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

Yo - 700 messages!

I'm looking forward to seeing how H2G2 will change once it comes under new ownership. It's a huge risk, of course, but it might yet tempt me back. I met up with Teuchter again a few weeks ago when I was passing through the UK on the way to Germany. Always a lovely experience, and always a pity that it lasts for so short a time.

The holiday went well. Full of incident. A near car-crash on the M25, a car breakdown in Germany, staying in a hotel from the 1970's, a bike journey beside Lake Constance, a trip to the Alps, the tunnel from hell in Paris, a great wedding and a stomach churning boat journey home.

I missed my kids - they're kind of at "that" age now where very little gets past them. My eldest, A1, is in the depths of puberty now, so I'm going to have a lot on my plate. A lot of stuff upsets him nowadays, which is probably part and parcel of the whole thing. My daughter, A2, is also getting older by the day. She has demonstrated a very strong literary ability already. No surprise: she reads 3 books a day on average. The twins are still as madcap as ever. It's a lot of fun.

New season of the Skeptics' meeting has started. We had a gent talking to us about cults and freak religions, but he also had a lot to say about mainstream ones too.

Hope all is well,

W xx

Post 701 on the new owners site!!!

SO glad "Normality has resumed".

I did think about you on the boat home as the storms were wild - like today were it 6 degrees, pouring and gales!!

I would never want to be a teenager again - a horrid emotional time indeed.

I have fun times ahead, with holiday in Lanzarote (hot), Oxfordshire (cold and stone circles) and then a holiday with Mum and dad to a fabulously equipped disabled house over in Lothian. Its close enough to home that if anything goes wrong with dad or my grandad in the home, we can get back there quickly. But its a lovely house and a great area to bird watch and get big seas and skies.

Teuchter, what is it with you and keys???? Hope you have many spares by now and have them planted in your numerous hostas!!!!

I powerwashed the paths etc yesterday in preperation for winter - they were so slimy cos of the crazy weather we've had this year.
During the tidy of my tubs and containers, I found a very dead, decaying bird in amongst my Astible - I'm guessing this happened during the storms of late and he blew into the window. It also explains the large quantity of flies that were in the house recently!! And aren't the spiders whoppers this year???

Hope you are both well and once again. I am so glad that we didn't lose this convo (although I did save the whole thing into a word doc just incase.

Love to you both.

Doll in a wetsuit

My first foray back in the new H2G2 - I tried it when it went live a few weeks ago but it wasn't working so well. Hopefully I might be able to get back into it again a bit more frequently.

I'm noticing a huge amount of spiders here in Ireland too. Some of their webs are monumental. Some spiders are real show offs, I think.

C has found a job in Dublin so she is commuting quite a bit now again. It's also a very stressful job, which means that she is very tired come the weekend.

I had my telescope out over the weekend, showing my kids sunspots, the Moon and Jupiter. Jupiter was a amazing. They could see all the Galilean moons and even the two brown bands on the planet. Very cool.

We also had a "ghost hunting" special as part of our recent skeptics meeting in Cork. We had two ghost hunting skeptics Skyped in, as well as another skeptic from British Columbia. It went very well - a first of a kind, I think.

Oh, and my sis just had a beautiful baby girl. She and her husband have been posting delightful pics of the new child on Facebook regularly over the last few days. I sent in a message to her "Keep em coming", but the autocorrect mistranslated it as "Keep me coming". Jeez. There was a sudden rush to find the delete button, I'll tell you.

Always lovely to hear from you!

W xx

Long time no post! A pity because Facebook just isn't the same. My mum, looking at Facebook for the first time observed that it was terribly inane. "Ah, poor you", "Congratulations", "Oh, wish I was there". I completely agree.

Anyway, life goes on. Big news (sort of) afoot as we look at moving from our current abode. There will be photos...

Sleep. Apparently I have been sleeping badly for over 3 years now, but in the past 2 months or so it has become something of an issue. I am waking up in the middle of the night gasping for breath, or more accurately, trying to catch my breath. It's an odd feeling. According to the doc, there is nothing wrong with my lungs, I don't have any strange bronchial ailments and other suspects such as blood pressure and blood oxygen seem to be fine. The doc suspects sleep apnoea, which is where people stop breathing mid-sleep. I'm not convinced though. I tried to record my sleeping sounds on the phone over the last few days and I couldn't hear anything amiss. The trouble is, it's making me very sleepy during the day and affecting my mood, so I need to understand what is happening. I'm taking a sleep study in a few weeks, where they wire me up and stick little tubes near my nose etc., so I they can find out more. T'will be fun.

