Amazon exiles discussion
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Tia is SO much better today than yesterday! - although she has passed out upside down now on the Sofa utterly exhausted from all the fun and games she has had ;o>She has chased Mitz all over the place this Morning and then we had the whole Hairy Woofer Toybox turned out and everything brought into the Lounge one by one to be briefly played with followed by a completely mad Game of suddenly playing Run-Out-The-Lounge-Barking-To-The-Front-Door-Then-Double-Back-Via-The-Dining-Room-And-Nick-Moo's-Chewie-And-Hide-It! ;o> ... ;o> ... ;o>
We are all collapsed in front of the TV watching 'Raiders of The Lost Ark' ... Mitzie's choice as she is staring absolutely fascinated by the Screen - although she didn't like the Monkey much as it might possibly have also been after her Chewie as well! ;o>
All together now? ... "AWWW!!!" ;o> ...
Flamingo Land Zoo celebrates the festive birth of endangered baby Giraffe ...
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/...
‘There are only a few hundred Rothschild’s remaining in the wild, the zoo, which is near Malton...’So what happens next? Do they fly parents and baby out to Africa and hope they settle in alright? Do they bring back another (hopefully) breeding pair and do the same again? Going to take a while isn’t it? I don’t understand the need to perpetuate endangered species, what is the point? The environment is changing so rapidly the Earth will no longer be able to support these creatures anyway.
I could go on.........
Indeed Lez, it seems like some awfully bad cosmic joke that the only species that is not under threat is the very one that is the main reason the natural world is in such a dire predicament. One feels that any steps that could be made are being paid mere lip service with no real intentions of actually doing any damn thing about it on a global scale. I fear that it is already too little, too late and the sands of time have become more a torrent than a trickle for the human race. Indeed our extinction may be the only salvation the future can hope for and giving the passing of a million years or so the earth may recover to become once again the Eden that she once was.
I try my best not to think too much of all of the terrible harm that Human Beings have done to this beautiful Planet and to so many of the other creatures on it - and continually try to focus far more on the sheer wonder of Mother Nature and the incredibly precious gift of life instead. The baby Giraffe is such a sweet little thing that has brought meaning, joy and fulfilment to his Mum's life - and that's surely reason enough for him to be born and to exist, isn't it? - even if it is in a Zoo rather than in the Wild?
Thank you suzysunshine and Lez for kind words. 😊
You're always welcome, Poppet ... x x x ;o>
‘Frenchman Sets Off To Cross Atlantic in a Barrel’https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-euro...
It’s as big as some London bedsits and far cheaper. Perhaps he can help with the housing crisis?
Hmmm? - I'm not keen on his choice of colours on his Interior Design ... I would have gone for a softer Cream instead of White and perhaps a warm Sage Green or a Duck Egg Blue instead of Red? ... and maybe some attractive Wallpaper around the Bed area as well? ;o>
Beautifully lit Christmas Trees around the World in 2018 ;o> ...http://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/ph...
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Bea...
Well...today & tommorrow, marks both a sombre and joyful moment, in my calender. This year, will mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of one of my closest friends, who died in his sleep during the night of 28/29th, from heart failure, in 1998. He was only 33. But the flipside of that, is on the same day i learned of my friend's death, my first nephew was born into the world & will be celebrating leaving teenagehood & entering his 20's tommorow morn.I'm not a superstitious person by nature, but it's odd how these things occur, one could almost say my friend's soul passed to my nephew...except the young man is nothing like my mate! Cowinkidinks it is then! :)
Awww, a very bittersweet anniversary indeed, Poppet ... x x xIt will be 3 years in a couple of weeks since a very special friend of mine died - the one that I turned 18 and 21 with and shared in so many firsts with as well ... College, first Vote, drink in a Pub, Meal out in a fancy Restaurant without family, first steps to Careers, learning to Drive, etc ...
We had sadly lost touch with each other for over a decade but nevertheless I was thinking that we would get together for our 50th and set about Internet searching for her by her rather unusual name - as I knew she had moved out of Stockport at some point but was thinking that she might possibly be found on Facebook or something similar.
And sure enough it was within mere seconds that, on Google, I did find her again ... just the two mentions on a Animal Sanctuary's Twitter and Facebook Pages and both of them were Obituary Posts as it turned out that she had died very suddenly back in early January 2016.
I managed to make contact with someone who knew her there and find out where she is buried but, due to my Mum having no reliable Car for most of last year, I couldn't get to go and lay some Flowers - but I will get to do so this year.
