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I thought these dancing skeletons from The Corpse Bride sum up my expression when I listen to the most recent weather reports. Not sure exactly what is coming right now but one of the last reports said we could get up to 25 inches of snow. This is what I have been waiting for! The snow should start on Friday for us.
There are so many things that can bring a smile to someone's face. I was out photographing the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art the other day. There were several school children out on field trip I suppos as they were having lunch outside on the lawn of the gallery when the teacher said that it was time to enter back into the building. Their excitment was contagious. Future olympic athletes possibly? I caught the girl in the middle of the frame in full on determination.
Mike D.
I'm excited "just dressing up each morning." Who wouldn't be? There is something very sensual about corsets, latex or leather, stockings, high heels and furs. Roll that combination all into one and you have me. Allen Pierson composition credit.
There was excitement on Earth, too, when this was taken , as I had a group of Japanese girls on a tour with me , who had never seen the Northern Lights before. There was a lot of joyful screaming going on .... But, then, ..... It WAS quite a spectacle!
Sheep Mountain, Yukon Territory, March 13
Taken with 40 yr. old Fujica ST705 camera and 28mm lens, using NEW Fujifilm Natura 1600.
This is my review for Star Wars - The Force Awakens! Okay, so first I will do a non-spoiler review, then I will do a full spoiler review. But even if you only read my non-spoiler review, I would suggest not reading the comments as they will most likely be filled with spoilers! Anyway, here we go...
(NON-SPOILER REVIEW!)
It was an amazing experience to go to the 7:00 showing and to see everyone in costume and everyone boiling with excitement! Everyone there was a major Star Wars fan just like me...And when STAR WARS came across the screen, and everyone screamed, and when everyone was clapping at the end of the movie, it gave me great joy...
This is absolutely the best movie I have ever seen, and the best movie of the year. This is the best Star Wars film yet by far! Why? You think I'm crazy? Out of my mind?! Well, let me tell you...This movie is filled with humor, emotion, action, and the characters are fantastic! Rey, Finn, Poe, etc are all amazing. The actors which we really knew nothing about, did a wonderful job. It was also amazing to see the original cast back again, and Harrison Ford was excellent as always! When does he ever let us down? This movie has the best humor we've seen in a Star Wars movie since the originals, and the emotion in this movie was BETTER than anything I have ever seen in Star Wars. The actors really gave it their all. The fast paced action is one of the things that I loved about the prequels, and yes, I do LOVE the prequels. They are not as good as the originals, but I enjoy all of the films. The action was awesome and really enjoyable in this!
The planets in this movie were beautiful! Just gorgeous...The practical effects in this movie were so cool to see! This movie perfectly blended CGI and practical effects, which in my opinion, perfectly blends the old and the new. The originals and the prequels. THIS. MOVIE. IS. PERFECT. In my eyes at least...It certainly lived up to the hype. J. J. did an extraordinary job on this movie. Everything I was worried about was put to rest after watching it. I was never bored and I was on the edge of my seat the whole entire time. There were so many call backs to the Original Trilogy, but without it feeling like a copy of it. Some people say it feels like it copied A New Hope, but I have to fully disagree. It was it's own movie, and it may have had some similar plot points, but it was very different...And that...Is why...I give this movie a 10/10. Purely amazing. You have to go see it if you haven't already, you will not be disappointed.
Okay, now onto my Spoiler review, so you have been warned! Leave now, or drop a comment if you feel as if you can scroll down without looking at other people's comments. But be careful. Anyway...
(SPOILER REVIEW!!!)
I'm not really going to be repeating things I said in my Non-Spoiler review, I will just be adding onto it. There were so many emotional scenes! The one with Han and Leia hugging eachother, to the scene with Finn and Rey on Takodana in Maz Kanata's castle, to the destruction of Coruscant, to Han Solo's death...Now, I don't know about you, but I actually loved Coruscant as a planet. The entire planet...One giant city...Billions of lifeforms...And they were all just wiped out, along with the New Republic and It's entire fleet, and all of the planets surrounding Coruscant. I enjoy the prequels and I LOVED The Clone Wars, and Coruscant played a big part in all of those. It was the home of the Jedi Temple as well, the planet has a long history. Everyone else is probably happy its gone so we don't have any more scenes with the Senate, but for me personally...It saddened me. I may be the only one who hates, yet also really likes character deaths. I love drama, and deaths of beloved characters brings a lot of it. The entire scene with Han and Ben Solo(Kylo Ren) was absolutely fantastic...So emotional and sad...When he ignited his lightsaber through Han, and Han touched Ben's face before he falls into the abyss, I feel like that was Han showing he still loves his son, and has hope for him that he can still change. The scream of Chewbacca when his brother and best friend was murdered right in front of him was earth shattering to me. It was a fitting death, one that was sadly spoiled for me, but I had no idea how amazing the whole scene would be, and no idea Kylo would end up being Han and Leia's son.
Rey was great, but I feel as if she maybe learned to use the Force way too quickly, but then again, maybe she is just so strong in the Force that she pretty much taught herself how to use it without really even knowing it. Finn wanting to leave The First Order because of their brutality was great, and who knows...He was taken from his family...If Billy Dee Williams is casted in the next movie, then I think we all know what Finn's last name really is. There was amazing chemestry between Rey and Finn and I feel like they may become a couple in the later movies. I can see a small spark of love there. Poe is the coolest Star Wars character ever! He's such a badass pilot. BB-8 was adorable! Kylo Ren was a great villain in my opinion. A villain with quite a few anger issues...Hahaha, that was hilarous when he just started destroying things with his lightsaber. It was also awesome to see him force the laser bolt and Rey in place. He was also using that mind control type torture thing with the Force. He is obviously very powerful with it. I feel like Kylo Ren is what Anakin should have been. General Hux and his speach were pretty cool, and The First Order gives off this Nazi vibe to me. Captain Phasma was a disappointment because she didn't even do anything. Hopefully we will see more of her in the future, because she seems like an awesome character. I still hope that theory is still correct about Supreme Leader Snoke being Darth Plagius. That would be sick! At first I was scared because he was so huge, but then it turned out to just be a hologram, so I'm assuming he is normal size. Maz Kanata is very wise and I really liked her character.
That vision scene Rey had after touching Anakin/Luke's lightsaber was something new and different that I really liked. I honestly think Rey is Luke's daughter and that the ending cliffhanger will result in Luke grabbing his old lightsaber which Rey is holding out and him training her to become a Jedi. That final scene was so good, and no one even said a word! I am glad there was a cliffhanger, it keeps us wanting more! I was mad that they got rid of the Expanded Universe and I didn't like how Han, Leia, and Luke all separated from eachother and how there seemed to be no New Republic and no new Jedi Order, but there was a New Republic...And their separation was explained greatly...Ben Solo is what caused it. His turn to the Dark Side. UGH, I just love this movie so much! Star Wars is BACK! :)
Like I said before, a perfect and outstanding movie. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next one! But until then...We have Rogue One to look forward to, which I think will be an awesome Star Wars movie! Anyway, that's all for now. If you read all of this, then thank you for taking the time out of your day to do so! Let me know what you thought of the movie down in the comments. I'd love to know. And may the force be with you...
We appreciate the courtesy of Chatwick University Archives for letting us use the journals in our research, and for permission to use parts for the genesis of “Dare’s Game”.
Dare’s Game
Beth, eagerly looking for Dare, walked straight into Seth’s cunning snare…..
Suffix, circa 1910?. It was during this time a fanciful young lady, whom we will call Beth, started a journal which she would faithfully keep over the course of almost 50 years. She led quite an adventuresome life for a lady of that time, and her journals were filled with many tales and observations of her exploits. The following story is derived from events that she penned down in the early years in her journal.
