Happy Birthday Neely!

[The Comedian]

Hope you have a great 24 hour celebration!

http://www.united-nations-of-beer.com/images/st-bernardus-abt-12-21350423.jpg

[hoope]

Happy birthday Neely :)

[Lokasenna]

Happy Birthday!:bday_2:

[Paulclem]

Happy Birthday mate. Have you got yer taties in yet?

[kiki1982]

happy birthday! have a great day!

[Buh4Bee]

Cheers! Have a happy day!

[billl]

Happy Birthday!

http://www.abidally.com/karachi.jpg


(and a box--not 12--of this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/CASE-Genmaicha-Japanese-Green-YamaMotoYama/dp/B004SGXKLS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1303508476&sr=8-2))

[Emil Miller]

Neely, let me wish you all the best for your birthday. I don't normally record birthday greetings on LitNet because it's only children and teenagers who don't realise that they are one year further down the road to dusty death. Your current birthday would indicate that you are aware of this and so I send you my sincerest regards on this august occasion.

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/4678/26945262.jpg

[LitNetIsGreat]

Thanks all for your kind words on this very special occasion!

I've been out for a meal with the evil one and had a great time eating Italian food, drinking wine (Emil: Frascati Superior at £13.95, easy drinking for Mrs Neely?) and then playing on the quiz machines in the good, nesbit-free, pubs. Previous to this I have spend the whole day in the garden feeling the sun and reading, not a bad day, birthday or not.

Thanks again Comedian, I intend the 24 hour celebration to last a lifetime if possible...Loka, hoope, Paul, yes the pots are doing fine, kiki, jersea, bill and Emil thanks - (indeed, I feel the same as you mostly but alas, it is a good idea to get a few free drinks from relatives, for what else are they for? - it is all good in that regard).

Thanks again, kind regards and live long and prosper!!

[JuniperWoolf]

Happy birthday, Neely!

[Lulim]

Happy Birthday!

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Happy birthday Neely !

Here are a few hi-lites from 1978 borrowed from my Compton's year book.
(I have year books from 1947 through 1987)

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/197804.jpg


Literary notables:

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/197801.jpg


My Cowboys lost Super Bowl XIII

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/197802.jpg

and

Lady Churchill was not pleased with a portrait:


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/197803.jpg


.

[yuka]

Happy birthday Neely!

[kasie]

Happy Birthday, Neely - you did of course plant the potatoes yesterday, didn't you?

[Maryd.]

Oh, my apologies, I missed your birthday.

Hope you had a good one.

[Emil Miller]

Thanks all for your kind words on this very special occasion!

I've been out for a meal with the evil one and had a great time eating Italian food, drinking wine (Emil: Frascati Superior at £13.95, easy drinking for Mrs Neely?)

The mark up on the wine was about right for a restaurant; my local store sells it for about £6.50. It's a good wine with fish although I think women might prefer Soave, which is a little less dry.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Thanks everyone.


Happy Birthday, Neely - you did of course plant the potatoes yesterday, didn't you?

Nope, I planted the wine and drank the potatoes - the result of too much sun, reading and English beer!


The mark up on the wine was about right for a restaurant; my local store sells it for about £6.50. It's a good wine with fish although I think women might prefer Soave, which is a little less dry.

Yes that seems about right. I don't like the Soave from what I remember. I did enjoy the wine though so I have bought another bottle of Frascati, obviously a different type from the wine last night but I hope it is as nice, and a fancy looking bottle of Chablis which was half price, reduced from £10+. I'm going to have one of those tonight I think.

Today I have spent the first half of the day in the garden reading, that is until the thunderstorm and hail, and the second half tottering around inside reading and moving from room to room doing my best to put off my final essay and other annoying "stuff". Now that the storm has gone I'm going back out again to read - stuff it all. I'm getting back into this reading and lazy lark, it's good fun.

Thanks again. :cool:

[Scheherazade]

Happy Birthday, Neely!



An interview with Neely:

*Why are we doing this interview thing?*
Well it keeps me out of trouble and it might be therapeutic – you could be my analyst.

