Amazon exiles discussion
Don't Kill Snails with Salt ... Creme Eggs & Toasted Teacakes ... Biscuits & Bench Stories, Life, the Universe, & Everything!
Happy New Year, all. We went out to friends just down the road last night. I popped home at 7pm to let pup out!
As one of them is Russian we celebrated Russian new year at 9pm, complete with Putin and Kremlin fireworks on the TV, and Champagne....... What fun :0
Then home for 9.30 and in bed and asleep before midnight....ha ha
Happy and healthy 2022 to you all, folks. We have got through 2020 and 2021, now let's see what 2022 can throw at us!
As Val said, many of our old friends are part of a jolly Facebook group. We take turns to suggest themes and post appropriate music which generates comment and banter. The PPUs continued until Covid put the kibosh on them, however I believe there may be a meet up later this year if all goes well. Regulars include myself, SW and Anita, as well as ex-zonners Cornish, Greysuit, Toffee, BOF, Deano, Peter, Ben,David E, Schiz, Tommo and others whose zon names I’ve forgotten. Hyper and Mark K are remembered every year on the anniversaries of their passing.
I must admit I've never been able to understand as to why anyone would want to be a member of a Facebook Group instead of using a Forum? I've been a member of several Facebook Groups and have found them to be extremely hard work to keep up with. And I don't like the huge delays (of up to a week) that I often get with Notifications - followed by all of the clicking on each one to try to catch up with what has been said or 'liked' before having to go back to your Home Page each time and click on them again to remove them.
Maybe it's just me? - but I find the whole Layout and Format of Facebook Pages doesn't lend itself at all well to having easy-to-find and to follow Group Discussions amongst several members at one time.
I like to see everyone's contributions all laid out in full sight on a Forum Page like this one ;o>
This Post is especially for our Lez ... xIt's now only 353 days, 22 hours, 8 minutes and 3 seconds until next Christmas!
Is that an almighty Thunderbolt that I can hear heading my way?!! - LOL!!! ;o>
Belated wishes for a very Happy New Year to everyone ... x ...
.....and a happy new year to you and yours!
.....mind you, with immediate family issues, multiple minor health problems, pet health concerns..........it's been sh*t so far! 😐
Yeah, Christmas and New Year sadly hasn't come together and happened here either ;o<But it must have been a wonderful seasonal time for somebody somewhere surely?! - LOL!!! ;o>
Let us know when you find that elusive person Suzy!
suzysunshine7 wrote: "I must admit I've never been able to understand as to why anyone would want to be a member of a Facebook Group instead of using a Forum? I've been a member of several Facebook Groups and have found..."Have to say I don’t recognise any of what you describe, suzy. Always found it easy, quick and accessible, as well as mercifully free of any of the nonsense that drove so many posters away in the first place. 😀
nocheese wrote: "Have to say I don’t recognise any of what you describe, suzy. Always found it easy, quick and accessible, as well as mercifully free of any of the nonsense that drove so many posters away in the first place. 😀"That's really interesting, nocheese, because I've often wondered if the reason I don't enjoy using Facebook Groups as much I do Forums is because perhaps I haven't quite fully got to grips with using Facebook in the right way yet?
I've opted out of two private Groups that I joined mostly because I was after getting some info and had to join to get access - and then discovered I was getting hundreds of notifications at a time (often only showing up on my Account Page when they were already several days out-of-date) and most of them invariably turned out to be notifications on whether a Post was 'liked' by someone else.
I spent far more time just on trying to keep up with what was going on than I did in understanding where the conversation was going and posting up anything myself - and so, in the end, I gave up and unfollowed them.
It's such a shame because I was a member for many years of a really amazing Website that was created and run by Lynn Hill who compiled 'The Clandestine Cake Club Cookbook' - but when it went over to being a Facebook Group it all got too disjointed and confusing and hard to follow and I kept losing track of all of the regular contributors that I used to enjoy swapping Recipes and ideas with.
Things on Facebook have probably changed a lot since then though and so maybe I should try again and give it another go? ;o>
Val wrote: "Let us know when you find that elusive person Suzy!"Seriously though? - I know why Christmas is always so hard on me, and even more especially hard this year as it will very likely now be my last one together with my M&D in this House - but does no-one else on here enjoy anything at all about Christmas time or New Year anymore? ;oO
Well, I'm sat here making the very most of enjoying a Mince Pie with a large Hot Chocolate ... with lots of Marshmallows in it! ... while watching the Sun slowly set and go down across the end of our Back Garden. And I can see four young Magpies busy playing Tag with each other in the tall Trees and one of the Squirrels busy digging up all of our Crocus Bulbs instead of all of the Acorns that he buried in the Lawn last year. And I can hear the lovely sound of laughter and snatches of chatter between the children in the Garden that backs onto ours as they run around and play together on their Trampoline - and the cheery little yaps of their elderly little hairy woofer, Paddy, calling through the tall thick row of Conifers that separates our Gardens ... in the hope that our Mitz is also outside and will hear and answer him ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Well, I'm sat here making the very most of enjoying a Mince Pie with a large Hot Chocolate ... with lots of Marshmallows in it! ... while watching the Sun slowly set and go down across the end of o..."It's the little things.
