Happy Cookie day to all the BtVS fans out there.

Is it still may 20th where you live? I hope so because I made cookies. 

Ahem! Here goes... a drabble


He hadn't taken her speech about cookies literally, but obviously Buffy had meant every word.
The slayer wasn't one for baking. For Dawn's sake she had persevered, giving up only when Dawn insisted that Buffy was better at slaying than at burning cookies. It seemed that Buffy had decided to take up baking again.

So here he was, a plate of still-warm cookies in front of him, a smiling Buffy waiting to see his reaction.

"You know my taste buds are dead," he said, squirming under her scrutiny.

"Would you rather I gave my cookies to someone else?"

He took a bite. Declared they were perfect.

Hi folks,

Sorry I haven't updated as often as I'd like. Holidays, you know, are soooo much fun. And fun was had.
Imagine cruising, the boat almost silent, the banks of the river on both sides, sometimes so close you could almost touch. Most days we had sun, albeit the days were cold, but sun. One day, however, the day a few of us in a coach, went off to the Czech Republic, the day was so cold it was snowing when we got off the boat. And there were drifts of snow, in the hills, on the way to Cesky Krumlov. I know what you're all thinking: snow! What's so great about that?

Well, if you're in a bus that is carrying mostly Australians, then you know what's so great about that. Cameras clicked and flashed. We were like school children, gawping at the snow on the landscape. And it snowed most of the day in Cesky Krumlov. We have photos. In fact, one of them will be our Christmas card this year.   What a fantastic place. And, very inexpensive. For you royal watchers, we had lunch in the prestigous hotel that Prince Charles and Camilla stayed at, while on their honeymoon. Yes, Prince William and Kate are more your cup of tea, mine too. :)

Cruising through the Wachau Gorge, rugged up, sitting in the sun, sipping champagne and wine, watching castles slide by, to the left and right, was, I think, one of the highlights of the cruise. And, the boat itself, the utter luxury, it was sublime. We threatened to chain ourselves to the rails, so as not to end our holiday.

We visited abbeys in the towns of Melk and Durnstein. Wow! Ornate is not the word. The amount of gold was astonishing, and the fact that there were saints on display, in their skeleton glory, was very creepy.

Bratislava was fun. An eye opener. Hubby and I climbed the steps all the way to the castle.

We did that too, at the castle ruins where Richard the Lionhearted had spent a couple of years in captivity on his way back from the Crusades. It was quite a climb, it sits at the top of a cliff.

Budapest (Buda and Pest) is a beautiful pair of cities. There are still bullet holes in some buildings, a testament to its troubled history.
We cruised the river at night, our last night, and the castles, palaces, and bridges, and the amazing parliament house - a palace in its own right, were stunning in their beauty.

It was good to break our trip home with a stop over in Singapore. It was hot and humid and lovely. Our hotel was lovely, right next to the famous Singapore Raffles Hotel. And shopping, ladies. They have malls underground that stretch all over the city. You can shop in airconditioned comfort for most of the day and night. Plus, there are huge malls, of every shopping delight, everywhere. We vow to go again. Our suitcases were overweight, and I had dumped some of my clothes to make room, too.

We're home now...*sniff* Sad, but true. I picked up a bug, I think on the plane home, and spent the first few days in bed. The house is still in dissarray, but what can I say.

It was a trip of a lifetime, one we hope to do again in the not too distant future. :)

There are many rivers in Europe, waiting to be explored, and if we can do it on a cruise like this one, it will be heaven.

However, my fondest memories are of our time spent in the UK with Miss Jo. She was with us every step of the way. We had fun. On many occasion we laughed until we cried, late at night, at the antics we had got up to. I couldn't have organized this trip without her brilliant input. And we enjoyed her company so much, we feel as if we're a family.

Our dear friend Fran put up with us...I mean, put us up (and put up with us) in her wonderful home for two nights. She fed us and entertained us and introduced us to the wonders of her neck of the woods. And also to her favourite people, namely her animals, particularly one Orange Fairy. (Inside joke.)

Inbetween, was glorious, the weather and the people and the sights.

We hit Dark Star's piece of jolly England, and a beautiful piece it is too. We all ate out at a pub - not the best food, but the company was great, and spent the next day with Dark Star (Lynne). We got to meet her family, see her home and the lovely things they have been doing to it. We sent the men off to do men things, and sat and chatted and laughed and plotted. Be warned, people. Dark Star is always on the go when it comes to live journal and her interest in our fandom. :) 

It was wonderful to meet the friends one makes on the internet. And, to know that these friends will be friends for life.
Miss Jo and I are already talking about next time. We will head north and east, her stamping grounds of the UK. I can't wait.

All in all, an amazing time.

Thanks for reading, I hope I haven't bored you too much.

Ares

Hi guys.

