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Source: (consider it) Thread: Yes, yes, let's talk about the weather! The British thread 2016
Sipech
Shipmate
# 16870

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My rat is still in residence. Have set spring traps and glue traps, but still it evades them. At 5:30 this morning, it was inside a bin liner and I ended up trying to stab it with an ice axe, but to no avail. The blighter managed to escape underneath the fridge-freezer. [Mad]

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I try to be self-deprecating; I'm just not very good at it.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheAlethiophile

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Nicodemia
WYSIWYG
# 4756

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Why didn't you tie it up in the bin liner? [Two face]

You do know that where you see one rat you are probably seeing two, or three or four...........? [Eek!]

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Sipech
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# 16870

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It had already eaten through the bin liner to get in. Tying the bin liner would have little effect, as it could get out either through the hole it had already chewed or it could chew a new one.

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I try to be self-deprecating; I'm just not very good at it.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheAlethiophile

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Brenda Clough
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Agh, that is scary. Don't get bitten! Are you able to hire a professional exterminator (or if you are renting, to get your landlord to do it)? Sometimes you need the heavy armaments of a licensed pest control pro.

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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page

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Sipech
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# 16870

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Landlord knows about it. I said I'd try to sort it myself initially on the cheap. If I haven't killed it by the end of the week, I'll get a professional in and the landlord said she'll reimburse me.

I've dealt with mice before (as has the neighbour's cat [Devil] ) but they don't bother me so much.

I just wish I knew why it had such a predilection for tin foil, old croissants and plastic milk bottles.

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I try to be self-deprecating; I'm just not very good at it.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheAlethiophile

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Piglet
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quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Yes, this is one of the things I like about Oxford as well – you’re never far from a green space or a river ...

Ditto Fredericton. We were just observing today as we drove out to meet the landlord of the estate where we're buying our house* what a stunningly pretty place it is, with loads of trees (which are just beginning to put on their autumn clothes) and a seriously good river. [Smile]

I remember being very pleasantly surprised at what a nice place Birmingham was when we were near there for a wedding about 25 years ago, and the countryside around it is absolutely gorgeous.

Sipech, you have my sympathy; although I don't think we ever had rats, we were plagued with mice in our old house, not least because our neighbours had three cats, and the local mice saw our place as a cat-free zone and came scuttling in ... [Help]

* the land is lease-hold, and we have to be approved as "suitable" ... [Eek!]

[ 13. September 2016, 23:19: Message edited by: Piglet ]

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

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Teekeey Misha
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# 18604

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*Ahem* The Weather...
We've had a lot of weather up here in the North West today. It's been cold, grey and miserable all day, then the storm arrived.

You know the old game of counting the time between flash of lightning and thunderclap to find out "how far from you the storm is"? At one stage I made it about two foot six. I felt the house shake it was so loud - the loudest I've ever heard thunder.

Meanwhile, half the county has lost its power and the Metro was closed right across Manchester because two electrical substations were hit. Market Street was underwater and Harvey Nicholls had a waterfall through its ceiling; there is flash flooding across the region.

Never mind. The man on the news told us it's been the hottest September day in Margate since the Big Bang. Makes me feel much better about my day. [Paranoid]

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Misha
Don't assume I don't care; sometimes I just can't be bothered to put you right.

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Nicodemia
WYSIWYG
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Obviously same area as me, Teekey M! Same lightning/thunder - thought the roof had come in!

Still, sunny now, and hot, to dry up all that wet - though it did the garden a power of good!

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ElaineC
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# 12244

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I'm on the other side of the divide! It was scorching yesterday and looks like it could be much the same today.

I'm working from home at the moment and I miss the air-conditioned office. I don't miss the travelling into Central London.

However I have got to go into the office for an all day meeting tomorrow - I'm hoping it will be a bit cooler by then.

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Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing. John Erskine

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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688

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Filthy hot here as well. At least it cools down pretty much at night.

