Christmas Greeting

Aware that for my friends in Europe I am already late and that the world is turning.
A very happy Christmas and wishes for all that is good in 2011 for you all.
Love
Lacewing xx

A New City

We were both accepted into the City of Piedmont last Sunday.

The place feels very "right" for us although with most of the residents being based in the US, the timezone thing is something that will take work and organisation.

We were fortunate to meet Mike, a fellow Brit who did most (if not all) of the building there. He took us on a tour of the 3 sims that constitute Piedmont. I know I keep saying "beautiful"...but it is!

This morning at the council meeting, I was invited to be their Physician - I am honoured.

The weekly council in Piedmont at which all come and all speak.

Christmas....

The tree has gone up in the castle window and the shops are full of Christmassy bits and pieces.

Last year I was given a Christmas card by a good friend, it was pretty special and, to me, completely magical. For one thing it was an actual card that stood, had a personalised greeting but it also did things when touched. For me, then, these were skills that belonged to another world.

Since then I have learned a lot both about build skills in-world and image manipulation on my computer.  I am still nowhere near that league (and so hope to receive another this year) but am now able to give it a shot. 
 

Around and About.....

The Lilypond in Piedmont

The Cathedral at The White Armory

 

Penguins in Gor.......

...............discuss! Or just enjoy.

 

NeoLondon

I was given the landmark, I made the teleport not knowing what to expect, they spoke of Lycans, Vampires and many creatures of the night.
It was dark and I sought the comfort of an open shop.
It was deserted, I climbed the stairs ....clearly something awful had happened here .......

I crept from that place and out onto the cobbled streets and walked a little.
I came upon a building full of light and glass, it was the Victoria Inn and has places for music and dancing, I went upstairs and through a glass bead curtain to the balcony....

Then I went out and saw the bright lights of the Carousel. it started up to my touch.

The Memorial Service......

I wrote about my friend that died here.

The memorial was this evening, Her family were looking in as we met to remember her, I hope seeing friends appreciate her helped them a little. 

Different people spoke to mourn her and to fondly remember her, We had music poetry and pictures.....and each other.

Her friend Bine Sorbet put the evening together very skilfully taking lots of wishes and thoughts into account.

Here, in no particular order, are some pictures from tonight. it was held on the skyplatform that was built for her birthday earlier this month.

Safe paths Aaminah x 

Lights and Sky

I was sitting on the beach waiting for Bram and happened to look up at the castle.
It was just that right moment when lights and sky and stars and clouds all come together to great effect and I had to take a picture.

Sad News...

My friend Aaminah had battled with cancer for many years and in the time I have known her had also dealt with relapses, extreme treatment and the sudden death of her mother.
All through this she ran a sim, licked a Village into line, sorted out uppity kajira, dealt with spats, built, re-built, re-modelled.
Her last project was to move the Gorean Village from a Southern (type if not geographically) position to a Northern one, should we be snow-capped or simply between forest and snow-line? We got snow!
Aaminah taught me about being a FW, encouraged me as Physician, politely didn't notice when my roleplay was more "winging it" than BtB and we had a couple of good, lengthy girly chats too.

Thrilled when Bramble proposed FC (Bramble carefully choosing his words, Aaminah "in my ear" in IM ..."has he asked you yet? has he asked you now?") she built our wedding platform and arranged the event, a beautiful evening. She asked for this picture for her profile picks.

Recently she was told there would be no more treatment, she tried to cut back her time online but this was a huge creative outlet and, quite simply, it was what she did.
A surprise party was organised for her birthday on the sim earlier this month, while waiting for her, we discovered her passion for early Elvis, the stream was ALL early Elvis, this picture was taken while we waited for her to come online. 

Last night I found out that this tenacious Lady lost her battle in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 
She will be missed.

Tired.....

He went to see his team win, it's a cold night, we danced for a while......he's tired.
 I can just "be" like this for ages mmmmmmmm.......

 

The Silk Road Hunt

The better hunts on Second Life are a good way to unwind.

Although the hunt gifts are often great things, I love the places the hunt list takes me to and the people I meet along the way.

I have other creations from the Mad Hattery so couldn't wait to rez this one.

Busy week...

Real life has taken over this week and the times I have logged on I have often been afk (asleep at keyboard) - frustrating!!

