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...from a walk on the Nudgee Beach mangrove boardwalk.
Collared (Mangrove) Kingfisher
Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris
The Collared Kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher (body length of 23-27 cm) with a large, black kookaburra-like bill. These Kingfishers are dull olive-green above and white on the underbody, with a dark brownish-olive cap, white spot on the lores (between the bill and the eye) and a broad white collar on the neck that extends to join the white underbody. The uppertail and lower edge of the folded wings are blue. The Collared Kingfisher is easily confused with the much more common and widespread Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus. The two species have a very similar shape but the Collared Kingfisher is considerably larger and stockier, with a much longer and heavier bill. In the Collared Kingfisher the loral spot, underbody and collar are white, whereas they are buff in the Sacred, and the Sacred also has more blue on the folded wing. The Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii also occurs in the same region as the Collared but is much smaller, with a finer bill, and has strongly blue upperparts and white wing-patches (usually only obvious in flight). Birds are usually seen singly or in pairs. Its flight is swift and direct, and usually low over water or vegetation. The main call is a loud, strident, deliberate two or three note call, simialr to that of the Sacred Kingfisher.
Distribution: In Australia, the Collared Kingfisher extends around the northern coasts, from Shark Bay in northern Western Australia to the estuary of the Tweed River in far north-eastern NSW, with rare scattered records south of there, mainly south to the Clarence River. In NSW, the species is observed regularly only at Ukerebagh and nearby Cobaki Broadwater, and it breeds along the Tweed River estuary. Beyond Australia, the species is widely distributed from the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf in the Middle East, through southern and south-eastern Asia to Indonesia and New Guinea and east to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Habitat and ecology: Collared Kingfishers are virtually restricted to mangrove associations of estuaries, inlets, sheltered bays and islands, and the tidal flats and littoral zone bordering mangroves. They sometimes occur in terrestrial forests or woodlands bordering mangroves, where they will nest in holes in trees or in arboreal termitaria. They are sometimes seen in streets or gardens in built-up areas bordering mangrove vegetation. Nests are usually in holes in trunks of large, live or dead mangrove trees, though they sometimes nest in hollows or in arboreal termite nests in large eucalypts or paperbarks adjacent to mangroves or estuarine foraging habitats. They are often seen perched on rock walls, jetties, piles or on the ground on tidal flats. They also sometimes occur in parks and gardens along foreshores. Mostly take food from the ground, from the surface of mud and sand, mainly along seaward fringe of mangroves. Sometimes take food from shallow water or from air. The diet consists mostly of crustaceans, especially crabs, but they also take insects, small fish, and lizards. They have also been reported to occasionally take young birds.
Breeding is usually in spring and summer, with clutches observed in NSW in September to December, and young birds from October to January. Birds usually lay three eggs, but clutches of two to four recorded. Young leave the nest about 1 month after hatching.
(Source: NSW Government, Office of Environment nd Heritage)
© Chris Burns 2015
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One of many photos taken at on a night out in Hull in April 2023. This is a new dress by QUIZ.
PLEASE leave a comment rather than just clicking that Favourite button, after all if you like it then please tell me WHY you like it :)
Ruby Throated Hummingbird looking for food sources. Photo taken at Morgan Arboretum, Montreal.
Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated
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© Photography of Ricardo Gomez Angel
All rights reserved. All images on this website are the property of Ricardo Gomez Angel. Images may not be reproduced, copied or used in any way without written permission.
© Fotografía de Ricardo Gomez Angel
Todos los derechos reservados. Todas las imágenes contenidas en este sitio web son propiedad de Ricardo Gomez Angel. Las imágenes no se pueden reproducir, copiar o utilizar de ninguna manera sin el permiso escrito
Comments are welcome if you have an opinion about whether the right or left image is better. They're welcome anyway but I'm curious which one you like better.
In childhood, I had a relative whose house had a well and you had to pump a handle, like the one shown here, to get water. It was potable water from a well but you had to work for it.
Out of frame: this place had "grenade" style glass carbon tetrachloride fire extinguishers. In concept, good. Downside: in a fire the extinguishing agent decomposes into phosgene gas.
…It’s very hard to motivate change when the costs are up-front and the benefits [are later].
— Peter Orszag
Journalism grade images.
Source: 8,100x2,500 file composed of two 16-bit TIF files.
Please do not copy this image for any purpose.
Comments and Critic are highly appreciated.
Description: One of the single exposure shot taken during my timelapse shot on a lovely afternoon while overlooking the traffic jam on the AKLEH.
Filter: Singh Ray RGND (0.9)
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Hafidz Abdul Kadir / © All rights reserved
Thank you all for your comments and faves!
Blog: www.miksmedia.photography/
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Bizon Loop, Elk Island NP, the evening of Strawberry Moon in June.
#34: As of 11/15/19, of my 2000+ pics, this is listed as #34 in most # of comments.
#352: As of 11/5/19, of my 2000+ pics, this is listed as #352 in most # of faves.
#468: As of 11/5/19, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 1900+ pics, this is listed as #468 in "interestingness."
VIDEO AT: youtu.be/FUWi3fLImo0
Since 2017, I've been engaging in a number of short, private crossdressing opportunities at home, after acquiring and trying out some new clothes, shoes, and accessories. This is another pic posted from this renewed CD activity, and was taken inside my house.
As usual, I really enjoy color-coordinating attractive/sexy/cute outfits, and this one features:
* a Sepia Collection "Broadway" long layered curly frosted golden blonde wig with bangs, from Wig Factory in SF;
* Jennifer Lopez yellow patent "Alana" leather pumps with cork platforms & 5.3"-stiletto-heels, from Kohl's;
* a light yellow/cream striped mock-button-front ribbed-knit miniskirt, from Forever 21;
* a light yellow geo-design open-knit scoopneck sweater, from Forever 21;
* neon yellow wide-net fishnet tights, from WeLoveColors.com;
* a yellow 3"-wide waist belt, from BeltIsCool.com;
* an INC yellow polyester sheer scarf with printed botanicals/florals & tassels, from Macy's;
* yellow/gold bracelets and necklace;
* gold rings & hoop earrings; and
* gold/clear "ear cuffs" (long dangling jewelry cuffed to the sides of the ears), from Forever 21.
