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

Hi again Polly.

Hello toots,very nice to hear from you again,the smiley selection pages are easy to find on H2 G2 simply click on any smiley on this site a a smiley menu will appear,that is if you wish to get more smileys than are always underneath your reply

Hi, Rick.

I knew that there must surely be an easier way to find smileys. But how is one ever meant to know to click on G2? Where is there a G2 (apart from yours)?
Are you alright tonight, Rick? Any more horribly early-morning starts coming up? Whenever I hear an empty truck (or whatever) rumbling down the road in the middle of the night (and they make such an incredible noise) I think of you! Not that I'm awake all night, you know. But they are very very noisy.

Hope you get a decent night's sleep tonight.

Hi Polly,yes I've got an early start on Monday I'll be up at 3-30am for a job in Alton,somewhere by Bassingstoke I believe

Alton is pretty, Rick. At least I think it is! Is it in the Meon valley? Or it is the birthplace or deathplace of Jane Austen?? I should know, but I can't remember.
So you have got a whole weekend to potter and snooze and garden and watch television and and and......

I'm exausted and must nest very soon. I have been sewing a pretty bag for the bathrooom.

In case I go off to bed, may I wish you a good night's rest, and sweet dreams, Rick.

xx

Evenin' all!

Sorry I've deserted you recently, but I, like toots, have not felt like ocnversing. Nothing wrong, just I had a lot to do for the Parish council and trying to organise the allotments, and, well, what with one thing and another, etc., etc. No excuse really,but here I am!

Great to see some rain, but, please, God, we've had enough heavy showers for the time being, so you can ease up now. My pond which was about 4 inches down, is now close to overflowwing. another half inch and the fish will be swimming out onto the lawn .

Just arranged a 'bonding week' with my brother at the end of june. He lives in Truro and we only see each other about twice a year and since his second wife died - I porbably told you - on the wedding day of his youngest son and after only 6 months of marriage - he needs a lot of tlc. Luckily his 4 kids and 15 grandchildren all live locally, so he's kept busy as a chauffeur, etc, and he plays a lot of golf, but a few days away in Spain should do him some good, and give us some time to have close chats rather than the usual superficial stuff one tends to have when in company of others.
I know he's really looking forward to it - his youngest daughter told me so - and so am I. I might even get back into golf which I haven't played for about 25 years

Fathers' day coming up soon and it's my birthday too - my mum always said when I was born it wasn't the longest day, it was the longest night! Our girls are coming up for the day - my son's on holiday - so let's hope for good weather so we can go on a nice long walk. Before then, we have MOH's birthday pressie from the kids - tickets for the Royal Albert Hall production of King and I. It's one of our favourite musicals - I played the King when I was in an amdram about 20 years ago. So a day in London - probably the National Gallery and/or Tate Britain or maybe a guided tour at the V & A. If any of you can get to the V & A do try one of their guided tours. They're free and always different and never boring.

Well, that's enough from me.
Sorry you haven't had much work lately, Rik. Keep our fingers crossed for the future.
How's life, Tickle? Got wet on your deliveries? (Sorry - no umbrella or rain smiley )
Hope your aches and pains aren't too bad, Poll
My mum had fibromyalgia and it took years to diagnose. Funny thing, it disappeared when she had a series of mini strokes. I wouldn't recommend that as a way of curing it, though, as the strokes triggered dementia and Alzheimers!
Good to hear from you, toots. Do keep coming back, even if its just for practice on the smileys

Night night all - and I promise to keep in touch more frquently in future

So there you are, Folly! I thought that maybe you must have stayed in Spain longer than usual. Well it's good to have you back here with us!

Rain? We've only had a tiny bit this afternoon and a drizzle on Monday. I need lots of rain for the garden. All that rain that we were promised a little while ago and we had none of it here!

The 'bonding' exercise sounds good. The golf doesn't! I couldn't wander around a golf-course unless I kept having a sit down! My little leggies are too tired all the time.

'Night 'Night to you. And to Rick. And to all who visit us here.

Polly
xxx

Hi everyone

Been a lovely day here, weatherwise. I quite enjoyed my delivering today, apart from the all the gates and a very vicious paper cut.

Not such a good day, in other respects. I did get an unexpected cheque in the post this morning (for delivery of poll cards and stint as a poll clerk) but I also got something about a speeding fine I've neglected to pay, which wasn't so good. And then, this evening, we got a phone call to say that one of our badminton group was found dead at the bottom of the stairs this morning. As far as I know, she and her husband got on very well, but there's to be an inquest - to rule out foul play, I presume.

