See "The Patient Work of Making Friends as an Adult, Part 1" for advice on keeping your head up during the friend-hunting process. This post focuses on the nitty-gritty of how to find and meet folks.
Generally speaking, I look for situations that allow me to see the same people repeatedly and favor activity-based events. A class, regularly-scheduled volunteer work, or a book club, for example, give you opportunities to meet people more than once, provide some common ground for your initial conversations, and can help you meet people outside your usual circle of friends and co-workers. In my experience, pure networking events are the most challenging and least fun. And if you don't meet anyone interesting at a networking event, there is no redeeming factor, like at least you saw a great performance, learned something useful, or helped someone in need.
In-person classes: yoga, fitness/exercise, cooking, language, dancing, painting, sculpture, photography, sailing, kayaking, hiking, rock-climbing, university extension courses —Whatever interests you, especially if it's been on your "some day" list for a while.
Long-term volunteer work (versus one-off events); for a while I read with kids each Monday morning in the Bronx. I didn't make any great friends through that work, but thanks to quality time with the kids, I was usually the happiest person I knew on Monday mornings.
Kid-related activities; if you can, rather than just dropping off the kids at swimming lessons or soccer or ballet, stay for a bit and talk with the other parents. And spend some quality time hanging out at the neighborhood playground.
Work/Volunteer some where with repeat visitors. Find a yoga, fitness, or art studio (or elsewhere) that you like and work there part-time, even just one or two hours a week in exchange for free classes. I helped to check in students for classes at a Boston yoga studio and found it quite helpful. Because I was the check-in person, I got to meet a lot of people and had a reason to start up conversations with them. (For introverts, having a defined role in a situation is very helpful.) It also gave me the opportunity to introduce people to each other, which led to friendships and business deals—and made my day, since I like being of service.
Story slams. The Moth holds events in select cities across the country and now there are smaller, local events popping up all-over. These events are always fun and the stories provide easy fodder for conversation (which also makes them a great date option).
A multi-week class—cooking, dancing, art, etc. If you have a good-sized group, maybe you can organize a private class at a time that works for the group or get a group discount.
MeetUps. MeetUp is a platform for organizing groups around a shared interest—there are book clubs, dining groups, music groups, gaming groups, etc. It's hit and miss, but the investment is small—a few hours and maybe a few dollars—so worth trying out if there are events of interest to you.
Dog Parks. If you have a dog, chatting with people at the dog runs is another way to get to know people over time. Or if you're thinking of getting a dog, you can hang out and ask people for their guidance.
Talk with random people. Start up conversations with people wherever you are—in line at the grocery store, at the kids' school, etc. I regularly chat with people at my neighborhood bus stop (one more plus of public transportation!). You never know where click might happen.
What are your ideas and suggestions for making friends as an adult? Let us know in the comments section!
Photo courtesy of 589 at Pixabay.