The full video (2019-07-10 video1) is now posted on my YouTube channel at youtu.be/FUWi3fLImo0. Please check it out and comment/fave here and/or there if you like what you see.
More about this and other 2017-19 pics has been written up in my profile or "About" page here on Flickr. It details some choices made for these 2017-19 pics.
Let me know your thoughts... :-)
+1 in comment
فارِغ كَـ شخصٍ أَحََبَّ أن يُُظهِر بأنه كُل شَيء ، ولكن ؛ لمْ يَملأ داخِلهُ سِوى الفَراغ !
* رجاءًا عند الرغبة في نقل أي خاطرة لي أتمنى نقلها مع الحقوق ,,
\ ASK
Still im terrible for titles lol
its just that i love the look in his eyes<3
aww now he has this white beard
he's getting old:(
(he's 10)
welll how is your day going?
i hope great:D
and thanks so much for the comments:D
i heart you guys!
'And I guess I'll just begin again
You say can we still be friends''
- Ready To Start by Arcade Fire
PLEASE, no multi invitations (none is better) in your comments. Thanks for all your wonderful comments and visits.
I WILL NOT BE RETURNING COMMENTS, SORRY, SEE YOU ALL IN 5 OR 6 WEEKS --- KEEP SMILING :-) :-) :-) :-) ;-) :-)
Port Bickerton Lighthouse - Bickerton was settled in 1840 by a group of fishermen from Peggy's Cove. Although Bickerton Island was settled first, the area surrounding the lighthouse was settled soon afterwards. Port Bickerton, Nova Scotia, Canada
It was not until 1901 that the first of three lighthouses was constructed in Port Bickerton. Emery Taylor of Stillwater, N.S. was contracted to build the lighthouse with a bid of only five hundred dollars.
As the years passed, it was clear that the lighthouse was not a sturdy building and in about 1924 it was replaced, probably by a temporary light. In 1930 the light was first shown from the combined light and dwelling which still remains on the station. (This building is now the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Interpretive Centre and is open to the public.)
A fire in the district in 1947 brought the lighthouse dangerously close to destruction. The blaze started across the peninsula in Fisherman's Harbour and worked its way to the light. Fortunately, residents in the community were able to douse the fire with water from the sea. The light escaped destruction with only some damage to the roof.
Until 1948, the fog warning device consisted of a small, manually operated fog horn and was utilized only when boats were entering the harbour. Electricity was introduced to the Port Bickerton area in December 1947, and along with it came an automatic fog horn. The first automatic horn sounded from the Port Bickerton light October 20, 1948. Now on top of ensuring that the light itself remained lit, the keepers also had to start the engine for the fog horn. They were responsible, as well, for relaying the weather over a two-way radio. In 1962 the light was converted to electricity. Up until that time oil had been used.
The Nova Scotia Lighthouse Society. www.nslps.com/index.aspx
Anser albifrons
Greater White-fronted Goose
Blässgans
Blisgås
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If you like my pictures please have a look at:
Wenn Ihnen meine Bilder gefallen, besuchen Sie bitte meine Homepage
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PLEASE, NO AWARDS, no Copy and Paste Comments and no group icons like "your wonderful photo was seen in group xyz". They will all be deleted.
BITTE KEINE AWARDS, kopierte Kommentare oder diese Gruppen-Icons wie "Ich habe Dein wunderbares Bild in Gruppe xyz gesehen". Die werden gelöscht.
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Comments always appreciated, as long as you keep it clean - I love to hear your feedback! xx
I was shopping at the supermarket and I bumped into our lovely friends (and regulars at Leeds First Fiday) Janet and Phil! We did well to recognise each other in the masks!
All comments regarding this picture, subject, composition, etc are welcome and appreciated. TIA.
To see more pictures of Great Gray Owls, please visit my Great Gray Owl album at www.flickr.com/photos/black_cat_photography/albums/721577...
To see my pictures on flickr river - please visit www.flickriver.com/photos/black_cat_photography/popular-i...
To learn more about these magnificent birds please visit www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Gray_Owl/overview
All comments regarding this picture, subject, composition, etc are welcome and appreciated. TIA.
To see more pictures of Great Gray Owls, please visit my Great Gray Owl album at www.flickr.com/photos/black_cat_photography/albums/721577...
To see my pictures on flickr river - please visit www.flickriver.com/photos/black_cat_photography/popular-i...
To learn more about these magnificent birds please visit www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Gray_Owl/overview
© All rights reserved
eurasian sparrowhawk ~ accipiter nisus (male)
RSPB Green status
In the last of the light this sparrowhawk flew out of the low sunlight and into a bush taking out a great tit. Ironically I was watching a kestrel hovering nearby and hoping it would come a bit closer. I wasn't prepared for this nor were the birds. Seconds later the sparrowhawk carried his kill away. A shame as he could have had a decent meal of "tree rat" with a choice of four of them only minutes earlier.:-)
While I really appreciate your comments and awards, invites etc. please NO holiday/seasonal, flashy/glittery images.
Nala et Cachemire.Ce dernier n'a qu'une semaine...et il est déjà debout et solide sur ses pattes...Dame Nature y a vu...
*******
Vous lire est un plaisir.Merci de votre visite,vos commentaires,vos invitations et favoris.
