Hello old friends ... and new.

Howthehellareya? It's been awhile. I would love to hear how everything is going.

Hi Lacie :)))

Nice to see your name back here! I'm sure everyone wants to know how you've been, too, lass! Time you filed a report with the nOg!

In the land of Silk, things are pretty good. There are the ongoing roller coasters of life such as caring for aging parents and losing dear friends, but we do get through these things.

On the bright side, I'm in my final year of my Art Diploma, and still going well :) Selling a good number of works, but not enough to give up the regular job yet *pout*. Got lots of irons in the fire at the moment, so keeping self busy and out of the Inn. ;)

Hope your well and in great spirits! :)

Hi Silk. Good to see you are still around. Any website to view your work? I would love to look.

Will have my own website eventually Lacie, but meantime if you are a member of myspace you can view a number of my works at my myspace page :)

www.myspace.com/silknz

Lacie . lovely to see you around, if only we could all meet up in chat but seems theres a very slim chance of that,, Hello Silk the queen of bollards, I read somewhere Indigo was going to Ireland, past present or future?

Greetings Lacie! Good to see you!! I'm still Queen of the Hooch-Mart...spending any spare time (and pocket-change it would seem...*lol*) on landscaping projects at the new house... And YES Ularu, I'm coming to Ireland in Sept! Looks to be mid-Sept at this point. Will have all the details worked out soon!! But will be spending a bit of time in Belfast this trip...

Hiya all! Silk, I will check your site out .. can't wait, actually.
Ularu, meeting up in a nice place like this has been few and far between for good people for a long, long time. Sad, hey.
Hello Indigo, old friend!!!! I am still jealous of you .. 1 - the hootch-mart and 2 - Ireland! Gosh, you have EVERYTHING!
My sons have all left home now, so I am fancy free and finding a different kind of life. Living in the City, only 5 minutes from the office and all the galleries etc. What a load of new experiences for me!! Old Lace come of age?? *L*

ah Lacie good to hear from you I hope you will be back more often hope to see you in chat

Hey Lacie, hope you enjoy my spot on myspace. As you can imagine, I'm my usual nutty self in there also, so I doubt there will be any surprizes! Let me know what you think of my art work...don't be afraid to be critical too, as I value all comment, good and bad :)

Hi Luddster :) How are you? Haven't seen you in SL for a long while! Time you logged in and came for a gawk at my 'in world' gallery, courtesy of our magnanimous Innkeeper, Acckers :)

Hi Indie!! *big hugs*....we need to get together for a vino lass, to discuss this trip to the Emerald and Tartan Isles!!! :))))

Hey Silkasso!!
Things are starting to come together for the grand adventure this fall... Macallan is expecting us, as is Highland Park...have to work out a few of the details yet... looking forward to chatting with you soon!!

that's me Lacie.. *lol*.. Queen of the Hooch-mart...*laughs*... Geez... today at the shop--being silly, I cut a piece off a container that read: "Beer is my life",(in the shape of a heart no less...) Then put a bit of packing tape on it, and wore it as a brooch for the afternoon... *lol* People got a kick out of it...
... BUT what I forgot--was to TAKE IT OFF when I left the store!!! so went to the garden center to look at plants on clearance... and they pointed it out to me... *BLUSHES!!* Oh God, they must think me a sad, sad woman... *giggles*...

Queen "Hoochilina" strikes again *L*

The light may be on but no one is home as usual, just Shaman's bad luck and timing. However Shaman now has her own computer and will be online with the internet in a couple days then I can come in any time of the day or night I want and surely will have better luck finding someone in. Shaman did have a puter before but it died...and it was old and getting past it's time. See ya later hopefully.

ohhh Indigo ... need I say more? LOL It is great to know you haven't changed!! :-)
Shaman .. luck has nothing to do with ANYTHING! .. you know that.
Do ya know .. it is quiet nice to see the green screen again.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ma'luddie. me old mate. Good to see you remain true and solid to Tir. I do hope you are looking after everyone??

Ularu .. still in the top end?

Happy 4th of July to all our 'mericaaaaan friends!

so lacie still entering the shows and how are the boys

.... well it's good to see that I'm not the only one to feel the call of Tir again. I was in Cobh Ireland for my cousin's 60th birtday on 19th June and I'm returning at the end of this month. The Liner "Jewel of the Seas" was visiting so there were more Tourists than Locals. When I was a lad there were no tourists at all! Times, like the town change.

No more shows for me Luddie. The boys are men! .. and they are all doing very well. Mother has hit 50 and managed to cope! LOL Is the kitchen all you hoped it would be?

well, Ghost! Golly Gosh Ghost! You are still stalking? :-)

Ghost...lovely to see you floating in again...

"turns the light on" .. (can only do that here in tir, considering our power crisis).

Turns the light off, just to conserve energy ya know.

Turns it on and off, just to check it's working.

It's working Acc .. well, at least in here! Nice to see you fella.

Not up on matters WA what power crisis?

I used to be able to transport myself instantaneously to distant places, create things out of thin air, etc. Y'know - the usual magical stuff.

Now my power is gone. Crisis!
Maybe it was the haircut.

ACC - Haircuts are fine but NEVER leave your hair behind. Or fingernail clippings, etc. They can be used against you, you know? Taking a terrible chance doing that. Never know whose hands they'll end up in. You may know this already, but it's good advice.

PS: My hairdresser thought I was off my rocker when I told him I wanted to take my hair wiht me, but now he understands and accepts it. Plus I don't care what people think. If you know your barber/hairdressser and trust them implicitly, then I guess it's okay. But someone practicing the dark arts needs only a couple strands of hair or a couple of nail clippings to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting person. I have never practiced the dark arts but have met people who do, the only solace is what they cast comes back on them three times. If this seems like utter nonsense, then forgive me for wasting posting space.

Ask's ACC's forgiveness for rambling on so about a subject he probably knows very well....that will teach me to babble on late at night.

Major gas breakage up north, luddie. We are all on conservation limits as far as lights and heating here. I work in a building with 1300 people and we haven't had aircon for about 4 weeks! (Welcome to the Third World - you'd think they might keep some spare parts???)

hey Acc, sir ... updated my email address in my profile, but it doesn't seem to show on my handle link .. what's the go?

Lacie is back! How ya been mate? Loooong time no chat....pop me a line via email or at my website *h*

*Add's Lacie's query to the post-it with Shaman's*
I'll get on that today.

*Waves a duster about* *coughs* *sneezes*

Thank you Acc - you're a sweetheart!

:-) .. me thinks Acc the Man is tooo busy in the other land!! We shall see ...........

Perhaps he's lost himself in SL or transported himself away somewhere.....
*coughs, sneezes and chokes from all the dust in here"....whereforth art thou Acc?

Nope! :)
Later today, a crack team of technologists (that would be me) will don important-looking paramilitary gear, jump into a futuristic jeep thingie and head into the wilds of those queries.

Tries to picture Acc in important looking paramilitary gear and a futuristic jeep thingy...what an image...are you planning to do this is SL or RL she wonders?

Decides he probably looks pretty dashing and cuts a fine figure.....

Shaman's query was easy (well, provided the appropriate futuristic gear is worn).

Lacie - I have to return to base and select a suitable hat before I fix that one!

*pissing self laughing!*

Leaves a duster for Lacie to use, lest ACC loses himself in the Hat Room

Wonders what headgear is appropriate for Lacie's query...do tell oh exalted one....

One of those bush hats, with the bits of string dangling from the brim, but with microchips on the ends of them.

microchips, smicrochips ... you need traditional CORKS! I promise to consume the contents and save the corks for you, Acc.
Still .. one would think The Lord of the Hats could fix an email link ......

Lord of the Hats - *LOL* - suresly you can find something more dashing than a hat with string thingys hanging down with microchips on them?
Then again, when one wades through the jungle of cyberspace, I suppose it is appropriate.....

Lacie. Can you drop me an email
- confirming your email
- because the email that I thought was your email
-- has email :)

Yes, that hat would defintely appropriate for roaming the jungles of cyberspace. Pray tell oh exalted one, what hat do you wear to read emails?
(would love to peek into that hat room one day)

Wonders what hat and gear you are wearing today -sure would love to get a peek into that room - the one with the hats and futuristic & other gear?
:)

email sent, Exalted Hatted one.

I wonder how Luddie is going in Spain! Lucky bugga!

Acc - question for you - what is the music that plays on the Tir main pages and who plays it? I think it is lovely and would like to try to find it, if I can. Thank you so much!

Acc - another question - someone has been logging in asking for the gaelic phrase for "a thin place" - says cannot find in searchs on net...can you translate....see chat log. Thanks! Wouldnt mind knowing that myself

I know I've heard or seen that phrase somewhere, but my mind is not recalling it....Thank you Acc = that's two questions I've now asked...awaiting your replies Oh Exalted One...

1) The Music

The music is a one-off.
A friend recorded it for me way back when Tir started.
It's a sort of improvisation on "The Foggy Dew".

Unless someone has ripped it off, it's only available on this site.


2) Thin Places

The literal translation of "thin place" would be "caol �it". I don't particularly recall that or a similar Irish term being used.
It's possible that there is a proper Irish phrase that got translated into English as "thin place".
But I think that "caol �it" would be OK.

There are a lot of references to thin places on the Net - including the index page of the T�r :)

Acc - sorry but could you repeat that - caol T..(upside down question mark 1/2 it) - that just doesnt make any sense to me that second word. I did do a search on the net...could not find the Irish word/words for it..just a lot of religious references with no Irish gaelic for "thin places". And the gaelic sites I found were of course in gaelic, which I dont speak or read - *S*. Thanks.

regards the music...ah - a one off - okay...doubt it's been ripped off...but the music is lovely...your friend is very talented.

PS: I explored the Theme links on Tir's index page, couldnt find anything there either, unless I'm mising something...a lot of the gaelic sites of course are in gaelic...and we have no gaelic schools/classes locally - I checked ages ago because I wanted to learn...the only one is in far eastern Canada in the maritime provinces - about 4000-5000 miles away! Thanks for your patience exalted genius one.

Acc - please see post you posted in response to my posts about Music and Thin Places...one word seems to be mistyped? Doesnt make sense. Thank you for your patience and help, Exalted Genius Innkeeper. (PS: maybe dashing paramility gear would help, huh? please? will ya?)

Without the accenting, it would be "caol ait"
There is an accent on the "a" - a fada - which gives it a longer ("fada" "long") sound like in "awe"

'Kwaol aw-it'


The vowels can be given a fada when typing by CTRL-ALT- or CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-
This may only work for PCs set up for European character sets.