I have discovered the boss’s driver lives just round the corner from me and being a very nice chap, he’s offered to pick me up on his way to the office on the days when he doesn’t have a morning pick-up. No more line thirteen cattle-truck! (well not exactly, because it won’t be every day, but a couple of times a week at least, I get to ride in the company BMW instead of taking the public transport [Cool] ).

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Rent my holiday home in the South of France

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Ethne Alba
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# 5804

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Metro out yesterday....thank goodness we had a friend-with-car staying; Mr Alba was recovered from the city.

The city centre looked, er, dampish! [Biased]

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

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Ona Asamsakal!!

Which translated wishes you all a Happy Onam - Onam is the big harvest festival thingy here is Kerala and, and I know you'll find this hard to believe, involves a lot of food! I have just finished my post-prandial lunch and am seriously considering a bit of a walk, as I didn't have one this morning.

The feast was fab and lasted a while - and now we look forward to next year when we may all get to sit down together unlike today when Herself minded the kids whilst Himself and I ate, then she ate later. I had to change my clothes just before eating as I had been walking about with girl twin in my arms and my top was a bit both damp and fragrant!

Doubtless this coming weekend Uncle Pete will be off to an Onam Feast in Ottawa - Pete, don't eat the Payasam, it's not good for you!

I think I shall eschew supper this evening.

--------------------
I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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Ariel
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# 58

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Quite windy yesterday so it wasn't actually that hot. Today is better.

Some bloke rushed up to the bench I was sitting on yesterday afternoon waiting for a train, dumped his bag on the end, then stood on one leg for a bit before starting a series of contortions which were probably part of his exercise routine but looked pretty weird, including lowering his face into the bench seat then straightening back up again. Then he just picked up his bag and walked off, as someone else cycled very erratically along the edge of the platform.

It's the weather. It brings it out in people.

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Ariel
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quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I think I shall eschew supper this evening.

Eschew it slowly, it's better for you all round.
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Wesley J

Silly Shipmate
# 6075

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quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I had to change my clothes just before eating as I had been walking about with girl twin in my arms and my top was a bit both damp and fragrant! [...]

Are we beginning to witness the emergence of a recurrent theme here? [Biased]

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Be it as it may: Wesley J will stay. --- Euthanasia, that sounds good. An alpine neutral neighbourhood. Then back to Britain, all dressed in wood. Things were gonna get worse. (John Cooper Clarke)

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Uncle Pete

Loyaute me lie
# 10422

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Wodders, I'd comment on your post upthread, but the little Miss has already spoken for me. Besides it's too late. Onam feast here was last Sunday, and the payasam and the ginger jaggery went down a treat. [Yipee]

[ 14. September 2016, 12:47: Message edited by: Uncle Pete ]

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Even more so than I was before

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

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quote:
Originally posted by Wesley J:
...Are we beginning to witness the emergence of a recurrent theme here? [Biased]

I most certainly wish not...

...but the answer is probably yes!

Pete, today we had the Adapradaman payasam - the 1cm squares of pasta one with the kismis [raisins] and the lightly toasted kaju [cashew nuts] - and Herself just gave me another bowl of it when I went downstairs.

[Eek!]

It would have been rude to refuse it so I forced myself to eat it.

[Big Grin]

Also Pete, I hope you didn't check your blood sugar on Monday morning!

--------------------
I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

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So, we decided that spending a couple of quid on a second upstairs bell is worth it so I go online and find a good wireless bell set up at a reasonable price and place an order - all well and good...

...and I also three more books at the same time!

One is a pre-order of a book not out here until next month and the other two are excellent works recently become available.

I wonder if I will ever learn, and frankly I doubt it!

--------------------
I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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Piglet
Islander
# 11803

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But of course you'll learn - what do you think books are for? [Big Grin]

Mixed weather here today - it's cooled down a wee bit, and raining off and on, but nothing as spectacular as you seem to be having back in Blighty. I read in the Telegraph online that it was 34° in Kent - you can certainly keep that to yourselves! [Eek!]

Originally posted by Piglet:
quote:
... we have to be approved as "suitable" ...

