Excerpt from grimsby.ca:

 

Doctors’ House: The subject property is located at the northeast corner of Ontario Street and Doran Avenue.

 

The property has the original brick building and its addition and includes the addresses 16 -20 Ontario Street. The subject of the designation is the brick building and its southwesterly addition at 16 Ontario Street.

 

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest: The Doctors' House at 16 Ontario Street demonstrates physical value as a good example of the Queen Anne Style of Architecture, and as the most substantial residential building in the downtown core of Grimsby.

 

The subject dwelling embodies the rich architectural detail associated with historical fruit farms and with the Queen Anne Style of Architecture as a result of the profitability of the tender fruit industry in the area which allowed residential farm architecture to be lavish. The building represents an early example of a converted estate type residential building into a building used for medical practice.

 

The physical value of the building is enhanced by the Queen Anne Style detailing that is prominent on the exterior of the building. The Doctors' House at 16 Ontario Street demonstrates associational value as a focal point of the medical profession in Grimsby from the 1910s to the 1960s.

 

A number of the physicians who operated out of 16 Ontario Street were significant in the community as both professionals and community leaders. Dr. Buck was the first physician associated with the building and a community leader in many ways including education, service clubs and lodges.

 

His greatest community impact was his leadership of the Grimsby Peach Kings Hockey Club during its first years of operation which was a period of great prominence in the sporting history of Grimsby. Dr. McMillan was the second physician associated with the building and was prominent in his leadership of the local community through the establishment of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. The third prominent physician associated with the building is Dr. Jamieson. All three of the physicians associated with the Doctors' House were role models for their service as medical practitioners in the First World War. The Doctors' House at 16 Ontario Street as contextual value as it supports the character and quality of built form in downtown Grimsby and on Ontario Street. The building demonstrates historical land use patterns as a medical practice hub within the downtown.

 

Heritage Attributes

The following architectural attributes have been determined to contribute to the heritage value of the dwelling and constitute part of the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest for 133 Main Street East:

Local red stone foundation;

Brick plinth above foundation;

Two storey bay on south facade:

•Decorative windows;

•Stone sills and lintel;

•Decorative brick patterns;

•Blind bay with decorative brick;

Four decorative brackets in gable;

One storey bay on the north facade;

Stone sills and lintels;

Stone corbels;

Decorative brackets supported by stone corbels;

1/1 sash windows;

Brackets below the eaves;

Patterned slate roof;

Gable with decorative shingles;

Gable window;

Peaked roof;

Dormer window on south elevation;

Brick chimneys and chimney base on north facade;

Setback of west façade from Ontario Street;

Physical reminders of medical practice (speaking tube); and

Red pressed brick exterior (currently painted)

Treasure Chest is a new Fantasy, Steampunk, Post Apocalyptic, and Sci-Fi roleplay subscription box event intended to facilitate original content designers to work together instead of in competition with one another to create a successful and profitable event for everyone. We're coming into our fourth round and have just introduced overarching concepts or themes to each round of the chest.

We are currently looking for a couple more brands to complete our designer lineup for the February round of Treasure Chest. For more information Contact Nicolias Sadoul or Anderian Sugarplum inworld.

www.treasurechestsl.com/notice-me-senpai/

Two beautiful apartments, never vacant, also great air b&b potential. Profitable retail business in storefront. Storefront owner says retail business nets approx. $54000 yr. One apartment rent for $700. month and one for $850.00. both rented and never vacant. The apartment rentals are added income to the retail net income. Property corners US27 and 7th Ave east at the northerly traffic lite in Havana Florida. Havana is a small town approx. 15 miles north of Tallahassee, Florida. Must have appointment to see The name of the business is not for sale, but the buyer can walk in and run any type of business they choose.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

www.realty.com/commercial-listings/317064885/102-E-7th-Av...

www.zillow.com/homedetails/102-E-7th-Ave-Havana-FL-32333/...

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

A estação de caminhos de ferro de La Fregeneda deixou de prestar serviço em 1985, após o encerramento de toda a linha por motivos de baixa rentabilidade económica. Desde então, ficou abandonada e deteriorada, até que em 2019 foi reabilitada minimamente para instalar um vagão que serve de ponto de informação e partida do Caminho de Ferro de La Fregeneda, um troço da antiga linha adaptado para uso turístico. Neste percurso, é possível apreciar a paisagem das Arribas do Douro e atravessar vários túneis e pontes que testemunham a engenharia da época.

 

The La Fregeneda railroad station ceased to provide services in 1985, after the entire line was closed for reasons of low economic profitability. Since then, it has been abandoned and deteriorating, until in 2019 it was minimally rehabilitated to install a wagon that serves as an information and departure point for the La Fregeneda Railway, a section of the old line adapted for tourist use. On this route, you can enjoy the landscape of the Douro cliffs and cross several tunnels and bridges that bear witness to the engineering of the time.

A capture of one of the many abandoned goldmine shaft structures in Johannesburg.

 

Mining in South Africa has been the main driving force behind the history and development of Africa's most advanced and richest economy. Large scale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the Orange River in 1867 by Erasmus Jacobs and the subsequent discovery and exploitation of the Kimberley pipes a few years later. Gold rushes to Pilgrim's Rest and Barberton were precursors to the biggest discovery of all, the Main Reef/Main Reef Leader on Gerhardus Oosthuizen's farm Langlaagte, Portion C, in 1886, the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the subsequent rapid development of the gold field there, the biggest of them all.

  

The Witwatersrand is in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Gauteng Province is the roughly the southern portion of what was previously the Transvaal, formerly an independent state settled by the Boers after the Great Trek. J. H. Davis, an Englishman, was reported to have found gold "in considerable quantities" in July 1852 at Paardekraal near Krugersdorp, which was the earliest discovery on the Rand. Davis had sold £600 worth of gold (£457,000 in 2010 Pounds to the Transvaal Treasury and had shortly thereafter been ordered out of the country in accordance with the prevailing policy of secrecy. In October 1853 Pieter Jacob Marais, born in Cape Town on 31 July 1826, discovered gold on the banks of the Jukskei River, this find too was hushed up. The first mining concern (the Nil Desperandum Co-operative Gold Company) was formed at Blaauwbank in 1874.

Gold was mined at various places on the Rand up to 1886, when the discovery of the Witwatersrand Main Reef set off the historic Witwatersrand Gold Rush.

 

Gold was discovered in the area known as Witwatersrand, triggering what would become the Witwatersrand Gold Rush of 1886. Like the diamond discoveries before, the gold rush caused thousands of foreign expatriates to prospect and mine the region. This heightened political tensions in the area, ultimately contributing to the Second Boer War in 1899. Ownership of the diamond and gold mines became concentrated in the hands of a few entrepreneurs, largely of European origin, known as the Randlords.

  

Cecil Rhodes founded Gold Fields of South Africa (GFSA) in 1887. Rand Mines (now Randgold), Johannesburg Consolidated Investments, General Mining and Union Corporation were quickly in place, all backed by men who had started in diamonds. Only Sir Ernest Oppenheimer's Anglo American was formed rather later, in 1917, while AngloVaal was founded in 1933. These seven houses provided the foundations of the South African gold industry which was always described as the 'flywheel' of the country's expansion.

 

This is the last passenger aircraft I flew as a professional pilot, between 2008 and 2015, where I logged more than 6,000 flight hours, also in the A319 (a shortened version of the A320) and the A321 (a lengthened version of the A320).

 

I made the transition from the great MD80, and this A320 represented a radical change, as it was the first time I flew an aircraft with a flight control system in which I no longer moved cables, servos, and pulleys, but rather a kind of electronic joystick (a Sidestick, in Airbus terminology) that communicated via fiber optics with the central control system.

 

It's the "fly by wire" philosophy already applied in other aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

 

For all of us, let's say, "conventional" pilots, the transition to the "fly by wire" philosophy was a quantum leap.

 

We were dealing with Artificial Intelligence, although it didn't yet have that name.

 

And my conclusion is that it's a very safe airplane, one that continues to evolve with new "system updates," just like any other, to become increasingly safer and more profitable.

 

I think this flight control system was probably of great help when Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III and his co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles had to troubleshoot the failure of both engines after colliding with a flock of birds and landing on the Hudson River in New York City, saving all passengers and crew on January 15, 2009, on US Airways Flight 1549 (AWE1549). (Source: Wikipedia)

 

As a joke, it's said that an ATC controller asked the crew of an A320 why, even though they were cleared for takeoff, they hadn't yet started the takeoff roll.

 

The A320 crew replied to the controller that they were trying to solve it...

 

A Boeing pilot who was at the holding position, being number two for takeoff, said over the radio: "The best thing to do is press CTRL+ALT+DEL and do a hard reset."

 

(But that's probably an urban legend...)

 

AIRBUS A320 SERIES, 2025

 

Este es el último avión de pasajeros que volé como piloto profesional, entre los años 2008 y 2015, donde hice más de 6.000 horas de vuelo, también en los modelos A319 (versión acortada del A320) y en el A321 (versión alargada del A320).

 

Hice la transición desde el gran MD80 y este A320 supuso un cambio radical, ya que ha sido la primera vez que yo volaba un avión con sistema de mandos de vuelo en el que ya no movía cables, servos y poleas, sino una especie de joystick electrónico (Sidestick, según la terminología de Airbus) que se comunicaba por fibra óptica con el sistema central de mandos.

 

Es la filosofía "fly by wire" que ya se aplicaba en otros aviones, como el Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

 

Para todos los pilotos, digamos, "convencionales", que hacíamos la transición a la filosofía "fly by wire" supuso un salto cuántico.

 

Estábamos tratando con la Inteligencia Artificial, aunque todavía no tenía ese nombre.

 

Y mi conclusión es que es un avión muy seguro, que sigue evolucionando con nuevos "system updates" igual que cualquier otro, para ser cada vez más seguro y rentable.

 

Pienso que probablemente este sistema de mandos de vuelo fue de gran ayuda cuando el capitán Chesley Burnett «Sully» Sullenberger III y su copiloto Jeffrey Skiles, tuvieron que solucionar el problema del fallo de ambos motores, tras el impacto con una bandada de aves y amerizar salvando a todos los pasajeros y tripulación en el rio Hudson de Nueva York el 15 de enero de 2009, en el vuelo 1549 de US Airways (AWE1549). (Fuente Wikipedia)

 

Como broma, cuentan que un controlador ATC le preguntó a la tripulación de un A320 que cuál era la razón por la que aun estando autorizados a despegar, no habían iniciado todavía la carrera de despegue.

 

La tripulación del A320 contestó al controlador que lo estaban intentando solucionar...

 

Un piloto de Boeing que estaba en el punto de espera, siendo número dos para despegar, dijo por la radio: "Lo mejor es que pulses CTRL+ALT+SUPR y haz un reset completo".

 

(Pero probablemente será una leyenda urbana...)

Russia. Moscow. Sretensky Boulevard. Profitable house of the insurance company "Russia" (Built in 1899-1902 for the insurance company "Russia" according to the project of the architect Nikolai Mikhailovich Proskurnin)

 

Россия. Москва. Сретенский бульвар. Доходный дом страхового общества «Россия» (Построен в 1899—1902 годах для страхового общества «Россия» по проекту архитектора Николая Михайловича Проскурнина)

"Profitable house of the merchant A.I Mozzhukhin."

Architectural monument.

Patriarch's Ponds area.

Moscow, Russia.

When animals are faced with extraordinary energy-consuming events, like hibernation, finding abundant, energy-rich food resources becomes particularly important. The profitability of food resources can vary spatially, depending on occurrence, quality, and local abundance. Here, we used the brown bear as a model species to quantify selective foraging on berries in different habitats during hyperphagia in autumn prior to hibernation. During the peak berry season in August and September, we sampled berry occurrence, abundance, and sugar content, a proxy for quality, at locations selected by bears for foraging and at random locations in the landscape. The factors determining selection of berries were species specific across the different habitats. Compared to random locations, bears selected locations with a higher probability of occurrence and higher abundance of bilberries and a higher probability of occurrence, but not abundance, of lingonberries. Crowberries were least available and least used. Sugar content affected the selection of lingonberries, but not of bilberries. Abundance of bilberries at random locations decreased and abundance of lingonberries increased during fall, but bears did not adjust their foraging strategy by increasing selection for lingonberries. Forestry practices had a large effect on berry occurrence and abundance, and brown bears responded by foraging most selectively in mature forests and on clear cuts. This study shows that bears are successful in navigating human-shaped forest landscapes by using areas of higher than average berry abundance in a period when abundant food intake is particularly important to increase body mass prior to hibernation.

Soo Line had to hustle to capture a profitable share of the Chicago to Twin Cities business. Competition with the North Western, Milwaukee Road, and the Burlington was stiff. On the morning of August 18th, 1971 the eastbound Shoreham to Schiller Park freight bangs across the interlocker at Deval with piggy-backs on the head end. SOO FP7 2500A leads two GP30s through Des Plaines, Ill., Photo by Jim Lewnard.

7108-15

Even yet you’re profitable for homeowners insurance , we substantially wish we won’t have to use it. Short of a break-in, bursting pipes, or a kitchen inferno, we mainly will go years though wanting to ring adult your agent.

 

On the frozen wastes of Hibernia, transporting materials to expand the colonies is a dangerous, yet profitable way to make a living. On the ice roads between settlements, it isn't unusual to see a convoy of RV-TR4s trundling through the ice and snow.

 

The cab for this actually started as a Vic Viper cockpit, but I wasn't feeling it and so it sat on my build table until FebRovery!

John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1502? – 22 August 1553) was a Tudor general, admiral and politician, who de facto ruled England in the latter half of King Edward VI's reign. At Edward's death, his attempt to displace Edward's sister and heir Mary with his own daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, failed, resulting in his being sentenced and put to death for high treason.

 

John Dudley was born as the first son of Edmund Dudley and Elizabeth Grey, Baroness Lisle, a descendant of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick. His grandfather was a Knight of the Garter and Steward to King Henry V. His younger brothers were called Jerome, Oliver, William and Andrew.

 

When his father was attainted and executed in 1510, Edward Guilford — a partner in many of Edmund's "profitable outrages" — became guardian of the nine-year old John and one of his younger brothers (possibly Andrew, who was later made Admiral of the North Sea). The boys were then taken into the home of Richard Guilford. Within two years, in 1512, Guilford was able to persuade King Henry VIII to repeal Edmund's attainder.

 

In order to prosper under his new-found liberty, Dudley married Edward's daughter Jane in 1520. He took part as Guilford's lieutenant in the campaign of 1523 in France under the king's brother-in-law, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and won a knighthood on the field for gallantry after his valour at the crossing of the Somme. He was soon to gain prominence in the tournaments of the royal court and as a protégé of Thomas Cardinal Wolsey, and so joined the group whose task it was to amuse the king. In 1527, and again in 1532, he accompanied Wolsey to France.

 

About the time of the birth of his fifth son Robert in 1532/1533, Dudley was appointed Master of the Armoury in the Tower of London. To it he brought the reputation of being the ablest commander both by land and sea that had then been of service to the Tudors. This helped rehabilitate the name of Dudley. At the coronation of Anne Boleyn in 1533 he was invited to be a cup-bearer, and he would lead the procession at the christening of the Princess Elizabeth.

 

When Edward Guilford died in 1534 without male issue or a written will, the Guilford estate was disputed between Dudley (on behalf of his wife) and Guilford's nephew John. Dudley claimed the manor of Halden, and other lands in Kent and Sussex, despite John Guilford's assertion that his uncle had intended him to inherit. Five years later Dudley sold the manor with others to Thomas Cromwell, whose protégé he became after Cardinal Wolsey's fall.

 

From 1536 he appears to have encountered some difficulties that led him to part with much of his inheritance in favour of the Midlands estate of his cousin, John Sutton, 3rd Lord Dudley; he exchanged his reversionary interest in the lands left to him by his mother to Sir Richard for life. He then made extensive purchases, especially in Staffordshire and the Welsh marches. In addition, he was given several manors by the King, including the extensive estates of Halesowen Abbey on the Dissolution of the Monasteries, so that his land base shifted to the central and west Midlands. He was elected sheriff of Staffordshire in 1536 after helping to put down the Pilgrimage of Grace.

 

In 1537 Dudley was sent on a mission to Spain and also began the connection with the Admiralty which, with his military commands from 1542, was to bring him to the fore during the closing years of Henry's reign. In January 1542 he resumed his seat in the Commons as one of the knights for Staffordshire, and upon his stepfather's death was created Viscount Lisle (derived from his mother) and made Lord Admiral for life, entering the Lords the following day to sit in regular attendance for the rest of the session.

 

Exercising his new prerogative, Dudley dispatched the French from the English Channel and stormed Boulogne-sur-Mer, for which he was to become a Knight of the Garter and was on the 23 April 1543, admitted as a member of the Privy Council. As Lord Admiral he directed the naval operations of the next two years and his presence at the third session of that Parliament was respectively shortened. To his other duties there was added in late 1544 the governorship of Boulogne. Also in 1544 he accompanied his future rival, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford to the capture and burning of Edinburgh. A large English force, supported by a naval fleet, under Hertford's command, invaded the east coast of Scotland, sacking Leith and Dunbar and capturing Edinburgh.

 

After attending the first session of the Parliament of 1545 Dudley was to direct the operations of the fleet in the Battle of the Solent which frustrated the French attack on Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. He went with the embassy to Paris to ratify and conclude the peace in 1546. On his return Dudley was absent from Council meetings on the grounds of ill-health, although the imperial ambassador ascribed his retirement to a difference of opinion with Bishop Stephen Gardiner, whom he had assaulted in the Council. He returned before the King died, and was in attendance at the final session of Parliament. By 1547, the year of the King’s death, he was Lieutenant General of all His Majesty's armed forces.

 

Dudley was among the sixteen members of the Regency Council, Henry had appointed to govern the kingdom during Edward's minority. The new King's uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, was elected Lord Protector just before the coronation. That year Dudley sought and was duly granted the right to bear the arms of the Earls of Warwick, with the distinctive badge of the Bear and the Ragged Staff.

 

By the end of 1549 most councillors, including Thomas Cranmer, the Earl of Arundel, William Paulet, and William Cecil, were turned against Somerset and united behind Dudley, the man with the ambition, will and determination to oust the Protector. Dudley lead the palace rebellion against Somerset in 1549, leading to Somerset's imprisonment and eventual execution in 1552.

 

Unlike Somerset, whom he had outmanoeuvered, Dudley did not take the title of Lord Protector, and encouraged Edward VI to proclaim his majority. Nonetheless, Dudley effectively ruled the country by holding the two offices of Lord President of the Council and of Great Steward of the King's Household. Dudley was given the title of Duke of Northumberland in 1551.

 

Dudley obtained such an influence over Edward that the King was ready to make it appear that Dudley's ideas were actually his own. Whether or not it was justified, Dudley acquired a bad reputation, becoming known as a "tyrant", sometimes referred to as the merciless "bear of Warwick". Despite the differing opinion of his character, some[who?] argue in Dudley's favour that he consulted the Privy Council regularly, did not make any executive decisions, and did not use the title 'Lord Protector' that Somerset had done. Dudley also began the political education of the young Edward VI.

 

Already in 1549, Dudley achieved his great political victory over the Norfolk rebels in their efforts to remove the enclosure system. He was popularised, not only for his skill and courage, but for his mercy towards the prisoners. When his small troop was faced with destruction and outnumbered, he drew his sword, kissed the blade and spoke of death before dishonour. When the conflict was over, he responded to his officers' protests for revenge with: "Is there no place for pardon?" He asked "What shall we then do? Shall we hold the plough ourselves, play the carters and labour the ground with our own hands?"

 

In order to compensate for the economic legacy of the Duke of Somerset, Dudley ceased debasement of the coinage, although, poorly advised by economists, he did take that action one last time. Using melted church plate, the coins were revalued in 1551 and began to slow down the rapid inflation that had been ravaging the country. However, Dudley's tendency towards profiteering - allowing himself and other Privy Councillors to enrich themselves at the expense of the state when it was nearing bankruptcy - has been criticised, although there are few that believe such profiteering was required in order to ensure Councillors' support.

