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*lights candles, flourishes bar towel* It's Fiesta Friday!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 4:31pm Views: 315 *lights candles, flourishes bar towel* It's Fiesta Friday! Welcome to this almost-Solstice Fiesta! Whether this day is short or long for you, what better way to round it off than spending a while in the Green Hobbit with some tasty snacks and a beverage of your choice? My day was short; sunrise was 8.25am GMT and sunset 3.54pm. It's been bright today, so there's still light in the sky to show off all the festive fairy lights. What sort of day length do you all have at the moment, where you are? I raise a bottle of Black Sheep 'Snowflake' winter pale ale to you all, whilst stirring the pot of magical stew (whatever's your favourite type, veggie options available!) and making sure the crusty bread's to hand and the butter is at room temperature. There's cheese and pickle too... yum! Step in and share the highs and lows of your week - cheers, folks!

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 4:54pm Views: 248 That's a lot of dark! Thank you for opening the bar, GH! That's about 7 1/2 hours of daylight! Today, we had sunrise at 7:11 and will have sunset at 4:22 - that's just over 9 hours. Still, I don't like it getting dark before dinnertime! The week started with 4" of snow here, now today it's gotten over 50F/10C and very rainy, so the white stuff is gone. But stew would be a treat, I'll take some old-fashioned Irish Stew, please, with a nice chunk of Cheddar. And a hot mocha coffee to wash it down. Solstice and Christmas are soon upon us! Our choir director/organist has been fighting cancer since the summer, she's now in the final stages of chemo to thoroughly clean it out, so she's had to stay away. But she's still been selecting all the music, and fortunately we have a gal she's been training on the organ, and one who's had experience directing, plus a keyboard accompanist, so we've done well. She doesn't know it, but this Monday evening we're all going to meet and carpool to her house, and give her a caroling! Are the grandsons getting excited yet, GH? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 5:06pm Views: 247 4" of snow? That'd be front page news round here! It very rarely happens. We specialise in rain...ugh! Irish stew, yum - coming right up! Wishing strength for your choir director/organist; chemo is so very debilitating, and knocks the immune system for six. She'll be delighted by your carols and that will give her a boost, I'm sure! How kind of you all. I think as the grandsons grow older(13 and 15 now) they still anticipate Christmas but not with the same feverish glee as when they were little.The 'Santa magic' fades, I guess! Enjoy your weekend, and the carolling - cheers!

