The Pickwick Club discussion

Honourable Members of the Pickwick Club,

as we sometimes start talking about everyday life things that are not directy, maybe not even indirectly to do with any Dickens novel - or with Dickens at all -, and as members might feel they would be moving too much off-topic, it would probably be good to have some kind of lounge where members can meet and chat about whatever they like over a virtual cup of coffee. So here we go!

This might probably also be a way for our as yet silent members to introduce themselves in the course of any conversations that might go on here.

Welcome to the Pickwick Club Lounge then!

We get too much off topic, us, really?? We get so far off topic that I forget what the topic is sometimes. But I'm drinking tea. :-}

Kim wrote: "But I'm drinking tea. :-}"


Any particular tea? I'm somewhat of a tea aficionado, in a casual way. I drink either Assam or an Assam blend in the mornings (with milk and sugar), switch in the afternoon to a Keemun or Darjeeling-Ceylon blend, both without milk or sugar. Sometimes I will vary things by slipping a small amount of Earl Grey or Lapsang into my afternoon tea for a bit of extra flavor. Then in the evening I usually finish off with a cup or two of Jasmine. I don't care for straight green tea, but I do like Jasmine.

All loose teas, of course. My Irish grandmother trained me early on that "you cann'a make a good cup of tea by dipping a mouse by its tail in a cup of hot water."

What are your preferred teas?

BTW, mine generally come from Upton Tea, a merchant who has excellent teas and very prompt shipping.
https://secure.uptontea.com/shopcart/...

Everyman wrote: "Any particular tea? I'm somewhat of a tea aficionado, in a casual way..."

You're somewhat a tea aficionado? You named at least seven different kinds of tea, of which I had never heard of any of them. They sound very intriguing though. As for what tea do I drink? The kind that comes in tea bags that our local grocery store carries, Lipton tea, whatever that's called. I keep reading the first paragraph over again so I can remember the different kinds of tea for the next time I am anywhere that may possibly have them. Which being in a small valley in central Pennsylvania seems doubtful.

Thanks for that mouse comment, by the way. I hate mice and they hate me. Ever since the time they made a nest in a box of decorations for the living room tree, we've been at war. I think we bought every plastic tote Walmart had after that to put the decorations in, mice can't get in those. They chew right through cardboard boxes. I'm getting mad just thinking of it.

This reminds me of a list I've been making for years, my why did God make list. Mice is at the top, then flies, gnats, stink bugs, ticks, lice and fleas. I know it's longer, but I'm not sure where it is right now. :-}

OK, I'm going to look at the Upton Tea website.

Kim wrote: "The kind that comes in tea bags that our local grocery store carries, Lipton tea, whatever that's called. "

Technically, in the industry, that's called dust. It's very finely ground tea leaves. If you look at the photos of a nice Assam or Darjeeling on the Upton site, you'll see what actual tea leaves look like.

Kim wrote: "This reminds me of a list I've been making for years, my why did God make list. Mice is at the top, then flies, gnats, stink bugs, ticks, lice and fleas. I know it's longer, but I'm not sure where it is right now. :-}"

You be careful about that list. You're talking to the Founder and President of PETI, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Insects. We believe that cockroaches and lice are entitled to the same level of respect, honor, love, and protection as baby seals or bald eagles. For the time being, PETA has more familiarity in the public eye than we do, but just wait. Our day will come.

Are we here more empathetic because we read Dickens?

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10...

Everyman wrote: "Kim wrote: "This reminds me of a list I've been making for years, my why did God make list. Mice is at the top, then flies, gnats, stink bugs, ticks, lice and fleas. I know it's longer, but I'm not..."

Oh yeah cockroaches are on the list too.

Tea? Is that a metaphor? Or are you guys (I'm from philly) really drinking tea ? Like dick swiveller and Sidney carton ( sans the turban). I prefer to drink. This tea thing sounds complicated! I notice that dickens doesn't several a whole lot of tea. Hmmm. One Penneth rum please.

Christine wrote: "Tea? Is that a metaphor? "

It's the civilized drink.

Though Chesterton wasn't quite as enamored of it as he should have been.

Christine wrote: "Tea? Is that a metaphor? Or are you guys (I'm from philly) really drinking tea ? Like dick swiveller and Sidney carton ( sans the turban). I prefer to drink. This tea thing sounds complicated! I no..."

