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

I just thought I would drop by and say hello as you left a message for me on one of my journal threads. I'm not intending to post to that particular thread anymore as two-and-a-half weeks have gone by and I feel differently about things now.

I've spent eleven-and-a-half years chasing after somebody else and frankly, I can't be arsed anymore. I do miss him, but the last thing I want at the moment is him back in my life. Our problems go back almost to our first date and neither of us has done the other any favours by allowing this to go on for so long - we actually stopped discussing anything of any relevance about eight years ago. He's planning to move away for a while and he has said he will let me have his new address. If and when I get that from him, I will decide whether or not I can be bothered to get in touch. At the moment, I'm thinking not.

Anyway, enough about me - I came here to be nosey. Where is 'a bit north of London'? Essex? (I'm in Suffolk, so only about 70 miles north of London myself). What do you do when your not being Mum to two teenagers? (assuming you have time for anything else).

Liz
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Hi Liz,

thanks for your post - hope you didn't mind me resurrecting the journal entry, I was under the influence of last night (although thinking about it, probably not enough ) and I'm glad you feel better about things now. One way or another they always get sorted.

Well, not Essex - I'm in Hertfordshire so not a million miles away from you. The girls are pretty self-sufficient in lots of ways now but they are still time consuming in as much as I am a free taxi service/catering operative fitting in round their ever expanding social lives. Not a mentally demanding role I admit but trying on the patience and I am now qualified to rustle up most anything you fancy in the food department for as many as you want me to feed in a matter of minutes because, naturally, you Have to be out again in half an hour. Loaves and fishes? pah, he was an amateur

Other than that I try to get to the gym minimum 3 times a week (trying to keep my frame as lard-free as is possible whilst still consuming vast quantities of ), I read, I spend long hours on this site trawling through out of date journal entries () ooh, and I work during the day.

Bet you're sorry you asked now aren't you .

If I never hear from you again I'll understand .... but I'd be happy to chat if you feel like it so drop me a line

I believe that Hertfordshire is rather nice - not that I've ever really visited, but I'm sure I've passed through en-route to London by bus donkeys years ago when I lived in Lincolnshire.

I'm at work at the moment and bored stiff. My favourite work colleague (whose partner announced that he was leaving her about a fortnight after mine left) is away on holiday this week, so it's very quiet. According to the chart behind me, we have five people on leave from this department today, plus two others located in another building, so it really is much too quiet. And Mrs Boss appears to be in a grumpy mood as well I could do with being a bit busier at the moment - I'm drifting enough in my personal life without drifting at work also.

I too spend far too much time on h2g2, and usually when I should be working It's done a fine job of keeping me company over the Easter weekend, even though a lot of my usual correspondents have been off line. I was wondering to myself yesterday evening, whatever did I do with my spare time before I discovered hootoo?

You make being a mum sound like fun - I used to work with a lovely woman called Bobby and she always said that if your name is Mum then everything is your fault. She had two sons who were aged 18 and 20 when I knew her (so they'll be mid to late 30's now), but she referred to them as her 'little boys' - I wonder if she still does.

Anyway, I'm off to see who else is about before Mrs Boss comes back from her meeting. One of these days she is going to realise that I don't actually do anything.

Liz
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Hi Liz

I'm really glad you replied - I have a tendancy to ramble a bit (as you've no doubt realised) and I was afraid I'd scare you off with the babble

I, too, spend hours and hours on hootoo and, like you, a goodly part of that is when I should be working .... it's soooooooooooo tempting just to pop in to see what's happening, then stay for the odd half hour or so .... I also tend to be here regularly late in the evening when the girls are in bed and there's bu*ger all else to do - I'm like you I guess and have made some good friends who I *visit* in the evening for a chat. I find it hard to imagine life without it now, and you're right it does get you through the *family* weekends like Easter and Christmas quite nicely thank you.

