Part 2

 

Ace up a Satin Sleeve

Dealt New Cards

  

At the end of our last episode the thief had put knockout drops in her wealthy victim's wine and as they were asleep had stripped them of their glittering valuables reluctantly leaving the girls still clad in their ultra-expensive gowns.

 

She should have by all means left at that point, for the two girls who had unwarily invited a stranger to their secret rendezvous, had been tauntingly wearing a tad bit over £70,000 in jewels between them. All now in the thief’s possession.

 

But back at her sports car, she began having second doubts.

 

But taking a couple of steps back, let us join the thief at the point she was leaving with just the unfortunate young ladies’ jewellery. And she what may have happened if she had followed a different path.

 

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

 

From the female thief’s point of view.

 

Stripped of their jewels I now pondered over lifting off their fancy gowns. instead, I elected to just take the sleeping girl's fancy designer purses and head off, bird in hand.

 

So swinging the purses happily I made my way to the sports coupe and hid all

My ill-gotten gains in my sports coupe’s boot.

 

Closing it I looked back over towards the gazebo and let out a long sigh.

 

I could see Lilly’s pricey rhinestone belt shining and shimmering around her waist, filling me with a shivering desire as it beckons to me like a moth to the flame.

 

I had tried not to be obviously drooling over it, but it had looked so irresistibly pretty on young Lilly that it had been hard not to. As had the rest of her simply sumptuous attire, not to mention Cadies also.

 

A thought, like a dog worrying an old shoe, would not let me go.

“I would probably never have another opportunity like this again.”

 

Was it with it to make a few quid more?

 

I muttered under my breath

“Buggard Bloody well scrump it all anyway and just do it.”

 

I quickly ran back to the pair of passed-out pretty ones whose only remaining valuables were the expensively fancy designer clothes on their backs.

 

I knew a back alley shop in London that would gladly take any designer clothes off my hands for a nice profit, never any questions asked.

 

Quick now I scolded myself, if you must. But only what the girls were wearing would be valuable enough to be worth the risk I was taking.

 

I passed up Lilly and went straight to my young “Chocolate Delight”.

 

I first pulled off her silver gemstone pumps.

 

Cadie did not stir as I leaned over her svelte figure, reaching behind her and untied the small bow of her tingly-feeling glossy gown’s attached satin sash, then unzipped her dress.

 

I then lifted her from the stairs and laid her down on the polished floor of the gazebo.

 

I gently pull the thicke gown with its shiny rhinestone trimmings down over her shoulders and then off her arms.

 

Then pulled it easily from her waist over her legs and off.

 

Lifting the expensively soft gown with its rhinestone trimmings, I folded it over my arm while looking down at Cadie, now clad only in a thin pricey full silk slip of chocolate brown that nicely outlined the subtle bumps and curves of her passed-out figure. The young imp was daringly not wearing a bra!

 

With wicked intentions I reached over and fondled her hot breasts, watching with bated breath as her hard nipples raised in twin points under her slip.

 

She never stirred.

 

I decided to stop there and not remove the fancy slip from her naked body.

 

It had been all too easy, and quick.

 

Reinforced, I turned and faced the bench that doll faced Lilly was passed out on.

 

I went over and carefully folded the gown before gently laying it upon the bench.

 

I bent down and pulled off Lilly’s fancy red leather high heels.

 

Reaching up I undid the rhinestone clasp of Lilly’s belt and attempted to pull it off like I was doing one of those easy-looking belt lifts professional pickpockets do that I’ve seen performed on the Telly.

 

After a couple of telltale tugs, I managed to pull and tug off the shimmering rhinestone belt from around her thin waist.

 

An easy lift? Balderdash….

 

I then went reaching behind Lilly, slumped her forward, and as her head laid on my shoulder, unbuttoned the black of her ultra soft satin blouse and unzipped her far too shiny silk skirt. I leaned her back against the bench and pulled off her blouse, I saw a glint of gold around her throat. A thin gold chain was there hanging, its end caught in her Lacey red brassier.

 

How had I missed that?

 

I undid the chain and lifted it. A small round diamond of a full carat came out flashing.

 

After I stuffed away the prize, I peeled off her long silk skirt and gathered it up with the blouse and gown.

 

Leaving her only clad in The red bra that held her plumply youthful breasts, and the long black half-slip hanging limply down from her naked waist.

 

Taking the clothes and shoes, I turned and headed back out.

 

All the while chastising myself for letting my greed-ridden desires get the best of me.

 

I threw the richly designer-created pile of clothes in the back of my coup’s jump-seat

 

I was totally bursting out at the seams over the successful playing out of my long-held trump card,

 

Then my hot euphoria was quickly, coldly doused out.

 

I spotted the twin headlamps of a car slowly approaching from down the road. Opposite of the way I came in.

 

There was nothing for it, I had no time to escape.

 

Locking the coupe, I ducked back into the tall shrubs lining the fence.

 

“Ruddy hell, am I nicked? Is my played ace now going to be trumped?”

 

I watch as an expensive, black Mercedes motorcar slowly pulls in, crunching on the gravel.

 

I chastised myself for being greedy. If I had just been happy with just taking their jewels, I would have been long gone, idiot!

 

The door opens and a lone figure elegantly alights. Her shimmering dress poured fetchingly down along her figure. A satin kimono-clad figure I knew.

 

It was non-other than the errant Ginny. And she had come alone…

 

My mood brightened considerably.

