Viragos in Venice - Winter of 2010 Salon

Our new 'first quarter headquarters' for the new year!

How wonderful! Venice is totally linked in my mind with great literature, not to mention being one of the most beautiful places on earth. Do we go back to a dorm room in the Youth Hostel after a day of revelry or have you rented us a private mansion?

We have several suites reserved in The Gritti Palace, a short walk from Piazza San Marco so we can frequent the cafes.

>4 lauralkeet:: Laura, that looks like a perfect room for practicing "prunes, prism, and papa."

I'll go any place where it's warm. It's currently -10°F here in Minnesota.

OOOOEEEEEE! I've always wanted Venice, especially 19th century Venice, so I'm going to spend a lot of time hanging out here!

(First thing I have to learn is not to say, "OOOOEEEEEE!")

Parliamo Italiano ... Anyone seen our dear Paola to guide us through the lingo .... How is the poor soul after the pneumonia?
Anywhere warm - but Rob dearest, have you checked out the Hotel? It is cold there as well, 37°F / 2°C... mmm ...but not as cold as Minnesota .... or Chilton!

Paolina is a little under the weather at the moment and could probably use some cheery messages to lift her up.

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a lovely Festive Season. I am much cheered - managed to see lots of friends - Kate and daughter Sandy before Christmas, Em and Chris and daughters Beth and Grace (twins aged 10 and HUGE readers, Beth emails me about her reading!) after Christmas, Tara and Alan and Matthew's baby god-daughter Micheline for New years, and old Uni friend Sarah and her daughter Amy today for lunch, followed by BookCrossing meetup with dear friends. Tomorrow back to run / lunch / cakes at the cafe with Gill and on Monday, last day off work, having lunch with ex-boyfriend's Mum. Phew!

Anyway I'm determined that 2010 will be more positive than 2009. And the good news is that a small savings plan has matured and dug me out of my financial hole (even though it didn't do so well) so I can offer some Virago books (see duplicates thread) and even have me a new winter coat!

Happy New Year everyone and thanks again for the care, laughter and interesting posts! Here's to many more...

Paola is right here, after another hospital adventure.
I am fine now, though!
I will be overjoyed to be your guide/interpreter in Venice, a city I love love love!
When are we going?

Paola -- keep yourself warm and healthy! Venice is far more inviting than hospitals!

I totally agree, Jane, although even Venice, at this time of the year, is pretty damp and cold.

Sheesh. Lumberton is damp and cold anyway. Think I wouldn't choose to be in Venice???
(Paola, recuperate, regroup, READ!)

Oh! I would choose to be in Venice too, as opposed to NY!

Ooh! Book me a suite at the Gritti Palace. The beds look sumptious, and that view from the dining room! I have always fancied a trip on a gondola!

Paola, get well soon so that you can be our guide.

And drinking Bellinis at Harry's Bar! whooo hoooo!

>17 tiffin:: mmmm ... we have Bellini mix in our fridge, purchased at the wine shop last summer in a moment of excited Venetian reminiscing. And we haven't even used it yet !!

Ooo -- Venice! One of my favorite cities. Are there any Viragos set in Venice, I wonder?

Ohhhhhhhhhh, bleuroses;
thank you so much for the lovely quarterly meeting place. I can feel myself there feeding the birds. Venice is so beautiful. And the accommodations so warm and inviting.
(sorry Rob.....hope you warm up soon. We are at a balmy 49.5 degrees here with lotz of rain.)
Happy New Year everyone. I hope our reading endeavors are mahvelously wonderful joys to our minds and hearts.
hugs to all,
belva
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VwU_oS2ErQ

O.K., Virago Sisters. I am one blessed woman, D.G., that it's not cancer or deaths in the family or any of the other bad stuff that comes to all of us.......but I did fall at church today and bruise my knee to the bone which is swollen about baseball size so far and hurts pretty much in spite of more Ibuprofen than the law (but not my doctor) allows.
Good things: The Fosamax isn't working; my osteoporosis worsens (that isn't the good news), but I didn't break anything. I really got away with one. THAT is good news!
Dear Husband is his own dear self and takes care of me
The pain could be a lot worse, so I'll stop whining.....but if anybody wants to say, "There, there," or "Poor Lizzie," I'll be very grateful.

There, there, poor Lizzie! Hope you feel better soon. Are you putting ice on it?

There there poor Lizzie. A kneecap the size of a coconut, but the compensation of drugs! I've sent you a message on PBS but in the meantime put the leg up and add a little alcohol to the drugs :)

There, there, poor Lizzie! I hope you feel better soon and, in the meantime, enjoy the pampering....:-))

There, there poor Lizzie -- I do empathize. I'm pretty prone to falls myself and always seem to land on the same knee -- I blame it for the arthritis there that's plaguing me. I second Barbara's prescription of a dose of alcohol -- very little a glass of wine can't cure.

Poor Lizzie - so distressing when a fall leaves you feeling so rotten, swollen legged and generally incapacitated. Much care and pampering winging its way across the pond xoxo

There! There! Poor Lizzie! Hope you are back on your feet soon. Meanwhile take this opportunity to get lots of TLC, read a book and share a glass of wine with your Hubby.

Oh dear - sorry to hear about your fall and hope you recover quickly!

Thank you all! That was absolutely perfect. And I am back to the couch because this sitting up is not fun.

