Category Archives: Stringbean’s HE

Off for the weekend

Posted on May 13, 2005 by | Leave a comment

But not to HESFES!

I hope all those that are making there way there/ already pitched have a good time, the weather is good, and that they BLOG THE GOSSIP!

It’s nice to now be home for the weekend. Hopefully Normal Service may resume. SB is definitely unsettled. She is much closer to tears all the time, and really doesn’t like it when we moveout of sight when she’s not expecting it. I guess this is normal, but just feel bad about it. Have done lots of reassuring that this s the change over with, and we are going to live here altogether forever.

Yesterday eve was fun, one of my colleagues – Liz – came round for a meal of chaos with her partner. She had been great when I was down here before, pregnant and friendless, and invited me to her house for a meal, even though she had only been in for a week and not used theoven previously. It seemed right to show her our version of chaos. Hopefully we didn’t put her partner off having children, as both SB and BB were still up and perky when they left. However, both behaved impeccably, and I explained that them joining us was much more civilised than trying to keep them in bed if they didn’t want to be there. We had a lovely meal and chat. Liz and I share an office – so do pass by each other a couple of times! Hopefully will become part of new circle of friends. very nice and down to earth. Thankyou hospital for running out of offices!

Unfortunately I had left for work before SB got up as she was so tired – that prob didn’t really help the settling in thing, and she was really tearful about nursery. As Chris had left BB’s milk at home, he returned after 30 mins, and she was happily settled in. He thinks its more a worry about being seperated rather than not enjoying nursery, and she has made a friend as well. I think she just does mornings, so we might shorten the day hours at nursery while Chris doesn’t have work now house not quite so disastrous. This should help.

I got home at a civilised time, and chris sprung the girls from nursery. He had had a bit of crap day, as managed to flood kitchen by echangeing the fitted non-working dishwasher that was here when we moved in with our dishwasher from Leeds, which does fit in the gap, but doesn’t look as neat [or clean!].

Fed BB whilst being in a rocket with SB, we visited most of the planets, SB was the adventurer and got out and explored while I was the rocket looker afterer [her words]. Being an inventive soul, she switched off the volcanos and cleaned the air on venus so she could explore! This led to a discussion about whether their were volcanos on any other planets, so got out various of our science space books and read them.

As a treat we had real chips from the chippy – not able to in Leeds due to the lard they were cooked in, so nice to be back to vegetable oil area! SB particularly impressed as they were chips that were so nice you didn’t need tomato ketchup!

We then had a fun evening together, cuddling tickling, playing musical statues and more rocket games. Sang to and jiggled BB, gave her rooty pooties to make her laugh. Ah, a happy mummy and her girls. We took loads of photos – as did SB. She is getting so good at using our digicamera, that we may well look for a cheap one on ebay or somesuch for her. [oh, forgot to say, the whole rocket thing has been cos they made them at nursery out of old squash bottles] We enjoyed the evening so much, that it was gone 9pm before I took SB to bed to read her stories, and then make up some about maggie and the ferocious beast. I wonder if they do story cd’s? chris was rather scary with BB. Have photos of that too! Good thing we have high ceilings.

Just chilling now before bedtime. Thinking about new computers as work doing some deal where you buy them as direct deduction from salary before tax, which may be cheaper. They are elonex ones, so getting chris to see if any good. this way costs spread out and interest free. Even saves me some tax and NI.

thought for the day: late bedtimes are not always a bad thing. Happy hesfessing to those that are – expect some blogs from the site as well.

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Posted in Butterbean, General, Stringbean's HE

Feet up, cold beer ……..

Posted on May 11, 2005 by | 1 comment

Helen has had to do another resident on call 24 hour shift :-( :-( :-( – no this won’t be the normal arrrangement. If the house was fitted with an Infinite Improbability Drive (yep, just watched the rerun of HHGTTG), I would have whiled away the evening in peace on the sofa, beer in hand, laptop at hand to catch up on the ring and things with the shiny new ADSL connection (a man of simple pleasures…).

