View allAll Photos Tagged Valuable
" Forgetfulness is necessary to remembrance.
Ideas are retained by renovation of that impression which
time is always wearing away, and which new images are striving to
obliterate.
If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable
parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur, and every recurrence
would reinstate them in their former place. "
..........Samuel Johnson ... ( 1709 -1784 ).
.....English lexicographer, poet, critic & writer.
Well the inevitable finally happened. The EOS 5D dropped below $3,000 at B&H Photo. So after my fiasco with PriceRitePhoto trying to buy my 5D I learned a valuable lesson. You should take more care in who you deal with online. One name that came up again and again as a reputable dealer was B&H Photo out of New York. So after watching B&H’s price on the 5D and waiting for it to drop below $3,000 it finally did. Thanks to Sam Bloomberg-Rissman for the heads up when it dropped. So I went online and placed an order with them for the camera, a 4 gig Sandisk memory card, as well as a 135mm L series lens.
The results? I suppose about as good as could be expected. B&H says that if you order before 3:30pm they can get you the camera out the same day. I ordered it on Friday and received an email from B&H on Sunday saying that they could not process my order. They said that they were unable to verify some billing info on my credit card. I called on Monday a.m. and spoke with Ivan. Ivan said that American Express could not verify the phone number that I had given them with my order. (When I called American Express later to inquire about this they told me that they did not have a business phone number on file for me so I updated my records with them).
Ivan agreed to phone me back at my work number to verify it, the number that I provided in my order, and then when I answered he agreed to ship the camera that day. I found Ivan to be a very polite and helpful sales clerk. Ivan did in fact send it Fed Ex on Monday but I didn't actually get it until Wednesday. Fed Ex claimed that the public transit strike in New York held it up a day. And then yesterday (Wednesday) it was here. I did not mention to Ivan that I was a blogger or would be writing about my experience.
The camera is really pretty amazing and I feel pretty lucky to be able to have the luxury of buying it. I take photos every day and it is a passion of mine so part of my justifying the amount spent was that it will have a good home and get lots and lots of use. I'm going to write a review on the camera later but I took it out for a spin late last night and it truly is a fine piece of equipment. I took the photo above with the camera last night.
All in all I have to say I was pretty pleased with B&H. As my order was a larger order I could understand where they'd want to double check and verify my info and work/shipping phone number and I can't really blame Fed Ex on the one day delay due to the transit strike. There was no hard sell to buy extra accessories at B&H and I received the camera that I orderd in excellent condition, well packed, for a great price. I will definitely be buying more things from B&H Photo in the future and am very happy about my experience with them.
Although my entire fiasco of trying to buy my 5D through PriceRitePhoto left a bad taste in my mouth, I think it was a good learning experience in the end for me. And my subsequent positive experience with B&H goes to show you that not all online retailers are bad guys and that you just need to do your homework and be warry of a company's online reputation when ordering. Certainly one of the reasons that B&H is as succesful as they are is because they do in fact care about their reputation -- no other camera dealer received more positive praise when I started blogging my woes regarding PriceRitePhoto. This in part is why I chose them to buy from them and why I'm sure I will buy more from them in the future.
Thanks B&H for a great camera and a great online buying experience.
A small and humble place but one very fascinating and enjoyable to spend time at. It is a valuable place for migrants who can stop off and refuel. The hills in the background belong to North Wales.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves/red-rocks-marsh
Chesire's only coastal reserve, consisting of sand dunes, reedbeds and marsh
This reserve lies on the edge of the extensive Dee Estuary and unusually is a separate SSSI to the Dee. The reserve consist of an important range of sand dune from embryo dunes against the sea to much more established yellow dunes behind and then to grey dunes that extend on to The Royal Liverpool Golf Course. As with all dune systems specialised plants that can survive in dry sandy conditions grow in the dips (slacks) and on the hilly bits. Such plants as sea holly and Mackays horsetail. In the slacks behind the embryo dunes small brackish pools can be found in which a small population of Natterjack toads cling on. The once extensive sand dune habitat has been reduced around this coastal area so much that this species has become isolated and will probably die out shortly. In the slack behind the yellow dune fresher water collects and enables common reed to flourish. This reedbed is important for migratory birds as well as species such as reed warbler that nest and feed in the reed. Here can be found large populations of common toad that thrive in the shallow water. Their tadpoles will eat any Natterjack tadpoles found in this area.
Species and habitats
Habitats
Coastal, Grassland, Ponds
Species
Natterjack Toad, Common Frog, Wheatear, Water Rail, Snow Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler
Reserve information
Location
Behind the Royal Liverpool Golf Course, north of West Kirby Parade, Holyake, Wirral
West Kirby
Cheshire
CH47 1HN
Map reference
SJ 206 880
Great for...
birdwatching
getting away from it all
spring flowers
spring migrant birds
stunning views
Opening Times
Open at all times
Size
4.00 hectares
Walking information
Please keep to forshore and marked paths and do not enter the reedbeds
Parking
Cars should be left in West Kirby and proceed on foot. From the Holyake direction park in Stanley Road
Dogs
Dogs allowed
Reserve manager
Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01948 820728
Parallelism, a valuable approach dealing with unwanted matters I learned from a friend.
Two may like the same things but for some reasons dislike each other.
Instead of getting stressed wasting time arguing and fighting, just totally ignore one another and have your worlds exist but on parallel sides of the universe.
Try the 30 day free-trial! LOL
learnt a valuable lesson after taking this sunset shot...stay longer and wait! I packed up my gear, hit the road and headed home. All of a sudden in my rear vision mirror, I could see the sky had turned a majestic red. It only lasted a few minutes and I missed it....grrrr!
Church of st. Mary Magdalene in Dukla is one of the most valuable Polish rococo churches.
It was built as a gothic one, around 1461, with a brick chancel and a wooden nave. When in 1738 there was a fire in the city, the nave burned down entirely, and the chancel became the basis for the reconstruction of the temple.
The owner of Dukla and the Grand Marshal of the Crown, Józef Wandalin Mniszech, the same one who donated the land for the Bernardine monastery, undertook it. The temple was given a baroque appearance, but another fire and the death of Józef Vandalin in 1747 interrupted the work. They were continued in 1764 by the son of the marshal, Jerzy August Mniszech, supported by his wife, Maria Amalia. It was then that the church's interior acquired a rococo interior and fittings that have survived to this day.
gorybezgranic.pttk.pl/en/295-gory-bez-granic-the-church-o...
Among my most valuable antiques is this late Mediæval, early Renaissance lockbox. Made of engraved iron plates, still quite sturdy in spite of the damages caused by the passing of time (and probably less careful previous owners), it features a very cleverly hidden lock.
I would date it from the 14th century. I thought it would make a good subject for a still life. I’m not sure it is a museum-grade piece, as it is not really in absolutely pristine condition, but it would certainly interest a local museum.
Composite shot made up of 25 focus-stacked exposures, using the built-in function on the Nikon Z7. Stack processed with Helicon Focus. Micro-Nikkor 105mm ƒ/2.8 macro lens on FTZ adapter.
"The original Renaissance town hall from 1569, rebuilt after its collapse in 1613 and later renovated, is a historically valuable piece of architecture and a significant landmark of the oldest development on Vyškov Square." - info from the National Heritage Institute.
"Vyškov (Hanačky Veškov, German Wischau; formerly also Víškov) is a town located in the northern part of the South Moravian Region in the Vyškov District on the Haná River, 35 km northeast of Brno. It lies almost in the middle of Moravia on the border of the Drahanská vrchovina, the Litenčické vrchy and the Hornomoravské úval lowland at an altitude of about 250 m above sea level. It is one of the border towns of the Haná region. It has a population of approximately 21,000 and is the fifth largest city in the South Moravian Region.
The name of the settlement was derived from the personal name Vyšek, which was a homely form of a name beginning with Vyše- (e.g. Vyšebor, Vyšehor, Vyšeslav ). The meaning of the place name was "Vyškův majek". The German name was created by phonetic modification of the Czech one.
It was called the "Moravian Versailles" or also the "Hanácké Versailles". The local railway station is called Vyškov na Moravě.
Moravia (Czech: Morava [ˈmorava]; German: Mähren) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The medieval and early modern Margraviate of Moravia was a crown land of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown from 1348 to 1918, an imperial state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1004 to 1806, a crown land of the Austrian Empire from 1804 to 1867, and a part of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. Moravia was one of the five lands of Czechoslovakia founded in 1918. In 1928 it was merged with Czech Silesia, and then dissolved in 1948 during the abolition of the land system following the communist coup d'état.
Its area of 22,623.41 km2 is home to about 3.2 million of the Czech Republic's 10.8 million inhabitants. The people are historically named Moravians, a subgroup of Czechs, the other group being called Bohemians. The land takes its name from the Morava river, which runs from its north to south, being its principal watercourse. Moravia's largest city and historical capital is Brno. Before being sacked by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War, Olomouc served as the Moravian capital, and it is still the seat of the Archdiocese of Olomouc. Until the expulsions after 1945, significant parts of Moravia were German speaking." - info from Wikipedia.
Summer 2019 I did a solo cycling tour across Europe through 12 countries over the course of 3 months. I began my adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished in Florence, Italy cycling 8,816 km. During my trip I took 47,000 photos.
Now on Instagram.
Australasian Hotel.
Eden's 113 year old Australasian Hotel is facing a very shaky and uncertain future as debate still rages over its future.
The Australasian pulled it last beer in 2010 and has since became the focus of much attention.
As the debate continues the fact still remains that a valuable piece of not just Eden's but Australia's history is being left to fall into a state of disrepair, the bureaucrats continue to bungle.
Eden, New South Wales, Australia..
[Enlarge to read the text from the book.]
As I transition from one set of photographs to another I have decided to provide some more photo notes on photographers and artists who have made an impression on me. In doing so I hope to introduce people to some more sources of inspiration. Since mastering the technical details of a camera in the digital age is really quite simple, It strikes me that the greatest resource we have to improving our photography is to study other visual artists and their composition.
In this case I want to introduce possibly Launceston's most distinguished artist, Bea Maddock (1934-2016). This book, the title of which those philosophers among you will recognise instantly, was borrowed from the famous existentialist work by Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980). It is a retrospective look at Bea's work over 30 years from 1961-1992, from an exhibition staged by the Queensland Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia.
I will provide some valuable links below for you to explore if you're interested. Bea Maddock is seen primarily as a printmaker, although she used a camera extensively (as did Warhol in making his screen prints from photographs). Her work can be found in major galleries around Australia and the world, including MoMA in New York and the British Museum.
She was born in Hobart, Tasmania and educated at the University of Tasmania. She moved into teaching art and design in Launceston, but from 1959-61 she spent time studying in Europe, notably the Slade School in London and Academi de Bell Arti in Perugia, Italy. Throughout the 60s she influenced a generation of art students at Launceston Teachers' College, and in 1970 accepted a prestigious position at the Gallery of Victoria Art School in Melbourne. She also taught for a year in Canberra during this decade.
Bea remained in Victoria until her house and studio at Mount Macedon was destroyed in the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983 (an event I remember well as just a handful of kilometres from my home the Dandenong Ranges were ablaze as 47 people perished. The sky remained aglow during the night and the air thick with smoke.). Returning to Launceston as head of the School of Art, Tasmanian College of Advanced Education (eventually absorbed into UTAS), Bea's studio became a magnet to budding artists.
In 1987 she had the exciting opportunity to travel to Antarctica to produce work for the forthcoming Australian Bicentennial Exhibition the following year. Unfortunately she had a terrible fall on Heard Island, breaking her leg very badly. It left her with a limp for the rest of her life. But the creative genius that was her gift allowed her to produce a wonderful collection of Antarctic etchings that were published very matter-of-factly as, "Forty Pages from Antarctica". In 1991 she was awarded an Order of Australia.
Some of Maddock's final major work was, 'Terra Spiritus... With a Darker Shade of Pale', a 51 part inscribed etching of the entire coastline of Tasmania, each feature labelled with both the English and the aboriginal Tasmanian topographic names. The pigments used to make the drawing are locally occurring Tasmanian ochres. She did a similar thing in her 1987 work "We live in the meanings we are able to discern" (this is shown in the picture I've posted at the bottom right).
Working almost right to the end at her Invermay Studio, Bea Maddock remains an inspiration to artists around Australia and the world. She was 81 when she died in 2016. www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/painting-with...
The self-portrait here is quite wonderful: www.canberra.edu.au/on-campus/art-collection/the-art-coll...
www.daao.org.au/bio/bea-maddock/biography/
art-museum.unimelb.edu.au/resources/video/bea-maddock-48-...
MoMA www.moma.org/artists/3678
British Museum Collection www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG36797
* The cover and sample pages of the book were taken under natural light with the Nikon D850.
Learned a valuable lesson today. In the past I've used a circular polarizer along with a neutral density filter. Well when I got the Pentax I also got a variable neutral density filter which I've loved using. Well today I paired the circular polarizer and the variable neutral density filter only to discover when I got home TONS of grain and some funky color and exposure banding... opps. I've fixed them the best I could but Im afraid I used that combo on everyshot in Coffee county this weekend...
ENGLISH:
The Citroen 2CV AZU “Box duck” from 1958 does valuable transport work for the Salvation Army. It is small and manoeuvrable and yet offers plenty of space for loading.
The poster says: I convinced that Jesus Christ is God's Son.
I embellished and labeled the Brekina model.
Further dioramas, models and animal breeds in 1:87:
www.flickr.com/photos/cosmosminimus/albums
ESPAÑOL:
El Citroen 2CV AZU “Pato de caja” de 1958 realiza un valioso trabajo de transporte para el Ejército de Salvación. Es pequeño y maniobrable y, sin embargo, ofrece mucho espacio para cargar.
El cartel dice: Estoy convencido de que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios.
Embellecí y etiqueté el modelo Brekina.
Más dioramas, modelos y razas de animales en 1:87:
www.flickr.com/photos/cosmosminimus/albums
DEUTSCH:
Der Citroen 2CV AZU „Kastenente“ aus dem Jahre 1958 leistet wertvolle Transportarbeit bei der Heilsarmee. Er ist klein und wendig und bietet doch viel Platz zum Beladen.
Das Modell von Brekina habe ich verschönert und beschriftet.