So, what will you do with yourself now you have all this free time on your hands? Do you have lots of single friends you can paint the town red with (and if you have can I borrow some )? I visited a girlfriend this morning who is always trying to get me to go off on some archealogical dig or dry stone wall building or something - she is convinced that I will meet the man of my dreams doing that kind of thing she can't quite get to grip with the idea that (a) I've had it with men and relationships right at this time and (b) if I'm going anywhere it will involve a pool, a drink and lots of sun . Friends mean well but - honestly

Well, I'm off now to slump mindlessly in front of the tv for a bit with a glass of - the girls are at their dad's tonight and I've just come back from the gym which makes me feel marginally better about all the I've eaten over the weekend. I'm back at work tomorrow so maybe I'll find you here sometime? (I'm Karen btw )

Speak soon

Hi Liz

... how's work today?

Hello Karen,

Work wasn’t very exciting today. I did pop on hootoo for a while when Mrs Boss was at lunch, but I’m glad I’ve saved some hootooing for this evening as there is bog-all on telly tonight.

I don’t have any single friends at all, really (and all but one of my friends have children). I don’t even have that many close friends and certainly no one locally. My dearest friend (who I’ve been mates with for about 25 years) lives in Lincolnshire, so I don’t see much of her. I do socialise a couple of times a year with a group of people that I used to work with. We all got made redundant 4 years ago, but we still have a Christmas party (and I’ve already paid for this year’s) and we usually meet once in the summer. A trip to Newmarket Races is planned for July – it’s not really my but I shall go anyway. I shall probably go to the hootoo meet in the summer too – but I wont stay late because I’m not really into heavy drinking and I don’t like travelling home by train too late at night if I’m on my own.

Someone that I am friendly with who has recently moved back to this area e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago and said that we would arrange to have a day together this weekend (she is technically married, but no longer lives with her husband and children, so I suppose she is sort of single, but most of her weekends are taken up visiting her kids). She said she would get back to me about exactly when we might go out, but I haven’t heard from her as yet this week.

As for painting the town red, that’s not really my scene anyway. I do like eating out and I may have to arrange something with some friends one evening soon. I’ve got tickets to see Jack Dee on my birthday (still nearly two months away) but I haven’t decided who to offer the spare ticket to. My particular friend at work is breaking up with her partner at the moment, so I may ask her to come with me. She was very kind to me when Chris and I first split up and she’s a good laugh.

I’ve no idea what I am going to do with my spare time. A shortage of money and no car limit my options a little. It’s going to take me a couple of months to get used to managing on one wage again after having a ‘lodger’ for the past three years, but I lived on my own for about 8 years before Chris moved in (he was my boyfriend for most of that time), so I know I can manage. At the moment, I don’t feel like doing much so my plan is to let myself get really bored and then see what inspires me .

Anyway, I think I’ve gone on long enough for one evening and it’s probably time I thought about making myself some supper.

Chat soon

Liz
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Hi Liz

Well, thank heaven that days out of the way .... my work is also boring at the mo - I think it's because I've had a nice long break over Easter and I Really didn't want to go back - still, it pays the mortgage so mustn't grumble I spose. Since I got home I've been helping daughter number 2 with a project on American Indians - she's nearly 13. Unfortunatley for her the eldest is nearly 16 and taking her GCSEs in a month or so, so I'm very conscious of the fact that everything seems to focus around that presently and I'm trying hard to make sure that the youngest doesn't feel she is being overlooked. I'll be well qualified to work in the UN once these 2 are grown up I reckon ... but I do get to leave work at 3 pm () so not all bad!!

I know what you mean about the friends thing - most of my friends are married with kids as well and it can be a pain when you fancy a night out! Guess that's why we can be found on here most nights eh? I discovered that they're all very supportive and caring but don't count on them for company . I think that's why me and my ex-partner have stuck together to a degree - he's very much on his own as well and it was just nice to have someone to go out with once in a while (without all the complications of a 'relationship'). I'm half decided that I'm going to join the local running club this summer - the girls are old enough now to stay here on their own for a couple of hours in the evening - but talk is cheap and when push comes to shove I might chicken out .... something I've discovered over the last couple of years is that I'm actually by nature a bit of a loner. Other than that there's an evening class on Archaelogy starting in September which I quite fancy (it's just the course fee which is a bit prohibitive there ).

I think you're doing the right thing to let it ride for a bit and then see how you feel - things tend to naturally fall into place somehow. Did you ever hear from you friend about the weekend? That would have been a nice diversion! It sounds from what you've said tho that there are a couple of things in the offing and that's always nice - it's something to look forward to when all is gloom and doom and no doubt your friend at work will also appreciate some company if she's going thru a rough patch.

