Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 12h

That blew the cobwebs away - choppy 8C

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 19h

Tuesday October 10, 1854.

Brandram's Wharf: just after midnight.

The wash of waves against the timbers of the wharf; the air damp and heavy. I pen this as I await the escapees, though Sir John sent me out without a penny. Do I hear footsteps?

[a splash of blood marks the page as the entry ends]

2 7 11

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 1d

Monday October 9, 1854.

"Your former colleagues seem woefully ill informed." Sir John sniffed, rifled through a drawer, and tossed a poorly written note at me.

"You put us in clink," it read. "Bring us fifty quid to Brandram's Wharf this very night or we finish wot we started!"

1 8 18

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Michael Gallagher @mtgallagher.bsky.social · 3d

Confusingly, Octavius has a few different nicknames used by various groups of people.

Gooseberry (at work) on account of his bulging eyes.

Octopus (by the criminal fraternity) as a tribute to his ability as a pickpocket when strolling through a crowd.

1 3

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Christine Stovell @chrisstovell.bsky.social · 2d

View from the not at all cold tub this morning. Water temperature 16°c

1 1

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 2d

Sunday October 8, 1854.

"Did Bertha have any leads?" asked George as we huddled against the rain under the church's meagre eaves. Everyone else had made a run for it.

"She reckons they're headed for the Highlands. The one who wasn't caught has a brother with a remote croft there."

8 14

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 3d

bit of a difference to the water temp in italy. 8C and gusty, but the sun came out.

1 5

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 3d

Saturday October 7, 1854.

I am perfectly happy using my underworld acquaintances to help me solve a case; I am perfectly unhappy to be ordered to do so!

Bertha was unequivocal. "They legged it," she said. "Wouldn't surprise me if they wasn't in Scotland by now. Another sherry, Octopus?"

2 6 19

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 4d

Friday October 6, 1854.

My employer Mr Bruff summoned me to his office.

"This is Sir John Geeson," he said as I entered. "I still act on behalf of his wife."

A greying gent with luxuriant whiskers eyed me disparagingly.

"Ignore his youth," said Mr Bruff. "Gooseberry's your man."

3 6 20

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 5d

Thursday October 5, 1854.

The three convicts (minus a fourth man who got clean away) were jailed for house breaking.

They'd been apprehended at gunpoint by the owner, Sir John Geeson, but not before his wife had been brutally struck down.

Lady Geeson remains in a coma to this day.

2 6 17

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 6d

Then buses back to Glasgow Airport. £50 excess on parking.
Route home flooded and blocked with trees so diversion through falling trees and floods. Got home at 3am exhausted.
At least we had power.!

1 1 4

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 6d

What a journey. It was all going so smooth until Storm Amy showed her face.
2 attempted landings at Glasgow then abort, finally got to Newcastle. Sat on the plane for over an hour. Then disembarked and stood in the airport for over an hour. .... 1 of 2

1 1 4

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 6d

Wednesday October 4, 1854.

"They got details here of the crime those escaped prisoners were tried for." George flicked his newspaper to straighten it.

"Don't tell me," said I. "Whatever it was, there was a fourth man involved, who managed to get clean away."

George's jaw dropped.

1 7 19

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 7d

Tuesday October 3, 1854.

On Saturday last, having toured the new meat market at Copenhagen Fields, I'd happened upon a man kneeling over a cage in the field at the north-eastern corner.

I heard the flurry of wings and saw two pigeons take to the sky, headed for Pentonville Prison.

2 8 19

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 8d

Monday October 2, 1854.

George and I were seated in our office, each trying to tempt Mr Tibbles from his box, when one of the junior clerks burst in with the news: three prisoners had escaped from Pentonville Prison on the Caledonian Road.

Oddly the pigeons I'd seen nearby sprung to mind.

2 8 18

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 9d

Sunday October 1, 1854.

To church in Camden; the sermon was boring.

Afterwards I told George what I'd seen yesterday: "They've taken the fields and sectioned them off, and built brick abattoirs everywhere."

I don't know why, but I didn't mention the man I'd seen with the pigeons.

9 18

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Paul Carr @organistpaul.bsky.social · 10d

This evening’s concert is in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany - a picturesque town on the banks of the Moselle.
The church of St Briktius houses a large and powerful instrument complete with an impressive set of horizontal trumpets.
Music from Germany, England and France…

www.pfarrei.de/veranstaltun...

1 4 9

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 10d

Morning swim 24C. Will miss this warmth

1 1 7

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 10d

Saturday September 30, 1854.

After eating a leisurely breakfast I considered what to do with my day.

Since it wasn't raining, I took a stroll up the Caledonian Road to see what progress had been made at Copenhagen Fields, the site where London's new meat market will go.

9 20

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 11d

I had tears in my eyes. The politicians need to read this xx

1 1

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 11d

Pompeii. Amazing

1 2 13

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 11d

Woo hoo. Well done Sir 💎💎

1 8

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 11d

Friday September 29, 1854.

"You delivered it up then?"

"I did, George."

George smiled smugly. "Bet it feels good knowing that you did the right thing!"

It felt even better knowing that I had a receipt for my ruby and that, when Sergeant Gray was through with it, I'd be getting it back!

2 8 17

Liz Stevens @lizziekillin.bsky.social · 12d

Concattedrale di santissima Maria Assunta e San Catello

1 7

Reposted by Liz Stevens

Octavius Guy, Esq. @sendforoctavius.bsky.social · 12d

Thursday September 28, 1854.

"So this ruby was given to Mr Goodman by the scurrilous Mrs Klein?"

"Out of guilt over the attack, I believe."

"And you found it in the clock you bought?"

I nodded.

"I expect you'll be wanting a receipt."

Sergeant Gray sat down at his desk and began to write.

1 9 18