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

Sorry it's a few days late - I've not been well. Shingles doncha know Kinda put the kibosh on what plans I had for Sunday. How was yours?

Shingles - not nice - how are you now? I had chicken pox just before my birthday a few years ago now and it was horrible - I know its the childhood version but I was always a bit slow off the mark!

This year I was away - a week in the Wye Valley close to the river - beautiful. There was a lovely weeping willow tree just outside the window and a park by the river a few paces away. I spent most of the week sitting and reading - very pleasant indeed. I had to work a couple of the days thought - I am doing a big piece of work pulling a global conference together for one of the main board and since its behind schedule (I was brought in late and the senior people in the team dont seem to like making decisions). There was no Phone or GPRS signal so I could not use the phone or email so spent those two days sat in a car park in the local town - Nice! And to think I laughed when they offered me a charger for my lap top that worked from the car - I could have used it this week.

Still home now and off out tonight with a few friends to one of my favourite resturants

That week off sounds idyllic I've got a week coming to me and I was thinking about going to New York to see Shea and TJ, and an old friend that I met in London almost 20 years ago. She still lives in the same apartment in Greenwich Village that she rented in the early 80s, and it's rent-controlled. Her landlord must be really pissed off

I don't know if I'll be able to afford that now though because of the week's pay I just lost. I sure as hell don't want to just sit here at home for a week though. Do you realise that I haven't been outside Austin City Limits since I got back from Frenchbean's place in Scotland almost two years ago?

I thought about maybe visiting a different h2g2 friend a bit closer for a couple of days, like broelan for instance, or Hypatia, but I know how busy broe is, especially with the young kid, and I don't really know Hypatia well enough to invite myself to her place.

I really need to get the out of Texas though, just for a few days.

It was good and it is always good to get away for a bit - even if the bit you like best is coming home! As you know I go away with work quite a lot and there is nothing like that first night back in your own bed!

Mind you holiday going away is differnt and definitely better I am looking forward to the next one - there may be a week in October but there will definitely be a long weekend in November

I hope you do manage to get away - was it really two years ago since you were in the UK - time certainly flys! I had forgotten that many people in the US do not get sick pay - the company I used to work for gave it and I always thought it was bizzare that if you had not taken sick days you got paid for them anyway - seemed to me that they would be better off giving paid holiday - that way you can plan for when people are away. As someone coming from the UK system where now even temps who work through agencies get some holiday and sick pay I know we are lucky - even if the company does not pay after a while the state does so people can cope - it does not seem fair to me that people should be penalised for something that they cant control (assuming genuine illness that is).

I discovered last night that another friend has shingles too - lot of it about all of a sudden

I also owe you an apoloogy - I thought the big Five Oh was next year for you ... please would you email me your postal addy ... there is something I want to send to you ...

Ooh, I'm all agog

Happy birthday LHG, this is for next year thought i'd get in early.

Gosho Lil U81931 just down the road from you, would say tell her i sent ya round, but think that might get the double barrelled, rather than the boot seeing ya off. Hypatia think would be glad to say hi, think she herself has just got back from a jaunt,and am sure somewhere on site is a list of researchers that do just that, offer accomodation rather like a h2g2 (forgotten the name for hostels dotted all over the world for travelers) next time i find it will direct you to it

Thank you LTP You are way more organised than I am - I am usually late with my greetings