsor Castle. 5 OCTOBER - William shot for a Blue Peter appearance. Afterwards, he was received by Mr. Christopher Wellbelove (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London) at Sustainable Ventures. Subsequently, he attended the Aston Villa V HSK Zrinjski Group E, UEFA Europa Conference League match. 8 OCTOBER - William wrote the Foreword for The Earthshot Prize: A Handbook for Dreamers and Thinkers: Solutions to Repair our Planet. 10 OCTOBER - William and Catherine attended the Exploring our Emotional Worlds Forum and were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands (Sir John Crabtree). They also gave a short interview to BBC Radio One. 11 OCTOBER - He met emergency responders at the Blue Light Hub and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire (Countess Howe). 12 OCTOBER - William and Catherine met athletes and parents taking part in a mental fitness workshop at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre and were received by Mrs. Felicity Rutland (Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire). Afterwards, William recieved Prince Rahim Aga Khan (Chairman, Aga Khan Development Network's Environment and Climate Committee) Subsequently, he represented was by Mrs. Rebecca Priestley at the Memorial for Mr. Alan Rind (Trustee, the Rind Foundation). 13 OCTOBER - William received representatives from the Council of the Isles of Scilly at Windsor Castle. He was awarded the Green Blue Peter Badge and appeared on Blue Peter's 65th Anniversary Episode. 14 OCTOBER - William and George were received by His Majesty's Ambassador to the French Republic (Her Excellency Dame Menna Rawlings) as they attended the Wales V Argentina Rugby World Cup Quarter Final Match in Marseille. 18 OCTOBER - He spoke via video link to fire fighters fighting wildfires across Canada. 19 OCTOBER - William appeared in ITV’s Documentary - Pride Of Britain: A Windrush Special as he paid a visit to Alford Gardner, one of the last two surviving passengers from the Empire Windrush. 31 OCTOBER - William received Ms. Fara Williams (Advocate, "Homewards" Programme).

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

[jaladwolf]

AGA B*CTHFEST! (Mostly Dreamer!Bonnie)

Ladies and gentlemen of the AGA community, I come to you with what I believe is the most insane yet needed event in history.

This, my dear members in the first ever AGA B*cthfest, hosted by the lovely @drechastory and me, your wonderful @jaladwolf! With special guests, Pete and Goldie! (Yes I invited Goldie.)

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind, this is just for fun!

Basically how this is gonna work, y’all are gonna come up with art pieces imitating or roasting a certain AGA character or an AU of that character. It can be either your sona or an OC! Oh, and outright hate art will not be accepted! This whole thing is just to poke fun at some of the characters. So to all you crazy b*cthes, put the pitchforks down!

Now that that’s out of the way…

Let the b*cthfest BEGIN!

(Reblog to sign up!)

[harunokijournal]

Amagi suka lagu2nya Balloon (especially Redire, yang lagunya dinyanyiin sama V Flower)

Minami suka Gehenna (Wotaku) sama Kigeki (Gen Hoshino)

Aika suka Shoujo Rei (MikitoP)

Kana suka Shinpakusuu#0822 (ChouchouP)

Osya suka lagu2nya Toumyu (fav dia Hogiuta sama Towazugatari)

Nora, Akari, sama Ai punya satu lagu yg sama dalam playlist mereka: Totemo Suteki na Rokugatsu Deshita (eight)

Karena nyebut Osya jujur gue jadi kepikiran lagu2 toumyu yg mungkin bakal disukai sama anak2 gue (udah lama kepikiran sbenernya tpi gue ga berani rambling di twt. Jadi bikelah gue akan ngoceh di bawah setelah read more)

Setsuna seleranya aga random, tpi dia bakal suka Ruriiro no Sora San. Dia juga bakal demen Towazugatari, dan sama lagu2 dari sesi gebuk2 taiko (?) kayak Kemono sama Otokomichi (oh she'll like Otokomichi so much, probably bakal dinyanyiin keras2 pas lagi piket di kelas).

Kana juga suka Ruriiro no Sora San. Tapi ketimbang lagu2 bernada semangat kayak Setsuna, dia justru demen lagu yg aga nyes: dia bakal demen Hana no Ame Kimi no Nagori, perhaps semua solonya Manba dia bakal demen www. Also dia bakal demen Chiru Hana wo.

Minami ... Kalo liat seleranya di atas dia kayaknya bakal satu selera sama Kana. Plus point dia bakal demen Erabarerumono sama Noraneko Nihiki.

Terus gue ngebayangin Mai seleranya lagu anu (wjaksgsksjss) she probably will likes Scarlet Lips ato Yura Yurara, ato YSS, dengerinnya sambil ngerjain gambar komis klien. Kadang dengerin Eoeoa kalo lagi ga mood denger lagu anu.

Akari satu selera sama Mai (she'll like Scarlet Lips and Secret Sign so much gue yakin). Also dia bakal demen lagu kebangsaan umat toumyu aka Touken Ranbu (isi playlistnya Touken Ranbu dari jaman Atsukashiyama Ibun sampe yg terbaru versi Kousui Sanka no Yuki).

Akane demen lagu yg lucu2~ dia bakal suka Brand New Sky sama Super Duper Day sama Eoeoa (trus dia ngajakin Shou dengerin juga). Perhaps suka lagu yg aga absurd juga kayak Kappore sama Waga Mitogaku (lagi2 habis itu ngajak Shou ikut dengerin).

Shou pribadi lebih demen Utsukushii Higeki (www). Dia juga kayaknya bakal demen sama Kizuna, ato Mistake, ato dua2nya /y

Nora gabung sama Osya dengerinnya Hogiuta sama Towazugatari wqwqwq. Also kadang dengerin Dreamless Dreamer (kalo yg satu ini beneran, satu lagu yg nangkring di playlist dia tu lagu ini).

Aika sama Ai seleranya bakal sama: lagu2nya Mihotose sama Kisho Hongi, mostly dengerin Bokutachi no Asu e bareng2 sambil jalan pulang ke rumah (satu earphone bagi dua dengernya lewat hpnya Aika sampe mereka pisah di pertigaan).

Sakuya bakal demen Yume Hitotsu sih kalo kata gue. Also suka Kimi wo Sagashiteta sama Illussion of My Heart. Blue Light juga rada demen. (Dualitas banget isi playlist dia www).

(Bonus gue ga ngebahas cowo tpi kalo kata gue Takigawa bakal demen Utsukushii Higeki sama Kimi wo Sagashiteta /y)

[xirafoxeta]

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[aurivore]

     “— It was always that way. Aga held the pursuits of a dreamer. That was where his merits began and ended. Grand pursuits do require grand sacrifices, but also the will to see them to their conclusion. It wasn’t a matter of understanding. He simply wasn’t equal to the task.” The boy leans his cheek into his palm with a sigh, soft like wind through the reeds that have their service at the lap of his marshlands. 

