North & South : Catriona's Thread for Homeless Thoughts - Part 13

Welcome to the new (and final ) instalment of the Homeless Thoughts thread. Named in memory of our much loved and dearly missed friend Catriona and containing her lovely and personal avatar.

Please feel free to join us and chat about anything and everything.

In first!

@ birds

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Martial arts and combat cooking - that's us!

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Very true. She was staring one of them down

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I caught a program about farm animals in Canada recently and there was that big dog carrying a Little kitty around by the neck, then he placed it down very carefully, and tried to lick it clean - only the kitty gave that huge dog a slap, and walked off all 'I am the boss here'

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Another day in American politics. I wonder if he will get it overturned.

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Apparently there are a number of law suits on the way, so he will get a lot more trouble out of it than he'd bargained for.

What worries me most atm is that he seems to be eagerly spoiling for a fight with Iran. To accuse the leading *beep* country to be the Major supporter of terrorists when those terrorist organisations are mostly Sunnite (and apparently supported by Saudi Arabia - his cronies) is rather ridiculous - unless he's talking about Hizbollah - or rather, not talking about them because they are probably not what most Americans are hugely concerned about. It's all such a farce it would be funny if it wasn't so dangerous.

Meanwhile I have spent the entire morning trying to inform various entities about my new bank details, including tax authorities, insurance agents and - most scary and frustrating of all - my internet and mobile phone provider. I fully expect some of them to still try debit my previous account and then send some heavies over to collect the moneyz in person.

Btw, Laura, since you made the mistake to ask me to keep you updated on my paintng efforts - I got six of the small (20 x 20 cm) canvasses last week and turned them into I really don't know what.

http://de.tinypic.com/r/2ymukpd/9

my first efforts at abstractery. I put so much paint on those, they are actual reliefs.

And then I did these recently - http://de.tinypic.com/r/9tft3l/9 -note where the painting on the right hangs? That's where I had my Monet, with the candlestick on the table, when that mishap occurred. I am still not able to comprehend how the canvass could have torn given that the painting just fell such a short distance

After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

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I caught a program about farm animals in Canada recently and there was that big dog carrying a Little kitty around by the neck, then he placed it down very carefully, and tried to lick it clean - only the kitty gave that huge dog a slap, and walked off all 'I am the boss here'

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I think I posted this or one like it on the Videos thread a while back:


When we had a dog and a cat, the cat was very definitely the boss. OTOH our dog was very protective of our cat. If there was a picking on him in the garden. We would open the back door and he would run out and chase the other cat away.

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Apparently there are a number of law suits on the way, so he will get a lot more trouble out of it than he'd bargained for.

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Good. I was thinking again about the executive orders and how undemocratic they seem. We on the other hand go the other way and had a referendum and a vote in Parliament over Brexit.

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What worries me most atm is that he seems to be eagerly spoiling for a fight with Iran.

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He seems to be spoiling for a fight with most countries. He even managed to upset the Australians. He is OK with us at the moment though, helped by Theresa the Appeaser.

Sorry to hear about your frustrating morning.

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.I really don't know what.

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Those are very good. Lovely colours. It looks like a beach.

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And then I did these recently http://de.tinypic.com/r/9tft3l/9

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Excellent again merej. That bloke looks familiar.

Fantastic pictures, Merej. Especially love the one currently occupying the 'suicide hook' Some serious talent there.

Finally getting around to this thread and it's mid afternoon already.

Ima, what wonderful news to hear that your health is so much improved and you're basically "normal" again - just a fwe "tweaks". That's terrific news and I hope you keep going that way! Try not to feel too bad or sad about not being on here so much. Your health was, and is, your number one priority and I'm sure there were some pretty tough days when you didn't feel like chatting or doing anything. But heybefore we all scatter to the wind, we're going to make absolutely sure that we're taking you with us wherever we all end up! C19 is looking pretty strong right nowfor most peopleand I see you're already there!

Speaking of 'taking people with us', you know who we've forgotten to mention in all the confusion? Trowbridge Nancy! Oooh, Nancy, I'm sorry about that, but you don't tend to post regularly - but you always come back - so I hope you are reading this and will follow us once we figure out where we're going, and right now it looks like it's C19. (More power to us Canadians if you're on board!)

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Martial arts and combat cooking - that's us!

< chef

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That made me giggle out loud.

@laura

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Hmm I hope he can nail that down soon, Laura. You don't want it to hang around much less get worse, especially on your face where it is so visible.



It is on my throat, but still quite visible.

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For some reason I thought it was on your chin, or was that the original lesion? In any case, who the heck needs it? Are you able to wear a turtleneck if you want to cover it a bit or does that cause more irritation?


@merej

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I caught a program about farm animals in Canada recently and there was that big dog carrying a Little kitty around by the neck, then he placed it down very carefully, and tried to lick it clean - only the kitty gave that huge dog a slap, and walked off all 'I am the boss here'

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Cats have serious attitude. They're in an 'attitude' class of animals all by themselves. They think they own dogs. And they do.

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Apparently there are a number of law suits on the way, so he will get a lot more trouble out of it than he'd bargained for.

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Good! Bring it!!

I looked at your paintings, merej (is there such a word as 'abstractery' or are you just making stuff up? ) I don't know enough about painting to be a good judge but I love the colours in those "abstractery" paintings and I'd be proud to hang them in my living rooom any day! Your portrait paintings are beautiful, that I can tell you for free. With your varied creative talents, why are you working in an office, Ms. Merej? Just curious.

@laura

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I think I posted this or one like it on the Videos thread a while back:

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Respect! Absolutely love that because it's so true! My blind, deaf cat is the boss of my Akita. Go figure.

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That bloke looks familiar.

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He does, doesn't he? There something about that face..

Morning, chicks!

Getting colder again - looks like we are in for snow later this week. NOT what I'd ordered.

@ Laura

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I think I posted this or one like it on the Videos thread a while back:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ciHbUhDqKs

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I hadn't seen that one before - and I'd really love to know what goes on in those dogs' heads

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When we had a dog and a cat, the cat was very definitely the boss. OTOH our dog was very protective of our cat. If there was a picking on him in the garden. We would open the back door and he would run out and chase the other cat away.

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Awww - that's cute - a cat-bodyguard dog!

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Good. I was thinking again about the executive orders and how undemocratic they seem

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I think the problem is really that while they were meant to facilitate administration procedures, their possible applications are not clearly delimited, so Trump now tries to use them for just anything. Good to see that it isn't quite that easy though - yesterday the appeals court denied the immediate reinstatement of the travel ban he'd requested., and then there's this:

http://time.com/4655515/san-francisco-lawsuit-sanctuary-city-trump/

'San Francisco became the first city to sue the Trump Administration over immigration policy on Tuesday, as City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced a federal lawsuit regarding so-called sanctuary cities.

Flanked by lawyers at City Hall, the city attorney criticized President Trump's executive order seeking to cut federal funding to cities that restrict the amount local officials will cooperate with federal immigrations agents.'

Looks like democracy isn't dead yet after all.

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He even managed to upset the Australians.

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He better not mess with Crocodile Dundee ] (that's a knife - and an orange head! )

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Sorry to hear about your frustrating morning.

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Oh well, I watched the odd youtube video in between swearing at the various websites and their stupid red-tapery, so it wasn't all bad.

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That bloke looks familiar

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He does, doesn't he? There something about that face..

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That guy seems to pop up a lot in my paintings - quite obtrusive, truth be told.

Nice ears though.

@ Birds

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Especially love the one currently occupying the 'suicide hook'

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It's a simplified version of one of those 'We The People'/Women's March posters, so I basically just copied it onto canvass.

@ alfa

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Cats have serious attitude. They're in an 'attitude' class of animals all by themselves. They think they own dogs. And they do

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Dogs seem to consider cats members of the family, while cats regard dogs the way they regard the rest of us - as staff.

Also I'm not quite sure whether the Candianness of that particular cat might not have contributed to its feisty behaviour.

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is there such a word as 'abstractery' or are you just making stuff up?

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Are you accusing me of wordmakeupery?

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With your varied creative talents, why are you working in an office, Ms. Merej? Just curious.

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For one thing - I do have a great love of regular paychecks. I guess it would be really hard to make a living out of any form of fine art, especially without any connections in particular in times when you have to explode a cow or turn dead cats into flying objections to get noticed.

Plus I only started painting last June, and I really love my job - I trained as a translator and interpreter with a focus on engineering, picked up qualifications as a paralegal in the intellectual property sector (i.e. mostly dealing with patents and trademarks), and now do a bit of both, working files one day, doing translation work the next, and making sure that our attorneys meet their deadlines in between. It's like getting paid for being a file shifting bilingual dominatrix

After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Morning everyone!

@alfa

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Trowbridge Nancy! Oooh, Nancy, I'm sorry about that, but you don't tend to post regularly - but you always come back - so I hope you are reading this and will follow us once we figure out where we're going, and right now it looks like it's C19.

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Lois has PMd Nancy and Wendy. Im not sure about Thomas. If you are reading this Thomas, do come and join us over at C19.

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For some reason I thought it was on your chin, or was that the original lesion?

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No, they are on my throat near my Adams apple. Not keen on turtlenecks. I was just saying that to merej recently. I dont like pressure on my throat. Maybe I was strangled or hanged in a previous life.

@merej

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Awww - that's cute - a cat-bodyguard dog!

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Our cat would be perplexed that the other cat had run away. Lol! They got on very well. Sometimes I think cats get on better with dogs in the family than with other cats. In our case it helped that they were introduced when the cat was a kitten, so he grew up with him. Sadly when we got our dog as a puppy, the old cat we had at the time was not so happy and practically moved out to live in the shed. He was not a friendly cat though, probably the least friendly cat we have ever had.

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Good to see that it isn't quite that easy though - yesterday the appeals court denied the immediate reinstatement of the travel ban he'd requested.

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He keeps referring to the judge who overturned the travel ban as a so-called judge. An actor I follow on Twitter said that he will no doubt say she's one of the most overrated judges in the US. I think her being a woman has probably irked him as well.

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Looks like democracy isn't dead yet after all.

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I keep hoping that maybe if he doesnt get his own way, he will get frustrated and resign.

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Nice ears though.

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Elf ears.

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It's like getting paid for being a file shifting bilingual dominatrix

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Seriously though, you are one clever lady.

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No, they are on my throat near my Adams apple

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Just tell people it's a love bite!

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Not keen on turtlenecks. I was just saying that to merej recently. I dont like pressure on my throat. Maybe I was strangled or hanged in a previous life

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We were probably part of the same hanging party.

Another thing I particularly hate is when somebody stands too close behind me or something is moving close to the back of my neck. *shudders*

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Our cat would be perplexed that the other cat had run away. Lol! They got on very well. Sometimes I think cats get on better with dogs in the family than with other cats.

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They probably don't have territory issues with dogs. Especially if it's one of those dogs which appreciate that everything is cat territory by definition.

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He keeps referring to the judge who overturned the travel ban as a so-called judge. An actor I follow on Twitter said that he will no doubt say she's one of the most overrated judges in the US.

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Elf ears.

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Definitely.

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Seriously though, you are one clever lady

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and devilishly good-looking in the bargain!

Just kidding (on both accounts)


After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Woah! *breaks out in a sweat* (sorry, 'perspiration' of course ladies don't sweat)

I hardly manage to keep up with this board, and now am parallel posting at C19

But thank you, lois, for checking out features and possibilities over there. I think the place is going to be okay except for the fact that I HATE any kind of change and that they're seriously short in emojis!

