Latest Things

It was nine in the morning and Sören was at the National, making his way down the hall to see a patient for a consult for a surgery they'd be having in two weeks. His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Sören didn't like to take calls at work, and he was going to let it go to voice mail, but then something nagged at him and he took out his phone and saw Karen's number.

Karen did not, as a rule, call him when he was at work, and that meant something was wrong.

Sören's heart began to race as he swiped to accept. "Jæja?"

"Hi, Sören, sorry to bother you -"

"What's going on?"

Karen took a deep breath. "Nicholas is really sick."

"When you say sick, you mean..." Oh god. Oh no.

"Geir and I made him come over last night because he was too ill to make himself something to eat, and he's burning up. I took his temperature and it's thirty-eight point three. Geir and I thought about whether or not he should go to the hospital but we decided to ask you first, since you're a doctor -"

Sören exhaled sharply. "He shouldn't go to the hospital unless absolutely necessary. Even though the NHS is strict about hygienic protocol, he could still get sicker if he goes to a hospital and is exposed to other people's germs. And thirty-eight-three is concerning, the flu at his age is concerning, but it can still be managed at home right now. He shouldn't go in unless he needs procedures he can't have at home, like if his fever gets much higher or he needs oxygen or something. We also don't want to lose a bed for someone who does need it."

"OK. I'm still worried -"

"Me too." The thought of losing Nicholas - Tears stung Sören's eyes but he would not fall apart. Not yet.

"When you say concerning, do you think I should call out his general practitioner, have him make a house call? Geir's at the Royal Ballet - he wanted to stay home and I made him go - and I'm on

I'm on a Patricia Briggs re-reading kick, recently consumed:

The Alpha and Omega series:

Alpha and Omega (Novella)
Cry Wolf
Hunting Ground
Fair Game
Dead Heat

And just started on the Mercy Thompson books

Moon Called

Currently Playing:

I'm still playing Valheim. I just took out the second level boss, 'The Elder', who is basically an Ent. I spent a couple of hours preparing the ground for the battle, and probably helped him more than I helped me. It turns out he has an attack with a wide horizontal fan of effect, so taking out things to hide behind (trees!) in the name of freedom of movement was probably a bad idea - though even the stones I did end up cowering behind were punched through after a couple of hits. I only won (and that after dying twice) because there was a randomly placed burial chamber about 100m from where you summon him, and I ended up using that as a bunker because he couldn't hit anything below ground level - pop out, pepper him with fire arrows, dive back into the bunker to heal damage. So now I have the master key to all the dungeons in the swamp, which should let me progress on to the iron tier. (Building dungeons in the swamp strikes me as an inherently gooey idea, and getting iron from them seems counter-intuitive - rust yes, iron no).

I've spent the past couple of days fortifying my main bases. The more recent one I had to fortify because I wanted to be able to dock my long ship without any of the evil dwarfs who roam the forest getting to it, the original one I spent last night fortifying after a raid by two trolls (which are blue, carry tree-trunks as a weapon, and stand about 25'), which smashed in its front and caused a whole heap of mess. I'd only popped back for five minutes to do something and ended up spending a couple of hours rebuilding.

It's not a game I would have accused of subtlety, but I've twice now spotted a shadowy figure with a staff lurking in the woods, who disappears in a poof of smoke if you try to get close to him. I suspect

Wednesdays were typically Nicholas's shortest days of the school week, only on the UCL campus a few hours before going home at noon. All the way home that Wednesday, February fourth, Nicholas thought of Sören, looking at his phone, wondering why Sören hadn't called yet.

It was getting bad. Nicholas remembered how beside himself he was with anticipation waiting for Sören to arrive on Sunday night, and the giddy rush he felt when he heard Sören's key in the lock. The way he kept stealing glances at Sören that evening, who was tired but happy, watching another Bollywood movie with Karen and Geir. Then on Monday night Nicholas had shown up at the National on Sören's break with dinner not just for that night, but enough for Sören to have leftovers on Tuesday, when Nicholas knew Sören was scheduled to perform surgery on "Slarg" the brain tumor, a complex procedure that would take hours, and Sören was unsure of when he'd be able to get a break, so having food readily available was important. On Monday night he and Sören had taken a walk through Queen's Square as usual, and they had taken a pause to sit on a bench; Sören had brought his sketchbook with him to work - he preferred to leave his Wacom tablet at home - and as they sat, Sören showed Nicholas a sketch of Karen that he'd been working on the past couple of days, where Karen was in a gossamer dress at the ocean, her hair blowing in the breeze.