She was a very kind, caring and sympathetic lady (helped out in a charity shop) and also very bubbly: full of life, one might say. Something of a globe-trotter, too - went to Antartica earlier this year and was due to go on some exotic cruise in a few days' time. Some of the other group members, who've known her for much longer and more closely than I, are very distressed, as her family must be also. Shocking news, certainly.

So, I guess I'll have another funeral to attend. At least there should be a good wake, given the deceased's Irish Catholic background and general outlook on life. And a massive turnout, I would imagine.

It's lucky for me that it won't be next week, as I'm going to be very busy then trying to catch up on my delivery backlog - and without a car at that, as Mrs T is taking her mum to Torquay for five days.

This week I've written, in part at least, a song for the beautiful and talented, but slightly depressive, Grace II, who has a few problems with life at the moment, as sensitive teenagers often do. She says she's going to do a musical arrangement for it, so be on the lookout for Another Song to Sing by Gil Tee and The Three Graces - it should be a smash. . Still some work to do on the lyric and the structure, but here's draft 1c:-

When the clouds hang heavy, dark and grey
And you can't bear to face another day,
Just remember that, in spite of everything,
Every day's another song to sing.

When the night seems long and dark and cold,
And there's nobody around for you to hold,
Remember that whatever night may bring,
Tomorrow is another song to sing.

When the night is cold and there's nobody to hold,
When there's darkness all around you and within;
Remember there's a light at the end of every night,
And every day's another song to sing.
So try to carry on and make it through till dawn,
And listen for a brand new song to sing.

When everything is grey and you can't face the day,
When you wish the world would go away;
Remember there's a spring, once winter's had its fling,
And every day's another song to sing.
When winter turns to spring, those sunny days will bring
Another brand new song for you to sing.

When your heart is bruised and there's nothing left to lose,
And life seems like a game you'll never win;
Remember there's a friend waiting just around the bend
With another song for you to sing.
Remember you've a friend with a song that's newly penned
Especially for you and me to sing.


The rest is silence.

Sorry, folks, got a bit carried away there. And so I should be, I know.

I meant to comment - or rather exclaim! - on the fact that your brother has 15 grandchildren, Folly. Is there some rabbit blood in your lineage, or what?

Where's the best place to find out about raised beds? I'm thinking maybe I ought to have some - but what are they for?

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Hi tickle,when I first started I bought some used scaffold boards off a local scaffolder,with some 2"*2" rough sawn timber bashed in the ground to hold the corners together


http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/gardening/4308264.html

Evening all!

Well, Tickle, sorry to hear about your badminton friend. Could it have been a mere accident?
As for my brother's 15 grandchildren, he had 4 progeny of his own, then the eldest had 5, the next has at least 5 by two or maybe more partners - he's a surf bum (there are lots of them in Cornwall), number 3 has 1, and his youngest has 3, plus one stepdaughter who's included as she lives with them.
Meanwhile, my late other brother had 2 who have only one grandchild between them, and I have 3 without any - yet, although number two, who gets married in September, is intending to start a family soon.
Here endeth the family tree of the Folderols. (I should have done the so and so begat whatsit, etc

As for your daughter's song, it reminds me of Eric Idle's 'Always look on the bright side of life' which incidentally was a choice on DID by Piers Morgan (despicable man

Lovely day here today. Sorry you haven't had much rain, Poll, I'd gladly soak some up out of my pond and send it to you, but the internet can't cope with that..... yet

Right, now to get on with deciding where we're going to go for our 10 days or so at the beginning of August. No plans made yet, we're going camping in Dorset as usual at the end of July, then after a wedding of a friend on 15 aug, we're off to Spain, but in between, no plans and not a lot of money to do anything. I have in mind camping in Normandy - I can get a cheapish ferry and camping is never all that expensive, but I also have a hankering to see the Channel Islands which I've never been to.
What do you lot think?

Good evening!

Folly, my choice would be somewhere where I can bird-watch~~~possibly the Somerset Levels or Scotland. Or Norfolk. The Levels are so pretty and almost unspoilt~~~~and nearer to you than Scotland. I don't need sun to enjoy myself. In fact I miss the damp days when I lived in Scotland. I often remember special days in Scotland when the rain was heavy yet I was so very happy. Somewhere like Oban which is a greyish town and maybe not at it's best in the rain yet it appeals to me. The last time I was in Oban there was a dead dog floating in the harbour water.

