Colleen McCullough

[solushunz]

Hi,I love this feedback

[Fran]

@Gannon
Love the new avatar .... the mighty nephew I presume?
He's a cute little man for sure & got his hands on Santy & isn't letting go I bet.

[Gannon]

@Gannon
Love the new avatar .... the mighty nephew I presume?
He's a cute little man for sure & got his hands on Santy & isn't letting go I bet.

Yep he is my favourite little nephew. You have to love kid's logic. The photo is him sitting on the steps waiting for Santa. Even though he will tell you he has Santa with him. ??? Oh well it all makes sense to him.

[Maud Fitch]

@ Fran, so glad you do like "Black Books", although apologies for getting you re-hooked! I had almost forgotten about "Father Ted", it was just as funny in its own way; one of the priests, Father Jack, had a similar persona to Bernard, e.g. drinking, swearing, etc. Also, Dylan Moran has toured here a couple of times with his stand-up comedy shows but I could never get tickets. And, finally, "The Dead Republic" sounds veeery interesting indeed. Actually I haven't read a really good book for a few weeks now so I'll put it on the list. It will not suprise you to know that I've requested "The Song Of The Quarkbeast" Book 2 by Jasper Fforde. It's 'young adult' but what the heck.

@ Gannon, your comment reminded me that good old Santa saw my selfless act and he knows "who's been naughty or nice..." Your nephew glows niceness, he's sooo adorable. Christmas is such a special time for the young ones. I bought my youngest nephew a penguin for Christmas. No, not a real penguin but one which makes shaved ice for slushies and snow cones. Apparently the water freezes inside the body, you turn the handle at the back and it shaves off ice into a container below (which alarmingly comes out through a clear plastic trapdoor in his stomach) then you scoop it into the bowls provided and pour a variety of cordials on to the ice to colour and flavour it. Lots of cold, sloppy fun!

[Fran]

@Maud
The Dead Republic is the third of a 3-book series .... it stands alone IMO but obviously having read books 1 & 2 makes it more meaningful & brings the continuity to the story & the central character.
I hadn't thought of the similarity between Bernard & Fr Jack 'till now ... Fr Jack could certainly have benefited from The Little Book of Calm
On your slushy penguin gift .... I bet your nephew's mother just loves you

[Gannon]

@ Fran, so glad you do like "Black Books", although apologies for getting you re-hooked! I had almost forgotten about "Father Ted", it was just as funny in its own way; one of the priests, Father Jack, had a similar persona to Bernard, e.g. drinking, swearing, etc. Also, Dylan Moran has toured here a couple of times with his stand-up comedy shows but I could never get tickets. And, finally, "The Dead Republic" sounds veeery interesting indeed. Actually I haven't read a really good book for a few weeks now so I'll put it on the list. It will not suprise you to know that I've requested "The Song Of The Quarkbeast" Book 2 by Jasper Fforde. It's 'young adult' but what the heck.

@ Gannon, your comment reminded me that good old Santa saw my selfless act and he knows "who's been naughty or nice..." Your nephew glows niceness, he's sooo adorable. Christmas is such a special time for the young ones. I bought my youngest nephew a penguin for Christmas. No, not a real penguin but one which makes shaved ice for slushies and snow cones. Apparently the water freezes inside the body, you turn the handle at the back and it shaves off ice into a container below (which alarmingly comes out through a clear plastic trapdoor in his stomach) then you scoop it into the bowls provided and pour a variety of cordials on to the ice to colour and flavour it. Lots of cold, sloppy fun!

@Maud&Fran

Father Ted, Black Books, The Dead Republic, I don't know which way to turn, where do I start. I am currently reading Farenheit 451, I did not realise how short it is, almost like a short story. Just finished King's latest and it is a great read. There is no horror at all, you could almost call it a time travelling love story. The only negative for me was that it gets a little tiresome and drags a bit in the middle of the book, but this is more than made up for by a fantastic ending. I don't want to say anymore in case SKM is reading this.

Maud, the penguin sounds like a great present, especially now we are getting into our unbearably hot summer. I think that it may be getting alot of use. It reminds me of slushies. I would always (eat,drink) mine too quickly and then I would get "Brain Freeze".

My little nephew was talking to Santa and he assures me that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. He said that Santa is omnipotent. Don't know where he got that word from, I had to look it up. He is obsessed with Angry Birds, the video game, so I have bought him the board game which looks like fun. You are so right with Christmas being for the young ones. As you get older you get more enjoyment watching the little ones opening their presents rather than you opening yours. As I said before I am pretty sure, I am getting Colleen's autobiography for Christmas, having said that I will probably get a pair of socks, but hey we all need socks right.