Weitere Dioramas, Modelle und Tierrassen in 1:87:
Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, which are the seeds of berries from the Coffea plant. The genus Coffea is native to tropical Africa, Madagascar, and the Comoros, Mauritius and Réunion in the Indian Ocean. [2] The plant was exported from Africa to countries around the world and coffee plants are now cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. The two most commonly grown are the highly regarded arabica, and the less sophisticated but stronger and more hardy robusta. Once ripe, coffee beans are picked, processed, and dried. Dried coffee beans are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. Roasted beans are ground and brewed to produce coffee as a beverage.
Coffee is slightly acidic and can have a stimulating effect on humans because of its caffeine content. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world.[3] It can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways (e.g., espresso, cappuccino, cafe latte, etc.). It is usually served hot, although iced coffee is also served. Clinical studies indicate that moderate coffee consumption is benign or mildly beneficial in healthy adults, with continuing research on whether long-term consumption inhibits cognitive decline during aging or lowers the risk of some forms of cancer.[4][5]
The earliest credible evidence of coffee-drinking appears in the middle of the 15th century in the Sufi shrines of Yemen.[6] It was here in Arabia that coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed in a similar way to how it is now prepared. Coffee seeds were first exported from Eastern Africa to Yemen, as the coffee plant is thought to have been indigenous to the former.[7] Yemeni traders took coffee back to their homeland and began to cultivate the seed. By the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. From there, it spread to Europe and the rest of the world.
Coffee is a major export commodity: it is the top agricultural export for numerous countries and among the world's largest legal agricultural export.[3][8] It is one of the most valuable commodities exported by developing countries. Green (unroasted) coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world.[9] Some controversy is associated with coffee cultivation and the way developed countries trade with developing nations and the impact of its cultivation on the environment, in regards to clearing of land for coffee-growing and water use. Consequently, fair trade coffee and organic coffee are an expanding market.
The Normanton Railway Terminus:
The railway complex at Normanton consists of the major buildings of an important inland railway terminus connecting this port with the goldfield at Croydon.
A railway line between Normanton and Cloncurry had been discussed as early as 1883 and was approved by Parliament in 1886. This was a difficult stretch for carriers and a rail link would have been valuable to pastoral stations in the area and would also have served the Cloncurry Copper Mine. It was at the time intended to eventually link the new line with the Great Northern Railway connecting Charters Towers and the important port of Townsville. However, in November 1885 a major gold strike was reported at Belmore Station, 145 km east of Normanton and by the end of 1886 the population of the Croydon field was 2000 and 6000 in the following year. Transportation was a major problem and access to this field became more important than the link to Cloncurry. It was decided to divert the line to Croydon. Tenders were called in July 1887 and the first section to Haydon began in May 1888. The work was designed and supervised by George Phillips and this section opened on 7 May 1889. The current route of the line was finalised in 1889 and reached Croydon on 7 July 1891, opening on the 20 July.
In 1867 Phillips had taken part in the exploration of the country around Normanton with William Landsborough, working for him a surveyor. Soon afterwards, he surveyed the area chosen as a port to become the town of Normanton. The country was difficult for conventional railway tracks due to flooding, lack of suitable timber and voracious termites. In 1884 Phillips patented a system for taking railways across such country which utilised special U section steel sleepers laid directly on the ground. During floods the line could be submerged without washing out the ballast and embankments normally used, so that it could quickly be put back into service when the waters subsided. The steel sleepers were also impervious to termite attack, and although initially more expensive than timber sleepers, were cheaper to lay and maintain. It was this system that was specified for the Normanton to Croydon line and Phillips was engaged to supervise the construction. After the railway was completed he maintained an interest in the area, serving as MLA for Carpentaria, inspecting artesian bores and writing a report on ports and railways in 1909.
The station building and carriage shade were designed under Phillips direction by James Gartside, a draftsman for the department. and were built about 1889. The line was opened in 1891. At its peak, the complex at Normanton consisted of a station building containing a telegraph office, station master's and traffic manager's offices, clerks' room, waiting room, parcels and cloak room, booking office, and a ladies' room with a ramp to ladies-only earth closets. Attached to the station building, and sheltering the platform and three tracks, was an arcaded carriage shade with a curved roof .
The terminus also had a large goods shed with a crane and because the line was isolated, a workshop area comprising a maintenance store, suspense stores, a timber shed, tanks, locomotive store, fitting shop, carpenter's and blacksmith's shops, timber shed, gantry and engine shed.. There was also a horse and carriage dock, porters' and lamp rooms, closets, and a tool house nearby. Residences for the station master, enginemen and guard were located south-east of Landsborough St. The traffic manager's house and stables adjoined where the wharf line departed for the Margaret and Jane landing on the Norman River.
The goldfield at Croydon did not sustain its initial success. By the early 1900s its output had dropped considerably and after WWI when widespread mining diminished, it was obvious that the field would not recover. Traffic on the line was never high and steadily declined, although its value as a community service and a vital link during the wet season kept the line open. This was because the Phillips system worked well and the track could be put back into use almost immediately after flooding, whereas roads stayed impassable for much longer. Fortunately, the track took less maintenance than standard track because in the early 1920s the number of services and staff were considerably reduced. In the 1930s, all weather roads made the railway less important, but until the late 1960s the rail remained a vital transport link in the area. The terminus now functions largely as a tourist attraction. One railmotor was restored and named the 'Gulflander' in 1978.
Although the line initially used steam locomotives, supplying enough suitable water for them locomotives was a problem from the beginning on this line and trains eventually carried water trucks. Railmotors were also more economical to run, so in 1922 the first railmotor, a Panhard, was tried on this route. In 1929 steam locomotives were discontinued and railmotors only were used. Diesel locomotives supplemented these in the 1980s.
Some of the working buildings at the terminus deteriorated and were removed including the workshops, carpenters and blacksmiths, though the sites can be still plainly seen.
The Normanton to Croydon Railway Line:
The railway line linking Normanton to Croydon was built between 1888 and 1891 and is the last isolated line of Queensland Rail still in use. It utilised an innovative system of submersible track with patented steel sleepers and retains buildings of considerable architectural and technical interest at its terminus in Normanton.
In 1867 William Landsborough investigated the Norman River area to select a port site to serve the pastoral stations south of the Gulf of Carpentaria. With him was George Phillips who shortly thereafter surveyed the chosen site of Normanton. Phillips later supervised the construction of the Normanton to Croydon Railway, and retained an interest in the area, serving as MLA for Carpentaria in the 1890s.
A railway line between Normanton and Cloncurry had been discussed as early as 1883 and was approved by Parliament in 1886. This was a difficult stretch for carriers and a rail link would have been valuable to pastoral stations in the area and was planned to serve the Cloncurry Copper Mine. It was at the time intended to eventually link the new line with the Great Northern Railway connecting Charters Towers and the important port of Townsville. However, in November 1885 a major gold strike was reported at Belmore Station, 145 km east of Normanton and by the end of 1886 the population of the Croydon field was 2000, rising to 6000 in the following year. Transportation was a major problem and access to this field became more important than the link to Cloncurry. It was decided to divert the line to Croydon.
The line was technically innovative, in response to the terrain and conditions. The country was flat but difficult for conventional railway tracks due to flooding, lack of suitable timber for sleepers and termite attack. In 1884 Phillips patented a system for taking railways across such country which utilised special U section steel sleepers laid directly on the ground. During floods the line could be submerged without washing out the ballast and embankments normally used, so that it could quickly be put back into service when the waters subsided. The steel sleepers were also impervious to termite attack, and although initially more expensive than timber sleepers, were cheaper to lay and maintain. The bridges along the line were also designed to be submersible. This system was particularly suited to the Gulf country and was specified for the Normanton to Croydon line with Phillips engaged to supervise the construction. Tenders were called in July 1887 and the first section to Haydon began in May 1888. The first line laid was between the Normanton station site and the Margaret and Jane landing at Normanton wharf in order to bring materials from ships to the terminal site. This line has not survived.
Some problems were encountered with constructing the line because of the difficulty of maintaining a constant and adequate supply of Phillips sleepers. They were cast at the Toowoomba Foundry at Woolloongabba in Brisbane and also in Glasgow, but in order to keep construction going, timber sleepers were used on some sections and timber was also used for some bridges, originally designed to be made of steel.
The construction method involved clearing a three metre wide band ahead of the rail which was stumped, ploughed, harrowed, rolled and lightly ballasted. The U shaped sleepers were then laid on this prepared surface and the rail attached to them by special clips. The construction train then passed over them forcing the U shape down into the ground and depressing the sleepers for above half their depth. Soft spots were then packed. The finished rails were intended to be 25 to 50 mm above the surface. However, in practice the sleepers became more deeply embedded with time. The first section of 61km to Haydon was opened in May 1889, then to Patterson's (Blackbull) in December 1890, and to Croydon in July 1891.
The buildings for the terminus at Normanton consisted of a station with a large arched carriage shade and a goods shed, all constructed of corrugated iron on timber frames, although the framework for the station building was used to considerable decorative effect. Because the line was isolated, a range of maintenance buildings and facilities such as machine shops, blacksmith and carpenters shops were added over the next few years. At the other end of the line, Croydon had more modest goods and locomotive sheds and a station with a roofed section over 2 tracks. In 1895, a railway water reserve was proclaimed on the flooded Bird-in-the-Bush shaft on True Blue Hill at Croydon.
Most of the timber sleepers on the line were soon replaced because of termite damage, although one section over salt pan used timber rather than metal to prevent corrosion. A number of low level bridges form an important part of this line and were also intended to be metal. In 1900 two bridges at Glenore Crossing which had been built in timber in 1890 were replaced by low level concrete and steel bridges. That at Glenore Crossing number 3 reused fishbelly plate girders from the original 1876 Albert Bridge in Brisbane as main spans. Original metal and concrete bridges survive and those at 80 Mile Creek and Belmore Creek at Croydon are good examples of their type.
Initially the line carried perishables, mail and passengers, and goods like building materials and merchandise. It also ferried firewood for mine boilers and batteries as the land was progressively cleared. During the late 1890s special trains were run for picnics at most of the water holes along the line, particularly the Blackbull lagoon and weekend excursions from Normanton to Croydon or Golden Gate. The Golden Gate mine, some 4 miles west of Croydon and on the railway line, was first mined in 1887. It enjoyed prosperity from about 1895 to 1901, and the Golden Gate township itself had 1500 inhabitants. A service between Croydon and Golden Gate on the weekends was introduced in 1902.
However, the goldfield at Croydon did not sustain its initial success. By the early 1900s its output had dropped considerably and after WWI when widespread mining diminished, it was obvious that the field would not recover. The railway had only run at a profit between 1898 and 1902 and traffic, never high, steadily declined. The line stayed open as a community service and as a vital link during the wet season. This was largely because the Phillips system worked well and the track could be put back into use almost immediately after flooding, whereas roads stayed impassable for much longer. Fortunately, the track took less maintenance than standard track because in the early 1920s the number of staff was considerably reduced. To cut costs, and because the supply of suitable water had always been a problem, the first railmotor, a Panhard, was introduced in 1922. By 1929 steam trains had been completely phased out. In the 1930s, all-weather roads made the railway less important, but until the late 1960s the rail remained a vital transport link in the area. The terminus now functions largely as a tourist attraction. One railmotor was restored and named the 'Gulflander' in 1978 and a railmotor now makes a weekly trip hauling carriages and a flat top wagon for passengers' cars. In the wet season it also carries freight when the roads are cut. Stops are at Clarina (11 miles), Glenore (14m), Haydon (40m), RM Stop No1 (49m), Blackbull (56m), and on to Croydon (94m). There is often also a photo stop at the remains of the Golden Gate mine (92m).
Not all of the buildings have survived; the station at Croydon being destroyed by a storm in 1969. The tank there was demolished in 1972, that at Haydon in 1980, and the blacksmiths shop and workshops in Normanton were sold and demolished in 1980.
Source: Queensland Heritage Register.
This little snowman is very valuable to me. Our daughter made it for us for Christmas a few years ago and he guards the deck during the holidays every year. The shadows on the snow from the bright sun were indigo!
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. is the largest tea-growing region in Malaysia - home to vast plantations of this valuable crop that carpet the valleys in a lush sea of bright green.
2PLJ
An attempted carjacking, some dealers trying to sell drugs to kids, a normal night in Bludhaven, but still a boring one, normally I don’t feel like this. Barbra went to visit Jim back in Gotham, no matter where I go, or try to get this stuff off my mind, I keep feeling lonely, as if there’s been something, something I’ve forgotten, with the times changing, the league forming, everything’s going so fast now. After swinging around Bludhaven for a while, I decide to take a rest on a rooftop. Wow when did anything ever not go fast, it’s been my whole life, quickly swinging on the trapeze, chasing after criminal scum, running real hard from problems, some of which, I’ve always known really weren’t there, hell I’ve even tried to right some wrongs, before it slipped out of my hands. Did I ever even have a normal summer, like a regular kid, well I guess that’s what happens when you’re a vigilante? I grapple away, trying to get rid of the bad feelings I’m harboring in me, as the wind picks up so does my spirit, as I remember, Wally, Donna, Roy, Garth, all my good buddies, from the old days, we had a club, wasn’t it called the Teen Titans. I remember now, sure we fought crime like our mentors, but still we had fun, we talked, hung out, in our little club, who came up with the name anyways, Donna? Wow it’s all really clear now, she came up with the name, or was it Roy who came up with it, no he added the Teen part, she just thought of Titans. If I remember correctly there was a little bit of an age difference between everyone, but nonetheless we were all friends. Man how could I have forgotten about that, I got to get the old club together. I set my course for home and in no time I’m back in my apartment. I pick up my phone and make a couple calls. Within no time I’ve arranged a meeting in the local diner by where we used to hang out.
I took a drive to the place we decide to meet up, a dockside diner, I arrived first, still worried that no one was going to show up. I haven’t heard back from Roy but hopefully if he does show up it isn’t awkward with Donna and Roy, I swear they had a thing for each other at one point, though I can’t clearly remember.
“Sir, are you still waiting on people, or do you want to order now?” the waitress asks, with five menus ready.
“No, I think I’ll wait a bit more for them, oh and we might not need the fifth menu” I sit back and relax know that there’s finally going to be that missing piece in my life, restored. I see someone wave to me from the door, and I realize who it was, it’s Donna, wow I haven’t seen her in years, didn’t realize how intimidating this would be. In about a minute she makes her way over to the table.