It's been a dry and warm day here. I thought heavy rain was forecast for tomorrow but I have just been told that it will be a very warm day after the cloud goes. If I am feeling up to it I shall be in Dorset, butterfly spotting.


A special 'hello' to Toots. Have a happy weekend in Dorset. Maybe you are already there.


W4aT, your song is lovely.

Tnanks, Poll - the Somerset levels sounds great. I don't know them, and they're near my daughter in Frome and my son in Dartmoor - not the prison!
Scotland's not so attractive to us as we - partic MOH - are sun worshippers and it's ricking it a bit to go to the far north.

Have a good weekend all of you - including Toots and POll who sound as though they'll both be in my lovely Dorset

Hi team,another lazy week for me again after only one job this week
At least we have had some rain so I wont be getting the hose pipe out tonight,I never water my small lawn only Mrs Cut-outs hanging baskets and pots and the small veg patches.
Anyone hear from Frank yet?I was wondering if his sister had taken a turn for the worse? or better still he's taken himself away for some much needed R n R.

After waiting months for my instep supports they dont seem to be improving my condition much,I have always been flat footed ever since I was a kid with only a very tiny arch in both my feet,whereas those instep thingamebobs make me feel like I am standing with a apple in the middle of my feet and are starting to make my knees ache more

Mrs Cut-out has gone to my sister's house for a few days painting and decorating so I have the most vital job of looking after myself,upon rising this morning I put a fair ammount of lash in the fridge(cant stand warm beer)I went and got myself a crusty tin from my local bread shop I am going to have pie and chips (only oven chips)no salt chips are normally restricted when it comes to me but hey while the cut-outs away

Any other news anyone?

Good to hear from you, Rik.
Sorry the foot thingies don't work, although I'm not surprised. My uncle had a similar prob and never did get it sorted properly. Sorry to bear bad news

I also wonder where Frank is nowadays - come back, Frank, we need you.

Now on to the serious matter of warm beer.
IMHO there is nothing so dire as beer that's too cold, except the drink that I had to serve at the Stables Jazz venue where I volunteer on the bar.
A woman, buying a drink for her husband, asked for a 'Guinness and black'. Oh, I said, not heard of that. How do you want it. Easy, she said, a Guinness with a dash of blackcurrant cordial. My husband always gets me to buy it as he knows the barman will have a go at him! She was right! That's sacrilege!
The drink came out with a purple foam head - I daren't think what it tasted like, but I told her to tell him that the only mixer that's accepted with Guinness is Moet et Chandon Champagne in a 'Black Velvet' - to my mind, the smoothest drink on earth.

But back to warm beer - it's like tomatoes - they taste far better when not kept in a fridge. The coldness seems to chill out the flavour - and the same goes for beer.
I will accept that chilled lager - like a Heineken - or Belgian beer - like my favourite, Leffe Blond - are very refreshing, but the thought of a chilled Speckled Hen or Palmers Celebration is a crime worthy of capital punishment.

Cheers - and warm beers all round

Quite right, Folly - a warm beer for me as well. Of course, if the beer in question is a cheap lager, then it's best kept in the fridge (or avoided), but if you're drinking a flavoursome real ale, it needs to be served at round about room temp.

One of the surest indicators of national decline is the fact that nearly every pub nowadays offers chilled Guinness! I reckon that's even worse than putting blackcurrant in it. I've never sampled 'Black Velvet', but in my youth I occasionally drank 'poor man's black velvet', i.e. Guinness and cider - referred to by a friend of mine as 'sh*tty brown corduroy'.

Frank posted a ditty on the 'New Poetry Game' website on Sunday, so I guess he's still around. Perhaps he's having problems with his pooter.

Mrs Tickle is also away this week: she has taken her mum to Torquay for a few days. Apparently they are staying at a hotel which is reminiscent of Fawlty Towers.

This is rather a problem for me because she has taken our only working motor. And, on account of being rather slack last week, I was left with about 6,500 council newsletters to deliver by Friday - a tall order when the only means of transport I have is a bike. Somehow I don't think I'll be able to get them all done, although Grace I has offered to help. Maybe you'd like to come and give me a hand, Rikii? And then again, perhaps not, given the state of your feet and knees.

I haven't really been in for long enough to do much cooking, otherwise I would doubtless have resorted to the oven chips. As it is, Grace II is acting as chief cook, although she leaves the bottle washing to me. No chance of such an obsessive healthy eater cooking chips, I'm afraid.

