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You know, it's funny. I came here expecting to be laying on the beach Christmas Day, but I got a white fucking Christmas after all.

Not sure how I feel about that.

So is it just me or is everybody going around like this snow isn't unusual? Because from what I've read this is pretty strange for California.

Well bloody hell. I'd say I didn't see that coming but I don't think anybody did really.

My heart goes out to you all, anybody from the UK knows a little bit about how this feels though I know the situations aren't exactly the same. But don't give up and don't lose hope, fight on. You won't be alone I can promise you that.

So yeah, all right. I've never really done the Halloween thing, but when in Rome, yes?

For All Hallow's Eve, the club will be having a sort of to-do. Come in costume, listen to some spooky sorts of music. Have some creepy drinks. There will be non-alcoholic spooky drinks for those under twenty-one, as well.

I cordially invite all members of Valarnet to a Masquerade Costume Ball being thrown by myself and Vanessa Ives at our home on Halloween night. The ball begins at seven that evening and goes until two the next morning.

I'd like to thank everyone who came out for the opening of my club last month. Two weeks in and business is pretty good. Can't complain, really.

Just to remind people, you can come in if you're eighteen but you have to be twenty-one to drink. They check IDs at the bar and all. But you can still have a soda or something and enjoy the music, if you can't drink.

Yeah, that's about it.

I still can’t believe Jabba the Hutt is running for president. Clowns are apparently terrorizing the south eastern United States and Ziggy Stardust went back to the stars, but this is still the most unbelievable thing about 2016. It’s just been a really very strange year, and it doesn't look like it's going to get any less weird.

Work for the new club with Damon and Enzo is gearing up nicely. If all goes according to plan, we will have a December 1st launch date.

Apparently you have to be twenty-one to serve alcohol here. I had no idea since on the East Coast it's eighteen. Up until I moved back here I'd been bartending a bar near campus so I assumed it was eighteen everywhere. Guess I'm gonna have to try and find a job somewhere else. I'm kind of disappointed cause I actually enjoyed bartending.

The hangover that I'm still feeling today, from Saturday night's indulgences, means that I've come to the realization I need to share some of the wealth from Skyhold's wine cellar. There's enough of a supply to share, anyway. These bottles are all from Thedas - there's honey mead, sipping whiskey, wine from Tevinter that you have to drink with a catsbane powder to counteract the poisoning, black currant brandy, Orlesian liqueur, something made in a bathtub, and a bunch of other stuff but also most notably Dragon's Piss. No one knows what it is. It might be literal.

I've gotten estimates to bring electricity to the fortress, though in the mountains it's tricky - one strong breeze can send the wires down for a few hours. I think the main rooms will have electricity, but most guest rooms will just be candles and wood fires. Hot water for all facilities will definitely be a go though. I guess we can call it 'eco tourism.' There's a throwback to another era, in Morocco, that I've been researching for inspiration. I might take a trip there to stay at the place, just for research purposes and to know that running a hideway without a lot of electricity is possible.

Anyway, this has been your booze-soaked post for Monday morning, enjoy.

Pretty sure nothing irritates me more than people who have no idea how to use gym equipment and follow proper safety.

Also, Trump supporters, but that's another thing entirely.

Got a new client who contacted us to plan an anniversary party. I met with them at their house today and it's one of those smart houses. Every bloody thing was controlled from a tablet. The lights, the tv, the bloody coffee maker. It was ridiculous. I can only imagine what else they can control. We rely too much on technology these days.

I just wanted to let everyone know that officially, we will be opening our doors in September. Grand opening, all that. I'll announce the official date when we get a bit closer. We are putting the finishing touches on things, want everything to be perfect for it.

Bloody hell, it's a bit warm here isn't it? Luckily the hotel has really good air conditioning otherwise I'd be nothing but a puddle on the floor.

Anyway, my friend Anne has already mentioned me but I'm Constance and I've been told this is the place to be for all the news and what have you. So here we are :)

Hello there Valarnet. My name is Anne and I moved here recently from the UK to take over one of my father's hotels. My best friend Constance came with me and she'll be my hotel manager, but I'm sure we will be looking at hiring more staff in the near future if anyone would be interested?

