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

See Pinky, these coincidences aren't coincidences at all, Sixteen Tons struck a huge chord in mining communities everywhere, the guy who wrote it, Merle Travis, was a socialist folk artist who got into trouble with the Mcarthyists in the States. We're the North East diaspora with a large pool of common consciousness some more common than others mind! Chewing gum on the bedpost indeed! I put mine next to the glass with me dentures in, ready for re-insertion next morning, I've got couth me. I'm just listening to All in the Mind on play it again, they're saying neurotic people are more likely to crave chocolate than others. It's all about neuro-transmitters apparently, and women are affected more than men! I don't know about that, but if I don't get a Mars Bar easter egg it will lead to severe depression, and possible temper tantrums, and I'm a bloke. I lopped the trees at the back of my garden yesterday, swinging off a ladder isn't my favourite passtime, I'm stiff everywhere but where it matters this morning, but that's it for another six months, you've got to keep them under control, I had to get a tipper to take the stuff away last time I left them for a year. As it is we make two trips to the tip and it's done, got finished in time for the meat draw and won nowt! You would have thought God might have smiled on one so industrious, and at least let me win the breakfast pack! I came back from Madeira monster size, so I'm self-starving for a while. There's nowt more boring than diets, talking about them I mean, they're meaningless to anyone except the poor so and so dieting, but honest, I went on a hike in Madeira and I was so shattered I thought somethings got to change or I'll be in a bath chair next time I go. But I feel better already so I'm enthused and I'll not mention it again I promise. Well I've meandered far enough for one day, in fact for several but it's only cos I likes ya, Love Ham.

Hi Ham,thankyou,as always for your lovely msg.Sorry you didn't win a thing on the meat draw mind you .Is there no justice left in the world at all ? Sometimes I do wonder ! OK,before I say anything I have information to forward to you from our Zac....I am going into my secretarial mode ..now....He also loves Emmylou Harris,he has her on dvd and first saw her on the dvd I bought him about 2 yrs ago ,The Band,she was performing 'live',of course and he thought she was wonderful...he asked if you had heard her singing Evangeline( Mississippi Queen,a song about a riverboat gambler ?)Also,he wants to know have you heard of Ronnie Hawkins('The Hawk') one of his songs was 'Who Do you Love'.AND, He says a belated birthday wishes from him...and just think of the words of the Travelling Wilberries..'We may be old,we may be grey ,we still have a lot to say ! This is a compliment to you for your 'wicked 'taste in music ...Regards our Zac ..OH,sorry,his hero is Woody Guthrie,cos he says and I quote ..any man that can sing a song saying ...Where they shot the jerk who invented work in the Big Rock Candy Mountain ....has to be a wise man hahahahaha Here ends my secretarial duties for one more day !! Hello again Ham ,dieting eh ? Mmmmm,just try a glass of cooled boiled water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice,every morning ....first drink of the day ...see how you go OK ? Any port in a storm Ham,it's worth a try.I am very busy at work,so I won't bore you with the details ...I bought a new puppy today,another Staffordshire Bull,my last one died last month ,the devastation was unreal...anyway,now we have 'Saffron',she's adoreable.Trying to chew the PC wires as I type,seems like one of my dogs hahahaha One word from me and they do as they like hahahaha I think I should send this before I'm disconnected !!! I'll write soon,if the PC survives the teething habits of this bundle of mischief ..you take care Ham ,my love to you as always Pinky XXXXXX