I'll be back later

Waiting for my grandson to arriveI'll post when I get a break.

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Seriously though, you are one clever lady

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and devilishly good-looking in the bargain!

Just kidding (on both accounts)/

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I saw that.!

Later guys

@merej

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Just tell people it's a love bite!

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Just kidding (on both accounts)

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Another thing I particularly hate is when somebody stands too close behind me or something is moving close to the back of my neck. *shudders*

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You need to quote that line from Dirty Dancing to them This is your space, this is my space.

@birds

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I hardly manage to keep up with this board, and now am parallel posting at C19

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I know what you mean. I have another proboard which I am a member of as well and now the Outlander Google Group. It wont be for long though. I'm actually on annual leave this week, which will give me a bit more time. Not a lot planned except for a trip to the cinema on Wednesday and accompanying my sister Lee to a hospital appointment on Friday - in Radiology of all places. Lol! Some reading as well. I have finally got started on The Scottish Prisoner Birds. Only a few chapters in, but liking it so far. But then as long as Jamie is in it I am happy.

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I think the place is going to be okay except for the fact that I HATE any kind of change and that they're seriously short in emojis!

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Again I totally understand. I hate change as well. . Speaking of the emojis over there. Thanks for helping me find actually find the good ones.

What else, I presume you have all heard of the footballer David Beckham. But have you seen this?

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/david-beckham-email-hack-alleges-knighthood-charity-scandal-unicef-supports-star-1604814

He also demanded UNICEF pay for a 6,685 business class flight despite his sponsors splashing out on a private jet for him. The reason for no knighthood yet was because it was discovered he was involved in a tax avoidance scheme. Somehow I dont fancy his chances of ever getting one now. Lol! To be honest that he isnt quite as nice as he appeared hasnt come as a shock to me. I used to work with someone who worked as a bouncer in a Manchester nightclub and he told me tales about what he used to get up to. This was after his marriage to Victoria.

P.S. Back to the potential vegetable shortage in Britain. I saw this on twitter.

https://twitter.com/AngusPolice/status/828189783755210752

Hello everyone! New thread eh.#13 We go out with a bang!

I just wanted to backtrack a bit being the final thread here and all All the way back to Jan 23rd

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Its the same on the Outlander board. New viewers post all the time and ask questions that have been asked countless times before. Nobody seems to mind that I can recall.

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I have noticed that the folks there on "Outlander" are quite tolerant when it comes to the new posters and the same old questions. Not many boards on here are like that. Glad you've got the bunch moving to Google Groups. Let us know how that platform works compared to C19/proboards, Laura.

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I hold them down, you dazzle them with your English - that'll learn them!



We'll learn 'em proper! High five!

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awww

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You can get them here also covered with chocolate or coconut.

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Oh! I love me a biscotti more than rusks especially the chocolate covered, pistachio/almond or cranberry ones. Yum!

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I personally prefer the coke + pretzels treatment.

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Coke and pretzels? Speaking of, are the pretzels and beer combo a German thing, Merej? I ask because in Chicago, my roomie (who has German roots) took me to this pub and that's what they had on the tables. I think I asked him about it but can't remember what he said now.

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Over here we would just have dry toast.

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Same here Lauradry toast I will lightly butter mine if I can tolerate it that day. But I googled fennel tea after Birds had mentioned here and for some reason I thought it was with crushed or powdered fennel leavesbut it isn'tit's the seeds! which I've had plenty of times of courseas fennel waterdidn't really associate it with "tea" as such. But yeahdon't mind it at all.

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I once asked if they had some in the hospital shop and they looked at me like I had asked for crack cocaine.



And all the sugary drinks explains all my fillings.

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Mine too! And I used to put more sugar in everything as a kidcereal, milk, Tang! I blame my parents for not knowing better.

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Today you'd probably get in trouble if you gave that stuff to children - it's got an alcohol content of 79 vol% (the alcohol content of whiskey is about 40 vol %).

No wonder I turned out the way I did.

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79%! Wow. My dad drinks this German beer because of the higher alcohol content.. 7% compared to the standard 5% here LOL: http://www.thebeerstore.ca/beers/holsten-festbock

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Does anyone else watch NCIS? The new series has just started. I really miss DiNozzo. I watched the first episode of Michael Weatherlys new series Bull the other day. Enjoyed it.

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No, I don't watch either of those shows Laura. Never really got into the police procedural shows and have watched only a select few courtroom drama shows like LA Law (I was too young to remember it all) and Suits these days. But Alfa is a fan of the courtroom stuff; I wonder if she's seen "Bull".

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I managed to borrow season 3 of GoT at our local library yesterday, along with a DVD of 'The Martian' (I'll keep that for the weekend, though). Great disappointment with the borrowed season 2. Disk 5 (ep. 9 and 10) was badly scratched,

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Look at you missy, chugging along on the GoT train. The scratched DVD's thoughsigh.

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I totally binged on the season after I got the DVDs at our library earlier this week ('This one knows no restraint') but now I re-watch them one at a time But *gosh* what a grim penultimate episode!

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Episode 9 Unlike Merej, I hadn't read the books of course but was spoiled to a certain extent. Still, when it happened on screen I was thoroughly engrossed and just as equally shocked. Poor Arya! I think I cried more listening to the commentary as Richard Madden and Michelle Farley were soo emotional in it. But I totally binge on the DVDs too Birdsno other way I guess; I'm lost in GoT world until it goes back to the library.

How did you like "The Martian" Birds? I read the book and it was equally enjoyable as the movie I thought page turner.

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Anyhow, the weird thing is, while the DVD cover of all seasons so faw has been in German, the disk menue for season 2 was in Italian (not too bad, I can just about decipher enough Italian to start a DVD and in the correct audio version), and now the menue for season 3 is in something that looks suspiciously like Russian so I'm down to trial and error now.

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Gosh! I'd be so screwed if that were me Birds. Never had that issue myself but I guess that must be becoz you being in Europe and all. I've noticed that the GoT DVD's do have a lot more language subtitle options than your regular DVD'sthe show is such a global hit, isn't it.

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I watched some episodes of 'Fringe' lately - again from the exchange windowsill.

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My brother is not a sci-fi person, but he loved "Fringe" (and "Lost" too) which completely surprised me. I haven't watched "X-Files". I completely missed all the popular shows from the late 90's to the mid 2000's on account of school/uni. No "Sex and the City", "Felicity", "Gilmore Girls", "Dawson's Creek" or "Ally McBeal".

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I got myself a boxset of The Onedin Line about 20 years ago - it's a series about a ship owner set in Liverpool in the 1860s.

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I hadn't even heard of this show before Merej.

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I'd love to do that, but at six kilometers it's too far for me,

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That's an easy distance too Birds. It must be nice though to be close enough especially during the winter months. Are the kids schools further away or equally close?

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One is only young and he seemed particularly pleased with his drill. Lol! I think he is the same one who stepped back and fell into a hole in the quadrangle a few weeks ago. He was very embarrassed when he realised he had been seen by my colleague. He then spent ages fixing a piece of plastic to a door and when he walked away it just fell off.

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But the most important here is is he cute Laura?!

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/24/white-house-adviser-kellyanne-conway-repeatedly-punched-man/

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This woman! Speaking of the inauguration, did you see what she wore during the inauguration? She looks like a complete nutter everytime she is on screen.

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Have you seen the latest?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/torture-work-says-trump-president-9695120

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Sorry to sidetrack here, but how handsome is that Mexican president eh. http://tinyurl.com/z5yvg6a *drool*

http://tinyurl.com/js2md9q *thud*

UhmWhere was I?

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I watched Miss Austen Regrets during the Christmas Holidays btw and found it quite entertaining. Not the most exciting film ever, but rather enjoyable.

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Oh, I'm glad you found it enjoyable Merej. Lots of people hated it but I didn't mind it that much given it was an original screenplay and all. A different take on Austen. Which is why I liked "Becoming Jane" too as I mentioned on the other thread here.

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Its an interesting twist on the P&P story with a great cast. Very funny in places as well.

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I could never get into "Lost in Austen" for some reason Laura. Again, I liked the originality but I didn't like much else.

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I dont know if you watch Person of Interest

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That's another show my brother liked and tried to get me to watch! LOL.

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It isnt owned by the same family anymore but they still do the same recipe pies and cakes they did when I was a child.



and an arts and crafts store I remember visitng as a toddler with my grannyit was such a magic place stuffed with fabulous things - artificial flowers, and ropes, and paint, and coloured paper, and gems, and embrodery threads and pencils, and frames, and boxes, and bottlesit was like Aladdin's cave, the buildng a bit of a maze with hidden spiral starcases and all very crammed and weird and wonderful.

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Awwaren't those lovely memories you two have. Merejyour way with words

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I blame it on traumatic childhood experences back in the early 70s when turtleneck sweaters were all the rage.

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I must admit I dont like scarves too tight around my neck and I dont like turtleneck sweaters either. I don't like things pressing on my throat.

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Ah, I see. I have a rather long neck so I like the turtlenecks and scarveswrapped up warm!

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Btw - on my way to work on Friday a teenage girl almost knocked me overon closer inspection it turned out that she hadn't been aware of her surroundings at all because while walking she was reading.a book.

I felt lke giving her a hug.

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I wish you did!

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We decided to call by the crematorium to put some flowers on our mothers stone as we didnt get around to going on the anniversary of her death earlier in the month.

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AwwI didn't realize your mum's anniversary is close to your birthday Laura. Aww.

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Just saw this and it made me laugh.

https://twitter.com/TheFunnyWorId/status/825580056911159296

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Love it!

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except that I broke with a long-standing resolution and bought a microwave at the weekend.

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It is the weirdest thing, but I can't imagine life without one now. I struggled without one for a bit when I first got to Chicago but succumbed and went ahead and bought one in the end. It was mostly to heat up water quickly (didn't have a kettle) and for left-over meals tooI like cooking large portions at a time.

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Btw, I agree about the fennel tea, Merejshould be banned by the Geneva Conventions, along with camomile tea, rusks and gruel.

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I think Alfa would agree, . I don't mind any or all of those though.

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So, my default one these days is CK one.

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My standard perfume these days is Hermes Jardin Sur le Toit though

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My problem is that I tend to like expensive perfumes such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Channel No. 5, which is my default one.


Another perfume I like is "Parisienne" by Yves Saint Laurent.

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Burberry Weekend anyone? Can we guess our personalities from our taste in perfume? Your turn Ms Alfa!

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I cant remember, but have you watched Little Dorrit (2008) and Bleak House (2005)? I highly recommend those, especially the latter.

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I've seen "Little Dorrit" when I read the book but I've yet to see "Bleak House" Laura.

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I also noticed a couple of the nurses calling people 'lovely', as in 'Can you sit up lovely?' You don't tend to hear that endearment in Lancashire, it is usually 'love' or 'lovey', so to hear two using it was strange and they sounded local.

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Were they brown? That alone would explain it.

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Broadchurch is back next month.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/broadchurch-season-3-details-134951064.html

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Thanks for this Laura! I'll have to watch out for the DVD. I can't figure out when I'll get to watch the "Last Tango in Halifax" Christmas special if there is no news yet about a new season (normally they attach the CS with the following season's DVDs).

