YES!!! The "I'm So Happy!" thread - 2011

[Anthony Darby]

Big row in New Zealand about the price of the new All Blacks rugby jersey. Official price = NZ$220 (NZ$180 in Rebel Sport). The argument Addidas put out is it is comparable in price to other sporting goods. True. The new Scotland top is also NZ$180 in Rebel Sport. Good job we got one for James shipped out from the UK, where they are £55 (~NZ$110, or half the price). One of the arguments for them being cheaper in the UK is that the market for an All Blacks shirt would be less marketable there. We that really stands up to scrutiny, doesn't it?! Cross border agreements prevent places like the rugby shop (http://www.rugbystore.co.uk/collections/allblacks/all_blacks_home_rugby_shirt_ss_2011?gclid=CI3cscLesqoCFYolpAodwgvD9A) from sending to NZ, but there are web sites in the US that will. (http://www.worldrugbyshop.com/34519-bk.html) Interesting to note that it is Canterbury of New Zealand that make the Scotland tops, which are half the price in the UK!

[maggiepie]

I might be the last person on the planet to see this but if not, do yourself a favour......Jack Vidgin's audition for Australia's got talent.

[johnw]

Last June we had the longest thunder and lightening storm ever. 47,000s strikes and it went on for the entire evening and into the early morning hours, no spacing between the flashes or the thunder - just continuous. That was the night of the disastrous Massachussett's tornado.

Last night an entirely different sort started at 19:15 and was still a raging hell at 00:45. A friend says it was still going on at 3:00. Started with extremely heavy rain mixed with pea-sized hail for 10 minutes and then a huge amount of rain. This was the variety of thunder that rocks the house from stem to stern, the kind they have in Ontario in the summer heat but those never last this long.  Passengers were stuck on 25 planes that made it in for six hours as ground crews were not allowed outdoors.

Summer t&l is rare in the summer on the coast, usually in the winter and brief.

So why so happy?  The pea-sized hail bounced off the Podophyllum leaves!

Now I hear we are on alert for another round today.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

I might be the last person on the planet to see this but if not, do yourself a favour......Jack Vidgin's audition for Australia's got talent.

Not the last person, Helen... I hadn't heard of the lad. This link is to a song he wrote himself.... gosh!

[David Nicholson]

Good to see that the UK hasn't cornered the market in TV presenters who are all teeth and no trousers.

Sorry but he seemed a precocious child to me who at his age should be out climbing trees, fishing and throwing things at cats!

[art600]

My elderly cat caught her second mouse this year.  Another one that will not eat my precious bulbs 

She announced her kill at 3.30 am by making a most dreadful noise - and leaving the mouse on the bedroom floor.

[Lesley Cox]

I might be the last person on the planet to see this but if not, do yourself a favour......Jack Vidgin's audition for Australia's got talent.

My God! Australia's next Masterchef!

[Anthony Darby]

I might be the last person on the planet to see this but if not, do yourself a favour......Jack Vidgin's audition for Australia's got talent.

Sorry, but when you compare this with the first time I heard the pure voice of Charlotte Church it really is not very good. Unfortunately, Ms Church has realised if you sing pop it's easy money, but a complete waste of her talent.

[angie]

Happy day today, warm sunny and I got a nice parcel from Kurt Vickery Monocot Bulbs.

All nice bulbs, packed nicely, names written that I can read. What more could I want, well maybe some White chocolate and it would make the perfect day.

Angie

[Maggi Young]

It hasn't been that warm and sunny on the other side of the river, Angela!

But I'm still happy.... got a package of bulbs from Susan Band at Pitcairn  and discovered that my Rhododendron auriculatum has made four flowers! After nearly thirty years! I'm not just happy, I'm in SHOCK!

Weather over the last couple of days meant they snuck out without me seeing and the first two flower heads are already battered by the rain, but I'm really thrilled. Pictures on the Rhodo thread when I find where Ian has put the camera.

[angie]

Maggi that's amazing the time you have had to wait for your Rhododendron auriculatum to flower but like they say sometimes things are worth the wait. Hope it doesn't take so long to flower again.

Babysitting tonight just got Lola off to bed ( she should have been asleep by 7pm ) and I shared all my white chocolate buttons, it will be a early up tomorrow morning.

Angie

[art600]

I too was happy to receive mypackage of bulbs from Pitcairn Alpines - excellent quality as always.

[Lesley Cox]

Good luck everyone with your new plant parcels. Isn't it exciting to get new plants? Today at the market I found the old fashioned pure white double primrose. I've never seen it before. Luscious scent as well and packed with buds.

Believe it or not Angie, I DON'T like white chocolate. Only the chocolate-coloured kinds.

[David Nicholson]

I too was happy to receive mypackage of bulbs from Pitcairn Alpines - excellent quality as always.

...... and mine arrived yesterday.

[Brian Ellis]

Lovely as it was to get my packages from Pitcairn Alpines and Buried Treasure, today I had an even better surprise, two unexpected snowdrop bulbs arrived in the post.  Many thanks