Its a little bit early to be wishing you guys Merry Christmas, so for now I will just wish you a Merry week.

[StephenKingman]

@ Fran, so glad you do like "Black Books", although apologies for getting you re-hooked! I had almost forgotten about "Father Ted", it was just as funny in its own way; one of the priests, Father Jack, had a similar persona to Bernard, e.g. drinking, swearing, etc. Also, Dylan Moran has toured here a couple of times with his stand-up comedy shows but I could never get tickets. And, finally, "The Dead Republic" sounds veeery interesting indeed. Actually I haven't read a really good book for a few weeks now so I'll put it on the list. It will not suprise you to know that I've requested "The Song Of The Quarkbeast" Book 2 by Jasper Fforde. It's 'young adult' but what the heck.

@ Gannon, your comment reminded me that good old Santa saw my selfless act and he knows "who's been naughty or nice..." Your nephew glows niceness, he's sooo adorable. Christmas is such a special time for the young ones. I bought my youngest nephew a penguin for Christmas. No, not a real penguin but one which makes shaved ice for slushies and snow cones. Apparently the water freezes inside the body, you turn the handle at the back and it shaves off ice into a container below (which alarmingly comes out through a clear plastic trapdoor in his stomach) then you scoop it into the bowls provided and pour a variety of cordials on to the ice to colour and flavour it. Lots of cold, sloppy fun!

@Maud&Fran

Father Ted, Black Books, The Dead Republic, I don't know which way to turn, where do I start. I am currently reading Farenheit 451, I did not realise how short it is, almost like a short story. Just finished King's latest and it is a great read. There is no horror at all, you could almost call it a time travelling love story. The only negative for me was that it gets a little tiresome and drags a bit in the middle of the book, but this is more than made up for by a fantastic ending. I don't want to say anymore in case SKM is reading this.

Maud, the penguin sounds like a great present, especially now we are getting into our unbearably hot summer. I think that it may be getting alot of use. It reminds me of slushies. I would always (eat,drink) mine too quickly and then I would get "Brain Freeze".

My little nephew was talking to Santa and he assures me that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. He said that Santa is omnipotent. Don't know where he got that word from, I had to look it up. He is obsessed with Angry Birds, the video game, so I have bought him the board game which looks like fun. You are so right with Christmas being for the young ones. As you get older you get more enjoyment watching the little ones opening their presents rather than you opening yours. As I said before I am pretty sure, I am getting Colleen's autobiography for Christmas, having said that I will probably get a pair of socks, but hey we all need socks right.

Its a little bit early to be wishing you guys Merry Christmas, so for now I will just wish you a Merry week.

As you know by now, I see all so again thanks for lack of spoilers. Also a Merry Week to you, nice avatar, you finally ran out of Roman symbols

[Gannon]

@SKM

Thanks SKM, merry week to you as well. Don't worry I will not spoil any of it for you, also don't worry I have thousands of more Roman avatars waiting in the wings.

-- Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:07 pm --

Hey hey Maud. I have just finished thanking Fran for her recommendations and chats in the Black Books post. I just want to thank you as well for your brilliant recommendations and the laughs you have given me this year. It beggars the mind that If I had not met you on this forum, I may never have read any Japsper Fforde. Shock! I hope that our little triumvirate continues in 2012. It would be a genuine loss to me if either of you disappeared off this forum. Ok I just read this back and it is starting to sound a little sad so (irish accent) thankyou kindly from the tips of my toes to the hair on my head(irish accent) Cheers.

[Maud Fitch]

Hey hey Maud. I have just finished thanking Fran for her recommendations and chats in the Black Books post. I just want to thank you as well for your brilliant recommendations and the laughs you have given me this year. It beggars the mind that If I had not met you on this forum, I may never have read any Japsper Fforde. Shock! I hope that our little triumvirate continues in 2012. It would be a genuine loss to me if either of you disappeared off this forum. Ok I just read this back and it is starting to sound a little sad so (irish accent) thankyou kindly from the tips of my toes to the hair on my head(irish accent) Cheers.

Thanks, Gannon, much appreciated, you're a bonza bloke. I ain't goin' nowhere. And I hope Fran is a permanent fixture. But I'm slightly nervous about a trium-whatsy-thingy.....I'm not that kind of girl.....

