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

Alji,

Very funny. But it's true! Every time I tell someone my real name they first say - 'oh, isn't that a bloke's name?' - and then they start going - 'oh, like Shawn the Sheep baaaaaaaah'. Most amusing.

Anyhow, I think in that film it was actually Shaun the Sheep, not Shawn. So there.

I am neither bloke nor sheep. I am a Capricorn goat with Libra rising - ha! Read all the stuff from that site about ME. I dunno what to think about all that stuff, to be honest. Lots of what I read was mostly very true about me, and also most of it was quite flattering (well, except the bit about me tending to be LAZY). But you know, you could say that stuff about almost anybody, couldn't you? I actually found my birth certificate in my files so I could give an exact moment of birth - 1.39am. But the other thing I wasn't too pleased to read was that because of something or other being in some house, this meant I would probably never become rich in my lifetime. Like, how fair is that! Well, so far this has been quite true. But I live in hope . . .

Raindog has promised that when he wins the lottery he will set me up with my clothing biz. So hey - just a matter of time and absurd good luck then, innit?

So, what have you been up to?

And where is our Noggin? I fear he has forsaken us!

az

Az, Noggin hasn't posted for two days! I hope he's allright.

Al

hi Alji,

Well, he did mention feeling a bit down, remember? So, yes, I hope he is okay (you okay, Noggin?)

Do you two know each other personally? Noggin said here before that you only live about 10 miles apart.

Anyhow, not posting for two days could be a good sign - that he is happily busy doing something more interesting!

az

Do we know each other personally, no Az and it's more like twenty miles, I'm east of Swansea and he's west.

Al

Hmmmm . . . still no Noggin.

But the good news is that Jordan has been found and he seems to be fine.

The bad news is I am about to fall on my face. Just had the l-o-n-g-e-s-t MSN conversation of my life. All night long! I must be mad. I most certainly am not going to be vertical for too much longer.

Maybe Noggin has gone to Skegness?

az

Everybody is missing you, Noggin

az

Hello guy, I didn't understand everything you say, but I agree with the most part. Realy I don't understand how this chat works, but I'd like you help me.
I'm brazilian, studing advertising and I'm trying to learn to speak English, therefore I believe that we can change some experiences about ours lifes, culture and hobs.

Reply me as soon as you can, I going to waiting to change much things!

One hug, bye!

Back again!

Been trying to recharge my batteries and rekindle enthusiasm. Also my PC is a bit sick, and will be off to PC hospital shortly.

Anyhow, how are you all keeping?

Glad to hear Jordan has been found, so will be off to welcome him back.

And to try and pick up the threads of a week's absence. Catch you later.

Noggin

hi Noggin,

How nice to hear from you again. You have been missed.

Well, sorry to hear about your PC problems.

Are your batteries recharged now?

hasta pronto?
az

hi again Noggin,

Just popped in to say hi in case you pop in sometime and read your postings.

Well, you must admit it's a bit strange that you have just disappeared, and that by doing this many people willbe concerned about you. But anyhow, I'm more just wondering about how you are doing. Okay, am not outrageously worried as you are obviously a big boy and can take care of yourself. But you know, just suddenly going away like this - at any rate, it makes me wonder.

Here it has been incredible. The longest running heat wave in the entire history of Sevllle. More than two weeks of plus 40º temperatures (in the shade!) and they are predicting one more to come. In theory all this heat should mean that I am much too hot to eat and so am losing lots and lots of weight - but no such luck.

Next Sunday a hootoo friend from London is coming to spend two weeks here - he is renting one of my rooms next door. I've been quite worried on his part that he might find the heat too much, but he says he is coming here mostly to just relax so if it is hot then he won't have any other option.

I'm sort of on semi-holidays at the moment. A class or two a day. Not real holidays, but also not a normal work load.

In case you don't know, Fnord and I are back to being very good friends. I think you were concerned about that before. But we talked things out and things are fine now. In fact, Fnord is on my MSN list now so we can also chat online. He is a very nice person.

And so are you! And I have really been missing you. So I hope you come back soon. Meanwhile, take care of yourself and don't be a stranger, okay?

kisses,
az

Good heavens, I can't believe it's been over a week since I was last here. Anyways, I'm OK; still living, and all that.

How do you cope with 40 degrees? It's been 30+ here, and that's quite hot enough for me, especially with the high humidity. By the time I finish work of an evening I'm completely wrung out; including my brain, which seems to be permanently frazzled. At least we've got a bit of a breeze this afternoon, so it's a little more comfortable.

I'm glad you and Fnord have kissed and made up. It always saddens me when people I like aren't getting on together.

Who's the lucky beggar getting two weeks hols in Seville? Or is that a secret?

Anyways, I'm going to try and be online again on a more permanent basis this time.



Noggin

hi there!

So nice to hear from you, Noggin. Thanks for writing.

Well, as for how I cope with 40º heat - that's nuthin! It's when it gets over 45º that I start to wonder about when I am going to begin suffering meltation.

Yes, Fnord and I have definitely kissed and made up. And perhaps strangely, I feel this 'blip' in our friendship has actually made us feel closer somehow. Maybe because we had to make a real effort to keep it going. Anyhow, I'm very happy about that. And I think Fnord is too.

And you? Are you really okay? You know I've been worried about you. Well anyhow, as long as you are back - am very pleased to hear you say you're going to be back online on a more permanent basis.

The other day I found a special offer on a dvd of The Third Man - so of course I bought it, even though I shouldn't be buying anything at the moment (no classes, no way to pay all the rent this month - yikes). Just watched it this afternoon (last time I'd seen it was at least 15 years ago). Oh! It was like - no, not 'like' - it was a true work of art, this film. Totally blew me away. And that almost never happens. So am really glad I spent those 5 euros.