“Hold on, what have we here?”

 

Her mouth-watering emerald jewelry was flickering, as was the handsome rhinestone-outlined dragon on the front of her expensive black satin kimono-style gown.

 

If I thought the diamonds poor Cadie had so unluckily flaunted were valuable. The emeralds that Ginny was wearing came a close second( if one added in the emerald-laden necklace I had found in Craig’s pocket), with little Lilly’s rubies a farther back third.

 

To say that this turn of events had taken my breath away was an understatement. My heart was now beating so hard it was surreal. The thought came to me that if it had been my Chocolate Delight’s mum coming here checking on her offspring, I probably would be having a heart attack!

 

Ginny swishes her way towards the gate, looking at my sports coupe in passing.

 

She says to herself, loud enough to catch my ear.

“That necklace-lifting prig Craig is still here, but who does this belong to? “

 

She disappeared through the gate and I sprang into action, having decided I had two major options, and I was choosing the more risky, but far more profitable, one.

 

Going to my coupe I opened the boot and from my burgling kit pulled out my knit head mask, torch, gloves, a pair of steel handcuffs in a plastic baggie(no fingerprints), and my ultra-sharp reliable Fairbairn–Sykes military dagger, along with a small leather satchel.

 

I sagely did not fully close the coupes boot.

 

Putting up my long hair, I slipped the mask over my head, put on the gloves, placed the handcuffs and torch in the satchel, and carried the knife with me.

 

Then I went to the back of the other two cars and punctured their back tyres with the strong blade of my Fairbairn. The hissing was then thankfully not loud enough to reach my intended victim’s jewel-laden ears.

 

Now In full prowler mode, I slinked back in through the cemetery gates.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^

I saw the puzzled Ginny at the pavilion, trying unsuccessfully to wake up the knicker-clad girls. She then picked up the bottle of wine and sniffed the remnants.

 

Acquiring Ginny’s jewels while she was in a knockout drop-induced sleep was out of the question. I was just going to have to be rude and have her deal with being robbed of her tantalizing jewels the old fashion way, via a commoner’s stick-up.

 

I circled back around to just behind the pavilion, nearby where I had left Craig.

 

I could see Ginny still looking around, confused and wondering. She had had not time yet to realize she may be in peril.

 

Using a low raspy voice I called out….

 

“Help …”

 

I saw her freeze, then look around into the shadows.

 

“Ginny…help me…!”

 

She heard me clearly say that. And lifting the front of her gown, hurried off around the pavilion.

 

She dropped the hemline of her gown as she reached the shadows of a small patch of trees.

 

I perked up.

 

There is something immensely scintillating and special in watching a pretty lady wearing a sexy slithering gown and uncannily sparkling jewels, walking out all alone late at night, whether it be sinister woods, dark alley, or foggy waterfront. When I see that in a movie I always feel a twinge of peril, whether it’s true or not.

 

Maybe that’s why so many old movies film sequences like that, even if it adds little to the plot.

 

Tonight though, it added very much to my wicked intentioned plot.

 

I watched her come out from the shadows, the sheen of her sexy long satin kimono with the lime green inner lining Ginny was wearing took my breath away as it was picked up in the moonlit gravestone-filled clearing. Her emeralds started sparkling in a mad frenzy as the moon’s light ratted them out.

 

She spied Craig, all trussed up, and gasped, placing a richly ring-bearing hand

to her mouth, and what I was sure was a briskly beating heart as the other covered a plump tight dress-covered breast.

 

That was when I began to sneak up behind her. My own heart beating as the silky sheen of her long gown called out to the thief in me.

 

Even if I hadn’t seen that she was wearing jewels, I would have known she had to have been wearing them, just by the way that pretty gown was so expensively pouring along her youthful figure. No lady would do such a disservice by wearing a gown that luxurious without the added effect of wearing with it her best sparklers.

 

A further case in point:

How the ill-fated Cadie had been wearing such a wickedly pretty chocolate brown satin gown tonight, her mum had insisted she must wear wickedly valuable diamonds to go with it.

 

Reaching my unwary victim, I stuck the round end of my torch into her sleek back I felt her stiffen, and I snarled…

 

“Right my pretty lady, ‘ere now, just clam up, and drop your purse. Good girl. Now put up your hands where I can see ‘em”

  

She obeyed , her whole figure quivering as she raised her hands. The magnificent emeralds hanging down from her wrists and worn on her fingers, glittered with stark brilliance in the light of the full moon.

 

Then she actually asked…

“Wha…what is it you want from me?”

 

I whistled. Then said in a raspy commanding tone as I spelled it out to her….

“Luv, Where did you come from? Right, YOU know what I want. Those sparklers that you’re wearing. Shouldn’t be out walking alone wearing ‘em, that’s your mistake. Word to the wise, one’s bound to attract the wrong kind of notice wearing out expensive jewellery while walking out all alone... So now, There will be no trouble, right my pretty lady?!”

 

She nodded complacently, I knew I had her in hand.

 

I prodded her shiny back, saying…

 

“Okay. First step. I’m taking a fancy to that simply lovely gown you have on. So peel it off. Lady…!”

 

She miserably obeyed, reaching up and unzipping her satin gown, letting it slide off her figure, falling in an inky black and lime green pool down around her feet. Her showy bracelets and rings glittered quite like wildfire as she did do.

 

She was quivering though it was a warm night, but in her defense, she was clad only in a thin satiny long lime green full slip.