Not many holidays planned - just a week in early August. I'm not going anywhere: there will be plenty to do here at home.

Ben and Z from H2G2 are coming over this weekend! They will be presenting at our skeptics meeting this Friday on Alternative Medicine. It should be a lot of fun. I like showing our little country around to new people.

That's all I can think of!

Hope y'r keeping well!

C

Oh hello!!

New house?? Same area??

Hope they can get to the bottom of your sleeping problems. I have friends that are insomniacs and I see how it afffects their everyday lives. Its great that they are putting in the efforts to suss out what is wrong though.

I haven't yet planned my holiday - work to busy - but we may be returning to Dorset as we enjoyed it so much and means we can visit my brother on the way down and up again!

I have been having a very concert laden year. Have so far seen Tenacious D, Cud (old band reformed from my youth) and this weekend I am soooo excited to be going to see........Paul Simon do Graceland !!!! Oh my god, I was in the right place at the right time and overheard that someone had two tickets going. So very drunkenly, at 1am on Sunday morning, I was booking flights, transfers and hotels. Then two weeks after that am off to see Mrrissey in Manchester!! Music fest!!

The band is very quite despite our new album but we have sold a few and had a couple of reviews. The funniest one was in the Scots magazine which you should be familiar with Jane!!

I going to be looking for a new lodger in my flat. I am really feeling the finacial pinch these days and am having to top up life from my savings, which were meant to be for nice things not essential things. I don't just want anyone in the flat. Can't afford to put things right if they go wrong, so houseproud and energy saving tenant saught!

My old banger Nora is still in pieces all over the place. Mainly in one bedroon which I have cleared especially for car parts, wings, bonnets etc. But craigs Dolomite is still running and we enjoy our jaunts in that.

Lets keep this going - I've missed it!!

Love to you both across the miles

Just got back from sunny Portugal to find you'd kicked some life into this convo.
So true about the banality of FB. I like it for superficial stuff - but one can't easily carry on a lengthy conversation like this one.

How did the Skeptics thing go, WP? And how were B and Z? It was their wedding anniv last week and I forgot - no excuse really since I was matron-of-honour. I'm hoping to see them later in the year.

House move stuff all falling into place I hope?

The sleep apnoea sounds awful. I hope they get it investigated and solved PDQ.

How are things with the children - and with C?

Am well-jel of Paul Simon concert, NR. Saw a great programme about the Graceland album etc on tv a couple of weeks ago. Is his voice still good?
It's interesting how some people's voices age well - and others don't. Thinking about the Joobly Concert - Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey can still sing but I thought Elton John and Paul McCartney were awful.

We're going to a few concerts ourselves - Angelique Kidjo, this week - and Fascinating Aida in October. Saw them in Glasgow a few years ago and apparently they're still hilariously filthy - so I'm looking forward to that. Also in October, Mary Chapin Carpenter. We're not big country fans really - but enjoyed her at the concert hall a few years ago too.
As you may have seen on FB last year, we saw James Taylor at the O2. I cut my musical teeth on him (and Ziggy Stardust) and it had been a longtime ambition to see him play live. He didn't disappoint. *swoon*

I'll look for that review in the Scots Mag. Might be able to track it down online.
Is your album easily obtained? I'd like to hear it.
We have loose plans to be in Glasgow for the next Celtic Connections.

Love to you both.

Portugal - totally jealous!

Good luck with the band too, NR. When you are living the life in Los Angeles, be sure to remember us!

Isn't the weather shite? We got one day of nice weather and we're back to the wet stuff. We managed to get some cycling in around Dungarvan. Very nice town.

We're not moving far, just a few miles into the countryside. Nice view of the sea though. We'll be starting the moving in the middle of next week. I'm taking a week off to help with the moving. I'm also hoping to get home to see my mum.

