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

Some of you may have noticed I've been rather scarce here lately. Well, I've again maxed out my broadband allowance and was stuck offline a bit more than a week. But also, I've been having to get back into a productive daily schedule.

I've been having to help my Mom. She's having a really hard time. It was a lot of hooplah getting all our affairs settled - my dad's estate, practical things that needed to get done. Anyways most of that is now, mercifully, done.

But my Mom now has, apparently, a case of gastroenteritis! She complains of severe pain in her belly. Well she's on medication, and I'm trying to get her to relax more, lie down, rest, sleep. I know for a fact, the stress on her has been immense, and it manifests in pains and poor health at the moment. I'm quite concerned about her health and wellbeing! I am wondering if she *would* take proper care of herself. When my father was alive, she would make nice meals for him and her, but now, she doesn't seem to be bothering to make food for herself. She eats biscuits and chocolates and every now and then a salad, and overall I'm worrying that she's not getting in enough necessary good nutrition!

And ... she also needs a new purpose in life, something to live for! I'm rather worried about that, too.

But right now ... she needs to recover, rest ... and mourn as well. She hasn't had proper time to even begin doing that, yet. The reality of what happened, is only now really starting to sink in.

Anyways ... as for myself, I've gotten back to the painting. After the unicorns (visible here in 'Around the Day in Eighty Worlds', http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/plain/A63505415), I painted a Tawny Eagle, and a Spotted Eagle Owl. Currently working on a desert landscape painting with a big Quiver Tree (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/plain/A26151482)

I've also been scanning in lots of photos of my father, and putting them on Webshots as well as on FaceBook. For the webshots, go here:

http://family.webshots.com/album/576892501USnfde

There are still only a few old ones ... I'll be regularly uploading more photos there. It takes a bit of time, uploading, and then putting text and tags and stuff.

Also I've decided to again write articles for the Guide. I think I'm going to start with one about ... the African Dwarf Crocodile! It's the smallest living crocodilian. How many of you folks even knew there was such a thing?

I think I have heard of the African Dwarf Crocodile, I have watched and read so much over the years but don't always remember things

Your Mum will still be in shock probably for six months minimum before she begins to even think normally again and it could be two years before she is back to normal. So long as she is eating something it probably doesn't matter a lot at the moment, it is comfort food and it is very early days yet.

Does she do meals for you? If not try asking her, maybe she needs to be needed. Just a thought. It is possible the gastro-enteritis is a reaction to all the tension she has been under. It manifests itself in different ways in different people, but if it continues persuade her to go tothe she might need some kind of sedative for a while.

You sound absolutely fine, but I am sure you are not really, just gutsy Email any time if you feel like it. Some things are better said elsewhere than here.

Take care

Websailor

Hi there Websailor! My mom cooks for me a bit, but I fix most meals for myself. As for being 'needed' I think she knows I need her! But ... well, I need her mostly for moral support and guidance ... I'm not sure if she thinks she can give me that! But she can ...

Anyways, I might email you sometime ...

Best wishes.

And I can't wait to find out about this dwarf crocodile. I've heard of a giant one, but not a dwarf.

Hiya Dmitri! That's precisely why I want to write this entry. Recently I've been watching a bit of satellite TV and there was a program about searching for giant (over 6 m) crocs. There are in fact many crocodile programs on TV ... and what they have in common, is that *all* of them are about *big* crocs! The Nile crocodile, the Salt Water Crocodile, and sometimes, the Gharial. People are so impressed with things that are big! Meanwhile there are some wonderful things that are small! Case in point - this dwarf crocodile of ours. It is quite a cute little thing, big-eyed, short- (almost snub-)nosed, very prettily armoured! And not dangerous to humans. I've seen some at a crocodile farm over here ... actually they don't naturally occur in South Africa, they're more up around the equator.

OK so I'm starting with the entry today! Will link to some nice online photos as well ...

Me, I 'despise not the day of small things.'