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

Cooooeee!! , anyone at home? Affectionate AR1

Heyla AR1, my favorite
I'm sorry for not replying earlier, but I've not been an well , and then a very busy one.....
I am a scientist, just in training...
Cateracts...small price to pay for having spent life in tropics I think Sorry, but I'm fed up with the current weather. It's been getting me down..
Avoirdupoise? Que sa...me no speaka de English...never mind any other language...
Sorry about the diabetes etc....cannot be much fun with all else, but possibly a sign of a ife well lived?! Especially a life well lived with lovverly food (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm) I do love food myself, but I find there is little point in cooking for one, so it is not a pleasure I indulge in much..
Did you enjoy Lord of the Rings then? I found that thre hours went by in a flash. I really wish I could have aforded to go and see it again. however, I'm on a tight budget and so if I see it again, I forgo the pleasure of a film I haven't seen Tough choice (if only they were all this easy... ) I know, but of such little things is life made.
I feel I may be being a little bit depressed at you, and if so I am sorry. I think I need a proper holiday and soon....Ho hum. I shall stop now
Luv hugz and aspidistras to a wonderful ex-ess
From Zantic

Dear dear , I just knew that you weren't well. But nothing that a jolly good meal and sunshine would not cure. I must admit that for the first time since I have been in England (10 years) the winter has got me down. In Africa the sun rose at about five in the summer and set at about seven (without a twilight - one minute there was light and the next minute the Milky Way was glitteing in the black African night - marvellous!). In winter the sun rose at six and generally set a little earlier - again without a twilight. From that you can gather than I lived very near the equator(spelling) But there are drawbacks against the tropics. Malaria, amoebic dysentery, skin cancer,plus bilharzia. This beauty occurs in every expanse of water from Egypt down to the Northern Transvaal. It is caused by a miserable little snail that lays eggs which get into either your gut or your kidneys through either swimming in the infected water or even putting one 's hand in a stretch of water that is infected.There are lovely little worms that breed happily inside you and make you feel tired and miserable.!! (hence the common name of sleeping sickness Of course, if you are a student of tropical medcine this is something you already know. Apologies!) So hopefully I have given you a new insight into life in the tropics!! Seriously though, you must eat well - the info. on being a gourmet (hopefully not a gourmande) and diabetes is respected but not quite accepted. (I would say that!!) Also I think that exercise is terribly important. I know that I feel so much better when I am able to go swimming. Incidentally what is your favourite food? Why don't you get a super friend who enjoys cooking? And then you can both eat well and enjoy one another's company? With very much love and a GREAT big from your loving aged ex-ess now a mobile (in the water)

Heyla oh aged yet mobile

Ohhhh...just what I wanted to hear about....! I've been reading some of Roald Dahls short stories and theres one were the lead character goes in TOO MUCH detail about that sort of thing....

I have to agree that this Winter is a bad one for the blues...It's not as if its acting like a real winter...just blowing a gale all the time and raining horizontally. And because of this it feels like the days are going SO slowly...even busy as I am at work.... I really just want a quick trip home to the land of mothers cooking I suppose!

If you've basically had diabetes for years then you must be doing SOMETHING right, dietwise, or you would have foubnd out ages ago no? And any way, I am a firm believer of a little bit of what bad or you does you good (red wine, tonic water, chocolate, caffine etc...not that I am capeable of keeping it to a "little" bit! )

I do eat well, I just don't 'cook' properly. Being only one of me, food ends up as one-pot meals...stews, risottos etc. The main constituent being of course salad. I cook once a week, and as I have NEVER learned how to cook for less then four people at a time, I end up eating the same thing for the rest of the week. It can get a bit boring, but it is healthy at least.
My favorite food has to be langoustine in garlic butter, with lotse of crusty bread to go with it... What's yours?

I'm going to start gong to yoga again soon...and start swimming again too. Theres a pool in the hospital, but it's being free at the tmes it's open to the staff that takes too much mental effort at the moment.

