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

Ther's a cretain theme here: *bother* to do something: apathy is a real misery sustainer

That's true..
I used to go to the gym twice a week.. until I strained my arm, and can't go for another 3 weeks.. and the last 3 weels has been
worse then the rest of my stay here... so I would recommend that too. (Not to strain your arm, because that hurts, but to DO something)

Hi Damson
I am miles away from home too. But what I miss are buzzards and owls. But my folks weren't farmers, so I never really had any meaningful relationships with any cows, (apart from my sister in law... but that is another story ).

Doing stuff is the best. I have a simple rule. If anyone invites me to anything, I say "yes". (I have exceptions - mostly things which are either illegal, or which I think would damage me or someone else).

That's how I started clay pigeon shooting (the clay pigeons are still quite safe from me), how I got to eat Swedish Cloudberries with icecream and cheese (delicious), how I got to see an eclipse, meet cousins I never knew I had, go body surfing, eat an American Thanksgiving Dinner in an American Embassy, fly a light aircraft (including putting it into a spin and getting it out again...!) and how I got loads and loads of hangovers including one memorable 48-hour one, four or five new year's ago.

And it is how a whole load of people I barely knew at one time have now turned into really good friends.

It is a RULE not a guideline. I say "yes" the first two times, even if I don't fancy whatever it is. It is only when I know from experience that running before daylight isn't my idea of fun that I turn it down. When you get a reputation for saying no, people don't ask. When you get a reputation for saying yes, they they may still not ask, but you do get to do fun stuff. Oh, and the only one of the things I listed that cost me anything to do was the eclipse - and that cost me a tenner!

So "just say yes!" and have fun.

I hate this time of year,the endless dark days and nights(thats what it seems like),the endless cheery carols and Christmas hype for 3 endless months plus the really lousy weather it all adds up to one big cloud of depression.It's even worse when I don't get any work(been lucky this year) as lack of cash makes everything seem so much worse.I don't even suffer from SAD so if anyone does I'm truly sorry for them.Keeping busy,meeting friends,staying out of the who goes where arguements of Crimbo,going online,writing letters,reading and persuing hobbies/interests and planning meeting up with friends and family who I don't see enough of is the only way I get through this time of year.

Yeah, cold dark damp and fakely festive - winter can be the pits...