Hello Croix..and everyone..

I enjoy watching the classic movies, more then today’s movies..

A few of my favourites are....

Miracle on 34th street..

Gone with the Wind..

Too young to Kiss..

Singing in the rain...

Elephant Walk..

African Queen....

and of course..Shirley Temples movies...There’s many more classic I love and I still watch them today when I can..

There’s something about the older classic films..they are more gentle to watch...I like the orchestral background music..not put much in todays movies,

Another thing I love about the older classics. Is the fashion, both men and the women and the hats and gloves that were worn by the women....Oh the cars are a classics as well..and also to see the difference in the building of let’s say New York..to what it’s built like today...

Their is history to be learnt by watching them....

Take care everyone ....

My care, love & hugs everyone...🦋💜🤗.

Grandy..

I have discovered again SBS world movies.

There are some great movies.

The thief of Bagdad in 1941 has Rex Ingram one of the first African American actors as the genie.

On Waterloo Bridge

Some like it hot

Little Women with Katherine Hepburn.

Dear All and Grandy~

There's a lot of very good older movies, your choice of reminds me of the Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn days, apart from "Guess Who's coming to Dinner" I guess my favorite might be "Desk Set", which like "Miracle on 34th St" has a Christmas Theme

This even extends to cop movies, with the 1948 "Naked City" setting the precedent for realistic police shows . It does present a snapshot of New York from those times, not only attitudes, but the city itself, as it was shot entirely on location.

The most similar thing I can think of for time capsules is "Weegee "(Arthur Fellig) who was a freelance police reported in the 1930's and 40's also giving frank social commentary of the same city

His works are in many places on the web, a small selection can be found at the Museum of Modern Art NY

https://www.moma.org/artists/1842?locale=en#works

PamelaR you may be interested too.

One of the upsides of isolation (and I admit htey can be hard to find) is that museums throughout the world have had to close their doors, which in turn has led to more emphasis and resources in on-line exhibitions and displays.

I mentioned The Australian War Memorial a few days ago, they have some fascinating on-line exhibitions, tattoos in the Services being just one example

https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions-online/tattoos

Judging from the above I would think that when isolation ends some will have found a rich source of art, history and other material they could continue to discover for many years.

Croix

Dear All and Quirky~

I guess we must be of an older generation:) judging from our taste in movies (at least we have not quoted any silent ones.)🎞

Your mention of the movie reminds me I tend to surprise people when I say as a teenager I enjoyed Louisa M Alcott's "Little Women" and the rest of her series, hardbound and slightly musty books. They too were a snapshot of an earlier age.

I guess people were looking for stereotypes and as a motorbike-riding young bloke admitting to reading books designed mainly for females must have seemed incongruous. I guess stereotypes had not 'gelled' with me and I read everything I could get my hands on - still do. (I've even read a couple of Mills & Boon -but don't tell anyone:)

The downside has been buying books, the house is full, and I mean full. The days of a personal print library are numbered, which is why starting - or continuing -an eLibrary for those of bookish interests is an excellent way to fill in time. Some people only read a book once, or buy it becuse it is a special edition.

Many though are like me and enjoy the experience of rereading favorites. An eLibray takes up virtually no space and is portable.

If one ever became a serious collector, or wished to talk to others abut a book and its content, see what is recommended or popular then:

www.librarything.com

is a very interesting resource wiht around 2.5 million subscribers. I admit this is specialized site that only those wiht an abiding interest in books would be interested in.

No time for princess tonight:(

Croix

Good Morning everyone..

I also like watching some old classic movies and have a collection of them. I like quite a few of the ones some of you mentioned. Little Women is definitely a favourite of mine. And I have several versions of it. I watched the latest version at the cinema at the beginning of the year. Also Little Men which sort of carries on the story of one of the girls.

I like musicals as well. Some of my favourites are:

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound Of Music, Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Beauty and the Beast. And I have now just gone to the room where I store dvds to see. Oh yes Fiddler On the Roof, The King and I, Meet me in St Louis, Carousel, On Moonlight Bay, Mary Poppins. I noticed Oliver amongst them. But that actually was not a favourite of mine. Too sad in bits that Oliver one.

