The Orchid Garden

OT: Question of the day…. 06/12/07

admin — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

06/12/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Arthur If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be? The *platypus* of course! P.

So that’s where my platypus has gone! (I saw a wild one, several years ago. Haven’t seen it since.) — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

::If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be? It would be a garden of assorted flowers to represent each person’s personality and individuality Jackie ~*~How do I love thee? Hang on a second …let me Google the ways~*~ ~~ Christine Geary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I second the platypus. -z-

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 06/12/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Arthur If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be? The *platypus* of course! P. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

::What a lovely idea. Start planting Jackie I’ll post pics of my garden soon! In another few weeks it will be at peak Jackie ~*~I’m not trying to change the world. I’m trying to stop the world from changing me~*~ ~ Ammon Hennacy ~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

::If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be? It would be a garden of assorted flowers to represent each person’s personality and individuality

What a lovely idea. Start planting Jackie Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

06/12/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Arthur If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be?

The *platypus* of course! P. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Simon schreef: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 06/12/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Arthur If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be? The *platypus* of course! P. P. At the wedding last weekend I thought I was drunk as everyone was talking gibberish. It turned out that they were speaking in Dutch! Simon, designated driver, soberish.

We are *everywhere*. P. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

06/12/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Arthur If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be? Jackie ~*~How do I love thee? Hang on a second …let me Google the ways~*~ ~~ Christine Geary An Orchid

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

More of a plant, a Peace Lily…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 06/12/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Arthur If ASAPM had an official group flower, what would it be? Jackie ~*~How do I love thee? Hang on a second …let me Google the ways~*~ ~~ Christine Geary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

48hrs in Singapore

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Singapore’s first backpacker’s lodge in the HDB heartlands opened a month ago. I visited the place last week. Come check out my review in the forum. — http://www.knapsack.net backpacking, trekking and mountaineering travelogues and photos.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Most suggestions don’t consider the interest of the poster. Is she crazy over animals? (Zoo), Mad over birds? (Jurong Bird Park), Gourmet looking for overpriced tourist food? (Boat Quay). If one wishes to really know Singapore, go into the heartlands via bus or MRT. Wander the commercial centres – local shops, market, food courts & meet ‘real’ Singaporeans & try out what we eat & enjoy everyday. Maybe you’ll gain a hint of what Singapore is all about. These are the larger & more vibrant suburbs to visit, easily, via MRT Bedok Paya Lebar Aljunied Bugis Clementi Choa Chu Kang Hougang Outram Park Tampines Enjoy the ‘real’ Singapore! We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night.

If you’re going to the Night Safari, make sure you get there early. When we went it closed an hour earlier than the published time and we missed about a quarter of it. If you go by MRT & bus it takes forever to get there. Go on the MRT at some stage anyway because it’s good and cheap. i’d recommend Chinatown at night – a few shops selling rubbish, but fun, souvenirs, you might see some street entertainment, it’s a bustling but nice place to be around – more ‘real’ and less sterile than much of Singapore. The food everywhere is generally fantastic. — Neil

Response:

Hi, A Singaporean nature lover here. Singapore may seem like a concrete jungle, but there are still some forests and wetlands here. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to join us on our regular trekking trips in the nature reserves. — http://www.knapsack.net backpacking, trekking and mountaineering travelogues and photos.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard.. Singapore is 1 degree north of the equator. July temperatures are about in the middle of the annual average, which doesn’t vary by more than 4 degrees from the "coldest" month to the warmest. :^) So then, the Long Bar won’t be any cooler or any warmer than it was in a rainy period in October? Not to mention that I’m glad to hear that there is no more than a 4 degree temperature change. I’ve been kind of cringing about my trip next week. I can barely stand the heat in that area normally and had thought I’d set myself up for an even worse time of it.

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! The temperature is about the same all year round (but it is nice and warm). For me anyway, the main delight of a visit to Singapore is eating. But what are you interested in? Shopping? Museums? Activities? miguel

Yes, yes and yes, but having limited time I have to prioritise. All the replies have been really great and I already know that there will have to be a return visit! Sharon

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Take a taxi to the World Trade Center, grab a ferry, and visit Batam, Indonesia. Or take a taxi to Changi, grab a cheap flight, and spend 2 days in Bangkok. Or grit your teeth and enjoy the boredom of Singapore. Unless, of course, they have outlawed teeth-gritting in which case you’ll be caned.

Response:

missed that one! must put it on the itinerary for the next trip – sounds as informative and educational as sentosa!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – there is also a museum next to it that showcases the singaporian punishment methods meted out to petty criminals…these include electrical prodes, water torture, and the most famous of all, the whipping with half-inch thick bamboo canes pre-soaked in horse urine (to inflict maximum amount of pain)….they don’t call singapore "disneyland-with-the-death-penalty" for nothing…. The Changi war memorial is worth a look too – you certainly won’t feel like eating Japanese food afterwards. We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

The temperature is about the same all year round (but it is nice and warm). For me anyway, the main delight of a visit to Singapore is eating. But what are you interested in? Shopping? Museums? Activities? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

Most suggestions don’t consider the interest of the poster. Is she crazy over animals? (Zoo), Mad over birds? (Jurong Bird Park), Gourmet looking for overpriced tourist food? (Boat Quay). If one wishes to really know Singapore, go into the heartlands via bus or MRT. Wander the commercial centres – local shops, market, food courts & meet ‘real’ Singaporeans & try out what we eat & enjoy everyday. Maybe you’ll gain a hint of what Singapore is all about. These are the larger & more vibrant suburbs to visit, easily, via MRT Bedok Paya Lebar Aljunied Bugis Clementi Choa Chu Kang Hougang Outram Park Tampines Enjoy the ‘real’ Singapore!

Response:

The Changi war memorial is worth a look too – you certainly won’t feel like eating Japanese food afterwards.

Response:

there is also a museum next to it that showcases the singaporian punishment methods meted out to petty criminals…these include electrical prodes, water torture, and the most famous of all, the whipping with half-inch thick bamboo canes pre-soaked in horse urine (to inflict maximum amount of pain)….they don’t call singapore "disneyland-with-the-death-penalty" for nothing…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Changi war memorial is worth a look too – you certainly won’t feel like eating Japanese food afterwards. We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Response:

It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

Singapore is 1 degree north of the equator. July temperatures are about in the middle of the annual average, which doesn’t vary by more than 4 degrees from the "coldest" month to the warmest. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard.. Singapore is 1 degree north of the equator. July temperatures are about in the middle of the annual average, which doesn’t vary by more than 4 degrees from the "coldest" month to the warmest.

:^) So then, the Long Bar won’t be any cooler or any warmer than it was in a rainy period in October? Not to mention that I’m glad to hear that there is no more than a 4 degree temperature change. I’ve been kind of cringing about my trip next week. I can barely stand the heat in that area normally and had thought I’d set myself up for an even worse time of it.

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Singapore is always quite warm and humid. My priorities would be Jurong Bird Park (very nice, and the MRT/light rail ride out to Boon Lay Station gives you a good glimpse of the city), the Botanic Garden (which contains the National Orchid Museum), the Singapore Zoo Night Safari (I only went to the Night Safari, which was quite interesting, but I’m sure the zoo would also be enjoyable in the daylight), and at least one dinner down on Boat Quay, where you can enjoy an open-air meal on the banks of the Singapore River. Orchard Road would be the place to go if you’re looking to do some up-scaled window shopping (stuff will be expensive), but I can also suggest spending about an hour or so strolling along Waterloo Road (off of Bras Bassah Road), where you can check out the ornate Sri Krishnan Hindu Temple, the Kwan Yin Temple and an interesting 4-story wet/dry market and food court at the base of a large apartment building, which makes for some good photo opportunities (people and lots of local color). Enjoy. USC

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Well… Here are just some of the recommended destinations in Singapore (not including those near Singapore): – Changi Airport – Orchard road – Sentosa island – Haw Par Villa – Jurong East area

Response:

Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place. For a great view of Singapore and a cocktail, The Equinox at the Swissotel The Stamford.