I'm talking about good old regular tea, the kind that comes in tea bags in the yellow box--Lipton, that's it. That stuff Everyman is talking about I never heard of, plus he has to go to all the trouble of brewing tea leaves (however that's done) when he could just microwave a cup with a tea bag in it. :-} He doesn't drink good old Pennsylvania tea. I'm 40 miles north of Harrisburg by the way.

Everyman wrote: "Are we here more empathetic because we read Dickens?

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10..."

Hey look at that! We performed better on tests measuring empathy, social perception and emotional intelligence!

However, people ranging in age from 18 to 75 were recruited for each of five experiments. They were paid $2 or $3 each to read for a few minutes.

I wasn't paid to read for a few minutes. Just think of the money I could make in a day! :-}

Kim wrote: "I wasn't paid to read for a few minutes. Just think of the money I could make in a day! :-} "

You mean Goodreads isn't sending you your monthly checks?

Kim wrote: "That stuff Everyman is talking about I never heard of, plus he has to go to all the trouble of brewing tea leaves (however that's done)"

That "stuff" is tea. The difference between real tea and teabag tea is like the difference between instant coffee and freshly ground French Press coffee, or between drinking champagne out of styrofoam cups or crystal wine glasses.

Of course, I realize that some people like instant coffee, and some even like drinking champagne out of styrofoam cups. If you're one of those, you will be happy enough with little bags filled with tea dust.

As to brewing it, it's very simple. I use a mesh insert from Upton Tea (see below) which pretty much fills the mug and so gives the leaves plenty of room to expand and breathe, slip it in a china mug and put in a teaspoon of tea, boil water in an electric kettle (all it takes is turning the kettle on and doing something else for a few minutes while it boils), pouring the water over the leaves, and after three minutes taking the insert out (all the tea leaves come with it), dumping the leaves into the composter, and enjoying the tea. Very simple.

The four cup Chatsford insert works beautifully in standard china mugs.

http://uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp...

Everyman wrote: "Kim wrote: "That stuff Everyman is talking about I never heard of, plus he has to go to all the trouble of brewing tea leaves (however that's done)"

That "stuff" is tea. The difference between re..."

I had a sip of champagne once. It was horrendous. A few years after that my daughter-in-law's mother kept insisting I drink a glass of champagne with them, and wouldn't stop asking me to take it, so I finally took it and when no one was watching I poured it into one of her houseplants. I can't imagine it tasting any better in a glass or a cup, but if I could stand the stuff I would give it a try just to find out. :-}

I never had your brewed tea, so I can't really decide if it beats Lipton teabags yet. :-} I have to get some to try first. However be warned, my dad absolutely loved instant coffee, you know the kind you just put a spoonful in a glass and pour in the water. With everyone having coffee makers now (except me) I don't even know if they make the stuff anymore, but my dad always wanted instant coffee and didn't like fresh brewed. Also, and this was very weird, he loved those instant mashed potatoes, the dry flakes that came in boxes. I haven't had to buy them since he died, so I also don't know if they still make those, they were awful, so the rest of us thought, but he always insisted we have those instead of real mashed potatoes at family dinners. So if I'm anything like my dad, the tea bags will probably win. :-}

Well, I must admit that I only drink tea when I'm ill ;-)

For me, coffee is the thing, not as in coffee shop coffee, i.e. all these strange new-fangled inventions, but a normal, decent mug of coffee, preferably with the coffee grounds at the bottom of it. There!

When it comes to cold drinks, I exclusively drink water, beer (of course) and Laphroaig (which I think is the civilized drink). Sometimes I also have a White Russian, but that depends on the film ;-)

Tristram wrote: "Well, I must admit that I only drink tea when I'm ill ;-)

For me, coffee is the thing, not as in coffee shop coffee, i.e. all these strange new-fangled inventions, but a normal, decent mug of coff..."

OK, I have no idea what Laphroaig is, or White Russian; beer, the tastes I've had any of it is awful, it needs sugar added, and whenever I say that to anyone they act like I'm crazy, but if I could add maybe two tablespoons of sugar it might be alright.

I've never had a normal, decent mug of coffee that I liked, but every now and then in a book store they come around with samples of coffee with long names that I can never remember, things like lattes, and mochas or something like that, and they'll have chocolate, or pumpkin, or carmel, or vanilla, and after they come around the 10th time or so I finally take one just so I can get back to the books, and they're usually good, but I can never remember what they are, and they're expensive anyway. Wow, that was a long sentence.