We have been! [Yipee]

Now if the buyer of our old house's lawyer will stop faffing about over whether a piece of broken fence in the garden belongs to our house or next door's*, we can get on with things. And, more to the point, get our sticky trotters on the purchase price ... [Big Grin]

* The plans he got were exactly the same as the ones we got when we bought the house, and the only thing that has changed is the fence is even more dilapidated now than it was then. [Roll Eyes]

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
St. Gwladys
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# 14504

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Well, Lord P is now safely on the Isle of Wight. He's going to spend 10 months as a pastoral assistant in East Cowes and Whippingham.

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"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)

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Piglet
Islander
# 11803

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Best wishes to Lord P. for that, St. G. [Smile]

Another beautiful day here - currently 19° and sunny - just the way I like it.

We have our first full choir practice here this evening, and I'm really rather looking forward to it; it's been 8 months since I was last at one, and I've really missed it.

Now I'll have to laugh in all the right places, as D. plies his (really quite extensive) stock of jokes to a new audience ... [Big Grin]

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
Japes

Shipmate
# 5358

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Good luck to Lord P! Hope all goes well for him.

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Blog may or may not be of any interest.

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

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Yes, every good wish and blessing for Lord P on that - note how I tastefully avoid making any jokes about Whippingham.

[Cool]

The doctor tells me to walk more, so I walk more and then my knees start complaining and I really don't want to take more painkillers.

Stupid body!

[Mad]

...and breathe, and hold, and out, and hold...

--------------------
I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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Japes

Shipmate
# 5358

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Did you enjoy Choir Practise, Piglet?

I'm looking forwards to the return of my little choir at work next week. I work with students with multiple disabilities of all kinds, and this always is a very mixed group of students! It's usually a very enthusiastic group willing to try anything, but I never know who I'm going to get until they turn up on the first day and we see what happens!

Lyrics, for those who can read and want them, are usually produced to order once we've decided what we're singing. I was checking the files yesterday, and I've got 15 different formats, from font sizes 16 - 54, including Braille and SymWriter. No wonder they're taking over one bookcase in my study!

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Blog may or may not be of any interest.

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Sioni Sais
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# 5713

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Congratulations to Lord P!

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

The doctor tells me to walk more, so I walk more and then my knees start complaining and I really don't want to take more painkillers.

Stupid body!

[Mad]

...and breathe, and hold, and out, and hold...

I get told to walk more too, as it's good for me. This is from my otherwise excellent doctor but the surgery is at the bottom of the hill and it is a long slog back home (about 3/4 mile, undulating, total rise about 200').

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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"

(Paul Sinha, BBC)

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St. Gwladys
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# 14504

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Shipping ha is the church that Prince Allbert designed. He took a perfectly pleasant English church and turned it into a Victorian pseudo Bavarian monstrosity of the congealed school of architecture. (Apologies to anyone who admires it). It's now on the Queen Victoria heritage circuit on the Isle of Wight as it's so close to Osbourne.
We went to church there when we were on holiday on the island a few weeks ago. The virger told us they often get coach parties turning up unannounced - killing time before Osbourne - but haven't yet had one turning up during a service, though it's been pretty close.

--------------------
"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)

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St. Gwladys
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# 14504

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Blast predictive text - meant to say "Whippingham is..."
It's a bit like the obituary for the inventor of predictive text announcing that his fun ride will be on Monkey.

--------------------
"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)

Posts: 3333 | From: Rhymney Valley, South Wales | Registered: Jan 2009  |  IP: Logged
Piglet
Islander
# 11803

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quote:
Originally posted by Japes:
Did you enjoy Choir Practise, Piglet?

Absolutely - it was great (for both of us) being back in the saddle, as it were.

The choir isn't particularly big, and, like most church choirs, has a rather high average age (I'd estimate that I'm pretty close to the lower end of the age-range, and I'm 54). Having said that, they sing nicely, sans wobbles, and when D. gave them a piece they'd never sung before (View me, Lord by Richard Lloyd), they sight-read it pretty well.

We've got an ordination on Sunday, and we're singing Schubert's German Mass, most of which was new to me, but is really rather jolly, in a Viennese Waltz-y sort of way.

