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

How are you doing Rod? I trust you are well. Pictures of southern lights are really . I hope you got to see some of them. They look to be worth losing some sleep.

http://news.yahoo.com/pink-aurora-southern-northern-lights-photo-new-zealand-152328218.html

Hello Elektra, nice to hear from you.

Southern Lights - missed 'em - must remember to keep an eye out... yes they'd be worth staying up for!


Me? I'm subdued, treading water, still waiting for my Little Wooden Hut to go up on Dorty's land - it's position is determined now and Soil (SOn In Law) knows where the roadway will go - but (strangely?) it won't be put in until after the house is assembled (it's in sections, being built in the workshops now and is progressing nicely). It won't be too long now thankfully ... this great big four-bedroom house takes a lot of filling by one little boy.

Because it'll be on what's termed as a flood plain, it's going to be on stilts (probably 600mm/2ft) though that part of the land hasn't been affected during the last fifty year's records... therefore one of my current concerns is the workshop - more than half a lifetime's collection of tools and equipment currently filling up the second garage. I've been using it less and less in the past months but Dorty insists I bring everything with me.

I'll have a view along Dorty's 10 acres (interrupted by that neighbour's house & trees) of the Port Hills to the North, from lathe (or workbench, depending on how I lay it out, probably lathe).
Another big plus will be that Doglet will have a lot more freedom on the 10 acres - I'll just have to walk the marches with her a few times to let her know where the limits should be and to introduce her to the other animals.





... and you, Elektra (and er, er ...him of course,) How are you keeping? what are you up to at present? ...

Sorry for the delay getting back to you. We have moved north over 500 miles to western Pennsylvania, to a small town that is close to DGs sister and brother-in-law. It is very pretty but this year before we came there were 18 inches of ice on the dirt road that goes to their farm. Fortunately when they moved all our stuff the main roads were clear but DG's car doesn't have snow tires so we aren't likely to be traveling in it much before spring gets here (without I hope spring blizzards) nothing like having to wear winter boots with your Easter bonnet. Since food isn't taxed in Pennsylvania the expenses should be a lot less here. And it is lovely to be able to walk places with sidewalks and everything. I am hoping that the warmer weather will put in an appearance soon. Our house is about 100 years old and is well insulated. I am interested in hearing from you how your house is progressing. On stilts no less, that is very . We'd be thrilled to get more entries from you for on how you are faring with Doglet and your workshop.

Elektra,

Oh dear. I've just noticed it's 4 weeks since your message

You've moved ... NORTH of all directions?
"... it is lovely to be able to walk places with sidewalks and everything."
hmm... where (on earth?) were you before?
- - -

The last several weeks / months haven't been good at this end . . not bad, particularly, just not good. Things going awry, little things mostly but a nimportant thing - my disputer went on the blink ... off to the town's experts with disputer under one arm and modem under the other ... "Come back in a week or so".
So I did - not a very Good Friday to find a CLOSED notice... Anyway, come Tuesday, "Can't find anything wrong with your disputer but not completely happy with the modem, though we can't see anything actually wrong with it - and we ain't gonna look inside one of they thingies..."
"Oh, (oh dear, what have I done to it?) Will you come out and set me up, please (- with a new modem)?"

So here I is, somewhat tardy but with good intentions . . . Hoping the poor patch is at it's end...


Yes, I am trying - something seems to have gone missing but have a (short) piece coming along (slowly - perhaps this will give me a kick?) for a "MUST SEE" place if any of you ever visit here. Then, of course, there is "My Little Wooden Hut" awaiting progress (and it IS progressing)... None of which is helped by me having to wear that notice, stapled just above where my hairline used to be: OUT TO LUNCH, it says.


Rod

Well, Rod. Before we moved we were sort of in an exurb. That's where they develop farmland and put a big shopping mall----then stores and apartments grow around it. But they don't feel that things like sidewalks are necessary and the roads have very narrow shoulders so pedestrians sort of take their life in their hands to walk down them and have to wear bright colours to increase their visibility. In addition there really is not much public transport because the population is less dense than in a city and when everyone uses a car to get to places it is hard on people who don't drive or can't afford to maintain a car.

Now we are in a small town,near the town center.

I hope your computer problems are fixed.

WhatTheYell happened there?
I spent half an hour composing a reply, sent it ... it disappeared, the tab closed down - - - nothing

Will this get there? Let's see ... ...

well, that worked.

Elektra,

You were in an exurb ... good word, that - not seen it before.
Now you're in a small town, near the town centre... for your sake I hope it stays small.

We moved here, to the outskirts of a small, very attractive town, population approaching 10,000. now it's no longer the outskirts, population well over that (largely escapees from the Christchurch earthquake), though the traffic speaks of substantially more.
I wanna bypass, though to be fair I'll soon be moving into My Little Wooden Hut on Dorty's land and can, once more, get on with the pleasurable task of ignoring the outside world.