It all adds up, doesn't it? ... and it still makes me feel thankful and joyful and hopeful ... and still continues to hold me together and here ;o>A huge bag of Giant Pink & White Marshmallows were pushed through our Letterbox yesterday. There was no Note included with them and no-one rang the Doorbell - but I think that it might be a very kind gift from the young Lads who live opposite us ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "It all adds up, doesn't it? ... and it still makes me feel thankful and joyful and hopeful ... and still continues to hold me together and here ;o>A huge bag of Giant Pink & White Marshmallows we..."
How nice is that!
I try 'to bother', it's easy not to, but makes a huge difference if you do, even small things. I rang my neighbour today, as last time I delivered eggs to them, they were standing back in masks, as their son had tested positive for covid.
Just a 5 minute phone call, it means a lot, and is little effort.
Happily the two parents don't seem to have Covid, which is strange as the son did? Good though as the Dad has health issues.
We had our own mini drama yesterday, with our youngest girl going to A&E, with a very deep nasty gash on her palm. Came of her bike, and despite searching, unless it was a stone I can't find anything that could have cut her like that.
They managed to glue it and steri strip it. Poor thing was freaked at going.
But it did bring it home to me, even imperfect as it is, that we live in a country where you can turn up for emergency help, anytime atall. So jelly babies and juice on the way home to cheer her up. Today it's hard to keep her still, to try not use that hand, some hope...
Oooh nasty! - wounds like that often stay bruised for quite a while and will keep on throbbing even when they are well on the way to healing, the poor little love, and it must have been very scary indeed needing to go to A&E to get it treated as well ... x ;o<Yeah, I'm guessing it's from one, or both, of the Lads opposite because I always buy them a few Treats for Christmas and Easter time - and they occasionally like to put things through our Letterbox in return ;o>
One of our other Neighbours (who has three very young Kids) put a large Rattan Light Up Reindeer in their Front Garden this year and, as sweet as it was, it was looking a little plain and ordinary and I kept on with feeling like it was just missing something special.
While we were both in a rather silly giggly mood on Christmas Eve I managed to persuade my Mum to sneak over the Road and fasten a plastic Comic Relief Red Nose on it that I've had knocking around in a Drawer for a good few years now.
It clipped onto the Rattan really easily and judging by all of the screams that we heard on Christmas Day it went down very well with all of the Kids who are apparently utterly convinced that Santa and Rudolf must have done it! ... HA HA HA HA HA!!! ;o>
Ohhh, to be a little Kid again, absolutely adamant in the belief that some Reindeer really can fly!!!
Like you say ... it's often just the littlest of things that can bring the most joy ... ;o>
Well a lot of Aussies are cheering this morning! Novax Djokovic has had his visa revoked and, as of now, won't be playing in the Australian Open. It just wasn't fair - all staff and all patrons have to show proof of vaccination but Novax had been given a medical exemption by Tennis Australia. Of course, all the details of the exemption were "private" so no one knows whether he is vaccinated or not and he's not telling. And apparently none of the medical evidence he gave was checked with the overseas doctors who provided it. Melbourne holds the record for being the city with the longest lockdown anywhere in the world. We've done it hard what with the vaccine roll-out (stroll-out) being so slow plus now you can't buy a rapid antigen test anywhere (and they're not free; people have paid £15 for one) because of more poor planning. https://www.theage.com.au/national/vi...
https://www.theguardian.com/australia...
Val wrote: "Well a lot of Aussies are cheering this morning! Novax Djokovic has had his visa revoked and, as of now, won't be playing in the Australian Open. It just wasn't fair - all staff and all patrons hav..."I was following it last night. Glad to see Australia has stood up to him, and treated him like anyone else.
suzysunshine7 wrote: "I must admit I've never been able to understand as to why anyone would want to be a member of a Facebook Group instead of using a Forum? I've been a member of several Facebook Groups and have found..."Yer not missing owt. FB's pretty good to be able to keep in touch with old friends or family via Messenger - and I keep my account for just that - but that's about it for me. I originally signed up so I could show off my mixes to folk but seeing as decks have been playing up for a few years now, I see no reason to go on there. Nothing really pulling me back to it or owt. When I can afford a new set-up, maybe that'll change but for the time being...
Didn't realize you had an FB account Suze? And you never sent me a friends request eh? Tsk tsk. : )
Tech XXIII wrote: ".....mind you, with immediate family issues, multiple minor health problems, pet health concerns..........it's been sh*t so far! 😐"Hope this year's a better one for ya then dude. For both of us eh?
