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

Sho,

As for Cosmic Jokes - well it seems that way to me to sometimes. Most of us (probably all of us) have a hard year from time to time, last year was the hardest for me for reasons we need not labor over.

I sometimes think hardships come as lessons that we need to learn from (that might sound 'preachy' - but surely it's better to try and take something positive, even out of the most negative times). Look back and see what you have learned, how things could have been worse, and be thankfull for those blessings - that mostly works for me.

Then it's time for a new start. And no better time than 1st of Jan.

These excerpted verses are ones I sometimes think of when I need to pick myself up again after being knocked down...


...
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
...

http://freedomlaw.com/IFKiplng.html

Cheer-up !

That's the way Pilgrim; as you say 'Find the positive' in whatever.
Onwards and upwards! And don't let the B....... grind you down.

for TC too...

the more people I talk to, the more I realise that what I feel is "normal"

gah!

new year anyone? (oh and we have leftover from #1's birthday yesterday)

I keep bumping into Kipling - time to search my poetry books I think I have some more of his somewhere.

LSF - thanks for your good wishes, and sending some over your way too. How are you feeling now?

So, I should try to focus on the positive... how's this...

I've been ill (flu) since just before christmas. On Saturday it developed into a stomach bug (the to be specific)...

wait, there is a positive...

today, for the first time in around 6 months I weigh under 70kg

It's the small(er) things (or becoming smaller things) in life that make us

Don't let the ards grind you down Sho! Your hanging on in there will upset them no end.

My happier moments come whilst walking my and is the little thing that keeps me (as is my evening shot of voddie!)

'Illegitimus Non Carborundum' as they said in Rome...

You can beat it, Sho.

The days are now lengthening, and soon spring will be here.

How do I improve things?

A walk in the countryside.

A spot of wildlife watching.

A good burst on my Banjo... well, fiddle's a good equivalent.

Being anywhere near water.

However I know exactly what you mean. An event of a week ago is going to cost me Mega- and at the worst time of the year possible .

The only plus on the horizon is the Company I work for are doing well , so my annual bonus could be good.

The negative is I have to survive 90 days before I get it . Just I hope I survive.

I shall think of you, Sho, and send whatever positive thoughts I can.



MMF

MMF - I saw that other thread. It never rains but it pours.

has an interview today. Gruesome #1 is currently overnighting with a friend and will stay there until he's finished. So rather than send #2 to the childminder alone (which she hates because the three boys are rather loud) he's... taking her with him

which was the idea we both came up with independently of each other

but now I'm torn. If _I_ did that - I wouldn't get the job because I'd obviously be incapable of organising things properly. he, on the other hand, will probably have her whisked away from him by kindly ladies and she wll have the time of her life being looked after (being a rather cute, blonde haired blue-eyed 8 year old Leo helps a lot)

let's see...

How did it go?

poo - he thought the boss woman was a total control freak and despite the fact that they told him on the phone it was shifts (so, one lot of 8 hours at a time) it is in fact split shifts - it's 40km away, so he's not doing that - he'd not get a break.

I hated splits

Oh dear has he got anything else on the back burner?

nope
the gruesomes are back to school tomorrow, so he'll be able to start looking in ernest

I think he'll at least come up with something part-time by the weekend

That is bad news Sho for you and

Did I manage to miss something - did he lose his last job?

he was let go because they have no business after December. It's a long story and I'm still very

but basically it boils down to his having worked like a slave over summer with "it will level out over the winter"... and of course, as soon as trade slacked off they don't need him.

January is a bad month for getting new jobs in the trade - but I'm hoping that Karneval season in February will mean he gets something new soon.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that. It makes my blood boil how employers these days seem to expect their staff to go the extra mile for them and bend over backwards to be loyal to the company without ever once giving an ounce of it back!

I hope he gets something soon, even if only temporary until something really suitable comes up.

Have your lot filled their new senior post yet?

no they haven't. They have changed the ad so that it's for someone at my level. That way, and I had to as the boss guy told me, they have nearly as many assistants as managers...

Will that at least take some work stress away from you, or doesn't it help at all?

nope, unfortunately I won't be able to offload anything, but one of my colleagues will which will be a big help for her

My firm intention is to be gone from there by Easter - and up to then I am not going to let them stress me out again. And if they do - I'll let my write me off for 2 weeks this time

My job is far from safe now, I have to cook meals for the Military staff on the night shift, they pull out in march so my boss moved me to the public restaurent. Now when the Military goes so does their budget which is huge and their rules, without that military money belts are going to have to be tightened which means job cuts and the most unprofitable shift of the day is the evening shift. And like you Sho January is difficult for s but I'm determind to hang on until the end, the company either have to find me another job or pay me off.

Fingers crossed for you then, Reefgirl.

my is seriously considering moving to Munich - plenty of work there (for both of us) and schools are much better, quality of life is lovely and we'd be in the mountains...

but it's a big step.