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fitrahgolden · 4 months

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WEARY MEMORY: 4 - BROKEN INTO PIECES

“OK, guys! Your nan's almost here!”

Kaveri came skipping into the living room. She started checking herself out in the television's reflection and doing more skips and jumps, no doubt relishing in the sound of her new shoes, which she’d dubbed her “dancing shoes,” against the hardwood floor.

“Kav, baby, don't stomp on the floor too hard with those shoes.” Kate warned.

“Do you hear my shoes, Amma?”

“We all hear your shoes, Riri,” Edmund groused upon entering the living room.

“Good!” Kaveri continued entertaining herself in front of the TV.

“Ned, where's your brother?”

“In the backyard with his dog.”

Kate sucked her teeth and muttered. “Dammit, Newton is my dog.”

“Don't swear, Amma.”

Kaveri's censure of their mother got a laugh out of Edmund.

The doorbell rang, stopping Kate from going and staking her claim on Newton–again.

“Hi, Violet.” Kate gave Anthony’s mum a hug. “Come in. They’re almost ready.”

“Thanks, dear.” Violet sat on the couch–and was instantly introduced to her granddaughter’s new shoes–while Kate went out back to fetch Maaran. The two only argued briefly about who Newton belonged to before returning inside.

“Thank you for letting them come tonight. I know the weeks didn’t line up.”

Kate waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, of course. They want to go, and it’s an important performance for Fran. There was no question about it.”

Kaveri took a break from her own performance and jumped onto the couch next to Violet. “We have flowers for Aunty Fran! I got to pick them out!”

“Oh, how sweet, Riri. Francesca will love them.”

Kate looked down at her watch. “I think you guys should get going.”

“Yes,” Violet agreed as she rose from the couch. “My dears, I’m just gonna talk to your mum for a minute, and then we’ll be on our way. Neddy, can you get everyone in the car?”

“Sure, Nan.”

As Edmund ushered everyone outside, Kate tilted her head in concern. “Everything alright?”

“Oh, yes, nothing dire,” Violet said quickly. “It’s just… And I know this isn’t really your, I don’t know, wheelhouse anymore, but has Anthony seemed OK the last few times you saw him?”

Kate winced a little at the implication that she wouldn’t know anymore if anything were going on with Anthony. But it was true, wasn’t it?

“Um… Yeah, he seemed alright. Did something happen?”

“I don’t think so. He’s just seemed a little off lately, is all. Maybe it’s something with…” Violet trailed off and looked at Kate sheepishly.

“Oh, don’t be silly, Violet.” Kate forced a laugh. “You can say her name. Give me a bit more credit than that.”

“Yes, of course.” Violet shook her head. “Anyway, I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Well, I’ll keep an eye out. We still talk. Sometimes.”

Violet nodded. “And it’s almost time for your holiday, isn’t it? That will be good for him. Where is it going to be this year? Anthony hasn’t mentioned it.”

Kate and Anthony made sure to still do their family holiday every year, just the five of them. The kids always looked forward to it. Sharing a house for a week never went completely smoothly, especially that first year after the divorce, but they made it work, and the following two holidays had them finding a rhythm much more quickly.

“We settled on Edinburgh. It’s a short flight, and all three of the kids should be into it. Castles for Kav, history for Maan, seaside for Ned. And the house Anthony found looks amazing.”

“Brilliant.”

“Well, have a great night.” Kate walked with Violet to the door. “Tell Francesca I said good luck.”

The two shared another hug, and after Violet left with the kids, Kate tried not to think too much about what she’d said. Kate was sure there was plenty going on in Anthony’s life that she wasn’t privy to. Of course there was. They mostly only saw each other briefly on Saturdays, and texted sparingly throughout the week. The last time he seemed upset when she was around was… the day she went out with Tom. There was no way that could still be bothering him. They’d gotten over it later that night.

Hadn’t we?

It was a silly thing to fixate on. Violet was right. She didn’t know that much about Anthony’s life anymore.

—

Anthony heard Siena come up behind him as he sat at his kitchen counter, chai in hand, looking at his laptop.

“Good morning,” she said as she wrapped her arms around him.

“Morning. Want coffee?”

“Don’t get up. I’ll make it. What are you working on?” she asked as she made her way to the coffee maker.

“Booking the caterer for Ned’s birthday party,” Anthony answered distractedly, not looking up, missing the way Siena froze.

“I take it I'm not invited?”

