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Nikki stood with her hands resting either side of the sink while Karen stood beside her trying to explain what had happened. Nikki really wanted to believe her but she had seen the kiss for herself, although she had to admit that she had only observed a small part of what had gone on.
"She pushed him off Nikki, he took her by surprise, don't read too much in to it"
"I shouldn't be acting like this; you'd think I learnt my lesson wouldn't you? First Trish and now Helen"
"That's not fair Nikki, Helen is nothing like Trish"
"I know she isn't, she's everything Trish will never be. My point is, I stayed with Trish too long and found out she was the wrong one. Then I fell in love with Helen and I knew she was the right one but we can't ever be together. I always end up getting hurt because I can't see what's obvious to everybody else"
"Oh love! I'm sure it will all be ok. It will do you no good standing in here all night, why don't we go back to the bar and have another drink?" Karen wanted to get her out of there and back to Helen, so that she could find out how she felt about her at last.
"I don't know if I can, I might just be tempted to smack Sean one"
"You're already too late; Helen smacked him a couple of minutes ago"
"That's my girl!" Nikki grinned and felt instantly better; she might not be able to have Helen but was overjoyed at the prospect that Sean wouldn't have her either.
Helen's temper was at boiling point; Sean was really beginning to grate on her.
"You can never have enough grow bags, they are absolutely wonderful. Maybe you could come over to my place and see them sometime Helen, they are a marvel"
"I don't think so Sean, grow bags don't do it for me"
"Oh really, well what does do it for you?" he leered at her.
"You really wanna know?"
"I really want to know" Sean was beginning to excited.
"I'll show you then" Helen whirled round and grabbed Yvonne and kissed her, "that does it for me"
"Oh er oh right" Sean stuttered, he hadn't realised Helen was batting for the same team, "if your a dyk...I mean if your gay then why didn't Nikki tell me?"
"Simple, she doesn't know" Helen glared at him.
Nikki opened the door to the toilets and saw Helen kissing somebody yet again only this time it was Yvonne, she stood motionless as her brain tried to comprehend what it was seeing and she momentarily stopped breathing as her heart screeched to a halt.
"I don't bloody believe this! Is she going to tongue her way through the entire fucking club tonight or what!?" Nikki brushed her hair back and rubbed her face.
"Nikki just calm down, its not what it looks like" Karen had correctly assumed that Helen was trying to prove a point to Sean. She trusted Yvonne and she knew the depth of Helen's feelings for Nikki.
"She had her gob clamped around your girlfriend and you don't think it's what it looks like? Get a grip Karen" Nikki stormed off towards the door of the club, as Karen made her way to Yvonne.
"We're leaving now, come on" Karen dragged both Helen and Yvonne towards the exit.
"Hels! Call me; you won't know whether you like men till you try me!" Sean sounded rather optimistic about his charms.
"Fuck off!" Helen replied as she was propelled along in front of Karen.
They found themselves outside in the street and there was no sign of Nikki, she must already have caught a taxi and gone home. Karen sighed and rubbed her forehead in frustration, they had plans for Nikki tonight and because of a few misunderstandings it had all gone arse up.
"What's the matter, where's Nikki?" Helen asked confused.
"She's pissed off home because she saw you Sean kissing you and then you kissing Yvonne. She loves you and she can't handle it"
"Oh bollocks! This is all my bloody fault, I've spent all night snogging everybody except the one I wanted to. No offence Yvonne" she added as an afterthought.
"None taken love" Yvonne's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"I wasn't really kissing her Karen, well I was but...what I'm trying to say is....I would have kissed Nikki if she had been standing there but she wasn't and I was desperate to get rid of Sean so that I could tell Nikki how I feel about her"
"I know, don't worry about it. The important thing now is to get you back home so you can talk to her" Karen whistled for a taxi and as it drew to a halt, she pushed Yvonne and Helen inside and gave the address to the driver.
Nikki slammed her front door making the pictures on the walls shake, what the hell was wrong with everybody? For starters there was Helen, she didn't seem to know who she preferred to have her mouth welded to, one minute it was her, then the next Sean and Yvonne. Then there was Karen who seemed totally unconcerned that her partner had been kissed by another woman, and she didn't even want to go in to the particulars of Yvonne's behaviour at the moment. She wandered in to the kitchen and thought about having a drink but dismissed the idea; getting pissabled wasn't going to help things, so she switched the kettle on. She knew that at any minute the other three were going to walk through the door. She didn't have long to wait as she heard the front door open and close and then footsteps coming toward the kitchen.
"Shut your gob" Yvonne said as soon as she stepped in to the kitchen.
"I haven't said a bloody word!" Nikki snapped and poured some hot water in to a mug.
"Before you do, just let us explain"
"Hurry up then because as soon as I've had my coffee then I'm going to bed"
"There are some things I need to tell you. I've been putting it off and I realise I should have told you before" Helen said nervously.
"Go on, I'm listening" Nikki said almost sarcastically.
"I'm gay Nikki. I fell in love with you from the first moment I saw you. You are the only one who can set me free because you were the one to release me from the book. I didn't tell you because I thought it would be more fun this way that we could get to know each other properly without any pressure. I wanted you to fall in love with me because you wanted to, not because you thought you had to. By not telling you, I complicated things and upset you, I'm sorry I never meant to do that"
"I don't believe this, you knew and you didn't tell me? Do you realise how hard it's been trying to deny my feelings for you because I cared about you having your freedom more than I cared about myself. I understand why you did it, but the fact remains that I'm always in the dark about these bloody things! First with Trish and now with you. And thanks you two, you could have told me!" she glared at Yvonne and Karen.
"Nikki shut your trap and listen because I'm only going to say this once. Helen did not intend to hurt you, she did what she thought was best, she set out to show you how she felt but it didn't go to plan and these things happen. So for once in your life give in to how you feel and go for it. She loves you and she's standing in front of you waiting for you to love her" Yvonne's gaze didn't waver from Nikki's face.
"I already do" Nikki said tearfully and left the kitchen, slamming her bedroom door behind her.
"You two take my room. I intend to go and apologise to Nikki and show her how much I love her. I'm sorry about all this; I didn't expect it to turn out this way"
"Don't be sorry love, these things happen. Just go and sweep Nikki off her feet eh?" Yvonne gave Helen a hug and Karen followed suit.
"I'm going to try" Helen kissed them both goodnight and went to Nikki's bedroom.
Nikki lay on her bed and realised she was behaving like a child, she could see Helen's point of view but she wouldn't make the mistake of leaving herself wide open to be taken advantage of again. Did Helen really love her or was she just saying it to get what she wanted? Trish had told her whatever she thought she should hear to get what she wanted. Nikki felt guilty for comparing the two, Karen was right, Helen was nothing like Trish. She heard a knock on the bedroom door.
"Its me, can I come in?"
"Come in me" Nikki smiled softly.
Helen closed the door and walked over to the bed; she hesitantly sat down beside Nikki and took hold of her hand.
"Sean kissed me, I didn't kiss him back. And the only reason I kissed Yvonne was so Sean would get the message I was gay, if you had been there then I would have chosen you. I had things planned for tonight so that I could finally show you how I felt without having you run away from me, but in the end you ran away from me"
"Its ok, I believe you" Nikki rubbed her thumb over Helen's palm.
"What do we do now?" Helen asked nervously.
"I don't know, I need time to think, I need to get my head around everything" Nikki was being stubborn and she knew it.
"Looks like I'm just going to have to prove I meant it when I said I loved you" Helen thought. Helen turned around to face her and she began to sing much to Nikki's surprise. Her voice was clear and sweet sounding; it wasn't a tune Nikki recognised.
Listen as the wind blows from across the great divide
Voices trapped in yearning memories
Trapped in time
The night is my companion and solitude my guide
Would I spend forever here
And not be satisfied?
I would be the one to hold you down
Kiss you so hard I'll take your breath away
And after I wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear
Through this world I've stumbled
So many times betrayed
Trying to find an honest word
To find the truth enslaved
Oh you speak to me in riddles
And you speak to my in rhymes
My body aches to breathe your breath
Your words keep me alive
I would be the one to hold you down
Kiss you so hard I'll take your breath away
And after I wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear
Into this night I wander
Its morning that I dread
Another day of knowing
Of the path I fear to tread
Oh into the sea of waking dreams
I follow without pride
Cause nothing stands between us here
And I won't be denied
I would be the one to hold you down
Kiss you so hard I'll take your breath away
And after I wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear
"That was beautiful" Nikki whispered.
"I wrote that for you. I mean it Nikki, I love you"
"Oh Helen, I love you too"
Nikki pulled Helen in to her arms and they sat quietly as they rocked each other back and forth, they loved each other with a passion they had never previously known. At that point Nikki felt like her heart would burst with love and Helen felt like she had finally found the place where she belonged, with the person she loved more than anything else in the world.
Nikki pulled back from the embrace to look at Helen, she didn't have to question whether she loved her or not, it was plainly visible in her eyes. Yvonne had been right, it was about time she gave in to her emotions and followed her heart.
"I bet you're wondering why I kept running away from you?"
"I am actually, if you had feelings for me why didn't you say?"
"I knew from the way you acted around me that you wanted more but at the time it just kept running through my head that I wasn't convinced your best chance of freedom and happiness lay with me. I suppose I never dared hope that you would be interested in me.
"Oh Nikki, I'm more than interested in you. It wasn't an experiment on my part you know; I already knew I was gay. I've known I was gay since 1765, that's a damn sight longer than you!" they both laughed softly, "I've known since I was fifteen when I realised that men weren't attractive to me, it was always the women I wanted to be close to. I'm rambling here aren't I?" she smiled.
"No not at all. its all out in the open, we know how we feel and we understand why we've taken this long to get where we are so how about we forget everything that's happened and concentrate on what we have now?"
"Sounds good to me. I hope this is it; I just can't go back in to that book. Being without you wasn't and still isn't an option"
"You won't have to; I've got a feeling this time there will be a happy ending"
"I think so too, if this isn't true love then true love doesn't exist. I can't even begin to describe how I feel about you, all I know is, is that no word describes my love for you adequately enough" Helen leaned forward and placed her forehead against Nikki's.
"There is one word that explains why I feel so much love, why I feel happier than I have ever been in my entire life, it describes everything I've ever wanted and needed and waited my whole life for"
"What word is that?"
"Helen" Nikki said simply, Helen's eyes closed and she held on to Nikki tightly once more.
They both knew where this was leading and both thought it was about time, there had been an almost constant sexual tension between them since Helen had arrived and at times they had both been very aware of it. Now they had a chance to do something about it. Helen shuffled closer to Nikki and wrapped her arms around her neck, their lips touched and they both got lost in the kiss.
Helen moved to sit on Nikki's lap without breaking contact and wrapped her legs around her waist. Nikki slowly ran her hands up Helen's legs feeling the smooth silkiness of her tights under her fingertips as her tongue continued its gentle probing. She slid her hands up Helen's dress to caress her thighs, moving higher as she began to kiss her way down Helen's neck. Helen gasped as she felt Nikki's tongue lapping at the hollow of her throat. She grazed her teeth along the skin and Helen shuddered at the sensation.
She felt herself being pushed back on the bed as Nikki lay above her. She resumed her gentle exploration of Helen's legs as she kissed her way across her collarbone. Helen was getting breathless, she had imagined this so many times but nothing had prepared her for the feelings of utter arousal that were now spreading through her entire being.
"I think this dress needs to come off because I definitely prefer you without it on" Nikki whispered seductively.
"Feel free to remove it, I want to feel you against me" Helen began to unbutton Nikki's blouse and the she slipped her hand inside. She ran her thumb over Nikki's erect nipple and was pleased when she heard a low moan in response.
