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

Men in general are very bad patients and tend to ignore common sense advice about recoveringThat is unusual that he is good around the house I know very few women that are that fortunate.My boyfriend is good at DIY and such like,can rustle up a meal when pushed but I am afraid I prefer to do most jobs round the house myself.It is because I am a bit of a perfectionist and like things done in a certain way so it is just easier to do things myself( I admit it am just plain fussy)
Yes the weather is always unpredictable ,which is very awkward when planning outdoor jobsHave found that rain dances rarely workbut they can be good excercise.
What have you planned for next weekend ?

One of the things I am going through in my counselling is learning how to let go and stop being so controlling. As I am sure you can appreciate it is really hard !! I have to force myself to sit down and not go outside and turn all the washing round so it is hanging properly (now I only do it if it is my stuff and will stretch!)

A boyfriend who is good at DIY is worth his weight in gold ! Provided he finishes the jobs he starts - I have an almost finished bedroom, the tiles were taken of the hall ceiling 3 years ago when we got the replacement plasterboard but the board is still leaning against the wall and the living room floor has been waiting 4 years to be sanded. See... all men have good and bad points!!!!!

I know exactly what you mean about the washing hanging upside down.Letting go of my control wouldn't be easy!it relates to my need for perfection which I realise isn't achievable.My friend had some help with her marriage from Relate,and they told her to accept that men do things differently around the house but not necessarily wrong and as long as the end result is .She still finds it hard though
Yes he does finish his DIY jobs but leaves a wake of dust and debris in his path
4 years is a long time to wait for the living room floor to be sanded
How is the patient recovering anyway ?

Unfortunately the patient has no patience and has been trying to do too much. Last night he was in a lot of pain - but self inflicted as he was trying to sand a wall (which has been waiting about 2 months to be sanded!!!!) I am sure it is a man thing to not tidy as you go! When hubby got a new electric plane with a bag to collect the bits he decided to plane a door in the living room thinking there would be no mess...!!!!

It still really busy here so this is last minute cos I don't want to ignore you .

As for the coming weekend - which you asked me ages ago! - we have no plans so I am going to try and be disciplined and do lots of driving practice - I have a lesson Friday afternoon which will hopefully inspire me!!!

Do you have a busy social life? Is there much to do round where you live or do you have to travel to the city?

Until tomorrow ...

I think it must be a male traittoo.My boyfriend has more DIY gadgets than he could ever use in a lifetime!
Self inflicted pain and no patienceI can see you need to be really until he recovers
Although where I stay is fairly rural ,there are quite good amenities.There is a community/leisure center,library and swimming pool.I go to a yoga class and I have a lot of friends that are local so but there are not many places to go out for a meal or wine bar.So I usually go to the city for a night out as we are only 45 minutes away.There is a good sense of community where I live and lots of community projects which is a good thing.
Diving lessons .That is quite an unusual hobby tell me more

The driving lessons are all part of my course to learn to teach people to drive. I have to pass 3 tests to qualify... the first part is the written test (which I passed with flying colours) and I am now having driving lessons myself to pass my driving test (where everything has to be pretty much perfect) then I can go on and do the teaching part. I have up to 3 chances to pass each of the next two tests, if I fail on the 3rd try I will have to wait two years then start again from the beginning.

Hubby is being very good now and has not used his arm for the last two days. He is very bored at home though and has another two weeks after this week to get through. I have organised some time off (the week of the 11th) to keep him company. The way things have been at work I will need a break by then!!!!

sorry I thought it read diving lessons not driving(guess I am going to have to get glasses after all was border line last time at the opticians)
Well done for passing the first written test and for the rest.You sound really determined, I am like that steely minded when I decide to do something,no matter how long it takes me
Has work been really hectic for youI think the weather has made people a little bad tempered.
My friend is in the middle of an relationship crisis,and I can see it ending in tears for hersometimes it is difficult to watch someone headed blindly for an almighty fall.She has feelings for two men,one is far too good looking and knows it but is an out and out charmer(but so untrustworthy),the other is too kind for his own good but hasn't the same good looks,but has a heart so fine.Guess who is winning my friend's heart at the moment isn't an easy road.
Hope the patient stays sensible and recovers quickly.Enjoy your week off on the 11th and your driving lessons

What a nightmare week! At lease I am going home now

Have a good weekend ... until Monday

Relax and enjoy

Hope you had a relaxing weekend - Hopefully it was better than mine. I had a bit of a pants time ... apart from watching Pink Floyd on Live 8 - Oh how I wish I was there!

I suppose this weekend has been the first real test of my new found positivity. It has been bashed and bruised from all angles and even the fridge/freezer decided to give up the ghost and join in with the list of problems!!!!

I want to crawl into a small dark cupboard and cry. That is just the kid inside me and I am trying to let the adult take control but they are too busy fighting each other for me to know if I am coming or going right now!!!!!!

Hopefully I will be in a better mood tomorrow

Pink Floyd were a real class act.I the lyrics very poetic and enigmatic.Division bell is one of my favorite albums
Well my fridge freezer is but my new digital flashy vertical power surge iron that I only bought last month stopped steaming and I have to take it back for a replacement.Am not very good at coping with mechanical failures and especially washing machines!
Did you lose much food in the fridge/freezer?
Be and everything will turn out in the end
The feeling of retreat is a common onebut I usually come back out fighting.Bet you have more inner strength than you think!!!
Tomorrow is another day

One of the best experiences of my life was seeing Roger Waters perform the Wall in Berlin just after the Berlin wall came down the atmosphere was electric. One of the things that stands out in my memory most is coming back on the ferry... half the passengers had been to the gig and on the way back down the stairs to the coaches the entire ferry seemed to be alive singing The Wall - I have gone all goose bumps just typing about it!!! Honestly though, I don't own the Division Bell - I got into solo Roger Waters and while all the feuding was going on my loyalties lay that way!!!!

