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twotwinks · 4 years

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a thing i was tagged in a long time ago by @rochc93. i am, believe it or not, attempting to catch up on these things. i always intend to do them but it’s either not a good time when i think about them or i’m not thinking about them. sorry i’m a mess

Who were you named after?

First name, nobody bitch. That’s all me. Middle name, like twenty different characters who are important to me but all on accident because I didn’t realize we shared the name until after I’d picked it. Notable instances include Rita Rose Vrataski from Edge of Tomorrow and also Amy Rose (a recent discovery). Last name, Gary King and also because I like confusing people about my gender by deliberately using a “male” title while presenting female (though hopefully not for much longer) and also being nonbinary. (Also s/o to ladies who call themselves king instead of queen. Yes I’m thinking of Kagamine Rin in the WanOpo songs Death Should Not Have Taken Thee and Our Adventure Log Has Vanished.)

Last time you cried?

two weeks ago to the day, when my dad let our dog Koko get hit by a car, things have been Extra Bad around here since then

Do you like your handwriting?

No. When I was little everyone always used to tell me how pretty it was but then I started trying to be a Serious Writer and my penmanship degraded as a result of how fast I had to get the words out of my head. Now my mom whines all the time about how messy and illegible my writing is.

What is your favorite lunch meat?

TURKEY

Longest relationship?

Umm....about two years ago for about three months-ish? I think? Maybe two months? I don’t know, we were dating for Christmas and then I broke up with him right before Valentine’s Day because my mental health couldn’t take it. I realized I was aro shortly after. Who would’ve guessed, huh?

Do you still have your tonsils?

Yep!

Do you bungee jump?

no and i never will

What is your favorite kind of cereal?

Dude this changes like monthly. Sometimes Honey Bunches of Oats. Sometimes Frosted Flakes. Sometimes I get a ridiculously strong craving for Strawberry Awake or Lucky Charms or Honey Nut Cheerios. I just get to eat cereal so infrequently that I can’t really have a favorite, I just have to indulge whatever craving I currently have because I only get the chance to eat one box every three months or so.

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?

Yes because when I was little my mom ingrained into me that not untying my shoes first would ruin the backs of them way faster than they should. In all fairness we were poor and couldn’t afford to buy me new shoes that often because my feet are so sensitive that an actual comfortable pair costs $100.

Do you think you’re strong willed?

oh fuck no i mean have you ever spoken to me??? i’m the biggest baby pushover to ever live

Favorite ice cream?

Either that Death by Chocolate stuff they serve at Purdue’s dining courts sometimes or mint chocolate chip. It has to be green though or it loses something sdkhsdhk

What is the first thing you notice about a person?

Usually like their shirt, I guess? I don’t know, this isn’t something I’ve ever really thought about. Maybe it’s also if they have one of those annoying faces or voices. Or if they have a queer vibe. Look I’m not good with people ok.

Football or baseball?

Football but only because marching band and/or soccer

Favorite doughnut?

Okay this is going to sound weirdly specific but. Chocolate cake donut with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles. Also on a related note I once let a girl in high school copy my homework (that I myself had found the answers to on the internet, it was a really unfair English assignment). She was so happy that she said she’d buy me a donut for breakfast the next day (she made a donut run for herself once a week as a special treat). I gave her my oddly specific request, but since I knew it was kind of a rare donut to find I told her anything chocolate would work. The next day, lo and behold, she showed up with the perfect donut. She had them make it special for me (insert Discord’s pleading face emoji). That was the day I learned my lesson about judging “dumb blondes”.

What music are you listening to?

I’ve been back into Touhou doujin arrangements again lately, especially eurobeat. However I’m also hyperfixating on Sonic the Hedgehog again so the game soundtracks and the Crush 40 albums are starting to show up in my frequent rotation on Spotify.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

The obvious choice is mint green but I could also very easily be a lime green or a glittery ruby slippers red.

Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?

I believe I talked to my grandma a little bit on my mom’s phone not that long ago? Other than that according to my phone it looks like I took a call from my dad back in April?

Hair color?

that real deep almost black brown. i nearly got into a fistfight with some boys in second grade who insisted my hair was black. it’s not black it’s just very thick. it actually looks much lighter if you just separate a smaller chunk and look at it.

Eye color?

Hazel. Brown with some green flecks. Or possibly green with some brown flecks. Also both of my irises look different up close but you can’t tell unless you’re really up in my face.

Favorite food to eat?

pasta but it can’t have red sauce

Scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings all the way

Last film you watched in the cinema?

do you really expect me to remember this. i honestly do not fucking know. i have no brain when it comes to movie theaters. i was gonna do a double feature of birds of prey and the sonic movie the tuesday before spring break (cheap prices for students!!!) but i ended up having a headache that day so i couldn’t go and then shit hit the fan and there was no theatergoing. i have tried and failed to get my parents to rent the sonic movie since. i’m very unhappy about it now that i’m hyperfixating again.

What color shirt are you wearing?

well i think it used to be white but it’s really old so now it’s like off-white. also it has a big snake on the back. i don’t even like snakes i just enjoy this shirt.

Favorite holiday?

Christmas!!! I don’t necessarily actually enjoy celebrating the holiday (thanks fam) but I love the idea behind it and the aesthetics. Also it’s peppermint season!

Beer or wine?

