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

Costco *is* good for stuff you didn't know you needed until you get there, isn't it? I wasn't aware that I needed that much blue cheese!

Sorry you had a weekend, fg. Call me if you need a sounding board.

*being sick is a real drag*

Hello all and especially Carmel Bunny.

[MTG]

*drifting off towards the library with hair standing on end after much tugging, furiously frowning, regretting - not for the first time - her decision to write an entry on Kalevala*

I have an age difference story too.

My wife's father is a psychiatrist and divorced her mother about 15 years ago. He then went on to marry one of his former patients, who was the same age as my wife (his daughter). My wife is the middle child of 3 sisters, so her dad's new wife was younger than one of his daughters. They have now had 2 children of their own! So my daughter has an Aunt and Uncle who are younger than her. I can't imagine having to look after two young children of my own when I am in my late 70's. And those poor kids are likely to lose their father at a fairly young age.

On Friday, the house next door changed hands. The former owners moved across the street (they have had both houses for the last month and have been moving things over piecemeal). On Friday night, around 9:00, the new neighbours arrived with their U-Haul. They must have had bedding near the back of the truck, because they slept at the house that night. The next day, they started to unload, but it was just the husband and wife, and the wife was mostly occupied looking after their two kids (about 4 and 2 years old). After lunch, we decided to go and help them unload. On our way over, we saw the neighbour that lives on the other side of them (Andy) and told him what we were doing. A short time later, he joined us. It took us about 3 hours, but we unloaded the whole truck for them. It was hard work, but everyone was cheerful and friendly and felt good about the whole thing. It generated the sort of community feeling that I imagine an old time barn raising probably did. When we were done, Andy offered to barbeque some burgers for everyone. We had quick showers, made a salad and went over there. It was a great way to get to know our neighbours, who turn out to be very nice. The ones that just moved in are from Baltimore, so it was fun telling them where to get things in London. The last 2 times we moved, the neighbour from our last house generously offered to help, so we now feel that we have passed on some of that kindness.

Welcome back, Carmel. Nice to see you again.

My parents are but 14 months apart, though my father looks much older than my mother as he has had gray hair since I was born. (44 now, him not me)

I had a colleague who got her first grey hairs in her early twenties (she had black hair so they showed really well) - it was apparently running in her family (on her mother's side)

...but it really annoyed her when people thought she was lying about her age - 'come one, you can't be that young, you've got grey hairs!'

I've got plenty of gray hairs, and I'm only 32.

*flops down in chair*

I can't cope with the heat, I took the termometer out of the tropical fish that and it was hotter in the room.

This isn't fair, If I wanted to live in the heat then I wouldn't live in Birmingham.

I know just how you feel Z, it is far too hot! I think we really are going to consider some sort of permanent aircon, at least in the bedrooms.

Cassie will split in two if she tries to stretch out any further in order to get any breeze over her furry body!

It is going to to be hotter still by Wednesday.

No sign of my car yet

I knew I moved to Glasgow for a reason, the temperature is just about right
Cheers for the Bread receipe Caerwynn, I shall give that a go tomorrow.

Toc, Turned grey at 17!

After my great uncle passed away, my great aunt confessed to my mother that during the 60-odd years that they were married she never told him that she was actually two years older than him. She had lied to them when they first met. Apparently that kind of age difference was a terrible scandal. I suppose it's all relative. Age really does not matter.

I curse Costco. I really did not need all that bleu cheese. The ten pounds of hot dogs on the other hand have proven to be very useful.

- that's another advantage of scotland, why do you think I'm choosing to go on my elective there rather than anywhere else in the world.

Different societies do have different ideas about age and relationships I suppose, if people are happy then it doesn't matter.

I wonder if there's any truth in a theory that women who like older men are looking for a father figure? my sister doens't really have any contact with her real dad, and she doesn't get on with my dad, her step father.

I like costco and sam's club, but I don't like having to buy a membership to shop there. The free membership I used to have was good, though.

Not too sure about the father thing (sound very Freudish to me) - when I was younger, I found that a lot of men of my age were just soooo immature and 'boyish' - around the age of 20 or so...

That probablely makes more sense, I can see where my sisters coming from in that way, she's very mature for her age, a lot more mature than I was. Though why attractive young women seem to date politicans suck as David Mellor, I'll never know.

I am nearly two years older than my husband. Doesn't make a bit of difference.

We buy so much stuff at Costco that we upgraded to an executive membership that gives us an annual rebate that more than pays back our membership fee. I can see why a single person couldn't justify the fee, but I know people that informally "share" a membership.

I'm single, and pay the fee. But my brother lives with me, so that's kinda-sorta not single. And the wine is so cheap there it makes up for the difference very quickly. Zeppo eats the hot dogs. The blue cheese just sits in the fridge.

I just try to avoid buying perishables there, because we just can't use them up fast enough unless I can freeze them.

I wish I could buy wine at my costco. It would be great to stock up on my favourites.

My Costco doesn't have wine or gasoline. Our municipal leaders feel it is necessary to protect the local small businesses and not grant a liquor license. I suppose that is a good thing.

On the other hand, the first and only Krispy Kreme donuts store has opened in my town. They sold 36,000 donuts on opening day.