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

Hi, Ev, just thought I would drop in and see how you are doing these days. Christmas and New Year, and now bad weather seems to get in the way of such a lot of things.

Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year?

anyway,

Websailor

Hey.... of course its not too late to wish me a Happy New Year I hope you and yours are having one that is - so far at least - as good as mine seems to be going

I've been lurking, and keeping up with Stuff, but in honesty, I haven't had much to say - I've been doing lots lately, and just peep in and then get side tracked with stuff beyond the screen.

Lessee... what have I been doing? H'mmm.

Made a load of jewellery and managed to find a local shop that's been displaying it for the last few months. Unfortunately, the recession's bitten deep and so far we've managed to sell 4 pieces, and those just before Christmas. I've agreed to hang on until after Valentines Day, but it looks like I'll have to find another venue to display them for me; the lady whose shop it is, is really struggling herself. No one seems to be able to afford anything much other than basics.

And the clothes she sells, although beautiful, couldn't be considered "basic"

Painting - I got given some canvasses, a load of Acrylic Paints and brushes and pallette knives for Christmas, and I'm having a rare old time splattering colours around and generally making a right mess. I can safely say none of the established artists have anything to fear from me in the way of competition

Talking of Artists, I was lucky enough to be taken away to Brussells for a few days - around a fortnight ago, as a belated birthday present. It's a smashing city; the people are so good humoured and patient with poorly speaking British visitors who relied heavilly on school girl french and a lot of miming. Hellish expensive though, especially with the Euro and the pound being about equal; I saw in one shop a pair of shoes going for 283 Euroes in a Sale!

It was all great (except for the prices generally, and I must admit I wasn't too inspired by the cuisine)

The fruit Beers are well worth trying out, even if they *are 4 quid for 330mls, as well. I didn't dare even attempting to raise a mortgage for a bottle of wine, though.


But the best bit was when we went to the Ancient and Modern Art Gallery - it truely is amazing in there... so many artists' works, Rembrant, Reubens, Renoir, Van Dyck, Brugels, Piccasso, Dali, Mattisse, Manet, Monet ...the list goes on and on and on.

What impressed me most was that I'd *heard of so many; I didn't realise how much I've gleaned thru just reading without realising what I'd taken in.

What else? Health's a bit iffy lately - I've got 8 appointments for various repartments To Look At Me this month alone, which is a right pain in the keester. They're still having a rummage around in the heart dept, and the tummy is being a nuisence (mainly because the blasted ward I was on didn't arrange any damned follow up which has severely pee'd me off), and we now have Problems with the Throat - I seem to have lost the knack of making saliva when I lie down, and the really far back of my throat is constantly dry thru out the day, so consequently Investigations have to be done there, too.

But the Pain Relief Clinic has been taken over by some new consultants, as the old one has had to retire, and so far, they are really amazing. I went for a review the other day and was amazed at the time spent with me, and the practical (and carry-outable) advise I was given. There is also a chance I can be taken off the morphine and be prescribed something a little less dangerous, which would please me immensley.

In the meantime, I've T'ai Chi classes to go to, and some Hydrotherapy has been arranged. And I'm to take some large doses of Magnisium and Vit B5, which may help with some of the nerve pain.

So all in all it's pretty good, really.

I've even had some interviews to get back to work - but it's so dis-spiriting, really. I'm allowed to earn £20.00 a week which I don't have to declare, and there after, for every pound I earn, an equal amount is taken from the Incapacity support; However, not every pound I earn is taken into account for Tax Credits, so basically I'm stuffed and moved sideways into a poverty trap. I worked out that if I had been offered a job, and managed to do the hours, I would, in fact, be MINUS £9.00 worse off a week.

And as every penny counts quite a lot lately (gods bless this resession or whatever pretty name it's being referred to as) I'd be an absolute fool to do it.

However, there is a chance I could do a whole 3 hours lecturing (for minimum wage) up at the local college for the massage classes. I'd have to concentrate on the academic side, rather than the physical, obviously, but it's a small light of hope, that it might be the end of the tunnel I see, rather than the headlights of the on coming train.

The lads are doing fine, despite their hours being cut, as atm, it's off season in the catering trade. Son No 1 has got his papers and is now a real live qualified Domestic Plumber (in that he can change washers and replace cisterns and toilets and that sort of thing) and son number 2 has found a second job so he does late nights at the bar and early mornings at the cafe in a 4 day stretch... around 60 hours in 4 days, which is no mean feat, and I'm impressed with both their determination and energy to keep their heads above (financial) water.

But then, I suppose if a person had Overdrafts as big as those two have, it'd be a marvellous impetus to find work! Son no 1 has his, because he's funding himself thru college...son no 2 has his more because he's a vain little peacock and likes his fancy clothes, and is also building a recording studio in his bedroom, and the latter especially, takes up a lot of his free time and money. I'm given to understand he's attempting to produce and mix an album...... it's music, apparently, but not quite as *we'd know it..... but from what I've heard of his work, it is good, even though its not my taste

Anyway Webbie, I've rattled on for long enough I think. Hope you're keeping warm in this interesting weather.

Being in a coastal town, we're free of snow and ice - but it's been raining and sleeting a storm for the last few days. I feel sorry for anyone who's got solid rain that lays.