View allAll Photos Tagged acquired.
"Work-acquired infectious diseases are among the risks all healthcare workers face; and bloodborne pathogens figure prominently among these. Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids is well documented among healthcare workers. Annual exposure prevalence rates range from 1,500 nurses employed on 40 units in 20 hospitals, poor organizational climate and high workloads were associated with 50% to 200% increases in the likelihood of needlestick injuries and near-misses among hospital nurses."
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328993/
As nurses we work in an environment that will kill us. We understand that,. We use protection and procedures to reduce risk, and we come to work with the same mission as always. Usually to save or help some ungrateful son of a bitch who doesn't deserve our assistance. Some drug using wife beating ignorant pseudo criminal who views us and health care in general with suspicion and contempt. Some ignorant person to whom knowledge and education are evil and unnecessary. And to those who firmly think nurses are a sub-class of humanity and who would "report us to administration" and "have our jobs" because we don't offer them Demerol every hour for their little aches and pains. Never mind that many nurses including myself work more hours than we sleep, often in a great deal of unmedicated pain ourselves. But I digress.....
Tonight I discovered a fascinating fact. I was hoping to find the actual infection and death rate of health care workers among the statistics at the CDC. Instead I found this statement......
"Recent experiences with severe acute respiratory syndrome
and the US smallpox vaccination program have
demonstrated the vulnerability of healthcare workers to
occupationally acquired infectious diseases. However,
despite acknowledgment of risk, the occupational death
rate for healthcare workers is unknown. In contrast, the
death rate for other professions with occupational risk, such
as police officer or firefighter, has been well defined. With
available information from federal sources and calculating
the additional number of deaths from infection by using
data on prevalence and natural history, we estimate the
annual death rate for healthcare workers from occupational
events, including infection, is 17–57 per 1 million workers.
However, a much more accurate estimate of risk is
needed. Such information could inform future interventions,
as was seen with the introduction of safer needle products.
This information would also heighten public awareness of
this often minimized but essential aspect of patient care."
wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/11/7/pdfs/04-1038.pdf
I began my search for statistics this evening because I began my own personal nightmare today. I was exposed to most of the dread diseases and killer viruses that our profession has to offer. Not because I did anything stupid, but because others did. The only stupid thing I did was report to work believing that the risks were low, that the system would support me if there was an exposure, and that my personal protective equipment was sufficient.
"James... earn this. Earn it."
Captain John H. Miller, Saving Private Ryan
Waking in Portmeirion
In 1925, Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis acquired the site which was to become Portmeirion. He had been searching for a suitable site for his proposed ideal village for several years and when he heard that the Aber Iâ estate near Penrhyndeudraeth was for sale, he did not hesitate to make an offer.
He wanted to show how a naturally beautiful location could be developed without spoiling it, and that one could actually enhance the natural background through sympathetic development. The Aber Iâ estate had everything he had hoped for as a site for his architectural experiment: steep cliffs overlooking a wide sandy estuary, woods, streams and a nucleus of old buildings.
But the history of Portmeirion started long before 1925. The construction of Castell Deudraeth was recorded in 1188 by Gerald of Wales, who wrote: "We crossed the Traeth mawr and the Traeth Bychan. These are two arms of the sea, one large and one small. Two stone castles have been built there recently. The one called Castell Deudraeth belongs to the sons of Cynan and is situated in the Eifionydd area, facing the northern Mountains."
Castell Deudraeth was referenced again by the 17th century philologist, geologist, natural historian and keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Edward Lhuyd in 1700. Lhuyd recorded the name as Aber Iâ, stating " The Castle of Aber Iâ yet stood in ruined form overlooking the south western extremity of the peninsula".
In 1861, Richard Richards wrote a description: "Neither man nor woman was there, only a number of foreign water-fowl on a tiny pond, and two monkeys, which by their cries evidently regarded me as an unwelcome intruder. The garden itself was a very fine one, the walls of which were netted all over with fruit trees...Aber Iâ, then, gentle reader, is a beautiful mansion on the shore of Traeth Bach, in Merionethshire."
When Williams-Ellis acquired the land in 1925 he wrote, "a neglected wilderness - long abandoned by those romantics who had realised the unique appeal and possibilities of this favoured promontory but who had been carried away by their grandiose landscaping...into sorrowful bankruptcy." Clough immediately changed the name from Aber Iâ (Glacial Estuary) to Portmeirion; Port because of the coastal location and Meirion as this is Welsh for Merioneth, the county in which it lay.
His first job was to extend and convert the old house on the shore into a grand hotel. The concept of a tightly grouped coastal village had already formed in Clough's mind some years before he found the perfect site and he had quite a well-defined vision for the village from the outset.
Portmeirion was built in two stages: from 1925 to 1939 the site was 'pegged-out' and its most distinctive buildings were erected. From 1954-76 he filled in the details. The second period was typically classical or Palladian in style in contrast to the Arts and Crafts style of his earlier work. Several buildings were salvaged from demolition sites, giving rise to Clough's description of the place as "a home for fallen buildings".
"An architect has strange pleasures," Clough wrote in 1924. "He will lie awake listening to the storm in the night and think how the rain is beating on his roofs, he will see the sun return and will think that it was for just such sunshine that his shadow-throwing mouldings were made."
The first article about Portmeirion appeared in The Architects' Journal (January 6 1926) with photographs of scale models and preliminary designs prepared by Clough to impress potential investors. In this article, John Rothenstein writes: "On the sea-coast of North Wales, quite near his own old home, Plas Brondanw, he has acquired what he believes to be an ideal site, and he is engaged upon plans and models for the laying out of an entire small township. The results of his scheme will be significant and should do much to shake the current notion that although houses must be designed with due care, towns may grow up by chance."
The Hotel Portmeirion officially opened for the Easter Weekend, on 2nd April 1926. The last building, the Tollgate, was built in Clough's 93rd year.
acquired this camera mainly for use in the pool and underwater but it still takes lovely photos above water when the light is wonderful
Acquired for operation of service 101/102 between Dumfries and Edinburgh which commences Saturday 1st April 2023 from Stagecoach is MCV Evolution bodied Volvo B7RLE KP12BUS in the depot of Houston of Lockerbie being prepared.
...100th view 3-27-20...
...200th view 4-6-20...
...300th view 6-8-20...
...400th view 3-2-21...
...500th view 5-2-23...
Acquired 2023-09-10 from the roof of my cabin. At these northern latitudes there are always plenty of satellites overhead, in this frame at least 5. A Samyang manual 14mm lens was used for the acquisition
Acquired a vintage Soligor digital spot meter real cheap in for-parts-or-repair condition, fixed and CLA'ed it, and revisited the Zone System with it for a roll.
Pentax 67
SMC Pentax 67 55mm f/4
Fujifilm Pro 400H converted to b&w (expired for 2 years)
Self developed in CineStill Cs41, scanned with DSLR (Nikon D610 + Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro lens).
Test images of Mars acquired by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter’s high-resolution CaSSIS camera on 5 March 2017. The mosaic comprises 40 individual image frames captured using the near-infrared filter. The images were taken just as the orbiter was crossing the boundary between day and night, in the southern hemisphere of Mars. To the top left of the image is the centre of Mellish crater (26ºW, 73ºS). The image scale is 38 m/pixel.
Credit: ESA/Roscosmos/CaSSIS , CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Acquired at 17:44 GMT on 29 February 2016 just two weeks after launch, this is one of the first images from Sentinel-3A taken by the satellite’s Ocean and Land Colour Instrument. It features California, Arizona and Mexico. It also captures Los Angeles, which coincidently is where the International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group Meeting is taking place.
