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

Hi Folerol,or you could try: http://www.247spares.co.uk/?gclid=CJztjNCOv6QCFZL92AodAmdczw

These are the dogs doo da

Well, folks, I hope you've all seen - and marveled at - the revamped R4 MBs. What an abomination! They're completely up the spout - even the clock is wrong.

There seems to have been some knock-on effect here, as well. Although I've not long since posted something on Rikii's 'hip' poet thread, according to My Space there are -101590038 new posts. I think the end is nigh.

Last month was a gruelling one for me: 17,000 mags and newsletters to deliver, each with an accompanying leaflet. The aim was to finish them by 24 Sep, but I didn't actually do so until 30th. I should have got you to come and help me, Rikii. How are your feet, by the way?

I have a couple of weeks off now to recover, apart from delivering a few electoral registration reminders this weekend or next Monday. October is normally a blank month otherwise, but I have a contract to deliver 8,000 Christmas catalogues for a bookshop in the second half of the month, and it looks as if I'm fully booked for the whole of November and the first fortnight or so of December. I'll certainly need feeding up at Christmas.

Big Grace has just gone off to Cambridge to do a Masters (in Polar Studies!) at Girton. That should keep her out of mischief for a while, although I don't know how she'll ever get out of debt. However, my main concern at the moment is Grace II. She's planning to go off to S America next year, but having just read the FO's advice for travellers to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, I can't help feeling she'd be better off going to Spain to polish up her Spanish. She's not very streetwise even by British standards, and the streets over there are a whole lot meaner than the ones here. We had hopes of her getting a job at a posh school in Lima where a friend of mine teaches, but that fell through because she's too young: basically they take on university students doing their year abroad. Apart from the fact that she would have been earning a modest stipend, we'd have felt a lot happier about her safety. As it is, Mrs T will probably worry herself to death, and even I'm not too sanguine about it - and I'm not the worrying kind.

Did you get to watch the Ryder Cup on Monday as planned, Folly? It was a bit tense, what? I slipped down to my local round about 2:15, thinking that a pint would see me through to the winning putt. Unfortunately, that didn't come until rather later than I'd estimated, which meant I ended up having two and a half - so bang went my week's spending money. It would have been nice if Europe could have won slightly more convincingly - and a bit sooner - than they did.

It was nice of Polly to pop in, shame she didn't stay for long. Still, I guess that means she has better things to do, which can't be bad. We don't see much of you either, Toots - here or at t'other place - but I know you're a busy lady. Talking of which - I mean 'busyness' - you must be due another holiday soon, eh Folly?

Happy Days,

Hmm, that's interesting. The four R4 MBs which have been revamped each have a discussion thread, started by Anna, about the changes. Unsurprisingly, the response is very negative. Now it seems that those discussions have all been closed.

The last message on the TCIY version, posted by "a refugee from the Food boards which have also gone through changes (and not for the better either)", says that they've had similar problems with their new board, "one of the minor problems being the emoticons." The message goes on to say that "We... discovered that we can use the h2g2 emoticons."

That being the case, this one seems appropriate -

Sorry, Tick I haven't been on this thread for a while - keep forgetting - an age thing, you know! I did see the last of the Ryder cup - and at the golf club so the atmosphere was good. They keep saying about Europe's winning putt, when actually it was the American wot lost it! Yippee!

I do have lots to do with the parish council, church accounts - audit overdue - and a few other things - but golf always seems more pressing somehow . Still, as you guessed Tick, I have a hol due - next monday for about two weeks - first week with my bro playing golf most days and then MOH comes and joins us and I daresay we'll feel guilty about playing golf every day - although we have friends there who play golf and their wives don't so MOH and them will prob go for walks. Hope the weather is ok.

Hi all,it has been trying to rain here all day,I went to see my doctor earlier to ask him for a cortesone injection in my dodgy wrist he agreed but I cant get another appointment until Monday next.
Im getting very bored at home with no work on,I've been buying this and that on ebay and Mrs Cut-Out is moaning about belt tightening again(she'll be counting my beer cans in the fridge again if Im not careful)I must admit my days seem about 28hrs long at the moment,'spose it's 'cus I aint programmed to sit on my arris this much,yet?
Lucky Folderol jetting away again,still no green eyed monster here,anything else happening out there? 'S all round.