To read your comments is a pleasure.Thank you for your visit,comments,invitations and faves
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Comment Box ..CLOSED..
but will be returning faves "Share + Look"
All best wish happy and take care 2022
Aber Lin
April/08/2022
😍😍😷😷💉💉💉😷😷😍😍
Manufacturer: Rockwell
Operator: USAF
Type: B-1B Lancer
Event/ Location: 2022 Aerospace Valley Air Show
Comment: The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. It is commonly called the "Bone". It is one of three strategic bombers serving in the U.S. Air Force fleet along with the B-2 Spirit and the B-52 Stratrofortress
Comments are always welcome and favs most appreciated.
Comentarios y favs son siempre bienvenidos
© Photography of Ricardo Gomez Angel
All rights reserved. All images on this website are the property of Ricardo Gomez Angel. Images may not be reproduced, copied or used in any way without written permission.
© Fotografía de Ricardo Gomez Angel
Todos los derechos reservados. Todas las imágenes contenidas en este sitio web son propiedad de Ricardo Gomez Angel. Las imágenes no se pueden reproducir, copiar o utilizar de ninguna manera sin el permiso escrito
Any comments and favs are very much appreciated
If you like my creative work, please follow the tracking or other social networking sites below
如果喜歡我的創作與拍攝,歡迎按追蹤
非常感激
Follow me:
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Contact information :
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WeChat ID: Kelvin9925
email : iwakuma.kelvin@gmail.com
Comments are always welcome and favs most appreciated.
Comentarios y favs son siempre bienvenidos
© Photography of Ricardo Gomez Angel
All rights reserved. All images on this website are the property of Ricardo Gomez Angel. Images may not be reproduced, copied or used in any way without written permission.
© Fotografía de Ricardo Gomez Angel
Todos los derechos reservados. Todas las imágenes contenidas en este sitio web son propiedad de Ricardo Gomez Angel. Las imágenes no se pueden reproducir, copiar o utilizar de ninguna manera sin el permiso escrito
#Repost @foundr ・・・ Might as well try your luck 😂or as an entrepreneur are you making your own luck? Double tap and leave a comment below! 👇 flic.kr/p/NhagWj
Ce matin-là, cette femme de l'ethnie Surma, prénommée Toulaoli, est venue à notre bivouac pour nous montrer avec fierté le labret d'argile qu'elle a façonné la veille devant nous et qu'elle a fait cuire le soir dans son village.
Ce labret nous a été offert, (peut-être quand même en échange de quelques birs) ; il fait désormais partie de notre cabinet de curiosités.
Le port du labret (ou plateau labial) traditionnellement pratiqué chez les Surma et les Mursi, s'il disparait peu à peu et ne concerne plus guère que les femmes un peu âgées, est cependant encore porté par certaines femmes jeunes.
On trouve beaucoup d'erreurs et d'affirmations fantaisistes (comme cette explication souvent citée qui voudrait que l'enlaidissemnt des femmes portant le labret, les protègent des razzias des esclavagistes) dans les textes qui évoquent le port du labret chez les femmes Mursi et Surma, même dans les ouvrages les plus classiques sur le sujet. De tous les textes que j'ai consulté, celui qui me parait le plus sérieux à ce propos est celui-ci :
journals.openedition.org/imagesrevues/2501
Je m'en suis inspiré pour écrire ce texte.
Après avoir enlevé les incisives inférieures, la lèvre inférieure des jeunes-femmes surma est percée puis étirée progressivement en utilisant des disques de plus en plus grands. Après quelques mois d'étirement, la lèvre est si élastique qu'on peut y introduire le labret sans difficulté
Les contextes cérémoniels sont propices au port du labret, par exemple les danses et autres moments de séduction, ou lorsqu’une épouse sert un repas à son mari et ses hôtes, ou encore lors de la plupart des rituels, seuls moments réunissant plus de personnes que le voisinage immédiat. Les moments où le labret s’impose sont assez bien définis et, dans tous les cas, le port du labret correspond à la présence d'hommes.
Le labret est porté de la maturité sexuelle à la naissance des premiers enfants, c'est-à-dire pendant quelques années seulement. Les femmes le délaisseront ensuite et la lèvre se rétractera
Les femmes surma fabriquent elles-mêmes leurs labret. Elles utilisent une boule de terre argileuse humidifiée qu'elles frappent longuement afin d’en extraire les poches d’air et d’augmenter sa densité. Petit à petit, cette boule est aplatie et un disque apparaît. Une fois que celui-ci atteint le diamètre voulu, les doigts mouillés de la femme qui le fabrique dessinent sur la tranche un sillon large d’une lèvre, le plus lisse et régulier possible. Il est ensuite jeté dans les braises d’un feu et, selon le procédé de cuisson et d’oxydation, deviendra noir, rouge, brun ou blanc.
Quant à la signification du labret, cette étude, après avoir rapelé l'importance primordiale des bovins dans la culture Surma, en donne une interprétaion originale que je vous livre : "Le labret participe à réduire la distance entre forme des visages et forme des faces. Aux femmes, il manque le mufle [ ... ]. Le labret change les proportions du visage féminin qui s’approchent alors de celles du bovin".
Comment Box ..CLOSED..
but will be returning faves "Share + Look"
All best wish happy and take care 2021
Aber Lin
May/07/2021
Ned Mansour - Beautifoto Model
Please check out my Role Play Story
The Reception Game
Based on actual experiences instigated by my ”Peeps”
Comments and Feedbacks are profoundly appreciated and reciprocated
A rather roguish Game of Dare played and pickpocketed out at a fancy dress wedding reception
Cadence Abbot,Craig Abbot,Ginny B. and Brian Mc
Mystery Chicanery thief jewel tomfoolery prank pickpocket romance trick shenanigans
The Reception Game
Chapter 1
A forethought
“The wedding was a bit over the top. The bride wanted her girl’s dresses to be something they would wear out again. A nice thought, but the gowns she found were a little too long for anything but formal evening wear, according to our girls who were asked to be part of the bridal party. The maid of honour wore a red silk version; the six Bridesmaids wore theirs in black satin.” Each of the girls had also been presented with a matching collection of Swarovski rhinestones “traditional classic darlings”! The jewellery, when added to the girl’s ensemble, further enhanced the red carpet like the atmosphere of the Bridal party coterie’!
