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The Flat
A Distracting Gem.
She crouched like a cat in the shadows… Dressed in a tight black spandex jogging suit, she was almost invisible, except for her long ginger hair that fell past her shoulder in curling silken waves. She didn’t care if her hair was seen, after all, what was life without a bit of challenge?
As one of her mom’s countrymen would say:
We learn from failure, not from success! Abraham (Bram) Stoker,
She was looking through a tall hedge, past a row of neatly trimmed roses, to a large dark stone manor house that had been repurposed into four flats.
The house lay on the opposite side of a well-manicured green lawn.
It looked like a golfing green she thought, Licking her red lips, as she pulled something black out of the brown leather satchel that was held by a strap to her shoulder.
She looked down at the fuzzy black material in her left hand, a black ski mask, well worn. She smiled as she opened the mask and slipped it over her head, adjusting it so her sharp grey eyes could see out the eye holes. She pulled out the thin black silk gloves, and with a business-like manner, slipped them on.
She was ready, the time was ripe.
Stretching up like a cat does from being stationary for far too long, she felt her muscles deliciously relax, ready to pounce.
She turned her attention back to four flats … it was the top flat that was her objective,
No lights had been turned on, no one had come back home…
Her thoughts went back to earlier that evening when she and her fellow thief Emy, had cased a party together:
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Emily had worn a salmon color satin blouse, a black tube skirt in combination with opaque black stockings, and also black high heels. A wide necklace of glimmering gemstones hung with a mesmerizing sway from her throat. Looking sharp as a tack, she was the lure, the distraction maker, bait for the rich quarry.
Cassie, Emy’s ginger-haired partner, was the lift, the inside thief. It was her job to gather the information once they had selected a likely victim. She was dressed in a sensible black velvet dress with pearls.
Tonight it had been instantaneous and collectively deciding between the pair of female thieves as to who that victim would be.
An elegant lady wearing a long black gown of expensive satiny material was stunningly sporting a collection of diamond jewelry that made one wish they had on sunglasses. Her wealthy husband was handsomely attired in fitted tux and tails.
The pair of thieves quickly made the couple their focus.
On one of his numerous forays away from his wife, the thieves moved in.
As Emy distracted the wealthy lady, Cassie snuck in from behind and lifted the expensive purse of gold chain that she had been carrying, from the table behind her.
Cassie had left the party, and using the information she found amongst the expensive items inside the(£580 costing ) purse, had gone to stake out the couple's flat.
Finding the layout to be quite to her liking, Cassie changed into her burglar’s outfit and entered the grounds.
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An owl hooting broke into her thoughts.
She shook her head clear of those delightful thoughts.
Silently she moved off along the hedgerow, sneaking up to a small wrought iron garden gate a good 200 yards off.
Nimbly she grasped its ornate top, and jumped over it, landing in a crouch, looking all about.
She was in, no turning back now, not that she would have ever dreamed of doing so. The riches she imagined inside the flat , like catnip to a cat, were a far too tempting a lure to resist….
She moved off, soon lost in the swirling mists coming in on cats' pads from a nearby bog.
Reaching the outside of the house, she saw a long iron trellis had been bolted to the side of the wall running up next to each of the balconies of the flats. Four in total. One at each level. The trellis was covered in ivy up to the roof
This was how Cassie intended to enter.
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Cassie swiftly climbed up the metal trellis, her lithe figure easily maneuvering up to the top floor.
A stone gargoyle, a relic from when the manor housed a single family, glared down at her. Cassie blew it a kiss as she climbed over a thin wall into the stone balcony of the empty 4th flat.
Staying in the shadows, reaching a glass door, she easily picked open the lock and slipped inside.
As the burglar went in on her hunt, Her mind drifted to her old schools male induced Latin motto, the femininized version She had herself changed and had used in a school essay( and had received a stern lecture from the headmaster for doing so!)
“Et qui vincit, ipsa vincit”
She who conquers, conquers herself
Once inside Cassie allowed her eyes to adjust. Then reached inside her pouch and pulled out a small torch, using its thin beam of light to sweep the room, watching for anything shiny or glittery that may indicate an object(s) of value.
She was in the master bedroom. Savoring the elegantly beautiful items that were caught in her torch’s beam, Cassie decided to do the bedroom last, knowing most of the good stuff was here, in favor of checking out the rest of the flat.
Cassie crossed over to the fat door and opening it, entered into a large living room
Then she again casts her beam of light, quickly seeing a small elephant of green jade. She went over and snatched it up, placing it inside her leather satchel. Her light caught up several more small statues of silver, ebony, and more jade, and they all quickly were collected and placed in with the elephant.
On the far side was a pair of closed doors, on either side of the double main entrance doors.
Cassie went to the one on the right and discovered an obviously empty second bedroom. Pity no female guest was visiting. She didn’t bother checking the dressers. Took a quick look inside the closet. Here gowns were hanging. She ran her hand sling each one checking for brooches or pins that may have been left on the sleek scintillating material. Nothing other than some rhinestone decorations.
Cassie quickly vacated the room and tried the door on the left. It was locked.
As curious as any cat would be when finding a door locked, Cassie pulled out her thin pick and had the lock opened in record time. She opened the door, licking her lips as she slipped inside.
It was the husband’s study. The smoke of old cigars hung heavy in the atmosphere of the leather-accentuated room.