     “An idealist who doesn’t crawl for those ideals despite having the means to do so…what a pitiful, yet altogether insipid human being.” Dichotomies often perch about him like doves and vultures upon the great branches of his being, yet for all that should crackle like hoarfrost about those words, his eyes should seem even wistful.

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[keytiegalore]

Key note speech in 5th Commencement Exercise of my alma mater

(Not the actual piece but an outline of the whole speech. Took some golden notes from different speakers to be able to conceptualize content.)

Courtesies.

Wow, it feels surreal! 

Before anything else, let me honor all the incredible parents, family members, mentors, teachers, allies, friends, and loved ones here today who have supported these students in their pursuit of educational enrichment; let me say to you now: Congratulations for a job well done!

As for you, my dear graduates, my fellow alumni, It is an honor to be here with you to help celebrate this fantastic milestone in your lives. Graduating from college or high school culminates in years of hard work. So please enjoy this moment. You deserve this celebration. Congratulations.

Two years ago, I dreamed of having to talk to a crowd of achievers and dreamers in my alma mater. And this, this is just a dream come true, an opportunity to share with you a piece of my story that I hope you can draw a lesson from or be inspired by.

I bet many of you expect this to be a long and drawn-out address, as many of them tend to be. Let me reassure you that this won’t be one of them.

One of my most profound memories of my stay here is having found my very few and most treasured friends, my all-time supporters in the persona of my most valuable teachers who have always believed in the future that awaits me; to special mention, my first-year adviser and Biology teacher, Mam Aga Christy Dologmandin, and my fourth-year adviser and English mentor, Mam Johanna Montes, with whom I still have close contact even after high school.

My batch was the second to last batch of the old curriculum before K12 and the first of graduates whose rites were held here. 

Ten years ago, just like the rest of you here, I sat there listening to another speech of success from an alumna. I graduated from this institution as the salutatorian, the second-best of my batch that quilts my “failure” story in the eyes of many as the good-for-nothing, much shocking news from a top student in elementary ending a second spot in the same community school.

That was my first of many failures as a student, but I got the highest SASE Score in my batch. I​​ got admitted to the most prestigious tertiary school in Iligan, graduated there, and passed my board examinations months after.

I’ve found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Because no matter what happened, I had the peace of mind knowing that all of the chatter, the name-calling, the doubting, all of it was just noise. It did not define me, it didn’t change who I was, and most importantly, it couldn’t hold me back.

Someone even told my parents, “If di ko kapasar SASE, di jud ko makaskwela kay di jud makapaskwela nko akong parents." This is true in my reality because our family belongs to low-income earners. Even if IIT is the cheapest school in Iligan in tuition fees, it was a burden because one: I was not a scholar in the school, and two: plete palang bug-at na kay dba double ride paingon IIT. At that time, Papa was the family’s only breadwinner, working as maintenance personnel, and Mama was a plain housewife. My parents were furious about it. They worked so hard to send me to college. My mom became a street sweeper for DPWH.

That being said, mahirap, but my parents had made me through college. 

I grew up in a family of five, the eldest of three siblings; my sisters were also alumni of this school, which means Ditucalan National High School molded us.

By that, today is not just a day of you having to step another milestone but also a success championed by your parents, family, and loved ones.

Through my parents’ persistence and hard work, I could go to college. I was admitted to IIT, a top-notch educational institution in the world. I took a Bachelor in Elementary Education Major in English from 2013-2019. I went there solely to graduate on time, which I did not. Yes, I had a one-year and a half-semester extension in college. So, that took me five years and six months for a four-year course before I got that diploma. 

My college life had been a roller coaster ride; I commuted daily—Di mi ka-afford ug boarding house sauna. I traveled every day to class, considering that Ditucalan is 16.8 km. I woke up early for my 7 AM class, pag-about sa school haggard na. 

Back when I was in college, ginabalunan jd ko sakong mama. Sauna akong mga blockmates kay sa Jollibee, Mcdo na naga-lunch unya ginakuyog man ko ana nila kay study-out lagi didto after sa pangaon, dili ko magpalit kay igo ragud pamiliti akong kwarta. Sa madaling sabi, dili ko ka-afford. Kaunon nko unsay gibalon nko sulod sa Jollibee ug Mcdo tapos ginatagaan rapud ko nila sa ilang foods.

Life is tough, but we are more rigid. Diskarte Rana.

Sometimes, akong mga kadungan sa lunch kay silang April ug Client who were both in SET. Samung batch kay 4 rami ga-IIT ato kay 5 raman mi nakapasar sa SASE. Graduates napud sila sa IIT ron, we both shared the same stories of extension in college but nigraduate mi despite the hurdles of promdi na estudyante.

Sometimes, I went out for lunch with their classmates Ate Berna and Kuya Roy. I can still remember, ginapa-seat in ko ni Ate Berna sa iyang mga klase sa CBAA labaw na ug taas akong vacant for the next class. Kay pwede Raman to a seat-in sauna. So, most of my closest friends in college are my classmates and schoolmates from high school and a few from Ate Bern’s and Kuya Roy.

These people, I must say, played a significant role in my survival during college. 

So, pick your friends wisely. You don’t want to start hanging around with a group of people with different values than you. You do not want to compromise who you are to fit in. Choosing friends who can serve as a robust support system is crucial. Not only will you want to spend time with your friends during good times, but when you need some support, it’s essential and beneficial to have reliable and supportive friends to turn to.

In my third year, I failed a handful of subjects and got into depression and a series of anxiety attacks before I left college.

The last remaining semesters made it a lot tougher because of thesis. Yes, naka-survive rapud ko sa college na walay kaugalingong laptop and nagahulog-piso ra sauna. Sauna, ginatype ra nako akong research assignments sakong phone, akong cellphone pa ato kay My Phone Neo series tapos gina-copy paste nko sakong messenger para pag maka-computer nko kay icopy paste ra nko siya sa Word ayha ko mag-paprint. 

And then, I graduated in January 2019. I landed my job after two months. Back then, I was juggling work and my review for LET. I’ve been an admin officer at Toyota Iligan City for almost two years. Alas- 5 akong klase sa SLRC ato unya layu bia ang Toyota sa centro so late jud ko permi musulod ug klase, alas 10 na dayun na mahuman among klase tapos muuli pajud kog Ditucalan ana, magcommute. I usually arrived home at 11:30 or before 12, depending on the availability of jeepneys. Ingon kag nakakabit nakog Buruun line na naka-2-inch heels na naka-skirt. Rain or shine ga-review class, even on weekends for almost 5 months. 

