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

I'm sorry to hear about the lack of sleep - oh well, hopefully you'll make it through the day.
I remember in my sixth-form my Tuesday consisted of half a lesson right after lunch, and that was it. Yet I still had to come in in the morning and register, and spend all day at school hanging around the library not doing anything much.. I got so bored I even did all my homework!

Well, if your pub quiz was an olympic game, then you'd be cheered on by everyone. I know what it's like to always come forth, or second, but the main thing is it's fun.

I'm not sure if I've seen "Diagnosis Murder" - I never really watch tv at all, believe it or not. I used to, but when I went to uni for the first year and had no TV, I got out of the habit.
Oh well - I'll learn how to watch TV again soon.

Hope you wake up!

Matt

Diagnosis Murder is one of those really awfull American detective shows except this one is good. The star is Dick Van Dyke who plays a doctor (and he's old. It's very srange to watch) who is apsolutely fabulous, and his son Barry Van Dyke is in it playing, you'd never guess it, his son (who is a policeman). The medical doctor (Van Dyke) helps the police investigate murders, hence the title. The plots aren't too bad, you either don't guess them or you get it at the very last minite. I guess the main attraction with the show is that Dick Van Dyke is so lovable!! He gets the funny lines and it was really weird when he sang in one episode. It took me strait back to Mary Poppins!! Unfortunatly it is cancelled all this week for the Olympics.

I don't normally get the chance to go home in the daytime so it made a nice change. I watched really, cheesily awfull American soaps and I was going to watch Richard and Judy (Richard cracks me up) but I decided to make some bread instead!! There isn't much I can cook but one thing that always turns out nice and everyone always eats in a flash is my bread. I quite like kneading it too, I pretend it is the head of whoever I'm in a mood with! Now I sound really strange, perhaps even psychotic, but it's not! It is really great therapy!!

Kate.

Okay - I may watch it one day then - what channel is it on and when? Although I must admit I've never been a detective series fan... They all seemed to have deaths in them.. too much of a common theme. But if it's well done, why not?
I remember Mary Poppins from my childhood - as well as Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang, which I prefered. I always hoped they'd make sequals - but I'm glad they didn't now as they wouldn't have been as good.
I heard the voice of Julie Andrews in a production of "Dr Doolittle" I saw in Southampton Mayflower Theatre - yep, I actually went into a theatre! It starred Peter Schofield, but alas had no Gorden the Gopher. Children's TV hasn't been as good since he left.

I've only made my own bread about 3 times. One time I made Rye bread - that's quite disgusting! Normally, though, I don't cook at all. Not if I can help it. I'm too lazy!

And I don't ever watch daytime TV. Oh well....


See ya,

Matt

I can't stand those detective shows either, normally, but I make an exception for Dick Van Dyke, he is such a sweet old man!!!

Julie Andrews is great too. Everyone always either laughs or say "Oh my God, you sad cow" when I say that bu I think My Fair Lady and The Sound Of Music were really good movies. I like the songs from The Sound of Music (Eidleweis, Something Good etc...) and Christopher Plummer is not only a great actor or from my favorite part of the world ever but is also totaly gorgeous!!

I don't normally get to watch daytime TV because I am slaving away in this dump but when I get the day off it is good to sit around and do bugger all for a change!!

Once again, I am writing at the end of the day so I am about to go home (again)! Speak to you tomorrow and I hope I actually get an early night for once or I really will be dead tomorrow!!!!

Kate.

I enjoyed growing up with musicals - my Mum especially loved watching them, her favourite film is "Singing In The Rain". It doesn't have Julie Andrews in, but it is a musical. And like most musicals, is fun. Alas, you don't really get musicals much these days - there was "Loves Labour's Lost", and apparently Bjork is in one now (?) but apart from that, there haven't been any musicals since, I guess, Grease 2.
As for Christopher Plummer - he's a great actor. Hope you won't mind if I say that I thought he was great in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country".

As I'm broke I've got a job interview for McDonalds tonight... I'm not sure how it'll go.

So tell me, did you get an early night?

DON'T DO IT!!!!!! McDonalds is the worst, most horrible awfull job in the whole world!! It isn't worth the money, trust me. I wiorked for them once and left after 3 weeks because it was so awfull. My friend Claire only lasted 2. I got loads of really awfull burns, I have at least three permanent scars on my arms! Good luck with your interview anyway!!!!

That over with, yes I did get an earlynight but it wasn't early enough so I still haven't caught up. I will need to get plenty of sleep tonight too so I can get back to normal.

Grease 2 was crap anyway. Apperantly the new Bjork musical is quite good, but only if you like being really REALLY depressed because nothing good or happy ever happens in it! I might give that one a miss. I have to go, I'll either speak to you later or tomorrow, depending if I go to town later or not!

Love Kate.

Working for McDonalds is far from ideal - and I'm not overly enthusiastic about it - but the trouble is I literally am broke. I have a grand total of 2p, and owe everyone around me lots of money, so I really need some form of job. As Safeways etc. didn't seem to want me, I've had to apply to McDonalds - I don't really want to work there, and don't worry, I'll quit as soon as something better turns up. Hopefully they'll just let me sweep the floor or something. No matter where I work I always end up sweeping the floor....