text:
The Puddle Dimension
Get ready for a science short story. Today I bring you the first installment of my Short Story Series. This one is called, The Puddle Dimension.
Here's a reminder of the science short story elements YOU voted for. 🙂 Don't forget to vote on the story elements for my next short story.
Main Character: Girl with a silver car and who loves mysteries
Love Interest: Red haired guy who loves to joke around
Setting: Small town in the USA
Random Thing: puddle
How I Came Up with this Science Short Story
I got the idea for this science short story when I was looking up pictures of puddles for inspiration. I found a really cool picture of a shimmery puddle and it sparked the entire science short story. Unfortunately, I can't share that photo because I don't have the rights to it, but I tried to make the book cover look as similar to it as possible.
This "short" story turned out quite a bit longer than I expected (24 book pages!). You can read it here in this post or you can download The Puddle Dimension PDF if that's easier.
Free download of Kay L Moody's newest science short story, The Puddle Dimension. Click the link to grab your copy today!Click To Tweet
Kate locked her silver Kia Rio and eyed a homemade sign which read General Store. She slipped the keys into her pocket as she walked up the steps and pushed open the wooden door. A bell on the door rang as she stepped inside. She scanned the tiny aisles filled with quaint shelves. Marshmallows. She was looking for marshmallows. That was part of the plan. She needed to look like a normal customer. Huntsville got a lot of campers and marshmallows seemed like the most common item a camper would want.
Kate walked under a green sign with white faded letters. Someone had carefully painted the words "Baking, Breakfast, Water" on it. What would have been three aisles in a normal store was smooshed into one in this tiny general store. Kate absently pointed her finger as she scanned the aisle. When she found the marshmallows, she nodded with pursed lips. Being sneaky meant it was hard to do even the simplest of tasks without feeling like a weirdo.
Kate ambled down the aisle and up to the counter. Not a single person was in sight except the checker. His bright orange hair was just as wild as the geometric covered t-shirt he wore. Red squares, yellow circles, and lime green lines covered the orange t-shirt. Sure, it was wild on its own, but it clashed spectacularly with his bright orange hair. Kate glanced to the side as she put the marshmallows on the conveyor belt. What could ever possess someone to buy a crazy t-shirt like that? Luckily, most of it was hidden by a green apron. The nametag on the apron said, "Trevor."
"Camping, huh?" Trevor said as he took the marshmallows from the conveyor belt.
Kate blinked in shock while a flurry traveled through her veins. She expected a high pitched, whiny sort of voice with that bright orange hair. One befitting a pimpled teenage boy whose voice was barely beginning to change. But this voice was husky and dark. Cheerful, but mature. She hadn't noticed before, but this was a man. Well, not a boy at least. Close to her age, but that was neither here nor there. She had a mission and no man with wild orange hair and a loud t-shirt would distract her.
She cleared her throat and said the words just as she rehearsed. "I'll be here the whole weekend with some friends. We're staying at the Oakshore Camp."
Trevor scanned the marshmallows. "Oakshore's nice, but ask any local and he'll tell you to try Battlecreek. You get trees and birds and mountains at Oakshore, but at Battlecreek…" He did a lopsided grin as he placed the marshmallows into a translucent green bag. He tapped some buttons on his screen. "At Battlecreek the trees provide, the birds harmonize, and the mountains live."
"Isn't Battlecreek the camp where people have gone missing?"
The grin on Trevor's face disappeared as he took her credit card and slid it through the machine. "Those are nothing but rumors. The entrance to Battlecreek is not ten steps from this store. If the rumors were true, I'd be the first to go missing and I'm still here, aren't I?"
Kate pursed her lips. She could tell Trevor wasn't about to volunteer the information she wanted. But she thirsted for knowledge. Ever since she could remember, she just had to know things. She had to understand, no matter what the cost. That was why she took apart her easy bake oven as a kid. Maybe she broke it, but she could rest at night because she understood how it worked. And that was why she was here and wouldn't leave until she had some answers.
Kate first heard about the disappearances three weeks ago. Ever since then she couldn't sleep at night. Not because she was afraid, but because she had to know. She needed the mystery solved. Kate took the translucent green bag with her marshmallows. She eyed Trevor, calculating her question. She had to phrase it in such a way that he would want to answer.
She turned her head toward the back of the store. Just behind the back wall of the store sat the Battlecreek campground. She bit her lip to look vulnerable. "I don't believe in the mystical or the supernatural, but how else do you explain the flashes of light? The electromagnetic pulses? The disappearances?"
Trevor shook his head, but she knew he was looking at her. Not just looking at her like a customer either. Her lip biting trick had worked. Just like she noticed he was a man, he now noticed she was a woman. "Come on, I'll show you," he said.
Trevor stepped out from behind the counter and slipped the apron off his head.
"Um," Kate said. She stepped back and watched Trevor march to the front of the store. "Don't you have to—" Kate glanced back at the aisles. No one else was there, but still. "You know, work here? Don't you have to work?"
Trevor laughed. "Not from a small town, huh?" he asked. Kate prided herself on knowing about the world. His offhand remark stung more than she cared to admit. She lifted her chin in the air and flipped the translucent green bag over her shoulder.
"I just didn't want you to get in trouble."
Trevor snickered as he locked up the store. Then he led her around back. Of all the things, he wore cowboy boots on his feet. Not only did he have the wildest t-shirt ever created, but he paired it with cowboy boots! She was ready to write him off as a crackpot when she noticed the logo on his jeans.
Modpair. The same as hers. And the favorite of anyone who took the time to really understand what jeans were supposed be. Kate chewed on the inside of her lip. If he was smart enough to know the best jeans, it didn't prove much. But at least he had some kind of sense.
Kate pulled the cell phone from her back pocket and started to record a video as they neared the forest.
Trevor glanced back at her phone and his eyes narrowed into tiny slits. "Are you a reporter?" he asked. And then his lip curled up into his nose. His words were thick with disgust. "Or one of those paranormal bloggers?"
Kate shook her head, but kept her eyes on the recording on her phone as she stepped closer to the forest.
Trevor planted his feet and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I ain't showing you anything if you're a blogger. We're sick of you terrorizing our town and interviewing the families of victims. Your blog can get haunted by error 404 pages for all I care."
"I promise I'm not a blogger," Kate said. She lifted her eyes to meet his. "I just want to understand what's happening." Kate lowered her eyes to the ground. Suddenly, she felt as sheepish as a child explaining a broken vase. "I like mysteries," she said.
To her surprise, Trevor's face softened. His eyes scanned her blonde curls, then he turned back to the trees and beckoned her with his hand. "All right," he said. "But promise you won't interview anyone."
Kate nodded. She stepped onto the trail with her eyes glued to the recording on her phone. Unfortunately, a large root on the path caught her attention far too late, and her toe stuck on it just as she tried to take another step forward. Kate tripped immediately and her phone flew out of her hands as she tried to brace herself. Her palms slapped the dirt path while her knees smarted with a thud. A hot blush filled her cheeks when Trevor rushed to her side and helped her up.
"Hey, nice jeans," he said. "I love Modpair."
Her arm was hot where he had grabbed her and for a moment, she got lost in the sea of his churning blue eyes. "I dropped my phone," she said when she stared too long. She lowered her eyes to the ground to search before she could see his reaction. The bag of marshmallows was also gone into the forest somewhere, but Kate figured she should find her phone first.
Kate and Trevor both tromped away from the path, searching for the stray phone.
"Over here," Trevor said, pointing. "Right next to that puddle."
Kate jogged toward him. Her eyes scanned the ground when his voice changed. Still husky. Still mature. But full of wonder. "Whoa," he said.
Kate plucked her phone from a tuft of wildflowers, but she almost dropped it again when she saw the puddle. A tiny gasp escaped her mouth as she leaned closer. Kate slid the phone into her back pocket, too distracted now to take video.
It looked like a puddle, and yet… different. The clouds mirrored the clouds above, but they were whiter. The trees in the reflection of the puddle were tall and green with rustling leaves, just like the trees around them. But the ones in the puddle were special. The leaves seemed to rustle with the energy of electricity. Everything in the puddle seemed to shimmer.
It looked magical.
Kate tore her eyes away with a frown. But that was silly. She was here to solve a mystery, not create some fantasy. Only facts were welcome here. Kate looked back at the puddle with critical eyes. What made the puddle shimmer? Maybe oil or glitter even? There had to be something.
As Kate considered the possibilities, Trevor bent down to touch the puddle. In an instant, the serenity of the trees and clouds shattered. A flash of white light shot into the sky. Trevor's finger, then hand, then arm disappeared into the puddle. His body continued to fall inside with no regard for the impossibility of the action. The puddle was tiny. Not big enough for a person. But Trevor continued to fall, no matter how his hands flailed.
Soon, his head disappeared into the puddle and Kate's heart raced with panic. "TREVOR!" she screamed. Without a thought, she grabbed his waist to pull him out, but then she too was pulled in deep. A flash of white light obscured her vision and she was falling, falling, falling.
The moment ended faster than it began. Kate was on the ground next to the puddle and not a fiber of her clothing was wet. She sat up slowly, brushing over every inch of her body to note whether or not it was normal. Trevor seemed to have a different approach.
He jumped to his feet and patted his chest and legs and side with vigorous inspection. His breaths shallow as he forced his fingers through his hair, determined that not even a hair on his head was lost.
Kate got to her feet and pulled her cell phone from her pocket. It was dry and had service just like normal. Every rational cell in her brain screamed that something was wrong, but when she sought it out, nothing revealed itself. Kate brought her arms tight over her stomach until she could wrap her hands over her elbows. She chewed on her lip, trying to bite out the perplexed feeling in her mind.
Trevor rubbed his temple and stared at the puddle. He gulped and said, "Did we just fall through that puddle?"
Kate dug her teeth deeper into her lip. "Yes?" she said, though she hated the uncertainty in her voice. She needed answers and she needed them fast. She couldn't let a mystery like this go unsolved.
Trevor opened his mouth, but seemed to think better of it. He scanned the trees behind him and finally said, "I need to get back to work. Can't leave the store unattended for too long."
Kate nodded and backed away from the puddle without hesitation. She followed Trevor even though he didn't seem to appreciate it. "What do you think happened?" Kate asked.
Trevor shrugged, but increased his speed as he walked to the general store. "I'm sure it was nothing. Probably just a figment of our imaginations."
"Imagination?" Kate asked. "Do you even know how imagination works? People don't randomly hallucinate the same thing at the same time. Something happened. I think we're inside the puddle. Don't you think the air looks shimmery like the puddle did?"
"Sure," Trevor said, though his tone was full of jest. "And I also think magical elves are going to start doing my work for me while I sleep. Or maybe that's only if I make shoes."
"I'm serious," Kate said. But at that moment, they rounded the corner of the general store and Kate clamped her mouth shut. A tall man with wispy, gray hair shut his car door. He glanced up at the two of them with a friendly smile. "Morning, Trevor. Morning, Kate."
A nervous grin appeared on Trevor's face. "Morning, Ned." Trevor glanced at Kate and said in a whisper, "Do you know him?"
Kate shook her head, even more perplexed than before.
Ned pushed his keys into his pants pocket and his eyes fell straight to Kate's stomach. That was enough to make her squirm, but when more words left his mouth, she nearly fainted. Ned said, "You two ready for your little one? Only a few weeks left, isn't it?"
Kate clutched her stomach, which was most certainly not filled with a "little one." It was filled with her lunch, which threatened now to make an appearance. Trevor wrapped his arm around Kate's shoulder and gripped her tight. She excused the sudden touch because it was so comforting at this new perplexing mystery. Trevor said, "Actually, it's not a good time, Ned. I came to put up the Closed sign."
Ned waved a hand and nodded while he retrieved his keys from his pocket. "No trouble at all, Trevor. I understand. I'll come back later. Good luck, Kate. Ida picked up some eucalyptus salts for your feet. She'll bring them by your house tonight. Hopefully it won't be long now."
As Ned got back into his car, Trevor led Kate back to the side of the store. He released her as soon as they were hidden from view. He pushed his body up against the side of the store and rubbed circles into his temples. His face was paper white and he looked as likely to lose his lunch as Kate felt.
"How did Ned know your name? I didn't even know your name. Unless. Is Kate your name?"
"It is," Kate said. "And how did Ida know I like to soak my feet in eucalyptus salts? And who is Ida anyway?"
"It's Ned's wife." Trevor stopped rubbing his temples just long enough to steal a glance at Kate's stomach.
"I'm not pregnant," she said before he could ask.
"Well, you don't look it, but you never know."
"Something happened," Kate said. "When we fell through the puddle. But I'm sure there's a logical explanation. I read some very compelling research on time travel the other day and it mentioned…" Kate trailed off as she noticed even the grass beneath her feet was shimmery.
"Do you think that's what this is?" Trevor asked. "The future?"
His eyes held a hope that caused another flurry through Kate's veins. She did want to have a baby someday. And she loved the idea of living in a small town. A future like this was everything she ever wished for. At this point all she was looking for was the right man to share it with.
And Trevor seemed sweet. She felt she could understand him somehow. Except for his crazy t-shirt and cowboy boots, but what did those matter anyway? He seemed like a good man. She felt ridiculous for wishing that maybe this was the future, but she could tell Trevor was wishing it too.
Kate pulled her phone from her back pocket to keep herself from spiraling too far down that fantasy. The date shined bright the same as it was when she first arrived in Huntsville. If they had traveled through time, the satellites that set the time on her phone hadn't noticed.
"Still 2:30, huh?" Trevor said when he saw her screen. "And Ned said 'morning.'"
Kate shoved the phone back in her pocket and grabbed Trevor's wrist. "Come on," she said. "We need to figure out what's going on. Call your boss and tell him you're taking the day off."
Trevor retrieved his phone from his pocket just as they rounded the corner back in front of the store. Kate pulled out her keys and pointed to her silver Kia Rio. Trevor grabbed the passenger door handle, but then started talking through his phone. He leaned against the passenger door, deep in conversation. Kate fiddled with her keys while she watched Trevor talk.
She had no idea where she would go once they got in the car. All she knew was shimmer floated through the air in every direction and it wasn't natural. Even Ned looked shimmery and the grass. And the cars. If this was the future, there was still something different about it. Kate decided she'd drive to the city limits and see if the shimmer continued past the border. After that, she'd find something else to test.
Kate whipped out her phone again and glanced at Trevor. She did intend to solve this mystery alone, but she was glad Trevor was here. His presence felt natural. Familiar. Which didn't make any sense, but that's how it felt. He was talking to his boss now and she tuned out his words in a way she could only do with the people she knew well.
Kate glared at her phone, which still told her nothing, just as Trevor tapped the end button on his phone. She stole a tiny glance at him and looked back at her phone. But as soon as her eyes pulled away from him, she brought them right back to him again. He was worried and she could tell. Since she was the only person there, she figured she should be there for him.
"What did he say?" Kate asked. "Does he need you to go back to the store?"
Trevor shook the bright orange hair out of his eyes. He picked at the shoulder of his crazy t-shirt and frowned. "No, he said I own the store. He said I must be losing sleep over worrying about the baby and the stress made me forget. Apparently you and I are married and we're having a son and I bought the store a year ago. He asked about your feet."
Trevor frowned at the notion and that made Kate's heart ache. But why should she care? They didn't know this was the future. Not for sure. The first time she laid eyes on Trevor was 24 minutes ago. The sensible part of her brain forced herself to ignore the disappointment. She tucked her phone into her back pocket and unlocked the car.
Trevor opened the passenger door, but didn't get in. "Where are we going?" he asked.
Kate twisted the keys around her key ring with an increasing speed. "I'm going to drive until I can't see the shimmer in the air. The city limit is only a few minutes away, right?"
Trevor nodded, but avoided her eye. He kept glancing at Kate, then looking away as fast as he could. "Do you think it could be the future?" he asked. "I am planning to buy the store. I've been saving money for years and the owner and I have an agreement about it. And you are really…"
The silence hung as heavy as an elephant on top of a baboon. Kate gripped her keys and bit into her lip until hurt. She couldn't finish his sentence. 24 minutes. She saw him for the first time 24 minutes ago. Surely, she didn't know what he was trying to say. But the silence lingered and finally she said, "Pretty?"
Trevor averted his eyes with a long exhale. "Well, I was going to say gorgeous, but yes. How did you know what I was going to say?"
Kate shrugged, but the thread of connection between them thickened to the size of a rope. "If that shimmer isn't in the air past the city limit that will tell us something. There has to be something in the shimmer. Hallucinogen maybe. Or maybe it's a hologram. Normally I'd say that kind of technology is only theoretical, but we're here and something is definitely going on."
