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whatareyousearchingfordean · 3 years

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Happiness Continues

Part 11: The Delivery

Summary: Jensen and Y/n welcome their newest addition to this world.

Pairing: Jensen Ackles x Plus Size Reader

Word Count: 7.2K+

Warnings: Language, angst, descriptions of labor and birth

Author’s Note: Baby Ackles is finally ready to make their first appearance. If you have been following this story since the beginning, you may want to grab a tissue, there just might be some tears (happy tears tho). Also, I will preface this chapter by saying I have never been pregnant nor given birth so please don’t @ me with any inaccuracies, I tried my dudes. Special thanks to my loves for the constant undeserved support and my devoted beta @emoryhemsworth xoxo Alex

Catch up with the series masterlist and then check out Alexandra’s Library for more by yours truly!

The winter sun had long ago dipped underneath the horizon, the night bringing a new level of quiet to the residential corner where the birthing center was located. Inside birthing suite two, the only soft light came from the LED strips that followed the length of the walls at the base and ceiling. Currently, they were tuned low and blue, the light mixing with the neutral decor in a way that made her feel like she was underwater.

Curled on her side in the queen-sized bed, Y/n watched out the window on the opposite wall. Through the sheer curtain, the center’s garden could be visualized. It expanded a few hundred yards until the treeline of the nearby forest began. In silence, she watched the water trickle from the stone fountain in the center. It had been turned off for the season, but the rain that had fallen earlier in the evening still clung to the piece, each drop falling in a slow rhythmic pattern.

Y/n found it more soothing than what the fountain had looked like last summer when they had first toured the place. She assumed if she was laboring in spring or summer, walking the trails in the garden would be something she found herself doing, even late in the evening as it was currently. But that was a dream she had let go of as the temperature dropped. All she had now was the counting of each drop in between contractions.

The instinct to hold her breath took over as the next contraction washed over her, the sharp inhale of breath alerting the dozing man next to her. Y/n closed her eyes and focused on taking deep breaths, trying to ground herself to the moment. Fingers pressed into her lower back, one on either side of her spine, applying counter-pressure to the contraction.

“Harder,” her word was weak, even in the quiet room. The pressure increased instantly, helping her to focus back on breathing through the contraction. It felt like a lifetime later when the pain began to subside before eventually tapering off. The sheets shuffled in the dark behind her before she felt an arm wrap around her abdomen.

“Where are you at?” Jensen’s voice broke into the room as he pulled her tight against his chest.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, her gaze back on the fountain outside. “Trying to be anywhere but here.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Birth our child?” she tried, unable to stop the smile from creeping up on her face. If there was one thing Y/n didn’t handle well, it was being in pain. She would put back up every wall that anyone had become successful in tearing down, choosing to stew in silence. It was a defense mechanism she had perfected long ago. Never let them see you sweat. Unfortunately, that also meant that she tended to get mean, keeping it all bottled up until she exploded like a shaken can of soda. She truly wished right then that she had a catheter in her back delivering the good meds to her lower body, but she had committed long ago to do this as naturally as possible, her comfort be damned.

“As soon as they figure out how to do that, I’ve got you, babe,” Jensen chuckled behind her, close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck. She nodded in unfortunate understanding, her hand coming to rest atop her husband’s where it lay on her belly.

“Actually, could you top off my water bottle?” Y/n spoke back up after a moment of content silence.

“Of course. Ice?” He questioned, already climbing from the bed to grab her bottle on the nightstand near her.

“Please,” she confirmed.

“Be back in a flash,” Jensen pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before leaving the room to get ice from the main kitchen in the birthing center. A sigh left her mouth as she pulled herself into a semi-sitting position on the bed and grabbed her phone from where it lay charging. There was a mix of messages in her notifications, all from friends and family with varying messages of encouragement. She appreciated the gesture but to be honest, what Y/n wanted more than anything was to not have all the attention on her. It was yet another symptom of being uncomfortable. Her solace lay in the simple fact that she was not expected to answer any of the messages she received, considering she was in labor and all. Forgetting why she even grabbed the device in the first place, Y/n noted the time and tossed it back on the nightstand.

It was officially after midnight. Well, technically it was almost twelve-thirty which meant it was Jensen’s birthday. Y/n had found it funny when he had called his mother earlier to let her know that the baby was coming, Jensen had made his stupid joke only to have his face fall when Donna had laughed a little too hard. Her husband was caught up thinking about his mother and teasing the older woman that it didn’t even cross his brain what Y/n going to labor meant for him. Now, as she found herself nearly seven centimeters dilated as the clock turned into the new day, it seemed their baby would share its birthday with their father.

Jensen came back then, breaking her out of her thoughts but unable to knock the warm smile from her face. He walked around to her side and perched on the edge of the bed, one leg tucked under him as he faced her. Y/n took a drink of the cool liquid, relishing in the calm it brought her.

“What is that smile about?” He had an equally bright smile of his own, unable to contain it as he watched his wife.

“Nothing just… happy birthday,” the pregnant woman shrugged in her seat, her eyes casting down to wear her hands now cradled her bump.

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed, his heart feeling so whole when he thought about it that it felt as though it might burst from his ribcage. There was so much love for the woman in front of him, he didn’t know what to do with it. It scared him sometimes. It didn’t matter what was happening at the moment, but he could look at her and he would forget for a second that the world existed outside them and all he knew was that she made everything okay. His heart would skip a beat so fast he barely noticed and the urge to cry became overwhelming. Only this time, he refused to fight it, allowing a few tears to well up in his eyes.

“What’s this about?” Y/n sat up, concern now etched into her features as she brought herself close enough to her husband that she could wipe away the single tear that had escaped down his cheek with her thumb. She had caught sight of it, of course, even in the low light of the room. In the few silent seconds that he sat there smiling, she felt warm under his stoic gaze, unsure of what was going on in that head of his. Jensen shook his head, his smile still not faltering.

“I love you,” he said simply.

“I love you, too,” Y/n agreed, her concern melting away and taking with it the crease in her brow. Her husband cradled her face in his hands, pulling her face up to press his lips to hers. He poured every emotion that was currently making him dizzy into that kiss, afraid that if he didn’t, she would never know. But she did know, and though Y/n didn’t need more than those three words, she couldn’t deny him the release he so evidently needed. The desperation seeped from his every pore as his lips brushed against hers, unwilling to part until the need for air overtook everything else.

A gentle knock on the door snapped his brain back down to Earth. Jensen released his hold on her face, watching as it took her a second longer to open her eyes once they parted. He cleared his throat before calling out.

“Come in.”

Their midwife, Melek, snuck into the room, not making a sound as she closed the door behind her. She turned the lights up just a touch, giving the couple a warning beforehand.

“Hey, I’m just back to check your progress,” she snatched a pair of gloves from their place in one of the drawers and came to the side of the bed Jensen was still perched on. He moved out of her way as Y/n scooted down the bed slightly. Melek asked Y/n how she was feeling as she went about her work. The midwife listened and nodded along to everything she explained.

“Well, we are getting very close. Based on how you’ve progressed so far, this baby could be here in the next couple of hours. You are going to start feeling the urge to push soon, might feel like you have to poop, don’t ignore that or any other changes you notice.” Melek stood from the bed and tossed her gloves before washing her hands. She made a note on the whiteboard in the room before coming back over to the couple.

“You are welcome to continue relaxing, whatever feels best. However, if you feel up to it, I would suggest taking a walk in the garden. I know it’s cold and late, but it will help to energize you before the big work starts.”

“Thank you. Is that safe?” Y/n was adjusting her nightgown back into place as she talked.

“Yes, if you choose to take a walk, I would go now. No longer than twenty minutes outside and I will be back in another hour,” Their midwife confirmed. The couple nodded in acknowledgment of her words, offering her more words of ‘thanks’ as she exited the suite.

“Well, what do you think, momma?” Jensen put his hands on his hips as he looked down at her.

“Couldn’t hurt,” Y/n shrugged. She offered him an innocent smile. “Help me put on my shoes?”

“Deal.”

****

A low groan emanated from her chest as she battled through her current contraction. Her hands were locked around Jensen’s neck as she rested her head on his shoulder. The actor was rocking her back and forth, once again applying counterpressure to her lower back.

“Oh god, I feel nauseous,” Y/n breathed out as the contraction subsided. She let up on the weight she had been putting on her husband.

“That’s normal though, right?”

“Yeah, I was just venting,” she let the air out of her lungs rush past her lips. “I don’t expect you to do anything about it.” Her words were clipped as they tumbled from her mouth before she could stop them. The laboring woman cringed as she felt her husband stiffen underneath her. The soda had popped. Her movements were hesitant as she raised her head to look at him, regret written across her face.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, you are allowed to do whatever you want to me today.” The smile that graced his lips was tight, but she suspected it was more from the exhaustion than anything. She could see the heaviness in his eyes.

“No, it’s not. Come on, yell at me. Tell me you don’t need that shit because you were just trying to be helpful,” she pleaded with him, the guilt heavy in her chest.

“You want me to pick a fight with you while you are in labor?” Amusement was heavy in his words.

“Yeah, please? I deserve it. You are being far too nice to me.”

“It’s not happening. Sorry, babe.” Y/n growled in frustration, causing her husband to throw his head back and laugh.

The sound of yet another knock had her releasing her grip on her husband as she called the midwife in. It was time for the hourly check of her labor progression, a task that Y/n had grown a distinct distaste for. As the hours came and went and it felt like nothing was happening, it all just felt pointless. At this point, she was begging this kid to come out.

Melek made quick work of the check, a smile on her face after when she pulled off her gloves. “Seems as though it’s time, momma. You are fully dilated. How are you feeling?”

“Uh,” Y/n shared a look with her husband as their midwife headed over to the tub on the opposite side of the room and started the water. She gave a quick synopsis of what had happened in the last hour before asking, “Are we pushing now?”

“We can start. Sounds like you’ve already had some urges to. Right now it’s about listening to your body and what it’s telling you. I’m going to grab the nurse while you get in the water.” Melek left the water running and the couple dumbstruck.

“Okay, I guess this is happening,” Y/n scoffed, allowing her husband to help her from the bed. He stripped down to his boxer briefs while she slipped off the gown she was wearing, leaving her as naked as the day she was born. Jensen helped her into the tub and down to sit between his legs. As the water reached its max level, he stopped the tap and urged her to sit back against his chest.

True to her word, Melek was back in no time with a nurse and everything else they would need. They flourished around the room, getting ready as yet another contraction hit. Y/n’s grip on her husband tightened, her mind focused on one thing now. Jensen was whispering in her ear, helping to guide her breaths. Y/n gave in to the urge to push, more than ready now to have this over with. The pattern was quick and repeated itself again, and then again, and again.

The time clicked away on the clock on the far wall, each passing minute mocking the laboring woman as it turned over the hour. If she had thought she was exhausted before, it was nothing compared to how she felt now. Sweat dripped from her forehead, small tendrils of hair that had fallen from the bun on top of her head stuck to her flushed skin. She dropped her head onto her husband’s shoulder, soft pants passing her lips as she tried to relax before the next contraction hit.

Only it didn’t take long, the pain returning before she even had time to think. The contraction had her doubling in on herself, concentrating on bearing down. Her scream originated low in her chest, the sound of it low as it echoed out in the room. Y/n knew that Melek was coaching her, but she couldn’t hear the words anymore, her body too far spent.

“I can’t,” As the contraction dissipated, she threw her head back and hid her face in the crook of Jensen’s neck.

“You can, Y/n. Your body was made to do this,” Melek encouraged, a hand on the poor woman’s shoulder. Y/n swatted it away as she let out another sob.

“No, I can’t. I’m too tired,” her shoulders shook as she let it all out. Jensen turned and placed a kiss on her temple.

“Honey, if anyone can do this it’s you,” he whispered in her ear. “I know you’re tired and that means you are ready to quit, but you can’t, not yet. Just think about holding our baby in your arms, you are so close.”

Another sob shook through her as she indicated her disagreement with his words. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to believe him so badly it hurt but Y/n had never felt so defeated in her life. This was finally it and she couldn’t do it.

“Look at me, Y/n.” He waited for her eyes to open and focus on him. “You can and you will. I’m right here, I’ve got you. You are gonna push this baby out and we are gonna love it so much all this will be a distant memory. Nothing else will matter but the life we created.”

“You drive a hard bargain,” she hiccuped out with a laugh. Jensen chuckled along with her, offering another kiss to her temple. They nodded at each other, silent words being passed between them just before the next contraction hit. This time she put all her energy behind it, refusing now to be defeated. It was far from easy, but only she could do it now.

She couldn’t be sure how many contractions later it happened, the only thing she was sure of was the instant relief that washed over her body. Her eyes snapped open as Melek pulled her gook covered baby from the warm water of the tub, holding up its long body so both her and Jensen could see.

“It’s a boy!” Melek announced, placing the infant against Y/n’s bare chest. It all happened in a second and Y/n was holding her son in her arms. Jensen was peppering her face with kisses and muttering soft praises, his arms wrapped around her and helping the nurse wipe the baby clean. More sobs racked her body as soft cries came from the tiny body in her arms. Everything felt like too much like her whole being was vibrating on some new frequency she didn’t yet understand. It was invigorating and terrifying at the same time.

“I told you!” Y/n turned to look at her husband, the sobs that had been shaking through her now intermixed with soft laughter.

“Yeah, you did, babe. I’ll promise to never question you again,” the smile on his face grew as soon as he realized what she was talking about. The giggles coming from his wife seemed to seep into him and soon he was laughing along with her.

Y/n feigned a scoff, chuckles still seeping past her lips and a beautiful smile on her lips. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Ackles.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

****

It took a while before anyone was able to pry her son from her arms and even then, she refused to give up to anyone besides Jensen. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the nurse or midwife, she just felt that if she gave him up, the feeling in her chest would go with him. Only the soft voice of her husband was able to coax her out of the bubble she had wrapped herself into. Reluctantly, she handed the infant off to her husband who passed him on to be weighed and measured.

The nurse was then able to help her out of the tub and into the shower, washing away the remnants of her son’s birth from her body. In that short amount of time, she ached to hold her son again. Her mind couldn’t focus on anything besides him, and it pissed her off. She didn’t feel in control of herself, consumed by the maternal instincts now flooding her neurons.

When she emerged from the bathroom, Jensen was propped up against the headboard, his legs casually crossed at the ankle in front of him. Discarded still at the foot of the bed was his shirt he had peeled away before they had gotten into the tub, but he had slipped his Nike joggers back on his tall frame. His large hands dwarfed their son, who was only in a diaper, where Jensen held him against his chest. The couple shared a smile before she made her way over to him, climbing gingerly into the bed next to her husband and son. Y/n curled herself into his side as the nurse left them to be alone.

“Nine pounds and seven ounces, twenty-one inches long,” Jensen smirked down at the sleeping infant. Y/n choked out a breath, her jaw dropping open in the process.

“Jesus, I’m never gonna be the same,” she blew out a breath. The tired woman laid her head against her husband’s shoulder, her eyes never leaving her sleeping child. She could feel her husband shaking softly with laughter. Mostly, she was just as amused as him, but on the other hand, she wasn’t kidding.

As she settled into her spot, their son began to stir, his face scrunching into a frown. Jensen moved quickly, pulling the kid away and offering him to his mother.

“What, the first time he even indicates he might cry and you immediately hand him over to me?” Y/n leans away from her husband, a confused frown etched into her features.

“Uh, yeah, I don’t have the goods,” the Texan flicked his eyes down at her chest before looking back at her face. He had one eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face.

“Okay, how do you even know he’s hungry? Maybe he needs to be changed?”

“He’s fresh out of the womb and hasn’t eaten anything, you do the math,” Jensen held him out again. Y/n rolled her eyes for effect when the truth was she couldn’t wait to get her hands on that baby again.

“Well go get the midwife, I don’t know what I’m doing here,” Y/n tilted her head towards the door. She had one hand cradling the infant and her other was working to pull her gown away from her chest.

“Right,” he bounded from the bed, grabbing his shirt as he went and pulling it over his head. The door barely had time to shut behind him before he was returning, Melek in tow. The midwife was more than helpful, guiding Y/n and her baby through their first feeding. It took them a few tries before it seemed like they finally got the hang of it. Melek left them again to the peace of the early morning.

The sun had yet to breach the horizon but that didn’t stop the birds from putting on a show outside. Jensen had climbed back into bed with his family, situating himself as close as possible to his wife. It gave him the best vantage to watch the miracle they had created. He rested his hand on the baby’s head, rubbing his thumb across the infant’s hair.

Y/n didn’t even bother averting her gaze as her husband nestled into her side. She was far too transfixed on her son. Every emotion felt magnified a thousand times since she gave birth, to the point where she felt like she might burst. It was hard to sort through them, the exhaustion of her body not helping at all. Now, as she stared down at the precious life she and Jensen had created, the only thing she felt was calm. His eyes were closed as he fed, the soft gurgles and breaths he let out the only noise in the suite.

“He’s perfect,” she mumbled to no one in particular, she just felt it needed to be said.

“He really is,” Jensen agreed. “I had no doubt, which is why I got you this.” Y/n tore her eyes away then as Jensen procured a long velvet case from behind him. He offered the object to Y/n who took it with her free hand.

“What is this? It’s your birthday today, not mine,” she tried arguing.

“Just open it, you dork. Besides, you’ve already given me the best gift I could ever have,” Jensen urged her to open it. His eagerness washed off him as he smiled at her, his hand back on his son’s head.

Being careful to not jostle the child eating in her arms, Y/n used both hands to flip open the case. Laying against a dark cushion inside was a gold bracelet with a row of seven round stones in the center. She caught the card that was placed inside when it tried to fall away, reading the small paragraph.

‘Customised with seven beautifully crafted semi-precious stones amidst a string of shimmering beads. Each stone is traditionally associated with various characteristics that also typify those born in that particular month – The March birthstone is Aquamarine, which has a pale blue appearance and symbolizes honesty, loyalty, and happiness.’

The tears fell from her eyes as she read, threatening to turn into full-blown sobs. Y/n sniffed as her emotions continued to get the better of her, using the end of the blanket to wipe the wetness from her cheeks. Happiness. There wasn’t anything she could think of better to describe how she was feeling. It was indescribable happiness that had begun on that New Year’s Eve two years ago and continues through the life she now held in her arms. It was happiness she feared she would never get to experience, and yet, here she was.

“Jay, this is beautiful. But how-”

“I ordered one for February too, can’t be too careful,” he answered before she could ask, earning a giggle from his wife. “You really like it?”

“Honey, I love it. I can’t imagine a more perfect gift.”

“Here,” Jensen pushed away from the headboard and offered his hand to take the case from her. She handed it back to him, allowing him to take the delicate bracelet from its setting. He urged her to raise her arm, making quick work of clasping the piece of jewelry around her right wrist. “There, perfect.”

“Perfect,” she agreed.

****

The midwife cleared Y/n and the baby to go home just before noon that day. They had spent less than twenty-four hours in the birthing center, but as she dressed her son to go home she couldn’t help but feel like she was going to miss it. That stupid little room now held so much meaning to her, and she hated it. The exhaustion and hormones were making her stupidly sentimental.

As they turned into their driveway, Jensen was forced to pull their SUV into the yard since the entirety of their driveway was filled with cars. He hopped out of the driver’s seat to help Y/n from the car before grabbing the car seat with their son inside. Her husband allowed her to waddle along in front of him, a smirk on his lips when she looked over her shoulder before opening the gate to their home.