Hope you get plenty of sleep tonight! And I agree that Grease 2 was no-where near as good as the original - yet that didn't stop my sister Rebekah being obsessed with it and watching it over and over.... She tends to do that.

Speak to you soon.

Matt

I thought the song went "A pizza hut, a pizza hut, kentucky fried chicken and a pizza hut. McDonalds, McDonalds, kentucky fried chicken and a pizza hut"! I used to sing that song in Guides many a year ago. I even remember the actions!!

I'm sorry I didn't write sooner but I have been really busy. We had a lecture today from the head which basicaly turned into us telling him all the things we hate about the school (including him) and him getting increasingly pissed off!! It was quite funny really. And then I had physics but only three people tuned up because the maths department are on a scholl trip to Chesington so we were the only people in the class that don't do maths! then I had English lit. which would have been good if we weren't still doing the Dubliners.

What have you been up to? Good luck with your job, I know that when your broke you have to take whatever's going. I've been in similar situations but not as seriouse because I don't live away from home so I don't have to suuport myself completely. That is too scary a thought for me, I am useless with money so God know how I will supporty myself when I do move out. I can't save at all, I end up spending all my money on the day I get payed on a load of crap!!

I'd better go, bye for now.

kate

Yep, the song originally was "Pizza Hut" but because of a traumatic experience when I was young - I hate all pizzas and everything to do with them, so I sing "Burger King" instead.

As for McDonalds - I passed a first interview, I've a 2nd interview tomorrow, which, if I pass, lets me go on a 3 week trial... Quite a process to get through, and it's only a bottom-of-the-pile job!
Apart from that, my life has consisted of not doing anything worth talking about. One of my housemates is starting to annoy me, again, but that's about all. I'm currently trying to stay alive without spending any money.

I hope you survive school!

Matt

I only had one interview and it was hardly an interview, they just said "are you good with people?", "yes", "here's a job." But they were desperate for staff so I expect they didn't really care who they got. Mc Donalds does pay well though...

What was the thing about pizzas?! I love them and I can't see how the doughey, cheesey goodness could ever be evil!!

I have a major physics test now and I HAVE to pass so wish me luck (I need all the luck I can get!)

Kate

The traumatic experience I had with a pizza involved tasting one - such a hideous torture it was too.
Yuck! - Never again I can't stand the things, they're just too completely hideous for words, and the smell is terrible too.. Don't talk to me about pizzas!

But Good Luck on your test - I hope you do well.

Matt

The exam went ok, the first third or so was quite easy but I buggered up the last bit! I think I might have done ok. I didn't realise how tense I'd been this week until now. I am finally relaxed and I am worn out, I feel drained. The looming exam has had me on edge all week and I have been working like hell for it and it is finaly over!! Enough of that, it isn't totaly over. I have the second half on Monday!!

I can't really think of anything to write about right now so I'm going to go home and eat. I have used up all my energy on brain power and am starving. Don't you always find you get REALLY hungry after exams?!

Bye,

(a very happy and releaved!) Kate

Hiya Kate,
sorry it's taken a while to reply! On Friday evening I went home and had a phone call from an old friend saying "Hi Matt, I'm at the station - hope you don't mind if I come down and visit for the weekend? I'll arrive in about an hour", and so I've had a great, and unexpected weekend with my friend Ben, who lives in Reading. I haven't seen him for a while, so the last thing I wanted to do was hang around in a computer room.
And it was quite a fun weekend - we explored Southampton's new shopping centre, the West Quay, and since it opened, Southampton has really become extremely busy and crowded!

I'm glad that you're exams over - I always felt very hungry in exams. I remember one time, when I finished 45 minutes before the end of it, I ended up mentally composing a poem all about hunger. I'll have to see if I can find it when I get home.... It wasn't all that good, but what else is there to do in exams?

Hope this week is much more relaxing for you!

Matt

Sorry about the title, it is the title of a poem someone wrote me once and I only just remembered it.

I'm glad to hear you had a good weekend. It must be weird seeing a friend after a long time. It will be really strange when I leave sixth form and I will probubly never see most people again. It's really sad actually! My Grandma wants to go to the new shopping centre in Southampton. She told me to find out if it was any good. Is it?!

My end of exam happiness bubble has been burst big time. I got the results! I ahve basicaly failed the course, despite working really hard to pass it and thinking it had gone well, I got a measly U. I was NOT happy. But oh well, life goes on doesn't it?!

What are you up to today? I have a pointless tuesday of sitting around from 10:30 'till 2:30 trying to find stuff to do between lessons.

I'm going to go and do some homework I thing. Desperate times call for desperate measures!!

Kate.