Nikki removed her blouse and then moved to reach under Helen's dress to take off her tights. She slowly and deliberately pulled them down Helen's legs, making as much contact with her skin as she could. She could feel Helen pushing against her, desperate to keep that contact. Helen sat up so Nikki could unzip the dress and it was then pulled over her head. Nikki saw the underwear that Helen was wearing and reached out to run her hands over the red lacy material. She longed to touch the skin underneath and reached around Helen to unhook the strapless bra, it was thrown across the room as Nikki felt the urgent need to touch Helen's soft breasts.
She ran her finger over Helen's stiffly erect nipple, causing a sensation of pleasure to ripple right through her body. She began to massage the sensitive flesh before replacing her hand with her tongue. She flicked the tip of her tongue across Helen's nipple and made small circular motions that had Helen moaning softly in ecstasy. She licked the sensitive underside of Helen's breast as she felt her fingers run through her hair.
"Oh god yes!" Helen squirmed underneath Nikki, arching her body to get as close as she possibly could, "I never imagined it would feel like this" Helen murmured.
"It gets so much better sweetheart" Nikki said huskily.
"I've never done this before"
"What never?" Nikki stopped for a moment and moved beside Helen.
"So this is your first time ever in your life?" Nikki wanted to make absolutely sure.
"Yes the first time ever and I'm glad it's with you. Get undressed Nikki, I can't wait much longer" she wanted to feel Nikki's naked body against her own.
"Don't worry sweetheart, I'll be gentle with you. I love you"
"I love you too"
Nikki smiled and then dropped her lips on to Helen's; she nibbled on her bottom lip as her tongue glided across it. She slid the remainder of Helen's underwear down her legs and then lay on top of her after she had undressed. Their breasts were touching as Nikki once again kissed Helen and felt her legs wrap around her pulling her as close as she possibly could. She ground her pelvis against Helen and felt her rock in response as their need began to grow. They kissed ever more passionately and Nikki felt it was time to give Helen what she needed. She kissed her way down Helen's body, nibbling and sucking as she went. She briefly dipped her tongue in to Helen's bellybutton on her journey down.
As Nikki reached her goal, Helen threw her arms behind her head and closed her eyes, as she felt the warm wetness of Nikki's tongue caressing her. She felt Helen buck her hips beneath her finding a rhythm that was in perfect unison with her own. she softly entered her, taking it slowly so that she wouldn't cause her any pain, a low growl of pleasure escaped from Helen's throat as Nikki moved within her. Helen gripped the pillow and bit down on her bottom lip as she continued to moan softly at the feelings Nikki was eliciting. She moved her legs further apart granting her deeper access and continued to move against Nikki's hand. Nikki moved up to kiss Helen as she continued the steady movement of her hand, tongues clashed as they explored each others mouths once again. Helen flung her leg over Nikki's waist pulling her closer and ran her short nails down her back feeling the muscles beneath her fingers quiver.
Nikki could sense Helen was close by the tightening of her muscles around her fingers and sped up her movements. Helen had to stop kissing her; she couldn't control her breathing any longer and needed all the oxygen she could get. She buried her head in Nikki's neck and she could feel the hot tickling sensation of Helen's breath against her.
"Just let it go sweetheart, I'm here with you all the way" Nikki whispered in to Helen's ear and cradled her head to her.
"Ohhh god, oh yes, ohhhhhhhhh Nikki!" Helen exclaimed as her orgasm rushed at her from all sides, her toes tingled and she had a deep aching throb in the pit of her stomach. She held on to Nikki as she rode the waves of her climax and then relaxed against her as the tension left her muscles.
"Just relax babe, I'm here" Nikki kissed Helen's forehead and held on to her tightly as she came back down to earth.
It was some minutes before she could speak, she felt exhausted and her limbs refused to co-operate. She clung on to Nikki feeling content, never in her wildest dreams had she expected it all to be like this.
"My arms and legs won't work, I've gone like jelly" she laid her head back and looked up in to her lovers face.
"Mmmmm aren't I the clever one?" Nikki winked at her, "was your first time worth the wait?"
"Oh very definitely, I would have waited two thousand years for that never mind two hundred. I have to say you're very good at this, what if I'm no good at it?" she suddenly got nervous, she wanted Nikki to feel exactly what she just had.
"You will be, don't worry about that. Just do what you feel is right, I can assure I will be more than happy with that" Nikki kissed her and ran her hand down her arm.
"I better get started then hadn't I? After all, I'm going to need lots of practice" she smiled seductively at Nikki and pushed her down on the bed.
Nikki lay back and closed her eyes, she had barely touched her and already she felt as if she was on fire. They whispered softly to each other as she explored Nikki's body. She marveled at the soft skin of the woman beneath her and quickly gained in confidence as she realised Nikki was enjoying the feeling of her touch. It wasn't long before Nikki could feel her own orgasm swiftly approaching and she cried out Helen's name as it arrived.
They continued to make love for the next few hours and then they fell into an exhausted sleep holding on to each other as the light of dawn crept through the curtains. A heavy rain began to fall outside their window but neither of them woke, they lay snuggled and warm as they dreamed of each other.
Nikki and Helen were still in a deep peaceful sleep when Yvonne banged on the door and then went straight in. She saw the two of them lying in each others arms and smiled, they looked so good together.
"Are you gonna sleep all bloody day?" she said loudly.
"Wha....oh its you Yvonne" Nikki said sleepily, "what time is it?"
"Its 11am, are you gonna get up any time today? We've got work to do"
"Oh yeah sorry, I must have been really tired"
"Yeah I'm not surprised" Yvonne looked around the room and saw the clothes they had been wearing the night before scattered all over the floor, "looks like you tried to do a bit of redecorating" Yvonne giggled as Nikki saw what she was looking at, she tried to remove her underwear from the lampshade with as much dignity as she could muster.
"I'm going to get up now. Helen time to get up sweetheart" she gently shook Helen.
"I'm awake, I was just hoping you wouldn't notice" she snuggled further in to Nikki, who wrapped her arms around her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Didn't you two get enough of each other last night?" Yvonne giggled.
"Are you kidding? Nowhere near enough!" Helen's head peeked out from beneath the covers and she smiled lopsidedly at Yvonne.
"I've created a monster!" Nikki laughed.
"Don't it make you sick!?" Yvonne smiled and closed the door.
"Morning gorgeous" Nikki kissed Helen slowly.
"Mmm morning sweetheart" Helen stretched lazily.
"We better get up or Yvonne will come in with a bucket of cold water"
"She wouldn't would she?"
"She's done it before and she'd do it again"
"In that case then, I'm up" Helen shot out of bed and went in to the bathroom closely followed by Nikki.
Twenty minutes later they were dressed and sat in the kitchen having coffee, neither Nikki nor Helen could stop smiling and it was infectious. Karen and Yvonne were grinning like idiots as well.
"You two look as if you had a good night" Karen smiled knowingly as she lit up a cigarette.
"Oh it was a very good night and I well and truly lost my cherry" Helen grinned wickedly and Yvonne choked on her coffee.
"Don't blame me Nikki! I didn't teach her that one!"
They were interrupted when Yvonne's mobile rang.
"Hello, Oh yes hello Mr. Saunders....ok just hang on a sec" Yvonne put her hand over the phone, "Nik, it's the people from New York. They want us to go over there earlier than planned"
"How much earlier?" Nikki was dreading it.
"They want us to catch tomorrow mornings flight"
"Oh bloody hell, the program isn't finished yet and I don't really fancy going now"
"I'll still be here when you get back sweetheart. Don't worry I will be fine, Karen will be here to look after me" Helen sat on Nikki's knee and wrapped her arms around her.
"Tell them we'll be there tomorrow then" Nikki sighed and rested her head on Helen's shoulder, she didn't want to leave, she was more than happy where she was.
"Mr. Saunders, we'll be there tomorrow.....we look forward to it, goodbye" Yvonne put the phone down and looked at Nikki, "cheer up, it wont be for long"
Karen decided to take Helen shopping to try and take her mind off Nikki going away, she had never been supermarket shopping before. They said goodbye to Nikki and Yvonne and left them to get on with their work. A short while later they arrived at the supermarket, collected a trolley and went inside.
Helen was having a great time shopping with Karen; it was the first time she had been to a supermarket and was amazed at all the different choices of food sitting on the shelves. Karen felt like she was taking a kid shopping, Helen wanted to try everything and the trolley was full of spaghetti hoops and ice cream.
"What in gods name is a fish finger?"
"Its minced up fish in breadcrumbs" Karen explained.
"Are they bad for you?"
"They can be if you eat too many"
"Right we'll have some then" Helen chucked them in to the trolley and grinned.
Helen sat on the edge of the trolley as Karen pushed it round the supermarket; they got a few odd looks and grins from people as they went up and down the aisles. Helen scanned the shelves as they went past; keeping an eye out for things that looked interesting. She had already persuaded Karen to give in and buy some coke and a few pizzas.
"Ooo hang on a minute!" Helen said as she spotted something that looked interesting.
"What have you seen?" Karen watched Helen as she jumped off the trolley.
"How about stocking up on some of these?" Helen pointed to a shelf full of Bacardi Breezers, "cos Nikki and Yvonne are off to New York soon and we need something to keep us occupied" Helen grinned.
"Good idea, fill the trolley up while I go and find the vodka" Karen winked at her and walked off. She came back five minutes later with another trolley that was full of various forms of alcohol. "What?" she said as she caught Helen shaking her head in amusement.
"I did say we needed something to occupy us, I just didn't think you would quite literally take me at my word" Helen chuckled, "its going to take ages to drink all that"
"Not once we get started, I just hope this lot fits in the bloody car!"
Trish let herself back in to her hotel room with several shopping bags. She had just blown the last of what little money she had managed to save on clothes. She had a couple of days left at the hotel before she would be kicked out and then she would have to find somewhere else to stay. She wasn't really worried; she was convinced that once she went to see Nikki, she would take her back. That's why she had spent a fortune on clothes; she wanted to look good so that Nikki would find it impossible to resist her. She stood in front of the mirror and held her new dress up against her, she smiled at her reflection. "Watch out Nikki Wade!" she said aloud to the room.
Nikki was typing away at her computer when a thought popped in to her head; she wasn't sure where her passport was and had forgotten all about it till now. She had a quick look around the flat for it but she was almost certain in was back at the cottage. It didn't bother her having to go back to the house now that Trish was no longer there; she picked her car keys up and put her coat on.
"Sorry about this Yvonne, I shouldn't be long"
"No worries doll, I can manage till you get back. See you later"
"Yeah see you later" Nikki grinned and then left the flat.
She let herself in to the cottage a while later and started the search upstairs in her office where she normally kept all her important documents. She turned the office upside down but her passport was nowhere to be seen. She tried her bedroom next and a look of disgust passed across her face when she noticed a bra lying on the floor that she knew didn't belong to Trish. She ignored the fact that Trish had bedded another woman in the room and began her search, ten minutes later the bedroom was upside down and still no passport. She went downstairs and tried to think of where it may be, as she began checking drawers and cupboards.
Half an hour later the house looked as if a large group of particularly messy burglars had raided the place and she was still no closer to finding her passport. Usually when she couldn't find anything she would ask Trish who would always know where it was, because she had a habit of moving things and not telling her where she had put them. She looked at her phone and wondered whether she should call her, she hated the thought of having to do it but she really needed her passport. She took a deep breath and dialed the number.
"Oh that's just great!" Nikki said as she was directed to Trish's answering service, "Trish its Nikki, call me back as soon as you get this message, I need to know where my passport is" she put the phone down and carried on searching.
Three quarters of an hour later, she picked the phone up again to check if Trish had switched hers on yet and found she still hadn't.
"I'm due to leave for New York in less than 24 hours and I need to know Trish, call me" Nikki flung the phone down and scratched her head, where was the damn thing?
She went upstairs again to search the office, which was the last place she remembered leaving her passport. She was searching the drawers when she tried to push one back in and it wouldn't go. she pulled the drawer all the way out and placed it on the floor, when she looked behind where the drawer had been, she could see her passport. It must have fallen from the back of the drawer. she was relieved that she had finally found it and now she could go home but before she did she had to stop off somewhere first.
