poppy

to you all. Another topical one I read today: Financial Crisis Reaches Japan Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan. In the last 7 days the Origami Bank has folded, the Sumo Bank has gone belly up and the Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of it's branches. Yesterday, it was announced that the Karaoke Bank is up for sale and is likely to go for a song, while today shares in the Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived. While the Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, the Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black. Furthermore, 500 staff at the Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at the Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

I've just remembered the Two Fat Ladies. I don't know if either of them is still alive, but they were worth watching just for entertainment value.

Yes, I'll put him on my list of authors to look out for too. Love the book cover.

Hi and welcome There's quite a little contingent from Scotland now.

For pre-schoolers, I can recommend The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle ( has holes in the book where the caterpillar has eaten through the food), Where's Spot? by Eric Hill (kids love Spot books - it has lift-up flaps), Each Peach, Pear, Plum by Allen Ahlberg, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and The Tiger Who Came To Tea.

Hi Charlie and welcome

I read this not long ago and was a little underwhelmed. I thought Van Helsing rather long-winded and it just seemed to drag a bit. But I still think it's worth a read, it's interesting to see where the original idea came from. I've always loved vampire movies ever since I watched old black and white ones, usually starring Christopher Lee. I actually found them quite hilarious, they were so over the top and melodramatic ....but then I do have a rather odd sense of humour

Hi knitnat and welcome Nice to have another down-under member. KW you are a lady after my own heart I saw this cartoon once with a mother sitting reading, surrounded by boisterous children hanging off the lights, dunny-flushing the cat etc., washing in all directions, pots boiling over and in the midst of it all, hubby arrives home. She calmly says "Well you always ask me whatever do I do all day."

Hi and welcome Polly. I've always wanted to visit the Hebrides ever since I read Lillian Beckwith's books as a teenager.

Lol Charm, I quite often miss the British/Scottish/Irish contingent altogether, because they've all gone to bed.

For some reason Maureen, I always thought you were from England, living in Malta

I'm from New Zealand. I was born in Auckland in the North Island but now live in the upper part of the South Island. Contrary to popular belief, we can't walk to Australia when the tide is out.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays it was Court Hand and Summulae Logicales, while the rest of the week it was the Organon, Repetition and Astrology. The Sword in the Stone - T.H.White

I've just finished Small Island and loved it. It's one of those books you don't want to end but you have to keep reading. Her characters were very well written, I loved the way they each had different voices. Thoroughly recommend this and I'll be looking for more of her books.

Hi and welcome zeta. Good luck with the bulldog

Hi pipread and welcome

Hi pastelpanda and welcome That's a very original name.

Another Hi and Welcome

Hi and Welcome

Hi Bella and welcome I stopped reading too when my children were small, it was such a delight to rediscover books again.

Lol, Kylie, I won't hold it against you Actually I think it's more his horrible temper that gets to me (I hate it when people shout all the time) than his swearing. After all, I love Billy Connolly and he swears like a trooper.

Jamie Oliver .... I love his no nonsense, chuck it all together style. I hate fiddly cooking. Madcow, you reminded me of Rick Stein again, haven't seen him for a while but he is excellent. And I used to love watching Hugh on River Cottage. Can't stand Gordon Ramsey, he is a foul-mouthed, bad-tempered *bleep*.

Hi and welcome Charm

The Wind in the Willows Anne of Green Gables series The Secret Garden Most of the Harry Potter series The Railway Children A Traveller in Time Chinese Cinderella and that's just the ones I can think of off-hand. I'm with you Kell, I don't care who know's I love children's books. I had quite an argument once on another forum where one of the senior members stated that "children's books are for children." I feel it's a sign of immaturity and probably insecurity to take such a high-brow attitude.

Hi and welcome I was reading on another thread that a publisher told you there is no interest for WWII fiction. I think that is rubbish, I love stories set during the war and I'm sure heaps of other people do too.