Back in this reality, managed to get Stringbean off to bed while Butterbean played in her cot reasonably happily, but then she spent the evening either drinking a modicum of milk, stopping, having another doze in bit while I cuddled her etc. but as soon as I went off to do something – 10 inutes later – ‘Wahhh’…… Daft thing is all she really want’s is a right good feed I suspect, she can now happily slurp it down from bottle if she wants to. But all she does is drink at most an ounze then stop, so of course feels like some more a bit later. For a normal working day, drinking just enough to wet her whistle is ok, in a situation like this it can make things a bit harder (though she was happier on Sunday). Anyway, grabbing a few minutes whle I can. If the kitchen table is still covered in the muffin making remains tomorrow Karen you know why :-)

Still quiet, so here was today:

Beans all up by time H was off to work, spent a pleasant 1 1/2 hours or so breakfasting, feeding Butterbean, well moslty making mess really. helping SB do this alphabet block puzzle thing I scavenged from a closing school. Easy for her really, as she know s the letters and the alphabet, though she can’t always yet say what letter comes after another without ‘singing the alphabet song’. Spent an inordinate amount of time getting ready to go out – to SB ‘ Go and get some clothes while I change BB’ . 10 minutes later she is still faffing around in her favoured unclothed state….. What with having to take dolly out in her pushcahir as well, and of course the library only being a minutes walk or so around the corner we were of course late (but only just) for Story Time. The reader (it’s all a voluntary thing) was reading storys with froggy themes. I particulalry liked the Hoppameleon which I’d not come across before. Finished off with a froggy sticky crafty thing which kept SB happy while I chatted a bit. Back home via the shops, big buggy + SB and dolly buggy = a fair bit of chaos :-) I did well to restrain myself to just a loaf of (very yummy) bread in the bakers.

At home, SB played beautifully with BB and by herself when BB got fed up while I fiddled about trying to get the ADSL connection to work properly, after calls to tech support, reboots, trying different ‘putes etc. I of course tried the obvious in retrospect option of resetting the router and redoing the setup, after which it did the inscrutable computer thing and worked……

Ahh, I hear BB calling, time for bed. Rest of day involved, lunching, pottering about outside, reading, trying to find something for SB to do with Boggle, trip to check out the local playground (never one near enought to our old house so that was nice), muffin making, dinner, bed etc.

Night all :-)

Pah, and now I can’t contact the websrver to upload the post….. :-(

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Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, Out and About, Stringbean's HE

In an English country Garden

Posted on May 8, 2005 by | 6 comments

Got home at 10am, so not too bad, and decided that I was going to stay up all day rather than have a nap [3 hours sleep last night].

SB
Had a rather nice phone call as I set out from SB, who particularly wanted to tell me, unprompted, that she loved me, And the excitement when I got home was great. Chris has got the main ‘pute up and running [I thought that might happen if I ran off with the laptop!] and its in the family/playroom. When I got in, we had a hearty breakfast, and then proceeded to clear the family room of as many boxes as possible, and refill it with our entire happy street collection. SB, in sweetheart mode, didn’t want BB to feel left our, so rooted about in variuos boxes, and we now have a BB toy basket as well. So morning spent very happily playing with happy street.

After lunch we got out into the garden and potted up the toms and capsicums, sowed french and runner beans, peas, sweetcorn and courgettes. The capsicums included our chitting of seeds from inside bought peppers – so SB has seen them through from cutting and cooking the flesh, and seed saving, chitting, pricking out and potting on. Lets hope there will be some fruit! It felt really great to be doing it, as Chris and I have really missed that organic grow your own feel to the seasons! SB also very proficient at sowing, and loves watering – though perhaps due to the soaking potential. Whilst in the greenhouse, it hailed, and actually greenhouses are excellent places to be, as you see the bouncing off over your head. SB thought rather funny. Funniest though was the mantra theres a snail in the hail [as there was] that went on.