And there's not a drop of beer or wine in the house. However, I did manage to sneak down to the local to watch the cricket on Monday and had of London Pride. And GI dropped by last night to practise some duets with GII, so I persuaded her to take me to the pub, where I had another of Youngs - not as nice as LP, but quite a bit cheaper. Thankfully, all were served at a reasonable temp.

At least it was a bit cooler today, although very humid this morning. Cloudy, with a refreshing breeze, and just a hint of rain on the wind. The kites were out in force, and flying very low in some places. Unfortunately, I hear the sun will be back on show tomorrow, so it's likely to be a long, hard day.

My long, unruly locks have been bleached so blond by that same old sun, and the salt from the sweat of my brow, that the myriad white hairs mixed in amongst them are scarcely discernible now. But the beard which appeared on my face last week, when I didn't get round to shaving, was almost pure white. I may be able to get a seasonable job come December, if I stick a cushion under my tunic.

Right, I must go out and get a few provisions - luckily, it's only a short walk to our local supermarket.

Happy Days.

Hi team,what's happening?

Tomorrow I have another job for a new firm(only for the day)so I be up by 3-30am as I'm off to Redhill in Surrey,me and my mate are hoping to get another job off the same firm but that's in Penzance(gulp)we dont get much local work but I think we have got a days work Wednesday in Malvern.

It seems hard work to get work,how's tricks tickle?

Good evening all.

I've had a greast weekend - two of the kids plus son in law to be - my son couldn't come as he's on hols in France. Lots of good walks and chats and wine etc. It's my birthday today as well as Fathers day so double celebrations. Good weather too - and decent presents. PLus trying out the chosen wine for daughterr's wedding in Sept - Chilean Sauv blanc and a Chilean Merlot - latter rather heavy so they'll prob look again.

I'm hoping to sign up with a local private hire firm to get more regular driving work as the day centre seems to be on its way to closure. Local private hire operator says he's snowed under with airport minibus runs and stand ins for DHL in Milton Keynes area, so could be good. Would mean I had to put on a suit for first time in about 10 years, though! The rigamarole you have to go through to get a licence is mind blowing - not only a local 'Knowledge' test - even though I won't be driving around Bedford much - but also a 12 page application, hand in passport, DL - paper part and card - 3 other id's, utility bills, 2 passport photos, £95 (!) and I then have to take a driving assessment and, wait for it - an English communication test - it's really for immigrants etc., but they aren't allowed to discriminate would you believe, so a 63 year old with English O level and a lifetime working in Engand has to take the test too! A bit OTT I think.

Trust everyone is well - glad to see you've got some work Rik.
Are you there, Tickle? Anyone seen Frank?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAREST FOLLY



I hope you've had a lovely birthday AND Father's day combined.




Lots of love from Polly
xxxx

Happ Father's Day to Rick, W4aT, and any other male passing this way.

Frank, I hope that all is well with you.


Goodnight to each of you.

Morning, all - a very pleasant one it is too, here in Berkshire. And I don't have anything to deliver (except I might do a few of GIII's papers for her) which is even better.

When I said I had 6,500 newsletters to deliver last week, I was wrong - it was actually more like 7,500, which would have been beyond me even if I'd had a car (and goes to show how slack I was the previous week). As it was, I managed about 5,000, and GI did a few hundred for me, so I was over 2,000 short. Didn't have much chance to do many over the w/e as we were helping out in the refreshment tent at a regatta (run by GIII's Scout troop - their major fund-raising event), so I had to deliver about 1,500 yesterday, which was a hard slog. Bad timing, as well, as it was Mrs T's birthday.

Talking of which, I trust you had a good one, Folly. Did anyone play this for you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2zOoo5nK-Q There are dozens of versions of this song posted on youtube. Mrs T thought it was very funny, but then she has a vgsoh - she needs it to put up with me.

Do you enjoy driving, Folly? Or is that the only sort of job around?

You may not work often enough, Rikii, but you must get paid big bucks when you do, if it's worth your while to get up in the middle of the night and travel such long distances. If I went to work for a day in Penzance, I'd be out of pocket.

Must start tidying up a bit round here. Juan Miguel is due to arrive tomorrow and we don't want him to be too horrified. He's a Spanish exchange student who's coming to stay with us for a week. Have to get some shopping done as well. Anyone know what 14 year old Spanish boys like to eat?

Happy days,