"We better pay for this lot and get back home, we've been out ages" Karen looked at her watch; they had been gone a few hours already. The time had passed quickly though because she had a great time shopping with Helen and they got on really well.
"Home to Nikki, can't wait" a dreamy look passed over Helen's features.
"You've been daydreaming about her non-stop all morning; you've got it bad Stewart!" Karen giggled.
"Don't I know it!"
They paid for the shopping and then giggled as they tried to steer the supermarket trolleys across the car park, which seemed to have a mind of their own. It ended up with them racing each other across the car park like a couple of kids, both claiming that they'd beaten each other to the car.
"There was no way you got here first" Karen exclaimed as she placed a bag in to the boot of Yvonne's car.
"I got here with ages to spare, you were still zigzagging your way over here!"
"I was not!"
"You were too! I win!"
"You're a bloody cheat!" Karen giggled.
"How did I cheat?" Helen was grinning at her.
"I'm wearing heels and you didn't give me a head start"
"Now who's the bloody cheat? Not my fault if you can't run in heels love!" Helen poked her tongue out at Karen.
"Yeah yeah! Get in the car you big cheat"
"Race you!" Helen laughed and shot off to get in to the car as Karen chased her.
Nikki arrived home and went in to the kitchen to make some more coffee while Yvonne carried on working. According to Yvonne the program was proving to be a little tougher than they thought but it was still coming along well. Nikki was thinking about Helen while she waited for the kettle to boil, she remembered the look on her face as they made love. Her heart ached because they were apart and she missed her more than she had ever missed anybody. She shook her head and smiled; Helen had only gone shopping and would be back soon. She carried the coffee through to the living room and placed Yvonne's cup down in front of her.
"She'll be back soon"
"Sorry, what did you say?" Nikki looked over at Yvonne.
"I said Helen will be back soon. She's only gone shopping and you've done nothing but pine for her since she left" Yvonne smiled, Nikki had fallen hard this time.
"Can't help it, god I love her so much. It's like being a teenager all over again, my hormones are all over the place" Nikki chuckled.
"If you're this bad when she's gone shopping, how are you going to react to being over three thousand miles away from her?"
"Not very well at all, I'm going to hate every minute of it. I wish I could take her with me, but I know that's impossible. I mean let's face it, if I managed to find her birth certificate, the people at the passport office would see her date of birth and piss themselves laughing and I'd probably get arrested!"
Nikki heard the front door opening and jumped up, they were back already and her face broke out in to a huge grin. Helen came running in to the living and jumped on Nikki.
"I missed you Nikki"
"I've missed you"
"I missed you more"
"Oooo no I missed you more" she rubbed her nose against Helen's and they smiled at each other before they kissed.
"I suddenly feel nauseous again" Yvonne said grinning as Helen and Nikki pulled faces at her.
Trish picked up her phone and checked for messages, her heart thumped when she heard Nikki's voice. She tried to ring her mobile but it was switched off, she decided against leaving a message for her. She called down to reception and asked them the time of the flight to New York the following day, which she was informed was 11:30am. She jumped up to get ready; she needed to see Nikki and it would have to be tonight.
A few hours later, she pulled up in front of Nikki's flat and made her way up in the lift, she glanced at the address she had written down and looked for the right number. She knocked on the door and waited but there was no answer. She knocked a few times more but gave up and then made her way back to her car. She sat outside for a couple of hours but there was no sign of Nikki. She got bored of waiting and went back to the hotel; she would have to make sure she was up early in the morning if she was going to catch Nikki before she left for New York.
Karen and Yvonne got out of the taxi and said goodnight to Nikki and Helen, they waved from the back of the taxi as it drove off. They had gone out for dinner and a few drinks, it been a good opportunity for them all to spend some quality time together before Nikki and Yvonne jetted off the next day. Nikki wasn't looking forward to going; she had a horrible feeling that as soon as she took her eyes off Helen then she would disappear. Helen didn't want her to go either, she couldn't bear to be separated from Nikki for more than five minutes never mind the two weeks she would be away if awarded the contract.
They tried not to dwell on it and made the most of the time they had together but it wasn't easy to make light of the situation. They had only just gotten together and they were at the stage where they went everywhere with one another. Whenever one of them stood up to go anywhere the other one would follow, feeling that even just a few seconds apart was wasted time.
Nikki put her key in the lock and pulled Helen through the door; she turned around to close it and then pushed Helen up against the door. She wrapped her arms around her and began to kiss her; Helen wrapped her left leg around Nikki's and pulled her closer. Nikki's hand began to travel up the leg and under her dress, traveling higher and higher until Helen was squirming against her. Nikki pulled away from the kiss, she had to slow things down or they would end up making love in the hall, whilst propped against the front door.
"I've been waiting to do that all night"
"I wonder why that is?" Helen raised her eyebrow and smiled.
"Could it have something to do with the fact that your foot was resting in my lap for most of the night?" Nikki whispered in to Helen's ear.
"Probably. You enjoyed it though, I could tell by the look on your face"
"I more than enjoyed it. Tell me, was playing footsie a big thing in the 1700's?"
"Oh yes, everybody did it. It was the closest they could get to having an affair without actually getting caught. In those days though it was highly erotic"
"It still bloody is! Especially when you're the one doing it" Nikki leaned forward and rested her forehead against Helen's.
"Since you have to be up early and I'm feeling a bit tired, why don't we head off to bed?" Helen asked seductively.
"I would love to. Hope you aren't feeling too tired"
"Not at all, I've got plenty of energy, follow me and find out how much" Helen walked up the hall and as she did so, she slipped her dress over her head and let it fall to the floor.
Nikki watched as Helen's bra came off next, which also fell to the floor. Helen disappeared around the corner and her knickers went flying through the air only seconds later. Nikki shivered in anticipation and followed Helen's path in to the bedroom. She walked in to find Helen was laying on the bed naked waiting for her. Her olive coloured skin glowed in the soft lighting and her green eyes sparkled as she followed Nikki's every move. Nikki marveled at Helen's body, she really was a vision of perfection. Her shapely feminine legs were stretched out on the bed and her arms were thrown behind her head, Nikki's eyes traveled up her wonderfully taut stomach to soft breasts that were quivering as Helen tried to control her breathing.
Nikki undressed and deliberately walked slowly towards the bed, taking in every square inch of Helen's physique, she would never get tired of looking at this woman. She climbed on to the bed and lay above Helen, supporting her weight with her arms so that they were barely touching. Helen wrapped one arm around Nikki's neck and ran the other hand down her stomach, she gasped as Helen reached the apex of her legs. Helens slow teasing movements were causing Nikki's muscles to twitch as they fired rapid messages to her brain. She moaned and lifted her head higher as her arms began to shake through sheer arousal. Helens hand tickled its way back up her body and came to rest on her breast where she gently tweaked the nipple which sent yet more electric shocks through Nikki's body.
Nikki lowered herself until she was lying against the full length of Helen. She parted her legs and gripped Nikki's sides with her thighs. Helen pulled Nikki's head down and her tongue danced around in the delicious warm wetness of her mouth. The outside world ceased to exist as they began to make love to each other, both giving and receiving pleasure like their lives depended on it. Afterwards they lay spent in each others arms and Helen listened to the rhythmic beating of Nikki's heart as her head lay above it.
"This just keeps getting better" Helen murmured softly in the darkness.
"Mmmm yes it does" Nikki stroked Helen's arm as she spoke.
"I love you Nikki"
"I love you too sweetheart, more than you'll ever know"
They both drifted off to sleep soon afterwards, both mindful of the fact that this would be the last night they would share a bed together for a while.
Nikki woke up at seven the next morning and forced herself to get out of bed, her flight would be taking off in four and a half hours and she needed to be up and ready quickly. Helen whimpered in her sleep as Nikki disentangled herself but she didn't wake up. She stood there looking down at her for a while, not being able to believe that this incredible woman loved her, but she knew she did and her heart beat faster because of it. She ran in to the shower and emerged fifteen minutes later to get dressed. She packed and then knew it was time to wake Helen, they needed to spend a little more time together before she had to leave and she also had something she wanted to give her before they left.
She shook Helen awake and told her that it was almost 8am, she groaned, hating that morning had arrived already and Nikki would be leaving soon. They sat and had coffee together while they were waiting for Yvonne and Karen to show up. The phone rang and Nikki jumped up to answer it.
"Morning Nik, I'm sorry but you're going to have to come and pick me up instead, the bloody car won't start"
"That's fine, not a problem. I'll pick you up then drop Karen back off here before we go. Gonna have to make it quick though because we are cutting it fine"
"Yeah I know, we're ready anyway so whenever you are"
"I'll be there in ten minutes"
"Ok and I'm sorry, I know its cutting your time with Helen short"
"It can't be helped, see you soon"
She packed her bags in to the car and then gave Helen a quick kiss, promising her that she would be back soon to say goodbye properly. Helen waved her off and then went back in to the flat; she tried hard to keep her tears at bay but knew they would get the better of her soon.
Trish was running around her hotel room frantically, she had forgotten to ask for a wake up call and was running late already. She hoped she could catch Nikki in time before her flight left. She quickly applied her makeup, before making sure that she had all her belongings and then went down to reception to check out.
Nikki had just picked Yvonne and Karen up and was making the journey back to the flat. She was dreading having to say goodbye to Helen, tears were threatening and she knew she wouldn't be able to hold them back once the time came. She thought about the box sitting in her jacket pocket, she hoped Helen would like it. Five minutes later she pulled up outside the flat and helped Karen in with her bags, she only had ten minutes to say goodbye.
"I've only got ten minutes before I have to go" Nikki was feeling choked up.
"I know, I don't want you to be late" Helen tried to smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Before I go, I've got something for you" she opened a drawer and pulled out a box.
Helen opened the box and saw that Nikki had bought her a mobile phone; she smiled tearfully as she hugged Nikki and thanked her for the present.
"We can keep in touch now, send each other texts and call each other to say goodnight"
"Thanks Nikki, it's wonderful" Helen was genuinely pleased, it would make her feel so much closer to Nikki whilst she was away.
"That's not all though, I got you something else which I'm hoping you will like" she pulled the box from her pocket and opened it up to reveal a platinum and diamond eternity ring.
"Oh my god Nikki!" Helen gasped in surprise.
Nikki took the ring and placed it on the ring finger of Helen's left hand, "I love you" Nikki said as she pulled Helen in to a hug.
"I love you too Nikki" Helen's tears began to fall and so did Nikki's. They clung on to each other, desperate not to have to let go.
Karen and Yvonne had a lump in their throats and were trying very hard not to cry at the scene in front of them. They also held on to each other, sad at their own parting, they kissed and let go because it was time to leave.
"We gotta go Nik" Yvonne said quietly.
They went down to the car arm in arm and held on to each other tightly, finding it hard to actually let go. Nikki gently pulled away from Helen and took hold of her hands.
"Take care Helen, I'll be back before you know it honestly" Nikki's tears started to fall faster.
"I know love, have a nice flight. See you soon" Helen could barely speak.
"I'll call you as soon as I get there I promise. I love you"
"I love you too. Take care" Helen grabbed Nikki and kissed her one last time and then let go, if she didn't leave soon she would be late.
"Bye Nik" Helen smiled although she didn't feel like it; she hoped the time would pass quickly.
Nikki got in to the car and started the engine, once they were ready to go; she gave a quick wave to Helen and then drove off. Her tears wouldn't stop, she missed Helen already.
"Here ya go, have a tissue love" Yvonne passed her a tissue and then she wiped her own eyes, she might put a brave face on things but deep down, she knew exactly how Nikki felt, she missed Karen already too. Helen and Karen stood in the street looking down the road as Nikki's car disappeared in to the distance. Helen wiped her eyes and leant against Karen, who put an arm round her.
"Yeah, I'll be ok in a bit. God, I miss her already"
"I know how you feel love, I miss Yvonne already too. Why don't we go inside and have a cuppa, we can be miserable together while we have some breakfast"
"Great idea, you know what I fancy?"