There, there, poor Lizzie. Use this time to your advantage sweet girl. The couch is good. Elevate that leg but put something under the knee so as not to hyper-extend it. Alternate heat and ice. Take your meds and read a really good book and then come back and tell us all about it.
Will be thinking of you.
warm gentle hug,
belva

>19 aviddiva: I was sure there WAS a Virago book set in Venice, but have been taking the past week or so to try to put my finger on it. Finally I have, though I am sorry to say it isn't a Virago book, though it is a Virago author. Kate O'Brien's The Flower of May depicts a love story between the protagonist and a city, Venice. It's more intricate than that, of course, but that was the simplistic way I remembered it.

LizzieD, keeping that leg up for a while sounds like a very good idea. Knees are so fragile. I hope yours will be doing better very soon.

Poor Lizzie! So sorry about your terrible fall. Excellent advise from our Virago ladies above - and I second that little glass of wine! Take care, dear girl.

Oh Lizzie, my heart goes out to you. I, too, worry about falls because I suffered from a concussion as a result of a fall earlier this year and because I too have osteoporosis.

Two words for 2010.....Calcium and Fiber!

Fiber .... do you mean fibre....? :)))))

Ma naturalmente! Quello che pensavo! Sì, Fibre!

WOW!~! I did not know!~!

>#s 19 & 31;
Just checked and am so excited as I have that book!~! Yea!~! Now just to find the time to read it. Thanx for the rec!~!
belva

What is the matter with you, Cate? Is it the influence of Venice's air?
I did not know you speak Italian.....:-))

Oh dear Lizzie, did you know that you would have dozens of Viragoites rushing about and getting you ice and drinks and advice and books! I do hope you are feeling better.

Lizzie, please don't mix alcohol with tylenol - you could do irreparable liver damage. I lost a close friend that way.

And poor, poor Lizzie. Much empathy. I fell in November and have a blowout fracture of the orbital floor under my eye and a totally messed up left hand now. Falling totally stinks.

~36 Miss Cate - I could have sworn I read that message en francais last night!!

Oh - what a ghastly injury - are you better now dear friend?

If we are not very careful we will need a thread dedicated to FALLS .... !

I agree Julie. This is a dangerous thread!~!
Tui.............that was a horrible fall you took!~!
Lizzie............listen to all the good advice and get better very soon.
hugs to all,
belva

Good afternoon dear Viragoite friends - I would just like to share some news here in this Venetian Piazza.

My dear Mummy is very unwell. Some of you may 'know' her from the picture on my 1010 category reading challenge thread. The one, where in 1930, at the age of 15 she is waving farewell from a train carriage en route to Paris for a school trip!!!

On Friday my work took me to a Headship appointment at a school in Windsor. I needed to return post haste following the appointment as dear Mummy had been taken critically ill with a chest infection. Never fear, Keith was with her and I was confident. Hence I went straight to the nursing home – Windsor to Wantage – all in good time and with no speed limits broken!

As you may imagine I have spent the time with her or at the Convent (anglican) which is ‘just round the corner’. Went to Vespers yesterday, the sisters know Mummy and are praying for her. We also went with James (curate) to pray with her, anoint and bless her in the evening. At present I sense her life is in the balance.

I simply wish to share this with you as I am not quite my usual self as I am sure you will all understand.

Should you be curious the convent website (yes they have one!) is here. http://www.csmvonline.org.uk/page-homepage.html

One is meant to be able to see and hear it all over the world - unlike some sites we know. You can even hear their singing and see their creativity. They are wondrous ladies and regardless of faith or otherwise I think they would fit in very well here!!!

Adding my thoughts and prayers to those already in motion, Julie. Kindest thoughts to you too. It doesn't matter how old they are or how old we are, our mothers are our mothers.

All my prayers and positive thoughts too, dear friend. I hope she will be better soon.
Tui is absolutely right: no matter how old they are, they are our mothers and, as such, very important to us.

Julie -- many well-wishing thoughts for you and your mother. I'm sure your time together is blessed.

Dearest Julie, May the blessings and healing energy of that lovely convent and her sisters, hold your mother in prayers for returning health, peace and soulful nurturing. Gentle thoughts to you, dear friend.

Likewise Julie. I lost my mother two years ago and know what you are feeling.

Thinking of you, Julie.

My thoughts and hopes are with you, Julie.

48> What!!!! no Serenissima by Erica Jong?

Well, Jane, didn't she mostly see the inside of a bedroom with her gigolo? She could have been on Baffin Island.

ETA: said humourously, of course.

Julie, Thinking of you and your family.

Serenissima? No way!

Julie, I will be thinking of you. I lost my mom two months before my thirteenth birthday, and I still miss her. Take care.

Love,
Mary

Dear Julie, I am one of the praying ones too. God hold all our mothers close!

Julie, I'm thinking of you and your family too.

Ladies - I am overwhelmed and deeply touched. Thank you. I somehow sensed that this was the place to come and share our journey. x

Thank you for your thoughts and prayes. We have been with Mummy since yesterday morning at the Nursing Home. She has had a peaceful night and now we are watching and waiting. x

I'm thinking of you and your family, Julie. There's a very special bond between daughters and mothers, and I miss my Mum every day. It sounds as if your mother is being looked after very well. xx

Sending thoughts and prayers to you and yours, Julie. Take care.

Julie, I'm thinking of you and your family too.

I am too, Julie. x

Thinking of you and your family Julie ((hug))

Dear Julie, I've been thinking of you, too, although I've shamefully allowed the unread Virago group messages to pile up, and even more shamefully missed sending you birthday greetings. May grace and peace continue to be with you.

Candlemas is almost upon us. It was one of my favorite times when we lived in England, seeing the snowdrops in bloom, and feeling the earth turning more and more into the sun. I hope that for you it's a season of light.

