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

Hi Universal Granny!

Thanks for your intro - what free time?

Don't count the days too quickly. I had all these plans I never understood how women who never worked could make housework last all day - you know what I mean - I still get up at the crack of dawn - the dog has no conception of lies in, 5:00am has always been down the fields/woods time and he sees no reason to change the habits of a lifetime now! I was going to spend more time in the garden/creosote the shed, install a pond etc etc. However, I quickly found myself transported into the ever increasing mystical world of 'canujust'. Friends, relatives, complete strangers have started ringing/e-mailing/knocking on my door with cries of "now you have all this extra time to spare, can you just"

Its still wonderful though, I've so far managed to make vast amounts of damson and blackberry & apple jam, banana wine and enough bread baked in the freezer to see me through a siege.

I am in the midst of organising my 5th school reunion for about 80 people.

My hound from hell is a Labrador x Border Collie which until we had him, nobody told me was the worst possible combination. He looks 99% Lab with the pigheadedness of the Border. Still love him to bits though.

Husband spent the last 30ish years driving both coaches and heavy trucks, so I understand your desire.

What is your dog like?

Good Lord is it really 12:15? I sat down here around 10ish and have obviously got seriously carried away.

Take care - speak soon

My is the 1% of your dog that is not too apparent! She is a pure border collie, and as subservient as they come. Tell her to "sit", "stand" "lie down" and all will get the same response, flat on her back, legs in the air, submissive "Anything, ANYTHING, you want, I will do, providing it involves me lying on my back with my legs in the air and exposing my tummy" (the dog that is, not me!).

Yes, I know the "canujust" or CYJ, I call it, syndrome. I am a night shift worker, and so have some free time in the day, but friends/relatives/neighbours/grandchildren all forget that I have to SLEEP sometime!

I like the sound of banana wine. One question, are you in England? And if not, where? Or have I not read your space properly. Probably, sounds like me.

Take care, Universal Granny

Oops, yes, just seen it - Derbyshire. Sorry, senior moment!!

UG

Good Morning or perhaps its now Afternoon

Your little lady sounds wonderful. My fellow is reasonably obedient, will sit, stay, arrives at the speed of light when I whistle in the wilderness (which is quite useful at Midnight)as he weighs around 8st of muscle. This of course pre-supposes that he has no better plan of his own at the time; fortunately always responds to my whistle even if he sometimes chooses to ignore the rest!!

Strange you should mention banana wine. I've just spent the last 10 minutes typing it up for 'sho(me the way to go home)' who's hubby likes making things with bananas.

I notice that you went back to determine where I live, so I needn't put that in.

Keep smiling - speak soon

Still smiling!!

Hi again!

Glad you're still smiling - me too.

This is a wonderful day - the sun is shining, the dickie birds are singing, the dog is happy with the most enormous bone you could imagine and all's right with the world.

All was not right with Scamp's world the other morning however. He had a new bone then too. He left it on the patio at bed-time (big mistake that) at 3:00am the security light came on and we were just in time to see Mother fox disappearing through the hedge with it - closely followed by two hopeful looking cubs. I could swear she was grinning.

Where have you been lately and what have you been up to?

Hello Scorpio Witch

Great to hear from you again. You have fox trouble too, do you. I am not sure if you are in a rural area of suburbia as I am. We have many suburbian foxes who boldly walk along the street, even in daylight, scavenging for whatever they can.

Unfortunately, one of them scavenged for my little cat once and she only just escaped with her life. Cost me an arm and a leg and three weeks stay at the vet's to put her right, and she cannot go out now because her back leg was so badly damaged that she cannot jump or run, which would be like feeding her to the fox again if I let her go!

I went to watch my two-and-a-half year old grandson at his swimming lesson yesterday. The usual drill is that I get him ready whilst his Mum is getting changed, and then I dry and dress him whilst his Mum gets herself dry and dressed. He can almost undress himself now, he's out of nappies so it is quite easy, and he wriggles into his swim trunks with no problem, but getting dried is a different story.

He climbed out of the pool yesterday, held his Mum's hand until he got level with me and then reached to be picked up because he was cold (and he always says Granny is warm). I couldn't refuse him but he still had his trunks on and he was fresh out of the swimming bath, and I got sodden!! And, for once, I was not wearing a light blouse which would dry out quickly, but a heavier courderoy type one which held the water good and proper and make me look as though I had serious breast leakage!

Other than that I have been out in the garden getting things ready to put into the greenhouse at the first sign of frost, and fussing over my new lawn!

All pretty routine stuff really. I went out to the local theatre tonight to see a production of "Girls Night Out". It was either a mediocre professional performance, or a very good amateur production, but I enjoyed it, plenty of singing and nostalgia and comedy. I was up and dancing in the aisles at the end with everyone else . And then it was a quick skate home, change into my work clothes and off for the night shift - always spoils it, that

Talking of which, I had better get my head down to some of this paperwork, so had better sign off. Hope you're OK - tell me your news when you can.