And I still can't quite get my Head around me turning 50 without Vee also being in the World somewhere and also turning 50 as well? - and she will always be remembered and always be missed ... x x x
I would visit both my friend's and dad's graves (he also died in 1998), if i could..but i don't drive anymore & mum is getting a bit old to drive long distances. Maybe one of me siblings will make a trip up 'there', sometime next year.
Just knowing whether my dad was buried or cremated would be a start - I received a text from one of my brothers on the day my dad died four years ago in September, then nothing!
Despite numerous attempts by myself, from that day onwards I haven't been able to make contact with either of my brothers and so missed out on any chance of saying goodbye to my dad.
Though never a close family, I would have hoped that differences could have been put aside, for one day at least :(
Despite numerous attempts by myself, from that day onwards I haven't been able to make contact with either of my brothers and so missed out on any chance of saying goodbye to my dad.
Though never a close family, I would have hoped that differences could have been put aside, for one day at least :(
Ohhh Grizzlygrump? - that's awful! ;o<No matter whatever kinds of differences and disagreements there might within any family everyone should still all get to know the bare basics of things like this - and no-one should ever use what is between them to deliberately withhold such poignant and precious information. To not know must just be so incredibly painful for you, you poor love ... x x x
Is there no way of you finding more out? Were you not close enough to know if your Dad had any good friends or Neighbours that would surely know and could fill you in on more details? Or could you ring around a list of the local Funeral Directors in his area and ask them if they have your Dad in their Records and if they can tell you the location of where his Grave is or his Ashes scattered?
I found out where my friend is through the Animal Sanctuary she supported and worked as an Animal Fosterer for - as luckily there were several people working there who knew her quite well and one of them had overseen the taking of some Flowers on the Charity's behalf to her Burial Plot. There was no Funeral Service or any other kind of ceremony, as I already knew that she would have requested for herself, and she had made all of the arrangements herself some years before.
They referred me onto a Green Burial place about 15 miles away from here and I looked them up online, found a Contact Email on the Website, and within hours I got a Reply from the Funeral Directors telling me that she was indeed buried there and that her Grave is unmarked except for a tiny Stone Cat and where I will find it - first on the Right of the 3rd Row by a small Bench. The Burial Site is a large Wildflower Meadow that has been managed and maintained for generations by the family who live at a nearby Farmhouse.
In a very unexpected and an incredibly touching way, even in the awfulness of finding out about her death, Vee has helped me to finalise my own personal arrangements. I have a more than good enough idea as to just what the place looks like through looking at all of the absolutely beautiful Online Photographs - and it is exactly what I also want for myself as well. I really dislike the massive and more conventional Cemeteries that we have around Stockport - such empty soulless places ruled by very strict regulations ... virtually no Grass, only just tiny Patio-style Trees permitted to be planted in certain places, no Wildlife free to roam, and not a single stray (and rooted) Flower out of place either. I don't personally get any real sense of peace when visiting them to maintain our old family Graves.
I like the fact I can plan, and also pay now too if I want, and (when the time comes!) I will get my Ashes scattered on a beautiful Wildflower Meadow surrounded by some really gorgeous Woodlands and Fields of Cattle and Sheep quietly grazing. I'm just holding off until I visit my friend's resting place first and then, if it 'feels' right I'll be going ahead on writing up what I want for myself and including it in with my Will. And it is all with thanks to my very dear friend, Vee, that this will now be happening ... x x x ;o>
I have got both versions of these Words by running through my Mind today ;o> ...
I had a bit more energy than usual this Morning so I've been baking Gingerbread ;o> ...
I've made up two Gingerbread & Icing Candle Wreaths to look like this ;o> ...
... and M&D have just headed off out to buy me some more Tea Lights ;o>
Very impressive, suzy - almost too good to eat :)
Been busy myself - made sure Mrs Grizzly had dinner before she went to work (gammon and egg rolls), been shopping to get everything we need for dinner on New Year's Day and now I'm back home I've put clean sheets on the bed and am in the middle of doing the laundry.
While waiting for the washing machine to finish, I'm sat picking at some of the goodies that are left over from Christmas Day :)
Been busy myself - made sure Mrs Grizzly had dinner before she went to work (gammon and egg rolls), been shopping to get everything we need for dinner on New Year's Day and now I'm back home I've put clean sheets on the bed and am in the middle of doing the laundry.
