A Collector’s Lot

[HerlockSholmes]

Just out of curiosity Hikari, how did you manage the trick of typing ‘obsession’ with the line through it?

[Hikari]

Good afternoon, Herl . . .still morning here.  On my first cup of coffee!

In the Reply text box in the upper left corner, next to the B, I, U, select the S with the line through it after you've highlighted the text you want 'Scratched out'.  Be sure to unselect the S when you're done.

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

I've noticed that this software will continue the formatting for the entire line, so if you don't want the whole line scratched (or italicized, etc.) you will probably have to go back and 'Undo' those parts.

[HerlockSholmes]

1 hour ago, Hikari said:

Good afternoon, Herl . . .still morning here.  On my first cup of coffee!

In the Reply text box in the upper left corner, next to the B, I, U, select the S with the line through it after you've highlighted the text you want 'Scratched out'.  Be sure to unselect the S when you're done.

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

I've noticed that this software will continue the formatting for the entire line, so if you don't want the whole line scratched (or italicized, etc.) you will probably have to go back and 'Undo' those parts.

Thanks Hikari,

it’s 13.52 as I’m typing this. The mysteries of the internet  explained. I’ve never known how to place an accent over a letter either (if your typing a French word for example.) It’s all witchcraft to me😀

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I’ve never known how to place an accent over a letter either (if your typing a French word for example.) It’s all witchcraft to me😀

It helps to have a French keyboard (honestly -- they have all that stuff), but failing that, I simply Google the word without the accent mark, then copy and paste from the results.  If the accentless word looks like an English word, it's helpful to Google a phrase, e.g., goose liver pate, so you get what you're actually looking for.

[HerlockSholmes]

You'd think that the world would show a little consideration and all speak English. Come on, is it asking too much?😀

[HerlockSholmes]

On 12/03/2018 at 3:55 PM, HerlockSholmes said:

Baker Street By-Ways was an enjoyable read. Quite nostalgic. From a time when there was a resurgence of interest in all things Holmes. New societies were forming and research on The Canon was going at full speed. After reading this book I’ve ordered ‘My Dear Holmes’ by Gavin Brend form 1951 which is advertised on the back cover. It never ends😀

Ive also seen a copy of Baker Street By-Ways selling for £60 so I might have had a bargain?👍

I attempted to read The Return Of Arthur Conan Doyle which was originally published just after Doyle’s death and is supposed to contain Doyle’s words from beyond the grave as given to a French mystical society. ‘Attempted’ is the key word.

My in-built ‘drivelometer’ was pushed way past it’s limit. I could only manage a few pages. Normally after reading a book i might say that it’s worth getting or not to bother. No one on here apart from me is stupid enough to buy such an awful book!

One for the collection though🙂

£18 that I’ll never get back☹️

[Carol the Dabbler]

Care to give us a (mercifully brief) sample from those few pages?

[HerlockSholmes]

Hi Carol, I’m not at home at the moment but I’ll post a few lines when I get back. It’s laughable though😀

[Hikari]

19 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

Hi Carol, I’m not at home at the moment but I’ll post a few lines when I get back. It’s laughable though😀

18 pounds, eh?  Bet that hurt!

[HerlockSholmes]

51 minutes ago, Hikari said:

18 pounds, eh?  Bet that hurt!

It did Hikari. I had to write it off by thinking “well, it’s another for the collection.”

[HerlockSholmes]

On 17/03/2018 at 11:19 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

Care to give us a (mercifully brief) sample from those few pages?

You asked for it Carol☹️

From Sir Arthur “ I find myself in an unspeakably beautiful ‘heaven world.’ I desire above all things to be able to bring such a reality as this home to my friends; but I also realise only too well that it can be shared only if they can understand the nature of the heaven to which I have gone. All this has made me feel a deeper urge to spread the truth about the after-life. I believe that during my Earth-life I have already won something of a reputation as a missionary. I carry on this work still for the people of Earth, but by different ways and means from those which I used to follow.”

That’s on page 95 by the way Carol in case you want to skip straight to it after you’ve dashed out to your local bookstore to grab your very own copy😀

Back on the shelf it goes👍

[Hikari]

3 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

It did Hikari. I had to write it off by thinking “well, it’s another for the collection.”

That's what David Marcum said about the Mary Russell novels and he repudiates them utterly.

I'm a rabid collector, too, but I try to limit myself to those items that I actually like. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks, Herlock. Even if that was a true communication, I can't see how it would be of much help to anyone.  Of course the helpful part may be in a different paragraph,. but I am not sufficiently encouraged to seek out the book.

[Hikari]

Herl,

I just tried to PM you and got the message that you can't receive messages.  What the?  I need to get your mailing address again because the Post Eater et it!

I will ask the moderators if this is a universal problem.  I don't suspect that your PM storage is full based on how you don't really like that medium.

[HerlockSholmes]

6 hours ago, Hikari said:

That's what David Marcum said about the Mary Russell novels and he repudiates them utterly.

