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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 16, 2020 22:17:20 GMT
Damned lying, sicko Republicans! As you know, Bluto is all geared up for his Nuremberg Tulsa rally and Pence has proclaimed that Oklahoma's curve is flattening. In truth, public health officials there warned coronavirus cases were on the rise. This is apparently no big secret. In my mother's assisted living center, on the opposite side of the state, precautions are being augmented even as the state is re-opening. As you point out, Htmb, just because people are allowed to go out, it's not necessarily wise for some elements of the population. You can't know how fervently I hope for your Italian citizenship to come through. For one thing, you deserve it for jumping through all those bureaucratic hoops. For another, you'll be an EU citizen. Furthermore, there hasn't been a better time since you were born to have an extra passport in your back pocket.
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Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2020 2:25:49 GMT
Thanks very much, Bixa. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I had Italian roots. To have my citizenship recognized would be an amazing gift.
As for our government, I’m sure my daughter is tired of hearing me say, "if the basxxrd wins again, I’m out of here." Every single day, for the past 3+ years, has been absolutely exhausting. It’s like constantly dealing with a mean, vicious, attention-seeking thug, only on a much grander scale. We who are Americans deserve better. The rest of the world deserves better, too.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 17, 2020 3:12:07 GMT
For some reason, isolationism seems to be an American trait, and there have been a number of times in the past when "America" turned its back on the rest of the world. Without the industrialists' desire to cash in on a war economy, it is doubtful that the country would have entered either of the massive wars of the 20th century.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 17, 2020 3:59:19 GMT
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I had Italian roots. You are a particularly pure example of being your own true self, not programmed by sentimental ideas of the old country. I'll be curious at to how you react when you finally get to Calabria(?). I can tell you that I was moved when I went to Sicily because I walked on ground that was part of family myth. But as far as "feeling" Sicilian? Naaah.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 17, 2020 11:33:02 GMT
Has anyone heard any further news on the Madelaine McCann mystery? Has the person being held peeped at all?
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Post by tod2 on Jun 17, 2020 11:44:45 GMT
Italian translations of each document, all sent to the Italian Consulate to finish up what should be the last information-gathering I’ll need to do. If all goes well, I’m hoping to have recognition of Italian citizenship by sometime in 2021. Htmb - my son who is half Italian wanted to apply for an EU passport earlier this year. He was told that any person born with a father who is an Italian citizen (not necessarily living in Italy) is entitled by Italian Law that they are automatically entitled to an Italian EU Passport. Unfortunately he cannot locate his biological father so it all came to nothing. His birth mother also cannot throw any light on the man she claims is his father. One night stand she claims. Disappointing for him but we might give trying for a British Passport when have time to get all the documents from Uk pertaining to his grandfather who was born in Yorkshire. That means my husband and son could get passports but I can't even though I was born in Kenya when it was ruled by Britain.
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Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2020 13:10:30 GMT
That sounds very frustrating, tod.
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Post by bjd on Jun 17, 2020 14:02:05 GMT
I once did a translation of a thesis about British immigration law and all I remember is that it changed repeatedly over the years. I just found this for S Africans in particular. www.biznews.com/global-citizen/2017/10/17/claim-british-citizenshipYour husband was probably born before 1983, so it doesn't look promising unless his grandfather was on service to the government.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 17, 2020 14:05:30 GMT
I've not been around much because Jeff has been busy changing the garage front into a door with windows and has rebuilt the porch with UPVC...it means that I'm doing all the dog walks...2 or 3 times a day uses up a lot of time. I think it's doing me good but I'm knackered....
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Post by mickthecactus on Jun 17, 2020 14:22:02 GMT
That’s a big job. No wonder you’ve been going out!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 17, 2020 14:59:58 GMT
He does lik to have a project...Russell helped him with the porch units. The window and doors on the garage have UPVC infill panels...so that if we decide to change his man cave into a room we can put a little ...he would still have to redo the floor, roof and build inner walls and plaster etc...but it looks much better than it did before and is insulated.