Last Sunday  I was flicking through images on my laptop and came across some carved wood that I thought I would like to see in-world. I decided it was time to look at sculpts. I'm not much good at abstract study but when it is purpose-driven, I learn much better - I had my project in mind and off I went to a sandbox, demo version in hand!

I had done a run-through before with this system but without a "make" buzzing in my head it hadn't sunk in with the same grip. I fiddled around, getting places in my own clumsy way, making LOADS of silly mistakes (a far better teacher than quick success) and eventually had something. By this time it was 4 hours later and I had acquired a helper, well yes he was chatting me up but his advice certainly was helpful.

It is often the case in life that what you set out to achieve in life is not quite the same as the thing you want after you have trod the path to get there and this was a case in point. I produced my sculpted object because I need to see things through, although the purist elegance of the single prim still appealed, I realised then that I would get closer to what I wanted using 2 prims and more basic methods. 

Whereas this would not have satisfied me 4 hours earlier, I was now making a decision based on knowledge and the judgement that comes with it, not just because it was all I knew how to do.

Anyway, this is the 2 prim, non-sculpted version.....
  

I am aware of it's imperfections but the item that yielded the textures is something I use in real life everyday, I prepared the textures myself and as such it brings me pleasure to have in my home. 

Spotted - 1st Christmas tree of the season...

Although this post will timestamp 7th November as far as I'm concerned it's still the 6th as I haven't gone to bed yet.
I wanted a meditation cushion and found a very reasonable one at Shimada's Zen Garden.
As I have barely thought about Christmas, I didn't expect to see a fully decorated tree on my way out!

 I guess I need to get planning!

Marketday

If you've read this before, you'll know that my experience of making stuff is pretty limited - in fact I think you've seen it all! But I'm gradually growing in confidence in my small corner of limited knowledge. 
I am still in awe of skilled builders and script manipulators on here but realise that I learn best when I am being driven by a particular task in mind.
I have friends on here that are skilled builders and I have seen their businesses grow.

My friend Perryn is one of those clever people that crop up in different places in Second Life, you might recognise him from the Steam Hunts and more recently the Silk Road Hunt which is currently running. 
It is from these groups that Perryn sent a notice out inviting sellers to offer an item for 25L - I have never sold anything but have decided to give this a go and will be setting up my pitch on Saturday. The cost of the pitch is only 25L so this is a great way for people like me to get their feet wet and I am setting out my 2 Roman Pavements.

 This is so much NOT my area of expertise that I spent some time last night fiddling with properties for each iten to make them buyable.

Well......we shall see.......

Marketday 

The New Village

The builder has finished and the new village is open for business. He has done a great job and conjured up lots of atmosphere.

We are now a Northern Village set in Hringars Mountains, between the Northern Forest and the Arctic ice. It's cold and the views from the rocky levels are bracing.

Just look at that sky!

More picture can be found here

I'm off to find some warm clothing

What is your significance?

There seem to be a few creative showcase events around at the moment in Second Life.

I had an invite to the Piedmont Gorean Art Exhibition and decided to take a look. The exhibition features contributions from the residents of the City of Piedmont and include lots of pictures in a variety of styles and a walk-through tableau depicting a scene from one of the books of Gor.

I stopped and looked at the place pictured below, unsure whether it was a toungue-in-cheek installation or a regular feature. I think the latter but it made me smile.

I was intrigued by the next exhibit though, a globe with 3 moons orbiting.
It is the work of Darien Artis and is a thought-provoking piece called "Significance"  

  
You ascend the ramp and step into the world - the view is beautiful! 
You are invited to consider "What is your significance?" A question that applies to both real and second lives.

  
I was reminded of the wonderful pictures released from the Hubble Space Telescope last year which were stunningly beautiful.

I will close with a partial quote from Darien where he explains his piece......

 To see the true significance, step up the ramp into the sphere and take a moment to consider your existence in this thing we call life.

As one of my favourite songs asks "are you part of the cure or part of the disease?" (Coldplay, "Clocks")

Burning Man

I've never been so was pleased when an old friend suggested going.

I hadn't walked far when I was captivated by Gracie Kendal's Collaged Sculpture. 

 

The colours and textures used are amazing.....

.....so much so that I started playing with environment editor to capture them differently.

She has used the kind of palette that can so easily look just plain brash but has handled it so carefully that it is perfectly in balance and reminded me of Gaudi's work in Parc Guell.

