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

Well, I finally remembered which e-mail address I used to subscribe to H2G2 all those years ago.

I've still been reading the guide's new entries every day, but now that I'm back again I can hopefully contribute a bit more.

First things first, it's time to update that guide page I reckon...

Welcome Back!

Dont you hate it when you forget which email addy you use for a persona?!

So when were you around first time round PH?

"Oooh, back in the days when all this were fields..."

Well, I think I joined h2g2 about a week before the new skin came in, as I seem to remember it mangling my home page.

So when was that? 18 months ago? more?

I *planned* to write a guide entry about the stick-figures that live in the margins (or something equally trivial), but real life got in the way as usual.

I might be tempted to write something more useful now but I don't know what, yet..

Anyway, thanks for dropping by, it's nice to know that people on H2G2 can still spot people standing around looking lost.

I'm usually one of the ones that end up standing around looking lost!

Which new skin is that? I joined when the alabaster skin came in, but that was only about June. If you're talking about goo that makes you a very old new researcher!

I know what you mean about the articles. I've tried so many times to do stuff, but 9 times out of 10 I ge distracted and leave it half finished! I far prefer to just lurk around seeing whos out there to have a natter with!

Nice to have found you. If you need anything just give us a shout, I'll try and keep you right! If I fail, I should know someone who can help!

Well, I meant alabaster, so it must have only been last year. Just goes to show how busy I am these days I suppose when I loose all track of time.

If only I could be a student again and have all that time to myself. Oh, hang on, I hated being a student... No pleasing some people!

Well, I'm about to get dragged into a boring meeting now so I'll probably 'speak' to you again later.

What do you do? And why did you hate being a student? (even though I'm not too enamoured with it either at the moment!)

Hope that meeting isnt too awful! I'll talk to you soon I hope!

(Returns from the meeting to find that there are no cream cakes left- Nooooooooo! )

I'm a software engineer... (No, wait, come back!) at {URL removed by moderator]

I didn't hate *all* of being a student, it's just that I *really* enjoyed my time at college, both in and after lessons. After that Uni was a bit of a letdown really. I didn't make many new friends, I found 75% of the course content either boring or irrelevant and as my parents only live 10 mins from B'ham Uni there didn't seem to be much point living on site 'for the whole student experience'...

I survived, and it was worth it in the end, but I'm sure my grades suffered because I wasn't enjoying it.

Why aren't you happy with it?

A software engineer eh? *sound of footsteps disappearing. A door slams shut*

I guess I cant hold that against you for too long, my dads a software tester, its people like you who keep him in a job!

here, have a . Not quite a cream cake, but hopefully it'll make up for it!

Why dont I like uni? Eeek. Long story, very dull. I'm a 2nd yr student at Imperial in london, studying Biochem. First year was great. I lived in halls, and whenever I felt the need, I only had to walk down a set of stairs and my friends would all be there. I met 2 really nice men, and had two long-term relationships. The first until Easter, and the second from Easter to the start of the Summer holidays.

Work at uni was rather easy, I could do most things a day before they were meant to be handed in, leaving lots of time to go and be social, which I definitely did in the second relationship. Most weekends would be spent out on the town, as with about once a fortnight we would go out and see the recording of one TV program or another.

This year is so different. I met a fabulous man on h2g2 (Demon Drawer) the first day I came on site, and after a great friendship, we got together and are now engaged. However, like most online relationships it is long distance, and he lives in NI. It doesnt make sense for him to uproot to London until I finish my degree and then both of us uprooting again to move to Scotland, which is where we both want to end up. So he's currently looking for jobs, however, that still means that I wont be in his arms every night until after I have finished my degree in a year and a halfs time.

I no longer live near my friends, we are spread all over the place, with me being the furthest away of all of us (30 mins by tube). And although we do try and get together as often as we can, it is becoming rather impractical, due to the distance between us. No longer can I pop over for coffee and a natter. And because I no longer have a bf in London, going out for weekends have lost all their sparkle.

I live with (dont laugh!) an ex-bf and one of his mates. (I said dont laugh! ) And actually, we do get on perfectly fine. Its just they dont quite have the same streak of fun in them that I do, making nights in the norm. And 9 times out of ten, I'm the only one in the house over the weekend, so its not as if they will come out clubbing with me.