The kids are in great form, very relaxed now that they are on holidays. C is good too. Excited about the move. Great to see a spring in her step again after the disasters of the past few years.

Big A - and I mean Big A - he's nearly 6 ft tall - is competing in the All Ireland sports next weekend. There's a chance his team might get a medal, so fingers crossed. He's quite the athlete, unlike his poor dad..

Paul Simon was amazing - his voice is as good as ever.

You can buy Clamjamfries albuum easily online - itunes, Amazon and a few other places - its called Clammin'. If you do buy it, leave a nice review on Amazon for us!!

Woody, your new house sounds very nice. A house with a sea view - fancy pants!!

We saw Angelique a few years ago somewhere cant mind where though.

It s been pouring down her too and as a result there have been many cancelled car shows including our own clubs costing us £5000. Not good. We can take the hit this year but if it happened again we would be screwed.

Our old greyhound is getting frail but I reckon she'll be one of these dogs that survives for years!! She is allowed on the couch now she is creaky. And the collie is as bonkers as ever.

Toodles for now.....x

So what did you think about the Opening Ceremony?
Lots of really great bits - and I loved the cauldron.

Angelique was great. We were at the Southbank Centre and London was really buzzing in the wind up to the Olympics.

Are you getting some better eather now, NR?

Heading to Dorset tomorrow for a fortnight camping on the Isle of Purbeck again. We just loved our holiday there a few years ago and wish to get to know the area better. Hopefully going to the River Cottage restaurant - its in Axminster not at the end of the universe!!

I would imagine that we will feel properly relaxed on return. Sometimes a week is just awaste of time - you get there, have a couple of days and then all you can think of is Saturday is the day you go home!!!

Hope you apnia(SP?) is being fully investigated Woody and you Teuchter, your garden must be in full glory by now.

Autumn is most definately arrived in Scotland with many trees turning a fantastic array of colours. Thats when I love my job - driving up the glen every day and seeing everything bloom and fade from day to day.

I'll be thinking of you Woody as I poke around the numerous fossil and other prehistoric goodies of the Jurassic coast! <laugh?

Oh and another thing....

Loved the opening closing ceremonies. Incredible energy from the dancers and so much pride and joy in the peoples taking part.

Sam a mobile phone video of a pals pal who was in the scooter rally. The guy just screamed like a girl all the way round dotted with many expletives!!! Was a buzz watching it. But the Who stole the show with my favourite tunes of theirs See me, feel me. And the blast of Floyd at the end of the Opening ceremony was goosebump worthy.

It's been ages since I logged on here and I'm only seeing the Olympics messages now.

So, stuff has been happening: I moved into a new house in August. Absolutely beautiful views in the new place. The house now has a population of two adults, three cats and two rabbits. We've seen a few mice every now and again also, and a neighbour's cat who likes to push his weight around (this cat is commonly referred to as "that bastard").

It's been a big move, and not without its problems, but it's an amazing place.

Other than that, no major news. Kids are growing up - eldest started in secondary school. Youngest kids doing well on the athletics pitch, middle on rapidly becoming a teenager. (Okay-OKAY, rolling eyes, nail varnish, eye-shadow etc. etc.). C is still working in Dublin and commuting down regularly during the week.

Hoping next year to bring my kids on a road trip to Germany. Other than that, no plans.

All ok with everyone?

Apart from being very skint, all is good.
Have now got a fancy phone and struggle all day to
Correct mistakes. Tiny wee keys to press.
Dad doing fine. We all went away on holiday to a fab house near North Berwick
It had all the gear heneeds making it perfect. Its beautifully located for travelling to lindesfarne
And doing lots of ornithology. Big seas big skies. The house is so fantastically designed for very disabled people so huge doors etc. I feel bad bringing him home to his pokey wee house!
We've been enjoying dry sunny weather of late and have watched as everybody got washed away.
Its st Andrews day today so I had a appropriate tea of chorizo risotto!
May head out for some juniper based joy later.

Nice to hear from you. How's the sleep issues W?

And T, you coming for Celtic connections?

This convo is now ten years old!

Ten years old? Wow. And your dad is still good. That's great news, Nyree.

My sleep has been ok - some nights are better than others, but overall I can't complain too much. I think it's just the fact that I am getting a bit older.