^^^^^^^^^^
Intro of the story proper:
“A few years ago, “Ginny” was watching some type of show when I heard her squeal out. Our Golden Retriever ‘Sam’ meandered back in to see what all the fuss was about? I obediently followed. Ginny pointed out to us a model who was wearing, rather fetchingly I might add, a long black satin gown. That’s m’ gown Ginny exclaimed, you remember, the one I wore at “Sheila’s” wedding, the one where my necklace was sn…., But at that point her attention was diverted back to her program. Squirrel I teased as Sam and I watched with her.
It was a gown strikingly very similar in colour, cut, and material to the one worn by Ginny ( and me sister) at a chums wedding years before ( and winningly worn several times hence I might add). It is a pretty thing to behold my charming Ginny sporting it, and in its time, it has born witness to a few goings-on that most ladies wearing a gown like that would never encounter…….”
Chapter 2
Story Proper begins
*************************************** ****************************************
This story is true and is really pretty much told as it happened.
What we did may sound daft, but read and understand the circumstances, plus realize we all were pretty well lit up with the drink.
I will plead guilty at having enhanced certain aspects of the story.
For indeed, the truth can be stranger than fiction… and coincidences occur, both sweet and bitter….. as I’m sure someone once said.
So here goes it….
My twin sister and our friend “Ginny” were invited to join a school chums bridal party. The groom didn’t have enough to go around so my sister’s boyfriend “Brian” and I was pressed, not unwillingly, into service.
As I stated earlier, the wedding and reception were both over the top posh. So much so that our opinions, and subsequent escapades, were still coming up amongst us as a topic of conversation at our local haunt The ‘Poet and the Peasant Pub’, kept by Brian’s Auntie and Uncle...
www.flickr.com/groups/poet_and_the_peasant__pub_/
The Wedding proper was held at the local Cathedral. A rather decadent place built with a hearty clash of gothic/ medieval styles; with black stone towers, Lancet arches, and fly away buttresses.
Inside one finds white marble columns, oak pews blackened with age, intricate woodwork and ghostly while statues. All lit with hanging diamond shaped antique glass lights and colourful lead glass stained windows depicting a horde of medieval era religious scenes.
I twas a fine backdrop for the rather glamorously attired guests in attendance. The wedding ceremony itself would have been an interesting tale in and of itself, but that telling will await another day, for mine has its’ beginnings at the Reception.
The Reception was held in the basement, a grand place with an opulent ballroom, well-stocked bar room and elegant dining area. The subterranean basement was decorated richly along the same grand lines as the interior of the ancient Cathedral above.
We were some time at the reception when my Ginny , who had been held up on her way back from the loo by a snobbish dowager feeling the need to criticise someone, regained her seat by plopping down with a loud woosh.
That was a chore, being picked apart by that “lovely !” creature. she exclaimed cynically, whilst adjusting her loose brooch. We all just smirked. I had received the same treatment from the lecturing prig earlier that evening.
Well, to be honest, my twin sister and Brian just actually were smirking at that. I believe my attention at the time was rather more occupied on the area where Ginny’s Brooch lay, which was the proper cause of my smirk! (naughty me)
Finished, Ginny than leaned against my sister, and, still reeling from being inappropriately chided, made a snide comment about the flimsy clasps on the shimmering jewelry they were wearing. My Sister, touching her necklace, told her, “ no worries, luv, no one would nick them anyways, they are only rhinestones”. Except my ring isn’t, said Ginny looking down at the ruby ring she was wearing on her pinky. My sister, thinking a minute, retorted “Then one never knows… “, It looked like she was going to add something to that, but at that point the band restarted, and we joined the swarm of fancy dress gowns, silky dresses, suits and tuxes worn by the chic guests as they herded to the dance floor.
As we headed off, I was still perplexed about what had been going on in Sis’s head that made her come out with that reply, and I swear she had stolen a look at me while saying it. But as I had watched her pull at an earring to emphasize how loose the sparkling jewel was, a seed was planted in my head about a subject I myself had always found rather intriguing, pickpocketing jewelry!
Chapter 3
Chicanery
Much later that evening, found Brian, my sister, and I alone, and probably more than a little drunk (always a precarious time with us). As Sis and Brain chatted on about a topic I had soon lost interest in, I started to watch Ginny, who had been asked to dance by some twit with shifty eyes in a red silk shirt, (open collared), who had rudely cut in on us. As I watched Ginny’s swishing gown liquidly move and flutter about in quite an interesting exhibition, I found meself mesmerized by the beckoning manner in which her healthy display of rhinestones were tantalizingly sparkling about( as they had been all evening). I looked back at my sister, and her own show of jewelry, also sparkling up nicely against the smooth black satin backdrop of her own matching gown...
Still not being able to shake me twin’s earlier comment about nicking jewels, nor its answer, out of my head, I waited for a lull in conversation to finally chance asking my twin about her comments.
She looked at me, having to think back a bit about the question, ( As I said, we were more drunk than sober by then), placing a nicely ringed finger to her lips, while regrouping her thoughts. Got it, she exclaimed! Proudly remembering what had triggered her memory, and with that, she started to explain.
When she was a tyke of about 7, there was a show that she had seen on the tele that centered on this group of people trying to reform a thief. Believing that he had turned a new leaf, they threw a fancy dress dance for him in honour of his new ways. During the dance, he cut in and danced with each of the three ladies who had been trying to teach him the errors of his ways. From one he slipped off her long diamond earrings, from a second her diamond necklace was lifted away, but me sister was unsure what the scoundrel took from the third. Sis had reckoned that the earrings and necklaces that she and Ginny were wearing that evening, looked a lot like the ones worn by ( and nicked from) the ladies on that show.