The work at uni has become much harder, and has started to go in a direction that I cannot understand so easily. Hence I have to work harder. I also have exams looming, which I'm not sure how well I'm actually going to do in them, even if I do study every minute until Feb 14th (can you believe it, Valentines Day is day one of exams! eeek!)

ah dear. I'm just slightly lonely I think, And with me not doing things that I'm interested in doesnt help, along with not being with the man I love. Ah well, you asked why I want happy, and got a lovely life story! Sorry hon! Bet you regret asking now!


But life goes on, even if its not quite how you wished it was. I'll stop moaning now! Do you fancy a beer or something, I tend to keep a few stashed away in my bag!

>> A software engineer eh? *sound of footsteps disappearing.
>> A door slams shut*

Story of my life.

Actually, it's not *that* bad!

>> here, have a . Not quite a cream cake, but
>> hopefully it'll make up for it!

MMmmm, cake! Did I mention that my girlfriend was a baker? Coincidence, of course...

>> Why dont I like uni? Eeek. Long story, very dull.

Believe me, reaing to your life story is *far* more interesting than work is today... :|

>> Most weekends would be spent out on the town,
>> as with about once a fortnight we would go out
>> and see the recording of one TV program or another.

Tsk! Must be nice living in London (Sometimes).

>> This year is so different. I met a fabulous man on h2g2
>> (Demon Drawer) the first day I came on site, and after
>> a great friendship, we got together and are now engaged.
>> However, like most online relationships it is long distance,
>> and he lives in NI.

Heh.. That *is* long distance. Two of my on-line friends have started seeing each other 'in real life' and they live something like 200 miles apart.

At least you've both decided that you want to move to Scotland, it would no doubt cause arguments if one of you wanted to stay put.

>> however, that still means that I wont be in his arms
>> every night until after I have finished my degree in
>> a year and a halfs time.

Seems like a long time, doesn't it?

If it helps, the final year does go by much more quickly as you get a lot more work to do. (Oh hang on, you didn't want to hear that, did you? )

Have you thought about maybe getting a summer job in NI or something so that at least you'd be able to spend a bit of time together?

>>I no longer live near my friends, we are spread all over
>>the place, with me being the furthest away of all of us
>>(30 mins by tube). And although we do try and get together
>>as often as we can, it is becoming rather impractical,
>>due to the distance between us.

You don't have to tell me about that one- I hardly ever see any of my old friends any more. Once you're out of the 'routine' of going out with your mates on a weekend, it's really hard to make the effort to 'round everybody up' again just to go out for a drink.

>> I live with (dont laugh!) an ex-bf and one of his
>> mates. (I said dont laugh! ) And actually, we do
>> get on perfectly fine.

I don't even know what to say to that (At least, what to say that doesn't mostly involve laughing... )

>> Its just they dont quite have the same streak of fun
>> in them that I do, making nights in the norm. And 9
>> times out of ten, I'm the only one in the house over
>> the weekend, so its not as if they will come out clubbing with
>> me.

Sounds like you haven't made any new mates at Uni either then, or at least none that live nearby?

>> The work at uni has become much harder, and has
>> started to go in a direction that I cannot understand
>> so easily. Hence I have to work harder. I also have
>> exams looming, which I'm not sure how well I'm actually
>> going to do in them.

Did I mention that it's gonna get harder? (I'd make a pretty crappy psychiatrist wouldn't I?)

>> (can you believe it, Valentines Day is day one of exams! eeek!)

I narrowly avoided being in Germany on Valentines day last year- That *would* have been depressing- Stuck in a hotel room on your own in a foreign country on Valentines day.

>> ah dear. I'm just slightly lonely I think,

Thank God for the internet eh? No substitute for 'real' people to talk to though when you're down though I suppose.

>> And with me not doing things that I'm interested
>> in doesnt help,

You mean you're not interested in the course? How did you end up doing it?

>> along with not being with the man I love.

At least it's only a matter of time- It would be much worse if you hadn't even *met* the man that you love...