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On a totally different note: I think I'll pay a short visit to Berlin in summer - there's a new Museum in Potsdam which just opened with an Impressionists' Exhibition:

http://museum-barberini.com/en/exhibition-preview-impressionism/

Totally want to visit that one!

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Lovely. I hope you have a wonderful time there when you do visit it Merej.

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It's because of, like, 'when the U.S. sneeze, the whole world catches cold'.

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That's a great analogy Birds and so true! But IMO, there is so much we don't know that plays behind the scenes with every administration (deal with Australia re the refugeesWTH!that entire situation.); and Trump being Trump, everyone is ever-ready to fight him and everyone else on anything and everything(!) we think we understand. Such a contentious world we live in right now. That's the scary part. We are all walking on eggshells for the most part. I'm always willing to give the other a chance but .sighI dunno

I'm so confused about this whole thing because we are all, as Europeans and Canadians, standing and watching from the outside looking in. There are soo many backroom deals that we don't know that are happening in the background right now that will dictate what is to happen 10 years down the road! We won't know they happened (and sometimes will never know) until 20 years later.

Could you ever imagine that if the Americans hadn't provided guns and weapons to the Afghans to fight the Russians in the 80's, we wouldn't have the Taliban in its present form? Or if they hadn't done away with Saddam and Gadafi, that there would be no ISIS in their present form? Or that the housing/banking crisis of 2008 could have been prevented with a bit more government vigilance. I can't make it all out now .so what do I know, eh?

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Hillary seems to have this agenda that doesn't necessarily include serving the people to her best ability once she's elected. She is mean to her staff, she has legal problems, and didn't handle an emergency to an embassy very well as secretary of state. She seems secretive and less than honest about what she does.

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In all honesty though, which president/prime minister has been honest and puts the best interest of the public in the forefront? They all do and promise things before an election to get elected and once they are in office, they see the bigger picture and backtrack on a lot of their campaign policies. Corporations, money, greed kick inpolitics is like running a sleazy business. Everyone thinks they can do better than the previous guy and they all end up relatively the same in the enduntrustworthy businessmen/women. I think a good majority of Americans were hard on Hillary but it was inevitable I suppose given the many years she was in politics.

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It's all been a bit 'oh, look, they have just fallen for the crass populist, silly them'.

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Because that makes for sensationalist news that everyone loves these days. If we mean to understand it all better, we are left to wade through all that stuff on our own(!) before we can find something insightful to ruminate on. Sigh.

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Instead of accepting that people who support populists might have valid concerns that need to be addressed - and addressed urgently -, members of left wing and conservative parties and the media have far too often simply painted them as irrational, easy to influence politial idiots, if not (in the context of our current Immigrant Situation) foaming at the mouth racists, which of course it not going to help the established parties regain lost ground.

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Well said, Merej!

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I assume this will teach you not to innocently post links to political articles ever again.

But seriously, this has been good fun.

*pushes worms back in, carfully closes can*

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I don't want to open that can again anytime soon!

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ETA: Laura!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Twenty seconds.

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I love the sense of camaraderie and genuine friendship we have developed on this board, and I'm kicking myself for not having been very active in the past couple of years.

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Aww Don't worry about it Ima! Health comes first! I'm so glad to hear that you are doing so much better now.

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Life in the birds household - definitely not for pussies.

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Pussy, pussies.I didn't know that they wouldn't be censored on here until after I posted pussy-grabber. LOL.

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The one the dermatologist prescribed is Mometasone Furoate. They only other one I have tried is Betnovate which was given to me by my GP.

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No idea why they aren't working Laura. You seem to have got the good stuff. Hope there is some improvement soon.

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I will miss all the emojis as well. Remember when they disappeared when they brought out the new ones? There was such an outcry that they brought them back.

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I wonder if we can somehow move these emoticons to proboards..so lackingsigh. I guess an admin would have to do that though if it is possible.

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I got six of the small (20 x 20 cm) canvasses last week and turned them into I really don't know what.

http://de.tinypic.com/r/2ymukpd/9

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I'm having trouble retrieving them now but I remember them having a beach-theme to them (I think the one of the right looked like a starfish and the bluish colours of course. Keep up the "abstractery" Merej.

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And then I did these recently - http://de.tinypic.com/r/9tft3l/9 -note where the painting on the right hangs? That's where I had my Monet, with the candlestick on the table, when that mishap occurred.

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It's so good Merej.
Ms Scarlet in the dining room with the candlestick! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluedo (I love this game!) I like the lady on the right too, Merej.

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It's a simplified version of one of those 'We The People'/Women's March posters, so I basically just copied it onto canvass.

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So as the creator I would imagine that you wouldn't mind these people staring at you in the middle of night then.

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That bloke looks familiar

He does, doesn't he? There something about that face..

That guy seems to pop up a lot in my paintings - quite obtrusive, truth be told.

Nice ears though.

-
Elf ears.

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Dogs seem to consider cats members of the family, while cats regard dogs the way they regard the rest of us - as staff.

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Wasn't that similar to your signature here, Laura? I remember you had that when I first came around here; certainly in your old posts.

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in particular in times when you have to explode a cow or turn dead cats into flying objections to get noticed.

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What? Care to elaborate there missy?

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It's like getting paid for being a file shifting bilingual dominatrix

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Nice imagery there Merej. So it is just English and German then or "oui" and "si" too.

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Just tell people it's a love bite!

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A "knutschflek". See, I'm catching on, eh.

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Another thing I particularly hate is when somebody stands too close behind me

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Urgh.. I hate that too and my mom tends to do that a lot! But don't seem to mind when it is a guy I like though.

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Seriously though, you are one clever lady



and devilishly good-looking in the bargain!

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Hey, we can't see you Merej, so to us you are the most handsomest gal out there! Clever, without a doubt

And that goes to all the ladies here!

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except for the fact that I HATE any kind of change and that they're seriously short in emojis!

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I know. I hate changes too Birds.

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I have another proboard which I am a member of as well and now the Outlander Google Group.

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I don't know how you manage Laura let alone at this present time. I struggled when I just had IMDb. And now

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To be honest that he isnt quite as nice as he appeared hasnt come as a shock to me.

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Yeah, same here Laura. I try not to look at celebs face-value alone. Everyone has an agenda and this whole Beckham thing doesn't surprise me.

Your lettuce crisis this year Laura, was our cauliflower crisis last year. It was crazy how expensive a head of cauliflower cost. Remember that Alfa? Nuts.

Alright, all done. Post too long it says!

P.S: I love how you can't spell either Merej!

One of the things I love about my apartment is that although Im only a few blocks away from downtown, Im surrounded by small wooded areas on each side. Well, today when I got home from work, I saw that the small wooded area across from my balcony has been cut down Its not even the size of one square block, but it was a nice little patch of wilderness where I could sit on my balcony, without anybody across the street looking at me and watch the small herd of about 5 deer walk around the woods. And now its gone, and Im devastated. Im assuming theyll be building apartments over there or something, and now I wont have the privacy on my balcony that I previously enjoyed. Ill even have to make sure to keep the blinds closed on my patio doors if I dont want anybody looking in. Between the board being shut down and the trees being chopped down, I feel like my little havens are disappearing
On a funny note, we use an instant messenger program at work for quick questions and the like so we dont always have to be emailing/calling/walking over to other people. Well, really most of us just use it to chit chat throughout the day . Anyway, I was chatting with a good friend of mine, and I was going to be referencing his role as Guy of Gisborne with the comment He was strutting around in black leather all the time. Well, good thing I checked before I hit enter, because I almost accidentally sent that comment to someone else in the office Thankfully I caught it, although the almost-recipient is another really good friend of mine, so it wouldnt have been the worst thing in the world. Weve all sent wrong messages to somebody at one time or another, and it always seems like its with the worst timing

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So you're 'bibliovore' at C19 now? Very apt

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Yes, I am. When I started my imdb account, I used my then-email address of imalittledrummergirl. However, I really dont use that email address anymore, so when I started my C19 account, I used my current email address as inspiration. And, as I havent really played percussion in about 15 years, I figured it was best not to advertise myself as a drummer
@Lois

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Sorry to sidetrack here, but how handsome is that Mexican president eh. http://tinyurl.com/z5yvg6a *drool*

http://tinyurl.com/js2md9q *thud*

UhmWhere was I?

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Oh wow theres a whole lot of handsome happening in that photo!


And now I need to go and get accustomed to the C19 board!


What do you mean 'find yourself a man'? I've got Thornton, Darcy, Wentworth..

Morning, my lovelies!

@ birds

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Woah! *breaks out in a sweat* (sorry, 'perspiration' of course ladies don't sweat)

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and even perspiring we smell of roses

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hardly manage to keep up with this board, and now am parallel posting at C19

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That place still does my head in - I got problems navigating the real world, finding my way around a huge message board will be a challenge.

@ alfa

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Waiting for my grandson to arriveI'll post when I get a break.

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My guess is summer 2019?

@ laura

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You need to quote that line from Dirty Dancing to them This is your space, this is my space.

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At my first job I had a colleague who had absolutely no concept of personal space at all. It's amazing how aggressive that made me.

I am not quite sure what to think of private e-mails getting hacked and published, but Beckham certainly comes across as rude, greedy, and full of himself. A friend of mine works at the Munich airport, and she also has a lot of stories to tell about celebs who are 'everybody's darling' on tv but behave incredibly rude and selfish in real life.

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P.S. Back to the potential vegetable shortage in Britain. I saw this on twitter.

https://twitter.com/AngusPolice/status/828189783755210752

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Love the first comment - tip of the iceberg indeed!

ETA: I watched the first two episodes of "Life" yesterday, and I am quite intrigued.

@ lois

Boah - now that's what I call a post!

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Oh! I love me a biscotti more than rusks especially the chocolate covered, pistachio/almond or cranberry ones. Yum!

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Totally, especially with an Espresso or Amaretto to dip then in.

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Coke and pretzels? Speaking of, are the pretzels and beer combo a German thing, Merej?

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It's mostly a Bavarian thing, at least with the bigger soft pretzels (vs. the small snack variety).

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My dad drinks this German beer because of the higher alcohol content.. 7% compared to the standard 5% here LOL: http://www.thebeerstore.ca/beers/holsten-festbock

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That would be the special 'strong beers' which are traditionally brewed during religious fasting periods, to keep up your strength! Most of those were brewed in Bavaria by monks btw, which is why some traditional Bavarian breweries are named after religious orders (e.g. Paulaner, Franziskaner, Augustiner).

Which reminds me - Guinness used to have those adverts with the slogan "Guinness - gives you strength!". They once asked the writer Brendan Behan to come up with a new slogan, so his suggestion was "Guinness - gets you drunk!". For some reason the adverstising department wasn't too happy with that.

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Sorry to sidetrack here, but how handsome is that Mexican president eh. http://tinyurl.com/z5yvg6a *drool*

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Definite eye candy.

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Could you ever imagine that if the Americans hadn't provided guns and weapons to the Afghans to fight the Russians in the 80's, we wouldn't have the Taliban in its present form? Or if they hadn't done away with Saddam and Gadafi, that there would be no ISIS in their present form? Or that the housing/banking crisis of 2008 could have been prevented with a bit more government vigilance. I can't make it all out now .so what do I know, eh?

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Also they either never learn or actually do it on purpose - and now Trump is busy eliminating regulations put in place in 2008 to keep banks from speculating too wildly again. *facepalm*

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I'm having trouble retrieving them now but I remember them having a beach-theme to them (I think the one of the right looked like a starfish and the bluish colours of course. Keep up the "abstractery" Merej.