 

Then trembling, she raised her hands back up over her head without being told. How overly obedient we British are.

 

“Ok, drop those hands and hold them behind you.”

 

Ginny did. I looked at her flashy jewels.

 

With my free hand I ripped off her fine emerald bracelets and yanked off her three emerald cocktail rings from her left hand, and a diamond ring from the index finger of her right.

 

Once I finished with that task I pulled out my handcuffs

 

“Hold steady pretty lady, and keep your hands locked behind you.”

 

I put one end around her right wrist.

 

Ginny bulked at the feel of cold steel.

 

“Easy now.”

 

I attached the other end to encircle her left wrist

“Lose the Sandals lady”

 

She kicked off her gleaming silver rhinestone sandals with emerald buckles.

 

“Is that everything lady? “

 

She slightly shook her head yes, I knew she was trying to keep me from seeing her long earrings hidden under her waxy silken locks of hair.

 

“Well let’s hope you’re not lying, that’s no way to conduct a business transaction like ours.”

 

With my teeth, I pulled off the glove of my free hand

 

I then thoroughly patted down her warm figure encased in her ultra-soft slip lime green slip. Finding nothing but confirmation of my earlier guess that indeed, she, like her girlfriend Cadie, wore no brassiere holding down her shapely breasts.

 

“Disappointed honey, that you didn’t wear a necklace with such a pretty outfit?”

 

She stood stone still.

 

I pulled back her hair. She began to quiver as I saw clearly, her bright hanging emerald gemmed earrings.

 

Again I whistled.

“Not good lady, holding out is never smart. But I don’t blame you for trying, they are pretty. Still, I’ll be having them of course “

 

From behind I pulled back her long hair and pulled off each of the Long emerald earrings. As well as popping out a two-carat diamond stud from her left ear.

 

Ok, turn let’s around.

 

I stayed behind her as she did, holding my torch to her back. I had her move to the front of an ancient funeral coach horse-hitching post.

 

I undid one cuff and re-locked it through the rusty hitching ring.

 

“Sit her, and keep quiet.

 

Quickly I backed up, then reached down and Picked up the gown and shoes I said …

 

“Thanks, lady!”

 

And backed away.

 

Once past the pavilion, I took the long way around so she wouldn’t catch any sight of me

 

Reaching the green sports coupe, I threw everything in the boot, including my mask, and shut it securely.

 

Then I pulled off and tossed away the branch covering my plate, hoped in, gave a lift to the engine, and, probably too quickly, pulled out.

 

I went back the way I came.

 

Daringly going down the road for a full kilometre before activating my headlamps.

 

I then, finally let myself have a proper breath knowing I indeed, had gotten away with a delicious little haul.

 

As I drove on I mulled over the night's serendipity of events, and the risks I had taken. But it has all been well worth it.

 

The only nagging bit was the thought of what it has been Cadie’s mum instead of Ginny coming alone there tonight that I still had implanted in my head.

 

I found myself literally drooling at the thought of that expensively wrapped in sky blue taffeta lady invitingly wearing expensive jewellery approaching me.

 

Then a eureka moment exploded into my thought, pushing it out of my head.

 

I immediately pulled the coupe over and tried to clear my head to really get a grasp on envisioning this new revelation.

 

I had Cadie’s purse and her twin’s wallet. So I had their parent's address, and possibly even a passkey.

 

Their parents should be home by now and undressed in bed asleep. There should be no worries over their offspring who it appeared went out late to the cemetery all the time.

 

My collection of victims at said cemetery would be out for quite a bit, the only wild card was Ginny. But even if she worked free somehow, she would have to travel by bare feet, and even if she got a ride, one would imagine instinct would be for her to head to her own house first.

 

And the real temptation that gave some credence to my wild idea of really stretching the limits of my luck further tonight….?

 

The scent of £100,000 in dazzling diamonds and sapphires I knew were somewhere very close by…..

 

I pulled back into the road. My mind is racing. I spotted the area by the bridge I had pulled into to doctor the wine bottle. I screeched In. Then I do a quick search to locate Cadie’s purse. I pulled Craig’s billfold from the front of my dress.

 

Quickly I went through them. First finding what looked like a pass key. Then in both note-thick wallets, I found their licenses with the same address. My heart leaped. I had seen the road on my way outside the village. It wasn’t hard to miss since it identified an area of large estates. I already knew the manor itself to be located on the cemetery side of the woods.

 

My heart was beating fast, my fingers began the familiar tingling they have in the presence of a score. My adventures this very early morning were far from over. Though the risks were far greater, especially considering all the mischief I had already been up to.

 

But I needed to grab hold of my horses, my emotions, this was not a sure thing. They not only had to be home but asleep for this to even get off the ground. But It wouldn’t hurt to have a quick drive by and take a look now, would it?

 

Excitedly I got my sports car back

On the Abbots Chase and drove to the village turn off. The village was six Kilometers away. The road to the estates was 3 kilometers, which meant that there was probably that much area of forest between my objective and the cemetery directly behind it.

 

I turned off on the road where the estates were located, the one I was looking for was on my driver's side. All of the estates on that side were larger, about two hectares in size, with wide swatches of woods on either boundary, isolating them from their neighbors on either side of the large houses with their gardens and well-manicured lawns that made up each of the estates.

 

I drove past the stone manor house that matched the address I was seeking. There was a black sedan in the driveway. A light was one in a front room that had a curved bowed window.