>> Ah well, you asked why I want happy, and
>> got a lovely life story! Sorry hon! Bet you regret
>> asking now!

No, that was *definately* more interesting than writing a device driver, which is what I'm supposed to be doing. (It's true, that's almost the nicest thing I've ever said to anyone! )


>> But life goes on, even if its not quite how you wished
>> it was. I'll stop moaning now! Do you fancy a beer or
>> something, I tend to keep a few stashed away in my bag!

Good call, Got any Carling?

Oh, and where is the guide-to-smileys kept these days?, I feel a bit inadequate with just my tiny little collection: [ and ]

>> Story of my life.

aw.

>> Actually, it's not *that* bad!

It shouldnt be, its just there is a huge thing in uni that biochems should definitely not talk to engineers of any kind, even though I happen to live with two of them!

>> MMmmm, cake! Did I mention that my girlfriend was a baker?
>> Coincidence, of course...

uh-huh

>> Believe me, reaing to your life story is *far* more interesting
>> than work is today... :|

Ah dear, one of those days eh?


>> Tsk! Must be nice living in London (Sometimes).

It is. Dont get me wrong, London isnt so bad, last year I loved it! Its just if its not where you want to be, its hard to run away from it.

>> Heh.. That *is* long distance. Two of my on-line friends have
>> started seeing each other 'in real life' and they live something
>> like 200 miles apart.

Yep. It wouldnt be so bad if it wasn't Ireland, we could get away with it that way, but because you have to cross water... makes things slightly worse.

>> At least you've both decided that you want to move to Scotland, it
>> would no doubt cause arguments if one of you wanted to stay put.

Oh I dont know, DD didnt want to stay over there, and was actually thinking of trying to get a job in London. (he knew london, so the transfer wouldnt be so hard for him) then I came into the equation and we decided that the best thing is to make a home up north.


>> Seems like a long time, doesn't it?

Yep. A horribly large lenght of time unfortunately.


>> If it helps, the final year does go by much more quickly as you
>> get a lot more work to do. (Oh hang on, you didn't want to hear
>> that, did you? )

Cheers! Ah dear. you're loving this arent you!


>> Have you thought about maybe getting a summer job in NI or
>> something so that at least you'd be able to spend a bit of time
>> together?


yep, and hopefully for Easter as well, as we get 5 weeks off. though with a bit of luck Steve will have found a job in Scotland before summer.


>> You don't have to tell me about that one- I hardly ever see any of
>> my old friends any more. Once you're out of the 'routine' of going
>> out with your mates on a weekend, it's really hard to make the
>> effort to 'round everybody up' again just to go out for a drink.


I know. Stupid isnt it. Ah well. What can you do?


>> I don't even know what to say to that (At least, what to say that
>> doesn't mostly involve laughing... )

Its not so bad, and its less hilarious than most people would actually think!


>> Sounds like you haven't made any new mates at Uni either then, or >> at least none that live nearby?

No, I'm really far from uni, and I have to say dont make friends too easily. So that combination doesnt help.


>> Did I mention that it's gonna get harder? (I'd make a pretty
>> crappy psychiatrist wouldn't I?)

you're good at telling me that arent you!


>> I narrowly avoided being in Germany on Valentines day last year-
>> That *would* have been depressing- Stuck in a hotel room on your
>> own in a foreign country on Valentines day.

Oh gosh, not fun at all. So what on earth was that all about? Why were you in Germany?


>> Thank God for the internet eh? No substitute for 'real' people to
>> talk to though when you're down though I suppose.

I think its great fun. If I ever dont want to be me I just create a new persona and bang, people see you in such a different light! Though I have to say that FC is basically me.

>> You mean you're not interested in the course? How did you end up
>> doing it?

I want to do genetics, but I thought it would be better to do a more general biohemisty course than narrow the field so soon. Never mind. I wasnt to know that when I started I'd be hating the court a year later.


>> At least it's only a matter of time- It would be much worse if you
>> hadn't even *met* the man that you love...

I'm very thankful for that.


>> No, that was *definately* more interesting than writing a device
>> driver, which is what I'm supposed to be doing. (It's true, that's
>> almost the nicest thing I've ever said to anyone! )

Go on, I have to ask, a device driver... what on earth?


