Good morning everyone

 

Rain here overnight and likely to be fairly wet today, though not as wet as the south east.

 

Summer, Gone with the Wind is a bit under 4 hours long. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets another cinema release in 2014 to celebrate its 75th anniversary since it was first shown.

Good morning chilly and drizzly here this morning, ideal for mr summer to spend the day snoozing on the sofa with Bramble. El, I'll look out for that in 2 years then, I've heard there's a lovely old movie theatre at Tyneside where they show old films on a regular basis- they will definitely screen it there.

Good morning everyone. It's raining up here.

Harvey stayed overnight, so eldest son and I did a perimeter check last night and couldn't find any escape holes. *crosses fingers*

Hope Mr Summer has a good day with Bramble.

 

Good morning everyone, quite a nice bright morning here.

 

Do you think you have cracked it with Harvey Yogi?  I do hope so.

 

I was thinking of you too Yogi when I sent California Club to Summer, I know you will both love it.  There is another one in the pipeline too,' Delicious' by Nicky Pellegrino which I hope you also haven't read, another really lovely read.  Much of it set in Italy, as are most of Nicky Pellegrino's books, a really wonderful feeling of being in Italy, one of my favourite countries.

 

Summer I would really recommend you read Gone With The Wind before seeing the film if at all possible though, it's a big read but really engrossing.

Good morning Squiggle.

I haven't read any Nicky Pellegrino books so I had a look on Play.com to see what they were like. One reviewer said of Delicious, "Italy falls off the page" and describes it as her best book ever - quite a recommendation.

Mr Yogi has an Italian SiL and that's as close as I've got to Italy. I'd love to go there though.

Yogi, you could get the paperback version of Gone with the Wind from Amazon for £6-29.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-W...339407249&sr=8-3

 

It's a long book but I don't think the number of pages Amazon shows is correct. It shows 9,999 pages - I think it's a bit over 1,000 pages.

 

EL you can also get a used copy from that same link http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/off...8&condition=used which is how I buy all my books, most are in wonderful condition and Summer could get one from there for £2.81

 

Yogi the book is as good as it sounds

Thanks El and Squiggle for the links.

Hi all x just a quick hello, off out, be back later. Hope you all well x

I hope the rain keeps off for you. Here, it's been raining, though not pouring) steadily since about 10 and is likely to continue well into the evening.

Right, that gives me 2 years to read the book I think it's achievable I've just been reading California club over lunch, there's a character in it I'd like to kick which shows good writing by the author IMO

If you want a real challenge, try reading the complete Finnegans Wake by James Joyce. Apart from a few people, it's unlikely that any member of the general public has done this, and even less likely they've understood it. It's unlike any other book you've ever seen, and uses many words which you won't have come across.

The book starts with:

 

riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

 

and ends with:

 

Bussoftlhee, mememormee! Till thous- endsthee. Lps. The keys to. Given! A way a lone a last a loved a long the

 

There are no typos in the above. The last sentence in the book links back to the beginning of the book to make a sentence. 688 pages of a man's thoughts and dreams during one night.

 

The ultimate reading challenge. Just don't expect me to attempt it

I saw this today on my local news website. It's rather sinister and unsettling for the victims. I hope they get whoever is doing this before he does something worse. May Hill is about 6 miles to the west of me.

 

POLICE are hunting for a man "who looks like a smurf" responsible for a series of bizarre incidents around May Hill.

Several women have been approached by a man wearing a skintight blue all-in-one "morphsuit", who has then run off into woodland. His face was also painted blue.

In one incident, the man followed a lone woman, waving and performingstar jumps, as she walked down from the top of May Hill.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "I know it sounds funny but it was genuinely scary. He followed me some distance and it's really scared and unnerved a lot of people around here.

"Women, in particular, do not want to go to May Hill on their own at the moment."

That incident happened on May 20 and two similar reports were made to police last Saturday, June 2.

One was from a female horse rider who glimpsed a man in a blue hood hiding behind bushes at about 10.30am. He then ran off into woodland. Half an hour earlier, a man reported his girlfriend had been approached by the blue man, who again ran off. The caller described him as "looking like a smurf".

Since launching an appeal for more information, another report has come in to police of something similar happening in March. All the incidents so far have happened at weekends.

The "smurf" is between 5ft 10ins and 6ft and has a slim to medium build.

Police inspector Richard Boyles said: "These are undeniably bizarre incidents but they have unsettled and frightened a number of women. He has caused real concern and it is important we establish his motives."