"Don't tell me!" Karen chuckled. "Pizza!" they both chorused and then walked back in to the building arm in arm.
Trish stood across the other side of the road with tears of anger running down her face. She had witnessed the whole thing, she had been too late to talk to Nikki and she had seen her kiss a woman who was obviously her girlfriend.
"Didn't take you long did it Nikki?" she thought angrily.
She got back in to her car and threw it in to first gear in a temper, she would be back very soon, she needed to sort things out while Nikki was away. She wanted to know who the woman was and how long she had been there, she promised herself that she would do whatever it took to get rid of her so that the road was once again clear for her to pursue Nikki.
Nikki threw her suitcase down on her hotel bed and sighed, every mile further away from Helen made her heart ache all the more. Yvonne was busy inspecting the contents of the mini-bar and she went in to the bathroom for some privacy. She dialed Helen's mobile number and waited for an answer.
"Hello" came the soft Scottish voice that Nikki had come to adore.
"Hello my love, this is Dave. How are your windows? Need some double glazing?" Nikki mimicked the voice of the double glazing salesman that had interrupted them a few nights ago. She heard loud laughter on the other end of the phone.
"well I did say I would ask the neighbours if they heard any noises but so far I've been too busy chucking my underwear at the chandeliers" Helen's eyes twinkled as she heard Nikki laughing on the other end.
"How are you sweetheart?"
"I'm fine; I'm missing you like mad. Karen and I are working our way through all the different flavoured Bacardi Breezers we bought. How are you?"
"I'm fine, flight was a bit tiring and I'm missing you terribly. How many flavours have you tried?"
"Well so far we worked our way through Watermelon, Cranberry, Orange, Lime, Pineapple and we've got lemon and grapefruit to go" Helen giggled.
"Bloody hell! I'm amazed you can still speak"
"I'm fine, Karen is a bit worse for wear mind you, she had two of the lime and I'm still a drink behind. She's on the phone to Yvonne now, she can hardly speak"
"We should have employed a babysitter to watch the pair of you. Will you be ok with Karen?"
"Yeah, if she gets too pissed I'll just leave her where she falls" Helen laughed and took another sip of her drink.
"Funny!" Nikki chuckled, "what I meant was, are the two of you getting on ok?"
"Absolutely, Karen and I get on like a house on fire. Don't worry about me, I'm fine and the only thing wrong is that I'm missing you loads"
"I'm missing you too sweetheart" Nikki was interrupted when there was a bang on the door, "I better go, Yvonne is screaming to get in to the bathroom, we're off to have something to eat and then we'll be going to bed"
"Ok babe, can I call you tomorrow?"
"Course you can, remember we are five hours behind. Don't want you getting up in the morning with a hangover and calling me in the middle of the night!" Nikki giggled.
"I might just do that now to piss you off! Take care then and I'll talk to you tomorrow, I love you"
"I love you too Helen, night night and sweet dreams, bye"
"You too, bye Nik"
Nikki put the phone down and smiled, she imagined the state Helen and Karen were in a chuckled at the thought of them feeling rough in the morning. She opened the bathroom door to Yvonne who was standing there cross legged with an evil look on her face.
"I'm out here peeing myself and you're in the bathroom having phone sex!" she ran in to the bathroom and collapsed on to the toilet with relief.
"I was not having phone sex! I was hearing about your girlfriends antics with the Bacardi!"
"Oh I know pissed as newt she was! Could hardly understand a word she said"
"Helen said she was just going to leave her wherever she fell" Nikki put her jacket back on ready to go down to the restaurant.
"Wise woman, cos once Karen passes out, it's bloody difficult to move her! Right we ready to go?"
"Yeah I'm ready when you are"
They went off down to the restaurant and ordered their food, Nikki felt herself relaxing a little, Helen hadn't disappeared just because she couldn't see her. She had a fear that Helen wouldn't be there when she got back, she knew it was irrational but then most fears were. She tried not to think about it, and envisioned Helen waiting for her when she got home with open arms, she smiled at the thought of all the making up for lost time they would do when she got back.
Helen giggled as she watched Karen dancing around the living room, the woman was several sheets to the wind and sang along loudly with the stereo. The song ended and she flopped down on the sofa next to Helen.
"How many is that now?" she slurred.
"About nine in your case" Helen smiled.
"How many have you had?"
"This is my sixth and final one"
"Oh come on, we haven't even cracked open the vodka yet!"
"If I started on the vodka then I'd be as a sick as a dog and so would you"
"Spoilsport" Karen mumbled and took another mouthful of her drink, "where are my fags?" she looked around for her cigarettes and lit one. She offered one to Helen who took it.
"Thanks" she blew the smoke out and closed her eyes, she had missed cigarettes.
"Nikki will kill me, I'm teaching you all my bad habits" Karen giggled.
"Och no, me and my friend Isobel used to smoke all the time. My father used to keep his cigarettes in a big wooden box on the sideboard and we would pinch a few, he never noticed. He never noticed the odd bottle of wine disappearing from the cellar either, we got drunk out in the barn many times" Helen smiled sadly at the memory.
She turned around and noticed Karen had fallen asleep, so she took the bottle and cigarette from her hands. She finished her cigarette and her drink and then went to get a blanket for Karen. She pushed her down on the sofa and covered her with the blanket before turning out the light and making her own way to bed.
Trish shivered in the darkness; she had sat outside Nikki's flat all night. She was going to go up at one point but noticed Karen was still there as she closed the curtains. There wasn't much point in hanging around now as all the lights were out, she would come back tomorrow and wait for Karen to leave before she sorted Nikki's girlfriend out. She switched the engine on and drove away, hoping she could find a friend who was willing to let her stay the night at such a late hour.
Nikki was showered and dressed and breakfasted, and was waiting for Yvonne to get ready. They had a meeting at Global Softech at 9am, and it was almost 8:15 now. She was a bit worried that Helen hadn't already called and decided to phone her.
"Hiya, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm feeling fine thanks sweetheart, how are you?"
"I'm ok, just waiting for Yvonne to get ready, got a meeting at nine. I called cos I was a bit worried that you hadn't phoned me"
"I'm sorry; I've been so busy running around after Karen. At this very moment she has her head down the toilet; I've been running back and forth with water and painkillers for the last couple of hours"
"What time did you get to bed?" Nikki lit up a cigarette.
"About four this morning. I didn't get up till eleven and I've been in the bathroom with Karen ever since"
"So long as I know you're ok. I have to go, we really should be leaving for that meeting and I can't get Yvonne out of the bloody bathroom"
"I'll speak to you later then babe, hope the meeting goes well. I love you"
"I love you too, speak to you later, bye" Nikki put the phone down and set about prising Yvonne from the bathroom.
Three days later on the Friday morning, Karen and Helen were having breakfast when Karen's mobile rang. Her sister was crying on the other end of the phone because she had just had a big fight with her husband, Karen sighed, they loved each other to bits but they were always arguing.
"That was my sister, she just had yet another bust up with her bloke and she wants me to go over there. I shouldn't be more than a couple of hours, he always storms off and then comes back with flowers a few hours later and they are back to being the best of friends"
"No problem, I'll be fine here on my own" Helen smiled.
"Right, well I've got my phone so if you need me then call me" Karen put her coat on as Helen walked her to the door.
"I will, see you later"
Trish was sitting in her car when she noticed Karen leaving the building and walking down the road. She smiled, now was her chance, she locked her car and made her way up to the flat. Helen was cleaning the kitchen when the doorbell rang; she wiped her hands and went to open the door.
"Hi, what can I do for you?" Helen smiled.
"Hi, my name's Trish and we need to speak" Trish smiled falsely.
"We've got nothing to say to each other" the smile vanished from Helen's face when she heard the name Trish.
"Oh but we have and I'm certain you will want to hear it" Trish wedged her foot in the door and Helen couldn't close it.
"I'm not interested and I know Nikki won't be happy that you came round here"
"I'm sure she wouldn't, after all, she wouldn't want you to know her sordid little secrets would she? Ten minutes and then I'll leave"
Helen opened the door and let her in, if she had to put up with her for ten minutes just to get rid of her then she would. Trish followed her in to the kitchen and sat down at the table while Helen remained standing with her arms folded.
"Go on then, I haven't got all day" Helen snapped.
"Do you know that Nikki asked me to go to New York with her?"
"Nikki asked me to go to New York with her, but I refused because I knew she was seeing somebody. She phoned me the day before she left and wanted us to spend some time together" Trish looked at the expression on Helen's face, she didn't believe her.
"I don't know what you're playing at but I know it's a lie, Nikki would never have asked you to go to New York with her because she never wanted to see you again. You cheated on her, why on earth would she want anything more to do with you?"
"I admit I cheated on her, but it wasn't entirely all my fault. I've put up with Nikki's affairs for a long time now, I turned a blind eye to it because I love her, and she can't help herself when it comes to women. I needed some affection and turned to another woman, I know it was wrong. I warn you, Nikki will come crawling back to me when she has had her fun with you, and I will take her back"
"I don't believe a word of it, could you please leave?" Helen felt her anger boiling up.
"Listen to this then, if you don't believe me" Trish dialed her voice mail and handed the phone to Helen.
"I'm due to leave for New York in less than 24 hours and I need to know Trish, call me" Helen listened to the message, the voice was unmistakably Nikki's, she felt sick to her stomach.
"See I told you. She doesn't really want you, all Nikki wants is a bit of fun and when she has had it she always come running back to me. I would cut your losses right now if I was you"
"Get out" Helen said quietly, not even looking at Trish.
Trish picked up her bag and smiled, she had done all she could do and now she just had to wait. Helen ran to the bathroom and was sick, she didn't want to believe Trish but she had heard the message herself. Her first instinct was to trust Nikki but then again she didn't know her very well, what if she was lying to her? She couldn't bear to lose her like that; it would break her heart, so she thought the best thing to do would be to leave. She threw a few clothes in to a bag and then left a short note which she tucked behind the kettle for Karen to find.
I couldn't stay here anymore. Take care of yourself and Yvonne and look after Nikki for me.
She took her ring off as the tears dripped down her face; she placed it next to the phone and left the house. She knew exactly where she was going and how to get there, she walked down the street, not noticing that Trish was watching her from a distance looking very pleased with herself indeed.
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The suction temperature of the chiller generally refers to the suction temperature of the refrigeration compressor. The suction temperature of the refrigeration compressor of the piston chiller is the temperature of the refrigerant gas in the suction chamber of the refrigeration compressor. For the refrigeration compressor of centrifugal chiller, it refers to the refrigerant gas temperature on the suction guide blade.
The suction temperature of chiller not only affects the exhaust temperature of chiller, but also has an important influence on the volume cooling capacity of compressor. When the suction temperature of the compressor is high, the exhaust temperature is also high. When the refrigerant is inhaled, the refrigerant specific capacity is large, and the cooling capacity per unit volume of the compressor is small. On the contrary, the compressor suction temperature is low, its unit volume cooling capacity is large.
If the suction temperature of the chiller is too low, the refrigerant liquid may be sucked into the compressor, causing wet stroke of the compressor of the piston chiller. For centrifugal chiller, too low suction temperature will make the suction pressure of the compressor too low, which may cause surge.
In order to ensure the normal operation of the chiller, the suction temperature needs to be higher than the evaporation temperature, that is, there should be a certain super heat. For the piston chiller, the suction super heat is generally 5 ℃-10 ℃; If dry evaporator is used, the size of super heat can be adjusted by adjusting the screw of the thermal expansion valve. The suction super heat of centrifugal chiller is generally 2 ℃-3 ℃. Centrifugal water chiller generally uses full-liquid evaporator.
In addition, we should pay attention to the length of the suction pipe of the refrigeration compressor and the performance of the wrapped insulation material, which will have a certain influence on the super heat.
The refrigerant level in the evaporator. The size of super heat can also have a greater impact. When the refrigerant filling amount is small, the suction super heat increases when the liquid level in the evaporator is low. Therefore, in the operation of the water chiller, attention must be paid to the control of the suction temperature of the refrigeration compressor.


