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

He s doing good but knows his limitations these days so asks for help now with stuff in the garden. He s still up and out with the dawn chorus or before armed with his camera and the dog!! He puts us all to shame. Blinkin hero!

Getting lots of pleasure from my garden this year. Its really coming together and everything is shooting up and filling out. Its been a great spell of weather up here. Went cool for a couple of days but hardly any rain for a month so plenty watering to be done.

Am off with Bob to Tenerife at the begining of June and will hopefully get up Teide this time. We ll be hiring a car for more travelling around to see greener bits of the island and to experience the tight bendy roads across the mountains. Would be pretty scared if I had to do it in the bus and it 'll give us lots of flexibility for beating the main tourist trips.

Hows life with everyone?

Dad is still going strong with a better result at the hospital recently - not cured or anything but tumour has slowed which will hopefully give him longer but nothing is certain and we just enjoy lots of time and laughs together. Parents off for week in Islay again after enjoying a weekend there a month or so ago. We ve ventured many places in Scotland but the islands make it expensive to travel so they are just going for it and going again. Hope for a holiday down to Oxfordshire sometime too, to see my bruvs new house. Still not moved in yet since buying before xmas. But Teuchter, you ll know about mess and chaos after your renovations the other year!!!

Anyways - ttfn

Doll in a jeffeys tube

Hi NR,

Good to hear that your dad is ok. I think sometimes that life is all about the moments - if things are good right now then that's all we can ask for.

Things are kinda good right now. Coming back to Cork was like the lifting of a huge fog. I was in bad form during the months leading up to it, but as soon as I came back home I felt different - lighter, happier, able to laugh again. My kids have been great - what incredible personalities they are developing! F is finished her exams and on holidays for a week, so I have them all to myself.

Next week I start a new job! I'm thrilled about it, but a bit apprehensive at the same time. I'll be managing some very experienced people. I'm really looking forward to it though.

Big A had his first holy communion last Saturday. It was a big family occasion with all the pain and heartache of the last few years nowhere to be seen. A nice day even if yours truly kept his views on the ceremony to himself.

Enjoy your trip to Tenerife! Lucky you!

W

Ay up! Any news from you two?

All good here. Busy with my new job and trying to get some exercise in ahead of my big walk down in Kerry in a few weeks time.

Oh my time has flown.

Just back from dentist getting more gold. Bling bling indeed!

my grandad is in hospital - now three weeks - not sure if he will be coming home as the longer he lies there the more his mobility goes down hill. Dad due scan results on Tuesday so will let you know how that goes.

I've had some good news recently which means I'll be able to realise a dream of owning a classic car. I'd love a Stag but as I have to get a garage to work on any car we buy, it'll be out of my price range. Some sort of Triumph is likely but we saw a beautiful Amazon the other day but sadly we've decided against it as we want a Runner not a full blown project - well, not yet anyway! I'd DEARLY love a Zephyr or Zodiac but Bob not keen on Fords - Boooo!!!! Bad boyfriend! So in a couple of weeks time we will be going to Culzean Castle to the classic car show there to whet our appetite. EXCITING!

Still in same job but getting less hours - bit of a pain but have to be ready to become a carer for either POP or Dad so cant take extra work.

As for fitness, that deserted me along time ago when I stopped walking everywhere and Bob started picking me up from work!

Be in touch soon chums!

I'm currently walking around with a gaping hole in my teeth where a crown (or something) once was. I still haven't worked up the enthusiasm to go into a dentist..

My walk along the Kerry Way was just brilliant. It was tough on the feet but they soon recovered. The views along the way were just spectacular and it was great to meet so many nice people over the 3 days. I also raised a bit of money for the cancer research charity so I'm happy with how it turned out.

Fingers crossed for your dad..

Dad got a good result today with no further growth visible. Really pleased.

Thanks for raising money for cancer charity as , lets face it, we ALL know someone affected.

Off to hospital to see my grandad(pop).

TTFN

That's great news, NR! A huge relief for everyone I imagine.

The whole cancer thing is fairly personal cause now, since it has visited 3 people in my extended family, yours truly included.

Oi you lot! Hope you are all keeping well.

All well here. still loving the job, have a new car, and . Off to the US again with work in a few weeks. On hols in Kerry too in a few days. Man, if they don't have internet access there I'll shrivel up!