Across the stone courtyard, she could see their family all huddled in front of the expansive window that saw into their living room. Everyone waved excitedly as the new family made their way towards the house. Y/n took in the faces of her and Jensen’s parents, along with her brothers and their families. Jensen’s siblings were too far out to make it right now, but even still Y/n was surprised to see her brothers. Donna and Alan had come down as soon as they called to let them know Y/n was in labor, staying in their guestroom for the coming week to help the new parents adjust. She expected her parents too, even though they couldn’t stay longer than the night, rooming in Jared’s guesthouse and leaving in the morning. But yeah, her brothers were a surprise.

The family was greeted and the door, an array of excited faces welcoming them home. Someone had hung a ‘congratulations’ banner, with a matching ‘happy birthday’ one just below it. Everyone wrapped the new mother up in a tight embrace before passing her along to the next family member while the kids swarmed Jensen and the baby. It took quite some convincing from the parents to quiet down the little ones, all excited to meet their new cousin and forgetting that they needed to chill out as he was sleeping currently.

“Alright,” Jared’s voice broke above the commotion of multiple conversations. “As the godfather and the whole reason this child even exists, I call dibs on holding him first!” He looked to his sister, his brows high on his forehead as he waited for her answer.

“You all are going to get a turn, I don’t care who goes first. But stop saying you are the reason he exists, it’s weird… ” She waved him on before adding, “and don’t forget the sanitizer.”

Jensen lifted the car seat to the island as Jared bounced over to him. He literally was bouncing on the balls of his feet, his sister rolling her eyes as she followed behind him. The giant of a man moved delicately as he pulled the sleeping infant from the car seat. If she had thought her son looked small in her husband’s arms, it had nothing on how he looked compared to Jared. He took the newborn over to sit on the couch, all the cousin’s swarming him in no time.

“You need anything?” Jensen put his hand on her lower back to bring her attention from their family to him.

“A water?” She suggested as she looked over to him, knowing she would need it sooner rather than later. He nodded and turned to grab a water bottle for her. A soft ‘oh’ had her turning her head back towards her husband. Jensen stepped out of the way to show her their freezer full of Tupperware of different foods.

“We all made a few things for the freezer. I know Donna is staying with you for a little while, but once she is gone, you’ll thank me,” Y/n’s mother appeared next to her.

“Thanks, mom,” Once again she found herself fighting back the tears as she pulled her mother into a tight embrace. Sharon ran her hands up and down her daughter’s back as the younger woman refused to let go. Half of it was not wanting to let go, the other half was hiding her tears in the black sweater her mother wore. When she finally relented, Jensen was standing there with a tissue. He offered it to his wife who took it with a sheepish smile before he also hugged his mother-in-law.

The group in the kitchen returned to the living room where the rest of the family was, fussing over the baby. Jensen sat down in his chair near the fireplace that was angled to where the rest of the family was on or near the couch. He grabbed his wife’s wrist and pulled down along with him, situating her into his lap. The new mother fidgeted in her seat, struggling to get comfortable.

“Would you stop that?” Jensen’s voice was low in her ear as he squeezed her legs in a vain attempt to hold her still.

“I-,” She shifted again with a soft sigh before turning to whisper in his ear. “I’m very sore down there, and your legs are not the most comfortable right now.” His lips formed a thin line as he nodded. Before she could say anything else, he lifted and moved them both so she was situated in between him and the side of the chair, effectively taking the pressure off of her sensitive area.

“Better?”

“God yes,” she huffed before snuggling into his side. The couple watched content as their family traded their son around. The looks of amazement from the kids and the near tears from the adults filled her heart more than she imagined it could have ever been before. Just when she thought it was full, it somehow found room for more love and happiness.

“So, have you two decided on a name yet?” Sharon spoke up as he was passed to her. The older woman was gently bouncing on her feet, her husband peering over her shoulder.

The new parents shared a look, unsure which of them should answer the question to the information they had filled out in his birth certificate just before leaving for home. Everyone had been asking since they got the news he was officially here, though the couple didn’t have an answer as they struggled to come up with something. Jensen tilted his head to her, signaling that she should answer.

“Yes, after an agonizing two hours of staring at him and willing him to tell us what his name should be, we finally picked one,” Y/n explained, her husband chuckling next to her at the memory of her talking to him as he slept. “His name is Ezra Jay Ackles.”

There were murmured compliments and agreements that the name more than fit the little bundle of joy they had just welcomed into their family. Sharon passed Ezra on to his other grandmother, the woman giddy as she took over baby holding duty. Ezra had woken up by now, his dark eyes searching and unsure of the commotion around him, but he had yet to fuss.

“Did you go with Jay because he looks just like Jensen?” she questioned, not taking her eyes off the infant in her arms.

“Ugh don’t remind me,” Y/n huffed, her face scrunched up at her mother-in-law’s words.

“Hey, I thought you liked the way I looked,” Jensen pouted next to her, but she could see the twinkle in his eye.

“That’s not the point. It would be just my luck that I carried him for nine months, was in labor for over eighteen hours while also needing to feed him every two hours, for him to look just like his dad. Where’s the justice in that?” Y/n frowned as her family laughed at her confession.

“Welcome to my world,” Gen piped up. “All of them, little clones of their dad.” The Padalecki women all nodded in agreement to that sentiment, much to the annoyance of their husbands.

“Hey, the Padalecki genes are strong, we can’t help it,” Jared protested, making Jensen throw his head back in laughter.

“If that’s true then I guess the Ackles genes are even stronger,” the new father countered, earning a shove from his wife.

“Alright you two, put the rulers away,” her joke got the rest of the room cackling at the boys’ expense. That satisfied the woman more than she would ever admit.

Not long after the reveal of their baby’s name, the family began to pack things up and head out. It had been a busy and tiring twenty-four hours for the new little family, and their loved ones headed out to give them some peace. Once everyone was gone, Alan offered to go to the store and grab something to whip up for dinner, leaving just Donna with the new parents.

“Y/n, honey, why don’t you go lay down. I know you haven’t really slept since yesterday,” Donna piped up, noting how the woman’s eyes were getting heavy. She was curled up on the couch next to her husband who was holding their son once again. Donna was picking up the mess left by the family.

“Mmm that sounds good but he will have to feed soon, I should just stay here,” Y/n answered with a hum. She couldn’t deny, a nap sounded wonderful but everything was about Ezra and his needs now.

“Couldn’t we just give him a bottle?” Jensen asked, earning a shake of the head from both of the women in the room.

“No, if you guys are committed to breastfeeding, she’s got to get her milk supply in and the best way to do that is for him to feed. Also, there is nipple confusion,” Donna stated matter of fact with Y/n nodding along the whole time.

“Nipple confusion?” Jensen looked to his wife, confusion written all over his face. The term sounded familiar to the actor, but he couldn’t for the life of him come up with a definition.

“It means that Ezra could get confused between the bottle and the breast, and the concern is that he would prefer the bottle,” Y/n explained, her hand absentmindedly running along her son’s cheek.

Jensen nodded in understanding and shrugged, “Not if he’s my son.”

The new mother reared back in confusion. “Why?” was the only thing Y/n could say after she and Donna looked at him with equal disgust and disappointment. Jensen grimaced under their looks before she continued. “Your mother is in the room.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mom, I don’t know why I said it,” the look of shame on his face morphed into fear as he prepared for a scolding, but that moment never came. Instead, Donna stood and walked over to where they were seated.

“Alright, give me the kid,” the older Mrs. Ackles reached out for her grandson. Jensen gave him up without question. “Both of you need to sleep. Don’t worry, I will come and get you if he gets hungry.”

“It’s best not to argue with her when she makes that face,” Jensen muttered under his breath, but not so quiet that his mother didn’t hear him. She raised her brow at him, an action that was remarkably similar to the one Jensen often emulated.

“I’ll take your word for it,” Y/n agreed, allowing her husband to help her to her feet. Jensen gave his mom a quick peck on the cheek in passing as he pulled his wife along with him to their bedroom.

Inside the curtains were still drawn from when they had left yesterday, only a small sliver of light peeking into the room from its edges. Neither of them bothered with changing, knowing it was too much work for now. Instead, Jensen just turned down the bed, allowing them to slip under the cool covers. He settled into the pillows, lifting his arm to invite her back to his side. Of course, she obliged, snuggling into his chest with one hand placed where she could feel the steady beat of his heart under her fingertips.

Jensen wrapped his arm around her, his hand resting against her arm, rubbing soft circles against her skin. He stared up at the ceiling in the semi-dark room, watching the spinning blades of their ceiling fan make countless revolutions. His mind was racing, all the emotions of the last day starting to get to him now that he had nothing else to focus on.

Y/n was silent as well, but he knew she hadn’t fallen asleep yet, her body still too tense to have fully succumbed to the exhaustion. If he wanted to ever get some shut-eye, he knew he had to get some things off his chest. He needed to let go.

“You know what this reminds me of?” There was a gruff undertone to his voice, yet it still managed to be soft as he sought to not startle his wife. She hummed in response, letting him know she was listening. “Our first night together. Well, after… everything.”

“How so?” Y/n shifted so she could have a better view of her husband who now had her full attention.

“I couldn’t sleep then either. Too much going on in my head,” Jensen took a deep breath, his eyes still on the ceiling as he continued. “I kind of have this tendency to push all my emotions to the side to deal with them another time, even if that other time never comes, but that night, I just… I couldn’t get myself to do it. As I stared down at you, sleeping against my chest with that stupid little content smile on your face, I realized that you were worth all of it, every emotion: the fear, the anxiety, and even the guilt; they were all worth feeling for you.”

The crease in her brow deepened as her husband confessed to her what he went through that night. Jensen looked down at her then, a smile on his face and tears once again pooling in his eyes. He brought up his hand to caress her cheek before continuing.

“I never believed in love at first sight, hell, I still don’t, because even through all of that fear and anxiety what I felt most of all was love, and that didn’t happen overnight. It happened in the weeks we had spent in the makeup trailer, in the way you trusted me with the things you wouldn’t even tell your brother, and in your sarcastic comebacks that never failed to surprise me. I spent weeks falling in love with you and didn’t even realize it.”

“The only thing I could do was watch you sleep, so irrevocably in love with you that I was scared if I pushed away those bad feelings… if I didn’t consider every possible thing that could wrong from that moment on, that I would lose the best thing in my life now, so that’s what I did, just watched you sleep and go over every possible scenario my mind could come up with of how us being together could go wrong. I know...” He had to stop again, needing a moment to take a shuddering breath. “I know that day when I told you we needed a break hurt you and made you question everything I ever said to you and sure we’re past it now, but I really need you to know that when I came to you that next morning and asked you to go on one date with me, I didn’t make that decision lightly. I had decided before you even tried to sneak out of the guesthouse that you were worth everything.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” After he was silent for a moment, she couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Because I… I feel so much right now that I can’t shut it out. The love I feel for you and our son right now, I want to stay in that feeling forever. Even if it means facing every fear or anxiety over making sure you both are safe and happy and thriving. I just had to let you know that you two are my whole world now and I will spend the rest of my life never letting you forget it,” Jensen confessed, allowing the tears that he had been biting back now flow freely. Deep down he knew it was what he needed, that release of every emotion before he could truly relax. Just like she also knew that the time for words was over.

“Thank you for telling me that,” she nuzzled back into his side, pressing her cheek against his chest to listen to his heart again. Y/n knew it wasn’t easy for her husband to admit all of that to her. Those true moments where he exposed himself fully to her were rare. Not that she minded, Y/n didn’t need him to cut out his heart and serve it on a silver platter. Her husband was a man of action. He showed her all she needed to know in every first cup of coffee he brings her in the mornings or running her a bath when she needs time alone. Marriage is as much about the little things as it is about any grand declaration. If you asked Y/n, she would take the soft smiles and lingering touches over a grand speech any day, but this was nice too.

Part 12: Home

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creativeashproductions · 3 years

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Permanence // Luke Patterson

Summary: On the run for most of her life the reader had been accustomed to being a lone wolf in world with eyes everywhere. Living in the age of technology and life online makes it hard for a girl stuck in a permanent state at nineteen physically. All things change when the reader moves next door to a healing teenager and her ghostly band.

Warning: Swearing, loss of death, talk of injuries/hospital, angst, and fluff

Words: 5.1k (yikes)

A/N: Loosely based on the film Age of Adaline. Also includes a scene using the BBC show Call the Midwife as well. I’ve been MIA due to this fic. I love it.

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Masterlist

The love tingled in your lips as the taxi pulled away from the curb leaving behind the white-haired woman. Your hand raised to wave as the woman turned into a speck in the review mirror but never far from your heart and thoughts.

“Going on a trip?” The taxi driver questioned taking a right turn with a jarring sensation. His brown eyes speedily meeting yours, “Does your mom grandma live in San Francisco?”

A mournful smile appeared on the wrinkle-free complexion, “Something like that.”

The reply didn’t faze the driver in a big city he had chosen to make his living with for his family, he had heard worse. The airport reared its head with the big heavily populated by tourists and loud machinery of transport.

The royal blue wool jacket concealed the black blouse tucked into the grey, and black tartan fitted trousers. Paired with the black velvet kitten heels that had been in your possession for a very long time. Hair left down in the soft waves and makeup natural for the plane right.

The flight was over quickly for the young woman with her carry on, and purse collected you immediately headed to baggage claim. The suitcase was easy found and lifted off the conveyor belt with little trouble. Your expressive eyes finding the taxi, some may call you old fashioned for not ‘ubering’, but it was a nostalgic action.

“Where to?” The taxi driver asked with pretty blue eyes shadowed by the crows’ feet at the corner’s of her eyes. Swiftly you listed off the address to the house you had bought with your vast savings, “Half hour ride.”

You settled back into the leather seat as the city passed by with the memories staunchly kept in a locked box escaping. Los Angeles had been the location of the only family trip you had had in your late teens.

Los Angeles, 1936

“Darling! This Samuel, he owns the restaurant up the beach.” Theodore’s bright white smile gleamed as he returned to your side, “He’s personally invited us to celebrate the first night of our life together.

The pleated cark charcoal pants held up with black suspenders snuggle atop the button-down shirt of denim blue colour. The shirt left with the top two buttons undone revealing the white undershirt. Shiny polished black shoes on Theodore’s feet he was dressed as perfect as the day he caught your runaway hat.

“Oh, thank you.” You told the shy man as he led you up to the well-known restaurant with the gorgeous view of the water.

Samuel went further by providing his best table in the house, leaving the host annoyed at the interruption. The dinner was spent with Theodore listing off the itinerary for the week in the city. From visiting the museums to watching a film at the Los Angeles Theatre recommended by Theodore’s connection from work.

“You like to share a dessert Darling?” Theodore asked tenderly holding your soft hand in his smooth one. His smile never faded as you declined his offer satisfied with the large meal from the five-course dinner.

“I’d much prefer the comfort of our hotel room.” Your lips ended the words with a smile that paired well with the glittering eyes. Theodore’s heart expanded as his wife’s smile, he had fallen in love with first.

“The hotel placed a nice bottle of champagne in our room,” Theodore spoke once the bill was taken care of. He pulled your chair out to help you slip on the navy blue wool jacket on from the back of your chair, “You are absolutely beautiful.”

“Still as charming as ever.” You whispered gazing up at him with such love.

You had loved Theodore from the first chaperoned date at sixteen with the handsome eighteen-year-old that had saved your hat. The wind that day had been unbearable as you walked the beach of San Francisco with your mother. At seventeen, you wed; a mere few days previous. Theodore came from a well-off family but worked as an engineer for the city.

“We’re here.” The taxi driver spoke as the car pulled to a stop at a pretty house painted a blue with white accents.

Mumbling a thank you the driver took off once your belongings found ground on the sidewalk and the fare paid. The house door unlocked with a click revealing the furnishing you had sent and hired a company to build. The boxes of personal belongings had arrived in boxes the previous day and awaited unpacking.

The first order of business on your to-do list was changing the locks as well as testing the safety alarm. The next few hours you unpacked your kitchen and clothing as the locksmith took his time finishing up previous appointments.

Your hand hovered over the oval golden framed photo of your wedding day with Theodore with a smile on both your faces. You didn’t look a day older than the day you married Theodore even if it had been so long. The familiar clench at the sight of the man happened every time you saw the photo.

“You’d be so proud of Rosie.” Your index finger caressed the elegant picture of your first love with a mournful emotion.

Pulled from the sad memories as the doorbell rang signalling the arrival of the locksmith. The appointment was swift before you finished unpacking the living room from the bookcase to the picture frames. As the minute handle circled the clock face, you settled in for the simple meal.

“Tea on the porch.” You sighed curling into the cherry red Adirondack chair in the front porch watching as children went inside their houses.

It wasn’t how you had anticipated your life dreaming of a life with a family in a lovely home. You never expected to live in fear for your life, and your child’s as the second World War reared its ugly head. You never envisioned having to move every few years to keep safe. Lastly, you had never foreseen watching Rosie’s hair turn white before your own. You thought you’d be buried beside your husband after a long life. So far, it had been too long at this point with your childhood friends all dead.

“Hi.” The voice of a teenage girl spoke. Your gaze left your lukewarm tea for the girl at the bottom of your porch.

Strands of her curly textured hair pulled away from her face it revealed her clear tawney complexion. The most expressive brown eyes framed with thick lashes that took your breath away with the kindness in them.

“You just moved in right?” The girl asked as you climbed down the steps to the younger teenager, “I’m Julie Molina, I live next door.”

“Hello Julie, I’m Y/N Y/L/N.” You spoke, shaking the extended hand of the young girl inspecting her.

Her fashion was obviously of the current time whereas your own style was a mixture of different eras. The style fits in but touches to bring in the past decades you had lived through.

“Where are your parents?” Julie asked with a furrowed brow.

“I live alone.” You replied sighing as the confusion flashed in the younger teen’s eyes before you elaborated, “I’m nineteen. I bought the house, my parents live in my home state.”

They weren’t living, but they were buried in the cemetery with the other family members that had since passed. Unless a freak accident happened, your plot near your husband wouldn’t be filled. The only person who knew the truth was Rosie, she was your daughter.

“Wow! That’s cool.” Julie beamed glancing over her shoulder as her phantom friends poofed in behind her.

The sudden appearance startled you and while it was confusing you had become well acquainted with weird. You hadn’t aged a day since a stormy night on the country roads in 1938 heading to pick up Rosie. You barely flinched at the appearance.

“Oh damn, Julie’s neighbour is hot.” The leather jacket one spoke scanning the newcomer with an awed expression.

The boy with the sleeveless top sharing the same awed expression. Whereas the blonde in pink’s breath released in an exasperated sigh. Only a corner of your lips twitched up at realization this must happen quite a bit.

“I should head back inside. I have a few more boxes to unpack. It was lovely to meet you, Julie.” Your eloquent words taking the boys by surprise from the lack of modern language and slang. You didn’t use any of the terms that Julie and Flynn spoke in.

Luke followed Julie with glances over his shoulder to the back of the mysterious girl closing her front door. It wasn’t often Luke was intrigued by anything other than his music. Still, something about you was the most interesting thing. Not even touring some of his favourite bands’ personal homes was as interesting.

