tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post8715456016925705166..comments2024-03-29T00:11:30.648+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Icelandic Christmas Book Flood – Jolabokaflod ...Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-38280463626947587542022-12-31T08:36:16.820+00:002022-12-31T08:36:16.820+00:00Hi Jess - thanks ... it's such a brilliant tra...Hi Jess - thanks ... it's such a brilliant tradition isn't it ... I love the name of it 'Jolabokaflod' ... so pleased to see you here - cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-79867592256046650002022-12-31T00:52:30.997+00:002022-12-31T00:52:30.997+00:00I absolutely love this tradition. I think it is am...I absolutely love this tradition. I think it is amazing! <br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-27660759844784131182022-12-22T09:34:00.279+00:002022-12-22T09:34:00.279+00:00Hi Rosey - great to see you ... lucky you with the...Hi Rosey - great to see you ... lucky you with the kids all around - keeping you engaged with them ... not having had kids - life is somewhat easier, and most distinctly less involved. Cocoa takes me back a few decades - before drinking chocolate ... while coffee is for breakfast and that's it! English tea at tea time ... <br /><br />The volunteer aspects keep me occupied throughout the year - 'my work' now ... I learn, engage and enjoy the company at the various things I'm involved with ... <br /><br />Cheers to you and your family - have a fun and happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year ... HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-46843782185406713512022-12-21T21:15:35.705+00:002022-12-21T21:15:35.705+00:00Hi Hilary! I'm here to wish you a Merry Christ...Hi Hilary! I'm here to wish you a Merry Christmas. All of my things are done and I want to relax, but I had too many children and they all know I'm off work until Christmas so every time I put my feet up one calls with something. All good, and I love it and them, but like you, I'd like to just put my feet up with a cup of hot cocoa (coffee for me, please) and read! That sounds very delightful. :) It's nice to volunteer, especially this time of year. :)mail4roseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17850985344834209198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-37814187628813805342022-12-21T14:36:12.170+00:002022-12-21T14:36:12.170+00:00@ Dan - yes ... I give myself rather too many book...@ Dan - yes ... I give myself rather too many book presents - the goal next year is to read some of them! I'm around as and when and hope to get a post up later on today ...<br /><br />@ Diedre - yes ... it's a fun concept isn't it ... imagine scrabbling around for the next read ... and hoping they keep going round and round.<br /><br />@ Sandra - Bournville was one of Cadbury's products ... they of the Quaker chocolate family factory ... so well known here for cocoa - a dark chocolate and not as sweet as drinking chocolate: it's good!<br /><br />@ Susan - no I know I've lost feeds too - and must settle to learn how to get them back - I miss so many people and their blogs.<br /><br />A lovely warm arm chair and huge mug of chocolate and that book I'm reading in front of a log fire - the best place to be in the middle of winter! Well the thought is - as you say: 'bliss' ... <br /><br />I give myself way too many ... but yes this year there's a few lined up here for the day itself ... I do like our new Prime Minister - he's got a few challenges from within and without ... we shall see - we just need to get back to post war years' thinking when we all had to cope (and not whine!) ... <br /><br />Thanks everyone for your thoughts - we're now wet ... but like everyone being anxious for the future ... take care and happy joyous times ... HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-78684419845220582272022-12-21T10:03:00.515+00:002022-12-21T10:03:00.515+00:00Hi Hilary I'm really hoping that my comment co...Hi Hilary I'm really hoping that my comment comes through. For some odd reason I am not receiving your blogs as I automatically used to.<br /><br />I had to smile about the hot chocolate drink with frothy cream and chocolates and marshmallows close by. And books to read - bliss.<br /><br />Giving books for Christmas is such an excellent idea - <br /><br />A very merry Christmas and festive season Hilary - keep well and warm. I hope you like your new prime minister ... o my everything is so topsy turvy these days. The warmest of good wishes, SusanSusan Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12041548718544123557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-49064649327475942372022-12-20T20:30:39.813+00:002022-12-20T20:30:39.813+00:00Not familiar with Bournville Cocoa but I'm sur...Not familiar with Bournville Cocoa but I'm sure it's yummy.<br />Have a great one.