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Bucket List
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Ian, Moderator
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Aug 15, 2014 07:41AM
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Ian wrote: "And of course he is famous for how drunk he would get with his drinking partner Brahms."Indeed! He drank like a fish. The poor chap had a lot to mourn. Lived to a fairly old age for those times and lost his kids. And Brahms had a lot to mourn too. That poor chap was in love with Schumann's wife and couldn't have her! Made for great composing though, all this loss and longing.
Got a confession to make - this directed at Philip in particular. I think I've given up on The Stand. I got to 15% complete only and felt like I'd run 15K. Thing is, I didn't really get into it. While I could see the merit in his writing and character development, I couldn't be bothered to limp on. I know what happens - a group of goodies V a group of baddies. I'm sure he tells it in a spectacular way and that there's an epic ending, but I just burnt out. As a writer, he's too gritty for me. The language is too raw for my taste and I haven't really seen a lot of the baddies yet. Just didn't fancy proceeding.I feel a bit bad because it was on the bucket list and I've been promising OH for years that I'd give it a go. Well, I did give it a go, to be fair. He wouldn't have done the same for me, which makes me feel a bit better. He definitely wouldn't read a book just because I wanted him to - not if he didn't like the look of it in the first place.
So I'm seeking someone's forgiveness I think, to ease the old conscience. I don't like giving up on books, but I've said before that I consider life and time to be commodities too precious to be wasting on books that don't do it for me.
So there! Confession done. Phew!
Mod
. I really, really liked that one.Royally BeSwitched
And 3 Hail Mary's and a couple of paternosters should also give you a lift post confession.
Hi Tori, I enjoyed the Liszt , still amazed that they play without the music, very impressive. Clearly alcohol is better for you than we thought. Angst is always a creator. I'm reading Stephen King, the language thrown about in it is too much for me, things I would never say. It's particularly jarring as it's supposed to be a fantasy series and they don't generally swear.
Ian wrote: "Make yourself feel better Tori and change your BL Stephen King to . I really, really liked that one.Royally BeSwitched
And 3 Hail Mary's and a couple..."
Thanks Ian, for the pardon and the recommendation. I've liked your recommendations so far. You're getting a reputation for yourself, at least from me. I'll happily switch to anything from the marathon that is The Stand. Hubster is a bit disappointed that I've given up, but I made him a nice tea last night to compensate, even though I was up to my eyeballs in home improvements at the time. Not great to be standing on a stool fitting tiles with your other half yelling up the stairs 'What's for tea then, love?!' But I coped.
Glad you enjoyed the Liszt, Helen. I'd have been a bit confused if you hadn't liked that one. Epic. Want any more or are you all classic-ed out?
Fulfilled a little bucket fantasy of mine which I'll quickly report - got my OH to paint the kitchen ceiling. He's been at it for half an hour. I had to set him up. Cover all surfaces, open the tin, prepare the tray and roller and stick it in his hand, but he's using his superior height to do the job. Nick is very impressed. We both keep telling OH that he's a very talented ceiling painter. It's keeping him going! Least said about the builder's bum when his T-shirt lifts the better. Nick was just cutting some wood. He shouted through the kitchen window to my OH - have you got a Jigsaw? OH said, 'I stopped playing with them a few years ago.'
Give me strength.
Anyway, he's painting the ceiling, which is amazing. Never thought I'd see the day. I'll never hear the end of it of course.
Anyway, it's hi-ho from me - and back to work I go! How's the kitchen coming? It'll be time to plant our daf bulbs next! Synchronised house jobs!! :-)
Tori wrote: "Got a confession to make - this directed at Philip in particular. I think I've given up on The Stand. I got to 15% complete only and felt like I'd run 15K. Thing is, I didn't really get into it. Wh..."Dear Tori you are of course forgiven. As you know I managed to finish it 2 star review. I have rarely been so disappointed in a story. If I wanted horror I would have a picked something else but it is supposed to be a dystopia. There you go another book down thousands to go
Oooh, I'd forgotten bulbs. I suppose I'd better plan in some weeding as the rain has grown all sorts of things in the garden. Plus if I pick the lumps of plaster out of the lawn, I could mow it. It's turning sunny (big, bright thing in sky), that could happen this afternoon.The kitchen is gorgeous and mostly finished. Small bits of paint touching up to do after the electrician fitted the sockets and a piece of wood to stain so that it matches the oak floor (where window was snapped for French doors). I'm unpacking boxes, cooing over things I've not seen since before moving. Having said that I donated four large boxes to charity too. An eight serving crockery set that has banana split boats, gravy dish, veg servers etc. There's only me here and there were only ever three of us so I'm not sure why mum thought I'd need eight settings.