 

“Not perfect,” I told myself, yet knowing I was going to try and have a closer look if I could.

 

One more house then I reached the end of the road. In the woods, there was a turnaround with a few lonely cars parked off on a convenient residential overflow side lot.

 

That was as good an omen as I’d ever seen. The Lady’s blazing Sapphires were that much closer to becoming mine.

 

I backed in at the end of the row.

 

Grabbing my satchel I emptied it into the boot. Packing mask, gloves, torch, and dagger. I walked out making sure my long hair hung a bit so it concealed one side of my face.

 

I slipped into the shadows of the woods that lined the backyards of the estates. Knowing that the cemetery lay on the opposite side made it all more dangerously chilling. I walked through thanking the moon for being out in full that evening. I turned and skirted the woods behind the first estate then reaching the patch that separated the two estates I cut up a few feet in and stopped. I was watching the garden-filled backyard of my targeted manor house.

 

Then, putting on a mask and gloves, I edged along the woods studying the house. It was a two-story old stone building constructed on the grounds of a former estate a few years after the war. There were no lights on upstairs

 

On the backside was a long atrium-style sun room. Outside that was a back patio that overlooked the huge backyard. It was on the patio that I first heard voices

before they came into view.

 

I kept going through the woods until I saw them sprawled out on lounge chairs

 

The svelte lady was unmistakable Cadie’s Mum. She was sitting next to an actually rather common-looking bearded bloke. He resembled a specimen one would find as an Oxford don. So it was hard to picture what he does for a living to account for the family's wealth.

 

Maybe inherited, on both sides?

 

She was drinking wine, he had a bourbon. They were cuddling into one another as they watch the moon and stars, facing the yard and gardens. The gardens are open house side but surrounded by hedges on the other 3, with the end facing the woods.

 

The Husband Is dressed in a bronze-coloured smoking jacket, black satin night pants, and a long cigar smoldering in an ebony ashtray. An expensive bourbon bottle is next to it, along with a long thin, solid gold box of matches.

 

Pretty Mum is wearing an absolutely adorable long heavy purple satin nightgown, with a cowlick top, that could almost pass for an evening gown. The gown’s rich sheen added to her desirable sexuality. A matching robe is spread out on the lounge chair. Hair is luxuriously still up, the thin sapphire tiara sparkling. Her only other Jewellery is her remaining brightly flickering gemmed rings. She is drinking wine, white.

 

Then as I watched in awe, she removed the tiara and shook down her hair. Then rather sexily sucked off her rings. Laying them out on the small table with the gold matchbox. All laid out right next to the heavy ebony ashtray.

 

So close and yet so far.

 

But I was close enough to them in the woods on that side to clearly hear them talking.

 

I was not surprised to overhear that they had been discussing the missing pinkie ring.

 

I listened close with my heart palpating, for several reasons.

 

Her husband was saying….

 

“Honey don’t fret, it will probably turn up after cleaning.

 

She answered with an upbeat voice.

 

“Of course you are right. Though I’ll have to ask Cadence and Craig, they seem to have that knack for finding my lost jewelry. I just wish I wasn’t such a klutz about such things. It’s always something that happens to me .”

 

“Where are the twins? They’re not home yet…”

 

"Probably out with their friends. My the three girls, Cadence, Lilly, and Ginny looked breathtaking tonight."

 

"As did you my love. And Cadie really wore those diamonds of yours well this evening."

 

He leaned over and began doing that kissing thing couples preparing for a romp in the hay. With such an enthusiastic manner in play, I knew my time burgling their manor was now severely going to be limited.

 

I had heard and seen enough. I started sneaking through the woods retracing my steps back for the front door.

 

I left the woods and running across the ribbon of cut lawn, plastered myself against the side wall, then inched my way to the front door. All was quiet out front. I made it to the door and as my excitement mounted, inserted the pass key and turned it. The lock clicked and I turned the knob, opening the door, ready to bolt if needed.

 

Nothing happened.

 

The house was obedient, staying quiet inside. I slipped in, closing the door behind me. I looked around. I was in a large living room with two rooms off either side. I could see a crack of light coming from what I thought had from the outside looked like a den. On the back of a comfy couch hung a mink wrap. Her designer evening purse was on the seat.

 

In front of me was a wide staircase leading upstairs. I could see the doors of the bedrooms along an open corridor.

 

I bolted to the staircase and nimbly sprinted upstairs.

 

There was a double door at the top, which I correctly guessed was the master suite as I entered.

 

I let the pencil-thin beam of my torch sweep the elegant furnishings of the room.

 

On a side table, I found the Father's gold money clip fat with bills, a gold lighter, and an opened gold cigar case all conveniently laid out for the picking.

 

I scooped them up as I completed my sweep. Soon finding my objective laid out upon an old oak dresser.

 

The sapphires and diamonds were doing their amazing sparkle of a dance upon the dresser. But then £185,000 Worth of jewellery does that. For I had now realized with adrenaline-pumping excitement that my original estimate of the mum’s collection as seen from across the room had been grossly underestimated.

 

Her stunning gown was laid out on the satin cover of the bed situated In between me and the dresser.

 

I went over and stuffed her gown on top of my satchel, this one was mine.

 

I left the master suite with one other quick stop in mind.

