The Golden Neep IC

oh god this is so embarassing

why would they think that Scrim

thank goodness my parents don't get this magazine

oh god what if Rani

Well. Never been mentioned in the gossip magazines before. Not quite what I was expecting.

For the record: we all do not know what goes on in those rooms late at night. Because it doesn't. Not in mine. At least, I don't think.

[Scrimmy]

It "could" be just friendship? Who in the world saw us at the pub and turned it into this?

[Augustus]

Has anyone mentioned the Circe article to you yet?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenmare Kestrels (7-3-0 0.700) versus Montrose Magpies (10-0-0 1.000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Started:2000-03-24 at Irish National (Conamara)
Snitch caught in : 7 hours, 18 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenmare Kestrels : 190
Montrose Magpies : 590
Congratulations, Montrose Magpies
( That'll bring the block's average up. It'll bring a lot of the league's averages up... )

[Montrose+]

A few announcements before the lineup and strategy talk in a few days:

First. Ernie Macmillan is testing out a new motion capture technology, which you all have already seen and tested in a previous practice but Friday will be the more public test he’s doing. I know it’s the day before the match, but luckily we keep those practices light anyway.

Morning will be warmup then Gregor will be running you through some drills he’ll decide on. No new techniques, formations, or plays. Treat this as a public exhibition.

Kestrels are on the 24th. Do Not Get Injured before then.

Portree plays on the 20th. Dani, can we get a box for the team to watch from? Remember everyone, this is the last Portree match before the Neep. They might be saving some of their starters but since we’ve last faced them they have 2 new starters and are finally playing their reserves (of which 1 reserve is also new since the Fall Classic..)

Note for chasers: Special attention on their new chaser, Pepper. And McCormack. They gave her a break last match so she might be extra intense on this one.

Not an announcement but congratulations Jason on finishing what sounded like a truly mad Annual Broom Race. We’re all very proud of you for it.

[Gregor]

For Friday morning for the Macmillan lad’s demonstration, throw the normal practice plans out. We don’t know who he invited and I’d rather treat it as a public exhibition of sorts with just a smaller audience. Classic skills drills, the more movement the better, but I’ll let you plan and decide on what. Have fun with it, make the players look good.

And we have a few other things we’ll need to start talking about.

[Florrie]

Alright. Of these 4, who’s in the best flying shape for next match.

Maddock
Jason
Ada
Kal

Who: Augustus Pye & Kal Sharma
What: Kal was injured
When: Sunday March 11 | evening
Where: Kal’s Flat
Warnings: F for Fluff

( You don't have to worry. I have an amazing healer. )

Who: 1991 Study Group + Significant Others (or Alternate Guests) + Gina (until bedtime)
What: Pye Day! (AKA Happy Birthday, Augustus!)
When: Wednesday evening, March 14
Where: Charlie, Dani, and Gina's house
Warnings: Likely nothing?

( Kal had dropped off quite a few of the things that morning. )

Ye know what takes fuckin' forever?

Packing up and movin'. The worst.

Good riddance ta all this shit.

[Kal]

How ye feeling? That was pretty braw, as our medic would say.

[...]
Can I ask ye a question?

[Amir]

Hey so how does it feel ta be a real pro quidditcher? Doesn't count until ye fly.

( Late Monday owl for Ada & Kal )

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montrose Magpies (9-0-0 1.000) versus Wigtown Wanderers (4-5-0 0.444)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Started:2000-03-11 at Scottish National Stadium at The Lamb
Snitch caught in : 6 hours, 0 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montrose Magpies : 950
Wigtown Wanderers : 940
Congratulations, Montrose Magpies
( It's always a sad day when they don't let us out of the stadium until after happy hour ends... )

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pride of Portree (7-1-1 0.778) versus Caerphilly Catapults (6-4-0 0.600)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Started:2000-03-09 at Rannoch Moor
Snitch caught in : 1 hours, 35 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pride of Portree : 430
Caerphilly Catapults : 50
Congratulations, The Pride of Portree
( It's always a sad day when they let us out of the stadium before happy hour... )

Who: Kal Sharma and Lex Yaxley Savage
What: Kal stumbles across Lex after her talk with Jason
When: Monday, 5 March before Montrose practice
Where: Showers, Montrose club rooms
Warnings: Feelings

( I just need to get out there and smack some bludgers around. )

( Not an IC cut. )


Pink clothing felt like cheating since I wear it all the time, so I came up with something new!

[Montrose+]

Alright team this is a big month for us. We're nearing the end of the regular season and the first Neep on the 31st.

Since at this point in this season, with only 3 blocs left, we have a very solid grasp on a good playoff seed, I’m going to turn our attention to starting strong with the Neep. We are not going easy on the regular season teams, but we are going to try and save some of our strength for hitting Portree hard right off the bat.

Which means the lineups for this month are subject to change and up in the air but I will tell you ahead of time some of my plans for them so a few of you are prepared. Please note these are tentative.