And Nicholas hadn't wanted to feel envious of the young woman he thought of like a daughter, but looking at the obvious tender loving feelings that had gone into the sketch, the worshipof his beloved, Nicholas wished that Sören loved him at least a percentage as much as he clearly loved Karen. He didn't want to take away from her, and once again he felt guilty about having feelings for Sören, fearing that it would jettison his relationships with Karen and Geir both, the only

День сегодня был неплохой. Медосмотр малой закрыли, выпили вкусного кофе, сделали ребёнку карточку. Уже закинула ей денег на математику и английский до конца месяца. Все! Пусть учится сама помнить, когда платить надо. Теперь это не моя забота. А ещё наслушалась комплиментов, причём от женщин) Всё путали меня с ребёнком) Надеюсь, это потому, что я стала лучше выглядеть)))

Swaraj 744 Tractor is a 48 HP tractor with a three-cylinder configuration that delivers high power and reliability all at once. The tractor's fine ergonomics are enhanced by its 3136 CC engine and 2000 RPM. Swaraj 744 Tractor is available with a single or dual clutch. The gearbox has eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds. This tractor provides you with the option of Power Steering.With a lifting capability of 1500 pounds and strong hydraulics, this tractor can be used for a variety of tasks, including cultivation and harvesting.

Swaraj 744 FE tractor has 2 wheel drive and a fuel capacity of 60 litres, allowing it to run and operate for longer periods of time. The efficient braking mechanism and 13.6*28 wide tyres improve field grip and reduce rolling resistance.It is powered by a three-cylinder water-cooled engine that is both powerful and reliable. It has a multi-speed forward and reverse PTO, making it ideal for PTO-driven applications such as alternator threshers and reapers.Power steering, dual clutch, DCV, and an interchangeable front axle are among the tractor's many specifications. Overall, he's a strong all-rounder and a standout player. Swaraj 744 FE is equipped with a 3-cylinder, 3136 cc direct engine that produces 44 horsepower at 2000 RPM.

The Swaraj 744 FE's engine is a direct-injection system with a water-cooled cooling system and an oil-cooled cooling system.The Swaraj 744 FE tractor can accommodate rotavator, reverse plough, cultivator, and other farm machinery. The reverse PTO is standard on all Swaraj tractors. As a result, the Swaraj 744 FE has both a normal and reverse PTO. The Swaraj 744 FE is a hybrid transmission that combines constant and sliding mesh transmissions. Swaraj 744 FE gets 8 forward and 2 reverse gears from this transmission.The Swaraj 744 FE tractor can accommodate rotavator, reverse plough, cultivator, and other farm machinery. The reverse PTO is standard on all Swaraj tractors.

Swaraj 855 FE is a 50-55 HP category tractor which brings in enormous power and longer operations. The 855 FE also has a water-cooled three-cylinder engine that provides better performance even in difficult conditions. This tractor is truly made for Indian fields, where farmers have a proclivity to grow more. The 855 FE is the ideal partner for a farmer. Along with this, the 855 FE has a number of features that help it perform even better. Direction control valve, multi-speed forward and reverse PTO, power steering, and dual clutch are just a few of the features that make this tractor a true specimen for Indian agriculture.

The best tractor for agriculture is the Swaraj 855 Tractor. Swaraj 855 is a tractor that is in high demand in Indian markets, and it has earned an irreplaceable place in the hearts of customers thanks to its consistent performance. Swaraj Tractors is known for making tractors that are ideal for Indian farmers. Swaraj 855 has all of the qualities and features you'd expect at a low Swaraj 855 price. All farmers and other operators in India can easily afford Swaraj Tractors. Swaraj 855 also has a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres. Swaraj 855 is available in two versions: Swaraj 855 5 Star and Swaraj 855 4 Star. Both are extremely popular in India. These two are made up of various types of innovative features that have proven to be beneficial to farmers. Both variants have a distinct identity and appearance that will appeal to Indian farmers.