“Hey Dick, how many years has it been?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself, but it’s good to see you again” wow, she’s changed a bit, gotten taller, as you’d expect, I remember how me and her used to be best friends.
“So Dick, what have you been doing in recent times?” she asks politely, just like I remember.
“Ah nothing much, you ever meet Barbra Gordon before?”
“Yeah once, wait are you two?”
“I guess you could say so” at that moment Wally walks through the doors, and points to our table, the waiter walks him over anyways.
“Hey, guys, how’s it going, how’s everything been?” Wally asks energetically, seemingly pretty excited that he’s back with old buddies, was it just me that forgot this whole time, or did everyone else forget too? Wally convinces us to order our food now and let everyone else order later, he’s never been good with patience before.
“So, is Roy going to be here?” Wally asks, excited to see everyone again. Suddenly I get a text message from Roy, and I read it in my head before saying it out loud.
“He said he couldn’t make it, Green Arrow was having a big crisis or something and needed his help” though I have a feeling that he also was worried about being around Donna, I’ve had that feeling before. I remember it from back when I lived in Gotham, there was a girl in my school, I think her name was Betty, wow all these old memories are coming back now.
“So, how’s life been for you guys?” Donna asks cheerfully.
“Well I’ve been pretty good, how about you guys?” someone says from the side of our booth, it’s Garth.
“Hey, Fish boy how’s the sea been for you?” I ask, feeling relaxed now that all the “Teen Titans” are in one place again, he chuckles, Fish Boy was the name we used to call him, jokingly of course.
“So, the old group, all back together again, except for Roy” everyone looks at each other, a real feeling of happiness swarms over everyone, yet a bit of sadness is mixed in, with the disappointment of Roy not showing up.
“Yeah, it’s been so long, and everything has really begun to change recently.”
“Tell me about it, with the league, and other things, I swear my life moves on a faster pace now, well faster than it already was” Wally says, trying to add humor into the mix.
“The League’s creation has attracted more criminals, ambitious ones too, now can we order the food?” Garth interjects, as his stomach growls.
“Is that so different from before, I mean it’s always been that way?” Donna adds in, seemingly distracted about something, wonder If mentioning Roy is getting her nervous, even though he isn’t around.
We put our conversation on hold and let the others order some food, then we get right back to the main topic.
“Guys, I figured that if we all came back together, we could fill a void, that I’m sensing we all have in our lives, with all the crime fighting, we’ve all been missing one valuable thing” I say, proudly finally stating my motivation for getting everyone together.
“And what’s that” everyone asks, though they already know, just aren’t brave enough to say it.
“We need to get back together; we can make our little teenage club something more something to help people” I say, kind of hopeful that I’ll be the leader.
“So you want to become the Teen Titans again?” Donna asks, intrigued by this idea.
“You know, that doesn’t sound bad, but one thing we need to do, is get rid of the Teen Part” Garth adds in.
“Yeah that sounds pretty good, but are we going to have a headquarters?” Donna asks, still trying to keep her mind of Roy.
“Yeah, I’ll see what kind of a headquarters we can get, after all I have access to sunken treasure” Garth says, feeling as if being a “fish boy” is paying off”
“Well, we probably have to get recognized as an official group by the Justice League, hopefully we get it right on our first try and don’t end up doing it three times” I interjected, hopefully not bringing the mood down.
“Well, whatever happens now, we’re the Titans now” Wally states, proudly and happily.
“And we’ll always be the Titans, forever” Garth adds, as we all look at each other once more it’s like we became one entity.
“Titans Forever” we say, but sadness creeps over me, as I remember something, I won’t be able to stay with the Titans, I have a duty to Bludhaven, and I have to protect it.
“Guys, I think it’s best if I don’t join up with you guys, I have to protect Bludhaven at all costs, I can’t just ditch it, but can I trust you guys to bring our little dream to fruition” I feel depressed knowing that I can’t stay with the Titans that much longer, but I might try and stay in contact. Their faces sadden as they realize how there’s only three left.
“I guess we will try and become something else, even if it’s without you and Roy, we can make it.”
“Alright good to hear, Titans.”
(Figured that if i couldn't use Roy or Dick in the actual series I shouldn't just give up there, I used Dick in the app anyways, though he won't be appearing again since I don't have the rights to him, anyways thanks for reading)
The Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is the largest and most valuable species of Pacific salmon. Its common name is derived from the Chinookan peoples. Between 37lb. and 97 lbs. these fish are native to the North Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western North America, ranging from California to Alaska, as well as Asian rivers ranging from northern Japan to the Palyavaam River in Arctic northeast Siberia. Chinook need clean healthy ocean habitats and productive estuarine environments to gain the energy and strength needed to travel back upstream, escape predators, and spawn before dying. Populations have disappeared from large areas where they once flourished, or shrunk by as much as 40 percent. In some of the Coast Ranges of California and Oregon, and in large areas in the Snake River and upper Columbia River drainage basins, their inland range has been cut off, mainly by dams and habitat alterations. In certain areas of California's Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, it was revealed that extremely low numbers of juvenile Chinook salmon (less than 1%) were surviving. The Chinook salmon has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, but according to NOAA, the Chinook populations along the Pacific coast are declining rapidly from factors such as overfishing, loss of freshwater and estuarine habitat, hydropower development, poor ocean conditions, and hatchery practices. Their future is uncertain.
Created With Deep Dream AI Generator
Valuable lesson learned. Cover up your legs when you're wearing nylons in Madame Tina's cat house. Which for Daisy is pretty much all the time, lately. Sigh....You'd think she'd have learned by now. 😘
Free people of the free world!
Ukrainians and citizens of all countries who value freedom!
Friends!
On March 24 it will be the month of our resistance. Heroic resistance of the Ukrainian state, the Ukrainian people to the ruthless invasion of Russia. It's already a month of our defense against the attempt to destroy us. Wipe off the face of the earth.
The original plan of the Russian troops failed already in the first days of the invasion. They thought Ukrainians would be frightened. They thought Ukrainians would not fight. They were wrong.
They know nothing about us, about Ukrainians. They know nothing at all about freedom. About how valuable it is. They do not know how freedom enriches life. Gives meaning to life.
But there are many of them! There are still many invaders. Russia is getting manpower from everywhere. Equipment. Air bombs, missiles. Looking for mercenaries around the world. Any scum capable of shooting at civilians.
Russian troops destroy our cities. Kill civilians indiscriminately. Rape women. Abduct children. Shoot at refugees. Capture humanitarian convoys. They are engaged in looting.
They burn museums, blow up schools and hospitals. The target for them is universities, residential neighborhoods... Anything! Russian troops do not know the limits of evil.
But...
The war of Russia is not only the war against Ukraine. Its meaning is much wider.
Russia started the war against freedom as it is.
This is only the beginning for Russia on the Ukrainian land. Russia is trying to defeat the freedom of all people in Europe. Of all the people in the world. It tries to show that only crude and cruel force matters.
It tries to show that people do not matter, as well as everything else that makes us people.
That’s the reason we all must stop Russia. The world must stop the war.
I thank everyone who acts in support of Ukraine. In support of freedom. But the war continues. The acts of terror against peaceful people go on. One month already! That long! It breaks my heart, hearts of all Ukrainians and every free person on the planet.
That’s why I ask you to stand against the war! Starting from March 24 – exactly one month after the Russian invasion… From this day and after then.
Show your standing! Come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities. Come in the name of peace. Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life.
Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard. Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.
From March 24.
In downtowns of your cities.
All as one together who want to stop the war.
I want to address the citizens of Russia separately.
I am sure that there are many of you who are disgusted by the policy of your state. Who are already just sick of what you see on TV. Of the lies of your propagandists on the Internet. Propagandists who are paid by your taxes. And they lie about the war, which is paid for by your taxes. And which makes all the citizens of Russia poorer. Poorer every day.
Isn't that stupid? Your state collects taxes from you to make you poorer. To isolate you from the world. To make it easier for them to control you. And easier to send you to the war to die.
Ukraine has never threatened the security of Russia.
Even now, we are doing everything just to bring peace back to our land. Not to yours - to our land. To our people.
We are doing everything to end this war. And when we succeed - it will certainly happen - you will be sure of at least one thing: your children will no longer be sent to die on our land, on our territory.
Therefore, you, the citizens of Russia, are also interested in peace. Save your sons from the war. Tell the truth about the war. And if you can leave Russia so as not to give your taxes to the war, do it.
All polls show that the people of Europe and America support us.
I am grateful to all of you for that. Grateful on behalf of Ukraine. To everyone in the European Union, the United States, Canada, Britain and other countries for supporting us. For supporting freedom. For supporting Ukraine.
On March 24, three important summits will take place in Brussels, Europe. Important for the security of each of us. NATO Summit. EU Summit. G7 Summit.
I'm sure people will show how they support us. But politicians must also support freedom. All of them. They must support the struggle for life.
We are waiting for meaningful steps. From NATO, the EU and the G7.
We know that the Russians have already begun to lobby their interests. These are the interests of war. We know that they are working with some partners. We know that they want to put this issue out. The struggle against war. But this is the war that needs to be put out.
Our firm position will be represented at these three summits. At these three summits we will see: Who is a friend, who is a partner, and who betrayed us for money.
Life can be defended only when united. Freedom must be armed.
Ukrainian sky has not been made safe from Russian missiles and bombs. We have not received aircraft and modern anti-missile weapons. We have not received tanks, anti-ship equipment. Russian forces can keep killing thousands of our citizens, destroying our cities. Just because there are too many invaders. Just because Russia has been preparing for such a war for decades.
We asked to close our sky. And we asked for assistance from NATO to be effective and without limits. Any support in weapons that we need. We asked the Alliance to say it will fully help Ukraine win this war, clear our territories of the invaders and restore peace in Ukraine.
Free people of the free world!
Together we must prevent Russia from breaking someone in NATO, EU or G7. From breaking and taking it to the war side. We will see on March 24.
Ukrainians! All our heroes!
A month has passed. We withstood six times longer than the enemy had planned, than the Russian command had reported to the Russian president.
They were convinced that Ukraine is not a state. They were convinced that Ukrainians are not a nation. They deceived themselves. But we don't care about them. This is their state suicide. And we are just protecting our lives. Our freedom. Our own state. Our children. Hence, our future.
This is a war for independence. And we must win.
We will rebuild every city that heroically resists. We will bring the invaders to justice for every crime. Zhytomyr and Sumy, Kyiv and Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol, Volnovakha and Mykolaiv, Okhtyrka and Hostomel, Kherson and Odesa, Izyum and Donetsk, Luhansk and Chornobaivka... All our people will live! In a free Ukraine. After our victory. Which will come sooner, the more we will all be united.
We are all Ukrainians. We are all Europeans. We are all free people of the free world.
In unity! On the battlefield and in political positions, at rallies and summits, at work and in communication with people. By all our actions, we must force Russia to seek peace. By all our actions, we must bring the victory of freedom closer.
May the memory of all who died for Ukraine live forever!
Eternal glory to all our heroes!
Glory to Ukraine!
Thanks my friends for your valuable input to my Canon EOS1D X discussion. looks like most of us are ok with less megapixels as long as the quality is great. No one cares about the video feature of this high end camera. btw my iPhone can make HD video why would i spend $7000 to get that feature in my camera. supposedly it can shoot in a very low light with good quality. 1DX has a dedicated processor just for auto focusing which sounds exciting. IDX has not come out yet and i am anxiously waiting to see the results.
my photos are available at
NOTE: All images are Copyrighted by Asad Gilani. No rights to use are given or implied to the viewer. All rights of ownership and use remain with the copyright own.
A Deep Hug and Hearfelt thank you to my Friend Emma for playing along
www.flickr.com/photos/193415394@N05
Masquerade Ball
“Raffles” Pitch
“Cheerio” A J Raffles at your service. Don’t know if any of you have ever heard of me, but I’ve been accused of being a man of many talents, but by no means was that always said as a compliment.
Also, I do love playing cricket.
Batting in a cricket match produces for me the same flow of adrenaline as that of my secret game: Jewel Thievery.
A J Raffles is a fictional character whom I admire for the introduction above. For I am, like him, a professional Jewel Thief.
And tonight was no exception as far as any adrenaline flow Raffles would have felt, for I was experiencing what I can imagine was the same exhilaration.
This evening I was attending a surprisingly posh masquerade ball being held at a large venue in Wales.
It was a very elegant affair, with the many ladies present putting on their most pretty attire and wearing out that evening, their most expensive vault kept baubles.
The venue seated about 500 guests with a raised dance floor at one end, next to a fully stocked bar and a large outside balcony overlooking some rose gardens lined by old woods.
I had decided to attire myself as said Raffles for a tongue-in-cheek tribute to what I hoped to gain this evening.
Mostly to gain some jewels by parting some of the ladies from the lovely ones they were wearing. Which, here tonight, presented a plethora of opportunities.
I would try and make it as pleasant as it possibly could be for my chosen female victims as my fingers worked over their exquisitely clad figures while removing their valuable jewels.
I find that a few kind words, some attention, and possibly dancing produced a little sugar that helps with the bitter pill I am giving them to swallow
This evening I was wearing all black attire of tails, vest, shirt, and tie. Since it was a masquerading affair, I wore a black phantom of the opera half mask. Since this was business as well as pleasure I was wearing no gentlemanly gloves, needing my nimbly flexible fingers to be free.
After I entered I made several slow rounds to learn the layout, doing some light mingling along the way.
The odd thing about this masquerading ball was that there were no fancy costumes. Everyone was dressed in their best evening out attire, with masks just added.
I made a catch right away as I impressed an older matronly lady enough that she called over her 30 something daughter to meet me.
It was now my turn to be impressed.
The daughter, Celcia, was dressed in a very elegant long-sleeved dress of silver satin. Her jewels were all set with diamonds. Her silver half mask is set in rhinestones.
We went off alone to look over the gardens from the balcony.
We guess what each other is “masked” as. I told her she must be “Lucy”
“Lucy?” she questioned
I laughed lifting her silky hair up and then running my fingers down the side of her long swaying diamond earrings, as I said. “lucy in the sky with diamonds. “
“Good guess, but I'm just Cecelia, not anyone else. And you sir, are you an undertaker?”