Of all the ways to spend my birthday, I did not want to spend it saving the girlfriend of a woman I have the hots for. And not only that, but at said party, she shows up with the girlfriend and it was just way awkward. Kenz, you get points for the birthday bash, but sorry for not being in the partying mood much. And then the ex-boyfriend was there with his current girlfriend, even though I kind of do like Ciara now. But still. The whole feeling like a third wheel was way strong. Except for wondering who the frick tall, dark and incredibly handsome was that dropped by and gave me a random birthday present.

Oh, and I'm talking about my dreams, not my actual life here because my life here is pretty damn good. I mean, it can't be any better than being engaged! Lara proposed to me, I said yes, so we're making it official. We haven't set a date yet or anything like that, but we are engaged!

Oh, and another note, I'm looking for a job. Anyone looking to hire a bartender? Preferably at a straight up bar. Clubs and the like would not be a good mix with me as I'm a succubus and you really don't want to deal with that fall out anymore than I do. Believe me.


[Private to Killian]

Okay, I'm ready to talk seriously about finding my birth mother. So, can I buy you a drink and we can talk about it? I don't have much to go on.

I heard on the radio today that, according to one of those studies that probably aren't scientifically accurate or whatever, that only 40% of couples are consummating their marriage on their wedding night. Only 40%! The rest are apparently too tired, too drunk, or want to keep partying with friends.

I don't want to live in this bloody world anymore.

But alright, this is also an annoucement to say the Hanged Man is back up to its former glory after the demon debacle. Sorry about that, we Thedosians love our catastrophes I suppose. Anyway, come on in for a chat and the Rat Droppings ale. Brewed right there!

Even if my dreams have tapered off - the new ones, anyway - apparently whatever powers that be feel it's prudent for me to still receive 'gifts.' The Wrath of Lovias sounds ominous, but it's really just a staff best used for channeling wintry magic - I know a few spells, but I'll have to work on more, even with me being down an arm for casting. The staff has an intriguing origin though, it's sort of designed after a staff belonging to the former Archon Lovias; an Archon is the mage who rules entirely over the Tevinter Imperium. But this particular Archon finally succumbed at age 89, which is a pretty good lifespan for medieval times, his death caused by choking on a fishbone of all things.

The whole story is the subject of a few comedic plays in Tevinter, which I did get to see the times I've dreamed of traveling there. Awful, but. Hilarious.

Anyway, I've gotten back to work with my regular client sessions and work with NAMI - the party to kick off their series of hiking events is coming up, and there are prizes available for the most creative hiking boots. I figure if you can spice up hiking boots, you probably deserve a prize anyway.

I put in way too many hours this week. Gave a few girls some extra time off, because they asked so nicely, and did double duty as hostess and bartender.

I forgot how exhausting that all is.

So of course after I bought Olivia the nicest, comfiest dog bed I could find she decides that she much prefers my bed. She burrows beneath the sheets and curls up behind my knees. Sometimes during the night she runs off and hops onto the couch in my living room. I think it's because she gets too warm.

I don't know what I'm going to do when I have people over.

Now the whole thing with Brexit is a mess and contentious at best, but being a Scot, I find it difficult to nay-say the talk of a vote for Scottish independence. That said, I supported the UK remaining in the EU.

Brexit has my parents arguing. My mum is firmly on the stay side and my dad wants Britain to leave. I've claimed to have no opinion whatsoever so neither of them think I'm taking sides. It's amazing watching the tallies, though. I never thought so many people would vote to leave.

So alright, here's this thing then. My brother Reg reckons it'll be good for publicity, and my therapist says it'd do me some good to socialize and the like. Though I am not sure I am very good for publicity, in general.

I am Ronnie Kray, me and my brother run a couple clubs up in London, and he wanted to bring it over to America. So I said why not California, right? And he said yeah, why not. And here we are.

I think that is about all. Lovely to meet everyone.