Cass says hi

[cass]

Hi guys,
Wow, it's been a while hasn't it? I must admit that so much has happened since I was last working with Abby and it's brilliant to be back for this exciting new project.

I should tell you what I've been doing this past year I suppose. Gee, where do I start? Well, I just got off the plane after eight months in north America. That was a blast. Don't ask me how, but I somehow ended up in a kooky little town on a small peninsula in Washington state where I made lots of crazy friends and learnt to drive on the OTHER side of the road. My favourite part abot the trip was jamming it out with all the cool blue grass musicians and performing with some really fantastic people.
I was there during the elections, and I have to say...Americans sure know how to make a festival out of anything. It was always so colourful and dramatic. 4th of July made me feel like a little girl again. The fire works were amazing and pumpkin pie at thanksgiving was a new one too. Everyone adopted me and spoilt me rotten and I feel like I have a whole new family there now.

Then I drove up to Vancouver BC in my 86 subaru station wagon and spent a few months there. I made great friends with a girl whose name was also Cass, and the two of us did loads of songwriting and performing together. People called us cass squared just to be silly.

I've just been hanging out with Tara who you may remember. She's my best buddy along with Selina so I had a wonderful time seeing the both of them again.
When I was in the U.S, Abby emailed me and asked if I would like to be part of 'the project', which I have just discovered is a super surprise to all our faithful members. Believe me my darlings, this is destined to be the the best project Abby has prepard for you yet. I can't tell you much, but I can say that everyone here is buzzing, and these days there's a lot more of us, so that's a good thing.
Of course, when Abby asked me I was over the moon, but I was also totally honoured to be asked back. She's the best boss I ever had and I often miss being involved. I just know I have to get this travel bug out of my system before I can commit fully to anything.

So the plan after this is to fly back to Vancouver where I left off, and use the rest of my ticket which takes me to Europe. I want to check out the meditteranean and learn to speak spanish. It's been my dream since forever. Perhaps I'll pick up some Spanish guitar while I'm there. I never travel anywhere without my guitar.
Anyway my darlings, I would love to hear how you all are and what you've been doing with yourselves.
And if you are new members (meaning new since I left) then hi, I'm Cass, and welcome to the gang.
Look forward to hearing from you all
Lots of love and great to be back
Cass xx

[Dafydd]

Hey, Cass. It's certainly been a while. Sorry about the elections — a lot of us didn't realize B*sh might actually win until he was doing so, and there was a great deal of mourning the next few days. And if you ever decide to visit the US again, come on over to the East Coast. Lotsa music and stuff to do on this side, too.

What have I been up to since you left? Well, the bad news is I suffered two devastating heartbreaks (my fiancee dumped and completely repudiated me, and then my dad died); but the good news is I got out another music score, my Transformers collection is blossoming, and I'm hard at work on a children's novel. And I seemed to have earned the favour of Jamie and Millie, which is mighty cool as well.

Abby & Co. have been very good at keeping the content of the Project a secret, but knowing that Susie and you are in on it has got us all excited. :D

D—

PS my dream since forever, travel-wise, has been to go to Australia. :)

[Havemercy]

Hi Cass,

If I may presume to speak for the newbies, it is a great pleasure to finally hear from the much talked about Cass. I saw your cling wrap deviations set the other day and I wasn't sure which one was you, but I guessed correctly. Oh happy day!! Glad you're part of the Super Secret Project--do you sing in it? (hoping, hoping)

kingocouch

[cass]

thanks for the reply boys,
dafydd, I'm sorry to hear about your Dad babe. That's a hard one. Specially when it's compiled with other painful things like loosing your gal. Mind you, I always believe that it is certainly better that people break up if that's what needs to happen. It may have been her doing and may be hard at first for you, but think about it my love...imagaine if yuo stayed together and were never intirely happy. You may plod along each day thinking your happy and lose the experience to find that REAL one true love that is destined for you. I truly believe in that. it may be a bit willowy for some but if you open the door it'll blow in.

Losing your parents is a hard, isn't it? We all have to go through it, but in knowing that, it doesn't make it easier. My parents are pretty young, but I spend most of my childhood with my grandparents and mostly my grandad who is my all time hero. He taught me to meld copper when I was little and he paints scenery and always encouraged me with a paint brush or in photography. Shame I suck at both. Anyway, last time I went home he was diagnosed with Aspestosis poisoning. He has little veins of it through his lungs from when he was younger. It works like a cancer. It gives him grif. I'd never once seen him sick before so I got a hell of a fright. He's doing ok, but I know I'm going to lose him soon. There's nothing I can do to make myself feel ok about it though. it's one of those things I'll never get over. By the way, what's your tranformers collection?

hey, Kingocouch (that's a legend name), nice to meet you buddy. I'm chuffed you guessed who I was. Actually I forgot about that shoot. Lizzie is a great friend of mine and i actually met her a tthe same time I met Susie. Lizzie is still my friend to this day. We actually were roomies for a few months at one stage.
I've been writing a little bit of new music lately. it's been a while and it felt good to compose something new. It a tribute to all my best friends. I'm quite pleasd with it. Not sure if I'll do any music on this project. I'll be too busy, but maybe some time I will.
Thanks for the thought.
Love cass x

[Darth Dave]

Hi Cass

Unfortunately I wasn't around yet either, but I have read some of your forum post, which makes it even more disappointing that I wasn't around earlier :( It's great that your back and we're able to talk to you even if it's only for a short while.

Dave

[Havemercy]

hey, Kingocouch (that's a legend name), nice to meet you buddy. I'm chuffed you guessed who I was.
Gosh, Cass, we just just met and I'm already a legend (blush) or did I miss something in translation? I got the name in my college days, when I could always be found lounging on the couch in the student center if I wasn't asleep or in class (and often when I should have been) When I left I was presented with a plaque declaring me king of the couch, which still hangs in the proper place to this day. Last time I went back I was introduced as "the guy in the picture" and one girl greeted me with, th "I thought you were dead." Puts it all in perspective, I guess.