Hi all,not been a bad day here today (weatherwise)but it's definately getting cooler.
I went to my doctors today for that cortesone injection in my wrist,I must admit it ******** hurt,sitting at home now with an icepack on it feeling sorry for myself, then to cap it all I get a phone call telling me Im working tomorrow when I thought I'd got the week off,so I'll have to pull my weight even if it feels like it's going to fall off
Anyone else dying out there?

We're all dying, Rikii, it's just that some people take longer over it than others. Strangely enough, I had an email from more or less my oldest friend yesterday, to tell me that his mother had died in her sleep on Saturday night/Sunday morning. So I may be clocking up another funeral in the near future.

Sorry to hear about your tribulations. Quite ironic, I suppose, that on the one day that perhaps you'd rather not work, a job suddenly turns up. I hope your wrist is a bit better in the morning.

Lots of people going down with the lurgy round here, including Mrs T and Grace II, but I haven't succumbed yet: I think it's smoking that keeps the bugs at bay. Just as well, as I've quite a lot of work on.

Hi all,(still cringing at the Villa score)well tickle Forest and Reading a full house for you.
At the moment Im booked in for the whole week next week,with a three o clock start Monday morning so after the odd day here and there next week'll be rather rude awakening.
I've been to my doctors on Monday,I must remember to buy him a dart board although after he stabbed my wrist with what felt like a javellin five times Im not sure he's outta practice,then I had the dentist on Thursday because I've got a bit of a gum infection,so more oral stabbing off him,then Friday I had to have some blood taken by the Nurse,so... I guess I've got more holes in me at the mo' than a colander(?)anything else happening out there? S all round.

Hi all,I guess there isn't much happening out there,perhaps some of you even live mundane lives such as I,well... to add to my own excitement? I had a phone call from the stuffy receptionist at my doctors to inform me my blood test was below par fortuneately MOH took the call and was given the blank treatment via the said snooty receptionist.
After the minimal dicussion with the up 'er own 'arris receptionist my deflated Mrs Cut-out informed me rather curtly that I WAS TO CONTACT MISS SNOTY (no spelling mistake here)and use the codeword task in any further conversation which I did and was informed I actually had anemia,so tomoz Im heading of to see the vampire for more blood letting(another arm full?)anything else happening? S all round.

Rikii, my life is so mundane you would not believe. Fortunately very busy at work but that doesn’t leave me much time for posting and all I seem to do on the laptop at home is the on-line shopping. My Mum was recently diagnosed as very anaemic so they are filling her with iron tablets, the trouble with that is she says that they make everything taste funny and she doesn’t eat enough as it is which is a bit of a worry to say the least. Still she’s 92, lives on her own, and is still totally self-sufficient so she must be doing something right.

I’ve had a few “domesticated” weekends lately which have resulted in jars of homemade mincemeat, two Christmas puddings and the Christmas cake being made. I’m not too sure what I’ll do with the mincemeat as I am notorious for my duff pastry – yes even the readymade stuff; it would appear that just unwrapping it and looking at it will render it as tough as old boots!

I long to retire, I’m 59 now and I will get my pension in 1 year, 10 months and 8 days (I’ve just looked it up) unfortunately the mortgage will not be paid off for 3 years and two months (statement came in earlier this week). So I will (hopefully) just keep plodding on. I was asked earlier this year at work (in the nicest possible way) if I had any plans to retire and if so when so I told them that I would like to carry on until my 63rd birthday which would then give me some working time without having to pay the mortgage and that’s fine by them – we will see.

I see Polly has gone AWOL again, I know Pixie had been unwell so I hope that’s not why.

Well better get on a do a bit more work, 1 ½ hours and I can go home – well take Mum shopping anyway.

Regards
Toots

Well, Rikii, I reckon you'd best give up the cheap lager and start drinking and instead.