 

I checked the other rooms on the floor. Three were both guest rooms. The fourth door led up to a third level. I sprinted up the stairs. There In The converted Attic were two doors. The first I opened was the twin brother’s room. Nothing I wanted there. The good stuff would be in his twin sister’s boudoir, which is what I was wasting precious time searching for.

 

I went inside the other room.

 

This was my target, the bedroom having the titillating feeling of obviously being a wealthy girl’s lair.

 

A fancy dresser was off to one side with a 3 drawer jewel case. I went over but the drawers contained only gold, silver, and rhinestones. I empty them anyway.

 

Next to the box, in a sterling silver frame, was a black and white photo of a younger Cadie, standing next to an ancient stone fence, looking coyly over her shoulder at the camera. She was breathtaking in a formal black satin gown and white pearls.

 

It was so adorable that I snatched it up for a trophy.

 

Now, in the centre of the room was a four-poster queen bed with chocolate brown satin sheets. On one pillow was laid out a stark white satin night dress. I went over and pulling off to one side the elegant night dress, I slipped my fingers under the satin-covered pillow.

 

My fingers felt the rewarding touch of two objects. One is a soft silken jewel satchel. I pulled out both and discovered the other was a small locked leather diary.

 

I unzipped the satchel and found it had two sections.

 

In one was nestled a darling set of expensively gleaming white pearls.

 

The other side held a collection of petite diamond jewelry!

 

I whistled.

 

So this is what Cadie had been originally going to wear out this evening. The diamonds were pretty, and worth a nice bit, £30,000. but rather too dainty. Though no burglar worth their salt would have passed this pricey “Ice” up, but If my young Cadence (my chocolate delight) had been wearing these sparklers out, with no broach, I may have just passed them by as I was leaving after the bridal toss. I shook my head at the wonder of it all.

 

The pearls were worth about £8000, I was very glad she had not worn them.

 

My night would have been considerably less profoundly profitable if she had.

 

“Pretty.”

 

Is all I said while with wicked intent I added the silken satchel to my haul. Then the diary and white satin nightdress were placed on top, the leather satchel was now overflowing.

  

I quickly scurried out and down the steps.

 

I listened at the door, all was quiet.

 

I Skedaddled

 

No time for a proper burgle.

 

I snatch up the purse and pulled off the mink wrap.

 

I went back out the front figuring the owners would be coming in soon through the back.

 

I made it to the woods. Hearing grunts and moans I peeked out to the patio as I passed. I was right about one thing, just wrong about the location.

 

The mum was leaning over her husband wearing only the open robe, her long hair hanging down, covering both their faces.

 

I could hear naked sweaty flesh smacking against naked sweaty flesh, along with a backdrop of animalistic grunts.

 

The luscious purple satin nightgown had been taken off and lay on the floor partially hanging down over the outside of the deck.

 

Laying down my stolen goods I daringly sprinted across in a crouching posture, and reaching the deck easily slipped off the lovely thing. Then reaching up I liberated the small table of the gold matchbox, the thin sapphire tiara, and the flashy rings the mum had taken off. I did not bother to take a puff of the cigar.

 

The sounds of their lovemaking covered up my actions. My nose caught the mixed smells of alcohol, stale cigar smoke, expensive perfume, and sweaty sex.

 

I backed myself into the woods, collected my stash, and headed off. The couple on the deck never missed a beat with their lovemaking.

 

I made it to the back woods reclaimed my stash, and circled my way back out retracing my steps. Smiling behind my mask as I finally reached the still-deserted parking area where my coupe was waiting.

 

I stood watch in the woods as I removed my mask.

 

All was happily quiet.

 

I slipped out of the shadows and went to my sports coupe. Opening the boot I tossed in my full satchel. Along with my mask and gloves. I wrapped the Mink around my shoulders and got in the driver's side.

 

Again giving life to the engine I left by driving slowly past the estates, Cadie’s house was still dark except for that window in the front room. The manor was holding close onto its’ undiscovered secrets.

 

I reached the turn, and proceeded through the silent village, forcing myself to do so at a crawl.

 

Once out on an open road, I went at a more reasonable pace along the remainder of the old road.

 

It wasn’t till I reached the highway leading out that I gunned the engine into life and made good my giddy escape.

 

££££££££££

 

It wasn’t until Monday, as I finished the business I had in London, that I stopped at a little village on my way home for afternoon tea. It was there that I pulled out Cadie’s leather diary, easily picking the lock the day before. I re-read through the crisp handwritten notes, gaining insights into the wealthy girl’s thoughts and desires. Learning some rather interesting tidbits of her life, and the rather intriguing games that her and her brother shared with their friends.

 

I had been smiling to myself, expectantly licking my red lips.

 

For I knew stolen jewellery would be replaced once the insurance was paid out. New, luxuriously breathtaking gowns were to be purchased.

 

I had hoped to glean information from the diary for a future burglary. Which I did. But as I read on, I thought about playing some games of me own devices with the insights I was gaining into Miss Cadie’s personal life.

 

Apparently the group liked to role-play at being pickpockets.

 

Rather telling considering all that I had pulled over them.

 

And after a cooling off for a period of a year or two, I could easily make use of the information in the little leather diary to lure out yet again Jewel-laden Miss Cadie, possibly along with her wealthy girlfriends as well, into a second profitable trap.

 

But no way as profitable as the trap I had sprung on them over the weekend.

 

I closed the diary and felt a deliciously delightful chill of excitement sweep over me.

 

Fini

The ingredients for one snazy steel wool spinner...

