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

I seem to be kipping for a couple of hours, putting on or taking out the washing, having asprin and paracetemol, and getting some more kip. I'd like to hear Camerons speech, but I really do need more kip.

Blargh. Today is an important day at work: I have a presentation to give to a potential client and I have to work on a report for another. And what does my body decide to do? Have a migraine. I just got finished vomiting from the pain. Now I have to take a shower, get dressed, and look somewhat presentable.

Do you think anyone will notice if I wear black sunglasses all day? Could it be considered professional?

Oh, FG. That really sucks.

Have some

* slinks in quietly, somewhat late, hoping she'll be excused the Blue Fuzzy Trews this time

Alas, no vobble for me this time round - on account of having to hare it up to Teuchtershire and don the nurse's apron. Ma now home from hospital, post surgery. We didn't get the best outcome, but neither did we get the worst.
The family dynamics involving my sister and self are rather amusing - when I can take a step out of the situation and look at it more detachedly, if that's even a word.

A somewhat late Happy Birthday, Hyp. This is a range of heritage fruit plants, guaranteed to thrive and provide a copious harvest from the first year onwards. No orange buttons - unless you count the kumquats

for your mum T.

...a bit distracted by Cameron...sounds like he is saying he wants to do a deal with Liberals where the tories get everything they wanted and the liberals get to pretend they're in govt...and no referendum on PR...

Good to know your Ma is out of hospital T - I've been worrying about her and you.

Thta's what I'm hearing too, Kelli

That's what I was thinking, also.

All down to the Cleggster then.

Right. I need more kip if I'm not to join FG in the migraine room.

Been chatting with BluesShark (formerly of this Parish) about this. We reckon Clegg's in a a very dicey position here. Realistically, he's not just fighting for his career and current Lib Dem MPs, but the matter of whether they can ever again be a credible political force, or if we're looking at a genuiely two-party system for the foreseeable.

I'll agree it's interesting as long as you don't have a Florida. Imagine if the House of Lords got to decide the election.

Fascinating about the 4% of Neanderthal genome in modern humans.

I cant see the Lib Dems disappearing, no more than the Welsh and Scottish national parties. It's fair to say that they will never have much political clout, even if Clegg gets into bed with Brown. What they do though is keep the two main parties looking over their shoulder, never letting them get too comfortable in their well-funded palaces of power.
The little minorities, Greens and the funsters, will always come and go, but the tertiary parties will always have a place I think.

Don't forget that the Lib Dems have done well in various councils, easily gaining ground when the the tawdry two cock-up in spades.

You have to bear in mind too that Clegg is a relative newcomer, just starting to show his possible strengths. I don't think it is fair to join in the probable media dismissal of him a viable force. We shall see I guess.

There are definite disadvantages to a two party legislature. I wish we had a viable third party in the US just to keep the two major parties honest.

Thanks everyone for all the great pressies. I had a good day yesterday. Hey, it wasn't London complete with cyber nephews, but it wasn't traumatic, either. Considering my biorthday history, that in itself was sort of a triumph.

Syn bought me an...ahem...ring for my birthday. It's a very respectable emerald surrounded by white sapphires. It isn't an engagement ring. Just jewelry. Or so I keep telling myself. I had mentioned to him a while back that one of these days I was going to buy myself a new birthstone ring with a quality stone instead of the costume jewelry quality ones I've always had. He got me an emerald pendant, too. My first thought was that they were created stones, then he gave me the insurance papers for them.

FG, what a day to have a migrane.

T, I'm glad your mom is home where you can spoil her.

On the other hand, if the Lib Dems insist on electoral reform we might well see a change to more of a three-party system. After all they polled 23% of the votes, even if that didn't translate into that many seats.

Do give Blues my regards Kerr. He's one of the intelligent cynics I miss, along with Two Bit and Blatherskite. Him more than they, because of his perspective on the UK.

B

Half an hour to go until the end of the week.

I spotted this blurb in the online Times this morning, and it made me giggle: "
“Babies,” a documentary by Thomas Balmès, chronicles the first year in the lives of four far-flung infants. "

They're flinging babies??

Yeah, pls say hello to BluesShark! Been a while!

What else are babies good for??!?

They make rather nice jam