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

Come on Frank Mee where are you its your round to get them in beniton

With pleasure Beniton, I will buy you one any time.
Thank you for the support and kind words, nice to know some one cares.
Will come back to you as there is much to do.
Regards Frank.

'Hallelujah brothers and sisters' Franks back everybody, regards MUCKA

Hello Beniton,
I was only a WO1 not the Messiah, a pint will do nicely so dont crack the bottle of Holy Water just yet.
Regards Frank.

Dear Frank,
Welcome back. We are delighted that you took notice of your many friends. We have all missed you, the site just hasn't been the same.
I look forward to seeing your postings. I expect you will be inundated with questions but we know what a mine of information you have been.
From your friends
Best wishes on your return
A Smiley Elvira <>

Hello Elviraberyl,
Thank you for those kind remarks, it is nice to know you have friends at any time. I did have lots to do while away but did miss the daily chit chat and the Champagne bubbles.
After reading your posting thread with Peter I thought we may have to post pictures of ourselves 57 years on, it may change your mind about grabbing our not so nubile bodies. I have also forgotten the meaning of, what was that now? "Oh yes" "having your wicked way" there is some kind of stirring at the back of my mind but I am blowed if I can remember what it was.
Oh well back to playing with my Thomas the Tank Engine kit, my three year old Grandson thinks it is his but I told him to go ride the lawn mower instead.
Regards Frank.

Dear Frank,

yes I am pleased you are back too. All the best, carol.

Welcome back Frank!

You may be interested to know that my 80th birthday party went off well thanks to the good organisation and work of my son, daughter and their spouses. And also my grandson with three of his schoolmates who acted as barmen and women and they did a bit of waiting (is that the right word?) and clearing up afterwards. I also sang a song, the well-known 'Mother was bathing the baby.'

Best wishes

Harold

Thank you Harold,
Congratulations you are now an Octogenarian, wear your medal with pride, "errr" the ones you got in your birthday cards I mean. My wife has a photo of me on the side board wearing one on each lapel 75, I think she is telling me something like "only 25 to go for the Queens telegram bless her cotton socks" or get your affairs in order now. Very practical my wife her idea of immediate action is "oh he is bleeding, get him off the carpet and on to the patio then send for the medics" see what I mean.
I may be missing for a day or two as we have a bereavement in the family, Betty my daughter in laws mother she lit the room up even at 86 and will be missed, there is a lot to do.
My pregnant daughter and second eldest daughter were were rear ended in the car coming back from Newcastle, the chap never saw them he said.
Sandra has been checked out for the pregnancy and all seems well but they are a bit knocked around. So you see I have to give my time to the family until it is all settled.
Keep well Harold I will get back to you in the near future.
Regards Frank.

Dear Frank,
Just a note to say sorry to hear of your family's sadness at this time. Hope all is well with your daughter too.
Best wishes
Elvira

Dear Frank, I also would like to add my condolences to your family's loss. I had heard about your daughter's accident and when I heard you had a bereavement I was worried first it had been her. Thank God she is alright. Give my sympathies to your daughter-in-law
Hope to see you around soon
love, Anak

Aug 9 Dear Frank,anak bandung told me that one d.-in law lost her mother.I hope it is not the same one who got rearended?
I was out of town for about 6 days.
You must have been very busy.
My condolences to your d,-in law.
My best wishes to you.Josephine.

Hello Ladies,
Thank you for the condolences, it was Elizebeths Mother who died, her and my Son Michael live in a village in the Dales and Betty had a bungalow in the same village.
She was 86 but still lit up a room with her personality, she lived in her own home until the day she went into hospital and died the same night without pain. When my time comes I hope it is like that.
It has been a busy time and still things to do with the funeral this week so my time on here has been very limited, I should be back in full flow fairly soon.
Sandra has been checked out and is OK, I saw the scan of the baby kicking its way round the womb and am amazed at those pictures. You feel a love well up in you that as with Matthew carries over into birth and you cannot get enough of the children. Matthew is my life at the moment but he will have to share me when the new baby arrives.
My grandchildren have always had my whole attention and I still get big hugs from them when they see me. Stephen still gives me a hug though he is seventeen now, mind it is a bear hug, it takes a while to get my breath back. What would life be without them.
Keep chatting together, you are so busy with flowers and earthy humour there is not much room for a male to get in there but you sound happy enough.
See you all soon regards,
Frank.

