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

and... good luck with the war and peace!

The job front is lacking... no interviews yet, but a couple more applications sent off.

TK[1]

I might go and read a bit more of W&P in a minute. There is nothing on TV and hootooing at home at this time of night is hard work - the light in my dining room, even with my desk lamp on, is not good for looking at a computer screen and my ISP has already disconnected me once

My boss worked from home today (her car failed its MOT ) but I still had plenty to do. I like to leave things up-to-date and tidy before I have a holiday (makes life easier for me when I get back). And now I have to train myself not to think about work for a whole week .

Good luck with the job applications.

Chat soon
Liz
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I know how that feels- I get disconnected frequently, and then it won't let me reconnect for ages. so much for BT broadband.

Thank you, and have fun

TK[1]

Well, I appear to have struck lucky with the weather for my annual leave so far. Yesterday afternoon, while my bloke was out playing cricket, I baked myself in the garden while reading some more W&P (on to the Epilogue now). Today I have been a golf widow all day, so I hopped on a little train and went to the seaside. It only takes 15 minutes to get to Felixstowe by train from the funny little branch line station just around the corner from me. It's not actually all that much fun going to the seaside on your own, but it made a change from sitting in the garden.

Liz
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's alright for some . Actually, I'm not one for sunning myself... I tend to stay in the shadows. I'm not a summer person. I get all grumpy when it's too hot!

That's not a bad little trip, but I know what you mean- solo trips to the seaside can't be all that fun! I mean, who's going to build sand castles with you?

TK[1]

While I was at the seaside in Felixstowe on Sunday, Chris was playing golf at the seaside up at Cromer in Norfolk, in equally gorgeous weather. So yesterday, we thought we would go to the seaside together. We motored up to Aldeburgh, which should be about a 50 minute drive but, courtesy of road works on the A12 at Stratford St Andrew, the journey took us an hour and a half. By the time we got there, the sun had disappeared and a somewhat brisk wind had blown up. It was still very pleasant (and warm) and we walked up and looked at a beach sculpture that is causing some controversy locally (verdict - we liked it). Then we ate fish and chips on the beach in what felt like a gale force wind.

Today was still breezy, but the wind was not on the scale that we experienced up the coast yesterday. I've done a lot of sitting in the garden today and I have FINISHED War and Peace !!!!

I shall be a golf widow again tomorrow, so I plan to go clothes shopping. This is likely to be the cause of much stress and unhappiness (unless I find something that fits). I hate shopping, but I do need some new clothes.

Liz
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AH... I did a 45 minute journey in just over three hours the other week... though that was nothing to do with roadworks...
What is this sculpture of?

Well done! Now tell me, is it worth reading?

AH... I quite like shopping... but not clothes shopping. Especially with girls... I don't mean that an offensive or non- pc way, but I have been on shopping trips with girls that made 15 minutes seem like a lifetime.

TK[1]

The sculpture on Aldeburgh beach is off some shells. From the back it does look rather like a lump of scrap metal, but viewed from the shoreline it looks lovely. My boyfriend decided to lie down underneath it and he said the acoustics were very good . It is supposed to be a memorial to Sir Benjamin Britain who lived and worked in Aldeburgh for many years. Apparently some local people don't like it and there have been calls for it to be moved.

Is War and Peace worth reading? I'm not sure. In my opinion it is not terribly well written and some of the characters are difficult to like. However, I did enjoy parts of the story and I do feel that I have achieved something in reading it. I also feel that I will probably have to read it again at some point to make better sense of it. Today I have been reading some short stories and some of them were really good.

I don't like shopping for clothes much myself but it is a necessary evil and it is always easier on a weekday, so I try and have a trip into town when I am on annual leave. I generally prefer to shop on my own because if anyone comes with me, I just take out my frustrations on them. I tend to fall between sizes with clothes so I have to take two of everything into the fitting room and nine times out of ten, a size 10 will be too small and a size 12 too big . However, today I have managed to purchase two items, so that was a sucessful foray into town as far as I am concerned.

