The weekend!

[My Friend Jack]

Somehow, I feel I should say something to get the ABB section underway. So what's everyone got planned for the last weekend before Christmas?

I shall spend the middle part of Saturday at the Madejski Stadium, and I suspect Sunday could involve shopping.

[Bill]

Thanks for kicking things off, MFJ.

Coincidentally, I shall also be spending the middle part of my day at the Madejski Stadium, cheering the homecoming of one of my favourite ever players Jamie Cureton, before hopefully watching Reading stuff the False Hoops (or QPR, as some call them).

In the evening, I shall be watching another of my heroes, Elton John, at the Hammersmith Apollo, on the last night of his tour. I shall be going with fellow poster Harriet, and her Mum and Dad.

[Mireia]

for the joy of seeing the words Founder Member next to my name. My weekend will involve lots of belated Christmas things I should have done ages ago, and looking for a house to buy. You wouldn't think I ought to be excited about it but I am...

[Lady Lazarus]

Well, unfortunately I'm working a 13 hour shift on Saturday :eek: (I'm a nurse), and Sunday I might be going to Enfield to visit a friend, go ice-skating and look at prospective areas which might be suitable for house-buying in the new year... also off Monday, which is still the weekend for me!

[Bill]

Well, we're trying to sell our house, so perhaps one of you could buy ours. :D

[Dr. Strangelove]

This weekend I shall be enjoying the end of school and on Sat evening I have a party, and on Sunday i guess I could try and get all my homework set done :( So that I have no worries. I like it when i go on holiday during the XMAS season, a few years ago i went to North Germany where there was a lot of snow, and that was great. We stayed over new Years. I hate getting back to England, reminds me of how bad it is.

[Harriet]

Tomorrow morning and afternoon I shall be sleeping, to get the christmas holidays off to a nice healthy start, and then in the evening I'm going to see Elton John :D

No idea what I'm doing on Sunday, probably shopping or something!

[Royal Rother]

Up at 6am to take 11yo daughter to her swimming session. Take son to a party at 11.45, might watch some TV at 12.45 for a couple of hours ;), try to coax reluctant daughter to write some more of her portfolio required for entrance to next school, probably shout at her a few times and wish she was old enough to take on board Anthony Robbins' "Get The Edge" programme, take her to church at 3pm for rehearsal for Sunday Christmas Service where she's in the choir and doing a reading, collect her, go through her reading with her so she's fully rehearsed and, more importantly, fully understands it, take her to a party at Pizza Express at 6pm, collect her at 8pm, dump her back home with babysitter (and the other 2 kids) then shoot off for a pre-Christmas drinks party with friends.

Sunday much of the same.

I'm just glad I've got a wife who co-ordinates all this stuff.

Then up at 4am Monday morning to drive to Leeds for a day's work. Back home by 10pm hopefully.

Doubt I'll be doing much reading this weekend so it's good to have this ABB Board to post on!

[Harriet]

I guess we could use this thread to discuss every weekend.....otherwise it's pretty much obselete!

I'm not doing much this weekend, just recovering from the two days of school after the 2 and a half week Xmas hols......

[My Friend Jack]

Saturday - Reading are at home to Swansea in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Can't muster much enthusiasm for it, but having ordered a ticket, I feel I should go.

Sunday - I seem to think that Mrs Jack said something about helping the boys spend their Christmas money!

[Opal]

Revising. :(

Over the next two weeks I have 6 exams, most of which are worth 100% of modules I have to pass. I wish it was February.

[My Friend Jack]

It is February, but you slept through January - opps, sorry, wrong thread! ;)

[Harriet]

Again, I think we should use this to discuss every weekend...

On Friday (does it count as weekend???) I'm having some friendys over to watch a film etc and on Saturday am going to have to somehow manoeuver the tube and get myself up to Waterloo to meet another poster on this forum - loveable_vurgle, who's my cousin. We're gonna go shopping and stuff up in London then probably just watch a film or something in the evening.

[My Friend Jack]

Unfortunately, I will NOT be watching Reading's FA Cup game against Leicester. I have a long-standing medical appointment on Saturday morning, and won't be able to drive for a couple of hours afterwards. On Sunday, I'll probably do some catching up on paperwork. I can't wait for the weekend. :(

[Jassie]

Ahhh this weekend.. well it'll start with a new Friday afternoon ritual where I justify sneaking off work at lunchtime and going to watch a film. Last week it was 'A Very Long Engagement' this week 'Closer', 'Sideways or 'Million Dollar Baby', want to see them all so it doesn't matter which.
After that, this weekend I shall be mostly hanging wallpaper Woohoo!

[Opal]

Well I've justed started a new semester, so I should spend the weekend doing a bit of work, just to make sure I understand what's been covered so far. In reality I'll spend the weekend playing Myst. I know its a very old game, but its new to me! I spent six hours staright in front of the computer playing it yesterday... :o

[Royal Rother]

I believe I have the 2nd Myst game (can't remember what it's called) - I can't get the hang of these games so have had no luck with it at all. It completely mystifies me (sorry!).

I might have to search it out (and I believe a child in the house may have destroyed the booklet!), but you're welcome to it if interested. Maybe there could be a multi-dimensional swap with Granny weatherwax and her "London" by Edward Rutherfurd (see Book swap forum)!

[Opal]

I believe I have the 2nd Myst game (can't remember what it's called) - I can't get the hang of these games so have had no luck with it at all. It completely mystifies me (sorry!).

I might have to search it out (and I believe a child in the house may have destroyed the booklet!), but you're welcome to it if interested. Maybe there could be a multi-dimensional swap with Granny weatherwax and her "London" by Edward Rutherfurd (see Book swap forum)!

Is the game you're referring to called "Riven"? I believe thats the sequel to Myst... either way, I'd be very interested! But first I have to get through the original... and no-one ever reads booklets anyway! :p

[Royal Rother]

Yes, I believe it is "Riven". I thought not reading the booklets might be where I was going wrong.

Anyway, I'll have a dig tonight and see if it is readily available, otherwise I'll call Mrs RR in, who knows where everything is anyway. I'll let you know....

[Claire]

I spent a few evenings trying to make sense of Myst a couple of years back. It stands out in my memory as being different from any other game - this really silent, empty, eery landscape where nothing made sense.

I loved it - but then got really, really stuck - couldn't get on any further, no matter what I tried - and then got fed up and stopped :rolleyes:

Good luck!

(Baldurs Gate is very good, instead, though :) )

[My Friend Jack]

Well, now that I look back, my weekend actually consisted of having an eye test; dicovering that the rear window of my car had been smashed whilst I was having the eye test; not going to the football; watching Sky Sports and not being too upset when when got knocked out of the cup; and on Sunday, the highlight was a long walk in the country with Mrs MFJ, the boys and the dog. And a really nice bit of roast lamb for dinner.

[My Friend Jack]

Well, this weekend will see a return to the norm for me - Reading v Plymouth on Saturday, catching up with Desperate Housewives and the Rotters Club (recorded last night), and probably a few bits and pices in the garden on Sunday if it's not too wet!

[Harriet]

Friday night I'm going to a gathering down byt the river, then sleeping over at a friend's. On Saturday I'll probably go shopping, and then I shall be visited by BigDogMonty. No plans for Sunday yet...

[Just RY]

Probably a little early to be getting excited for the weekend, but this one is going to be a little different from the norm for me . . . .

My weekend will start a day early, on Thursday evening, and will involve at least 3 long journeys.

The first and third trips are 7 or 8 hour flights between North Carolina and London.

The second journey, well this is ambitious, but it will involve me running 13.1 miles in the Reading half marathon on Sunday. Never done anything like that before, and I can confirm that I will be retiring from long distance running when (IF!) I cross the finish line.

Saturday will involve a trip to the Imperial War Museum, followed by what will hopefully be Reading's first win of the year at Loftus Road.

I will also consume traditional meals such as "proper" chips and of course at least one curry before returning to the sunny Carolinas on Tuesday. :)

[Pandora]

For me in Cairo the weekend is Friday and Saturday. I would go to the sea or at least to the swimming pool but these days we have the sand winds from the desert and therefore Cairo is under a pinkish could. I hope next weekend is better and I can treat myself to a wonderful thalassotherapy on the Red Sea.

[My Friend Jack]

Sorry you didn't get the first win of 2005, Just RY, but at least we moved back into the play-off zone!

How did the half-marathon go? I heard on the radio that the start was delayed. Hope you didn't suffer from the brass monkey effect!

[Mad Dog and Glory]

I feel so ashamed that RY travelled all the way from North Carolina to Loftus Road and that, when it came to it, I couldn't be bothered to go a mile and a half down the road to see the mighty Royals. Mind you, if I had (and my presence hadn't affected fate), it would have been my third 0-0 draw in a row.

Bring on the Hammers!

[Just RY]

Well, I am back now - and actually survived the half-marathon (managed to beat my target of 2.5 hours - without walking), and managed to stay awake during the football. Well chuffed with myself, on both counts!

The delayed start was a pain - but nowhere near the pain experienced about 9 miles in, which is nowhere near the joy experienced knowing that you are going to finish, and meet all of your goals. A fantastic experience, and one which has prompted me to consider reversing my decision of "retiring". :)


Imperial war museum is fantastic, strongly recommended.

[My Friend Jack]

This weekend it's a long walk with the dog, then Sunderland v Reading on Sky Sports, followed by a birthday party in George Green in the afternoon. That's Saturday.

Sunday will probably be spent looking at cars as mine is nearing the end of its lease and I need to decide what I'm going to drive next.

[Claire]

Good luck with the car shopping, MFJ. And enjoy your walk.

I'm feeling completely overwhelmed by the amount of tidying and shifting stuff we need to do this weekend. We have a new carpet being fitted on Tuesday - which is very good news as the old one is so threadbare that I've hoovered a hole in it, in one point - oooops! (It's also so old that it's in 1 yard wide strips, which have been sown together by hand How awful a job would that have been :eek:

But the practical upshot of a new carpet is that loads of stuff needs shifting out of the front room......and in order to do that, loads of stuff in our bedroom and the kids bedroom needs moving and tidying first.

