Selfsufficientish.com

Rod in Japan wrote:
(I'm really glad my happiness doesn't depend in anyway on people leaving magazines behind. )

Hey - that's nothing! Sometimes they leave MARMITE.

I have to admit that I am very pleased when friends come over, if they bring at least one english broadsheet newspapers with them, and leave them for me to read I am a very happy bunny when I take a

AXJ wrote:I have to admit that I am very pleased when friends come over, if they bring at least one english broadsheet newspapers with them, and leave them for me to read I am a very happy bunny when I take a

Indeed. Unfortunately "Men's Fitness" was printed on rather shiny paper.

Marmite sucks. Vegemite rules!

The Riff-Raff Element wrote:

AXJ wrote:I have to admit that I am very pleased when friends come over, if they bring at least one english broadsheet newspapers with them, and leave them for me to read I am a very happy bunny when I take a

Indeed. Unfortunately "Men's Fitness" was printed on rather shiny paper.

Laugh my bottom off, Men's Fitness is indeed a poor publication, but even that will do if I want to settle down for a p** hard to read if it has been soiled (remember IZAL - who uses that any more? - does it even exist?)

I can be seriously touching cloth if I can't find something to read in English before I land on granny's doughnut, sure I have an entensive library of books but a snappy read is what is required, otherwise I'll need a blood tranfusion to my legs before I can stand up.

ps. I have to say that I tried vegimite with an openmind (one of my children is half Australian), now if offered it is a closed mouth. They are so very different!

When I lived in Germany, I read many things in English which I wouldn't have been my first choice. I was often so thankful just to have something in English to read. I read every book in English at the local branch of the library. I started reading the Herald Tribune. I got a shortwave radio to listen to English. It actually broadened my frame of reference a great deal. I enjoyed the "finds".

Now, I pick up things in German at thrift shops, library book sales, flea markets, and am enjoying reading things in German which I wouldn't have picked up so easily when I lived there. And, I use the shortwave to listen to news from Europe.

I had a television-watching phase while living in Germany, just to see some American, Canadian, and British programming, even if it was dubbed into German. It was quite a surprise to find that some of the actors' voices sounded nothing like the German ones.

I often wonder how the Euro and the internet has changed every day life there.

Meanwhile, I love my old books, and must admit, I do like this internet fashion.

Marmite and Vegemite crossed my path while there, and a German health-food version, which became my fav. Luckily, I can get it here. MMmmmmmm.

Moving to a city with an excellent library did a great deal for my happiness. The service is amazing - they let you order new books, and send out books from the central library to the sticks with online search and request. This is in a small, provincial Japanese city mind you, and the books are English. I just took delivery of my latest orders, "The Portable Thoreau" and "Red State Rebels". No thumbed over, toiletized magazines with odd stains (is this Marmite or...) for me!

Jolly good thinking Rod, there is a small library here, never thought of looking for english books. With Basque and Spainish to cater for I imagine that the section would be rather small, nevertheless might be able to pick up some classics! That would add to my happiness as well!

AXJ, I was spared doing any thinking as the library was already well stocked with English books. All I had to do was busy myself by adding to the collection, and I have been most assiduous.

Going back to the question of happiness, I was very happy to discover that if I wore all artificial yarns instead of cotton and wool, I didn't have to put up with heavy, damp or sometimes sodden materials against my body. But having overcome my joy at this discovery, I don't feel constantly happy about it. Although I would be unhappy if I had to go back to damp cotton waistbands again. Quantifying this sort of happiness is rather difficult, which is why, when people ask if I'm happy, I'm constrained to answer, "Things could be worse". Call me a philosopher if you will.

Rod in Japan wrote:AXJ, I was spared doing any thinking as the library was already well stocked with English books. All I had to do was busy myself by adding to the collection, and I have been most assiduous.

Going back to the question of happiness, I was very happy to discover that if I wore all artificial yarns instead of cotton and wool, I didn't have to put up with heavy, damp or sometimes sodden materials against my body. But having overcome my joy at this discovery, I don't feel constantly happy about it. Although I would be unhappy if I had to go back to damp cotton waistbands again. Quantifying this sort of happiness is rather difficult, which is why, when people ask if I'm happy, I'm constrained to answer, "Things could be worse". Call me a philosopher if you will.

With wool and cotton thought you get to a certain heat and then it gets no more... I had to wear full medieval Ladies costume in blazing hot heat last summer and I was dreading it thinking I was going to be too hot in cotton shift and heavy cotton dress along with headdresses etc etc etc... it was lovely... surprisingly cool and most unlike wearing modern day clothes infact if it wasn't for the fact it would be completely outrageous I'd wear that in preference to modern clothes that just seem to keep the heat in

Green Aura wrote:Marmite sucks. Vegemite rules!

Vegemite is a laxative Isn't it?

Flo wrote:

Green Aura wrote:Marmite sucks. Vegemite rules!

Vegemite is a laxative Isn't it?

Well for every action there is an oposite and equal reaction, one might opine that if the occidental Marmite sucks, it is reasonable to suppose that antipodian Vegemite performs the regular function.

I find Vegemite is a rather unconventional emetic

Marmite on the other hand is lush and OH complains because I put a 'lake' of it on my toast lol

Never had problems with Vegemite (in that area).

I'm very happy at the moment - we've had the most glorious weather - none of the recent rain touched us. My shop's doing fairly well (very well considering it's my first year). And my veg patch and polytunnel are prolific! Life is good.

I confess that I am happy too. Only two more weeks of guests (I love them all to pieces because they fund the six months of the year when I can do whatever I want, provided my dear wife lets me but boy are those other six months hard work) and I think there's enough in the kitty to get us through to March, and I had lentils for lunch, which is always good and I start English lessons again tomorrow and will bring a smile to all those little faces when my French goes awry under the pressure of 17 snotties all asking me questions at the same time!

Life has meaning.