Bad deadline approaching fast: Has anyone here been... - SWEDA

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Bad deadline approaching fast

Nothing_but_books profile image

Has anyone here been helped by an eating disorders clinic?

I have tried to ask for help from one local clinic so far, and one chain clinic far from home to which the first one referred me. Both places told me my problem is not what they treat.

But I have lost more than thirty pounds in 4 1/2 months, and I am still losing weight. I do not have any of the recognized disorders. I was starved after I became crippled years ago, and now I experience extreme panic at the thought of making myself a meal and eating it alone. Chronic pain also is a problem.

I have had help, such as it is, up until now, but soon I will not be able to count on it any more. The end of social distancing is the end of my husband coming here daily to make dinners and support me eating. He says he will still come here at unspecified intervals. I am so scared.

I don't know what to do.

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Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard

Hope you're doing okay now, if not maybe try a therapist if the clinics won't help? I don't know anything about this so sorry if that wasn't useful❤️

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Thank you for responding. I haven't had any food for a few days. More than a month since a real meal. Trauma induced. Very fixed on death. Soon. Has to be soon. No options I haven't tried. I am glad you answered me. I didn't remember this.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I'm so sorry you're going through this. please reach out to someone to help you, your husband, a friend, a family member, a doctor, please just reach out to anyone. Stay strong and if you need me I'm here ❤️❤️

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Hello.

Can I know if you are a woman or a man. Or don't tell me if I am wrong to ask. I just wanted to know. I have nothing left to try. I have no family. I have no friends. I am lonely. I hurt so much all the time. I did everything I was supposed to do -- I put myself in the mental hospital when my therapist said I should. They only kept me a few days and sent me home. I have a doctor. The drugs do not help. I don't sleep except for the few hours I am knocked out by the drug I take at bedtime. I can't bear the pain anymore. I wake wanting to die. I spend the day suffering SO MUCH. There isn't any peace or comfort anywhere. I don't want to be involuntarily put in the state psych ward -- there is nothing good for me there. There is nothing good for me anywhere. I don't even have anyone to say goodbye to. Thank you for saying I could write back to you.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I'm really glad to hear from you again, I'm a 17 year old girl! The fact that you have tried to get help shows how strong you are, that means you are strong enough to get through this. Can I ask you about your life? Where are you from? It sounds like you're from the USA but I might be wrong. I believe you can pull through this. Have you told your doctor they don't work? Is your therapist good? If not is there another one you could try?

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Seventeen! My goodness! And you are here. I -- wrongly -- thought only older people, scarred by life, landed here. Can I tell you what it means to me, can I at least try, to read your kind words? They lift me from my desperate loneliness for a few moments, for which I am grateful.

From time to time I see a word, here on our forum, spelled in a way I know is UK. No, you are not wrong, I am in the US. I would be delighted to learn how you knew?

I have no therapist. I have been calling several I found on the internet, but I can't get anywhere.

My PA (not doctor, "physician's assistant") knows. Nothing left to do. I have severe problems tolerating many drugs.

I hate my life, my misery and whining. You can ask about my life, and I may answer, but since I have nothing good to say I would so much rather hear about you.

Okay. Since you asked, I will try. The only good thing I can think of to share about my life is pictured just above, in my avatar. Her name is Tara.

How on earth did a sweet "17 year old girl" come by the screen name "Aliredbeard".

It makes me giggle and picture a pirate.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Tara is GORGEOUS! What type of bird is she, how old? I'm so glad I'm helping you, even in just a small way❤️ I love that you think of a pirate by Aliredbeard that is brilliant. Alison is my middle name, so I go by Ali online and then Redbeard is from Sherlock Holmes! His childhood "dog" was called Redbeard, but it's later revealed that it was actually his friend, they would play pirates and his friend went by Redbeard. I'm a massive geek for Sherlock Holmes, if you haven't seen the Benedict Cumberbatch series I highly recommend it. You said "State Psych Ward" in a previous comment that's why I thought you were from the US, and I was right! I'm quite proud of that hehe. I'm from the UK by the way. Please please tell me more about Tara she is so adorable!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Oh! My goodness! Another Holmes addict! I must have read (and re-read) The Adventures dozens of times in bed as a child, flashlight and book hidden under my pillow so I wouldn't get caught. Guess what The Speckled Band did for my dreams that night??? "Oh my God, Helen! It's the band!The speckled band!"

The sound of that safe door slamming shut left me trembling all over. Whew! Nope. Didn't forget that one.

But -- I did forget "Redbeard". "The game's afoot..." Where should I look to refresh my memory, please?

Nope. Never even heard of "Benedict Cumberbatch", but I will look into it. Meanwhile, you look into the BBC Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett. Do yourself a favor. No one ever did or will do it better. Start at the beginning of the series: The Adventures... Later on, when Brett was unwell, the quality went downhill.

Hehe. Yes indeed you is one smart cookie. I'm impressed. And THRILLED more than you can imagine to write to another bibliophile. What else do you read? Any SF by chance (be still my heart)?