I chuckled. “ Not quite as dark as that, I'm shooting for a Raffles image tonight.”
“Well Mr. Raffles, not sure who you are, but it is my pleasure to meet you.”
We chatted for a bit more, then Celcia was called back inside by her mother who stood by the balcony entrance.
I took her hand, rings flashing. “ the pleasure is all mine dear ‘only Ceclia’l said grinning.
She rewarded me for my praise with a clingy hug.
I watched her leave with clenched fists, her gown swishing along down her figure quite provocatively. I opened one of my fists and admired the diamond bracelet that lay there. Her now naked wrist was covered up by the silver satin cuffed sleeve of the lovely Cecilia's dress, hiding her loss.
£23,000
I slipped it inside a hidden pocket of my vest, and patting it, went back inside.
The band had started playing and the dance floor was fast filling up.
I spied a group of ladies wearing feathery masks who were huddled at one end of the floor, blocking an aisleway, watching the assembling dancing couples. I approached and overheard that they were waiting for their partners to come back from the bar.
Since they were blocking my path, I went up and asked if I could cut through. They obligingly parted and as I went in between them one of the ladies tripped against another as I ‘accidentally’ stepped on her satin gowns’ long train as she moved to make way. I caught her and apologized as I held her, my fingers freely feeling along down her figure. I helped her back on her high heels, steadying her. Helping myself at the same time to the leaf-shaped diamond studded clip that was pinned to the side of her chocolate brown gown.
The diamond-studded clip soon joined the pocketed diamond bracelet.
£18,000
My third score that evening almost literally fell into my lap.
I had ordered a brandy at the bar figuring to take a brief respite. There were two ladies next to me chatting away. The one immediately next to me kept bumping against me as she laughed at almost everything the other lady was saying.
I didn't mine, for her thicke wine-colored silk blouse was a pleasure to feel rubbing up against me. Also, a pleasure to see where the magnificently large rings she was wearing on her fingers as well as the diamonds wrapped around her wrist.
Then it happened. The laughing lady’s friend knocked their drinks over. Some of which happily splashed on my arm.
As apologies were given and received, with much giggling, I came to the rescue with my silk handkerchief.
Lending it to them I allowed them to wipe themselves up. As we chatted, the lady next to me finished with it and handed it back. I took up her fingers as she did, and holding them down lifted and kissed the back of her hand. I also was running my damp handkerchief over her still wet fingers as I did, easily slipping of her largest flashy cocktail ring in the process.
£ 9500
Then the dancing began in earnest.
I was now sitting at a table on the outside balcony, watching the crowded dance floor and the amazing show of the ladies flowing attire, and their flickering jewels, that were being showcased there.
Also in my view was a table where a handsome bearded male was enviably sitting alone with not one, but two attractively attired and ornamented lades.
One lady was wearing a black satin blouse with a long thicke red velvet skirt. She was wearing rubies and diamonds around her throat and wrists that were just a treat to look at, and covet.
The other was fashionably wearing a slick satin high necked gown of deep red that spilled down along her figure in a most scintillating manner. Her jewellery was a winning collection of diamonds worn seemingly everywhere from her figure. Of those, I would award a purple ribbon to the dangling necklace that lay around and fell from her throat that dripped columns of diamonds down the front of her sheer red gown, as the best in the show.
I saw the man rise, and pull out the chair of the lady wearing the rubies. He then led her off to the upper dance floor, unknowingly leaving the lady in red vulnerably alone.
I saw the remaining lady stand up and with what I imagined to be a whimsical manner, walked to the edge of the balcony.
I started to rise.
But a gold mask-wearing bloke from another table approached her before I had half risen and began talking to her. I learned then that her name was Emma.
What was odd is that the man had been sitting at a table with a lady wearing a sky blue satin dress, black satin jacket, and pearls. She looked very sad watching her gold mask-wearing tablemate talking to Emma.
I had dejectedly sat back down, watching with curious interest.
The gold masked bloke took Emma by the hand and led her to the dance floor.
I saw the lady in sky blue satin, and the pricey pearl slowly rises and follow.
As then, did I.
The lady in blue was standing in the side of the dancefloor, her posture told me she was both sad and dejected.
I went up and stood next to her. Without looking at me the lady in sky blue sleek satin said...
“Why are men such idiots?” then she looked at me, and blushed apologetically “I am so sorry.”
I held up my hand. “Apology accepted, a dance though would help ease the pain.”
She eagerly went with me and taking her warm, soft figure in my arms we joined in.
She did not appear to want any conversation from me. I let her hold tightly against me. We danced in silence, both lost in our own respective thoughts.
I had decided that a dance would not be enough to ‘ease my pain’ and as she distractedly looked around for the gold masked bloke dancing with Emma, I allowed my hand the move up to her shoulder, then over to the single strand of glistening pearls that lay around her throat.
Easily locating, then slipping open, the hinged silver clasp, I gently pulled the slippery smooth necklace away from around her neck and quickly pocketed it.
£ 8700
I had no sooner done so than I felt her shake, and saw that we were now close to the gold masked male dancing with Emma. One would need a crowbar to separate him from her. I could tell Emma was not enjoying herself.
I was watching, with melancholy interest, Emma’s diamonds dripping down from the necklace that lay low along the high neckline of her luxurious red satin gown, just dangling below her breasts.
A desiring fire was starting to stir from deep within, my fingers felt like curling. So close and yet so far...
I turned my partner around so we were facing away. I started to say something when I felt an unexpected, firm tap on my shoulder.
Well, one could imagine where my mind went as I turned my head.
Relieved, I saw that it was not one of the rental security men.
It was the gold masked table partner of the lady in blue satin I was dancing with.
I saw his more recent partner, Emma, the one in red whose dazzling necklace was a stirring lure, standing there in the middle of the dance floor, alone and confused.
“Switch partners.” He told me, it was not a question.
I looked at mine and she nodded ok.
I left her to be grasped up in his arms and went to Emma, the lady in red, who willingly came into mine.
“What then, was that all about? I asked smiling.
Emma answered with a giggle. “ He was telling her he wanted to see other women. But she is not supposed to he dancing with other men, especially handsome ones like you!”
With a shy nod of my head I thanked her, telling her that I thought she looked extraordinarily beautiful this evening.
Sweetly smiling she turned her head down with blushing cheeks, thanking me.
My hand meanwhile, which had been resting motionless along her shoulder, moved to her throat, my fingers blindly seeking and locating the clasp of her necklace.
My partner felt none of that.
It was as she nodded after my words of praise that I flicked apart the jewelled chains’ clasp that my fingers had fiddled open.
As she looked back up I began to delicately slip the diamond chain up over her shoulder, watching as the diamonds hanging from its’ centre were gliding up effortlessly from along the front of her red satin gown, then up and around the gowns’ slick high neckline, before disappearing from my view.
She smiled most fetchingly into my eyes, oblivious to the fact her heavily jeweled diamond necklace had been disappearing over her shoulder.
£ 58000
The music was ending and I happened to look over by the double oak doors of the main entrance on the opposite side of the mammoth hall.
Who did I spy but the lady in the sleek sky blue satin dress and smooth black jacket being led out by the gold mask-wearing bloke who had cut in on us? I saw an opportunity to plant a seed.
I pointed it out to Emma. “Wonder where they are off too in such a hurry?”
“They do appear to be on a mission,” said Emma watching.
“I hope they weren't up to something?” I said suspiciously.
“Like what ?” Emma asked watching the couple scurrying out the door.
“Oh, nothing. I guess I read too many mystery novels. I answered stealing a look at the now bare neckline of Emma’s gown.
The music ended and I walked Emma back to the balcony. Her table was deserted so I took her over and seated her before taking my leave.
I began to make another round of the tables inside. On the lookout for fresh prey amongst the beautifully attired female guests.
I soon snagged a young damsel who had been deserted by her friends and looked bored. Not boring were the collection of rubies she was wearing with her elaborate maroon taffeta puffy ball gown that would have shamed a princess.
I asked and got permission to dance with her. She asked me who I was this evening. When I mentioned Raffle’s name she, unfortunately, caught on to who he was.
“Oh a thief, will make sure to lock my rubies up this evening to keep them safe! She giggled touching her handsome ruby and diamond necklace
I thought to myself... “Well, they are now.” while saying. “ I was thinking of him being a cricket player, not a thief.”
We both laughed over that, but I knew this one was a dead end. I could not wait until the dance was through so I could resume the hunt. I really had thought none of the younger ones would have ever read about AJ Raffles and that it would be my inside joke.
We parted after the dance, she headed off happily back to her friends.
I was watching her, deciding what to do next, when a soft gloved hand unexpectedly rested on my shoulder.
Turning, my eyes took in a young lady in downy soft, flowy peach chiffon over a shiny pink silk number, along with a row of sparkling matched diamonds around her throat. And earrings to match, as well as a thin band of diamonds holding back her freshly washed chestnut coloured hair. She wore a striking blue mask with ostrich feathers.
She shyly asked if I was available for the next dance. And I happily told her I was. She put her head down blushing. And I was able to savor her delectably pretty matched diamond stone necklace.
I whisked her off to the upper dance floor as the music began.
When the inevitable questions came up as to who I was this evening I answered...”The cricket player Raffles, at your service.”
She laughed with a Twitter. “Quite pleasant to meet you cricket player Raffles.” then she moved her hand higher up my back and came in a little closer.
I followed suit, feeling her hot figure slip in against my own. My fingers at her waist kept moving up until I reached the back of her neck. Carefully undoing her necklace I gave it a slight tug, figuring her soft smooth gown would allow the rest of my trick to work. It did, slipping off easily from around her throat, slithering like a glimmering snake up over her shoulder, out of my sight, and into my waiting hand behind her back.
My pretty dance partner felt nothing, as I then pocketed her expensive necklace.
£42,000
I then calmly began to finish the dance.
It was then, as I was looking down at the area below the raised platform of the dance floor, that I spotted something shiny, then a flashing brilliant fire erupted, all coming from one of the tables below the dancing areas raised platform.
I maneuvered us in closer for a better peek.
I made out a lone female sitting at a side table.
It was the vivid deep green of her shiny party dress that then first caught my eye.
It was the amazingly brilliant sparklers she was sporting from various points of interest along her delightful figure, especially the fiery necklace she was playing with, that finished the capture.
Only real jewels, or a remarkably good set of imitations, would produce that kind of bright gleaming shimmer!
I was betting they were real.
She was vulnerable, sitting there quite remarkably alone at her side table, drinking slowly from a small goblet of wine. Sitting there wearing in all appearances to be a collection of diamond sparklers that would easily be worth a cool £50 to £75 thousand of what the London ruffians would call “ice”.
They would also be rudely calling her “that loaded bird”. But to me, she was a rather fetchingly adorned Lass who needed some company, and perhaps just a wee bit of trimming.
The dance ended and I calmly led my partner back to her table before taking my leave. Though trying not to appear in a hurry. I still politely declined her offer to join in a drink at her table.
Then with eager anticipation, circled about hoping that the girl I had spotted was still there, and still alone.
When I got there I saw to my dismay that the bird had flown the coup. The table was deserted
I waited a few long minutes, eyeing around for other opportunities in the area, then my eyes lit up as I saw her coming back, alone.
I observed her for a satisfying few long minutes from a shadowy corner. She was younger than anyone I had yet met, but it was impossible to determine how young.
And she obviously was bored.
Intriguingly I could still not truly tell about the authenticity of her amazing collection of diamonds from my vantage.
The set was decidedly quite lovely, consisting of a dangling chain set with I guess were diamond chips and ending with a swaying diamond heart-shaped pendant, matching long earrings, a wide bracelet, and numerous shimmering rings.
The earrings were brilliant, falling from her ears in sheets of (synthetic/real ?) diamonds, larger stones were set at the earrings clasp, and they shone like the real thing.
They all contributed to making up the shimmer that surrounded her figure like some wickedly glittering halo.
She was wearing a black bandits mask, which I felt added to the mystic.
This young chick was certainly jeweled up, calling out to be looked into further.
I approached her from behind, placing a hand delicately upon a plushly soft shoulder, and daringly gave a greeting as I felt her startled figure flinch.
I cheerfully said, “Hello Samantha.”
She turned and said apologizing,
“I’m not Samantha, wrong girl.”
I answered back, disappointed “ No, you certainly are not my friend Samantha.”
I then carefully looked her over, up and down… before saying.
“Far prettier, if I dare say.”
I had ascertained by now that she was quite a bit younger than 20. And that most of her jewelry was quite good imitation’s. Her heart shaped pendent contained real diamonds, but not valuable enough for my attention. The only fly in the ointment was her earrings. They appeared to be worth quite a bit actually.
I decided to hold off judgment and went on playing her on. Much like a fly fisherman will play a trout, not sure if he still wants to actually land it.
I went on…
“Well stranger, How do you do, Hold anyone up lately?”
I had taken her off guard and she did not answer back right away.
She gulped., obviously making a decision.
She sweetly raised a hand. “How do you do sir, my name is Nancy, and no, despite the mask, I'm not a thief.”
Taking her hand I kissed it with much pageantry. “Pleasure is all mine, glad my watch and wallet are safe”. I chuckled merrily, looking down at her thoughtfully.
Then, still holding her hand, I boldly asked…” May I sit for a bit, rather tuckered out at the moment?”
She nodded her head without hesitation. Her flash earrings swayed with a beckoning motion.
I slipped in the seat in front of her, my back to the dance floor. She was looking at me with a curious smile.
I smiled back, asking…
“So Nancy, what then, does your character do for a living if she is not a thief?”
“ I am an amateur detective.”
I nodded before asking….
“ Well, that is quite interesting indeed, what kind of cases do you like working on?”
She did not know how to answer that and squirmed as I watchers her face turn red, really making the freckles show up on her cheeks.
I saved her discomfort by saying…
“ I bet you are really clever at catching thieves. And that is why you are here this evening? Or are you taking the night off?”
Taking the cue, She nodded saying in a low voice.
“No thieves here tonight.”
I laughed in what I hoped would be a winning manner while answering. “ I guess not, probably no reason for one to be here. So miss Nancy, you've not asked whom I am playing this evening.”
”Let me see, an Undertaker ?” ”Nancy,” said teasingly.