Now, as me twin described the thief’s antics, certain emotions awakened, rearing their tantalizing heads; my mind began wandering in some deep waters, pulled bout by some deep personal emotions. Cause I had been sitting on the couch with her when as quite young children, we had seen a repeat of that episode.
As it happened my sister had been outside earlier playing dress up in one of mum’s old party frocks and was still wearing it, along with a set of costume pearls. Suddenly, that day, I wanted nothing more in the world than to lift the pearls she was wearing. I simmered over it for the rest of the program, getting to the point of actually laying my arm on the back of the couch, inching my fingers towards the clasp of her pearls laying there upon the back of her throat. But then the show ended, and I got no closer to stealing anything more than a touch of a quite soft old evening gown. After the show ended, I warily suggested we go back outside and play Robin Hood (my sister has always been into his story).
We did, and as Sir Robin led her to his hideout, conveniently located through a thicket of Hawthorne’s, the pretty Maid Marion’s pearls mysteriously melted away.
That is when I had I had my epiphany, hitting me like a brick wall! Waiting till sis finished her story, I pointed out to Ginny, and asked the pair, If Ginny had been the third lady he had danced with, what jewels do you think he would have found easiest to lift from her while dancing?
Chapter 4
A Devious Dare
Brian, always the more pragmatic of the group, snorted, that rot only happens in stories and movies mate!
I said I would bet it can be done!
This quid says I can lift a piece of Ginny’s jewelry with her never noticing. Sis chimed in, you wouldn’t dare, but she was looking at me like she knew the answer already. Brian caught her tone, and took me up on it, betting me the quid that I couldn’t get away with lifting her necklace,( I liked his choice, it had been a necklace that “Sir Robin” had first lifted from me sisters neck that day in the woods long past).
At this time the music ended, and Ginny swished back to rejoin us. As we played mute about our plans, we welcomed the damsel back and acted like there had been nothing in the world goin on amongst us while she was out dancing.
We drank and talked for a bit more, and I was all but certain that Brian and my sister had all but forgotten the wager.
But I hadn’t, nor had I been able to keep my eyes from studying the glittery rhinestones Ginny had draped around her pretty throat. When a slow song started up, I rose and asked Ginny to a dance. I caught Brian’s eyes, and read the dare reflecting in them, so we were still on with the wager.
Leading Ginny to the dance floor, we embraced, and danced to the pretty song beginning to play, it twas a slow romantic one ( lady in red If I recall correctly). Ginny was absolute pure heaven in my arms, and I found me self so entrapped by her charms, that all ambitions to be a thief and make an attempt upon her lovely rhinestone necklace fell to the wayside.
As the song was ending, I caught a look from Brian across the dance floor, noticing that he smugly was looked at Ginny’s throat. I did not want to lose me quid on principle (I swear), so as the dance ended I held onto Ginny, waiting. Soon a second song started, disappointedly a more fast-paced one with a Latin beat. I spun Ginny around onto the floor before she had time to catch a breath, we danced, like the song which played says:
And we… danced like a wave on the ocean, romanced
We were liars in love and we danced
Swept away for a moment by chance
And we danced, danced, danced
And dance we did, hot, furious and fast. A couple of times I spun Ginny around, and the poor girl already a bit tipsy, fell against me, giggling. About the third time I spun her, she stopped, and dropped backside into me and began to do this sort of gyrating move, slithering up and down my front side, with her hands held high above her head, her longish ginger hair had fallen over one shoulder, exposing her necklace in all its fine brilliance. As her warm, sweaty figure slipped up and down against mine, I watched the back of her throat, eyeing the necklace as it sparkled opulently in the dim lights. I started Studying, intently, the sparkly chain with its simple hook in eye clasp.
She brought her hands down behind me back, crossing them behind me waist. My right hand went to the front of her waist, holding onto her squirming, satin slippery sweating figure, pressing her warm body tightly against me.
My left hand went up to her shoulder, gliding along with the glossy slick fabric of her black satin gown until I reached her necklace. It only took seconds for my fingers to lift up, and slip off the hook from its” eye”, letting the shimmering chain slither down the front side of Ginny’s satin clad breasts. My right hand left her waist, and traveled nimbly, tingling, all the way up the front until my fingers grasped the dangling chain. My left hand let go, and the necklace whisked down the front of her perking bosom, tightly covered by the glossy black satin bridesmaid gown. The whole bit of thievery took me only a few chords of the music, but it seemed to be carried out in slow motion in the process.
We finished out the song, me basking in the fact that my gyrating partner was innocently unaware that her shiny necklace had been pinched, and was now residing in her dance partner's vest pocket!
I will admit feeling a twinge of regret that it no longer could be seen glittering from around its’ mistress’s now bare throat.
Chapter 5
The Race to be unnoticed
We made our way back to the others, Brian had a smug look on his bearded face, I knew he was up to something. As I sat down, he whispered double it or nothing mate, that she notices it’s missing before we leave. I nodded, taking him up on it.
So, the game was still on, and for the last two hours that we stayed at the reception poor Ginny became the unknowing centre of our somewhat devious game1
Brain, eagerly waiting for Ginny to notice her missing necklace, tried, for the most part, to remain mute. I sweated it a bit, but his saboteur’s tactics failed.
I’ll admit I hadn’t thought it out before agreeing, but what probably should have been a suckers bet, with a million ways for Ginny to notice her necklace was playing hooky, apparently was going with the long odds for me to win.
I sweated it a bit, but no-one else amongst the crowd pointed out, or even seemed to care that Ginny was no longer wearing her necklace! Even the bloke in the open-collared re shirt, who managed to steal Ginny away for another dance, failed to say anything. Which made me a mite curious as to where his attention span had been focused.