The porch doesnt look much different, but the old one was made about 15 years ago out of bits of wood and some old glass..it looked fab but the wood was starting to need replacing. The new units are much crisper and 'professional' looking.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 17, 2020 15:25:26 GMT
I do not have a whole lot of good memories about my biological father, but when I review the past I am amazed by certain things. I was not born yet when he built the house in which I grew up. Did he do it single-handedly? I don't know. But I was about 8 years old when the house was expanded by about 80% and in my memory he did everything by himself while working a full time railroad job. My brother and I helped symbolically, carrying concrete blocks, pushing wheelbarrows of sand for pouring cement slabs, things like that. He made the foundation, he put up the outside walls, he did the electricity, the inner walls, the plumbing, the ceilings, the roof… everything. I remember nailing shingles on the roof with him. I probably did about 5 shingles while he did 50. I have no idea how he learned to do all of those things, but there is no rewind button on my life to check the past. If I ever see my brother again, I will ask him to see what he remembers. He is 3 years older, so he must know more about that than I do.
My stepfather also seemed to know how to do just about everything, but not that much in comparison. I wonder if that's how my mother chose her men. Oops, too late to ask her...
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Post by tod2 on Jun 17, 2020 15:43:15 GMT
Yes Kerouace - Oops indeed. As I drive around our city there always seems to be something I should have asked my mother as she grew up mostly here. I now want to go through old photographs to see if I can't pick out any places that I could still possibly visit.
bjd - more bad news from Blighty. My husband was born in 1946. His father was a Sgt.Major in the South African army, but that was still under British rule here. Some hope? I must read your link - thanks so much.
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Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2020 20:17:12 GMT
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I had Italian roots. You are a particularly pure example of being your own true self, not programmed by sentimental ideas of the old country. I'll be curious at to how you react when you finally get to Calabria(?). I can tell you that I was moved when I went to Sicily because I walked on ground that was part of family myth. But as far as "feeling" Sicilian? Naaah. Bixa, I spent most of October 2019 in Italy, traveling from the north to the south, and back again. I rode a bus within two miles of my maternal grandfather’s home town in Bari, stayed in Naples where my paternal grandparents were from, and stood near the docks where all three left for America. It was a wonderful trip, one Id like to continue again some day, but I’m still trying to absorb all this new-found knowledge of my past. Even after two years, it still boggles my mind.
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Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2020 20:26:03 GMT
Italian translations of each document, all sent to the Italian Consulate to finish up what should be the last information-gathering I’ll need to do. If all goes well, I’m hoping to have recognition of Italian citizenship by sometime in 2021. Htmb - my son who is half Italian wanted to apply for an EU passport earlier this year. He was told that any person born with a father who is an Italian citizen (not necessarily living in Italy) is entitled by Italian Law that they are automatically entitled to an Italian EU Passport. Unfortunately he cannot locate his biological father so it all came to nothing. His birth mother also cannot throw any light on the man she claims is his father. One night stand she claims. Disappointing for him but we might give trying for a British Passport when have time to get all the documents from Uk pertaining to his grandfather who was born in Yorkshire. That means my husband and son could get passports but I can't even though I was born in Kenya when it was ruled by Britain. Tod, is your son’s birth father listed on his original birth certificate? That would be key for proving Italian citizenship. Only my birth mother is listed on my original birth certificate, but my citizenship line is through my birth mother and her father, so it’s not a problem. However, both my paternal grandparents were Italian immigrants, so I could also prove citizenship through my birth father if I had the proper documentation.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 17, 2020 23:02:16 GMT
Bixa, I spent most of October 2019 in Italy, traveling from the north to the south, and back again. I rode a bus within two miles of my maternal grandfather’s home town in Bari, stayed in Naples where my paternal grandparents were from, and stood near the docks where all three left for America. It was a wonderful trip, one Id like to continue again some day, but I’m still trying to absorb all this new-found knowledge of my past. Even after two years, it still boggles my mind. Oh! I knew you were in Italy last year, but I did not realize your travels were that extensive. I love that you stood on the docks from where they all embarked for the US. The first thing I did in Cefalu was to go to the train station, knowing that was the g-grandparents' last sight of home. It's almost impossible to grasp how the unexpected revelation of your recent ancestors must feel to you.
