The Golden Neep IC

Quidditch is an excellent reminder of just why I don't gamble. I enjoy the potential and the story too much and can't help wishing for the more dramatic outcome, but only a fool pins all their hopes on stories.

In Quidditch, at least. Much more effective in dueling. On which note, happy to say I've cleared my schedule enough to go to WILD tomorrow. Rather hoping Nova Scotia will make an appearance. I've not seen her in action yet but by all accounts she's quite the exciting new talent and I like what I hear about her interaction with Dexter and Sinistra.

( Rhoda McCrimmon )

Possibly I should have written here sooner and certainly I intended to do, but all things considered this has been quite the busy fortnight. I even had to miss the WILD bout yesterday. Thankfully the Portree match, like the Neep release, is easier to justify. I'm looking forward to seeing Tutshill get trounced. My wife's influence and my own time with the Catapults gave me a taste for their defeat, and I hope Pride won't disappoint.

Met with muggle counterpart, most enlightening. Rather more established than we are thus far, which shows, and not just in the offices. (Let it not be thought that our current, temporary workspace is anything wastefully glamorous.) Looking forward to learning from mistakes, adapting successes to our different needs, and an overall productive collaboration.

[Morven]
Still enjoying your well deserved reward (and all the congratulatory flora) I hope. Keep an eye on our young Mr. Yaxley, will you? I'm sure his shoulders are broad enough to bear it, but it's been awhile since I've known anyone disowned, and the others were a rather more quiet affair.

Who: Anyone related to Scottish Quid/Affairs/Press/Books in general (so pretty much all of you if you want) and all current and past members of both teams (NPCs welcome!)
What: The release of the Golden Neep companion book
When: March 16th 8pm
Where: Portree and Montrose clubhouses
Warnings: Language maybe? Drinking

( Whizz Hard Books is proud to present... )

Congratulations to my dear husband on his appointment to Head of the Scottish Office for the Ministry. I could not be more proud of you, nor more pleased and hopeful for the future of Scotland under your sure guidance.

[Monte]

So heard the news about you getting traded to Puddlemere. You doing alright?

[...]

And hey, let me know if you ever need QUABBLE's help with anything.

[Meaghan]

Uh Hey.

Well, guess that's going to shake things up in DOMGAS a bit...

Congratulations to you though, Mr. Parkin.

Congrats Da! You're the most ostensibly Scottish person I know and it finally paid off!

[Parkin/Miracles]

YES DA! How are we celebrating you becoming the equivalent of the magical King of Scotland?

(I kid I kid)

(But you know, just between us we can pretend for the day)

Seriously Da, congrats! Big move up! Please remember the (once) little people who helped you to the top. Or well...remember the once little people you had take too much care of is more accurate.

[Study Group 91]

Alright, who was in on the Scottish Minister bet? Pony up! Gina is now the first family in Scotland and I need to get her used to a certain lifestyle.

(ooc: Feel free to make up whatever not!money bet they had. The more ridic the better)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wimbourne Wasps (5-4-0 0.556) versus Chudley Cannons (0-9-0 0.000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Started:2000-03-03 at Ellis Moor
Snitch caught in : 5 hours, 46 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wimbourne Wasps : 410
Chudley Cannons : 20
Congratulations, Wimbourne Wasps
( Another Typical Cannons game. One of these days they'll surprise everyone and show up... )

In honor of the confluence of both World Book Day and St David's Day, all books by Welsh authors are on sale through the rest of the week at Book Wyrm. Literary costumes are encouraged but only monetized if donned by small children or accompanied by song and dance.

Good Merlin. It's been a while since I've enjoyed myself so much at a match. I can't say I wouldn't have enjoyed seeing Montrose knocked off their pedestal even more, for novelty if nothing else, but what a battle of wills regardless, and a thoroughly earned victory.

Congratulations to young Mr. Wood on making it through in one piece, kudos to Mr. Draganov on your extreme versatility, and I hope Mr. Maddock's recovery goes quickly and smoothly. They'll be needing you for the playoffs, as well as for the Neep.

Thank you for showing us what a contest actually looks like. I think there were a few teams that needed the reminder.

( Morven )

Who: Parkin-Miracles (Des, Janine, Gwen and Charlie)
What: Sunday supper and political planning
When: 4 February 2000
Where: The Parkin-Miracle abode in Wigtown
Warnings: None! It's a family-friendly evening!