Well, best get off my ar*e and do some washing up I guess, so I'll leave you now to draw breath and look forward to catching up with you again soon

Karen

I wish I could leave off work at 3pm . I used to do a more demanding job, but I really hated it and a health scare four years ago made me realise that life is too short to spend eight hours a day doing something you hate. I might have to do something about my career (or lack of it) at some point because I could do with a bit dosh, but I can manage so I'll just let things roll along for a while and see what comes up.

I know what you mean about getting motivation to actually go out and do stuff at night. I have often toyed with the idea of joining some sort of keep fit class but I really want something within walking distance of my home, which limits me slightly. I did look into dance classes (Stictly Come Dancing had a big effect on me) but again, it's getting there - or more particularly getting home again. I found an organisation that run various classes at one of the schools in Ipswich but it would involve a long bus journey through a less than salubrious neighbourhood and then I went down with some sort of infection that affected my inner ear and therefore my balance, so that idea got shelved. However, I may have a look around and see what is available when the new terms all start next September.

I used to do an evening class every year, but that was before I went to work at the college. I find the prospect of going to college at night when I have worked there all day just too awful to contemplate. I will have to find myself something to do in the evenings at some point, but like I say, I don't know what I want to do at the moment and there's no rush.

Might you be entitled to fee remission on the course you are interested in? The college where I work offers fee remission for all sorts of reasons - you don't have to be out of work. That working family tax credit thingy entitles you to fee remission - if you are claiming anything like that it may entitle you to some sort of discount (sorry if I'm making assumptions there, but I know you are a working parent).

Like you, I know lots of kind, supportive people, but they aren't the kind to be able to drop everything and go out for a drink. My friend e-mailed me again yesterday to ask if I am free either next weekend or another date in about a months time so I have replied and said either will do. We shall see if that comes to anything. She's a nice woman, but not known for her reliabitity. She lived in Scotland for a few years, and once when she was down here visiting, a mutual friend organised a bit of a get-together for her. The 'party' was scheduled for 1 o'clock on a lovely summer Sunday, but the guest of honour only turned up at half past three!

I've always been a bit of a loner (which I have sometimes failed to disguise at job interviews and I think 'not a team player' has often been written on my application forms). I'm probably way too much of a loner in fact. I like my own space to the extent that I managed to pretty well exclude Chris from it. I'm a bit shy sometimes too and I know that I can come across as snooty and standoffish to some people. In some ways I'm quite independent and self sufficient but the downside of that is some friends leave me to get on with things, when in fact I would appreciate a bit more support and friendship. I do need to get out of myself a bit.

I have got a couple of things to look forward, and I booked myself some leave from work this week as well, so that gives me a couple of other things to plan for. I think it is important to have a few plans (and that was a source of friction with Chris - he could hardly bear to commit himself to a night out, never mind a holiday!)

It's been a lovely spring-like day here today. I had hoped to do some jobs outside, but I've just been too tired. I got invited to go to the pub yesterday lunchtime with some work friends, so obviously I went along but that meant that I didn't get my lunchtime jobs done so I had to do them this morning. I was only out and about and walking around for about two hours, but I've just felt shattered all afternoon (despite cooking myself a very yummy lunch). I'm now trying to revive myself with cadbury mini-eggs (half price!) and coca-cola - I'm hoping that a hit of sugar and caffeine might perk me up, but it's probably a bit late in the day for that. The annoying thing is, I just know I will be wide awake and full of beans later on.

I'm threatening myself that I will go for a swim tomorrow. I used to swim regularly, but it aggravates my right knee (god, I sound like a right old crock, don't I?) so I rarely go now. However, I've been suffering with stiff shoulders (more aches and pains!) and I think a swim might be the thing to stretch them - kill or cure I reckon! Sunday lunchtimes are an excellent time to go swimming - most people are having their Sunday roast so the pool is quieter. Also, it's a good excuse not to do the housework.