We haven't even started yet and I already feel exhausted, just thinking about the hugeness of the task.

What's everyone else up to?

[Opal]

I've spent my weekend moving back to uni. Seems like I'm always moving these days... :(

But at least being back here means I get internet again and can spend lots time on the wonderful BGO! :D

[Opal]

I always liked this thread... reminds me that there are fun things to do out there other than studying! Anyway this weekend I have two exams, Friday and Saturday at 4.30. Not nice. :(

So what's everyone else doing? Lots of fun stuff I hope! Hopefully hearing about nice things to do will cheer me up a bit! Either that or it'll make me sad that I'm missing out. :p

[Claire]

4.30 on Saturday seems an unusually anti-social time for an exam!! Hope it goes well.

I've spent most of the week trying to fill in an application form and now I'm worn out by having to do all the Best Handwriting - so I've spent the morning catching up with BGO, as I've been rationning myself all week - and we're planning to go walking at Bolton Abbey tomorrow afternoon, (depending on the weather of course)

I've got Casablanca out from the library on video to watch this evening, after reading the dire threats to shoot anyone who hasn't seen it on the film thread! Is it a weepy? Will I need tissues, does anyone know!?

I rather like this thread too - it feels a bit odd to know so much about you people's taste in books, and yet so little about what else you do, so it's rather nice to get a glimpse of what else you all get up to.

Go on, let us know what you've been up to, people!

[lucyb]

sat am spent in reckless consumerism. Sat pm spent reading the Rough Guide to Ethical Shopping. In hindsight should have done those two the other way round. Sat evening to be spent in a pub celebrating my birthday. Hic.

[ChrisG]

I've got Casablanca out from the library on video to watch this evening, after reading the dire threats to shoot anyone who hasn't seen it on the film thread! Is it a weepy? Will I need tissues, does anyone know!?


You will probably need the tissues! But it is a great movie with lots of undertones running through the obvious action.

Several glorious, sunny and warm days here in NI (how often does that happen?) and I have been busily planting vegetables and trying to keep the slugs at bay. OK, have to admit that I haven't been completely virtuous - session in the pub was fit in there, too! :p

[Claire]

You will probably need the tissues! But it is a great movie with lots of undertones running through the obvious action.


You were right, I did! Not for the ending, oddly enough, but for the bit where everyone sang the French National Anthem, in the bar - that really filled me up with tears.

Wonderful, wonderful film

[Royal Rother]

Sunny Sunday = Barbecue!!

Off to The Windsor Farmshop shortly to get some lovely (if massively overpriced) sausages, burgers and chicken.

[Lady Lazarus]

Fiddlesticks! I am working today until 8.15pm :mad: However, I did have yesterday off, and I met up for lunch with 4 other pregnant ladies and then we all had a pedicure, which was gorgeous! Only 2 more weeks left at work and then I'm on annual leave + maternity leave yay :D I can feel a lot of summer reading coming on!

[Opal]

4.30 on Saturday seems an unusually anti-social time for an exam!! Hope it goes well.
Very antisocial time. :mad: I think the idea is that students can't cope with Saturday mornings. Which may be true....

Anyway, it went quite well which is good! Only 4 more exams left then 4 months off. I love my lazy life! :D

[Claire]

We're babysitting someone elses gerbils for the weekend :eek:

They're actually rather nice. I can feel myself weakening to the kids demands that we get our own. (Though I'd rather have a dog!)

[megustaleer]

I'm mostly pottering about, gardening, and putting 13 years worth of book titles from my 'reading diaries' onto a database. This evening we are driving up to Bury St Edmunds for the closing event of the Bury Festival...The Dubliners in the Abbey Gardens, followed by fireworks.

Elder son flew in with family on Friday night, they are at the seaside today, but return to us tonight, so I will spend tomorrow clucking over my grandsons, one aged 3yrs and one aged 6mths.

[BrumB]

Went to the Birmingham Bookcrossing Meetup at Hudson's Coffee Shop in Birmingham yesterday. People had travelled from as far away as Kent (well, one person) and Oxford as well as locals. It was interesting to meet everyone and to exchange books. Hudson's have let Bookcrossing open a bookshelf at the back of the coffee house so if anyone is interested it is a good place to find free books - just don't take the ones that are part of the decor - it does get a bit confusing but the shelf is clearly marked. You don't have to be a member of Bookxing to take books. Also the food there is yummy.

[Harriet]

Spent yesterday at a French shopping centre, supposedly the biggest in France, btu I doubt it 'cos it wasn't that huge...and then today on a 10 hour coach journey back from Fountainbleau (argh I've been there a week and still can't remember how to spell it)...watching the weather get gradually worse as we moved clsoer and closer to England....

[Opal]

I've been relaxing and doing not much... til this afternoon when I went to see Star Wars. I loved it!!! Best of the new trilogy by far! :D

[excalibur]

Attended a bowls open day today, which naturally, I felt obliged to participate in. Started off on the wrong foot, in more means than one, when I was roundly chastised by the club manager for caught inadvertently (I cannot emphasize this point enough) wearing SHOCK HORROR :eek: spikes on the Bowling Green. Reckless. Moi? Was handed a sincere pardon and made a triumphant reappearance 25 minutes later complete with ultra-cheesy tiger-striped slippers. I felt I played suitably well, considering it was my first time (according to the club manager I was, from that time forward, given the nickname of a ‘virgin on the greens,’ this title being later corrupted to form the condensed ‘virgin queen' [or to be more truthful to my true gender, king] This all before being instantly embarrassed by jokily returning: ‘Where?’)

The day however, to the consternation of all concerned, did not pass completely without further incident. When, delivering my final bowl of a closely fought game, a squirrel scampered unexpectedly onto the playing area, ultimately disrupting the path of my winning bowl since the squirrel had left behind an acorn as an ironic souvenir. I naturally was furious :mad: and demanded that the game be replayed, only to be handed a pert ‘that’s bowls,’ by the clubs' manager, who was convinced by now that I was ‘jinxed’ and that any return on my part onto the greens in the foreseeable future may result in the clubs' fortunes becoming permanently tarnished.

Anyway that has been my rather eventful weekend thus far. With my bowling career indefinitely languishing in the dreary doldrums, what sort of fish is everyone else frying?

[megustaleer]

Today has been spent, like last weekend and the intervening week, amusing my little grandson (who gets up at 6.30am), and cuddling his baby brother. That is between mammoth cooking and clearing up sessions and trips to the supermarket to replenish the larder.
There's a mighty difference between feeding 2people one cooked evening meal a day and a 'thrown-together' lunch, and cooking twice a day for five...one of whom is breast-feeding and is ravenous!

Tomorrow the visitors are off for Sunday lunch with the other Grandparents, and my husband is out at his sailing club all day. I am planning to catch up on some sleep!

[Dr. Strangelove]

Tomorrow I have tonnes of homework I need to do otherwise I am in deep trouble. Never do what you can put off until tomorrow. I KNEW I shouldn't have made that my motto.

[Claire]

Just come back from fantastic weekend camping in the Lake District - the quieter bit, right at the bottom. Feeling very mellow at the moment :cool:

[megustaleer]

My grandchildren are flying home to Vienna as I type, taking their parents with them.

The house feels very empty. :(

[Claire]

Sounds like you had a lovely time with them visiting.

Have they eaten every scrap of food in the house, and spread toys and chaos everywhere? That's what we usually do when we descend on grandparents ;) But - still they seem really keen to see us - Very odd!

[megustaleer]

Have they...... spread toys and chaos everywhere?
Still finding toys and books in odd places, but am in no hurry to remove all traces. We won't be seeing them again until the end of July.

Spent today in the garden, chiselling weeds out of the rock-hard ground, to the accompanyment of 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind on an unabridged audio-cassette.
Will do the same tomorrow if it isn't raining.

And even if it is raining I think I need to get the hosepipe out for the flowerpots, the clematis and the veggies.

[My Friend Jack]

There's a mighty difference between feeding 2people one cooked evening meal a day and a 'thrown-together' lunch, and cooking twice a day for five...one of whom is breast-feeding and is ravenous!


Sorry... I have to ask... how do you cook for someone who is breast-feeding? ;)

[Deinonychus]

I'm not sure I want to hear the answer to that...

[megustaleer]

Sorry... I have to ask... how do you cook for someone who is breast-feeding? ;)

The same as you do for someone who isn't breastfeeding, only more often and in larger quantities :D

I refer to the feeder, not the fed. :p

[My Friend Jack]

FOTFPML!!! Sorry, I misread completely! As a father of 4, I was thinking that I had somehow managed to miss out on something vital, for which my daughters and sons would never forgive me...

[BrumB]

Spent yesterday, in the baking sun, on the Bookcrossing stall at Mozfest (Moseley Festival in Birmingham) giving away free books. We must have given away more than 250 (sorry, I'm useless with numbers so don't hold me to that - might have been more or less). Weird experience. People are suspicious of anything free and in the end we found they were happier taking books if we said the condition was that they should register them on the internet and pass them on when they had read them. This, of course, is what every Bookcrosser would want but not essential. Reactions varied from - oh, trying to get rid of all your rubbish to what a great idea - mostly the latter. Wasn't surprised when a copy of Ulysess was taken but who wants out of date management books - they went all the same. We are now waiting to see how many of those books actually got registered.

Felt rather uncomfortably evangelical at times so was happy to hand out Bill's eloquent, witty and artistic poster for BGO! This was very well received and went to a wide variety of recipients. Again it will be interesting to see if there is any response.

Great day! Don't know how to do links but if anyone is interested the site is
Bookcrossing.com.

[Deinonychus]

We must have given away more than 250 (sorry, I'm useless with numbers so don't hold me to that - might have been more or less).

It would really help if you could get these things right, you know.

[BrumB]

Oh, okay then! I've checked with the authorities and it was actually more than 500. Shows how much I know.

[Harriet]

Well I spent yesterday dying of heat exhaustion at a Green Day gig in Milton Keynes and looks like I'm going to be spending today recovering.