I chuckled..”Not even close. A.J. Raffles, cricketer, at your command my lady.”
She had no idea who A.J.Raffles was, I could see that. And I decided to enlighten her a bit by telling a story.
He chuckled. “Never heard of him? Well, Raffles loved to play cricket, as well as several other hobbies. And there is a story behind that, as a lad, that helped him choose his course as an adult. Care to hear it?”
She eagerly nodded yes, while taking a sip of wine.
I began my tale…
“When A.J. Raffles was a lad of ten he attended a wedding where his parents were both best man and maid of honor. A.J sat at a table with an older Great Auntie who paid him no heed.
He soon fell in with a group of bored older boys who had been throwing dice in a makeshift crown and anchor board. The game had been broken up by one of the servers and they had all been chased away
AJ was huddled in with that group as they watched the dressed-up wedding guests up on the dance floor. They began talking amongst themselves, commenting over the scene before them.
Look at dem jools the birds are wearing. Bet they'd be worth a lot. One of the lads said. Another quipped back that too bad those dames weren't their age. Yeah, like that would mean anything. What would you do, lift their jools? Came the teasing retort. Hell yeah, I would say a cocky lad. And someone else said I like to see you do it. AJ was taking all this in, squirming a bit because he had always had a secret desire to somehow make a collection of the pretty jewellery he'd seen ladies wearing. Tonight was no different.
“Nancy” smirked “Sounds like my brother.”
“There you go then, you know how he felt also “ I answered smiling curiously before continuing...
Well as fate would have it, two young teenage girls came walking past, purposefully close. They threw the group of boys a rather coy look while passing.
One was dressed in a slick satin high necked gown of deep red with a long rhinestone necklace and earrings. Her companion was wearing a sky blue sleek satin party dress, smooth black jacket, and strands of imitation pearls.
No sooner had they passed than the inner circle of boys began to dare and double dare. Money was put up in bets that enticed two of the lads to take up the challenge. That being to come away with the girl’s necklaces.
The two lads left, and as the others looked on, went up to the two young lassies and began to converse. The giggling girls finally allowed themselves to be led to the dance floor
As they began to dance, more bets were made amongst the remaining lads, with young AJ joining in. Spending his only farthing on blue satin losing her pearls, and doubling that it would be done without her noticing.
Both of the dancing boys made several amateur attempts upon their female partner’s jewels.
Blue satin, misinterpreting why her partner had his hand high up on her backside, giggled and fled away. Red satin ran off after her friend, but not before the wily lad who had been holding her had given even her a hug, nicking her shimmering necklace off from around the high collar of her slick gown as she struggled free.
He came back triumphantly to collect his winnings. Though some argued that seeing her necklace had not been touching skin it was not a real contest. He got his winnings in the end and the group wandered off, the prized necklace being passed around with envy.
AJ stayed behind contemplating. he watched as the lads stopped by a table where a young girl sat alone. She was wearing a long bridesmaid's gown of silk dyed in several shades of teal and green. A single string of real pearls hung down from her bare neck. Expensively swinging down elegantly. He knew what the group of lads was discussing in their private huddle. AJ moved off not wishing to see anymore.
“Those poor girls, I am glad your character walked away from that instead of embarking on a life of crime, “ said “Nancy” to me.
“Yes indeed. “ I answered, looking at my pretty partner. Her shiny emerald green blouse was mesmerizingly beautiful, but not quite as mesmerizing as the hanging rhinestone diamond chain and pendent she still wore due to my hesitation overtaking it.
My fingers curled seeking opportunity, cursing that I may have missed it.
“Nancy, out of curiosity, if I’m not prying, you mentioned your brother would like my Raffles’s story?”
Oh! I could see I hit a pleasant nerve, as she smiled excitedly at me, her hand playing with her pendant as she spoke, a bit hoarsely I noticed.
“Yes he would, your Raffle story is similar to a game he likes playing.”
“Please tell me more, it sounds like you have fun playing it,” I said, with curious intentions.
She giggled. “Well, we play it in the woods. I wear a play dress and play jewelry. My brother plays a thief who tries to rob me of my jewels. Then if he does, he hides and I play the detective trying to find him. I know it sounds rather odd.”
That really opened my eyes, and thoughts started to race through my head.
“I took her hand. “No, not at all odd, sounds rather exciting.”
So they like to play games of jewels stolen. Right up my alley. I thought to myself while eyeballing her necklace.
“No,” I said to myself. Not the necklace. If anything the earrings.”
But I could not see how It could be done. So I chased the teasingly tempting thought out of my head.
A silence ensued for a minute, and as I watched,” Nancy” was looking over my shoulder up at the raised platform of the dance floor behind me, watching something.
I turned around, following her eyes.
A man with a green cummerbund was dancing with an attractive redhead.
She was wearing an elegant eye-catching blue taffeta gown with a scooped neckline, ruffled half sleeves, and knee-length skirt. She was wearing what was probably her best jewels, a sapphire and diamond jewelry set that sparkled deliciously under the ceiling lights of the great banquet hall. The necklace was especially pretty. A heavy gold v shape set with large pear-shaped sapphires interspersed with smaller round diamonds. She wore a deep blue mask that covered her eyes and nose.
I turned back, and Nancy” dropped her eyes back onto mine.
I asked thoughtfully…
“I see you are looking at that lady, pretty in blue, with the sparkly sapphire jewels”
She guiltily nodded yes,
“If you wait a bit, you will meet them. That’s my mum and father.
I complimented her…
“You both are very pretty, if I may be so bold?”
Taking up her hand and I kissed it…
“But now, I must be toddling off, taken up too much of your time I’m afraid .”
We both stood up to say goodbye.
Shen then. Quite cheerfully, held out her hands for a friendly hug.
I did so willingly and my fingers securely patted up along her back. it felt very nice and I became aware of a rather pleasant prickling sensation causing a rise in my feelings.
“Well “Nancy” I hope you liked my Raffles story.
“Nancy” nodded yes, then asked me
“Do you think Raffles regretted not playing the games those boys were up to?”
Holding her hand, I patted down along her sleeve reassuringly… as I said
“I think Raffles is the type never to regret anything, what do you think?”
“Nancy” nodded her head happily satisfied. Her dazzling earrings flickered quite beautifully.
I smiled at myself broadly.
“Here “Nancy” allow me to get you seated.”
She sat. And as I gripped my fingers supportively along her arms as I slid the chair forward.
I then again lifted and kissed her hand.
“Righto” I nodded and was off.
I headed back around to the bar, when whom did I spy? “Nancy’s” mother, standing alone by the bar. I saw some drunken sod bump hard against her from behind, almost causing her to lose balance.
A handsome red-headed man was turning away from the bar holding a brandy and she fell against him.
It was her husband. The man she has been dancing with.
Laughing, the pair moved off.
Grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, I followed them out to the outside balcony. There I took a seat at my table and kept watch.
I watched as from another table, where a 40ish lady wearing a wedding ring was sitting alone, rise and began walking towards me.
She was resplendent in a long black sleeveless plush velvet gown, wearing long black satin gloves. Her pearl jewelry shone like do many small bright moons. Earrings, triple strand necklace, and a very wide bracelet set with not only valuably real pearls, but expensively with purple amethyst stones also.
The bracelet fits snugly around her shiny gloved wrist. And anyone in my profession knows a snug bracelet is a far simpler item to remove than a loose-fitting one.
The purple satin half-face mask she wore added much to her winningly pretty look.
She gave me the eye as she walked past and I rose to follow.
We ended up dancing. Her name, real name(and that of her character from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's) was Holly.
Holly, like “Nancy”, had never heard of the Raffles character either.
I left her after we had danced, holding her heart.
The hand which she placed had placed over her heart, no longer sporting her expensively wide pearl and amethyst bracelet.
£ 23000
She then suddenly had to go to the loo and darted off. I looked back at her table and saw a man in a tiger-striped mask was pulling out a chair to sit there.
I also figured it was time to scurry off. I had gotten me one more score.
I went down the steps leading off the raised dance floor, running right into “Nancy’s” mum swishing her way around at the bottom of the platform
“Seize the day-old chap”
My thoughts of leaving were put on hold as I looked her pretty, and expensively attired, figure over.
I held her up, saying I needed to apologize.
She looked into my face, her eyes twinkling like her daughters. Her sapphire and diamond jewellery also twinkling. But unlike her daughter’s, these she was wearing were very real.
“Apologize for what?” she asked in all innocence. I could also tell she was a bit tipsy from drink. Which considerably lowered her guard with me.
“ I saw that twit rudely bumping against you at the bar earlier, without apologizing. So I am for him.” I said with a neat little bow.
“Aren't you just a dear." she gushed, blushing. Just like her daughter, she had freckles also.
“Would you husband mind if I offered a dance as a consolation?” I asked with daring.
“Oh, I think a quick one would be ok,” she said smiling, accepting my offer.
I placed my arm around her glossy taffeta sleek waist and led her to the lower dance area.
It was a slow dance, and I took her into my arms with a delightfully delicious feeling of anticipation. Her sleekly taffeta-covered figure was a pleasure to warmly hold in my arms, and her twinkling jewels a pleasure to watch.
I, with real curiosity, asked who she was playing at this evening. She replied,” miss Moneypenny” then asked who I was.
Not wishing to jinx my good fortune, I lied. “ I am an undertaker, here to collect souls”
She laughed looking sassily into my eyes.
“Liar”
“Ok then, I'm really a bad cricket player.”
“Really, bad as in naughty?” she asked pleasantly vexed.
This one is fun, I thought to myself. I wondered mischievously if she was the catalyst if her children’s play game ideas had been inherited from her?
But I asked no questions along those lines. Instead, I decided to test the water with a story.
I then went into a similar story that I had told “Nancy” except to her mother I changed to arena from a wedding reception to a cricket match, and the group of lads was trying to steal kisses, not jewels, from their chosen victims.
My partner listened with a deep reflective interest.
So intent was she in my tale, that I was able to easily undo her necklaces ‘clasp and watch the shimmering beauty being slipped away by me from up her front, then around her throat, finally to be pulled out of sight behind her back. All skillfully done without the cheerfully happy lady feeling absolutely anything amiss.
Just like her daughter I thought. Innocent and as trusting as a lamb before being fleeced for the first time by a mock shepherd.
And reflectively, both had been dressed as soft as downy chicks when they had both caught the eye of the same wiley gilded feather plucking fox.
These were the thoughts in the back of my mind as I stowed my dance partner's glittering sapphire and diamond necklace away...
£6300
I finished my story just a few seconds after the music ended. We broke apart only once I had finished.
She hugged me and gave me a peck on the cheek for being so nice
“Here is a stolen kiss,” she whispered
She then, (of course after nicking her necklace) mentioned that her husband was also a cricket player. With his bloody police station’s team!
I was stunned. Half wishing she had told me her husband was a “copper” before I had nicked her jewels.
Figuring I had now finally worn out my luck, and welcome, I made up an excuse of my own and watched as her shiny evening dress swished and swayed all along with her lovely figure while she made her way back towards the unseen table where I knew her pretty daughter was sitting.
“Bloody fool, I had taken the necklace off a copper’s wife...“
I murmured this, chastising myself, shaking my head at my folly as I stared off in disbelief.
Understandably I think, I then decided I should probably best be on my way home.
I had already planned my exit earlier, not knowing when I would be needing it.
Deciding to avoid at all costs leaving by the main doors by which I had come in, I had earlier discovered a small set of stone stairs that led off the balcony.
The stairs were narrow and hidden from the view of the balcony. A simple rope with an “Off Limits” sign guarded the entrance. They led down to the small patch of woods that lined the rose gardens.
On the far end of the woods was a small cemetery, next to which I had discreetly parked my 61 Lotus elite sports car.
I made my way to the balcony and looked around. There weren't that many guests left out there. A group of men smoking cigars and drinking brandy stood at one end. I could make out the rather stout form of “Nancy’s” father in with them. His back was to me.
In a corner sat Emma with her tablemates. The male was telling a very animated story.
A few other tables were occupied, about 1/3 of them. None near the hidden stairway.
I made my way there. Reaching it, I again surveyed the area. I could see the 3 people sitting at Emma’s we're laughing. Emma had a hand to her chest. Suddenly a look of alarm crossed her face as she felt around, obviously not finding her diamonds. Her friends were asking what was wrong. I saw her look back at the empty table where the gold masked bloke had sat, the one who had cut in on me as after her deserting Emma on the dance floor.
As I disappeared unseen from view I remember thinking I was glad that I had sowed that seed of thought to Emma while we had watched the couple leaving the ballroom.
€€€€€€€€€€€
I got to the bottom of the stairs and made my way to the wooded path the ran the length of the gardens.
Thinking I was alone, made me feel safe to quickly begin to stroll away along the path, throwing the caution I had had all evening to the wind.
Suddenly I froze in step.
I had caught the unmistakable sight of a lady's sparkly jewels as she was walking through the gardens to the left of my path.
I was not out here alone?
And I could not believe lady would not be out here alone either.
I snuck up, cloaked by the shadows of the trees, to get a better look
Shocked I saw it was “Nancy”, out of her, apparently alone.
I watched “Nancy” as she moved about. My mind traveled into the realms of speculation.
What if my young friend had indeed been wearing jewels worth £75,000?
And I find her like this, vulnerably alone.
Would I be tempted to break character, and ….
I shook my head. I would probably not. Especially now that I knew her father was a policeman of some sort.
But someone who did not know her father was a “copper”, and perhaps thought the diamonds she was were real… well they may not feel the same about letting her be.
Suddenly a rabbit jumped from the judge, startling both of us. I see her have a gasp, hand shooting up to her chest.
As her jewels flickered in a mad frenzy, a thought popped in my head, making me grin with expectations.
“Time to give “Nancy” a taste of my games. I thought wickedly. “
I snuck up behind her, and placing my hands over her eyes, pulled her soft figure back up against my own.
“ Hello, Samantha, fancy meeting you here.”
“Raffles!” She blurted with relief…
I pulled my hands away, allowing them the liberty to feel through her hair, examining also her earrings, feeling along the hinged clasps to get a feel for what I was about to do...
I then stepped back, as she, with a deep sigh of relief, quickly turned around.
“Not playing a game alone, are ye Lass?” I asked, looking down into her pretty green eyes.
