Idle chatter!

[Abigail]

Thanks for the heads-up, Peggy! Cadell books are good, low-angst fun!

[Galowa]

Abigail wrote: "I missed out on most of this discussion because as so often happens, Goodreads dumped me out of the thread. Sigh. I must say I rather liked this year’s Book Pool just as it was (am starting another..."

Sorry to hear it, Abigail. I don't know what being "dumped out of the thread" looks like for you, but I have had posts (some long) disappear mysteriously, and it's disconcerting. (Hug...) xox

[Barb in Maryland]

Peggy wrote: "FYI, quite a few (though not all) Elizabeth Cadell books are $2.99 for Kindle today."

Well, of course, the one Cadell title I really want is not on sale! Pfui! Bridal Array, aka 'I Love a Lass'.

[Abigail]

Hi, Galowa—what I meant was that I am supposed to get email notifications when there are new posts on a thread I am following, but that happens only sporadically. I’ll get 20 notifications one day and none the next. So I have to settle down once or twice a week and visit every group and search for all the threads I am interested in. And I’ll be in the middle of a conversation with somebody and suddenly not get notified when that person responds. It’s worse than a cell phone for dropping me!

[Galowa]

Abigail wrote: "Hi, Galowa—what I meant was that I am supposed to get email notifications when there are new posts on a thread I am following, but that happens only sporadically. I’ll get 20 notifications one day ..."

Oh, my... Frustrating at best. Certainly not conducive to being able to participate in anything resembling real time. Is there a GoodReads "Help Department?"

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Galowa wrote: "Is there a GoodReads "Help Department?"

Hahahahaha!

Forgive my mirth. They try but this site is full of bugs. Reviews of people I follow didn't appear in my feed for years. It was fixed during the latest round of improvements - probably accidentally.

@Galowa. If you have had posts disappear it is possible the group moderators have removed or moved them. Ask them next time it happens. :)

[Galowa]

Christmas Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Galowa wrote: "Is there a GoodReads "Help Department?"

Hahahahaha!

Forgive my mirth. They try but this site is full of bugs. Reviews of people I follow didn't appear in my feed for years. It was ..."

I am THRILLED to be able to supply ANYONE with a chuckle...
;-)

[Jackie]

Peggy wrote: "FYI, quite a few (though not all) Elizabeth Cadell books are $2.99 for Kindle today."

thanks for letting us know! I bought two. :-)

[Susan in NC]

Peggy wrote: "FYI, quite a few (though not all) Elizabeth Cadell books are $2.99 for Kindle today."

Thanks, Peggy!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

I've already posted this in the GH group.

Well our luck ran out & my husband has COVID. He isn't a severe case but he is unwell.

So it will just be the two of us for Xmas. So disappointed as we were meant to be having Xmas with our kids.

I tested negative but I have to test each day over the next five days.

Hopefully I will stay well & can still organise the Book Pool.

[Abigail]

So sorry to hear it, Carol! Wishing you both a safe passage through this illness. Don't worry about all of us but please keep us apprised of how things are going, when you can.

[CindySR, Moderator]

Christmas Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ oh no! I hope you don't get it at all and may it pass quickly for your husband. 🤞

[Jackie]

I hope he recovers quickly and you can avoid catching it, Carol.

[Galowa]

Christmas Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "
Well our luck ran out & my husband has COVID. He isn't a severe case but he is unwell.


So sorry to hear this, Carol, yet it seems to be the case for many. Eventually, over time, as the likelihood of exposure becomes more probable, the one upside is that reactions are also milder.

Be well! You have each other, and together you'll have next year...

;-)

[Barb in Maryland]

Christmas Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I've already posted this in the GH group.

Well our luck ran out & my husband has COVID. He isn't a severe case but he is unwell.

So it will just be the two of us for Xmas. So disappointed as we w..."
Oh, no, Carol! I hope Marty recovers quickly (with no long-terms problems). Take care of yourself, please. And don't worry about the Book Pool. May you have a Happy Christmas, even if it is scaled back. You can always throw a big new year's party for your family.

[Tania]

Sorry Carol, hoping for the best for both of you.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Thanks everyone! He has the anti viral medicine, so hopefully that will help.

Usually when sick he just wants a jug of water & to be left alone. This time really grumpy.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

& now I have COVID - but other than a slight runny nose (which disappeared when I sat up) & a slight cough I feel fine.

My husband still sick, but better than he was.

[Abigail]

Take good care of yourself!

[Jackie]

I'm sorry, Carol, I'm glad it's a mild case.

[CindySR, Moderator]

Yep, when I had it I thought it was just an allergy attack. Glad yours is mild as well.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I'm sorry, Carol, I'm glad it's a mild case."

Yes, small blessings, take them where we can! Take care, Christmas Carol!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Thanks everyone - atm I am feeling really good & my husband is much better.

We are still taking it easy though!

[Galowa]

Christmas Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Thanks everyone - atm I am feeling really good & my husband is much better.

We are still taking it easy though!"

What a lovely pre-Christmas surprise!
Just in time to ease any worry...

;-)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Yes our share of the Xmas dinner was the lamb roast, avocados & fancy cheeses - so we have the makings of a really good meal. Then leftovers so we don't have to cook for a few days!👍

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

I've already posted this in the GH group.

We have had a minor disappointment. The girls were going to stay with a friend & visit us from a safe distance, but the friend has had contact with someone who has tested positive, so they are going to wait another day.

