National Top 10 Bestselling Books Year 233

(Year 234, Spring) It's that time of year again, and this time we are more excited than ever: What books sold best last year? Publisher and Author Octavia Moon (53) met the press in San Sequoia this week, as the brand new Top 10 was released.

Octavia did not only get last year's release on the list, and she did not only get 3 titles squeezed into the Top 10, but she also reached the top: Her bestselling biography «Olivia», covering jazz legend Olivia Clump's life, did reach the very top as #1.

Judith Ward celebrates 70!

(Year 234, Spring) Global Actress Judith Ward turns 70! Although she would have preferred staying at 69 for a few more years, she went for the big announcement, that a huge party is. In the formal invitation she made it clear that she wanted to check how it is to not limit your friends to the fame level right under your own! Perhaps it was a hint that she has passed the peak of her career, but there were certainly some suggesting that she is still afraid that all the guests would believe she wants their friendship after he party... This was obviously meant as a one night only.

Well, the guest list was long, but they all had some connection to either Judith personally, or to her long film career. The party can begin!

Free download: 5 Framed Fairy Pictures

It's been a while since I added anything to my downloads page. Now I plan creating something for the many secret locations in my game, to cause discussions in my sims' homes about what that place on the old picture could be, and who in our family did bring this framed picture - have we seen it before?

If you don't plan to play any fairy related discovery story in the near future, some of these framed pictures might still be good as plain decoratives in a cottage, or even in a young girl's bedroom? Or in that chaotic room in the attic or basement. All 5 motives come with two frame alternatives - green or brown - to praise the Nature theme :).

Advorton Zoo goes Small Business

(Year 234, Spring) Mazaloom's only Zoo is located at Plaza Mariposa in Ciudad Enamorada. Mónica Lopéz is the manager, and she is assisted by her young adult son and teen daughter. Together they form a solid team tendiong to the animals, but also improving and changing the features of the zoo.

- It is important to us that repeat guests will both recognize the place and discover something new every year. With a mix of ages, preferred animals and not to mention unforseen events, it is quite a puzzle to make everyone happy - including the animals. Last year we got the Crow Advardo, but this year we ran into so many challenges that we desided that upgrading the zoo to Small Business would be enough.

Mónica welcomes us at the entrance. §29 per guest, please!

- In the past we had a couple sales tables, that one of us needed to tend during the opening hours. With the Small Business deal we just make sure to stock the goods before opening hours, and the one who used to tend the sales is now free to do something else. And believe me, at any zoo the chores never ends.

Agatha Crumplebottom Honored

(Year 234, Spring) Yesterday there was a small ceremony at region Rossie's recreation center, located at Gibbs Hill in Britechester. The main guest came from Henford-on-Bagley, to receive the Rossie medal of honor; Agatha Crumplebottom. The honor is only given to residents with a positive reputation, and they must have contributed to the community in a way that stands out a bit, positively.

Proud honoree: Agatha Crumplebottom (95).

Agatha Crumplebottom (95) was honored for founding and idealistically running her garden shop at Finchwick for decades. Most of those many years she ran the stall alone, but the recent years she was assisted by her cousin, Agnes.

People Chamber: Ministry of Science & Education

(Year 234, Spring) This is the final part of the brief introductions to the 5 ministries of People Chamber, following the Election Y230 results. The ministries cover Law & Justice, Trades & Taxes, Culture & Entertainment, Health & Welfare, and finally Science & Education. With 5 ministries and each electional period being 5 years, we have introduced one ministry per year on this blog. This is not a random thing, because each of those 5 years one ministry will have a bigger focus, and in Year 234 People Chamber will focus a little extra on community matters within Science and Education. It's a good thing not needing to cover all fields constantly, but whatever needs attention will of course be given focus by People Chamber, no matter of focus of the year.

So, here is the current members of Ministry of Science & Education!

Left to right: Emma R. Golden (Minister), Knox Greenburg,
Bianca Sterner, and Jurton Summerton Mester Foxbury.

The ongoing electional period did already have some focus on education by establishing the Old Penelope Military School (a boarding high school focusing on fitness and disciplin, located in StrangerVille), but that also involved Ministry of Law & Justice, where military naturally sorts. With a well working existing system of boarding schools on high school level, and both University of Britechester and Foxbury Institute running just fine, education might get less attention this year. Instead, science seems to hold numerous subjects for debate and possibly actions. But then something suddenly changed.

Baby Expert: Trust Your Neighbors

(Year 234, Spring) - The worst mistake I see in Parenting is taking your children for granted, says baby expert Heidi L. Wooblershield. She claims that babies are a blessing, but not being blessed with them is not the same as being cursed.