Response:

While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that. I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard.. One does not do that for the price or the taste. It’s the experience.

Quite so, which was why I did it. Now I know that it is an experience I could have omitted, particularly had I only 48 hours to savor Singapore.

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

It is always warm in Singapore. In addition to what others have said, don’t miss the Birdpark in Jurong. Very, very nice! Sjoerd

Response:

It’s been years since I was there, but at the time I was horrified to see the bartender use tinned pineapple juice. While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that. I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany — "it’s the network…" "The Journey is the reward" Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night. I wouldn’t bother with the Sling at the Long Bar. Extremely over-priced and just not that tasty. While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that. I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

One does not do that for the price or the taste. It’s the experience. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

I wouldn’t bother with the Sling at the Long Bar. Extremely over-priced and just not that tasty. While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that. I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night.

Response:

10days to New Zealand —wow…cool~~

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I think the food point is the "quality" of the dishes- not the dishes themselves (i.e. meat/seafood and vegies).

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 10 days in NZ and never a meal that is not chinese or close in style. NZ is famous for food and wine, and your visitors will never get to experience it. NZ is famous for food and wine. Sure she is. That’s why there are NZ restaurants all over the world. (I am not saying NZ food and wine is not good. But have some perspective. No one is flocking to NZ for her food and wine.) DAY 01 ARRIVE AUCKLAND Upon arrival of your international flight, you will be pick up by ours representative and your coach driver. Then depart on a city tour including a view from Mt. Eden

A toxic BM turned invisible BM (Update – long)

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

>She loved them and doted on them when they were babies, >but became depressed and couldn’t deal with them when >they became older children/teens. She just couldn’t >relate to them any more, and as each one grew up, she’d >"replace" him or her with another baby to love and dote >on. Another possibility is that the distance between her and the kids, even though she has said that her ‘job was done’, has turned into feelings of guilt and the disappearance is how she’s dealing with it. Lots of people react that way. Tracey

Response:

n…@impactwp.com wrote: > Weird. Have you or DH tried to speak to BM to find out what’s going on?

Not really. DH did try calling her in the summer because SD19 was supposed to go visit her. But she never answered the phone (not to mention that SD19 was in the middle of her meltdown and was no longer living with us). She does not take kindly to calls from DH and he only ever calls if he has issues to discuss re the kids. But since he effectively was given sole custody by her leaving, he has not had to call very often. The other posters did raise an interesting point – about the woman who was only a good mother when the kids were young and/or is feeling guilt about leaving them. Who knows? She certainly isn’t going to tell anyone. Not her kids and certainly not us. BM’s not even talking to her own mother and hasn’t in years. So, a lot of this is familiar stuff to that branch family of the SK’s family tree. Anyhoo… Norma

Response:

In article , Nell wrote: >Anyway, the doting mother has turned into a non-existant mother. >Everyone is astounded by her behaviour. DH and I are hoping that it >doesn’t signify that perhaps she’s gone dotty or something. That would >be the last straw. I don’t even want to think of what would ensue if we >found out that BM had gone over the edge. However, she told SD19 last >spring that she had tried to throw herself in front of a bus. We don’t >know why she didn’t. Or even if she actually tried. Of course this >makes the SK’s worry when they don’t hear from her. As SD19 said last >night, "well, at least I know she’s not dead."

I remember growing up I had a neighbor who had quite a few children. She loved them and doted on them when they were babies, but became depressed and couldn’t deal with them when they became older children/teens. She just couldn’t relate to them any more, and as each one grew up, she’d "replace" him or her with another baby to love and dote on. I’m not certain, but I think she had some kind of breakdown when she finally didn’t have any more babies in the house and the kids kind of ran wild because their parents couldn’t really effectively handle them. Deb R.

Response:

> By the way, I suspect that someone (or perhaps more than one) in this > newsgroup has a virus.

I was going to add that assp is the only newsgroup where I ever post anymore, if you don’t count the occasional post to rec.gardens.orchids. But, I just did a search for myself on Google groups and had forgotten that I also made a few posts to some forsale groups. So… it is likely that the virus is coming from there and not here. Mind you, virus checking is a good idea in any case. Norma

Response:

"Nell" wrote in message

news:GhfLb.31075$AJB.13663@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com… >>snip>> Fast forward to 2003. BM did not call SD(now 21) on her birthday in > Sept. She did not call SS(now 17) on his in November or SD(now 19) on > hers in December. She did not sent birthday cards or e-mail. She did not > send Christmas cards or presents. Did not call on Christmas. They have > tried numerous times to call her and tried again on Christmas Day. >snip>> > Norma

Weird. Have you or DH tried to speak to BM to find out what’s going on? Nikki

Response:

After the meltdown with SD(now 19) over the last two years and the subsequent reconciliation this fall (which is still going amazingly well), I haven’t had any need to post. The only issues I’ve had have been family issues, not really SP issues. Our BM moved to the west coast two years ago, saying that her job was done, the kids were raised. At that time the oldest SD was 18 and headed off to university. Middle SD was 16 and SS was 14. It was middle SD who bore the brunt of this, hence the trouble that ensued as referenced above. SS weathered the abandonment in silence and seems to have no lasting scars, at least none that he shows the world. He appears happy and well-adjusted, but he’s the strong silent type and who knows what’s lurking under the surface. Fast forward to 2003. BM did not call SD(now 21) on her birthday in Sept. She did not call SS(now 17) on his in November or SD(now 19) on hers in December. She did not sent birthday cards or e-mail. She did not send Christmas cards or presents. Did not call on Christmas. They have tried numerous times to call her and tried again on Christmas Day. SD21 finally got an answer when she called her mother a few nights ago. She told BM that SD19 desperately wanted to hear from her, so BM phoned SD19 night before last. SD told us about this conversation yesterday and it broke my heart to hear of it. She was cold to her mother at first so BM wanted to know what was wrong. Sheesh. SD then listed the numerous times BM had brushed them off or been totally absent. So BM said she was sorry, but that she was out walking a lot on Christmas Day, or had to work late on their birthdays, or yadda-yadda-yadda. She was a bad mother, she knew. Uhhuh. All of this is so weird. I remember the days when she used to make the kids call her every night to say Good Night before they went to bed. She put little notes in their pockets saying "Remember Mommy loves you" that I’d find when I did the laundry. I’ll never forget the panic on the 7/9/11-year-old faces when they realized they’d forgotten to make their phone call. Once, SS woke up around midnight realizing he’d not made his phone call and insisted on making it them. We let him. DH asked SS if he’d woken up his mother and SS said no, she’d been waiting by the phone for him to call. Urk. Anyway, the doting mother has turned into a non-existant mother. Everyone is astounded by her behaviour. DH and I are hoping that it doesn’t signify that perhaps she’s gone dotty or something. That would be the last straw. I don’t even want to think of what would ensue if we found out that BM had gone over the edge. However, she told SD19 last spring that she had tried to throw herself in front of a bus. We don’t know why she didn’t. Or even if she actually tried. Of course this makes the SK’s worry when they don’t hear from her. As SD19 said last night, "well, at least I know she’s not dead." All of this is really making me long for the days when she lived only a few blocks away and was a major PITA. At least we knew how to deal with the problems she caused. In fact, things were going along so well towards the time she left that she even let me into her house to help her get the truck loaded. (But that’s another story). Anyway, reading some of the posts this morning about making kids phone their mother reminded me of all this and thought I’d share. Norma By the way, I suspect that someone (or perhaps more than one) in this newsgroup has a virus. I have started getting what appears to be spam but I had it analyzed by an expert who tells me that they are all generated by a virus. The message is the same for all of them (something about p*nis enlargement). It virus searches the headers of messages in a person’s mail folder or newsgroup file). It picks any two email addresses at random, assigns one as the from address, the other as the To address and generates the message and mails it out. Of course, the messages I get are the ones that have my address in the To address. It might be a good idea for us all to run a virus-check and eliminate th is sucker. The messages don’t get picked up by a spam filter because they are not truly spam.