BB
There has been a lot of sibling interaction today as well, with SB trying to show BB how to crawl – and being much put out that it didn’t immediately happen. I have enjoyed playing BB, as too often this week, all she is interested in me for is the feeding, and nothing much else. Once I had got the megafeed out of the way, we have been able to tickle, sing and giggle together – much nicer. SB fed her the carrot puree this evening, and was very proud to do so, and did it very carefully. We also made a green bean and red pepper puree together. Saved the seeds again to chit – though this late in the season they are less likely to fruit, but you never know with a conservatory. This was one of SB’s favourite weaning purees, and is a bit thicker than the others. The advantage of weaning later is that you don’t really have to worry about it so much [well I don't] as at 24 weeks, she has a good cough and gag reflex rather than lots of choking if its the wrong consistency. Like last time, we will delay the dairy and wheat a bit.

General
SB is knackered now as gott up at about 6am – Chris giving bath, and I’m doing stories, just wanted to blog something positive, as I have really enjoyed the day. I do love our new house and garden, just feel dislocated from it at the moment as so soon after move I have been full time at work. And more specially, I miss my girls! In June, that will hopefully not be acute, since I will work 2 days then have wed off, then a further 2 days. So I should stop winging then.

Thought for the day: I really enjoy being at home.

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Posted in Butterbean, General, Stringbean's HE

Working still

Posted on May 5, 2005 by | 1 comment

My girls seem to be managing well without me. And went to a singing group today, and then did some painting. [maybe chris will blog?]

got home earlyish after a busier day at work, and fed BB for an inordinate amount of time, as she hadn’t drunk anything while I was out.

We all went outside to hang up bird feeders, and just enjoy new garden. SB cycled round the paths a bit. She likes the utility room stable door, and has had her hobby horse peering out of it for a bit. Whiskey cat was allowed a short prowl in the garden as well.

BB getting grumpy, so came in for some pureed carrot – which she liked. Let SB feed her some, and she was really careful doing it. We read some of the usborne starting point science while I gave BB yet another feed – where does rubbish go, whats under the ground, and also some singapore maths 1A again – which I was pleased about.

Starting to feel a bit dislocated from my family, but think that it is partly cos Chris is getting to know area, and I am clueless, and also that unsettled new routine thing. i am sure when it gets going I shall be less wobbly about coming home and finding they have had a life in my absence! Trying to do most of the bed routine as well, so that i get to do lots of cuddles too.

we must get some piccies up of new house soon, as I am starting to feel it is a home – particularly as it now looks like a bombsite in our bedroom!

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Posted in General, Ponderings, Stringbean's HE

Meanwhile at home…..

Posted on May 4, 2005 by | 5 comments

I realised today just how much time/energy/thought I?ve been expending on the house sale/move preparations, for what is literally months. I?ve not been able to feel I could relax into a day without thinking, must do this, should have done that etc. I think my time with Stringbean has suffered a bit because of this. So it was good to have all that behind us (I can ignore all the stuff that still needs unpacking/sorting?.) and just enjoy the day. I?ve not really been responsible for them both all day yet except for a couple of occasions, and then H wasn?t far away. So it will be interesting how that works out.

Morning of course saw Helen off for her first day back at work, so that was on the whole a bit sad, though also a bit exciting, as it really marks the start of a new period in our lives. It?s a real shame though that we didn?t get moved earlier and Helen have more time at home down here. Packed Nanny and Grandad off a bit later as well, leaving me and the Beans to our own devices. Butterbean had some Pear puree for breakfast, seems to be happily starting on the weaning so far.

After 4 days of moving, sorting etc. decided it was time to get out. So went round the corner to the village library to join up. The library was closed a few years ago by the County Council, but then taken over and run by volunteers from the village (mostly it seems, as so often with these things ?ladies of certain age?). Not entirely sure of the setup, they have their own stock, as well as some from the Library Service, but also still use the same cards and computer system as the County Library service. Anyway seems a nice little library, the Beans got plenty of appreciate comments, they had their monthly coffee/tea/booksale thing on, and also a Storytime for the kiddies. So that was good, Stringbean enjoyed that, got to play with one of the other little girls, and I got to meet a few other parents, including another Dad. Half a dozen stories read, and then a little craft activity.. Stayed at the end (we were going to get some books anyway) and helped tidy up, got chatting to the women who had done the readings and another dad – who lives just down the road from us. Got a ?pop round for coffee? type invite, so will follow that up sometime.