Sorry I haven't replied to the last post and its replies. I will attempt to do so after this post. The wifi connection depends on where on the Rhine, and the Main (pronounced Mine) River we are.

We've had a wonderful time, and are continuing to have a wonderful time. It's a life of luxury on one of these 'spaceships' as Scenic calls them. We're on the Ruby. Wow! What a boat.  Butler service!! He brings tea to your cabin, and breakfast if you want. And takes away your clothes that you want ironed, and they are back in your cabin when you return. I could get used to this life. I wonder if I can squeeze him into our suitcases. :)

At first I thought Europe dirty and busy, and I suppose the big cities are, like all cities, the world over. It was c-c-c-old in Amsterdam. Three days we were there and it was mighty chilly.

But the weather had followed us from the UK, where it *was* warm and balmy like a summer's day. (Not so now, UK, you poor folk.)
So far, so good, it's been pleasant. Cold starts but pleasantly warm days.

We've seen castles and cathedrals. Cologne's cathedral is Gothic, and Wow! Ever so huge. We've had a medieval dinner at the Marksburg Castle. And we had minstrels and a juggling act to entertain us at the castle. We've visited towns with chocolate box buildings and scenery. Visited a Bavarian town by the name of Rudesheim yesterday, hubby and brother in law went up in the cable car, sis in law and I went shopping,  and in Martkheidenfeld, we imbibed at a winery, and the evening ended with a Bavarian dinner, polka music and all. Fantastic. Miltenberg had the most awesome buildings, and the clothes shops were to die for. European women do dress well.

Today we were in the walled town of Rothenberg. And it's old, people. Older than our country, that's for sure. We're humbled by the age of things here and in England.

I'm hoping to win the Lotto before this holiday ends so that I can book another one, tout suite. :)

Hugs

Ares

 

The internet has been intermittent at places we have stayed. See me sitting on the bottom of the stairs in one place, at 6 am, trying to log on and keeping in touch by email. No hope of a LJ reply or post till now.

Stayed in an amazing place called the Horseshoe Inn. Think thatched cottage, olde ye English pub with beams and all, and lovely hosts. Yeah, great, only the plumbing isn't so hot, and the stairs are steep. Lugging up all our cases wasn't one for the faint hearted. But I wanted to stay in an Olde Worlde Inn and I got my wish.

Last night we stayed in the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge. In the grounds of the cathedral. Wow! The cathedral is centuries old and a spectacular sight out the windows. Just about heading down to the Refectory for breakfast.  Our rooms are up in the belfrey (not really, but it feels like it and it looks a little that way) and are very nice.

We've seen castles and manor houses, Stonehenge and barrows, gardens, forests, and tors. It's all been amazing. Miss Jo has certainly made this journey one to remember, and boy, what fun! The two of us together are dynamite. My hubby didn't stand a chance! :)

Met Dark Star *squeee* and her hubby last night and had dinner at a Canterbury pub. We're going to look about Canterbury this morning and then spending the day with scribesds. Let me tell you, folks, the English are a fun people - those we met, anyway - and the West Country folk - and those in Kent *cough* *cough* (looks at DS sideways) are fabulous folk.

This will be our last night and night in the UK. I am sad already. I an missing Jo heaps and we haven't left yet.

I apologise to you all if I haven't replied as quickly as I'd like. Connections do let us down. We had to sip Starbucks' coffee the other day so that hubby could access the net (for work). And the coffee was terrible. We were in Yeoville, perhaps that had something to do with it. :)

Off to breakfast now.

Ares

I came runner up in the Best Het category for my story Sharp.  (maybe there were only the two of us?)  *g*

Sharp was written for IWRY 2011.

Congratulations to all who won, and to all who participated.

Thanks to Angelus2hot for the banners, I believe.

Ares

Writers Toybox has a prompt up for Valentine's Day. I decided to go with it, how could I resist the prompt Love Bites?

Go check out Writers Toybox for other Love Bite drabbles.

Here is my contribution.

Love Bites.

Angel knows he’s going to hell but he can’t stop. He won’t. His arms become a vice, trapping his prey: there’s a torrent of red slipping down his throat, his damnation.

Heart thudding loud in her ears, she thinks she may swoon from the heat of it. His arms crush her to his chest: her body is strung like a drum, her neck a chalice from whence he sups.

There’s glory in it, to give and to be taken. It’s love, not blasphemy. Absolution is what Buffy is offering. If only he understood. Love bites are the norm.

Ares

I've been nominated at the No Rest For The Wicked Awards.

Thank you so much whoever it was that nominated me. *squee!*

I have been nominated at No Rest For The Wicked Awards in the following categories:

Sharp
Category: I've Got You Under My Skin (best het)

Title: Heart of Stone
Category: Heart Of Gold (best drabble)

*spins*

Ares