I have to admit that my man on crutches didn't say all the right words that BC insists on
As I am a bit late joining in I will never catch up enough points now , so please will you give my points for the banjo to Wendy, AKA Altinkum. 
I Spy
Are you kidding, Margaret!?! We've only just begun......[now, if we were playing a Carpenters I Spy, I'd have some points right there 
] ~ the only thing you need are a couple good scores and you'll be right up there with those in the lead [like Helven 
]. Look at my paltry points, when Pete obliged with his first official listing of them. I haven't given up, nor will I. Besides, you have to give the banjo for the 'right' reason[s].....not because you're biting your lip and about to cry [the way your photo's appearing to me at the moment], feeling sorry for yourself, and ready to give up! Oh no.....it has to be a sacrifice of the points you truly wanted for yourself, yet are giving to help another.....that kind. Not the kind that means we lose you in the process!!! Please re-think that whole notion. We have soooo many songs to go 
!
By the way, Pete, I think the 92 is quite fair . I knew I was pushing the envelope a tad on that, but hey, nothing wrong with bartering. You're right that BC will be hysterical . Just be careful he doesn't laugh his guts out, or we'll be in a real dilemma. I guess you could always defer to VBC, but it seems BC has a real heart for us here, and it'd be a real shame to lose him...or even his guts. He may need them just to carry on here [or deal with you ~ but don't tell him I said that, I don't want him to think I'm not on your side]. Is he, by the way, one of those types who makes the claim, "You're either for me or against me"? He seems to have an appreciation of grey areas. Oh dear, I didn't mean to get so carried away about BC. Stream-of-consciousness seems to be setting in......please just tell him that Lizzy says "Hi," and she sends her regards [and give me 25 for that, while you're at it ].
~ Elizabeth
] ~ the only thing you need are a couple good scores and you'll be right up there with those in the lead [like Helven ]. Look at my paltry points, when Pete obliged with his first official listing of them. I haven't given up, nor will I. Besides, you have to give the banjo for the 'right' reason[s].....not because you're biting your lip and about to cry [the way your photo's appearing to me at the moment], feeling sorry for yourself, and ready to give up! Oh no.....it has to be a sacrifice of the points you truly wanted for yourself, yet are giving to help another.....that kind. Not the kind that means we lose you in the process!!! Please re-think that whole notion. We have soooo many songs to go !By the way, Pete, I think the 92 is quite fair
. I knew I was pushing the envelope a tad on that, but hey, nothing wrong with bartering. You're right that BC will be hysterical . Just be careful he doesn't laugh his guts out, or we'll be in a real dilemma. I guess you could always defer to VBC, but it seems BC has a real heart for us here, and it'd be a real shame to lose him...or even his guts. He may need them just to carry on here [or deal with you ~ but don't tell him I said that, I don't want him to think I'm not on your side]. Is he, by the way, one of those types who makes the claim, "You're either for me or against me"? He seems to have an appreciation of grey areas. Oh dear, I didn't mean to get so carried away about BC. Stream-of-consciousness seems to be setting in......please just tell him that Lizzy says "Hi," and she sends her regards [and give me 25 for that, while you're at it ].~ Elizabeth
Pete, please thank BC on my behalf. He is more than generous.
Can I have any points for the old schedule of trains I found while clearing out my briefcase this morning?
Lizzie, have you had any luck yet enticing your local avian population onto the wires? I made a terrible discovery the other day. We have no wires round here All the services are underground!
It has just occurred to me though, Pete, that I regularly see birds on the barbed wire fence outside my office whenever I become bored enough to stare out the window (most days
). Does that count? If they see me, they might think "Oh why do you stand by the window" - then again, maybe not 
Can I have any points for the old schedule of trains I found while clearing out my briefcase this morning?