Dear Julie;
I am still in prayer for your mum and your entire family. You are so on my heart and in my thoughts.
Blessings on you, my dear.
gentle hugs,
belva

And dear Rob;
Just what is Candlemas? It sounds both heavenly and delightful the way you spoke of it.
belva

Rob, we have snowdrops forecast for tomorrow, but not the flowery kind, unfortunately.

Rob - I arrived in England first as a child in Nov 1957. We stayed with a great aunt and to give her some peace and quiet we kids were thrown out in all weathers. On one such occasion we went for a walk in Abbey Wood which was carpeted in snow drops - it would have been Jan/Feb 1958. How lovely that it has a name.

Here are snowdrops, blooming near Kenilworth, Warwickshire, on Candlemas 2007.



Candlemas, in the Christian calendar, is the festival of Christ's Presentation in the Temple. It coincides with an ancient pagan festival, Imbole, and with Ground Hog's Day. There's a lovely poem by Robert Herrick about Candelmas Eve, which was a traditional time to take down the Christmas decorations (there's also a lovely Kate Rusby version of Herrick's poem). I think Candlemas got its name from the blessing of the church candles for the coming year on this feast day.

Thank you Rob and how very lovely!~!

Oh Julie, You and your mum are in my thoughts and prayers. A warm embrace to you.

Julie, are you ok? Concerned that you tried to write something and were unable.

Tui, Julie's Mom passed away. I found out on FaceBook.

Oh dear.

Julie my dear - I am so sad for you. My mother has been gone two years and I still talk to her every day. You are in my thoughts.

Barbara

My heart goes out to you, Julie. Lovely photo on the remembrances thread (thanks Cate).

Dear Julie, I'm so sorry.

Thank you, Paola.

Julie, I am so sorry. Keeping you close in thought.

Julie, so sorry. My thoughts are with you.

I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you.

I am sorry - I did try to post a picture but was so upset when I couldn't post my picture here - I gave up. Love you all xoxo

Oh Cate - thank you dear heart for posting it ....

Julie, my dear;
I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that God will be with you and your family in this time of trouble.
May the good Lord bless and keep you.
xoxo
belva

Julie -- my heart goes out to you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Posted here as well for for additional blessings and condolences...

In Memoriam for our dear Julie's mum, Mrs. Marjory Hudson. May 28th 1915 - January 28th 2010. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest....

Thinking of you, Julie.

Julie, I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you.

Thinking of you, Julie.

My deepest sympathy, Julie.

I'm so very sorry, Julie.

I see that our dear Belva has changed her LT name to rainpebble!

She is the sneaky one, isn't she. ;)

I'm so sorry to hear Julie's news. My thoughts are with you and your family.

>95 sqdancer: - Ah, but she'll never be able to hide from us!!!

In the new Capuchin Classics Newsletter the following titles are being reissued:

Jan 2010:
Non Combatants and others by Rose Macaulay

May 2010:
The Man Who Loved Children
Maurice Guest
Peking Picnic

July 2010:
Highland Fling by Nancy Mitford

They've already published Storm Jameson's Love in Winter.

Don't they look great!! Oh, we are all doomed.....

Pssssssssst bleuroses & sqdancer;
I am only attempting to hide from Mother U.
Tell no one.
hugs,
belva

Understood *passes belva a dark cloak*

Oooh! I like 'rainpebble'!

It is a beautiful photo, it show spirit and good humor. I am still thinking of you dear Julie.

Dear Friends - thank you so very much. We had a most joyful celebration of Mummy's life this morning with music,hymns, readings and tributes. It was a privilege for me to have been her daughter - and for that I am so truly thankful.

How lovely that it was both joyful and a celebration, Julie. It is so heartwarming to read that you feel thankful for your relationship. I find my dear Dad in my heart when I need him the most. I hope it will be that way for you.

I cannot but agree with Tui's words.

It is good that is was such a joyful heartfelt day of remembering.

So wonderful to be able to make the cycle of life a celebration of a life well lived.

>103 juliette07:: warms my heart.

This is a peace which passes understanding - which is not to say that you won't have hard days. But, dear Julie, you have a legacy that you will cherish and that you are already handing on.

Hey ladies (and gentlemen), could I please have some of those famous prayers/vibes/thoughts for my friend Sorcha? She is one of our fantastic BookCrossing ladies, a good group of friends, and she has had a sudden and scary loss of vision, currently undergoing loads of neurological tests. Her Mum and Sister are with her and once we'd tracked her down to the Hospital (she'd tweeted from the other Hosp but it took us a while to trace her - Mum now has my mobile no in her phone!) I managed to go and visit her today. She's in good spirits but pumped full of steroids and very tired.

No one really knows what's the matter, so please thoughts to heal her, to let her have a good night's sleep tonight (she's being allowed out to go home for the night, back in the morning) and her Mum, who has just got through a health issue of her own too.

Thanks all! I know you'll come good

Liz x

Consider it done, Liz!

Absolutely Liz - how frightening to have such a sudden loss of sight.

Thank you both. She seems to be holding up well but it's so scary as they have no idea what it could be (although one can easily imagine what it *could* be if you see what I mean)

Hey Liz - pretty scary scenario for the poor woman. Let us know what they decide although I presume they are looking at MS as a possibility? If so, please tell her that I had a friend at Uni who went blind temporarily, was diagnosed with MS and then never had another symptom - and I knew her almost 20 years after that.

Absolutely Liz. Prayers and positive healing thoughts coming Sorcha's, her family's and your way. What a dear friend you are.
hugs,
belva

Dear Julie,

I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I lost my mother when I was 2 months away from my thirteenth birthday. I was devastated. How we miss the ones we love. They carry parts of us away with them. But we will always carry part of them with us.