Chat soon.
Liz
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You're right about one thing (well, lots of things really but one thing in particular ) leaving work at 3 pm is great!! I sort of like my job but I think I'm a lazy so-and-so at heart and there's nothing better than coming home early!! I often think I'd like to chuck it all in and get a job I Really like .... but most of those things don't pay enough and unfortunately I've got the girls and a mortgage to think about I take it from your post that you work in a college ... what would you like to do if you had the choice?? I'd like a job working with animals - I just love the furry little chaps - but they usually entail hours that don't fit in round the family and cr*p pay, so maybe one day but not right now. I can understand the way your health scare made you think differently about things tho - I've always been really Sensible, a big planner for the future, but when my marriage broke up 7 years ago I began to think what's the point in all that planning??? Now I'm different, I live more day to day.

Thanks for the tip about college fees, by the way - I didn't realise I could maybe get a reduction because I claim working family tax credit (or whatever they're calling it this month) - I'm going to look into that with a view to signing up in September - I'm feeling quite positive about doing this course - I enjoy learning and it'll drag some of the old brain cells back out of hiding.

So, how was your weekend after all? Did you get out and do anything nice??? Our weather was just heavenly - inspired me to get out and do some gardening and, believe me, that is a miracle in itself - not one of my favourite occupations. I also did a bit of retail therapy - had to go out and get a Christening for my great neice who is being Christened Saturday week and unfortunately got a bit carried away with the old credit card while I was out. Don't spose the Bank Manager will be best pleased this morning when he gets the bills - still, once in a while isn't too bad is it? By the time I'd spent some time at the gym and watched the Eastenders omnibus it was time for the girls to come home from their Dad's and Monday morning before I knew where I was. Hope your's was good and you had some company and a good time.

I think going out and finding things to do on your own in the evenings is really tricky - I can be quite brave in the planning stages (see above reference to college course !!) but when it comes to the point of actually Doing something I chicken out. I started to go to the pictures occasionally on my own - there were always lots of films I wanted to see and no-one to go with so I thought why not? After all you just sit there and watch the film don't you. So a couple of times I went but I felt as if I should have had a big sign pinned to me saying 'social leper' - consquently I stopped going Maybe now the evenings are getting lighter and the weather is warming up a bit you'll feel a bit more like doing things - I reckon dancing or swimming would be a good idea, specially the dancing - guaranteed to lift the spirits and provide some company at the same time - go for it!! Mind you the swimming will be good for the aches and pains - and any excuse to get out of the housework sounds good to me!!

You said you were planning on going to the summer meet this year in London - I thought I might troll along as well so I might see you there - it'd be good to know someone - have you been to one before?? I haven't actually looked to see when it's on yet so haven't made a definite plan to go, depends if its a weekend when I've got the girls or not really .... but hoping it'll be possible.

Well, I'm going to collapse mindlessly in front of the tv for a while before I go to bed. Hope you're ok m'dear - have a good week and I look forward to chatting again soon

Karen

I've no idea what I'd like to do for a career really. And like you, even if there was something I was interested in, I can't aford to take the pay-cut that any kind of re-training would involve. I can only just manage on what I earn now. I started training to be an accountant at one time (it's something you can do on-the-job, as it were and employers will usually pay), but I hated it and I wasn't very good at it and after I failed all the exams on my second year, I gave it up as a bad job. I've sometimes thought that I could fancy running a B&B, but that's probably only because I want to live at the seaside. I'm not great with commitment in any area of my life and work is no exception. So, at the moment, the cushy admin job I do suits me but unfortunately I think the day will come when the mediocre salary becomes a problem.

I'm giving some consideration to going to the cinema on my own when the Hitch Hikers Guide movie comes out. I'm not usually much into films. Chris liked going to the pictures, but I think the last time we went together was to see the first Shrek film. I think he goes on his own sometimes.

I didn’t manage any gardening – I was just too tired. I did go for my swim but that was me knackered for the rest of the day. I treated myself to a Sunday paper while I was out, so that kept me quiet for most of Sunday afternoon and evening (and I’m still working my way through the various sections).

I don’t think they have agreed on a definite date for this years London summer meet. I think it’s either the 2nd or 16th of July. I went last year, but I went home before the main ‘pub’ part of the evening. We had a picnic in Hyde Park in the rain. I met up with Unconformity who I ‘talk’ to on here quite a lot and she and some of her friends (all of whom were significantly younger than me) decided to go and look at the Princess Di fountain so I went with them. By the time we got back to the bandstand, everyone else had gone so we then played hunt the hootooers around Holborn until we found some others in a pub. So I’ve been once and I know a few people. I have to admit that it was a bit daunting in some ways – some of these good folks have been meeting up for a very long time and I did feel a bit of an outsider to start with. However, having done it once, I’m sure it will be easier this time. If you do decide to go, I will look out for you there.