The days are getting short again, but I don't mind so much: in a better place this time around than last year, I guess.

Colm

Oops. It has been rather a long time

I'm delighted that life is going well for you, Woodpigeon

As for me? I feel I'm in limbo, just marking time until Mr T finishes his oriental sojourn.

How are you, NR?

Ooh! Halloween anagrams! Cool!

A little bit of bad news yesterday. More suspicious moles found. Lurking in the recesses of my back this time where I wouldn't easily spot them.

I feel as if the rollercoaster is starting all over again.. I'm booked for an outpatients op in about 2 months, which feels a bit long now that I know they are there.

Worrying, I know. But if the medics were Very Concerned, they'd have you in theatre a lot sooner.

I don't suppose your employer gives you health cover? That might be one way to expedite matters and put your mind at rest a bit sooner?

Isn't life a bit of a bu**er sometimes? Just when you start to relax, something else creeps up and bites you on the bum.

Yes - I have good health cover, but it's a case of gaining access to what is a very scarce resource - a consultant. This guy's order book was full right up to January! His secretary seemed to think that she was doing me a favour by booking me in in December..

I've begun to realise that we should forget about stability and look at life as one melodrama after another. The spaces in between are akin to a locker room, waiting for the next big game to begin.

Woody,

Hope this isn't bad taste, but life shouldn't be about one melanoma after another

Yeah, its weird the way cancer is so dangerous but no one ever seems to be in a hurry to cut it out you! All the best and big OMMMMSSSSS coming your way.
Dads next appt is December and he seems to be doing well. He gets terminal living allowance(badly worded I think) so they are enjoying lots of holidays on Islay this year. Managed to sneak onto early ferry yday rather than being storm bound today - storm force winds etc.

Not sure if i mentioned previously but we are in the market for a classic car - specifically a Zephyr mKII. Going to prospect one tomorrow in Manchester. Very exciting stuff. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE! So why the hell not. Wish us luck.
Work virtually non existant just now but I still have my lodger who wanted to stay on after summer so fingers crossed he'll be about for a lotlonger.

Always think positive Woody. Please. Its remarkable how well it works.

(on the theme of halloween anagrams)

Eery snore - Bluta Dileon

(Teuchter, say that second bit in a Glasgow accent)

LOL - good one NR!

Having a great time on hols in Kerry - will post some photies on my blog in the coming days.

Op is tomorrow, shouldn't take too long. It's just a local snip on my back. Should be back in Kerry by afternoon time going "now, where was I?"

Fantastic place they have there - swimming pool, gym, sports fields, shops and kiddie mazes., all within walking distance from the house. The kids are lapping it up.

Best of luck with the car! Just bought a car myself and loving it. My big treat for the decade.

And speaking of decades, my fifth one doth approacheth in a few days. Heck, one day you are in nappies, the next day you are trying to learn calculus, and the next day you are wondering where all this ear-hair started to come from.. What's all that about anyway?

Hope you are all well!

W

It's great that you managed to get the snipping date brought forward, WP

Lovely to hear that life is going well, NR Doll

Apologies for the short post. There is much more I was going to say but tempus is fugiting and Mr T is back from China tomorrow and I can't concentrate on anything

Just back from a fabulous trip to Kerry with all the family. It was stunningly beautiful and I have a ton of photos that are crying out for uploading, so keep an eye on my blog!

Also I just had my birthday - I am now into my fifth decade, and nope, I didn't grow an inch overnight (well not height wise at least). Man, this age stuff doesn't half creep up on you!

Off now to the USA today for a week - sunny California. (At this stage I bet you think I am making this up, and that really I am sitting in a one-bedroom flat somewhere, but no, things really are that crazy at the moment..)

Great to hear that Mr T is back! You must be delighted!

Take care and lots of hugs,

W

Happy Birthday

Hope the back's not sore following the snippety stuff.

We're stuck in the middle of a big dreich here so I'm rather envious of your week in California.
Look forward to seeing the Kerry photos.

How's that car doing, NR?

I got bumped into First Class! It was a nice experience, lot's of leg room, a fold down bed, nice TV console. It must have been my childish good looks, my boyish charm, my Irish wit. Or something.

But would I myself spend a gazillion pounds or euros on it?

Er. No.

Now in a bedroom in California trying-to-stay-awake. It's quite a challenge, let me tell you!

C