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

If I count my first time around, and the resulting parent-hood, I have been in the family business for nearly 26 years of my own earth-bound 47. Mind, at the time that I dropped the uniform, I also had 21 years of that out of the 38'ish ... So even that aspect was well over half of my years at the time. It's all perspective, I suppose, eh?

I think that, sooner or later, the counts of this, that or the other stop really having much meaning. It's the bulk effect that counts. If you've looked at my pics-page (from my PS), you'll have seen a grave-marker that is already in-place. Note specifically the sentiment at the bottom. The military has been my employer for nearing 30 years, was for the missus (in and out of uniform) for nearly a dozen, and it was with us both in uniform that we met. So it will always be an important aspect of our world.

I've not looked too much at anyone's pages or webbies because my PC is creaking and ancient and often dies when I look at anything

I was born into a military family - my dad was a cavalryman* for an awfulleeeee long time, mum was in the RAF, they met while stationed in Malaysia. my Grandad was in the Air Force, 's dad was a rear gunner during the war, his mum an RAF nurse. And we met while stationed over here. In fact,it's only really in the last 10 years that the military hasn't really had anything to do with me. But still it looms large.

*introduced me to Mounties and I haven't been the same since

So far as I am aware, none of my lineage had anything to do with any military service before me. Atleast in this country. Supposedly it was a well-respected name in days gone by, in parts of "Prussia".

my dad is now on about doing a battlefield tour (WWI) with his daft mate. And was most surprised when I said I wanted to go too

So are you a history buff then? Or is it just to share and experience a bit of the history of your folks?

I always absolutely sucked at history and geography, and would have done anything to avoid it. And yet, this last decade and a half, I find myself fascinated with a number of times and places. A reconstrcuted French Fort in Nova Scotia, my own family history, early Canadian history, certainly always found the times and loss of Pompeii very intriguing.

I'm interested in history, but I dropped it at school as soon as I could because I disliked the teacher

But more and more I am getting interested in specific things about history - and I've read all the Sharpe books where the sacrifice of the ordinary soldier is made very clear. But the book I read which has stayed with my memory was All Quiet on the Western Front. I'd just like to go to those places and have a quiet think about all those young (and not so young) men doing what they did.

but probably not with my dad and his mate. I'd like a girl and lose face in front of them (they are both ex career soldiers and treat me like one of the lads when it comes to army stuff)

posted too early

early Canadian history must be fascinating - I've just read about Vikings going over to greenland and your parts and coming accross the Inuit (although sadly that was a very small part of the novel)

Roman times sound quite awful and fascinating at the same time. for me I'm starting to get interested in Yorkshire history. We're all vikings up there.

Nawwww, crying like a girl in front of soldiers wouldn't be a good idea. Still, it's quite nice that they accord you that measure of "equals".

I think my actual interest in old Roman times comes from very young. In the mid to late 60s, a small town library closed, and sold the books by the boxful. Perhaps a couple of dollars per box. My Dad brought home several, and I met a lot of varied reading. There were many "dusters" (cowboy/gun-slinger novels), some romance (), assorted novels and reference books. Even the teacher's edition of a geography text that we still used !!! With all the questions and answers !!! Sadly, I was done with that book the year before.

In any case, one novel that was in the load is one that I have read nearly a dozen times ... "Romulus, Builder of Rome". (A.L. Chidsey, Minton, Balch Publishing, 1934) Naturally somewhat fictionalized, but much based of tradition and history, it was totally engrossing.

I love novels like that.

As for "dusters" does Louis L'Amour count in that genre? I love his books

Mister L'Amour made an actual art-form of sorts of the "duster" genre. Before him, it was mostly one-off authors, each trying for their own versions and ideas. He atleast researched and knows of the times, and can make things believeable. I have read a number of his books, though none recently.

he did about 15 or 16 based around one family, and died before he could write others filling in the gaps, which I found fascinating.

Bernard Cornwell is another who does his research - I left the Sharpe books thanking everything that is holy that I wasn't a common soldier during the Napoleonic wars.

Are you familiar with Babbette, dinosaur? She and Bob come from long lines of 'property owners', who occassionally warred against each other. She's spoken a few times of the coarse and cruel world of those days, the punishments meted out to their own who didn't measure up, even worse for anyone captured but without time for 'humane' treatments. Apparently an extremely barbaric time by today's measures. Most of the journals of past generations are now in the national archives. But the more salaciously juicy ones are still held by family.

oooooooooooooo sounds interesting.

Salacious and juicy? you are a tease!

That's almost exactly what I said to Babette. I guess officers of warring factions had quite the appetite for more than just carnage. And were quite happy to document the conquests, so that later generations could be startled.

When my working day was done, I finally had some time to simply wander the threads. And I saw that you were busy in "The Forum".

To be honest, at one time I was surprised by some of the women in our uniform. Not the ones that used their "wiles", and certainly not the ones who played all "girly" to get out of the demanding or challenging duties. We had *ahem* men that tried their own variations.

What I found surprising was that when away from hubby and kids, they were just as prone to finding a quick tumble as any of the men. Maybe my small-village, Catholic upbringing instilled some perceptions. But it didn't take long for me to realize that, indeed, reguardless of the uniform issued, we are all mortal. And prone to weaknesses, needs or simple stupidity.

And even to this day, working still with the military daily, I like to think that I do not treat any woman in-the-trade any different than any lad. I consider size, when a task may come around, physical strength. But not what the trousers or shirt might contain.

I can't resist those women-in-the-military threads. Because there aren't so many here who have the experience I have had and can comment from a different angle.

I think I'd like to have worked with more people like you, I didn't have such a hard time that a lot of my female colleagues had (well, my dad was still serving when I joined, and not only did he have some rank, he was widely respected) partly because of my background, and partly because I instinctively knew which battles to pick.

And I knew which men it would be "safe" to sleep with (ie: never jumped into bed with someone that I couldn't be _sure_ was not married or otherwise involved with another woman/man. That is my number one golden rule above just about all else: do not ever help a man to cheat on a 'sista' )

I'd really like to be able to say that I was as decent and discerning. But in fact, the truth of the matter is that I very rarely managed to get that far. My total life's conquests can be counted on one hand, with a thumb to spare. But hey !!! I sure have had a lot of Lady-friends, who knew they could call, count or cry on me. Big-brother style.

Nearly all of milady's bosses in the uniform shared common traits: they despised women, women in the work-place and/or anglophones. She was ALL wrong, apparently. She did once have a woman supervisor, but of the variety who simply could not work with other women in "her domain". My elder sister is the same, ... works great with men, but can NOT get on with female co-workers.

Oh, and as to that "count"? Do keep in mind that I am in my 2nd marriage.

aw you're cute

Women can make horrible bosses - I've had more than one and Thatcher reigns supreme as the prime example of how women shouldn't lead in my mind.

And... as they say "never mind the width, feel the quality"

numbers don't count.

And remember I got married at 21 and am still married to the same *counts on fingers*

oh my goodness gracious....

22 years this year
*faints*

Awwww geez, another sorta-near-sister-type.

I know, the length, volume, girth or any other numerical measures that some folks focus on, really don't count. The occassional lad or lass may hoot about the numbers of conquests, but once you ask "can you remember any particular names?", you find it's all empty aerobics and acrobatics. Nothing of consequence.

And just as an FYI, it's our 20th anniversary that we will celebrate with a day of quiet walking and sight-seeing ... around the city of Chelmsford, Essex, UK. Followed by some time in Wales and Ireland, before an over-nighter in Manchester and then homeward-bound. All this in a 2-week slice of this coming September.