*Why did I not notice the mess in that post above????*

caol áit

Acc - Thank you thank you thank you so very much...now it is clear - I dont think we can do that on our computers (takes all the fun away!)
You help is extremely appreciated! Have a great day (night?)

You really are a sweet, delightful, helpful Innkeeper and person...:)

ELLIE - the answer you seek is in the posts above, the last 10 actually....our delightful, exalted Innkeeper translated the phrase for you. A "thin place" as I understand it is a place where the real world and the other world/another world meet. Hope this helps. Future questions would have a better chance of being answered if posted on the message board. Hope this is helpful to you. Come chat sometime, you will meet exceptionally nice people.

Holiday snaps from Luddie??

Well, friends, do I have news!

I have just accepted a position working in the remote North of Western Australia!

In 6 weeks I am moving to Fitzroy Crossing, located in the netral Kimberley region. (on googal maps, search Fitzroy Crossing)

I will be working within the indigenous community, providing health services. Link here http://www.nindilingarri.org.au/index.htm

Check out the weather!!
http://www.abc.net.au/kimberley/news/weather.htm?section=forecast&weathertown=Fitzroy%20Crossing&weatherpostcode=6765
... and this is winter!!

LACIE: Congratulations on your new position! That's quite a move you are making but exciting too, to be starting something new in a new area. I checked out part of the first website...will explore further later as well as the second....dont tell me - killer heat right? Better pack your air conditioner for sure! Hope you will keep us posted on all the exciting details.

Wow! Lacie's going walkabout.

Which of the partners will you be working for?

Thanks, Shaman .. the heat will be a killer! They assure me my house and working environment will be well airconditioned!! :-)
I am going walkabout, Acc ... exactly that. I will be working for the Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service. This org is NFP run by the indigenous elders.
This is certainly outside my comfort zone! The contract is signed, I have seen my house on googles street scape thingy, they have booked my flights!!!!
Where's my box??? Can I jump back in??? LOL

Lacie -Maybe Acc can lend you one of his bush hats with string thingys dangling down...we should start a new post: Lacie's Walkabout. And no, no jumping back in the box for you! But you can catch flights back to civilzation now and then!

Excellent!
Life is to be lived.
Comfort zones are temporary illusions.

Congratulations Lacie, as Shaman said, quite a move and a very interesting one. Take care and God bless *s*

Wow! with the bank's surf control on, I was yet able to manage in here, *sheeesh* miss da place a LOT ! ! !

and WE miss you Rolan!! *hugs!* Hope all is well!!

and Lacie!! Congratulations on the new adventure!! Awesome! I seem to Manage to miss you (and everyone else too) here all the time.... *mutters something about working too many hours at the hooch-mart*.... vacation in 39 days--but who's counting....*lol*

Good for you Lacie! May you meet with success every step of the way. I agree with Acckers on the comfort zone bit! You go, girl! :)

Rolan - SO great to see you back here, hope you'll be coming back more often...you have been missed my friend!

Thank you Shaman, Indie, yes, everything is fine and well thank you all. And actually I'll try to be around as much as I can since the Surf Control doesn't block Tir *s*. Love ya !

Wonders if Lacie is in the outback yet...yoohoo Lacie...where are you?!?!

its almost like Old Times with Shaman,indigo,Lacie and Rolan popping into the Inn, only problem is I never seem to be here at the same time as you lotbut I can only hope that all our paths will cross some time in the future

Lacie - if you're out there, drop us all a message and let us know how you're doing and what it's like in your new home. We'd love to hear all about it!

Misses reading Lacie's posts....wish she'd hurry up and come back...must be busy unpacking and going walkabout in the outback....

Hello all. Well, it is a busy time! Packing boxes and organising my life to move such a long way.
All the things I am taking with me will be picked up this Thursday, including my brand new push bike! (yes, laugh as you might, I have taken to the bike tracks in the last 6 months or so).
It has been very difficult to work out what to take and what to leave in storage. The humidity up in the Kimberley plays havoc with furniture, so most things stay in storage and one uses the furniture supplied in the house provided. I have, though, packed cushions etc ... must have some of my own things around me. AND .. my computer chair! I cant live without it.
I leave Perth at 06:30 on the 20th of September. Three weeks and 4 days. But, who's counting?
Handover at work has not even begun! The 'goodbye lunches' have, though! :-)
The funniest thing ... I arrive in Broome at 08:30 and the Nutritionalist from the Org I am working for will be picking me up, taking me shopping and then driving me the 4 hours to Fitzroy Crossing. Can you imagine going food shopping with a Nutritionalist???? "is that a wise choice?'" ... LOL
Fitzroy Crossing has the new feature of google maps activated (just who would believe that??). Go to Fitzroy Crossing Western Australia, zoom in and activate 'street view'. I will be living in MacDonald Way.
In the last week, the day time max temp in Fitzroy has jumped from about 29C to 35C ... hope that air con is in top gear!!
I will try and keep you posted.

Just in case I haven't before, here is the Org I will be working for ...

http://www.nindilingarri.org.au/index.htm

Lacie, miss you big time!

I miss you too, Rolan! I do hope your life is unfolding as you hope and your family is happy and safe.
love
lace

Lacie - so great to catch up on your news..dont you just hate packing & having to decide what to take and what to leave behind? Tis a grand adventure you are embarking on...looking forward to hearing what it's like when you finally get there and get settled in. Hope to catch you in chat one of these days.

*pictures Lacie's silent pout, as she feels compelled to return her 'unwise' choices to the shelves under the gaze of her friend the nutritionalist, and go with the low fat, low sugar, low salt, high fibre, no preservatives, no artificial colouring, organic, free range, low alcohol, range...*LOL*

Brave girl! The rewards, I'm sure, will be many!

All boxes trucked off on their merry way to Fitzroy Crossing .. It's just me, my laptop and some clothes for the next three weeks.
Here is a nice link for you to check out ..

http://www.mangkaja.com/index.html

If I'm not mistaken, what you're doing is more of a mission than a job...

Wow - you pack fast Lacie! I'd still be dithering over what to take and what to leave. Or I'd just take it all! Been writing down the links you leave so I can check them out thoroughly. 21 sleeps till you are in your new home...

www.mangkaja was great to see, Lace! Vibrant works! Great to see they have decent prices listed! I just hope the artists get a fair whack of that! I read an article around a year ago about how many Australian Aborigine artists were not getting paid a fair price for their arts, and in many cases were being ripped off by galleries who took advantage of their naievety.

One of my neighbours here is an Australian Aborigine, and she is producing and selling her traditional dot work with ease right here in the Bay! She does a lot of depictions of the "Dreamtime" pantheon. Incredible detail, and painstaking work!

Thanks for the link. :)

Have a smooth and relaxing countdown to D-Day!

Lacy I wish you all good luck *s* stay safe

Lacie I wish you all good luck *s* stay safe

hate it when that happens *L* *blush*

Hi Rolan. Perhaps a personal mission, but not a Mission in the traditional sense of the word. Gone are our days of 'laying down the rights and wrongs'for our Aboriginals.
I WILL be having fun, too, guys!! :-) The Kimberley is, perhaps, the last inhabited wilderness. There is so much to see and do. Needless to say, there are great distances to travel to see or do anything! LOL (Australia's distances need to be experienced to be understood).
I intend to catch Baramundi for breakfast!! :-)eat grubs and learn all about bush tucker.

Shaman .. I pack with the speed of lightening! Pretty sure there are things that have gone in boxes that I will miss in the next few weeks ... but I will cope.
I am counting the sleeps!

Thank you, Chrisc. Gosh you're cute when you blush!!

I thought you would enjoy that site, Silk.
From my understanding, the artists on that site get everything, and I agree .. terrific to see good prices for the works.
I am really looking forward to interacting with this group and learning lots! Of course, I will not be allowed to paint with dots .. that is reserved for very few people of very few tribes. I will still be able to learn a great deal, though. Maybe my art will take a new direction.

Prays for Mac and all the people of NOL.

Also prays for the safety of Mac and his family and all the people of the Gulf States.

Lacie - sounds like it will be a really neat experience exploring the area. Catching Baramundi would be fun, but eating grubs??? NOT.

Labour Day holiday greetings to all...hope you spend the day having fun!

Lacie!!!!!!!!! OMG what news!!!!!!!
What a fabulous opportunity. I look forward to hearing how it goes.
hugs
sorch

Lacie - Great Links!! Enjoyed them very much. Hope you'll keep adding more as you come across them. So what are you doing with yourself in the time before you leave? Keep us posted on your news and adventures when you get there too!

Lacie - not too many sleeps to go until you leave for your new life, job and adventures! Hope you will keep posting updates to let us all know what it's like and how you are doing. So lovely to hear your news...

Hi sorch! 8 sleeps until I leave.
Shaman, eating, drinkin, eating and drinking ... that's what I am doing.
Saying goodbye to everyone is tough. Actually getting a bit emotional.
Day time temps are at 35 - 37C already in Fitzroy - that, for me, is the scary thing! LOL Everyone else is worried about all the other things ... for me, the heat.
I will keep you posted.

Lace

8 Sleeps! Wow approaching fast! Yes - do all the eating & drinking you can...opportunities may be limited there...very hard to part with friends & loved ones..but you can visit and they can too. And it would be the high heat that fretted me, I just cant take it! That is way too hot for me, and it's only just beginning to get hot there? Oh Boy - better pack dozens of a/c's!!!

3 (or 4?) more sleeps to go - how time flies!! Are you ready? Hope you will keep us posted on your new adventures once settled in, and come back and chat once in a while too.

Returns to keep the light turned on, lest it go dark.

Pops in to keep light on...surely someone has something to post/write about.

Nope!
Nothing!
Nada!!

Athough ....

I did have a pint or two with Indigo last night.
Sorcha was also in the neighbourhood apparently, but was otherwise occupied.

See - you did have something to post after all. Indigo said she was going to meet up with you. How great that she got the chance. Is she stll in your area or off somewhere else now? Too bad Sorcha couldnt be there too.

Keeps light on, wishes someone, anyone, would post something here too

October 1st and sunny and warm (26 degrees C). No doubt the rains will start any day and last for months!!! Just keeping the light on.

That will teach me to brag about the weather....rain rain rain today and for the next four or five days...fall has arrived and we are in for it now!

Keeping the light turned on. Hey all you Tirnoggians, feel free to write something here, anything at all.

Shaman the light can be turned off durning daylight hours. Do you think the Inn keeper is made of money? Turns off the light and exits 9:23 AM Tuesday MST

Pegs - right you are! What was I thinking?!?!?! Lights off during the day to conserve energy and money and one light on in the evening.

