Ameise1 (Barbara)'s first try

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Forum75 Books Challenge for 2014

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Ameise1 (Barbara)'s first try

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1Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 6:02 am

Hello everybody!

It's my first go in this group and I'm looking forward to learning more.



Zürich, Switzerland - my hometown

2Ameise1
Bearbeitet: Jan. 27, 2014, 2:40 pm




January

# 1 Die Feuer von Murano by Giuseppe Furno ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)
# 2 The Case Of The Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall (4 stars)
# 3 Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie (4 1/2 stars)
# 4 The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry (3 stars)
# 5 Nelson Mandela by Biography Series Member Giveaway (4 stars)

3scaifea
Dez. 26, 2013, 6:50 am

Oh, what a lovely photo! Welcome to the group!

4Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 7:02 am

Hi Amber!

Thanks a lot for stopping by and your warm welcome. When the weather is fine the view over the town and the lake is marvelous, but today it's raining and snowing and it's really nastily.

5scaifea
Dez. 26, 2013, 7:12 am

We've got close to 10 inches of snow on the ground right now, which made for a nice Christmas, but we're traveling tomorrow, so I hope we don't get anymore!

6Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 7:32 am

Have a safe journey. Yes, with snow, slush and ice on the roads it's no so nice to travel.

7wilkiec
Dez. 26, 2013, 8:46 am

Welcome to the group, Barbara!

8Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 8:47 am

Thanks Diana for your warm welcome :-D

9richardderus
Dez. 26, 2013, 9:59 am

Aha, here you are. Happy to see someone joining the fun for the first time! Welcome, Barbara!

10PaulCranswick
Dez. 26, 2013, 10:13 am

Barbara - You don't need to read any more books than in your last group. In fact it doesn't seem to matter at all although the subject of reading does crop up occasionally!

I worked in Egypt in my first job of work after leaving university and we used to fly Swiss Air from Manchester to Cairo stopping off in Zurich. Fell in love with the chocolate and the crisp November air encountered in nine hour stop-overs.

Great to see you in the group and I'm sure you'll make it home from home.

11drneutron
Dez. 26, 2013, 1:13 pm

Welcome! Zurich looks beautiful! I'd love to visit someday.

12Crazymamie
Dez. 26, 2013, 1:21 pm

Welcome, Barbara! I love your thread topper - beautiful!

13Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 3:05 pm

@ 9: Thanks a lot Richard for your warm welcome.

10: Paul, thanks a lot for your warm welcome. Yes indeed, Siwtzerland is very famous for its chocolates. We have such a lot of lovely ones it's very difficult to choose.

So, for both of you a sweet speciality from Zürich - they are called Luxemburgerli and have nothing to do with the country Luxembourg. They are similar to the Macarons but much better.


14PaulCranswick
Dez. 26, 2013, 3:10 pm

Scrumptious!

15Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 3:13 pm

Hi Jim! Thanks a lot for dropping by and your warm welcome. Indeed, Zürich is a lovely little city and we have a lot of cosy corners.


16Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 3:17 pm

Hi Mamie! Thanks a lot for dropping by and your lovely welcome :-D

17Ameise1
Dez. 26, 2013, 3:19 pm

Paul, you're welcome.

18SuziQoregon
Dez. 26, 2013, 11:29 pm

Hi - I'm a newbie here this year too. Love your photos.

19Ameise1
Dez. 27, 2013, 2:34 am

Hi SQ! Thanks for dropping by. We'll do it.

20susanj67
Dez. 27, 2013, 4:40 am

Hello Barbara, and welcome! I love your photos too.

21Ameise1
Dez. 27, 2013, 4:42 am

Hi Susan! Thanks for dropping by and your lovely comment.

22SandDune
Dez. 27, 2013, 7:21 am

Welcome Barbara!

23Ameise1
Dez. 27, 2013, 7:25 am

Hi Rhian! Thanks for stopping by and your lovely welcom :-D

24Ameise1
Dez. 28, 2013, 5:02 pm

Tonight my husband and me have been in the theatre. We've seen Franz Kafka's play The Trial. The production was gorgeous. It was a modern setting with a minimum but effective coulisse. Even though Kafka has written this story 100 years ago, the power, the substance and the importance are still very strong and up-to-date.

25SkuldOMG
Dez. 28, 2013, 5:33 pm

Welcome to another German-speaking reader! May you have lots to read in 2014.

26Ameise1
Dez. 28, 2013, 5:39 pm

Hello Simon! Thanks for stopping by. It's nice to see another German-speaking reader 😁

27lyzard
Dez. 28, 2013, 6:51 pm

Hi, Barbara! Found you. :)

28jnwelch
Dez. 28, 2013, 9:04 pm

Starred, Barbara. What a beautiful home town you have!

29Ameise1
Dez. 29, 2013, 4:29 am

Hi Liz! Thanks for stopping by. Here a flower (blue Enzian) from the Alps. It's a medical plant and under nature protection. So, when we see them we aren't aloud to pick them, it's just for the eyes.

30Ameise1
Dez. 29, 2013, 4:41 am

Hi Joe! Welcome to my thread.
May I offer you a specialty from Zürich? It's called 'Züri Tirggel'. It's made with a lot of honey, ginger and cinnamon and has always a subject on it, like on the picture. Hans Waldmann was the mayor of Zürich from 1483 until 1489.

31PaulCranswick
Dez. 29, 2013, 4:52 am

Oh my God Barbara I remember and love those biscuits.....please Joe share a couple with me.

32Ameise1
Dez. 29, 2013, 5:18 am

Paul, I don't know if Joe will stopping by soon to share the Tirggel with you ;-), so here you get your own one.


33PaulCranswick
Dez. 29, 2013, 6:07 am

Thank heavens Barbara, I wasn't at all confident of prising one or two away from Joe in truth. xx

34Ameise1
Dez. 29, 2013, 9:58 am

Paul, you're welcome :-D

35scaifea
Dez. 29, 2013, 4:19 pm

Oh those cookies look amazing! Perfect with a cuppa tea, I suspect.

36jnwelch
Dez. 29, 2013, 4:34 pm

A lot of honey, ginger and cinnamon - you're talking my language, Barbara! Those look great. I'm glad you gave Paul one of his own; I'm feeling a bit peckish. And a bit biscuit-ish. Züri Tirggel - nice!

37Crazymamie
Dez. 29, 2013, 4:45 pm

They do look delicious but also beautiful. Like little works of art.

