The War Between the Land and the Sea

This was an interesting series apart from the name; I wonder if it’s going to be a series of spin-offs with UNIT at the helm. The protagonist was involved through the strangest of blips and it’s astonishing how far along he infiltrated considering that this was a military operation. It’s a shame that we don’t get to see much of their world, especially during the descent. I would have expected that the vessel used for this would be more of a craft rather than a giant yo-yo. There were lots of special effects, but I felt that it was a bit drawn-out at the end with character development. It also wasn’t clear as to what Barclay has been injected with, and he could be the virus. There’s vague attempts at humour, but it’s sometimes too serious. It’ll be interesting to hear about what the Doctor has to say of this encounter and whether he’ll have to battle Stewart to save humanity.

Under the Hat

What is that bulge underneath that hat? Surely it can’t be a normal head. Perhaps it’s a huge mass of hair with something nesting in it. It could be a head of branches which is why there’s a branch of wriggling fingers reaching towards it. It also seems to attract the snow. It’s starting to match the jacket and scarf. But that’s more likely to make me move into shelter before I take my hat off. Maybe they’re just seeking out an opportunity for my head to be exposed. Then a winter cold will be inflicted upon me. Maybe I can pull one of those rings on my backpack and a little umbrella will pop out of my hat to cover me. Either that or I’m not going to survive this storm because I’m wearing the wrong hat and I’m about to be dissolved. But the reindeer are interested in the one that stands alone.

Launch Queen Trivia Challenge

So it’s a battle of wits. I expect music clips and a live leaderboard. Will there be more than three? Will they keep on coming until I get one wrong? Will they be multiple choice? I wonder how repetitive the questions are. It’s not as if they’re producing any new material. My first attempt is ignored completely. Maybe she’s sleeping. The second time I ask, I get the blue light to show that she’s listening, but she’s still not talking back to me. I’ll have to ask her something else to make sure that she’s working properly. After asking for a weather forecast, I try again. Nothing. It’s as if she’s totally confused as to what to do. She doesn’t even apologise or ask for clarification.  I even switch the word launch for start. Still nothing. And so the musical talent will have to wait until the geniuses fix the bots.

Three Go Wassailing

It certainly looks that way. We’re standing in the snow with carol sheets belting out tunes into the cold air. We’re only there to entertain the little ones. Some have given up on the activities and they’re just there to pose. They’ve built a tiny little fence to keep us out. Maybe they hope that taller people will have more sense to stay away or at least attempt to stop them from stealing the giant bows. The deer could step over it too to charge the humans if they wanted. There’s more brown stuff on our side, whatever it is. But their side looks much neater. I wonder what else the forest behind can knit. It doesn’t look like there’s much left of it. And it’s hard to work out if the red branches behind me are painted or natural. It might even be a torch to light up the deer at night.

 

Man, Where's My Car? #dreamdiary 212

I’ve parked my car for the day in a multi-storey car park. It was up on the second floor alongside other cars and I couldn’t see any signs saying that access was restricted for the day. But when I returned to the site, the whole building was sealed off with barrier fencing and white sheeting saying that the sign was closed for maintenance. I’d understood if this was for an emergency but this seemed to be for scheduled work as there was no-one around working. I started to get annoyed as the parking ticket would expire soon. I decided to go through the adjacent shopping centre to see if I could enter the building from the other end. At least if I could get to my car I might be able to unbolt the fence from the inside. I head through some double doors and there’s an armed guard in riot gear stood in the corridor by the lift.

The Dummy

Do we really want to lick this tree? Its tongue might be soft but it’s probably not a great idea in terms of hygiene in the current circumstances. It’s also not clear what you’re dropping in the drum. Is it the map sheets? I’m also worried what comes out when you put something in. It doesn’t exactly look child-friendly. The panel that the message is written on looks like a skanky skirt. The drum might be the little thing past in its ass on the right-hand side. I like how the arm above it seems to be pointing to a safer alternative. The smaller one looks like she’s seen thins sort of thing before. Maybe she knows that the claw on the lefthand side of her is going to sneak up and steal her away from our society. Perhaps a hollow door has already opened up to suck them inside the tree.