Lizzie, have you had any luck yet enticing your local avian population onto the wires? I made a terrible discovery the other day. We have no wires round here
All the services are underground! It has just occurred to me though, Pete, that I regularly see birds on the barbed wire fence outside my office whenever I become bored enough to stare out the window (most days
). Does that count? If they see me, they might think "Oh why do you stand by the window" - then again, maybe not Linda
1972: Leeds, 2008: Manchester, Lyon, London O2, 2009: Wet Weybridge, 2012: Hop Farm/Wembley Arena
1972: Leeds, 2008: Manchester, Lyon, London O2, 2009: Wet Weybridge, 2012: Hop Farm/Wembley Arena
Super signature, Linmag . No luck in avian land; however, I can only make it a project on the weekends, due to the lack of daylight hours during the week. I need to be able to see them before I can coax them.
I think you should accrue some points for your consideration of the projection of what the bird on the barbed wire might be thinking when it looks at the woman in the window. For all you know, you may be the final points it needed to win the Bird I Spy playoff with their local People Watching Club.....no doubt a fundraising event.
. No luck in avian land; however, I can only make it a project on the weekends, due to the lack of daylight hours during the week. I need to be able to see them before I can coax them. I think you should accrue some points for your consideration of the projection of what the bird on the barbed wire might be thinking when it looks at the woman in the window. For all you know, you may be the final points it needed to win the Bird I Spy playoff with their local People Watching Club.....no doubt a fundraising event.
Spy vs spy
Coming late to this thread I am compelled to attempt a 'catch up'.
From his late night perch the old owl spies a withered limb and utters a song- hooooooot.
From this vantage point I spied that which I could not see who was hunting me. Eerily the hunter becomes the hunted.
I saw you this morning moving so fast across the screen with no one in sight!?
This evening I fought against the bottle (and lost), tuned up the old banjo and partook several sips of wine sans cigarette.
[Leonard is of course, primarily a guitarist and so I spy "the old banjo" as a poetic device. Since I possess several guitars (6) which need regular tuning I claim extra points for this daily duty. ] And I really do have a kitchenette to tidy up. In fact there is insufficient room to swing a cat if I had one to disturb from sleeping on his chair.
Yesterday I spied a beast with his horn. [No this was not in the mirror, that was golden boy needing a shave
] It was my canine companion chewing on a decapitated horn she found in the old dairy next door where my neighbour 'horns ' his cattle.
Due to my contracted appointment last year I encountered several hundred children every morning leaning out for love(and several other unidentified needs I suspect) Alas no heroes in the seaweed but I persist with the search. However at least 50 teachers daily in the staff room though not teachers of the heart I am sorry to report.
BTW birds on the wire in my back yard consistently crap on my washing when it is hung out to dry.
And the mosquitoes here need no thin green candle as an invitation to feast on my free body. 
Pete, I implore you to submit my case to Big Chief and trust there will not be too severe a penalty for late entries.
Happy spying Witty Owl.
From his late night perch the old owl spies a withered limb and utters a song- hooooooot.
From this vantage point I spied that which I could not see who was hunting me. Eerily the hunter becomes the hunted.
I saw you this morning moving so fast across the screen with no one in sight!?
This evening I fought against the bottle (and lost), tuned up the old banjo and partook several sips of wine sans cigarette.
[Leonard is of course, primarily a guitarist and so I spy "the old banjo" as a poetic device. Since I possess several guitars (6) which need regular tuning I claim extra points for this daily duty. ] And I really do have a kitchenette to tidy up. In fact there is insufficient room to swing a cat if I had one to disturb from sleeping on his chair. Yesterday I spied a beast with his horn. [No this was not in the mirror, that was golden boy needing a shave
] It was my canine companion chewing on a decapitated horn she found in the old dairy next door where my neighbour 'horns ' his cattle. Due to my contracted appointment last year I encountered several hundred children every morning leaning out for love(and several other unidentified needs I suspect) Alas no heroes in the seaweed but I persist with the search. However at least 50 teachers daily in the staff room though not teachers of the heart I am sorry to report.
