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

I am trapped in the house waiting for The Parcel from Amazon. Last year they never delivered it, apparantly because they couldn't find our house, and our presents went on four separate trips around South London before we finally managed to get someone to tell us (by weeping and shouting) where the depot was so we could go and collect it ourselves. So I am waiting in dread. Also, I have a 'sorry you were out' slip, delivered while I was ing well IN, for someone who doesn't live here with the wrong address written on the blasted slip. Why why why why don't they ring the ing doorbell? I answered the door to the gas-meter-man, and the chap who wanted to sell us some fish, that morning. The doorbell was working. I was in. If they had rung the doorbell I could have told them they had got their addresses muddled up. And now here I am fretting over a complete stranger's parcel as well as my own. Royal Mail and Parcelforce, a fine body of hardworking people. But. Please. For pete's sake. Let us TELL you when you've made a mistake. A chap at the parcel office who isn't a total total whinging snivelling little jobsworth would do for a start.

*staggers off for a lie-down and a cappucino*

Carefull you don't miss that doorbell

*lies down on sofa to recover from yesterday's company christmas party*

It was fun, the show we watched was great, and there was much dancing going on afterwards, and I stuck strictly to G&Ts so am not really hungover, just tired due to too little sleep - who's bright idea was it to have the party on a Monday night?

Hi all, I remember 2 gigs from my distant past particularly. One was a British band called "The Jam", it was at start of their career in a small pub near Twickenham, stood right next to stage. Fantastic gig, didn't like their later stuff much though. Don't know if anyone in America has heard of "The Jam" though.
Another outstanding gig was seeing Lead Zeplin at Earls Court (London).`It is a large venue, we were seated right at the back high up in the Gods. But it was fantastic, quite a spectical to see, although you did have to look at the large projection screens a lot as so far away from stage....possibly the best gig I have ever seen, great guitar solos and vocals, playing such so well known rock music.
Used to sell a few photos of bands to national music papers like N.M.E, Sounds , Record Mirror, Melody Maker....most of which don't exist anymore.
Lil, the idea of anyone caring enough to keep a post office open so someone can collect fresh oranges in this country is unheard of.....

From the context I did find myself if the thermometer is one that gets jammed in things.

Affy - it sounds to me as if the guy's real issue is one of security - either physical security of his desk and printer, or security of data - and that his concerns about this lapse on his watch are making him behave irrationally.

I find myself wondering if he is attacking you cynically as a smoke-screen to divert attention from some security lapse of his own. If it isn't a cynical smokescreen, I would bet folding money that it is subconscious one.


Christmas shopping? Gngngngnhh. Still have stuff to do. I keep on giving in and buying things in shops and then failing to post them. Amazon: just say 'buy now'

*has gig of Strangely Strange*



The curtain for the bottom of the stairs to the kitchen is now hung up. Yay! I have pinned the hems but not sewn them, so that they can settle in. There was a drafty gap at the top of the curtain because it hangs below the iron bar and the iron bar hangs below the beam, but I had the brilliant idea of using the left over curtain lining (red) as a pelmet on the inside of the beam. Now from the stairs side it looks like a red curtain with a red pelmet, and from the kitchen side it looks like a yellow and red curtain hung from an iron bar.

I guess you have to be here.

The next curtains are for the kitchen window above the sink. The mill shop had sold out of the fabric I bought for the curtain I've just finished, but I bought some in similar colours and a much simpler pattern, and I think it'll look ok.

I'm obsessing, I'm afraid. I have found some wonderful orange and gold striped silk seersucker which I want to use to make a door curtain, and I want to line it with a burnt orange velvet. It's BAD to line things with velvet, but I rather like the idea.

Now, to find portiere rods which I can attatch to the extremely thick wall rather than to the door....

*wanders off to look at the internet*

I do like the internet....

That were quick Ben!

Oh dear. My accent seems to have taken over my typing, sorry about that.

That should, of course, read 'was quick'.

Google is my friend! Kit #4 should do the trick.

http://www.tracksandpoles.com/rod_portiere.shtml

{[caer]} marzipanned the cake, heading for the ironning and wishing T a belated Happy Birthday and shaking a fist at Affy's prof on the way.

Something is dreadfully wrong with me. I have just hand-washed all my delicate laundry that has been mouldering away in the basket for months and then lain down on my tummy on the kitchen floor and washed the skirting boards and the cupboard doors. And when I have had this mug of I shall wash the inside of the fridge. There must be an antenna somewhere about my person picking up Radio Domestic.

Just received yet another Christmas card addressed to Mr and Mrs S. S's surname. Mrs S's surname I am getting used to, but Mrs S? In the year 2005? What about ME? I'm still here, aren't I? I exist, don't I? And after all the trouble my parents went to to chose me an original and pretty name? (I mean, it was when I was given it 30 years ago, but about 15 years ago it came into fashion and is absolutely no longer original. Rather a shame, really. Some of the brain-dead little tarts it's wasted on today... Actually, I had better go and drink my coffee before I get out of hand).

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We get that occasionally, stuff addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Dreadful... mostly from my paternal grandparents who I think started on a personal groundhog day somewhere around 1950.

Ha, you think you've got problems. I get letters from various members of my family addressed to 'Mr and Mrs P and we're not even married!

My grandmother address letters to Mr and Mrs Mans name.

Affy, I think Ben likely nailed it. Your prof is overreacting which generally means something else is going on. It's also possible that he is one of those people who, rather than taking delight in their very bright students, feel threatened by them. At any rate, you are in my thoughts.

And a jam thermometer is a great gift for Mr. T or anyone else who enjoys making jam. I was going to get Lady C a new candy thermometer, but she bought herself one. Those are the breaks.

That bites Affy. I hope it all works out.

There's a candy/jam thermometer on my Amazon wish list.

Okay, this is still in the Very Early Planning Stages, but I have an announcement: I might be in London this upcoming year. I'll keep everyone informed as to the details.

My Grandmother sends cards to me addressed Miss R----- S-----. I'm fine with that. I am bothered by women who still voluntarily refer to themselves as Mrs. Hisfirstname Hislastname. Talk about negating one's own existence. They're stuck in 1928, I guess.

Iran has banned popular music on the radio and TV and Bolivia has elected a coca grower who openly hates the U.S. The is very interesting this morning...

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Whether or not that's a bad thing would entirely depend on how they classify popular music!

server is too busy... server is too busy...

So it is, so it is.

Affy, I agree with what's been said. In the first place, you brought the stolen material to him yourself, in all innocence, so you could neither have stolen it nor been aware of its illegal provenance. And clearly there are security issues here.

What is difficult is that you now have to demonstrate that a maths prof is behaving illogically. The proof isn't difficult, but the social engineering will be murder...

Is everybody bailing out of the game?