Okay !!!!! Simply have to ask....

Oh, I don't know, Lincslass - I rarely look at blogs, but this post of yours made me go and look - the stuff about Daffodils was actually interesting. At first I thought it might be some 'alternative' nutjob site advocating eating the bulbs, but no, its fairly scientific. The writer lives in the States, where, to be fair, they have to put up with a lot of c=*p from the pharmas we don't have here - yet! Though its lurking in the wings in the form of 'Trade Agreements' (TTIP) with the USA....

Not sure this is the right arena though, since its all supposed to be about actual gardening, but food for thought nonetheless...

I thought the same at first so was wary, no company adverts hidden amongst the writing either just seemed strange that no-one commenting except on one of them....

Sent you a PM...

Sent her a PM suggesting a limit of one a day would give others a chance.

I dont mind a few strange blogs. What's bothering me these days is we don't seem to attract any new members and we're losing old ones. Baffled as this is by far the best forum for gardeners on the web that I've found.

Know exactly what you mean Karen and I do find some interesting, it seemed to pick up a bit but its only a few of us diehards, people seem to be more on the questions pages than anywhere else and some have turned into blogs as more of us join in but one gets fedup of not finding anything new, there was a time when one struggled to keep up..

Maybe when the weather picks up again.....

And there are lots who just 'look' but rarely post anything of their own - just let others do the work.
Maybe they haven't got time ... but I bet they've got just as much time as me.

Well, its been winter and quiet, as usual, not aided by the odd unpleasantness from a particular member which has actually driven away two new members to my certain knowledge... Plus I do wonder whether the wider 'austerity' social dynamic is partially an explanation - mums working full time as well as dads, no time or money for gardening other than a desperate question here and there, plus many of them having to live in flats rather than anywhere with a garden anyway, older people having to carry on working because of delayed pensions... so that leaves just older folk, and of course, we all either stop gardening, lose our marbles or drop off the twig at some point, and the new blood's not coming up because they're too busy or don't have gardens... Sorry if that doesn't sound very cheery, lol!

It's not all doom and gloom. I have noticed a few new folks I haven't seen on here before and have even kept up an on going dialog through PMs and emails and parcels exchange. A couple members were terminated by the administrator for whatever reason. My blogs are still attracting new members, as per their comments and pms.

Well I am a senior citizen full of arthritis vertigo and panic attacks, and I also do everything for Beryl who is immobile and in a wheelchair, and needs help all through the day and also every hour or two through the night (so I hardly get any sleep) ... and I still manage to write several blogs during the winter.
So there's no excuse.

The other factor, Hywel, if we're talking about writing blogs specifically, is the parlous state of education, particularly in English language, in this country for the last 40 years - when I was working in an architect's office 30 years ago part time, I quickly discovered that not a single one of the young architects, fully qualified though they were, could string a sentence together on paper, well, not one that made sense anyway. Which meant the secretaries virtually had to write the reports for them... so maybe that's a factor in why people are unwilling to write something longer.

That's true, unfortunately, but the members I'm thinking of are not like that. They write quite sensible comments.
I think it's just that they can't be bothered.

Bamboo you have such a way with words, I love the way you worded that bit about us old codgers, all true of course...I tried the link for the daffodils but it said the page was no longer available, another page I was directed to was too political for my liking, I stay well away from those...
Hywel its being on here that keeps us going, I know what you mean though but at least we do know they are still about and therefore might write another blog sometime ...
Paul yes I have seen some new people but have also noticed them more on the questions pages than the blogs, its possibly true that winter has been the cause but so many have disappeared this year, we used to have a lot of banter going on for weeks, admittedly not always about gardening although we always veered back in the right direction..

I only answer a question occasionally. I don't feel confident enough to do it, although I read most of them and the comments made.

I am like that Hywel, I've been told off in the past for that but I do spend hours on these pages and have learnt loads over the years, my problem is I don't know many of the latin names so in the past was made to feel a tad inferior by certain members, afraid it stuck with me....

I've not been as busy on here as usual mainly as I am planning retirement and having to 'educate' my replacement. Also OH is retired and his demands on my time is increasing too. hopefully I will be more active later on.

I know lots of Latin names Sue but it's just because I am 'into' them. It means nothing. A name is only there for identification. I don't think it's a problem whether we use the English or Latin names (or the Welsh ones in my case lol ... although not on here)

Lincs don't put yourself down - of all the people on here you are the one with the soft and tactful replies where they are needed and i really envy your ability to say the right thing always. Much more valuable than latin names, which you can always look up if you want to. (Yes, I know that wasn't a proper grammatical sentence, lol...)