Her torch beam caught a solid silver frame on a fireplace. She went over. It was a wedding picture of the couple. The bride was wearing an eye-catching scooped necked cream satin gown, with mouth-watering diamonds dripping down along her model-like figure. Cassie liked the picture so much that she kept it in the silver frame as she stuffed it inside her satchel. None of the other pictures had expensive frames.
Cassie then went over to the desk.
Snatching up a solid gold table lighter, and silver cigar cutter, and a matching silver cigar case, filled. The husband must have another with him, probably gold. The cigars would be a victory smoke later if this heist was pulled off.
There was a decanter with matching glasses on the desk. An amber liquid inside the decanter looked appealing and Cassie took a small swig. Expensive brandy burning sweetly down her throat.
She looked around the room, it looked, felt, and smelled of wealth, and power.
She swept her beam on the rug, noticing a slightly worn path that led to the wall behind the desk chair. There was a picture, of no value, hanging there.
Correctly reading the signs, Cassie walked to the picture and placed her hand on one side feeling a hinge. Going to the other side she swung the picture out, revealing a wall safe.
Almost purring, Cassie began working the tumblers, easily hearing them in the dead silence of the flat. Then the sweet sound of a click, and the door was opened.
She put the torch in her mouth to free her hands.
Her light caught a few piles of cash, fat envelopes, velvet-covered cases, and small boxes of various colors and sizes.
Quickly the notes and envelopes were lifted out and placed in the satchel.
She reached in and lifted out a velvet case. Opening it her eyes were met by the sparkling that only the most expensive jewelry can give off. She closed it and slipped it inside the leather satchel at her side. Then quickly scooped up the remaining cases and boxes. All felt heavy, filled with more jewelry she didn’t bother to inspect.
Something odd caught her eye in the back of the safe. Reaching in she pushed a button set in the back, that had been exposed by the removal of the jewel cases. The back slid open, exposing a small niche in the wall… Cassie gasped.
For there, in all, it’s glory, was a diamond tiara, worth a king's ransom!
She reached in and plucked it out, mesmerized by its beautiful shimmer. She placed it greedily inside the satchel.
Finished she closed the safe, turned the tumblers, and swung closed the picture
Not bothering to check the desk drawers, Cassie quickly exited the room, closing and locking the door.
Then she made a beeline back to the master bedroom. To be quickly(she was sure all the ‘good stuff in the flat had been found) and expertly looted before making her escape on the bedroom’s stone balcony.
Entering the room she followed her beam to the bed, where she had spotted a jewellery case on a small table.
The car burglar quickly began scooping out the compartments of the jewelry case. Day jewels of Gold, silver, pearls, and several pieces of gemstone encrusted lovelies. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. All deliciously expensive in their own right.
She went to the other side of the bed where the oak doors of the closet sat shut.
Opening them she found more expensive clothes.
Satins, velvets, silks, and more. She again ran her fingers along the sleek materials. This time being rewarded with a diamond clip on a Raylon dress, and a sapphire broach from the high ruffled neckline of a satin blouse, along with a thick gold pin from a velvet jacket. All of which were plucked off and added to the valuable collection inside her now heavy satchel.
Suddenly She hears the outside door of the flat click open, and a light comes on in the living room. Cursing herself for not locking the bedroom door, Cassie hides inside the closet.
A figure swished in.
It’s the wife.
Cassie pressed into a corner of the closet, ready to spring.
The elegantly attired lady crossed to the bathroom, Turning on the light.
She turns towards the dresser inside the bedroom next to the bathroom door.
Her elegant satin gowned figure is bathed in light, diamond heavy jewels glittery.
The burglar’s heart leapt to her throat. Was she going to have the opportunity to acquire those jewels also? Where was the bloody husband?
It was then she heard a bird's call from outside. The burglar knew it was her partner Emy, giving a warning.
“Too late luv.”
The lady of the house meanwhile is removing her earrings, bracelet, and rings, laying them on the dresser. She then approached the bed, not seeing the burglar crunching in the shadowy corner of a closet door that was open a crack.
Her necklace and broach blaze into fiery life as she bends down and picks up her satin robe from the bed.
Turning away, she swished across the oak wood floor and enters the bathroom.
The burglar began to move as soon as the lady disappeared into the bathroom.
Cassie sat the satchel down by the closed glass doors leading to the balcony.
Reaching the dresser she looks inside the bathroom and sees the lady admiring her necklace in the mirror.
Meanwhile, the cat burglar’s gloved hands are quickly picking up and pocketing the diamond earrings, bracelet and rings from the top of the dresser. Placing them all inside her pants' deep pockets. Along with a small carved ivory statue of St. Patrick holding a 24k gold staff.
Cassie daringly held her ground, watching the lady remove her gown and hang it up next to the bathroom’s vanity on a hook next to the mirror. Next, she slips off her silky undergarments. Now naked, she turns and goes to the shower and turns it on.
Going back to the mirror the lady removed her necklace and laid it carefully on the vanity. Her beautifully bare figure in profile to the watching thief.
Cassie had to admit to feeling a bit of tingling in certain areas. And it wasn’t just from the diamond necklace laying so tantalizing close in reach.
The wealthy lady enters the shower, failing to notice the figure watching her at the door.
As the lady begins to hum inside the shower, the thief is also humming to herself, as she sneakily enters the now steamy bathroom.