Hi Kate. :-) When I go back to the Island, it's weird to see people I know I know, but I can't remember who they are. I've got used to not knowing anyone in Southampton. And there are definately a lot of people who I liked who I haven't seen since I left sixth form, but strangely enough, there are people I've got a lot closer to since - people I didn't talk to when at school for some daft reason or other. Life's full of surprises. ;-) As for the West Quay centre - as far as I can tell, it's full of lots of dull clothes shops and sports shops. Most of them already had shops in Southampton, but they just closed down their shops in the city centre and moved in to the West Quay. Going to Southampton now isn't that different to going at any other time. There are a few new fun shops, like the Gadget Shop and The Discovery Store and Tower Records - they sell things that you could not previously buy at Southampton. But Southampton's always had clothes shops, and now we have more, so my theory is that as far as the shops are concerned, they ruined the West Quay centre. But then, I haven't bought any clothes for 2 years, and 2 years ago I only bought a t-shirt from HMV, so perhaps I'm not the best judge. But the actual building is fun - lots of lifts and escalators to play with. :-) There's a wide range of takeaways at the top. I wrote a journal entry about the West Quay centre - so why not see what I wrote here: http://www.h2g2.com/F11007?thread=79162 But at the moment I must admit that I'm getting annoyed about people not from Southampton coming into Southampton to look at the shopping centre - the city centre is now far too crowded. :-( I liked it when it was nice and quiet, and you could wonder around without bumping into thousands of people, but that's all gone. It was so crowded on Saturday that the Police came along and blocked off access to Above Bar Street as too many people were trying to walk down there. So if I was you, I'd advise your Grandma to wait a good few weeks before taking a look - it is far too crowded, at one point I had to queue 5 minutes before going up an escalator. Hopefully it will all calm down, and Southampton will be deserted again. The buses are definately carrying far too many people now - it is impossible to get a seat, and lots of shoppers have bags that take up all the aisle space, so you can't stand up on the bus either. :-( I'm sorry to hear about your exam results. :-( I know the feeling as I've failed exams before - it's not a happy thing. But you're right - life does go on. Can you re-take the exam, and do you know where you went wrong, and what you can do to get it right next time? I hope you can get it sorted out. Matt

My Grandma has decided that for my birthday she is going to take me on a shopping spree (I won't complain!) and she is trying to decide which is the best place to go in the south of England to buy TONS of clothes (Hey, I'm going to take full advantage of the offer!) and she heard about West Quays and told me to find out about it. It will be a good few weeks before we go so we might just do that, it should have calmed down a bit.

The A-level isn't until the summer so I still have time to slog my guts out!!!!

Kate

If you're planning on buying TONS of clothes, then I do recommend the West Quay centre as that is what it's full of - clothes shops. I guess you can't go wrong, I'm just not a clothes shop person at all. But yes, I think that the West Quay centre is starting to calnm down again - it can't be busier than it was last Saturday when they had to close the entrances!

Incidently, when you're in Southampton, if you end up near Harefield Road, Swaythling, look out for me.

Matt

Will do! I expect we will be coming in on the train because it is easier than finding parking (so my Grandma insists) so I don't know if we will end up anywhere near it!!

I'm not generally a clothes shop person, mostly because I always want what I can't afford when it comes to clothes. I could spent hours and thousends in any music shops though.

Kate.

If you come in on the train, then it depends on the station you're on. If you come down on the Winchester and Eastleigh route, then you pass Swaythling station, which is just round the corner from my house. Well, kinda.

I too prefer music shops to clothes shops, but then I don't really think clothes are particularly important. I always wear exactly the same things anyway, so I don't particularly feel as if I need something new as I feel that being me is more important than what I look like. I'm just me, I don't think that what I look like matters much. (provided I'm clean and not smelly )

Matt

I agree with part of what you mean. I'm not exactly the height of fashion because I were what I want to wear and that is what I look like so people like it or lump it. Although, that doesn't mean I can't have a wardrobe full of stuff I like!! And if my Grandma takes me shopping I will ask to 'look' in the music shop and she will end up buying me whatever I want pick up to look at. I'm lucky because my grandma is REALLY rich and she is also a lovely person who insists on spoiling me when it is my birthday. I'm her first Grandchild so she seems to go more overboard on my birthday than my brothers and cousins. Plus out of 11 grand children, I am the only girl!!! SHe is easy to take shopping because she drags me into shops asking me if I want this or that and I have to turn most of it down or I feel guilty!!! That is what happens when you are a really cool, squeeming woman like my grandma. She married my grandad who was a very powerful army officer and divorced him, taking half is very powerful army earnt money, married a rich businessman and he died. She inherited the lot and then about 5 years ago she married an millionairre business man. It's quite funny really. That is as far as the money goes in our family, it stops at her and the rest of us are just average!! You've just had an incite into my long, complicated and old family history! She's a bit of a bitch really isn't she?! Although she was justified to divorce my grandad, and she was married to Harry for years before he died, and she really does love Gordon. So she isn't all evil!! I don't really know what I'm going on about any more so I will shut up and I'm sure I sound like I come from an evil, shallow, horrible family but they aren't and I am nothing like my family either so I'll stop talking now so bye!

Kate