While waiting for the washing machine to finish, I'm sat picking at some of the goodies that are left over from Christmas Day :)
Well, one was supposed to be a special present for one of my Mum's friends - someone who has had a rather rough Christmas and wants to celebrate New Year in style to make up for it ... but my Mum can't bring herself to decide which one she wants to part with?! - so, if I'm up to it, I'm going to make a couple more tomorrow and then my Mum can get to keep both of these for us instead. I think that I'll Secret Santa the remaining one to one of our Neighbours - although he'll probably guess that it's from me - LOL! - as I often leave any extra bits of Baking in his Porch ;o>
I ate the last few pieces of Turkey, two little Pigs in Blankets, and a large portion of Mum's Special Stuffing for Breakfast today ... well someone's gotta do it, haven't they? - and I was more than up for it!!!
Makes a change from a bowl of cereal or toast :)
The goose we had lasted 2 days (and very nice it was too), but all the trimmings were eaten at dinnertime on Christmas Day chiefly due to the fact that I didn't make up too much of anything, or maybe it was because after everyone had put what they wanted on their plates the rest went on mine! :)
The goose we had lasted 2 days (and very nice it was too), but all the trimmings were eaten at dinnertime on Christmas Day chiefly due to the fact that I didn't make up too much of anything, or maybe it was because after everyone had put what they wanted on their plates the rest went on mine! :)
We bought a big enough Turkey for three Roast Dinners! - and we enjoyed every single one of them too. Mum's Special Stuffing only ever lasts for around two days in our House - the first half with the Meal and the second half makes for fantastic Left-over Sandwiches. My Mum kindly made up another Bowl for me yesterday so that I wouldn't have to end up in going 'Cold Turkey' on Stuffing with the left-over Cold Turkey - LOL!!! ;o>
Apologies for all of the EDITS - my Dyslexia is in overdrive at the moment (and I've only had the odd Port & Lemon, honest!) which means I keep on finding that I'm writing my words out in the wrong order ;o>
Another great day with our little hairy cannonball of complete chaos! ;o>She has stolen Mitz's Chewie several times over through a variety of the most dastardly and devious of hilariously wonderful ways, fallen in love with a rather grumpy Frog she unexpectedly came across in the Greenhouse, run off with one of my Socks and then drop-kicked, head-butted and 'killed' it all around the Lounge before proudly placing it in it's new Home ... her Toy Box! ... and as well as having Breakfast and Tea as usual she has also been treated to left-over Turkey, a bit of Toast with Peanut Butter AND had half a Tinned Peach with a tablespoon of Custard as well!!!
Ohhh yes!!! - it really has been a great day indeed!!! ;o>
It's currently rush hour in our garden - hordes of Sparrows are flitting between the three feeders and the bird bath, a pair of Collared Doves are wandering sedately across the lawn trying to ignore a Blackbird who is running from one side of the garden to the other and, while all this is happening, Phoebe has her nose pressed against the patio door and is making little "lemme out" noises :)
I can't see much? - but it's certainly very noisy out there today! Maybe they are all busy tweeting away to each other on their new iPhones? - LOL!!! ;o>I found the Frog in the Greenhouse again at 6am this morning but I managed to get him up in a damp Tea Towel and I've put him outside one of our Frogitats. We got another one for Christmas and so that makes four that we have now! ;o>
Mitz isn't eating today? ... she sniffed at her Breakfast and tentatively tried a mouthful of Chicken and then spat it out. I hope she isn't going to be ill today as in 10 years now I've only ever known her refuse a Meal a bare handful of times. Tia really enjoyed hers though and it is just such an incredible pleasure to still see (and hear!) her bouncing about and hurtling around the House every Morning.
I made up two more Gingerbread Wreaths during the night as I couldn't get to sleep - they only took just over a couple of hours instead of almost four this time around so it seems I'm getting quicker at it! They just need Icing this afternoon and that shouldn't take me too long to do.
I like being inspired by Pictures and Ideas that I come across on the Internet - I've really enjoyed making these and will hopefully make some again next Christmas ;o>
Grizzlygrump wrote: "Phoebe has her nose pressed against the patio door and is making little "lemme out" noises :)"Awww, bless her! - I hope Father Catmas made all her dreams come true?!! ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Grizzlygrump wrote: "Phoebe has her nose pressed against the patio door and is making little "lemme out" noises :)"
Awww, bless her! - I hope Father Catmas made all her dreams come true?!! ;o>"
Phoebe had, from her perspective, a horrible Christmas - there were strangers in her house (Step-Daughter and Grandson turned up late on Xmas Eve and stayed until Boxing Day) and she found her bowl filled with new, horrible food instead of her usual fare (definitely not a fan of goose or Pawsecco) and though she has now stopped hiding and sulking I think that we are far from forgiven :)
With my other Step-Daughter, Son-In-Law and three Grandchildren coming over on New Year's Day, Phoebe is most likely going to be spending another day hiding under our bed!