“C’mon Luke!” Reggie called out to the lingering teenage ghost. Unbeknownst to the retreating guitarist, your curtain had been pulled away as you peeked at him.

Over the next few weeks, you had become acquainted with Julie, even admitting to seeing the boys. It was a mess of Reggie blushing at your revelation of hearing his comments on your beauty. It wasn’t earth-shattering, but it was a friend group.

Two months later, over the course of a week, you withdrew from the group for the comfort of your living room. A garbage bin for used tissues as it sank in once more that the anniversary of Theodore’s death rolled around. 82 years since he was tragically killed.

You looked a mess and barely reacted when the four friends to it upon themselves to enter your home. Your hazy mind barely caught onto the arrival as Julie ushered your saddened form to the bathroom.

As Julie helped dress you, taking it from the extensive closet, the boys cleaned up the living room, and Alex poofed out. He returned with a pizza he began cooking coming to a stop at Luke’s gaping gaze at the mantel above the fireplace.

“What’s wrong?” Alex demanded rushing to the guitarist side equally shocked. Perfect timing as you came back into the living room with Julie.

“That’s Theodore.” The words came out gravely from the lack of use for the past few days. Your feet brought you to the side of the three boys, “It was raining the day. The sky broke when we left the church.”

“That’s you?” Reggie inquired frantically glancing between the old photo and your exact replica of the picture.

Julie gasped at the sight picking out the scar on the edge of your forehead barely seen in the photo but the matching appearance remarkable. The soft smile appeared as your hand came to grab the frame remembering the lovely day—the beautiful ceremony and the small reception before heading out for the honeymoon.

“Theodore Prescott was eighteen when I first saw him on the beach in San Francisco. Mother and I chose a windy for a walk; my hat blew away. Straight into the trousers of a young man that I would fall in love with instantly.” Your smile grew as your form settled back on the couch, having traded the frame for an old album. The four people were quiet.

“We married a year later in 1937, I was seventeen years old. Theodore whisked me off to Los Angeles for our honeymoon. We dined at fancy establishments, caught a film at the Los Angeles Theatre.” Your smile faded, leading Julie’s heart to clench as she knew that expression from seeing it in the mirror, “He was an engineer.”

“What happened?” Julie questioned grasping your soft hand in her own hand, focusing her eyes on your face. Your face remembering one of the most challenging times.

“Theodore was an engineer for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. A section of the bridge collapsed taking three men down. Theodore was one of them.” A lone tear travelled down your cheek, “It was difficult grieving my husband and caring for our daughter.”

Luke’s gasp was audible, “Are you a ghost?”

“No.” You told the seventeen-year-old guitarist, “I’ve been nineteen for the last 83 years.”

“Eighty-three years?!” Reggie exclaimed completely taken aback blinking fast to take it in, “Did you find a fountain of youth? Some special French creams?”

“Reg, shut up.” Alex elbowed the raven-haired teenager in the side with an apologetic smile, “I’d apologize and say he isn’t normally like this…but you know us too well.”

“It’s alright Alex,” You told the drummer fiddling with his ring as you returned back to Reggie, “It was storming in 1938, but I had promised to meet my parents and Rosie at the cabin. Visibility got worse, and I fishtailed right off the road into the ravine. I’m not sure the science but I know I died, and then I woke up.”

“This so weird,” Luke mumbled listening intently to the story with wide eyes that quickly matched his friends.

“Believe it’s shocking when your daughter graduates from college with her mother looking younger than her.” The bitter chuckle couldn’t be held back, remembering it as the first time you were retitled as Rosie’s sister.

“I just got used to being a ghost.” Alex sighed, settling into the armchair to the left of the couch. Luke sat on the couch next to you while Reggie took the armchair across from Alex.

As the sun rose higher and began to set, you enthralled the teenagers with stories of your long life. Luke was the most interested in the music you have seen evolve over the course of time, and the musicians you had met. In telling them stories, it allowed you to step out of the dark abyss of your mind.

“Freddie Mercury?” Luke asked from the other cherry red Adirondack chair turned to see you in the matching one.

“I had coffee with him in a little hole in the wall coffee shop in New York. He loved whip cream, but he didn’t like the dairy they used. The shop is now a Starbucks.”

The giggle escaped at Luke’s look of absolute awe, “That’s so rad.”

“Rad. Haven’t heard that in a long time.” The sparkle for sure would have sent Luke’s heart thudding like Alex’s drumming in Now or Never; if it still beat that is.

“…so do you think people can fall in love more than once?” Luke had been very undecided in asking the question. Everyone around could tell he felt something for you so unlike any other relationship.

You kissed your teeth, thinking about how to properly articulate your thoughts on such a heavy subject. It was clear that you felt something for the teenage ghost even if you had lived far longer than Luke had.

“I think it’s possible. Luke, I’ve lived a long time and while I’ll love Theodore for as long as I live that doesn’t mean I have been alone.” You revealed to the ghostly guitarist stepping back in a part of your history buried incredibly deep.

“The way you were torn up made me think-“

“I’ll always mourn Theodore, I had a year, and that was never enough. I worked as a midwife in England in the late 1960s.”

Poplar, London, England circa 1960s

The blonde-haired bombshell marched her way through the crowded Poplar district in London scanning the late-night Christmas shoppers. Beatrix, Trixie to her friends, had a young mother a mere street away. The only available midwife to help her happened to be off duty shopping for gifts.

Trixie was thankful for the American accent that distinguished the midwife from the crowd, pointing her towards a store window. Your eyes dragged away from the lovely young mother giving her thanks for delivering her baby a few months prior.

“Trixie!” You beamed, revealing a white smile that lit up your pretty eye colour. Trixie’s anxious expression dropped the smile, however, “Is something wrong?”

“Jenny Turner is in labour. Tom is with her right now, but I need help. Everyone is further away.”

In seconds you had pulled the charcoal cape secured by the bands crisscrossing your shoulders to properly rest. The cloak had armholes with material covering the holes, no sleeves seen. The cape covered the plain light blue nurse uniform with the white-collar and the maroon red cardigan.

Trixie led you to the small apartment housing twenty-one-year-old, Jenny, with Reverend Tom Hereward waiting. This would be Jenny’s second child with her husband Roger leaving the midwife’s nervous after her first pregnancy.

“Hello, Jenny.” You spoke stepping closer to the woman, “Trixie said you requested my presence.”

“You delivered my first baby. I want you here, Roger a county away for work.” Jenny heavily spoke as a contraction ended, “I’m not due for two weeks.”

“Baby Turner is too excited to meet their big brother.” You soothed settling beside the young mother, “You’re in great hands with Trixie. You are close to the hospital and the clinic if you’d prefer to move.”

“No. I want to stay.” Jenny was sure of that, at least. Her hand left yours to clench the white bedsheets as a contraction clenched her midsection.

“Then I’ll be right here with you.”

It was a promise you kept as Trixie delivered a healthy baby girl appreciating your help when you cleaned the baby. Trixie helped Jenny deliver the afterbirth and clean up the room just in time for Jenny’s mother to enter the room.

“I came as soon as I could.”

“Thank you, Y/N,” Jenny spoke with a small tired smile. The smile that made the job worth watching babies being born, of family’s growing.

Tom was waiting outside in the living room as you exited the bathroom. Your heart fluttered at the sight of the Reverend Hereward waiting for you with his patient smile and a tender look in his blue gaze.

“How is Jenny?” Tom asked, holding the door to the street open.

“Tired after delivering Cynthia. Cynthia is an eight-pound baby with no complications. Thank you for praying Tom.”

“Trixie informed me of Jenny’s first pregnancy, and I felt like I was needed. Do you happen to be free tomorrow night?” Tom asked, linking his fingers in yours with a smile that almost looked nervous.

“I am.” You responded as Tom walked you to Nonnatus House where the unmarried midwives resided. You stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek, “Good night Tom.”

“I’ll meet you at the park,” Tom responded, waiting patiently as you entered the building before he turned on his heel to head to his residence. Unknown to him, you peered down from your bedroom window as he pulled something out of his pocket.

A small box housing a ring he would propose with the very next night. A ring that broke your heart. A ring that you’d never see up close as you handed in your resignation and left England as quickly as possible.

Luke’s invested gaze shuttered as you revealed you had run away before Tom could propose because it could never happen.

“He was going to propose, and you didn’t say goodbye?”

“I don’t know if I could have said no when he asked. I wish I knew what I would have said, but it was unfair. How could Tom, as a Reverend, accept that his fiancée or wife would never grow old? It went against everything he believed in.” You countered with a raised eyebrow, “He married the midwife that was hired a year after I left. Barbara Gilbert. Trixie sent me the letter.”

Luke’s perceptive eyes caught the tinge of sadness in your gaze recalling the second man you had loved. You loved with your whole heart and with that came a lot of heartbreak.

“Do you keep in contact with them?”

“I send a letter to Trixie every once in a while, to check up on her. She married a few years after I left and had a few children. I believe she had a step-daughter.”

Luke’s mouth went to open before a flash of light, and a slight gasp was heard from the blonde drummer. His eyebrows raised as the close proximity between his best friend and his new friend. He shook it off as he turned to face Luke fully.

“Did you forget? We have a gig.” Alex spoke amused as Luke’s eyes widened theatrically vividly recalling the excitement in Julie’s eyes.

You waved the duo off to disappear in a ball of light to the gig they had for the night while you entered your home. You didn’t hear Alex make a comment that Luke couldn’t deny.

“You’ve fallen for her,” Alex spoke just outside the coffee shop that housed the record execs with the power to change their afterlife. The quirk of a smile sealed Alex’s opinion of the girl.

Content to spend your time in the house you retreated to the kitchen. Your hand slipped into your pocket for the phone that had few contacts such as Rosie and Julie’s along with the number of Rosie’s doctor. Mostly pictures of Rosie and landscapes but never your face, not after the 1953 incident.

Living next door to the Molina’s you often shared recipes with Ray, he had taken you under his wing. He felt empathetic with the young neighbour he saw you as a daughter almost, unaware that it would the other way around. You had years on the widowed father.

The wooden spoon stirred the sizzling stir-fry that had been a fixture in raising a rambunctious little girl interested in skinny her knees. The stir-fry was the quickest meal while Rosie played outside or in the little play corner with her dolls. It seemed like the world knew when your phone rang.

“Hello, darling.” You spoke securing the phone between your neck and shoulder, “Did you teach Gladys poker?”

The silence was stifling, “Is this Y/N Y/L/N?”

A cold sweat broke out as the unfamiliar voice came from Rosie’s cell phone roused the deep-seated fear of loss. The wooden spoon in your hand clattered on the tile flooring of the modest-sized kitchen.

“Your grandmother Rosemary Prescott tripped over a cane. You’re her emergency contact.”

“Has she been admitted to the hospital? How extensive are her injuries? Let me get a pen and grab the address.” You rambled frantically scouring the kitchen for the notepad, “Was she alone?”

“She’s still being seen by the doctor, and I’m unable to reveal the details over the phone. Her friend Gladys was there, and she hasn’t left your grandma’s side.” The person responded in an even tone with the failed intention of soothing you.

“What’s the address?”

“I’m a nurse at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.” The nurse prattled off, providing the address and visiting hours.

As soon as the call ended, you had quickly grabbed a quick bite from the meal before packaging it up. Next, you dug out the small suitcase to pack the essentials with the mental capacity of a zombie. The bag was stowed in the backseat of the car while you kept your purse on your shoulder.

You barely comprehended knocking on the Molina door or Ray opening it, “Hello Y/N.”

“Ray. Tonight, I made stir-fry, I’ll be out of town for a few days.” You told the man catching sight of both Carlos and Julie in the background.

“Are you okay?” Ray questioned taking the container from your shaking hands, “Do you need us to do anything?”

“Could I have a h-hug?” You stuttered feeling a smidge better than the older man tugged you in for a hug. Two pairs of arms joined with the Molina kids ambushing you.

“You’re coming back, right?” The question came from the concerned hazel-eyed guitarist watching the interaction with a particular look. A look he knew came from not being able to comfort you.

“I’ll be back once I know Rosie is okay.” You replied, locking eyes with Luke over Ray’s shoulder earning a tender smile from the male.

“I’ll pray for your Grandma,” Ray spoke, stepping back to let both Julie and Carlos say their goodbyes to their neighbour. Everyone but Carlos and Ray half-heartedly smirking at Ray’s belief that Rosie was older than you.

Unlike typical times you didn’t linger in the Molina home with the distracted thoughts of Rosie injured with her mother with her. Rosie is the only thing you would drop anything for, the love of a mother and her child. So distracted by your thoughts you didn’t notice Luke had appeared right beside you.

“Are you driving?” Luke asked, tapping his shoe on the porch step, bringing your sad eyes to meet his, “Or are you taking a plane?”

“A plane. It’s a five-hour drive to San Francisco from here not taking in traffic time. I bought a last-minute ticket.” You replied, heading straight for the car with Luke hot on your heels to the vintage car.

Half of you wanted to refuse his evident intention to join you, but a part of you yearned for the comfort. A stroke of luck had a plane seat beside yours empty, time didn’t exist, but it dragged on at the same time. So lost in thoughts you never noticed the brush on a pinkie on your skin.

While you stared off in the distance, Luke’s jaw was dropped at the silky feel of your skin. Words bubbled up his throat just before he knew it wasn’t the right time to bring it up. Instead, he chose different words to regale you with stories of his childhood.

“I begged for a dog when I was eight years old. Reggie had this golden retriever his family had before he was born. My dad was allergic in the end, so I was content with Reggie’s dog.” Luke spoke, “That didn’t mean I didn’t sneak in this stray one night. We kept him in the garage while we found him a forever home.”

“What was his name?”

“Fender.” Luke sheepishly spoke, catching the tweak of your smile as the clouds in your eyes cleared for a few minutes. Luke loved being able to ease your mind through the flight, not holding back on the embarrassing stories either.

“Thank you.” You told the easy natured teenager with a familiar flutter in your chest that terrified you.

You could name only one other time you had felt that flutter when everything was easy. 1936 with a man you thought would be your one and only. Feeling something that strong for a ghost was incredibly scary.

“Do you want me to come in with you?” Luke asked just outside the closed hospital door, separating you from your daughter. Your lips parted to deny his question but you couldn’t so you simply shook your head.

“Come in!” The voice was prompt after knocking on the door. Opening the door, you found Rosie’s grinning in her bed with Gladys at her side, scolding her.

“I’ll get out of your hair,” Gladys spoke shuffling by you out of the door with a quick hug. The second Gladys closed the door, your eyebrows furrowed.

“Rosemary Elspath Prescott. What were you thinking?” You crossed your arms walking closer to Rosie, “You know your ankle hasn’t been the same-“

“-since I shattered during a cheer comp in college. Mama, I know. It was an accident.” Rosie softly spoke just before her gaze met Luke’s with fear planted squaring in her blue gaze. Luke’s lips parted, “He knows?”

“Oh.” Luke blinked at the sudden new change in his afterlife with Rosie actually seeing him, “I’m Luke.”

“This is going to sound craz-“

“Mama, you’ve been nineteen for over eight decades. I think we’ve hit the crazy already, tell me. Before I get a bad heart.” Rosie joked with that twinkle you saw countless times over the years.

The first time you saw it was when you found her on the counter at age two when she learned how to climb. Other times included her sneaking out to a senior party with her friends and the teasing she started when she got her first grey hair.

“You better have taken our discussion about your salt intake serious young lady.” You pointed at her mere seconds before your shoulders dropped. You leaned down to kiss the crown of her head, “Luke’s a ghost.”

Rosie’s lips parted, staring down the boy before whispering very softly in your ear, “Well. At least he doesn’t age. You look happy with him Mama, I’m not getting any younger, and he’s really cute.”

“Don’t talk like that.” The low response came out broken at the horrible future where you would bury Rosie.

A cold hand landed on your waist as you stretched to place an ornament on the tree you chose with Luke. The wire hugged the branch a ghost of a kiss pressed against your cheek, a moment of quiet in the loud house. Reggie and Alex had been baking cookies with Rosie for the last two hours. Julie was finishing her family dinner at her home before she would come over.

“Merry Christmas,” Luke murmured tugging you in his chest. A flutter of butterflies moving in your tummy.

Once Rosie had been discharged from the hospital, she had been convinced to temporarily move to Los Angeles. For the first time since Rosie’s senior year in high school, you got to live with her. Subtlety had never been her strong suit with nagging you and Luke about getting together.

“Merry Christmas.” You replied, stretching to peck his lips once before cuddling into his chest with the thick sweater.

“Would you like a cookie…Dad.” Rosie teased, bringing a tray into the living room with the gooey chocolate chips.

Another revelation other than being able to touch the boys was that once Julie saved them from Caleb, they could eat small quantities. They couldn’t eat a lot, and they didn’t need it, but it was a comfort to the group.

“That’s so weird.” Alex chortled, taking in the shocked and uncomfortable expression Luke had. Reggie beamed with a mouthful of cookie. This was the first Christmas the boys had surrounded by only acceptance, love, and untainted happiness.

“How about we stick to Luke?” Rosie chuckled just as weirded out by the odd age gap and the forever youth the couple displayed.

While Rosie interacted with the arrival of both Flynn and Julie, you curled into Luke’s embrace taking in the room. Julie and Flynn listened to the rebellious stories Rosie carried. Alex had retreated to the kitchen with a guy with shoulder-length brunette hair. Reggie was involved in a conversation with Ray; another unexplained phenomenon after the Orpheum.

Your eyes found the mantle with the picture of Theodore and you. Right beside it a lovely photo with Luke dipping you in a kiss and besides that picture was the very last picture of Luke with his parents. How lucky you had been in the years you had lived to end up with a chosen family.

Tag List (PLEASE SEND AN INBOX TO BE ADDED! I CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE ON THE LIST VIA POST COMMENTS!)

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#luke patterson imagines #julie and the phantoms imagines #luke patterson x reader #charlie gillespie imagines #jatp luke #jatp fanfic #luke patterson #caitsy and ash productions

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fericita-s · 4 years

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Beginning After The End (Part 4)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

This concludes this story about Thea and Hubert falling in love after the deaths of Elias, Agnarr, and Iduna. Thank you @the-spaztic-fantastic for being the best beta ever and saying “YES MORE” when I said I wanted to think about these two and their lives after the events of WAIL. And for her many contributions including the idea of getting Henrik back with these two for some shenanigans and many of the gift ideas. Thea deserves good things!

Elias had shaved every day at home, lathering up with a soap with a distinct scent that Thea had come to associate with him. She missed the smell of it. He came home from expeditions with a beard that was coarse and full. Its roughness against her face when they kissed hello was part of the homecoming ritual, as was watching him trim and then shave it off, the time spent apart measured in how long it was. She would cup his smooth cheek with her hand and say “There you are!” when he finished and then together they began their favorite part of his homecoming.

Hubert kept his beard short. This was becoming a greater challenge now that the white hairs in it were growing faster than the brown. He would turn to Thea from his dressing table with the mirror propped up and the scissors in his hand, exasperated and possibly wistful and say “Why are the old-man hairs the ones most intent on announcing their presence?”

She found the best way to assuage this particular fear was to kiss him on the lips while her hands scratched at his bearded cheeks. “I like it. It makes you look distinguished. Very reliable for knowing the best way to introduce ice cars to the national railway.” Often the scissors would be abandoned as his hand found places to caress that elicited less verbal sounds of satisfaction from her.

