Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Dec 28th 2011, 2:47 am
#3046
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Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Thanks, Tina. Same to you.
I have been so sick the last few days... very bad cold which I usually do not succumb to. Braved it through Christmas day and spent the entire day on the couch yesterday. Just coming out of it, thank goodness.
I have been so sick the last few days... very bad cold which I usually do not succumb to. Braved it through Christmas day and spent the entire day on the couch yesterday. Just coming out of it, thank goodness.
Dec 28th 2011, 2:48 am
#3047
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Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Note to Kindlers et al: The BC Library system has a downloadable books section where you can download books for 3 weeks (and make a copy if you wish). Another good source of free material.
Dec 28th 2011, 3:00 am
#3048
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
A GREAT BIG HAPPY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS ON THIS THREAD, AND I TRULLY HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT NEW YEAR, cause you all deserve it,
Just wanted to say that anyone out there still having doubts about coming back home, then dont, cause although it does take a little while to absorb everything in your new world here, it sure is worth it in the end,
About Christmas, now Im back home I can honestly say that in America I did not celebrate christmas EVER, only cause I had no family out there,
and to my mind without your family Christmas isn't anything, a lot of you have families in your adopted countries where you made your life, like spouse, kids, grandkids, well I didn't have that over there, ----- but I sure have it now
my family is obviously much smaller now with most of them already dead, ---- but I tell you ----- I am hanging on to what Ive got left and cherishing every little minute, it seems like I can say now, Im actually finally happy once again, and believe me it feels good, and I can feel myself just smiling more now, you know that real easy smile/laugh that just comes over you when you are most happy,
But I can tell you this though, and Im just speaking for myself only here, I doubt if I would have come home if I didn't have any family here,
You got to have someone or something to come home for, everyone seems to have there own reason for coming home ---- and not just cause they are home sick, If this is what you really want to do KEEP YOUR DREAM ALIVE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN, forget about watching all those old re-runs of British TV, ---- come over and enjoy them first hand, and get your teeth into some really decent fish & chips with real strong picked onions & mushy peas
Take care everyone,
Rodney.
Just wanted to say that anyone out there still having doubts about coming back home, then dont, cause although it does take a little while to absorb everything in your new world here, it sure is worth it in the end,
About Christmas, now Im back home I can honestly say that in America I did not celebrate christmas EVER, only cause I had no family out there,
and to my mind without your family Christmas isn't anything, a lot of you have families in your adopted countries where you made your life, like spouse, kids, grandkids, well I didn't have that over there, ----- but I sure have it now
my family is obviously much smaller now with most of them already dead, ---- but I tell you ----- I am hanging on to what Ive got left and cherishing every little minute, it seems like I can say now, Im actually finally happy once again, and believe me it feels good, and I can feel myself just smiling more now, you know that real easy smile/laugh that just comes over you when you are most happy,But I can tell you this though, and Im just speaking for myself only here, I doubt if I would have come home if I didn't have any family here,
You got to have someone or something to come home for, everyone seems to have there own reason for coming home ---- and not just cause they are home sick, If this is what you really want to do KEEP YOUR DREAM ALIVE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN, forget about watching all those old re-runs of British TV, ---- come over and enjoy them first hand, and get your teeth into some really decent fish & chips with real strong picked onions & mushy peas
Take care everyone,
Rodney.
Dec 28th 2011, 5:19 am
#3049
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
I have just watched this film and it blew my socks off. I want to share it with all the people I care about, especially those who drink diet pop, use Equal, Nutrasweet or other artificial sweeteners or have family members that do.
There's a well-known name that shows up 3/4 way through (may he rot in hell):
http://12-21-2012.ning.com/video/vid...sg_share_video
There's a well-known name that shows up 3/4 way through (may he rot in hell):
http://12-21-2012.ning.com/video/vid...sg_share_video
Dec 28th 2011, 6:25 am
#3050
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Dec 28th 2011, 11:18 am
#3051
Just hanging around
Joined: May 2008
Location: Back in England
Posts: 1,447
Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Most local libraries have good stuff in addition to what's on the shelves. It's worth joining and looking, and the more people get a library card, the less likely that the local council will think chopping libraries an easy saving.
Bev
Dec 28th 2011, 12:21 pm
#3052
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
I have worked in the computer industry most of my adult life. I love technology and wouldn't mind a Kindle or similar device but I have to say, as a confirmed bookaholic, that nothing replaces the feeling of holding a wonderful book in my hand. It is something of a sensual experience for me.