Lifting the necklace she admired it’s dazzling radiance before placing it inside her pocket. Then Cassie, eyeing the diamond brooch, cautiously goes to the hanging gown.
Only inches away, the thief freezes as the lady in the shower says:
“Is that you honey? I need a washcloth.”
She holds out her hand, beckoning for it, a gold ring set with diamonds flashes from her pinky.
The cat burglar looks around quickly spying a washcloth. With daring, she lifted her mask, She carried it over to the voluptuous nude figure outline behind the shower curtain, holding it up, she used it to take hold of the hand.
Then leans over, licking the lady’s fingers with her tongue. Sucking off the ring easily from a soapy pinky.
“Silly!, I know that ring always is bloody tedious to remove after wearing it out. Thank you for taking it off for me.” The lady says snagging the washcloth and going back to her showering without looking out.
The thief meanwhile had spit out the ring, pocketed it, then grabbed the gown off the hook, backing out.
When she is at the door, the thief says to herself:
“Thanks for the jewels, and the heads up about your husband, Honey”
The thief turns and goes for a listen at the bedroom door. She heard the clinking of ice being placed in glasses inside the study.
She closes and locks the bedroom door.
She turns and goes back out onto the bedrooms balcony
Whistling to the shadows below, Emy emerged, looking up with brite , questioning eyes
She nimbly caught the satin gown, weighted with the brooch, falling straight, as it was thrown down.
Blowing yet another kiss to the menacingly grinning stone gargoyle, Cassie makes her way back down, the bulging leather satchel strung over her back.
Below, Emy watched as her partner finally reach the ground.
Cassie gives Emy, who had been admiring the diamond broom, a thumbs up, patting the bulging satchel.
They give each other an exciting hug.
Both then turn and steal their way across the now heavy mist-filled yard. Disappearing into the night.
Another adventure attained…
Fini
Santa Cecilia
Santa Cecília de Sadernes és un monument del municipi de Sales de Llierca (Garrotxa) inclòs en l'Inventari del Patrimoni Arquitectònic de Catalunya.
Descripció
Es tracta d'un edifici religiós, situat al cim d'un turonet, a la vora esquerra del riu Llierca, accessible des de Montagut de Fluvià per una bona carretera asfaltada, la qual, passat el riu, es converteix en una pista forestal en bon estat (del riu a Sardener hi ha menys d'un km). Es pot definir com una construcció romànica, d'una sola nau amb volta apuntada. El campanar original, d'espadanya, va esser convertit en una torre amb teulada a quatre vessants en afegir-s'hi una obra de fortificació que amaga un capcer esglaonat per la banda de llevant, coincidint això amb les obres de remodelació dutes a terme a les acaballes de l'edat medieval. La porta, excepcionalment, s'obre a ponent. Damunt de l'anterior, s'obre un ull de bou elaborat posteriorment, de forma que se substituí la finestra romànica abans existent. Una cornisa de pedra recorre els murs tant interiorment com exterior, inclòs l'absis semicircular. A l'interior, a la paret nord, s'hi veu un forat tapiat, on, amb tota seguretat, hi havia la pica baptismal, avui desapareguda. Resten senyals de la primitiva coberta de llosa al capcer esglaonat i a la teulada de l'absis.[1]
Història
Des de l'any 977 es té notícia de la parròquia de Santa Cecília de Sadernes. També apareix en un document de l'any 979, en el qual es llegeix "...et ipso meo alode que abeo in Sadernes excepto ipsa ecclesia..." En un judici celebrat l'any 1004 al castell de Besalú, el bisbe de Girona Odó reclama al comte Bernat Tallaferro la possessió, entre d'altres (Tortellà, Argelaguer i Talaixà), de l'església de Sadernes. Durant els segles xiii i xiv, hom l'anomena indistintament Sadarnes i Sadernes. A partir del segle XVIII, tingué sufragànies des esglésies de Sant Andreu de Gitarriu, Sant Grau d'Entreperes, Sant Feliu de Riu i Sant Aniol d'Aguja. L'any 1858, el bisbe de Girona hi trobà una Mare de Déu, segurament romànica, que suposem és la que avui figura al Museu d'Art de Girona.[1]
shonan;
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur? At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.
Mirabilis serenitas totam animam meam occupavit, velut hae dulces matutinae veris, quibus toto corde fruor. Solus sum, et sentio venustatem vitae in hoc loco, qui ad beatitudinem animarum similium meae creatus est. Tam felix sum, mi care amice, tam absorptus in exquisito sensu solae tranquillae vitae, ut ingenia mea neglegam. Ne unum quidem lineam hoc tempore delineare possem; et tamen sentio me numquam maiorem artificem fuisse quam nunc.
