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

HEY !!! You're supposed to be sleeping.

Safe trip home in a bit over an hour, my dear. We'll meet up again later. &

Am leaving work 30 mins early this morning Dan left his schoolbag in my car and I have to get it back to him before his Dad picks him and his sister up!!! So I shall be leaving in just over 45mins

What woke you up this time?

&

I tried very hard to tell you that 'nature' woke me. But the BBC didn't wanna let me play. Ah well, .....

By now, you are either asleep or chauffeuring. In either case, I hope you are winding down and enjoy some aspects of your time off.

I'll see ya next time you're around, my dear. Until then, ....

And I'm here again. I know the first hours of a Friday will be quite heavy, so I don't expect any comments from you for awhile.

All in your good time, lovely lady H.

Hello my dear friend

We actually have a 'full team' on tonight so time may be in more plentiful supply than it has been lately

It's November the 5th and *Bonfire Night* over here so the sky was ablaze with fireworks and the air was thick with gunpowder fumes as I drove to work! It was like driving through a light mist and there was that lovely lingering smell too Still, it made the drive to work a little more interesting than usual

Glad you got the Email and understood what I meant Really have a lot on my mind right now and am not the best of company most of the time.............not been out at all on my days off except to ferry the kids around and do some basic shopping........in fact have slept quite a lot..........just felt really tired and worn out!

Anyway, how have you been? Are you feeling a little better?

<smooch

Ahhh, so you got my reply as well. We were having supper and then doing dishes. So I missed your note by about half an hour.

Yes, I know how the worries and costs of the world can make a person less than "happy" company. I am there often. As to other bothers, one half is resolved well and the other is not one I really much wish to re-activate anyway. So that is well behind me.

Oh, you too have an affinity for the scent of chordite and gunpowder? Even before my military days, it seemed pleasant somehow.

Anyway, I'll be about as and when you've time to chatter about what-ever. Who knows, cream-filled deserts may even be about.

& , dear lady

oh well...........half is better than nothing at all and if the other party is not willing to meet halfway and build bridges then that's their loss as far as I'm concerned! Life's too short to bear grudges unless the affront is unforgiveable

Mmmmmmmmmmmm I love the aftersmell of fireworks........have no idea why but I always have, ever since I was a little girl Mingled with the aroma of baked potatoes and home made soup, it's quite a heady mixture

As to not being 'happy'..........a few years back and during the dying years of my marriage I suffered a bout od clnical depression for 3 years It did pass eventually but I am always acutely aware that a recurrence is never far away so I try not to dwell too much on the problems or wallow in the 'poor me's' but sometimes it's hard no to

Anyway, enough of my woes Hopefully with a full team in tonight I'll have more time to 'chat' and pass some time away so see you soon

Lady H &

I am pleased to say that I am totally ignorant of what is classified as clinical depression. Because a large number of hootoo "friends" are medicated for it. I'd rather just think I have poor-spells that pass. If you put a name to it, then you're done, eh?

So as to friends come and gone, ... they are indeed that and I've settled my mind and sleep much better for it. Well, as good as my sleep gets. Some of those dreams that wake me, ...

I did try to phone a few times during your days off, but kept getting the phone service. And messages aren't the same. I mostly just wanted to say "Hi" and let you know that you are never truly alone. Perhaps another day .....

Anyway, milady will be here soon, so I'll come looking for you once supper is well put away. And keep the piggy-noises small as we are having take-away tonight.

Later, lovely friend, with continuing s and s

Ignorance is bliss as far as depression goes believe me! I went through a stage of feeling almost suicidal and it was only the thought of leaving the kids behind that kept me sane!!! Still, thats all in the past now

Am sorry I missed your calls but I've put the phone in the bedroom on silent..............get too many 'cold calls' from Double Glazing firms, insurance companies etc and when you're trying to sleep it's very annoying The phone in the sitting room still rings so if the kids are about they answer it

How's your week in work gone? Are you liking then new arrangements? do you find it restricts your online time a lot???

&

The thing is, if some professional ever got ahold of me, my records as a kid, and new of a couple of dumb attempts at 13 and 17, ... and my normal cycles, ... yeah I'd be diagnosed with something I don't want a name for. I am harmless to myself and all others and am sullen mostly to myself. Simpler that way, all around.

And you've explained away the phone quite well. I really WAS hoping you had toned down the ringers to allow some measure of rest and tried to not call at bad times.

The work week was going well until I realized the procedures for checking one "family" of radio equipment was woefully short. By well over half of what the checks should be. So I've ended up engineering, designing, technical writing and putting it all together. A fun challenge but nothing like what I'm paid to do. Oh well, it is a steady job and NEVER boring. And so far, it's had only a limited impact on e-mails. It helps that I have so few people to e-mail during day-time too.

'Nuff for one posting. In full or brief, how's your helath, eyes, sanity, love-life (especially that ), just stuff about YOU dear?

and just a lot of wanting to comfort.....

The thing is, if some professional ever got ahold of me, my records as a kid, and new of a couple of dumb attempts at 13 and 17, ... and my normal cycles, ... yeah I'd be diagnosed with something I don't want a name for. I am harmless to myself and all others and am sullen mostly to myself. Simpler that way, all around.

And you've explained away the phone quite well. I really WAS hoping you had toned down the ringers to allow some measure of rest and tried to not call at bad times.

The work week was going well until I realized the procedures for checking one "family" of radio equipment was woefully short. By well over half of what the checks should be. So I've ended up engineering, designing, technical writing and putting it all together. A fun challenge but nothing like what I'm paid to do. Oh well, it is a steady job and NEVER boring. And so far, it's had only a limited impact on e-mails. It helps that I have so few people to e-mail during day-time too.