Awww, bless her! - I hope Father Catmas made all her dreams come true?!! ;o>"
Phoebe had, from her perspective, a horrible Christmas - there were strangers in her house (Step-Daughter and Grandson turned up late on Xmas Eve and stayed until Boxing Day) and she found her bowl filled with new, horrible food instead of her usual fare (definitely not a fan of goose or Pawsecco) and though she has now stopped hiding and sulking I think that we are far from forgiven :)
With my other Step-Daughter, Son-In-Law and three Grandchildren coming over on New Year's Day, Phoebe is most likely going to be spending another day hiding under our bed!
Ohhh, poor little Poppet! - force-fed Treats and cuddled against her will?!! ;o>Mitz has just had half a piece of Thick White Slice Bread toasted with only just a fine scraping of Butter on it. She was very excited and enthusiastic about having it as well and so it seems she is feeling much better now? ... we shall see as the day progresses.
M&D are off out to buy some more Port for the Port & Lemons! ;o>
suzysunshine7 wrote: "Ohhh, poor little Poppet! - force-fed Treats and cuddled against her will?!! ;o>"
Phoebe only really likes two people - myself and Mrs Grizzly.
Everyone else, she runs and hides from and if they follow her she becomes a hissing, yowling furious ball of teeth and claws!
Good news that Mitz appears to be perking up, or does she just know how to get you to make her toast? :)
I ran out of Port yesterday so had to get another bottle to see in the New Year with :)
Phoebe only really likes two people - myself and Mrs Grizzly.
Everyone else, she runs and hides from and if they follow her she becomes a hissing, yowling furious ball of teeth and claws!
Good news that Mitz appears to be perking up, or does she just know how to get you to make her toast? :)
I ran out of Port yesterday so had to get another bottle to see in the New Year with :)
No, it isn't like Mitz? - she did try to show willing but it was obvious that she really didn't want her Breakfast at all so I threw it away after she walked off. She has done some stretching - a sure sign of Stomach/Bowel discomfort so I've been expecting her to be violently sick or have the runs ... but she seems to have slept it off instead in her 'Den' underneath the Sofa?M&D had Toast and she suddenly came out all interested with her little Nose twitching - so I made her up some White Toast as it should be far more digestible for her than the Granary Wholegrain that M&D were having. We shall see anyway.
It could possibly of been the Custard last night? - only just a large Tablespoon each on small Saucers - but I think that Mitz could be Dairy-Intolerant? She absolutely loves Custard, Yoghurt and Ice Cream but I know that Yoghurt doesn't seem to like her much in return as it tend to make her Belch and give her Wind! ;o>
Our favourite ... Cockburn Special Reserve Port ... seems to be on Offer almost everywhere at the moment - so M&D went mad (well, for them!) and bought 4 Bottles. Dad doesn't drink it and so they should keep Mum and me going until next Christmas time now ;o>
Sorry I’ve not been around. I’m at my sister’s, she doesn’t have WiFi, my iPad’s playing up and I couldn’t get online. My nephew’s introduced me to ‘Mobile Tethering’ but it might be a temporary fix. I’ll wish you Happy New Year in case I don’t get back!
😀
Awww bless you, Lez Lee, for letting us know you are safe and well ;o>And a very healthy and a Happy New Year to you too - if you can't make it back online in the meantime ... x x x
Well, Mitz has just demanded her Tea and ate the lot! - although I gave her a bit less than I normally would and I'll 'top her up' in an hour or so if she still seems okay ;o>I think that she will be though because ... she has duffed Tia up twice this afternoon, raced around the House several times until she finally found a Chewie she had got carefully stashed away and then forgotten where (and, of course, it was the only one that she wanted), barked her way up and down the Back Garden at anyone who might be out there, and is now sat perched on the edge of the Sofa grumbling and growling away at a little Dragon in a Cartoon on the TV! ;o>
WHEW!!! - I don't think I could cope with another Emergency Visit to the Vets right now! My Dad got the Bill for her Dental Surgery yesterday? - £650?!! ... Goodwill to all Vets and thank God for Pet Insurance! - LOL!!!