As for belva,

GO TO THE NAUGHTY ROOM NOW!!! DO NOT THINK YOU FOOLED MOTHER U FOR EVEN ONE MOMENT. DEMERITS ARE ON THEIR WAY.

I really need a trip to Venice. The rain here is really getting me down. It rained all last spring, summer, fall, and now winter. And, I am exhausted. I have just spent two weeks with my father trying to untangle some legal messes. If only he would listen to me in the first place, life would be so much simpler. I always come back from these visits wiped out and depressed. I would say, I need comfort, but in light of the tragedies with which so many other dear ones on this thread have had to deal, I sound like a whiner.

Hugs to you, dear Mary.
I hope the rain stops and, with the sun coming back, you will be your usual cheerful self.
:-))

Dear Mary, if it's any consolation, the one time I went to Venice was in February and it rained the whole time. I'm sending you virtual sunshine and hopes for comfort where you are.

Dear Liz, sending healing karma from your friend Sorcha (and her mother!). Any news today?

Dear Mary, you have sunshine in your being that can never be extinguished. It will shine again soon, I know.

glitter-graphics.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZtQh5EIgWQ

gentle, warm & healing hugs Mary,
belva

Dear Liz, sending healing thoughts for your friend Sorcha.

Sending cheerful thoughts to dear Mary.
*attempts to package up some of the (currently rare) sunshine outside my window*

Oh Mary, how I can relate to your blues: November, December & January have been grey, grey, grey. You should see a change in March; we northernerly types have to wait until mid April - although my brother always says he feels his spirits lift after Valentine's Day. We live in hope! In the meantime, we'll carry on being Brontes, in our damp dark vicarages on the moor.

Sending cheery sunny thoughts out - we had a lovely day of weather today and I walked home from work in glorious sunshine!

Thanks to all who are thinking of and praying for Sorcha. No news as yet, but she can't read email and texts at the moment and I don't think Mum and Sis will have time to... I did get a text this morning to say they appreciated that we're all thinking of her. So, a waiting game. I'm tending towards thinking it might be an MS thing but obviously we don't know yet.

I just want to know what we're up against, then we can mobilise the BookCrossing Birmingham ladies, rotas etc. But we just have to wait and hope. Thank you again all on here thinking of us!

sunshine and light and sight to all...

How terrifying for your friend, Liz. I hope they can get to the bottom of it very soon.

Liz, hope you have some news soon. Best wishes to your friend.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts for my friend Sorcha. She remains pretty well the same (but not declining or in immediate danger), and has reported this morning that there is a "mixed" improvement in her sight. A rest day at home for her today after yesterday in the hospital - tomorrow she has tests at the eye place.

I'm quite exhausted from keeping people up to date about it, worrying, checking for updates etc etc. I'd be OK if I didn't have the old money thing still dragging on and Other Half in the worst month of his SAD - everyone else I know with SAD starts to come out of it in Feb, he dips right down... still having to make sure he is OK prevents me from indulging in falling apart, I think!

Anyway sorry to bang on and thanks to everyone who has thought of us. And hope everyone else is a) OK b) getting through it (strike out where applicable)

LyzzyBee;
Is SAD the winter time light deprivation thing? I never did know the proper terminology for it.
thanx,
warm hug,
belva

Hugs and strength to you, dear Lyzzy, and to Sorcha as well.
Let's hope the improvements continue.

small wet rock, SAD = Seasonal Adjustment Disorder. Most people have it going into the winter months but some (more rare) have it coming out of them as well.

Well, smart arse;
My husband has had it forever. We didn't know it until about 20 years ago we built his shop and filled it with banks of florescent tube lights and he has been a changed man ever since. He just goes out there three or four evenings a week and messes around on his metal lathe (as big as an elephant) and his other toys and he stays all better all year round. I can't even tell that he has it. He used to be so bad that he wouldn't talk all winter long.
And when the kids were little and made his "special Christmas presents", they would take them to him and weeks later the gifts would still be there on the table by his chair unopened. It broke their hearts. We always just thought that he was mad at us all the time. Had NO idea it was a real medical condition.
I have also heard that you can get portable lighting especially for this purpose and just sit beside it in your comfy chair and watch the telly or read or whatever for a couple of hours a day.
Just an idea of something that worked for one special man and might help another.
signed,
small wet rock

Small wet rock! That is hilarious and I'm very afraid is going to stick.

>134 romain:: oh yes. stick it shall.

Thank you everyone! Feeling quite a lot better today after a good session in yoga. Nice to just have some time for myself.

Matthew has a daylight lamp which he uses every morning - it's wonderful and has really made a difference. He even knows to start it in September now, without prompting, after a few years - you're getting SAD, no I'm not, yes you are you're sat in a corner not speaking to anyone! But he gets this real dip right at the end of SAD season in Feb which is a bit odd but might just be the change in season.

We are all pulling together to support Sorcha and that's fantastic, another lady is monitoring her Tweets now so there are two of us updating the group of friends - makes it a lot easier.

And the money - meh. I'm going to assume I'm not getting it back. I'm not destitute, I have some birthday money and Amazon vouchers from Xmas and Bday plus a good fat To Be Read shelf, so I'm not going to run out of treats any time soon.

(((hugs))) to you all - you're a marvellous tonic!

I'm late to the event, but LB, I'm sorry so much is happening at once, and equally glad for every sign of hope!
And as for SWR ------ words fail me.
(And I tried that quiz or one like it and ended up "Naji" or something like that. I hereby name myself Water Sound, and I don't think that will stick.)

I started A Virago Modern Classics group GoodReads to bring more into our lovely fold. There is a small group who are reading Elizabeth Taylor for February. Please join us!

Sibyx - Are you new to this site? I looked at your profile. Are you Lucy?

