The Lucas North Faculty of Parachute Studies at the UMN

[DumSpiroSpero]

Not entirely tasteful, but it's what we all hoped really isn't it?

Morning all, sorry to love you and leave you last night. We went to see One Day it was OK but I read the book on holiday and it was no where near as good. I did consider Jane Erye but the reviews are not good, I also wanted to see TTSS but it's not out yet.

Party military operation planning is in full swing, the bouncy castle arrived at 7.50am I'm sure the neighbours were delighted!

Sorry Twigs I meant to say I knew about RA wanting to be an Artichoke, it's just one thing on my list of Destiny

::totters in, grumbling::

MN just ate my post. I had said that I've only seen snippets of Glee but love it. I used to have a HD version of that Teenage Dream vid on speed-dial but it's been taken down for copyright reasons. . What I love about Blaine is that he's so comfortable in his own skin, in a way that the gay boys I knew at a similar age weren't. Different and (at least slightly) better times, thankfully.

My other French texts, seared into my memory, were Victor Hugo's Hernani (yuk) and Francis Mauriac's Therese Desqueyroux (which I will re-read some day, as I think its depiction of a married woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown is probably lost on teenagers). I can still remember odd quotes from them - as I said, we were very well drilled.

I bought One Day from a bookstall yesterday for 20p so hope it's money well spent.

Ooh, ooh. The Girl is now on S3 and Guy is in the dungeon, emoting to Meg.

I'm about 3 chapters into One Day, Maud. I can't say as I'm finding it terribly riveting tbh. It seems to be very much a 'love or hate' book among the people I know who've read it.

That's why I'm glad I only spent 20p on it, Spiro - some of the reviews of the film have suggested that the book isn't as great as it's cracked up to be.

20p is about all I'd pay for One Day, Maud. Everyone I knew who'd read it, raved about it but I was decidedly underwhelmed. I hated Dexter and couldn't warm to Emma at all. I don't know whether I was expecting too much of it because of what everyone else said but it didn't move me in the way I felt it should.

Will have to try and catch up with yesterdays lecture notes and ReseArch later, too much company to do it now, boo hiss.

Hope the party goes well, Small. ::prepares large jug of polish cordial and darkened room for later::

That often seems to be the way with books that 'everyone' is reading - they somehow acquire a reputation for greatness that they don't deserve.

::thinks of some of her book group has chosen, apparently because there was a pretty heap of them in Waterstone's window::

::nervously awaits the outcome of LadyD's marking review::

DrTwigs is reading One Day as we speak. Not sure if he likes it or not. I've not read it.

Yes Maud, Blaine is a wonderful character. I haven't known any gay boys that age but Blaine is so confident and happy - fabulous role model. He and Kurt are so cute together (even though I want to slap Kurt a little bit).

Have just remembered the book we did for A level - Moderato Cantabile by Margaret Duras. I couldn't even remember the plot now. I've forgotten so much of the French I learned. It's quite sad to think that I got to A Level standard but could barely hold a conversation now. I think because I've never kept it up - I loathe speaking French and so I've always avoided the opportunity, so I suppose knowledge that isn't used just melts away.

Hello, all!

Is it just me or was Elizaveta punching above her weight?

Tbh I don't think Lucas was particularly well matched with any of his ladies. Notwithstanding that she was a baddie, I'd say Sarah Caulfield was the best of a bad bunch in terms of chemistry.

well that was exhausting. I have people here since 11am and have only just sat down now. It was a fun day though and SB Minor enjoyed it hugely.

I borrowed One Day out of our holiday home shelves, it's not a Classic but I quite enjoyed it although I skipped the dull bits, I thought the film cut huge swathes of the book out which meant it didn't really have the same relevance and so was rather disappointing. But I am not a heavyweight reader so what do I know. I also read A Short History of Ukranian Tractors which I also enjoyed.

What is the Ukrainian Tractors book about, Small? I have seen it around a lot, but somehow failed to investigate it.

PPP (pre-party panic) is now setting in as I've realised how much I have to do and that I have virtually no time to do it in. Haven't even wrapped Miss Spiro's pressies yet.

Glad all went well for you Small. Well deserved glass of Chateau Giz now! What did you do cake-wise in the end? I have just knocked up something on Photoshop & will get it stuck on a photocake at Asda tomorrow.

Well I am sure there is a much deeper meaning to it
all but basically it's about an old Ukranian man who marries a gold digging Ukranian woman, it's about family relationships, hidden secrets and tractors!

Spiro I took your advice and went for the easy option, I'm glad I did now, no one even noticed.

Hidden secrets?? Don't even know what I mean by that. Family secrets.

It sounds absolutely riveting, Small. Though I think I might have seen

Yes that's the one , it's better than I made it sound Massive but perhaps not to everyone's taste

Sounds like something else to pick up from the bargain bin at the charity shop! Worth a punt, but not at full price.

Library?

Even better, maybe, for everyone else but there are no public libraries on the Island No charity shops either as a matter of fact but sometimes you come across a sale in a bookshop. Or there is always second hand on Amazon.

Small, glad SBMinor had a lovely time! Hope you enjoyed the day too, exhaustion aside. Spiro, I haven't wrapped any presents either! I wasn't panicking though, until you started :) I planned to do the cake whilst he is at nursery tomorrow morning but only just spotted that I don't have any icing, so I have to go to Asda tomorrow, thereby running out of time to do the actual cake, eek!

Sarah Caulfield is a cow but it's believable that he would fancy her. But Elizaveta is just a miserable old wotsit, with greasy hair, who walks like a bloke.

Sarah Caulfield is a cow...... But Elizaveta is just a miserable old wotsit, with greasy hair, who walks like a bloke.

So there's chance for us yet then, Twigs. or there would have been if he'd remembered his parachute.

I didn't realise you were poised for a party, too. Are you going to have pass the parcel?

I have been looking for some music to put on for you all has some very nice visuals but tbh the song is a wee bit OTT in the context, for my taste. I mean okay, they are gorgeous, but...

That has some very lovely visuals indeed! Will have to get back to you re the lyrics as watching in phone with Mr S in the room and can't be having the full effect and thudding in front if him - that would never do!