In other news, the buyer of the former Château Piglet has asked for a time extension to the closing date (something to do with getting his finances sorted out, which is a bit of a nerve, considering he's as rich as Croesus and buying it as some sort of investment, along with other properties), in return for waiving any concerns about whose land the fence is on.

That's all very well for him, but we've got another house to buy, not to mention the bill for moving and storing our worldly goods ...

I need a top-up for my patience reserves. [Roll Eyes]

--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
Pigwidgeon

Ship's Owl
# 10192

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quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
We've got an ordination on Sunday, and we're singing Schubert's German Mass, most of which was new to me, but is really rather jolly, in a Viennese Waltz-y sort of way.

Sounds quite ambitious with so little rehearsal time!

quote:
In other news, the buyer of the former Château Piglet has asked for a time extension to the closing date (something to do with getting his finances sorted out, which is a bit of a nerve, considering he's as rich as Croesus ...

I assume you’re not talking about our Shipmate, Crœsos.

[Biased]

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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf

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moonlitdoor
Shipmate
# 11707

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quote:

originally posted by Welease Woderwick

now we look forward to next year when we may all get to sit down together unlike today when Herself minded the kids whilst Himself and I ate, then she ate later.

That happened to me without any kids being involved. I was in Coimbatore, which for those whose geography of southern India is a bit sketchy, is not far from WW, just across the border into Tamil Nadu. I was travelling with my friends a young Tamil couple in their late 20s, visiting the husband's parents. We had dinner at their house, and the father, the husband, and I sat to have our dinner first, and only when we had finished did the mother and wife sit down to have theirs.

I found it a very disconcerting experience.

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We've evolved to being strange monkeys, but in the next life he'll help us be something more worthwhile - Gwai

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

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I agree, it can feel very odd.

The formal Tamil thing, at least in certain communities, is for the wife to eat after the husband but from the same piece of banana leaf.

--------------------
I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

Posts: 48139 | From: 1st on the right, straight on 'til morning | Registered: Sep 2005  |  IP: Logged
Piglet
Islander
# 11803

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quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
We've got an ordination on Sunday, and we're singing Schubert's German Mass, most of which was new to me, but is really rather jolly, in a Viennese Waltz-y sort of way.

Sounds quite ambitious with so little rehearsal time!
Not as much as it sounds - the rest of the choir know it quite well, it's just D. and I who don't. [Big Grin]

quote:
I assume you’re not talking about our Shipmate, Crœsos.

Just his namesake. [Smile]

We had a lovely walk yesterday evening across the
Fredericton Railway Bridge, which is now a walking bridge. It was a glorious evening with a spectacular sunset and people on the river fishing, pleasure-boating and water-skiing - definitely something we'll be doing again.

This morning, went to the Farmers' Market to stock up on corn-cobs (might as well as long as the season lasts), smoked salmon, eggs, cheese and charcuterie (v. good value - 4 slices each of prosciutto, salami and cooked ham for about $2.50). Along with the bread I made yesterday, a few tomatoes and some New Brunswick chutney, that should keep us nicely fed for a few days. [Smile]

[ 17. September 2016, 18:06: Message edited by: Piglet ]

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
Curiosity killed ...

Ship's Mug
# 11770

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Good luck to Lord P.

Glad the house move is going so well Piglet.

I have managed to get out to two things this weekend. First was the BBC Singers singing Renaissance Masterpieces conducted by Peter Phillips (the founder of the Tallis Scholars), which included psalm settings by Byrd, White and Mundy. The pieces by Robert White were stunning and not someone I'd heard before. And the second was The Dresser in its pre-West End run in Richmond. Reece Shearsmith as the dresser and Ken Stott as the actor manager. Reece Shearsmith was amazing.

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Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat

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ArachnidinElmet
Shipmate
# 17346

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quote:
Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
... And the second was The Dresser in its pre-West End run in Richmond. Reece Shearsmith as the dresser and Ken Stott as the actor manager. Reece Shearsmith was amazing.

Oo, that looked really interesting. Reece Shearsmith's excellent and I've always wanted to see Ken Stott on stage.