Response:

Cuba for a week?

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

What would it cost to stay in a very nice hotel in Havanna for a week? What would the daily meals cost? What kinds of activities are available to tourists in Havanna? How much are the flights from Nassau? How much do Cuban cigars cost in Havanna? Enquiring minds want to know!

Response:

check out Lonely Planet "thorn tree" you will probably get good answers there. www.lonelyplanet.com they have a whole section on Cuba there.

Response:

What would it cost to stay in a very nice hotel in Havanna for a week?

In my experience it wasn’t all that cheap for a nice hotel in Havana, probably more than you’d expect to pay in much of the US and certainly more than a week’s package in the resorts. I seem to recall $150 or more a night, but it was a few years ago. What would the daily meals cost?

Meals much more reasonable, especially if you take nice meals in the private restaurants/houses. Something around $10 a meal. What kinds of activities are available to tourists in Havanna?

Walking around enjoying the city, architecture, art. Lots of live music in the bars and clubs. Be sure and get out and walk in the evenings. Also consider a bus tour to some other nearby towns, or perhaps the western province. We saw some interesting places up that way. Soroa is not too far away and quite beautiful, with some spectacular views after a horseride up the hill/mountain, and a remarkable botanical orchid garden. How much are the flights from Nassau? How much do Cuban cigars cost in Havanna?

Cigars significantly cheaper than anywhere else, but beware that everyone and his brother, uncle, and aunt work in the cigar factory and can get you "factory discounts". Buy that stuff and you’re likely to get middling stuff. We met someone who gave us a few thin homemade "farmer cigars" that were great. Anyway, if you find stuff (say in the factory) that’s 1/4 the price of stuff in any other duty-free, then consider whether it’s really worth it to you to try and save more. Also, the duty free at the airport apparently has prices about as good as those at the factories, so condier whether it’s worth hauling them around for your trip (though you’ll be in one place the whole time so don’t sweat that too much, I guess). — Ken Tough

Response:

There are scores of Cuban travel sites. Here’s one for starters: www.cubalinda.com — Best Greg

Response:

Don’t know about Hotel prices in Havanna. But I know some prices of cigars…I just returned last week…I bought them in the shop in the Partagas Cigar factory in Havanna (walk round the capitol and you will see it) Here are some prices : Romeo and Juliet No2 Cedars (box of 25) : $87,50 Monte Cristo No4 (box of 25) : $72,50 Cohiba Siglo 1 (box of 25) : $106,50 Monte Cristo No2 Torpedo (box of 10) :$50,00 Cohiba Esplendido (box of 25) : $225,00 Really cheap if you know that the same thing in Belgium would have cost me about $1000-$1200, maybe even more Remeber to ask for a invoice or else you can’t get them out of the country if you buy more than 50 cigars… Hope you have a great time there. — DaWoE

Response:

Try a Canadian travel agency (NashTravel) and you can get package deals for Havana or where u want. JPW

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What would it cost to stay in a very nice hotel in Havanna for a week? What would the daily meals cost? What kinds of activities are available to tourists in Havanna? How much are the flights from Nassau? How much do Cuban cigars cost in Havanna? Enquiring minds want to know! Seems like flight on Cubano was about $300 from Nassau. Free shots of rum. Try a Canadian travel agency (NashTravel) and you can get package deals for Havana or where u want. JPW

At this time of year, you can get a 7 day package, all inclusive for upwards from $600 Cdn, less than that in US funds. Prices go up in December. email me for links. benner at personainternet dot com Rudy

Response:

What would it cost to stay in a very nice hotel in Havanna for a week?

Depends on the definition of very nice, but at least around $100/night. What would the daily meals cost?

Eating at private restaurants, around $10/$15 p.p. or so What kinds of activities are available to tourists in Havanna?

Lots of live music clubs, walking around especially around the Malecon and the paseo in the evening, some galleries/museums, the requisite cigar factory, looking at architecture etc. — Ken Tough

Response:

Tracey! help!

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

On Sun, 13 Apr 2003 16:45:17 GMT, Tracey wrote: Jane wrote: > >I’m really getting nervous. I just realized that my > >old Denrobium (Singapore White) has brownish roots and > >sort of shriveled pseudopods. So does that mean > >I have root rot?

No, but the plant might. BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!! Anne

Response:

>No, but the plant might. >BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!! >Anne

Oh, shut up. I’m trying to figure out how to increase humidity here. jane

Response:

>Oh, shut up. I’m trying to figure out how to increase >humidity here. I’ve been trying to think of suggestions for you for the last couple of days. The problem is (IMO) I’ve heard of a lot of suggestions for it, but then there have been just as many people who say ‘That doesn’t work’. And humidity is not a problem I have now. Some that I have heard (and, please, folks, don’t tell me I’m an idiot for suggestion them, but if there are definite drawbacks to one or more, feel free to correct me/add on.) Place plants in a shallow container with a layer of rocks between them and the bottom of the container and put water in the container, but not so high that the roots/medium are touching the water. (This is the one that seems to get the most disagreements. Many people say it doesn’t help. Others say it does.) A humidifier. (The biggest thing to watch for on this, I would think, is that too much constant moisture on the plants/ crowns of the plants if the moisture is condensing on them will cause crown rot.) Misting. (This seems to be a good idea, but how good would you be at misting it two, three, four times a day? And the same caution with the humidifier. Some plants (phals, IIRC) are prone to crown rot if there is a lot of moisture down in the leaves.) An orchidarium. (Think terrarium. Enclosed glass container. Price would be a drawback. What with all the accouterments needed they would seem to be pretty expensive.) Other than that, I don’t really have any other suggestions. Tracey

Response:

Thank you for your help, Tracey. I didn’t get your first reply right off because it was too long. I saw on google, today, though. The roots aren’t mushy, but they’re not plump and white, either. Fortunately, for me it’s been raining for a few days now. For most of the year, this area is semidesert, though. And when we get a Santa Ana, I swear the humidity must be like -10%. I guzzle water all day. Anyway, it’s pretty warm outside at night now, so I have them in wire baskets over one of those big old fountains that hang on your garden wall. And I got a mister. I’ve decided that some of them need to be repotted soon, and that I’m going to go with the same old bark. They were in separate pots inside one giant pot, but I one of them got too much water and died, so now, I’ve dragged them all out. I can’t go to the orchid group, because I’m so clueless. It would be like asking a fish to explain water. jane

Response:

On 15 Apr 2003 22:39:51 GMT, janelaw2…@aol.com (jane) wrote: >And I got a mister.

Well that’s good Missus, because you were getting a little cranky for my personal taste. Anne

Response:

Okay, I’ve got another crisis. Again, you’re the only person I can think of who can help. I won an orchid arrangement. It was lovely. But you know that a table fountain and some orchid fertilizer is the extent of my orchid culture repertoire. So now I’ve got all these plants that I’m afraid I’ll kill. I already killed an Oncidium (Milt. (Zorro ‘yarrow bay’ x soquel ‘91)). I’m really getting nervous. I just realized that my old Denrobium (Singapore White) has brownish roots and sort of shriveled pseudopods. So does that mean I have root rot? Is there really any chance I can save it if I do? Why did these orchids come in lava rock stuff instead of the bark? Should I repot them all after the flowers are gone? Do I use the rock stuff? Does it depend on what type of orchid they are? They’re all lovely, but I assume fairly common – milts, bertha chong, white fairy, sherry baby, etc. Please, please, please don’t send me over to the orchid group. jane There’s nothing too terribly out of the ordinary, I’m sure.