Your comment about shopping with girls reminds me of an incident about 10 years ago when I went shopping with my Mum and my brother (who was only about 19 at the time). My Mum had decided that she must buy me some shoes for Christmas and, as I have even more trouble finding shoes that fit than I do finding clothes, this was not a pleasant shopping experience for anybody. We were on at least our sixth shop when I found a pair of shoes that I rather liked but they were too big and unfortunately the shop didn't have them in a smaller size. To the shop assistant's apology "I'm sorry" my brother waerily replied "so am I"

Liz
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Ah, when you said it was 'controversial', I had visions of a huge pair of sand-carved breasts, or something. I guess people just like to have something to moan about, or else they'll start worrying about the really important things.

So, to summarise, it's not great, but it's one of those things you just have to read in order to feel good about yourself for having done so.
I've written a few short stories. Nothing published, but it's a sort of hobby of mine. I get an idea, and I start writing. I have a couple of longer stories on the go as well. Most people who have read them have said they're between 'good' and 'brilliant-publishable', but then I haven't shown them to any established literary critics!

My mum still buys both of my clothes... it's seen as a very 'sad' thing, but as far as I'm concerned, it's only sensible- she knows what I like, generally has a better dress sense than I do anyway, and she has more money than I do. Of course, I buy my own things if I run across them and have the money on me... such as this morning's recieved ebay purcahses- two velvet jackets: one double breasted black number, and the other a 3/4 length green one. I'm going to get the second dyed if possible, as it's not the nicest shade of green available.

Lol I end up threatening to try on all the clothes they're looking at, or grab a skimpy number, hold it against myself and mince the full length of the shop. That persuades them to hurry up.

TK[1]

Hiya

Sorry to have been slow to reply - I was too busy enjoying myself on holiday last week.

We had a lovely day out in London on Thursday. We went to Greenwich (where I haven't been before) and, having ridden there on the Docklands Light Railway, we visited the Cutty Sark, Maritime Museum, Royal Greenwich Observatory and Queen's House. It was a really nice day and the weather was lovely.

We didn't do much on Friday. Saturday we went down to Felixstowe and had a proper look around Languard Fort, which turned out to be much older and indeed more interesting than I had expected.

I didn't do much at all on Sunday, largely because I didn't feel very well - and I still don't . I'm suffering from a bout of dizziness and vertigo. I used to get this a lot at one time, but it must be at least five years since it has really bothered me. I actually went to the Doctors this morning. It's the first time in about three years that I have been for an actual ill health problem. He's prescribed me something called Serc, which I have had before and which should help to settle it down. He did suggest that it would not be unreasonable for me to take a couple of days off work, but as I've only just come back from leave, I'm a little reluctant to be going off again. I've explained the situation to my boss and she says to go home if I feel really bad, so I'm just sort of seeing how I get on at the moment. I hate being ill, it's very boring.

I read some more short stories over the weekend. I subscribe to several small press magazines; Peninsula (which has sadly ceased to be as of the last issue), QWF and The New Writer. Having largely lost interest in writing myself (I don't think I've written any short stories at all this year), I intend to let my TNW subscription run out, but I like reading QWF so I shall renew my subscription to that and I might try out something like Cadenza, which is another small press publication. Have you tried posting up any of your stories on Get Writing?

I've never bought clothes over the internet - 90% of the stuff I try on doesn't fit so I'd only have to send it back. I used to have a mail order catalogue, but I gave that up as a bad job because I got fed up with sending everything back.

Anyway, if I'm going to sit suffering at my desk (while my vision makes my computer sway gently from side to side) then I had better try and do some work while I am here.

Liz
~

Hi, no problem- I've been away myself for a couple of days Hope you had a good time!

Ah, some of my favourite places to visit! The observatory's fantastic- did you take the cliche'd photo of yourself (and loved one(s)) with one leg either side of the meridian line? If you didn't, shame on you! Go back and do it now!

I love looking around castles and forts and things. I haven't been to that one, though.

