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When Mary looked in through the open door of Meg's dwelling she saw no one but Captn. Mathy, with his back towards her, very busy keeping in the furze fire under two brandaaes (trivets): a good-size crock, with a piece of beef, was boiling on the one, and on the other a small pot of water for the ladies' tea. There was no such thing as a tea kettle then in the parish, nor for many years afterwards. The table was laid with a tea-set of old India china; the tea-pot was just the size of a saffron-pot, and the cup but little larger than a thimble. There was good store of fruit-cakes, and other nice things, on the bed of the dresser, all ready to be cut and placed on the board. Mathy, hearing the girl's step, as she came over the drussel, turned round and said,— "Hallo Mary? What brought thee here then? Ah, I needn't ask, thou daughter of old Mother Eve—nothing more than thy itching curiosity to see the old lady's met-out, but come thee wayst in.. Upon my soul, I verily believe, as much as I believe anything one don't know much about, that a precious lot of you petticoat creatures will go to the hot place below, merely to satisfy your troublesome curiosity as to how the time es passed there, and that you may take the exact measure of the old black gentleman's tails; and your mischief-making tattle will be a greater plague than the brimstone down below. Yet after all," Mathy continued~ "I'm not sorry you come here, to stop an hour or so with me, while the old ladies are away for a walk, and I'm left here, as you see, to keep house and look after the cooking. I can't abide to stay in this place by myself, even high by day; for if ever there was a place haunted this is. The queer things, too, all about the old dwelling make one's flesh creep on 'the bones—there's that old chattering magpie and the hares! See them looking at me, just as if they understood, like human creatures, every word we say. This feasten tide of Mag's is, to me, the wishtest time of all the year. This was her wedding-day, now nearly thirty years ago; and, a week after this time, I saw the last in life of my old comrade, her husband, who was as dear to me as a brother, though many a fair fight we've had together. And don't think me fancy foolish when I tell thee that on Thursday, three years ago, I saw the sailor Vingoe standing there just inside the door, as plain as I see thee! Why you needn't start: he isn't there now. Some folks talk about spirits as if they were quite familiar with them, but, for my part, I can't abide to see them. I don't think I should much like to have a visit even from an angel or a cherrybeam if they are anything like their pictures drawn on the tombstones. I can't see, for my part, how the poor things, all head and wings, can either stand, sit, or fly, without a body to balance them, or a tail to steer by
I'll tell ye first some of the sailor Vingoe's history, which I fear me when the end be known, will prove a doleful tragedy. You have never heard anything of it from Margaret, I expect, because what is always in her thoughts she never speaks of to any but her husband's oldest friends."
"He was one of an ancient family that came from Normandy and settled in Sennen soon after the Conquest. They held their lands, 'tis said, as a gift from the Conqueror. The two oldest branches of the family terminated in daughters, who gave themselves, and their lands, to other names; but, at the time, they had not much to bestow, as the 'First and Last' inn of England belonged to them for many generations and they could do no less, they thought, than be the best customers to their own hotel."
"I sailed in the same ship. Though he was an officer, and I before the mast, he always treated me like a brother. When off duty the last voyage we made together he took with him Margaret's brother John, then a lad, mad to go to sea with his. cousin Jenkyn. Before we returned he taught the lad navigation, and made him of more use on board ship than many a seaman double his age, Every voyage the sailor made, the richest stuffs and other choice articles were always brought home with him for Margaret. On his return from the last voyage he wished to be wedded to Margaret. She was nothing loath; but her aged father, though he dearly liked and was proud of his kinsman, the brave sailor, yet he either feared to trust his darling daughter's fate in the hands of the young devil-may-care tar, or, as the old man hinted more than once, he thought cousin Jenkyn ought to save more money before he thought of taking a wife."
'The devil take the old curmudgeon I' says Mary
"The old man's desire that before marrying his daughter, the sailor should get richer, determined him to leave the India service and go a privateering. He was soon appointed the captain to as fine a craft as ever sailed for that game of neck-or-nothing, or worse. "I very much desired, and he wished me, to go with him; but somehow my old Joan, then a spanking, clean-built craft as you could see, enticed me to—well, to ship with her. That she mightn't break her heart, poor dear, I married and made what they call an honest woman of her. Before that had taken place the privateer was far away. Joan often wished, ere many months were over, that she had left me go, for I was as discontented as could be on shore, and never could make up my mind to work underground; so I turned to streaming, and smuggling, by turns. Margaret's young brother had to be kept home by main force, yet the privateer Captain was loath to take him on such a dangerous expedition. The youngster would no more work on the farm, nor go in the merchant service again, but made one of the crew in every smuggling adventure undertaken by me and my comrades, and determined to join the privateer as soon as ever he might find an opportunity."
'I commend the boy for his pluck,' says Mary.
"Nearly three years passed without any particular tidings from the sailor, and yet, by some means, rich presents were always arriving for Margaret and her brothers. Nor were his other friends forgotten. One Saturday I came home late at night after I'd been a week absent, over to Roscrof for a cargo, and putting the goods safe. As soon as I came in, Joan said, "I've news for 'e, Mathy, that will make 'e jump out of thy skin for joy ! Guess what it is !'
'Why my old mate is come home,' says I, and began to blubber like a great land-lubber for joy at the very thought of it. 'Now, don't tell me he esn't,' says I, 'for I shall knock thee down, and shan't be able to help it, to be disappointed.' 'You great fool, you,' says Joan,' be esn't come, than.' 'Then I'll strangle thee,' says I. 'But he as comean in a few days, or a week,' says she, 'and here as a packet and a letter that a strange seaman brought here two days ago for you (and no one else but you), to give it to Margaret or her brother John. The seaman said that the one we should all be glad to see, would be here very soon, and rich enough to get married and stay at home all the rest of his time, ef he would only be contented with a land-lubber's life.'
"I stayed awake nearly all night, thinking to rise early to give the good news to Margaret, but, when I thought to be getting up, I fell asleep and snored away hours after other people were all up. I dressed in haste, and, without staying for breakfast, started for Trigaminnion.
"When I came to Morvah church town, the bell had ceased tolling, and the people had gone into church. As Margaret usually came to church, I went in expecting to find her there. She wasn't there. I would wait a quarter-hour, or so, to see if she would come, and hadn't been in the church more than ten minutes when the tramp of a horse was heard coming near. A stranger entered the church.
"Everyone rose and gazed at him, and well they might, such a fine stalwart man, so handsomely dressed, was rarely seen in a country church in these parts. His curling black hair, beard, and whiskers covered great part of his face, and the little that could be seen of his skin was the colour of mahogany. Yet the deep dye of his coal-black hair made his complexion appear fair enough. His coat, of the finest navy-blue cloth, was sparkling with gold lace and anchor buttons, and the long boots, such as were then worn by naval officers, came halfway up his thigh to meet the skirts of his coat, leaving but little of his white small clothes to be seen. A short sword, or cutlass, hung from the broad leather belt round his waist. The finest of lace ruffles hung from the breast and wrists of his shirt. In his hand he held a cocked hat, looped up with lace, and ornamented with a large cockade.
"He stopped at the entrance of the aisle, looked round, and, not seeing Margaret, or any of her family, in church, was about to leave, when be saw me and beckoned me to come to him.
"We were so glad to meet again that we had been in the public-house parlour more than ten minutes before he began to talk with anything like common sense. Then into the room bounded Meg's brother John, and clasped his arms around the sailor's neck before he had time to turn round. The two kissed and embraced, like the babes in the wood, poor dears, when they met again, after they had lost each other for five minutes among the brambles, when night came on, as you remember; or like Man Friday meeting his dad; or, better still, one might compare their meeting to that of the twin brothers, Dick and Bob Edwards, better known as the Morvah Devils, who, for a number of years, worked, always together, the same gun on board the Nymph, till Pellew left that ship; then one of the twins being sent to another vessel, neither was good for anything, till they were both brought back to the same gun again, and, like the Morvah Devils, Jenkyn Vingoe and Margaret's brother from that day stood by each other.
"'Cousin Jenkyn, if you go off without me again, I'll be shot or shoot you,' says Jack."
'Thou dost know very well, my son,' replied the other, 'that but for the fears of father and Meg I'd never have left thee here to rot on Morvah Downs for the last three years;' then, pitching the youngster on his forkle-end, the sailor examined his bone and muscle. 'Why Jan, my dear, since I saw thee last thou art grown quite a man, I declare, and a fine strong-built one too, by jingo.
' The deuce take Meg and dad; I'll ship with thee, Cousin Jenkyn, let them say what they will, and go with all my heart wherever thee bust a mind to sail, if it's to —,'—well, he didn't say Heaven.
"A. I thought Margaret might be thrown into a sort of quandary with the sudden joy and surprise, I said to the sailor, 'Now you two stay here for a half-hour or so. I haven't yet seen Miss Margaret, since you sent me this parcel and letter for her, because I only came home last night from a trip over the other side. 'All right, comrade, make sail and we'll soon follow,' says he.
"The first words Margaret spoke, when she entered the parlour, into which I was shown, were, 'You're come, Mathy, to tell me that one I have long expected is near by. I know he will be here if less than an hour.'
'How should she know that?' Mary asked.
good to ask me, how she knew,' Mathy replied. "People remarked that when she
was very young there was often a strange look in her deep hazel eyes. One moment
they would seem to flash fire; the next they would be like smooth water
reflecting the sky, and seem to be looking inward. How the deuce she should have
known anything about the sailor's arrival I can't tell. It's sometimes
my belief, as well as many other people's,
that An Meg always knew more than she had any business to, but, like all
other-wise ones, she could never read her own fortune. I believe that, by some
means, fair or foul, she did know of her sweetheart's coming, because I never
saw her dressed so grand and look so beautiful before in my life. You should
have seen her then as she sailed into the room on her father's arm, arrayed in
a blue satin gown, or robe, the train looped up, and the open front showing an
underskirt, or a petticoat, of white satin. With her lace apron, long elbow
runes, bows, furbelows, and other flags and streamers, she was as fine a craft
as one could desire. Then her figure-head beat anything I've ever seen: —her
dark, chestnut-coloured hair, turned right back from her high and broad
forehead, fell in masses of long curls all over her neck and shoulders. The hair
at the back of her head was kept in its place by a broad comb, ornamented with
jewels; in her ears she wore a pair of large flat hoop-shaped earrings of some
foreign fashion. These golden hoops were hung round with pearls, and the strings
of pearls she wore on her neck matched these. You may fancy, from Meg's
regular features and remains of beauty now, how well she looked more than
~thirty years ago.
