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

Hello Neal,

don't apologise for not having posted for a while. After all, I knew you couldn't use your right arm. I didn't post so you wouldn't feel obliged to reply (I know you by now ).
I had hoped you'd be better by now, but by the sound of it, this is not the case.
Don't reply unless you are much better, promise?

I'm glad you had a nice visit to Kew, even if you didn't take amny photos. You can take them another time.

Not long now until the big day!

I'm sure it will be great.

My health is more or less restored, however, my wallet is very ill.

Oh well, I may have to look for a full-time job (I don't really want to, though).

Get well soon.

and s for you and your mum.

Claudia xxx

Hello Claudia,

And I wish you a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year, and a vast improvement on last year.

Hopefully I'll be around a bit, now that my arm appears fully recovered.

I hope the fortnight was not too onerous. Mine was like a rollercoaster. Started with Mum's boiler packing up on Excessmas Eve and too late to fix.It still isn't sorted even now. Looks like a new boiler is to be fitted tomorrow. Just we are in a housing association who pay for it! Excess day was spent at friends where there were more flying around than . It was a mini battle-ground, with just Mum, my friend's Son-in-Law and I maintaining a modicum of decorum... and as my friend was , dinner was a bit . Left at 21.00, as we felt we'd fulfilled out social obligations.
Boxing day was just Mum and I. At least Mum was in the warm. Enjoyable and .

The next three days I spent , washing and ironing. Then back to work for a day, before New Year's eve and Mum's birthday. Unfortunately she was not well enough to celebrate NYE at my local, so I went by myself. It was fairly flat and unfortunately. My first NYE in 12 years without Mum participating. Many locals missed her. she appeared much better today. blame it on the lack of heating... New Year's day I went to the local steam museum, as it was warm, and they had all the engines running. Enjoyable, although I don't think you'd get too about it.

This week I am on holiday, and so far have been tidying and tagging my photos, as well as tweaking the first half of the 'Historic Trees of Kew Gardens'. What a labour of , especially the English oak. That just keeps growing and growing like bread dough.

Anyway, enough of my drivel. I DO hope to be around more now, as the are exhausted until the end of March, so should be home more.

Take care, and best regards to you and your family.

Loads and loads of belated , and

Neal x x x

Hello Neal,

lovely to hear from you.

Our Christmas was quiet and peaceful, as was NYE. K's mum had called saying she wasn't well, so we only went there for about an hour, bringing her some of the dinner I had cooked. I think she doesn't eat properly, and all the wrong things, but there's nothing we can do about it.
Sorry, I forgot about your mum's birthday, and sorry she didn't feel well. Could you please pass on belated happy birthday greetings from me?

Sorry your Christmas dinner didn't work out and the company wasn't nice. Good that you spent the rest of it having a nice day.

So sorry to hear about the boiler. Your mum must freeze.

It's well below zero here, so I'm really glad our heating works.

Good luck with all your projects, I bet they'll keep you busy.

I hope you'll have a good year, health wise and job wise.

s and es for you and your mum

Claudiaxxx

Hello Neal,

I hope you are as well as possible.

I talked with my sister, and it is very unlikely that she'll make it to the Mannheim meet. Sad as that is, it has a positive aspect: there'll be a sofa bed for you if you want it.
So if you haven't booked a hotel yet, you'd be very welcome to stay with us.

s & es (for your mum, too)

Claudiaxxx

Dearest Claudia.

I hope you, too, are well, and coping with the multitude of problems life throws at us.

My apologies for not posting much... I am being wary of conversation threads in case I overstep the mark. Life is being very erratic at present. Maybe Spring will change things.

That is a very generous offer of yours, .

I was going to fly into Frankfurt on Thursday 22nd of April and leave on the 25th, which meant getting the ICE to and from Mannheim. A real adventure, as you know what my German is like. However I can change that, as it hasn't been booked yet, to the Friday, maybe arrive early pm? Nothing will be ed until 25th March, due to restrictions.

If it isn't a major inconvenience, and you agree. would you allow me to take you and F for a meal somewhere Friday evening? It would be the least I can do... It would give us both a chance to have a chat, as I rarely get a chance at the Meets.

You advise me, as I do not want to disrupt your plans and, considering my mobility, I do not want to be a bother. I am looking forward to seeing you again. It seems like years!!!

Special VR s s and s until April, and a very felt from Mum.

Neal x x

Hello Neal,

let me know once you've booked your flights and I'll see to maybe taking the Friday off work (depending on when you'll arrive).

Going for a meal somewhere on Friday evening sounds good, but we can decide once you're here.

I'm having another tooth that needs a crown, I wonder if that will ever end.

At least we're having a sunny and nice day today.

Not long to go now, only a bit more than seven weeks. I hope you'll get some cheap flights by the time you want to book them.

s & to your mum and you

Claudiaxxx

Hello Claudia,

Just a quick visit, as I have been away for the weekend, at Dad's, who has returned with me for an 'English for non-native speakers' course. It's over three days, so my aero-bed is in front of the computer, making it awkward to use. Back Wednesday, so will catch up then, and apologies.

Please take care and stay warm.

s and es from Mum and I.

Neal x x x

Thanks for letting me know.

Have a good time with your dad.



Claudiaxxx

My goodness, Claudia, where has the time gone?

It seems only yesterday that I was my birthday and thinking of the German Meet... and that was almost six months ago!

for not being about much. No excuses. Although the extra-long winter didn't exactly inspire.

How have you been keeping? Well, I hope. I notice that you have been having PC problems again! to hear that. I hope it is resolved soon.

for me that my new, super-cool laptop is now wirelessly online and working, as is my ailing Mac! And the data transfer appears to have worked to! . Without recourse to a or a so now to get cracking on my photos and entries. I have been given some new info on the Raleigh bicycle company, that will increase the size of that entry.