 

This is essentially an over-glorified homemade dog leash, but it's made out of steel, won't catch on fire, and will last forever.

 

1) 4 feet of vinyl coated 2/32" steel rope.

2) 2 flush mount cable clamps

3) 1 swivel hook

4) bare copper electrical wire

 

All of this stuff can be purchased at any home-improvement store. The steel wool will likely be in the paint section. Buy the finest grade possible.

 

With the clamps, I made a wrist strap on one end and fastened the swivel hook on the other end of the steel rope. The swivel hooks allow me to easily switch out what I have attached. Sometimes I may clip some elctric glow sticks on the end (I bought mine at Home Depot).

 

Take a piece of copper wire about 6-8 inches long. Make a hook or loop on one end so you can tie the wire to the rope. Bend the free end of the wire around a steel wool pad. I've tried different cages and shapes, but just twisting the wire around the steel wool seems to work best.

Drink first then put the tents up

Te Araroa Trail.

Off trail hiking

Mount Cook,

Canterbury

South Island.

New Zealand.

www.4seasonbackpacking.co.uk

We really should have got this and CBF 31Y posed together for a picture ! Two of the oddest of oddballs - number 99 was the original prototype Olympian, built in 1979, and bought by Stevenson's as an empty shell in 1983. It took nearly 18 months for it to finally see the light of day, and by all accounts those that were made to drive it would have quite happily seen it put back in its box. Its Gardner / Voith combination was particularly lacking in performance, so it was not suited to hilly routes, nor indeed to ones with potholes or road humps, as its suspension was also said to be non-existent !

 

It ran for just over 12 years, and was later stripped for parts, going for scrap in 1998.

 

Spath, Uttoxeter depot, 12/1/85

 

I think something is missing and I hope you guys can help me out :)

and what do you think?

Putten 16 juli 2011

Put one of my Lunar Eclipse shots and a Heron photo from last weeks heron adventure and voila !

One of negatives of having the mobile in a waterproof case was that it put a haze on the photos - lesson learnt.

We are bound together for a lifetime or two.

Put some bells on top

When the Alaska Railroad purchased two SD70MACs from the KCS I was curious as to what number series they would be in. Well the wait is over as they are 4130 as seen here and the other is 4129. This view shows the slightly lighter yellow and what appears to me to be a slightly different font. Nonetheless the railroad will put these units to good use. I believe this was the first revenue run in the new skin.

After encountering problems with the lead unit at the start of the trip , EL63 "Sanitly" and GL110 "Tawriffic" stand in Brodmeadow Yard with SRS' 4192 extra Sandgate service to Botany.

The train was split into two portions in the yard and stabled until later in the day when GL102 "Sunshine" came up light engine.

De laatste dagen is de 6461 regelmatig ingezet voor militair vervoer. Zo ook vandaag, als de 6461 een sleep van 't Harde naar de Vlasakkers trekt. Volgens zeggen is deze 6400 de enige van zijn soort die in NS-kleuren rijdt, maar wel een DB-logo draagt.

These panels were put back together like the rest of the Loggetta when the bell tower collapsed beside it on July 14th 1902.

Here is a bit of history from Wikipedia:

When the lean-to stalls were removed from the sides of the bell tower in 1873–1874, the base was discovered to be in poor condition. But restoration was limited to repairing surface damage. Similarly, excavations in Saint Mark's Square in 1885 raised concerns for the state of the foundation and the stability of the structure. Yet inspection reports by engineers and architects in 1892 and 1898 were reassuring that the tower was in no danger. Ensuing restoration was sporadic and primarily involved the substitution of weathered bricks.

In July 1902, work was underway to repair the roof of the loggetta. The girder supporting the roof where it rested against the tower was removed by cutting a large fissure, roughly 40 centimetres (16 in) in height and 30 centimetres (12 in) in depth, at the base of the tower. On 7 July, it was observed that the shaft of the tower trembled as workmen hammered the new girder into place. Glass tell-tales were inserted into crevices in order to monitor the shifting of the tower. Several of these were found broken the next day.

By 12 July, a large crack had formed on the northern side of the tower, running almost the entire height of the brick shaft. More accurate plaster tell-tales were inserted into the crevices. Although a technical commission was immediately formed, it determined that there was no threat to the structure. Nevertheless, wooden barricades were erected to keep onlookers at a safe distance as pieces of mortar began to break off from the widening gap and fall to the square below. Access to the tower was prohibited, and only the bell signalling the beginning and end of the work day was to be rung in order to limit vibrations. The following day, Sunday, the customary band in Saint Mark's Square was cancelled for the same reason.

The next morning, Monday 14 July, the latest tell-tales were all discovered broken; the maximum crack that had developed since the preceding day was 0.75 centimetres (0.30 in). At 09:30 it was ordered that the square be evacuated. Stones began to fall at 9:47, and at 9:53 the entire bell tower collapsed. Subsequent investigations determined that the immediate cause of the disaster was the collapse of the access ramps located between the inner and outer shafts of the tower. Beginning at the upper levels, these fell one by one atop the others. Without their support, the outer shaft then caved in against the inner shaft. Because of this implosion and the tower's isolated position, the resulting damage was relatively limited. Apart from the loggetta, which was completely demolished, only a corner of the historical building of the Marciana Library was destroyed. The basilica itself was unharmed, although the pietra del bando, a large porphyry column from which laws used to be read, was damaged. The sole fatality was the custodian's cat. That same evening, the communal council convened in an emergency session and voted unanimously to rebuild the bell tower exactly as it was. The council also approved an initial 500,000 Lire for the reconstruction. The province of Venice followed with 200,000 Lire on 22 July. Although a few detractors of the reconstruction, including the editorialist of the Daily Express and Maurice Barrès, claimed that the square was more beautiful without the tower and that any replica would have no historical value, "dov’era e com’era" ("where it was and how it was") was the prevailing sentiment.