"The parcel I brought her contained a. store of trinkets and jewels. The letter was to inform her that the sailor had arrived in port and would be home soon. Whether the old gentleman was glad or sorry, was not easy to know. I suppose he could hardly tell He said that Margaret and John had been mad, or possessed with the devil, ever since the sailor had been gone; and, not to be wanting in courtesy, he took his hat and gold-headed cane and walked up to the churchtown to meet and welcome his kinsman home. Margaret and her lover expressed their happiness more by their looks than by their words. Before half the afternoon was over, such a crowd of young and old were come to greet the sailor (who, from a boy, was known and liked by everybody from Hayle to the Land's-End), that we had to leave the house in Trigaminion and go to churchtown, where, before night, it seemed like Morvah fair, with the scores come over from St. Just to welcome the sailor and take him away with them. And to St.Just he had to go, in spite of his lady-love; for when the warm-hearted 'San Tusters' take it into their heads to feast, or make much of strangers, they all but kill them with kindness."
Well, I s'pose one may venture to speak now, than,' says Mary, 'for you seemed to have runned yourself out of breath, Captn. Mathy! How long are 'e goan to make the story before they get married? And seems to me, for a man, you must have been very particular in notan the women's dress in your younger days! What a wonderful memory you must have too, that you can mind the colour of the gown An Meg wore thirty years afro. Are 'e sure et wasn't a green one? What colour stockings did she wear?'
'Well, and for my part,' says Mary, 'I wouldn't give a straw for such a constant and cold lovyer as Margaret's sailor. I'm vexed to think of the fellow, when he hadn't seen his sweetheart for three long years, not to stay up courtan with her the first night after he came back. Now crack away Captn. I hope you will soon come to their wedden, and the sperat that frightened 'e so.'
Captn. Mathy went on to say :—" Jenkyn told his comrades that his share of the prizes they had taken, during the time he had been privateering, was more than enough to buy the best farm in Morvah, aye, or in St. Just either; but he wouldn't quit the sea—no, not he, whilst he had a stump to stand on. His crew had become a very mixed multitude from having had to ship strangers to supply the places of those killed in action. He intended to dismiss the whole set, except a few of his old hands, because the rest could never agree, and as many had been killed by their mess-mates as by the crews of the vessels they boarded. Soon after the intention of the privateer captain, to ship a new crew, became known, more hands volunteered to go with him than would have manned a first-rate man-of-war.
"As the sailor didn't know how to choose among all the brave boys who Wished to ship with him, they agreed to have a wrestling-match, to come off the next Saturday on Sennen Green. Then and there be proposed to select his crew from those who threw the greatest number of fair back falls and showed best play.
"On Monday the sailor, Meg's brother John, and I, came back to Trigaminion. Now, mind this, Mary," said Captn. Mathy, in a big voice, "instead of being vexed for her sweetheart's absence the Sunday night, Margaret let it be seen that she was proud of the notice taken of her lover."
'The more fool she,' Mary replied.
"The next day many of the privateer captain's family came over from Sennen to fetch him home with them. It had been decided, by the parties most interested, that in a week or ten days (with the old man's consent or without) Margaret and the sailor would be married in Falmouth, where he proposed to take a house for his wife and wished her father to give up his farm, remove thither, and live with her. You may be sure that the returned sailor's relations in Sennen and other places were glad enough to see him, if only for the scores of gold rings, and rich jewels, pieces-of-eight, moidores, and doubloons he gave away among them—he had something rare for every cousin of the tribe.
"On Saturday Jenkyn put up many handsome prizes, which were contended for on Sennen Green. Margaret and all her family were there. They too went over to Sennen on a visit with the sailor, most of his family being related to them. The 'First and Last' was an open house for all-comers, during the time the sailor remained at home. and some weeks after. When the day came for Margaret and her brother to take leave of their father they were all sadly cast down. The old gentleman could not give his consent to part with either son or daughter; yet, knowing it was worse than useless longer to oppose their desires, he contented himself with murmuring over a string of old proverbs, such as, 'if they made a hard bed for themselves they might lie on it;' 'those who wouldn't be ruled by the rudder must be by the rock:' and such-like everyday sayings, which old dotards are for ever spouting with the air of prophets."
Come to the wedding, do,' says Mary.
"Well, two of the old dames, now out on the cliff with Margaret, went up with her as her bridesmaids. Several of the new crew, with myself as their guide, had gone on, some days before the bridal party and wedding guests, to make such preparations, on shore and on board the privateer, as were required for the accommodation of the party.
"Friday, the day after the arrival of the bridal party in Falmouth, was the wedding-day. During the forenoon of that day, and for weeks before, the weather had been calm and heavy— scarcely a breath of air stirring. The marriage-ceremony and wedding-dinner passed off gaily enough. But before we had finished drinking health and long life to the new married couple, many of the wedding guests were alarmed at the sudden darkness, followed by as violent a tempest as ever raged over sea or land. All the sailor portion of the guests hurried on board the ship to bring her farther into harbour. Before an hour passed the sky was in a continued blaze of lightning—the thunder roared as if defying wind and sea to make a more horrible noise. Trees were uprooted even in the most sheltered spots; houses unroofed, and chimneys blown down in all directions. The ships in the most sheltered parts of Falmouth harbour dragged their anchors and got foul of each other. The next morning all parts of the coast were strewn with wrecks. Yet hours before Margaret and Jenkyn left their bridal chamber, the storm had passed away as suddenly as it came on. In its violence and short duration it was more like the hurricanes of the Indies than anything in the way of a tempest ever seen here. It was remarked that during this dreadful night the windows of Arwenic House (then uninhabited) were all ablaze with light as if the ghosts of all the old Killigrews had come on the wings of the tempest to hold high festival in their ancient home. The old mansion sustained not the least injury, though many buildings (which numbered fewer days than that did years) were leveled to the ground.
"It was also said that on this fearful night some notorious pirate either died or that his spirit was put to rest, I forget which. There was but little damage done to the privateer craft, as most of the new crew had been to sea before. By the beginning, of the next week everything was put in ship-shape. The commander had purchased a furnished house for his bride, much against her wish; for, strange as you may think it, she did everything in her power to get Jenkyn to take her to sea with him. Less than a week after the bridal, when all the wedding guests except myself, were about to leave (I must except myself, because I'd a much greater mind to go a privateering with my old comrade than return to Morvah and Joan), accounts daily reached the privateer commander from the captains of vessels, brought into Falmouth for repairs, from pilots and others, that a fleet of merchantmen from the Spanish Main, and bound for Spain, had, during the gale, been separated from their armed convey, and from each other—that many of these rich Godsends for wrecker, pirate, or privateer, were drifted far out of their course away to the north and nor'-west of Scilly.
"The commander, young John Daniel (now his chief mate and brother-in-law), all the crew, and even Marget and myself, were mad to put to sea and give chase. Her husband and brother, in order to make her consent to remain on shore without them, promised to be back again in a fortnight, at the farthest, and that then if she still determined to risk the sea, she might do so. Much in money and other valuables were placed in safe hands for Margaret's use. Our gallant ship was ready for sea. I went on shore to say good-bye to Marget, when who should be there but my old Joan! She and Meg, between them, managed to make me dead drunk and keep me out of the way till the privateer was out of sight with the two I dearly loved; and neither Margaret nor I have ever seen them since
"Yet, a few days after Jenkyn left Falmouth his gallant ship, in all her pride, put into Whitsand bay. John Daniel, and a dozen of the crew, came ashore, proceeded to Penrose, and served out Justice Jones as the old wretch deserved." * Quakers
'Now, I haven't interrupted 'e all this time,' says Mary, 'nor asked 'e a single question, but I'd like to know something about old Jones and how he was served out.'
'It'll take too long now,' Mathe answered; 'let's finish one story before begining another; besides there's no time to spare, for Meg and her wedding guests (as she still calls the old dears who come to visit her on these times) will soon return.'
"Whatever can be become of the privateer captain and all, or any, of his crew, is known to no one in this country. Margaret often, in spite of all hope, indulges the fancy, especially on these days, that her husband and brother are both still alive and will one day come back. That's the reason she lives in this way. and will not touch a farthing of the money Jenkyn left, hoping still that he may come home and want it. Even his wedding suit, and all the other land clothes (he left all with her), is taken out of the long oak chest, new folded, aired, and brushed, just as if she expected him home before night.
"But, sometimes, her cooler reason gets uppermost and then she's in black despair. These are the times you may see her, at nights, wandering about alone among the cliffs and cams. The more stormy the night the more likely one is then to see her. I've heard her at such times, poor soul, when she little thought I was watching her, for fear of some harm happening to her, shriek and moan for hours together louder than the wind and waves. The following day, or during many days, she would be like one lost to the world Then her harmless madness would come like a shield to protect her wounded heart. I'm always glad, for my part, to see her indulge in her devilry (I don't know what else to call it), because then I know that the bleeding of her broken heart is staved for the time."
'Law! don't talk such nonsense,' says Mary; 'why, didn't she get married again, and live like a sober respectable woman, to be sure?'