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I love that people see different things there - to me the starfish looks more like a leaf (in ice?) or probably a satellite Image of a frozen landscape. I'm not quite sure what the artist is trying to tell us.

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Ms Scarlet in the dining room with the candlestick

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So as the creator I would imagine that you wouldn't mind these people staring at you in the middle of night then

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All I usually notice when I look at them is that I might just have to fix the the hairline or tilt of the head or put a higlight in this one or correct the shadow in that one. I'm currently considering moving pointy-ear's mouth a tad closer towards his nose.

Call me Dr. Frankenstein.


Flying dead cat:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2154283/Cats-away-Artist-turns-dead-pet-flying-helicopter-killed-car.html

Definitely not my kind of 'art'

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So it is just English and German then or "oui" and "si" too.

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There is an occasional 'oui' and 'si'(the Spanish variety), but only rarely.

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A "knutschflek". See, I'm catching on, eh.

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Well remembered!

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Urgh.. I hate that too and my mom tends to do that a lot! But don't seem to mind when it is a guy I like though.

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Unfortunately I can't even stand it in that case. It just freaks me out.

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P.S: I love how you can't spell either Merej!

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You call it mistakes, I call it alternative spellingz




After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Afternoon everyone! Bit late today. Had some errands and a cat to bath.

Nancys back was still twitching so we thought another bath might help. Got a couple of pics this time. Please excuse my sisters arm.

http://s692.photobucket.com/user/laurajojo11/media/IMGP0376.jpg.html

http://s692.photobucket.com/user/laurajojo11/media/IMGP0377.jpg.html?o=0

Also having major internet probs this morning. It is going sooo slow.

@lois

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I have noticed that the folks there on "Outlander" are quite tolerant when it comes to the new posters and the same old questions. Not many boards on here are like that. Glad you've got the bunch moving to Google Groups. Let us know how that platform works compared to C19/proboards, Laura.

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Yes, the regulars are quite a nice bunch and very knowledgeable and good at finding out info which is great. Google groups does not seem very use friendly but its early days.

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Same here Lauradry toast I will lightly butter mine if I can tolerate it that day.

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Ive found lately I struggle to eat breakfast when I am up early for work, so I usually take some bread with me and make some toast at work to eat mid morning.

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I blame my parents for not knowing better.

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Me too. My mum should have been more strict with the sugary drinks and sweets. I now drink diet drinks, but I believe they can be just as bad for you.

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Episode 9

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Robs wife (Oona Chaplin) is in Taboo and someone mentioned her shocking death scene in GoT on C19 the other day. As I said over there, I think that was the most upsetting bit for me in the Red Wedding scene - the way she and her unborn baby were killed. It just seemed to excessive, especially as it wasnt in the book. Her character wasnt even at the Wedding.

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I haven't watched "X-Files".

---

You should try it out sometime. It is a classic. I remember that we didnt start watching from the beginning, although I did catch up later. One evening I caught the episode called Ice. Such a brilliant episode to stumble upon as I was instantly hooked.

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But the most important here is is he cute Laura?!

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It was difficult to tell because he had his hoodie up. But he was young enough to be my son. Lol!

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Sorry to sidetrack here, but how handsome is that Mexican president eh.

---

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AwwI didn't realize your mum's anniversary is close to your birthday Laura. Aww.

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It is on the 6th January. So just out of the Christmas period.

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I've seen "Little Dorrit" when I read the book but I've yet to see "Bleak House" Laura.

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Id say it is my favourite after N&S. Anna Maxwell Martin and Gillian Anderson are brilliant in it. There is a scene between them which makes me cry every time I watch. It isnt as bleak as the title either. A good story.

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I'm always willing to give the other a chance but .sighI dunno

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Have you seen the latest?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38888913

How on earth could that happen in the 21st century?

---

You seem to have got the good stuff

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Yes, I believe this is one of the strongest you can have.

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(I love this game!)

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Cluedo was my favourite as a child.

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Wasn't that similar to your signature here, Laura?

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Yes, it was Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

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I don't know how you manage Laura let alone at this present time.

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Well, that is why I havent been so active on C19 lately. Also I havent really spent a lot of time on the Google Group yet. I have Twitter as well. Things have got interesting on there since the US election.

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I try not to look at celebs face-value alone.

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Very true. And to think in interviews he had this quietly spoken and shy persona.

@Ima

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Well, today when I got home from work, I saw that the small wooded area across from my balcony has been cut down

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What a shock. No wonder you are devastated. I would be as well. We are lucky that we are not overlooked. In front of our house is a park. I was upset when they put a childrens playground on the lawn area a few years ago, especially as it spoils our view of the park. It can also get noisy in summer when you have the windows open.

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I hit enter, because I almost accidentally sent that comment to someone else in the office

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Good job you realised in time. Lol!

@merej

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Which reminds me - Guinness used to have those adverts with the slogan "Guinness - gives you strength!". They once asked the writer Brendan Behan to come up with a new slogan, so his suggestion was "Guinness - gets you drunk!". For some reason the adverstising department wasn't too happy with that.

---

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Flying dead cat:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2154283/Cats-away-Artist-turns-dead-pet-flying-helicopter-killed-car.html

Definitely not my kind of 'art'

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Nor mine. I have no idea why anyone would do that.

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You call it mistakes, I call it alternative spellingz

---

---

Nancys back was still twitching so we thought another bath might help. Got a couple of pics this time. Please excuse my sisters arm.

http://s692.photobucket.com/user/laurajojo11/media/IMGP0376.jpg.html

http://s692.photobucket.com/user/laurajojo11/media/IMGP0377.jpg.html?o=0

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Now that's one happy cat.

I mean - poor Nancy!

I had comp problems at home this morning too - tried to upload a pic I'd taken of a cat and dog in a chinese hostel a couple of years ago, but the connection kept breaking down. The pets would spend the nights in the hostel common room which had a rather cold tiled floor, and they weren't allowed on the chairs and sofas, so while the dog would sleep on the floor - the cat would sleep on the dog.


After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Morning all!
Yeah, sorry about the length of my last post. I wanted to go out with a bang!
I know it is a bit silly to go back and quote old conversations and then put in my two cents about what was said days ago I'll have to change that of course on the new site. In fact, when I went to preview the post, it said the message was too long and was truncated. My longest post yet! When I checked to see what my missing, the last two lines where I was justifying why the long post was missing.

Besides, if it weren't for the quotes the message wouldn't be that long, ok ladies!

So sorry to hear about the little parkette being chopped down Ima! Aww I know how much we crave green spaces in the city and suburbs so it is sad when that happens.

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Most of those were brewed in Bavaria by monks btw, which is why some traditional Bavarian breweries are named after religious orders (e.g. Paulaner, Franziskaner, Augustiner).

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Are they?

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I love that people see different things there - to me the starfish looks more like a leaf (in ice?) or probably a satellite Image of a frozen landscape. I'm not quite sure what the artist is trying to tell us.

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For some reason that link wasn't opening up yesterday evening for me Merej. But now that I've looked at it again, I don't know how I saw a starfish in the first place. I think it was the one on the left that looks like a turtle and I automatically associated the one of the right with a starfish - in my head! But yes, the one on the right does look like a leaf! Satellite image.yes, that too!

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Flying dead cat:

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Nancys back was still twitching so we thought another bath might help. Got a couple of pics this time. Please excuse my sisters arm.

http://s692.photobucket.com/user/laurajojo11/media/IMGP0376.jpg.html

http://s692.photobucket.com/user/laurajojo11/media/IMGP0377.jpg.html?o=0

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Awwww!! Soo cute! Just want to give her a hug and tell her it's gonna be ok hope she's feeling better Laura.

Oh Laura, I meant to say and you probably already know this of course, but I hope you're not using a harsh soap when bathing. Or perfumed creams and spraysbest hold back.

Oona Chaplin: I couldn't believe she is the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin! Wow. Yes, saw her in the "Taboo" trailer but I had first seen her in the movie "The Longest Ride". And then GoT. I like that they showed her at the wedding and that scene with her because it showed how brutal the Freys and the Boltons were and how brutal it was during those times. Not only would Robb not be king but his heir wouldn't eithertwo birds with one stone!

Have you seen this from today: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4199624/New-photos-Barack-Obama-kite-surfing-Richard-Branson.html

Read the comments below tooTrudeau is in a bit of hot water at the moment for use Aga Khan's private plane/chopper.politicians and businessmen.
Alrighty have a good one all!

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Yeah, sorry about the length of my last post. I wanted to go out with a bang!

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Hey - I wasn't complaining at all, quite to the contrary: I am in awe that you managed to reply to so many different posts from two different threads! I'd have got completely confuddled and confoundelized half way through if I'd tried something like that.

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I know it is a bit silly to go back and quote old conversations and then put in my two cents about what was said days ago

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Awwww - every single one of you comments is more than welcome.

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I'll have to change that of course on the new site.

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Don't you dare, missy!

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I think it was the one on the left that looks like a turtle and I automatically associated the one of the right with a starfish - in my head!

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They are not meant to depict anything in particular, so every interpretation is correct - and more than welcome.

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https://youtu.be/vK8yKRiZw04

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So your user name ain't no coincidence!


After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

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I mean - poor Nancy!

---

She was ever so good. Shes recovered now and I think she has forgiven us. I towel dried her and then used the hairdryer but her fur is just so thick. She had the good sense to curl up next to the radiator.

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The pets would spend the nights in the hostel common room which had a rather cold tiled floor, and they weren't allowed on the chairs and sofas, so while the dog would sleep on the floor - the cat would sleep on the dog.

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Id love to see that pic if you can get it uploaded.

@lois

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My longest post yet!

---

It was a doozy. I loved it.

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When I checked to see what my missing, the last two lines where I was justifying why the long post was missing.

---

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..hope she's feeling better Laura.

---

She snoring away at the moment. If she is still twitching after this I suppose it will be back to the vets because we are unsure if it is the dandruff or the scent glands.

---

Oh Laura, I meant to say and you probably already know this of course, but I hope you're not using a harsh soap when bathing.

---

It is a soothing aloe and oatmeal pet shampoo for dry and itchy skin. It certainly helps clear up her dandruff.

---

Oona Chaplin: I couldn't believe she is the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin!

---

She was also in The Crimson Field with Richard Rankin, who is now in Outlander. The Crimson Field was a great series (I know that Alfa was also a fan). Such a shame they only made one series.

---

Not only would Robb not be king but his heir wouldn't eithertwo birds with one stone!

---

Stabbing the baby just really upset me. His wife was never pregnant in the books, was she?

---

Read the comments below tooTrudeau is in a bit of hot water at the moment for use Aga Khan's private plane/chopper.politicians and businessmen.

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Naughty. Wasn't there some trouble about what he said about Castro when he died as well. I can't remember if we have talked about that before or not.

@merej

I missed this earlier:

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ETA: I watched the first two episodes of "Life" yesterday, and I am quite intrigued.

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I'm pleased you are intrigued by it.

---

They are not meant to depict anything in particular, so every interpretation is correct - and more than welcome.

---

I think the one on the right looks like a leaf as well. I can also see what Lois means about the one on the right looking like a turtle.