Anyway, I had better get on with some work (or at least pretend to) as Mrs Boss is lurking.

Chat soon.
Liz
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Hallo Liz

Typically if they hold the summer meet on either of those 2 weekends I won't be able to make it - got my girls - I could have done really with it being the alternate dates ... still, never mind there's always another time. I don't mind leaving them on their own for a couple of hours if I'm fairly local but not if I'm coming into London - I wouldn't relax and wouldn't enjoy it.

I'm soooooooo bored at work today, I really do have to think about looking around for something else for my sanity if nothing else. Trouble is it'll be another job doing a similar thing because, as you say, I can't really afford a change of tack right now, and if I'm going to do the same job I might as well stay here and do it. At least the people I work with are nice. It's a bit Catch 22 -ish isn't it.

Only got another 25 minutes to go tho then I can go home. The girls are still on their school holidays at the moment and every day so far I've got back to find the eldest's boyfriend there. I've told her that tonight he has to be gone by 6 o'clock. He's a really jealous type and they've had no end of rows in the past because he doesn't like her going out with her friends. She goes dancing/trampolining on Tuesday nights and last night he turned up at the club out of the blue to watch - I was furious - I know he only does it because he wants to make sure she's not getting up to anything. I know it's none of my business really but she's only 15 and I can see the way this is going to go if she's not careful - honestly kids!!! I think she needs her space sometimes - I know I do.

Well, looks like we're going to be spared the necessity of doing any gardening this weekend unless the weather perks up. where abouts are you? I'm in Hertfordshire and it's been cold and wet here today. I'm taking the girls shopping on Saturday - they need some summer clothes so I don't really care if the weathers naff then but it'd be nice if it was good on Sunday... have you got any plans this weekend?

Well I'm going to say ttfn, gotta clear up and wash my mug as it's nearly time to get off home don't want to be late now do I??

Hope your day is going well Liz, look forward to chatting again soon - I've rambled this time .... it was bound to happen eventually!!

Karen

Morning Karen,

It appears that the hootoo London summer meet is definitely going to be on 16 July. It will be a shame if you can't come. They did have a vote for the dates but I think part of the problem with that was there were too many dates to choose from and too many people didn't see the meet page in time to vote anyway. I can see that there have been a lot of postings to the meet page today, but I haven't had time to look at them yet.

I've had a boring week at work too this week. However, I've had a bit more to do yesterday afternoon and this morning. My office is only a 15 minute walk from my house, so it is a really convenient location. Plus it's a public sector job so the pension is really good (my employers contribute £3,000 a year to my pension!) I could do with earning a bit more money, but if I went back to the private sector it would need to be a huge amount more to compensate for not being in a final salary pension scheme. The people I work with are really nice too, although we seem to be a bit low on numbers again this week so its much too quiet for my liking.

Your daughter's boyfriend sounds a bit scary - let's hope she cottons onto his paranoia and takes the appropriate action herself. It must be very difficult for you not to interfere, especially as she is so young. I didn't go out with any boys until I was 17 (probably because I looked an awful lot younger than I actually was).

I'm not sure what is happening at the weekend. I may or may not be seeing my unreliable friend on Saturday afternoon - then again it might be the end of the month. I need to go to the supermarket really and it will be easier to do that on Saturday when a full bus service is running. I'm in Ipswich and I've no idea what the weather forecast is for this part of the world. Whatever the forecast is, it will probably be wrong anyway.

I had a letter from my newly ex-boyfriend in Tuesday. He is renting a flat in a little town about 8 miles away. In his letter, he didn't sound as though he likes it much. Then he rang up last night and he defintely doesn't like it. He sounded really miserable. I think we are still a bit undecided about keeping in touch but I'm happy to just play it by ear for a while and see what happens. I'm sad to think of him being so unhappy and he still isn't very well. He did manage to tell me a bit more about what is wrong with him on the phone last night, so I suppose that is some progress after asking him about it for two years.

