It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

HariboJunkie

rachbc wrote: »

Haribo I love a bit of Hardy too..and I may have even read Kafka too....

You can really lose yourself in his books can't you? I don't mind depressing fiction at all as long as it's well written and stimulating.

Lack of space is an issue for us with homebrew. I have 3 demijohns filled with apple wine, parsnip wine and elderberry but I have no room to bottle and rack it until OH puts up a few more shelves for me in the utility room but that's part of a major revamp and is on the list of things to do.

Hope the news of your OH's promotion is still making you smile this morning.

I have loads to do today, including harvesting the crops from the school garden with 15 excited children. Should be fun. :j
My own garden needs lots of attention but it may have to wait until the energy levels are a bit higher.

Jediteacher I meant to say yesterday that you are right to stick to your guns with your sister re the birthdays. I can't imagine asking people to fork out so much to attend. :eek: Your children will thank you in later years for simple parties at home/the village hall. I know mine have always loved theirs.

mambury

Rachbc...... well done to OH!!

Jedi - how much???? I think when a child gets an invite to a party the parent stumps up the wonga. I do, thats why my two get simple traditional style parties at home to at the most I hire the school hall for £10.....

Off to play today, as I am meeting up with a few friends. I just hope the weather holds out for me.....

Here's to a good day for all

Pop back later

mambury

Firewalker

Ceridwen, I am so much with you on the news thing. About a year ago we had to change the station on the alam clock (from Radio 4 to bbc3) because we could not face being woken up by the gloom looting out. Now I wake up to the sound of harps...and I have almost given up reading newspaper (read new websites, thought).

FW

rachbc

HariboJunkie wrote: »

You can really lose yourself in his books can't you? I don't mind depressing fiction at all as long as it's well written and stimulating.

Lack of space is an issue for us with homebrew. I have 3 demijohns filled with apple wine, parsnip wine and elderberry but I have no room to bottle and rack it until OH puts up a few more shelves for me in the utility room but that's part of a major revamp and is on the list of things to do.

Hope the news of your OH's promotion is still making you smile this morning.

I have loads to do today, including harvesting the crops from the school garden with 15 excited children. Should be fun. :j
.

Tell me more about the school garden - my daughter starts school this sept and her school had attempted a garden before - there are 8 raised beds put in but nothing seems to be happening with them - is it run my paretns/ volunteers/ pta/ teachers? Any tips/ ideas on how to go about getting it up and running properly would be great.

mardatha

Feeling a bit more like meself today, back to the land of the living. I once took a great liking for AJ Cronin and my mother thought I was going mad. I just wanted to know what life was really for poor folk and miners in the 20s and 30s. Whereas she, who had lived through it, just wanted to forget it.
Raining and 13C here. Swallows all gathering to go. I SO hate autumn.

mardatha

Just reading back, and mrs Veg Plot I envy you. I was born on Dec 23rd and never ever had a birthday party ! LOL
And neither has my youngest, who was silly enough to be born on Jan 1st!

Hobsons_Choice

We've not had any rain in ages here in Worcestershire. The lawn (grass!) looks like straw with alopecia and I have to water the flowers and veg every evening.
Not complaining really though....it's a lovely morning here.

Rowan9

ceridwen wrote: »

Had quick check for "Jude the obscure" and thought "Yuk - DEpressing - dont think I'll be reading that or any other Thomas Hardy books any time soon judging by that Wikipedia description".

Anyone who wants thoroughly depressing and to start speculating as to how many "chips on the shoulder" Thomas Hardy had personally - then its available to read for free on Project Gutenberg.

>

ah but don't believe all you read on wikipedia as anyone can write the content on there:).
I chose Hardy for my Masters which I did through the OU - teaching fulltime at college and studying Hardy for 3 years while also doing my PGCE kind of put me off him for a while but it would have put me off ANY author. Hardy is a worthwhile read and there are some fab biogs around, one by Claire Tomlin (??) which is interesting.
Pulling in spending reins here as we have been in England for a week's hol - yes, the weather was as good as I remembered it!
W
actually I only had to 'do' him for the final year but I've left it as 3 in the main text as it seemed that long on one writer:p

Mrs_Chip

Morning to all, just caught up in the last day or so - where else could one get such wide-ranging and diverse insights into other peoples lives?! (Almost like the facinating Mass Observation records of the war - totally compulsive reading!).

Yesterday was my last day at work - a day which should have been happy, but I was very sad. Not because I will miss the work or the institution but I will miss the people. And after 35 years, I will miss the comfort of having a regular income, I am riddled with fear of the future (and I have to say, unecessarily so, but the primitive bit of my brain in in full panic mode!).

So today we were up at 5 and have driven the 260 odd miles to the place where our new lives will start. We take posession of our mobile catering van on Saturday and get our first lessons in fish frying. I have a long list of stock to buy and so many things on the to-do list. But it is all good, I must keep telling myself.
For a truly interesting read (even if the language is a bit anachronistic, and not at all PC to us) it s worth downloading the books of Mary Kingsley (http://forgottennewsmakers.com/2010/04/06/mary-kingsley-1862-1900-african-explorer/ ) from Gutenberg. She was a most amazing woman, and obviously born before her time. Anyone who likes travel books will enjoy them.

One good thing about our new life it that I now have a legitimate reason for pouring over recipe books - perhaps I will get to read the several hundred I have collected over the years!

So in the spirit of OS, can I ask what everone will be making to give as presents this Christmas - money will be tight, and I hope to have just a bit of time to make pressies rather than buy.

elona

Mardatha

Did you ever watch "Dr. Finlay's Casebook"? I think the television version may have been a bit less gritty than the books though.

DD(17) has just had a phone call asking her to work this afternoon as well as the four full days she was expecting so she is bustling around downstairs . She only has two weeks before sixth form starts so wants to do as much work as she can. I am keeping out of the way, keeping hydrated and near the loo. Talk about beware of what you wish for - I thought idly at the weekend that I would love to lose some weight - I did not want or expect four days or more of "The Atzec quickstep".

Might suggest they have fish and chips or a takeaway tonight as it does not seem a good idea for me to be cooking for anyone just now.

DH is happily replacing paving slabs in the garden and the fridge and freezer are full of food so they should cope.

Would say "hugs to all" but not a good idea for anyone to be near me just now