His head shot up from his computer screen. “Siena…”

“Unless, of course, you're finally ready to introduce me to your family.”

“You've met my family.”

“Come off it, Anthony. You know I mean your kids.”

He did know that, and felt foolish for pretending otherwise.

“Is it your ex?” Siena asked.

Anthony’s jaw ticked. “What do you mean?”

“Does she not want me to meet them?” Siena crossed her arms. “Does she even know about me?”

“I’ve mentioned you, yes. Not often. Is it that odd that I don't talk to my ex-wife about my love life?”

“Not for most people, no. But you seem to actually talk to your ex–”

“Kate,” he said quietly, almost to himself.

“Don't correct me as if I should remember that. Why would I? You don’t talk to me about her or your kids. Such a huge part of your life, and you won’t let me near it. Shouldn’t you want me to know that part of you? If we're serious?”

Anthony opened his mouth, but no words came out. Siena stepped towards him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Anthony felt mortified that he had no idea how to comfort her.

“Are we?” she asked, pleading. “Are we serious, Anthony?”

Tell her yes.

“We…we could be.”

Siena shook her head, disappointed. When she spoke again, she sounded defeated. “When? When you stop wearing your ring?”

What?

“I don't wear my ring.”

“No?” Siena scoffed. “It's not looped onto the pocket watch that you have on you at all times?”

Oh. Anthony’s mind went to Kate's rings, which hung off her neck on a delicate chain every time he saw her.

“And you kept her name,” Siena continued.

To that, Anthony took offence. “We hyphenated our names when we got married. It's our kids’ last names, Siena. Why would I change mine back?”

Siena turned away from him and paced for a few long moments before looking at him again.

“Remind me, why did you two get divorced?”

Where to fucking start? “I… We–”

“You said you wanted to stop hurting each other, that you felt you couldn’t give each other the support you needed after everything that happened. You literally said ‘everything that happened.’ I don’t even know what that means, besides your father.”

“It’s… It’s all her business as much as it is mine.”

“It’s your business as much as it is hers. And you won’t clue me in.”

Siena collapsed onto the stool next to Anthony.

“Siena… Siena, I’m sorry.” That was the truth, but not nearly enough, he knew that.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Eventually, Siena wiped an errant tear and asked, “And you're sure you two aren’t hurting each other now? And dragging other people down with you?”

Fuck, is that what I’m doing?

Siena grabbed his hand. “Look, Anthony. I like you. A lot. But it’s painfully clear that… Well, I don’t want to force you to open your whole world up to me. I wouldn’t want to. I’d want you to do that on your own, because you want me there.” She sighed heavily. “But you don’t, do you?” she whispered.

Anthony floundered. “We… I can see–”

“No. Don’t tell me you could in the future. Don’t tell me it’s possible. I can’t hear ‘not yet’ again. I really fucking can’t. Do you want me there, Anthony?”

There was nowhere left to hide. Siena didn’t deserve his bullshit. She never did.

“No.”

Siena pressed her eyes shut, releasing more tears as she nodded. “Right.”

Without another word, she walked into Anthony’s bedroom, undoubtedly to collect her things. Anthony stayed frozen at the kitchen counter. He had no idea how much time had passed when Siena came back out, with an overstuffed tote bag. She slowly approached him, and deposited a kiss on his cheek. It was soft and kind, and nothing he deserved.

“I really hope you figure it out, Anthony. I hope both of you do. Please don’t do this to anyone else.”

—

Kate had just made sure all the kids were settled for the night when her phone rang.

“Anthony?”

“Hey.”

Kate didn’t need to ask if he was OK. She could hear in that one syllable that he wasn’t.

“What is it? Is everyone alright? Is it–”

“Everyone’s fine, Kit.” Anthony had fallen back into calling her that all the time after their last thunderstorm phone call. Kate didn’t mind.

“Everyone but you?”

His laugh was humourless. “It’s just been a shit day.”

She knew that wasn’t all, but didn’t push.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. I know my problems aren’t your problems anymore.”

“I mean, some of them are. What’s wrong, Anthony?”

“I think I’m just missing the kids this week. I'm just sat here, looking at pictures. A bit pathetic.”

Kate sucked her teeth. “You know that's not pathetic.” That also wasn't the real problem either, she was sure of it. But perhaps she could at least do something to help. “I can ask them in the morning if they are OK with you picking them up from school, if you want a few extra days with them.”

“We shouldn’t,” Anthony said after a while. “We agreed–”

“We’ve never needed the agreement, Anthony. It's fine. And it’ll be up to them.”

