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

Nodding off during Spakespoad?
Try it in Chinese!
( I have....n't)

It might be more fun in Chinese, especially with those shadow puppets. We used to see roadside performances in Singapore as we drove past. My mum wouldn't stop and let us watch

Why not?

We were always in a hurry to be somewhere and the plays were never advertised anywhere, not in English anyway. The performers would just turn up in a suburb or kampong and set up shop.

I suppose Singapore at that time was typical of Colonial rule, the various cultures rarely mixed with the Brits. 'We' used the schools in the morning and the local population used them in the afternoons for example. It all seemed perfectly normal at the time. Now it seems a huge opportunity wasted, but Singapore as an economy hasn't done too badly since Independence.

Yes, but they had Lee Kwan Yu, and compulsory haircuts for hippies.

That's why I put economy and not life style

Not allowed to chew gum either, which is not a bad thing judging by the state of the pavements here.

So how's the build up to Xmas going there? In spite of the efforts of the shops, they remain quite quiet here and some stores are already reducing some lines.

It tried to snow this afternoon, but it was only a brief flurry, soon turning to rain

The pavements here need mountain climbing and S.A.S. training, plus non slippy soles on your shoes.
But if you look down you miss all the prety girls.
Only signs of Crimbo are "Jingle bells" on peoples' mobiles ( prob'ly there since August), and the occasional, tearjerking homesickness inducing Xmas tree.
But wait for the Spring Festival, ( Chinese New Year)!

Sounds much like our High Street, the steepest in Britain, allegedly.

Have you found a warm jacket yet? You'd certainly need it here, its been freezing. I am living in hope of snow and have been continually disappointed.

Yes and no.
The PLA, (People Liberation Army), quilted greatcoats are available, ( at a range of prices), but so far I've just bought the long johns.

Today I've gone from cold when I got up, to sweating in the early afternoon, to wishing I hadn't eaten that "Nanning yam", and back to feeling chilly again.

Ther is some dispute against my Chinese friends as to whether it did snow in Nanning 20 years ago

Guilin is very beautiful, and world famous.
You've heard of it?

Neither had I.
But I'm going there, when the right girl comes along

I would like to have been able to see the gorges along the Yangtze before they are flooded, but I don't think it is very likely now.

What sort of snow was it? The wet sort that lasts a couple of days or did they build snowmen? The former I can imagine they would forget about. But if it was snowman type snow, then they would, wouldn't they?

It is raining again here and set to for the next couple of days The number of houses with Xmas lights is growing and at least they brighten up the gloom. We discussed briefly putting them through the magnolia in the front garden. But then the discussion turned to who was actually going to go out and fiddly about with about 2000 lights for the best part of a day until they looked right. We decided it was too much effort!

The kind of snow that's semi mythical.
You can't ski on it I think.
There's masses of Crimbo trees here,(plastic), and I'm just itching to go to a Chinese Crimbo party, but my researchs into Chinese mistletoe, (does it exist? What do they use it for?), has so far been fruitless.

No ? Oh dear! Our is a fake one and Cassie seems to think it tastes nice .

We have had it for at least 6 years now, it was rather expensive but over time is a lot cheaper than a new tree each year. It is a really rather good one, looks very natural and no needle drop.

I have just fought my way round Sainsbury's, the car park was full by the time I got there at 08.20! The turkey is now safely ensconced in a coolbox with an icepack and out of the 's way, I hope!

If I have forgotten anything, it is just too bad any complaints from the household, they can go themselves.

Ah, the relief of tensions of not having a family Crimbo.
Homesickness yes, but I'll be people/girl watching for the cultural differences.
They can go what themselves?
Bah, (Western), Christmas humbug!

We are having a quiet Christams, no visitors, for the first time in years. I can get as p*ssed as I like

Merry Christmas

And a Hippy Nude Year!

Thanks, same to you! I had a corker of a the next day

Don't you just regret all that decadence when you get on the scales now?
Do you remember twhat you did?

I am not planning to get on the scales for some weeks yet!

1.3C here at the moment (09.40) but the with some sunshine in the offing, at last. A lot of areas north of here and east too have had snow, we had a few flakes earlier. Looks like the sledge is going to remain in the garage for a while. I continue to live in hope.

Saw The Two Towers last weekend, it was excellent even though some liberties were taken with the story, but not to its detriment. Although No2 son says there was too much soppy stuff.

He saw the new Star Trek film last night and deems it 'cracking' so we had better see that soon.

Hmmmn.
Pirate videos of same currently 2nd generation, so waiting for better quality.
Got Harry P 2 tho' but haven't had time to watch it yet, ( last twoo nights only ones in bed before 02:00 in last two weeks).
Will you start worrying when son graduates to "soppy stuff"?