... so much more than just the text it contains. About 90% of the books I own are non-fiction and I consider them my reference library. On occasion I go to look up something in one book and hours later have pulled out many books that I want to keep in my current pile. I am terribly sentimental about my books. I have the first book my Grandmother ever bought me when I was about 7 years old "Wild Flowers of Wayside and Woodland", the books she bought me when I passed the 11+, the books about horses and ponies, that my father bought me, etc. etc. I bring home or order on the net probably around 100 books a year if not more and everytime I try to cull them, I have a really hard time finding a few.
I would sell all of my other things before my books and when I go to England, my books are going with me.
I was the biggest naysayer on ebooks so I've amazed myself. But it's just more enjoyable to read on my iPad - especially because I can make the font as big as I want, and never have to worry about losing my place (which I did all the time). And when I go on a train or plane, I can take tons of books with me and read whatever I fancy.
Because of the sentimental attachment, we are taking some books home with us, but most have been donated and I know I'll never buy another paper book in my life.
Dec 28th 2011, 6:46 pm
#3053
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Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Also, you have to be a member of the library. I thought they used to have e-books as well, though.
Most local libraries have good stuff in addition to what's on the shelves. It's worth joining and looking, and the more people get a library card, the less likely that the local council will think chopping libraries an easy saving.
Bev
Most local libraries have good stuff in addition to what's on the shelves. It's worth joining and looking, and the more people get a library card, the less likely that the local council will think chopping libraries an easy saving.
Bev
We have a very small library here on Salt Spring, in fact the only volunteer run library in Canada, but I can get almost any book through Interlibrary Loan, which I do... often.
And of course now it is a great source of DVDs, CDs and other media.
Dec 28th 2011, 6:51 pm
#3054
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
I used to feel just like this. The sensual feel of the books - the way they really mattered to me - and then I got my iPad, tried an ebook and I haven't looked back.
I was the biggest naysayer on ebooks so I've amazed myself. But it's just more enjoyable to read on my iPad - especially because I can make the font as big as I want, and never have to worry about losing my place (which I did all the time). And when I go on a train or plane, I can take tons of books with me and read whatever I fancy.
Because of the sentimental attachment, we are taking some books home with us, but most have been donated and I know I'll never buy another paper book in my life.
I was the biggest naysayer on ebooks so I've amazed myself. But it's just more enjoyable to read on my iPad - especially because I can make the font as big as I want, and never have to worry about losing my place (which I did all the time). And when I go on a train or plane, I can take tons of books with me and read whatever I fancy.
Because of the sentimental attachment, we are taking some books home with us, but most have been donated and I know I'll never buy another paper book in my life.
Dec 29th 2011, 12:29 pm
#3055
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,814
Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Dec 29th 2011, 12:42 pm
#3056
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,006
Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
I don't read much for pleasure these days (no time), but personally, my preferences would be:
Reading for pleasure (novels, biographies, etc.) - definitely the Kindle.
Reading pdf articles during conference trips - Kindle (for portability) but in other cirumstances, from my laptop (easier to annotate, etc.). I no longer print articles and write notes in the margins because I literally have boxes full of 1,000's of them and they are never where I want them (if I'm at home, I need ones that are at work, and vice versa).
Textbooks - paper copy (I always need to write notes in the margins and flip back and forth between pages, index, etc., and this just isn't feasible on the Kindle).
I agree with other peoples' comments about the feel of books, but the space-saving capabilities of the Kindle, especially for prtability, is what sells me on it.
Reading for pleasure (novels, biographies, etc.) - definitely the Kindle.
Reading pdf articles during conference trips - Kindle (for portability) but in other cirumstances, from my laptop (easier to annotate, etc.). I no longer print articles and write notes in the margins because I literally have boxes full of 1,000's of them and they are never where I want them (if I'm at home, I need ones that are at work, and vice versa).
Textbooks - paper copy (I always need to write notes in the margins and flip back and forth between pages, index, etc., and this just isn't feasible on the Kindle).
I agree with other peoples' comments about the feel of books, but the space-saving capabilities of the Kindle, especially for prtability, is what sells me on it.
Dec 29th 2011, 12:47 pm
#3057
Just hanging around
Joined: May 2008
Location: Back in England
Posts: 1,447
Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Over here the libraries seem to charge for CDs, audio books, requests, on line reservations etc. I was spoiled by the Victoria library system which didn't charge extra for anything.
Another thing I've noted, though I'm not sure it's everywhere, is that libraries have been moved out of the town centre to new buildings on the edge, which makes them much less convenient for people to just drop in. The one in Whitby was near the town centre but on an upper floor in the police building. Hardly welcoming. Then the use drops and the councils look to closing them.
I do think libraries are central to a thriving culture, and people of all ages should be in and out, not having to pay for anything. Though acutally I wouldn't mind them charging for DVDs and computer games, because they aren't really books, or even "information services". But audio books are.