Tentative line up notes:

Chasers: I don Wigtown will be Jason, Roger, and Angus. Maddock, listen to Florrie and heal well. We still have a lot ahead we need you for. Unfortunately nothing much to give you lot right now other than the Wigtown lineup, it’s all up in the air.

Beaters: Lex and Georgi, you’re on Neep. But Kal, I’m playing you for both Wigtown and the Kestrels. You’re more than ready for both. Who's playing which match with you is still to be determined but one for each either way.

Keepers: Micah is leading us into the Neep so Ada you’ll be getting one of the two regular season matches. I’ll get back to you on which.

Seekers: Lennox, normally I’d rest you for the match the week before the Neep, you’re going to be absolutely vital there, but that match is against the Kestrels. And Lynch is the only one experienced and levelheaded enough to give you any kind of a challenge. So that’s not one I can rest you on, unfortunately we’ll need you to play both those matches. So Kenna, I’m giving you Wigtown. We’ll talk about their seekers in detail later.

[Montrose Staff]

Regarding having a pink team at the match:

I’m going to say again, it’s not mandatory, I want people to do it in the spirit of support and solidarity not because it’s mandated.

But I want to support this how we can. Roger had a mention of pink boots in Jason’s entry, that and rosettes might not be a bad idea? Opinions? Whatever we do will need to be a rush order though.

And Jason wants the magpie on his robes to be a neon pink, I’ve told him I’m very happy for him to have that screw any fines. But seeing as he won’t have time to fiddle around with designs...Mick? Should be a fun project for a change. Take the practice uniforms and experiment so that Jason has options to choose from.

[PRIVATE]

To Do list:

• Follow up with Florrie - Maddock for the Kestrels match?
  
• Speaking of Florrie: bday gift + dinner
  
• Dinner at mum’s this week
  
• Work out tentative lineups for the next 3 matches (Wigtown/Kestrels/Neep)
  
• Line up considerations:
  
  • Maddock recovery time (out for Wigtown, ?Kestrels but if so then iffy on playing him for Neep)
    
  • Jason’s Broom Race
    
  • Need for starter rest
    
  • Captain or ViceCap needs to be in play for each match
    
  • Kestrels > Wigtown, unfortunate timing though
    
  • Neep lineup needs to be saved up where possible, but balanced with what’s reasonable to put reserves on
    
  • Lennox vs. Lynch needs to stay
    
  • Georgi/Lex: Which on wigtown, which on kestrels
    
  • Ada - Wigtown or Kestrels
    
  • Chasers - who the hell knows right now
  
  
• Buckle down on Portree research
  
  • Roberts era Portree (focus on the prime years)
    
  • Old Ballycastle - Pepper (+possibly Okeke)
    
  • Dig up Wigtown matches - Okeke
    
  • Galbraith in case (no way they don’t play McCormack) - Cannons (this will be painful to go through) + Wanderers if there’s time
    
  • Listen to Parkinson recordings Gregor dug up - their giant hasn’t completely found his spot in the BIL style of play just yet, there’s more that can come from him
  
  
• Celtics for Kai’s potential debut on the 15th
  
• Attend Portree vs. Cats
  
• Consider updating Potential Future Players list for offseason wants/needs
  
  • Revisit Georgi’s contract pending Peppard’s progress
  
  
• Ideally keep the top seed for the postseason run (fuck the Bats)
  
• Follow up on pink additions for the match (for players/staff)
  
• Find some extra pink to wear or charm something pink for self

Breakfast with my parents is always an enjoyable time, but today came with especially interesting news—they're moving! They've been in the same house in Leicester ever since getting married when I was eleven, so it's a little sad, but I can see why they want a change. Rani and I have the convenience of coming to see them whenever we want, no matter how far away we live, but they don't have the same benefit. Since Rani is in London now, and so are a few of our other relatives, they decided to find a place there.

That makes me the oddball up here in Scotland. (I can already see the faces of my Scottish mates now. Not oddball, right? Obviously the only smart one.)

[Augustus]

It's your birthday soon, right? I'd like to plan to take you out, even if we can't on your actual birthday. When will you know what your schedule will be like?

[Study Group - Augustus + Kal]

Officially putting feelers out there for the birthday party date. I'll let you all know once Augustus has confirmed when he's off work. For now, he'll think it's only going to be the two of us.

Who: Augustus Pye & Kal Sharma
What: Talking about things and Uplift
When: Monday, Feb 26 | evening
Where: Kal's flat
Warnings: Cuteness and Language

( What made you decide to join? )

To all the “Pink” & Uplift Supporters:

Thank you to everyone who showed up at the Kenmare match. It was refreshing to see such a presence in stands. Rest assured we plan to keep this momentum going.

We are here. And we are not going away.

[WARD to MONTROSE STAFF & PLAYERS]

In taking a cue from Kenmare presence at their match, I would like to formally request that Montrose considers a uniform alteration as a statement of unity. After the Falmouth incident, we cannot afford to be silent.