Credit: Copernicus data (2016)
I acquired an album of B&W photos taken during the Illinois Railway Museum's 1977 "Snowflake Special" fantrip on the Illinois Central Electric lines (along with shots of regular service trains encountered during the trip). As a young kid our family took many rides on the IC South Chicago branch, so this was a fun find.
The photographer's name is unfortunately not listed, but the photos are excellent quality and all captioned.
Previous images that we acquired showed recurring slope lineae (RSL) on northwest and west-facing slopes. Some of the RSL are longer and shorter in this observation than they were previously, suggesting both recurrence and fading. Additional images are needed to confirm incremental lengthening.
Enhanced color image is less than 1 km (under a mile) top to bottom and is 253 km (157 mi) above the surface, and north is to the right. For full images, including map-projected and with scale bars, visit the source link.
www.uahirise.org/ESP_066113_1425
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
No. 3 Queen Street East. Acquired by a druggist in 1902 who installed a chemist's mortar and pestle on top.
"Sault Ste. Marie (/ˈsuː seɪnt məˈriː/ SOO-seint-ma-REE) is a city on the St. Marys River in Ontario, Canada, close to the Canada–US border. It is the seat of the Algoma District and the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay.
The Ojibwe, the indigenous Anishinaabe inhabitants of the area, call this area Baawitigong, meaning "place of the rapids." They used this as a regional meeting place during whitefish season in the St. Mary's Rapids. (The anglicized form of this name, Bawating, is used in institutional and geographic names in the area.)
To the south, across the river, is the United States and the Michigan city of the same name. These two communities were one city until a new treaty after the War of 1812 established the border between Canada and the United States in this area at the St. Mary's River. In the 21st century, the two cities are joined by the International Bridge, which connects Interstate 75 on the Michigan side, and Huron Street (and former Ontario Secondary Highway 550B) on the Ontario side. Shipping traffic in the Great Lakes system bypasses the Saint Mary's Rapids via the American Soo Locks, the world's busiest canal in terms of tonnage that passes through it, while smaller recreational and tour boats use the Canadian Sault Ste. Marie Canal.
French colonists referred to the rapids on the river as Les Saults de Ste. Marie and the village name was derived from that. The rapids and cascades of the St. Mary's River descend more than 6 m (20 ft) from the level of Lake Superior to the level of the lower lakes. Hundreds of years ago, this slowed shipping traffic, requiring an overland portage of boats and cargo from one lake to the other. The entire name translates to "Saint Mary's Rapids" or "Saint Mary's Falls". The word sault is pronounced [so] in French, and /suː/ in the English pronunciation of the city name. Residents of the city are called Saultites.
Sault Ste. Marie is bordered to the east by the Rankin and Garden River First Nation reserves, and to the west by Prince Township. To the north, the city is bordered by an unincorporated portion of Algoma District, which includes the local services boards of Aweres, Batchawana Bay, Goulais and District, Peace Tree and Searchmont. The city's census agglomeration, including the townships of Laird, Prince and Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional and the First Nations reserves of Garden River and Rankin, had a total population of 79,800 in 2011.
Native American settlements, mostly of Ojibwe-speaking peoples, existed here for more than 500 years. In the late 17th century, French Jesuit missionaries established a mission at the First Nations village. This was followed by development of a fur trading post and larger settlement, as traders, trappers and Native Americans were attracted to the community. It was considered one community and part of Canada until after the War of 1812 and settlement of the border between Canada and the US at the Ste. Mary's River. At that time, the US prohibited British traders from any longer operating in its territory, and the areas separated by the river began to develop as two communities, both named Sault Ste. Marie." - info from Wikipedia.
Now on Instagram.
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Hip Hop is an acquired taste. It's loud, it's abrasive and plenty times vulgar. Growing up in NYC surrounded by the ethnic working-class there was always new lingo to learn. When you're a 90's kid okay, you learn to deal with what the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air teaches you: phat, dope, wack... check, check and check! Fast forward to my late twenties and I'm a front end supervisor for that well known Arts & Crafts big-box store and most of my team are fluent in ebonics while I'm utterly left behind. They are dropping new words like 'lit' and 'fire' and 'ratchet' which for a long time I thought was wretched. So I would, in good faith, say things like "Oh, that is wretched!" -- One time I was in a convenience store with some friends and this short Latino with gold teeth, face tattoos and a heavy swag was bantering with his co-workers. He glanced at us once and sighed then saying, "Aight I'mma go make downstairs Gucci." And dear me, I didn't think to ask any of my friends what he meant but I dwelled on it for the rest of the day before the meaning finally dawned on me! GUCCI; like the opulent luxury brand. Downstairs was a mess and he was going to make it fancy and clean like the Gucci brand.
So back to Hip Hop. I started easy. I really liked Macklemore and Black Eyed Peas and eventually, Justin Bieber joined the genre. More Pop than Hip Hop but hey whatever, I got my foot through the door. Not bad for someone who once nervously handed a cashier my soon-to-be copy of Backstreet Boys Millenium; she easily sensed my fear as she smacked her lips then saying, "Not you too" as she rang me up. Yes, me too. I was a teen and a sucker for Pop music. I would have worn a ski mask to buy this album if I could, lady. My music taste is broad as I love everything! Mostly. Or at least I try to. My playlist goes from Post Malone to Bach. Music is very personal. I've met Rock & Rollers who would lynch you if you mentioned Nickelback. It's just the way the world works. Music is a part of our identities and sometimes one of the most relatable aspects of our humanity. And if we share that on a common level, it opens up an instantaneous connection paving the path to a meaningful relationship. That is until you fight over whether or not pineapples deserve to be on pizza's (They don't. Fight me.) It's 2020 and I find myself craving Hip Hop. It reminds me of NYC where part of me will forever be no matter where in the world I am. This year the word is WAP. If you don't know what it means by now, don't worry, someone will let you know but it won't be me!
Find the WAP Hot Girl Fountain at this month's Kinky Event starting July 28th, 7 PM SLT. Or window browse early. You do you.
Fountain Preview GIF: gyazo.com/f8286fd024378ae80e03d3edc1da5e98
The Fountain is sold without flora. If you would like the Lillies used here are the credits:
LOTUS by Tia Biscuit L$80 ([Tia] Madison - Pond Lillies)
• Inworld: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tia/113/78/1501
• Marketplace: NOT AVAILABLE
LILYPADS by Cube Republic L$399 (Frogbit Aquatic Pond Plant)
• Inworld: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gloria/227/227/3512
• Marketplace: marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Frogbit-Aquatic-Pond-Plant-MESH-MATERIALS/6815506
[ Landmarks and Marketplace Listings are accurate as of August 2020 ]
Acquired a used Zeiss Axioscope recently and started trying to do video of pond life.Not easy,as the subjects are moving and you,re shooting through water, at high magnifications.Drop of pond water on a glass slide, with a cover slip.Then there,s processing video,which i,m new at also.Anyhow it,s really amazing seeing these micro organisms in a drop of water!
Thanks for your comments and faves, they are truly appreciated. P.S. Dont drink pond water!
Acquired late last year by Hodge's of Sandhurst were a pair of youthful Mercedes-Benz Tourismo C53FT coaches from McNee of Ratho Station in Scotland.
6697PH was formerly BV19YJS and sister 8896PH was formerly BV19YJT. Full fleet livery will be applied later this year.
