Amazon exiles discussion
Don't Kill Snails with Salt ... Creme Eggs & Toasted Teacakes ... Biscuits & Bench Stories, Life, the Universe, & Everything!
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Blastronaut
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Oct 11, 2022 01:29PM
Thanks Val... is worth a looksee.
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Can I ask another Question folks? Anyone who knows the slightest bit about Facebook? When I check my privacy setting for Messenger.... I'm getting a check-in from a 'Device Unknown' besides my own 'Windows PC'' - does that really mean what I think it means n that somebody's managing to read my messages or.... is there some simpler explanation? This is, as you'd imagine, quite important so any advice very much appreciated.
Sorry, all I know about Facebook is that I don’t want to know about Facebook… too old, I guess
I use Facebook Messenger for communicating with my family and find it most useful but I wouldn't know where to go to check my privacy settings. Is there a prompt somewhere? What are you clicking on?
Just spent the afternoon planting out. The bed by the path is edged with logs from the fallen tree and planted with a crab apple, cotoneaster and a couple of junipers which should spread and cover the slope. To fill in while they grow, I've put in some grasses and tomorrow, the verbascums go in. The bulbs I ordered haven't come yet but there'll be some small white daffodils and crocuses. Should start to look as if someone cares. There's lemon verbena to go in the terrace bed and the hypericum to dig out. It's planted far too close to the roses and quince and the colour doesn't go. A friend is bringing some rock plants for the scree from her garden next week. All I need now is to get on with it.
Isabella wrote: "Just spent the afternoon planting out. The bed by the path is edged with logs from the fallen tree and planted with a crab apple, cotoneaster and a couple of junipers which should spread and cover ..."Sounds like a lot of hard work, Isabella. We had a lovely crab apple tree in the house (well, garden, obvs) I grew up in - delicious crab apple jelly. And I hope you'll be making some gin with your juniper berries!
Helen The Melon wrote: "Isabella wrote: "Just spent the afternoon planting out. The bed by the path is edged with logs from the fallen tree and planted with a crab apple, cotoneaster and a couple of junipers which should ..."Not sure if the juniper will produce berries while I'm around! Hope to make crab apple jelly, though. The verbascums are in and the verbena. It's extending the more cared for bits of the garden, so it blends into the wilder part less abruptly. We don't want the manicured look but last year when we moved in, it did look pretty abandoned. I'm enjoying it, especially as we have some help with the heavy work.
Val wrote: "I use Facebook Messenger for communicating with my family and find it most useful but I wouldn't know where to go to check my privacy settings. Is there a prompt somewhere? What are you clicking on?"Am clicking on Settings and Privacy, then Security and Login. Only use Messenger meself Val but thought I'd have a nosy around. Been a long long time since I put up a post on FB. Just had another look and yet again - 'Device unknown' 30 mins ago in this area. Gotta be a simple explanation for it cos nobody's stopping up till this ungodly hour to look at me messages!! Odd.
For anyone who likes words (I think that's you, nc), you might be taken with Australia's word of the year for 2022.https://www.theguardian.com/australia...
Thanks, Val, very interesting article, teal is one of my favourite colours, anyway. The link to the Uluru Statement is also interesting.I've had an uneasy feeling in the back of my mind for many years about the displacement of Native Peoples in all the areas we have invaded that it was not only morally wrong but also was a failure of basic understanding of how we should treat the planet. I'm not anti-technology as such, I'm typing on my laptop after all! I do think, however, that there should be an acknowledgment that the industrial revolution was not an unalloyed glory, that there are other ways of living that have their own validity and the Uluru Statement expresses it in a way I can't begin to emulate, not least because I, perforce, am an outsider.
Long time ago, I had a discussion with an Australian on the subject and was disturbed by his attitude to the Native Australians, one I found paralleled twenty years later by a South African. A kind of 'they don't act like us, so they can't quite be as good (in any way)' attitude. Blinkered and prejudiced, showing no understanding or self-blame, not even a glimmer of awareness of the possibility that they might have right and wrong reversed. We weren't friends ...