38Ameise1
Dez. 29, 2013, 5:27 pm

Amber, absolutely correct, it's delicious with a cup of tea


39Ameise1
Dez. 29, 2013, 5:39 pm

Joe, you're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the Tirggel.

Mamie, they are really a work of art. The subjects are made from a carved wooden stamp. They are telling stories like biblical and historical moments which were very important in medieval Zürich. Sometimes you can put several Tirggel next to each other and you get a whole storybook. Some Tirggel have also very elaborate ornamental subjects.

40Ameise1
Dez. 30, 2013, 5:27 am



I like this one. I've to admit that I have a Kindle but I don't use it very often. I love the smell of the books and the rustling of the papers and for me it's very important to feel the book.

41Deern
Dez. 30, 2013, 5:56 am

Here's another German speaker checking in to your interesting thread!
Grüße in die Schweiz aus Südtirol! :-)

42Ameise1
Dez. 30, 2013, 6:01 am

Hi Nathalie! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll drop in from time to time.

43Trifolia
Dez. 30, 2013, 12:40 pm

Hi Barbara, I thought your name sounded familiar and then I remembered you from the European Challenge. I'm glad to see you made it to the 75'ers and although I'm (too) much of a lurker, I'll be sure to follow your thread, since we seem to have similar reading-tastes.

44Ameise1
Dez. 30, 2013, 12:54 pm

Hi Monica! Thanks for stopping by. You're welcome to drop by when ever you like 😃. Indeed, we do have similar reading tasts in common.

45jnwelch
Dez. 30, 2013, 1:54 pm

>40 Ameise1: Ha! I like that, too.

46Ameise1
Dez. 30, 2013, 2:11 pm

Joe, it's just priceless 😂

47luvamystery65
Dez. 30, 2013, 2:24 pm

I love the scenery and all the sweets! Everyone is going to get their fingers bit when Richard finds out there is ginger in those beautiful biscuits.

Welcome to the 75 group Barbara!

48susanj67
Dez. 30, 2013, 2:30 pm

Ginger biscuits! Tea! I love those pictures, Barbara, and the iPad made of trees :-) I have a Kindle on which there is a terrifying stack of things to read, but still I read a lot of hard copy (from the library) and there is something lovely about a brand new hardback in particular. The trick is just getting to them before 500 other people. Then, the Kindle wins :-)

49Ameise1
Dez. 30, 2013, 2:52 pm

Hi Roberta! Welcome to my thread and thanks for stopping by. Perhaps RD will drop in and find the goodies.😉

50Ameise1
Dez. 30, 2013, 2:58 pm

Hi Susan! Thanks for the compliments. We have a fantastic local library which I visit weekly.
The variety of books is gorgeous and there are also books in different languages as well.

51Ameise1
Dez. 31, 2013, 12:10 pm

This afternoon we went to the theatre again. This time our younger daughter joined us. We saw Friedrich Dürrenmatt's The Physicists in very modern performance. The stage was a padded cell. The actors had to jump and to climb walls and they were performing like circus artists. It was absolutely astonishing.

Some pictures from the performance

52EBT1002
Dez. 31, 2013, 1:31 pm

Hi Barbara, and welcome to the 75-ers! Your hometown is gorgeous!

I love your post #40. I haven't yet purchased a Kindle, though I expect to do so before my big Scotland trip in August. I will be interested to see what kind of relationship I end up developing with it.

53drneutron
Dez. 31, 2013, 2:16 pm

Physicists in a padded cell? Sounds like my workplace!

Seriously, looks like an interesting work.

54Ameise1
Dez. 31, 2013, 6:22 pm

Hi Ellen! Thanks for stopping by. When you are on the road a Kindle will be perfect.

55Ameise1
Dez. 31, 2013, 6:24 pm

Hi Jim! It was a gorgeous play. I liked it very much. During the last 35 years I've seen many productions of this play, this one is one of the best.

56Trifolia
Jan. 1, 2014, 2:17 am

Happy New Year, Barbara. Have a wonderful reading-year.

57PaulCranswick
Jan. 1, 2014, 2:37 am

Biscuits and bountiful vistas. What a great start to the group from Zurich!

Have a wonderful 2014.

58Ameise1
Jan. 1, 2014, 4:43 am

Monica; thank you very much and I hope you'll have a fantastic reading year too.

Paul; thanks for your lovely compliment.

59Deern
Jan. 1, 2014, 4:58 am

Frohes Neues Jahr, Barbara!
I have only ever seen one "standard" production of Die Physiker and I read the play twice many years ago. Time for a reread maybe...

60Ameise1
Jan. 1, 2014, 6:49 am

Vielen herzlichen Dank Nathalie,

Currently, I'm reading Die Feuer von Murano (Vetro in Italian) and I'm pinned in the second half of Venice 16th century. I like the story so far and all the memories of my visit in Venice (2004) are coming back. I like Venice and some day I'll revisit it.

61luvamystery65
Jan. 1, 2014, 5:27 pm

Happy New Year Barbara! I hope you have many blessings in 2014.

62msf59
Jan. 1, 2014, 5:34 pm

Happy New Year, Barbara! Welcome to the mighty 75! It's a game-changer. I kid you not. Love the Zurich photo. I visited Bern, briefly, in the early 80s, while stationed in Germany. It was beautiful.

63jnwelch
Jan. 1, 2014, 5:57 pm

Happy New Year, Barbara! Tons o' LT fun ahead of us in 2014.

64brenzi
Jan. 1, 2014, 6:05 pm

Happy New Year Barbara! And welcome to the chatty 75er group. You're going to have lots of fun!

65Ameise1
Jan. 1, 2014, 6:07 pm

Roberta, thanks a lot for your kind words.

Mark, thanks for your nice wishes. Yes indeed, Bern is a cosy town and it's also our capital.

Joe, I already feel very comfy in this group. All of you welcomed me so cordially.



66kidzdoc
Jan. 2, 2014, 11:36 am

Welcome to the group, Barbara! Several of us are avid theatre goers, particularly Joe (jnwelch), Judy (ffortsa), Jim (magicians_nephew), Fliss (flissp), Rhian (SandDune) and myself, so I'll look for your theatre as well as your book reviews.

67Ameise1
Jan. 2, 2014, 11:41 am

Hi Darryl! Thanks for stopping by and your warm welcome. It's nice to hear that other members like the theatre too. I prefer it to the movies.

