Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: art600 on January 06, 2010, 06:29:44 PM
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These made me chuckle whilst confined by this awful weather. Thought they deserved a larger audience 8)
These are sentences actually typed by Medical secretaries
1. The patient has no previous history of suicides.
2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital.
3. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.
4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.
7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
9. Discharge status:- Alive, but without my permission.
10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.
11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
12. She is numb from her toes down.
13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
14. The skin was moist and dry.
15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.
17. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.
18. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physical therapy.
19. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.
20. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
21. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.
22. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.
23. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.
24. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.
25. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.
26. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.
27. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.
28. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.
29. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.
30. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.
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Ah Gawd, Arthur, that was good but it's hard to type with laughter tears running down my cheeks.
Paddy
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When I finally made it to the bottom of my garden and into the bulb house, I was delighted to find an Anemone coronaria in flower - it was blue (but not from the cold ;D).
Forgot my camera, but when I next venture out I will post a picture.
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Judging by some of the terminology ("physical therapy"; "ER"; "airplane [isn't that a film?]) this selection originated from across the pond.
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I like to think the NHS has filters.....
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More snow today. Struggling to open gates when feeding ponies but......seeds from SRGC arrived today. Nearly all first choices and some rarities including what looks like true Silene hookeri at last!! I've listed the seeds, written names on the packets and written the labels. I do have a bag of John Innes seed compost in the shed but it will be rather cold to handle and mix with grit so I think I'll postpone sowing for a few days yet. There must be a foot of snow on the cold frame so it will be a while before I can get the seed pots in there.
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These made me chuckle whilst confined by this awful weather. Thought they deserved a larger audience 8)
10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.
How did YOU know this Arthur, never told you? ???
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More snow today. Struggling to open gates when feeding ponies but......seeds from SRGC arrived today. Nearly all first choices and some rarities including what looks like true Silene hookeri at last!! I've listed the seeds, written names on the packets and written the labels. I do have a bag of John Innes seed compost in the shed but it will be rather cold to handle and mix with grit so I think I'll postpone sowing for a few days yet. There must be a foot of snow on the cold frame so it will be a while before I can get the seed pots in there.
I think you are very lucky, Roma.... the Seed Gang picked several hundred orders at the weekend, to be packed for posting, but I hear that the snow around the Bainbridges is dreadful and they are snowed in, I think, so I think you have been most fortunate!
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Lucky you Roma, it sounds like a very special delivery - it's good to have a growing project to think about in the cold winter days :)
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My copy of Martin Baxendale's book, "The Snowdrop Garden" arrived yesterday from Amazon UK. It looks lovely with a beautiful snowdroppy cover but I'm saving it until I've finished my current batch of library book and the half dozen I bought at Christmas. It is very reasonably priced and the freight to NZ cost more than the book itself.
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I sometimes wish I had your restraint, Lesley. With me the latest book to arrive simply jumps to the top of the queue to be read. I do eventually get to the end of the waiting list.
Paddy
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Roma good luck with your seeds. I remember seeing Silene Hookeri in one of the SRGC journal I think it was one of Cyril Lafong amazing plant. I thought I might do my meconopsis seeds next week . Getting a bit fed up with all this snow, I am itching to get going
I remember how much more work it was looking after my ponies when everything was frozen but I loved watching them roll around in the snow, they just loved it.
Angie :)
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I sometimes wish I had your restraint, Lesley. With me the latest book to arrive simply jumps to the top of the queue to be read. I do eventually get to the end of the waiting list.
No Paddy, I savour each new book for a while, gradually building up to it. I used to keep Ian Rankin's for weeks before diving in, but the first he wrote after Rebus retired wasn't up to much, I thought, and I've got the next one on hold for the moment.
I've just discovered Laurie R. King, an American who writes new Sherlock Holmes stories. They're great.
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I sometimes wish I had your restraint, Lesley. With me the latest book to arrive simply jumps to the top of the queue to be read. I do eventually get to the end of the waiting list.
No Paddy, I savour each new book for a while, gradually building up to it. I used to keep Ian Rankin's for weeks before diving in, but the first he wrote after Rebus retired wasn't up to much, I thought, and I've got the next one on hold for the moment.
I've just discovered Laurie R. King, an American who writes new Sherlock Holmes stories. They're great.
I've just started 'The Famous Five go to Kew'! :D
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I sometimes wish I had your restraint, Lesley. With me the latest book to arrive simply jumps to the top of the queue to be read. I do eventually get to the end of the waiting list.
No Paddy, I savour each new book for a while, gradually building up to it. I used to keep Ian Rankin's for weeks before diving in, but the first he wrote after Rebus retired wasn't up to much, I thought, and I've got the next one on hold for the moment.
I've just discovered Laurie R. King, an American who writes new Sherlock Holmes stories. They're great.
I've just started 'The Famous Five go to Kew'! :D
Who wrote that one Cliff? I must look out for it. An order to the local UBS sounds about right. ;D
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I sometimes wish I had your restraint, Lesley. With me the latest book to arrive simply jumps to the top of the queue to be read. I do eventually get to the end of the waiting list.
No Paddy, I savour each new book for a while, gradually building up to it. I used to keep Ian Rankin's for weeks before diving in, but the first he wrote after Rebus retired wasn't up to much, I thought, and I've got the next one on hold for the moment.
I've just discovered Laurie R. King, an American who writes new Sherlock Holmes stories. They're great.
I've just started 'The Famous Five go to Kew'! :D
Who wrote that one Cliff? I must look out for it. An order to the local UBS sounds about right. ;D
Actually, it's "The Famous Five go to Queue", about the time they failed to find empolyment and went on the dole.
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I sometimes wish I had your restraint, Lesley. With me the latest book to arrive simply jumps to the top of the queue to be read. I do eventually get to the end of the waiting list.
No Paddy, I savour each new book for a while, gradually building up to it. I used to keep Ian Rankin's for weeks before diving in, but the first he wrote after Rebus retired wasn't up to much, I thought, and I've got the next one on hold for the moment.
I've just discovered Laurie R. King, an American who writes new Sherlock Holmes stories. They're great.
I've just started 'The Famous Five go to Kew'! :D
Actually, it's "The Famous Five go to Queue", about the time they failed to find empolyment and went on the dole.
A doleful tale indeed!
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I think was a song made about it, recorded by UB40? ::)
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No, that was UB56.
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Ho Ho Ho!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UB40
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I'm so happy that I got my central heating boiler going again after it broke down today - and without having to pay anyone! Result!!! It was gurgling and the gas jets kept cutting out, along with a light indicating an air pressure switch fault. After a couple of hours fiddling around inside it and up on the roof listening to the gurgling flue I deduced that the flue condenser water outlet pipe to the outside drain (totally unlagged by the engineer when it was installed three years ago) was frozen solid and my boiler was slowly drowning itself. Two hours to locate the fault and five minutes with a hot kettle to solve it. Phew!!!!
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Well done, Martin.... a satisfying outcome indeed.
You could have got more than a bruised behind if you'd fallen off the roof, though :o
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You need to draw us a picture Martin - of you on the roof with the kettle. ;D
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How truly wonderful Martin, not only to have a clue what you're talking about but to be able to do something about it. Well done! ;D
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I had to google unlagged ::)
Isn't it nice to learn new things each day!!
This forum is so educational ;D
I hope unlagged 'does' actually mean uninsulated?
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I had to google unlagged ::)
Isn't it nice to learn new things each day!!
This forum is so educational ;D
I hope unlagged 'does' actually mean uninsulated?
Yes, to lag a pipe is to insulate it. Pretty stupid of the installer to leave the pipe uninsulated given that when it freezes the condensed water from the flue backs up the pipe into the flue, blocking the flue and eventually dripping into the firebox! A fairly important pipe to not have freeze up on you.
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Yes, to lag a pipe is to insulate it. Pretty stupid of the installer to leave the pipe uninsulated given that when it freezes the condensed water from the flue backs up the pipe into the flue, blocking the flue and eventually dripping into the firebox! A fairly important pipe to not have freeze up on you.
That's for sure.
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Just had my chum Linda on the phone.... she's been unfreezing her version of Martin's pipe with her hairdryer.... but its at ground level :D
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I think hair driers are essential equipment for plumbers this year?
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I'm so happy that I got my central heating boiler going again after it broke down today - and without having to pay anyone! Result!!! It was gurgling and the gas jets kept cutting out, along with a light indicating an air pressure switch fault. After a couple of hours fiddling around inside it and up on the roof listening to the gurgling flue I deduced that the flue condenser water outlet pipe to the outside drain (totally unlagged by the engineer when it was installed three years ago) was frozen solid and my boiler was slowly drowning itself. Two hours to locate the fault and five minutes with a hot kettle to solve it. Phew!!!!
I had the same problem on Friday morning. After faffing about with the installation manual and getting no where fast, I called the central heating engineer, who installed the boiler, and lives 50 yards from me. Luckily for me, I jumped to the top of the queue - everybody was looking for a gas fitter. When he arrived a couple of hours later, he asked for a kettle of boiling water to unblock the ice-plug that had formed on the condensation outlet trap. It was only because of the length of time of below freezing temperatures that this has happened. Next time- if any-I will know what to do. The lowest temp. in Ayr has been -8c. As luck would have it I decided to plant out my tender Rhododendrons in October as we never get heavy or prolonged frost here !!! I will have to wait until March to see if they have survived.
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This is the first year I didn't get round to lifting and storing my carrots. If I need one it's a major seek and find expedition.
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This is the first year I didn't get round to lifting and storing my carrots. If I need one it's a major seek and find expedition.
I had the carrots lifted but have failed to lift parsnips over the Christmas period as they were frozen in the ground. However, it is said that the taste of parsnips improves after a period of frost.
Happy that my water supply has returned, pipes thawed out this evening.
Paddy
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We in the land of do-it-yourself (we're said to have a No 8 wire mentality) tend to lag our pipes with old pyjamas, sacking or similar no-cost materials though the more sophisticated nowadays use aluminium sheeting lined with wool or glass fibre to wrap round their pipes and hot water cylindars in order to save heat loss and thus save on electricity costs.
Wonder where the term "old lag" came from? I know where he's been though. ;D
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Lesley,
On the farm where I grew up we used old sheepskins on the outside taps etc to stop them freezing. Growing up on a sheepfarm meant there was somewhat easier access to sheepskins too. ;)
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We in the land of do-it-yourself (we're said to have a No 8 wire mentality) tend to lag our pipes with old pyjamas, sacking or similar no-cost materials though the more sophisticated nowadays use aluminium sheeting lined with wool or glass fibre to wrap round their pipes and hot water cylindars in order to save heat loss and thus save on electricity costs.
Wonder where the term "old lag" came from? I know where he's been though. ;D
Lesley, I think an old lag used to refer to a convict.
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They used convicts as pipe insulation!! Geez, life was tough back then. ;D
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Mmmm, of the kind who's been in and out several times and is nowadays friendly with the likes of Rebus, Skinner et al, in order to pass along information for a monetary or liquid consideration. Yes. But I wondered where the term originated. WHY is he called an old lag?
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My dick and harrys tell me that in the 16th Century "lag" was used as a verb "to steal" or "carry off" .... hence "old lag" for a recidivist.
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My Collins says it comes from the use of lag to mean to imprison, but gives the 19th century origin as unknown.
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Oh, right, thanks to you both. I enjoy exploring the origins of words.
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My Collins says it comes from the use of lag to mean to imprison, but gives the 19th century origin as unknown.
I thought imprisoning was supoosed to isolate, not insulate? ;D
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... And does a slowcoach 'imprison' or 'insulate' behind? 8)
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AT LAST!
The AGS have published details of the programme for the Eighth International Alpine Conference in 2011.
Diane Clement has posted here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2751.msg130127#msg130127
Keep a look out on the AGS site for booking details because I have no idea when this information will be released to the SRGC.
I am told there will be an "early bird" booking discount and I will let you know as soon as I hear anything. ::)
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With nothing better to do, I dredged these up from the net.
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;D ;D
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I like the (male) logic of the "woman=problems" one. Of course it is not money but the LOVE of money that we're told is the root of all evil. My mother used to say that it was the LACK of money that was the root of a great deal of it. :)
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Regarding the disabled notice. Disabled mind doesn't qualify either.
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Just to say had a great evening tonight, never seen so much fantastic bulbs on show. Was at a meeting in Aberdeen tonight and Ian was our speaker. After weeks of being stuck at home Ian was like a rush of fresh air, it was great. I couldn't believe that he could have bulbs flowering all year around but sure enough he proved me wrong .His photography and knowledge is amazing. Aren't we lucky here in Aberdeen ;)
Angie :)
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Aren't we lucky here in Aberdeen
Indeed you are Angie, fortunately he is sometimes tempted beyond the border ;D
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We can even profit from his expertise and enthusiasm over the internet in Ian's fantastic Bulblogs - this is what is so magic and enlightening about the Forum, news reaches us even in the highest Alps 8)
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Tiger Shark spotted off the Florida coast. Paddy
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;D ;D ;D
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If you have two minutes to spare ... hope there weren't any alpines up there!
http://www.viddler.com/explore/michimammut/videos/2/45.985/
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Just the sort of thing you could get up to this Summer Cliff.....via ferrata here we come ;D
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Just the sort of thing you could get up to this Summer Cliff.....via ferrata here we come ;D
That was Sue on the end, Martin ... I'm third from the right - shaking uncontrollably!! ;D
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That was Sue on the end, Martin ... I'm third from the right - shaking uncontrollably!! ;D
I like the bit at about 2.14 where the chap in the helicopter seems to be saying "forward a bit" to the folk on the rock ::)
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Ah! It's the 'In Pin' ;)
I'm sure that they need someone to stay at the bottom and guard the ruck sacks.
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Ah! It's the 'In Pin' ;)
I'm sure that they need someone to stay at the bottom and guard the ruck sacks.
It's very like it, isn't it? But does Skye get that much snow? ::)
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It's the Furkapass in Switzerland.
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We're having a Scottish joke, Cliff..... it's a bit higher than the InPin.....
Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle
Summit NG444215
Height 986 m
Furka Pass height 2436 m
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Hardly any difference, is there.
Cliff, the In Pin (Innacessable Pinacle) is the only technically difficult Munro and does look rather like your Furkapass. I bet the two did look even more similar a week or two ago!!!!
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Perhaps I'm just not used to Scottish jokes ... not since poor old Chic Murray passed. :D
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Thought this deserved a wider audience
This should put a smile on every teacher and caregivers face, because I think we've all been there!
The Winter Boots
(Anyone who has ever dressed a child will love this)
Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her reception class pupils put on his boots? He asked for help and she could see why Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots still didn't want to go on. By the time they got the second boot on, she had worked up a sweat.
She almost cried when the little boy said, 'Teacher, they're on the wrong feet. '
She looked, and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as, together, they worked to get the boots back on, this time on the right feet.
He then announced, 'These aren't my boots.'
She bit her tongue, rather than get right in his face and scream, 'Why didn't you say so? ' like she wanted to. Once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off his little feet.
No sooner had they gotten the boots off when he said, 'They're my brother's boots. My Mum made me wear 'em.'
Now she didn't know if she should laugh or cry. But she mustered up what grace and courage she had left to wrestle the boots on his feet again.
Helping him into his coat, she asked, 'Now, where are your mittens? 'He said, 'I stuffed 'em in the toes of my boots.'
She will be eligible for parole in three years.
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Good one, Arthur. With that and the fact we now have a good snow covering outside, I couldn't be happier today ;D
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What's a reception class?
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What's a reception class?
The semi-nursery class that some schools have for the youngest of the primary one intake .... that's how I've heard it used here.
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OK. Thanks Maggi.
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I was sure that Maggi (and other cycling enthusiasts) would've made mention of the "Tour Downunder" which has just started in South Australia ??? Or maybe you don't get coverage of it over there?
cheers
fermi
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We do get some coverage of it here in Cyclistland (synonym for Belgium) Fermi. On the news, we did see the sprints won bei Andre Greipel... beating on one occasion our Gerd Steegmans >:(
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I've been so much in front of this screen lately (even more so than usual, that is ;D ) that I had quite forgotten about the Upsidedown Tour.... so I will need to pay more attention and see what I coverage I can catch.
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DUI - Irish Style
Recently a routine police patrol was parked outside a bar in Donegal Town . After last call, the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so apparently intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing.
After what seemed an eternity, in which he tried his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his car and fall into it. He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off.
Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off; it was a fine, dry summer night, flicked the blinkers on and off a couple of times, honked the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little, and then remained still for a few more minutes as some more of the other patrons' vehicles left.
At last, when his was the only car left in the parking lot, he pulled out and drove slowly down the road. The police officer, having waited patiently all this time, now started up his patrol car, put on the flashing lights, and promptly pulled the man over and administered a breathalyser test.
To his amazement, the breathalyser indicated no evidence that the man had consumed any alcohol at all! Dumbfounded, the officer said, 'I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyser equipment must be broken.'
'I doubt it,' said the man , truly proud of him self. 'Tonight I'm the designated decoy!
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Too funny, Michael. Thanks for the laugh!!
;D ;D ;D
PS, I bet it only works once.
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I'm so happy because I'm sprouting snowdrops ;D
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The mention of a bull on the Galanthus thread brought this to mind.
The Power of a Badge . . . . ..
DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas , and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher says, "Okay, but do not go in that field over there," as he points out the location.
The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, " Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me." Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher. "See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish . . . . On any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"
The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.
A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull . . . . . ..
With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get gored before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs . . . . .
"Your Badge, show him your Badge!"
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;D ;D ;D
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I'm so happy because although the SRGC website was down for a couple of hours last night/early today all now seems to be well! :)
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;D ;D ;D ;D I'm happy, too, this morning to find that there are more great postings and I don't have to worry about withdrawal symptoms as Admin has come to the fore once more 8) 8) 8) :-*
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I'm so happy because although the SRGC website was down for a couple of hours last night/early today all now seems to be well! :)
Many thanks to Fred, I was getting withdrawal symptoms too!
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Not sure if it belongs here, but good luck to Andy Murray in the Oz open final ;D ;D ;D
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YES YES YES 8) 8) 8)
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Yep! I guess the TV cameras will be back in Dunblane again? Last night his Uncle Neil and his gran were interviewed, along with staff in Bennett's (butcher); Mathieson's (baker) and the bookies (sorry, the candlestick maker went out of business. The recession and all that.)
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Not sure if it belongs here, but good luck to Andy Murray in the Oz open final ;D ;D ;D
And what about our Justine in her final ?? >:( ;) ;D
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... (sorry, the candlestick maker went out of business. The recession and all that.)
It gets on your wick doesn't it,, Anthony? :D
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Luc, good luck to Justine, I hope she wins!!!
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;)
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I'm so happy!
A few weeks ago, after the petals fell from my twenty or so flowers of Anemone caucasica, ... I have today a good haul of nice, ripe-yet-green seed of this most charming of anemones.
It will be sown before I go to bed.
And today, 8½ months later, I'm so happy to announce that I have four 6" pans chock-a-block with seedlings! They've been given protection from rain during the winter, but now they're sitting out in the open enjoying a slow rain that will freshen them up and invigorate them.
Now comes the hard part: raising these little seedlings to maturity. It takes some years, just like Eranthis hyemalis, and the tubers are not completely frost-hardy if soaking wet in exposed containers. I lost a 10" pan of two- or three-year old seedlings last winter to just a few nights of hard freeze.
Regrettably, I don't have a decent photo of this tiny charmer.
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4 pans to try in different places - hopefully at least one will succeed!
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If this does not make you laugh out loud........
PEOPLE YOUR OWN AGE
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD.
WELL . . . YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE.
MY NAME IS ALICE , AND I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST.
I NOTICED HIS DDS DIPLOMA ON THE WALL, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME. SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 30-ODD YEARS AGO.
COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?
UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT.
THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE.
AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL.
"YES. YES, I DID. I'M A MUSTANG," HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.
"WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?" I ASKED.
HE ANSWERED, "IN 1970. WHY DO YOU ASK?"
"YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!", I EXCLAIMED.
HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY.
THEN, THAT UGLY,
OLD,
BALD,
WRINKLED FACED,
FAT-ASSED,
GRAY-HAIRED,
MAN
ASKED,
"WHAT DID YOU TEACH???
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Dear Friends
At the beginning of the year I wanted to thank you for the e-mails you have forwarded over the last year.
I must send a big thank you to whoever sent me the one about rat sh!t in the glue on envelopes, because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.
Also, I now have to wipe the top of every can I open for the same reason.
I no longer have any savings because I gave it all to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.. But that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft are sending me for participating in their special email programs. Or from the senior bank clerk in Nigeria who wants me to split seven million dollars with me for pretending to be a long lost relative of a customer who died intestate.
I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me.
I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward emails to seven friends and make a wish within five minutes. I no longer drink Coca-Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer can buy petrol without taking a friend along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up. I no longer go to shopping centres because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.
I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number and then I'll get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore and Uzbekistan. I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my bum.
I can't even pick up the £5.00 I found dropped in the car park because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.
If you don't send this email to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhoea will sit on your head at 5:00pm this afternoon and fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbour's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician.
By the way....a South American scientist after a lengthy study has discovered that people with low IQ who don't have enough sex, always read their emails while holding the mouse.
Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.
Regards,
Your friend
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SPEEDING
GOOD: Wexford: Garda Traffic Corps had a perfect spot to watch for speeders, but weren't getting many. Then they discovered the problem - a 12-year-old boy was standing up the road with a hand painted sign, which read SPEED TRAP AHEAD'. The Garda also found the boy had an accomplice who was down the road with a sign reading 'TIPS' and a bucket full of money (And we used to just sell strawberries!)
BETTER: A motorist was mailed a photo of his car speeding through an
automated speed check on the N4. A €80 speeding ticket was included.
Being cute, he sent the Gardai a photo of €80. The Gardai responded with another mailed photo of handcuffs.
BEST: A Young woman was pulled over for speeding. A Traffic Corps Garda walked to her car window, flipping open his ticket book, she said, 'I bet you are going to sell me a ticket to the Garda Traffic Department Ball.' He replied, 'The Garda Traffic Department don't have balls.....' There was a moment of silence. He then closed his book, got back in his patrol car and left.
And an old classic to boot........
A Kerry senior citizen, 76, drove his brand new BMW convertible out of the dealership.
Taking off down the road, he floored it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left.
'Amazing,' he thought as he flew down the Killarney road, pushing the pedal even more.
Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a Garda car behind him, blue lights flashing and siren blaring.
He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120.
Suddenly he thought, 'What am I doing? I'm too old for this,' and pulled over to await the Garda's arrival.
Pulling in behind him, the Garda walked up to the BMW, looked at his watch and said,
'Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a reason for speeding that I've never heard before, I'll let you go.'
The old gentleman paused. Then said, 'Years ago, my wife ran off with a Garda. I thought you were bringing her back.'
'Have a good day, Sir' replied the Garda
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;D ;D ;D Much appreciated, Art.
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Art, you've just made my day! :) :D ;D
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Just noticed that todays date in short hand is 3 2 1 0 (3/2/10). ;D
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I can't believe it is nearly a month since I was last up here. :o
Since then, my one job has now grown to two jobs, the second job being in the Garden section of a large hardware store. I now work 4 days, and at least 3 nights a week, and next week I start back at my Horticultural studies for this year. I've worked in some form for the last 9 days, and have nightfill at the supermarket tonight. Now I can finally start catching up on some of the bills owing. Not sure how long I'll survive both jobs though. ::)
And I can hopefully start catching up on sending out seed and plants to people I owe them to. Sorry for the extended delay everyone..... I had to use all funds up until now on the bills we HAD to pay. :)
Thanks for the couple of enquiring emails I've had in the last couple of weeks. Yes, my health is fine.
I'm Happy! Tired, but Happy! ;D
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Paul, it's so good to have you back :D Congratulations on finding more work and I really hope it all goes well for you and it's great to see that Horticultural studies are part of the equation 8) Best of luck with everything and hoping to see what's up in your garden when you have a second :o
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Great to have you back Paul !!!
I thought you had been resting again for the last few weeks... but instead you have been working (too ?) hard !!!! ;D ;)
Wonderful news ! :D
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Hope you are managing to squeeze a shave or two into your hectic schedule,Paul? ;D
Many congratulations on your new found wealth ( ??? :D), but don't work TOO hard ... we want you around for a long time yet!
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On a totally different tack - has anyone noticed how difficult it has been (but not for the want of trying) to kick-start a very similar forum on the nascent web site of NARGS? http://nargs.org/smf/
There has been only sporadic (and mainly British) response - this seems very strange from a society that boasts over two thousand members worldwide.
I must add that this illustrates just how lucky we are to be members of this magnificent forum and reminds us all that we need to nourish and nurture it to maintain these very high standards.
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Since I made an announcement post in this Forum ( http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4835.0 ) in the middle of Janauary about this exciting new venture for NARGS, I see that only 65 people have read the page :-\
It does take time for Folks to find a Forum and to gather their enthusiasm to take part so we must just hope that the NARGS members will gather momentum and get their Forum hale and hearty in good time.
It has been commented on before that there are not very many American members taking part in this forum and I wondered if it would be their national members who would really be the ones to get the NARGS Forum going, since they would feel it was "their" Forum.... I hope some more of them find it soon!!
We are very fortunate here to have so much input from so many people around the world: each and every one much appreciated, I assure you! :-* :-*
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I find the colour of the NARGS forum website a bit off-putting, though I know that website/computer screen colours are very much a question of personal taste.
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Hey, welcome back Paul, we've missed you.
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I find the colour of the NARGS forum website a bit off-putting, though I know that website/computer screen colours are very much a question of personal taste.
I find it pretty hard to read, too, Chloe, and I see that there is a note about that on the site.... including a link .... which I followed....there was mention of how one could alter the settings etc etc, none of which I understood..... so now I scroll up the size of the page..... bigger is easier for me with the light letters against dark :-[
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I agree with you Chloe and especially find the solid black a bit daunting. Moreover, although non-members can read (I've not yet been able to access it at all) they can't contribute, surely one of the happier aspects of SRGC's is that EVERYONE can take part and for some at least, this has been the route to their joining the Club.
I forgot to pay my NARGS sub about 10 years ago and have lived without it since.
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Welcome back Paul. It will be good to have your contributions again though when you are going to have time to make them.......who knows? :D
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Thanks everyone.
I'll try to get up here more regularly. Fingers crossed. ;D
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Hi Paul, I was several weeks not online myself, so hardly missed you.
But it is nice to hear you are doing well anyway.
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I'm not at all happy (but can't be bothered looking for the "moan..." thread, because last Monday I went to see the NZ v. Bangladesh 50 over match in Dunedin. We won comprehensively - well I'm happy about that of course - but I became quite sunburnt especially on my face and by the time I got home, looked like a well into it old toper, especially about the nose. Today I look like an old toper whose nose has been dipped in shredded coconut. No, not changing the avatar just yet.
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;D ;D ;D Just get the bottle out Lesley :P
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Today I look like an old toper whose nose has been dipped in shredded coconut. No, not changing the avatar just yet.
I could work on that avatar for you ;D ;D (just kidding) :-*
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I dare you! :D
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I dare you! :D
uhoh!!!! :o :o :o
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I dare you! :D
Rather than focus on Leslie's sunburned nose, I hoped to focus on Leslie's sunny personality and good natured spirit. So, I found a photo of Leslie in her thread about her garden makeover, donning the sunny yellow SRGC shirt with official forum emblem. Here she stands proudly in front of a field of the rare Dunedin Crocus (C. arborescens), a remarkable gargantuan crocus in their golden glory, only growable in the pastoral Zone 9 lower east coast of South Island, New Zealand. Even Mark S can't grow this rarity :o Notice those rather unusual yet beautiful mother of pearl snowdrop earrings. A second photo (avatar candidate) captures a moment when the sun shone particularly bright.
;D ;D ;D
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He dared! ;D
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Boy, what a makeover ;D
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That's a bit FAB!! Lesley, I bet you haven't looked like that in years.... did you ever curl you hair in real life, I wonder?
Terribly clever of McMark to have captured those archive shots of the rare NZ endemic giant crocus.... now I believe, extinct due to the predation of the giant bunny (a creature still extant in Germany, as we have seen elsewhere on the forum).... what a remarkable place this is...... ;D
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Lesley, you make a terrific blonde!!
Too funny Mark, I wonder how Maggi would look with a perm 8)
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Avatars will be disappearing from this site at an alarming rate! :D
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Cliff - perhaps they just will be changed with a volcano avatar ... ;D ;)
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Crumbs. The second one looks like Lesley's Avatar in 3D! 8)
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There's not a catagory for this at the BAFTAs, is there? ;)
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That's a fine picture - but I thought that Avatars had blue faces?
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That's a fine picture - but I thought that Avatars had blue faces?
I thought they were Smurfs? :D
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No Smurfs on Pandora
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Are you Shaw David?
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Yoo Hoo, Lesley, looking good!
Paddy
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Are you Shaw David?
Here, Sir!
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;D
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Omigod, I was never as glamorous as that! As for the waves, I never in all my life had even the slightest bend in my hair so I'll just HAVE to take advantage of this makeover. I'm a bit disappointed though Mark that you didn't airbrush out a few of the more obvious wrinkles. :(
Also disappointed that you have let out the secret of this rare crocus species. These were to be my retirement income but I'll have to release them now. They can be bought from me alone, for the very reasonable sum of $NZ3.8million each (including GST), plus postage and packing. I know Thomas, Janis and some others will be lining up so don't leave it too late folks. ;D
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Now I'm in the cart. Tried to upload the new avatar photo but everything has vanished. Help please Maggi.
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I'm doing my best, Lesley...not sure what's up!
There you go, bright and curly!