[megustaleer]

I spent a lot of time and money yesterday at the "Gardeners' World Live' show at the NEC. (where, last year, I released Alan Titchmarsh's 'Mr McGregor' into the wild - nothing heard of it since)

Early this morning I spent a couple of hours in the garden yanking up assorted weeds from beds and pots, before retreating into the house behind closed double glazing and curtains to escape from the heat.

In a few more hours it will be cool enough to go out again to plant my new acquisitions.

[Obskua]

Well, I had a really good (if hot) day on Saturday. Left home half six to go to London, where I had an appointment to photograph a steam train. Complete success, though I think I was getting through more water than she was ! Never drunk so much of it in my life.

Then trolled off to Regent's Park, where there was (and still is, for the next mionth) a viewing point to see the London Peregrine Falcons, as featured in Springwatch. Spent the afternoon there, getting superb views and helping the RSPB team field questions from Joe (and Joanna, to say nothing of Jo-let) Public, most of whom were suitably amazed.

Reasonable journey home, where I dropped the kitchen window blind into the curry.

Spent today steaming, drinking water and recovering !

[deirdreofthesorrows]

Spent the weekend dodging thunderstorms, stiflingly (?that a word?) hot and humid :mad: Was to be out on motorcycle, but sadly I have come to the age where wet is not a pleasure. On a much brighter note, lived vicariously, ( for about 90 seconds) the Sunday night Greenday concert via my daughters mobile, I was there in spirit. such is life.

[My Friend Jack]

Saturday was great. Took my 2 grown-up daughters plus 6yo son to Wookey Hole Caves in Somerset.

Sunday, being Fathers' Day, I was waited on hand and foot. Well, I got brought a cup of tea in bed. And I got the new British Hit Singles and a pair of cufflinks made from 6d pieces from the year I was born.

[megustaleer]

You must all have been busy doing something, 'cos you weren't here! Tell me all about it.

I've been stuck indoors with a bad knee, and could have done with the company!!

[Harriet]

Well yesterday I was in Italy, drove up a mountain that had a monestry on the top somewhere near Naples....then got a plane home, it took 2 and a half hours then I was home, with no jet-lag!!! :D:D:D I've decided I LOVE European travel. Much better than like an 8 hour flight and then crippling jet-lag. And today I've just been doing.....nothing! Oh it's a hard life...

[Opal]

Well yesterday I was stuck working, whilst feeling the after-effects of a very good night out on Friday. Being stuck in a cave all day might not seem like the best place to be, but the cold, dark, quietness can be calming and reduce the effects of a hangover. Or so I'm told... :p

[David]

Well yesterday I was stuck working, whilst feeling the after-effects of a very good night out on Friday. Being stuck in a cave all day might not seem like the best place to be, but the cold, dark, quietness can be calming and reduce the effects of a hangover.
You're a professional pot-holer then, Opal? Sorry to hear you were stuck. One of those tight passages?
;)

[Opal]

You're a professional pot-holer then, Opal? Sorry to hear you were stuck. One of those tight passages?
;)
Ooooh if only! I can imagine that being a professional pot-holer would be far more fun than many other jobs including mine! :p

[My Friend Jack]

If I remember rightly, Opal is a tour guide for the rich and famous - sorry - wich and famous.

[Opal]

If I remember rightly, Opal is a tour guide for the rich and famous - sorry - wich and famous.
Just the one famous person I'm afraid, and it won't be my job for much longer thankfully! Less than a month and I can go back to the (comparative) civilisation of university! :D

[Grammath]

I was up at an absurdly early hour on Sunday morning to hop on a Slezayjet flight to Amsterdam for a two day break in the company of fellow BGO types Deinonychus, Mad Dog & Glory and Alfred E Neuman.

[megustaleer]

I was up at an absurdly early hour on Sunday morning to hop on a Slezayjet flight to Amsterdam for a two day break in the company of fellow BGO types Deinonychus, Mad Dog & Glory and Alfred E Neuman.
I won't ask... ;) ;) :eek: :D

[Deinonychus]

I shouldn't. (At least anyone who's read the 'Posters' thread will see that we've got our story straight...)

[lucyb]

Just come back from 2 days in Dublin - aren't we a cosmopolitan lot.

[megustaleer]

I spent the whole of yesterday sat in front of the computer, with a couple of forays to the telephone, emailing, instant messaging and 'phoning my computer programmer son in Vienna, trying to sort out a bug in my eMac that is (among other things) preventing me using my nice new printer.

I'm back here now, but am planning to give up and call in a professional. I need to go and weed the garden, rain is forcast for in the week.

[My Friend Jack]

This weekend involved: making cakes with my sons, going to football (top of the Championship!), painting fences, summerhouse, shed and cabin.

[Deinonychus]

I'm also celebrating 'top of the Premiership' at the moment - and being top of my fantasy league, to boot. Neither of which will last, I'm sure.

5-0 for your boys, eh? Shame MD&G missed it...

[megustaleer]

I've spent this weekend in the kichen!
The plan was only for slicing a few pounds of red/yellow peppers, bought cheap from the market, cooking them with onions and packing them in tubs for the freezer.

However, a neighbour gave me 3 large quinces on Friday. so yesterday, after dealing with the peppers I picked up an equivalent weight of windfall Bramleys from the garden, and peeled and chopped them with the quinces, then cooked them down to a pulp.
I like the texture of fruit butters and cheeses, and the next step in making some was to push the pulp through a fine seive. Not too bad with the apples, as Bramleys cook down to a froth, but the quinces were hard work. I also cooked some apple/quince mix for pie filling. I went to bed with aching hands.

Today I added the sugar, and cooked the resulting mixture down to a thick consistency, and packed it into jars, then made pastry, and used the rest of the cooked apple/quince to make two pies.

In the meantime, another neighbour gave us 4 brace of woodpigeon. I managed to pluck 4 birds, before my hands became too painful, and they are now in the fridge waiting to be casseroled. The remaining 4 birds will be plucked tomorrow, if my hands have recovered.

I'm going away next weekend!

[David]

...my hands became too painful, and they are now in the fridge waiting to be casseroled.
Waste not want not! :D

Sorry to hear of the cooking injuries. I hope it all tastes good after all that! You make me feel thoroughly guilty for my stick-it-in-the-microwave attitude to food preparation. It all sounds gloriously Darling Buds of May on your end, Megustaleer!

Hope you're going somewhere pleasant next weekend. Perfick!
:)

[Opal]

I had a great weekend! It was my birthday yesterday, so I spent it making cake and playing with my presents! :D

The cake was.... not a huge success to start with. I enlisted the help of my boyfriend, who is usually quite good at this kind of thing. We made lots of chocolate cake mixture (too much really) and filled up two cake tins with it. Left them in the oven for half an hour only to come back to find that they'd kind of overflowed and filled the bottom of the oven with cake-goo. Thinking about it we probably shouldn't have filled the cake tins to the top. :o Anyway, that took a long time to clean up, but the resulting cake was good, so we stuck the cakes together with chocolate buttercream, decorated them with gooey chocolate icing and M&M's, and left them to cool. The result was something like death-by-chocolate-cake. (I had some for breakfast this morning :D)

And for my playing with my presents.... well my sister got me Lego. Not just any Lego, but Technic Mars Rover Lego. I've been at it near constantly all day today and am less than halfway through the instruction book, so it's gonna take me a while to do I think! I can't let it beat me though - it says it's suitable for ages 10+ on the box!!!

[David]

Belated happy birthday, Opal! I hope the Technics Mars Lego Rover isn't based on Beagle technology, otherwise you might have a problem. Keep an eye on it otherwise it could well disappear without a trace!

Yet again I'm shamed by avid cooks! Fortunately my friends are all pretty mediocre too. At an evening meal some years back with a friend we all sat at the kitchen table as he came to the final stages of the much-vaunted chocolate puddle cake. Taking it out of the oven he hadn't taken much care with the tea-towel over his hands. Scalding heat incinerating his finger, he released the tin, which tipped every last drop of mixture all over the floor, thereby creating a chocolate pu... - well, you saw where that was going already, didn't you!

Maybe I'm better off as Mr Microwave after all!

[megustaleer]

Originally Posted by megustaleer
...my hands became too painful, and they are now in the fridge waiting to be casseroled.Waste not want not!
:D :D :D

[My Friend Jack]

It was my birthday at the weekend as well. I now have half a dozen new books on my TBR pile, several CDs on my TBLT pile and (yippee!) the whole of Twin Peaks Season 2 to watch.

Oh, and we beat Sheffield United.

[megustaleer]

Belated Birthday Greetings tp Opal and MFJ

[Flingo]

Happy buffdy to youuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Happy buffdy to youuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Happy buffdy, Opal and MFjaaaaaay!
Happy buffdy to ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

[lucyb]

It's a bit late, but Harpy Bifdie to you both from me too.

My weekend starts today... I've got the house to myself (plus mutt), fresh bread, pate, nice cheese, the tv remote is mine (allll mine, bwah ha ha ha ha!) I don't go back to work until Tuesday and my hardest decision over the next few days is going to be whether I take the dog for a walk in the morning or the afternoon. Oh, and what DVD to hire (Chick Flicks here I come - I might even rent The Sound of Music...) Bliss.

[Deinonychus]

So chicks really do watch chick flicks, eh?

God, I wonder whether I really watch action adventures and don't even realise it..?

[lucyb]

So chicks really do watch chick flicks, eh?



Only when no-one else is watching... way back in the distant past, when I was staying in Halls of Residence as a student, one of the girls had brought a copy of The Sound of Music away with here. Invitations to the screening were issued clandestinely. So much so that the lads were convinced we were watching something very naughty and gatecrashed - I'm not sure who was most embarrassed.

[My Friend Jack]

Only just caught up with this thread - thank you!

[Deinonychus]

'Sound of Music' is considered a 'chick flick'??

[Flingo]

I wouldn't have said it was a chick flick - I thought musicals were associated with gay guys rather than girls! I would class something that had a pink cover as a chick flick....(see also comments on the Announcements and Tips board about changing the background of BGO to pink.....)!