I've also been to see my specialist at the , who has effectively said that there is no more he can do, except tinker behind the scenes to see if a name can be given to my of a problem.

Next I suppose I must make an appointment with my and find out what happens next.

My week at work has been interesting, with a moment this morning. I asked to spend a week actually on the shop floor, serving customers, just to see how my body would react... And it wasn't an scenario. This morning it effectively said 'You are on your own, Mate!' in no uncertain terms. My right knee and hip ache, my shoulders are stiff, and I feel very .

BUT! I will not get or . The is that I will be seeing you, and other friends in around ten days, and I have booked my season ticket for the Folk Festival... So there are things happening, which I'll explain when I see you, so not all bad!

Stay well, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Special VR s, es and s from Mum and I, until I can exchange them with RL ones.

Neal x x x

I am just sending healing vibes to the 's mantle, that it heals by Thursday so that I can still on Friday, or I'm going to be very .

Do you realise it is 4 years ago, this weekend, since I was last in Germany...

Keep your fingers crossed, please?

s and es,

Neal x x

I'll definitely keep my fingers crossed.I really hope that volcano will stop spitting ashes soon.

Depending on how long this goes on, I may not get to London, either.

But it's still early days, so I just hope we're both lucky.

Hope you had a good weekend and have fully recovered from your sore muscles. I think Webbie has a point: I'd always try to cool an inflammation, not take a hot bath. But then you know best, I guess.

Give my love to your mum,

s and s

Claudia xxx

The weekend has been good so far, . Glorious day today, but I didn't get much chance to enjoy it, due to a late night from a gig last night, and shopping today.

The leg has eased considerably, although the shoulder is still tight, hence the bath.

I am now pinning my hopes on KLM and other on deciding if the severe restrictions can be lifted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8628323.stm

I am really looking forward to the weekend, and seeing you again.

I know. It is down to dear Planet to decide.

I shall be following the news avidly for the next few days, in .

Special anticipatory s and es, with from Mum, as always.

Neal x x x

I'm glad you're better.

Very sunny and warm day here, too, so I got my mother-in-law's bike and cycled a bit. Haven't cycled for ages.

Cooking tea now, then a lazy Sunday evening in front of the TV.

I really hope you'll be able to come here. If not, we may plan another meet.

s to cook.

Hi Claudia,

Hope you are well, and not too exhausted for the weekend.

Everything is sorted, although a bit of a flap yesterday... Shall explain tomorrow, but boarding pass printed, passport checked, Euros purchased and I just have my bag to pack. For ease, I'm bringing a wheeled trolley, only because it is less tiring to use than a shoulder bag, although I will have one for Saturday.

ETA 13.20 your time, if the flights have settled down. I'm really looking forward to the weekend.

See you tomorrow.

s and es, and special from Mum.

Neal x x x

Hello Neal,

I'm really looking forward to it, too. Don't pack many clothes, you won't need them.

I had en email today from Lufthansa, telling me that they're doing the regular flights again. They say there could still be delays, though, and to check with them before flying.

Just let me know if there'll be any delays tomorrow. You have my mobile phone number.

Have a good flight tomorrow.



s & es to your mum and you

Claudia xxx

What more can I say?

To have ignored a really good, delightful friend for four months is really unforgivable, and to make her delete her friends list makes it even harder!

All I can do is say . I could make excuses, but none really work.

So what can I say?

To be honest, nothing. I really can't.

I just hope my entry for next month's goes some way to explain why, but it does not do you justice.

I will always be a good, honest, true friend to you, despite my many faults.

, and Neal x x x

Don't apologise. You know real friends can always start where they left, no matter how long ago. And we kept in touch in other threads. And I know you were busy with the elephant hunting.
So please, don't feel you have to apolgise for anything, because there really is no need for it.

And I know you'll always be a good friend. I never doubted it, and never will.

Apart from that, we all have our faults. Such is life.

and s

Claudia xxx

It is hard to believe I am going to Hull in 10 days time, and not for a Meet! I am off to photograph fibreglass decorated toads there. Train tickets and hotel booked, route mapped and I'm looking forward to it, as well as a chance to see Hull by myself.

Otherwise life is pretty good. At present I am off work with a throat infection, which means I've been very today. I had to go shopping, and found it difficult not to speak!

Mum has filled out the form asking to be considered for the two-bed flat. It will be a shock, but I'll survive it.

Today the drug squad raided my neighbour's flat, battering in the door. Not what I'd expect. He was a pretty quiet lad.

Thanks for the FB acceptance. I'm not ignoring H2G2, it is just that some of my H2G2 friends appear to spend more time there than here, including Cyn!

Missing here though! Had a good day with at Kew with Venus last Friday. Long day, lots of chat and she bought me a lovely elephant for my birthday. Bless.

Btw, I have now uploaded my elephant photographs here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madfiddler/sets/72157624608271825/

Feel free to dip in and out as you wish. Just a few more to position on the map, then I can write my of the event. Just hope it isn't too long, although how do I condense 14 days into minimal words!

Stay in touch.

Very special s and es

Neal x x x [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

Don't know what happened there. Nothing sensitive there... In fact nothing there.

MMF

Hi Claudia,

Hope you are well and have had a good summer. Been good here, and had a great weekend in Hull. but very Sunday and Monday. Got back late last night, and had a stack of washing and ironing to do today. Relaxing and tagging photos.

At least Hull's toads didn't take 2 months.

Btw, thanks for the FP in . I wasn't sure if it would be suitable. Would you like another instalment for next week, or the week after? I can do a number of them based on the journey I took if you think it is ?

Take care and enjoy the rest of the week.

s and es, Neal and Mum.