Just going back to the Trump state visit.

https://twitter.com/jamieklingler/status/826178796801884162

Finally, when you all get over the C19 you will see that I have changed my avatar to Cats which we have been using to start the HT threads. We have not talked about Cat in all this but I know she would have been devastated that the Message Boards were being shut down. Im also pretty sure she would have joined us over at C19, so I thought this was a way of taking her there with us in spirit.

Just came back here from visiting C19




The forecast today was for freezing rain, so my grandson stayed home, (no babysitting for me) so I took the opportunity to do some quick errands. The rain has now officially started and the temperature has dropped. I"m not going anywhere soon.

I didn't come back on this thread yesterday (although I promised I would/always doing that) but now I see you guys talked a lot!!

@laura and @merej

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Not keen on turtlenecks. I was just saying that to merej recently. I dont like pressure on my throat. Maybe I was strangled or hanged in a previous life.

---

---

We were probably part of the same hanging party.

---

You guys are morbid!

---

Another thing I particularly hate is when somebody stands too close behind me or something is moving close to the back of my neck. *shudders*

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Well I don't like it if anyone comes into my kitchen when I"m cooking. (I have a very small kitchen.) Does that count?

@birds

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I think the place is going to be okay except for the fact that I HATE any kind of change and that they're seriously short in emojis!

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I'm with you!!

I hadn't heard the news about David Beckham, Laura. Bad, not so nice 'boy'. Ugh. But I loved the tweet about the lettuce!

@lois

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And I used to put more sugar in everything as a kidcereal, milk, Tang! I blame my parents for not knowing better.

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You put sugar in Tang? Makes my teeth hurt just thinking about it. Although I have to admit my mum used to give us condensed milk on bread and called it lunch, so there you go.

---

But Alfa is a fan of the courtroom stuff; I wonder if she's seen "Bull".

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No. I"m still stuck in the funeral home type genre (Six Feet Under). I'm dying to get out of there now .(Sorry.)

---

But the most important here is is he cute Laura?!

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One track mind. But a healthy one. (( Ms. Lois and love to tease her.)

---

This woman! Speaking of the inauguration, did you see what she wore during the inauguration? She looks like a complete nutter every time she is on screen.

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She drives me nuts! Horrible outfitthe buttons on the coat (cat heads) and that silly red bucket hat put it over the top for me. Oh my eyes!!!

---

Sorry to sidetrack here, but how handsome is that Mexican president eh. http://tinyurl.com/z5yvg6a *drool*

---

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UhmWhere was I?

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See earlier comment about Lois's 'mind'. I rest my case.

---

and an arts and crafts store I remember visitng as a toddler with my grannyit was such a magic place stuffed with fabulous things - artificial flowers, and ropes, and paint, and coloured paper, and gems, and embrodery threads and pencils, and frames, and boxes, and bottlesit was like Aladdin's cave, the buildng a bit of a maze with hidden spiral starcases and all very crammed and weird and wonderful.

---

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Awwaren't those lovely memories you two have. Merejyour way with words

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I loved what merej wrote there. She a great "spinner" and conjures up fabulous images.

---

Btw, I agree about the fennel tea, Merejshould be banned by the Geneva Conventions, along with camomile tea, rusks and gruel.

---

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I think Alfa would agree

---

..

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Can we guess our personalities from our taste in perfume? Your turn Ms Alfa!

---

I don't wear perfume anymore. I knowkinda sad, eh? But lest you think I'm not paying attention to those "girly" details, I do have a wonderful collection of lotions and potions for my skin and I never scrimp on my hair products/salon. Top of the line. But perfumes? "Eau de Dog".

Oops interruption herebe back soon.

Can't proofread so forgive typos and stuff.

---

You guys are morbid!

---

In this life, I think I am destined to be run over. Ive had a few close calls. Lol!

---

But perfumes? "Eau de Dog".

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Oops interruption herebe back soon.

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Please do. You havent commented on Nancys pictures. She is mortified that I have shared them on the Net her being in the bath as well.

Back again

@merej

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http://museum-barberini.com/en/exhibition-preview-impressionism/

Totally want to visit that one!

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That will definitely inspire your creative soul, merej. Of course you'll tell us all about it?

@lois

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Just tell people it's a love bite!

---

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A "knutschflek". See, I'm catching on, eh.

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Ooh, oooh I remember that one, Lois, it's from Birds!

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Urgh.. I hate that too and my mom tends to do that a lot! (Stand too close..) But don't seem to mind when it is a guy I like though.

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So not surprised

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Hey, we can't see you Merej, so to us you are the most handsomest gal out there! Clever, without a doubt

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What a lovely compliment, and truly well deserved.

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Your lettuce crisis this year Laura, was our cauliflower crisis last year. It was crazy how expensive a head of cauliflower cost. Remember that Alfa? Nuts.

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It was ridiculous!

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P.S: I love how you can't spell either Merej!

---

Just adds to her charm, doesn't it?

@Ima

Oh Ima, how disappointing to lose your little part of nature out there. It makes a big difference, especially when you live close to town. And I feel bad for those deer, too. They've lost their oasis too

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He was strutting around in black leather all the time. Well, good thing I checked before I hit enter, because I almost accidentally sent that comment to someone else in the office.

---

It happens in various forms to all of us at some time or another.

@merej

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My guess is summer 2019?

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Sometimes it feels that wayand then along comes an ice storm

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Flying dead cat:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2154283/Cats-away-Artist-turns-dead-pet-flying-helicopter-killed-car.html

Definitely not my kind of 'art'

---

That's awful.I'm guessing this guy's single. Very.

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You call it mistakes, I call it alternative spellingz

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@lois

Oh no, poor Nancy! Awwwwell she's still better off than that ridiculous helicopter cat. (Actually it's the guy who's ridiculous). You know, even soaking wet you can still see how beautiful Nancy really is.

---

Have you seen the latest?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38888913

How on earth could that happen in the 21st century?

---

I don't believe anything this guy says. He loves to stir up controversy and then walk away.

---

Finally, when you all get over the C19 you will see that I have changed my avatar to Cats which we have been using to start the HT threads. We have not talked about Cat in all this but I know she would have been devastated that the Message Boards were being shut down. Im also pretty sure she would have joined us over at C19, so I thought this was a way of taking her there with us in spirit.

---

You're right, Laura, she absolutely would have been devastated! It's a wonderful tribute to her memory and now she really has "come away with us".

Why is everyone calling me today?? I have to go. I keep getting interrupted. Anyway, pretty much ran out of stuff to say. No, really.

---

So your user name ain't no coincidence!

---

Some thought was put in it, .

Aww and thank you Merej for your kind words re my post(s)!

I'm looking forward to that pic as well of the cat atop the dog.

---

It is a soothing aloe and oatmeal pet shampoo for dry and itchy skin. It certainly helps clear up her dandruff.

---

Ah, I see. Had no idea cats got dandruff; makes sense though. But, sorry Laura ; I meant, you. I know nothing about cats or kitties so it wasn't about Nancy but rather I was wondering about your eczema and if you had stopped using scented/drying soaps and perfumed creams etc. even scented detergent on your clothes/sheets etc.

---

His wife was never pregnant in the books, was she?

---

What's weird for me when reading the first book is how young they are allisn't he like 16 years old or something and isn't Dany like 14 years old!

They are all kids!!

I'm just glad that all look older in the series then.

---

Wasn't there some trouble about what he said about Castro when he died as well. I can't remember if we have talked about that before or not.

---

Yeahhis father was close to Castro and Aga Khan too for that matter, who were both pallbearers at his father's funeral. Soyou know.. I don't think I brought it up here Laura, but I think I mentioned the Trudeau family's relationship with Castro in that thread where Jaydall said how the RA blogger Severtus had banned her from her site - regarding RA's Castro inclusion in his Christmas message (I was pointing out how our PM too got into some hot water for his statement on Castro's death).

---

Finally, when you all get over the C19 you will see that I have changed my avatar to Cats which we have been using to start the HT threads. We have not talked about Cat in all this but I know she would have been devastated that the Message Boards were being shut down. Im also pretty sure she would have joined us over at C19, so I thought this was a way of taking her there with us in spirit.

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You are so considerate and kind Laura. Bless you!

---

You put sugar in Tang?

---

Not anymore Alfa. I don't even drink Tang anymore.

---

Although I have to admit my mum used to give us condensed milk on bread and called it lunch, so there you go.

---

My mom hates cooking..so I spent most of my childhood embarrassed about my lunch. Worst part of it is that, my dad loves eating.

---

the buttons on the coat (cat heads) and that silly red bucket hat

---

The buttons were cat heads? Oh wowI hadn't looked at pics but I see it now.tiger heads? Apparently it is the Gucci designer's animal/plant based-themed trademark.

"silly red bucket hat"! She looked like a..nutcrakerin every sense of the word.

I have a purple cloche nearing exactly like her's . It's how how hard she tried to match the flag colours that made it sodesperate. Sigh. The coat itself was nice but the red gloves and hat were overkill. And it was her birthday too. I didn't realize until now that she's a lawyer and a mother of 4! And that Donald Trump's sister was a judge! And that he's related to the Heinz family! (I love my Heinz). Wow!

---

See earlier comment about Lois's 'mind'. I rest my case.

---

---

I do have a wonderful collection of lotions and potions for my skin and I never scrimp on my hair products/salon.

---

You have ammazing skin Ms Alfa, and are perfectly coiffed always.

Really icy here.


ETA: UhmmI know you recently mentioned a Richard Hatch from BG Laura, so I'm sorry to say that he passed away today from pancreatic cancer; he was 71 years old. http://ew.com/tv/2017/02/07/richard-hatch-dead-battlestar-galactica-actor-dies/ RIP.

A very good morning, my little ducklings!

It's very dark and back to subzero temperatures.

@ laura

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Id love to see that pic if you can get it uploaded

---

I tried it again this morning, and now tinypic claims that it can't process the file. Might be a problem with tinypic or the file is actually corrupted though I wouldn't know how that could be. Anyway, as a photo it's not that great - just a ginger tomcat in perfect sphinx pose snoozing on top of a big brown dog.

---

I'm pleased you are intrigued by it.

---

Watched another episode last night and I really like it. Especially Damian Lewis' acting - another actor who can say so much with his eyes.

---

Just going back to the Trump state visit.

https://twitter.com/jamieklingler/status/826178796801884162

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Now that's definitely catchy!

---

Finally, when you all get over the C19 you will see that I have changed my avatar to Cats which we have been using to start the HT threads. We have not talked about Cat in all this but I know she would have been devastated that the Message Boards were being shut down. Im also pretty sure she would have joined us over at C19, so I thought this was a way of taking her there with us in spirit.

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That's such a kind, lovely thought, and it speaks volumes about you and this friendly little community.

---

In this life, I think I am destined to be run over. Ive had a few close calls. Lol!

---

I almost got run over by a tram in Naples once - if some guy hadn't pulled me back in the last second. They got those fabulous new trams which are almost noiseless and I totally didn't expect it to come from the left, so only checked for traffic from the right. The weird thing was that the moment he pulled me back and I could see the tram coming in the corner of my eyes, I 'lost time' - I was looking at my foot which was already on the tracks, willing it to move back and it felt like I was moving through molassesit seemed to take ages while I could see the tram approach, though it can only have been a split second. Not very pleasant. The next moment I was back on the sidewalk and so shocked and befuddled, I think I I didn't even thank the guy properly. So, somewhere in Naples there's an elderly man with rheumy eyes and by the looks of it of Arab descent who might very well have saved my life (and who might remember me as 'that stammering dunderhead').