My thanks to the Hodge's team for positioning these coaches for me!
Back again just for one day.
I took this picture some days ago whilst having some rest next to that fountain...I was really fascinated by how many stories passed in front of it...how the same subject acquires a different aspect depending of what happens around it...the shadow behind the girl was a photographer's...I think he wanted to take a shot of her whilst drinking...I was sitting on the other side and waited that his flash fired...so that photographer gave me that aura, and the funny thing is that he doesn't even know :)
Dedicated to a friend who suddenly died some days ago, I'm sure that now he's surrounded by a beautiful aura looking at us with the same smile he never denied to anyone.
View on black
And listen.....
Having acquired a collection of "Southern Region" slides I bizarrely found a couple of Hellfire West Highland slides in amongst them!
After some research on the "Class 37 Loco group" site I found that 37081 was working "The Lochaber" Rail Tour on the 1st September 1984. Without looking through the history of every split box loco I'm unsure which class mate is heading towards the camera? Anyone happen to have any idea by any chance? (now known to be 37112) It would save me some considerable time haha (Thanks to ExTractor Fan's comment below I have ammended the caption to 37112...)
Original Slide Scan, Photographer unknown
I have started to collect a number of original slides (with copyright) 'most' of which probably haven’t been seen before. Some come with image information and some don't. Please feel free to leave a comment if you know locations, dates, numbers etc, it would be much appreciated. I have uploaded these at a low resolution, please don't copy / download without my prior permission.
I only collect slides on the understanding that the full copyright transfers over to me. If you believe there to be a copyright issue please drop me an email.
Busy bee's from a few weeks ago, they love the lavender in the garden! :o)
5/7 - Purple Passion
7DWF - Fauna
Acquired by Danish Air Transport but will be going on immediate lease to Air Serbia. Painted by Airbourne Colours
I can't really say that I'm a great advocate of using an acquired bus in the livery of the previous operator, even as here, in an amalgamation of those of the previous two, but sometimes needs must.
Back in the mid 1990s I bought this former London Country SMA class AEC Swift for my Knotty Bus & Coach operation. It arrived from Blue Triangle on Merseyside (the folk who'd added the blue skirt), but the remainder of the livery was the previous operator to that, Bowman's of Carlisle who'd dabbled briefly in bus work.
JPF 103K was quite one of the most pleasant machines I'd purchased and unlike the Marshall bodied Swifts I'd owned, this Alexander 'W Type' was just about rattle free. Mechanically and bodily it was sweet as a nut. It's only vice was a slight tendency to overheat, but that was an issue we quickly sorted with a radiator change.
SMA3 (as it once was with London Country) is seen here at the rear of Longton Bus Station, Stoke on Trent one afternoon when about to operate a Staffs County Council tendered journey to Stone via the back roads. Not long afterwards we managed to get it re-painted into our fleet colours and I have to say, I thought it looked fabulous . . . but then I perhaps would!
I acquired this Rolleiflex Automat Model 2 B4B twin lens reflex camera at an Estate Sale in a suburb of Kansas City recently. This was the only camera at this particular sale and it was pretty filthy when I first looked at it. The focus mirror was unserviceable and the focus screen had a crack all the way through the middle. I tested the shutter and it appeared to work correctly, as did the aperture, so I decided to take a chance on it. It was $75 and I figured this was a fair price all things considered. This particular camera was manufactured between the years 1939 thru 1945 and I'm pretty certain this was made for the German market. I was able to replace the focus mirror and focus screen and I did my best to clean the camera up prior to loading it with film. I've shot a couple of rolls of film through the camera so far and it appears to work just fine. One of the interesting things about this camera is that one of the previous owners left his name on a strip of paper taped inside the case. The name is COL R.M. Crow and he lists his location as Bolling AFB, Washington, DC.
I did a couple of tours at Boling AFB during my Army career so this is a really neat connection.
This is my first Rollei camera and I've very pleased with how it renders film.
Acquired from Go North East and seen in Chester City Centre operating a local service.
Chester City Centre - 2016.
To see the full collection: www.busphotosuk.co.uk.
For photos available for purchase: www.ebay.co.uk/usr/busphotosuk
Acquired from Grandview near Big Pine, CA on July 2 and 3, 2016.
R,G,B: 18 x 600s each
Main Camera: QSI 583 WSG
Guide Camera: SXV Lodestar (on OAG)
Mount: Astro-Physics Mach 1
Scope: Stellarvue SV100Q (effective FL: 580mm)
Acquisition/Automation Software: Starkeeper Voyager 1.0.7
Registed, Calibrated and Stacked and Post Processed with PixInsight 1.8
I acquired a Bionic Woman prototype which sadly came with no documentation of history or background. I believe it to be an early prototype made after Lindsay Wagner Rejected the first head sculpt (with closed mouth).
But it does have ear openings for Kenner's original plan of exposable circuits behind both ears - yes both ears. See CatPats original artwork from Kenner here:
This is the released smaller head sculpt on the smaller body - but with no rooting of hair. It does have the leg circuits, but they are clear with no decal on the back. This is a fascinating find that had to be made before Kenner went with no removable ear hatches. This arrived with no Bionic arm, but the body is identical in design to the final release.
Despicably Rotten Scoundrel
My thanks to everyone who has helped me with ideas in writing this story. You all know of whom I speak.
The opening scene is a formal charity ball in Scotland, at the seaside town of Clachtoll.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Despicably Rotten Scoundrel
“I’m not really wicked, just written that way…!”
A pickpocketing female thief’s rather despicable and rotten tale told from her perspective….
“I’m not jealous, just an opportunist.”
^^^^^^^^^^
I do love a good old-fashioned charity ball.
It’s a place where rich twits, sorry, guests love to show off their finery, flaunting the fact they are wealthy enough to be invited to donate a bit of their easily earned, or given, cash. Also wealthy enough to be shorn of some of their wealth by other, shall we say, less proper manners.
Now, it’s true that there are mostly adults at these types of charity things.
But they also have a tendency to doll up their younger sons/daughters and bring them along to pretty much just display them. The poor dears are usually bored and desperate to be noticed. Which works to my advantage.
A bit of juicy, easy ripe pickings on the side with usually some surprisingly profitable results.
And then there are the parents and other adult guests, who once they have imbibed enough, become subtle and compliant enough for my fingers to do their task of acquiring their more valuable adornments
And I never thought of pickpocketing as right out stealing, preferably thinking of it as teaching a life lesson to those foolish enough, or young enough, to present a vulnerably easy target. And earn my living in the process.
But why the soliloquy one may ask?
Well, the last time I attended such a function I deliciously petted away a pair of pearl necklaces, a single and double strand, from two very different but equally gullible, charming quite young ladies who were attending a grown-up Ball for the first time. Their pearls fetched a surprising value.
One was in soft velvet the other was in sleek silk-covered chiffon. Both were easily woven into my web.
At the same affair, I also lifted an expensive diamond brooch from a wealthy lady as well as two fat leather wallets from a pair of tuxedo-wearing gentlemen.
But then I attracted nosey official notice and had to make a hasty exit. Blimey, a girl’s got to make a living.
And now here I was, a year later, standing across the street from yet another charity ball in Scotland. Smoking a leisurely cigarette as I watch the rich ladies' attire flowing down elegantly beneath furs and satin evening wraps of the mostly female guests pouring into the venue.