?Came out? about our HE intentions, as there was some discussion regarding the position if you don?t want to send your child to school ?early? when they are 4 but defer the place and wait until they are 5. It had been suggested that the school/LEA would just want to put them into the year 1 class, bypassing Reception anyway, which may miss the point of not sending them early, and then there is the issue of getting a place ? yes you could just wait until the relevant time, but then they might not get a place in the school they wish ? hence the desire to get a place and then defer it. Of course discussion came round to what SB would be doing, so I just came clean :-) Apparently there is someone else in the village HE?ing.

So books got, headed home via the local shops (Butterbean in ?big? pushchair + Stingbean with her dolly pushchair = chaos in small shops?..) Picked up a ?treat? for us all for later in the rather-to-convenient bakery opposite our house ? will have to try to avoid making a habit of that :-) Had lunch (mostly carrot sticks and olives for SB, Butterbean had a bit of bottle, but not that impressed with it all really). After reading all the library books took them both for a visit to their new nursery they will be attending 2 days a week, as expected they both got on fine, so that was good. It seems a nice place, staff are friendly, but they have plenty to live up to in our eyes compared to the last place :-) I used the time for various boring shopping tasks ? like a whirly gig thing for the washing then home to meet Mummy, cue much feeding from Butterbean, and reading, Webland etc. for Stringbean while I got tea etc.

All in all a good day, though I at least need a time of adjustment here while I settle into things. Tomorrow (well today) we have two going out options, but I think one will do, some time ?just being? in the house will be good as well.

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Posted in Butterbean, Out and About, Ponderings, Stringbean's HE

The Big One…[was cry me a river]

Posted on April 26, 2005 by | 3 comments

SB had a great time at nursery today, and a wonderful party, it was an indoors teddy bear picnic due to the rain. they played games, sang songs and ate party food. she even got a couple of presents.

I cant quite believe we’re not going back. I gave then SB at 6 months and hoped for the best. In the last 3.5 years she has been loved and cherished there, and allowed to grow and develop. They aim to nurture through play, and thats certianly our experience. We saw her first [Maria] and last [Mandy] keyworkers when we went to pick her up, and they were both genuinely sad to be saying goodbye. I cried all over the place. In time SB wont remember nursery except through pictures and stories, but I am glad that they will be of love and fun. Thankyou kids academy for the care you have taken. I have really appreciated it, and feel i has helped shape SB into the confident girl she is.

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Posted in General, moving house, Stringbean's HE

Glad when they said unto me

Posted on April 24, 2005 by | 3 comments

yeah, still in my head!

the loss of my migraine/neuralgia thing has done wonders. Still have golfball salivary glands, but they’re not so bad.

Wha a gorgeous day, so some running about outside. our pears flowering well – so new people will get good harvest. Aso plums. Will leave them a book on how to look after the pruning.

SB very excited that I was more interactive! We did painting, glueing, sticking, book reading and since its the last education city day, some of that – romped through year 2 science, and she really enjoyed circuits idea, so will get some of those plug – ins one day. Also the letters, and she realy is coming on with that. Still not had the lightbulb read moment though. SB went with daddy next door, and I had a catch up nap – as feeling v knackered! Also more outdoorsing. Finished with cuddles on my lap watching some more of the dinosaur weekend on discovery science.

BB extremely talkative – unsurprisingly. Looking forward to meeting the puddlers later on in the week so she can chat to Josie! SB reminded me she would need her princess dress – obviously remembers Maddie then!

Chris been packing like a demon, and tomorrow, I’m going to be helping out, so blocked ducts begone! Actually Merry, when we do your questions, I think my superpower will definitely be healing hands. What a fantastic gift that would be.

now I’m ravenous, as not been eating, bring in the dinner Chris. [Chris sighs and raises eyebrows]

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Posted in General, Stringbean's HE

Jax’s photo meme

Posted on April 21, 2005 by | 8 comments

here we go, a day in the life of us!

See the photos in this album

Woke up with the distinct impression that I may have mumps, but didn’t let that put me off! [v sore neck and bit of a temp]
SB rather keen on the photo idea, and took rather a number of them as well. today was v child led. SB usually just coming up with ideas, but offered choices if stumped.

Cuddles in bed – always a good start to the day!