Aw, well I hope you get better soon . I know what you mean- I can't remember the last time I went to see the Doctor... wait... yes I do- it was about 4 years ago because my ear was blocked and I needed it syringing. But other than that, I have to be actually about to die before I'll go near a doctor. I suppose you have to have people like that to counter those who go every week for some reason or another, such as developing a slight sniffle. Or experiencing a momentary twinge in their left leg last wendesday.

I haven't tried posting there, but I have considered it... again, it's the loss of control over what happens to it that I don't like- anyone could half- inch it and say it's theirs. I guess I'm just too paranoid for this world...

I'm very caeful with what I buy online, but I've never been disappointed with any of my ebay clothing purchases. Obviously with T-shirts and jeans I'll only buy brand new, and if there isn't a picture with a second hand jacket then I won't even consider it. But these two latest jackets are fantastic buys!

Aw, you sound like you need a day in bed in front of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (I sued to watch that whenever I was off school ill. I don't know why.) and some hot blackcurrant huice with a spoonful of honey and a tot of rum. Does wonders for any ailment, that does!

TK[1]

The old vertigo is largely under control now, but I will keep taking the tablets for at least another week. I rather think that my doctor has treated the symptoms rather than their cause so I might have to go back and see him if my other symptoms (sore eyes and a bit of nasal/sinus swelling) don't clear up. I went to the dentist this morning and he thinks I've got sinusitus - I'm not sure how we ended up talking about my nose and not my teeth, but there you go

My Dad is one of those people that goes to the doctors for the slightest little thing, but if anyone tries to remonstrate with him about this, he denies that he does it. And when he can't get an appointment, he complains about 'timewasters who go to the doctors every week for minor ailments'.

I did have my boyfriend take a photo of my standing by the meridian line at the Greenwich Observatory. I had a job to get that photo because there were hoardes of people wanting to do the same thing.

Liz
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Lol, my Dentist always ends up talking about Little Shop of Horrors...

Lol, aw I know a couple of people who go every other week or so... I don't like going, myself. I figure that there is no cure for the common cold, so why go to the doctor for that? headaches, sore throats, blocked noses etc, so long as they're not overly serious and don't go on forever, then you can get a packet of lockets and some hot blackcurrant juice and wait it out.

I bet Were you there when it was dark? If you were, you'd know about the great big green laser that they fire along the meridian. Quite impressive. There's a not- so- great picture of it here: http://www.star.le.ac.uk/astrosoc/eventphotos/green3big.jpg if you missed it.

TK[1]

Ooooo, nice picture. I feel deprived that I didn't see that. We were there about 3ish on a surprisingly sunny September afternoon - hence the crowds. I think everyone had the same idea as us that week - 'Hey, it's still summer. Quick! Lets go outside!'

It's been a lovely day here today, the sort of day when I would normally go for a walk, but I really don't feel very well. Again. How very boring. My only outing yesterday was a trip to Sainsbury's, which left me feeling thoroughly dizzy and rotten. My boyfriend has got a cold and I suspect he might have infected me with it. He has gone round to a friend's to watch Rider Cup Golf on satellite telly this afternoon and evening. He persuaded me to drive him down there and, although the doctor had said that I shouldn’t drive, I did feel a lot better so I thought I would be all right. However, I didn’t feel all that great driving back and I felt even worse when I got out of the car. My hands were shaking so much that I had a job to lock the door, so I cancelled my plans to go for a walk and I still feel shivery five hours later. I think I had better go and have a nice hot bath to warm myself up.

Liz
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When I went with the uni's astronomy society, we went in the morning when it was still misty and came back after sundown. You can blink and miss summer over here... Not that I'm upset about that- means the wasps aren't out for too long, and I hate them.