diedye Hithlum Dec 19 2025, 5:35pm Views: 251 I’m here! …*OUCH!* stop kicking me… OKAY! OKAY! WE’RE here! WE’RE here! *sigh* sorry… Alright, alright, Smeagol, you don’t have to give me the sad hobbity eyes… and stop scowling, Gollum. No, I did NOT forget you! *grumble grumble*schizoids*grumble grumble* Wow, this place is quiet. Where is everybody? Don’t tell me you’ve “restructured” and turned this into the Hobbit Home for the Aged and Decrepit? Well, I see a bar and a barkeep, so I’m ordering a drink, even if it’s only a Boost. Okay, so it’s almost Christmas and the end to a horrible year, IMO, both personally and globally. Personally, I’ve had to give up my nest egg to a greedy relative who won’t be happy until I’m bankrupt and/or homeless. Let this be a lesson to you folks: don’t assume that everything will be amicable among your heirs once you’ve kicked the bucket. If you have more than one heir, in today’s world, it’s highly likely one of them will want more than they deserve and the in-fighting will commence to the point that family dynamics could be changed forever. If you can, split their inheritances while you're alive, and if you have property, settle the matter as to who gets to keep it (get it in writing) or make arrangements as to how the split is to be managed. You’ll be saving everyone a lot of heartache, and maybe keeping your family from falling apart. As to those living across my Canuck border, I feel sorry for both of us for the turmoil and slowly disintegrating relationship between our two countries, but I hope that, personally, we can shut out the politicians and remember that, individually, we’re better than they are and we still like each other. (We do still like each other, right? ) And please remember that, no matter what you believe in, we’re still basically all the same, no matter the geography, language, religion, skin colour, anatomy, ancestry, social class, and/or financial situation… we all fundamentally want the same thing: an affordable roof over our heads, a belly that’s full of safe food & drinking water that doesn’t cost a fortune, good health that doesn’t take winning the lottery to keep it or get it that way, a good job and enough money to keep from having to make a decision between paying for rent/mortgage or food or medication or clothes, freedom from oppression, free speech, an education whose cost doesn’t have a stranglehold over the rest of your life, feeling safe, and most of all someone who will love and support you for who you are, warts and all. After all, Mother Nature already has us in a headlock, can we really afford to fight amongst ourselves when she can wipe us out with just one big fire, flood, earthquake, and/or other catastrophic weapon she has in her arsenal? So, here’s my wish for you all: may peace and love and all the amenities of life that are essential to your well-being make their way into your home and heart and never leave. MERRY CHRISTMAS (and yes, I can say that because if you’re gonna take the day off on my holiday, then you ARE technically celebrating Christmas!), and HAPPY BETTER-THAN-THE-FREAKING-CESSPOOL-OF-A-FUBAR-THAT-THIS-ONE’S-BEEN NEW YEAR! Your sneaking trio, diedye/Smeagol/Gollum Oh, rats, almost forgot… a glass of milk, please, barkeep… my feeling-very-geriatric tummy isn’t very happy with my choice of Pepsi lately. Dang, I guess I am old and this is the right place, after all. Blessed are the cracked, For they are the ones who let in the light!

Annael Elvenhome Dec 19 2025, 6:22pm Views: 246 I got in! Miracle of miracles! Yes, I noticed at 8 am that it was just barely getting light. I'm not quite as far north as you, but close: sunrise at 8, sunset at 4:15 pm. I have lots of twinkly lights up in and outside and I light candles after dinner too. We are very slowly drying out - today is the first day we're not over the flood stage limit - but there's so much damage done, it's going to be spring before we're back to anything approaching normal. Very worried about some of the farmers & dairies in the valley; they might not rebound this time (2021 was bad too, but not as bad). I've been sticking close to home. Finished up a book project for a client, always a good feeling, and I've been baking up a storm because that's what I do in December. Cranberry bread two days ago, lemon drizzle cake yesterday. Tomorrow I'm going to various craft/maker fares around town. I'm done with Christmas shopping but you never know what you might find. Stew sounds yum, with crusty sourdough bread ripped, not cut, from the loaf. I'll take a bottle of Winterhook winter ale to go with. Cheers! I am a dreamer of words, of written words. -- Gaston Bachelard * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 6:25pm Views: 243 What's Boost, Preciousss? Whatever it is, you sound like you need it! Your Aged and Decrepit (this is true) barkeep will provide... Sorry to hear you've been having such a disastrous family time. I ony have one child, to whom I'm very close, so my affairs are relatively simple. Impossible to advise, really, but it sounds like a threat to leave your entire estate to an animal rescue charity (or similar worthy cause) unless you're left in peace might be the only thing to make the miscreant back off! Sometimes family dynamics need to change. I would always advocate having things very clear and in writing, according to your wishes. I made my Will years ago; it amazes me when people don't make a Will. It's a very unfair world, when billionaires gloat over their wealth like Smaug while children don't have clean water to drinkor a safe roof over their heads; but as Aragorn said, 'There is always hope'. Oh - and a glass of milk! Stress is bad for the digestion, so unwind, let the bad stuff recede for a while and drink like a Hobbit. Cheers!