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Beth had known Dare since their childhood. Dare was a handsome free spirited youth only two years her senior, who lived for the games his life had to offer. As his cherished nickname inferred, Dare was always trying to find the thrill out of anything he could think up, relishing to go beyond the pale in anything he attempted. Dare always a little different, harboring feelings and ideas way beyond his years, almost as if he had lived a previous life and retained something from it in his being.
Beth would remember times playing dress up with Dare’s sister Diana in some old gowns of their mothers. It was always then that Dare and his friends seemed to appear and talk them into playing hide n seek, tag or cops n robbers. Dare seemed to take pleasure in cajoling the girls into playing with them in this manner. Eyeing them as they played with a far off look that suggested the game they were playing had more meaning to him than he could ever venture to say. It was hard for Beth to explain it, but she did find it pleasurable (almost erotic using a word whose term she would learn much later) to be observed by him in this way.
One warm fall day Diana and Beth headed down to an old shack located near some railroad tracks at the back of a cornfield. Diana was dressed in a long satin play gown with her mother’s jewelry, which Dare had called rhinestones. Beth, herself dressed in a long flowing dress, loved the way Diana’s jewels twinkled and sparkled as she walked. They were going to pretend the shack was a ballroom and they were one their way to a fancy dance, like Beth’s and Diana’s parents had recently attended. Diana wasn’t supposed to be wearing her mother’s jewelry outside the house, but as a result of Dare’s teasing, had done so anyway.
They had reached the shack, an old white brick building with a wooden roof half fallen in, when a man’s voice suddenly said behind them, what are you two ladies up to? Turning they were confronted by a happily sneering drifter. The grubby man looked around, alone is we, and advanced towards them. The two girls stood petrified, he reached out and probed Diana along her side, pretty dress missy, he said, sparsely toothed mouth grinning like a pumpkin. He suddenly reached up and tore the necklace away from Diana’s throat, sending her falling backwards. Beth screamed bloody murder, as the vagrant turned heel, running off towards the tracks. Suddenly Dare appeared, and Beth, meaning to yell for help, exclaimed instead “help honey” to Dare. Dares eyes took on a very different look, almost of a burning yearning. Beth told him what had happened and he took off down towards the tracks in hot pursuit. For Beth, the look he had given her and the way he had dashed off excited her beyond measure. Even for someone that young, Beth now knew what Dare meant to her. From then on, playing games with Dare took on a heightened meaning for Beth.
But, nothing really changed in their relationship until Beth’s sophomore year of high school. Beth was sixteen at the time, a whimsical being, passionate, innocent, not particularly attractive, but radiating with a love of life. A living free spirit, developing into a very sexual being by the time her and Diana decided to attend their schools prom in their sophomore year. Beth dressed in a fuchsia coloured satin dress with dangling rhinestone earrings that had been” borrowed” from Diana’s Mother, the same ones Diana had been wearing when they had run into the drifter at the shack. Diana slipped into the slinky blue spaghetti strap gown and matching cover-all that she had worn as her cousin’s bridesmaid. She was wearing sapphire costume jewels patterned after the hope diamond. Their parents had given them a hard time when they saw their made up girls in their gowns and finery , admonishing them for looking way too mature. They smiled, consoling their parents fears, and went off on their adventure.
Their eyes were dazzled by the display of lights, the cheerfully student filled room, the band. They had stopped and were letting it all sink in, when Beth felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and came face to face with Dare, who once again had the same yearning fire in his eyes as on that fateful day at the old shack. A veil was lifted from between the two, and Beth spent the whole evening encompassed in Dare’s arms. Soon after that the two had begun seeing much more of one another. Their relationship was still going strong eight years later.
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8 Years Later
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Come on Dare, let’s go to the Riverside, it will be fun she urged. She had been trying to get her fiancé’ to take her to the exclusive five star resorts for some time. And now she had a free overnight room card she had won at work! Dare looked into Beth’s wide, hope filled eyes, knowing her passion for attending these types of affairs. Ever hopeful she would see someone rich. Dare knew how to use this to his advantage. Finally he buckled, all right, only if we play the game afterwards he bargained. She squirmed inwardly with passion, nodding her agreement. Beth found the game exciting, though she would never let on to Dare. And, you must wear the gold bridesmaid gown and jewels you wore to your friend’s wedding last week , he added, a wistful smile lighting up his thin face.. Okay she agreed, trying to sound reluctant, but truthfully feeling multiple tingles of delight.
Dare was handsome, in a scrawny, thin bearded, sort of way ( From an old photo that survives he resembled a young Johnny Depp… the eds), with a witty writers imagination and a playful disposition. He could always make Beth laugh, feeling his excitement as he drew her into his stories and games. She would never admit to it, but found the game delightfully erogenous. She smiled to herself, so Dare had liked the satin gown after all, he had not shown any interest in her wearing it since the wedding. And the jewelry, the small rhinestone pendent and earrings had been pretty, but Beth soon came up with another idea. She would knock his socks off by wearing the glittering diamonds and emeralds that had been inherited from her grandmother. The set had laid collecting dust in a safety deposit box all these years, unworn. She had never told Dare about them, waiting for the perfect occasion. She could just imagine the look in his eyes when he saw her wearing them. Okay then, game on, Beth thought, wickedly sending shivers up and down her spine.
Dare’s Game was based on role playing:
Dare would give Beth money to purchase a new outfit, something rich and shiny, like silk or satin. With the new outfit, Beth would wear the good gold jewelry she had received from Dare on her birthdays. The idea was to acting like a bored rich girl out for a good time, alone and vulnerable.
Dare would be at the hotel bar, waiting for Beth to make her entrance, then make her acquaintance , playing a debonair, suited gentleman with a mysterious past and a hidden agenda. They would make a date later, usually to dance and have drinks.
Then that evening, she would go down to the bar. Dressed in one of the long gowns Dare favored, fitting in with the usual spillover from a wedding reception that had been held in one of the Ballrooms. Sometimes she would wear the rhinestone jewelry they had purchased together at various antique stores. Then Beth would wait for Dare to make his entrance, signaling the time for Dare’s game. He would assume one of several roles, or possibly a new one that Beth had never seen. In the past Dare had played:
A spy who would dance with Beth, then disappear. Sending a note to Beth via a third person that would have her meet him clandestinely in a remote location…
A highwayman who would come across Beth on the castle grounds , usually the resorts empty gardens at night….
A rich millionaire looking for romance…
A kidnapper hired by an evil uncle, who after tying up Beth and removing her valuables would have a change of heart….
A Jewel thief who would be cunningly after her valuables…
A handsome prince rescuing Beth’s damsel in distress ….
Or Dare’s favorite, centered on their old childhood game of cops and robbers. Dare would play the thief, and steal something from Beth, usually while dancing. He would then leave preset clues around the grounds that she would have to follow to catch him.
All of the games usually led to some playful groping and then escalating into the upper echelons of erotic pleasure. Sometimes they never made out of the woods, or barely out of the ballroom. Beth shivered at these thoughts, wishing she didn’t have to wait….
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Three weeks later at the Riverside Resort.
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In the Bar:
At the bar, Dare smiled to himself, pleased. He had dropped Beth off to check in by herself. She would change into her new outfit and wear it down to the bar for lunch. She would come in acting like a complete stranger to the area. Dare would make her acquaintance, invite her to lunch, and make plans to see her that evening at the resorts dance room. There were two wedding receptions going on, and that dance room should be filled with well-dressed patrons. Beth would fit right in; clad that pretty gown she had promised to wear.
Dare had been sitting at the bar, thinking about ways to play out the game that evening, when the answer came to him, in the form of a stranger who had come with his drink and sat next to him. The stranger introduced himself as Seth, and shaking Dare’s hand sat on the stool next to him. After they had had couple of drinks, they had become quite chummy. Seth explaining he had come up for one of the weddings, and assumed Dare was doing the same. Seth did not fail to observe Dare’s secretive smile, but did not question it. Their conversation was distracted only when a newcomer appeared at the entrance. Beth walked in, a long flowing silky skirt swishing down to her leather sandals. A shiny, long sleeved satin top fitting tightly along her perky figure, with bright gold jewelry complementing the ensemble. Real gold, Seth observed silently to himself.