I'm a rabid collector, too, but I try to limit myself to those items that I actually like. 

That’s sensible Hikari and it’s what I try to do myself but I sometimes fail. I went to a book fair and found only 2 books that I didn’t have (apart from the £750 one) so I bought them.

Im going to Hay-on-Wye again soon. It has around 20 bookshops but it used to have around 40. It also hosts a literary festival. I’m just going with a friend or two to look around the bookshops. 

It’s a nice place, on the Welsh border.

Heres a short  video.

 

[HerlockSholmes]

6 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Thanks, Herlock. Even if that was a true communication, I can't see how it would be of much help to anyone.  Of course the helpful part may be in a different paragraph,. but I am not sufficiently encouraged to seek out the book.

You’re obviously a lot wiser than the man that wrote the book.

[Hikari]

9 minutes ago, HerlockSholmes said:

That’s sensible Hikari and it’s what I try to do myself but I sometimes fail. I went to a book fair and found only 2 books that I didn’t have (apart from the £750 one) so I bought them.

Im going to Hay-on-Wye again soon. It has around 20 bookshops but it used to have around 40. It also hosts a literary festival. I’m just going with a friend or two to look around the bookshops. 

It’s a nice place, on the Welsh border.

Heres a short  video.

 

If I haven't mentioned before how envious I am of the places that you get to see, since they are so close to you, here's me saying it!

Maybe I should have been born English?  I am a proud American, but at times it does feel like I am cast adrift on a flat and barren island surrounded by yet more flat and barren terrain . .called 'Ohio'.  This place is like the Hotel California . .you can check in but you can never leave.  Or if you leave, as I did a couple of times, you get sucked right back into the Midwestern vortex.  Putting 'Hay-on-Wye' on the list of places I must see when I visit the UK . . . free beer for you if you agree to be my guide!

[Carol the Dabbler]

48 minutes ago, Hikari said:

Herl,

I just tried to PM you and got the message that you can't receive messages.  What the?

I just tried and got Message Sent.  Did you get it, Herlock?  Are you able to PM Hikari?

If not, you may both feel free to use me as an intermediary.

[HerlockSholmes]

1 hour ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

I just tried and got Message Sent.  Did you get it, Herlock?  Are you able to PM Hikari?

If not, you may both feel free to use me as an intermediary.

Yes I got the message Carol. I sent you a pm question too. Sorry I was slow responding.

By the way. I just awarded you a trophy. I take it that it means ‘thanks?’

[HerlockSholmes]

1 hour ago, Hikari said:

If I haven't mentioned before how envious I am of the places that you get to see, since they are so close to you, here's me saying it!

Maybe I should have been born English?  I am a proud American, but at times it does feel like I am cast adrift on a flat and barren island surrounded by yet more flat and barren terrain . .called 'Ohio'.  This place is like the Hotel California . .you can check in but you can never leave.  Or if you leave, as I did a couple of times, you get sucked right back into the Midwestern vortex.  Putting 'Hay-on-Wye' on the list of places I must see when I visit the UK . . . free beer for you if you agree to be my guide!

I wouldn’t be much of a guide Hikari as I’ve only been there twice but I’d definately walk around with you and accept the beer👍

[HerlockSholmes]

I think other places can often seem more interesting than our own. There are so many places in The States id like to see too. William Gillette’s home would be my first choice. Surprise, surprise.

We probably have more, what you might call, quaint villages but you have spectacular stuff like The Grand Canyon Or Mount Rushmore or Carol’s house😀

When I spoke to an American couple from St Louis on my last trip to London they told me that they envied us (the English) our history. I just told them that our history is no better or worse than yours. We just have more of it🙂

i.e. we’re very old.

[Carol the Dabbler]

42 minutes ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I just awarded you a trophy. I take it that it means ‘thanks?’

Yup, it sure does.  I guess it doesn't say that on a cellphone, does it?  On a laptop, if you mouseover the options, they say (respectively) Thanks, Haha, Confused, and Sad (though in my opinion they are also appropriate for other things).

34 minutes ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I think other places can often seem more interesting than our own. There are so many places in The States id like to see too. William Gillette’s home would be my first choice. Surprise, surprise.

We probably have more, what you might call, quaint villages but you have spectacular stuff like The Grand Canyon Or Mount Rushmore or Carol’s house😀

Remind me to tidy up before you come over!

I agree with your first point, though.  It's kind of a cliche over here that people will travel hundreds or thousands of miles to see things in other states, but they never visit the equally interesting places right in their own hometown.

[Hikari]

11 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Yup, it sure does.  I guess it doesn't say that on a cellphone, does it?  On a laptop, if you mouseover the options, they say (respectively) Thanks, Haha, Confused, and Sad (though in my opinion they are also appropriate for other things).

Remind me to tidy up before you come over!