This room reminds me of that old joke about the lights being on but nobodies home

Keep the light on at all times, The lamp has been replaced with a low energy consumption lamp so its ok to leave on. In fact when I replaced it I read on the pack that one Cow Fart would do more damage to the earth than leaving the lamp on for 1000 years.
Trust me, I only tell honest lies...

Coming from an electrician, that makes sense I guess. I wondered who figured out that bit about 1 cow fart...someone somewhere probably got a lovely large grant to study that one! *L*
Heck, it's a virtual lightbulb anyways, even if it's a low energy consumption lamp bulb.

Ludd, have to admit that thought crossed my mind too at one point. There's another one, something about the elevator not going all the way up or to the top or something, and no doubt a host of other descriptions..

slipped his moorings they say in north east england

"Not the sharpest knife in the drawer" is one too...

"That guy's a bungalow - nothing upstairs."

"The lights are on, but nobody's home."
;)

INDIGO----Just wanted to say sorry about the death of your father-inlaw,also sorry that you did not get my email when you were over here.
seems like you had a great time here, hope it was a nice day when you went to the Giants causeway because it very impressive there on a good day but not so on a rainy day.

...One ant short of a picnic....

Ludd - Slipped his moorings, that's another used here too. It's fun reading all these, must think of another to add to the lot.

Not the full shilling.

Not the sharpest tack in the lot (or the box)

Trying to remember another phrase, something to do with coconuts...but it is eluding me. There is also "has the brain of gnat" and "one card short of a full deck".

Installs dimmer switch and turns light down low, another energy saver. Yes, I can be handy at times! Hard to believe I know.

*Sneezes* *coughs* from the dust of an unused room....dusts, polishes, sweeps - there! That's much better! Now if someone would actually use the room that would be very nice indeed.

Hellllloooo yes I did visit Cobh and tried to track down Accasbel but we were there on a Monday. Lovely place!!
Had a great time in Ireland annnndddd beautiful weather. Indi we must be the luckiest people to get such beautiful weather..they only had 2 weeks of sunshine.

Hi Sorcha!Ok.. we were there on Tuesday night...so missed ya!!
Had a lovley visit with Acc...sorry we missed each other there by a day!! Rats! We did get SO lucky with the weather... TO A PERSON... everyone commented on the weather the two weeks we were there... only got wet One day up at the Giants Causeway... but watching the sea through that rainstorm more than made up for the getting wet...that was awesome...
What was your favorite place Sorcha?? ok your Two favorite places... I couldn't pick only one either.. *grins* hope to catch you in chat soon.

oooooooohhhh favourite ...tough question...I enjoyed Killarney (visited the National park and Ross castle, stayed in fun hostel, saw a friend play a gig in local pub)and we stayed 4 days there so was probably affected by this.
Galway bay was beautiful too but hey it was all beautiful. Blarney castle, Cobh and its beautiful coloured houses and boats, the ring of Kerry, The cliffs of Mohr. I could go on. Loved every minute of it!! I look forward to talking to you in the tir :)
Thinking of you at this time too *hugs*

OH stop it you two - sooo jealous that I could not go! *L* Seriously, keep talking, want to hear more more more about your trips. You guys are soo lucky!

Sorcha - what fabulous places and sites did you visit on your trip to Ireland? Would love to hear about where you went and what you saw. Did you get a chance to meet up with Accasbel in Cobh? Do tell about your trip, pretty please?

:) all I need is a bit of encouragement.
Well, Blarney castle in Cork (no kissing) and Cobh of course but didnt catch up with his Inn ness. :) Very pretty town though.
Ross castle and the national park in Killarney as well as the Ring of Kerry. (My real name is Kerry so we had plenty to laugh at!!) The Burren (Poulnabrone) in Galway as well as catching up with a cousin. All fabulous!
Insanely narrow roads with rock walls on either side. Patient Irish people on said roads through towns but not on the highway :) Friendly people and great accents, good Irish breakfasts and fantastic Bulmer cider and Murphys. Enough? :)

Sorcha - sounds so wonderful! Anything else come to mind? :) trying to encourage you to tell a little more.

Hopes everybody had fun fun fun on Halloween/Samhain.

*Sneezes* *Coughs* from dust in the unused room, dusts, polishes and cleans and dims the lights until the next person enters - got to have a nice clean room to come into.

Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song, of the chances you missed and the loves that went wrong; if you cant buy a whiskey, spot us a pint, we'll knock it straight back and we'll sing through the night"......etc from The Fables cd "A Time"
www.thefables.com
Just felt like singing a bit...sorry if I was off key.

Acc, Indigo, Rolan, Sorcha Ularu or somebody - does anyone have things to say/tell that can be posted here? Hate to see the room disappear...
Ularu tells me the Irish Gov't has exported their surplus rain to the Canadian West Coast, thanks to negotiations with our Canadian Govt - seems we don't enough rain as it is already! Been pouring for days here - *sigh* - apart from one night of a hail storm with sleet - lovely. On the bright side, many parts of BC is getting snow - kind of early, but there ya go. Winter is coming. Next thing ya know it'll be Christmas!

Well we are on the way to Summer and its still raining here. But I did get 9 days of sunshine in Ireland and mostly sun for the rest of our holiday in Europe. So maybe Ive had my share for this season.

Sorcha - well at least your summer is approaching, and I am sure you will be having lovely warm, if not hot, weather soon enough. Alas ours is past - sob, weep, wail, etc. Maybe if you get a surplus of good weather you can send some over.

Blessings & Greetings to all on this Remembrance Day / Veterans Day....wonders if we will ever reach a point of total peace with no more wars.

Dusts the unused room, leaves vase of flowers on table to cheer the place up...so it looks nice for the next person who enters...dims lights to save energy.

Leaves some scented candles (unlit) around the room for the next person in to use...shifts flowers to window sill...adds tray of cookies and other goodies to lure somebody/anybody in...

Puts her cat in the room with some toys for a short time (to give myself a break from his antics)....he can make a pest of himself with the next person who pops in...warning, do not attempt to pick him up - he may bite! Maybe he will settle in front of the fire and sleep awhile. Will come back for him in a little bit.

Picks up scattered toys from around the room, gently picks up sleeping kitty from hearth and gets bitten for her efforts, clings to struggling kitty to bring him home...sheesh...cats!

In honour of Silk's B'Day decorates room with streamers, balloons, candles, garlands, flowers, etc. to create a festive mood for all to enjoy. Sets up table with iced champagne, wine, whiskey and assorted brews. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving - takes down B'Day decorations...adds Thanksgiving decorations...horn of plenty, leaves, pumpkins, etc to make the room look nice for Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the U.S.
May your holiday be filled with joy, good food and celebration!

Takes down Thanksgiving decorations...soon it will be Christmas. We'll have to make the room look pretty and festive and put up a tree. Hope that angel keeps out of the eggnog this year and stands up straight!

Dear Acc - can you tell me please how you wish someone, or say, Merry Christmas in Gaelic? How about Happy New Year? Or any other holiday related expressions, when you find the time.

Hi Acc! Techno Idiot here with what may be a silly question. Want to start a new post, but for the life of me I cannot find where to go to start a new post/topic. I know I've done it before, my memory escapes me. Please can you help? Thank you thank you thank you!

Video from Santa for the kiddies - go to MSN Sympatico...search for portablenorthpole then create a video...can create personalized video for a child in your life. I'd start a new Xmas topic but I forget how..

www.northpole.com - a great site if you have children, or grandchildren - so many activities they can participate in on this site...they can email Santa, see the Reindeer Barn, visit the Elf's workshop, sing carols, the possibilities are endless on this site..there are so many links to choose from and so many activities on each link...they will have a ball exploring this site. There is a Santa tracker on Christmas Eve and a space for parents/adults and lots of christmas recipes too! I am sure the little ones in your life will really enjoy this site!

*Groans* hit the mall today to do some shopping for christmas, but it was a madhouse!! Bought cards and fled out the door to come home...gotta find a quiet day to go shop for pressies..and for pressies to put under Tir's tree for my dear friends here

Snow snow snow and more coming, windchill, hurricane force winds...what a lovely winter it is starting out to be! Got any winter tales to tell or to commiserate?

Leaves platters of cookies, tarts and decorated small cakes on bar counter for all who pass by...BUT if you dont put an ornament on the tree, you cant have one!! How's that for an incentive?

*hangs a little castle on the tree... Irish of course... and puts a wee light through the hole in the bottom... allowing the light to glow through the windows of the castle... *.... YEAH! grabs a Russian tea cake off the platter to munch... flops down into the comfy chair to gaze at the lovely tree that's shaping up...

Hangs a little crystal or blown glass tree from a limb close to lights so it sparkles....grabs mince tarts and cookies and shuffles off through the snow home....

Places a tiny cat and a tiny dog amongst the animals in the manger Rolan set up. Hey - what's a manger without a manger cat and manger dog????

Hello to you all. 3 months now I have been in Fitzroy .... what a challenge! And I am loving it.
I hope you are all well, happy and have had an amazing Christmastime.

xx
lacie

Me thinks about sending a crate of wellies and rain gear to Oz.
Those videos in your blog are a bit mind-blowing Lacie!! And people think that Ireland gets damp at times. Strewth!!

Ditto that Acc...those videos WERE mind blowing, never seen anything like it in my life!

LOL .. gotta say, the wellies and rain coat would be welcomed! Can you believe I didn't bring any with me??
Hasn't rained for 48 hour now. Sun is back out and it is steaming. Most of the instant oceans have subsided, but the ground is water logged, so at the next rain, it will just happen even faster!
The frogs have quietened down some. The shock of it, is all that mating and they didn't even have time to know each other's name!
(I must be getting old!)
Just a hint for what will come ... the Fitzroy River can rise and flood 17 metres!!!! Can't wait to take those pictures.

... a secret ...sshhh .. I went A over T in MY OWN DRIVEWAY! The mud was like quicksand ... no one had a camera, thank the Great Lord!! :-)

Oh I hate that when it happens...you cant pick yourself up quickly enough and hope to god no one saw or had a camera!
17 metres? Good grief Lacie you will be floating away in no time! Maybe we should send a kayak or inflatable zodiac too? Oars or engine?

Engine, please. Oars sounds like tooooo much effort.
Although, kayaking on Gieke Gorge was interesting! Have only taken baby kayak paddles (once). Can't go again now until the Wet Season is over - too much risk of a wall of water flooding down the river. The risk of coming out of the kayak is one thing, trusting that all the crocodiles are "just freshwater crocs" is another!!
There are pictures of the river being so high the locals are fishing in the "supermarket" (grand name for a little store) carpark AND catching Barramundi!!!!
I CAN'T WAIT to see the full effects of the wet season. (I am insure for flood, and nearly everything I own in down south in storage!!).