I can still remember there were times of audits in the company when I was tasked to assist my supervisor. It was a one-month preparation for the audit, so there were days I couldn’t attend my classes. Kay nakatoka man ko sa documents, ako’y tig-edit; tig-proofread.

But, there were days my recess and lunch in our department were dedicated to my self-review pero natagak na peer-review. Because I was just so lucky, my workmates were hands-on reviewing me. I had a teacher, an engineer, a nurse, a technician, and a chemist as my lecturers.

Niana jd ko sakong kaugalingon na: mabagsak jd ko sa board exam kay wala koy tuon na tarung. I was never ready to take the board examination in September. I was expecting to fail, but I also told myself, if mabagsak ko, mu-take jud kog balik hantud sa makapasar ko. Never say die!

Most importantly, I passed the licensure examination for teachers. 

But despite all this, my parents were able to get me through college. I graduated from college having to do my passion in writing and Journalism, which landed me my job now, and I am currently in my 2nd year in Law School.

I learned three things from this series of ups and downs, two of which are self-evident: 

You can’t succeed if you don’t show up and do the job. (According to Woody Allen, turning up is 90% of success.)

Getting into an argument with your teacher (or your boss) is rarely a good substitute for hard work.

The third lesson isn’t as clear, but it’s far more essential than it was for me: If you can learn from your mistakes, you’ll be more likely to succeed. Failure, when faced right, is the best mentor.

And I’m still pretty much convinced that failing can help you succeed. Your education has equipped you with the ability to reason, ponder, and pick among the possibilities available to you. But, no matter how well-intentioned you are, you will occasionally make the poor choice and fail.

I am speaking from personal experience. If you try everything you want to do, you will occasionally fail.

However, you must never forget that your education taught you how to deal with failure, learn from it, and move on. Even if it’s difficult to admit, if you never fail, it just means you’ve never pushed to surpass what you already know you can achieve. That doesn’t make much sense.

Bill Gates says, “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” He’s right. Put, if you never fail, you’ve never tried to do something hard. 

“A man’s reach should exceed his grasp,” the Scots poet Robert Browning tells us. 

We should always strive for something bigger than we are now capable of achieving. And if we do it, we will frequently fail. There is no shame in that. The humiliation would be in failing to learn from the setback. The most significant way to deal with failure is to learn from it and move on.

Robert Kennedy said, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.” 

Success is never easy. But it’s worth the struggle, and it’s worth the failures that will come before it.

You are proof of that today. I doubt anyone sitting here today, among the graduates, the crowd, or on this stage, has never had to overcome some failure. The trick is never to give up.

Let’s be honest. Failures are inevitable. As long as you are ready to take the risk or try something new, you will face losses. How you interpret these failures and come out of them is totally up to you as an individual.

Do not worry about what others have to say. Today they will tell you of your failures, and tomorrow, they will be the ones applauding you on your success. It is just a matter of time.

Remember, it’s your failure. Own it and accept it. Wear it on your chest like a badge of honor and keep your head high like a soldier. It’s a battlefield out there.

We all make mistakes. Nobody is perfect in this world. It’s no sin to make mistakes, but not learning from them is a cardinal sin of life.

Life is all about failures, my friends.

Take some time off, look back at all your losses in your personal lives and see how far they have gotten you today.

The bottom line is that you have survived, and it is all about survival at the end of the day.

But enough of all that.

Today is a time to celebrate, bask in your success, and look forward to the future and the new challenges ahead.

Thanks to your families, teachers, and yourself, you’re prepared for those challenges. Face them head-on. Enjoy them.

But above all, don’t be afraid to take a chance to make your life and the lives of those you love even better.

You’re prepared to take those chances.

You can do it. You know you can.

Challenge yourself, accept failure as a lesson, not a punishment, and press on regardless. Remember that failing and being a failure are not the same thing.

You can fail without being a failure.

If you are good at failing, you’re well on the road to success.

DI KAYO NAG-IISA.

WALA MO GAINUSARA ANI NA BYAHE.

Daghang Salamat.

Mabuhay po tayong lahat!

[vermonna]

Thank you @bnbc for tagging me few weeks ago :D sorry for being late!

· Name: Kena Sokolov

· Alias(es): K

· Gender: Female

· Age: 30

· Birthdate: 22th of August, 2047

· Place of birth: Heywood, Night City

· Hometown: Night City

· Spoken languages: English, Polish (native), Japanese (beginner)

· Sexual preference: Heterosexual

· Occupation: Fixer

Appearance

· Eye colour: green

· Hair colour: blonde

· Height: 5′4″ / 162 cm

· Scars: small one under left eye Favourite

· Colour: Gold, White, Black

· Hair colour: doesn’t have preferences

· Song: Live with me by Massive Attack (or every song by that band)

· Food: Tantanmen Ramen

· Drink: Tonic

Have They...

· Passed university: no, but she really wants to do it.

· Had sex: yes

· Had sex in public: Y E S

· Gotten pregnant: well, not yet ;)

· Kissed a boy: yes

· Kissed a girl: yes

· Gotten tattoos: one mandala tattoo on her back.

· Gotten piercings: just in ears

· Been in love: yes

· Stayed up for more than 24 hours: yes

Are They...

· A virgin: no

· A cuddler: yes

· A kisser: yes

· Scared easily: yes, but she pretends that she's not

· Jealous easily: Y E S

· Dominant/Submissive: She tries to be dominant in her worklife. In bed, however, she is completely submissive.

· In love: yes

· Single: no

Random Questions (TW: Self harm/suicide mention)

· Have they harmed themselves: Yes, yes, by her stubbornness, by accident

· Thought of suicide: not really

· Attempted suicide: no

· Wanted to kill someone: oh yes, she did.

· Have/had a job: she is a Co-founder and she manages Viper Mercenaires, she is a Fixer.

· Have any fears: a lot hidden fears. Mostly that she will lost everyone important for her.

Family

· Sibling(s): half-sister - V. Parent(s): father — was a son of two polish immigrants, unknown mother.

· Children: she will think about it later.

· Husband: Goro Takemura

· Pet(s): no :( but she wants a shiba inu so badly i will tag @hopeless-shameless-dreamer and @zyana-wyvern <3 sorry if i tag you againg!

[agarariddle-andhernachos]

mbti personality on each character??

We've done the test for Hermione/Grace, Tom & Pollux.