Trevor nodded and finally got inside the car. Kate wasn't usually clumsy, but this was the biggest mystery she'd ever encountered and it got to her. Her hands jittered with anxiety as she reached for the door handle. With a great shake, her car keys slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground. In a huff, she bent down to pick them up. While her eyes were on the ground, a loud crackling sound filled the air.
A force hit her body and the crackling sound got louder. Now she could feel it in her very mind. Each of her muscles tensed as the force gripped her. Her body shook as all happiness seemed to drain from her mind. Every hope, every dream, every wish sucked away.
Kate fell to the ground in a heap. An icy cold washed over her clammy skin. The curls around her face hung limp. She felt empty and drained, but not sad necessarily. Rather, she felt the absence of every wishful or positive thought that had once graced her mind. After a moment, the aching lessened and the positive thoughts slowly crept back.
Before she could look up from the ground, she became aware of Trevor screaming her name through the car door. She glanced toward him. Trevor had jumped over to her seat and tried to open the driver side door, but she sat in the way. Without thinking, Kate dropped her body closer to the ground so he could open the door over her. As her blonde curls splayed out over the asphalt, she scolded herself for having such a terrible idea. But it was too late now.
When the car door opened, Trevor grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. In a hushed voice he said, "Shut the door before…"
Suddenly, Kate realized he was looking at something. And suddenly she realized that something must have been what took her hopes and dreams away. She reached for the inside door handle. At the same time, she looked up at the thing Trevor watched with such frightened eyes.
Before her stood an alien with thick, yellow skin. His hungry black eyes stared right past Kate. His butterscotch hair looked more like fur and covered most of his face. But strangest of all was how human he looked. Kate always imagined aliens to be gray and scaly or have extra eyes or something. This alien looked so similar to humans, she almost didn't know if she could call him an alien.
At least not without the thing in his hand. But sitting menacingly in one hand was a silver piece of technology which had to come from another world. She wanted to call it a gun. Two prongs came straight out with a blue light glowing between them. The alien's hand gripped a silver triangle which was attached to the two prongs. Curious symbols were etched into the triangle and they certainly weren't any language from earth.
Whatever the thing was, the alien pointed it straight at Trevor. Kate grabbed the car door from the inside and pulled it toward her. Before it could shut, the alien slipped his fingers around the outside edge of the door then yanked it open.
The silver gun slipped past Kate's nose just as a scream erupted from her throat. Kate reached up to snatch the gun, but a strong, yellow hand pushed her hands down and nearly broke her fingers.
Kate held her breath as she struggled to release her hands.
Out of nowhere, a loud clang interrupted the fear. The yellow alien slumped to the ground with his eyes closed. Kate's head jerked up. A squat woman with plump cheeks stood just behind the alien. Her soft brown hair was tied up in a bun. The horn rimmed glasses on her nose looked like they came straight from a one room schoolhouse.
"Mrs. Peck?" Trevor's voice held just as much confusion as his face.
"You got here at the worst possible time, Trevor. We're just about to escape. Follow me."
Trevor nodded and immediately got out of the car. Kate glanced from Trevor to Mrs. Peck then back again. Just because Trevor trusted this woman implicitly didn't mean she was going to. Mrs. Peck looked out of place in this shimmery world, but Kate couldn't quite figure out why.
"We're just through the door of the store. And hurry!" Mrs. Peck said.
Kate jumped over the alien and slammed her car door shut. As she stepped toward the general store, the yellow alien stirred and soon he was on his feet. He raised his gun just as Mrs. Peck pulled Kate through the door. "Get inside, quickly," Mrs. Peck said.
When Kate stepped over the threshold, Mrs. Peck grabbed a sheet of plywood and covered the glass in the door frame. Kate stared at the plywood with an empty expression. Trevor put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you okay?"
"She'll be fine," Mrs. Peck said.
"What was that thing?" Trevor asked.
"Since when do you have a girlfriend?" Mrs. Peck asked, ignoring his question. "And she's not from Huntsville? How did I not hear about this?" Mrs. Peck shook her head. "How long have I been missing?"
Before Trevor could answer, Kate pointed to Mrs. Peck's arm. "You don't shimmer."
A man emerged from behind the checkout stand. "That's because we're real," he said. "And when did you get a girlfriend?" he asked Trevor.
"She's not my girlfriend. She was just a customer at the store. Can someone please answer my question? What was that gun thing and what is this place?" Trevor frowned and his voice tremorred over the last few words. Once again, Mrs. Peck ignored him, but this time she handed him the shovel she was holding.
Mrs. Peck glanced over her shoulder and readjusted the glasses on her nose. "You have to hit the alien right on the ear. That's the only way to subdue him. And it only knocks him out for a couple seconds at the most. It depends on how hard you hit. We're all going to take turns knocking him out while we try to escape back through the puddle."
"So this place is real, but the shimmery people aren't? Is the puddle a gateway or something?" Kate asked.
The man gathered four people from one of the store aisles. Two of them held shovels. The man said, "The alien has a portal generator that can connect dimensions. He calls this place a wish dimension. It's a place where all of your wildest dreams come true."
Trevor ran a hand over his forehead. He said under his breath, "We thought it was the future."
Mrs. Peck said, "Oh trust me, we all wish it was. But the more we believe in the things here, the more powerful it makes him. The gun he has, steals your wishes. We don't understand the technology exactly, but basically the gun can extract the wish energy from your brain. The more times you get shot, the more your brain gets damaged. Which is why we need to get out of here and fast."
Trevor eyed the door suspiciously. "Why doesn't the alien just come in here and shoot us? And don't tell me it's because he missed door opening day at alien school."
The man grabbed a shovel from a pile on the ground. He handed it to Trevor and said, "He can't get past wood for some reason. Good thing the door frame of this old store is still made of wood. We use the plywood to keep us extra safe."
Kate looked at the other four people standing just in front of the aisle. Two of them stared off with vacant expressions and had a strange tilt to their heads. Mrs. Peck said the gun caused brain damage. But the only way they could know that was if they had seen it happen before. A woman who wore a vacant expression started brushing her purple sweater with a strange intensity. Kate forced herself to look away when the man handed her a shovel.
Mrs. Peck told the others to line up behind the door, and then she pulled Kate and Trevor to the end of the line. "You two will go through the portal last because you've been here the shortest. Five hits with the gun makes you go brain dead and the rest of us have been hit at least four times. Now Alice and Brian can't use the shovels so they'll need escorts the whole time. Jack and Portia, you two will watch over Alice and Brian. Hank and I will take turns with Trevor and his girlfriend with knocking out the alien with our shovels." Mrs. Peck turned to Trevor, "It'll be easy. Just stand behind him and smack him in the ear when he starts to stir."
"Her name is Kate," Trevor mumbled.
"On three," the man, who was apparently named Hank, said.
Mrs. Peck nodded and grabbed the door handle. When the man said three, she shoved the door open. The yellow alien stood just outside the door with an angry expression. Mrs. Peck smacked him across the ear with her shovel.
A teenager with knobby elbows guided the woman who had been brushing her arm. It took awhile to convince the purple sweatered woman to walk through the door. By the time they finally passed through the threshold, the alien was stirring. Mrs. Peck patted the woman's shoulder and didn't notice the alien. Kate lifted her own shovel to knock out the alien in Mrs. Peck's distraction.
Just before Kate's shovel made contact, a crackling sounded and Kate was hit with another sucking blast from the wish gun. She managed to hit the alien before she gasped and fell to her knees.
Trevor grabbed her by the hand and said, "Come on, we'll stand behind him so he can't shoot you again."
The alien stirred only a second later since Kate had only barely hit him with her shovel. Before he even lifted his head, Trevor smacked him hard across the ear.
A young man with a vacant expression was led down the store steps by a young woman. Again, the alien stirred. He got to his knees before Kate even noticed he was moving. The whole thing sounded so easy when they were talking about it inside, but actually doing it was much harder. It was surprisingly easy to get distracted by shimmery world around them. And the alien would sometimes be down for several seconds and sometimes he'd only be down for one. Mrs. Peck and Hank took turns hitting the alien, but sometimes he got up sooner than they expected.
Even with the difficulty, they made it around the general store without anyone getting shot. The alien had managed to take several steps some of the time he was awake, but he was laying unconscious back at the trailhead now.
When they were only a few feet from the puddle, the alien appeared and his black eyes locked onto Mrs. Peck. Kate knew Mrs. Peck couldn't afford another shot from the gun. But Kate was too far to simply jump in front of her.
While the alien raised his gun, Kate shouted out the happiest, cheesiest, most wishful thought she could think of. "I can't wait to see my children's faces when they open their presents on Christmas morning!" As soon as she spoke the words, a warmth spread through her body as her belief in the wish took hold.
As she hoped, the alien immediately turned toward her with eyes even hungrier than she remembered. The teenager with knobby elbows and the woman with the purple sweater disappeared through the puddle in a flash of white light.
"When I'm a dad, I'm going to make my kids pancakes every Saturday morning!" Trevor shouted.
The alien turned toward Trevor now. He took several steps toward Trevor and raised his gun. After those few steps, the alien was close enough for Kate to reach. She smacked him in the ear before he could shoot.
The young man with a vacant expression and his young woman escort disappeared through the puddle with another flash of light. Trevor rushed with Kate toward the puddle while Hank, then Mrs. Peck disappeared through it.
The puddle sat less than a foot away. All they had to do was touch it and they'd be free. Kate pointed her toe, ready to dip it into the puddle. Just before she could reach it, a crackling sound filled the air.
Chatper 4
Panic set in and Kate side stepped to avoid the blast. She didn't realize the gun was actually pointed toward Trevor and when she stepped to the side, she inadvertently stepped straight in its range. Once again, every happy and bright though sucked away from her brain. Trevor lifted Kate off the ground and carried her a few feet before plopping down behind a wooden trail sign in the forest. He pulled the sign backward so it tilted back over their heads and bodies.
Trevor brushed the hair away from Kate's face. A crease formed between his eyebrows while he stared at her with a frown. He rubbed his temple and said, "Here's what we're going to do. I'll distract the alien with future wishes like you did before. Then, you're going to go through the puddle. Once I have his attention, I'll smack him and get through the puddle."
Kate immediately protested. "But what if he shoots you with the gun?"
"You've been shot three times and I haven't been shot at all. I'll distract him, maybe get shot a couple times in the process, but once I get close enough, I'll smack him with the shovel and go through the puddle."
"But what if he shoots you more than four times before you can smack him?"
"He won't. And even if he does, that's my choice to make. You've already been shot three times. There's only two of us left here. One of us has to smack him and I've been shot less than you so I have to be the one to do it. Maybe I'll get stuck here, but that's my choice."
Kate tried to protest. Her heart beat wildly as she sat and tried to think of even one reason not to let Trevor sacrifice himself. One reason other than her. What about me? That's what she wanted to say, but how could she? Why?
"There's no use arguing with me," Trevor said. "We know the only reason for any connection between us is because of the wish thing. Not because it's the future or because we're soul mates or anything that's remotely real. I wish I could promise we'll both get out of here safely, but I can't. All I can do is make sure you don't get shot again. Now let's go before this alien thinks of some strategy to use against us."
Trevor gripped his shovel tight in his fist and pushed the wooden sign away from them. Kate jumped to her feet. As soon as she turned, she saw the alien in front of them. She raised her shovel and Trevor immediately yelled, "Don't worry about that, just run!"
Trevor smacked the alien hard against the ear. Trevor nodded toward Kate and said, "I'm right behind you."
Kate pumped her arms as she ran. She heard Trevor's hard panting right behind her. She glanced back over her shoulder and saw the alien stir. Trevor waved her forward and ran back toward the alien and knocked him out before he could get up again.
Kate got to the puddle and stuck her toes right at the edge, waiting for Trevor. He was only a few feet away when he said, "Don't wait for me, go NOW!"
Kate hesitated, but the urgency in his voice sent that familiar flurry through her veins. Oh, what did it matter that they only just met? She wanted to trust him and so she would. Kate pointed her toe and dipped it into the puddle. In a flash of white light, she landed just beside the puddle in a normal, non-shimmery world.
"Where's Trevor?" Mrs. Peck asked.
Kate got to her feet and glared at the puddle. "He was right behind me. He'll be here any second."
Kate bit her lip as she waited. She glanced up and noticed Hank and the young woman hammering scrap 2x4s into a square on the underside of a scrap sheet of wood. Kate tapped her toe and looked back at the puddle. Four whole seconds had gone by and there was still no sign of Trevor.
Hank hammered in another nail. But before Kate could wonder where he got the nails, a flash of white light shot through the tunnel while a hand appeared through it. Next, came a head of bright orange hair.
"Finally," Kate breathed.
But then his head disappeared back into the puddle. Kate immediately grabbed Trevor's hand and yanked him toward her. "Help!" she said desperately.
Mrs. Peck grabbed Trevor's arm and finally the bright orange hair reappeared. Kate took a step back and tugged harder. Trevor's face appeared with the worse grimace she had ever seen. Desperation took over.
"We need more help," she said to Hank. Soon Hank and the young woman grabbed onto Trevor. Even with the four of them, it took more effort than Kate imagined possible.
But finally, Trevor's shoulders appeared through the puddle. Trevor grimaced again. He said, "This alien has super strength or something. I think he's going to break my—" He flinched and Kate pulled him toward her as she took another step back. Now his stomach was through.
With each tug, Trevor got an inch closer.
At last, Trevor's entire body came through the puddle just before he toppled over onto Kate. They fell onto the dirt and brush of the forest floor. Kate immediately wrapped her arms around him as a sigh of relief escaped her.
Trevor grinned and jumped to his feet. He wiped his hands on his jeans and held a hand out to Kate to help her up even though she was almost up as it was. He squeezed her forearm when Kate saw Hank and the young woman cover the puddle with the sheet of wood and 2x4s. They stuck the square of 2x4s directly over the puddle, but around the outside so none of the wood would touch it.
Hank stomped his foot over the wooden sheet to make sure it stayed securely in place. "That should keep the alien from getting into our dimension."
The teenager appeared from around a tree with a small pot of paint and a paintbrush. "So, are we just painting 'Danger' on the wood, or what?"
Kate turned her eyebrows down with a question in them. Hank said, "We want to make sure nobody moves the wood and goes into the puddle dimension."
Trevor snorted. "Well then don't write 'Danger.'" He gave Kate a sideways glance. "Some people love mysteries and that will only make them curious."
Kate tried to glare, but it immediately turned into a chuckle. "He's right. I bet if you make it look like garbage nobody will come near it."
Trevor nodded. "Yeah, just write 'G E' like it's the beginning of General Store. Then someone will think it's part of a sign that got thrown out."
The teenager nodded and started painting.
Mrs. Peck glanced at Trevor's hand. It was only then that Kate even noticed he was still holding onto her arm. Mrs. Peck squished her mouth up. "You sure this isn't your girlfriend? You two do seem…" she glanced away for a moment then said, "In sync."
Trevor dropped his hand with a frown. "It's just because of the wish place. We were married there and she was pregnant and I guess we wish for the same kind of future, but that doesn't mean anything."
Mrs. Peck shrugged. "Actually, it might."
Kate raised her eyebrows and tilted her head toward Mrs. Peck.
Mrs. Peck shrugged again. "From what we've seen, all the wishes there were very realistic. The only way you'd be married in the wish dimension is if you're compatible in real life. And I mean a higher than average compatibility." A twinkle glimmered in her eye. "I just thought you should know."
Mrs. Peck turned to walk away and the others followed after her.
Kate looked back at the wood sitting over the puddle. She bit her lip and said, "Why did the alien do it? Does he think humans are inferior and doesn't care that he damages our brains? Or does he think we're not inferior, but also not care?"
Trevor raised one eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Oh, no you don't. We aren't going back in there to find out. You wanted to know why people were going missing and you found out."
Kate chewed on her lip and stared harder.
Trevor shook his head. "We barely got out of there alive. There's no way we're going back."
Kate squeezed her teeth even tighter over her lips. Finally she let out a disappointed sigh. "You're right. I found out what I wanted to know."
Trevor cocked up one eyebrow. "This is going to be a thing with you, isn't it?"
Kate opened her mouth to say something but then shut it again. It didn't matter. Even out of the wish dimension, the familiarity was still there and she had a feeling Trevor knew what she was thinking. Kate let her mouth turn up to a half smile.
Trevor looked back at her with a grin.
Maybe they hadn't seen the future together, but whatever happened, the future looked bright.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Glyceria nemoralis är en gräsart som först beskrevs av Rudolf Karl Carl Friedrich von Uechtritz, och fick sitt nu gällande namn av Rudolf Karl Carl Friedrich von Uechtritz och Koern. Glyceria nemoralis ingår i släktet glycerior, och familjen gräs. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Externa länkar

