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

This is long and rambling and the contents of my head, but I feel better typing it out. And look forward to some sensible, and some stupid, comments.

This never happens. I have invitations for social engagements from two people I want to go and see *on the same day*. Had I not fannied about when I got the first one I would have accepted it and so would have been able to say 'sadly I am booked' to the second one.

It's not as simple as just accepting the first one and pretending I didn't see the second one until too late. I am often invited to the second person's parties and events, but usually I am working and can't go, and she gave me a lot of help on my birthday recently, as well as being a good friend who I normally only see through work related events so not a lot of time for chatting. So I want to go because so far I am free.

On the other hand, the first invitation is from an ex-customer who recently moved to Buckinghamshire. She wants me to go and see her, not sure if it was for the whole weekend or just one day. We had got really friendly, and I think she was as upset as me to say goodbye. I really want to visit, be nice on an 'equal footing' where she's not paying me to be there, obviously love to see the new house, which is on a farm so bound to be very interesting, and all the land, and of course the dogs who I miss, (although I don't miss the work hours I had to put in for her).

So I'm more tempted to visit the customer, as I can take my dogs with me, probably even J much to his annoyance I expect, and there will only be them, and us, and I'll know everyone. While my friend is having a BBQ and there will be people I don't know there, and I don't have a partner to go with. I went to one of her parties before, didn't know anyone, and as everyone was in couples it was really hard to find people to talk to, they didn't seem very interested in this woman who was standing on her own the whole time, and of course my friend couldn't stick to me all the time. I quietly went home after an hour.

So I don't want a repeat of that, but on the other hand, my customer has only just moved (like, not even two weeks ago) so I haven't really had time to miss them!

Oh, and my friend's invite is a BBQ, weather permitting, so could be cancelled at the last minute as she hasn't made any alternative plans as it was just a fun get together.

Flip a coin

Sometimes it makes me realise that I do have a preference after all (chance tells me to go with one option, but I finally pick the other).

Or invite the first person to the second's BBQ

I've done something similar before. Made up my mind then see how it feels. I am leaning more towards Buckinghamshire, cos both trips are at least 90 mins drive anyway. Bucks might be 2 but I like driving. And been to Clacton loads of times!

Oi! Don't say Server Unavailable to me.

It's usually "Server too busy!"

It's a difficult one Mina, I really don't envy the choice. However, since one is a close and trusted friend you should be able to say I have a prior engagement, but would love to and perhaps we could arrange an alternative date?

The best part of trusted friends, and this from one who trusts very few, is the fact you can be completely candid with them. I like Buckingshire, if the Barbeque is naff and you feel awkward as the 'single' there are loads of lovely area's to take the Ivanhoe Beacon for example, I remember getting there at 76 miles on the Chilterns 100 in 2005 just a little too tired to enjoy the views

That solves that. Just had a boarding booking so can't do either.

ooh, missed your post when I posted that, you make some good points! although the BBQ was Clacton.

Let's see if this woman with the Irish Setter turns up on Saturday for our meeting, if not I will be accepting, er, one of the bookings!

I mean invitation. Doggamit, work is taking over my life!

Get your self down the park, Mina and who knows? Fate may smile kindly on you with a chance meeting of the warden again
Alittle caht and flirting is good for ther soul
I do it all the time, never gets me anywhere , but I live in hope

Harumph. I don't trust the booking I had come in, as the email address she gave me is not working, her phone is not answered, and to top it all off, the cat I was booked to look after starting that weekend has given me an incorrect phone number and is now not answering my emails!

So I'm back wondering what invitaton to accept.

Sadly I'm too busy at the moment for chatting up rangers, although I did have a bit of a vague go at chatting up a street ranger last night. He's married, but I like the attention.

The cat is not answering your emails? High-nosed brat.

You just can't can't get the these days

A little chat and flirting, though it seems not with the , is good for the soul, not to mention one's self esteem.

Oh yes. Said bloke had said he was 'happily married' when telling us about how when he was a gardener he'd been presented with a nude woman client throwing herself at him (I don't believe half of what he says when he's relating tales of things he's done, but think it's a case of making himself feel a bit more important and impressive looking (which it doesn't) rather than pathalogical liar-syndrome) and he'd refused. Last night he was suddenly 'quite' happily married and '23 years is a long time'.

Of course I'm not touching a married man, nor a member of a role playing group with a barge pole, but it's nice to have that little

you should know by now, the best ones are always married Some, of us, are outrageous flirts and charmers . My philosophy is it makes us all , so there's no harm in it, unless things go too far
let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. That won't be me then