“No.” She said shaking her head, hair flying…
I smiled, placing my hands inside my pockets, as I watched her with interest.
She giggled while trying to lecture me…” you gave me quite the start sir. “
He placed a finger under my chin, lifting it so I was looking up into his eyes.
“Stand still,” I commanded and moved around behind her.
“Good thing I didn’t do what first popped into my devious mind...
I felt his knuckle go into my back…
”Stick ‘ em up miss .”
“Good thing you didn’t I would have peed myself... I giggled.
“Raffles” chuckled:
“Stay in character miss .” Was what I heard from behind me
I raised them up, imagining like I was actually being held up. My heart began to race again with a feeling of delicious danger as I spoke.
“What do you want from me?”
Raffles, still holding his knuckle into my back …reached out his other hand with an open palm as he spoke.
”Put your hands down, I’ve taken a fancy to that bracelet of yours. So please hand it over. “
I shivered, saying smartly. “I don’t believe a real thief would say please …”
My friend “Raffles” responded.
“Would my real victim ask that? Try a different tack.”
Trembling again, with delicious delight. I played along.
“No sir, not my bracelet, anything but that …”
“That’s better, a bit of heartfelt pleading can never heart.
After a second the hand withdrew.
Raffles laughed amiably…
“Ok miss, keep your bracelet then. “
He chuckled from behind, removing his knuckle….
“It was only a thought I had when I saw you out here walking alone, remembering the story of the games you play with your brother, did I do ok?”.
“Smashing .” I giggled gleefully “Spot on.”
She put my hands down to my sides as I placed a hand on her smooth satin-covered shoulder and ran it down her satin blouse’s sleeve as I came back around to face her.
“All kidding aside, you really shouldn’t be out here alone “Nancy” someone less inviting as me may have been about. And I don’t mean your brother let’s see you back safe Lass.”
I nodded.
He lifted my hand and pulled my back to him. Coddling along against his warm figure, Raffles led me back along the path to the stairway.
“I’ll be leaving you here “Nancy” I was on my way home.
I looked up into his face. “it was fun meeting you, sorry you have to go. “
“So am I Lass.”
As I looked down in her upturned face I realized by the look in her eyes, that I had her lulled into such a state of complacency that I found myself unable to control any longer my thieving impulse.
Police parent or not, those earrings “Nancy” was wearing deserved to be plucked.
My fingers began to curl as I pulled her to me, with wicked intent…
We for the second time, hugged goodbye, a deeply fulfilling embrace it was by all standards, as well as presenting a perfect opportunity to set myself in position.
We broke apart and I tickled my fingers up her smooth satin-clad sides, then lifted her hair high up over her head.
I let her hair back down, letting its silken strands spill over my fingers fingers
She giggled as it tickled. My fingers reached her dangling, desirable earrings.
I spoke, my eyes locked in hers, my fingers ready…
“A Very pretty one you are, and don’t ever let anyone say differently.”
I felt her squirm with excitement, her chin up, looking deep within my eyes.
I took the opportunity given me to curl my fingers around her old-fashioned hinged clasped earrings. I gently applied pressure to the backside of the hinges and in unison slipped off both danglers from her earlobes. As her shivering figure greatly aided my endeavor.
I let my hands drop to my vest pocket as I watched her shoulder-length red hair fall back into place, covering my dirty deed.
£2200
I had been holding my breath. For this type of maneuver was as tricky as stealing the diamond collar from around the neck of a sleeping Persian cat without waking her. “Nancy”, relishing in my praise, never felt a prick as I had taken them from her ears.
Releasing my breath I took a step back complimenting that her hair was much prettier when down.
As she looked up at me with those doe wide adult-looking mascara brushed eyes, I felt a flicker of unease over filching her earrings.
She suddenly propelled herself again in my arms and gave me a very smothering, very long hug.
We broke apart.
“Go now, you before I change my mind about playing games.”
I let her go with a chuckle, holding my ground as I watched her pretty green satin party dress swishing merrily along with her figure.
She started up the stairs, then stopping raised up her hands.
I froze, then saw she was merely blowing me a kiss.
Pulling my hands from my vest pocket as I deposited her earrings, I pretended to catch her kiss and added it to my collection.
“My second this evening,” I said mysteriously…
Then turning away, I went off down along the path.
Quickly reaching my car, I opened a secret compartment inside the boot, emptied my pockets of the purloined jewels, and stashed them safely away.
Then hopping in on the right, I fired the engine to life and drove away in the opposite direction.
Addendum
Several weeks after securely hiding the over £188,000 in jewels I had gotten away with, I was flabbergasted to read in their local paper that the robbery was believed to have been committed by a gang of thieves. With none of the descriptions given really matched mine...
Probably not so shocking was the statement giving the total value of the stolen jewellery, as reported to the insurance agencies from the 0ver 30 females claiming to be victims, coming in to a bit over...
£325,000!
To Read the story from ‘Nancy Drew’s “ Perspective
Click Below
What Happens if all Humans Die? |Sadhguru |
Still stuck on a couch, watching videos. Old age sucks!
Stay healthy and have a good weekend!
i got this valuable gift before tow years from my best friends when i graduated from high school. no one know's how valuable this gift to me..
LOVE U ^_*
ALLH LAY7RMNY MNKOOM YARB <3
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Please do NOT use this photo without my permission..,, **
ORTAKÖY CAMİİ:The building, also known as the Great Mecidiye Mosque, was built by Sultan Abdulmecid.The mosque was building in Baroque style by architect Nikogos Balyan. Ortaköy Mosque is one of the most important and valuable architectural works of the Bosphorus.
This is my Love Me Challenge submission for the #AdamPryceLoveHateChallenge
I had a wonderful time putting this image together. I spent valuable time with Lexi★Morgan before, during and after taking this shot, lucky me. :)
Thank you Adam Lavell for putting this challenge together to allow us to challenge ourselves in something we all love, the art of SL photography.
Location:
Pose
What I'm Wearing
Outfit
etham - Scott Jacket @ FaMESHed Event
MGmen's_Bruklyn_Jeans @ SIGNATURE Event
= REBELLION = "RECKLESS" KICKS
Hair and beard
Vango. Kevin
Volkstone Jeremy Bento Beard
Head/Body/Shape
CATWA HEAD Daniel
[Signature] Gianni Body - Body
MXHADES - RIPLEY Shape
*Birth* 'Ripley' Catwa Applier - Tone 03
*Birth* Signature Body Appliers - Tone 03
RUTILE TAIL* himawari eyes (Catwa Eyes Applier)
What Lexi is wearing
RKKN. Annan's Panties/Maitreya
RKKN. Annan's Sweatpants HighWaist - Red/Maitreya
REIGN.- Arianna Sneakers (Maitreya-High) Tippies
Blueberry - Group Gift - Tank Top - Maitreya
REIGN.- STAR STUD (NOSE STUD)
Baiastice_Belly Button Piercing-Maitreya
*AvaWay* MELISSA Necklace #1-2 Maitreya
*AvaWay* NAUGHTY KITTEN Belly Chain Maitreya
[Stellar] Envy Lipstick Fatpack (LeLutka)
[Stellar] The Everything Nail Polish Pack
[PF] LELUTKA Eyeshadow - Hyper Glitz (Winged)
[Stellar] Longer Lengths Lashes (LeLutka)
AG. Luster Eyes - Lelutka Applier
Magika - Good Vibes
.LeLutka.Head.Simone
^^Swallow^^ Princess Ears
Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara
A Chilly Morning in Bradgate Park -
Despite the freezing 0°C temperature this morning, I couldn’t resist heading out for a photo tour. The grey winter skies, often caused by increasingly frequent storms due to climate change, can be quite discouraging. However, the soft, glowing hues of the early morning sun always have a magical effect on nature, enhancing every frame we capture and bringing joy to photography enthusiasts like myself. Even the simple act of saying good morning feels different on a bright, sunny day.
Living near the historic Bradgate Park is truly a privilege. As I stepped into the park and took a short five-minute walk, I came across two fallow deer fawns (Dama dama) wandering alone, separated from their herd. Without my camouflage cover, I had to move carefully, stepping only on the damp, soft leaves to avoid making any noise. My 1.4x teleconverter wasn’t attached to my 500mm lens, and attempting to change it would have startled them.
As I observed, a group of jackdaws landed on one of the fawns, searching for ticks and other insects in its fur. It was a beautiful display of interspecies cooperation, and I was delighted to witness this moment of solidarity. Both seemed quite at ease, and the interaction lasted for about two minutes. The young fawn was busy with its morning meal and didn’t allow the jackdaws near its neck. Eventually, it leapt slightly, signaling that it had had enough, and the two little companions trotted back toward their family.
Although it wasn’t the exact shot I had envisioned, I plan to work on this subject in the coming weeks and hope to capture even better frames. One particularly striking moment was when a jackdaw perched near the tail of a fallow deer, beautifully framed against the golden bokeh created by the sunlight reflecting in the background.
During my four-hour tour, I also managed to photograph another fallow deer cautiously keeping an eye on me, maintaining a safe distance. And of course, no trip to Bradgate Park would be complete without capturing my favorite small bird—the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)! I included three different poses of this charming little bird as well.
Now, I leave you with the nine images I uploaded to my Flickr account this afternoon. Thank you all for your comments, favorites, and support. Wishing you a great evening!
Fallow Deer Fawn (Dama dama)
The Fallow Deer (Dama dama) is one of the most recognizable and widespread deer species in the UK, known for its beautiful spotted coat. Its fawns are particularly charming and are a favorite subject for wildlife photographers.
Identification
Size: At birth, fawns weigh approximately 4-5 kg.
Coat:
Newborn fawns have a light brown coat with prominent white spots that provide camouflage in grassy or woodland areas.
As they mature, the spots may fade but are still visible in the summer coat of adults.
Eyes: Large, dark eyes that enhance their endearing appearance.
Behavior
Birth Season: Fawns are typically born between May and July.
Hiding: For the first few weeks, fawns remain hidden in tall grass or woodland undergrowth, relying on their spotted coat for camouflage. They remain motionless when predators or humans are nearby.
Dependence on Mother: Fawns nurse from their mothers and stay close to them for protection. By autumn, they begin grazing more independently but remain within the safety of the herd.
Habitat
Fallow deer are found in parks, open grasslands, and woodlands across the UK. Managed deer parks like Bradgate Park and Richmond Park are excellent places to observe them.
Diet
Fawns primarily rely on their mother’s milk during the first 8-10 weeks.
As they grow, they begin to graze on grasses, herbs, and leaves.
Conservation Status
Fallow deer are not native to the UK but were introduced by the Romans or Normans.
They are now naturalized and thrive in many areas, often managed in parks to prevent overpopulation.
Their conservation status is of "Least Concern."
Interesting Facts
Fawns are born with no scent, which helps them avoid detection by predators.
Their characteristic spots are most prominent during the first months of life.
Fallow deer are known for their seasonal coat changes, with darker coats in winter and lighter, spotted coats in summer.
Where to Spot Them in the UK
Bradgate Park, Richmond Park, and Knole Park are some of the best places to see Fallow Deer and their fawns in their natural habitat. Early morning or late afternoon is ideal for observing their activities.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)
Sad Sam Sach owner of "The Almost Antique Shop" in Somewhereville, where nothing is valuable, but is still too special to throw away. Stop in next time you need that special gift.
Image imagined in MidJourney AI and finished with Topaz Studio and Lightroom Classic.
While the temple Wat Bhasicharoen on the Thonburi side of Bangkok is dated back to the year 1488, Phra Maha Chedi Ratchamongkol, a tall white stupa is a new building, used for meditation and keeping a huge collection of valuable relics and Bhuddhist items.
Taffy loves to lounge on the bed.
Taffy would love your vote in the Bissell Most Valuable Pet Contest! :)
A small and humble place but one very fascinating and enjoyable to spend time at. It is a valuable place for migrants who can stop off and refuel. The hills in the background belong to North Wales.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves/red-rocks-marsh
Chesire's only coastal reserve, consisting of sand dunes, reedbeds and marsh
This reserve lies on the edge of the extensive Dee Estuary and unusually is a separate SSSI to the Dee. The reserve consist of an important range of sand dune from embryo dunes against the sea to much more established yellow dunes behind and then to grey dunes that extend on to The Royal Liverpool Golf Course. As with all dune systems specialised plants that can survive in dry sandy conditions grow in the dips (slacks) and on the hilly bits. Such plants as sea holly and Mackays horsetail. In the slacks behind the embryo dunes small brackish pools can be found in which a small population of Natterjack toads cling on. The once extensive sand dune habitat has been reduced around this coastal area so much that this species has become isolated and will probably die out shortly. In the slack behind the yellow dune fresher water collects and enables common reed to flourish. This reedbed is important for migratory birds as well as species such as reed warbler that nest and feed in the reed. Here can be found large populations of common toad that thrive in the shallow water. Their tadpoles will eat any Natterjack tadpoles found in this area.
Species and habitats
Habitats
Coastal, Grassland, Ponds
Species
Natterjack Toad, Common Frog, Wheatear, Water Rail, Snow Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler
Reserve information
Location
Behind the Royal Liverpool Golf Course, north of West Kirby Parade, Holyake, Wirral
West Kirby
Cheshire
CH47 1HN
Map reference
SJ 206 880
Great for...
birdwatching
getting away from it all
spring flowers
spring migrant birds
stunning views
Opening Times
Open at all times
Size
4.00 hectares
Walking information
Please keep to forshore and marked paths and do not enter the reedbeds
Parking
Cars should be left in West Kirby and proceed on foot. From the Holyake direction park in Stanley Road
Dogs
Dogs allowed
Reserve manager
Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01948 820728
This is Keodale, who carries rare and valuable bloodlines for the Exmoor Pony. The breed is listed as endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Their ability to survive on low grade moorland makes them a great conservation grazer, not to mention their intelligence and capability as in many ridden disciplines and also under harness harness. These hardy native ponies are also great characters and their ability to carry weight makes them great all rounders as family ponies. Their thick winter coats mean that they do not necessarily require the pampering that so many breeds of equine do, but some Exmoors do enjoy that style of life! My own two three year olds have access to a stable ( the door is open 24/7!) if and when they do wish to come in, but they usually spend the majority of the day and night outside whatever the weather!
