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

Well, I like F1 partly because it represents a real engineering challenge. A modern day egg race - remember that show? For example, the current engines are all fuel/ electric hybrids, where the electricity is stored up as the cars race around. Mainly, as I understand it, because (some of) the teams actually want to use what they discover building F1 cars to build road cars.

Cool, huh? It's not a demolition derby. I genuinely don;t understand what the BBC is doing with their intro.

Day 3

Today we are not being serenaded by the crackle and band of fireworks.

This is unusual given that the last week has been a constant noise of bangers.

The reason why is that the local teens have formed up little possies and have been running around shooting fireworks at each other. I have no idea if this is an actual giant game or if they are actually fighting. Bit of both, probably.

My middle aged concern is for my car, and for my self, given that the reason I know about the source of the commotion is that I keep tripping over the buggers hiding behind my car when I come back from my run.

My inner 16 year old is all like wheee, urban paintball with fireworks! Where do I sign up?

Luckily for my claims to maturity, the neighbours clearly called the police in such numbers that there is now a van of them keeping us safe from rockets and catherine wheels.

London. Can't be tired of it, can't burn the place to the ground.

[Amy P]

F S

Did they do firework paintball ing in 1666 I wonder, better story than the small bakers shop in pudding lane!

Love that last line!

Deb

"London. Can't be tired of it, can't burn the place to the ground" [Solnushka]

That's because all of London's cows went to Chicago

Day 4

Today is my birthday.

My MiL gave me a card. She doesn't speak English. The card says 'With sympathy at Christmas'.

Best. Birthday card. Evah.

What's the picture on the card? I'm trying to picture an image that matches the text as well as the notion that it's a birthday card...

Happy birthday!

Brilliant!

Happy birthday

Deb

Have a good birthday/ sad Christmas! Love it!

Happy birthday!

Happy belated birthday.

Thanks for the birthday wishes! MiL chose the card for the flowers, which are rather nice white poinsettias. Fair enough.

Day 5

We turned on our heating today for the first time this autumn. I am a little disappointed because I was quite enjoying wondering how long we could go before we did, but it was really rather chilly this evening. It is quite alarming how warm this October has been. It is entirely wrong to be kicking through the piles of fallen leaves in T shirts.

On the upside, it has been a struggle to dry clothes lately, so hopefully central heating will help.

This banal post has been brought to you in an attempt to not rant about the native English speaking husbands of Russian speaking women. Who turn up to the one hour a week class of Russian language we all send our children to and insist on talking loudly to their kids, our kids and all the other adults there in English, thus negating the whole point of the exercise. Why. Can't. They. Just. Keep. Quiet.

Or, y'know, learn Russian.

But no, it's always the woman who learns the other language.

Oh rant away - I am still trying to lower my eyebrows from their botoxed-looking position on meeting someone who's been living here for years and doesn't seem interested to even learn to say hello or thank you in Spanish. There are lots of them about. I can sort of forgive the elderly retired, but the young, working age ones?

Ah, the old laziness (or arrogance) of the Anglophone. "No point, everyone in the world speaks English anyway."

Quite. Especially if you Speak. Really. Really. Loud.