My baby is a Green-Cheeked Conure. I think she is a Pineapple Green-Cheek, but there are a couple of hybrids that look a lot alike, so I'm not really sure. She is just bursting with personality, and quirks galore. For instance (I have read that this is not unusual for Green-Cheeks) bananas... If she even sees a banana she looses her mind. I mean literally. I taught her to raise one foot in the air to say "Please", and if she sees a banana she gets so crazy wanting it now-now-now that she lifts right foot, left foot, right foot, OOPS, TIPPING! Falling off perch! And when she gets her beak in the banana she does not take bites and nibble. Gosh, no! She sticks in the tip of her beak and nibbles with her lower beak without ever letting go. It's a scream. Or other times she just rips off huge chunks and flings them... First one up! Second one left! She's so crazy she's not even eating, just ripping off huge bites, throwing them, and decorating the room.

Got a present for you. Hope you like it: (You'll have to click on the song title to get taken to youtube to listen. HU quirk, I guess. The "play" triangle won't work.)

youtube.com/watch?v=WHayJZ3...

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Yes I did listen and sing along to the whole of that song multiple times instead of doing my school work... Tara sounds like such a character! I'm guessing you have to hide bananas if you want to eat them yourself?! I think it's worth the clean up duty required afterwards though, she sounds like so much fun.

I love books! I'm currently working through some children's books my mum gave me years ago because I don't like not reading things! Afterwards I want to read some more old ones like Treasure Island and Grimm's Fairy Tales, they've been sitting in my book shelf for over a year now! I want to be a vet so I read the James Herriot and Noel Fitzpatrick books earlier this year, absolutely amazing. I really want to get more into the classics though, any recommendations? I'm assuming SF is Science Fiction? Is so no, I don't really read any of them, not because I don't want to, just because I don't have any in my house... still trying to read the endless books I always acquire!

I can't believe you've never heard of Benedict Cumberbatch!!!! HOW? He's an amazing actor, he plays Sherlock Holmes in the 2010 Sherlock and is wonderful. You can watch Sherlock on BBC America if you have that. I'll try watch the Jeremy Brett one, but it's only on Amazon which I don't have! I'll try though!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

"Instead of doing my school work..." Uh oh. Am I aiding and abetting?

Book recommendations. Well, since you don't object to reading children's books, give Brian Jacques a try. Mattimeo is my favorite of the Redwall series. (It doesn't matter to read the books in order. I loved Flora & Ulysses, The Illuminated Adventures - Kate DiCamillo.

My favorite Herriot was "Blossom Comes Home". How about you?

Classics? My goodness, have you read Jane Eyre??? Not enough words to say how it touched me back in the dark ages when I was around your age.

Yup. SF = science fiction. Snobs (such as I) abhor Sci-Fi with a vengence. Give Ender's Game a shot if you wanna try something new.

Acquire can be a dangerous word where books are concerned. There's acquire, then there's "We don't really need this living room any more, do we?" Shhh... Say no more.

Maybe this will get you started on my version of the best Holmes ever:

youtube.com/watch?v=KeIGNll...

Best.

P.S. I wouldn't mind a book recommendation of yours. If you can drag yourself away from your studies, that is. Um-um-um.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

As you can probably tell from my 3 days late reply, I HAVE BEEN STUDYINGGGG. I'm meant to be applying for university next week so have been very stressed out trying to finish my application and keep up with my schoolwork.

I haven't read Jane Eyre but its on the list! My favourite of James Herriot's books has to be Vet in a Spin, I love how he writes (I want to be a vet btw) and how he includes everything in his life, not just his job.

I've never heard of any of the other books you recommended, whoops, but I'll give them a search and see if I'd like them, thank you!

That Sherlock Holmes OH MY GOSH the waterfall scene, ICONIC. I have to watch this version NOW. I've only watched that opening bit but you can count on me when I say that I will be watching the rest!

As for a book recommendation, keeping with the animal theme try Our Zoo. It's written by June Mottershead who lived at Chester Zoo in England for most of her childhood. It's brilliant, a funny account of her childhood that's really touching and did make me cry. If you haven't read Alice in Wonderland, that's atrocious. It is a must-read and probably my favourite book.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Welcome back! You deduced (quite Holmes-like) I am in the States, but you may not know that U.S. publishers do us the favor of renaming and editing UK books that make it over the pond. Hence, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We've got no Vet in a Spin here. They retitled and combined (and edited no doubt) the whole shebang. but we can talk about the individual chapters, lots of which I remember vividly. Remember Uncle Herriot's little gifts from Triki-Woo? I loved the TV series too. (Not so much the original film though.)

All Creatures Great And Small was the name of the first book, when he just gets to the Dales. Then came:

All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All

I remember you mentioned you want to be a vet. How exciting! And you've already had a wee window into the life. I recall Herriot was horrified at the thought of his daughter living the hard life of a country vet. But it was okay for Jimmy. (Who did become a vet in real life.)

My goodness, a bibliophile who hadn't read Alice? Wonderland, Looking Glass, even fooled around with Martin Greenberg's The Annotated Alice for a bit. (You may enjoy that if you are an Alice aficionado.

Does apply for university mean you have placement tests ahead? I would love to hear how you do. Is school all online now? Is there still a way to socialize?

It was great to hear from you again. I will take your suggestion to heart and try to find Our Zoo right now (On Libby if I'm lucky).

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

It's so weird to hear how the books are different! I've heard about the Harry Potter ones but didn't realise other books were the same.