Oh gosh..I've started something! I dont think any of it matters much. For example, Grammar...we might get some members who for various reasons might not be able to write well. Thats OK..this site is for gardeners, not scholars. Latin names are wonderful..like Hywel, I love them. But its not important. Not everyone has a knack with language (or memory for that matter). I hope we will always be welcoming and generous in spirit to anyone who wants to join in! :) and if someone writes something I find strange I try to always give them the benefit of the doubt. :)

I hope so too. I have been a victim of unpleasantness but have learnt so much and hopefully helped others; that I tend to ignore the comments. I know some people find it a personal attack and are hurt by it.

But I have read most of the posts that this question was really about [not a criticism of the post wandering, they can be real fun] and have commented as it is so full of inaccuracies. the inaccuracies that were being decried from other search engines. not very balanced either.

.

Ah thanks Stera I'm blushing here, lol...
I just can't understand it, I have a mental block as regards the latin names, I always add them in my plant list and appreciate it when members give me the names, just doesn't come naturally to me to use them, I remember thinking all those years back when I first joined how many of the plants that members were talking about I'd already got in my garden without realising because I only knew it by its common name...

I'm another member who checks in a few times every week but haven't the technical knowledge to answer most questions. You've all been a great source of information for me and I never feel foolish for asking a question, thanks to the patience and willingness to help of other members. As regards writing blogs, surely it's a matter of choice? I rarely read blogs and don't think it's helpful to make others feel guilty for not participating in that area of the site.

I couldn't get the links to work Seaburn, except one that sent me to a page I certainly do not want to get involved with and as I said I thought perhaps the posts were a bit iffy, hence the query..

Would never try to make anyone feel guilty Merlin, fully aware of your participation, many do not write blogs, only saying that there has been a lack of them lately as compared with other years, yes of course its a matter of choice, nothing wrong in that, I use all the pages even though I must admit I'm always behind on the photo's pages....

Nobody is trying to make anyone feel guilty Merlinbabydc. I just say what I see. Anyone who feels guilty does so to themselves.

I do not write Blogs as such, post pictures maybe but not many words.
Sorry, but I never think to read them either.
Do come in every day, and do try to answer people's questions.
Actually been rather busy recently, for my 70th. birthday our eldest son had some of the children's stories I have written over the years, printed as books. So, I have been busy proof-reading them. Also made me start writing stories again, so not a lot of words left for Blogging.

Hello Ob, congratulations on your birthday, that sounds an absolutely wonderful gift, certainly one to treasure.
I have said in the past that on goy there is always someone around to offer help and know that you and other members are to be found on the questions pages and have often directed new members here with their queries, I also know that its a treat to have a stroll around your " estate" you don't need many words....

OB! Thats fantastic! Congratulations!

Ditto Ob. I read the blogs because in them I can get to know in a personal way the real people behind their avatars. Getting to know the gardeners themselves is just as wonderful as learning about their gardens. As far as the reluctance of new younger members to blog as well as to turn thought into sentences in a successful way, I, as well as many of us older members come from a culture and era of "letter writers". We communicated with each other with pen and paper composing sentences in cursive writing. We then folded the paper up placed it in an envelope with stamp and mailed it. I wonder how often that is done these days?

Hywel: I used to write a lot of blogs, cos I enjoyed it, but after a 'pack of dogs' routine on here about 3 years ago, I reduced my activity on here and now I write elsewhere instead, though not just on gardening... not because of the members particularly, most of those involved have gone anyway, apart from one, but because of the apparent inability of the admin to deal with significant problems in an efficient and fair way, and the lack of moderators. So now I just answer some questions on here - that's why I don't write blogs any more, Hywel...I read the odd one occasionally though.

Lincslass: As for Latin names, I know most of them - can't say 'em correctly, but the reason I know them is because I never knew any common names, well, apart from dandelion and daffodil, so when I started horticultural training, I just naturally learned the Latin names - those were the names, and that was that - I have to say it was much, much harder learning the Latin names of all the muscles in the body when I did an Anatomy and Physiology course - with a plant, at least you can visualise it and its good to look at, much harder to visualise a muscle and find it in any way attractive! I recognise a lot more common names now, but have found most of them to be unreliable, since they differ depending on what part of the country you're in, never mind which country.