I agree with your first point, though.  It's kind of a cliche over here that people will travel hundreds or thousands of miles to see things in other states, but they never visit the equally interesting places right in their own hometown.

If I had any places of interest within 100 square miles of me, I'd certainly visit them!  I feel like I have seen any and all the places of even middling interest within a day's drive of me.  There are things worth travelling to see, and I hear that people even flock to *Ohio* from all over the world for our rollercoasters.  And perhaps the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  And that's not even counting our many institutions of higher learning, including the largest campus community in the nation, if I'm not mistaken, the Ohio State University, which has as large or larger a student body than the township I hail from.  But I admit, I'd much rather live somewhere else.  There are worse places to be.  A Siberian gulag comes to mind, or a Nazi concentration camp, or even . . .Vicksburg, Mississippi, the true armpit of the United States based on my one personal not-good experience there.  Anywhere under an al Queda regime.  I appreciate what my state and country has to offer, particularly after seeing them from a distance.  I had the life-altering experience of living abroad in a vastly different culture for an extended period, and I did get homesick toward the end of my stay, not toward the beginning, as is customary.  I was so thrilled to be having an international adventure, it wasn't until that started to seriously pall that I longed for home.  That took 5 years.

Herl,

We have many fantastic landscape features here in North America, t'is true.  I have been privileged to see 4 of the Great Lakes and both oceans.  And Niagara Falls.  I've been to New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Portland, OR, and Key West.  Anything west of the St. Louis Arch has been only flyover country for me.  The Grand Canyon & Mt. Rushmore are on my bucket list.  Along with Yellowstone Nat'l Park and New England.  The furthest I have been is the Adirondacks in New York.  One can look across Lake Champlain and see Vermont.  There are many places of natural beauty in this country.  Just none where I live. 

[Hikari]

13 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I wouldn’t be much of a guide Hikari as I’ve only been there twice but I’d definately walk around with you and accept the beer👍

Your inbred English modesty is showing again, bruh.  While this desire to not be seen as Getting Up Oneself is an endearing national characteristic, particularly in the Age of Trump over  here (you all had your occasional exceptions to this rule, like Churchill) . . yet occasionally this relentless modesty flies in the face of verifiable facts.

To wit: someone who's been to Hay-on-Wye 'only twice' still has, then, 200% more knowledge of the local sights than an American who's never been there, n'est pas?  So you are not sliding out of guide duty so easily, no way.  If I can dredge up someone else I know who's been to Hay-on-Wye more than two times, you're off the hook, but until then you are my designated Hay-on-Wye guide.  Have more confidence in your skill set because, besides having been there *multiple* times, you are, after all, English.  You can help me to avoid committing any blatant Yank gaucheries on your home turf, or at any rate, I will do my best not to embarrass you.  I'm not one of those super-loud, instantly touchy-feely Americans who invade personal space and ask uncomfortably intrusive questions.  I only get loud, intrusive and touchy-feely after three or four drinks. 

[HerlockSholmes]

1 hour ago, Hikari said:

Your inbred English modesty is showing again, bruh.  While this desire to not be seen as Getting Up Oneself is an endearing national characteristic, particularly in the Age of Trump over  here (you all had your occasional exceptions to this rule, like Churchill) . . yet occasionally this relentless modesty flies in the face of verifiable facts.

To wit: someone who's been to Hay-on-Wye 'only twice' still has, then, 200% more knowledge of the local sights than an American who's never been there, n'est pas?  So you are not sliding out of guide duty so easily, no way.  If I can dredge up someone else I know who's been to Hay-on-Wye more than two times, you're off the hook, but until then you are my designated Hay-on-Wye guide.  Have more confidence in your skill set because, besides having been there *multiple* times, you are, after all, English.  You can help me to avoid committing any blatant Yank gaucheries on your home turf, or at any rate, I will do my best not to embarrass you.  I'm not one of those super-loud, instantly touchy-feely Americans who invade personal space and ask uncomfortably intrusive questions.  I only get loud, intrusive and touchy-feely after three or four drinks. 

😀 There’s also the fact that Hay-on-Wye is pretty small so even someone with zero navigational skills like me can find the bookshops. There are also a couple of small galleries, a few antique/bric-a-brac shops and a decent small market. Oh and a castle (well 2 actually but one is only really a mound.) 

Hay also has a claim to infamy for any true crime buff as it was the home of the Hay Poisoner Herbert Rowse Armstrong. He was played in a movie by the excellent Michael Kitchen (of Foyle’s War fame.) A local solicitor wrote a book a few years ago making a pretty decent case that he might have been wrongly convicted. Armstrong’s house is still there but slightly out of town so I haven’t gotten around to seeing it but his business premises are still there.

Sadly the amount of bookshops in Hay have halved over the last few years and while we were last there 2 were about to close and move their business online.We went into one shop at around 1.30pm and the owner said “you’re my first customer of the day!” You kind of feel guilty if there’s nothing that you want in the shop. I wonder what Hay will look like in 10 years time?