Thanks for the compliment regarding my photography skills, pennyhal. I got the plant at a nearby wholesaler for $8, believe it or not. They had a bunch of gibbifloras and only one other had curled leaves, and its were not as curled. My understanding, bikerdoc5968, is that most if not all Echeverias with carnunculation (bumps) are either gibbifloras or gibbiflora hybrids. I've never seen any like the ones in your first photo. The spacing of the leaves makes them look good even with long stalks.

I've seen this before and just love it. After reading it again on Sunday I went shopping, and on one of the end-cap displays near the wine section, they featured Clos du Bois Chardonnay, and I let out loud snort of laughter. I felt like making a cryptic sign that simply said "Marney says 'BUY THIS WINE'"

Below is a link to BBC Radio 4 and a reading of 'And His Letters . . .' by the actor Nigel Havers who btw is appearing as Maxim de Winter in Rebecca on the London stage. Perhaps not quite Olivier but he does have that aristocratic 'something' about him. At the BBC site click on Monday And regarding aristocrats, Frieda, maybe some people in the UK feel that a hangman's gibbet should stand outside the House of Lords or that hereditary peers should be replaced by friends of the Government with deep pockets . . . not so different from the old system when you consider how many 'top people's' ancestors obtained their titles. Either way, arriving with William the Conqueror or slightly more recently when various Royal Mistresses demanded positions for their offspring, this group is part of the Establishment. No amount of money, delicacy of character, nobleness of soul makes it possible for the rest of us to join this elite group (and it is amazing how many would like to be Up There). Top actors, pop singers, Party Girls etc hang round the edge but they are almost never admitted into this inner-sanctum. Of course there are some very wealthy people in this bracket; mostly from ownership of land and lots have 'Stately Homes'. Many of you have probably been to Chatsworth, Castle Howard, Warwick Castle etc. who's owners have wisely turned their properties into money-making enterprises. Interesting about the story of the student and her father. Surprisingly over here, for everyone below Royalty if such a thing had happened (a father writing in on behalf of his daughter) any university would have put the application straight in the bin; there is no automatic right of entry to any uni' for sons/daughters of alumni. Re adoption: there are certainly far fewer babies available these days. Although many many more babies are being born 'out of wedlock' (for want of a better expression) this is usually by choice . . . of at least one parent . . . and in both big cities and small country towns the sight of groups of very young females pushing baby buggies, smoking, chatting to boys (the possible fathers?) is very common. Our Govt gives out vast amounts of benefits to this group so the need to put a baby up for adoption is very low and many people only want healthy white children. The Social Services who are usually the first port of call in these matters make the 'process' very very difficult, especially for middle-class couples. It seems that if a child comes from a poorer, perhaps racially mixed background the social workers wants it to be adopted by people from that 'class' without considering whether the child might stand a chance of a better life. Some parents look abroad as I expect they do in the US, but this can lead to even more problems . . . and cost far more than going through the usual channels. When the cases of the Romanian orphans was first aired on TV some people tried to adopt a child, thinking with their hearts rather than...

Sorry for your difficulty in understanding an accent on the phone. I had an aunt who spoke with a strong German/New York accent that left me baffled when young, but gifted me with being pretty good with accents. I do need time with the person and seeing them in person definitely helps. I've worked with (dental) patients who are reluctant to speak because of their accents. I tell 'em keep talking, the more I hear them, the better I get at understanding them. Usually once they realize someone is really listening, I can't shut them up! (not that I want to) Garden gal 48 I agree about speed. Slower is better. They may not understand me well either. Anglophillia-- you may have hit the nail on the head. I once worked at a resort where the maintenance man was especially interested in a sore throat I'd complained about the day before. A co-worker explained he'd been a doctor in Cuba. Couldn't practice in the US of course. Came over on a makeshift raft. Was happier being a maintenance man in the US than a Dr. in Cuba. Kind of a eye opener for me. And yet-- Your Dr. should realize your limited energy and honor your request to not have to fill out a lengthy medical history in such a exhausting way. Ask to have them mail the forms to you so you can fill them out at home and bring them with you. This is not an unusual request. You can fill it out at your leisure as time and energy allow. You will know everything is correct. The assistant can enter the data into the computer from your form and you can avoid the situation.