Of course the rest of the house is a tip, still covered in dust and filled with things I'd dumped out of the way, sadly school stuff will be moving tomorrow.
I'd love to show you photos, how do I load them???
Listened to some other pieces of music and discovered the theme to the Jonathan creek program, amazing music.
Tori, it's important that you sit down before reading on.Ready, I haven't had any chocolate for nine days. I kept forgetting to buy it or was too busy to go out. I could eat a whip or mint poppets.
I have some new windows being put in on Thurs and Friday so the Col came and took down curtains, blinds and rails where needed.We had a good night out in the Lister Bar listening to two local ladies sing. Think he is getting into retiring mode already.
Oh and we won a lovely watercolour painting of a Schooner on Saturday at the Brixham Art Society exhibition raffle - Bonus!
Painting Boats & Harbours in Watercolour
Helen wrote: "Tori, it's important that you sit down before reading on.Ready, I haven't had any chocolate for nine days. I kept forgetting to buy it or was too busy to go out. I could eat a whip or mint poppets."
Blimey!! I sat down and still fainted. NINE DAYS!! That amounts to a chocolate famine. Whip or mint poppets - ooo yeah. Don't choose, obviously, you're due both.
Your kitchen sounds fandabydozy. Can't spell that of course, I just have horrific childhood memories of The Crankies which came to the forefront as I searched for an appropriate adjective for your kitchen.
Anyhow - sounds gorgeous. I've had a setback with my kitchen this week. Nick was with me for 9 days then had to leave because my kitchen sink was delayed! Not a happy situation. We were doing three rooms simultaneously - main bathroom, downstairs loo and kitchen. I've never worked so hard as I have in the last couple of weeks. So we ripped the walls out of the bathroom and he fixed a leak, added plasterboard walls and we retiled. Great.
Next - completely did the downstairs toilet right from new floor tiles to new suite to painting the walls. By now, we were hoping the kitchen sink would come - a lovely double Belfast sink in white ceramic. So Nick ripped all the tiles off the kitchen walls and re-plastered. I bought new worktops and they're in solid oak. They're currently slouching in my lounge - all three of them. We've treated them with oil and wax. I've painted all the walls, doors, ceiling. Then the news that the sink wasn't coming. So Nick left on Friday and is coming back next Sunday to fit the new worktops and the sink, after which, it should look quite nice. I haven't had new units, but I've painted all the doors and we've fitted new handles. Phew!! So much work. I don't know how to add photos, but I'll show you mine if you show me yours. I'll just be putting mine in my photos on my profile.
Lynne - you're on to a good thing there with the Col. My hubby doesn't really get involved in DIY. DIY to him is a message to me - do it yourself. So I do! I was up painting my kitchen doors until 1 a.m. this morning. I'm knackered. Back to my real job tomorrow!
Top of my bucket list at the moment is finishing my sequel. I'm so busy, I'm starting to wonder if I ever will.
Oh, and dust!! Tell me about it. Plaster dust is horrendous. Nick plastered my kitchen walls, and knowing I was having new worktops, we weren't careful at all with the worktops or the sink. Then the new sink didn't arrive and I'm stuck with the old worktops and old sink for another week, all plastered (if you'll pardon the pun) in plaster, paint and general crud. I've had to give them a really good scrub, but the plaster dust just goes round in circles and refuses to leave. Nightmare. Can't wait for this work to be done. Can't wait to get all the tubs of paint, grout, brushes and trays out of my kitchen and into the shed. 1 more week................Not sure I'll have the energy for daffodil bulbs. My back garden was like a junk yard, but I'll give my OH credit where it's due - yesterday, he did several trips to the tip and shifted the whole lot, including the old loo and the old fridge/freezer. It took him a couple of hours, after which he settled down to enjoying his day while I painted into the wee hours. Sigh!
If all that isn't enough, my daughter has bullied me into taking her to Ikea in Leeds tomorrow, which will take most of my day. Never a dull moment. At the moment, I just want to book a holiday by myself. I'd like to go in a cottage on a cliff top overlooking the sea and spend a solitary week reading and writing and (what is it they say in films) - 'finding myself'. In reality, I'd probably be freaked out and come home after the first night. How's this for a shocking fact - I've never spent a night alone in a house. Not ever. Weird, or what? Maybe I should put it on the bucket list, just to prove to myself that I'm woman enough to do it!
Wow, never? I recorded bake off, started watching it with mum, then a friend was here and now I'm addicted. Anyway, they've just been making chocolate puddings and I'm suddenly starving.Oh tell me about it! The kitchen is now dust free although I can still see it on the oak floor. The front room however is plastered!
