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BS: Ain't This Place Great???
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Subject: Ain't This Place Great??? From: catspaw49 Date: 16 May 00 - 08:38 AM Well isn't it? Along with everything else, the ability of the internet and the 'Cat's GREAT members, has created a true global village and it simply amazes me daily. Yesterday, it really came to me just how great this can be. Karen and I needed something which Karen found on the net.....a set of training wheels for Special Needs kids like our son Tristan. Problem was they were only available in England. First, just the ability to find such an item so relatively quickly was amazing, but then.......... What to do? Of course....Ask on the 'Cat for some help. Within 12 minutes Gervase had responded with an offer to help. GREAT!!! Better yet......Within 25 minutes of the original posting, Gervase had TALKED to the guy who designed and makes them and responded back with all the info and was ready to order a set. We worked the details out through e-mail and soon Tristan will be pedaling. Does this amaze you too? Obviously I owe a huge thanks to Gervase, but we have so many wonderful members the world over, that I guess I almost took it for granted that if I needed something from anywhere, somehow we'd work it out with somebody. But that's because I am beginning to take so much of this Village and the net for granted....and I shouldn't!!! So a BIG THANK YOU to Gervase and to all of you and this place. It really is quite special. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: katlaughing Date: 16 May 00 - 08:59 AM Absolutely, Spaw, it is amazing isn't it?! Wonderful and it is nice to remind ourselves of that, frequently. luvyakat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Allan C. Date: 16 May 00 - 09:08 AM Stop it 'Spaw, you're scaring me with all of that sincerity and straight talk! Are you back on your meds again? Is that it? You must know that I'm kidding. As if I didn't already have a fairly clear idea of how great this place and these people are, I will surely get more of a feel for it beginning in only nine more days! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Jacky Date: 16 May 00 - 09:17 AM I've only just statred to delve into folk music and joined a local folk club, so I didn't really know where to start looking for lyrics and general info on what folk actually is.This site was suggested to me, and now there's no stopping me! I've looked back to some previous threads and learnt loads of new songs already.(The newcomer thread was especially helpful) So big thanks to all the contributers. I gather from some of the threads that most of you are outside the UK. Anyone out there from Kent, England , I can chat to about more local goings on? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: catspaw49 Date: 16 May 00 - 10:11 AM I think we're all looking forward to your trip Allan....and the running travelogue that we hope to be reading along with you. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Rana who SHOULD be working Date: 16 May 00 - 10:22 AM Hi Jacky, Have you tried the "bbc mudcat resources page" in the quick-links - it does list one person from Kent. Also you may want to put a direct query as a thread. I certainly don't open all threads and hence someone out there might have missed it. Regards Rana |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Gervase Date: 16 May 00 - 10:40 AM Cor blimey, 'Spaw, you'll have me blushing 4,000 miles away! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 16 May 00 - 10:56 AM Best place, best people. Mudcat found me my personal "Special Needs" training wheels guitar teacher!!! yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Mrr Date: 16 May 00 - 11:14 AM It is; I also feel that I have a group of friends-who-might-as-well-be-family through this site. I have gotten comfort and aid, and lots and lots of long-sought information, and it's fun, and I have to have a little every day, kind of like chocolate or coffee. When visiting relatives last weekends I bopped my niblings off of their computer games so I could use their AOL account to get over to the Cafe. However (THREAD CREEP ALERT) there is something that has always bothered me about the "place" metaphor for the Internet, don't ask why, it isn't reasonable or logical. I won't use the term "visit" when advertising my firm's websites, for instance, which can make copywriting difficult. I tend to use "browse" instead, but can anyone think of a different, usable, metaphor for "going places" on the Internet? It isn't the PLACE I find so wonderful, I'm still at work right now! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peg Date: 16 May 00 - 11:42 AM I second that! I posted a query to UK Mudcatters asking for suggestions about cheap lodgings or offers of floor space, etc. for my trip next month, and was immediately sent invites both privately and in the thread from a number of people...