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-13039349780264978942022-12-20T16:29:06.966+00:002022-12-20T16:29:06.966+00:00The very thought of a Christmas book flood makes m...The very thought of a Christmas book flood makes me happy! Thanks for the thought, my dear ;-) Merry Christmas!diedre Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-72346739091957152362022-12-18T16:05:19.327+00:002022-12-18T16:05:19.327+00:00I like the idea of giving books for Christmas (or ...I like the idea of giving books for Christmas (or any occasion). If don't check back, or you don't post, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Hilary.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756142122700513993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-67462170488011968342022-12-15T10:21:04.456+00:002022-12-15T10:21:04.456+00:00@ Sandra - I do what I can where I can ... and enj...@ Sandra - I do what I can where I can ... and enjoy it ... <br /><br />@ Sean - yes I suspect many of us 'writers' and like you 'wordsmiths' have always had books to hand ... I know I did growing up. I'm definitely not an Icelander - I'm not happy in too cold, or too hot lands! thanks for your thoughts and wishes - I reciprocate.<br /><br />@ Diane - lovely to see you - yes wouldn't it be a dismal world without books. I'm now the eldest and our sorting has been done ... I was lucky I had a SIL, and on the other side a brother - both professionals who looked after official paperwork on behalf of my Ma, also she'd been in Nursing Centre for over five years - so we'd organised that side of life too ... nothing at the end to dispose of ... <br /><br />I'm sure we'll have a turkey from a local farmer, but there are still a few birds etc in the stores ... certainly the shops are stocking up - there's money still around, though many don't have.<br /><br />@ Sandra - thanks for both your comments ... <br /><br />Cheers and thanks for commenting and visiting ... I'm about to have a little more free time so I'll be around - all the best for now - Hilary Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-87781584401772272772022-12-14T23:15:34.145+00:002022-12-14T23:15:34.145+00:00Grand 'what I'd love's.Grand 'what I'd love's.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-6263508315239254802022-12-14T14:50:27.284+00:002022-12-14T14:50:27.284+00:00Interesting post and what a dismal world it would ...Interesting post and what a dismal world it would be without books.<br />No family things to sort out here. I am the last one in my line, and Nigel only has a sister and a nephew in Australia. He is though still sorting out all the paperwork from his father's death - we hope to get it all done before we go on holiday but it seems that is not going to happen.<br /> <br />Bird flu here means no birds in the shops, so I guess we might have to do Xmas as the French and live on oysters!! I do though have some chicken in the freezer!!<br /><br />Keep well and have a good Christmas, cheers DianeRhodesiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159888599601532530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-66340457609604105052022-12-14T02:54:01.360+00:002022-12-14T02:54:01.360+00:00Hilary, you won't guess what I've been get...Hilary, you won't guess what I've been getting every Christmas and every birthday since I could read. And I'm not an Icelander ;-)<br />Have a wonderful time, and may many of your wishes come true. Lazy Sean's good thoughts are with you.Sean Jeatinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08978285783271305489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-45932929856868444152022-12-13T19:30:28.257+00:002022-12-13T19:30:28.257+00:00Good on you for volunteering. Hoping folks are no ...Good on you for volunteering. Hoping folks are no longer giving you headaches.<br />Cheers,Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-48076123817701236922022-12-13T09:39:44.827+00:002022-12-13T09:39:44.827+00:00@ Joanne - yes ... I'm hooked on books too - b...@ Joanne - yes ... I'm hooked on books too - but I don't think I have Icelandic genes; I will relax more once tomorrow is over ... a dinner to organise and adjust to life of others ... eg members coping with rail strikes, difficult weather ... et al ... so I do look forward to not worrying about things! All will be well and I'll be back with some interesting posts (I hope!) ... love your comment ... <br /><br />@ Ashok - it is an interesting thought ... as long as I can sit underneath a tree and happily have time to read them all ... <br /><br />@ Janice - I'm sure we did too - but I rather like the traditions people are suggesting their families had ... sorry now irritated by noise outside ... men and machines!<br /><br />@ Val - great to see you ... like you books each way suit me down to the ground. I'll look forward to some time with a hot chocolate probably and one of the many books from TBR list on my lap ...