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

DAN DAN DAAAAHHHH!!!!



Blimey, I didn't realise it, but it's a year since I've been in here!

It's been a bit hectic. We've spent much of it sorting out the house, and it's still in progress. I'm currently sat at a custom made desk in my loft. We got builders in to do a proper job of the structural work, building a proper staircase, and getting everything to regulations. Once the hefty work was done, I finished off, and now have a respectable hideaway - and a place to store all my crap, as Gina so nicely puts it.
Next on the agenda was a decent set of doors and windows. Once again, left to someone who knows what they were doing, and now the house has openings which close without needing to be slammed!
Then came my first real DIY project - an upstairs loo. I've managed to teach myself how to build stud walls, plaster, tile, plumb, and wire (with help from YouTube, and my nephew, who is a qualified electrician!). I'm quite chuffed with the results, and we only had one major leak, when a push-fit pipe joint came apart, blowing mains pressure water all over the place for a few minutes. That job is sort-of finished. The room is built like an en-suite in our bedroom, but with a door onto the hallway so the kids can use it too. Inside, it looks really good. Outside (which is our bedroom) it is still just bare plasterboard. A good few weekends' work are required to get this finished.
Mid April will see the delivery of a new kitchen. I want this fitted by someone who knows what they are doing, rather than by me, but at least I am having the fun of ripping out the old one myself.
Only the rest of our bedroom, the hallway, stairs and living room to go then. Oh, and the now badly rotten decking.
I received word this week that I have passed my NVQ course that I have been studying over the past 18 months. This now means I am qualified to apply for a higher grade post in the lab. This looks like being a possibility in April once the new budget is sorted. Due to the work I needed to do for the course, I could only use the hospital computer network, so I couldn't do any work at home. This meant that almost every lunchtime for the past 18 months has been spent working. Now I've finished, I have found that I'm lost on a lunchtime - I'll have to see if the cyber cafe still works!
One thing I've noticed is that I'm getting tired on an evening. Possibly a combination of the studying at work and the DIY at home, but my frequent stay-up-until-4am nights are a thing of the past. I can manage one such night a week, and the rest of the time I'm falling asleep in front of the tv by 10pm! I think I'm getting old...
Enough about me - family wise, The Missus is currently part way through a special diet to try to sort out what is causing her IBS. She had to cut out everything except rice, tomatoes, cod and bananas for ten days. Absolutely nothing else, no herbs, flavourings or sauces. After ten days, she's been allowed one addition every two days. Bit by bit she's added chicken, bacon, pasta, onions... we've so far discovered that apples are a "trigger", which caused her terrible cramps, so no more apples for her. It's a long process, but one which is helping her live with a crippling problem.
Lily is now at college, having passed her GCSEs. She is studying Health and Social Care, with the aim of becoming a nurse. She's passed an interview at the hospital where I work to gain a placement one day a week as part of her course. We were really proud when she won the place - it is one of only 8 placements the hospital offers, and there were about 100 other applicants! She's done five days so far, in the Acute Assessment Unit, which is one of the busiest parts of the hospital. She has dealt with a huge variety of patients, and is gaining real hands on experience, doing everything from changing incontinence pads and feeding patients, to dressing a confused old lady who kept stripping naked, and helping wrap a body prior to it being removed to the morgue. We're really proud of how well she's coping with a very stressful placement.
Heather is almost ready to hit her teenage years. She started secondary school in September, and after a bad start (she was picked on by a number of bullies) she's settling in well now. She seems to be doing well, and has made a good friend who lives just up the road from us.
Altogether, we're so much happier than we were at the old house. The move was worth every bit of the upheaval. We're gradually getting it how we want, and one way or another we're all progressing. This really was a new start for us all.
Speaking of change... I've had a slight alteration in the hair department! It was Red Nose Day today (well, technically yesterday now). In order to raise a few quid, I asked everyone at work to sponsor me to have my hair, beard and moustache shaved off. I've managed to raise roughly £400 for Comic Relief, and the results can be seen here - www.picasaweb.google.com/116606307677157600117/ComicReliefHaircut
I'm currently sat in my loft, wearing my H2G2 beanie hat - my head's freezing!! I've had my beard and 'tache pretty much constantly for the past 16 years, and had hair since the day I was born, so it all feels extremely odd. I've been reliably informed by Gina that I am gowing it back as soon as possible, and I'm not arguing!!
I'm sorry I haven't been around lately, I'll try to get back into the hang of it now my course is finished...

Wow! Wow! and WOW!!!

A very warm welcome indeed Moonhogg.

I only logged in here to check something out and here you are - or were. It is still stupid o'clock in Derbyshire; but this made it well worth while getting up so early. Actually the cat got me up to let him out.

So amazingly pleased to read your post and equally amazed to learn how much time has passed since I saw you and the family. I cannot believe how far the girls have progressed and am so glad that you are all happy in the new home. Love to Gina and the girls.

Scorp



PS: Don't forget to catch up on GB's threads.

Good to see you here, Moonhogg. This appears to be all good news. Of course I've seen you around on Facebook over the last year. Day Hello to the missus from me. GB is thinking of a Cleethorpes meet in the summer. We might see you there.

beard ?? can't remember thatthen again! it is THAT long since last "contact"

How will we recognise our without his trademark beard?


Do we have our super back??





lil xx

I don't know lil!

Moonhogg! I can't get the link; it's not underlined here. Can you try posting it again please. Heaven forbid that you should arrive in Cleethorpes incognito.

Scop, we might just recognise the red nose!


http://picasaweb.google.com/116606307677157600117/ComicReliefHaircut#


lil x

nah! still don't recognise that beard

Great job Moonhogg!

Prof! It's like being in Parliament - the eye's have it - or in this case, the eyebrows, there's no mistaking them.

Why do you always turn up at bedtime?

I missed you the other night by just minutes!

It's a knack, I guess... I'm moving on from being Captain Coffee Break to being the Bedtime Fairy...

It's all that stubble. It's gone to your head!

Bet you thought you would be given preferential treatment, didn't you?

Hah! WRONG!

I wouldn't expect anything like that. I'm just a mild mannered quiet, unassuming superhero returning after study leave...

Yeah, yeah.... and pigs... !


Sorry love, I really have to cut this chat short. I have to get up early in the morning


Goodnight Hoggy... Good to have you back


*strokes her Matt*

Night night, lil!

study leave sounds like a good wheese

Bob Stafford's around somewhere

So is your new chat mate Florida Sailor


G'night... I'm gone!