It's a Wonderful Life is quite appropriate for Beyond Blue. I just noticed that on on the shelf too. I like that one.

This is not properly classed as a "classic", but it is to me. And that is the movies Sissi. They have sub titles. Such a beautiful story line.

I also like the Shirley Temple movies. Of which I was mostly inspired by my mum to watch them. She use to talk about Shirley Temple. And she told us she use to look a bit like the young Shirley Temple. Their hair was pretty much the same.

I also like watching Jane Austin Movies, such as Pride and Prejudice and Emma.

And old TV shows from the 1950's like My Three Sons, Leave it to Beaver and the Andy Griffin Show.

And from the 1970's I think... The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie.

And there are other numerous children's ones I like too. The Lassie ones.

More modern made movies ones like Ballerina of which I started watching again whilst walking on the treadmill the other week. Cinderalla. Frozen and Garfield (that chubby orangey kitty cat)

It just came to my mind, I like a lot of Audery Hepburn movies as well. Sabrina is one. And she was in one version of My Fair Lady.

I like all the Doctor Do Little movies as well.

Dear All and Shell~

I was surprised that Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's etc) had not been on your original list. The mention of hats and gloves made me think of her straight away.

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I was wondering about only having a small amount of money and re-decorating a place to give it different character for a while.

One can simply repaint the walls, which is ok though you tend to have large flat surface all the same color. I had this problem once and found an inexpensive solution. I'd always been brought up in houses that had wallpaper, which certainly gives walls interest, but is difficult to apply and expensive -even harder to steam off later.

An alternative is to "roll your own". By that I mean you purchase a paint roller that has an embossed roller witha pattern on it. In you run this down the wall the only thing left on the wall is the pattern itself. This is great, the roller does not cost that much and you can do an entire room for far less than any sort of wallpaper.

There is a large range of pasterns, some suitable for kids rooms, some for formal dining rooms, and all sorts in between.

I remember finding a marine undercoat which had a high cooper content that glistened. I used this with a Fleur-de-lea roller pattern on the white walls of a room and it looked excellent, and changed the whole character of the room (and also hid small bumps and blemishes).

Unlike wallpaper if you don't like it later on you simply paint over it.

A thought for when you are sick of the place perhaps?

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Any takers on what the princes said to the not-so-old man?

--------------

Croix

Sorry for the spelling folks, it got posted before I'd finished :(
-C

Hey Croix 😊 did you get Grandy and I mixed up? Which is easily done in this instance. As both Grandy and I appear to have very similar tastes in regards to movies somewhat.

Shell

Dear Shell~

I did indeed, Grandy was the one who mentioned hats and gloves, my humble apologies, how could I do that:)

You are right you do have similar tastes in movies, sadly many people have their favorite movies on VHS tapes, and over time they degrade. even buying a Video-casette player is harder nowadays -I've umpteen old tapes and have bought my most recent players from thrift shops.

Do you have your collection on tape? I've often found the same thing in as a DVD secondhand or very cheap on eBay, and am gradually trying to replace my tapes. I think I have too many though and not all came out as DVDs anyway.

Then again who knows how long DVDs will be popular, streaming seems to be taking over. Not something I like as I cannot then go back to it years later.

Ah well, as there are no takers I'll continue on with the princess:

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The princess said " My, I thought you were an old and disreputable person, lying down like that clutching a P-G GB. (princesses tend to use very proper language).

"No milady", he said, "I'm a prince, far from home, seeking adventure, travel, and a pretty neat princess to take home to meet my parents".

"I met this walrus who kept feeding me P-G GBs telling me they were only a new type of mead. I guess you saw the result".

"Come to think of it I had a parcel of wagon-wheels for sustenance on my travels, but I can't seem to find them"

At that the walrus sank down in the water until just his moustache showed above the surface, trying to be unobtrusive.

The annoying singer then said "That's funny, I ...

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Dear All~

The idea of this thread (apart from chatting and princesses) is to come up with ideas that will give you something tangible or useful when isolation ends.