"From time to time, rumours have reached this place that Jenkyn Vingoe, John Daniel, and some of the crew, were still alive and kept prisoners in one of the Spanish settlements of America. These uncertain reports are treasured up by Margaret, and serve to nourish her hopes. She, poor crushed soul, may fancy what she will, but I know that the sailor is dead, because I saw, at this very hour of the afternoon, nine years, ago, the apparition of Jenkyn Vingoe standing there, just inside the door, as plainly as I see the sloping sunbeams now shining on the screen. The weather was calm, the sea smooth as glass, but great part hidden from view with clouds of dry mist, which rolled in to the foot of the cliff and up the hollows between the carns, so that their tops only could be seen as if resting on the clouds. One could hear the seamen speaking and the sheaves creaking in the blocks, and other sounds on shipboard, out over the sea miles away. Everything around—sky, sea, and land— seemed all unnatural-like; more like the moving picture of some grand show than anything real.
"I was keeping in the fire, and thinking of my old comrade, when I heard the cantering of a horse coming over the cliff. In an instant, by the time I looked up, the tramp of the horse was on the caunse outside that door. I looked through the open window and saw nothing outside but the fog mixed with sunshine, as one may now and then see it on the cliffs this time of the year. The tread of a man, in heavy boots, and the jingle of spurs on the drussel, made me look towards the door. And there stood Jenkyn, dressed every way the same as I saw him when he came to Morvah church .on his return from the three years' privateering. There he stood, just inside the door, where the sun now shines on the floor—his peaked hat, looped up at the sides, with feather and black cockade, was above the top of the doorway. He wore the same laced coat of fine blue cloth, and the tops of his glossy boots reached half-ways up the thighs. There he stood, the same man—tall, sturdy, and strong, square-built, and broad-shouldered: be looked every inch the bold buccaneer. I thought he was going to say, 'What cheer, messmate,' till I noticed that though his face was turned towards me, yet he appeared not to see me. I knew it was my old comrade, yet I had neither the power to speak nor to move. A cold sweat ran over me, and I felt like one turning to stone; yet 1 didn't think of the years gone by, and that, if alive, he could no longer look so young as he did thirty years ago. In my bewilderment and surprise, I stood gazing at him and forgot to notice the fire, till, by a aide glance, 1 saw the litter of furse on the hearth-stone all in a blaze, carrying the fire to the foot of the wood-corner. In a moment more the whole place would have been in flames. I turned, an instant only, to sweep back the fire. When I looked towards the door again there was nobody nor nothing there, where he stood, to be seen but a man's coat and hat hanging on the screen—the same garments (once the sailor's) you see there now, and that Meg puts on of stormy nights, when she runs like a wild thing over the cliffs and carns."
'I should think,' says Mary, 'you wed be glad to see your old mate, dead or alive.'
'Aye, so I should, in good substantial flesh and blood, but not an apparition like that. Yet, when I saw the lace at his wristbands, and even the black silk tassels hanging from the tops of his boots, just as I had noticed them when I walked by his side on his wedding-day, I didn't think him to be only a spirit, till I again heard the horse tramping away over the cliff down to the carns below, where neither horse nor goat could go. Still, bewildered and fear-struck, I went out and stood on the bank at the end of the house, looked towards the sea in the direction of the sound of the horse's hoofs, but there carns and cleaves were all shrouded in mist which seemed to be gathering from all quarters to that place till it formed a black cloud above and a thick haze below, out of which soon appeared the black masts of a black ship scudding away to sea, with all her sails set and not a breath of wind stirring.
"The black cloud in the sky followed the, death-ship (for the strange craft was nothing else), and every now and then spread a blaze of lightning over the western sky. The thunder roared, fire and smoke burst from the hull of the ship, followed by the sound of a cannonade—Bomb! bomb! bomb!—louder than the thunders roaring above and around. Just an instant the smoke cleared away from the black hull, and there, on the quarterdeck, was the sailor, brandishing his flashing sword, and not another soul to be seen. Away, away, hurried the craft over the sea towards the west, and was soon lost to sight in the thundercloud which became thicker and blacker. At the same time, in every other direction, the sky was clear and the sun shone bright.
"I then fell down in a fright and turned my face on the ground that I might see no more of the terrible sight. There I lay, like one in a fit, till Meg came back and roused me out of the sort of trance the fright brought on.
"'Mathy,' says she, 'hast thou the stag (nightmare) on thy back, that thou art groaning and grunting so in thy sleep? Rise up, and come in, thou careless cook.'
"I crawled in as well as I could, and didn't say anything about the apparition."
'Perhaps, after all,' says Mary, 'it was only your dreams and fancy.'
Is your grammer fancy? You may take my solemn word for it. There I saw the sailor, plainly as I now see thee with thy mouth open, looking like a fool frightened. And now you had better make haste home, for Marget and her company will be back soon.
'My dear Captn. Mathy,' said she, 'only leave me step up on the talfat a minute to see the beautiful quilt; it's always spread on the bed when An Meg's got company. I shall begin soon to make a quilt for myself as I hope to be married one day as well as the rest. I would like just to see the star in the middle of the work. I'll be down again in a crack.'
'Be quick, then,' says Mathy, 'if you want to see Margaret's fancy work, be up and down again in a couple of shakes, and I'll go outside the door to see if the old ladies be in a sight. We shall both get into trouble if they come back and find thee there. No one can tell what they may think and say; but, of all the scores of times I've been here alone, it never came into my head to mount the ladder and have a squint at the old woman's bed.'
The dame's talfat, or bed-place, over the Spence and part of the living-room, was reached by a steep stair-ladder. A strong stream of light, coming through the little open loop-hole, lit up a portion of the room, whilst the rest was in deep shadow, and made still darker by the partly-drawn curtains of a heavy four-poster. Going from the sunshine below into this place of streaky light and gloom, Mary could hardly make out, at first, that on the middle of the quilt was a suit of man's clothes laid at length, and carefully folded double. At last she saw everything there to be exactly what Mathy had just described as the wedding dress of the bold buccaneer. On the pillow was placed a cocked hat. Next came the broad-skirted blue coat, with its bright gold lace and anchor buttons. Shirt-ruffles were seen between the folds of the breast, and deep rich lace hung out through the broad cuffs of the coat. Meeting the coat-skirts were the high boots, and these looked full and in form, as if the sailor's legs were still in them. Besides, they appeared as smooth and bright as if they had only then left a boot-maker's hands. Mary didn't venture to move the sailor's toggery, that she might see the star in the center of the patchwork. She saw that hundreds and hundreds of pieces, of all shades and patterns, were joined together so as to form most intricate, yet uniform, designs.
The next thing that struck her attention was a long oaken chest, with heavy handles like those of a coffin. In the uncertain light the low chest looked much like a bed for the dead. Margaret's wedding cap and other lace-work, placed on a fine flannel shirt, with other things, on the lid, Mary took for a shroud.
After a glance at these Mary turned round again and took up the edge of the quilt at the foot of the bed. She stood there for a minute's space, examining, and trying to remember, the pattern of the patch-work round the border, when, to her horror, she saw the boots move from each other, and when she cast a glance towards the head of the bed, there lay the sailor, with all his clothes around him, and looked us if he would that instant spring off the bed.
The girl saw no more!
With one bound and a shriek, she sprang over stairs and fell on the floor in a fit!
Mathy, hearing the noise she made, in coming so quickly down stairs, ran in, drew her out of doors, soused her well with water, poured brandy down her throat, and took other means which brought her to.
Mary's first cry, when the Captn. held her up, was, "Oh! Release me from the sailor or the devil, do; and leave me go."
Mathy let her go with all his heart. She ran home, took to her bed from the effects of her fright, and was unable to quit it for many weeks.
To her dying day Mary Polteer was ready to swear that she saw the sailor's spirit dressed in his uniform, with cocked hat, boots and all, lying in Margaret's bed high by day.
"Sarved her right too," Mathy used to say, "for misbelieving me." Whilst the Captn. had been relating to Mary Polteer as much as he knew of the sailor's history, the old ladies had enjoyed a pleasant gossip, and left the sunny bank on which they rested, among the carns below, about the time the curious damsel ran home in a fright at the sight of the apparition.
When Margaret and her company arrived at the dwelling they were met by An Joan, the Captn.'s wife, who brought down a large bowl of cream and a monster apple-cake, steaming hot.
Soon after tea was over, the husbands of the two of the dames who lived—the one in Trevidga, and the other in Trevalgan—joined the party. Then came the tinners, Curnow and Tregear. They didn't forget to bring some bottles of the choicest liquors they had lately procured by a run across the Channel.
The night sped joyfully. Song followed song, and droll 'was told for droll. No one spoke of parting until the small hours of the morning. Then, as "the moon shone bright, and the stars gave their light," the jolly companions went out for a dance on the smooth turf off the cliff Any stranger seeing the old dames and tinners cutting their wild capers among the moon-lit carns, at that time of night, might well have taken the jovial party for a company of witches holding their Sabbath reel, with dark-complexioned partners from the world below.
Soon after that night, when the wise woman's fearful threats and curses frightened away the folks who came to annoy her, they, and many others who heard their report of what had then taken place, came to regard the aged charmer as a real black witch. Even the children soon feared to go near their former favorite, and their squalling was often stayed by the threat of "I'll give 'e to old Meg, the witch, I will, ef thee doesn't stop thy bleatan, and the Bucca-boo, that do come to see her every night, will carry thee away weth en to the black place where a do live, that a wilt" Others, who had less fear than hatred of the old dame, closed their doors against her, and killed or wounded her pet animal; whenever they had the chance to do it unperceived.
Long ago, Margaret's friends in Sennen wished her to come and live near them, where she would be sure of being treated with kindness, and now the illusage of her neighbors made her desire some other refuge. Yet she could not make up her mind to leave the place where her lamb; kids, and other dumb companions loved to roam, and the roof-tree. under which her tame redbreast's had built their nests, and where her bees had stored their sweets.