“OK. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Anthony fell silent again.

“Anthony?”

“I’m going to try to sleep,” he said a little abruptly.

“Oh, OK. Um, good night. I’ll ring you in the morning about the kids.”

“Alright. Good night, Kit.”

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grandmaster-anne · 1 year

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Bangor receives city status in Princess Anne visit

By Mark Simpson | Published 2 December 2022

Bangor in County Down has formally received city status in a ceremony attended by the Princess Royal.

The ceremony took place at Bangor Castle with Princess Anne unveiling the city's official warrant.

City status was granted by Queen Elizabeth II to mark her platinum jubilee, three months before her death in September.

Bangor is now one of six cities in Northern Ireland, along with Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh, Lisburn and Newry.

Princess Anne said it was "always a pleasure" to visit Bangor, reminiscing on her previous trips in 2013 and 2016.

She spoke about Bangor's historical importance as a centre of learning, noting its appearance on the medieval Hereford Mappa Mundi as "civitas benair" (city of Bangor).

"I can only apologise for taking so long to make sure that in fact you are now properly a city in 2022," she said.

The princess praised recent investment in the area, adding that she hoped city-status "provides a real boost to these exciting plans".

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris was also at the event, which was hosted by Ards and North Down Mayor Karen Douglas.

Mr Heaton-Harris said he hoped city-status would attract visitors and boost the economy.

Bangor was one of eight UK towns elevated to a city in May after a competition in which it was required to show its royal associations and cultural heritage.

Its application pointed out that in 1961 the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited Bangor Castle and had lunch at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, before the duke raced in a regatta.

City status is often associated with having a cathedral, a university, or a large population.

However, there are no set rules for being granted the status, which is awarded by the monarch on advice of ministers.

Twenty years ago, Lisburn and Newry were awarded city status in a competition to mark the Queen's golden jubilee.

In the 2011 census the population of Bangor was just over 60,000.

It is situated beside the coast, at the mouth of Belfast Lough.

A number of famous faces come from Bangor, including the lead singer of Snow Patrol, Gary Lightbody, author Colin Bateman, golfer David Feherty and artist Colin Davidson.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Lord David Trimble, who died earlier this year, spent much of his early life in the town, attending Bangor Grammar, one of 19 schools in the area.

In the past it was a seaside resort which was popular with day trippers and tourists who gathered on the beach in front of the town.

In the late 1980s a marina was built, transforming the seafront.

Like many places it has been hit hard by the building of shopping centres on the outskirts of the central district.

There are plans in place to try to rejuvenate Bangor, with the hope that its new city status will help.

The city's courthouse was recently turned into a music venue, and other projects are in the pipeline.

Bangor's road signs will not change immediately to reflect its new status as a city - they will continue to refer to "town centre".

"Officials are content to liaise with Ards and North Down Borough Council representatives to consider a possible phased renewal of signs in conjunction with any replacement of signs the council is responsible for," said the Department for Infrastructure.

#princess anne #princess royal #article #annegagements

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scotianostra · 10 months

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#portobelo #scotland #scottish #edinburgh #seaside #Beach #Portobello Beach #selfie #Tartan #Stewart tartan

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virtualscotland · 4 months

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Exploring the beautiful coastal path at Balcary Bay in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland! 😍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@doricloon @scotianostra @scotland-forever @scotlandscalling

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househuntingscotland · 1 year

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1 bedroom flat for sale on Marlborough Street, Portobello, Edinburgh

Asking price: £235,000

#7 #Edinburgh #seaside #portobello #EH15 2BD #1 bedroom #small flat #scotland #scotlis

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bobfloydsbabe · 7 months

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Seaside, luna moth, and velvet for you, my dear! ☺️

My lovely Rebecca, thank you so much for asking.

Seaside: Ideal date?

I've been on very few dates in my life, so my experience is limited. Coffee for a first date, but my ideal date is someone cooking for me at home and really putting the effort in to make it nice and romantic.

Luna Moth: City or country?

City. I grew up in the countryside, but if I could pick anywhere in world to live, I'd move to London. For a compromise, I'd be willing to settle in Edinburgh, so there's also access to stunning nature.

Velvet: What is your style?