Listen I am super picky about alcohol. I haven’t liked any of the wine I’ve tried, but the first two wines I had other people told me it was bad (and then they took me out and bought me alcohol I would actually like because I’d never drank before and apparently getting me tipsy in Ireland over spring break was an Honor for them I literally didn’t pay for a single drink that night) and the third wine I had was paired with the wrong type of food (we couldn’t get the Right wine bottle open). I didn’t really mind the beer I tried in Ireland though, so I guess beer? I really like cider best though, and apparently I can also handle vodka.

Night owl or morning person?

night owl i wish i could be nocturnal

Favorite day of the week?

Friday. It has all the joy and anticipation of the coming weekend without the curse of my dad being home or the responsibility of homework looming over everything.

Favorite animal?

HEDGEHOG yeah i never really got past that from when i was little. but i also just love pretty much all animals. except like. snakes and spiders but sometimes snakes have their moments.

Do you have a pet?

Yeah. We have a lot of “family” pets but I consider Patches (cat) and Gabby (dog) to be Mine Specifically. If my mom hadn’t forced me out of therapy I’d probably be bringing Patches with me to college next year as an emotional support animal.

Where would you like to travel?

Europe babey. I just wanna hang out in France and England and Scotland and also go back to Ireland. I miss Ireland so much y’all.

ok that’s it. that’s all for this one. i’m not tagging anyone because i’m sure it’s already made the rounds among everyone. but if it missed you and you still wanna do it go for it. consider yourself tagged. poof.

#mt's ramblings #tagged #long post #also given some of what i discussed here #animal death #sad times y'all

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leirathemartian · 6 years

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Am I too old for tag lists? :P

@raesand tagged me and I’m kind of in a procrastinating depression funk, so why not.

basics what’s your name ➔ Hayley do you have a nickname ➔ nope, although a lot of people call me Leira do you have a middle name ➔ mmm too much sharing do you like your name ➔ It’s ok do people often mispronounce your name ➔ No, but they almost always misspell it do you like the meaning of your name ➔ Well. The Anglo-Saxon meaning is pretty boring (”hay meadow”) but when I was a kid I was told/had a cross-stitch thing that said it meant “Lover of the sea” and I really like that. when is your birthday ➔ 11/22 how old are you ➔ 25 do you like your age ➔ Honestly, I don’t know. Every age has its pros and cons, I guess. I miss not being as stressed when I was a teenager, but I haaated high school. So, I don’t know. It’s stressful because I’m working on graduating and then I’ll have to get a job and be, like, a real adult and shit. what’s your zodiac sign ➔ Scorpio/Sagittarius cusp apparently

appearance what’s your hair colour ➔ Light brown/dark blonde is your current hair colour your natural hair colour ➔ Sort of, but the ends are bright blond do you dye your hair ➔ Yeah every so often I enjoy changing it up do you have natural highlights ➔ I did when my hair was long enough for it to absorb sun before I cut it off when was the last time you had a haircut ➔ A couple months. I need one, badly, lol what length is your hair right now ➔ Longish pixie do you have straight, wavy or curly hair ➔ Wavy/curly do you have frizzy hair ➔ 100%. It’s better than when it was long, though do you use a curling iron ➔ No do you use a hair straightener ➔ No do you braid your hair ➔ Sometimes. Used to all the time when it was long what’s your eye colour ➔ blue do your eyes change colour ➔ lol no

do you wear contacts ➔ Only when I’m dressed up/being active if so, do you use colour contacts or regular contacts ➔ Regular do you wear glasses ➔ Indeed do you have naturally long eyelashes ➔ Mmmm not really do you wear braces ➔ Nope do you have dimples ➔ Nope do you have moles ➔ All of them do you have outstanding cheekbones ➔ Lol no my face is too round to have outstanding features. I also have no chin. do you have freckles ➔ Yes indeedy do you have piercings ➔ 8, all in my ears. Two lobe piercings, helix, daith, tragus, flat. do you have tattoos ➔ Yup, I have a Water Tribe tattoo do you wear make up ➔ Occasionally do you paint your nails ➔ Yes, fairly often do you wear jewelry ➔ Well, I always wear earrings. Plus usually my wedding band and an ourobouros ring. are you happy with your height ➔ It’s fine personality would you consider yourself outgoing or shy ➔ Neither are you sarcastic ➔ It’s my love language what’s your biggest fear ➔ Failure. Also heights and snakes, which are my actual phobias. are you religious ➔ Not anymore do you get easily along with people ➔ Ehhh. Depends on the person. do you cry easily ➔ Sadly

school do you go to middle school ➔ No do you go to high school ➔ No do you go to a private school ➔ No are you home schooled ➔ I used to be have you graduated from school ➔ From many schools, lol. what grade are you in ➔ Errrr. 5th year PhD student so... 21st?

have you skipped a grade ➔ Yes, I skipped 7th grade. It was a bad idea, I wasn’t socially prepared for going to college early. have you been held back a grade ➔ No have you ever failed a class ➔ I got a C- the first time I took Fluid Mechanics, which is failing in grad school, although I maintain that was because of bad teaching, because when I retook it I easily got an A.

have you been sent to the principals office ➔ Homeschool doesn’t have principals :P

have you skipped school ➔ A lot in college/grad school, usually for mental health reasons have you cheated on a test ➔ Not that I can remember

family do you live with your biological parents ➔ dear god no not anymore do you get along with your parents ➔ Ehhh. My mom and I are good, but my dad still likes to try to control me. do you tell your parents everything ➔ Fuck no. do you have strict parents ➔ Yes.