Response:

>Okay, I’ve got another crisis. Again, you’re the >only person I can think of who can help. Let’s see, Tracey’s areas of expertise: life in the military and orchids. Something’s not…quite…syncing on this. >I won an orchid arrangement. It was lovely. But you >know that a table fountain and some orchid fertilizer >is the extent of my orchid culture repertoire. A live orchid arrangement? What a prize! >So now I’ve got all these plants that I’m afraid I’ll >kill. I already killed an Oncidium (Milt. (Zorro >’yarrow bay’ x soquel ‘91)). Hmmm, hint on the Miltonias? From a man who grows a lot of them, he uses only bottled water. (He lives in LA, I think.) He says the city water kills them quick. I’m not having a problem with the water here, but Hawaii water doesn’t have fluoride (or not as much as other places) in it. >I’m really getting nervous. I just realized that my >old Denrobium (Singapore White) has brownish roots and >sort of shriveled pseudopods. So does that mean >I have root rot? Not necessarily. Take it out of the pot and feel the roots. If some of the roots are mushy, it’s root rot. Cut off the mushy ones, dust the cuts with cinnamon and repot in fresh medium. I always figure that shriveled pseudopods means it’s not getting enough water. If the roots aren’t mushy and slimy, maybe you’re having an especially dry winter and just need to up the humidity or watering a bit. >Is there really any chance I can save it if I do? Yep. Try the above. If that doesn’t work, you’re going to have to hit the orchid newsgroup. >Why did these orchids come in lava rock stuff instead of the >bark? There are tons of things they plant these things in. I’ve got plants in big chunks of gravel, red lava rock, black cinder, coconut fiber, things I can’t even begin to identify. Since it’s an arrangement, it’s probably because the lava rock looks ‘neater’ than bark. And easier to handle. Lava rock is fine to keep them in, but I think orchids in it tend to need a little more frequent watering because it doesn’t tend to hold water like the bark does. People get used to a medium and use it exclusively. There’s nothing really to look at that says one is preferred over the other, just your own particular likes. Lava rock or cinder or gravel is suggested if you have a tendency to overwater the plants since it drains quickly and doesn’t hold the water. >Should I repot them all after the flowers are gone? They’re all in one big pot/container? Then I would. I’ve seen people recommend it. Orchids tend to want their roots ‘bound’ a little bit. That encourages flowering and leaf growth. Room in the pot would probably mean root production instead. With more than one in the same container, you would then end up with the roots all entertwined and hard to separate later. Also, if one of the plants ends up doing poorly or getting a virus or root rot or crown rot, all of them would end up getting it. >Do I use the rock stuff? Like I said, it’s more of a personal preference thing. The thing with the rock/cinder/gravel is that you don’t have to worry about the medium decaying like you do with bark/fiber. >Does it depend on what type of orchid they are? Not that I can see or have heard. Sure, you have people who have their ‘dens in this medium, paphs in this medium, phals in this’ rules (for themselves) but I’ve never been all that worried about getting plants that are ’show quality’ or even looking for the most scientifically optimum medium for the plant. The *big* things that I’ve found that make a difference are the size of the pot, the humidity, and air flow around the roots. Not enough air flow is what seems to cause root rot because the roots never really dry out between waterings. >They’re all lovely, but I assume fairly common – milts, I love the milts. >bertha chong, white fairy, sherry baby, etc. Sherry Baby is cute, but nothing earth-shattering, AFAIC, but I *love* the fragrance. I just went to an orchid show a couple of weeks ago and bought twelve new orchids. I’m in heaven. >Please, please, please don’t send me over to the orchid group. Why not? They’re a nice group of people. Tracey

Response:

Are orchid's delicate flowers?

admin — Sat, 12 Oct 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I use plain old fluorescent lights. I have used the lower part of a closet, hanging the lights from the clothes pole. OTOH, at my mothers I partitioned off a section of the basement and put in a "greenhouse" down there. My mother still uses it to start plants for spring. Ingrid Safe to assume you’re using grow lights in the basement? I have an unused room that I could probably convert. Definitely, something worth looking into. Larry, at this point seems to endure most of my fascinations with only mild grumbling. LOL, my daughter was home this weekend, I gave her a house plant I had divided to take back with her. Her boyfriend is already commenting about her growing "jungle". It’s in the genes, I told her to tell him he has no hope. LOL.

List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.net Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who’s to blame Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make.

Response:

That’s an interesting idea. Thanks. Carlotta

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I use plain old fluorescent lights. I have used the lower part of a closet, hanging the lights from the clothes pole. OTOH, at my mothers I partitioned off a section of the basement and put in a "greenhouse" down there. My mother still uses it to start plants for spring. Ingrid

Response:

Milwaukee, WI …. I dont have lots of room for orchids in living areas, and I got other stuff overwintering in the basement not to mention I can spray with abandon in the basement cause it is right over the drain. so I leave the non-bloomers down there where it is cooler and more humid than upstairs. then when they bloom they come upstairs where I can enjoy the flowers. frankly I am not thrilled with their foliage. but to keep em blooming I do put em into an east window. got no north facing windows. I think orchids are wonderful for winter bloomlessness …. Ingrid Ingrid, I don’t remember exactly where you are, somewhere on the east coast? My heavy garden energies are in the summer, but I need a few flowers to get me through the winter. Dry, forced, or amaryllis – hum…. could orchids be a possibility? So can you grow them in the more forced conditions and move them out when you need cheered up while they’re blooming? Carlotta

Response:

Safe to assume you’re using grow lights in the basement? I have an unused room that I could probably convert. Definitely, something worth looking into. Larry, at this point seems to endure most of my fascinations with only mild grumbling. LOL, my daughter was home this weekend, I gave her a house plant I had divided to take back with her. Her boyfriend is already commenting about her growing "jungle". It’s in the genes, I told her to tell him he has no hope. LOL. Carlotta

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Milwaukee, WI …. I dont have lots of room for orchids in living areas, and I got other stuff overwintering in the basement not to mention I can spray with abandon in the basement cause it is right over the drain. so I leave the non-bloomers down there where it is cooler and more humid than upstairs. then when they bloom they come upstairs where I can enjoy the flowers. frankly I am not thrilled with their foliage. but to keep em blooming I do put em into an east window. got no north facing windows. I think orchids are wonderful for winter bloomlessness …. Ingrid Ingrid, I don’t remember exactly where you are, somewhere on the east coast? My heavy garden energies are in the summer, but I need a few flowers to get me through the winter. Dry, forced, or amaryllis – hum…. could orchids be a possibility? So can you grow them in the more forced conditions and move them out when you need cheered up while they’re blooming? Carlotta List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.net Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who’s to blame Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make.

Response:

<< The only light I have that seems decent for growing plants is east windows and a couple of north windows. No south windows at all, and my west windows I keep curtained for privacy. What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? << Iowa zone 4/5 Your conditions are not suitable for orchids. Most of them need more light than you will have in an East window, and far more humidity than you will have in the house in the winter. If you really want to grow orchids, wall off a section of your basement with sheet plastic and install fluorescent or metal halide lights, fans, and humidifiers. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

This statement is quite disingenuous, Iris…while there are orchids that would not do well in such conditions, there are indeed orchids that will do well. Phalaenopsis types (which are often the most common orchid available for sale) will grow and bloom happily in an east window, even with household humidity conditions…there might need to be some ammendment to humidity (such as a humidifier), but this is probably necessary for human comfort anyway if winters tend to run dry. —Prem www.premdesign.com

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – to keep the water from drooling all over wood work when watering. and it helps to spriz them with water now and then since lots of their roots end up outside the pot. there is a bit of standing water in the box under the egg crate, altho I have heard that even that isnt necessary. I stick a bunch of em together in the box maybe to help humidity, maybe competition when one blooms encourages the others to bloom as well. I really dont fuss with them .. I dont fertilize either, altho I think I really should once in a while. I think I will go with the slow release osmocote stuff. Ingrid

Ingrid, I don’t remember exactly where you are, somewhere on the east coast? My heavy garden energies are in the summer, but I need a few flowers to get me through the winter. Dry, forced, or amaryllis – hum…. could orchids be a possibility? So can you grow them in the more forced conditions and move them out when you need cheered up while they’re blooming? Carlotta

Response:

| | This statement is quite disingenuous, Iris…while there are orchids | that would not do well in such conditions, there are indeed orchids | that will do well. Phalaenopsis types (which are often the most | common orchid available for sale) will grow and bloom happily in | an east window, even with household humidity conditions…there | might need to be some ammendment to humidity (such as a humidifier), | but this is probably necessary for human comfort anyway if winters | tend to run dry. Quite. Anything that can survive UK winter light levels, even on a south-facing window ledge, isn’t going to have any trouble with an east window in the contiguous U.S.A. Admittedly, low humidity levels in winter aren’t exactly the problem that we have Regards, Nick Maclaren, University of Cambridge Computing Service, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679

Response:

Actually… it was in Minnesota in an overheated apartment on the 3rd floor where I got hooked on orchids. I started in a fish tank, then built a simple orchid box .. just a box with that white egg crate stuff. I did have to use a humidifier cause I have skin that shrivels in dry air. In summer I built a sorta greenhouse out on my balcony for my plants and orchids. Ingrid Well, I do ‘do’ indoor plants quite a bit and I could never get an orchid to survive more than a few months when I lived in Minnesota and they *never* rebloomed for me. The combination of their light, humidity, and watering require- ments were just too much for me to manage during those long Minnesota months.