Bev
Another thing I've noted, though I'm not sure it's everywhere, is that libraries have been moved out of the town centre to new buildings on the edge, which makes them much less convenient for people to just drop in. The one in Whitby was near the town centre but on an upper floor in the police building. Hardly welcoming. Then the use drops and the councils look to closing them.
I do think libraries are central to a thriving culture, and people of all ages should be in and out, not having to pay for anything. Though acutally I wouldn't mind them charging for DVDs and computer games, because they aren't really books, or even "information services". But audio books are.
Bev
Dec 30th 2011, 11:11 pm
#3058
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Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Im amazed at the U.S. lingo used here on a daily basis with people and TV, they have all the American expressions here just a different accent thats all,
all this must have transformed over all the decades since Ive been away,
Like today a DJ on radio said
(its a done deal) other days Ive heard stuff from the British on TV & radio like ------- take a load off, chill out, be cool, or cool it, wasted, pissed off, ----- I havent heard happy camper yet though, but I have heard the word s--t said a lot, like no s--t, and thats for sure, and you got that right, they have them (all)
and sooooo many other sayings that enter into unsatisfactory or dirty language over here but would be regarded as every day talk in the U.S.
but they have managed to retain most of there own traditional expresions like ------ Brilliant, pratt, scarper, bugger, arse instead of ass, bonkers, codswholop, and sometimes you even hear from the older generation like
60,s and up like me ------ WHOOPSEEDASIE
Dec 31st 2011, 12:50 pm
#3059
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,006
Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Agreed dunroving, how are you? good to see you again, I also notice the copycat words and expressions here in England,
Im amazed at the U.S. lingo used here on a daily basis with people and TV, they have all the American expressions here just a different accent thats all,
all this must have transformed over all the decades since Ive been away,
Like today a DJ on radio said
(its a done deal) other days Ive heard stuff from the British on TV & radio like ------- take a load off, chill out, be cool, or cool it, wasted, pissed off, ----- I havent heard happy camper yet though, but I have heard the word s--t said a lot, like no s--t, and thats for sure, and you got that right, they have them (all)
and sooooo many other sayings that enter into unsatisfactory or dirty language over here but would be regarded as every day talk in the U.S.
but they have managed to retain most of there own traditional expresions like ------ Brilliant, pratt, scarper, bugger, arse instead of ass, bonkers, codswholop, and sometimes you even hear from the older generation like
60,s and up like me ------ WHOOPSEEDASIE
Im amazed at the U.S. lingo used here on a daily basis with people and TV, they have all the American expressions here just a different accent thats all,
all this must have transformed over all the decades since Ive been away,
Like today a DJ on radio said
(its a done deal) other days Ive heard stuff from the British on TV & radio like ------- take a load off, chill out, be cool, or cool it, wasted, pissed off, ----- I havent heard happy camper yet though, but I have heard the word s--t said a lot, like no s--t, and thats for sure, and you got that right, they have them (all)
and sooooo many other sayings that enter into unsatisfactory or dirty language over here but would be regarded as every day talk in the U.S.
but they have managed to retain most of there own traditional expresions like ------ Brilliant, pratt, scarper, bugger, arse instead of ass, bonkers, codswholop, and sometimes you even hear from the older generation like
60,s and up like me ------ WHOOPSEEDASIE
The students always seem to like it when I describe something as being "pretty lame."
There are expressions here (Scotland) that are common language that you don't find in England - I'm forever having to correct the use of the term "outwith" in the students' papers. They are always surprised when I tell them it's not typically used in British English - then I ask them if they've ever seen it in a British newspaper, and the penny drops.
Dec 31st 2011, 1:45 pm
#3060
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,933
Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
Over here the libraries seem to charge for CDs, audio books, requests, on line reservations etc. I was spoiled by the Victoria library system which didn't charge extra for anything.Another thing I've noted, though I'm not sure it's everywhere, is that libraries have been moved out of the town centre to new buildings on the edge, which makes them much less convenient for people to just drop in. The one in Whitby was near the town centre but on an upper floor in the police building. Hardly welcoming. Then the use drops and the councils look to closing them.
I do think libraries are central to a thriving culture, and people of all ages should be in and out, not having to pay for anything. Though acutally I wouldn't mind them charging for DVDs and computer games, because they aren't really books, or even "information services". But audio books are.
Bev
I do think libraries are central to a thriving culture, and people of all ages should be in and out, not having to pay for anything. Though acutally I wouldn't mind them charging for DVDs and computer games, because they aren't really books, or even "information services". But audio books are.
Bev