Glycerior
nemoralis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Is it too much of a stretch to get your prospect to read a headline the length of your arm?
Typically, good advice on writing advertising headlines is: The shorter, the better. After all, why smack readers with a long string of words when it's hard enough getting their attention with a short headline? But there are some exceptions to the rule. Especially when the message you think will "sing" to your target market begs dramatization (and if you have the budget for an ad big enough to accommodate it). It's a risk, given the impatience of the average consumer. But sometimes it's a risk worth taking.
That's the case here, in which HealtheTech Inc., a maker of weight-management products in Golden, Colorado, headlines the lament of the frustrated weight-gainer: "It's not fair. If I even look at food, I gain weight. And my sister can eat anything and never put on a pound. Will somebody please explain." Whew! Twenty-eight words. End to end, they stretch 2 feet. But it's a set of words that grabs the prospect's attention by strategically highlighting the phrase "gain weight" in orange and placing it at the far right, where it will stick out.
The headline is a setup to explain HealtheTech's metabolism-measuring device, the BodyGem. By breathing into it, says the manufacturer, you'll get a reading on your metabolic rate and thus know the number of calories you burn on a given day. The figure will let you "finally know how many calories you can eat and still lose weight."
HealtheTech has a big challenge in not only introducing an unusual product, but also asking readers to take action immediately. However, the firm gets an A+ for an effective headline that reaches the prospect, followed by a solid explanation of the benefits. Also, notice the clever use of the oversized captions in the photos. They serve as subheads and draw your eye to two supporting messages: "It's not you, it's your metabolism" and "A simple breath test can measure yours." Just by reading the headline and the two captions, the prospect gets the essence of the sales pitch and is, hopefully, motivated to read further.
Where a headline is concerned, don't rule out a longer one when you've got a powerful message. At the same time, remember to format it with plenty of surrounding white space. Without this luxury, the reader would be faced with an inhospitable wall of words.
Jerry Fisher is a freelance advertising copywriter and the author of Creating Successful Small Business Advertising.


