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

cleans a big,big carpet for less than half a crown.

Hi Polly,

You cannot tune the box at your friends house because your freeview box wont work without a constant ariel signal,you could try plugging the atreil in without the box connection that will tell you if you do or dont have a signal,have you connected your scart lead/s sometime turning these leads round works though I have no idea why.

Yes I am still doing a bit with my mate and at the moment we have a job in London on Friday and Saturday

I used to store things in the loft in my old family home. I had no flooring as such but lots of bits of plywood scattered around. It was a right old mess.
I set out to clear it all and had great plans. I worked into the early hours of the morning for days on end.
One night I fell out of the loft and hit the back of my head on the bath, knocking myself out briefly.
Big cut, lots of blood, called ambulance, Taken to A and E, scolded by nurses and doctors.
Gave all that up and moved house.
Never go into my loft, which contains nothing but electric cables and spiders.

I do not have lofty ambitions any more.

I've just got home and didn't after all try to get Freeview onto my box! I took your advice, Rick. But what exactly do you mean by not plugging the aerial into the box? How would the Freeview box work in that case? I will try again when the weather is clear and bright.

I don't mind spiders, Frank, as long as they keep moving. I rarely get large ones here, nor in my last house. But when they did come indoors I would leave them to scurry behind my piano. I'm sure that there must have been generations who made their home inside my piano.


'Night 'Night. Sweet dreams.

I forgot to mention (in case anyone here is at all interested!) that I was widening a border at 8.30 this evening. A friend left some Margarites outside the door and I didn't find them until about 8.30. As lots of rain seems to be heading this way I thought it a good idea to get the plants into the earth. But first I wanted to widen the border. In doing so I seemed to awaken millions of tiny flies. They came out of the ground. I was covered in them. And now my face is covered in bites~~and a few nasty ones on my neck.

Fetch the calomine lotion!

That sounds rather unpleasant, Polly. I hope the bites don't keep you awake.

It certainly seems that we're in for lots of rain, which is rather bad timing, given that I've lots of directories to deliver over the next few days. I know we need it, but...

G'night everyone.

Hi y'all,me?I'm up at about 4-15am off to Boreham Wood it seems I have 4 days work(yipee)I must be a robot as I used to hate working now I'm like a dog let off my lead cant wait to get at it.

Happy birthday for yesterday Folderol,as all the guys I work with are much younger than me I try not to mention my own age,as you all know I get my own bus pass this yeartortoise and the hare 'cept I'm favourite for the undertaker and yes I could stamp the soil down(if I had to)on some of my younger opposition(some?who am I kidding)But as only the very good die young s'pose I shouldn't be making real long term plans but what the hell?life's a game we never learn the rules of until our end

Good evening.

Rick, it is Folly's birthday on Father's day (June).


My face is covered in calomine lotion. I have some bites around my eyes and they are making my eyes water. I look a wreck.

Hope you each had a happy day.

Well, I've not had a happy day, Polly. Not that I do very often, but today wasn't one of the best.

We only have one car at the moment and I needed it for work. But Thursday is Mrs Tickle's day off and she wanted the car to take her mother somewhere at 2 o'clock. Since the forecast was for heavy rain this afternoon, I thought I'd start very early so I could get 5 or 6 hours' delivering in. Needless to say, I was late going to bed and so didn't get up very early. Then that damned woman decided she wasn't going out afterall. So I could have caried on working through the afternoon, as the rain didn't materialize. Now I'm even further behind with my deliveries. And it will probably pour all day tomorrow.

Also had a phone call last night to say that an old friend of mine had died suddenly on Monday - heart attack. Hadn't seen him for ages, which makes it worse in a way. I think I'll have an early night.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Tickle, and your deliveries problems. I never did get anywhere with a deliveries job. I tried the local freeby magazine publishers - one of whom turns out to be the local rag as well - but they have no vacancies and a list of people waiting to do it. So, no go there. Shame as it sounds a decent enough job. Not going anywhere near Betterware or Kleeneze - I really wouldn't live it down in our family! But, MOH is now in receipt of state pension as well as full time teaching job so things aren't so bad. I was hoping she might retire this year but she loves teaching so - seriously, at least the bit where she stands in front of 30 10 year olds - so while she's happy and it keeps the wolf from the door, why not?

Sorry to hear of your bites, Poll - I presume you're just too tasty for the little chaps . My mum was like that, whereas I seem to be fairly immune. The trouble with calomine is it is so pink! Or at least it always used to be pink when I was a lad - is it still?

Glad to hear of your jobs, Rik. Even if it means early mornings. I never have minded getting up early - can't stand lying in at a weekend, etc.

Just got back from Art Group where we were doing still lifes - bread, cheese, bottle of beer, etc. Good fun and I was fairly happy with my effort. We're all trying like mad to do some pieces that will be good enough for an exhibition we're hoping to put on in November. So far, out of about 4 year's work, I have one picture that might sell. Oh well, keep at it Foll - you never know, someone may think you're another Turner

Polly, MOH has just reminded me of something we heard on Thought for the Day this morning - I think it was David Jenkins - he said:

If you think you're too small to make a difference, just consider the mosquito.

Appropriate for you? (Well, actually, appropriate for all of us )

The friend of mine who died had only recently retired. The same can be said of the last friend whose funeral I attended. Maybe I'm lucky - I don't think I'll ever be able to afford to retire. And maybe your other half has the right idea, Folly.

The rain has finally arrived. It will probably flood the garage. But will it penetrate the sycamore canopy, under which I've planted some potatoes?