***

Elias had presented her with gifts throughout their courtship and marriage through the imports his family was so involved in. He paid attention to the latest fashions that his mother and Linnea followed closely and seemed to always be giving her a new bonnet or pair of gloves or piece of jewelry or box of books. He bought her paints and pigments for her artwork and she exclaimed over the expense, grateful he knew how important it was to her. She hadn’t packed any of those gifts in the trunks that came to Antwerp, though she had tucked her wedding ring into a pair of woolen socks, unwilling to part from it completely and yet wanting to try living without its constant presence on her hand.

Hubert was similarly generous with gifts. For their first Christmas together, he had given all of the children their own horses and when Thea gently pointed out that perhaps the twins and Elias were too young for a horse, he bought them ponies as well. Vadik had also received a pocket watch that Hubert had been gifted from his own father at the age of ten and a letter Elias had written to Hubert announcing Vadik’s birth. Sasha had gasped when he presented her with a Stradivarius violin. They hadn’t seen her for the rest of the day, the pastoral symphony from Handel’s Messiah filling the house the only evidence of her presence and a testament to her delight.

To Thea, he had given his mother’s diamond ring, resized to fit her hand. He had shrugged at the extravagance, saying only “Antwerp is known for diamonds and I never gave you a ring when we were wed.” But she had seen how pleased he was when she wore it, how his eyes looked at her hand and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Later, Sara had hugged her tightly and whispered how glad she was to see her brother in love.

That night when the last carol had been sung and the last candle extinguished, Hubert lit one in the bedroom to tell her of another gift.

“I saved the letters Elias wrote to me over the years. Yours too, but it’s his I think you might like to see. We started corresponding the year we were all at the Royal Sommerhus together,” he said as he crossed the room to the tall chest of drawers. He opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of papers tied neatly with a piece of string.

“I should have told you about them before, but I wasn’t sure if they would cause joy or bereavement. But I think either way, the decision is for you to make.” He was looking at the letter on top, and even with only candlelight Thea could see that it bore the creases of having been once folded as a letter. Hubert didn’t raise his eyes to hers as he continued speaking.

“He loved you so much Thea. And he said that so often in these letters. Sometime casually, sometimes in grand declarations. And they’re yours to read whenever you want to; alone or with me nearby.”

The diamond had spun on her finger and she twisted it back around as she answered him, careful to keep her voice even so he wouldn’t hear grief in her voice and regret this gift. “Thank you, Hubert. I’ll read them another night.”

He returned the letters to the drawer and then got back in their bed.

“Thank you for all of the gifts. The children and I - we’re so lucky to have you.” She hoped he could hear the sincerity in her voice, how much she meant it to be true. Thinking about Elias was still a wound but it was more of a bruise now, not the gaping wound it had been before coming to Antwerp. And one she preferred, at least for now, to prod and examine by herself.

“I love giving you good things,” he said and she knew he was trying to say something else.

***

The night before Vadik was born, Thea had been so uncomfortably pregnant that she sent Elias to Hudson’s without her. “Bring me back krumkake if there is any. Or skolebrod. Or both,” she’d said as he kissed her goodbye. He’d returned with both.

When she was so heavily pregnant that only one dress fit and none of her shoes, she felt her stomach had no room for any food. Hubert begged her to take one more sip of soup, one more bite of bread, and when her contractions began said he would go for the midwife himself and fetch Sasha from school until Thea told him she would rather he remain close by and to perhaps send a servant instead.

“Try not to get drunk like Elias did when I labored with Sasha. All will be well. There’s nothing to fear,” she had said as he left the room.

Thea had cried out once when the midwife said “There’s another!” Hubert rushed in and saw the birth of the second while clutching Thea’s hand, his mother’s diamond leaving a mark in his palm.

***

Elias had taken the children sailing and riding and swimming and hiking, sometimes with Thea and sometimes not. He rolled to the very edge of the bed when Sasha and then later Vadik came into their room at the sound of thunder and needed to sleep pressed against their mother. He put a steady hand behind Thea as she carried their babies, pushed the pram or nursed.

Maybe because there were two at once, or because he was older when he became a father, or just because he was a different man, but Hubert held the babies at every opportunity. They bought a second pram shortly after they realized the need for it, but the twins, Helen and Castor, were still small enough that they fit in one, tightly swaddled and fit neatly together as the family walked through De Zoologie and exclaimed over the animals. Hubert pushed the pram and Thea would have thought that was the way of it in Antwerp except every other pram they passed was pushed by a nursemaid in uniform. Hubert smiled and waved to those passing and Thea thought his pride in his family, in their family, was visible to even strangers.

***

“Three babies in two years; I know it’s been rare for you to have time to yourself,” Hubert said, with his hand on the doorknob. Thea appreciated that he didn’t list the tragedies of those years, only the happy surprises: little Elias and Helen and Castor. Little Elias was so big now that no one ever called him “the baby,” especially since the twins were currently taking up quite a bit of energy and attention, even spread as it was among Hubert, Thea, Sara, the nursemaids, and their older siblings.

It was their first anniversary, after all, and Thea was determined to have a happy day. She had planned a menu with the cooks that would rival a royal wedding celebration. Hubert’s friends and colleagues, who would probably have come to their wedding had it happened with any notice, were attending an anniversary dinner. Even Henrik was coming. He was in the country to discuss the use of ice in train transport with Hubert and had promised to bring a few surprises of his own. Thea had raised her eyebrows at this, but Hubert had been uncharacteristically unconcerned.

They were outside of a room Thea thought might be one of the sunrooms. The Bonfrey family estate was large and she was still learning where everything was located a year into making it home. The children seemed to learn it perfectly after one tour from Sara on the very first night. But Thea would sometimes open several doors before ending up where she meant to, and wasn’t helped by the way the children were constantly leaving their books and playthings scattered in different places, a trail of unhelpful breadcrumbs like those from one of Hubert’s book of German fairy tales.

“Sara and Sasha helped me set this up the way they guessed you’d like,” said Hubert, and Thea was surprised to see a red flush on his cheeks, a nervous flexing in his hands. They’d seen each other through so much this year - the grief of a funeral for beloved friends, a hellish trip across the sea, the birth of the twins - but she hadn’t seen him act like this before.

He opened the door and gestured for her to enter first and she did.

“Oh Hubert!”

The room Hubert had led her into had been a sunroom. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light that displayed the contents of the room to full effect: paints and pigments, canvases stacked high, chalks and charcoals, several easels, hog bristle brushes, even a pantograph for reducing or enlarging sketches. On the wall were shelves that were mostly empty save for a handful of books.

“They’re photo studies. Of statues, paintings. Some landscapes and some models,” Hubert said as she stepped forward and traced the embossed titles along the book spines.

Thea moved about the room, her hands running along shelves and then on to the paintbrushes, experimentally brushing them against her palm.

“I thought you could use a place to be by yourself, to think and to paint or even to just sit and read. I can move the letters from Elias in here if you’d like.”

Thea turned to him and nodded. “I would like that. I like all of this, Hubert. So much.”

“Sasha said you’d like those the best,” he said as she examined the canvas. “ And Sara suggested we paint the room white and take out most of the furniture so you can choose how to decorate it. We left a chair and a stool for you, and the couch for whoever wants to pose.”

Vadik suddenly ran in the room with little Elias close behind and Hubert scooped him up before he collided with the glass jars standing at the ready for mixing.

“And the best part,” he said, reaching into his pocket and taking out a key, “is that you can lock it to keep out any unwelcome visitors.”

“Like who?” Vadik asked. “Uncle Henrik? But he just got here and Aunt Sara told me to fetch you to greet him!”

Thea laughed and ruffled his hair. “No, sweet, Uncle Henrik is most welcome. Come with me so he can exclaim over how tall you’ve grown.”

***

The anniversary dinner party went so late into the evening that it was the early morning hours before any guests left for home. Though Hubert gripped the table when Henrik gave a toast, it was entirely appropriate and never once mentioned Paris, for which Thea knew Hubert was extremely grateful.

When Hubert was walking the last of the guests to the door, Henrik revealed his surprise - paintings and sketches Thea had made and left in Arendelle. She went through the neatly preserved stack and was delighted to see among them Sasha, age ten and playing her violin, Vadik as a baby sleeping in his crib, Elias in the pond by the Royal Sommerhus, teaching Sasha to swim. She had left them in Arendelle hoping to leave some evidence of her family behind in case they all sunk to the bottom of the sea. Looking at them now, she was surprised to feel only joy.

“Linnea brought them back on her last visit and asked me to deliver them to you personally,” Henrik said.

He didn’t ask why she hadn’t brought them when she and the children moved here and she was grateful. He reached for the portrait of Elias that she was now tracing with her hand - one of him in an Arendelle navy uniform, trying to look serious but his smile rendered fully in the watercolor. “Thea, you know he loved you. And you know he would have wanted you to find love again. To be cared for and to care for others. To not be closed off and grieving for the rest of your days.” He placed the painting back in the pile and squeezed her hand. “He liked Hubert. He would have liked this for you, even though he would never have liked to leave you so permanently.”

***

Hubert helped Thea arrange the paintings Henrik had brought from Linnea. With each painting she felt a fragmented piece of herself realign and became part of the whole, like a dried out watercolor palette being worked over with water and blending brushes. Hubert had his hand on the doorknob to leave, but she didn’t want him to go.

“Henrik asked again if I wanted him to pose for me. Nude of course.”

Hubert laughed. “Again? Is this something he does often?”

“A handful of times. I think usually it was just to bother Elias,” she said as she fiddled with the nearby paintbrushes and straightened the stack of canvases that were already in a very neat pile. She picked up the lay figure and worked its arms and legs. “Thankfully you’ve given me this so I can decline.”

“If you ever need a live model, I’d be happy to do it. To spare you the sight of Henrik.” He said and took his hand off of the doorknob. “It’s why the couch is here after all.”

He sat down on it and then she did too.

“Did I tell you about the time Elias offered himself for the same purpose?”

“No,” Hubert laughed.

“I was very flustered - we weren’t yet engaged. I told him of my art classes and the sketches we would do, how both men and women had posed nude for us. I was trying to impress him with my worldliness. And he said ‘I’d be very pleased to pose for you anytime you’d like.’” Thea glanced at Hubert who was smiling at her story, and smiled in response and in memory of her attempt to show off.

“I told him there was no need as I’d already seen more men naked than I could count, and then he said ‘Just wait until you see what I do with it.’” Thea reddened and put her hand over her mouth, laughing. “I’m sorry; you don’t want to hear that!”

But Hubert was laughing too and reached for her hands to squeeze them in reassurance. “You can tell me anything about him. We can both remember him.”

“Thank you,” Thea said, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling like another piece of herself was connected and whole again.

***

She loved him. She wasn’t sure when it started. Probably long before she said it, probably when her heart didn’t know what to call it anymore. He had been patient and allowed her to find her way to it, not demanding it of her even when he said it freely and showed her in a hundred different ways.

“Ice liebe dich,” she said, and kissed him on one cheek and then the other. “Je t’aime.”

The space between their lips was so small that she could feel his words as he spoke them, warm as they fell across her lips.

“I love you too. So much,” Hubert said as he gently rested his forehead against hers and put his hands on her shoulders. He rested them lightly and she could feel them tremble.

“Ik hou van je,” she said. She had saved that one for last.

Hubert spoke German when he was in a nostalgic mood and French for everyday. Flemish was his language for murmuring in her ear while in bed at night, his body surrounding hers and bringing them both pleasure. He spoke words of affection in Flemish after moments of ecstasy that she guessed he didn’t know if she was ready to hear. But now, she was. And she was ready to say them too.

“Is that right?” asked Hubert, and pulled back from her so she could see his face. His was smiling and his eyes were full of such hope and tenderness she knew he meant it was all he wanted. “You love me in three languages?”

“I love you in every language. And I’ll learn them all, too, to tell you. You loved me back to life and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say thank you enough.”

Hubert’s smile faltered a little and his brow furrowed. They were small tells, but she could see them. Someone who loved him could see that he was bothered.

“Saying ‘I love you’ is better than ‘thank you.’ As long as it’s not an obligation. As long as you don't think you have to say it to stay here and be my beloved,” he said, speaking gently and patiently, like always.

She answered and kept her eyes on his. She wanted him to feel the truth in what she said. “No, I feel free. You’ve made me free to love again. And I love you.”

He smiled and she saw the relief he felt at her words, the joy. He moved his hands to her waist and her cheek and pulled her towards him in language their bodies were familiar with. “Well then. Let’s love.”

#WAIL #Thea #Elias #Agduna #Hubert #Beginning After The End #lots of angst #with a happy ending

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snoopctm · 6 years

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CtM “Official” Tour

A Brief Report

Hello everyone! It’s been almost a month now since @mg-bsl381 and I (along with Mr Magnette) went on the CtM tour at Chatham Dockyards, and now that the Official Tour has been officially launched, I feel more free to write about it! I don’t want to give away too much because all the fun little filming stories and everything are an important part of the tour and I don’t want to ruin the experience for anyone who goes to see it. Still, I wanted to write a little bit about our experience, and share a few brief thoughts. (Magnette, please feel free to add additonal observations if there’s anything important I forgot to mention!) Keep reading for more:

First, a quick clarification–

Why is “Official” in Quotes? Well, that also has to do with why I waited until now to write about the tour. Basically, what we experienced was the “tryout” or "test run" if you will of the tour. It featured most (if not all) of the things that are in the officially official tour, but they were still working some things out and also, with the Official Launch planned for sometime in May (they didn’t tell us the exact date and I’m not sure if they even knew then), some of it was still being kept fairly quiet. One part of the tour (the “Room” I will write about later) was being treated as kind of “exclusive” at the time, and we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside that room at the time. Still, the outside locations were OK to take pics of, and so I took a bunch, including the three featured here. Now, here are a few additonal thoughts:

The “Midwife” Guides Are Fans! The tour guide we had leading our group was great, and she told us about how long she had been working on the tour (a few years), and that while the “midwife” guides aren’t actually midwives, they are actual fans of the show and that was the reason a lot of them signed up to do this. The guides carry notebooks of info on the show along with laminated photos of various scenes filmed in some of the locations, but our guide also said when she watches the show, she often takes notes and remembers questions about background and such so she can be better equipped for the tour. She knew a lot about the show, and told a lot of interesting stories about filming and why things were filmed certain ways.

The “Midwife” Outfits–The uniforms they wear aren’t actual midwife uniforms, and aren’t the show costumes either, one because the costumes they use for filming are bespoke and cost a lot, and also because the tour guides spend a *lot* of time walking around on their feet and need sturdy outfits that can stand the wear-and-tear of everyday use.

LOTS of Stuff Is Filmed There (A)–The dockyard isn’t just the filming site for CtM. Lots of other movies and TV shows use it as well, and the guide listed off some of them for us. It also seems to be a very active filming site, with stuff going on all the time. When we were there, there was something (non-CtM) being filmed and there was one indoor location that’s normally on the tour (the place where Alec had his accident) that we didn’t get to see because of filming.

LOTS of Stuff Is Filmed There (B)–Something else that somewhat surprised me, in addition to sheer level of non-CtM filming, is actually how much of CtM is actually filmed there. I mean, I had known about the dockyard/East End street scenes and such, but there are many places that are used on the show that I didn’t know were actually at the Dockyard–like the park where Trixie and Christopher sit and talk while Alexandra plays (see photo above) and the Glasshouse Village Trust place where Reggie lives (which is in the same green area as the bench above). Several buildings are also redressed and used as multiple different locations throughout the course of the show.

The Room With All the Cool Stuff–Again, I wish we had been able to take pictures here, but it wasn’t “official” yet so we couldn’t. There are pics up online now, but now I can say I was there! All the stuff in the pics from the press reports is there in a fairly small area inside one of the warehouse buildings, but there’s a lot of stuff in those rooms. There are show costumes on display including a full nurse’s uniform and a nun’s habit, and several baskets of period-specific props used in the show. There’s also the Nonnatus dining table and the clinical room, which is smaller than I had expected, but it was especially cool to see the Call Board with various nurses’ names listed on it (including Nurse Turner)! We only got to spend about 20 minutes in this room, but it was a lot of fun, and I hope sometime I can go back! I wonder if they will update the collection in future series.

The Magic of TV–Re-watching the show after having gone on the tour is fun! I notice a lot of the locations I saw, but they somehow seem bigger on screen than in real life most of the time. It’s also easier now to notice when the same building turns up in different “roles” in different episodes over the years!

So, that’s about all. As I wrote before, I don’t want to give away too much because a lot of the fun is hearing the cool background stories. It’s a great tour, and I hope to go back someday. I highly recommend it!

#call the midwife #ctm tour #just a few thoughts #this tour is amazing #go see it if you can #my pictures

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mg-bsl381 · 6 years

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The Call the Midwife tour is great. It’s fascinating to see the real locations behind our favourite scenes. Well worth a visit even if you have to travel over 5000 miles or a mere 200! Sadly the Turners were unavailable today as the surgery was closed. (Also they have moved from the flat!) However my fellow Nonnatuns, the surgery and the flat really are just around the corner from each other.

#call the midwife #personal #snoop & magnette's road trip

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sweetchildomine121-blog · 3 years

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Contact

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Phone Number: 813-685-8404

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ilovemushystuff · 1 year

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🤣🤣🤣

#call the midwife #turnadette #Laura Main #Stephen McGann #shelagh turner #patrick turner #mushy-edits #call the midwife location tour

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lamazeclasssitn646-blog · 4 years

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Getting The Childbirth Classes Near Me To Work

Birthing classes are a vital part of preparing to have a child. They can aid you create a birth strategy as well as reduce your anxiety regarding the unknowns of labor as well as distribution. For first-time parents, these courses can supply important information, including: The different techniques of shipment. How to understand when you remain in labor.

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Approaches for making distribution much more comfy, including breathing as well as relaxation strategies. Pain administration options. Breastfeeding fundamentals. Taking care of child in the house. Birthing classes are not just for brand-new parents, however. There are additionally "refresher course" courses for parents that have older children however are expecting a new child. In enhancement to giving you up-to-date info on labor as well as distribution, birth courses serve one more important purpose.

The Ultimate Guide To Baby Classes Near Me

The majority of courses are developed for you and a partner, whether it is your partner, a companion, a loved one, or perhaps a buddy. Ideally, this individual will be your "trainer" as well as resource of inspiration during your delivery. Birthing courses additionally can be a great resource of psychological support. You'll have the opportunity to bond with other parents that have much of the very same fears as well as worries.

Knowing that millions of various other women have been with labor and also shipment can aid reduce your stress and anxiety. Finding out more concerning the methods entailed can aid you feel a lot more in control as well as ease your fears. A lot of medical facilities offer birthing courses, as do some facilities and also also independent instructors. Typically, these classes are shown by registered nurses, midwives, lactation specialists, as well as other giving birth instructors.

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If your strategy is to have your baby supplied in a medical facility, it's typically a great suggestion to take your classes there. A lot of courses offer a tour of the maternal ward as part of the class, so you'll get to see direct where you will be when you deliver.

Your choice of birthing technique may additionally route your course choice. While lots of birthing courses offer a basic summary of all birthing methods, there are courses that concentrate on one approach, such as Lamaze course. Many trainers advise that you wait to take a birth class till your last trimester of maternity, at 7 or 8 months.

