General Chit-Chat Showing 951-1,000 of 1,288

[Pat]

I agree. If well wrapped up

[Pat]

My children slept in very cold rooms (unheated in winter - ice inside windows). We had no money. We ensured he was well wrapped up.

[Paul]

Anyone else having problem with notifications on here tonight?

[Paul]

Finally have a sugar dusting of snow here.

[Pamela]

Paul wrote: "Finally have a sugar dusting of snow here."

And here! Walking the dog this morning was lovely, but it seems to be disappearing already (the snow, not the dog)

[Jason]

Lots of snow here. woohoo

[Cathy]

Just a bit here. Enough to be really pretty but not enough to cause problems for schools etc. My daughter is extra lucky, today is an INSET day for her.

[Jo]

I am going to get out there whilst it is still snowy and not slushy mud with my dog! Nice now, but no problems with roads or schools, though I have seen one car sideways through a hedge in a really unlikely place.

[Paul]

Happy Mothers Day ladies!

[Jason]

Happy days to all you Muthas out there!

[Pat]

Thank you boys

[Tytti]

Today is Minna Canth's day in Finland, she's the first woman to get a flag day, it's also the day of social equality. We never really had a need for suffragettes but she was a social activist, author, journalist and shopkeeper, and also had a salon where they discussed about modern ideas like darwinism. I really should read something from her (maybe we did in school) but they are a bit too realistic for my taste.

I just realised that many of the flag days are actually for authors or to literature in general. I guess it has always been considered important.

[Paul]

Happy Easter All! Try not to get chocolate over your books

[Wendy]

But chocolate and books go together so well! Happy Easter Paul

[Jason]

Paul wrote: "Happy Easter All! Try to get chocolate over your books"

You want us to get chocolate over the books?

[Paul]

Missed the not!

[Jason]

Too late... wife has just caught me reading Peter Andre's autobiography and licking the pages. I've got some explaining to do now.

[Sandy]

Happy Easter!! It's early here, plenty of time to hide the eggs and baskets.

[Tytti]

What's the tradition behind the eggs and baskets? Finland is a bit different because we have both Eastern and Western traditions, and unfortunately they have been combined (even though they belong to different days) so that most people don't even know what's behind them. It's not even that difficult. And every year there is a debate on what is the right day to do them...

[Trine]

Mm.... I must admit I don't really understand the egghunts;o But it seems to be "everywhere" - with real gifts n stuff (don't get me started on those "gækkebrev" they have here in Denmark... )... That is not how I remember easter back in Norway when I was a kid;o
But google (and Nidars) homepage did make me a bit smarter;o

[Tytti]

Well I understand the Easter eggs, there is a reason why Fabergé used to make them for the Tsar and the family. They represent the empty grave, the stone on the grave and "rebirth". But we don't have egghunts, at least in the East. The West is a whole other story...

[Trine]

Never seen the egghunts when I was a kid - but it have been growing in popularity from the mid 90s, at least in Norway - as far as I can tell. So it makes sense that I don't remember it. It must be confusing with 2 that different type of traditions>

[Tytti]

Oh yeah... In the East we follow more the Orthodox/Karelian tradition (even us Lutherans) where we make these http://yle.fi/uutiset/virpomisvitsat_... out of willow branches and visit godparents, grandparents and maybe some close neighbours on Palm Sunday. It means basically blessing them and it's done to remember the day when Jesus rode to Jerusalem. We just don't have palms so we use willows, there are several rhymes, too. "The pay" is given a week later, traditionally an egg, though that has changed, but at least it shouldn't be eaten until Easter Sunday, after the Lent. (I have once visited the Orthodox Easter service, half of my relatives are Orthodox after all, and it was funny to have a great feast afterwards, at 4 AM or something like that.) I used to do it in a bit better clothes. The word "virpoa" comes from Russian meaning willow, it's "Willow Sunday" there.

These days it has become like Halloween, children dressed as witches or something else and ringing door bells of people they don't know and trying to get as much candy or money as possible. So not everyone likes it. Some people even "demand" now that kids "make an effort" and dress as witches. And mothers ask around that can boys do it, too, and how should they be dressed...

The witches (or "trullerna", comes from Swedish) are an Easter tradition, too, but it's a Western one and they go around on Holy Saturday. That's when the "bad spirits" are loose because Jesus has died and has yet to risen. They make bonfires to try to get rid of them and I believe also give kids candy so they wouldn't do anything evil. In the old days there really were people who used to cut cows' tails or slash their skin to give bad luck to the neighbour. Nowadays they have those branches, too, and some people think they are a pagan tradition...

I much prefer the Eastern tradition, it's more polite one and meant to bring happiness to the people closest to us. The "pay" I got was almost nothing, that wasn't the main point, and I usually stayed at my godmother's for a while chatting, she was a bit older already. They started mixing after the war when the Karelians were evacuated and relocated all around Finland. But those of us who know the traditions find it weird when the Easter witches, who are traditionally pagan and evil, come to give a Christian blessing, especially if it happens on a wrong day... And then some people think that it's only for small kids, because they think it's mainly about candy and teenagers shouldn't beg anymore. When in fact even adults could do it because it's done to greet people they care about.