I spotted a group of younger ladies dressed elegantly in a collection of silks and satins, no wraps. They were off to the side smoking and chatting away amiably. They appeared to be an accepting lot, and I instinctively saw them as an acceptable way to camouflage my entrance.
I crossed the street and walked up behind them close enough to get a feel for the manner of conversation. They were all Scottish judging by their accents. Being Welsh myself I was hoping they would jump at the opportunity to talk with a newcomer to the area.
They were, and soon I was in with them thicke as thieves. Which was rather fitting.
The ball was in full swing by the time all of my adopted group decided to enter the establishment and I waltzed right in with them, easily escaping the notice of two security bulls who were keeping an eye on the entrance.
Once safely inside I made an excuse to leave them, promising them I’d catch up with them again. A promise I meant to keep for they were wearing some really lovely jewellery, and once they had drunk up a bit, should make them easy marks.
I licked my lips with anticipation over that future activity.
Once I broke away I circled the perimeter of the massive hall, watching the dancers in the middle. Looking out for an opportunity of any sort.
By the bar, a pair of young men were chattering away, and I pushed myself between them as I passed through. Easily lifting a gold watch from one of the tuxedoed pair.
I then spied with my little eye an elegant lady wearing taffeta, placing a solid gold compact inside her small pearl-handled white beaded clutch purse. I stood near bye, and as she bent down to adjust a strap on her high heel, I walked past and snatched the purse up, hiding it in my own larger purse.
I walked quickly off in another direction.
Then my heart stopped as I spied a young lady sitting at a table alone watching what I assumed were her guardians dancing.
What made it inviting was that no one was watching her.
In a chair next to her hung a luxurious sable, too valuable to trust in hat check.
Laying upon the chair was a small silvery clutch purse, worth quite a bit by my scrutiny. The girl was holding a purse of her own, a pretty, small satin number with rhinestones. Too expensive to pass up.
She was fidgety, either bored or needed to use the loo.
I walked up to her.
“Hello, luv.” I said as she looked up at me with a happy cherub face, glad to have someone to chat with.
“Aye Miss, halo. ” she answered with that darling soft accent that the young scot lassies all seem to have.
She was pretty, wearing a gold sequined blouse with long sleeves and a high collar. A long black skirt sleekly poured from her waist, held there by a gold belt with a large rhinestone clasp. Her long red hair was down hiding any jewels she may be wearing in her ears. Around her neck though, was a twisted strand silvery necklace with 5 real diamonds hanging down in a v shape at the necklace’s centre.
“You’re such a cutie I murmured reaching around and lifting her hair from her backside and running it through my fingers, eyeing her dazzling earrings set with real diamonds…and how they were set in her earlobes. They are old fashioned hinged clasped twins, valuable. My mouth drools over this discovery, for it could be child’s play to lift them.
She squirmed gleefully at my praise.
“Thank you, miss.”
I laid my hand on her shoulder, feeling the ultra-soft material of her blouse. I caressed my fingers along her sleeve.
“Your outfit is quite smashing Lass.”
With a woeful tone of voice she admitted:
“This was my sister's miss, I wanted a gown of my own, but papa said to wait till next year, and then I can wear real makeup!”
I petted her along the sleek backside of her blouse.
“You’ll look beautiful then I’m sure. As you look now, without makeup. And speaking of beauty, that darling purse you're holding is rather pretty. Is that your sister's also?
She shook her head no, the diamonds at her ears and throat erupting into frenzied sparkles. She held the purse up.
“Father Christmas brought it.”
I reached down and touched its exquisite satiny material.
“Very pretty. Something to take care of, especially tonight.”
Possessing the same curiosity of youth that needed me pearls last year, she bought into it, asking…
“Why tonight miss?”
I leaned in and explained.
“A lady had her purse stolen a little while ago, right from her table. The police are looking for him. You may want to put yours somewheres safe until he is caught. “
She looked at her purse worried, not sure what to make of what I had said.
I place my hand reassuringly on her elbow and pointed down to a purple silk-lined pocket of the sable.
“There miss, place it inside the pocket. No one will see it there.”
She obediently bent over to do so, while I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, petting the delicious gold-colored material that covered it.
I looked around making sure the coast was clear, saying to her….
“Oh, and the other purse as well.”
She reached over to the table and picked it up. My fingers moved into position. As she leaned over to put it inside I easily undid the simple hook and circle clasp of her necklace and pulled the dangling piece from around her throat and slipped it inside my pocket in a blink of an eye.
She turned and looked at me with wildly opened concerned eyes.
“Oh. I’m sure they will catch him soon. Then you can take it back out. But for now, your purse is safe, as well as your sister’s”
She shook her head, earrings again flicking an expensive dance. But nothing glimmered where her necklace had been.
“My sister is not here miss. . She’s in France. It’s just me ,mum and dad.”
I knelt between her and that chair that held the gorgeous sable cost.
“Oh, please point them out to me.”
With young obedience, she surveys the crowd.
As she searched, and as I watched her face, my hand was feeling along the rich sable, reaching inside the sable coats’ pocket and pulling out the two small purses, placing them into my own, now sitting on the floor.
Her still-searching eyes lit up and she said…
“There they are…”
She was pointing to a rather handsome couple. The father is in a dark black tux with a black satin vest. Her mum was sumptuous in a long black satin gown with rhinestone trimmings. She was displaying a rather delicious set of diamond jewellery. My fingers itched, but I had done enough here.
I squeeze her shoulder, rising, as she again was becoming mesmerized by watching the dancers. Her earrings were tempting me, and I will admit I tried forcing myself to pass them by, but…
“Must take my leave sweetie, charming to have met such a pretty girl.”
She answered, keeping her eyes on the dance floor.
“Thank you, miss.”
I went in front of her and knelt looking into her doe-like wide green eyes.
“I think you will look positively lovely next year in your gown. I think you should wear your hair up.”
She smiled at me as I lifted up her silky hair.
“Thank you miss, I’m looking ever so to it, hopefully, I can wear one like mums…”
As she said that, my fingers were expertly caressing off the jewels dangling freely from her earlobes with a very practiced stroking touch of my own.
With her earrings clutched in my hands, I told her I hoped she would, and looked towards her mother on the dance floor.
She looked also and as she was I plopped her earrings in my purse and took leave.
I then hurriedly made my way to the bar for a drink and a breather. I had meant to pace myself this evening and not repeat my mistake from a year ago.
I mulled over my drink, watching the crowd, admiring the pickings they wore or carried. The drink and my delicious thoughts took their effect and I realized I needed to urgently use the loo, sorry, powder my nose, as the wealthy ones would say.”
I headed inside the nearest one and found one empty stall remaining. It was then a large group of women came in and gathered around the sinks and side tables waiting their turn.
I exited and with practiced quickness, looked them over, eyeballing a few plump purses, and the rings and bracelets that adorned the wrists, fingers holding them. I focused on an ornate diamond clip worn in the blonde hair of a young lady dressed in black velvet, my fingers tingled. Licking my lips I yelled…
“Mouse, there’s a mouse in my stall!”
In the ensuing panic, I forced myself into their startled midst as I hurried to leave. Bumping into the velvet-gowned young lady, she tripped and started to fall, as it was playing out, my hand snaked up through her hair easily whisking out the startled young thing’s fancy diamond clip in the process.
I made the door and left. Marveling at how easy that score had been. The fact that the flashy hair clip had been the only jewel probably allowed to be worn by the young lady did not faze me a bit.
I walked around the outer rim of the room, basking in the clever way I had nicked that expensive diamond clip from the unwary young victim.