CottageKaren: It doesn't matter if younger people don't get it entirely right, that's not the point at all and wasn't what I was implying, even if that's what you inferred. I was actually referring to the broader picture, because what it means is, they don't have the confidence to write anything lengthy like a blog in the first place because they don't feel they know how to do it. It also has the knock on effect of lessening the likelihood of their reading for pleasure, which would, in fact, help with the problem. It is a great pity, really - its not a lack of intellect, simply a lack of good teaching, and that, sadly, means a loss of confidence.

As for letter writing, Loosestrife, yes, I remember those days too... although my handwriting was never terribly legible, it has to be said, and its got a lot worse now! That's definitely one of the things that does not improve with age...

L'strife I cannot remember when I actually sat and wrote a letter, certainly none since I started using my laptop and that was 9yrs ago, I still send cards at xmas but even those now get posted without the enclosed letter, we now communicate via facebook, so get all the news quicker, one good thing is now we keep in touch with all ages of the family without hearing things passed on down through the generations occasionally...

Yes Lincs times are changing as they always do. There will come a time when the present forms of communication will seem too slow and cumbersome though I think that our brains will soon be topping off as far as how much real time information it can assimilate. I realize that letter writing seems quaint these days. Written and spoken communication may change so much that there will come a day where my great great grandchild will pick up a Harry Potter book to read and not understand a word of it. Example, try to read Beowulf in its origional Old English form. I find myself rambling on here...But what the heck...I'll push the little green Add comment button anyway:)

Its an age thing more than anything as regards the blogs, when I was working, plus childminding, housework and taking care of my garden I too wouldn't have had the time to spare that I now have to while away on here..
Bamboo that is one way we differ, I would never give in like that, I know its your choice as to whether you do a blog but don't give up something you enjoy for that reason....
That is true L'strife, our youngsters use a whole new language, for one thing some is what we would have considered slang and probably got into trouble for actually daring to use it, something that my grandparents thought about us I guess, I could never wrap my head around Shakespeare and also was never keen on Charles Dickens, cannot stand even now " Ye Olde English" way of speaking and writing, I have always been an avid reader though and do like a varied selection, Harry Potter read by all of us here and thoroughly enjoyed..

Oh, I still enjoy it - I just do it elsewhere, Lincslass. And, as it happens, get paid for it sometimes, though not often. Otherwise, once bitten, twice shy and all that...

Good for you Bamboo....

I still write letters every week. my best friend's mum is contemporary to mine and is coming up to her 100th birthday. my eldest girl writes to me every month too. so letter writing isn't let dead.

I still do blogs when I think I have something worth sharing.

Owdboggy, a belated happy birthday to you. I must admit that I was surprised to read that you are only 70! I am only basing that thought on your avatar and not on any of your comments, so please don't be offended. What a glorious present from your grandchildren, who must be delighted that you could write stories for kids. Aren't grandkids wonderful?

Bamboo, so pleased to hear that you are able to write about what you know (and get paid for it) without fear of being abused. It points to an acknowledgement of your expertise and I'm very glad that you still answer questions. You are one smashing woman and I admire you for staying here at all.

I have written quite a few blogs for this site and get nothing but positive feedback on every single blog I've written - all of which are still posted and available for anybody to read. Why keep it to yourself? That's selfish.

I also love posting photos and have to be mindful not to post too many photos at one time. Sharing my experiences and knowledge with others is a real privilege and so is reading and learning from others' experiences and knowledge. It's a real exchange and very rewarding.

As for this section, It's been overwhelmingly positive - an opportunity to help somebody or to learn about a new topic. Initially, I have encountered a lot of 'rotten apples' on here, and have rubbed quite a few members the wrong way. However, almost all of those are now my best friends on here and have come around full circle. Others are simply gone. We reap what we sow. The administrators and moderators (Linclass, Moongrowe & Steve for example) have a lot of wisdom and are extremely helpful and effective. I always appreciate their input.

I'm only an ordinary member Paul, been around from the very early days, I come on here because I enjoy it, just don't like to see insults being bandied backwards and forwards, they usually take the form of sarky comments and little digs, thats why I do add my input, on the blogs we often take the mickey out of one another but thats completely different as its often jokes of longstanding and most people involved have known one another a long time, when something like that appears immediately as an answer on a question it gives the completely wrong impression of what Goy is all about..It gets my absolute goat when people threaten another with admin, just be adult and sort things out oneself is the way I handle things, admin are there but not for the petty things that appear across these pages sometimes....As I have already said it doesn't matter whether a member writes a blog or not, there input is still welcome and we do know where to find certain members to refer our questions to..