do you have siblings ➔ Two brothers are you the oldest ➔ Yes. are you in the middle ➔ ... are you the youngest ➔ ... are all of your grandparents still alive ➔ No, one of my grandfathers is dead friendships do you have a best friend ➔ I do! Friends since we were 12. And my husband is up there too. do you have more than 10 friends ➔ I don’t think so, not close ones anyway. do you have at least 2 friends you can trust with your life ➔ Yeah, probably do you have a lot of guy friends, a lot of girl friends or equal girl and guy friends ➔ Mmmm.... slightly more women. do you text with your friends a lot ➔ Not particularly relationships what’s your relationship status ➔ Married have you ever been in love ➔ Quite a lot do you believe in love at first sight ➔ I love all animals at first sight :P

have you ever been in a relationship ➔ Am in one, lol have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ I don’t think so. Been one, though. have you ever been asked out on a date ➔ Yup!

have you ever been kissed ➔ Yes have you ever made out with someone ➔ Yes have you ever been cheated on ➔ Also yes, he was an asshole have you ever been proposed to ➔ Yes do you want to get married ➔ I’d hope so, since I am do you want kids ➔ Eventually, once I have a real job country where were you born ➔ USA where do you live right now ➔ USA have you ever been out of the country ➔ Not as much as I’d like but yes. do you prefer country or city ➔ Country do you like sightseeing ➔ Haha yes, I am unashamed that I enjoy being a tourist is one or more of your parents from another country ➔ No what places would you like to visit ➔ I’d like to go back to Scotland/Ireland. Also Iceland, Sweden, Thailand, South Korea, Greece, .... etc. are you fluent in more than one language ➔ Sadly, no. what languages can you speak ➔ English and I still retain enough Spanish to say hi to someone/read signs. Same with French. I know a tiny bit of Swedish.

health do you have any allergies ➔ No are you lactose intolerant ➔ Slightly. I have IBS and sometimes it’s a trigger. IT depends on the amount. have you had surgery ➔ Fix a broken elbow, another to fix a deviated septum have you had stitches ➔ Not that I can remember have you broken a bone ➔ Said elbow has someone close to you died of a disease ➔ My grandfather died of cancer do you exercise a lot ➔ Hahahahaha no. I used to LARP/do archery, but sadly drama ruined that for me. I also many moons ago rode horses (and owned them!) but now I’m poor. experiences have you ever had a near death experience ➔ No have you ever been on a plane ➔ Yup quite a lot have you ever had an allnighter ➔ God no. I need a lot of sleep. have you ever been to school/work after a sleepless night ➔ Yeah have you ever been in a physical fight ➔ See above re LARP. We literally hit each other for fun. Also, used to do Muay Thai. have you ever been to a wedding ➔ Yes, including my own, lol. have you ever been to a funeral ➔ Yes have you ever lived in a different country ➔ Maybe one day have you ever been drunk ➔ Ugh yes. Lately every time it gives me a migraine, though. have you ever been trick or treating ➔ Yes, I miss being a kid and so that wasn’t weird. :’D have you ever been in a school play ➔ Yes, I was a theater kid in high school have you ever been to a camp ➔ Horseback riding camp have you ever driven a car ➔ Own one, so quite often skills how many languages are you fluent in ➔ One have you ever read a book in another language ➔ Does Beowulf count? can you roll your tongue ➔ Yes can you braid hair ➔ Yes. Regular, french, dutch, and fishtail. can you do a handstand ➔ Haha no, I’m fat and unathletic. habits do you crack your knuckles ➔ Mhm do you bite your nails ➔ You caught me doing it right now do you bite your lips ➔ Sometimes, I’m an anxious biter/skin picker

favourites

what’s your favourite movie ➔ Hmmmm. I honestly don’t know. Star Wars is up there. what’s your favourite tv show ➔ Avatar, Parks and Rec, Steven Universe, House what’s your favourite book ➔ Hahahahahaha I have like, no joking, 50 favorite books. It would be easier to do favorite authors: N.K. Jemisin, Ann Leckie, Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Jacqueline Carey, Brandon Sanderson, Douglas Adams, Robin Hobb, Margaret Atwood... ok I’ll stop there. I’ll put it this way. I regularly read 150-200 books a year so there’s a lot I like. what’s your favourite song ➔ I don’t really have one, I guess. what’s your favourite colour ➔ Purples/blues what’s your favourite animal ➔ Catsssss what’s your favourite season ➔ Autumn!

this or that summer or winter ➔ Winter, I love the cold and hate the heat. It’s miserable right now and humid as fuck.

day or night ➔ Ehhh I mean I’m always exhausted so. Neither :P cats or dogs ➔ Cats but I also love dogs. rain or shine ➔ A balance of both. coffee or tea ➔ Coffee. Black. reading or writing ➔ See above re reading 200 books a year. Lol. I mostly associate writing with work. humorous or serious ➔ Humorous, especially with TV

brown or blue eyes ➔ Idk eyes are pretty

single or group dates ➔ Meh kind of over dates. I’d rather hang out with friends and play board games. texts or calls ➔ Texts. Calls exacerbate my anxiety. driving or walking ➔ Driving. I’m lazy. last

last phone call ➔ My vet checking on my cat, who has a cold. Lol. last text ➔ My dad asking me to come down tomorrow last song you listened to ➔ Something from the Star Wars soundtrack last thing you ate ➔ Chicken curry. last thing you drank ➔ Water. I’m boring. last purchase ➔ Chips and dip last time you cleaned your room ➔ Couple days ago, I guess?