(Clever Acc ... my email address is now current and valid!! THANK YOU)

Lacie - wondering how the rainy season is going so far? Are you boating to work or able to drive or walk? Hope you had a great New Year's Eve - and hope 2009 is an awesome year for you!

Hi Shaman. "The Wet" is continuing, although FX (Fitzroy Crossing) has not had another deluge of the magnitude experienced on Boxing Day (that's what we call day after Christmas). (I don't think I will ever forget that day!! :-) )
The Fitzroy River is fed from all over The Kimberley region, so the rain doesn't actually need to fall here for us to be flooded.
I have just come back to FX from being in Broome on business for 2 days. HUMID!!! Although, staying at The Frangipani was OK :-) www.thefrangipani.com.au . Each time I travel around for work I try and stay in a different place. The Frangipani has AN OUTSIDE SHOWER for each unit! So amazingly wonderful!!
How's things going with you, Shaman? I am really curious to know how you are feeling and how life is panning out for you.

The Frangipani sounds fanastic! There is a flower by that name, no? Think they make leis out of them in Hawaii, heavenly fragrance. Outdoor showers are wonderful! There is a place in the caribbean that has those too, on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands..Bitter End Yacht Club & Resort. Actually probably more than one resort but only one i've been to that has them. I am faring okay and life is pretty good. Will email sometime with updates. Nice that you get to travel around for work and see other places. Really like your blog, such an interesting area.

Actually we are expecting a wee bit of flooding here in the next few days. After a record snowfall for past month and a bit (worst in more than 40 years, almost 100 or so cm I think they said) we are now expecting up to 150 mm of rain - how lovely! They ran out of places to put the snow so started dumping it into the ocean! Now "they" say the drains and catchment basins are all blocked so expect rivers on the roads and lakes at intersections. No frogs though. (Wonders where our frogs go in winter?)

If interested check out www.cbc.ca/bc - partway down page is winter photo gallery, although the pics dont really reflect the amount of snow we got they are pretty, and no. 14 shows downtown Vancouver and the Coast Mountains beautifully! If unsuccessful at cbc.ca/bc try www.cbc.ca and search and go to B.C.

Lacie, speaking of your Blog, I had it written down so I could go now and then to catch up...now god help me I've lost the paper. I thought it was somewhere in here, but cant find it. Can you post it again? Please? Thanks

Lacie - Found it! Now it's in a safe place, never to be lost again (famous last words eh?)

Shaman those pictures are AMAZING! I am sure it is better to look at than live with, though. Will the expected rain turn all that snow to a river of water? How on earth can a city/town cope with all that water all at once? The rain, plus the melted snow - and the ground frozen, so not able to soak anything up?
*re-wraps the zodiac, engine and gum boots* - think you are going to need these Shaman!!
How snowed in are you, yourself? Any pics of your own surroundings? Use my email address link, if you have some!!
Amazing, isn't it? I am sweltering in plus 40C and you are experiencing the whole 'brass monkey' thing.

Lacie - dont know but we will have to cope with it somehow, it will be messy, but the city says they "have a plan". Time to get the wellies (or better yet hip waders) out. No need for zodiacs yet. Shhh..secret, last week when it was snowing heavily and piling up fast, had to go to store. Coming back walking on unshoveled sidewalks (grr folks who dont shovel), was trying to walk in the footprints of others who'd passed before, stepped on icy patch and went A over T right into a snowbank, which fortunately was soft and fluffy and like landing on a pillow. It was humiliating, as there were people nearby who insisted on pulling me back up -only my pride was hurt though. And I was covered in snow to the point that I looked a bit like walking snowman. My area looks the same as the pics but with a bit more snow. I am only 20 mins from downtown. That pic of downtown is of the West End, a residential area on English Bay next to a 1000 acre park. Lived there for many many years. City itself is further right, cant see it in that shot. It was beautiful before, all fluffy and pretty and white now its turning to mush and slush - ick! And what we get is nothing compared to what they get in the rest of Canada. You havent lived till you've experienced one of our winters I tell ya - *LOL*.

Some other sites that may be of interest are as follows:

1) www.tourismvancouver.com - on home page pic at top keeps changing, view ecards, take virtual tours etc, shows whats its normally like here. (Sooo looking forward to Spring/Summer)

2) www.helloBC.com - features BC, and the other regions of the province as well as Vancouver and Victoria (our region called Vancouver Coast & Mountains)

3) www.bcmag.ca - endless options to explore on this site

4) www.bc150.ca - home page then can explore other pages/ This "year of celebration" is over now.

If you have any links to Aus. to share please do!

Gawd I am such a ditz at times - *L* Didnt realize there were 60 pics on that winter photo gallery site at cbc.ca/bc. No. 30 shows the city better, no. 55 shows Sunset Beach, I lived in a highrise right across from that for 25+ yrs. Explored some of the other photo galleries too ad they were fun to look at, didnt realize they had so many photo galleries on that site! And no, I did not take any pics myself but now I am wishing I had. Well, gotta go dig out the wellies and hip waders out of the closet. Take care and when you are sweltering hot there just imagine you are here, maybe it will help a bit. Trade ya!

Lacie & anyone else interested - that resort I stayed in the the British Virgin Islands on Virgin Gorda is called Bitter End Yacht Club (& Rsort)...website is www.beyc.com and is worth checking out. Please note rates are PER ROOM, not per person, and include everything you could want short of charters. They have lots of great activities, day trips, beach barbeques, dances, meals, you name it...check it out...it is a slice of paradise on earth, especially for sailing buffs. Also included in some packages are a free sailing lesson, snorkeling, intro to scuba and use of the resorts small boats. But you can read all about it yourself. Because the rates are PER ROOM and not per person, if you share costs with another person it works out to be a great deal! I would dearly love to go back.

Two other fabulous places I went to in the Caribbean were Anguilla (lovely unspoiled underdeveloped) and St. Bart's. In Anguilla (British West Indies) I stayed at La Sirena, great deals and beautiful empty beaches that stretch forever, cultural entertainment shows each week with barbequed lobsters, fantastic food, great local places and beach bars, etc. and the friendliest people I have ever met. Bit odd though, no street names (everything is by Bay, ie Meads Bay, Rendevous Bay, etc), no street lighting, two traffic lights in the town (one still broken to this day) and two police officers. Saw very ancient church that was beautiful, and other historical sites. In the French West Indies - St. Barts - I stayed at Hotel Manapany. Tiny island but oh so chic and pretty. Best to visit this island just before High Season starts or it will break the bank, prior to that fantastic deals on packages. Both have wonderful package deals depending on what season you go in. Worth checking out.

Websites for above resorts:

www.beyc.com - Bitter End Yacht Club (& Resort)
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Isles

www.sirenaresort.com - website for La Sirena which
is located in Anguilla in
British West Indies

www.st.barths.com Hotel Manapany is now known
as la-banane

st.barths.com/la-banane should connect you

Other nice hotels in St Bart's on St. Jean's Beach
are ilets-de-plage, villagestjeanhotel.com and guanahani-hotel.

Tourism St. Barth's or Tourisme St. Barth's or Tourism St. Barthelemy will show all the resorts, but the best ones (without breaking the bank) are on Plage St. Jean (St. Jean's Beach), which is also cooler and breezier than other parts of the island. Have fun exploring. God I'm dying to go back there. Prices are in french francs...so some calculations required, or just email for rates in other currencies. Each has a contact us option. Shoulder seasons are best for visiting St. Barts (just before high season) as you will get the best rates. Ditto Anguilla. But all the action happens in High Season, and you will pay extra then. Bitter End has Admiral's Season or Packages where they have sail boat races and regattas, etc. - great for avid sailors.

Got favourite vacation places/hideaways/deals? Share them with us, I know I'd like to check them out and so would others who come here.

Lacie - My Bad! Frommer's Guides set me straight. La Banane looks similar to Le Manapany which still exists on Anse de Cayes. Been a few years since I've been there so it was confusing. Two ways to find the website are:

www.lemanapany.com

or do search for Le Manapany, you will find this site: www.stbarth.com/hotels/Manapany/home and this is the site that will take you to Le Manapany.

This is a great place to stay and the people are really nice and helpful. Right now is High Season but they have good packages available in shoulder seasons (just before High at good rates - you need to request info for that) Rates in French Francs of course, but you can contact them direct from their website for other currencies.

You can tell winter is getting to me, dreaming of caribbean islands, sugar white sand and multi coloured clean oceans...*sigh* - killer humidity though.

WOW! I will never get any work done if I check out all this info!! :-) Is this how you keep busy when locked away in your winter Shaman? LOL
I took a look at the news site you sent through. Seems like the plan they have isn't working too well.

Hangs head, cabin fever does that to a person. The sites are meant to be checked out over a period of time, not all at once - *L*. Just jot down & look later when you have spare time. No, the plan is not working.

Lacie - get this! Latest "plan" yesterday on late news was asking citizens to get out and shovel out the city's catch basins & drains...you can imagine how well that is going over! NOT! Stupid politicians. They are going to have to come up with another plan because that one is not going to happen. That is what the City Dept of Works & Engineering is for.

What a mess!! I hope you are safe and not having to swim to the mail box. I really can not imagine having to go about my daily business with such turmoil!
Still, makes for interesting reading from this distance. :-)

Hi Lacie! Have to agree with you, does make for interesting reading. I am safe, my area okay, but some areas now declaring state of emergency due to major flooding, being evacuated & getting around in zodiacs & inflatable rafts! What a mess. Wont forget this winter for long time! Forecast this a.m. was mixed snow & rain to come, temp dropping - *wails*

Hi Lacie - just wondering how you are and how things are going in your area? Things are slowly getting back to normal in the city, but the Fraser Valley and other lowlying outlying areas are having major flooding, initial claims in $40 Million range and expected to at least triple. SO glad I dont live out there. Only 1-2 hours from here, but that's our "bread basket" area where a great many of our fruit & veggie farms, dairies, poultry breeders etc are located. More avalanches, both on local mountains and others around the province - glad I gave up skiing some time ago. Alas too many people have died in them. Also mudslides happening all over, but not in Vancouver proper. We just have roads eroding and huge potholes appearing from the water. Surprising amount of snow still on the ground. Apart from that everything in Vancouver proper is fine. Finally escaped and got out over a period of days to visit friends, have dinners and/or lunches with friends - woo hoo - so great to get out and back to a normal life again. No more cabin fever! How's about you - what have you been up to?

