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

Cheeky Blighter! I've never had the epithet Tart applied to me in my life!!! Tho, if you're offering to buy, Jack, a nice chunk of Cherry pie and a mug of please.

(I've never charged, either,* so surely that label doesn't apply?!!)


Twas supposed to be an uplifting comment - pass me that truss and I'll try again!

*absolutely no business sense whatsoever!

A blighter ? what is this, the Beano ? How is my little cherry pie today ?

Sorry! Sometimes the first word that flits across the brain cell isn't always the most modern!!!(Its probably an appropriate word, tho!)


Dead excited Jack - Son No 1 and I are going to attempt to walk me downstairs and accross the car park to the Stop Smoking Clinic This afternoon!


On the up generally - optimisitc,(cheerful, even!), still in shovel loads of pain, BUT confident the cavalry's a coming. Amazing what the feeling of a bit of TLC and support can do for a person. I should have tried it years ago!


I've even braved the terrors of On line shopping at Tescos! Its good, innit?


What happened you yesterday, my young cloak and dagger merchant? Tired PC - or a well earned day off?

Young ? what's our age gap ? I wonder....
Had an outside assignment yeasterday. Blowing up secret bases in hollowed out volcanoes, deflecting bullets with Katanas, usual thursday stuff, was hoping to get back on line by 12, bit I ended up doing the biz till 3 this morning. Ya never know in this game, ya really dunt. PITA, really. what did you get me from tesco's ? anything nice. I remeber going to Sainsbury's one time to pick up a couple of things, and several other people asked me to pick up ods and ends for them. I came through the checkout with four packs of condoms, baby oil, marigold gloves, a flea collar, vaseline, a cucumber.... I can still see the checkout girl's face.....

Not sure what a PITA is, but I'd hazard a guess I'm probably plus 3 on you.

I've met people like you when I did checkout work - you blush and say "Its not for me,,, honest" and I just laugh and think "I bet it is!" and SAY "Of course not, its for your friends, isn't it!!!!" I'm a kind sort of a person, and if it makes me laugh

What did I get for you from Tesco's?

Do you think I'd say THAT in public! Good grief!


Am just off on a mission over the car park.

I might be some time!

x

PITA (pain in the ahh... you're back !)

I shall add that to my list of abbreviations - its a good one - extremely appropriate! Its as good as SBIA, I think.


Done our mission - the Not Smoking Nurse is very proud of me (and so I am!)

Liam and I went via our park on the way home, and found a bench to sit on... just looked at the tree blossom and grinned at the sunshine. I haven't been outside for a week - amazing how much I enjoyed such very very simple stuff.

We also - to my delight, lurched past a "Shop Mobility" sign, and we found their office and went in. I have booked the use of one of those Granny Mobiles for a whole day Jack!

The High Street won't be safe from me!

A Female Hamish wiv attitude!(And a few more teeth, I'd hope)

Yeah!

(And now, I shall bootle off to the limerick thread and see how the limerick about me turned out)

Returns










I don't know what to say.
Thankyou?

where the blossoms pink and white ?

They were. Absolutely beautiful it was, just sitting and looking.

And there were tulips, too. Quite a lot of flowers, really. And just enough graffitti to make the man made stuff interesting! I really, really enjoyed every moment(which must illustrate something about me, even if its to my detriment, I guess!)

The conker trees are putting out their candle-arbras(sp?) the weather was just about perfect... and my next goal is to get to the pond and inflict the ducks with some stale bread.


Did you get a chance to vote yesterday? Regrettably, I knew I wouldn't be able to make the distance to the polling station, and couldn't persuade any of the candidates to give me a lift there and back

Ah well... the country's loss, not mine - I hope!

The blossoms are the Japanese Cherry, a sacred flower in Japan. The fragile blossoms flower every year about this time, and bloom, like us, for all too short a time. To the Japanese, they represent the transient nature of life, and the beauty of the world. They are seen as a living meditation on the importance and sanctity of every moment; each a subjective lifetime. Each year, entire families visit parks and shrines for the 'Blossom Veiwing', an event like the Easter Parade. It's a time to meditate on the last year, to reflect on the future, and to remember the past. The blossoms loose their petals in a snow storm of pink and white calledthe Snows of Spring, which line the roads and parks for weeks. So much a part of the culture is the cherry blossom, that many families use the symbol as their family Mon (crest), and it's nature is an inspiration and the perfect representation of the Way of the Samurai (Bushido). The Samurai were prepared to live without equal, die without question, exist with honour. The blooms, whioch live and die in such a short time were the ideal made real. Indeed, the KamiKaze('divine wind') pilots of the last war were known as the cherry blossom squadrons. The use of the flower in art is unequaled by any other plant. The poet, Matsuo Basho was moved to write in the 12th century:

"Stalwart warriors, blooms on grass.
Splendid dreams,
the aftermath"

The later poet, John Alpha, similarly moved by tales of the Warring states was inspired to pen, in the 20th century:

"Mighty tree is like Samurai.
Like cherry blossoms,
Born to die"

The fragile beauty appears in much Japanese art, and is most recently seen in the Tom Cruise film 'The Last Samurai'. Here the significance is explained, and in the final scene, Katsumoto dies with honour, shot to pieces by gattling guns, but still manages to die by his own hand. As he passes, he sees a single Cherry Blossom Tree shedding its petals like rain, like living poetry. He smiles and says "perfect" as he breathes his last, a vindication of his whole existance. Peace be with him.

The tree is as poular today as ever, and now widespread in this country. But for those who see it, and allow themselves to be touched by it, the message is clear; Life is perfect, fragile, and beautiful. Every second, every breath is priceless, every moment a lifetime, every lifetime a prayer, every prayer a connection between each of us and our world. The past is ashes, and the future but a guess. This second, is everything. It lasts just as long as it does. As long as a Cherry Blossom.