The Best Guide To Prenatal Course

These sorts of courses are a terrific option for first-timers because they instruct tips for having a healthy and balanced as well as risk-free maternity. Courses are provided in various layouts. Some are compressed right into a single weekend, while others are used one evening a week throughout 10 weeks or so.

Classes that target a specific birth delivery technique are occasionally shorter. There are likewise courses created for parents who are having multiple babies (such as twins or triplets). If you had a c-section for your very first birth as well as hope to have a vaginal distribution this time around, there is a class for that, too.

Childbirth Classes Near Me for Beginners

Classes tend to fill up quickly, so you need to schedule your place early. Often, you can also locate a personal class, if you are not comfortable with the idea of being in a group course setting. Some health centers are starting to offer online courses, also. Expect to be required to pay for your birthing class, as this service may not be covered under your medical insurance plan.

This basic birthing course will certainly offer you an introduction of all points birth-related. This is an excellent all-around class, specifically if you're undecided regarding which birth strategy as well as discomfort method you would love to make use of. Expect to discover: Birth methods, consisting of a summary of all-natural giving birth methods (Lamaze, the Bradley Technique, HypnoBirthing).

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The distinctions between a vaginal birth as well as cesarean (C-section) distribution (consisting of recuperation for every). Births that require clinical treatment, including inducing labor (offering you medicine to set off labor), or utilizing forceps (a tool that looks like salad tongs) or a vacuum cleaner (a cone-shaped device with a vacuum cleaner pump) to help remove the baby.

How to time contractions and when to inform your medical professional or midwife. Postpartum treatment. Taking care of your infant at house, consisting of child first help. Among the most preferred birth strategies in the UNITED STATE, Lamaze has actually been around since the 1960s. It is most immediately well-known for its breathing techniques.

Rumored Buzz on Pregnancy Classes

It belongs to a general relaxation approach. Various other tools for relaxation made use of in Lamaze consist of strolling, utilizing a birth round (similar to an exercise sphere), and also massage therapy whatever assists get you with each tightening. The viewpoint behind Lamaze is to make a lady comfy enough during labor to make her own decisions.

Nevertheless, a woman exercising Lamaze could also opt for medication during her labor. This partner-coached childbirth technique instructs you to exactly how to prepare for a natural birth physically, emotionally, and emotionally. It emphasizes the importance of having a healthy child with little to no clinical intervention. The Bradley Approach is a 12-week program that includes an in-depth educational program as well as study overview that walks you through the entire procedure of having an infant, beginning with pregnancy.

The Only Guide for Baby Classes Near Me

Coaches discover how to assist their companions through the discomfort. They additionally discover reliable birth positions that can assist ease pain. The philosophy behind the Bradley Approach is that it takes months to effectively intend and plan for childbirth and being a parent. Their courses advertise "Healthy and balanced Child, Healthy And Balanced Mom, as well as Healthy Households." Also called The Mongan Technique, HypnoBirthing helps women learn self-hypnosis strategies to provide their infants in a calmness, certain manner that is gentle on them as well as on the baby.

Each session lasts 2.5 hours. During the sessions, you'll find out exactly how to use your birth muscular tissues, allowing your body do the job of childbirth. You'll likewise learn just how to attain a state of leisure where reaction will take over, reducing the discomfort. The philosophy behind HypnoBirthing is that birth is an all-natural process that women's bodies are entirely capable of doing.

The Of Childbirth Classes

It's this anxiety that develops tension and also avoids the body from overcoming the pain, making discomfort even worse. These courses subject the misconceptions linked with giving birth and assistance ladies see it as nothing to fear. If nursing isn't covered in your birth class, it's a good concept to take a specific class on it, especially if you are a novice mother.

The American Academy of Household Physicians (AAFP) advises that all babies, with extremely few exceptions, be nursed and/or receive bust milk in a bottle solely for the initial 6 months of life. Nursing need to continue also as you start to add strong foods throughout the second fifty percent of the initial year.

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Knowing what to do in an emergency situation that includes an infant or little one can imply the https://en.search.wordpress.com/?src=organic&q=prenatal & baby classes difference between life or fatality. If your birthing class does not include this information, you need to seek it out. Lots of health centers will provide this as an individual course for parents as well as for those people who routinely are around youngsters for any reason.

Often despite exactly how ready you are, your distribution does not go the method you would certainly wished it would go. There are a variety of clinical קורס הכנה ללידה המלצות factors that might trigger you to have to abandon your birth plan. If the baby isn't head-down and also your physician can't get the baby to turn, you'll likely have an unintended C-section.

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You can go previous your due date as well as require to be generated. The lesson right here is to plan the most effective you can but know that your body as well as infant will likely affect exactly how and when you'll offer birth. Where should I take a birthing class? What class or courses do you recommend? Who will delivery my infant if you are not offered? Will you cause birth if I do not provide by my due date? I'm intending on a "natural" birth in the health center.

It's the minute you spend your entire pregnancy getting ready forbut childbirth comes with discomfort and plenty of unknowns, so it's no surprise moms-to-be feel some stress and anxiety bordering labor and also delivery. But as they say, knowledge is power, and giving birth classes can be a great means to recognize the birth process, ask questions and clear up any kind of complication and nervousness.

Pregnancy Classes Things To Know Before You Buy

You may even make good friends with other moms and dads due around the exact same time as you! Yet with so lots of different courses around, how do you determine which one to register for? Below's what to understand about the kinds of birth classes, when as well as why you need to take one and just how to find one that's right for you.

Prenatal Course Can Be Fun For Anyone

" I assume everyone can gain from a prenatal course," says Megan Davies, a certified childbirth educator and also owner of YEG Prenatal in Alberta, The golden state. "Birth is among the most extreme, life-altering experiences a person can have. Birth is unpredictable, however recognizing what alternatives are offered, comprehending just how the body works during labor and having a concept of what to get out of the entire procedure can make the experience much less frightening." Birthing courses are additionally helpful for whoever will be sustaining you throughout birth, because they'll discover what takes place throughout labor as well as shipment, just how to literally as well as mentally comfort you and also exactly how they can support for you throughout the experience.

Prenatal Course - Truths

The great news is that some childbirth classes are used by neighborhood hospitals or recreation center at a reduced or no charge. Many childbirth education and learning classes are basic summaries of labor as well as distribution and might walk you with the adhering to facets of birth: the biology behind labor comfort and pain-alleviating strategies what the labor process looks like as well as what to anticipate from your medical group the duty of your birth partner in the labor procedure what to learn about epidurals what to know about c-sections information regarding breastfeeding as well as newborn treatment Various other birthing courses may have particular perspectives on exactly how to handle labor.

A lamaze courseor collection of courses, since the curriculum spans 12 hoursis a popular choice for moms-to-be. The practice was established in the 1950s by a French physician and also concentrates on breathing and also discomfort management strategies, exactly how to labor (with or without medicines) and ways a birth companion can assist.

The Single Strategy To Use For Prenatal Classes Near Me

If you're expecting a drug-free birth (and can devote to a 12-hour training course), Lamaze could be a terrific alternative, particularly if you're in your second trimester. Given its concentrate on the birth companion along with the individual delivering, Lamaze is an excellent way to make certain you and also your partner are on the exact same page when it concerns distribution.

The method can help ladies with labor breathing as well as methods to focus on opening the body for birth, and can additionally assist in making maternity extra comfortable. Courses may be standard Alexander Technique classes adjusted for maternity, or courses designed solely for expecting people and their companions. The variety of classes you wind up completing depends on your timetable and also wishes, but proponents of the Alexander Method suggest taking classes a minimum of when a week.

Little Known Facts About Childbirth Classes.

The mild stretching and activity may additionally benefit parents who wish to stay energetic during pregnancy. A 12-week program, the Bradley Method concentrates on all elements of giving birth, including just how to stay healthy and balanced for the period of your pregnancy. This birthing class concentrates on methods to help you through all stages of labor, what to anticipate if points don't go according to plan and also what the duty of your birth partner can be.

An unmedicated, intervention-free birth is the goal of the course: According to a study, 86 percent of participants in the Bradley Technique had a drug-free distribution. Are you the type who really feels there's no such point as excessive preparation? The course-like nature of this approach can be a great option for moms and dads who really intend to submerse themselves in all facets of the birth experience, in addition to parents that are preparing for a drug-free delivery.

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dfnews · 7 years

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Episode Recap of "Could It be Twins?"

Stop teasing people with the twin crap! Nobody cares but you.

Season 3, Episode 2 - First Aired: January 23, 2017

From TV Guide;"Ben hops on the stage when he and Jessa, who's expecting baby No. 2, attend a Flame concert. Meanwhile, Jinger's wedding planning continues." Just kill me now..............

1. The show begins with a lot of clips of what happened, nothing, and what is about to happen, nothing. The clips seem to be just filler to make up for having nothing to film. Izzy is fussy and crying in the first scene which sets up my mood for this recap. I'm in no mood for this insipid twaddle concerning the Duggdillawaldolos but I continue cause I love ya'll.

2. The Seewalds arrive at the Dillard's home. Well, it's not really their home. Jill and Jessa have been married for two to three years now and neither of them yet own their own homes with their husbands. They are all still living under Jim Bob's roofs. Such leaches! Anyway, Jessa is coming over to see Jill for her typical crappy prenatal care. Jill holds questionable credentials as a midwife and is known for having no common sense. She and Jessa's first births were near disasters but they decide to go the same horrible pregnancy and birth routes that failed them before. Anything to save a few bucks. Jessa, at 18 weeks along, hears the heartbeat and is reassured that there is a baby inside and she's not just sick. So this pretty much confirms she has not seen a doctor. Next will be the storefront baby ultrasound place to tell her what the gender is instead of an actual doctor. You know those storefront businesses that don't know anything about genetic or general abnormalities. Good luck baby Seewald. You're starting off life horribly. Then the twin talk begins. I was aware of Michelle's two sets of twins but never heard that her mom had two sets of twins. In all these years nobody has ever mentioned that Michelle had twin siblings. I wonder why? Is it even true? Next up, to get the mostly hidden Duggar boys involved in the show, the producers ask them what Jessa should name her baby. The boys come off as dolts.

3. Jinger wedding prep for the already aired wedding is still happening. Ms. Linda is back on the show to help Jinger choose some food for the rehearsal dinner. I thought that job was for the groom's parents. I guess since TLC is paying for most of the wedding, the Vuolos got off easy in the wallet department. Jinger tries a few of the pasta dishes even though she has no clue what she's eating. She decides on a rigatoni spiral white sauce and red sauce cheesy thing...she has no clue but it tastes good. Then on to choosing the food for the reception. These receptions are always good for a chuckle. She decides to do cheese, crackers, a relish bar???, coffee and meatballs. WTH is a relish bar? Oh, "It's a lot of pickled stuff." Yuck! I don't eat beef, so screw the meatballs. I don't eat pickled stuff because it's gross and then to mix pickled stuff with coffee and cheese? If I ever attend a Duggar wedding, I will be bringing a take-out box of chicken parmesan and wine and I will have everyone dying of envy. Joy explains that the wedding is in the afternoon so people at the reception shouldn't expect a meal. On what planet, Joy!? People come to help you celebrate your big day. They don't have to come. People bring gifts to help you start out your new life as a married couple. They are expected to bring gifts. You ask for them to buy gifts through your registries. It is then protocol that in return you are expected to feed your guests a decent meal no matter what time of day. You can have a breakfast reception or a brunch, a lunch, an early bird supper, a late night dinner or an all-nighter binge, but you are expected to feed your wedding guests. Your problem is in inviting too many people. Who the heck invites 1000 people? That is just showing off. Duggar weddings are all about me and screw those who attend.

4. Cheese testing Duggar style. There is a lot of face making, nose holding, and no clues about what they are eating, but the groomsmen want a cheese table so Jinger steps out of her American cheese safety net and experiments. The boys suddenly come out of the wood work, because you know they don't have school or real jobs and are always home, and start power eating cheese. Jim Bob is again banned from the set and the show. Yay! Then the producers, who are doing everything they can to kill this show, it must be why they all remained after the scandals, ask the kids this profound question, "If Jinger were a cheese, what kind of cheese would she be?" If Jinger were a cheese? How about asking, "If Jinger were a free woman, where would she flee?" That question might boost the ratings a bit. Joy says Jinger is not that moldy cheese even though most cheese has mold in it so I guess Jinger is not cheese. She's a spice. Jinger decides to go with the "more classic cheeses". I guess a field trip to a cheese factory is out for this family. They would hurt their faces too much from the exotic aroma. They might want to avoid The Cheesecake Factory as well. Too scary!

5. Anna makes an appearance on this episode in order to bring a TLC check home to the child molesting adulterer. She and her kids and Jill and her kid are visiting a kids' play place. Izzy does the normal baby thing and pushes Meredith which causes Jill to explain that 18 month old Izzy is entering his "training twos". Woof, woof! Hey, we have puppy training classes, how come we don't have toddler training classes. Izzy, Spuddy, Meri walk in a circle, heel, sit, roll over, beg for goldfish crackers. I guess babies are a little more complicated than puppies which is why we DON'T call raising children, training. Except for potty training. I'm all about leashes and swats on the nose with a roll of toilet paper there. Anna looks happy to be out of the house and away from Josh for the afternoon. Her kids are adorable and she is glad to spend time with Jill before she goes "overseas" again. Jill hasn't been overseas since she went to Nepal. What is she talking about? Central America is not overseas. And this woman is homeschooling her kids? I hope at least not in geography.

6. Ben is excited to take a road trip to see Flame in concert. This is his first time seeing Flame and Jessa's first concert ever. Ben raps in the car on the way to the concert and if Spud wasn't buckled up in the back seat it looks like Jessa was considering bailing out the window. Jessa says she appreciates the lyrics of Flames songs but the rapping is too fast for her catch. Jed, in a talking head, says, "The Duggars haven't attended many concerts. We like to watch things maybe as a family but when we have to go out in a crowd we rather stay home....blah, blah, blah. He's making excuses for their isolationist beliefs. People scary...hide under the bed. Jessa gives Ben permission to be a part of Flame's show. He was assigned the task of spraying the crowd with water guns. It's safer for the white guy to pull out any type of gun these days.

7. Cindy shows up not to see her best buddy Michelle, who is absent from this episode, but to visit the church locations with Jinger and Joy. Cindy, who has a sense of humor, has Jinger make a prank call to Jeremy to tell him that Jinger is going to sing to him during the ceremony. When Joy sees Jeremy on the phone, she says, "Hi babe." Such a flirt! Jeremy and Jinger giggle at the horrible idea of her singing and then say goodbye. Now the trio are heading to a different church building where the reception will be held. Such a step up for the Duggars to not be planning a parking lot reception. This has to be the Vuolos' idea. The reception room just looks like an auditorium. It has rows and rows of seats and a stage. Not really an ideal location for meatballs and cheese. Maybe this isn't a step up after all.

8. Flame sings, Spud, with ear protection on, falls asleep, and Ben is a nervous wreck about his role in the show. The crowd cheers when Ben runs on with the water gun but I'm not sure if the cheer was for him or the cooling spray. Ben is so hyped with the experience that he looks ready to run away from home and join Flames' concert tour. Instead of being a deadhead with the Grateful Dead, Ben can be a Flamer for Flame. We need more flamers in the world. ;) Seriously, we do.

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toweringfiction · 4 years

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Tower-ing Fiction #16: High-Rise (2015)

by Shawn Gilmore

Ben Wheatley’s 2015 adaptation of JG Ballard’s High-Rise (1975) positions the novel’s titular building and protagonist, Robert Laing, as bound up together, drawing on Ballard’s language and selective aesthetic palette throughout. The promotional materials highlight both the figure of Laing (Tom Hiddleston) and the film’s iteration of the forty-story high-rise, a brutalist tiered concrete block-style building, with its upper floors cantilevered out precariously. Liang stares forward while a figure falls into space, recalling the 9/11 “Falling Man” photo. (The poster version of the high-rise and the film’s actually differ slightly—in the film itself, a band of concrete separates every section of ten or so floors and the lower lobby structure is less pronounced.)

The film version of Ballard’s novel reduces the character set somewhat, introducing the building’s architect, Royal (Jeremy Irons), social climber and film star, Charlotte (Sienna Miller) and her son Toby (Louis Suc), documentarian and rabble rouser, Wilder (Luke Evans) and his lower-class pregnant wife Helen (Elisabeth Moss), upper-class toadie Pangbourne (James Purefoy), and a motley crew of hangers-on, gadflies, and denizens of the high-rise block that we follow as it progressively descends into madness. The setup of both book and film is deceptively simple: a new, modern (in both, mid-1970s) set of high-rises are put up by a visionary architect outside London, catering to a range of economic classes (narrower in the novel than the film), with the more well-to-do at the top and lower classes below (a familiar setup from works like Snowpiercer (dir. Bong Joon Ho, 2013)).

Both works open with Laing, holed up in his apartment on the 25th floor, cooking a leg of dog, attempting to center himself in the aftermath of a series of calamities that the works then flash back through. Wheatley introduces visual motifs of mirroring, fracture, and specifically kaleidoscopic vision, layered on top of the novel’s thematic emphasis on the building as a constructed organism and its impact on its residents.

The high-rise complex, unnamed, is introduced early in the film still under construction, with five buildings, seemingly of differing heights between thirty and forty stories tall. In their center is wide, open plaza, some of which is used for parking, the rest for the ongoing construction on the still-to-be finished buildings. Introducing the titular high-rise, the camera pans up the newly-opened building as Laing arrives.

The novel’s high-rise differs from the film’s in some interesting ways, but is described in the introductory paragraph: “With its forty floors and thousand apartments, its supermarket and swimming-pools, bank and junior school – all in effect abandoned in the sky – the high-rise offered more than enough opportunities for violence and confrontation.” The complex is quickly outlined:

the high-rise, one of five identical units in the development project [was] the first to be completed and occupied. Together they were set in a mile-square area of abandoned dockland and warehousing along the north bank of the river. The five high-rises stood on the eastern perimeter of the project, looking out across an ornamental lake – at present an empty concrete basin surrounded by parking-lots and construction equipment. On the opposite shore stood the recently completed concert-hall, with Laing’s medical school and the new television studios on either side. The massive scale of the glass and concrete architecture, and its striking situation on a bend of the river, sharply separated the development project from the rundown areas around it, decaying nineteenth-century terraced houses and empty factories already zoned for reclamation.

Further, “the apartment block was a small vertical city, its two thousand inhabitants boxed up into the sky. The tenants corporately owned the building, which they administered themselves through a resident manager and his staff.”

Wheatley worked with production designer Mark Tildesley to create a building that “doesn’t care about the people inside it.” The Architecture Foundation describes the buildings as “jointly inspired by Abalos & Herreros’ Torre Woremann in Gran Canaria mixed with Neave Brown’s Alexandra Road Estate in Camden”

Wheatley’s watercolor storyboards establish the gestural profiles of the five buildings in the high-rise complex, which Royal, the architect likens to curved fingers.

The building’s interiors are a mix of angular, ridged concrete walls and dividers (as in the lobby below), with other interior spaces, like hallways, that combine the bland look of mid-1970s schools, hotels, and apartment buildings.