Serial wrote: ".Happily the two parents don't seem to have Covid, which is strange as the son did? Good though as the Dad has health issues"
When our youngest had it a while ago, nobody else in the house came down with it... and there's five of us here!! Works in mysterious ways does Covid. We were informed, mind, that it wasn't the Necronomicon strain that he had; maybe things woulda been different if that was the case.
Blastronaut wrote: "Didn't realize you had an FB account Suze? And you never sent me a friends request eh? Tsk tsk. : )"Awww, Blastro ... x ... I deliberately chose from day one (several years ago now) not to have any Friends on Facebook because I've never wanted to use Facebook in that particular way - to create a Timeline, or get to share in or swap Posts with anyone, or to attract any kind of attention to myself.
I prefer to use it instead to explore new places on Social Media and to people-watch (very much like I often used to enjoy doing while enjoying a Coffee in a quiet corner of a Cafe) and to keep up to date with what is happening locally as well as Worldwide now that I no longer get to leave the House and get myself out and about anymore.
I set my Facebook Account up simply because I wanted to be able to gain fuller access to other Facebook Pages, to be able to send Messages asking after info, and to order and pay for things from individual people and small shops that mostly, or only ever, trade on Facebook.
It helps to hold a virtual door on the World open for me ;o>
You can still message me at anytime through Facebook though, or just send me a Goodreads Message, or an Email, and you know that I'll always be delighted to hear from you ... x
"a better one"here's to us!
it hasn't yet, but i'm sure better must come! thanks
Well it's another really dull and dreary looking day here today - and I really can't be doing with staring out at all of these endless off-white, cold and shivery, Skies day after day.I bought my Mum a big Pot of Tête-à-têtes, amongst a few other seasonal Plants for the House and Garden, over Christmas time. It was delayed by almost a month though and only just made it on time when it was finally delivered at 9.30pm on Christmas Eve! - and I had already suspected by then that it very likely wouldn't quite be all that it was supposed to be because of the long delay in Dispatch and due to it having already almost immediately selling out online only just a couple of days after I had ordered it.
It was supposed to be a big Pot full of Tête-à-tête stalks all in bud and ready to bloom within days of being in the warm atmosphere of the House - but Thompson & Morgan had obviously run out of the more established Plants and so what we were sent instead was a large Pot that was seemingly only just full of Soil and Moss! - LOL!!! ;o>
I wasn't even entirely sure, looking at it, if they had actually remembered to put any Bulbs in it?! - but to my Mum's huge delight and my great relief, when she tipped it all out this morning she found not just a few Bulbs but lots and lots AND lots of Bulbs! ... and there are several that are completely different shapes and sizes that obviously can't all be Tête-à-tête Bulbs? ... exciting times, hey?!! ... ;o>
Mum has separated them and planted them out in various places all around the Back and the Front Garden ... and we can hardly wait now to see what on Earth they will all turn out to be! ;o>
"we can hardly wait now to see what on Earth they will all turn out to be!"flowers?
parp!
LOL!!! ;o>Ohhh yeah Flowers! ... now, why didn't I think of that?!! ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Blastronaut wrote: "Didn't realize you had an FB account Suze? And you never sent me a friends request eh? Tsk tsk. : )"Awww, Blastro ... x ... I deliberately chose from day one (several years ag..."
No worries m'dear. Will be in touch via Goodreads Messages soon, have a catch-up.
Looks like Djokovic's getting his own way after all dunnit? Wonder if yer average Joe would get a pass with an 'exemption' such as his. I don't wanna jump on the 'Bash the Serb' bandwagon but fair's fair - what's good for the goose....
Well I for one am not happy about it. I don't understand all the legal fine print but I hope the authorities appeal the decision. If I was the parent of a ball boy/girl, I wouldn't be happy for my child to be on court with him. He claims he is exempt because he caught Covid on December 16. Yet his Instagram shows him playing tennis in the street on Dec 17 and being at a presentation of a Serbian stamp in his honour on Dec 18! If he lied on his application, where does that leave him? I hope that if/when he does appear on court, people don't boo, they just get up and walk out en masse. Not going to happen though, is it?All staff and patrons at the Australian Open will have to be vaccinated. Some players have already been sent home because they are unvaccinated or have one of the Russian/Chinese vaccines that aren't approved here. One rule for the celebrities and one rule for the plebs!
Money talks.In which case I'm mute. : )
I have ... £724 in Monopoly money and 3 x 2p in Chocolate Coins? ;o>
Mmmmmmmm ... Err, sorry! ... just the Monopoly money now ;o>
they shouldn't have fannied about, they should have just kicked his arrogant covid arse out of the country! seemple!......and all the protesting/now dancing Serbs? what cut were they going to get from his winner's cheque? the sum of **** aw!!!