Tricki-Woo has to be the best story, the way he has to talk to the dog had me giggling away to myself😂

For vet med, we don't have to do any tests, we apply with a personal statement, a reference and then fill out a form in which we detail all the experience we've done with animals. Then from November until February, the unis do interviews with you, not everyone is offered an interview though! Scary. In March they send out offers, so it's a long way away until I'll find out if I've gotten in or not but wish me luck!

Our school is in school at the moment. From March until August it was all online which was really weird but gave us a lot of time to spend at home, relaxing, having a good summer with our family and the limited amount of friends we were allowed to see. The government wants to keep schools open for as long as possible but if Corona gets too out of hand again I think they will have to shut them. Personally I enjoyed working from home but I know a lot of people found it isolating and lonely which was a shame.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

"Unis"? What's that?

Oh, I wish you only the best. May all your dreams come true.

It is very lonely here for me. I can't see anyone anywhere without "social distancing" and masks. So much is still closed down.

It was wonderful to hear from you again. Let me know if you watch the link I sent, and if you enjoy it.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I am SO SORRY!❤️ I thought I replied to you so long ago, I've been worried about you thinking it was you who hadn't responded!! Unis is what we say when we can't be bothered saying universities. Until a few weeks ago it was okay here, you could meet inside peoples houses, we were back inside, it was okay. But now we can only meet outside in small groups, it's getting much more restricted and it's even worse for people in uni as they aren't allowed to mix properly with the other people there. One of my friends left school a year early and has gone to Uni, she hated it but she's powering through it hoping it'll get better. I'm currently reading the Percy Jackson books, something I should have done a long time ago. Have you read them? Sorry for taking so long to reply ❤️❤️

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Hi!

No worries. I just looked up Percy Jackson on my library's website. Looks like they are a children's series that reference classical mythology. Yes?

Have you read any of them yet? If so, what do you think?

I'm going through a very bad patch, and I'm not on HU as much as I once was. I'm trying to make my way through Dean Koontz's Devoted. It's hard to concentrate and read with my emotions seizing control of my mind. I never thought the day would come when I couldn't read. But here it is. It's a struggle. I read his Watchers years ago. I still think it's the best thing he's written. (Warning: The movie version stinks!)

I don't understand, are you living home and going (physically) to campus to study... or something else? Anyway, I'm sorry to hear things are getting "worse for people in uni". Ya. The pandemic seems endless.

Did I say how happy it made me to hear from you? Be well.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I'm so sorry to hear you're having a bad time again. :( I hope you feel better soon. Sending lots of love 💖

Percy Jackson is exactly what you said, yes. I watched the movies as a kid but I never read the books, my friend is obsessed so she's convinced me to read them. They're about gods and demi gods and minotaurs and cyclopses. (That sentence really put my spelling abilities to the test, and I think I failed). I've just started reading the first one and as I read I remember little things from the movies and I try to put them together it's really weird. But I really like them so far!

I'm still in highschool so for us we go to school, for university everything's online at the moment. So in my school we wear masks in the corridors and if we're close to teachers but if we're seated or outside we don't have to wear one. We also wipe down tables at the start and end of our lesson and hand sanitizer is EVERYWHERE. The rules are quite slack but they're better than they were when we first went back - we didn't have to wear masks which I thought was a bit stupid to be honest. It's currently the October holidays here, school starts again on Monday!

Hope you feel better❤️

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Hey! Looked up the Percy movies at my local library website and they have two. Where should I start?

I appreciate the well wishes. Doing my best.

I'm happy to hear you're managing well with the pandemic. You can't get away from it in the news here. With the election happening soon, the candidates are using it to have a go at each other. Still masks and required isolation all over.

I've got a thistle feeder outside my window... and I get to watch Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinches and (sigh) House Sparrows! (The chickadees are very shy and fly off as soon as they glimpse me. Does your interest in Veterinary med. ever tend toward becoming an Avian Vet? The woman here who tends to exotic animals is wonderful.

Take care.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Hi! Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is the first one in the series, hopefully it's under the same name in America as it is here...

I'm back in school today, it's very weird. I haven't been anywhere in over a week so forgot what it was like to put so much handsanitiser on all the time.

I love birds and would love to work with them but I wouldn't specialise in them. As of now, I want to be a mixed vet, which means we can work with basically anything, but mainly small animals and farm animals. I think I would love it because of the diversity of animals you would see everyday. I could tend to a puppy in the morning and then a horse before lunch and then an iguana in the afternoon. I don't think I'd ever get bored. My opinion on that might change as I get older though so I might end up specialising at some point.

I love watching wildlife, we have some squirrels here and I've been seeing a lot more deer recently as it gets darker earlier. They are absolutely gorgeous. I'm very lucky that my dog doesn't chase them!

Even across the water here we're very invested in this election. It's a very common topic of discussion! What's it like in America, do you discuss your political views a lot?

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

It's scary here. There are protests all over my city (the rest of the country too) that have included unprovoked attacks on civilians. The police are overwhelmed and seem to be either under direction to let the property damage go on without interfering... OR they overreact, and peaceful protestors are attacked by the police. It doesn't feel safe... no. It isn't safe. A political discussion can become violent quickly.

A high school child was arrested last week for removing political signs from people's lawns. The political rallies ignite into violence frequently. People are afraid to let others know which Presidential candidate they favor. I never saw anything like this before in my life.