[megustaleer]

We spent the weekend with old friends in E Suffolk. Hadn't seen them for 4 years, and both we and they had married off a child, and acquired a new grandchild in the meantime, so we had plenty to talk about.

The weather was great all weekend, except for a short period on Saturday afternoon when it clouded over and got a bit misty...just when we went up to the golf course at Seaford to look at the view of the Seven Sisters. I had to take their word that there were seven, I couldn't see that many.

They entertained us with a 'cook-your-own' meal on Saturday night, Great fun, and now I am trying to find a 'raclette', to do the same when we have friends/family visiting.

On the way back we passed a steep hill SE of Lewes which seems to be a popular spot for hang-gliders. As we went past there were 10 hang gliders all in the air at the same time, swooping around each other. Quite impressive.

I had almost finished reading 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' on Friday night, and I was so keen to get to the end that I risked making myself travel-sick by reading it in the car on the way down.
It was worth the risk! The last but one chapter comes as quite a shock. I will post a thread on it, when I have thought about it a bit longer.

[excalibur]

So much so that the lads were convinced we were watching something very naughty and gatecrashed - I'm not sure who was most embarrassed.
You mean, as a Guardian reader would come to understand the term.....?

[Bill]

You mean, as a Guardian reader would come to understand the term.....?

I'm a Guardian reader and I'm :confused: :confused:

[David]

We spent the weekend with old friends in E Suffolk.

I think it might have been in East Sussex, unless Seaford and Lewes have been relocated under EU quotas for the number of towns allowed in any one county.

Mind you, I wouldn't be surprised, y'know! ;)

Glad you had a good time!

:)

[lucyb]

I'm a Guardian reader and I'm :confused: :confused:

I'm not and I haven't clue - explanations please Excalibur!

[megustaleer]

I think it might have been in East Sussex, unless Seaford and Lewes have been relocated under EU quotas for the number of towns allowed in any one county.:)

I was reading, so I didn't notice if we turned left or right at the motorway!

[lucyb]

Oh, my, a long weekend, expected visitors have just cancelled and I've got nothing to do but curl up and read a book......it just doesn't get any better than this..... ;)

[Flingo]

Very jealous, Lucyb. A long weekend....the subject of my dreams!

[Momo]

I know we had a thread about what we were going to do the next weekend (or what we did the previous one). Since I am going away for a couple of days, I thought this is the right time to start it again.
Anyway, we are leaving for Leipzig again where my father is in hospital (those of you who have been around know this long story). He has finally received his new hip on Thursday and the boys have the week off.
So, have a nice time here and "see" you all again soon.

[Flingo]

That's great news about your dad, Momo! Hopefully he will be truly back on his feet soon.

Have a nice weekend, and hopefully you will come back to a much filled in BGO!

[Jen]

Have a good trip Momo, hope your Dad is up and well soon.

I'm off to London on Sunday for my long-awaited Rufus Wainwright concert - so excited!!! :love:

[megustaleer]

Pleased to hear that your Dad now has his new hip, Momo. I hope the healing/physio etc all goes well. have a good weekend.

Nothing special planned chez moi for this weekend, but we went to visit an old friend last Saturday, which was very pleasant; especially as we hadn't managed to get together for about 16 months.
Next weekend we are anticipating a visit from both sons and their respective partners, plus both our grandsons. For Sunday lunch.

[Opal]

This was the first thread on the ABB forum, and as such even thoguh it's lost a lot of posts it deserves to be revived! Well I think so anyway... :D

I spent last night at one of those "School Disco" nights, which was great fun if a little weird given that the people I was out with are all teachers now... Today I will be in bed all day working, and tomorrow my mum is coming to visit me! Yay!

[Minxminnie]

I like this thread too.

This weekend I will mostly be ... trying to get my post count up on BGO!
I joined just after the backup, so I look like a new kid on the block. Shouldn't matter, but I'm shallow that way.
I'm also going out for a Mexican meal with an old friend, sadly probably to talk shop.

[David]

Today I will be in bed all day working...
http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/expressive/scratchchin.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)

[Opal]

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/expressive/scratchchin.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)
Ok, that was badly phrased. I'll be in bed all day doing lesson plans on my laptop! :p

[David]

I'll be in bed all day doing lesson plans on my laptop! :p
Ahhh, all is clear! ;)

[Jen]

I'll be in bed all day doing lesson plans on my laptop! :p
You watch your back and posture - slapped wrists from your friendly local osteopath!

[Flingo]

Maybe someone could merge our mini new thread (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=2022) with this one?

Minxminnie - like the new capitalisation of your rejoined name! ;)

[Minxminnie]

Minxminnie - like the new capitalisation of your rejoined name! ;)

:o Yes, the old one was a constant embarassment after someone pointed it out to me!

[megustaleer]

Maybe someone could merge our mini new thread (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=2022) with this one?Done!
^*^*^*^*^*

I think you all know what I've spent my weekend doing!

I did manage a couple of hours in the garden yesterday, lured out by the sun.
I dug up some huge clumps of snowdrops from the land we have sold, to give to a neighbour who said she will miss seeing them from their upstairs windows. Then cut all last year's manky leaves off the hellebores (Lenten Roses), to reveal this year's flowers, and found a temporary home for some newly delivered gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes, to await the arrival of the damson and crabapple tres that are going in the same bed.

Then back to the computer :rolleyes:

It was a struggle to stay awake through last night's showing of 'Vera Drake', not having had a little zizz in the afternoon, but I made it.
bleary eyes :cool:

[Momo]

Hey, guys.
Wow, you've all done a lot of work while I was away. Don't worry, I'm back and will try to get as much back as possible, as well. And start new threads!
Thanks for all the good wishes for my dad. He is very well. Now that they finally put in a new hip and all that needs to happen is that he gets back on his feet (which depends mainly on him), he is in high spirits and trying to exercise as much as possible. He might be able to come home at the beginning of the next month, participate in my brother's silver wedding and then go to another place where he will learn to get on his feet again. He is very happy. So is my mum because she can go home, too.

[David]

I'm glad to hear all's going so well with your father, Momo. I know it's a long process with hip replacements but it's good to know the worst is over and that he has a happy family event to look forward to.

[Momo]

Thank you, David. Apparently, a lot of hip replacements seem to go very well but the hospital my father was in screwed up from the beginning. They had to operate on him twice because they "didn't know his bones were so small" :rolleyes: and then he caught bacteria. That's what held up everything. He's been in hospital since last year Easter (with two breaks of two and four weeks). So, despite him being a positive person, he really would like to go home again. Understandable, right?

[David]

He's been in hospital since last year Easter...
Gosh, nearly a year in hospital?! Anyone would feel down about that. I've had relatives who experienced incompetent joint replacements (knees) and once these things go wrong it's an unhappy process, I know. I'm sure he'll feel just wonderful to get home again.

[Momo]

I spent half my weekend in bed with a terrible migraine.
Anyone who had a nicer one?

[Hazel]

I spent all my weekend at mu computer doing an essay on Northanger Abbey - pretty much as good a weekend as yours Momo!

Hope the migraine is better :)

[Barblue]

I spent half my weekend in bed with a terrible migraine.
Anyone who had a nicer one?
I can't ever remember having a nice migraine. Hope yours is better now - mine ususally last three days.

My weekend consisted of gardening on Saturday and watching footie on the box on Sunday and seeing Rovers beat Bolton 2-1 (and we converted two penalties too :D )

[MarkC]

My weekend featured a trip to Newport to collect some old Rostyle wheels to go on one of my Imps, a game of skittles on Saturday evening for the first time in over 10 years and watching some old episodes of the X-files on DVD.

I was going to get an estate agent round to give me a valuation on my house as I'm looking for something smaller but with about five garages :rolleyes: . In the end opted for a lie in instead of venturing out and finding one :p

[David]

...a game of skittles on Saturday evening for the first time in over 10 years and watching some old episodes of the X-files on DVD.
It's nine years since I last played pub skittles, so I guess I'm due a revival in 2008! Channel-hopping with glee around my new myriad of Sky channels last week I came across repeats of Season 1 of The X-Files (God, you forget that Scully looks like she'd just left school!) and it began to tempt me to run through the DVDs again. It won't be long before I give in!

I'm looking for something smaller but with about five garages
Good luck with that! ;)

[Momo]

Hope the migraine is better :)Thanks, Hazel, this is the first day in a week where I didn't wake up with a huge headache. So, I'm glad this is a better day. Hope your Northanger Abbey essay works out well.

[megustaleer]

Did a little in the garden, a little in the house, went out for lunch on Saturday, and searched Google for lost BGO threads in between times, but spent most of the weekend test-driving my new adjustable bed.

The massage facility will take some time to get used to, but it's great for reading...will have to alter the lighting a bit, but I can get really comfy with a book.

I did warn Husband that I might never get out of it again! :D

[katrina]

I want one of them, a bed that props u up to read, I have to pile all the pillows up but they end up falling through the headboard because its just a few pieces of iron in an elaborate design.
I went to see my nan in hospital, spent a few days at my mums and then marked essays yesterday afternoon, so nothing excitin g or inspiring unfortunatley.

[brightphoebus]

Thanks, Hazel, this is the first day in a week where I didn't wake up with a huge headache. So, I'm glad this is a better day. :flowers: I'm glad it's all over for now, Momo. It must be grim never knowing when you're going to get struck down. My Dad suffered badly from migrane all through my childhood and I hated seeing him holding his head in his hands for hours on end, eyes closed in pain.

[Momo]

My Dad suffered badly from migrane all through my childhood and I hated seeing him holding his head in his hands for hours on end, eyes closed in pain.That's what I hate doing to my children because they suffer with me. I try not to show it too much but at times it's unavoidable.