Cum, dum amoena vallis vapore circum me scatet, et sol meridianuus superficiem superiorem impenetrabilis foliorum arborum mearum percutit, et paucae tantum fulgura erratica in sanctuarium interius clam penetrant, me in altas herbas iuxta rivum stillantem proicio; et, dum prope terram iaceo, mille plantae ignotae a me animadvertuntur: cum murmur mundi parvi inter caules audio, et cum innumerabilibus formis ineffabilibus insectorum et muscarum assuesco, tum praesentiam Omnipotentis sentio, qui nos ad imaginem suam formavit, et halitum illius amoris universalis qui nos portat et sustentat, dum circum nos in aeternitate beatitudinis volitat; et tum, amice mi, cum tenebrae oculos meos obducunt, et caelum et terra in anima mea habitare et vim eius absorbere videntur, sicut forma dilectissimae amicae, tum saepe cum desiderio cogito, O, utinam has notiones describere possem, chartae imprimere possem omnia quae tam plena et calida in me vivunt, ut speculum animae meae esset, sicut anima mea speculum est Dei infiniti! O amice mi - sed nimium est pro viribus meis - sub pondere splendoris harum visionum deprimo! Mirabilis serenitas totam animam meam occupavit, sicut hi dulces matutini veris quibus toto corde fruor. Solus sum, et in hoc loco, qui ad beatitudinem animarum similium meae creatus est, vitae venustatem sentio.
Tam felix sum, mi care amice, tam absorptus in sensu exquisito vitae tranquillae, ut ingenia mea neglegam. Ne unum quidem ictum hoc tempore delineare possem; et tamen sentio me numquam artificem maiorem fuisse quam nunc. Cum, dum amoena vallis vapore circum me scatet, et sol meridianulus superficiem superiorem impenetrabilis foliorum arborum mearum percutit, et paucae tantum luces erraticae in sanctuarium interius clam penetrant, me in herbam altam iuxta rivum stillantem proicio; et, dum prope terram iaceo, mille plantae ignotae a me animadvertuntur: cum murmur mundi parvi inter stipulas audio, et cum innumerabilibus formis ineffabilibus insectorum et muscarum assuesco, tum praesentiam Omnipotentis sentio, qui nos ad imaginem suam formavit, et spiritum illius amoris universalis qui nos portat et sustentat, dum circum nos in aeternitate beatitudinis fluitat; Deinde, amice mi, cum tenebrae oculos meos obducunt, et caelum terraque in anima mea habitare videntur eiusque vim, velut forma dilectissimae amicae, absorbere, tum saepe cum desiderio cogito: "O, utinam has notiones describere possem, chartae imprimere omnia quae tam plena et calida in me vivunt, ut speculum animae meae esset, sicut anima mea speculum Dei infiniti est! O amice mi -- sed nimium est viribus meis -- sub pondere splendoris harum visionum deprimo!"
Mirabilis serenitas totam animam meam occupavit, sicut hae dulces matutinae veris, quibus toto corde fruor. Solus sum, et sentio venustatem vitae in hoc loco, qui ad beatitudinem animarum similium meae creatus est. Tam felix sum, amice care mi, tam absorpta in sensu exquisito solae vitae tranquillae, ut ingenia mea neglegam. Ne unum quidem tractum hoc tempore delineare possem; et tamen sentio me numquam maiorem artificem fuisse quam nunc. Cum, dum amoena vallis vapore circum me scatet, et sol meridianua superficiem impenetrabilem foliorum arborum mearum percutit, et paucae tantum fulgurationes erraticae in sanctuarium interius clam penetrant, me in altas herbas iuxta rivum stillantem dejicio; et, dum prope terram iaceo, mille plantae ignotae a me animadvertuntur: cum murmur mundi parvi inter stipulas audio, et cum innumerabilibus ineffabilibus formis insectorum et muscarum assuesco, tum praesentiam Omnipotentis sentio, qui nos ad imaginem suam formavit, et halitum illius amoris universalis qui nos portat et sustentat, dum circum nos in aeternitate beatitudinis volitat; et tum, amice mi, cum tenebrae oculos meos obducunt, et caelum et terra in anima mea habitare videntur eiusque vim absorbere, velut forma dilectissimae amicae, tum saepe cum desiderio cogito, O utinam has notiones describere possem, chartae imprimere omnia quae tam plena et calida in me vivunt, ut speculum animae meae esset, sicut anima mea speculum Dei infiniti est! O amice mi -- sed nimium est viribus meis --
さて、バカバカしいことをまた再開しないとな。
ここも更新しておかないと。
写真だったよな、
確かここは。
this paintjob will always be Continental to me!!
Marshall Islands flagged container ship Aruna Ipsa sailing up Ise Bay in back.
The pilot of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 19-5474 mounts the integral stepladder to his cockpit at Farnborough 2022. Like many of the other panels and doors, the edges of the access panel for the steps have a saw-tooth pattern, which helps to preserve a low radar return, and maximises the stealth characteristics of the aircraft.
The F-35 belongs to the 495th FS of the USAF's 48th FW at Lakenheath. The squadron is nicknamed the Valkyries, and the badge on the engine air intake shows the squadron motto to be "mala ipsa nova" (bad news itself ?!). Fellow 48FW representative, an F-15E Strike Eagle, is behind.
El petit nucli de Santiga, entre Sta. Perpetua de Mogoda (a la que pertany) i Sabadell. Tot i ser minuscul, com el seu nom indica (ipsa antiqua), és un lloc molt antic, ja habitat en època romana.
Foto presa amb una Kodak No.1 Panoram fabricada entre 1903 i 1905; pel·licula Ilford FP4+ revelada amb HC110 i escanejada amb un Epson V800.
ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_de_Santiga
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The tiny but very old hamlet of Santiga, near Sabadell, my hometown. It's name "s'antiga", means "the old one", and it means the church, Santa Maria de Santiga: it has Roman origins. Not romanesque, Roman. It was a Roman villa in Imperial times.