People to Tag I have no idea, lol

#tagged thingy #kinda fun #I guess I'm terse

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dave-meowstaine · 7 years

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All the asks !

Oh god haha. I’ve already answered a lot of these so they will be copy and pasted

1. Would you have sex with the last person you text messaged? - Definitely seeing as it was Lizzie

2. You talked to an ex today, correct? - I think the last time I talked to an ex was about a year ago

3. Have you taken someones virginity? - I have not

4. Is trust a big issue for you? - Definitely

5. Did you hang out with the person you like recently? - Last saw each other in person one week and one day ago

6. What are you excited for? - I’m extremely excited to go to America and then for Lizzie to come and live with me in England

7. What happened tonight? - I don’t know yet because it’s currently 4pm

8. Do you think it’s disgusting when girls get really wasted? - No, they can do what they want.

9. Is confidence cute? - I wouldn’t exactly say cute but I definitely think confidence is very attractive

10. What is the last beverage you had? - Water

11. How many people of the opposite sex do you fully trust? - Probably 3. My sister, my mum, and Lizzie

12. Do you own a pair of skinny jeans? - I own several

13. What are you gonna do Saturday night? - Probably stay in and play World of Warcraft

14. What are you going to spend money on next? - I’m not sure yet

15. Are you going out with the last person you kissed? - I am

16. Do you think you’ll change in the next 3 months? - I don’t think so. I think if anything I’ll go through a period of being depressed (which I’m currently in without Lizzie here) and then super excited and happy (I’m going to America in about 4 months to see Lizzie again)

17. Who do you feel most comfortable talking to about anything? - Lizzie

18. The last time you felt broken? - When Lizzie had to leave to go back to America after being here for nearly 3 weeks

19. Have you had sex today? - I haven’t

20. Are you starting to realise anything? - I’m definitely starting to realise what I want in life. I used to think I wanted to be famous and in a band or doing something musically, but now that I’ve met Lizzie I just want her and a family together whilst I work in IT

21. Are you in a good mood? - I’m in an okay mood. I’ve been really depressed lately but I’m on the phone to Lizzie at the moment and she always helps me so much

22. Would you ever want to swim with sharks? - I think it would be cool, yeah

23. Are your eyes the same colour as your dad’s? - I believe so. We both have grey/blue eyes

24. What do you want right this second? - I want Lizzie. She’s been gone for just over a week now and everything fucking sucks without her here

25. What would you say if the person you love/like kissed another girl/boy? - I would honestly be heart broken but I know that would never happen

26. Is your current hair colour your natural hair colour? - Yep, dirty blonde

27. Would you be able to date someone who doesn’t make you laugh? - No. I’m an extremely goofy and silly person and I love to laugh so if someone didn’t make me laugh, I definitely wouldn’t date them

28. What was the last thing that made you laugh? - A video I watched on youtube

29. Do you really, truly miss someone right now? - I really, truly miss Lizzie

30. Does everyone deserve a second chance? - Depends what they did wrong

31. Honestly, do you hate the last boy you were talking to? - Not at all, we’re good friends

32. Does the person you have feelings for right now, know you do? - Lizzie said “Yeah? The fuck, I don’t think we would be here now if I didn’t know”

33. Are you one of those people who never drinks soda? - I drink soft drinks sometimes but VERY rarely

34. Listening to? - Nothing at the moment

35. Do you ever write in pencil anymore? - Only if I’m trying to work something out or writing something that I’m not 100% sure of

36. Do you know where the last person you kissed is? - Yep, halfway across the fucking world :((((( (also on the phone to me right now)

37. Do you believe in love at first sight? - Attraction at first sight, yes, but not love

38. Who did you last call? - Lizzie

39. Who was the last person you danced with? - Lizzie

40. Why did you kiss the last person you kissed? - Because we’re in love

41. When was the last time you ate a cupcake? - On Halloween. My mum, Lizzie, and I made these adorable Halloween cupcakes

42. Did you hug/kiss one of your parents today? - Not yet but I will when my mum gets home. My dad is currently in Scotland visiting family

43. Ever embarrass yourself in front of a crush? - Oh yes, on many different occasions

44. Do you tan in the nude? - The last time I tanned was about 5 years ago and no

45. If you could, would you take back your last kiss? - Hell no

46. Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night? - Lizzie and I talk on the phone until we pass out every night

47. Who was the last person to call you? - Lizzie

48. Do you sing in the shower? - Depends on my mood. I actually usually rap in the shower haha

49. Do you dance in the car? - Depends on what’s playing. I usually just sing along

50. Ever used a bow and arrow? - I have when I was about 7

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? - My end of year photo when I was 16

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy? - Very

53. Is Christmas stressful? - No

54. Ever eat a pierogi? - I don’t even know what that is

55. Favorite type of fruit pie?

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? - Skateboarder, firefighter, wrestler, ice hockey player

57. Do you believe in ghosts? - Not really. I’ve had weird encounters and seen things but nothing I would say was definitely a ghost