now that's hospitality! and all based on the Mudcat community thing and the musician connection and the "help out a fellow traveller" code...we are all blessed to have this great group of friends...here's to meeting some of them in person! Peg |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Rick Fielding Date: 16 May 00 - 11:56 AM Right on Spaw. When I waxed similarly posivitive a couple of months ago, I was waiting for the other shoe to fall and after a few posts it did. A couple of folks were "concerned" that it wasn't as "friendly" (I'm paraphrasing) as "before". Shit, compared to EVERYTHING else on the net, this is still amazing in it's "co-existability". We even got rid of the bored flamers pretty quickly, which should indicate that we're "learning as we go". It's the music, folks! Oh, and the training wheels too. Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Mrr Date: 16 May 00 - 12:13 PM Can anyone give me more details on this training wheels for under-par tots? One of my twins seems to bike in all separate motions (rather than smoothly round and round), which coupled with his inability to use his body as the counterweight(he doesn't lean into turns), means he falls off all the time, whereas his twin (with no motor issues despite the same 10 weeks prematurity) is fine. What is special about the training wheels y'all got for your special-needs children, or should I post this as a separate thread? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: catspaw49 Date: 16 May 00 - 12:19 PM Hey Mrr....Ther's a link to this fellow's site that is very interesting on a thread called Help:Ennglish Catters which ran yesterday. Put English Catters in the search box and refresh for 3 days and you'll find it. He developed these for his son which you can read about. Better, sturdier design, and adjustable. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Bert Date: 16 May 00 - 12:30 PM Mrr, Re, 'this place' Here's a song that explains it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 16 May 00 - 12:40 PM The "brown paper and string" line in that song is one of my favourite lyric lines ever: MMario at his poetic best. I love that line (I like the rest of the song too, but that one line is just perfect). Sorry, thread creep. Just had to say it. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: catspaw49 Date: 16 May 00 - 01:52 PM Mrr....Regarding the "place" thing. I don't know what to say or call the others, but regarding Mudcat........... I feel this IS a place. We may be sitting at computer screens that are literally half a world apart, but their is a sense of community here that's different from other sites. This isn't a "site" to me. Yeah, I know I need a shrink, but the 'Cat is as real a place as the little town in Ohio where I live. We came here and stay through our love of the music, but there is so much more. From your post, you know it too. That's why I tend to refer to the "Village." Seriously, at times I can envision the place and everyone's houses, where they live in the village, what their job is........do you feel it? Sandy Paton once said that this is the kind of place he always wanted to live. Made sense to me. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Mrr Date: 16 May 00 - 02:05 PM Will check the English Catters thread, but wanted to reply first to the Place thing. Spaw, I feel the same sense of community and I feel that as communities go, it is very village-y (rather than cityish, anyone who's lived in both types of places will know what I mean)- and I moved to the South from the Boston area to seek out that exact village mentality, so you know how much I prefer it! But somehow I guess I'm too literal, I don't know, it's village-y but not a village to me... I don't feel I'm WITH the people with whom I am corresponding, unless it was the Hearme I joined to celebrate end of sememster with Mbo. And since I don't have a mike, they were with me but I wasn't with them (in my "feeling"), which got even stranger. But you are right, this is so close to being "mon village" in the African French sense (hometown, roughly) that I might as well give up looking for a better metaphor! But I still won't ask customers to "visit" my firm's website! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Mrr again Date: 16 May 00 - 02:10 PM Have now checked that thread, thanks! Will look into it further and let y'all know how it shakes out. (This being a village I know somebody cares!) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: MMario Date: 16 May 00 - 02:22 PM DISCLAIMER! "Blue Clicky Thing" is McGrath, not myself, (tho I would Love to claim it) MMario |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Amergin Date: 16 May 00 - 02:29 PM I love this place!! Some time ago when I first signed on, I asked for the name of a song I heard at a pub a year and a half before and was trying to find it since. Within an hour someone posted a name, someone else posted the lyrics, and if memory serves me right still another person posted the lyrics and chords. The friendliness and the helpfulness of this place just astounds me. Amergin |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 16 May 00 - 02:33 PM Only problem with this village: I find it difficult to keep the job of village idiot. Too much competition and a new generation coming along! If we have a village fête I'll go in the stocks and you can pelt me for all the tired old jokes (a fête worse than...). RtS There! is that better Skiff? (Bert) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 16 May 00 - 02:35 PM 3 typos in one short thread! It's been a long day & I'm here till 9pm, hot and humid, my only excuse. Hangs head in shame. :o( RtS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Fortunato Date: 16 May 00 - 02:46 PM The infinite and frightening potential of the the Web to connect us all frequently leaves me speechless. Yes 'spaw, our 'cat community is overwhelmingly supportive and positive. Elsewhere on the web other values and issues are flourishing as well, some, IMHO, are less positive. If ever there was a Pandora's Box, then is is it. I'm glad to hear the story of your child and his wheels. One has to believe that love is stronger than hate, and will survive Cheers, Fortunato |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Penny S. Date: 16 May 00 - 04:24 PM Kent is the bit that points out eastwards just below London, and nearly hits France. It is the bit with the White Cliffs of Dover, which you need to swim from if you want to swim the Channel - 21 miles but you have to do double that because of the tides. It was once full of cherry gardens and market gardens which supplied London, and there are still cherries if you know where to go. And despite the Channel Tunnel links and urban spread, it is still green. Near Maidstone, the county town, there are some large megalithic tombs, like those in Wiltshire. There are old Saxon churches, some of which you can get into, with wall paintings, and trees two millenia old. There is Dover Castle, good for a potted history from the invasion of the Belgae to nuclear protestors... Presumably, it was people from Kent, from the Celtic Kantion or the rim of the land, who settled Kent State - it always gives me a turn to see the references to that tragedy - there is a Kent University at Canterbury. Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 16 May 00 - 04:34 PM God, sorry to McGrath, and to MMario (who is a whiz too, and has given many hours of classic poetic pleasure -- check out Mudcat Tavern Enterprise!!!!!). yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Little Neophyte Date: 16 May 00 - 06:27 PM I am very thankful too Catspaw Greatful of the friendships I have made here and for the opportunity to feel part of a loving community. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Little Neophyte Date: 16 May 00 - 06:30 PM Okay, okay so I can't spell. I am grateful that my problems aren't worse. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Mbo Date: 16 May 00 - 06:37 PM Man...I can't begin to tell the things I've found here...;-) --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Sailor Dan Date: 16 May 00 - 10:31 PM Let see, I have found, help with the banjo, great threads, information galore, laughter, songs manifest, crazy people, more laughter, advice, about people, sex, loving, helpful remorks, not so helpful remarks, courtesy, warmness, friendliness, more laughter, honesty, frankness and one hell of a place to spend my time. My knowledge in music is miniscule, my playing ablility is just as bad, but I couldn't find a more comfortable place to ride the background on, to learn from, to laugh at and with. Yeh man " AINT THIS PLACE GREAT" and I dont even know anyone. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 16 May 00 - 10:41 PM Aye shipmate we are a great bunch in here... pity we are so spread out. Hard to have meetings with all the crew except on here. Yours, Aye. Dave |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Escamillo Date: 16 May 00 - 11:57 PM I´m far from you, from a different culture and history, am not a folkie just by ignorance (but learning), but you make me feel comfortable, you teach me many things, welcomed me generously, and for this I´m very grateful and I wish I could contribute more. I don´t loose opportunity to mention the Mudcat in every circle of musicians I contact. Thanks Mudcatters for the laughs and tears, and the music. Un abrazo - Andrés (in Buenos Aires, Argentina) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: wysiwyg Date: 17 May 00 - 12:00 AM O, Andres, abrazos, !muchos abrazos, a usted! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Jacky Date: 17 May 00 - 07:17 AM Loved the description of Kent from Penny. Kent - also known as the Garden of England ( lots of green fields and pretty flowery gardens) is home to me and I love it! Particularly my little part of it - Ramsgate/Broadstairs. Anyone heard of it? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 17 May 00 - 09:43 AM Hey, Andres, Hi! un abrazo, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: catspaw49 Date: 17 May 00 - 09:47 AM I might mention how much you have taught us Andres.........And for that matter, how much we have all learned from each other about music, culture, etc........Lots of etc. I have learned more here at times than I ever dreamed I would know. Makes a person a lot more comfortable as a world citizen. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: MMario Date: 17 May 00 - 09:53 AM One of the things I like about the forum, is that people are open enough about their lives and reactions to things that happen in their lives that it encourages me to take chances I might not have taken, and to express things I might hesitate to have expressed before. I have learned so much from the 'cat and 'catters! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Sorcha Date: 17 May 00 - 10:16 AM This seems like a good place to put this; for 9 years Kate has been unable to even listen to Amazing Grace because it has such painful associatons for her. Thanks to Mudcat/HearMe, she has sung this song twice. Granted, the first time she had tears all the way through, but the second time she managed to get to the end before the tears, and now the kicker:
This is National Police Memorial Week, honoring all Officers killed in the line of duty. Tonight is the local memorial service, and Kate ASKED if she could sing Amazing Grace!! In public, with audience, and A Capella!! Blessed Be!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 May 00 - 10:36 AM Glad you liked the Bue Clicky Thing. Here isa link to a RealAudio file of me singing it Well, it gives you the tune (at least it should - my PC isn't playing it at the moment when I asked it to, but I think that's just my PC).
Anyway it feels like a place to me - maybe more like an encampment, like at a festival, rather than a fixed village. People keep on turning up and vanishing. And the physical location seems to shift around too - sometimes it's very American, and then it isn't. Same encampment, but it's moved to a different festival, maybe.
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Jon Freeman Date: 17 May 00 - 02:32 PM Jacky, why are you still Guest, Jackie? Please don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in being a guest but being a member saves you having to type your name in each time and offers a few little extras like the ability to send and receive personal messages with other Mudcatter's. I finished my secondary education in Kent and lived in Speldhurst, near Tunbridge Wells between 1973 and 1978 but I don't know your part of the county at all. Jon |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 17 May 00 - 02:38 PM Encampment, eh? What about a gypsy caravan? Or an Arab caravanserai? Makes one think.....yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 May 00 - 02:39 PM New Age Travellers? You have them in America? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Lonesome EJ Date: 17 May 00 - 03:20 PM I read a quote from Carlos Santana saying he visualized the potential of the Internet as a world where there are no wars, no flags, and no boundaries. This forum strikes me as a place we can all call home, no matter where in the world we live. There is no arguing the fact that we Mudcatters are all unique, or that we have our differences, but because the foundation of this place is Music, we all have one overriding tie that binds us. Wars, flags and boundaries have been transformed into discussions, traditions, and common ground. Long live the Cat! LEJ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: TerriM Date: 17 May 00 - 04:02 PM I know you have all helped me retain what small portion of sanity is left to me, first, through the "great insomnia incident" over christmas and recently,whilst I have been stuck at home due to a health problem I won't bore you with, it has been great to hang out here especially as I'm not mobile enough to hang out anywhere else. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Hollowfox Date: 17 May 00 - 04:06 PM I still think of this as a party rather than a village. Of course, I think of festivals as parties that are held in annual installments. The nice thing about the 'Cat is that we have *time* to visit, to discuss, etc. At festivals, there's always rushing off to workshops, concerts, or dancing. And the inevitable crash when the adreniline supply runs out. I've only seen a couple of chat rooms, MUSH's, etc. and I'm just as glad not to bother playing little persona games (constructing a dwelling fro myself in the village, etc.) Many grateful thanks to Sandy Paton for telling me to jion up! This is a place where I can share joys, sorrows, questions, philosophical musings, and neat stuff |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Hollowfox Date: 17 May 00 - 04:14 PM (Oops, I hit the wrong button, a bit too soon.) ...and neat stuff where people know what I'm talkin about,and understand my sense of humor! And that's a godsend. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Amos Date: 17 May 00 - 04:16 PM The first functional definition of cyberspace that i ever heard was "where you are when you're on the phone...", referring not to the physical location of the handset, but the dimensionality of the mindset -- envisioning the other person and the realities of your conversation and all kinds of dimensions that get invoked in the exchange of thought which have nothing to do with material space but are, in there own way, completely valid and sometimes even more real. This is a two-sided sword, of course, since it requires learning new balances to get into such a practice without overindulging. I imagine that's been true of radio, television and electricity too. But if ever there was a web "site" which exemplified the best use and practice of "cyberspatial" exchange, I'd vote for the 'Cat to be It. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: wysiwyg Date: 17 May 00 - 04:20 PM TerriM, come on over to the Tavern, we are doing recliners and laps there! Where else can you get instantaneous laps for the asking, and for as long as you need to be in one? And kiss people on the cheek, all over the world? And exchange hugs in different languages? And hear how yer bes' bud is doing and that her daughter is rising to her full power? And learn a song, and make a friend, and share something you know.... All in one day. Now if we could only get help with our spelinge. } : ~ * ) > ~Susan~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Giac Date: 17 May 00 - 05:03 PM Amos: eloquently put. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: TerriM Date: 17 May 00 - 07:23 PM Susan, darlin, it's spellinge! I'll be over if you can promise me a lap, and quite a lot of "there, there's" 'cos I'm feeling kind of sorry for myself right now and could really use an antidote! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: wysiwyg Date: 17 May 00 - 11:58 PM TerriM, you are in rare luck. Best lap in the Mudcat-- you is already in it. Be good to your lap mate and he will never ever desert you. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Escamillo Date: 18 May 00 - 01:18 AM McGrath, that´s one of the items we should store in the Time Capsule ! Great! :)) Un abrazo - Andrés (your far cousin Magré) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Penny S. Date: 18 May 00 - 03:33 PM Jacky - you could possibly help me with something for my father. The wife of a friend of his has just died, and he would like a copy of any report in the local Thanet papers. Would you be able to look and see if there is anything about Ann(e)Linington and let me know? She died at the beginning of this week, the same night that her husband Peter lost a barn to an arson attack. I don't think that it'll make the press at this end of the county. If you become a member here, that would make communication easier. Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 18 May 00 - 05:09 PM Penny - The Kent Messenger series of papers would have an edition covering Thanet: http://www.kent-online.co.uk/ They could probably help if you get in touch with them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: GUEST,Penny S. Date: 19 May 00 - 12:41 PM Thanks - I hadn't thought of their being on line - only that our local version wouldn't cover Thanet. Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 19 May 00 - 12:44 PM Penny, in case you haven't done this privately, or missed it, check out the New Member thread, where Jacky partly answers your question. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Mbo Date: 19 May 00 - 12:46 PM I say whole-heartedly that I have found in this place the greatest treasure the world could have ever offered me. --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: catspaw49 Date: 19 May 00 - 12:53 PM You need a date Meebo. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 19 May 00 - 01:04 PM Maybe he got a date here, CP, ever thought of that? yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: catspaw49 Date: 19 May 00 - 01:14 PM Well Peter, I suppose you could be right. How's the Easter Bunny? Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 19 May 00 - 02:22 PM Still needs those eggs. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Penny S. Date: 19 May 00 - 04:04 PM Thanks Peter Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Mbo Date: 19 May 00 - 05:59 PM You're a very perceptive man, Peter. You didn't think music was the treasure, did you? ;-) --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: Peter T. Date: 19 May 00 - 06:26 PM I know a romantic when I see one. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? From: wysiwyg Date: 20 May 00 - 06:31 PM RE: BS: Ain't This Place Great??? YES. ~S~ |