Laing lives in apartment 2505 and his move-in provess gives a view of a typical floor plan and various interior shots of the open spaces, punctuated by concrete dividers

As Laing settles in, he visits the mid-building market and 30th floor gym and pool, each of which will be key locations in the plot, allowing viewers to track the chaos that will ensue. Note the almost parodic cleanliness and style of these locations, including a range of corporately-branded (presumably by the same company that owns the high-rise) products that appear throughout the film.

Though Laing’s apartment is on the 25th floor, his balcony seems to be on one of the off-set terraces that occupy the building’s upper ten floors (31st-40th), as evidenced by his first real meeting with Charlotte and Wilder. These balconies feature heavily in the plot, singalling both the upper-story remove that many prominent characters enjoy and the increasingly porous lives of the high-rise residents.

Laing’s early tour of the building wraps up with a trip to the 40th floor penthouse, occupied by Royal, his distant wife, and their upper-class hangers on (as well as some of the only regular staff we see).

The oppulent penthouse gives way to a surreal rooftop garden, complete with farm animals and rooftop vents.

The edge of the garden hangs precariously out over everything, opulence both above the lower-floor residents and the concrete blight that seems to surround the high-rise complex, with London some distance away.

The novel’s roof-top garden is Royal’s contribution to the building’s cohesion, designed as a children’s sculpture garden for residents to use regardless of class. However, its “concrete tunnels and geometric forms of the play-sculptures” are never used for this purpose: “Designing the garden had given him particular satisfaction, and he was sorry that the children no longer used the playground. At least it was open to the birds.“ By the end of the novel, Royal lives primarily by himself in the garden with his gulls.

Laing approaches Royal’s rooftop shack and architectural studio within.

Once they meet, Laing and Royal lay out (fairly bluntly) how we should think about the high-rise:

Laing: You built all this…

Royal: Dreamt. Conceived. I hardly rolled my sleaves up. Of course, the project’s far from finished. There were five towers in all, circling the lake. Something like an open hand. The lake is the palm and we stand on the distal phalanx of the index finger. There. I put all my energies into this tower. I’m its midwife, so to speak.

Laing: It looks like the unconscious diagram of some kind of psychic event.

Royal: Well, that’s good. Can I use that?

Laing: By all means.

Royal: Of course, I’m a Modernist by trade, but, you, a doctor will understand, one prescribes as required. […] My car was crushed by a reversing cement truck. […] Constant exercise is the only thing that keeps the pain at bay. So, you could say not only am I the building’s first road casualty, but I am the architect of my own accident. What do you think of that?

Their conversation is framed by various views of the high-rise complex, including a plastic model in the background and building plans.

At the center of the complex is a cryptic figure, what Laing called “the unconscious diagram of some kind of psychic event,” and which critic Elizabeth Sandifer likens to a “hypercubic prison.” (Interestingly, in the novel, Laing employs this line looking over the complex itself: “The cluster of auditorium roofs, curving roadway embankments and rectilinear curtain walling formed an intriguing medley of geometries – less a habitable architecture, he reflected, than the unconscious diagram of a mysterious psychic event.”)

Here, at the close of the first Act, the high-rise is presented flatly, with a profile of the upper half of the building well-detailed via Laing’s explorations. The catilevered upper floors veer out into space, carrying Roayl and his world beyond the lower floors, while also suggesting the precarity world established by Royal’s architecture.

Interestingly, Laing soon attempts to personalize his generic apartment, choosing a dull, gray color, only to discover that he’s chosen the same color as the midday sky. Hmm.

Things start to escalate as the top-floor residents throw an on-the-nose Regency-styled party, scored by a diegetic string quartet covering ABBA’s “SOS” (1975). Laing, out of place, enters the shag-carpeted passion pit (also a set up for later scenes), while his haughty betters emulate the class they truly aspire to. Laing is mocked for not dressing the part.

The subsequent exterior shots of the tower emphasize the downward glance of those above of the lessers below. Ballard’s novel repeatedly stresses the moderating force of the high-rise on the individual psyches and social organization of the building: “The underlying tensions among the residents were remarkably strong, damped down partly by the civilized tone of the building, and partly by the obvious need to make this huge apartment block a success.”

Laing, conflicted about his place in the hierarchy, strikes up with lower-floor Wilder, and while at one of Wilder’s parties that takes place during one of the rolling black-outs that plague the building, he witnesses and upper-floor resident, Munrow, leap to his death, crashing into the hood of Pangbourne’s convertible. (Though somewhat obscure in the film, Laing is the indirect cause of Munrow’s suicide, as out of spite Laing had misled him to think he had a brain tumor.)

The residents of the high-rise look on as Munrow falls to his death.

The next morning, the high-rise stands, passively.

Wheatley introduces visual fracture from this point on, particularly via Charlotte’s son, Toby. Spying on his mother and Laing flirting, Toby peers down.

Laing: What have you got there?

Toby: A kaleidoscope.

Laing: Ah, what can you see through that thing?

Toby: The future.

This motif will pop up, structuring Laing’s later journey through the plot, as when he shatters the control panel in the penthouse elevator, only to sink to the floor with endless repetitions of himself. Notably, kaleidoscopic vision is part of the music video for ABBA’s “SOS,” which exists in the world of the film, having been covered by the string players at the penthouse part earlier in the film

In the film, as in the novel, the social order of the high-rise begins to fracture as violence periodically breaks out, with “clans” of residents partying in the dark, commiting small acts of violence and sexual infidelity, as cohesion breaks down. Laing continues his brief trips to work, but eventually finds his life circumscribed by the high-rise complex. In a moment of crisis, he stands amidst the towers, which now enclose his known world.

Following a series of obscure conflicts—clearer in the novel—a number of characters are injured, including Wilder and Royal, the latter retreating with his upper-class party to the upper floors. Royal surveys his plans for the complex, puzzling over the impact of his choices (and giving us a good view of the complex).

As various locations in the high-rise are looted and vandalized, Laing attempts to maintain a normal routine, often to little success. The early establishing shots of the 30th floor gym and pool, as well as the supermarket and lobby, help us track the state of the building as things descend into madness.

Outwardly, of course, the building appears unchanged, seemingly a neutral container for the evolving social order inside.

Royal, dismayed by the orgies of sex and violence everywhere, searches for a solution, taking the mirrored elevator up to the penthouse, convening his cohort in the shag passion pit, where they plot. They decide to try to manipulate Laing into lobotomizing Wilder, who they paint as the singular antagonist they must stop to settle the agitation throughout the building. Tellingly, when Royal tries to dismiss his right-hand man, Simmons replies “I don’t work for you, I work for the building…”

This plan, hinging on Laing’s diagnosis of Wilder and willingness to lobotomize him, doesn’t come to fruition, and late in the film, Wilder is instead killed is a sort of ritual stabbing by a group of building residents, seen through Toby’s kaleidoscope, our view of the character’s death fractured like the coherence of the film’s plot.

When the sun rises once again, both Wilder and Royal are dead. Laing lays Royal to rest in the bloody waters of the 30th floor pool, and settles in to his new, somewhat feral life in the high-rise, including cooking the leg of dog the film opened with.

Juxtaposed against this is a conclave of the female residents who help deliver Helen’s baby (though Laing had taken up with Helen for part of the film, he is no part of this new social order) and Toby, who has built some kind of radio tower on the building’s roof, perhaps signaling a way to reconnect with the outside.

And still the high-rise stands stoicly in the morning sky. As Laing puts it in the novel, “these huge buildings had won their attempt to colonize the sky.”

#High-Rise (2015)#tower #Ben Wheatley #Tower-ing Fiction #Shawn Gilmore

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thechasefiles · 4 years

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 12/5/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! HAPPY MAY DAY! Here is your daily news cap Tuesday 12th May, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BEFORE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE - Several investors who are keen to commence their large-scale development projects have reached out to Government to have them fast-tracked through the Town Planning Department and Prime Minister’s Office Planning Unit. Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Alies Jordan, said the response to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s recent call for businesspeople to contact her office to have the processing of these major development projects expedited has been heartening. Jordan continued: “We have received several calls from persons who are eager to start major investment projects, and the Town and Country Development Planning Office and the Planning Unit in this office are working assiduously to have the matters addressed. I want to thank all the officers working round-the-clock to expedite the processing of these applications.” During her recent address to the nation, Mottley encouraged persons with projects and financing, who were awaiting planning approvals, to immediately contact the Prime Minister’s Office. She had said then that this push to start projects was being undertaken to stimulate the economy in a post COVID-19 environment, after the country had been on shutdown for about five weeks, to reduce the spread of the virus. Jordan reported that both the Town Planning department and the PMO Planning Unit were currently processing applications for various projects across several categories. She explained that they included submissions for hotel and resort development; villas; town houses; apartments; renewable energy, namely installation of solar voltaic systems, a renewable energy biomass project and wind turbines; along with the usual complement of householder applications. “The proposed locations are across the island – on the west, south and southeast coastal areas,” she stated. The Permanent Secretary highlighted the redevelopment of the existing Blue Horizon Hotel property, at Rockley, Christ Church, and Royalton Barbados at the Discovery Bay site in Holetown, St James, as two of the proposed hotel projects. Meanwhile, there will be a first-of-its-kind virtual town hall meeting on Monday, May 18, regarding the proposed construction of the Royalton Barbados Resort. Members of the public may also submit comments on the proposed development to the Prime Minister’s Office Planning Unit, by Wednesday, May 27. They may be emailed to [email protected], or delivered to: Prime Minister’s Office Planning Unit, First Floor, Old Town Hall Building, Cheapside, Bridgetown, BB11142. (BGIS)

SURGEONS WANT THEATRES RETROFITTED – A group of general surgeons employed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and management there are at loggerheads over the standard of equipment being used. Speaking on Starcom Network’s call-in radio programme Down To Brass Tacks yesterday, general surgeon Dr Maurice Walrond, spokesperson for more than ten surgeons, bemoaned the inadequacies within operating theatres at the QEH. He also charged that the hospital’s hierarchy was not doing enough to keep the environment COVID-19 free. Walrond even suggested patients who were COVID-19 positive but needed general surgery could find themselves at risk if transferred to the QEH for surgical procedures. He said 11 colleagues from the Department of Surgery had put their signatures to a letter sent to Government itemising their concerns. (DN)

DOCS ARGUE WOULD BREATHE EASIER WITH CHANGES TO QEH, ENMORE – The Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s operating theatres and a coronavirus isolation facility were today declared substandard by a group of surgeons, who warned that the conditions pose a great danger to COVID-19 patients in need of surgery, the doctors and nurses who look after them and the entire hospital. General Surgeon Dr Maurice Waldron raised the alarm on Monday when he insisted that QEH operating theatres need to be retrofitted with negative room pressure to prevent COVID-19 patients from contaminating other parts of the hospital while undergoing surgery. Dr Waldron has also expressed concern about a make-shift operating theatre at the Enmore isolation facility, which has the required ventilation system, but in the opinion of surgeons is otherwise substandard and could potentially jeopardize the health of anyone treated there. But the QEH’s Deputy Chairman Dr Abdul-Rehman Mohamed is adamant that although the isolation facilities are not equipped to conduct “major” surgeries, the make-shift arrangements are the best that could be achieved with Government’s current resources. While speaking on the Voice of Barbados radio call-in programme, Down to Brass Tacks, Dr Waldron explained that while the country’s general hospital is well equipped to conduct ordinary surgeries, it was not best to treat COVID-19 patients there due to the absence of necessary fittings, and also because infected patients are ideally supposed to be treated away from the Martindale’s Road hospital. “The QEH is the only place unfortunately that has all of the support services on one site. It has radiology services, dialysis services and all of those services necessary to take care of patients in need of emergency surgeries… If you need a CT scan on the abdomen, support with dialysis etc., there are no facilities elsewhere and you wouldn’t want to move [COVID-19] patients because of the possibility of infection and the possibility to injure patients,” explained the surgeon of ten years’ experience. “Our concern is that we looked outside of the QEH and the operating theatres that they wanted to use were not adapted to deal with all the emergency cases that may pop up in a situation like this. We, therefore, tried to adapt to a place which already has negative pressure, but which is way below the standards that we believe is safe for patients and personnel to perform surgery.” Surgeons indicated to management that the makeshift theatre at Enmore Centre is “way too small” after a tour of the facility and later wrote a letter signed by numerous surgeons warning the QEH administration of the potential danger to patients and medics. “When we toured the facility, it did not even have any operating theatre lights. They then brought in the lights that you push on the ground and we have not used those lights in years because we cannot see to operate which is very important when you are operating. “They have retrofitted a patient room where we would be operating next to a toilet where trollies could not get in and out of the room and we had to lift a patient to get them into the room. The room also cannot hold all of the equipment that we need,” he explained while adding that not even the floor, walls or ceilings were outfitted to acceptable standards. But the QEH’s deputy chairman argued that after numerous meetings with surgeons and Head of Infection Control Dr Corey Forde it was decided that the arrangements at Enmore were the best in the circumstances. Defending the hospital’s position, he stressed that the hospital does not have the resources necessary to recreate brand new facilities like China. “Of course it is not a cardiac suite, but it is a theatre that can manage simple stuff that come through from COVID positive patients. Mind you, we made provision for the long-shot possibility that a patient gets a problem with their appendix while COVID-positive. We also converted a room for recovery,” he argued. While stressing that he was fully supportive of Government’s COVID-19 response, Dr Waldron nevertheless expressed disappointment that public health officials had not accounted for the possibility that some coronavirus patients at isolation facilities may need surgery. While none of the country’s 84 confirmed patients has required surgery thus far, Dr Waldron was adamant that the country should be prepared for the possibility as it could mean the difference between life and death. He said: “The surgeons have said we believe that patients, whether they have COVID-19 or not are patients and deserve a high standard and at least the minimum standard of care and we are unwilling to drop that standard below what we think is minimum. “That is why I have stepped out here to speak with the public because I don’t want to say we were asking for this and something happens to a Barbadian and I feel guilty because I didn’t say enough. “I could be one patient who is your father or your child or your best friend.” (BT)

NURSES WANT BETTER – BNA PRESIDENT – As public health officials tackle community spread of COVID-19, the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) has expressed concern about inadequate safety equipment for healthcare workers in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. BNA President, Joannah Waterman expressed the concerns in her message for the launch of Nurses Week 2020, in the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, which has largely been overshadowed by the ongoing pandemic. Waterman has also outlined numerous problems affecting nurses prior to COVID-19 that in her opinion, must not exist after the crisis has passed. These include inadequate staffing quotas, sporadic salary payments, insufficient remuneration, inadequate training programmes and material resources. Meanwhile, Minister of Health and Wellness Jeffrey Bostic in his message lauded nurses for their “invaluable role”, which has been “magnified times-fold” amid the global pandemic. While expressing satisfaction with the stockpiles of PPEs and efforts to shield the country’s main healthcare institutions from COVID-19 as announced by Minister Bostic, Waterman vowed the association would continue to closely monitor developments. She, however, added that appropriate training, mandatory testing, and quarantine for nurses exposed to infected patients are imperative. The BNA president also wants to see more widespread testing of frontline nurses and compensation for any harm resulting from the existing hazardous environment. “The current community spread of the virus will mean expanding these protocols to all health institutions such as Geriatric and Psychiatric [hospitals],” the statement read. “[The BNA] shall continue to monitor what is actually happening on the ground with our members and nurses. Currently, training is incomplete for Geriatrics, Psychiatric settings and there are real concerns regarding the availability of the appropriate PPEs in the areas such as the Accident and Emergency Department,” she added. Minister Bostic meanwhile expressed his commitment to providing PPE and other essential items to nurses. “While this type of sacrifice may be hard for some people outside of your profession to understand, I know that those of you who have chosen this vocation fully embrace the notion that being a nurse is more than a job. It is who you are. Your aptitude to be empathetic, to feel compassion and to provide comfort is what drew you to this profession, and it is these qualities that make you the diligent, committed, healthcare professionals that you are,” the Minister’s statement declared. It is imperative that nurses are provided with all the personal protective equipment they need to carry out their duties each day, and here in Barbados we have worked hard to ensure that our healthcare teams have ready access to everything they require,” he stressed. The BNA meanwhile emphasised the contribution of local and regional nursing icons including Mary Seacole, Florence Nightingale, Dame Nita Barrow, and Eunice Gibson, who all paved the way for nurses currently on the frontlines of the pandemic. “It is indeed an indispensable contribution that nurses make to our nation Barbados and as unsung Nightingales, they must be justly rewarded. Nurses are deserving of the best of working conditions to ensure safety and health for themselves and their parents,” the BNA President stressed.”(BT)

EDUCATORS, EVEN CRITICS, OPPOSE CANCELLING 2020 11-PLUS - Despite the current uncertainty surrounding the staging of the Common Entrance Examination owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of Barbadian educators appearing on state-owned television agreed that now is not the time to abolish it. Some 3,500 primary school students are expected to sit the exam this year, which was initially scheduled for May 5 but has been postponed until June 11. During a discussion on CBC Television’s current affairs weekly, The People’s Business, Principal of the Daryll Jordan Secondary School Stephen Jackman said while he was opposed to the exam, he did not think now was the time to abandon it. He said: “There is going to be an Eleven-plus this year as there are no mechanisms to do anything else. I come down on the side that this is an exam that has outlived its usefulness because it was designed in a time when we had more students than places for them. “We now have more places than children. I remember when I started at Daryll Jordan we had 1,100 children, we now have 700 or less, are we going to hold onto this because it is a sacred cow?” Lecturer in Educational Leadership at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Dr Ian Marshall, said it was unfair to abandon the exam based on the fact that students, parents and teachers have spent the last two years preparing for it. Dr Marshall told the programme: “The Common Entrance is a two-year programme starting from Class 3; you have a whole set of parents and teachers with legitimate expectations, that the exam will be conducted and children will go to the schools of their choice, so to seek to abandon it is treading on dangerous ground.” Retired principal Jeff Broomes as well as Joylyn Inniss, a teacher at the St Gabriel’s Primary School, said the exam could indeed be held this year, but only once schools were properly cleaned and social distancing protocols observed in the way the exam rooms were set up. Citing the example of the Alexandra School where he was once the principal, Broomes said: “Alexandra has about 900 students, and on Common Entrance day 100 children are there. You can organise it so that five children are assigned to classrooms, you can put some in the hall, and with some creative thinking you can respect the protocols.” Inniss added: “There is no reason why the exam cannot go on, but the schools have to be ready and deep cleaned before the children and teachers go back. Right now we have a situation where some of the teachers and parents are fearful but I think the children do need that face-to-face instruction prior to the exam again, as seeing and interacting with them online is not the same as dealing with them in person.” All the panellists agreed that the decision to open schools again should be guided by medical professionals. They suggested social distancing for the Eleven Plus and the CSEC secondary school exams with guidance from doctors but called on schools to be fully cleaned first. Inniss said: “This is important because the schools were closed for a long time and did not get the daily cleaning they were accustomed to; a serious deep cleaning will help us to avoid the ‘sick building’ problems that have been plaguing us for a long time now.” (BT)

