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

bring back the marathon

OOh yes! Didn't they rename it Snickers?

zdt* pass me the Crunchie*

I miss the Wispa

yes that is what I meant Mina - I was surprised it wasn't you!

I had several glasses too many of white wine last night I think Although by 8pm i bet I have opened the other bottle Ihave in my fridge Blame it on hormones

National Treasure turned out to be a big disappointment. Shame as I thought it would be good.

Got up and put my foot in a furrball There is a reason that I always have a pair of socks on hand to put on before I get up - it is safer!

I have:

A savoy cabbage
Carrots
White potatos
Onions
Leeks
Cheese - hard and soft
Veggie sausages
White sauce


So what shall I make for dinner?

Chips!

I had chips yesterday! Admittedly they weren't home made which are always better!

I have 2 thoughts.

Veggie sausages served with Savoy parcels of grated spud, carrot, onion, leeks and soft cheese. With white sauce over the top. (Never cooked that before and have no recipe so might end up making it and then just sticking them in a sandwich!

Or

A veg bake: Carrot slithers, potato cubes, leeks, fried onions in a white sauce. Topped with roasted potato slices around the edge, melted grated cheese in the middle and then toasted breadcrumbs on the top of the cheese. I have cooked this before and it is

Oooh, veg bake, veg bake, veg bake!!! Can you send some over please; down to "RMI'ste pie" here, end of month syndrome!

RMI = Unemployment benefit; so the pie is basically any old rubbish lying around at that stage,in whatever sauce you can cobble together; topped with hopefully mashed potato; if not, pasta or even stale bread will do. best with cheese on top, but if you haven't got any, you just haven't & that's that!

Every one is different of course, all part of the fun!

zdt

I had bangers and mash last night in the end!
I will have to cook tomorrow. Can't be bothered today.

"RMI'ste pie"
I know that feeling - 19th of the month syndrome. Used to get paid every 21st so the 2 days before it I was always skint. Many a trip to the cash point on the 20th followed by the late night garage on the dot of midnight was made

Fags or food? Pasta and ???? anything I can find. I had my priorities right - manky pasta and a packet of fags

And if the pay was late - Bob help them at work the next day! If I was really broke and spoke nicely to the office manager then I could cash a post-dated cheque in the till.

Now, I hardly know what money is coming when as incapacity is paid fortnightly, disability is paid 4 weekly and rent is paid on the 3rd of every calendar month. It is a PIA for direct debits .

Oh, and I got a letter this morning telling me my rent has gone up!

I can't complain really as I have only had 2 proper rent increases since I moved in 7 years ago. (Got it increased to the proper advertised rental price after 6 months because I got it discounted for the first 6 months since I could sign there and then and seemed like a nice girl. )

On the upside, I accidently opened the letter from the British Veterinary Nursing Association (that I had happily been ignoring for a week - I can easily ignore those kind of letters for over a month!) telling me my subscription fee is due.
It turns out I can pay monthly direct debits - for a small charge. So I can afford to keep it up to date.

Next month my Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons subscription is due. This allows me to remain a 'Listed VN' and perform Schedule 3 tasks - like minor surgery etc**. I know it is a bit obsolete since I am not working but if I cancel it then it is like saying I am no longer a VN and I don't think I am ready to say that yet

**I have been working on Guide entries for the last 3 years on the subject

Mort has a kettle?

Good to see you out and about girl. And make sure that you do keep those memberships going, I can see you going back at some point, even if only part time. Have you thought of offering your experience to a rescue centre on an occasional basis? I'm sure it would be appriciated and you could keep your hand in. Although some of the animal stories might not be for you right now.

You mentioned the old 'Charlie says..' advert, you need to meet Henry one day. If I come in from work he over (well he is a Boxer and has to compete with Diesel for my attention too) and tells me all about his day in the same way Charlie talked to the boy in the ad.

The training course fell through, as did the french exchange, because the boss went off with long term stress. Seems like the oiks aren't the only ones struggling. An outside agency is interviewing us and found that 3 folk feel they are bullied on a regular basis, looks like HR might get involved but only if they'll come forward (they won't of course).

The stress councilor has tried to get me to take a long term sickie as well. But I'd see it as defeat and a threat to my job as well. There's always a way around legal rights and multinationals know all the loopholes.

Back to the boys. Were doing the Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze award next Tuesday and they are already entered for the Silver should they pass. Not bad for two dogs often refered to as untrainable Boxers. Pass or fail they've had fun socialising and are getting taken to the lakes at the end of the month as their reward. Curiously the three Boxers in the class passed the trial run with flying colours whilst the alsatians and labradors struggled (a feeling of false sense of security is lingering, you know what H and D are like).