Proceedings of the Royal Society: 200+ years ago in the real Proceedings

Proceedings of the Royal Society: 200+ years ago in the real Proceedings

Imagine the pleasure I found this morning when, sitting in the library of my newly restored castle in Isle of Skye, Winterfell Anodyne (that's a whole other diary entry in and of itself), I picked up the post and found a letter and package from Lady Kate with some very old issues of the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Great Britain. I am sure that my weekend will now be spent here among my books despite the long list of things to be accomplished otherwise.

She mentions with particular interest several articles on metallurgy. I find my curiosity is piqued a bit here since my intelligence sources from around the Independent State have been abuzz with snippets of information about a secret cadre of Caledonians who have been traveling the oceans to an inhabited island.

It is said that this group have been studying minerals and metals as well as the different ecosystems found in the new land. Knowing Lady Kate, she is in the thick of things. I shall have to call upon her at some length to discuss what, if anything, she knows about the intentions of this company of explorers.

I have a suspicion that there is a connection with the mysterious floating platforms high above Oxbridge, and the increase in production of Clanks in that region - as well as the noted general increase in flora and fauna.

*makes a note to create a case number and assign a senior and junior operative*

Furry Love in Vancouver

*Cue the love theme from Dr. Zhivago*

Seriously though, this is one of the sweetest little videos I've ever seen. Do watch all the way to the end.

57 Avatars witness the swearing-in of Mayor Tenk

Despite the dreary, rainy weather in New Babbage today, there were 57 of us present to witness the Clockwinder, Mosseveno Tenk, take his oath of office. Thankfully there were free umbrellas for all, and I just happened to have promised the Mayor that I would bring along a cask of my Uisge Beatha Reserve.

Remington Pinion and Krystine Qinan

I stand among the many.

Taking the oath.

