Member: gerryw4655

Hi there
yes Shetland is a beautiful place. Not many trees but lots of hills, heather and sea. Sheep, Shetland Ponies and a wealth of bird life - including puffin colonies. Its a nature lovers paradise! At the moment there are several visiting cruise ships coming and going and lots of tourists who come by other means of transport. I love when the tourists come. To think some of them have travelled from the other side of the world to see our little group of islands, knowing they will not be disappointed.
I am so glad you like the photo of my little cat Magda. Don't be fooled by the serene, elegant pose! She is one feisty madam! But often she is also the sweetest little friend and I love her to bits. Our other cat Dougal is a cool dude! He's long haired too and very handsome. Biased? Me? lol
I will be having another peek at your library soon. I'm always on the lookout for new books. I found 4 in a charity shop today. Just can't resist!
OK I will go and get back to my book which I am enjoying.
I hope you and your loved ones are well.
Speak to you soon
Kate

posted by norderhoull at 3:17 pm (EST) on Jun 17, 2008

I don't use 43things, but now I have sen it I want to! Maybe later... I have a very time coming up, being bridesmaid and in charge of food at a friend's wedding in September, selling my house in October... Dreading the big throw out I will no doubt be forced to have.

posted by xantheselkie at 5:51 am (EST) on Jun 11, 2008

I see you have a couple of books about Churchill. Have you read the Roy Jenkins biography (just titled Churchill)? It is a great read, the only negative is the sheer size of the book makes it not great for reading outside of home.

posted by xantheselkie at 4:52 pm (EST) on Jun 8, 2008

Hi Gerry,
Thanks for your note. Yes - I am in Canada and do love Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Susan Howatch. It's been 5 years since the last new Howatch and I'm hoping for more fiction from her some day soon. I highly recommend the new book by Reeve Lindbergh, "Forward From Here" if you haven't read it - it's lovely.

http://www.librarything.com/work/4870180...

cheers!
Honor Bright

posted by HonorBright at 7:47 pm (EST) on Jun 1, 2008

Here are some NZ websites
http://www.christchurch.org.nz/ (my home town, yay!)
http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/home.h... (the other city in the South Island)
http://www.nz.com/new-zealand/guide-book...

I am currently looking for an American penpal, someone I can trade postcards, candy and letters with. If you know of anyone who might be keen that would be keen please let me know. My interests are reading (obviously), the SCA, history, crafts (cross stitch, knitting, sewing), pets and cooking.

posted by xantheselkie at 4:02 am (EST) on May 29, 2008

I always wanted to visit the American south. Probably due to lavish descriptions of food in books. You might find NZ a little weird, many Americans do. We can a bit stand offish (not into hugging or emtional gestures) and it isn't that we don't love our country but we aren't big on flag waving or anthem singing (most people only know the first verse). I do hope you make it out here sometime, I am sure you would like it. For all our taciturn grunting and understatement.

posted by xantheselkie at 6:45 am (EST) on May 27, 2008

Yep Fisher and Paykel are a big electrical manufacturer here, except they are moving all their manufacturing to Asia because they are cheap bastards.

posted by xantheselkie at 6:40 am (EST) on May 27, 2008

Yep in NZ. I use the public library a lot because books here are expensive

posted by xantheselkie at 8:47 pm (EST) on May 22, 2008

Hi Gerry,

No bookstore yesterday! Time with client and rain in NYC took care of that.

Email works better for me too. I will send an email later today from paulaspen@verizon.net.

Talk to you then,

Paul

posted by Paul9Aspen at 1:51 pm (EST) on May 21, 2008

Hello again Gerry,

I forgot to mention I am headed to New York City today to work with a client in the SOHO district. It just so happens there is a used book store a block away, full of uncataloged books and a great selection of books I have not seen before. As one book lover to another I though I would pass that along. depending on my day, i am sure I am sure I will have to stop.

Paul

posted by Paul9Aspen at 4:51 am (EST) on May 20, 2008

Hi Gerry,

I also am a huge admirer of Winston Churchill and to a lesser extent, FDR. Both were exceptional men during a troubled time who did not shrink from doing what they considered to be the correct course of action. In my opinion, they were "Statesmen", unlike some of the individuals we have "elected" to lead us over the past few years and that includes the United Kingdom.

I also have visted the cabinet war rooms, the Imperial War Museum and the RAF aerodrome in Hornchurch, center of the Battle of Britain and where I had an Aunt & Uncle live for many years. My Mother and Father both lived through the London Blitz and to the day she passed away a few years ago, my Mother remembered the war years and air raids as though they were a memory from yesterday, not 60 years ago, such was the psychological impact on her live.

I was born in 1945, during one of the worst air raids (V1) of the latter part of the war. We had a small family to begin with and it is even smaller now. I have a brother in Arizona, one sister in California and another in Montana (where my mother lived for many years). I only have an aunt and a cousin left in the UK (not related) and that is it. A lot of family records were destroyed during the war. I have returned many times and my accent comes back each time I return. My middle name, Cyril, is in memory of my Mother's brother, Cyril, who was a fighter pilot killed at 19 during the war.

I do not think you are weird or anything like that for being interested in the history of the time period in the UK. I am very interested in the Rennaissance period in history and usually attend one or two Rennaissance faires during the year. I usually don't tell many people that, also at the risk of being labeled weird. At one time I toyed with the idea of becoming a re-enactor but time has prevented me plus...I did read the cadre of re-enactors is a very "political" thing..something I do not do welle at. We shall see, later in life.

I have ordered "1001 Books you should read before you die" just to see how many I have to go....lol.

I enjoy conversing with you. Have a great day!

Paul

posted by Paul9Aspen at 4:29 am (EST) on May 20, 2008

Hello Gerry,

I am very interested.

I am always interested in the number of readers that might have the same books as I do and I have noticed that those readers tend to collect and read the same books; Royal Naval history, world history and British History which to me indicates they are probably in the same age range as I am, as I rarely meet younger men with the same (if any) reading interests.

Being born in the UK in 1945 I have an interest in all things British, from landscapes to "Austerity Britain", not its "good" side, which I am reading now. My work as a software consultant prevents me from reading as I used to when I was in school but I try to spread my time across my books and rarely leave a book shop without one. I joined Library Thing to catalog my Royal Navy book collection and and ended up cataloging all my books but alas, do not find the time to be online and "work" on my library as I would like. I love books also and my book count has topped 710 but pales in comparison to the individual profiled in a recent New York Times article with over 30,000 books!

Despite being a naturalized citizen who is as concerned about his adopted country during this time period as a lot of people, I will, nonetheless, always be British deep inside.

I congratulate you on being an Anglophile and wish you well in your reading endeavors.

Best regards,

Paul

posted by Paul9Aspen at 4:21 pm (EST) on May 18, 2008

a while ago you asked to friend me and I only just got your message, sorry

posted by xantheselkie at 4:54 am (EST) on May 13, 2008