No, never! I only realised that while I was ranting last night during those two long posts. I'll say it again because it's unreal: I've never spent a single night alone in a house. Bizarre. I've been a mother since I was 18. There have been about 4 or 5 random nights in our entire marriage where we've had the house to ourselves - all of them over the past couple of years. Here's another bizarre fact. We got married when we were 20 and our son was just two. The night of the wedding, we moved into our new house for the first time and our son cried all night and kept saying: 'No new house. I want to go home.' Home to him was my mum's house where I'd lived with him over the previous two years. Why on earth didn't I just ask my mum to take him home with her on my wedding night? He never slept out away from me - not at his dad's before we were married, or at either of his grannies' houses after we were married. Weird! We never had a honeymoon. We're kind of making up for it now, nearly a quarter of a century on. That's why we've slipped away together twice this year. Payback! I wish I still looked like I did at 20.
Tori ...how could you ask your mum to take him? Wedding night or not,it was still the first night for the family in the family home....it wouldn't have been that without him there.
Yeah, you're right. That's probably what I thought all those years ago, plus it never would have occurred to me to send him anywhere else. Too soft! I think he slept in the middle of us all night, from memory!
Your family always sound so close and lovely, Tori.
Helen wrote: "Your family always sound so close and lovely, Tori."Thanks. I suppose we are. What am I going to do when my kids have all flown the nest and I'm left with my OH all alone? He announced tonight that the NFL starts on Sunday. So, American football alongside ours. Splendid news. I feel close to OH between football seasons or when we're away for one of our 4 day breaks. I've recently told him I'd like us to take up a hobby together. He suggested watching football. Not funny at all. Not even nearly. I can hear the incessant drone of football transfer news coming from the box in the other room right now. Yawn.
Tori wrote: "Helen wrote: "Your family always sound so close and lovely, Tori."Thanks. I suppose we are. What am I going to do when my kids have all flown the nest and I'm left with my OH all alone? He announ..."
I can't stand football either but fortunately my OH doesn't watch it that much. I can tolerate the Super Bowl but that's it. :)
Helen wrote: "Made me laugh out loud though!"Maybe you should have him then if you find him funny! He's absolutely gorgeous looking, Helen, I'll give him that. When I put a pic of him on my Facebook page this Easter, holding an egg he bought me, I've never had so many people goggle my page.
Goodness' sake!
Joy - if I only had to put up with the FA cup final once a year, that would be lovely, pleasurable in fact. It's morning, afternoon and night here. A religion; rope-reaching stuff. You've heard of Spike Milligan? Apparently, his gravestone says: I told you I was ill. Mine will say - fell asleep one afternoon during a football match and didn't budge when her loving husband asked her what was for tea. RIP.
Blimey, this is real bucket list stuff.
Mod
Of course he's a good bloke, Ian. I wouldn't change a single thing about him. Well .... maybe the odd thing or ten. I think you two would get on very well!
Ooh, I've been educated well. Turned my tv on and recognised your pianist, Ylang Ylang. Was playing Chopin too.
Helen wrote: "Ooh, I've been educated well. Turned my tv on and recognised your pianist, Ylang Ylang. Was playing Chopin too."How fantastic! Very pleased with that. If we hadn't had our little flirt with the classics, it wouldn't even have pierced your consciousness. It's amazing how you notice something/someone once your attention has been shifted in that direction. I think we have a result!
Mod
Mod
I also think we would but watching NFL could be a real divisive issue. Spanish football more my thing.
Oh, he can more than cope with Spanish football. Loves it. In fact, he loves all things Spanish and wants to learn the language. I think he's mastered a dozen words or so, so he's most of the way there! I'm not up for moving to Spain when we're old codgers, if that's what he has in mind! He's dropped the odd hint.I think we've missed the obvious clash between you two - two reds of different shades. Aren't you sworn enemies, historically?
Mod
Ian wrote: "Yes but we might unite in a loathing of others....though as unite is just one letter away from an obscenity, probably not the word I'd use...perhaps live and let live and er pool our resources."Ha ha! Very clever! Yes, I'm already sensing potential problems within a very short space of time. I think the coupling could be problematic. OH's dad is a blue -imagine that? They're like poison together on the subject of football.
At our wedding reception, OH's dad gave a speech instead of my dad, who'd died two years previously. Our son was almost two at the time. This is the most vivid memory from my wedding. So my OH's dad is in full swing of his speech and said this: 'I don't see this marriage in terms of losing a son and gaining a daughter-in-law, but instead, I'm losing a red and gaining a blue.' At which exact point, our little son yelled from his high chair, 'U-ni-ted.'