text:
SPL: SeekableIterator and string keys
--FILE--
<?php

class NumericArrayIterator implements Iterator
{
	protected $a;
	protected $i;

	public function __construct($a)
	{
		echo __METHOD__ . "\n";
		$this->a = $a;
	}

	public function rewind()
	{
		echo __METHOD__ . "\n";
		$this->i = 0;
	}

	public function valid()
	{
		$ret = $this->i < count($this->a);
		echo __METHOD__ . '(' . ($ret ? 'true' : 'false') . ")\n";
		return $ret;
	}

	public function key()
	{
		echo __METHOD__ . "\n";
		return $this->i;
	}

	public function current()
	{
		echo __METHOD__ . "\n";
		return $this->a[$this->i];
	}

	public function next()
	{
		echo __METHOD__ . "\n";
		$this->i++;
	}
}

class SeekableNumericArrayIterator extends NumericArrayIterator implements SeekableIterator
{
	public function seek($index)
	{
		if ($index < count($this->a)) {
			$this->i = $index;
		}
		echo __METHOD__ . '(' . $index . ")\n";
	}
}

$a = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
foreach (new LimitIterator(new NumericArrayIterator($a), 1, 3) as $v)
{
	print "$v\n";
}

echo "===SEEKABLE===\n";
$a = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
foreach(new LimitIterator(new SeekableNumericArrayIterator($a), 1, 3) as $v)
{
	print "$v\n";
}

echo "===SEEKING===\n";
$a = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
$l = new LimitIterator(new SeekableNumericArrayIterator($a));
for($i = 1; $i < 4; $i++)
{
	$l->seek($i);
	print $l->current() . "\n";
}

?>
===DONE===
<?php exit(0); ?>
--EXPECT--
NumericArrayIterator::__construct
NumericArrayIterator::rewind
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::next
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
2
NumericArrayIterator::next
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
3
NumericArrayIterator::next
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
4
NumericArrayIterator::next
===SEEKABLE===
NumericArrayIterator::__construct
NumericArrayIterator::rewind
SeekableNumericArrayIterator::seek(1)
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
2
NumericArrayIterator::next
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
3
NumericArrayIterator::next
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
4
NumericArrayIterator::next
===SEEKING===
NumericArrayIterator::__construct
SeekableNumericArrayIterator::seek(1)
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
2
SeekableNumericArrayIterator::seek(2)
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
3
SeekableNumericArrayIterator::seek(3)
NumericArrayIterator::valid(true)
NumericArrayIterator::current
NumericArrayIterator::key
4
===DONE===

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: prove that if $f$ is decreasing and bijective, then $f$ and $f^{-1}$ are strictly decreasing. I have done the first part proving f is strictly decreasing, but it is so confusing to prove the inverse function is also strictly decreasing. This is what I have so far, I am not sure if it's correct or not because of so many inequality signs. Here's my proof.
Let $A, B$ the domain and codomain of f. We need to prove that for any $x, y \in A$ and $u,v \in B$, if $x < y$ and $u < v$, we have $f(x) >  f(y)$ and $f^{-1}(u) > f^{-1}(v)$. Assume $x < y$. Since f is decreasing, we have $f(x) \ge f(y)$. Since $x \neq y$ and f is bijective, $f(x) \neq f(y)$, we must have $f(x) > f(y)$. Next, we need to prove that $f^{-1}$ is strictly decreasing, so assume $u < v$. set $a = f^{-1}(u)$ and $b = f^{-1}(v)$, so we claim that $a > b$. If not, then $a \ge b$. Since f is decreasing, we have $u = f(a) \ge f(b) = v$. This is a contradiction since by our choice, $u < v$. Hence $f^{-1}$ is decreasing.
I am not sure about the part which is $u = f(a) \ge f(b) = v$ is right or not. Because we have $a > b$, $f^{-1}(u) \ge f^{-1}(v)$ which is $a>b$. Then, we take inverse on both side which becomes to $u \ge v$. Am I understanding the definition of decreasing function right?

A: Define $B$ as the range of $f$, not codomain. There is also an error in the second part of the proof since $a\ge b$ does not imply $f(a)\ge f(b)$. Anyhow the negation of $a>b$ is $a\le b$ which needs to be proven false.
Suppose $a\color{red}{\le}b$. Then due to the decreasing nature of $f$ we have $u=f(a)\ge f(b)=v$ which is a contradiction. Thus $a>b$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The World/Australia
T20 World Cup 2020 sets its sights on a record-breaking final
Mar. 08 Sports Comments Off
By SAT News Desk
MELBOURNE, 8 March: Victoria is aiming to set the world record for the biggest ever crowd at a women's sporting match when the MCG hosts the Women's Final of the ICC T20 World Cup one year from today.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula was joined by the stars of Australian women's cricket at the MCG today to mark one year until the women's final. For the first time in its history, the ICC World T20 will feature two stand-alone events. The women's competition will be held in February and March before the men play in October and November.
A sell-out crowd for the Women's Final on International Women's Day would make history – breaking the world record attendance for any women's sport fixture.
Melbourne is Australia's sporting capital and with the eyes of the world focusing their attention on the MCG for the Women's Final, our state is set to embrace women's sport like no other location has before.
Group games for the women's tournament will be played at Junction Oval in St Kilda thanks to a $40 million investment from the Labor Government, Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria towards the redevelopment of the iconic ground.
The State Government's $25 million contributions have given our top male and female cricketers the ground and facilities they deserve.
The Victorian Cricket and Community Centre feature the new headquarters for Cricket Victoria, female-friendly facilities for our elite women's cricket team VicSpirit, and state-of-the-art medical and rehabilitation areas.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, Junction Oval, and Kardinia will be hosting more matches than any other state during the tournament, confirming Victoria's status as the sporting capital.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said, "Victoria is one of the world's great sporting cities and the MCG is one of the world's greatest venues – there's nowhere better to set the record for the biggest ever crowd for a women's sporting match."
"It's an ambitious task, but imagine the atmosphere of a sold-out MCG cheering on superstars like Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup on International Women's Day in 2020," the Minister said.
Tags: ICC T20 World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup 2020, ICC T20 World Cup Australia, MCG
← There is still much to achieve in order to achieve true gender equality in cricket: Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts
Australia to play five ODI's against Pakistan in Sharjah →
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text:
La Commissione Marín è stata la Commissione europea in carica ad interim dal 16 marzo 1999 al 12 settembre dello stesso anno, in seguito alle dimissioni collettive della Commissione Santer, giunte prima della scadenza naturale del mandato a causa di accuse di corruzione che erano state rivolte al Commissario Édith Cresson.

La Commissione fu retta da Manuel Marín, vicepresidente della Commissione Santer, che lasciò invariata la sua composizione rispetto all'esecutivo precedente.

Presidente
 Manuel Marín () — Partito del Socialismo Europeo

Composizione politica
 Sinistra / Socialisti: 9 membri
 Popolari / Conservatori: 6 membri
 Liberali / Radicali: 2 membri
 Indipendenti: 2 membri

Componenti della Commissione
Legenda:   [     ] Sinistra/Socialisti - [     ] Popolari/Conservatori - [     ] Liberali - [     ] Indipendenti