Anyway everyone should look at Sib's site to see her book rating system, including the Forster quote that 'the only test of a novel is our affection for it'.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/sibyx

Hope this works :)

I am blushing ..... --- and if you are all very very good I'll reveal the rest of the story about the half-read book.

>136 LyzzyBee: my husband struggles with SAD too - winter used to be grim, it's better now because he goes somewhere sunny for a few days sometimes twice a winter, one year he went three times, I MADE him go for three days the third time. Amazing the effect it had. Lasts about ten days. That with the lights helps enormously.

We were calling our daughter Elizabeth, lizzybee, but when she was 1 1/2 she shortened it to ZB!

oops, third edit, I am indeed a newby -- just over one month as a member. I'm in the exact middle of my 50's. Was a total virago nut during the eighties, it has cooled a little, for no reason other than I veered down other pathways.... but now I'm back.

Lucy

Lucy, we are very happy to welcome you among us.

Welcome Lucy. We are so happy to have you with us. Another Voiragoite! Yea!~!~!~!~!
warm, welcoming hugs,
belva

Had to edit to say that I LMBFAO when I went to your profile page and read through your rating system. How do you remember all of that?
And I love your profile pic. It just doesn't get any cuter than that baby.

Belva, I just love this site, was just telling my husband (we're all home, he's been out shoveling) how much and then your note! I like to make puns and jokes, I can't help it, and on some other groups.... hmm.... people are kind but not amused.

I am a total corgi 'person' (it was an accident, I swear) but must confess that was sent to me, not of one of my own dears. I have a raft of cute enough to make you vomit (hm - that would be CETMYV?) pictures of corgis, though. Cats, also. I'm very open-minded.

re the SAD -- don't you think it was also some help just to KNOW -- I think that has helped my fella more than anything else. He's not crazy, in other words.

Welcome Lucy - this is a marvellous site and being a former Virago nut you will enjoy being here:-))

Another warm welcome Lucy - I am sure you will feel at home here :)

Lucy, you won't be a former Virago nut for long! Come on over to the dark side ... :)
Welcome!

One can't ever be a former Virago, not really. .. ... I vividly remember my initial delight when these amazing green books kept appearing like magic on the the shelves of my then favorite bookstore (Wit and Wisdom in Burlington VT - long since gone, although I still have many bookmarks as they put one in every book!) The sheer variety and dimension of the stories was incredibly inspiring -- and how much I liked them -- there are so few that I didn't love -- and the fact that so many of the Virago books have aged beautifully proves how good the writing is..... I can tell too, that I have some catching up to do, and I know that you will all be eager to fill in the gaps. -- I've put in maybe 1/2 of what I've read and formerly owned -- I live somewhat nomadically and I leave trails of books wherever I go, my favorite repository being a small (but growing) public library in Vermont.

Good news: Sorcha is doing well, they have identified the problem as an inflamed optic nerve (but not a tumour etc) which they are treating with steroids; she has regained a bit more sight and is managing to see email with a magnifier on the screen (she was reduced to texting to twitter cos her sister tidied up her internet connection leads!!). She is off work and at home and we are sorting out a rota for seeing her or tempting her for a cuppa in town every day or so.

And I managed to have a blood test this morning with minimal fuss and screaming, even when she couldn't get it the first time! Yay for hypnotherapy though I wouldn't recommend crossing our High St while in a Hypnotised State... anyway this was a REALLY big thing for me and I'm so proud of myself.

A nice book event on Sunday for Valentine's Day and I've got a nice solid bit of work for my proof-reading business - so things going well and I thought I'd share that!

Dear LBee, thank you for Good News, Good News, Good News!
Wonderful for Sorcha! Wonderful for you and the blood-letting (my veins roll, so I can empathize with the re-stick). Wonderful for the proof-reading business! I had thought about something in that line for my retirement, but I have neither the inclination nor the energy at the moment. And so far I haven't needed to augment the income so that's happy all around.

Presumably an inflamed nerve can become un-inflamed with rest Liz? Sounds very do-able and I wish her the best.

Good news about Sorcha! Hope she has a speedy recovery.

And here's a laugh for you all if you don't mind the self-promotion - I appear on youtube in a video about my Valentine's Day event... and you can see my BookCrossing hobby in action too

http://iambirmingham.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-lovers-meet-on-valentines-day.htm...

I do love the comment about the toilet...!!!!

Oh Liz, I am so glad to hear about your friend and will hold continued good thoughts for her.

Welcome Lucy. I am glad you are here.

And, Mary I hope sunshine heads your way soon.

Lizzy - well done with the film - great idea and so good to see you in action. Yup - the toilet comment was very special!!!

Wonderful news, Lizzy! I am very glad to read it.

Great video, Lizzy -- yeah for self-promotion done in a good cause!

Good for you, LBee! I hope that Sunday's event will be everything you hope for!

What a wonderful idea. Now I'm wishing I lived in Birmingham!

My son is sitting on the other side of the room eating his breakfast and he spluttered on his cornflakes when he heard the toilet comment. I didn't even know he was listening!

Wonderful video LyzzyBee! I enjoyed seeing you.
And may I have a latte please?

The first girl I ever fell head over heels in love with* is offering her first novel in the Member Giveaway program. She's also doing an author chat next month.

(*An ultimately heartbreaking college romance between a small town American boy and an Indian girl from Mumbai, pulled apart by cultural differences.)

oh Rob ...... sounds lovely, the book I mean! We need a thread for 'the first girl/boy I ever fell head over heels in love with'!!! I bet many of us have a story or two or three!!