Here are the results:

Hermione/Grace :

"It can be lonely at the top. As one of the rarest personality types – and one of the most capable – Architects (INTJs) know this all too well. Rational and quick-witted, Architects may struggle to find people who can keep up with their nonstop analysis of everything around them."

Our analysis: We agree with this. Hermione is lonely and analyses everything around her. She doesn't share every bit of information she has until she knows for sure it could turn into her advantage.

Tom :

"Advocates are the rarest personality types of all. Still, Advocates leave their mark on the world. They have a deep sense of idealism and integrity, but they aren’t idle dreamers – they take concrete steps to realize their goals and make a lasting impact.

Advocates’ unique combination of personality traits makes them complex and quite versatile. For example, Advocates can speak with great passion and conviction, especially when standing up for their ideals"

Our analysis: Tom wants to leave its mark on the world. He speak with great passion when he need to, he works around the truth to get what he wants.

Pollux:

"Entrepreneurs always have an impact on their immediate surroundings – the best way to spot them at a party is to look for the whirling eddy of people flitting about them as they move from group to group. Laughing and entertaining with a blunt and earthy humor, Entrepreneur personalities love to be the center of attention. If an audience member is asked to come on stage, Entrepreneurs volunteer – or volunteer a shy friend.

Theory, abstract concepts and plodding discussions about global issues and their implications don’t keep Entrepreneurs interested for long. Entrepreneurs keep their conversation energetic, with a good dose of intelligence, but they like to talk about what is – or better yet, to just go out and do it. Entrepreneurs leap before they look, fixing their mistakes as they go, rather than sitting idle, preparing contingencies and escape clauses."

Our analysis: We couldn't describe Pollux better than this. Pollux was the life of the story (petit ange parti trop tôt).

For our own mbti :

Ara is like Hermione and Aga is like Tom.

Well... we'll see what happens next then.

[urskekyagvi]

Breakfast Trials

It was a rare thing for the Dreamer to be angry- or, at least, visibly so, so that one could see the rage clearly upon their features without tears to marr the effect. SkekYag wasn't sure what had caused it. That morning, he had awoken to the sound of boiling water and wooden utensils being thrown all about, angry mutterings only a background ambience to all of the noise. SkekYag thought this unusual; UrVi was usually so considerate of others when they slept.

Something else clanged with an almost-audiable curse, and that decided him; he would investigate. Hesitantly, he rose from the bed and shuffled down the hall, peeking just around the corner to survey the damage. UrVi was standing over the stove, head in two pairs of hands while the other two were busy furiously wringing a spoon. His shoulders shook in a sob, rising in pitch with each sharp intake of breath until it ceased and started all over again.

The air smelled pungent with egg. All over the floor blue eggshells laid, as if smashed and then thrown down in a rage. Intertwining with it was a thick scent of smoke, and from where he stood he could see two small, black, squarish things laying stiffly upon a plate: burnt toast. He crinkled his snout.

"...Just...Just once," UrVi growled, "Just once...I want perfectly poached eggs. Is that too much to ask? Just one morning, can I have perfect eggs?"

SkekYag wasn't sure how to respond to that. He wasn't even sure if it was directed at him, personally, or if UrVi even noticed him yet. Usually he would have just rolled his eyes and told his Other to get over it, have another go, but something about their entire attitude (and the number of eggshells upon the floor already) threw him off that course of action. UrVi rarely got this upset over something so minor.

Unsure how to approach, he crept towards them. UrVi's hair was tied back loosely by a blue ribbon, complete with a little bow. SkekYag tugged on it gently to get their attention.

"Uh...Good morning?"

"...Morning," was all they said, and even then it was more of a sigh than a greeting. They gazed furiously down at a pot of murky boiling water, a hazy mixture of pink egg whites and yolk stirring about in the depths. He sniffled.

"...This was my last attempt," UrVi said softly, "I tried seven times now...seven times, they all came out broken...seven times, SkekYag-"

"Alright, alright, it's ok, just try aga-"

"But I already wasted seven eggs!" UrVi cried, pulling the pot off the stove in an angry flourish, "Seven eggs! Ruined! Why waste even more?"

His lower left arm pulled the plate to him, and with another flourish he scooped out the boiled mess and deposited it on the burnt toast with spite. He glared at the resulting product.

"...And I burnt my toast, too. My day is already ruined."

SkekYag huffed, growing steadily more irritated with UrVi's sudden attitude, though he knew, really, that it wasn't their fault. He scanned the messy kitchen, seeking something to distract himself from his own budding annoyance.

"Where's the other failed attempts, then? I could take care of them for you," he was hungry himself. He didn't care what state the food was in. To him, it was all going to the same place anyway. Even rotting carrion was preferable to an empty stomach, as had always been his philosophy.

"I gave those to Melon," was UrVi's terse response, and then they stormed over to the table where a lonely and cold cup of ta awaited.

SkekYag blinked, and that was when he noticed the fizzgig sleeping near the stove. Her fuzzy face did look a little more content than usual. Something about the scene, about this entire terrible, ridiculous morning, made a smile crawl across his face. A snicker trembled in his chest, then simmered into a chuckle, then boiled into a chortle, until finally full-blown maniacal laughter burst forth from him. When he regained his calm somewhat, he found UrVi glaring up at him as if he had grown a second head that said something rather rude to him; that made him laugh even more.

"What?" UrVi snapped, "What?! What are you laughing at?"

SkekYag wiped his eye as he walked over, and then snatched away UrVi's plate. He took the toast and eggs and scarfed them down before UrVi could so much as object, and then he took up another pot. This he filled with water and stoked up the dying flames so it would soon boil.

"Sorry," he chuckled, "it's just...by Thra, this is ridiculous. I keep forgetting, you know. I keep forgetting that you're my other half, and then something like this happens, and well...It's silly. Straight-up inanity. I can't get over it."

He turned to them, leaning his back on the counter and clapping his hands together with an enormous grin.

"So cheer up, mystic! Today I take your place: I'm making you a proper breakfast to appease your hunger, and then we'll have a proper day to go with it. How does a walk sound? Want me to heat up that ta for you, too?"

UrVi blinked. Slowly, he looked at the empty plate where his ruined breakfast had been not long before. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes.

"...But...I ruined-"

"So?"

"But...I wasted so many-"

"We'll get more."

"But you're going through all of this trouble-"

"I want to. No trouble at all. I'm only doing what you'd do for me; I'm taking your place. See, when you're grouchy, I have to be cheery for once. We can't both be saturnine at the same time, you know. Balance is key, or some other mystic nonsense. Isn't that what you're always saying?"

UrVi opened their mouth a few times, then closed it again. There was a long pause as he swallowed, and the Geologist could feel the hard lump in his own throat.