You drink tea when you're ill? Why, does it help?? For iced tea try McDonalds sweet tea, it's awesome. (that's just to annoy Everyman, I doubt he drinks McDonald's tea :-}).

Kim wrote: "that's just to annoy Everyman,"

Gee, it's like you're my second wife.

Everyman wrote: "Kim wrote: "that's just to annoy Everyman,"

Gee, it's like you're my second wife."

you always make me laugh. :-}

Everyman wrote: "Are we here more empathetic because we read Dickens?

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10..."

Do not you fancy yourself a plot aficianado as well? What does the article say about plot and popular vs. classic literature? Next time you slam Dickens for his lack of plot-cohesiveness, we can label you a closet pulp fiction fan. :)

Everyman wrote: "Christine wrote: "Tea? Is that a metaphor? "

It's the civilized drink.

Though Chesterton wasn't quite as enamored of it as he should have been."

Poe preferred the metaphor.

Everyman wrote: "Kim wrote: "I wasn't paid to read for a few minutes. Just think of the money I could make in a day! :-} "

You mean Goodreads isn't sending you your monthly checks?"

I'm not getting mine either. Where do we sign up?

Everyman wrote: "Kim wrote: "That stuff Everyman is talking about I never heard of, plus he has to go to all the trouble of brewing tea leaves (however that's done)"

That "stuff" is tea. The difference between re..."

Kim, the insert is just a fancy tea bag. Don't worry.

Tristrcoffeote: "Well, I must admit that I only drink tea when I'm ill ;-)

For me, coffee is the thing, not as in coffee shop coffee, i.e. all these strange new-fangled inventions, but a normal, decent mug of coff..."

I prefer coffee, fresh brewed. I like the freshly ground beans from the grocery store. I don't have my grinder, or I would grind it fresher than that.

I drink ice tea everyday, water at work, but ice tea almost exclusively at home. When I do have hot tea, I prefer the brand? imported from England. Those tea bags are fat, not like Lipton's.

Tristram, I know Germans like to drink but is it really water and beer (of course) and not water (of course) and beer? The beer drinking is more to be taken for granted than the water-drinking? Really?

Jonathan wrote: "Tristrcoffeote: "Well, I must admit that I only drink tea when I'm ill ;-)

For me, coffee is the thing, not as in coffee shop coffee, i.e. all these strange new-fangled inventions, but a normal, d..."

The of course was a reference to my being German, and therefore being supposed to be a drinker of beer. But then I know a lot of Germans who don't like beer at all, and there are regions where people actually prefer wine to beer, esp. in winegrowing areas. Apart from that drinking wine rather than beer is also a way of showing that you belong to some sort of upper class, but it is as convincing as saying "pardon?" instead of "what?"

Coming from the northern part of Germany, I would tend to prefer more bitter beers, which I actually do. I don't know if you can buy it in the U.S. but if you ever have the chance of getting some Jever, not too cold, but still cold, you should take it.

As to water, these days everyone in Germany is carrying a water bottle with them as though they were crossing the Sahara. This mania of always being able to drink water - of having a right to drink water whenever one feels like it - has become such an ingrained element of German culture that even the Cambridge people made an exception to the rules of Cambridge Proficiency and other language tests in that they actually allowed a bottle of water, still water, not the fizzy one (as the bubbles might contain more information than some students' heads), to be taken into the exams - in Germany. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. In Germany a horse will probably drink even if you lead it away from water.

Kim wrote: "OK, I have no idea what Laphroaig is, or White Russian; beer, the tastes I've had any of it is awful, it needs sugar added, and whenever I say that to anyone they act like I'm crazy, but if I could add maybe two tablespoons of sugar it might be alright."

Laphroaig is the finest Scotch I have ever tasted - its smell is very characteristic - only problem is there is no word for it, I think. And it tastes smokey, yet mellow, and has this fine oily consistence that makes it such a pleasure to watch in your glass.

White Russian is a long drink that is made of vodka, kahlúa and milk or cream.

Now you would have to explain to me what "tea" is ;-)

"You drink tea when you're ill? Why, does it help??"

I then drink chamomile tea, and yes it does help by tasting so awful that my body musters up all its strength for me to get better soon and avoid a second cup.

Tristram wrote: "But then I know a lot of Germans who don't like beer at all, and there are regions where people actually prefer wine to beer, esp. in winegrowing areas."

I read recently that in the early 20th century, pre-WWI, the English aristocracy considered German wine the best wine. Since I wasn't aware that Germany even had a wine industry, had only ever considered Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy (and, of course, to a lesser degree Greece) as the European wine countries, this came as a sufficient surprise to me that I remembered it.

