- Name: JaneMarple
- Cheshire, UK
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 - Doing a CLAIT Plus course. Active member of the Funtrivia Forums, especially the "Chain Games" :-)
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Blog (soon!)
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Embroideries again!
My niece gave birth to her first child, William Patrick, a few weeks ago, and I have made him not one, but two quilts, for him to lie on and to crawl about on when he's older!
And Quilt 2
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Chapter
I am a massive fan of the Harry Potter, and the films. The films are very good in their own way, but I eagerly anticipating the book. It is the last book in the series – Harry potter and the Deathly Hallows – and will be released on Saturday 21st July 2007. To refresh my memory, I will be writing a brief opinion of the each chapter of the Harry Potter books, with my favourite quote from the chapter and also a question from the corresponding chapter too every day. I am listening to my audiotapes of the book (1 tape a day).
I found Harry Potter quite late. The series began in 1997, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). However, I was not really into fantasy books – much preferred Murder Mysteries! So I have heard how good they were, but considered them “Children’s books” and did not bother to borrow them from the local library
However! Fast-forward to Boxing Day 1999. I had heard that there was going to be a complete and unabridged recording of the first Harry Potter book, read by Stephen Fry on Radio 4. Boxing Day, for me, is a lazy day so decided to finally find out what all the fuss was about and listen to it. I think I was hooked from the first couple of lines. I was absolutely intrigued. What on earth were Muggles? Why was a little baby left on a doorstep?
In 2001, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) was released on film.
The books have different titles for England (where I am!) and American. We (the English!) know it as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The American people know it as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Subtle changes to the text of the books have been made to reflect this. So with no more ado let us start form the beginning…
Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived
As Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, start their normal, Tuesday routine, there is nothing to suggest that this Tuesday is going to be different from any other Tuesday. They are a family that is very boring, very predictable, and very committed to being as normal as possible. Because Mrs. Dursley has a sister that is none of these things, they pretend she does not exist.
When Mr. Dursley finally leaves for work, he is disgruntled to find out that there are things happening on this Tuesday that are simply not regular. There are people walking around in cloaks, owls flying all around, and a host of other weird things that happen during the day to push him into a foul and confused mood.
When he finally drifts off to sleep that night he’s glad that the weird day is over, or so he thinks. Outside, a strange old man is discussing current event with a tabby cat who just turned into a very severe looking woman. The man is a wizard, Albus Dumbledore, and he tells the woman that Voldemort, the evilest wizard that ever was, was destroyed when he tried to kill little Harry Potter, and that no one knows why this is so. Harry’s parents were killed, and he’s bringing Harry to live with his aunt and uncle, the Dursley’s.
Long time, no post
I've been neglecting my Blog badly - no excuse but real life getting busy :)
My weight loss is still doing well - just under eight and a half stone. I am content with my weight, and if I could lose another half stone I would be extremely happy!
I am still a massive fan of Agatha Christie books, and the Harry Potter series. I plan to do a short review of each chapter of Harry Potter, on my Blog, with a few quotes and a few questions. I know there are some people who aren't fond of the Potter series for various reasons, but I think it would be fun! :)
Long time no Blog!
WEIGHT LOSS
Today is a very special day. For the simple reason that four years ago today, I changed my lifestyle. On the 22nd of August 2003, I discovered that I was "boarderline diabetes". If I did not cut down the "goodies - cakes, sausage rolls, chocolate biscuits bythe handful - I would soon have full blown diabetes and have to inject myself every day. Seeming I am even now still terrified of injections, I changed my lifestyle overnight. I was 13 stone (182 pounds) - and probably more.
AUGUST 2003
So slowly, but slowly, the weight began to fall off. I didn't change what I eat really, I just cut down on chocolate etc, only allowing it three days a week rather than seven. Sometimes I would stay the same weight and sometimes I would lose only a pound. But at Christmas, and Easter, the weight did not pile back on.
And today, four years since I started my "healthly lifestyle", I am Eight stone and nine pounds (121 pounds).
AUGUST 2007
Dad was really proud of the way I was losing weight - and of course, Mum is too. So slow and steady weight loss is the way to go!!