Hello dear friends.

W4aT, sad news about a friend's death is hard. How we wish that we had made more effort in seeing him/her etc. I'm so sorry about your news.

I've been looking on the Clifford T.Ward sites and I have been reminded of the songs 'Gaye' and 'Scullery'. I loved those songs. But what they brought back to mind were the times I would listen to them with my brother. Such happy memories.....

You should see me today! My eyelids are so swollen and my face is a mass of nasty spots! I asked a friend to buy me some piriton to see if the swelling will go down. I expect that I rubbed my eyes in my sleep as they are so itchy. I needed to go out today but I can't looking like this! Folk might think I have measles.

Well the rain hasn't come to much after all. There was a steady fall for an hour earlier but none since then.

Frank, I have just noticed your haiku about Mary. Is she a friend of yours? Please forgive me if you feel I'm prying.

Hi there Polly,
Mary is my big sister who lives in Canada with her dear husband, who phoned me this morning with the sad news that she is dying.

Mary and I were evacuated together during the Second World War and billeted together with a "Wicked Stepmother" sort of woman, who treated us badly. Mary was my rock in those frightening times. Now I know she will not be with us much longer. It is very sad.
In her time she was a great artist, a great actress, and loving team mate to her dear partner, who is now totally lost, and does not know how he will cope without her.
They have 4 children, several grandchildren, and some great grand children as well. They built a great life for themselves by lots of hard work in a new land when they emigrated all those years ago, just after my mother died.
My other sister Pam has a similar big family in America, and she is very sad too. We are spread all round the world in our family, so not able to pop over the road and comfort one another, as some do in times of illness or other troubles.
I live a bit of a hermit's life, but at times like this I see how selfish I have become.
fxx

Oh my dear Frank. That is such a sad story, but also one of incredible strength and love. I'm so very sorry that your sister Mary is dying. And that you will be losing such a wonderful friend and confidante. Please accept my compassion towards you and the family. Words are weak but the emotions I feel are strong.

My brother is in Australia. I wish that he was much nearer. He is my half-brother. And therein lies a very long and sad story~~one that I'm sure many people have also had to live with and sort out. There are many questions that go unanswered, and many tears that are shed. And the saddest is that my lovely mother made so many sacrifices throughout her life for her son....Sacrifices that break my heart and that make me wonder how she coped emotionally all her life...

Frank, I have been doing my homework the last few hours and that is why I didn't reply sooner after having asked you the question.

We here (I am certain I can say this for each of us) feel care for you, and compassion. When I lost my lovely brother I lost a most wonderful friend. I cry for him, and my parents, most days. I miss him so very very much. I have an idea of how you are, and will be, feeling...


With my love to you, dear Frank.

XXXX

Dear Polly,
I have been in a bit of a tiz/woz for months now with family matters; trying to get my two boys to respect one another with little success has made me pretty miserable, but this was counterbalanced by the pleasant thoughts of an imminent wedding, and my younger lad finding such a nice person and a new family somewhat less displaced and disconnected than our lot.
Now there is this new worry, and not a lot I can do to help. I think that is my main thought on all of this at present, that things have got out of control. I can't fix things like I used to be able to. I cannot make my older lad's marriage more peaceful. I cannot ensure that all their jobs and business ventures will survive and flourish. These are uncertain times.

I am fine on my own, coping with my little budget, but I would love to win the lotto and be able to wave a magic financial wand, to sort just a few things out.
Nothing like this would help Mary, who now no longer recognises anybody, and cannot take any interest in what is left of her life.
It is all very sad and I really don't think life is fair at times.

Life goes on and I must be looking around for a new suit for the wedding. That will be fun.. a sack tied in the middle would do nicely.

Keep smiling Polly, love from Frank. X X X
xxf

Hi Team,Must dash as I'm watching three old episodes of Boon on the men and motor's channel,I had forgotten how funny and entertaining the prog' was,Hi ho silver,you got me lone ranger

Dearest Frank, I could spout many Biblical verses, or produce a sermon here! But I think what I can best give to you right now is a warm hug and a prayer later tonight which will be for you and your family.


My darling Mama died when she was 70. I recall my father's wise words when he was consoling me~~~that even if my mother had lived another 5 or 10 or 20 years I would still have had to let her go one day. Just as I had to let go of my beautiful brother and then my father a few years later. The time wasn't right for me but in their pains the timing was right for them. I would have all 3 of my family back right now if I could, but it would be cruel and selfish.

My father used to say how wonderful it would be if he was walking down a street and around the corner came my departed mother and departed brother. What joy. What delight. Now I imagine the same dream except that my father will also be coming around that corner with my brother and mother.

Bless you, Frank, for telling me about your sad news.

Good night.

xxxx

Goodnight Polly dear.
fxx

Sorry to hear the news about your sister, Frank. Is it something that has happened suddenly or has it been brewing for a while? From what you say, it sounds like the living may be more of a problem than the dying, if you know what I mean.

We're all dying, of course: it's just that some people do it quicker than others. I phoned a friend of mine this evening to pass on the sad news that I received on Wednesday, and he said one of his golfing buddies had died recently, aged 62, and another friend of his died last year at the age of 46. It's all a lottery, isn't it?

We've had plenty of rain here, but most of it fell overnight, so I was able to get in more or less a full day's delivering and catch up a bit on my backlog. We did have quite a downpour round about one o'clock, but I was able to take shelter in the car during that, so didn't get too wet. Otherwise it was rather pleasant.

Bon weekend a tous.