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

It worked! I can now see your post, Prideth ! Good morning.

I think the thing about ecology and population is that with the right attitude and willpower, we could solve the difficulties. However it means working together and being less selfish (although in the long term, you could argue that it is being selfish, working for the good and survival of the species). However, people don't like being told what to do and how to do it and power, as we know, has a tendency to corrupt, so people starting off with good intentions, tend to let the power go to their head. Then you get people looking after their own (their own family, their own people) to the detriment of others.

So mother nature does it for us, as you say.

Z , you're so right. Power does corrupt, even when people start out with good intentions, . Before I got more actively involved with certain Wildlife Organisations, when just a normal member, I was under the illusion that all of the various organisations/trusts worked together towards a common goal. How of me! *Illusion* being the appropriate word here, as the competition between them is disgraceful. Individuals from within are good at back-stabbing one another too! It's truly sad, and a shameful show of human failings. As Buffy the Vampire Slayer said, "The mission is the most important thing, and *not* the individual!". Don't get me wrong, there are those who believe in that edict, (I know a fair few), but it's the ones who are just out to further their careers whom I can't help but despise.

As you say, we could make an enormous difference if we just had the will, and lack of selfishness.

Prideth - festive

T'was ever thus, Prideth ! I wonder why? You would think that the aim was the welfare of the wildlife (or whatever it is that is being promoted).

Just finished wrapping presents. A mammoth task. Roy said 'Just how many presents has little got?' and I honestly couldn't say. Most are smallish ones - just a lot of them.

Happy Christmas to you!

Hi Z

I bet it didn't take nearly as long for little to unwrap the s as it did for you to wrap them?

Was good to you and Roy too? Hope you've had a fabulous Christmas?

It was really lovely here, and I got speaking to the boys on the phone too! Yay!!! That was the best bit, but was really good to me too. I got a new figurine with a crystal that lights up in beautiful colours !

Prideth - festive

Hi Prideth!

Oh, I see I've just answered your questions on the other thread, and you've just answered mine on this one!

Well, we stretched out the present opening. Stocking on getting up, tree presents (very small stuff) after breakfast and the other presents after lunch.

Roy had a dressing gown, a lovely digital camera (so his is better than mine now! - although mine is smaller and neater), a digital radio (which doesn't work properly ) and a Gallileo thermometer (one of those balls floating in liquid which sink to the bottom as it gets colder). I think he was pleased with what Santa got him. On the radio, at least the clock works!

Do you have to plug your in? How does the crystal change colours? How big is it?

yeah Z , I see what you mean about answering in opposite threads.

You seem to have had a wonderful Christmas then?

I those Gallileo thermometer thingies, lucky Roy!

I've just measured the figurine, (never was any good at estimating size, lol) and it's 10.5 inches x 9.5 inches x 7 inches. It has a large red either side of the large crystal, which is perched atop a volcano spewing lava. The crystal lights up by the use of batteries in the base. It goes through a sequence of red, blue and green lights. It's really gorgeous! The only thing is, I'm running out of space to put all my s and s and stuff.

Prideth - festive

I recognise the feeling of running out of space, Prideth ! That's why Roy and I have been going through my things chucking stuff out. We had a purge on my clothes in the wardrobe a while ago. Now we need to go through the ones in the suitcases, Hopefully, when we've finished, there will be room for most in the wardrobe and drawers and the summer stuff in the suitcases. hey won't go in the loft unfortunately, because the loft hole is cut too small.

Your sounds lovely. By birth, I'm a (in the Chinese system). What are you?

this flippin' server's going doolally! Please let it work this time????

Lack of space - yeah! When we moved here from the other somewhat larger house, we didn't have room for everything, so a lot of it had to go in the loft. Only thing is, it's stuffed to capacity now too, and I'm not very good at purging.

Oh, , you're a ! I'm a or goat, as some prefer. Hubby's a tiger, eldest boy's a /hare, and youngest is a snake. I got a book on Ming Shu earlier in the year, and was really fascinated by how accurate it was.

Prideth - festive

Oh, it's not just me, then, Prideth !

I've stuff in the loft and in the cellar (although the stuff in the cellar is mostly tools). I have books on clutter clearing! Roy is helping me with this.