Annael Elvenhome Dec 19 2025, 6:30pm Views: 243 how awful My dad did a good job with the will, we did the thing where we walked around before he did and chose what we wanted and it all got written and put in the will, and as executor i made sure everyone got equal shares. AND yet: I'm not talking to half of them any more. One kicked up such a fuss over something Dad gave me before he died (i.e., it wasn't his "estate" then, it was his property to do as he liked) that to keep the peace, I paid everyone their "share" of it--but she went on to be so horrible to me afterwards that I've cut her out of my life entirely. As I have with my sister-in-law, who was not an heir and so had no say, but said it anyway. *Shakes head* I know so many stories of families just falling apart after the parents die; we all swore it wouldn't happen to us, but . . . So sorry, sounds like your experience is even worse. Nice to see you here though! We've had a lot of trouble with bots, it's been hard to get on sometimes. Today Altaira The Mighty Botkiller seems to have kept them as bay. I am a dreamer of words, of written words. -- Gaston Bachelard * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967

diedye Hithlum Dec 19 2025, 6:34pm Views: 238 Boost is like Ensure... ... both nutritional supplement drinks. My mom had to drink them when she was no longer able to eat normally. And let me tell you, don't believe the ads. That stuff is nasty-tasting! Blessed are the cracked, For they are the ones who let in the light!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 6:34pm Views: 237 Twinkly lights and candles do help! It has been SUCH a wet autumn, after a very dry summer; too many contrasts! The flooding is terrible for farmers, both livestock and arable; we didn't have it too badly, I'm not in an area prone to flooding, but some places have an awful lot to cope with. Baking is good for the soul and makes the home smell delicious. Craft fairs are fun - for last - minute gifts and ideas for thinis to make. Mmm, stew and crusty bread always hits the spot - enjoy the Winterhook too! Cheers!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 6:36pm Views: 236 Oh yes. Useful, but a bit icky.

diedye Hithlum Dec 19 2025, 6:40pm Views: 234 I live in the city... ... but I so miss going to markets and fairs. There's a couple here, but they're centred more around food and household goods than handcrafted goods... nothing like those in rural areas, and no antique fairs, either. I don't drive, so I can't visit the out-of-town places. Blessed are the cracked, For they are the ones who let in the light!

sevilodorf Dor-Lomin Dec 19 2025, 6:42pm Views: 232 Since Thanksgiving we have had four days with varying amounts of sunshine An hour, an hour and a half, four hours then yesterday with fog burning off about 1030. The temperature has held persistently steady between 42 and 44 -- day and night. Wrapped in a giant chilly blanket. Yesterday supposedly was a clearing out of fog.... only to be replaced today with an atmospheric river of clouds..... yes we always need more rain but this is scheduled to stay for a week .... hmmmm The Bakersifled Hockey team use to be called the FOG -- with a Tule Fog Monster as a mascot .... of course this was before a real ice rink and with boards that fell apart if the guys sneezed on them much less rammed into them (made for some fairly lengthy games as they rebuilt the rink after every slam). I remember some days back in the 80s where the fog was so thick you couldn't see from one dashed line on the road to the next., but I don't ever remember such a long determined sea of grey. So replacing fog grey for rain grey and climbing about 15 degrees. As everyone says the fog makes the Christmas lights look really nice. Fourth Age Adventures at the Inn of the Burping Troll http://burpingtroll.com Home of TheOneRing.net Best FanFic stories of 2005 and 2006 "The Last Grey Ship" and "Ashes, East Wind, Hope That Rises" by Erin Rua (Found in Mathoms, LOTR Tales Untold)

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 6:43pm Views: 234 Well, they do say you can choose your friends but not your family! It goes against the grain to sever links.It's sometimes unthinkable while parents are still alive for the hurt it would cause them, but sometimes it's the only thing to do for your mental health if people persist in being unreasonable.