Anyway, I had better get off here because Mrs Boss is back from her meeting.

Chat again soon.

Liz
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'lo Liz

Well, thank heavens it's Friday at last (I say that every week) - looking forward to a nice veggy evening in front of the pc with a nice bottle of to keep me company .... sounds a bit sad really doesn't it

The week came and went fairly uneventfully - just waiting now for the youngest daughter to arrive home with her girlfriend (who is sleeping over) so I can cook some tea ... thought I'd take advantage of the lull to drop you a line We're off to Lakeside tomorrow - I discovered a couple of years ago that the best way to tackle the knotty problem of new clothes with my girls (being as they are like a bottomless pit where money for clothes is concerned) is to give them a chunk of money Spring/Autumn - then take them out shopping for the day and let them spend it. Hopefully this is instilling in them a sense of common sense where money is concerned - it's amazing how different a pair of trainers costing 70 quid looks when you've only got a limited amount of money to spend - thereafter (within reason) if they need new stuff it has to come out of their pocketmoney. SO - tomorrow is the Big Spring Spend so off we go (with friend in tow this year). Other than that no plans at all for the weekend except perhaps a trip to the gym on Sunday to salve my conscience for eating far too much this week.

I hope your friend comes up trumps for the weekend - it's always nice to get out at least once if you can I think ... a trip to Sainsburys doesn't quite fit the bill

Glad you've heard from you ex - it's a shame that he's not very happy at the moment but I think everyone needs some time to adapt at the end of a relationship - he'll sort himself out just the same way you've had to. I don't think you stop worrying about them tho ... but in the end, as a good friend once told me, you're on your own.

you're right about the Summer Meet - 16th July it is - I might have a little word in my ex's ear a bit nearer the time and see if I can persuade him to have the girls at his so I could at least get to the picnic in the afternoon - It'd be really to meet a few people - I bet they're nothing like I've imagined and vice versa no doubt!

Well, best go and get on with something domestic - hope you have a great weekend Liz - the weather's going to be cr*p by all accounts so lots of booze and the Eastenders omnibus looks like one option ... whatever you do tho, have a good time!

Take care of yourself, chat soon
Karen

Hi Karen,

I hope you survived your mammoth shopping trip. I hate shopping and the prospect of doing it in the company of teenage girls would be a pretty scary one for me.

My friend did indeed come up trumps. She was 40 minutes late arriving at the agreed meeting point, but that was no surprise really. We went to a very picturesque little village called Kersey, which has a lot of pretty 16th century buildings, a ford in the middle and is set amid some rather lovely rolling Suffolk countryside. We had lunch in the village pub and then went for a walk around the surrounding area. I don't know how far we walked, but we didn't get back to Sharon's car until about a quarter-to-five. Then we came back to my place (now she knows where I live, she can come and get me from home next time we go out) for some and I showed her around my little house. She eventually went home (well, back to the friend she is staying with until she can find somewhere permanent to live) at about 7 o'clock. It was really nice to catch up with her - I probably hadn't seen her for about two years as she's been living in Scotland and has only recently moved back this way.

I'm so tired today from all that walking that I've hardly done anything all day - which is an awful waste given the beautiful weather we've had here. I logged onto my e-mail earlier on to find some shocking news from another friend (who lives in Scotland, co-incidentally enough), who found out this week that her 17-year-old son has testicular cancer. Blimey! There's always someone worse off than you, isn't there? He's having an operation tomorrow. Hopefully, that will be all he needs.

So, the weekend is nearly over already. I could do with about a week in bed to recover from my activities yesterday. Still, I think a new lecturer is starting in our department tomorrow, so that will be something vaguely interesting to look forward to.

Have a good week.