Take care Universal Granny

Hi again!

I'm an urban dweller. Mrs Fox is probably both as we are only 5 minutes from the open countryside; although we live in town. I'm afraid that I don't conform either, the fox is welcome in my garden. I was still very sad to hear the news about your cat though. I have two cats (now 12yrs old) they are indoor cats, so do not face any danger of the fox kind. In fact, my next door but one neighbour deliberately feeds them. Second bone in a week has been nicked now! dog very puzzled - good job I keep several in the freezer or he'd be sick as a parrot by now.

When my Daughter first went swimming, she was very small and young too. I found it best to abandon towels almost altogether. I took a bath robe. That way, as soon as you put them in it they are nice and warm and you can then use a towel for the exposed bits without any rush or hassle. Also if they trot off, they are still drying instead of leaving you holding an empty towel.

My garden is getting somewhat bare now, have harvested almost everything apart from leeks, a few courgettes and some lettuces/salad leaves. Soon be time for its Winter dig. Flower borders are still doing well though and the sweet peas/morning glory over the archway are still in full bloom.

Keep smiling

Hello Scorpio Witch! Hows ya doin'? Our thread was so far back in my list that it had dropped way out of sight until I had a trawl about to see if I had missed anything.

All is well here, fourth grandchild expected in 4 weeks time , first, second and third grandchildren all doing well, growing fast, as cheeky and loving as ever - just finished an exhausting babysit!!

Well, not too exhausting really, just that the 6 year old girl was feeling a bit weepy that Mum and Dad were going out and kept waking up and remembering Mum wasn't home so had a bit of a sob, cuddle with Granny, and back to bed again - four times!!

Christmas catching me up fast, work cascading about my head, but still cheerful!

Hope you are OK

Take care UG

Hi UG!

Great to hear from you again after all this time, busy myself so I know its not easy to respond to everybody whenever we would like.

Doing fine here in Derbyshire as I hope you are. Don't have Grandchildren yet; but ever hopeful for the future. Shouldn't wish it yet though as Daughter just finished Uni with no maternal instincts.

Are you expecting a Christmas baby next?

We still have visitations from Mrs Fox and her cubs; they are getting quite big now and are really bossy with Mum (a bit like mine)

If we don't speak again before the great man arrives, have a great Christmas and a prosperous New Year. If you are like me, the main event is for the pleasure of the little ones - isn't it wonderful to watch the magic in their faces on observing all the wonderous things which Christmas brings.

Hi again!

Extra bitty I forgot earlier.

We are about four miles from the Midland Railway Centre in Ripley, Derbyshire. This is the Midlands main steam railway centre, which deals with restoring old steam trains. They have regular visits from 'Thomas' etc and run regular connections with the normal rail lines so that locals can travel to the coast etc. It is an extremely busy station and they are currently running 'Santa Specials' with sherry, mince pies and presents for the young ones.

It has been an extremely successful venture over the past ten years or so, and as you appear to be interested in steam trains, I thought it might be of interest.

Have a great Christmas xxx









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I have lost track of my favourite engine of all time, the "Sir Nigel Gresley". I know she failed her insurance inspection and has been taken out of steam, but I think they are going to have to set up a fund to get her repaired and I would like to donate - all I know is that she has gone "up North".

Thanks for the info about the Midland Railway Centre - that is not one I have heard of, although we have had Thomas days down here on both the Watercress Line and the Bluebell Railway - my two eldest grandchildren have been, and we are hoping to take the youngest next time we go. Well, actually, by then, of course, he won't be the youngest, his brother/sister will be, but you know what I mean.

New baby expected on 4th January 2005

Lots of love and cheer to you at Christmas

Take care Universal Granny

Hi Friend!

Hope that you have a really wonderful Christmas with your Grandchildren.

I think that I've really lost the plot about where you're from - You speak of 'Sir Nigel Gresley' having 'gone up North' - this may be South to me!! any ideal of where he's been sent - it may be in my area.

Just finished putting the marzipan on my Christmas cake - I know its a bit late but not had time lately - will be icing it tomorrow.

Please let me know how things go with the new arrival - hope all goes well as I'm sure it will - keep knitting.

Very best wishes for the festive season - speak soon

xxx

Ah.. yes... it probably is South for you, no too sure of the geography, but I think she went to the Carlisle-Seattle line. Not too sure, but she used to run out of York or thereabouts, and I seem to think it was further north than that, that she had been retired (all engines are "she" despite their actually names!)

I expect I could Google something up about her if I really thought about it - not used to this internet thingy yet, although I did do a bit of buying for Christmas off the web - I was very impressed with some of the things on offer that are just not obtainable in England.
And they arrived, good as gold, in the post, in time for Christmas.

Have a great Christmas, a Peaceful New Year, and keep an eye out for the journal because when Grandchild No.4 is born - EVERYONE will know!!!!!

Take care UG