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 6:44pm Views: 235 diedye??? Omigosh! You made it here! We've been having issues with 'bots slowing the Boards or holding them in thrall, Altaira has to keep capturing them when they attack. So far this weekend's been okay. Many, many *hugs* for all you've been going through. I can only pray that something changes and everything works out in your favor in the coming year. And thank you for the Christmas wish! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 6:51pm Views: 229 Low cloud is miserable and fog is downright scary as well! We rarely have it badly around here but my friend in the Midlands of England sometimes has freezing fog in winter, which is downright nasty. I do like the idea of a Fog Monster; could have been a good add-on to the Stone Giants!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 6:54pm Views: 230 That's a shame - you'd think crafts would be a popular novelty in the city! Maybe charges are too high for small-scale craftspeople, so it's not worth them attending.

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 6:56pm Views: 227 Not only the flooding but you've also had some incredible winds, and power outages. It will sadly take a lot of time and effort for all affected to recover what they can. Fairs are fun to browse through, there's always a little something to find, even if it's to give to someone later! And I'm imaging what your home smells like with fresh-baked lemon drizzle cake. Mmm. Was that the French lady's book you've finished? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 7:01pm Views: 226 Well, fog does enhance the lights Making them large and fuzzily glowing. Were there any rumors of Rudolph being ridden by a Fog Monster, guiding him through the mist? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

sevilodorf Dor-Lomin Dec 19 2025, 7:05pm Views: 226 unfortunately no Rudolph We did get a few black bears who decided walking down the roads was a interesting way of increasing people's heartrates. Appearing out of the fog like they did..... Fourth Age Adventures at the Inn of the Burping Troll http://burpingtroll.com Home of TheOneRing.net Best FanFic stories of 2005 and 2006 "The Last Grey Ship" and "Ashes, East Wind, Hope That Rises" by Erin Rua (Found in Mathoms, LOTR Tales Untold)

Timbo_mbadil Ossiriand Dec 19 2025, 7:13pm Views: 227 and in time of need, he returns to the flock Shame on me, I haven't been here for a very long time, but there are reasons (my car broke down, there was an invasion of aliens…please have mercy) I need your help. I'm assembling a Christmas playlist for my next shift (I work at a bar), and I remember someone posting a really interesting pop version of one classic Christmas song a few years back. Not for the life of me can I remember the name of the band… It did have a German town in it though, something like "the Darmstadt Footsloggers" or "the Bamberg Nosepickers". As this was a few years back, it would take until next year to find that thread again, so help would be very much appreciated :-) Have yourselves a very merry and happy Christmas! I’ve lost my mood ring, and I really don’t know how to feel about this. -- "Tracy" Jordan, some episode from "30Rock"

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 7:28pm Views: 218 Roughly 15 hours of daylight down here today. Dawn was just before 6am and sunset will be just before 9pm. I like having the sun wake me up - feels far more natural (and kinder) than an alarm in winter darkness. (Oban, in Rakiura Stewart Island at the bottom of NZ, will get an additional hour of daylight; we really are quite a long, if skinny, country.) Speaking of sunshine, my bit of the world is currently leading the pack for the sunniest spot in NZ in 2025 - take that, everyone who thinks it only rains in Taranaki! We'll get the announcement in early January; currently, Nelson and Napier (famously sunny cities) are nipping at our heels. I'm about to head off to the supermarket, then it'll be a day of watching day three of cricket test match against the West Indies. Have a great weekend, everyone! Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo My LOTR fan-fiction

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 7:31pm Views: 216 Oh DD, I'm so sorry that you've gone through that. I really hope that you've come through the worst of it and that everything gets better from here on out. I'm glad you've managed to come to TORN when the message boards are working (the bots have been hell) and can hang out with us for some chill-out time. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo My LOTR fan-fiction

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 7:32pm Views: 214 Nice to see you here, Timbo. :) I can't help you with your band request, sorry. How is it in the bar these days? Does it get busier in the lead-up to Christmas? Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo My LOTR fan-fiction

Meneldor Doriath Dec 19 2025, 7:32pm Views: 215 Mmm, stew. What would you like to add to the stew? Maybe we should stick to baked goods. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. -Psalm 107