One day, late in the fall, whilst Margaret was still in two minds about going or staying, one of her husband's relatives came to her dwelling, accompanied by an aged seaman who was a native of St. Just, and who had been one of the privateers crew. The old mariner, without much preface, related to Margaret, how, a few days after her brother and some of the privateers crew landed at Genvor, and had their game with the old justice of Penrose, they fell in with a heavily laden Spanish merchantman returning from the Indies. The privateers boarded the ship with very little difficulty, but, in their headstrong heedlessness of all command, every one of the undisciplined crew left the privateer, except a man at the helm, and he, too, would have quitted his ship with the rest, when, by some mishap, the privateer got adrift from the merchant ship, and, with this solitary seaman, was driven fast away over sea and out of sight.
"At first the privateer's didn't much regard, nor care about, their ship drifting away. They felt sure of taking the Spanish vessel, but, for once, they were sadly out in their reckoning. On board the merchantman there were a good many passengers, mostly old soldiers returning home after having served their time and feathered their nests in the Spanish—American colonies. These veterans were in no haste to appear on deck and take part in the fray, until they found that their own crew, without their assistance, were likely to get the worst of it. Then they came on, armed to the teeth, and by their united action soon killed all the privateers excepting Jenkyn, young Daniel, and four others (one of whom was the old mariner himself), who were all put in irons, and condemned to be hanged at the yard-arm, us soon as they arrived in port. This country was not then at war with Spain, and, as the privateers were, in this case, no better than pirates, they were doomed to suffer the penalty usually awarded to these sea-robbers.
"When this sad remnant of the bold privateers (ironed and sent below during the night), were turned up on deck the next morning, there was neither sight nor sign of their ship and her solitary mariner. The Spanish veterans admired the Cornishmen for their pluck, treated them like old comrades, and showed all the more kindness to the bold pirate crew because, by the fortune of war, they were to be hanged in a few days. They were within a day's sail of Cadiz, the wind and everything else apparently favorable for a speedy termination of the good ship's voyage, and the lives of the Cornish crew, by the way of the yard-arm, where the six bold sea-robbers were to be hanged all in a row, The men to be strung up, and those who were to perform that office for them, were the best of friends and, joking over the matter, as either party would have done the same to the others under similar circumstances, when there was a sudden alarm of an ugly craft, seen approaching from the coast of Barbary.
"Before the boarding-netting was passed round the ship, the deck cleared to work the guns, and the crew and passenger-soldiers all armed, the approaching craft was made out to be one of the most dreaded corsair-ships that hailed from Algiers. This was a good-sized, decked vessel, which carried several guns, and ventured much farther to sea than the row galleys, which usually came out from the African pirates nests in fleets. to board the merchantmen when near the land. Like a hawk pouncing on a dove, the pirate came up with the merchantman, and boarded her. Moors and Spaniards fought like lions and tigers, and the Dons were getting the worst of it when the Spanish commander came below and said to his prisoners, "Now, you brave Christian villains, will you do one good deed to save your souls before you die, and help us good Catholics to fight against the Pagan Moors?" "Knock off our irons; give us arms; and waste no more time in palaver," answered Jenkyn. The reinforcement of the Cornishmen soon turned the scale in favour of the Spaniards. The Saracens were confounded by hearing the wild whoops and screams of the St. Just men, in a lingua franca new to Turks and Pagans, crying out, 'Now comrades, one and all cut into them devils for blood and life!'
"When night closed in, a great part of the Moors were lying lifeless in their gore, and many of the Spaniards in the same plight. Then the Jenkyn passed the word, 'Harra, comrades! Now for the Barbary ship.' Before Spaniards or Moors had time to wink, the Cornishmen were on board the Algerine and this spanking craft cast of the merchantman. Some of the few Saracens found on board were spared to help to work the ship, and the rest made 'to 'walk the plank.' 'Good bye, mates,' said the sailor to the Spaniards; 'we like to ride on this sea-bird better than to swing from your yard-arm.' The Dons, guessing their late prisoners' intentions, were not sorry to see them save their bacon, and returned their salute with a hearty 'Adios, companeros, hastaluego, y buena ventura.'
"The Cornishimen found in their new ship a good store of money, provisions, and water, with the flags of all nations, which were either kept as trophies or used as decoys by the African sea-rovers.
"The sailor's first care was to cruise about in search of his own ship, with her lonely mariner. Over a few weeks, she was seen making her course for Cadiz. When the privateer tried to come up with their wandering ship, their old messmate crowded sail to give a wide berth to the dreaded Algerine. Signals were hoisted, and all done that could be thought of to make the raw St. Just man understand that he was running away from those he wished to find.
At last a shot warn fired across the bows of the runaway in order to bring her commander to reason, but he returned two shots for one, and would soon have sent the Barbary ship and his bid comrades to the bottom, had it not been that, in the heat of the action, he approached so near the Algerine as to hear the sailor Vingoe hail him from the quarter-deck, 'Hallo, Captn. Jan Trezise! Will 'e take a few more hands on board?' 'You may fancy the joy of our shipmate,' says the Mariner, 'to find his late comrades; he had been doing his best to follow them and share their fate or bring them off.'
"For God's sake," says Margaret, "tell me at once; is Jenkyn still alive or dead? And my brother, where is he?"
Without heeding Margaret's impatience, the old seaman continued. "Jenkyn and his crew soon shifted to their recovered ship, with a great store of valuables found in the corsair-.ship. Then they sent off the deserted pirate-craft, under full sail, to course about the seas like the Flying Dutchman or a spectre ship. Next they held a council to decide on their future proceedings. As they had so narrowly escaped hanging to the yard-arm and lost so many of their shipmates, none felt much inclined to return to England, except the captain, who wished to see his bride and leave with her his share of the riches found in the Algerine, before he proceeded on a long and uncertain expedition; but he was with difficulty persuaded to try, first, a short buccaneering trip to the Spanish Main.
"Many years were passed among the keys and islands, with alternate fighting and feasting, good luck and bad. During this time, which sped we hardly knew how, the sailor often planned and attempted to get away home with his share of the tax that the buccaneers had levied on all rich argosies which crossed their track; but the greater part of his crew, augmented now by many desperate villains—English, French, and Dutch—picked up here and there, always opposed his endeavors to go away either with them or without them. They would give their captain, his mates, and the rest of the Cornishmen, any share or all of the treasures if they would only remain with them, either on sea or land.
they soon became well acquainted with the coasts of the islands and mainland,
they sometimes acted as honest pilots and protectors to the vessels trading in
these all but unknown seas. Yet this was 'dull work, of which they soon tired,
and all, returned to the more exciting sport of plundering the new settlements
on the Spanish Main. Many of the ship's company had taken off to near by Islands, where their usual rendezvous was held- a good 'number of fair
Spanish maidens for their wives, with slaves to wait on them all.
"One night, when they all landed to have a carouse on one of the smaller islands of the West Indies (where they sometimes buried their treasures), Jenkyn, John Daniel, three St. Just men of his crew, and a few others from the old country, who first joined them, planned to keep sober, and when the rest, according to their custom on these occasions, would be all dead drunk, then to seize the ship, make off away, and leave their too-loving comrades behind. Nothing is so uncertain. they say, as to the wind and the women. The west-country buccaneers sailed out of harbour with a fair breeze and a tranquil sea, and left their comrades sweetly sleeping; but, soon after sunrise, the breeze veered and sent them round the island, which was so shrouded in fog that, except at rare intervals, they could see nothing farther ahead than the peak of the bowsprit. In the meantime, the deserted part of the crew got out of their long and sound sleep, to find their commander and his mates had gone away, without saying adieu.
"The deserted crew were grieved and angry to find themselves thus forsaken by the commander for whom all, in their savage regard., would have given their lives. Yet there was still some hope that they might see him again. He could not sail far without more wind. It was no easy matter, at any time, to clear the small islands, with currents running in all directions, and much more difficult when, as on that morning, they were all shrouded in a dry mist. The mixed multitude, knowing that there was, in a cove only a few miles distant, a good sailing craft belonging to another crew who followed the same gentle profession as themselves, procured this ship and ship's company, to go in pursuit.of their captain.
four hours before noon, the mist, at intervals cleared away, and then the two
vessels were seen within hailing distance of each other. The Cornishmen fired a
few shots at the ship in chase of them, and, when preparing to give a broadside,
their vessel struck on a reef; then the one in pursuit came alongside, and all
hands boarded the deserter, with but little difficulty. "The rest;," said
the old seaman, "is soon told, and, what ii more remarkable, this happened
nine years and two months or so ago, in the morning of the day which, of all
days in the year, the captain always kept as a festival in remembrance of
his wedding-day."
I know the rest," said Margaret, rising in great agitation; "but tell me who
was that lady who hung over my husband, weeping and holding two children by the
hand, when he lay dead and bleeding on the deck of his vessel.
"That lady," the seaman replied, as he sprung to his feet in amazement" that lady and the two boys were your brother's wife and children." "And John, my brother, where was he? I thought I saw him! Yes, I see now; it was you who held my husband's head in your arms, when a score or more swarthy-looking seamen stood around distracted with grief?"
lady," the seaman replied, "don't recall everything of that sad time. Your
brother, when he saw that our captain had, by mischance, received a death wound
from a boarding-pike (we knew not how it happened, it was never intended), and
our commander fall on the deck and the blood pour from his side, mad with rage,
would have killed all who came near him, and himself too, had he not been
confined below. But, lady, how can you know all that took place on that fatal
Margaret now addressed Captn. Mathy (who had entered her dwelling a few minutes before, and stood near the door, listening in silence),— "Old friend," said she, "you have often heard me called mad, and many say that my visions are only waking dreams; hut it was no diseased fancy which made me see all that took place, a little before noon, on the feast-day I have always observed. The day was close and sultry: I had been up early, preparing to receive my accustomed visitors. Feeling faint and weary, I sat a few moments on the rock outside the door, when, suddenly, a thick fog surrounded me and hid everything from my view. Then it seemed as if the sea were close at my feet. I heard around me the bubbling of the waves, the confused clamor of many voices, mixed with the booming of cannon. Another moment the sound of my husband's and my brother's well-known voices came to my ears. Then the rock on which I sat seemed to be on the deck of a vessel, floating in sea and mist. Before me (and as near me as I am to you) lay my husband bleeding—a dark-complexioned lady kneeling on the deck beside him, trying to staunch his wound, the mariners all around him weeping, as the seaman had just related. The fearful vision lasted no longer than a minute, when all vanished and left me like one newly awakened from a trance. Though I have never spoken of this apparition it left too deep a pang to be forgotten. Yet now I rejoice to know that my husband's last thoughts were of me, and that the dark lady was my brother's wife."