My hootoo friend will be here next Sunday and I'm still concerned about the massive heat wave. No, it's no secret at all - it's my pal Blues Shark. It was totally serendipitous that he was looking to get away somewhere for a couple of weeks and I happened to have a room free next door. It helps me out with the rent somewhat and Blues says he thinks it's quite a good price for accommodation - so it has worked out well for both of us. Of course I will also be showing him around a bit. But I get the feeling he is just needing some time to chill (ha - in this weather) so he will no doubt want to just be on his own a lot - but I am just next door if he has any questions or would like to go out for tapas or whatever. But it is quite a nice flat and in a fab location (well, you've seen the photo) so I think Blues will have a nice holiday.

Not much other news on this end at the moment. Mostly just trying to develop self-discipline (ha!) I have so many thing I feel I need to be doing. And I'm not doing them. And I'm not getting any younger. So, if I don't do them NOW, like when? I mean, I'm going to wake up one day and discover that I'm dead. So why do I keep treating each day as if they are infinite in number? Hecked if I know.

Anyhow, I really really really hope you don't disappear again. Everyone has been missing you. Not just me. So, I hope you will be back here with us on a regular basis again. And I hope you are well.

kissitos,
az

az

Thought I'd just pop in and say hello.

Well, it looks like I'm going to be unemployed from mid October; my post office is going to close under the "Network Reinvention Scheme" (ie Office closure programme); Not sure if that calls for a or a ; but I'll probably be online a bit more after then, especially after a good week's sleep. (My first post employment priority).

Noggin

hey there!

Nice to hear from you. Though am not sure if your news is good or bad. Well, you did mention before that you were thinking of retiring, so maybe this is a good thing?

Am just waiting to go and pick up Blues Shark from the airport in a couple of hours. It will be so weird (in a good way) to actually meet this person in person. And I have the flat next door all clean and prepared for him.

Sadly for me, I could have done with at least one more tenant for next door this month. That, combined with having almost no work at the moment, is making things more than somewhat financially scary. But oh well. It's the usual summer dilemma.

And so, you are about to become a Man of Leisure. Any plans? Will you need to find some other sort of work or will you be able to manage? You're quite young to be retiring, methinks. Though of course, if I could afford to retire I would have done it five minutes ago and would then think of all the wonderful things I could do with all the extra time. But I think I would always work at doing something. And I'm sure you will too.

Are you feeling okay in general? Sorry, but I do have a tendency to worry about my friends a lot. Anyhow, whenever you want to chat, you know where to find me.

besitos,
az

Yeah, I'm okay in general.

I don't have any immediate plans, generally working on the something will turn up principle. but you're right - I'd get bored if I was a gentleman of leisure for too long, although a break will be nice.

Financially I'm okay in the short term, but longer term will have to find some sort of gainful employment.

So, how's yourself, apart from being skint and having a bad back?



Noggin

PS Give my regards to Blues; I don't know him well, but I think he'll recognise my name.

Yes well, 'skint' seems to be my middle name these days! Though I did buy a lottery ticket yesterday (only do this once a year) so I may be a millionaire now and not know it!

How would that change my life? Well, mostly it would make me be able to relax about day-to-day having to pay bills and stuff. And then I would treat friends to lots of things they couldn't otherwise do. And then I would finally be able to work on the things I would truly like to be working on. But as it is very unlikely I have just won 14 million euros I shall just keep plugging away.

The ole back is feeling much better now, especially after that last painful episode. ANYTHING would feel better than that!

Will pass on your regards to Blues. I was telling him before about the friends I have here on hootoo and he not only recognized your name but also said he had a lot of respect for what you write. So there.

You are quite an impressive sort of guy Noggin!

That is one of the many reasons why I feel especially proud that I can call you my friend.

later,
az

Feeling's mutual, of course, for both Blues and yourself.

I think I've worked out what's been wrong with me. Caffeine withdrawal. During the hot weather I've only been drinking one cup of coffee a day (first thing in the morning without which I'd be dead); now the weather's a bit cooler I'm back to my usual intake (ie far too much).

Noggin

Caffeine withdrawal??? How much coffee do you normally drink? I usually have two coffees each morning. Later on I switch to wine.

Well, don't believe for a second that this is what is really wrong with you - if indeed anything serious is wrong. Cannot just be lack of caffeine. But anyhoodle.

I've just spent half an hour trying to contact British Airways at the airport to confirm that Blues Shark's plane will be arriving on time and is not delayed. Aaaaaaaaargh. I live in Spain! Things do not function. There is no one I can call to check this, after trying to do so for half an hour. So now I have to get on the bus to the airport and HOPE the flight is not going to be delayed for hours. Bringing my trusty book with me, just in case.

Wish me luck!

az

Oh Noggin, I am such an idiot sometimes. I write things with them sounding quite fine in my head, and then I post them and realize they haven't turned out (maybe) like what I had wanted to say.

Re: my last posting to you.

>>Well, don't believe for a second that this is what is really wrong with you -<<

That was meant to be a bit of teasing about your caffeine addiction, not to say that I don't actually believe this is true. Just teasing.

>>if indeed anything serious is wrong. Cannot just be lack of caffeine.<<

That came across (upon re-reading it) as far too glib. Which had not been my intention. I write as if the person I am writing to is actually sitting here next to me and that they *will get* the humour (albeit sometimes rather wonky humour) intended.

Shamefully feeling totally silly now. Must learn to keep big mouth shut. Keep making too many mistakes by opening it.

Been reading what you've been posting on the God thread (even though I no longer post there myself). It's refreshingly interesting.

az