Snowflake Challenge Day 1

[turps]

Bandom holidays have gone live and I was gifted with Better Than Him which is early days Mikey/Gerard/Ray, and I mean, come on. That's a very pretty threesome right there. I don't know if my writer is on my flist, but if you are, thank you again anon writer of awesome for writing something so catered to my tastes. You're fantastic.

I haven't read or looked at any of the other works yet, but in total there are 18, which I think is pretty fabulous. Way to go bandom people. I always try to read and feed everything in exchanges, so am looking forward to checking out the rest. If anyone is interested the works are here. I may even read and feed my own story if a guessing post is put up, though I always feel weird about that. Should I heap praise on myself? Tell myself I suck? The sky is the limit!

Other things. I went to see Bumblebee yesterday and it was great. I'm glad we picked that over Mary Poppins, though may still go and see that at some point. We saw in New Year sitting in our bedroom watching the firework displays for miles around -- having a house on a hill helps with that. We're not big drinkers at all, but decided to have a drink of the bottle that we brought back from holiday. And soon realised what tastes lovely in a hot, summer farmers market stall in the Canary Island really doesn't taste the same at home. Also, why the hell did we apparently buy fermented banana wine? The majority of the bottle went down the sink today, but we did have a shot of marshmallow vodka each. That was nice.

And now, snowflake day one.


Day 1

In your own space, talk about your Happy Place—the things that give you joy, calms you or keeps you sane. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

My bath. I love my bath, it's big and deep and unless I'm out late, which isn't very often, I have a bath every night. I like to have lobster baths, where they're so hot I come out with bright red skin. I love using Lush products, usually bubble bath bars that fill my bath with suds, often too many and I have to lie reading with my arms stuck up in the air to keep my kindle away from the bubbles. I love products, face masks and body conditioners and find if I don't go in the bath I don't sleep as well, even though my bath times are well before bed times.

I always read in the bath. Usually on my kindle fire, but sometimes an actual book. But sometimes I use my fire to watch an episode of something on Netflix. That's how I made my way through Grace and Frankie, watching a new ep each night. I've even got everything set up for ultimate bath comfort, a flannel on the bath side to stop my legs slipping when I prop my feet against the sink to achieve the ultimate water submersion against need to have hands out to change page ratio.

I've read thousands of stories in my bath, hundreds of books, seen many many tv shows. Shed tears and on one notable occasion ended up with a cat falling into the bath with me. Though that's unusual, mostly they just sit in the sink and watch. Pervert cats that they are.

Yeah, it's my happy place. It's calming and my bath and bathroom walls always have a slight shimmer of glitter due to all the bath bombs/bubble bath bars that I use. So it's my happy, shiny, calming place.

Comments

[seleneheart]

Your bath sounds amazing! So luxurious and the very definition of self-care! We should all slow down enough to enjoy a relaxing bath instead of rushing through a shower.

[turps]

I love my bath. In fact I'll be heading there soon. I've been enjoying going to the snowflake posts so am running behind my usual time.

[shadowhive]

I’m glad you liked your fic! It’s awesome there’s so much stuff to read. I’ve read a few so far (starting with the one for me of course) and ahh. The one I got was Gerard/Mikey/Ray too, which ngh.

I feel you there, I’ve never done a challenge like this where my work has been anon so it’s strange to get used to. I’m glad so many have been done though and I’ll totally do it next year too (or any other such challenges)

I’ve heard bumblebee is meant to be good. I’ve not seen many of the transformers movies but I’m glad people like it. I’m not a big drinker either, I usually just drink stuff like bucks fizz at Christmas and new year. I love stuff like that that’s fruity, most other booze tends to be ugh to me (I dunno how people can drink beer). Banana wine? I never knew there was such a thing! Or marshmallow vodka

I’m not a big bath person, but that does sound pretty nice. I’d be too afraid to use my pad in the bath though. I have read books in the bath before though

Glitter is always good!

[turps]

I did like my fic. I'm glad I waited to read when I had time and didn't try to snatch a few minutes while I was doing other things.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest. I did go and see the movie poster artwork Sperrywink received and those were fantastic. Fans really are talented.