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Omigod, I was never as glamorous as that! As for the waves, I never in all my life had even the slightest bend in my hair so I'll just HAVE to take advantage of this makeover. I'm a bit disappointed though Mark that you didn't airbrush out a few of the more obvious wrinkles. :(
Also disappointed that you have let out the secret of this rare crocus species. These were to be my retirement income but I'll have to release them now. They can be bought from me alone, for the very reasonable sum of $NZ3.8million each (including GST), plus postage and packing. I know Thomas, Janis and some others will be lining up so don't leave it too late folks. ;D
Hello Leslie, well, you dared me, didn't you! Glad you liked the wavy "do". Regarding airbrushing out wrinkles, I would never interfere with the honest and natural character of a SRGC Hero member, I think you are more beloved than any photo-hijinks could muster. Sorry about letting the out the secret about the arborescent Crocus, at $NZ3.8million each they're a steal, but hopefully with the addition of a few insanely beautiful yet indescribably rare Hepatica and a few snowdrops with slightly off markings, you'll be all set for retirement!
PS. As custom avatars go, feel no obligation that a MMcD avatar actually has to be used, there is no obligation. Avatars are ephemeral, more so for some SRGC members than others, mine often last a single day or less, they are like Ranunculus seed in terms of viability!
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Lesley, do we need to pay GST if we're exporting from New Zealand? What is the current GST rate? If we don't have to pay the Crocus may just become affordable ???
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Hello Martin. I don't think you have to pay GST if I'm exporting to you provided I send a proper invoice with proof of who bought the things. English nurseries don't charge VAT on plants exported in this direction and I don't pay Australian GST on bulbs I get from Tasmania. That makes my rare crocus very affordable.
Currently GST is 12.5% but the PM is talking about raising it to 15% in the May budget. This is to fund personal tax cuts for the local rich though no such tax cuts are mentioned for the poor, of whom we have more and more each year.
I'll save a couple of corms for you shall I?
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Geez Mark, you better watch our else Maccas will be after you for squillions for trademark piracy :o :o :o :o
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Geez Mark, you better watch our else Maccas will be after you for squillions for trademark piracy :o :o :o :o
Don't worry Helen, markings on Galanthus are not overly stable and frequently fade or transform into other shapes ;D ;D
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Don't worry Helen, markings on Galanthus are not overly stable and frequently fade or transform into other shapes ;D ;D
Phew, just as well ;D
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Just trying to catch up, hasn't taken long for me to get a smile on my face :). Love your make over Lesley could do with something like that for myself ::)
Angie :)
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Lesley, you make a terrific blonde!!
Too funny Mark, I wonder how Maggi would look with a perm 8)
I've changed my avatar to a pic taken when I did have a perm, Helen.... ;) ::)
Around 1985, I'd think...
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Very fetching Maggi. Doing anything tonight? ;)
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Wow Maggi, what a difference a perm makes!!
Smashing pic!! 8)
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Hang on AD, there's a queue, and you're not first ;D
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I'm closer. :P
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Story of my life :P
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Love the picture Maggi, what about a picture of your young partner Ian.
Angie :)
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What about YOU, Angie??
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Sorry Maggi I am trying to cheer myself up not depress myself, its great to be back with all you lovely folks.
Angie :)
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Angie, I'll bet you were a real cutie and Derek too!
What about your wedding photo ?!
Here's ours, now don't laugh.......
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I can see the SRGC publicity leaflets under the cake, Maggi! :D
Did Ian have 'significant' footwear in those far-off days?
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No, in those days the visible frightening footwear was all mine! Ian's long flared trousers hid his mismatched socks... ::)
I was the one with multi-coloured platform- soled high heels.... the very thought of them now makes my ankles ache!
Yes, happy days indeed!
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The perfect couple. I remember the platform soles and flares oh so well, now its comfort that comes first not fashion.
Really lovely wedding picture, you both look so happy.
Thanks for sharing.
Angie :)
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A lovely photo Maggi and Ian. And wonderful to know you are both still as happy with each other (give or take small arguments over what should be planted where, of course. :))
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give or take small arguments over what should be planted where, of course
Quite! Problem is, he's always been faster on his feet than I am ....
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I see it's Ian with the perm on that one ::)
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I see it's Ian with the perm on that one ::)
I must leap to his defence and assure you it is his luxuriant natural curls, David!
Have a look in the Forum Fun page
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5011.msg136310#msg136310 to see another couple from way back when......
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In the early seventies my mum bought me a pair of black platformed shoes from a shoe warehouse in Preston. When the souls started to wear down, it became apparent that they were made from different coloured layers (think Smarties). :o In those days we lived in Callander and Saturday nights were spent in the Westerton Arms in Bridge of Allan, two bus journeys away. One night I missed the last bus back to Callander from Stirling. I started walking and tried thumbing a lift. I spent most of the next 14 miles walking in my socks as those shoes were not made for such a venture! I got a lift for the last two, but by that time it was 4 in the morning! The two guys, on a fishing trip, actually apologised for being late, but they stopped at Southwaite Services (Cumbria) for a few hours sleep! ::)
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Just back after a long ( 16 hours )but FAB day out! Seen C.flavus,C.chrysanthus,C.olivieri and C.biflorus ssp. adamii flowering in the south. In places C.flavus and Cyclamen coum carpeted the woodland floor in a violent clash of eye aching pink and yellow. Also saw Galanthus nivalis in its thousands, but the best was seeing the tiny bright purple flowers of Romulea linaresii growing out of moss! :D :D :D
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What a day 8) Can't wait to see some photos, sounds amazing :o
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Oh, my gosh! How fantastic.... hope the camera was working!!
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I have just got an email telling me that I have won the Euromillions lottery in Spain, :o considering I don't partake any lottery's I think that is very generous. ::)
All I have to do is send them my Bank details and they will lodge €25million straight into my account. Isn't that very kind ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
There are still some very generous people in the world. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Daylight robbery Michael ;)
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Michael, can I send the begging letter now? ;D
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David, send me your bank details and you can have half of it ;D
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;D ;D ;D
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Glad to see you're sharing it Michael. ;D
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I have just got an email telling me that I have won the Euromillions lottery in Spain, :o considering I don't partake any lottery's I think that is very generous. ::)
All I have to do is send them my Bank details and they will lodge €25million straight into my account. Isn't that very kind ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
There are still some very generous people in the world. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
What I used to do with these emails was to forward them to another spammer telling them that as they were "beloved by God" they were more deserving than me and hoped that they would rejoice in their good fortune. I would find reward enough in God's good grace. Funny how all these people are deeply religious
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I have just got an email telling me that I have won the Euromillions lottery in Spain, :o considering I don't partake any lottery's I think that is very generous. ::)
All I have to do is send them my Bank details and they will lodge €25million straight into my account. Isn't that very kind ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
There are still some very generous people in the world. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I've just received notification from a magazine publisher that they have paid £775.00 into my bank account and they have indeed done so. Strange thing is I haven't written anything for them for ages (and they usually only pay around £100 for an article anyway).
So sadly there must be a mix up somewhere and the money must go back - and I could have had such fun at the Harlow show on Saturday with £700!
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Gail, we find that some publications are so slow in paying that when the money does finally arrive the work done is but a distant memory .... perhaps we should sharpen up our invoicing? ::) :-X
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As an IT (Information Technology) guy, I do not recommend clicking on .swf (ShockWave Flash) files on the web, as they can harbour viruses. Basically, a .swf is an "executable" file (runs and executes computer commands in the background). These files are typically legitimate, but there's evidence that the file format has been hacked and some .SWF files can contain virus code. I never click on such things, as my clean computer is more valuable that a few chuckles, I hope everyone here considers this advise.
See: http://community.mcafee.com/thread/3217
Edit by Maggi: This post was in reference to a post made earlier with a link which McMark warns us to be cautious about... that post was removed by the Forumists.... just in case!
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Another miserable day, so I thought I would cheer you up - even those who might be enjoying glorious sunshine.
Getting Married
Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living in Devon , are all excited about their decision to get married.
They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a chemist. Jacob suggests they go in.
Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"
The pharmacist answers, "Yes."
Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"
Pharmacist: "Of course we do."
Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
Pharmacist: "All kinds "
Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"
Pharmacist: "Definitely."
Jacob: "How about suppositories?"
Pharmacist: "You bet!"
Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, and Alzheimer's?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."
Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?"
Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion?"
Pharmacist: "We sure do."
Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"
Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes."
Jacob: "Adult incontinence pants?"
Pharmacist: "Sure."
Jacob: "We'd like to use this store for our wedding presents list..."
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I would think most of the guests would qualify for all these free on the NHS. ;D A pharmacist friend just sold his shop for 2.4 million GBP so they don't need the extra business. ::)
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On a day trip out to see Colchicum biebersteinii flowering, found a FAB slope with several hundred flowering bulbs, pic in the Colchicum thread.
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A friend of mine went to a wedding last weekend. The bride was 84 and the groom a juvenile 62. Can't imagine what would have prompted such a marriage but apparently a good time was had by all. ???
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Shortly before Vivienne and I got married a friend overheard a conversation between to ladies of a certain age: "I hear they are going to Bali on honeymoon"; "that won't be cheap"; "well at their age they won't be having any family!". ::)
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A Scottish couple decided to go to Spain to thaw out
during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at
the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20
years earlier.
Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to
coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left
Glasgow and flew to Barcelona on Thursday, with his
wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into
the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided
to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left
out one letter in her email address, and without realizing
his error, sent the email.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Blackpool , a widow had just
returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister
who died following a heart attack.
The widow decided to check her email expecting messages
from relatives and friends. After reading the first message,
she screamed and fainted.
The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on
the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:
To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've Arrived
Date: October 16, 2008
I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have
computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to
your loved ones.
I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that
Everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow.
Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as
uneventful as mine was.
P...S. B****ing hot down here! ;D ;D ;D
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Wonderful, thank you! :)
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What a great story Michael ;D
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Enjoyed that one Michael.
Angie :)
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A good reason for drinking !!
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Pour me a very large one Tom! ;D
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I am happy today finally got my car back, remember my car broke down on the 3rd January in freezing conditions. I wonder if this is the longest time a repair has took to be carried out. Can anyone beat this, maybe this will be the first time I will win ;D
Angie :)
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I hope they haven't worked continuously on your car Angie..
Some 35 working days - 8 hours a day = 280 working hours at 25 £/hour (?) = 7000 £ + spare parts and VAT..
Why did you put this in the "I'm so happy" thread ?? :o ::) ;D ;)
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Can I have the name of your mechanic, Luc? £25 per hour, that is so last centuary!
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;D ;D
Oeps... I got it all mixed up David... actually, they would be about 35-40 €/hour over here...
Poor Angie ! ;D
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I was at the garage yesterday for a pre. NCT test and service. €45 per hour.
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If they do the job they are paid to do they get a million pound bonus on top?
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Luc, ,
I think I am in the wrong job, thankfully I don't have to pay for the repair it was done under warranty or have to pay for the hired car they gave me till the repair was carried out, I had only had the car for two months before it broke down.They told us it was a fuel sensor switch they were waiting for . Do I believe them ::) I thought I would never get my car back.
Angie :)
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That's a relief Angie... 8) ;)
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That's a relief Angie... 8) ;)
It certainly is, Luc..... Angie wouldn't have been abel to afford all those plants she got at Dunblane last week if the car repair had been costing her!
I'm so happy Dunblane was last weekend and not this weekend.... the weather is just too bad all around this week for it to have been the success it was!
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[I'm so happy Dunblane was last weekend and not this weekend.... the weather is just too bad all around this week for it to have been the success it was!
[/quote]
Me to Maggi, cant believe the weather we are getting but at least today I can see my snowdrops, aren't they amazing all the bad weather they have had and they still put on a good performance for me
Angie :)
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Little Ollie (aged three and a half) has been testing his mother's patience for the past three or four days by being uncharacteristically argumentative and petulant. His mother was driven to comment to us (during a telephone call) that we could 'take him off her hands' and 'I'll bring him over'. Yesterday, after twenty-four hours of better behaviour, Joanne quietly praised him and said; "Thank you for being such a good boy". He leaned close in and replied; "Thank you for keeping me, Mummy"!
How tear-jerking is that? :D :D :D :'(
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Oh my goodness Cliff, they do say some home truths at that lovely age when they first start pushing the boat out!
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You're right Robin, they do. Out of the mouths.....and all that. I remember my own son begging me not to give him away when he was chastised for something, can't remember what. Of course there were others present and I know they all thought he lived in terror of my repeated threats to dispose of him. I swear to God he had NEVER had such a threat. They have a gift for causing deep embarrassment to their long suffering parents.
A small boy travelling with his mother in an Auckland bus was heard to remark, as they passed Mt Eden max security prison, "Mummy, that's where Daddy was." It was, but as the prison chaplain. :D
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I can't resist saying that this morning all of Canada is so very, very, very happy over the Vancouver winter Olympic results---and in particular the gold for the hockey....
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It was well deserved Kristl !! :D
And coming from a non ice-hockey country, this praise counts double ! 8)
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Luc---to express how much these Olympics sunk into the national psyche---I was attending a birthday party last night (80% women--all plant people) and all that (we women, at least) were thinking about was watching the hockey game. In fact, the tv was on, and we all perched, dinner on our laps, almost choking on our ham in the tense moments.
You could not have imagined the joy in that space when that winning goal was made!!!! And, all things considered, it is some miracle for our huge, widely spread out country with such a small population to have received the most gold medals overall. Population wise---the top 3 medal winners were:
USA 308,778,000
Germany 81,757,600
Canada 34,018,000
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Perhaps some new plant introductions with the name; 'Sidney Crosby"? Congratulations to you all.
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speaking of which---does anyone who watched the game have any clue what the flower bouquet might have been that the hockey team received? we all had the most interesting guesses at the party....
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speaking of which---does anyone who watched the game have any clue what the flower bouquet might have been that the hockey team received? we all had the most interesting guesses at the party....
The predominately green bouquets contain eye-catching green hypericum berries, delicate green spider mums and broad leaf greens. The foliage consists of leatherleaf fern, loops of monkey grass and aspidistra leaves. A simple royal blue ribbon is hand tied around each bouquet and the handles are also wrapped in recycled paper.
http://www.canadianfloristmag.com/content/view/2886/57/
Kristl, I couldn't bear to look the last couple of minutes during 3rd period, even the cat hid.
Even the curling was exciting. ( did I really say that?)
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Even the curling was exciting.
Okay, I draw the line on that last comment ::) ;D
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I would think you would be proud of the large tally of 14 Gold Medals for Canada!
The Men's curling was a goodie, that's for sure.... of course curling is popular here in Scotland too.
I was just going to say the flowers were spikey green "mums" wrapped in folded over wide dark green leaves.... Helen has a link.... I found this one too...when I saw the flowers at fisrst and thought they were handing out packs of green vegetables... thought Stephen B had been the floral consultant!
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/There-s-quite-a-story-behind-the-Olympic-flowers;_ylt=Alht0W9xdp_7EVXOK8_Guf1ptLV_?urn=oly,220230
PS: Curling is a great game of tactics and skill.... chess on ice!!
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PS: Curling is a great game of tactics and skill.... chess on ice!!
Maggi, I am coming to appreciate that but listening to the shrieking hard hard HAARRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD cracks me up.
Have to say I fell in lust with the Norweigan men's trousers, would love a pair of those!
Would make a real fashion statement in the garden.
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but listening to the shrieking hard hard HAARRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD cracks me up.
I found it particularly amusing from the Chinese women curlers; little people screaming in a foreign language!
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but listening to the shrieking hard hard HAARRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD cracks me up.
I found it particularly amusing from the Chinese women curlers; little people screaming in a foreign language!
Sounds like AGS judges , whoops.
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PS: Curling is a great game of tactics and skill.... chess on ice!!
..... and causes me to experience a similar level of intense excitement as watching paint dry. ::) I did like Homer Simpson's reference to curling though
"........this games got everything Marge. Bowling for me and sweeping for you"
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I notice that McMark is smoking again ::).
He must be told that this Forum is subject to British law and so he must not smoke inside it (otherwise the forum could get a large fine and subs would have to go up).
He must use the Forum Smoking Shelter which is hidden out the back in this message.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4634.msg125150#msg125150 (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4634.msg125150#msg125150)
I think as he will be the first to use it then he can be allowed to choose the colour and style that he likes :).
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PS: Curling is a great game of tactics and skill.... chess on ice!!
..... and causes me to experience a similar level of intense excitement as watching paint dry. ::) I did like Homer Simpson's reference to curling though
"........this games got everything Marge. Bowling for me and sweeping for you"
;D ;D still debating which has more excitement, watching paint dry, or watching the grass grow, or...????
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I notice that McMark is smoking again ::).
He must be told that this Forum is subject to British law and so he must not smoke inside it (otherwise the forum could get a large fine and subs would have to go up).
He must use the Forum Smoking Shelter which is hidden out the back in this message.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4634.msg125150#msg125150 (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4634.msg125150#msg125150)
I think as he will be the first to use it then he can be allowed to choose the colour and style that he likes :).
I have taken note of that most excellent link, have just the spot for one of those in my yard ;D
I was driven to smoking again when trying to watch the curling, later, was driven to drink. :o
Vivien, your Galavatar (it's a word, trust me) looks decidely unhappy; possibly needs a smoke and a drink ;D ;D ;D
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Well done the Canadians. Have to admit to being totally uninterested in the winter olympics but then NZers have never particularly excelled at winter sports, except for the sheer pleasure, as distinct from the competition. I know how you must feel though Kristl, beating the Americans, much as we do when we beat Australia at cricket or rugby or the Scots feel when they beat the English (Bannockburn ;D)
He must use the Forum Smoking Shelter which is hidden out the back in this message.
Personally, I believe that those who want to smoke should be made to stand out in the rain and hail and snow. We're not allowed to smoke on school or university campuses now and soon it will be banned even in outdoor public places, as it is already at my Market, but then, that's open air food.
The bar people's argument against the ban before it was introduced, was that they would lose half their clientele. In fact the opposite has been true with so many people who hate cigarette smoke now feeling able to go out to enjoy a drink or two. A much greater effect on income for the pubs and bars is the much stricter drink/drive laws in recent years.
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And just so that you know, only my avatars smoke, and sometimes they spin ;D
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Vivien, thank you for putting the reekin' McMark in his place.....I have been awaiting advice from the Untied Nations (sic) All Purpose Trivia Committee for their considered opinon on the matter. My uncertainty was caused by McMark's position thousands of miles away and the distinct possibility that he might, if chastised, move to Boston and start hurling tea in the harbour. That august body (usually known by the acronym coined by their dyslexic RanchAim :
CATPUN) gave the decision that McMark should not be allowed to smoke in the forum, particularly since the smoke from his pipe is NOT making his propellers go round as fast as when he is not smoking, so he will have to nip out back to the shelter. BUT, since this is an SRGC shelter, McMark cannot in fact choose the colour, it must be a nice shade of Scottish Blue! :D
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Watching paint dry is not so exciting as watching grass grow. After all, there could be a crocus come up in it. :)
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Vivien, thank you for putting the reekin' McMark in his place.....I have been awaiting advice from the Untied Nations (sic) All Purpose Trivia Committee for their considered opinon on the matter. My uncertainty was casued by McMark's position thousands of miles away and the distinct possibility that he might, if chastised, move to Boston and start hurling tea in the harbour. That august body (usually known by the acronym coined by their dyslexic RanchAim :
CATPUN)gave the decision that McMark should not be allowed to smoke in the forum, partiicularly sincer the smoke form his pipe is NOT making his propellers gor round as fast a when he is not s moking, so he will have to nip out back to the shelter. BUT, since this is an SRGC shelter, McMark cannot in fact choose the colur, it must be a nice shde of Scottish Blue! :D
My goodness Maggi, have you been nipping at the Sherry, may I suggest spellcheck ::) ;D
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he might, if chastised, move to Boston and start hurling tea in the harbour.
Let him go ahead. The last batch washed up here tax free.
johnw
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McMark.... sorry, spelling fixed ;D
John.... good suggestion, ill wind and all that, eh?
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McMark.... sorry, spelling fixed ;D
spellchecker must be broken ;) ;D ::)
I'm working on fixing my avatar's propeller to work when he smokes.
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My goodness Maggi, have you been nipping at the Sherry, may I suggest spellcheck ::) ;D
I was going to suggest some proof reading before pressing the "post" button, but I know the poor lady's very tired. ::)
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I'm exhausted again today, Lesley.... just been up to the Rock and Pillar Range with David L..... http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5047.msg139249#msg139249 ..... I'm not built for this , you know!
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We've beaten the Aussies AGAIN on the cricket pitch. That's two in a row, last night's a real nail-biter. They'll be spitting tacks! ;D
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How come the only time sport is mention in the forum, is when the Aussies
are getting a flogging ;D.bye Ray
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Ray, you must not be noticing the times when it's the Scots who are taking the hammerings .... in all sorts of sports!! ;D :'(
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We won tonight!
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And the Canadians have beaten the Americans in ice hockey. Anyway Ray, I have to mention when we beat the Aussies as it happens so rarely, at cricket at least. :D Apparently our soccer team has lost to Mexico 2 - 0 at Pasadena, a warm up before the world cup. The loss was considered a triumph for NZ as we're ranked 80th in the world, Mexico just 15th. But I'm not even slightly interested in soccer (football).
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We won tonight!
I presume you meant England Anthony?
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We won tonight!
I presume you meant England Anthony?
I hear the English did win too.... the Scots win was ther first home win for an international friendly match since 1996 , I think! The Czech team must have been astonished!
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did Lesley say the Canadians had eaten the Americans ?
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We won tonight!
I presume you meant England Anthony?
I hear the English did win too.... the Scots win was ther first home win for an international friendly match since 1996 , I think! The Czech team must have been astonished!
Wasn't it 1896 :P The Scottish Football Association only ever book one nights bed and breakfast for any tournament that Scotland are playing in. :(
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did Lesley say the Canadians had eaten the Americans ?
I think so.... I believe that with the levels of aggression and expenditure of energy in a game of ice hockey, the participants do get VERY hungry! To the victor the spoils, and all that, eh? !! :o
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Wasn't it 1896 :P The Scottish Football Association only ever book one nights bed and breakfast for any tournament that Scotland are playing in. :(
That's really insulting! >:(
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Yes, but sadly true!
Though this is more by reason of natural carefulness with the cash than any lack of confidence, of course!
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Hi Maggi,but I did notice all the Scots out in the street thumping their chests a few months ago when they won a footy match against us. ;D
Hi Lesley,agree with your comments about socccer,down in this part of the world REAL men play real football ;D.bye Ray
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The gold medal game for the men's hockey had to go to Canada. If they had lost they would never have been able to face the women's team. ;D ;D ;D
I couldn't watch the last few minutes before extra time, was too nerve wracking.
Actually, I had to rewind the tv 3 times to see the last goal, was too fast for me. ::)
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First Crocus buds in my Alpine garden - a small sign of Spring :)
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First Crocus buds in my Alpine garden - a small sign of Spring :)
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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At last, my AGS seed has arrived. MAF have removed 6 packets and I'll have those sent on to someone who can use them but all in all, very happy. They were posted in the UK on Feb 4th so I guess were in MAF's tender care for about a month. ???
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I am packing my suitcase ;D going to Washington DC and come home at 13. April ;D ;D
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Wow, Erika! Have a wonderful trip, we'll miss you :-*
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Have a great trip Erika. The weather in the eastern States should be better soon. Take fur and woollies. :D
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First Crocus buds in my Alpine garden - a small sign of Spring :)
Awww...and a beautiful Crocus buds too ::) Viva la Spring!!!
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Thank you!!
I will come back with 4000 of pics ;D ;D and you may consider it as a threat ;D ;D
I do not have fure or woolish ???
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So long as none of them are of political figures. ;D
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We moan plenty when we have problems with mail order suppliers or slow post. I got a pleasant surprise today. I ordered some labels and tape for my 'Brother' label machine from 'The Essentials Company' website yesterday about 11am. The parcel was delivered today by the Postie about 11am. Only 24hours from order to delivery - amazing!!
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Sounds like a great service, think I will give them a try, I too need some tape for my Brother label machine.
Angie :)
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I missed the Blackpool Show.......so why am I so happy? I was busy building this.
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I'm even happier now because it's home to 200 Lewisia plants :) :) :) :)
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Got a meccano set for your birthday, did you, Martin? Very nice.
What are you going to keep in the lower trays?
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Interesting Martin. Did you have it made to your own design, or off the shelf. I like the roof bit.
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Got a meccano set for your birthday, did you, Martin? Very nice.
What are you going to keep in the lower trays?
All boys love Meccano!
The bottom trays...don't know yet so they will probably gather rubbish, otherwise known as dirty pots. A few have already appeared.
Interesting Martin. Did you have it made to your own design, or off the shelf. I like the roof bit.
I'll confess it isn't my own but a Two Wests unit with a custom roof they supplied to my requirements. Diane Clement has one I've admired (coveted) for several years but Diane had problems with water getting under the roof and has modified her unit with an overhanging roof. Mine only overhangs by 3 inches, we shall wait and see if that is enough!
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Is the roof perspex or galss please Martin?
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And there was I thinking you were going in for cage birds, once you'd got the sides sorted. ;D
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oooh, oooh, now you've got my attention. Cage birds?
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No chance!!! :o
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David, it's double wall polycarbonate. The nasty cut on the back of my hand tells me the edges are every bit as sharp as glass! I feel a modification coming on.
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Many thanks Martin.
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Fingerprints taken and visa granted. All being well will be on my way to Iran on Easter Saturday.
Should be able to escape the bulk of the election campaigning - Yippee ;D
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Fingerprints taken and visa granted. All being well will be on my way to Iran on Easter Saturday.
Should be able to escape the bulk of the election campaigning - Yippee ;D
Our very best wishes for a great trip, Art!
As for your election hopes.... yes, you may miss the campaign, but will you be able to avoid the consequences??!! :P
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My pot of Primula × bileckii won "Best Plant in Show" at our local club's show this weekend. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Evidently the judges liked the very naturalistic planting with the primula growing out of a layer of moss. This is not due to skill; it's due to dumb luck, but I'm certainly not complaining.
I'll try to get a decent snapshot of it and append that to this posting so you can see what I'm talking about.
PS: Two photos of the prize winning plant.
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Weeeeeeeeell done! 8)
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Well done, Rodger. We look forward to the picture.
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Good for you Rodger, looking forward to see your Primula.
Angie :)
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Well done, Rodger. The moss is very artistic, perfectly composed!
Paddy
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Very nice Rodger. I like that sort of presentation but in Scotland the judges, generaly, prefer a plant in a round clay pot dressed with grit. Occaisionaly an 'alterantive' presentation will be recognised.
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Very nice Rodger. I like that sort of presentation but in Scotland the judges, generaly, prefer a plant in a round clay pot dressed with grit. Occaisionaly an 'alternative' presentation will be recognised.
We theoretically use the AGS rules, but our actual practice here is to prefer a top dressing that is reminiscent or indicative of the plant's native habitat. it's rather silly to exhibit, say, a cyclamen or erythronium that is fundamentally a woodland plant with a top dressing of grit, no? Our approach certainly hasn't been codified (where is Justinian when you need him?), and there's a great deal of variation between exhibitors and amongst judges, but I personally prefer the concept of letting the presentation be loosely guided by the plant's natural habitat. Thus, rather coarse shattered rock for real alpines, and dead leaves, conifer needles, or living moss for woodlanders. The overall spirit is closely akin to, and possibly derived from, the practice of bonsai growers.
In the present case, what you see is what the plant looks like 24/365. The moss planted itself, and understandably I'm not about to interfere with success! Underneath, iirc there's nothing but pumice, a medium I find very good for many "difficult" plants.
As for pots: Myself, I'm also agin' terra cotta pots. They're expensive, heavy, prone to breaking if dropped, and their garish color clashes horribly with the beauty of the plants exhibited. Plastic pots have the great advantages of price and ready availability. For plants liking warm soil, the absence of evaporative cooling through the walls of a plastic pot is advantageous. But otoh, in my books the optimum growing system is terra cotta pots plunged in sand.
My distaste for terra cotta is a quasi-political stance that sometimes infuriates the old guard and the more rigid-minded, of course. When plastic pots first came out in the 1950s, they were widely scorned, and to this day that attitude persists. But on the whole a show looks much better when the exhibits are in black and dark green pots that don't call attention to themselves.
The pot in the photograph was made for me by a handy friend, and reproduces pots made by Ed Lohbrunner's brother during World War II when other pots were unavailable. They're made of a cement mix, which has weathered quite nicely. We also have floating around in our local pot-o-sphere cement pots of standard circular design; at some point after the war, a local firm had a machine for making them. Their very quiet, neutral gray color makes them, along the the Lohbrunner-style square pots, the best of all for exhbiting. Both the Lohbrunner cement pots and the machine made circular ones are now antiques, and sought after. Sadly, the machine made ones have become brittle with age and are now becoming fragile.
[Footnote: it may have been Butchart Gardens that made the cement pots. I've heard scuttlebutt that they have rejuvenated the machinery and are now selling new ones at fancy prices, but cannot confirm this.]
Yet another category of pot encompasses decorative glazed pots. The proprietors of the former Grand Ridge Nursery in Issaquah, Washington, designed and made frost-proof glazed stoneware pots specifically for alpines. The glazes are mostly a crackle finish enhanced with India ink, the pot proportions being rather wider than usual, with enormous drain holes. I have a few of these, and wish I'd bought many more when they were available.
From time to time I run across commercial pots suitable for alpines, usually made in China or Viet-nam. Some of these are much deeper than usual, which offers cultural advantages, but beware the trap of the sometimes garish glazes. I find that if you tap a pot you are contemplating the purchase of, if it gives a good clear ring, it's probably frost proof. If it's a dull ring or a thud, stay away. Italian and Mexican pots are generally not fired to a high enough temperature, and if exposed to freezing temperatures, begin to disintegrate by the rim spalling.