158 - hee hee! I laughed out loud myself to be honest! Matthew also claims I say we are "setting up Ethiopian women with goatherds" when of course I said "goat herds" !!! Anyway glad I've doled out some smiles!

#162

Missed the goatherds bit! Now I'm tempted to watch it again! Hope it goes well tomorrow.

#160,

I followed your first link and what a woman! A stunningly beautiful, intelligent and independent thinking artist and architect who has now written a novel. I can kind of see what you saw in her :)

~160
Oh thanks Rob, I missed the link earlier on - what a lady.

~162
Lizzy - hope it goes really well tomorow.

Are there any Viragos set in Venice? I'll be there in May and would like to take at least one VMC along.

Ummmmm, Andrew................I think I am a Virago.
belva

I need a LONG vacation.

Venice in May sounds lovely.

Venice right now sounds lovely.

Venice anytime sounds lovely!~!

>165 Leseratte2: Andrew, see posts 31 and 48 in this thread. Also I think some of Edith Wharton's stories are set in Venice.

I am afraid that Venice, right now, might not be that lovely!

Hi all, just to say the Book Dating event went wonderfully yesterday - thank you all for wishing it well! The auction after the book dating was HILARIOUS, I thought people would bid 10p for a book or so and the others would be ignored but no, there were bidding frenzies and R. J. Ellory did a fantastic job as auctioneer. We raised over £170 for the charity, LUCIA, too, which I am so pleased about as really it was meant to be an awareness raising event!

I have got shin splints stopping me running, and a heavy cold stopping me do anything (luckily the sinus pain hasn't kicked in yet so I'm ok for reading) and I don't really mind as I think that's my body's way of saying STOP already for a bit. So I will.

Congratulations on successful Book Dating event. Sounds like it was lots of fun. I am just recoverin' from an 'orrible cold and you have my sympathy. Hope you are feeling better soon and running about again.

Great news about your friend, Liz! I hope she continues to improve!

Welcome, sibyx ... not that I'm snooping or anything, but I did happen to look at your profile and see that you're currently reading Juliet, Naked. I just finished it, so I wonder what your take is. Though that discussion probably doesn't belong here in VMC-Land.

Congratulations, Lyzzy!

There's a black Dial copy of The Sugar House at paperbackswap right this second if anybody needs/wants it.

>171 aviddiva: Thanks for the tip, Liz - I have Flower of May so I think I will bring that along. I can't remember where The Aspern Papers is in the James œuvre - if it's late Henry James, I think I'll pass.

>172 aluvalibri: Paola, what's happening in Venice? It won't be submerged by May, will it?

Andrew I was in Venice in May and the weather was perfect for sightseeing. I have also been there in August when it pelted with rain and was absolutely awful. You'll get the weather you get :)

And another profundity from the "yips" of Barbara!~!
belva


glitter-graphics.com

This isn't a VMC, but if I were going to Venice I think I'd take Miss Garnet's Angel.

No, Andrew, Venice in May will be just perfect!

Belva - if only that was my mouth! With the sexy face that probably goes with it! Sigh... However I have a feeling that sexy lady doesn't read much.

(Well, if she does, I guess she lip reads....)

Ha, ha,ha..........that was a good one LizzieD!~!~!
And you are probably correct Barbara. If she reads books, they are most likely Angela Carter's
belva

I'm thinking of two Venice movies -- one is Danish called Italian Lessons -- a group who've been studying Italian go on a trip to Venice. The other is Italian and I can't remember the title -- the woman (Anna something) gets left behind at a rest stop on the autoroute and makes her way to Venice where she makes a new life for herself.

Belva - did you mean Angela Carter?

Barbara;
Watchootalkinbout?????????????????????
belva

Here's what everybody knows already, that Madame Rainpebble is a dear. I'm just sayin' it again.

When you've been with us a little longer Lucy you will find that she is really a very naughty girl. And this is what she is getting from me for next Christmas!

http://www.ipgbook.com/showbook.cfm?bookid=184408471X&userid=EBC26F4E-3048-6...

Ha hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barbara, you are a hoot!!!!!!!

uh oh, and I thought you all wore blue stockings....

Yeah, right! ;-)

>186 sibylline: Pane e tulipani. I really liked that movie.

Oh yes! "Pane e tulipani" was lovely story.

"Agata e la tempesta" (I may have that title wrong) was a bit of a letdown after "Pane"; I wanted to like it, but it never really came together for me.

I never saw "Agata e la tempesta", Andrew.

Paola - It was directed by Soldini, who also made Pane, which was why I rented it. It had good elements but they never gelled.

Since I trust your judgment, I will not rent it.

A little piece of good news to share with my dear Virago friends .... (and please forgive the double posting)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a grandson is given :)



Daughter Sarah is the proud new mum to baby George born at 3:15am on the 28th February weighing 8lbs 10 1/2 oz.......2 and a half hour labour and home by 9:15 the same day.

OMG Julie - what a beautiful baby!! Your first grandchild? And such a short labor!

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your Grandson George.

He is beautiful - and BIG!
Congratulations to George and Sarah and you and everybody concerned........Get ready to dote and spoil!

What a keeper! I am envious. Absolutely adorable -- congratulations!

He's adorable. Congratulations Julie!

Congratulations to all the family - how lovely!

Congratulations to all. He is beautiful! Now I must start thinking of something else or I will become broody...

*Goes off to count her viragos*

What a honey! Congratulations!!