SB helps change BB nappy – slave labour! Didn’t fancy baby massage today.

09:00
BB then has waggle practice while SB and I read a book. She then reads book to BB when BB on tummy practice.

10:00
came down for breakfast – rice crispies. BB wanted to play as well, so went and chose 2 ‘match and sort’ books – maths. Also had some manipulatives.

This followed on into measuring, and heaviest/lightest. Also that due to cheap nature of scales, the position the cubes were placed in affected their weight – in the heavier further from fulcrum idea [ can i call this mechanics??] The post arrived, and we cut up various bits of rubbish.

11:00 SB wanted to be a princess. So we dressed up, and I did her hair. Then she decided to be a doctor princess. So listened to each others hearts and lungs

On listening to our tummies, we decided mine was rumbly – as some great coincidence I had an usbourne why do we eat book out, so we read that, and decided to do the taste test experiment – which was an absolute hit. We had sugar and choc drink powder and custard powder as sweet, stock cube and salt for salty, tartar powder as sour, coffee as bitter. Also cinnamon and turmeric. Bicarb of soda truly foul!!

12:00 veg soup for lunch followed by orange.

13:00 to tots group until 15:00 – water play, fun and singing time. BB was delighted by SB bouncing her in the bouncer – though she did nearly ping out once!

Chris came home and was subjected to the taste test again, and SB played BTB. I felt decidedly crap so had a nap. Chris forgot to take piccies.

I returned and looked at blogs – SB commented on Sarah’s. Prob shoudn’t have let her, as she seems to have done the same to Jax without us knowing – sorry.

we looked at different coins with her bug magnifier, and then to bed.

chris will now link this to the photo album [nudge chris!!]

You wish is my command…..

See the photos in this album

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Posted in Blogging, Butterbean, General, Out and About, photos, Stringbean's HE

you’ve heard the best , here’s the rest…………

Posted on April 19, 2005 by | 3 comments

Obviously the best was hearing exchange has finally happened, and completion planned for 29th April. Somewhat later than I desired, as wanted to settle a bit in new area before return to work, but at least before start date!

So the rest, well we all got up early today – something to do with sun streaming through the windows. BB required a night feed again – think its cos as 21 weeks and still exclusively breastfed, getting the munchies a bit more often. I think as we are still not getting very far with al sorts of different expressed milk delivery systems, that we will introduce solids the weekend before I start work [23 weeks], so at least something can go in. Letting milk slosh in and round everywhere is the most successful technique, but due to the move, I have none frozen, and so every drop precious! i would hope not to have to supplement with formula while i am at work, but I am going to have to be a bit pragmatic about it. I am already expressing once in the evening, and although only obtaining 4-5 oz, could do more, and will aim for about 8 on return to work, plus a lunch express at work of about 6 should give us 5 3oz bottles per day while I am out, and I’ll do massive feeds when at home. if I get a 4 day week, am secretly hoping for Wed off [well thats what i suggested] as that breaks up the days I’m away nicely, and I think will make it less likely that formula supplement needed. I love the milky/toffee smell of exclusively bf babies though – BB burping over me!

BB not so sqwawky today. In our morning, after SB gone to nursery [she cycled there uphill with Daddy – PE] she had a nice bath and massage and then a long waggling sessions. She’s thinking of how to roll over – though not actually done it, and has much better co-ordinated arm and length movts. Sitting is a great skill now, as is stuffing anything in her mouth! cooing and ra-ing at me i think she is going to be a talker like her sister!

Picked SB up from nursery and took to gingerbread cottage – my last ever [ and hers] new mums. [socialisation, PE] next tues nursery has a party, so she will be doing that instead. We first met when SB 11 weeks old, and have been meeting every Tues since then – though I am a bit more erratic! its pretty much 4 years exactly. Its very sad to say goodbye to such a good support group, though my need for it has gone. I found SB a bit stressful, and they were my sanity link, as I realised all the children were stressful in one way or another, and we were all just trying! We come from all walks of life – as the saying goes, with v differing views on every issue pretty much, but in spite of that, struck up good friendships and been regular features in each others lives. The children have played well together [on the whole, after all none of them are perfect!]. I would just like to take this opportunity to register a vote of thanks to the lot of them for all the friendship and tacit support – even when they must have thought I was mad [cloth nappies - though other users with second children - LOL; planned extended breastfeeding - though others did by default; a certain amount of continuum concept parenting, and finally home-ed - you get the drift]. Not that they read my blog – though have given the address in case they fancy seeing what we are doing. Most have no internet access. thankyou to their children – SB’s playmates through the years as well. life goes on, some threads are renewed, some replaced, but we are glad for the time we have shared.

