Dear Foxy,

Thank you for the topic.

My resolution is to try and spend a little more time with my young nephew. He is of an age that the normal seeking of new boundaries are putting some strain on his single mum. A great kid but duty of care calls for a little more attention to assist him in maneouvering through this part of his life. I have some 4x4 driving planned for tomorrow and there are some great spots close by to put him behind the wheel.

While I am not big on New Year resolutions they can be helpful in bringing decisions to a head.

Antiseptic,

All the very best with your studies. If you are like the rest of us, you may complete two or three degrees and still be unsure what you want to do. That is the time for higher study. No-one expects a PhD to be anything but bewildered.

Dear SteeleRedux,

I think your nephew's a very lucky guy to have
an uncle like you - who's taking such an interest
in him.
I'm sure you will play a big part in his life,
and be a big influence - something he will remember
for the rest of his life.

I still remember my English teacher who was an
inspiration. Through her efforts I came to appreciate
literature and develop a love of Shakespeare, drama,
and the theatre.

Dear Foxy,

My English teacher caused me to love Shakespeare. When we went through a Shakespeare play in class Olive C. would say, "Mary, you read from line 110 to line 140. When Mary was through Johnny would be called on to read from line 190 to 230.

After class I would go over the text to see what was said between lines 140 and 190. There was always some sexual reference there. It might take some work to find it in the Elizabethan English of Shakespeare's time. However, it could always be found if one was willing to take the trouble that Olive C. apparently had. In going over the text I became aware of the beauty and rhythm of the language. I still love Shakespeare.

Eric Partridge in "Shakespeare's Bawdy" has made a scholarly examination of Shakespeare's sexual allusions.

I am disappointed that no one mentioned Belly as one departed poster. I miss the debates we had about politics. We had a similar background, but he had it tougher than me. Although poor, I was more fortunate in that my parents were non drinkers and did everything for us kids. Like Belly, had to leave school and get work ASAP.

So tomorrow night I will toast Belly and Ludwig, whom I also respected for his views on over population. Haven't seen much of Yabby of late either.

Never much for NYR but will persist with efforts to stop FGM and get government to abandon multiculturalism. Will continue to lobby for reduced immigration, beginning with denying entry of those groups that hold us in contempt. Look for other ways to deter terrorism here (Bazz, Yuyutsu and O sung wu).

Banjo,

Yes, we all miss Belly - goes without saying....

I had always gotten on reasonably well with Ludwig - until his thread on Rolf Harris...have to say I saw and entirely different, belligerent and just plain weird Ludwig on that thread.