Hey! 'nuff that. Tell me about your doggy friend. Boy / girl? Lap dog, or huge monster who knocks over furniture with his tail? Huh? Got any pictures of your sweetie? Or do you feel like sharing more about the wildlife near you? I'd be very interested. I will probably never make it there. So it goes. The most spectacular wildlife encounter I ever had was with a Red-tailed Hawk hanging out on the hedgerow leading up to my house. (I was afraid to get out of the car. He, on the other hand was very blasé. Stared me down and didn't give a "hoot".) My goodness he was huge through the car window, 10 inches away.

I lost my dog to the big "C" years ago. Couldn't even look at another dog for the longest time. But time is helping to heal. He was a big, beautiful Bouvier des Flandres. His favorite thing to do (he was a herding dog with a very unique herding technique) was to run full speed across the room, jump up in the air, and use the side of his body to body-slam things around. (Works great with sheep.) Once he did it to me! -- He was just a puppy. Yikes. Watch a video, you'll see. They are amazing.

What are you hearing over there about our election? I listen to the BBC, but that's all I ever hear. Here, at HU, people wisely side-step politics to avoid trouble.

Lovely to hear from you again my friend.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

That's terrifying, what's even more terrifying is that we don't here about those attacks here. We heard a lot about the BLM protests and the attacks then but as far as we're aware over here, it's done now. The media just stops talking about it. It's terrible.

Now onto the uplifting stuff - my dog is called Nico, he's 1 and a 1/2 years old and is a border collie. I have so many pictures of him I made an Instagram for him! If you have instagram his username is @nico.the.collie. I'm very careful with it, I have no pictures of people I know or myself, or any location tags that show where I live. I don't think I can send photos over here but I would love to if you know how to? He's an absolute nutter, zooms around all over the place, is very playful, but also cuddles up on my bed at night and in the morning! I begged for a dog for 16 years before my parents agreed to get one, and even then I had to pay for him, so I saved up money, sold things at car boot sales and craft sales and finally I had enough and bought myself a dog. Best decision of my life.

I looked up Bouvier des Flandres, they're HUGE! He must have been such a character. I love dogs.

Red- tailed hawks are beautiful! I've never heard of them before, let alone seen one but a quick Google search solves that. The tail on them - oh my goodness😍

Where's HU? Or what's HU? Most of what we hear is how Trump is saying controversial things, Biden is making fun of him, or its people speaking about their opinions on social media. What shocks me most about both Trump and Biden is how old they are! They're the same age as my grandad, imagine my grandad running for president...

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Can't find it (@nico.the.collie) with Google. (I don't know how to use Instagram.)

But - Nico Suave Dog (@nico.border.collie) showed up. Is that him? Does Nico try to herd anything? It was a blast when my dog would leap up and do a sideways body-slam into -- whatever -- just for the joy of it. It sounds wonderful, Nico cuddling up on your bed at night. Warm, furry love.

My gosh are you one motivated, unstoppable lady. Sixteen years chasing one goal. Saving up your own money. I predict you are going somewhere. Yay!

I'm pretty sure if you start a new post: write button, top right of screen, you can click the "add photo" button. After you post, copy/paste a link from it to here so I can find it.

I never saw a Red-tail in my life until about 20 years ago. Now they are all over "Making lazy circles in the sky". Rabbits too. When I was Alice's age, n'er a one to greet me “I’m late! I’m late!", but now they're everywhere. It's wonderful to enjoy, but scary to watch the local ecology change profoundly in my lifetime.

Oops. Sorry. HU = healthunlocked. Imagine that, me using a web acronym someone else didn't get. Usually the other way. (I hate the things "LOL".)

I dunno, maybe grandad wouldn't be a bad idea.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

No that's not my Nico, I'll post a picture here soon, currently on the bus to school so maybe not right now. Nico constantly shows herding behaviour! When we're playing he does circles, over and over again, constantly. And in fields when we're playing with a ball, he'll drop the ball then run a massive loop round both me and the ball. It's so funny, I have some videos of him doing it, I'll try include them when I post the photo of him, I find them hilarious.

We see rabbits here all the time, there's a play park in the next village over from me where there are always rabbits. If you go there, you will see at least one. They're so cute. I used to have a pet rabbit, he was called Tommy. He lived until he was 12, quite impressive for a rabbit!

It took a long time for me to see a deer myself, it's only really after having a dog to walk that I see them. Before then I was never outside at the right time of day to see them, but now I'm out every morning and evening walking, prime time to spot some. We've had some hedgehogs as well in our garden. My poor cat didn't know what to think of that!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

I wasn't sure what a hedgehog is, so I looked it up. Are they like porcupines -- if your cat messes with one will he get a nose of quills?

I only had a pet rabbit for a few short weeks. The poor thing was always frightened, even when you gave it food it went on the attack. The only explanation I could come up with was that he didn't like it I had a dog. I found him another home where I hope he was happier.

Dog, cat, deer, rabbits, hedgehogs... Quite a menagerie. Are you way out in the country? It all sounds wonderful.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

How on earth don't you know what a hedgehog is??? My goodness. They're adorable, so much nicer than porcupines! They have quills but they use them to ward off other animals, not as an attack thing. When they feel threatened they just curl up and the quills stop it from being eaten. They're very very cute, and if you're quiet they'll just carry on with their lives and you can watch them forage for food!

That's really good you found the rabbit a new home, I'm sure it had a very happy life.