Hi all,and thank you all for your responses,toots sounds like your mom is having a good run,it appears these days most of us will end up looking after our old folks when we end up middle aged.
MOH and I looked after her mom when she had Parkinsons,it got progressively worse until MOH was there almost full time,unfortunately there will be no one to return the favour for her as we had two sons.
As for retirement,I think it's a mindset having been made redundant it took me ages to get out of the old routine,I think we get so used to work that we feel lost without it,you can get your state pension payout details from here;http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1889
Whatever choice you make toots it will be the right choice.
tickle,you are probably right that all those blood cells have been washed away with lager and cider,but I have a feeling it maybe those anti cholesterol tabs I've been chucking down my neck,big derby day tomorrow for the Villa and we've got 'em again in the cup.
Mrs Cut-out's gone to my Sister's to do some painting and decorating so Im feeding myself barfood(at home )again for a few days,I get my new blood test results again next week,perhaps I'd better start eating the empty beer cans?

Hi all,the sun's trying to shine here in fact it's quite mild.
I was listening to summat on the radio last week and the topic got around to football and one old boy said that football reminded him of standing around with a hot cup of bovril and that struck a cord in me.
So... today I walked up to my local Tesco (after checking online)and purchased a jar for £2-89.yep you've guessed it I wolfed a cup full down as soon as I got home,well it was a lot saltier than I remembered but as it's only 22 calories a cup and is supposed to be good for dementia (vitamin B)I'll give it a try for a while.
BTW, Im glowing now I dont know if it was the walk or the Bovril

Hot Bovril, eh? The good old half-time standby. It's been a while since I had one of those. Hardly seems worth drinking for 22 calories, but if it's good for(?) dementia, perhaps I should give it a try.

Feeling a bit dizzy at the moment, as I've been rushing around like a blue-arsed fly all day and have only just sat down, except for in the car: if I got paid at standard taxi rates I'd have made a mint.

Mrs Tickle and Grace III are going away tomorrow (North Wales Choral Festival in Llandudno) so I'll be on my own for a couple of days. Took the precaution of buying a couple of Fray Bentos steak pies yesterday, as they were on special - BOGOF - in ASDA. If the weather is fine, as it has been so far this week, I'll be working, as I have a mountain of literature to distribute. Forecast is not so good, but it changes every day, so we'll see how it turns out.

Bon weekend à tous.

It's me! As those of you on Sin's thing will know, I've been back about a week and I keep forgetting about 'Dreams' . Sorry. Hot Bovril was a regular when I did swimming and diving - partic after a diving display at a gala - and I've continued to enjoy spreading it on bread or toast for brekkie over the years, in fact just bought a replacement jar - but they still make it so you can't get the bit out from under the shoulder of the jar!!!

Any news on Polly? Not heard from her for months

Where are you Polly? We miss you!

Yes, Folly, Polly's been gone a long time: hasn't posted at Sin's for three months and last posted here (on the Archers board) three weeks ago. But if that means she's found something better to do with her time, good luck to her. We do miss you though, Polly.

I had an 'interesting' dinner tonight: FB steak and ale pie, jacket potatoes and half a can of Batchelors mushy peas (currently on offer at 4 cans for a quid). But I wonder if any of you chaps have the same problem I do with regard to cooking instructions - or am I just neurotic? What happens is that I read the instructions and bung whatever it is in the oven. Then after a while I begin to wonder if I read them correctly, so I go and have another look at them just to make sure. Trouble with the FB pies is that the instructions are on the bottom of the tin, which goes in the oven after you've removed the top. This makes re-reading them a bit tricky, so it's just as well I bought two pies.

Yeah, Tick, shame about Polly - perhaps we ought to go on the Archers board and check her out. I suppose I could also try a personal message off Sin's board.

Re food instructions the worst thing about them is the size of the writing and the fact that they DO enjoy putting red writing on black or deep green or blue background - makes it totally unreadable to me - even if it ISN'T on the underneath!
Same goes for ingredients - veggies must have big probs with that as they get older. Of course, veggies will have eaten more carrots than us carnivores, so maybe that helps!

Me again - still no sign of Poll, but I see that on the Beeb boards, Persephone is trying to rejuvenate the hootoo boards by asking everyone to come back and get posting. Maybe Polly will see that and come back home

Hi Folderol,yep, you're right nowt happening around here lately,I think Polly has abandoned us all,or maybe she just has a new beau?

Hi, I did a bit of digging on the other site and Mathos spoke to Polly on 9/11 and she sent everyone her best wishes.

Toots.