'Nuff for one posting. In full or brief, how's your health, eyes, sanity, love-life (especially that ), just stuff about YOU dear?

and just a lot of wanting to comfort.....

ooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr double post

Famous last words..........'might be a bit quieter tonight'.........I should learn to keep my big mouth shut .......just as well we've a full compliment tonight or we'd be dropping calls left right and centre

Am sorry but will get back to you as and when I can

and a big

Hootoo got contrary on me, wasn't sure if it wanted to take stuff or "Error 502" me. Thus the double post.

My sweet friend, I do know Firdays and Saturdays are your worst and most unpredictable nights. Independent of the staff count. Do what you do, only tell the foreigners exactly where to go (and explicit details as to how to get there) and I'll find you about sometime later.

Keeping a warm thought, and place by the fire, just for you. , and , friend The Lady Helen.

Hootoo's throwing a wobbly on me too, also getting the 'error 502' page as well Just had to log out and back in again and 'fingers crossed' it seems to be working for the time being!

Talking of places by the warm fire..........I've lit the fire at home for the last couple of nights Despite having had the central heating serviced and a new fan installed, the central heating is only working on an intermittent basis and consequently the house can be quite cold at times, so I've resurrected the 'real' fire and very nice it is too Am going to have to call the engineer out again next week

So, picture if you like, an open fire set in a stone hearth in a room with wooden beams and just the glow of the flames to light the room

Mmmmm, don't have the wooden beams of olde, but the image is clear. The right company, it could be a very warm and special time, eh? Rather magical.

Has the evening almost peaked yet? Oh, question, it's just past 1 'ish your time. The pubs have yet a number of en fools to toss .... Ah well, perhaps another hour or two.

It's been quiet enough, just yourself on-line, that I haven't been tracking hootoo much. In fact, m'lady had the PC for 30 or 45 minutes of games. My nights on-line have pretty much faded to nought. Which perhaps isn't a bad thing, really.

So, what culinary delight have you this night for dinner? And have you looked about to see if the Tea Shoppe is in session? On a Friday, there ought to be some one in dire need of spandex.

I'll check back in a bit, whilst pondering the full atmosphere of the blazing fire, a red wine, exactly the right company .....

& so-very-long-

I'm not sure if it's this pc or the hootoo servers but this 'error 502' thing is starting to do my head inn Can't bring up 'who's online' either cos that keeps crashing on me!!!

I have both the stone hearth and the olde oak beams, the main part of the house being almost 200 yrs old. It was an old farm building which we converted into a bungalow and extended somewhat as the children arrived! It has, in it's time, been used as a chicken run, pigsty, saddlery and latterly as a breeding kennel for a hunting spaniel...........hence the name 'The Kennels'. Obviously, this is no longer it's use but we kept the name as that was what it was always known as prior to conversion!!!

The Tea Shoppe is dead tonight, no'one much online and several seem to be having the error problem........think it might be a night to relax and close my eyes later on

We sent out for a chinese again tonight but we've decided that from now on we are all going to try and eat a bit more healthily, so take aways are going to be banned for a while after tonight. I had a chicken foo yeung and egg fried rice

The fire is blazing, a nice bottle of South African red wine is open and ready to pour, the light of the flames is flickering on the walls and the glow of the fire paints the face with a golden hue.................

loving s and a lingerng

Ahhh, the place does sound like a dream, with character and history blended. And the fireplace alone .....

Ours is a simple insert, with 70 or 80 year old brick-work, no field-stone. The hearth and mantel are marble, but else wise, it's rather "modern" compared to yours.

The wine, I've never had the pleasure of anything south African. Is it a mellow but full-bodied red? Not heavy or over-bearing? That with a few fur throws, the fire, ... idyllic. I can already imagine where the dreams may wander as the night goes on.

The idea of eating somewhat healthier may also be a good thing. I imagine that for many of you, what-ever you get there is almost your main meal of the 'day', with pickings at home between sleeps. Maybe try some pot-luck or smorgasbord some nights. One brings breads, another some fruit or veggies, another some cold meats from what-ever beast was economical. And rotate the order for variety. Just a notion.

A long, wood-fire-enhanced- and several soft s ....

Having lived in South Africa for 3 years I can vouch for the quality of the wines, although I have to admit that probably the best ones never leave their shores..........the export wines usually being a blend of wines from several vineyards or some of the cheaper, less paletable varieties!

However, with a little patience and some searching it is possible to find some of the better ones, usually in a smaller vintners I prefer a merlot or pinotage, soft and full bodied but not overpowering

I think I shall either cook something at home and 'box' it up to bring to work and heat up during lunch break or prepare a salad............both are preferable to the usual sandwich!

It must be almost 9pm with you now so am guessing you'll be heading for soon? If you wake at all during the night you know where to find me

<lots of s & s infront of the roaring fire

Yes, soft and full-bodied, ... just what the doctor ordered to cure many ailments.

You're not far from wrong, ... even though it IS a Friday night, the sleep was nearly non-existent the first half of the week, so my engines are idling rather low. But always idling, ready if need be for full-throttle. So I'm soon away to some , hoping that you too will find some quiet time for bits of lid-inspection.

Until I wander through in the later night, to see if anyone dropped an e-mail or hootoo note, be gentle on yourself, and know you are being thought of.

s and slightly-wine-flavoured-s, dear Lady H.

I shall wish you a goodnight for the time being then and hope you enjoy some very pleasant dreams, possibly incorporating a blazing log fire and a full bodied.........wine

Depending on how the night pans out I'll either leave a message here or possibly a short Email

Sweet dreams till later