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

I'm back. Sorry if I was a bit gruff earlier, it's just been a terribly long coupla days. And then noticing that I already had posts up here and e-mails out there, I thought perhaps I had somehow offended you. I do have to be so careful of that lately.

But of course, common sense has kicked in, and I know you've other people and threads here, so it's easy enough for me to fall below notice.

So, how are you generally doing tonight?

It's ok I did feel a slight chill in the air earlier and thought, perhaps, I had offended you?

Generally I'm extrememly tired It's been a very tough week withouth the support services of my ex in-laws! They've been away for 10 days on a cruise and I've had to work and run around after the kids, fetching and carrying, on my own..........sleep has been in rather short supply for the last few days The ex helped out twice by picking them up and taking them to school etc when I was working and wouldn't be home in time to do the run! I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies at least

Have some more cheerful news to tell you tho My 17 yr old daughter Lorna passed her practical driving test yesterday at the first attempt and can now terrorise other road users all on her own Her little car she bought from her b/f's grandad has been done up and now just needs to be tested for roadworthiness, taxed and insured and then she drive herself to college, work etc yesssssssssssssssssssssss!!! She can't wait to tell her Nanny and Bampi when they get back from holiday tonight

You never fall below notice but I do sometimes just like to be quiet and shut my eyes and just check in here to see whats happening and who's about..........sometimes you've been and gone before I even see your post You should know by now that you're a very dear friend and will never ever be ignored or forgotten so please don't think you being treated as 2nd best

Indeed, I guess you have to be thankful for the small bits the ex does for his own kids, eh? Less and less like anyone I'd ever be interested in meeting.

As to the Lady L, that is proud news for her. Even here, in quieter regions, not many pass the road tests on the first try. So please do pass along congrats from this side of the pond.

And if you want some chill, I'm sure I could send some your way. We'll dip to -7 to -10 C tonight, just as a precursor to what will come our way. Canuck winter.....

As to the falling beneath notice, ... well either by accident or intent, that has been the way of it with some I had called particularly good friends. In fact, I'm completely off the radar map with some. A friend once called me the "most forgettable friend". So when I pop over to your PS to see if my ONLY night-time contact is still awake, and see a handful of threads active, ... I guess I just wonder if it's happening again. Probably simple paranoia, but certainly not any hard feelings towards you, my dear. You DO have many friends about .....

Please don't be paranoid it's not happening again and never will I promise!

The 'friend' who called you the most 'forgettable friend' is certainly not someone I would consider as a 'friend'...........I think that's a most hurtful thing to say

As for the chill.........I wasn't actually referring to the weather factor but as you mentioned it, it's surprisingly mild over here for the time of year! Temperatures today of about 12 - 14C and not expected to drop below freezing tonight either........however, it continues to be damp and miserable!

I shall certainly pass on your congratulations to Lady L.......she is, as you would expect, over the moon She takes after her mother who also passed on the first attempt!!!

Actually, my dear, that friend really was and still is a friend. Of over 26 years now. But he was clarifying a bit of what I had kinda known already. That a lot of folks in RL get to know me and then think of me as the friend who will always back them up. Which is true. But they frequently also ONLY think of me when they DO need the back-up. Precisely as "The Reverend" encountered in the circles he travelled. So you can see why it's easy to kinda think that way?

Anyway, I too got my license on the first road test. Mind you, I was 25 by then, having driven since I was 12. I always understood you only really needed a license if you get stopped. Finally I was, on a random spot check along a highway.

So besides actively not sleeping, chauffeuring the future golf-champ-of-the-world and the next prima dancer, wha't been doing in your world? Any movement on the house? And how's your new friend you mentioned, the one that recently escaped London?

and apologies for letting recent unpleasantnesses colour my earlier notes.

I understand what you mean about the 'friend in need' syndrome.........I have a few of those as well Only get in touch if they need something or want me to help out in some way *sigh* I suppose we all have a few of those tho

As for my world.........thats' precisely what I've been doing.........all that you listed I did go out for coffee with my new friend for an hour at lunchtime today tho Was good to get out of the house and have some adult conversation for a change!

There is a potential buyer for the house......a young couple (kinds hippy looking) who are very interested but have to sell their house first before they can put an offer in Their house is in a quite nice suburb of Cardiff and should sell fairly quickly even tho it's fast approaching Xmas and the housing market is slowing down considerably!

There's no need for apologies........we're friends and as such should be able to talk and sort out any grievances or misunderstandings but apologies are really not necessary! I'll settle for a nice big & instead

Then a really HUGE and

You've not yet mentioned if you saw a peaceful e-mail I sent during your last shift? Just tried to give you a mind-set to rest the eyes with as the night got quiet.

In my world, the new work-shop is taking some time. There was inadequate equipment for the job, some documentation and processes were woefully lacking, etc. So I've spent the past week 'scrounging' and putting together the necessary bits, and then re-writing half of the technical manuals. But by yesterday I had it ironed out and a couple pieces of radio stuff put through the processes, repaired and ready to ship. So for a week and a half, I don't think that was too bad.

And you know I'm happy if you've found someone you can get away for a bit with, have a coffee or wine, talk anything but house, kids and directory inquiries. Everyone needs peer-chats, eh?

PS: My mail-box is so empty, there's dust bunnies growing. (Hint, hint)

and a super long, warm

Have only very quickly checked mails over the last couple of days but yes, I did see your last post thank you As always pleasant thoughts and pleasing scenario

to hear that your new workshop is not up to scratch and that you've had to use valuable time running around getting it up and running efficiently! I hope you got some mega thanx for all your efforts???

