Yes, I'm so Happy! 2012

[Maggi Young]

Bless you, Trond, I did not for a moment think you were criticising me... it simply occurred to me that some  readers might think that I was ONLY here for fun, when I hope I am performing a useful service as well.
From the kind words  given, it seems that is so! 

[David Nicholson]

It would be an absolute shambles without you Maggi. Forums run well if they are moderated well and that as well as some first class and responsible posters is the major reason our Forum is successful.

[Maggi Young]

The success of the Forum is well shown by the number of SRGC members using it and joining the club because of it. That being said, one cannot please all of the people all of the time and there are those, mostly not full SRGC members, who do not agree with some aspects, for whatever reasons.
The level of success in giving members from around the world their own "group" and in sharing so many plant  experiences, so freely, and in raising the profile of the SRGC is, I think, our best feature.  



edited to add:
( My Dad always said it was better to be useful than decorative

[Lesley Cox]

"You're the cream in my coffee....." and all that,
likewise, the sweetener when things go a little sour from time to time. May you reign for ever and e,e,ever Queen of Queens. (with apologies to GFH)

[Maggi Young]

You've got me singing that old song now... even though, from 1928, it's a long way older than both of us, Lesley- must have heard our Mums singing it  

 I love the idea of some Handel... might give me ideas above my station though   Perhaps we can get a music button after Fred's finished with the scent button?

[Paddy Tobin]

A bloom from the garden today for you, Maggi.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

What a perfect gift, Paddy. Thank you. 

[angie]

Just noted that my time logged in is 31 days, that's a whole month. Well if that's the case all I can say is I have had so much fun and offcourse I can't forget about all the advice and friendship that I have received in that time. Roll on the next 31 days of fun.

Angle 

[johnw]

What, not a mention of Bobby Burns Day?

Shame, I'll have to drink the Macallan alone...

Stores have run out of haggis here.

johnw

[art600]

My Frit seeds are germinating - including Chitralensis.  60+ pots of Crocus have germinated and more to come.

Found two twin spathed Galanthus in the garden - unknown source

[Anthony Darby]

A bloom from the garden today for you, Maggi.

Paddy

What a beautiful flower, and you're not so bad yourself Maggi.

[Maggi Young]

Flattery will likely get you flattened, Darby  

Happy Birthday, Anthony...... ( 27th in NZ!!) .... hope it's a great day for you, old man  

[TC]

What, not a mention of Bobby Burns Day?

Shame, I'll have to drink the Macallan alone...

Stores have run out of haggis here.

johnw

By coincidence, to go with our vegetarian haggis, Cindy had made a sauce with with an infusion of 10 year old Macallan.  Strangely, or luckily, I am not a whisky drinker, so the bottle is used infrequently.  I spent half my working life in distilleries and bonded warehouses and saw that if you started drinking you probably would not live over the age of 40.
Testing between 600/1200 casks of whisky from every distillery in Scotland on a daily basis, was just work.  I never really thought that it was a desirable product.
What was interesting were the characters I met and worked with.  I could write a book with some of the stories,
The usual celebrations were held in Ayr, especially in the new Burn's Centre in Alloway and the local radio stations were full of it.  I should have taken a few pictures of the cottage and new centre to show what they look like. I am always surprised at the "celebration" world wide of his birthday.  When my sister worked in Tehran, in the time of the Shah, they had a St. Andrew's society in the British Embassy and celebrated Burn's night with active participation of other expat communities.

[angie]

Tom I wonder if I worked in a chocolate factory if I would feel the same about chocolate as you did with whisky. I would be willing to give it a try how much tasting did you say you had to do. 

Angie 

[ranunculus]

This is possibly the reason for Peter Stringfellow looking like he does?