Ronnie Hawkins! We're getting right into the esoteric stuff now, I've just looked on Wikipedia, I couldn't remember his big 50's hit, (in 40 Days, great the Beatles even used to play it on stage), but I could have sworn he was Canadian, but he moved there as a young man. I love the Band, Dylan's group and a marvellous rock band in their own right, they're Canadians,and they backed Hawkins for years, when you see them getting interviewed talking about their time with the Hawk they're still in awe of him, and they're pretty full-on themselves! Hawk was a throwback when I was a young man, so Zac is going back some, but I'm sure he's heading in the right direction, I've always liked pop but the new stuff is over produced and unbearable, and yes, these 'talent' shows have a lot to answer for, complete pap, look at the recent resurgence in interest in Johnnie Cash, I promise you, you can be falling as flat as a pancake at a gig, but play 'Ring of Fire ' or 'I Walk the Line' and they go nuts, and as far as music goes it's as basic as you can get, rhythm, bass and vocals, and all the better for it. I admire Woody as well, but I've got to say I don't listen to him, I prefer to hear good versions of his songs by others, can't stand Billy Bragg, who'se something of a champion for Woody in Britain, I always suspected it was more about furthering Billy's very limited talent authenticity see? but I might be wrong. I love Springsteen singing Woody stuff, I do a rather mean version of So Long It's been Good to Know Ya myself actually. I'll bet I'm the only pensioner conceited enough to talk about myself and Springsteen in the same sentence! If Zac likes Emmylou, he'll love the McGarriggle sisters, they are honestly fantastic, master musicians (or mistress musicians?) great writers and singers, and thoughroughly lovely people, they're Canadian too funnily enough, do a lot of singing in French, mandolins guitars conertinas, fiddles, I've got a few tracks of them singing with Emmylou and it's heaven, them and Nanci Griffith's you won't go wrong. You got me on about music again didn't you? I've been pounding the keyboard for 20 minutes (I'm a bit slow!) My daughter just got a Spaniel puppy at Christmas, Lola if you please, and the whole family are besotted with the darn thing, except my cat Oliver of course who swats it on the nose every time it comes through the door. I've never kept a dog, always been a cat man though I like dogs but the independent moggie suits my lifestyle better, and gives me and my missus something to argue about, she's always claimed not to like cats, but we had three at one time, one of which she brought home so I think she protesteth too much! I must buy a bottle of Bubbly for mothers day, I'm away all day,I always say 'ya not me mother ya wor lass', but my daughters are mums too so they can have a glass together while I'm laying down the licks. I'll be playing a few songs this afternoon, by popular demand I might add, it's my last day at the housing association and our residents have asked me to do some stuff, which I'll enjoy, they like their Johnny Cash stuff! Speak to you soon, Your Pal Ham.

Hi Ham,thankyou for your lovely,as always, msg.Apologies for the delay in my reply...Mothers Day,my nervous breakdown week...I rest my case ! 4pm Sunday afternoon,hopefully,it will be all over for me,I have asked for the same pressie I ask for every year..undisturbed sleep...for at least 10 hours when I get home hahahaha Sometimes it works,sometimes it doesn't,as you know Ham,I never give up ,so I live in hope that this year I will achieve my goal ! I'm shattered already to tell you the truth ! Now your probably thinking ..'What a popular florist your friend must be ?' NO,just the cheapest and silliest in the entire country,so the customers love me !!!OK,enough of this work talk...you being semi retired again..it's making me so envious ! Hope the farewell gig went well and everyone,mostly you ,of course,had a great time ? Enjoy your free time ,I would.Now you know,nothing lasts forever,just enjoy XXXX I confess,I love Bob Dylan,and I do think my brainwashing over the years (well,since birth actually) has influenced my childrens interest in the type of music they listen to ! I also have encouraged them to search for the roots of music,just part of the learning procedure Ham,I thought it may encourage them to do their homework etc ...didn't quite go to plan,but I never have to demand they turn the music down hahahaha....We can't have it all can we ? Your new puppy,Lola sounds adoreable,I'm a complete sucker for all animals Ham ,cats,dogs,hamsters and even the odd gerbil I have to say ! Our new puppy is just wonderful,coming along well with the training (one or two accidents,nothing serious).She does seem to be settled already ! I'll have more time with her next week,once the madness is over ..training can then begin in earnest..says I !!!! hahahaha OK,must get going Ham,have a lovely week-end,hope your wife and the girls have a wonderful Mothers Day together X Speak to you very soon ,love as always Pinky XXXXXXXXX

Hello Pinky, I had a job negotiating my way around that new front page! Mother's day, I'm not sure what to do with it myself, we've never bothered much but of course the girls come around to see their mum and fetch her FLOWERS, but I've bought the said bottle of Bubbly, real Champagne mind, half price in Tesco and still dear, but I'm off out for the day in a minute with my band, which I'm really looking forward to. I'll write on Tuesday when I'm off, I'm up to my neck to be honest, two days in college and two days Social Work next week, the prep for college takes ages, but this is a one off and it should all ease up next week. I hope you get your day in bed, I'd give you one gladly, you deserve it! Love Ham.