What if your underwear drawer started talking to you?

I would wonder how much I’ve had to drink or who the underwear drawer is. Would it be someone with a hidden microphone who can see me? That would be a bit kinky when I’m rooting around for my smalls. It would be animate and open and close as it speaks. I would have to force it to talk every time I needed a fresh pair. It’s quite lucky that it only contains clean clothes. It would tell me when I’m running low as it would feel cold and hungry. It would give me life advice as I laid in bed and we would have long talks into the night. I’d be given a plan to improve things. Or it might not hear me so it would just talk constantly until I’d gaffer tape it shut. People would ask me why I’m not sleeping and they’d be absolutely baffled by my answer. It would be really bored during the day so I’d have to leave the TV or radio on so that it would have something to listen to. It would watch the news for me and summarise it for me in a comedic style. Imagine the chaos it would cause when I leave it with a smart speaker. It would be constantly plotting to lure as many people to my room as possible or get me to refurnish it or move it to a better house. And it would be really creepy.

The Center of Attention

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to one of these, but we had to make sure that everything was suitable for a wheelchair user. We needed to make sure that everything was as step-free as possible including toilet access. We could probably get a deal online, but it felt more secure to book over the phone as we would have discussed it with a representative. I can’t remember the actual conversation, but I felt reassured after phoning rather than worried. We got a welcome from the team the moment we opened the door. Everything was on the same level, from the bedroom to the sofa. The customer service was fantastic whatever we decided to do. It was all included in the price. We managed to get up to a bit of mischief as well and we didn’t want to miss out on anything, but we always asked first.

The Tooth Factory

I thought the whole point of the tooth fairy was that they use kids’ teeth to make things rather than create the teeth themselves. Perhaps they’ve commercialised themselves in this day and age which is why you don’t see so many of them. Or it could be a refinery but young visitors might not know what that is. I love how the building is supported by a giant tooth and that some of the letters on the sign overhang the others to give them shelter. It looks like the house is watched over by sort of farm creature. It might be a guard to warn fairies to hide, or it could just be in charge of deliveries. There might be an upstairs as well so the whole operation takes place inside the tree and these are simply outhouses to assist in creating space. Or the tree could merely be a tunnel and transportation system and the real operation takes place underground.

Starmer calls for Man Utd co-owner Jim Ratcliffe to apologise for 'offensive immigration remarks

It’s another example of free speech under attack. You may not agree with what is being said, but there’s still the opportunity to express your opinion. It might put a few people off investing in your business though. I don’t know what other influences Ratcliffe has on our society, but he could have other controlling interests too. But you can see his point. The trouble is that immigrant as a double meaning and we need to be more precise with our labelling. There’s people that we’ve invited over or have earned the right to live and contribute to our society from another country. Some of his footballers can be classed as immigrants. And then there’s people who are claiming asylum and aren’t contributing who are depleting the resources that should be invested into our people. It’s not clear on the meaning, and it can be misinterpreted. Whether he’ll apologise or not, only time will tell.

On her Own

She likes being on her own to have her own moment of attention. Either that or her sister’s been swallowed up into the ground ready to be turned into a mushroom and she wants a grown-up to capture the evidence. The mushroom itself looks like it’s been pressed into a corner, as if it’s attempting to cope with its dimension. It might not be from this realm. It could also be a passing point marker to another world. The bushes on the left are about to creep in and block her from our sight. Are they protecting her or are they taking us to another realm? Or is she the one that’s being transported? She’s beginning to realise that one of us might not be safe, and she’s using the mushroom to summon assistance. Perhaps the pink marker acts as a barrier to warn us, but the investigation team haven’t reached the woods yet.

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide not to stay where you are."

 -JP Morgan.