 

Vagrancy, enclosure, evictions, poverty and rising crime were all very immediate problems facing Dudley's regency. This was exacerbated by poor harvest and subsequent lack of food.

 

One of Dudley's first actions after Somerset's fall was to end the wars with France and Scotland that Somerset had initiated . He surrendered the besieged town of Boulogne which, whilst weakening the English position in France, gained £200,000 for the struggling economy, liberated England from a financially burdensome territory and resulted in a defensive alliance between France and England with the Treaty of Boulogne. He also withdrew the English garrisons from Scotland.

 

When King Edward was dying, he signed a document which barred both his sisters, Mary I and Elizabeth, the remaining children of King Henry VIII, from the throne in favour of Lady Jane Grey (who had married Dudley's youngest son Guilford only six weeks previously). The extent to which Dudley influenced the document is uncertain,[1] but he countersigned the King's decree.

 

The decision to name Lady Jane Grey as an heir was based on the lack of 'heirs male' from other royals and noble families with royal connections. The motivation to exclude the previous heir-presumptive, Mary, stemmed from a desire to prevent a Catholic succession.

 

Before Edward's death had been made public, the Council summoned Mary back to London, but she (informed and warned by the Earl of Arundel) refused and instead demanded to be recognised as Queen. Dudley was at his country residence having complained of illness and in his absence the council wavered. Mary, having gathered much support from the nobles and gentry of East Anglia, which soon spread into other counties, marched into London with no opposition at the head of an immense throng. This outpouring of support for Mary was due to a general dislike of Dudley, popular anger over the previous Protestant regime and over its mistreatment of Mary and genuine respect for Mary's legitimacy. The people - even many Protestants - preferred a legitimate heir over a Protestant usurper.

 

Dudley was forced to surrender to Mary and was arrested. He was put on trial in 1553 and was sentenced to death for high treason. In his parting words he announced to the stunned observers his repentance and return to Catholicism - and encouraged them all to do likewise. Though five of his sons were imprisoned along with him, they were freed after eighteen months, except for the youngest, Guilford, who was executed.

The Family Pier, dating from 1852 is a private pier on Brownsea Island.

 

A retired Indian Amy officer, Colonel William Waugh, bought the island in 1852, hoping to turn it into a profitable pottery works. He carried out restoration work on the castle and built up a new Jacobethan-styled range around the south and east sides of the castle. Waugh also constructed the crenelated gatehouse and clocktower at the entrance to the courtyard, and the Jacobethan-styled family pier by the sea below the castle. The commercial venture was a failure and Waugh fled his creditors to Spain in 1857.

 

Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset, England. The island is owned by the National Trust with the northern half managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Much of the island is open to the public and includes areas of woodland and heath with a wide variety of wildlife, together with cliff top views across Poole Harbour and the Isle of Purbeck.

 

The island was the location of an experimental camp in 1907 that led to the formation of the Scout movement the following year. Access is by public ferry or private boat; in 2017 the island received 133,340 visitors. The island's name probably comes from Anglo-Saxon Brūnoces īeg = "Brūnoc's island".

 

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brownsea_Island,_Family_P...

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsea_Castle

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsea_Island

neutralize it and bring back samples, if we can reproduce the outcome it'll be very profitable for cobra!

Sure you will enjoy the slideshow of this stroll through Gion at the end of Summer.

Profitable house of the peasant Frolov (1910-1914), Baumanskaya street, Basmanny, Moscow, Russia.

Россия, Москва, Басманный, Бауманская ул., доходный дом крестьянина Фролова (1910–1914).

He was born 30 December 1869 at Swanmore, county of Hampshire, England.

 

In 1876 he emigrated to Canada with his family and settled on a farm near the hamlet of Egypt, south of Sibbald Point on Lake Simcoe.

 

Leacock was educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto. He completed a degree in modern languages at the University of Toronto in 1891.

 

Inspired by Thorstein Veblen’s The Theory of the Leisure Class, he enrolled at the University of Chicago, receiving a Ph.D. in political economy and political science under Veblen in 1903.

 

Concurrently he joined the Department of Economics and Political Science at McGill University, Montreal.

 

In 1906 he published his first and most profitable book: Elements of Political Science, a university textbook. Twenty-seven other books of non-fiction followed.

 

In 1908 he became head of his department at McGill, helped found the University Club and began developing Old Brewery

The skilful hands of Dutch floriculturists and the effort of scientist-selectionists turned tulip grooving into a profitable business ensuring world wild reputation, material well-being and prosperity to this small country. It its second motherland, the tulip has become a symbol, an object of applied and fine arts.

World Elephant Day - 12 August 2016

 

Elephant numbers have dropped by 62% over the last decade, and they could be mostly extinct by the end of the next decade. An estimated 100 African elephants are killed each day by poachers seeking ivory, meat and body parts, leaving only 400,000 remaining. An insatiable lust for ivory products in the Asian market makes the illegal ivory trade extremely profitable, and has led to the slaughter of tens of thousands of African elephants. Between 2010 and 2014, the price of ivory in China has tripled, driving illicit poaching through the roof.

As of 2011, the world is losing more elephants than the population can reproduce, threatening the future of African elephants across the continent. Bull elephants with big tusks are the main targets and their numbers have been diminished to less than half of the females. Female African elephants have tusks and are also killed, which has a terrible effect on the stability of elephant societies, leaving an increasing number of orphaned baby elephants.

 

Elephants are running out of space and time. Before we know it they will be gone — unless we collectively stop the senseless poaching and consumer demand for ivory, and allocate protected natural habitat in countries where elephants and other wildlife can thrive now, and in the future.

 

Because without elephants, just what kind of world would it be?

 

More information on the World Elephant Day website.

 

African Elephant / Afrikanischer Elefant (Loxodonta africana)

Lake Manyara N.P., Tanzania, Africa

As of midnight on April 30th 2020 the CN Cayuga sub is now officially out of service between mile 114.55 (New Sarum) and mile 87.22 (Tillsonburg), with mile 87.22 to 80 (End of Steel in Delhi) seeing abandonment. Originally build by the Great Western Railway 147 years ago as a connection between Buffalo and the ferries in Windsor this line has seen many different owners over its existence to the likes of Wabash, N&W and CN. CN operated through trains up until roughly 1998 with NS through traffic (327, 328, 145 & 146) up until 1995. After 98 the future of the entire line was uncertain. From Delhi to Buffalo fell to the fate of abandonment and was torn up. In 2013 the St Thomas and Eastern (Trillium) ceased service over the still CN owned line to service the industries between St Thomas and Tillsonburg. After years of operation they did not find it profitable and OSR took over the business. Now after less then 4 years of running it, OSR too has found in not economically reasonable to continue service. With the few industries along the line, the fate of the Canada Air Line falls into the hands of CN.

 

Here we see OSR's pair of matching F units roll out of Tillsonburg past the manufacturing facility of Shaw's Ice Cream.

 

OSR 1401 - EMD FP9A

OSR 6508 - EMD FP9A

Tillsonburg ON.

CN Cayuga Spur

Grand Teton NP

From NPS.GOV

The Cunningham Cabin stands as one of the valley’s few remaining structures from the homesteading era when settlers filed nearly 400 claims in Jackson Hole. In the 1880s, John and Margaret Cunningham staked a claim for the Bar Flying U Ranch. Cunningham built his cabin in 1888 in the Appalachian style, commonly called “double-pen” or “dog-trot.” John lived in the cabin until 1895 when he finished his main residence, and it later became a smithy and barn.

 

Cunningham ran a profitable ranch until drought ruined his crops and cattle prices fell at the end of World War I. As an agricultural depression persisted through the 1920s, Cunningham and other ranchers recognized the valley’s potential as a “playground.” Cunningham teamed up with neighbor Josiah David “Si” Ferrin to write a petition signed by 97 valley ranchers. The petition proposed a buyout of ranches to create a national recreation area for public enjoyment. In 1928, Cunningham sold to the Snake River Land Company who later donated 35,000 acres for park expansion.

 

Gunfight at the Bar Flying U RanchTwo Montana wranglers approached Cunningham in the fall of 1892 to purchase hay. Cunningham allowed the strangers to winter on his ranch. Rumors spread that the men were horse thieves. Next spring, a man claiming to be a U.S. Marshal, with three deputies, rode into Jackson from Idaho. Joined by Jackson recruits, the marshal’s men surrounded the ranch at night. In the morning, the posse gunned down the alleged thieves. The men’s guilt, the allegations and the marshal’s identity were never confirmed.

  

One of three pictures of Hill Farms on the south side of the Preseli Hills (Pembrokeshire, Wales).

There is a long history of farming in this part of Wales going back to the Stone Age. The landscape has undergone many changes from the clearing of the woodland that grew here after the end of the last ice age through to the enclosures which established many of the field boundaries that we now see. More recently, we have seen a shift partly as a result of mechanisation/industrialisation (the move in farming to 'industry') and partly to the ever declining profitability of farming.

IMG_8777

Fahri profitable house in Sofia, Bulgaria …

A former Cistercian abbey in Rievaulx, near Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park.

 

Headed by the Abbot of Rievaulx, it was one of the wealthiest abbeys in England until it was dissolved by Henry VIII of England in 1538.

 

founded in 1132 by twelve monks from Clairvaux Abbey as a mission for the colonisation of the north of England and Scotland. It was the first Cistercian abbey in the north. With time it became one of the great Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire, second only to Fountains Abbey in fame.

 

Its remote location was ideal for the Cistercians, whose desire was to follow a strict life of prayer and self-sufficiency with little contact with the outside world. The patron, Walter Espec, settled another Cistercian community, founding Wardon Abbey in Bedfordshire on unprofitable wasteland on one of his inherited estates.

 

The abbey lies in a wooded dale by the River Rye, sheltered by hills. To have enough flat land to build on, part of the river was diverted several metres west of its former channel. The monks altered the course of the river three times during the 12th century. The old course is visible in the abbey's grounds. This is an illustration of the technical ingenuity of the monks, who over time built up a profitable business mining lead and iron, rearing sheep and selling wool to buyers from all over Europe. Rievaulx Abbey became one of the greatest and wealthiest in England with 140 monks and many more lay brothers. It received grants of land totalling 6,000 acres (24 km²) and established daughter houses in England and Scotland.

 

Towards the end of the 13th century the abbey had incurred debts on its building projects and lost revenue due to an epidemic of sheep scab (psoroptic mange). The ill fortune was compounded by raiders from Scotland in the early 14th century. To make matters worse, the great reduction of the population caused by the Black Death in the mid 14th century made it difficult to recruit new lay brothers for manual labour. As a result the abbey was forced to lease much of its land. By 1381 there were only fourteen choir monks, three lay brothers and the abbot left at Rievaulx, and some buildings were reduced in size.

 

By the 15th century the Cistercian practices of strict observance according Saint Benedict's rule had been abandoned in favour of a more comfortable lifestyle. The monks were permitted to eat meat and more private living accommodation was created for them, and the abbot had a substantial private household.

 

The abbey was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1538. At that time there were reported to be 72 buildings occupied by an abbot and 21 monks, attended by 102 servants, with an income of £351 a year. The abbey owned a prototype blast furnace at Laskill, producing cast iron as efficiently as a modern blast furnace.

 

Henry ordered the buildings to be rendered uninhabitable and stripped of valuables such as lead. The site was granted to the Earl of Rutland, one of Henry's advisers, until it passed to the Duncombe family.

 

In the 1750s Thomas Duncombe III beautified his estate by building the terrace with two Grecian-style temples. They are in the care of the National Trust. The abbey ruins are in the care of English Heritage.

 

When awarded a life peerage in 1983, former Prime Minister Harold Wilson, a Yorkshireman, adopted the title Baron Wilson of Rievaulx.

 

How was it processed? Visit my Blog www.franticphoto.blogspot.co.uk

Despicably Rotten Scoundrel

  

My thanks to everyone who has helped me with ideas in writing this story. You all know of whom I speak.

 

The opening scene is a formal charity ball in Scotland, at the seaside town of Clachtoll.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Despicably Rotten Scoundrel

 

“I’m not really wicked, just written that way…!”

 

A pickpocketing female thief’s rather despicable and rotten tale told from her perspective….

 

“I’m not jealous, just an opportunist.”

 

^^^^^^^^^^

 

I do love a good old-fashioned charity ball.

 

It’s a place where rich twits, sorry, guests love to show off their finery, flaunting the fact they are wealthy enough to be invited to donate a bit of their easily earned, or given, cash. Also wealthy enough to be shorn of some of their wealth by other, shall we say, less proper manners.

 

Now, it’s true that there are mostly adults at these types of charity things.

 

But they also have a tendency to doll up their younger sons/daughters and bring them along to pretty much just display them. The poor dears are usually bored and desperate to be noticed. Which works to my advantage.

 

A bit of juicy, easy ripe pickings on the side with usually some surprisingly profitable results.

 

And then there are the parents and other adult guests, who once they have imbibed enough, become subtle and compliant enough for my fingers to do their task of acquiring their more valuable adornments

 

And I never thought of pickpocketing as right out stealing, preferably thinking of it as teaching a life lesson to those foolish enough, or young enough, to present a vulnerably easy target. And earn my living in the process.

 

But why the soliloquy one may ask?

 

Well, the last time I attended such a function I deliciously petted away a pair of pearl necklaces, a single and double strand, from two very different but equally gullible, charming quite young ladies who were attending a grown-up Ball for the first time. Their pearls fetched a surprising value.

 

One was in soft velvet the other was in sleek silk-covered chiffon. Both were easily woven into my web.

 

At the same affair, I also lifted an expensive diamond brooch from a wealthy lady as well as two fat leather wallets from a pair of tuxedo-wearing gentlemen.

 

But then I attracted nosey official notice and had to make a hasty exit. Blimey, a girl’s got to make a living.

 

And now here I was, a year later, standing across the street from yet another charity ball in Scotland. Smoking a leisurely cigarette as I watch the rich ladies' attire flowing down elegantly beneath furs and satin evening wraps of the mostly female guests pouring into the venue.

 

I spotted a group of younger ladies dressed elegantly in a collection of silks and satins, no wraps. They were off to the side smoking and chatting away amiably. They appeared to be an accepting lot, and I instinctively saw them as an acceptable way to camouflage my entrance.

 

I crossed the street and walked up behind them close enough to get a feel for the manner of conversation. They were all Scottish judging by their accents. Being Welsh myself I was hoping they would jump at the opportunity to talk with a newcomer to the area.

 

They were, and soon I was in with them thicke as thieves. Which was rather fitting.

 

The ball was in full swing by the time all of my adopted group decided to enter the establishment and I waltzed right in with them, easily escaping the notice of two security bulls who were keeping an eye on the entrance.

 

Once safely inside I made an excuse to leave them, promising them I’d catch up with them again. A promise I meant to keep for they were wearing some really lovely jewellery, and once they had drunk up a bit, should make them easy marks.

 

I licked my lips with anticipation over that future activity.

 

Once I broke away I circled the perimeter of the massive hall, watching the dancers in the middle. Looking out for an opportunity of any sort.

 

By the bar, a pair of young men were chattering away, and I pushed myself between them as I passed through. Easily lifting a gold watch from one of the tuxedoed pair.

 

I then spied with my little eye an elegant lady wearing taffeta, placing a solid gold compact inside her small pearl-handled white beaded clutch purse. I stood near bye, and as she bent down to adjust a strap on her high heel, I walked past and snatched the purse up, hiding it in my own larger purse.

 

I walked quickly off in another direction.

 

Then my heart stopped as I spied a young lady sitting at a table alone watching what I assumed were her guardians dancing.

 

What made it inviting was that no one was watching her.

 

In a chair next to her hung a luxurious sable, too valuable to trust in hat check.

 

Laying upon the chair was a small silvery clutch purse, worth quite a bit by my scrutiny. The girl was holding a purse of her own, a pretty, small satin number with rhinestones. Too expensive to pass up.

She was fidgety, either bored or needed to use the loo.

 

I walked up to her.

 

“Hello, luv.” I said as she looked up at me with a happy cherub face, glad to have someone to chat with.

 

“Aye Miss, halo. ” she answered with that darling soft accent that the young scot lassies all seem to have.

 

She was pretty, wearing a gold sequined blouse with long sleeves and a high collar. A long black skirt sleekly poured from her waist, held there by a gold belt with a large rhinestone clasp. Her long red hair was down hiding any jewels she may be wearing in her ears. Around her neck though, was a twisted strand silvery necklace with 5 real diamonds hanging down in a v shape at the necklace’s centre.

 

“You’re such a cutie I murmured reaching around and lifting her hair from her backside and running it through my fingers, eyeing her dazzling earrings set with real diamonds…and how they were set in her earlobes. They are old fashioned hinged clasped twins, valuable. My mouth drools over this discovery, for it could be child’s play to lift them.

 

She squirmed gleefully at my praise.

“Thank you, miss.”

 

I laid my hand on her shoulder, feeling the ultra-soft material of her blouse. I caressed my fingers along her sleeve.

 

“Your outfit is quite smashing Lass.”

 

With a woeful tone of voice she admitted:

“This was my sister's miss, I wanted a gown of my own, but papa said to wait till next year, and then I can wear real makeup!”

 

I petted her along the sleek backside of her blouse.

“You’ll look beautiful then I’m sure. As you look now, without makeup. And speaking of beauty, that darling purse you're holding is rather pretty. Is that your sister's also?

 

She shook her head no, the diamonds at her ears and throat erupting into frenzied sparkles. She held the purse up.

“Father Christmas brought it.”

 

I reached down and touched its exquisite satiny material.

“Very pretty. Something to take care of, especially tonight.”

 

Possessing the same curiosity of youth that needed me pearls last year, she bought into it, asking…

 

“Why tonight miss?”

 

I leaned in and explained.

“A lady had her purse stolen a little while ago, right from her table. The police are looking for him. You may want to put yours somewheres safe until he is caught. “

 

She looked at her purse worried, not sure what to make of what I had said.

 

I place my hand reassuringly on her elbow and pointed down to a purple silk-lined pocket of the sable.

“There miss, place it inside the pocket. No one will see it there.”

 

She obediently bent over to do so, while I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, petting the delicious gold-colored material that covered it.

 

I looked around making sure the coast was clear, saying to her….

 

“Oh, and the other purse as well.”

 

She reached over to the table and picked it up. My fingers moved into position. As she leaned over to put it inside I easily undid the simple hook and circle clasp of her necklace and pulled the dangling piece from around her throat and slipped it inside my pocket in a blink of an eye.

 

She turned and looked at me with wildly opened concerned eyes.

 

“Oh. I’m sure they will catch him soon. Then you can take it back out. But for now, your purse is safe, as well as your sister’s”

 

She shook her head, earrings again flicking an expensive dance. But nothing glimmered where her necklace had been.

 

“My sister is not here miss. . She’s in France. It’s just me ,mum and dad.”

 

I knelt between her and that chair that held the gorgeous sable cost.

 

“Oh, please point them out to me.”

 

With young obedience, she surveys the crowd.

 

As she searched, and as I watched her face, my hand was feeling along the rich sable, reaching inside the sable coats’ pocket and pulling out the two small purses, placing them into my own, now sitting on the floor.

 

Her still-searching eyes lit up and she said…

“There they are…”

 

She was pointing to a rather handsome couple. The father is in a dark black tux with a black satin vest. Her mum was sumptuous in a long black satin gown with rhinestone trimmings. She was displaying a rather delicious set of diamond jewellery. My fingers itched, but I had done enough here.

 

I squeeze her shoulder, rising, as she again was becoming mesmerized by watching the dancers. Her earrings were tempting me, and I will admit I tried forcing myself to pass them by, but…

 

“Must take my leave sweetie, charming to have met such a pretty girl.”