It was then, in a side alcove of couches and comfy chairs, I spotted the group I had come in with. Already going on with drink-induced chatting and giggling. All very touchy-feely and huggy
I was all in for a bit of that action, seeing a multitude of opportunities for my fingers to be employed with.
I grabbed a tray of drinks that was sitting waiting for one of the waiters.
Took it over where it was well received by this group of wealthy young ladies.
And soon was again in thicke with them, laughing and doing some touching of my own upon their softly, expensively, attired figures.
I easily lifted fat wallets from two unguarded evening purses, before deciding to up my game.
One of the ladies, Trish, dressed in a silk dress with a nice diamond drop pendant and an even nicer gem-filled bracelet was telling a story that I wasn’t paying any attention to. What I was paying attention to was the other 3 dames in the group. All three dolled up in satin gowns with some very nice jewelry set with gemstones that matched the colors of their sumptuous designer gowns.
We were all huddled very close together around Trish to listen in to her captivating gossiping story told in a whisper.
They were not watching me.
I was holding onto one of the listening broad's blue satin gloved hands, managing to slowly work off her cocktail ring, a large sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
As we all put hands to our mouths to gasp over a particularly juicy bit of Trish’s story I placed my hand up along the backside of another listener's sunset-red taffeta gown.
Reaching for her necklace I undid the clasp, then waited until another highlight of Trish’s story had us all leaning in closer before slipping the ruby set gold necklace from around my victim’s throat without missing a beat.
Trish finally reached the climax of her story and the ladies turned toward each other and started talking about it over.
I just smiled the said.
“Really. That’s quite a delicious story.”
Though I still had no clue about her babbling.
But as I said that I place my left hand on the diamond-clad wrist of her right hand, over her vulgarly pricy bracelet. She put her other hand on my chest. I swore she was coping a feel.
She chirped...
“Isn’t it a riot, really I cannot believe it happened.”
As she said that, looking earnestly for approval in my hazel eyes with her heavily mascaraed blue ones, I squeezed her wrist, undoing her diamond bracelet and lifting it into my palm.
Transferring the bracelet to my pocket. I picked up a drink and chatted with them for a good ten minutes.
I finally found an opportunity to bid them adieu.
I received hugs all around. As I hugged Trish, my fingers nimbly undid her pendant and I slipped it off as her friends began yet another conversation.
Trish was in a hurry to join in so I had a very easy time of it.
I headed back out the hallway, finally letting out my breath, to have a smoke and take a well-earned break as I decided what to do next.
This patch was proving a gold mine, but have I had my run?
That would be a big No, to my run of luck being over that evening!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
As I headed out I passed one of the rental guards. He looked bored. I noticed his open handcuffs attached to his belt.
I went up, acting tipsy, and placing my hand on his shoulder winked at him
“Happy to see you on the job.”
As I told him that my other hand lifted off his cuffs, mainly because I take a fancy to acquire anything shiny.
I then head out to the exit.
A man and lady are on the ground by the stairs smoking right under a ‘no smoking sign.
They did not appear to be a couple.
The male is wearing a fitted suit and what I considered a power tie, smoking a long thin cigar. I can tell he is wealthy by his silver Rolex and a fat wallet.
The man is randy ,obviously hitting on the girl. Not successfully I might add.
He eyes me with flirty interest.
I eyed the girl.
She was an early 20ish model of the type one would call mousey. Very tipsy and coy. I was surprised she wasn’t coming onto the bloke's advances.
Emilie, the girl, was wearing a fitted designer dress of gold satin with rhinestone trimmings. She was sporting a nice collection of expensive gold jewelry, pouring all along her body from ears, neck wrists, and hairpiece. She had no less than 5 cocktail rings that flashed rippling out along her fingers as she smoked.
I had the inkling, mainly by how she carried herself. that she may have been wearing gold jewelry this evening, but she also owned and could have been wearing diamonds. But gold did not interest me. Her diamonds would have.
So I found myself wishing our randy male fellow smoker would chase away the girl so I can relieve the git of his deliciously tempting expensive watch.
I pulled out one of my two lighters, the round one with no fuel, and unsuccessfully tried to lit my cigarette.
The male whose name was Sebastian, leaned over to light it for me and I nimbly picked his wallet.
The rental cop just then stuck his long nose outside the main door.
Looking down upon our small group he lectured
“‘Ere no. No doing that there. Take your business to the park yonder.”
He went back inside.
Sebastian sighed, giving us both a look. Sensing, incorrectly I might add, that neither of us are interested in him, he tossed the nub of his cigar and followed the guard inside.
Since I had just started my cigarette I crossed the street. The girl followed me, gaily chirping in my ear
“ That’s probably the only thing the guard is allowed to do, and thank you for saving me from that bore Sebastian. “
She pulled out a cigarette and asked if I had a light. I hesitated, then pulled out my square lighter and easily lit it. She guided my hand to her mouth. Her eyes were looking int mine, exploring. I felt her fingers subtlety caress my wrist.
It just may have been in gratitude, but that’s not what I read in her eyes.
Now I don’t lean that way, unless it’s to my benefit. Her gold jewelry now did appear to me to be one, a benefit I mean.
“Thank you she whispered coyly.”
Your welcome I said, taking up her hand and purring how pretty she looked this evening. Which was no lie, on several levels.
Yes. I dolled myself up pretty well she said. Her fingers wrapping around mine.
“I think you look lovely also..” she complimented me with a shyness I found almost as fetching as her gold necklace.
I had read the signs correctly, now if only I was right about everything I had deduced about her. My mind already wrapping around a plan.
I let her pull me to her. I could feel her perking breast’s running scintillating along my own through the thin material of my dress. Her breathing became deeper.
I responded by spitting out my cigarette and clasping my hands behind her and digging my fingers into her hinny.
She squealed with delight. Her own cigarette tumbling from her thicke red lips.
She went onto her tippy toes and planted a kiss upon my mouth. I responded by adding my tongue to the party.
She raised her knee up between my legs and began massaging my sweet spot sending prickly waves of pleasure through my entire being. Though my real center of pleasure lay upon her gold jewels and the way they were delightfully shimmering as she played along with my figure.
I raised my hands around her back. My leg went up as she stopped. Feeling it there she began to rub along it. Exciting herself.
Running my fingers to the back of her throat as all of my marks attention was on pleasuring herself, I had the pleasure of undoing the clasp of her three-strand gold necklace and lifting it from the front of her dress to behind her back and into my fist.
She whispered.
“There’s a playground up on the hill “
I answered, startled at how husky my voice was coming out
“ A playground, I like the sound of that. “
I let her lead, my hand wrapped around her silken waist. Holding tightly onto my prize.
^^^^^^^^**
Reaching the deserted playground,
We embraced, sucking and kissing passionately
I sat her on the bench. Had her lie down.
She giggled as my hands went up underneath her dress, and silk slip. I then discovered why she was giggling, she was not wearing panties.
My fingers delved inside past wet hairs and probed as she arched her back in ecstasy. She spread her dress open, revealing plump breasts striking inside her thin gold satin brocade patterned brassiere. She managed to undo it and flung it onto the grass. Then began to massage her naked breasts, rings sparkling, solid gold bracelets glinting. Her exposed breasts cooled in the misty air.
My free hand went up and joined in with her fun. Her rings were pleasingly digging into my flesh as I dig deeper into hers.
She was moaning with deep guttural primeval pleasure. Her whole figure is on electric, lava-hot fire.