He can't have been understanding and following the speech; it must have been a bizarre coincidence, but his timing was perfect. He was shocked when everyone burst out laughing and applauded him. I think he cried. The same son still loves United and they outnumber me here, but musical son isn't bothered about football.
My dad-in-law can't accept that I'm no longer interested in football. He's beside himself with excitement that after all these years, he now has the opportunity to press as many buttons as possible and wind his son up whenever he speaks to him. He wants me on board helping him out. He's sure that deep down (especially because all my family are practising blues) I'm still a closet fan. He speaks to me as if I care deeply about who's won what match when. He thinks my nonchalance isn't real and is only a show of unity and support for my hubby, and that I've been bullied into a united front for pride's sake.
Oh dear!!
That's a much sweeter wedding story than mine about young children. My daughter was three and at her aunt's wedding. There was a hushed silence prior to the vows and my daughters beautiful voice piped out, "I need a poo!" The bride, groom, her dad, all standing at the front, clearly heard as I could see their shoulders shaking with mirth.
Two hotels I'm going to stay in before I pop my clogs, the st Pancras renaissance hotel...after years of watching them work on it, all looks stunning, and this one,http://www.old-station.co.uk/index.htm.In the train bit of course.
After a 33-year management career with the H.J. Heinz Company, I retired in July of 2001, at the age of 54.My late wife insisted that I create a bucket list, sufficiently challenging, to keep me active and occupied until my lungs, heart and brain ceased to function.
Visit all 50 of the United States by car (a minimum of 3-days required to count as a visit). So far, 43 down - 7 to go.
Note: I decided that flying might be more practical than driving to Hawaii.
Write my memoir. Accomplished! A copy given to each of my four adult children.
Write a novel. Accomplished! Published Aug. 9, 2011.
Visit, or be visited by, my four adult children and four grandchildren often. On-going! Sometimes a bit too often.
Have an affair with Angelina Jolie. Failed! Ms. Jolie chose Brad Pitt over me. Can you believe that? Women!
Jim wrote: "After a 33-year management career with the H.J. Heinz Company, I retired in July of 2001, at the age of 54.My late wife insisted that I create a bucket list, sufficiently challenging, to keep me ..."
Angelina doesn't know what she's missing, the fool!
Jim wrote: "After a 33-year management career with the H.J. Heinz Company, I retired in July of 2001, at the age of 54.My late wife insisted that I create a bucket list, sufficiently challenging, to keep me ..."
Do you need me to take Brad off her, Jim, to give you half a chance? It wouldn't be a trial.
Em and Tori,I appreciate the kind words and offer to get Mr. Pitt out of the picture. However, Angelina has made her bed; now she must lie in it.....with Brad. That will teach her!
I think I detect a slight note of sarcasm in your pity. ;)
Mod
I appreciate the kind words and offer to get Mr. Pitt out of the picture. However, Angelina has made her bed; now she must lie in it.....with Brad. That will teach her!"
Be a shame to give up so easily Jim. Make an effort man. You could see if Jennifer Aniston is still available from the Brad Pitt slightly used seconds store.
Tori wrote: "You are a perceptive man, Bill ;-)"Hmmmm, now I'm seeing sarcasm everywhere, Tori.. ;)
Em, Tori, and Ian,Your staunch show of support and comments have inspired me to forget about Angelina and replace that item on my bucket list with one that is a bit more realistic and acheivable. I have decided to run for President of the United States in the next election.
Jim wrote: "Em, Tori, and Ian,Your staunch show of support and comments have inspired me to forget about Angelina and replace that item on my bucket list with one that is a bit more realistic and acheivable...."
Hahahahahaha! Sorry, that was rude. Of course, Jim. If you need a campaign manager, I'm your woman - that is if I'm not too busy. I've put my name down for the first ordinary-folks-who-need-to-inject-a-little-excitement-into-their-lives trip to the moon. So I'm expecting my invitation soon and might not be available. The question is: what to pack!
Mod
Just pack a brown bag Tori. Great way to lose your lunch. Sitting next to Richard Branson and his now ridiculous hair would deffo make me puke even b4 take-off lol.
I thought I had cinema to myself today.....Until there was much rustling mid way through film... :(
Mod
Tori and Ian,Once again, your show of support and offer to be of assistance are very much appreciated.
I believe that I am extremely qualified to enter the political arena in the U.S. (or any other country, for that matter). I am full of useless information!
UK Book Club
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Beyond the Birds and the Bees (other topics)What Father Christmas Left (other topics)
What Father Christmas Left (other topics)
Sweet Liar (other topics)
False Allegations (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