What a beautiful baby. Don't you know that newborns are not supposed to be that lovely. Congratulations to the entire family.
And it is just soooo special when our daughters have their babies. Enjoy, sweet Julie.
hugs,
belva

I thought perhaps that some of our Virago group might like to be in the know.
A Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway Group Read began today (and I think he is running it for two weeks) and is being hosted by none other than our St. Richard.
For those interested this is the beginning thread:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/groupreadlatewinter2

Please join us. It should be good; the read and the discussion.
belva

Thank you all so much dear Virago friends for sharing our joy! You were all so wonderful when we lost Mummy ... now I thought it was right to share such joyful news :))

Well done for posting that Belva - great I saw it but never got round to sharing!

Congratulations, Grandma Julie! That's a very respectable weight in young George...very glad to read that your daughter seemed to handle it with aplomb. He looks so peaceful, all sweet and swaddled.

I renew my congratulations, dearest Julie. You all deserve so much happiness!

P.S. He is absolutely gorgeous!!

Sweet Baby George....what a bundle of love he is! Congratulations Grandma Julie, you must be in seventh heaven!

How lovely, congratulations Julie! (and to the proud parents).

I was staying with my daughter at the weekend and she is just moving from "I'm never having any children" to admitting that some babies are quite cute and perhaps it would be be a possibility in the future... She's only 21 and not in a permanent realationship (though there's a fairly long-term boyfriend) so it's not imminent but at least there's a prospect of grandmotherhood in the future.

Congratulations, Julie- what an adorable baby!

Thank you again dear friends of a Virago persuasion! All are well if a little tired. x

Our middle granddaughter (19 1/2) was only 4-5 weeks pregnant and had been - for almost 3 weeks - under her doctor's care with spotting and bleeding. She ended up putting her in the hospital Thursday late afternoon diagnosed with an etopic pregnancy. Her body was having a hard time throwing it by itself but they were able to help it along with shots of some sort. She got to leave Saturday morning. She called her mother, who lives 6 hours away and she left work, (she is a massage therapist), ran home and got the older sister and her baby and the younger sister and they all came over Snoqualmie Pass and the younger one went to Daddy's and he and Mom and big sis and baby spent the night at the hospital with Haley. Then they all went to Daddy's the next day when she got out. Mom and younger sis went home Monday. Big sis and baby are still here with her at their dad's. What a wonderful and supportive big sister.
I am so thankful that they didn't have to do surgery. She is uncomfortable, sore and incredible grouchy. She doesn't want to talk about anything medical pertaining to her. But she wants to hold that baby all the time. Baby is two months old now and eleven pounds.
Haley went in yesterday to have blood drawn and had an appointment with her doctor today.
I know she will be okay. It will just take time.
It saddens me that she won't talk about it, but I know that everyone deals with their pain in different ways and so Haley will find her own way. And she knows we are all here for her and loving her through this even though we aren't saying anything.
belva

Belva, I'm so sorry-- it's awful to lose a baby, even early in the pregnancy. For what it's worth, when I miscarried (at 10 weeks) I didn't want to talk either. Partly, I think that in addition to the grief, which was awful, there was a feeling of guilt, as though there was something shameful about it. I think because women are often advised not to tell others about a pregnancy until after the "safe" date of 14 weeks, the pregnancy feels like something you have to hide "in case things don't work out," and if they DON'T work out, you feel somehow responsible and as though you ought to hide that, too.

Yeh, I can second that too; guilt, it was "my fault" (that took a few years to get over) etc etc. Just leave a space for her to talk when she needs to - which I'm sure you will, such a loving and supportive family.

On an aside, I am so pleased so many of us have such lovely supportive families. I'm on my own but have lovely OH and wonderful friends; it's lovely to hear about all the support, love and care you have in your lives.

Belva, before my daughter was born, I had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and almost died.
I am really glad your granddaughter did not have to go through that, even though an ectopic (even without rupture) is no pleasant experience.
The good thing is that she is so young and thus she will recover very quickly. Best wishes to her.

I affirm all of that, Belva, and thank you for letting us know. My aunt also nearly died 40+ years ago with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and went on to have a wonderful son. Time is a great healer in more ways than one!

Belva -- I'm very sorry to hear about what happened to your granddaughter. I too have experienced pregnancy loss and found that the grief was overwhelming. Maybe it's because of the body already gearing up to care for a baby, which then it is left unable to do, but I too became a little baby obsessed afterward. The advice that others have given about giving her a little time and a little room until she's ready to talk when she's ready seems just right. It takes a little while. I had many friends who were there for me and knew what had happened but didn't make me talk about it until I was ready, which allowed me to talk when I felt more capable of doing so. I couldn't talk about it right away, but eventually did. It was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced, and so I really feel for your granddaughter and send her my prayers and best wishes for recovery.

Belva - thinking of you and yours at this time. Here are we celebrating whilst your dear granddaughter is so bereft - you have love and prayers from across the pond. x

Thinking of you and your family Belva, and I hope she feels better as time goes on. I have been luck not to experience miscarriage but have seen several friends try to cope with their loss, and it has been a slow, sad process.

My heart goes out to you and your granddaughter, Belva. It sounds as if she has the right people around her to help the healing process, even if that doesn't involve talking for a while.

As the messages here attest, pregnancy loss is quite common. When it happens to you, you feel so alone. I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks and was so sad, but as I shared it with others I was comforted by many who had been through similar experiences. I hope it is the same for your granddaughter.

Thank you all for your caring and kind concerned hearts and thoughts for Haley and the rest of the family. It is such a HUGE blessing that Erin, (the 23 1/2) year old has her new 2 month old. She is sticking right with her little sister Haley, and taking her to her blood draws and Doctor apts, and just being with her and it is helping Haley a lot.
I have patience, faith & trust. I know that she will turn to someone when she is ready to and needs to talk about this and it doesn't matter who is is as long as they are loving, caring & supportive. Our Haley is going to be fine.
Thanks again.
luv n hugs,
belva

All day I've come back to this thread over and over trying to figure out something helpful to say..... I had many many miscarriages (you do NOT want to know) before having my daughter and it was...... there are no words, frankly...... So -- my heart goes out to your grand-daughter and all of you. Family and acceptance and patience and small sweet gestures. A friend brought a cup of hand-picked wild raspberries, my mother would come and leave these beautiful piles of folded laundry in our room.... that's what my husband and I never forget.