Am not sure if I'll have time to put together an Email tonight but I'll see what I can do. Have started bringing food in with me to work rather than sending out for chicken/chinese/indian takeaways! It was getting too expensive and definitely not good for my health or waistline So, by the time I reheat the food in the microwave and eat it, I don't think there will be much of my 30 mins left, but we shall see

s, es and a long soft

My dear, I'm sure your waist line is just fine. As well as the rest of the package. But as we noted, your night meal being the main one of a day for you, it really ought to be fairly healthy without borrrrrring.

I'm glad you liked the little scenario, ... it just seemed a very mellow way to end a day. Always with options for 'expansion'.

As to the working situation, I'm not too worried about it. I've dropped into far worse situations and made a success of it. Atleast this way, I build it to MY needs and ideas, and not someone else's, eh? And so for awhile, it should roll along smoothly. I don't expect any kudos either. Having the respect of the rest is fine by me. Having the chief electronics engineer come to my for opinions is also pretty good for the ego.

Anyway, my dear, the eyes are starting to droop some, so I may wander away for awhile. I'll NOT say good night, as I'm sure I'll be back once or twice more as the night goes along. To see if a lovely and dear friend has any comments for me here or elsewhere. And you can rest easy knowing I shall dream so very nicely. Very probably including that special friend ....

Gentle s, and completely patient

My waist line WILL be fine now that I've taken steps to ensure it doesn't expand any further It was too easy to just go out and get something ready cooked to eat but these meals are laden with empty calories and not terribly good nutritionally either! Am now tryiong to cook something at home and package it up to bring to work..........tonight it is turkey breast cooked in a creamy peppercorn sauce and served with steamed basmati rice Am soooooooooo hungry, can't wait for lunchtime to come along!

As long as the workload isn't too heavy and stressful, thats fine Are you the 'head' of this new workshop ot just the only one willing to put in the time and effort to get it running smoothly or perhaps the expertise to make it happen???

My eyes are drooping as well but I don't have the luxury of being able to go to sleep just yet, so I shall have some quiet dozing time and see whats on the inside of my eyelids for a while

Sleep well, my dear, and pleasant dreams as always

Hope fully catch you later on

s,s, lots of es and a great big

I'm just on my way to dream-land now, ... no doubt populated with lots of s and s. Oh which-ever way shall I go?

Your dinner does sound quite yummy. If you find you've packed too much, just send it along for my lunch tomorrow. Please?

I mostly work alone, kinda reporting through to levels of supervisors. And I know they are quite good techs, ... I trained them in '70 and '83. I'm frequently haunted by my past mistakes, and sometimes past successes.

So now away to check for any new details to the eye-lids. I wish for you a quiet night, my dear and a good opportunity for some casual rest as well. Until later, always a goodly stock of s, s, s, s and just a few little s so you don't get too lackadaisical.

A correction, ... the two lads I trained were in '79 and '83. I'm fairly good, but not enought to train folks when I was 10 !!!!!

&

G'night Nick.........please sleep well and if you don't happen to wake then don't worry about it

Wups. I actually DID sleep for a good long while. Maybe it helped that I had a 12 pound nestled into me, eh? And now you are wrapping up to fly like the wind. So sorry, my dear.

I do hope the night proved calm for you, and that you did get a bit of And of course a safe trip home for some REAL sleep. I'll actively come hunting for you Wednesday night again when m'lady is out to her dart league.

Until then, , ing and soft to send you into your own dreamland, my fine Lady H.

N xxx

Good evening (or afternoon perhaps for you)

Well..........here I am yet again so when you find time to say 'hello' I shall be here!!!

Hope you'va had a good day? I slept from about 10.30 til 5 and feel a lot better tonight Really needed a good sleep! Can't say I had any intersting dreams tho

Indeed, it's afternoon here. And I'm just shutting down to scoot home. With a couple of stops along the way.

I am glad you got some quality rest, my dear. Too bad about the dreams though,... they can be quite 'stimulating'. I did send you a brief e-mail a short time ago, to ponder as time permits.

Anyway, tonight is m'lady's dart night, so there should be plenty of time from my end to converse if your work-load permits. Until then, s, s and smiles for you, fine friend.

I meant to say too........I did get to read your post this morning but, as you so rightly pointer out, I was packing up ready to out of the door........couldn't wait to get home to my bed It had been calling to me all night

and a soppy to take on your trip home with you!

And I'm home, where s are plentiful after mega-sloppy-

Earlier, I meant there's an e-mail awaiting, posted perhaps 4 hours ago. So you've something for the dinner break. And mentioning, ... what's the delight from home tonight?

and a

Yes I knew what you meant but I didn't reply to your post this morning due to rushing off home! I don't want the paranoia to re-surface thats all

Am just teasing

Dinner tonight is a repeat of last night. I'd cooked plenty of rice and turkey casserole so there was enough to put another dinner together and save me cooking again

What's on the menu for you tonight? Something mouthwatering and delicious perhaps

& a couple of

We've a meat market that speciallizes in breaded and fast foods. Like shrimps, mushrooms, bite-sized egg-rolls. They also do chicken breastwith various thingies inside, such as kiev. Tonights is filled with swiss cheese and garlic butter. A half hour in the oven, a side dish of rice and some green peas, and yummy-lazy-man's supper.

And HEY !!! I'm not paranoid, I KNOW they are all out to get me.

So how is the evening shaping up so far? For calls (being early) and finding chatty folks on the lines?

*scatters dozens of cushy pillows about, then tackles, tumbles the lady into the pillows and and *