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

Oh, when it does come, they're going to be the first ones in hell. If you believe in that sort of thing, that is.

PH: never having a pound coin to get the stupid shopping trolly

There's often 'rogue' trolleys which don't need a coin at my local.

PH: pressure to conform amongst children. My eldest child is embarrassed about what her friend says about my youngest child. The pressure to conform is great at her age, but I had to inform her strongly that we don't choose to behave according to what some nasty b*tch thinks.

I would hope your child can defend their sibling, no matter how many fights the two get into, and why is the eldest friends with a person like that anyway?

PH: 48 hours, and now I've realised it wasn't the whole H bomb thing in 84 but rather 53, bang in the midst of the Cold War so now I'm researching said war and... argh.

Anna, I agree, and I've told Eldest in no uncertain terms what I think about her 'friend'. However, she is at that age where the pressure to conform is very great. All of her friends wear identical outfits and follow the same pop stars. Unfortunately my Eldest is a victim of this conformity, and so I feel I have to have some sympathy for her, despite her ill-advised behaviour . What's more, what she said to her little sister about how she might be bullied if she doesn't fit is has some truth to it. I speak from a difficult position as a non-conformist, one who gave up on the rat race decades ago. I don't care if others think I'm odd (indeed, my living as a painter is part of it) but a young child in the company of a herd of young teens will find it harder.
It is a careful path I must tread between encouraging special interests in Youngest, and warning her against alienation.

Stupid new made up words we don't need.

'Chillaxing'. Wha?

PP.

quotes, I understand. I don't fit in either and school was awful not least cos of disability but cos I was [am] so obviously "odd" in the things i say and do, and my thought processes sometimes ain't much better either. Having said that, fitting in isn't all it's cracked up to be. Please, don't let your youngest get sucked into the pack mentality if you can help it- sometimes it's good to be alone but she/he needs to have the pain of friendships falling away too, for example. I wouldn't be sure what to do in your situation and I'm glad I'm not cos if it were me, I would have a stern talk tot your eldest about friends vs "friends" and tell her school of that/these comments (perhaps that's paranoia, but bullying doesn't leave you). I'm fairly confident you're doing all you can to navigate this; what do(es) your partner/friends/family say? Maybe they can help too. (shouldn't be giving parenting advice, I'm not, but that annoys me so much. What will your child do when those "friends"/the "gang" leaves in high school/moves away for university? Wait til it all goes to hell then, maybe!)

PH: essay's due tomorrow. I slept the day away and only have a few hours to write the damned thing. Argh. And there's a test tomorrow. I think an all nighter is it order!

When people go on about how they luuuuuuv world cinema - and it turns out they just mean Amélie. I seem to encounter this a lot, for some reason.

Anna, sorry to hear you had such an awful time at school. As far as my youngest goes, my aim is to inform her of what can happen to people who don't appear to fit in, whilst encouraging her individuality. It is possible to be both unusual and popular at school, if that's your aim, but I know she hates to be the centre of attention, so she needs to be able to either avoid that happening, or overcome that fear.

PH people on the checkout who stop scanning things to talk to their mates. I had this today, when I was in a hurry of course, with the checkout woman talking to her mates who were actually behind me, as if I wasn't even there. I was 'ignored' , and her actions were truly 'ignorant'. I felt like complaining about her, but it was far too nice a day to indulge myself in grumpiness.

quotes, I like your way of thinking and I think it's a good idea.

PH: pulling aforementioned all nighter, then having to drop everything at 5pm, go home early and fall into bed. Yes, all is fine, but I think I'm coming down with a cold, which is NOT fine. Dammit, it's the weather for it too.

Working with TV companies/programme makers. They seem to think everyone should be in awe of them.

You work with TV companies/programme makers? Wow

Actooly, I know what you mean; I used to have a part time job in local commercial radio station and I went out with some of the presenters for a drink once. By the way they spoke and behaved it was clear that I was supposed to be star-struck and damn lucky to be in their presence.

PH: Chelsea Flower Show. OK, so I love bits of it, but what I find hard is the fact that the designers are spending in the region of £300,000 per garden in this time of hardship and austerity. What's more, the gardens aren't there for very long. It's as if The Rich, who as we know are getting richer, are really flaunting their excesses to humiliate the rest of us. And to cap it all, some of the gardens are using plants that the rest of it would consider weeds. Oh I know, 'wildflowers' are marvelous, but it's extra galling to see them spend all that money on 'mere' weeds.

I find that the 'proper' celebs are generally very nice, whereas the ones who progressed to radio via their Saturday night discos are twonks.

PH: being snatched out of a snooze by the dog having an argument with the orange band standing in front of the house.

Made for a weird dream, though.

I'm sure none of you would qualify this a s "petty", but all the same: Telemarketers. I was sleeping so well before he called.

(You must understand that a full, uninterrupted night's sleep has been a bit hard for me to come by lately.)

I am an atheist because of my personal circumstances, and am happy on the left hand path. There is something I dearly love doing. Someone else, whom appears to be religious, has posted a message saying they are leaving- for the second time- and we have all put forth our various arguments.

They used a particular Bible quote to back up their decision. You should not use religion for this type of thing, but beyond that I can barely see for rage.