68kidzdoc
Jan. 2, 2014, 12:05 pm

Same here, Barbara. I think that I saw 12 plays last year, 11 in London and one in NYC (the Royal Shakespeare Company's interpretation of Julius Caesar, which was set in a sub-Saharan country in the midst of a civil war. I didn't see a single movie last year, and I haven't seen one for several years.

69Bond_Girl
Jan. 2, 2014, 1:54 pm

Grüezi, Barbara! So excited to see another Swiss here! I will also be tackling this challenge for the first time.

Looking forward to more Zurich pics and reports from you! Last time I visited, it was for a Georgia O'Keeffe expo and a pilgrimage to the Chagall windows at Fraumünster. Since then, I moved to US and daytrips to Zurich (and Sprungli!) became quite out of reach :)

- Irina

70Ameise1
Jan. 2, 2014, 2:05 pm

Hoi Irina! Schön e 'Heimwehschwiizeri' z'gseh!

Thanks for stopping by. Yes, we do have very interesting exhibitions and Sprüngli (yammmmm). I hope you have great expos at your new place, too.

71Ameise1
Jan. 2, 2014, 2:21 pm

Darryl, you are so right. The reason I don't like watching movies is, I'm always so disapointed when I see a film from I have read the book and the most important things were left out. During the reading I have my own 'head movie' and that's developing the greatest emotions.

Kopfkino Eintritt frei = 'Head Movie' free entry


72Bond_Girl
Jan. 2, 2014, 2:44 pm

Eine Genferin hier :) I understand Schweizerdeutsch, but you would laugh if I tried to answer you.

US museums have turned out quite alright! We are close to Chicago, Indianapolis, and St Louis - the variety of expos and how the art is presented have been a pleasant surprise to us.

Happy reading!

73Ameise1
Jan. 2, 2014, 3:08 pm

Ô, excuse-moi, je n'ai pas su que ta langue maternelle est française ;-)

BTW where is your thread? I haven't found it so far.

Happy reading to you too!

74cameling
Jan. 2, 2014, 5:23 pm

Happy new year, Barbara! In general I agree with you regarding movie tie-ins. I often find myself being aggravated watching movies of books i have already read. I like your term 'head movie'. I'm going to borrow that, if you don't mind.

I remember watching Cider House Rules when it was made into a movie and really hating it because some of the sequence of events were not in the right order and they left out what I felt were important points in the book. What shocked me most was that when the credits came on, I saw that John Irving was the scriptwriter for the movie! So he totally destroyed his own story? I can't figure out why he would do something like that.

So far, the only movies I've enjoyed despite having read the books, have been the Harry Potter movies, the 3 Lord of the Rings movies and the Neverending Story. Oh, and Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. I can't think of any others where I've enjoyed the movie as much as I enjoyed the book and my own 'head movie'. :-)

75jnwelch
Jan. 2, 2014, 5:42 pm

>74 cameling: They had an article in the local paper today about playwright Tracy Letts writing the script for the film of his play August: Osage County. In it he discusses the many battles he had in keeping what he thought was essential while bringing a 3 1/2 hour play down to 2 hours, with many different people contributing ideas (including the producers, the director, and some of the A list actors). Some of those battles he lost. I suspect Irving didn't have free rein, either, although, if so, that doesn't mean he's blameless for the final product.

76Bond_Girl
Jan. 2, 2014, 9:37 pm

>73 Ameise1: I'm here now! Starting the year with a Swiss writer, as well :)

77Ameise1
Jan. 3, 2014, 6:23 am

Hi Caroline! Thanks for stopping by.
I guess I'm one of the few person who hasn't read Harry Potter. Nevertheless I always was fully informed about the stories. My elder daughter read the books and the younger one was listening them. I accompanied my kids to the cinema and both of them were commenting on the sequences which were coming up and afterwards they informed me what had been left out.

You're welcome to use my term 'head movie'. In my opinion it's something very important to do. It helps to develop the imagination.

78Ameise1
Jan. 3, 2014, 6:39 am

Joe, the crux of all screenwriters and playwrights is to find the essential of a story and to transfer it into a movie or play. And yes, there are to many people who think to have a better opinion but it's always about money and seldom the artwork :-(.

79Ameise1
Jan. 3, 2014, 6:43 am

Thanks Irina. Your currently reading is a good choice :-D.

80PaulCranswick
Jan. 4, 2014, 3:32 am

Barbara - You have settled in very nicely so far. I am another lover of the threatre but am unfortunately rather starved of it here in Malaysia. We have most things but not decent libraries or theatres. The Istana Budaya (literally Palace of Culture) does have shows from time to time in English and I like to go when it does. Striking building it is though:



Have a lovely weekend.

81Ameise1
Jan. 4, 2014, 4:21 am

Indeed, especially for European eyes.
I just got up and soon I'm on the way to the market. Unfortunately it's raining, so I'll hurry through the stalls. Wish you a nice weekend 😃

82scaifea
Jan. 4, 2014, 12:01 pm

Paul, that's just gorgeous!

Hi, Barbara!

83Ameise1
Jan. 4, 2014, 3:56 pm

Hi Amber, you're so right :-D

84Ameise1
Jan. 4, 2014, 3:57 pm

book 1



This is a wonderful story which is set up in the 16th century in Venice. It's a historical mystery wherein the inquisition with all its implication is manipulating the plot. The story starts with the blast in the arsenal. With this fulminant beginning all main characters are introduced, although one doesn't know it immediately. Andrea Loredan, an advocat for the poor and son of the Doge, is the centre of all characters. He keeps a tight rein on everything. On the one hand he tries to solve foul plays and therefore he has to help the good ones as well as the evil ones, on the other hand he has to unravel the puzzle his late mother has set. She was a member of a guild which were keeper of banned books. The inquisitors are to him on the heels. He is captured and has to serve his sentence on a galley which is involved in a naval battle with the Turkish armada. Back to Venice he is able to solve all the mysteries.
It is very gripping.