"...By Thra, I can't seem to do anything right today, Shrill Shrookill. I'm being such a terrible crybaby, and I don't even know why...I'm sorry..."

Then UrVi laid his head in his hands and started to sob. SkekYag's smile vanished in an instant.

"It's alright," he said with a gentleness rare for him, nearly cooing in the same soothing tones UrVi often used, "Don't cry. It's not your fault. Sometimes...sometimes you'll feel bad...and that's okay. It's not a bad thing. You're going to have days where it feels like minor inconveniences are great tribulations. Everyone does."

He patted the mystic's back, comforting words spilling out of him in cluttered jumbles. UrVi sniffled and sobbed the entire time, wiping at his face with the hem of his robe.

"B-but...but I...It's all wrong. I'm-I'm supposed...I'm supposed..."

"You're not 'supposed' to do anything except eat this perfect breakfast I'm making for you," SkekYag said, firmly but gently.

UrVi looked at him for a long moment, tears spilling down his face until SkekYag wanted to look away- but he didn't. He forced himself to remain smiling, feeling that it was somehow important for UrVi to see it. Finally they smiled back, turning away to clean up their face.

"...Thra, I'm a mess. How do you put up with me?"

SkekYag preened their mane. "Don't have to."

A snort escaped them. They closed a hand about his beak, raising another to shake a finger at him in playful asmonishment.

"Oh, enough of your honey-sweetened tongue. Stop fussing over me and go mind that pot. "

It was boiling furiously by now. SkekYag did manage to pull away from him, and in fact managed to make perfectly poached eggs. The toast was a little more of a challenge, put somehow he was able to spear both pieces on a skewer over the flame without dropping them in, and even better, without burning them to a crisp. The re-heated ta was just as refreshing as when it was first brewed.

And the day, UrVi had to conclude after, wasn't ruined after all.

[drechastory]

The Dreamer page seventy seven: ANimation attempt

[ipervrani0]

my sweet demon

you remember me the past me.

The little dreamer that loved to see other people happy despite he was marginalized by all.

The little child who was excited to spend time only with his best friend role-playing for hours.

The me who believed in soulmate and "charming prince" who,one day, is supposed to make you happy.

That's why our time ended.

I can't stand a little me, my past is something who helped me to grow but also something who damaged me. For some reason you made me relive that. I felt like stripped by my solid shield of  introvertedness. I felt vulnerable.

I made you suffer so now I'm paying consequences. I'm reliving againg my past, I see the little me in everything I do. I feel like a child who broke his own toy. I feel finally loved but also rejected by myself.

That's not your fault, so that's not mine. I'm going to get over that, one day,,,now I'm still growing as a person. And you? Are you still trapped in yourself or are you free? Are you still holding on that old feeling destroyed by a lie or did you really get over it? you are just lying to yourself. I see tears of anger in your eyes. I feel that, on my own skin. Vengeance, pain, fear, remorse,, I'm too young to understand that,they say, but I get it completely. Humans are made for suffer, didn't them? Even we're not crying our souls are drowning in their own tears. Good night my sweet demon, hope you accept that one day,,

-kami

[the-sunshine-club]

The Sunshine Buddy Project: Week one 💛

here are the partners for the buddy project this week:

Aga @camomilehoneytea and Maeve @saapho

Noah @h0tcoffee and Charmaine @sleepypeachyy

Ans @ultrasparklyshark and Bayley @shibeiinu

Justin @zeux and Megan @stressandlove 

Bee @planteiah and Micah @c0smic-kidd0

Tarry @a-peculiar-nature and Georgia @georgia-cb

Cami @micocola and Aleks @teaquil

Laura @lumiest, Blue @backroadtraveler

Sarah @sunflowerrgay, Izzy @splendid-sea

Emma @alldayvibing, Morgan @laneboyz

Ava Mareau @avamareau, bee @groovy-bee

Faye @celestihals,  Brea @thick-thighs-and-a-heavy-heart

Chloe @awkweird-amethyst, amy @libraerie

Shelsy @nomnomnompow, Bo @silverfaeblossoms

Remmy @rem-boi, Kinga @peachy-beauty 

Lauren @paihnt, Keena @Maeped 

Rome @hauntedtale-youth, Theo @theodoramb

elliot @plant-bf, husky @cluelesswolf

@thiscouldbegayer, Jess @earthlyhoney

Fabi / Fabienne @p0sitivthinking, Shakira @slimshakes

Leo @r0sebudwitch, Lisa @oscars-kitten

Kat @thepoetspens, Ben @datveganboi

Beth @rialunna, Ashlee @yourlocalsweetpea

 yanic @wieheisstdiesesverfluchteding, Chloe @awkweird-amethyst

Val @Radxvall, yari @yar-ee 

Georgia @honey-meadows, Samira @blueberry-addict

Angela @moonliighters, Lean @bpdope

Hali @god-of-sunflowers, Sammie @flwryb 

Erin @admirethe-distance, serena @serena-b 

Talia @gossamergloss, Jordan @sunsproutt

 Kennedy @teenytinyhoneybees, Luba @acifivlas

Cass @Cassi-dean, Fran @starrygoghhs

Harriet @ughsatire), sydney @tihpsy

Mar @maraudingmar), Emily @dreamy-magical-girl

Lola @vangoghspeach), Eva @neverdidgiveadamn

Cait @kiittyy-caat, olivia @httpsalien

Rinnie @canagogh, Gabbie @obi1keboneme

Marley @hot-tea-n-honey), Olivia @plant-positivitea 

Amy @symphonyofsea, Sophie @tasteimmortality

Delaney @thestory-unfolds), Daisy @floweringpersephone 

April @april-aflame, maria eduarda @my-feelings 

Cass @Shcwdcc, Jay @soulesser

kalei @nlghtchvnges, jenessa @peachabanana

Amelie @miilk-andhoney), Olivia @iridescentt-dreamer

 Gaby @gabynooncio, Amalie @tinyflowerchild

Chrys @chrysanthoughts, michelle @spookbotanique 

Ace @blueberry-butterscotch, Ashley @ashley-virginia

Rain @rainsf, Betzy @vtiredgrl

Abby @rosehipz, Mykie @el-cryptid

Clara @evernervz, Monique @pinkypotatopeach

rayne @groovy-chaos, rebecca @mythgrrl

alexa @partfawn), Kim @floweryfleur

Libby @choccymelk, kate/kiki @kateisntgreat

 Bri @whitenoiiise, Ophelia @angelic-ophelia

Grey @peculiar-grey, Erin @aesthemoon 

Allison @a-the-tay-ok, Savana Grace @persephonied

Kindly leave your pals a message to start a convo! If you would like to be paired to a new sunshine pal next week, stay tuned for more info! :)

