THE BRITISH THREAD

Dorothy Parker you are being unkind to smorgs.

Well did you read it or not?

And men bring laydees Black Magic chocolates whether they know they like chocolates or not...they probably don't because the laydees are always quite skinny. No, Milk Tray. Anyway it's a shot in the dark. Laydees are mysterious.

Oh Dutchy, I'm only teasing and I'm sure she realises this but just in case, smorgs I am sorry. You moan away, I understand.

xxx

Maybe they eat them and then throw up afterwards.

Hey is this the first argument of 07?

Can I throw up...?

Whats a "laydee" btw, anything to do with little Britain?

All out before lunch for 291!

One of the best sessions of Test Match cricket I've ever seen.

4/188 stumps. Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds, after a rain delay, seem in control. Pitch seems to have evened out a little on the second day.

Yes. I think our boys need a bit more coaching, and probably not in Australia.

Time now for the customary British practice of analysis and recriminations following another sporting disaster. Let's blame Fletcher.

I know cricket is the big topic for discussion but...

I just got a habitat voucher for £100!!!!!!! For my birthday.

It's sooo generous, I wasn't expecting it - from my work colleagues, for my new gaff.

Trouble is I'm going to have to do the brews for months now - and they all know I hate brewing...

x

That's brilliant, Sarah.

It sounds like you have a good bunch of mates there.

I knew it was going to be a good day...

I had my favourite earrings in!

x

Mac wrote-



Fetch out the scapegoat.

The function of the scapegoat is to prevent the need to find the real cause of the misfortune if it is a misfortune.

I blame feminism, lady TV and lady bloody everybloodything else where stuffing choc-chocs, throwing up and spending are the only topics on the agenda as the sperm count falls into forbidden territory.

I think AA Gill is of the same opinion. Auberon Waugh and Simon Raven too along with George Bernard Shaw who said that if we give women the vote we will end up talking about ovaries.

Ever read Henry Miller's On The Ovarian Trolley?

Blaming Mr Fletcher is tantamount to abandoning English cricket and English sport in general.

The price the National Lottery (run by ladies) exacted from Lord's for a grant was allowing ladies into the Long Room.

I was a member of a cricket club which allowed ladies into the games room as a price for a £250,000 grant. It is now closed and on the way to dereliction. It was the kiss of death.

But as long as smorgsie has her favourite earrings in all's well with the world I suppose.

How far do they dangle darling?

spends wrote;





spendy... you dawg...

x

I don't think that my earrings will solve world hunger, spends...

But they do make me happy. They dangle only a little, but they are beautiful, pear-cut green apatite. I'm not sure what they measure on the MOH's scale (I know about these things - 1 being talc, 10 being diamond), I would think they are about an 8.

Also, spends, I bought the new 'Lash Architect' mascara today, so I'm fluttering like mad...

I just can't help it! I DO have a serious side, but I am also shamelessly girly - me and my girlfriends can talk sex and make-up for hours... can't you? I know you think it's trite, but it's just as valid as cricket.

I enjoy being a girrrllll

x

What about being a woman?

You know what they say about girls don't you?

Smorgs comments about her "Apatite" earrings intrigued me. I know a little bit about gems too, having fossicked for many minerals downunder. Apatite reads 5 on the MOH scale. Here a bit more information to absorb

CHEMISTRY (Ca5(PO4)3(F, OH, Cl)3)
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Hexagonal
REFRACTIVE INDEX 1.632 - 1.42, (variable with composition)
HARDNESS 5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 3.10 - 3.35
CLEAVAGE Poor
HEAT SENSITIVE Yes, very.

WEARABILITY Very Good
SPECIAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS Avoid rough handling

ENHANCEMENTS None

Wearability is graded as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Poor, and Forget It!

Apatite, a stone seldom found in jewelry stores and virtually unknown to the general public, is beloved by collectors for its many different colors and forms. Only with the recent availability of the neon blue-green variety from Madagascar, has its jewelry use increased. The color of the best specimens of this type rivals the famed Paraiba tourmalines, but alas, this gem lacks their toughness and hardness. At 5 on the Mohs scale, apatite must be cut, set, and worn gently. Earrings, pendants, pins, and tie tacks are probably safe, but ring use should be limited to occasional wear pieces with protective settings. Care for this stone is similar to that given opals, it is heat and shock sensitive, so steamers and ultrasonics must be avoided.
Gems are available in yellows and various shades of blues and greens. Some of the blues show chatoyancy and can be cut as cat's eyes. Main sources are Brazil, Canada, India, Mozambique, and Madagascar.


Value
The major sources listing values for gems do not yet catalog the blue-green variety so I have extrapolated from the data available on the other colors. Sinkankas lists fine blue stones of between .5 to 1.5 ct at $75 to $200 per carat. His estimate for blue Brazilian stones is $100/ct. The rarest of all varieties, a rich purple from Maine, tops the list at $250 per carat.
The degree of polish can vary on this soft stone due to skill levels of individual cutters, giving well polished stones premium value. As with most gems, saturation of color, size, and clarity are the major determiners of value

What?

That the just want to have fun?

I'm all woman spendy - only I am allowed to call myself a girl.

Dutch,

How fascinating, I know a little Gemmology too. I would love to have a pair of Morganite earrings, as they are even more unusual to than Apatite.

Do you have any Opals? I wouldn't wear them, but I think they are beautiful, especially Fire Opals.

x