Harry Potter
Needless to say, I was eagerly anticipating the final book in the series. As usual J. K. Rowling did NOT disappoint - in my opinion! Deathly Hallows, for me, is the best in the series. The right people married each other, and brilliant twist with what exactly the Deathly Hallows were, and what was the final Horcrux. What made the series perfect for me, however, was Professor Longbottom, in the Epilogue. I was a little disappointed with the Epilogue, it jumped from the battle to nineteen years later a little too quickly. But I have loved Neville ever since the first book, so I was delighted to see that he became the new Herbology teacher. Deathly Hallows certainly changed my opinion on a certain Severus Snape too - I even felt sorry for him!!
I had embroidered bookmarks for the rest of the Harry Potter series and here is my Deathly Hallows one, with the locket, Hufflepuff's cup, the diadem, the Deathly Hallows sign and the Gaunt ring.
I was also inspired to make a "Hermione bag" ! I beaded tiny little seed beads onto plastic canvas.
I shall try to Blog a little more soon!
Denni's survey
1. If it were up to you when it happened, would you have given yourself a different first name?
Well, Jane isn't my real name - it is an exceptionally handy name on the Internet though! I'd always liked my real name - one of my Nanna was also called it. But Jane is a nice name too, so perhaps I'd change my name to that if I had too.
2. Is there anything you really consider to be 'bad luck' and avoid doing/seeing/meeting it?
I'm not a supersitious person really - don't believe in black cats bringing good luck and not walking under ladders etc. What is going to happen, will happen, and there's not much you can do to stop it!
3. If you were forced to choose only 2 of your 5 (6?  ) senses which would you keep?
I am very fond of my sight - just imagine not being able to read, or being able to see the ones tou are close to? - and also hearing too. I'd be lost without hearing - listening to conversation and listening to your audio books. Lack of speech - not a nice thing, but if you can hear and see, you can sort of gather what is going on. Last of taste - again, not nice, but you can see what you're eating and can "imagine" the taste. The same with smell - although I would miss the smell of Lavendar and freshly baked food etc. Finally lack of touch. To me, this is the least important. So I'd keep Sight and Hearing!
4. Have you ever given someone a fake name or address/phone number?
Nope, I'd never seen the point of doing that. I'm Jane on the Internet...but that doesn't count as a fake name! Not to me anyway.
5. In your opinion, life is not worth living without......
Family and friends. Internet friends and real life friends. Books too are very important to me...and to a lesser extent, the Internet which has opened up a brand new world for me!
Embroideries
Well my currant Embroideries have been taking some time (as there are 11 of them!) and 8 of them are HP related
(it has Hedwig, the title Platform Nine and a Half, Hogwarts Express, The Privet Drive sign post and also McGonagall as a cat!)
(has the basilisk, the sword, spiders! (shudder!) a Cauldron and Ford Anglia, with Polyjuice Potion embroidered on it)
(has Padfoot, Prongs, Chocolate, Wormtail and Moony)
(Has a merman, goblet of fire, broomstick, Moody's trunk and a Dragon)
(has a Phoenix, a Prefects Badge a wand, the D.A. coin, and Grimmauld Place)
(has the Potions book, the Pensieve, a Gravestone - with A.P.W.B.D on it :( - and Hogwarts Castle with the Dark Mark)
(the Shields. No more explanations!)
 (Has Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them, and the Hogwarts Motto)
(says it all!)
(A Miss Marple one)
and finally!
(A Poirot one!)
I am of course doing a "Deathly Halllows" one (got it prepared with the name embroidered. Just got to wait to see whats going on it!!
Bye Bye Blogs!
I am very disappointed that the Blogs are supposed to be going. I haven't been a massive "Blogger" but enjoyed displaying my embroideries, "advertising" my quizzes (for want of a better word!) and reading other Blogs too. I hope to find another Blog site eventually.
But although there might not be Blogs any more...Funtrivia will still be around. The quizzes will not lessen, the community forum (where I spend a LOT of time!) will still be there and so will the Monster quiz etc. Hope to catch up with other Bloggers at some time
Harry Potter. Deathly Hallows grows closer
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