Panoramic view taken with a Kodak No.1 Panoram, an unusual box camera made c.1903-1905; Ilford FP4+ developed in HC110 and scanned with an Epson V800.
Poi, sulla costa, sono Napoli, anch'essa calcidese, chiamata Partenope dalla tomba della Sirena, Ercolano, Pompei, col Vesuvio che si vede non lontano, col fiume Sarno che la bagna, il territorio nocerino e la stessa Nuceria a nove miglia dal mare, Sorrento col promontorio di Minerva, un tempo sede delle Sirene. (III, 9, 62)
Litore autem Neapolis, Chalcidensium et ipsa, Parthenope a tumulo Sirenis appellata, Herculaneum, Pompei haud procul spectato monte Vesuvio, adluente vero Sarno amne, ager Nucerinus et VIIII p. a mari ipsa Nuceria, Surrentum cum promunturio Minervae, Sirenum quondam sede.
Plinio il Vecchio
It speaks for itself.
*Submitted to Cream of the Crop as my personal favorite (but can you really have a personal favorite? It's like choosing your favorite relative, or Brady :p )
Ipsa quoque adssiduo labuntur tempora motus
non secus ac flumen; negue enfim consistere flumen
nec leuis hora potest, sed ut unda impellitur unda
urguetur prior uenientem, urget priorem.
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Também os próprios tempos deslizam com um movimento constante, tal como um rio, e com efeito não pode parar nem o rio nem a leve hora, mas como a onda inpele a outra onda, a primeira empurra a da frente e a outra a essa.
Ovídio, Met., 15, 179 185.
MÚSICA: Julie Fowlis - Rugadh Mi 'Teis Meadhan Na Mara (Me Zo Ganet i Kreiz er Mor)
Arnara fu un feudo dei conti di Ceccano, ma nel 1121 il papa Callisto II attaccò la città per punire i conti per il favoritismo che facevano all'imperatore. Nel XV secolo il feudo fu un possesso della famiglia Colonna, fino a quando furono soppressi tutti i sistemi feudali in Italia.
Il piccolo paese di Arnara sorge su una collina appartenente alla catena degli Ernici, a circa 265 m. s.l.m., da cui domina un territorio di circa 1233 ettari. Benché sorga su una collina tufacea, l’etimologia del nome di Arnara deve essere fatta risalire al sostantivo harena, con cui si identificava la sabbia. Il termine le derivava dalle cave di tufo su cui sorse il primitivo agglomerato di case. Secondo alcuni studi il nome deriverebbe dal longobardo Arnhari, latinizzato in Arnarius, da cui Arnara.
È difficile datare l’originario nucleo della città, ma secondo alcuni studiosi, sulla base di quanto affermava Svetonio, sembra che debba essere fatto risalire alla tarda età repubblicana, quando Cesare distribuì le terre dell’attuale Arnara, tra il suoi 2000۠0 veterani. In realtà il territorio arnarese è stato interessato da vari ritrovamenti archeologici attribuiti alla presenza di piccole comunità in periodo romano e dalla frequentazione della zona per la vicinanza della Via Casilina (l’antica via Latina). Nella contrada Colle Romano sembra, infatti, da dover identificare una stazione di posta per il cambio dei cavalli.
Il vero e proprio nucleo urbano sembra risalire all’arrivo dei Longobardi nella zona, verso la metà dell’VIII secolo, ma secondo alcuni studiosi la presenza di un insediamento nella zona dovrebbe essere messa in collegamento con lo sfruttamento delle cave di tufo per la costruzione delle mura di Ceccano per opera di papa Silverio nel 536. È probabile che la prima fortificazione dell’insediamento debba essere attribuita al 756 con la costruzione della Torre.
Difficilmente si può accettare l’ipotesi che la costruzione del castello debba risalire al 600 per opera di Petronio Ceccano, Conte di Campagna, il quale impose il proprio gentilizio all’antica Fabrateria. Benché il Castello debba avere un’origine più antica, forse proprio longobarda, le prime notizie relative al Borgo di Arnara risalgono al 1121. Nella Cronaca di Fossanova si racconta, infatti, che questo feudo, che rientrava nella contea di Ceccano, fu assediato dalle truppe di papa Callisto II e dei Normanni.
La Cronaca di Fossanova ricorda per il 1143 la caduta del Mastio, attribuibile o alla contesa tra il re Ruggero II d’Altavilla ed il papa Innocenzo II, oppure ad un terremoto. Alla morte del papa, Ruggero II conquistò Ceprano ed invase la Campagna facilmente. Nel 1165 il castello subì un nuovo e duro attacco da parte delle truppe normanne, le quali avevano invaso la città Ceccano. La resistenza di Arnara costrinse gli alleati del papa a ritirarsi e, l’anno seguente, fornì ai ceccanesi l’occasione di contrattaccare.