( Is Granddad going to be Minister for Magic? )

Quite the stiff competition, I see. Well, whoever does fill the head post, the office will have a strong leadership and I can only expect the rest of its members to be equally qualified and enthusiastic. Exciting days, to be sure, with every week bringing new and interesting developments to further clarify the future of Scottish Affairs.

Though good Merlin, am I really known for honesty? One wonders how, indeed, I've survived politically all this time.

[Gwen]
Did you know about Graham Urquhart's plan to run for the office? And do you know if it's serious?

[Bart]
Well, it seems you may have cause to mourn your retirement yet again. No rest for the wicked, I suppose -- and of course, you did set the precedent.

[Morven]
If the office goes to Wood and/or Quintin, this is my written permission to strike me down. We've got to ensure you move into Deputy Head somehow, after all, and I'm not sure I fancy a world in which letter-writing campaigns win you public office, either despite a lack of experience or despite opposition to the office existing.

Meanwhile, on the docket for the week:
- Banchory and the potential upheaval in the BIL. FF likely too young to put forward a commissioner, which means it would probably be left to Sterling. Want to brainstorm possible candidates and the likelihood of slipping one in there.
- Kavanaugh, considering this new development. Rowan and Eoghan. As you said, seemed surprised but not altogether displeased.
- However, heard rumours that Nesta Pritchard is displeased, which is a first. Need to find out why.
- Also would quite like to determine how to turn Hamish MacFarlan's bullheadedness to hurt or discredit the BIL. He's been popular up to now but this isn't helping his image, and that can help us.

Ah, the post-break fervour. Has it really only been a month? It always felt longer when I was playing. Holidays and parties are all very well, but having nothing but, and no matches, for so long did make one a bit indolent and wan -- and for those with little else to occupy themselves in the famine of sport, seemed to give them a bit of an always-winter-but-never-Christmas feel. Always did the heart good to see them rennervated upon the season's return, though.

I must say I'm very much looking forward to the Scottish matches these next few days, though it's a shame that apart from the Neep, the all-Scottish games are nearly over, and none upcoming until Wigtown-Montrose in March. It's always interesting to see what players take from the opportunity to mingle more, and the insight they gain from training with those who would usually be their opponents, but it's not something we typically get to see except for the World Cup.

[Graham]
I see yours made the most of the charity match. Well done indeed, bringing Chidera Okeke over from Wigtown. Solving your pesky beater problem and meeting your muggleborn quota in one fell swoop.

[Bart]
My condolences on your erstwhile retirement. Portree does seem to have a way of getting its claws in one. How did Graham Urquhart manage to lure you back, anyhow? Or did you simply find you couldn't make piracy pay?

[Morven]
Suppose it will take some time to find out who it'll go to, but at this point I'm just as curious to see if I become the next casualty of the BIL investigation curse as I am eager to move on. I suppose this is why the children didn't seem to question their luck. A promotion is a promotion, after all.

Obviously there's no way to be sure of these things but I've put together a list of possible replacements for me, and for you, depending on whether you're deemed ready to replace me after so little time back in the fold. Najafi might think it best to keep you in place for a bit longer if someone less experienced moves into Deputy, but I'll argue your case, of course, should you wish it. Don't like to take it for granted that you would, given how much you've been enjoying yourself lately.

( Letter to the Editor of the Daily Prophet, 9 January 2000 )

The best thing about the end of the holiday season is not seeing any more of those ridiculous seasonal dueling matches. I'm sure there was a time when a duel featuring Father Christmas (whether with a wand himself or being held hostage by the villain of the night) was a novel sight, but that time is long past. Involving Janus is only marginally better. I suppose I should be grateful that the aged Spirit of 1999 didn't duel with and get defeated by the fresh young Spirit of 2000, but now that I've written that, I'm sure it's already in the plans for next year.

The second best thing is the lessening of the stream of broom adverts. Even as a professional Quidditcher, I hardly knew anyone who bought a new broom for Christmas every year, and yet this is what everyone is meant to expect if they're to have a magical day. Complete and utter nonsense.

The third best thing, in case you were wondering, is the end of wireless adverts in rhyme. Would that I could ensure that was a permanent end.

[Morven]
So much for coincidence. I always thought it unlikely in the first place, but capable as they may be in their various jobs, there's not a chance that all three of those children just happened to get extra duties or a promotion since starting their investigation. The young fools must have been discovered somehow. And they must be close to something, too, or there'd be little point in trying to slow them down.