[Sandy]

I've been writing a lab manual for the last two weeks. I haven't been reading much and really miss it. Tonight I'm putting the computer to the side, drinking wine and reading!

[Paul]

Have spent all day painting today,. I'm bushed and need a beer.

[Paul]

Have a ticket for the ODI against NZ at the Rosebowl on Sunday. Hopefully it will be as dramatic as the first one

[Pamela]

Paul wrote: "Have a ticket for the ODI against NZ at the Rosebowl on Sunday. Hopefully it will be as dramatic as the first one"

I'm jealous. My son was at the last day of the Lords test and that was exciting enough, but the last ODI was incredible.

[Jo]

Nice one Paul, after Tuesday's incredible efforts let's hope England can continue in the same vein.

[Jackie]

Wasn't sure where to ask this question, so just plumped for in here. Does anyone know if there is a facility on here for finding other authors that are similar to ones you already like/have read? I really just use the app so I'm not up to speed on the full website.

[Paul]

Survived my sons school fete. Did win a bottle of wine, chocolates two coconuts and a day pass to the tank museum though!

[Trine]

tank museum sounds awesome! (and I would never say no to chocolate:p)

[Paul]

Even though it it just down the road from me I have never been. My daughters were never that interested.. Think my son will,like it though! The link is here Trine : http://www.tankmuseum.org/home

[Trine]

I'm the type of mom that force MY interests over to the child! Most of the time she finds it just fine, rest of the time she is bribe;p
I really try to get better at visting my local area and city... I've been here for more that 8 year,and lived here 7 this fall... Think it's time!

[Jason]

The tank museum is really good, especially if you like tanks. I went there last year with my daughter and she enjoyed it.

[Pat]

Jacki. No idea about that but I know libraries hold a book like that.

[Pink]

Jackie wrote: "Wasn't sure where to ask this question, so just plumped for in here. Does anyone know if there is a facility on here for finding other authors that are similar to ones you already like/have read? ..."

You can use the recommendations feature for this and GR will suggest books similar to a particular shelf of your books. This works well, depending on how you organise your shelves. For instance I have a 19th century shelf that will generally suggest more Victorian authors, or a feminist shelf that will suggest books around this theme. If you have a favourites shelf with authors you enjoy that might be your best way of getting relevant suggestions.

[Trine]

Jackie wrote: "Wasn't sure where to ask this question, so just plumped for in here. Does anyone know if there is a facility on here for finding other authors that are similar to ones you already like/have read? ..."


You could try make a shelf for your favorite books, and see what recommendations that pop up?>

[Pink]

Paul, that fete sounds like a winner. I sort of wish my kids were still at the school fete age, we had lots of good times at their junior school fetes. The museum sounds good too and might be more enjoyable than your daughters think. One of our favourite museums used to be the London Transport Museum, which I never would have thought before going!

Mine both finished school yesterday, my son his GCSEs and my daughter her A-Levels and they both celebrated by going out last night. My son went to a friend's party until midnight when I was on pick up duty and my daughter went clubbing and is yet to return. I'm still not used to this stage.

[Jason]

Paul take some £1 coins with you, they have set up some old guns with some kind of laser on it and you can shoot targets on a screen. the bazooka is crazy heavy. My daughter loved complaining about how heavy each gun was as she fired each shot.

[Jackie]

Thanks Pat, Pink & Trine. I'll have a look at doing that when I next go on the full website. (I've just finished a book set in Victorian time, Pink, called The Convictions of John Delahunt. Loved it!).

[Paul]

There is a recommendation part on the app Jackie. But the Web site is much better

[Paul]

Pink wrote: "Paul, that fete sounds like a winner. I sort of wish my kids were still at the school fete age, we had lots of good times at their junior school fetes. The museum sounds good too and might be more ..."

They all grow up so fast. My eldest starts here GCSEs in September.

Jason wrote: "Paul take some £1 coins with you, they have set up some old guns with some kind of laser on it and you can shoot targets on a screen. the bazooka is crazy heavy. My daughter loved complaining abou..."

Sounds great Jason

[Sandy]

Just got back from vacation on the beach. I didn't read too much; we were visiting family. I did get lost on the beach in 96 degree, sunny weather. I went for a walk and couldn't find our beach blanket. I had sunscreen on and still got a sunburn. I have a new respect for the
Florida sun.

[Paul]

Hope that you had a good holiday Sandy

[Jason]

Hope that you got us all presents.

[Sandy]

Thanks, it was nice to get away.
Jason, I'll get you something next time I go on vacation.: )

[Paul]

just graced with your presence now

[Tytti]

I just got back from a swim, too. It was past 9 pm so the sun didn't shine on the beach anymore but when I was further on in the lake and not behind the hill and trees, it was still very warm, if a bit windy. Maybe tomorrow I'll do some sun bathing.

[Jason]

Spent the day in Winchester today on a walking lecture with Professor Martin Biddle, we got to go into areas which the public can't go. It was really odd having all these people watching you. Had a great time, and the day ended with drinks a nibbles in the city museum which was then closed to the public...I watched closely and nothing came to life.

[Pink]

Sounds great Jason, glad you have fun.