Merlin you'll be making Bamboo blush, she's ok and like many things on Goy is still thriving, LOL.....

Thanks for your input Linclass. I've made some really super friends on this site and have a GoY section in my garden full of plants members here have sent me from different countries. Each plant is labelled with their names. I'm planning a visit to the EU.

I think we all have the right to make our own choices about what we do on here and anywhere else, in particular without being called 'selfish' for doing so, though I have come to understand over the years that being 'selfish' is not necessarily a bad thing. It's a much abused word with false derogatory connotations, and commonly used as destructive criticism, but actually, being 'selfish' or putting one's own mental health and well being first is not an unreasonable thing at all. The world would be a healthier place if people knew the difference between being judgemental and using 'selfish' as criticism, and understanding the true meaning of 'selfish'. On the other hand, I also believe everyone's entitled to their own opinion, whether I agree with it or not - but its always best to keep it to yourself, in public at least, if its simply destructive criticism.

Many thanks, Merlin for your complimentary remarks, much appreciated and cheered me up no end - my mother finally died last night at 6.45 pm, so feeling a bit sad today, and that gave me a little lift. She was 91 and had had dementia for 7 years, so it was not unexpected, but happened quite suddenly, without warning, so a little bit of a shock. Though I thank the powers that be she's finally been released from such a miserable existence... it's going to be a busy day for me tomorrow, on the phone... and later, to celebrate her life rather than mourn her death.

Bless your heart Bamboo I am sorry to hear that, I know when our mums quality of life has gone we want them to be at piece but at the end of the day it is still your Mum, you know where I am if you need a natter, don't hesitate..
The way to look at it is to think of your mum before she had the dementia, thats how I coped at the end, remembering the happy, healthy times...Have you somebody to help you with all the arrangements, I hope so.....I know you are strong but still sending a hug, we all need them at times..xx

Thanks for the offer Lincslass. Its a complicated back story - she gave us up for adoption when we were 13 and 14 respectively, after separating from my dad, to a horrible stepmother, who herself has now got dementia and who now has turned into a happy go lucky, pleasant individual, lol! Funny how people change when they're demented - my grandmother, smoked for 55 years, got to 99, demented, and stopped smoking, she forgot she ever did it.

My mum was a bit of a girl, so to speak, but we kept in touch over the years - she was never the classic image of a 'mum', dreadful housewife, terrible cook, but was fun, so essentially, great person, terrible mum, that's just how she was. She carried a bit of guilt about giving us up to such an awful woman, which I used to talk to her about, no point walking round with guilt is there, serves no useful purpose after five minutes, it turns toxic, but she used to make me laugh as I got older, talk about racy escapades! We used to giggle quite often together, she was certainly a live wire. Anyway, luckily she appointed a solicitor as the Executor, given the complicated legal situation re the adoption, so apart from phone calls and sending paperwork, I don't think we have to do very much...

It's just occurred to me to wonder how many people will be shocked by what I've said here - it's just the truth though, and every mum's a person as well as a parent, and I loved her, for all her failings. In fact, I think I may have just written some of her eulogy...;-)

You won't shock me, my hubby was brought up in childrens home as were his two brothers and one sister, the oldest brother and sister were old enough to stay at home and the second oldest sister went to an aunt,never has known who his father is, however the oldest three did, consequently, Derek never knew his mum until he was 9yrs old, he went home upon leaving school at 15yrs old but it wasn't what you'd ever call home really and they were never wanted, in fact she told him the kids had ruined her life, very bitter woman, the consequences are that the family were never close and his younger brother he hasn't seen for over 50yrs... We got married when he was only 19yrs old and my family became his, mum-in-law passed away when our firstborn was only 6months old, she saw him once and we lived in the same avenue, only time she ever visited us was to tell my hubby to get round and do her garden as his older brother refused, never even came to our wedding and then went around telling people we didn't want her there and she never got an invite, at least you do have some good memories Bamboo ....

Derek's Mum sounds similar to my stepmother! My mother may have been neglectful, but she was always pleasant, far rather have that if I have to choose.

