Daisy

Amsterdams a beautiful place, ...or was it other things you wanted to experience i went earlier this year too. one of my uni friends is going there this year to start a masters so won't need to pay to stay if i visit . glad you had fun

yep took loads of pictures, I'll add some when I get time in the next few days. it was quite an amazing trip, met some great people, and saw an awful lot of beautiful things, but it was also vvv hard at times (we were basically planning it as we went along) and camping as we ran out of money in hot weather isnt all that pleasant. learning about the yugoslav wars was fascinating, but absolutley gobsmacking as were talking to people my age and not much older who've lived through such atrocious things. was in belgrade when the protest was on as well, that was shocking, still don't really understand it all, need to read lots. what have you been up to for the summer? good to be back! , celia

hellllo. I'm back. Ended up going to southern Poland (Krakow), Slovakia (Tatra's Mountains & Bratislava), Hungary (Budapest), Austria (Vienna), Serbia (Belgrade), Montenegro (various coastal places), Bosnia & Herzgovina (Sarajevo, Mostar), Croatia (Dubrovnick, Split, Makarska, Zagreb). Quite a good trip for 4 weeks. Spent way too much money and going to have to pay for it all now . Hope things have been all good on here. Nice to be back, Celia

yep sorry bob, thanks for replying anyways . again sorry about that. I can't believe how big some of your families are!!! When Kev said he had a small family that to me sounds like more the normal family I come across in the uk, definitly my family type of size. there are only 12 grandkids (im 1 of 3), and I thought that was a decentish size. my mum is one of 4 and they've all had kids. my dad only had one brother and he's not had any so that side is alot smaller. I suppose when you start to count their cousins and stuff it adds up but we rarely if ever meet them, so I don't really consider them family. i met one of my 2nd cousins the other day for the first time, and my gran was joking it was good because now we would know each other for at her funeral , not a joke I really appreciated, but also very true, it probably will be the next time I see him . anyway, thanks for replying everyone, it was interesting to learn abit more about you all. Sorry for the bad poll. Sigh, I've got to go pack for a month, I can't avoid it any longer . see you all in probably a months time. Celia

Yep thats the one. I couldnt remember what it had actually been called, so thanks . actually Im not sure if I didnt go inside afterall, its a little while ago, but yeah think I did, because they had some of his models inside of otheer things he's built or designed. Im sure the cathedral was designed by him also, and when you got close up to see the detail it was very impressive. Celia

hey, in the uk they are finally talking about a recession. The government hasn't conceded that yet, they wouldnt dare until the official statistics were available. but the commerce association (or something like that), a major group of buisnesses throughout the country has declared they believe we are in one. People with buisness all around me are declaring the same thing, have been for a little while. all are saying (mainly) they aren't going to give up, but its the worst they've ever experienced, buisness is really really slow. people aren't really spending either. poland, russia and other eastern european countries are on the rise, well according to a friend who does buisness over there, people aren't buying his building services over here (uk) but they are very eager over there, just he is running out of things to send them because he relies on buying 2nd hand things to sell on and no-one is buying the 1st hand stuff (apart from in places like china, where the regulations are different, and he has to stick with eu regs, so can't buy). and for buisness the interest rates are too high. but for me, if they weren't, then the food and other goods inflation would be impossible. things are changing, in a verey major way. out societal attitudes are going to be forced into going back to how they used to be, no more easy commodities and cash. waste not, want not. its very palpable around here how much things are changing. Celia

I'm sure I will, now im going crazy trying to finish buying or finding everything that I need to take with me. Ive been to Barcelona. The cathedral is amazing!!!!! we went right to the very top almost. we only went past the artists house though. It was really good because I'd been to see an exhibition of his work in london once, so it was great to see his bigger pieces. The man-made beach isnt any good though, its about 5m's wide, and the first time I went to Barcelona my handbag was stolen . but otherwise lovely city. but not my favourite european one. one of my friends in serbia at the moment, and Im sure he said that when he wakes up its about 28degrees. so can't wait, thats much better temps than our measly at best 20 at the mo, and rain and cloud. but of to shopping again , have a great summer yourselves, Celia

Although I said that I was pretty sure that the rest of my family weren't, I also have an uncle who I wondered about. My dad's brother, he's not married, in his 50's and I've never ever seen or heard him talk about girls. My mum tells me that at one point he did have a girlfriend but for some reason it ended. but its funny how we are all speculating . But I think in the end I just decided that it wasnt my business, and really its just as likely he is just a loner or not very good with girls and interacting in general, which fits. if he's happy its good, but I hope he is otherwise I really want him to find someone. Apparently he had a major breakdown years and years ago, and now works for the samaritans in his spare time, so that is likely linked with it all. but anyway, its funny how we are so quick to jump to that assumption. Celia