Chinese Takeaway for our Tea ... and a little hairy woofer whose name begins with an 'M' was most insistent on having her 'Two Chip Treat' as usual ;o>
Here's to the last days of ...
A happy new year to all old friends 😊
Happy new year to all, may it bring you all you want and need! :o)
WoW?!! - weren't the Fireworks in London fabulous this year?!! I must admit I thought that the 'Music' that was chosen was absolutely awful - LOL!!! - but nevertheless the Fireworks were as amazing as always ;o> ...
Grizzlygrump wrote: "Just knowing whether my dad was buried or cremated would be a start - I received a text from one of my brothers on the day my dad died four years ago in September, then nothing!Despite numerous at..."
Aw mate, that's not on. I take it you don't get on with your siblings then. Would your father's passing not be recorded online somewhere. like via one of those genealogy sites, perhaps? There must be way....my dad was researching the family tree before he passed away, he went all over the country to visit graves, and this was before the internet, so he did it the old fashion way of checking the county records offices.
I imagine things are easier today, with the internet now?
Just an idea.
suzysunshine7 wrote: "I've made up two Gingerbread & Icing Candle Wreaths to look like this ;o> ...Crikey! They look scrumpiously delish!
Very pretty Suzy.....any left?! :)
Happy new year folks!
And yes i agree Suzy...the musiv used for the fireworks display, was dreadful as usual. Why og why they have to use forgetable mainstream pop music, is beyond me...except to appeal to young massive i 'spose....but then, what do they know music?!
Fireworks were fantastic as ever though! :)
... and M&D have just headed off out to buy me some more Tea Lights ;o>"
Yesterday made Armenian style "shashlik" outdoors.Two essentials:
-right marinade
-right firewood (no flame, just coal!)
I can't see a picture PS. Is it just me? Maybe post it on your profile? I'm salivating here...
Val wrote: "I can't see a picture PS. Is it just me? Maybe post it on your profile? I'm salivating here..."Alright Val, didn't know there is that option on a profile.
Not best quality though, as camera's battery died instantly and I've got no smartphone. Hopefully you can see it now.
Happy New Year all.We went to the village New Year's Eve party over here in France last night. Seven course meal, wine champagne and entertainment for 65 euros each. We were the only British there so we got by with Su's good French, my bad French, some bad English from the French and charades style sign language from everybody.
It was a fun night if a bit shambolic. Canapes were served about 2030 hours, sit down meal got going about 2200 hours when we got three courses, chestnut soup, pate then Coquille St. Jacques in fairly quick succession. Everything then stopped for about an hour and the main course (Magret de Canard) arrived about 2350 hours. Just in time for everyone to get served and immediately head for the dance floor for the New Year countdown and the ritual cheek kissing and bon annee'ing of everybody you could get hold of.
Still two courses to go at this point, fireworks were let off at 0050 hours, after which point, being lightweights we gave up and walked back up the hill to our house missing out on the cheese course and pudding. Not that either of us had room for them.
Post Soviet wrote: "Val wrote: "I can't see a picture PS. Is it just me? Maybe post it on your profile? I'm salivating here..."Alright Val, didn't know there is that option on a profile.
Not best quality though, as ..."
I'm drooling too now! - those look seriously yummy! ;o>
Derek wrote: "Happy New Year all.We went to the village New Year's Eve party over here in France last night. Seven course meal, wine champagne and entertainment for 65 euros each. We were the only British ther..."
Happy New Year, Derek ... x ;o>
WoW?!! - that sounds like quite a long night of Food with just a smidgen of New Year thrown in for light relief between Courses - LOL!!!
Post Soviet wrote: "Alright Val, didn't know there is that option on a profile.Not best quality though, as camera's battery died instantly and I've got no smartphone. Hopefully you can see it now ..."
Working a treat! Yummy meal you've got there PS!
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)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Christina Rossetti (other topics)John Keats (other topics)
Joan Aiken (other topics)
I hope you really enjoyed your Curry at 8pm. We had a really lovely Roast Dinner thanks to my wonderful Mum - and it was just SO nice not to have to cook it all by myself this year. I don't think I could have even thought of attempting it this Christmas anyway as it was about all that I could manage just to get up and washed and dressed today and that still pretty much took me all day long to do! - LOL!!! ;o>