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? - All the time

59. Take a vitamin daily? - Nope

60. Wear slippers? - I used to but my dog liked chewing them so…

61. Wear a bath robe? - Nope

62. What do you wear to bed? - Usually just my underwear. A t-shirt as well if it’s cold

63. First concert? - Hawkfest when I was 2

64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? - I’m British lol

65. Nike or Adidas? - Don’t care

66. Cheetos Or Fritos? - Never tried either

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? - I love both but definitely peanuts

68. Favourite Taylor Swift song? - Shake It Off (the first song that came into my head)

69. Ever take dance lessons? - I have actually but not traditional ballroom dancing or anything

70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? - I see them being, like, head of a business or really high up in one

71. Can you curl your tongue? - Yep

72. Ever won a spelling bee? - Nope although I have always thought I’m good at spelling. Maybe I should try

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? - I’ve cried so much recently because I’ve been so happy, and I have Lizzie to thank for that

74. What is your favourite book? - I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

75. Do you study better with or without music? - Depends on my mood. Usually music distracts me too much

76. Regularly burn incense? - No but I do every now and then

77. Ever been in love? - I used to think I was, but it took finding Lizzie to realise what being in love really felt like

78. Who would you like to see in concert? - I need to see Slipknot

79. What was the last concert you saw? - Metallica on the 24th of October

80. Hot tea or cold tea? - Definitely hot tea

81. Tea or coffee? - Tea

82. Favourite type of cookie? - Chocolate chip

83. Can you swim well? - If I have to

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? - I can

85. Are you patient? - I believe so

86. DJ or band, at a wedding? - Definitely a band

87. Ever won a contest? - The only contest that comes to mind is I won a best Halloween costume contest once haha

88. Ever have plastic surgery? - Nope

89. Which are better black or green olives? - I don’t like olives

90. Opinions on sex before marriage? - Go for it

91. Best room for a fireplace? - Living room

92. Do you want to get married - Definitely want to marry Lizzie

Thank you!!! :)

#asks #anon

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torentialtribute · 5 years

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Gordon Elliott is driven only by winners, and he could make history next Saturday

It's only a short walk from the main garden at Gordon Elliott's Cullentra house stables to the back yard, but the dogs They are not impressed by the horse royalty that awaits us there and they decide that it is not worth the effort. They raise their heads for a moment and watch as we disappear around the corner.

The four horses in the field do not look up from their pastures when we lean on the fence and stare at them, but they are a beautiful sight, these kings and queens at ease.

Apple & Jade and Shattered Love are on one side of a rope and the mighty Samcro is on the other side. Beyond Samcro, the fourth horse, smaller and more stocky, shows a first flare of curiosity and walks slowly towards us.

The story of the Grand National next Saturday will confirm the story of Tiger Roll about history

The story around the Grand National this Saturday will confirm on the tilt of Tiger Roll in history

There is a white spot that looks like a heart on his forehead. It seems appropriate. Because this is Tiger Roll who tries to become the first horse to win the Grand National two years in a row since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974.

& # 39; He has a huge engine, & # 39; says Elliott. & # 39; He always wants to win. He has a great heart.

A truck with wood chips to the construction site of a new barn dribbles past, dragging dust clouds, and Tiger Roll and Samcro scare and bolt to the center of the field. We walk back to Elliott's office, where his desk sits in front of a window that overlooks the garden and where a wide-screen TV is on a racing channel.

The office is a monument to obsession and to success. Cheltenham trophies and Aintree and Leopardstown memorabilia displace the planks and border the walls. There are a few photo frames on the desk, but nothing in them. No photos of a partner. No pictures of father with his children. None of the gestures to family that successful men often make in their workplace.

Tiger Roll wants to be the first horse back-to-back Grand Nationals win since Red Rum "

to win back-to-back Grand Nationals since Red Rum

& # 39; I am single & # 39;" says Elliott, 41. & # 39; No kids I know I work hard I would say I have had a few long-term friends, but most break-ups are my fault because I am too selfish Horses are 24/7 "It's not easy for someone. I'm not ready to settle down. I hope it will happen to me someday, but at the moment I just don't see it.

& # 39; Racing is my life." There is only one thing I want to be: that is champion trainer. I don't care anymore. Holidays don't interest me. I watch football, but it doesn't bother me. I support no one. I don't play golf. don't have time. That's the way I am. I like being at home. I love what I do. It is well. I love to win. & # 39;

If the story of the Grand National will work on tilt from Tiger Roll in history next Saturday, it will also revolve around Elliott's remarkable fame in the race and the rise and rise of a trainer

If Mullins is a patrician dog in Irish racing, Elliott is the outsider, the son of a panel-beater and a housewife, a man whose ambition drove him and whose 78-hectare empire is surrounded by it the lush countryside of County Meath continues to grow.

The truck that scared Tiger Roll was a symbol of that ambition, the instrument of a man who is still working on making a dream come true.

While sitting at his desk, Elliott, a former jockey with a decent record in point to point, runs his finger down the list of preliminary registrations for the great race in Aintree and estimates that he is all 10 will have up to 12 runners in the National when the line-up is ready on Thursday. Martin Pipe, the idol of Elliott and the former employer, keeps the current record at 10.