text:
Suggestions for the Novice Writer
I had no idea what I was getting into when I first started this novel. I knew it would be a challenge but other people had written books so why couldn’t I? I had my character — Rachel DuPree — and the setting — the Badlands. Everything else, I figured, would just somehow just fall into place.
That was my first mistake and I realized it by the end of page two. I didn’t know the first thing about dialogue, I wasn’t really sure what a plot was, and I certainly didn’t know how to give Rachel a personality. Then there was this mysterious thing called “point of view.” I was baffled, and I had only written two pages. It was time to slow down, take a deep breath, and learn the mechanics of story telling.
If you’re feeling baffled, here are a few ideas.
Study a Book You Like
I picked a novel that I admired, Cold Mountain, and decided that Charles Frazier, the author was my personal teacher. Starting on the first page of Cold Mountain, I studied and hand copied each sentence, line by line. I studied the structure of the sentence, what it accomplished, and how it fed into the next sentence. In a separate notebook, I kept a list of tag lines, phrases that expressed emotion, and phrases that showed personality traits. The process was slow and laborious, but it was cheaper than attending a degree program in creative writing. Best of all, I learned what a flashback was, how to transition from the present to the past and then return to the present, and the correct punctuation for dialogue.
Don’t become so engrossed in the studying the mechanics that you forget to write. Set a goal for everyday but be realistic. Some people decide that they must write five pages a day, but that can be so overwhelming that it becomes a dreaded task. For me, it was better to think small. I started out with the goal to write one paragraph a day. I could always manage that. If one paragraph lead to another one, hot dog! But if it didn’t, that was fine. I had achieved my goal. And remember, if you write a paragraph every day, eventually you’ll have a novel.