Yes, we have often wondered if she might have mellowed as she got older and possibly had a happier relationship with the family but sadly wasn't meant to be and Derek always said my parents were his.....

Thing about ghastly people who are angry a lot, or very judgemental is, they're in emotional pain, have been for years, and the way they express it is to judge everyone else and find them wanting, almost blaming everyone else for what they feel, not understanding that its their pain and they need to deal with it. That was certainly my stepmother's problem, poor woman. and its funny how often a person who has a 'bad' relationship with their own mother finds a good substitute in an in-law mother instead...

My mom and sis just stopped over for Sunday dinner - Sunday dinner is always a big deal in my family. These times are very precious & life seems so short. Seems like last week when she was driving us off to school. My mom would always invite my professors over for dinner. I hated when she did that.

The poor woman had a violent, ghastly marriage, its a wonder the bloke didn't leave her maimed and from what I've gathered from relatives over the years her childhood was hard..Of course no pill in those days and only being young when she was divorced, more children were born afterwards and then taken into care as she couldn't or wouldn't cope..
A story we do laugh about though, she gave one of them to some gypsies, oldest son arrived home from work and asked where his baby brother was and she said, "The brat wouldn't shut up, gyppo's came to the door and wanted to know whats up with babbie, so I told em, you can b----y have im" luckily hubby's brother knew where the gypsies were and fetched him back, few weeks later and all the youngsters were taken away, we think the neighbours decided enough was enough....

Linclass Oh my God! You had me on the edge of my seat. You should write a book.

Ah well, there you go, Lincslass - pain at the bottom of it all....usually, women who choose and stay with violent partners have experienced or seen it in childhood, that or some other sort of abuse... poor woman. Doesn't excuse bad behaviour though...

Paul its all true, there is always a funny happening somewhere along the way, it took a very long while for my hubby to laugh about it mind, people used to say to me how can you put up with him, my answer was and still is " Everyone who had him sent him away, I can't as his mums dead so guess I'm stuck with him. Bless him!! " its ok he knows and I have been known to say it to him, LOL....

LOL that also says a lot about you Linclass - Triumph over adversity. It takes a strong person to pull it off!

Nah !!! its cos I'm biddy-minded and stubborn with it....

Bamboo, I was so sorry to hear about your Mum. No matter how they behave or what they do our mothers gave birth to us and are to be thanked for that. You will feel quite alone for a while, I know I did, even more so when my only sibling died of a brain tumour shortly after but more than 20 years ago. I was the only one left and I felt very lonely. My own mother seemed as if she could only have close relationships with children because as we grew up she became more critical and played us off against each other. She showed jealousy too which I couldn't understand and this did make me pull away to some extent. I think she lived through her children and grandchildren but only when they were young.

As for Latin names, I taught myself so many of them and found it, like you, Bamboo, much easier than learning the names of the muscles which had to be learnt parrot fashion in the end. Now? I've forgotten many of the plants, even some of the common names! Yesterday I walked past a clump of Leucojums, knew exactly what they were, but the only thing I could remember was that the word contained the letter J. With age, not only do things start dropping off or falling apart, damn it, but a reasonable memory seems to disappear at the speed of light. Old age sucks in my opinion. but the garden is a solace.

Abuthnot my mum used to say " don't get old Susie " I laughed at her but now understand why she said it, I tell people I'm fraying around the edges but not beat yet, however some of those frayed edges are beginning to take longer to put back together, lol....I hate it when that happens with the names but it annoys me even more so when I am trying to go to sleep and my mind decides it doesn't and suddenly gives me the name I wanted hours before, that wakes you up completely and ones mind goes off on a tangent, grrrr.....

Been there, done that, Lins, many, many times. Oh for the joys of easy sleeping like a teenager although not quite so long, of course.

I was trying to tell a nurseryman about my Philadelphus the other day and ended up having to describe it to him - luckily he guessed what I meant quite quickly but I felt a complete idiot.
It only seems to be nouns that disappear.

At first, Steragram! It is, indeed names of things that slip first, and there's a name for that condition, which I'll tell you whilst its actually in my head right now - nominal aphasia. Not that it helps, I have trouble remembering the name of the condition itself, never mind plant names. And there is nothing so frustrating as trying to recall a name only to have it pop into your head a week and a half later as you're dropping off to sleep... when you no longer need it. These days, I often find myself hitting a blank in my head, so I have to go to google, describe the plant, get the name off there, then go back to what I'm writing so I can carry on... Its obviously not because we've completely forgotten the names, or we wouldn't recognise them as soon as someone said it or we saw it written down, its just the damn filing clerk just won't go and retrieve that file in your head as soon as you want it any more.... thank heavens for Google, wonder how previous generations managed, must have thumbed through books for memory jogs instead.