True you could spend the whole time watching streaming movies , but when real life returns you will only have a few memories.So I encourage anyone who can think of an idea to jot it down here in this thread (and possibly give me a hand with the princess story too if you feel you'd like to) -the more imagination the better.

==============================

One idea that will give you something long afterwards is bonsai, the art of taking a perfectly ordinary tree and clipping and training it until it almost becomes a miniature work of art in a pot.

Surprisingly many different trees and plants lend themselves to this, and some do better in colder climates than others, which need heat. It is an ancient art, and one can start from a seedling, or by a semi-mature plant, all in a pot.

A very good simple and illustrated introduction on how to make one is here:

https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Bonsai-Tree

and an interesting general overview and history here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonsai

Warning, this activity is not for the impatient:)

Croix

Dear Shell

You mentioned "Sissi" which is a romanitic, glamourous and happy story, do you have the other two subsequent films, with mainly the same cast? " Sissi – The Young Empress" and "Sissi – Fateful Years of an Empress "

Watching films with only English subtitles can be a nuisance at first, but I became used to them and hardly notice now, "Inspector Rex"being one of course:) I think it is a good skill to acquire.

Croix

Hey Croix,no apology needed I don't think, in regards to Grandy and I.

No we don't have any movies on video tape. All digital and on DVD's.

As for Sissi, oh yes I do have the continuing movies. 3 all up.

I have never heard of Inspector Rex. Is it like a detective type movie?

Hi Croix and All Reading,

There are many wonderful suggestions here. My current issue is depression robbing me of the enthusiasm to do participate in so many activities that would be beneficial, informative and would provide long term advantages.

I have thought of sewing projects that I may be able to sell or give away. A friend sent me a gorgeous hand made soft toy fox a friend of her's created. I have made a couple of crocheted blankets I have donated to a home for the elderly for residents.

My husband would probably appreciate me trying new recipes! It could be interesting to try a recipe from a different culture every week.

Learning to touch type would be beneficial, a skill I could certainly continue to use.

Basic computer skills would help too, only I am not sure if there are on line classes for that or books. I did borrow a book form the library before it closed but I didn't understand what it was talking about! I think I need someone to show me.

Maybe I need to start with a list of ideas and opportunities and slowly progress through it.

I have been walking more and trying to do my stretches and exercises daily, that will certainly be beneficial for the future. I am seeing a lot more of our region as well and have become curious about the history to the towns in our area.

Reading up on local history could be interesting.

Croix, you mentioned bonsai, I have a friend who creates little succulent gardens in things like cups and tea pots and sells them at markets. She will have a few well established in time for future markets.

A few random thoughts from me.

I will make a list!

Cheers all from Dools

Hi all,

Oh what great ideas!

I have been hesitant to share since personally I'm not working at the moment so my life 'in isolation' is not all that much different to my ordinary life anyway. But at the same time I also get that people need things to do and hobbies and interests so here goes -

Some of the things I enjoy doing are jigsaw puzzles, word-search and crossword puzzles, listening to podcasts, listening to music, reading, baking and learning things online.

Other things I'd like to try are embroidery (my first one was a flop) and some clay craft - I bought one on the weekend so it will be my first go!

Hopefully this has given you some ideas! Also as a sidenote - it's also okay if sometimes isolation looks like curling up on the couch and doing nothing. We don't have to keep busy.

rt

Dear Eight~

First of all you are always very welcome here, your style might not suit all (mainly I think becuse your brain races ahead of your fingers ability to keep up, hence abbreviations, acronyms etc:) but buried in there is a wealth of knowledge about gaming, and also I suspect philosophy too.

So if you would like to talk please do, even discoursing on Discourse could be interesting

Croix

Dear All and Romantic_thi3f~

It is nice to see you here. You make a good point abut curling up on the couch on occasion, getting though isolation is more than mere productivity, it can create habits that stand one in good stead later in life. To know when you need to stop and chill is not as easy as it sounds.

Would you like to say the sorts of music and reading you prefer? ( I could not tell you with music, everything from 60's rock to Wait plus classical, but definitely SF is high on my reading list)

I've never tried clay craft - do you need to bake it?