domain: literature


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Am just adding HELEN MORT’s endorsement to Fair Acre Press’ next pamphlet (publication date not finalised! But we hope it will be September I think!)
Here is her endorsement and here is the cover of a fantastic poetry pamphlet coming out by the great John Mills !
‘When I read this collection, it wouldn’t let me go. These are poems of agony, joy and grief, bringing us the mundane, magical business of everyday life in surreal technicolour. Tender moments are observed with John’s characteristic wit. This is a collection which explores chronic illness in an unflinching way, but pain is not its defining subject. Inside these pages you’ll find a world of brief encounters, cigarette coloured cardigans, unsent letters, the naivety of water, the alchemy of making jam. John Mills shows us that we are all disintegrating, but imaginatively, brilliantly, strangely, burning bright.’

domain: artistic


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And there were greater, more pressing reasons to try a diet thing again: reasons that included chronic high cholesterol, borderline hypertension, acid reflux, fatigue and a. Like any other diet,
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Antacid Dosage Magnesium Hydroxide Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment. If you are taking an antacid (aluminum/magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate), Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment. If you are taking an antacid (aluminum/magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate), Gas Causes Chest
whole milk cottage cheese Work closely with your doctor and/or dietitian while on the keto diet since there are some potential health concerns, such as increased risk for: Kidney stones Acid reflux.
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Another potential problem is acid reflux. “Fats take the longest to empty out of the. so they don’t perfectly replicate the keto diet.) There is also an indication that these changes may be.
Friends are trying the trendy Ketogenic Diet (Keto) in an attempt to lose weight. "We see all sorts of different chronic illnesses improving. Acid reflux. Diabetes. High blood pressure." If you’re.
“The weight started dropping off,” said Ginny Culp, who lost nearly 15 pounds on the Keto Diet. Culp recently had to lose weight for acid reflux surgery. She had tried several other plans with no.

domain: medical


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ICS Legal will be hosting the second "Legal Show" on Thursday 4th of October 2018. The show will cover the latest legal changes, as well as taking questions from live calls. You can see the show on their website: http://bentelevision.com on Thursday if you are either outside of the UK or do not have access to Sky.
Timetable of the show
Show will start at 6:30pm until 7:30pm.
The show will be live on: Thursday 6th Sep 2018. Thursday 4th Oct 2018. Thursday 8th Nov 2018. Thursday 6th Dec 2018.
Further listing or any changes to the above listing will be updated on our website.
About BEN TV
BEN is a Black and Ethnic oriented, urban, diverse and cosmopolitan Family Channel, established to provide a wholesome mix of entertaining, educative and informational programmes suitable for family viewing. It includes ranges of cultured programming to empower, transform and challenge the conventional perception of Africa, Caribbean and African-descendants in Diaspora. “Bridging the Gap”.
What sets BEN apart from other channels, is its positive general black-oriented, youthful and diverse cultural-educational programming format along with its enlightening current affairs shows which serve to throw light on issues plaguing the African and Caribbean Continents.
The UK is estimated to have an ethnic population count of more than 3 million which represents about 7% of its total population. This in addition to the Ethnic population in Europe, America and North Africa which gives BEN Television a strong global consumer presence.
The primary target audience is and rational to about 12% of the daily growing audience of more than 13 million homes in Britain who use Satellite and Digital reception whilst accessible to millions across the world – www.bentelevision.com.

domain: geography


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I have tried two brands and types of hearing aid and they both fell out when I chewed.
HearPod micro 32 channels fit comfortably and greatly improved my moderate high frequency hearing loss in all environments. They became loose and would eject out of the canal and into my outer ear whenever I chewed. This was distracting enough that I returned them to HearPod. HearPod support suggested a switch to open fit or custom molded fit as solutions.
Not wishing to bother with ear impressions, I consulted a local hearing aid professional (Kelsey-Seybold Clinic) who gave me a pair of Oticon 6000 open fit aids to try. They worked well in all environments, but unfortunately the result was the same. When eating, the aids would pop out of the ear canal and hang loosely in the outer ear.
At this point I am seeking confirmation from the forum that it is possible to wear hearing aids and eat a meal without the aids being ejected from the ear canal. I would be interested on any solution


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Twitter for Windows Phone update brings multiple photo uploads and more
Twitter has finally brought an update to its Windows Phone app. The company has updated its Windows Phone app after seven months. The update brings several features, which have been available on other platforms for quite a while now.
The update brings the Twitter Windows Phone app to version 220.127.116.11. The new update brings the ability to upload multiple pictures in a single tweet. You can also tag your friends in those pictures. Now, you can also send your pictures via Direct Messages.
Along with the new features, the update also brings several enhancements to the user experience. There’s ability to reply, retweet and favorite straight from the home timeline. On the home timeline, tweets with pictures and Vine videos will have a preview. The update also brings a few UI refinements and the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.
Windows Phone users will be heaving a sigh of relief, considering they have been waiting for a Twitter update since very long. It is surely sad to see Twitter ignoring its Windows Phone app but we’re glad an update is finally here. All you Windows Phone users out here should surely get the latest Twitter update by hitting the link below.

domain: news


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From Pixar Studios' "Monsters, Inc." comes a Nendoroid of Sully! This DX version comes with three different face plates to switch between and also features movable eyebrows and eyes allowing for all sorts of possible facial expressions. His head, arms and legs are also all articulated allowing for all sorts of different situations!
In addition to the bonus face plates, the DX version also comes with a selection of optional parts including a clipboard with a door fragment attached to it as well as the door that he repaired to surprise Mike! Be sure to display him together with the upcoming Nendoroid Mike & Boo for even more fun!
Specifications:Painted ABS&PVC non-scale articulated figure with stand included. Approximately 120mm (4.72 inches) in height.
Nendoroid Woody: Standard Ver.Available Now Disney
Nendoroid GenieAvailable Now Disney
Nendoroid Woody: DX Ver.Available Now Disney
Nendoroid Mickey Mouse: 1928 Ver. (Black & White)Available Now Disney
MICKEY MOUSE & MINNIE MOUSE 90TH ANNIVERSARY EDITIONAvailable Now Disney