---

You havent commented on Nancys pictures. She is mortified that I have shared them on the Net her being in the bath as well

---

In fairness, if anyone can pull off that look with dignity and grace, it's Nancy.


@ alfa

---

Well I don't like it if anyone comes into my kitchen when I"m cooking. (I have a very small kitchen.) Does that count?

---

Afraid it's got to be a completely irrational reaction for it to count. Try again!

---

No. I"m still stuck in the funeral home type genre (Six Feet Under). I'm dying to get out of there now

---

Who's morbid now?

---

One track mind. But a healthy one. (( Ms. Lois and love to tease her.)

---

She certainly knows how to home in on the vital factor.

---

I loved what merej wrote there. She a great "spinner" and conjures up fabulous images.

---

---

What a lovely compliment, and truly well deserved

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Stop it you!

---

"Eau de Dog".

---

---

That will definitely inspire your creative soul, merej. Of course you'll tell us all about it?

---

You will have a hard time shutting me up! I love the colours in that first painting on the website - sooo brilliant! Really looking forward to that, plus there are a couple more museums I want to visit as they didn't even exist yet the last time I went to Berlin.

---

Sometimes it feels that wayand then along comes an ice storm

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Glass a quarter full? Me likes!

@ Lois

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Some thought was put in it,

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I'm with Mark Twain btw:

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Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.

---

We definitely got spades of it!

---

ETA: UhmmI know you recently mentioned a Richard Hatch from BG Laura, so I'm sorry to say that he passed away today from pancreatic cancer; he was 71 years old. http://ew.com/tv/2017/02/07/richard-hatch-dead-battlestar-galactica-actor-dies/ RIP.

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I hadn't heard about that - RIP

After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Morning everyone!

@alfa

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You know, even soaking wet you can still see how beautiful Nancy really is.

---

Her eyes were enormous. Lol! She took it better this time. Last time she tried to get out of the bath a couple of times. This time she was just resigned to her fate. She didn't even miaow.

---

I don't believe anything this guy says. He loves to stir up controversy and then walk away.

---

The man is delusional.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-says-negative-polls-120200070.html

@lois

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Ah, I see. Had no idea cats got dandruff; makes sense though.

---

Nancy is the first, but she is longest haired cat we have had.

---

But, sorry Laura ; I meant, you.

---

Oh sorry Lois. What an idiot I am. I use a tea tree oil cleanser and toner on my face and an unperfumed soap.

---

I don't think I brought it up here Laura, but I think I mentioned the Trudeau family's relationship with Castro in that thread where Jaydall said how the RA blogger Severtus had banned her from her site - regarding RA's Castro inclusion in his Christmas message

---

That must be where I remember it from.

---

ETA: UhmmI know you recently mentioned a Richard Hatch from BG Laura, so I'm sorry to say that he passed away today from pancreatic cancer; he was 71 years old. http://ew.com/tv/2017/02/07/richard-hatch-dead-battlestar-galactica-actor-dies/ RIP.

---

I just heard about that. RIP. I first remember him from The Streets of San Francisco.

@merej

---

Watched another episode last night and I really like it. Especially Damian Lewis' acting - another actor who can say so much with his eyes.

---

That was the first time I heard him with an American accent. He does one very well.

---

I almost got run over by a tram in Naples once

---

Wow! That sounds like a close call. Well done that man.

---

I'm with Mark Twain btw:

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Off into town shortly for lunch and the cinema. Going to see Lion.

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That was the first time I heard him with an American accent. He does one very well.

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Yup, he doesn't overdo it.

---

Off into town shortly for lunch and the cinema. Going to see Lion.

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Have fun and let us know how you liked the movie!

After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

---

A very good morning, my little ducklings!

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Love it! Your opening lines always put a smile, Merej. Good morning everyone!

Yeah, for some reason, the Tinypic website gave me a lot of trouble the other day Merej. It would either just circle and time out or it would take me to homepage. Btw, that pic sounds lovely!

---

I almost got run over by a tram in Naples once - So, somewhere in Naples there's an elderly man with rheumy eyes and by the looks of it of Arab descent who might very well have saved my life

---

To that man in Naples: I'm almost afraid to ask about your worst almost run-over experience Laura.
That's a great Mark Twain quote Merej. Who has time for proper spelling anyway?
Yes, enjoy your afternoon Laura!

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In fairness, if anyone can pull off that look with dignity and grace, it's Nancy.

---

Oh yes! I agree Merej Compared to her older bath picture, this time there is a look of acceptance about the whole thing.

And let me say again, if you all haven't already, watch "Band of Brothers" - DL was amazing(!) in it. I was shocked that he didn't become more famous stateside after that. He landed "Life" but it was cancelled soon - I think that was mostly because of that writers strike back in '08; lots of new shows suffered as a result. I think I'll rewatch BoB soon too if I can!

Very icy roads here after the bout of freezing rain we had all day yesterday. And it is so cold! Feb is shaping up to be a lot colder than Jan was.

Have a good one ladies!


ETA: I spent $7 more for a book getting it from the local store than from Amazon; told myself that it was Amazon's loss really for shutting down the boards.

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Have fun and let us know how you liked the movie!

---

I thought the film was very good. I did toy with going to see La La Land. I noticed on C19 ,in the threads on both films, opinion on that one swung from dislike to it being OK, but wondering what all the fuss was about. Back to Lion I had wondered why Dev Patel had only been nominated for a Best Supporting Actor, but maybe it is because, like someone on C19 said, he shares screen time with Sunny Pawar who plays his younger self. They seemed to have about an hour of screen time apiece. SP was amazing btw in such a tough role for an 8 year old. So cute as well.

https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/8kcc5MaeDn7BFxtpbJ_Rxw/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9MzQwO3E9OTU7dz02MDU-/https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/lion_pawar.jpg?w=605

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I'm almost afraid to ask about your worst almost run-over experience Laura.

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I wasnt as dramatic as merej. A car going very fast reversed out of a side road at the hospital one dark morning and narrowly me as I was crossing the road. He didnt even stop.

---

And let me say again, if you all haven't already, watch "Band of Brothers" - DL was amazing(!) in it.

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Im going to have to send for the DVD.

---

And it is so cold! Feb is shaping up to be a lot colder than Jan was.

---

Same here. There is some very cold weather on the way apparently.

ETA:
Going back to courtroom dramas, the new series of Suits is on over here. Not that they actually get to the courtroom much. I will miss The Good Wife which was another courtroom drama I enjoyed which had its final season last year.

Morning, sweetie pies!

Back to really chilly and cold. We also got that stupid bone-marrow-freezing wind, again!

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Yeah, for some reason, the Tinypic website gave me a lot of trouble the other day Merej. It would either just circle and time out or it would take me to homepage

---

It did that a couple of times yesterday. Tried it again this morning (I just typed 'tomorrow' - brain in urgent need of coffee!), and got an 'image cannot be processed' message right away.

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Who has time for proper spelling anyway

---

when there's so much grammar to botch and bungle!

---

And let me say again, if you all haven't already, watch "Band of Brothers" - DL was amazing(!) in it. I was shocked that he didn't become more famous stateside after that. He landed "Life" but it was cancelled soon - I think that was mostly because of that writers strike back in '08; lots of new shows suffered as a result. I think I'll rewatch BoB soon too if I can!

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That one's excellent overall.

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ETA: I spent $7 more for a book getting it from the local store than from Amazon; told myself that it was Amazon's loss really for shutting down the boards

---

You show them, girl! I used to buy most of my books and dvds second hand via Amazon marketplace, but since they mostly came from the same reseller anyway who got their own webiste, I now order them directly from that website. It's the same with canvasses.


Amazon will grow to regret this step.


@ Laura

Glad you had a good time!

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So cute as well.

https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/8kcc5MaeDn7BFxtpbJ_Rxw/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9MzQwO3E9OTU7dz02MDU-/https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/lion_pawar.jpg?w=605

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Absolutely.

---

A car going very fast reversed out of a side road at the hospital one dark morning and narrowly me as I was crossing the road. He didnt even stop

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In our next life we won't feel comfortable crossing roads.

They will make 'why didn't the chicks cross the road?' jokes about us.

After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Morning everyone!

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Back to really chilly and cold.

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Same here. Surprised there was no frost this morning.

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That one's excellent overall.

---

I order BoB yesterday afternoon.

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I used to buy most of my books and dvds second hand via Amazon marketplace, but since they mostly came from the same reseller anyway who got their own website

---

I should probably start doing the same. I guess I just find Amazon convenient.

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Absolutely.

---

The more I think about it, the more I think he should have got the nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Dev Patel is good, but I think Sunny Pawar is better and has the stronger scenes overall.

---

They will make 'why didn't the chicks cross the road?' jokes about us.

---

---

I guess I just find Amazon convenient.

---

It really is convenient, especially since you can find all kinds of things on the same website, and usually also get a great choice and good prices. Also, my recent canvass overkill happened because the online shop where I had ordered directly has such a weird website, I thought my first order had not actually been received, so I ended up placing the same order twice.

I also feel bad ordering online at all, because in general I think one ought to support local shops (and avoid all the damage to the environment involved with the huge amount of packaging and number of deliveries), but our main art supplies shop here has such exorbitant prices, it's ridiculous, and there literally are no second-hand book shops in Munich I know of. That's one thing I always loved about the UK, the great number of second-hand bookshops, especially back in the day when you could not buy things online. I went to Hay-on-Wye (which basically consists of second-hand bookshops ) in the 1990stotally brilliant! Also loved the onese in the basements of almost every building on Charring Cross Road in London - that musty smell alone used to be very exciting. I think a number of them have closed down now thanks to Amazon

Btw - I seem to get a lot of error mMessages when trying to get here (or open a thread). Does anyobdy else have that problem?


After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Morning ladies

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Btw - I seem to get a lot of error mMessages when trying to get here (or open a thread). Does anyobdy else have that problem?

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Yes, I just got oneI'm not reading any posts at the moment but I did catch your question, Merej.


I'll be back after I walk Athena. I was unable to get online yesterday until the evening due to a power outage (early morning) caused by the freezing rain, and I had no internet connection all day.

I still babysat though but today I am totally free. Yaaay!

Back in an hour or so. Going to slide down the drive way 'til I hit dry road

Hi ladies!

Sorry for being a little on the quiet side right now Unfortunately I'm getting run over by all kinds of appointments and family obligations at present, and I'm feeling rather stressed out. So I'm afraid I won't manage to keep up with this thread for a while yetlet alone delve into the C19 board.

I'm lurking (mostly on my mobile)and I'll be around when I can but I can't promise that I'll catch up properly before we all have to move over to C19 for good. In particular as I'm still copy/pasting stuff from this board for my personal use.

But I'm happy to know that we'll have a new home over there, even though things will probably be a bit different (more supervised, for a start)




P.S.

---

Btw - I seem to get a lot of error mMessages when trying to get here (or open a thread). Does anyobdy else have that problem?

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Same here

Careful with the driving, Alfa!

---

Yes, I just got oneI'm not reading any posts at the moment but I did catch your question, Merej.

---

---

Same here

---

Good, so it's not just me being a tech-dork again.

---

but I can't promise that I'll catch up properly before we all have to move over to C19 for good

---

It's not the same without you here

After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

It is absolutely frigid out there!
How the heck do you manage Alfa? Be careful!