*Are you sure you want to do this?*
Well, maybe not now, are you going to ask me about my mother?

*Who killed Roger Rabbit?*
Well it wasn’t me. If I’m being charged for something I want my solicitor.

*Whose footprints would you find in the fridge?*
Look, you wouldn’t be able to find the bottom of my fridge never mind footprints. I swear I am the only person who cleans it out and tidies it up. Right now there are bottles on top of cheesecakes, oranges under milk, yogurts scattered sideways on top of beer bottles - it’s a right mess, but I’m not cleaning it again.

*So, how old are you?*
I’m 33. I’ve just reached that age when wearing pyjamas becomes acceptable again. (I still only admit to 27 at parties though – that’s the last time I’m going to use that joke.)

*If you had a personal theme song what would it be?*
Oh my I don’t know. It changes all the time. We’ll go with this for now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ZajJd-1kY

*Are you male or female?*
What sort of question is that?

*Do you like red cars?*
No. I have little interest in cars, red or otherwise. I took driving lessons when I was 17 and failed the following test excellently and I haven’t looked back since. They are too expensive to run any and I don’t see all the fun in paying that to sit in traffic jams. Saying that, I can’t stand buses either...trains are the best...ish. I would ride a motorcycle but I even managed to fail that test too.

*What makes you keep coming back to the Forum?*
I feel the need to inform people of my daily eating and drinking habits. I also find myself going to LitNet without even knowing it, my fingers just go there. They have to check in daily.

*If you owned the site, what would you change?*
I’d have to do something about the specialist boards. Any new or interesting posts are soon lost. You could do with a section showing the latest posts like in the General Literature section, have an Author Section or something like that. Nothing much else, apart from getting rid of the adverts if possible.

*What was the inspiration for your LitNet username?*
Oh I just put my surname in, don’t know why really, some people call me Neely, so I put it in. I’m related to Bill Neely don’t you know? (I’m better looking though.)
http://blog.itv.com/news/author/billneely/

*Which countries have you visited?*
Not as many as I would have liked. The UK obviously (though I’ve never been to Scotland or N Ireland, but due to visit N Ireland later in the year for a wedding). I have visited Ireland, Spain and Cyprus.

I’m determined to travel more when I come in to some cash - destination: the rest of Europe, Italy, France and Belgium the first stop, then beyond who knows? But if I don’t get cash then I’ll just eat and drink their produce instead.

*Which languages do you speak?*
I am semi-fluent in English and can interpret the Yorkshire dialect.

*How do you like your home town?*
I have a love and hate relationship with it. On the one hand it sits on the edge of the Peak District which is one of the best National Parks in the country. It is relatively good for theatre, pubs, restaurants and things like that, but on the other hand it can be frustrating, especially if you live in the poor north of the city, you would not believe economic north/south divide.

*If you could live somewhere different, where would it be and why?*
The south of the city!

If I had the money and I could convince Mrs Neely I would be out of this country I think, only visiting during the “summer” months. Just get me away. I would head to Italy, France, Spain someplace like that. I would want a beach and an easy life.

If I couldn’t convince Mrs Neely to get away (which I couldn’t) I would try and argue the case for Cornwall (or somewhere close, Dorset etc) and enjoy the beautiful coastlines and peaceful way of life. If I couldn’t get there, then somewhere in the Peak District, Lower Bradfield is an ideal village.

*Do you have any pets?*
Ha, we finally caved in a got a rabbit last month. A miniature Rex.

*What makes you happy?*
This question reminds of this scene from Manhattan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5owXCZ0CDg

What makes me happy? Not working and therefore having free time. Drinking beer. Reading. Listening to music. Holidays. Eating cheese sandwiches. Indulging in my latest things (watching Woody Allen films). Sleeping. Annoying the kids. All sorts of things, apart from working.

*Do you feel comfortable in your walk with God/atheism?*
Yes I am. I don’t follow organised religion. I much prefer mine unorganised, unorganised atheism. The Buddhist philosophy is interesting, but I wouldn’t go beyond the surface ideas, the basic stuff is pretty much solid common sense.