Beth went to a table, both men going silent as they watched her move through the room. Good-looking one, that, Seth commented, looking at Dare who was deep in thought as his eyes were fixed on the sexy newcomer. Seth teasingly offered Dare a penny for his thoughts. Dare smiled mischievously, letting lose his plans. Seth listened to the young man, smiling as a light went on in his steal grey eyes. When Dare finished he offered up a suggestion as to how Dare could make it really interesting for Beth. The two co-conspirators worked it out: Seth told Dare about a stone hut and wall that was located on the back nine of the resorts golf course. He suggested that he, Seth, would meet Beth that evening and pass a note onto her from Dare saying that he was in trouble and needed her help, with directions to the spot. Dare liked the idea, and wrote the note on a cocktail napkin, cementing the plan by handing it to Seth.
Off you go old chap, let Uncle Seth take care of his end, he said grinning, giving Dare a sporting clap on the back. With a wink, Dare left his fellow collaborator, and went over to Beth, who had since been seated by a male waiter, now standing drooling over her shoulder as she looked at the menu.
Later that same evening, inside the crowded club:
Seth had stopped by the bar for a last drink. His business venture had been concluded earlier than he had expected. With the change in his plans, he had checked out early, his kit packed, boot loaded and the car ready. He now sat at the bar Causley watching young lass of about seventeen who had literally ran into him at one of the receptions. He watched her flirting about the club, weaving in and out of the guests. With a long swishing gown flowing provocatively along her lithe figure, abundant, solid white gold chains swinging out in an alluringly eye catching manner as she scurried about. A diminutive gold ring its half caret diamond flickered playfully from the petite pinky it loosely surrounded once again welcomed his contemplation. The lass presented quite an intriguing gold feathered fledgling, just begging to be plucked. He looked around, spying her parents on the dance floor. The father/husband, despite being an excellent dancer, gave him no interest. It was his partner, the wife/ mother, decked out in a iridescent suit and long swishing satin skirt upon which he now was reexamining. He again studied under the bright dance floor lights her fine pearls dangling from her ears, throat, and wrists. But it was the Ladies’ two rings that stole the show for him; an engagement ring with a rock of at least 2 carets surrounded by numerous shimmering half caret stones and a pinky ring similar to her daughters, that proudly displayed a single white solitaire diamond of at least one caret that had garnered his consideration. He also reconsidered the facts that he had been able to garnish about the lady who wore them, and her husband. The wife/mother was a heavy drinker who would not be expected to make any kind of appearance before noon. Hubby was a golfer, who would be out for breakfast at five am before being on the links at 6 am the next morning . At 5 :15 Seth was planning to pay a visit to his suite, and relieve his two ladies of their expensive trinkets. It should be an easy straight forward caper, that had Seth bristling with anticipation at the prospect.
As he was tossing down the last of his drink he remembered about Dare and the note he still had in his pocket. Setting down the empty glass, he pulled the note out and looked at it, kids he smirked, and was preparing to crinkle toss it on the bar and leave, when his eyes caught sight of Beth. He had felt his breath taken away when he saw her. Not at all what he had expected, he would say to Beth much later in the evening. He looked over the note, stirrings of a plan began formulating. All thoughts of the dancing couple and his plans fled his mind, as He rose, throwing a fiver on the bar and went off to intercept Beth.
Seth held Beth in his arms, she was a vivacious little thing he thought, while smiling charmingly into her eyes. She seemed a little apprehensive at first, but had settled right in when he had told her this had been set up by Dare, remember me at the bar with him this afternoon he had consoled her, she had smile brightly into his eyes in answer. He relished in the feel of her warm satin gown, and allowed himself to be mesmerized by the shimmer of her diamonds.
It reminded him of the diamonds that had been worn by one of his dance partners earlier that evening at a reception. He had forgotten her name, but not her diamonds, one of which now resided in a hidden compartment of his roadsters boot, along with the diamond pin he had slipped off the satin cape he had cordially help a well-dressed lady put on. He had also shelved his plans for his 5:15 am “meeting” at the golf playing husbands hotel room, Beth’s jewels were a much more lucrative prospect.
When the dance had ended he took her to the bar and sat her down, ordering her a drink. She seemed a little perplexed, Seth kissed her gloved hand; wait for it he told her mysteriously, winking into her eyes. Beth had winked back, the fire in her heart reflecting deep in her eyes. Seth left, smiling cleverly to himself as he took in his surroundings. He looked around as he walked away, now where had the little imp gotten off too?
He had decided that the seventeen year old in the long flirting gown would play a very different role in his plans. He approached her, with Dares note and a twenty. Thought for a moment about the pair of thick platinum gold chains dangling from her throat down the open neckline of the girl’s glossy gown, then banished the though, he had bigger fish to filet. The twenty caught her attention and she eagerly listened as he explained to her what to do, pointing out Beth sitting, waiting in earnest at the bar. Wait until she finishes her drink, Seth told her as she listened eagerly. She took the twenty into her hand, the half caret diamond on her pinky ring flashing, and her gold chain bracelets jangled as she grasped it. Seth left, figuring he had about twenty minutes to stop at his car, get a few items from the boot, and put his plan in motion.
Beth had curiously received the note from the attractively shy young lady, clad a slinky gown that made her appear years older. Reading it she folded it and was just getting up when a man wearing a suit came up to her and offered to let her dance with him. It took her some time, before she was finally able to ward him off and leave the brilliantly lit clubroom for the dark, forbidding grounds outside.
Now, a thoroughly excited Beth walked up the hill. Her senses becoming more prickling alert with each step. Innocently unaware that she was no longer playing a role in Dare’s game!
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Epilogue:
As Seth walked away admiring the shimmery necklace, his thoughts travelled back to the gold burdened impish youngster in the swirling gown, and her pearl and diamond laden mother. Revisiting his original plans he decided that he liked the odds, especially since they would be against him. With the father leaving early to meet his cronies for breakfast the Mother should be still sleeping off her drink induced stupor, the hyperactive girl should still be out cold, but presented no risk if she awoke, he had more rope. The ladies jewels should be lying about in the apartment, or handedly on their persons( the pairs of diamond pinky rings, as well as the multi-diamond engagement ring flashed once again across his memory with all their brilliant glory),as he caught fire with the vision. There could be a safe he reasoned, but with a tied up daughter and a knife in his hand, the mother should have no issue opening it for him, or disclosing anywhere else her jewels may have been hidden . But if there was no safe, and the rings, pearls and solid white gold chains were somewhere in the room, he knew he would be able to noiselessly break in, find and slip the jewels from wherever they were perched, and be safely on his way without even causing the slightest stir from the sleeping woman and her daughter. It was a road Seth had travelled down many times. He prickled at the thought, as he foresightedly tallied up the potential haul while making his way to the car. The Mother/wife’s diamond rings, would easily fetch him at least three grand, probably close five with her pearls and the whelp’s jewelry added in. About a quarter of what he probably would get for the jewels now in his procession, so he mused inquisitively to himself, so ,was it worth the risk of his 20,000 bird in hand? Yes he answered himself, as all too familiar and welcome tingling sensation overwhelmed Seths muscular body. Like Dare, Seth like to play risky games, especially those which promised to be somewhat profitable. It would be a tantalizingly chancy gamble of his own; to wait a safe distance away while things cooled down and then return to break into the un protected sleeping ladies chamber.. He knew just the place to hide , and it would be a perfect spot to watch events unfold around Beth and Dare, while making his plans! It also afforded a nicely secret hiding nook for the ill-gotten gains collected so far that evening in case something went wrong, which it wouldn’t..
Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives
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Cavendish Mews is a smart set of flats in Mayfair where flapper and modern woman, the Honourable Lettice Chetwynd has set up home after coming of age and gaining her allowance. To supplement her already generous allowance, and to break away from dependence upon her family, Lettice has established herself as a society interior designer, so her flat is decorated with a mixture of elegant antique Georgian pieces and modern Art Deco furnishings, using it as a showroom for what she can offer to her well heeled clients.
Two of Lettice’s Embassy Club coterie of bright young things are getting married: Dickie Channon, eldest surviving son of the Marquess of Taunton, and Margot de Virre, only daughter of Lord Charles and Lady Lucie de Virre. Lettice is hosting an exclusive buffet supper party in their honour this evening, which is turning out to be one of the events of the 1921 London Season. Over the last few days, Lettice’s flat has been in upheaval as Edith. Lettice’s maid, and Lettice’s charwoman* Mrs. Boothby have been cleaning the flat thoroughly in preparation for the occasion. Earlier today with the help of a few hired men they moved some of the furnishings in Lettice’s drawing room into the spare bedroom to make space for the hired dance band and for the guests to dance and mingle. Edith’s preserve of the kitchen has been overrun by delivery men, florists and caterers. Yet it has finally all fallen into place perfectly just as a red and white striped marquee is erected by Gunter and Company** over the entrance and the pavement outside.
Now we find ourselves in Lettice’s dining room, which has become the focal point for half the party guests as her dining table is given over to a magnificent buffet created by Harrods catering, whilst Dickie stands at one corner, thoroughly enjoying playing the part of barman as he makes cocktails for all his friends.
Lettice sighs with satisfaction as she looks around the drawing room and dining room of her flat. Both rooms have a golden glow about them created by a mixture of electric light and candlelight and the fug of cigarette smoke. The rooms are populated with London society’s glittering young people, nicknamed “bright young things” by the newspapers. Men in white tie and tails with a smattering of daring souls wearing dinner jackets chatter animatedly and dance with ladies in beautifully coloured evening gowns with loose bodices, sashes and irregular and handkerchief hems. Jewels wink at throats, on fingers, dangling from ears and in carefully coiffed and finger waved hair, illuminated by the brilliant lighting. Bugle beads glitter as gowns gently wash about the figures of their wearers as they move. Everywhere gay chatter about the Season and the upcoming wedding of Margot and Dickie fills the air, the joyous sound mixing with the lively jazz quartet who play syncopated tunes lustily in a corner of Lettice’s drawing room.
“Dubonnet and gin?” Dickie asks Lettice as she stands by the buffet and picks up a biscuit lightly smeared with salmon mousse.
“Oh you are a brick, Dickie!” Lettice enthuses, popping the dainty morsel into her mouth. Accepting the reddish gold cocktail from him she adds, “But really, this is your party. You should be out there, socialising with Margot, not standing here making cocktails for everyone.”
“Why should I bother going out there to socialise,” he waves his hand across the crowded room to the edge of the makeshift dancefloor where his fiancée stands in a beautiful ankle length silver georgette gown studded in silver sequins, surrounded by a small clutch of equally elegant young guests. “When they all have to come to me for drinks.”
“Ahhh,” Lettice titters as she sips her cocktail. “So there is method in your madness, Dickie.”
“Isn’t there always, Lettice?” he laughs. “Now, you are technically hostess of this bash. Go out there and dazzle everyone.” Then he stops and adds, “Well, not quite everyone.” And he blows a kiss to his fiancée whose eye he has caught from across the crowded room.
“Alright Dickie,” Lettice laughs and she saunters off into the crowd, pausing to smile and say hullo and accept the compliments of her many guests.
Suddenly she spots a beautiful woman in a pale pink beaded gown with dark finger waved hair framing her peaches and cream complexion standing docilely by the dancefloor watching the stream of passing couples dancing past in each other’s arms. She seems distant and remote, even a little sad, and far removed from the frenetic energy and jolly bonhomie about her. Excusing herself from the couple who are addressing her, Lettice slips over to her.
“Hullo Elizabeth***!” Lettice embraces her warmly. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to come along tonight considering everything that’s happened.”
“I wasn’t sure myself, Lettice.” Elizabeth replies, a warm smile revealing a slightly crooked set of teeth. “But I couldn’t let Dickie and Margot down.” Then she adds quickly as an afterthought, “Or you, darling Lettice.”
“Well, I’m glad you’ve come. How are you feeling?”
“A little battered and bruised emotionally.” Elizabeth admits with a lilt of sadness. “But one mustn’t complain.”
“I still don’t understand why you said no to his marriage proposal. I thought you loved Bertie****.”
“I did.” Elizabeth remarks before correcting herself. “I do! But I’m afraid that if I said yes to him, I’d never, never again be able to be free to think, speak and act as I feel I really ought to. Besides,” she adds conspiratorially, glancing about her before continuing. “His mother terrifies me.”
“She terrifies all of us,” Lettice laughs lighty as she waves her hand gaily about the room. “Now, what you need to pick you up and forget your heartache is one of these.” She points to the glass in her hand.
“What is it?” Elizabeth asks, eyeing Lettice’s glass and sniffing its contents with suspicion.
“A Dubonnet and gin. Dickie will make you one. Go and ask him.” Lettice grasps Elizabeth by the shoulder and sends her toddling across to Dickie as he stands behind a line of bottles and a beautiful arrangement of roses.
“Lettice!” Margot suddenly calls from across the room, beckoning her over enthusiastically. “Lettice, darling!”
Squeezing between small clusters of well-dressed guests drinking and eating or leaving the dance floor, Lettice makes her way over to her friend.
“Hullo Margot, darling! Are you having a fabulous time?”
“Fabulous isn’t enough of a word to describe it, darling!” she replies with eyes shimmering with excitement and joy. “Such a thrilling bash! I can’t thank you enough!”
“Yes Lettice,” a deep male voice adds from behind her. “You certainly do know how to throw a party!”
“Lord de Virre!” Lettice exclaims, spinning around. “Oh! I didn’t know you’d arrived. Now, who can I introduce you to?”
“No-one my dear. My beautiful daughter has been doing an ample job of introducing me to so many people that already this old man cannot remember who is whom.”
“Never old!” Lettice scolds, hitting his arm playfully as she curls her own through the crook in his. “Then if I can’t introduce to anyone, perhaps I can entreat you into eating something.”
“Now that I won’t refuse, Lettice.”
Lettice and Margot guide Lord de Virre across the crowded dining room to the buffet table weighed down with delicious savoury petit fours, vol-au-vents, caviar, dips, cheese and pâte and pasties. Glasses full, partially drained and empty are scattered amidst the silver trays and china plates.
“Champagne, Sir?” Dickie calls out.
“Good show Dickie!” laughs Lord de Virre over the noise of the party. “Playing barman tonight, are we?”
“It’s the best role to play at a party, Sir.” He passes Lord de Virre a flute of sparkling champagne poured from the bottle wedged into a silver ice bucket.
Behind him Lettice spies Elizabeth with a Dubonnet and gin in her glove clad hand. Lettice catches her eye and discreetly raises her glass, which Elizabeth returns with a gentle smile.
“Now Lettice, darling,” Margot enthuses as she selects a dainty petit four. “Daddy has just reminded me of an idea we had a few weeks ago, which I meant to ask you about, but between all Gerald’s dress fittings and other arrangements for the wedding,” She flaps her hand about, the diamonds in her engagement ring sparkling in the light. “Well, I completely forgot.”
Lettice tries not to smile as she feels the gentlest of squeezes from Lord de Virre’s arm and remembers the conversation that she and he had some weeks ago in his study. “What is it?” She glances between Margot and her father, pretending not to know what is coming.