Response:

I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. They do not appear phyiscally delicate, although I think they are difficult to grow. What are other people’s opinion?

Here’s my experience: I put off owning orchids for years… I was afraid I would get addicted and want to do little else. I’d end up building a giant lathe house and abandoning all other species that I’ve put so much time and care into. Eventually I relented of this attitude, joined an orchid of the month club, and began collecting. Oh, how I fussed over them… soaking in the ferts and getting the light just right, and bringing them indoors in the winter, etc. Well- they performed abysmally… ugly scraggily pain-in-the-kiester nothings hanging in my trees- they never bloomed, never showed me any gratitude at all for the $$ I had invested in them and the care they "required". I got over it one day and threw them all in the ComposTumbler. About a week later I had second thoughts and dug them out… I tied each one into a tree, where they now bloom profusely with very little supplemental feeding or care. Storms, cold snaps- haven’t lost a one yet and the blooming is out of this world. Go figure. — Toni Carroll Sunny South Florida Zone 10

Response:

I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. They do not appear phyiscally delicate, although I think they are difficult to grow. What are other people’s opinion? Thanks Tom

Response:

It depends on the orchid, but I sure wouldn’t call a phalaenopsis or paphiopedilum flower that can last 2 to 3 months delicate. And those orchids aren’t particularly difficult to grow either. deg

Response:

Phaels are easy, as are the phael like dendrobiums and the cymbidiums and the catts. I have no luck with paphs, miltonia. Angaecum are medium as are zygopedalum and vandas and that other one like it. need more light. I grow most of em in the basement under lights in winter, in shade in the summer. but forget cymbs if you dont have some cold weather. INgrid – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. They do not appear phyiscally delicate, although I think they are difficult to grow. What are other people’s opinion? Thanks Tom It depends on the orchid, but I sure wouldn’t call a phalaenopsis or paphiopedilum flower that can last 2 to 3 months delicate. And those orchids aren’t particularly difficult to grow either. deg

Response:

<< I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. When was the last time you heard really accurate information on the radio? Most of the common orchids are not delicate at all, but they require certain conditions different from ordinary houseplants. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

north and east windows are superb for Phaels… which also have the flowers that bloom for months. I use a box of some kind with that white egg crating inside to keep the plants out of water. Ingrid

Well, it looks like I need to do some research before I’m tempted enough to buy. I do only have north and east windows that are suitable for plants. What is the purpose of the box of some kind? Carlotta

Response:

<< I got over it one day and threw them all in the ComposTumbler. About a week later I had second thoughts and dug them out… I tied each one into a tree, where they now bloom profusely with very little supplemental feeding or care. Storms, cold snaps- haven’t lost a one yet and the blooming is out of this world. Go figure. Either they respond to Tough Love or they’re masochists at heart….er, stamen? zemedelec

Response:

to keep the water from drooling all over wood work when watering. and it helps to spriz them with water now and then since lots of their roots end up outside the pot. there is a bit of standing water in the box under the egg crate, altho I have heard that even that isnt necessary. I stick a bunch of em together in the box maybe to help humidity, maybe competition when one blooms encourages the others to bloom as well. I really dont fuss with them .. I dont fertilize either, altho I think I really should once in a while. I think I will go with the slow release osmocote stuff. Ingrid – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – north and east windows are superb for Phaels… which also have the flowers that bloom for months. I use a box of some kind with that white egg crating inside to keep the plants out of water. Ingrid Well, it looks like I need to do some research before I’m tempted enough to buy. I do only have north and east windows that are suitable for plants. What is the purpose of the box of some kind? Carlotta

Response:

north and east windows are superb for Phaels… which also have the flowers that bloom for months. I use a box of some kind with that white egg crating inside to keep the plants out of water. As long as you have some kind of humidifier in the house they are going to do fine. I have Goldfish tanks.. plenty of humidity without it actually dripping down the windows. I put mine in the basment, get em blooming and then bring them upstairs until the flowers finally go. nice thing about orchids.. can go away for a month and the plant doesnt croak. lots of sites online. and home despot has some really nice orchids for not much money. Ingrid I’d like some more information on this, if anyone cares to share. Winter is fast falling here, and even at the Target store there are blooming orchids. Nice plant structures. I’m pretty good at outside plants but have very little experience at indoor plants. The only light I have that seems decent for growing plants is east windows and a couple of north windows. No south windows at all, and my west windows I keep curtained for privacy. What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? Would they be an addition to my amaryllis for winter blooms? Carlotta

Response:

I’d like some more information on this, if anyone cares to share. Winter is fast falling here, and even at the Target store there are blooming orchids. Nice plant structures. I’m pretty good at outside plants but have very little experience at indoor plants. The only light I have that seems decent for growing plants is east windows and a couple of north windows. No south windows at all, and my west windows I keep curtained for privacy. What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? Would they be an addition to my amaryllis for winter blooms? Carlotta Iowa zone 4/5

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – << I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. When was the last time you heard really accurate information on the radio? Most of the common orchids are not delicate at all, but they require certain conditions different from ordinary houseplants. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? Would they be an addition to my amaryllis for winter blooms?

Well, I do ‘do’ indoor plants quite a bit and I could never get an orchid to survive more than a few months when I lived in Minnesota and they *never* rebloomed for me. The combination of their light, humidity, and watering require- ments were just too much for me to manage during those long Minnesota months. I kept a lot of other plants alive and flourishing, those were beyond what I was willing/able to provide for them. Now that I’m in Hawaii, they’re simple though. Just stick them on the back porch and water consistently. I’m no orchid expert (yet! Give me a decade or two!) but I read the rec.gardens.orchids newsgroup and I don’t seem to have heard of anyone who lives in a harsh winter area who hasn’t had to make some fairly extensive accomodations for their orchids to make it through the winter. (Or at least they’re fairly extensive to me!) Most orchids don’t seem to be the types you can just sit on a southern window- sill and have that be enough. Tracey

Response:

Can you identify this flower?

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

They are dendrobiums, a kind of orchid commonly used by florists. The purple color is natural, but the blue is dye, like the green carnations for St. Patrick’s day. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

Definitely an Orchid. Probably a Dendrobium hybrid.

Response:

I suspect this may be some kind of orchid, but am not sure. My wife brought it home from work – from one of her coworkers who didn’t know what it was. The pictures are not too great – I am not good with macro-photography with my digital camera, but you might see enough detail to tell what it is. The flowers are a gorgeous blue and purple, about 2 inches in diameter. There are several flowers on a stem (the coworker gave her just one stem of the flower from a vase of flowers). http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower1.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower2.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower3.jpg

I sure can’t, but it sure is pretty. Seeing the leaves might’ve helped. I thought some sort of clematis but the third photo seems to show a thorn along the stem. -paghat — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top

Response:

It looks vaguely like a lisianthus, but I’ve never seen one in that color scheme and it may not even have the right number of petals.