Gracie's piece is a thing of striking beauty in itself but on closer examination it probes some of the issues of our existence here and elsewhere with questions scattered within the exhibit.

"What is my purpose?"

"What are you afraid of?"

"Why are you here?"

Aamira Aeon's Object (Caravan) is beautifully fitted out in (I think) Burr Walnut, definitely high end comfort!

Lots more to see, I'm going back later, I'm told there's a maze......

Repartnered

............and very VERY happy.

We have been together for well over a year and partnered but removed it for reasons beyond our control that I wont put into print. The right time came around and I got his proposal this morning.

Woo hoo......!!!!

A personal 1st.

A piece published in Moonletters.

Wanting to write anything is still a recent occurence and still surprises me.

Reflection.....

After recent events, and looking at the decimated sim (see previous post) this came to mind...

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away".

Ozymandias - Shelley

"The central theme of "Ozymandias" is the inevitable complete decline of all leaders, and of the empires they build, however mighty in their own time" (Wikipedia) - Enough said?


You rise, you fall, your down, then you rise again, what don't kill you make you more strong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dka5NJUpi4c 

When the game cools and the big boy takes his ball away.......

Haven't we all had days when we just want to scoop up what's ours and stroll off into the environmentally adjusted sunset?

For most of us, our prims are in our own home, or at most intermingled with a partner's.

When that person has been muscling in on a sim, getting involved when they don't pay the tier, building both above and below ground. When THAT person picks up their ball and goes, what is left is devastation on hurricane scale.

Although there is much relief at this person's departure (and yes - he can take the ball too) the sight left behind is sad and the sim is now populated by people finding what skills they have and applying them - my speciality has been planking over small craters and big red warning cones at the edge of yawning chasms.

I think, though, it will bear fruit. Disaster is a unifying thing among those who come through it. For those left in ball-boy's wake, this could prove to be a much-needed bonding experience and a fresh start.

Further Wanderings....

We logged into the Village tonight, it was empty. We had a little time to spare and were already kitted out with meters and appropriate clothing so decided to check out the Northern Port, see how well populated it was in our time-frame.

We wandered around a bit, re-acquainting ourselves with the (very pleasant) build and layout. The mini-map showed lots of people on sim but we could see none. A newbie but clearly experienced bond  (to anyone not familiar with Gor, it's FULL of alts - almost the norm) approached us and offered us hospitality.

Now this was very promising but was unfortunately the point my R/L interruptions kicked in. Our patient host invited us to the Long Hall, ahhhh this is where all the people were!

Well, I just had chance to arrive and take a quick glance around what seemed a very inviting place before R/L ensured I had to log. Bramble stayed on for a while and I am keep to catch up and get his perspective. It was looking good.

No photos - no time!!!!

Looking Around.....

Like I said before, this week was intended to be looking around and getting the feel of a place or two.I foolishly thought a week would suffice! Like all plans, life gets in the way in this case both real and second.

I have been back to one a little. Which one was I drawn to? The very, very beautiful one.

Does this mark me out as shallow? I hope not. The welcome in this place was great, warm but not cloying. To put it simply the ethos of the place fitted well with ours too.

We were given an associate status that enabled us to come and go so we could get the feel of the place easily but here comes the problem.

During the week were lots of notices for events in this busy City, what they and our few visits indicated are that the place operates in a different timezone to us, making it a weekend-only place sadly.

Back to the drawing board, lets see what the Northern Port gets up to.

I am 2 today!

Today is my 2nd rezzday, I am 2.

I am in my 3rd version of "me" and am pretty content with it.

So, 2 years on where have I got to?

I happy being with Bramble who has been there for more than half that time and who is my rock.

I live in a tree castle and spend my time between that, dancing and roleplay.

Yes, roleplay - I have a love-hate relationship with Gor. There are plenty of days when i wished I had never strayed across it but I did and I do keep drifting back.

I joined a village, a small group, they helped me grow and find my feet but I'm no longer fully content there. I love the  people but it's a small group and that makes it all feel very intense. I'm ready to swim freer in a bigger pond.

So, we've been looking around. "we" because this is something we do together, also because neither of us is a body and soul Gorean. It rather begs the question "why"....well I am sitting here thinking that too. It is something I have been drifting back to everytime I drift away so what is it that draws me?