The traditional Tokonama ware bonsai pots in very dark brown are also a good choice, but well made ones of proper proportions for alpines are costly.
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concept of letting the presentation be loosely guided by the plant's natural habitat. Thus, rather coarse shattered rock for real alpines, and dead leaves, conifer needles, or living moss for woodlanders.
In fact this type of presentation is very often seen in the show benches in the UK and is welcomed.
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Fingerprints taken and visa granted. All being well will be on my way to Iran on Easter Saturday.
Have a great trip Arthur - can't wait to see the photos!
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Yes, have a great trip Art and can't wait to see some photos :)
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Yet another category of pot encompasses decorative glazed pots. The proprietors of the former Grand Ridge Nursery in Issaquah, Washington, designed and made frost-proof glazed stoneware pots specifically for alpines. The glazes are mostly a crackle finish enhanced with India ink, the pot proportions being rather wider than usual, with enormous drain holes. I have a few of these, and wish I'd bought many more when they were available.
Back in the years 1982-1986 I was fortunate to live about 10 miles from the proprietors (Steve Doonan; recently deceased, and Phil Pearson and his wife Kitty) at Grand Ridge Nursery in Issaquah, Washington. Their nursery was situated in the "foothills" of the Cascade Mountains, due east from Seattle, Washington. Phil Pearson created his amazing pots for the express purpose of growing alpines, built his own kilns engineered specifically for his high-fire pottery innovations, the pots made from locally collected and blended clays and aggregates. Most of their pots were not glazed, they were beautiful high-fire clay pots with natural finish and colors, in all sorts of sizes and proportions; deep ones emulating "long toms" to enormous round ones that could serve as a trough unto themselves, and every size and shape between. The use of gritty natural color aggregates added to the resulting strength of his clay blends, as well as adding aesthetically to the finished products.
And as Roger recounts, there were some glazed pots too, special glazes again made from natural materials and elements that Phil would find in nature. If I remember correctly, his pottery methods, and in particular, his glazing recipes, broke new ground and were published in pottery making journals. The glazed pots too, were exquisite and refined; wish I bought more than just one of the glazed ones. When I moved back to the Northeastern USA in autumn 1986, I brought about 1 dozen of Phil's pots back east with me. While designed to be frost-proof (break proof), here in a much tougher winter climate, I lost some of these pots due to winter frozen soil expansion and cracking. I still have three pots left, the trick it seems, is to partially plunge the pots in soil or bark mulch over winter; with more uniform pressure of frozen soil all around on both sides, these three pots are now into their 25th year outside... so YES, I'm so happy about these beautiful pots.
Just scanning through my digital photos, found a couple pictures of Tulipa vvedenskyi that I grew outside in a long-tom-style Phil Pearson pot. As you can see, the medium brown color is attractive, and notice the blackish aggregate or grit used in the clay blend, giving the pots a naturalistic look and feel. This Tulipa species has since been planted outside, just love those crazy squiggly leaves. I have an Eriogonum growing in one of Phil's low-and-shallow-style wide pots, of a dark charcoal color clay which sets off the silvery foliage of the Eriogonum (no pics of that one).
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Great pots..... we have a weakness for pots.... but not so much for outdoor ones because of the breakage risk, but for the work of art potters, certainly. :)
I'm going to give you yet another link, McMark; in the Connoiseur Collection thread, Luit pictures some lovey Tulipa vvedenskyi forms, many of which are from Janis.....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1331.msg41562#msg41562 8)
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I'm going to give you yet another link, McMark; in the Connoiseur Collection thread, Luit pictures some lovey Tulipa vvedenskyi forms, many of which are from Janis.....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1331.msg41562#msg41562 8)
Thanks for the link, certainly some beauties there. I do have Janis' catalog and read through the long list of T. vvedenskyi hybrids with kaufmanniana and greigii, with some color photos, many there for total temptation. Would it be possible to resize two photos at that link, the photos of x 'Girlfriend' and x 'Lady Gune' are up to 1732 & 1920 pixels wide respectively, and much of the photo goes way off-screen... thanks.
Just scanning through my digital photos, I came across a photo of a surprise Tulipa seedling, one that just sort of showed up in May of 2009, not sure how a flowering size tulip bulb appeared about 30+ meters downhill and away from where my little T. vvedenskyi is planted, but here's a photo... looks like it might be a hybrid, but certainly with vvedenskyi-ish foliage. Again, I'm so happy :)
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Would it be possible to resize two photos at that link, the photos of x 'Girlfriend' and x 'Lady Gune' are up to 1732 & 1920 pixels wide respectively, and much of the photo goes way off-screen... thanks.
It is possible and I have done so, McMark :D
I'm not happy..... the wind is getting even worse and all the hellebores and corydalis are lying flat...... :( :P
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Would it be possible to resize two photos at that link, the photos of x 'Girlfriend' and x 'Lady Gune' are up to 1732 & 1920 pixels wide respectively, and much of the photo goes way off-screen... thanks.
It is possible and I have done so, McMark :D
Thank you!
I'm not happy..... the wind is getting even worse and all the hellebores and corydalis are lying flat...... :( :P
Sorry to hear that, but you can't say that here... no frownie faces in the YES!!! The "I'm so happy" thread, should be in the moan moan moan thread instead :D
We're having our second day of steady rain, a good soaking spring rain, I had better finish cleaning up hundreds more Epimediums this week before the new sprouts intertwine themselves amidst last years dried or dying foliage.
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Last day of term! Here's an item in today's pupil bulletin:
HILL WALKING OVERSEAS EXCURSION (display until 2/4/10)
Mr Dyble and Mr McCabe are planning a 3 day hill walking excursion in the Netherlands this coming June. During the visit an attempt will be made at scaling Holland's highest peak 'Loampile'. The trip is open to all pupils, and previous experience of hill walking is not essential. The 3 day trip to Holland will be subsidised by the school and is estimated to cost �����£25 (flat rate) which includes all travel and accomodation costs. For more details please come and see Mr Dyble/Mr McCabe in the Science workbase at morning interval.
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Hill walking in the Netherlands!!!
Paddy
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Like it.
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Must get Hector Brockelbank to phone the school, or wee Becky!
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Anthony,
This is great. Susan and I were wondering how many pupils would fall for it? We'd love to know.
Personally I am under no illusions regarding the geographic awareness of todays children. I reckon many would get 100% if quizzed on the whereabouts of the nearest set of golden arches or mobile phone shop but probably couldn't point to their home town on a map. But then I'm a cynic.
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Not many Darren: our school dux, who wanted out of form class to ask about it! I suspect the form teachers spoiled it though, by reacting when they had to read it out?
My day got better as I won top prize (a hamper) in the school raffle! ;D
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I think even I could manage Holland's highest peak. How high is it? Three metres? ;D
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"Thus, rather coarse shattered rock for real alpines, and dead leaves, conifer needles, or living moss for woodlanders"
well according to what little I know and understand about judges and judging there are two types of moss. Fresh picked moss is OK whether it's below a conifer, has Pleiones sticking out of hit, a mass of Hepatica flowers growing through etc.
The other moss is natural moss growing on the surface of a pot. I allowed moss to grow below a fine specimen of a dwarf conifer. The plant was removed from the show bench for having moss.
huh!!!???
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I think even I could manage Holland's highest peak. How high is it? Three metres? ;D
No idea Lesley. Probably some speed bump? There's a lovely 16th century pub in Danbury, Essex called the Griffin. It is the last high point (just a wee hump really) in Essex as you head south east. As the crow flies, you are in Germany before you hit the same height again. Nothing in Holland even that lowly height.
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I once travelled to Cambridge on the train and being a, then, youngster who had always lived with the coast on one side and the lake district hills on the other I found it really hard to get my bearings in such a flat landscape! I was really quite agoraphobic there for a day or two. ;D Best not visit Holland or I'd be a gibbering wreck. ;)
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....but it will all end in tears if we have a frost in the next couple of days....
Magnolia zenii
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Just peeping out here also, Giles.
Paddy
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..and here it is: Magnolia zenii.
Only found on one hillside in China.
Nice fragrance too.
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Giles, how exciting! Your Magnolia zenii flower is exceptionally beautiful, congratulations 8)
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Beautiful bloom Giles ... and wonderful alpine houses by the look of it in your previous posting? :D
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Great flowers, Giles.
Paddy
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So elegant, so classy. :)
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8)
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Giles, can I ask what make of greenhouse that is in the pictures of your Magnolia and does it come with louvre vents in the side walls as well as that excellent full length roof vent. I'm in the market for Alpine House No. 2.
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Martin,
It's a Hartley.
They will customise to your requirements. Don't try putting it up yourself though. It took 2 of their fitters 2 days to put it all together.
Giles
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And what are you planning for that lovely bare patch ahead of the Magnolia? 8)
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Huh! The only bare patch I have is on top of my head! :(
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Huh! The only bare patch I have is on top of my head! :(
Well at least it doesn't take much looking after. ;D
Angie :)
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Huh! The only bare patch I have is on top of my head! :(
Well at least it doesn't take much looking after.
Angie :)
Trouble is, nothing will grow there no matter how much I look after it! :'( Can't be for lack of water! ::)
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You could glue on a piece of lint-like material and sow it with mustard and cress. ;D
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You could glue on a piece of lint-like material and sow it with mustard and cress. ;D
... Or anything from Monte Baldo! ;)
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You could glue on a piece of lint-like material and sow it with mustard and cress. ;D
... Or anything from Monte Baldo! ;)
Monte Boldo ?
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You could glue on a piece of lint-like material and sow it with mustard and cress. ;D
I'm not that bold! ;D
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Antoni(o) Vibaldi? (A man for all (4) seasons ;D)
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We seem to be having three of the four seasons today (we never have summer, even in July).
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Not comparable in beauty to your special Magnolia Giles but 20 + years on covered in flower these Magnolia are flowering in Martigny to celebrate your birthday!
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Lovely, Robin.
Switzerland boasts one of the best Magnolia nurseries there is (Eisenhut), so if you get the urge.........
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Glad you liked the photos Giles, will look up Elsenhut - imagine it's in the Swiss German part...
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http://www.eisenhut.ch/
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;D I am home! If you are interesting in my pictures half of them on my site ::)
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Have had a great week in the garden weeding, weeding, weeding :) its funny what makes some people happy. Yesterday was at the Perth show, great show, great company and bought plenty of plants to replace all my dead ones. Thanks to all the nurseries for coming with all these lovely plants :-*.
Thanks to everyone that made it a great show and a great day out for me and my buddies.
Angie :)
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;D you are wellcome in my garden ;D always ;D
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Great to have you back Erika. Of course we're interested. :D
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Hello,
so I am home from over the ocean - it was a sort time to see everything I wanted. I visited Havre de Grace a fairy small town at the Susquhanna river, the Botanical Garden in Pittsburg, New York-Manhattan, went to see the Fantom of the opera on Broadway - I had a chance to visit the Cochran house in Dowson town, Pennsylvania
you can see my journey here /bur Washington DC and New York still missing/
http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria (http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria)
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Erika, some great photos in your galleries from your USA vist.. but I must pull this one to everyone's attention... it would make anyone happy!
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Erika, some great photos in your galleries from your USA vist.. but I must pull this one to everyone's attention... it would make anyone happy!
Wonderful! :)
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What a great picture. I hope his mother didn't complain about wet clothes and shoes. :D
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So happy to be home after a l-o-n-g journey from South Turkey where we have been stranded for the last week. I hope everyone else on our trip is now safely home or finally on their way.
The trip was fantastic, it was especially nice to meet fellow forumists ;) ;)
Pictures of the trip to follow later when I have my life back in control but just a couple of tasters
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SO pleased to hear you are home, Diane! :-*
I had visions of you having to eat your way throught that whole shop to pass the time ::)
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Diane
Glad you have finally made it...
Since the 'B' risk is off i can send some photos now... ;)
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SO pleased to hear you are home, Diane! :-*
I had visions of you having to eat your way throught that whole shop to pass the time ::)
Yes, it's great to be home ;D
I notice that the picture of Turkish delight has had a lot more "hits" than Ophrys - I think this reflects the true interest of the forum :o :o
Diane Glad you have finally made it... Since the 'B' risk is off i can send some photos now... ;)
I think you had the easiest journey of anyone, Oron. Various members of the group may still be somewhere in middle Europe ... I greatly look forward to seeing your pix and hope you might help identify some of mine ;D
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So...I know your knackered but.........will you make it to Harrogate for lunch tomorrow?.......I'd hate to be the only one eating fish & chips ;D
Seriously, pleased you finally made it home, must have been frustrating. If you'd like the full technical explanation about volcanic ash and aeroplanes I'd be delighted to educate you for several hours 8) 8) 8)
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It was just that we needed to see exactly what the Turkish Delights were, Diane. The Ophrys is another TD of course, even if not edible. Personally, I loathe the stuff. Too sweet. ::) Looking forward to your pictures and Oron's as well.
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Welcome home Diane, looking forward to plants delights! (Although I do like a bit of Turkish too :P)
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Welcome home Diane, looking forward to plants delights! (Although I do like a bit of Turkish too :P)
Robin , do you actually mean you like a bit of a Turkish Romance ? :-*
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Well maybe just a taster, Otto, just to see if it is really delightful ;D
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After reading Diane's account I almost feel a fraud. Returned yesterday from Iran on our planned flight.
Glad to be back, even if I now need to spend lots of time in the garden rectifying 3 weeks of weed growth. Happy that the weather in England was fine whilst I was away as the grass is still relatively short.
Iran was an excellent trip, but the season was variable and the plants sporadic - less flowers than hoped, but still enough to fill a posting when I have time. weather was variable and reminded me of my last holiday in Turkey last November - monsoon weather on two occasions resulting in localised flooding.
The emergence of the sun coincided with the knowledge of the volcano ash, so we decided that if we were stranded, at least we would be warm and see more flowers - wrong, the winds and rain returned towards the end and we were grateful to catch the flight and return to the warmth of the UK.
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Good to have you back safely, Art.... we'll look forward to seeing some pix after you've tackled the garden weeds! ;)
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Things are slowly coming back from the winter My neighbour said yeaserday that it was the haredst winter since he moved in 25 years ago. We have had around -25°C But 50cm of snow.
#1: All my Cardiocrinums survived unharmed with no protection.
#2: I found a seedling of helleborus thibetanius when weeding
#3: My Ophiopogon - bought and planted against better judgement - survived unharmed.
#4: My chance pulmonaria hybrid (rubrum x officinalis??) is again in full flower - even earlier even than rubrum.
Cheers
Göte
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I've moved the posts discussing the Epimedium named for Wim to the Epimedium thread: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4769.new#new :D
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All my Omphalogramma have survived the winter, and there's a bud on Saussurea stella - yay! ;D
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All my Omphalogramma have survived the winter, and there's a bud on Saussurea stella - yay! ;D
I'm pleased for you.... but this has made me realise I have not seen much sign of the Omphalogrammas here :o :-X Oh dear....... ???
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They're easy to miss this early, hopefully they'll turn up soon! If not, then drop me a line in July for seeds :)
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Thanks, Bjørnar....with luck they are just sleeping still.
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Maggi
Our Omphalogrammas are showing signs of activity, we need to better weather to bring them on.
Brian
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Maggi
Our Omphalogrammas are showing signs of activity, we need to better weather to bring them on.
Brian
Where ours are is all covered with Corydalis at the minute.... I hope they'll show themselves when the Corydalis die back. One of the anxieties with this multi-layer planting is that there is often awaiting game to see which level is next to grow!
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True, but with multilevel planting as you describe Maggi, many plants are safe because the others take away the excess moisture that could be present. Your Omphalogramma is probably much safer with companions than mine turned out to be in a pot, by itself and receiving too much rain last winter. In spite of other things (Bl...y MAF) I'm very happy that the first of my SRGC seed is through, namely Cyananthus lobatus albus. If it is, of course. 4 so far.
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I am an engineering genius.
We erected an 8 X 6 glasshouse about twenty years ago, cement block base, strip of wood between glasshouse and base. Fifteen years ago, big storm, lots of glass lost so new glass was secured with clear silicone. The timber under the glasshouse has long since rotted away and a new steel base was purchased some weeks ago.
The problem was to get the glasshouse completely intact, no dismantling, onto the new metal base.
Several days thinking and planning and two hours today brought success - only one pane of glass broken, well just cracked. Actually, this is the same word my wife uses to describe me but that isn't important.
Am I happy, you bet I am.
Paddy
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Very well done PAddy. What will you grow in the new version?
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Oh, Lesley,
Only the best of alpines - the strawberries, many pots of a particularly nice French cultivar, will be put back tomorrow. After that, tomatoes.
Man must eat!
Paddy
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Ah Paddy, we celebrate your genius, but what did you actually do to achieve the replacement?
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Brian,
In the light of a new day it is not as great achievement as my weary bones allowed me to believe yesterday nonetheless it was a tricky job and one where I foresaw disaster.
The glasshouse had been bolted down to a concrete block base with a timber strip between the frame and the blocks. I removed the bolts and the little of the timber which was left and then had to lift and support the glasshouse inch by inch until it was high enough to secure the new metal base underneath and then lower the glasshouse back onto the base. It was a great relief that it went successfully.
I am now available for glasshouse moving, house moving, general building moving etc. Also, you can now add a new floor to your house - under your present ground floor, just call me and I'll be there.
Paddy
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Paddy - Well done. Do remember to re-bolt it to the frame. We had a customer who erected a 20 x 40 foot hoop house and was pleased as punch with it. That was until the first big wind storm. The hoophouse hit their delivery van and demolished it, it hit their barn and destroyed many of the roof trusses and smashed several frames and of course the plants. What was surprising was that the whole house was compressed to the point that it was loaded on the back of a pick-up truck for forensics to see if the bracing was at fault - if the simple braces are installed backwards as big trouble can insue. Only later did the confession come forth. Seems her husband forget to secure the aluminium structure to the base, realizing it only when he came across the bolt kit.
I'm sure you would never make that mistake.
johnw
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Only later did the confession come forth. Seems her husband forget to secure the aluminium structure to the base, realizing it only when he came across the bolt kit.
Is it any wonder the divorce rate is rising?
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Don't worry, John, bolted and double bolted!
Wouldn't want to risk divorce!
Paddy
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Shouldn't Paddy be drummed out of the Forum for openly confessing to growing tomatoes in his greenhouse? ::)
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Shouldn't Paddy be drummed out of the Forum for openly confessing to growing tomatoes in his greenhouse? ::)
The Boss and I have convened an emergency meeting about this important matter: balance of opinion says that since Paddy grows so many great plants in his garden and shares foodie recipes with us, this lamentable lapse in glasshouse use may be overlooked. Not that we would seek to encourage such behaviour in the wider membership! ;) ::)
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Errr... growing tomatoes is EXACTLY what greenhouses are for here. Alpines, by contrast, are to be grown out in the elements where they belong! ??? I guess, given our climatic differences, and gardening preferences, never the twain shall meet though. ;D
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Who's talking about alpines? I grow Mediterranean orchids and bulbs in the greenhouse. Tomatoes, on the other hand, can be obtained far more easily and cheaply in the local supermarket. If I had 20+oC guaranteed during the summer I'd perhaps grow them outside in a growbag or down the allotment. ::)
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Sigh, wish we had 20+ C guaranteed during the summer too!
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Oh dear, I think that the SRGC is about to fall apart! I bought six tomato plants last night :o
Home grown are so much nicer than Tesco, Anthony.
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Been a great week in this part of the south,we snookered a Scot,rolled the Kiwis last night, and made the super 8 in 20/20,life dosen't get much better than this. bye Ray
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Been a great week in this part of the south,we snookered a Scot,rolled the Kiwis last night, and made the super 8 in 20/20,life dosen't get much better than this. bye Ray
Ha! Ha! Glad you're having fun, Ray! It's true what they say, huh? It's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good! ;D
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Been a great week in this part of the south,we snookered a Scot,rolled the Kiwis last night, and made the super 8 in 20/20,life dosen't get much better than this. bye Ray
We don't mention sport on the Forum Ray, NOT EVER!!! ;D
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I absolutely agree with you David about tomatoes. Who knows where they came from in the supermarket (it could even have been AUSTRALIA!!!) or what they've been sprayed with? Nothing like one's own for freshness, flavour and provenance. Not to mention a good deal of personal satisfaction. :D (I hope we're still talking Ray. ;D)
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That and politics Lesley. The Scots have got long memories. Must remember to get my SNP T-shirt out next month (Scotland Not Playing). ;)
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That and politics Lesley. The Scots have got long memories. Must remember to get my SNP T-shirt out next month (Scotland Not Playing). ;)
Does the football World Cup start in June? I thought it was July :-[
I know it's the Spanish F1 Grand Prix tomorrow!! ;D
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11th June Maggi. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html
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Thanks, Anthony, may have exhausted myself by then with the Giro !
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/cycling/giro/ ;)
Starting with three days in the Netherlands....first two "mountains" Gran Premio della Montagnas of this year's Giro d'Italia are two category three climbs, the Kaapse Bossen at just 49m and the Amerongse Bos which is 70m high..... now that's MY kind of cycling!! ;D
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Maggie, Anthony did that one on 1 April :P
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Just dropping in for a moment and have seen the comments on my tomato growing. I assert that this is the best possible use for a glasshouse. No tomato tastes better than the one picked from the plant and eaten warm. Taste far better than alpines ever will.
Re alpines, I have just returned from three days walking on the Burren in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland where there were drifts upon drifts of Spring Gentians, Early Purple Orchids and Mountain Avens among many other beauties. I was particularly delighted to find False Oxlip and Hoary Rockrose. Also interesting to find Potentilla fruiticosa growing in abundance near turloughs.
Will post photographs during the week.
Paddy
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Maggie, Anthony did that one on 1 April :P
Mine is no spoof, David.... the cyclists gaining the first placings over those "mountains" will get points towards the "King of the Mouuntains " jersey in the race.......points which will be a lost easier to collect than some of the others up for grabs in the Giro!
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No Weekly Lisse Show tomorrow. The Giro is passing Lisse in the morning.... no mountains there ;D ;D
Day off for gardening at home :D :D
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Oh! Won't you go to see the race pass, Luit?
After all, it isn't often that the Giro d'Italia spends 3 days in Holland :D
Ian says the WHOOSH of air as the peleton passes is very exciting: dozens of bikes whizzing by in an instant.... :o
I have only witnessed smaller city races "live".........I would love to see the peleton of a Grand Tour 8)
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Ian says the WHOOSH of air as the peleton passes is very exciting: dozens of bikes whizzing by in an instant.... :o
Maggi, I remember having seen Le Tour in the fifties. It really was WHOOSH and the only man I remember was a local cyclist in front of the peloton, one of the Voorting brothers and the others passed within second. At that time they cycled much slower than now and still it was over in no time.
I would have to go there by bike and would cost me two hours for one minute.... :-\
Maybe I think different when tomorrow the weather is much better than today. We just reached 10 C. Brrrrrr. ;D
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Of course, I had not thought of that ::)... the roads will be closed for the race. You are right, as ever! Better to stay home and get something done in the garden if it is not too cold.
After a bright morning and afternoon, it was only 4 degrees and blowing an icy wind with rain when I walked the dogs early this evening..... far too cold for my liking at this time of year.
Looking out to sea there was a strange orange cloud.... not sure whether it is just a light reflection from the city or something to do with the volcanic ash. It's not the sort of thing we have seen before. :-\
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Hi Lesley,of course I am still talking to you,you will have to do a lot better than that to offend me :).
HI David if those tomatoes on the shelf in the super market were from AU you could be sure they are the best!!!
Not allowed to mention sport in the forum,it wasn't me who bought up the subject of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix :)
bye Ray
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Not allowed to mention sport in the forum,it wasn't me who bought up the subject of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix :)
bye Ray
And now that Aussie Mark Webber won, aren't you glad that I did bring it up!! ;D ;)
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Don't think Lesley will be watching the cricket either? ::)
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I was watching the cricket today. ;D ;D ;D ;D
No, not the Scotland match, (although they did beat Leicestershire today! :o), but the T20 World Cup!
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Mark Webber won again in Monaco! And I missed another day of the Giro :'(
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Whenever I see Giro I keep thinking of something you cash shortly after receiving a UB40. ::)
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Happy and sad all in the one day but it's not real cricket is it? :) bye Ray
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You mean not like the ashes? ;D
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I'm so happy to have a new assistant in my garden. She is still very young but eager to help me with everything I do.
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Oh I want her - she looks so sad and cuddly. Hope you learn her what is a weed and she will be the perfect assistant in your garden.
What is her name ?
Angie :)
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Can't have her Angie, she is all mine ;D. Her name is Maggi and as she is very smart, full of fun and beautiful as well I think it suits her perfectly ;).
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She is absolutely gorgeous Gunilla, I'm very envious. I'm sure that Maggi Y will be flattered too!
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What a beautiful dog Gunilla. She looks at home in your garden already. Do you know her breed? She looks a bit like a Basenji which my mother always thought would be a good dog to have because they don't bark, just make small noises.
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Gunilla,
I don't think Maggi looks sad at all...rather, very discerning.
Hmmm, what should I plant there? Where will this go? Good bug or bad?
She's got a million topics on her mind and many decisions to make....
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Can't have her Angie, she is all mine ;D. Her name is Maggi and as she is very smart, full of fun and beautiful as well I think it suits her perfectly ;).
Didn't think you would part with her :'( and yes Maggi suits her perfect. Our Maggi surely hasn't seen her yet, she will fall in love with her like everyone has. Will look forward to more pictures of her soon.
Angie :)
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I agree she doesn't look sad, she's just realizing the world of full of all kinds of doggie delights, to pounce upon, to eat or chew, to discover and explore and to DIG UP! (or bury).
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I agree, she looks like a Basenji but I can assure you she knows how to bark :). She is a smooth collie, 9 weeks old.
We lost our two old collie bitches in less than two years and have missed them very much. It's so good to have a puppy in the house again.
She is digging and chewing her way through my garden and are attacking my tulips at the moment. It is a big world out there to explore.
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Hi Anthony,yes the ashes and with a bit of luck you won't be smiling in 8 months time :).
I am smiling again as our girls won the womens 20/20 competition at the expense of the Kiwis :).
bye Ray
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Gunilla, It's great to see that you have such a lovely puppy to share your garden with and walking, I'm sure. She has a really sweet look in her eye - I bet your grandchildren are over the moon too :)
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I am smiling again as our girls won the womens 20/20 competition at the expense of the Kiwis :).
bye Ray
All right, all right. ::)
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I had looked at Maggi (M) and thought she was older than 9 weeks but looking again and at the pot nearby I can see she is still small and a baby. Collies here tend to be black and white and used as sheep dogs so I didn't make that connection either. She will be the darling of your heart for years to come. :)
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I am filled with delight at the thought that my name is shared with this gorgeous young creature, Maggi in Sweden. I believe I see great wisdom in those eyes of hers ( well, I would say that, wouldn't I?! ::)) and little Maggi will surely prove a fine and faithful friend to Gunilla and her family. She will be a big strong girl, if the size of those paws is an indication ... and Smooth Collies are quite sizeable dogs.
They are so rare around here.... mind you, even the Rough Collies are not that plentiful ......I cannot remember when I last saw a Smooth in Aberdeen.
Yes, happiness IS a warm puppy.... even if the puppy is ancient! ;D
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I'm all for warm puppies too. ;D
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I thought I had killed off my Lilium souliei seedlings last year, but there's three of them poking up in the pot! ;D
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This may seem to be vanishingly insignificant to most, but I finally managed to flower a Crocus from seed after many years of trying - I am now officially a Croconut! I live in a very Crocus-unfriendly climate - not enough cold weather and far too many Crocus-hungry pathogens. Anyway, my C. goulimyi seedlings (ex JJA) produced a flower unexpectedly and it was great - what a beauty! 8) ;D
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Many congrats Rogan !!
Welcome to the Croconut Club !! :D
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Well done Rogan. You'll be nutty as the rest of us in no time. ;D
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Celebrating 'up and coming' British Brands our daughter's jewellery company, Foxgloves London, is featured in You magazine in the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online today - we are so incredibly happy and pleased for her :) :D ;D
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1279441/Go-fly-home-flag--celebrate-British-brands.html
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And I'm so happy that I have not yet got around to commissioning a doggy brooch from Foxgloves.... because now that Poppy has joined the family I want a double westie brooch instead!! 8)
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Maggi, we're really enjoying seeing the family and basking in this amazing weather so it was a lot of celebrating this past WE 8)
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The members of a local garden club visited the garden last evening, 40 - 50 people. As might be imagined this was not an occasion anticipated with any great glee being the perfectly unsociable person that I am(well, so "She who must be obeyed" always tells me). However, all went perfectly smoothly and pleasantly; lovely people, actually interested in gardening and plants which came as a surprise and they scoffed the refreshments with what struck me as a reasonable level of pleasure.
Anticipation of such events always fill me with dread. The events always turn out to be fine but I cannot learn this apparently obvious lesson. I hate the anticipation of such a visit, enjoy them on the occasion and always swear that I will never again allow any such group come into the garden. NEVER AGAIN!
Yes, I'm simply a crackpot - Mary says I am certified such.
Paddy, still trying to recover, medicating on Bacardi and Coke.
