Monday, 10 December 2007

Pearse'd & Cut Penzance

Pearse'd & Cut are proud to announce the acquisition of a fine location in Caledon Penzance to offer a more convenient shopping spot for residents to the north.

When completed the Penzance location will utilise the OnRez vendor system.



We look forward to seeing you at Pirate Kings Road in Penzance.

Thursday, 6 December 2007

Exploring the grid

On Monday evening Lady Primbroke and I decided to take a little time out for ourselves and just have a wander through the grid to places we'd heard of but never seen.

Our first stop was Flashman's. A rather run down Pub that would be right at home in parts of New Babbage. It sort of combines the feel of a Prohibition Speakeasy with a seedy London opium den.


The exterior


Inside.

Then on to a Dealey Plaza. A virtual recreation of the surrounds of one of the most infamous events in history. For people of the 60s it was such a shock that people around the world would later be able to recall what they were doing when they heard JFK had been assassinated. Added to that the controversy surrounding his death and the "magic bullet theory" the event is one that has grown to something of a cultural heritage.


The book depository


A view from the window


A view from the "Grassy Knoll"

While the sim doesn't offer any suggestions as to who or how many people may have been involved with Kennedy's death, it's thought provoking none the less.

From there we changed attire into something more tropical and headed to Africa.

Stunning waterfalls and trees.


Lady Primbroke chats with a rather talkative toad.
The Africa sim has a lovely collection of native animals and (with the exception of the aerial shopping strip) is a wonderful setting for an evening stroll.

Wednesday, 5 December 2007

Tagged memage

Having been tagged by Emilly and Baron Bardhaven and now Lunar I suppose I should set out what this is.

The rules of tagging are simple, and as follows.
(1) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
(2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
(3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
(4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog


So, eight points? Hmmmm.

1. My human has a Bacon Factor of 2. He was in Queen of the Damned with Stuart Townsend. Stuart Townsend was in Trapped with Kevin Bacon

2. Edward Pearse in named for Sean Connery's character Edward Pierce in The Great Train Robbery. His facial hair is based on Sean Connery's sergeant Dravot in The Man Who Would Be King.

3. I have two other alts.

4. My human is an avid reader and has a large collection of books. As they had to be catalogued for insurance purposes, they're now on an Excel file. Currently 1,925 books at last count, though additions will be made this evening.

5. My human is also an avid historical re-enactor. Currently portraying English Civil Wars.

6. My knowledge of Photoshop techniques has vastly improved from my early days in SL 12 months ago. I still prefer starting with actual photographs.

7. I have a been fascinated by language since I can remember: the differences between accents, the etymology of words and *why* various slang phrases have come into and then out of being.

8. Pearce'd & Cut sold its first wares in November of 2006 at the New Designer's Exhibition. The first shop went up in Victoria City in December of 2006. That site is now in its third building.

Tagging people may be the biggest consideration. Let me see if I can tag some who have not already produced a Meme. Thus I Tag:
Christine McAllister
Cornelia Rothschild
Gabrielle Riel
Elrik Merlin
Iason Hassanov
Rafael Fabre
Zoe Connolly
Hypatia Callisto

Monday, 3 December 2007

What's Black and White and Red all over?




Scarier than a room full of Nuns with rulers


Dia and Mr. Offcourse get some correctional treatment


Christine and I find dancing is something of a habit.


Lunar doing his best Whoopie Goldberg impersonation


Adso Krogstad shows off his Orthodox dance moves

Ah Steelhead :-)

Alba gu brath

Friday was the night I had been looking forward to for many months, when myself and the the Duchess of Loch Avie jointly presented the St. Andrew's Day festival for Caledon.

Sadly I was unable to make the Caber toss due to timezone differences (and having been up rather late the night before). But I had managed to twist Professor Avalanche's arm into coming up with a Hammer Throw to compliment it.


Hammer throwing.

However once potential throwers realised if you skittered the hammer along the ice it didn't register until it hit the ground at the end, the game soon devolved into a version of curling.