“Well, Daddy suggested… I mean… I was wondering…”
“Yes, Margot darling?”
“Well, you know how the Marquess is giving us that house in Cornwall?”
“Yes! Chi an… an…?”
“Chi an Treth!” Dickie calls out helpfully.
“Yes!” Margot concurs. “Beach House! Well, it hasn’t been lived in for ever such a long time, and it’s a bit old fashioned. Daddy is kindly organising for it to be electrified, re-plumbed and have it connected to the Penzance telephone exchange for us.” Margot pauses. “And… well he and… we… that is to say that I thought…”
“Yes?” Lettice coaxes with lowered lids as she takes a gentle sip of her Dubonnet and gin.
“Well, we… Dickie and I that is… well we rather hoped that you might consider fixing up a couple of rooms for us. Would you? I would just so dearly love a room or two decorated by you! Dickie even thinks that his father can pull some strings and get you an article in Country Life if you do?”
“Oh Margot!” Lettice exclaims, releasing her grip on Lord de Virre and depositing her glass on the table she flings her arms about her friend’s neck. “I’d love to!”
Lettice suddenly feels a gentle poking of fingers into the small of her back. Letting go of Margot, she stands back and looks at her, remembering the lines Lord de Virre asked her to come up with and rehearse upon agreeing to Margot’s request.
“Of course, I can’t do it straight away, you understand. You know I’m currently mid-way through Miss Ward’s flat in Pimlico.”
“Oh that’s alright,” Margot beams. “The modernisation isn’t finished yet, so we won’t even be going down there to inspect the place until after our honeymoon.”
Lettice feels Lord de Virre’s prodding in her back again.
“And I won’t do it for free, Margot. I have already given you a wedding gift. I’m a businesswoman now.”
“Oh, well that’s just the thing,” Margot exclaims, clasping her hands in delight. “Daddy has kindly agreed to pay for it all.”
Lettice looks up at Lord de Virre. He looks back at her seriously, but she can see a smile tweaking the edges of his mouth, trying to create a cheeky smile. She tries to keep up the pretence that she didn’t already know that Margot was going to ask her to redecorate for her and Dickie as she says, “Really Lord de Virre? All of it? That’s very generous of you.”
“Not a bit of it, Lettice. This is a good, sound business transaction. You may send your quotes to me for consideration,” He ennunciates the last word carefully to stress its importance, more for Margot’s sake than Lettice’s. “Once you have seen the rooms as they are now.”
“Thank you Lord de Virre,” Lettice replies. “Well Margot, I suppose that settles it then!”
“Oh Dickie!” Margot exclaims, scuttling over to her fiancée. “She said yes!”
“Who did, darling?” Dickie asks as he adds crème de menthe to colour his Fallen Angel cocktail a pale green.
“What do you mean, who?” Margot hits his arm jokingly as she sways excitedly from side to side. “Lettice of course!” She looks back over to her friend standing alongside her father. “She’s agreed to decorate for us.”
“Oh, jolly good show!” Dickie smiles. “Thanks awfully Lettice, darling! Now you’re the brick!”
“Always Dickie!” Lettice laughs back.
“Listen Dickie!” Margot gasps. “The band is playing ‘Dancing Time’*****! Come away from the bar and dance with me.”
“You’d best not refuse her, my boy!” teases Lord de Virre. “It’s madness if you try. I never could!”
The happily engaged couple hurry across the room, hand in hand, slipping between clusters of guests before disappearing into the crowd on the dancefloor as the music from the band soars above the burble of the crowd and the clink of glasses.
“So, we finally have an official arrangement, Miss Chetwynd?” Lord de Virre says discreetly as he raises his glass towards Lettice.
“I think we do, Lord de Virre.” Lettice smiles and clinks her glass with his as they toast their arrangement formally. “Your offer is simply too good to refuse.”
*A charwoman, chargirl, or char, jokingly charlady, is an old-fashioned occupational term, referring to a paid part-time worker who comes into a house or other building to clean it for a few hours of a day or week, as opposed to a maid, who usually lives as part of the household within the structure of domestic service. In the 1920s, chars usually did all the hard graft work that paid live-in domestics would no longer do as they looked for excuses to leave domestic service for better paying work in offices and factories.
**Gunter and Company were London caterers and ball furnishers with shops in Berkley Square, Sloane Street, Lowndes Street and New Bond Street. They began as Gunter’s Tea Shop at 7 and 8 Berley Square 1757 where it remained until 1956 as the business grew and opened different premises. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries Gunter's became a fashionable light eatery in Mayfair, notable for its ices and sorbets. Gunter's was considered to be the wedding cake makers du jour and in 1889, made the bride cake for the marriage of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Louise of Wales. Even after the tea shop finally closed, the catering business carried on until the mid 1970s.
***Elizabeth Bowes Lyon as she was known in 1921 went on to become Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions from 1936 to 1952 as the wife of King George VI. Whilst still Duke of York, Prince Albert initially proposed to Elizabeth in 1921, but she turned him down, being "afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak and act as I feel I really ought to"
****Prince Albert, Duke of York, known by the diminutive “Bertie” to the family and close friends, was the second son of George V. Not only did Bertie propose to Elizabeth in 1921, but also in March 1922 after she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Albert’s sister, Princess Mary to Viscount Lascelles. Elizabeth refused him a second time, yet undaunted Bertie pursued the girl who had stolen his heart. Finally, in January 1923 she agreed to marry him in spite of her misgivings about royal life.
*****’Dancing Time’ was a popular song in Britain in 1921 with words by George Grossmith Jr. and music by Jerome Kern.
This rather splendid buffet of delicious savoury treats might look real to you, but in fact the whole scene is made up on 1:12 scale miniatures from my miniatures collection.
Fun things to look for in this tableau include:
On Lettice’s black japanned dining table delicious canapés are ready to be consumed by party guests. The plate of sandwiches, the silver tray of biscuits and the bowls of dips, most of the savoury petite fours on the silver tray furthest from the camera and the silver tray of Cornish pasties were made in England by hand from clay by former chef turned miniature artisan, Frances Knight. Her work is incredibly detailed and realistic, and she says that she draws her inspiration from her years as a chef and her imagination. The cheese selection on the tray closest to the camera were made by hand by Beautifully Handmade Miniatures in Kettering, as are the empty champagne glasses all of which are made of hand blown glass. The bowl of caviar was made by Karen Lady Bug Miniatures in England.
The tray that the caviar is sitting on and the champagne bucket are made by Warwick Miniatures in Ireland, who are well known for the quality and detail applied to their pieces. The bottle of Deutz and Geldermann champagne. It is an artisan miniatures and made of glass and has real foil wrapped around its neck. It was made by Little Things Dollhouse Miniatures in Lancashire. Several of the other bottles of mixers in the foreground are also made by Little Things Dollhouse Miniatures in Lancashire. The bottle of Gordon’s Dry Gin, the bottle of Crème de Menthe, Cinzano, Campari and Martini are also 1:12 artisan miniatures, made of real glass, and came from a specialist stockist in Sydney. Gordon's London Dry Gin was developed by Alexander Gordon, a Londoner of Scots descent. He opened a distillery in the Southwark area in 1769, later moving in 1786 to Clerkenwell. The Special London Dry Gin he developed proved successful, and its recipe remains unchanged to this day. The top markets for Gordon's are (in descending order) the United Kingdom, the United States and Greece. Gordon's has been the United Kingdom’s number one gin since the late Nineteenth century. It is the world's best-selling London dry gin. Crème de menthe (French for "mint cream") is a sweet, mint-flavored alcoholic beverage. Crème de menthe is an ingredient in several cocktails popular in the 1920s, such as the Grasshopper and the Stinger. It is also served as a digestif. Cinzano vermouths date back to 1757 and the Turin herbal shop of two brothers, Giovanni Giacomo and Carlo Stefano Cinzano, who created a new "vermouth rosso" (red vermouth) using "aromatic plants from the Italian Alps in a recipe which is still secret to this day. Campari is an Italian alcoholic liqueur, considered an apéritif. It is obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruit (including chinotto and cascarilla) in alcohol and water. It is a bitters, characterised by its dark red colour.