SN/NC: Guaiacum officinale, CN: roughbank língua-vitae, guaiacwood, Zygophyllaceae Family
The native range of this species is Florida, Panama to Venezuela and Peru, Caribbean. It is a tree and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome. Lignum vitae is a small, slow-growing, densely-crowned, evergreen tree growing to a height of 3 - 12 metres. The bole is generally crooked. An extremely valuable timber is obtained from the tree. The wood has also been an article of trade for medicinal purposes since 1508, when it was introduced, via Spain, to the medical profession of Europe as a specific for many of the most serious diseases of mankind. The name lignum-vitae (wood of life) originated from the supposition that the material was possessed of extraordinary remedial powers. The tree also has great ornamental value - beautiful blue flowers grow in great profusion and almost cover the tree and remain for a long time. It is used as a medicine and invertebrate food, has environmental uses and for food. The timber and medicinal resin have been traded for several centuries as lignum-vitae, and overexploitation has taken place throughout the species' range. Where it still occurs, populations are now severely reduced. Regeneration is good but growth is very slow. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011).
A área nativa desta espécie é a Flórida, Panamá, Venezuela e Peru, Caribe. É uma árvore e cresce principalmente no bioma tropical úmido. Lignum vitae é uma árvore perene pequena, de crescimento lento, densamente coroada, que cresce até uma altura de 3 a 12 metros. O fuste é geralmente torto. Da árvore extrai-se uma madeira extremamente valiosa. A madeira também é um artigo de comércio para fins medicinais desde 1508, quando foi introduzida, via Espanha, na profissão médica da Europa como um remédio específico para muitas das mais graves doenças da humanidade. O nome lignum-vitae (madeira da vida) originou-se da suposição de que o material possuía poderes curativos extraordinários. A árvore também tem grande valor ornamental - lindas flores azuis crescem em grande profusão e quase cobrem a árvore e permanecem por muito tempo. É usado como medicamento e alimento de invertebrados, tem usos ambientais e para alimentação. A madeira e a resina medicinal foram comercializadas por vários séculos como lignum-vitae, e a superexploração ocorreu em toda a extensão da espécie. Onde ainda ocorre, as populações estão agora severamente reduzidas. A regeneração é boa, mas o crescimento é muito lento. A planta é classificada como 'Ameaçada' na Lista Vermelha de Espécies Ameaçadas da IUCN (2011).
El área de distribución nativa de esta especie es Florida, Panamá a Venezuela y Perú, el Caribe. Es un árbol y crece principalmente en el bioma tropical húmedo. El guayacán es un pequeño árbol de hoja perenne, de crecimiento lento, densamente coronado, que alcanza una altura de 3 a 12 metros. El fuste es generalmente torcido. Del árbol se obtiene una madera extremadamente valiosa. La madera también ha sido un artículo de comercio con fines medicinales desde 1508, cuando fue introducida, vía España, a la profesión médica de Europa como específico para muchas de las enfermedades más graves de la humanidad. El nombre lignum-vitae (madera de la vida) se originó a partir de la suposición de que el material poseía extraordinarios poderes curativos. El árbol también tiene un gran valor ornamental: hermosas flores azules crecen en gran profusión y casi cubren el árbol y permanecen durante mucho tiempo. Se utiliza como medicamento y alimento de invertebrados, tiene usos ambientales y para la alimentación. La madera y la resina medicinal se han comercializado durante varios siglos como guayacán y se ha producido una sobreexplotación en toda el área de distribución de la especie. Donde todavía ocurre, las poblaciones ahora están severamente reducidas. La regeneración es buena pero el crecimiento es muy lento. La planta está clasificada como 'En peligro' en la Lista Roja de Especies Amenazadas de la UICN (2011
La gamma nativa di questa specie è la Florida, da Panama a Venezuela e Perù, Caraibi. È un albero e cresce principalmente nel bioma tropicale umido. Il Lignum vitae è un piccolo albero sempreverde a crescita lenta, densamente incoronato, che raggiunge un'altezza di 3 - 12 metri. Il tronco è generalmente storto. Dall'albero si ricava un legname estremamente pregiato. Il legno è stato anche un articolo di commercio per scopi medicinali dal 1508, quando fu introdotto, attraverso la Spagna, nella professione medica d'Europa come specifico per molte delle più gravi malattie dell'umanità. Il nome lignum-vitae (legno della vita) nasce dal presupposto che il materiale fosse dotato di straordinari poteri riparatori. L'albero ha anche un grande valore ornamentale: bellissimi fiori blu crescono in grande abbondanza e coprono quasi l'albero e rimangono a lungo. È usato come medicinale e alimento per invertebrati, ha usi ambientali e per il cibo. Il legname e la resina medicinale sono stati scambiati per diversi secoli come lignum-vitae e l'eccessivo sfruttamento ha avuto luogo in tutto l'areale della specie. Dove si verifica ancora, le popolazioni sono ora gravemente ridotte. La rigenerazione è buona ma la crescita è molto lenta. La pianta è classificata come "in pericolo" nella Lista rossa IUCN delle specie minacciate (2011).
L'aire de répartition indigène de cette espèce s'étend de la Floride, du Panama au Venezuela et du Pérou, dans les Caraïbes. C'est un arbre qui pousse principalement dans le biome tropical humide. Lignum vitae est un petit arbre à feuilles persistantes à croissance lente et à couronne dense atteignant une hauteur de 3 à 12 mètres. Le fût est généralement tordu. Un bois extrêmement précieux est obtenu à partir de l'arbre. Le bois est également un article de commerce à des fins médicinales depuis 1508, date à laquelle il a été introduit, via l'Espagne, dans la profession médicale européenne en tant que spécifique de nombreuses maladies parmi les plus graves de l'humanité. Le nom lignum-vitae (bois de vie) est né de la supposition que le matériau possédait des pouvoirs curatifs extraordinaires. L'arbre a également une grande valeur ornementale - de belles fleurs bleues poussent à profusion et recouvrent presque l'arbre et restent longtemps. Il est utilisé comme médicament et aliment pour invertébrés, a des utilisations environnementales et pour l'alimentation. Le bois et la résine médicinale ont été commercialisés pendant plusieurs siècles sous le nom de lignum-vitae, et une surexploitation a eu lieu dans toute l'aire de répartition de l'espèce. Là où il se produit encore, les populations sont maintenant sévèrement réduites. La régénération est bonne mais la croissance est très lente. La plante est classée « en danger » dans la Liste rouge des espèces menacées de l'UICN (2011).
Het oorspronkelijke verspreidingsgebied van deze soort is Florida, Panama tot Venezuela en Peru, het Caribisch gebied. Het is een boom en groeit voornamelijk in het natte tropische bioom. Lignum vitae is een kleine, langzaam groeiende, dichtbekroonde, groenblijvende boom die 3 - 12 meter hoog kan worden. De stam is over het algemeen krom. Uit de boom wordt een uiterst waardevol hout verkregen. Het hout is ook een handelsartikel voor medicinale doeleinden sinds 1508, toen het via Spanje werd geïntroduceerd in de medische professie van Europa als een specifiek middel voor veel van de ernstigste ziekten van de mensheid. De naam lignum-vitae (levenshout) is ontstaan uit de veronderstelling dat het materiaal buitengewone genezende krachten bezat. De boom heeft ook een grote sierwaarde - prachtige blauwe bloemen groeien in overvloed en bedekken de boom bijna en blijven lang staan. Het wordt gebruikt als medicijn en voedsel voor ongewervelde dieren, heeft toepassingen voor het milieu en voor voedsel. Het hout en de medicinale hars worden al eeuwenlang verhandeld als lignum-vitae en er heeft overexploitatie plaatsgevonden in het hele verspreidingsgebied van de soort. Waar het nog steeds voorkomt, zijn de populaties nu sterk verminderd. Regeneratie is goed, maar de groei is erg traag. De plant is geclassificeerd als 'Bedreigd' in de IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2011).
Das heimische Verbreitungsgebiet dieser Art ist Florida, Panama bis Venezuela und Peru, Karibik. Es ist ein Baum und wächst hauptsächlich im feuchten tropischen Biom. Lignum vitae ist ein kleiner, langsam wachsender, dicht gekrönter, immergrüner Baum, der eine Höhe von 3 - 12 Metern erreicht. Der Stamm ist im Allgemeinen schief. Aus dem Baum wird ein äußerst wertvolles Nutzholz gewonnen. Das Holz ist seit 1508 auch ein Handelsartikel für medizinische Zwecke, als es über Spanien als Mittel gegen viele der schwersten Krankheiten der Menschheit in die Ärzteschaft Europas eingeführt wurde. Der Name Lignum-Vitae (Holz des Lebens) entstand aus der Vermutung, dass das Material außergewöhnliche Heilkräfte besitze. Der Baum hat auch einen großen Zierwert - schöne blaue Blüten wachsen in großer Fülle und bedecken den Baum fast und bleiben für eine lange Zeit. Es wird als Medizin und Nahrung für wirbellose Tiere verwendet, hat Umweltnutzen und für Lebensmittel. Das Holz und das medizinische Harz werden seit mehreren Jahrhunderten als Lignum Vitae gehandelt, und es hat im gesamten Verbreitungsgebiet der Art Überfischung stattgefunden. Wo es noch vorkommt, sind die Populationen jetzt stark reduziert. Die Regeneration ist gut, aber das Wachstum ist sehr langsam. Die Pflanze wird in der Roten Liste gefährdeter Arten der IUCN (2011) als „gefährdet" eingestuft
この種の自生範囲は、フロリダ、パナマからベネズエラ、ペルー、カリブ海です。 それは木であり、主に湿った熱帯バイオームで育ちます。 Lignum vitae は小さく、成長が遅く、樹冠が密集した常緑高木で、高さ 3 ～ 12 メートルまで成長します。 ボールは一般的に曲がっています。 その木からは非常に貴重な木材が得られます。 木材は、人類の最も深刻な病気の多くに特化したものとして、スペイン経由でヨーロッパの医療専門家に導入された1508年以来、医療目的の商品でもありました. Lignum-vitae (生命の木) という名前は、材料が並外れた修復力を持っているという仮定に由来しています。 この木は観賞用としても非常に価値があります。美しい青い花がたくさん咲き、ほとんど木を覆い、長い間咲き続けます。 薬や無脊椎動物の食物として使用され、環境用途や食品にも使用されます。 木材と薬用樹脂はリグナムバイタとして数世紀にわたって取引されており、種の範囲全体で乱獲が行われています。 それがまだ発生している場所では、個体数は現在大幅に減少しています。 再生は良好ですが、成長は非常に遅いです。 この植物は、絶滅危惧種の IUCN レッドリスト (2011) で「絶滅危惧種」に分類されています。
النطاق الأصلي لهذا النوع هو فلوريدا وبنما إلى فنزويلا وبيرو ومنطقة البحر الكاريبي. إنها شجرة وتنمو بشكل أساسي في المناطق الأحيائية الاستوائية الرطبة. Lignum vitae هي شجرة صغيرة ، بطيئة النمو ، كثيفة التوج ، دائمة الخضرة تنمو على ارتفاع يتراوح من 3 إلى 12 مترًا. العمود معوج بشكل عام. يتم الحصول على خشب ثمين للغاية من الشجرة. كان الخشب أيضًا مادة تجارية للأغراض الطبية منذ عام 1508 ، عندما تم إدخاله ، عبر إسبانيا ، إلى مهنة الطب في أوروبا باعتباره مخصصًا للعديد من أخطر الأمراض التي تصيب البشرية. نشأ اسم lignum-vitae (خشب الحياة) من الافتراض بأن المادة تمتلك قوى علاجية غير عادية. تتمتع الشجرة أيضًا بقيمة زخرفية كبيرة - تنمو الأزهار الزرقاء الجميلة في وفرة كبيرة وتغطي الشجرة تقريبًا وتبقى لفترة طويلة. يتم استخدامه كدواء وغذاء اللافقاريات ، وله استخدامات بيئية ولغذاء. تم تداول الأخشاب والراتنج الطبي لعدة قرون على أنها سيرة ذاتية ، وقد حدث الاستغلال المفرط في جميع أنحاء مجموعة الأنواع. حيث لا يزال يحدث ، يتم الآن انخفاض عدد السكان بشدة. التجدد جيد لكن النمو بطيء جدًا. تم تصنيف النبات على أنه "مهدد بالانقراض" في القائمة الحمراء للأنواع المهددة بالانقراض الصادرة عن الاتحاد الدولي لحفظ الطبيعة (2011
Admiral Radio/Phonograph: This was left in the house I grew up in by the previous family. (We moved there in 1965). As a kid, I can remember the radio working, although the phonograph never did. Somebody must've needed a cord at some time or another and cut it off. I would say it's 1930 - 1940's vintage.
Chair: Was also probably left in the house. It has a bark bottom in it and very old.
Book on Radio: Called "Sabbath Day Songs" and published by David C. Cook in 1886. This book was given to me about twenty years ago. Unfortunately, someone has added to every single song title. For example, the song, "When He Cometh For His Jewels," the person wrote, "he'll not get them."
Book on Chair: This is the oldest book I own. It's called, "Sermons on Several Occasions" by Rev. John Wesley. It was published in 1841. It was given to me by a member of my congregation many years ago. She has since passed away. The book is in a very worn, fragile, and not very valuable but it is worth a fortune to me.
Oil Lamp: I'm not sure how old this thing is, although I can remember Mom using it when we had power outages when I was little.
The 'zig zag' path at Highcliffe Castle fell into disrepair and in danger of collapse some years ago, and initially, no plans were made to rebuild it. After public dissent the rebuild went ahead, at a cost of £884,000.00, and the path reopened in 2019. It provides level access to the beach and is valuable to all those who cannot manage (including myself) the alternative route of 117 steep steps. It allows people of all abilities, including those in wheelchairs, to access the beach below.
A shot for my own Alphabet Challenge album, for the 'path' theme (43/52), which I missed at the time.