Tristram wrote: "I then drink chamomile tea, and yes it does help by tasting so awful ..."

Chamomile "tea" is no more tea than carob is chocolate. Chamomile "tea" is actually a tisane.

Properly, tea comes only from the Camellia sinensis plant.

That said, chamomile tisane has actually been shown to have health benefits. But I agree, it tastes nasty (though not as nasty as castor oil, which was still a "remedy" of choice during my childhood. The fear of getting a dose of castor oil was very effective in making sure that we never complained of feeling ill unless we were on death's door.)

Jonathan wrote: " I'm not getting mine either. Where do we sign up? "

I wonder if someone would sit down and figure out how much money I would have by now if I got paid $2 for reading a few pages. One of you who is good at math go look at my already read books (don't forget I re-read) count up the number of pages I've read total and let me know how much money I have coming to me. :-}

Tristram wrote: "Coming from the northern part of Germany, I would tend to prefer more bitter beers, which I actually do. I don't know if you can buy it in the U.S. but if you ever have the chance of getting some Jever, not too cold, but still cold, you should take it."

Warm, bitter beer? Sounds horrible. Although maybe if I warmed it in the microwave then added two teaspoons (or tablespoons) of sugar and some milk, it would be drinkable.

Tristram wrote: "As to water, these days everyone in Germany is carrying a water bottle with them as though they were crossing the Sahara."

One of my best friend's grandfather, who is 96 years old, claims he never has and never will drink water. He says water is to wash with, wine is to drink. He makes his own "wine" he calls it, beats me what it is. :-}

Tristram wrote: "Laphroaig is the finest Scotch I have ever tasted - its smell is very characteristic - only problem is there is no word for it, I think. And it tastes smokey, yet mellow, and has this fine oily consistence that makes it such a pleasure to watch in your glass."

Wow, the things I learn on here.

I learned there's dozens more types of tea than I ever heard of. Even Jonathan, who seems slightly normal by using good old tea bags, gets them from England because they are fat. I'm the only one who runs to Wal-Mart and buys the cheap kind.

I've learned that you can still grind your own coffee. I have a lot of antiques and a few antique coffee grinders so I assumed everyone quit grinding their own a hundred years ago. Of course I also assumed they quit using tea leaves when they started coming in bags.

I've learned that Chamomile isn't tea and carob isn't chocolate. Now all I have to look up is what carob is.

I've learned what White Russian is although since I never heard of it I wasn't exactly sitting around wondering about it.

And I've learned that there are different kinds of scotch. I thought scotch was scotch and I also thought scotch was whiskey. I've tasted whiskey (or maybe it was scotch, whatever my dad was always drinking) and I have no intention of ever trying it again.

And I learned that Laphroaig tastes smoky, mellow and it's oily. It also sounds horrible. :-}

Kim wrote: "I've learned that you can still grind your own coffee."

It's the only way to make real coffee. You can come close by buying freshly ground beans and storing them in the freezer, but really, grinding them yourself and immediately brewing them is the way to go.

I used to drink about equal amounts of coffee and tea, but then I started having problems with caffeine and had to switch to decaf coffee, and it's hard to find really good decaf coffee, so I only have one or two cups of coffee a day now, and switched mostly to tea.

But since I don't drink any alcoholic beverages or soda, tea, coffee, milk, water, and some fruit juices are all I drink. So the tea and coffee have to be really good.

Kim wrote: "Tristram wrote: "Coming from the northern part of Germany, I would tend to prefer more bitter beers, which I actually do. I don't know if you can buy it in the U.S. but if you ever have the chance ..."

NO, not warm beer ... what a terrible idea. Beer should be cold but not ice-cold; otherwise it'll lose its taste - although on second thoughts, this might be the thing for you, Kim, as you don't seem to like its taste.

My brother-in-law is from South America, and he shows his lack of ability to appreciate beer by serving it ice-cold. Brrrrrrrrrrrr!

Everyman wrote: "Tristram wrote: "I then drink chamomile tea, and yes it does help by tasting so awful ..."

Chamomile "tea" is no more tea than carob is chocolate. Chamomile "tea" is actually a tisane.

Properl..."