85Ameise1
Bearbeitet: Jan. 27, 2014, 2:40 pm

Take It or Leave It Challenge

challenges

# 7: Read a book you received as a present (in-laws/Christmas 2013)
Die Feuer von Murano (2014-01-04)
# 8: Read a book that has a glossary
The Case Of The Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall (2014-01-07)
# 11: Read a book that has two of something in the title
Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie (2014-01-14)

86Ameise1
Bearbeitet: Jan. 27, 2014, 2:41 pm

currently reading



currently listening

87cameling
Jan. 5, 2014, 11:42 am

What a lovely review, Barbara. It sounds like such a great story .. I looked around and it doesn't look as if his books have been translated into English ... as yet. I can continue to hope they are translated soon.... or start to learn German. Hmm... at this point in my life, I think I'll have to hope. ;-)

And how did you create all those pretty stars?

88Ameise1
Jan. 5, 2014, 1:33 pm

Caro, the book is originally written in Italian and the German edition is available since November 2013. I hope they will translate it also into English.

For the coloured stars:
You can use the links below in the same way you put pictures in your thread.
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_half.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_one.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_one_half.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_two.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_two_half.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_three.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_three_half.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_four.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_four_half.gif =
http://www.deffler.com/lt/stars_five.gif =

I hope this may help you. :-D

89Deern
Jan. 5, 2014, 2:00 pm

Thanks for posting that! I always wanted to know how to create those...

90Ameise1
Jan. 5, 2014, 2:05 pm

You're welcome :-D

91Ameise1
Jan. 7, 2014, 1:13 pm

book 2



This was an easy-going reading. Detective Vish Puri is a very loveable person who is on the one hand the Boss but on the other hand a cunning fox and has a heart of gold, not only for his family and friends but also for his employees. He gives his clientele one reason to hire him: CONFIDENTIALITY IS MY WATCHWORD. Therefore his clients have the feeling that he isn't putting much effort into their case even though he is working long hours. He is a sucker for food and that's his 'only' weakness completely to the chagrin of his wife, because his doctor has put him on diet, but Puri finds always ways and means to get around this.
He has to solve different cases at the same time which are keeping him up busy but he has tricks and his employees which are helping him. For example he has several phones and if a client is phoning the operator is working like an actor because she has to act for completely different situations like a wealthy person as well as a clerk, a doctor or a lawyer.
His mother would also like to be a detectiv and she is the one who is solving his personal problem without his knowing, because he has strictly forbidden her to make inquiries.
It's a fabulous cosy mystery.

92Deern
Jan. 7, 2014, 1:56 pm

This sounds like just the kind of non-depressing crime novels I like. Kindle sample is ordered.

93Ameise1
Jan. 7, 2014, 2:05 pm

😃 It's a lovely reading and I'm looking forward for another one. Unfortunately my local library has only this book. I guess I have to buy the next one 😉

94Crazymamie
Jan. 7, 2014, 2:12 pm

I read that one a year or so ago and really liked it. Nice review, Barbara.

95Ameise1
Jan. 7, 2014, 3:05 pm

Thanks Mamie for the compliment. I really enjoyed the reading. 😃

96richardderus
Jan. 9, 2014, 12:35 am

I hope very much the Furno will be translated into English soon! It sounded so tempting in your review. Cheers!

97Ameise1
Jan. 9, 2014, 2:37 pm

Richard dear, I do hope that this book will be translated into English soon. In the meantime, there is a small word game

Change Furno to forno (Italian) and that's an oven.
The story plays in Venice and one island is called Murano (it's very important in the story). In Muraono are the famous glassblower's art:



but an oven can be used also for:




So I hope you'll find something to shorten the wait :-D

98richardderus
Jan. 9, 2014, 2:54 pm

Oooh! Barbara, such goodies! I love Murano glass and I am very very partial to baked goods. Thank you!

99Ameise1
Jan. 9, 2014, 2:56 pm

You're welcome 😚

100scaifea
Jan. 10, 2014, 7:39 am

Hi, Barbara! Oh, that Murano glass *is* lovely!

101Ameise1
Jan. 10, 2014, 7:47 am

Indeed, isn't it. 😃

102wilkiec
Jan. 10, 2014, 9:34 am

Have a wonderful weekend, Barbara!

103Ameise1
Jan. 10, 2014, 11:05 am

Thanks Diana! I wish you the same and happy reading 😃

104PaulCranswick
Jan. 10, 2014, 6:45 pm

Barbara I wouldn't want to get the glass and the goodies muddled up - both/all fantastic looking but one lot are less easily digested. xx

Have a lovely weekend my dear.

105Ameise1
Jan. 11, 2014, 5:47 am

Thanks Paul! Enjoy your weekend, too. :-D

106connie53
Jan. 11, 2014, 6:06 pm

Found you Barbara and, of course, starred your thread.

It's very entertaining.

107EBT1002
Jan. 12, 2014, 12:07 am

I hope your weekend is going well, Barbara.

108Ameise1
Jan. 12, 2014, 5:06 am

Hi Connie, welcome on my thread. It's nice to have in this group, too.

Hi Ellen, thanks for stopping by. I have to do some work for my job as a primary school teacher. January is alway so stressful because we have to make the pupil's reports. This year it's much more work. My pupils are 1st grader and they don't get a written report. We invite each parent for a meeting and there we are discussing all about their child. That means for each family 45min-1h. Those meetings are very intensive and the preparation has to be accurate. Furthermore I have to take care for two students from the university. They will come to my class to learn how teach pupils from March until May. My job is to support them. Now I have to choose all the topics so they are able to prepare for their training. I'll meet them in two weeks for a first meeting.
In between I try to catch some reading time :-D
I hope your weekend is more recreative.

109scaifea
Jan. 12, 2014, 10:45 am

>108 Ameise1:: People just don't seem to understand how much work primary school teachers put into the job, do they? Best of luck with what sounds like quite a load of work at the moment - hopefully it doesn't get too stressful!

110Ameise1
Jan. 12, 2014, 12:55 pm

Hi Amber! Thanks a lot for your lovely words. It's balm for a teacher's soul. You are so right, solely because everybody has been to school, they have no idea what's behind this profession. I'm working as a teacher now for 30 years and I have the feeling that the work without the pupils has increased enomously.

BTW: I was able to read 50 pages. What a relief.

111richardderus
Jan. 12, 2014, 1:23 pm

Fifty pages read is no small achievement given your work-load, Barbara. I hope your Sunday evening is settling in to be a good one for reading. Thank you again for leaving me the Royal Breakfast in my thread!

112Ameise1
Jan. 12, 2014, 2:18 pm

Richard, you're welcome and thanks a lot for your encouragement about the pages I've read. I snatch another hour of reading soon.