Per il 1167 la Cronaca di Fossanova registra un nuovo incendio della città di Arnara ma non ne spiega il motivo. Arnara ricompare in alcuni documenti del primo ventennio del Duecento, conservati nell’archivio Colonna: nel testamento del Conte Giovanni, datato al 5 aprile del 1224, la città risulta essere tra i lasciti al figlio primogenito Landolfo, assieme ad altri feudi, tra cui Ceccano, Patrica, Santo Stefano e Pisterzo. Dagli archivi del Vaticano risulta che Landolfo si sposò con una certa Maccalona da cui ebbe dei figli. Nel testamento del 1264 egli dispose che la consorte disponesse a suo piacimento dei beni che le lasciava, trasmettendoli a quello dei figli che meglio le piacerà (secundum quod ipsa voluerit). Morendo, Maccalona lasciò alcuni beni, tra cui Arnara, ad uno dei suoi figli Annibaldo, capostipite di quel ramo dei conti di Ceccano che assunse in seguito il nome di Annibaleschi.
In realtà, secondo Gregorovius, le proprietà di Landolfo furono lasciate ai figli Giovanni, fino al 1286, e poi ad Annibaldo fino al 1291. Il figlio di quest’ultimo, Giovanni, congiurò contro papa Bonifacio VIII con l’appoggio dei Colonna. Antonio da Ceccano, sotto il pontificato di Eugenio IV (1431-1437), fu l’ultimo proprietario appartenente a questa famiglia. Dai documenti il castello già dal 1466 rientrò tra le proprietà dei Colonna, i quali ne saranno i proprietari fino agli inizi del XX secolo. Durante la seconda guerra mondiale il paese fu gravemente distrutto dalla violenza bellica.
The Flat
A Distracting Gem.
She crouched like a cat in the shadows… Dressed in a tight black spandex jogging suit, she was almost invisible, except for her long ginger hair that fell past her shoulder in curling silken waves. She didn’t care if her hair was seen, after all, what was life without a bit of challenge?
As one of her mom’s countrymen would say:
We learn from failure, not from success! Abraham (Bram) Stoker,
She was looking through a tall hedge, past a row of neatly trimmed roses, to a large dark stone manor house that had been repurposed into four flats.
The house lay on the opposite side of a well-manicured green lawn.
It looked like a golfing green she thought, Licking her red lips, as she pulled something black out of the brown leather satchel that was held by a strap to her shoulder.
She looked down at the fuzzy black material in her left hand, a black ski mask, well worn. She smiled as she opened the mask and slipped it over her head, adjusting it so her sharp grey eyes could see out the eye holes. She pulled out the thin black silk gloves, and with a business-like manner, slipped them on.
She was ready, the time was ripe.
Stretching up like a cat does from being stationary for far too long, she felt her muscles deliciously relax, ready to pounce.
She turned her attention back to four flats … it was the top flat that was her objective,
No lights had been turned on, no one had come back home…
Her thoughts went back to earlier that evening when she and her fellow thief Emy, had cased a party together:
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Emily had worn a salmon color satin blouse, a black tube skirt in combination with opaque black stockings, and also black high heels. A wide necklace of glimmering gemstones hung with a mesmerizing sway from her throat. Looking sharp as a tack, she was the lure, the distraction maker, bait for the rich quarry.
Cassie, Emy’s ginger-haired partner, was the lift, the inside thief. It was her job to gather the information once they had selected a likely victim. She was dressed in a sensible black velvet dress with pearls.
Tonight it had been instantaneous and collectively deciding between the pair of female thieves as to who that victim would be.
An elegant lady wearing a long black gown of expensive satiny material was stunningly sporting a collection of diamond jewelry that made one wish they had on sunglasses. Her wealthy husband was handsomely attired in fitted tux and tails.
The pair of thieves quickly made the couple their focus.
On one of his numerous forays away from his wife, the thieves moved in.
As Emy distracted the wealthy lady, Cassie snuck in from behind and lifted the expensive purse of gold chain that she had been carrying, from the table behind her.
Cassie had left the party, and using the information she found amongst the expensive items inside the(£580 costing ) purse, had gone to stake out the couple's flat.
Finding the layout to be quite to her liking, Cassie changed into her burglar’s outfit and entered the grounds.
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An owl hooting broke into her thoughts.
She shook her head clear of those delightful thoughts.
Silently she moved off along the hedgerow, sneaking up to a small wrought iron garden gate a good 200 yards off.
Nimbly she grasped its ornate top, and jumped over it, landing in a crouch, looking all about.
She was in, no turning back now, not that she would have ever dreamed of doing so. The riches she imagined inside the flat , like catnip to a cat, were a far too tempting a lure to resist….
She moved off, soon lost in the swirling mists coming in on cats' pads from a nearby bog.
Reaching the outside of the house, she saw a long iron trellis had been bolted to the side of the wall running up next to each of the balconies of the flats. Four in total. One at each level. The trellis was covered in ivy up to the roof
This was how Cassie intended to enter.
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Cassie swiftly climbed up the metal trellis, her lithe figure easily maneuvering up to the top floor.
A stone gargoyle, a relic from when the manor housed a single family, glared down at her. Cassie blew it a kiss as she climbed over a thin wall into the stone balcony of the empty 4th flat.
Staying in the shadows, reaching a glass door, she easily picked open the lock and slipped inside.
As the burglar went in on her hunt, Her mind drifted to her old schools male induced Latin motto, the femininized version She had herself changed and had used in a school essay( and had received a stern lecture from the headmaster for doing so!)
“Et qui vincit, ipsa vincit”
She who conquers, conquers herself
Once inside Cassie allowed her eyes to adjust. Then reached inside her pouch and pulled out a small torch, using its thin beam of light to sweep the room, watching for anything shiny or glittery that may indicate an object(s) of value.