Even when me sister tried to help Brian out by playing with her own jeweled necklace while she held Ginny’s attention during the conversation, and then again in the ladies' powder room flashing her necklace in the mirror, she failed to cause a reaction!
Through all this, the poor creature never quite caught on that her necklace had been lifted from her throat! Unscrupulously nicked away on a whimsical bet while innocently dancing!
And continued danced with me she did, all of us thoroughly enjoying the rest of the evening’s attractions, along with the bit of fun we were having at poor Ginny’s expense.! But I made damn sure that our poor victim had the time of her life for my repentance.
Then during our last slow dance, I did start to harbour the prickling thought of trying for another of Ginny’s baubles. But the thought of winning 2 quid from Brian, who in his time has won a bit more from me than I from him, kept my thoughts of further thievery in check! I knew my spirit was weakening. Fortunately, we left soon afterwards….
Chapter 6
Innocents Abroad
We finally left the reception after midnight and made our way along the ten city blocks back to the hotel where Ginny and my twin sister shared a joining room with Brian and meself.
Ginny walked calmly with us, unaware of the picaresque devils that were us, keeping pace beside her. As were making our way through a short cut in a wooded Provincial park, we stopped in a small isolated glen and circled around Ginny. Sis was grinning as she asked poor unawares Ginny; So luv, whatever did happen to your necklace? Gin’s reaction was absolutely, rewardingly priceless.
Ginny, a relatively innocent soul, who is prone to believing most anything told to her, started, and her hand went to her throat, feeling about fruitlessly, as her rustling glossy gown and remaining jewels glistened darkly sparkling in the full moons’ light.
“M’ necklace, why it’s gone? , where did it go! she pleaded helplessly, her thought patterns and speech a little slurred by her rather intoxicated condition. We then got into it, playing dumb along with her, and tried to figure out the “mystery” I said the last time I saw it was when that seedy bloke cut in, and I ran my hand up her back, feeling the shivers going down her spine, did the blighter touch you like that, then luv. No she said, then thought hard, no she repeated, he couldn’t have, he was a proper gentleman, and it was only rhinestone like your sister said.
I don’t know said Brian, never trust any gent who doesn’t wear a tie to fancy dress! He had to ‘ave been up to no good, that one!
My sister then commented that the bloke may " have not noticed no difference", and she held out her own necklace, I’m glad he didn’t ask me to dance.
No, Ginny shook her head, her long earrings flickering a frenzied fire out from her let down ginger hair, no one could have lifted them like that, I’d have felt it….I’m sure of that…!
She looked desperately around at us, then seeing the look on upon our faces, Ginny froze with the realization that we had all been up to something, and, then a smile of relief showed up on her pretty face, as I held up her necklace, sparkling in front of her eyes. A sly look of understanding that we had been up to something crept into those dazzling green eyes, as she told us now to spill it out.
We explained the whole tale as Sis helped Ginny place her necklace back on. Ginny, with her usual good humor, said she had never noticed a thing, and it probably was a good thing we weren’t real thieves because if her necklace had been diamonds, it would have been worth a small fortune. And shame on us for having her believe it was that poor blighter in the red shirt.
We wouldn’t’ make very good thieves I agreed we drink too much. She just smiled, a curious-looking gleam creeping up into those witchy green eyes of hers. Let’s get going before we meet a real thief then, urged my sister, all this talk about someone thinking our jewels are real is giving me the right chills.
Our drunken little group then merrily, if not a little more guardedly, made our way home...
Chapter 7
Farewell My Lovely
This next bit is my favorite.
We rode the elevator up to the boy’s room, as the girls called our room, where we drank beer, danced to music and talked on a bit about the reception. The girls stayed in dress and I happily soaked up the rather pretty picture the pair of admirably attractive girls presented with their long sheets of straight hair now just hanging down, their “diamonds” sparkling and all other assorted frills enticing.
About two hours later found Brian and myself sitting on the couch in kind of a hazy stupor while holding onto our beers. Ginny and my sister were standing directly in front of us, holding beers of their own and giggling over some girlish nonsense, the hypnotic swaying of their longish glossy black satin gowns slowly putting me to sleep.
Brain, draining his beer, got up to get another, bumping against my sister and playfully grabbed a handful. My sister started giggling at him as he sauntered off grinning, turning her figure so the brooch at the centre of her gowns’ waistline almost whacked me on the nose. Half asleep I reached over and gingerly lifted it up.
Looking up at the girls I saw that neither was paying no never mind towards me. Ginny, however, laid a hand on my twin's shoulder, drawing her close so she could whisper some girlish secret about Brian. I continued on and was able to undo the brooch and slip it carefully off without notice. I slipped her jewel into my pocket; waiting until I could think, now that I did the deed, just how I would tease her about it.
Brian stopped on the way back and reset the music, a slow song came up. Sis went to him, and the pair started dancing. I rose and took Ginny by the hand, followed suit, leading her to the bit of a dance floor we had cleared. She was again, pure heaven in my arms and my hands slipped liberally up and down her smooth, slinky gowned figure.
Ginny smiled! I knew that smile and realized that something was going on behind her pretty green eyes.
She flicked back her sheet of ginger hair and leaned against me. I saw you, she huskily whispered, her voice putting a tickle in my ear. Saw me I asked, not getting it. I saw you lift that dame’s diamond brooch, Ginny said in a sultry voice as she looked over towards where my sister was dancing, (no, she was actually swooning), in Brian’s arms.
Now mate, you see that one over there, in the black dancing with the bearded gent? I looked over, as she continues, look at ‘er necklace, I have a fancy for diamonds, and if you don’t want me to call security, I suggest you get hers for me, darling, she said with conspiracy-like tones, acting like she was some old-time actress in a movie. I loved the devilishness of Ginny’s role play idea and it did not take much to toss me, whole heart and soul, into the assignment!.
