Moan, Moan, Moan - 2012

[Paul T]

Lesley,

What package are you using to view/compose posts to this forum?  You have a setting in that programme that is effectively "auto-correct".  Micro$oft Word has that feature if you enable it as well I think..... I find the spellchecker underline very useful, but disabled the auto-correct.  It sounds like yours is active.  It auto-corrects unless you go back and redo it, which is when it realises you want to spell it that way and leaves it be.  Somewhere in the programme's settings there must be an enabler/disabler for this, probably part of the spellchecker.

Anthony,

Facebook and some "smartphones" have predictive text, which causes some of these problems if you're not careful.  I have only just bought myself a mobile phone for the first time (we did have an emergency one..... last seen a couple of years ago.  it is somewhere in the house!  ).  I went high as I figured if I was going to do it, I might as well do it right.  Having internet access at any time is brilliant, and texting can be useful without having to disturb someone with a phonecall... that way they can answer when they want.  I guess most of this paragraph up until now should be in the "I'm So Happy" topic, as I just love it.  Mobile Phone one week, new Ute the next (I still don't actually HAVE it yet, but that's another story entirely!  ) ... how things change.  

Michael,

I give occasional talks to gardening groups and they've always been well received.  Sounds like your local area isn't receptive.  It doesn't mean further afield should be ruled out...... not swine everywhere.  (to use Anthony's comment from earlier).  I enjoy giving the talks. Talking about the plants I love is so much fun.  Usually it is trying to shut me up that is the problem.  Oh wait, you'd all know that here wouldn't you!!?

[Michael J Campbell]

Paul,they had no idea what I was talking about.
What they really wanted was someone to tell how to grow summer bedding plants and root Geranium cuttings,they just picked the wrong person.

[Paul T]

Oh!    And they missed so much.  Given some of the fantastic things you grow, I can only imagine how interesting your talk would have been.  Maybe you need to convince some of the others here on the forum to invite you over to give talks.  At least you know you'll have a receptive audience that way. 

[Tim Ingram]

Hear, hear! I gave some talks in Ireland and had a really friendly reception. We would be sure of giving this in return.

[Lesley Cox]

Yes Helen, I use the spellchecker especially in Word docs but it doesn't engage for the Forum. I use it not because I can't spell but to allow for typos. In any case it doesn't recognise context so to, two and too are all correct regardless of where they're used and any hort or plant name words are added to my spell check anyway so it should recognise alpina, for instance. There, I had to change it again.

Paul, you're way beyond me there. I turn it on, go to the Forum or Word or Excel or wherever, and type. The rest is a mystery to me.

[Lesley Cox]

Up until about two years ago I gave a talk to just about all of the local small garden groups as well as church groups, young wives, seniors etc etc and enjoyed most of them. It was always the same talk, general, about alpines and small bulbs and everyone was always very nice. Never was paid a cent but always a choco cake or similar 9once a pot with bulbs of Lil. nepalense and a full, ripe pod as well) and all allowed me to take plants for sale so I came home with some cash in hand, occasionally as much as $100.  Recently have given three talks to alpine groups and have been paid well, and given overnight accomodation as well so overall I've been happy with the experience. Can't be bothered now though.

[Anthony Darby]

I get red underlines on my Forum posts as I compose them. Unfortunately words like "intrested" can be "added" to the dictionary if you think you know better!

[mark smyth]

The group I went to had no plant enthusiasts, didnt know of any plants people except Helen Dillon, none were aware of mail order companies that sell bulbs and perennials and weren't aware of forums like this. At the end there were no questions

[Paul T]

Mark,

And why exactly were they inviting in outside speakers? 

[mark smyth]

I say intrested

We, N Irish, also say
bu-er = butter
par = power
flar = flour/flower
wa-er = water
filum = film - but not me

[mark smyth]

To learn more, Paul. It wasnt a cheap lecture for them due to travel expenses and hotel room although I did say I was willing to sleep of a sofa in someones house. 

My talk showed the evolution of my garden and a year of plants

The meeting was also strange because they wanted a coffee break half way through. Most groups have it at the end.

[Paul T]

Mark,

You say them, but do you spell them that way?

Sounds like your talk would have been interesting, so their loss if they didn't get it. 

[Anthony Darby]

Have you noticed that spammers misspell key words in their emails to try and bypass the spam filters.

[Ian Y]

Anthony - I have a nice set of spammers but since I stopped work I don't use them any more.

[Lesley Cox]

So long as you don't start dropping them in the works Ian.