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

My word! How the are you?

Sus

Blimey it is good to see you here.

It has been too long, sorry about that, it is been hell this year being honest and I tend then not to mail people, with a cheery, how your life going, mine is sh*t

Now that we have got that ou the way, how are you doing?

Hiccup is in last year of school and for the first time in 18 months seemed settled and engaged and is daring to hope to get to college again

We went to Cornwall as is annual and traditional, and it hardly rained, one day it was even a heatwave We went to the Hell's Mouth and while Hiccup and I were distracted Spiller saw dolphins, so . Did you see that a massive chunk of the Hell's Mouth fell down?

S'cuse the nicknames, I know with the other two we do RL anmes but I haven't been

again, lovely to see you, sorry the news isn't so cheery

and

Huge Sorry to hear that and very sorry I haven't been in touch sooner myself. Do you want to talk about it here or shall I call you for a chat some time? I've been rather distracted by other things this year so I've barely been online and couldn't get to Cornwall at all. But I'm already thinking ahead to next year and hoping to go late June/early July if you could make that? Hiccup will have finished school by then?

I didn't know about Hell's Mouth. I would love to see (why don't we have a smiley on Douglas' website?!) There always used to be dolphins in the bay, which is one of the things that attracted me to the area in the first place. I read a lovely by Horace Dobbs (forget the title at present) years ago and it's always stuck with me. And I always use nicknames online.

So have you been on h2g2 a lot? Apparently I've been gone over six years! But the timing is perfect for coming back, as old familiar 'faces' come creeping back out of the woodwork too.

I can give an outline here, you ready

Huccup has been struggling in school since the start of year 10, during this time we have been concerned about her progress, rather lack of progress at school. More worryingly, it has knocked the stuffing out her and you would not have the recognise the Hiccup you see before you, depressed, anxious, horribly withdrawn, and defeated,it has been hideous

Can of worms for me, opened lots of old wounds about my teenage years

My step-dad has some serious mental health problems, which are taking a long time to address

My Mum had a mini-stroke and fractured her back, it was terribly, terribly painful, she was virtually immobile. For a while she was physcially unable to do a lot of things and step dad was not coping

The mini-stoke was very frightening

She would have to wait 3 months for the NHS to cement her back so she sold jewellary, cashed in savings reserved for other things, (paying off the mortgage) borrowed money from a grandchilds uni fund (which she feels horribly guilty about) and went private

I can't find a job and they keep messing up benefits at every available opportunity

my sister and her husband split, 2 of the 3 children are handling it ok

I have quit OU, not just to take time out but that's it, I can't get past foundation level, or at least I can't do 60pts per year,so a big fat fail there

On the plus, the cement has set well, there has been some improvement in my step dad's condition, Mum has not had another mini-stroke and the condition that caused it is back under control, thier quality of life has got better and while I am still be supportive,they are managing independantly

Hiccup can see light at the end of the tunnel and while she is not mended totally she is not broken like she was. She is hoping that she will get her core GCSE's, enough to get her into college. Her self confidence is coming back, sometimes I see her being 'care-free' I am starting to recognise the Hiccup I see before me

We are still standing, we have held together and it didn't rain in Cornwall

We will definatly be up for Cornwall next year, we have been making the same plans as you

and the Hell's Mouth it is on youtube

Oh my word Peanut! Talk about an annus horribilis. We must definitely start planning the next Cornwall so we have something to look forward to, and I can get to see you all again after far too long.

I'm glad to hear Hiccup is feeling more positive and looking forward now. You might have heard that Turniphead (who you so kindly took to Cornwall last time I couldn't come) is in Bath now, and I know would love to pay you a visit.

Turniphead ,

do you visit Turniphead in Bath because we could mini-meet up there if you do?

Open invite to ours, we will sort something

and I'm looking forward to Cornwall already, you should see our new tent, we made a long term investment, nearly £400 worth of kit. Van is a little poorly tho. So this year we had great tent, no van,

This was a little disappointing but we got a cat out it. We had to do some emergancy cooling of the engine. You access that by flapping up the middle seat. The radiator had to come out, has yet to be replaced and we didn't put the seat back down. Stray cat found he could access the van by scrabbling up through the engine and squatted the van and we him and he us, well, Hiccup most of all. I am a tin opener, a pooper scooper, a stop gap if Hiccup is not around

Lol @ I've acquired one or two squatters too. One has been living in my shed for years (very nervous, used to sprint off the moment I went near the window/door) and the other has made himself totally at home (currently sleeping on chair beside me, which was the chair I was using till he pinched it!) and is not in the least bit timid.

We were in Bath last weekend. Must organise a mini-meet next time. Don't suppose you'd be interested in a trip to Wookey Hole? Got some tickets to use up for there some time, maybe December if they're valid.

I'm contemplating luxury Cornwall (ie. one of them sheds by the beach!) next time, or maybe trade in my shiny car for a campervan. Do you know when Hiccups exams will be over? Hurley and Turniphead are free pretty much from the start of June, but I think Walt may have SATS or equivalent in June, so we might not be able to go before start of July. Would like to miss the expensive (and generally wet!!) tourist season if at all possible.

Oh, and if I'm lucky enough to get another contract for the job I was doing this year, then I couldn't go away during late July/August anyway. I've got my fingers crossed for that, as the work situation otherwise is 'not promising' to put it mildly.

have my fingers crossed for the work situation.

We were thinking early July, because we are sure Hiccup's exams will be over by then. We have no expection of knowing when her exams will be because the school don't tell you these things

I'll mail you

Wookey Hole not so much, but keep us in the loop when you are down this way

Has noohootoo sucked you in

It doesn't feel new, it feels old. Like I remember, pre-BBC. But in a good, new way.

Hopefully an Ass may join us soon. *waves frantically* Over here!

PEEEEEEANUT!!!

ASS!!!!!!

*big squeal*

we should make merry

*fires up bbq*

mulled anyone?

LOL you squealed! I never heard such a girly thing from you before P! Man I can't remember any smileys.
Just caught up with the rest of the thread (Ooooh so I do remmeber a few). I am defo up for Cornwal next year

Thinking of BBQ, I think I will be doing Australia Day in Jan if you fancy a trip ooop north for the 1st BBQ of the year, weekend of Jan 28th looks to be the closest one.

I wouldn't say no to mulled

well I know Spiller won't be coming, he still hasn't forgiven the transport peeps

first bbq for us will New Year Breakfast

it is so good to see the both of you here

I am going to have to but am leaving a cauldren of mulled on the go over a nicely set camp fire and the bbq foods is good to go

*feels quite rude* but Maths homework really should trump my social life

Lugs in a crate of for the wait... Catch you soon Dudes!

Odd. I posted a goodbye last night and corrected my mulled but I don't see it here. Does that mean I posted it in some other random totally unrelated forum or did the ravenous bugblatter beast of h2g2 eat it?