Chapter 8
To Please a Dame
Now wide awake, I got fully into Ginny’s game. As we continued dancing, my eyes watched Brian and me sister, taking careful inventory of all the “dames” sparkling jewelry. Sis turned, and caught my eyes looking her over, she blushed, and not knowing what was really going through my mind, smiled at me. As I smiled back, my eyes drinking her fetchingly attired figure up!
I was imagining that all of her ample collection of rhinestones so prettily positioned on her figure, were real diamonds. And that I was an actual thief plotting to nick her lovely sparklers. I looked into Ginny’s eyes. You have a deal miss, I whispered, making my voice deep and throaty, as I imagined meself as some, albeit drunk, Humphrey Bogart type character in some grittily shadowy film noir style black and white movie.
The song ended and a second, even slower one began playing. Brian and my sister were still locked into each other’s arms, but I felt that the time to make my move was now. Throwing Ginny a wink, I went over and cut in, Brian looked drunkenly at me like “whattsup chap,” but Ginny was right behind and swirled him conveniently away before he could properly react.
And as I took the pretty, wide-eyed with innocence looking “dame” into my arms I found it exciting that she was oblivious to my nefarious intentions. Naïvely unaware, that in indifference to her own words earlier, someone did now want to nick the jewelry which was quite so merrily dangling from her svelte figure. Now, don’t forget at this point to me she was no longer my sister, but a sweet innocent victim weighted down with desirable loot. And I? I was nothing more than a suave thief deliciously hungering after her bright baubles, albeit, a slightly inebriated suave thief!
I bided my time, appearing to look into my twins/victims half-opened eyes ( she was really quite lit by this time, as we all were), my mind was working overtime on how the best approach to reach my objective. Then it came to me, quite clearly, and so Bob became my uncle, and I began his suggested approach…. And if I would have dared say so at the time, I executed my bit of jewel thievery like a pro…. That is if there are actually pros at this sort of thing1?
Employing the same method that I remembered the thief using in the Gilligan’s Island episode to remove his dance partners necklace, I began to compliment my twin on how devastating her and Ginny looked both looked that evening (no lies), slowly moving my one hand up the slick material of the gown covering her back as I whispered my praise. Easily I reached the dangling part of her hook and eye necklace with its’ glittering rows of “diamonds”. She ate it up, blushing and closing her eyes, naively cooperating by tilting her head down, exposing even more of the back of her throat, and laying bare the chain of her “diamond” necklace. As she fawned over my words of (not false) praise, I subtly lifted up the chain of her necklace, whilst my free hand held her ever so her tightly around the waist. For the second time that evening, I could feel the heat emanating from my victim's squirming figure. As well as again feeling me own heart pounding a storm.
I gently used my free left hands’ fingers to unhooked the clasp, and let the necklace fall over her one shoulder. Sis never felt it hanging, or noticed it as I peeled it off her chest (whisking along her gown smooth as silk) and pulled it over her gown’s satin shoulder till it slipped sparkling down behind her. I held it hanging loose behind her back for a few turns, still pouring out the compliments, until I pocketed it, letting it join her purloined brooch.
Meanwhile, Brian had left Ginny to go to the loo, and I saw Ginny, who had been eagerly watching all of it, give me a wink. Then she turned and stole out the apartment door, her longish slinking gown slipping through behind her as she closed the door. I made ready to make some excuse to break away from my sister and head after her with my loot.
But just as I opened my mouth to make that excuse, Sis pulled her arms behind me head, and laid her own head back on my shoulder and closed her tired eyes, getting into the music’s deep beat. One of her longish rhinestone earrings just hung there sparkling, mocking me to touch it, and like Ginger's diamonds, I saw them as quite ripe for the picking.
With the prize within my grasp, I momentarily forgot about the departing Ginny, and I made my move. I found meself trembling a bit, as I reached up and placed my hands gently alongside her ear, her eyes still shut, my victim smiled prettily. The rest of the maneuver was surprisingly easy, as I glided my fingers down and slipped it off the earring in one effortless motion. The sparkling beauty came away from her sweaty ear as smoothly as an ice cube moves along a steaming hot grill ( I actually did have a thought like that).
I held it in one fist for a bit, watching my victim, she had not felt so much as a tickle on her earlobe, as I had removed her earring. Relishing in my success, I looked at it dangling and shimmering in my hand behind her back. Then, as I secured her diamonds away, I thought about trying for the other. But thought better of it, knowing Ginny was just waiting on the other side of the door.
I finished out the dance, taking my sister's hand with its dazzling bracelet and rings, and admired them while I kissed it, the “Dames” Bracelet tantalizing slipped down along her wrist and brushed against me knuckles. At that moment, we both heard the toilet flushing, and my twin looked over her shoulder laughing. As she did do, I saw an opportunity opening up and taking her dangling diamonded bracelet in me fingers, tugged it down ever so discreetly. Surprisingly the clasp popped opened ( right about being flimsy luv, I silently agreed with my twin’s earlier statement)!
I daringly pulled it free from around her wrist and slipped it in me pocket just as she turned back around to face her dance partner. I could see in her eyes that she had not felt nor noticed anything out of place.
“I’d better be off after Ginny”
I said, clearing my throat, and then, with no fanfare, let go of her hand. It dropped to her side, rings flashing, purloined bracelet gone from where it had, with cheeky regally, had been holding shimmering court all evening.
“Nice doing business with you!”
I said, bemused as I watched the puzzlement creep into her half-awake eyes while I backed away from her towards the door.
And that chaps, is how I left her. With my grainy black and white movie still playing out in my mind.
She just was standing there puzzled, a wealthy lady in fancy dress, unknowingly watching the dashing stranger leave, along with the “fortune” in her jewels she had foolishly been wearing in a dive like this!
. She innocently watched me as I left the room with her “diamonds” in my scoundrel’s possession!
Chapter 9
A Quite Curious Encounter
Ginny came swishing into view from around the corner as I shut the door with a subtle click.