[Fran]

Hey hey Maud. I have just finished thanking Fran for her recommendations and chats in the Black Books post. I just want to thank you as well for your brilliant recommendations and the laughs you have given me this year. It beggars the mind that If I had not met you on this forum, I may never have read any Japsper Fforde. Shock! I hope that our little triumvirate continues in 2012. It would be a genuine loss to me if either of you disappeared off this forum. Ok I just read this back and it is starting to sound a little sad so (irish accent) thankyou kindly from the tips of my toes to the hair on my head(irish accent) Cheers.

Thanks, Gannon, much appreciated, you're a bonza bloke. I ain't goin' nowhere. And I hope Fran is a permanent fixture. But I'm slightly nervous about a trium-whatsy-thingy.....I'm not that kind of girl.....

A triumvirate .... sounds vaguely religious .... but you two Aussies really do light up my life so lets all hang in there in 2012 & we'll have lots more chats, recommendations and without doubt a few good laughs as well.
Have a very wonderful Christmas or Holiday whichever you prefer and Happy Reading in 2012

If Colleen is peeping a very happy Christmas to her also & hope the old typewriter keeps beeping for many years to come.

[Gannon]

When Rome was led by Caesar,Pompey, and Crassus, the word triumvirate(which is latin for three men) was used to describe this unusual dispursion of power. It is Christmas eve and there is that special Christmassy feel in the air. You won't believe this but I still have a heap of presents to buy, I have left it to the last minute again, ahhhhhrrrrrrr. Hope you both have a wonderful, fantastic, Merry Christmas. Party on!!!

PS - I think that Colleen has probably thrown that typewriter out by now. Happy Christmas Colleen.
PPs - I am about half way through "The Fear Index" by Robert Harris. Quite good.

[Maud Fitch]

When Rome was led by Caesar,Pompey, and Crassus, the word triumvirate(which is latin for three men) was used to describe this unusual dispursion of power.....

Gannon, thanks for explaining it. But you know I was only joking, don't you. <wink> I vaguely knew that it meant three people (hence tri) but I thought they jointly exercised administrative power, not realising Caesar started it way back in 60 BC. I always learn something on the Forums!

My seasons greetings echo you and Fran. Wishing you both a joyously happy Christmas.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND STAY SAFE!

[Gannon]

When Rome was led by Caesar,Pompey, and Crassus, the word triumvirate(which is latin for three men) was used to describe this unusual dispursion of power.....

Gannon, thanks for explaining it. But you know I was only joking, don't you. <wink> I vaguely knew that it meant three people (hence tri) but I thought they jointly exercised administrative power, not realising Caesar started it way back in 60 BC. I always learn something on the Forums!

My seasons greetings echo you and Fran. Wishing you both a joyously happy Christmas.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND STAY SAFE!

Hahaha, yes I knew you were joking. I hope you and Fran had a wonderful Christmas. I have hurt my back. I don't know how I did it, I just woke up and had this excruciating pain in my lower back. The pain is that bad, that I had to go to hospital Christmas night. The Doctor gave me a painkilling needle and I am on really powerful painkillers at the moment. If it is no better when the painkillers run out I have to go back and they will do scans, x-rays, etc. At the time of writing this, the pain is no better, and I am confined to my comfy reading chair. At least I have some good books to read. I was right, I did get "Life without the boring bits" by Colleen for Christmas. I am about halfway through it and it is very enjoyable and funny. She does not pull any punches and says exactly what she feels about a range of topics. Being her number one fan, I love it, but I don't know how it will be accepted by the general reading public. I think you need to appreciate her sense of humour.

If I don't post again before the new year, I wish you and Fran a happy and safe new year. Don't party too hard, with the state of my back I know that mine will be a very quiet one. I don't even know if I will see the new year in (these PK's make you pretty sleepy).

[Fran]

@Gannon
So sorry to hear about your back problem ... do take care, rest and do as you are told.
Hope you are feeling much better by New Year & are fit to celebrate a little.

[Gannon]

@Gannon
So sorry to hear about your back problem ... do take care, rest and do as you are told.
Hope you are feeling much better by New Year & are fit to celebrate a little.

Thanks Fran, I hope my back is better for New Years as well. I must say that one good thing has come from my back problem, these pain-killers are so strong, that they not only take away the pain for a few hours they make you feel real good.

I also got "The Sense of an Ending" by Julian Barnes for Christmas. I have just finished Colleen's Autobiography (very good and very funny) and I am going to start "The Sense of an Ending". I seem to remember that you did not think it deserved the Booker, I am looking forward to reading it and letting you know what I think.

Cheers, Big Ears. (Don't worry, its the pain-killers talking, did I mention that they make you feel realllllllll good)