The vase of red roses on the dining table and the vase of yellow lilies on the Art Deco console are beautifully made by hand by the Doll House Emporium. Also on the console table stand some of Lettice’s precious artisan purchases from the Portland Gallery in Soho. The pair of candelabra at either end of the sideboard are sterling silver artisan miniatures from Karen Ladybug Miniatures in England. The silver drinks set, made by artisan Clare Bell at the Clare Bell Brass Works in Maine, in the United States. Each goblet is only one centimetre in height and the decanter at the far end is two- and three-quarter centimetres with the stopper inserted. Lettice’s Art Deco ‘Modern Woman’ figure is actually called ‘Christianne’ and was made and hand painted by Warwick Miniatures in Ireland. ‘Christianne’ is based on several Art Deco statues and is typical of bronze and marble statues created at that time for the luxury market in the buoyant 1920s.
Lettice’s dining room is furnished with Town Hall Miniatures furniture, which is renown for their quality. The only exceptions to the room is the Chippendale chinoiserie carver chair and the Art Deco cocktail cabinet (the edge of which just visible on the far right-hand side of the photo) which were made by J.B.M. Miniatures.
The paintings on the walls are 1:12 artisan pieces made by Amber’s Miniatures in the United States. The geometric Art Deco wallpaper is beautiful hand impressed paper given to me by a friend, which inspired the whole “Cavendish Mews – Lettice Chetwynd” series.
Nothing's ever been so wild
All that I get to do is what I give to you
This is all about the circles we've found
And through the ups and downs it goes round
Oh, I was just beginning to grow strong
She was only eighteen summers long
Oh, we were the news
Round and round it goes
And oh don't you know
This is the game that we came here for
Round and round it goes
And oh don't you know
Abstract by camera toss.
I irradiate ultraviolet rays to acrylic fluorescent disc, and get a source...
One of the few sources of excitement out on the west end of the Minneapolis Sub are the very sporadic autorack extras. Word through the interwebs this day had one such extra on its way with a BNSF leader and FXE trailing. It was a nice fall day so I headed out to see if I could intercept the train. Leapfrogging crossings I carefully made my way east.
When I got to Cylon I discovered the extra stopped. My spirits rose for a moment thinking they must have stopped to change up the power, FXE leader? My hopes were dashed once I got a closer look. The trailing unit was still tied onto the train with the lead unit running around the wye. They would run nose to nose the rest of the trip to the autoport. Ugh.
I shot it a few times anyway since I needed to go back to town. Without ditch lights they set no speed records at 20 mph. There must have been some reason the FXE could not lead at all. Turning the 4986 would allow it run short hood forward back to back with the FXE once the crew was rested to go east. In the wee hours the crew would return east (contrary to the past practice for these extras). Without any cars released yet at the autoport they would go east with a handful of loaded used tie gondolas. October 28, 2022.
I haven't done a Fireworks Friday photo in quite a while, so here's a little bit of visual excitement from Disneyland Paris.
A flock of quail have been visiting our yard lately. They came onto the deck and the kitties were quite excited about it!
© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
Candid street portrait taken in East Kilbridge Village, Scotland, while waiting for the Queen's Baton Relay to pass through. Shot this during my first small walk-about with the camera since my ankle surgery, it will be a wee while longer before I can make it into the big city for a proper shoot but I thought I should keep my eye in.
Frank had a tough night tonight. With seven other dogs in the house he has lots of playmates and gets worn out. He slipped off to our bedroom and was taking a nap when I finally caught up with him. He had had too much excitement for one day. Good night buddy !
Our Daily Challenge ~ Too many/Too much
This image is protected by copyright, no use of this image shall be granted without my written permission
Morning was greeted by a brilliant blue sky and the birds sang with excitement as a new season had begun. I wandered into a cedar swamp and skipped from high ground to dry ground. I sat on a mound surrounded by unstirred and tranquil waters. I could see sure signs of spring as the greenish yellow treetops, highlighted by an early sun, reflected in the pool of water. Fixed on the mirror-like reflection, I tossed a pine cone in and watched as the still waters returned. Happy today and wandering through a Life filled with the most beautiful things. For these things, I am grateful.
Pure exultation at finding the Worlds Smallest Park!
Mill Ends Park is twenty-four inches in diameter and contains 452.16 square inches of land. Its title of being the worlds smallest park has been hotly contested but it has retained the title. To Portland's credit, when they redid the road around it, they saved the park. Keep Portland weird!
Shenanigans at the Wailing Sireen
There is a pub on the downtown docks known far and wide named the Wailing Sireen.
It is owned and operated by a gentleman( Loose term) known as Brute Burton. Brute is a rather impressive specimen, standing well over 2 meters tall, weighing over 15 stone, and strong enough to have lifted a 600 pound ox to win a wager. Not the type of man, if one is sane, to plays tricks upon!
Now Brute Burton is a retired sailor himself, who had worked the riggings of many a brig that travelled our seven seas. He retired the same day they permanently docked his last birth, a fine 3 Masted schooner christened the HMS Cybelemoon, a ship he had been mated on for the last 12 years. As the schooner was being overhauled, he bought several of the hand engraved exported mahogany planks from the captains quarters, and taking them to the pub he had purchased with his life savings, fashioned them into a bar that ran the whole length of the Wailing Sireen’s west wall.
Most of the many bars located along that old, salt weathered waterfront have a somewhat nasty reputation for being quite rowdy establishments, full of drinkin sailors, wild women, fights breaking out on the minute, and other forms of debauchery and nefarious activities.
But the Wailing Sireen is some what of an anomaly around these parts, for Brute Burton will have none of that rowdiness in his place. Although not perfect, its patrons have become accustomed to obeying the taverns unspoken rules, for by doing so, would mean a quick grab and throw out the BACK doors by Brute, whose best effort once threw a rather drunk sailor across the road and through the doors of the bar on the other side. A massive heave of over 8 stone and 12 meters distance!!
The Wailing Sireen is located close to the quite popular Oceanside gambling casino, Hermes Rest, well known to be an underworld held establishment!
Now one would think, given the clientele of the area, along with Brutes lack of toleration for rowdiness, that the Wailing Sireen pub would be almost void of patrons. But actually the place is usually packed, especially on weekends when the folks from uptown who want a bit of excitement by going down to that somewhat chancy side of town. They start up gambling a bit at the casino, then gather upon the Wailing Sireen, knowing that they will be fairly safe within the old blackened interior of the large pub as they rub elbows with perhaps ( shall we say?) the least desirable members of their society.
^^^^^^^^^^
And so, we now come to the evening of our tale: an early fall evening, full harvest moon just peaking over the tall masts of the ships docked in the small harbour that was the bread and butter of the town that surrounded it.
It is a crowded Friday night, full of sailors in port, college students on a holiday weekend, all mixed in with the wealthier , more daring of the townsfolk. The narrow sidewalks that line the cobblestone street are crowded with a score or more of happily liquored souls wondering to and from the casino, bar to bar, in search of satisfying whatever the reason is that brings them out to this area.
As one looks upon this scene, they may notice a rather handsome couple swishing in and out amongst the happy throng…
He is nattily dressed in hound’s-tooth tweedy suit, gold fob and chain that crosses his waistcoat ending with a large gold pocket watch, a black bowler is perched on his head, and a long black umbrella held in the crouch of his arm . He is attentively escorting a rather fetchingly pretty lady, enticingly clad in a long violet dress of silk and lace, wearing a pretty necklace with matching earrings that glitters as she weaves in and out of the rough crowd. The the couple make their way carefully along the wooden planks of the dock’s sidewalks, peering cautiously into doors of the noisy pubs as they pass..
