sarakingdom Posted October 14 Report Share Posted October 14 The uncanny creates a disturbance in the world. Everyone feels it, the trick is to distinguish it from the random noise, the thoughts, memories, and misfiring neurons, that fill our heads from moment to moment. It's like everything else -- the more you do it, the better you get. I used to think that Nightingale was alerted to Falcon cases by his extensive network of informants. But now I think maybe he's just listening to the city. I spent the summer not quite practicing wild magic with the nature spirits of the rivers, and in the process I accidentally promised a wizard that he could design my next challenge. Which is now my previous challenge. Now he's making me repeat it, because I failed. I forgot this guy has Standards. I have remedial posh wizarding, guys. (But he might let me do Halloween stuff.) New to Rivers of London? Click here: Hide contents Meet Peter Grant, mixed race council estate kid, London constable, and apprentice to Thomas Nightingale, the last wizard in Britain. Who, for his sins, is also a policeman. It's a long story. (Really long. Don't ask him what year he was born.) They have acquired a small yappy dog by accident. There were reasons at the time. They also have an inhuman housekeeper straight out of a Japanese horror film. (Or at least Nightingale does. He isn't gonna be breakfast. No guarantees on Peter or the dog.) Some people have their faces fall off. Things explode. Some dudes get their dicks bitten off in night clubs. People die horribly. Weird shit happens. There's jazz and architecture and geekery and a global melting pot of immigrant cultures swirling around. And Peter wants to shag a really hot river. So just regular London stuff. This challenge, we are practicing magic. Proper Newtonian magic. (Which according to certain people is the only proper sort of magic there is. At least the only sort that counts. Officially speaking. If you don't count the exceptions.) Spells and good magical habits and all that. 4 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted October 14 Author Report Share Posted October 14 Scientia potestas est Society of the Wise • Est. 1775 The Folly Russell Square London, WC1B 7ZF 14th October, 2024 Dear Sara, We're going to shift our focus on your schedule to beginning and ending well, and let the rest take care of itself for now. Given the time of year, I'm adding some vampire skills training, and some magical practice. Yours, Thomas Nightingale Detective Chief Inspector, Metropolitan Police Acting President, Society of the Wise 4 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted October 14 Author Report Share Posted October 14 Challenge Goals Solvitur ambulando All is solved by walking Walk 30-60 minutes daily. Week 0: Walk. Week 1: Walk to first destination, or do two 15-minute sessions during vampire training. Week 2: Two 20-minute or three 15-minute sessions during vampire training. Week 3: TBD Basic foundation of mental and physical health. It need not be all in one go. Apply extra doses as needed for mental health, mild fatigue, etc. Spoiler An article from The Art of Manliness of the same name, with some nice vintage quotes. Incus robusta malleum non temnit The strong anvil does not fear the hammer 15 minutes a day of Hindu pushup, Hindu squat, and bridge pose. I spent some time in India as a young man, and found this was popular with local wrestlers of the time. Quite effective, apparently. You may divide it up as you like, and do the appropriate progression. You may do anything else you please, but this is all that's required. The Great Gama (with nods to Bruce Lee). Canonically Nightingale was there, and possibly he did. That does seem to be his idea of a good use of his free time. Hindu Pushups Spoiler (Because I refuse to have zero Indian references.) Progression, if needed for control. Hindu Squats Spoiler Progression. Bridge Spoiler Progressions. Progressions. Progressions. Vestis viram facit Clothes maketh the man person Jacket and tie are required. I will accept your judgement on the suitable female equivalent, as I am no expert in women's fashion. A daily clean shave is expected. Again, the female equivalent is up to you. Not my department. Do whatever you please. "As an institution, the BBC is just over ninety years old. Which means that Nightingale feels comfortable enough around the wireless to have a digital radio in his bathroom. On this he listens to Radio Four while he's shaving. Presumably he assumes that the presenters are still safely attired in