Mathy might have told how he, too, had seen the spirit of the Sailor, only a few hours after the death-token came to Margaret, but grief and awe kept him silent. Neither of those who listened to Margaret's account of the death-token doubted the reality of the apparition, as everyone here believed that the dying appear to the absent, on whom their thoughts are centered at the moment the spirit leaves the body. Besides, a. little more than nine years before the returned seaman came to Margaret's dwelling, it was said that many persons bad heard and seen' in Trevilly cliff the peculiar tokens which, in all time, had marked the coming death of any member of the Vingoe family. In a short time Margaret recovered her tranquility, and the old mariner resumed his story
"The body of the Sailor Vingoe was taken to the land. and, in a beautiful glen, beside a gently flowing river, where he delighted to repose, and whither, he often said, he wished to bring his bride, that they might settle there and roam no more, within the sound of the ocean, under the shade of a spreading tulip-tree, we made his last resting-place. Near by, John Daniel made his dwelling, and in the garden enclosed his brother's grave.
"The ship's company, when they lost their commander, and finding that his brother-in-law refused to take the command or put to sea again, brought thither their wives and families, soon cleared many acres of rich land, and will ere long make a thriving settlement in that fair clime, where flowers and fruit follow each other all the year round and there the descendants of our Cornishmen, and the Spanish and Indian maidens, may be found even today."
The mariner had long desired to revisit his native place, but found no chance of leaving their unfrequented settlement until two years since, when an English ship, on some exploring expedition, anchored in the bay at the mouth of their river, and gave him a passage home, after taking him to every other quarter of the globe on the way.
The seaman then told Margaret that her brother, wishing to know how it fared with her and the rest of his family, had furnished him with plenty of money for the journey and entrusted to his care a present for her.
On opening the canvas covering of a small parcel which the seaman put into Margaret's hands, it was found to contain a carefully-folded bandana, and between the folds gold coins, precious stones, and jewels, and a massive plain gold ring, taken from her husband's finger after death. This ring and the handkerchief 'were all that Margaret took of the rich store, the rest she returned to the seaman for his own use. Now there was an end to Margaret's hopes and fears; she no longer desired to live in the lonely dwelling on the cliff, and in a few weeks she removed, with all her rare furniture, pet animals, bees, and favorite flowers, to a comfortable cottage in the village of Escals. In her new home she received every kindness, and, from having cheerful companions to help her to pass the time, the strange fancies engendered by her melancholy, lonely, existence gradually disappeared, and she became much like the ordinary persons of healthy every-day life.
The only thing spoken of as remarkable, in later accounts of the dame, is that she passed so much time in the study of astrology as to become a great proficient in that mysterious science, which was then much cultivated by many noted scholars of the west country. Besides several other learned persons, Ustick of Botallack and Dr. Maddern are said to have been frequent visitors to Margaret in Escals, and that, between them, they drew horoscopes, concocted wonderful drugs, distilled strange compounds and cordials, and predicted many remarkable events, some of which really occurred to the persons for whom their schemes were cast, or to somebody else. She was also a powerful charmer till the end of her days.
To return to the beginning of this thread go here


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A comparative market analysis (also known as a CMA) is an important form in any potential home sale. You wouldn't consider selling you car without first having an estimate of its value, so why risk setting the wrong price for your home?
Many homeowners looking to sell their property think visiting websites like Zillow or Cyberhomes will give them an accurate assessment of their home's current market value. While many web pages will allow you to input various answers to simple questions such as square footage, location, amenities, and the current condition of your property, an online home valuation report done from sites like Cyberhomes often gives homeowners a false sense of their home value.
Comparative Market Analysis reports have some features that resemble a home appraisal from a professional home appraiser. For an accurate CMA, homeowners need to consult a local real estate agent or broker.
Many real estate agents will gladly help you by providing a CMA at no cost. Real estate agents have years of business knowledge in the industry and know your local market.
If you are looking to purchase a home, a CMA is an additional service a buyer agent may provide you. Contact them, and they will probably be willing to provide a CMA to you at no cost, also. In order to fix a price on a home, the homeowner had to get an appraisal completed. Use the data found in a CMA to help you determine if the costs of the homes you are researching are justifiable.
To get connected with a local real estate agent for a free CMA, visit GetMyHomesValue.com and fill out your zip code in the box on the top right. Click submit and follow the directions on the following page. GetMyHomesValue connects home buyers and sellers with real estate needs to local real estate professionals.

subset: commoncrawl


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Date(s) - Sunday 29 September 2019
All Day
Girton College
All alumni and guests are invited to an anniversary celebration of all things Girton. This is a fantastic chance for our alumni to return for an engaging weekend of lectures, music, and a dinner in the Hall hosted by the Mistress.
More information and booking details to follow.


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Since August Ann has been here (and she doesn't like to take naps...crazy...i know!) we have been going downstairs to my sewing area when the boys are asleep during the day. She has organized all of my sewing/craft supplies, while I finished up some long overdue sewing projects! I made two valances for the kitchen, a pennant pillow, and curtains and valance for our bedroom!
|This is the pennant pillow, I got the idea off of Pinterest and then saw this super cool pennant while my Daddy and I were antiquing! Such a fun and easy project!
|I made the back the same material as some of the other pillows...
|Confession time...I just cleaned my room so I could take these pics and there may or may not be a pile of clothes in the corner! :)
|I have had this Pottery Barn bed skirt for a few years and could never find curtains to coordinate with it...
|Then I found the perfect fabric!! I'm not totally in love with them..maybe a little too matchy-matchy and a little too circus tent-esque, but they took so long to make they will probably stay up for ten or so years! ha!
|I know this looks way too short, but Merritt loves to look out this window, so I wanted to keep it short...I have some turquoise picture frames to hang up on either side of this window too!
all in all, I think everything turned out ok, and I'm just happy to mark it off the list!!


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Click for Trailer; Cindy's scene also has a separate trailer linked below
Jules Jordan Video
Genre: Gonzo, Cumswapping
Director: William H. Nutsack
Cast: Megan Rain, Adriana Chechik, Mick Blue, Cindy Starfall, Kaylani Lei, James Deen, Cherie DeVille, Dani Daniels, Prince Yahshua, Abella Danger, Anikka Albrite, Manuel Ferrara
Length: 124:56 minutes
Date of Production: 7/9/2015
Extras: The best extra was the 21:32 minute Behind the Scenes feature, the ladies allowed some flubbed lines, a cute montage and the bulk of it as some photoshoot material. There was also a pop shot recap, a photogallery, some trailers, and company websites too.
Condoms: None
Audio/Video Quality: The Cum Exchange 2 was presented in anamorphic widescreen as shot by director William H. Nutsack for Jules Jordan Video. There was great lighting, the tease montages were all well done, and the look of the action was quite similar to Nutsack's other works I like so much. Jim Orlando helped make this another winner on the technical side, the casting certainly assisting on the front of the camera. There was a company watermark and the editing by Robert Laplanc was balanced enough that even I had no complaints, the ladies caught in action quite well in almost all cases. The aural components were as expected too, the musical interludes by (presumably) Nutsack's Productionworks company during the tease montages fairly upbeat and provided something to go by, the vocals loud enough to be heard with ease (and not having to crank the sound up) though little dynamic range. The vocals were clear though, even when whispered they could be made out, adding to the impact of the visuals.
Body of Review: William H. Nutsack is one of the most talented gonzo directors in the industry, his works at Jules Jordan Video every bit as good or better than his works elsewhere from what I've seen. His latest fuck flick is called The Cum Exchange 2, each of the four scenes offering two ladies that love sharing the taste of semen after some hardcore pounding takes place. The scenes starred ladies including cover cuties Megan Rain & Adriana Chechik, other ladies starring in the scenes including Cherie DeVille, Abella Danger, Anikka Albrite, Dani Daniels, Cindy Starfall, and Kaylani Lei; a wealth of truly sexy ladies indeed!. Each of these carefully selected ladies showed why they earned the spot they were provided in the movie, those of you into cum swapping will be impressed by their love of sharing sperm orally, the rest of the sexual antics offering some stroke value for the rest of us. Here's a brief look at the scenes by cast and action, noting that no condoms were used for those still interested, noting that the delay in shipping me a copy has allowed for me to provide a trailer link to each of the four scenes:
Scene One: Megan Rain and Adriana Chechik, the two adorable blond hard bodies featured on the front cover, were up first with Mick Blue, the male performer of the year for AVN. All natural Megan opened up as she showed her moves by the pool's fountain, her pretty eyes and tight body exuding the kind of sexual self confidence one rarely sees in such a newcomer, her purple string suit riding up her sweet ass nicely before the tease montage switched to Adriana who was wearing a similar blue outfit, the individual tease resulting in both blowing bubbles outside and playfully kissing before the music was over and they were on a white bed in the contemporary house. There was some saliva play before Adriana started gobbling gash and fingering Megan's bald beaver, feeding the newcomer some of the resulting juices before a kiss reversed their roles and showed the newcomer rimming Adriana's yummy ass. This warm up included Megan fingering Adriana's ass as she aggressively licked the gal's hairy snatch, Mick joining them to share in the oral activities while using his hand to gland friction to further stimulate them. He took turns slapping their fleshy asses and licking them both, the dual face sitting exciting him before the ladies started slobbing his knob. Megan went first, wrapping her lips around his turgid pecker and taking him to the bone before Adriana joined in, some nut nuzzling included before he started hammering at Megan's wonderful snatch in doggy as Adriana was situated to pleasure them both orally. Mick then pounded Adriana's perfect pucker as Megan licked them, the small gal standing up to get some head from Adriana as the ass tapping continued. Other positions led to Adriana letting loose the juice by squirting into a rising stream and Megan impaling her own ass on his raging erection as Adriana tossed Mick's salad, Megan diving into his ass as well when he was choking and fucking Adriana in a spooning position. This soon led to Adriana draining his dragon of sperm to cum swap with her gal Megan, the load going back and forth before their sloppy kissing made most of his manly fluids disappear, the great eye contact and chemistry making the scene shine.