Croix

Dear All and Mrs Dools~

It's great to see you here too.

I think you are rather modest about your day. True making a list might be a help, but simple things you already do like walking and that leading to new sights and even an interest in local history is an excellent way to spend time that exercises the mind as well as the body.

I'm not so sure about computing, it is a bit like trying to read a book on the innards of a car when all you need to really do is drive from A to B - and that can be difficult enough. I know for many having a little instruction on the everyday tasks such as writing documents and email is quite enough - plus of course having someone to ring when stuck:)

I hope your energy and enthusiasm lifts a little and allows the distractions of passtimes

Croix.

Hello Everyone....🤗..

Croix when you were talking about Bonsai...It reminded me around 10 yrs ago...I wanted to make a specify for my daughter in law.....I had a medium size fish tank...I decided to make her a terrain, using a few different varieties of succulents.... after I placed organised and planted the succulents..I added some tiny white rocks, then some unusual medium size rocks I would look for and found laying around whenever I went out...I bought some moss and added it to a rock...Then I put some small plastic animals, some little plastic people, and set them in side the fish tank in amongst the rocks and succulents....

My daughter in law loved it...You can also use old casserole dishes, some old glass bowls....I think also some small cactuses could be another option..but got to be careful of the spines...they hurt...

Grandy....

Dear All~

How come I'm writing the princess' story? It's yours too (and your version is probably better than mine anyway)

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The annoying singer then said "That's funny, I had a bag of wagon-wheels too, and that went as well. I guess we better get some more

The princess ( and everyone else) thought that a good idea, but then she had a better one " Do you have any of that special 'mead' left?" she asked

The older travel-worn prince handed over a flask.

The princess took a dainty princess-like swig and her eyes nearly popped out and her braid stood straight up in the air - all 12 foot of it! (Princesses themselves tend to run about 5 foot) Then the braid flopped down, curled up and sent to sleep.

"Not too shabby" said the princess nonchalantly wiping her mouth with her lace hanky, at which point the small dog ....

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Croix

Hello,

Fyi I find these threads a bit tricky because I can't keep up so if I miss something important I'm sorry

eight - I'm not sure what you mean but I am glad you joined us here. For what it's worth you haven't made me uncomfortable

I'm a big typing fan too. I remember one I used to play that I can't find now where I had to type so quickly or a fox would eat you aha!

Croix - well I do nap a lot! But I think I'm more referring to the fact that this is a crisis and a pandemic, so it's okay if people aren't keeping busy or doing things! I think there can be a lot of pressure on all of us to make the most of our time here, but it's also okay if we don't too.

Music and books... That's a tough one. I rotate a lot with all of them - total mixed bag. The last really good one I read was called 'Eyes too dry' by Alice Chipkin - that one is a graphic novel about depression and suicide and 'Let me tell you my story' by Trisha Leimer, which is a photo book of people who are refugees sharing what they've been through.

As for the clay - it's air-dry! But that's all I know because it's sitting in a box next to my desk :)

rt

Dear All and Croix

Books I very much enjoyed are the Dragon Weyr series but the author's name escapes me. Croix, I'm certain you know. Also Terry Pratchett Disc World novels, great for alternative thinking. Ellis Peters and her Cadfael stories, great blend of medieval detection and history. Then there is the Arthur Upfield detective series. This is different as the police office is an Inspector and half aboriginal, set in the early 1900's. They were popular all round the world and a TV series was made, ironically in New Zealand. Didn't catch on much in Australia.

Tracing my family history fascinates me and can be most addictive. What I have learned about my forebears and the world they lived in is amazing. If many of your ancestors lived in Australia you will find tracing them via births, marriages and deaths quite easy. Australia had great record keeping from the start. Start with your parents and move back. Bev I used to wake in the early hours when I was in the depths of my depression. I would get up and spend a couple of hours doing research then go back to bed. Because I was learning a lot it gave me an alternative topic to think about. I believe this holds true for any topic we engage in such as your interest in local history. Go for it.