I was clearing out the fridge this morning and felt good when I emptied a jar of Serbian jam. Not because of Novax but because it tasted shit. My daughter gave it to me sometime last year - rosehip jam which had the consistency and colour of a very concentrated tomato ketchup. And far too sweet! 52% sugar. I don't like chucking food out but this really tasted yuk and felt like clag in your mouth. So you can stick your Serbian jam too Novax!
Refugee boats already heading to Australia following decision
About time Novak took the hint, and fecked off!
Another 5 days keeping the kids off school because the youngest had a cough, and had to wait 3 days for Covid test and then wait for result too.!Negative test, so they all returned today.
So boring :0
We got another Covid case in Clan B. In-*******-credible!! This time it's our second youngest, or 'middle' lad. It was coming no doubt, he was telling us how some of his mates - who he was out with NYE - had got it and also some folk he works with. I'm assuming this is the latest super-improved variant, the one that spreads like wildfire? He's sleeping a lot and is a bit sore but we're hopeful it'll stop at that with him being young n healthy. Fingers crossed. He's the only member of the family that's been going out to the pub this last couple of weeks but that's all it takes. Apart from the fact that the clowns that're the powers that be still have all schools open.... a couple more week and anyone with a family will be lucky NOT to have had it. But that's another thing and I'll not go into that one. Don't get me started on that blond bumbling tw@ and his cronies. Not a decent bone in his body! He's gonna get away with his latest.... err, sorry I said I'll shurrup and I will.Well Harry, it's not looking good for Novax. After 3 rounds all three judges have it 29-28 in favour of the Aussies. Djokovic is looking weary and was a bit stiff-legged as he walked back to his corner at the end of the third. The ref and ringside doc are checking out that cut above his left eye. Is it all over?
Djokovic's not coming out for the fourth, that's it, it's over. On yer bike lad.
Miraculously, the rest of the household is yet again (so far at least) managing to evade the Covid that arrived here. Son in question seems to've about shook it, as his latest lat flow test shows just a faint line indicating (I think) a low viral load. He's been told to self-isolate for ten days from the day he got the PCR result; I thought they'd cut that period in half now and five is supposed to be enough? Or does it depend on how long it takes for your results to come through?? Does ANYBODY know???? Does Abe know????? Old Abe's got bloody knighted for his doings, he should know. Right then, let's phone Abe...
Beep. Blastronaut monologue concluded for this day.
Can't help you with the UK rules, sorry, Blastro. Over here, the rules say (I think - they change at the drop of a hat), if you are a household contact you must 1) quarantine at your home for 7 days (from the day the original case was confirmed)
2) Get tested again on Day 6 of your quarantine period.
If you test positive on Day 6 (or on any day of your 7 day quarantine period) the quarantine period starts again, because you are now infectious with the virus. You must isolate for another 7 days following your positive result.
I think some essential industries are being encouraged to go back to work after three days if they are asymptomatic.
It's so confusing, it would do your head in.
Thanks anyways Val. Reckon we could safely say he's asymptomatic at this point. Best bet is probably phoning work in morning. He's straining at the leash to get back as his sick-pay is terrible. His full pay's far from great so I sympathize with his cause. Not to mention having to stay housebound; he's a carbon copy of meself when I was a similar age (that worries me no end) so can't stand missing out on nights on the razz.
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Well it's another really dull and dreary looking day here today - and I really can't be doing with staring out at all of these endless off-white, cold and shivery, Skies day after day.I bought my..."
2 days ago it wasn't a dull and dreary start to the day, here, Suzy. Out before 8am and what a superb sunrise! Mackerel style cloud formation with a gorgeous fiery red-pink glow bouncing off all the individual globular clouds. Stunning, and many folk decided to photograph it. I was running late so couldn't do so myself. As I drove along, the intensity of the colour gradually turned to just pink and then faded as the sun rose higher. Radio commented on it, but also said that other areas of the country just had fog. Sooo glad Djokovic was escorted from Oz and excluded from the tournament. There shouldn't be one rule for the majority and another for those who consider themselves above it. Burns Night soon on us - anyone gonna break out the haggis, nepes and tatties? Just swede and potatoes for us, I reckon. I personally find the taste of haggis a tad strong.
"I personally find the taste of haggis a tad strong." - the mere thought of haggis is sufficient for this sassenach, I'm deliriously happy there's no cultural pressure to have any closer experience of its dubious 'delights'.
Amazon exiles
Books mentioned in this topic
Ten Poems about Snow (other topics)And So This is Christmas: 51 Seasonally Adjusted Poems (other topics)
The Tiger Who Came to Tea (other topics)
The Quangle Wangle's Hat (other topics)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Christina Rossetti (other topics)John Keats (other topics)
Joan Aiken (other topics)
And yes, I would love to see all from Val's list.