Scene Two: Cindy Starfall and Kaylani Lei, two slutty Asian cuties well known for their sexual antics, then took on scruffy James Deen in the second scene. The opening tease showed both ladies in the house by a fireplace with white walls and contemporary decorations, some gears on the wall as they gyrated seductively in their open outfits (Cindy in black and Kaylani in yellow). They masturbated and pawed each other while looking directly at the camera, some outdoor footage included during the musically infused montage but not much before they ended up on a tan couch disrobing. The ladies were all over each other orally and talkative, a lot of moaning as they licked nipples and boxes alike. Kaylani sported a shaven snatch for Cindy to appreciate orally ("Keep it wet!") and Cindy's looked clean too though there could have been a few wisps of hairs on her depending on the angle and lighting, each gal establishing their appreciation for each other before a hard edit showing Cindy blowing James while Kaylani cradled his balls and kissed him on the mouth. Cindy throated him almost to the hilt and let her free flowing saliva go all over the place, Kaylani jumping in for them to double team him orally even if Cindy remained the main oral enthusiast much of the time. The totally sloppy head led to Cindy bending over for James to plunder vaginally, Kaylani's oral support noted before they swapped out to share his cock. While it seemed more like a performance than a chemistry filled tryst to me, it was a passionate performance full of energy and enthusiasm where additional oral was given by the gals and while it remained oral and vaginal only, the ladies were devoted cum swapping enthusiasts all the same, sharing the semen they had milked his balls dry for, the seed not swallowed as the slow motion ending faded away.
Scene Three: Cherie DeVille, a totally hot blond bombshell with beautiful eyes, and smoking hot Dani Daniels, were paired up with another high end male in the form of Prince Yahshua, the poolside tease by the ladies one of my favorites of late for inspirational value. Dani wore a skimpy black top and bright pink bikini bottom as she teased by the pool on the sunny day, her amazing ass glistening with oil before Cherie took over in a similar outfit that reversed the colors (they traded tops), the montage soon alternating between them and showing them both as they gave knowing glances at the camera and the wet look continued to enhance their equally tasty bodies. The montage then continued in a bubble bath briefly as the gals kissed in front of a fireplace, the scene reverting to the living room where their attire was back on as they caressed each other on a small white love seat. The picture looked a little bright, some of the otherwise accurate flesh tones washing out just a touch, but the heat of these two very popular ladies going down on each other truncated the problem as they were so into each other that it could have lasted much, much longer and I'd have been happy. At some point, Prince walked in on them, circling around like a panther stalking prey, surprising Cherie to kiss her as Dani continued to rub the blond's pussy and tits. Both ladies then reached for the growing bulge in his pants but he denied them at first, wanting to savor Dani just a hint before he settled in on the couch between them to let them loose. The trio whispered their desires most of the time, saying things like "I want some" as they alternated blowing him and servicing his balls, the gals never forgetting about each other as they pushed one another to enjoy a wider than usual range of tricks. Dani mounted his boner first and Cherie sucked it clean from out of her friend's cookie quickly, tonguing Dani's precious pucker before they went back to playfully fighting over his rod orally. He then pounded Cherie as the beautiful blond licked Dani's hairy snatch, her own pussy stretched wide before more positions continued the chemistry filled tryst. The closest thing to anal here was the amount of lesbian rimming and some fingering but again, there was no need for it given the strength of the active vaginal riding, the ladies sharing the initial streams of semen after Dani took the wad of spunk and swapped it to Cherie, the ladies going back and forth in slow motion as the scene faded out before swallowing.
Scene Four: Abella Danger, a running favorite of many for best new starlet this year (and possessor of an amazing ass), then paired up with reigning AVN female performer of the year Anikka Albrite, a super charged blond that does it all so well, and perennial best male performer for all organizations, Manuel Ferrara. Abella had a pink top with matching high heels as well as a bright yellow bottom, the curvy newcomer twerking her mesmerizing ass outside by the pool before Anikka did likewise in an outfit with reversed colors (again, they traded tops). The lighting was very string outside and it slightly faded the flesh tones at times but only slightly, the camera garnering some incredible shots of both ladies separately before they bounced on large exercise balls and kissed. The hard edit them showed the ladies all over Manuel on a small tan love seat in the house, kissing and blowing the popular male as he groped their boobs, asses, and pussies, his unshaven face scruffy looking too this time. While I would have liked to see the ladies do each other first, there was no denying the sheer energy they showed for pouncing on the guy, the clothing tossed aside as needed to gain access to going down on each other, all three of them frantic in how they went at it. The ladies throated Manuel and he savored their asses and pussies alike, some full service oral applied to him though it was blocked from view at times by the manes of hair the ladies sported. As an ass enthusiast myself, I had to admit this pairing of perfect puckers and how they were so often portrayed was positively pleasing, Abella's tan ,ore pronounced but each giving the scene a great deal of award winning passion. Anikka then led the anal antics assault as she spread her cheeks for the guy to pork pucker, her active riding continuing until Abella took an equally strokable turn of getting her ass tapped, the ladies giving head to each other and Manuel as he went from one to the other. The ladies then lined up on bar stools to accentuate their asses, Manuel moving back and forth between them, Anikka taking his sizable nut to cum swap it with Abella as they went back and forth in messy fashion to end it as the camera faded out.
Summary: The Cum Exchange 2 by director William H. Nutsack for Jules Jordan Video had enough heated action and cum swapping to merit a rating of Highly Recommended, all of the ladies showing why they were picked for their roles here while paired up with decent guys. The technical matters were solid, the amount of fuck and suck for the buck very strokable, and the upgrade in ladies really appreciated. In short, The Cum Exchange 2 was truthfully advertised and fans of hotties swapping male ejaculate after all the usual sex tricks should find this flick among the best of the batch regarding gonzo porn of late so check it out.
----You can email me with questions at Houstondon @ hotmail.com if you have any constructive criticism of the review too. :) Also you can follow me on twitter @HoustonDon
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Home | Contact
Kona Aggressor Captain's Log
November 20, 2016
Air Temp. 82-87 F
Water Temp. 78 F
Visibility 65-100+ft
Wetsuit Recommendation: 3mm
Captain: Matt Herwig
2nd Captain: Chad Dolbeare
Instructor: Jeremy Dick
Video Pro: Brian Foreman
Divemaster: Manuel Lassaletta
Chef: Cameron Smay
Meghan, Michael, Kim, Mathew, Kimberly, Alan, Marcia, Robert, Wen Tao, Frank Ying, John, Igor
Sunday, November 20th
DIVE SITES: Shark Fin Rock and Garden Eel Cove
Following a delicious and hearty breakfast of blueberry pancakes, bacon, and eggs any way one prefers , this week's itinerary of world class diving kicks off with Captain Herwig leading the guests on an orientation expedition within close proximity to the vessel. A variety of tangs, trumpetfish, and Scarface and Spotted Coral Blennies surround us. A color-changing Day Octopus curiously keeps an eye on everyone from within a crevice as the divers utilize the opportunity to get accustomed to their respective gear, their new, tropical surroundings, and to sort out their ideal amount of weight for neutral buoyancy. After snacking on some fresh fruit, a second dive at the location ventures further from the ship, and we're circled by a Spotted Eagle Ray while the divers take a gander at the White Monk Moray.
After feasting on broccoli, baked beans, baby-back ribs and barbeque chicken, there are two afternoon dives at Garden Eel Cove. Here, we observe schools of Big Eyes as well as Goatfish gathered in the sand, using their barbells to search for invertebrates as we glide along the coral wall, weave between urchin covered boulders searching for nudibranchs and dwarf eels, and keep an eye out in the blue in hopes of catching a glimpse of the local Hawaiian Monk Seal. Towards the end of the second dive, we're greeted by two of the Manta Rays that will join us for the final dive of the day: Manta Mayhem. Beforehand, Chef Smay outdoes himself with Cornish hens, potatoes au gratin, and brownie sundaes. No matter what the guests may have anticipated for the following, signature night dive, all expectations are surpassed as at least half a dozen of these enormous, gentle, and majestic creatures repeatedly come inches away from us, mouths agape as they feed on the plankton exposed by our torches and the lights from our cameras, nonstop, for over an hour! Long after the other boats have departed for the evening, the Kona Aggressor II rests atop the waves, circled by our Manta friends as the guests sip hot cocoas, and review and revel in their newly captured footage that will forever serve as proof that what they just experienced was actually real, and not a dream.
Monday, November 21st
DIVE SITES: Aquarium and The Dome
Day two continues our aquatic adventures at Aquarium. After Dive Master Brian includes a description of the spotted boxfish in the morning's first briefing, the divers are fortuitous to encounter a sighting of the rare and beautiful male specimen. A Giant Moray and difficult to find Devil Scorpion fish are also spotted. The next dive features a playful octopus almost immediately after descent. Yellowtail Coris, bird wrasse, and a handful of Bluespotted Cornetfish aligned in formation are all seen. Just before the safety stop, a Panther Flounder ripples through the water like a flying magic carpet before settling on some ruble and seemingly disappearing from sight as it instantaneously blends into the rocks.