[mattboy7799]

Aga’s last day in Poland before back to #bahrain What a beautiful winter she had ❤️❄️ 📸@snowcat_srt . . Book Aga for your next #fashion shoot! . #snowlover #bukowinatatrzanska #tatry #blondehair #happiness #dreamer #polska #warszawa #kielczanka #sheraton #zima #winterweather #letitsnow #winteroutfit #zimoweubranie #zimowyoutfit #zimowykrajobraz #zimowy #nauszniki #zimowaczapka #zimowakurtka #kurtkapuchowa #mróz https://www.instagram.com/p/B6tBkUtpIGF/?igshid=xnna4a18hf0f

[daehquns]

( * kyong dae-hyun. )

♡ — * » KYONG DAEHYUN looks so cute on the beach !! apparently, ( he/they ) come from ( south korea ) and are a ( twenty ) years old ( pansexual ) ( demiboy ) ( med student ). other hotel residents described them as ( gentle + sage ), but also ( ambivalent - faint-hearted ). don’t you think they look a bit like ( PARK JIMIN ) ?

WARNING: this is really long, my dudes. so long.

hello hi hi, it’s SKY ( 2-o, she/her, cest tz, but an insomniac ) & this is my smol blob of confusion, so if their story confuses you, i succeeded. also this is easily my absolute favourite character ever, so ,,, idk random info. ALSO: i have an exam tomorrow, my peeps, so i don’t think i’ll be around till tomorrow but !! i can’t wait to plot & interact with all of you.

SORTA BIO THING:

[ MISCARRIAGE TW ] kyong daehyun was born in daegu, south korea on the 22nd of february 1997. they were sort of a miracle baby bc their mom went through two miscarriages before them ( she’s rh negative & the babies were rh positive n ,,, i wont explain the biology behind it, im sure yall know that ). they’re an only child. they’ve always wanted a sibling ( an older one ,,,, they always want the impossible things smfh ). so yeah, they were a bit lonely while growing up

they were a very weak child who’d fall ill quite often (their family used to call them aga/aggie/babybc of it … sorta stuck with them to this day ), so much that it affected their education. the poor bean skipped a lot of classes, so eventually their parents decided it was best for them to leave school. they were homeschooled !! altho they now have incredible work ethic bc of this, they didn’t have many friends while growing up :( they sorta didnt even get the chance to develop n test their social skills. they came in contact with their parents, nannies, parents’ business partners, etc … long story short, they were surrounded by adults. this made them VERY mature for their age, even back then.

the greatest discovery of their life was the internet. they had little interest in sports & going outside, so they’d spend their free time glued to the screen of their laptop, either watching movies, youtube videos & tv shows or getting to know strangers from across the world thanks to various websites & apps. they’d often stay up all night n ruin their sleep pattern in order to talk to their friends from other timezones. they made them so happy. so. happy.

their parents sort of made them pursuit a medical career, though, they literally have -10 interest in it. not 0. -10. they just want to make them proud, ok ?? especially since they’ve always been an incredible student n studying came easily to them. they were praised while growing up, so naturally they started thinking they were exceptional as well.

COLLEGE ! they. hate. it. hate it. like, they are fallin apart n are like “wow so what is this, i thought i was smart ?? they told me i was the most intelligent kid in the world wHY cant i do literally anything now w o w im so average yUCK”.  i mean, they still get good grades, but they ARE struggling.

[ PROFESSOR/STUDENT RELATIONSHIP THING TW ] … idk maybe someone’s triggered by that. anyway, there was a class that made them 11/10 done with life & they were sure they’d fail it n ruin their entire life, so they approached the professor ( who ,,, was rly hot n made hyunnie weak in the knees ok ) n were like “i will literally do ANYTHING in order to pass this class ,,,,,, pls”. like, they had 0 shame bc they were so done with it. n ,,, long story short, they ended up sleeping with the professor … ,,, multiple times. t was bc of the grade the first time, but … they’re pretty much in love with him now. and they’re a bit foolish, they hope he’s in love with them too. n idk they sort of dream about being in a real relationship with them.  l mao … my poor kiddo.

COOLER INFO THING:

nicknames include: hyunnie, dee, mochi ( i have to steal that from jiminieeee bc yes. my squishy bol of cuteness ), aga/aggie/baby. or just call them dae or  hyun honestly

daehyun is a demiboy ( they/them or he/him. if you refer to them as she/her, they will feel uncomfortable, but they will not have the guts to correct you. lmao one time they watched a woman make them european-style pancakes with nutella & cherries, even though they asked for a nutella/banana combo. they did not correct her. they ate half of it, left with a pout on their face n were sad for the rest of the day tHATS HOW ANXIOUS N SHY THEY ARE BYE ). anyway, as i said   ——   demiboy. panromantic ( very romantic, a huge dreamer. the type to imagine cute scenarios with their crush before falling asleep ). pansexual, though the most attracted to masculine physique buT !! they’re too self-conscious n emotion-dependent that they can’t have sex with just about anyone. n o. byee. like, the thought of getting naked in front of someone is terrifying to them, so they really need to trust n know the person. i wouldn’t call them demisexual though, since they do experience sexual attraction without having an emotional bond, they just … can’t let go of their ~stupid insecurities~

[ FOOD TW ] they don’t eat meat. yes, they do love animals n feel sad about those poor things, but that’s not the main reason why they don’t eat it. the smell, the look, the taste of meat makes them incredibly sick. when they were smol & had any sort of meat for lunch, they’d sit at the table for 5 hours n eat everything BUT the meat. most of the time, they used to give it to their dog who was v chubby bc of them. lunch was the worst time of the whole day for them, it was suuuuuuuper bad, especially since their parents didn’t understand their problem n called them spoiled. now that they are away from home, they’re super happy cause they can eat whatever they want ( sweets n pastries ). this bish ALWAYS has a lollipop in their mouth n a candy bar with them.

why are they obsessed with lollipops ? thanks to them they destroy their nails n cuticles LESS when bored, since their mouth is occupied. you can determine how life’s goin for daehyun just by looking at their hands. when everything’s good, their nails are painted ( the execution n design also say a lot about how much free time they have n how clear their head is ). when everything’s shit, they aren’t painted, they are bloody and sore, skin completely damaged, so much that it hurts to touch items with the very tips of their fingers. everything burns n they’re wincing 25/8.