domain: hobby


March 23, 1918 at 7:00 am 20 minutes in the center of Paris, on the Place de la République, a loud explosion. Parisians in alarm sent to the views of the sky, but there was not a Zeppelin or airplanes. The assumption that the enemy's artillery bombarded Paris, at first no one came to mind, because the front line is 90 km to the west of the town. But how annoying it did not sound, mysterious explosions lasted. Until August 7, 1918 the Germans fired 367 shells, of which two thirds were in the town center, and the third part — in the suburbs.
In Paris for the first time in the world of ultra-long-shot 210-mm gun, betrothed Germans "enormous." Its range reached 120 km, slightly smaller than the famous Russian ballistic missiles "Scud" (R-17) and higher than that of the first mass-produced rockets "Point". How unfortunate it did not sound, the weight of guns was 142 tonnes, the weight of the entire system — more than 750 tons, and survivability of the trunk was very small.
We will go by a different method
Our homeland. The end of 1918. The country has begun plainclothes war. Russian republic in the ring edges. The population of Petrograd decreased by 5 times, in the town of rampant starvation and typhus. And in December 1918, the Bolshevik Military Legislative Council decided to begin work on a "super-range guns firing." We must honestly say that Sia revolutionary idea was put forward by the chief artillery range of the royal army general VM Trofimov. But the revolutionary policy of strong support for the revolutionary artillery and organized by the Commission for special artillery experiments (Kosartop).
Achieve ultra-long shooting while it was only by 3 methods:
make special gun with very long stems and more than 100 calibers (by the time length of the field artillery guns does not exceed 30 calibres, and naval gunfire — 50 calibres);
make electronic, or, more precisely, power tools, projectile acceleration in what could be created by the energy of the magnetic field;
Make a fundamentally new types of shells.
Go to the German way was not appropriate preparation — a super-long barrel technologically difficult and expensive, and in the presence of conventional ammunition vitality of girdle the trunk does not exceed 100 shots. (Concatenated shell — a shell is provided with a thin copper belts, which, when fired, press in the rifling of the barrel and allow the rotation of the shells.) With 40 years of the twentieth century changed the copper strips of other materials, including ceramics.)
Make an ultra-long electric gun was on the back to our scientists in 1918. But not including the tremendous costs of design, the ready and the refinement of such tools, next to him would be required to establish an electric power station average power. Since 1918 and up to now regularly appear in the press information on the development of electric guns, but how annoying it did not sound, no such setting for service never came. Russian designers have decided to go the third way to make unique and ultra-long-firing missiles.
In 1940, the Germans launched their fire across the Channel from the 210-mm railway systems K-12, with a range of 120 km (by firing a projectile reference 1935). With a smooth barrel and special feathered projectile range increased to 250 km.
Workers' and Peasants supersnaryady
The idea resulted in ecstasy all reddish military authorities, but the main ideologue of the introduction supersnaryadov became Marshal Tukhachevsky.
From 1920 to 1939, the USSR had invested heavily in top-secret tests of a new type of ammunition. New tools for them have been created, altered only the channels already available systems. Yet on the adaptation of such equipment, the design and the ready thousand experienced shells, as their many tests have been spent 10 of millions of rubles. Interestingly, almost all the 20 years were working in parallel on the 3-types of shells: polygonal, and rifled subcaliber.
The multi-faceted talent
Let's start with the polygonal shells that had a cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon. In the middle of its own projectile consistent with the form the channel. In such an arrangement, and a clear finish shell rests largely its surface to the walls of the channel, and he could communicate high speed rotary motion, because it was possible to give a huge steep twisting channel without fear of failure leading parts of the projectile. Because of this it was possible to dramatically increment the weight and length of the projectile, respectively, were much better would range and shooting accuracy.
First, the 1930s were converted into polygonal several 76-mm cannon reference 1902. Channel 10 had their faces, the caliber (diameter of the inscribed circle) — 78 mm. In tests in 1932 was … magic! Polygon shell P-1 weighing 9.2 kg was flying at a distance of 12.85 km and the P-3 missile weighing 11.43 kg — 11.7 km. For comparison, state projectiles weighing 6.5 kg had a range of 8.5 km. And that's without the device configuration tool, has just squandered suitably barrel.
Immediately it was decided to move the entire division, a housing, anti-aircraft guns, artillery and heavy-duty on polygonal shells. Landfills rumbled 152-mm gun D-10 and 76-mm anti-aircraft gun reference 1931 with polygonal shells. Urgent pererablotali a polygonal ship and shore guns caliber 130, 180, 203 and 305 mm.
The screw and nut
Along with polygonal tests were rifled shells. As with polygons, threaded shells had leading copper belts. In their case were made deepest rifling or projections that the projectile came into the rifling (projections) of the barrel, as the screw into the nut. From 1932 to 1938, has been tested several types of s 10-caliber rifled projectiles from 37 to 152 mm.
152-mm gun Br-2 — the first test platform for the star-shaped trays.
Active vs. passive
The big success of our engineers have gained a piercing shells (caliber smaller than the caliber of the barrel). Piercing shells were then called "combined" because they consisted of the pallet and the "active" shell. Pan guided projectile motion along the bore, and the departure of the projectile from the channel destroyed.
To fire piercing shells were converted 356/50-mm two guns, made in 1915-1917 for the battle cruisers of the "Ishmael." Cruisers were put themselves Bolsheviks scrapped.
First, in 1935 the plant "Bolshevik" were made new 220/368-mm piercing shells drawings 3217 and 3218 concatenated with the pallets used to carry out firing in June-August 1935. (Concatenated tray — tray with copper belts, a belt like an ordinary shell.) Construction weight was 262 kg and a 220-mm projectile active — 142 kg, a charge of gunpowder — 255 kg. At the trials was obtained velocity 1254-1265 m / s. When shooting 2 August 1935 received average distance of 88,720 m at an elevation angle of about 500. Lateral deviation was firing at 100-150 m
For the upcoming growth range shooting started work on the reduction of the weight tray.
At the end of 1935 were conducted firing projectiles with concatenated drawing trays 6125. Weight of active shell was 142 kg and the weight of pallet 120 kg, range 97 270 m at an elevation angle of 420. Further work continued towards relief of belt tray up to 112 kg (shell drawing 6314).
By the time the alteration was over the second 356-mm cannon in the 368-mm. In testing 368-mm gun number 2 in 1
936 — early 1937, a shell drawing 6314 were obtained satisfactory results, and based on them in March 1937 made tables firing the projectiles of 368 mm cannon. The design of such a projectile weighing 254 kg, on the girdle of their pallet had to 112.1 kg, the active shell 140 kg. Length 220 mm projectile active — 5 calibres. When firing a total charge of 223 kg initial velocity is 1390 m / s, and the distance — 120.5 km. So Makarov was obtained the same range as that of the "Paris gun", but a more languid shell. The main thing was that it was used an ordinary naval gun, and of survivability barrel was even greater than that of the Germans. 368-mm guns was supposed to have on railway conveyors TM-1-14.
Ultra-long railway guns TM-1-14 was tasked to fire piercing projectiles Baltic town.
With regards Baltic
Have already been delivered and objectives for ultra-long railway guns — "breakdown mobilization" in the Baltic countries, in other words, simply put, the train set TM-1-14 had to shell piercing projectiles Baltic town.
In 1931, work began on the so-called "the star-shaped" pan combined shells. The instruments with stellate trays had a small number of grooves (typically 3-4) great depth. Cross sections of pallets shells repeated section of the channel. These guns can be formally attributed to the guns with rifled projectiles.
To begin with star-shaped trays were tested on a 76-mm anti-aircraft gun, the standard in 1931 and the 152-mm gun Br-2. And then plant "Barricades" started cutting by the CEA system 356/50-mm gun. Caliber gun was 380/250 mm (rifling / through the fields), and rifling — only four. These guns supposed to be installed on railway installations TM-1-14. CEA test the gun at full range failed, but estimated it was to exceed 150 km.
To increase the range engineers experimented with polygonal, stellate, rifled and piercing projectiles.
Gunners from Lubyanka
And Sound of Thunder! Several vigilant comrades at the end of 1938 amounted to a great record "The results of the tests and polygonal rifled ordnance in 1932-1938.", Which clearly showed how manipulated the test results, as the designers of these shells almost stood still. All the tricks were in vain, and the results of tests, in principle, correspond to those obtained in the Volkov field in the years 1856-1870 when testing guns Whitworth, Blakely, etc.
The report was aimed at Artupravlenie the Red Army, where the situation was known and, at best, looked at her "blind eye". A copy of the report went to the NKVD, where nothing of this was understandable.
Denunciations — thing is definitely unpleasant. But in the Archives of Russian army, I closely read the accusation, and the Military Historical Archive — the report of the shooting 12-foot, 32-pounder and a 9-inch guns Whitworth. And how annoying it did not sound all come together. Indeed, at a theoretical level polygonal shells gave great weight savings and the firing range, but the long-range shooting, they began to tumble, for charging them is not required if the engineers, the virtuosos of the polygon commands, shells jammed in the channel, etc. Russian artillery at the direction of his superiors experienced several polygon tools, and whenever categorically ruled out the possibility of taking their service in Russia. Test results polygon tools in the years 1928-1938 one in a line with the fruits acquired by Volkov field. The same pattern has been and is ribbed shells.
Do I have to state that in 1938-1939, 10's development "miracle shells" were repressed, and in 1956, 1960, one hundred percent rehabilitated. Works well over "miracle shells" in the Soviet Union ended, and neither one of them has not been used in the process is stately Russian war.
With the railway 278-mm setting K5E having a range of over 60 km, the Germans managed to keep the terrified population of southern Britain.
What Russian destruction, the Germans well
In the summer of 1940 the German ultra-long guns opened fire on the UK through the English Channel. Shelling of the southern part of the United Kingdom ended in the autumn of 1944, after the capture of the French coast, the allied forces.
Germans were consuming much of the long-barreled guns train as ordinary shells and shells with prepared projections. Thus, the 210-mm setting sverhdalnoboynaya train K12 (E) has a barrel length of 159 calibres. Explosive projectile reference 1935 weighing 107.5 kg had an initial speed of 1625 m / s and a range of 120 km. First, the war for this gun was made a smooth trunk and feathered projectile to him weighing 140 kg, with an initial speed of 1850 m / s and a range of about 250 km.
Another train sverhdalnoboynaya setting 278-mm K5E shot 28-cm shells with prepared projections that had the deepest grooves 12 (depth of 6.75 mm). Of these trunks shot 28-cm length of grenades Gr.35 1276/4, 5 mm / calibres and weighing 255 lbs. The shells have 12 ready to act on the case. When charging the weighing 175 kg opening speed was 1130 m / s, and the range — 62.4 km. Germans managed to keep the terrified population of southern Britain. But, of course, on the aspect of "efficiency / cost" of the German ultra-long range weapon by a great margin of aircraft and submarines.
Already by 1941 the Germans have gained a limit to how mundane (of girdle) and the shells are ready to act. To further increment range and weight of the explosive in the projectile was required radically new solution. And they were aktivnoreaktivnye shells, the development of which began in Germany in 1938. For the same railway gun K5 (E) was created by active-missile Raketen-Granate 4341 weighing 245 kg. The muzzle velocity of the projectile is 1120 m / s. After the departure of the projectile from the barrel cut one jet engine, worked for 2 seconds. The average thrust of projectile — 2100 kg. As the fuel in the engine was 19.5 kg diglycosic gunpowder. Firing range missile Raketen-Granate 4341 was 87 km.
In 1944 he started the development of the German sverhdalnoboynoy rocket artillery system for firing projectiles RAG. RAG rocket weighed 1158 kg. The charge was small — only 29.6 kg, muzzle velocity — 250 m / s, but it was Malcev and the highest pressure in the channel — a total of 600 kg/cm2, which made it possible to make a barrel of light, and the entire system.
At a distance of about 100 meters from the muzzle guns cut one powerful jet engine. Within 5 minutes of his work was burnt about 478 kg of rocket fuel, and the velocity of the projectile was increased to 1200-1510 m / s. The firing range was supposed to be about 100 km.
Interestingly, the work on the system RAG did not end with the surrender of Germany. In June 1945, a group of German designers who worked on the RAG, got a new chief — engineer Colonel AS Butakova. For half a century the dream of a reddish supergun never left the head of Russian generals.
After the end of the second World War, interest in the super-range artillery began to fall evenly. Military engineers carried away with a new trend — rocket science. Rockets began to leak even in the classical patrimony mnogokalibernyh guns — Navy. On the development of Russian naval missile read in a subsequent issue of our magazine.