TECH DONORS URGED TO CONTACT MINISTRY OF EDUCATION – Companies and individuals seeking to donate devices for the Google G Suite Tech Drive for Education Project should liaise with the Ministry of Education Technological and Vocational Training (METVT), or Haigh Communications Inc. the public relations firm retained to assist with the project. The Ministry expresses sincere appreciation for the efforts by all who wish to contribute to the continuation of education, which switched to emergency remote learning as a result of the current global pandemic, COVID-19. In an effort to ensure that children in need are provided with the required devices and guarantee that all students have access to requisite equipment, the Ministry has prepared a priority list and put the necessary protocols in place to avoid the duplication of the distribution of devices. These protocols include security measures on the devices in the event that they are stolen, misplaced, or require technical support. Additionally, parents will be required to sign responsibility agreements on behalf of their children. The Ministry is therefore appealing to donors for closer communication, and ask that they contact Haigh Communications Inc. at 836-4629, or email [email protected] to ensure seamlessness of the donating process, and that no child is left behind. The METVT again thanks the donors and the computer stores for their continued assistance, cooperation and support. (BGIS)

UWI TRINI STUDENTS TO RETURN HOME - It’s homeward bound – finally – for 13 Trinidadian students at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, as their government reverses its bar on even its own nationals returning during the COVID-19 pandemic. And according to a spokesman for the group Chantal Seecharan they couldn’t be happier after receiving word today that the Keith Rowley administration has given the green light to their return to the twin-island republic in three weeks. But the Trinidadian government is insisting on the students being quarantined twice for up to a month – both here and on their return home. “Everyone is elated and relieved to wake up this morning and hear the news that we will be able to go home on June 2nd,” Seecharan, a final year law student, told Barbados TODAY. It’s an about-turn on the part of the Port of Spain government which remained defiant that it could not re-open in borders closed to national and non-nationals on March 22 to curb the spread of COVID-19, despite a direct appeal from the students back in April. Seecharan also revealed that anxious relatives in Trinidad are equally overjoyed. She said: “Our families are [happy]. My mom, in particular, she is really happy, she is happy because her daughter is coming home. It is just me and my sister she is six. My sister is overjoyed because she misses me a lot. My Dad recently passed away in December, so it was even harder being away from them. So everyone is just calling us and saying you coming home on June 2nd, you coming home.” National Security Minister Stuart Young today disclosed that discussions have already started with the principal of the Cave Hill, the Most Honourable Professor Eudine Barriteau and her counterpart at Mona on the students’ return. He told journalists: “The students who wish to come back, this will be coordinated by the principals of these various institutions in Barbados and Jamaica. It is not a personal reach-out to a minister and a personal reach-out to anyone here in Trinidad. We are going to carefully coordinate it with the principals in Barbados and in Jamaica. “What we will be going to be looking at is in the first week of June, and we have already spoken to Caribbean Airlines (CAL), we will be planning an operation for Caribbean Airlines to go to both Barbados and Jamaica to bring back our local students.” But Young insisted their return was on the condition that the students must be quarantined – twice – for up to a month. “Every student who wants to return via this very careful operation is going to be quarantined in Barbados and in Jamaica for 14 days -that is the first condition,” Young said, adding that the government is to “coordinate with Caribbean Airlines once we ascertain the number”. He said that when the students arrive in Trinidad and Tobago, they will be put into state quarantine for a further 14 days. Seecharan said the students will comply with the requirements and trust that they will be taken care of.She said: “We are fully aware that we would have to go in quarantine; we knew that from before, sometimes you can be a little nervous about it, but some of us we have been trying to go home for over a month now and we are prepared and we are ready to go into state quarantine. To be able to get back home, we know that is necessary in terms of the protection of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and we trust our Government will look out for us and look after us.” Meanwhile, exams started today but Seecharan said the students were unlikely to be affected. She said: “The exam period started today. However, the format for exams are online take-home assessments, so we need proper wi-fi access. So as long as we have proper wi-fi access we will be able to do exams. “The university is aware of our concerns, and have been for two weeks. Our deans are aware of what would happen if we had to leave during exams and they were making provisions for that, they were trying to find solutions to help us.” (BT)

MINISTER, ADVOCATE WEIGH IN ON VIRAL ‘REVENGE PORN’ – The release of numerous pornographic images and videos on social media over the weekend has plunged at least one woman into depression, while raising the ire of a well-known women’s rights activist and a Government Minister. On Sunday, social media was abuzz when the images of at least seven Barbadian women were exposed posing naked and engaging in sexual acts. While the identities of the males involved were mostly hidden, some of the women, ranging from their early 20s to mid-30s could be identified. The leaks were followed by an extended discussion, which included taunting and shaming of the exposed women. While some people condemned those responsible for broadcasting ‘nudes’ which were received in confidence, others suggested that people who consent to the taking of these images should be content to live with the consequences. When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), acting Inspector Rodney Inniss told Barbados TODAY he was unaware of the incident but indicated that such matters would only be investigated if an alleged victim makes a formal report. One of the young women, who requested anonymity, told Barbados TODAY she has already sought legal counsel and filed a police complaint claiming that her x-rated photos were initially shared with a trusted male partner. The relationship subsequently ended, but the alleged victim was stunned when the videos surfaced. “I told him I didn’t want to speak with him anymore and it seemed as though he was okay with it. I explained why I didn’t want to be speaking with him and when it ended, it was not on a bad note. On the day the photos were released, he denied that he was responsible… and said that I shouldn’t blame him if people are talking about me,” she said while adding that videos of her were released some time ago, but only made social media over the weekend. “It is not a good feeling to have a whole set of people messaging you to tell you that they have seen this video of you doing something. Then you go on social media, and people are just sharing the video. For something that was personal in the first place to be out there, especially in a place like Barbados is difficult. I haven’t cried or anything, but I will take the situation and somehow try to make something positive of it,” the young woman added. Investigations revealed that the most recent images were shared in a group chat of mostly male vehicle fanatics, but Barbados TODAY understands the broadcast is much wider. The alleged victim disclosed that while she was doing her best to stay strong amid the scandal, another alleged victim has descended into depression. “One of the girls was crying really badly…and sometimes when you go on social media attempting to defend yourself, it gets worse and I think that happened to her, and she felt really bad. It seems like she is now in a depressed state,” the source added. “The one thing that bothers me is how far this situation got and the fact that people took it upon themselves to send it to my family. Although they been very supportive throughout the situation… it got really far. These things get much further than you would think and at the time I didn’t see As the troubling discussion unfolded on Twitter, Minister of the Creative Economy, Culture, and Sports, John King made a passionate plea for social media users to share positive messages instead of “all of this vulgarity” which is “causing distress and havoc in the lives of others”. “There is nothing exciting or interesting about causing others pain, embarrassment, or anguish. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” he urged in a subsequent tweet before warning that Barbadians guilty of using the internet to cause harm could be prosecuted. When contacted on Monday morning, the Minister said he could not comment on the incident. Section 14 of the Computer Misuse Actplaces a penalty of $10,000 or imprisonment for 12 months where a person uses a computer to send a message, letter, electronic communication or article of any description that is “indecent or obscene” and intended to cause or is reckless as to whether he causes annoyance, inconvenience, distress or anxiety to the recipient or to any other person to whom he intends it or its contents to be communicated. President of the National Organisation of Women (NOW) Marsha Hinds identified revenge porn as one of the fastest-growing methods of inflicting pain on former partners and urged victims to make better use of the provisions of the act. While acknowledging that women ought to be more mindful of their online activities, she cautioned against “victim-blaming”. “We need to educate our young girls and women of the dangers of taking various types of videos and sending them to male partners. These are taken as a type of collateral which can be held over the heads of these young women once they end up being leaked on internet platforms,” said Hinds, who added that in addition to physical abuse, such issues are part of a growing form of emotional abuse. “The leaking of these types of things cause anxiety, fear, judgment, etcetera and perhaps we need to streamline the law on emotional abuse in the [Domestic Violence] Protection Orders Act, which the Computer Misuse Act does not address,” said Hinds. The women affected by this latest incident are meanwhile dreading the videos making their way from social media onto mainstream pornography sites. (BT)

NO TO BUS FARES – Taxi operators are not in favour of being used as public transport unless Government pays them a stipend for transporting commuters. That is the view of several operators who operate from the taxi stand at Lower Broad Street who told Barbados TODAY it would make absolutely no sense for them to carry passengers for the normal bus fare of $3.50 as they could only carry a maximum of four people at a time. Last Friday, the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) spokesperson on Small Business Ryan Walters suggested that Government utilize the services of taxi operators in helping to transport commuters. He said because of the current COVID-19 restrictions which only allow public service vehicles (PSVs) and Transport Board buses to carry 60 per cent of their capacity, taxi operators could be integrated, especially as the country moves towards Phase 3. But when asked to give their thoughts on the suggestion, taxi operators said it was not feasible unless Government offered them additional income. “We can only carry four people. Take for example if they are going to St Joseph that is only $3.50 per person and that doesn’t make sense. If we are going St Joseph at $80 then that is ok,” Andrew Weekes, a taxi driver for over 20 years told Barbados TODAY. “It would have to be a situation where they are paying us extra.” Weekes pleaded with Government to lend some assistance to taxis as he said they were “suffering” right now. “We need some help because we ain’t getting no money out here. Sometimes we come out here and sit down a whole day and don’t get a job. We have to go back home broke and we still have to buy something to eat and put back in gas,” he added. Andrew McCaskie who has been driving taxi for over 30 years called for Government to give them some form of subsidy. He said with no tourists expected on the island in the near future it would be hard for taxi operators to make a proper living. “The only good days we have are when the tourist season is in, otherwise it’s hard for us. We aren’t going to have any tourists here for a little while so what they can do is give us some money,” McCaskie said. “If we can get $200 or $300 a week that would be enough because that is better than what we are getting now which is nothing.” McCaskie said things were so dire that he believed several taxi operators would be unable to repay their loans and would have their vehicles seized. “A lot of taximen are going to lose their vehicles between now and September or November because they can’t meet the payments and the bank don’t want to hear that you can’t pay because you were in quarantine,” he said. Another operator who asked to remain anonymous said taxi operators who work at the Bridgetown Port had received vouchers and queried why the same could not be done for them. While Andre Marshall has only been driving taxi for the past three years, he said something needed to be done to help persons in the sector during this time. “They have to treat us better than this. They should at least come out and talk to us and see what our concerns and problems are because right now things real rough,” he said. (BT)

BUS RULES NOT BEING FOLLOWED SAYS NURSE – A frontline worker is disappointed after being forced by a Transport Board driver to sit next to another passenger despite the Board’s set COVID-19 social distancing policy. The nurse admitted that when she boarded the Connell Town bus on Friday night she and the driver had a heated argument after she told him she would not breech the policy by sitting next to another passenger. “But I sat at the edge of a seat next to someone but the drive was really uncomfortable. I got really irate and words come out of my mouth. People were attacking me and I was really vex. “A guy got in the bus and he [driver] told the guy to give me his bus fare because he don’t want me in the bus, but I refused to take the money. “I can’t say exactly how much people were in the bus but the back seat was full and persons were sitting next to persons. I sat in the side seats behind the driver and the side seats were full,” she explained. She asked for her name not be used in the article due to fear of being victimized. Transport Board buses should be operating at a 60 per cent capacity as it relates to seated passengers. This means that only 21 passengers should be on the bus and no one should be standing. The passenger said she sat eventually because the driver told her he would not move the bus until she did. “He said that if I don’t sit he wouldn’t be moving the bus. It is the way he said it. He was like, ‘sit down in this bus or this bus ain’t moving because if the police see me I will get a report’. I didn’t even know you are not supposed to be standing. “To be honest, it is not that I don’t want to sit next to anybody because I am not scornful. But, my parents are both over 70 and my mother is ill. So I am not only looking at just protecting myself, but I protecting them too,” she said. The nurse said she stood back up after she observed that the driver continued to pick up additional passengers. She indicated that eventually she sat in a seat where there was no one next to her when it became possible along the journey. The situation has left the woman in her 30’s upset to the point that immediately after she got off the bus she called the Speightstown Terminal to lay a complaint. She also took to social media to relay her story and vent her frustration. “I was disappointed. The persons on the bus would not have known that I work where I work because we don’t wear uniforms on the road. I felt really disappointed because other people sat down and I was the only person that decided not to sit down. And nobody didn’t think for one minute ‘she right you know.’ It is like the whole bus was full of idiots. I was disappointed in the public and in the driver,” she said. She advised that in order to avoid a recurrence of what took place on the bus on Friday night, additional buses should be placed on the roads if the demand is there. “We have more people back on the road now and there may be a demand for more buses. But Transport Board may not know this because the drivers are picking up everybody and people sitting down next to each other and I am not willing to do that. “When the bus stopped for me, it did not look full until I put in my bus fare. And it was not just me standing. It was myself and others but they sat when he shouted,” she said. However, the woman admitted that there was a positive note to her experience. She said she was pleased with the professional manner in which the supervisor at the Speightstown Terminal responded to her complaint. She said he listened carefully and responded accordingly while maintaining a calm and reassuring voice. “He is the person that answered the phone and I spoke to him. He apologized on behalf of Transport Board. He apologized on behalf of the driver. He was just nice,” she said. Meanwhile, Transport Board’s Chief Executive Officer Fabian Wharton confirmed that the woman did speak to a supervisor at the Speightstown Terminal who apologized and asked her to make an official complaint. “The matter has reached us and we are conducting our internal procedures,” he said. Wharton also told Barbados TODAY that Transport Board’s buses should be operating at a 60 per cent seated only capacity at this time. “Passengers can’t sit next to each other. So in real terms, we also don’t allow standing so that works out to 21 passengers,” Wharton agreed. (BT)

FACE MASK REQUIRED TO TRAVEL ON PSVS - If you are not wearing a face mask, you will not be allowed to embark a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) in Barbados. That was among the guidelines the PSV Workers Association announced late yesterday in an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. Effective immediately, said the media release, commuters without face masks will be denied entry on PSVs. Both the driver and conductor are also required to wear a face mask. PSVs are limited to a carrying capacity of 60 per cent and physical distancing is “mandatory” when boarding a vehicle. (DN)

DEPUTIES ESSENTIAL? - Two more Government officials have side-stepped the controversial issue of the recent appointment of a second Deputy Commissioner of Police. A check with senior officials of Parliament by Barbados TODAY revealed that “no measure had been passed in that Chamber in the last two years which permitted the appointment of two deputies.” Last week when Attorney General Dale Marshall was asked by the media to address the matter as Government’s chief legal advisor, he declined, telling reporters he had no intention of engaging in a tit-for-tat with Franklyn. He was referring to Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn who last week sounded alarm over the appointment of a second deputy. Today, when this media house reached out to Police Commissioner Tyrone Griffith he too would not comment, but instead referred Barbados TODAY to Chairman of the Protective Services Commission Branford Goddard. Goddard also side-stepped the issue stating only “an appropriate comment will be made at the appropriate time”. Two weeks ago the Protective Services Commission which is responsible for recommending appointments to the Governor-General, announced in a statement to the media that Assistant Commissioner of Police Oral Williams had been appointed Deputy Commissioner effective May 1, 2020. Franklyn had also said that Williams was appointed to a non-existent position in the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF). Franklyn, who is General Secretary of the Unity Trade Union (UTU) is contending that the Police Act, CAP 167 stated at Section 6 that the police force shall consist of a commissioner, a deputy commissioner and such number of assistant commissioners, superintendents, inspectors, subordinate police officers and constables, respectively, and does not exceed the number provided by any order made under Section 2 of the Civil Establishments Act. He also noted that the number of persons appointed to the post of commissioner and deputy commissioner is subject to primary legislation. Franklyn explained that the Police Act would be the primary legislation and that such numbers could only be adjusted by changes to the Act carried out in Parliament. However, Franklyn explained that the same Act gives the minister for Civil Establishments the power, by subsidiary legislation, to determine the number of assistant commissioners, superintendents, inspectors, subordinate police officers and constables. The union leader said that the power to make appointments to public offices, and to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over people holding or acting in the Public Service, was vested in the Governor General, acting on the advice of service commissions which on this occasion is the Protective Service Commission. Erwin Boyce has been serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police since being appointed on May 1, 2018. Boyce took over from Williams who was Acting as deputy at the time. President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Verla De Peiza has also been questioning the appointment of Williams. DePeiza pointed out that there has been no announcement of Boyce’s retirement from the Force and asked how then could there be the appointment of Williams to that same post. (BT)

CONFUSION OVER PLANS TO END BRITISH LOCK DOWN – Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out a cautious plan on Monday to get Britain back to work, including advice on wearing home-made face coverings, though his attempt to lift the coronavirus lockdown prompted confusion and even satire. The United Kingdom has one of the world’s highest official COVID-19 death tolls and, after criticism that he was slow to impose a lockdown, Johnson is wary of triggering a second wave of infection. “Our challenge now is to find a way forward that preserves our hard-won gains while easing the burden of lockdown,” he told the House of Commons. “This is a supremely difficult balance.” Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the government had been issuing conflicting guidance that did not answer the public’s practical questions about going back to work. “What the country needs at this time is clarity and reassurance, but at the moment both are in pretty short supply,” he said. Having refused for several weeks to give any indication of how it planned to start relaxing the lockdown, the government opted for a gradual release of information over 24 hours, starting with a solemn televised address by Johnson on Sunday. On Monday, the government published a 51-page document entitled “Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy”, followed by a series of sector-by-sector documents offering guidance to employers and workers. The plan includes a staged undertaking to allow businesses to reopen, advice on avoiding public transport and wearing face coverings as well as a 14-day quarantine for most international arrivals. But a wide range of critics said the details were nebulous and did not help people to know whether they should go back to work, how they would get there and how they could stay safe in the workplace. Adding to the confusion, the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland made clear they did not share Johnson’s approach and rejected his new core message, “stay alert”, instead sticking to the previous “stay at home” slogan. “Why are some parts of the United Kingdom now on a different path to others?” Labour leader Starmer asked in a TV message to the public. Johnson appeared twice, first in parliament and later at a televised news briefing where he took questions from members of the public, one of whom bluntly told him that his statements had raised more questions than they had answered. After weeks of declining to tell the British people to wear face coverings amid contradictory scientific advice on their usefulness, the government said they should be worn in enclosed spaces where distancing is impossible. “Homemade cloth face-coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstances,” the plan said. “Face-coverings are not intended to help the wearer, but to protect against inadvertent transmission of the disease to others if you have it asymptomatically.” Public Health England published an accompanying description on how to make a face covering from an old T-shirt, along with cutting advice and how to sew a homemade face covering. It said a sewing machine was optional. Meanwhile, a parody of Johnson’s Sunday night address by comedian Matt Lucas was watched 4.5 million times on Twitter. “So we are saying don’t go to work, go to work, don’t take public transport, go to work, don’t go to work, stay indoors, if you can work from home, go to work,” Lucas said in a tone strongly reminiscent of Johnson’s distinctive speech. “And then we will or won’t, something or other.” (Reuters)

GANJA FOUND IN SHIPMENT OF WIPES –. United States law enforcement officials have found marijuana in a shipment of disinfecting wipes destined for Barbados. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said over the weekend that the four pounds of ganja seized by its officers in Cincinnati, Ohio, arrived from Canada last Wednesday and were for an unnamed “doctor” here. “On May 6, 2020, CBP officers inspected a shipment arriving from Canada and heading to a doctor in Barbados. Officers held the package for inspection based on their experience, X-ray anomalies and a drug detector canine alerted to the parcel,” the agency announced. “Inside officers found disinfecting wipe canisters and other cleaning products. However, inside those canisters and other packages was four pounds of marijuana.” (SC)