Hi kevin, yep I quickly realised that I had created a bad poll. If I could change it I would, but I don't know how to, plus its too late for those who answered already. oh well its my first time creating one, I'll make sure I think it through alot more next time. also realise some people may have children etc who are gay, no option for that either. Celia

I kind of want to add the qualifier, if you answered No to the gay question yourself, did you answer yes or no to the family question, but its too late now, sigh. thanks for the answers so far. Celia

Hi all I've checked and there are a few threads on this already, but a long time ago so I thought I'd just start a new one. For various reasons I am curious to know how many people in GA have other family members who are also gay/whatever. It can be in the immediate family or the side family or in the past generations....or Myself, my mum isnt very sure what she is. other than that I have no clue about the rest of the family for sure, but I think its no. Just interested, Celia

I will . I'd love to go to america someday... We were originally going to aim to get down to Northen greece by the end but I think we were being abit ambitious, that and there are hardly any flights back from around there. turkey is also beautiful, but the men put me off when I was about 14, they were soo lecherous, it wasnt attractive at all. but greek men, lets hope I get down that far... Celia

WOO. Im off to Poland on monday. So my short time at the GA forums will be ending for awhile! The sort of plan takes us south through Slovakia, Hungary, then onto Croatia, although we may dip into Serbia, Romania, Bosnia, and Montenegro depending on what we feel like and how much time we have left after Hungary, and whether we are desperate to get to the coast!! Should be good. Im away for a month. Im starting to get really excited, I watched Mamma Mia tonight and all the lovely scenery made me wish I was there now. and romance lets hope for that too , Celia

I've never even thought about this before. The people that I have been interested in have all been white almost. The only guy who wasnt, his mum was from sri lanka, but he's fairly white. I think why I've never thought about it is because pretty much everyone around me is white. I do have a few friends and aquaintances of different colour and some from all around the world, but I've lived in pre-dominantly white places really so not been many people of different colours to even have the chance of attracting me. but I'm sure I could, because its generally the person, their persona that attracts me the most anyway . Celia

I wouldnt worry too much, you have passion for what you are writing about, thats what matters. sometimes I do that and compared to everyone else's posts mines very lengthy, but its usually when I care or think about a subject alot. but I also have a bad problem of waffling so I need to check what I'm doing as often am sure mine could be lots shorter. celia

Yeah I wasnt really refering to the actual building. I have no idea how these things work, so if they are allowed outside then good , but I'm not reallly sure how fussy about that I would be. or even how fussy I would be of the person who was doing the ceremony, as long as i liked them and agreed with what they believed in, or somebody I know from the church (I know people from quite a few diff style ones). its the promise thats important not the officialness of it. as I say not really considered any of this before. I'm just not a person who thinks about detail like that, I'm ususally a last minute person (which is not always good, or ever). celia

I can't believe you have it planned out in such detail already! I kind of abstractly think of getting married, ie, its something I expect to do maybe. but plans...goodness. the church thing I realised the other day when questioned would have to be done, because now I'm a committed christian of course its about a promise in front of God. other than that its all to way far off, no prospective person in sight. I agree about the quiet/relaxed honeymoon versus adventure. I think my dad's wedding was nice (although I wasnt there). basically it was all about their commitment to each other and love. it was just a private expression of that. he wasnt even going to tell us he was going to do it, but I think I got about a months warning. they went to scotland to his fav town (golf reasons ), registry office, no wedding dress, he was in fairly relaxed clothing, no tie, top buttons open, he doesnt care about rings, but she had a platinum ring, just 2 witnesses from the street, there is even a pic of them on the beach in wellies after (its a bit of a miserable beach really ). then a quiet week in his small home in france by themselves (don't be fooled they probably did house/garden chores). of course they'd both done the big wedding with their old partners so that was out of their (and their parents) systems, but I never got to be a bridesmaid . For mine I think I would like friends and family there, but only the ones that I am close to and like, or has some memory attached to them, no hangers on. other than that no clue. (we did force him to have an immediate family gathering on both sides at the house a few months after which he reluctantly conceded). celia

hia when my dad got re-married he didnt have a ring because he didnt want one, his wife had one though - they also eloped to scotland without inviting any of the family. the gay couple who live behind us, I'm not aware that they have rings. they also aren't married and have no intention of getting a civil partnership now they can, but they've been together at least 20 years I think. They have a house together and dog, they share everything else. so what about some sort of promise/life-gift, something permanent to show your committed and want a life together. Celia

haha, thanks. I don't really eat sweets much either, but if I did Smarties are near the top. Kevin, another odd language thing, although they are clled cavities in the uk too, we just call them 'fillings', so another very obvious word (sorry I couldnt be bothered to search through to find your old thread). Celia