Keeps the light turned on...

Congrats to all my U.S. friends on the inaugaration and swearing in of your new President! His enthusiam, energy and "can do" attitude is infectious and I wish him much luck with the issues he has to tackle.

High Shaman. Doing fine here ... more rain and the weather is cooler today. I have been away - down at home for a family gathering to celebrate the life our brother in-law, who passed away last Tuesday.
Very busy as usual ... work, study, study and more study!!
It is a long weekend here, for Australia Day on te 26th January. A group of us are taking a picnic breakfast down to the River (Donkey Crossing, if we can get through) to celebrate!
I hope your weather has improved.

Lacie - A very happy Australia Day to you! Picnics are wonderful, hope you can get through to the River, what a lovely spot for a picnic. Everything is fine here, same old same old. Typan wrote me about your brother in law - very sorry to hear the news. What are you studying? Gee I'd love to go on a picnic - another month or so and we will start to have lovely spring weather, a good time for a picnic, one of my very favourite things to do! Take care! Will write you an email one of these days.

lACIE - WE HAVE CANADA DAY HERE WHICH IS A HOLIDAY BUT IT'S NOT TILL SUMMER. BIG FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN THE CITY THAT ARE ALL FREE. PLUS FIREWORKS. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY. WE ALSO HAVE ROBERT BURNS DAY ON THE 25th WHERE YOU CAN FEAST ON OR MAKE A HAGGIS, OR GO OUT FOR DINNNER FOR SAME. CHINESE NEW YEAR ON THE 26th - BIG PARADE FOR THAT HOLIDAY, VERY COLOURFUL. THEN NOTHING TILL EASTER - NEED A HOLIDAY IN BETWEEN. PARDON ALL IRISH - THERE IS ST. PATRICKS DAY, AND WE CELEBRATE THAT BY CELEBRATING 'CELTIC WEEK' WHERE A MAJOR DOWNTOWN STREET IS CLOSED FOR A WEEK AND THEY HAVE OUTDOOR STAGES SET UP FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT DAY AND EVENING, BOOTHS TO BUY THINGS AND FOOD. AND OF COURSE ALL THE PUBS AND BARS PARTICIPATE TO - IT CELEBRATES ALL THE GAELIC CULTURES IN ONE WEEK. IT'S A LOT OF FUN. WELL TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GOOD LONG WEEKEND.

Pops in to keep the light turned on, but uses dimmer switch to turn the lights down low.

Gee the light almost went out! Cant have that happen. If anybody's curious and would like to check out a neat site go to the following:
www.tourismtofino.com - if that one doesnt work try www.tofinotourism.com. It's a beautiful area on Vancouver Island facing the open Pacific Ocean. Amazing storms and waves in winter, peaceful calm waters in summer and beaches that stretch for miles dotted by tiny towns like Bamfield, Tofino, Ucluelet, etc. Great surfing beaches too. Good kayaking in summer and sailing, but you would not want to be in a boat out in those waters in winter. Winter storm packages very popular - come complete with wellies and rain gear. And lots of sea life to see beginning in April - Orcas (Killer Whales), Pacific Grey Whales, Dolphins, Seals, Sea Otters. Natural hot springs. Pretty pretty place. The tiny towns are all pretty and each has it's own charms. I love Bamfield, but I like them all a lot.

This one is for all the sailing fanatics out there, looking for a warm sunny harbour to play and vacation in: www.beyc.com (Bitter End Yacht Club) The little paradise is located on the far end of Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands. Yacht club, resort, meals and a lot of activities included, and prices per room, not per person. Lots of day trips available too, and if you dont take your own boat, they have boats available to use - small sailboats and powerboats.
Or if you have the $$$ yachts too.

Wonders where all the "posters" have gone...surely someone has something so say, post or otherwise share

Shaman! Virgin Gorda??? My sis in law is talking about going there next winter! I'll have to beg your phone # and call you to talk to you about it!! She wants us to come too...
*grins*

Ah tis a fabulous place Indie - you dont want to miss going there. And if you can, stay at the Bitter End Yacht Club - it is fantastic!! It's a beautiful hotel/resort as well as a yacht club for sailors exploring the caribbean. So many things are included in their packages, the rooms are lovely (I stayed in one of the hillside bungalows - they actually drive you up the hill in little golf cart like things to save you the walk) Their day trips are fantastic, you have the use of so many things for free if you book one of their packages, they will even pack you a lovely picnic and take to you a remote private island for however long you want and pick you up after! Paradise!

Oh No! Just when you think winter's done and Spring is approaching more snow is forecast for next few days! Thought we were over all that! Prays it's all a mistake. *WAILS*

Daizysprite makes excellent cookies by the way, she left a plate of them in the Inn, however when you eat them you glow from sprite dust she sprinkled all over them and the Inn. Who needs to turn the lights on when you glow so much? *L*

Oh Oh - not only am I glowing, but I am sparkling from sprite dust and starting to flitter too! What DID you put in those cookies? (Hope you make more for Valentines Day!)

Prays for the safety of the residents of Victoria area in Australia during the awful firestorms taking place there, feels sick at the thought that some of the fires were deliberately set.

AHA - Indigo has a birthday coming up! Starts getting the decorations ready to make the inn festive for her party, and orders cases of wine and champagne and other things to make cocktails; orders cake; orders goodies from caterers. Hope everybody pitches in to help, or at least drops by to help celebrate!

Shushhhhhhh Shaman!!! I don't Need any more ever-loving birthdays...!!!!!
No one wants to see all those candles melting the icing on the cake...*lol*
...I AM in for a bit of bubbly though..*winks*
and Thanks for THAT!!!

Okay - only 1 Candle on the Cake, and lots of bubbly for us...any anyone else who cares to drop by and celebrate...remember, you can go backwards now each year!

glad you only went with the one candle...we would have had to take up a donation to keep the fire dept. on standby if you'd a lit all the other candles...*lolol*
emmmm bubbles....translate to 'Champers'....I can hardly wait to have some!

You're not going to be in Florida on your birthday are you? That would be great for you, but would mean no party with you being absent.
Well we cant pay the fire dept to standby, god knows what they'd charge! That's why I have NO candles on my cake anymore! *LOL* Someone once jokingly said to me on one of my last birthdays "oh, it's your cake! For a moment there I thought Rome was burning again" - cheeky bugger. *LOL*

Nope Shaman, celebrating right here in COLD Minnesota/Wisconsin...... THEN off to Florida the end of next week... (I've already started packing... found my Baseballs caps, and my Sunscreen!! )

Just to rub it in it was a balmy 12-13 degrees C. today and a brilliant sunny day! And I saw my first spring flowers poking out of the ground - crocuses no doubt. *RUNS*..................

*squawks a loud AWHHHHHHH!!!!
Noooooooo...Crocuses!???? *SIGHS....................dang...I'm SO READY for spring....
0 Farhenheit here tonight and a raw wind from the NW....
*shivers....

Phew, thought you were going to whap me with a snowball....take heart - spring WILL come and you ARE going to Florida. *Shivers* at thought of your weather.

Wishes Indie bon voyage and a fantabulous trip to Florida - wish I was there too! Have a margarita or dacquiri for me, okay?

Keeps the light turned on, albeit dimmed

Twins Win!! Having a great time! Got out of minnesota just at 8 " of snow came in... I giggled alot yesterday when I got off the plane to 80 and no clouds... GREEN grass and the smell of salt in the air.... It's awesome here...

So happy to hear you're having a great time! So what else have you been doing in sunny Florida Indie? Been to the beach yet?

Just read your posts in Tir. God, it's been ages since I've spent a day out on the water on a boat, and I miss it so much! There was a time when I was out almost daily, having the use of my parents boat. *sighs* Glad you had a great time sailing and seeing the dolphins, which are so much fun to watch and so playful.

Im dying to get out in me little boat and fish again...will this winter never end...? *L

Amen to that Celt! I really miss the peace of being on the water and fishing. Luckily where I live you can go out year round, although tis a bit chilly in the winter. But we dont get the huge snow dumps you do - thank god for that. We get snow, but not like the prairies, midwest or east. By the way may I saw how nice it is to see you popping back into Tir. You have been missed by many. Come back more often why dont you?

I was going to say something trite about having lovely weather here in the southwest corner of WA until I remembered the horrible fires over East and then I felt a bit silly.
PS we are having lovely weather

Lucky lucky lucky having lovely weather. We did too for a bit, mild sunny Spring days, flowers popping out, cherry trees blooming, etc. Then Friday night we had sleet/snow mixed and today we had several hours of snow - *wails* - wants Spring back! What's new with you Sorcha? You of the loneliest time zone - never get to catch you in Tir!

LOL well nothing new really. Work, family and occasionally getting a bike ride in. I got a new mountain bike for my birthday and am trying to use it regularly but gosh darn it all, the days keep getting filled up and winter is coming. I will have to just get a bit more selfish and organise my time better.
I hope spring comes back soon, :o)

What a nice gift to get for your birthday! Work takes up most of the day, family the rest of it. Better squeeze a few more rides in on the odd day before winter comes and it starts getting miserable. We had another snow blizzard, then the next day dawned sunny and bright and it's been that way since (cross fingers, says prayer). March has come in like a lion, hopefully the lamb part starts really really soon.
Have a great week, one of these days I might even catch you in Tir!

Pops in to keep the light turned on, albeit dimmed. *coughs* *sneezes* from dust of unused room. We have GOT to get a maid in here! In the meantime swishes a duster around, sprays an essential oil concoction that I made myself to freshen the air. Wonders whatever happened to Housemouse anyways? Probably moved on to another inn.

The old Tir is pretty much dead, Shaman, as you can see. Only a few of us left who even bother to check in anymore...*sigh* I'm glad that Acc has left it up for old times' sake...there are a lot of great old postings from past ten years

If you have enough PC power to not fry your motherboard, everyone's over in Second Life Tir

Hey Celt...Happy B-day to YOU TOO in a couple of days... *smiles*...Hope you have a GREAT day!!!!

Hi Celt - I know, it's sad isnt it? Sure isnt what it used to be. Wishes with all her heart and keeps hoping people will start coming back. Re S.L. - I didnt think I had the right graphics card (NVDIA?) but turns out I do have it! (Hey I'm not the Techno Idiot of Tir for nothing ya know)! *L* I dont know if I have the power though. But I do want to give it a go one of these days and see what it's like.

Celt - by the way isnt your birthday coming up in a few more sleeps? Woo hoo! Promise to drop into the Inn if you can. Any special plans?