The next destination is The Dome. Here, the divers delightfully explore the cathedral-like structure after which the site is named. Torches shine on White Margin nudibranchs that gather in groups along the walls. During the night dive, we're careful not to disturb the creatures that have settled into slumber like the Manybar Goatfish and the Parrotfish encased in their nightly bubbles. Giant Porcupinefish, Stripebelly Puffers, and Cusk Eels wander among Stubborn Sea Cucumbers and Hemprich's Stars. The excursion culminates with the divers forming a tight circle, hiding the light from our torches, and, following a few moments in order for our eyes to adjust, begin waving our hands frantically, setting the sea's phosphorescence aglow from our fingertips like magicians waving enchanted wands. A juvenile Starry Night Octopus scurries beneath us as we make our way back to the ship.
Throughout the day, Chef Smay is up to his tricks, preparing dishes like hot pastrami sandwiches, a selection of flavored chicken wings, fresh Mahi Mahi, and his magnificent chocolate chip cookie pie. Whispers among the guest can be heard heaping praise on the concoctions, some wondering if the delectable treats might even surpass the incredible diving.
Tuesday, November 22nd
DIVE SITES: Rob's Reef, Paradise Pinnacle, and The Hive
It's not yet midweek, yet the guests with fewer dives or those who hadn't been diving in some time are showing remarkable improvement due to each of the more than capable instructors' patient and enthusiastic tutelage. Those who had originally been nervous entering the water or had descended slowly, now do so more confidently and efficiently, arms tucked close, streamlining their trim as hands no longer scully with fingers apart. More attention is diverted from concern, and is now focused, still cautiously, where it belongs, on the many mysteries the Pacific reveals as we glide through the water inspecting in awe. An example of hubris, some of the diving today reminds us of the importance of acknowledging one's limits, the benefits of diving with experienced Dive Masters familiar with the local sites and variety of possible conditions, and the respect we must always give to Poseidon's domain.
The morning's first two immersions are at Rob's Reef. Here, many of the divers decide to wander off in buddy pairs on their own, as they are always welcome do. They explore the two lava ridges and vast gardens of finger corals; but it's not until the second dive, when they follow their guide, that they arrive to the site's cave.
The next dive is at Paradise Pinnacle, and though there's a moderate current, the conditions cause many of the divers to use more of their air much faster as they expend more energy kicking against the current during the start of the dive and breathing heavier and more rapidly from the excitement. There's never trouble in paradise however, as the Dive Master briefed that were this to be the case, an augmented plan would go into effect; following the sage advice, the divers descend to inches from the bottom and use the pinnacle as a shield as they make their way to calmer waters protected by the natural fingers of the shallower reef. Orangeband Surgeonfish, Orangespine and Whitemargin Unicornfish continue among the various colored Cushion Starfish as though it were business as usual.
At The Hive, the guests use the first dive to familiarize themselves in order to avoid unfamiliarity during the evening's nightdive. This amazing site offers a plethora of new creatures: a Tigersnake Moray, a Titan Scorpion fish much larger than ones one's likely to see elsewhere, Ghost and Marbled Shrimp, Red Rock Lobsters, a sizeable 7-11 Crab, and an endemic variety of Lionfish referred to as the Turkeyfish.
It being Taco Tuesday, the menu continued to widen eyes as well as stomachs: smoked salmon and goat cheese omeletts for breakfast; beef as well as stewed chicken tacos and fresh ceviche induced an afternoon siesta; but it was the supper consisting of tossed Caprese salad, grilled pork chops with passion fruit mustard, and poached pears with mascarpone and dark chocolate that had everyone deciding that Chef May was indubitably preparing the best meals they had ever had on a boat, and perhaps, anywhere else.
Wednesday, November 23rd
DIVE SITES: Land of Oz, Catacombs, and Manuka Bay
Today's first plunge is into the Land of Oz, where the group stays together in one collective unit, pointing out the many Domino Damsels of which they were briefed in advance, and leisurely weaving up and down the sand channel referred to as "the Yellow Brick Road." Unlike the novel and/or film, no one here wishes they were home.
The next two dives take place at the Catacombs, where the divers descend amongst a huge school of black triggerfish before practicing their buoyancy control investigating the endless amount of subterranean passageways. Following the first dive, the boat celebrates a passengers 500th dive by literally, but not necessarily the way one would expect, by "making her a cake."
As the ship approaches Manuka Bay, a pod of Spinner Dolphins welcome our arrival, breaching the surface and staying in close proximity for photo opportunities. The divers scout the location in preparation of the night dive, and thread through arches amongst Picasso triggerfish. The last dive turns out to be an emblematic example evening's changing of the guard. The eyes of dozens of Uniform Hinge-Beak Shrimp glow read as torches pass over them, Spiny Lobsters are out in force, and the Longspine Urchins, a wide selection of varieties from the family Diadema, are out in legion. The divers witness two different Yellowhead Morays hunting, capturing, and devouring their prey.
Tomorrow might be Thanksgiving, but the gastronomical delights continue as Chef Smay tantalizes our taste buds with Hawaiian Bread French toast for breakfast, herb crusted baked salmon, grilled lamb chops and homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch. No one goes hungry on this boat, as Spearfish comes off the grill for dinner, served with roasted gold pepper coulis, and quinoa salad with kale, mixed mushrooms, and asparagus followed by coconut white chocolate crème brulee.
As the guests settle into their rooms to rest up for tomorrow's celebration, it's crystal clear that the only limits on the Aggressor II are those of decompression.
Thursday, November 24rd
DIVE SITES: Never Never Land, Au Au Crater, Driftwood, and Pelagic Magic
After waffles and chicken garlic sausage, Thanksgiving begins at Never Never Land, named for the uncommon deep faring Tinker Butterflyfish. From the mooring line, the divers kick against a formidable current as they look down at a drastic drop-off. We head north to the pinnacle, passing Clearfin Lizardfish perched and motionless upon the many large boulders. Returning to the ship is effortless as we return to the ridge, drift, and watch the canyon that slopes and blends into an abyss pass beneath us while a curious Oceanic Whitetip shark simultaneously watches us from the pelagic.
The next site is Au Au Crater, a site with a unique topography: a massive amount of earth, approximately 100 feet across, starting at 30 feet and extending into what appears to be an unfathomable pit, appears to have been scooped away. Nudibranchs line the walls as the divers search for them while keeping an eye on the depth and deco times.
After Balinese Chicken with Peanut Sauce, pork belly adobo, stir fried vegetables, and a cucumber salad, the afternoon is spent at Driftwood, threading the two swim-throughs and its couple of caverns. Here Ghost Shrimp, Regal Slipper Lobsters, and Tiger Cowries are all located and identified. On the way back to the boat, a few divers play pick-a-boo with a Day Octopus.
Naturally, we the guests feast on roasted Tom Turkey, molasses and mustard glazed ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, roasted brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce. Over pumpkin pie, the guests watch a video of collected footage from throughout the week, as well as a second video with examples of what they might witness during the Pelagic Magic dive.
Once briefed, the divers take their giant stride, descend, and take hold of one of the four lines running from the diving platform. We're three miles offshore in the open ocean, observing the world's largest migration, which happens daily, as these dreamlike jelly creatures, some with fluorescent coloring, others resembling insects and aliens, make their way from the Pacific's depths to the surface. Some more familiar creatures whose paths we cross are a squadron of squid, bar jacks, and a few Ocean Triggerfish.
Friday, November 25th
DIVE SITES: Turtle Pinnacle
The final day of diving, the guests enjoy Eggs Benedict as the Aggressor II makes its way to Turtle Pinnacle. The first of two dives is planned to head from the wall to the shallows in hopes of seeing the resident Tigershark. Though the beautiful beast is not seen, an Octopus swims next to the divers, displays his ability to change from red to green, and back again. The star of this dive, however, is an enormous Hawaian Conger, which was either pregnant and on the verge of giving birth, or had just eaten even more than we had the day before.
The inevitable, ultimate plunge takes place, this time the group making a large rectangle, first heading South. An Orangemouthed Lizardfish, another octopus, a Spotted Boxfish, scorpionfish, and a Zebra and mother and child Whitemouthed Moray all make appearances and send off the Aggressor II's guest bidding them Aloha from Kona's splendid reefs.


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Honors Thesis Project Title
Date of Graduation
Spring 4-2004
Major 1
Early Childhood Education
First Advisor
Dr. Sharon Judge
Recommended Citation
Bailey, Karyn Renee, "Early Intervention Services in East Tennessee" (2004). University of Tennessee Honors Thesis Projects.
Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."COinS


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Gaofeng Middle School
Gaofeng Middle School is located in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. There are 2500 students and 50 classes. Each of the classes has about 50 students. The students are between 12 and 16 years old.
Taiyuan is the capital city of the Shanxi province. It is located in the North of China, where local people take noodles as their main food. There are many kinds of Chinese noodles with different sauces available at most of the local restaurants. Taiyuan is the centre of Chinese transportation as well, there are many trains that pass Taiyuan, which makes your travel plans much more easier.Read more


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Paleontological Formations, Monterey County, California, 2015
- Author(s)
- Monterey County (Calif.)
- Description
- This point shapefile contains paleontological reports for rock formations and structures within Monterey County, California. This layer is part of a collection of GIS data for Monterey County in California.This dataset is intended for researchers, students, and policy makers for reference and mapping purposes, and may be used for basic applications such as viewing, querying, and map output production, or to provide a basemap to support graphical overlays and analysis with other spatial data.
- Publisher
- Monterey County (Calif.)
- Place(s)
- Monterey County (Calif.)
- Subject(s)
- Paleontology, Paleontology, Stratigraphic, and Geoscientific Information
- Year
- 2015
- Held by
- Stanford
- More details at
- http://purl.stanford.edu/vf820vf8206
- Use and reproduction
- This item is in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use.