That's a very peculiar story El, I wonder what on earth the blue man is doing?! Has he attacked anyone? If you won't attempt finnegans wake, there's no hope for me lol

Me too, I could have slapped her

 

Tooth all gone, got a big list of do's and dont's, one of which includes no hot drinks.  Dying for a cuppa, might risk it later on if I let the tea cool down, starting on salt water baths tomorrow - for my gums not me

The blue Smurf Man sounds a bit of a weird one. Does he say anything to the women or just follow them (and do star jumps)?

 

El, after reading your description of Finnegan's Wake, I don't think it will be going on my wishlist.

Could you drink your tea through a straw, that way the tea wouldn't be in direct contact with your mouth?

 

^^^^ This book is sounding better by the minute.

I wonder if the blue man is harmless, sounds very sinister.

 

That story you mention EL reminds me of this film I watched yesterday.  I was looking forward to it because it was about wagon trains, a part of history which I find interesting.  It had no beginning, no end and not much of a middle wish I hadn't bothered, not that anyone is likely to come across it but if you do avoid it, it's called Meek's Cut-Off.

 

Just seen your post Yogi, I haven't got any straws, good idea though.  I will just let the tea cool and drink slowly I think.  I mentioned that my grandson was with me in the car (it was a comfort) and they said aww how old is he?  And I said 20 and they said oh we won't give him a sticker then   Can you imagine, I have been to the dentist and I have been very bwave!

Summer, there's nothing in the article to indicate that the man has attacked anyone. I think the police want to find out if the man is just messing about or a precursor to something more serious.

 

I don't blame you for being reluctant to attempt Finnegans Wake. It would be of limited appeal to most apart from those studying Irish literature or those who had read other James Joyce's writings. He's been mentioned on Radio 4 in the last few days as Radio 4 will be broadcasting his Ulysses during the course of this coming Saturday. It's a portrait of Dublin over the course of one day - 16 June 1904 known as Bloomsday after its main characters. I've never read it, but it does have its fans. Some of the material was quite notorious when it was published, but that part won't get broadcast until late evening.

 

Squiggle, well done - that's good bye to that tooth (farewell wave rather than a hello one)

 

I had heard about Meek's Cut Off a couple of weeks ago when it was shown on Film 4 (I think), and it didn't have much appeal to me. It's very much a mood piece rather than a conventional story. Also the Radio Times said that some of the dialogue was unintelligible.

 

I have taped but haven't seen it yet but Channel 4 was showing Shenadoah, a 1965 western with James Stewart as a farmer caught up in the American Civil War. I would think that would be better than Meek's Cut Off.

 

Tomorrow lunchtime's Channel 4 film is Gideon of Scotland Yard (from the John Creasey books). It stars Jack Hawkins and surprisngly enough directed by John Ford. that should be worth watching or taping.

 

El Shenandoah is one of my favourite westerns, you will really enjoy that one James Stewart is wonderful in it.  I have also seen Gideon of Scotland Yard in the past and as I remember, it's another good film.  I am a fan of Jack Hawkins a wonderful actor.

Squiggle, I'm not sure if I've seen Shenandoah before or not, but that doesn't matter. I have seen Gideon before but not in a long time. Jack Hawkins was a fine actor, John Ford was one of the top American directors. Although he's best known for his westerns, he did many other types of films. For instance my favourite Ford film The Quiet Man, and Grapes of Wrath.

 

Evening Yogi, Skylark, Squiggs, Sweet, El Loro, Ros and Joyron  

 

Hope we're all fine and dandy 

Evening Velvet.

Hi Velvet I'm heading off now, just had a tooth out and eating is difficult to say the least, hope it's a bit easier tomorrow.  Hope you are well

Evening Yogi  

 

Hope you're getting you're claws sharpened for Nine  

Yes indeedy, I'm raring to go.

Hope it feels better tomorrow, goodnight Squiggle.

Hi Squiggle

 

Hope you're okay for eating tomorrow  

aw squiggle, I hope you feel ok and get that cuppa. I think you'll be fine if you let it cool a bit. Sleep well

 

 

Hello velvet how do?

 

I hope joyron is ok she hasn't been in for a while 

I'm laying on the sofa and there's a dog sitting on my shoulder- I think she's part parrot!

Hi Sweet  

I'm grateful that Keira hasn't tried that.

 

No Harvey escapes today.

She's a funny creature she laid on my iPad too! I think if Keira tried it, you would have problems yogi lol How bout you VD- any parrots in the family?

Glad Harvey didn't Houdini today I wonder if he went looking still? Lol

I had him under surveillance, no escape attempts.

Off for a bath, goodnight Summer and Velvet.

BB style Harvey watch Sweet dreams yogi , Goodnight all

Good morning everyone. Weather is overcast up here. Out and about this morning, will be back later.