A few years ago I asked my sister what three words she would use to describe my style. She said classic, minimalist, and a hint of rock'n'roll. I'd say she was pretty bang on the money. I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. I wear trainers most of the year, but my black ankle boots in the colder months. I'm also extra, so I made a little collage, and can reveal that I wore almost an exact replica of the bottom left picture to work today 🙈

#mail #answered #ryebecca #ask game

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docholligay · 1 year

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Oh my god, I never made the connection but you’re absolutely right. @keyofjetwolf lived in London for awhile when she was a kid, and her Mom’s English, so we have talked about this deeply held pastime of Having a Terrible Lovely Seaside Holiday at length, given that I was writing about one of my characters planning a “holiday” for the team that was, in fact, a rainy windy trip to the seaside constantly fighting off seagulls with a “Oh, lovely day!” and the sane person responding, “So this is what passes for enjoyment here.”

And while I was looking that up there was a very spirited conversation about what a 99 costs nowadays.

ANYWAY, yes, I did not get there and even thought it was weird when someone (I CANNOT remember who) opined that I was having trouble finding one because it was June, because in the Orkneys it was chilly as fuck and even in the Leith area of Edinburgh it sure as shit wasn’t WARM. You can get a hot toddy here pretty much any time, and everyone in the UK has a kettle! Whereas, fair, you gotta ask here if you’re in a tiny bar if they have a kettle, but I can’t ever recall being told no. Oh wait, I tell a lie, one time they didn’t have one but they said they’d run a water cycle through the coffee maker if I was fine with that, and I was.

But repeatedly I was abused by the dark forces at work in the United Kingdom!

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kroashent · 9 months

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Val-Cula Daily - Doki Doki Komuri Update

Last update in the Drac-log, checking in with the final plot threast of the last few days, the continuing adventures of Mina and Lucy-Chan.

Lucy arrives by train to Whitby, a seaside town in North Yorkshire. A common comment I see, and disagree with, is that the novel Dracula involves an "Old World" monster from the past entering a "new, modern world", Eastern superstition pushing into Western reason. Frankly, I find that reading to be lacking. As we saw in Jonathan's recipe-gathering travelogue, Eastern Europe is a vibrant place, just as connected to the modern world despite its remoteness and cultural distance. Likewise, in Mina's descriptions of Yorkshire, England has plenty of its own supernatural mysteries and centuries old history in play in Dracula.

The Larpool Viaduct was constructed in 1884, and would be a brand new example of Victorian engineering.

Whitby Abbey, described in the same paragraph, is a ruin for centuries by Stoker's time, having been built in 657 CE and confiscated by Henry VIII in 1538 CE. Like Dracula's Transylvania, drawing in contemporary law reviews and banking from all across Europe, England is a mix of the mundane and the supernatural in much the same way. Mina makes reference to a "White Lady" ghost who haunts ruins.

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Marmion, referenced as well, is a 1808 poem by Sir Walter Scott full of melodrama and intrigue. Per wikipedia, a summation:

The poem tells how Lord Marmion, a favourite of Henry VIII of England, lusts for Clara de Clare, a rich woman. He and his mistress, Constance De Beverley, forge a letter implicating Clare's fiancé, Sir Ralph De Wilton, in treason. Constance, a dishonest nun, hopes that her aid will restore her to favour with Marmion. When De Wilton loses the duel he claims in order to defend his honour against Marmion, he is obliged to go into exile. Clare retires to a convent rather than risk Marmion's attentions.

Constance's hopes of a reconciliation with Marmion are dashed when he abandons her; she ends up being walled up alive in the Lindisfarne convent for breaking her vows. She takes her revenge by giving the Abbess, who is one of her three judges, documents that prove De Wilton's innocence. De Wilton, having returned disguised as a pilgrim, follows Marmion to Edinburgh where he meets the Abbess, who gives him the exonerating documents. When Marmion's host, the Earl of Angus (Archibald Douglas) is shown the documents, he arms De Wilton and accepts him as a knight again. De Wilton's plans for revenge are overturned by the Battle of Flodden. Marmion dies on the battlefield, while De Wilton displays heroism, regains his honour, retrieves his lands, and marries Clare.

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Mina meets a man in a pictureque graveyard overlooking the bay. An accent assumes. Stoker is a great writer and Dracula ages incredibly well and reads smoothly... until you meet his accents.

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Mina receives one of the letters, via Mr. Hawkin's, that Dracula sent out in place of Jonathan. Mina immediately questions its veracity, because Mina is the smartest character in the book and doesn't get enough credit for this. She's distracted, however, by Lucy's habit of sleep-walking.

#dracula daily #Dracula #Whitby

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