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 7:33pm Views: 215 Welcome back! I have absolutely no idea about that Christmas song! I hope someone on here will have, though, for the sake of your playlist. Do share if you find it!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 7:39pm Views: 256 Good luck with your 'sunniest spot' claim! Our 2026 summer solstice sunrise and sunset times will be 4.43am BST to 9.45pm BST. It's quite a contrast! A long way off yet, but something to think about in the short, dark days. Enjoy the cricket - cheers!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 7:44pm Views: 252 The absolute cheek of that... Stew served at The Green Hobbit is always made from the finest ingredients, with named meat (by which I do not mean named 'Spot' or 'Ginger') . Thanks to the late lamented Sir Terry Pratchett for that one!

Timbo_mbadil Ossiriand Dec 19 2025, 7:45pm Views: 255 It did! I only worked Tuesday/Wednesday--both shifts were hellish. Which is good, but I'm getting too old for this s-word :-) 10 hours in a "smoky old bar room", to quote Willy Nelson, I don't handle that as well as I once did. But there was a very nice guest on Wednesday, an Australian bloke from London, we got chatting about music and small venues for local bands (which have all but disappeared here in Berlin), and I got a chance to hand over my band's business card. Later on it turned out he worked for a London record label, so: well done there :-) I’ve lost my mood ring, and I really don’t know how to feel about this. -- "Tracy" Jordan, some episode from "30Rock"

Annael Elvenhome Dec 19 2025, 7:47pm Views: 254 Yes She still has to respond to quite a few queries from me, and then there's my least-favorite job, fixing the references, but we're easily going to make the deadline of March for the publisher, so happy days. I'll miss working with her, but she's "ma copine" now - my gal pal - and I'm sure we'll keep emailing and maybe even having the occasional Zoom face-to-face. I am a dreamer of words, of written words. -- Gaston Bachelard * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967

Timbo_mbadil Ossiriand Dec 19 2025, 7:48pm Views: 255 It's lovely to be back My own fault entirely, of course! And I just remembered the band I was looking for--just by chatting to you lot, so thanks for that :-) (It was the Mannheim Steamroller) I’ve lost my mood ring, and I really don’t know how to feel about this. -- "Tracy" Jordan, some episode from "30Rock" (This post was edited by Timbo_mbadil on Dec 19 2025, 7:49pm)

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 8:00pm Views: 250 Ooh, one of my favorite bands! I love to blast their "Deck the Halls" all through the house. What is the song you've been looking for? I've got two of their Christmas CDs, I might be able to find the title? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 8:04pm Views: 249 Sunny days! But I hope you still got sufficient rains! Is it just the All Blacks playing in the test matches? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 8:07pm Views: 249 Urg... ... ... ... Well, I can definitely relate to the cookies fresh out of the oven! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 8:12pm Views: 247 You remembered - great! Sometimes the memory just needs a little nudge.

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 8:15pm Views: 247 The Aged and Decrepit laptop is getting a bit hot so talk amongst yourselves for a while - I'll be back later!

cats16 Gondolin Dec 19 2025, 8:31pm Views: 246 On time this week! Thanks to all of the bot-slayers, both seen and unseen. Work has been more manageable this week. Not a complete standstill, but the chaos has mostly gone away and I'm just marching closer to my few days off. We're looking at a wet Christmas in SoCal, with Christmas Eve appearing to be the rainiest. Thankfully we're staying very local, so not too much time on the roads when it'll be a mess. At the moment the sun is shining, so I'm planning to get some walking time in this afternoon. At the moment I'm frowning at a bill from my urgent care visit (when I was sick, not the throat issue). They did a basic vital check, along with a Covid, flu and strep test, and after insurance they're claiming I owe over $200. Something seems off, so I'm going to try the mostly futile act of calling to see why it's so high. Wishing everyone a happy pre-holiday weekend! Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 8:57pm Views: 241 Oh dear, a wet Christmas? Just not the same, is it? I hope it's a peaceful one, at least! Grab the sunshine when you can, at this time of the year; we had sun today and it was a delight after a low grey day yesterday. Enjoy your break!