Oh and as soon as you learn Spanish, would you mind teaching me? One of the maids in my hotel apparently thinks I'm cute but she doesn't speak English and I don't speak Spanish.

kingocouch

[cass]

Geez couch boy, don't wait for me. If she's a sexy spanish maid I'd be out there learning all there is to know about the place before she loses interest and goes and cleans someone elses house.
On your bike! (cracks whip)

Dave, if you were in Aussie everyone would call you Davo or Davos. I know, it's quite disturbing. Everyone gets an 'o' or an 'os' at the ends of their names here, or an abbreviation of their last names. Some names work...and some don't! Anyway, Dave-o is one of the few that work, in an Aussie kind of way.
Welcome to the boards and good on you for taking the plunge and becoming an honourary member.
Nice work
love Cass-o (don't ever let me catch you calling me that!)

[Luxman]

Hi Cass,

Nice to see you back here. I think you're one of the legends of AW, really. I've read a lot of post from you and addressed at you (i.e. this thread), oh boy, yes you're a legend.

I wish you lots of fun with the "secret project", and us lots of nice things to look at.

So the plan after this is to fly back to Vancouver where I left off, and use the rest of my ticket which takes me to Europe. I want to check out the meditteranean and learn to speak spanish.
BTW: Luxembourg is a very nice country as you can see here. So if you want to make a detour, you're welcome.

Lxm

[Darth Dave]

One of my favourite threads (http://www.abbywinters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=759/forum) as well. Got any new jokes to add? :)

I've only ever been called Davo by a neighbour coach and an my old footy caoch and that was a while ago. Never heard Davos before. As long as I don't get called David I'm happy.

How do you feel about being called Cazza

Dave

[cass]

If i ever hear you call me Cazza again I will declare war. I used to get Cazza when I first arrived in Australia. I slowly eliminated each and every culprit, and although my good friend now live in fear of my wrath, I never called get by that hideous name. You have warned my friend.

Hey Lux, I have family in Luxembourg I think. I definately have family in Tilburg and Amsterdam and I cetainly plan to visit. I actually tried to get my Dutch passport. i might be kiwi and look Maori but both my parents are tulip munchers. I'm so excited. I can't wait to visit.
My Opa went over to vist when I was little. He immigrated after my Mamma was born. he sent us a postcard with a bicycle and a dog poo beside it with a Dutch flag stuff in it. Apparently that's Holland in a nutshell. I would hope it would more renowned for it's great coffee or something more exciting like that. I'm not a big fan of dog poo myself.

Cass x

[Jorinel]

Hi Cass

I refer you to a post I wrote not too long ago about jokes (http://www.abbywinters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=24154#post24154).

Welcome back.

Jorinel

[Luxman]

Hi again,

... I have family in Luxembourg I think.
If you have family here, there's one reason more to come along.

If you don't have family here, you have at least an admirer and a friend in tiny Luxembourg. :)

Lxm - Luxembourg tour guide

[cass]

No kidding Luxy. i have a friend called Lux in New Zealand. Well, he's a friend of my dad's but he's a groover so that makes him my friend.

Jorinel, stoaked you remember me my lvoe. Thanks for posting. I am particularly funny at times, if I do say som yself. Unfortunately, it's often ony me that finds me funny.

[susie]

HI CASS!! WELCOME BACK LITTLE LADY!!

I am really looking forward to joining you and the gang at aw.com headquarters next week for some fun times and Top Secret Project action. I've already started packing-what a nerd!

Big Day Out is on Sunday here, so when I arrive on Tuesday I'll probably still be drunk...ahhh, just like old times!

Glad you are back safe, we missed ya!

S

[Vid Dude]

It's like eavesdropping on an SMS chat.

[Jorinel]

Jorinel, stoaked you remember me my lvoe. Thanks for posting. I am particularly funny at times, if I do say som yself. Unfortunately, it's often ony me that finds me funny.

Cass, you can't avoid being funny - even if it's just your typos... I don't think I've ever been called a lvoe before :)

Jorinel

[Quartz]

Well, well, Cass is a Dutchess. Who'd a thunk it?

Yeah, bicycles are absolutely everywhere (moving about voluntarily or involuntarily - the turnover rate is magnificent in the major cities), but all the dog poo is concentrated in Amsterdam. That's a geographical fact of this country: wherever a dog poo's, the result will end up on the streets of Amsterdam sooner or later(*). Same goes for tourists, but I don't think there's a direct connection between the two, although it's always the tourists who end up stepping in .. anyway.

You can find everything you need to know before you visit our densely populated, but highly amusing kingdom here (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=the+netherlands), and if you need your Dutch passport, i't's below. Just glue a pic on it and you'll be fine - we're relaxed about these things. Our prime minister looks like Harry Potter, what did you expect?

Coffee? Anywhere, everywhere, from all over the world. This country is one big Seattle (with about the same weather, I believe). This is the country of the United East Indies Company, we know our way round the globe! We found Tasmania, remember? Maybe we shouldn't have told anyone, but that's a different subject.

Do you have a typical Dutch name? You don't have to tell me what it is, I'm just curious. Cass van den Velde? Cass Jansen? Cass van den Burgh?

(*) I'm not at all objective about Amsterdam, I have a second-largest-city-syndrome, of course. Amsterdam is just an open-air museum for backpackers. Rotterdam (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=rotterdam) rules! Be sure to visit it, it is half-way between Tilburg and Amsterdam anyway ..

Q.

[Quartz]

Don't forget to wrap it in this. All you have to do when facing a customs officer is smile happily and say:

"Ik eet alleen kaas uit Scheveningen, halve zool".

You'll enjoy the reception. If they hesitate, just say "Quartz said it's okay". That will open the doors. Probably the doors leading back to the Qantas plane that took you there, but that's a minor detail.

Q.

[trebor]

Hi Cass:

I'm a big bluegrass/trad fan, here's a group you might like "Crooked Still".

http://www.crookedstill.com

Great singer and yes, they have a cello player.

[elfie]

pls give a hint about special project???

[Yealith]

Love to say hello to you Cass
I see you are on your way "around the world", best thing you can do in young life! Great to see you back in Australia too: what the hell of a project is this going to be? I mean with that many of current and former AW staff-Girls it must be something really terrific!

However, when you finally get over to europe - after Luxemburg and the Netherlands (perhaps) - dont forget to visit Switzerland as well, great country ;) if you need a guide ...... let me know :D

Yealith

[barefoot]

Well, what a pleasant surprise this is! Welcome back, Cass!

