Let's party again!

[wiseheart]

Well, folks, it's *that* time of the year again: I'll be 53 next Friday. So, it's time for the annual game of "let's the threads collapse". Come in, make yourselves comfortable, have a good time and bring your friends. Last years we had some 400+ comments, now we're in for the new record. ;)

This entry will be bounced up each day until October 9, so that all those who want can participate.

Update: On October 4, we had 195 comments on 2 pages. Well done. We still have got 5 more days, so let's see what we can do in that time. I have to say, the conversations in the individual threads were absolutely delightful. *is happy*

Update #2: On October 6, we had 270 comments - sadly, still on only 2 pages. Only 3 more day left to reach the ultimate goal, which would be 444 comments on 4 pages. But the discussions are great, so at the very least, we have the quality, if not the quantity yet. And that's more important, I'd say.

Update #3: On October 8, we had 388 comments, on 3 pages! Yay! I'm not very optimistic about Page 4, but I think the 444 comments might come together by the end of the day itself.

Pre-birthday gifts:
Got a wonderful bakery book from Mum, titled "Muffins and..." well, I seriously doubt that the English language has a word for the rest. Germans might know what Pogatschen are. They are small, salty or cheesy cookies, made usually of yeast dough... a Hungarian speciality. We already have quite a few recepies, but there are some in that book I never heard of. It will be a delight to try them out.

Also, I got the box-set of 2nd Season Torchwood from the most generous the_wild_iris! Thanks, my friend, you really, really made my day after two rather stressful weeks. I can finally watch the only episode I missed while we were in Belgium - the one in which Owen becomes a zombie. Heh!

Pre-birthday preparations:
I baked some strawberry flavoured muffins tonigh - not from the new book, from the carton box, I'm afraid, but for the colleagues they will do tomorrow.

Mum's bravely going down to the hairdresser's tomorrow, because, as she told me, "I can't look like this on your birthday!" Well, after not seeing a hairdresser for months, there's some truth in it.

The day after tomorrow, we're going to the "Blind Crow" for lunch. Unlike in English-speaking countries, lunch is actually the main meal of the day over here, so it will be great. The "Blind Crow" is a very nice little restaurant, and we can reach it on foot, which is the main issue, as Mum can't climb into any busses yet.


Final update:
Well, folks, the party will still be going on until midnight, CET, but I'm already declaring it a great success. We've made it onto Page 4, we've broken through the 500 (!!!)-comment-barrier, and I'm very happy.

Thanks everyone for participating, especially altariel, rcfinch, solanpolarn, the_wild_iris, theromangeneral and lhun_dweller, who've been working diligently and tirelessly to help me break the record. Should I've forgotten anyone, I humbly apologize.

Comments

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

You are right of course. I forgot that sometimes if you accept only the highest standards the world will actually deliver them! We want everything! :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I am forever stamping my tiny foot and demanding more!

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

You have the perfect icon then! That sounds like a very Lilla My (what is she called in English? Little Mymble?) thing to do. When I was a child I didn't like her much; I think I found her rebellion rather frightening. These days I think she might be my favourite Mumin-valley inhabitant!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

She is called Little My in English. I sympathized with her being the youngest (and very smallest) of a large family. Snufkin was my favourite as a child, his is a gentler sort of rebellion.

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am very fond of Snufkin, too. (I had to look it up though, since to me he is Snusmumriken.) I hadn't really thought of him as rebelling before, but now that you mention it I do see it. His free spirited-ness and ability (and need) to be by himself draw me to him. The Hattifnattar of your icon are still a bit scary, though!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

They are scary aren't they (the English translation is Hattifatteners, btw). I have a Christmas icon with them, which no doubt shall be unleashed again in December. Oh what the hell, here it is.

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

Somehow that manages to be cute and scary at the same time -- not a combination you often encounter! I was really not that fond of the Mumin (Moomin?) books when I was a child, but now I love them. I remember reading the story of how the family were woken up in December and their attempts to prepare for Christmas and the image that stuck with me was how scared they were and that was just so wrong to me. Rereading it as an adult I love it; that isn't were the story ends and the ending is so beautiful. The Mumin books tend to be regarded as children's books in Sweden, but I certainly wasn't mature enough to appreciate them as a child and there is so much to them that speaks to adults that I think this is an incorrect classification. Of course the best children's books will have something to say to adults as well, but I think the Mumin books are considered children's books simply because they have pictures and that is a bit like saying all graphic novels/comic books are for children -- simplistic and incorrect!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I loved the simpler stories (the one about the comet, the one about Pappa's hat and the King's Ruby, the one set in the theatre after the flood), but the later ones are very sombre and mature (the one in the lighthouse, the one set in Moominvalley in November, when the family are away). It's only recently that I've been enjoying those. Jansson's adult novels and short stories have been enjoying a revival in English over the past few years: Sort Of Books have been publishing some of them in translation for the first time.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Actually, that is my tiny perfectly formed foot. But I still stamp it. "More!"

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

No Oliver Twist "Please Sir, can I have some more?" for us -- we demand it! :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

"Dammit, Beadle, more. NOW!" is definitely more like it!

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

It might not have worked, but it would have had the benefit of feeling like a more decisive action!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Although it might have meant a much shorter book...