CITY MEN ON GUNS. AMMO CHARGES – Two men are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday to face charges related to the discovery of three firearms and 79 rounds of ammunition. Ramon Omar St Hill, 32, and Rodney Angelus Thomas Greaves, 35, both of Church Gap, Kings Street, St Michael, are slated to appear at the District “A” Magistrate's Court. Police say investigations by the Antigun and Gangs and Major Crime Units led to the execution of a search warrant at St Hill’s home, where they allegedly found two 9mm firearms, one .45 calibre pistol and the rounds of ammunition for both weapons. Further investigations revealed that Greaves was also allegedly linked to the firearms and ammo. The latter was discovered in high capacity magazines. St Hill and Greaves were jointly charged with three counts of possession of a firearm without licence to do so and one count of possession of ammunition without a permit to do so. (DN)

DRUNK VANDAL GIVES UP DRINKING – Consuming alcohol on Saturday afternoon in a bid to cope with personal issues did not result in a positive outcome for a 43-year-old man. In fact, Jameson Russell Gregory Barrow, of 5th Avenue Holders Land, Brandons, St Michael revealed that he was “pissing drunk” on May 8 when he damaged a motor van belonging to Silvia Browne-Niles without lawful excuse. “I duh drunk out of my mind,” the first-time offender told Magistrate Graveney Bannister this morning in explaining his actions on the day. He has vowed to stay away for alcohol from now onwards. “I accept full responsibility for my actions. It was a pint and a half ESA Fields that is what I does drink. But I don’t drink no more, I can’t afford it. “I am going through some emotional problems right now . . . I can’t get in contact with my son. I thought I was controlling it but the alcohol showed me that I wasn’t. So, I need to keep away from the alcohol. I rather my son than alcohol. I done drinking,” Barrow said. In reading the facts Sergeant Edwin Pinder revealed Browne-Niles’ vehicle was parked at the mechanic along 2nd Avenue Holders Land, Brandons, St Michael for repairs. Barrow who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol approached, grabbed hold of the rear windshield wiper, broke it off and threw it away. The police were summoned when he became aggressive and on arrival they found Barrow lying in the road. He must now compensate the complaint $250 by Friday, May 15 or spend 25 days in prison. Before he was allowed to leave Magistrate Bannister advised Barrow: “Stop your lawlessness.” (BT)

BAIL FOR TWO CHARGED WITH SERIOUS BODILY HARM – Two Christ Church men were granted bail after facing the court on charges of allegedly inflicting serious bodily harm. They are Roland Romel Layne, 41 years, and David Tyrone Layne, 56, both of 2nd Avenue, Edey Village. Both men were charged with inflicting serious bodily harm, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable Dane Browne on May 8, 2020. On Monday, they appeared at the District ‘D’ Magistrates Court before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes where they both pleaded not guilty. They were each granted bail in the sum of $5 000 with one surety and are scheduled to reappear at the District ‘B’ court on June 4 2020. (DN)

BEACH CROWDS TAPERING OFF – The crowds have tapered off at some popular beaches following the lifting of month-long ban last week Monday under COVID-19 restrictions. At Dover Beach and Accra Beach in Christ Church yesterday morning, the crowds were sparse, though at Brownes Beach in St Michael the numbers were greater. The “regulars” still turn up daily, happy to have a stroll on the sands, engage in exercise or just have a dip for relaxation or remedial purposes. Some want the time extended from the 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. allowance, but for others that period was just about enough. (DN)

The world is facing the rapid spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. As we continue to do our part in Barbados please remember to stay home but on the days you have to go out wear your masks, practice social distancing (stand 6-10 feet away from each other), practice good daily hygiene, eat healthy, exercise and keep your mind active. There are 234 days left in the year Shalom! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell #coronavirusinbarbados #nationalresponse #dailynews #thechasefilesblog

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anupsingh11-blog · 5 years

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Infertility hospital in gurgaon |Infertility Treatments | ElaWoman

Infertility treatments inclusive of IVF treatment, ICSI treatment alongside use of other assisted reproductive technology show to be useful for couples who're seeking to conceive. Surgical strategies are done for PCOS treatment, Fallopian tube blockage treatment, fibroids, and endometriosis.

Infertility Treatments may be grouped into 3 classes:

1. Medicines to Improve Fertility:These are from time to time used by myself however can also be used in addition to assisted concept.

2. Surgical Treatments: These may be used when the reason of the infertility is located that can be helped by an operation.

3. Assisted Conception: This kind of infertility treatment consists of several techniques including:

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Donor Sperm

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Donor Eggs

Surrogacy

Donor Embryos

Gamete intrafallopian switch (GIFT)

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)

Treatment for men

Men's options can include treatment for preferred sexual problems or lack of healthful sperm. Treatment may additionally include:

Altering lifestyle factors. Improving lifestyle and behavioral elements can improve chances for being pregnant, such as discontinuing choose medicines, lowering/disposing of dangerous materials, improving frequency and timing of sex, setting up everyday exercise, and optimizing other elements that could in any other case impair fertility.

Medications. Certain medicines can also improve a man's sperm count and likelihood for achieving a a hit being pregnant. These medicines may additionally boom testicular characteristic, consisting of sperm manufacturing and fine.

Surgery. In pick out situations, surgical operation can be able to opposite a sperm blockage and restore fertility. In other cases, surgically repairing a varicocele may improve standard probabilities for being pregnant.

Sperm retrieval. These techniques reap sperm while ejaculation is a hassle or while no sperm are gift in the ejaculated fluid. They may also be utilized in instances wherein assisted reproductive strategies are deliberate and sperm counts are low or in any other case extraordinary.

Treatment for women

Although a lady may additionally need just one or healing procedures to restore fertility, it is feasible that numerous distinctive kinds of treatment may be needed before she's capable of conceive.

Stimulating ovulation with fertility tablets. Fertility pills are the primary treatment for girls who are infertile because of ovulation problems. These medicinal drugs modify or set off ovulation. Talk with your health practitioner approximately fertility drug alternatives — which includes the advantages and dangers of each type.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI). During IUI, healthy sperm are positioned at once in the uterus across the time the girl's ovary releases one or extra eggs to be fertilized. Depending at the reasons for infertility, the timing of IUI may be coordinated together with your normal cycle or with fertility medicines.

Surgery to repair fertility. Uterine issues inclusive of endometrial polyps, a uterine septum or intrauterine scar tissue may be handled with hysteroscopic surgical operation.

1.CK Birla Hospital for Women (Southend Hospital)

CK Birla Hospital for Women (Southend Hospital) had been created to improve the pleasant of healthcare in India. An emphasis on UK NHS tips for nurse and midwife training with policies and protocols adapted from UK’s National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) pointers, mean a strong attention on protection, excessive pleasant medical care and cleanliness.

CK Birla Hospital for Women (Southend Hospital) state-of-the-art era and centers allow actual-time verbal exchange and seamless collaboration throughout caregivers to make sure accuracy and the quality feasible results. We promise to supply international requirements of medical excellence and accept as true with, empathy and continuity of care with clinical professionals and NHS skilled teams. We are devoted to partnering with our sufferers in medical decision making. Rather than being attended to by means of a unmarried caregiver, our sufferers are assigned a Care crew with specialists from special disciplines. This multi-professional collaborative technique allows for nicely-rounded advice and treatment.

Our core scientific services are obstetrics & gynaecology, fertility, neonatology & paediatrics, superior surgical sciences (including laparoscopic, cancer, gastrointestinal, bariatric and breast surgery), aesthetics & plastic surgery, dermatology, urology, fetal medicinal drug, vital care & anaesthesia, inner medication, dietetics, physiotherapy and diagnostics. In addition, we additionally offer cardiology, endocrinology, paediatric surgery, paediatric ophthalmology and ENT.

Services: (IUI), Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), High- Risk Pregnancy Care, Hysterectomy, Laparoscopy, Fertility Assessment & Treatment, and Normal Vaginal Delivery (NVD).

Location:Gurgaon Sector 51, Gurgaon

Timings: Mon-Sat, 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Rating:4.4 / 5

2.W Pratiksha Hospital

W Pratiksha Hospital gives the best requirements in healthcare thru a aggregate of reducing edge generation, a group of properly-qualified, skilled and devoted medical doctors with international schooling and enjoy, and exquisite specialised clinicians. We bring to you 25 years of revel in in treating hundreds of glad patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics in India W Pratiksha Hospital is an infertility hospital in gurgaon.

An extremely-modern clinic with comfy ambience, W gives a touch of warmth, the very best regard for patient privacy and transparent billing practices which has earned us our patients’ trust. We ensure that this exceptional care involves you on the maximum less costly cost, inside the most without problems on hand town in India. A plethora of live options to fit each pocket; in conjunction with all of the delights of multicultural north India and exceptional places to tour to, further makes us the desired vacation spot for domestic and international sufferers.

Services:IVF,IUI,ICSI

Location:Gurgaon

Timings: Mon-Sat, 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Rating:3.9 / 5

3.Cloudnine Hospital

Cloudnine Maternity Hospital in Sector 47, Delhi is a longtime brand call inside the city specialising in maternity care. This healthcare status quo offers international-class clinical information, trendy centers and a cordial surroundings to ensure a girl has a satisfied and healthful being pregnant. Their comprehensive care extends properly beyond just maternity care, as at this health center you may avail services for pregnancy, infertility, gynaecological, neonatal, paediatric, new born in depth and high hazard pregnancy Cloudnine Hospital is an infertility hospital in gurgaon.

It has come a protracted way from a unmarried sanatorium in South Bangalore to constructing a network of ten hospitals throughout key metropolitan towns together with Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Gurgaon and Pune. During the route of this meteoric rise, this healthcare expert, called India's top-quality healthcare care to lady and toddler care, has received several awards and recognitions for its excellence in offerings. Some of the great ones include the award for 'Hospital with Highest Standard in Patient Care' in 2016 from CIMS Medica and 'Best Healthcare Brands' by using the Economic Times in 2016.

Services:IVF,IUI,ICSI

Location:Gurgaon

Timings: Mon-Sat, 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Rating:3.9 / 5

4.max hospital gurgaon

Max hospital gurgaon one of India’s main carriers of comprehensive, seamless and incorporated global elegance healthcare services. With a network of 14 hospitals, we provide treatment across all 29 specialties. We have 2300+ main medical doctors with global stage know-how who're dedicated to provide highest standards of medical excellence at a fraction of global charges. Our NABH and ISO accepted hospitals offer exceptional in magnificence offerings to our patients. We understand in search of scientific treatment outside your home may be physically and mentally tough. So at max hospital gurgaon, max hospital gurgaon is eager to get you domestic!

Services: (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), High- Risk Pregnancy Care, Hysterectomy,

Location:Gurgaon Sector 51, Gurgaon

Timings: Mon-Sat, 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Rating:4.4 / 5

+(91)-7899912611

https://www.elawoman.com

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ilovemushystuff · 1 year

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Laura Main and Jenny Agutter

#call the midwife #Laura Main #Jenny Agutter #shelagh turner #shulienne #sister Julienne #call the midwife Location Tour 2023

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raystart · 6 years

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Home is Where the Art Is

The E.U.’s architecture of international relations may be taking a beating, but one international organization at least is still building cultural ties in Europe. The Artist’s Studio Museum Network links the cottages, castles, and farmhouses that artists once used as homes and studios. The buildings now serve as museums of the artists’ domestic lives and work routines; where Monet tended his waterlilies, where Rosa Bonheur could wear work pants without a government permit, and where Beatrix Potter fed lettuce to the furry inspirations for Peter Rabbit. From Croatia to the Canary Islands, the goal of artist house museums isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a 360-degree understanding of the lifestyle and context of an artist’s work.

While some studio museums are front and center in bustling metropolises like Paris, many are tucked in far corners of the globe. When the founding Network museum, the Watts Gallery Artists’ Village, put out a call for the Network, they weren’t surprised when house museums came out of the woodwork. “Many artists seek seclusion in which to work,” says Kirsten Tambling who administers the Network. “Many of the studio museums we found are set in picturesque and inspiring, though remote, locations.”

The curators share a passion for keeping alive the soul of the artist whose home they steward, from preserving tubs of oil paints, to polishing the silverware, to asking visitors to be respectful in the crypt. “There’s a strong tradition in many studio museums of artists both building and then being buried in the estates,” says Tambling.

We selected ten of our favorite studio museums for your next road trip through Europe – with a few suggestions for additions to the Artist’s Studio Museum Network.

Galerija Meštrovic

Built as a summer villa for Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrovic and his family, this museum perches like a Greek temple over the sparkling Adriatic. Visitors on art pilgrimage can rent bicycles in Split and peddle the cliff trail, stopping at pebble beaches along the way. Once there, you can wander the sculpture lawns and pass through the galleries, contemplating Meštrovic’s larger than life figures, which range from serene goddesses to the tormented figure of Job asking his eternal question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Meštrovic was imprisoned during WWII for refusing to exhibit for the Nazi regime. Much of his life was spent in expatriation to Paris, Rome, Yugoslavia, and the United States. His sculptures, most notably his emaciated Pietà in Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral, dot the global map and once you become a Meštrovic expert at this gallery, you’ll notice them everywhere.

Šetalište Ivana Meštrovica 46, Split, Croatia

Hortamuseum

The Hortamuseum isn’t just for fans of the Baron Victor Horta’s architecture. It’s a hub for lovers of the organic whimsy of the art nouveau style. From the doorbell to the dishware, the aesthetics of art nouveau invade the home of the Belgium architect. Horta’s self-designed house presents the leaps and bounds in functional capacity that the Industrial Revolution meant for iron and glasswork. There are few straight lines at the Hortamuseum. Botanical figures blossom from every corner and grow into load-bearing architecture. Voluptuous windows suffuse light. Wall-paintings and mosaic are in petal-like interplay. Parade up and down the stairs and into the tiled dining room, which can be rented for private dinner parties.

25, rue Américaine, Saint-Gilles, Brussels, Belgium

Château de By, studio of Rosa Bonheur

It shouldn’t take the full American Indian regalia presented by her friend Buffalo Bill Cody and the walls of taxidermy animal heads displayed at the Rosa Bonheur studio to tell you that this painter was a badass. Bonheur is famous for her action-packed landscapes populated with powerful animals. To learn to paint her subjects, she frequented farms, horse markets, and slaughterhouses, inspiring generations of women artists with her no-shits-given attitude and her internationally-renowned career. When Bonheur moved from painting horses to lions, she ordered several of the large cats for her castle estate at Fontainebleau. There are no lions at Fontainebleau now, but a tour of Bonheur’s former studio is a dose in the robust energy of a woman who took a close-minded society by the scruff of the neck and shook it until it awarded her all the top honors the 19th century had. It’s a little off the beaten track to make the forty-minute trip from Paris. But hey! If Bonheur could go off the beaten track, so can you.

Chateau de Rosa Bonheur, 12 rue Rosa Bonheur, Thomery-By, Fontainebleau, France

Taxidermy animal heads and antlers are displayed alongside paintings at the Rosa Bonheur studio.

Red House

William Morris fans sometimes make strange bedfellows – they include design and decorative arts aficionados, wallpaper lovers, architecture buffs, socialists, Medievalists, and art historians. If Morris was a midwife to the birth of the Arts and Crafts Movement, Red House is the birthplace. Morris’s home was a nerve center for a fellowship of Pre-Raphaelite thinkers, writers, and painters whom Morris hosted in his Gothic Revival dining room. The house manifests Morris’s conception that modern manufacturing had corrupted the decorative object and that home décor should be made by guild-style artisans and handcraftsmen. In addition to Arthurian inspired tapestries and Gothic stained glass, you can see the origins of Morris’s design company: Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., a furnishing and decorative arts manufacturer founded on the principles Morris’s circle and developed at Red House. While the company disbanded in the early months of World War II, Morris’s focus on the handcrafted and the artisan has certainly seen a resurgence in the early 20th century.

Red House Lane, Bexleyheath, London, United Kingdom

Foundation Claude Monet

This museum in Monet’s country home in Giverny is for all those who ever wanted to live in a painting. The house, with its floor to ceiling windows thrown open to the flower gardens, makes you realize that Monet’s passion was the outdoors. En plein air, or outdoor painting, may be a staple of the vacation watercolor workshop now, but back in the day, Monet’s move to turn the garden into his studio was revolutionary. Don’t leave without strolling through the gardens, where you can see the Giverny waterlilies that Monet made famous around the world.

84 rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France

The Monet Museum’s kitchen windows open onto the vegetable and water gardens. Image courtesy of Fondation Claude Monet-Giverny/Droits réservés.

Hill Top

Hill Top is a charming country cottage where Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated more books in the vein of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Her affection for farm life as a retreat from London suffuses the whole property, from the parlor, to the bedrooms, to the vegetable garden. From dust pans to dolls houses, the building is stuffed with the accoutrement of Potter and her stories. The staff frequently rearranges the furniture–as Potter often did when she magpie-like added new trinkets and trophies to her décor. The staff is knowledgeable, but the only guide you need is The Tale of Samuel Whiskers; many of the scenes are recognizably set in the different rooms of Hill Top. When you’re through, hop next door to the Tower Bank Arms for a drink before the fire. The pub was around in Potter’s day, and it makes a cameo in The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck.

Near Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom

Halosenniemi Museum

If your dream house is a log cabin by a lake, the museum dedicated to Finnish painter Pekka Halonen might be the place for you. Halonen built the timber villa with his brother, allowing him to self-design the two-story studio he had seen while studying in Paris. From here, alongside his eight children, Halonen painted many works that contributed to the Golden Age of Finnish painting. Visitors can stroll down to the lake to watch the ice-skaters or tramp through the forest that inspired Halonen’s works. Halosenniemi Museum is a quick twenty-minute car ride from the airport – perfect if you have a layover in Helsinki and a few hours to kill.

Halosenniementie 4-6, Tuusula, Finland

Halonen designed the two-story studio after ones he’d seen in Paris. Image courtesy of Museokuva / Tuusula Art Museum.

Camille Claudel Museum

Until 2016, it was a cruel irony that, to see some of the best work by a sculptor whose artistic legacy has been overshadowed by her relationship to Auguste Rodin, one had to visit a museum with his name on it. But recently, a museum dedicated to Camille Claudel opened in her former childhood home. Claudel never gained prominence in her own time. Many of her onyx and bronze sculptures were considered too erotic by her contemporaries. Claudel herself destroyed much of her own work out of paranoia that her ideas would be stolen. Sadly, the decades it took for Claudel’s star to rise from obscurity means that the interior of the house museum in Nogent-sur-Seine was not preserved. However, the exterior has been restored and the interior is the best collection of Claudel work in the world.

10 Rue Gustave Flaubert, Nogent-sur-Seine, France

575 Wandsworth Road

The Kenyan poet Khadambi Asalache bought this Georgian townhouse in 1981 and almost immediately began decorating every inch with hand-cut salvaged pine. Several homes on this list might be called a ‘gesamtkunstwerk’—a total artwork—but 575 Wandsworth Road beats everyone in square inches of handmade décor. Some art critics also use the home as an example of ‘horror vacui’ or the fear of empty spaces. Figurines and geometric forms dance along the walls, lintels and mantles. Perhaps not surprising, given his love of latticework, Asalache’s life partner was basketmaker Susie Thomson. The museum has recently launched a composer in residence program, which will interpret the house carvings into music.

575 Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, London, United Kingdom

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