Liz
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Hi Liz

it's taken me so long to reply to your message - this week has been like the week from hell and it promises to continue for a while - my eldest daughter is sitting her GCSEs this spring and her first one is art and it's next Tuesday and Wednesday. She's making a mask and the school were supposed to get a template for her at the beginning of last week which she then has to customise and cover with paper mache etc etc etc - all which has to be done before the actual exam so she can then attend to the details and the painting during her exam. Well basically the school didn't get the template in for her and another girl who is doing the same sort of thing - they should have been in on Tuesday and as of Friday going-home time they still weren't. We actually phoned around the local art shops Wednesday when still no template had arrived at school and found someone who had a couple and drove over and bought them which is just as well, but by that time she was 2 days behind schedule with her prep and had gone into meltdown. She's spent every spare minute the rest of the week trying to catch up (whilst crying and running round like a headless chicken) and is still at it at her dad's house as we speak. She's a bit of a drama queen at the best of times but I do feel very sorry for her, she is in complete panic mode at the moment.

So - rant over - but that seems to have taken most of my time and energy this week. I've drafted a sh*ttygram to the school which her dad is looking over this weekend and once she's actually taken the exam they're going to get it both barrells.

How's your week been? Did the new lecturer prove to be a distraction or is he fat and 50??

What have you been up to this weekend? After all the walking you did with your friend last weekend I would've been sitting with my feet up watching something mindless on the tv!! I've got a Christening to go to tomorrow - my nephew's baby - it's in Bedford which is about a 45 minute drive from us so not bad. Other than that I'm having a bit of a veggy one myself. Might pop out this afternoon and get some matchpots, really should start decorating again ....

just going to finish this then I really should get some ironing done, so hope things with you are good - be safe and I look forward to hearing all about your week/weekend soon

Karen

Hi Karen,

Oh dear, the saga with the art exam all sounds rather traumatic. Does your daughter want to do something in the way of a career that involves art?

What made you think our new lecturer was a man? (There are 11 people in my department, only three of whom are men, one research officer and two multi-media authors) The new person is female and probably younger than me. She seems nice enough. Mrs Boss decided that she couldn't be bothered to speak to the new lady for about three days and so I had to run around and sort out one or two induction type things, but most of that was taken care of by a colleague. Poor soul fell down the stairs yesterday and had to be taken home, but she's back today and seems none the worse for her accident.

I've been a bit busier at work this week, mostly because we had an assessment board for students studying online, so I've had quite a bit of paperwork to sort out. Plus I've been to two meetings. This is the first time I've been on hootoo this week and I didn't get on much at the weekend - sometimes I'm just not in the mood to sit at the PC when I'm at home.

I had a nice relaxed sort of weekend. I tried to make the most of the gorgeous weather by doing a bit of weeding and cutting the grass. I went out for an hour walk both days too. I caught up with the housework I hadn't managed the previous week, cooked myself lots of yummy food, did some reading and generally chilled out. It was lovely.

Mine and Chris's polling cards arrived on Sunday, so I got in touch with him to ask if he wanted me to send his card on to him. He rang back last night and we chatted for ages on the phone - well, he chatted and I listend (which made a nice change, actually). He still doesn't like his new place and still isn't entirely well, but he sounded much more cheerful than when I last spoke to him. So it's actually been a pretty good week so far.

I hope your week is going better - exam stress notwithstanding.

Chat again when you've time.

Liz
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Hi Liz
Don't know what made me think your new lecturer was going to be a man ... you can trust me to get the wrong end of the stick if it's at all an option - anyway, always nice to meet a new face, male or female, sounds as if you got her sorted out. The woman I work with handed her notice in today - it's a real shame because she's a really nice person and has fitted in well with the department. She's been with us about 9 months and is just giving up work to go off travelling with her husband - how nice - I can't think of many things nicer than that. The downside for me is I've now got to try to get a replacement - we went throught the painful process for some months before this lady arrived and we were so lucky to find her, she came to us as a temp then we persuaded her to stay - I just hate interviewing people so was pretty p*ssed off this morning

Had a nice weekend, the girls were here, so we just pottered a bit - did some gardening, collected some matchpots with a view to starting decorating soon, visited my parents - that kind of thing. Tried to make the most of the good weather. Now I can hear it raining again ...

Glad you've spoken to Chris again - you sound much more positive now than you did a few weeks ago ... I think it's good to know they're happy even if you don't especially want to spend your life with them ....