Problem is we're all distracted right now. Holidays. Referendum. Special time-sensitive projects like the Euro Cup.

But even with as busy as we've been, two investigations should have gotten us farther than we are. I don't like it. They've been far too successful in halting us in our tracks.

TO: Desmond Parkin
FROM: Anonymous (Percy Weasley)
WHEN: After this exchange

( Carolgram for Mr. Parkin! )

Magical maintenance have been having quite the rough morning, if rumours are to be believed. It seems something went wrong with the charms in the DMLE overnight. But I'm sure they'll have all the snow cleared up shortly, and it can't really be affecting all the doorways. What tireless workers maintenance are in any case, and how fortunate all we in the Ministry are to have them.

[DOMGAS]
On a related note, anyone wishing to contribute to the department's annual Christmas gift to maintenance is still welcome to do so. MM does so much for us all, and it is always best to keep them on our good side. Interested parties may speak to the blonde intern, whenever she's done hiding in the toilets. If you can't find her any sooner, you may bring your contribution to the department's get-together tomorrow night.

On an unrelated note, "killing the messenger" is generally meant to be figurative and I'm sure we all want to keep it that way. Anyone considering sending an owl, memo or Holiday Carolgram to "Desmond Oglethorpe" is advised to keep this in mind and to spare any remaining innocent bystanders from an ignominious fate.

[Morven]
No need to look so smug. There are, you know, ways to make your mark without undermining your predecessor, particularly before your predecessor is out of the way. You may not care what your husband thinks of this grand joke of yours, but I do care what my wife does.

Did you learn anything useful at last night's? Come see me when you've a chance. I've already removed the mistletoe from my door, so for the sake of our little blonde minion if nothing else, please refrain from replacing it.

[Parkin-Miracles]
Sometimes think we're the last intelligent tribe known to wizardkind, if not mankind as a whole.

The snowballs in DMLE, though. Those were good. Wish I could promote whoever thought of them.

WHO: Everyone! IC/OC
WHEN: Thursday, 21 December 1999
WHERE: The Manor House, Macmillan Park
SUMMARY: Mid-Season (Christmas) Party hosted by the Montrose Magpies at Macmillan Park, cocktail dresses and blazers suggested.
RATING: Low

( Welcome to Macmillan Park )

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montrose Magpies (5-0-0 1.000) versus Caerphilly Catapults (4-2-0 0.667)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Started:1999-12-09 at Rannoch Moor
Snitch caught in : 7 hours, 10 minutes
( Quite a long match. The sellers of dubious sausage rolls had to send out for backup... )

Mistletoe? Really? Is this a place of work or is it Hogwarts?

[Janine]
The Oglethorpes have invited us to dinner Sunday. Yasmin and her husband will be there as well, so if you're heartily sick of the Scottish by then you can occupy yourselves calling Montrose terrible names together.

And Charlie has informed me he's available to take your place with me at WILD next week at a moment's notice, should you not be over it disposed to go out that evening.

[MG]
If you must annoy my wife by winning this weekend, can you at least try to make it a win worth watching? At my age it's far easier to bear the chill with good memories to warm me.

[Gwen]
I've found a toymaker who'll make a stuffed dragon and charm it to breathe (fake) fire. Acceptable for Anna?

On one hand, it's somewhat impressive to see a tied match. On the other, it feels like a waste of three and a half hours. Oh well, at least Tutshill didn't win.

The Wasps match, though. Very effective and enjoyable slaughter. Congratulations to Portree. And on the party as well, which had no illicit fires and only minor breakages from what I could tell.

[Percy Weasley]
Status report on your investigation, if you don't mind. Or have you and your group been too busy of late?

[Morven]
Can't stop thinking about the continued refusal of the Irish to take any kind of stand on the BIL. We've Scots aplenty (ah, our people), various assorted Muggleborns, even a Welsh or two, and of course the English feel the need to speak on occasion. But not a single Irish player of any sex or blood has given a yea or nay. The Irish staying silent in the first place beggars belief, but given the districts it's coming from, this is entirely too coincidental.

Kavanaugh herself's a dead end, of course. Can't get blood from a stone. But we might still be able to get at Rowan or Eoghan if we go at them slantwise. What contacts do you have with the McDonnells and McGillicuddys? Come see me tomorrow when you've written up the chess crisis, I'll be meeting with the racing committee in the afternoon but they'll be only too happy to continue without me.