Gordon Elliott & 78's acre rich amidst the lush countryside of County Meath continues to grow "

Gordon Elliott & # 39; s 78-acre rich amidst the lush countryside of County Meath continues to grow

Gordon Elliott & # 39; s 78- acre empire amidst the lush countryside of County Meath continues to grow

& # 39; I would like to run eleven & # 39 ;, says Elliott. I have worked for Martin Pipe and learned a lot from what I know I would like to run another if I could. Would it mean something? It would mean something to win the race again, but it would be nice to beat him too. He did most things, so it would be nice to beat him on one thing. "

There is something refreshing about openness d and gluttony of Elliott's ambition. He does not hide behind false modesty or insincere self-mockery. He is not boastful and he is the exact opposite of brash, but he has worked so hard to rise to where he is now that he does not have to apologize for his success.

He listens politely to the suggestion that a man who trains a quarter of the field in a race the size of the Grand National is unhealthy for the sport and slaps it away.

& # 39; I understand when I am going to do it. & # 39; I understand when people say I have too many runners in the National, & Elliott says. & # 39; I get it day in day out. But I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I haven't left anything. I bought this place six years ago. I built everything myself.

& # 39; My background drives me. I have to pay a mortgage and pay wages every day of the week. I took a chance when I bought this place. I don't have the price of a down payment, let alone buy the place. We have continued to drive and drive on and on.

We are lucky: we have good staff and good owners. If you sit back in this game for a moment, you go backwards. That's the way I see it. The success has not changed my hunger. No. It does a lot of people.

& # 39; If you are David Beckham or someone who plays football and gets a few hundred thousand a week, maybe, but in this game you don't earn much money. You have large overhead, so you cannot lean back. It all goes well, you know.

<img id = "i-3386d662eab6b510" src = "https://ift.tt/2uzzcfN 20 / 11665912-0-image-a-19_1553978953148.jpg "height =" 422 "width =" 634 "alt =" Cheltenham trophies and Aintree and Leopardstown memorabilia adorn his office "

& # 39; My mother and father not & # 39;

My mother and father don't like horses. My father cuts the lawns for me. My mother cleans the house three days a week. I worked hard for everything I have. I didn't get any handouts.

& # 39; I would not like to help anyone, but if you work hard, you will come across people who whine about everything. But that is life, especially in Ireland. I have five or six different owners on 10 of my horses for the Grand National, so it's not like an owner owns them all. But that's just the way it is. & # 39;

The National has a special place in the history of Elliott. When he was only 29 years old and had not trained any winners in Ireland, he won the most famous British race in 2007 with Silver Birch. & # 39; I didn't know who I was, & # 39; he said, & # 39; but they knew who I was. & # 39;

He founded races on courses in Northern England and Scotland because they were races that he thought his horses could. win. He was a regular visitor to Perth, Ayr and Musselburgh. Always the advice of his mentor Pipe was in his ears. & # 39;

Elliott is now reciting that mantra. & # 39; Keep your horses in the worst company & # 39 ;, the exalted trainer told him, & # 39; and stay in the best company. & # 39; & # 39; In other words, & # 39; he says, & # 39; make sure your horse runs well and wins, and make sure you hang out with the right people. We all want to be there on the big day and have runners on the big day, but it makes no sense to go to Wimbledon and play a center field when you have to play in your local park. You go where you can win. That is what I have been taught.

<img id = "i-854e976b069703dc" src = "https://ift.tt/2FLjpkz -21_1553978959559.jpg "height =" 422 "width =" 634 "alt =" The trainer wants to overtake his great rival Willie Mullins in the pecking order of Irish racing. "

The trainer wants to overtake his great rival Willie Mullins in the pecking order of Irish racing his great rival Willie Mullins overtakes in the pecking order of Irish racing

And so Elliott won in Perth, Ayr and Musselburgh and his horses graduated to bigger things. And soon he also won in Ireland. And gradually his series of horses grew with his reputation and the 30 horses under his custody turned to 40 and to 50 and 100. And then he bought the Cullentra house and the land around it in 2013 because he knew he could not fulfill his ambition without it.

The building is now state-of-the-art. There is a horse swimming pool, there are four specially built galloppers, a strip for all weather conditions. There is capacity for 200 horses. Elliott has built up such a & # 39; n reputation that when O & # 39; Leary shared with Mullins a few years ago, it was normal that he had to train many Gigginstown horses at Cullentra House.

Elliott has trained more than 1,000 winners. He has won two Grand Nationals and the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2016 with Don Cossack.

Because of all this you have stayed on earth, sympathetic.

& # 39; It has become a bit of a joke now & # 39 ;, he says. & # 39; Maybe it's embarrassing. People do not normally call when Home and Absent. It is an elimination for me. & # 39;

Elliott is loved. People are happy with him. He is inexorably respectful to Mullins and says his rival is the man who sets the standards. His garden seems to be a happy place

Jockey Davey Russell celebrates after driving Tiger Roll to victory in last year's Grand National Tiger Roll to victory in last year's Grand National "

Joey Davey Russell celebrates after driving Tiger Roll to the victory in the Grand National last year

& # 39; I am usually easy going & # 39 ;, says Elliott. & # 39; If something goes wrong, I can get a revolution. If you don't do that, you shouldn't do it. You should have a little fire. If someone saddles me the wrong way, I wouldn't be afraid to let them go.