I smiled fully as she came up to me and started to say something to her, eager to caw about my evil deviousness.
She smiled and place a finger to my lips. Her hazel green eyes smirked as she said “Not yet lad, let’s take a walk away from here, what needs to be done next is best done in secret.”
“You mean the jewels “ I started to ask but she shushed me.
“That and ... other things laddie she said with a sly look in her eyes!
So we took the stairs down and made our way out into the unusually light foggy evening!
For the world was now ours, as we made our journey together, hand in hand.
We ended up making a very long stroll in the Provincial Park, and reentering the same isolated, secret glen we had been in earlier.
It was not until then that We proceeded to continue acting out the role-playing game we had started at the apartment.
Ginny went to the middle of the clearing to wait, pretending she was smoking, like a moll from a gangster movie.
I circled and watched her sparkling figure, black shiny gown and glittery diamonds, moving without purpose in the shadow of the glen.
And as I did, my thoughts wandered a bit, and I remember reflecting ( not for the first time) how in the older black n whites, the heroine, or villainous, is always wearing gowns, elegant long gloves, and jeweled to the sparkling hilt.
Then she walks alone to and then waits in some dark alley or other desolate spots for her contact, or hero to show up, much like Ginny was acting out now.
So how is it that those fancy dressed and well jeweled unescorted dames, always manage to get to those spots and can wait around in them alone, in those movies, and nary ever meet a ruffian who strips them of those pricy looking sparklers they are flaunting about?
Just saying!
After murmuring a brief prayer that my thoughts were not about to be tempting fate of that type to occur to us now that I had been thinking it, I came out of the shadows and approached Ginny/femme Fatales.
Keeping my left hand in my pocket like I was carrying a heater.
“Hey sister, I said, been waiting long?”
“No, she whispered, did you get the goods.”
“Hot as ice I said proudly.” producing the necklace I had liberated from the dancing “dame” and dangled it hypnotically in front of her eyes.
As I showed Ginny my take from “the dame”, she squealing over the fact I was able to acquire the “Broads” necklace of dripping “ice”.
Playing a thief’s role, I kept mum about Acquiring the Dames earring, no honour amongst thieves I thought mischievously.
Which in the game we were playing, proved to be the right move.
As Ginny admired the necklace we both laughed over what the “dames” reaction would be when the jewels were discovered missing.
Then suddenly my cohort got a serious look in her eyes!
Then she, putting her hand inside the skirt of her gown, raised it and stuck it into my side like a pistol.
“Now lad, the Dames fancy broach, and I won’t yell bloody murder
for the Bobbies now, will I!”
I sighed dramatically while I reached into my pocket and handed the sparkler over. She looked at it delighted, then stowed it
“So luv, do I make a proper Femme Fatale or not ?”
“Not bad my luv, but not evil enough, should ave riffled me pickets!” I said, pulling out the glistening “diamond” earring.
“Really !” She’s shrieked, checking her ears as If I was holding her on of her own!
Realizing she still had em, she smirked
“Took those off her to? Just like a man to always take a lady for all’s she’s worth!”
“Well, with double-crossing Dames like you around, a poor pickpocket has to make his living somehow!
Besides, I left her an earring and her rings! Didn’t I now, luv?!
“Are you sure you didn’t take them also you weasel and are holding out more on me lad!” Ginny teased as she tried to put a hand in my tux jacket pockets
I grabbed her and we began to struggle as I tried to grasp onto her slippery figure laughingly.
As we snickered, Ginny caught my eyes and then we got off on a tangent about jewel thieves, then jewel thieves in love, and ended up re-enacting the “lure” scene from the movie ‘To Catch a Thief” ending up producing fireworks of our own making, as “the femme fatale “ Ginny lost all her jewels as well as her perceived “innocence”...
“kiss me you fool!” Cut, roll the credits...
Later, and a wee bit disheveled, the two of us then made our way back home, as the cock crows, receiving a few odd looks from the occasional early morning lorry drivers.
The End
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Please consider leaving a comment at the end of the story if you rather liked the telling, or have had any similar experiences. We Would Love to Hear from You!
A protective mother puts herself between her calf and a safari cruiser as she leaves the mudhole that the family has just enjoyed. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. ©2019 John M. Hudson | jmhudson1.com
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Saturday was a glorious sunny day. We started out with breakfast at Cha Lounge and had a couple of photos near there just near Brewery Wharf.
On the evening we went to Pieminister for tea then on to the Pack Horse, then to Baracoa, then The End and finished up in Smokestack for a drink where we bumped into the lovely Jean.
A cracking evening!
My second version - first one in comments.
I still don´t know which shot I really prefer, in my eyes they are both equal. Perhaps this one has a slight edge over the other, as it does have better clouds and better trails (thanks to an ambulance and a few illuminated buses, among other passing vehicles), and the foreground bikes are still visible as well.
© Andy Brandl (2013) // PhotonMix Photography // Andy Brandl @ Getty Images
Don´t redistribute - don´t use on webpages, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
See my "profile" page for my portfolio´s web address and information regarding licensing of this image for personal or commercial use.
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hi random person. I'm at a loss for words what to write today. Quite frankly I'm not entirely in the mood for it. That's rare. I could just start talking and trying to be funny, sometimes successfully and blabber. Kind of like what I'm doing right now.
But I'll stop. Sorry to disappoint for those that actually do arrive here to read this shit. That still surprises me to some level that people come for that. However I spent for what seemed like the entire Bush Administration working on the post-edit of the posted photo
So... I'll let you just look at it, find the hidden emblem, and then answer the following question for me.
Which place appeals to you the most on a spiritual level, given these 4 choices:
A. wide open sprawling desert (as seen)
B. dense thick Forest with gigantic trees
C. a gorgeous beach with pretty people and clear water
D. my cock currently located in my pants
Let me know.
Thanks,
pimp
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