evening dress while they tear strips off whatever politician has been offered to as early morning sacrifice on the Today program." - Foxglove Summer Aurora musis amica Dawn is a friend to the muses Week 1 (Oct 21-27): Start timer on alarm. One magical working per hour. Do at least half an hour of vampire training. Do at least one of the scheduled co-working sessions. Implement reflective practice. Prepare for Halloween. Prepare autumn and winter gifts. Week 2 (Oct 28-Nov 3): Start timer on alarm. One magical working per hour. Do at least half an hour of vampire training. Do at least two of the scheduled co-working sessions. Prepare autumn and winter gifts. Reflective practice TBD 31/10 - Halloween 1/11 - New Moon Week 3 (Nov 4-10): Start timer on alarm. One magical working per hour. Do at least 45 minutes of vampire training. Do at least three of the scheduled co-working sessions. Reflective practice TBD 6/11 - Cross-Quarter Day Week 4 (Nov 11-17): Start timer on alarm. One magical working per hour. Do at least 45 minutes of vampire training. Do at least four of the scheduled co-working sessions. Reflective practice TBD 15/11 - Full Moon Week 5 (Nov 18-24): Start timer on alarm. One magical working per hour. Do at least an hour of vampire training. Do at least five of the scheduled co-working sessions. Reflective practice TBD Prepare for your American holiday. 23/11 - Doctor Who marathon "Luce labor bonus est et bona nocte quies." ("Working by light is good, as is rest at night." Barthold, 1642.) Support Tasks: Spoiler Week 0 Pick up my next batch of vampires. Make list of gifts that need to be mailed early. Test onion ring recipe. Design reflective practice. Set alarm for timer. Finish template. Borrow Halloween book. Week 1 Bake pumpkin bread Make pumpkin cookies Make cranberry sauce Make jam cookies Buy gift for the thing. Inventory my sweaters and winter clothes. Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Optimum medicamentum quies est Rest is the best medicine 6-8 hours of sleep. In bed by midnight. Interoception-based meditation at least once per diem. Meditate 20 minutes per diem. Once daily writing exercise, rising to two in later weeks. I'm informed the past week has been somewhat trying. The Folly has some specialists in that area. I do encourage this, so we shall be giving it a try for at least a couple of weeks. Otherwise, bear up as best you can and stick to the plan. One does things when one doesn't feel like it, and then one day, one does feel like it again. Some guided meditation that will get the job done: Spoiler Sure, it's simple and for kids, but I don't see why that isn't also for adults. We also have simple kids brains. 6 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted October 14 Author Report Share Posted October 14 Templates today is the th of October day of the Insert image here. Solvitur ambulando ⬤ 30-60 Min exercise ⬤ 30 Min walking Malleum non temnit Hindu pushups ⬤ Hindu squats ⬤ Bridge ⬤ Vestis viram facit ⬤ Jacket & tie ⬤ A smooth shave Aurora musis amica Start timer on alarm ⬤ One magical working per hour ⬤ 30 min vampire training ⬤ One co-working session ⬤ Reflective practice TBD ⬤ Optimum quies est ⬤ In bed by midnight ⬤ 6-8 hours sleep ⬤ 20 min meditation ⬤ Interroception meditation ⬤ One therapy writing session Insert video here. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted October 14 Author Report Share Posted October 14 The Folly Library, Pt. 1 (Movement) Isometrics - Upper Body Spoiler Isometrics - Homebrew Workouts Spoiler Even Days Tabula scindere Orantes scindere Dorsum scindere recta, crux, obliquum & ramosa Calcitrare mulae Plank Praying pose ITWY poses Mule kick Odd Days Tabula scindere Præfixa tabula scindere dextra & sinistra Gluteus pontis scindere Gluteus sedet scindere Volans scindere Insectum mortuum Plank Side plank, right and left Bridge pose Horse stance Superman Dead bug Remedial Crawling Spoiler GMB 8-week 10 minute a day program Hide contents Aim for form and elegance, not quantity. Wait to move on till that comes. Week 1: 3 rounds of 3 minutes Week 2: 3 rounds of 3 minutes Week 3: 3 rounds of 3 minutes Week 4: Two five-minute sets Week 5: Ten-minute combo Week 6: Warmup plus week 2 reassessment Week 7: Ten-minute modified combo Week 8: Ten-minute combo performed for slow elegance Somatic Exercises to Try Hide contents 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted October 14 Author Report Share Posted October 14 The Folly Library, Pt. 2 Cleaning Playlists Hide contents Useful Planner/Journal Info Hide contents 8D Music Hide contents (Repetitive and not great for work, but really pokes the brain.) Brown noise (with music) Hide contents This channel has lots more that looks promising. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Friday at 03:49 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 03:49 PM October 17 Hunter's Moon: 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Friday at 07:33 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 07:33 PM today is the 18th of October day of the waning moon Solvitur ambulando ⬤ 30-60 Min exercise ⬤ 30 Min walking Malleum non temnit Hindu pushups ⬤ Hindu squats ⬤ Bridge ⬤ Vestis viram facit ⬤ Jacket & tie ⬤ A smooth shave Aurora musis amica Start timer on alarm ⬤ One magical working per hour ⬤ 30 min vampire training ⬤ One co-working session ⬤ Reflective practice TBD ⬤ Optimum quies est ⬤ In bed by midnight ⬤ 6-8 hours sleep ⬤ 20 min meditation ⬤ Interroception meditation ⬤ One therapy writing session I got a late start today, and also finished my template late, so today won't have great numbers. Or maybe I'll grade on a curve. We'll see. 3 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Friday at 09:10 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 09:10 PM I did a very autumnal task, and filled the hydroponics garden with herb cuttings for winter. (8 basil, 4 tarragon, 4 oregano, and 4 thyme. I'm hoping to get half that many to survive, so I might end up with too many. The tarragon had already started rooting from two or three days waiting in water for me to get to it.) I still have some seeds to plant, but this is a start. I'm trying a new seed starting method this year; I have a lot of trouble finding a good way of starting seeds for the system. (Partly because I reject rockwool as unsustainable.) Yesterday I did the belated fennel infusion, with fennel seeds, cardamon, and star anise. It now needs three weeks to infuse. I also did three tasks on my challenge prep list. 4 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Everstorm Posted Friday at 10:02 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 10:02 PM Ooh, I love your animated template. Like sparks off a bonfire ? 2 Quote Life before Death Strength before Weakness Journey before Destination Link to comment
Sovalis Posted Friday at 10:04 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 10:04 PM Here to follow. ❤️ 1 Quote Past Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16 Current Challenge: #17 “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment
Mistr Posted Friday at 10:21 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 10:21 PM Wow, you have all the resources for this challenge. Do tell, what are the vampire activities? Sucking blood or destroying things with fire? 1 Quote Level 80 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Friday at 10:46 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 10:46 PM 25 minutes ago, Mistr said: Do tell, what are the vampire activities? Sucking blood or destroying things with fire? Do you imagine A Certain Wizard would have any sense of humor at all about me training to be a vampire? Mostly it is bribery. Pure seasonal bribery. I can watch vampire shows if I do movement things. (Ahem. I meant that Mr Cardboard Demon Trap Game is making training vampire-fighting skills fun.) Mostly strength training and walking, although later I might add yoga. Indoors walking may not be ideal, but getting it done is the important thing, and if being warm and having vampires does it, that's how it's going to be done. I'm aiming for volume, not perfection. I have brain benefits to test. 4 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Mad Hatter Posted Saturday at 09:10 AM Report Share Posted Saturday at 09:10 AM I love that you even have vintage cleaning playlists! ? Quote Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Saturday at 02:03 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 02:03 PM 4 hours ago, Mad Hatter said: I love that you even have vintage cleaning playlists! ? They've been in the library since Molly wanted me to do some spring cleaning. I keep forgetting they're there. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Saturday at 06:30 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 06:30 PM today is the 19th of October day of the ministry of culture's secret disco police Solvitur ambulando ⬤ 30-60 Min exercise ⬤ 30 Min walking Malleum non temnit Hindu pushups ⬤ Hindu squats ⬤ Bridge ⬤ Vestis viram facit ⬤ Jacket & tie ⬤ A smooth shave Aurora musis amica Start timer on alarm ⬤ One magical working per hour ⬤ 30 min vampire training ⬤ One co-working session ⬤ Reflective practice TBD ⬤ Optimum quies est ⬤ In bed by midnight ⬤ 6-8 hours sleep ⬤ 20 min meditation ⬤ Interroception meditation ⬤ One therapy writing session "It just seems like such a bad idea now, that you'd name an 80s pop band after a horrendously failed experiment in socialism in 19th century Paris. But we did. And our aim was to bring down Margaret Thatcher by doing covers of 70s disco classics... Which was ambitious." (That's why I have a certain amount of time for rev. Richard Coles.) 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Snarkyfishguts Posted Saturday at 07:06 PM Report Share Posted Saturday at 07:06 PM Following at a safe distance from potential vampires. 1 Quote Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Saturday at 08:11 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 08:11 PM 1 hour ago, Snarkyfishguts said: Following at a safe distance from potential vampires. I do have a lot of vampires this month. And more to pick up. 3 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Whisper Posted Saturday at 08:55 PM Report Share Posted Saturday at 08:55 PM On 10/18/2024 at 1:33 PM, sarakingdom said: This was my background soundtrack this morning and it was lovely. 1 Quote We are not sinners trespassing in the garden of an angry God. We are prodigals come home; fully seen and deeply loved. Spoiler Unused for now, Quest Log: Not Silence in the Library but a Whisper in the Academy Link to comment
Harriet Posted Sunday at 06:22 AM Report Share Posted Sunday at 06:22 AM The moving stardust on black with coloured dots of completion are mesmerising. Are you making progress on things? Quote Let cheese and oxen and mead crowd out our secret desires for power and domination - Harriet the Viking Just be bold, fluid and unapologetic, not small, hairy and indecisive - Harriet the Artist You can absorb me! - Harriet the Contextless Guru Link to comment
Mad Hatter Posted Sunday at 06:53 AM Report Share Posted Sunday at 06:53 AM 12 hours ago, sarakingdom said: day of the ministry of culture's secret disco police Is their job to raid discos or make sure only government approved music is played there or to report who's making out with whom? Quote Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Sunday at 06:15 PM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 06:15 PM 11 hours ago, Harriet said: Are you making progress on things? Progress is forbidden before the challenge starts. 11 hours ago, Mad Hatter said: Is their job to raid discos or make sure only government approved music is played there or to report who's making out with whom? You know, the video does not make that clear, but it certainly implies the first two. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted Sunday at 06:36 PM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 06:36 PM today is the 20th of October day of the sexy tentacle Solvitur ambulando ⬤ 30-60 Min exercise ⬤ 30 Min walking Malleum non temnit Hindu pushups ⬤ Hindu squats ⬤ Bridge ⬤ Vestis viram facit ⬤ Jacket & tie ⬤ A smooth shave Aurora musis amica Start timer on alarm ⬤ One magical working per hour ⬤ 30 min vampire training ⬤ One co-working session ⬤ Reflective practice TBD ⬤ Optimum quies est ⬤ In bed by midnight ⬤ 6-8 hours sleep ⬤ 20 min meditation ⬤ Interroception meditation ⬤ One therapy writing session I rejected "day of carefully not implying anything about your relationship with Molly" on the grounds that he might actually kill me. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted 14 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 14 hours ago today is the 22nd of October day of the late lamented audiobook Solvitur ambulando ⬤ 30-60 Min exercise ⬤ 30 Min walking Malleum non temnit Hindu pushups ⬤ Hindu squats ⬤ Bridge ⬤ Vestis viram facit ⬤ Jacket & tie ⬤ A smooth shave Aurora musis amica Start timer on alarm ⬤ One magical working per hour ⬤ 30 min vampire training ⬤ One co-working session ⬤ Reflective practice TBD ⬤ Optimum quies est ⬤ In bed by midnight ⬤ 6-8 hours sleep ⬤ 20 min meditation ⬤ Interroception meditation ⬤ One therapy writing session this is canon for nightingale. 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Mistr Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago Somehow, I just can't imagine Nightingale doing the jitterbug. Waltz, certainly. Tango, quite possibly. Jitterbug? Quote Level 80 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
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