Then shrieking so loudly it echoed, in a flash of seething back-arching ecstasy, she came….
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Later we sat on a bench smoking. She was basking in delight.
“So happy I met you…!” she said cheerfully.
I intentionally didn’t answer.
She looked up into my face.
“I know this is cliche but want to go to my flat?”
I looked at her, then looked over her remaining gold jewelry. It was calling out to just take me, as I answered her question...
“Gorgeous, simply Gorgeous. Oh I’m going to you flat Luv , but alone!”
She looked at me confused, trying to think through her horny drink-induced haze just what I was prattling on about.
I pulled the cuffs from my bag.
Going around behind her I raised her arms, she was totally pliable. Not really registered what I was holding. I pulled her arms behind the bench. Cuffing around one wrist, I cuffed the other end to a metal leg set in concrete.
As I looked into her eyes I saw they were starting to spin and sure enough, she passed out, for whatever reason, fear or just physically spent…
I checked her pulse, she wasn’t dead, just in a cold dead faint.
I began stripping the sully Lass of her remaining gold jewelry. Pulling out her earrings, undoing her hairpiece, and unfastening her many bracelets. Then methodically working away, I sucked off her rings. And finally, I unclasped a gold ankle bracelet.
Picking up her purse I found her address and the numbered key to her flat. I left her surprisingly mock designer purse on the bench. But emptied her wallet, discarding it on the ground.
As I checked her over for any missed valuables I thought of giving her a little more pleasure, but decided I was better off just letting her sleep it off.
Walking quickly out of the playground I cut to the opposite side of the park.
Hailing one of the parked cabs I gave him her address. Using her money to pay for it when we got there.
It was in a very posh neighborhood, I licked my lips wondering if I was right to be expecting diamonds somewhere inside her flat.
As I enter the block of flats I see a well-dressed man unlocking the door next to my victim's numbered door.
I say “Ello” and he jumps.
“Thought you were my wife.”
I had moved closer spying a fat wallet bulging from his pocket
I purr saying cheekily:
“No, wish I was, did you lose her now?
“Ah, here she is, found her now didn’t I.”
I turn. My eyes bugging out. I forgot all about lifting wallets as I saw his wife come inside, dazzling like some ornate overfilled display case at Tiffanies.
She was wearing a deep blue brocade patterned silk dress with flashy sapphire rhinestones adorning the neckline and waistline.
Her hazel eyes had been masterfully made up with black eyeliner and blue mascara. She looked like a picture actress from a Telly show.
She was wearing a stunning set of sparkling sapphire and diamond-encrusted jewellery. A full array, hanging from her ears, neck wrists, and fingers. One ring was especially flashy
Perched on her head was a short diamond studded tiara.
I had seen many tiaras this evening, but none this close to my already trembling fingers.
At the rather daringly low cut of her gown hung a very expensive sapphire/ diamond brooch successfully stealing away the prominence of the lady’s beautifully plump breasts.
She floats up to us.
They are both happily tipsy and introduce themselves as my new neighbor.
They both ask if I would like to join in for a nip, or a nightcap.
Bird in hand I thought. Let this one go.
I smile at the pretty pair
“Rain check please I need my beauty sleep.”
I give them both a hard look over, openly relishing the rich attire, and beckoning trimmings, of this clueless couple as they bid me farewell and go inside their flat
Then with those succulent imaginings, I use the key to my victim’s flat and go inside to rob the joint.
I waste no time, heading directly to the girls' bedroom where I knew the good stuff would be found.
Finding the bedrooms down a corridor, I go inside the master room and methodically begin with the contents in the drawers of a large oak wardrobe, feeling through satin, silk, and lacy undergarments. I find a velvet case holding some nice pearls and empty them into my purse. Then felt along some prickling soft dresses and gowns, being rewarded with finding a gold broach and diamond pin for my efforts.
Knowing there has to be more I check behind the many pictures on the walls.
Finding one, a painting of ‘Twelve Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh, set on a hinge that, when opened, exposed a wall safe. Expertly I place an ear to it as I work the tumblers, finding the combination quite easily.
Opening it I see several items. An old, loved Teddy Bear, a bundle of letters tied with ribbon on top of some photos, an oblong box that looked strikingly like the one I keep my vibrator in, and more importantly, three thin velvet-covered cases. Pulling out the largest case. I opened it.
My eyes opened wide, like a child who has been visited by Father Christmas. I had found her diamonds. A nice full collection of sparking “ice” that I quickly let slide into my purse. The others two cases contained evening jewellery also. One was a nicely ornate set of 24 Caret gold and the last was a set of glittery sapphires. I empty them all quickly.
Time enough later to drool over the nice haul I was taking.
I left the safe open and lifting my now very weighty purse, started to leave her bedroom to make my escape.
But then I spied it… and a naughty thought entered my head.
Sitting on a hook in a shadowy corner was a new dress, not yet taken in for a fitting. A short sleek black satin number with a sassy low-cut top, ribbed waistband, and above-the-knee hemline.
I go over and admire it. On a whim I slip off my dress, then undo my bra, to try it on.
Brilliant, it fits me like a hand in a glove.
Going back to the wardrobe, still wearing the dress, I pull out a small satchel and dump its contents on the floor.
I place my bulging purse inside, then neatly fold the dress I had been wearing and place it on top. Adding my bra also, relishing the feel of the material upon my naked breasts.
I also snatch up a pair of silver rhinestone-adorned high heels I had admired and place them inside also.
I headed out, more than satisfied with my evening’s haul, I had every intention of planning to call it a night.
But, as I was leaving the flat, I see my victim’s new neighbor, the man, as he is locking the door.
Putting the key in his pocket he turned and spots me standing there.
I gave him my best foxy smile, asking in my best new neighborly fashion
“We’re you off to in such a hurry luv everything, all right? Didja Lose your wife again?”
“So sorry”. he apologized in a high voice. not questioning why I was now back out in the hallway in a different dress, though his eyes went down to take a brief study of my breasts, then my legs gracefully sticking out from the dress’s shamefully high hemline.
He answered, obviously flustered on several levels.
“It’s a bother I need to go back to the restaurant, my wife left her bloody expensive purse there.”
A fish hooked, now to play him I thought as he walked up to me.
“Hope you not too long. And about that nightcap, knock on my door first when you get back luv.”
I reached down and began fingering his John Thomas, I gave it a good wank, finding the boy was already hard.
He was not displeased by my copping a feel, in the least.
He stuttered, before dashing off.
“I, I h’have 30 minutes to find a cab and get there before it closes.”
I smile. My hand was on his room key which I had lifted from his pocket.
^^^^^^^^^^
Flipping the keys in my hand, I went to the outside entrance and from a side, window saw the husband catch his cab.
“Bully,” I thought, that gives me 45 minutes, more than enough time.
I carefully walk down the deserted hallway and reach the flat of the friendly, wealthy, couple.
I carefully pry open the door and have a look and listen.
There is no one in the main room, which is unlit. It all appears to be the same layout, though opposite, as the flat I just burgled.
I carefully close and lock the door and slip into the shadows, my eyes adjusting, aware that I am running against the clock.
I hear movement from the area I know is the flats’ kitchen. Then the light clicks on. My objective, again, is the master bedroom’s wall safe. I’m hoping the Wife had had enough time to slip into something more comfortable and put her jewels away in the wall safe.
But I needed to take a look.
I took a peak in the kitchen. I could see her figure moving about. She was still wearing her gown…and jewels. I would have to deal with that later. But first the safe. From a reflection, I saw her Mascara was askew. They’ve been naughty tonight.
