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

Haven't they had enough with closing down the youth center in Copenhagen? Or are they practicing now how to do it in smaller communities around?

*Collapses on the nearest convenient sofa.*

Back from LARPing... though a long weekend of getting to bed at 2am and waking up at 8am has taken it's toll.

I also have longsword practice this evening... it's going to hurt.

Mornin All

Z, what I was alluding to was the worsening situation in South Africa. Joburg has been dangerous for ages but up until recently Capetown has been fairly peaceful.

Good luck, travel broadens the mind. Some friends recently had the opportunity to move to Geneva to live and work. They weren't well travelled and were trying for a baby so they hummed and hahhed before finally taking the plunge. 12 months in they have a new baby daughter, are both French speakers and wouldn't come back here for a big clock, to use a Scouse phrase.

I support MSF. Of all the aid agencies I think they are the most effective and least political. Their Dispatches news letters really make you count your blessings. Working with them must be a phenomenal experience. I imagine competition for placements with them is fierce.

[mags]

81 posts of b/log later...

Happy belated birthday, Hyp, I'm glad you got home safe and sound.

Lovely piccies all I just wish I could have made it.

I would go with MSF/Doctors without borders if they would have me. They only take people who have lived and worked in 3rd world countries for 6 months (and I've only worked in West bromwich, which is alomst the same but not quite) and/or have a dipoma in tropical medicine (which costs £3000 to do - which I don't have).

But a year in South Africa and they'll have me!

Good Man, go for it

[GDZ]

Admirable goals, Z.

Belated happy birthday, Hyp.

We're all on tenterhooks here, as one of the Librarians of Doom was escorted to the hospital this morning having serious breathing difficulties.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. I spent it with my feet propped up and the pets jockying for space on my lap.

My left foot and ankle are swollen and painful from the flight home. The same thing happened last time to the point of getting x-rays because I was worried about a blood clot. It took several weeks for the swelling to go away completely. It would look pretty good in the morning then be huge again by noon. I wonder if this is God's way of telling me to stay home where I belong? The puzzle is why it happens on the flight home but not the flight over.

Anyway, there is no comfortable way for me to sit at the computer and prop up my foot, so I'm only online briefly. I'll be able to prop it up at work where I have a large enough space under my desk for a foot stool.

Z, if you move to Scotland I will definitely visit you. Scotland is on my A List of places to see. I'm afraid South Africa isn't. I would like to take one of those photo safaris through Kenya or wherever it is they have them. And would like to visit Egypt for the archaeological zones.

I was hobbling so badly yesterday that I cancelled shopping with Mother. I have to get that taken care of today whether I feel like it or not. Then it's back to work tomorrow. All good things, especially vacations, must come to an end.

David - it's not LibrarianPear, is it? I remember her saying on her space that she didn't feel entirely well in the lung department.

*Frets*

Hyp - the Universe is clearly trying to tell you you should stay in Blighty . I hope the ankle goes all nice and normal as soon as possible.

I'm having a housework day. Laundry and cooking for the freezer. It is SOOO BORING. And when Hyp went, the good weather went - it's now alternating between windy and squally rain. So I'm sort of uninclined to venture out, but a little stir-crazy, and the stock needs straining and there's damp tee-shirts draped all over the flat. My, but it's all so dull I'm becoming dull.

Dull is the new black, Ag and Great Minds think alike. I have finally sprung clun the house. It is gleaming. It is sparkling. It is cleeean! Now, how to keep everyone out

Hyp, alternate your feets in bowls of hot then cold water to get the circulation going again - always end on the cold... and next time you're over, we'll just have to keep you here

Wilma in a housecoat, with a kerchief around her head (not really )

Oh my, I've just run out of backlog to read. Don't know what to do with myself now.

Happy Birthday, Hyp. They're special boots that give you feet the impression that they are flying eastward whenever you are flying westward.

Oooh, and Z, MSF are the bees' knees. Life savers. Good people. I hope you are able to work with them - 6months in SA is about right - then scarper

W (minus housecoat and kerchief)

I meant to say earlier, my next-door neigfhbor's wisteria is blooming for the first time in 10 years, and we're taking it as a sign that the drought may truly have broken. Another sign is that it's raining cats and dogs, a storm that began with some spectacular lightning and thunder. Nice calm, steady rain. I wish I could stay home, but I'm contracted to work at Tinnie PO for most of the day, and then my final art class of the semester is this evening.

Hypatia, does your leg possibly react to the lower air pressure in a jet's cabin? That in combination with having to sit still for so long. I suspect it would do ~my~ legs in.

I didn't know that MSF had real entry requirements, but it makes sense, and I honor your intention to join, Z. I think they can still do good in places where even the Red Cross/Red Crescent have become politicised.

Well, I can join in with the house keeping theme. I'll do the whites.

This is not quite what I pictured myself doing with my month of afternoons off.

On the other hand, I have a full fridge and fruit and veg bowl and have made a victoria sponge in order to use up my brother's jam before if goes terminally mouldy.

B will be thinking his wife has been replaced by a robot soon. One can only hope he's disturbed.

And I am dragging my mother round the British Library of Friday, so that's culture sorted for the week and I can watch the formula one on Sunday with a clear conscience.

Oh yes, and my hands and feet swell up madly on the return jouneys on airplanes too (rather than the outward ones). It must be cumulative.

Ag, yes it is.

LibrarianPear's in hospital? Hope all is well

I do hope LibrarianPear is better very soon. Please give her our very best wishes, David.
I've been hospitalised with breathing problems a couple of times myself and it isn't fun - except the injected steroids which give a rather nice 'rush'

Was wondering if Hyp's swelling was due to all the walking I made her do while she was here - and then Sol said it happened to her after flights too.
Perhaps it's just that flying US to UK is downhill - and going back is uphill?

I think I am probably the only person in the world who finds wisteria to be rather sinister. The white one isn't so bad - but that purply-blue one is definitely dodgy.


Sol - have you read your e-mails recently?

Have you attended that wisteria festival, SC? I would so totally go. I'm a sucker for funky community festivals.

Speaking of totally--I totally think you're perfect for MSF, Z. And yes, I am channeling my inner Valley Girl today. It must be spring. This season makes me giddy.