- Copyright
- This work is in the Public Domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright.
|Click on map to inspect values


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At this moment, it seems that the first UFC women's bantamweight champion's fighting days are coming to an end.
Rousey's future in MMA is currently in major doubt following a devastating defeat to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.
The Olympian was fighting for the first time since her loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193. However, she was stopped by strikes in a little under 50 seconds.
The emphatic nature of Rousey's back-to-back losses, as well as her near radio silence, has led many to believe that the 30-year-old will shortly bring the curtain down on her glittering career.
In the aftermath of Rousey's latest defeat, many casual fans of the sport questioned the Californian's status as an all-time great. They claimed she wasn't as good as she was cracked up to be.
One person who had a front-row seat for the phenomenal rise of Rousey was Strikeforce founder and current Bellator president, Scott Coker.
"To me, she's already done it all, if she walked away today, she's already accomplished – you know. How many people have gone to the level that she has, male of female." How many people have represented their country in the olympics, judo, martial arts to the highest level. Taken mma fighting to a whole new level. She has nothing to be ashamed of, she should be proud of herself…if she steps away, you know, it is what it is.."
Scott Coker
Coker, a pioneer of women's MMA, believes the criticism Rousey has received is unwarranted. The 'Rowdy' one has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.


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Friday, December 12, 2014
Umehara: Fighting Gamers! Coming in this month
New Daigo's comic Umehara: Fighting Gamers! chapter 1 is set to be released on Dec 26, 2014. And a promotion video is posted today.
Some quotes from the video (translation from Beastnote)
- "Related videos - 100 million views"
- "Pocketbook - Amazon's best selling e-book of 2013"
- "Japan's first pro fighting gamer"
- "God of Fighting Game World - Daigo Umehara"
- "Fighting game legend turn into comic"
- "Takes place in 1990 - Tokyo's game centers"
- "At that time, Umehara was definitely the one I didn't want to lose." (Nuki)
- "Thanks to that era, I'm now a pro gamer." (Umehara)
You can import the book from Amazon Japan or you can try ask from Kinokuniya since they have the old Daigo's books and Tokido's book as well.
Check out the promotion video below:
Source from Kadokawa Anime channel via Beastnote.
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Tsirang Forest Division recently rescued a critically endangered female Chinese pangolin. The injured pangolin was brought to Damphu by forestry staff with the support of a local resident. According to Mr. Kinley, Sr. Forest Ranger who led the team "The injured pangolin has been found in its defensive (rolled) position; which is a normal habit when it comes across other creaturesâ€.
Of the eight species of pangolin occurring globally, four species are seen in Asia, most abundantly the Chinese and Indian pangolin. Chinese Pangolin is reported from Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand and Viet Nam. The Chinese pangolin, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Â is on a drastic decline as a result of poaching and illegal trade.
Chief Forestry Officer said "As we are sighting and reporting this species in Tsirang Forest Divisional jurisdictional for the first time, we have plans to initiate conservation activities to ensure survival of the critically endangered Manis pentadactyla. A habitat modeling will be immediately done to confirm its habitat range within the State Reserved Forest in Tsirang to initiate a study on its distribution within the Dzongkhagâ€.
With minor injury on her head she has been treated at Damphu Veterinary Hospital. After treatment and recovery she has been released to her natural habitat.


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All businesses have growing pains, and Eiara can help.
By introducing DevOps, you can realise increased collaboration, rapid innovation, and long-term sustainability.
DevOps tools bring new workflows, but to realise real effectiveness your teams will need to change.
Eiara works with your executive team to build a DevOps Culture Strategy, helping guide your organisation towards better collaboration and positive outcomes.
Integrated development and operations teams using modern DevOps techniques can work together seamlessly.
Eiara can help your teams reduce barriers to innovation, ensuring you meet your deadlines and reach your market faster than ever.
Eiara assists your CTO with matching technical strategy with practical implementation, through close interaction with the technical teams.
Together we will map a path from the reality of today to the ambitions of tomorrow, ensuring that your infrastructure is sustainable for the years to come.
In today's fast-paced industry, training is a vital part of keeping your team sharp, productive, and forwards-looking.
Eiara will help you upskill your development and operations teams with everything from off-the-shelf single or multi-day courses, to bespoke sessions and individual mentoring.
AWS offers the fairly excellent Cloudfront service, providing a solid caching proxy in front of your resources. It's exceptionally good for static resources like CSS or Javascript, and even dynamic content that changes infrequently.
I consider it good design practice to ensure that AWS logs are shipped to a …
Previously I spoke on how you can't hire a DevOps role, and some very interesting conversation came out of that article.
The core response was that if the skills are present, does it matter what the role is called? If the work is being done, does it matter where …
Terraform is one of the most important infrastructure-as-code tools in modern DevOps tooling, with broad cross-platform cloud provider support, as well as a considerable body of provisioning tools for services like Postgres, monitoring and logging, and numerous others.
It's an incredible resource.
I use Terraform predominately with AWS, including …
To discuss your requirements and get a no-obligation quotation, contact Eiara:
By email: firstname.lastname@example.com
By phone: +64 (0)22 129 3587 (during New Zealand business hours)


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7:30 am to 4:00pm
Carol Freeman
Office Manager (bilingual - spanish)
Ph: 707-556-8580
Mijana Gomez - Secretary
(Hrs. 8:00 - 12:00 PM)
Megan De La Mater
Ph: 707-556-8580
Our Patterson Lions School Blog is up and running!
Updates are posted weekly on Monday mornings. Please take a minute to read the blog every Monday to get updates on events, school information and celebrations!
Here is the link: https://pattersonlions.blogspot.com/
Patterson Parents!
Have you heard about the Aeries Parent Portal! Click the link for the Vallejo Unified School District Aeries Parent Portal to access an up to date grade book, track attendance, receive important information about your student including CELDT scores, CAASP (state test results), and notifications regarding your student's Student Success Team meeting.


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Newlyweds are shunning traditional wedding gifts like toasters in favour of fancy gadgets and toys, according to new research.
Couples are choosing to upgrade what they already have or indulge in items that suit their lifestyle – with smart TVs, fitness, health products and kitchen gadgets at the top of most contemporary couples' lists.
Research from high-end retailer John Lewis has found that nowadays couples preparing for their big day have started asking for things they want more than what they really need, compared to five years ago when practical basics were at the top of the agenda.
The retailer found the items most asked for on wedding lists in 2015 are juicers, digital slow cookers and wireless soundsystems, while back in 2010 the hottest gifts included toasters and hand mixers.
The top-selling quirky wedding gifts last year were bee houses, tents and dumbbells.
The Crock-pot digital slow cooker was the number one choice in the cookware category, while other popular food preparation items include the NutriBullet and the George Foreman Grill, suggesting quick, healthy food is more of a priority for today's couples


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- A cyclist is safer riding with traffic than facing it.
- A cyclist who rides facing oncoming traffic increases his risk of being hit by a motorist by two to four times.
- Drivers entering and exiting the roadway at side streets and driveways do not expect bicycle traffic to approach from this direction.
- Lamps must be used on a bicycle after sunset to alert other drivers.
- A rear reflector may not be recognized as attached to a moving vehicle, and frontward illumination is needed to alert drivers not approaching from the rear.
- Nighttime collisions are much more likely to result in incapacitating injury or death. About 60 percent of fatal bicycle crashes in Florida occur during non-daylight hours.
- A cyclist traveling more slowly than other traffic should ride to the right, except to pass, to make a left turn, when necessary to avoid hazards, or when a lane is too narrow to share.
- A cyclist should ride to the right to make it easier for faster vehicles to pass, but should follow a predictable line. Swerving left to avoid a parked car, broken pavement edge, a drain cover, pooled water, gutter debris, etc., may surprise an overtaking motorist.
- A cyclist who stays far right is less visible to drivers emerging from driveways and side streets and to oncoming drivers making left turns.
- A cyclist may leave the right-most side of the roadway when (1) moving as fast as other traffic; (2) passing another vehicle; (3) making a left turn; (4) avoiding roadside hazards; (5) where a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side. (Moving left in such a lane helps cue an overtaking driver who might otherwise misjudge passing space.)
- A bicyclist riding on a sidewalk or crosswalk has the rights and duties of a pedestrian , as well as certain other duties.
- Infractions of bicycle regulations in §316.2065 and moving and non-moving violations of other sections of Chapter 316 are subject to civil penalties as provided in §318.18. (For an infraction by a child cyclist, an officer could consider issuing a verbal or written warning.)
- Points are not assigned to the driver license of a person who committed a violation while driving a bicycle. Points apply only to motor vehicle operation.
- Local authorities may require bicycle registration, prohibit riding on sidewalks on roads under their jurisdiction, etc.
Equipment and Passengers
- Every bicycle must be equipped with a brake or brakes that allow the rider to stop within 25 feet from a speed of 10 mph on dry, level, clean pavement .
- A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped; an adult bicyclist may carry a child in a backpack or sling, child seat or trailer designed to carry children .
Lighting Equipment
A bicycle operated between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from 500 feet to the front and both a red reflector and a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from 600 feet to the rear. Additional lighting is permitted and recommended. The risk of fatal or incapacitating injury increases sharply at night.
Bicycle Helmet
A bicycle rider or passenger under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that:
- Is properly fitted
- Is fastened securely
- Meets a nationally recognized standard
Under federal law, bicycle helmets are required to meet the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Bicycle helmets, properly fitted and secured, have been found effective at reducing the incidence and severity of head, brain and upper facial injury.
Headset Not to be Worn
A cyclist may not wear a headset, headphone or listening device, other than a hearing aid, while riding. Loud headphones can damage hearing and shut out the outside world. However, no cyclist should depend on hearing before turning or changing lane position.
Overtaking and Passing a Vehicle
The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than three feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle.