Member: Stilestrider

The Three Wishes

I caught me a Leprechaun,
And you know what that means!
I got me three big wishes,
And I wanted so many things.
I wanted silver and I wanted gold,
And riches beyond my place,
And castles all in clover,
And love and a beautious face.

"So what it be, your wish number one?"
Asked the Leprechaun all in green.
"I wish I might have beauty,
The most bewitching ever seen,"

"Done" said the little green Leprechaun,
All with the wave of his hand.
"And I wish," I said, "to have riches,
The greatest in this land."

With a flourish and a flutter they did appear,
Great beauty and my gold,
And then I wished for a lover fair,
All that my heart could hold.

Bedazzeled I was when I saw him there,
My knight in armored bob.
"Thank you Leprechaun," I gushed with glee,
"You've done a most splendid job."

But the Leprechaun stood near me,
Seeming unanxious to leave.
I'm glad you know your mind lass,
So many waste wishes you see."

So enraptured I was with my bounty
That I hardly noticed when
That wee little, green little Leprechaun
Began chattering away again.

"Tis a bonnie day, is it not, my lass?
Don't you wish, lass, it would bid
To stay like this all year long?"
And I replied ... I did.

The little Trickster laughed with mirth,
And then my face did fall.
"The rules be, lass, if a fourth wish you make,
Then you lose them all!"

- Mark Shapiro -

posted by theoldman at 8:48 am (EST) on Nov 19, 2009

Just got back from a holiday in Yorks - excellent scenery but, with a toddler in tow, didn`t get much walking in.

Have you been following current controversies within the Ramblers ? Personally, I normally make it a rule to spend as little time as possible on the internal affairs of any organisation I`m in, but in this case I could well make an exception.

I do think it`s bad when staff lose thir jobs, apparently due entirely to the Cheif Exec`s mismanagement but the man at the top stays in post.

Would be interested to know what you think of it.

Best,

Nick

posted by nickhoonaloon at 5:37 am (EST) on Oct 19, 2009

We went on holiday to have a look but we didn't move there. It is very nice though - the prices had dropped a little here due to the "downturn" so we didn't fancy losing at least a hundred thousand. We even had the for-sale sign painted up but just couldn't put it out. Also we have some things we still want to do here - both on the farm and business-wise in the South-west.

Say g'day when you see him from us

posted by Gdeadtrees at 2:10 am (EST) on Oct 3, 2009

Aha! I know him - Hicky! They came and visited us a few months ago in Balingup at our temporary bookshop when we were looking at moving to Tassie. He's a close friend of a Joe & Glennys Taylor, also good friends of ours who live around the corner from us.

It's a very small world!

posted by Gdeadtrees at 12:10 am (EST) on Sep 27, 2009

Thanks for your message, always good to hear from a fellow Rambler. Where do you do your walking ? I`m quite lucky as, although I live just off a town centre (we live in Heanor in the Amber Valley area, just on the Notts/Derbyshire border), I`ve got good walks available without travelling first. The best-known walking areas round here being the Great Northern Basin (junction of the Cromford, Erewash and Nottingham Canals) and the area around Shipley Country Park.

Most of the country parks and nature reserves around here are former pits.

The Rambler`s group I walk with is the Nottingham group, they tend to walk in a variety of areas, South Notts/Leics, Derbys, even some within the city boundary.

Anyway, better go. thanks again for getting in touch.

Nick

posted by nickhoonaloon at 1:10 pm (EST) on Sep 26, 2009

It was very,very difficult to decide which books to sell and we definitely sold a few we shouldn't have.
It's amazing how things come back to you though. We did buy some back off the bookshop we started. OK - it might sound strange but it was still worthwhile (we hadn't priced them too highly).

Did your brother convert his van into a mobile bookshop?

posted by Gdeadtrees at 5:41 am (EST) on Sep 26, 2009

Thankfully we don't have a TV or we'd probably collect more books not less (maybe we wouldn't read as many).
I used to have most of the original star trek series (the old black ones) but sold them to a collector when I bought the block in Balingup in '97. I sold off 200 good books for $50 - ouch! Then when we were going to move to Tassie we got rid of about 4000 books. Oh well, we made more room in the house to collect more.

posted by Gdeadtrees at 1:44 am (EST) on Sep 26, 2009

Thanks for giving me a heads up! I didn't realize I was putting the comments in the wrong column. God Bless!

posted by smilinkyn at 4:41 pm (EST) on Sep 25, 2009

Thanks

He was a great and humble man.

Your brother went at the best time, I think, not so hot! Hope he enjoyed himself.

If you're ever over this way look us up.

posted by Gdeadtrees at 4:45 am (EST) on Sep 25, 2009

Thanks friend

Tho' I fear I'll find little happiness this week. Up in Perth for the funeral of an uncle of mine , Dr Dick Reid,a great man, an inspiration.

So, even rampant op-shopping and book-buying missions seem to be making little difference to my melancholy mood.

Hope alls well there

posted by Gdeadtrees at 8:00 am (EST) on Sep 23, 2009

What are you reading now and what do you think about existentialism? To be honest I enjoy the psychology better than the philosophy, because while former talks about finding meaning and purpose in life and latter talks about the lack of meaning and purpose in life.

posted by klorio at 3:24 pm (EST) on Sep 19, 2009

I never get weary of watching and reading the Morse series,although is is a bit of a chore entering the DVD's manually I must say. I've still got to enter about 12 more,to complete the set. Personally my favourite episode is 'The Death of the Self',but of course everyone has their own favourite. Any opinions on 'Lewis'?

posted by devenish at 12:06 pm (EST) on Sep 7, 2009

Implied spaces is on my wishlist, just doesn't get to the top of the pile but your hint might just help it, nothing wrong with curiosity. I might start scots in space as a new tag here. John Barnes' Thousand Cultures series features a culture called Caledon IIRC, and I'll have to go back and read some of Ken MacLeod's stuff to jog my memory. Maybe Charles Stross' Accelerando too. IMB seems to have missed a trick here. Who knows what will be in Transition though, I'll start that once I've finished the latest Steve Stirling book

Could even mention Star Trek, even though he seemed to have an Irish accent.

posted by scotsguyinwales at 6:33 am (EST) on Sep 6, 2009

I sometimes get to that exhibition, but not on a regular basis. As with all these things, there's one on almost every weekend; and when you dabble in as many pies as I do, if I went to everything within reasonable travelling distance, I'd never have any time spare for house, girlfriend, LT, reading, photography, work, etc. etc. etc.!

posted by RobertDay at 1:03 pm (EST) on Aug 31, 2009

Stilestrider,

Thanks for the friends invite!

I note you're in the West Midlands, not a million miles from me; and that amongst other things, you have an interest in the Red Cross. You may be interested to know that one of my colleagues in the Sutton Coldfield Model Makers' Society has specialised in Red Cross aircraft. We keep upsetting him by finding new photographs of subjects he hasn't modelled yet...!

I suspect that he will be displaying his Red Cross collection at our show at Sutton Town Hall on 20th September. If you make it along, seek me out and introduce yourself - all the Sutton Modellers guys know who I am (they ought to, I'm Chairman this year!)

posted by RobertDay at 12:25 pm (EST) on Aug 31, 2009

Thank you for the friend request! It appears we have quite a few interests in common. If you're ever in the neighborhood, we should make a date to do a bit of book shopping and hiking!

posted by deborah.soltesz at 5:45 pm (EST) on Aug 25, 2009

I'ts been a decidedly warm winter here but think it might get a tad frosty soon as the skies clear. I thought it rained all the time over there anyway!

You know, those snails and slugs are our friends - great for clearing the plants you don't want (I hesitate to call them weeds as they're really friends too). I guess it's all in how we perceive it.

I've got some more John Seymours to put on somewhere. Possibly my favourite author.

All the best
Gav

posted by Gdeadtrees at 7:10 am (EST) on Aug 23, 2009

Hi Stilesrider, Thanks for adding me as a friend! Your library looks really interesting and eclectic- nice to find others with the Malcolm Pryce Aberystwyth books. I was lucky enough to live in Aber for a while a few years ago and they always make me feel nostalgic. I see you have the new Jasper Fforde which I'm really looking forward to. Happy Reading, L

posted by lizzyb7 at 3:37 pm (EST) on Aug 22, 2009

Hi there,

I did have 'The Chinese Art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan' by Chee Soo but sold it recently as we were contemplating moving to Tasmania (thinking it would be easy to replace). I will, of course, replace it (although we've decided to stay for a while). I learnt some of the form from a local lady who studied with a teacher from Esperance, WA who studied the Lee style in the UK.

Hope to take it up again,
Youv'e got some great books ,by the way!

posted by Gdeadtrees at 8:24 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

thanks 4 the comment. why tag? most is in my head. it is safer there!

jm

posted by firedrake1942 at 1:50 pm (EST) on Aug 20, 2009

Thank you! I'm very proud of it!

However, it's such a *big* library of books, that if I went back and started adding tags, I wouldn't have time to read any of them. (Or catalogue any new ones!)

posted by shearrob at 2:00 pm (EST) on Aug 17, 2009

Cheers, and ta to you too! I've been having a very enjoyable browse-around in your collection. See we share an enthusiasm for the usual suspects Fraser/Forester/Cornwell/O'Brian, etc. :)

[It especially tickles me that you have 'A Key to the Woodlice of Britain and Ireland'. Quite apart from this seeming delightfully quirky in itself, I do Napoleonic re-enactment, and my Charleville musket is named Cloporte (French for 'woodlouse'). Long story. ;) ]

posted by Jezail_Bullet at 2:59 pm (EST) on Aug 13, 2009

G'day to you,

A very interesting and eclectic collection you have there. Good gardening collection - I've got my eye on some of those! Where is your brother, Perth?

posted by Gdeadtrees at 7:44 am (EST) on Jul 18, 2009

I am honoured to be included in your list of interesting libraries.

posted by SamuelJohnsonLibrary at 2:36 am (EST) on Jan 30, 2009

Yes, I am very hard to please! Comes with being old and cranky, I reckon. Still, if I give something four stars, it's a fair bet it's worth reading!

I mainly read history rather than fiction these days ... the stories are usually better.

As for alternate/alternative ... um, it was a typo. I've corrected it.

posted by sloopjonb at 10:03 am (EST) on Nov 16, 2008

Actually, you're probably right about the home is best philosophy. Some of the tea that gets served up out and about is pretty vile. If I'm feeling like treating myself, though I do indulge in a visit to Hudsons in town where at least they use leaf tea.

posted by ann163125 at 4:41 am (EST) on Nov 9, 2008

Welcome to the tea group. We must live very close to each other. What are your favourite tea places? I'm always on the look out for somewhere new where I can indulge one of favourite hobbies?

posted by ann163125 at 3:54 pm (EST) on Nov 8, 2008

Awesome. I'll have to listen to it. Thanks.

Steven
http://steventill.com

posted by StevenTill at 5:37 pm (EST) on Nov 6, 2008

I'm looking forward to Azincourt as well. I'll either read that one after the Saxon Chronicles, or I'll read his Arthurian series.

Steven
http://steventill.com

posted by StevenTill at 5:35 pm (EST) on Oct 31, 2008

Always nice to find other fans of Cornwell. He is my favorite author at the moment. I'm currently finishing up the Saxon Chronicles. Still have Lords of the North and Sword Song to read. What's your favorite series by Cornwell?

And of course, you have to love Tolkien.

Steven
http://steventill.com

posted by StevenTill at 12:30 pm (EST) on Sep 17, 2008

Hi Stilestrider,
Thanks for the Friends invite - on here less often than I would like, and have yet to upgrade to a paid account so I can get all my books on here - ho hum. Busy old life isn't it?
Best,
Oddoneout

posted by oddoneout at 12:24 pm (EST) on Aug 14, 2008

Hi, welcome to LT and thanks for adding me to your "Interesting Libraries" list. I hope you enjoy the site as much as I do!

posted by stellarexplorer at 9:38 pm (EST) on Aug 7, 2008

Hi, welcome to LibraryThing, and thanks for the "Interesting Libraries" linkage.

- Bob

posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 7:26 pm (EST) on Aug 1, 2008

Hi Stilestrider

Fixed those tags thanks, much easier to see and fix the duplicates with the new tag page. I'm afraid I'm not getting as much outdoor enjoyment as I used to, too much time spent working. Still doing lots of reading though.

cheers
Andrew

posted by scotsguyinwales at 11:04 am (EST) on Jul 25, 2008

Thanks and no I've not read Hickman, although it is on my very looooooong to-be-read list.

posted by tanstaafl at 4:09 pm (EST) on Jul 24, 2008

Howdy, Stilestrider,

Thanks for finding my library to be of interest. We appear to share a liking for Bernard Cornwell and Boris Akunin, of the books I've actually read. We also share lots of Flashman and Forester books, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet. Besides Patrick O'Brian, my other nautical favorite is Dewey Lambdin's Alan Lewrie series, at least the first 6-8 books. The series has been described by some as Flashman on the high seas, though I gather the Lewrie character is a bit more brave than "Flashy." Anyway, it's pretty fun stuff, I think.

Take it easy,

bookstothesky

posted by bookstothesky at 10:55 pm (EST) on Jul 22, 2008

Hi Stilestrider
Thanks for the friends invite. Am stunned and amazed that you have managed to catalogue 861 books since the 13th!! See we have Jasper Fforde & JK Rowling as faves and also lots of gardening books. Welcome to LibraryThing - thoroughly agree with Devenish (who has one of the most interesting libraries I've found here)that it's a great site but beware, it's totally addictive!
Regards

posted by dorisdayrules at 2:10 pm (EST) on Jul 19, 2008

Hello Stilestrider,
Many thanks for adding me to your 'Interesting Libraries'. I am always pleased when someone does this as it shows that I must be doing something right with the way I am putting my collection together.
I see that you are from Birmingham and list the two Waterstones there as your favorite Bookshops (I know them well) Most of my buying is done in Cambridge at Heffers,albeit I do use Waterstones occasionally.
I also see that you have just joined,so let me welcome you to (what I think is) a really wonderful site.If you would like any help with any of the features,or indeed anything book orientated at all,please do not hesitate to let me know.
All the best.

posted by devenish at 11:11 am (EST) on Jul 18, 2008

Hello Stilestrider, in reply to your question about the book "Unterrichtsbuch für die weiblichen Hilfskräfte der deutschen Frauenvereine vom Roten Kreuz" I just checked your library. As I see it, you have added it correctly. All the best, Uwe

posted by UWde at 1:53 pm (EST) on Jul 16, 2008