Luv and 's from

Very dear I am sorry I missed your super letter last week. I neded it because after the quite exhilirating experience of having my right eye operated on for a lens implant, my stupid body decided to be allergic to the drops. Result. Swollen face and lots of hours waiting in Casualty to see the various doctors. I must admit that I think that the NSF is first class and they could not have been more concerned. Anyway, I can now see out of the mm of eye that has deigned to show itself between my lids, and apart from looking more of a mess than I usually do I am thrilled with the result and for a brief few hours I saw quite perfectly!!.
My favourite food? Mmmmmmmm. It must be crayfish(lobster) which my son used to catch near Cape Town South Africa whilst still a student at Varsity. He used to cook them in sea water on the beach, and then make a wonderful egg,garlic and oil mayonnaise. That was memorable. Otherwise I have very ordinary tastes.!! Fresh oysters on the shell - with a drop of fresh lemon juice. When I see the little dears curling up I say to them how lucky they are to be being eaten by me who will not drown them in Tabasco!!. They always agree to that! Plus of course a super chilled white wine. I also think that a beautiful wild Salmon simply cooked with a luscious bearnaise sauce and new potatoes is pure bliss. Fresh artichokes, each leaf to be savoured and enjoyed. Oh Lordy, I am feeling so hungry so must go back to cook my porridge for breakfast. Fortunately the diabetic diet does not discourage either smoked salmon or champagne. Glad you also like cooking, and if the food is good does it matter if you eat the same thing for four days? Just take care to cook something different next week.
I know you will find it hard to believe but for twenty five years I did at least an hour of Yoga exercises a day. I could stand on my head with my legs in the lotus position!!! The very thought makes me quiver now - but it is quite wonderful, and as you so correctly observe, dear doctor I must have been doing something right in my life to live to this great age with the various problems I have experienced.!! That was a very perspicacious remark (spelling) With many affectionate s from the aged but mobile AR1 PS My eldest son and his wife came out yesterday from nodnoL to see Keith and myself and brought us their video of their recent fantastic,fantabulous holiday in Bali where they went scuba diving in the most dreamy fairytale waters. I was totally fascinated.

Heyla dearest
You can see again! Shame about the eye-drops, but if they have given you the basic ear/eye drops that the NHS specuialise in, I am not overly surprise...I'm allergic to them to. I go to the doc's for earache, get givent hese drops and have to go back a week later due to the exema they have causes

I don't have much time today, so apologies in advance for spelling mistakes! Not that there will be anything unusual about that....

Ohhh...another porridge eater! You have good tastes. That is the sort of stodge required for an active person (and you obviously are, no matter the creeks and cracks along the way) to get through the day.... Yummy. Have you ever tried Porridge with maple syrup....Tasty, and not as sickeningly sweet as Golden syrup...which is what i was brought up with...

Hope you had a good visit with your son et al.....I'm going to Glasgow this w/e for a friends b-day party...and possibly a swift visit home for hugs and food....

Gotta go dearest ex-ess and I'll speak to you properly oon.

Glad the Op went well and everything is on the up...

Very dear (in the making or on the way out?) I see that you are now called Zantic!! Hope you had a fantabulous weekend in Scotland and a wonderful burfday party. Also that you managed to get home for a super meal. I have had maple syrup but on pancakes not porridge. I eat a South African porridge called mealie-meal, which a meal made out of milled corn. In England one can only buy the yellow maize meal which is called corn meal. I am convinced that Corn Flakes are only maize meal spread veeeerrry thinly on a baking sheet and baked and then broken into flakes. What an easy way to make money. And it is good for you. I got the wonderful all clear on Friday morning from the quite delightful eye surgeon. He was so upset that I had had such a reaction and I kept apologising for my physical inability to cope with all medications. So we had a very happy time. It is very tantalizing not knowing what you are actually studying!!. I am suitably curious and hope that soon you will share your secret with me!!. With fond s from your Venerable but mobile AR1

Heyla dearest
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you!
Anyway...what's this about you chatting up the 'delightful' doctors???
I hope you have a wonderful Easter (despite the diabetes of course )
I was at work most of the time... (I started my PhD in genetics in November of last year, so I'm closer to the begining thatn the end)
Mmmmmmm....corn flakes..or even better...Frosties... Though these cannot take the place of scottish pancakes or waffles or porridge you understand.....