125 pictures in 2025 (114) valuable
This is the valuable sarcophagus known as the "Prometheus Sarcophagus". It was sculpted by a workshop in Rome in the very early years of the 4th century AD, when the great anti-Christian persecution ordered by Diocletian began. The carved scene is a vigorous affirmation of paganism: in the crowded composition, divinities of every rank (Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Poseidon, Eros, Psyche, the workshop of Hephaestus and a representation of the Underworld) crowd around the protagonist, the Titan Prometheus portrayed in the center, seated, intent on observing his creature: the man, still an inert clay puppet, rigidly stretched out at his feet. In a prominent position there are Hera and Zeus in the act of giving Hermes the money with which to redeem the man's life from Hades. Next to Hermes, there is Poseidon with the trident; at the two corners, at the top, Selene's chariot and Apollo's chariot. Between Zeus and the man, finally, Eros and some Erotes push Psyche, the soul, to give life to the first human being.
In his book on Greek Myths Apollodorus narrates the entire story of Prometheus. In 1.7.1-45 he writes:
« Προμηθεὺς δὲ ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ γῆς ἀνθρώπους πλάσας
ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς καὶ πῦρ, λάθρᾳ Διὸς ἐν νάρθηκι
κρύψας. ὡς δὲ ἤσθετο Ζεύς, ἐπέταξεν Ἡφαίστῳ τῷ
Καυκάσῳ ὄρει τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ προσηλῶσαι: τοῦτο δὲ
Σκυθικὸν ὄρος ἐστίν. ἐν δὴ τούτῳ προσηλωθεὶς
Προμηθεὺς πολλῶν ἐτῶν ἀριθμὸν ἐδέδετο: καθ᾽
ἑκάστην δὲ ἡμέραν ἀετὸς ἐφιπτάμενος αὐτῷ τοὺς
λοβοὺς ἐνέμετο τοῦ ἥπατος αὐξανομένου διὰ νυκτός.
καὶ Προμηθεὺς μὲν πυρὸς κλαπέντος δίκην ἔτινε
ταύτην, μέχρις Ἡρακλῆς αὐτὸν ὕστερον ἔλυσεν, ὡς ἐν
τοῖς καθ᾽ Ἡρακλέα δηλώσομεν»
Prometheus moulded men out of water and earth and gave
them also fire, which, unknown to Zeus, he had hidden in a
stalk of fennel. But when Zeus learned of it, he ordered
Hephaestus to nail his body to Mount Caucasus, which is a
Scythian mountain. On it Prometheus was nailed and kept
bound for many years. Every day an eagle swooped on him and
devoured the lobes of his liver, which grew by night. That was
the penalty that Prometheus paid for the theft of fire until
Hercules afterwards released him, as we shall show in dealing
with Hercules.
Source: Bologna University: La Creazione dell'Uomo
White marble sarcophagus with high relief depictions
Early IV century AD
From Puteoli,
Naples, National Archaeological Museum – Inv. no. 6705
The Whomping Willow is a very valuable, very violent species of magical plant. Whomping Willows attack anyone and anything that comes within range of its branches. A deciduous plant, its limbs function as arms and any damage to them must be treated in much the same way.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHGic8Es-KE
The most famous Whomping Willow is the one planted on the grounds of Hogwarts. The Whomping Willow was planted around the year 1971 to disguise the opening of a secret passage leading from the Hogwarts grounds to the Shrieking Shack in the village of Hogsmeade. This allowed Remus Lupin to travel unnoticed to and from the Shrieking Shack, where he was able to undergo his transformation as a werewolf in privacy.
texture by brenda starr
this is a churchyard in victoria . only after i processed it did i see the resemblance to the tree in the movie , and the church reminds me of Hogwarts too
Most valuable 3 of 10
A few weeks ago a friend suggest I look around my house and decided on the 10 things I would pack to take with me if I had to evacuate. (Family, pets, and photographs, excluded) Well I made my list and today have photographed item #3 - My Grandfather's telescope.
I have no idea how old this might be but according to the story, when my grandfather was a young man he traded one of his hunting dogs for this telescope. Now, this trade was made before he had any family and as his first child was born in 1904 that would put this telescope to well over 100 years old, but apparently it was already old and worn when he got it so we can add a few more years to that. However old and battered it might be it must have been looked after somewhat as it still works today, although most of it's time is now spent behind glass doors. How I wish it could talk and tell me it's entire history.
Most Valuable Pup!
Bailey was given a week or two at the very beginning of January. Her chemo wasn't effective anymore. But, she is one tough little gal. No more hikes but she is into T-R-E-A-T Runs and is bright and happy. She always knows what is going on in the kitchen!
The Normanton Railway Terminus:
The railway complex at Normanton consists of the major buildings of an important inland railway terminus connecting this port with the goldfield at Croydon.
A railway line between Normanton and Cloncurry had been discussed as early as 1883 and was approved by Parliament in 1886. This was a difficult stretch for carriers and a rail link would have been valuable to pastoral stations in the area and would also have served the Cloncurry Copper Mine. It was at the time intended to eventually link the new line with the Great Northern Railway connecting Charters Towers and the important port of Townsville. However, in November 1885 a major gold strike was reported at Belmore Station, 145 km east of Normanton and by the end of 1886 the population of the Croydon field was 2000 and 6000 in the following year. Transportation was a major problem and access to this field became more important than the link to Cloncurry. It was decided to divert the line to Croydon. Tenders were called in July 1887 and the first section to Haydon began in May 1888. The work was designed and supervised by George Phillips and this section opened on 7 May 1889. The current route of the line was finalised in 1889 and reached Croydon on 7 July 1891, opening on the 20 July.
In 1867 Phillips had taken part in the exploration of the country around Normanton with William Landsborough, working for him a surveyor. Soon afterwards, he surveyed the area chosen as a port to become the town of Normanton. The country was difficult for conventional railway tracks due to flooding, lack of suitable timber and voracious termites. In 1884 Phillips patented a system for taking railways across such country which utilised special U section steel sleepers laid directly on the ground. During floods the line could be submerged without washing out the ballast and embankments normally used, so that it could quickly be put back into service when the waters subsided. The steel sleepers were also impervious to termite attack, and although initially more expensive than timber sleepers, were cheaper to lay and maintain. It was this system that was specified for the Normanton to Croydon line and Phillips was engaged to supervise the construction. After the railway was completed he maintained an interest in the area, serving as MLA for Carpentaria, inspecting artesian bores and writing a report on ports and railways in 1909.
The station building and carriage shade were designed under Phillips direction by James Gartside, a draftsman for the department. and were built about 1889. The line was opened in 1891. At its peak, the complex at Normanton consisted of a station building containing a telegraph office, station master's and traffic manager's offices, clerks' room, waiting room, parcels and cloak room, booking office, and a ladies' room with a ramp to ladies-only earth closets. Attached to the station building, and sheltering the platform and three tracks, was an arcaded carriage shade with a curved roof .
The terminus also had a large goods shed with a crane and because the line was isolated, a workshop area comprising a maintenance store, suspense stores, a timber shed, tanks, locomotive store, fitting shop, carpenter's and blacksmith's shops, timber shed, gantry and engine shed.. There was also a horse and carriage dock, porters' and lamp rooms, closets, and a tool house nearby. Residences for the station master, enginemen and guard were located south-east of Landsborough St. The traffic manager's house and stables adjoined where the wharf line departed for the Margaret and Jane landing on the Norman River.
The goldfield at Croydon did not sustain its initial success. By the early 1900s its output had dropped considerably and after WWI when widespread mining diminished, it was obvious that the field would not recover. Traffic on the line was never high and steadily declined, although its value as a community service and a vital link during the wet season kept the line open. This was because the Phillips system worked well and the track could be put back into use almost immediately after flooding, whereas roads stayed impassable for much longer. Fortunately, the track took less maintenance than standard track because in the early 1920s the number of services and staff were considerably reduced. In the 1930s, all weather roads made the railway less important, but until the late 1960s the rail remained a vital transport link in the area. The terminus now functions largely as a tourist attraction. One railmotor was restored and named the 'Gulflander' in 1978.
Although the line initially used steam locomotives, supplying enough suitable water for them locomotives was a problem from the beginning on this line and trains eventually carried water trucks. Railmotors were also more economical to run, so in 1922 the first railmotor, a Panhard, was tried on this route. In 1929 steam locomotives were discontinued and railmotors only were used. Diesel locomotives supplemented these in the 1980s.
Some of the working buildings at the terminus deteriorated and were removed including the workshops, carpenters and blacksmiths, though the sites can be still plainly seen.
The Normanton to Croydon Railway Line:
The railway line linking Normanton to Croydon was built between 1888 and 1891 and is the last isolated line of Queensland Rail still in use. It utilised an innovative system of submersible track with patented steel sleepers and retains buildings of considerable architectural and technical interest at its terminus in Normanton.
In 1867 William Landsborough investigated the Norman River area to select a port site to serve the pastoral stations south of the Gulf of Carpentaria. With him was George Phillips who shortly thereafter surveyed the chosen site of Normanton. Phillips later supervised the construction of the Normanton to Croydon Railway, and retained an interest in the area, serving as MLA for Carpentaria in the 1890s.
A railway line between Normanton and Cloncurry had been discussed as early as 1883 and was approved by Parliament in 1886. This was a difficult stretch for carriers and a rail link would have been valuable to pastoral stations in the area and was planned to serve the Cloncurry Copper Mine. It was at the time intended to eventually link the new line with the Great Northern Railway connecting Charters Towers and the important port of Townsville. However, in November 1885 a major gold strike was reported at Belmore Station, 145 km east of Normanton and by the end of 1886 the population of the Croydon field was 2000, rising to 6000 in the following year. Transportation was a major problem and access to this field became more important than the link to Cloncurry. It was decided to divert the line to Croydon.
The line was technically innovative, in response to the terrain and conditions. The country was flat but difficult for conventional railway tracks due to flooding, lack of suitable timber for sleepers and termite attack. In 1884 Phillips patented a system for taking railways across such country which utilised special U section steel sleepers laid directly on the ground. During floods the line could be submerged without washing out the ballast and embankments normally used, so that it could quickly be put back into service when the waters subsided. The steel sleepers were also impervious to termite attack, and although initially more expensive than timber sleepers, were cheaper to lay and maintain. The bridges along the line were also designed to be submersible. This system was particularly suited to the Gulf country and was specified for the Normanton to Croydon line with Phillips engaged to supervise the construction. Tenders were called in July 1887 and the first section to Haydon began in May 1888. The first line laid was between the Normanton station site and the Margaret and Jane landing at Normanton wharf in order to bring materials from ships to the terminal site. This line has not survived.
Some problems were encountered with constructing the line because of the difficulty of maintaining a constant and adequate supply of Phillips sleepers. They were cast at the Toowoomba Foundry at Woolloongabba in Brisbane and also in Glasgow, but in order to keep construction going, timber sleepers were used on some sections and timber was also used for some bridges, originally designed to be made of steel.
The construction method involved clearing a three metre wide band ahead of the rail which was stumped, ploughed, harrowed, rolled and lightly ballasted. The U shaped sleepers were then laid on this prepared surface and the rail attached to them by special clips. The construction train then passed over them forcing the U shape down into the ground and depressing the sleepers for above half their depth. Soft spots were then packed. The finished rails were intended to be 25 to 50 mm above the surface. However, in practice the sleepers became more deeply embedded with time. The first section of 61km to Haydon was opened in May 1889, then to Patterson's (Blackbull) in December 1890, and to Croydon in July 1891.
The buildings for the terminus at Normanton consisted of a station with a large arched carriage shade and a goods shed, all constructed of corrugated iron on timber frames, although the framework for the station building was used to considerable decorative effect. Because the line was isolated, a range of maintenance buildings and facilities such as machine shops, blacksmith and carpenters shops were added over the next few years. At the other end of the line, Croydon had more modest goods and locomotive sheds and a station with a roofed section over 2 tracks. In 1895, a railway water reserve was proclaimed on the flooded Bird-in-the-Bush shaft on True Blue Hill at Croydon.
Most of the timber sleepers on the line were soon replaced because of termite damage, although one section over salt pan used timber rather than metal to prevent corrosion. A number of low level bridges form an important part of this line and were also intended to be metal. In 1900 two bridges at Glenore Crossing which had been built in timber in 1890 were replaced by low level concrete and steel bridges. That at Glenore Crossing number 3 reused fishbelly plate girders from the original 1876 Albert Bridge in Brisbane as main spans. Original metal and concrete bridges survive and those at 80 Mile Creek and Belmore Creek at Croydon are good examples of their type.
Initially the line carried perishables, mail and passengers, and goods like building materials and merchandise. It also ferried firewood for mine boilers and batteries as the land was progressively cleared. During the late 1890s special trains were run for picnics at most of the water holes along the line, particularly the Blackbull lagoon and weekend excursions from Normanton to Croydon or Golden Gate. The Golden Gate mine, some 4 miles west of Croydon and on the railway line, was first mined in 1887. It enjoyed prosperity from about 1895 to 1901, and the Golden Gate township itself had 1500 inhabitants. A service between Croydon and Golden Gate on the weekends was introduced in 1902.
However, the goldfield at Croydon did not sustain its initial success. By the early 1900s its output had dropped considerably and after WWI when widespread mining diminished, it was obvious that the field would not recover. The railway had only run at a profit between 1898 and 1902 and traffic, never high, steadily declined. The line stayed open as a community service and as a vital link during the wet season. This was largely because the Phillips system worked well and the track could be put back into use almost immediately after flooding, whereas roads stayed impassable for much longer. Fortunately, the track took less maintenance than standard track because in the early 1920s the number of staff was considerably reduced. To cut costs, and because the supply of suitable water had always been a problem, the first railmotor, a Panhard, was introduced in 1922. By 1929 steam trains had been completely phased out. In the 1930s, all-weather roads made the railway less important, but until the late 1960s the rail remained a vital transport link in the area. The terminus now functions largely as a tourist attraction. One railmotor was restored and named the 'Gulflander' in 1978 and a railmotor now makes a weekly trip hauling carriages and a flat top wagon for passengers' cars. In the wet season it also carries freight when the roads are cut. Stops are at Clarina (11 miles), Glenore (14m), Haydon (40m), RM Stop No1 (49m), Blackbull (56m), and on to Croydon (94m). There is often also a photo stop at the remains of the Golden Gate mine (92m).
Not all of the buildings have survived; the station at Croydon being destroyed by a storm in 1969. The tank there was demolished in 1972, that at Haydon in 1980, and the blacksmiths shop and workshops in Normanton were sold and demolished in 1980.
Source: Queensland Heritage Register.
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