Hello, hope you've had your long lie in and blossoming. I had a day of it yesterday, didn't finish till midnight and I'm a tired little lad this morning, well it's 12:30 now, I've been doing college work, I've kind of surprised myself cos I quite enjoy it, I would never do any Social Work at home unless it was dire necessity but the challenge of stimulating those eager young minds gets me going, I'm doing A level Health and Social Welfare, a class of 14 16-18 year old lasses, and they're lovely to work with. I haven't got a GCE to my name, I aborted school at 14 and nearly got taken into care as a result, (true), I went to a grammer school, (well secondary technical, you had to pass the 11 plus anyway) and I hated it. Oh and I had my recording session on Sunday, so I'm honestly knackered. The session was a good laugh, you've got heavy metallers and reggae bands in other studios, and they were thoughroughly mystified by our brand of thrash skiffle, it pays to be different I tell you! Eeee I'm shattered gel, I'm going to bike to our historic town centre and buy a paper, Love Ham.

Hello Ham,thankyou for your ever welcome msgs,and yes,thankyou,I did manage to get some sleep,eventually....things are back to normal now,and I lived to tell the tale hahahaha No more traumas for me until Xmas (naturally,I had my tongue fixed firmly in my cheek as I typed those words,my life is a trauma hahaha) Do you know Ham ? I'm truly amazed you left school at 14 ...How proud you must be to achieved so much and not a GCE in sight ....I TOLD my parents at the time, it was fruitless as I studied extremely hard to pass mine !! I did manage to get results,and to what benefit ? Grafting in a flower shop for my efforts ! Hahahaha,well,someone has to do it I suppose,it might as well be me Ham....I'd have love to have seen the expressions on those mystified musicians at your recording session Ham hahahaha I hope you gave them hell hahahahaha Like you said in an earlier mail,without your music,they wouldn't be doing theirs.Hope they learned something about talent. OK,what news do I have ? Ermmm,the same as always,none that would be of any interest to anyone,let alone you for one second.The weather is still being kind,which only makes the garden look worse.I need to get out there and make a start...soon.Everyone is OK,the new puppy is a complete nuisance,but I love her ,so thats OK hahahaha (chewed the handle off my designer handbag,I think she loves me too hahaha) So,for now,all seems well in my world Ham.Hope your world is the same.I'll speak soon.My love to you as always Pinky XXXXXX

Designer handbag be boogered, bet you bought it on the quayside, Burberry was it? Probably cheaper than a dog chew!! When I say I left school at 14, it was more a case of just stopping going, with the result that one day I went home and there was a Social Worker sitting there, threatening to take me into care if I didn't go back to school! I remember saying bold as brass that I was 15 (which I was by then) and she couldn't do anything about it, which was probably true as the school leaving age was 15, of course I was supposed to stay till I was 16. Anyway, the higher level of schooling did stand me in good stead to be honest, but I did hate it. It really is ironic that nearly 50 years later I'm an academic and a Social Worker, it would never have occurred to me if you hadn't mentioned it. Hey you don't need news to talk to me Pinky, just meander on I do. I'm completely besotted with my class of kids, they're cheeky, bright and full of attitude. I've only got them for four sessions, going down there later this morning actually. I also had to mark some exam papers yesterday for my nurses,which was unreal. When you find your own words jumping off the paper back at you it doesn't half make you feel responsible. I've never had anyone tell me what to teach, just a topic for each session, the papers get ratified by the University markers I hope they're happy, but I did apply myself very conscientiously, can't do more can you? My drummers quit the band, can you keep the beat going Pinky? I'm good at rhythm! Well, got to hit the highway to Swindon, oh it's the Ballroom on Friday, I'm going to do Alabammy Bound and Ripple (that's a lovely Grateful Dead song, not an ice cream or a type of condom!) Your Pal, Ham.