The John Deere 5310 is a 55 horsepower tractor with outstanding efficiency, strength, and dependability. Its strong engine and cutting-edge technologies make it ideal for a variety of applications in a variety of soil conditions. John Deere 5310 is the most popular tractor in India, according to the world leader John Deere. The John Deere 5310 is a second-generation tractor with advanced technologies such as power steering and oil-immersed disc brakes that adjust and equalise themselves. The John Deere 5310 is a 55 horsepower tractor with a 3 cylinder, 2900 cc engine turning at 2400 RPM. Also included is a cooler with a coolant-cooled cooling mechanism and a coolant reservoir tank on the John Deere 5310.

The John Deere 5310 is a technologically advanced tractor with a powerful John Deere engine and a variety of other features that make it the most popular tractor on the market. In any service, the John Deere 5310 tractor offers excellent performance, never-before-seen features, flexibility, and high efficiency, making it suitable for use throughout India. A single piece hood with gas strut mechanism and an engine with torque backup up to 40% are both exclusive features of the John Deere 5310. The John Deere 5310 is equipped with a Collar Shift Transmission that has nine forward and three reverse gears. The John Deere 5310 is equipped with a Dry Type, Dual Element Air Filter that provides optimal air filtration to the tractor, enhancing engine efficiency and life. The John Deere 5310 is available in two drive modes: 2WD and 4WD.

The Mahindra 575 DI has a water-cooled cooling system that helps it avoid overheating during longer operations. The Mahindra 575 DI's advanced hydraulics allow the use of modern equipment such as rotavators, threshers, and MB ploughs. The Mahindra 575 DI has a comfortable seat that makes for longer work hours with less fatigue. The Mahindra 575 DI tractor falls into the 45 HP range, making it suitable for crops such as sugarcane, wheat, and rice. The Mahindra 575 DI is designed to meet the needs of farmers.

Swaraj 735 FE is one of Swaraj Tractor Company's most common tractor models. In the 35-40 HP range, it is one of the most common tractors among farmers. Swaraj tractor 735 is the Swaraj multinational brand's most powerful tractor. Swaraj tractor 735 PTO control can be used by farmers to work PTO-driven implements such as a rotavator, mixing machine, MB plough, and harrow.

Swaraj 735 FE is also available with advanced features including Power steering, Oil Immersed braking and bigger tyres. This improves the efficiency and satisfaction of the farmer. The Swaraj 735 FE has a versatile engine that can do both agricultural and commercial activities. Swaraj 735 FE has a powerful three-cylinder engine with 40 horsepower and a size of 2734 cubic centimetres. Swaraj 735 FE features a water-cooled engine and an Oil Bath Air Filter.
Within the farming community, the Swaraj 735 FE is one of the most common tractor models.

There were only a few moments when Sören could remember being more anxious than he was on Christmas Eve as he stood outside the door to Nicholas's flat after he'd gotten off work and gone home to change. He was wearing a dark grey suit complete with a waistcoat, a white dress shirt, and a black tie. His curls hung loose but he'd put a little gel in them. For the first time since the breakup he wished he had kept the Rolex that Anthony had given him, which would go nicely with his suit.

Sören was still wearing his Doc Martens ankle-high boots. They could pry those from his cold, dead body.

Nicholas answered the door and Sören gasped.

Sören's reaction was more shock than surprise, however. He knew Nicholas would be dressing up to go to the ballet, having gone on a tirade about young people wearing jeans to the Royal Opera House (which Sören found adorable and hilarious). It was one thing to know Nicholas would be dressing up and another thing to see him in black tails, black waistcoat, black tie, charcoal silk scarf, white dress shirt, a red rose through his buttonhole.

For a full moment Sören and Nicholas just stood there, looking at each other. Nicholas seemed just as stunned to see Sören wearing a proper suit and tie.

If you looked up "silver fox" in a dictionary, you would see a picture of this guy. Sören had to close his mouth, and his face burned, realizing he'd been drooling a little, and not just from the delicious smells of whatever Nicholas was cooking for their Christmas dinner.

