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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 4:31pm
Post #1 of 65
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*lights candles, flourishes bar towel* It's Fiesta Friday!
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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!
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 19 2025, 4:54pm
Post #2 of 65
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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"
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 5:06pm
Post #3 of 65
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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!
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diedye
Hithlum
Dec 19 2025, 5:35pm
Post #4 of 65
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I’m here! …*OUCH!* stop kicking me… OKAY! OKAY! WE’RE here! WE’RE here!
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*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!
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Annael
Elvenhome
Dec 19 2025, 6:22pm
Post #5 of 65
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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
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NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 6:25pm
Post #6 of 65
(237 views)
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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!
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Annael
Elvenhome
Dec 19 2025, 6:30pm
Post #7 of 65
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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
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diedye
Hithlum
Dec 19 2025, 6:34pm
Post #8 of 65
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... 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!
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 6:34pm
Post #9 of 65
(231 views)
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Twinkly lights and candles do help!
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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!
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diedye
Hithlum
Dec 19 2025, 6:40pm
Post #11 of 65
(228 views)
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... 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!
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sevilodorf
Dor-Lomin
Dec 19 2025, 6:42pm
Post #12 of 65
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Since Thanksgiving we have had four days with varying amounts of sunshine
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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)
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 6:43pm
Post #13 of 65
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Well, they do say you can choose your friends
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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.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Dec 19 2025, 6:44pm
Post #14 of 65
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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"
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 6:51pm
Post #15 of 65
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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!
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 6:54pm
Post #16 of 65
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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.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 19 2025, 6:56pm
Post #17 of 65
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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"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 19 2025, 7:01pm
Post #18 of 65
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Well, fog does enhance the lights
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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"
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sevilodorf
Dor-Lomin
Dec 19 2025, 7:05pm
Post #19 of 65
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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)
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Timbo_mbadil
Ossiriand
Dec 19 2025, 7:13pm
Post #20 of 65
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and in time of need, he returns to the flock
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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"
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Dec 19 2025, 7:28pm
Post #21 of 65
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Roughly 15 hours of daylight down here today.
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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
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Dec 19 2025, 7:31pm
Post #22 of 65
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Oh DD, I'm so sorry that you've gone through that.
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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
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Dec 19 2025, 7:32pm
Post #23 of 65
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Nice to see you here, Timbo. :)
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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
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Dec 19 2025, 7:33pm
Post #25 of 65
(209 views)
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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!
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