I grew up under colonial rule and I've always believed that colonialism was at best paternalistic but at its worst a scourge - in Africa and South America, and also in Australia, Canada, the East and West Indies and the Indian subcontinent. Many countries were colonised for strategic purposes and also for their mineral and agricultural wealth and their ready supply of enforced cheap labour. Some countries have been able to forge their own identity in the post-colonial era but many are still struggling. Australia is starting to wake up to itself and there is much more awareness of indigenous issues. That's not to say that there aren't still great areas of inequality and inherent racism. You only have to google "voice to parliament referendum" to see that this is very much a hot issue. There will be a referendum in the next 3 to 4 years and who knows how it will go. I will vote in favour of it even though I'm not entirely convinced it will be more than tokenism.
We could learn so much more from Aboriginal Australians - bush tucker, bush medicines, land management, etc.
Apols for dumbing things down a bit ladies but.... Aussies through to the knockout phases Val! Despite Tunisia unexpectedly turning the French over.....sorry.. as you were.
No worries Blastro. You brought me some news I wasn't aware of somehow. I had a sleep-in this morning after three hectic days, didn't turn on the radio, got stuck into a long phone call booking my opera subscription (6 people who all want to see different shows) for 2023 so this is the first I've heard of the result. I think that in Australia winning one game is the equivalent of winning the World Cup. Winning two is entering new territory....Watch this 17 second video (if it's available to you) of last night in Melbourne...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-0...
I do like the headline "Up All Night To Get Leckie"
Melbourne at 2.00am
Val wrote: "No worries Blastro. You brought me some news I wasn't aware of somehow. I had a sleep-in this morning after three hectic days, didn't turn on the radio, got stuck into a long phone call booking my ..."I like the comment, "We're gonna need a bigger Fed Square."
It's good to see one of the less-fancied teams getting through, Val. I'm not into sport, at all, but admittedly patriotism rears its head when England do well. Years ago, a commentator made the remark, 'It's hard work, supporting England,' and I guess that's probably true of a lot of teams.
PS Didn't think there was any rule about subject matter on here, Blastro!
Well it's almost midnight here which means it's December 5th so HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANITA!!!!!!! Hope you have a fab day and that your charges spoil you. All the best!
Val I've actually just opened your very generous birthday prezzies ,I hadn't realised that it wasn't something I'd ordered.Ive just been off to the school fair ,that asked what stall I wanted to run ,I got in quick with the sweet stall,always better than the raffle stall.We went out last night,my friend's mum sent me a clangers cake ,I like the clangers.You probably have no idea what a clanger is.I had thought I had your email but I haven't .Thanks again.x
Sounds like your celebrations are ongoing! That's the way - make it last as long as you can. Are clangers a TV show with mice? If so, very fun. Have a lovely day.
Yes a clanger is a small pink mouse like creature.
/\ Wot she said! /\ :)Hope you had a good one Anita.
Very belated birthday wishes Anita. Hope ya had a good un. My apologies, I been a bit busy with stuff. Head's up me ass. Nowt new there then! Forgot about this place. How very dare me!
I got another question for y'all. Dunno if anyone could be of help. Am wanting to get me youngest lad a bass guitar for Christmas. Yeah I know, I'm cutting it very fine. He's 12 but not tiny by any stretch. He's about 5' 8". Never played bass (or any guitar apart from messing around with sister's 6-string which, I don't think is full size) so complete beginner. Am wondering whether to go full size or if 3/4 will be plenty.
Any recs welcome. I really should get it sorted over next couple of days.
Sorry, Blastro, no idea at all on the music front but if he’s 5’8”, that’s pretty much adult size, even if he’s stopped growing, which isn’t a given at 12. I don’t suppose you’re getting top of the range for a total beginner but if he takes to it, he’ll want something a bit better in a year or two, so maybe be governed by price at the start? Hope this helps.
Thanks Isabella. No, I'm going for brand-new but cheap at one n half hundred. To be fair there's not a huge price difference between the two. Just wanna get it right so he gets it from the get-go and sticks at it. For all my love of guitar music, I don't have a clue when it comes to actually playing the damn things. Best I can do is Smoke On The Water on one string! Already have an amp which young un's sister's left behind so just a case getting the geetarr. Quite heavy (literally) I think are bass guitars but that shun't be an issue for him. Unless advised otherwise I think full-sized be the way to go. Reckon he still has some growing to do in any case... possibly surpassing - or at least matching - my height at the end of the day.