Am just trying to decide what to see at Wakefield Literary Festival which starts next week. I think I've missed out already on tickets for Mark Thomas talking about his memories of the local labour club, the Red Shed, when he was a student in these parts (he went to the now defunct Breton College, which is also where Reece Shearsmith met the other league of Gentlemen) .It's very poetry workshop heavy, which I enjoy reading but not so much writing, but the book quiz is always good fun and there are some tours of the Cathedral.

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'If a pleasant, straight-forward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres' - Kafka

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Piglet
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I have to confess that the only thing (I think) I've seen Reece Shearsmith in was a TV drama called The Widower where he murdered a succession of wives. He did it very well, but didn't half give me the creeps. [Eek!]

In other news, the ordination went off very well this afternoon - the Cathedral was well-filled (although it's not really very big), and several people said they'd enjoyed the music, including the Bishop's wife (it never hurts to impress an episcopal spouse). [Big Grin]

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

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The Lady Wot Does and I are alone in the house with the twins - she is looking after them and I am staying upstairs as much as possible. She is a nice woman and cares well for the kids but she has no English and I have no Malayalam - and she has a voice that would grate cheese!

I think a day reading and napping is called for.

[Big Grin]

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What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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Boogie

Boogie on down!
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How many languages will the twins grow up learning, do you think?

It's mellow, misty and autumnal here - and I like it!

Yesterday was glorious, mist which gently lifted to reveal a cool, sunny day - the best sort. See my 'Walk' blog for lovely photos.

I'm off to do my daily online German lesson with Babbel. I'm remembering nothing, but persevering as my son is German and, if he has kids, I want to be able to understand them!

[Smile]

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Garden. Room. Walk

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
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Well, I speak English, as do their mum and dad. Their mum and dad also both speak Malayalam, Konkani and Tamil and their mum is fluent in Hindi.

I also speak a smattering of French but won't impose that on them.

The thing is that this is a very polyglot sort of place with most folks being at least trilingual - I live in a country with at least 18 official languages, hundreds of other languages and thousands of dialects; to me it seems a bit confusing but everyone accepts it and certainly it promotes diversity!

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I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
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What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

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Jack the Lass

Ship's airhead
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quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
I'm off to do my daily online German lesson with Babbel. I'm remembering nothing, but persevering as my son is German and, if he has kids, I want to be able to understand them!

[Smile]

My niece (13) is German, and (luckily for us) is bilingual. When she was a baby my sister and her husband spoke English in the home and (IIRC) German outside, and when she first started to speak she would only speak English (although she understood German perfectly), much to the disappointment of her German grandparents! Once she started kindergarten where she had to speak German, the languages reversed, so she spoke (and continues to speak) German as her first language, but understood English although she'd only speak it when she really had to. I think from kindergarten onwards my sister and brother-in-law's policy was that she would always answer in English, regardless of whether my niece addressed her in English or German, and my brother-in-law always spoke in German with her. Now she's happy and confident speaking both. She's so lucky - I'm a little sad that my daughter is only immersed in English, it is such a fantastic gift to be able to give a child more than one language.

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Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
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I agree - and here in many ways it is thanks to the movie industry as there are so many Malayalam movies made here in Kerala and Tamil and Hindi movies from other parts of India and the occasional US or British movie.

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I give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Fancy a break in South India?
Accessible Homestay Guesthouse in Central Kerala, contact me for details

What part of Matt. 7:1 don't you understand?

Posts: 48139 | From: 1st on the right, straight on 'til morning | Registered: Sep 2005  |  IP: Logged
Boogie

Boogie on down!
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I have a strong suspicion that wouldn't happen with my son. I say he is German - he's English - but he never uses it unless we are around. His partner speaks Georgian, Russian, Spanish, German and she's learning English. With no help from him I must say!

So I reckon any kids won't get much exposure to Engish.

I am a quick thinker and s-l-o-w learner. I always have been, but I'm much slower than I used to be. So I do ten lessons then go back and back and back over them, then another ten. It's seeping in very, very slowly. A labour of love!