113EBT1002
Jan. 12, 2014, 7:35 pm

>108 Ameise1: Barbara, the prep involved sounds daunting! Your work sounds demanding and very important. I'm glad you can find bits of time for reading and also to check in here on LibraryThing. Certainly my work has spells of making reading and LTing even more precious. I don't mean to wish away the years of my life but I admit to looking forward to retirement with relish.

I hope your week is productive and peaceful.

114Ameise1
Jan. 13, 2014, 12:06 pm

Hi Ellen! Thanks for stopping by and your lovely words. The last four year, since my own children aren't so young anymore, I had much more reading time then the 15 years prior to that. So I feel myself very lucky now. I love LT and all the chatting and wonderful advices here.

I finished work for today and will read this evening.

115Ameise1
Jan. 14, 2014, 1:54 pm

book 3



This reading was very gripping. A woman (wife and mother of a little girl) went missing and nobody knows where she has gone. A couple of monthe later the husband went away and never returned. The little girl is staying with the anxiously nanny who is calling the husband's closest friend who is a friend of Gemma and Duncan and so the investigation is starting. Since a lot of rich and important persons are involved, the investigation can't be conducted straightforward. Therefore is Ducan's team working on an officially bases whereas Gemma and Melody are more going undercover. Gemma's reason to solve the crime is based on the girl's welfare which should go to live with her grandmother who is involved into drug traffic. During the investigation another major crime was discovered. Young girls, still children, from Asia were married to English men, were abused and sometimes murdered.
It was a breathtaking reading and let me guessing until the very last page who are the evil ones and how all parts are linked to each other.


116connie53
Bearbeitet: Jan. 14, 2014, 2:11 pm

Humm. I was going to search for a Dutch version of this book, Barbara.
But there is no Touchstone thing so

Necessary as blood by Deborah Crombie

But no translation :-((

117LizzieD
Jan. 14, 2014, 2:19 pm

Barbara, you may have the prettiest thread in the group! Thanks for all the pictures, and the links for the colored stars.
I'm a great Deborah Crombie fan. She's one of the few for whom I don't willingly wait for the paperback.

118Ameise1
Jan. 14, 2014, 2:19 pm

I'm so sorry Connie! There is a German translation called 'Wenn die Wahrheit stirbt'. Perhaps you can read that one?

119Ameise1
Jan. 14, 2014, 2:24 pm

Thanks Peggy for stopping by and your lovely compliment. You're welcome, I love those coloured stars and it's great to share them with you.
This was my second Crombie book. I like her spelling style and I'll certainly read more of her.

120connie53
Jan. 14, 2014, 2:25 pm

I'm not that good in German, Barbara. But since I have almost 600 TBR I don't think I will run out of reading material.

Pssttt: I'm really happy about dodging this BB. A pity but I will survive

121Ameise1
Jan. 14, 2014, 2:29 pm

122scaifea
Jan. 14, 2014, 8:48 pm

>115 Ameise1:: Oh boy, that one sounds intense!

123Ameise1
Jan. 15, 2014, 2:34 pm

Amber, yes it is and it's worth reading

124luvamystery65
Jan. 16, 2014, 5:22 pm

Hello Barbara! I see you are busy but are still managing time for some reading. Reading for pleasure if food for the soul. Take care and have a lovely weekend.

125PrueGallagher
Jan. 16, 2014, 10:04 pm

Hello Barbara! What a gorgeous thread you have to entice lots of visitors! I've got you starred!

126richardderus
Jan. 17, 2014, 1:54 am

How do you do, Barbara. I brought this image over because it reminded me of your winning charm:

127Ameise1
Jan. 17, 2014, 7:29 am

Hello Roberta, thanks a lot for stopping by and your kind words. I do my best to catch some reading time, even though I very occupied with work at school and the university.
You are so right, reading IS food for the soul. Wish you a lovely weekend, too.

128Ameise1
Jan. 17, 2014, 7:33 am

Hi Prue, thanks a lot for stopping by. It's lovely to have somebody here from the Melbourne area. 32 years ago I spent some months there. I've got relatives in the area and went visiting them. Then I travelled along the east coast. I've lovely memories.
Happy reading to you, too.

129Ameise1
Jan. 17, 2014, 7:37 am

Oh, Rdear, what an amazing and sweet surprise. It's just THE perfect thing before my pupils return after the lunch break. You are my hero.

130PaulCranswick
Jan. 17, 2014, 8:39 am

RDs idea of cupcakes on a daily basis to celebrate indiscriminately everyone's brithday is a cracking one.
These locally made japanese treats are popular at home at the moment. King's Hokkaido Cakes

131Ameise1
Jan. 17, 2014, 12:44 pm

Oh Paul, thank you soooo much. It's been long that I was so spoiled. This King's Hokkaidao Cakes are looking gorgeous. What's the taste like of them?

132Ameise1
Jan. 17, 2014, 12:51 pm

Last Wednesday I've seen the oculist and now I'm just returning from the optician. Yeh, I've ordered three pairs of new glasses: a) one for everyday (it's for shortsight and long-sighted) b) one only for reading (in bed or on the sofa) and finally sunglasses (also shortsight and long-sighted).
I hope I'll get them soon, but probably I've to wait 2 weeks.

133Deern
Jan. 18, 2014, 2:01 am

Passing by to wish you a wonderful weekend, Barbara!

134PaulCranswick
Jan. 18, 2014, 2:21 am

So many glasses would confuse me utterly, Barbara.

The Hokkaido cakes are very creamy and light. Dreamy in fact. Unfortunately the dream became a nightmare yesterday as I noted greedily that SWMBO had bought two boxes of them. Before I had chance to even swallow my own saliva she passed both boxes to a friend of a friend who she had apparently promised to give a sample of. A sample is not two boxes in my book and my stomach was as cross as could be.

135wilkiec
Jan. 18, 2014, 4:49 am

Barbara, I also have 3 glasses ;-)

Have a lovely weekend!

136Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 7:02 am

Nathalie, thanks for stopping by
I wish you a lovely weekend, too. 😃

137Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 7:05 am

Poor Paul! That sounds really horribly 😢. I hope you'll get some soon. Your describtion sounds delightful 😋

138Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 7:10 am

Diana, in reallity I've got four glasses, but for one I don't need a new one because those still work fine. It's a pair I need for watching TV or when I'm in the theatre. It's much more confortable then using the bifocal ones. 😀

139connie53
Bearbeitet: Jan. 18, 2014, 8:33 am

I've 3 glasses too.