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Paddy, you are not alone...my brother feels the same but my sister in law is a real people person in the best possible sense (Mary of the same ilk I imagine) who likes to share a beautiful garden with others who are interested for a good cause and to share a passion which comes together after a lot of hard work and dedication. This year has been particularly difficult with such a bad spell of weather and snow breaking down the branches of ancient trees, rhododendrons and topiary....coupled with hungry deer and late frosts but still they are opening after a superhuman effort on everyone's part to the Scottish Garden's Scheme this Sunday 30th May....I admire them, as I admire your enterprise too, and hope they are well supported.
http://www.gardensofscotland.org/garden.aspx?id=d174990c-6f3a-4731-9e07-9cc000a85dfc#
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Robin,
Mary would build a twenty foot wall around the garden, flood they moat, roll up the drawbridge and leave out the dogs. However, she has an inability to say, "No" and this was understandable as we know most of the members of this garden club - Waterford is a small place!
There is the consolation that a local charity which offers respite care for cancer sufferers will benefit by 300Euro. The garden club have the practice of taking 5Euro from each member on a garden visit to give to the hosts and we also sold some plants. So, it is good to have the opportunity to do something for someone else.
Your brother and sister-in-law have their hands full with seven acres of garden.
Paddy
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A wonderful result for respite care and it sounds as if everyone enjoyed themselves with your hospitality.
Yes seven acres requires a lot of maintenance but my brother loves trees in particular and is very involved in that aspect of the evolution of the garden - plus mowing the grass!
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Great to learn of the sums that can be raised for good causes by these events.
Your brother's place looks lovely, Robin.... and I'm thinking that anyone in the Pertyhshire area could perhaps vist both Cloan, by Auchterarder and the Bands' garden in Pitcairngreen on the same day...... 8)
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4494.msg120670#msg120670
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Good idea - I think that would be a great day out, Maggi, and just wish I was there to enjoy both open gardens 8) Here's hoping for good weather for all visitors and those who have worked so hard to welcome them to their gardens.
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The chain and padlock have been put back on the gate. The barbed wire runs along the top of the gate and I am attempting to resurrect myself with alcohol. (This latter is, of course, a bad idea)
Paddy
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Paddy, how about elderflower cordial and a scone with crabapple jelly - it would make you feel much sweeter ;D
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I'm feeling happy tonight, thus posting here. Why not everyone who is feeling relatively good about things just make a whole bunch of "ditto" gratuitous postings here in this thread, just to catch up with the "moan moan moan" thread? It's easy, we could catch up.
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gratuitous I'm so happy" happy posting 2 ;D
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gratuitous I'm so happy" happy posting 3
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Gratuitous 'I'm so happy' posting 4 - illustrated!
Just got back from our first visit to the Big Apple - time to reflect.
NEW YORK REFLECTION
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Cliff, welcome back and so looking forward to seeing your photos and hearing all about your garden visits there...what a stunning photo from the Big Apple to start with!
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Paddy, how about elderflower cordial and a scone with crabapple jelly - it would make you feel much sweeter ;D
Robin, the elderflower has not bloomed yet and we will have a bit of a wait for the crabapples but they will come in their season and will be enjoyed then. By the way, crabapple jelly can be very easily converted to a nice relish for meats by the addition of chopped mint when making.
Good to have you back, Cliff, and reflecting on New York.
Mark, "Happy" is not my normal state of being. I am naturally a depressed person (Mary says "depressing"), black side of life, nothing will go well, disaster is just about to happen. BUT, I am very happy in my misery! I think there is something in the Irish psyche which is anti-happiness. I recall an Irish comedian, Dave Allen, whose style was one of social commentary, asking what an Irish person would say if they saw someone obviously happy, laughing etc. The answer: " What the f..k has that b.....d got to be happy about?" We genuinely begrudge happiness/success etc.
I must try hard to summon up some positive thoughts as I am going into hospital midweek to have my prostate "zapped" by laser. Such fun!
Now, I have brought down the general happy tone of this thread. Now, I'm happy!
And, no, I'm not being grumpy. Haaa Haaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaa. Oh, a laugh actually feels good.
Paddy
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Well, you're certainly not going to be Snow White, young fellow m'lad!!!!
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Ha, Ha, Cliff is back!
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Paddy, you come across as a happy person.. so I don't believe you when you say you are a naturally depressed person. Well done with opening your garden. I have friends that open there garden and I know home much hard work goes into this.. but I must say I love looking around other peoples gardens I come away with a joy and lots of ideas and a list of plants that l must try and get.
Robin , that looks like a really exciting place your brother has. I cant imagine how much hard work there must be in seven acres and getting a garden in tip top condition after the weather we have had is unthinkable...will you be there on Sunday.
Angie :)
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I am so happy :) :)... stopped raining, suns out, now I can get out and do some gardening ;D ;D ;D
Angie :).
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I just though I would mention my experience dealing with Hayloft Plants. In the autumn I bought a collection of 10 penstemons from them and in spite of my superior gardening skills 8 died over the winter. Naturally they are well outside the guarantee period but I wrote them a polite email received a very nice reply and today a set of replacements arrived free of charge.
What excellent service.
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Kind comments, Angie.
Just shows - I had you fooled all the time.
Paddy
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Mark, "Happy" is not my normal state of being. I am naturally a depressed person (Mary says "depressing"), black side of life, nothing will go well, disaster is just about to happen. BUT, I am very happy in my misery! I think there is something in the Irish psyche which is anti-happiness. I recall an Irish comedian, Dave Allen, whose style was one of social commentary, asking what an Irish person would say if they saw someone obviously happy, laughing etc. The answer: " What the f..k has that b.....d got to be happy about?" We genuinely begrudge happiness/success etc.
I must try hard to summon up some positive thoughts as I am going into hospital midweek to have my prostate "zapped" by laser. Such fun!
Paddy
Hmmm, the Irish psyche, maybe that's why I'm sometimes filled with angst internally... the Irish part of me duking it out with the other ancestry ;D ::) Good luck on the zapping, I too need this done, but as an eternal procrastinator, I'm putting it off as long as I can.
Feeling good today though, my chipmunk (and occasional vole) relocation plan is going well :D
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Angie, thanks for your interest in Cloan garden, it is really beautiful and there is a panoramic view of the Grampian mountains from there plus lots of wonderful trees and shrubs and a double herbaceous border walk and wild garden. My sister in law and brother manage nearly all of it with only some weeding help and general maintenance - a labour of love and especially so this year. Unfortunately I can't be there except in spirit.
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Robin.., I thought I could go to Cloan but we have ended up babysitting this evening and I can imagine that Lola's parents wont surface early, so most of our day will be gone, I am not complaining I love babysitting and she is so good.
I hope the weather will be nice after all their effort. I thought if you were there we would get to see some nice pictures as it looks so lovely. My friends garden is open and there big day in next weekend I shall take some pictures to show everyone.
Paddy you are not fooling me, ;D ;D ;D
Angie
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Giving talks has the same effect on me Paddy. I say yes because the talk isn't until 10 or 12 months away but it gradually creeps closer and I come to dread it and get nerves and only when it is finally underway then finished, that I realise it wasn't so bad after all. Same with a 'flu injection. It's the expectation of pain that's the bad part. The actual jab isn't too bad at all.
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Cliff and Sue, and Sherba and I , had the pleasure of meeting up in North Carolina at Ev Whittemore's place (What a delightful lady). for his excellent talk to the Southern Appalachian Chapter of NARGS.
He won't tell you himself, but he had a very successful tour....so Congratulations Buddy....you did us all proud.
Welcome back to the cold and drizzle of old Whitworth.
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Aw Shucks! Thank you both kindly ... it was an enormous pleasure to spend some time with you both (and dear Ev) and your presence at the lecture resulted in a projector that worked correctly, an introduction of the nicest kind (Alan was asked to introduce me) and some additional and heartfelt applause at the end (what a load of clap)!
Thanks for everything and enjoy your summer.
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Well something for us to be happy about today,we have always had blue tits in one of our nesting boxes for over 10 years now,but today was the first time that we had ever seen the young ones leave.....................it was fantastic,must get one of these new fangled ones that come with a camera built in
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Hi Chas l bought my mum a nest box with a camera last year and she had so much fun with it, we watched the day the eggs were laid four in total and my mum watched all four leave there home happily. They are back again this year but sadly my mum isn't here to watch them :'(.
It was a great time and my mum watched more of them than her television . We laughed as after all our excitement was over I said to my mum whats that shadow on your TV and we were left with the shape of the inside of the nest box on the TV screen, well it was worth the fun we had everday.
Hope all your baby blue tits fly there nest.
Angie :)
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Robin, thanks for the link to your brothers home...Cloan house. We managed to get there and thoroughly enjoyed the garden and the views from the garden were so lovely, so was the tea and cakes ;D The weather kept dry so we had a nice walk through the woodland. I cant imagine how they manage to keep the garden and all the surrounding land so tidy. Here are some pictures of the house and garden.
Angie :)
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Well done for handing Baby Lola back to her Mum and Dad at speed, Angela, and whizzing off down to Auchterarder! What a lovely place..... fine mature gardens and isn't the house handsome .... it'll be giving Derek ideas for his next project, eh?!!
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What a lovely place..... fine mature gardens and isn't the house handsome .... it'll be giving Derek ideas for his next project, eh?!!
[/quote]
Hope not Maggi ... think of all the window cleaning I would have to do ::)
Also managed to get to Jean Bands garden at Pitcairngreen, so many lovely plants and again there was lovely tea and biscuits ;D ;D.
A couple of pictures of there lovely garden.
Angie :)
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Forgot to show there lovely chickens.
Angie :)
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To my great shame, I have never been to the Bands' garden....... and not for want of invitations, I hasten to add.... nor of open days to take advantage off...... I just knew I was missing out badly..... thanks so much for the photos, Angela.
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Hope not Maggi ... think of all the window cleaning I would have to do ::)
Also managed to get to Jean Bands garden at Pitcairngreen, so many lovely plants and again there was lovely tea and biscuits ;D ;D.
A couple of pictures of there lovely garden.
Angie :)
Angie, I'm so happy to see that sheet of blue Corydalis, do you know if it is one of the flexuosa hybrids? Even if no name, I'd gladly have such a fine spread of blue coryds.
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Mark sorry I never got the name of the Corydalis... but I bet you Maggi can tell us the name of it. I too couldn't get over how blue it was.
Angie :)
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Robin, thanks for the link to your brothers home...Cloan house. We managed to get there and thoroughly enjoyed the garden and the views from the garden were so lovely, so was the tea and cakes ;D The weather kept dry so we had a nice walk through the woodland. I cant imagine how they manage to keep the garden and all the surrounding land so tidy. Here are some pictures of the house and garden.
Angie :)
Angie, how wonderful that you managed to fit in and enjoy two gardens in Perthshire - really great for me to see photos you posted from of Cloan and Pitcairn Gardens, thanks so much! Did you see the Highland cows?
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Out for a walk this evening and came on a great spread of Ragged Robin - the flower not our friend in Switzerland!
Paddy
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Hi Robin ....Yes we walked up to see the Highland cattle, they are bigger than you think when you are close to them :o. We both enjoyed our day out and the evening sun was so lovely we took the scenic road back home. Thanks for putting the link on the forum.
Angie :)
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You were really adventurous Angie ;D. Glad you had such a good time :o. the Highland cattle are great characters and my brother combs them regularly, avoiding the swinging horns :(. My sister in law was really pleased you made the trip from such a distance to support the opening.
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You were really adventurous Angie ;D. Glad you had such a good time :o. the Highland cattle are great characters and my brother combs them regularly, avoiding the swinging horns :(. My sister in law was really pleased you made the trip from such a distance to support the opening.
Robin ..Your brother must be strong and brave to be able to give them a brush :o, there horns were so scary to me. We walked down the slopes and across the wooden bridge, it was nice and so peacefull there. Say thanks to your brother and sister in law for opening there garden. I always come home with ideas and another inch or two around my waistband with all those lovely cakes that the nice ladies put in front of me.
I am happy just spotted I think they are swallows nesting in our pony shelter, I have seen them here for 16years but they always nested somewhere else. I think they waited for the pony's to move out before setting up home ::). I hope they will have babies.
Angie :)
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Angie, I'm so happy for you to think that swallows are setting up home in you pony shed - they couldn't have chosen a better spot!
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As I'm fast approaching 1000 SRGC posts, I'm wondering if I win some sort of prize when I hit 1000, or do I just yell out BINGO and do a happy dance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY&NR=1
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No prize Mark, but if you set the timer on your camera before you yell Bingo and do the dance we can all have a laugh. ;D
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Another one for the "Muso's"
Wait until the sun goes down; pour a large glass of red; light up whatever is your indulgence and listen. And I thought the original would never be bettered but IMHO it has.
Krystle Warren folks, and give her other stuff a listen too, what a voice>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npr1YQTUz98&feature=related
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Cloan House is truly beautiful, exactly what the perfect Scottish house should be. Pity it isn't Clone House though. ;D
To my deep shame (considering I used to have to compost it in large bucketsful) I lost Corydalis flexuosa a couple of years ago in yet another east coast drought. Replaced it yesterday though, at a nursery north of the city, and I have a cooler place for it now alond with a very large Camellia 'Cornish Snow.' It is so big it totally filled the car, with the passenger and two back seats laid flat and smaller branches brushing ears and eyebrows and in my hair. It was the only plant left so I didn't have a choice. ::)
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Hi Maggie just pointed me to this thread.
I am sorry I missed you Angie, we had just left to go and see the horses and check on the field (it is about 12mls from the house) It was great to see everyone on the day although it was wet and windy, Monday was such a perfect day - pity.
The corydalis is flexuosa China Blue, it does really well in this place even although it must be dry under the Rhodos.
Susan
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Hi Susan... we had a lovely walk around the garden I just loved the layout and so many exciting plants. We came late on in the afternoon and the sun was shinning a beautiful afternoon. I said to your mum l bet you get up at the crack of dawn and get out in this lovely garden, she just smiled. I asked how the garden was started as l couldn't get over all the different levels that they had managed to achieve. l loved the different levels and how they new where to put the stone walls.. your mum told us how they achieved all of this, I found it really intersting.
We were made so welcome with tea and cakes they must have been tired by the time we left so please say thank you very much to them. I came away with lots of ideas.
The corydalis was stunning.
Angie :)
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Today we had some newborns :D
Here are some pictures of the mother (who was ready to attack the camera on the last pic) and the little ones. They are four 'Belgian Bearded d'Uccle' (in Dutch this breed has the nickname 'living flower of our gardens' since it is a very calm breed which doesn't harm the plants) and one 'Cochin Bantam'.
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Always exciting to have new "family members", Wim! 8)
These chicks are very cute.... is it usual to have each with a different colour?
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Wim, no wonder you're happy with a healthy clutch of chicks - Mum looks happy too but very occupied! I love their feather leggings 8)
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Always exciting to have new "family members", Wim! 8)
These chicks are very cute.... is it usual to have each with a different colour?
Maggi,
within the breed there are a lot of recognised colours...
The one which is almost white is the 'Cochin Bantam'.
The other four are 'Belgian Bearded d'Uccle' which exist in the following colours: Mille Fleur, Porcelain, Black, White, Gold Neck, Mottled and Self Blue. The colour of the chick represents the colour it will be later in life. Since I bought these eggs from a breeder who has almost all recognized colours it could be I have four different colours.
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Wim, no wonder you're happy with a healthy clutch of chicks - Mum looks happy too but very occupied! I love their feather leggings 8)
Robin, it's always nice to have some new life in the garden.
Mum is mostly tired, every time she closes here eyes for a bit one of the chicks starts to cheep and she has to change the way she was sitting... so no rest for mommy.
I love the breeds with feathered legs and feet. It's interesting to see they have them from day one.
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Wim,
Lovely chicks. Is the hen the mother or did she simply sit on the eggs for you? The chicks seem to have very different marks to her. I must get a photograph of our girls in a moment.
Paddy
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Wim,
Lovely chicks. Is the hen the mother or did she simply sit on the eggs for you? The chicks seem to have very different marks to her. I must get a photograph of our girls in a moment.
Paddy
Thanks Paddy,
the hen is not the biological mother ;) The eggs were bought from a breeder who has some special breeds and I wanted to see if I can keep 'Belgian Bearded d'Uccle' free in the garden. They say they do not touch the plants, so i'm curious.
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Lovely birds Wim & Paddy. I've kept many different breeds although I'm currently down to just 5 chickens (3 Sultans, a Egyptian Fayoumi and my elder statesman Cochin cockerel) and 4 ducks (a pair of chocolate muscovys, a Cayuga drake and Black East Indian female). I've not tried the Belgian bantams although they are very popular show birds over here. I went a bit mad in 2008 and hatched lots in the incubator but I ended up with far too many cockerels and a grumpy husband so I've not got the incubator out this year!
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My goodness, the cuteness scale has just broken under the strain! :)
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Very beautiful chickens Paddy and Gail.
Love the Poland breed, although I can't help to wonder, after looking at some pictures of them on the net, how it is possible for them to see? ;) Do they run into things alot? ;D
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Oh aren't they all so cute 8)
Angie :)
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Love the Poland breed, although I can't help to wonder, after looking at some pictures of them on the net, how it is possible for them to see? ;) Do they run into things alot? ;D
They can usually see down and forward okay so they don't run into things and can feed fine but they don't have much peripheral vision so wouldn't notice predators and can be a bit jumpy. If you keep them in a mixed flock they can be bullied by other birds who can't resist pecking the crest. Some of them with the very big crests do have problems seeing forward and have to have the feathers trimmed - responsible breeders try to keep to a sensible sized crest.
It is a fascinating breed with a long history and the birds tend to be really tame and affectionate but I have to say that I don't think I shall hatch anymore. When the three pictured above first hatched you could clearly see that the skull is actually deformed and I do worry about the ethics of breeding such birds.
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I have just collected 6 Lomonds. 4 young at point of lay and 2 old 'Birds' no comments!! by lunch time we had 2 eggs 1 large and 1 small.Took them up to my daughter Susy as her youngest Charlotte is not well.They are lovely canny birds and are settling in well. They love snails
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May they grow and flourish Jean, if snails are a preferred menu item. Much power to them - and many eggs to you. :)
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Good luck with your chickens Jean.
This really has no place on the 'so happy' thread but I had to have my favourite Cochin cockerel put to sleep on Friday and this evening we've been visited by a fox - took my 3 hens and came back for the ducks. Fortunately my husband saw it and made it drop the duck that it had caught but we've had great problems rounding them up as they were so traumatised.
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Gail sorry to hear about your cockerel... my husband and I are always chasing the rabbits out of our drive, I always wonder what our neighbouring property owners think when we shout and scream to scare those rabbits away, no-one has ever said anything but I wonder if they think this is a mad house here.
Away to Gardeners World Live on Friday... can anyone give me any gardens to visit or is there any nice alpine nurseries near by... not that l need anymore plants ;D ;D
Angie :)
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Yes!! I'm SOOOOOOO happy, extremely happy in fact, that what was looking like the big C is finally found to be a very small one, and benign, easily sorted. No big M needed, thank God.
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So glad to hear it Lesley....best wishes!
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Good news, Lesley!
So we'll still get to see you over on this side of the ditch in September!
cheers
fermi
PS did you contact Otto about attending the Bulb Talk?
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Congratulations Lesley. That must be a big load off your mind. :o
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Thanks everyone, yes, a great relief. I've not talked specifically about the talk Fermi but I don't think I can make it until the 16th and that's too late? A talk by a South African about SA bulbs would be special too. But at least I feel I can book my air ticket now.
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So pleased to hear your news Lesley & 'may you stay forever young' as Bob Dylan said!
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Wonderful, wonderful news, Lesley ... long may you enjoy Ranunculus semiverticillatus in glorious bloom! :D
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Phew! Thank goodness for that, Lesley.....these worries do so put everyday life on hold, don't they? Now you can get cracking with new plans. 8)
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New plans, yes. Such a small thing as a health worry can put life on hold - for 7 weeks, this time - and it's such a waste. When the docs couldn't make up their minds ("I'm sure there's something there but I can't quite locate it." This after 2 mammograms and 3 untrasounds in a month) I'd just about got to making lists of what pots and plants should go to which people. They'll have to wait now. ;D
Ranunculus semiverticillatus in glorious bloom? I should be so lucky. It's continuing to do what it does so well. Nothing!
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Glad to hear that you are well Lesley, what a worrying time you must have had. I am glad you are fine as l would hope that one day we could meet up.
Now get on with things and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy .
Angie :)
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Glad to hear it was only a scare, Lesley, and nothing more serious, even if it was understandably very worrying.
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Wonderful news Lesley !! :D :D
So glad to hear it !!!
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My goodness, Lesley, what a worrying time and it's such a relief to know you are in the clear.....I think it must be something to do with your strength of character that put a blighty on the big C. Health and gardening go hand in hand so here's hoping you have stress-free days to enjoy growing your plants.
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Lesley, what a huge relief. Am very happy you had such good results ( eventually).
I can imagine the sort of stress you must have gone through during those 7 weeks.
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That's great news Lesley. :D
Glad to hear that everything is okay.
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Many thanks everyone. Yes, it was stressful but I'm feeling quite light-hearted now. :D
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On a very different note.......
This could be posted in either the "Moan, Moan, Moan" topic or here in the "I'm so happy" topic, depending on your political persuasion...... I'm not sure which it should be in as yet (I'll wait and see), but I choose to put a positive spin on it....... Australia now has it's first female Prime Minister as of 30 minutes or so ago. Julia Gillard has taken over from Kevin Rudd. While it is historic that we finally have a female PM, the method of taking over has caused concern by many. I choose to see it as a positive thing at this time though, so thought I would mention it here.
Just a little piece of news in case anyone is interested. Nice to see us moving into a less sexist governmental situation. ;D
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We had one once. At that time my uncle was managing director of British Aerospace at Warton near Preston. He boasted that his salary was the same as the Prime Minister. Things have changed a bit since then and the Prime Minister earns marginally more than an average doctor. We also have a recession which will not hit, but rather reward, the people who caused it and now I won't get my state pension until I'm 66!!!! :(
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Paul, we've had the same change here a couple of times and the method of achievement is generally called "A stab in the back."
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She has two things in her favour mainly, as I see it. One: she's not called Margaret; two: her surname isn't Thatcher :P
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Hi David,but she is Welsh,so is that a plus or a minus.bye Ray
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On TV at least, she looks incredibly tall and slim and self assured/confident. My first thought was "My girl, you're heading for a fall!"
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Hmmmm...... would David care to tell me just what is so bad about the name Margaret?
Yours inquisitively,
Margaret Young
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When Rudd became Prime Minister it seemed like we had a breath of fresh air but he went on to not deliver the goods or if they were delivered they were not thought through thoroughly enough before implementation.
My first thoughts on Julia Gilliard is that she is a 'perfect' politician who can dodge and weave with the best of them around a question.
Politicians seem to come out of a certain mould but I would like to be proved wrong.
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Hmmmm...... would David care to tell me just what is so bad about the name Margaret?
Yours inquisitively,
Margaret Young
I hasten to qualify! Nothing wrong at all with a stand alone Margaret, it's when the "Thatcher" bit is added that frightens me ::)
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Hi David,but she is Welsh,so is that a plus or a minus.bye Ray
Ray, had she been a bloke the Welsh element would have been good for sheep jokes ;D
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Hmmmm...... would David care to tell me just what is so bad about the name Margaret?
Yours inquisitively,
Margaret Young
I hasten to qualify! Nothing wrong at all with a stand alone Margaret, it's when the "Thatcher" bit is added that frightens me ::)
Trying to undo the damage David ??? ;D ;)
(I'm sure there's even better expressions in English to describe what I mean... :o ;))
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I'll give you an expression in English, David: "living dangerously"
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Thanks Maggi, I knew I could count on you... ;D ;D
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Ray, had she been a bloke the Welsh element would have been good for sheep jokes ;D
Not too many jokes, sheep or otherwise, among the Welsh blokes in New Zealand at the moment. ;D
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The Welsh might not be that happy Leslie but I was not exactly enthrawled by the All Black performance.
We will be in big trouble if thats the game we bring against the boks-especially since theres no room for Guildford or Gear in the team, if Jane gets injured we are in trouble. Atleast Kahui looks in good touch.
Luckily Donnely made an alright performance otherwise the All Black squad would have been Otago less.
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It was pretty lacklustre, wasn't it. Probably the 'boks will triumph next Saturday and I can't see the All Blacks winning the World Cup next year either. The only game I plan to go to watch, is Scotland v. Georgia, here in Dunedin. I've already ordered my vuvuzela ;D
I believe the Dunedin City Council has budgeted for about $15,000 or maybe it was $150,000 for grass repairs each year, in view if the fact that the new Chin/Farry stadium is to be covered. Melbourne's covered stadium costs them several millions each year in turf renewal. Local architects/contractors etc don't seem to understand that grass is not a hothouse crop! >:( ??? ::) >:(
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Don't you just LUV Vuvuzelas, soccer wouldn't be the same without them - they could even be heard prominently during the rugby match when SA destroyed Italy on Saturday! ;D
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What about the football, us Kiwis must love the Germans, first they destroy Aussie and then annihilate the poms-we could here them winging from here about that goal :P
Seriously how can anyone say if that goal was allowed that the English could have won, I think it would have made the Germans try a bit harder.
Nothing like a good piece of banter to make us all feel happy aye-you might be able to pay me back in a fortnight ;D
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I agree that the English may not have won, and certainly their public and press seem to think they played badly, but that still doesn't negate the injustice of a perfectly legitimate goal being scored, then denied because some half blind ref and sideline official missed it. Not a Fair Go at all.
Holland beat Slovakia well this morning and if the All Whites had gone on to the second round, the Dutch would no doubt have been our stumbling block too. No matter, we're very happy with their performance over all, and those who have so far come home to NZ have received heroes' welcomes.
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Just a short diversion from all things sport....I'm so happy because this..
and this
have turned into this...
and this
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Whooooooooo! 8) That's impressive..... now there's something to keep you occupied in the rainy days..... fab!
The green one is one of the smartest potting stations I've ever seen................. ;)
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SShhhh, the boss thinks it's a conservatory :-X
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No wonder you are happy...I am excited just thinking what you can put in it. Hope you let us all see pictures when they are full of plants.
Angie :)
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Angie, the answer will be Lewisias by the score :D
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Imagine trying to compete with Ashwoods! ;D
Magnificent, Martin ... and I am INCREDIBLY envious.
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Well Martin I cant wait to see all your Lewisias in there new home... they will be so happy just like you are.
Angie :)
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Magnificent, Martin ... and I am INCREDIBLY envious.
Moi aussi!
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Yeah, me too!
A wonderful transformation from boxes to glasshouses. Wonder if I said the right words over that pile of cardboard at the back of the garage..... ???
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Yeah, me too!
A wonderful transformation from boxes to glasshouses. Wonder if I said the right words over that pile of cardboard at the back of the garage..... ???
I would end up with a corrugated shed ... !!! :D
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I'd end up with a heap of wet cardboard. ::)
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Wonderful Martin, how long did they take to put up? I think the doormat suggests the conservatory option was in mind...but it would be a perfect space 'decorated' with your Lewisias 8) Your new greenhouse is very smart :D
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Yesterday (Saturday) I came home from my job - aching back, sore knees and tired feet - to find a wonderful gift in my letter box. It is a magazine sent by Olga in Moscow, with many garden articles (2 by Olga herself) and with excellent photos. There are super Epimediums (one of Olga's articles), gorgeous lilies, many trees and shrubs and an article about Trollius, notes about subjects from seeds to snowdrops, roses to radishes. My one regret is that other than Olga's name (with photo :)) I can't recognise a word of Russian. But the gardens and plants speak for themselves and it is very interesting to see that similar products, seeds, tools etc appear in the advertisements, as do in our own gardening magazines. If (after seeing so many Forum pictures) I ever still had the idea that Russia was a dour and grey place, I certainly don't think so now. My current mindset has been the result of reading "The Gulag Archipeligo" so it's great to have this new vision of Russia from the gardener's point of view. I am very grateful to Olga for that.
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finding Lewisia tweedyi,no other words needed
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finding Lewisia tweedyi,no other words needed
Congratulations Tony, was this in the Wenatchee Mountains, one of my favorite haunts when I lived in the Seattle, Washinton USA area. Not far away, one can find L. rediviva too.
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Mark we are in Wenatchee,they were on the Blewit Pass growing with what we think was L columbiana. We live in hope of L rediviva tomorrow.
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This past winter I received three packets of seed of Myrteola nummularia. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy to report that we have germination!
At the moment I count 20-25 tiny seedlings spread over the three pots. The earliest to emerge (just a few weeks ago) have already formed their first pair of true leaves, but it will probably be a good year before these seedlings are big enough to pot on.
Remembering that when I had a mature plant, it enjoyed sitting in a saucer of water so the soil was constantly damp, I have these three seed pots sitting in saucers of water too.
Now if I can just convince other local gardeners that their lives are horrid horticultural wastelands without Myrteola nummularia!
PS: Seed from the AGS arrived in December and was sown immediately, and that pot seems to be giving the best germination. This suggests that nanny berry seeds need a fair bit of winter cold to germinate.
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Congrats Rodger. It's always a thrill when something REALLY wanted, germinates.
And there's nothing at all quite to match the thrill of seeing a well known and loved plant one has grown for years, growing in its natural habitat. I'll never forget the moment when I topped a little hill and found a boggy basin of peaty soil filled with flowering Geum uniflorum. Well, no I hadn't been growing it for years; I'd struggled with a couple of plants but seeing it so fine and in such quantity was a sight (almost) to make me believe in God.
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I thought some of you might like to be made happy with this nice stamp showing Myrteola nummularia - it's a 17pence stamp that was issued in the Falkland Islands......
[attach=1]
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I'm almost tempted to regress 55 years and start collecting stamps again Maggi. Floral ones, obviously. That's a beauty.
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I'm almost tempted to regress 55 years and start collecting stamps again Maggi. Floral ones, obviously. That's a beauty.
If you could collect a few of the scarce ones for me please, Lesley ... ? :D
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I'm almost tempted to regress 55 years and start collecting stamps again Maggi. Floral ones, obviously. That's a beauty.
