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

I started a new job tonight, at my local church. I'll be assisting the Vicar at weddings and funerals. Tonight I was at a wedding rehearsal, shadowing Pauline, the lady who is retiring. She's confessed she will miss the job! The wedding is on Saturday, there'll be 3 bridesmaids and 3 flower girls. I feel blessed to be part of it

Great news GB! If anyone can calm those bridezillas, it would be you. Enjoy it.

I agree. I think you were made for this, GB

~ ~

well done

Thank you everyone! All the people I've told have mentioned that I suit the job!

I am not looking forward to the first funeral although I expect my empathetic side will kick in and I am lucky to have Pauline with me for as long as I feel I need her, she's in no rush to retire. She's told me her first funeral was of a baby, and she nearly lost it when she saw the small white coffin being carriedbut she managed to get through it and decided nothing could be worse than that. Having witnessed that myself with my own granddaughter Heidi's funeral, with my sobbing son carrying her coffin, I have to agree.

Pauline has told me that if I have any holidays booked she's willing to cover for me when I have taken over (I can see she is going to be difficult to get rid of)

Just don't go and say "Bloody Hell! I've forgot my lines or what comes next"

good on you love

Thanks Prof

Well done on the job lovely, sure you'll be great....have you booked DG as guest organist yet?

Thank you! I haven't met the resident organist yet. But I have had to learn the signal to get him to stop performing once the bride has left the building.

I'll keep DG as my own personal organist for the time being

Ian must be looking down and laughing at all the silly jokes I know he would be cracking right now. There will be church bells on Saturday. Ian: "The Bells! The Bells!" (while crouching down and trying to walk.)

Congratulations! Yes, your empathy will serve you well in all aspects of the role, happy and sad

I met the regular organist today - but his services weren't required because the bride is a singer and two of her musician friends were providing the music - a pianist and a violinist. The service was quite beautiful, short but sweet, no singing, just 3 pieces of music. The bride and adult bridesmaids were all sleeveless - I'm surprised they weren't blue-skinned it was that cold the small flower girls wore the same colour dresses as the older girls but the little ones had fur wraps as well, luckily! All went well

First funeral is booked for 16th March - which just happens to be mine and Ian's anniversary, would have been our 5th, it's all very spiritual

It sounds like it was a lovely event. I hope the funeral isn't too tearful for you.

Thank you Elektra

I have a resident organist but! then again I am a man

Congratulations GB on your new job and that I hope it will bring you many happy memories.

Thank you Rosa!

I've got a new job - welding
I wouldn't say it's cold BUT! even the brass monkeys have got welding rods.


"The story goes that cannonballs used to be stored aboard ship in piles, on a brass frame or tray called a 'monkey'. In very cold weather the brass would contract, spilling the cannonballs: hence very cold weather is 'cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey"

On a legendary cold day from the "The Wizard of I'd", it was "so cold they took the brass monkey off the top of the Empire State Building".