Note


Bushey Rose Garden plays an important role in the Bushey community, due to its former use as an art school and the collaboration of artist, Sir Hubert von Herkomer, and landscape architect, Thomas Mawson in the design of the garden you see today.
During the latter part of the 19th Century many notable artists lived in Bushey. From 1883 until 1904 the rose garden was the site of an art school established by Sir Hubert von Herkomer RA, an eminent Victorian artist (1849-1914).
Herkomer had some 500 to 600 artists studying there before he eventually grew weary of the responsibility of overseeing the school. Lucy Kemp-Welch, a former student of Herkomer's, opened her own art school – The Bushey School of Painting – on the same premises in 1905. Herkomer then re-purchased the school in 1912 and demolished it.
Herkomer built a house called 'Lululaund' in Melbourne Road adjoining the rose garden but all that remains of the house is part of the front elevation which is now the entrance to the Bushey branch of the Royal British Legion. The house was designed by H H Richardson, an American architect, and was built between 1886-1894. It has been referred to as a 'Bavarian Castle' and was named after Herkomer's second wife Lulu.
Many of the original features of the garden still remain such as the sunken garden, summer house, monument, column and pergola. The cloister in the lawn area were the remnants of the art school and were found by Three Valley Water at their depot in Clay Lane and re-erected in the garden in the mid-1990s.
Mawson later became the President of the Landscape Institute in 1929 and has left a legacy of parks and gardens in the UK and abroad.
The Bushey Urban District Council bought the garden in 1937 from the Herkomer estate and it was opened to the public in the same year.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s the rose garden, in common with many parks nationally, suffered from under-investment which lead to the deterioration of the fabric of the garden.
In 2002 the rose garden was registered as a Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest Grade II, but it had to be closed in December 2005 due to vandalism.
In 2013 the Bushey Rose Garden celebrated its centenary.
The Peace Palace in the Hague also celebrated its centenary and donated daffodils to the garden to commemorate the landscape designer, Thomas Mawson, who designed both the Peace Palace gardens and Bushey Rose Garden. We look forward to seeing the daffodils in bloom next spring.
Other centenary celebrations this year included the garden party, tea and tour (part of Bushey Festival), laughter therapy, yoga, story telling and a school art competition. Thank you to everyone for coming along and supporting the events.
New cycle racks have been installed by the potting shed. The racks were made by local blacksmith, Steve Rook, and are inspired by the poppies that flower in the garden in summer.
After successfully received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund 'Parks for People' programme in 2008, we restored the garden to its former glory.
Work began in August 2009. Contractors Crispin & Borst worked with Land Use Consultants and architects Rees Bolter Associates to complete the garden restoration in June 2010.
The garden was officially opened on 23 July 2010 by the Lord Lieutenant, Countess of Verulam in front of 150 VIPs.
What work was carried out?
The summer house roof was replaced with handmade tiles; the interior work includes plasterwork and restoration of the fireplace. New doors and glass fanlights were installed. The summer house is now an information office containing a display about the history of the garden, Hubert von Herkomer and the designer Thomas Mawson.
The fountain was thoroughly cleaned, repaired and is now a working fountain.
The cloisters was carefully dismantled, cleaned and reassembled and now forms a backdrop for music and theatrical performances. Paving has been laid for the 'stage' area.
For the potting shed and toilets a new one-storey building was built in a similar style to the summer house with rendering, red brickwork and handmade roof tiles.
An artist has created a replacement plaque which is the focal point at the end of the pergola. The original seven foot plaque designed by Sir Herbert von Herkomer was stolen in the 1960s.
New curved oak beams were fitted to the pergola.
The rose temple column was restored to the original design of a rose temple.
Each paving brick was carefully lifted and as many as possible were re-used. The bricks were laid in the original basketweave pattern and yorkstone relaid around the fountain.
Rose pillars similar to the original design were installed. The metal tops were made by local blacksmith, Steve Rook.
Over 4,000 plants have been planted, many from Thomas Mawson's plant list. The planting scheme has been designed to bring year round interest to the garden, with a focus on roses and clematis.
New railings were fitted to the top of the existing High Street wall and the original gate was treated and refitted.
Other items include new gate and railings at the Herkomer Road entrance; new seating similar to the original design by Thomas Mawson; new lawn; new footpath along Rose Walk and around the lawn; CCTV; bins and benches.
Further details on Sir Hubert von Herkomer can be found at Bushey Museum.


text:
What Did You Think of 'MMPRxTMNT #2'? | Nickelodeon Fan Poll
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers are teaming-up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the first time thanks to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a brand-new five-part comic miniseries from BOOM! Studios, under license by Hasbro, Inc., in partnership with IDW and Nickelodeon, which sees the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers fight – and maybe team up with – the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the first time!
What did you think of the second issue of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Vote in the poll and sound off in the comments below!
What Did You Think of 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2'
In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2, Tommy faces a shocking betrayal within the Foot Clan that puts him in the crosshairs of their leader – Shredder! But can the Rangers and Turtles put their differences aside before Shredder unleashes his ultimate weapon? No Rangers or Turtles fan can miss this shocking reveal that'll change everything they've ever known!
MMPRxTMNT #2 is written by Ryan Parrott (Power Rangers: Necessary Evil), illustrated by Simone di Meo (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Venom Annual), and features cover art by Dan Mora (main) and Goni Montes (variant).
Print copies of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are available at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the one nearest you), or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers like comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire. Following huge demand, a Second Printing will be released on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, along with a Second Printing of Part 1.
MMPRxTMNT Part 3 will be released on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, and Part 4 on Wednesday, March, 2020. Part 5, the final issue of the mini-series, is expected to arrive in April 2020. A limited edition black & white variant of Part 1 will be released on January 29, 2020.
More Nick: 'Power Rangers' Reboot Movie in the Works at Paramount and Hasbro!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, Power Rangers and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News and Highlights!
Labels: Nickelodeon Comics, Nickelodeon Fan Polls, Nickelodeon Highlights, Nickelodeon News, Nickelodeon Shows, Nickelodeon USA, NickToons (Animation), Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles


Last week, Japan's Akatsuki probe, which was supposed to swing into orbit around Venus, missed the planet entirely and kept right on going into space. Japanese scientists may get another shot in six years, when the hapless probe loops back around the sun.
Any NASA scientists who were secretly entertained by Akatsuki's accident will be feeling pretty embarrassed this week, since NASA has now lost one of its own expensive metal boxes: in this case, a very tiny probe called NanoSail-D that held exciting cargo.
NanoSail-D was, as often described, about the size of a loaf of bread. It was launched from another satellite called FASTSAT, short for Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite. (Really, guys? "Fast" is both part of the name and part of the acronym? As long as you're taking liberties, why not FASTASTSAT?) On December 6, NanoSail-6 seemed to successfully launch from the larger satellite.
After three days in space, giving the miniature satellite time to get away from FASTSAT, NanoSail-D was supposed to deploy its fragile cargo: a square sail, 10 meters by 10 meters and made of a whisper-thin reflective polymer. It was a solar sail, designed to be powered by the sun. But on December 10, NASA acknowledged that they'd lost contact with the tiny satellite and its sail.
NASA isn't sure what happened--the sail may have gotten tangled as it tried to unfurl, or the satellite may have never launched from its parent satellite in the first place. Or (more mundanely) the satellite's battery may have died.
It's a disappointing development in a fascinating field. A solar sails is meant to be propelled only by photons from the sun. The energy of the photons hitting the big, ultra-light sail gives it momentum. The contribution of each photon is unimaginably slight. But because the sun is always sending out photons, the sail's acceleration is constant. According to the Planetary Society, another group working on solar sails, this means a solar sail could hypothetically reach 3700 kilometers per hour (2300 mph) after 12 days in space. This is the technology that might take us to Mars, or beyond.
Planetary Society Vice President Bill Nye (yes, the Science Guy) says: "We can sail by starlight. How cool is that?" Pretty cool--as long as we can keep track of our ships.
NASA, You're Such a Tease.


