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

I was going to try to write an article on "smart toys": toys that use sensors and computer chips. However, my concentration has been ruined by roadworks. The use of angle grinders should be banned on Sundays. What's more, the resulting traffic jam has caused a bus full of people to be stuck outside my house and they're all staring at me as I type. Haven't they ever seen someone wearing pyjamas before? Perhaps I should go and get dressed and do something useful instead.

It´s a Sunday Amy, no-one is EVER supposed to do something useful, constructive or productive on a Sunday. That´s probably why I´ve got a headache - should have known better than to try to study on a Sunday!!

Yes, you're right. And to prove it I'm still in my pyjamas six hours after I announced I was going to get dressed and do something useful!

I have achieved something today -- I got to grips with GuideML.

Amy.

Shame on you - achieving something on a Sunday!! I´m lucky if I can get the computer going at all. It´s a bank holiday here today so I have another excuse not to do anything (but I´m not as lucky as you - if I turned up at the public computer rooms in my pyjamas I think they´d probably arrest me!)

I am back at my university computer today. You will be relieved to know that I am not in my pyjamas. Are you doing your course in German or in English? I work with a large number of people for whom English is a second language. The mere thought of doing a higher degree (or any sort of qualification) is anything other than my mother tongue makes me feel dizzy.

Amy

Over here all my lectures are in the wonderful language of German (!). It´s not easy, but it helps when you´ve got professors whose idea of an exam is a ten minute conversation about how you´re getting on in Germany - and then they give you a first!! he he - aren´t I lucky!!

I´m actually looking forward to being at home next year though - lectures in English!!!

Well, I'm glad you're not suffering too much. The beer must help. But it must be very tiring to work in a second language all the time. Did you have good German before you went -- A level, a German mother, some other advantage?

German family - I only wish!! I studied German in school, and it´s part of my course at home too, but I still couldn´t string a sentence together when I arrived (although I was very good at writing essays on the legal position on Divorce in Germany - the joy of a Uni course!!)

Then I think you're very brave