h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear AL.

First of all I must thank you for starting my day in such a fascinating and stimulating way!!. At my great age, better than anything else I know!!.

I do not pretend to understand all you have written about. but I qualified as a radiographer in 1949 - a mere forty years (approximately) after Marie Curie had discovered the fact that from the pitchblend which she and her husband Pierre had been studying - X-rays of the human skeleton could be taken. (I wonder how they thought of the name X-rays. Perhaps I should know but I cannot remember. I wonder why the word "taken" sounds like the appropriate word to use?)

I had to go and look up the meaning of the word isotope- which I should have done before - goodness knows that I was scared stiff when my rheumatologist sent me to the local hospital to have a a radioactive isotope injection in order to determine the type of arthritis I was suffering from!!.

I was sent off after the injection, and was told to go and drink a vast amount of water and return in two hours when the half life of the radio active substance which had been injected would have expired . I was then photographed - at regular intervals for the next hour - I think. I reember thinking - with a certain amount of disturbing glee - on how many poor little unsuspecting inhabitants of our sewerage system would be annihilated by the vast quantities of water I was busily ingesting and then rejecting!!)

On my next visit to the rheumatologist I was told, that as a result of my X-ray examination I would be in a wheelchair in six months. In fact it took two years before I gave in.

Another fascinating fact - to me at least!! - is that my paternal grandfather studied at the Sorbonne at the same epoch as Marie Curie (sorry I cannot remember her maiden name) I wish I had asked him more questions when he was still alive, about how well he had known her, what was she like, had he known her husband to be Pierre. Missed opportunity there.

I read through your home page with great interest. So many wonderful quotations. I hope that you will let me put your name down as a friend, as I should hate to lose this wonderful gift which has been offered to me by h2g2 on Saturday 3rd February 2007. It is actually the 21st anniversary of the sudden death of my darling husband Richard(Dick) so is a very special day.

Thank you again for writing your fascinating article on plutonium, and also for being such an interesting person. I also enjoyed the story of your plumbing exploits - and what a typical male reaction typical to blame your poor wife!!.( denoting tongue-in-cheek)

With very kind regards.

Christiane Also Ran1

Hi Christiane,

Many thanks for all your comments. I've added you to my friends list. I've read very quickly through some of your postings. It seems we have a bit in common, including an interest in matters to do with aviation. Also, w.r.t.

'...am ten years older that David and was already living in Salisbury Rhodesia, (now Harare, Zimbabwe...'

My mother was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia (actually Umtali). Sadly, she is no longer with us and, ironically, died in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

My father served in the RAF in Rhodesia during WWII -which ishow he came to meet my mother.

I'm sure we'll chat some more .

A

Fascinated!!

I lived in Rhdesia/Zimbabwe from 1949 and my first husband was born in Gwelo/Gweru. All my children were born in the Lady Chancellor Harare/then Salisbury.

Although a radiographer - I did work in the winter at the Pariranetwa(spelling) hospital - I taught swimming at Blakiston.Highlands and for fifteen years at St. Michaels in borrowdale.My sons went to Plumtree and my daughters to Oriel Girls School

I also did some TV work with Edwin and Rachelle- presenting - and writing - a gardening programme called "Through the Garden Gate".

I wonder if we possibly have met? How fascinating. (sorry repeated.) You probably knew my first husband - who was also in the RAF - a Lancaster bomber pilot and won the DFC.

Incidentally I was born in the excellent vintage year of 1928. Is it possible that it is also the year of your birth?

However, I was conceived in Corsica - and the aeroplane which took my parents there for their honeymooon had no radio and the pilot let out pigeons to give their position.!!.

I am now off to watch an afternoon of Rugby.

Vive la France!!

so happy to have met you.

Christiane AR1

I think that I have just lost my reply !!
I really am losing it.

Am off to watch the Rugby.

Am thrilled to have met you. Talk later. Thank you for adding me to your list of friends.

Christiane AR1

'Incidentally I was born in the excellent vintage year of 1928. Is it possible that it is also the year of your birth? '.

No, I'm much younger than that and was born in the UK.

But when you first wrote I wondered whether you could conceivably have known my mother; she was born in 1921. My eldest brother, who also sadly is no longer with us - the victim of a dissolute lifestyle! was also born in Salisbury Rhodesia.

My father probab;ly would not have known your husband as my father was an engine fitters on the Gloster Meteor (first British jet fighter -see my Entry at A12746162.

Enjoy the rugby

Dear Big Al

You must think I am totally dotty!!

I did not read your letter properly and on rereading it see that YOU were quoting from MY journal entry when you said
"I am 10 years older than David"

Anyway, mea culpa etc. etc. for having so totally misunderstood you.

I am still enthralled by your erudite entry on the front page of today, and still consider that it was a very special way to remember a special day and a special man in my life.

I loved the first game of rugby. There are all new rules which made the match in Rome Italy v. France an incredibly clean game.

I do not think that the ref was very good in the Tiwckenham game and so it did not appear to be as well controlled and injury free as the one in Rome.

I look forward to reading other entries. I enjoyed the Gloster Meteor. I flew once in Concord. It was a wonderful experience.Such a pity that it was not economical to fly.

Very sincerely,

Christiane AR1

'Ref.. a mere forty years (approximately) after Marie Curie had discovered the fact that from the pitchblend which she and her husband Pierre had been studying - X-rays of the human skeleton could be taken. (I wonder how they thought of the name X-rays...
Another fascinating fact - to me at least!! - is that my paternal grandfather studied at the Sorbonne at the same epoch as Marie Curie (sorry I cannot remember her maiden name)...'

X-Rays were called X-Rays because, at the time, nobody knew their origin.

Marie Curie was born Maria Sklodowska.

Some fascinating history you have there, AR1

Thanx for the correct maiden nane of Narie Curie.

I could have had fascinating history - but I missed the opportunity of asking Grandpere!!.

AR1