Timbo_mbadil Ossiriand Dec 19 2025, 9:08pm Views: 249 And just to celebrate the time of year (and the fact that he remembered the name of the band), he flicks a quarter into the jukebox for Bach's "Jauchzet, frohlocket" (Sorry, it's been a while, I forgot how to make that clickable, and I need to switch to "horizontal mode" (ie: bed), so here's just the bare url. Have a wonderful weekend + Holidays, everyone! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QXME2o8Tlc I’ve lost my mood ring, and I really don’t know how to feel about this. -- "Tracy" Jordan, some episode from "30Rock" (This post was edited by dernwyn on Dec 19 2025, 9:40pm)

cats16 Gondolin Dec 19 2025, 9:16pm Views: 240 Thanks! I hope you have a great holiday season as well. Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion! (This post was edited by cats16 on Dec 19 2025, 9:16pm)

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 19 2025, 9:28pm Views: 236 I never seem to be able to make things clilckable either!

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 9:42pm Views: 237 Clickable, now! Thank you for the music, Bach is perfect for the holiday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 9:46pm Views: 237 Soon, soon! The days off will be here before you know it, hopefully next week's work keeps being manageable. Have you ever had snow on Christmas there? Hm, doctor facility bill, yes, always call about those, instead of just paying it. Might want to also call the insurance to make sure the charges are legit. Enjoy the weekend! Got all the shopping finally done? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 10:00pm Views: 238 Oooooooh. A chance meeting, and who knows what will come of it? May a Christmas miracle be coming your way! (And good luck with that loud, busy, smoky work environment - I'm thinking more kindly of my aircon open-plan office now.) Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo My LOTR fan-fiction

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 10:04pm Views: 234 Blackcaps - it's a cricket test match (five days). We've gone overboard in our naming of national sports teams, IMO (Black Ferns, Black Sticks, Black Foils, Tall Blacks...), but then I am moving into the age bracket where having snippy opinions is practically mandatory. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo My LOTR fan-fiction

Kimi Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 19 2025, 11:59pm Views: 228 Coming up to the longest day. Further south that means a long day indeed, but up here it's sunrise a little before six and sunset around 8:45 pm. I've been enjoying food for what feels like the first time in a while! Last weekend I mentioned I thought I had food poisoning - it turned out to be something more in the Norovirus family, and was decidedly unpleasant (don't worry, I'll spare you the gory details). Then just as mine was easing off, Mr Kimi caught it off me, so it's been quite a week. Even when the symptoms faded, it left us both feeling extremely weary, with lots of long daytime naps. I lost a kg, but it's really not a method I'd recommend. Feeling more like myself again now, and I've been doing some Christmas baking (mince tarts and panforte), and since the oven was hot I made some sourdough discard crackers, which have become a regular treat - very nice with a cheese course. It's been rainy this morning, which was welcome, as the garden is very thirsty - it's also topped up our water tank. The weeds are growing as if there's no tomorrow, even in the heavily mulched areas - I'm sure they'd be even worse otherwise, though. I'm watching over small green tomatoes and tiny cucumbers, while hovering over the courgettes before they turn into marrows while my gaze is briefly averted. Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend without last-minute shopping hassles. The Passing of Mistress Rose My historical novels Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there? - A Room With a View

diedye Hithlum Dec 20 2025, 12:52am Views: 228 Heh, I try not to miss it at least once a year... ... if only just to see grammaboodawg do her tabletop jig. Blessed are the cracked, For they are the ones who let in the light! (This post was edited by diedye on Dec 20 2025, 12:53am)

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 20 2025, 12:55am Views: 222 That Norovirus is nasty. Friends have gotten it here. Yeah, not a great weight-loss method. Very happy you are both over it now. Mmm, panforte! That must be so much fun to make. It is appalling how weeds will come up through the mulch. What length do you let the zucchini grow to? Sometimes it seems like those pop out to baseball-bat size overnight! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Ioreth Ossiriand Dec 20 2025, 10:53am Views: 199 3 weeks these boards where not usable for me for like 3 weeks ... either not loading at all or very very very slowly and then I could not log in either ...