If you could collect a few of the scarce ones for me please, Lesley ... ? :D
I don't think she meant she'd travel back in time, Cliff! ;D
cheers
fermi
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I'm almost tempted to regress 55 years and start collecting stamps again Maggi. Floral ones, obviously. That's a beauty.
If you could collect a few of the scarce ones for me please, Lesley ... ? :D
I don't think she meant she'd travel back in time, Cliff! ;D
cheers
fermi
Doh!!! ;D
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If only I could, and knowing all the things I've learnt in the meantime about the plants I've lost, maybe I wouldn't make so many mistakes. BUt I suppose there would be a whole new set of pitfalls.
Do you collect stamps Cliff?
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If only I could, and knowing all the things I've learnt in the meantime about the plants I've lost, maybe I wouldn't make so many mistakes. BUt I suppose there would be a whole new set of pitfalls.
Do you collect stamps Cliff?
Like you Lesley, I used to collect stamps many moons ago. I have retained my collection for my grandchildren but have no real idea of what I have got or what they may be worth. I haven't opened any of the albums for at least thirty years. ::)
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I only kept my Victorian line engraved stamps. I have a couple of Penny Blacks, a few 2d Blues (alas, only one 1840 version) and a hundred or so Penny Reds.
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Quite a nice wee retirement fund Anthony. :D
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I wish. Even in perfect nick they wouldn't top £1000 for the lot! :-\
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I am going to a vacation with my husband ;D ;D come back and bring a thousand photo again :-* till I come back wish you beautiful flowers, enough icecream and visit my website for the Pittsburg Botanical Garden's pic ;D
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I hope you and your husband have a wonderful holiday, Erika. 8)
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Erika looking forward to all the lovely pictures when you come back.
Wish I was happy like you I am going to Loch Lomond today with my husband and friends to watch the Scottish open...Forecast heavy rain, sorry there will be no pictures taken ;D ;D..I wonder where I could sneak of too ( anybody any suggestions ).
Angie :)
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Thank you!
Angie, here is a brigth sunshine, warm air and some breeze ;D I made fresh bread and muffins, gingerbread cones the coffee is ready, so come here, Maggie you too
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Thank you!
Angie, here is a brigth sunshine, warm air and some breeze ;D I made fresh bread and muffins, gingerbread cones the coffee is ready, so come here, Maggie you too
With an invitation like that, Erika, I am Very happy! :-*
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Thank you!
Angie, here is a brigth sunshine, warm air and some breeze ;D I made fresh bread and muffins, gingerbread cones the coffee is ready, so come here, Maggie you too
Maggi when are you free, fresh bread, muffins and gingerbread cones and I sunshine, I am ready... what a invitation.
We are just outside Loch Lomond just been for a nice walk( not raining yet ), picked up some chocolate buttons for my wee snack for afterwards ;D.
Angie :)
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We are just outside Loch Lomond just been for a nice walk( not raining yet ), picked up some chocolate buttons for my wee snack for afterwards ;D.
Angie :)
So glad you are outside Loch Lomond. Inside the loch would be even more damp than it is here in Dunblane today. I checked the forecast. Yesterday I could see the hills, so it was going to rain. Today I can't see the hills so it is already raining. Forecast was spot on! I put the kids 10' paddling pool up earlier in the week. It remains unused! Lucy has checked the forecast for Ripon next week. I think the rain will follow us down. When my ship comes in I'll be at the airport! :-\
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Angie
Probably too late now but you are in easy travelling distance from Geilston Gardens next to Cardross and the Hill House in Helensburgh - both NTFS properties. The Hill House is open in the afternoon. If you want shopping, there is Lomond Shores with a Jenners shop on site. This is just back along the main road to Balloch.
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Angie
Probably too late now but you are in easy travelling distance from Geilston Gardens next to Cardross and the Hill House in Helensburgh - both NTFS properties. The Hill House is open in the afternoon. If you want shopping, there is Lomond Shores with a Jenners shop on site. This is just back along the main road to Balloch.
and failing nurseries, any decent pub would do for the day ;D
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Great game of rugby finally, not the result, but that helped. Roll on next Saturday.
However my wife has left and taken the kids-not so happy really. Theres a lot more I could write about this but this is not the place :'(
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However my wife has left and taken the kids-not so happy really. Theres a lot more I could write about this but this is not the place :'(
So sorry to hear that Kees and I do hope you still get to see your children regularly - for their sake and yours.
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However my wife has left and taken the kids-not so happy really. Theres a lot more I could write about this but this is not the place :'(
Kees the same thing happerned to me 15 years ago if you need to talk pm me.
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Thanks guys, I will make sure I see them and make the most of my time.
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Kees, I agree with everything Gail says and hope that you have plenty of access - it's a really tough situation, especially for Fathers with young children. I feel sure that the Forum will give you support and help you through the difficult days and celebrate the good ones - I know it has helped me in just knowing that there are like minds who care :) when you are :'(
Keep posting.... I love the plants you grow and your incredible knowledge of them and insects.
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Kees,
I'm sorry to hear about your family. Obviously there's nothing I can do from here to help, other than wish you the best and hope that everything works out as well as possible. Take care.
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Enough about me this is a happy thread. Thanks for all the support.
Was a great performance from the English-cricket :)
and the womens NZ cricket team ;)
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Tom... thanks for your suggestions, did all three and managed to squeeze in Glenarn garden.
Had our lunch in Jenners ( Yummy ). had a great time thanks to you.
Met the owners of Glenarn ( Mike and Sue Thornley ) a really nice couple. I thought this garden would be a must for a return visit in spring.
The Rhododendrons were just breathtaking even without there flowers. I cant imagine how the Magnolias would be but the word spectacular comes to mind.
I don't know how they managed to keep this vast area is such good condition. Maybe they don't sleep.
I will post some pictures later.
Just in case I forget Sue was saying how wonderful Ian and Maggi are, I agree they are wonderful and at least I can boast about our Aberdeen hero's even if I cant boast about the Aberdeen weather ;D ;D
Lesley the Pubs were good too...another few inches around my waist and everywhere else ( sticky toffee puddings) ::)
Sorry Kees.
Angie :)
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Hi all ,
last week I have visit a nice arboretum ....and I was really surprised to see that this people have given the name "Young" to this plant :o ( a Betula )
So it is now also a tree in honor of our fabulus Maggi & Ian ::)
Congratulation
Hans 8)
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That betula is a nice tree, Hans, pretty for its pendulous habit but not growing too big too fast..... it is sometimes used as a street tree in Aberdeen!
It would have been really good to have this tree named after us, huh?!! ;D ;)
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Maggi
if this tree comes from Aberdeen so I'm shure it is named after you ;D
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;D ;D
I'm not sure who named the tree, Hans.... I'll find out... it is widely available in commerce in the UK, quite popular .
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in this case you have to buy such a plant !
not every gardener has a plant with his own name....
The Betula collection of this Arboretum is fantastic ...so many different species !
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It appears that this tree has been around since the early 1870s.... so the Young is a rather old young!
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Hans,
Believe it or not, I grow two plants that are based on my last name..... and given my last name isn't that common I am pretty pleased to grow them both. They're the only two I have ever heard of. One is Rhododendron 'Tyermanii' and the other is Davallia (syn. Humata) tyermanni (this latter one is the silver hares-foot fern). Both very cool to my way of thinking. ;D I think I have the correct arrangement of final n's and i's, but I'm not 100% certain.
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Maggi ,
maybe ancestors of your family ?
for your comfort :
here is a pic of a cacti which is named like you :
Rebutia margarethae
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Paul ,
congratulation !
not only octopus are named after you ;D
Yes ...and so I'm really sad that not only one plant is named after me ( exept maybe "Hans guck in die Luft') ;)
A lot of my friends have given her names any plants .....but not me :'( :'( :'(
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Hans,
Yes, I hada chuckle myself over Paul the Octopus.... or should that be "Paul the Psychic Octopus"? :o He did have a good record, didn't he. They have said they are retiring him now, but I am hoping that he isn't being retired to a restaurant somewhere. :-\
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Paul ,
here in Germany are each day in newspapers new receipt for eating octopus ;D
I have heard the spain people will buy Paul for 30.000 Euro !
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Maggi ,
maybe ancestors of your family ?
for your comfort :
here is a pic of a cacti which is named like you :
Rebutia margarethae
Very pretty!
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It appears that this tree has been around since the early 1870s.... so the Young is a rather old young!
Maybe this is of help?
The origin of the cultivar is uncertain but it was named by Thomas Moore, Curator of Chelsea Physic Garden, before 1887, and commemorates Maurice Young a nurseryman at Epsom (1834-1890).
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Thanks, Luit!!
An old Young indeed..... no relation of course.
Always extras interesting to have these details about plants, isn't it? Adds an extra dimension which I, and many others, enjoy.
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Juniperus coxii? ;D
It is amazing how many people ask me if I am related to the Coxes of Perth in Scotland. That's so unlikely as to be a stupid question and in any case, Cox was my late husband's name and that's even MORE unlikely.
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I'm so happy that my seedlings (collected as seed and given by a kind Forumist) some from 1,700 metres Austrian Alps, seem to be coming along well, even though at present virtually at sea level!
The only thing is - I'm not sure that they have the right labels so before I pot them on can someone make me really happy and have a look please?
Edraianthus Pumilo dalmaticum (back)
Dianthus spec small (middle)
Silene acaulis (Front)
Thanks
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Juniperus coxii? ;D
It is amazing how many people ask me if I am related to the Coxes of Perth in Scotland. That's so unlikely as to be a stupid question and in any case, Cox was my late husband's name and that's even MORE unlikely.
Lesley that is on a par when in the USA and you say you come from England with being asked the question 'do you know such a person' but no harm done.
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I'm so happy that my seedlings (collected as seed and given by a kind Forumist) some from 1,700 metres Austrian Alps, seem to be coming along well, even though at present virtually at sea level!
The only thing is - I'm not sure that they have the right labels so before I pot them on can someone make me really happy and have a look please?
Edraianthus Pumilo dalmaticum (back)
Dianthus spec small (middle)
Silene acaulis (Front)
Thanks
Sorry dont know what happened there posting it again
Robin I would be happy as well if I had grown all those plants...well done will be looking forward to see them all happily flowering :)
Have you seen all Ian's seedling( blog 28 ), I wonder how I could sneak into there garden ;). Ian I am amazed at all your Nomocharis seedlings :o
Angie :)
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Thanks for looking Angie - I have them on table so the slugs can't get to them - one small snail did! Hope someone can help me clear up the seedling names, I'm off to look at Ian's, thanks!
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Robin, the Edraianthus looks right as pumilio. It has a distinctive silvery sheen and tends to be a bit larger-leaved and looser as a seedling than as a mature plant. The Dianthus could possibly be D. glacialis and the Silene looks right as acaulis. The paler one, if you are lucky may be a white form. :)
Having said all that, it's really too soon to be quite sure, so post another pic of two as they grow on some.
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Lesley that is on a par when in the USA and you say you come from England with being asked the question 'do you know such a person' but no harm done.
Oh yes. "My son lives in New York too. Perhaps you know him?"
But such incredible co-incidences do happen. Some years ago a friend pulled up in her car at a traffic light in London and found her next door neighbour in another car in the next lane. Neither had known the other was going overseas. :D
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I am home - it is a happiness too ;D
if you are interesting in it, you can see some pictures of my visit in Graz here:http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=79230 (http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=79230)
I will bring you more photos, but today I am going to Budapest
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Robin, the Edraianthus looks right as pumilio. It has a distinctive silvery sheen and tends to be a bit larger-leaved and looser as a seedling than as a mature plant. The Dianthus could possibly be D. glacialis and the Silene looks right as acaulis. The paler one, if you are lucky may be a white form. :)
Having said all that, it's really too soon to be quite sure, so post another pic of two as they grow on some.
Thanks so much Lesley :D I am really happy with your ID - it is difficult when they are so small to ID by leaves alone and on the net ID photos usually concentrate on the flowers - I feel like my baby seedlings have got real identity now :D
I picked up some chalk on the downs and will use it in the next soil mix for the Dianthus.
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I am home - it is a happiness too ;D
if you are interesting in it, you can see some pictures of my visit in Graz here:http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=79230 (http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=79230)
I will bring you more photos, but today I am going to Budapest
Welcome back Arykana, yes it is a good feeling coming back after a holiday especially to see what is new in the garden - you are certainly travelling about :D
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Robin, Dianthus glacialis is one which is said to be a lime HATER! but Will Ingwersen notes in his book 'Manual of Alpine Plants" that it appears not to mind lime in cultivation. Maybe go easy on it at least to start with?
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OK, thanks for saving me from doing the wrong thing Lesley :-[
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Just done a 190 mile round trip to buy in my compost ready for bulb re-potting to start next week. Why a 190 mile round trip? Well, I have long been less than enthusiastic about the quality of bagged JI composts available in local garden centres. A couple of years ago I marked a couple of bags and one of them is still there, so that's one good reason. The other is really to do with what is included in the mix; or these days what is excluded from the mix. JI's from the main UK manufacturers that I have tested (OK perhaps not very scientifically!) have been woefully short of loam and these days woefully short of peat and I'm not convinced by what they are using to bulk out their products.
Hence my 190 mile round trip to Green Ore on the Bristol road just outside Wells in Somerset. I first found out about this from Paul Cumbleton as Green Ore compost was the favoured brand at Wisley. I'm not sure it still is because of the RHS's view on using peat. But for me it still is the best range of JI composts on the market. Made on site so it is fresh and with excellent loam content, and you can see the piles of fresh loam in the mixing sheds. It's so good I may have a plateful for breakfast tomorrow ;D
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David, I'm taking the family to Bristol Airport on Friday so will be within a few miles of Green Ore. Can you give me some directions as I may call in and grab some JI compost for snowdrop repotting. I assume you came up the A39 to the crossroads with the B 3136 at Green Ore. Can you give me directions in relation to the crossroads. On Google maps satellite view I can see a couple of places that might be it. Is it turn right at the crossroads coming up the A39 towards Bristol, then immediately left? And do they sell other composts too?
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Hi Martin, yes I came up the A39 from Wells to the Green Ore crossroad (controlled by lights) and turned right, probably signed Shepton Mallet. The compost site is more or less an immediately on the left. You can't miss it!!
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Thanks David. That's great.
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It's so good I may have a plateful for breakfast tomorrow ;D
Enjoy ;D
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4! bucket of apricot transfered to jam ;D
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Apricots are my absolute favourite I can taste and smell you jam from here Arykana, delicious :D
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Can you smell our more mundane Blackcurrant jelly?
Paddy
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Can you smell our more mundane Blackcurrant jelly?
Paddy, "yes", in a word, blackcurrant jam has been my lifesaver over the past week (I've eaten 2 jars to combat flu!) not at all a match for your wonderful homemade blackcurrant jelly, which I'm now virtually imagining and hoping for a cure ;D
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Oh yes, super jam and jelly and scrumptious on croissants. I hope you both have plenty lined up. A thick smear of apricot jam is wonderful too, on a pancake, folded over and blobbed with whipped cream. :D
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I made our first blackcurrant pie of the year last weekend with fruit from our allotment bushes. Scrummy - not too much sugar, to retain the exquisite tartness. Went down a treat with vanilla ice cream.
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I made our first blackcurrant pie of the year last weekend with fruit from our allotment bushes. Scrummy - not too much sugar, to retain the exqusite tartness. Went down a treat with vanilla ice cream.
What happened to sharing I thought this was what this forum was all about. :o ;D ;D
Angie :)
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Can you smell our more mundane Blackcurrant jelly?
Paddy, "yes", in a word, blackcurrant jam has been my lifesaver over the past week (I've eaten 2 jars to combat flu!) not at all a match for your wonderful homemade blackcurrant jelly, which I'm now virtually imagining and hoping for a cure ;D
I have had 'flu once. Never again! Spent the whole of Christmas 1982 in bed. Couldn't move! I don't think any amount of blackcurrant jam could have prevented it! I just collapsed in school and had to be driven home. :o
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Just received my copy of July's "The Rock Garden" and have been dazzled by the photos! 8)
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There are indeed, Anthony..... I'm just having a quick flip through and I see a super looking article by Darren Sleep on Ranunculus asiaticus 8) 8)
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mmmm - looking forward to receive it !! :D ;) :D
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After 15 months with no job I have an interview next Friday with a Scottish company of Garden Centres which is coming to Northern Ireland
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Wishing you the very best of Scottish Luck, then, Mark! I'd hope they will be glad to get you!
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Wonderful news and opportunity Mark, you so deserve it! :D
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Good luck, Mark.
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Keeping our fingers crossed for you Mark !! :D :D
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Very best of luck Mark! :D
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After 15 months with no job I have an interview next Friday with a Scottish company of Garden Centres which is coming to Northern Ireland
Sending positive thought waves your way Mark. Yikes, 15 months, only been 9 months so far for me, I should quit whining and feeling sorry for myself!
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Best of luck Mark. They appear to be a good company to work for and seem to have a lot of staff in the garden plants area. Also, they have a good age range of employees - not deferring to the cult of youth. As they are now owned by a bigger firm they should be financially secure.
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Best of luck, Mark.
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Hope you get it, Mark.
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Sock it to 'em Mark, wishing you all the best. I'm told that's is a good company to work for with good employee share deals.
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Good luck, Mark!! Crossing fingers and toes!
Today I received July's The Rock Garden, with it's amazing cover and (after a quick flick) even more amazing photos inside!!
And I also received my new car!! :D :D :D - so now I'll have enough time to try it out before I go on holiday. And it's a car in which I can fit a good few plants, if necessary ;) ;)
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I hope you get the job Mark. Good luck!
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Good luck, Mark!! Crossing fingers and toes!
Today I received July's The Rock Garden, with it's amazing cover and (after a quick flick) even more amazing photos inside!!
And I also received my new car!! :D :D :D - so now I'll have enough time to try it out before I go on holiday. And it's a car in which I can fit a good few plants, if necessary ;) ;)
A good day for you, Chloe! Hope you've got a nice name for your new car...... our "Verity" gets upset if she thinks folks haven't named their cars....... ;)
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I've never read nor posted in this thread, but I found this video on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKWvyD2Gg4w
I find this mix of classic and rock very, very fascinating and it really makes me happy to listen to.
Unfortunately I don't know the Bands name. The poster of the video doesn't reply so perhaps
someone here can help me?
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If you click on the down arrows for more info by the poster, there is a long text ending with:
"Ho scelto come accompagnamento alle immagini un brano di uno dei migliori gruppi italiani e miei concittadini: i New Trolls
Da Concerto Grosso 2007- The Seven Seasons- Future Joy ( scherzo).
Un mix di classico e rock perchè questo borgo medioevale deve la sua rinascita a quegli artisti figli del rock ed anche della cultura Hippy."
Hope to help :)
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OK, that was easy, but why did I not try that myself :-\
Many thanks Chloe! Time for further research about this band now!
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HaHa! Chloe, I just found that too!
Google translate gives me this: "I chose to accompany the images a piece of one of the best Italian bands and my fellow citizens: New Trolls
From Concerto Grosso 2007 - The Seven Seasons-Future Joy (joke).
A mix of classical and rock why this medieval village owes its revival to those young artists of rock and even the hippie culture. "
I like the music too and it goes very well with the video of the lost village.
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I made our first blackcurrant pie of the year last weekend with fruit from our allotment bushes. Scrummy - not too much sugar, to retain the exqusite tartness. Went down a treat with vanilla ice cream.
What happened to sharing I thought this was what this forum was all about. :o ;D ;D
Angie :)
Yes Angie, I reckon he's been quite greedy. Not even a picture, let alone a slice. ::)
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After 15 months with no job I have an interview next Friday -a Scottish company of Garden Centres is coming to Northern Ireland
Mark, I hope this goes very well for you. It's past time some good fortune came your way on the job front. Very best wishes for the interview.
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A good day for you, Chloe! Hope you've got a nice name for your new car...... our "Verity" gets upset if she thinks folks haven't named their cars....... ;)
Well "Lola" is taken. :D
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Dammit! Thomas's YouTube videa link plays all right but I can't get any sound!> Everything's connected OK and the sound is turned up so....? >:(
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A good day for you, Chloe! Hope you've got a nice name for your new car...... our "Verity" gets upset if she thinks folks haven't named their cars....... ;)
Well "Lola" is taken. :D
I can't say that it has ever occurred to me to give a name to a car :o But logically the previous one would have been "Blue Period" and this one would be "Grey Period", which isn't exactly a name ... :D
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I made our first blackcurrant pie of the year last weekend with fruit from our allotment bushes. Scrummy - not too much sugar, to retain the exqusite tartness. Went down a treat with vanilla ice cream.
What happened to sharing I thought this was what this forum was all about. :o ;D ;D
Angie :)
Yes Angie, I reckon he's been quite greedy. Not even a picture, let alone a slice. ::)
Huh! I only got one very small slice after my married daughter and her husband turned up to help us (me, wife and two kids) scoff one shallow plate-pie almost as soon as it came out of the oven!
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A good day for you, Chloe! Hope you've got a nice name for your new car...... our "Verity" gets upset if she thinks folks haven't named their cars....... ;)
Well "Lola" is taken. :D
I can't say that it has ever occurred to me to give a name to a car :o But logically the previous one would have been "Blue Period" and this one would be "Grey Period", which isn't exactly a name ... :D
There's often a clue.... Chloe, your new car must be 'Gandalf the Grey'...... :D
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Huh! I only got one very small slice after my married daughter and her husband turned up to help us (me, wife and two kids) scoff one shallow plate-pie almost as soon as it came out of the oven!
Excuses, Martin, excuses! We're not impressed
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Huh! I only got one very small slice after my married daughter and her husband turned up to help us (me, wife and two kids) scoff one shallow plate-pie almost as soon as it came out of the oven!
Excuses, Martin, excuses! We're not impressed
Yes Maggi we are not at all impressed, he could have cooked TWO if he new he his wife and two kids would eat one to themselves. ::) ;D
Mark I am way behind everyone else but good luck with your interview...fingers and toes crossed for you.
Angie :)
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Huh! I only got one very small slice after my married daughter and her husband turned up to help us (me, wife and two kids) scoff one shallow plate-pie almost as soon as it came out of the oven!
You should have been standing by the oven door, camera at the ready. ;D
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Huh! I only got one very small slice after my married daughter and her husband turned up to help us (me, wife and two kids) scoff one shallow plate-pie almost as soon as it came out of the oven!
You should have been standing by the oven door, camera at the ready. ;D
They were all at the table, spoons and forks at the ready.
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Thanks everyone!
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Huh! I only got one very small slice after my married daughter and her husband turned up to help us (me, wife and two kids) scoff one shallow plate-pie almost as soon as it came out of the oven!
You should have been standing by the oven door, camera at the ready. ;D
They were all at the table, spoons and forks at the ready.
Also, it wasn't a very photogenic pie. I remembered as I was making it that two of the people who were going to eat it have wheat intolerances so, to minimise the pastry element I decided at the last moment not to put a lid on the pie. So instead of cutting the bottom crust around the plate edge, I rolled up the surplus pastry to make a very rough crusty edging to hold the fruit in - looked really quite messy, but still delicious.
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OK Martin, you're absolved. We don't need this harrowing tale of blood and slaughter. ::) ;D
Wheat intolerance is a very real problem nowadays, for a growing number of people. For some, it is just about life-threatening and there is a huge demand for gluten-freen products of all kinds. Not my problem, I'm happy to say but at my market we get dozens of enquiries for the vendors who supply gluten-free baking and meat products et al. What is it, I wonder, about our modern society that produces such intolerance, and so many relatively "new" allergies for so many people?
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One theory is that the incredible cocktail of new chemicals and pollutants that we're all exposed to these days (in our food, furnishings, buildings, cars, the air we breathe, etc) is causing our bodies' defences to become ever more confused and trigger-happy, so much quicker to develop an "allergic" reaction to all kinds of things.
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I imagine that's the most likely explanation, though personally, I blame the government. ::)
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.......... and the media ::)
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.......... and the media ::)
David, in the common parlance, I think that should be "meeejaaa, Dahling"! :P
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I imagine that's the most likely explanation, though personally, I blame the government. ::)
Ha, ha, I love it, Lesley. I think I'll leave instructions for it to be carved on my gravestone, "I blame the government."
Paddy
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Oh yes Paddy. That's a brilliant idea. I'll go for that as well. ;D
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This is NOT something I'm happy about but there's still a small laugh in it.
Yesterday Roger was dismissed from his job ostensibly because he went to a work site (to sort a job badly done by a fellow staff member) when he shouldn't have. The fact that he had been phoned and asked to come, apparently counted for nothing. As a result, Roger is talking to Dept of Labour about an unfair dismissal case.
Later in the day, his (late) boss phoned and asked him to come in today and discuss it and gave some reason to think he is back-tracking. He has had a number of small incidents recently of blackouts, and other odd behaviour and yesterday was to have a brain scan at the hospital. When he phoned, he told Roger he'd had the scan and Roger, always considerate, asked how did it go and "did they find one?" then coughed hastily and amended it to "anything?"
The boss has been looking for a reason to dismiss Roger for some time because of his injured ankle and R's difficulty with walking at present but he has never refused to do anything asked of him, so the injury can't be used as a reason to dismiss, even though many tasks take longer to do than they would a fully mobile person. Roger has got the boss out of many difficulties over a couple of years, caused by the boss's mental state, including picking him up at home and delivering him back again, when the boss lost his driving licence for 6 months, having crashed into another car and admitted in court that he "didn't even see the car in front of him." The man's a menace on the road.
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Good to know that Roger's sense of humour didn't desert him even in trying circumstances!
It never rains but it pours.... this is hardly what your household needs at the minute ( well, ever, really :-X) I do hope that this is just a hiccup and that Roger is reinstated..... maybe the boss is having problems with erratic behaviour and has come to his senses. Fingers crossed.
By the way, did they find one? ::)
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Maggi,
Obviously, the "one" you refer to is the single brain cell that Roger's boss was born with.
Paddy
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Quite so, Paddy.... I believe these brain scan machines are incredibly powerful and can identify MINUTE particles....... :P
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Lesley, bosses tend to surround themselves with people they can bully and blame and who are usually not perceived as capable as they. They feel threatened by people who are capable and go above and beyond what is asked and try to remove them. What is that floats?
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Oh Anthony, I was the boss at work for 26 years and don't think I ever fitted into that description.
Paddy
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You must be very unfortunate Anthony. I spent over 40 years in the further and higher education sector, albeit in a sllightly different aspect of it than you are in, and the last 30 years as "the boss". In all of that time one of my major aims was to try to extend and develop the experience and potential of those working with me. Although I have been retired for ten years now I still get Emails, letters and Christmas cards from people I tried to help in that way, many of whom hold "high office" now. Most of these refer to the "happy ship" we sailed in and how helpful that had been in their career development.
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Roger's boss has developed these difficult traits recently, along with epileptic fits and other things. It has made him very difficult to work with. But he's still the boss. But the firm in general is failing because of the hand at the helm being less than competent now. Roger expects the whole ship to go down reasonably soon.
My situation may be rather better, following a visit to my lawyer yesterday. They can't reduce my hours except with my agreement, though they may try to renegotiate pay rate. They may say they can't afford to pay me for my full 18 hours at that rate so make me redundant, but they can't do that either because they would need to replace me and they can't make someone redundant only to replace with someone else to do the same job. Even if they DO make me redundant, they have a new job coming up at a new, midweek market (starting Nov 3rd) and if making a worker redundant, an employer must in law give that worker a job in the firm if a job is available, that he/she can do. Which it would be. I've still to meet with the personnel committee which is doing all this, and my lawyer will come with me.
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Good Luck, Lesley!
It's unfortunate that small organisations sometimes think that Labour laws don't apply to them!
cheers
fermi
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Good Luck, Lesley!
It's unfortunate that small organisations sometimes think that Labour laws don't apply to them!
cheers
fermi
It depends upon where you are, to know what laws apply. When I was laid off without notice, after 20 years company service, they gave a 1-month severance pay. Many of my friends said, that's unlawful, they owe more than that. Not so, in the State of Massachusetts, in a private business, albeit a fairly large one (350 staff), State labor laws do not apply in terms of lay-offs, and whatever stipulated terms of layoff in their private policies govern... so if they give 1 month severance, that's it.
There is only one major law here that applies to all private business owners that was enacted a few years ago, to protect against age discrimination, and that is upon termination, they must disclose the statistics (age only) of past employees who have been laid off... the thinking being, to discourage trends of laying off the most senior staff (to save $$$) in favor of replacing them with much cheaper younger staff... but companies know this, and when they want to make major cost cuts in salary compensation, they are careful to balance layoffs of very senior people with a number of easily expendable junior low-salary people.
Shouldn't this recent line of discussion be in the moan moan moan thread, doesn't seem happy to me.
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You must be very unfortunate Anthony. I spent over 40 years in the further and higher education sector, albeit in a slightly different aspect of it than you are in, and the last 30 years as "the boss". In all of that time one of my major aims was to try to extend and develop the experience and potential of those working with me. Although I have been retired for ten years now I still get Emails, letters and Christmas cards from people I tried to help in that way, many of whom hold "high office" now. Most of these refer to the "happy ship" we sailed in and how helpful that had been in their career development.
Not just me. Vivienne's head teacher was effectively sacked on the last day of this session for alleged incompetence and bullying! An example of the stupidity of my previous head was when, one hot day, we had our work base window open and smoke from the smokers (pupils) two floors under started billowing in. I went to the greenhouse room next door and chucked a beaker of water over them. Five minutes later the head was in the work base, red faced and ranting, because they had complained! Er, hello - "why were you smoking there, or anywhere, for that matter"? OK, maybe the water was excessive, but why should I get it in the neck for tackling a fire hazard in the school grounds that should be stamped out by the senior management! The kids got what they deserved and didn't smoke there at lunchtimes again!