She was in the master bedroom. Savoring the elegantly beautiful items that were caught in her torch’s beam, Cassie decided to do the bedroom last, knowing most of the good stuff was here, in favor of checking out the rest of the flat.
Cassie crossed over to the fat door and opening it, entered into a large living room
Then she again casts her beam of light, quickly seeing a small elephant of green jade. She went over and snatched it up, placing it inside her leather satchel. Her light caught up several more small statues of silver, ebony, and more jade, and they all quickly were collected and placed in with the elephant.
On the far side was a pair of closed doors, on either side of the double main entrance doors.
Cassie went to the one on the right and discovered an obviously empty second bedroom. Pity no female guest was visiting. She didn’t bother checking the dressers. Took a quick look inside the closet. Here gowns were hanging. She ran her hand sling each one checking for brooches or pins that may have been left on the sleek scintillating material. Nothing other than some rhinestone decorations.
Cassie quickly vacated the room and tried the door on the left. It was locked.
As curious as any cat would be when finding a door locked, Cassie pulled out her thin pick and had the lock opened in record time. She opened the door, licking her lips as she slipped inside.
It was the husband’s study. The smoke of old cigars hung heavy in the atmosphere of the leather-accentuated room.
Her torch beam caught a solid silver frame on a fireplace. She went over. It was a wedding picture of the couple. The bride was wearing an eye-catching scooped necked cream satin gown, with mouth-watering diamonds dripping down along her model-like figure. Cassie liked the picture so much that she kept it in the silver frame as she stuffed it inside her satchel. None of the other pictures had expensive frames.
Cassie then went over to the desk.
Snatching up a solid gold table lighter, and silver cigar cutter, and a matching silver cigar case, filled. The husband must have another with him, probably gold. The cigars would be a victory smoke later if this heist was pulled off.
There was a decanter with matching glasses on the desk. An amber liquid inside the decanter looked appealing and Cassie took a small swig. Expensive brandy burning sweetly down her throat.
She looked around the room, it looked, felt, and smelled of wealth, and power.
She swept her beam on the rug, noticing a slightly worn path that led to the wall behind the desk chair. There was a picture, of no value, hanging there.
Correctly reading the signs, Cassie walked to the picture and placed her hand on one side feeling a hinge. Going to the other side she swung the picture out, revealing a wall safe.
Almost purring, Cassie began working the tumblers, easily hearing them in the dead silence of the flat. Then the sweet sound of a click, and the door was opened.
She put the torch in her mouth to free her hands.
Her light caught a few piles of cash, fat envelopes, velvet-covered cases, and small boxes of various colors and sizes.
Quickly the notes and envelopes were lifted out and placed in the satchel.
She reached in and lifted out a velvet case. Opening it her eyes were met by the sparkling that only the most expensive jewelry can give off. She closed it and slipped it inside the leather satchel at her side. Then quickly scooped up the remaining cases and boxes. All felt heavy, filled with more jewelry she didn’t bother to inspect.
Something odd caught her eye in the back of the safe. Reaching in she pushed a button set in the back, that had been exposed by the removal of the jewel cases. The back slid open, exposing a small niche in the wall… Cassie gasped.
For there, in all, it’s glory, was a diamond tiara, worth a king's ransom!
She reached in and plucked it out, mesmerized by its beautiful shimmer. She placed it greedily inside the satchel.
Finished she closed the safe, turned the tumblers, and swung closed the picture
Not bothering to check the desk drawers, Cassie quickly exited the room, closing and locking the door.
Then she made a beeline back to the master bedroom. To be quickly(she was sure all the ‘good stuff in the flat had been found) and expertly looted before making her escape on the bedroom’s stone balcony.
Entering the room she followed her beam to the bed, where she had spotted a jewellery case on a small table.
The car burglar quickly began scooping out the compartments of the jewelry case. Day jewels of Gold, silver, pearls, and several pieces of gemstone encrusted lovelies. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. All deliciously expensive in their own right.
She went to the other side of the bed where the oak doors of the closet sat shut.
Opening them she found more expensive clothes.
Satins, velvets, silks, and more. She again ran her fingers along the sleek materials. This time being rewarded with a diamond clip on a Raylon dress, and a sapphire broach from the high ruffled neckline of a satin blouse, along with a thick gold pin from a velvet jacket. All of which were plucked off and added to the valuable collection inside her now heavy satchel.
Suddenly She hears the outside door of the flat click open, and a light comes on in the living room. Cursing herself for not locking the bedroom door, Cassie hides inside the closet.
A figure swished in.
It’s the wife.
Cassie pressed into a corner of the closet, ready to spring.
The elegantly attired lady crossed to the bathroom, Turning on the light.
She turns towards the dresser inside the bedroom next to the bathroom door.
Her elegant satin gowned figure is bathed in light, diamond heavy jewels glittery.
The burglar’s heart leapt to her throat. Was she going to have the opportunity to acquire those jewels also? Where was the bloody husband?
It was then she heard a bird's call from outside. The burglar knew it was her partner Emy, giving a warning.
“Too late luv.”
The lady of the house meanwhile is removing her earrings, bracelet, and rings, laying them on the dresser. She then approached the bed, not seeing the burglar crunching in the shadowy corner of a closet door that was open a crack.