BTW birds on the wire in my back yard consistently crap on my washing when it is hung out to dry.
And the mosquitoes here need no thin green candle as an invitation to feast on my free body. Pete, I implore you to submit my case to Big Chief and trust there will not be too severe a penalty for late entries.
Happy spying Witty Owl.
Margaret thank you for your kind offer of the banjo that I see "you have hidden in the garret" but I think it would be selfish of me to deny you the points. Doing my daily crosswords this weekend I saw that the answer to 17 down was "always" and in another was "Joan of arc". Clearing out my cupboards I spied a shoe with a broken sandal strap! Putting away my groceries I asked my husband ok "where's the beef" I also saw 2 police men ( they weren't the jazz police) walking down our street, a rare sight indeed these days they must have just been passing through, I thought to myself there's the law 
I love frogs and have quite a collection in various forms one of which is a toothbrush holder with a frog hugging it, after cleaning the bathroom I realised I had put the holder back the wrong way round and as I saw it I thought " I love to see you naked especially from the back".
Pete I have got over my anguish of my lost points so I'm no longer kneeling in the mud so now I'm back on boogie street! and I promise I will not try to exploit the points system by changing my name again.
Wendy
I love frogs and have quite a collection in various forms one of which is a toothbrush holder with a frog hugging it, after cleaning the bathroom I realised I had put the holder back the wrong way round and as I saw it I thought " I love to see you naked especially from the back".Pete I have got over my anguish of my lost points so I'm no longer kneeling in the mud so now I'm back on boogie street! and I promise I will not try to exploit the points system by changing my name again.
Wendy
I have been away due to business for this week, and then I came back from where I’d been I see that all of you have been very busy while I was gone.
At the railway station I spi ed some one like me that was cold and numb – it’s winter in Denmark. He stroke my side by accident, and I said: sorry I am only passing through. He turned around and said: Oh please don’t pass me by. Bother I thought and said: Don’t argue now you’ll be late (for the train).
When I reached my home my son and daughter called me on a open telephone line and I asked: How many times did you call me – you know I have been gone!
My son is in the army now – but he’s only staying a little while, so of course I was sorry to miss the call.
Believe it or not, but in the mailbox there was no chocolate – but only a magazine with coupons you can send (and win a complete set of kitchen knives).
When my husband came home I had put on something comfortable and he cried out: Do not wear those rags for me, so I changed my clothes to black.
In the early dawn I saw him naked, but when I reached out for him he had gone to the kitchen to put the kettle on (sorry, the kettle thing is from Dylan!). I stumbled out of bed and went to keep him company in the kitchen, but noticed fingerprints all over the fridge. Think there must have been hundred thousand fingerprints. I left so much behind when I went away – but it seems as if it is here to stay.
I envy the precious few that BC has rewarded so far, but you Pete whom I can not betray I can only say a little “Goodnight my darling, I hope you’re satisfied”
Now start counting Pete and BC, I know how many points I want and you would not like a war here ay!
Hugs from Cia
At the railway station I spi
ed some one like me that was cold and numb – it’s winter in Denmark. He stroke my side by accident, and I said: sorry I am only passing through. He turned around and said: Oh please don’t pass me by. Bother I thought and said: Don’t argue now you’ll be late (for the train).When I reached my home my son and daughter called me on a open telephone line and I asked: How many times did you call me – you know I have been gone!
My son is in the army now – but he’s only staying a little while, so of course I was sorry to miss the call.
Believe it or not, but in the mailbox there was no chocolate – but only a magazine with coupons you can send (and win a complete set of kitchen knives).
When my husband came home I had put on something comfortable and he cried out: Do not wear those rags for me, so I changed my clothes to black.