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I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P-Y
I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P-Y
I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P-Y
I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P-Y, I'm H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P, H-A-P-P-Y
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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I got the job!
hi ho, hi ho, its off to work I go
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Yeah! That's great news..... I've been saving this gif for just such an occasion.....
[attach=1]
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Yeah! That's great news..... I've been saving this gif for just such an occasion.....
(Attachment Link)
... And I'm so happy for you Mark - I could wee!
"WEE!!!!!!"
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That's great,Mark!! :D
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Thanks all.
There was a small chance that someone was about to give me an IOU for the discussion weekend. That's not possible now
The down side is weekend work. 2 on 1 off 2 on 1 off .... Doesnt that equal 3 weekends out of 4?
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Congratulations Mark.
Don't look upon weekend work as a downside. When I did it I loved being able to go to the shops or the bank etc (or visit gardens / reserves) on my days off during the week when there were no crowds. I'm assuming (hoping!) you get days off during the week if you work the weekend?
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Congratulations Mark - such good news! :D
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Mark, I am so, so pleased for you, congratulations :D You are lucky they let you know so quickly and I do hope it all works out and is interesting and fun. With your wealth of knowledge they will soon discover what a goldmine you are 8)
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:D :D :D
Great news Mark ! Many congratulations !!! :D
I hope you can make it to the bulbsale though... 8)
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Well done Mark :) :) :)...........................now, when you've got your feet under the table maybe you could negotiate a forum discount :-X
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Congratulations Mark, wish you much fun in your new job!
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thanks again everyone
Robin, the assistant manager did say at the interview that plant knowledge, enthusiasm and having personal collections of plants arent necessarily good points
Luc, a kind gardener in N Ireland got me an you-owe-me airfare to the event
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Well done Mark.
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THanks David.
I know have to get in to the routine of early to bed
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Robin, the assistant manager did say at the interview that plant knowledge, enthusiasm and having personal collections of plants arent necessarily good points
That's probably because the assistant manager has no real plant knowledge, enthusiasm for plants or plant collections of his own.
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Well said Martin - I couldn't think of a reply as I was so fazed by his lack of vision :-X
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Well said Martin - I couldn't think of a reply as I was so fazed by his lack of vision :-X
His history is team leader B&B, section manager B&B, ? at IKEA and now assist. manager in a garden centre
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Well done Mark. Good luck. You'll soon find out that your knowledge and enthusiasm will stand you in good stead and your manager will soon find out how valuable that is in keeping customers happy and coming back.
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Hi Mark, I am really pleased to hear that you got the job. They are really lucky getting you. Hope you enjoy the job. I am really happy for you.
Angie :)
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Good news, Mark!
I'm sure you'll be able to increase the rate of sales of quality plants from here on!
cheers
fermi
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That's wonderful news Mark. Well done and congratulations. I hope it all goes well for you and you soon get into the routine of early bed, early rising andworking to set hours. I'm sure you will.
Now, if we can just all pull together and get a good job for McMark as well.....we can all be H-A-P-P-Y! :D
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His history is team leader B&B, section manager B&B, ? at IKEA and now assist. manager in a garden centre
Good grief :o....
I'm pretty sure that "B&B" refers to "beds and bedding" ...... which would have a quite different connotation at IKEA than at a garden centre..... wonder if someone got their "bedding" mixed up when appointing that chap?? :P
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................Robin, the assistant manager did say at the interview that plant knowledge, enthusiasm and having personal collections of plants arent necessarily good points..........
I've been thinking about this. Given the guy's background, and therefore experience, the points he quotes are very apt in his own case, but if he were a good manager would he not be looking for exactly those individual points in appointing staff to compliment his own limited horticultural knowledge and skills? If I were in his position I certainly would. Or am I being a (bad) amateur psychologist?
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I agree with you David - pretty much how I see it too.
Of course - there are many very poor managers out there who fail to grasp this point!
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I though B & B was "Bed and Breakfast"? Certainly all the signs I see mean that.
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Bradford & Bingley, Anthony ... remember the little men in bowler hats! :D
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I though B & B was "Bed and Breakfast"? Certainly all the signs I see mean that.
Bradford & Bingley, Anthony ... remember the little men in bowler hats!
Nah, Mark wrote : "team leader B&B, section manager B&B, ? at IKEA "
I'm sticking with the Swedish retailer.... don't know too many bed and breakfast establishments with team leaderds and section managers! ;D
It shows why he isn't too keen on acknowledging expertise in the gardening arena though!
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Mark
congratulations on your new status.
May it be the job that brings you lots of satisfaction and joy.
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Sunshine in Saas Fee - makes for a happy holiday. Mostlly family outings but will post a few pics when we return
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Sunshine in Saas Fee - makes for a happy holiday. Mostlly family outings but will post a few pics when we return
Beautiful place to be Tony ... don't be TOO keen to rush home! :D
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Thinking of you walking amongst butterflies and enjoying family outings - good you have sunshine, very ify here, have a wonderful time :)
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My contract arrived for my new job arrived today. One condition is I may be required to work temporarily in another store in the chain - watch out Scotland! ;D
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My contract arrived for my new job arrived today. One condition is I may be required to work temporarily in another store in the chain - watch out Scotland! ;D
We will look forward to hear about your first week as a employee .
Angie :)
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I an so happy! I have to say 1434676256724736427 thank you for Peter! He made me happy!!
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I an so happy! I have to say 1434676256724736427 thank you for Peter! He made me happy!!
???
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Anyone heard that the United Nations are seriously worried about the health and welfare of President Obama, apparently he wanted the world's nations to join in a mass donation to the people of Northern Ireland to help them get over the effects of Hurricane Higgins :P
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:) :)
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Right on cue, David ... perhaps that joke should be blackballed? :D
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I can't believe it, ready to go to bed tonight, saw some lightening through the curtains, and now it is pouring rain... I AM SO HAPPY, even if the rain only lasts 10 minutes... hopefully it'll last longer. Today was yet again another fine hot summer day, 92-93 F (34 C), with strong gusty winds sucking moisture from the ground, and with a 100% outdoor watering ban in place, as I type this I hear the sound of rain in the background... oh, that's what rain sounds like. On the plus side, I've never seen the corn get so high, 7-8' in nearby fields and farms, the corn so fat and prolific it's been a joy buying fresh-picked corn every day. My father used to say, if you trip on the way in from picking the corn, it's no good, it's not fresh enough. There is nothing like freshly picked corn, full of sugar, before it turns into starch when stored more than a day.
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With weeks upon weeks of heat and drought, almost none of the Trillium set any viable seed, the pods drying up with underdeveloped seed, or no pods forming at all. Sorry to those forumists who asked for seed, I can't fulfill the request this year. :( However, I received from a friend seed of 20 different American Trillium species, in 100% ripe pods, squishy, sticky, and stinky, and ready for sowing. I spent 2-1/2 days removing sod, spading the soil to 1' depth, removing many yards of sod, rocks, and roots, preparing an area to sow the seed. I estimate 2500 seed were sown, we shall see what transpires in the months and years to come. One can dream.
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Did you clean the seed Mark or sow as is with the aril still attached ?.
Cheers Dave
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Did you clean the seed Mark or sow as is with the aril still attached ?.
Cheers Dave
I clean the seed insofar as removing them from pods, but leave the arils intact. I spill the seed onto paper towels, and if they're really wet and gooey, rub them gently to dry them off a bit first, mostly so that they don't stick so strongly to one's finger's. This has worked well in the past. If sown when very fresh, should get hypogeal germination by fall, and then a good showing of visible seedlings and first leaves next spring.
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I clean the seed insofar as removing them from pods, but leave the arils intact. I spill the seed onto paper towels, and if they're really wet and gooey, rub them gently to dry them off a bit first, mostly so that they don't stick so strongly to one's finger's. This has worked well in the past. If sown when very fresh, should get hypogeal germination by fall, and then a good showing of visible seedlings and first leaves next spring.
Thanks Mark
I have good success by not cleaning my home Trillium seed and as you do ,by sowing with the arils intact --- other than where seed sowing is being delayed ,such as being sent to exchanges etc , i wonder whether there is any advantage in being tidy ?.
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I have some fresh Trillium grandiflorum (plus some from a pale forma roseum) seeds. If anyone wants some email me with your address.
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Thought this might amuse you folks.....one of those emails that get sent around the world..
QANTAS
After every flight, pilots fill out a form which tells mechanics about problems that have occurred during the flight, and require a repair or correction.
The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the sheets before the next flight.
One can not claim that the ground crew or the engineers here lack a sense of humour Here are a few complaints and problems, the facts as have been filed by pilots of the airline Qantas.
Remember, it takes a university degree to fly a plane but not to fix one!
Reassurance for those who fly routinely…..
By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had a crash…..
It has had this accident… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas_Flight_30
but all was well!
Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas'
pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an
S) by maintenance engineers.
P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute
descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
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Teehee - I enjoyed that! ;D ;D ;D
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So pleased I'll be crossing the ditch next month - by Air New Zealand! ;D
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I used to work at Dunedin Airport, trust me Quantas is safer with what I witnessed :P
Massive cracks under fueselage, these were just monitored and not repaired as they were believed not structural enough to worry about. There was even a trans tasman flight were one wing was held on with only one screw, normally two, lol
Still was perfect flight with no problems
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I thought the Australians used English spelling (e.g. tyre)?
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I thought the Australians used English spelling (e.g. tyre)?
An apocryphal list.....I wonder how many Quantas aircraft have either IFF or Target Radar! A little unusual on civil aircraft ::)
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I thought the Australians used English spelling (e.g. tyre)?
They do!!
Whoever did the list probably has a spellchecker using american spelling.
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It's taken over a month since I showed off my new greenhouse but holidays, delivery cock-ups, etc got in the way so here's another picture from a forumist with a smug smile on his face and some sore fingers not to mention a few minor cuts!
Now all the louvres are in and the staging is up, all I need now is a ton of sand :) :)
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Wow Martin, very impressive and so shiny new, no wonder your happy to have finished that marathon, congratulations :D
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Martin, it is fantastic.
What are the dimensions?
Are the trays stainless steel?
I wish you many, many years of pleasure from it. ;D
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Robin, maggiepie, thanks.
maggiepie, it's Aluminium and the greenhouse is approx 14 feet by 8 feet. A pleasant way to spend a somewhat damp Saturday.
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Thanks, Martin.
Am trying to imagine how many plants you will be able to fit in there.
I have a tiny 6x 8 ft greenhouse but a very basic one but can cram lots of seedlings in it.
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Now all the louvres are in and the staging is up, all I need now is a ton of sand :) :)
Looks fantastic, Martin, a bit like mine ;D
Room for all those lewisias ... and maybe some more ...
I have a feeling that a ton of sand won't be enough ::)
btw, I put thick capillary matting/water matting at the bottom of each section, before putting the sand in, it holds an extra reservoir of water when needed
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Looks fabulous, Martin. A contrast to my greenhouse which is full of tomatoes!
Paddy
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Looks great and I'm jealous
Mine is 12 x 8 and I feel I should have gone larger
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"btw, I put thick capillary matting/water matting at the bottom of each section, before putting the sand in, it holds an extra reservoir of water when needed"
Great minds think alike, done immediately after the photo was taken!
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Great minds think alike,
hence the choice of staging ;D
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I thought the Australians used English spelling (e.g. tyre)?
They do, as do we.
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Phew Lesley!
It can be a problem when people have problems with English:
Ordering a cake by phone:
Okay, so this is how I imagine this conversation went.............
Cake-shop employee answers phone..., "Harro, dis Springvale cake-shop, how
can I helping you?"
Customer, "I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week."
Employee, "What you be want writing on cake?"
Customer, "...'Best Wishes Suzanne'....underneath that....'We will miss
you'...."
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Wonderful, did you scrape off the chocolate in the middle line? ;) ;)
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Oh well, jolly nice cake though. ;D
Since Saturday afternoon I have had the most vicious cold in the head/chest that I've ever had. Spent most of Monday and Tuesday in bed and will be going back there shortly. In the meantime I have to phone in an advertisement for the Otago Daily Times, about the Farmers' Market Trust's AGM on Sept 4th. Since I can't talk properly and keep coughing every couple of words, Lord knows how the eventual printed ad will turn out. Maybe a different time, different city and venue and the meeting may be about anything you care to imagine.
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Only a month late, I am delighted to say that the Cyclamen seeds Hans J sent in mid July have arrived in good condition in spite of delays - can't think what they have been up to ::) :o Anyway now they will have to knuckle down and get growing ;D
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I am really pleased that the first of my Autumn snowdrops has arrived...all the way from New York ;D
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And a poculi-form too! ;D
cheers
fermi
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Very floriferous I thought Fermi ;)
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I haven't checked this thread for a while. Thanks for the laughs with the Qantas and the cake wording. Very envious of the glasshouse too.
My father was an aircraft mechanic and I am pretty sure that they keep getting updates to their qualifications as new aircraft need to be maintained. I wouldn't be surprised if you need a university degree nowadays. I always feel safe flying as I feel that Dad is keeping an eye on things.
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Oh well, jolly nice cake though. ;D
Since Saturday afternoon I have had the most vicious cold in the head/chest that I've ever had. Spent most of Monday and Tuesday in bed and will be going back there shortly. In the meantime I have to phone in an advertisement for the Otago Daily Times, about the Farmers' Market Trust's AGM on Sept 4th. Since I can't talk properly and keep coughing every couple of words, Lord knows how the eventual printed ad will turn out. Maybe a different time, different city and venue and the meeting may be about anything you care to imagine.
Dear Lesley , hope you are already feeling a lot better by now - and fully on deck when you cross the big lake to visit us here soon . That has to be the most awfully decorated cake (the photo that Anthony Darby posted ) that I have seen in my lifetime -UGH - nearly made me sick .
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But you are the Grand Master of such things Otto. Don't condemn the amateurs. ;D
I'm counting down the days now until I fly across the ditch but still have to contact Tim to see if he can pick me up at the airport. Otherwise it will be a long and time-consuming bus trip. I'll be in touch with you very soon though.
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Progress on the new greenhouse continues. Today it was 14 barrows of sand across the front garden, down the side of the house, down the steps, over the bridge, up the hill, across the garden, into the greenhouse. The barrows only half full, if I fill them I can't push them up the hill! Then the plants had to go in. One side done. Tomorrow the other side. Tired but definitely happy :) :)
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Martin, what amazing and impressive progress in your new greenhouse - just great to see it being inhabited and I so admire the backbreaking wheelbarrow loads you pushed UP hill, phew! :o
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Wow Martin, Great to see the greenhouse complete and plants all in there new home...I to would be so happy if I had achieved what you have done in so short a time. I bet it worth every bit of hard work pushing and filling all those wheelbarrows, and after tomorrow you can sit back and enjoy.
Angie :)
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I'd be very happy to move in there myself, never mind the plants, and I see you have done all the necessary housework. Would suit me fine. ;D
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Breathtaking, Martin, all those trips uphill, I mean, and the greenhouse is pretty amazing too. But I notice it is almost full already. You'll have to build another one, now that you've got the practice ;) ;) ;) Well done.
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Ah Maren, it's been filled with the contents of the old greenhouse and two cold frames. It's now time for some deep cleaning and then there will be space to pot up all the lewisias....see back several months in this thread (March 17th to be precise).
Martin
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Martin,
I thought you were using that very exciting roofed aluminium frame structure for your Lewisias?
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Yes David, but like my waist, they grow
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OK, I was only going to offer to take it off your hands :P "Well it's only worth the scrap value Guv"
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In case there are any Richard Thompson fans following this thread (and I know you are out there), RT released an album of new material the other day. The twist this time is that the album was recorded live during a mini-tour of the west coast of the US last February, at five different venues from Seattle to San Francisco. My luck is that one of the shows was right here in Eugene, at a small community arts center, and I was able to attend. It was a great show, and he was playing with an excellent four-piece backing band, so the album is worth checking out if you are a Richard Thompson fan.
Ed
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Would I want to admit to being old enough to be an RT fan who saw him in his Fairport days at the Glasgow Apollo :-X
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Thanks for that Ed I'm a great fan but unlike Martin and you I've never seen him live. The new album is called "Dream Attic" and I shall be looking for it on Saturday.
Just checked on Amazon UK and they have it at £8.95.
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Would I want to admit to being old enough to be an RT fan who saw him in his Fairport days at the Glasgow Apollo :-X
I'd consider it a badge of honor, especially if you can't remember exactly which year it was...
Ed
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Ian and I are very keen followers of RT... seen him often live.....( boast, crow, smug!!) he is terrific. Buy the album.... see him live if you possibly can... the man is a genius!
His website Beewsweb is good...... http://www.richardthompson-music.com/
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A video that I have playing in the background has been my constant companion for the last few days.
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741+
Nothing to do with plants but a real 'feel good' song.
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Oh yes, Pat ... wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
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I have seen that before but thank you for the reminder Pat - heartwarming. :)
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Brightened up my day and great to send an AH Biology class off to lunch!
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Fred Depalle (Bulbissime) has a new website ( at least it's new to me :D) .... you must see his wonderful photos!!
In the mountains, on the ground, under the sea.... start on a wonderful journey with this adorable Viola......
http://naturaphot.fr/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=450 8)
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A video that I have playing in the background has been my constant companion for the last few days.
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741+
Nothing to do with plants but a real 'feel good' song.
Wonderful! Brought back memories of two street performers on River Street, Savannah, Georgia who used to lighten my mood considerably during business trips in the late nineties and early noughties. I wonder if they are still there.
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I went on my country walk again today. Nothing unusual about that, you might say? Except, in the houses that used to be Dykedale Farm (one is called Wanaka and has a takahe wind mill thingy) was having their annual golf tournament (there is a nine hole course running the length of the lawn behind the houses) - the Dykedale Open. Further along there was a man standing in a field next to his car playing the bagpipes (perhaps someone had asked him if he could play "Over the Hills and Far Away"?). At the top of the hill I spoke to a man in a combine harvester the size of a minor planet (and who was being offered sustenance by two chaps in a 4X4) what the fields with the unusual flowers were. He said they were unharvested crops for wildlife as "set aside" was no longer. These are a government initiative. I suppose this is to make up for the miles of weed killed verges? After I left he went back to reaping his oats (to be supplied to Mornflake, apparently). As I again approached the Dykedale settlement a great cheer went up as the massed crowd of on lookers cheered then winning put. After being mistaken for the press, or TV cameras, the crowd dispersed, or perhaps went off to the 10th tee? There must have been nearly eight of them?
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really chuffed just got my hands on a copy of A HANDBOOK OF CROCUS & COLCHICUM FOR GARDENERS BY
E A BOWLES
PUBLISHED 1952
Can't wait to see the plates.
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Your dog seems to be enjoying the bagpipes, Anthony. Did he/she join in?
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I don't even think the piper noticed us. 8)
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Hi David,
it's such a pleasure when you get hold of a book that's no longer in print and you really really want it.
I was lucky enough to get hold of the original Hillermann book on Angraecoids when my local orchid society had to get rid of its library. Speaking of silver linings..... :)
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Maggi and Pat, this is Lesley, speaking for Otto as well. We really did enjoy your music links this morning. They made a nice change from Bach and Beethoven, as we ate our breakfast. Don't know that we'd want to make a habit of it though. ;D
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It's going to be a lovely day in the south. Some compensations when sleep fails to come!!
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Great pictures.... 8)
Sorry about your lack of sleeep.... I have the same problem.... but I'm working on it and it's getting better, after many years.
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Sorry about your lack of sleeep.... I have the same problem.... but I'm working on it and it's getting better, after many years.
I'm working on some sleep issues too, my daily afternoon nap (an unemployment privilege) is typically only 3 hours long, and I've only been taking one nap a day ::)
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we were really pleased to discover a young toad and a young frog in the garden this weekend when tidying the borders. First ones we have seen in the garden for about 4 years.
Wasn't so keen on spotting the terrier from next door walking down OUR path. >:(
Who would of thought that something so small could jump over a waist high wall.
At least it gives me an excuse to have some trellis put up, and as I have nothing to grow up it, will need a trip to the garden centre :)
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I've rescued one of each from Heidi's outside water bowl in the last fortnight!
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Funny that, what Susan didn't mention is we also found a newt in the water bowl on the patio. Well, not so much a 'water bowl' as a plastic box that got filled up in the rain.
Clearly next door's dog can detect the landmines I put down to make the place cat-proof... Probably for the best really as the craters make such a mess of the planting ;)
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Lovely sunny day today after two days of rain and wind. Went out with the camera today for the first time since my accident on August 1st. I saw the surgeon last Thursday. He seemed quite pleased with my progress but does not want me putting my full weight on the leg till after I see him in 2 months time. I am now on elbow crutches which make it easier and less tiring to get about. I managed to get closer to some of the plants though not as close as I like to get for some pictures. I was surprised how well the Colchicum speciosum album look after all the wind and rain.
Cyclamen hederifolium, Crocus pulchellus, Autumn Gentians and a lone Peacock butterfly.
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Good to hear you are making progress, Roma. Take it easy now, don't be rushing on the crutches. :-X
Lovely colour in your garden and still the butterfly..... plenty hoverflies here today, enjoying the crocus!
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Glad you are a little more mobile Roma, keep on making progress but don't rush it. Enjoyed your pics.
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Nice to hear that you are a wee bit more mobile, at least you can go out and enjoy your lovely cyclamen and maybe get over to see your horses. You should see where the ponies live it's heaven I wouldn't mind moving there myself.
Enjoy the sunny days Roma they are getting fewer now.
Angie :)
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I'm so happy, my pies won the AFL grand final replay.
They were maggienificent, even though I was unable to watch.
Collingwood rules.
So sorry Ray.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Helen,
For a moment I thought, "my pies won the AFL grand final replay" referred to a cooking/cake competition but realise now that you refer to your Magpies which, of course, refers to the bird fanciers/breeders competition. Congratulations.
Paddy
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Not sure what AFL is and am afraid to ask, or am I showing my age?
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Since nobody wants to reply---
Australian Football League - uniquely Australian game that has some resemblance to Gaelic Football although the purists would strongly deny such a similarity.
Had its origins in Melbourne in the south of the country but has recently spread like a pestilence to the rest of the country.
(Can you tell I'm a follower of "the game they play in heaven")
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Hi John,"the game they play in heaven"in your dreams :).bye Ray
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Hi Helen,I didn't watch it either and if they don't win another one for 20 years that will be fine as I will be pushing up daisys bye then.They tell me Eddie was crying with happiness what a sook :).But anyway they played the best footy on the day so deserved to win.bye Ray
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Football is something that I am not interested in - might stem back to when I was about 12 and went to a footy match with a friend's family. A lady ??? next to me got so excited that she hit me over the head with her rolled up newspaper :-[ :P
I realised this afternoon that I don't mind the beginning of daylight saving as I get to get out in the garden in the afternoon after work.
Talking of toads - the chorus in the creek/river in front of the house is deafening at night - I can hear at least three different frogs.
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Not sure what AFL is and am afraid to ask, or am I showing my age?
Anthony,
the true AFL is the "Anti-Football League" which was set up by people (to raise funds for charity) united in their revulsion at Aussie Rules Football, then played by the Victorian Foootbal League (VFL) and basically a form of religion in Victoria. When it became "corporate" and spread out to encompass Western Aus, South Aus, NSW and Qld, they had the cheek to change their name to the AFL (Australian Football League)!
True AFL'ers have done silly things like go to a footy game and stand with their backs to the field rather than watch the game! Live dangerously, I say!
As my partner is a Magpie supporter I'm just glad he's not as fanatical as some!
cheers
fermi
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Lovely surprise in the post this morning - a get well card signed by many of the SRGC and Forum members who were at the Discussion Weekend. Thank you all for your good wishes. It made my day. :) :) :)
I am getting around a bit better now with elbow crutches. A trip to the hairdresser yesterday and a visit to the local shop. I can also manage the three steps at the front door. Amazing what excites you when you've been restricted for a while.
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I had tea and a lovely cake today with two lovely gentlemen Ian young and Dave Toole, it's so nice to meet another forum member and all the way from New Zealand. We had a lovely walk around Ian's garden in the afternoon sun. I never got to meet Daves wife Hilda as Maggi and Hilda had gone into the town to do some shopping. I hope they didn't spend to much ::) ;D
I think it's great meeting people from the forum, looking forward to meeting lots more of you in the future.
Angie :)
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Oh, Angela, we were sorry to miss you but we were just having a grand time rootling about the shops! It must be a long time since I was downtown... there were spaces where I expected shops and new shops that I didn't know had come to Aberdeen!
Ian dropped us off at Finnies (!!) and we ended up at the Station, where we just hopped a taxi home...... we were too tired to go into Union Square!
(We only did window-shopping at Finnies- honest!)
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I hope they didn't spend too much ::) ;D
Angie,
You're probably not hoping half as much as Dave and Ian are!? ;D
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Paul, you need to think "if the women are off on a spending spree where's the bulb catalogue?" 8)
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Ian dropped you off at Finnies how dangerous was that. For those who don't know. Finnies is a old family run jeweller and at Christmas time you should see the people queuing to make there purchases. It's a wonder Ian never had a really worried look all afternoon.
Glad you girls had a great time.
I was thinking Dave will have so many pictures to put on the forum when he gets back home, something for us all to look forward to.
Boys I really wonder who spends more men or women :o ::) .
Angie :)
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Went to see a brilliant film last night - 'Made In Dagenham' - and really enjoyed it, so just had to give it a quick plug. Anyone in the UK looking for a good night at the cinema would do well to take a look at the trailer then go see the film. It really is a cracker (especially if you're a fan of Miranda Richardson, who does a great Barbara Castle in this film). Very funny, poignant and inspiring. I haven't enjoyed a film so much for a long time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0LF-F1QNAw
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Isn't made in Dagenham an oxymoron nowadays, with more places heading that way next week? :(
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Isn't made in Dagenham an oxymoron nowadays, with more places heading that way next week? :(
Indeed. :-\
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Montreal is my favorite city, and the only city I have ever loved living in (vs. visiting---that would probably be NYC).
It is a warm, vibrant, energetic city, with plenty of young spirit and creativity all around.
There is a sweetness of life there, a joie de vivre that I have never experienced in quite the same way elsewhere. Of course, I adore the Québécois and were it not for my (very) poor language skills and the dreaded "language laws" of that province, I would have considered moving there.
Imagine being graced by the following, while at the market buying your meat and veggies:
http://www.francoischarron.com/faire-son-marche-sur-un-air-dopera/-/3WfQkSTiq4/menu/
This made me so happy (and so anxious to get there for a visit), I watched and listened over and over and over again.
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Excellent Kristl, it never happens to me in Norwich Market :-\
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my echibition started today and I already sold the first picture
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/IMG_2945.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/IMG_2946.jpg)
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Erika! This is excellent news.... I hope that all the paintings will be sold and go to give people pleasure for many years to come.
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It's a good time of year, that is, autumn in New England, USA. Cool or cold nights, good for sleeping, with the proverbial "Indian Summer" or warm sunny days into the 60s F, but dry and crisp, often breezy or blustery, the forest canopy luminescent with fall color and aromatic with falling leaves. I like to run, and love nothing better than a long run on a cool day. Ran at dusk today, in t-sheet and shorts, it was 50 F (10 C), quiet and no wind, most satisfying. Will be close to frost tonight, but not quite. The autumn crocus are blooming, what could be better?
Had my first job interview last Friday, almost a full year unemployed. It went well, but somehow I'm still mired in self-doubt and pessimism after being laid off... a year without a nibble, I suppose that is natural given the high 10% US unemployment rate. Don't want to say more about it, it'll be a couple weeks to know whether I've been shortlisted.
PS: what is the ". 2009" indicate after the 2010 YES!!! The "I'm so happy" thread title.
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Mark your colours are wonderful. I love when everything changes colour and the sun shines through the leaves. The only time I go to America is at Christmas time and I miss there wonderful colours. I think I will try and go another time, it's so tempting.
Mark good luck with your interview. There is a lot unemployment here in the UK it must be hard for a lot of people. Fingers crossed for you.
Angie :)
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Beautiful autumn colours Mark. Do hope that things go well with the job application - nowadays you have to consider that even getting to the interview stage is a feather in your cap.
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Yes, all the very best Mark with your job prospects - keep those Autumn colours in your mind and the words you use to describe them and they will lift your spirits :)
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Erika! This is excellent news.... I hope that all the paintings will be sold and go to give people pleasure for many years to come.
here, here, It looks a fantastic exhibition Erika, can we see a close up of one or two of your paintings?
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I think we should have an exhibition of Erika's paintings on the Forum. 8)
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This made me so happy (and so anxious to get there for a visit), I watched and listened over and over and over again.
Me too, I feel like moving there just for that! So much of our time is spent passing by in our own world and it is quite wonderful to see how a little imagination and a huge amount of talent can unite a crowd in the market place - the expressions on the faces says it all - what a lovely video to share, thanks Kristi :)
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PS: what is the ". 2009" indicate after the 2010 YES!!! The "I'm so happy" thread title.
It's a "blip" McMark.... now removed.
What a good eye you have, eh? :D
I'm sure you have the best wishes of all of us in your job search- terribly hard to maintain your morale in these circumstances.
I had no idea the US unemployment rate was as high as 10 percent- really scary.
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Good luck to both Marks in the job stakes.
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Congratulations, Erika, hope you sell all your paintings.
Good luck Mark, don't let pessimism take over.
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I am thrilled that after two months the last pot of my Cyclamen seedlings are just emerging (thanks to a Forum Member) These include ones I have not grown before so I hope they continue to thrive - they seem to be happy on a north facing windowsill until next Spring and wonder if I should feed them? The silver leafed C. hederifolium look lovely even so small and I am astonished how tall the C. graecum have grown - maybe I forced them to germinate too long in the dark?