Hi Ham,hey,I'm a posh Mackem me you know hahahaha OK OK,I'll tell the truth,ya canna kid a kidder right ? hahaha IF I had bought the handbag (Gucci,by the way,no second class rubbish for me ) I would have gone to Fleetwood docks, and paid far less than any dog chew you'd ever seen right ? BUT, me Mam got it for me for Xmas ,there'll be hell on when she knows whats happened,SO I'm searching for a copy ,desperately OK ? I cannot tell you a lie,I have been known to have discussions with lorry drivers ,you know the one's..careless types,tend to leave the back of there lorries open etc ! You can imagine just how frantic I am right now,trying to replace the guilty handbag hahahahahaha To add insult to injury,me Mam harped on for ages about the stupidity of me buying another puppy,so her and Saffron have yet to be the best of friends ,everytime I drop the dog off for me Mam to look after the poor little thing, the welcome is, and I quote 'EEEEEEEEEE,not that dog again ?'..unquote ! You can understand my dilemma Ham ,a substitute handbag is now in desperate need.SO,if you just happen to know of any lorry drivers,selling ,very cheap Gucci handbags,cream,very stylish ,I'd be forever in your debt (I KNOW you Gateshead lot,never far from a bargain eh pet ? hahahahaha You enjoy a bargain more than us lot from Sunderland do hahahahahahaha ).....Your drummers quit the band ? This is just a constant problem with bands Ham ! I can bang a drum ,the little drummer boys got nothing on me man hahahaha If you have problems replacing him,I'm your woman OK ? Hope all goes well at the Ballroom tonight XXX I'll be very interested to know just how well 'Ripple',went down with audience.I don't know the song,and yes, visions of raspberries DID enter my head as I read your words ! hahahaha Have a great week-end Ham.Hope to chat with you soon.My love as always Pinky XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Well they didn't blow rasberries Pinky, didn't do Ripple,I'll save it for next month. Gucci eh? They do a nice line on Wallingford market, we were up in Gateshead a few years ago, I know some quite naughty chaps from Gateshead, they're into every dodge you can think of when they're not in the nick, and an old mate of mine came up to my missus and tried to flog her a bottle of Chanel. As it happens I keep her pretty well stocked with Chanel as she loves it, and she pulled a real bottle out of her handbag, old Joe looked quite offended! Honest, I know barrow boys, drug dealers, smugglers, and good old-fashioned tea leaves of every description, the place changes but the people don't, if they can't make an honest living they'll do it another way, and who can blame them? I know bright guys who have no sustained work history, and not for want of trying. I'm off today, it's horrible outside so I'm going to read the paper and do my college stuff, I've just put a load more stuff on my MP3, Everly Bros, some Doo Wop and some Skiffle, I just bought a double album of skiffle off Ebay, really good stuff and some rubbish of course, but skiffle was the roughest music ever to hit the charts and you've got to buy the job lot! Anyways. I'll write soon, Love, Ham.

Hi Ham,lovely to hear from you as always.I know the weather has been bad down your area,my brother took a drive over ,well very close to you, at the week-end,he said it wasn't good.His wife's brother is in hospital John Radcliffe,Oxford.Anyway,he is on the mend ,thankfully ,and should be home later this week.......Mmmmmm,I was thinking while reading your msg,your friends up in Gateshead sound very much like mine up in Sunderland hahahaha The problem is,my perfume is Opium,I dare NOT even suggest that up there hahahaha as for telling them NO,not THAT Opium,the Yves St Lauren kind,they'd think I was talking Turkish or something hahahahaha When I went up for a wedding last year,I met an old school friend at the reception,he asked if I'd like a drink ,I said OK,white wine please he shouted out......'Mind ya've gan all posh a haven't ya ?' I said,forget it,I'll have half a lager instead then hahahahaha With nee lime in it either mind !!! hahahahahaha I'll say this much,they soon pull you down to size up home hahahaha Your so right,they can change the place all they want,the people remain the same,thank the Lord ........You never said how the night went at the Ballroom Ham ? I am thinking not quite the class of audience we expected when you omitted 'Ripple'? As you said,there's always next month......Right,I'll make a move and get some ironing done .....sounds good anyway,industrious even hahahaha Speak to you soon Ham.My love as always Pinky XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hey Pinky, my daughter works in the JR, she's an Oncology nurse, she works strange hours to fit in with the kids, she's actually doing a teaching course on top of her work now, she was always bright but never an academic if you know what I mean, but she's dogged and conscientious. You know, younger kids seem to pass you by in some respects, I can't even remember her GCE's, but she went to train at St Mary's, Paddington, which was an exciting time for all of us, and she came back all grown up! Gosh I'm filling up. My mate is also the HR boss for the trust, I'm going to London Irish on Sunday with him and several others for St Paddy's day, I'm afraid it's the stampede of the old rugby team again, well more of a shuffle these days, but I'm really looking forward to it. Yeah, I actually went a storm at the Ballroom, I sang South of the Border and had everyone doing the Aye Yay Yay Aye's. I slip in a Geordie chorus, Wey aye yay yay aye, but it's just for my own amusement and nobody notices. I've got Charlie that great guitarist I was telling you about coming to jam on Saturday, and if we can get a few songs sorted we'll play together next time, I also got chatting to a very nice lady fiddler, and there's a good chance she will fiddle with me next month, gives me time to prepare myself. She's actually a concert musician, plays for some orchestra in Oxford, but they're funny these muso's they get shy, and she won't play on her own. Anyways she saw me and Charlie play and came over for a chat, (Charlie is a good looking young Jock, but I think it was my dulcet tones that caught her attention,) anyway, we'll see. Well, I'm making my mind up to go to Oxford on my bus pass to go to the library, it's all work believe it or not, speak to you soon, your Pal, Ham.