& Marty should have been clear today - was told he didn't have to test himself again, but insisted on doing so - & there was a faint line. Oops! 😂🤣😅

[Susan in NC]

Hang in there, Carol - sending positive vibes and energy your way!

[Abigail]

Glad you’re both coming through it well!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Hi Everyone!

Cyclone Gabrielle is heading our way & is supposed to be the worst storm in NZ history. & my area is forecast to be the worst hit.

There is a good chance that we may lose power & I will probably switch the computer off from Sunday night (my time)

I'll do what I can from my phone, but yeah...

[Barb in Maryland]

I saw this forecast on the news and immediately thought of you.
I hope you can stay safe and dry. Please keep us posted.
Good luck!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Barb in Maryland wrote: "I saw this forecast on the news and immediately thought of you.
I hope you can stay safe and dry. Please keep us posted.
Good luck!"

Thanks Barb.

Maybe we will get lucky.

[Abigail]

Do you have access to reinforced shelter? Hoping for the best for you and all of NZ.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Abigail wrote: "Do you have access to reinforced shelter? Hoping for the best for you and all of NZ."

Is that like a bunker?

No, but there is a hall we can go to.

We are on top of a hill, but our house is concrete block & we reroofed a year or two ago. I'm a little worried about our archgola
https://www.archgola.co.nz/awnings/?u...

ours is a curved one.

Marty ran into a retired teacher while he was at our (very full) supermarket. Tim tracks storms as a hobby & he believes the worst will be on the East Coast. Tim is still taking all precautions though - & so are we.

Coffee finished - & back to moving stuff. Its at times like this that all our large pots start to look like a bad idea! 😄

[Susan in NC]

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Hi Everyone!

Cyclone Gabrielle is heading our way & is supposed to be the worst storm in NZ history. & my area is forecast to be the worst hit.

There is a good chance that we may lose power & I w..."
Sending dry thoughts your way, dearest, stay safe! Wishing best for you and all of New Zealand, please keep us updated when you can, to know you’re ok!

[Abigail]

I was thinking generically—basement, bunker, bathroom (here in the States I always hear stories of people surviving by hunkering down in bathtubs), some places even have municipal shelters. I hear halls are good as well. Hoping your amateur prognosticator has it right!

[Jackie]

I hope everything turns out OK, Carol, very scary.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

I have to share this

I sent the kids a picture of the (almost) completely cleared deck.

I got a puzzled response from our daughter, "Are you going to clean the deck?"

Yes scrubbing the deck would be my top priority just before a Class 3 storm!!!

[Susan in NC]

;)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

& just watched the start of the news. The young woman reporter in Northland was struggling to stand - & the storm officially hasn't hit yet.

Looks like Northland & the Coromandel (where I am) are going to be really for it - things not much better in the Auckland region.

The map on the news showed a broader area of the North Island being affected, than the map I saw on the newspaper.

& people have been fighting over sand bags.

Again, gulp.

[Barb in Maryland]

Scary times for you, Carol. Good luck!

[CindySR, Moderator]

It sounds like your home is in a very good position, strong and high.

I just saw a news article about your area, suggesting evacuation, praying for you, Carol. Kiwi Strong!

[Susan in NC]

Good luck, Carol, thinking of you, sending warm, dry thoughts!

[Peggy]

Good luck, Carol, and stay safe.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

CindySR wrote: "It sounds like your home is in a very good position, strong and high.

I just saw a news article about your area, suggesting evacuation, praying for you, Carol. Kiwi Strong!"

Ha, Cindy found out about potential (only potential) evacuation before I did!

I woke up this morning around 4 because it was really warm. Rain started around 4.30, heavy at times. Light rain now, but no wind yet.

& thanks everyone for their good wishes!

[Tania]

Hope it all goes well for you Carol.

I must admit, here in the UK, I think we are really lucky weather-wise, it's usually mildly inclement at its worst; I work in a shop, so frequently have people coming in and complaining about the weather, and can rarely stop myself pointing out just how lucky we are.

All the best, and you will be in my thoughts.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Tania wrote: "Hope it all goes well for you Carol.

I must admit, here in the UK, I think we are really lucky weather-wise, it's usually mildly inclement at its worst; I work in a shop, so frequently have people..."

I think eventually climate change will affect everyone, sadly.

[Tania]

I think you're right. I'm lucky now, but things have been changing. I just get a bit irritated when people complain about a bit of rain or cold, (or the heat), when it's so much worse elsewhere.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Tania wrote: "I think you're right. I'm lucky now, but things have been changing. I just get a bit irritated when people complain about a bit of rain or cold, (or the heat), when it's so much worse elsewhere."

Yes, I have been guilty of that - I hate humidity (& I live in a humid part of NZ)

[Tania]

My brother lives in Japan, and much as I would love to visit in the summer, when they have loads of festivals, the humidity puts me off, can be around 95℅ humidity; I have been in spring, cherry blossom; and autumn, the autumn colous, (which are amazing, and the best times to go), but never plucked up the courage to go in summer. One day....

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!]

Tania wrote: "My brother lives in Japan, and much as I would love to visit in the summer, when they have loads of festivals, the humidity puts me off, can be around 95℅ humidity; I have been in spring, cherry bl..."

I always wanted to visit Japan - love the culture. But I can't see myself coping with the crowds anymore.