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

That kind of a job description leaves far too many mental images. And not many suited to a polite, family-oriented site.

Originally, when I signed in to the military, I'd hoped to somehow get in to programming computers. But there was really very little of that going on in '77, so I was put into electronics service and repair. Maybe with future chances in a developing computer world. You know how often the best laid of plans and ideas just don't happen, eh? It's still been a challenging line, and seen me in quite a lot of places across this country.

most of my err! customersthought there were only 2 valves in a TV - 1 sound valve and 1 picture valve

trying to find/follow soldered wired links because of burnt out veraboard(not sure on correct spelling-it's been that long)was an experience all on it's own

Visual inspections sometimes do find the 'effect' of the break-down ... Burnt components, disrupted printed traces on a board. But mostly, I'm the schematic diagrams, meter and o-scope kinda guy.

Part of what makes the job the most interesting is that there are not, nor ever been, courses for a lot of the stuff that I work on. I have to figure the function and methods from the drawings alone. Sort of sleuthing, but without the deerstalker or meerschaum accessories.

been there and bought the T shirt

ye! olde telly's road maps,were a sight to behold and follow - how "their" vision and readings were supposed to match realitywas no man's business- lugging an avo 8 around all day sheee!

oops! forgot, logging off for kip time mate, seez yah later

Some of the diagrams from the late 50's were worse than road-maps. And a lot of the symbology hadn't yet been standardized, which made trying to cipher the engineer's ideas even more fun.

G'night, mate.

-/\/\/\/\- oooh look a resistor

billy brown ran over your garden but violet grey wouldn't

A five-watter at that. Or is it just the bigger monitor?

So what kind of stuff made up your festive season? Neither of us have any family within reasonable travel distance, so it's been a quiet time around the Rev Manse.

imported printed circuit board


oh! I got family in our town, as well as in the Yorkshire area, but a few have moved afar, mainly as missionariesto teach the true faith.


xmas, roughly the same every year, same routine with family, so after a few hours, tends to get a bit boring, but you gotta put a face on eh!
just popped in for a nosey, before shower and prepare for tonight

at the Buffalo Lodge

might be back over the weekend - hic!

My daughter and her tribe are about 1,350 miles away, the in-laws are a 750 mile drive, and my own immediate relations are 250 to 3,500 miles away. At this time of the Canadian season, none that we wish to travel to, unless money improves and trains or planes become an option.

I gather you are part of a 'Lodge' then? This is a small town, and perhaps the nearest approximation might be the Masons.

you a single bloke then(as in now) ?? as in family miles away

mason's are the rich version of the Buff's


Pariah ??is that Pariah Carey the pop singer ?

Nope, not single at all. First marriage produced a beautiful girl, who has made me a grand-Daddy. (Pics are easily found from my PS ...) That marriage didn't last long in fact, and only slightly longer in law. My second marriage found us in England, Wales and Ireland a few months ago ... celebrating our 20th anniversary by seeing sights and meeting hootoo'rs. I have a journal on my PS about that as well.

once was/is enough for me - no ring on ever again

with the job, are you a civvie, working for the military or a serviceman ?

I gave them 21 years in the uniform, and am a month or so away from my 10th anniversary of 'assisting' them as a civilian contractor. Not unionized (thank the gawds) Public Service.

My missus also gave 8 years in the uniform ...

being noseywas it the airforce ?

food intake time, catch you later

In Canada, governments under the 'Liberal' party have always seemed to want to eliminate the military. By force, by starvation, by what-ever means. Officially, as of February 1st, 1968, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Army 'integrated' into an entity known as the Canadian Armed Forces. Over a year and a half, this process included transitioning everyone into a common forest-green uniform, with no distinctive environmental badges, or even rank structure.

In 1988, the hoping-to-be-in-power Conservative party offered desegregation back into the distinctive environments and uniforms. And so as of February 1st, 1989 (21st anniversary, dis-integration) I first wore Air Force blues, because roughly half of my service then was Air, the rest split over supporting Army and Navy.

And so, while I wore generic 'greens' for a dozen years, my last 9 were in Air blues. Milady joined well after this, and so only knew a couple of 'green' years, before also being 'blue'.

And just as a BTW, reguardless of the colour of uniforms, my associated trades still (to this day) serve in Afghanistan, on-board ships of all sizes, and air-fields. Nought much changed, except of the parade squares.

as per! everyone knows how to run the armed servicesfrom an armchair eh!

pride and regiment honours means nothing to themsad times all round, inc here

To a government, their military is a utility to use, and an expense to keep at a minimum. Not much more ...