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

She's a bit old, but very tasty. A good example!
It's how you conduct yourself that determines how attractive other people think you are.

Sounds to me like you've found your gorgeous switch in that photgraph

It was full on on Saturday The thing is, it's not how attractive I thought I was when the pic was taken but how I looked at myself the day after - when the switch was off again.

The fact that it was full on may justify the inkling of attention I got from the otherwise less-than-cooperative F. I wonder if there's more where that came from, but I suspect he was just being manipulative.

Saturday is getting closer, I suppose we'll see. Whatever happens, must remember to keep myself switched on. I was planning on buyng a learther belt to go on top of the fabulous dress I've never worn because it was just too "dressy". I also wonder if I should wear it or not, it being waaaay over the top (it's got fake fur on it!). I'm also thinking about buying new clothes, plumage is important in the quest to keep the switch stuck in the "on" position.

I can guarantee if you can turn the switch on, there will be alot more attention from F SD and all the other letters in your life

Plumage isn't that important, a confident smile looks sexy wearing anything. But if buying new clothes helps you feel confident, I know where I'd be spending your rent money.

Thank God for disposable income

I want new clothes. I've just seen a dress, it's very expensive but I'd like to try it on. I want sexy clothes that will help me feel confident. I like the feel of new clothes on me, I like spiky heels and sheer hold-ups and all the girlie paraphernalia... love it, in fact, but it's like being in drag: there is another "real" me, one that is happy in hip-huggers, t-shirts and trainers.

I have reconciled the two by acting all foxy in hip-huggers and comradely and gregarious in high-heels and lacy hold-ups

Disposable income? what's that?
I'm living in overdraft land till the xmas bonus comes. Just hope I get one or I'm in real trouble!

Perhaps we should hurry up and join the EURO to keep my overdraft charges down. The ECB cut interest rates by another 1/2 a percent today.
Italy used to have quite high interest rates didn;t it, how much has the change affected you G ?

We're all poorer as a result of the Euro, so you're actually better off out of it; still, without the UK in it, I don't think it can truly take off. It will take time. I'm willing to be patient, because I have rather simple needs, I'm not extravagant in my expenses and I have a family to back me up when I'm in need. I haven't been overdrawn in years, I'm very careful with that; last summer, my mum and dad gave me some money to tide me over when I was without pay for four months, so I was able to avoid the dreaded overdraft.

Thankfully I don't have children or a partner to support, so for all my complaints about having no money, I actually do have a tiny disposable income at the moment. I spend it all on shoes, clothes and books, and occasionally CDs. Shoes especially... My flat is tiny and all cluttered with shoes. SD once said that what I do with shoes he does with football. It's comfort shopping!

Yeah I can't grumble too much either, though I do agree we are better off out of the Euro.
I get paid a reasonably good salary, enough to support my little clan
We still have enough left over to buy treats and save some for a rainy day, so I'm content. It was just paying for the holiday that made us go a bit overdrawn. If I wasn't expecting the bonus I wouldn't have gone overdrawn.

I hate borrowing money, I always try to live within my means, and have done very well so far

Tell me about it... last summer was actually the first time I had to borrow money from my parents, because although technically I wasn't unemployed, I still wasn't getting paid, and it was the height of summer, so no chance of finding a job. The previous year Martin had helped me through a similar crisis, which however had only lasted two months, which wasn't bad since I had some savings, but we were only able to afford a very modest holiday. (That was also when he proposed to me... good thing we didn't start planning the wedding.)

The bottom line is, I'd rather be financially independent too, but I also have to accept that I'm doing as well as can be expected. Most of my age peers over here are only just starting to move out... my mum and dad have often volunteered to give me money, saying I'm still part of the family unit and they're sure that if the situation were rversed I'd help out. (Of course I would.) My mum says that she still feels she has to provide for me, so she's more than proud to see that I can manage on my own. The situation is hard for most people over here, especially educated professionals.

That's nice to have the comfort of relying on your parents should anything go wrong.
I am sure my parents would help me out if I needed it, but with the way things stand right now, I'd be too proud to ask.

Don't blame you. They'd probably make you feel guilty for asking. It sometimes sounds like emotional blackmail is big in your family. Mind you, I've had my share too...

Very astute of you, that is exactly what they would do. They once took Clare and I away for a weekend break years and years ago. Tried to make us sleep in separate rooms too lol.
They went on and on and on about how much it cost them. In the end I just wrote out a cheque for the whole amount to shut them up.
They never chased it, but it made me feel alot better.

Emotional blackmail is a horrible thing, I hope I prove to be a better parent to my kids.

Thought so. My mum and dad are actually quite generous. They helped me establish myself as a working adult and were always very nice to Martin (whom they didn't even like all that much, it transpired later). They did a very good job of pretending they liked him though

Clare and I both agreed to always make our kids partners feel welcome and accepted, no matter what we actually think of them.
To be honest, if you tell your daughter or son you dissaprove, they are more likely to stick with the relationship just to prove you wrong lol.
Least thats the only reason I can think why Clare has put up with me for so long.
I do wish my parents treated her with a bit more respect

Actually, being a good mummy's girl, I am deeply influenced by my parents' opinion of my partner. So if they'd said before what they thought of Martin, it might've pushed me off the edge. My therapist says I carry my parents inside my head all the time, which is not very good for me of course. I suppose it goes back to me needing their approval badly as a child and always feeling not quite up to scratch... And that has carried on into my adult life. Being loved and approved by my parents is very important, perhaps too important for me; because the mum in your head is never quite happy with you, even when your real-life mum actually is So every time my mum criticizes my appearance and my looks, I feel very hurt because I don't see the good will in it; I only hear a voice in my head saying "You're just not pretty enough", and it's like being 13 all over again.

I do see what you mean about your parents disrespecting Clare. They're being very selfish and uncaring, their behaviour is unfathomable.

Yeah I get what you mean about your mum in your head, you never quite measure up do you. Reminds me of that Alanis Morrisette song "Be a Good Girl".
Clare's a bit like you in that she has to get approval from her parents for doing everything, not that she would stop if they said no, she just needs the reassurance that they are happy. They are such a close family it's wonderful

Yep my parents are a bit unfathomable, you'd think they'd make a bit more effort now they dont get to see the kids as much, but they are still as rude and self righteous as ever.
Oh well, not going to waste my life trying to figure them out. I'll do my dutiful son bit when I can, but wont feel guilty if they complain.

At least you're free... you don't have to struggle with their approval or disapproval of your actions all the time. It can be consuming.

Exactly mate, I do consider myself very lucky for that. It makes my life much simpler.
I have always been very distant with my parents, ever since a young child, never craved thier love.
Guess I'm a bit of a loner really, I am often happier in my own company than I am with other people.

You're probably just independent-minded. Otherwise you wouldn't spend do much time talking to people, you definitely wouldn't have a family (which is as crowded as you get) and you wouldn't be so caring. Loners are often uncaring... (You know who I'm talking about!)

I'm not that caring, just very easy to give that impression. I do always try and put others before myself, but I think that's just good manners. Most people do that.
I only spend time talking to people on the net, IRL I'm a very private and quiet person.
My family is the exception, they are people who's company I crave like a drug, I could never tire of being with them.

SD isn't uncaring, he just doesn;t show any emotion. That's lazy and thoughtless, but not uncaring.

Thought you'd say that. The fact that in person you're quiet doesn't change one iota; that's cultural, societal, not ingrained in your personality. The core of you is caring. Good manners are essential, but they don't convey much warmth (at least, not all the time.)

You're taking good care of little me, anwyays