One to read, one multifocal, sunglasses for reading outside in the summer.

And a lot of old ones I can use if one of the newer ones break or are impossible to find.

140Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 7:14 am

Today I'm at the University the whole day. I get the latest up-dates for the students which I have to support the next four months. Now during the lunch break I'm able to do some LT 😃

141Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 7:16 am

Hi Connie, that's the reason why we need such "big" handbags 😄

142msf59
Jan. 18, 2014, 7:17 am

Morning Barbara! Just checking in. Hope your books are treating you well. The cupcakes look good.

143scaifea
Jan. 18, 2014, 11:11 am

The cupcakes look amazing!

Also, every time I read 'oculist' on your thread, for some reason my brain sees 'occultist' - ha!

144Crazymamie
Jan. 18, 2014, 11:26 am

Stopping in to wish you a weekend full of fabulous, Barbara!

145Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 4:06 pm

Hi Mark! Thanks for stopping by. Yes, indeed, the cupcakes are lovely. After a terribly busy week I hope to get some reading time tomorrow. I'm reading Steve Berry's Paris Vendetta and I enjoy it very much so far.

146Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 4:13 pm

Amber, occultist , it's not my business. I believe in naturopathy and use it mostly in the beginning of a treatment but with esoterism ect. I can't work.

147Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 4:14 pm

Mamie, It's nice to see you here again. I hope you enjoy your weekend.

148johnsimpson
Jan. 18, 2014, 5:08 pm

Hi Barbara, hope you're having a good weekend my dear.

149Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 5:16 pm

Hi John, thanks for stopping by. Sunday will be my weekend. Today I spent the whole day a t the University because I'll get two students from March until May which I have to support in teaching. I'll see them next Friday for the first time and then will be the kickoff for the support.

150connie53
Jan. 18, 2014, 5:18 pm

But why did you have to spend the whole day at the univerity? What did you have to do?

151Ameise1
Jan. 18, 2014, 5:33 pm

We've got the latest up-dates in the didactical materials of several topics and how the University would like to have our support. Connie, you have to know that the teaching is invented always NEW in the 'eyes' of the scientists but not from the part of the practitioners as I am. So they do wish that we support the students in the same way as they are learning and studying at the University.
What shall I do ;-D

152connie53
Jan. 18, 2014, 5:44 pm

Barbara, you lost me about the point where my name is.

At my school we haven these meetings were somebody talks the whole afternoon about implementing some great new way of teaching or a new methode. And we sit there thinking: We had that stuff 20 years ago and it was discarded because it did not work properly. Why????

That kind of thing

153PaulCranswick
Jan. 18, 2014, 8:14 pm

Barbara I have to admit I also second-checked when you first typed oculist, I saw the same thing as Amber did too. Mightily relieved of course it was only the eyes that were being bewitched.

154Ameise1
Jan. 19, 2014, 5:49 am

SORRY to everybody, when I puzzled you with my glasses, I didn't intend to do so.

Connie, yes, we do have those 'amazing :-(' meetings, too. Those are very often bad because the speakers are younger than some colleagues and me and we have to tell them, that we were teaching this so called new feature years ago under a different 'name'. Mostly we do have the feeling that we could have done better things during this time.

Those 'lovely :-((' things I've heared yesterday are different. When I support students for the practical teaching I have to know their 'language'. That means: they are learning how to teach in a very academic way with a lot of scientific research and they (university lectures and students) are also writing scientific reports without being out into the real live. So when they are coming to me, they have to learn how to implement all those scientific stuff into a practical way. That's not easy for them and I've to support them in a way that they are successful and that they rejoice in teaching.
Therefore I have to know the up-to-date 'academic language'.

I hope I could explain myself in a way you understand

155connie53
Jan. 19, 2014, 8:02 am

Yes!! now I get it!

156EBT1002
Jan. 19, 2014, 5:45 pm

Hi Barbara! I've been meaning to give Deborah Crombie a try.

157scaifea
Jan. 20, 2014, 6:40 am

Best of luck with those 'new' teaching methods. Sigh.

Also, I quite like the way 'oculist' sounds - it's fun to say and a lovely word, don't you think? I think I'll start calling our optometrist and 'oculist'...

158Ameise1
Jan. 20, 2014, 7:33 am

Ellen, I've read two Crombie's so far and I really like her spelling style. Some others are waiting on my TBR-list. I hope you'll enjoy them, too.

159Ameise1
Jan. 20, 2014, 7:36 am

Amber, I think in the end is teaching at the front with pupils always the same, but it becomes dangerous when scientists are at work ;-).

Isn't it nice to have so many words which can give ones some smile ;-D

160MarjoleinL
Jan. 21, 2014, 4:12 pm

Hi Ameise! I saw you in the topic of Connie and thought: Hey, Ameise is German, I have to take a look in that thread! My mother is from Germany, so I learned German since I was little, though we speak Dutch to eachother. My German isn't perfect, but it's good enough to be able to talk to our family in Germany. Are you from the German-language part of Switserland? Because there is also a part where they talk Italian and a part where they talk French, right?

161PrueGallagher
Jan. 21, 2014, 8:33 pm

Hello Barbara - just waving and making sure I keep up!

162Ameise1
Jan. 22, 2014, 11:40 am

Hi Marjolein, thanks for stopping by. Yes, Ameise is German and means in English ant which was/is my scout name. We live in the German speaking part of Switzerland. My mother tongue is Swiss German but this is only a spoken language. At school we learn German German speaking and writing. We have four official languages (German, French, Italien and Rhaeto-Romance). Next to German we learn at school French and English and as an option we can learn Italien as well. My elder daughter (21) can speak Rhaeto-Romance because her boyfriend is from that part of Switzerland. Myself I've learned German, French, Italien, English and Spanish. One of my grandmothers was a French lady, so we were speaking very early French but only with her. When we were at school, she was speaking French with us and we aswered in Swiss German ;-D.
It's lovely to speak several languages, so please keep up with your German.

163Ameise1
Jan. 22, 2014, 11:43 am

Hi Prue, glad you could find some time for stopping by .

164connie53
Jan. 22, 2014, 12:07 pm

I really am smiling a big smile.

I always call you 'miertje' in my mind. Miertje = Ant = Ameise !!