Do you know something Ham ? I'm getting a bit worried now ,the way it's going,I think we are going to soon discover we are long lost relatives hahahahaha Hey,stranger things have happened in China you know ? You never know !!!!! How are you pet ? You've survived the storms anyway.Me too,and to be honest the recent gales have been the worst I have ever known up here.I think the local council arranged them to keep the 'Riverdance'grounded of course..I never trust councils ! The sightseers are still thronging the promenade,the cafes haven't had it as good for years.It's a better tourist attraction than the Tower could ever be if you ask me hahahaha......So,lock up your daughters time Satuday then ? The rugby lot are on the rampage are they ? Hope you have a great time,though I'm sure you will...I've been doing battle with the flower wholesalers for Shamrock,they keep it under lock and key for Paddys Day,and charge like rhino's !!! I told them straight of course,next month it's like a weed in my garden.Robbers hahahaha I have ordered some,and to be honest it does sell,like the daffodils do on St Davids Day,but,funnily enough come St Georges Day,if I sell a dozen red roses ,it's a miracle ! Weird ! ......Yes,I do remember you telling me about Charlie Ham,and as good looking as he maybe,I have no doubts whatsoever ,the female fiddler just couldn't resist the charm of your soothing Geordie twang,next months show sounds as if it just maybe as successful as this months.Sounds fun to me,wish I could be there .OK,I'm chattering on and on,you'll be alseep by now hahahahaha BUT,the bad news is,I will return,to bore you more,probably tomorrow hahahaha You take care Ham,always good hearing from you. Love Always Pinky XXXXXXX

Hey Pinky, been neglecting you, but I've had all kinds happening I hardly get near the computer. I should have been at work today but I didn't get in till one this morning, took me 8 hours to get some poor soul into hospital, a nightmare, didn't sleep cos I was stressing and told them I'd be dangerous if I came in, which is the absolute truth. The St Paddy's thing was great, met some lads I haven't seen for 25 years or more. Rugby is a great game you know, I know it's seen as legalised hooliganism, but when you've played alongside guys you know each other and you don't forget. One lad Richard from the Seychelles, how exotic is that? we went to his wedding and hadn't seen him since, got three kids now and a pub not too far away, coincidence again. About us being family Pinky, I'd be very proud to have relations with you, keep it in the family, that's what oy sez! Honest, my head is spinning but I'll write tomorrow when I'm seeing single letters, Love, Ham.

Oh PLEASE Ham,do not apologise to me OK ? I know how stressful life gets at times ! As for being a danger to everyone when your feeling stressed,not to mention tired....well,just call me Dangerpinks !!! Oh,some days I get road rage BEFORE I've even found the car keys,don't even think about looking for a parking space !! Thats before I've even ventured into the shop !!!My staff have even offered to pay me to go home,many times ! I understand your dilemma X No apology needed X ..To be honest Ham,I enjoy rugby,many years ago my Mam and Dad managed one of the largest rugby and cricket clubs in Sunderland,Ashbrooke actually.OK,so at the time I was very highly interested in the local teams scrum half,but my interest in rugby has never faltered. And, I know one or two very good rubgy songs ( N/E one's so I cannot write them out in here )......A complete change of subject now,if I don't get to chat to you before Easter,have a fabulous lazy time.Hope you get your Easter Egg.I KNOW I have two,one from me Mam ,and one I've bought for myself ..YES,I decided to be completely selfish while clearing Sainsburys of their stock ( every year the list just gets longer and longer for buying these eggs) SO,I thought,if I'm buying them for the whole of the Fydle coast,I might as well have one for me....don't they dye then paint good old hard boiled eggs anymore ? God,I used to have hours of fun painting mine ..I might suggest this next year actually,children could do with stimulation these days ! OK,OK,I'm on one now hahahahaha Youth,the good old days ,lost relatives hahahahahaha I'll go,while it's safe hahahahaha You take care Ham.Speak soon Lots of Love Always Pinky XXXXXXXXXXX