[2009/02/22 13:04] Hotspur Otoole: I (state your name)
[2009/02/22 13:05] Mosseveno Tenk: I, Mosseveno Tenk
[2009/02/22 13:05] Mosseveno Tenk: Being quite lagged
[2009/02/22 13:05] Jim whispers "Hoy Mr. Dagger. Hoy Dickens"
[2009/02/22 13:05] Moses Mureaux chuckles
[2009/02/22 13:05] Hotspur Otoole: do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Great City of New Babbage against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
[2009/02/22 13:05] Skusting Dagger: whspers: Shhh!
[2009/02/22 13:05] TriloByte Zanzibar waves at skusting and dickens through the purple rectangles
[2009/02/22 13:05] Mosseveno Tenk: no matter how long it takes me to get through the lag.
[2009/02/22 13:06] Mosseveno Tenk: do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Great City of New Babbage against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
[2009/02/22 13:06] Tyger Freenote takes 10 minutes to walk 10 metres
[2009/02/22 13:06] Hotspur Otoole grins
[2009/02/22 13:06] Dickens whsipers: SHHHH!
[2009/02/22 13:06] Hotspur Otoole taps his foot, waiting for a reply
[2009/02/22 13:06] TinCupOfRum: Want a little Capn' Smythe in you eh Mate?
[2009/02/22 13:06] Babbage Mayoral Inauguration Pin: The time is 13:06
[2009/02/22 13:06] Hotspur Otoole: that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
[2009/02/22 13:06] Mosseveno Tenk: that I will bear true faith and allegieance to the same
[2009/02/22 13:07] Hotspur Otoole: that I take this obligation of Clockwinder freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;
[2009/02/22 13:07] Elfod Nemeth: (I just turned all particles so I can see)
[2009/02/22 13:07] Mosseveno Tenk: that I take this obligation of Clockwinder freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;
[2009/02/22 13:07] Hotspur Otoole: that I will keep her gears oiled, her mainsprings wound, and her steam engines stoked with coal,
[2009/02/22 13:08] Mosseveno Tenk: that I will keep her gears oiled, her mainsprings wound, and her steam engines stoked with coal,
[2009/02/22 13:08] Doctor Obolensky: ((hmmm...can't see a bit of it.))
[2009/02/22 13:08] Cask of Uisge Beatha - Reserve: Drink it in good health, Salazar Jack!
[2009/02/22 13:08] Hotspur Otoole: and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of Clockwinder on which I am about to enter. So help me God
[2009/02/22 13:08] Aleki Tarber should've brought her parasol.
[2009/02/22 13:08] Cask of Uisge Beatha - Reserve: 428 yet left to pour.
[2009/02/22 13:08] Uisge Beatha mug (2) whispers: Slainte!
[2009/02/22 13:08] Mosseveno Tenk: and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of Clockwinder on which I am about to enter.
[2009/02/22 13:08] Jim whispers and points "Look, Bob fell asleep already!"
[2009/02/22 13:08] Mosseveno Tenk: So help me God.
[2009/02/22 13:09] Wiggy Undertone: HUZZAH! GOOD SHOW MR. TENK!
[2009/02/22 13:09] Annechen Lowey: `*.¸.*´ APPLAUSE `*.¸.*´APPLAUSE `*.¸.*´
[2009/02/22 13:09] Meadow McBride: wowi think i got here :)
[2009/02/22 13:09] Ceejay Writer kicks Bob.
[2009/02/22 13:09] Eva Bellambi: Slainte!!
[2009/02/22 13:09] Hotspur Otoole: Congratulations! CLOCKWINDER TENK!
[2009/02/22 13:09] KlausWulfenbach Outlander applauds
[2009/02/22 13:09] Krystine Qinan APPLAUDS!!!
[2009/02/22 13:09] Vivito Volare applauds
[2009/02/22 13:09] Jimmy Branagh applauds.
[2009/02/22 13:09] TriloByte Zanzibar cheers
[2009/02/22 13:09] Jimmy Branagh applauds.
[2009/02/22 13:09] Ghilayne Andrew applauds.
[2009/02/22 13:09] Sofia81 Zessinthal cheers wildly
[2009/02/22 13:09] blakopal Galicia: yay!
[2009/02/22 13:09] Elfod Nemeth shouts: cheers
[2009/02/22 13:09] Salazar Jack: Here here!

The crowd of witnesses

An urchin's eye view


Rapt attention from the crowd

Mr. O'Toole and Mr. Tenk

The Historic Mace of Olaf, the First Defender of Babbage

[2009/02/22 13:18] Mosseveno Tenk: The orle of First Engineer boils down to this: we're dividing up the work so we get more done. I'll ask him to do things that are suited to his skills, while reserving the (much more fun) stuff for myself. Looked at another way, he gets to go kiss babies and pose for the kinescope, while I toil away in the bowels of underBabbage getting real work done.

The Mace given to the First Engineer of New Babbage, Æolus Cleanslate

Congratulations and Godspeed, Mr. Mayor!

Spring in Giverny and a little snow (tiger) on my shoulder

Last night I did some touring and shopping on Giverny, Soliel Snook and Kaye Robbiani's new sim. It is spectacularly beautiful - a mere reflection of the wonderful ladies who have created it. I encourage all of you to take time to walk around this wonderful land. Perhaps even take time to stop and smell the roses. (and buy them, too) Thank you Kaye and Soliel for sharing your gifts with the rest of us.

(in the style of Monet)

Imagine my surprise once I was back working and chatting last night as a small crate was delivered to me. There were air holes and the shipment invoice suggested that whatever this creature was it might require some milk upon arrival.




I carefully opened the box to find the cutest little snow tiger I had ever seen. I am so happy to care for him and we have already become fast friends. Now to think of a suitable name.......




Thank you, my friend, for such a cuddly gift.

Real Life Meet-Up Anyone?

After hearing from many of you, those of us who created and attended the first CaleCon last year are working to create the next Convention. We hope to attract a much wider range of participants this year. We encourage all of our friends from the Realm of the Roses and other neo-Victorian, Steampunk, and similarly themed sims to participate with us.