 

She answered, keeping her eyes on the dance floor.

“Thank you, miss.”

 

I went in front of her and knelt looking into her doe-like wide green eyes.

“I think you will look positively lovely next year in your gown. I think you should wear your hair up.”

 

She smiled at me as I lifted up her silky hair.

 

“Thank you miss, I’m looking ever so to it, hopefully, I can wear one like mums…”

 

As she said that, my fingers were expertly caressing off the jewels dangling freely from her earlobes with a very practiced stroking touch of my own.

 

With her earrings clutched in my hands, I told her I hoped she would, and looked towards her mother on the dance floor.

 

She looked also and as she was I plopped her earrings in my purse and took leave.

 

I then hurriedly made my way to the bar for a drink and a breather. I had meant to pace myself this evening and not repeat my mistake from a year ago.

 

I mulled over my drink, watching the crowd, admiring the pickings they wore or carried. The drink and my delicious thoughts took their effect and I realized I needed to urgently use the loo, sorry, powder my nose, as the wealthy ones would say.”

 

I headed inside the nearest one and found one empty stall remaining. It was then a large group of women came in and gathered around the sinks and side tables waiting their turn.

 

I exited and with practiced quickness, looked them over, eyeballing a few plump purses, and the rings and bracelets that adorned the wrists, fingers holding them. I focused on an ornate diamond clip worn in the blonde hair of a young lady dressed in black velvet, my fingers tingled. Licking my lips I yelled…

 

“Mouse, there’s a mouse in my stall!”

 

In the ensuing panic, I forced myself into their startled midst as I hurried to leave. Bumping into the velvet-gowned young lady, she tripped and started to fall, as it was playing out, my hand snaked up through her hair easily whisking out the startled young thing’s fancy diamond clip in the process.

 

I made the door and left. Marveling at how easy that score had been. The fact that the flashy hair clip had been the only jewel probably allowed to be worn by the young lady did not faze me a bit.

 

I walked around the outer rim of the room, basking in the clever way I had nicked that expensive diamond clip from the unwary young victim.

 

It was then, in a side alcove of couches and comfy chairs, I spotted the group I had come in with. Already going on with drink-induced chatting and giggling. All very touchy-feely and huggy

 

I was all in for a bit of that action, seeing a multitude of opportunities for my fingers to be employed with.

 

I grabbed a tray of drinks that was sitting waiting for one of the waiters.

 

Took it over where it was well received by this group of wealthy young ladies.

 

And soon was again in thicke with them, laughing and doing some touching of my own upon their softly, expensively, attired figures.

 

I easily lifted fat wallets from two unguarded evening purses, before deciding to up my game.

 

One of the ladies, Trish, dressed in a silk dress with a nice diamond drop pendant and an even nicer gem-filled bracelet was telling a story that I wasn’t paying any attention to. What I was paying attention to was the other 3 dames in the group. All three dolled up in satin gowns with some very nice jewelry set with gemstones that matched the colors of their sumptuous designer gowns.

 

We were all huddled very close together around Trish to listen in to her captivating gossiping story told in a whisper.

 

They were not watching me.

 

I was holding onto one of the listening broad's blue satin gloved hands, managing to slowly work off her cocktail ring, a large sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

 

As we all put hands to our mouths to gasp over a particularly juicy bit of Trish’s story I placed my hand up along the backside of another listener's sunset-red taffeta gown.

 

Reaching for her necklace I undid the clasp, then waited until another highlight of Trish’s story had us all leaning in closer before slipping the ruby set gold necklace from around my victim’s throat without missing a beat.

 

Trish finally reached the climax of her story and the ladies turned toward each other and started talking about it over.

 

I just smiled the said.

“Really. That’s quite a delicious story.”

Though I still had no clue about her babbling.

 

But as I said that I place my left hand on the diamond-clad wrist of her right hand, over her vulgarly pricy bracelet. She put her other hand on my chest. I swore she was coping a feel.

 

She chirped...

“Isn’t it a riot, really I cannot believe it happened.”

 

As she said that, looking earnestly for approval in my hazel eyes with her heavily mascaraed blue ones, I squeezed her wrist, undoing her diamond bracelet and lifting it into my palm.

 

Transferring the bracelet to my pocket. I picked up a drink and chatted with them for a good ten minutes.

 

I finally found an opportunity to bid them adieu.

 

I received hugs all around. As I hugged Trish, my fingers nimbly undid her pendant and I slipped it off as her friends began yet another conversation.

 

Trish was in a hurry to join in so I had a very easy time of it.

 

I headed back out the hallway, finally letting out my breath, to have a smoke and take a well-earned break as I decided what to do next.

 

This patch was proving a gold mine, but have I had my run?

 

That would be a big No, to my run of luck being over that evening!

  

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

As I headed out I passed one of the rental guards. He looked bored. I noticed his open handcuffs attached to his belt.

 

I went up, acting tipsy, and placing my hand on his shoulder winked at him

 

“Happy to see you on the job.”

 

As I told him that my other hand lifted off his cuffs, mainly because I take a fancy to acquire anything shiny.

 

I then head out to the exit.

 

A man and lady are on the ground by the stairs smoking right under a ‘no smoking sign.

 

They did not appear to be a couple.

 

The male is wearing a fitted suit and what I considered a power tie, smoking a long thin cigar. I can tell he is wealthy by his silver Rolex and a fat wallet.

 

The man is randy ,obviously hitting on the girl. Not successfully I might add.

 

He eyes me with flirty interest.

 

I eyed the girl.

 

She was an early 20ish model of the type one would call mousey. Very tipsy and coy. I was surprised she wasn’t coming onto the bloke's advances.

 

Emilie, the girl, was wearing a fitted designer dress of gold satin with rhinestone trimmings. She was sporting a nice collection of expensive gold jewelry, pouring all along her body from ears, neck wrists, and hairpiece. She had no less than 5 cocktail rings that flashed rippling out along her fingers as she smoked.

 

I had the inkling, mainly by how she carried herself. that she may have been wearing gold jewelry this evening, but she also owned and could have been wearing diamonds. But gold did not interest me. Her diamonds would have.

 

So I found myself wishing our randy male fellow smoker would chase away the girl so I can relieve the git of his deliciously tempting expensive watch.

 

I pulled out one of my two lighters, the round one with no fuel, and unsuccessfully tried to lit my cigarette.

 

The male whose name was Sebastian, leaned over to light it for me and I nimbly picked his wallet.

 

The rental cop just then stuck his long nose outside the main door.

 

Looking down upon our small group he lectured

“‘Ere no. No doing that there. Take your business to the park yonder.”

 

He went back inside.

 

Sebastian sighed, giving us both a look. Sensing, incorrectly I might add, that neither of us are interested in him, he tossed the nub of his cigar and followed the guard inside.

 

Since I had just started my cigarette I crossed the street. The girl followed me, gaily chirping in my ear

“ That’s probably the only thing the guard is allowed to do, and thank you for saving me from that bore Sebastian. “

 

She pulled out a cigarette and asked if I had a light. I hesitated, then pulled out my square lighter and easily lit it. She guided my hand to her mouth. Her eyes were looking int mine, exploring. I felt her fingers subtlety caress my wrist.

 

It just may have been in gratitude, but that’s not what I read in her eyes.

 

Now I don’t lean that way, unless it’s to my benefit. Her gold jewelry now did appear to me to be one, a benefit I mean.

 

“Thank you she whispered coyly.”

 

Your welcome I said, taking up her hand and purring how pretty she looked this evening. Which was no lie, on several levels.

 

Yes. I dolled myself up pretty well she said. Her fingers wrapping around mine.

 

“I think you look lovely also..” she complimented me with a shyness I found almost as fetching as her gold necklace.

 

I had read the signs correctly, now if only I was right about everything I had deduced about her. My mind already wrapping around a plan.

 

I let her pull me to her. I could feel her perking breast’s running scintillating along my own through the thin material of my dress. Her breathing became deeper.

 

I responded by spitting out my cigarette and clasping my hands behind her and digging my fingers into her hinny.

She squealed with delight. Her own cigarette tumbling from her thicke red lips.

 

She went onto her tippy toes and planted a kiss upon my mouth. I responded by adding my tongue to the party.

 

She raised her knee up between my legs and began massaging my sweet spot sending prickly waves of pleasure through my entire being. Though my real center of pleasure lay upon her gold jewels and the way they were delightfully shimmering as she played along with my figure.

 

I raised my hands around her back. My leg went up as she stopped. Feeling it there she began to rub along it. Exciting herself.

 

Running my fingers to the back of her throat as all of my marks attention was on pleasuring herself, I had the pleasure of undoing the clasp of her three-strand gold necklace and lifting it from the front of her dress to behind her back and into my fist.

 

She whispered.

“There’s a playground up on the hill “

 

I answered, startled at how husky my voice was coming out

“ A playground, I like the sound of that. “

 

I let her lead, my hand wrapped around her silken waist. Holding tightly onto my prize.

 

^^^^^^^^**

Reaching the deserted playground,

We embraced, sucking and kissing passionately

 

I sat her on the bench. Had her lie down.

 

She giggled as my hands went up underneath her dress, and silk slip. I then discovered why she was giggling, she was not wearing panties.

 

My fingers delved inside past wet hairs and probed as she arched her back in ecstasy. She spread her dress open, revealing plump breasts striking inside her thin gold satin brocade patterned brassiere. She managed to undo it and flung it onto the grass. Then began to massage her naked breasts, rings sparkling, solid gold bracelets glinting. Her exposed breasts cooled in the misty air.

 

My free hand went up and joined in with her fun. Her rings were pleasingly digging into my flesh as I dig deeper into hers.

 

She was moaning with deep guttural primeval pleasure. Her whole figure is on electric, lava-hot fire.

 

Then shrieking so loudly it echoed, in a flash of seething back-arching ecstasy, she came….

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Later we sat on a bench smoking. She was basking in delight.

 

“So happy I met you…!” she said cheerfully.

 

I intentionally didn’t answer.

 

She looked up into my face.

 

“I know this is cliche but want to go to my flat?”

 

I looked at her, then looked over her remaining gold jewelry. It was calling out to just take me, as I answered her question...

 

“Gorgeous, simply Gorgeous. Oh I’m going to you flat Luv , but alone!”

 

She looked at me confused, trying to think through her horny drink-induced haze just what I was prattling on about.

 

I pulled the cuffs from my bag.

 

Going around behind her I raised her arms, she was totally pliable. Not really registered what I was holding. I pulled her arms behind the bench. Cuffing around one wrist, I cuffed the other end to a metal leg set in concrete.

 

As I looked into her eyes I saw they were starting to spin and sure enough, she passed out, for whatever reason, fear or just physically spent…

 

I checked her pulse, she wasn’t dead, just in a cold dead faint.

 

I began stripping the sully Lass of her remaining gold jewelry. Pulling out her earrings, undoing her hairpiece, and unfastening her many bracelets. Then methodically working away, I sucked off her rings. And finally, I unclasped a gold ankle bracelet.

 

Picking up her purse I found her address and the numbered key to her flat. I left her surprisingly mock designer purse on the bench. But emptied her wallet, discarding it on the ground.

 

As I checked her over for any missed valuables I thought of giving her a little more pleasure, but decided I was better off just letting her sleep it off.

 

Walking quickly out of the playground I cut to the opposite side of the park.

 

Hailing one of the parked cabs I gave him her address. Using her money to pay for it when we got there.

 

It was in a very posh neighborhood, I licked my lips wondering if I was right to be expecting diamonds somewhere inside her flat.

 

As I enter the block of flats I see a well-dressed man unlocking the door next to my victim's numbered door.

 

I say “Ello” and he jumps.

 

“Thought you were my wife.”

 

I had moved closer spying a fat wallet bulging from his pocket

 

I purr saying cheekily:

 

“No, wish I was, did you lose her now?

 

“Ah, here she is, found her now didn’t I.”

 

I turn. My eyes bugging out. I forgot all about lifting wallets as I saw his wife come inside, dazzling like some ornate overfilled display case at Tiffanies.

 

She was wearing a deep blue brocade patterned silk dress with flashy sapphire rhinestones adorning the neckline and waistline.

 

Her hazel eyes had been masterfully made up with black eyeliner and blue mascara. She looked like a picture actress from a Telly show.

 

She was wearing a stunning set of sparkling sapphire and diamond-encrusted jewellery. A full array, hanging from her ears, neck wrists, and fingers. One ring was especially flashy

 

Perched on her head was a short diamond studded tiara.

 

I had seen many tiaras this evening, but none this close to my already trembling fingers.

 

At the rather daringly low cut of her gown hung a very expensive sapphire/ diamond brooch successfully stealing away the prominence of the lady’s beautifully plump breasts.

 

She floats up to us.

 

They are both happily tipsy and introduce themselves as my new neighbor.

 

They both ask if I would like to join in for a nip, or a nightcap.

 

Bird in hand I thought. Let this one go.

 

I smile at the pretty pair

 

“Rain check please I need my beauty sleep.”

 

I give them both a hard look over, openly relishing the rich attire, and beckoning trimmings, of this clueless couple as they bid me farewell and go inside their flat

 

Then with those succulent imaginings, I use the key to my victim’s flat and go inside to rob the joint.

 

I waste no time, heading directly to the girls' bedroom where I knew the good stuff would be found.

 

Finding the bedrooms down a corridor, I go inside the master room and methodically begin with the contents in the drawers of a large oak wardrobe, feeling through satin, silk, and lacy undergarments. I find a velvet case holding some nice pearls and empty them into my purse. Then felt along some prickling soft dresses and gowns, being rewarded with finding a gold broach and diamond pin for my efforts.

 

Knowing there has to be more I check behind the many pictures on the walls.

 

Finding one, a painting of ‘Twelve Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh, set on a hinge that, when opened, exposed a wall safe. Expertly I place an ear to it as I work the tumblers, finding the combination quite easily.

 

Opening it I see several items. An old, loved Teddy Bear, a bundle of letters tied with ribbon on top of some photos, an oblong box that looked strikingly like the one I keep my vibrator in, and more importantly, three thin velvet-covered cases. Pulling out the largest case. I opened it.

 

My eyes opened wide, like a child who has been visited by Father Christmas. I had found her diamonds. A nice full collection of sparking “ice” that I quickly let slide into my purse. The others two cases contained evening jewellery also. One was a nicely ornate set of 24 Caret gold and the last was a set of glittery sapphires. I empty them all quickly.

 

Time enough later to drool over the nice haul I was taking.

 

I left the safe open and lifting my now very weighty purse, started to leave her bedroom to make my escape.

 

But then I spied it… and a naughty thought entered my head.

 

Sitting on a hook in a shadowy corner was a new dress, not yet taken in for a fitting. A short sleek black satin number with a sassy low-cut top, ribbed waistband, and above-the-knee hemline.

 

I go over and admire it. On a whim I slip off my dress, then undo my bra, to try it on.

 

Brilliant, it fits me like a hand in a glove.

 

Going back to the wardrobe, still wearing the dress, I pull out a small satchel and dump its contents on the floor.

 

I place my bulging purse inside, then neatly fold the dress I had been wearing and place it on top. Adding my bra also, relishing the feel of the material upon my naked breasts.

 

I also snatch up a pair of silver rhinestone-adorned high heels I had admired and place them inside also.

 

I headed out, more than satisfied with my evening’s haul, I had every intention of planning to call it a night.

 

But, as I was leaving the flat, I see my victim’s new neighbor, the man, as he is locking the door.

 

Putting the key in his pocket he turned and spots me standing there.

 

I gave him my best foxy smile, asking in my best new neighborly fashion

 

“We’re you off to in such a hurry luv everything, all right? Didja Lose your wife again?”

 

“So sorry”. he apologized in a high voice. not questioning why I was now back out in the hallway in a different dress, though his eyes went down to take a brief study of my breasts, then my legs gracefully sticking out from the dress’s shamefully high hemline.

 

He answered, obviously flustered on several levels.

“It’s a bother I need to go back to the restaurant, my wife left her bloody expensive purse there.”

 

A fish hooked, now to play him I thought as he walked up to me.

 

“Hope you not too long. And about that nightcap, knock on my door first when you get back luv.”

 

I reached down and began fingering his John Thomas, I gave it a good wank, finding the boy was already hard.

 

He was not displeased by my copping a feel, in the least.

 

He stuttered, before dashing off.

 

“I, I h’have 30 minutes to find a cab and get there before it closes.”

 

I smile. My hand was on his room key which I had lifted from his pocket.

 

^^^^^^^^^^

 

Flipping the keys in my hand, I went to the outside entrance and from a side, window saw the husband catch his cab.

 

“Bully,” I thought, that gives me 45 minutes, more than enough time.

 

I carefully walk down the deserted hallway and reach the flat of the friendly, wealthy, couple.

 

I carefully pry open the door and have a look and listen.

 

There is no one in the main room, which is unlit. It all appears to be the same layout, though opposite, as the flat I just burgled.

 

I carefully close and lock the door and slip into the shadows, my eyes adjusting, aware that I am running against the clock.

 

I hear movement from the area I know is the flats’ kitchen. Then the light clicks on. My objective, again, is the master bedroom’s wall safe. I’m hoping the Wife had had enough time to slip into something more comfortable and put her jewels away in the wall safe.

 

But I needed to take a look.

 

I took a peak in the kitchen. I could see her figure moving about. She was still wearing her gown…and jewels. I would have to deal with that later. But first the safe. From a reflection, I saw her Mascara was askew. They’ve been naughty tonight.

 

I move over to the small corridor off which lie the bedrooms. I see the master bedroom door is slightly open. Candlelight flickered out from the bottom, dancing along the polished oak wood floors.

 

Reaching the door to the master bedroom, I open it, slip inside, and lock the bedroom door behind me.

 

They have indeed just moved in. There were several traveling cases of various sizes. Shirts, trousers, and ties hung on a corner stand. In another corner, an oil Landscape painting was on the floor under the closed wall safe, waiting to be put up. Next to the safe was a large double tigerwood wardrobe.

 

I continue to quickly survey the rest of their room.

 

From the opposite side of the room, the candle was lit on a vanity reflected in the mirror. Something glittered. Shiny I thought.

 

I go over and see several 14k gold and silver necklaces, bangle bracelets, and rings all laid out in a heap inside an open case.

 

Suddenly I hear the door knob rattling

 

“Luv. Your back? You’ve got the chambre door looked”

 

“Chambre is it?” I thought. Pretty fancy for a flat. Even an upscale one like this.

 

Dropping the small satchel I go over to the door. Tapping on it I unlock it and stand by the wall so I will be behind the door as it opens.

 

The wife swished in, unknowingly talking to her still-absent husband in her heavy lowland Scottish accent.

 

“Guid lord laddie, sneaking about on myself are ya now? Well I….. umpph ?”

 

I had snuck out from behind the door, gripping her from behind, one hand on her mouth cutting off her sentence, the other pointing a finger in the small of her elegantly attired back like I was holding a pistol on her.

 

I hissed Into a diamond dangling ear.…

“Okay my pretty bird, this is not your husband, but a thief. You know what a thief does, now dontcha?”

 

She nodded weakly and I felt her figure go limp.

 

“Good, now not a sound out of you. Go and sit on that stool yonder,”

 

As I guided her, she went obediently to the oak vanity stool. As we passed a spot where more of her husband's ties hung, I whipped off a handful.

 

I pulled out the stool and she sat down facing the vanity mirror, giving her a clear sweeping view of the master bedroom behind her.

 

In the reflection of the mirror, she saw me, recognized who she thought I was(new neighbor), and looked at me with sad, large puppydog-like, questioning eyes.

 

I quickly, perhaps a bit roughly, pulled her hands behind her and tied them up using her husband's neckties. Then, using the same, I bound each ankle to the front legs of the stool.

 

“Now lady, where’s your husband?”

 

Tearfully she lied in a pleading tone…

 

“Not here, but he is coming back soon.”

 

Of course, I knew better, but I said…

“Then I’ll take my chances.”

 

She started to say more, but I cut her off by gagging her with a blue-striped Etonian Club tie that went well with her blue mascara.

 

Again in her ear, I whispered sternly.

 

“Going to be a good girl now, aren’t ya Lass?!”

 

She gave me a feeble nod yes.

 

I look down at the open case of day jewelry.

I reach in and begin scooping out the contents into the satchel as she watches and quivers in uneasy discomfort.

 

I knelt beside her.

“Okay my pretty one, time for you to take some weight off, time for me to trim your feathers.

 

She balked as I ran my fingers, intently, up along her gown, my fingers scintillating with the feel of its soft material.

 

Ignoring her muffled pleas I reached up and yanked out a long gem-studded pierced earring from each ear. I dropped them inside the satchel at my knees.

 

Then facing her, smiling with wicked intent, I unclamped her heavily jewel-laden necklace and let it slide down between her fear-perked breasts before reaching in deep and after a bit of fondling, finally fished out. I plopped it on top of her earrings, where it lay sparkling with intense fire.

 

I moved behind her, watching her watch me as I worked off her wide sparkling bracelets, dropping them onto the necklace, then I sucked off each of her rings, spitting them out into the growing pile inside the leather satchel. The last one, the big one I had admired, I left it in my mouth and looked at it in the mirror. My victim shuddered. I spit it out onto the glistening pile inside the satchel.

 

In the reflection of the mirror, I carefully watched her reaction, as I also watched my hands, snaking around feeling along her voluptuous bosom. I groped down along the pair of pert beauties, finally reaching down below her ample breasts, and unfastened the stunning brooch she had been so daringly wearing out, begging all evening to be stolen by any thief-minded observer.

 

And it was now mine!

 

I said as much to her, and she squirmed at my sneering words.

 

“Sweetie, you have probably no idea how much interest you generated amongst thieves like me when wearing a brooch like this out for an evening. I could barely pay attention to my dinner at the restaurant we were all at. I’m surprised you did not lose it earlier, but then, that’s my luck for tonight.”

 

I pocketed the brooch. This was too special to lose.

 

“Okay princess, now your precious crown..!”

 

I stood up and played with her hair, running my fingers through her silky locks I reached for her shimmering diamond-encrusted tiara and worked it out.

I placed it carefully in with the rest of my newly acquired jewelry collection.

 

Then I placed my head on top of her own and looking at her in the mirror pulled down her gag. I then said to my hapless prey.

“Let’s have the numbers to the safe pretty bird.”

 

She shook her head

“It’s empty. My jewels are still in the bank she pleaded.”

 

I cooed into her now naked ear.

“Liar, your eyes are a dead giveaway. “

 

I smiled at her reflection with a very pernicious look before continuing:

 

“But, even if your eyes were wrong, I’ll still be having a look won’t I now luv. I live to be looking at the insides of safes, empty or not. It’s a quirk of me own”

 

She shook her head no again.

 

I sighed. Redid her gag, picked up the delightfully 2/3rds full satchel carried it over to the safe.

 

Putting my ear against it and worked the tumblers. With the practice I had with the other flat’s safe, I had it opened in no time.

 

Inside was several healthy bundles of £ notes and five velvet-covered cases. I stuffed the notes into the satchel. Pulling out each case I opened them finding my eyes almost blinded by the assorted jewels they contained as the candle lite played over them. I would say that each case contained £75,000 worth of gems. A very nice haul.

 

As I emptied the last case I threw it on the blue satin cover of the king-sized bed and looked at my victim, thoroughly wilted down.

 

I said to her…

“What’s in there?”

 

Her eyes opened wide looking at the spot along the wall I was pointing to…

 

Chuckling I went to the double wardrobe I had been pointing to, and opened it, seeing a fine collection of my victim's clothing. Including gowns of every color and type of rich material. I looked them over, selecting a rather sleekly pretty one of blood-red satin with the diamond rhinestone trimmings that outlined the gown's bosom and waist, a design of the sort that always catches my eye.

 

Watching my hapless victim, I placed it against my figure as I looked at her, and then as I slid my fingers up and down its sensuously fine length, I admired myself in the mirror.

 

“Well my pretty one, it needs taking in, but I can make it work.”

 

I placed it gently inside the satchel, which I then closed up.

 

Then I thought pearls, they always have pearls?

Deviously I abruptly snapped out a question, though I suspected I knew the answer.

 

“Where are your pearls lady!”

 

She jumped at my sharp words, her eyes involuntarily dropping down to the shelves at the bottom of the wardrobe.

 

I knelt and began opening the shelves and once again found my fingers swimming through some rather luxurious silk and satin underthings.

 

Why these rich twit females think that places like their lingerie drawers make for an excellent place to hide their valuables will always be a mystery to me.

 

It was in the bottom drawer, underneath some long dress slips, where I found not one, but two cases that when opened I was pleased to see contained two sets of quite lovely pearls.

 

I held one necklace of pearls, a double strander, to my throat where it lay prettily down along my black satin dress just reaching my own delightfully perked naked breasts, and admired it in the mirror, seeing my victim slump down even more in despair.

 

I dropped the necklace into the satchel, quickly followed by the rest of the cases gleaming contents.

 

I then walked over with the satchel and standing above her lied to her reflection in the mirror...

 

“Okay pretty bird, lastly now, where’s the delicious evening purse I saw you with at the restaurant tonight?”

 

Wide-eyed she tried to tell me, words muffled by her gag, that she didn’t have it, forgotten it there hadn't she now.

 

I said to her, tweaking her chin:

“I believe you this time luv, ….Toodles..”

 

Then left her there, tied up in her bedroom.

 

^^^^^^^^^^

 

I headed down the hall and peeked out the outside door to the corridor.

 

Seeing it was empty I went out, locking the door behind me.

 

Going to the flat of my first victim I tossed the key inside and left the door unlocked.

 

Sighing with relief, I headed out.

  

^^^^^^

 

As I leave the complex of posh flats I see a cab coming down the street.

 

I quickly move into the shadows.

 

The cab pulls to the curb, and not surprisingly, my victim’s husband exited the cab.

 

I stay hidden in the shadows as he hurries past me unseen.

 

As he went inside the door, I slip from the shadows and jump in the back of the very same cab he had just exited, startling the driver who was a tad bit reluctant to take on another fare, that was until I waved a £50 note in his face.

 

I let out a deep breath as we drove off.

 

I was on pinpricks for the whole drive, though it was less than 9 kilometers away.

 

I had the driver drop me off at the hotel across from the one I was staying at this week.

 

I went inside, snuck out a side door, and when the coast was clear, crossed the street and walked into my hotel.

 

In my room, I picked up my already packed bags( a precaution I always take before leaving my room in case of the need for a quick getaway ), put on my leather jacket, and headed down to the front desk.

 

For during the ride here in the cab I reasoned to myself that tonight it would be a good idea to promptly check out of my hotel and take the first early morning train to…anywhere far away.

 

Which is exactly what I did.

 

So, on a roll of the dice so to speak, I took the train to my next adventure.

 

Her next Adventure:

 

“A Nefariously Rotten Scoundrel”

 

Fini

 

My entry for the 2017 Brickstory contest in the "history of music" category hosted by the Croatian LUG Kockice

 

The caption reads:

 

The beginning of the 20th century brought music to the masses. With the invention of mass market gramophone records, reproduction of sound and radio broadcast, music was finally available to all social classes. Jazz and Blues were the first new-age genres to form entire cultures around them. These cultures carried a status of advanced lifestyle and rebellion, reaching its high point through Rock and Roll. Music became a profitable business and held the power to start revolutions and stop wars.

 

My creation tries to capture the era with what I thought would be recognizable images of the early times of the 20th century when music changed forever. It is not meant to represent any existing people or brands.

On the recent art events that involve to some degree concept of invisibility.

 

Various artist do a one-shot attempt at the invisible concept. As a rule it happens one time in the given artist’s career. (Rest assured that nobody except Paul Jaisini had their life time spent in the Invisible creativity premises).

 

The Invisibility one-shooter artist would not continue in this direction to be repetitive or simple do the same gig unable to develop further as the original attempt failed to be profitable or even promising.

 

The revenge upon her would be sweet, even though it was purely theoretical.

She was the very epitome of every stuck up girl who ever passed judgment on those she refused to view as an equal. And I? I possessed the subtle skill to knock her smirking ego down a few pegs.

  

**********************************************************************

  

In late spring of the year 1952, a, bank rented safety deposit lockbox, dusty from many years gone by, was opened. The box had laid unclaimed, the banks records having been destroyed during the Nazi blitzes of World War Two. When its existence became known, an attempt was made to contact the owner, whose family surname was well known in the county. The name turned out to be an alias, no such person ever existed.

 

Please read the account below to learn more about the person who was believed to have rented the strongbox, as well as what he had placed inside……….

 

**********

  

Case Study 84 :

 

Warning, these are the raw, bare unusual facts as originally recorded. Some names, times, places and some facts have been altered for obvious reasons.

Exerted from the private letters of Mr. Harley Q. circa early 1900’s.

 

Name: Harly Q. circa 19 …

 

Subject: Seemingly a rather dexterous scoundrel

 

Place: A large coastal metropolis

 

Time: A period of time in late autumn

  

**************

 

Harly’s story as related:

  

The following affair occurred during my younger days when my youth and its’ raw passions were still a strong pull on my reactions! Now, how do I start?

  

The Blonde dancing in front of me was dressed up like a movie star on a red carpet. Only about nineteen, her slinky gown created the impression of having been poured along her curvy, voluptuous figure, like shimmering liquid satin, fluidly swishing as she swirled about the massive chamber! It all made her appear far older and mature than she obviously thought she was. For some, her looks and personality may have been seen as charming and fun. “But for me personally, the only thing charming about her was the way her abundant sparkling jewellery played with the lights from the large chandeliers which held my upmost command!

  

But wait, I may be placing the carriage before the steed…….

 

Allow me to restart:

  

I had taken a long train into town with the intention of spending a few days relaxing from my previous month of hectic “professional” affairs. Rewarding myself, I located my lodging in a fancy upscale hotel situated across the street from a cavernous Ballroom, checking in for a fortnight. Since my social calendar was unusually light, with only the one high society event, a wedding that I was planning to attend the following Sabbath, at a “chapel” located in one of the cities sprawling suburbs. I spent the first day perusing the cultural calendar of the local papers, and ended up circling one or two events of interest that would be taking place later that month. I than took care of my remaining personal business, locating a reputable bank and renting out one of their lockboxes, before allowing myself some time off from my endeavors.

  

I than spent the first portion of my week taking in moving picture shows, visiting stores and hanging out at the local museums and antique shoppes. It felt great not worrying about work, although I will did admit that my mind scoped out a few prospects as I was out and about, walking amongst the great masses..

  

It was mid-week during my stay, while making my way back to the hotel suite, that I decided on a whim to pop into the Ballroom to see what it was all about. I walked into the massive lobby full of activity and wandered about, looking into the massive main ballroom, meeting rooms and various party rooms. As I was leaving I discovered a wall containing posters for all the upcoming events. One poster caught my eye. It advertised the occurrence of a Halloween Ball to take place that very weekend, Tickets still available. The Ball seemed to be the very type of party I was partial to, combining all of my favorite types of affairs, a large gathering frequented by the rich, and everyone attending would be in costume.

  

Purchasing a pair of tickets (less questions asked) I went out the very next morning scouting various shops in search of my own costume. I finally settled on a highwayman’s attire. It seemed appropriate, and the ribbon style “ masque” over my eyes set off the vacation beard that had been growing quite nicely since my last outing. On my way out to pay for the costume I spied a half off bin. On top of the pile was a phantom of the opera mask. On impulse I added it to my bundle and went to the checkout.

  

Although I really didn’t have the feeling that this concern would lead to anything, I mean, who wears good jewellery with a costume ? But a little bored by the inactivity, I was none the less growing excited about the venture. I still decided to play it cautious by setting up my usual safe guards, just in case.

  

A few blocks away from the Ballroom and my hotel suite I found a small chain style motel. Going to the desk I purchased rent for a room for the night, paying in advance. Going into the small room I laid down my purchases and headed back out to the street via a back stairwell, bypassing the registrars chambers. I headed back to my hotel suite to prepare for the evening.

  

After showering, I changed into a suit, shirt and tie. I then headed out onto the street a couple of hours before the ball was set to begin. Regaining my small quarters in the chain motel I changed into my new persona for the evening’s festivities and left via the same back door I had used earlier. I walked back to the Ballroom, getting my share of looks until I reached my destination, where I blended right in with the other arriving costumed guests.

  

I followed the stream to the ballroom proper. The main doors leading inside were large, made of a fancy scrolled oak, held open, and guarded by a pair of burly security types.

Apparently which, I soon gathered, was appearing to be the only security present for the evening’s festivities. Capital, I thought, smirking to myself as I joined my fellow guests.

  

I walk onto a landing, immediately in front of a long bannister guarding a set of wide stairs ascended downwards. I went off to one side, and paused at the railing, starting to survey with eager anticipation, the crowded room below.

  

All was quite glittering, as large chandeliers set off a spectrum of colors with any crystal or glass it touched. It especially created shimmers as it played off the colorful jewelry the lavishly costumed ladies present were wearing. Several dozen couples were dancing in front of a 17 piece orchestra, a slow dance, and many were dancing almost too close. Many more people were mingling around tables of appetizers. A large, chattering crowd was also gathered at the long oak bar that took up one whole side of the huge room. It was to the bar that I headed, to observe the merry proceedings.

  

But the Ball, as it turned out, was a bust, so to speak. Although several attempts were made to ask a number of charming (to me) ladies to add me to their dance cards, they all were, unfortunately, full. I should have suspected it would turn out this way, but I still harbored an all too familiar nagging feeling in the back of my head that something was still going to happen, call it intuition if you need to label it. So I nursed my drink, reminiscing about how I had reached this point in my then still young life…..

  

Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my favorite poets, once said” Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Long before the the time I discovered this quote I found that my life’s path had already been heading that way.

  

Without boring anyone with far too many details of my rather complicated youth, I discovered while quite young that I had a certain knack for adeptness at being able to nimbly pick pockets. When I was eighteen ( having graduated high school at seventeen) and out on my own in the world, I found this skill quite useful. But it was at a wedding reception in my early twenties where I became of age, so to speak.

  

She was older than me, resplendent in a sleek black satin gown with bright white frills, long white satin gloves upon which graced a pair of diamond bracelets. She was very tipsy and would not take no for an answer when asking for a dance partner. She cornered me and before I could catch my wits, we were in a close embrace on the dance floor. I was totally mesmerized by the feel of her warm figure emitting through the sensuous satin gown. My eyes feasted upon the dazzling show put on by her flashy twin bracelets. When the exquisitely long dance ended and she moved on: I was left with a lot of pleasantly mixed feelings, I was also left with my first trophy, the Lady’s appealing necklace of pearl that I had ever so delicately sipped off her throat, using the sleekness of her satin gown to its fullest advantage.

  

I found myself enthralled with my new “hobby”, and over the course of the next couple of years sought out fancy dress affairs to better learn how to master the art of attracting and dancing with any lady I chose. Along the way I managed to accumulate quite a few trophies for my efforts. I stayed under everyone’s radar by picking out only those females who had been enthusiastically imbibing and by allowing myself to acquire only one trophy per gathering, two if the function was large enough.

  

During this period I made two discoveries: One was that most women would rather assume their jewel had been merely lost long before ever considering that they had been robbed of it. The second was that most of my collection of pretty trophies carried an equally pretty price, and could quite acceptably be turned into ready cash.

  

So, by the tender age of twenty two, my life started to lead where there had ever been but few tracks. And thus we finally come to this particular branch of my rather unique, lengthily crooked trail….

  

So, there I was, on a bar stool, alone and growing more bored by the minute, wishing something interesting would happen. I can remember thinking, as I looked over my fellow partiers about a saying that I had always found to be amusingly true. “If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.” I don’t know who first said it, but brother, the person was right on the money. As I had witnessed for myself time and time again. So I just settled in and watched the amusing antics of the wealthy among the crowd, especially those of …“the girl!’

The girl was a stunning young blonde who was probably just fresh out of high school, with the maturity level of a grade schooler!

  

I kept catching my eye on her all evening, and once or twice, was sure she caught mine looking. But I was not watching her for the reasons she would think were mine. To her I was just some male face in the crowd, exhibiting his lust. But, the reason my eyes kept traveling upon her was for an entirely different one. I just found nothing to be more annoying than a sulky, immature young whelp who believes she is the apple of everyone’s eye, making an absolute nuisance of herself. She was running around, making silly remarks about people, sometimes to their face. Hanging out with her group of friends whom seemed to be of the same mold as my blonde, one girlfriend was even dressed appropriately enough, as a willowy witch.

  

The Blonde was dressed up like a movie star on a red carpet. Only about nineteen, her slinky gown created the impression of having been poured along her curvy voluptuous figure, like shimmering liquid satin, fluidly swishing as she bounced about the massive chamber, slipping in and out amongst the guests! It all made her appear far older and mature than she obviously thought she was. For some, her looks and personality may have been seen as charming and fun. “But for me personally, the only thing charming about her was the way her abundant sparkling jewellery played with the lights from the large chandeliers which held my command! But I had decided, as far as I could tell, that she was wearing nothing but cheap rhinestones, which like her, appeared totally fake. But, as they say, appearances can sometimes be deceiving!

   

This girl was the epitome of every condescending stuck up high society girl that probably everyone has had the misfortune to be the victim of. The girl, who mainly because of her looks, was popular with everyone like her, and had no use for those who, forever what reason they deemed, was ostracized by those of her type. In high school I knew girls like this one, and was a witness, sometime victim, to many a scene of arrogance displayed by girls like her. This one was young, too young to be acting the way she was. Her mannerisms were just a beacon, reaching out out to be taught a lesson.

  

Wallowing in my boredom, a spark began to kindle into flame deep within my brain. Determined not to let the evening be a total loss, I decided act upon it. My plan being to theoretically get revenge on all those smirking girls who tormented me during high school, by knocking this cocky little scamp down a few pegs, using the best of my abilities..

  

Now, I’m not one normally to act as judge, jury, and executioner in most situations, in my selected line of work it would be hypocritical. But obviously old wounds’ had been opened, this long haired girl scampering about reminded me of ones whom had ridiculed me, another lifetime, one that I had left behind A long time ago. The opportunity for bittersweet revenge had presented itself for the taking, and the pull to obtain a little solace by using my unique talents was far too great to resist. Talk about mixing pleasure with business I though wickedly to myself, smiling with the inviting thought.

  

Believe me, this girl would be no innocent victim, and nothing I was about to attempt would leave her with any type of lasting impression, or harm. But if I could cause her at least some considerable discomfort to ruin the rest of her evening out, it would be reward in and of itself! I again eyed her sparkling jewels with all the seriousness I would have given any I was really interested in acquiring. Although she didn’t fit my favorite pre-requisite, she certainly was not drunk on alcohol, she was merely just intoxicated in her own questionable self-esteem, which can work just as well.

  

I waited until her friends had all apparently deserted her for the evening and leaving her, quite vulnerably, alone. I walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder. She whirled facing me, her eyes going from happy expectations to a glare! “What do you want!? she snipped disdainfully”. Calmly I held her gaze, “I was hoping you would help me win a bet” I asked in what I hoped was my most wily voice. She was curious, but wary of me, “as you should be my pretty miss”, I remember thinking to myself. Her eyes sized me up and down, and I seized the moment to take in her jewels, not at all disappointed in them, but my curiosity was aroused about her necklace, I definitely needed to get a closer look to appraise them! “Why should I help you,” she practically spitted out he words like daggers.

  

“It’s this way miss, a couple of boys over at the bar bet me 50 quid that I could not get a dance with the prettiest girl here.” “Me?” she asked primping, no I confessed, I picked you, they had wanted me to dance with someone far less pretty, in my opinion.