Next saw the Champions' Tournament. Acting as Champion for the Duchy of Carntaigh, I was defeated in the first round by the eventual winner of the Day, Miss Alex Fitzsimmons. I redeemed myself in the massed combat by making three kills before being finally eliminated.

Once darkness arrived out came the music and I set along a many and varied set of Scottish tunes for a great céilidh.


An assortment of Scottish delights including Scottish tablet, IRN BRU, deep fried Mars bars, Scotch eggs and uisge-beatha.


Revellers in kilts and tartan


More flinging


Even Steelhead's Sheriff Ortega found himself bekilted.


Even the wild haggis found themselves drawn to the festivities.


Some stray sheep wandered into the clearing wondering what all the noise was about


And then strange things like cats with buttered toast strapped to their backs started appearing.

I had a great night and it was my great pleasure to be able to co-host this wonderful event.

Slainte Mhath!

Sunday, 2 December 2007

Ice skating and Rez Days

Monday night was Her Grace of Middlesea's Rez Day. The Duke of Greystoke took the opportunity to set up his skating rink and invited Caledonians to come down and strap their skates on. He also asked me to provide some suitable music for the evening.

The setting was wonderful, with Her Grace looking charming in her white fur attire being accompanied by His Grace around the ice.


Gnarli & Gloire


Christine and I practice some move advanced steps.

Lady Primbroke was especially happy that snow and skating were back in Caledon as she had purchased skates last year a mere two days before a sudden thaw saw all of Caledon launch into an early spring. Hopefully there will be some snow on the ground a little longer than New Years this year.


Miss Tombola puts all her "flying by the seat of her pants" skills towards some impressive moves on the ice.


Mr. Offcourse and Lady Gustafson practice some synchronised spinning.

I received many compliments on the choice of music for the evening, which included, Ravel, Strauss, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Mozart.

Torvill and Dean eat your heart out.

Wednesday, 28 November 2007

Tartan Delights from Pearse'd & Cut

In addition to our recent expansion of the available tartan range in out mens kilts, we have received requests for a companion piece for the ladies.

So just in time for St Andrew's Day, Pearse'd & Cut is proud to announce it's ladies Bustled Tartan Skirt. Based on the design commissioned by the Duchess of Loch Avie, this skirt also comes with a matching sash. Ideal for Balls and Country Dances.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/53/55/23



Alé, Olé, Alé

Sunday afternoon also saw me online at an unusual time of day and I decided to pop over to the most recent match of Caledon FC.

This time round we were up against the Tinies of Raglanshire. Who for such small creatures certainly produce vast quantities of trash talk!


The stands with lots of little anklebiters.


The other stand, with taller spectators.


"The Enemy"


Caledon's intimidating Goalie, who was set upon with all sorts of Saboteurs intent on causing his workings harm.


At half time, yours truly was asked to join as a bench exchange.

Sadly the glory of Caledon was shortlived and we lost 5-2. But it was an interesting day and one I'd be happy to help with again assuming the timezone gods favour my presence.

Another one?

Yes ladies and gentlemen it's that time of the month again. Or at least it seems that Caledon is getting a new sim each month.

Morgaine landed on the weekend with the linkup between Penzance and Wellsian now complete.


The floating island hovers over the Strait of Morgaine due to high deposits of Cavorite.


With Morgaine, Caledon reaches its 2 millionth square metre of virtual land. It was only 7 months ago when we reached the 1 millionth with the arrival of Steam Sky City

I've updated my main map accordingly, though I need to finish the update for the Navigational Hazards Map.

Sunday, 25 November 2007

St Andrew's Day Celebration



This will be a full day of festivities in Loch Avie.

The sim will be filled with the sounds of Celtic music for your enjoyment, and will be decorated for the occasion.
Come learn about St. Andrew and his connections to Scotland and see his Eastern and Western Icons
Please feel free to come at your own time and pace to try the haggis, scotch eggs, Uisge Beatha, and other Scottish delicacies.
You may also try your hand at the Caber Toss, Hammer Throw, or Academy of Arms Weapons System (Claymore, Battle Axe, Short Sword) at your leisure during the day.
Enjoy the sim with it's water, scenic views, water horse, and by that time....maybe a little snow.