I'm ever so slooowly moving forward with my divorce. At the moment trying to sort of the minefield of maintenance, and the dawning realisation that school fees over the next few years are going to be colossal. Anyone want one of my kidneys? Anyone?

My mum is in good form these days too. I brought all the kids up to her this weekend and she never stopped going for a second. It was nice, as always, to go back for a few days, and to pretend that I'm a 15 year old again.

Oh, and I'm off to a Train the Trainer graduation today, and to get my hands shaken by a government minister. He's the minister for Agriculture though. Not sure what that means...

Ten years. Incredible.

W

Oh yeah - since my posting a week ago, she has since adopted a *very* old cat, and now she wants a snake.

A snake.

My OH went through divorce a few years back but he had a seperation agreement in place already.

Do you mean you MUM wants a snake??? BLAH!!

I have recently been looking into a increasing phobia of mine. Trypophobia. Look it up, its weird but makes my skin crawl. Watermelons , butternut seeds, generally mutliple items like that . I hate it. A friend of mine is similar but she can't stop staring at said strange freaky things. When I deal with a butternut, I try cut it so I don't have to see the seeds.

FREAK!

We had loads of snow last night so off out to clear car then clear Mum and Dads front drive so the homehelps don't traipse it through the house. They are terrible, they never wipe their feet.

Catch you soon groovers!

Just wrote about my year in my journal. Man, it was action packed. Full of life, all in good health, no deaths. A good year, in my book.

Hmmm....time flies!!

Had a holiday in Wester Ross the other week. Managed to get out in the Canadian canoes a few times. The dog even had her own buoyancy aid. Did a bit of walking and a lot of drinking. And then some eating and dancing too.

House was a bit run down and we were told not to worry about the mice as they were harmless(!).

This weekend we are off for our first camping trip of the year to Lauder in the Scottish Borders. Its a beautiful bit of the country and the variety of wonderful wildlife we see sitting at the tent is astounding. Hope this sun lasts for us. Although this time , we have an electric hookup which means cold milk and warm tent. Its a bit "gay", I know, but it makes it more comfortable and I AM STILL sleeping on the ground so its not quite "glamping". We love our tent. So does the collie Jess. Hopefully we will take a run down to Lindesfarne for a big walk down there. Failing that, it will be a trundle around a few estates and castles to enjoy the bluebells and general lush greenness which to be honest, makes me hungry. I could eat it all!!

So whats happening in Engerland and Ireland?? So disappointed we don't have a Welsh friend!!

Hello Nyree!

That sounds great! Do you know, I've only camped once in my life, and that was when I was a sensitive little fellow of 8 years old.

I've been kind-of busy. I was in Silicon Valley last week doing work stuff. It was fantastic to see the Pacific coast. I would so much love doing a road-trip down there, with plenty of stops en-route. The whole Bay Area is more like a single metropolis than the outskirts of San Francisco. It's quite an impersonal place and it's really more a mixing pot of every nation on the planet. I was there only for a few days.

I did see the Hebrides on my way over to the US though! That made my day. I took a few photos as I flew over.

What else? My kids are doing well at athletics. My eldest is now the Cork long-jump champion, and my two yinglings are in line to get an All Ireland medal in relays. Fingers crossed.

Oh, and I'm going to Germany next month, on holidays. I'm bringing my eldest, who doesn't quite realise that he will be obliged to speak Deutsch for two weeks, as his hosts speak no English. We're driving there, so it will be quite a haul. We're hoping to make it across France in a day, and then push into Germany in the wee hours.

Their gran passed away two weeks ago. It was a sad time. She was very close to them. She and her husband moved house to be near them as they were growing up. To be honest, I don't think it's fully registered with them that she is no longer around. It will take time. Nevertheless, I saw them display an enormous amount of maturity and compassion at the funeral. I never felt so proud as a dad.

Work is going well - I can't complain. I just hit the 5 year mark there, which is a bit of a milestone for me. For the previous 10 years, I moved from one job to the other quite a bit. It's nice to have a bit more stability.

Also nice to get a mention as a "Venerable Researcher" here on this site, although I think I was a bit too flippant when I was answering it.

That's all I can think of right now,

Woodpigeon