Her necklace and broach blaze into fiery life as she bends down and picks up her satin robe from the bed.
Turning away, she swished across the oak wood floor and enters the bathroom.
The burglar began to move as soon as the lady disappeared into the bathroom.
Cassie sat the satchel down by the closed glass doors leading to the balcony.
Reaching the dresser she looks inside the bathroom and sees the lady admiring her necklace in the mirror.
Meanwhile, the cat burglar’s gloved hands are quickly picking up and pocketing the diamond earrings, bracelet and rings from the top of the dresser. Placing them all inside her pants' deep pockets. Along with a small carved ivory statue of St. Patrick holding a 24k gold staff.
Cassie daringly held her ground, watching the lady remove her gown and hang it up next to the bathroom’s vanity on a hook next to the mirror. Next, she slips off her silky undergarments. Now naked, she turns and goes to the shower and turns it on.
Going back to the mirror the lady removed her necklace and laid it carefully on the vanity. Her beautifully bare figure in profile to the watching thief.
Cassie had to admit to feeling a bit of tingling in certain areas. And it wasn’t just from the diamond necklace laying so tantalizing close in reach.
The wealthy lady enters the shower, failing to notice the figure watching her at the door.
As the lady begins to hum inside the shower, the thief is also humming to herself, as she sneakily enters the now steamy bathroom.
Lifting the necklace she admired it’s dazzling radiance before placing it inside her pocket. Then Cassie, eyeing the diamond brooch, cautiously goes to the hanging gown.
Only inches away, the thief freezes as the lady in the shower says:
“Is that you honey? I need a washcloth.”
She holds out her hand, beckoning for it, a gold ring set with diamonds flashes from her pinky.
The cat burglar looks around quickly spying a washcloth. With daring, she lifted her mask, She carried it over to the voluptuous nude figure outline behind the shower curtain, holding it up, she used it to take hold of the hand.
Then leans over, licking the lady’s fingers with her tongue. Sucking off the ring easily from a soapy pinky.
“Silly!, I know that ring always is bloody tedious to remove after wearing it out. Thank you for taking it off for me.” The lady says snagging the washcloth and going back to her showering without looking out.
The thief meanwhile had spit out the ring, pocketed it, then grabbed the gown off the hook, backing out.
When she is at the door, the thief says to herself:
“Thanks for the jewels, and the heads up about your husband, Honey”
The thief turns and goes for a listen at the bedroom door. She heard the clinking of ice being placed in glasses inside the study.
She closes and locks the bedroom door.
She turns and goes back out onto the bedrooms balcony
Whistling to the shadows below, Emy emerged, looking up with brite , questioning eyes
She nimbly caught the satin gown, weighted with the brooch, falling straight, as it was thrown down.
Blowing yet another kiss to the menacingly grinning stone gargoyle, Cassie makes her way back down, the bulging leather satchel strung over her back.
Below, Emy watched as her partner finally reach the ground.
Cassie gives Emy, who had been admiring the diamond broom, a thumbs up, patting the bulging satchel.
They give each other an exciting hug.
Both then turn and steal their way across the now heavy mist-filled yard. Disappearing into the night.
Another adventure attained…
Fini
És un edifici romànic, del segle XII, d’una nau coberta amb volta de canó i absis semicircular; l’espadanya se situa sobre la paret de ponent. El lloc d’ipsa Fabregada és documentat el 1038, en els termes del castell de Mur, en el moment en què els comtes Ramon i Ermessenda de Pallars Jussà el donaren en alou a Bertran Ató. El diumenge de Pasqua Granada s'hi celebra un aplec.
AEDES VESTAE - SEMBRA CHE NUMA POMPILIO RE DEI ROMANI ABBIA COSTRUITO IL TEMPIO ROTONDO AVENDO CREDUTO CHE DELLA STESSA FORMA FOSSE LA TERRA DA CUI DIPENDE LA VITA DEGLI UOMINI
VESTA'S TEMPLE- IT IS BELIEVED THAT NUMA POMPILIUS, KING OF THE ROMANS, DECIDED TO BUILD THIS TEMPLE WITH A CIRCULAR LAYOUT SINCE HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE SHAPE OF THE EARTH, UPON WHICH THE LIFE OF MANKIND IS DEPENDING, WAS CIRCULAR
Res ipsa loquitur
Reeds
Monochrome
East Lakeshore Drive
LSU Lakes
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Copyright © GeDelaCruzPhotography. All Rights Reserved.
IMO: 9270828
MMSI: 538005226
Call Sign: V7CA4
Flag: Marshall Is (MH)
AIS Type: Cargo - Hazard A (Major)
Gross Tonnage: 21932
Deadweight: 24279 t
Length × Breadth: 196.82m × 28m
Year Built: 2004
Status: Active
"George Washington"
also known as: “Enthroned Washington”
sculptor: Horatio Greenough, 1840
commissioned by the U.S. Congress for the centennial of Washington's birth
based on Phidias' great statue of Zeus
National Museum of American History museum
Washington, District of Columbia
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inscription:
SIMULACRUM ISTUD
AD MAGNUM LIBERTATIS EXEMPLUM
NEC SINE IPSA DURATURUM
HORATIUS GREENOUGH
FACIEBAT
translation:
"Horatio Greenough made this image as a great example of freedom, which will not survive without freedom itself."