In the early dawn I saw him naked, but when I reached out for him he had gone to the kitchen to put the kettle on (sorry, the kettle thing is from Dylan!). I stumbled out of bed and went to keep him company in the kitchen, but noticed fingerprints all over the fridge. Think there must have been hundred thousand fingerprints. I left so much behind when I went away – but it seems as if it is here to stay.
I envy the precious few that BC has rewarded so far, but you Pete whom I can not betray I can only say a little “Goodnight my darling, I hope you’re satisfied”
Now start counting Pete and BC, I know how many points I want and you would not like a war here ay!
Hugs from Cia
The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man almost nothing.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
'You talk of Very Big Chief, Pete. It is not your place to present him as such', BC quietly reprimanded me in his own imitable way.
'You mean VBC?', I replied, 'I've always called him VBC"
'You are not to call him VBC. He is V-C and we call him ViC', ordered BC.
'I have heard you talk of ViC but I never realised he was one and the same of which I knew. I have never seen him though', I said inquisitively in my own inquisitive way.
BC pondered his next response carefully. 'You cannot see him', was his utterance.
'Why not? Is he out shopping?'
'OUT SHOPPING?? OUT SHOPPING?? , BC bellowed. His face was in mine and I could sense a little agitation on his behalf.
'ViC is the almighty I Spyer', he continued, ' It is written that ViC spys all.
He is omnipotent.'
'Where is it written that that he is impotent?', I enquired with a fearful frown,' was it in the problem page?'
BC reddened with anger and disbelief. I sensed a little more agitation.
'Get down on your knees', he instructed.'You're going to get down on your knees. It is written in the I Spy book that you must get down on your knees'
'I only have two knees - you said three knees there', was my feeble, yet humorous and very brave retort.
I got down on my knees. Again I was bowed before BC. I knew my place.
'You need to listen, Pete, and listen hard. Where do you think the I Spy originated from? Do you think it wrote itself? The first Book of Songs contains many I Spys which generations have embraced'
BC looked tired but I knew that he wanted to tell me all that he knew. I stayed on my knees and waited for him to ease his agitation and to search for some inner strength to continue his story.
'The I Spy book has stood the test of time', BC continued. 'There have been many who have I Spyed many wonderous sightings as written in the Book of Songs as well as the succeeding books that talk of love and hate and the future. There is even a tablet of ten new Spys that was recently discovered.. some refer to this as TNS. Some Spyers have wrongly translated the verses in the Book of Songs. I have had Spyers trying to claim points for washing eyelids in the drain, for standing there like mice with wizards and lice, for spying collars of heather and snails. One Spyer even claimed to ask 'who is it who I undress?' and another who said that his 'life is belief'. Sometimes, Pete, I despair.'
BC had visibly tired. He had not noticed that I now stood before him. He sensed my awe and wonder. I had not realised before this moment how great the I Spy book was and how it had led many to ViC's door. A door which remained open. A door that had no lock and no key.
'Pete, you have sorted it well and I have entrusted you with my knowledge. I bestow upon you the title of Commander. Plough those fields and reap the I Spys. Make your way to the field, Commander Pete'
I was speechless.
'AND FOR ViC's SAKE go sort points out for those recent song Spyers. We have some newcomers..we must not disappoint'
'Yes BC... but not tonight for it has been a long day'
'Pete!!'
'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz'
'You mean VBC?', I replied, 'I've always called him VBC"
'You are not to call him VBC. He is V-C and we call him ViC', ordered BC.
'I have heard you talk of ViC but I never realised he was one and the same of which I knew. I have never seen him though', I said inquisitively in my own inquisitive way.
BC pondered his next response carefully. 'You cannot see him', was his utterance.
'Why not? Is he out shopping?'
'OUT SHOPPING?? OUT SHOPPING?? , BC bellowed. His face was in mine and I could sense a little agitation on his behalf.
'ViC is the almighty I Spyer', he continued, ' It is written that ViC spys all.
He is omnipotent.'