I move over to the small corridor off which lie the bedrooms. I see the master bedroom door is slightly open. Candlelight flickered out from the bottom, dancing along the polished oak wood floors.
Reaching the door to the master bedroom, I open it, slip inside, and lock the bedroom door behind me.
They have indeed just moved in. There were several traveling cases of various sizes. Shirts, trousers, and ties hung on a corner stand. In another corner, an oil Landscape painting was on the floor under the closed wall safe, waiting to be put up. Next to the safe was a large double tigerwood wardrobe.
I continue to quickly survey the rest of their room.
From the opposite side of the room, the candle was lit on a vanity reflected in the mirror. Something glittered. Shiny I thought.
I go over and see several 14k gold and silver necklaces, bangle bracelets, and rings all laid out in a heap inside an open case.
Suddenly I hear the door knob rattling
“Luv. Your back? You’ve got the chambre door looked”
“Chambre is it?” I thought. Pretty fancy for a flat. Even an upscale one like this.
Dropping the small satchel I go over to the door. Tapping on it I unlock it and stand by the wall so I will be behind the door as it opens.
The wife swished in, unknowingly talking to her still-absent husband in her heavy lowland Scottish accent.
“Guid lord laddie, sneaking about on myself are ya now? Well I….. umpph ?”
I had snuck out from behind the door, gripping her from behind, one hand on her mouth cutting off her sentence, the other pointing a finger in the small of her elegantly attired back like I was holding a pistol on her.
I hissed Into a diamond dangling ear.…
“Okay my pretty bird, this is not your husband, but a thief. You know what a thief does, now dontcha?”
She nodded weakly and I felt her figure go limp.
“Good, now not a sound out of you. Go and sit on that stool yonder,”
As I guided her, she went obediently to the oak vanity stool. As we passed a spot where more of her husband's ties hung, I whipped off a handful.
I pulled out the stool and she sat down facing the vanity mirror, giving her a clear sweeping view of the master bedroom behind her.
In the reflection of the mirror, she saw me, recognized who she thought I was(new neighbor), and looked at me with sad, large puppydog-like, questioning eyes.
I quickly, perhaps a bit roughly, pulled her hands behind her and tied them up using her husband's neckties. Then, using the same, I bound each ankle to the front legs of the stool.
“Now lady, where’s your husband?”
Tearfully she lied in a pleading tone…
“Not here, but he is coming back soon.”
Of course, I knew better, but I said…
“Then I’ll take my chances.”
She started to say more, but I cut her off by gagging her with a blue-striped Etonian Club tie that went well with her blue mascara.
Again in her ear, I whispered sternly.
“Going to be a good girl now, aren’t ya Lass?!”
She gave me a feeble nod yes.
I look down at the open case of day jewelry.
I reach in and begin scooping out the contents into the satchel as she watches and quivers in uneasy discomfort.
I knelt beside her.
“Okay my pretty one, time for you to take some weight off, time for me to trim your feathers.
She balked as I ran my fingers, intently, up along her gown, my fingers scintillating with the feel of its soft material.
Ignoring her muffled pleas I reached up and yanked out a long gem-studded pierced earring from each ear. I dropped them inside the satchel at my knees.
Then facing her, smiling with wicked intent, I unclamped her heavily jewel-laden necklace and let it slide down between her fear-perked breasts before reaching in deep and after a bit of fondling, finally fished out. I plopped it on top of her earrings, where it lay sparkling with intense fire.
I moved behind her, watching her watch me as I worked off her wide sparkling bracelets, dropping them onto the necklace, then I sucked off each of her rings, spitting them out into the growing pile inside the leather satchel. The last one, the big one I had admired, I left it in my mouth and looked at it in the mirror. My victim shuddered. I spit it out onto the glistening pile inside the satchel.
In the reflection of the mirror, I carefully watched her reaction, as I also watched my hands, snaking around feeling along her voluptuous bosom. I groped down along the pair of pert beauties, finally reaching down below her ample breasts, and unfastened the stunning brooch she had been so daringly wearing out, begging all evening to be stolen by any thief-minded observer.
And it was now mine!
I said as much to her, and she squirmed at my sneering words.
“Sweetie, you have probably no idea how much interest you generated amongst thieves like me when wearing a brooch like this out for an evening. I could barely pay attention to my dinner at the restaurant we were all at. I’m surprised you did not lose it earlier, but then, that’s my luck for tonight.”
I pocketed the brooch. This was too special to lose.
“Okay princess, now your precious crown..!”
I stood up and played with her hair, running my fingers through her silky locks I reached for her shimmering diamond-encrusted tiara and worked it out.
I placed it carefully in with the rest of my newly acquired jewelry collection.
Then I placed my head on top of her own and looking at her in the mirror pulled down her gag. I then said to my hapless prey.
“Let’s have the numbers to the safe pretty bird.”
She shook her head
“It’s empty. My jewels are still in the bank she pleaded.”
I cooed into her now naked ear.
“Liar, your eyes are a dead giveaway. “
I smiled at her reflection with a very pernicious look before continuing:
“But, even if your eyes were wrong, I’ll still be having a look won’t I now luv. I live to be looking at the insides of safes, empty or not. It’s a quirk of me own”
She shook her head no again.
I sighed. Redid her gag, picked up the delightfully 2/3rds full satchel carried it over to the safe.
Putting my ear against it and worked the tumblers. With the practice I had with the other flat’s safe, I had it opened in no time.
Inside was several healthy bundles of £ notes and five velvet-covered cases. I stuffed the notes into the satchel. Pulling out each case I opened them finding my eyes almost blinded by the assorted jewels they contained as the candle lite played over them. I would say that each case contained £75,000 worth of gems. A very nice haul.
As I emptied the last case I threw it on the blue satin cover of the king-sized bed and looked at my victim, thoroughly wilted down.
I said to her…
“What’s in there?”
Her eyes opened wide looking at the spot along the wall I was pointing to…
Chuckling I went to the double wardrobe I had been pointing to, and opened it, seeing a fine collection of my victim's clothing. Including gowns of every color and type of rich material. I looked them over, selecting a rather sleekly pretty one of blood-red satin with the diamond rhinestone trimmings that outlined the gown's bosom and waist, a design of the sort that always catches my eye.
Watching my hapless victim, I placed it against my figure as I looked at her, and then as I slid my fingers up and down its sensuously fine length, I admired myself in the mirror.
“Well my pretty one, it needs taking in, but I can make it work.”
I placed it gently inside the satchel, which I then closed up.
Then I thought pearls, they always have pearls?
Deviously I abruptly snapped out a question, though I suspected I knew the answer.
“Where are your pearls lady!”
She jumped at my sharp words, her eyes involuntarily dropping down to the shelves at the bottom of the wardrobe.
I knelt and began opening the shelves and once again found my fingers swimming through some rather luxurious silk and satin underthings.
Why these rich twit females think that places like their lingerie drawers make for an excellent place to hide their valuables will always be a mystery to me.
It was in the bottom drawer, underneath some long dress slips, where I found not one, but two cases that when opened I was pleased to see contained two sets of quite lovely pearls.
I held one necklace of pearls, a double strander, to my throat where it lay prettily down along my black satin dress just reaching my own delightfully perked naked breasts, and admired it in the mirror, seeing my victim slump down even more in despair.
I dropped the necklace into the satchel, quickly followed by the rest of the cases gleaming contents.
I then walked over with the satchel and standing above her lied to her reflection in the mirror...