Glad to hear you've been keeping busy!

I'm still a major investor in Abby's enterprise - I expect that she'll be offering me shares any day now.

I haven't been posting here as much as I used to - it just hasn't been the same without you! :) Now all we need is for jus1drun to pop in and it'll be just like the good ol' days! Has anyone heard from her lately?

[Philos]

AW stuff-Girls Did you mean "staff-girls"?

I hope you did!!!!!

-P

[Yealith]

Did you mean "staff-girls"?

I hope you did!!!!!

-P
Ooops, thanks

[Havemercy]

On your bike! (cracks whip)

Oh no, not the whip :eek:

Pedaling furiously...

[mrcooln2000]

Hi Cass, glad you found the US so interesting. Perhaps next time you visit you could go a little further south to Oregon. It's very pleasant in Oregon, not as wet as Washington. The weather is so good infact that right now it feels more like spring than winter. Can't wait to find out what the Special project is all about.

[rluke6902]

CASS:

Abby's descripto said you & Jamie were off to places (and perhaps parts) unknown.
Wonderful!
As to your travels,
and despite my being at Abby's before your time,
I must say,
that a guitar playing woman is a wondermus thing!
Play on, and may you fingers never pain you,
unless it was really really good!
(Clapton recommends alcohol on the finger tips in that case ... oddly, but he should know ... go figure.)

Look FWD to the fruits of collaboration ... symbiotic, as it were.

RML

[rluke6902]

Cass:

Oops!

Clearly ... you predated me on Abby W.

Sorry. All other sentiments remain as phrased. With my best.

RML

[artlover]

Hi Cass...

I'm a newbie. I like your posts very much, particularly your comment that Americans can make a festival out of anything. Over here in North Carolina, we have something called Mule Day, with a parade and everything. There is even a Mule Day Queen. Now if I were a girl I wouldn't want that honor, but I hear the winner is usually quite thrilled...

I would love to get to Australia, too. I would even put up with having an O added to my name... if a cute girl did it... (Actually there are many things I would put up with if a cute girl did it :)

take care...

[Howie348]

Cass,

On your world tour, you definitely should see the natural wonders. Niagara Falls is on a direct route in your travels from Washington to Europe, and you'd have a willing tour guide.

I haven't been to Amsterdam, but I liked Rotterdam.

Good luck on The Project.

[rratty]

Hey Cass
Hello, This your buddy Ratty..
Glad to hear you are doing well
ratty

[rratty]

My name was red rat...
but I think it got changed somehow...
Still I am still the same stinky rat
rr

[arsby]

Ratty, you slimy rodent you.

What's brings a ratty guy like you back to a nice place like this.

Ya missed the girls, didncha?

Welcome back!

[Dafydd]

Ratty! I wondered where you'd gone.

[rratty]

Thanks for welcoming me back.
I was gone for awhile.
I got a job as a lab rat at Pfizer doing some drug testing.
The only way I got out of it was to pretend I was dead
and then they threw me out in the trash and I escaped...
It is nice to be back.
ratty

[cass]

Fe-youff! That means WOW! So nice to have such a wonderful welcome back. Ratty...you are certainly not forgiven for your Cass sandwhich email you sent me while I was in America. THAT!...my friend, is why you never got a visit from me.Geez!

Arsby my love (spelt love right that time), how are you my dear chap? It's been quite a while. I get warm fuzzies knowing you're still here. It's like seeing an old friend again (except, um, I can't see you).

Hey Quartz my fellow tulip muncher, nice passpotrt my friend. Fingers crossed I'll have one too in the next few months. My Dad never got him passport before he was 19. He was born in NZ but is full clog. That means he blew it for all us kids. Me and my siblings have been busy working towards it and our applications have just gone to the Dutch consulate in NZ. We apparently have to apply for citizenship before we can get a passport. That's fine by me. My last name is de Ryter. Very common. I even went to school with another girl at shcool who was de Ryter and we'd pretend we were sisters to the other kids. there's loads of Dutch people in NZ. I'm so excited about comignt o visit. I can't wait for the yummy coffee. It's all my Opa ever talks about and he drinks great coffee. I hope they have soy milk there.

Hey Howie, when I was 12 I went to Tacoma and I almost made it to Niagra falls, but something happened and it didn't work out. I would love to see it. I'll keep you in mins as my willing tour guide dear boy. x

Gidday artlover, if you tell me your name I'll make up an aussie O name for you with pleasure. Thanks for writing babe x

I should probably tell all you darling friends what we've been doing here on site for 'THE PROJECT'.
First I must say....IT"S SO F*&KING COOL TO BE HANGING WITH SUSIE AGAIN. And Jamie, and of course to meet Verity (rowr! Cute)
Abby just asked why I hadn't looked at the thread of us yet. I didn't know it was there but I plan to go check ito out now. I know what shot she's talking about though! It's the one where all the other girls are towering above me and I'm sniffing the dirt. It's not fair. Aren't Dutch girls sposed to be tall?

I have to finish this thread and move computers. It's Jamie's and she's growling me. Geez babe, just say please x

[Abby]

Hi kids, I'm back. I'm using a laptop now and it feels wierd.
I just have to tell you about my awesome room here on the project. Susie and I share a balcony which connect our rooms. They're opposite the ocean and I have the HUGEST bed in the world and a bathroom in my bedroom that looks out to sea while you shower. It's very sexy. I love it. I feel like a princess. Susie and I have allocated our balcony as a place to get our bums brown cause no one can see us bathing up there.

There's a pool here and today I caught a water dragon in the pool. He was little and very cute with googly eyes. I kissed him and let him go. He didn't turn into a prince I'll have you know. Better luck next time.

I can lie in any direction across my bed and my feet don't even hang over the edge ( and NO it's not because I'm a short ass. it's because the bed is a big one!)

Jamie and I have porridge in the morning and coffee and talk in sign language till our vocal chords start working again. Mornings are hard sometimes.

Well, it's bedtime for me. I had a terrible night last night that included tow trucks and broken keys so i must sleep.

Goodnight
Love Cass x

[Tank]

There's a pool here and today I caught a water dragon in the pool. He was little and very cute with googly eyes. I kissed him and let him go. He didn't turn into a prince I'll have you know. Better kuck next time.
Oh to be a dragonfly. Only I wouldn't want to be let go....:) .

Sweet dreams princess.

Tank
"The wall was high and I fell asleep"

[cass]

No dude, not a dragon fly. A water dragon

[arsby]

Ah, yes. Good ol' Physignathus lesueurrii, the Australian Water Dragon.
Commonly found in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

http://www.agamainternational.com/lesueurrii.shtml

Put's me in mind of a joke often told by octogenarians throughout Australia...

An 80-yr-old man is walking down the path and hears a small voice coming from the grass.

He bends down and sees that a water dragon is talking to him, saying, "Sir, kind sir, please rub my head and I will turn into a beautiful princess and you can have your way with me!"

The old man puts the water dragon in his pocket and keeps walking.

He hears the water dragon calling him again. He takes it out of his pocket and the water dragon says,

"Sir, kind sir, you don't have to kiss me. Just rub my head and I will turn into a beautiful princess and you can have your way with me!"

The old man says to the water dragon,

"You know, at my age I'd rather have a talking water dragon."

[Dafydd]

Maybe the water dragon didn't turn into a prince in the hopes that you'd try again...:p

[Quartz]

Hey Quartz my fellow tulip muncher, nice passpotrt my friend. Fingers crossed I'll have one too in the next few months. My Dad never got him passport before he was 19. He was born in NZ but is full clog. That means he blew it for all us kids. Me and my siblings have been busy working towards it and our applications have just gone to the Dutch consulate in NZ. We apparently have to apply for citizenship before we can get a passport. That's fine by me. My last name is de Ryter. Very common. I even went to school with another girl at shcool who was de Ryter and we'd pretend we were sisters to the other kids. there's loads of Dutch people in NZ. I'm so excited about comignt o visit. I can't wait for the yummy coffee. It's all my Opa ever talks about and he drinks great coffee. I hope they have soy milk there.

Hey, I don't munch tulips .. I don't even munch cheese! There seems to be a u missing from your last name .. maybe it's been anglicised in the process? Most Dutch names drop a few letters in foreign countries, or they are 're-spelt' (De Wit -> DeWitt, Van Wormer -> Vanwarmer (no, that's not an add-on for your Subaru), Van der Ven -> Vandeven, etc.). Yes, there are a lot of Dutch abroad (and one of them always manages to open an ex-pat shop for hagelslag, drop and speculaas somewhere), and New Zealand is among their favorite destinations, together with Australia and Canada. Mostly farmers looking for more open space and less rules, but also a lot of well-earning professionals who are looking for an entirely new career/lifestyle. When applying for a Dutch passport you will probably encounter the word 'inburgeren', which is hard to translate .. it is not to ingest hamburgers, it is more like a required citizenship test (language, history, law, society, current affairs)
. Soy milk? Every city of a reasonable size has well-stocked supermarkets, and vegetarians are well catered for in the major cities as well (maybe you're just lactose-intolerant). You won't find soy milk in a lot of cafés or restaurants, I believe, so you may have to carry it with you and ask for black coffee ..


Then again, these tests may only apply if you actually want to move here, not if all you want is dual citizenship/nationality (which is actually a right under certain legal circumstances, not something you have to qualify for). Having a EU passport is mighty handy when travelling throughout the EU .. passing through customs is a breeze with a EU passport, especially within the Schengen area.

[cass]

Hey, I never thought about my name being westrnized or anglicised, but I bet you're right. We have a family tree book that dates back to the 15oo's and there are heaps of de Ruyters, but we're still de Ryter. I'm 3rd genereation in New Zealand.

[Tank]

No dude, not a dragon fly. A water dragon
Dooh!! :o

Tank
"The wall was high and I fell asleep"

[Dafydd]

That happened a lot in America, too. Sometimes the families wanted to Anglicize their names (or pick a completely new name) to fit in better, sometimes immigration officials just couldn't spell the originals. Sometimes names just alter over time. My mother's family tree book starts with an ancestor named Tugwell who came to (what was then) the Colonies in the early 17th Century, but by the 20th Century the name had become Tuggle.

[artlover]

Well, thank heavens I'd rather still have the beautiful princess.

Cass, I downloaded your song video--you did a great job. It's a lovely tune and it's sung with great sincerity. I like the lyrics too--the first line really grabbed me. The birds chirping in the background added a wonderful counterpoint.

I'd rather remain incognito on my first name, but my middle name is Noel. Have at it!

[Ozboy24]

lol....mines richard....i came to the realisation that people werent being mean...they were just using my middle name.....or maybe they were just calling me a dick....yeah thats more likely ;)

[artlover]

As long as your last name isn't Cranium... :)

[Dafydd]

lol....mines richard....i came to the realisation that people werent being mean...they were just using my middle name.
I knew a guy once named Richard Dick. Man, they had him coming and going. But that wasn't the worst of it. His sister was named Ophelia! :p

[Philos]

... and they named their steam yacht after her mother, "S.Y.Phyllis", no doubt :rolleyes:

[cass]

I went to school with a guy called Richard Smallbone. Poor dude!

Can someone tell me how to post a picture. Abby's aslee and Susie and I can't figure it out. We took a picture for you all.
It's been awesome here working on the secret project. Jamie's been getting right into her photography, Verity is so unbeleivabe withthe models. Wait till you see what she filmed the other day. It was unreal. I didn't know her till now and she's so wonderful.
And Susie and I have been having a brilliant time catching up. I missed her so much and it's great to hang out with her again. Our bedrooms are down the hall from each other so we have little visits and talk about what w've been doing since we saw each other last. I don't kike to think that we'll be heading in totally different directions again after this.

Did anyone tell you that we all went snorkelling together last sunday? It was the best day except for poor Verity geting seasick and soe of us getting stung by blue bottles. I swam with a big turtle. He was so cruisey and I've decided I want to be a turtle in mynext life. So long as I don't get eaten in the first stages. i want to get big and old and jst float around. They're so cute when they come to the surface for air.

After here I'm going home to NZ to be bridesmaid. Ohhh, I've never done that before. I'm really nervous. I have o wear a dress and heals and makeup. Hmmm?

Anyone darlings, Susie and I are off to the markets. It;s out day off at last and the sun is beaming.
Lots of love
Cass xxxx

[Luxman]

Hi Cass,

Can someone tell me how to post a picture.
It's very easy: If you're at the quick reply, click Go Advanced, click on Manage Attachements, in the new window follow the instructions. Attention, after clicking Upload, you must wait some second to finish the upload. Then click Close this Window and post your message at usual.

Hope this helps.

Lxm

[Vid Dude]

Hi Cass,

Click the 'Go Advanced' button, write your message (you can't attach unless you have at least five words in the message) and choose 'Manage Attachments'. Follow the instructions there, and you should be okay.

[Abby]

ok, here it is.

[artlover]

We took a picture for you all. At this moment, a whole bunch of guys are holding their breaths.

*** The picture came online as I posted this. Wow! y'all are two lovely ladies indeed. I like the contrast between the white and black swimsuits--kinda yin and yang. Thank you!!***

I swam with a big turtle. He was so cruisey Eh? It sounds like a compliment... cruisey??

After here I'm going home to NZ to be bridesmaid. Ohhh, I've never done that before. I'm really nervous. I have to wear a dress and heals and makeup. Hmmm? You'll do fine. You get to wear a (hopefully) nice dress and have a good time. In the USA the bride gives the maids nice gifts. You might meet a special someone. Will you sing?

i want to get big and old and jst float around. Overeating is the best way to do that :)

[cass]

Thanks art lover, and yes, I had to try on the dress. My girlfriend got her dress made in Australia so I met up with her and tried on my dress. It's so pretty. It's aqua bluey turquoise of something. I like it. I'll get a picture to post after the wedding.

Something very exciting happened today. Get ready for it.....Abby took me and Susie SKYDIVING! It was unbelievable. I had the coolest tandem dude who flipped us out of the plane. We spun through the air for ages and then free fell for 10,000 ft. It was the most incredible thing ever. Susie's STARVING as we haven't eaten yet, so we're all off to eat dinner. Then I'll come back and post some exciting pictures. I also got to control my chute and do spins (puke). It was great fun.

AWESOME!

[Quartz]

Ok, so now the Special Project has officially moved on from I Hurt Myself to Suicide Girls ...

Meanwhile, Vid Dude's sitting at home, staring blankly at the screen, contemplating life as a Skydiving Orphan. He has found God, a bottle, or both. If it rains tonight, he will hear *splat*, *splat*, *splat*, and he will wake up with bitemarks on his pillow.

Stay tuned, I guess ...

[Dafydd]

You two look beautiful together. :)

[Havemercy]

The California Raisins--what a flashback--or is that campaign still running in the Secret Location?


But you look great in it, Cass.

-k

[artlover]

My girlfriend got her dress made in Australia so I met up with her and tried on my dress. It's so pretty.
You're lucky. Sometimes brides in the US are, shall we say, taste-impaired, and choose bridesmaid dresses that give new meaning to the word "tacky". Such as dresses with poofy sleeves that you could hide several small dogs in, or bows that are best wrapped around new-christened ships.

[cass]

Hey, that's a good idea, hiding small dogs in poofy sleeves. There's a business venture in that. Can't think what right now, but I'll work on it and get back to you.

King-o dude, so stoaked you noticed my cap. You win the prize for the first to notice (meet you at lunchtime behind the bike shed). I loved the california raisins. I found that cap at a garage sale in the States. I loved garage sales there. I got quite pro at making quick and dangerous turns at short notice when a 'GARAGE SALE' sign appeared at the side of the road. You have to remember that this is especially good considering I was driving ont he other side of the car too (Cass pats herself on back).

Hey Quartz, do you mean 'I shot myself" as in referring to the website ishotmyself.com or is there a site called 'I hurt myself"?

In New Zealand you could bungy jump for free if you did it naked. Susie and I asked if we could jump yesterday for free if we did it naked. The guys told us they'd be happy for us to do it naked but unfortunately it wouldn't be free. We declined!

It's raining on location today. It's some of the first rain we've had since arrving here. Less than one week to go before this whole project is over. It's been so worth it and really fun. Hope you're all pleased with the results.
Love Cass x

[artlover]

In New Zealand you could bungy jump for free if you did it naked. Susie and I asked if we could jump yesterday for free if we did it naked. The guys told us they'd be happy for us to do it naked but unfortunately it wouldn't be free. We declined!
There's such a thing as carrying capitalism too far. Obviously the guys didn't know the opportunity they missed, seeing two celebrities in the buff. I guess at high altitude your brain slows down. :D

Rumors of overly large fannies on the Special Project Staff are completely false. I wouldn't change a thing on any of you!

[Quartz]

Hey Quartz, do you mean 'I shot myself" as in referring to the website ishotmyself.com or is there a site called 'I hurt myself"?
Umm, no. That was actually a reference to the time when Jamie decided to keep abreast of a bluebottle (http://www.abbywinters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=28482#post28482).

[artlover]

I had no idea that bluebottles were so boob-obsessed. Why, they're almost human :)

[cass]

Hi cherubs,
Well, it's another Glooooooooorious day on secret location here at AW.com. Only 4 more days to go and we're all rushing around like headless chickens as the days count down.
Today threatens to be one our most busiest with current total of 5 HOT shoots today all overlapping with each other, but lord hear me, should one more model come through our door that needs shooting, so be it!

Here's a run down of how things work here on location.

7am: Team gets up and disperses into daily excersise regime (or they just keep sleeping).
8am: Breakie consisting of porrige (for Cass and Jamie and sometimes Verity), vegemite on toast for Abby and Susie and weetbix for the rest (Go team).
9am: Call and confirm the days models and interivews
9.30am: write and say hello to loyal memebrs (Hi everyone)
10am: GO, GO, GO!
-
-
-
-6.30pm: Fall over! (preferably into bed or the ocean. Somewhere cleansing or relaxing anyway)
7.30: All sit down to dinner

After that we read our books or cheers on Abby and Susie while they have their nightly backgammon challenge. Sometimes Verity and I do some yoga and Jamie pushes through her LOTR's trilogy. SHe's always reading them. Fast too!

SO it's now 9.47am and I'm afraid I must puh on and help prepare for the day.