John Alpha, Great grandson of the Samurai Okami Ken Shinobi.

That was really beautiful Jack - and also a lot more eloquently put than "sitting, smiling at the trees" as I said - but the same sort of thought processes apply. I think the whole concept of the symbolism of the Cherry is not just wonderful, but wonder-full, and not, as a lot of Westerners seem to think meloncholic. I seem to remember finding the falling leaves of autumn a symbol of hopefulness when I was a kid for much the same reasens....everything is transient, and absolutely right for that moment - it's learning to live *in the moment* where most of us come unstuck, I think. Me, for certain, but I continue to strive.

It was trying to put words around a concept that is so obvious and at the same time so elusive! How can anyone explain - or feel the need to explain, something that is so instinctive and self evident?

I guess thats where the poetry/art comes in...

The Last Samurai is one of those films I want to hire out - it appealed to me tremendously, but I have to admit to being rather sidetracked lately. This is going to change a lot now I'm getting the support I need to heal properly...

What did you think of the House of Flying Daggers? The lads caught a pirate of it and Liam, who is also a bit of a warrior on the quiet (Tom is still a child in many ways, bless him!) tells me it was fantastic, so that's another one to find from our library.....

I could ramble on far more, but perhaps not right now, eh?

Have a good weekend x

Ther films follow in the mould of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Kitten (Tiger; it's actually a military expression of the period, counselling the wisdom of hiding your strength from the enemy). Daggers is fantastic, but is mainly an action flick. HERO is the better of the current releases, and is a beautiful work of art. You will love both, but Hero is the one to watch ! also, check out the new release of ZATOICHI- it's incredible.

Samurai Jack

Once he's sentient, I'll let Liam read that last posting and he can put them on the wish list.

I'll probably end up compromising and getting both in - the action flick for the lads (and me... I like a good bit of swashbuckling escapism) and Hero (as long as its not too violent) for me to see a bit of art. I'm not saying the lads wouldn't appreciate it, but its a case of common denominator until I win the lottery!

TALKING of wish lists... I've yet again revamped my order to Tesco's - its gonna be a work of art at this rate, in its own right!

How on earth do ordinary people manage to go to work, run a house, have a social life, keep healthy mentally and physically and STILL find time to do internet shopping? Let alone raise kids, dig gardens and generally live simple inoffesive lives?

(That WAS a rhetorical question, btw)

I must've blinked when they issued 30 hour days, somewhere along the line!

I had a very slow, 20minute walk out for myself this morning (didn't quite make the duck pond, but its a small start in the right direction!) decided against the 2 for one offer on coffee at Tescos... and I'm kernackered!

I can't wait to get going on my Grannymobile on Tuesday!

Sorry - got side tracked... who's the lead in Hero?

And have you gone to see Hitchiker yet?

It's not come round to my neck of the woods yet, but even if I have to sleep for a week before AND after going to see it I'm damned well going!

And Son no 1 will want to know who's in Zatoichi - (according to him, it makes a difference.....)

Far as I'm concerned a film is a film is a story in the first instance, anyway. But then, I've never considered myself consciously intellectual.

I just know what I like when I see it....(as the accrtress said to the bishop... yeah yeah, I know)

Seriously, I have always liked Klimt's work. Didn't know who he was... didn't know his history... didn't know a thing about the techniques and brush works, etc etc... but I unconsciously saw his pictures, and without even knowing just found I was drawn to his particular style. I've quite a few prints of his dotted around the house - because I like them, and for no other reasen

Shall I get off my soap box now or may I continue to rant about pretention a bit more?

There ARE no ordinary people, as you demonstrate by the day.

Hero is a chinese film, like the others (Zatoichi is Japanese), but the lead is Donny Yu. It has lots of sword action, violence and excitment, but not a drop of blood... One of the best points is the use of colour. A man describes an event, and the clothes, the room, the decorations, etc, are all the same colour. another man says he heared a different version, and when he speaks, the same scene is played as he describes it, but the colours are different. Somebody else speculates on the truth, and the colours are different again. Only the truth is spoken in black and white.... isn't it ? the scenery is incredible- China looks like another world.

You want Swashbuckling ? Well until I get there, try a fillum called The Musketeer. It's a re-run of the Dumas story, but fresher. The stunts and fights are not performed by doubles and stuntmen, but by acrobats from the Chinese State Theatre. The action is jaw-dropping !


And then, there is The Last Samurai. Dream a little dream of me....

Went to see the Chinese Acrobats when they did the tour of Kent
last year; absolutely amazing. - Trouble was (she says, cracking the same joke about it as I did last year, too) is that after half an hour you wanted more!

It really WAS the sort of evening that should have lasted a lot longer than the evening actually did.

I shall be sending poor Liam out with a whacking great list at this rate...poor kid.

The more I hear about this "Hero" the better it sounds.

What you up to? Not work again, surely?

Work again. Watch francis Ford Coppola's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, starring Gary Oldman. The (Japanese costume designer is a huge fan of Gustav Klimt. When he rises from his coffin, rejuvenated and preparing to come to England, his robes are based on klimt paintings. Once you know, you can spot it.

You realise I'm going to have to get 2 dictaphone type recorders at this rate, don't you?

One for incriminating evidence and one just to record and remind me of the sheer volume of videoes and Stuff I've missed out on!

Gary Oldman as in "Friend's Electric"? Or am I getting my garys mixed up? I think I am...

Sorry... being a bit - OK, a lot brain dead a.t.m. Going to have to go for a kip, I'm afraid Jack

Try not to work too hard, Superman.

You'll only end up like me, and that'll never do!

Get Dracula as well. That was Gary Numan, cloth head.