<br /><br />Thanks so much for being here ... visiting and making lovely appropriate comments - cheers Hilary Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-85622960125722544222022-12-12T22:09:18.782+00:002022-12-12T22:09:18.782+00:00I love receiving books and tend to give them as we...I love receiving books and tend to give them as well, so I'm all for this idea of a book flood. Wishing you peace and tranquillity this Christmas, Hilary. I hope you get time to drink that cocoa and read your tbr books! Have a lovely Christmas!Vallypeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309284606572565277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-66525842798567026752022-12-12T19:38:44.362+00:002022-12-12T19:38:44.362+00:00Christmas book flood sounds pretty standard, for m...Christmas book flood sounds pretty standard, for my family, at least. Hope the irritating ones leave you in peace.jabbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12176958811589489979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-31836419886292729772022-12-12T18:26:06.445+00:002022-12-12T18:26:06.445+00:00Book flood..interesting thought !Book flood..interesting thought !ashokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07151604896442505084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-75572469427626716242022-12-12T16:11:53.153+00:002022-12-12T16:11:53.153+00:00Maybe I'm part Icelandic - I love giving books...Maybe I'm part Icelandic - I love giving books. It is a busy time of year, but in that hustle bustle I do take time to just sit, read, look at our Christmas tree. Enjoy dinner with friends, have a cuppa, and all the best for the season. Cheers to another year of blogging/conversation in writing. I enjoy your posts. Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11604494404874408870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-48921970087865337412022-12-12T14:46:41.618+00:002022-12-12T14:46:41.618+00:00Hi Christine - yes a book flood in many countries ...Hi Christine - yes a book flood in many countries would be a good idea ... and you're lucky that you can switch off and read more with your cats curled up with you ... I remember those long ago days - a few of those would suit me now! <br /><br />You too have a happy Christmas and all the best for the coming year - cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-34356621204426721402022-12-12T14:29:15.278+00:002022-12-12T14:29:15.278+00:00@ Elizabeth - I sure hope you can get some unwindi...@ Elizabeth - I sure hope you can get some unwinding time down today ... there's always so much hustle and bustle going at this time of year ... you're right re Tolkien ... but at least his books were published ...<br /><br />@ David - thanks so much ... I hope not too many chocolates! and I've been quite good re the vino - but suspect there'll be a tipple or two - I need it at the moment!<br /><br />It's the new chair - she's only been in Eastbourne a short time ... so hasn't taken account of the group - many of whom who've been around and active for over 20/10 years ... and really they should be considered first ... and sadly, as far as I'm concerned, has mucked things up. So I've resigned from my post ... I feel easier now. I've learnt not to get worked up now-a-days ... <br /><br />@ Diane - it's great idea isn't it!<br /><br />@ Holly - what a fun idea from your family ... a book a person ... and excellent you've carried the idea forward ... I'll get a cup of something at some stage ... <br /><br />Have fun and a peaceful break over the end of year seasonal time ... and thanks to you all for visiting ... cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-92015014783862124222022-12-12T14:02:54.108+00:002022-12-12T14:02:54.108+00:00I love the Icelandic traditions of giving books, a...I love the Icelandic traditions of giving books, and I would love to see a book flood all over the world. December is a month for relaxing and reading more. My cats love to curl up with me as I sit on the couch or bed reading. Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year, Hilary. ")Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-30257758850252016952022-12-12T13:06:03.826+00:002022-12-12T13:06:03.826+00:00That's so awesome. In our family we always rec...That's so awesome. In our family we always received at least one book and I've kept that up. I hope you get that cup of cocoa and a break for headaches. :) Happy Holidays.H. R. Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06715450637785127208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-80693464310953377742022-12-12T12:41:37.807+00:002022-12-12T12:41:37.807+00:00Book flood - what a wonderful idea.Book flood - what a wonderful idea.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-5611187825437679362022-12-12T11:47:01.320+00:002022-12-12T11:47:01.320+00:00All the very best for the holiday, Hilary, with lo...All the very best for the holiday, Hilary, with lots and lots of chocolates. I insist that you have a glass of wine too. We don't formally celebrate any of this stuff and don't give or receive gifts, but anyone who has even the briefest acquaintance with me knows that books will win me over every time. I understand your comment about being frustrated with volunteers. I have experienced this on more than one occasion when people have committed to things and fail to deliver. With volunteers you have no way to enforce it. "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.” - all too often I'm afraid, and you wind up doing it yourself. Relax, enjoy, unwind! Big hugs - DavidDavid M. Gascoigne,https://www.blogger.com/profile/17229638811027153569noreply@blogger.com