*Which actor should play you in a movie based on your life?*
That’s a good one. Someone not too good looking or stylish, maybe just Marlon Brando in his prime or Brad Pitt in modern times. No, really maybe I could trust Matt Damon could pull off the intelligent, good looking working class hero type...It wouldn’t be a very interesting story though. You’d have to add in a few car chases or something to spice it up a bit.

*Who is your favourite Beatle?*
Lennon – nice hair, peace and love and all that. I mean who could like Paul anyway and the others don’t really count do they? What’s with Ringo and Thomas the Tank Engine?

*How do you like your coffee?*
Argghh coffee, I like it from Pollards until they closed the shop down...I am desperately on the look out for decent coffee. I like it medium strength, one sugar and with cream, and of course I never drink instant coffee, I would rather go without.

*Given the option, what animal would you choose to be?*
Animal? I don’t want to be an animal thank you very much.

*What's the biggest fish you've ever caught?*
Ha, ha, I used to fish when I was little. I caught one this big [moves hands from side to side]. A 10lb Pike I think.

*What makes you feel great about yourself?*
Having the freedom to move with my whims.

*How did you meet your significant other?*
Oh, none of business is of any interest.

*Who inspires you most?*
Great works of literature and whatever it is that moves me at the moment.

*What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)*
Sleeping. Honestly I have to work at everything else. I am naturally bad at a number of things. I suppose that means I am naturally good at being naturally bad at a number of things.

*What is the one thing you must do before you die?*
I am currently working on a plan of early semi-retirement. I want to be out of that silly business as quickly as possible, so that I can enjoy simple things wisely.

*Is there a selfless act?*
Yes, but it would be a rare thing. People are mostly selfish I think.

*If you had to teach something, what would you teach?*
I don’t know. I don’t know if I want to teach English anymore. If you “had” to do anything it would soon become tiresome.

*What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?*
I definitely regret not travelling when I was younger. I also think, looking back, I should have gone into getting my own business somehow, make a bit of money and then take off. You can’t change the past though so there’s little point in beating yourself up, even though I do that sometmes.

*If you were to be stuck at a particular time in your life, which one would you choose and why?*
Now. I am at the prime of my life.

*Do you get tired living life?*
No, never. I get tired of having to get up when an alarm clock tells me, but I don’t get tired of life and owning my own time. Those people who say they are happy to be back to work after a holiday want putting down.

*Do you have a tasty recipe for life that you could share for a reasonable price? … Is it REALLY tasty?*
Balance. Balance is the key recipe for a happy life if you can manage it I think. Other than that try Belgian beer.

*What method do you cherish above all others, as means to improving your life?*
Wisdom. It can be beneficial in many ways, spiritual and financial - it is a dream of mine to make my living from playing pub quiz machines.

*What one thing would you NEED to have on a deserted island if you didn't have to worry over food and water?*
I would need a decent razor. I shave twice a day as I can’t stand any facial hair, so that would have to come first. Oh, I would love the peace but I don’t think I could get by on a deserted island for that long. I would like to book myself a month there if possible though. Could I have some books as well?

*If you were a king/queen for a day, what would you do?*
I would sit on a throne looking important and demand food.

*What’s the stupidest forum argument you’ve ever had?*
Oh, I have loads of stupid arguments all the time. I didn’t speak to Mrs Neely for a whole weekend once because of an argument over some socks...

On LitNet I don’t know? Maybe one involving elitists and Dan Brown and me letting myself getting dragged into silly things. Also on one of those crazy threads, you know the ones I mean...

*What song is in your head at the moment?*
Nothing thankfully, I am at peace – hey this therapy is working!

*Which book are you reading at the moment?*
Oh. I am not really able to fully commit myself to reading because of the last couple of essays which loom, but I am reading The Complete Prose of Woody Allen (very average, but fun) and a partial re-read of Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse and a economics text book which is pink.