They stop outside the open doors of the Wailing Siren Pub and peer inquisitively inside. Just as they do, a rather thin chap with a perpetually smiling face, wearing old worn canvas trousers, a weather worn sailors blouse, and with a flat cap on his head comes upon them from behind. Long wisps of sun weathered sandy blonde hair fall in strings from the cap, some of them tied into a short pony tail. He is rather young, but the look in his keen brite blue eyes are those of a much older, perhaps even wiser man.
He stands behind the couple, patting them both on the back with a joyful cheerio.
As the both turn their heads in a rather annoyed fashion, he grins, better In than out Jack always says, and enthusiastically parts the two as he goes on inside.
The couple watch as the rather odd man calling himself Jack makes his way through the throng, acknowledging several people, but not receiving any recognition. He finally reaches a table with three men, all in severe cut suits, two built like the body guards they were, the third with a weasely face ,held pursed in a stern and unforgiving manner. Next to him stands a rather voluptuous lady, curvy in a long red satin number that flows down to her feet. From her ears, neck ,wrist and fingers sparkle a fine collection of emeralds set with diamonds, small but quite expensively real.
The couple at the doorway look at each other and silently a decision is made and they go inside and sit at a back table by a fireplace, where the beginnings of a large fire are in place, waiting to be lit once the cool chill of the evening fog rolls in.
Meanwhile the odd stranger has seated himself with the 3 men, and engages them in conversation. The lady in red, still standing, listens in, becoming quite interested in the charismatic newcomer and his many lively stories…
All the while Brute Burton works his station at the bar, serving up drinks as they are ordered, sliding them down the bar with expert precision.
Sadly, poor Brute is in a rather worse mood than usual this evening. Quite peeved that his favourite barmaid had up and quit the day before , having been sweet talked into taking a job at one of his competitors just down the street. This has been the topic of much conversation up and down the docks all day, so much so, that everyone pretty much knows to stay clear of the disgruntled bar keep, and Brute is quite happy with that. So, needless to say, what happens next came as quite a surprise to a lot of people, including Brute!
Brute had been eyeing a particular table all evening, it was made up of 4 men, and some tart in a red dress. The men, especially the thin one, one wearing an old discoloured flat cap, faded sailors dress, have grown more vocal, their tongues loosened by the pints of beer being consumed. And apparently, the attention Brute is giving them had not gone unnoticed, for they were quite obviously talking about Brute himself, judging by the way they had all been stealing looks his way.
This made Brute quite a bit more upset, and the men at the table apparently knew it, much to his chagrin. So it was with grinding teeth that Brute observed the thin man in the sailors rig rise and head up, a little wobbly, towards the bar, with his fellow table mates, including the dolled up tart, all watching with obviously keen interest.
The thin sailor sat down at the bar and called out cheerfully, hey barkeep, a shot of the devil’s own then. Brute poured a bit of rotgut in a shot glass, and intending to give the young sailor a piece of mind, walked ( rather than sliding ) it over to him.
Look ‘ere now, Brute said, I want no troubles from you mate , capisec lad?! he warned the grinning sailor in a stern tone. Then he gave the sailor a second, closer look over..
Wait a minute, Brute added, , didn’t I see you in ere last night?
Indeed you did my most observant sir, Indeed you did, and he offered a hand to shake, which was ignored by Brute. Unfazed, the sailor withdrew his hand and continued on; Jackie’s the name sir, and he nodded a hello to the burly , stern eyed barkeep. Came here on a lark last evening, enjoyed your fine establishment so much, decided to return. He looked into Brutes eyes, but the barkeep was having none of it, no scrawny excuse for a sailor was going to butter him up!
Jackie continued smiling and said, no worries my man, just here again in your fine establishment for a friendly drink. He slid a couple of coins to the barkeep who began to pick them up. Say barkeep, Jackie amiably asked Brute. Would you know be interested in winning few bucks from a betting sailor with nothin better to do with his money? What are you one about Brute asked, his hooded eyes holding back a fire waiting to ignite.
Just this Jackie continues on pleasantly cooing his words, 5 pounds say that I can lick me right eye.
Brute just looked at him for a full minute then said your on, but no shenanigans he added, go ahead and lick your right eye. With a smile, Jack popped out his right glass eye and licked it, before putting it back. The whole bar hushed, as Jack held out his hand, the bartender threw down a fiver, the look he was giving Jack would have sent most men running. The whole bar was now watching, quite a few standing for a better look at what was going on, waiting to see what was going to befall upon the mischief making sailor….
Jackie did not touch the fivers, instead he said, quite apologetically, I am so sorry chappie, That was actually quite rude of me I’ll admit, and after promising o shenanigans to boot. Tells you what dear sir, and he pulls a wad of notes from his pocket and lays down a total of twenty on top of his fiver.
Gives you a chance to make your money back, and profit Jackie said with a promise. Lets hear it than, Brute said, snarling so loudly that some of the Wailing Sireens patrons actually cringed, some even stepping backwards and tripping up against those behind them….
Ok Jackie again said in that sing song manner of his, this lot is yours( he pointed to the pile of notes) if I cannot bite my left eye!
Brute just looked at him for a minute, a long, quite cold minute. He finally spoke, choosing his words carefully, as he kept his temper in check…. I didn’t know about your fake eye me salty lad, but I sure en hell knows you aint blind. . Your on he says, and pulls out a wad of his own, slapping down a total of 20 hard earned notes on top of his fiver. Jackie gulps down the last of his rotgut, and smiles widely, playing the pubs hushed attention for all it was worth, then taking out his false teeth, he smartly bit his left eye.
You could have heard a pin drop on the wooden saw dusted floor of the place , it was now so quiet, then a murmuring started as everyone pushed forward a bit, knowing what would be happening next to the cunning sailor calling himself Jackie.
As For Jackie, he continued to smile as he adjusted his false teeth ( ivory) and then nonchalantly pulled a plug of tobacco from his pocket and biting off a wad, started to chew as he looked Brute dead in the eye. The piles of notes lay on the counter, untouched, seemingly unnoticed by either of the two , Brute or Jackie.
Brute finally broke the long silence, moving towards Jackie, his meaty fists griping the bar, as if he were trying to hold them back from strangling the living daylights out of the thin sailor looking all for the world like a cat that had gotten the canary.
Brutes words came, snarling from his lips, as he said in no uncertain terms. Yur crackers Laddie, and youns have just earned a one way ticket out of my pub, and if your lucky, only a few of your bones will be broken when you land! … as he spoked his right hand detached itself from the mahogany bar, and grabbed the sailor by his blouse, with the intention of lifting Jackie up and tossing him physically from the premises!
Jackie, totally unruffled by Brutes actions, laid a hand upon the Publicans wrist, and tsk’d Brute, who in surprise at the unperturbed demeanour of Jackie, actually let go of the sailors blouse and allowed his hand to be gently taken aside and placed upon the bar.
I know Jackie said complacently , as he chewed his tobacco, That was not a nice thing atoll for me to do, seeing how it is my honour to be here in your fine establishment, and me playing tricks on ye, not a nice ting atoll for a patron to do. Jackie smiled winningly up at the still bristling Brute. Tell ya what my fine friend, do you have a half- penny on you perchance?
Brute could not believe his ears, he was totally flabbergasted at this sailors actions, but still slightly more than mite curious, like the fabled lion listening to the mouse pleading his case, wondering why this git just did not seem to understand just whom he was toying with.
Finally Brute just said , yeah numbskull, why?