If this is your first anon challenge you should try no tags if it runs again. That's a lot of fun, based on prompts that you claim but you only have a week to write your story. I haven't taken part for a while but it was always frantic fun when I did.

The guessing post for this challenge should be fun too. Hopefully people will take part when it goes up.

Bumblebee had an excellent soundtrack. What I found funny was I was really rooting for a car/transformer. They made me have all the feels for Bee.

I didn't know banana wine existed either. Tbh, I'm sure we didn't buy banana wine at the time, I don't know if the language barrier went against us or what. But I'm sure we asked to buy something red. But oh well, it wasn't that expensive and it's not like we can go back for an exchange.

Thankfully in all the time I've been reading my fire in the bath I've had no close calls in terms of dropping it in the water. I wouldn't take my actual iPad in though. That's too expensive to risk.

[shadowhive]

That’s awesome! Yeah it’s always best to try and read fic all in one go, especially one that’s a gift.

Oh yeah those posters were great! I wish I had photoshop skills

Oh awesome, I think I am following it just in case it does.

Yeah that’ll be interesting. Though I’d be bad at guessing since I’m not familiar with everyone’s styles,

That’s awesome 💜 gotta love a good film soundtrack and unexpected feels

Yeah, I’m guessing it didn’t taste very good then?

That’s good! Yeah I’d be so worried I’d not be able to enjoy it especially since I’m fairly careless

[stripytights]

Even reading your description of your happy place makes me feel relaxed. Ultimate bath comfort indeed.

Also marshmellow vodka sounds pretty interesting.

[turps]

It really is the ultimate bath comfort. It's time totally for myself and I enjoy every moment.

The marshmallow vodka was really nice. I recommend it.

[norsellie]

I am a fellow bath-lover, although I can't stand mine quite as hot as you describe. I just float and muse in mine.

[turps]

My husband always tells me I'm boiling myself *g*

Float and muse sounds fantastic, too. There's something so calming about being in water.

[oldtoadwoman]

I picked the bath too. Although your tub sounds better than mine. Someday, I want a nice deep tub. (I might be moving when my lease comes due this spring and a larger tub is on my wish list.)

I love the mental image of your cats just staring at you while you read. ♥

[turps]

I've just been to read your bath answer :)

Having a big tub was an indulgence when I had a new bathroom fitted a few years back. And it's an indulgence I'm glad about daily.

Cats are ridiculously nosy. But I do think sitting in the sink so they can have a good view is taking it a bit far *g*

[teigh_corvus]

This is the most vivid description I've seen of your bath set-up/ practice, and it is delightful! It's marvelous how central it is to your fandom experience. And I can't help grinning over the mental image of the glitter tub. Though - OH NO, NO CATS IN BATHS. Silly fuzzybutt.

[turps]

I've perfected my bath set up and practice. The flannel is an important detail that took a while to figure out. Otherwise my legs would want to slip sideways *g*

I do rinse out the bath but as everyone knows, glitter gets everywhere and you can never get it all. Therefore, glitter tub :D

But yeah, cats should not be in baths. They should certainly not be sharing baths!

[teigh_corvus]

LOL why is it the important details like carefully positioned washcloths take so long to figure out? I'm glad things are less slippy for you now.

[Ha! It's non-slip Terri cloth. :D]

Oh, well I know the persistence of glitter. Which mostly makes that mental image more er, shiny. Heeee.

NO NO THEY SHOULD NOT.
And speaking of the World of No... fermented BANANA wine??? WHAT??? You actually brought that home with you???? I'm so bewildered!

18 is a great number of bandom holiday fics! I'll have to trot on over and check 'em out. :)

[turps]

Those little details matter *g*

And speaking of the World of No... fermented BANANA wine??? WHAT??? You actually brought that home with you???? I'm so bewildered!

We did! Or apparently did. So, setting the scene. It's our first time abroad, it's hot and sunny and we're wandering a small farmer's market in a town square. Unlike the main shops most of the stall holders don't speak English -- which isn't a problem, we'd been picking up a few words of Spanish and managing to communicate okay, if slowly and using our fingers for numbers at time.