*What is your favourite quote?*
Oh really anything by Wilde. “Work is the refuge of people who have nothing better to do” sounds quite apt with what I have been banging on about.

*Favorite avatar on the Forum?*
Mine. Mine is the best.

*Favorite threads?*
The classical listening one, the eating and drinking one, classical crushes one, latest movies one, things like that, I like the deep stuff.

*What's your favorite sandwich?*
Cheese salad. I do the best ones. Has to be good mature cheddar on freshly baked bread, with decent salad (chives essential) and either salad cream or piccalilli. Plain crisp optional. Serve with coffee.

*What is your answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?*?
Bananas. Bananas is the answer.

*What are you wearing at the moment?*
My grey Trinity College Dublin T-shirt (I didn't attend the university, just the gift shop) and some new boot cut jeans I bought yesterday.

*Favorite poem?*
This year it is "Ozymandias".

*First novel you remember reading on your own?*
Unfortunately I didn’t read until later on in life (another massive regret) but I suppose Lord of the Rings was about the first thing I read at 17.

*What era do you find most of the books you read are from?*
Well now that my degree is finally at a close I am going to be much more free in my reading, so who knows? I’d like to look at more contemporary stuff maybe. In the past it has been Victorian/early 20th century texts. I might try my hand at writing, but my creative writing is really terrible and corny – maybe I’ve just not found the right voice yet?

*Favorite TV shows?*
I tune in for Mastermind and sometimes Eggheads (following the dream see) and watch the news if I want to get angry, other than that I don’t watch the TV. I prefer to watch films if I use the TV.

*Which Forum members would you like to meet in person?*
Any rich and/or attractive female ones. Also, any of the types I chat too most often, beers all round folks.

*Last words you said out loud?*
At the moment of typing “yes go upstairs for a bit will you?” (the kids are loud).

*Last person you hugged/kissed?*
Well it’s not Mrs Neely I can tell you! My youngest daughter, though she screams and pulls away – don’t worry I have this effect on all women.

*What do you do (for a living) to be able to keep your LitNet addiction going? And are you happy with your chosen profession?*
I am a fancy Teaching Assistant/Intervention Worker, but I think you have gathered my views of work in general. There is no such thing as being happy with work unless you are very lucky or of the type that wants putting down (as I spoke about earlier). It’s not always bad I suppose. There are some good kids to be fair, but some of them are becoming tedious or my patience is wearing thin. That sounds harsh, I’m not harsh outwardly.

*Would you rather be an educated fool or an ignorant fool?*
An educated fool. What was the question?

*What would you like to be if you could change your profession?*
A travelling banana salesman. Well you would get around and meet new people. I would take on the European sector.

*Which one of the seven dwarves are you and why?*
Smelly, is that one? I’d be smelly or Doc.

*What is your most outstanding feature?*
My weight. I can munch and drink I stay slim. Also my liver; it is still going.

*If you could change one thing about the way you look, what would that be?*
Nothing. I won’t change a thing and I can’t see why people do so with plastic surgery for minor cosmetic things. This should be stopped. If people spend money on things like this then they have too much of it. Send the money to poor kids instead.

I’m not really that harsh, people can do what they want but it seems a little pointless to me.

*Which book do you wish you had written?*
Hmmm. Rebecca perhaps? Beautifully written and a great story. Maybe a Hemingway piece, one of his more autobiographical ones, or “The Importance of Being Ernest” because it is just about perfect.

*What book would you recommend to others of all types and ages as a must read?*
I don’t know, difficult question if it has to be for all types and ages, kids included. Maybe, Wilde’s short stories, The Happy Prince and Other Tales or parables/Greek myths.

*What should you be doing at the moment instead of answering these questions?*
Nothing much, it’s a “lazy” Sunday. Maybe reading or getting a drink? Taking over the world perhaps?