165Ameise1
Jan. 22, 2014, 12:15 pm

166wilkiec
Jan. 22, 2014, 12:47 pm

Can you understand your daughter's boyfriend if he speaks Rhaeto-Romance to you?
My husband N's parents had friends from Switserland and we never understood a word when those friends spoke to each other in Rhaeto-Romance ;-)

167Ameise1
Jan. 22, 2014, 1:22 pm

Diana, I'm able to understand a lot if he is speaking slowly. My French and Italien knowledge helps. But usually we and he are speaking Swiss German when he is with us. His granddad is very old and has never been outside his village. He can only speak Rhaeto-Romance and he is close to deaf and that's the reason why my daughter has learned this language because she loves this old fellow. :-D

168scaifea
Jan. 22, 2014, 8:17 pm

Oh, I am loving all the language talk! It's so wonderful that you can speak some many different ones! I know a handful of languages, but they're mostly the dead kind. Ha!

169Ameise1
Jan. 23, 2014, 10:30 am

Amber, we are such a little country. The size of Switzerland (41,285 Km2) is the size between Maryland and Virginia but much closer to Maryland. Therefrom are 35% habitable. We have 8,100,000 resindents and four official languages.

So, you can see now, that we are used and obligated to learn several languages, on the one hand to communicate within our population but also with our neighbour countries.

Personally, I'm happy that I've learned such a lot of different languages, so I'm able to communicate with many people.

170connie53
Jan. 23, 2014, 1:28 pm

In fact miertje = little ant.

We use 'tje' or 'je' to indicate little

muisje = little mouse
peertje = little pear
tafeltje = little table

appeltje = ???

171Ameise1
Jan. 23, 2014, 2:42 pm

little apple

172connie53
Jan. 23, 2014, 3:30 pm

You are so right!!!! 10 points!!!

173Ameise1
Jan. 24, 2014, 11:49 am

As every Friday, I was with my class in the woods. Friday is forest school. Luckily, we've got a breath of snow. It's still too warm for this season and the pupils don't think that it should be winter. Unfortunately there wasn't enough snow to see some animal tracks but nonetheless the kids could wallow in the mud like boars.


174connie53
Jan. 24, 2014, 11:53 am

Nice, but indeed not very wintery. What will all those Dutch skiing tourists do without snow.

175Ameise1
Jan. 24, 2014, 12:10 pm

Connie, in the Alps there is snow and I hope that it will last for another month. Thomas and Marina are leaving for Davos in two weeks. I have to work a week longer so my skiing holidays will start in three weeks.

176connie53
Jan. 24, 2014, 2:20 pm

That's good to hear! Who are Thomas and Marina?

177Ameise1
Jan. 24, 2014, 2:58 pm

Thomas is my gorgeous husband and Marina is my younger daughter :-D

178connie53
Jan. 25, 2014, 8:10 am

Okay. I did not know that. I will take notes on my excel sheet. Younger daughter implies there is one older!

179msf59
Jan. 25, 2014, 8:20 am

Barbara- Just checking in. I love the walk in the woods photo. Glad you got your dusting of snow. Hope you are having a great weekend.

180scaifea
Jan. 25, 2014, 9:52 am

Forest School - what a neat idea! And that photo is gorgeous!

181Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 10:24 am

Connie, yes there is an older daughter called Isabelle (21). She is studying in Lucerne to become a social worker. Her holidays have started now and on Monday she is leaving for Bali (two weeks). She is coming back before I go to Davos, so I'll get the chance to see her.

182Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 10:31 am

Mark, thanks for stopping by and the good wishes. I like to be in the woods - that's the scout in me - and my Forest school is quite a success. I wish you a fabulous weekend.

183Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 10:43 am

Amber, since ten years I go with the pupils once a week in the wood for my 'Forest School'. It's not only for playing and wallowing, they are learning a lot about the plants, the animals and the ecosystem. We are also doing some cooking, making instruments, we are on the vitaparcours or on a orienteering race (when they are able to read maps). We are in the forest except in the case of storm and lightning in any weather. Everybody has a lot of fun and other classes envy us.

184Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 11:19 am

Marina came back from her oboe foreplay at the Music Conservatory. She passed the test successfully. I'm very proud of her because she is playing on a high level and the test wasn't an easy one. Now the music year can get started. Various concerts at home and aboard are planned and we are looking forward to them. :-D

185thornton37814
Jan. 25, 2014, 12:54 pm

Barbara, I think that is the Crombie book I have lined up for February.

186Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 1:06 pm

Lori, thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have. It's a gripping story. Happy reading :-D

187Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 2:18 pm

book 4



O.k., this was my fifth book from Steve Berry's serie Cotton Malone and I've to admit that this one was the weakest one. During the first third the plot was just bobbing up and down and it wasn't very gripping nor was it very interesting. The second half was much more the Cotton Mallon's way to solve a mystery and the pace was getting faster.
In this story an old treasure from Napoleon I has to be found. Several parties are on this hunt. There is also a hunt for a man which is accused to have murdered the son of Malone's best friend. Sometimes I've got the feeling that the link and connection between those parts are a bit far fetched.

188SandDune
Jan. 25, 2014, 2:46 pm

Your forest school sounds lovely. My son would have loved that: he always enjoyed time spent outside in the countryside.

189johnsimpson
Jan. 25, 2014, 3:09 pm

Hi Barbara, hope you're having a good weekend my dear.

190Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 3:59 pm

Hi John, yes, I do have a lovely weekend with a lot of reading and nothing to do for school :-D.

191Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 3:59 pm

book 5



This wonderful biography about Nelson Mandela is written in an easy spelling style but nonetheless very informative. It doesn't put Nelson Mandela as a hero without mistakes. It shows his life with all his failure as well his strength, what he has gained not only for the people of South Africa but also personally. This is a book which should be in each school libraries and it would be suitable for the secondary school.

192scaifea
Jan. 25, 2014, 5:15 pm

>183 Ameise1:: Oh, that's wonderful! I wish Charlie's school had a similar program.
>184 Ameise1:: Congrats to Marina!!

193Ameise1
Jan. 25, 2014, 6:24 pm

Rhian, I think all children should have the possibility to spend some lessons in the countryside instead of a class room.

Amber, thanks a lot for the compliment. I'll tell it Marina in the morning. Yes, I guess that Charlie would like the Forest School.

194connie53
Jan. 25, 2014, 6:35 pm

Congrats to Marina!
And have a nice sunday!