I too am getting the "D'ohsomething went wrong" message a lot today. It started yesterday and is getting worse! I hope this doesn't continue till the 19th.

Glad you enjoyed the film Laura. Did you see how adorably cute he was at the GG's? Check out those shoes:

I'm a little behind with "Suits" but boy, that Meghan is in the news a lot these day eh. Hope you enjoy BoB Laura; looking forward to hearing if the series holds up for you.

Yes, Amazon is convienent..that's their schtick eh..and affordable. I don't do a lot of online shopping except for books I need. And Amazon.com is a lot cheaper than Amazon.ca too even with the conversions. But this time, I made a conscientious effort to check out if the local store had it and even though it was listed as a sale price ($10 off their regular price)..it was still more than what Amazon was offering. Add to that 13% tax and the fact that I still have to wait for the shop to recieve it

Yeah, I don't really get why local stores are so much more expensiveto cover their overheads? Not a lot left these days eh. Another sign of the times, HMV is closing all its stores here in Canada.

I think the main factor with local shops would be the rent, at least in the inner cities.

On thing that really puts Amazon at an advantage in Germany when it comes to booksales is that we got a law that obliges the publishing houses to fix a final price for every new publication, which will then be charged by every shop, regardless of whether it's a big shop like Amazon or your small family business.

At first glance this looks as if the smaller shops may profit, as they don't have to compete with bigger shops offering bargains, but since the big shops will get a far better purchase price from the publishers than the small ones which can't order wholesale, they have a much bigger profit margin - so when it Comes to new publications I always by local.


After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

It was snowing earlier. Stopped now though and thankfully didnt stick.

@merej

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I went to Hay-on-Wye (which basically consists of second-hand bookshops ) in the 1990stotally brilliant!

---

Ive never been there. I first heard of it when I read a time slip novel called The Lady Of Hay many years ago. It has a book festival doesnt it?

---

I think a number of them have closed down now thanks to Amazon

---

I think it is the same with smaller libraries, probably because so many people read electronic books now. I cant remember the last time I went to my local one and it is only across the road. I worry that it might end up closing. It does have computers with free Internet access though which I think has helped it.

---

Btw - I seem to get a lot of error mMessages when trying to get here (or open a thread). Does anyobdy else have that problem?

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Im getting them as well. Why now I wonder? I could have understood it if it had been happening on Friday afternoon after the announcement was made.

Hi Alfa! Glad that you are back online. Take care in that freezing weather.

@birds

---

Sorry for being a little on the quiet side right now Unfortunately I'm getting run over by all kinds of appointments and family obligations at present, and I'm feeling rather stressed out. So I'm afraid I won't manage to keep up with this thread for a while yetlet alone delve into the C19 board.

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Thats OK. Try not to get too stressed. (I will miss this emoji as well)

@lois

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Glad you enjoyed the film Laura. Did you see how adorably cute he was at the GG's? Check out those shoes:[url[http://www.etonline.com/photo/2017/01/24297848/425_dev_patel_sunny_pawar_gg17_getty_631261326.jpg and this moment:

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No I didnt see that. So cute. I dont think he speaks a lot of English. Of course he spoke Hindi in the film. I forgot to say, I thought Nicole Kidman was very good in the film as well. She didnt have a lot of airtime, but made an impact with me, especially in one particularly emotional scene. I see she has been nominated for an Oscar as well for Best Supporting Actress. It was nice to see David Wenham in a film again as well. Although I did see him on TV last year in the period drama series Banished.

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Hope you enjoy BoB Laura; looking forward to hearing if the series holds up for you.

---

I will let you know. I might not get to it for a bit though.

---

Yes, Amazon is convienent..that's their schtick eh..and affordable.

---

Yes, affordability is another factor for me. You can get some DVDs for pennies.

@merej

---

I think the main factor with local shops would be the rent, at least in the inner cities.

---

Rent can even affect bigger stores. Our local Marks and Spencer is closing part of its store down because it cant afford the rent. Weve lost quite a few stores and shops in the town centre recently.

Hello ladies,

I've received your posts warning me of the dismantling of this precious board! Thank you for thinking of me!

Though I haven't been around lately, I've always taken comfort in the fact that your are still here carrying on the traditions of this time-tested place of friendship and love and that you would still be here when I return. It's hard to imagine this board being gone forever! What a loss to all of us who love N&S and to those in the future who will discover the book or the mini series!

I just registered as C-19 as you recommended under the user name 'heartfelt'. It's comforting to know that I can still find you all there! Will you congregate under a 'N&S' heading or topic? I'm not familiar with the C-19 board or how it works at all.

We've just returned from a business trip to NYC and I'm trying to get back into a routine here. I will archive all Cat's and Birds' stories and the poetry and writers' thread before it's too late. I still can't believe the board will disappear forever!

Well, I will get back to work now, but I promise to come by beforethe end.

You guys are wonderful!

Pat


ETA: Upon receiving a caution from Lois about posting my contact info publicly, I've deleted it and will provide it for anyone who asks!

Paaaaaaaat!!!!

You have been missedterribly.

I just wanted to get that out there and post this quickly before I get interrupted.

I am so happy to see you here my friend, and I look forward to seeing you on C19.
We all do. We've all missed you very much.

If I see "D'oh! Something went wrong" one more time today I'll start sceamingloud!

Pat! This is a wonderful surpriseand worth coming out of lurkdom, if only very quickly. PM coming your way. Please check.

Anyway, ladiesI'll be back tomorrow morning

Back again..

@lois

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Apparently it is the Gucci designer's animal/plant based-themed trademark.

---

I didn't realize that! Well, it's "fugly" (frightfully ugly), that's for sure.

---

And that Donald Trump's sister was a judge! And that he's related to the Heinz family! (I love my Heinz). Wow!

---

I didn't know any of that. I'll never look at ketchup the same way again.

---

Really icy here.

---

I know. I saved my clean up for today, especially around the back. What a mess. My usual walking trails were covered in ice, too, so it was cautious a cautious "crunchy" walk this morning.

@merej

---

I almost got run over by a tram in Naples once - if some guy hadn't pulled me back in the last second.

---

Scary stuff! Sounds like you had a guardian angel there.

---

Afraid it's got to be a completely irrational reaction for it to count. Try again!

---

I'll have to think on that one without coming across too, too crazy.


@laura

That has an interesting trailer, but after reading your comments I might just wait for the DVDit sounds like it's worth viewing but not necessarily making a night out of it.

@lois

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Your opening lines always put a smile, Merej.

---

So true! This will hopefully continue on C19 of course. No pressure. [bigrin]

---

I'm almost afraid to ask about your worst almost run-over experience Laura.

---

---

A car going very fast reversed out of a side road at the hospital one dark morning and narrowly me as I was crossing the road. He didnt even stop.

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Sometimes things catch us so off guard we never ever forget thembut gosh I hope that won't be your fate, Laura.

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In our next life we won't feel comfortable crossing roads.

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They will make 'why didn't the chicks cross the road?' jokes about us.

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It is absolutely frigid out there!
How the heck do you manage Alfa? Be careful!

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I am completely unrecognizable when I go out there in the winter. I'm layered up like you wouldn't believe! I look like the Michelin Man:

https://unmuffled.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/michelin-man.jpg

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Did you see how adorably cute he was at the GG's? Check out those shoes: http://www.etonline.com/photo/2017/01/24297848/425_dev_patel_sunny_pawar_gg17_getty_631261326.jpg

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How cool is he? I love that!

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If I see "D'oh! Something went wrong" one more time today I'll start sceamingloud!

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It's ridiculous!!

On the other hand, Pat has returned and is going to join us on C19, so hey, I"m taking that as the best thing that has happened in a long time, and running with it!

Friday morning, and everyone has left the house peace and quiet at last! *gulps coffee*

Sorry again for making myself a bit scarce over the last few days; it has not quite been by choice I'm pretty much run over by all kinds of obligations and appointments atm, least of which are for myself. It's mostly kids stuff I'm dealing with right now; starting with parents' meetings at their respective schools, going right on with supervising homework, and ending with their sports classes not to mention all kinds of doctors' appointments (dental, vaccinations etc.) coming up right now. Add to that the fact that my teenager has suddenly become vain and is going through freshly laundered clothes like anythingsadly (annoyingly!) this is not coupled with equal enthusiasm for doing his homework or cleaning his room

as you can tell, my resilience both to stress and tedious chores is running a bit low right now.
Besides, I've got an appointment at the dentist's later this morning.


But I better stop moaning before you all go

Gah! Need to get the invitation cards for my elder son's "Konfirmation" to the printers later-on! *adds to looong mental list* *steps on list* *falls over*



On a brighter note I ordered both "Bleak House" and "Death Comes to Pemberley" as DVDs yesterday, to tide me over, before I finally get GoT season 4 at the library (there's a waiting list for the more recent seasons). But I saw that they've got 'Homeland' and 'Mad Men' (amongst plenty others) at the library as well, so I might start on any of those in between to catch up years after everyone else has stopped watching.

All of us really liked "The Martian"; even hubs was rather enthusiastic about it and, considering that he doesn't much like Matt Damon in general, that's saying quite something.



Anyone got any exciting plans for the weekend?

With the weather being back to grey and around zero in temperatures, mine tend towards sofa, tea and book but I've got a nagging feeling that I should set an exampleand there's still a couple of museums due a visit



Wrap up warm, you lovely Canadian ladies! But then, we're well into February already. Another month maybe and then, with some luck, spring will be here My snowdrops in the front garden are out already! (I hope they know what they're doing )

Morning, lovelies!

Hi Pat! I don't think we have met - very pleased indeed.


@ Laura

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Ive never been there. I first heard of it when I read a time slip novel called The Lady Of Hay many years ago. It has a book festival doesnt it?

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It does indeed, though I wasn't there during the festival. Still, it's got so many bookshops, most of them second hand or antiquarian booksellers, and they even had a bookshop in the castle!

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I think it is the same with smaller libraries, probably because so many people read electronic books now. I cant remember the last time I went to my local one and it is only across the road. I worry that it might end up closing. It does have computers with free Internet access though which I think has helped it.

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I used to go to the library all the time as a student (pre internet) to look things up, and then again a couple of times to get classic music CDs when I got into opera . Haven't been there in ages though. Free internt access might indeed draw in people, though I guess with smart phones being so popular, their numbers will dwindle too.

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Im getting them as well. Why now I wonder? I could have understood it if it had been happening on Friday afternoon after the announcement was made.

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They are not wrapping things up already, are they?

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Rent can even affect bigger stores. Our local Marks and Spencer is closing part of its store down because it cant afford the rent. Weve lost quite a few stores and shops in the town centre recently.

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One of the nicest old traditional cafs in Munich closed down at the end of December - after 242 years! - because the building is getting renovated and the rents are about to rise. It was run by Italians who brought the new-fangled 'coffeehouse culture' to Munich in 1775, and they had their own beergarden out back and such cosy old-fashioned plush 'viena coffeehouse' furnishings up on the gallery, and the locals would go there in the morning to read the papers, or sit out back under the trees in the afternoon for a beer (or five). Also their cakes were fantastic. It was pretty much full of people every time I went there, so if they didn't manage to survive, it's obvious that small independent shops just don't stand a chance in the city center anymore. A beautiful old cinema in the same building closed down two years ago also because of the high rent - there's one of those super cool nightclubs in there now.

