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

Just passing and thought I'd drop in with a cup of

I to am a southener who has connections with Liverpool but mine I'm afraid have nothing to do with the football club, instead my northerner Boyfriend is studying there.

Congrats on sorting out the delicate balance between family life and work btw, something for everyone to aspire to.

Anyway have a stunning evening/day (depending on when you read this)

Mel

Hi Mel... Thanks for dropping by with the . Sorry it has taken me an AGE to write back, but I have been "internetless" for a week in depest Essex (your part of the world??!) I was sent to a tiny place called Mark Teys near Colchester.. very enjoyable it was too

How are you?? Are you still in deepest France??? Sounds like fun.

Here have some &

All the best

Spike

Colchester is my home town and I used to have friends who lived in Marks Tey.

There are lots of campaigns in the area to get BroadBand rolled out, but they still only cover a very small area so I'm not suprised you were internetless!

I'm fine, I've had a rather hectic weekend and am now at work, very tired and wondering how much longer I can avoid doing anything constructive!

I'm in France till the end of next June so I've got a while yet, though I'm going home for a while over Xmas.

It is fun though was a little lonely at first, I have to admit that having found the English speaking conglomerate at the Uni here my social life has picked up but my french improvement has slowed down

Mel

Hi there Mel !! Welcome to the week!!

glad to hear I am not the only one finding it difficult to do anything constructive. sometimes it takes more work to avoid it than acutally getting on and doing it though

I have never worked abroad so dont know what you are going through with the old language barriers! I only jsut managed to master english let alone anything else. I admire people who can learn another language enough to actually "live the life" so to speak.

I cant beleive xmas is just round the corner, only five weeks or so my daughter tells me! I must get round to thinking about it soon!.

hope your week goes well. here have some English

Take care of yourself

Spike

Ahhh English I have to admit I have brought my own supplies with me!

The language barrier isn't too bad, a bit of improvised sign language tends to get me by!

Have done some work or should that be but right now am listening to some of the TV themes from when I was a kid and chatting to a friend online.

Don't mention Xmas, I have to find prezzies I can take home on the plane and more to the point that I can get across Paris!

Mel

At least whatever prezzies you do find will be "different" to the ususal "boots" smellies and "hilarious" motif socks for men!!

Mind you , having been in a taxi from one side of Paris and lived to tell the tale (just!) , you can't get anything too fragile can you?

I have just realised I have three birthdays to buy for as well in the next three weeks, god that wa good planning wasnt it!?? sheeeesshhh, I really must get around to doing something about all this prezzie buying soon..

Not much going on today. going to try out a new pasta recipe on the family tonight, see if i can manage not to poison the other half and little 'un too much.

Spike

Well I have to admit I've already bought my Parents a set of 6 espresso cups to go with their new coffee machine so those could be interesting to get across Paris on the metro! (can't afford a taxi!)

I have to find a suitable 21st prezzie for my ex as it was his b'day last sat. He has as yet been totally unhelpful as to ideas I will hopefully get something out of him before I get back though otherwise he may just ahve to wait!

Mmmmnnn.... Pasta... If it turns out to be safe you'll have to let me know what it is. Unless of course it's based on sea food.... though I can always do what I usually do and replace it with chicken!

I think I over work the ! and must learn to stop using it so often...

Mel

Morning Mel....

something for s 21st eh?? Well, got me stumped there it was a looooong time ago when I was 21. Mind you "gadgets" are always a bit of a laugh.
Theres a web site called "Iwantoneofthose.com" which is quite good. Dont know what he is into but it may be worth a look.

Well, wife and daughter are still alive so the pasta was obviously ok.. It wasnt anything to fantastic. basically fry a little dry cured bacon until it is really crispy, put it to one side. Then cook the pasta until "done". Whilst it is cooking make up the "sauce", which is 100ml of cream, five egg yolks (large) and a load of parmesan (or other strong cheese). Then break the crispy bacon into to sauce and add the hot pasta as soon as it is ready. The heat from the pasta is enough too "cook" the sauce. Must admit it was quite nice, very cheeesy...very basic too which is always good for me!

I know what you mean about the !!! I tend to put it in everywhere!!! see there it goes again!!!! Must stop it!!! Damn!

Have a good day.

We have done the iwantoneofthose.com site and found nothing.... apart from the Jet ant the little dog fighters, both of which are well out of my price range!

The trouble is all the red letter day type ideas have already been done, gliding, parachuting, scuba diving any of the driving ones get too expensive again

The pasta sounds great, I think I might have to try that. I practically live on the stuff and that sounds a really good recipie

Mel

Hmmmmm, sorry failed again!! Is he into footy?? other sports?? I will try to get brain into gear....might be difficult on nights but you never know

Hope not raining too much in jolly old France...jsut started pouring hard here (yippeeeee ) I am a saddo who loves the rain!! Mrs says i am nuts... I think she may be right

The only sports he does are Jitsu and Sailing. One doesn't have a lot of kit and the other is way too expensive!

It's been fairly dry here during the day though I think it has been raining during the nights a little. Well it's wet when I get up and there are puddles!

Mel

puddles in the morning are a bit of a clue!

Funny that really

We have just drizzle here at the moment... ho joyus

I like proper rain when it really pounds down and bounces around

Mel

We have had all that rain this weekend. got soaked taking the hound out, and think have got start of yet another winter cold, oh joy of joys.

I don't tend to get colds thankfully. I do get a lot of ear-aches if I'm out in the wind for long, these are easily solved by homeopathic remedies though so they are probably just my imagination!

Mel

Nowt wrong with homeopathic stuff Mel. I ma trying to get into aromatherapy at the moment. Got a few oils and books to learn up with.
Looks quite good, might even go to evening classes or a proper course if i get on with it

Aromatherapy, have to admit that I don't follow a lot of that, things like lavender relaxes, I hate the smell of lavender so it does exactly the opposite for me! Some of the smells are really nice though, some of the Boots ones which are orangy!

The basic theory behind Homeopathic medcine has been disproved but it still works for me, now whether this is a placebo effect or it just shows that we really didn't know how it worked in the first place I can't say.

Mel

Interesting...but as you say, just cos the theory has been disproved doesnt mean it doesnt work. Did you know for exampe it has been theoretically proven that the bumble bee can't fly. Dont suppose any one has told the bee..

I understand aromatherapy is the same sort of thing, no-one really knows why it works, but it seems to! You are right about the smells having different effects on different people though. My Mrs hates anything vaguely musky. a lot of it is down to personal preference.

Yes, dear old bombilius (sp?) major is the most un-aerodynamic creature in the air! Makes you believe that dinasours could fly

The other thing they've disproved is Astrology (yeay), they did a test to see if the astrologers could match people to their birth times and they failed to get above what probability said they would get if they just guessed randomly.

Mel

you have just made my day!!! I will make sure I tell everyone i see about that!! Astrology always has been a load of old tosh. It is my pet hate, all this " you must be a gemini?" "No" oh well a capricorn then? "No". A scorpio "No".... eventually they guess right and say "I thought so" makes me so silly!!