That’s probably the toughest step to do. If your plans don’t involve something in the present, then you need to leave it behind. You’ve got to get up off your arse and move. It’s about leaving behind the comfort zone that you’re used to and venturing into the unknown. You can’t do everything, and you may need to have a plan to see you through broken down into steps to help you achieve your goal. And you either need to keep at what you’re doing a little bit harder, or do something completely different. You need to switch something off or tune something out to stop you from being distracted. It is nice to have a back-up plan so that you’ve got something to go back to if it doesn’t work out. But you’ve got to take that bold step first. It’s something that I’ve been trying to do for ages.

Not Mushroom Here

That’s if you are a mushroom propping up two little girls. Usually you’ve got lots of fresh air and sun in your patch. Your stalk’s a bit grubby. I wonder how many pairs of muddy boots have been rubbing against you. Hopefully no-one’s cocked a leg. You must be staked pretty deep in the ground to stop yourself from tipping over. Perhaps one day these will multiply and replace the plastic sticks stuck on the hill in the snow. Maybe the brown bits are spores in the making. All they need is a bit of weight and they can suck in the matter underground to convert it. The snow is simply disguising a bog. The little one’s taken a bite already. She’s even drooling. Any moment now, she’s going to try to pin her sister on top of the mushroom to take a bite. The mushroom’s already grabbed her jacket with a cord.

What happens if you drive off without paying at a petrol station in the UK?

Being as every car has a number plate, it gets recorded as soon as you start filling. If you’re driving a stolen vehicle, the chances are that the number plate will have been flagged for surveillance anyway. And if you haven’t got a number plate, the attendant won’t authorise the pump to be used. But once you’re done filling, the petrol team will simply log a complaint with the police for theft of fuel. Since most vehicles are registered, it won’t take long for them to track the driver down. You might get a knock at the door, or the police might just send a letter with a court date and a demand for payment or prosecution. It depends on how busy they are and how frequent the crime occurs. But you can legally depart the forecourt without payment if you leave your details and commit to returning to pay within twenty-four hours.

Oos at?

They’ve spotted the owl. They’re intimidating the hoot that it makes, probably because it’s not making any itself. They’re literally giving a hoot. It would be good if there was a speaker system out in to create an atmosphere; though that would cost more. The girls are getting excited as they’ve nearly finished the trail which means that they’re going to cash in their answers for a reward. But the bells for them to ring are just out of reach. As are the lights. They’re probably on a battery timer. I wonder what it’s like to have these visitors pass it. It’s probably interested in where they’re going, or when they leave so that it can swoop down and have a peck at that mushroom. But the visitors might leave tastier food behind. Once that’s done, it can have a nice rest before the net batch of visitors disturb them. And they’re loud.

It's not about getting drunk, it's about ticking beer

It’s an ambition to taste as many different beers as possible, then keep a record of what was sampled, where and when. You never know if they’re going to be continued to be brewed ever again. Some will be brewed by breweries who will halt production of a traditional bitter. Others will only be brewed for a special occasion. We might go wild at a beer festival but it’s only because there’s a huge range of beers to choose from that haven’t been tried before. I always aim to start with the breweries that I haven’t tried before. It’s all about trying new things, and when you’ve got them under one roof you’re going to be like a kid in a candy store. But you can only do so much in one session. And then you’ve got to add it to your record. I note it down on my phone then add it to an excel sheet, which I then update and send a copy to my phone.

Christmas Troll

Hiding in the bush is this strange creature. The thing around its neck could be a beard, a scarf, or a bit of tinsel. It might be preparing to take a dip into the river to catch its tea. It’s not exactly camouflaged, but it might have emerged from underground, or it might be wearing trousers made out of leaves. It might even have crafted a tool made of sticks; either a grabbing device or some kind of giant crossbow. And is that a gun next to his left arm, or a twig, or a walking stick in the shape of a foot made from bone? If all goes wrong, it can either sink back underground or pull itself up the vine behind him onto the branch. Either that or someone above has caught themselves a troll. Or maybe something behind him is preparing to pounce. It’s already gobbled up other things.