On a different note (gheddit eh?) bloody hell it's cold. Minus-six early this morning! Polar bears in garden next!!
(Any emperor penguins reading this thinking 'Yeah right... that's quite pathetic').
No clue here either sorry Blastro! Is he likely to keep growing? Is there a local guitar/musical instrument shop you could phone to ask? Or maybe there's a (bass) guitar group on Facebook where you could throw out the question? If there's a similar product on Amazon, sometimes they have questions and answers where you could chuck out a general question. Good luck and I hope he loves it!Some info on the 'net (I googled buying guitar full size or smaller):
https://guitarspace.org/acoustic-guit...
https://dacapomusic.ca/child-guitar-s...
https://www.artistguitars.com.au/buyi...
https://guitargearfinder.com/guides/e...
Nice one Val. Reckon he's got a bit of growing to do yet. He likes the idea of the stereotypical bassist, y'know, that plays second-or-third fiddle to the singer n lead guitarist. No Lemmy with this lad. Nowt wrong with that, he just don't fancy himself as the up-front type. Got a lot of confidence building to do after the hell of a year he's had. Don't reckon he'll mind me telling y'all... 'y'all' being a very few n all that these days. Hey, bassline is fundamental to most kinds of music innit? He may or may not move on to six-string but don't matter to me none. Just want him to embrace it a bit. Give him summat to do other than messing around on the streets, console games or watching Youtube y'know.
I'm a lot older than you Blastro. The first two "gigs" I went to were Cliff Richard and The Shadows (we're talking 1961). My first love was bass player Jet Harris. I think he had quite a decent reputation as a player and as a teacher. Plenty of accolades when he died.
I'll bet he finds plenty guitar playing tuition on YouTube.
Jet Harris was the Shadow for me, too, Val. Our daughter was starting to learn bass guitar but she was well out of her teens, so no aspirations to perform but a similar way of staying out of the limelight. Be great if it gives him a focus. We all need something.
Well ladies, I see it like this too; the other option would be a drum kit - tho he does prefer guitar - and tho I wun't mind the banging n thudding all the time... the neighbors probably would! His mother's leaving for good and our two youngest are staying put with me. When that happens (I move back into original home) and place I currently reside is sold... we get new neighbors on t'other side of the wall. Kinda puts paid to my drunken late loud music sessions... and any budding drummers! Another question. As far as I know, when ordering something over £100, isn't there supposed to be some kinda code sent to my phone or email? Y'know, for verification upon delivery?? I've had nothing sent.
For the record (ah again....gheddit?) me dad wasn't much of a music fan but he liked old Hank Marvin...Anybody heard owt from Suze? I messaged her a week or two ago to see how she is and have had no reply.
I've not heard from Suzy in a while but then it's probably me who's been derelict. I'd definitely be looking at the guitar option - for my own sanity if nothing else. Don't know anything about verification codes in the U.K. Have you had a confirmation email from the seller? Do you know when to expect delivery? I've had good service from PayPal when things didn't arrive, but if you paid by card, I don't know how banks react.
BTW, Hank Marvin lives in Perth, Western Australia, has done for some 30 years. He's still playing. Did you know he's been a Jehovah's Witness for the last 50 years?
I had an email from Suzy for my birthday and a message for Christmas.A very happy Christmas Val,Thankyou for your card.x
Happy Christmas Anita and everyone else. I’m glad to hear Suzy is OK xx
I hope you had a lovely Christmas NC and wishing you and the guys on here a very happy 2023.
Val wrote: "I've not heard from Suzy in a while but then it's probably me who's been derelict. I'd definitely be looking at the guitar option - for my own sanity if nothing else. Don't know anything about veri..."My apologies Val, wasn't being ignorant....me lad n me have had a Christmas like no other we've known. His mother cut n run around ten days ago taking most stuff in the house that's worth a shit and even ripped the internet! New contract connected us back up again yesterday. Yeah.... ho ho bloody ho eh? We've managed tho but if I'd had all this dumped on me at Christmas time when I wuz twelve... I'd have gone bonkers! Earlier than I did in any case. Brave kid. We all take internet so much for granted but can ya imagine being his age and losing broadband? Bless him, he's barely complained. So proud of him... he coulda cried n moped all Christmas but just got on with it. Had his bass guitar to strum at least... not to mention many many chocs to scoff. Got him a slush puppy maker too but the idjits that made it didn't include an ice-cube tray! ALWAYS had ice-cube trays in the house but when ya really need one... not a chance. Life is such. Got him a couple of console games too but that had to wait till he could connect back up to internet. Can't sign in yer profile on Xbox without net. Pretty soon there won't even be bowel movements for any of us without the bloody internet!!!