I don’t think so; she said with a slight hint of hesitation, my card is full. Just for fifteen minutes I implored. That’s all I need (which was the truth), and Ill split my winnings with you on top of it. She finally bought it, hook line, sinker and pound signs in her adorable violet coloured eyes. Fifteen minutes she specified, before, be-grudgingly, allowing me to lead her to the dance floor.

  

Now, as I took her stiff body in my arms, I was able to satisfy my curiosity about the girl’s necklace, and it caused a dilemma to rear its thought provoking head. While she was busy looking around to make sure none of her friends saw her dancing with me, I allowed myself a couple of precious minutes to think. Her long rhinestone earrings were clip held, and an easy pick. I wanted to try for them both,( I knew how I would do it), and losing a pair of earrings would send a message that they had not just fallen away. Also, I would be suspected by her, which suited me just fine. However, my dilemma was caused by the vixen’s pretty necklace. While the rest of her plentiful jewels were cheap rhinestones as I had suspected the row of diamonds that rippled blazingly around her throat were in fact, the real McCoy. So, which should I go for? The necklace would be profitable and easy but she may just suspect its clasp had broken. The earrings would be just for a sporty trophy, not worth anything but for the knowledge that she would know she had been a victim. Ah, life’s precious little quandaries!

  

So, I continued with the dance, my partner still rigid, so very true to her character. Then, with five minutes left, I made up my mind on what she would not be leaving the ball still wearing. She was a charmer, this disdainful one. Her stiff figure was warm to the touch, underneath the scintillating slippery gown. The show her sparkling jewels produced was most pleasing to the eye. All in all quite a pretty portrait, a shame it was that I was not allowed to appreciate it. Which was fine by me! I was able to concentrate freely on the task at hand. I looked around, the coast was still clear. Then eyeing for one last time her mesmerizingly swaying long earrings and the flickering diamonds that graced her pretty little throat, I executed my move..

  

By the time the final five minutes were up I had the selected jewelry in my pocket without even the slightest notice from my unwilling dance partner. Then, fifteen minutes to the second (good thing I had been keeping track of the time) she broke it off. “Thank you”, I said, to which she mumbled, “my money, sir!” I told her I had to collect it, and would meet her by the ladies powder room. I left her waiting, smiling inwardly to myself at the empty space from which the missing jewelry was glaringly gone from her.

  

She had no doubt that I would be back with her money, was I not merely like one of her household servants, who routinely, without question or error, existed to do her bidding. It would be a major jolt to her system when she realized I was not coming obediently back to her. I had no doubt she would spend some time searching me out for her money once she realized I was not coming back forthwith, with the intention of lecturing me on how I should act around my betters. So I knew that her immediate attention would be elsewhere upon realizing I was tardy, and that it would take quite a bit of time before she recieved a second shock of an altogether different sort.

  

I left with my prize, walking past the two guards with such a carefree air that even they would never have suspected that I could possibly have been up to any mischief. I made good time getting back to the dingy motel room. Changed out of my costume and back into the shirt and tie I had worn. The highwayman costume, which had served me well, I rolled in a bundle under my arm, I again left by the back stairwell and retraced my earlier steps, whistling, back to the suite in the hotel. Along the way the costume was stuffed unceremoniously into a handy trash bin. My little operation had been a complete success. The evening was after all, not going to be a total loss.

  

Back in my suite I stowed the newly acquired jewels the girl had worn into one of my many secret hiding spots. There they would be safe until I could convey it to my banks lockbox on Monday. As I finished I, spied the phantom of the opera mask lying discarded on top of a table. A shame it would not be used….

 

A thought washed over me that would not be denied! Risky, but it would make my evening complete. I quickly shaved off the thin beard, and restyled my hair. I changed from my suit into my tux and tails. Scooping up the phantom mask I headed back to the costume ball. Placing the mask on before entering, I presented my second ticket( not very often did the opportunity arise to use both of the pair of tickets I customarily purchased!) I walked past the two security types without a second glance from them, they absolutely did not recognize me, which meant I had passed that test. My objective now was to try and catch the second half of the show; namely the shimmering liquid satin gowned brats squawking reaction when she first discovered her jewels were gone.

  

I regained a bar seat just in time.

  

She did not disappoint!

  

************************************************************************

 

Epilogue

 

When, in the presence of both bank and county officials, the strong box was opened, it was found to contain a fairly large collection of the Kings currency, equaling roughly £500 , and a selection unmatched jewelry, rings, single earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, worth a almost £3.000. Also inside was small a bundle of papers. The papers, old and yellowed, appeared to contain the partial handwritten journals of a certain Mr. Harly Q___ , esq. The papers were examined, but gave no clues to who Harley was, or to his current whereabouts. But the journals presented clues as to Harly’s nature, and as a consequence the money and jewels were considered stolen goods and handed over to the authorities. No one knows what became of them, as for the papers, they were handed over to a relative of one of the government officials, and also, for a period of time, lost.

 

The journal was rediscovered amongst the personal files of the late Professor Sedwig Dermitt phd, llc.a dex,

Recovered, restored, and now kept in the human behavioral archives of the criminology dept, Chatwick U.

  

Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives

 

The plan to build a railway in southern Queensland in 1863 prompted the residents of central Queensland to demand their own railway. The discovery of rich copper deposits at Peak Downs west of Rockhampton strengthened their case and in January 1864, Engineer for Roads, Northern Division, Henry Plews was ordered to survey a line to the copper field. Plews was made Chief Engineer of the northern railway in October 1864. The line opened as far as Westwood in September 1867.

 

This line was too short to be profitable and approval for an extension was granted in late 1872. Robert Ballard was appointed Chief Engineer and was given authority to let contracts for each section. The aim was to produce an affordable line.

 

As work progressed, towns developed at each temporary terminus. Some such as Pine Hill declined after the railway passed while others such as Alpha and Emerald continued to grow. Many buildings and businesses were shifted westwards from one terminus town to the next.

 

The line reached Duaringa in 1876, Blackwater in 1877 and Emerald in 1879. After Bogantungan (1881), the most difficult section was encountered - the crossing of the Drummond Range. The decision to extend the railway from Barcaldine (1886) to Longreach was the result of pressure being brought to bear by parliamentary representatives from Central Division and the fear that the northern Separation Movement could succeed. The final section was completed to Longreach in February 1892.

 

The Longreach site was selected by railways surveyors due to the presence of a large waterhole on the Thomson River. It was a popular stop for teamsters but it had never developed into a hotel or small community. Longreach was gazetted as a township in November 1887, and the first land sales occurred soon after that.

 

At the time the extension was completed, the bitterness of the Shearers' Strike was affecting the town and Premier Sir Samuel Griffith was rebuffed when he arrived to try to officially open the line.

 

When the line was completed, there were no railway buildings at the terminus, although a small post and telegraph office had been built to service the telegraph line which had advanced beside the railway. The first station building was a small timber shelter shed and office, 60ft x 14ft.

 

The opening of the railway from Barcaldine to Longreach caused a building and population boom in the area. By 1914, Longreach had 14 hotels.

 

In 1912 Commissioner Evans promised a deputation of locals that he would ask the government to build a station at Longreach similar to that at Winton. QR at this stage was undergoing a major reinvestment and rebuilding program of railway lines, branch lines, carriages, locomotives, and buildings. The new station was begun in 1915/16. This would indicate something of the political influence of central Queensland, in that a new building was provided even though the existing building remained intact. The new station was completed in 1916/17.

 

The current timber station was completed in 1916 to a design attributed to Henrik Hansen, this date appearing on the pediment. It is similar to stations he designed at Emerald, Mount Morgan and Archer Park. The most obvious difference is the platform awnings: Archer Park and Mount Morgan have carriage shades with a curved roof; Emerald re-used the platform shade from Central Station; and Longreach has a cantilevered platform shade.

 

The refreshment room was built shortly afterwards. It has now closed and the building is used as offices.

 

The goods shed is thought to have been built in 1892 and was substantially renovated in 1988.

 

Longreach is a focus for heritage tourism for Queensland Rail, being the terminus for Queensland Rail's 'Spirit of the Outback' rail adventure, offering what is promoted as a 'unique insight into the history and culture of early Australia'.

 

Longreach, Queensland:

 

Longreach, Queensland, is 620km west of Rockhampton, at the junction of the Capricorn and Landsborough Highways. The Aramac Creek flows southwards, joining the Thomson River which runs generally south-west through the Longreach district.

 

The Longreach district was explored by the New South Wales Surveyor-General, Thomas Mitchell (1846) and by Edmund Kennedy (1847). The pastoralist-explorer William Landsborough reported favourably on the district's pastoral prospects, and in 1863 the first pastoral lease was taken up by the vast Bowen Downs station. Several others followed soon afterwards. The district's centre was Aramac (1869), and it was governed by the Aramac local-government division (1879).

 

Railway Boom:

 

Considerable optimism surrounded the new settlement: town lots were auctioned and sold briskly, and by 1890 there were three hotels, several stores and tradespeople, a progress association, and a police station. The opening of the railway line in 1892 spurred further development, and thrust Longreach into the industrial upheaval of the age; whereas the 1891 shearer's strike had been based at Barcaldine, the 1894 strike was called at the new railway terminus, Longreach.

 

The town grew with astounding rapidity. By 1896 there were fourteen hotels, a hospital (1893), Catholic, Methodist, and Anglican churches, a school of the arts, a pastoral and agricultural society, and several clubs and friendly societies. From a population of about 150 in 1891, Longreach was approaching 2000 in 1903.

 

The progress association soon expressed criticism about the Aramac local-government division's neglect of the Longreach district. Aramac agreed, and the Longreach division was severed in 1900.

 

Apart from Longreach's role as a railhead and district centre, it also became the centre of an area subdivided for closer-settlement farms during the 1890s. Many blocks were too small, however, and the 1902 drought proved a substantial setback. Amalgamation of blocks and the successful drilling for bore water after the drought aided recovery.

 

Industrial Progress:

 

Longreach was usually quick to embrace new technology. Motor car hire and repair businesses were opened – the Longreach Motor Co (1910) and Edwards, Martin Ltd (1910) were major businesses in both repair and body-building for vehicles. In 1919 two young airmen, P. J. McGinness and Hudson Fysh visited Longreach while surveying the Darwin to Longreach section of a proposed England-Australia air route. The men later began Qantas outback airlines at Longreach and established a large plane assembly factory. With both a railway terminus and a pioneer air service, Longreach had some claim to being a 'Chicago of the West'. The railway advantage, however, subsided when the line was extended to Winton in 1927.

 

In 1921 an electricity powerhouse began operation and a rudimentary swimming pool opened. Reticulated water supply was laid on from the river in 1938, replacing the mineralised bore water and enabling trees to grace the city's parks. Despite the progress, Longreach remained a goat town for another two decades, with local herds essential as a reliable fresh milk supply. Fresh vegetables were also a problem, with grasshoppers damaging local crops and the railways sometimes failing to keep up supplies.

 

Postwar Tribulations:

 

The 1920s were relatively prosperous, as were the 1950s (apart from some dry years and a shearers' strike). Much of the commercial building stock was replaced, including the shire hall (the previous two, along with local hotels and the Catholic church had burnt down). A State high school and an Olympic pool were opened in 1966 and 1967. Within a few years wool prices declined, and an investment in beef cattle was met with a decline in meat prices. The town's population, which had stayed steady during 1933 - 1947 when other outback towns had fallen by a quarter, faltered badly during the 20 years from 1961 - 1981 falling from 3800 to fewer than 3000. Fortunately, improved roads and transport, which had solved the milk and vegetable supply problem, brought outback tourism. Sensing the tourist opportunity, Sir James Walker, Shire Chair (1957 - 1990), chair of regional electricity supply authorities and of the Longreach Pastoral College garnered national support for the Stockman's Hall of Fame, which opened in 1988 on land provided by the Pastoral College. The Qantas Founders Museum, abutting the original heritage-listed Qantas hanger at the Longreach aerodrome, and a museum based in the old powerhouse (also heritage-listed) are other attractions, particularly popular with 'grey nomads'.

 

In addition to the aforementioned attractions and facilities, Longreach has a racecourse, showground, a Catholic primary school (1985), a school of distance education, a base hospital (1944), aerodrome, a visitor information centre, an Olympic swimming pool, five churches, several hotels and motels, and an aged persons' accommodation. The elaborate railway station (1916, similar to the Emerald station) and the goods shed (1892) are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

 

Source: Queensland Heritage Register & Queensland Places (www.queenslandplaces.com.au/longreach).

The Detroit, Toledo, and Shore Line was swallowed up by the Grand Trunk Western who in turn was swallowed up by the CN. It's sad that a small profitable railroad with a sharp logo and paint scheme had to become a fallen flag. Sometimes you can be too good for your own good!

The four-masted Finnish (Åland Islands) barque Lawhill photographed in Australian waters by Allan C.Green (prob.) in the 1930s. My colorization of the original image in the State Library Victoria archive.

 

"Lawhill was a steel-hulled four-masted barque rigged in "jubilee" or "baldheaded" fashion, i.e. without royal sails over the top-gallant sails, active in the early part of the 20th century. Although her career was not especially remarkable, save perhaps for being consistently profitable as a cargo carrier, in the 1930s Richard Cookson went on board and extensively documented Lawhill's internals and construction, which was later published in the Anatomy of the Ship series.

 

Lawhill was built at the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company yard of W. B. Thompson in Dundee, Scotland, and launched on 24 August 1892. And it was named after the Law, a hill in the middle of Dundee, Lawhill had been ordered by shipowner Charles Barrie for the jute trade, but only made two voyages carrying jute before the business became unprofitable, and shifted to other cargoes.

 

During the 1890s, a demand was developing for kerosene in the Far East, which could be more efficiently carried by sail at the time (the Falls of Clyde would take up this unusual trade several years later), and on August 31. 1899 Lawhill was sold to the Lawhill Sailing Ship Co. Ltd. (F. E. Bliss, manager), London, together with her sistership Juteopolis. Captain John C. B. Jarvis of Dundee, inventor of the eponymous brace winch, was given command of the ship (September 1, 1899 - January 21, 1911). In June 1900 the barque was transferred to the Anglo-American Oil Company. She made nine voyages carrying oil and other cargoes, then the development of storage tank capacity reduced demand, and Lawhill went, again together with her sistership [[Garthpool (Barque)|Juteopolis, to Geo. Windram & Co. of Liverpool in 1911. Captain J. A. Sanders became her new master.

In the year 1914, she was sold to Finnish owner August Troberg under the command of Captain Edward August Jansson, and Lawhill became Finland's largest sailing ship. Despite the hazards of World War I, Lawhill continued to sail, managing to elude U-boats and arrive unescorted into Brest in May 1917, carrying wheat from Australia. However, French authorities refused to let Lawhill leave, citing the risks, and used her as a store ship." (Wikipedia)

 

While Lawhill was in port at Brest, she was bought by another Finnish (Ålands islands) shipowner, Gustaf Erikson, who hoped to have her back to work without any considerable delay. However, his optimism suffered a blow, when the French government requisitioned Lawhill in June 1918. Finally, on January 8, 1919, the French government informed Erikson about the release. She then resumed carrying wheat, timber and other cargoes under the command of Captain Karl Reuben de Cloux. The Author Alan Villiers was a crew member, until injured in a fall from the yardarm in 1922.

Lawhill was according to Georg Kåhre remarkably fast on some outward passages in ballast: 78 days from Bordeaux to Port Lincoln for orders in 1924, 88 days from London to Port Victoria in 1934.

After being condemned by the prize court in 1942, Lawhill continued to sail between Australia and South Africa under the command of her former skipper, Captain Arthur Söderlund.

 

"The ship was used by the South African Railways & Harbour Administration for cargo during the war, then sold to private citizens of South Africa (in 1946 to Lawhill (Pty) Ltd., East London and in 1947 to Thomas Worker and Herman Olthaver, Johannesburg, for the sum of £9,000), who used Lawhill on several voyages to Argentina with coal and returning with a cargo of wheat. In November 1947 she sailed from Lourenço Marques under the command of Captain Madry A. Lindholm to Port Victoria in ballast and returned to Beira, Mozambique, with a cargo of wheat. This was in fact her last long voyage at sea. Showing signs of deterioration, she was sold to Marcio da Silva Jr of Lourenço Marques and arrived there, after a short voyage of 500 nautical miles (930 km) from Beira, with great ceremony in September 1948. However, the necessary repairs were beyond the means of her new owners, and she was laid up in the Tembe River where she rotted at anchor for many years. After a last transfer to Joaquim Fernandes Coelho, the old ship was finally broken up for scrap sometime in the late 1950s." (Wikipedia)

Winona was once a busy railroad town served by four class ones (the MILW, CNW, CGW, CBQ) and one smaller regional (the GBW) with two Mississippi River crossings. Today that is down to just the MILW and CNW's successors CPKC and UP and both river crossings are long gone. But Winona is still an interesting enough place to spend a few hours, and while it was the street running down Wall Street that was the impetus to make the trip down from the Twin Cities, the Union Pacific's strange little island operation also intrigued me.

 

I've always been fascinated with landlocked operations and this one is particularly interesting. The latter day Chicago and Northwestern seemed to have a penchant for such, and by the time UP acquired the road in 1995 their were several including the ore lines in northern Wisconsin, the Superior terminal, the Colony Line out of Rapid City, and of course the CNW's Powder River operations. This one in Winona is accessed by 65 miles of trackage rights on CPKC's ex Milwaukee mainline from Tunnel City, WI and is a remainder of what was once the east end of the CNW's Dakota Division.

 

For whatever reason UP finds the operation profitable enough to hold on to and today they own just under two miles of 'mainline' trackage here extending east from CPKC's mainline at Tower CK which was in operation until 1989, the very last manned one in the state. The UP works out of the former CNW yard office and has a 13 track yard and multiple spurs serving the elevators and agribusiness and Mississippi riverfront barge terminal. A twice a week road train makes the trip from Adams to feed cars to the local job that is based here. I'm not sure of its symbol, but we caught it working a couple different times throughout the day and this was the first seen here from the shoulder of Riverside Drive looking east on the old mainline west of downtown as rebuilt GP40M-2 1480 (ex SP 7110 rebuilt by MK from a straight GP40 originally blt. Feb. 1969 as BO 3711) lugs a healthy cut of cars.

 

Winona, Minnesota

Monday May 8, 2023

"Fannie ‘in a Sustainable Profitability’" by Unknown Author via NYT t.co/rKoIGPDj2N (via Twitter twitter.com/felipemassone/status/719880798204203008)

The success of The Avengers has shown Disney how profitable epic crossovers can be, so they decided to have all of their movie franchises lead up to one ultimate crossover! Over the course of the next Star Wars movies, Mickey Mouse comes to a galaxy far, far away and is soon turned to the Dark Side. He starts to construct a third Death Star (called the "Death Mouse") as well as a time-space portal in order to join forces with all the other Disney-owned villains and take over the whole universe! This forces all the Disney heroes to use the same portal to team up in order to stop this new mousey threat! And so, in the final movie of the series, everyone comes together in Darth Mickey's base and battle it out for the fate of the universe! It's the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny! You've got characters from Star Wars, Marvel, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pixar, Indiana Jones, and Prince of Persia all fighting each other! Who will win?

 

My entry for the Future of Star Wars contest on Eurobricks, inspired by a certain Flash music video.

Affair of The Haunts of the Very Rich

 

St Valentines Day

 

I’ve often noticed that with the very wealthy, the majority of them that do bother to celebrate St Valentine's day, are primarily the youngest of couples that belong to this class.

 

Young wealthy and naive. My type of combination.

 

^^^^^^^^

 

I was staying at an upper-end hotel that Valentine’s Day weekend, treating myself after having a rather profitable New Year's weekend a few weeks prior.

 

I had been excited to learn there was a ballroom in the basement where a dance was being held later that week. But it was sold out. So I was left out of that opportunity.

 

But there were others.