▌║││█║▌│║█║▌█║▌│█│

 

Copyright for this photo belongs solely to UAE TRANS ©

Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer

 

Taken By : UAE TRANS

   

PLZ DONT VIEW PUT COMMENT

The first substantial snow of the season. Today has been spent by the fire watching the white stuff continue to build up outside - it has snowed heavily since yesterday evening. Will definitely be getting some serious exercise shoveling snow tomorrow... [For 52.5 of 2010 Week 49 Theme: Door or Window.]

Stel 8740 is een van de allerlaatste VIRM-6'en die nog is getooid in het oudste / originele kleurenschema van NS. De doorgetrokken blauwe band loopt over het bovendek, terwijl de ramen van het onderdek worden omvat door korte blauwe banden.

 

De opvolger van dit kleurenschema ziet eruit als een soort feestslinger, waarbij de doorgetrokken blauwe band vanuit de ramen van de deuren steeds naar beneden loopt over de onderste ramen. Dit is deels het omgekeerde patroon van het originele schema.

 

Inmiddels is er ook een derde kleurenschema geintroduceerd, wat geheel anders is. Dit zogenaamde FLOW-kleurenschema kenmerkt zich door enorme witte NS-logo's op iedere bak, blauwe koppen met daartussen een overwegend geel geklerd reizigersgedeelte.

 

Naast deze drie standaard kleuren rijden er ook nog enkele "specials" rond in de vorm van de "Groene VIRM" en de "Lekker Lezen VIRM".

Golden hour along the Li River.

I am not sure if this qualifies as a proper fence shot. I saw this gnarled piece of wire at the end of the fence post and thought it looked like a bow you would put on a gift - do you see it or is it just me?

Happy Fence Friday!

Wie had gehoopt nog eens de creme kleurige brug in Putten te fotograferen met een mooie DDAR of andere trein eronder, die is nu te laat. Al een paar dagen is men bezig met het schilderen van de pasarelle, in de kleuren van het logo van de gemeente Putten: Beige en bruin. Allereerst wordt er een grondlaagje aangebracht, maar op sommige plaatsen is het bruin al duidelijk te zien. Wat beige lijkt op de foto is in werkelijkheid de oude kleur van de pasarelle, want de wittige vlakken zijn van een grondlaag voorzien. De nieuwe beige kleur heeft veel meer weg van de kleur van leren schoenen.

 

Hier passeert de 6506 met een sleepje wagens voor ’t Harde. Kennelijk worden ze daar weer even opgeslagen nu de grote militaire oefeningen achter de rug zijn.

 

Bunny suits

 

Scientists put on “bunny suits” before they collect samples at one of the selected sites. The suits protect the area and collected samples from contamination when investigating biological processes.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/Lora Bleacher

  

In June, five student journalists from Stony Brook University packed their hiking boots and hydration packs and joined a NASA-funded science team for 10 days on the lava fields of Kilauea, an active Hawaiian volcano. Kilauea’s lava fields are an ideal place to test equipment designed for use on Earth’s moon or Mars, because volcanic activity shaped so much of those terrains. The trip was part of an interdisciplinary program called RIS4E – short for Remote, In Situ, and Synchrotron Studies for Science and Exploration – which is designed to prepare for future exploration of the moon, near-Earth asteroids and the moons of Mars.

 

To read reports from the RIS4E journalism students about their experiences in Hawaii, visit ReportingRIS4E.com

 

NASA image use policy.

 

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

 

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Put my paint brush down and went out for an hour or so in the dull drizzly weather and got my boots muddy....

Keiv 60

Fuji Acros

Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 47 mm F 5.6 on a Canon EOS R5

- Polaroid 360

- Film Polaroid 669 exp : 08/00

Pave paradise, put up a parking lot! Or in Ozaukee County, another subdivision. By next year, I won't be able to get pix here. From my favorite Mequon park.

Mequon, WI, July 22, 2024.

Once I saw this on LVF, I put down my college work and rushed down to Morden Station to snap this!

 

For the first time in 4 years, one of route 434's 8.9m Enviro 200's appeared on route 293! This was due to Croydon having a shortage of double deckers available, including 293 allocated double decker 957, which had a mishap in Merstham last week. Since this was spare and had the blinds for the route, Metrobus ADL Enviro 200 190 (YY13VKP) was used. It is seen arriving into Morden Bus Station on its last route 293 journey before being subbed with 567.

Scoring under the depths of the sea , Puter'Maw use it's mandibles to grip prey and execute with a single blow.

Put out to pasture so to speak at Yetter, Iowa, this ex Canadian National SD40 works into its final years sorting cars at the Farmers Cooperative Company grain elevator in the darkening gloom of 05-20-2025. 1464-5295

Brown Birch Bolete (Leccinum scabrum) - edible but not worth the bother

puts it in your mouth

Charleston, SC

Postira - Škrip

Left foot my cousin--right foot her good friend that just passed. The original photo was taken on a happy day of being silly and painting toenails. I thought she should remember the happy feet/times with her friend.