Shame about the Queen Mum...but then again, she had one heck of a life. I was atually more upset about Barry Took (as you might be able to see from my current name), but then again, he has had more immediate mpact on MY life. I am NOT degrading what the QM did for and with the country, she was one heck of a woman, but you get bored hearing the same thing over and over on the news, don't you?

I got really annoyed yesterday and had to switch off the radio when the majorty of Jimmy Youngs listeners decided to go up in arms at people like me (young) who do not seem to give due respect to the Royals........I do respect them...I just don't want to hear the intimate details of their lifes, thank you very much!!!!!!

I'm off home next Tuesday for a full week of mother love and cooking

So And for my favorite aged but not old


Zantic

My very special ,I hope that this will reach you before you leave (once again!!) for Scotland and all the goodies that entice you there. I understand perfectly what you mean about the QM. She had a fantastic life, she made the most of it,she did an enormous amount of good and we should all be giving thanks and blessings that her life was ended on a relatively painless note.
So it is a genetecist that you are going to be!! We have been part of a study at the Maudsley on the genetic importance of schizophrenia. There is little doubt that there is a very important link in genes, in spite of what R.D. Laing said about it. But what does one do? I would not be without either of my darlings for anything in the world. And yet I realise, because of social stigma and discrimination how empty their lives have been. That is why it was such a thrill to go to a branch of the Camphill Village yesterday. Did you know that the English version started in 1940 in Scotland and within a few months of it starting all the unfortunate German and Viennese men who had escaped Germany and Hitler because they did not agree with his ideas of a perfect master race, were interned!! Another huge irony!!! Apparently the first Camphill village was at Kirkton House near Aberdeen. I wonder if that is near your neck of the woods. Did you know that Dr. Downes (who identified Downes syndrome) lived in my adopted home town in England. Now guess where that is!!. Dear Dr.- to -be, have a wonderful holiday. I hope your Dad gives you a moment on his computer to drop the old biddy a line. A very fond and much affection from the old bird AR1

Hi , Are you still in the land of the living or have to succumbed to Scotch oats and baps.? An affectionate from the old AR1 sometime DD of the great Australian Pine Kingdom of the grumpy King CB.

Oh dear.... for ....
I am SO sorry, I haven't been ignoring you honest...Well, not intentionally.
We have been having computer problems at the moment, and I have also been a bit busy as stuff has started to work!
I hope you are feeling fine and dandy these days. How the eye's treating you...and the diabetes etc?
I shall post longer this evening (am currently trying to catch up with all friends, just with a short message at least)
Have a luvverly day and I'll honestly get back to you

, feeling really guilty now....

Hi dear , Thanks for binging me up to date with your goings on. You always cheer me up. You do not mention your stay in Scotland at all. Was it fun or have you forgotten all about it. What happens at Hospital/varsity? Are you going on leave, or holiday or what? I have had a very eventful day which is going to change my life and I am going to have to get used to it. But I am sure that it is for the best. With an affectionate AR1

Change your life? Eventful day? Any you moaning about me giving you no information!

I had a great time in scotland, as I think I said, I went and visitied three friends that I have seen since graduation...One of them has TWO kids I also went to the pub with a bunch of other reprobate SciFi types that I knew in Uni, but go out with on a regular basis.

I have a 'proper' holiday planned for the end of June, begining of July on a Canal boat with some Uni friends. Should be both fun and interesting.

In the last week I have given up smoking and started Yoga again...So my chest AND back hurt at the same time But I am determined to keep both up! I have also, in the time I used to take as ciggie breaks, been updating my H2G2 page, so I now have a bunh of photos and stuff on it to make it just a little bit more interesting.

I can't actually concentrate on much at the moment, cos as soon as I get into anything my brain starts shouting NICOTINE!!!! So I have or chewing gum instead...it appears to be working.

Hope this hasn't just been a boring rant.

