I discovered Epica not long after I got into metal through Nightwish. The band was founded by Mark Jansen whose first band, After Forever, launched the career of Nightwish lead singer Floor Jansen. Epica similarly launched the career of Floor's friend Simone Simons, who packs similar raw power and musical training, and she remains the band's lead vocalist to this day. Their sound is big and epic, very much in a similar vein to Nightwish though perhaps a bit heavier than NW's recent work.

Today marks a new phase in Simone's career as she launches the debut single of her upcoming solo album. Co-written and produced by Dutch musical wizard (guitarist, songwriter, producer, impresario, and probably some I am forgetting) Arjen Lucassen, with whom Simone has worked on a number of occasions, the debut and album opener "Aeterna" is vintage Simone that wouldn't sound out of place on an Epica (or Arjen's band Ayreon) album. Big, epic symphonic metal that is perfect for her powerful mezzo.

For quick pics and close ups, my phone (Samsung Galaxy S20) does quite well so day-to-day, I use it. For long zooms, I still prefer my Nikon camera (18x optical vs. 3x optical for the phone, digital zoom still doesn't work well for long distances in my experience) so it still comes along on vacations a lot.

WYR have a favourites star's autograph or a selfie with them?

Oo, mine are starting to come out right now.

Juniper

6585 (getting old but still alive!)

Bass - Boss

Hmmm. Could depend on the day of the week, really. Probably gorillas these days.

Big meal at supper/evening or big meal at midday?

Canvas is used for tents.

Hemlock, which could this,

Or this,

Due to the vagaries of how common names get assigned. The former is a lovely evergreen. The latter can kill you if you so much as look at it the wrong way (just ask Socrates).

Moss - Mass

Hey, hey good morning, happy day!!

Throwing on some Fire Roasted Saint Drogo dark roast for the coffee crowd.

For teas, lets go with Scottish Breakfast and Raspberry.

Cold drinks are looking good.

We've got hot water boiled for other teas or hot chocolate.

Sunny here but that's supposed to change as the week wears on, with more variable weather looming.

Quote by WriterGirl

I think chipmunks will end us. They are everywhere. Quietly multiplying underground, then…

Glances suspiciously at the deck planter where one lurks, no doubt drawing up sinister plans

Needed a pick-me-up this afternoon. "Amaranth" by Nightwish, esp. any of the live performances by Floor Jansen, fills the bill handily.

Blooming flowers have many colours.

6582 (let's see animals in the zoo)

Fuschia

Lost - Most

There's some fancy treehouse B&Bs and such so maybe something like that. Not your garden variety backyard treehouse, though.

WYE go to a fancy dress public event (awards show, Met gala, etc.)?

Cook an omelette. Simpler. At least, the omelette guys on my cruises make it look easy. 😊

WYR have cheese or not on an omelette?

Quote by verbal
Crazy night! 75 mph winds came blowing through, all night long. The house was shaking. I went and secured things as best I could at like 4 a.m. and almost blew away! Our front glass door was shattered and we lost 4 sections of fence! Lots of trash and debris in the yard too. Gonna be a long day, clearing the yard and calling insurance and setting up handyman calls. Arg.

Ouch. We had a day of heavy wind a few weeks back but I didn't see any damage of that degree. I've seen a couple fences under repair in the neighbourhood but not sure if that's from the storm or just fences that needed mending to start with. I have a tree that's going to have to come down but its location means its really only a threat to other vegetation and possibly a fence.

Thanks, Cora. I'll see what happens. It's just I have been rather bitchy about the activity level here of late and, yet, not really doing much about it myself given my current state of writing. So I was really hoping to be in this comp for that reason, if nothing else. And seeing that there is still only one entry after two weeks or something like that isn't helping that.

Back to the thread topic.

Mountain biking or mountain hiking?

You know, even after 3 years, I still feel weird saying "son's wife" and "daughter-in-law". Due to circumstances, we weren't at the actual ceremony so that's probably part of it. And part is just realizing he's all growed up, I guess.

Quote by Cora
I'm also very happy you got to see your son via .

And his wife, too!! She doesn't always join our calls but she did for this one (we had some news for them).

Quote by Cora
a local famous ice cream place that also sells candy in rows of large glass bowls

I don't think we have one of those in London. Some of the more touristy places have candy stores with ice cream bars but no place around here does that I know of. Sounds totally yummy and totally dangerous to my blood glucose but, hey, I had a slice of pecan pie for my dinner on Saturday and it didn't kill me. 😊

And a good morning to y'all.

Coffee is Tobermory Flowerpot Island. I've put some English Breakfast and Raspberry Royale in the teapots. Hot water is on to make other teas or hot chocolate. And the cold drink pitchers are washed and refilled with unsweet iced tea and lemonade.

Later, alligators!!

Quote by verbal

Start in the middle, with a good scene, one you know will be good, then work your way back.

O, I've done that one, too. Sadly, my writing mojo has not been great of late. Just look at how long it has been since I've posted a story here (Nov. 2023). And I think I only managed one elsewhere in that time. It's not that I have not been writing, just that I keep losing momentum.

Quote by Cora

I think it would have to take some serious research and thought before getting a reptile. That same friend of my sister I aforementioned later in life had a small snake. I couldn't handle that, especially after I saw it eating mice.

The graphic artist at my office has a Burmese python along with a couple dogs. Needless to say, she keeps the two separated. Her dogs are small and pythons have big mouths...😲

As I understand it, though, the biggest risk with pet reptiles is bacterial contamination. They are prone to carry salmonella or something like that.

Our old beagle bit me once or twice in the heat of a wild play session. Nothing malicious. If I was going for a dog again, I'm inclined to something like a golden retriever. Fairly popular around here and seem pretty chill as dogs go. I find larger dogs are less high strung than small ones (though a friend had a vizsla and it was pretty high strung and prone to biting as larger dogs go).

Had Warriors, the new collection from Feuerschwanz in celebration of their 20 years in the music biz, on.

Mums are always a favourite around here.

Dandelions. To some a weed, to some a salad fixing or tea.

Hello. Had a nice day. Midday dinner (too big to call it a lunch) and a walk in the park with good company. Now get to see my son via the miracle of . Hope others are doing well.

scarfs a tulip and a sunflower

Stars sometimes come with planets.

Bluebells

I had a dog and a cat in my youth and very much am a cat person based on that experience. Though something like a bearded dragon could be interesting. A kid who used to live across the street and was friends with my son had one.