Response:

There is no thorn – sorry the picture isn’t clearer. And there were no leaves on the part given to my wife so we don’t have that to go on either.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I suspect this may be some kind of orchid, but am not sure. My wife brought it home from work – from one of her coworkers who didn’t know what it was. The pictures are not too great – I am not good with macro-photography with my digital camera, but you might see enough detail to tell what it is. The flowers are a gorgeous blue and purple, about 2 inches in diameter. There are several flowers on a stem (the coworker gave her just one stem of the flower from a vase of flowers). http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower1.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower2.jpg http://k_cook.home.mindspring.com/ken/flower3.jpg I sure can’t, but it sure is pretty. Seeing the leaves might’ve helped. I thought some sort of clematis but the third photo seems to show a thorn along the stem. -paghat — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top

Response:

newbie to gardening, NG for Oz and other questions

admin — Mon, 09 Sep 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I have found that aus.gardens is a very good newsgroup. Good luck. Dwayne

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi to all, I’ve only just started gardening and wondering if there are websites or news groups covering Australia and in particular NSW? I live in a flat so my flower garden is mainly indoors. I’m looking for advice on what will grow indoors and what to be awear of as far as care and attention. Totally new to gardens – the only thing I’ve grown is yeast in a fermenter TIA Wayne — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

welcome. I can’t be of much help but what I did was go to the library and check out some books on indoor gardening and house plants. One thing you will need to do is to choose plants that can survive in the amount of light that you have available or can manage to provide. Then see which plants need to be kept moist and which plants can go for longer periods of dry time. That way you can decide also, how much time you have to give them for good upkeep. Do google search on succulents for plants that need only about weekly or monthly watering and look up other plants to see if needs moist soil, sandy soil or rich soil. When you go to nursery, read the labels to see soil, light and water requirements and select from that standpoint. A plant that needs full sun would get pale and lanky in the house with low light, even in a window. And don’t get up tight.. just read and relax and enjoy. You might even select a specific type of plant like orchids, or maybe cactus or other succulents or just ivy’ or tropicals. Don’t do what I’m often tempted to do…. get so many plants that you get to the point where you can’t really take as good a care as they need. It is really best to have a few healthy plants that you are able to take care of than a bunch of light starved, root bound, hungry stunted, pathetic sick little things stacked all ’round! good luck. Leona. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi to all, I’ve only just started gardening and wondering if there are websites or news groups covering Australia and in particular NSW? I live in a flat so my flower garden is mainly indoors. I’m looking for advice on what will grow indoors and what to be awear of as far as care and attention. Totally new to gardens – the only thing I’ve grown is yeast in a fermenter TIA Wayne — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

– nTX USDA Z 7B Non Commercial site http://www.geocities.com/tvksi/index.htm

Response:

Hi to all, I’ve only just started gardening and wondering if there are websites or news groups covering Australia and in particular NSW? I live in a flat so my flower garden is mainly indoors. I’m looking for advice on what will grow indoors and what to be awear of as far as care and attention. Totally new to gardens – the only thing I’ve grown is yeast in a fermenter TIA Wayne — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

Small World Eh Mary ?

admin — Wed, 04 Sep 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I reckon you’re as old ( or young) as you feel ! Its OK though , I have got a few ‘old’ friends , and they’re not a bit senile !!! ( HA! HA! ) Poor Catherine, will have to pick the Botanical Gardens if we all arrive at once !!! Marilyn xxx PS I can remember the ‘rag and bone’ man , coming round our streets on a horse and cart . Your reward for giving him rags was … clothes pegs!!! Hardly worth the trouble , dont you think?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary, Thanks for your reply. We do seem like ‘brother chip’ dont we? I didn’t think people would get irritated with chit chat on ngs ? I find it fascinating and really enjoy reading other peoples aswell. I have learned so much about other places eg Austin, Blackburn,Hawaii… and people like.. Lance Armstrong… and things like baseball (well, sort of)…. so you see, it’s educational ! It usually brings a smile, and lifts the spirits away from the other problems that we cant avoid. We cant talk about cancer ALL the time, surely, we have to have a laugh aswell? (By the way , I am reading this on ng , so it wasn’t transferred anywhere?) No! I realised I’d blobbed, sorry anyone reading this who’d rather not Take Care , talk to you soon, Marilyn PS I think BIG SNOW was about 1993or4. I was born in 1952 .. hence Marilyn (Monroe).. so dont remember 1947. Bitch. I’m pre-war. In 1947 the children made an igloo on the street and it was still there in March. The cobbled street, not the pavement. The only motor traffic we got was the ambulance or my plumber uncle, horse-drawn carts weren’t a problem for us when we played in the street. Mary Mary Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. Great! See Yer , It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

man, ain’t that the truth? live somewhere desirable and the "friends" come out of the woodwork to come and visit! when I lived in NYC, I got very tired of taking (and paying for) the boat trip to the Statue of Liberty, so at the last, I would put them on the Staten Island ferry (5 cents) and say "there she is!" as we went by! Catharine, did you hear that the most famous collector of prints in the USA has donated his entire collection to…The University of Texas at Austin museums? Seems like there’s big Longhorn news every day! Stupid New York Times spelled it the University of Texas. Que maroon, no?

Response:

If I could afford to, I’d love to come and get leid. catherine

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! It’s called a lei, and EVERYONE’s invited. We’re poor, we need the tourists. If you come, I will meet you at the airport and drape a lei around your neck — and it’ll be a nice lei, too, not one of those junk dendrobium orchid lei they give to unknowing tourists — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead!

No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby.

I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan

I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK!

It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies

Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow!

You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield)

I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am

Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!?

Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!)

Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now.

Great! See Yer ,

It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

Hi Mary, Thanks for your reply. We do seem like ‘brother chip’ dont we? I didn’t think people would get irritated with chit chat on ngs ? I find it fascinating and really enjoy reading other peoples aswell. I have learned so much about other places eg Austin, Blackburn,Hawaii… and people like.. Lance Armstrong… and things like baseball (well, sort of)…. so you see, it’s educational ! It usually brings a smile, and lifts the spirits away from the other problems that we cant avoid. We cant talk about cancer ALL the time, surely, we have to have a laugh aswell? (By the way , I am reading this on ng , so it wasn’t transferred anywhere?) Take Care , talk to you soon, Marilyn PS I think BIG SNOW was about 1993or4. I was born in 1952 .. hence Marilyn (Monroe).. so dont remember 1947.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. Great! See Yer , It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! It’s called a lei, and EVERYONE’s invited. We’re poor, we need the tourists.

ARe you serious? I thought Hawaii was a very popular tourist spot. Not that I know anything about tourist spots … If you come, I will meet you at the airport and drape a lei around your neck — and it’ll be a nice lei, too, not one of those junk dendrobium orchid lei they give to unknowing tourists

What if we all come at once? Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

anywhere?) No! I realised I’d blobbed, sorry anyone reading this who’d rather not Take Care , talk to you soon, Marilyn PS I think BIG SNOW was about 1993or4. I was born in 1952 .. hence Marilyn (Monroe).. so dont remember 1947.