Leaving the Sway #vampress 25

She decided to gather the farm boys into the hall, before realising that there wasn’t much room for what she intended. Perhaps she could get the basement hollowed out with a trapdoor for n added effect. Could she wait that long? There would be a lot of stone to carve out. Although, with the right stimulus, she might be able to get it all done sooner than she thought, though there could be some structural damage to the house. Was there a way to reinforce it? She needed sound advice, and not just from anyone who would agree with her just to have her way. Perhaps she could hide somewhere and one of her minions ask the questions. That would involve giving them a bit of willpower. She’d have to practice her influence slowly to safeguard her secret. Could she influence someone without being under the sway? She’d have to surrender a bit of her power.

Bridging the Gap

For many people, pictures are all they have to revive them of these memories, but having experiences like these brings the family closer together. We can look back upon these pictures to remember where we were and what we did. It reminds us of the fun time we had and we felt like superstars being treated to a private experience, and that we could face any obstacles, not that there were any in front of us anyway. Even the gate on the other side of the bridge had been removed. It also felt a bit apocalyptic with no one else around. The trees behind could just curl up behind us and block out the light and our way back to the car park. The only way then is forward into whatever lays beyond the frame. Unless, of course, they’re suddenly going to get zapped by the lights that are wrapped around the bridge.

The Cosa Express Machine

Yup, I’ve actually been asked to rate a coffee vending machine. The world’s gone mad. It’s also worrying. Does this mean that if we rate them high enough then the barista will be replaced by these machines at some point? It was quick and simple since I could glance at all of the options available on my phone. The trouble is that if something goes wrong, you’re going to have to hunt someone down to help you, during which your current progress could be lost. I haven’t figured out if I can pay on my phone without going to the checkout, but at this site it’s not worth looking into since I’ll lose my employee discount. There was nearly a problem as I didn't get the cup into position, but luckily the machine picked up on it and waited for me. But there were so many things for me to play and help myself to. At some point, someone’s just going to nick all of it.

Ski Monday

Next, we trek out across the field. One thing that they’ve tried to do is to ensure that there’s a main gravel path throughout the trail to help people with mobility issues enjoy it. There weren’t any stiles or steps, though there might have been a gate. They’ve also stuck bright, visible waymarker poles throughout the trail in case too much snow causes confusion about the route and no one wanders off onto the main farm. We enter a self-contained wooded area. Here, there were more fenced off reindeers made of straw and little wooden houses with cute doors on them which were fairy grottos. It was a nice little winter wonderland, and the trail wasn’t long and no one got too cold. It wasn’t too crowded either. We finished with a round of hot chocolates while the little one ran round the playground. It was good to get outside and stretch our wings.

The Scarecrow's Wedding

This was a cute little animation story made for the Christmas period. I don’t think it needed a narrator and before the scarecrows met, I wasn’t sure if speech was needed either. It’s a very colourful production with some lovely colours, and the clumsiness made it more realistic, though at one point it did look like the scarecrows were drunk as they took each step. It’s nice to see that the scarecrow didn’t become a bridezilla and hunt down a cake for her guests. The animals were very cute, but I’m not sure that a pimp in a white suit was realistic and appropriate enough to be introduced as a rival in a children’s production, if only for a short while as a plot development. There might be too much smooching for younger children, and perhaps some of the items could be sought out by some of the animals rather than sending the scarecrow further and further away.

Wednesday Club #dreamdiary 211

I’m on a night out at a club. There’s a group of us in designer suits with a few happy fillies and I’m not the designated driver tonight. The club is one of those large spaces that’s designed for the weather. It takes ages to get to the bar. It’s at the end of a long corridor of shrubbery. I think about ordering a beer then think that this place is a bit more designer so I have a mojito instead and it comes in a tumbler layered up like rainbows. I’m vaguely aware that someone thinks that I owe them money but I’ve already paid them off. I just hope that they can remember. At least I can take them on if necessary. We ascend a metal staircase to a rooftop garden where I see a group of shops opposite. I feel like I have to hit those at some point.