[Jen]

Migraine is horrible. Only suffered one once, lucky me, but it's nothing at all like a headache. I can recall going to a friend's house once with another friend. Friend 2 asked Friend 1 where her mother was. 'Upstairs', she was told. 'Good, best place for her, she's nothing but trouble' said my friend with her quirky sense of humour. She was mortified to be told that it was day three of an ongoing migraine... :o

[Momo]

Migraine is horrible. Only suffered one once, lucky me, but it's nothing at all like a headache. I can recall going to a friend's house once with another friend. Friend 2 asked Friend 1 where her mother was. 'Upstairs', she was told. 'Good, best place for her, she's nothing but trouble' said my friend with her quirky sense of humour. She was mortified to be told that it was day three of an ongoing migraine... :oWell, if you ever suffered from it you will know that they get worse every day until they are non-bearable any more. I've had my fair share of them, so I know why she was horrified.

[Momo]

Tomorrow we are going to visit my dad. Well, not just that, it's my brother's silver wedding anniversary and they tend to have huge balls for that. So, this is the occasion why we have to get all dressed up and sit around all night with hundreds of strangers (except for some relatives) who drink too much wine. As you can see, I loooove those kind of parties. :D

[Jen]

it's my brother's silver wedding anniversary and they tend to have huge balls for that.
I'm saying nothing...

[Barblue]

Tomorrow we are going to visit my dad. Well, not just that, it's my brother's silver wedding anniversary and they tend to have huge balls for that. So, this is the occasion why we have to get all dressed up and sit around all night with hundreds of strangers (except for some relatives) who drink too much wine. As you can see, I loooove those kind of parties. :D
Migraine last weekend, anniversary ball this weekend - you don't seem to be having much joy Momo. Good luck is the best I can say.

I'm hoping to see Rovers beat Man City in the 6th round of the F.A. Cup on Sunday - but even though we are doing well I'm not holding my breath. But on Saturday I'm going to a Fairtrade Fair in town, which might be interesting.

[Momo]

Migraine last weekend, anniversary ball this weekend - you don't seem to be having much joy Momo. Good luck is the best I can say.Thanks, sounds like you are going to have more fun (not that I'd enjoy a football match ;) ). The Fairtrade Fair sounds very interesting. Tell us all about it later on.

[brightphoebus]

So, this is the occasion why we have to get all dressed up and sit around all night with hundreds of strangers (except for some relatives) who drink too much wine. As you can see, I loooove those kind of parties. :DMomo, don't you find when you are trapped at a party you LONG to be at home reading your latest book :banghead: ?

[Momo]

Momo, don't you find when you are trapped at a party you LONG to be at home reading your latest book :banghead: ?Oh, brightphoebus. How well you understand my wishes! (Maybe I should sneak in my book and start reading it when the music gets too loud to talk to each other.
;) )

[MarkC]

I'm having an estate agent round tomorrow morning to give me a valuation on my house and on Sunday afternoon I have an Association of South West motor clubs council meeting, for which I am the Bristol MC delegate. There may be a small fracas as we have started using a venue in Weston-super-mare, to the displeasure of some people in Weston-super-mare Motor Club :naughty:.

Maybe I should sneak in my book and start reading it when the music gets too loud to talk to each other.
I have been known to take a book to parties and sneak out to the kitchen to read it if things get too noisy / too dull or I hardly know anyone :rolleyes:

[Momo]

I have been known to take a book to parties and sneak out to the kitchen to read it if things get too noisy / too dull or I hardly know anyone :rolleyes:See, that's what I love about this site. No matter how weird you may seem to the rest of the world, there is bound to be someone here who has the same inclinations. http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/innocent/innocent0003.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)I'm having an estate agent round tomorrow morning to give me a valuation on my house and on Sunday afternoon I have an Association of South West motor clubs council meeting, for which I am the Bristol MC delegate. There may be a small fracas as we have started using a venue in Weston-super-mare, to the displeasure of some people in Weston-super-mare Motor Club :naughty:I wish you good luck with both those events!http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/transport/steeringwheel.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)

[Hazel]

I am going to have the dullest weekend ever. Need to go shopping tomorrow for my sis-in-law's birthday present, which I am not remotely interested in getting, and then a mother's day pressie for my mum. Then Sunday, my parents are popping round for dinner, they usually arrive at 2ish so I will have to listen to their inane babble about who in the deaf club is doing what. And how they just can't find a nice enough bungalow to move in to. On top of that, my Amazon rental allowance has been used up for the month - so I'll have nothing new to watch. Mind you, hubby bought the complete Fawlty Towers on DVD - might watch that. Maybe I could swing a book shop trip in there somehow.

[megustaleer]

Then Sunday, my parents are popping round for dinner, they usually arrive at 2ish so I will have to listen to their inane babble about who in the deaf club is doing what. And how they just can't find a nice enough bungalow to move in to. I'm sure our kids talk about us like that, too. What a shame we lead such dull, uninteresting lives that we even bore our families to tears.

[Hazel]

I'm sure our kids talk about us like that, too. What a shame we lead such dull, uninteresting lives that we even bore our families to tears.

Rubbish. My parents speak about the same 3 topics every time we meet, and have done for about 10 years. This isn't a case of old vs new, or parents vs children - it is a case that my parents literally do not have any other topics of conversation and are completely alienated from their children, and unfortunately that has a lot to do with the fact that they are deaf and are contained in a very small world. Maybe I should be more tolerant of them but there is only so many times I can be actively involved in a conservation about the private lives of people in the deaf club that I don't even know.

[Claire]

Due to various family members having other engagements, I'll be spending tomorrow morning with just my son, who is seven. I'm not sure what we'll do yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. He tends to get drowned out by his noisier, bossier younger sister when the whole family are together, so it's a real treat to have him all to myself for a few hours. :arms:

Other than that, I need to chop 700 words out of an essay on whether St Paul was a rotton, old sexist or not, so that I can get it down to the upper limit of the word count. (Would arbitrarily chopping out every 8th word help the readability......yes, possibly.)

I also need to write a sermon, so I can be video-taped delivering it next Wednesday, for an assessment. Perhaps I could just recycle all the words I chop out of the essay. :naughty:

[Hazel]

Other than that, I need to chop 700 words out of an essay on whether St Paul was a rotton, old sexist or not, so that I can get it down to the upper limit of the word count. (Would arbitrarily chopping out every 8th word help the readability......yes, possibly.)


I had to do that last week Claire, a 1000 word essay ran to 1712 words. I went for a logical approach of cutting at least one word per sentence. It got me down to 1248 which I cheekily submitted. Good luck!

[Jen]

We used to get penalised for going over the allocated word-count! I think there was a 10% leeway. Very tough.

I've got the joys of listening to my mother-in-law talking about her friends and neighbours (who I've never met) next weekend. She's really talking to my husband, of course, but he can't remember any of these people and cares even less, so I do the polite thing and nod a lot. Like Hazel, I firmly believe that this is an individual thing, not anything to do with age/family/familiarity.

[Hazel]

We used to get penalised for going over the allocated word-count! I think there was a 10% leeway. Very tough.


We have that too, but I habitually add the 10% on at the very beginning of doing an essay then expect to go over a further 10%! Who would guess that I tend to run at the mouth?

[Momo]

No, I agree. It is so difficult to listen to people rambling on about someone you have never met. My mother-in-law loves to do that. My husband doesn't know any of these people, I grew up more than 500 miles away, so how on earth should I know them. But she has no other topics - other than recipes. Every time we visit her she mentions a "new" recipe that we introduced to her 15 years ago. And every time it is completely new to her that we even talked about it in between. You would think she remembers the tenth time - but no! It's the same with other stories. She tells us the same childhood stories (or early marriage stories) every time. Even the children know them by heart by now. :rolleyes:

[Hazel]

Glad to know I am not the only one! :)

[MarkC]

Gosh listening to you all I think I'm quite fortunate, I only get nagged about my housework (or more precisely that I hardly do any) and spend my time debunking myths pedalled by their newspaper of choice. :naughty:

[Hazel]

spend my time debunking myths pedalled by their newspaper of choice. :naughty:

That sounds familiar. My parents are avid Sun readers. :mad:

[megustaleer]

And you don't think you're going to turn into the boring old farts of a quarter century hence?

[Hazel]

And you don't think you're going to turn into the boring old farts of a quarter century hence?

Yes, I probably will, if not already. But I hope I won't inflict it anyone. ;)

[Claire]

We used to get penalised for going over the allocated word-count! I think there was a 10% leeway. Very tough.


Yes, we do too. The theoretical limit is 3000, so I have to get down from about 4,000 to somewhere close to 3300. The problem is, since I finished the first draft, I keep thinking of more things I want to say, rather than things to cut out :rolleyes:

I need to summon up some ruthlessness, I think.

[Jen]

I need to summon up some ruthlessness, I think.
Leave it for a while, go back, read it again all the way thorough and then edit it. Amazing how much tighter you can get.

[Minxminnie]

Yep, my mum drives me mad too. I also think it's a personality thing, not age - my dad has interesting conversation, despite being retired and having very different interests to me. My mum, on the other hand, just tells me about folk at her work and how wonderful her boss thinks she is. When I was preparing for our school inspection, I was trying to tell her what a big deal it was for me, and she just interrupted me with a story about how she had to check on the plants in the foyer because the MD was coming for a meeting. Rather than get annoyed, I just left.
She also never notices when she's boring somebody. It's become a running joke with my friends who still live near her. But it can be unpleasant for people who are too polite to interrupt her, as my friends generally are!

[Claire]

Leave it for a while, go back, read it again all the way thorough and then edit it. Amazing how much tighter you can get.

That's what I have done - I finished writing it about 10 days ago!

[Jen]

That's what I have done - I finished writing it about 10 days ago!
Ah...

[Hazel]

My mum, on the other hand, just tells me about folk at her work and how wonderful her boss thinks she is. When I was preparing for our school inspection, I was trying to tell her what a big deal it was for me, and she just interrupted me with a story about how she had to check on the plants in the foyer because the MD was coming for a meeting.

Oh my god, your mum is my dad! Once he actually compared my sister's 10 year at university to a SVQ he did in computing through his work.

[Hazel]

I fear I may have inadvertedly annoyed Meg with my comments about my parents if so, then I apologise :flowers:. But to set the record straight - a lot of my parents' behaviour is unacceptable and they have already driven my sister away, who now sees them at Christmas time only, so my complaint about their inane babble is miniscule in comparison. Yes, I love them dearly and make dinner for them once a week, but I don't have to like everything about them. I used to enjoy reading the limerick game ;) .