'Where is it written that that he is impotent?', I enquired with a fearful frown,' was it in the problem page?'
BC reddened with anger and disbelief. I sensed a little more agitation.
'Get down on your knees', he instructed.'You're going to get down on your knees. It is written in the I Spy book that you must get down on your knees'
'I only have two knees - you said three knees there', was my feeble, yet humorous and very brave retort.
I got down on my knees. Again I was bowed before BC. I knew my place.
'You need to listen, Pete, and listen hard. Where do you think the I Spy originated from? Do you think it wrote itself? The first Book of Songs contains many I Spys which generations have embraced'
BC looked tired but I knew that he wanted to tell me all that he knew. I stayed on my knees and waited for him to ease his agitation and to search for some inner strength to continue his story.
'The I Spy book has stood the test of time', BC continued. 'There have been many who have I Spyed many wonderous sightings as written in the Book of Songs as well as the succeeding books that talk of love and hate and the future. There is even a tablet of ten new Spys that was recently discovered.. some refer to this as TNS. Some Spyers have wrongly translated the verses in the Book of Songs. I have had Spyers trying to claim points for washing eyelids in the drain, for standing there like mice with wizards and lice, for spying collars of heather and snails. One Spyer even claimed to ask 'who is it who I undress?' and another who said that his 'life is belief'. Sometimes, Pete, I despair.'
BC had visibly tired. He had not noticed that I now stood before him. He sensed my awe and wonder. I had not realised before this moment how great the I Spy book was and how it had led many to ViC's door. A door which remained open. A door that had no lock and no key.
'Pete, you have sorted it well and I have entrusted you with my knowledge. I bestow upon you the title of Commander. Plough those fields and reap the I Spys. Make your way to the field, Commander Pete'
I was speechless.
'AND FOR ViC's SAKE go sort points out for those recent song Spyers. We have some newcomers..we must not disappoint'
'Yes BC... but not tonight for it has been a long day'
'Pete!!'
'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz'
Bonanza! Wendy! Bonanza! Cia! And Margaret's back in the game !!! Wonderfully delicious stuff ~ Great day ! BC has a very full plate and his cup runneth over. Need a pencil sharpener, Pete? Looks like these latest are gonna' wear it down....and don't you just have to wonder what number Cia has in mind? Wendy ~ I now know the proper, rightful home for the froggie toothpick holder I came into.....send me your address and it's yours. But you gotta go to the back o' the line for mailings .
~ Lizzy
Wendy! Bonanza! Cia! And Margaret's back in the game !!! Wonderfully delicious stuff ~ Great day ! BC has a very full plate and his cup runneth over. Need a pencil sharpener, Pete? Looks like these latest are gonna' wear it down....and don't you just have to wonder what number Cia has in mind? Wendy ~ I now know the proper, rightful home for the froggie toothpick holder I came into.....send me your address and it's yours. But you gotta go to the back o' the line for mailings .~ Lizzy
My Dear Mistreusse ~
Does this mean I am officially [you, BC, ViC] released from my position as Mistress? Do I move on to Commanderess, or shall I just go home with.....[oh geez, I didn't mean to go there ]. Well, you know what I mean .
In the meantime, I think you might want to consider abandoning your position as maths teachers at your school. Tell them you must rush on to your new career as a comedic, short-story writer. Seriously .
~ Lizzeress [waiting for her new assignment, should she decide to accept it ~ oh, whoops, that was I Spy Mission Impossible]
Does this mean I am officially [you, BC, ViC] released from my position as Mistress? Do I move on to Commanderess, or shall I just go home with.....[oh geez, I didn't mean to go there
]. Well, you know what I mean .In the meantime, I think you might want to consider abandoning your position as maths teachers at your school. Tell them you must rush on to your new career as a comedic, short-story writer. Seriously
.~ Lizzeress [waiting for her new assignment, should she decide to accept it ~ oh, whoops, that was I Spy Mission Impossible]
Are you still counting Pete? Good, keep up the good work and you will not repent!