- Some of us won't have our own children, but then we might become the greatest resource to someone else's child instead. Raising a new generation is just as much a community matter and that is where we are all equally important!

Royal Estates Speculations

(Year 234, Spring) In Mazaloom kingdom there are eight royal estates, one for each of the nation's eight regions. According to recent strategies the total number of royal estates was reduced as a direct result of smaller budgets. Maintenance comes with a bill, and the size of the current royal family would probably not justify more than eight estates, anyway. Thanks to the recent regional reform, the Crown owns no estate in today's region 5 San Myshuno, but in former days this area included Del Sol Valley, where we find the royal palace. So, in a way region San Myshuno is well represented.

Top left to bottom right (numbers refer to region): 3 Royal palace Chateau Peak in Del Sol Valley, 1 Hafen Herrenhaus in Nordhaven, 2 Wyvern Hall in Britechester, 3 Villa Vigna in Tartosa, 4 Chateau Marigold in Ravenwood, 6 Sunneva Challet in San Sequoia, 7 Casa de Cha-cha in Ciudad Enamorada, 8 Queen's Stables in Newcrest.

All estates are listed with some details on the Royal Palace Office's webpage (RPO). Occasionally royals spend holidays away from the royal palace, or they might move for a couple weeks according to bigger events where they tend to engagements over numerous days. The additional estates can also be used for social events or accommodate stately guests. Basically each estate is operated by a live-in Tenant who might also work as the estate's butler, but for bigger occasions staff members might be borrowed from the royal palace.

Pepperstones splitting?

(Year 234, Spring) There are rumors that the Pepperstone couple is divorcing, or are they just splitting up strategically? Mr Laurent Pepperstone was our previous Prime Minister for one period, and he has announced that he wants to run again. His wife, Aronica, who used to work in his shadow supporting her husband's candidature, now wants a front row position for their party, too.

Aronica (de Porportoza) Pepperstone moves to Ciudad Enamorada?

The couple was married since long, and their marriage was always seen as a solid one where their only challenge was that they never managed to have children. Perhaps that is the reason they both like to focus more on politics, which can easily take a lot of time and efforts.

Mazaloom/Snorthia Conflict Solved?

(Year 234, Spring) The culture conflict between Mazaloom kingdom and Empire of Snorthia has been ongoing for a couple years. It all started by Miss Patricia Maiden revealing that the Snorthian historical painting and cultural national treassure, in fact was a portrait of Miss Maiden's mother, the long gone actress Limia (Oceanus) Maiden. In other words the motif was not as old as Snorthia claimed. The Emperor accused Mazaloom to have offended Snorthia deeply, and from there it all escaled. One example is that the Snorthian borders were closed to foreigners, and Mazaloomian atheletes were not allowed to enter the Snorthian Winter Games. We also saw that Patricia Maiden was taken hostage by Snorthia.

This week an international meeting took place in Mt. Komorebi, Snorthia.

Prime Minister Wilder and Grand Marshal Calves in front of the Council building in Mt. Comorebi.

Both Prime Minister Rob Wilder (73) and Grand Marshal Robert Calves (64) attended as the Mazaloom kingdom's representatives. While the conflict was not completely solved, the meeting helped descaling the negative impacts, and most important to many residents - the border is again open.

Nestor Wallort is dead

(Year 234, Spring) Yesterday the Nestor of Church of Similius' monastery at Windenburg Isle died, aged 96. Wallort Rose grew up in Ciudad Enamorada, but lived most of his life at the Monastery. Aged 39 he became a Monk, and 19 years later he got the Nestor position, which is the highest position within the monastery.

The monastery normally is home to 4-6 monks, they are focusing on Wellness, Thanatology and Singing, while being prepared for a position as a future Priest. One Monk will have the title Aspiring Nestor, preparing to replace the Nestor, eventually.

Call for New Botanical Garden

(Year 234, Spring) Ministry of Science & Education has announced that Mazaloom would benefit from a stronger botanical focus. We currently have two private venues focusing on plants, but neither of them are committed to the Ministry. At Gilbert Gardens in San Sequoia (region Aarbyville) there is a lovely and grand herbarium, but only the outdoors are open to the public. The location is a popular stop for a family picnic, but there is hardly any educational aspects.

In the secluded Glimmerbrook (now region Crafthole) we find Brook Herbarium, another fine indoor greenery. This one is accessible to anyone, but they mainly focus on local tradition and less on national garden history.

Minister Emma R. Golden (64, RIGHT) is now calling for initiatives to build a new national botanical garden.