Not a bad idea, if me fried old brain can remember to stop in that night. Thanks fer the Bday wishes folks! *g*

Hopefully it can remember, but you will probably be busy with other plans that day. Be nice to have a chat with you again.

Maybe the old Tir is just resting.
It's rested in the past, although the current sleepy-time is running for longer than previous sleepy-times.
Anyone who finds this place finds it by accident.

Perhaps you are right Acc. At least some of us still come here because we love it so!

Perhaps when people start coming out of winter hibernation, they will start drifting back. There have been a few new names popping in, but alas, they are having trouble catching someone for chat. Some still persist though, good sign. maybe they will tell others.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE! RAISES A PINT TO ST. PATRICK

I accidentally stubbed my toe on the nOg button and ended up in here! For some odd reason my TP wont work on the green page, so looks like I'll have to walk back to the Inn....but before I do...just thought I'd say hi and hope you're all well! :)

Happy Belated St Patricks to yez all!

Long lost Silk

Long Lost Silk - where oh where have you been? We've all missed you so!

The best places are often found by accident,including this place. If everything is placed in front of us there is no joy in discovering it.The best roads are the one's we have yet to travel,be they well signed motorways or a boreen with grass up the middle.The fun is trying to get there.

Well said Ularu - I heartily agree! I have most often taken the road least travelled in my life and it's led to wonderful things and sometimes not so wonderful things, but if you dont take them you never know. Roads travelled literally included boreens with grass up the middle and big ruts and roads with signs that said "Bad Road, Dont Take, Scary as H*** - that was a great drive! And not so bad or scary. So I have enjoyed discovering and seeing places and meeting people that most people dont see or meet cause they take the easy road or easy way. Life is for living, for discovery, for adventure and for meeting others off the beaten track. The fun is in the journey and trying to get there. And you are also right about the joy of discovery and the detriments of having everything placed in front of you - too easy; where's the fun in that?

Acc, what say you? Or anyone else who reads the two above postings. Love to hear your views.

Pops in to "keep the light turned on"

Last day of March and what a March it's been! It came in like a lion and is going out like one too! Wish Mother Nature would make up her mind and either decide to be Spring or Winter, keeps switching back and forth so suddenly you can hardly keep up. Feel like saying "Will you make up your mind already!!". *L*

April 1st has come and passed. It snowed today most of the day. Oh Mother Nature, that was a nasty trick. Lots of funny fake headlines and stories in the main newspapers and local community papers and fake "news reports"...made for fun and threw some for a loop as they had very reputable people involved in them, so of course they were seen as totally believable. Nothing like a day of fun, frivolity and throwing people for a loop - *L*.

Peeks in to keep the lights turned on

Doesnt much feel like Spring round here...its &$#!!ng snowing! LOL I oughta be out fishing by now...

Sympathizes with you....we had snow last weekend and week, the Presto! Chango! This weekend it turned sunny and mild enough to wear a light cardigan, temps in the 15-21 C. range - so take heart, there is hope for Spring and mild weather, hopefully very soon, for you.

Easter Bunny here..hippity hopping into this empty room to hide chocolate eggs and candies and yes, chocolate bunnies, into all the little nooks and crannies...careful where you sit! You might sit on an egg! Plenty for all, but you must hunt for and seek them out....hee hee hee....have fun!

Cant resist searching for treats - hee hee - snags some jelly beans and some marshmallow bunnie candies and skips out of the Inn...thanks Easter Bunny!

Hopes everyone had a great Easter, a wonderful dinner and some easter treats too!

*Hugs for Shaman* Easter wishes good Lady! :)

*Hugs* for Silk....a tad late but my computer died Easter Monday and has only resurrected now (oh dear, I am going to pay for that one, I just know it) Easter wishes and blessings to you and yours dear lady.

Pops back in to keep the light burning (Okay...who let the light burn out? Not Silk that's for sure)....geez, be away for a week or ten days and everything falls apart....

Replaces light bulb with new energy efficient bulb, uses lots less power.

Pops in to keep the light going.....

Cherry blossoms fill the room...and no I didnt pick them myself...some twit or vandal hit our cherry trees and snapped a bunch of branches nearly off, left them hanging by a thread....they would have died in a day or so, so I rescued them and put them in vases of water for the Inn and this room. Enjoy!

OOPS! Let the light burn out...my bad! Replaces light bulb with another...these new fangled energy efficient ones sure dont have a long life span!

Brings in armload of colourful tulips and daffodils and rhododendron blossoms and arranges them in vases in this room and the Inn. Tosses out dead chery blossom branches and sweeps up all the petals that dropped onto floor. Sheesh they sure do shed the petals! There! That looks nice and Springy and smells nice too, a soft subtle scent. Adds a few unlit pillar candles here and there and some potted primulas on alternate tables (different colours) to complete the decorating, candles unlit of course. Enjoy!

Ahhhh.... smells really fresh! *smiles!* Thank you Shaman for freshening up the place!

Adds fresh water to flowers and replaces tired droopy flowers with new ones...

Replaces flowers with fresh ones. Leaves some change on the bar for a drink or two for all

maybe we need some plastic or silk ones *w*

Plastic flowers? Dear me, what next?

Celt - congrats on Blackhawks win against the Vancouver Canucks...have a drink on me or two even....hope they go far in the playoffs...they are a very good team and I have always liked them for many years..more than I care to admit actually *L*

My turn to oome in check the lights, tidy up a bit, and do what I do best... keep the tap lines clean and clear... *grins*... *hooks up a tap to the 'home-brew' Enjoy all!... It's an Irish Red Ale....

Well, I tried to pop into chat, and it won't let me in... anyone else havin' issues with that??

Dunno yet, going to try popping in now to chat. Thanks for keeping the light on and thanks for the brew - yummy!

Acc - supreme genious that you are, seems there are problems afoot in Tir chat...can you look into it please pretty please? Perhaps dashing paramilitary gear would be useful. Indie couldnt get in, I got in after two attempts but could only see the last 8 posts as the rest of the page was blank....ghosties in Tir perhaps?

can't get into Chat either.......I do have a signed Confession from Tec that he broke Tir.

Pegs has no such thing! its obvious that Tir was broken as a result of Pegs and Shaman playing around with the light switch.

Someone discovered that the passwords in the Chat login were not being checked.
I'm not sure when that changed, but I fixed it :)

If anyone is now having login problems then drop me an email. It could be that you've been using a password other then the one you last set for Chat, and the glitch just let you in anyway.

Luckily, Nobody has been seriously maimed.

Not Yet anyway Acc... *grins*... I couldn't log in again tonight.. (sunday the 24th) tried several times...

Oops!
Things should either work or not. 'Maybe' isn't normally how sotware systems work. I'll have a look.

Hi Acc, cant log into chat. pretty certain i am using the right password

There was a problem in that the password entered was not actually been checked.
I'm not sure when that changed.
People could have been 'logging in' and supplying a password - but without that password being the one they used to create the account. :(

Now that the board is checking the password again, it's got to be the one on file - not the one people thought was the password *sigh*

So anybody having issues drop me a line and I'll check what they tell me against the details used when the account was created.

Houston, we have a problem.

If you just click on a room and get the user/password login, there seems to be a problem (sometimes?)


However, if you click Members Area on the right and log in from that, all is OK.
Please use that login method for the moment, while I sulk and poke at the room login


Bloody computers!! :(

Thanks Acc for replying so quickly to my e-mail about access to chat.

Yes thanks Acc but still cant get in...you were not wearing the requisite dashing paramilitary gear were you? Please dont sulk, there there it wil be okay...do you need a hug? *Hug* Now don that uniform as I am sure it will make all the difference! Besides you look so dashing in it!
PS: It wouldnt have anything to do with all those bogus chatters who've been signing up lately would it? Just a thought.

*hugs you too*.. even though i haven't Tried to get into chat yet... You deserve it anyway.. *smiles*

Well I got in once today but now I cant get in at all, no matter if I do it regularly or through members area.....fairies or ghosties in Tir? Or evil beasties? Perhaps that dashing paramilitary gear is needed after all.

Well finally got in, but sometimes still have problems getting in....sees Manb had some trouble today too.

Had to re-up, but got in fine *g*

Cross fingers, say prayers if all goes well and I hope sincerely it does, I may be back on line Sunday sometime!

Hi all - just keeping the light on

Stops in just in time to keep the light on and add a vase of flowers...ah summer - here at last!

Yes, I do believe it is finally summer.... and for it nearly being MIDSUMMER Night.... it's been chilly in my neck of the woods....
But finally the flowers are starting to grow, and show off their colors...and the sunsets have been stunning lately! anyone else notice that??

Yes indeed I have - fantastic sunsets and sunrises too...nice to wake up to daylight instead of dark for a change, and longer days. Flowers and blooming trees everywhere - ahhh - heaven! I do believe it is summer, or very nearly summer.

First day of summer is it today or tomorrow? Think it's the 21st. Woohoo!

What a first day of summer we had - cloudy & overcast, sunny breaks and showers in between!

Whoo hoo - 2 big holidays coming up next week - one for us Canadians and one for all my U.S. friends. Inn is being decorated and cake and drinkies will be available, and other goodies, starting July 1st! Hope everybody drops by to help partake in the festivies and celebrations!

Desiree- why dont you come to live chat and chat sometime? You will meet really exceptionally nice people.

Dear Exalted Innkeeper - any chance of you dropping in to the party over the weekend Indigo and I are decorating the Inn (see chat) and catering for? It's in honour of Canada (Dominion) Day July 1st and the U.S. national holiday on July 4th! Drinks and food galore courtesy of the two of us. It would be wonderful to have you drop in and partake of some refreshments! (PS: we will clean up after)

Happy 4th of July holiday to all my U.S. friends! Hope your day was filled with fun, good food, friends & family & fireworks!

Keeps light on

Checks to see light is still on, however, nobody is home...heh heh

Checks the light

Fa la la la la la lah! We should have a Christmas in July party to liven the place up a bit and get folk involved.

....is THAT why I'm humming Christmas Carols today???

YES Indigo it is, I was psychically transferring thoughts of christmas carols to you...obviously you picked up on them! Could be fun if we could get people to actually participate.

Peeks in, yup light is still on....tries twoddling out, nah cant do it...must be a uniquely Typan thing. Waltzes out instead.

Checks the llight, it's on but nobodys home! Typical, heh heh

*Sneezes* from dust in a long empty room, gets out furniture polish and shines everything up, gets out vacuum (forget the broom, too much dust), gives the floor a quick mop, wipes down the bar and leaves a vase of nice summer flowers - there that's better!