they always have literally everything with them. you need a tissue, a comb, a hair brush, a band-aid, a hand sanitizer, a nail polish, some water, something sweet, a set of stem cells & a cure for every illness in the world ?they have it all. they’re always prepared for every situation. this is bc of their huge fear of facing a situation for the first time unprepared. also … you should never make them order food on their own or make a serious phone call or wtvr bc .. they can’t do that.

they’re fluent in english, but pls don’t throw big words at them :( they feel so embarrassed when they don’t know what something means. they go home & write the new word on one of their colourful cards, along with its translation to korean, a smol explanation & an example sentence n they have loads of those cards that they reread whenever they have time. when they learn a new word, they love showing off lmao dumbass

while they were back in korea n spending time on youtube, they used to watch a lot of kpop mvs + makeup tutorials n fell in love with makeup n wanted to look as beautiful as the people in those videos. they started stealin their mother’s makeup n used to be awful at paintin’ their face, but got better with time. they used to save money for eyeliners n primers n highlighters n all sort of shit n they’d hide all the products in their room n play with them whenever they were home alone. they know it’s their true passion& call, but they are so discouraged by the fact that they can’t even walk outside wearing makeup. they aint confident enough & still don’t think they can pull it off.

they made a new youtube account with the intention to post their own tutorials, but … mm, there’s still 0 uploaded videos on that channel

i’ve been struggling to decide which hair colour to go with … black, platinum blonde, silver or pink n i chose …pink.

they’ve never been in an actual relationship. never cuddled, or did couple-y things. their professor took their virginity, so … ya. that’s one of the reasons why they’re refusing to let him go.

[MEDICATION TW] as i mentioned before, they were a weak child who was often sick and had bad migraines ,,, this sort of got them hooked on medication ?? like, they will convince themself that their head is hurting and jus pop a pill without any need to do so ,,,, like, they are 110% sure they need pills to function normally every single day.

nature !! the world !! they love it.

aesthetics hoe !!!!!!!!! will sell their soul for the things that please their senses

they know how to draw well. they lololololove drawing comic book characters. like, they have their own characters already

dancing !!! especially contemporary ! bc ,,, i have a lot of those gifs n icons that i gotta use

loves apples ?

wants a cat. d e s p e r a t e l y

PERSONALITY:

i think it’s quite obvious that they’re a very anxious, shy & alert person 24/7 and i guess that you can see how their upbringing had a lot to do with it. i don’t view their shyness as cute and adorable, but they definitely aren’t grim either. they’re just closed-off. they’re not used to sharing personal stuff with other people, at least not face to face. online, everything’s different.

most of the time they’re like … “uhhhhh, people - i’d rather not. that can get me in a lot of awkward n uncomfortable situations n i’d rather avoid that’. they don’t find solitude depressing. they enjoy their alone time, they find comfort in it. they are very aware of the fact that their social skills suck & as i said a part of them doesn’t give a damn, but … another part is worried bc if they truly want to be in the makeup world, they will have to learn to be a people person, have a fantastic charisma n ,, talk to people ? lmao

their zodiac sign is pisces n they HATE IT lol they’re like “i’m not a whiny baby emo dreamer ew go away” so they keep telling people that their zodiac sign is aquarius bc it’s close enough n they find them cool n admire the description of the seemingly stoic sign that goes through life with their brain rather than their heart. they love to think that they’re strong n logical, that they’re not emotional … but that’s not the case. it’s all an act really

once you demolish their shell, you’ll find the most adorable creature in the whole entire universe ?/ they also love tellin stupid jokes. they almost never finish them bc they laugh too hard at em

they get attached to people VERY easily n then they can’t live without them n that freaks them the fuck out. like. they fall in love ten times a day. im. not. kiddin.

they’re all about living life to the fullest, they just have a bit different vision of what true livin is lmao

philosophical af ? hates small talk, always wants to talk abt deep shit

the type to send you memes and stuff that reminds them of you

WANTED CONNECTIONS:

this is so important. online friends. they met online a couple of years ago ( we’ll figure out how ) n now they’re both here and ? hyunnie is so scared to meet them bc they’re afraid that person won’t like them irl, but the desire is bigger than the fear !

similar to the previous one, but it was a long distance relationship ( it ended bc the distance was too much ig ). they only chatted, but they know everything about each other. they were infuriated every single day bc they couldn’t physically feel each other, but they still planned a future together, or at least meeting irl … maybe they now finally have a chance ?

crush. as i said, hyunnie falls quickly for a person. it can be unrequited. it’s just someone they daydream about n sigh over. or it can be the other way around, but hyunnie is quite clueless n doesn’t pick up on their hints.

friends ?? the plot depends on your charrie tbh but dw about it, i usually have 57430865026701348 ideas, so ya.

i have no idea what else ,,,, imma go make a wanted connections tag n reblog some plots probably. bUT HEY feel free to send plots my way, i luv that

[meadowstoneuk]

The AG team’s ‘Desert Island’ lockdown reads

In the first of an occasional series, members of the AG team talk about the books they love and are currently reading

What are you reading to while away the hours? Here is what some of the AG team are reading

When we are not producing excellent magazines and doing some gardening, the AG staff can think of nothing better than settling down with a good book, listening to music or watching television to take our minds off the world outside.

And you’ll be pleased to know that we don’t just read gardening books! This blog post is the first of a series of ‘Desert Island Lockdown favourites’ – reading material, music, television, films, food, flower, artwork and locations are just some of the topics we will be covering over the coming weeks.

We are kicking things off with books, either our favourite reads or what we are reading at the moment.  We hope you enjoy our choices and would love to hear yours too. Contact us at amateurgardening@ti-media.com

  The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien – a comedy, a tragedy and kaleidoscope of beautifully-written nonsense

The Third policeman by Flann O’Brien

This is the story of a murder, actually two murders, but you don’t know about the second until the end of the book. It is not a murder mystery because the first murder isn’t a mystery and the second comes too late to be a mystery.

This is a comedy, a tragedy, and kaleidoscope of beautifully-written nonsense worthy of Lewis Carroll, Joyce and Kafka combined. Set on a farm in Ireland, our hero is a one-legged (the other is wooden) student of the obscure philosopher De Selby. On the death of his parents he inherits the family farm, which includes a pub and it’s manager John Divney. Our hero spends all his time in the study of De Selby, leaving Divney to run the business.

amateurgardening.com/blog

Just as he has finished his definitive critique of De Selby’s work, he discovers Diveny has squandered away the family business and they are broke. Desperate to find the money to publish his book, our hero and Diveny hatch a plan to rob an old miser called Mathers who lives on a remote farm with a stack of money hidden under the floorboards in a black box. A plan is executed and then the story gets seriously surreal.