As I hoped my mood has been much better today and I am feeling strong again . I know I am a very strong person. I wouldn't be going through my counselling if I was not. Several of my friends have said they couldn't face their issues like I have but I didn't feel that I had a choice. The strong part of me would not let me carry on the way I was. I do doubt myself at times - but a lot less often now than I used to.

We lost everything in the freezer but today I don't care . I am just glad the sun is not out so the milk is not going off!!!

I hope you get your Iron sorted out, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a digital Iron!!!!

The iron was replaced today,am still a bit dubious because it is the same model but I was assured if it dies too I can get a full refund.
What an amazing memory for you being there in Berlin and the Pink Floyd experience
I visited Berlin when the wall was very much still in operation.My Aunt is German and I really liked to visit.I always had an enjoyable time there.Been all down the Mozel valley and Rhine,Cologne it is extremely beautiful landscape.
Guess you are replacing the fridge/freezer as soon as possible!
Self doubt will always nudge into your mind just kick it right back out again

I cried my way through 50 mins of Counselling last night and I feel So much better for it!

As usual I have been too hard on myself and as you said I just had to kick the old self doubt back into touch! Job done and life moves on.

While on the trip to see Roger waters we spent 44 hours on a coach over a 4 day period only stopping twice. Both times we stopped in Cologne and got to spend almost a full day there. We stayed in the Hyatt Regency along with loads of other people on the tour - it was quite funny to see a load of old hippies taking up a floor of a posh hotel!

I am taking my time over the new fridge. I don't want to rush out and make a hasty purchase so I am leaving it until the weekend when I can do the job properly. I will really appreciate the replacement when it arrives after going without for a while!

Although I said I had a pants weekend I forgot something major and good that did happen. For the first time ever my dad made the first move to voluntarily give me a and in public too! Yay!

So tell me more about your work as a carer, who do you care for? What will you do when you get your NHS placement as a medical library research assistant?

I always feel much better after a good .It is a release of emotion that other wise we wouldn't let go of.
Move onwards and upwards with your journey of self discovery
Your trip to see Roger Waters sounded like a lot of funWasn't Cologne beautiful
with the search for your new fridge/freezer.Retail therapy isn't so much fun when it is for household appliances even though they are essential!
Yay for your Dad's voluntary .My Dad is sadly dead,and I still miss him dreadfully at times, usually at family events(a big family wedding next Saturday)I think that grief actually made me question myself about a lot of issues.It makes sense because it is about accepting what we cannot change and changing what we can ,like releasing ourselves from unrealistic standards of perfection that can never be achieved.
I found out I was a far stronger person than I ever imagined.
Well the new job will be archiving files and medical research reports ,I have already passed English,Biology and Anatomy ,so 3/4 of the way there I care for a range of people including(arthritic) ,and to be honest I enjoy it but it does drain you a bit emotionally.So on to new horizons well still within the NHS though

I have got some fantastic pictures of Cologne and some very good memories. I liked the contrast of old and new and the street cafes by the river.

I know what you mean about grief raising questions... It brought out even more anger and frustration in me with the feelings of life not being fair. A decade further on I can actually see good that has happened as a result of my mum not being here anymore. Mum kept dad and I at arms length from each other and acted as a mediator - she liked it that way as she was in the middle and could feed to each of us what she thought we should know. When dad and I tried to build a relationship she helped us tear it down thus ensuring our need for her! Makes her sound awful but she was not aware of this destructive behaviour. With her still here the would never have happened - in fact it would have been mum telling me how to sort my life out. Dad really listens (even when he doesn't like it) and is slowly beginning to learn to respond too!

Your work sounds cool I always wanted to do something that makes a difference but I was in totally the wrong place to even contemplate it seriously until recently. What you were saying about it being emotionally draining would be too true for me, I would think someone being ill was all my fault!!!!!!!! It must be very rewarding too. I hope you pass the next part with flying colours.

I will be off-line for the next week. I plan to relax a lot and not be at all hard on myself... will let you know how it goes!!

Have fun and may your new iron continue to

It really is beautiful Cologne ,am sure it is a photographers dream
Grief is life changing,makes you much stronger and to be much more honest with yourself.Glad you have the chance to build a new relationship with your Dad,seize the opportunity.I only fully realised after my father's death just how many character traits we shared.
Enjoy your holiday ,hope the patient is recovering well.Hope the weather will be kind to you.
I have a grand family wedding to go to next week ,so will get to flaunt my lovely new outfit,and drinkAll the men are wearing Kilts
See you online when you get back

I'm back but have been too busy catching up today! Had a great week off and I even have a tan - which is unheard of!!!

Got the pond lined and just need to fill it and get the plant life, and frogs back in one the water is balanced. Can't wait to reclaim the decking and get rid of the kiddies paddling pool!!!!

Hope you had fun at the wedding (surrounded by all those bare male legs !)... Is it really true what a scotsman wears under his kilt

Glad you are back and tanned ,sounds like you had a great week off.The frogs will be happy to move back into the pond,will you plant water lilies?
The wedding lasted 48 hours they hired a suite of rooms for the guests it was really fun.It was a memorable day ,they were so in love and hopeful and have I hope a lifetime of good memories in front of them.
Oh and no self respecting Scotsman would wear anything under his kilt

Mmm I must visit Scotland !!! Does your boyfriend don a kilt?

48 hours is a good party