Peeks in to check on the light and the room.

Wishes someone would drop in here from time to time...meanwhile keeps the light on, hoping for visitor(s)

Peeks in and checks the light....this is turning into Shaman's room as nobody else is popping in lately or even for a long long time

Hmm this could be a good cat room for Wee Fergus the Madman and Gizmo....nobody else comes in so why not.....considers items to stock the room with..*L* just kidding Acc

Here kitty, kitty, kitty..... *lol*

Wee Fergus the Madman will LOVE hunting for the fuzzy rats stuffed with catnip... and the rattle mice... *giggles*
and the Gizmo?? What's he like to terrorize??

Oh catnip filled mice and rats are the preferred favourites and sometimes tinkle balls and he loves the sproingy spring like toys that look like a coiled spring....he adores those - they are all over the house and he carries them everywhere....he also loves those cardboard scratching "boards" infused with catnip. He'll shred those up in no time. Oh and cat/kitty grass/lawn seed plants, loves chewing and eating those and treaties, got to have a treaties dish...yes we should definitely turn it into the kitty's room!

Hides catnip rats around the room for Wee Fergus and Gizmo to hunt

Keeps the light on...such a pretty room and so unused.

Peeks into room..yup - all is well. Places litter box for kitties to use.

Ambles into room with vases of nicely scented flowers to spruce the room up a bit....there that looks much ncer!

Takes out wilty flowers and replaces with new ones....opens windows to let fresh air in, tidies room by dusting and sweeping. There, clean and fresh.

Checks the room out, tosses out wilty flowers and replaces with new ones. Adds palm tree in corner.

Just popping in

Peeking in to see what shape the room is in and if anything needs doing...tosses out very wilty flowers...too hot today to go pick more. Everything looks fine, nothing to do here.

*waltzes in with a bundle of pink and white gladiolas...which the wind blew over in My flower bed.....* I find a vase and arrange them in it to sit smack-dab in the middle of the bar....
.....I also fill the peanuts bowls...Shaman! have you been schnibbeling at these again??? *grins and winks*.....

Oooo - pretty flowers! And one of my favourites too. Hangs her head and blushes, I confess, I've been snibbeling at them, yes I have. But they are so addictive! Hides in our secet stash place some mixed nuts with cashews and macadamias for next time.

Pops in for a visit....adds fresh water to Indies pretty glads, also deadheads the dying flowers. So many blooms on these ones Indie! Well off I go to find something to do on a rainy windy Saturday - such a huge switch from the weather we've been enjoying...ah well the gardens and grass and trees need it.

Well I know what I'M doing this evening, after running around like a madwoman at the store all day...... Geez.... You'd think people need BEER for Labor Day parties.... *grins*..... My day started off hefting a 16 gal keg into the back of a mini-van, with very little help from the customer....
...... hence.....
I'm soaking in the Champagne hot-tub.....*pours some cheap Champers into the tub, and adds some hot water... reserving a Good bottle of well-chilled Champers to actually inbibe in, within easy reach.....
Places a decorative screen between the tub and the rest of the inn... just in case someone wanders in.....
....slips into the bubbles.... Ahhhhhhhh..... feels SO good on my back.....

....sips the Champers and relaxes.....

Hmm that's odd, I always thought the hot tub was outside in the back so wonders how it got moved into the Inn itself....well as long as you had a good soak but must have taken lots of bottles of champers to fill it up. Plus more to drink too, but only the good stuff to drink, right? After painting all day bet you feel like you need another good long soak to ease those aching muscles. Hope the room turned out nice.

Just popping in to check things out

Plays peek a boo with Gizmo - his favourite game

Well the light may indeed be on but nobody is home...heh heh....curls up on the rocking chair with a book to relax in the quiet lull in the Inn tonight and enjoys the crackling and popping of a small fire in the fireplace, and the smell of the woodsmoke.

Wonders where Acc has been hiding out lately? Lost in SL maybe? Never see signs of his presence lately.

Pops in on a rainy Saturday...leaves on some trees (oak, chestnut, maple) starting to change into a medley of colours....Fall is coming.

Pops in, keeping the light on

Holy Smokes! Almost let the light go out!

Oops - almost did it again! Keeps the light on.

*Sigh* such a nice cozy room and no one ever drops in, well hardly ever drops in. Just visiting and popping in.

Keeps light on & room open for all

Such a lovely room going unused...wish more people would pop in here and make themselves comfy.

Light on for Thanksgiving Holiday long weekend...turkey and stuffing and mashed taters and cranberry sauce and all that yummy stuff to go with it!

Well Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Shaman!! States Thanksgiving isn't until 26.Nov!!

Happy Columbus Day Indigo! Our Thanksgiving was really early this year Indie...usually it's later in October. But it WAS good and I will be eating a lot of leftovers and turkey soup or stew - *L*. Gizmo strangely does not like turkey - picky creature that he is.

Its too dark in here...takes out environmentally friendly bulbs and puts in old fashioned 100 watt filament bulbs...ah thats better

Oh Thank you Ludd, I hated those enviro friendly bulbs! Much brighter and cheerier in here now.

Peeks into the room, still unused...sigh...wishes more people would drop i and place postings in this section and make it lively once more.

Searches for the Halloween decorations to start no decorating the roon but cant find them.

oh geez..start ON decorating the room. Hopes people will chip in and help make the Inn and this room look festive for the big day!

Sorry Shaman I have decorated the room according to minimilist principles so no one noticed ...sob

there there Ludd, it'll be okay. Takes black plastic spider and black plastic rat and puts them in discreet locations (to startle people who find them) keeping to the minimalist look....is that okay with you Ludd? Leaves bowl of candy on table near fireplace.

Hard to tell ny yhat pic of yours but been meaning to ask...is that a black cat on the table next to you? If so, I have one just like it too, a mischief maker he is too.

Sorry, seem to have forgotten how to type and spell properly.

Adds a discreet little ghost hanging in the window

Ludd..fellow poster on the message board...where have you disappeared to? Miss seeing your posts in here.

Peeks in

Just stopping by to make sure the lights are working

Happy Halloween Everyone! Hope you have a fun and bootiful night!

Ah yes...... Samhain...... A good day (and night) to everyone!!!

NICE job on carving those pumpkins Indie, admiring your handiwork.

Refills the candy bowl with treats and keeps the light on

Brings vase of fall flowers into the room.

Ahh.. the last of the mums....nice! a burst of color! Thanks Shaman....
Time to start thinking about Thanksgiving now....heeeerrrreee Turkey, turkey, turkey.... heheheheheheheh....

Turkey goes gobble gobble gobble and flees out the back door to escape Indigo....heheheheh

Turkey leaves message saying OH Indigo please spare my life and buy a turkey from a supermarket.

keeps light on

I know, I know... I could never actually EAT the ones I raised....*lol*.... but some anonamous turkey from the supermarket-- not a problem...

LOL me too, if I meet it I can never ever eat ir~ I'd make a poor farmer as I'd starve.

keeps light on and room open fpt all

Yes I feel the same about children once you've raised them you could never eat them.......after all you know where they've been!!!!!!

LOL at Ludd's remarks

Keeps light on.

Ludd seeing as how you lost one arm an leg already offers to give you my crutches to make getting around easier..dont need em anymore.

Keeps the light burning for all.....

Hope everyone in the U.S, had a great Thanksgiving holiday,,turkey - yummy!

Adds pots of Poinssettias to the room, nice! I know it's early but I'm just an overgrown kid when it comes to Christmas and Christmas stuff.

Gosh about 4 weeks to go!

Yes Ludd, it's coming up fast! Soon Indigo and I will be decorating the Inn..wanna give us a hand making it festive?

Huffs and puffs and drags in an 8 foot magnificent tree for the Inn. Struggles to get it in the stand...whew, what a job! Adds lots of water to special tree stand that holds lots of water. Stands back, wow what a beauty this one is! Now have to let it sit for a day for the branches to settle. Inhales the beautiful scent of the tree.

Rummages through the closet and makes several trips out to the main room with boxes of Christmas dcorations. Drags out the rickety teetery ladder and leans up against wall close to tree so it's easy to get at. Wishes someone would fix that teetery thing! Checks tree, looks absolutely splended! Wow, drank up a lot of the water though so fills container up again. Tests strings of lights, yup all working but may need more as it's a pretty big tree. Come one come all and help decorate the Inn and the tree! Eggnog with rum or brandy available to those who help, or whatever your favourite libation may be. Heads off home to have dinner before coming back later to start stringing lights on the tree.

...comes into the inn, with a 4-pack of Surly Furious under one arm and a box of decorations under the other....

keeps one coldie out, stows the remaining three in the chiller, and then I start stringing the lights. Rickity ladder and all....
And while...*reaching*...I'm.. up... here...I'll put the Capis-shell star up on top, making sure a light is inside to make it Glow warmly....
Ahh... There. Just right.....

Wow you got a great head start - the lights look great! As does the star! Too tired last night to string lights so didnt make it back last night. Will be back this afternoon to start ading ornaments and decorate the Inn.

Hangs fresh pine and fir wreath on door to Inn...hangs another above the fireplace

Swags garlands along fireplace mantle and along edge of bar. Add candles in hurricane lamps onto mantle top along with a nativity scene

Starts trimming the tree with multi-coloured glass ball ornaments, careful to do the back as well in case anybody peeks. Adds some glass and clear plastic angels of varying styles close to lights so they glow nicely. Attemps garland on tree, gives up in frustration...someone else can do that part. ATTN: Skilled garland hanger required. Better hold off on adding more ornaments until garland swagged on tree.

Adds christmas scented candles to the tables together with a poinsettia on each table.

Takes a rest until garland draped nicely on tree...anyone else good at doing that please help!!

Well I'll opt for weaving some colored glass bead strands throughout the tree.... starting from the top looping them in pretty arcs around and down.... *steps back*.... *smiles*...
Ok, now ready for a few more ornaments.....Who's got favorites to lend to the tree???
...goes for a coldie, thinking about my favorite ornament....
Lets here about some favorite one folks! Accasbel? Ularu? manb? pegs? tec? Shaman? Silk? Ghostie? Housemouse? Sorcha? Typan? Rolan? Lacie? David? Cleo? You guys must have favorites.....

Way to go on the beaded garlan indigo - you have the magic touch! I have favourites to add/lend to the tree..thy are precious to me...one is a tiny bone china Siamese Cat on a golden cord...it was my mum's as weere the blown glass birds with fan tails that clip on to the branches. And some italian themed golden patterned fabric ornaments in elegant shapes with citrine jewels in a pretty pattern on the ornaments.
Also adds some silver teardrops and some pink ball type ornaments here and there. That looks pretty. Coming together. OH and my little dreamcatcher ornament!