The old 'Caf Tambosi':
http://media.cool-cities.com/tambosi008_pr_r_mob.jpg?h=530

and their beergarden:
http://visit-muenchen-bayern.de/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/tambosi-hofgarten-ob.jpg?itok=YCOkszjD

All gone now. The Starbucks next door is staying of course.

@ Alfa

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I know. I saved my clean up for today, especially around the back. What a mess. My usual walking trails were covered in ice, too, so it was cautious a cautious "crunchy" walk this morning.

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Please be extra careful.

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Scary stuff! Sounds like you had a guardian angel there.

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Another angel without wings.

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So true! This will hopefully continue on C19 of course. No pressure. [bigrin]

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I'll do my best - they will find out there that I'm bonkers sooner or later anyway, so why not sooner?


After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Morning everyone!

Pat!!

Im so glad that you are joining us over at C19.

ETA:

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I just registered as C-19 as you recommended under the user name 'heartfelt'.

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I found you. I am Laurajojo. Did you register in 2008 as well? I can see a Heartfelt4 there as well with a couple of posts.

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Will you congregate under a 'N&S' heading or topic? I'm not familiar with the C-19 board or how it works at all.

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We are thinking of starting a Homeless Thoughts thread over there in 'The Nose and Frown' sub-board. I will ask Lois to link you in to the PM we have going at the moment. There is lots over there though on N&S, RA and other period drama and TV/films etc.

@Alfa

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Sometimes things catch us so off guard we never ever forget thembut gosh I hope that won't be your fate, Laura.

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So do I. lol!

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I am completely unrecognizable when I go out there in the winter. I'm layered up like you wouldn't believe! I look like the Michelin Man:

https://unmuffled.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/michelin-man.jpg

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Cute though.

@Birds

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On a brighter note I ordered both "Bleak House" and "Death Comes to Pemberley" as DVDs yesterday, to tide me over, before I finally get GoT season 4 at the library (there's a waiting list for the more recent seasons).

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I cant remember. Have you seen Bleak House before?

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All of us really liked "The Martian"; even hubs was rather enthusiastic about it and, considering that he doesn't much like Matt Damon in general, that's saying quite something.

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Thanks for the recommendation. Havent you seen this one Lois? I like Matt Damon.

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Anyone got any exciting plans for the weekend?

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Not me.


@merej

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Free internt access might indeed draw in people, though I guess with smart phones being so popular, their numbers will dwindle too.

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I used to use it before I got the internet at home.

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A beautiful old cinema in the same building closed down two years ago also because of the high rent - there's one of those super cool nightclubs in there now.

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Im pleased that we now have a cinema in the town centre again. It was my first trip there on Wednesday. I remember when we had three in the town centre. But over recent years there have been none and we have to travel to ones out of town, which is no good for those without their own transport.

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The old 'Caf Tambosi':

http://media.cool-cities.com/tambosi008_pr_r_mob.jpg?h=530

and their beergarden:

http://visit-muenchen-bayern.de/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/tambosi-hofgarten-ob.jpg?itok=YCOkszjD

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How beautiful. Such a shame to lose it and after so long as well.

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All gone now. The Starbucks next door is staying of course.

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Typical. Our town centre is full of coffee shops. I do like Costa Coffees hot chocolate though, as Ive shared before.

What else? I got a text yesterday to say that the blood I donated last week had gone to a hospital in Scarborough. I didnt know it travelled so far. Ive been to Whitby a couple of times but not Scarborough, at least part of me has gone there now. My sister gave blood in a different session the same day but her blood only made it to Salford. Lol!

Arrgh! My keyboard keeps going into capitals!

@ birds

I totally missed your post before!

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Sorry again for making myself a bit scarce over the last few days; it has not quite been by choice

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It really sounds like you got a LOT on your plate. Being a mum -> definitely a fulltime job. You are officially allowed to moan all you like.

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Anyone got any exciting plans for the weekend?

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Gonna visit my dad who's managed to mess up his back again - the man is 86 and absolutely needed to dig around in the (frozen) garden yesterday - I mean it's not like both my brother and his wife and my sis and brother-in-law plus almost grown-up nephews only lived 10 minutes away and could help out if needed. The stubborness in my family is really something else good thing I'm so totally not like them.

So I'll stay there until Sunday and do his shopping and whatever else his almost-octogenarian girlfriend can't manage on her own. Rock'n'Roll!

@Laura

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Im pleased that we now have a cinema in the town centre again. It was my first trip there on Wednesday. I remember when we had three in the town centre. But over recent years there have been none and we have to travel to ones out of town, which is no good for those without their own transport.

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It seems life gets ever more difficult if you don't have a car. My dad lives in the countryside where public transport is practically non-existent and the small local shops are closing down there as well. Also we have lost a number of really nice old cinemas in Munich over the past few years as they cannot compete with those faceless multiplex cinemas. It's a shame.

I don't think I've ever been to Costa's. I do love hot chocolate though.

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What else? I got a text yesterday to say that the blood I donated last week had gone to a hospital in Scarborough. I didnt know it travelled so far. Ive been to Whitby a couple of times but not Scarborough, at least part of me has gone there now. !

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You really get told where your blood ends up? That's fabulous. I can assure you that Scarborough is rather nice with a lovely castle, though the seafront is a bit tackybut then your blood is probably not out to tan and stuff its face with fish and chips.

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My sister gave blood in a different session the same day but her blood only made it to Salford. Lol

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After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Back from the dentist and showing my best toothpasty smile. "Er hat berhaupt nicht gebohrt!"

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I am completely unrecognizable when I go out there in the winter. I'm layered up like you wouldn't believe! I look like the Michelin Man:

https://unmuffled.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/michelin-man.jpg

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That's a former client of mine! No, seriously, Michelin were clients of the exhibition company I worked for before I had my kids. I did a number of trade fairs with them at the turn of the century/millenium. Like, wayyyy back in time

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Have you seen Bleak House before?

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No. I don't think it ever aired over here It's an imported DVD from the UK, which means it doesn't have our national PG standards approval. I'll have to sign for it on arrival (in addition to showing them my ID-card, to prove I'm me) Generally you've only got to do that for stuff with seriously 'adult content' I can already imagine the smirk on the face of the guy deliivering it.


Such a shame about the "Tambosi", Merej This seems just the kind of place I would have loved to hang out.

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I got a text yesterday to say that the blood I donated last week had gone to a hospital in Scarborough.

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Do they notify you every time where your blood donation goes to? Kind of nice to know that bits of you go places kind of weird too, on 2nd thoughts.

Lunch.

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bits of you go places

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After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.

Not long back from accompanying my sister to her appointment in Radiology. Even on annual leave I find myself back there. One of the nurses walked straight by me, then came back and said she hadnt recognised me without my uniform on.

@merej

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Gonna visit my dad who's managed to mess up his back again - the man is 86 and absolutely needed to dig around in the (frozen) garden yesterday

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Bless him. What is there to dig at this time of year? Lol!

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Also we have lost a number of really nice old cinemas in Munich over the past few years as they cannot compete with those faceless multiplex cinemas. It's a shame.

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That is what happened to ours. I dont miss those scratchy uncomfortable seats though. This new one seems nice though, with a bar. The auditorium we were in was small and cosy. The only drawback is that it is at the top of a shopping centre with a very scary high escalator ride to get to it.

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I don't think I've ever been to Costa's. I do love hot chocolate though.

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I think theirs is the best hot chocolate and I have tried them all. Definitely much better than the hot chocolate in Starbucks.

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You really get told where your blood ends up? That's fabulous.

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It is. Its nice to know.

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I can assure you that Scarborough is rather nice with a lovely castle, though the seafront is a bit tackybut then your blood is probably not out to tan and stuff its face with fish and chips.

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I believe Scarborough is a bit dated now. Whenever weve thought of going, we have changed our minds and gone to Whitby instead. Love it there, especially the ruined abbey.

@birds

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Er hat berhaupt nicht gebohrt

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I had to put that into Google translate.

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No. I don't think it ever aired over here

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Like Little Dorrit it is in half hour episodes. I think it was on twice a week when it aired on the BBC. You must let me know what you think of it. As Ive said before, it is one of my favourite period dramas. Gillian Anderson and Anna Maxwell Martin were both nominated for BAFTAs for it, and AMM won. Denis Lawson is adorable in it as well and rather handsome. Im sure you will soon recognise a certain striped dress worn by Lady Dedlock.

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I can already imagine the smirk on the face of the guy deliivering it.

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Oh no. How embarrassing.

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Do they notify you every time where your blood donation goes to?

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Yes, it is something they have started doing recently.

ETA:
I watched the last episode of Unforgotten last night. That is the police drama with Nicola Walker (Spooks) in it. Very good. Second series even better than the first.

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I just registered as C-19 as you recommended under the user name 'heartfelt'.

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I found you. I am Laurajojo. Did you register in 2008 as well? I can see a Heartfelt4 there as well with a couple of posts.

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Perhaps, I did, Laura. That was eight years ago when I also joined the N&S board. Another life time ago!

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Will you congregate under a 'N&S' heading or topic?

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We are thinking of starting a Homeless Thoughts thread over there in 'The Nose and Frown' sub-board. I will ask Lois to link you in to the PM we have going at the moment. There is lots over there though on N&S, RA and other period drama and TV/films etc.

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Ok! Will await Lois' link. Thanks Laura! And thank you all for the kind greetings yesterday!

Hi all. Late on this thread today but I was in some kind of "super cleaning mode" today (it's passed now) and cleaned my house from top to bottom. We've had snow squalls going on all afternoon but I was on a mission inside and didn't go out to shovel at all. It'll keep. It's really pretty out there right now.

@Merej

Oh your Cafe Tambosi looks lovely, Merej! What a shame it's gone now. I love places with "character" and atmosphere. Somehow the food/drinks just tastes better.

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Another angel without wings.

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Like your Christmas ornaments!

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I'll do my best - they will find out there that I'm bonkers sooner or later anyway, so why not sooner?

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It won't take long.

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So I'll stay there until Sunday and do his shopping and whatever else his almost-octogenarian girlfriend can't manage on her own. Rock'n'Roll!

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You're a bit of a "softie", you know.

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The stubborness in my family is really something else good thing I'm so totally not like them.

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Yeah, right.



@Laura

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What else? I got a text yesterday to say that the blood I donated last week had gone to a hospital in Scarborough. I didnt know it travelled so far. Ive been to Whitby a couple of times but not Scarborough, at least part of me has gone there now. My sister gave blood in a different session the same day but her blood only made it to Salford. Lol!

---

Canada? Are we talking about Scarborough Ontario Canada? No!! I lived in Scarborough for years. And I know Whitby, too, so yeah, I guess you do mean Canada. Good grief, I had no idea either that donated blood was sent so far away.

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Arrgh! My keyboard keeps going into capitals!

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At least it's not doing "French" like mine does every so often.

@Birds

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I'll have to sign for it on arrival (in addition to showing them my ID-card, to prove I'm me) Generally you've only got to do that for stuff with seriously 'adult content' I can already imagine the smirk on the face of the guy deliivering it.

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Tee hee. I'd love to witness that scenario, Birds!

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Er hat berhaupt nicht gebohrt

---

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I had to put that into Google translate.

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Me too, and I got "He did not bored at all." I take it that meant "no cavities".

And Ms. Heartfelt showed up again today! I think she means business when she says she will join us over on C19! Yaaay!

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Anyone got any exciting plans for the weekend?

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Does a chicken have lips?





Final answer.