If you have an interest in meeting in “real life” at a convention or special event (or even if you don’t), please take a quick survey to help determine interest in meeting at a private convention, SteamCon, Seattle Airport Marriott, Washington, October 23-25 or Second Life Community Convention, Marriott San Francisco, California, August 13-16.

Once the survey is closed, we will share the results with you. Then we shall create the workgroups (please share with us your interest in helping/planning/actively participating) for our seminars and events.

Oh and the name shall change from CaleCon.....stand by for that.

Thanks!

My Typist Has Returned Safely Home

(OOC)

It really was a good week with the family on Snowshoe Mountain. Lots of fun in the snow (despite some warmer than normal conditions for the first half of the week) and great exercise as I skied the many trails. Believe me - my muscles are still talking to me at times. :-D

My children have really made great strides in their skiing and will soon be passing me on by for the black diamond slopes. They already are skiing the intermediate (blue) trails with me. Even the 5 year old can traverse the easier of the blue trails. I'm so proud. I'm sure I have a couple of Olympians on my hands.

Here is a picture from our trip (the girls in the pink jackets are mine).

The Little Ladies of Skye (in pink)

Unexpected Pleasure

My typist has been quite ill these last couple of days, and is now, of course, packing for her annual ski vacation. So, when she logged me in today, it was really only to be for a brief afternoon check on the mail and any urgent messages that needed my attention.

However, as I looked through the post, which has finally caught up to me in Winterfell Anodyne on my Isle of Skye, I received a call across the æther from Charlene Truedeau. What a pleasant surprise to have my old friend call me out of the blue.

"Celtic Concert going on over here in Zepplin. Join me?"

"Well sure." I said. My typist needed a short break anyway. So off I went on Char's chariot.





The band is called LabGraal, and I learned a bit about them as I listened to the live music. They were very very good. The band are based in Italy and play primarily Celtic music, but also do work from around the globe. They were talking about their new CD due out in just a couple of weeks - if all goes well - featuring African music.

I have to say that this is one of the best live music performances that I have heard in SL. I will be happy to attend another of their gigs. And perhaps I might convince them to perform as/at one of my events. :)

The crowd: cheering, dancing, and listening to the wonderful music.

Our hostess, Charlene Trudeau

I would direct you to their various ætheric outposts for more information (do brush up on your Italian, though).

• LabGraal.org
• LabGraal in SecondLife
• Shan Community
• Shan Community Radio Stream (which is currently playing in Isle of Skye btw)

I thoroughly enjoyed myself listening to the music and talking quietly with Charlene for a bit.
Once I made it back to the castle, I took a few shots of TotalLunar's progress on the build. I am pleased as punch. Whisky punch at that. :)

Nellie's eye view of the castle.

Slainte!

EB

My Isle of Skye

Even as the work continues on my castle, I am getting visions of all that the Isle will be. This - my new home.

I shall post some photographs of progress soon, however, in the meantime pray indulge me whilst I post a poem written well out of our time, but reflective of some of my thoughts about my own Isle of Skye (also called The Misty Isle or Eilean A `Cheo)

Eilean A `Cheo

Oh Eilean A` Cheo you are dear to me

From those high Cuillin hills, to your blue sparkling sea.

The shores and the mountains, to my bosom I hold.

As this vision of beauty, I gentle enfold..

You are full salty smell, with a sting on my lips.

As your harbour lies teeming, with the fish on your ships.

Green rolling hills, or a mountaineers climb.

With a view over Coruisk, that is simply divine.

My pearl of the ocean, and the love of my heart.

May your Otters abound you, and never depart.

May those Seals grace your island, and bob their wee heads,

Above the calm waters, as they search the sea beds.

Oh my dearest of islands, your soul lives in me.

In my mind I see beauty, of the shore and the sea.

Come play your songs softly, then lull me to sleep.

When I die t`is your memory, in my heart that I`ll keep.

Yvonne Sparkes June 2004