Life had better be taking care of you, or it'll have me to answer to!!

and for my favorite

Hi dear . Good to hear you are fine. When I gave up smoking I carried around a pack of cigarettes with me all the time. When I felt like one I would tell myself sternly that it was VERY bad for me. I would go on telling myself this until I could bear it no longer. Then I would light up, have a few puffs, and practically always stub it out. It took about three months to give it up but my , I had a dreadful cough and it was hard getting rid of all the accumulated nicotine. But it really did work for me. Wonderful to hear about your Yoga. We had an Indian Swami in Harare(then Salisbury) and I practised Yoga for 25 years. I could stand on my head in the lotus postition!!. But it took me a year to do it, so do not rush it. I reckon it kept me going through difficult times.
My news is entirely about problems of being able to keep on handling my responsibilities effectively. The Mental Health Team have decided that my solution was not desirable so now I am going to have to move so that others can take over the responsibility of my son and my brother. Now I must find somewhere to live. I love the sea and have visions of having a beautiful big room, overlooking rocks, and waves and sunsets, and storms. Obviously there will be a bathroom and little kitchenette. Now I must find this idyllic place. Is the canal in England, France or where? What a wonderful holiday. Fond love to my special from the bedraggled AR1

Sounds like you may be haveing a bad time all round dearest
I send all sort of wonderful zen-ness your way in hopes of improving your situation!

Nothing much has happened since last post...

Still no ciggies.

Canal in England.. Kennet and Avon I think. Sould be bestest fun and I shall tell you all about it after.

and stuff

Thank you dear Lookiing forward to hearing about the canal trip. Hope you go past Stratford and can drop in and see a play. Much affection. AR1

for my favorite

Hope all is alright with you at the moment, and the change in life has not been overly dramatic (if it has happened at all yet)

Nothing happening with me, just looking forward to the extralong weekend ahead! I am going to visit freinds in Woking, and we are off to go do the touristy thing at Hampton Court Palace and possibly Leeds Castle too...

Zantic

Very dear Here was I thinking that you were on your canal and enjoying a leisurely life!! If you go to Leeds Castle you will very obviously pass near me. I live in Sevenoaks. It would be such fun to meet you!!. No, the changes in my life will take a few months. Last week, I went down with two friends and my son to see if I could find a lovely room/flat overlooking the sea. I found a lovely flat but it is very expensive, and really I do not feel that it is right to spend so much money on me at my great age. (It was my birthday last week and I was 74!!- nearly three quarters of a century. Better than most of the England batting averages!) I went to a super little place called Westgate-on-sea and that is really where I would like to live. Now I have another place to go and see and that is at Herne Bay which is near Whitstable and near Canterbury. As I love fish and shellfish I surely would have lots of them there. It is also near Reculver which is a fascinating place. an old castle which is quietly falling into the sea. Now that I have accepted the idea it is not so difficult. Do let me know if you could pop in here with your friends and then we can see how we can contact one another. With an affectionate AR1

That would have been really good, but plans have fallen through, and the tourist bit to Leeds castle isn't happening.

Will be doing walking round the Woking area though, aswell as Hampton Court Palace, which I haven't been to since my Nan died five years ago..(Ma and me went after the funeral, as it is just down the raod from Staines, where my Nan lived)

Glad you are getting around to the idea of life change thing. Hope you find a luvverly place to live...for I shall definately come and meet you (and bring my h2g2 freinds with me!)

The ones I'm on about are Munchkin and Toc...both of whom are referenced on my page, so go and chat to them

ME!

Hi dear , What fun to be referred to your friends. I might say that Dr. Munchkin was relatively easy. But when I tried to write to Toccato I nearly blew a fuse. So please say Hi to her and tell her I shall try again. Sorry you are not going to Leeds Castle. But as you say, we must try it again. Even before I leave,..... . if I leave......(I'm getting slightly bolshie now!!).My son and I have had a wonderful morning watering my patio garden which is beginning to looke really good. Once he had helped me back into the house I watched that quite phenomenal Serena Willimans craft-courting her way around a very good Russian player. I get really upset when the comentators are horrid about the Williams sisters power-play. Why should they not play hard attacking tennis which is both fascinating to watch and extremely effective!!. Enjoy Hampton Court. the gardens should be super. Woking is on the M 25. If you come round it sufficiently you come to Sevenoaks. Etanoitceffa s AR1
PS Od uoy wonk taht I evah erven neeb ot rouy emoh egap. Thaw na Ssa I ma!!