*Describe your ideal day, please.*
I lay in bed and snooze while gentle fingers of sunlight try to wake me fully. Mrs Neely has taken the kids to her mothers or someplace (so it is nice and quiet). Eventually I get up and get a shave with a good razor. All is peaceful. I go downstairs and get a quality coffee and some kind of toasted bread product. I sit on the sofa or step and eat these slowly while I read. I wash these down with cold orange juice (freshly squeezed of course) the ice cubes clank. I leave the house on head out somewhere nice, somewhere green maybe Padley Gorge (a nice picnic spot in the Peaks) Mrs Neely can meet me there with the kids. We picnic and paddle in the stream.

Later I meet friends in the pub and have a few light drinks and great meal, take an opera and come home. I take my usual nightly bath and read.

Later, I check my emails and LitNet, watch a Woody Allen film and take my socks off. I love taking my socks off. I drink Belgian beer. I go to bed safe in the knowledge that I can live it again tomorrow. I have no alarm clock.

*Favorite movie?*
Manhattan is fast becoming my favourite film of the moment.

*Last movie you watched?*
Shadows and Fog. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8MfR5ZsGl0

*How are you going to pick just one favourite painting?*
I’ll just take one that comes to mind.

*Favorite painting?*
Nothing comes to mind!

To be fair, of all the arts, visual art is the one that has the least direct influence on me, this does not that it doesn’t move me. I have scenes from the Sistine Chapel above my computer upstairs, I would love to stand there and look up at the ceiling, but the pull of reading, of music, of film has greater impact upon me than visual art at the moment at least.

Bowie, yay or nay?
Neither. Life shouldn’t be reduced to simple binary opposites. Reject all binaries.

*Wonderful Superman or depressing Batman?*
Superman is so corny, it has to be Batman over Superman, but I’m not interested in watching the films.

*Something you want to forget but you never can?*
Advertisements. Advertisements are evil and intrusive and no matter how hard I try to get them away from my head (and believe me I try) they still get through.

*If you could relive one moment in your life whenever you wanted to, what would it be?*
Holidays with my family when I was a boy. Relaxing and easy living. Also holidays with my own family, holidays in general, life should be one big holiday.

*What is the best thing that happened to you since your last birthday?*
Nothing much. I can’t remember much about it I’m afraid.

*If you could send one thing to the Room 101, one would that be?*
One thing? One thing is difficult. Hmm, maybe the TV, TV is mostly evil.

*Are you mostly happy with life or are you still in pursuit?*
I try to be happy, but often life gets in the way.

Can one ever be completely happy anyway, are we not destined to be in continual pursuit, only gaining brief victories along the way?

*Tell us something scandalous about yourself.*
No chance.

*How long did it take you to answer all of these questions?*
I don’t know, over an hour, closer to two and I’ll go back and check my answers, then maybe three.

*When will you pay Whifflingpin?*What the hell is that? If free drinks are included yes.

*One final word of wisdom for LitNet users?*
Seek balance and wisdom; but indulge often.

*What question would you like to ask to the person to be interview after you?*
Do you want to buy a banana?

[Paulclem]

Good interview Neely.

You have a bath every night?

[LitNetIsGreat]

Thanks Scher.


Good interview Neely.

You have a bath every night?

Thanks, sorry if I sounded too grumpy though, I'm not always that bad, though mostly so probably.

Yes I have a bath 6 days out of 7 at least. I like to disappear with a book and a drink away from it all for a bit. Cleaning optional.

[qimissung]

Happy Birthday, Neely! May you have wine and books every day!

[soundofmusic]

:bday_2: I'm missing everybodies birthday...well, you aren't supposed to have a birthday on bunny day; I was out waiting for the rabbits to lay eggs...did yours, by the way...great interview...have a good one:grouphug:

[TheFifthElement]

Happy belated birthday Neely. Loved the interview though it left me with:
1) the impression that you're slightly obsessed with food, and
2) an uncontrollable urge to eat bananas

can't imagine why :D

[Emil Miller]

Brilliant interview Neely, it shows you have got your priorities right, with the possible exception of Woody Allen of course.
Interesting to note that you are reading both Woody Allen and Virginia Woolf, although I don't suppose that To the Lighthouse is a barrel of laughs.

