Hi I'm Clare

[Chair]

Hi everyone! I look forward to getting to know all of you.

 

I've been a bookworm since I can remember.  I used to read in the queue for a classroom or a bus.  The bus queue did occasionally mean I missed the bus though!

 

I live in Gillingham in Kent and have a husband and three year old son.  My son does mean I don't get as many chances to read now as I would like but I try to read when I can.  I am a full time Mum but I also volunteer in a school whilst my son is at Pre-School.

 

I collect the Chalet School series.  I also like reading novels about family life and about women on the home front during the war.  I do enjoy biographies as well.

 

I am a Morris dancer when I get a chance and it is a great chance to socialisde.

 

I hope that's everything!

[frankie]

Hello Clare and welcome to the forum!

 

Pardon my ignorance: what is a Morris dancer?

[Chair]

Hi frankie!  That's ok.  It's traditional English folk dancing.  There are various types.  Our womens group does the northwest clog style.  Our mens group does longsword and rapper sword style.

[LittleW]

Welcome to the forum, Clare!

 

Now that's something I've never heard of! Missing the bus because you're reading in the queue.   

[chesilbeach]

Hi Clare!  Welcome to BCF from another Claire

 

I started re-reading the Chalet School series a few years back collecting the series as the publisher seemed to be re-issuing them all, and got about 12 books in and the publishers stopped releasing any new ones.    I never found the rest in the library, so I gave up.  I'll have to try again at some point, as I loved them when I was a girl.  Can't beat a good boarding school book, eh?

[vodkafan]

Hi Clare, welcome...I have always been struck with the similarities between Morris dancing  and the Indian Dandiya Raas (stick dance) that they do at weddings....it's good that there are people keeping country traditions alive.

[Chair]

Hi LittleW!  I managed to do it on the way to work once and my manager was not very impressed.  I had to get the next bus.

 

Hi Claire! You have a good name Girls go by Publishing have started republishing the books - I can send you the link if you would like me to?  I also belong to a Chalet School forum.

 

Hi Vodkafan.  I have to admit I haven't cmoe across Indian Dandiya Raas.  It sounds an interesting style of dance.

[Janet]

Hi Clare.  You found us then!

 

Happy reading. 

[Chair]

Thanks Janet.  I really appreciate your help in finding this forum.  I'm definitely enjoying it.

[Athena]

Welcome here, Clare !

[chesilbeach]

Hi Claire! You have a good name Girls go by Publishing have started republishing the books - I can send you the link if you would like me to?  I also belong to a Chalet School forum.

I'd definitely be interested in the link, thank you

[Cookie]

Hello and welcome!

[julie]

Welcome Clare,

Hope you enjoy it here ! That dancing sounds fun ! Do you wear a special costume for it ?

Edited April 10, 2014 by julie

[Chair]

Thanks Cookie and Athena!  It's nice to meet everyone.

 

Claire, I will send you the link.

 

Thanks Julie! Our women's side wear a dress with a pinafore over it.  We also wear clogs which have bells attached.

[LittleW]

Clogs with bells! That must sound great!

[Chair]

It is good fun, LIttleW. I do enjoy morris dancing.

 

 

Claire, I was going to send you a PM but I can't work out how to do it.  The girls gone by publishing website is:

 

http://www.ggbp.co.uk/index.php

 

 

The Chalet School forum is:

 

http://the-cbb.co.uk/

[bobblybear]

Hello Clare - welcome to the forum.

[Signor Finzione]

Welcome to the forum, Clare!

[Virginia]

Hi Chair, welcome to the forum!

 

Your dance group sounds really interesting. I love reading about folks who keep traditions and artisan crafts, et al, alive. Fascinating stuff. I want to find something to do but I keep thinking its "too late" even though I KNOW its a lie. My biggest obstacle would be finding some lovely older saint who still practices an art. Times being what they are, people tend to value convenience more than tradition. I don't mind conveniences but finding someone to teach traditional quilt making or other hand arts shouldn't be so difficult. Ugh. Anyway, needs must and where there is a well, there's a way!

 

Looking forward to reading your posts!

[Chair]

Thanks Bobblybear and Signor Finzione!  It's nice to meet you.

 

Thanks, Virginia!  I originally joined the group because I was updating my CV and I realised the interests section was things like swimming and playing the violin which I didn't do very often.  Quilt making sounds great.  I learnt the basics of knitting a few years ago and I have asked someone recently to give me a refresher lesson.