Good call, Got any Carling?

do you?


Oh, and where is the guide-to-smileys kept these days?, I feel a bit inadequate with just my tiny little collection: [ and ]


sure, http://www.h2g2.com/smiley is where you'll find the more interesting smileys!

so where abouts in the country are you hon?

(Is at home now, trying to keep a cat off the monitor)

>>> Believe me, reaing to your life story is *far* more interesting
>>>> than work is today... :|
>>
>>Ah dear, one of those days eh?

One of those projects, more like...

>> Tsk! Must be nice living in London (Sometimes).
>>
>>It is. Dont get me wrong, London isnt so bad, last year I loved it! >>Its just if its not where you want to be, its hard to run away from >>it.

Yeah, we do try to keep Londonners locked *inside*.

>> I don't even know what to say to that (At least, what to say that
>> doesn't mostly involve laughing... )
>>
>> Its not so bad, and its less hilarious than most
>> people would actually think!

Less hilarious than just plain odd, I'd say.

>> Sounds like you haven't made any new mates at Uni either then, or >> at least none that live nearby?
>>
>>No, I'm really far from uni, and I have to say dont make friends >>too easily. So that combination doesnt help.



>> Did I mention that it's gonna get harder? (I'd make a pretty
>> crappy psychiatrist wouldn't I?)
>>
>> you're good at telling me that arent you!

(Hopes that you're not near to any sharp objects)

>> I narrowly avoided being in Germany on Valentines day last year-
>> That *would* have been depressing- Stuck in a hotel room on your
>> own in a foreign country on Valentines day.
>>
>>Oh gosh, not fun at all. So what on earth was
>>that all about? Why were you in Germany?

Just a work thing, we had a customer in Germany and I had to go over there to help explain/fix stuff when the deadlines started to get a bit close...

>> Thank God for the internet eh? No substitute for 'real' people to
>> talk to though when you're down though I suppose.
>>
>> I think its great fun. If I ever dont want to be me
>> I just create a new persona and bang, people see you in such a
>> different light! Though I have to say that FC is basically me.

Although I use the PyramidHead name, I've never really tried adopting a new persona (yet...)

Boring, eh?

>> You mean you're not interested in the course? How did you end up
>> doing it?

>>I want to do genetics, but I thought it would be better
>>to do a more general biohemisty course than narrow the
>>field so soon. Never mind. I wasnt to know that when
>>I started I'd be hating the court a year later.

Hmmm... I'd pretty much always wanted to get into programming, but I still found the Uni course seriously boring.

I thought that it was probably a bad sign when I enjoyed the extra/unrelated module that we had to take (I chose Psychology) more than I enyojed any part of my own course.

>> No, that was *definately* more interesting than writing a device
>> driver, which is what I'm supposed to be doing. (It's true, that's
>> almost the nicest thing I've ever said to anyone! )
>>
>>Go on, I have to ask, a device driver... what on earth?

(Picks a random compromise between patronising and technical descriptions )

Well, basically, the company I work for is an electronics design consultancy. Customers come to us with an idea for a thingy, and we design the electronics and the software for it. I just work on the software, and most of the time that involves writing the code which makes the specific parts of the device work (ie. video, sound, storage etc.)

These are the device drivers.

More often than not we're working on things that haven't been done before, which is interesting, especially when you have the finished product in your hand.

Of course, sometimes we have to work on things that we *have* done before, and this is fairly boring...

Anyway, now that you're asleep...

>>
>>
>>Good call, Got any Carling?
>>
>> do you?

Apparently, I do now:

Thanks!

>> so where abouts in the country are you hon?

I'm just outside Birmingham, which is pretty much where I've always been. I've never had the urge to move to the countryside, and the only reason I'd consider moving to London, much like anyone else, is for *very* large amounts of money...

Ah dear! I'll read this when I have time to do it properly tomorrow!! Just thought I'd post this so it doesnt get lost in the dust of the move!

Errr... What were we talking about?

Someone *rudely* interrupted!



Oh yeah, how did the Paris trip go?