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

I've been meaning to drop by your space and say hello for a while - we seem to play the same games at the same time . And I don't care if they're 'trivial'- I like them!
I also like the colour blue - it's a joke in my family that I like all colours - as long as they're blue!
Are you working from home today - or are you at work? I'm off until Tuesday - yippeeee
I've been pottering around this morning - even been in the garden planting out a few things I grew from seed last year.
Well enough trivia from me.

Hi, Teuchter.

I like the trivial games, too. I've been a member of H2G2 for 4 years, since its announcement on "Tomorrow's World" here in the UK. 'Ask H2G2' has always been there for a mixture of trivial and 'deep' discussions - and long may it continue to be so!

I'm not at work today - I'm between temping 'assignments' (what actors would call 'resting'!) So I'm just pottering around, spending some time on the computer , doing housework, doing a jigsaw (Photomosaics are so hard!). I probably won't get another assignment until June, largely because I'm off to Scotland for a 'proper' holiday for the last two weeks in May.

I also think the best thing about H2G2 is the mix of serious and trivial! I've only been here since Christmas but have met some lovely people - had/read thought provoking discussions and a bit of a at some of the sillier stuff. We need a bit of to keep us sane!

I'm a big jigsaw fan too! Not too keen on the photo-mosaic ones - too much like hard work. Have you done any of the Millers antiques ones? It's become a tradition in our house that there must be a jigsaw at Christmas - we must invest in one of those mat thingies to make life easier.

Whereabouts in Scotland are you headed. It's a beautiful country and I miss it .

I've not tried the Miller's jigsaws, but I do like the Wasgijes produced by Falcon (I think). The picture on the box is *not* the picture you end up with. You have to put yourself in the position of somebody in the picture on the box, and try to see it from their point of view. There are clues in the picture (and on the back of the box), so it's not as hard as it sounds. It is fun though.

We'll be camping in Scotland. I think the first week or so will be spend near Ardgartan. The second week will be spend at Poolewe. There are two reasons for our trip being at the end of May. One is that's when the weather is usually at it's best in Scotland. The other is that there is an annular eclipse at dawn on May 31st. Don't say it too loudly, though, as hardly anybody seems to know about it, and we don't want hoards of tourist up there like there were in Cornwall in 1999. (I went, it was cloudy, didn't get the full effect. I'm hoping for clear skies on May 31st this year!)

Another good reason for going in May is that there aren't too many midges!
We once saw a lunar eclipse on our way to West Loch Tarbert to catch the ferry to Islay. We left Glasgow in the middle of the night to make the earliest crossing of the day and were able to follow the progress of the eclipse as we went up Loch Lomond, Loch Fyne etc. Magical!

Must look out for those Wasgijes - but not until nearer Christmas as there's too much needing done in the garden just now.

Enjoy Scotland! Do go to Islay if you ever get the chance - one of the most relaxing places on earth and great for wildlife, deserted beaches, walking etc etc.

The great thing about lunar eclipses is that although they don't happen as often as solar eclipses, the zone of totality is greater, so you've got a better chance of seeing one. The large zone of totality means that you *can* follow its progress. Having said that, I've never seen a lunar eclipse. I'm looking forward to the annular solar eclipse, though.

You're right about the midges. We've found that they pretty much avoid me, but make a bee-line (or should that be a midge-line) for Richard. He hates them with a passion.

Hi CD

Sorry to hear you weren't able to have your holiday and that your father-in-law is having a really rough time - as are the rest of you .
Life throws some really shitty stuff at us sometimes! Hope some of the good stuff comes along soon to balance things out for you.
Thinking of you.
T

Thanks for the . Like I've said, even the virtual ones help. One great thing is that Richard likes plenty of the real thing. Right now he needs all the help and support I can give him.

The news that Dad probably won't be coming home really shook Mum (that's Richard's mum, BTW). It was hard enough for her to not have him there on their wedding anniversary, but to get the bad news on that day was really upsetting for her. However, she's gradually coming to terms with it, thinking in terms of shopping for one instead of for two, just buying foods that she likes to eat instead of having to cater for his tastes / dietary needs as well. (He had a heart attack some years ago, so she's been very careful what he eats ever since.) She's also looking forward to having her kitchen back - Dad spent a lot of time in there and put things where he wanted them, not where she could get at them.

Long term we might end up having their dog. He's a lively little thing, less than 1 year old, and she's not sure she can cope with him on her own.

Still things will probably sort themselves out in the long run. All we can do is stick together and provide mutual support. When he goes, we will all miss him.

So sorry about Joey . Not a great start to the day for you. Hang in there girl - and keep being strong for Richard and his Mum and Dad.
Lots of s for you all.

Richard had part of yesterday afternoon off and took me out for some retail therapy. Actually, we bought each other things to cheer each other up. I bought Richard a pair of cufflinks shaped like spanners - he loves tinkering. Richard went to The Bear Factory and had a bear made for me. When I press its tummy it snores. (Family joke - Richard's snoring is so loud that if he falls asleep downstairs, I can hear him upstairs in our bedroom. He doesn't even need to be in the same room to keep me awake with his snoring!) The bear's name is Joey, in honour of our beloved cat.

On the plus side, Richard's dad is so much better that they've moved him back into the main ward. It doesn't make any real difference to the overall prognosis. We're still not sure if he'll ever come home or, if he does, for how long. Consequently the holiday is still postponed indefinitely.

Retail therapy? Works for me too! At least it takes your mind off stuff for a few hours - and it sounds like you and Richard had a good time.
I bought my husband aeroplane cufflinks for our anniversary - he works at an airport!
Glad your father-in-law is back on the main ward. The important thing is that the time he has left is as easy for him as possible and that he is relatively pain free and comfortable.
s for you all

Hi
Just wondered how things were with Richard's Dad? I hope he is comfortable.

Have you been enjoying the summer weather? It's been a bit too hot down here for this particular Pict! We don't have any windows at work and by afternoon the AC gives up and it's pretty uncomfortable. Still, it's pretty good if you don't have to work.

I've got my Mum staying for a few days - finally managed to winkle her off this machine and get a shot myself! I've been teaching her to e-mail and have had her playing Patience and Free Cell to improve her mouse skills. Unfortunately she's now addicted to these games!

Anyway - I do hope everything's ok with you. s for all

Jane

Dad's condition has improved to the point where they're talking about letting him come home sometime soon. He still has his ups and downs. Yesterday he was sick, and when he's sick they give him an injection, which makes him go groggy.

Mum has had a downstairs toilet installed so that Dad doesn't have to struggle up and down stairs whenever he needs to go. The only place it could be fitted was their old pantry, which is so small that the wall is going to have to be extended out by a few inches so that you can close the door while you go!

To bring you up to date on Dad, he is now home. He's weak and sleeps a lot, which doesn't surprise us given his condition. He's also groggy and a bit out of things mentally, which also doesn't really surprise us. However, he is able to do things for himself, like get himself upstairs to the bathroom for a shower when he wants one. It's taken some of the stress off us in that daily visits to the hospital have finished - for the time being, at least. Mum loves Dad dearly (they've been married 54 years), but even she was starting to say things like "I wish I didn't have to go tonight." She's 76 and it was getting a bit much for her.

Still no sign of Richard being able to take a holiday, though we're hoping to get away for the last week in July.

Glad there's been some improvement with Richard's Dad. Being home and able to do some things for himself is great - and eases the burden somewhat for the rest of you.

Hope you manage to get away at the end of the month - you both deserve a good rest and some time to yourselves.

We've got time-off booked in August but nothing arranged so far - we may have left it a bit late. Will probably end up in Scotland but that will do us fine.