"Er," Sören said.

"Er," Nicholas replied.

And if you think he looks hot dressed up like this, imagine what he looks like out of that suit. Especially if he's got silver man fur all over his body like those whiskers...

Sören felt a frisson down his spine. He definitely did notwant to be lusting after Nicholas this way, not wanting to make things awkward with Karen and Geir that he had the hots f

It was after one PM on a Sunday and Karen had seen hide nor hair of Geir, who was usually up before now. She knocked on his bedroom door. "Geir?"

She heard something that sounded like a grumble from Sören, followed by Geir chuckling. "Yeah, come in," Geir said.

Karen opened the door and saw Geir and Sören were in bed - presumably still in bed from last night. They were naked, though they were under the covers. Sören looked like he'd been woken up by the knock, and Geir looked like he was just waking up himself, yawning and stretching.

"Shall I make tea?" Karen tried to contain her amusement and failed; they were cute, all rumpled and sleepy.

"Yes, please." Geir tousled Sören's curls. "Hey. Time to wake up now."

"Jæja, fuck you," Sören mumbled, not unkindly. Sören sat up and rubbed his face and gave Karen a look like a wet cat. "What time is it?"

"One thirteen," Karen said.

"Jesus."

"I guess we were up late." Geir had an evil grin on his face.

"You think?" Sören pulled back the covers and winced as he got up, walking a little funny; it was obvious what they'd been doing and now Karen really couldn't help but laugh. Sören rubbed his face again and squinted at the side of the bed, and glanced around the room like he was missing something. "My bag... had clothes in it..." Sören scowled. "Oh shit, I forgot to bring my bag upstairs last night."

"We were preoccupied," Geir said and gave a little clear of his throat.

"I can get your bag," Karen said.

"Oh Karen, elskan, I hate to turn you into my servant..." Sören glared and folded his arms, a comical sight when he was completely nude.

"I'm going down anyway," Karen said, then her mind went into the gutter, glancing at Sören's cock, and Sören caught it too and facepalmed, chuckling. "

Sören breathed a sigh of relief as he saw there wasn't a queue at the counter of the hospital cafe, not wanting to have his precious break time carved up by waiting in line. And then, just before he could approach the counter he heard a voice call his name. "Sören!"

Sören froze, and looked in the direction of the voice. His mouth opened with surprise as he looked into those beautiful bright blue eyes, and he swallowed hard, stomach doing flip-flops as his eyes raked Geir Strøm up and down - the black fauxhawk and goatee, the chiseled features, the lithe body. Sören remembered how nervous he'd been when Geir came for his appointments, tongue-tied in the presence of such beauty, and of course Karen had made things even more difficult that first time. Sören felt stupid and flustered all over again, and took a few deep breaths to pull himself together.

Sören walked up to Geir's table and noticed he had two chocolate espressos with whipped cream. Geir pushed one over to Sören who laughed softly.

"How did you know?" Sören asked.

"I guessed, honestly." Geir smiled. "Unless you mean knew when your break was. Karen told me."

"I see." Sören sat down. He took a sip of the chocolate espresso, relieved and grateful that he hadn't had to wait for it. As he reached to pull his wallet out of his scrubs, Geir waved his hand.

"No need to pay me back," Geir said.

"All right." Sören cocked his head to one side. "What brings you here?" Sören felt a little twinge of anxiety - it was rare that a patient or former patient had issues with him, usually for delivering news they didn't want to hear. In this case Geir didn't have anything wrong with him that Sören could tell from the CAT scan and MRI, and Sören was hoping Geir wasn't here to insist more tests be run. Sören took another sip of his drink.

"Well..." G

It was three PM on a Sunday afternoon; Sören had to go in to work that evening at six, and Karen had agreed to meet him in Holborn at a cafe near his flat, so he could maximize their face time without having to go far to get changed for work.

The cafe was the same one where Sören had met Aurelio Fiorella recently to go over terms of their "date" following the charity auction... the "date" that had turned into an entire weekend, and then over and done. But it had been Sören's tentative first steps back into the world of dating and sex after his engagement ended. And this was also the same cafe where Sören had run into his ex recently as well. Sören kept looking around, hoping he wasn't going to see Anthony here again, but if Anthony's habits were still the same he was probably in Blackheath right now.