Ioreth Ossiriand Dec 20 2025, 11:05am Views: 194 He finally did it! Discovered Tommy Johansson just near the end of September. FINALLY he did wonderful covers of two favourite Christmas songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPqSFD1aKpo (in swedish, but I think you can feel the Christmas Joy - the text is roughly about "light a candle for the children of the earth, even if it dark now it will get lighter again) - with lots of fhis family, friends and bandmembers from different bands (and some from Sabaton too!) I have loved this song since I first heard it in the late 80s. and the first cover he has done in German. This one is SO close to my heart since we always sang the German version when I was a kid here in the 70s in Sweden. My late mother played it on our piano and we children sang the German text (we all grew up with German and Swedish). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMbS5XJHxfg (This post was edited by dernwyn on Dec 20 2025, 1:11pm)

Ioreth Ossiriand Dec 20 2025, 11:11am Views: 192 not much we had less than one hour of sunshine in december so far according to our news service https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/inte-ens-en-timme-solljus-i-stockholm-i-december

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 20 2025, 1:17pm Views: 491 More happy Christmas music! Thank you! (And I love hearing "Stille Nacht" in its original German. ) (I made the links "clickable" for easy access.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Ioreth Ossiriand Dec 20 2025, 1:23pm Views: 489 Thanks! Thank you so much for fixing the links! I love love love his cover. He has next to perfect German here - I only have like 2-3 minor nitpicks with it :)

Ioreth Ossiriand Dec 20 2025, 1:45pm Views: 488 I have a list or two for you :P If you like metal and specifically Power Metal look no further than Tommy Johansson's epic Christmas Playlist! :) https://www.youtube.com/...nnC0_Dz8ahUBbAgragb8 The songs in here range from serious piano/voice to epic versions with lots of collaborations and from funny (White Christmas is a hoot!) to very good nice instrumentals with almost mini-movie-versions (Gremlin Stuff). Be always prepared for some nice fun twists and enjoy! He just radiates I think how much FUN he has arranging these and making the videos and editing them - besides playing all instruments (unless noted) and acting :) Christmas seems his favourite time of the year :) And I heartily recommend his band Majestica's whole Christmas Album - based on Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. You can stream the whole extended version on several services, here is the youtube stream: https://www.youtube.com/...OQQYBwfSIRTQHDMemTb4 (This post was edited by Ioreth on Dec 20 2025, 1:47pm)

cats16 Gondolin Dec 21 2025, 1:26am Views: 442 No snow here! I suppose a trip to the mountains could scratch that itch. Thanks, enjoy yours too! We are all done aside from small stocking stuffers for each other, which is a good feeling! Is more snow on the horizon for you, or are you expecting warmer temps like much of the rest of the country for Christmas? Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!

grammaboodawg Elvenhome Dec 21 2025, 2:52pm Views: 407 Happy Solstice Everyone :D Today is the actual Winter Solstice for me here in Michigan... occurring in about 13 minutes (just after 10am). The daylight will be done at around 5pm making the whole day about 9 hrs long. So I raise my mug of eggnog as I rush out the door for more packing and moving for my daughter. Cheers to one and all! :D We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 21 2025, 6:13pm Views: 388 Another inch on Tuesday which should last through Christmas! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 21 2025, 6:50pm Views: 387 My older grandson's very into metal - must pass this on to him, thanks Ioreth!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 21 2025, 6:53pm Views: 385 Our Solstice was just after 3am this morning; I was fast asleep! Hope the weather behaves while you're moving things!