[The Comedian]

Really enjoyed your interview Neely -- your "perfect" day sounds exactly that (except for that dreadful shaving -- something I do only on Sundays, and reluctantly at that).

[LitNetIsGreat]

Happy Birthday, Neely! May you have wine and books every day!

Thank you that sounds like heaven.


:bday_2: I'm missing everybodies birthday...well, you aren't supposed to have a birthday on bunny day; I was out waiting for the rabbits to lay eggs...did yours, by the way...great interview...have a good one:grouphug:

Thanks, no worries - I know the first time I have had my birthday at Easter, brilliant, I stayed in bed while 10 and shook off a hangover.


Happy belated birthday Neely. Loved the interview though it left me with:
1) the impression that you're slightly obsessed with food, and
2) an uncontrollable urge to eat bananas


can't imagine why :D
Oh yes you are right, there's a lot of food in all of that, I do think of food and drink quite a lot it seems. The bananas thing was a job I was interested in or a short story I was planning to write someday - "The Travelling Banana Salesman", goes around Europe selling bananas to big hitter types, drinking coffee in European cities and having a great time - my ideal job.



Brilliant interview Neely, it shows you have got your priorities right, with the possible exception of Woody Allen of course.
Interesting to note that you are reading both Woody Allen and Virginia Woolf, although I don't suppose that To the Lighthouse is a barrel of laughs.

Yes I hate work and the prospect of it tomorrow is not sitting well with me at all. At least I have no classes tomorrow so I can sit at a computer for most of the day.

No Woolf is not a laugh, probably that's why I had the Woody Allen short stories alongside that, though I've read most of those now and I've read as much Woolf as I want for now. I've also finished with the text book and sent that packing. I'm now just reading odd novels that are popping up and Pro Bono later in the week.

Naw, Woody Allen is a good bit of fun to pop on around 11ish, (and Manhattan and Annie Hall are real gems) though I have been following a little of the snooker at present too.

[Paulclem]

The best thing that happened with the snooker was one Sunday evening in the late 70's (I think). I was sitting - bored because my snooker obsessed parents had it on. Suddenly the screen went blank, and then we got live shots of the SAS stroming the Irainian Embassy. Much much better than the snooker. I was laughing at the moaning of a million snooker fans weeping into the ether. Ha ha!

[LitNetIsGreat]

Ha, I though you was going to talk about Denis Taylor's famous '85 victory, I remember watching that as a kid in my grandad's caravan with the rain coming down on the roof.

When the Snooker's on it feels like the whole of Sheffield gets excited. It's about the only time we get a mention on the TV, even on the local news trash, Look North, is it Leeds, Leeds, Leeds...

I could have got a spare semi-final ticket for Saturday as well but it has not happened, never mind.

[Emil Miller]

Ha, I though you was going to talk about Denis Taylor's famous '85 victory, I remember watching that as a kid in my grandad's caravan with the rain coming down on the roof.

When the Snooker's on it feels like the whole of Sheffield gets excited. It's about the only time we get a mention on the TV, even on the local news trash, Look North, is it Leeds, Leeds, Leeds...

I could have got a spare semi-final ticket for Saturday as well but it has not happened, never mind.

I'm not a great snooker fan but I saw that match and to this day I still don't know how Davis missed the black. The pressure on Taylor when he stepped up to the table must have been unbearable.

[LitNetIsGreat]

For all you potato doubers, just look at those go:

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/5643/allpictures116.jpg

Oh yes.

[Niamh]

Hey Neely! Sorry I'm so late but I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

[Paulclem]

I've got one of those with maincrop in. They're just coming up. Yours are doing well.


http://www.online-literature.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=932&pictureid=8841

It's a tatie spade laying next to the bed of just earthed up taties. Mick say's it's French or Cornish. Note the bend for the head of the shovel so that the blade can plough the earth over the taties when you're earthing up.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Thanks Niamh very much, I had a great time.

Excellent Paul, looking good - mine are Rockets so they are earliers and coming along well. However it is my spinach that I'm proud of, honestly, I've got an unbelievable yield from such a small amount of seeds. Recommended.