We done ok, which I'm sure is a damn sight more than what was expected of us. You obviously can't see it but I've rather childishly hoisted the middle finger aloft in a particular direction and there it remains as I type. Hey... I'm back round home with me lad... couldn't really ask for more than that.
Thanks for the card m'dear... as always, yer a diamond! Not been the best with sending cards meself but that was definitely out the window this time round. Way too much on. Two wrecks of houses to clean up... one of em to live in, and t'other emptied n put on market. The latter has to be done very quickly but I shan't bore ya (or anyone else) with the details.
There ya go - Christmas diary of a madman.
The happiest of New Years to ya anyways m'dear... reckon '23 has already arrived for you at this point.
A belated Merry Christmas to the rest of yous and a Happy New Year folks. Have a good un!Personally will be bloody glad to see the back of this one.
Sorry, Blastro, to hear of your woes. Sometimes, life’s a bitch. I can’t complain that anything’s gone badly this year but Christmas can never be the same for us and it’s hard to get through. If I could cancel December and January, I would. Hope things improve soon for you.
Thanks Isabella. Bless you. Wished I could cancel the whole damn year. In fact the last couple! Do it a bit different second time around. To quote the much maligned Meatloaf in 'For Cryin Out Loud' - "How was I to know?" Ha ha. Yeah I know - Meatloaf don't get ya any street cred. In fact... he sends any credibility one might've had crashing through the floor but....do ya really wanna know how less I care about cred right now? : )
so sorry to hear your news Blastro,wishing you and your little Blastro a much happier 2023.A happy new year to the other members of our group x
Oh Blastro, what a shitty end to your year. Kudos to you and Blastro Jr. for coping as well as you have. As you say, without the internet life is almost impossible now whether we like it or not. Hope he can now use the games and watch some guitar tutorials. And good luck with getting the house ready for sale. I know it has to be done but it's probably the last thing you feel like doing right now. I can only wish you a better year in 2023.
Wishing all current and "resting" posters a happy and healthy 2023.
Cheers ladies. Let's hope this year has summat decent instore for all of us. Won't hold me breath but who knows? Ughh.. just eaten some freebie mini sausages that shop passed on to our young un n me cos it was closing time n they had today's date on. Possibly a bad idea? Me lad wasn't daft enough to sample em.
Blastronaut wrote: "A belated Merry Christmas to the rest of yous and a Happy New Year folks. Have a good un!Personally will be bloody glad to see the back of this one."
Yes....my sympathies too Blastro. Definitely agree on forgetting 2022..as it wasn't much fun for me neither. First the cancer then tinnitus and anxiety that came with it. And..it looks as if i may have more on the cards for this year, but won't know til i see the consultant.
So..here's hoping 2023 will offer a refreshing change of direction.
Hoping and praying for both of us then dude. Makes ya wonder what ya did wrong don't it? I been in places where I've not wanted to be around no more so feel bad for your situation where you've not even asked for it. It'll come back to bite me when things are going more smoothly. That's life innit. Hope things turn good for ya Duke I really do.
Things life has taught me (with rocks in it): Life isn't fair, there's no such thing as natural justice, no explanation, you just grit your teeth and carry on.
Cheers folks.......i'll soldier on as per usual, and hope for the best. It's all anybody can do.
Wishing you well, Duke.Rather shitey Christmas here :0
Flu all round, so not much fun.
Then a 1am phonecall on the 28th from our very good friend, her husband had had a heart attack and died. He was 51. Fks sake, she's only 40 herself. Fkn awful.
We went to the Funeral Mass, and then cremation, I was ok until our friend got up, and spoke and sobbed. And their two kids, 16 and 21.
:(
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