The whole bar was now absolutely focused on the goings on between Brute and the sailor Jackie, never before had anyone taunted the bartender with such nerve and still was be able to stand upright…
Jack just grinned for a few seconds before speaking. I truly do feel bad for playing me little jokes on you, its just me personality understand, and I am unable to control it after a few pints of the houses best you my dear most gracious sir…? . Brute started to say something, but Jackie cut in with, hear me out kind sir, and ye may find it worth your while for putting up with ol Jackie this evening!
Jackie picked up his empty shot glass, looking at it as he spoke. See this shot glass dear, most reasonable, sir, if you would,take it to the far end of your rather pretty polished bar and hold it up like you were cheering me.
I will bet your half penny against this pile of notes laying on your bar, that I can spit out this entire bit of tobacco I am chewing, and every bit of it will land dead centre inside that shot glass… If so much as a drop of it lands anywhere else, you then win the whole pot, every last pence….
Brute thought for a very long minute, trying to see all the angles, and finding none that could lose him the pot. In his mind he reasoned, how could anyone accomplish such a feat, especially a cocky drunken sailor with more mouth than sense?
Ta, your on lad he snarled, but I hold the money until after your bet. Agreed Jackie said, and pushed the notes up against the shot glass. Brute picked up both the glass and notes, walked to the far end of the bar, about 3 meters, and held the glass up against his spotless white apron.
The entire bar was still in a hush, and actually had become quite crowded now as word had spread across to some of the other drinking establishments, whose curious patrons had come over to witness the goings on…most hoping to be entertained with watching a rather thorough beating of a certain thin sailor..!
Jackie just grinned, ready he said, and taking a mouthful of air, spit out the wad of wet brown gooey tobacco. The unsavoury mess flew across the bar, hitting Brutus, the bar, the walls…everywhere but inside the shot glass.
Realizing that he had won the bet, Brute pocketed the notes, and started laughing, as he wiped the brown slime off himself, his apron, and the surface of his bar . The entire bar nervously erupted into laughter, poking themselves, and pointing towards the witless sailor and his odd games which had cost Jackie some fifty pounds!
Brute finished his cleaning, and still chuckling . looked over at Jackie, who was still sitting there, still smiling like had had not a care in the world. Puzzled Brute moved back to the sailor, and addressed him rather curtly.
Se here mate, what is it with you, your antics here have cost you a pretty penny, yet you sit there grinning like the whole world is your oyster.. what of it , are you just looney or daft , or both!?
Jackie just smiled, rising from his seat he looked up at the bar tender. Hopefully neither my most kind sir, hopefully neither!
Its like this, see that table back there, and he nodded towards the table that Jackie had left before approaching the bar. The tart had a silly grin on her face, but the three gentlemen sitting there were not smiling atoll, just wearing unbelieving frowns upon their hard mugs.
Brute looked back to Jackie, yeah I see them, what of it!?
Well me lad, and Jackie moved just a little further away, its like this… Those gentleman back there bet me a thousand pounds against me coming up here and spitting tobacco juice over yourself and fine bar, and have you clean the mess up yourself, laughing all the while… which is exactly what you just did…
Brute just stared at the smirking sailor, realizing that he had been played for a fool after all. Jackie was now out of reach, and so Brute just snarled at the impish sailor…
Pick up your winnings mate, and hightail your miserable carcass outta of here…. If I ever so much as see your shadow at me door, I will not be held responsible for my actions, he promised in no uncertain terms.
Jackie bowed with obeisance to the Bartender, then turns and walks up to the table.
Reaching it he winks at the girl, leans over the 3 gentlemen. Sorry chaps you heard the keep, I must sadly be one my way. From the table his picks up the pile of notes the gentlemen lost in the bet. Jackie moves off as the men start to protest, ignoring them, and smiling winningly at the lady in the red dress, who smiles back.
Jackie weaves his way through the still chattering crowd, ignoring them. And without looking back, leaves the Wailing Sireen.
Jackie quickly turns a corner and finally looks back. Once he is certain that no one follows, he darts down a side alleyway. After a series of turns up, down and doubling back more alleyways and darkened back paths he crosses a street and approaches another pub.
But instead of going inside, Jackie lights a small black irish pipe and waits a few minutes to get it going, casually looking around.
Then, turning on his heels, he makes his way to the back side of the pub and heads up a staircase leading to a small row of apartments for let. Going to one he raps a signal on the door with his knuckles. A matching rap is heard from inside, and Jack answers with a another signal. The door is unlocked . Turning the knob slowly, Jackie opens the door with caution, then, with a final look around, steps inside.
There were two of occupants in the room, standing on either side of a bed. The very couple that Jack had greeted at the doorway of the Wailing Sireen.
The chap in the hound’s-tooth suit had pulled from inside the sleeve of his umbrella a ling thin deadly sharp rapier, and was pointing it nastily towards the door, held up level with Jacks chest. The attractive lady in the violet gown was holding a diminutive 2 shot derringer , cocked, she had pulled from neath her left satin glove, it too was pointing at Jacks chest.
Ello put away yur ”greeters” mates, its only meself coming to visit ya after placing life and limb in peril .
I don’t know about your life being in peril luv, the lady in purple sneers pleasantly ,but I would’avetaken bets against your breaking a few limbs byth eway you were teasing the guv’ner who owns that bar. But should have known you would squeak it through, you put up a good job of it!
The man in tweed smiles, yes mate, you did the talk pretty well, as usual, and played it to your advantage… Our advantage mate, as it always is…
Speaking of advantage, how did we do? Jackie asked curiously, we had a good crowd this evening, he added.
They both smile as they put away their weapons.
Then both grasped the top sheet on the bed and wicked it off. Exposing a rather impressive collection of assorted wallets small pouches of coin,b oth gold and silver pocket watches, diamond pins, 3 necklaces, a handful of shimmering rings and a number of glittering ladies bracelets. Picked it clean while everyone was watching your antics, said Erebus, the man in the hound’s-tooth suit
Including this, said Teddi, the lady in violet, as she delved her hand inside her gowns satin sash, extracting and showing off a rather dazzling diamond and emerald bracelet. Jackie smiled, hoped you had spotted that one, blondes should know better than to wear emeralds, horrible choice with fair skin. They all were grinned widely at his point.
So, Erebus asked, how did you do with that group of the casino winners?
Parted them from a thousand of their winnings, less what I had used as to bait the bartender, Jackie said proudly. Always nice to end things a stay with a bang!
Erebus pulled up a heavy satchel from neath the bed, and opened it, more pretty things glittered from inside, along with assorted items that matched those laying on the bed.
It was their collective haul from the 3 nights they had been in town so far. Teddi came around and helped Erebus start to place the items on the bed inside the satchel.
Jackie stole a look outside, making sure the way was clear. Stepping back in he said Ok now lets finish packing it up and split ways. The train is leaving in an hour. Meet at the trains pub car for a drink at midnight Jack said, 3 strangers on a train! That is what we be
Jackie smiled, and at the next town we will divvy up this lot, and see about adding to it. They all nodded in eager agreement.
As Jackie continued to keep an eye outside the door, Erebus and Teddi began to quickly pack up operations.
Fini
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Thanks to one of my main protagonists, Eileen, who told the joke that made the gist of this story. She winningly carried out the tale one rather blustery night, inside by a cheery fire at the Poet and Peasant Pub, our own dockside hangout.
Thanks to CybeleMoon, Teddi Beres and Erebus Darkfold for the graciously allowing me the privilege to use their names to add a bit of their unique colour to my tale.
So, since I just picked up my visa I can make this official - I will be visiting China for a week starting next Thursday! Which in yes, is exactly as spontaneous as it sounds ^^" anyway, I fully intend to blog about it on my blog (link in bio) and prolly reduce IG to just the best shots cause my phone plan does not cover China xD will also prolly only be bringing Nendo!Me cause I am so scared my dolls would get damaged... even though, ugh, pics in the Forbid den City or on the Great Wall would be a fucking dream xD