Belva this is something I have no experience of but I did wait years to get pregnant at all. The whole baby thing is so fraught for so many of us. I also read your message and thought Lucky girl to have all that support! Hopefully she'll conceive again in happier circs. Thinking of you.

Belva - all the things I wanted to say have already been said and I can only add my prayers and best wishes for Haley to come through her grief and loss as well as she can in her own time - sisters can be such wonderful support when they need to be. Best wishes.

Dear Belva and Virago Sisters all, blessings on you. Pain and joy and joy and pain - I don't know, but you have my heart.

Thank you all.
She (Haley) is doing well. I saw her today and of course she had her little niece clutched to her bosom. She & Erin (big sis and new mommy) were getting ready to go to their mother's in Eastern Washington and pick up Erin's car, take baby in for her Dr. appt, etc. They plan to come back on Monday. Erin won't leave Haley's side and is taking very good care of her. But I am confident that she is doing well and will continue to do so. She is strong. I think our whole family is pretty strong. I am the wimp of the family and I can still hang on by my fingernails when I need to so all will be well.
BTW; If any of you would like to see a picture of my brother with his three gorgeous daughters, (mom was taking the picture), I have changed my profile picture to show them for a few days. He lives in Alaska and I haven't seen him in a couple of years and was just missing him so I hung him up on my profile page. hee hee Now I can see him whenever I want. :-)
hugs,
belva

What a hunk Belva and the girls are gorgeous. And I mean gorgeous. I scrolled thru your other pics. Are you in any of them?

I asked the same question, Barbara, and the answer was that no, she is not in any...:-((

Well, get a picture of that small wet rock on here! If she looks anything like her brother, she's a winner. Oh.....we already knew that.
Meanwhile, my friend and yours, Ms. Lucy, has a hot review - as some discriminating Viragos have already noted on the Sylvia Warner Townsend thread. Kudos and beams of pride, ma'am!

Belva those girls are so beautiful!

And gosh! Thank you all, I am tickled! I think it might be the first time the word 'hot' has been used in the same sentence as my name....... BTW I just posted a review of Angela Thirkell's Ankle Deep - not a Virago, a Moyer Bell. But I've noticed Thirkell has a lot of fans among Viragos......:)

Oh good, re the Thirkell review (and I love Moyer Bell editions). I'm just getting to know her.

Excellent review, Lucy! Gave it a thumbs up to keep your hotness alive.

A quick update - my friend Sorcha is doing so well, she has a sensible and irreverant attitude to her vision loss (she enjoyed going to a new shop/gallery opening, picking up (small framed) pictures and we were waiting for someone to challenge her so I could shout "she's visually impaired, you know!", silly I know but better to have that attitude than sit indoors being "good" all day. Anyway she is out and about, we have rallied round of course, plus all our friendship group has firmed up the ways in which we/family members can get in touch with each other in an emergency, which has drawn us all together.

Another dear friend had a health crisis, the lump in her knee is thankfully benign but a worrying week there.

And I'm doing OK - the money vileness has receded as I have saved so long now I have almost replaced the lost money (which was never repaid) and I have been able to fulfil my wish of picking up some Viragoes and posting them to people in the group to bring my karma back up level again and say thank you. I've been told I have high cholesterol but dear OH being v supportive, it has actually brought us together, and there is more we can eat than we thought as we work our way round bits of the supermarket picking out low fat stuff (trying for 6 months to avoid drugs if poss)

So things are good or looking better, and I am grateful to you all for your cheering and loving support of me and everyone else as they need it.

LyzzyBee;
You are one amazing woman. You are right there to help friends and family in need; you are very protective of loved ones; you are thrifty when need by; you have not let any of this effect your personal relationships; and you are doing what you need to do for you as well.
Kudos to you!~! You are much woman.
hugs,
glitter-graphics.com
belva

Hee! Thank you Belva!! I have to laugh - see, I've been proofreading a Nigerian chap's PhD thesis and while I shouldn't find people's writing in their 2nd language amusing (I couldn't have written it in French!) he keeps emailing me saying "this work is very good. KUDOS to you!" which is v sweet and I might put on my references page.

Now I want to eat the Kudos things cos they have calcium in and I'm craving stuff with calcium due to not eating choc n cheese at the moment (had half a bag of watercress with my tea)

Anyway - thank you! And I reckon your description could cover any of us (with a gender change as necessary)

Oh, Lbee, not even a whole bag of watercress? Deprivation!
But kudos for sure for dealing gracefully with what has been a very interesting past few months. I think that you're due for some quiet time.

LD - it was a BIG bag, the watercress covered a side plate, piled high!

And thank you. Yes, I believe I am!

#237> Lucy, I did enjoy your review. Thanks!

I took the time & opportunity to watch P.B.S.' Masterpiece Theater last evening. They were showing a 2010 version of Anne Frank and I thought it quite good. I hope that some of the rest of you were able to watch.
hugs,
belva

Is anyone going to start Le salon de Printemps? Or better yet, Il Salon di Primavera. I would only I have not halfway mastered posting pictures and such.

> 245 Thank you!

>247 sibylline: Is anyone going to start Le salon de Printemps?

I think tiffin did :
http://www.librarything.com/topic/89066