Me too, Bamboo. It's infuriating.

Nominal aphasia - well let's be grateful for small mercies anyway, its better than dementia. Unfortunately it affects people's names as well as plant names.

I'd not thought of googling a description so I just tried it - magic, philadelphus came up straight away -thank you Bamboo! But I don't carry my laptop around with me...
Now tell me how to look up the name of somebody whose name I've been told several times and it just won't stick?

LOL, imagine putting a description of a man or woman in, there's no telling what sort of page you'd land on, it was bad enough when I was looking up the meanings of our local sayings the other night...

He heh, funny - Steragram, I'm told what you're supposed to do, when you first meet someone, and the second time you meet them, is not listen properly to whatever they're saying, not subconsciously register body language, facial expression, what they're wearing, none of that stuff - what you're supposed to do is gaze at the person's face, registering physical details like eye colour, cheekbones, hair colour, mouth shape and so on, whilst at the same time saying over and over to yourself their name. This is supposed to fix that name to that face, so you recognise it again next time and the name comes to you. I've no idea if it works, try as I might have done, I can't for the life of me turn off the subconscious reading of body language and listening to what they say.... not to mention it strikes me that if you stood there, gazing like a mad person and not responding because you're too busy repeating their name in your head, they'd probably never want to see or speak to you again anyway...

Lol. My visual memory is a Friday afternoon job which doesn't help. But after a while I do recognise the face (sometimes) but can't place the person or the name. Not sure I'm going to try the hard stare though - it would make people nervous...

What I have tried in the past is fixing on one characterisic that starts with the same letter as their name (eg Maureen had maroon stripes on her trainers) and that used to work sometimes. But now I can't remember what the mnemonic was... Also the fear that you won't remember is self fulfilling - I can feel the panic blinds come down and that's that.

Sue your idea sounds rather fun...

I have been accused many a time during my life of giving people dirty looks, I don't even realise when I am doing it, imagine what would happen if I stood staring at anyone whilst trying to concentrate and appearing not to listen, Bamboo you are right, no-one would want to know me at all...
Stera I have resisted, I think I've been warned that many times about the dangers of the web, I 'd be scared to try it ...

I think I'd be so intent on focusing on features that I'd develop a blank look myself. Not a good way to make friends because that expression could be interpreted as being uninterested.

Yet I've found that there are so many other people with the same problem that if the subject is brought up it breaks the ice immediately. Yesterday at a new (to me) art class I had to draw the face of the woman next to me while she did my face. Constant movement made it very difficult but we kept giggling or smiling and it became fun. Later outside I was walking back to the venue for something and she didn't remember me! I was very pleased with myself that I recognised her though. So it works both ways more often than not.

And my drawing was rubbish.

Arb, it's where you hang the drawing that determines whether or not it is rubbish (according to your critique ). In a well known art gallery in my country a painting was hung and for years people looked at that painting pondering it convincing themselves that they were on such a high intellectual level as to understand the true meaning of it.....turns out it was painted by a chimpanzee. Also, take a look at the ten most valuable paintings in the world and then look at your drawing again.

Well, I think my drawing looked as if it had been done by a crow. And old one! And it's not hanging anywhere, not even in the loo - or the Louvre.

Ha ha, made me laugh you lot - and Loosestrife, I saw a programme on tv about that chimpanzee and his paintings - hilarious, the one hung in the art gallery with all the 'experts' talking absolute twaddle in their 'interpretation' of what the artist meant and the possible value of the painting... I laughed till I cried...

On the subject of remembering people's names, I decided recently its probably time I just said, I'm sorry, I'm losing my marbles slightly, I can't remember your name... There comes a point where things have to be acknowledged publicly, I remember the same process with hot flushes. At first, I tried to ignore them and not acknowledge them, pretended they weren't happening, but really, by the time you've sat with someone and gone pink and taken your cardigan off 3 times and put it back on again, it seemed pointless not saying what was going on out loud...