Ah, I've never come across that word "Tisane", but I looked it up and see now that in English you make the same difference as in French, where there is "du thé" and "une infusion". Some years ago, when the wife of a French friend of mine asked me if I would like "une infusion" I was quite taken aback and asked her if she had medical training because she was offering me an Infusion, which is the German for "transfusion" .... Mhhh, infusion, transfusion, what confusion ....

Kim wrote: "Tristram wrote: "Ah, I've never come across that word "Tisane", but I looked it up..."

If I start listing all the words you guys use that I have no clue what they mean until I look them up we'll h..."

I'm not surprised the Czechs are ahead of us on the beer list because after all they have very good beers. I'm a bit surprised, though, that the Canadians come before the British ... and that so many other countries do, too.

By the way, I also had to look up "carob" - I'm happy about every word I have to look up since it increases my English vocab -, and I haven't got a clue what "Johannisbrot", which is German for "carob", is.

Here's some poetry for you. :-}

George Edmunds' Song



Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, lie strewn around he here;
Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, how sad, how cold, how drear!
How like the hopes of childhood's day,
Thick clust'ring on the bough!
How like those hopes in their decay-
How faded are they now!
Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, lie strewn around me here;
Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, how sad, how cold, how drear!

Wither'd leaves, wither'd leaves, that fly before the gale:
Withered leaves, withered leaves, ye tell a mournful tale,
Of love once true, and friends once kind,
And happy moments fled:
Dispersed by every breath of wind,
Forgotten, changed, or dead!
Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, lie strewn around me here!
Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, how sad, how cold, how drear!

--Charles Dickens

Let's see how well you know me. Here's a question for you:

Today is my very, very, very, very (add a few more if you want) day of the year. Is it.....

a. my birthday
b. our wedding anniversary
c. the day we leave for vacation in Florida
d. the day we start decorating for Christmas

You should know the answer to this by now. I am so happy!! Like a clam. :-}

Kim wrote: "Let's see how well you know me. Here's a question for you:

Today is my very, very, very, very (add a few more if you want) day of the year. Is it.....

a. my birthday
b. our wedding anniversary
..."

Well, it could be a or also b, but as far as I know you, chances are highest it is d. You once said you started planning for Christmas usually right after Christmas - but you would probably not start decorating right after Christmas.

So I go for answer d.

Tristram wrote: "You once said you started planning for Christmas usually right after Christmas - but you would probably not start decorating right after Christmas.

So I go for answer d.
"

I rejected that because I think the house is already half-decorated. And she wouldn't leave for Florida this close to Christmas. So I have to go for a or b.

Everyman wrote: "Tristram wrote: "You once said you started planning for Christmas usually right after Christmas - but you would probably not start decorating right after Christmas.

So I go for answer d.
"

I reje..."

But then as far as I remember Kim never mentioned her birthdate or the date of her wedding anniversary so that it would make no sense to ask this question if the answer were really a or b.

The house may already be half-decorated, but by saying she starts decorating for Christmas, Kim might imply that from now on she at least spends 7 hours on that noble tast.

So I'll stick with d.

Now Everyman, you did say the house is already "half-decorated" it's probably a little less than that, but now I have to decorate the rest don't I? If we start now we'll be finished by Thanksgiving. The furniture that needs to go to make room for the village platforms has now been moved to the garage. The platforms for the dining room village and the two kitchen villages are in place. I have the dining room village unpacked but not in place yet. The kitchen nativity is done, that's all so far. There are two more living room villages, two in the family room, one in the loft, and the town of Bethlehem. We have the 13 ft. tree, the two 9 ft. trees and the 8 ft. tree to bring in and decorate; and all the garlands for the stair railing and the fireplaces. And all the Santas, and sleighs and nativities; and that's not even counting the outside. There are so many lights that when they're all lit the house gets hot and sometimes the air-conditioning comes on. :-}

But yes a lot does stay out all the time, the 100 or so carolers, the Dickens village, four of the nativities, the four smaller trees. We need a little Christmas all year round after all. This is what I'll be doing in heaven by the way. :-}

When I opened the first tote on Thursday and saw the people and the houses waiting for me, I had to sit down I was crying so much. Happy tears. Wait until January, it will happen all over again, but in reverse. :-}

Kim wrote: "We have the 13 ft. tree, the two 9 ft. trees and the 8 ft. tree to bring in and decorate"

Do you use real trees or artificial ones? If real, it must be a challenge to find a good 13 foot tree every year!

Everyman wrote: "Kim wrote: "We have the 13 ft. tree, the two 9 ft. trees and the 8 ft. tree to bring in and decorate"

Do you use real trees or artificial ones? If real, it must be a challenge to find a good 13 f..."