Mapping it Out

The girls were given a map and an activity sheet and were pointed towards the first step of the trail. A lot of the snow had started to melt which ruined the magic somewhat. But we could still see that a lot of effort had gone into creating it, and it was a shame that we couldn’t book one of the night sessions where it would all be lit up. The first stop was at the reindeer which were sheltered by some very thinning Christmas trees, but the decorations looked expensive. There was a question and a photo opportunity at each stop. In all the excitement of what lay ahead, we somehow missed the very first question and had to head back to the cows. I guess we had our eyes on the reindeer. Then we spotted a charming fox sculptured out of wood whilst holding a wreath from its mouth. I hope he hasn’t got stung.

What If the postman brought you a letter from an aunt you didn't even know you had?

I would have questions. Who is this mysterious person that’s been hidden away from me for all this time? Why has she been concealed from me? Is she a criminal that’s just discovered me? What if my whole family has been on the run from her all this time because she’s crazy scary and powerful? And how do I know who to believe? It could be a con started by the postman. Id have to seek out answers from my family. And why does she choose this moment for a reunion? Is there a death imminent and we want to make sure that there’s no regrets? Or is someone trying to get up on a deal somewhere? I should really ask for some proof. Does my brother know? Am I the outcast or is she? There could be a fortune involved or it could be my downfall. Or she could just want to meet me and make her own mind up.

Churchfields Fairy Trail

This was a fun little activity that we could do with the girls just before the schools start to organise their lessons. It’s set in the countryside a few miles outside of Droitwich, and it’s a little drive down some narrow country lanes to get there, with just a small space for passing points on the final approach. It’s only been developed to host events in the last ten years, but a lot of work has been put into it. The road opens out onto a gravel road where’s there ample parking. Grassy areas are towards the back, and there’s more stones as you get nearer to the front. Just before the zebra crossing to the main entrance, there’s a vending machine where you can purchase milk directly from the farm. You can bring your own container or purchase one of theirs from the shop. Then it’s into the barn to get checked in for our walk.

Are you Local?

Is she going to talk to me in a silly voice? Perhaps she’s going to look up local happenings and sports results for me? Or does it all depend upon where I live and what data is available online? Does she know where she is? Perhaps she’ll admit that she’ll do her best to keep up with local events or tell me what the better resources are. The first thing that she tells me is that I’m in a safe environment. That gives me reason to stay. I’m then told that I’m not a local as there’s nothing for me here. It then gets a bit repetitive. I wonder if these are all quotes from The League of Gentlemen, of which I’ve never really seen. It all seems to entertain a fetish in a grotesque way. But if it’s all to do with the village shop and how people are treated, I’m willing to give it a look.

Lesson Time

It’s time for online school, but who’s teaching who? A limited number of children were allowed to come into school depending on their parent’s circumstances, mainly those who were vulnerable and couldn’t get access online. Others earned a place owing to their parents being key workers, but these places were harder to fill and were more popular. Millions of kids are forced to complete their lessons on a computer and have to master some IT skills very quickly, alongside some parents and grandparents. There was a list of things that we had to do and make sure that we could pass these onto the children. We also had to make sure that we had the right access codes and that these were kept secure. Or was this a reminder that someone’s nails needed trimming? I wonder if the system’s still there lurking in the background ready in case it’s needed again.

Canada school shooting latest: Police reveal details about attacker Jesse Van Rootselaar

It’s important to get the right details out to avoid speculation. There could be a backlash blamed on people that had no involvement on the incident whatsoever. But releasing this information to the public could cause a backlash if they’re not careful. Everyone has the right to free speech, but it’s what they do with it that counts. And this sort of thing is common in the US, but we hear less of it up north. Its almost as if we think that they’re more civilised. And it’s more terrifying when the attacker dies as well. It’s harder for people to find out why. The fact that makes this one so controversial is that it involves a transgender person. Could it be that they are struggling with their position or they were reacting to some bullying? There’s so much that we don’t know here, and this could open up a whole range of issues.