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Robin no wonder you are thrilled. That's pretty good. You must have got 100% sucsess by the looks of the first picture. Good luck growing your babies on.
Angela :)
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Quick chuckle - I just did a search on the forum for Meconopsis punicea and was asked if I'd meant to search for 'menopause's panacea.' Perhaps I should have done. ::)
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Quick chuckle - I just did a search on the forum for Meconopsis punicea and was asked if I'd meant to search for 'menopause's panacea.' Perhaps I should have done. ::)
That's Google for you; reads your mind and disregards your typing.
Paddy
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Quick chuckle - I just did a search on the forum for Meconopsis punicea and was asked if I'd meant to search for 'menopause's panacea.' Perhaps I should have done. ::)
That beats me being asked if I meant Ferrari when I was looking for Ferraria
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McMark, very best of luck. In a world that is full of negativity you must do all you can to remain positive. I'm sure you have lots to offer in any field you care to choose. As the Romans used to say (OK, so maybe they didn't ??? ;D ) nils illigitimus carborundum.
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Erika! This is excellent news.... I hope that all the paintings will be sold and go to give people pleasure for many years to come.
here, here, It looks a fantastic exhibition Erika, can we see a close up of one or two of your paintings?
here is some
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/festmenyeim/szarvasmezn.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/festmenyeim/anita.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/festmenyeim/riszek-1.jpg)
http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=23651 (http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=23651)
and you can see more here http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=55709 (http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria&a=55709)
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Gosh! A good Scottish (OK, Hungarian) stag to start off. Excellent! I could live with him - and her, oh, and them! 8)
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Erika, marvelous paintings: they're bold, dramatic, uplifting with an air of confidence and movement, a true expression of paint. The field of Iris is captivating, hard to stop staring... fully expecting the blooms to start swaying in a gentle breeze at any moment. And I keep finding myself looking to the left, wondering who or what is beyond the canvass. I love the colors, composition, and interpretive expression in each. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks everyone for your support. If I do manage to land a job prospect, I'll report back in, as my SRGC visitations will be far fewer once I've rejoined the rat-race and regained a ponderous daily commute.
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McMark,
I can't even use that excuse for my tardiness...... I have maybe 10 minutes each way to my job, and only that long with bad traffic or stop lights. ;D I just find that after at least 8 hours on my feet all day (literally), 4 days a week, I am very slack at computing, and my days off tend to be spent recovering, or where possible gardening. ::)
Good luck to you with finding a job, and you to Mark S. Fingers and everything are crossed for you both. 8)
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Erika, marvelous paintings: they're bold, dramatic, uplifting with an air of confidence and movement, a true expression of paint. The field of Iris is captivating, hard to stop staring... fully expecting the blooms to start swaying in a gentle breeze at any moment. And I keep finding myself looking to the left, wondering who or what is beyond the canvass. I love the colors, composition, and interpretive expression in each. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! And thank you for Anthony and everybody
I have never learn to draw or paint, just do it - some is turn out good, some not
I just making them for my pleasure
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Erika, what a wonderful start to the grey day seeing your magical paintings - you have a unique style conjuring up mystical thoughts full of depth and colour contrasting the bold with the delicate - thanks so much for sharing them :)
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Erika those are wonderful paintings we must have a lot of good artists here on our forum. I can't draw let alone paint, well maybe I can paint a wall ::) I have one of Ian Young's painting which I love. I do love the stag picture I really like how you have painted the grass and the flowers in this picture. You are a very talented lady.
Angie :)
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Good luck with your lovely paintings, Erica. The Irises are my favourite.
Paddy, don't blame google this time, it was our own dear forum!
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With all the depressing news today about the Government cuts and their effects, I went looking for something on Youtube to cheer me up, and this really did it for me. Neat new trick being able to put Youtube videos in posts.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_iLElHqv-w[/youtube]
So as not to use up too much band width with a non-plant related video, I'll be removing this short clip in an hour or two after people have had a chance to view it.
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I remember it well. Pity he is not still with us, but then he did tell us he was ill. ;)
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I remember it well. Pity he is not still with us, but then he did tell us he was ill. ;)
Yes, he did indeed ;D Apparently the church wouldn't let him have "I told you I was ill" on his grave headstone, so the family had to get it carved in gaelic to fool them.
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Eccles. My super-hero. ;D
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Thank you for all the nice comments for my paints, now only I need to sell them ;D
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Thank you for all the nice comments for my paints, now only I need to sell them ;D
I'm sure they'll sell like hot cakes Erica. 8)
Eccles. My super-hero. ;D
SEAGOON:
Now, come on, Tarzan. Seal those cannon balls and take them up to the cannoniers
HENRY CRUN:
They're too heavy for me to carry, sir
SEAGOON:
Well have you got a dumb waiter?
HENRY CRUN:
Only Eccles
SEAGOON:
Ah, just the man! Eccles, take one of these cannon balls
ECCLES:
OK [swallows]
SEAGOON:
You fool, you!
GRAMS:
Explosion
ECCLES:
Pardon
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Ah! the stuff of my youth, and still giggleable today.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSSGiA4f5cs
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Have some of you been thinking that JohnnyD, the maestro of the mini garden, has been conspicuous by his absence around the Forum of late?
I am happy to reveal to you the reason for that.... Johnny has been otherwise occupied.... as has Clare his wife...... and some other Folks and Forumists from the East Lancs AGS Group.....they've been VERY busy building a new garden at the Ramsbottom Civic Hall.... read all about it here :
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/events/New+Garden+at+Ramsbottom+Civic+Hall/446/
I'm sure you will agree that this is a worthwhile project that the Gang from East Lancs has been busy with and that it will be a great ongoing "advert" to and tribute to their excellent Group.
Many congratulations to all involved for their bright ideas and hard work!! 8)
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I hope they re show photos on here because those of the AGS site are two small but could very easily be linked to larger versions stupid me they do enlarge
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This could very well be in the Moan, Moan thread. Tonight we had a distinguished Scottish speaker at our Rhododendron Chapter meeting, Julia Corden from the Explorer's Garden in Pitlochry. I had read in the newspaper that she would be here on other business so boldly contacted her via the Pitlochry Site to see if she'd be willing to speak. From there the programme committee took over. She kindly agreed and her talk on the famous plant hunters highlighted at Pitlochry and the garden was excellent.
So why the moan, moan. Tonight I discovered not only is she a Forumist but she was staying in a B&B in Halifax for the last four days. That B&B, of all the B&B's in the city, is directly across the street from us! She even noticed the Chinese Fan palm on our veranda. Seems we have many friends in common and it would have been a delight to have her stay with us. Tis' a small world. She was whisked off to the airport after her talk for the redeye to Heathrow but promises to return soon. So, you had better give us a heads up next time Julia!
Again, congratulations on a fine talk and do fill us in on your meandering from one end of Nova Scotia - The Cape Breton Highlands to Briar Island - to the other.
johnw - expecting a good frost tonight so out to cover the Nerines.
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Oh, John, what a pity..... that is indeed a missed opportunity and I know Julia would have had a great time with you.
This Forum connects an awful lot of people and it is such a shame to miss a chance for a get together....... let this be a "warning" to everyone else out there...... ask around.... you don't know what you might be missing otherwise!! 8)
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Indeed Maggi.
Well at least we missed a brush with frost.
johnw
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oh, that's too bad, John, about Julia.
i had actually suggested, via a forumnist, that she contact you, as you were in Halifax, closer to her center of operations....rather than me, who was so much further away.
and all this time, i assumed you and her had been going on some wonderful botanic outings together....instead she had been looking at your front porch!!!! i had fantasized about taking her to polly's cover (one of my favorite haunts).
i know she posted something in my "heaven" thread about having driven 2500km touring Nova Scotia during her time here.
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And i have a happy "child moment" to tell you about.
As you may remember from a previous post, i have an actor son, who lives in Vancouver.
He is one of those *very lucky* young actors who has actually had fairly steady acting and modeling work since his official theatre training.
Immediately after graduation, he was taken on by "Bard On The Beach" doing Shakespeare during the summer tourist season in Vancouver. As well, one of the productions he worked on (No Exit) which integrated live video and theatrical performance, won as outstanding production for 2009, and also took home the Critics' Choice Innovation Award for the year.
You will have to scroll down to find "Luc Roderique"
http://www.realwheels.ca/about/people.php
Although his first love is theatre, last winter he experimented with some film productions---working on a pilot for a new series "Facing Kate" which "was" picked up by the networks and we are waiting for it to air. He plays a kid "gone wrong", minus his beautiful hair.
But last night, his official network "debut" was anxiously watched by this mom and his sister, side by side on our couch here in Nova Scotia. He was still bald, had all of one line in a SkyFi show called "Caprica", but a lot of "camera presence" throughout, with appearances coming up in 2 more segments.
As any parent knows who has had a child involved single-mindedly in their particular preoccupation their entire lives; these moments of seeing them succeed, thrive and be happy, are a serious high point!!!
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Kristl,
That sounds wonderful and how especially good to be able to view his debut on national television. Best wishes to him in his career.
Paddy
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Hi, John
Well I've made it back to Scotland after catching the red eye to Heathrow at 00.40am today.
I've arrived home to see quite a bit of snow on Ben Lawes.
It was great meeting you last night and hopefully will meet you again the next time I come over.
I will sort out my pic's this week of Nova Scotia and post them on the forum over the weekend.
What a fantastic country.
Julia :)
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Julia - The pleasure was entirely mine. Glad you are back safe and sound. Am still drooling over that Kniphofia nortenii!
johnw
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oh, that's too bad, John, about Julia.
Kristl - You would have enjoyed her as well. One connects with Julia immediately, like a dear old friend. She's just a youngster though.
johnw
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I'm so happy that Roger is in hospital! If that sounds heartless I'm sorry but he has been suffering from a terrible ankle injury for many years, the original break badly set about 40 years ago and a new injury in the same place last November. The various parts of our health system and lack of surgical insurance have meant a year-long wait in excruciating pain almost all that time, walking on crutches, limping badly and eventually, two months ago, the loss of his job. This morning at 6.30 I delivered him to the tender mercies of a surgical team at Dunedin Public and even as I write, he is having it sorted, the bones, or what remains of them, largely a calcified mass, fused together so that the ankle will be totally immobile and he'll still limp, perhaps even worse than before, but the pain should be gone or better in a major way. So - I'm very happy about that. He may have a piece of bone from his pelvis grafted on in order for the leg not to be shortened too much. "We'll see when we get in there" said the surgeon!
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Quick chuckle - I just did a search on the forum for Meconopsis punicea and was asked if I'd meant to search for 'menopause's panacea.' Perhaps I should have done. ::)
A bit late for me now but it would have been good at the time. :D
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Wish him all the best from me please Lesley.
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Lesley, I am so pleased to hear that Roger has finally got his appointment for this surgery. It really MUST be an improvement to get the joint properly immobilised and so ... we hope.... ease the pain. All there is to be done know is to wait to see how things go.... but please tell him we are rooting for a great outcome to this.
You must ask the doctor if he'll be able to dance again.... especially if he could never dance in the first place! ;) Joking apart, this will be good for Roger and so good for you.... good luck wishes all round! :-*
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... and he'll probably welcome a quiet life for a couple of weeks.............. :P
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Have just realized that for some reason this whole thread had disappeared from my radar and I had to go back to page 46 to catch up! so I missed the fantastic opera from the Montreal market but had virtually the same performance, but by stall holders I think, (maybe not) sent to me some months ago from a market in Spain. Must get in touch with Dunedin Opera and see if they can do a gig at my Saturday Farmers' Market. ;D
From: "Ilana & Jacob Singer"
Subject: Fwd: Opera at the Central Market
Date: Tuesday, 29 December 2009 8:53 a.m.
Hi Lesley
A market in Spain
Happy New Year
ilana &Jacob
One day market,
the music starts to sound the stalls of fruits and vegetables....
*Opera at the Central Market*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds8ryWd5aFw
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Why not, Lesley.... after you met Dame Kiri the other week you surely have an opening gambit to your conversation with the opera company??!! ;)
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Yes, I'm thinking just that. We have some brilliant singers here in dunedin and a very good amateur opera company.
You won't believe it, but that post above is THE FIRST TIME I have managed successfully to copy a link from one place and paste it in another! And you thought I was half way intelligent. ::)
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I did ask the surgeon if he'd (Roger) be able to play the violin but since he never has, Mr CB wasn't prepared to guarantee it. R may be home as early as Monday or it may be up to 8 days depending on various things. He'll be plastered for 6 weeks then a different plaster for a further 6 weeks. If the rain continues he'll come home to a spotless house, if it stops the garden will be well weeded.
I'll certainly pass along your kind wishes, thanks very much. He also wants me to smuggle in Teddy in a carry bag. :D
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....... He'll be plastered for 6 weeks..................
Can't be many better ways of spending 6 weeks? ;D
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....... He'll be plastered for 6 weeks..................
Can't be many better ways of spending 6 weeks? ;D
I can certainly think of one, David!!! ;)
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But, it's such good fun getting to the "plastered" state.
Paddy
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....... He'll be plastered for 6 weeks..................
Can't be many better ways of spending 6 weeks? ;D
I was conciously waiting for that one. ;D
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All the best from me too!!
What with Teddy in a bag and so much plastering, it looks like he's in for some good, and well-deserved, pampering!
Good luck for both of you!!
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....... He'll be plastered for 6 weeks..................
Can't be many better ways of spending 6 weeks? ;D
I was conciously waiting for that one. ;D
Lesley you no them to well. ;D
Wishing Roger a speedy recovery.
Angie :)
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All the best from here too, Lesley. 8)
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I had a text from him (he shouldn't have because of hosp rules) at 12.30 and he was back in the ward, fully awake and when I went in to see him, looking jolly well on the whole, probably because the anaesthetist, a Scotsman, said he'd injected a single malt. He has a half cast just cradling the lower leg and foot at present, until any swelling goes, then he'll be into the hard stuff.
He sends warm thanks to all those who have sent messages. Says it's wonderful that people who don't know him at all have been thinking of him and wishing him well.
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Kris, congratulation to your son, and wish him more success
Orthopedic surgery can be very bad, my best for Roger
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....... He'll be plastered for 6 weeks..................
Can't be many better ways of spending 6 weeks? ;D
I was conciously waiting for that one. ;D
That's me Lesley, so predictable ;D
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I was conciously waiting for that one. ;D
That's me Lesley, so predictable ;D
David,
I knew you were going to say that. ;)
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;D ;D ;D
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Lesley, all the very best to Roger post op and hoping he will be free from pain at last..... I would like to send you a video via email which would entertain you both -exercising your sense of humour is an essential part of recovery - it is 6mg is that too much? I would like to have posted it here if I can work out how to as it is not on YouTube ::)
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Let me add my very best wishes for Roger's full and speedy recovery Lesley ! :D
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Lesley,
Glad to hear of Roger's progress and hope he continues to a full recovery now.
Best wishes, Paddy
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Found it on YouTube - what a laugh, such dedicated real humour, almost Chaplinesque!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_lXqMmevog[/youtube]
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Very good Robin, should it have gone in Cook's Corner ;D ;D
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That's wonderful Robin, and he'll love it. He may be home tomorrow. He was even hoping for today but I don't think they send people home on a Sunday, because of many staff being off duty, pharmacists, and all sorts who will need to have a part in the release. I think they only have a skeleton staff on Sundays. (Well, this IS the orthopaedic ward). Anyway, the surgeon is quite pleased with things so far, though whether the op will be successful ultimately, is yet to be seen, when the healing is complete. Apparently a lot of bone was removed and a lot of metal replaced it.
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Good! I just think it's a real tonic and hope it works for Roger :D
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I tried to use my camcorder today but it was dead and the battery would not charge. I phoned Amazon and spoke to someone in England who said it would have to go back to Sony. During the conservation the connection was cut. I phoned back and spoke to someone in Ireland who said she would give me the phone number for Sony but the connection was lost again.
Today was change over day from BT to SKY.
3rd time lucky - I spoke to a woman in Jamaica - I asked - who said after a bit of accent trouble "I will send you a new one by next day delivery delivered before noon". Happy days!
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Yeh man! ;D
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you might remember my post about the opera singers in the Jean Talong market UTube...
perhaps music/song in public places is a sign of our times...
have you seen this from Heathrow Airport last month.
remember as you watch NO INSTRUMENTS WERE USED IN THE VIDEO.
amazing!!!
wish i had been there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo&feature=player_embedded
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you might remember my post about the opera singers in the Jean Talong market UTube...
perhaps music/song in public places is a sign of our times...
have you seen this from Heathrow Airport last month.
remember as you watch NO INSTRUMENTS WERE USED IN THE VIDEO.
amazing!!!
wish i had been there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo&feature=player_embedded
LOVED IT :D :D :D! These sorts of things make one feel so good... happy! That one is very well "orchestrated", thanks for sharing it Kristl, now to post it to my Facebook account.
Here's one that Panayoti Kelaidis posted, probably the most fun and entertaining 5-1/2 minutes in recent memory (be sure to have the volume up)
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=383923079077
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These Facebook links are only available to members of Facebook, I'm afraid, in the way that some Photobucket albums are kept private.
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These Facebook links are only available to members of Facebook, I'm afraid, in the way that some Photobucket albums are kept private.
Oh, that's too bad, it's a real winner of a video. I looked for it on YouTube but it's not there. Drat!
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It'll probably turn up on You-tube eventually... everything seems too... I'm amazed at what one can find there.....even "old " stuff that one might have thought truly lost in this electronic age!
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It'll probably turn up on You-tube eventually... everything seems too... I'm amazed at what one can find there.....even "old " stuff that one might have thought truly lost in this electronic age!
You're right, I became a YouTube junkie once I realized I could see performances by the likes of flute-maniac-virtuoso Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull, 1976)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRo5whIbau4
OMG, this guy is crazy good, how anyone can get that much sound of a flute is beyond imagination.
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Jethro Tull takes me back to my student days. Heigh ho. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. :-\
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It'll probably turn up on You-tube eventually... everything seems too... I'm amazed at what one can find there.....even "old " stuff that one might have thought truly lost in this electronic age!
You're right, I became a YouTube junkie once I realized I could see performances by the likes of flute-maniac-virtuoso Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull, 1976)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRo5whIbau4
OMG, this guy is crazy good, how anyone can get that much sound of a flute is beyond imagination.
I could do that easily...... but not standing on one leg ::)
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That you blowing your own flute Anne? ;D
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I could not be more happy - my team has just won a derby match on the opponent's ground for the first time in 17 years - and they were 2-0 down at halftime ;D ;D ;D ;D 8)
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Thought these might amuse
1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't
much, but the reception was excellent.
2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."
3. Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.
4. A dyslexic man walks into a bra.
5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says: "A beer please, and one for the road."
6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"
7. Patient: "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home?."
Doc: "That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome."
Patient: "Is it common?"
Doc: "It's not unusual ..."
8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning."
"I don't believe you," says Dolly.
"It's true; no bull!" exclaims Daisy.
9. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.
10. Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
11. I went to buy some camouflage pants the other day, but I couldn't find any.
12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, "Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you can't - I've cut off your arms!"
13. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.
14. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.
15. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says "Dam!"
16. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse. "But why," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
18. A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt , and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."
19. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ...
A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
20. And finally, there was the person who sent twenty different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them laugh.
No pun in ten did.
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I could not be more happy - my team has just won a derby match on the opponent's ground for the first time in 17 years - and they were 2-0 down at halftime ;D ;D ;D ;D 8)
How did they do at Bolton, Arthur? :D :D
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That was on the other thread :(
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Arthur's jokes? Deja moo! ;D
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I could not be more happy - my team has just won a derby match on the opponent's ground for the first time in 17 years - and they were 2-0 down at halftime ;D ;D ;D ;D 8)
How did they do at Bolton, Arthur? :D :D
No shame in being beaten by a better team ;)
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I rather like Arthur's #19. ;D
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Me too, Paul!! ;D ;D ;D
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Who wouldn't.... ;D ;D ;D
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I could not be more happy - my team has just won a derby match on the opponent's ground for the first time in 17 years - and they were 2-0 down at halftime ;D ;D ;D ;D 8)
How did they do at Bolton, Arthur? :D :D
No shame in being beaten by a better team ;)
So they didn't bolt in? :D
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If you liked Arthur's post you will like this too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-Odr7E4klE
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I hope none of you are mentioned here :)
Tech support: What kind of computer do you have?
Female customer: A white one...
===============
Customer: Hi, this is Maureen. I can't get my diskette out.
Tech support: Have you tried pushing the Button?
Customer: Yes, sure, it's really stuck.
Tech support: That doesn't sound good; I'll make a note.
Customer: No , wait a minute... I hadn't inserted it yet... it's still on my desk... sorry....
===============
Tech support: Click on the 'my computer' icon on to the left of the screen.
Customer: Your left or my left?
===============
Tech support: Good day. How may I help you?
Male customer: Hello... I can't print.
Tech support: Would you click on 'start' for me and...
Customer: Listen pal; don't start getting technical on me! I'm not Bill Gates.
===============
Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can't print. Every time I try, it says 'Can't find printer'. I've even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can't find it...
============== =
Customer: I have problems printing in red...
Tech support: Do you have a colour printer?
Customer: Aaaah....................thank you.
===============
Tech support: What's on your monitor now, ma'am?
Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me at Woolies.
===============
Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech support: Are you sure it's plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer.
Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back.
Customer: ! OK
Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer: Yes
Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard?
Customer: Yes, there's another one here. Ah....that one does work...
===============
Tech support: Your password is the small letter 'a' as in apple, a capital letter V as n Victor, the number 7.
Customer: Is that 7 in capital letters ?
== =============
Customer: can't get on the Internet.
Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password?
Customer: Yes, I'm sure. I saw my colleague do it.
Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer: Five stars.
===============
Tech support: What anti-virus program do you use?
Customer: Netscape.
Tech support: That's not an anti-virus program.
Customer: Oh, sorry...Internet Explorer.
===============
Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.
===============
Tech support: How may I help you?
Customer: I'm writing my first e-mail.
Tech support: OK, and what seems to be the problem?
Customer: Well, I have the letter 'a' in the address, but how do I get the circle around it?
===============
A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer.
Tech support: Are you running it under windows?
Customer: 'No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine.'
===============
And last but not least...
Tech support: 'Okay Colin, let's press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter 'P' to bring up the Program Manager.'
Customer: I don't have a P.
Tech support: On your keyboard, Colin.
Customer: What do you mean?
Tech support: 'P'.....on your keyboard, Colin.
Customer: I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT!!
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You have brightened my Monday morning IMMENSELY, Art ... many thanks! ;D ;D ;D
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... and mine !!! ;D ;D ;D
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I have a friend who will appreciate that!!!!!!! :D
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I'm still chuckling - particularly liked the capital 7. :D :D :D
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Not exactly applicable here, but it has made us laugh:
Earlier in the year, a controversial toxic waste transfer plant on the edge of our village was destroyed in a fire. For several weeks afterwards, the water from the beck was pumped into tankers to stop it polluting the River Nidd, nearby. A few weeks ago, the 4 tankers full, stored near the factory, were stolen. Who knows where the polluted water was dumped, but at least the owners of the factory didn't have to pay for its disposal (!). During the last week, the remains of the burnt-out building has been dismantled and removed. Today, it transpired that it too, has been stolen! Now there is somebody with a good heist for their cv.
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Our dog loves to play in the snow and she makes me happy :).
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Gunilla, she is beautiful ... those photos of a young, slim and gorgeous Maggi playing in the snow would make anyone happy..... even this Maggi!
Your Maggi is lovely.... and I bet those big ears are soft and silky to cuddle ... how lucky you are to have such a fine dog.
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England 1-0 in the ASHES ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.
I agree withMaggie that is one super model of a dog.
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What a lovely doggie she is, full of energy.
I let my dog Benson out this morning thought he could chase the deer at the gate but no he never even saw them and he couldn't even jump over the box hedging on the way back, just trampled in down. He is starting to show his age, just like me.
Bought a ramp to get him in and out of the car, this will be fun to see.
Deer were so close to the garden today, getting a bit worked now. They have never come into the garden in the 16 years we have been here.
Angle :)
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England 1-0 in the ASHES ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.
Now they really need to grind out a win in Perth and it'll be all over. Don't you just love it when the Aussies squeal ;D
Not having Sky (for reasons stated elsewhere!!) I listen to the steam radio commentary on Five Live but have to "sleep" in the spare bedroom!
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author=David Nicholson link=topic=5971.msg175317#msg175317 date=1291755420]
Now they really need to grind out a win in Perth and it'll be all over. Don't you just love it when the Aussies squeal ;D
Ahem!!!! :o :o :o
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author=David Nicholson link=topic=5971.msg175317#msg175317 date=1291755420]
Now they really need to grind out a win in Perth and it'll be all over. Don't you just love it when the Aussies squeal ;D
Ahem!!!! :o :o :o
Yeh I know, but it's still nice to hear! ;D
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I know , David, it has been such a long time coming for you, I understand. ;D
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A gorgeous dog Gunilla, well grown since we last saw her. :D
I'm a bit reluctant to email my Australian friends, especially the one who is a great cricket fan. Normally I'd have a really good dig at him but considering our own recent and current record against Bangaladesh, for heaven's sake, and India, I can only hang my head in shame and embarrassment. :-[ :-[ :-[
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Our local paper (Hobart) carries the headline "Ponting ponders how to stop rot"
We can answer that Lesley - Make some runs!!
Oh and then there's the bowling.........
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There was a story in one of our morning papers that the Aussies were considering sacking Pontin and bringing Shane Warne back as captain. Don't suppose you should believe all you read in the papers? ;D
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There was a story in one of our morning papers that the Aussies were considering sacking Pontin and bringing Shane Warne back as captain. Don't suppose you should believe all you read in the papers? ;D
On the radio this morning they were talking about a website connected to a fund that has been set up to goad Warne out of the commentary box...... the presenters were greatly amused that following the piece about the website, in a short time the fund raised had risen several hundred dollars... presumeably on the back of the BBC publicity! www.bringbackwarne.com
Seems the man himself has recently arrived in the UK, so not available for a particulalry speedy comeback, eh?
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There was a story in one of our morning papers that the Aussies were considering sacking Pontin and bringing Shane Warne back as captain. Don't suppose you should believe all you read in the papers? ;D
Forget Warne, bring back Dennis Lilley and Donald Bradman!!!! ;D ;D ;D
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Helen,
OK, the Dennis Lilley is at least physically possible (even if perhaps a little old for first class cricket now).... but Donald Bradman is going to require the use of a necromancer I think. You happen to have one of those handy? Outside of your local Dungeons and Dragons chapter, that is!? ;D
I really do think that Ponting needs a rest. Could Clarke step up to the position? Who knows. ::) Unfortunately, traditionally the selectors stick with the "name" though, not the performance. Bowler Nathan Hauritz yesterday scored 126 after being put in as night watchman the previous evening in a Sheffield Shield match. He is a bowler!!! :o Recently dropped from the test team I think he's made a pretty impressive statement for being brought back into the side. ;D
Personally I think that it is excellent that the Aussies are needing to fight for their matches (although I wish they'd fight a bit harder at present ::)). I think one-sided domination of any sport by a single team is generally bad for the sport. Always better when there are cycles to keep things interesting. 8)
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Always better when there are cycles to keep things interesting. 8)
As in the Tour de France! :D
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Paul, my tongue was planted firmly in my cheek when I mentioned Bradman. ;)
Lilley could probably still put the fear of god into some batsmen.
Do you get the impression I loved DKL?
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I love how some folks get passionate about cricket.... I would rather watch paint dry, or , if pushed, do the ironing, maybe even get the vacuum cleaner going through the dog hair..... :o
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Always better when there are cycles to keep things interesting. 8)
As in the Tour de France! :D
Now that I can get interested in! Three weeks in summer to make ME happy!
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I love how some folks get passionate about cricket.... I would rather watch paint dry, or , if pushed, do the ironing, maybe even get the vacuum cleaner going through the dog hair..... :o
Maggi, if you think cricket is boring, you should watch curling!!!
Harrrrrrrrrrd harrrrrrrrrrrd harrrrrrrrrrrrrrrddd!!!!
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Durnit Helen.... I was hoping you DID have a necromancer handy. We could use him!! I'm sure there are a few others other than Bradman we could bring back to the test team. ;D
So Cliff, you're suggesting they lengthen cricket tests to how many days? If matching Le Tour, I'm thinking that even some of the best cricket fans might struggle with 22 days of a test. :o
Maggi,
I don't mind the short forms of the game, but can rarely watch the tests unless I am in the right mood. ::)
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Maggi, if you think cricket is boring, you should watch curling!!!
Harrrrrrrrrrd harrrrrrrrrrrd harrrrrrrrrrrrrrrddd!!!!
HaHa! I like to watch curling .... did plenty of that when Ian was playing. It's a great tactical game, played properly and the whole thing is done and dusted in two hours... perfect!
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Lilley could probably still put the fear of god into some batsmen.
..... I think Maggi's Lily could too! ;D
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Shane Warne is too busy advertising how to keep his hair on to be concerned with cricket now. ;D
There was an additional item last night about Ian Botham's comments on the recent English win, and how he and Ian Chappell have been feuding with each other since some silly incident in 1977!!! How stupid can men be? Grow up, for Pete's sake!
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and Donald Bradman!!!! ;D ;D ;D
Dem bones, dem bones, dem DRY bones!
I'm all for curling too, especially the tartan caps and the bottle of whisky that sits in each man's pocket. ;D
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The really interesting thing about the desperate attempts to improve the Australian Cricket team has been the number of past luminaries who have immediately declined the offer to return to the team - except Shane Warne!! who has not responded yet. His ego may similar in size to his texting finger.