On return, SB in odd mood – prob partly due to mine, partly as she was aware last time she would see some of these friends, and partly due to lack of sleep over weekend still. We calmed down by seeing what Daddy doing in the garage, some education city – as we haven’t signed up, they have extended the trial – persistant lot aren’t they! We have done foundation year and first for science, though SB happy to do some again, potteres through most of foundation maths, and a lot of foundation english. cbeebies on the internet and the bananas in pyjamas website as well. SB certainly has the letters off pat in upper and lower case, with prompting can do a bit of ordering, usually recognises first and last letters and can sound out. just awaiting that spark! [aside – a momentary rather overwhelming pang that in all likelihood it will be chris that sees this eureka moment] I think we will be passing on education city as the summer is coming, and we are far more outdoorsy then, BB more mobile, so not so sofa tied – after all chris not breastfeeding. [this going back to work crap]. will keep the link and rethink perhaps in future years.

Whistling has progressed, and SB v keen on this new skill. Oh she took her bridesmaid photos to nursery as she was so proud of it – bless. Actually her musicality as a whole has improved. while singing she is much more likely to stay close to pitch, and her violin playing getting more structured – last played on friday, as didn’t blog, and she usually puts bow in the right place, and with the right pressure to get notes. Also we practiced putting fingers on the strings in different places to change notes. We are gradually getting a bit of formality in, bit by bit so that imperceptibly we are moving towards actually learning rather than messing [music]. She is also happy to have classic fm on rather than her own song cd’s in the car – blessed relief!

After bath was slightly stressful as she was unsettled, whingy and just not right. however, cuddles and stories and CD and she has fallen asleep by 8.30. BB just fallen asleep, so I guess I should do some sorting for move

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Posted in Butterbean, General, moving house, Out and About, Ponderings, Stringbean's HE

Autonomous/child led/child centred?

Posted on April 15, 2005 by | 1 comment

maths 5, literacy 5, science 3, history 3, Geography 5, PE 3, Socialisation 3, Arts/crafts 6, Languages 3, Domestic science 4

These are the number of mentions these topics have had in the last week. We have been pretty much child led [ie things offered only when SB at a loss until she decideds on one - usually read a book as well], and since there were 2 nursery days, which must count as socialisation, so add 2 there, I’m quite impressed by how balanced it looks without trying. Obviously, different amounts of actual time are involved, and I have little evidence of actual learning!! [as not tested!]

She has had a specific interest in volcanos this week – def not sparked off by me at all. Also has spontaneously been coming out with litle snippets of information – ie at the grand canyon thing when they mentioned 4000 years ago, she asked if that was far enough ago for dinosaurs, where although it isn’, it did actually show to me a grasp of the concept of a v long time ago, which hasn’t always been evident.

So, which way we will eventually jump?? Certainly not leaning towards the full homeschooled with rigorous timetables. Also not completely autonomous, as with the shared [hopefully] pattern, we will need to have a story arc as it were to the education, but the infilling on an autonomous front, so that we can get resources ready for the week, and see what we get through. May get stuff together for small projects, to get us all into the swing, and have ideas for family/home centered ones, and a few others that we can have ready, as well as reacting in a lets find way to whatever takes her fancy. Hopefully our style will evolve to gel with SB’s natural learning patterns.

I think the nice thing about thinking about it and starting so early, is there really isn’t any pressure on us to show results as yet. So we get to develop first. [though there is an emphasis on reading at this age, prob as you can see that they're nearly there, grasping at it, and you just want to give it to them]

Wondering what the difference will be with Chris in the driving seat??

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Posted in General, Ponderings, Stringbean's HE