Today's been weird... when I got up it was raining a windy, tropical rainstorm, and then after a couple of hours it suddenly stopped and the sun came out, bright and warm.
I can feel a cold coming on. Only thing is it's been coming on for weeks... it just won't get started. I have a feeling it's going to wait until I get a job and then come on in full force the day I'm due to start.
Oh no, sounds worrying :-S A nice hot bath and a nice hot drink should help

TK[1]

My boyfriend has got a cold and I almost feel jealous. I'd rather have a full blown cold and get it over with than have the vague nasal discomfort I've had for weeks, which I am sure is causing the dizzy spells. I had a sore throat this morning, but I don't think it is going to come to anything. I often seem to get the symptoms that one would normally expect before or after a cold, but without actually getting the cold.

Anyway, best change the subject before this turns into hypocondriacs corner.

We had about three seasons worth of weather yesterday too - and, of course, the wetest stuff occurred while I was out on my lunch break. There is an awful cold wind today, so even though it is sunny and bright, it feels chilly. I've had to put tights on today because I was cold - I hate tights! Think yourself lucky that blokes don't wear them!

Have you heard any more about the job you went for last week?

Liz
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I've got one coming on... I can feel it brewing, but it just won't start properly... I know what you mean. You seem to have listed my symptoms

lol, good idea.

Always the way... Hey, some blokes DO wear tights...

I haven't heard anything yet. Still waiting...

TK[1]

My sore throat is worse today and kept me awake from about 5am onwards. Despite my lack of sleep, I feel remarkably perky and the vertigo does not seem to be troubling me as much.

It hasn't benn a bad old day at work today - I've been busier plus there was a pretty chilled sort of atmosphere. My boss, is getting married on Friday, which is also her 40th birthday. Today was her last day at work for a few days so we presented her with some gifts, which she seemed genuinely pleased with. She says she is only getting married to deflect attention from the fact that she is going to be 40. This has not worked - we still got her a 40th card and a helium balloon with 40 on it. She kept wittering about wanting someone else to carry this balloon down to her car because she didn't want anyone to know she is 40. Eventually, another colleague offered to take her balloon downstairs as she was going down there anyway. I thought, 'she's never gonna fall for this', but she did! Boss happily handed over her car keys and Colleague went downstairs and decorated her car for her (coke cans tied to the exhaust, Wife begins at 40 banner on back parcel shelf, that kind of thing). I'm only sorry I shall not witness her discovering any of this when she leaves for home tonight.

Liz
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I feel vaguely fluey, but not so much as to feel ill... more like just the fuzzy, disjointed view of reality that seems to come with it. And I'm talkking in a different way to my usual fuzzy, disjointedness.

I'd never get married on my birthday... I'm not planning on etting married ever anyway, but if it goes pear shaped, then you've ruined every birthday from then on... hell, I hate my birthdays' anyway.

We decorated my friend's car for her 18th, in the school car park. Silly string, tinsel, snow spray, balloons, banners... you name it. We basically wrapped it.We nicked her a shopping trolley too, because she'd always wanted one. We had great fun pushing each other around in it at her party in her dad's church hall. She's still got it, too.

TK[1]

My vertigo problem is worse this morning than it has been all week, which I'm pretty hacked off about given that it is nearly the weekend .

I got married on my birthday - my 21st birthday at that And who forgot their wedding anniversary nearly every year for the next five years? Me! My birthday was far more important to me. I didn't give much thought to the fact that it was also my wedding anniversary when I was married and I certainly don't now. Bizarrely, I got my decree absolute through on my best friend's birthday, so I can easily remember which date I celebrate my divorce on. I've now been divorced for more than twice as long as I was married. There are some legal and financial reasons why I think it would be a good idea to be married to my present boyfriend, but I'm not overly fussed about it - which is probably just as well because I've got more chance of plaiting fog than I have of getting him into a registry office.

I'd never thought of decorating someones car for a birthday - it's great that she has kept her shopping trolly. One of my brother's mates was 30 last weekend and they enlarged and laminated some childhood photos of him and used them to decorate the restaurant. Apparently the birthday boy saw the funny side of this, but now my brother is worried because he will be 30 in February and he is wondering what they might do to him.

Liz
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