I really like Babbel, inexpensive and excellent.

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Garden. Room. Walk

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Piglet
Islander
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D's niece (who's a teacher of modern languages) grew up almost bilingual in English and French; her paternal grandfather was half-French and her aunt and uncle lived in France, and growing up in Kent, France was only a hop, skip and jump away anyway, so she had plenty of opportunity to practise.

There was a decided outbreak of domesticity chez Piglet this evening - D. was making a chicken casserole for tomorrow's lunch, while I made some mi-cuit tomatoes as we'd bought far more than we'd be able to use before they start getting crumpled, and they're cooling in a jar for consumption with French bread and charcuterie.

In other news, the rain we had this morning and this afternoon would have made Noah feel homesick - it was absolutely coming down in stair-rods.

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

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Curiosity killed ...

Ship's Mug
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Last night's theatre trip was to see No Man's Land at The Wyndham with Ian McKellern and Patrick Stewart reprising John Gielgud's and Ralph Richardson's roles. Owen Teale played Briggs. This ticket I bought in March when I received the newsletter; I am not sure I would have got in otherwise. There was a queue for returns and a full house.

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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
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My sister-in-law is fluent in four languages. She is Romanian, has lived in the US for over fifteen years, and teaches French and Italian at university. Most impressive.

I fully intend for any hypothetical children en rouge to be bilingual. It’s such an advantage. There's also some research that shows that bilingual people suffer less from dementia later in life.

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Ariel
Shipmate
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quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
There's also some research that shows that bilingual people suffer less from dementia later in life.

I think the jury's out on that one. It didn't stop my older relatives getting it.

I was taught two other languages at one primary school then a third at my next. After that I got to choose for myself what languages I wanted to learn. I totally agree that children should be taught languages when young. I gained an early familiarity with three at school then a fourth at home when my mother decided on a language course, and the French and Italian (which I then continued at secondary school) have stuck with me to this day. I revisit the rest from time to time. I regard it as essential to have a working knowledge of at least one other major language.

If nothing else it gives a child an insight into how different cultures think and perceive the world, and they learn that the customs of their own country aren't the only ones, or definitive. Travel is said to broaden the mind but so does language learning IMO.

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Piglet
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I completely agree; one of my regrets is that while I had German classes for five years at school, the method by which it was taught wasn't really conducive to being able to speak it - it was more geared to reading, writing and passing exams.

And if I'd known that in later life I'd be moving to a country where French is the second language, I'd have taken French instead, when I had the choice.

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688

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Evil, evil moths eating my cashmere. (It’s in hell because I thought it went better there.)

However, today I am feeling somewhat consoled. I was so sad and upset the other day that husband en rouge went off and bought a pretty frock which I’d taken a liking to in the window of a boutique round the corner. I should cry more often [Biased] .

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Boogie

Boogie on down!
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quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Evil, evil moths eating my cashmere. (It’s in hell because I thought it went better there.)

However, today I am feeling somewhat consoled. I was so sad and upset the other day that husband en rouge went off and bought a pretty frock which I’d taken a liking to in the window of a boutique round the corner. I should cry more often [Biased] .

Go after those moths la vie - they eat carpet, suede and leather too. We had a war on the beasts last year. Some things (like my gorgeous leather briefcase my Dad bought me, which was storing old photos) were completely destroyed
[Mad]

We bought the moth destroyer online. You spray everything, then put powder under the carpets - every month 'till they've gone.

So far, touch wood, there is no sign of them this year.

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Garden. Room. Walk

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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688

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No carpets chez rouge, mercifully.

I think they were quite localised actually. They were having such a delicious field day in my wardrobe they didn't bother going any further.

A friend of ours is a retired professional cleaner and clean freak extraordinaire. We've followed her instructions for cleaning everything out and hoping for the best.

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Rent my holiday home in the South of France

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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58

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Apparently the Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons is going to open branches in Britain.

As the article I was reading describes it as "The Starbucks of Canada" I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or not. Still, it'll make a change from Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, Wild Bean, AMT, Coffee Republic and the aforementioned Starbucks.

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