I know that I'm supposed not to be here, but I get so LONELY! Just heard footsteps upstairs - is that you Maria_Z? There's noone else in!

Anyway, when I got married, we didn't tell anyone they were coming to a wedding, just invited them to a party. That way even family couldn't interfere. Might be too late for you H, but I'd recommend it to everyone else (unless, of course, daddy's paying)

Got up at 7 today, did a bit of reading but got hungry. Had a packet of crisps (large) and a big mug of sweet tea. Came to write up some notes but checked my emails instead and then got drawn onto here again...now it's 10.15.

Thanks for your cautionary tale - looks like my day could go like yours. So I'm not going to sign off now before it does

I'm special

Also guilty. I'd rather eat what I cook, although this can be used as ammunition on a Friday night when someone needs to nip out to get the Chinese and a bottle of wine!

are you talking about what I think you're talking about?! Andi if you are, then WOW what a segue! Also, a bit scary...

As for trying to convert people, I would/could never. It's the same with my vegetarianism - if it comes up and people ask, I'm happy to discuss and give my reasons. You can't make anyone do or think something they don't want to. If what you've said makes an impression, then so be it. I do find, however, that even when I haven't started the conversation I end up having to defend the way I live! Some people think it's OK to be verging on the abusive. I've learned to laugh at them

I'm surprised that there can still be bad feelings between christians, especially since the different churches have actually got really good at networking - visiting each other, days out, advertising others' services etc. It's always individuals who have misinterpreted the messages that spoil things! The whole point seems to go right over their heads.

H, I love your passion AND the fact that your mum prays in other churches. There's something about any sacred place of worship, in my experience, that brings calm into my life. I spent a good few years 'lapsed', but with my own thoughts and spirituality. Now I do go to mass somewhere where I feel comfortable and the priest challenges my thoughts. He makes a point of not excluding people and welcomes unfamiliar faces.

Sorry I missed your message last night roopa, I'd normally be there! Maybe we'll chat next time your housemate's annoying you and I'm work avoiding!

Personally, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't be fascinated by other people's cultures, cutoms, traditions etc. But to 'celebrate' someone else's religion??! Respect - YES. But by trying to celebrate something you don't really understand or buy into, if you like, is just playing at it and so not really being fully respectful. Does that make sense? I enjoy finding out about other customs but wouldn't dream of picking and choosing religious festivals to celebrate! Like non-christians and Christmas...

The trouble is, if you have strong beliefs, then 'welcoming' or 'celebrating' other faiths is a conflict of interests. I think that's why the word tolerate is used, meaning that it isn't negatively responded to but neither can it be fully accepted.

Hi Maria_Z, how're you feeling now? I've been v. busy for the last few days, so hope your spooks have passed anyway. I forget to tell you how natural the whole thing is - we just stop looking, I think. You've probably heard that children have most experiences? When my daughter was a baby, but sleeping through the night, I thought it was time I had a night out - that was the night she chose to wake up and not sleep til I came home. It happened all the time, like she could sense I wasn't there.

Most dramatic! Smaller things like a glass smashing in a perfect circle or just footsteps. When my babies were born I could smell cigarette smoke in the nursery each time. I like to think that it was my dad coming to have a look at his grandchildren - I promise there was no other explanation for the smell (systematically eliminated each idea). Like I said, people are scarier, although I still have a thing about the devil in mirrors, but that'll be my Catholic upbringing!

Oh, and there was the time when I went upstairs (in a different house) and the picture on the landing was hung upside down. It wasn't me and my daughter was only 1! Noone else lived there or had visited that day. Just a practical joke? I guess ghosts can get bored too

...After washing my hair we went back up the corridor and as I unlocked the door and pushed it open, the light turned on and the whole flex and light shade were spinning in a circle. We just stood in the doorway and stared. Noone could have got in and the ceilings were very high - we experimented with the draught theory, but the movement was much too violent for that. Thank God I wasn't alone!

Of all the thing's I've had, the closest to your experience was when I was only 17 and had just recently left home. The bedsit was in a shared house - I had a kitchen/dining room and bedroom/living room with a lockable door into the rest of the house (our floor shared a bathroom). My bf came round and we were getting ready to go out in the bathroom - I always slammed the door locked to my room...