Good morning Frank, well just for another few minutes that is, after that it will be afternoon again!
So glad that your daughter and her baby are alright. What a relief! Unfortunately I have not yet been blessed with grandchildren, but one can hope. There certainly is still plenty of opportunity!
So you are eavesdropping then, naughty Frank? Instead of listening standing in the corridow, why don't you pop in when you feel you like to comment? We even may offer you some of the strong stuff or from Josephine who was a a nice cup of Elvira likes so there is plenty of choice. I am sure they won't object, how can they after they all cheered when you came back like the prodigal son!
anak

"Ah" Anak,
The reason for my eavesdropping is the weather, it has gone all Wagnarian out there, Gotterdamarung says it all. I do snatch a quick look when I have a minute at the new stories as there are people who are still looking for a sign their stories have been read.
I learned in Holland many years ago not to get my head between two Dutch ladies in full flow as you could get lost in the hills and valley's, not a bad way to go though.
That goes for the Welsh too as my short stay in the flesh pots of Bridgend showed me. Those lovely dark haired dark eyed Welsh girls could turn your head until you took a look at their mothers. I upped sticks to the land of Camels and strange men in long night shirts instead.
I think of women as they would have been divine creatures if God in his wisdom had made men without ears.
It was a woman who drove me to drink and do you know I never even thanked her.
I love listening in to the quick fire messages but notice like others of us you are going private on to e-mail at least when Elvira sorts hers out. I dont blame you as this is not really the place for idle chatter and when all things are once more quiet may join you. mean while here is a thought.

What though youth gave love and roses,
Age still leaves us friends and wine.
Thomas More.
See you all later regards Frank.

I could not agree more, Frank, both about Thomas Moore and the place for idle chatter, though it is fun while we can do it and we are not alone, so I gather.
You are a deep one, my lad! Keep it going, you old
anak

Aug 10.Frank I just found your note to Anak.You sound your old self again I am glad about that.
A wise word from Thomas Moore.
Hope to hear from you some day again.
I have a lot of fun conversing with Tulip 1 and Daffodil
I need their friendship as being alone in the States gets to me sometimes.Different sense of humor.
Take care.I am glad your daughter is ok.
Josephine.

Dear Frank

Regarding your recent comments may I refer you to the title of a publication I recently saw referred to. It was a publication by George Hakewell, Archdeacon of Surrey (1578-1649). The title was ‘An Apologie of the Power and Providence of God in the Government of the World consisting in an Examination and Censure of the common Error Touching Nature’s Perpetual and Universal Decay.’
I quoted this in my speech at my 80th birthday party and made the point of emphasising the last few words which I thought worth repeating. They were ‘the common Error Touching NATURE'S PERPETUAL AND UNIVERSAL DECAY.’ I took this to refer to the mistake in thinking that one 'decayed' as one got older. I expressed the hope that it didn’t apply to me. It certainly did not apply to Betty.

Best wishes

Harold

Dear Harold,
I have not read Hakewell but have read much on nature as although my beliefs are dormant (C of E on my paybook) I do have a feeling for all things in nature. The sowing of seeds watching them grow and eating the fruits while still sun warmed makes me wonder at it all.
Natures perpetual decay is the way of life, from decay springs all the new life in nature. That to me would make decay the same as rebirth as nothing lays dormant in mother earth for very long.
As to man, we invade fight and try hard to put our mark on nature, we fail miserably. Mother Earth seems to be indifferent to our efforts.
The biggest lesson to me was with ICI, they pulled down an old Suphuric Acid plant that had been there around forty years. It was fenced in and we were told nothing would grow there for at least ten years then only the toughest weeds.
Eighteen months later I passed by it was a field of green and wild flowers that an artist would have taken delight in painting.
I took note that mans efforts were puny compared with nature.
In the words of Francis Bacon;- "We cannot command nature except by obeying her" and as Matthew Arnold said;
Nature, with equal mind,
Sees all her sons at play,
sees man control the wind,
The wind sweep man away.

I have this idea we are part of the decay and rebirth but some people blame God for it.
Regards Frank.

Frank

I do not disagree with your comments - although, unlike your experience, when I was living in Swansea in the early 1950s there was no doubt about the lack of spontaneous rebirth on the old industrial sites to the east of the town. They too had been the location of chemical industries which had closed many years before, but the ground was completely sterile. I believe that the area has now been rehabilitated but it took a lot of effort.
The title of the ancient publication I referred to also did not differ from your viewpoint. I was using it as a play on words about human decay. I now know why no-one at my birthday party laughed when I spoke about it.

Just finished reading the very long book called STALIN, by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Very well written and full of new insights. He was an absolute monster.

Best wishes

Harold