Ne sećam se kada smo se prvi put videli

Verovatno zato što se znamo još iz prošlih života

Ne sećam se njegovog imena

Jer smo se poznavali još u iskonskom začetku

Kao svetlost muzika i miris

Sveopisiv i nedorečen je

Kao vreme i njegova godišnja doba

Promenjiv je u svojim jedinstvenim obrisima

Različit od sećanja

Identičan sa uspomenama

Vatra je u njemu rasplamsala želju za putem,

Voda mu je oprala krvave rane, poklone krajputaša,

Zemlja mu je podarila put,

A Vetar mu šapnuo pesmu o slobodi.

Sećam se svih njegovih reči,

Jer nikada uzalud govorio nije:

"Prijatelju, ti nisi putnik

Put je život tvoj

Zato nemoj da putuješ

Ne putuj, neg' živi

Rađaj se i umiri

'mesto da sediš na peronima

i čekaš sledeće vozove

da te vraćaju uvek natrag."

Dolazio je naglo i nenajavljeno

Klimnuo bi glavom umesto pozdrava

Blago nasmejan poput sećanja starca na detinjstvo

Umesto stiska ruke

Govorio je uvek tiho i zamišljeno

Puštajući da govor glasno odjekuje, dugo, dugo

I taman kad bih se zamislio nad ehom

On bi nestao, ostavljajući za sobom samo trag na putu:

"Kada bih znao da ti kažem,

Gde nas ovaj put koji živimo vodi,

Ja ne bih bio ovde s tobom

I sa ovom kišom, oblakom, gromom i blatom.

Jedino što mogu da ti kažem,

Je da u noći pogledaš mesec,

A po danu da vidiš sunce,

Pa da sam odabereš svoj put od onih koje ti oni pokazuju."

Zatim opet senka njegova,

Što je već tamo daleko i zamiče iza brda,

Ostavlja me da putujem

I radujem se našem sledećem susretu.

A prođe ponekad i mnogo leta,

Gorki putevi, slana mora i ambisi,

Dok nam se ne ukrste lenije

I prestanu oluje da šibaju, gromovi da tuku...

"Jedino ćeš posle oluje i "slote" pravi put naći,

Kada se razvedri i ukaže ti se kao proviđenje kakvo.

Ne budi tužan prijatelju, i kada ti suze krenu,

Sutra ćeš već leteti k'o ptica i pevaćeš...

Pevaćeš kad naiđeš odjednom,

Na sebe kako svojim putem hodiš,

I zaboravićeš da tražiš pravi put,

Jer će te on voditi još dalje, do početka."

 

Audio/Vide: Aleksandar Dickov

put the blame on mame, boys.

still do curta-metragem "coração solitário"

This angry little lady was sitting at the tip-top of one of the weeds in the rewilding area. She's a Brown Crab Spider, or Xysticus ferox, and a pretty big one at that! Like other crab spiders (Thomisidae), she's quickly identifiable by those super long front legs held out in a crab-like posture!

 

Honestly didn't think this was a spider, because all I saw was a pretty big (10mm?) dark spot in the crook of the leaves. Normally, that means some kind of beetle, so I leaned in to figure it out... This perfectly pissed off pair of peepers are what peered back at me! Once I pulled myself together, I managed to snag this shot.

 

At macro distances, you can truly get a feel for how armored these things are. Her legs are seriously beefy, and no doubt responsible for some dead insects in my yard. On top of that, the chelicerae are abnormally wide, implying there's some real force behind her bites! Outside of the usual scientific nerdery, though, I couldn't help but laugh at the pose. It's almost like she threw her arms up to challenge me to a fight!

 

...My money's on her.

 

This shot was captured using my Vivitar (Komine) 90mm f2.8 Macro in 1:1. This photo is uncropped. This insidious instigator is around 10-11mm long.

A red, burglar bird

I hope everyone is well and enjoying their weekend so far. This photo series is pretty near and dear to my heart. My Flickr friend, Kirstie Shanley

has been posting some of the most amazing protest shots so I thought I would share a few from my neck of the woods with her and with you all.

 

On March 11, 2017, women and men marched in 7 Caribbean countries in the first Women's Solidarity March, against Rape Culture and Gender Based Violence. Quite an event and so inspiring.

 

I don't know how much simpler the message should be. If there is any doubt:

NO doesn't mean "yes".

NO doesn't mean "maybe".

NO means "NO".

  

Have an awesome day, wherever you are!

 

Read more about the organisers, called Life In Leggings, here: www.facebook.com/pg/officiallifeinleggings/about/?ref=pag...

 

Read more about the cause in my blog post here:

www.nickyhighlanderphoto.com/blog/2017/3/28/life-in-leggi...

  

Catch me also on:

Website!: NickyHighlanderPhoto (dot) Com

Twitter: @nhighlanderfoto

Instagram: @nickyhighlander

 

Camera: NIKON D5200

Shutter speed: 0.00625 sec (1/160)

Aperture: f/6.3

ISO setting: 400

 

© Nicky Highlander Photography 2017

All Rights Reserved

.

 

"Love puts the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart."

~ Author Unknown

 

This kaleidoscope appears in the following linked slideshow:

Inspiration & Imagination (a slideshow with music)

 

My Kaleidoscope was created using my inspirational photo.

 

Thanks for stopping by

and God Bless,

hugs, Chris