Woohoo, welldone! Onto the summer. Celia x

I agree with both. The bottom is what has happened to my mum, I don't think that she is naturally disposed to depression, well certianly not to the extent that she has been. some of her personality may lead her that way, but again, I'm not sure how much of that has developed by the way she was brought up and other events in her life over time. Goodluck with the anti-depressants. My mum has been on loads of different ones over the years and I'm not even sure now if the one's she's on are really working. and I'm convinced the ones she started last Nov made her sleeping and nightmares worse. About the therapy, I'd just like to warn that when you do start it (if you do) be ready for things to get worse for awhile. when my mum 1st started facing her demons, well it was a big step for to even do that, but dealing with things she's run from and buried but that have festered and shaped her current situation has not been nice, still isnt nice. a friend of mine from uni said the same, she's got anorexia/bulimia, but she's finally registered she's got problems and getting help, but she agreed she feels worse now than she did before. but the therapy is the only way my mum's going to get better, its a long road, but she's working through her problems and the future (not just talking). I can let you know all the different types of 'therapy' she is getting and will be doing in the future if you want to research them. The smoking . My mum tells me she does it to breathe!!! Goodluck , Celia

Today I spent several hours round at 2 of my mum's friends' house. She had isolated herself from them for, oh, I think it was coming up to 2 months (and before then it had been sporadic contact for awhile). But all bridges she thought had been burnt hadnt been at all. The friends were really glad to see her! and very happy that she was well enough to visit (they had been aware of her problems). but she had stayed away for longer than she needed, 1 because she hadnt felt she had the energy to socialise at all (and wanted me to stand in when i was home), and 2 she was afraid that they hated her for ignoring them (and being not completely rational with them). But of course all was fine. and she would have been better meeting them earlier when she needed support (when she thought she couldnt face it). but I'm glad you want to reach out to people. thats why I mentioned the above, to describe how it can go well. Goodluck with it all. Friends really are very important! Celia

Thanks. I wore a hat for my official photo thats going to be mandatorly sent to relatives. I wasnt as bored by the ceremony as I thought I could be (hundreds of names read out and handshakes). I had to be there at 7am!, was a bit of a pain . We all gathered in the 'great hall' and courtyard in the castle after getting our gowns of black with a purple hood, red lining and white fake fur, before proceding in to this incredibly beautiful building (if ever visit the uk its a must see!). People getting phds wore these absolutley ridiculous red gowns and even worse hat! The speeches were good, not too long, by a famous american even who'se our chancellor - summed up, 'just look around you' everyday, v lucky to get a degree, 'go for it', don't worry too much about failing. and after that have had a nice gentle day. Just had the weirdest meal, my housemates and I cooked all the random food that was left in the house , and off now for the last ever night out while living here - im not sad/emotional any more I'm ready to leave. onto travelling in a weeks time . Celia

I didn't really think about mine much before I chose it. I just needed something at the time to register with. Its these sweets (candy) in the uk, no idea if you have them in america or elsewhere, which I really like . I think I had some next to me when I was registering. I need to change it really but its kinda too late now. Also I realise unless you know about the sweets it kinda could come across that I'm being cocky and saying I'm really smart, but oh well. Celia

hello I'm graduating tomorrow!!! Its seems very unreal. All this week people have been disappearing after their ceremonies, I've cried several times, and gone out so much I am physically tired from it all, but its been a fab last week. My parents and brother are coming up, before I wasnt bothered, but watching everyone and going to departmental drinks is making me get nostalgic and aware of how much tomorrow represents especially after my nightmare year, so its special to have the parents there now. Its in a massive cathedral next to a castle, with lots of pompous ceremony, black gowns with a colourfull hood, we don't wear hats (apparently due to an old protest against women joining the uni) so I won't get to throw one, but this is it, and I'm proud of myself and all my friends and what we have achieved. And I can't stop getting emotional randomly, which is why I'm writing this to let out some. Phew. Right back to packing and deciding what to wear. Celia