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Paul, my tongue was planted firmly in my cheek when I mentioned Bradman. ;)
Lilley could probably still put the fear of god into some batsmen.
Do you get the impression I loved DKL?
Wasn't there a drag queen played for Australia? Lilian Thomson seems to ring a bell? ::)
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Wasn't there a drag queen played for Australia? Lilian Thomson seems to ring a bell? ::)
Hahahahhaha, good one Anthony ;D ;D ;D
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Paul, my tongue was planted firmly in my cheek when I mentioned Bradman. ;)
Lilley could probably still put the fear of god into some batsmen.
Do you get the impression I loved DKL?
Wasn't there a drag queen played for Australia? Lilian Thomson seems to ring a bell? ::)
;D ;D ;D
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Wasn't that the "Drag Queen" that reduced the poms to quivering wrecks?"
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Wasn't that the "Drag Queen" that reduced the poms to quivering wrecks?"
Might as well throw Rodney in.
Sighhhhhhhhh, thems were the days. :'( :'( :'(
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Don't they say "Every
dog duck has his day ;D
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Just spent a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon on a local civil disobedience project.
Supermarket giant Tesco, who have a mammoth 24 hour open store three miles away from my village, have taken over a former tyre fitting depot in the heart of the village and converted it to a Tesco Express open 0600-2300 seven days a week. There is already a small supermarket in the village and a good range of local shops and all of these are now under threat and many will not survive the level of competition they are going to get.
Today was opening day and a group of us made sure that the small car park was constantly full of non-shoppers and even managed to delay one of Tesco's delivery vehicles. It was done in a great spirit of "community" and, although there is only one winner-Tesco-we simply made our point. I shall never use the new store but in spite of me I'm sure it will be very successful, and the rest of the village will suffer.
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The football fans amongst you, especially those who follow struggling teams, might like the article in the Link below. The author, or so he tells me, has an incisingly analitical footballing mind :P
http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/5997/38/
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For those of you who enjoyed Kritl's post about the opera singers in the Jean Talong market, here's another festive one (oh dear I seem to be getting into the swing of it already!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
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That's a good one Brian, put a smile on my face. Happens to be one of my favorite pieces of music too, as I'm sure it is for many people.
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We watched a TV programme the other night about a project to organise a clog-dancing flash mob in Newcastle... it was great!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11930057 for a brief story and video of the performance
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00wmy5q/Come_Clog_Dancing_Treasures_of_English_Folk_Dance/ for the i-player one hour programme ( this will not be available for long, I fear.)
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We watched a TV programme the other night about a project to organise a clog-dancing flash mob in Newcastle... it was great!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11930057 for a brief story and video of the performance
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00wmy5q/Come_Clog_Dancing_Treasures_of_English_Folk_Dance/ for the i-player one hour programme ( this will not be available for long, I fear.)
Did it feature the famous Britannia Coconutters from Bacup ... just three miles up the road from us? (and please refrain from any comments such as; 'That explains a lot!")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQlL9VKUJXM
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It did indeed... or at least another related programme certainly did.... about the history of folk dance and clogging presented by the Unthank sisters.
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Re folk dances Maggie - Ask a former Morris Man - Frazer Henderson - about it!!!!!!!!
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Oh aye, he's another enthusiast is he?
Morris dancing, clog dancing and clog morris are all quite popular up here.... though I'm not sure how much there is still going on.... some years ago there were lots of groups active. I'm not moving in those "circles" now..... :-\
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For those of you who enjoyed Kritl's post about the opera singers in the Jean Talong market, here's another festive one (oh dear I seem to be getting into the swing of it already!)
Brian
I'll be expecting the Berlioz Requiem at the Bank of Nova Scotia one of these days.
johnw - +9c
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I'll be expecting the Berlioz Requiem at the Bank of Nova Scotia one of these days.
Let us know when its happening ;D
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We watched a TV programme the other night about a project to organise a clog-dancing flash mob in Newcastle... it was great!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11930057 for a brief story and video of the performance
I liked the disappointed looks from the crowd when it was finished, showed they enjoyed it :)
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For those of you who enjoyed Kritl's post about the opera singers in the Jean Talong market, here's another festive one (oh dear I seem to be getting into the swing of it already!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
Lovley. Something for the Huddersfield Choral Society to aspire to.
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It did indeed... or at least another related programme certainly did.... about the history of folk dance and clogging presented by the Unthank sisters.
I watched it too, a thoroughly good programme. The Croconutters from Bacup were excellent Cliff. The hightlight for me was the section from Saddleworth with the locals insisting that they were, and always would be, part of Yorkshire.
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Today is my 1 year anniversary on the SRGC Forum. I registered Dec. 13 2009. In honor of the occasion, my avatar is having a little smoke. This post is #1848, that's an average of 5.0630136986301369863013698630137 messages a day ;D
It's been my pleasure to participate here, no doubt one of the best plant fora in the world. Cheers.
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Cheers to you too, McMark.
Thanks for your participation here. May I wish you all the best in the coming year..... including a really top-notch GREAT job ( but not one that keeps you SO busy that you have no time to post!
M :-*
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I'll be expecting the Berlioz Requiem at the Bank of Nova Scotia one of these days.
Let us know when its happening ;D
Brian - On second thought there are probably other banks where the Berlioz might be more appropriate. ;)
johnw
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Good on yer Mark. keep up the posting please and I share Maggi's wishes for you to have a job soon.
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Happy to be part of your SRGC life
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I recently passed 4 years and didnt notice ::)
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I recently passed 4 years and didnt notice ::)
You first registered to the original forum format in October 2003, Mark...... now that is a long time ago!
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That really does explain a lot Cliff. ;D
Great links but as so frequently happens, the BBC one had a bar across saying "Not available in your area."
Our Southern Symphonia is planning something along the flashmob lines for February/March at my market.
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Today is our Teddy's second birthday. I'm told he will now be a sensible dog and so far today he hasn't done anything naughty. :D 8)
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The Croconutters from Bacup were excellent Cliff.
A Freudian slip David? ;D
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Lesley,
I noted that slip and had a chuckle as well. I was wondering whether it was deliberate or accidental. ;D
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Out of the blue I received this email today. Yet another plot by Canadian classical musicians? If so keep it up.
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 2:59 PM
To: j
Subject: Fw: PERCEPTION / Something To Think About
In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Canadian Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $200 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
johnw - +13c and howling.
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There is a video of that "out there" somewhere. I watched it. Maybe YouTube?
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There is a video of that "out there" somewhere. I watched it. Maybe YouTube?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw[/youtube]
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A belated reply - I too watched the folk dancing programmes. I was rivetted by the Coconutters, and the horn dancers with their 1000 year old reindeer antlers. I don't suppose any Morris men would like to come and liven up my open gardens too?
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AAargh! Stop getting me to watch Youtube! One thing leads to another, and I'm supposed to be DOING something!! ::)
It's like looking something up in a dictionary - I always get distracted by the other wonderful words at the top of the pages and end up forgetting which word I was looking for in the first place.
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This really warmed my heart....
The story goes....
Four young Sitka black-tailed bucks fell upon good luck Sunday as they were pulled from the icy waters of Stephens Passage, Alaska by a group of locals on Tom Satre’s 62-foot charter vessel. Four juvenile Sitka black-tailed deer swam directly toward the boat.
Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the boat, looking directly at the humans on board. Clearly, the bucks were distressed. With help, the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals came willingly onto the boat. Once onboard, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering.
In the second picture, the rescued bucks rest on the back of Tom Satre’s boat, the Alaska Quest. All four deer were transported to Taku Harbour. Once the group reached the dock, the first buck that had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back, then leapt into the harbour, swam to shore, and disappeared into the forest. After a bit of prodding and assistance from the humans, two others followed suit, but one deer needed more help. Here he is being transported by Tom Satre
Tom, Anna and Tim Satre help the last of the "button" bucks to its feet. They did not know how long the deer had been in the icy waters or if there had been others who did not survive. The good Samaritans (humans) describe their experience as “one of those defining moments in life.” I’m sure it was for the deer, as well.
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A belated reply - I too watched the folk dancing programmes. I was rivetted by the Coconutters, and the horn dancers with their 1000 year old reindeer antlers. I don't suppose any Morris men would like to come and liven up my open gardens too?
Your open gardens doesn't need any livening up at all Anne ;)
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Any excuse to get Morris men to come here!
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Lovely, Kristl. Thanks for sharing.
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Kirsti that's so nice. I like when the story has a nice ending.
Angie :)
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A wonderful story Kristl.
Re Joshua Bell. What a fantastic opportunity and so many not having a clue about what they were hearing, or appreciating it as he played, except a lone woman. And what a tragedy that parents wouldn't let their young ones stop and listen.
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I wonder how much different the result would have been on a street instead of the subway. Generally you go to the subway to catch a particular train, which does rather limit the option of stopping and listening to someone, particularly when it is timed to catch people heading to their workplace (where being late might result in termination of employment?). Even a dedicated music lover would have to chose between waiting for the next train (no idea how often they run to particular areas) and listening. Still a great shame that no-one had time though. :'(
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Not sure about the Washington subway, but the Glasgow Subway (nicknamed the "Clockwork Orange") and London Underground trains run every few minutes; you don't go down to catch a particular train.
As for Joshua Bell - the man is severely gifted! I think the ciaccona ("chaconne") from Bach's Partita in D minor for solo violin is wonderful (see my post on irritating pop songs). I only wish I could play it. I never get past the first chord!
Johannes Brahms, in a letter to Clara Schumann, said about the ciaccona:
On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind.
Booked our tickets for far off never never land: fly to NZ on 21st January.
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Booked our tickets for far off never never land: fly to NZ on 21st January.
With the winter that is forecast, let us hope you get to the airport.
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Booked our tickets for far off never never land: fly to NZ on 21st January.
Wow! So soon! Best of luck, Anthony and Family........ as Art says, the adventure will likely begin with the journey to the airport! ;)
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Hi Anthony
Can I come to visit ::) ;D
Angie :)
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Re JB again, if I'd had that chance I'd have happily missed all trains and spent the night curled up somewhere in the subway.
Where will you come in Anthony? Christchurch or Auckland? and did Vivienne get the Ashburton job?
Re the Chaconne, I also love the Busoni transcription for piano. Such drama!
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The Croconutters from Bacup were excellent Cliff.
A Freudian slip David? ;D
Lesley and Paul,
It was just a typo, wouldn't know my "r's" from my elbow :o
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Re JB again,
Re the Chaconne, I also love the Busoni transcription for piano. Such drama!
Lesley
And that superb Busoni is as difficult as the violin version. Would give up my last days for one night at a Busoni concert in Berlin in the teens.
First time I heard Joshua B was on the radio in the Bruch#1, I had to park my car till it was over and was 40 minutes late for an appointment.
johnw
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The Croconutters from Bacup were excellent Cliff.
A Freudian slip David? ;D
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On the 21st of January my life will turn upside down! ;D
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England's bowling attack was pretty slick and slip catching was top notch come on ENGLAND ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I watched some this morning, then listened on Radio 4 long wave on my way to work until it was interrupted by "yesterday in Parliament" (yawn)! ???
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Anthony will you be near any forum members?
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On the 21st of January my life will turn upside down! ;D
Anthony it will be so exciting for you and your family. I hope once you get settled that we see your new garden from the start.
One thing you won't miss is all this cold weather. It's snowing a lot here again and getting dark. Starting to worry that we might to get away.
Angle :)
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Anthony will you be near any forum members?
We fly to Auckland initially. I've certainly had enough snow to last me a lifetime, although I did repair my sledge after 10 years with it in a state of disrepair. I got from my granny for Christmas 1962! Sunny here today!
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Anthony....as somebody who made the move from England to the USA in 2006....I wish you and your family a safe journey...not only on the plane, but through the cultural difficulties that will surely ensue. My sister and her family emigrated to Auckland in 2002 and they have settled in well and really love the country.
Enjoy the adventure
Alan & Sherba
Incidentally, we have just had an ice storm in Kentucky overnight......just one of the many 'cultural' shocks I have had to contend with!!!!
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Anthony....as somebody who made the move from England to the USA in 2006....I wish you and your family a safe journey...not only on the plane, but through the cultural difficulties that will surely ensue. My sister and her family emigrated to Auckland in 2002 and they have settled in well and really love the country.
Enjoy the adventure
Alan & Sherba
Alan, how did you pick Kentucky? I think I would have culture shock moving to certain US States as well. ;D
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Alan, how did you pick Kentucky? I think I would have culture shock moving to certain US States as well. ;D
Mark,
It was 'divinely' chosen for me. My beloved is a Kentucky Gal. After she'd had 4 years in England with me, it was time for me to reciprocate. KY gets a lot of bad press but it is a beautiful state with beautiful, friendly people. I love the place...except for the fact I can't grow alpines here. Too hot, too humid...but the local wildflowers more than make up for it. But there are many cultural differences between the two countries...not just the states...and these take some figuring out. BTW...I do ask for toMAYtoes and not toMAHtoes...these days. They still taste the same though however you say it ;D
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Mark,
It was 'divinely' chosen for me. My beloved is a Kentucky Gal. After she'd had 4 years in England with me, it was time for me to reciprocate. KY gets a lot of bad press but it is a beautiful state with beautiful, friendly people. I love the place...except for the fact I can't grow alpines here. Too hot, too humid...but the local wildflowers more than make up for it. But there are many cultural differences between the two countries...not just the states...and these take some figuring out. BTW...I do ask for toMAYtoes and not toMAHtoes...these days. They still taste the same though however you say it ;D
But what about your poTAHtoes? ;D And to be clear about my reference, I have no doubt that Kentucky is a beautiful US State; I have driven across country back and forth several times; I love traveling the US States, most New Englanders only travel to Florida, Bermuda, or the Caribbean, and rarely go see what the rest of the country looks like. When I did pick up and move cross country, from New England to the Seattle Washington area, as lovely as the place is, and with proximity to amazing natural wonders from 14,411 feet (4,392 m) Mt. Rainier, to dryland deserts and the mighty Columbia River Gorge, I still had difficulty adjusting to the area... specifically to the "culture and mindset" of the area. So, after 4 years, I moved back to New England, but I'm glad to have had the experience of living and gardening on opposite coasts.
My main problem with a destination like Kentucky, or much of the lower eastern half of the US, is the high heat and humidity; I'm much more of a cold weather guy.
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I had no problem with your reference to KY, Mark...but being in the Appalachian foothills it does evoke criticism for its poverty and redneck associations, especially in eastern Kentucky. I have taken to studying Appalachian folk history and in particular its music, and it is fascinating, and of course the flora of Kentucky is superb.
It's a strange situation but whenever I am back in England, I get homesick for Kentucky. It has that kind of draw on me.
But you are so right. You've got to get "into" America to see it. New York, Orlando and the like are definitely not representative of the USA. Just like London and Stratford upon Avon are not typical representations of England. Give me the Yorkshire Dales over London any day!!!
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......... Give me the Yorkshire Dales over London any day!!!
and I'll second that. Give me the Yorkshire Dales and I'd happily give the rest of the world a miss ;D
By the way I've never experienced an ice storm, just what happens?
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England's bowling attack was pretty slick and slip catching was top notch come on ENGLAND ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
A cracking start Dave. It looks as though the next few nights are going to be sleepless.
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As part of a small series on natural disastrous phenomena, we saw a TV doco a while back about an ice storm in Canada, a few years ago. Truly terryfying. Then there was an episode about an Australian fire storm, starting out as a series of bush fires in western NSW and eventually threatening the whole of Sydney. The Victorian fires of last year were small in comparison.
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On the 21st of January my life will turn upside down! ;D
Anthony, I do assure you that after a while you get used to walking on your hands and with your legs in the air, so that it seems quite natural. Some adjustments to your clothing will be required and especially to that of your women-folk if they wear dresses much. ;D
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By the way I've never experienced an ice storm, just what happens?
Ice storms can be incredibly destructive, beautiful, but destructive. A few shots from the infamous ice storm of December 8th 2008. We were without power for a week. After a few days of "toughing it out" in a frigid house we stayed in a motel for about 4 more days. In the morning after the ice storm, I stood outside on my deck, and watched in horror and disbelief as the woods "imploded" on themselves, every 10-15 seconds trees snapping into bits and crashing down in thunderous explosions. Thankfully our house is free and clear of any major size trees directly overhead. My daughters were out of school for two weeks, as the schools were used as shelters for people that didn't get power for much longer than a week, up to three weeks in some parts.
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As part of a small series on natural disastrous phenomena, we saw a TV doco a while back about an ice storm in Canada, a few years ago. Truly terryfying. Then there was an episode about an Australian fire storm, starting out as a series of bush fires in western NSW and eventually threatening the whole of Sydney. The Victorian fires of last year were small in comparison.
Leslie,
I was in the thick of that famous ice storm of 2008---which changed my life in significant ways, in fact---as well as the direction of my business forever.
We were without power in North Gower (or heat obviously) for an entire MONTH in the dead of winter. Eventually we had to move into emergency shelter provided by the armed forces. There was even a special CBC tv documentary entitled "North Gower: the Ontario town that Hydro forgot" chronicling our town in particular and how it came to pass that we were without juice for so long.
My property was devastated ---and of course insurance wasn't paying out because of the "act of god" exclusion. Over $20,000 had to be spent just on the bare bones of clean up. And of course I lost most of my high season seed sales.
Eventually the Goverment of Canada provided grants to folks who had suffered particularly severe damage (which had to be partially matched by the homeowner)----and this is how I managed to get the property restored (somewhat) and still ended up deeply in debt.
It took 5 years to deal with the destroyed gardens, and I never actually recovered financially.
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By the way I've never experienced an ice storm, just what happens?
Ice storms can be incredibly destructive, beautiful, but destructive. A few shots from the infamous ice storm of December 8th 2008. We were without power for a week. After a few days of "toughing it out" in a frigid house we stayed in a motel for about 4 more days. In the morning after the ice storm, I stood outside on my deck, and watched in horror and disbelief as the woods "imploded" on themselves, every 10-15 seconds trees snapping into bits and crashing down in thunderous explosions. Thankfully our house is free and clear of any major size trees directly overhead. My daughters were out of school for two weeks, as the schools were used as shelters for people that didn't get power for much longer than a week, up to three weeks in some parts.
Thanks for that McMark but I still don't understand what happens. Is it the wind or is it frozen rain delivered at a rate of knots? Sorry to be so climatically challenged ???
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My American friend sent me some pictures of the same ice storm. I had never seen anything like it in my life. Even the power was down, the metal work had just snapped.
It must be so scary.
I think I better start walking to America as I can't see me getting my flight out of Aberdeen. Bit down in the dumps today. Eat a huge box of chocolates to try and cheer me up.
Angle :)
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Yes Kristl, that was the one. The doco centred on Montreal I think. It's always so much worse when taken down to the individual or personal level isn't it, with people one knows suffering such cataclysm. I'm glad you bounced back even if you had to change and adapt. Hopefully NS will be a less severe home in years to come, though I don't like the thought of Atlantic gales much. I'm spoiled here I'm afraid. Part of the reason Anthony is moving to the SH of course. Our weather is never truly extreme, as you northerners know it. Not until you go south to Antarctica anyway. :)
Incidentally, our TV weatherman reported a few days ago that the temperature in Aberdeen Scotland, was -17C while at Scott Base in Antarctica it was only -1C! But it's high summer there. ;D
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Thanks for that McMark but I still don't understand what happens. Is it the wind or is it frozen rain delivered at a rate of knots? Sorry to be so climatically challenged ???
It usually goes like this. It'll be well below freezing for days, the ground and everything act as a cold sink, then a moist and warmer weather front moves sliding over the colder ground air, and starts raining. The night of that ice storm I got home from work, and it was pouring rain yet the air temperature was about 24-25 F (-4 C), so the rain just starts freezing on contact with the colder objects. Ice storms are quite common, but usually the out-of-synchronization air temperature is just a degree or two, and the ice encasement is not too thick, and it can look like a glimmering wonderland the next day.
With this storm, the roads were not passable on my street until the second day, but even then, it was a nightmare trying to get anywhere as so many roads were closed due to fallen trees and snapped power lines. I still have more tree damage to cut up from that storm, I just do a little bit at a time.
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These are some shots from the ice storm in Berea in 2009. We had no power for 5 days. lost 3 trees and a chimney stack.
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I really like the maps some members, both old and new, are including in their profiles. Perhaps we all should. I certainly shall, when I get an up-to-date Google Maps loaded and work out how to do it. ???
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Thanks Alan and McMark. I think I'll give 'em a miss ;D
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I really like the maps some members, both old and new, are including in their profiles. Perhaps we all should. I certainly shall, when I get an up-to-date Google Maps loaded and work out how to do it. ???
Lesley, have you seen this thread:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6264.0
I recently changed my location, it seems that I now live atop Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, in the Visitor Center ;D
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These are some shots from the ice storm in Berea in 2009. We had no power for 5 days. lost 3 trees and a chimney stack.
Alan, I do believe that ice storms are more prevalent in more southerly US States where temps might hover around the freezing point. In New England we can generally count on it being cold enough that it snows, but as you can see, it is not always the case.
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David, they really are quite spectacular and aesthetically attractive BUT......having to drive to work on roads that have a 1 inch covering of ice is no joke. Neither is having no heating in the house in those temperatures. However, we soon forget about the ice storms when summer hits and we complain about the 90 degree temperatures with 98% humidity.
And I thought the weather in Manchester was bad ;D
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Lesley, how can you say your weather is never extreme....I spent a wonderful few days on the West coast of South Island wondering how it was possible for there to be more water on land than there was in the sea!
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For anyone contemplating a Christmas visit to Kentucky, today we had rain, snow, ice, fog, more rain and more ice.....and I've still got to drive 25 miles this evening to get home.....but I still love the place and wouldn't change it for the world...no, not even the Yorkshire Dales ;D
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England's bowling attack was pretty slick and slip catching was top notch come on ENGLAND ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
A cracking start Dave. It looks as though the next few nights are going to be sleepless.
David i will end up looking like a panda with black bags but i will still be watching with my fingers crossed we don't have a batting collapse 29-0 looking good
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Thanks Mark, no I missed that thread altogether. Will now have to work out how to do it.
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Lesley you will be able to drag your pin to your house or roughly where you live. You can zoom in and out using the + and - to the left of the map
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Many years ago I was in St. John's, Newfoundland and an acquiantance had a picture on his office wall of an infamous freezing rainstorm from the 1940's or 50's that lasted for days. It showed power wires with an astounding 25cm (10 inches) of ice on them and every pole snapped as far as the eye could see. Now that's freezing rain. I wish I had photocopied that picture.
johnw
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Lesley you will be able to drag your pin to your house or roughly where you live. You can zoom in and out using the + and - to the left of the map
But where do I find a pin to start with? ???
Martin, the fact that your days were "wonderful" suggests to me that the weather was reasonable. The South Island's West Coast measures its rainfall in metres per year rather than mms or cms so yes, there's usually a lot of water abut, magnificent wetlands and the birdlife to match. But our hot is not VERY hot nor our cold EXTREMELY cold. Even droughts are relative, compared with say inland Australia's. I could do with some extra rain on this side of the country though.
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But where do I find a pin to start with? ???
Click on Profile at the top, then "Modify profile" on the left, go to "Forum profile information" At the bottom there is a map with instructions how to place your pin.
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England's bowling attack was pretty slick and slip catching was top notch come on ENGLAND ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
A cracking start Dave. It looks as though the next few nights are going to be sleepless.
David i will end up looking like a panda with black bags but i will still be watching with my fingers crossed we don't have a batting collapse 29-0 looking good
Not the innings I was hoping for >:(
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David,
I don't know, I'd say it was EXACTLY the innings I was hoping for. ;D I didn't actually expect to see it though, to be completely honest. ;)
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Makes for a good series. Looking at the crowd in the last match you'd be forgiven for thinking the match was being played in England! You could play "spot the Aussie" - like a version of "where's Wally"! 8)
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it wants to make me cry but credit were credits due Mitchell Johnson's was class,lovely bit of swing bowling,i thought when there slip fielder missed strauss at the start here we go this is going to be a walk over,how wrong i was, but like Anthony said it's going to make for a nail biting series.
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this probably should have gone into the "wildlife" thread---but it gave me such a good laugh, i thought this thread might be more appropriate.
the original post of this was entitled
"Are you worried about squirrels in your garden?"
the pictures were apparently taken in BC
and the sign is something that would only be seen in Canada---do read it all the way through.
as someone who does use bear bells and carry bear spray, i have often had the same thought.
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;D ;D ;D Magnificent, Kristl. ;D ;D ;D
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Brilliant...if someone put that up here there would be indignant letters to the papers and no doubt questions in parliament followed by strong police advice to remove the sign as it might cause offense
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cause ofence to the bears? ;D
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this probably should have gone into the "wildlife" thread---but it gave me such a good laugh, i thought this thread might be more appropriate.
the original post of this was entitled
"Are you worried about squirrels in your garden?"
the pictures were apparently taken in BC
and the sign is something that would only be seen in Canada---do read it all the way through.
as someone who does use bear bells and carry bear spray, i have often had the same thought.
I love that sign ;D ;D ;D
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you know....contrary to popular opinion of a ridiculously polite, retiring national personality ....we canadians tend to tell it like it is ;)
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I love it ;D ;D ;D
And what amazing pictures :o
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Lots of discussion in 2007 about how they were done.
Here's one:
http://selever.freeshell.org/projects/rand/
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Neighbours had us over for dinner - oysters they had picked off the
beach, done on a barbecue outside, though we ate them inside.
I fortunately bit gently, because mine had a pearl in it - about the
size of my baby fingernail. I gave it to the neighbours, as they had
done all the work. They have gathered oysters for years and this
is their first pearl.
That was last night, and then tonight, the clouds have cleared enough
that we'll be able to see the lunar eclipse through the skylight over
our bed, and not on the NASA website as we had planned.
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Lovely description. Happy moon watching.
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I am watching it out of our study window. Nearly half way.
Jean
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LOL
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These made me chuckle
CLASSIFIED ADS
You have to love British humor!
These are classified ads, which were actually placed in a U.K. Newspaper:
FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old.
Hateful little bastard.
Bites!
FREE PUPPIES.
1/2 Cocker Spaniel,
1/2 sneaky neighbour's dog.
FREE PUPPIES.
Mother is a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd.
Father is a Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound.
COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.
Also 1 gay bull for sale.
JOINING NUDIST COLONY !
Must sell washer and dryer £100.
Thought from the Greatest Living Scottish Thinker. Billy Connolly -
"If women are so bloody perfect at multitasking, how come they can't have a headache and sex at the same time?
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Hope you like this one Art
President Barack Obama is visiting a Glasgow hospital ......
He enters a ward full of patients with no obvious sign of injury or illness,
He greets one.
The patient replies:
Fair fa your honest sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin race,
Aboon them a ye take yer place,
Painch, tripe or thairm,
As langs my airm.
Obama is confused, so he just grins and moves on to the next patient.
The next patient responds:
Some hae meat an canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat an we can eat,
So let the Lord be thankit.
Even more confused, and his grin now rictus-like, the President moves onto
the next patient, who immediately begins to chant:
Wee sleekit, cowerin, timorous beasty,
O the panic in thy breasty,
Thou needna start awa sae hastie,
Wi bickering brattle
Now seriously troubled, Obama turns to the accompanying doctor and asks,
'Is this a psychiatric ward?'
'No,' replies the doctor, 'this is the serious Burns unit.'
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Brian
I laughed out loud ;D 8) ;D 8) ;D
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Art, loved the last one!! ;D ;D
Brian, 'very' good. ;D ;D ;D
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Glad you liked it, one of the few that made me laugh aloud ;D
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Oh Brian, that is wonderful. Laughed aloud here too. But isn't Obama's smile alays rictus-like? ;D
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Is there an emoticon for the Muttley laugh?
If there was I'd put it here .....
[attach=1]
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Always happy to help, Anne........ ;)
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A good job he didn't check the fourth patient:
Then pray us let that it may come,
(As it will for a' that come,)
That Sense o'er a' the earth and worth,
Shall the gree that bear doon in the wids.
For a' that, an' a' that,
for a' that an' that an this an' th'other.
Where's that moose an a' that?
He was suffering from terrible burns!
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Howdy All,
Hearkening back to a side discussion about favourite dance music in the "Most Irritating Pop Songs" topic..... I found my copy of "Deeper Shades of Hooj" (Mark, it wasn't Vol 2 or 3 after all, but the original.... I thought that the Vol 2 I downloaded didn't sound like what I was remembering? :o). I am absolutely stoked. Got it on loud in my headphones at the moment while typing this. SO cool to be listening to it again. I have definitely missed it. ;D 8)
So..... I'm so happy at present. It is also the end of 4 days of hell at work with holiday shopping in the nursery, with the next 3 days off..... always a good reason to celebrate! ;) Tired (very) but happy. The music definitely helps. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Paul, may God rest your ears! :P ;D
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;D ;D
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In case there are any Richard Thompson fans following this thread (and I know you are out there), RT released an album of new material the other day. The twist this time is that the album was recorded live during a mini-tour of the west coast of the US last February, at five different venues from Seattle to San Francisco. My luck is that one of the shows was right here in Eugene, at a small community arts center, and I was able to attend. It was a great show, and he was playing with an excellent four-piece backing band, so the album is worth checking out if you are a Richard Thompson fan.
Ed
It's a long time since we had this Richard Thompson discussion but............... I've just got his latest album "Electric" and it is out of this world!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Not a conventional album then David?
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;D ;D ;D
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I've heard one or two songs from the new RT album on our local community radio station, I'll have to check out the entire album.
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Think you will enjoy it Ed.