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Post by mossie on Jun 18, 2020 7:24:19 GMT
Congratulations that your voyage of discovery has rewarded you.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 18, 2020 7:58:57 GMT
Htmb - No I don't think it is but he has looked through all the documents the Child Welfare kept in their files. At the time of his adoption we did ask the fathers name but the woman dealing with all adoptions was reluctant to give that information which tells me she was protecting the mother from any form of criticism - As I said, it was a one night stand and who knows there could be more than one possibility and she picked him. But my son is every bit the Italian lad in looks. Jet black hair, pale green eyes and olive skin. I know some Italians are blond - from Northern Italy.
You are so lucky to have all the right information at your disposal.
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Post by htmb on Jun 18, 2020 11:12:43 GMT
Thanks, tod, but it wasn’t easy, or inexpensive, to get the information from the state. Florida’s adoption records are sealed. I had to go to court twice - once in the 1990s and again more recently - to get copies of all my documents.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 18, 2020 14:22:31 GMT
Oh golly. Here adoption documents are unsealed after a certain period of time - my son knows the details - but had another adopted boy(now a grown man) help him with where to look. All documents were there to see. Even letters from his birth mother he had never seen. He has met his birth mother. He also has half siblings. So far all he has told his father , my husband, is that he is very glad he was adopted.
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Post by htmb on Jun 18, 2020 16:35:12 GMT
Oh, tod. I can certainly relate to that feeling. I’m very happy I was adopted, but I’m also pleased to now know much of the “rest of the story.” There are so many reasons people make certain decisions in life. Often, placing a child for adoption is the very best choice. I couldn’t have asked for a more loving adoptive family. I’m guessing your son feels the same. I just wish my state hadn’t made it so hard for me to learn about my origins. Though my siblings are very different from me, we also share a lot of traits and have been able to connect in quite satisfying ways. I feel very fortunate to now have them in my life. Plus, I’ve learned some important family medical history.
Despite my biological mother’s secrecy (It seems she never told anyone in the family about me) I now have the maternal side pretty well covered, but there are still many gaps in my knowledge about my paternal side. A second cousin and a niece have been very friendly and most helpful, but they don't seem to know much of the family history. It’s like all the Italian roots were buried and forgotten.
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Post by whatagain on Jun 20, 2020 6:41:35 GMT
I can imagine it is important to know where we come from. However for me it holds no appeal to discover who my ancestors were or what they did. Outside of the ones i knex - and loved. I dont think i saw a picture of my maternal grandmother and saw one of the paternal side. I asked last month for the first time my father how his mother was. I just never thought of asking. People i have never met in the flesh and who have never interfered with me dont attract me. Seems family comes from the Ruhr gebiet. We found an ancestor from 1605 called Alois. I was offered to get a copy of the family tree by a guy having my name. He found me on FB at the time i had my real name there. I blocked him some years ago. He only posted about the past and wanted to meet me. Too insistently.
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Post by casimira on Jun 20, 2020 12:17:33 GMT
HTMB,I'm so impressed with all the hard work put into this endeavor, really, challenge would be the better word and am pleased and thrilled for you that there is now a light at the end of the tunnel.
I was not aware of your attempts at doing this. It could not have been an easy task dealing with all the bureaucratic red tape and research. I don't know if I could have persevered all that it took. But, you have always impressed me with being very diligent and a much more organized person than I to be sure. Bravissimo on your efforts panning out.
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Post by htmb on Jun 20, 2020 22:05:56 GMT
Thank you, Casimira.
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Post by casimira on Jun 22, 2020 16:34:05 GMT
"Somebody" is grumpy on here this morning...
I spent a long time posting on here this morning. Maybe too long.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 23, 2020 7:13:34 GMT
Intrepid adventurer this morning. I'm going to catch (unfortunate choice of words) a bus to the large out-of-town shopping centre this morning. My first bus journey for 3 months. I have a mask, shield and gloves.