Don't think of him. Sören swallowed hard.

Sören had arrived a little early, though he'd spent enough time getting ready that there was a moment when he worried he'd be late. After fussing over what to wear, he'd finally decided on the black Joy Division T-shirt that he'd worn the night he'd met Karen back in 2009, and a pair of faded jeans. He'd worn his black leather bomber on the walk over, and it was now draped on the back of his chair.

Sören kept checking his phone, feeling nervous - worried that Karen was going to stand him up. He did know now that he hadn't in fact been ghosted when they fell out of touch in 2009, but he still felt apprehensive. Even more than worrying that she wouldn't show up, he was worried that she would and she'd decide that spark between them had been a fluke.

Or that it hadn't, but eventually things would get all fucked up somehow.

Stop worrying, Sören told himself.

And then, there she was, wearing a trilby and a belted trenchcoat, looking like an old-fashioned gangster, but it was a cute look for her. Sören couldn't help smiling as she walked in, and st

December 2014
London, England

Karen patted Geir's shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

Geir glanced at the clock and made a noise. His Norwegian accent thickened as he grumbled, "I just want to get out of here."

Karen gave him a sympathetic smile, and her hand rested on Geir's shoulder, reassuring him. "It's another five minutes to the appointment, hopefully it won't get too complicated."

They were in the waiting room of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery; Geir had been having recurring severe headaches and random body aches, and it had finally started to interfere with his practice with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, where he was a flautist. So here they were on the afternoon of Thursday, December fourth - Karen had taken the day off to go with Geir for moral support. Though Geir was more annoyed than worried. It was Karen who worried, enough for the both of them.

But she tried to hide it. For the first time in a long time, she felt the craving for a cigarette, and even though she knew it was nerves, it still didn't help. She reached into her purse and pulled out a tin of mints, and carefully put one in her mouth.

Two minutes before the appointment was scheduled, a beautiful young Indian woman in navy blue scrubs, her glossy black hair in a careful bun, stepped out into the waiting room and flashed them a dazzling smile. "Mr. Strøm?"

Geir waved, and gingerly got up - he was in pain today, though he was trying to mask it. Karen followed him back, and they trailed behind the nurse, who had Geir step on a scale. Once he was weighed, she took him into a room and had him climb up on an exam table as she got out a blood pressure cuff. Karen watched as the nurse took his blood pressure and had Geir stick a thermometer under his tongue, which went off within a few seconds. As Geir winced at the blood pressure cuff tightening on his arm, the nurse asked, "How tall are you?"

&

Title: Let’s start with a kiss
Pairings: Sakuraiba; Matsumiya (side)
Genres: AU, romance, fluff, angst, comedy
Rating: PG13
Summary: After being friends for more than twenty years, a kiss is what blows up Aiba and Sho's relationship.
Warnings: /
Author’s notes: Dear yuuki_nyanmaru, it's been a real pleasure to write for you. I wished to give you some enemies to lovers shenanigans at first, but I hope you will still like this story and that it will warm your heart. Thank you to the mods for organizing this exchange! 

Прощальный соне́т Цурэ́на, А.Стругацкий, Б. Стругацкий, "Трудно быть богом" - 2

Как лист увядший падает на душу
Печаль: она в свой срок её иссушит
И разочарований острый лёд
Земное воплощение убьёт.
А чем душе спастись? Она поёт:
От боли песнопения её.
Мелодия — беспечная подружка,
Братаясь с брагой и рифмуя с кружкой,

Течёт, другие души бередя.
Она — такая призрачная птица:
То вдруг затихнет, то звучит везде

И без сопротивленья города
Она берёт, способная светиться,
Подобная сгорающей звезде.

Мои апрельские книжки.

So we're having the bathroom done — the whole thing this time. The wall dividing the toilet and bath has GONE, along with one of the doors. The new bath is in though! 😀. I had my first bath in it the other night. Maybe a little bit too shabby chic for my taste at the moment. 



Better get ready before the bathroom fitters get here. I'm excited about the new bathroom but not so keen and having to be up and dressed in the holidays before 8:30 😁