As you know, I have been at the forefront of this movement. What I am asking for now is for Montrose to publicly show unity and support for those with muggle heritage and their loved ones.

Please stand with me. Let us all come out against Wigtown in black, white, and pink.

[//WARD to MONTROSE]

[WARD to COACH McG & SHONA]

And as I ask you to stand with me, I also realize that Maddock’s injury was unexpected. Although I had requested to be rested the week before the Annual Broom Race, please have no doubt that Montrose comes first.

I am fully prepared to start against Wigtown. I am ready to change, and even cancel, my Annual Broom Race plans. Please just keep me updated.

[//WARD to COACH McG & SHONA]

When I first finished healer training, my mum gave me a stethoscope as a congratulations gift. So, I am ashamed to admit that I had mixed feelings about it at the time. It was a thoughtful gift and it wasn't cheap but I didn't feel comfortable actually using it. The stethoscope is pretty much a universal symbol for a Muggle Doctor, for those of you who have never been or seen a Doctor before. Healers typically use listening trumpets which basically do the same thing, internal listening of the human body. At the time I remember thinking that if I walked into Mungo's wearing a stethoscope, I might get in trouble again for trying to incorporate 'barbaric muggle medicine' into my work again.

I had already gotten in trouble once for using stitches for a snake bite instead of simply using a spell to mend the wound. I think the only reason I wasn't really reprimanded was because the patient wanted stitches, and actually had been fascinated about how muggles did things differently. Regardless, as a young healer I'd already been worried about standing out. This was also in 1996 when people admitting your support for muggles and muggleborns could get you killed.

So, the more I think and help out with the Uplift/Pink Movement, I keep thinking about what changes I want to see and how I can help out more than just wearing pink at a Quidditch match. So, I've been doing an experiment since Tuesday. I found my stethoscope and I wore it to work and waited to see what happened. Of course I got strange looks, and a lot of curious questions about where I got it and what it was for. Some older patients looked at it like it was a dangerous creature around my neck ready to attack, but whatever. What was consistent was how I explained each time that my Mum, who was a muggle, gave it to me to use it like muggle doctors do.

Spell-o-Taped in

I also transfigured them pink. Just in case the muggleborn message wasn't clear enough. I think the colour goes well with the lime green robes. Maybe it will catch on, but at least I can support Uplift and friends at work too, and not just in the stands at a Quidditch match. Congratulations to the Kestrals.

The Cannons are playing the Wasps this weekend and I got a good feeling about Chudley's chances. It's gotta be their time sometime, right?

[Study Group]
Charlie, can you get me odds?

I'm planning on going out to the Drunken Seer on Friday night. Can't say much but work's about to get really busy. So if anyone's up for drinks let me know?


[Study Group sans Augustus but with Kal!]
What are we doing for Pye Day this year?

[Kal]
Pye day is Pye's birthday on the 14th of March and has nerdy Muggle math references for Americans who write the date backwards. Don't break up with him before then, alright? (I mean, don't break up with him at all, but that would be a terrible birthday present.)

[Dunbar]
Hey mate, I got an update for you.

[Lex]
Ten? I'm gonna be coming from the Falcons match. Sorta.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falmouth Falcons (3-6-1 0.300) versus Kenmare Kestrels (6-3-0 0.667)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Started:2000-03-01 at Bodmin Moor
Snitch caught in : 21 hours, 12 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falmouth Falcons : 250
Kenmare Kestrels : 1080
Congratulations, Kenmare Kestrels
( We would especially like to welcome all the representatives of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement community who have chosen to join us here at the Bodmin Moor Quidditch Pitch at this time. We do sincerely hope you all enjoy the game. And please remember, people, that no matter who you are and what you do to live, thrive and survive, there are still some things that make us all the same. You. Me. Them. Everybody. Everybody. )

[Magpie players + Gregor]

I have a proposition for all of you. Stop what you're doing immediately, this is more important.

As some of you may know, I lost my last girlfriend in the wilds of Canada during my holiday by the sea a few years back. Dinna fash, I'm fine, it's onward and upward for Angus Campbell. The trouble is now I've come back from that I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, I live on a wee island, and for various reasons I've not been in the dating game lately. Reckon I need a wee bit of help.

I'm going to need each one of you to set me up with a woman during the next month. I dinnae have many criteria except that she should be female, single, relatively age-appropriate, not affiliated with Portree, and not deathly bored by Quid. If she should happen to be Scottish, lovely, appreciates the outdoors and the sea, and has a flush account at Gringotts, so much the better.

All right, all of ye have your assignments. Operation Forward March is go.

[Montrose+]

You are all amazing, Magpies. I can't believe I'm a part of this team.

[Augustus]

Let me know when you're back from St. Mungo's, and I'll bring you some food. If you want.

[Hamish/Augustus]

It was nice meeting you at the match today. Thanks for keeping me company while the referees went completely mental.