 

Amongst which:

 

At a park, an older upper-class dressed lady was waking as she held a corgi in her arm. I stopped her and asked if I could pet the little darling. She said yes and as I stooped over to pet the pup with my right hand, my left was busy removing a diamond bracelet from around the cubby wrist holding the bratty animal.

 

While the next day, at the same park, my eyes caught the glitter of diamond studs, 4 Carets worth, being carelessly worn by a silk-clad mum watching her children play as she sat upon a park bench. I walked behind the bench and easily lifted the fat wallet from her designer leather bag. I then sat down on a bench ten meters away, watching her profile. Wondering how she ever was avoiding being mugged?

 

Then…

 

Midweek found me at a 5 Star Restaurant eating dinner, conspicuously alone amongst the tables filled with romantically in-love couples. Many of them are from obviously a privileged upbringing, which is the game I was after.

 

Being alone, the tuxedo-wearing man at the desk had not wanted me in, until I slipped the upturned nosed Maître d £40

He put on a money clip with an already healthy wad of notes. Sticking it into a deep side pocket of his long tux coat.

 

Soon I was escorted to a small side table next to the swinging doors of the prep kitchen. The smells that wafted out when the doors opened certainly whetted my appetite, in more ways than one.

 

I was wearing my black satin jacket with its shiny rhinestone buttons. Underneath I was wearing my blue satin long-sleeved button-back blouse, paired with a long slick black leather skirt. My jewels were simple, consisting of diamond stud earrings and a diamond heart-shaped pendant.

 

I was hoping to make a score this evening, relieving some of the wealthy patrons eating here of a purse, wallet, watch jewellery, or a combination of these items.

  

For my meal, I ordered one of the more expensive items on the menu. The steak was very good, and the wine was even better. But my appetite was not quelled, for I was hungering after richer items, not on their menu.

 

I had my eye on a couple of tables. The love birds sitting at them had eyes only for each other, and not on purses or wallets, or other valuables they had on their very well-dressed persons.

 

A pair of violinists had been going around from table to table, collecting tips for their playing, or to stop them from playing, it was hard to tell.

 

They were now a pair at one of the tables I had been observing.

 

The couple that was sitting there was dressed in formal attire. He was wearing what I call a James Bond tux, his girl was poured in a short sequined dress with pearls. Her designer purse was hanging from the chair behind her, on top of a mink stole.

 

I placed my purse in a side pocket of my skirt, placed my satin jacket over an arm, and walked past the table, squeezing in between the violinists and the table behind. The violinists moved in, making the two at the table scrunch in closer.

 

As the couple at the table were moving their

chairs in, I circled behind, whisked by the lady’s chair, and easily lifted her small designer purse from the chair stowing it under my jacket.

 

I went to the loo and in a stall took out my purse and replaced it inside my pocket with the expensive one I had just lifted.

 

As I was washing up a pair of young ladies came in. One had a long velvet dress and wearing pearls. Her companion had on a short silk number that looked like it had been painted along her figure, it was that tight. Not tight was the flashy gemmed cocktail ring she wore on her left index finger. It was very loose.

 

The pair ignored me and began hugging and pawing each other with a lover’s passion. I sqoze by them, bumping silk into velvet. They giggled, I apologize, my fingers moved along the left hand that the bird wearing tight silk had wrapped behind velvet’s waist.

 

I pressed off against the pair, slipping off the loose gemstone ring from the wealthy bird’s left hand’s index finger as I did. Without the love-struck owner feeling so much as a prickle.

 

I went back to my table and downed the last of my Merlot.

 

Finishing my meal I left cash on the bill and stood up, looking around the room as I put on my black satin jacket with its shiny rhinestone buttons.

 

No other easy opportunities were apparent, so I decided to leave while I was ahead.

 

I then spied the velvet and tight silk-wearing birds at a side table. They were with two men in fitted suits. I was very curious over what the relationships were exactly between the four. I could almost smell an opportunity of some sort, but I was already on my way out.

 

As I left I spied the snooty Maître d'hôtel (master of the house), as he was eyeballing a far too young chick sitting at a table with long legs, and next to nothing covering them.

 

I snuck up behind him as he was watching her, and coming up alongside asked:

“Whatcha looking at Luv?”

 

Startled, He jumped a mile. And as he jumped, my hand slipped into his side pocket and easily lifted his real gold money clip. Weighted down with folded bills of money extorted from his restaurant’s patrons.

 

I giggled at his red face, tweaking his “Hercules Poirot” styled mustache as I said in parting:

“Cheers, thanks for letting me in…”

 

Happy with myself, I stood in front of the restaurant. Pondering if I should find a vantage point to see where that table of four was eventually heading when they left, or just amble off. I decided to go for a long stroll.

 

About 30 minutes later, I was sitting on a park bench, lighting a cigarette with my gold lighter, the one engraved with the king's head that I had lifted off a fine gentleman at a New Year’s Eve party.

 

I began rummaging through the purse I had lifted. A real silver compact, matching lipstick holder, and a wad of £200 were amongst my haul. I also discover a pair of tickets to a St. Valentine's evening ball that very evening. The very one being held in my hotel’s basement, the one that was sold out.

 

I quickly packed up and headed straight to my hotel, across the street from the park where I was sitting. It took me twenty minutes to reach it by taking a path that cut through the woods in the park’s centre.

 

I happily then cut through the lobby, casting an eye on the stuffed shirt manager at the desk. And the open door behind him that had security stenciled across the window.

 

Taking the elevator up 2 floors I got off and went to where my room was located, purposefully selected because it was facing across from a stairwell. I let myself in and began to quickly change into a more formal blue satin gown, keeping on the same jewelry.

 

Once I was prim and proper, I left. Eagerly headed downstairs to the basement where the ball was in full swing.

 

I happily showed my pair of tickets to the hotel security guard at the entrance, telling him:

 

“When my date shows up, I’ll come and give him his ticket.”

 

He nodded, not bothering to look like he ruddy well cared.

 

It was a packed affair. Live music, dancing, a table with raffle bins, and appetizers. A stocked bar off on one side with a buy your own drinks sign, thank you.

 

I had indeed bought myself a cocktail and began meandering around.

 

I soon latched onto a couple of young sisters, 14 and 16.

 

They were wonderfully attired in darling designer dresses of gleaming taffeta, complete with matching sashes tied from behind in bows. Their parents obviously have enough disposable income to spend an extravagant amount on dresses their progeny will outgrow in a few months.

 

The pair of lovelies were wearing rhinestones, but the 16-year-old was also sporting a flower-shaped gold pin, set with real gems. An emerald centre with real diamonds as petals.

 

I admired their pretty attire, gaining their confidence. Learning that their rooms were on the top fifth floor of this very hotel, in what I could tell was a penthouse suite.

 

Soon I had them pointing out their parents. As they did I let my hand slip onto the older girl's shoulder, my fingers curling around her pin.

 

The mum was wearing a sleek silk dress, with no jewellry, their papa in a vested suit. As both girls chatted about how lovely their mum looked, I easily lifted the older girl's expensively gemmed pin off from her soft gown. I did this as I had begun causally stroking down along her gown’s smooth material while she was busy looking away as she chatted on about her parents.

 

It was then the younger sister like she had been reading my mind, casually mentioning the fact that their mum was not wearing the pretty jewelry she had brought with her.

 

The older sister was still watching her parents on the dance floor and hadn’t noticed her sibling's comment. My senses began prickling something wicked. I daringly asked her why not, as I watched the older one out of the corner of my eye.

 

The sweet young thing answered truthfully:

“Because she wore them last night to the ball.”

 

Still keeping an eye on this girl's older sister who appeared to still not have noticed what her sibling was talking about. I knelt in front of the younger sister and lifted her heavy rhinestone necklace, watching it sparkle. I asked, carefully choosing my words:

“Pretty, now your mums cannot be as pretty as this?”

 

She smiled, her eyes opening with doe-eyed innocence:

“They are, ever so. And she has lots, doesn’t she.”

 

Then she pouted:

“We’re not allowed to wear them though.”

 

I had let go of her necklace. Though I will admit I had thought of lifting it from her since I was noticing she was starting to dance a little like she needed to use the loo, which would have made it an easy task

 

Instead, I whispered truthfully in her ear, with wicked intentions in my mind….

“Well, I certainly think both you and your sister should be allowed.”

 

I then asked if she could…

” Hold my drink for a sec?”

 

The little imp did do, as I rummaged through my purse. Knowing the cold ice in the glass she was holding should increase her need to use the potty.

 

The dance was ending. I took back my drink, watching as their parents went back to their table. I pulled aside the still-distracted older sister and asked if I could be introduced to their parents.

 

They gleefully took me over and introductions were made. I complimented the parents on what delightfully charming girls they were raising.

 

We had a conversation about that. Where the girls went to school, that sort of thing.

 

The younger daughter’s prancing was becoming more noticeable and soon the mum took her lead and went off with both daughters to take care of the issue.

 

So far I had played my cards correctly and as they left I decided to try a trump by asking the father if he would care to dance.

 

He did not appear affronted at all by my boldness and led me off to the floor. As he took me in his arms I stumbled against him, easily slipping his billfold from his suit jacket's front pocket. I stowed it away in a hidden pocket of my blue satin gown.

 

It was then as we danced that I spotted them.

 

A young wealthy couple dancing cheek to cheek. I studied them over my partner's shoulder.

 

She was beyond resplendent in a long blood-red satin gown that poured sleekly down along her figure. She was wearing a display of diamonds that looked like Tiffany’s display case, set against a red satin backdrop. Her husband was in full tux, wearing a gold signet ring engraved with his family’s crest. A crest I knew, a family that was one of England's wealthiest.

 

She was a giggler, he appeared to have issues keeping his wife focused.

 

There was a couple I would love to have learned more about. But by lifting the father's wallet, I was already committed to a plan.

 

Oh well. I turned my attention back to the father, who was a charismatic charmer of a man.

 

The dance ended and I took my leave. Literally. As I made my way to the nearest exit.

 

I took the stairs to the first floor, intending to pay my bill ahead for an early checkout. Since I may be leaving in a hurry.

 

Going up to the lobby desk. I saw it was deserted. Then looking out the front doors I saw the manager and the security man standing there holding apart two men who had pretty obviously been brawling.

 

I looked back to the empty desk, then to the opened door to the security room.

 

On a daring whim, I slipped inside. Not knowing what I would find.

 

In the corner was a large vault, opened exposing rows of metal boxes that required a passkey. No master pass keys were visible. And I probably did not have the time. But my lord, one could just imagine the delicious darling jewels that lay inside them.

 

I then spotted a bagged security uniform and cap. Not wishing to come away empty-handed from my daring sneaking into the room, I snatched it up and carried it past the still-empty desk. Coast was still perfectly clear.

 

I darted through the stairwell door and scurried up to my room.

 

In the room I quickly undressed and tried on the uniform, thinking it may serve as an effective ruse. Tucking my long hair up under the cap and putting on dark sunglasses I looked myself over in the mirror.

 

Surprised at how official I looked.

 

Taking off the glasses I went to my gown and took out the wallet. Finding £525 in cash and amongst his cards his room’s passkey. I had guessed right.

 

So now with the security uniform in my possession, I could freely go and burgle the room, without waiting till the little family returned, and were all fast asleep.

 

Putting the sunglasses back on, I picked up my leather pouch and headed out my door to the staircase directly across.

 

There were 3 suites on the top 5th floor. I knocked at the first door. No answer. I tried the key, but it didn’t turn.

 

Repeated the same procedure with the suite door directly across. The key clicked the tumblers and the door opened.

 

Licking my lips I slipped inside.

 

I had my torch and put on the red-lighted beam to look around. Beautiful room. A larger living area complete with a full bar and kitchenette. Double doors led out onto a balcony. I wondered if I could reach the other penthouse suite's balconies from it and decided to check it out after I went through the bedrooms.

 

Eagerly I then went into the first one.

 

Obviously the young sister's room. I let my beam work the room. Finding a dressing table I went over to it. Laying out was a pair of necklaces, one gold and the other with fine Pearls. A gold bangle bracelet lay next to them, surrounded by a couple of gold rings. I scooped them up. Next to them were twin velvet cases. I opened them. but found both were empty. For the rhinestones they were wearing I guessed. Without thought, I placed them inside my pouch.

 

Quickly checking the drawers I found sets of satin pjs But nothing else of value was hidden underneath. They were both too young to be using that trick.

 

I turned and went out to the living area. I caught my reflection in the mirror above the bar and startled, I jumped.

 

Twit, I had forgotten I was wearing a security uniform.

 

Snickering to myself I entered the master bedroom.

 

My beam of light located the dressing table and I went right over. A small jewel case lay there. I went over and opened the case, my eyes saw the welcoming sight of gold, silver, and pearl jewelry. All of it was expensive. I placed the whole case in my pouch.

 

No diamonds.

 

I soon located the closet and opening it saw it held a tux, several gowns, and dresses all of a designer's make. I bent down and located the small wall safe.

 

Now for the moment of truth. Were the wealthy mum’s diamonds here? Or had they been placed in the hotel vault I had spotted in the security office?

 

Using my stethoscope, I spun the tumblers and had it opened in no time.

 

Inside, much to my relief lay several velvet jewel cases. I pulled out the first. Opened it and my eyes were dazzled by the diamond set jewels it contained.

 

It was then I heard laughter from what seemed to becoming right outside the penthouse suite’s door. I quickly placed the case containing diamonds in my pouch, scooping up the other cases without looking inside. Closed the safe and quickly slipped out of the room.

I went straight to the main doors’ peephole, still hearing the twittering laughter going on outside it.

 

Heart thumping I looked through the hole. Then my heart rate exhilarated, leaping up into my throat as the saying goes.

 

For the commotion was coming from across the hall. It was the couple I had been salivating over as I had danced with the father. The giggling lass wearing a blood-red satin gown and decked out with diamonds, and her wealthy heir of a husband. Both were totally pissed drunk.

 

Tuxboy had dropped his keys and couldn’t pick them up. His pretty bride’s profile was bent over him giggling, diamonds flashing as they swung out away from her fine bosom.

  

He finally picked up the keys. The two of them embraced kissing.

 

“Get inside the room. You pair .”

I murmured as a plan of action suddenly popped into my mind. An epiphany if I have ever had one.

 

They finally managed to open the door and practically fell inside.

 

I turned and quickly scanned the room with my torch’s red beam. I located the suites phone on the bar top

 

Going over I made a direct call to the penthouse room the couple had just disappeared inside.

 

The phone was picked up, and after a bit of fumbling a male’s s chuckling voice answers with a puzzled yes.

 

I began speaking with the sharp clipped words portrayed in movies by authority figures. I added an Irish lilt to my words to heighten the effect.

 

“Sir, now this is the front desk. It’s imperative that you come down to speak with security. Do not bring your wife, we do not want to alarm her.”

 

The drunk twit fell for it. Hanging up abruptly. I raced to the peephole. A short minute later he comes stumbling out and heads for the elevators.

 

As he disappears inside I went over and pushed all the buttons so it would come back up stopping at every floor.

 

Putting on my sunglasses I went to his room and knocked at his door.

 

“Security!”

 

His darling wife, still sporting all her delicious diamond Jewelry, cautiously opened the door.

 

“My husband just went down to see you?”

 

“Must have missed him, ma’am. But it’s important that I speak to you.”

 

She obediently opens the door and lets me in.

I surveyed the room. She was vulnerably alone.”

 

I looked at her, seeing her worriedly looking at me through the dark lenses of my mirrored sunglasses.

 

I spoke quickly using the same tone of voice I had used on her wealthy husband.

 

“Ma’am, several rooms have been robbed this evening. Your husband was told to bring any of your valuables to keep in the hotel's vault. “

 

She put a worried hand on her shimmering necklace.

“He..he didn’t say anything. “

 

I continued, not giving her foggy mind time to clear up.

“You don’t want to be robbed of them now do you miss? Here, you should let me take them down for you.”

 

I wasn’t a question and she nodded compliantly.

 

I reached in and pulled out one of the empty cases I had lifted from the daughter's room.

 

I held it open in front of her trying to keep from drooling over the exquisitely delicious jewellery . Was this gullible lady going to be this easily manipulated into just handing them over to me?

 

And Blimey, was she, ever so obediently going to do just that…

Beginning by reaching up behind her neck, rings, and bracelets flashing from her red satin gloves, her breasts bulging out like shiny mounds from underneath her tight blood-red satin gown.

 

Undoing the necklace’s clasp she removed it and laid it upon the case. Then reaching up into her long red hair, undid each of her dangling earrings and placed them on top. Raising each wrist she unfastened her bracelets and added them to the gleaming pile. Then slipped off her four heavily gemmed rings.

 

She took a step back, worried face told me she was buying into my scam.

 

“What about your brooch miss, not wanting the thief to get that now are you.”

 

She nodded, looking down and reaching in between her voluptuous breasts, plucked off the heavily jeweled broach.

 

Dumbfounded that I was now holding at least a cool ¾ of a million pounds in diamonds…

 

Yet, I still fished in for for more….

“Aye, that’s the girl. Now, anything else you need me to take to the safe.”

 

Again, it wasn’t a question.

 

She scrunched her nose in thought.

“Your right, thanks for reminding me”

 

With that, she turned, her gown swishing provocatively along her seductive figure as she disappeared inside her bedroom

 

Closing the case I stowed it inside my pouch. I moved to a side table and scooped up her plump, red sequined designer clutch purse and stashed it inside my pouch

 

Then stood by the door pondering wistfully over how I could con her into slipping out of and handing over that delicious red satin gown.

 

No clever ideas presented themselves as she reappeared, holding an upper-end Smythson blue velvet jewelry bag.

 

She explained, almost apologetically:

“My husband usually puts this in the closet safe at night. But I’m sure it will be more secure where you are taking it.”

 

Smiling as I took it while saying, and not exactly telling a fib,

“Thank you, I will make sure they are safe in my hands and apologize to your husband for the mix-up.”

 

She smiled back with relief in her eyes, then came up and hugged me. Saying in my ear…

 

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

 

Damn her luscious gown felt wonderfully nice, her warm figure even nicer as she pressed up against me.

 

Breaking apart I began telling her truthfully, as I looked her pretty gown-clad figure up and down.

“It is my pleasure. Love your gown by the way. Now miss, lock the door behind me. Though I’m sure your now safe from robberies.”

 

She was grinning at me, her eyes still a bit clouded with the drink as she stroked the front of her gown, fingers rolling along her fine breasts.

“Unless less the thief wants my gown, it’s all I have now of value to hand over.”

 

I certainly hesitated at that, almost like she had read my thoughts. Then smiling at her joke, left.

 

Avoiding the elevator, I quickly headed to the stairs leading down to my room.

 

As I went through the door onto the top landing of the metal staircase I abruptly halted.

 

I smelled him before seeing him. A strong, sour smell of whiskey intermingled with musk, warned me I was not alone in here.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

I peeked over the stairs railing looking down.

 

On the second floor, landing staggered a man. So drunk that I could smell it two full floors above him.

 

The git was looking around behind him, trying hard to figure out what door he had heard opening.

 

He was dapper, dressed in a tux with tails and a formal top hat. A delectable gold watch chain shimmered around his waist.

 

I slowly went down the stairs, hoping he would move off. I didn’t want to get off at the 4th or 3rd floors, too many risks to take the elevator.

 

But, buggers if the man didn’t budge.

 

I reached the top of the stairs above where he stood, swaying, his gaze transfixed on the 2nd-floor door.

 

With a heavy sigh, I went down the stairs, coming up behind him, I tapped his shoulder.

 

He turned his head around. Then eyes opening wide he said…

 

Blimey. Wha..what’s this, your a female bobby. Didn’t know you came like that.”

 

He stood there, gobsmacked, trying to figure me out.

 

I just stayed in the character I had created for the damsel in distress upstairs. Using the same time of voice I told him…

“Sir you need to go to your room.”