Artificial now. We used to use real, but you can't put them up as early, so we'd have all the trees to do the week of Thanksgiving, and even then it seemed like every year something would go wrong. We used to go to a tree farm in the summer (or more than one) til we found a big enough tree for the living room and put a tag on it. One year after it was up about two weeks all the needles were falling off so badly that we had to take it down and get another one, which is a really hard job that close to Christmas. And one year there were praying mantis eggs (I guess eggs) in it and they hatched after about a week and we had about 500 little praying mantis all over the place. Now we have all artificial. :-}

My decorating has been a little stalled the last few days but I'm trying to get back in the grove. On Friday I went for a mammogram and they think I have cancer again. Not that I had it before but this is the second time in six months they thought I had it. So I've been sitting lost in thought most of the weekend, not even reading! :-} I got to shake myself and get back in my usual mood, after all it's Christmas! :-}

Kim wrote: " On Friday I went for a mammogram and they think I have cancer again."

Oh, dear. I certainly hope it's a false positive again. My mother died of breast cancer, but that was over fifty years ago, and they're made enormous strides in diagnosis and treatment since then, of course. Still, I'll be praying that they're wrong about it again.

Everyman wrote: "Kim wrote: " On Friday I went for a mammogram and they think I have cancer again."

Oh, dear. I certainly hope it's a false positive again. My mother died of breast cancer, but that was over fift..."

thanks a lot. I just wish I could think about something else for awhile you know? My grandmother died of it too, she was 37 years old, but it was in 1924 so I figured they didn't do much then. I asked dad about her years ago and he can only remember her sick in bed. He was seven when she died. I guess what's bugging me is that it's one thing after another, do you ever feel like that? I just had skin cancer removed from my head last month. Seems like we should get a break sometimes. OK, sorry for whining, I think I'll go work on Bethlehem. :-}

Hello Kim,

I'm definitely joining Everyman in his good wishes for you! You are one of the pillars of this Pickwick Club, what with your interesting background knowledge, your good sense of humour and your readiness to defend Dickens against us, sometimes, grumpy men.

A colleague of mine had breast cancer once when she was in her mid-thirties, but since they diagnosed it at an early stage, she recovered completely. There's a lot to say for modern day medicine, luckily.

Anyway, I'll be thinking of you, wishing you all the best!!!

OH NO ! That is awful. I, like everyman have stories to share.

But for now I will add

Early detection is the key. If you had a recent scare you have been on top of screenings. And having not had cancer to date , the odds are huge that you are OK or can eradicate the issue. I pray that all is well. If not, you are gifted a workable solution.

Keep you PMA ( positive mental attitude ) at all times. And decorate like there is no tomorrow. God gives us precious few minutes. When in doubt live fiercely. Show the big guy how terribly valuable you are here ! Right here on earth.

Thanks, you guys are amazing. Even those of you who are usually grumpy. :-}

Oh, the man came today to tune my piano and asked if he could take some pictures of our Christmas decorations to email to his daughter at college. I said, what Christmas decorations, we just started decorating the other day. He said he never was in a house decorated this much and took some pictures of the stuff that's always up. I told him to come back and bring his family any time after Thanksgiving, we'll be finished by then and it WILL definitely be decorated. :-}

Kim wrote: "Thanks, you guys are amazing. Even those of you who are usually grumpy. :-}

Oh, the man came today to tune my piano and asked if he could take some pictures of our Christmas decorations to email ..."

Hi Kim

This is the first time I have read this thread having just joined the Pickwick Club a few weeks ago.

First, I too wish you strength and grace as you face your cancer health issue. Please know that my thoughts are with you, and I'm sending all the good vibes from Victoria, British Columbia I can muster.

When we moved from Toronto to Victoria this past spring my wife and I downsized from a house to an apartment. In retirement we figured we needed less space, less stuff and less hassle. It's interesting what is important to you, and often only find out when forced to make decisions. Over the years my wife and I have collected skinny Santa figures. Carved ones, china ones, tacky ones, tiny ones, weird ones. Before we moved we gave away or donated sofas, books, tables, Christmas lights, artificial trees, clothes and all sorts of stuff in Toronto, but in carefully packed boxes we brought all our Santas with us. They are part of our family.

We will decorate our new place for Christmas after November 11th. On November 12th we will be surrounded by all our skinny Santas, and for each one we place I will send a good thought to you.