I live in the Highlands of Scotland, so lots of space everywhere. It's a small village I live in. Fields all around the edge of the village, plenty woods etc. It's a very nice place to live but the fact we don't have a shop annoys me!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Nope. Very little wildlife where I am. Ducks, geese. Rabbits. Occasionally deer.

You don't have a "shop"? Do you mean for food? Or something else? I can't imagine how you get necessities. But it sounds lovely. Pastoral.

Oh, how exciting to find out you're in the Scottish Highlands! Mr. Herriot was from Scotland I recall, although he never talks about his home in the books. I know so little of your homeland, just from old movies, I guess. Let's see: The King's Speech - Lionel Logue was from Scotland I think (although he didn't seem to have what I think of as a Scottish accent), Mary of Scotland (old John Ford movie starring Katharine Hepburn), Brigadoon (Cyd Charisse - it should be illegal for a woman to be so beautiful it makes you feel like doggy poop)... I guess that's it. Oh, Loch Lomond (song). Pathetic, huh? Are there any books you've read that really create a picture of your homeland? That'd be fun.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I love living where I am, although it makes driving at night very stressful - you never know what will come out onto the road.

There's food shops in the next village, a 10 minute drive away. And there's all kinds of shops (including clothes shops) only 30 minutes away so it's not bad. Just means if you run out of something you have to drive to get it. That can be very frustrating when you're baking and run out of cupcake cases or something like that!

Did you know Hogwarts is meant to be set in the Highlands of Scotland? The Glenfinnan Viaduct, which the Hogwarts Express goes across is only a 2 hour drive from my house!

I've never seen any of those movies, my goodness I am UNCULTURED. I've heard of the King's Speech, but never seen it. Cyd Charisse truly was very beautiful. Of course I've heard the Loch Lomond song though! A true staple of Scottish culture. It's quite funny, over here we LOVE Country Roads, Take Me Home. Another staple, despite it having no relation to us, we know all the words and sing it too often!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Forgot Harry Potter! Duh! How could I? I guess I just barely realized Hogwarts' location. The Harry Potter films are on endless repeat here, almost too often. Wait, isn't there a crazy-busy tourist stop in Scotland where Rowling wrote Philosopher's Stone?

I was so excited to find the audio book of The Philosopher's Stone free online during the pandemic. But then, after listening to the first two and a half chapters it stopped playing, just an error message. (Sigh.) I do own the audio books on CD (U.S. versions) with Jim Dale reading. Wonderful. But Stephen Fry was great too, and Philosopher's Stone was quite different from Sorcerer's Stone. (Strange, huh?)

Hardly UNCULTURED. Everything I mentioned is OLD. I adore classic (black and white) films. Bet you are more familiar than I with newer stuff you could share if you've a mind. Do see The King's Speech if you get a chance. I can't say enough about how wonderful it is.

It's strange to me, imagining John Denver's song STILL being popular over the pond. The lyrics are beautiful and evocative... But I always thought of them as unique to the U.S. Silly me. Now it will also evoke your mountains and lochs along with our Shenandoah River. (Another favorite song of mine "Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you... Away you rolling river...)

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

The old classic American songs are weirdly popular here, another I just thought of is Sweet Home Alabama!

The king's speech does sound good, I'll try give it a watch at some point.

I have never listened to an audio book fully, that's quite sad. It's because most cost money and I can't be bothered paying for them. I've listened to bits of some, and during English classes they sometimes use them to read through a book. I find them very relaxing, almost fell asleep in class once!

JK Rowling wrote a lot in Edinburgh, at different cafes, however once she started getting famous she had to stop writing in cafes as she was recognised too much. She had to write some in a hotel suite to get away from fans and the distractions of home!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Many audio books are free online with youtube. (Search "youtube" and the book title.) I've listened to James Herriot's stories, and I just found Percy Jackson too.

I watched a video of Christopher Timothy talking about his experience working on All Creatures; it made me sad. He is an old man now and recalling the distant past. Robert Hardy was Siegfried in that show (did you ever watch it?) and also the Minister of Magic, pre-Deathly Hallows.

"So sad, so strange, the days that are no more." (Alfred, Lord Tennyson) Enough.

How is Nico doing? Does he get to chase rabbits?

My avatar is my sweet baby Tara. She is a Green-cheeked Parakeet. A small parrot, but very big on personality. I only have one bird, but online I've read people who have a Green-cheek and another (large) parrot, and the little Green-cheek rules the roost (so to speak). She knows what she wants, and how she wants it -- or else. When I give her a piece of fruit she'll gobble up how much she wants, and then (only when I'm not looking) push what's left out of her cage. Very fussy about anything she doesn't want in there. She goes crazy for bananas. When I offer her a bite she rips off a chunk and throws it left, rips off another chunk and throws it right... as if she's so beside herself having a banana she doesn't know what she's doing. When she settles down to eat the banana, she sinks her beak in and leaves it there! She uses the lower part of her beak to scrape off and eat the banana while never letting go until she is all finished. I have never figured out if she is crazy in love with bananas or if they just make her nuts.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

It's scary how much fame affects people. I haven't watched it yet, currently crying my eyes out at Orphan Black every night! I really recommend it, it's on Netflix. I don't really know how to explain it, I guess it's a crime/murder mystery/scientific thing. The characters are so well developed, everyone has their own story arc and individual traits that are so well thought out. I absolutely love it, it just makes me cry a lot!

