Very OT

What a peculiar way for a long established group to make an impact on a new user.

The "Irony" experts here have failed to see the most basic irony of all, in the situation that they are describing.

IRONY In a power failure, the utility and consumers cannot communicate without power.

The utility did something to help in spite of this irony, and that gets endlessly brought up for conversation.

IRONY #2

For less than $100, one can create the means to limited internet connectivity even DSL provided that the phone company has backed up their power and the phones still work.

IRONY #3

Bringing up the discussion of ourselves having a responsibility to prepare for disaster and loss of power leads to criticism for doing so.

A few members of this group have seemingly struggled to create their own negative impressions.

I'm minded of the proud mum watching her squaddie son marching on parade with all his mates - 'Oh look! My son's the only one in step!'

You said that very nicely.

OK - this ng has an ethos, like most ngs. Some are better, more civilised than others.

I don't post here that frequently, but I have been following the group for quite a while. As a new poster, your first few posts were perceived by several of the regulars as blunt, brittle, if not rather hostile - and that included me.

Whether they were intended to be or not is irrelevant. That's how they came over.

As with any group of people, we can be blunt with each other without causing offence. I learned a very long time ago (and not in this group!) that it's a priviledge to be earned, after you've determined that you've been accepted by the other inhabitants of the group. Equally threads can and do drift and add greatly to the ethos of the group.

That's my two pennyworth. You appear to be sticking around, so let me say welcome.

My credentials? Well, I don't sew anything like as much as some of the regulars, but when I do it's to make clothes for the porcelain fashion dolls that my wife and I make as a hobby. I reckon it's more demanding than full-sized sewing - everything is smaller but can be just as detailed, my models have hnads and legs that are unyielding with fingers and toes in outstretched positions, and they won't take a deep breath when fastening a close fitting garment! GD&RFC!

I would certainly have to agree with you on this. Sewing for dolls, is worse than sewing for most anything else, as they are so extremely uncooperative. You'd think they didn't care how they're going to look.

I reckon sewing for babies is worse. They are actively uncooperative at trying things on and then grow out of what you spend days making.

Knits. With lots of stretch. Nothing fitted. That's the rule with babies.

On the whole, yes. But not for Christening robes...

I'll take your word for it. That's beyond my experiences. ;-)

2 YO bridesmaids can be a bit tricky as well... dead cute when done, but trying to fit them is a nightmare!

People really do that? There haven't been many formal weddings in my life, but I had the idea that bridesmaids were supposed to be the same age (roughly) as the bride, and attendants to her. That little kids were flower girls and ring bearers. Dressing them as adults must be a really difficult trick.

I suspect there is a cultural difference here. In the U.S. "bridesmaids" are usually peers of the bride, close friends or relatives of about the same age, while flower girls and/or ring bearers are often really cute, very young, family members.

But remember Diana Spencer's wedding? All the attendants IIRC were quite young.

"At Lady Diana's wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, her eldest attendant was a junior bridesmaid. The rest were satin-clad flower girls and pages, reflecting traditional costume of the English Court."

We don't traditionally have flower girls over here, and the little bridesmaids usually have dresses that are the same fabric but a more suitable style.

Lizzy

They get dressed as kids, but we call them all bridesmaids here.

And ungrateful. The little blighters tend to puke on them too.