No it's not just you Z ,

This place is more like an obstacle course than a house.......you either have to jump over things (slight exageration) or sidle round things, bruised shins are a regular occurrence...Ouch!

I could really do with a cellar, but I think my downstairs neighbour might object.

Prideth

Mine used to be much more like that than it is now. There's only really one room like that and it's on my project list. It's full of suitcases and clothing. We got the suitcases out yesterday and I sorted into four piles - winter, summer, give to charity shops and throw away. The last was very small, the other three were about equal in size.

Do you have a garden?

Clotheswise - I should really do a clear out, but I'm scared I'll change size again , and if this Christmas is anything to go by....might well happen.

We have a totty wee triangle of grass to the front, right of the house. Which, as it's Housing Association, we have to keep cut! Booo! They haven't a clue about wildlife gardening . So...due to their ignorance, we have to have a green carpet instead of a wildlife haven full of wild flowers and longer, seeding grasses. I've tried talking to them about it, but, in their eyes, ignorance is bliss. A friend of mine was threatened with eviction if he didn't *tidy up*, as they saw it, his garden. Scandalous!

What's yours like Z , if you have one?

Prideth (decided to stick with , not )

Oh good, a definitely seems to suit you more than a .

I have a back garden about 60' by 20', sloping steeply downwards. It really needs terracing to be able to be used properly. Unfortunately, the person who used to have my house had the existing terracing filled in so it's become difficult to use. It's mostly grassed with roses in the borders, but it also has some very difficult brambles which have taken over the lower part of it. For a long while, I couldn't get out of the back door, which had jammed, so they got a firm hold. Needs a lot of work, but then the house also needs work, and to my mind, at the moment, the work on the house is more urgent and important, so the garden is going to have to wait a while.

Your dreams of a wildflower garden sound rather nice.

Hi Z , yep, 's much better than . Not that I've anything against a you understand,

...what fool would do somat as stupid as filling in the terracing in your garden? Oops! probably the same sort who'd ask a stupid question like that! I think it's a rather good idea to leave your garden till you've done the house - you never know what might move into it in the meantime, . Mind you, so long as little doesn't get near those jaggy brambles .

Are they yellow s? My absolutely favourite flower - old species type, not hybrid T.

With a garden that size, you've got plenty of scope for developing it. I know your leaving the hard graft just now, but have you hatched any plans for it as yet?

Prideth

That's a very good question, Prideth/Jick . If I had the time (and the money) i would put back the terracing I'd have a labyrinth - one made of stones, not hedgint - hedging's too labour intensive and high maintenance. I'd also put in a patio and have somewhere to sit outside with friends. I'd have more of my favourite plants - cottage garden stuff, including lavender and poppies. And maybe a pond with a bubble over fountain.

using stones for a labyrinth is a great idea - many things colonise stone walls. A tip, which I'm sure you've already heard before, is to paint the stones with yoghurt, this'll encourage lichens to grow more quickly. A pond's always a good idea for attracting wildlife, as is planting things like Lavendar and poppies. Lovely smelly plants too for your patio. I'm sure it'll be absolutely gorgeous once it's finished Z !

Jick

Well, Juck , there's no chance of it being started until my house is in a better state, which is getting there day by day. Today, I need to sort and throw excess clothing. I've finished the ironing, which was a mammoth task!

The trouble with the garden is that the terracing seems to be such a gigantic task! I think I'll need a professional, as it will involve walls, which will need to be properly footed (if that's the right word!). I don't want them falling down. I'm not a whizz in the garden.

Juck? - I know you're Jick!!

getting through the ironing, I've still got mine to do

You're right enough about getting the most important thing done first - the house. The terracing does sound like a mammoth task, and footings or founds (foundations) are the terms I used when I was building dry stane dykes - amazing isn't it? Jack of all trades, master of none!

Juck, (Oops, you've got me doing it now ) Jick

Actually Jick reminds me of J'kar (I don't know if you've ever seen any of the Babylon Five programmes). I'm sure you're nothing like him! He's hot tempered, honorable, tough, loyal, a great fighter, and deeply spiritual. Mmm, probably you share some characteristics!