I admit I don't have many, but one stands out in my mind.

I was about nine I think and I and my only sibling who has just died and my cousins, well from one branch of the family were all crowded into my paternal grandparents pent house in a gorgeous city. It was Christmas eve and we were all put down to bed rather early as we were told Santa would not visit us until we were all asleep.

My cousin V.... and I, the eldest, had sadly given up our belief in Santa claus because of the other children at school. but we were determined our little brothers and sisters should believe so we told them to try hard to sleep so Santa Claus could come and leave them their gifts. We had great fun telling them that the reindeer and sleigh might come any minute.

But suddenly after about an hour of that we distinctly heard the sleigh bells upon the roof of the penthouse and we stopped and were wide eyed and amazed. It was the most magical thing in the world and of course it was one of the parents or grandfather but since they were not the sort of men to ever do that sort of thing we thought we must be wrong and Santa really was there. Oh and the next morning all the wondrous gifts. I never forgot the magic of that night.

What is the funniest thing you can remember from your own child hood?

Mine isn't that funny, but it's something that gets brought up all the time at family dinners (sigh!) My brother and I went sailing with Dad for about a week. Routine involved us sailing around, finding an anchorage then fishing. If we caught fish we had them for dinner along with peas and potatoes. If we didn't we had sausages, peas and potatoes. Dad isn't a very creative cook - and he was really bad as guessing how many peas to cook! We'd end up with about half a plate each of peas. So this evening we decided to eat sitting on the side of the boat while Dad was down below and "accidentally" dropped a fair few of those peas overboard. Then later that evening we thought we'd try fishing on the evening tide change. Caught some big cod! Then Dad gutted and cleaned them - and they were full of peas! Busted.

Next person - if you could replace one of the fellowship with someone else, who would it be and why?

Good to see some action here. We've had to battle on with a  small crew of devoted forum folk at Forumshire, so we know how hard it is to keep people motivated and encourage new people to come and visit, and maybe even stay. 

As you may be aware, at Forumshire we have resorted (happily) to all sorts of nonsense and divergent topics to keep up any kind of momentum. Admittedly, its tricky for us because of the fact we were originally set up as a Hobbit Movie Forum, a limiting title when Hobbit Movie news is non-existent for long periods.  

Planet Tolkien gobbling us up without fair warning did not help either, we lost some of our less active (but still active) forumers, which is still sad; though in rebirth we have found ourselves determined to battle on. 

Anyhow, good luck trying to whip your folk into shape. You have some nice folk here. 

And if by chance anyone from here happens to peek at Forumshire, don't mind our jokes about Dark Planet, for, mainly, that's all they are, jokes. We have our ax to grind with how things happened, the loss of friends and the loss of intellectual/creative property, but not with the folk who call this place home, Cheers. 

Orwell

Er - hmm...

The purist in me says that of course it should, but the realist knows that as the Hobbit is being adapted for a larger audience (something that I agree with) and as it is trying to fit in with the darker Middle-Earth of LOTR (something I really do agree with), I don't think it should.

Next person: Who would you rather meet: J.R.R. Tolkien or Aragorn?

there are some really good threads on this site worth  reading as far back as 1970 !

 That whole 1st of January 1970 thing had me confused as well, but it's something to do with the fact that when this whole site was moved the dates on the threads set back to default (which seems to be that particular date). I'm not sure if the internet even existed in 1970!

I think PT goes back to around 2000, but I'm not sure.

Oh gosh then I wonder how many others have been taken for a ride with the date system!  It might be time to add a new moderator. hint! hint!

Thanks Fornad

I think Bilbo has either been forced into a situation or gone into a situation of his own doing. In The Hobbit Bilbo was a bit of a braveheart and hero in some ways  and a deceiver in another way.

I would probably say yes I would probably like to be in his shoes but only for a day!

Next Person : Should Samwise be in The Hobbit?

Dwarves- because of their industrious spirit, sociable.  My favourite is Trumpkin from Prince Caspian and Cornelius who was half dwarf and mentor to Caspian.  I remember the singing from Snow White a long time ago.

Next person : A tree house, hobbit hole or cave?

Wow, that is a hard question, Odette.  So hard that no one has answered it for . . . let's see . . . approximately 3 years!

In any case, I am going to be very annoying and post on old threads.  I officially blame Edrahil.  (YOU HEAR THAT?  IT'S AL YOUR FAULT;-)  Because he got me to pop over and look at The Ivy Bush, and I realized there were a lot of very interesting old threads over there!  So I decided to not just read them, but answer them as well.  That's what you get when you decided to play games with ME. 

So my answer is Sauron, btw.  No, I'm not going to say why.  I just decided I like him better than Saruman.  Plus he's evil and he doesn't hide it.  Just tries to take over ME.  Wait, did I just say why . . .?

And my question is -

Next person: Nuclear or atomic bomb?  (for some reason I am in a destructive mood at the moment ;-)

Namarie,

Nirwen Celemirsel

I am somewhat impatient; if someone doesn't answer, I will myself.  Ah, good choice, Amras.  I knew you would pick that, as guys tend to be - no are, destructive

Wow, hard question.  I like sitting (grr, usually in the passenger seat) of a car and listening to a radio, or listening to it at home . . . but you don't really have a choice in what you're listening too much.  Yes, switch channels, but what if you don't like any of them?  So I have to say CDs, because you have more than one choice, and can pull them in and out.  Wait, can I pick iPod?    Namarie,

Nirwen Celemirsel