I was in Waterstones yesterday (that's a book shop, I don't know if you have them in America?) wasting time before my bus home after a driving lesson and saw some gift editions of the classics -Huckleberry Finn, Moby Dick, Emma, Little Women, all sorts. They looked absolutely gorgeous and I really want them, but they're £15 each :(

I think I might try listening to an audiobook on YouTube then. My mum's currently listening to Barack Obama's one, she's already listened to Michelle's. Quite weird to see her just sitting in her chair, completely cut of from the world by her earphones.

Tara sounds so cute, and even if the bananas make her nuts at least she'll be having fun ripping them up! I used to volunteer at an animal charity (had to stop because of Corona) and they have parakeets. Little white and yellow ones. But if they got out their cage they'd fly around the office like crazy so it was always a rush job cleaning their cage. I would love to have a bird one day, but I would want a cat more, which could pose some problems! There's lots of cases where birds and cats get along amazingly, cuddling, best of friends situations, but I'm not sure if I'd be willing to risk it.

Nico is loving life. We recently got a new dog walker and he loves her. She tells us all sorts of stories of his antics. Last week he was running with a stick and ran straight into the lead of another dog and did a front flip landing in a nice pile of mud! He got straight back up again but came home with a cheek covered in mud, yum... He doesn't seem to notice the difference between winter and summer but I certainly do. It's so cold now that I come home with a cold nose, ears and fingers. Also have to wear wellies everywhere because the rain! Nico doesn't care at all.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

I had to Google Orphan Black, never heard of it. I don't get Netflix, and since it isn't free online I tried my library. Bingo. I'll be getting season one soon and I'll let you know. Thank you for the recommendation! (Although I should probably stay away from something that makes you cry a lot - that's probably the last thing I need with my depression.)

No, no Waterstones locally. Personally, I stay away from gift editions. They kind of bug me, showy covers, gilt edges, and so forth. But I do look for archival (acid-free) paper. I hate it when cheap pulp pages get brown and crumbly. That's quite a selection of classics you've named. Have you read them already? I always wanted to read Jane Austin, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I can see your mum, sitting there with her earphones. Quite an image. Would it be fun to try to listen to a book together? Or too weird?

Gosh no, I wouldn't let a cat anywhere near my baby. I hate the "cute" videos of pet cats and birds interacting. Get a clue people! Cats eat birds. Not so cute.

You made me laugh, Nico doing a front flip "in a nice pile of mud". What a mess! I'm learning a lot from you -- had to look up "wellies". Dogs don't seem to mind the weather, well, not the bigger breeds anyway. Pretty pathetic seeing a chihuahua going outside in three feet of snow! I'm having a few warm days here, low 60s (F). Better than low 30s last week. But the snow and ice aren't far ahead. Sigh.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Your library sounds brilliant! You seem to be able to get everything, wish we had that here. I love the gift editions because they match each other.

I find it so satisfying looking at a bookshelf and being able to distinguish each group of books or each series because they fit together so perfectly.

I've never read them no, I really want to. I have Treasure Island and Huckleberry Finn at home but haven't read them yet. I've seen the movie versions of Emma, David Copperfield and Little Women recently, I really liked them all but David Copperfield truly confused me if I'm being honest!

The problem with watching or listening to something with my mum is we're never in the right mood for it at the same time so it takes months to finish it. We have watched some series together and it was nice, but the time it took to get round to watching the next episode was so long that we'd forget some parts of the plot!

Chihuahuas are so funny, they radiate sass. I prefer big dogs, I think the smallest dog I'd go for would be a cockapoo, they're meant to be really smart and friendly, sounds like the perfect family pet. My favourite breed is definitely collie, as you can probably already tell. They're bonkers with plenty personality, but also intelligent and (mostly) obedient.

Wellies are a must-have here. I can't go for a walk without getting wet feet if I'm wearing anything other than wellies. I wear mine everyday, I actually have two pairs! I have one for walking, and another for more mucky jobs like fishing or working with sheep. Both those are quite rare unless I'm at my grandparents or doing work experience though. Have you ever heard of Fair Isle? That's where my grandad lives. Wellies are even more important there than where I live.

I have very mixed feelings about winter - on one hand it's cold, but on the other it's beautiful. The snow covering the ground like a veil is stunning.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

I have never seen a movie of David Copperfield. Which version did you see? Did you like it apart from being confusing?

I loved your final line: "The snow covering the ground like a veil is stunning." Poetry.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

"The Personal History of David Copperfield" is the one I watched. A lot of the actors were also in other TV shows and films I've seen before so it was so funny seeing them portray these extraordinary characters. I'm still not sure what the plot of the movie was! One of the actors in it was Peter Capaldi, have you ever heard of him? He's a Scottish actor who played The Doctor in Doctor Who. Have you ever watched that?

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

I was a big fan of Doctor Who back in my younger days. For me, Doctor Who IS Tom Baker. I grew up loving him! (The long scarf is essential.) I lost touch with the show when he left. Nope, I never heard of Peter Capaldi.

I looked up the reviews of The Personal History of David Copperfield, and it doesn't sound appealing to me.

Gee, but now I want to watch one of the Copperfield movies. Maybe the 1935 version, with Freddie Bartholomew and W. C. Fields? Being directed by George Cukor is a plus for me. I don't always prefer the original movies, but often enough.