One of the stalls have examples of drinks on them. We test them, a white and a red, and both seem delicious. Especially the red which seems to be some kind of cactus juice/wine. We ask for a bottle of that, and are given a bottle in a sealed material bag. Which quickly gets swallowed up by other bags containing many mangoes, a watermelon as big as my head and a cat made of volcanic rock.

Time moves on. We spend days in the sun, we're sun soaked and happy, and the bag gets put in our suitcase and eventually packed in with clothes. Which is a long way to say, it was a surprise when we actually opened the bag and discovered that we'd actually been given the fermented banana wine. I really think the sunshine must have made it palatable in the Canaries, because man, it tasted just as bad as it sounds *g*

I've read three stories so far, and have a thumbs up for all atm.

[eglantiere]

just thinking about your bath makes me feel all nice and fuzzy. what a lovely place! awwww. (i'm glad both you and the cat escaped with your lives, ha.)

[turps]

It's an excellent place, I love it loads.

Honestly, I don't know who got the biggest fright when Milo fell in the bath. Water flying everywhere and the cat yowling while zooming around the house covered in bubbles.

[frausorge]

I'm impressed how much you've fine-tuned and optimized your bath experience! And really, leaving a slight shimmer of glitter in your wake is the right way to go through life, imo.

[turps]

It took a while to fine-tune my bathing experience, but it's pretty much perfect now. All set up for an extended soak.

And really, leaving a slight shimmer of glitter in your wake is the right way to go through life, imo.

I agree!

[northern]

That sounds so nice, reading in the bath!

[turps]

I do enjoy reading in the bath. I find it very relaxing.

[sperrywink]

I loved looking at my awesome bathtub???? Ahahaha. bath!fail!!

I'm glad you have a daily joyful bath ritual!

[turps]

I liked hearing about your awesome bathtub. Whoever got your old place better be using it all the time! *g*

It is a joyful ritual. I always get disgruntled if I can't have a bath at night.

[wenchpixie]

There are some very delightful bits and pieces resulting from Bandom Hols this year :).

OMG, I didn't know I knew anyone else who'd ha a surprise!cat bath companion ;D. They're a bit sharp when that happens... ;).

[turps]

I've read three stories so far and enjoyed them all. I'm impressed how many works have been posted. It's a great number considering the challenge nearly folded.

OMG, I didn't know I knew anyone else who'd ha a surprise!cat bath companion ;D. They're a bit sharp when that happens... ;).

They are! Claws and nails flying everywhere and so many hurt feelings after, as if you personally dumped them in there *g*

[turlough]

*boggles* Fermented banana wine?!!! *boggles again* You certainly know how to see the new year in with style ;-D

I knew it! You did talk about your baths! I don't like taking bath myselfs but you always make yours sound absolutely delightful. And very luxurious! Despite the pervy kitties :-)

[turps]

The fermented banana wine went down the sink yesterday. Best place for it too!

The divide between bath and shower people seems to be a big one. Or I suppose more accurate, people who like to soak and those who just want to get clean. The cats make me laugh, you'd think I was doing something amazing and rare when I go in the bath because there's often one in the sink and three others just hanging out on the landing.

[glitteryv]

Aww, that fic sounds like it's tailored made for you. ;)

Ah, 'm so glad that y'all enjoyed Bumblebee (srsly, I've yet to hear anyone say that movie was "just OK" or that they didn't like it.)

[turps]

It's a threesome I can get behind, that's for sure.

I really liked Bumblebee. The music helped a lot, it has a fantastic sound track, and I really rooted for Bee. It was nice to see his origin story.

[ephemera]

I am so not a bath person, but your Perfect Shrine of Bathing Relaxation And Sparkle makes me smile, because you so clearly are, and people should revel in things that they love, and you do, and it's good ;)

[turps]

I agree, everyone should do the things that they love. Thankfully mine are easy to achieve *g*

[rikes]

Your bathing routine sounds lovely!

[turps]

Your bathing routine sounds lovely!

I love it a lot!

[brandywine28]

FERMENTED BANANA WINE. Now I'm thinking about the lyrics to that Hozier song 'Cherry Wine' and imagining the rewrite of the century. :)

[turps]

I'm sure cherry wine would be much nicer than banana wine.

And now I'll be thinking of that rewrite of the song forever!