We do paste eggs Pinky, I boil a load of eggs up and get the paints out with the grandkids, I make a mean Chinaman, complete with hat and pigtail. I love Easter me, I worked shifts for years and it's still a treat having the time off. We never go anywhere much, the traffic sees to that, we intend to have our first foray into the garden but the weather forecast is awful. I'm off to Swindon soon, two sessions today, I'll get my reward in heaven I'm sure. Have a great Easter, Love, Ham.

Hi Ham,thankyou for the msg,hope your Easter is going well,and I also love painting paste eggs...so,I've boiled up a good few and tomorrow (day off) I'm painting ! The weather is dreadful ,not as bad as it is up home mind you ..at least the sun has shone here today,but it's cold ! Snow up home,my cousin rang earlier....really,we are lucky,I suppose ? Your going to heaven then are you Ham ? What a shame,I'm planning for hell myself,more fun there I thought ...I intend growing old as disgracefully as possible,just to secure my seat ! IF,you do have second thoughts ,just let me know OK ? I'll put in a good word for you XXX Enjoy the rest of the holiday,speak soon Lots of Love Pinky XXXXXXXXXX

I made a lovely red-indian complete with feathers and black wool plaits, its the only one left now and I haven't got the heart to make him into an egg and tomato sandwich, heap bad medicine O Pinky, I'll write tomorrow, Love, Ham.

Hi Ham,I know ,there are some eggs you can just eat,no pain involved..then there are those just too cute to even consider putting into a sandwich...do what I do,just leave your Indian in an egg cup,eventually,the paint will crack,he'll begin to look the worst for wear.You'll be pleased to see the back of him ! It works for me.I made a scary witch,and a loveable clown,then got bored ,the other eggs were mashed with mayonnaise,quite yummy......How are you ? Hope you had a lovely Easter ? Mine was a family one ,round to me Mams for dinner on Sunday,Monday too when I come to think about it.It was lovely,holiday times normally are.I drove to Burnley,Sunday afternoon,to visit a friend.The Lancashire countryside looked beautiful.Daffodils everywhere,the new spring lambs just made the scene look even more perfect.(NO,not with mint sauce like my brother suggested )The sun shone,and it was a really lovely day. Oh well,nothing lasts forever,back to the grind now ! I'm seriously considering spring cleaning this house ,sometime soon.The new puppy ,Saffron,is settling in very well,still not completely got the hang of how to behave on a lead yet,infact,it's pretty embarrassing taking her for walks at the moment,I do it at dusk !!!! More like half dragging then other half to be honest,it's easier to carry her.I'm sure she'll get the idea sooner or later.Right,I'm going off at tangents again ,somehow my msgs to you do this hahahaha You make me scatter brained hahahaha Speak soon,take care Lots of Love Pinky XXXXXXXXX

Ah Pinky, the vision of you and Saffron stepping lightly through the daffodils.......... Yes we had a housefull as ever over Easter, weather was constantly awful, probably spent too much time in the pub as a result, but what do you do? my daughter's dog (Lorna, a golden Spaniel pup) is the darling of the family at the minute, except me, I encourage my old cat to scratch it, not that it needs a lot of encouragement. I've always been a cat person you know, dogs are cute but cats, well they're cats aren't they? I'm a mixed up kid at the minute, career worries again, can't make my mind up about what to do next. The college is pretty shambolic to be honest, much as I enjoy it you've got to question what on earth I'm doing there, it's not for the money I promise you, I'm probably out of pocket at the end of the day. I don't want to be doing Duty work for the next four years or so either, I'm working there till August, which is great as it gives me time to look around but I think I'll call it a day after that, I'll look around and see what's going. They have been good to me though, it'll be a year and a half added on to my career by then, it does pay well but it's soul destroying. I'll miss it but it's been positive, you remember Pinky, when I 'retired' first time around? Of course you do. it was a pretty unsatisfactory way to bow out, this has been much better, and I'd be leaving with a lot of regrets, which paradoxically is much better than being glad to get the hell out of it. Well, off to Swindon for 1pm, so I'll speak to you soon, Love, Ham.