Ioreth Ossiriand Dec 22 2025, 10:40am Views: 348 good :) Great :) But not all of his covers or songs are metal - some are just very powerful ones! Or beautiful! Or fun! Or EPIC! Or any combination of the above :) I guess several of these favourites will be enjoyed by a lot of people, not only metalheads :) He does all of the rearranging, playing different instruments (unless he has featured guests), recording, filming (unless his girlfriend or family and friends do), mixing, video editing etc by himself! It is always clearly stated in the information about the song who does what and which equipment or software he uses (for many years he had no place for a drumset, but now he has some kind of studio where he can have that, too). Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you prefer in December! Cool instrumental covers ======================== Home Alone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeQ7ZCOSams Home Alone - Set the trap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRFPLI88ZJY Harry in Winter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZa38bYEbVM Rövarsången (from the film Ronja the Robber's Daughter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjGmbV4SikQ Traditional Swedish Christmas songs =================================== O Helga Natt live at last year's Concert in Boden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Px5oo-4rs Gläns över sjö och strand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18oiwqePREQ Other Christmassy Things ======================== Allt jag önskar mig - Original song with his niece Tilia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8JAeNMAjjk The Joy of Christmas (a Majestica original, which is his band, rearranged by him for him) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYWhaHSB1sE Where Are You Christmas - Live at last year's Concert in Boden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8O8moMOCIo Christmas Truce (a Sabaton song, of which he was a member around 7 years), live at one of the two Concerts he did in Boden this year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vTuL45EtnQ Fun takes ========= White Christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2Fmr-ohPI Gremlins Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzC48R-qD4M Nu grönskar det https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8zL7G1Pq0Y Say Mama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhAMahihUA0 Ghost Riders in the Sky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLhCz1q_ncw Ghostbusters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZWt6SAzoX4 Others ================== Sound of Silence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKfvVtl2ljQ Highland (One More Time) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIWbsqGVAxI Rocky IV Training Montage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2R-3gC5QjY I'm Still Standing (Elton John Cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpXj8fNFr8M Phantom of the Opera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyR-gjcNbk

cats16 Gondolin Dec 23 2025, 6:41pm Views: 263 Enjoy (or not)! // Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 24 2025, 2:19pm Views: 196 Thanks! I've saved the list and links for him - he's sufferibng drumkit deprivation, because for most of the year the dining room is a music room but for the festive family meal it has to be a dining room again and the drumkit has had to be dismantled! Not for long, though... I'm sure he'll survive.

Annael Elvenhome Dec 24 2025, 5:01pm Views: 192 there's always David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing "Little Drummer Boy" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6AeSygDC_8 I am a dreamer of words, of written words. -- Gaston Bachelard * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967

grammaboodawg Elvenhome Dec 26 2025, 2:30pm Views: 89 Ice Storm Cometh! So if I disappear for a few days, we're getting hit with a pretty intense freezing rain/ice storm over more than half the state. I can pretty much depend on the power going out; but I'm ready. My poor daughter and her son just moved over the weekend into their house 1.5 hrs north of me, and the gent that was "helping" with some maintenance problems knocked out the water well pump... so they have no running water and are gathering snow and rain water for "ahem" ongoing needs ;) Their roads aren't iced over like mine yet; but they're trying to get as ready as possible. *sigh" Hang in there everyone! We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

Greenwood Hobbit Doriath Dec 26 2025, 3:14pm Views: 85 <meep> I've never experienced that, but I did see the film 'The Ice Storm' years ago and it looked like a very scary phenomenon. Stay home, stay safe! So sorry to hear about your daughter's water pump problem - definitely not a good way to start settling into a new home! In years to come they'll probably look back on it and laugh, but I bet no-one's laughing just now. Hope it's fixed soon.

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 26 2025, 4:33pm Views: 80 Stay safe! And indoors, ice storms can do severe damage to trees! Their well pump got knocked out? Of all times for that to happen! But if the electric goes out, they'd need to collect water another way anyway...thank goodness they have snow around! Okay, get the fireplace blazing and you and your furry frinds stay warm! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"