Well, the exam stress has subsided a bit for a couple of weeks and we're now into boyfriend trauma (youngest one this time) - never a dull moment in this household y'know I'm going to meet a guy I've been chatting to on the net for a couple of months on Saturday - meeting him in London, not sure where yet, but I'll report back next week and let you know how it goes. He seems like an nice enough chap but then, don't they all

Anyway, I'm off for a and an early(ish) night - have a good week, hope you're - catch up again soon

Karen

It's a shame when someone you like leaves work. I'm lucky that I get on well with most of my immediate colleagues. Someone is leaving in a couple of weeks time, but while she's a nice lass, she's not someone that I'm especially fond of. I only ever had one experience of trying to recruit staff. I was a Credit Controller at one time and my boss (who is still a friend, the one I went out with a couple of weeks ago) and I had to recruit a Sales Ledger Clerk. It was awful - we only had three candidates and they were all c**p. The one we appointed had to be 'let go' when his six months trial was up. Then we poached a bloke from the Purchase Ledger team and he was much better (and shared his stash with me too).

Boyfriend trauma - that sounds worse than exam trauma. I didn't go out with any boys until I was 17 I wonder if girls today start younger or if I was just a late developer.

Well, good luck meeting your internet chum. Are you going to tell anyone where you will be? The official h2g2 meet advice is to make sure someone knows where you are going. I hope he turns out to be as nice as he sounds. It's always nice to go to London.

Anyway, I think that's all for now.

Chat soon.
Liz
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Hi Liz

for the message - I'm used to the boyfriend trauma to a degree, it tends to be one boyfriend or the other playing up . I was like you, first boyfriend at 17 - I think they grow up much too quick these days and boys are on the agenda very early on. Don't think I like it but on the other hand, not much I can do to stop 'em without locking them in the house. I'd much rather make this a place they feel they can bring their friends .... then at least I can see who they're hanging out with and I know they're not standing on street corners getting into trouble.

for your concern too - this is the second bloke I've met off the net (hope that doesn't sound too tacky ) - I always leave details with my best bud and last time rang her from the loo about an hour into the meeting just to let her know I was ok ... it's a bit nerve racking but, hey, what's to loose? My bud is convinced they are all mad axe murderers after my body (I should be that lucky ) but from the little you can tell of people, male and female, they're just people like you and me - sometimes a bit lonely and generally at a bit of a loose end. So - wish me luck, I'll let you know how it goes

Well, best go and get the kids some tea ... hope the rest of your week goes well, have a good weekend too if we don't speak again before -

catch you again soon,
Karen

Hi Karen,

I do think that girls are a little more forward now than they were 20 years ago. I have a friend whose eldest son is 18 and I can remember her describing to me in a most incredulous tone the number of girls ringing the house to speak to her son when he was only about 15 - he doesn't have to chase any girls they all come to him (mind you, he is tall and good looking and I can't believe that I used to diddle him on my knee 18 years ago). We certainly didn't approach boys when I was young, we just flirted madly in the hope that they'd ask us out. Rarely worked though - I lusted after the same lad for about four years and he never even spoke to me.

Here's a tale to amuse you - the last time I saw my friend, her son had been out the night before, had a few too many beers and ended up kissing a girl who is not his girlfriend. Unfortunately, he did this in plain site of his girlfriend's friends. His mother advised him to tell her the truth when he saw her at school next day but he was worried that his thirteen-year-old sister might gossip about this. My friend had told her daughter because, even though she is much younger, she is also friendly with J's girlfriend. So, my friend asked her daughter "Now, what are you going to say about J if anyone asks about this" to which the child replied "I shall tell them that J is not a cheating b*****d, just a drunken one!" Out of the mouths of babes, eh?

I hope your internet stalker, I mean friend ( just joking) turns out to be nice. I think there are lots of lonely people out there in internet land and they're not all axe murderers. As long as you're sensible and make sure someone knows where you are you should be fine. I'm discovering that my few real life friends have much busier lives than me - I'm currently struggling to find someone to come with me on my birthday to see Jack Dee. I've had the tickets since October, but the two people I have asked so far already have plans for that evening. I might ask my friend who took me out the other week, but she lives nearly an hours drive away so even if she is free, she may not want to trail over here just to sit in a theatre for a couple of hours and I'd feel obliged to invite her to stay the night at my place, which I wouldn't be entirely comfortable with. I'm toying with the idea of asking Chris if he still wants to come.

Anyway, that's enough for today. Chat again soon.

Liz
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