There is a shop there where I can buy good quality meat and veg, plus a few luxuries...Marks and Spencer...I luuuuuurve M&S and haven't been able to shop there for 3 months. Whilst there I can pick up a few other things that we've run out of...and we all need new pants,
Taking my trusty bag on wheels and a rolled up umbrella to poke people out of the way in true grumpy old lady fashion. My hair is SO CRAZY that I look the part so I may as well go with it.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 23, 2020 7:36:59 GMT
Enjoy your freedom Cheery. The mask or shield or both should be all you need - I don't know so much about gloves as they are touching items that may have naughty Corona virus and then you forget and touch your mask……but you know much more about things like that having been in the medical field for many years.
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Post by casimira on Jun 23, 2020 11:52:42 GMT
Am excited for you to finally be able to get out and go somewhere and being able to shop to your heart's content Cheery. Going to your favorite shops will hopefully help cheer you up after all these weeks of being so isolated and responsible for taking every single precaution advised. I hope there are not too, too many people that you are bound to run across who are behaving like arses. I say this because that's what happened when I first ventured out and it did dampen what I had hoped would be a more pleasant experience. Goodness knows there are plenty of "them" out there in all sizes, shapes and colors. I'm sure you already knew all this. I say it only to be supportive and sharing what my experience was like because I wasn't fully prepared to deal with some of the people and their inconsiderate behaviors.
I'll be curious and look forward to reading about your adventure in this "new" world we now live in.
I did have to be cautious of how much money I was spending as I found myself wanting to buy more items than were necessary.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 23, 2020 16:28:44 GMT
I really enjoyed my jolly adventure. Jeff decided hat taking a bus was a silly idea so he drove me there in the car. He parked in the enormous car park there and I scuttled off. I went into two stores. The shopping centre is a vast sprawl, built in the past 15 years or so and currently being expanded. The stores there are very large and well laid out with wide aisles...the only store that looked busy was Primark but I didn't want to go in there anyway.
First went to Boots the chemist, they limited the number of customers and had marks on the floor at 2m intervals. There were also barriers up to guide customers through the store one way. I purchased my Clarins moisturiser and the body lotion that I like, the assistant wore a mask and respected my space whilst I paid by card. I then bought a head band, shower gel etc and paid for them at the self service tills which were disinfected between customers.
Then walked up to Marks and Spencer (which is a huge store). A young man was disinfecting the shopping trolleys between customers, I only wanted to go to the food hall so I walked through the store following the one way system. It wasn't busy but not empty, the queues at the tills were being managed well. At the food hall there was quite a queue, a bit like check in at an airport. There were 2m markings on the floor to remind customers about social distancing. They let 5 customers in at a time as 5 left the store at the back of the food hall.
Oooh I had a lovely time. M&S isn't cheap, but their food really is very nice. I bought 2 beef joints for the freezer, fillet steak, bacon, a ham joint, frozen fish and gammon steaks. A few ready made convenience foods...steak and ale pies, lasagne etc. Also got salad stuff, fruit, cheese, our favourite wholemeal bread and a few treats for the chaps...crisps, bickies etc. My freezer is now rammed with goodies and I can have the occasional day off preparing dinner as the ready meals are really quite nice so I don't feel guilty.
In fact I've saved quite a lot in the past 3 months whilst self isolating. Deliveries of groceries from the supermarket have been a lifeline but their meat and poultry aren't a patch on M&S, also I like to choose my own.
The customers in the store were all very civilised, there was a lot of "after you, no..after YOU" dinxing about as we tried to ensure we stayed 2m apart. I had lots of compliments (in the queues and at the tills) for my home made mask too. The assistants at the tills disinfected the belt between customers and they themselves seemed to be inside a hermetically sealed box (not really). The assistant did my packing...she had a mask on and a visor. I just had my mask on because the visor kept getting steamed up...I had my glasses on tho.
Before I left the shop I was offered a squirt of hand sanitiser too. Jeff drove up to the doors and an assistant whisked away my trolley and gave me my pound back (after cleaning it!)
A thoroughly pleasant shop, compared to the bun fight that is Asda. Worth every penny I spent.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 23, 2020 16:53:34 GMT
I enjoy the M&S Food shops in Paris. Of course they are only symbolic in size compared to the ones in the UK, but they are good enough to have survived the retreat of Marks & Spencer department stores (for the second time) from France. I don't go often, but there are always quite a few items that I discover that I am craving.
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