Did you know Daniel Radcliffe played young David in one of the Copperfield films? (Pre- Harry Potter, I'm sure.) Maybe I should see if I can watch that one too, just out of curiosity. It's got Maggie Smith! I'm sure I'll be thinking: "Hey, that's Harry Potter! That's Professor McGonagall! All we need is Professor Snape stalking down hallways as Uriah Heep. Whadda ya think?

Do you really walk around in your Wellies tending to sheep? I just imagined young Jimmy in All Creatures hanging upside down outside the surgery window - as Dad saw clients inside. Oh my God what an image. You don't do THAT, do you????? Hey, I know a budding young vet. Wow!

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

My mum's the same, Tom Baker is her Doctor! For me it's Matt Smith, I have do many memories of watching him and Karen Gillan (who played Amy Pond) escaping from Weeping Angels and hiding round the back of the couch cause I was so scared.

It's such an odd feeling when you see two actors playing alongside Esh other in multiple movies, but they're both brilliant actors so I understand why!

I definitely don't hang upside down I'll tell you that, but yes wellies and boiler suits on and out the door to the sheep. I have some videos and pictures of that too, I'll try remember to post that picture of Nico and post them while I'm at it too.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

I'm looking forward to seeing Nico if you get a chance. When you first spoke of wanting to be a vet I didn't realize you already had so much experience with farm animals. I have never lived in the country. Is a "boiler suit" like what Herriot describes the creepy vet making him wear to humiliate him?

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Ugh I just keep forgetting about those photos and then when I remember it's too late and I'm not at home or something! I'm sorry, I will post them. I live in a little village, it's just out of a city but still rural enough that there's plenty country life going on around me. I'm not sure what Herriot was wearing, my memory has failed me on that front. A boiler suit is basically a onesie that protects your clothes from getting mucky, that's the best way I can describe it! Now I'm imagining Herriot in a cow onesie delivering some calves...

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Me too. It was a story where he was helping out a neighboring vet who enjoyed humiliating him. He was in a suit he could barely move in for no reason except for the farmers to snigger at him. I sort of recall he was just passing tools. The vet was a jerk.

Don't worry about the pictures. Whenever it is convenient.

What is "country life"? I have only read about it. It sounds idyllic.

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Country life is muddy, tiring, smelly, but also beautiful, fun and inspirational. I wish I had grown up on a farm myself, but I live in an ordinary bungalow in a street of identical bungalows. I can see myself living in both the country and the city in the future. On one hand the country is beautiful, relaxing, peaceful, but its inconvenient, too far away from places, and lacks community like when you have neighbours. And then in the cities there's so much to do everyday, so many amazing things to see. Guess that would become your normal after a while though.

What are cities in America like? Our two main cities are Edinburgh and Glasgow. They both have amazing old parts with stunning architecture, great shopping bits and loads to do. I like 4 plus hours from both but they're great to visit. I've applied to University at both. In the University of Glasgow there's amazing columns, they're called The Cloisters, here's a link a picture. felipepitta.com/blog/a-walk... I hope that link works, they're truly fantastic.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

The link works great. It is a stunning picture.

I'm mulling over what cities here are like. I am not a very good person to ask... I haven't spent much time far from home. It's a very big country. I have travelled some, not much really.

I hated NYC. Frenetic. Smelly. Anonymous. Prices, for everything you can imagine, through the roof. I liked Oakland. It was beautiful, the hills, the smell of water in the distance, the orange trees, a very different mindset to anything I had ever known. Cincinnati was, in look and temperment, middle America. It felt like the TV shows about what Americans are.

Now, where I am, it is lonely and isolated. (I guess everywhere is now.) We just had a lot more businesses close again. The covid-19 numbers are going up and up. After very restricted business openings the last few months, so much is closing again. Many businesses will be destroyed financially. We can't go to a restaurant for the holiday, it is illegal to have large gatherings at home.

I am home, and alone. For the past year -- and who knows how long into the future -- that's how it is. I guess I am doing a little vicarious travelling and connecting through your stories. Thank you. 🐕

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

America scares me, it's so big! One state is as big or bigger than my whole country. No wonder you haven't travelled out your state much, its too big. I love travelling close to home, seeing things within a couple hours away from home, sweet home. My brother went to NYC on a school trip a couple years ago. The group he went with of about 30 people spent over £17,000, no idea how.

I had to look up Oakland, but the pictures look very cool. There was one with Treasure Island in it, that looks awesome. Also Alcatraz! I had heard of it before but didn't realise where it was until now when I was looking on google maps.

Cincinnati looks amazing. Very pretty and I love the bridges. I've learnt a lot about America in the last half hour from looking up all these places you've been to. They're all so different from any city here. Detroit is a very weird city to me, right on the border to Canada. There's a city like that in France too, its called Strasbourg. It's right on the border to Germany, just a bridge separates them. The size of all your cities is like London to me. I've never seen a skyscraper, but America seems to have an abundance of them! And the bridges, we have hardly any like that, just London Bridge as far as I know. I'd love to visit one day, when I'm older and have money!