195PaulCranswick
Jan. 25, 2014, 9:07 pm

Mind always boggles Barbara when faced with those proficient in so many languages - I have my Malay to accompany my english of course and a smidgen of French and Arabic but I couldn't hold my own at all in the last two.

Just a point on the dutch influence on language in this region. Connie mentioned the "je" is used to denote small in dutch. In Malay which is a derivative or cousin to Bahasa Indonesia, "sahaja" means only and in normal speech you would actually say "je" to say "just that" or "only" .

Have a lovely weekend Barbara and keep up that lovely mezze that was overflowing over at the grouchmeister's place.

196Ameise1
Jan. 26, 2014, 5:02 am

Connie, thanks a lot for the good wishes and I'll tell Marina the congratulations.

Paul, when somebody has English as his mother tongue than it isn't so necessary to learn a wide range of other languages. Yes, it's nice to know the language where you are living, it makes life much easier. So I guess your Arabic comes from when you've stayed in Egypt. When we are abroad and the language there isn't one we know, we just try to learn how to say hello, thank you yes/no and so on. It's lovely to communicate niceness in their language.

Indonesia: Isabelle my older daughter is leaving tomorrow for her holiday in Bali.

197richardderus
Jan. 26, 2014, 6:05 am

Happy Sunday, Barbara! Here are some chocolate stout cupcakes with Bailey's Irish cream icing. Makes the day more appealing, somehow:

198Ameise1
Jan. 26, 2014, 6:53 am

Rdear, thanks a lot for those marvellous cupcakes. Just the right thing to celebrate the win of Stan Wawrinka :-D

Yes, he did it. Our Stan the Man has won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. We are so proud. I couldn't keep sitting still during the last minutes.

199connie53
Jan. 26, 2014, 6:56 am

Congrats on Stan's victory! He is such a nice and goodlooking guy! I love his sparkling eyes!!

200Ameise1
Jan. 26, 2014, 7:02 am

Thanks Connie, he is a very handsome fellow and a very friendly and modestly one, too. He had to fight hard during the last couple of years to establish his place among the great tennis player. I'm so happy for him that he achieved this victory.

201Ameise1
Jan. 26, 2014, 10:37 am

Yesteday I bought the first tulip bunch of the year. I love them so much and every week until mid-May there is a fresh bouquet at home.

202connie53
Jan. 26, 2014, 10:38 am

Love the tulips! Nice colour too!

203Ameise1
Jan. 26, 2014, 10:43 am

Thanks Connie, my family thinks every year that I must be crazy to buy them so early in the year, but I never can wait until I put my hands on the first arrival of the tulips. Our garden is full of them but I've to wait until it's time for them.

204connie53
Jan. 26, 2014, 10:49 am

I love those first bunches of flowers. I prefer the yellow tulips and daffodils. Yellow is the color for sun and summer to me. Here you can buy 2 bunches of tulips in a different colour and mix them. they are not that expensive.

I have this very large glas vase that's shaped like an U. And I cut the flowers so they are not reaching the top of the vase. That looks really lovely. Or I have three large high but slim vases next to each other with the tulips not reaching the top.

205Ameise1
Jan. 26, 2014, 10:54 am

That sounds terrific. Sometimes I can also buy two bunches in different colours but yesterday it was just one bunch of twenty tulips in one colour.
It sounds fabulous how you arrange them. :-D

206connie53
Jan. 26, 2014, 10:56 am

When I do it again I will post a photo!

207Ameise1
Jan. 26, 2014, 11:01 am

Fantastic, I'm looking forward to it :-D

208jnwelch
Jan. 26, 2014, 5:03 pm

Congratulations, Barbara! Stan W. seems like a good guy, too. And how great to have two Swiss players in the top ten.

209EBT1002
Bearbeitet: Jan. 26, 2014, 10:56 pm

Barbara, the outcome of the Aussie Open was stunning. I'm glad you're pleased. I always like it when an underdog wins (unless the favorite is also a favorite of mine). I tend to follow the women much more closely than the men and it was a surprising tournament in their draw, as well.

I'm loving the discussion about languages, mono-linguistic though I am. I spent 3 months in Poland back in 1981 and began learning some of that language through immersion (truly the very best way to learn any language). I spent one afternoon each week conversing with a 15-year-old to help her develop her English speaking skills. Her father was a Dutch speaker, her mother French, English was their shared language, they lived in Poland, and in 1981 Russian was a required language in Polish schools. So, at age 15, she spoke five languages quite fluently.

210Ameise1
Jan. 27, 2014, 10:17 am

Joe, thanks a lot. Yes indeed, it's fabulous to have two such good players. We know that we have to enjoy it now because it doesn't look like there are others following them. :-D

211Ameise1
Jan. 27, 2014, 10:24 am

Ellen, I go always for the underdogs :-D.

I'm quite curious why you have been in Poland. I've never been there but it's on my to visit list. I haven't learned languages from East Europe. Marina my younger daughter is learning Russian at school.

Yes, it's fabulouse to speek several languages.

212ursula
Jan. 27, 2014, 11:51 am

Just dropping by to comment that I was thrilled for Wawrinka. He is a great player who has been really improving his game over the last couple of years, and I also really enjoy his personality. He's no-nonsense and clearly strongly principled (I've seen him get into a couple of other arguments with the chair umpire before this final, and he doesn't let them weasel out of their responsibilities). His match against Djokovic showed he was made of stern stuff, and capping it with his first Grand Slam was well-deserved.

213SuziQoregon
Jan. 27, 2014, 1:33 pm

Just catching up with threads after a few days away.

That woods photo is beautiful. I love the idea of Forest School.

214Ameise1
Jan. 27, 2014, 2:12 pm

Ursula, thanks a lot for your lovely comment about Stan W. it is so true. Stan wasn't a comet like a lot of the top ten list. He had to find his way up on a hard way. Nonetheless he has found his place among the greatest player and he's still standing with both feet on the ground without being snooty.

215Ameise1
Jan. 27, 2014, 2:13 pm

SQ, thanks for dropping by and your compliment about my Forest School.

216Ameise1
Jan. 27, 2014, 2:43 pm

Please, join me on my new thead

217Ameise1
Bearbeitet: Feb. 28, 2014, 1:01 pm

Diese Nachricht wurde vom Autor gelöscht.
Dieses Thema wurde unter Ameise1 (Barbara)'s first try (Part 2) weitergeführt.