New TRAnsverse Tugs for Svitzer Australia
Contract signed with Uzmar to deliver new, state-of-the-art, TRAnsverse tugs with superior operating capability and fuel efficiency, following design collaboration between Robert Allan and Svitzer.
Copenhagen/Sydney, 15 May 2023: Svitzer, a leading global towage provider and part of A.P. Moller-Maersk, has today announced it has awarded a contract to Uzmar Shipyard to build two new TRAnsverse tugs for its Australian business.
The TRAnsverse tugs are a revolutionary tug design, created in collaboration with Robert Allan Ltd, which set a new standard in tug efficiency, power and manoeuvrability, and deliver an estimated 10-15% reduction in fuel use compared to other tugs on the market. The new tugs will be built to a specification that also enables biofuel operations bringing tank-to-wake carbon emissions to zero.
The TRAnsverse tug’s omnidirectional hull form, in combination with its unique towing staple and propulsion system, provides towage capabilities that are unmatched by other tug designs. Its design enables it to maximise the forces necessary for braking and steerage during towage, as it manoeuvres steadily in the water, and consequently without compromising safety, even at full speed range. It maintains position with lower propeller input power than tug designs where the thrusters are mounted side by side, and overall brings a significant increase in stability and freedom of movement.
As a result of these features, the TRAnsverse tug meets the full range of complex harbour and terminal towage environments, providing benefits such as the ability to reduce overall time of tug jobs, greater availability in poor weather conditions, reduced emissions and enhanced safety.
The two new tugs will be deployed to Svitzer Australia’s Port of Newcastle (NSW) operations in 2025 becoming the first TRAnsverse tugs to be deployed to Australia, and only the second and third to be deployed globally. The Port of Newcastle is a busy, diverse port operation with a complex harbour, tidal restrictions and channel environment requiring active escort towage, and direct and indirect towage capabilities. Newcastle sees a range of vessels calling from capsize vessels carrying coal, to bulk, container and cruise ships. The complexity of Newcastle’s towage operations and range of vessels that call on the port will showcase the full range of the TRAnsverse tug’s capabilities.
Svitzer CEO Kasper Friis Nilaus commented: “We have been listening closely to our customers and their need for innovative towage solutions. The TRAnsverse tug offers significant improvements in operational efficiency, flexibility and sustainability by improving shipping turnaround times and reducing carbon emissions, helping customers to manage the demands of the modern towage market and the complex, busy port environments of today and the future.”
“The scale of Svitzer’s operations, collaboration with customers and deep understanding of port operations globally enables us to design and invest in the best possible towage solutions. We are committed to building new tugs that meet the highest of efficiency standards and that support our customers and port operations in reducing their scope 3 emissions and total carbon footprint, whilst not compromising – and indeed improving - on safety and operational performance.”


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This dashboard displays information about funding and expenditures by County Mental Health/Behavioral Health departments in programs under the Mental Health Service Act (MHSA), including revenue from the Mental Health Services Fund, Realignment funds, and Medi-Cal matching funds.
Data for this tool are drawn from the Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) Revenue and Expenditure Data File. Given that MHSA funds come with pre-determined timelines, transactional data were processed following a strict first-in first-out order to maximally preserve county’s ability to use the funds and to derive closing balances for each fiscal year (FY). These dashboards provide additional features including the capability to compare counties and print fiscal data.
The dashboard reports historic revenue, expenditures and local fund balances (“closing balances”) as of June 30th of the reporting fiscal year. These data are submitted annually to the State in January of the following fiscal year (7 months later). Some of the funds shown as unspent may be “encumbered” in contracts for future expenditure or will have been spent before the end-of-fiscal year annual reports are due to the State. Under state law, counties generally have three to five years to expend each year’s MHSA allocations based on plans developed with broad local community participation. You can explore the composition of unspent fund balances on the MHSA Details tab below.
Inyo has not finalized their RERs for FY 2019-20.
Inyo, Plumas, San Benito, and Tehama have not finalized FY 2020-21 RER as of August 30, 2022.

domain: finance


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Kanpur violence: Child protection body urges police to take action against those who used children
On June 3, the violence broke out after some members of the minority community called for the closure of shops as part of a protest over alleged objectionable remarks made against Prophet Mohammed by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
The apex child rights body, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), has urged the Uttar Pradesh police to initiate a probe and take legal action against those who used children in the violence on June 3. In a letter to the Kanpur police commissioner, the NCPCR said that there were reports of children being part of the violence.
"The Commission requests your good offices to initiate an inquiry and further supplement the relevant sections of Juvenile Justice Act and IPS (IPC) in the FIR, at once, against the accused person in the said matter as prima facie it is observed that the charges are cognisable in nature," the letter read.
Earlier on Tuesday, a 16-year-old accused surrendered at the Colonelgunj police station after his picture appeared on posters put up by police across the town.
On Monday, the UP police had released posters with photos of 40 people who are accused of invoking the violence. At least four people have been apprehended in connection with the violence that broke out in Kanpur, the total number of people taken in custody so far to 54.
On June 3, the violence broke out in the Pared, Nai Sadak, and Yateemkhana areas of Kanpur after some members of the minority community called for the closure of shops as part of a protest over alleged objectionable remarks made against Prophet Mohammed by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The violence soon spread out to several localities including Beconganj, Anwarganj, and Moolgunj.
Protesters pelted stones, fired shots, and lobbed petrol bombs at police - leading to at least 40 people, and 20 police personnel being injured.
The BJP on Sunday suspended its spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal after their alleged controversial remarks against the Prophet triggered massive protests and condemnation. Sharma had reportedly made controversial remarks while speaking about the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute in Varanasi during a TV news show.


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This year it was Alexander. In 2005 it's Truman Capote. Just as Oliver Stone and Baz Luhrmann battled it out with competing Alexander the Great pics, dueling films about Capote -- one from United…
H'wood shakes its pirate booty for Disney pics. Though Hollywood is fighting piracy, apparently every extra in Hollywood wants to be a pirate. This has nothing to do with illegal duplication.
Movie types trekking from Hollywood to the warmer climes of Palm Springs for the holidays may be surprised to find one of the longest-running hits at the Cinemas Palme d'Or is Focus Features' "The…
Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great never lost a battle -- until he took on American movie audiences in November. Made for more than $150 million, "Alexander" limped to a $33 million gross in…
When Australia's internationally renowned thesps come back to star in Oz films, should there be a cap on their fees? Yes, according to some producers and directors, who worry local budgets can't…
Heading into the Christmas break, many exhibs in Europe were lacking festive cheer. Some had expected "Ocean's Twelve" to mke bigger waves in its debuts, and no one was uplifted by "Andrew Lloyd…
The ravages of fast food take their toll on most, but for indie distribution shingle Roadside Attractions it has proved to be a recipe for success.
The run-up to the bow of a film is pretty formulaic: press conferences and smiling stars at the premiere. The marketing of "A World Without Thieves" shook things up a bit, not to mention simplifying…
Focus Partnership has sold its 10% stake in Italian exhib chain Warner Village Cinemas to its partners Warner Bros. Intl. Cinemas and Village Cinemas, which now each own 50% of the business.
The American Society of Cinematographers has joined the parade away from the Century Plaza Hotel and plans to switch its Feb. 20 awards show to another site due to a union boycott of the hotel.
Koch Lorber Films has picked up all domestic rights to helmer Eran Riklis' feature "The Syrian Bride." Distrib is planning a midyear release in 2005 as "Bride" walks the aisles of various upcoming…


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Spinal cancer is a type of cancer that causes an abnormal growth of tissues and cells within or around your spinal column. The spine contains many bundles of nerves, cells, and tissues that make communication…
When it comes to neck and back pain procedures and treatment, not all providers go the extra mile to guarantee their patients receive the most exceptional experience possible. But, when you’re in pain, you need a helping, guiding hand to walk you through what can be a scary process.
That’s why the team at Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery Center (OLSS) has made it our top priority to ensure that each and every patient that comes to us is provided with outstanding and compassionate care and service, at every step along the way.
The OLSS staff is trained to educate, advocate and inspire every patient they interact with in order to promote optimal outcomes and provide a positive and individualized treatment experience. Check out how we achieve the OLSS patient experience below:
EDUCATE – By providing the proper education and knowledge to our patients and their caregivers, you and your loved ones are better equipped to handle any potential hurdles throughout the entire course of non-surgical and surgical treatments we provide. Whether it’s offering detailed information and insights on the procedures we specialize in, or helping to understand insurance requirements prior to an MRI review, we have the answers. Our experienced staff will patiently walk you through everything you need to know.
ADVOCATE – As patient advocates, we guide our patients through all possible treatment options and outcomes, provide an explanation of financial responsibilities, facilitate office visits, and offer continuous support before, during and after surgery. Our advocates know that instilling confidence and calm is key to a successful patient experience. We treat every patient as an individual, knowing your journey with debilitating neck and back pain is unique to you and the desire to get back to a full and active lifestyle is a top priority.
INSPIRE – We see ourselves as a beacon of hope for those who have exhausted all other medical options. So in order to inspire our patients, we act as a source of comfort by listening to what you have to say, empathizing with every individual’s unique situation and doing all that we can to help improve our patients’ quality of life. At the end of the day, getting you back to a healthy, pain-free you is the goal.
At OLSS, we know that putting patients first requires more than world-class medical care – it requires care that addresses every aspect of a patient’s encounter with us, which is why we use every interaction with you to provide comfort, peace of mind and a pathway to pain-free living that is uniquely fit for you and your lifestyle.
OLSS spinal consultant, Dr. Wayne J. Broth, explains his personalized approach with his patients:
“It is apparent we love what we do here the instant you speak with us. Most patients need someone to listen to them and simply hear them out. Most of a doctors’ diagnosis can come simply by listening, and I am here to do just that with my patients. Unfortunately, that’s an art that is missing in the current medical model. All of my patients get my cell phone number and are encouraged to call me if they need anything or have any related questions. I pride myself in getting back with everyone in a timely manner. “
Are you interested in receiving more information about what OLSS could do for you? Call us directly at 855-586-2615 to speak with a spine pain specialist, or request a FREE MRI REVIEW.


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Do you have a photo that could go here? Submit it for this profile by emailing us!
|U.S. House, Florida, District 13|
He was a 2014 Republican special election candidate seeking election to the U.S. House representing the 13th Congressional District of Florida. Fleig did not qualify to run in the special election by the November 19, 2013, filing deadline.
Fleig discussed a run in the special election for the U.S. House, representing Florida's 13th District. He did not qualify to run in the special election by the November 19, 2013, filing deadline.
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term "John-Michael + Fleig + Florida + Congress"
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
State of Florida
|State executive officers||
Governor | Lieutenant Governor | Attorney General | Secretary of State | Chief Financial Officer | Commissioner of Education | Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Commissioner of Insurance Regulation | Secretary of Environmental Protection | Director of Economic Opportunity | Chair of Public Service Commission |

domain: politics