Adds a small blown glass church with steeple and glowing windows to the tree. Adds more coloured balls and teardrop shaped ornaments to the tree. Rummages in boxes...comes up with little sled and little nutcracker man and a prety glass snowman ornament. Hangs some of her favourites from home - Ruby coloured glass chandelier style pendants linked by fine gold chain about 6" in length.

Stands back - gee looking really pretty but such a large tree that after all that decorating it still needs lots more to make it beautiful and festive. Will do some more tomorrow.

A little bird told me that there was a couple of raving mad ladies in here putting up the Christmas decorations. Turns out to be Shaman and Indi. I hate to admit you are doing a great job of it without me here to supervise you both.
Very nice indeed. Please carry on....

Rolls eyes at Ularu...supervise us indeed! Broken finger syndrome again, cant hang a few ornaments or tell us a favourite Christmas moment or story. Hangs a few ornaments and pretends Ularu hung them...heh heh heh

The first time I read your last post I thought it read " Hangs a few ornaments and Hangs ularu as well" *L*
One of my Christmas memories was one Christmas Eve we left out a glass of milk and biscuits for Santa, or Father Christmas as we called him back then. My father said that he suspected that santa would prefer a bottle of beer to a glass of milk. seems he was right.
Also used to like the smell that came from the old cardboard box of Christmas decorations. I know it was just probabily just a fusty smell but to us it was the smell of Christmas.

You thought I said "hangs Ularu too" - LOL! Tempting but you're more fun alive and walking around and putting out commentary. Great memory - didnt realize Santa preferred beer - guess all that milk or eggnog I left out for him was put back in the fridge - laughs! I was always amazed that the cookies were gone the next morning though! It proved Santa really did exist!!! AND he filled our stockings up, pinned at the end of the bed (no fireplaces in some houses we lived in) - while we were sleeping without waking us up; he really was magical!

For all you overgrown kids out there, or those with kids and grandkids here's a good site:
www.northpole.com

Drops in to hang some more baubles and decorations on tree, all in prety colours - red ones, blue ones, green ones, silver ones, gold ones and pink ones - some round some teardrop shaped. Ahhh tree is shaping up beautifuly but still being such a large tree and so wide and bushy it could use a lot more stuff on it. Munches on one of Ularu's mince pies as she decorates - gee these are deelish Ularu!! Kindly feel free to leave more here anytime!

*rolls my eyes at Ularu's post too...*
*Looks over at Shaman...* Think you hit the nail on the head with the broken finger syndrome....*lol* Ah but Ularu... come supervise anytime--ye might find a coldie in the fridge, and Shaman can talk YOU into hanging those HIGH Lights around the edges of the ceiling.....

Favourite ornaments...I hung some but guess you missed them in my post Indie. They belonged to my mum forever so they are very dear to me...a little china siamese cat hanging by a gold cord and a few blown glass birds with fan tails...they had always been on our tree at home and bring back lots of christmas memories so just had to hang them on the tree.

Ludd - stop messing about and get yer butt in here and help decorate the tree = Pleeeeease???

*hangs a couple more of my favorite ornaments...* One a blown glass harp from the Waterford folks... a souvenier from my first time to Ireland.....
and the other... a little red rosin barn...reminding me of Iowa where I grew up on the farm...and also reminding me of the hobby farm we had for so many years....Lots of great memories and stories.....

Hangs another favourite ornament that a friend got me long time ago, a small Dreamcatcher ornament and everytime I hang it all the memories of the fun times we've had together over the years make me feel good!

Hangs candy canes (peppermint) from the tree branches because I chuckle whenever I hang them from my own tree cause my cat Gizmo steals them off the lower branches and uses them as toys and carries them with him whereever he goes....it always make me laugh

Christmas carols - two of my very favourite carols are What Child is This and Oh Holy Night. Would love to hear about others' favourite carols

INDIGO - ULARU LEFT US SOME MINCE TARTS FOR OUR EFFORTS HERE AND TO MUNCH ON WHILE DECORATING. YOU WERE AWAY IN IOWA, SO I DIVIDED THEM UP IN HALF, EQUAL NUMBERS OF TARTS. ATE MINE AND CAREFULLY WRAPPED YOURS UP AND HID THEM IN OUR SECRET STASH PLACE. SO YOU HAVE MINCE TARTS TO MUNCH ON NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN HERE HELPING PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE TREE. WONDERS WHAT SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROLS/SONGS ARE SO PLEASE DO TELL AND SHARE. ALSO LEAVES KITTY STOCKINGS OF TOYS UNDER THE TREE FOR WEE FERGUS AND WEE JAIMIE. I PUT GIZMO'S UNDER OUR OWN TREE AND HE HAS BEEN LYING BESIDE IT, SITTING BESIDE IT AND SLEEPING BESIDE IT, SO NO ONE CAN ABSCOND WITH HIS PRECIOUS STOCKING....LOL. ALSO PUTS BOX OF ASSORTED KITTY TREATS UNDER THE TREE FOR FERGUS AND JAIMIE.

Hangs ornaments that look like icicles from the tree's branches.....hmmmm....still needs some more decorations on this tree to fill it in a bit, too many bare spots still.

... finishes the tree with some tinsel... careful not to overdo it... Just the right amount..... lights shimmering and reflecting off the tinsel... *smiles*...

Ohhhh~ thanks for savin' me some mince tarts... and thanks to Ularu for making them!
*slips a little pressie under the tree for Gizmo too... *

...turns the comfy chair to face the tree... finds a beer, and shuts all the lights out to watch the glow of the tree....flops down in the chair with a leg up over the arm.... smiling at the special ornaments hanging there...begins to hum... favorite carols?? wow...hard to pick....I like Christmas songs in general... love Sarah McLaughlin's version of 'the River'..... and the song "In the bleak mid-winter.... "... look forward to Bing and David bowie's 'Little drummer boy/Peace on earth"...

Ooohhh Indigo the tree looks beautiful now that it's finished and glowing so prettily in the darkened rooom. Those are nice christmas songs. Like you I like all christmas music in general. Also likes 'Once upon a December" cant remember who does it, female artist - if I think of her name i'll post it.

Tucks pressie under the tree for Indigo....

Indie - careful when opening, it's heavy but very fragile!

Another pressie under the tree for Ularu

Adds a wee pressie under the tree for Shaman... shiny blue paper with a fancy silver ribbon on it... about 4 " wide and 5 long-maybe 6....

hmmm intriguing....climbs under tree and examines pressie and gives it gentle shake and sniffs it...worse than a kid am I! Yours is wrapped in silver paper with red ribbon and a red and silver bow, about 12-14 inches long and about a foot wide....

Finds a space to tuck Manb's pressie under the tree....it's a magic present. Take the magic candy cane attached to it, tap thre times, make a wish and voila what you've always wanted will be inside..LOL wouldnt that be great? If you cant figure out what it is I'll tell you over Christmas.

Leaves a gift basket of assorted cheeses under the tree for Housemouse!

Christmas Eve is here - woo hoo!!
Hope everybody is ready for the big day!

Merry Christmas Acc - may all your Christmas dreams come true!

Merry Christmas to All!! We are getting more snow today...but I gotta admit--makes things very pretty--especially the outdoor christmas tree lights.... they seem to glow under the snow cover...*smiles*....

*smiles* Merrry Christmas to All!! Lucky you having a white Christmas, we are going to have a green one here - *sighs* - just not the same. But thar's okay, we had more than our fair share of snow last year. Be nice to have a sunny one for a change.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL - MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH HAPPINESS AND JOY, FRIENDS FAMILY AND GOOD FOOD!

Next up - 2010! New Year's Eve!! Cant believe it's going to be 2010. Kind of sad Christmas is all over, but it was a great day and have lots of leftovers to enjoy - yum!

Three more sleeps to New Year's Eve!

One More sleep till New Year's Eve...hard to believe where the year went!

Woo Hoooo!!!! only one more sleep until New Year's Eve.... and a party tomorrow night!
We are at Arenal Paridisimo Resort for a couple of nights... It's just below in a valley at the base of Arenal--Costa Rica's most active volcano!!
We did a hike and tour of Near the mountain... hiked up on a huge old lava flow from 1968, when it has it's last Major eruption... Two small villages were wiped out with the cloud of gases that came down before the 'big boom' as they call it here..
Very interesting tour...and scenery is stunning...
I'll hoist my glass to my chat friends tomorrow night and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Woo Hoo it's New Year's Eve!!!

Indie - Sounds fantastic so far ! Hope they throw you a great party tonight!

Have a Happy New Year. I hope the year will be filled with success, happy times, and many smiles.......love n hugs to all the old time pals from dayzysprite

And a Happy New Year to you too Dayzysprite! May many nice things come your way in 2010.

Indie - Happy Happy New Year to you....have a fu fu drink for me, something strawberry based would be nice. Let's hope 2010 is a GREAT YEAR!!!

Acc - Happy New Year to you!!!! 2010 should be a most interesting year and I hhope it's an excellent one for you and yours!!

Keeps the light burning

Checks the room and the the light

Yikes! Light almost went out, cant have that happen

Wow England and Europe really getting hammered by snow this year....

Indie - time to take your ornaments home and safe for another year,,,,,packs mine in tissue and tucks away till next time

Takes her few ornaments off the tree... Lovingly packs them away in a box tied with a ribbon....
Another holiday season over... but the memories of these special pieces flutter through my head occasionally the whole year.

Tries to think of way to dispose of tree, serves me right for getting such a huge one.

Need help here disposing of tree, too heavy for me alone. Sweeps up needles from floor. Takes all decorations off and packs away then sweeps up again..

mwahahahahahah.... you asked...and I'm here to help....
...emm.. option one: Haul it out into the open yard across the street from the inn.... and prop it up somehow.... Then stand back and shoot flaming arrows at it...It'll go up in a heartbeat if any of us manage to hit the tree with the arrows.... *grins*
Option two: drag the tree and it's holder outside and place it in view of the window..tie little mesh bags of suet and birdseed on the tree, and then watch to see how many kinds of birds show up for the feast!

Goes for option two....great idea Indigo! Hangs little suet and seed bags from tree branches from top to bottom of tree.

Just for fun sets up tartget, lights a flaming arrrow and lets fly, misses target completely and hits the building next door, which fortunately is brick. BUT the moss catches fire. Drops bow, runs to find hose and aims at flaming moss. Once fire out and smoke billows beats hasty retreat home.

Indie give it a go and see how you do aim wise....heh heh