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

...I was just preparing an essay on the Boddhisatva, and I thought wondered how you were doing

How's things?

ACtually, I rather wondered why you decided to call yourself Boddhisatva... Any personal interest in Mahayana?

Things are fine. Just preparing myself for the w/end. Nice of you to ask.
Actually I'm just off home now.
I'll reply to your other question later.

Take care

Just logged back on after a week. Where does the time go?

I chose boddhisatva (which I think is mispelled by the way) because I studied Buddhism many years ago and the name stuck with me. Simple as that. No deeper meaning I'm afraid, but thanks for asking.
Now, more importantly how are you?

Time's funny. Sometimes it goes by so quickly, sometimes you can't get rid of it fast enough.

That's cool
I like it because it's about having infinite compassion. IT should have two "t"s, I think, but I'm never very good at spelling pali words

I'm fine, thanks for asking Back now after having done more looking around at universities... Gets exhausiting after a while. I have all my offers in now, so I have to make a decision ....seems like only yesterday I was scared of the "big people" at secondary scool

Hope the world's been treating you fairly

You're right about the mispelling, but I'll stick with it for now.
OK So have you come to any decisions about your future direction?
I've just re-read that and realised I sound a bit school teacher -ish.
Whatever you do, don't study Business. All the people I knew doing Business studies/economics were so humourless! (Apologies to all business students but live a bit!!!) There's plenty of time to take it all too seriously later when you start work.

To be honest, I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out

Yes sir sorry sir I'll hand the paper in tomorrow sir my dog really did eat it sir...

I'm studying philosophy - with as much of a science spin as possible - and hopefully I'll be at Warwick
Business seems like such a serious thing to study... and hypocritical too. Sure the best way to study business would be to /do/ business, say, in an apprenticeship? ~shrugs~

So Warwick huh? Will this involve moving far from home? Or is it just around the corner? How long is the course? Twenty questions or what? Ooops there's another one. Don't mean to be so nosey but I am! Can't help it really

I don't mind nosiness

Warwick is roughly 4 hours around the corner, so it is a bit of a hike from home... But isn't that half the fun of uni? I can't help but think it's cheating if you get your mum to do your washing for you

It's a 3 year degree course... But I'm hoping that I'll stay on to do an MA or a PhD [Ooooh, You'll have to call me "Dr Elevator" Sounds a bit like a really bad disco act to me]

Hey EE.
You're right that going to Uni is all about getting away from home. I didn't want to say anything earlier, until I found out how far you would be going from home, but I can't see the point of going to local Uni . I know this arrangement suits some, as financial pressures are huge these days, but you only get to learn what it's like fending for yourself if you don't live with your parents. I also feel that you don't truly enjoy the experience if your Mum is still picking up your dirty underwear for you.
Luckily in my day we had grants so we didn't have to worry about money so much. It was still a struggle, but it did teach you financial independence.
I copped out of education after doing my M.Sc.. I wasn't really clever enough to do a PhD. If you get the chance to study for a doctorate, go for it! Who knows, by that stage you may be so sick of it that you give it all up.

Another "Your life and How to Live It" lecture coming soon.

It is all part of the experience, really... A lot of my friends are staying local, and I can't help but feel that they're not going to get as much out of it that way. I want to do my fair share of "seeing the world" though, and I figure it's best to start young, and on a smaller scale [the Midlands is barely the world, really ] My familiy wanted me to stay local... But then I am first in family to go, I think they're just generally worried. I managed to convince them otherwise, fortunately!

Might I be so nosey as to ask what you studied?

Lecture!? * to get some paper and a pen to take notes*

Hi EE
Of course you can be nosey. I did a BSc in Food Science. Which means I can poison people legally . It's nothing to do with cooking. I also did an MSc in Food Engineering. That was a lot harder than I expected. Turned out to be Maths in another disguise.
I didn't use these qualifications to get a job- I work for the Government. (oh God that's blown it you'll never speak to me again!)
If you're the first in your family to go into Higher Education - you should be congratulated.
Personally I couldn't wait to get as far away from home as possible. I'll confess that on my first night away from home I felt so homesick that I was ready to pack my bags and leave. But I stuck with it and then found it hard to go home again. That sounds like I'm really incompetent, but what I mean is I found being back at home during the holidays hard work. Suddenly you have to obey your parents' rules again which can seem so restrictive after living away from them.

Anyway I've waffled on for ages here- I'll let you get a word in edgeways

That certainly sounds interesting... Kind of like the science side of cookery or at least the manly equivalent.Food engineering sounds almost like building work to me!

I can imagine how that's the hard part... I mean, one minuite you're a proper adult, the next you're effectively a kid again. It's a very transitional thing

It isn't. Interesting that is. Turned out to be chemistry:- organic, inorganic and physical in equal amounts tossed off with a healthy amount of mathematics.
I know all about nutrition and E numbers etc which makes me great fun at dinner parties (I wouldn't eat that if I were you). Ha Ha!
As for the M.Sc., that was a headache from start to finish. Luckily doing a masters only takes a year. It was all about machines that produce processed food. Enough to make you give up eating or take up gardening.

Anyway I'd better get on with what I'm being paid to do. Speak to you soon.

Argh! I gave up chemistry for a good reason *shudders* all those isomoers, it just isn't /right/ I tell you...
E numbers are great fun I'm a bit of a hardcore vegetarian, so I rejoice in being able to similar things at dinner parties, should my hosts start annoying me
Ack... yes, I could undertand why you'd get fed up of that after a while. There are some things you don't need, or want, to know too much about...

don't get in trouble with the boss

When you say hardcore vegetarian, do you mean vegan?
I'm only veggy, I couldn't give up cheese!

Anyway anytime you want a chat feel free etc!

Back to work

No, I couldn't go vegan... I'm just a proper vegetarian. One who looks for the little ingredients in things and doesn't happily ignore certain e-numbers in sweets and drinks... I also couldn't give up cheese. Although I'm sure I wouldn't miss eggs much.

I'll now bore you solid with the list of things that,as a vegetarian, you (and me)should be avoiding. Like gelatine, so no jellies. Lager because they use isinglass in the process. (Comes from fishes' swim bladder). Fruit pastilles contain gelatine. Worcester sauce has anchovies in it. ETC etc. Actually I've bored myself now.

Back to work

Ah, that's the usual list I trounce out... You can get helpful lists online of the largers that are suitable, and of course, some jellies use pectin or other vegetable based substitutes. The best one to gross people out with is definitely cochneal Thankfully I've discovered a very nice veggie-friendly Worcester sauce *phew* Have you discovered that there's a sort of h2g2 vSoc? I can link you if you're interested.

Yes please can you send me the link?
Also what's the veggie friendly Worcester sauce?
'nuther thing. What's your real name? Extremely nosey I know! My given name is Philip, but most friends tend to call me Phil.
Thank God today is friday. I'll speak to you next week or later today whenever you manage to pick this up.

Take care

Of course! The h2g2 VSoc can be found at: U144422 Should be plenty of stuff there to keep you busy...

The Worcester sauce is one that I discovered in an Organic section of a supermarket - I think it was Tesco, suprisingly. The brand is "Life and Health"

My real name... I don't really like using it online... Most of my better friends just call me "TK", and my name is "Tanya".

Looking forward to next Friday... It's half term then Too much work, too little time right now...
Take care