  • Caber tossing contest at 1pm SLT (near the pub)
  • Hammer throwing contest at 3pm SLT (near Nellie's inlet)
  • Academy of Arms Tournament for Duchal Champions 6pm SLT (sky arena)
  • Cielidh 7:30pm SLT (Near the Keep)

  • If you are a piper and would care to join in a piping contest please IM, Duchess Loch Avie directly. With enough interest we will hold a Bagpipe concert/contest during the day.


A little information about St. Andrew
Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew's Day is celebrated by Scots around the world on the 30th November. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew, and this is widely displayed as a symbol of national identity.

The "Order of Saint Andrew" or the "Most Ancient Order of the Thistle" is an order of Knighthood which is restricted to the King or Queen and sixteen others. It was established by James VII of Scotland in 1687.

Very little is really known about St. Andrew himself. He was thought to have been a fisherman in Galilee (now part of Israel), along with his elder brother Simon Peter (Saint Peter). Both became followers (apostles) of Jesus Christ, founder of the Christian religion.

St. Andrew is said to have been responsible for spreading the tenets of the Christian religion though Asia Minor and Greece. Tradition suggests that St. Andrew was put to death by the Romans in Patras, Southern Greece by being pinned to a cross (crucified). The diagonal shape of this cross is said to be the basis for the Cross of St. Andrew which appears on the Scottish Flag.

St. Andrews bones were entombed, and around 300 years later were moved by Emperor Constantine (the Great) to his new capital Constantinople (now Istambul in Turkey). Legend suggests that a Greek Monk (although others describe him as an Irish assistant of St. Columba) called St. Rule (or St. Regulus) was warned in a dream that St. Andrews remains were to be moved and was directed by an angel to take those of the remains which he could to the "ends of the earth" for safe-keeping. St. Rule dutifully followed these directions, removing a tooth, an arm bone, a kneecap and some fingers from St. Andrew's tomb and transporting these as far away as he could. Scotland was close to the extremities of the know world at that time and it was here that St. Rule was shipwrecked with his precious cargo.

St. Rule is said to have come ashore at a Pictish settlement on the East Coast of Scotland and this later became St. Andrews. Thus the association of St. Andrew with Scotland was said to have begun.

Perhaps more likely than the tale of St. Rule's journey is that Acca, the Bishop of Hexham, who was a reknown collector of relics, brought the relics of St. Andrew to St. Andrews in 733. There certainly seems to have been a religious centre at St. Andrews at that time, either founded by St. Rule in the 6th century or by a Pictish King, Ungus, who reigned from 731 - 761.

Whichever tale is true, the relics were placed in a specially constructed chapel. This chapel was replaced by the Cathedral of St. Andrews in 1160, and St. Andrews became the religious capital of Scotland and a great centre for Medieval pilgrims who came to view the relics.

There are other legends of how St. Andrew and his remains became associated with Scotland, but there is little evidence for any of these, including the legend of St. Rule. The names still exist in Scotland today, including St. Rules Tower, which remains today amongst the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral.

It is not known what happened to the relics of St. Andrew which were stored in St. Andrews Cathedral, although it is most likely that these were destroyed during the Scottish Reformation. The Protestant cause, propounded by Knox, Wishart and others, won out over Roman Catholism during the Reformation and the "idolatry of catholism", that is the Saints, relics, decoration of churches, were expunged during the process of converting the Roman Catholic churches of Scotland to the harsh simplicity of Knox's brand of Calvanism.

The place where these relics were kept within the Cathedral at St. Andrews is now marked by a plaque, amongst the ruins, for visitors to see.

The larger part of St. Andrew's remains were stolen from Constantinople in 1210 and are now to be found in Amalfi in Southern Italy. In 1879 the Archbishop of Amalfi sent a small piece of the Saint's shoulder blade to the re-established Roman Catholic community in Scotland.

In 1969, Gordon Gray, leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland was in Rome to be appointed the first Scottish Cardinal since the Reformation. Pope Paul VI gave him further relics of St. Andrew with the words "Saint Peter gives you his brother". These are now displayed in a reliquary in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh.