Norma's Notes

[cpdhuet]

I Goggled for pictures of blue flowers and was amazed how many varieties there are. Keep in mind that the blue morning glory is a source of a notorious narcotic.
CPD

[norma]

Claude I love those blue Morning Glories, but I didn't know about the drug...which one?

[cpdhuet]

Norma, I am not absolutely sure but I think it's belladonna. Itfrom chewing the seeds that you can get high. Teen agers do it and it can be dangerous.

[cpdhuet]

I was wrong Norma, it's ipomoea. The active ingredient is D-lysergic acid amide. Almost the same as LSD.

[norma]

Ah! I'm with you now Claude. Thanks. (Belladonna comes from Deadly Nightshade.) I didn't know about the Morning Glories though. I have tried so often to grow them, but they never do very well, perhaps that's fortunate!

[Alan]

[norma]

This diamond tiara belongs to our Queen, and she wears it often. It has also been shown on postage stamps and currency.
In 1893, a committee was formed by the girls of Great Britain and Ireland, in order to raise money for a wedding present for Princess May of Teck. (FutureQueen Mary, wife of George V.) The resultant Wedding gift is shown above. (Thanks Alan.)
Mary originally wore it topped with upstanding pearl "spikes." She later removed the pearls, and gave the tiara to her grandaughter Princess Elizabeth, (future Queen Elizabeth ll,)as a wedding
gift in 1947.
The tiara, which also originally had a band of diamonds along the bottom, is officially known as "The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara." However, the Queen refers to it as, "Granny's Tiara."

[cpdhuet]

If Russia flooded thw market with its abundance of diamonds her crown would be just another bauble. Diamonds are one of the worst investmwnt a person can make.
CPD

[norma]

Claude I know that you and your son had bad experiences with diamonds. I just love them aesthetically! (All jewels in fact.) Love the history behind many of the Royal jewels too, I don't care what they are worth, I'd just love some of my own!
Thanks for your interest in my "notes."

[william]

Whilst the Americans are still on this Earth as the largest consumer of most things including diamonds I will continue to invest LOL. At the very least I should be able to attract a mate with a flash or two ;D
However, that said you present more questions than answers Norma, why, when it was a gift, were the Pearls pillaged from the spikes? What happened to the band of Diamonds along the bottom?? Were the English Royal family hard up?? I eagerly await your research into this tawdry matter, thanks, william

[cpdhuet]

While waiting for Norma's answer William, I will give you some advice. Invest only the amount you can afford to lose.

[norma]

Back to the "tawdry" matter!
The Royals often dismantle or redesign jewellery. It seems that the present Queen had the diamond band removed, those diamonds are probably lying in the vaults, or may have been made into something else. As for the pearl "spikes," no one seems to know what happened to them, but Queen Mary had an abundance of pearl jewellery. The spikes probably went to form another pearl necklace.

[cpdhuet]

Pearls come from oysters that in time do deteriorate. Is it the same with pearls?

[norma]

Hmmm. I think that once formed Claude, a pearl lasts as long as any other gem.
Interesting fact about pearls, (which you probably know already,) they are formed from a grain of sand which finds its way into the oyster. It is an irritant with which the mollusc deals, by constantly covering it with a liquid, which forms the pearl...

[cpdhuet]

And as it grows larger it becomes more of an irritant and the dumb oyster keeps covering it more and more. I wonder if there may be a parallel here regarding our troubles.

[norma]

Maybe...that's a pearl of wisdom Claude.

[leni]

Very interesting Norma,i do remember seeing this tiara on postage stamps.As for pearls lasting for ever i do know that they should be rubbed between the palm of your hand quite often or they go grey/black and "die"

[norma]

Well Leni I never knew that. I wonder what it is in our skin/sweat, that the pearl likes.

[Alan]

Did you know that natural pearls are sold by carat weight, but cultured pearls are sold by their size in millimeters? I only know that beacuse I have bought some recently and I am now missing one arm and a leg.

[cpdhuet]

Sorry about the missing limbs Alan. Are cultured pearls smarter than natural pearls?

[norma]

I didn't know that Alan, interesting. (Those pearls are not for the Jewel Queen of P2S are they? I await with baited breath...)

[puddles]

Your remarks has me interested now, question to you, a set of exquisite set in a beautiful gold necklace who does it compare with a diamond necklace the same size. Which would be more valuable?

[norma]

Diamonds for me win every time Claude. Have never been over fond of pearls. Diamonds are forever. However, if Alan has bought me a pearl necklace, I shall be overwhelmed with joy. (Have you noticed how quiet he is on the subject? Perhaps his missing limbs are making typing difficult.)

[cpdhuet]

As I said before, I don't care much for baubles but if someone sends me a large diamond tie clip I won't refuse.

[jimmyb]

hi pal how you doing long time since meet im doing well and will be in touch soon to come through and see you hope this finds you well your friend jim xx

[norma]

Lovely to hear from you Jim. Sorry for my tardy reply. I hope you are well and happy. Will be nice to see you again.

[jimmyb]

hi norma sorry for not being in touch sooner i have lost your phone numbers from my phone also your adress if you could forward them i will contact you would be nice to see you hope you are well take care god bless jim xx

[norma]

Will do Jim, I still have your mobile number.

[norma]

A little update for anyone interested. This week I took a trip to Buckingham Palace, to see the display of diamonds which the Queen has permitted for the Diamond Jubilee.
The tiara which I spoke of (above,) was there, complete with the diamond band which I earlier said had been removed. I have since discovered that the band is detachable, in fact can be worn on its own as a bandeau. It was truly stunning!