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Theresa May, Nissan and industrial non-strategy: A historical perspective
This isn't the first time our prime minister has had to get down and dirty with the Yokohama car maker.
by Jack Torrance
Few people know exactly what was said the in the meeting between Theresa May and Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's enigmatic boss, at Downing Street earlier this month. But it seems likely that the prime minister had to offer more than the warm words and vague promises the government has talked of in the days since. It will have demanded something cast iron before deciding to step up production at its factory in the north-east of England (It's worth remembering than Ghosn also runs Renault, and consequently has plenty of experience of squeezing governments for support).
Yesterday the business secretary Greg Clark gave the most revealing glimpse of what was said so far. 'Our objective would be to ensure we have continued access to the markets in Europe and vice versa without tariffs and bureaucratic impediments, and that is how we will approach those negotiations,' he said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. But some assume Nissan was offered promises of compensation if tariff-free access isn't achieved.
If that's the case then the government is playing a dangerous game. Helping out the car industry is politically easy – it evokes warm feelings of nostalgia for the time Britain 'used to make things'. And this case is especially emotive given Nissan's presence in the economically deprived Sunderland, where other skilled employment prospects are few and far between. But cutting backroom deals for companies that come calling looks less like an industrial strategy than an 'industrial make-it-up-as-you-go-along.'
Read more: Manufacturing - heart of the economy or just a sacred cow?
Others will come calling soon enough – lobbyists from the City to the National Farmers Union via the FTSE 100 and the nation's universities are gearing up to demand their own slices of compensation post-Brexit. That mythical £350m per week isn't going to stretch very far when the government starts 'picking winners'. And doing so will be a political quandary.
As NIESR fellow Jonathan Portes pointed out last week, 'Nissan employs 7,000 people in the UK and is a major exporter. On the other hand, so is Citibank, which employs 9,000; and financial service exports are at least as much under threat as cars, if not more so.' But the public would be understandably incensed if the government were seen giving hand-outs to the 'bloody bankers.'
Of course this isn't the first time such wrangling has gone on. More than 30 years ago when Nissan first decided to begin manufacturing in the UK it had to reach an agreement with the then-PM, Maggie Thatcher. Here's MT contributing editor John McLaren's first-hand account of what it takes to ink such a deal:
Theresa May's deal with Nissan – shrouded in mystery as it is - isn't the first time the carmaker and the government struggled to reach an entente over its plans for Sunderland. In the early 1980s, when the plan to manufacture cars in the north-east was first hatched, a stand-off developed. Mrs Thatcher was adamant that she wanted Nissan to build 200,000 vehicles a year from the outset, with half earmarked for export to continental Europe, whereas the cautious Nissan wished to begin with 100,000, supplying only the domestic UK market.
At the time I was running the Barings' office in Tokyo, but I was doing this on sabbatical from the diplomatic service, and, courtesy of the FCO, was fluent in the lingo. One day in late 1983 I got a call from Toshiaki Ogasawara, CEO of a car components maker, who told me that he had just finished a round of golf with Takashi Ishihara, President of Nissan, who had confided in him about this stand-off and had asked the internationally experienced Ogasawara for advice on handling inscrutable foreigners. Aware of my government background, Mr Ogasawara suggested introducing him to me.
A dinner date was duly set for a week or so hence, and I desperately needed to use the time to unearth a simple truth: if Nissan were willing only to offer the lower initial production number on a take it or leave it basis, which would the government choose? However, this truth proved elusive. My first step was to trot round to the embassy. They quickly admitted that they had been unable to add much value to the dialogue since their only contacts with Nissan were at a fairly junior level, and anyway, since London was playing its cards very close to the chest, the diplomats had no idea what the UK's real negotiating strategy was. They recognised that my dinner might offer a chance to get some sort of message across, but could only suggest that we take it up direct with the DTI.
So a couple of days later John Dare, my boss in London, met the relevant Deputy Secretary. All he got out of him was that the government really, really wanted the number to be 200,000, but as to the vital take or leave question, he had no answer: they had just been hoping that Nissan would somehow prove accommodating. He agreed to consult his Secretary of State urgently. We waited with bated breath as we burned through another day, but the outcome was the same old story.
It was now crystal clear that only one person could provide a definitive answer - the resident of Number Ten, and with my dinner less than 24 hours away, I was almost out of time. By early evening the next day, I had given up hope. A car had already arrived to take me to the restaurant, where I would miserably fail to live up to Mr Ogasawara's billing as someone who might be able to help. Then the phone rang. It was a jubilant John Dare, relaying a call from the DTI. They had managed to get a meeting with Mrs T. She was of course still hoping for the more ambitious number, but if it truly was take it or leave it time, she would bite their arm off.
The three of us had a magnificent kaiseki banquet in an exquisite private room. For the first couple of hours we made small talk, before tiptoeing onto the key ground. Mr Ishihara made it clear that Nissan had zero intention of producing 200,000 units from the outset. I responded that, if the push came to shove, I was confident that the UK government would rather have a small factory than no factory at all. Ishihara didn't quiz me on the reasons for my confidence and I didn't volunteer any; he was no fool and would have assumed that I had done my homework. A few months later Nissan and the government signed an agreement to start production modestly, but of course with the hope that over time it would grow (which it has, big time.)
After playing our brief walk-on parts, John Dare and I left the stage, but some years later something unexpected happened. Having long left Barings, I was back in the UK and enjoying my pride and joy - a rare and very high-powered Nissan Skyline GTR. The enjoyment came to an abrupt halt when the engine blew up. With the car long out of warranty, I was quoted £35K for a new one, which would have to be ordered specially from Japan. Days later the astonished Nissan dealer rang to say that a new engine was being air-freighted with the instruction that it should be fitted entirely free of charge, and also that he had been asked to pass on a message: our compliments to Mr McLaren and thank you.
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Simple Solutions To Problems With Your Plumbing It is a common occurrence after you purchase a home to eventually see plumbing problems start to crop up. These problems typically occur in bathrooms and kitchens. Really, at some point every homeowner will deal with some kind of plumbing problem. The following advice will assist you, should this situation arise. If your pipes are making a racket, there is a simple way to quiet them down. What you will have to do is anchor any pipes that are exposed. You may need to hire a professional to help with any projects involving pipes that are hidden in the floors, ceiling or walls. To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, maintain a constant temperature in your home above freezing, and be certain to adequately insulate those pipes that are out in the weather. Pipes have the potential to freeze if the surrounding temperatures are below the freezing mark. At best, it can take time for them to thaw and for you to be able to have running water. The other option is the pipes may burst, which would result in significant repair costs and a mess to clean up. Gas Water Heater Repair Gresham OR Inspect your toilet regularly to ensure that it isn't leaking.
Valves that are not used often can get fused together. Keep them lubricated using penetrating oil. Be sure to turn them periodically to avoid sticking. Before hiring a contractor for plumbing or other jobs, make sure you look into their records through the Department of Consumer Affairs. You can make sure that their license is up to date and if there are any negative complaints against them. They need to have a valid license, or they should not do any work in homes. Use a pipe snake if your washing machine drain stack overflows. Occasionally, lint or other small items from the washing machine can build up in the pipe, causing it to clog or back up. Tankless water heaters are great for conserving both water and energy. They don't store water, and heat water only on an as needed basis. This saves lots of money on energy by not heating water that is not being used currently. Problem Commercial Plumbing If you have a shower head that needs replacing, be sure to get one that is good quality.
You should verify that they hold a valid licence and look over any bad feedback filed against them. , Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. After waiting a few minutes, flush the drain with boiling water. This method clears out soap scum buildup and accumulated hair that gets caught in the pipes. Ensure overflow holes don't have any debris in them. The overflow holes help prevent a sink from spilling. When blocked, they don't work properly and the water can spill out onto the floor. When you're periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes. Run lots of cold water whenever you use your garbage disposal. The helps sharpen the blades and clears out the drain mechanism. Using hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate in the drain, which will cause clogs in your pipes. Many shower heads are available that can help you to save money on your water bill.
This article will provide you with some tips you can apply as you take on your next plumbing challenge. Kitchen Faucet Plumbing Clackamas OR, The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill. Make sure the job gets done by not paying your plumber until you are satisfied, and the work is completed. You may have to put money down before they start working, but avoid paying the total amount until it's done. Knowing that the plumber performed all services, as promised, can be good for your peace of mind and your wallet. If you discover a problem with the garbage disposal, don't ever reach into it with your hands to attempt to fix it. Even when in the off position, garbage disposals are dangerous. You can look online to find the diagram for the disposal that you have. Water that leaves behind pink or orange tinged stains has an excessive amount of iron. You should purchase a water softener to use, or ask a local business to make a visit to your residence and resolve the issue for you. If you want your garbage disposal to have the same lifespan as your total home, clean it regularly. By regularly "cleaning" the disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and dish soap, you can make sure that your garbage disposal is running well and smelling so clean it could be new.
There are just many basic things to cover.
If your home uses well water and orange or pink stains become noticeable in your bathtub or in other fixtures, this occurs when the water has too much iron.


If you are interested in helping to teach All Saints' youngest members, please contact the church office at (661) 832-8582.
It is not enough to profess your faith, attend worship services and try to be a good person. Being a Christian requires spiritual growth , continuing exercise of faith, and discipleship. The importance of adult Sunday School and Bible Study cannot be overstated. We want to help you on your spiritual journey by offering classes, workshops, studies and retreats which will address your questions and build on the Anglican three-legged foundations of faith: Scripture, Reason, and Tradition. This partial list of past topics should give you assurance that you will find a variety of learning opportunities to grow and develop in a relaxed yet satisfying experience as we feed on the Word of God led by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.
— to do in-depth studies of topics basic to the faith, including a Bible study of at least one Old Testament and one New Testament book each year.
— enhance presentations by using technology when appropriate, and providing handouts and references for further study.
— provide a relaxed, informal learning setting where students of all levels of understanding will thrive and grow in their faith and discipleship.
— equip the saints with study tools, techniques, and opportunities to use them in spiritual growth.
Join us in the coffee house De-Café Library for a cuppa java or whatever and some peaceful conversation about what's on your mind. We don't have a set agenda or formal Bible study plan. We want to listen to you and then help you find the peace and comfort you deserve. God has a plan for you. But all too often we are too busy to even look at the plan, let alone understand it and follow it. Our goal in gathering for a weekly break is to help you discern what God has planned for you. We'll bring in the appropriate resources, including scripture, compassion, and clergy to make that plan a reality. On the other hand perhaps you have joys to share; we'd love to hear them. Those who come (we'll be here between 11:00 and 11:50 every Wednesday) are invited to stay for the Noon Eucharist. But don't worry if you can't stay that long, we'll be happy if you drop in and join us for just a few minutes.
Please contact Michael Clayton for more information about this class.
Women's Bible Study - This summer we are having a church wide Bible study on The Battle Plan for Prayer. This Bible Study is written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick, the brothers who wrote and produced The War Room.
To kick off this study we will be showing The War Room Sunday June 12th at 6:30 and for those who can't make that date we will show it again on Wednesday June 15th at 6:30.
The Study begins Wednesday June 22nd at 6:30. It will last 8 weeks.
It is summer so it is expected people will miss sessions as they travel. Just come back and jump in when you return.


