poppy

A passage from 'Down Under' or 'A Sunburned Country', Bill Bryson's book about Australia, that had me in stitches. Some kind people were giving him a guided tour in their car when he fell asleep. Quote: I am not, I regret to say, a discreet and fetching sleeper. Most people when they nod off look as if they could do with a blanket; I look as if I could do with medical attention. I sleep as if injected with a powerful experimental muscle relaxant. My legs fall open in a grotesque come-hither manner; my knuckles brush the floor. Whatever is inside -- tongue, uvula, moist bubbles of intestinal air -- decides to leak out. From time to time, like one of those nodding-duck toys, my head tips forward to empty a quart or so of viscous drool onto my lap, then falls back to begin loading again with a noise like a toilet cistern filling. And I snore, hugely and helplessly, like a cartoon character, with rubbery flapping lips and prolonged steam-valve exhalations. For long periods I grow unnaturally still, in a way that inclines onlookers to exchange glances and lean forward in concern, then dramatically I stiffen and, after a tantalizing pause, begin to bounce and jostle in a series of whole-body spasms of the sort that bring to mind an electric chair when the switch is thrown. Then I shriek once or twice in a piercing and effeminate manner and wake up to find that all motion within five hundred feet has stopped and all children under eight are clutching their mothers' hems. It's a terrible burden to bear.

Well I'd say you're pretty safe with the Bill Bryson books then ...just might mean frequent trips to the loo

lol Icecream, no perhaps not at the moment ....and we don't want you going into premature labour

Asterix!!!! Got introduced to these as a young teenager and been hooked ever since. They are a very clever form of comic, if you knew Latin, I'm sure they'd be even funnier. You've just got to love Asterix and his fellow villagers, Obilix, Dogmatix, Cacophonix, Chief Vitalstatistix and the crew.

It wouldn't pay to have a weak bladder

Ones that immediately come to mind are some of P.G.Wodehouse's characters. Bertie, Jeeves, Gussie Finknottle the newt fancier, Lord Emsworth owner of Empress the pig, Madeleine Bassett who is always wittering on about the stars being like God's little bunny rabbits in the sky or some such (enough to make poor Bertie shudder, especially when she decides she's going to marry him).

Pontalba, if you liked God is an Englishman, I'm sure you'd love A Horseman Riding By. It has three volumes, so a longish read, but has some really wonderful characters in it. Sorry, I'm sure you don't need any more to add to your list

A couple of CD's I've bought fairly recently, that had good reviews but which I'm a bit disappointed in are 'The Road to Escondido' by J.J.Cale and Eric Clapton, and 'Modern Times' by Bob Dylan. I'm a fan of these guys from way back and like their laid-back style. But honestly, if JJ got any more laid back in this album, he'd be falling asleep and toppling off his stool. It just somehow lacks the toe-tapping rhythm of his earlier albums. Bob Dylan sounds surprisingly like Willie Nelson in some of his songs and his usual grit seems to be missing. Hear Tony Joe White is putting out a new one soon, so am hoping for a good swampy rock sound from him. On a completely different note, acquired 'Light Grenades' by Incubus. A lot of their music is fairly heavy but 'Light Grenades' is a much softer sound and by far my favourite album.

Read several Steinbecks many year ago Muggle, especially remember 'The Grapes of Wrath' as being very good. Have this and also 'Of Mice and Men' and 'The Pastures of Heaven'. On my 'to be re-read soon' list. Rosie, have you read any of R.F.Delderfield? Particularly enjoyed 'A Horeseman Riding By' and 'To Serve Them All My Days'.

Books that various people have mentioned which I've enjoyed are .... Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons is wonderfully funny in this "I saw something nasty in the woodshed" still stays with me. The English Patient - one of my favourites A Month in the Country - this is a beautifully written and crafted little book Brideshead Revisited - excellent A Traveller in Time - read this when quite young and it made a lasting impression on me, mean to read it again soon. The only book that every one raves over which annoyed the living daylights out of me, was The Remains of the Day. It's very well written I know, but soooooo slooooow. I just want to shake the butler, he is so tightly reined in and unemotional. I found it pedantic in style and frustrating. However, very much enjoyed the movie with Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins. No-one has mentioned any of E.M.Forster's books. A Room With A view Howard's End A Passage to India Anyone like these? Funnily enough I have seen all the books, with the exception of A Traveller in Time, as films and enjoyed every one of them. The British do it so well

lol PP. It's not that hard really, as Maori sounds stay constant. I memorised it once on a long car-trip for something to do.

I believe we have one of the longest place-names in the world, if not the longest. It is a Maori name. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu There are two versions, one with the red and one without. It means "The brow of the hill, where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, slid down, climbed up and swallowed mountains to travel the land, who is known as the land-eater,and played on his flute to his loved ones."

lol PP. You'd have to be British to know that. I had a pen-friend from Staffordshire when I was young and the address was Staffs ...I thought that was the name of where she came from for ages, until my grandfather corrected me (he was British)

I wouldn't like to hazard a guess Do tell.

Now, I've always said that wrong Woo (as in cook) chester. Should I pronounce the sauce the same way?

Yes nite-nite PP, make sure you go this time (not that I want to get rid of you or anything, but it's after 2 a.m for you, I'm sure)

She's actually written a heap, maybe they aren't available but pretty sure they should be. Some titles are 'The Sea For Breakfast', 'Beautiful Just', 'A Rope in Case.', 'Lightly Poached', 'Bruach Blend'. She has also written novels but I was not very impressed with them.

Another older author that I'm sure you've heard of, and I really love, is Lillian Beckwith. Her stories of the Hebrides are wonderful. That's a real nuisance PP, it's a wonder you can do so much on the computer .....by the time I've finished I'm usually yawning and feeling cross-eyed. Hope you can get your medication sorted out soon. It's awful feeling tired all the time.

Sorry to hear about your narcolepsy PP. Does it ever happen when you're driving.....that would be scarey. Just thinking of cat books, have you read any of Joyce Fussey's? "Cat's in My Coffee" is one, she loves cats and animals in general and is a very funny lady. They are biographical, she lives in Yorkshire (if I remember correctly) on a small farm and she mostly runs it while her husband works in town. They are really delightful.

I also enjoyed The Railway Children. Loved Forsyte Saga. It's one of those epic family tales, as long as you like that sort of thing.

Thanks KW When I first joined I didn't realise there was a purple variety here already, otherwise I would have used something else .......hope it doesn't lead to too much confusion and I don't cause PP huge embarrassment . As long as I keep away from cat avs, you should be able to tell us apart. Hope the 'remember me' thing works for you PP, people were having the same problem on another forum and that's one of the things they said to do. The other was to write directly into microsoft word or similar, then transfer to forum.

Hey you guys, just tick the 'remember me' box at the top right hand side where you print your user name and password then it keeps you logged on however long you take - even if you disconnect. you just have to remember to log out when you finish or else your name stays on indefinitely.

That was an excellent review PP - you have a real talent there. The book sounds a lot different to what I thought, but I've always liked Oscar Wilde's wit so will definitely give it a go. Understand it was very controversial at the time, but then so was Oscar.

And you think for one moment I believe you've been looking at her smile .....ROTFL

Hasn't she got a nice smile even when she's green ?