Bitch. I’m pre-war. In 1947 the children made an igloo on the street and it was still there in March. The cobbled street, not the pavement. The only motor traffic we got was the ambulance or my plumber uncle, horse-drawn carts weren’t a problem for us when we played in the street. Mary Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! No, I’ve enough with my own man My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. I wouldn’t recognise him then. I don’t know any famous rugby players. My dentist plays rugby for the dental hospital where he’s a student but he’s not famous. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan I have a son like that! (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! It means the same here but because we live in a traditional immigrant area (we’re not the only whites in the stret but the only English family) people rarely mention skin colour. To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies Me too – and repellants don’t work so I just keep covered all the time and try not to go to places where they are. and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! You sound like a kindred spirit! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) I do. BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well there have been a few. You’re too young for 1947 but there was 1968 (I think) and one in the seventies when I worked two miles from home and it took us five and a half hours to drive home. We’d have walked but Chapeltown Road was already littered with abandoned cars which added to the mayhem. The worst aspect of that was needing a wee. Malcolm was OK, he used the screen wash bottle. Afterwards we always carried a biscuit tin containing chocolate and biscuits to sustain the inner man and could be taken out and the tin used as a jerry. Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Don’t like the idea of that. Work, I mean. Bad enough with all the things to do at home. Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) Well, to be honest, I rarely feel lousy and do look well all the time. I get fed up of people saying to each other, in hushed voices, that, "Mary Fisher hasn’t been well … "when in truth I’ve never been ill. They all thought I was dead a couple of years ago, my publisher was horrified. He’d left a whole magazine page for an obituary and he had to find something else to fill it! We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. Great! See Yer , It would be nice. I don’t think we’re going anywhere this year, instead we might strip the sitting room floor. When you come you might have to clamber over piles of furniture … Thanks for posting, I’ve transferred this to mail because some people get irrritated with personal reminiscing on a ng. I don’t, I love it! Usenet is enhanced by thread drift! Mary

Response:

I’m not posh either and I live 7 miles from Blackburn and often shop there. Mind you, my neighbours think I’m posh because I neither have a local accent nor speak Urdu, and I "do things with computers", they make it sound like a perversion. I don’t think there is any power generation (cooling towers) in Blackburn, the town centre is dominated by the Thwaites brewery, a large red brick building somewhat resembling, well, a large red brick. Despite its name Blackburn is a fairly light and clean place, most of the old Victorian stone buildings have been cleaned up and revealed in all their architectural glory. I think most people from out of the area know Blackburn for its football (soccer) team. If Mary can talk about cricket in Yorkshire and the Austin, Texas lot can talk about whatever game it is they play, then I ought to be able to talk about football in the North West UK, home of all the leading football teams, Manchester United, Liverpool, and of course Blackburn Rovers. Fortunately I can’t. Tim Jackson

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black cooling towers , probably wrong again !) Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) xxx

Response:

debateable to say the least ! "UP THE OWLS!!!" I know what you mean about not speaking Urdu though … in Dewsbury you look out of place if you dont wear a black veil with slits for eyes ! The Pakistanis are funny though . Their accents are more broad Yorkshire than my mothers’ ! A lot of the houses and old mill buildings round there have been sandblasted too, and look really good. I’ve heard it said that some computer buffs ARE perverts , but we will give you the benefit of the doubt …. this time !!! Where did you go that’s posh speaking to lose your accent? I HAD to lose mine in Oz , as nobody could understand a word I was saying, so I trained myself. How can I pull my friend’s leg , now you’ve told me how nice Blackburn is? Spoilsport! So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes? Mazza x

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not posh either and I live 7 miles from Blackburn and often shop there. Mind you, my neighbours think I’m posh because I neither have a local accent nor speak Urdu, and I "do things with computers", they make it sound like a perversion. I don’t think there is any power generation (cooling towers) in Blackburn, the town centre is dominated by the Thwaites brewery, a large red brick building somewhat resembling, well, a large red brick. Despite its name Blackburn is a fairly light and clean place, most of the old Victorian stone buildings have been cleaned up and revealed in all their architectural glory. I think most people from out of the area know Blackburn for its football (soccer) team. If Mary can talk about cricket in Yorkshire and the Austin, Texas lot can talk about whatever game it is they play, then I ought to be able to talk about football in the North West UK, home of all the leading football teams, Manchester United, Liverpool, and of course Blackburn Rovers. Fortunately I can’t. Tim Jackson By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black cooling towers , probably wrong again !) Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) xxx

Response:

Umm, Yorkshire, I think!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes? Mazza x

Response:

on the point you made about people saying "you look well" and being cancer-centric…they mean well, so I would just say, "thank you," and then ask "how is whatever going on with whomever whenever and wherever?" Just some sort of question I could come up with, such as… Why is it that no one on this newsgroup has the least bit of familiarity with customs and traditions at The University of Texas at Austin? and so on

LOL! Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes?

They were nothing to do with factories, they were about the mills of the mind – the universities of the time. Truly. Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Despite its name Blackburn is a fairly light and clean place, most of the old Victorian stone buildings have been cleaned up and revealed in all their architectural glory.

That happened in Leeds some time ago. They’d been blackened by industrial and domestic soot. Now we’re smokeless and the buildings are almost as black again. It can only be from traffic – what’s it doing to our lungs? I think most people from out of the area know Blackburn for its football (soccer) team. If Mary can talk about cricket in Yorkshire

I can only bluff it out! and the Austin, Texas lot can talk about whatever game it is they play, then I ought to be able to talk about football in the North West UK, home of all the leading football teams, Manchester United, Liverpool, and of course Blackburn Rovers. Fortunately I can’t.

Nor can I talk about Leeds United or Elland Road. I was taken once and saw John Charles play. I think I was fifteen. Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Umm, Yorkshire, I think!

Note: a duck in cricket is a no score. Tim scored nothing with that one ho ho! Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Tim So where are the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ as the song goes? Mazza x

Response:

Hi Mary! Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting to say the least!

Indeed. Do let me know. I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around again. Do you think it will be a white xmas?

Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. Hope not , I hate the slush and muck!

So do I, in towns. Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and saying ," You look really well" AARGH!

I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green?

Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad for the start of Spring!

Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn)

Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! Mary

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! "Here we know that Christmas/ Will be green and bright/ The sun will shine all day/ And all the stars at night…" — From "Mele Kalikimaka," a smug Hawaiian Christmas song. Yes, I’ve been moaning about the heat and humidity all summer long, but at Christmas time, I’ll be telling all y’all stories about my sunburn of yesterday, or my fun time at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. Come visit!

Ooh! It’s tempting … XMary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he gets a suntan (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to mozzies and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the snow! Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it helps other people to cope!) We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year with my family now. See Yer , Marilyn (not Steve) xxx PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary! Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting to say the least! Indeed. Do let me know. I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around again. Do you think it will be a white xmas? Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! So do I, in towns. Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and saying ," You look really well" AARGH! I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad for the start of Spring! Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! Mary

Response:

my name is not Ann. Ann’s name is Ann. my name is Christine, but since there is a psycho girl in the Mets ng who calls herself, get ready for this Christineeeeee Jay Payton’s girl I will be Christine from Texas

Response:

you apparently wish to get leid.

| Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! | My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont | know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. | He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit | like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he | gets a suntan (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a | ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! | | To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to | mozzies and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it | will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the | snow! | Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just | got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a | foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) | BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I | worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am | | Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours | 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? | Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it | helps other people to cope!) | | We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return | flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year | with my family now. | | See Yer , | Marilyn (not Steve) | xxx | | PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) | I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and | I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! | | | | | | Hi Mary! | Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can | find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be | interesting | to say the least! | | Indeed. Do let me know. | | I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive | (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around | again. | | Do you think it will be a white xmas? | | Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we | took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain | and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until | the | week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. | | Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! | | So do I, in towns. | | Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends | and | family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , | EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me | having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , | and | saying ," You look really well" AARGH! | | I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t | | You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. | I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? | | Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. | | It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not | bad | for the start of Spring! | | Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! | | Take Care, | Mazza ( Marilyn) | | Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! | | Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! | | Mary | | | | | | |

Response:

mele kalikimaka is the island way to say Merry Christmas.

| | Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we | took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh | mountain and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get | out until the week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! | | "Here we know that Christmas/ Will be green and bright/ The sun will shine | all day/ And all the stars at night…" | | — From "Mele Kalikimaka," a smug Hawaiian Christmas song. | | Yes, I’ve been moaning about the heat and humidity all summer long, but at | Christmas time, I’ll be telling all y’all stories about my sunburn of | yesterday, or my fun time at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. | | Come visit! | | — | Aloha, | Catharine | | Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Its Ann isn’t it ? ( I hate calling you Crosem… and I’m not Steven either!) I agree with Sharon, you’ve helped me too ! you have hit the nail on the head , that might be just what I need !!! (I hope none of the men are reading this!) Kind Regards Marilyn (Mazza/Sydney)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – you apparently wish to get leid. | Ok Ok , I’ll send Steven instead! | My friends think he looks like a famous English rugby player, but I dont | know which one nor would I know anyway as I dont follow or like rugby. | He still has a Yorkshire accent (after 23 years here) but doesn’t look a bit | like a Sheffield lad as he has ‘olive’ skin and goes nearly black when he | gets a suntan (he has been shouted at in the taxi and called a | ‘wog’…(which means,in Australia ,of ethnic origin) CHEEK! | | To be honest Mary , I’m dreading the summer this year . I’m allergic to | mozzies and get sunburn easily if I dont wear total blockout cream, so it | will be horrendous now I have got ‘lymph arm’ aswell !!!!!! Bring on the | snow! | Actually, before I came out here again (I’m talking end of 2000) I only just | got to a New Years Eve party , as it started snowing PM , and was about a | foot thick by teatime, remember? (That was Sheffield) | BUT, I remember vividly ‘THE BIG SNOW’ in Leeds (?year?) . I left work (I | worked above Leeds railway station) at 5.30pm … and got home at 3.15am | | Well, I had better get ready for work , I start back today , just 4 hours | 12nn-4pm so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system!? | Dont forget to keep LOOKING WELL at all costs (even if you feel lousy… it | helps other people to cope!) | | We can swop details nearer the time … by the way , we have got a return | flight cancellation fo 2nd Jan , so will be able to bring in the New Year | with my family now. | | See Yer , | Marilyn (not Steve) | xxx | | PS Catherine, am I invited too ( or shall I send Steve??) | I’ve always wanted one of those ‘flowery things’ draped round my neck and | I’ve always thought your ‘Hawaii 5 0′ theme tune was the best one yet!!!! | | | | | | Hi Mary! | Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can | find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be | interesting | to say the least! | | Indeed. Do let me know. | | I’ve been silent for a few days while a son nuked my hard drive | (deliberately) and tidied up my pc. I’m not trying to find my way around | again. | | Do you think it will be a white xmas? | | Nope. Haven’t had one for years. Well, not quite true, last Christmas we | took our tiny caravan to a daughter’s farm on the side of a Welsh mountain | and it snowed on Christmas Eve at midnight and we couldn’t get out until | the | week after New Year. It wasn’t slushy, too cold! We enjoyed it. | | Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! | | So do I, in towns. | | Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends | and | family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , | EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me | having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , | and | saying ," You look really well" AARGH! | | I’ll try to remember not to say it, if you don’t | | You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. | I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? | | Not like when I was at school, houses are being built everywhere. | | It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not | bad | for the start of Spring! | | Oh – we’re at the start of autumn. I bought a greenhouse heater on Friday! | | Take Care, | Mazza ( Marilyn) | | Oh no! I thought you were STEVEN! | | Ah well, it would still be good to meet you! | | Mary | | | | | | |

Response:

| Hi Mary! | Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can | find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting | to say the least! | Do you think it will be a white xmas? Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! | Its OK on xmas cards though , and through the window if you are snug and | warm inside !!! | | Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and | family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , | EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me | having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and | saying ," You look really well" AARGH! | I suppose I read this ng because it makes me feel less alone. I mean , | family and friends do their best , but they cannot understand completely , | unless its actually happening to them. (Also , its preferable to doing the | ironong , which is what I should be doing!) | | By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to | people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black | cooling towers , probably wrong again !) | She went to University in Leeds and ended up staying there… living with a | Yorkshire TV cameraman. They have just split up , hence the move. | I’m definitely not posh either , good ol’ 2 up 2 down in Sheffield, that’s | my roots! | You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. | I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? | | I start taking Xeloda tablets today .. for forever I think judging by the | amount (500 x 5 repeats!). Hope they work , and dont give me horrible side | effects ! Wish me luck ! | | Well , cant delay the ironing any longer , better get on, | It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad | for the start of Spring! | | Take Care, | Mazza ( Marilyn) | xxx | | | | Oh! | | Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone | else | ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread. | | That’s a great comfort to me too | | I was | beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get | it | ! | You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien | !!! | I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging | associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following | their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the | comments!? | | Oh no! Not in this ng | | Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me | ……. | I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. | I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best | friend | lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She | has | moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.) | | Oooooooooh! Very posh! Well it was when I were a lass and went to Allerton | High School and most of my friends lived in Alwoodley. We went past today | and it seems to have changed. As do we all. | | I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be | in | touching distance then. | What a small world it is !!! | | Let me know. I’m serious. If I’m around (I get about a lot) it would be | nice | to swap stories. Why are you reading this ng, for instance? | | Mary | | | | |

Response:

Oh! Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone else ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread.

That’s a great comfort to me too I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get it ! You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien !!! I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the comments!?

Oh no! Not in this ng Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me ……. I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best friend lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She has moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.)

Oooooooooh! Very posh! Well it was when I were a lass and went to Allerton High School and most of my friends lived in Alwoodley. We went past today and it seems to have changed. As do we all. I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be in touching distance then. What a small world it is !!!

Let me know. I’m serious. If I’m around (I get about a lot) it would be nice to swap stories. Why are you reading this ng, for instance? Mary

Response:

Hi Mary! Yes we could perhaps meet up for a cup of coffee or something (if we can find the time around xmas, you know what its like), it would be interesting to say the least! Do you think it will be a white xmas? Hope not , I hate the slush and muck! Its OK on xmas cards though , and through the window if you are snug and warm inside !!! Its amazing … when you live in England , you dont see your friends and family for months and months …but if you are visiting from Australia , EVERYBODY wants to see you at least 3 times! It will be even worse , me having cancer , I’m dreading the pity , or people avoiding the subject , and saying ," You look really well" AARGH! I suppose I read this ng because it makes me feel less alone. I mean , family and friends do their best , but they cannot understand completely , unless its actually happening to them. (Also , its preferable to doing the ironong , which is what I should be doing!) By the way , my friend isn’t posh … she’s from Blackburn ( apologies to people from Blackburn , I’ve never been , but I always think of black cooling towers , probably wrong again !) She went to University in Leeds and ended up staying there… living with a Yorkshire TV cameraman. They have just split up , hence the move. I’m definitely not posh either , good ol’ 2 up 2 down in Sheffield, that’s my roots! You are right though Mary, Headingley is ‘posh’ , well , expensive. I dont know Allerton or Alwoodley , but I think they are quite green? I start taking Xeloda tablets today .. for forever I think judging by the amount (500 x 5 repeats!). Hope they work , and dont give me horrible side effects ! Wish me luck ! Well , cant delay the ironing any longer , better get on, It breaks my heart , as its 25c and not a cloud in the sky today , not bad for the start of Spring! Take Care, Mazza ( Marilyn) xxx

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh! Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone else ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread. That’s a great comfort to me too I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get it ! You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien !!! I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the comments!? Oh no! Not in this ng Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me ……. I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best friend lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She has moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.) Oooooooooh! Very posh! Well it was when I were a lass and went to Allerton High School and most of my friends lived in Alwoodley. We went past today and it seems to have changed. As do we all. I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be in touching distance then. What a small world it is !!! Let me know. I’m serious. If I’m around (I get about a lot) it would be nice to swap stories. Why are you reading this ng, for instance? Mary

Response:

Hi There Mary , Sorry to intrude on your conversation , but I’m so glad that someone else ( but me) admitted being lost with the ‘Orange Tower’ thread. I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the group who didn’t get it ! You are right , its like trying to explain a game of cricket to an alien !!! I have deduced (probably wrongly) that there is some ‘tribal’ belonging associated with the whole thing ? Possibly akin to the British following their soccer teams? I could sense some ‘mock venom’ in some of the comments!? Tim once told me that you were from the same neck of the woods as me ……. I lived at Dewsbury for 11 years pre 2001 , and then I came to Oz. I was working for Parcelforce at Westgate in Leeds , and my best friend lived at Weetwood Court , Headingley up until earlier this year. (She has moved to The Avenue, Alwoodley just recently.) I will be visiting her later this year when I go to UK , so we will be in touching distance then. What a small world it is !!! Take Care Mary and keep up that Yorkshire humour, Mazza in Sydney xxx