 

The bugger shook his head, saying with a muttering tone…

“No officer lady, I’m drunk in “pubic”, ya need to be arresting me sorry ass. I think you should securely frisk me. Isn’t that what you lot do?”

 

I shook my head, then spied his leather billfold sticking up from his pocket. Fat with notes.

“Okay, face the wall and spread your legs and arms.

 

He turned and as he tried to do what I had told him, fell against the wall, emitting a low moan.

 

I then frisked him, patting him down. Easily lifting his wallet, gold watch, and room keycard as I did so. I saw it was number 22, around the corner from my room.

 

“Careful of the family jewels there. Missy. May need them later if you catch my drift…”

 

I think he was winking into the wall.

 

Turning He held up his hands.

“Cuff me, officer,”

 

I shook my head no.

“Sorry, sir I can’t do that I’m not an officer only security.”

I sighed

“But I will put you under house arrest In your room. Is this your floor?”

 

He tried to focus on the door

“Two. What a coincidence that’s where my room is.”

 

I opened the door and pulled him through.

 

“Room number 22 miss officer.”

 

I led him down the hallway, not an easy task as he kept slumping against the wall. Thankfully no one popped a head from any of the other rooms.

 

Finally, we reached room number 22

 

He chuckles.

“Thanks for the Lift. Care for a drinky?”

 

I handed him his key

 

He took it not questioning how I had it.

 

“You go in sir. Pour yourself one. I’m still on duty.”

 

This wanker wasn’t giving up

“When are you off Miss officer?”

 

“Just starting my shift, not off till morning. I’ll come and give you a wake-up call if you’d like.”

 

He smiled with a crooked smile only a true drunk can pull off, and saluted me, amazingly without putting out an eye.

 

“Toodles then!”

 

I was gone before he had closed his door.

 

I quickly went to my room back around the corner, thankfully meeting no one else in the hallway.

 

In my room, I changed out of my uniform into my leather skirt and satin blouse.

 

I took my pouch and suitcase, now holding the guards uniform, to my lotus sports car.

 

Then going back upstairs I grabbed my overnight case, and my dress bag and went downstairs.

 

A young girl wearing a heavy cream-coloured silk blouse and black skirt was at the front desk. The security guard's door was closed and I could see a pair of male shadows taking inside.

 

After telling the girl I wanted to check out I asked what all the excitement was about.

 

She excitedly explained that a couple of blokes had gotten into a fight out front. Police were called and hailed them away.

 

I smiled, happily thinking that my own shenanigans had not yet been discovered. The wealthy young twits upstairs had bought into my story, of that I was certain.

 

I was paying my bill when the phone rang. I listened in and heard her saying...

“What’s that? No sir, we don’t have female security?”

 

I kept a calm look on my face as my heart began thumping. I whispered under my breath.

“Come on luv, hand me my receipt..”

 

Still, on the phone the girl smiled at me and handed over my receipt, saying into the phone.

“What’s that sir, house arrest? Yes sir, well I’m sure you are no longer confined….”

 

Relieved, I took my receipt and headed straight out the front door without hearing the ending of the conversation.

Once outside I hailed a waiting cab.

 

I had him drop me off at the train station.

 

Arriving there, I locked up my belongings In one of the lobby pay-as-you-go lockers. Waiting inside for a good half hour I then left with a group just departing and caught a cab giving him the address of the hotel two blocks down from mine.

 

He dropped me off and I went through the lobby out the back way, then down a side alley till I reached the lot where my car was parked.

 

I got in and drove back to the train station, where I collected my things.

 

Once I was back in my car, I lit a cigarette, took a few relaxing puffs, then put my sports car in gear, purposefully driving off through the night, planning on putting as much distance as fast as I could risk it, between me and the city I was leaving.

 

Fini.

 

Affair of The Haunts of the Very Rich

 

St Valentines Day

 

I’ve often noticed that with the very wealthy, the majority of them that do bother to celebrate St Valentine's day, are primarily the youngest of couples that belong to this class.

 

Young wealthy and naive. My type of combination.

 

^^^^^^^^

 

I was staying at an upper-end hotel that Valentine’s Day weekend, treating myself after having a rather profitable New Year's weekend a few weeks prior.

 

I had been excited to learn there was a ballroom in the basement where a dance was being held later that week. But it was sold out. So I was left out of that opportunity.

 

But there were others.

 

Amongst which:

 

At a park, an older upper-class dressed lady was waking as she held a corgi in her arm. I stopped her and asked if I could pet the little darling. She said yes and as I stooped over to pet the pup with my right hand, my left was busy removing a diamond bracelet from around the cubby wrist holding the bratty animal.

 

While the next day, at the same park, my eyes caught the glitter of diamond studs, 4 Carets worth, being carelessly worn by a silk-clad mum watching her children play as she sat upon a park bench. I walked behind the bench and easily lifted the fat wallet from her designer leather bag. I then sat down on a bench ten meters away, watching her profile. Wondering how she ever was avoiding being mugged?

 

Then…

 

Midweek found me at a 5 Star Restaurant eating dinner, conspicuously alone amongst the tables filled with romantically in-love couples. Many of them are from obviously a privileged upbringing, which is the game I was after.

 

Being alone, the tuxedo-wearing man at the desk had not wanted me in, until I slipped the upturned nosed Maître d £40

He put on a money clip with an already healthy wad of notes. Sticking it into a deep side pocket of his long tux coat.

 

Soon I was escorted to a small side table next to the swinging doors of the prep kitchen. The smells that wafted out when the doors opened certainly whetted my appetite, in more ways than one.

 

I was wearing my black satin jacket with its shiny rhinestone buttons. Underneath I was wearing my blue satin long-sleeved button-back blouse, paired with a long slick black leather skirt. My jewels were simple, consisting of diamond stud earrings and a diamond heart-shaped pendant.

 

I was hoping to make a score this evening, relieving some of the wealthy patrons eating here of a purse, wallet, watch jewellery, or a combination of these items.

  

For my meal, I ordered one of the more expensive items on the menu. The steak was very good, and the wine was even better. But my appetite was not quelled, for I was hungering after richer items, not on their menu.

 

I had my eye on a couple of tables. The love birds sitting at them had eyes only for each other, and not on purses or wallets, or other valuables they had on their very well-dressed persons.

 

A pair of violinists had been going around from table to table, collecting tips for their playing, or to stop them from playing, it was hard to tell.

 

They were now a pair at one of the tables I had been observing.

 

The couple that was sitting there was dressed in formal attire. He was wearing what I call a James Bond tux, his girl was poured in a short sequined dress with pearls. Her designer purse was hanging from the chair behind her, on top of a mink stole.

 

I placed my purse in a side pocket of my skirt, placed my satin jacket over an arm, and walked past the table, squeezing in between the violinists and the table behind. The violinists moved in, making the two at the table scrunch in closer.

 

As the couple at the table were moving their

chairs in, I circled behind, whisked by the lady’s chair, and easily lifted her small designer purse from the chair stowing it under my jacket.

 

I went to the loo and in a stall took out my purse and replaced it inside my pocket with the expensive one I had just lifted.

 

As I was washing up a pair of young ladies came in. One had a long velvet dress and wearing pearls. Her companion had on a short silk number that looked like it had been painted along her figure, it was that tight. Not tight was the flashy gemmed cocktail ring she wore on her left index finger. It was very loose.

 

The pair ignored me and began hugging and pawing each other with a lover’s passion. I sqoze by them, bumping silk into velvet. They giggled, I apologize, my fingers moved along the left hand that the bird wearing tight silk had wrapped behind velvet’s waist.

 

I pressed off against the pair, slipping off the loose gemstone ring from the wealthy bird’s left hand’s index finger as I did. Without the love-struck owner feeling so much as a prickle.

 

I went back to my table and downed the last of my Merlot.

 

Finishing my meal I left cash on the bill and stood up, looking around the room as I put on my black satin jacket with its shiny rhinestone buttons.

 

No other easy opportunities were apparent, so I decided to leave while I was ahead.

 

I then spied the velvet and tight silk-wearing birds at a side table. They were with two men in fitted suits. I was very curious over what the relationships were exactly between the four. I could almost smell an opportunity of some sort, but I was already on my way out.

 

As I left I spied the snooty Maître d'hôtel (master of the house), as he was eyeballing a far too young chick sitting at a table with long legs, and next to nothing covering them.

 

I snuck up behind him as he was watching her, and coming up alongside asked:

“Whatcha looking at Luv?”

 

Startled, He jumped a mile. And as he jumped, my hand slipped into his side pocket and easily lifted his real gold money clip. Weighted down with folded bills of money extorted from his restaurant’s patrons.

 

I giggled at his red face, tweaking his “Hercules Poirot” styled mustache as I said in parting:

“Cheers, thanks for letting me in…”

 

Happy with myself, I stood in front of the restaurant. Pondering if I should find a vantage point to see where that table of four was eventually heading when they left, or just amble off. I decided to go for a long stroll.

 

About 30 minutes later, I was sitting on a park bench, lighting a cigarette with my gold lighter, the one engraved with the king's head that I had lifted off a fine gentleman at a New Year’s Eve party.

 

I began rummaging through the purse I had lifted. A real silver compact, matching lipstick holder, and a wad of £200 were amongst my haul. I also discover a pair of tickets to a St. Valentine's evening ball that very evening. The very one being held in my hotel’s basement, the one that was sold out.

 

I quickly packed up and headed straight to my hotel, across the street from the park where I was sitting. It took me twenty minutes to reach it by taking a path that cut through the woods in the park’s centre.

 

I happily then cut through the lobby, casting an eye on the stuffed shirt manager at the desk. And the open door behind him that had security stenciled across the window.

 

Taking the elevator up 2 floors I got off and went to where my room was located, purposefully selected because it was facing across from a stairwell. I let myself in and began to quickly change into a more formal blue satin gown, keeping on the same jewelry.

 

Once I was prim and proper, I left. Eagerly headed downstairs to the basement where the ball was in full swing.

 

I happily showed my pair of tickets to the hotel security guard at the entrance, telling him:

 

“When my date shows up, I’ll come and give him his ticket.”

 

He nodded, not bothering to look like he ruddy well cared.

 

It was a packed affair. Live music, dancing, a table with raffle bins, and appetizers. A stocked bar off on one side with a buy your own drinks sign, thank you.

 

I had indeed bought myself a cocktail and began meandering around.

 

I soon latched onto a couple of young sisters, 14 and 16.

 

They were wonderfully attired in darling designer dresses of gleaming taffeta, complete with matching sashes tied from behind in bows. Their parents obviously have enough disposable income to spend an extravagant amount on dresses their progeny will outgrow in a few months.

 

The pair of lovelies were wearing rhinestones, but the 16-year-old was also sporting a flower-shaped gold pin, set with real gems. An emerald centre with real diamonds as petals.

 

I admired their pretty attire, gaining their confidence. Learning that their rooms were on the top fifth floor of this very hotel, in what I could tell was a penthouse suite.

 

Soon I had them pointing out their parents. As they did I let my hand slip onto the older girl's shoulder, my fingers curling around her pin.

 

The mum was wearing a sleek silk dress, with no jewellry, their papa in a vested suit. As both girls chatted about how lovely their mum looked, I easily lifted the older girl's expensively gemmed pin off from her soft gown. I did this as I had begun causally stroking down along her gown’s smooth material while she was busy looking away as she chatted on about her parents.

 

It was then the younger sister like she had been reading my mind, casually mentioning the fact that their mum was not wearing the pretty jewelry she had brought with her.

 

The older sister was still watching her parents on the dance floor and hadn’t noticed her sibling's comment. My senses began prickling something wicked. I daringly asked her why not, as I watched the older one out of the corner of my eye.

 

The sweet young thing answered truthfully:

“Because she wore them last night to the ball.”

 

Still keeping an eye on this girl's older sister who appeared to still not have noticed what her sibling was talking about. I knelt in front of the younger sister and lifted her heavy rhinestone necklace, watching it sparkle. I asked, carefully choosing my words:

“Pretty, now your mums cannot be as pretty as this?”

 

She smiled, her eyes opening with doe-eyed innocence:

“They are, ever so. And she has lots, doesn’t she.”

 

Then she pouted:

“We’re not allowed to wear them though.”

 

I had let go of her necklace. Though I will admit I had thought of lifting it from her since I was noticing she was starting to dance a little like she needed to use the loo, which would have made it an easy task

 

Instead, I whispered truthfully in her ear, with wicked intentions in my mind….

“Well, I certainly think both you and your sister should be allowed.”

 

I then asked if she could…

” Hold my drink for a sec?”

 

The little imp did do, as I rummaged through my purse. Knowing the cold ice in the glass she was holding should increase her need to use the potty.

 

The dance was ending. I took back my drink, watching as their parents went back to their table. I pulled aside the still-distracted older sister and asked if I could be introduced to their parents.

 

They gleefully took me over and introductions were made. I complimented the parents on what delightfully charming girls they were raising.

 

We had a conversation about that. Where the girls went to school, that sort of thing.

 

The younger daughter’s prancing was becoming more noticeable and soon the mum took her lead and went off with both daughters to take care of the issue.

 

So far I had played my cards correctly and as they left I decided to try a trump by asking the father if he would care to dance.

 

He did not appear affronted at all by my boldness and led me off to the floor. As he took me in his arms I stumbled against him, easily slipping his billfold from his suit jacket's front pocket. I stowed it away in a hidden pocket of my blue satin gown.

 

It was then as we danced that I spotted them.

 

A young wealthy couple dancing cheek to cheek. I studied them over my partner's shoulder.

 

She was beyond resplendent in a long blood-red satin gown that poured sleekly down along her figure. She was wearing a display of diamonds that looked like Tiffany’s display case, set against a red satin backdrop. Her husband was in full tux, wearing a gold signet ring engraved with his family’s crest. A crest I knew, a family that was one of England's wealthiest.

 

She was a giggler, he appeared to have issues keeping his wife focused.

 

There was a couple I would love to have learned more about. But by lifting the father's wallet, I was already committed to a plan.

 

Oh well. I turned my attention back to the father, who was a charismatic charmer of a man.

 

The dance ended and I took my leave. Literally. As I made my way to the nearest exit.

 

I took the stairs to the first floor, intending to pay my bill ahead for an early checkout. Since I may be leaving in a hurry.

 

Going up to the lobby desk. I saw it was deserted. Then looking out the front doors I saw the manager and the security man standing there holding apart two men who had pretty obviously been brawling.

 

I looked back to the empty desk, then to the opened door to the security room.

 

On a daring whim, I slipped inside. Not knowing what I would find.

 

In the corner was a large vault, opened exposing rows of metal boxes that required a passkey. No master pass keys were visible. And I probably did not have the time. But my lord, one could just imagine the delicious darling jewels that lay inside them.

 

I then spotted a bagged security uniform and cap. Not wishing to come away empty-handed from my daring sneaking into the room, I snatched it up and carried it past the still-empty desk. Coast was still perfectly clear.

 

I darted through the stairwell door and scurried up to my room.

 

In the room I quickly undressed and tried on the uniform, thinking it may serve as an effective ruse. Tucking my long hair up under the cap and putting on dark sunglasses I looked myself over in the mirror.

 

Surprised at how official I looked.

 

Taking off the glasses I went to my gown and took out the wallet. Finding £525 in cash and amongst his cards his room’s passkey. I had guessed right.

 

So now with the security uniform in my possession, I could freely go and burgle the room, without waiting till the little family returned, and were all fast asleep.

 

Putting the sunglasses back on, I picked up my leather pouch and headed out my door to the staircase directly across.

 

There were 3 suites on the top 5th floor. I knocked at the first door. No answer. I tried the key, but it didn’t turn.

 

Repeated the same procedure with the suite door directly across. The key clicked the tumblers and the door opened.

 

Licking my lips I slipped inside.

 

I had my torch and put on the red-lighted beam to look around. Beautiful room. A larger living area complete with a full bar and kitchenette. Double doors led out onto a balcony. I wondered if I could reach the other penthouse suite's balconies from it and decided to check it out after I went through the bedrooms.

 

Eagerly I then went into the first one.

 

Obviously the young sister's room. I let my beam work the room. Finding a dressing table I went over to it. Laying out was a pair of necklaces, one gold and the other with fine Pearls. A gold bangle bracelet lay next to them, surrounded by a couple of gold rings. I scooped them up. Next to them were twin velvet cases. I opened them. but found both were empty. For the rhinestones they were wearing I guessed. Without thought, I placed them inside my pouch.

 

Quickly checking the drawers I found sets of satin pjs But nothing else of value was hidden underneath. They were both too young to be using that trick.

 

I turned and went out to the living area. I caught my reflection in the mirror above the bar and startled, I jumped.

 

Twit, I had forgotten I was wearing a security uniform.

 

Snickering to myself I entered the master bedroom.

 

My beam of light located the dressing table and I went right over. A small jewel case lay there. I went over and opened the case, my eyes saw the welcoming sight of gold, silver, and pearl jewelry. All of it was expensive. I placed the whole case in my pouch.

 

No diamonds.

 

I soon located the closet and opening it saw it held a tux, several gowns, and dresses all of a designer's make. I bent down and located the small wall safe.

 

Now for the moment of truth. Were the wealthy mum’s diamonds here? Or had they been placed in the hotel vault I had spotted in the security office?

 

Using my stethoscope, I spun the tumblers and had it opened in no time.

 

Inside, much to my relief lay several velvet jewel cases. I pulled out the first. Opened it and my eyes were dazzled by the diamond set jewels it contained.

 

It was then I heard laughter from what seemed to becoming right outside the penthouse suite’s door. I quickly placed the case containing diamonds in my pouch, scooping up the other cases without looking inside. Closed the safe and quickly slipped out of the room.

I went straight to the main doors’ peephole, still hearing the twittering laughter going on outside it.

 

Heart thumping I looked through the hole. Then my heart rate exhilarated, leaping up into my throat as the saying goes.

 

For the commotion was coming from across the hall. It was the couple I had been salivating over as I had danced with the father. The giggling lass wearing a blood-red satin gown and decked out with diamonds, and her wealthy heir of a husband. Both were totally pissed drunk.

 

Tuxboy had dropped his keys and couldn’t pick them up. His pretty bride’s profile was bent over him giggling, diamonds flashing as they swung out away from her fine bosom.

  

He finally picked up the keys. The two of them embraced kissing.

 

“Get inside the room. You pair .”

I murmured as a plan of action suddenly popped into my mind. An epiphany if I have ever had one.

 

They finally managed to open the door and practically fell inside.

 

I turned and quickly scanned the room with my torch’s red beam. I located the suites phone on the bar top

 

Going over I made a direct call to the penthouse room the couple had just disappeared inside.

 

The phone was picked up, and after a bit of fumbling a male’s s chuckling voice answers with a puzzled yes.

 

I began speaking with the sharp clipped words portrayed in movies by authority figures. I added an Irish lilt to my words to heighten the effect.

 

“Sir, now this is the front desk. It’s imperative that you come down to speak with security. Do not bring your wife, we do not want to alarm her.”

 

The drunk twit fell for it. Hanging up abruptly. I raced to the peephole. A short minute later he comes stumbling out and heads for the elevators.

 

As he disappears inside I went over and pushed all the buttons so it would come back up stopping at every floor.

 

Putting on my sunglasses I went to his room and knocked at his door.

 

“Security!”

 

His darling wife, still sporting all her delicious diamond Jewelry, cautiously opened the door.

 

“My husband just went down to see you?”

 

“Must have missed him, ma’am. But it’s important that I speak to you.”

 

She obediently opens the door and lets me in.

I surveyed the room. She was vulnerably alone.”

 

I looked at her, seeing her worriedly looking at me through the dark lenses of my mirrored sunglasses.

 

I spoke quickly using the same tone of voice I had used on her wealthy husband.

 

“Ma’am, several rooms have been robbed this evening. Your husband was told to bring any of your valuables to keep in the hotel's vault. “

 

She put a worried hand on her shimmering necklace.