You won't believe this, but this morning the top news is : The doctors working day and night - hugh risk for the patients!
On the 3rd. page: We want to know what happens to the destroyed featus', are they used for sience?
Well, I am making myself a cup of tea - I believe it came all the way from China - thou I bought it in the mall next to where I live. And I am a bit ashamed to say that even our oranges only come from Israel, so no need to watch for the boats to come by - they arrived by plane!
hugs from Cia
You won't believe this, but this morning the top news is : The doctors working day and night - hugh risk for the patients!
On the 3rd. page: We want to know what happens to the destroyed featus', are they used for sience?
Well, I am making myself a cup of tea - I believe it came all the way from China - thou I bought it in the mall next to where I live. And I am a bit ashamed to say that even our oranges only come from Israel, so no need to watch for the boats to come by - they arrived by plane!
hugs from Cia
The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man almost nothing.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I am still counting and will post an update later today. In the meantime the sun is shining and we are going for a bracing Sunday morning walk before the blizzards of ice descend and turn my lips and fingers blue... I think I will watch a movie.
Now, where is my calculator?
Commander Pete (MIS)
Which reminds me.......
We already have a Mistress I Spy and I will shortly be bestowing the honour of High Spyer to this weeks successful Suzanne I Spyer.
BC asked if we needed another commander. I said I didn't think so but there will a time soon when I am away for a few days .. a temporary replacement may have to be sought. I wonder who might want the prestige, even for a short while? The work is hard but the rewards are great.
Now, where is my calculator?
Commander Pete (MIS)
Which reminds me.......
We already have a Mistress I Spy and I will shortly be bestowing the honour of High Spyer to this weeks successful Suzanne I Spyer.
BC asked if we needed another commander. I said I didn't think so but there will a time soon when I am away for a few days .. a temporary replacement may have to be sought. I wonder who might want the prestige, even for a short while? The work is hard but the rewards are great.
Pete, I knew I was in danger of losing what I used to think was mine and I can't pretend I still feel very much like singing.
But everybody knows that the dice are loaded, even if I did dump you, made you last year's man, (and sooner or later the rain will fall down on you, even if it is unusually sunny today on that iceberg you live on). I'll have to live with the 20 years of boredom (oh that existential ennui ) you've sentenced me to while waiting for you to come to your senses and abandon Lizzy.
However, I am not seized by jealousy at all, but you would do well to remember that the walls of this hotel are paper thin. I know what goes on in the thickets (or off for that matter) and the mere thought of it has covered up my soul while I sleep beneath the golden hill (well, Signal Hill isn't quite golden but it does come close when the sun shines on the tips of it's trees and if I don't really sleep beneath it, I do sleep in it's shadow.)
I can't forget, Pete, but I don't remember what.
Sincerely
Al Tsheimer
But everybody knows that the dice are loaded, even if I did dump you,
made you last year's man, (and sooner or later the rain will fall down on you, even if it is unusually sunny today on that iceberg you live on). I'll have to live with the 20 years of boredom (oh that existential ennui ) you've sentenced me to while waiting for you to come to your senses and abandon Lizzy. However, I am not seized by jealousy at all, but you would do well to remember that the walls of this hotel are paper thin. I know what goes on in the thickets (or off for that matter) and the mere thought of it has covered up my soul while I sleep beneath the golden hill (well, Signal Hill isn't quite golden but it does come close when the sun shines on the tips of it's trees and if I don't really sleep beneath it, I do sleep in it's shadow.)
I can't forget, Pete, but I don't remember what.
Sincerely
Al Tsheimer
"... to make a pale imitation of reality with twenty-six juggled letters"
"... all words are lies because they can only represent one of many levels of being"
Sober noises of morning in a marginal land.
"... all words are lies because they can only represent one of many levels of being"
Sober noises of morning in a marginal land.