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Q: Unable to load configuration from uwsgi Since yesterday I have been wrestling with this problem: unable to load configuration from uwsgi
When I google it, nothing comes up. I am trying to run UWSGI under nginx with a very simple uwsgi.ini file. The file is being pointed to correctly.
Can anyone please explain what this error is, and how I ca go about diagnosing it and fixing it. If there is any more information I can post to help then please just ask.
Regards,
James

A: You can try running uwsgi manually to check that your ini file is correct or not,
uwsgi --ini myconf.ini --http :9090 --log-to /tmp/uwsgi.log
tail -f /tmp/uwsgi.log

You can try access the app (something like localhost:9090). There shoud be something write to the log file. If uwsgi itself works fine then the problem might be at nginx configuration.
Reference:

*

*http://uwsgi-docs.readthedocs.org/en/latest/Configuration.html#ini-files

*http://uwsgi-docs.readthedocs.org/en/latest/Options.html


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Helen Garner Quotes
Richard Flanagan
Christopher Koch
Thomas Keneally
Steve Toltz
James Clavell
Top 10 Helen Garner Quotes
Find Helen Garner on:
Australian - Novelist Born: November 7, 1942
The rain began again. It fell heavily, easily, with no meaning or intention but the fulfilment of its own nature, which was to fall and fall.
Helen Garner
Nature Rain Fall Own
Well, I'm at some kind of crossroads in my life and I don't know which way to take. It's not about money, I mean, because I'm established enough now as a writer to get a reasonable advance if I wanted to do fiction.
Life My Life Money Way
It's disturbing at my age to look at a young woman's destructive behaviour and hear the echoes of it, of one's own destructiveness in youth.
Age Woman Look Youth
Life's fairly excruciating. Painful things happen. Every now and then, you drag yourself out of the stream and stand on the bank gasping for air. I think that's how I work.
Life Work Yourself You
While I was writing 'The Spare Room,' I thought, 'I'm going to look really bad in this book - there's no redeeming this kind of awful, ugly emotion', and I thought, 'I'm not going to change it. I'll call the character 'Helen' and admit to those feelings.' I think this is a reason why people write.
Change People Character Look
It's a terrific privilege to be able to see into somebody else's life.
Life See Privilege Somebody
There's only one thing I know what to do, so I'm pretty much otherwise unemployable. The idea that you can make a living from exercising your only skill is wonderful. And it's wonderful to be read. It's a really exciting and happy thing to be read.
You Happy Your Skill
I suppose there must be idiots who dream of signing deals with publishers while fully intending to drink martinis in cool bars or ride around on skateboards. But the actual writers I know are experts in neurotic self-torture. Every page of writing is the result of a thousand tiny decisions and desperate acts of will.
Ride Cool Result Dream
We were in a great, seething moment in the 1970s. There was a new Labour government and everything seemed full of hope... But, as we got older and we saw how much women's behaviour contributed to what was wrong, we stopped being able to see ourselves purely as.
Hope Women Moment Great
I'm very disturbed by violence against women when it is violence.
Women Violence Disturbed Against
I think some people wished I'd kept myself out of the book. But I kind of insist on it because I want the reader to share my engagement with the material, if you like, not pretend that I'm doing it completely intellectually.
Myself You People Think
It's very shocking, I think, for people caring for the dying to realise how unsaintly they feel, how much anger is mixed up with their grief. In fact, often I think the anger that they feel is a form of grief; it's a kind of raging against what's happening.
People Anger Grief Caring
Writers seem to me to be people who need to retire from social life and do a lot of thinking about what's happened - almost to calm themselves.
Life Me People Thinking
The only thing that I was equipped for with my very mediocre college Arts degree was to get a job in teaching.
Job College Degree Only
That's one of the things I hope that the book can do, is to restore some dignity to Joe Cinque.
Hope Book Things Dignity
People demand a lot of the justice system and they demand things that it can't deliver.
People Justice Things Demand
Now, I - for several years while I was researching this book, I felt quite obsessed by thoughts about sentencing, punishment, how judges arrive at their decisions.
Thoughts Book Decisions Now
I think writers are very anxious.
Think I Think Very Anxious
I like poking my nose into other people's lives.
People Like Nose Other
But there are some wounds that can never be healed.
Never Wounds Some Healed
But I now think what I was doing, in a completely unconscious way, was getting off the turf where my husband and I might be rivals. We were both working in fiction... so I look back and I see that I consciously vacated the contested ground.
Look Think Husband Way
At the time it seemed like a natural development of my interest in what was going on around me in society.
Me Time Society Development
Janet Malcolm's probably the writer I most admire and who's most influenced me.
Me Admire Most Writer
Courts are supposed to be places of reason. But this, of course, is a fantasy. I mean, there is reason being used as a technique. But courts, in fact, are baths of emotions.
Emotions Fantasy Being Mean
I just... my childhood seems, when I look back, to be largely composed of reading, lying on the bed. I mean, my mother was always shouting, 'Go outside!' But she shouted it at all of us. I think I was just kind of... rather an introverted child, probably.
Mother Childhood Look Think
That's the best thing that's ever happened to me, bar none, is having grandchildren and living by them and being part of their lives.
Best Me Grandchildren Being


After yet another breakup, Anne feels inundated with the great relationships of others. Her brother is expecting his fourth child and her best friend is newly engaged. Feeling a tad desperate, Anne decides to visit a dating service only to find that the service doesn't arrange dates but arranges marriages. Anne is skeptical of the service but still seriously considers going through the process.
Arranged is full of surprises. While there are moments of laughter, banter, and wit, Ms. McKenzie manages to create a thought-provoking story with few clichés. Anne is quirky and self-reflective. We see a few side characters, but Anne is the star of this story. I found myself identifying with her plight despite the fact that we nothing in common. The plot is fantastic and unpredictable. The thought of an arranged marriage in this culture and times seems rather unbelievable and I expected some quirky fun. Boy was I in for a surprise. Somehow the conundrum of whether to participate in the service truly seemed like a difficult decision. Ms. McKenzie did a great job making everything believable...and normal. It's not the story that I expected, but I'm glad because it was so much better.
This is a story of self-reflection, going against the grain, and of course...romance. If you love getting drawn into books with unique plots, Ms. McKenzie is a great author for you.
Have you read this one? I read Spin first and I found that I surprisingly enjoyed it. I got the same feeling from this one. I'm curious enough to read it but not sure what to expect. Any books make you feel that way about?
I'm curious about the arranged marriage trope, because I find it difficult to pull off in contemporary stories. But it sounds like a fun, quirky, original story. I'll have to check it out!
You would think it would be difficult but it is done well here. It doesn't try to fit something in that doesn't belong. It isn't a cultural or a traditional thing. It really works.
I also read Spin and really enjoyed it. I will have to look for this one at the library.
I think you'll like it if you enjoyed Spin.
I'm fascinated by this book. I should SO see if its on audio. Thanks for your review.
I read this one a few months ago anad IW as surprised with how much I enjoyed it!!
:) I got another book by this author in my TBR pile and I'm really looking forward to it.
Yes! I know what you mean. It's something you wouldn't think would work but it really does.


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Offaly man who 'humiliated' and 'degraded' his partner must pay her €14,000
Sentenced for assaulting woman and holding €9,000 worth of cannabis
Tullamore Circuit Court hears of horrific attacks on woman in Edenderry and Rhode
A THREE-year jail sentence, with the last two years suspended, was imposed on a man who assaulted his partner and kept cannabis for supply to her.
"The accused humiliated, disrespected, degraded and assaulted the victim," Judge Keenan Johnson said when he sentenced Kevin Farrelly, 38, Hillview, Rhode.
The victim, Samantha Braithwaite, was attacked in the cubicle of a pub in Edenderry on the evening of August 25, 2018 and later that night Mr Farrelly assaulted her again at their home in Rhode, dragging her from an upstairs cupboard and pouring solvents and WD-40 oil on her which he attempted to light, singeing the woman's hair.
He then pulled her outside the house and hit her several times with an oil drum, an act which was witnessed by a neighbour.
At 4am she knocked on the door of another neighbour who said she had a lump like a tennis ball on her head, was soaking wet, had no shoes and was limping.
Ms Braithwaite told the man, "He's going to kill me", and the neighbour also told gardai there was a weird smell from her, like WD-40.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Braithwaite said she found it hard to sleep since the assault and had horrific nightmares.
The flashbacks were constant and she had tried to take her own life.
She had been hospitalised because of mental health difficulties, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and had lost her relationship with her two sons.
"She says that she was constantly manipulated to suit the accused's needs and that she felt pressured into meeting his needs," said Judge Johnson.
"She complied with his demands because she was so scared and fearful of him."
He said the accused and his victim were in a volatile, turbulent relationship but the court was concerned Ms Braithwaite was a very vulnerable person in need of help.
The drugs offences came to light on April 25, 2018 when the gardai attended at a domestic incident where Ms Braithwaite allegedly stabbed the accused.
She was arrested on suspicion of assault and when she was in the garda patrol car she told the gardai Mr Farrelly had drugs at their home, 47 Hillview, Rhode, and at a house the accused was building at Baltigeer, Kinnegad, Co Meath.
In the kitchen of the house in Rhode they found 54g of cannabis worth €1,007 and in the boot of a car parked at the other house they found 415g of the same drug, valued at €8,298.
A weighing scales and plastic money bags were also found in the boot.
Mr Farrelly pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs for supply on the basis that he was holding them for supply to his partner.
He said he moved drugs from Rhode to Baltigeer to prevent Ms Braithwaite from accessing them but Judge Johnson said that did not explain why other drugs were kept in the house in Rhode.
The gardai did not prosecute Ms Braithwaite for the alleged stabbing because the accused never made a complaint to them.
Judge Johnson said Mr Farrelly, who had a good work record having been employed with the same construction company for 12 years, had a previous conviction for assault causing harm in 2012 and had received a suspended two-and-a-half year sentence. He was also ordered to pay compensation of €4,500.
He noted that €4,000 in compensation had been offered by the accused in this case and along with the sentence for the assaults on Ms Braithwaite, he ordered him to pay an additonal €10,000 within 12 months of his release from prison.
Mitigating factors in sentencing were his plea of guilty, his good family background and his recognition that he had an issue with anger management and domestic violence and his willingness to undertake courses to reduce his risk of reoffending.
He had spent four weeks in prison because of bail breaches and that had a "very sobering effect" on him and he was "terrified" of returning to jail, said the judge.
He imposed a two-year suspended sentence for the drugs offences.
The accused entered a €500 bond to keep the peace for 10 years and he must remain under the supervision of the probation service for 18 months after his release.