There are times when reality is stranger than fiction. The Third Policemen is now regarded as a modern classic and O’Brien’s greatest work. Indeed it is believed by many to be one of the great works of literature and O’Brien to be a superior writer to his friend and fellow countryman James Joyce. However, just like the hero of the story, O’Brien was unable to get the book published in his lifetime.

He tried throughout 1939-40, but was constantly rejected. He told friends that the manuscript had been lost, but unbeknown to everyone it sat on top of the sideboard in his dinning room where he ate lunch every day. And there it stayed until his death in 1966 when it was discovered and finally published in 1967 to great and continuing acclaim.

This book is too beautifully written, funny and insanely intelligent for me to adequately describe. However, I would recommend you read it with an Irish accent.

Garry Coward-Williams, editor

    The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard – a rich and evocative look at the messy, complicated, often mundane business of life

The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard

I’m a complete magpie when it comes to reading matter, picking up and stashing anything that catches my eye. As a result our bookshelves are lined with everything from Star Wars film manuals to medieval history, thrillers, horror, science fiction, historical fiction, gardening books (obviously!) and comfort reading,

Most of the books that come into the ‘comfort’ category are well-thumbed and dog-earred because I turn to them time and again, like old friends, in times of need.

Right now I’m craving Elizabeth Jane Howard’s Cazalet Chronicles, five wonderful books detailing the lives of the middle class Cazalet family from the summer before the Second World War to the mid-1950s.

amateurgardening.com/blog

At its centre are the clan’s imperious patriarch and matriarch The Brig and Duchy, their sons Hugh, Edward and Rupert, daughter Rachel, and their spouses, lovers, friends and staff. From the second generation come their many children and this is where Howard succeeds best, I think. The way the younger characters observe the world and make their way through it is often hilarious, sometimes poignant and occasionally heartbreaking .

The Chronicles weave a rich and evocative thread through the messy, complicated, often mundane business of life, love, betrayal, loss, wartime and the pain of wrong love and fractured friendships. If this makes them sound like typically soft and cloying rom-com/Aga saga reading don’t worry, the stories often have a hard edge that cuts through any saccharine nonsense.

From the opening page of the first novel The Light Years, the Cazalets become your family, your friends, and finishing the final page of the last book, All Change, will leave you bereft and wanting more.

I’m currently reading the incomparable Wilding by Isabella Tree, a wonderful memoir of how the author and her husband returned the barren land around their family estate back to a thriving, nature-rich ecosystem.

Another recommendation is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Duerr, a beautiful, mystic wartime tale of a blind French girl and the German orphan boy who enters her world.

Ruth Hayes, gardening editor

    The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham – how mankind responds to the threat of its own extinction

The Kraken Wakes By John Wyndham

I’m not a fan of science fiction, but while watching an episode of Coronation Street last year – I’m a great fan of Coronation Street and EastEnders – I heard someone mention The Midwich Cuckoos. I’m sure it was the character played by Maureen Lipman, but that’s by the by.

Anyway, I looked it up and discovered that it was a book by John Wyndham. I’d heard of the author, as he wrote The Day of the Triffids, so I thought I’d see what it was about. So I bought it, read it – and loved it.

amateurgardening.com/blog

I then found out that Wyndham had written The Kraken Wakes, so I bought that. The book is an apocalyptic science fiction novel first published in 1953.

It’s about how mankind responds to the threat of its own extinction and what it does in order to survive. It starts with fireballs appearing out of the sky and landing in the oceans, ships subsequently disappearing and the discovery of aliens that have landed via these fireballs and set up home underwater. Sea levels rise as the aliens melt the polar ice caps resulting in social collapse.

Who’d have though Coronation Street would lead me to the work of a renowned science-fiction writer – and I’d be reading about the terrifying consequences of a threat to the world at this time…

Lesley Upton, features editor

    Life Moves Pretty Fast by Hadley Freeman – a celebration of a halcyon age filled with cinematic gems

Life Moves Pretty Fast by Hadley Freeman

We can all learn a lot from the movies of our youth: that’s the message of this fantastically constructed book, a quintessential love letter to a time that some might say taste forgot. The Eighties gets a lot of flack, but what Guardian writer Freeman sets out here is a manifesto for positive living predicated on a ‘golden age of cinema’ for dorks and dreamers.

It’s a celebration of a halcyon age filled with cinematic gems wherein impressionable kids could learn vital lessons about universal themes: friendship, integrity, equality and individuality. Embracing a wealth of cult and mainstream classics, this is a witty, well-researched series of essays that reflect on how key movie creations with spirited heroes and anti-heroes, from engaging everyman Ferris Bueller to the anarchic Ghostbusters, have shaped our psyches.

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There are stellar nuggets of movie gossip here as well, like the friction caused by the revised ending of Pretty in Pink, and how Denholm Elliot took on the role of lovable butler Coleman in Trading Places because original choice Ronnie Barker never wanted to work more than 25 miles from home.

Freeman explores the impact of a ridiculous rollcall of comedic and dramatic talent, all with a lightness of touch and conversational gusto that feels like hanging out with a chum who just happens to be a movie buff. With gorgeous insights from the likes of John Landis, Geena Davis, Tom Hanks and Molly Ringwald, this is truly instructive reading for modern times.

It’s also a lovely reminder of the power of nostalgia – to say nothing of the humour and heart that can get us through crazy days like these, and give us fresh perspectives on ourselves and our lockdown buddies. In the words of time-hopping metalhead slackers Bill and Ted: ‘Be excellent to each other’.

Janey Goulding, assistant editor

  We are here for you

Although many people are coping well with self-isolation, others are really struggling and feeling completely forgotten and alone.

Here at AG we are doing our best to keep connected to our readers though the magazine, this website and also through social media.

Our gardening ‘agony uncle’ John Negus is also still working hard. Send him your problems and questions, with pictures if you can, and he will get back to you with an answer withing 24 hours, as he has been doing for decades. Contact him using the AG email address at amateurgardening@ti-media.com

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We already have thriving Facebook page but are also on Twitter and Instagram. These sites are a brilliant way of chatting to people, sharing news, information, pictures and just saying hello – we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Best of all, as gardeners are generally lovely folk, more interested in plants, hedgehogs, tea and cake than political shenanigans and point-scoring, so the chat is friendly and welcoming.

So please drop by, follow us, ‘like’ our posts and say hello – the Instagram feed is in it’s really early days so the quicker we can get that going with your help and support, the better!

You can find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/AmateurGardeningMagazine

Twitter: Twitter.com/TheAGTeam

Instagram: instagram.com/amgardening_mag

And while you’re there, give someone you know or love a call. They might be feeling low and lonely and hearing from you will make their day. Happy gardening!

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