[Jen]

Oh my god, your mum is my dad! Once he actually compared my sister's 10 year at university to a SVQ he did in computing through his work.
I think a lot of this sort of thing goes on. People (not just parents) try to understand something by relating it to something that they have experienced and by doing so can often show a total lack of empathy.

It's not the same, but when I was studying for my osteopathy degree (and working 3.5 days a week) a friend was 'inspired' by my efforts to change her own career. Her choice? An NVQ in Floristry and Balloon Modelling. Yeah, that's just the same. Not that I've been bearing a grudge all these years. ;)

[David]

Her choice? An NVQ in Floristry and Balloon Modelling. Yeah, that's just the same.
Oh I don't know - she twists balloons into all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes you wouldn't think were possible, and then as an osteopath you...


:D ;)

No, I'm only joking, and doubtless revealing a crass ignorance about osteopathy.

Actually, that's an odd combination, isn't it? Floristry and balloon modelling? I shouldn't think there's much call for balloon poodles to be included with wreaths...

(Doubtless I'm also revealing a crass ignorance about NVQs in Floristry and Balloon Modelling...)

[brightphoebus]

I think a lot of this sort of thing goes on. People (not just parents) try to understand something by relating it to something that they have experienced and by doing so can often show a total lack of empathy.
My older brother is the opposite. He questions EVERYTHING I tell him. If he hasn't experienced it himself then he does not believe me or my experience. It's lack of empathy again. I keep hoping things will change because I love and admire him but I know they never will!

[Minxminnie]

Just to be more positive for a minute, I really appreciate people who are good listeners. I habve a friend who remembers everything anyone says to her. We have a mutual friend who lives far away. If my friend speaks to her on the phone, she can recount chapter and verse of their conversation. If I speak to her, I mumble "yeah, she was ... ok."
I think the empathy thing is all about listening properly to what the other person is saying. Lots of people don't do that, including me, I'm sad to say. But at least I know it. I don't think my mum realises it at all.

[Jen]

No, I'm only joking, and doubtless revealing a crass ignorance about osteopathy.
Not really... :o

My floristry-and-balloon-modelling friend is the classic non-listener. She once called and asked 'how's the course going?'. I launched into my detailed answer and then she said 'so... how's the course going?'. 'Fine', I replied.
We've drifted apart.

[David]

We've drifted apart...
like balloons in the night...

Oh dear, she does sound a bit grim!

[Jen]

like balloons in the night...

Oh dear, she does sound a bit grim!
No, she's not grim, just scatty, which used to act as a good balance to my over-analytic and intense nature. It's a wise man who knows when their friends have passed their sell-by date.

[Hazel]

Actually, that's an odd combination, isn't it? Floristry and balloon modelling? I shouldn't think there's much call for balloon poodles to be included with wreaths...


I'll have you know that there is a huge market in bouquets with attached balloons. Have a baby and your house will become swamped with them!

[MarkC]

That sounds familiar. My parents are avid Sun readers. :mad:

My parents take the Sun and the Mail. :tapedshut

[David]

I'll have you know that there is a huge market in bouquets with attached balloons.
True, but not actually a lot of modelling. Now of course if she'd done a course in Floristry and Balloon Inflation that would have made a lot more sense. I could certainly do with a refresher course on the most efficient way to do that fiddly tying-off business and there must surely be an equation for working out optimum inflation ratios.

Anyway, I went right off the idea of balloon modelling after all the controversy over size zero balloons...
Have a baby and your house will become swamped with them!
There are easier ways to acquire balloons.

[Jen]

Anyway, I went right off the idea of balloon modelling after all the controversy over size zero balloons...
Me too. Get some air in yourselves, you latex freaks!

[Hazel]

Now of course if she'd done a course in Floristry and Balloon Inflation that would have made a lot more sense.

Introductory Class - Stretch and Blow.

[Momo]

And you don't think you're going to turn into the boring old farts of a quarter century hence?See, that's the beauty of it. If you have children, you can do all the terrible things to them that your parents have done to you ...
:D ;) :outahere:

[Barblue]

The Fairtrade Fair sounds very interesting. Tell us all about it later on.
Sorry I've only just got back to this thread Momo. The Fairtrade Fair was quite a small affair locally as it turned out (sorry about all the fairs in that sentence). It was well attended for all that. They really ran it as a local coffee morning but had a selection of Fairtrade products, including food and gifts/ornaments/useful items, on sale. I was intrigued by the number of different items of food that are now available as Freetrade products, so from that point of view it was worthwhile.

I won't mention (much) about the football last weekend except to say that we won and are now in the semi-finals of the F.A. Cup. :D

This weekend is, of course, Mothering Sunday weekend. I will be seeing my eldest for the first time since Christmas - and he only lives in Manchester about an hour's drive away. Don't ask why - they lead such busy lives and never have a moment to spare. Anyway, its lunch somewhere with them on Sunday, which I'm looking forward to.

Before that, I was at a reception meal last night for the start of an Alpha Course. Been meaning to do one of these for ages and have now been able to at least start one. It looks interesting from what I heard last night. We had a lovely meal at a local restaurant, lots of chat and saw a dvd, which was really a talk explaining the course.

Today - well, sorry folks but its football again. This time we kick off at 5.15 p.m. because our games in on Sky. I so dislike games that don't kick off at the historically correct 3.00 p.m., but that's progress for you and the pulling power of big money in sport these days.

[chuntzy]

Health warning: don't read this if you're feeling cheerful!

For years on end we went to the local on Friday nights. Sometimes there could be eight of us meeting up round the table, acquaintances from the village mostly. And then that clever Mr Edie died and then witty and gregarious Clive. And it wasn't the same. So it became a routine to go out with our neighbours and then Chris found out he had a certain disease for which the treatment meant no alcohol. So now Friday night is alcohol at home and some footie and Late Review etc

A birthday weekend and for the first time in our long married life he's forgotten because he's sprained his knee and that has driven everytjhing else out of his mind. The card posted by son & wife in Australia wasn't posted until Wednesday and therefore won't arrive until Tuesday. Daughter's on somebody's hen weekend in Scotland.

Everton will probably beat my Gunners tomorrow.

BUT: when I opened my e-mails this morning a lovely e-card was on (from Oz) with three singing little pigs (tenors) and my grand-daughter telling me how much she loved me. My significant other loves me too and is suitably crestfallen.

[Barblue]

:festive: :festive: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHUNTZY :festive: :festive:

And I hope the Gunners win.

[David]

Oh dear, chuntzy - I'm sorry to hear all of that. Of course, for a lot of people a pleasant night in with some alcohol, footie and Kirsty doing Late Review would be very pleasant, but it's just not the same, is it, when you've been used to spending that time doing other, extremely enjoyable things. Change can be both wonderful and awful, but sadly the only consistent thing is that it's inevitable!

I wish you a very happy birthday, though, and hope that some postitive changes are coming your way soon to make up for the others! :)

[Jen]

Happy Birthday Chuntzy, sorry it's not shaping up to be a classic. My Dad has his 'boy's night' at the pub on a Friday, a tradition going back many years and they have recently lost a few regulars to the passage of time. Very sobering, in every meaning of the word.

[MarkC]

Happy Birthday Chuntzy :)

I think my weekend is going to centre around mowing. My grass *really* needs cutting. I'm not planning to surface before noon tomorrow as I wont be going to bed until about 5am, the Australians are so inconsiderate starting a motor race at 3am GMT!

[Barblue]

I think my weekend is going to centre around mowing. My grass *really* needs cutting.
Is this a really good idea Mark, considering the weather warnings we are getting. I thought cutting the grass if we were going to get cold weather, perhaps frost and snow, would damage the roots? Or is that an old-wives- tale?

[brightphoebus]

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Chuntzy, and hope you have a lovely day despite the setbacks :flowers:

[David]

Is this a really good idea Mark, considering the weather warnings we are getting. I thought cutting the grass if we were going to get cold weather, perhaps frost and snow, would damage the roots? Or is that an old-wives- tale?
You know, I get the feeling this is going to be very welcome advice! http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/schlafen/sleeping-smiley-008.gif

;)

[chuntzy]

Thanks all you kind people!!

(P.S. Brought my print copy of my post downstairs & we did have a laugh)

[Momo]

Oh, dear, Chuntzy. Hope this cheers you up a little: Happy Birthday (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=2273&page=2)

Have a lovely rest of the weekend!

[MarkC]

Is this a really good idea Mark, considering the weather warnings we are getting. I thought cutting the grass if we were going to get cold weather, perhaps frost and snow, would damage the roots? Or is that an old-wives- tale?

I'd never heard it, but then I'm not a gardener. Anyhow I cut the front grass but ran out of enthusiasm before getting to the back, so if it is frosty next week the theory can be tested ;).

I see gardening more as fighting a losing battle against my garden reverting to its natural state. I've already lost the battle on the plot to the side, formally known as "the orchard", which is now a wall of brambles about 15' high (one of the reasons I'd like to move!)

[Momo]

Just digging this out. I guess a lot of our members will be gone during the Easter time. We are going to visit my parents. My father is home, finally. They found some germs in his blood but hope to get them out at home. He is just soooo happy. :D

[Claire]

That's really great news, Momo. I hope you have a wonderful family Easter together.

[Flingo]

We are off to my nan's for a couple of days. If the weather remains as nice as they promise, we might have a barbeque with her on Saturday.

Unfortunately, I also need to start thinking about the presentation that I am going to have to give in my job interview in a couple of weeks (as part of our re-structure at work we are being interviewed - grrrr).

[Cathy]

I'm moving house tomorrow, I have a cold and I'm grumpy! :grumble: On the plus side my folks are coming up to help with the move so looking forward to seeing them. I'll be back when the internet gets connected...have a Happy Easter!

[Hazel]

Painting the living room today, buy new bookshelves tomorrow, then study the rest of the weekend. Yipeee - I am so living the rock and roll lifestyle.