“He..he didn’t say anything. “

 

I continued, not giving her foggy mind time to clear up.

“You don’t want to be robbed of them now do you miss? Here, you should let me take them down for you.”

 

I wasn’t a question and she nodded compliantly.

 

I reached in and pulled out one of the empty cases I had lifted from the daughter's room.

 

I held it open in front of her trying to keep from drooling over the exquisitely delicious jewellery . Was this gullible lady going to be this easily manipulated into just handing them over to me?

 

And Blimey, was she, ever so obediently going to do just that…

Beginning by reaching up behind her neck, rings, and bracelets flashing from her red satin gloves, her breasts bulging out like shiny mounds from underneath her tight blood-red satin gown.

 

Undoing the necklace’s clasp she removed it and laid it upon the case. Then reaching up into her long red hair, undid each of her dangling earrings and placed them on top. Raising each wrist she unfastened her bracelets and added them to the gleaming pile. Then slipped off her four heavily gemmed rings.

 

She took a step back, worried face told me she was buying into my scam.

 

“What about your brooch miss, not wanting the thief to get that now are you.”

 

She nodded, looking down and reaching in between her voluptuous breasts, plucked off the heavily jeweled broach.

 

Dumbfounded that I was now holding at least a cool ¾ of a million pounds in diamonds…

 

Yet, I still fished in for for more….

“Aye, that’s the girl. Now, anything else you need me to take to the safe.”

 

Again, it wasn’t a question.

 

She scrunched her nose in thought.

“Your right, thanks for reminding me”

 

With that, she turned, her gown swishing provocatively along her seductive figure as she disappeared inside her bedroom

 

Closing the case I stowed it inside my pouch. I moved to a side table and scooped up her plump, red sequined designer clutch purse and stashed it inside my pouch

 

Then stood by the door pondering wistfully over how I could con her into slipping out of and handing over that delicious red satin gown.

 

No clever ideas presented themselves as she reappeared, holding an upper-end Smythson blue velvet jewelry bag.

 

She explained, almost apologetically:

“My husband usually puts this in the closet safe at night. But I’m sure it will be more secure where you are taking it.”

 

Smiling as I took it while saying, and not exactly telling a fib,

“Thank you, I will make sure they are safe in my hands and apologize to your husband for the mix-up.”

 

She smiled back with relief in her eyes, then came up and hugged me. Saying in my ear…

 

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

 

Damn her luscious gown felt wonderfully nice, her warm figure even nicer as she pressed up against me.

 

Breaking apart I began telling her truthfully, as I looked her pretty gown-clad figure up and down.

“It is my pleasure. Love your gown by the way. Now miss, lock the door behind me. Though I’m sure your now safe from robberies.”

 

She was grinning at me, her eyes still a bit clouded with the drink as she stroked the front of her gown, fingers rolling along her fine breasts.

“Unless less the thief wants my gown, it’s all I have now of value to hand over.”

 

I certainly hesitated at that, almost like she had read my thoughts. Then smiling at her joke, left.

 

Avoiding the elevator, I quickly headed to the stairs leading down to my room.

 

As I went through the door onto the top landing of the metal staircase I abruptly halted.

 

I smelled him before seeing him. A strong, sour smell of whiskey intermingled with musk, warned me I was not alone in here.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

I peeked over the stairs railing looking down.

 

On the second floor, landing staggered a man. So drunk that I could smell it two full floors above him.

 

The git was looking around behind him, trying hard to figure out what door he had heard opening.

 

He was dapper, dressed in a tux with tails and a formal top hat. A delectable gold watch chain shimmered around his waist.

 

I slowly went down the stairs, hoping he would move off. I didn’t want to get off at the 4th or 3rd floors, too many risks to take the elevator.

 

But, buggers if the man didn’t budge.

 

I reached the top of the stairs above where he stood, swaying, his gaze transfixed on the 2nd-floor door.

 

With a heavy sigh, I went down the stairs, coming up behind him, I tapped his shoulder.

 

He turned his head around. Then eyes opening wide he said…

 

Blimey. Wha..what’s this, your a female bobby. Didn’t know you came like that.”

 

He stood there, gobsmacked, trying to figure me out.

 

I just stayed in the character I had created for the damsel in distress upstairs. Using the same time of voice I told him…

“Sir you need to go to your room.”

 

The bugger shook his head, saying with a muttering tone…

“No officer lady, I’m drunk in “pubic”, ya need to be arresting me sorry ass. I think you should securely frisk me. Isn’t that what you lot do?”

 

I shook my head, then spied his leather billfold sticking up from his pocket. Fat with notes.

“Okay, face the wall and spread your legs and arms.

 

He turned and as he tried to do what I had told him, fell against the wall, emitting a low moan.

 

I then frisked him, patting him down. Easily lifting his wallet, gold watch, and room keycard as I did so. I saw it was number 22, around the corner from my room.

 

“Careful of the family jewels there. Missy. May need them later if you catch my drift…”

 

I think he was winking into the wall.

 

Turning He held up his hands.

“Cuff me, officer,”

 

I shook my head no.

“Sorry, sir I can’t do that I’m not an officer only security.”

I sighed

“But I will put you under house arrest In your room. Is this your floor?”

 

He tried to focus on the door

“Two. What a coincidence that’s where my room is.”

 

I opened the door and pulled him through.

 

“Room number 22 miss officer.”

 

I led him down the hallway, not an easy task as he kept slumping against the wall. Thankfully no one popped a head from any of the other rooms.

 

Finally, we reached room number 22

 

He chuckles.

“Thanks for the Lift. Care for a drinky?”

 

I handed him his key

 

He took it not questioning how I had it.

 

“You go in sir. Pour yourself one. I’m still on duty.”

 

This wanker wasn’t giving up

“When are you off Miss officer?”

 

“Just starting my shift, not off till morning. I’ll come and give you a wake-up call if you’d like.”

 

He smiled with a crooked smile only a true drunk can pull off, and saluted me, amazingly without putting out an eye.

 

“Toodles then!”

 

I was gone before he had closed his door.

 

I quickly went to my room back around the corner, thankfully meeting no one else in the hallway.

 

In my room, I changed out of my uniform into my leather skirt and satin blouse.

 

I took my pouch and suitcase, now holding the guards uniform, to my lotus sports car.

 

Then going back upstairs I grabbed my overnight case, and my dress bag and went downstairs.

 

A young girl wearing a heavy cream-coloured silk blouse and black skirt was at the front desk. The security guard's door was closed and I could see a pair of male shadows taking inside.

 

After telling the girl I wanted to check out I asked what all the excitement was about.

 

She excitedly explained that a couple of blokes had gotten into a fight out front. Police were called and hailed them away.

 

I smiled, happily thinking that my own shenanigans had not yet been discovered. The wealthy young twits upstairs had bought into my story, of that I was certain.

 

I was paying my bill when the phone rang. I listened in and heard her saying...

“What’s that? No sir, we don’t have female security?”

 

I kept a calm look on my face as my heart began thumping. I whispered under my breath.

“Come on luv, hand me my receipt..”

 

Still, on the phone the girl smiled at me and handed over my receipt, saying into the phone.

“What’s that sir, house arrest? Yes sir, well I’m sure you are no longer confined….”

 

Relieved, I took my receipt and headed straight out the front door without hearing the ending of the conversation.

Once outside I hailed a waiting cab.

 

I had him drop me off at the train station.

 

Arriving there, I locked up my belongings In one of the lobby pay-as-you-go lockers. Waiting inside for a good half hour I then left with a group just departing and caught a cab giving him the address of the hotel two blocks down from mine.

 

He dropped me off and I went through the lobby out the back way, then down a side alley till I reached the lot where my car was parked.

 

I got in and drove back to the train station, where I collected my things.

 

Once I was back in my car, I lit a cigarette, took a few relaxing puffs, then put my sports car in gear, purposefully driving off through the night, planning on putting as much distance as fast as I could risk it, between me and the city I was leaving.

 

Fini.

  

Store #8320. Closing April 2018. Part of ToysRUs’ closing stores that have complex leases and aren’t profitable.

Various points along the Monsal Trail, Derbyshire in the Wye Valley.

 

Litton Mill, Millers Dale.

Litton Cotton Mill was founded in 1782 by Ellis Needham & Thomas Firth. It seemed to be doomed from the start. It faired poorly due to it’s isolated position. Transport of raw materials in and finished goods out was difficult and the area was sparsely populated so workers were hard to come by. In 1786 it was barely profitable so was put up for sale but there were no buyers so they struggled on. Firth left the partnership in 1799 to go back to his native farming but Needham’s money had all been sunk into the mill.

 

In the early 19th century there was depression in the industry. In 1811 there was a fire at the mill and as a consequence the waterwheel was out of action for over a month. By 1815 Needham was declared bankrupt and given notice to quit by the landowner. During Needham’s time and probably more so due to the financial problems, many of the workers were children. The mill has a bad reputation for it’s treatment of these child workers during these times.

 

It was operated for a while by the ‘Newton’s’ who owned Cressbrook Mill nearby, but was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1874. Little remains of the original 1782 Mill. It was completely rebuilt in late 1800s and enlarged. The only original 1700s buildings are the current “townhouses” to the east of the main Mill building, and the current house (which was the mill canteen for a time) to the west.

 

In 1893 the mill was bought by Matthew Dickie a Stockport mill owner. He also took over Cressbrook Mill and had a road built between the two along the river. Litton Mill was sold to Anglo French Silk Mills in 1934 and then it changed hands again in 1963 manufacturing textured yarns until it eventual closure in the 1970s.

 

The buildings were empty, disused and derelict until they were converted to apartments in 2003 and renamed ‘Phoenix Building’.

 

Ghosts of Millers Dale.

There is a walk through Millers Dale called 'Ghosts of Millers Dale'. It's very eerie! Apparently this is because of the way children who worked in the mill were treated in the early 19th century. People have apparently seen children's faces at the windows from that period.

“the illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. at the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.” ― frank zappa

 

© All Rights Reserved Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission.

click image to view on flickr black or see it on my stream in flickriver: www.flickriver.com/photos/msdonnalee/

 

Bodie is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California. Bodie became a boom town in 1876 after the discovery of a profitable vein of gold. By 1879 it had established 2,000 structures with a population of roughly 8,000 people. The town went into decline in the subsequent decades and came to be described as a ghost town by 1915. The ghost town was officially established as Bodie State Historic Park in 1962. It receives about 200,000 visitors yearly. Nancy and I visited Bodie in August 2016 during a vacation.

January 27, 2015 – Bottlenose Dolphins – Taiji, Japan

 

Taiji has kidnapped another Bottlenose pod. The harbor holding pens are being prepped for more captives. Just another profitable day for Taiji and captive dolphin industry.

The beautiful pod of approximately 25-30 Bottlenose Dolphins have been sealed into the cove together. There are many juveniles in the pod, some of which are likely to still be nursing from their mothers. They are exhausted and scared after the horrific drive process they have endured this morning. Tomorrow killers and trainers will rip the family apart to profiteer from their suffering. Many will be taken as slaves for marine parks and juveniles are likely to be dumped at sea to fend for themselves. Spotlights have been mounted at the cove to shine down on the prisoners as they swim together for their very last night as a family The greed and brutality of the Taiji killers and trainers is beyond belief.

 

Sites for more information :

 

Sea Shepherd Cove Guardians Page (official)

www.facebook.com/SeaShepherdCoveGuardiansOfficialPage

 

Cove Guardians

www.seashepherd.org/cove-guardians

 

Photo: Sea Shepherd

 

Robber: Give me your silver and your gold, your huddled coppers yearning to breath free...

Scholar: Ube est mi medula cuminosa?

Nameless Fear: Here to keep your nightmares at bay.

Knight: Not ready for this!

Merchant: Peace is profitable.

 

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I ask You neither for health nor for sickness, for life nor for death; but that You may dispose of my health and my sickness, my life and my death, for Your glory… You alone know what is expedient for me; You are the sovereign master, do with me according to Your will. Give to me, or take away from me, only conform my will to Yours. I know but one thing, Lord, that it is good to follow You, and bad to offend You. Apart from that, I know not what is good or bad in anything. I know not which is most profitable to me, health or sickness, wealth or poverty, nor anything else in the world. That discernment is beyond the power of men or angels, and is hidden among the secrets of Your providence, which I adore, but so not seek to fathom. - Blaise Pascal

On August 31, 2021, the legendary Rio Grande Southern Railroad was brought back to life (if only for a day). Built in 1891 by Otto Mears, the original RGS was located in Colorado’s southwest corner and ran between Durango and Ridgway via Lizard Head Pass, hauling coal, silver ore, and other goods from the mining communities of Telluride and Rico. The RGS was profitable for only a few years before a silver panic crippled its finances, but nevertheless it managed to stay in business, struggling through two world wars before running its last train in 1951. Following this, its 3-foot-gauge rails were taken up.

 

Rio Grande Southern No. 20, an 1899 Schenectady Ten-Wheeler, is one of four RGS steam locomotives still in existence. It was preserved by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club in 1952 when the RGS was abandoned and over the years was cosmetically restored for display, first in Alamosa and later at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. After fifty years sitting cold, No. 20 was transported to the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Penn., for a top-to-bottom restoration beginning in 2006 that took 12 long years to compete. The restoration was spearheaded by a donation from the Moedinger family of Pennsylvania, who put up $400,000 for the effort. After additional fundraising, No. 20 finally steamed again around the loop track at the Colorado Railroad Museum in 2020.

 

While a 3/4th mile loop is nice for a short train ride, Jeff Taylor and others at CRRM desired take No. 20 to a railroad where it could really stretch its legs. That opportunity came in 2021. For No. 20’s first major outing since restoration the museum took the 4-6-0 to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad at Antonito, Colorado. Its visit coincided with the Victorian Iron Horse Roundup, held in in celebration of the C&TS’s 50th anniversary, which featured four locomotives built before 1900.

 

The trip with No. 20 on August 31 was sponsored by TRAINS Magazine, with editor Jim Wrinn and video producer Kevin Gilliam coordinating the event for photographers. The event was dubbed “Sunset on the Rio Grande Southern.”

 

Tickets for the event went fast, despite it costing nearly $900. The primary goal of “Sunset on the Rio Grande Southern” was to recreate an RGS trip that the late William Moedinger photographed in 1941, with the brakeman riding the pilot beam to watch for landslides. The first half of the consist matched the train that Moedinger photographed that day, which was featured on the cover of TRAINS in February 1942. William Moedinger’s son Linn was the person that did much of the restoration work on No. 20 during its time in Pennsylvania.

 

Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-2 No. 463, owned by the C&TS, was re-lettered as long-scrapped Rio Grande Southern No. 455 for the trip, and doubleheaded with No. 20. Thanks to decades of hard work by the Friend of the C&TS, the Cumbres & Toltec was able to provide a long string of authentic narrow-gauge equipment with an authentic RGS short caboose bringing up the markers. The scenery on the C&TS between Antonito and Osier is similar to the territory the RGS ran in.

 

The charter was an incredible experience and recreated scenes that hadn’t been seen since the 1940s. Was it worth the money? I’ll let you be the judge of that, but for me it certainly was. A big thanks is due Jim Wrinn and Kevin Gilliam, plus the men and women of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic for making it all possible.

 

I had heard there were still some ex-ATSF searchlights still standing where the transcon cuts through a section of SE Iowa.

 

An impromptu need to run my son back to Kirksville, MO where he attends school resulted in me spending the rest of the day in the area with very profitable results.

 

First there were a couple of eastbounds, which the afternoon sun doesn't really favor. The second EB was still passing when the first of the westbounds of the day, a unit covered hopper train, ducked under the signal bridge at 241.

 

-BNSF ET44C4 #3846, ES44C4 #6702 leading power

-Westbound unit covered hoppers

-BNSF (ex-ATSF) Marceline Sub, MP 241

-239th Ave Crossing, Montrose, IA

-November 9, 2017

 

TT1_9743_edited-1

Bodie, California, is a ghost town on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California, United States, about 75 miles (120 km) southeast of Lake Tahoe. It is located at 38°12′42″N, 119°00′46″W, at an elevation of 8369 feet (2550 m).

 

Discovery

 

Gold was discovered in 1859 by prospector W. S. Bodey (also spelled Body), after whom the town was named. Bodey died in November after making a supply trip to Monoville and perishing in a blizzard.

 

In 1876, the Standard Company discovered a profitable deposit of gold, which transformed Bodie from an isolated mining camp of few prospectors and company employees to a Wild West boomtown. Rich discoveries in the adjacent Bodie Mine during 1878 attracted even more hopeful people. By 1880 Bodie boasted a population of nearly 10,000.

 

As a bustling gold mining center, Bodie was famous for its lawlessness. At its peak it had 60 saloons. Murders, barroom brawls, and stagecoach holdups were regular occurrences. Legend has it that a little girl, upon finding out that her family was moving there, prayed one night, "Goodbye God, we are going to Bodie." But a local editor claimed she had really prayed, "Good. By God we are going to Bodie."

 

Gold bullion from the town's nine stamp mills was shipped to Carson City, Nevada by way of Aurora, Wellington, and Gardnerville. Most shipments were accompanied by an armed guard. Once the bullion reached Carson City, it was delivered to the mint or sent by rail to the mint in San Francisco.

 

A first in electrical power

 

In 1893 the Standard Company built its own hydroelectric plant, located approximately 13 miles away on Green Creek, above Bridgeport, California. The plant developed a maximum of 130 horsepower and 6,600 volts alternating current to power the company's 20-stamp mill. This pioneering installation is marked as one of the first transmissions of electricity over long-distance.

  

Interesting points about town

 

Bodie had its own Chinatown, which had several hundred Chinese residents at one point, and even included a Taoist temple. Chinese workers earned their incomes mainly from selling vegetables, operating laundries, and cutting, hauling, and selling firewood.

 

Bodie has a cemetery on the outskirts of town and a nearby mortuary which is the only building in the town built of red brick three courses thick, most likely for insulation from the intense summer heat which would make undertaking a malodorous job.

 

As with most remote mining towns, Bodie had a popular, though clandestinely important red light district on the north end of town. From this is told the unsubstantiated story of Rosa May, a prostitute who, in the style of Florence Nightingale, came to the aid of the town menfolk when a serious epidemic struck the town at the height of its boom. She was attributed to giving life-saving care to many, but was denied burial within the gates of the town cemetery, remaining a social outcast even to her death.

 

In town's center stands the Miners Union Hall, a general meeting place for residents. It now serves as a quasi town museum. As a State Park, the ranger station is located in one of the original homes on Green Street.

  

Weather

 

Summers in Bodie were hot, but in winter, temperatures often plummeted well below 0°F, and winds could sweep across the valley at close to 100 miles per hour. These days nights stay plenty cold even throughout the summer months, and to this day the ghost town most often holds the nightly records for coldest temperature in the nation. The harsh weather is due to a particularly bad combination of a very high altitude, (8,400 ft.), and a very exposed plateau, with little in the way of a natural surrounding wall to protect the long, flat piece land from the elements. Plenty of firewood was needed to keep residents warm through the long winters, possibly related to the fact that there are very few trees today in the area. Many inadequately prepared residents perished during the winter of 1878–1879, which was particularly harsh.

  

Authentic ghost town

 

Though greatly reduced in prominence, Bodie held a permanent residency through most of the 20th century. Bodie is now the Wild West's most authentic, intact ghost town, even after a fire ravaged much of the downtown business district in 1932. The town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and in 1962 it became Bodie State Historic Park

 

Today, Bodie is preserved in a state of arrested decay. Only a small part of the town survives. Visitors can walk the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of over 10,000 people. Interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods. Bodie is open all year, but the most comfortable time to visit is during the summer months.

  

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

after a long and profitable day out in Brum and having met some fellow 'Flickrites' for the first time, 67020 at the rear of the WAG has just deposited 'Yours Truly' back in Bangor.

For a 'snapshot' I was well pleased with the result - especially the reflection!

March 20th 2018