LOL, Thank goodness those days are over Bamboo.
On the subject of art and drawing, my 15yr old grandson has just his handed in a project for his exams, he was studying Cubism as part of it, wrote about Picasso and worked his way through the style, colour, textures and suchlike, how to draw a subject and demonstrate how to change the form to Picasso's style, I became the model for his last piece of work
I had to stand in front of the curtains in the dining room,they have a swirly pattern in red, that was for the background and deemed in his opinion perfect for his purpose, holding a cat one at a time out in front of me, not cuddle, look down at said cat looking stern whilst he took lots of photo's, well I kid you not it was no way easy as the cats didn't want to cooperate at all, we ended up with some very funny shots of my face, horror at thoughts of being scratched to pieces, right through to laughter ones at the problems nannie was having holding each wriggling angry cat, I think you get the picture, the chosen shot is now part of his project, he showed me the finished piece which is his own painting of nannie Cubism style, wish I'd got a photo of his work of art to show you what he did to his nannie, lol...
I have told him in years to come when I'm long gone and he is famous, to remember to name the model for his first painting...

Pity you can't post a photo of it, I'd like to have seen that, Lincslass! As for 'thank goodness those days are over' they ain't - I'm still having 'em...though not every 2 hours like they were consistently for 7 years. Still get a few days where they are every 2 hours, and always have at least 4 during the night... that's made me think, I've been having hot flushes for more than 18 years...

Never mind Bamboo - shows you've still got some of the old hormones banging away keeping you young...
Thanks for the giggle about art Arbuthnot and Lincs. Anyone would mistake my art for a chimpanzee's.

But for real art try googling Elephants painting. I didn't add the link because its so very long, but its really worth a look if you haven't seen it.

Bamboo George has been round tonight and I have asked him if I can have a copy of the painting to show you all, Lizzie his sister was here as well and she said Nannie you are in my A level art project as well, I asked her how and she reminded me that I had taken photo's of her at the fair, apparently in one of her pics it shows a reflection of me in a window, she said its blurred because its s'posed to be but it is me, so I told George he's guaranteed a good mark as its an omen, Lizzie not only passed her Art ALevel with an A result she also got the school prize as well....

I 'll have a look Stera, have to say that in all honesty my granchildren do not get their artistic skills from me and lets face it , one way or another we all had a bad start to this week so need to have a giggle, its that sort of thing that keeps us going.....

Hot flushes? When did they go away? Mine, at 74 (me not the number of flushes) still remain specially if I have a glass of wine, dairy food or anything else that my crumbling temple deems it doesn't like any more. I've met a few other women who never lost them either. Fun getting, isn't it?

As for art, it was one of my O level subjects. I loved it - my art teacher wanted me to go to art school but only told my mother who wouldn't let me because artists had loose morals. Since neither woman told me till years after I feel I missed out. I could never get to grips with drawing ellipses such as buckets and bowls, though. Because of that I failed the exam by THREE marks.

I know I'm not alone with the flushes - my mother was still having the odd one here and there at 80, so I'm not expecting them to disappear, really.

As for Art, my youngest son did it at GCSE level - he only picked it because it included 'graphics' which he thought might mean computer graphics, but of course, it didn't, not back then, schools didn't have anything like that in the nineties. So I did all the work for his end of year project for the exam, choosing to do a calendar with pics for all 12 months, mostly involving plants, 'demonstrating your art skills' cos he wasn't going to bother and he needed 4 GCSEs to go on and do what he wanted. Art was not critical to what he wanted to go on and do, but given he's dyslexic, he was never going to get English... When he got his results, he came in and said well mum, I've passed, but you only got me a C. Charming... but at least he got a pass.

Lizzie's art tutor and many more were surprised that she didn't choose art for uni but she chose Creative Writing and English Classics and another that comes under English but I'm blowed if I can remember its proper title, lol, which once again brings us back to forgetfulness......She says that is her hobby the other is her future, when you think about it that is sensible really....

Cor blimey, that it is a very sensible approach, must be down to the parenting she got!

I am so proud of her Bamboo, well we all are naturally, made me laugh yesterday because she referred to herself as a nerd, I said to her you are NOT a nerd and don't let anyone say you are, she just said its ok its me that says it....

Oh, I know that one - cos my youngest is a techie, its always assumed you're a nerd. He isn't, but people always expect him to be simply because of what he does, before they meet him. But he himself complains that the IT industry is full of programmers who are nerds with very poor social skills, little sense of humour, nitpicking and easily offended, and who are essentially terribly boring... he reckons they've all had a personality bypass, so I'm sure your daughter isn't like that at all...