Well, i like the language-play. Language interests me, it is a fun thing to play around with, to paint with and sculpt with. I'm someone who largely avoids txtspk (yes ok, the odd brb and btw :) etc will occur but not the full-on vowel deprivation that many use).
With all this language play going on comes my second point, life moves slowly - yes ok, ok I agree sometimes painfully slow!
The third thing that attracts me is that it all hinges on a society, a structure.There is more than just breezing through for a dance or a chat with a mate and with that comes a sense of place and belonging.

Now the other side, like I say neither of us are fully card-stamped Goreans, we don't have slaves (and I am not one btw) and wince at the prospect of any of the grosser stuff surrounding all that, also I currently roleplay a Physician and will scream if I so any more slave medicals.
Consequently we are looking for somewhere where the demands are less and some aspects of roleplay easier to avoid.

We visited 2 places yesterday.
Place 1 a busy, attractive Northern port, very nicely laid out with plenty of people around so much less intense. Friendly people, fully Gorean.
Place 2 was very different and I stumbled across it entirely by accident. It is stunningly beautiful and rejects the aspects of roleplay that we struggle with. My fear is that it mainly operates in a different timezone to ours.
This week will be spent seeing how the evenings pan out in either/both and listening to our gut feeling.

We shall see.

I attached this track, a favourite of mine. There is no direct link but it sprang from some of my private reflections and memories while writing this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNF5zmQPRfM

Before this.......

I've blogged before but decided a while back to give a Second Life blog a try.
It is mainly a picture blog and can be found herehttp://bletaverse.com/u/lacewing-mesmeriser

I now want to do more with it but want a sense of continuity to what has gone before, so here are some extracts

Saturday, 11 Sep 2010

My Morning's Work

Well maybe more than a morning.

The Roman Pavement was assembled offline from 137 tiles so that i could

make a 1 prim item.

I'm looking forward to dancing there in the sunset.

Thursday, 26 Aug 2010

  

The way forward...

Brave new steps into land and stuff like that.

A castle in a tree.

Magical

Sunday, 22 Aug 2010

On life being too short to stuff a mushroom (see footnote)

Changes.

I resigned my post as Physician 2 days ago. I haven't hung up my Gorean dresses yet but am taking some time out. It feels right.

You could say the irresistible force met the immovable object, not normally one to shrug and walk away, I decided on this occasion that life simply is too short and am on a break.

I do hope no one is reading this trying to divine my intentions – if so don't bother because I don't know them myself yet!

I am re-evaluating, re-discovering, looking forward.

How do I feel about old haunts?

Do I want the thrill of new challenges?

Do I want to buy land?

Can I resist the ultimate little girl's fantasy?

Creativity flows again. The woman who hated writing now has a dozen poems tucked away – life is strange, I thought by now I knew me and then my me-ness changes.

Bramble continues to be my constant, my rock, my treasure and my love.

You can know that you have something wonderful but when one of you feels under pressure, true mettle shows.

I hope I can be for him, everything he has been for me, should he ever need it.

Footnote

In 1975, the English writer Shirley Conran published the book Superwoman, aimed at busy women, and coined the phrase Life is too short to stuff a mushroom

Sunday 13^th June

Time to reflect

I see I have had this thing running for almost 5 months - amazing how time flies.

When I started this I was still dealing with the events of the year before, still fiercely independent.

I left my home and took the Linden shilling when my landlady went AWOL for 3 months and I realised how fragile the whole renting thing is.

I got more involved in Gorean roleplay and became an apprentice Physician, made some good friends in a small village.

The thread through all this is Bramble, always there, constant.

We became partners on 11th May and Free Companions in Gor where we share a home on 11th June.

Some mock me for citing dates - well, it's who I am and what I do.

We have an unusual bond but it works for us and that's all that matters.

Friday, 11 Jun 2010

Free Companions

Farnacium

Dress from the wonderful "Curious Seamstress"

Greenwood Designs, Blisswood - Home of Curious Seamstress & GWD http://slurl.com/secondlife/Northern%20Lights/68/203/25

Sunday, 25 Apr 2010

Farnacium

The house on sim.....1st day with furniture.

Sunday, 17 Jan 2010

My baby!

My 1st build project, my pride and joy, my baby......ok ok it's a gallery!