& # 39; But I enjoy what I do. I have a great team behind me. "

Elliott travels to Aintree. Self-assured Tiger Roll has the shape of his life and that although he will carry more than six pounds more in the National than 12 months ago. Whatever happens, his own ambition will not be saturated.

Whatever happens, his own ambition will not be saturated. He is too far behind Mullins in the prize list this season to have a realistic chance of avoiding winning the title of Ireland champion for the 12th consecutive year. But he will always come back.

I am 41 and I have trained many winners for my age, he says. & # 39; But there is only one thing that I want to be and that it is the champion trainer.

& # 39; I hope to be in the game for the next 25 or 30 years and hopefully it will happen in some cases stage

& I have done almost everything regarding building here at Cullentra House. I've been here for six years. I still have the feeling that we are following an upward trend. I love it. I like racing. I love winners. I don't care where it is. If it is Perth or Leopardstown or Tramore or Aintree, I love to train winners. I love horses. I like racing.

The Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse runs from Thursday, April 4 through Saturday, April 6. Tickets are available at thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/ events-tickets / grand-national / tickets /

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#Gordon Elliott is driven only by winners #and he could make history next Saturday "

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Election 2017: What do leaders do in their spare time? – BBC News

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Which political heavyweight likes to bounce around on a trampoline – naked?

Politicians are busy people. When they’re not running the country or their party, they’re trying to persuade the public to vote for them. But they also have families, hobbies and passions. So, when they do get a bit of spare time, what exactly do the party leaders do with it?

Leisure time

Image copyright PA

Image caption Theresa May often heads to the hills with her husband Philip

Prime Minister Theresa May likes to stretch her legs up and down hills and mountains, saying she decided to call the current election while walking in the Welsh mountains.

Mrs May has also said she and her husband Philip enjoy “quite strenuous walking up mountains in Switzerland”. It may be worth remembering that the prime minister studied Geography at Oxford University.

And while it’s not exactly a hobby, she’s also known for her love of shopping for shoes.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has an interest in the design and history of manhole covers – a hobby which he himself has described as “zany”.

“My mother always said there’s history in drain covers. I take pictures of them. People think it’s a little odd, but there we are.”

He also likes to visit Cambridge. “One of my secret joys is to get a train up and ride around for the day.” He couldn’t drive there, because he doesn’t own a car, which perhaps goes some way to explain his interest in trains.

He’s also very keen on growing his own veg. “I always make time for my allotment. You like a dry summer because the weeds don’t grow.”

Image copyright Science Photo Library

Image caption Tim Farron gets a Buzz out of the Apollo space programme

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is fascinated by space, saying: “I love the Apollo programme… the immense risks that were taken”. He also likes fell running and walking in the Lake District.

When it comes to relaxing, you’ll often find the UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Paul Nuttall in a boozer – he describes himself as a “pub person”, with Guinness his tipple of choice.

Co-leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, “loves nothing more than walking on the Sussex Downs” with her family.

This walking theme among a few politicians raises the tantalising prospect of the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens having an impromptu Parliamentary debate out on a wind-swept hill somewhere.

Image caption The UK’s political leaders have a varied range of personal interests

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), says her favourite travel destinations are Skye and Portugal.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams’s favourite past-time is bouncing around on a trampoline while naked. And often with his dog, who apparently can do back flips.

Mr Adams says he too can do tricks on the trampoline, but has declined to “discuss it publicly”.

The Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) Arelene Foster has previously been a Girl Guide leader.

Screen time

Jeremy Corbyn’s favourite films are said to be Casablanca and The Great Gatsby – although which version of the latter is unclear, given there have been four cinema versions spanning a period from 1926 to 2013.

Nicola Sturgeon is a fan of Borgen, the Danish political drama about a woman who rises to become prime minister while having to maintain a fragile coalition.

She’d most like to get stuck in a lift with actor George Clooney, because he’s “really interesting”. The SNP leader also likes TV singing contests, being a fan of The X Factor and The Voice, while Arlene Foster is an EastEnders fan.

Tim Farron also watches The X Factor, with his children.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Don’t be distracted by that grin – George is actually great at conversation too

A university friend of Theresa May’s has said they both loved watching comedy sketch show The Goodies.

And Mrs May recently revealed she watches both Sherlock and Midsomer Murders, but not Broadchurch or Line of Duty.

If Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood spends any time in front of the TV, it’s usually watching political programmes, such as Newsnight and Question Time. She also says the programme Valleys Rebellion by actor Michael Sheen, about political disillusionment in Wales, has made her cry.

Political harmonies

Tim Farron spends his spare time “watching music on YouTube”, a legacy from the days when he fronted a New Romantic band called The Voyeurs in 1980s. At least, it was called that until they realised what it meant. Then they changed it to Fred the Girl.

The Lib Dem leader said the band, which had a recording session with Island Records, were described as a “fourth rate New Order – which I’m very proud of”.

And Mr Farron still hasn’t quite put his warbling days behind him, because his karaoke song of choice is the Waterboy’s The Whole of the Moon and he’s been known to be an enthusiastic singer at the Glee Club.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption “I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon…”

Jonathan Bartley, the co-leader of the Green Party, spends his free time gigging with his band, the Mustangs. He’s pretty good too, as he was nominated for Blues Drummer of the Year at the British Blues Awards in 2010.

His political partner Caroline Lucas cites Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond as her karaoke song of choice.

Arlene Foster also loves music and has sung at weddings.

Among those who just like to listen, Welsh pop band Catatonia are the favourite band of Leanne Wood.

In 2014, Theresa May’s picks were Abba’s Dancing Queen and Walk Like A Man – from the musical Jersey Boys – alongside Mozart and Elgar.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has revealed musical tastes that range from Joni Mitchell to Leonard Cohen to Luke Kelly on his Twitter feed. Nicola Sturgeon has expressed admiration for the Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit.

Novel ideas

Theresa May once told Desert Island Discs that a lifetime subscription to Vogue would be her luxury item on a desert island. Mrs May has also said that The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a “very, very cleverly written book and a very well-written book, and that it brings home is the absolute horror of the Holocaust”.

And she recently revealed she has read all of the Harry Potter books, although she declined to answer a query as to which of the characters she was most like.

Jeremy Corbyn likes reading the works of Irish poet WB Yeats, while his favourite novelist is said to be the late Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. A fluent Spanish speaker, the Labour leader also enjoys Latin American literature.

Image caption Arelene Foster (left) and Jonathan Bartley both enjoy music, while Caroline Lucas (right) loves animals

Caroline Lucas says she joined the Green Party in 1986 after being “utterly inspired” by Jonathon Porritt’s book Seeing Green.

She’s also mentioned reading The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life, by William Nicholson, which she described as “an incredibly compassionate novel”.

Leanne Wood’s politics are said to have been inspired by the novel Woman on the Edge of Time, a 1976 story by Marge Piercy that’s considered a feminist classic. It tells the story of a working class Mexican-American woman living in a rough area of New York. Ms Wood has said reading it was “as though someone had removed a blindfold”.

Nicola Sturgeon names Sunset Song, a story of a young woman’s struggles growing up in a dysfunctional family in a farming community in Scotland, published in 1932, as her favourite book of all time.

She also says James Kelman is one of her favourite authors, and suggested on Twitter that people should read his book Dirt Road.

Furry friends

Image copyright Jeremy Corbyn

Image caption El Gato has not revealed his thoughts on the Labour manifesto

Jeremy Corbyn currently owns a cat called El Gato – which is Spanish for “the cat”. He has described his pet as possibly being “a bit of a Tory” because of its “disappointing individualism and lack of concern for others”. Years ago, when married to his second wife, he owned a cat called Harold Wilson.

Nicola Sturgeon is afraid of dogs, and had to be coaxed into holding a cute little puppy during a visit to an animal charity.

No such fears for Gerry Adams, who has owned dogs since he was four or five years old. He also likes hanging out with his grandchildren’s dogs, and often goes hill walking with them.

Caroline Lucas has formalised her love of animals by becoming a vice-president of the RSPCA. She and her family also own a chocolate Labrador called Harry.

On the menu

During her later student years, Leanne Wood took a series of factory jobs, and one stands out in particular.

“At Ferrero Rocher in the early 1990s you were allowed to eat as many chocolates as you liked. It sounded like a dream job. I can’t look at them now though because I ate too many. I had so many on the first day that after day three I couldn’t stand them any more.”

But she is partial to a Sunday roast, which is “without question” her favourite meal, as well as her “guilty pleasure”.

Theresa May owns 100 recipe books and never buys takeaways. But she has described a bowl of crispy chips as her own “guilty pleasure”.

She’ll take a nip of whiskey or glass of wine, but didn’t express a preference of one over the other, saying it “depends on the circumstances”.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption The PM just can’t resist ’em…

Jeremy Corbyn became a vegetarian at 20 after working on a pig farm and isn’t keen on alcohol.

Asked what his favourite biscuit was during a Mumsnet Q&A, he replied: “I’m totally anti-sugar on health grounds, so eat very few biscuits, but if forced to accept one, it’s always a pleasure to have a shortbread.”

One of his favourite places to eat is Gaby’s Deli in London’s West End.

It’s been reported that he loves making jam with fruit grown on his allotment, and once belonged to an All Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese.

But his second wife, Jane Chapman, has said Mr Corbyn never once took her out for dinner during their five years together, preferring instead to “grab a can of beans and eat it straight from the can” to save time.

Tim Farron likes curry but is a vegetarian, and his strict eating habits have led some of his colleagues to describe his campaign trail as a “rubber tofu circuit”.

Caroline Lucas is also a vegetarian, while Nicola Sturgeon’s takeaway of choice is Indian.

Paul Nuttall is a fan of “proper milk”.

“Forget your Earth mother, lentil-loving, leftie alternatives like soya and almond milk. Give me the real stuff. I drink milk with almost every meal and have done since I was a kid,” he said.

A question of sport

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Jeremy Corbyn prefers pedal power to the combustion engine

Jeremy Corbyn is a fan of running, cycling, cricket and Arsenal football club.

Gerry Adams supports Antrim Gaelic football club, where his son Gearoid is one of the managers.

Arelene Foster is said to be at home in a rugby club.

Theresa May is a big fan of cricket, including Geoffrey Boycott and the West Indian fast bowler Tony Gray among her heroes. And she recently said she preferred rugby over football.

Tim Farron, a fan of the football team Blackburn Rovers, is also a keen player of the Beautiful Game himself.

Paul Nuttall played for Tranmere Rovers as a school boy and a youth team player. In 2016, he said he had “never claimed he was a professional player”.