Take care my lovelies. I'll write to yuo some time through the day.
Hey King-o, I wore my california raisins cap for you today.
Hey art lover, I hope you're American because Fanny here means something else

[Ozboy24]

blimey, all youd need to do is have a counter meal at the local for tea and youse guys would be aussie as!!

tell me you eat meat pies for lunch ;)

[Abby]

ha! Like this?

(Susie and I and Merryn were out shooting yesterday and we got hungry en route so we stopped for a meat pie for lunch)

a

[cass]

Ahhhhhhhh, good ol' meat pies. The stuff dreams are made of. I grew on them. (and now I'm a vegetarian)

[Dafydd]

"You who eat pies,
Mrs. Lovett's meat pies
Conjure up the treat pies
Used to be!" :D

[Dafydd]

Jamie pushes through her LOTR's trilogy. She's always reading them.
So...would it be the acme of geekery to point out that The Lord of the Rings is not a trilogy but a single novel, commonly published in three volumes?

[cass]

Yep! Pretty much

[artlover]

Hey art lover, I hope you're American because Fanny here means something else
Yes, I am a citizen of the US, where your fanny is what the doctor spanked when you came into the world.

I get the feeling it refers to something else in Aussie? :o

Conversely, Uncle Tom has quite another connotation in the US!

[cass]

Conversely, Uncle Tom has quite another connotation in the US!

What's that mean?

[Quartz]

I'm curious: did your companions get the leaded or the unleaded pies?

[Ozboy24]

hehe...i havent heard fanny for awhile.

isnt uncle tom something to do with slavery...uncle toms cabin??

now all you need to do is eat a meat pie at the footy and honk your horn when someone gets a goal and youll be my hero!!
although any one who braves eating a meat pie without knowing whats in it is my hero...i can only eat chunky steak or else i start thinking about cow tongues and bull nuts and calf bungholes and .....ewwwww
same with hot dogs

[Quartz]

I get the feeling it refers to something else in Aussie? :o
In the non-American English-speaking world (don't know about Canada though), it's the front entrance (or your first exit), a.k.a. minge (http://www.abbywinters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=22249#post22249). Hence the naughty character name 'Fanny Hill', I presume.

Conversely, Uncle Tom has quite another connotation in the US!
Yes, quite .. Nowadays, isn't it used to describe a white politically-correct 'black man's friend'? I seem to recall having heard something like "You're such an Uncle Tom" somewhere.

[artlover]

Yes, quite .. Nowadays, isn't it used to describe a white politically-correct 'black man's friend'? I seem to recall having heard something like "You're such an Uncle Tom" somewhere.
In Uncle Tom's Cabin (good ID there Ozboy) Uncle Tom coped with being a slave by saying "yassuh" and "nossuh" to his white masters. Quartz, you're in the ballpark. After the civil rights movement took hold in the 60s, militant blacks used the term to refer to African Americans who were too accomodating of white people.

Enough history. Back to the lovely Cass, who could parachute into my neighborhood any day. Stay sweet...

[Quartz]

Oh yes, of course, it was just the other way around.

[Jorinel]

9.30am: write and say hello to loyal memebrs (Hi everyone)
Cass, please don't go off after the Special Project and leave the boards without your special influence: come along & say Hi from time to time. Last time was too long without you.

Jorinel

[Bertie1]

Hey art lover, I hope you're American because Fanny here means something else
:D
It had me rolling on the floor, I wondered how the team would react to being told they had big fannies.
:D
Don't ya just ove the little idiosyncrasies that have developed between countries use of the english language, always makes for interesting conversations at the backpackers hostels.

Bertie

[cass]

Ha Bertie, you're on my wave babe. It painted a very funny picture for me too.

Phew! Well, I just got back froma solo location scouting mission which was lots of fun. Quite honestly, as super as it is being here with the whole gang, it's nice to have a little space after being in such close quarters 24/7. I brought my mini disc player along and listened to motor cycle diaries while I trekked the stunning headlands. That's a really cool album for anyone who is into spanish guitar. I love spanish guitar. It's sexy!

Only two days left to go here now and Abby seems a little frazzled. I can understand. She's been going non stop. Her bedroom is our office at the moment and we've had to set up the computers on a tressle table for weddings and functions. It's cool though. It's a groovy little set up.

Thanks Jorinel, you're right. I haven't written toy ou all for so loong. In fact I never even had a pass word. No ones fault but my own. I've been so engrossed in all this travel as you know that I've neglected computers almost entirely. i'm off to Spain after here, but I promise I'll put more effort into keeping you in touch with my adventures.

I hope you all forgive me for my endless typo's. I try too fast and blur it up
Cass x

[artlover]

Note to self: If visiting Australia, don't say "I fell on my fanny". Apparently has different meaning over there. Also, nod knowingly if someone says "minge". Do not confuse with "mince pie".

Hm. Best to hire an interpreter... :D

[Darth Dave]

Note to self: If visiting Australia, don't say "I fell on my fanny". Apparently has different meaning over there. Also, nod knowingly if someone says "minge". Do not confuse with "mince pie".

I find it extremely funny when Americans say Fanny Pack, no matter how many times I hear it its still funny. :D
If you’re in Australia and going to a sporting event or anything like that don't say your rooting for anyone. We have a different meaning for that as well.

Dave

[Jorinel]

If you’re in Australia and going to a sporting event or anything like that don't say your rooting for anyone. We have a different meaning for that as well.
I believe our American friends have the same meaning: some US visitors to my house found very amusing a little container of "Rooting Hormone" that was sitting around...

Jorinel

[Jorinel]

I hope you all forgive me for my endless typo's. I try too fast and blur it up
On the contrary, the typos tell us that your posts are from you: better fast & furious & blurred than slow and short and pedantic, like mine!

Mind yourself on those cliffs :)

Jorinel

[cass]

Wow, guess whaat? Last night I had the most incredible jam session with this beautiful girl I met at a jam night here on location. She's amazing. Seriously good. She plays slide guitar and sings like an angel. We played music into the night, whilst swatting mosquito's and drinking peppermint tea. Both of us would like to do more with our music and thought about do a female vocal thing with one other girl if we can. We had the best hharmonies going on and I learnt alot.

[trebor]

That would be A minor. (if you are in standard tuning)

I heard a fantastic slide player play earlier tonight (Duke Levine). He was backing a female singer (Jennifer Kimball), they did a beautiful jazzy arrangement of the Ola Belle Reed ballad "High on a Mountain".

[Philos]

I hope you asked that musical young lady whether she would be interested in modelling for AW!

[imamodel]

Hi Guys, It's me, long lost ol' Cass here. I forgot my password and used a model passowrd I could remember and thankfully it worked.
Well I'm back in ZN now, and it's so wonderful to be home. I'm landscaping a friend property which is great. I love it. It's fantastic doing the planting but right now her place is arid and undone so I'm in the process of planting lawns (there a e a few) and making giant rock gardens which is a serious weight lifting session each day. Crickey! Vid dude said to me "Stuff that for a lark". I didn't know what 'For a lark' meant till then. But I enjoy the worka nd I'm good a tit which is a bonus. I got 20% off at a garden nursery today because I'm a landscaper. I felt special. I'm a bit of a wanna be. I never studies or anything, but I wear steel cap boots and a dome down shirt and stubbies. And you can possibly see mmy crack when I bend down so I reckon I'm about as good as it gets.
When I got home I was bridesmaid for a girlfriend which was awesome. The day wwas unreal and we all had lots of champagne. Hmmm (smile).

So, what do you think about Jamie leaving. I only found out becasue I signed in. I'm in shock. Good for her, but I'm still in shock! I hope she get to do the travelling she wants to do.
Oh guess what? I just got asked to go on a flash yacht from the west indies to Ireland. A month it would take and we'd sail through the panama cannal through to the atlantic. I'd love the adventure but not sure if I'd go crazy. Still, sound likje fun. Anyone wanna be my sponsor?

I hope you're all well and reaping the benefits of all of last months hard work.
Take care team
Speak to you soon
I promise
Love Cassy x

[Philos]

I'm good a tit
You said it!

[Smittenbyakitten]

Hey Cass,

I'm good a tit which is a bonus Must agree with you lass ;)

Seriously though, thanks for your delightful little post today because you gave me a laugh... and perhaps you noticed we can all use one today.

Cheers

(and take that boat trip!)

[Smittenbyakitten]

Philos, remind me to slow your reflexes and fog your brain with drink next time before I post, to give me a chance.

smitten

[artlover]

Gosh, the Abby ladies are going everywhere--Jamie to [wherever] and Cass thru the Panama Canal. Cass, I say go for it--travel is wonderful and you make friends everywhere you go... tho a month is a long time. I assume you will get to leave the boat from time to time :) I would sponsor you but alas, I'm not one of those rich yacht people. (I am richer in friends, on- and offline, which is the best wealth to have).

Lovely to hear from you, Ima. Hey, at least you when you make funny typos you have the er, goods to back it up with :)

Artie

[Yealith]

......... yacht from the west indies to Ireland. ..........Anyone wanna be my sponsor?

Hi Cass
Sure I will sponsor you a little. Once you get to mainland europe just come and visit switzerland, there is a lot to see here.

I will invite you for dinner in my favourite restaurant (one of the best in our small country) - Promised. OK? :)
(and: try to bring Jamie along, now that she may want to travel too) That be fun! WOW :D

[Luxman]

I will invite you for dinner in my favourite restaurant (one of the best in our small country)
Indeed a great Restaurant, hmmmm. :)

Lxm

[imamodel]

HI guys,
Good response by all. Well done. The tit joke just went over my head. Seriously lads, on a site full of titties I can't beleive this amuses you. You're like puppies.
Anyway, I looked at a map today and to be honest I just assumed I'd be going through the panama canal if I take this trip, but that's just silly. That would take me into the pacific ocean and away from the destination Ireland, wouldn't it? I'm bloody excited a the prospect anyway. Can you imagine it? How much fin would that be?

The rains coming in in y home town today. It's been so sunny since I got home, but now it's threatening to rain. I don't mind. It will help my new grass seeds to grow, but it better stop by Monday.

I've got a little honda civic hatch back to get up and running and it need new front and rear brake pads. I'm learning how to change them. It's good fun. I like learning new skills. The plan is that when I have my own little house and my own little car some day when I settle, I can do most of everything by myself before paying someone to do it for me right? Hell, I'll even head intot he forest and chop my own firewood.

Hey Yealith, I wouldl ove to get to Switzerland. I have a wonderful friend there. She was an exchange student at highschool. We got up to heaps of mischeif together with another girlfriend of ours. I'd love to see her again.

Love Cass x

[thenorthernlites]

Cass!! HIYA FROM THAT STATE OF WASHINGTON!!
I just joined the club and saw that you were here in washington state earlier in the year...where did you get stuck at out on the olympic peninsula?? I live down from seattle about 45 miles and have been in washington my whole life and wouldn't trade it for any other place,although i tried to..lived out east in kansas for 14 months..YUK!!
Just thought i'd stop and say hiya and ask where you were here in GODS COUNTRY....and hope you consider returning to our state soon..oh yah..Vancouver B.C is really a very pretty city and its the gateway to the northern lands, as we say..lots to do,,and if you plan to return to Vancouver..may i say that you should visit Stanley park and marine world there..you'll love it.
hope to hear from you soon.......

Always, thenorthernlites .. the brightest lites in the northern sky!!!

[imamodel]

Hi dude, thanks for writing.

I love Stanley park. I used to bike around it all the time when I was living in Vancouver.
When I was living in Washington I was near Astoria just over the bridge. It was lovely. I met heaps of great people and ate heaps and heaps of oystrs and razor clams. I did a kayak mission over to Long Island with a bunch of friends but never saw a bear. I loves my time in America. I have a new family there now and wish I could do another summer there.

I fly back to Vancouver for only a few days at the end of next month. I can't wait. It should be good to see everyone again. The seasons will be changing and it'll be almost exactly a year since I flew in last time. It snowed in Vancuver when I was there. Brrr!
I stayed in Seattle up in Queen Anne for 3 weeks too. I had a wicked time. It was during halloween and I loved how festive it was. I love Macrina bakery up there. Do you know it?

Take care everyone
Love Cass x

[thenorthernlites]

Cass..hiya!!
no.sorry i have no idea where macrina bakery is..but if you tell me..next time I'm in seattle,i will be sure to check it out.
I love to go up to seattle for a saturday to the pike place market down on first..its really KOOL..and the best place to hangout and just people watch! Some real characters in that part of town!
If you get time to ever get to the seattle or tacoma washington area,, look me up and i promise you i'll show you some of the best places to go in seattle..like the aquarium and all the shops and places that have really great food and music at night..the nitelife on the Seattle waterfront is really something to be hold..and the sunsets over elliott bay are just spectacular.also if you like to shop..the big mall in the center of seattle is the biggest in western washington, and has the best food court too!!! then its the seattle center and ride the monorail from downtown to the center for some fun..the rides and the space museum and the science center and take in the lazer music show..thats awesome!!!!!!
well if ya get this way..let me know and maybe we can hook up and have a day of showing you the real great places here in the great northwest!!!!!!!!!
take care always......thenorthernlites>>the brightest lites in the northern skies
.

[Abby]

Hi

Just got an email from Cass that she said I should post to the boards. She's working for this billionaire in the Mediterranean...


Hi guys, it's me again.

I'm snatching a chance to sit down and write a quick email before I hit off another hard day at work. That's right. Its almost 1pm and I've just walked in the door after a big sleep in. Yesterday just really took it out of me, let me tell you. As usual I had a really early start (10 or 10.30). I walked in and joined the cleaning girls in the kitchen for breakfast and a good hour long gossip session about whether Brad really is dating Angelina or if he's still up for grabs. Then I whipped up a salad and seared some fish for the bosses lunch and when he was done the two of us made our way down to the beach where we sat side by side and got a delightful maincure and pedicure each (mineof course being French).

After that we sat outside the casino at the cafe de Paris and sipped chilly Rosè until we'd decided we'd worked hard enough and he dropped me home at 5.30. As you can imagine I was exhausted. The day had really taken it out of me. However, I was obliged to get dolled up in my latest gown and join the boss for a late dinner. My friend Sarah decided to take a break from her boat where they actually do real work, and came bearing more of that delightful stuff the French christened Rosè. We chatted while I got ready, hair in a elaborate mops of bouncy curls by this stage, eyeshadow so glossy you could almost catch your reflection and to top it off (just for fun) bright green contact lenses. Actually, the silk gown and diamontè shoes we're what topped it off. Feeling like a million bucks I was whisked off in the Mercedes to the La Pinede restaurant by the sea, where like everywhere we go, there is a guy waiting to open the door for you and then to take the car and park it while ascend an old rustic stone staircase into the restaurant and dine with a veiw of the glittering coastline. An Italian man with a big beard seranades the tables through a fantastic meal of fish baked inside a hard crust of flour, eggs and sea salt. This crust must be cracked open to reavel the prefectly baked poisson within. This is all plated up for you and served it with tiny servings of all sorts of delicious baked vegetables and roasted garlic. Bowls of olives and antipasta tasters compete for spaceon the table along with two different bottles of white wine because 'Madam' (that's me) couldn't decide which tasted better, the sweet and fruity or the crisp and tangy.

After diner we take a digestive stroll along the sea wall. I am obliged to carry my heels which a about to cut my feet in half (beauty is pain people), and use my keen night vision to dodge the continuous shady spots on the path along the way (take a guess).

The porter is waiting with the car running as we ascend the stairs. Home or icecream? That is the question. So back to Cafe de Paris it is, where the heart of Monaco is buzzing with glamour and sexy cars. We observe all this from our table that I suddenly notice is lit up from within making my crystal icecream bowl illunate.

Now I am decidedly tired and resign to the fact that I've really worked far too hard for one day and can't do anymore. Besides, it's already tommorow by this stage and time to hit the hay. I get dropped home and fall exhausted into bed, happy to be back in my bright little apartment that looks over the mediterranean sea. I turn the fan on to cool the room and watch meditatively as each sweeping gust hits the long cotton curtains and sends them sofltly billowing out from the sliding doors, until finally...sleep.

Today is Sunday and the agender is decidely lax, surprise surprise. It's a beautiful day outside but the forecast is telling us the weather will deteriorate so it might be a day at the Monte Carlo spa with all the fake boobs, plastic lips and nutritionally balanced lunches. A dip in the salt pool and a deck chair in the sun with a sparkling perrier and we're set. I can't beleive I'm being paid to do this.

The season is drawing to a close however, and to be entirely honest there's nothing I will miss to much...except maybe the shopping spree....oh, and my apartment....and possibly the fine dining and...ok, I might miss it an incey wincey bit. But not more than I'm looking forward to the next leg of the Europe adventure.

My boyf's managed to purchace a little two door in Holland (uh oh, where I am I going to fit all my new clothes?) and I have bought an awesome little tent that you throw in the air and it explodes into a very quality and waterproof lodging for the both of us. A blow up double bed and a nifty little gas cooker and all the other trimmings are in stockand we're set for the south of Spain. I plan to really learn to salsa and I'm sure we'll be obliged to pick a few grapes along the way to pay for fuel.

So now you're up to date with what's new and used in my directory. Take care and all my love.

Princess Cass of Monaco

xxx

[cosmicvoid]

...I somehow ended up in a kooky little town on a small peninsula in Washington state...I wonder if that would be the Kitsap peninsula, and if so, which one of the kooky little towns? I have the feeling you were within a "stones throw" of my place.

[nosfell]

Hi Cass,

Excuse me for my approximative english but I'm french (it's not a disease...)
I just have seen your video and heard your beautiful, beautiful song. It's a realy cool song !
If i found quickly the chords, I don't have all the lyrics.

Could you please tell me more about it ? I'd be with the angels...

Kisses,

JM

[arsby]

Hi, Nosfell,

Welcome to the boards!

The lovely and lyrical Cass is alive and well and so far as I know is living in New Zealand, but unfortunately it's been a couple of years since she's participated here on the boards.

If you'd like to interact with the models, I'd suggest you click on the Models Speak link above and click into almost any of the other threads.

[nosfell]

Hi, Nosfell,

Welcome to the boards!

The lovely and lyrical Cass is alive and well and so far as I know is living in New Zealand, but unfortunately it's been a couple of years since she's participated here on the boards.

If you'd like to interact with the models, I'd suggest you click on the Models Speak link above and click into almost any of the other threads.

Thanks Arsby for your answer. Well, good luck for you Cass if anyway you read this post.
See you,
JM