[Minxminnie]

I'm just back from visiting my sister, and my parents have now gone down. So I have a family free zone this weekend! I intend to spend it in total indulgence - sleep, read, and catch up on the telly I've not had time to watch lately.

[FirelightSpirit]

Great news about your dad Momo and good luck with the house move Cathy.

I'm currently on four days hols from work (heaven!) and plan to spend it reading, writing and working on my college application.

Happy Easter everyone!

[Barblue]

No family commitments this weekend. Off to the footie tomorrow afternoon. MOH has planned two days golf - so a lovely empty space for me to do my own thing at home. :D

Been to Borders this morning to make the best use of my 20% voucher which they emailed me this week (it only lasts for this weekend). Done the Tesco shop, so the rest of the weekend I'm hoping to catch up on some of my reading.

Great news Momo about your dad. Good luck with the move Cathy. Happy Easter to everyone. :)

[Claire]

Great news about your dad Momo and good luck with the house move Cathy.

I'm currently on four days hols from work (heaven!) and plan to spend it reading, writing and working on my college application.

Happy Easter everyone!

Sounds like a good weekend! What are you applying for at college? (My apologies if you've mentionned it elsewhere and I missed it)


All the best with the move, Cathy :drive:

[mac]

Went away for a few days to Sussex. The weather was lovely. Visited Portsmouth on Saturday and went to the Historic Naval Dockyard. I really enjoyed seeing the Mary Rose, still amazingly, being sprayed with waxed water to preserve the hull. Yesterday we went to Plumpton races. Is`nt it lovely to have four dry and sunny days, at least in this part of the country, over the Easter holiday.

[David]

Went away for a few days to Sussex.
My part of the world, mac! It has indeed been gorgeous weather and after the doldrums of winter it fully reminds me why it's so fantastic and uplifting to live by the sea. The first people have been setting out into the waters for a swim, which is always a good sign - bit like cuckoos! I try not to take it for granted.

Glad you enjoyed it!

[Momo]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes for my father. We had a lovely weekend. I could tell he was doing much better as he was already trying too many things he certainly shouldn't do. ;)

Happy Easter everybody!http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/feiertage/feiertag-smiley-006.gif

[FirelightSpirit]

Sounds like a good weekend! What are you applying for at college? (My apologies if you've mentionned it elsewhere and I missed it)
I'm hoping to go back and do an MA in English. It's been on my mind for a long time and I've decided that now's as good a time as any. Unfortunately, with all the reading and writing I did over the weekend, the application got a bit neglected. Have to do a few drafts first anyway.

[mac]

[QUOTE=David
Glad you enjoyed it![/QUOTE]

Thanks David.
My son now lives near Brighton and we often visit him. We are discovering what a lovely area it is and how much there is to see and do.

[Cathy]

Yey I'm moved and the internet was even switched on on time and everything so far is going smoothly, i love my new flat!

[Momo]

Great, Cathy. Congratulations! Seems like a dream move. I guess we'll "see" you more often now.

[Claire]

Glad it went so smoothly, Cathy. You've got internet access, you just need to unpack your books and you'll have everything necessary for civilised life to continue. (Who needs saucepans and bedding, anyway!)


We're off to Hadrian's Wall today - it's a weekend thing, but we've brought it forward a couple of days because it's such a beautiful day today.

[Momo]

Glad it went so smoothly, Cathy. You've got internet access, you just need to unpack your books and you'll have everything necessary for civilised life to continue. (Who needs saucepans and bedding, anyway!)http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/c035.gif
We're off to Hadrian's Wall today - it's a weekend thing, but we've brought it forward a couple of days because it's such a beautiful day today.We once did a lovely tour where actors showed you the different stages of the archeologists starting with the first one when they found it.
It's a great area anyway.

[megustaleer]

This happened (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53782729@N00/461307493/) in my garden over the weekend. I just love it!

My joy is tinged with sadness, as each year might be its last. It is being attacked by honey fungus (http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/dc19.php), which has over the last 15 years killed several of our trees and bushes.

[Hazel]

Very beautiful Meg. Both my cherry trees have blossom on them but no where near the stature of yours.

[Momo]

Oh, Meg, your tree looks just great. We have one in the garden and it's blooming right now but it's not as huge.

[Lady Lazarus]

Beautiful trees Meg.

I'm still at my parents' house. I was supposed to fly back to London last week, but I've managed to get bronchitis and laryngitis, so I'm stuck up here! Have been coughing my guts up, but have tried the most disgusting medicine in the world (Covonia), and it seems to be doing me good. I'm definitely of the mind that the worse the medicine, the more effective it is! And that's coming from a nurse ;)

Have managed to finish Jane Eyre while I've been up here, and am now halfway through Memoirs of a Geisha, which is also good.

[Momo]

... but I've managed to get bronchitis and laryngitis, so I'm stuck up here! Have been coughing my guts up ...Sounds like it was hard work to get it. ;)

Anyway, wish you all the best and that you may be healthy soon!

[Barblue]

A weekend of contrasts:
Saturday - A peaceful walk along the seafront at Morecambe Bay - tide out, not too many people, all quiet and serene.
Sunday - In Manchester for the F.A. Cup Semi-Final game - thousands of people, lots of noise but it sure makes you realise you are alive! :banana: :arms: :beerchug:

[Flingo]

This happened (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53782729@N00/461307493/) in my garden over the weekend. I just love it!
It looks stunning and what a contrast to your slightly earlier photo called "untrodden snow"!

Get Well, Lady Lazarus - but while you are still poorly make the most of the reading time. Hope that you don't share it with anyone else - especially baby (who's not such a baby now, but still your baby!).

Barblue - I think I'll stick to the Saturday part of your weekend and give Sunday a miss!

[Momo]

Barblue - I think I'll stick to the Saturday part of your weekend and give Sunday a miss!Me too.

[Lady Lazarus]

Thanks for the get well wishes. Feeling a bit better today, although still coughing a LOT! Baby seems to have escaped with a slight cough bless her.

[brightphoebus]

Flingo, I noticed you were up in the small hours restoring old posts. Was that because you were stressed after your interview? Please let us know how it went, if you can bear to talk about it :flowers:

[megustaleer]

Please let us know how it went, if you can bear to talk about it :flowers:Yes, do. Or would you prefer to wait for the outcome? When will you know?

[FirelightSpirit]

Yes, Flingo, we're all rooting for you. I do hope it went well.

I have an idea how you must feel. I'm in the middle of preparing my application to go back to college in September and if your stomach is in as many knots as mine, I really understand and sympathise.

That's what I'll be spending my weekend doing - holed up in the quietest part of the house drafting and re-drafting my application. (And trying to calm my nerves of course.)

[Flingo]

Flingo, I noticed you were up in the small hours restoring old posts. Was that because you were stressed after your interview? Please let us know how it went, if you can bear to talk about it :flowers:
Yes, do. Or would you prefer to wait for the outcome? When will you know?
Yes, Flingo, we're all rooting for you. I do hope it went well.

I have an idea how you must feel. I'm in the middle of preparing my application to go back to college in September and if your stomach is in as many knots as mine, I really understand and sympathise.
Thanks, guys. It means a lot!

The thread restoration was a therapeutic thing, plus the bottle of wine I was working my way through!

It went ok - I was really pleased with the presentation, but as they kept trying to get me to expand on my answers to the questions section I feel like I may have missed the point. I know I have done better interviews, but equally this could have been much worse. I really can't say how the panel thought it went.

I won't know for ages - there are 6 days of interviews and I was on day 1. I hadn't thought about them rescheduling some interviews if people are off sick either until it was mentioned at the end, so it could be longer than I was thinking. Hopefully I will know by the end of the first week in May though.

I think what is reassuring is that if I don't get my first choice of role, there isn't much else I feel that I could have done. It's all a numbers game, and some one has to lose out at the end of the day - I just hope it won't be me!

Good Luck with your application, Katie - rooting for you too! :)

[My Friend Jack]

as they kept trying to get me to expand on my answers to the questions section I feel like I may have missed the point.

They were probably just trying to see whether your knowledge went any deeper than what you had learnt for the presentation (that's what I would do, anyway!).

[FirelightSpirit]

Well, at least it's over now and, as you say, you did the best you could. At the end of the day, that's all you can do.

The best thing to do now is put it out of your mind until you know the outcome - not always the easiest thing to do, I know, but worth a try at least.

I always think it's a good thing not to be sure how it went - you don't get your hopes up too much then. We're always our own harshest critics.

I hope you have a nice relaxing weekend planned, with the wine rack fully stocked. :)

[Momo]

All the best, Flingo. Even though the waiting for the results is terrible, it's even worse when you wait for the actual interview (or exam or whatever) to start. At least, that's over. We all wish you good luck! http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/romantic/grouphug.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)

[Flingo]

Thank you, everyone. You really are all so nice to me!!! :)

I hope you have a nice relaxing weekend planned, with the wine rack fully stocked.
We are off to my dear old dad's this weekend - it's his birthday tomorrow so we are going to see his band play a gig in the evening. While at his, I also have to sort through some stuff that I left there when I moved out nearly 5 years ago as they have just sold their house, and apparently don't fancy looking after my library when they downsize! I don't understand... :hmm:

[Momo]

I don't understand... :hmm:Me neither, strange people, your parents. ;)
Anyway, have fun.

[Flingo]

Me neither, strange people, your parents. ;)
Oh, Mom! Don't put yourself down so!!! :D :p

[Momo]

Oh, Mom! Don't put yourself down so!!! :D :phttp://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/c035.gif Completely forgotten about that!

[megustaleer]

When I went on to the ADC Theatre (http://131.111.8.46/cambuniv/studenthandbook/libmuseums/other/adc.html) website on Friday to book tickets for Cambridge Wordfest I noticed that there was a matine performance today of their current production. The Cambridge AmDram group Bawds have been putting on Shaw's Pygmalian (http://www.bawds.org/), and on the spur of the moment I booked myself a seat, so I have had a pleasant day in Cambridge.