“Okay pretty bird, lastly now, where’s the delicious evening purse I saw you with at the restaurant tonight?”
Wide-eyed she tried to tell me, words muffled by her gag, that she didn’t have it, forgotten it there hadn't she now.
I said to her, tweaking her chin:
“I believe you this time luv, ….Toodles..”
Then left her there, tied up in her bedroom.
^^^^^^^^^^
I headed down the hall and peeked out the outside door to the corridor.
Seeing it was empty I went out, locking the door behind me.
Going to the flat of my first victim I tossed the key inside and left the door unlocked.
Sighing with relief, I headed out.
^^^^^^
As I leave the complex of posh flats I see a cab coming down the street.
I quickly move into the shadows.
The cab pulls to the curb, and not surprisingly, my victim’s husband exited the cab.
I stay hidden in the shadows as he hurries past me unseen.
As he went inside the door, I slip from the shadows and jump in the back of the very same cab he had just exited, startling the driver who was a tad bit reluctant to take on another fare, that was until I waved a £50 note in his face.
I let out a deep breath as we drove off.
I was on pinpricks for the whole drive, though it was less than 9 kilometers away.
I had the driver drop me off at the hotel across from the one I was staying at this week.
I went inside, snuck out a side door, and when the coast was clear, crossed the street and walked into my hotel.
In my room, I picked up my already packed bags( a precaution I always take before leaving my room in case of the need for a quick getaway ), put on my leather jacket, and headed down to the front desk.
For during the ride here in the cab I reasoned to myself that tonight it would be a good idea to promptly check out of my hotel and take the first early morning train to…anywhere far away.
Which is exactly what I did.
So, on a roll of the dice so to speak, I took the train to my next adventure.
Her next Adventure:
“A Nefariously Rotten Scoundrel”
Fini
Ring billed gull was actually catching small fish at Riverside park in Guelph. The mission for me was to test the AF settings on the Z9
Acquired with a Canon 6D in 5x crop raw video mode using Magic Lantern. Best 50% of 1800 frames obtained at 10fps and iso3200, using an AP barlow lens and eyepiece projection (12.5mm ortho).
With the arrival of the newly acquired ACS-64 locomotives by Septa this year, time is ticking to see the last of the AEM-7s in service operate across Pennsylvania, marking the end of a 31 year history. The AEM-7 fleet, numbered 2301-2307, will be phased out of revenue service within the coming months as the new ACS-64s are placed into service. The tentative date for the first revenue run of an ACS-64 is scheduled for June 1, with plans to phase out the toasters as early as the end of June.
On Thursday May 24. 2018 I happened to position myself at the right place at the right time and was able to photograph two AEM-7s side by side in Bryn Mawr, PA. Pictured semi-express train 9559 departing Bryn Mawr with AEM-7 2302 leading, while 9561, dubbed "The Great Valley Flyer", overtakes 9559 on the express track with AEM-7 2301 leading.
Data Acquired: Telescope live 25 light frames all in FITS format stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and then processed in photoshop. Here are two versions the one highlighting the outer edges more is processed in Lightroom mobile
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224 and originally the Andromeda Nebula, is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth and the nearest large galaxy to the Milky Way.
Total exposure: 4h 10m 0s
no.of frames - 25
Newly acquired for use the 42 Bangor-Llangefni service and is seen loading at Bangor Bus Station.
Bangor Bus Station - 2016.
To see the full collection: www.busphotosuk.co.uk.
For photos available for purchase: www.ebay.co.uk/usr/busphotosuk
I acquired all of these Shiny Brites this year. It started when I found 2 boxes in my Grandmother's basement this summer. About a month later, I found a full box at a garage sale for $7 and then I found about 10 more at the thrift store for twenty fives cents each. Score!
Once cooked, chestnuts acquire a sweet flavour and a floury texture similar to the sweet potato. The cooked nuts can be used for stuffing poultry, as a vegetable or in nut roasts. They can also be used in confections, puddings, desserts and cakes. They are used for flour, bread making, a cereal substitute, coffee substitute, a thickener in soups and other cookery uses.
Roman soldiers were given chestnut porridge before going into battle and because of this the Romans planted sweet chestnut trees across all of conquered Europe. They also carried flat chestnut flour cakes to sustain them during long marches. An update of that cake is called castagnaccio.
Here's a recipe for castagnaccio.
3 cups chestnut flour / 10 walnut kernels minced / 2 cups pine nuts / 1 cup raisins / 2 twigs fresh rosemary /2 cups water / 4 tbsp olive oil extra virgin 1 pinch sea salt.
Pre-heat the oven to 180° C (356° F) and soak raisins in warm water for about 10/20 minutes.
Sift the chestnut flour in a bowl and add a pinch of sea salt.
Add the water and mix slowly with a whisk. Add a tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and keep whisking.
Put a baking sheet into the baking tray and grease it with oil.
Add a fistful of raisins (previously squeezed), pine nuts and walnut kernels, and mix.
Pour the dough in the baking tray and flatten it. Add the remaining walnuts, pine nuts and raisins and the two rosemary twigs. Sprinkle with a bit of extra virgin olive oil the surface of the dough.
Bake for about 25/30 minutes until you see small cracks on the surface and till it gets a chocolate brown colour.
Cut in slices and serve.
Recently acquired as the training bus, and now carrying a Badgerline inspired livery it is seen parked in Weston-Super-Mare.
Weston-Super-Mare Town Centre - 2016.
To see the full collection: www.busphotosuk.co.uk.
For photos available for purchase: www.ebay.co.uk/usr/busphotosuk
Rarely photographed are those buses which are acquired only to yield spares, rather than to operate in service.
This Dart was last operated some time ago by Bus Peris of Llanberis but remained in the livery of a prior owner - the now-demised Padarnbus. It was acquired by Nu Venture from a dealer in May 2017 after what looks to have been a lengthy period of outdoor storage.
It was not built to DDA spec thus would have required considerable internal alteration to meet mandatory current requirements, so it yielded its engine to prolong the life of an older (but DDA-compliant) Alexander Dennis-Dart, before being stripped of other reusable components then towed away for scrap in June 2017.
There has been a restlessness since acquiring my macro lens and with the weather patterns in CT. as of late resembling the effects of an aftermath from a nuclear holocaust, I decided to take over my kitchen table for closeup & macro work. I can see it now, I’ll either wither away from malnutrition or I’ll be forced to relocate to another sitting area to consume my daily meals.
Drove to Joanne’s Fabrics today and bought one yard of black velveteen for my backdrop. I was served at the cash register by an effervescent and charming young lady determined to give me a discount. She asked if I had any coupons which sadly I did not. She said, “every first Wednesday of the month we give discounts to seniors over 60 at 15% off. "Do you qualify?”
This is when I had my epiphany. I timidly replied, “Yes I qualify…” and as I saw my whole life before me and felt like the only person in the world she asked,” Is there anything else I can do for you?” I quickly replied, "Yes can you direct me to where you sell the walkers please!”, which in turn she laughed pretty hard. My day of reckoning; first time I realized, “I’m a senior!” What an awakening that was!
Spent the better part of an hour constructing a home studio for still life with two speedlights and then another hour cursing because I couldn’t get the light the way I wanted. I initially started with a mostly closed yellow tulip and the moment I switched to this lovely red rose, the whole image seemed to change.
It pays to just get lucky sometimes and at my age, getting lucky is everything!
Regards to my Flickr friends who patronize, fav, comment and lie about my images!