I'm so sorry to hear you're alone on Thanksgiving, I hope you had a good day nonetheless. Things are shutting down here again too. I haven't worked in 3 weeks and before that not in over a month. I'm currently shopping in the Black Friday deals for my family's presents, I've decided to buy both my brother and my dad echo dots and since they were over 50% off I decided to buy myself one too! That's a reminder to you, TREAT YOURSELF. Go buy yourself something you really want, it's Christmas (nearly)!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

It's funny how distance leaves so much room for the imagination. I grew up in rural England -- only in my imagination. Andrew Lang's Fairy Tale books: The Blue Fairy Book, The Yellow Fairy Book... I could see the moors, smell the heather, the world evoked was the story as much as the characters and events.

It seems to me that in the UK you treasure your landmarks. Here, buildings are torn down for tax breaks. A local supermarket tore down a perfectly good building they were housed in (a relatively new building), and built a new one on the other side of the lot. Insanity! Wonderful historic old buildings are torn down to put in strip malls. Sometimes people try to get together to fight it, but it's a losing battle.

Okay. That's my rant for the day.

I can't imagine your being scared if you actually made it over the pond. You seem so brave to me.

(Just looked up what the heck is an Echo Dot. I still have an old flip phone with no internet capacity.)

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Seems like american supermarkets have too much money! I have to ask, and this might sound stupid, but what is Target? Is it a food supermarket? Or a clothing store? Or an everything store? I've heard so much about it and every new thing I hear confuses me more! Also, Costco, what's that!?

I would love to go to America, but I think I'd like to spend more time out in the country than in the cities.

(I'm replying to the other thread here so I get less confused.) In the UK, that's a border collie, the US might be different though. Maybe look up a rough collie, is that what you're thinking of?

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

I googled UK border collie and it looks just the way I picture a border collie looking. I'm confused. Maybe this will help:

US border collie pictures:

google.com/search?source=un...

Nico doesn't look like that to me. Shorter hair. More solid-looking.

Target (the stores are EVERYWHERE) started out carrying discount clothes, drug store (chemist) stuff, kitchen-ware, and electronics. The last year or two they expanded to compete with grocery stores. Mostly ready-to-eat box stuff and junk food.

Seems all the small neighborhood stores have pretty much gone away, and the big stores are getting bigger and trying to put each other out of business by carrying more stuff cheaper.

Most everything is from China now, junk that doesn't last. Sorry, another rant of mine.

Bookstores, my beloved bookstores. Almost all the small ones have gone away, killed by the mega chain bookstores, Barnes & Noble and Borders. Then Borders died. Meanwhile the used bookstores are being killed by the internet. Woe is me. Where will I get my fix? Thank goodness the local libraries have fundraising sales with wonderful used books cheap -- but the pandemic killed that too.

Much more fun chatting about what we're reading, watching, listening to.

America has a lot of country to see. Just about any kind you might want. Mountains, oceans, deserts, plains.

Hope school is going well. Plains: reminds me of Little House in The Big Woods. Did you ever read any of the Little House books? I would enjoy visiting one of the locations Laura talks about in her books. They have been preserved and are tourist attractions. Sigh. Except not open now, of course.

Is school going well I hope?

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

Border collies are a very varied breed, Nico is a shorthaired Tri colour. He's got big ears though so we think he may be a cross, possibly with a Kelpie? He could be full collie though, just a bit weird! He's very small for his breed but his mother was too.

School is very full on at the moment, lots of work and tests. You may have heard that UK exams have been cancelled, which is a huge relief but means we have to do lots of smaller tests to get a fair prediction of our grade!

I've never read those books, no. I'll maybe add them to my list. I'm still on the Percy Jackson series, almost done book 4 out of 5 now though. I also started rereading Alice in Wonderland again last night, I absolutely love it. It's so whacky and makes so little sense it's amazing.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

I loved finally seeing Nico and kitty! Thank you. He's small? Really? He looks muscular, like the tough kid in school. That's how I imagine him going about.

To go along with Alice, maybe you'll enjoy this short story: (Or maybe not, that's okay too.) I loved it when I first read it. It's collected in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame as one of the best shorts written.

jabberwockland.blogspot.com...

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I've actually heard of that book but never got the chance to read it so thank you! I'll start reading it this morning. Nico's really lean and muscular because he's always running around and stuff but he's small in height. When he was a puppy his ears were so much bigger than the rest of him it was adorable, he's grown into them a lot more now though. We've also got 2 goldfish, hopefully going to get some platys and watersnails to add to the tank soon.

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

It's just a short story, not a book. It was made into a film, The Last Mimzy. I haven't seen it so I don't know if it's any good. I'm excited to hear you're going to start reading it, can't wait to hear what you think. Say hi to Nico for me...

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I just finished it this morning and I loved it! The writer had a crazy mind, it always amazes me how people come up with stories like that! I read in the comments below that in the film its more to do with the thinking rather than the mathematical aspect and how learning affect the mind. Thank you so much for the recommendation!

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Welcome. It's thanks enough to hear how much you enjoyed the story. Is math something you enjoy?

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

I didn't enjoy the class or work much when I had to take it in school, but the actual equations and working things out was fun. I hope you had a good Christmas, despite everything. Sending you happy thoughts and well wishes! xx

Nothing_but_books profile image
Nothing_but_books in reply to Aliredbeard

Thank you. Enjoy your new year ! 🦜 🐑 🐶 🐷 🐇

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

You too, happy new year!!!❤️

Aliredbeard profile image
Aliredbeard in reply to Nothing_but_books

there should be two links there, hopefully you can see them both! <3

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