I visited an art exhibition, browsed the second-hand bookstalls on the market (and resisted temptation ;) ), and lunched out in the sun on tapas.
The play was good (well, Shaw's writing is wonderful, so that goes without saying, really), and as AmDram goes, it wasn't a bad production. Higgins and Pickering were a bit 'hammy', and played too many of their lines to the audience, and the costumes were a bit 'dressing-up-box' (especially the one that Eliza is supposed to have worn to the posh dinner).
However, as I love live drama, and rarely see any, and I love tiny theatres, and am an ex-AmDram player, I really enjoyed my day out.

Pity about getting on the wrong train coming home :o :o but I was back in time for Doctor Who :D

[FirelightSpirit]

Sounds lovely Meg.

I have been writing and re-writing my application for college all weekend. I think it's done now. I don't think there's anything else I can say to convince them to give me a place so we'll have to wait and see...

[Flingo]

I have been writing and re-writing my application for college all weekend. I think it's done now. I don't think there's anything else I can say to convince them to give me a place so we'll have to wait and see...

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ernstmul/images/msn60/smile046.gif

[megustaleer]

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ernstmul/images/msn60/smile046.gif From me, too.
(I was thinking we could do with one of those among our 'smiley' choices)

[Momo]

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ernstmul/images/msn60/smile046.gif From me, too.
(I was thinking we could do with one of those among our 'smiley' choices)Certainly, after everything that's happened to many of our members lately, job applications, exams, health ...

[MarkC]

Fingers crossed for you Firelight Spirit :)

I had a really busy weekend, at least by my standards. Left work at lunchtime Friday and drove up to my parents just outside London, from there took the train and tube in to Tottenham Court Road to see Tangerine Dream in concert at the Astoria, which was excellent.

Saturday went to Hemel Hempstead to have a long lunch with my Italian friend, who had baked me a carrot cake. After finishing our lunch we sat in the pub scoffing it. From there to by brother and his girlfriend in Harpenden, where they have just bought a house. Discovered they had doubled booked themselves so we ended up going for a Thai meal with their friends. Two meals out in one day, by 9pm I was completely stuffed :rolleyes:

Stayed there overnight and on Sunday morning my parents came over (my mother wanting a perm and my brother's girlfriend having previously been a hairdresser and having all the kit to hand she gets these requests - I told her she should have introduced herself as an industrial chemist and she would have been spared requests to do haircuts and manicures :naughty: ) and we had a huge roast beef lunch!

Doing all this did mean I missed Dr Who so need to look up the time of the repeat.

[Elfstar]

Doing all this did mean I missed Dr Who so need to look up the time of the repeat.


Yesterday at 8pm. :rolleyes:

But I think its on Fridays at 9 as well. :D

I ended up watching it twice this weekend. Spent Sunday taking one son to Scout parade for St George's Day.

[Barblue]

With all the nice weather we've been having, it's been a time of construction and planting in our garden. Saturday was spent going round garden centres for gravel to match our driveway. And we have soooo many garden centres Lancashire I've discovered. Didn't find what we really wanted, but bought lots of plants we didn't know we did want until we found them!

Sunday the rain finally arrived - great for the plants - so we took ourselves off to Borders for a morning browse. It was packed. We didn't really need any more books, but managed to come away with number 4 in a series by George R.R. Martin for MOH and a beautiful hardback copy of The Prophet for only 99p. for me.

Wasn't sure about Dr. Who this weekend though?

[megustaleer]

Didn't find what we really wanted, but bought lots of plants we didn't know we did want until we found them! :lmao:

Being a gardener is as hard on the pocket as being a booklover; I have to avoid bookshops and garden centres these days! :rolleyes:

[Elfstar]

And me. :rolleyes:

[Claire]

HA! Have spent the last two weekends (and most of the days in between) cursing Pipex for our sudden complete lack of any internet access at home...

Usually they are fab - we've had very efficient, reliable service from them, but this week it's just been a complete nightmare.

Very glad to be back on BGO, and catching up a bit on what's going on.

:festive:

[David]

Good to have you back, Claire. I hope your connection problems are over! I know only too well myself how cut off you feel when access goes for long periods.

[FirelightSpirit]

I have been writing and re-writing my application for college all weekend. I think it's done now. I don't think there's anything else I can say to convince them to give me a place so we'll have to wait and see...
Sent it on to some friends to get their opinions and have now revised it a little, which makes it better, I think. Sending it off tomorrow. I'll let you all know how I get on. Hopefully I'll have something to celebrate...

Welcome back Claire. Hope the withdrawal symptoms weren't too bad, :)

[Lady Lazarus]

welcome back claire!

well i am ill yet again, went to the doctor's and i now have pleurisy and a chest infection argh! at least this time i have some antibiotics, so hopefully will feel better soon. i'm fed up of being ill now! have had back-to-back a gum infection, bronchitis and now this! i think i need to look into things i can do to boost my immune system, although probably looking after a toddler 24/7 isn't one of them!

[Elfstar]

Try echinacea available as a tincture or pills. Great for boosting immunity but best taken at the first signs rather than later. Sounds as if you need a break.

I have builders in the garden just hoping they'll still be here at the weekend when it's supposed to be warmer :angeldevi


I do know how you feel I had 2 sets of twins with 2yrs 8 mths between them which meant 4 under 3 with my (now ex) husband working away. I had a particuarly nasty bout of tonsilitis which knocked me about for weeks.

This weekend I WILL be watching Dr Who.

[David]

I have builders in the garden...
I had moles once, but builders?! They can be annoying pests at the best of times...

[Momo]

Welcome back, Claire and all the best, Lady Lazarus. I hope you'll recover soon. http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sad0126.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)

[brightphoebus]

LL, what a catalogue of illnesses and infections! I do hope the antibiotics work their magic soon. It is awful when you are ill but still have to look after little ones. You have my sympathies. I remember lying down once, feeling dreadful, and my toddler pulling at me going "Up! Up!".

[Claire]

Yuck - really hope you feel properly better soon, Lady Lazarus.

[Flingo]

Get yourself fixed soon, LL. It does sound like you need a break, but in the meantime an immunity system boost sounds like it might help - as Elfstar said echinacea is great, but you can only take it for 2 weeks and is best before you get so poorly. Maybe just lots of greens and vitamin C might be the way forward (although obviously about the last thing you feel like eating when ill!).

This weekend I have to go to work tomorrow, test drive a car on Sunday morning, and band practice Sunday afternoon - so yes, weekends? Remind me what they are!

[Momo]

so yes, weekends? Remind me what they are!They used to be the days when you didn't work, stayed up for hours to be with your friends and then had a nice lie-in on a Sunday morning. A long, long time ago. ;)

[megustaleer]

Another trip to Cambridge on Saturday, to attend one of the events (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showpost.html?p=33872&postcount=38) at The Cambridge Wordfest. The outing got off to a good start when I met one of my RL bookgroup on the station, heading for a shopping trip in Cambridge. We talked books most of the way :)

It was another glorious day, so I did some sightseeing, looked round a couple of craft fairs, bought just one book off the second-hand bookstall on the market and ate lunch overlooking the river. It was difficult to concentrate on reading The Moonstone, as I was frequently distracted by punts bumping into each other...the river was very busy :D
I did manage to make considerable headway with the story, reading over lunch, and on the train home. I caught the right train this week, but had worn the wrong shoes so was quite literally footsore when I got home...in plenty of time for Doctor Who ;)

[MarkC]

On Saturday I went to a rugby match for the first time ever, Bristol vs Gloucester at Ashton Gate (in Bristol) for the last league match of the season. Peculiarly, Ashton Gate is a football stadium (Bristol City) and Gloucester were the "home" team at this fixture.

I thoughroughy enjoyed it :D, despite Bristol losing (being a neutral I elected to support my local club). It's completely different seeing it live with all the atmosphere from the crowd. I did like that I went with one Bristol fan and one Gloucester fan, both wearing their respective team colours and could all sit together without any fuss. I felt rather underdressed not sporting any team kit, I was almost the only one so attired there!

[My Friend Jack]

Mark - why did they play at Ashton Gate rather than in Gloucester?

[Hazel]

It's only Monday and already I am dreading the coming weekend. Saturday it is my son's birthday party for his friends. Thankfully, it is at one of these organised play gym things and I only have to help out. But still, 20 screaming kids? Then Sunday, it's hubby's family round for birthday dinner - we don't get on. Then Monday, son's actual birthday which will be immediate family and my parents only - not too bad but still a headache after the whole weekend. So that's 3 parties, 3 cakes, and 3 frantic days. I wish I could just take son, hubby, and youngest off somewhere for the weekend and focus on relaxed fun to celebrate his 6th.

[FirelightSpirit]

Sounds like you'll have your hands full Hazel. Best of luck. If it were me, I'd have a special treat lined up after all the craziness, just to help me get through it. Maybe a favourite book?

[Hazel]

If it were me, I'd have a special treat lined up after all the craziness, just to help me get through it. Maybe a favourite book?

Well, it is my birthday 10 days later, so hopefully I'll get a little spoiled in return!

[FirelightSpirit]

Well, it is my birthday 10 days later, so hopefully I'll get a little spoiled in return!
Judging from the weekend in store, you'll deserve it!

[chuntzy]

MOH's birthday and my daughter's are on the same day. It was down to daughter's flat in London on Thursday and from that afternoon onward until Saturday, we took in an exhibition at the British Museum called A New World: England's First View of America, then the excellent Hogarth exhibition at Tate Britain, plus a good meal at a French restaurant near the City, plus rummaging through second-hand bookshops and eating at patisseries. Oh, yes, I saw The Entertaianer at the Old Vic as well. Tremendous acting by Robert Lindsay and Pam Ferris especially. Enough, enough, I hear you say.

[Cathy]

We went to New Lanark (http://www.newlanark.org/) which was very beautiful especially in the sunshine. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

[MarkC]

Mark - why did they play at Ashton Gate rather than in Gloucester?

Don't know for sure, but I think it's a case of bums on seats. Being a local derby there was a big crowd which was close to filling Ashton Gate and my understanding is that Kingsholm takes several thousand fewer spectators. Looking at the attire of the spectators, Gloucester fans were significantly in the majority.