Dear o sung wu,

Thank You for asking about my health.
I have good days and some not so good.
It is a work in progress and I'll know more
after my procedure in July.
I'm going to have to again begin to limit my time on the forum.
It's apparently affecting my well being at times.
It's time to take another break for a while.

I don't know how Belly is doing or whether he'll
be coming back. I know as much as anyone else does
on this forum. If anyone does know more - we'd
certainly appreciate learning about what's he's doing.
I miss him. We didn't always agree - but he was a good
friend to me and supported me during some difficult
personal times. Especially when I was diagnosed with
bowel cancer a few years back. A gentleman, and a
man of integrity. We need more Belly's on the forum.

I'm pleased to learn that you're an avid reader.
And I would love to join you for your morning cuppa.
That would be great! Instead I'll think of you as I
have mine and continue with my re-reading of
Li Cunxin's book, "Mao's Last Dancer."
Fabulous!

O sung old mate, you amaze me. No not with your purchase of a book, but with your claim to owning a full set Sidchrome sockets and spanners.

Didn't you have any kids. If you did, were they all artistic types, who would never think of dirtying their hands with things mechanical. Hell even my youngest artistic daughter used to "borrow" tools from my shed to muck with things.

In fact it was probably her who never returned such borrowed items, my son had enough sense, usually, to realise they were easier to find next time, if returned. I just found my bush "bow" saw beside a cupboard in my granny flat she was inhabiting recently. What the hell she would have used that for, I can't imagine.

I don't think I have ever bought a book I did not intend reading, although there were some acquired by swap with other yachties in out of the way places that I was not all that interested in opening.

No it is magazine subscriptions that are my weakness. Yes I have canceled a few, but still have more than I need. Some can sit for weeks without being read. It is always just after deciding to stop one that a really good article appears in the next issue, & all is forgiven.

At least now, the next time I need my 1/4" whitworth or BSF ring spanner, long since disappeared, probably into my sons toolbox, I'll know where to come.

o sung wu,

Have you considered a Kindle Paperwhite?

A cheap and convenient solution.

Hi there FOXY...We should all look after our health. Without reasonable health, there's nothing really. I share your concerns apropos BELLY ? I've always liked and admired both his integrity, morality and his principles. Notwithstanding we're diametrically opposed, with our respective political beliefs ? That said, I could only wish that one of our own garrulous LNP politicians, possessed an ounce of the integrity, that BELLY has in spades. I trust he'll return here very soon !

Morning book reading and my consecutive, two cups of coffee, are what heaven must be like ? It would be really nice for those on the Forum to have a coffee or two together ? Or would it ? Perhaps it's the anonymity, the sense of the unknown, that's the amalgam that binds us all together ? Me, duplicitously describing myself as being 6'6" with the looks of Rock Hudson...? Gee, that would be illusionary, to say the least ?

Hi there ONTHEBEACH...

I purchased a Kindle from a Dick Smith Store. In fact I got the newer model, which is 'back lit' and much easier to read ? I paid a modest, $145.00 + - for it. It came with quite a number of free books already down-loaded into the thing.

With the help of my good wife, I played around with it for a bit, decided it was not for me and it's now in the care, custody and control of my sister in law, who I understand makes good use of it ?

Mate, I'm quite dense with any of these electronic gismos. I find it immensely difficulty to use, even with much tutoring on it.

I like a book to be a 'book', a tactile object that I can manipulate in anyway I choose - I'm also given to inscribing marginal notes, particularly with legal texts (which no longer applies now I'm retired) even now with non-fiction books. You must appreciate, ONTHEBEACH, you're dealing with a very bourgeois even obsolescent individual ?

However, thanks you BOTH for your thoughtful contributions.

G'day there HASBEEN...

I amaze myself sometimes, though I cannot take any real comfort from the claim of being the proud owner of a full set of 'Sidies' ? You see, some time ago I was the owner of a full set of 'Gedore', both in Metric and Imperial SAE. Until one day a certain son of mine decided to adjust the gears and hubs on his bike ? After promising faithfully he'd return the said tools to the container from which they belonged.

Thus began a long odyssey of sad loss, misadventure and tribulation, involving some well meaning neighbours, number 2 son, and others who've not dared to exhibit their collective 'mushes' around this humble abode ever again.

Then came the day where I frantically looked down upon the battered container that hitherto, housed my proud set of fine German Gedore's, noticing the many empty recesses that no longer contained any facade of my beloved tools.

Until I was finally overcome with that deep anguish that can only be brought about by the knowledge of the many 'wayward' sockets and a 'driver' or two, can ? And it is for this reason, why I have this pristine set of 'Sidies', still in their virgin state, and never to touch anything that resembles a bolt, a stud or anything else for that matter.

I sincerely hope HASBEEN, this brief explanation will serve in some small way, to describe the events of retaining the Sidchrome set in it's entirety ?

Many thanks ol' man, for your thoughtful contribution to this banal topic.

o sung wu,
We all "look back in anger" at times and when I sit, as I am at the moment, at my desk with the cat perched high up on a book case about to launch itself across to the other side of the shelving via my laptop keyboard I am astounded at the number of books, mainly paperbacks, that I have accumulated from various 'Vinnes" and garage sales simply because I forgot to read them years ago and for some reason as my days grow shorter I believe that I might yet get around to a "good read"