Has anyone tried writing poetry? I enjoy reading poetry and try my hand at writing Haiku, Japanese poetry. I think I have written about this elsewhere. Keeping a daily diary is a good way to reflect. Not just about your feelings which we are encouraged to do when talking about mental health issues. Instead write about what is happening around you and how that affects you and others. Obviously the topic of the moment is COVID19 but other things will arise.

Engaging in some study is good. It may be to gain qualifications for the future or simply to gain understanding about a specific topic. I am learning about spirituality at the moment.

As for the princess, I'm not sure. "Not too shabby" said the princess nonchalantly wiping her mouth with her lace hanky, at which point the small dog decided to join the party and have a say on what was happening. He encouraged the princess to take another sip and then another. Before she knew what was happening she was giving her version of the can-can and getting anyone she could to join her. The party became quite noisy and the walrus complained because he wanted to sleep so they gave him a sip of the mead and he too joined in with salty stories about mermaids. Next morning...

Mary

Dear All and RT~

You haven't missed anything at all, and are always welcome even if you did, its a messy thread after all:)

I'd be a gnat's whisker afraid of those books, literally - and admire your wide taste. Sad to say since I left the police my tastes have changed from absolutely anything I could get my hands on to those that are reasonably cheerful, preferably with a happy ending.

Though I must admit I manage OK in the courses and other things I do where there is documentation or required reading. I guess for me reading is two separate sorts of tools, learning and distraction.

Then again perhaps the closest recreational item I'm about to launch into is Steppenwolf with Max von Sydow

I take your point about being driven. Being confined can be used to advantage most definitely to learn to relax and simply be. The habits of previous life, with its frequent imperatives is no longer here, so adaptation is wise.

Croix

Dear All and Mary~

Following the can-can and salty stories I might leave it for a braver soul than I to continue on with the Princess Story:)

With books I think you might be referring to the Dragon riders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey (and later her son Tod McCaffrey. They are a wonderful series of a very different world and have remained one of my favorites. As there are at least 24 volumes I'd expect they might outlast isolation for the average reader:)

Ellis Peters' Cadfael series of a Welsh medieval monk with a taste for forensic detective work is fascinating and the settings (though not the person) are accurate. It has an equivalent in the Judge Dee stories of Robert van Gulik, based on an actual historical Chinese figure

I've not thought of genealogy as being a distraction from depression at night, but I think it is a good idea, being both personal and requiring concentration and imagination. The National Library's Trove is an excellent source of births, deaths and marriages (and appearances in court:( Without something like this the small hours can seem endless.

I guess keeping a diary can be a life long occupation, requiring self discipline and an eye for detail. It brings to mind Samuel Pepys who kept a frank and detailed diary of his life (including the equivalent of clubbing) from 1660-69. An insight into the world of the day.

Plus of course Oscar Wild mentioned:

“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”

Croix

Quite right Croix. The author of the dragon books is Anna McCaffrey. How could I forget the name?

I think anything that interests a person and is absorbing is a good distraction for depression or many other difficulties, not necessarily mental health related. I don't actually read fiction these days. Don't have the time and find it far too stimulating. Not very good managing tension. So I will stick to history/spirituality etc.

I hope your decision not to further the princess saga is not due to my comments.

Mary

Hi All,

For me, it is being able to find ways to push through the deep depression that was here long before Covid-19 that is the barrier to following anything much that is meaningful and purposeful or worthwhile.

In my mind I have a hundred things I would like to do from reading informative books, to sewing bags I may be able to sell, to creating works of art with paint ( that might be a slight exaggeration!) baking for friends, studying something, learning how to take better photos etc.

That is the frustrating thing, I have the time but am struggling with motivation!

Hopefully I will find more of that today. Maybe I need to start with researching how to find motivation!

Cheers from Dools

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you so much. I know all that stuff too, it is just a matter of getting the mind to accept it and work on it. Ha. Ha. Blasted minds! They are a bit like cats and do what they want!

I will make myself a list and see what I can achieve. Thanks again for the reminder!

Cheers from Dools

Hey Elizabeth and hi all,

Thankyou for the advice you gave to Mrs D. I too am struggling with motivation. Anyone thanks Elizabeth I felt encouraged after I read what you wrote.