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

Hi Websailor

Thought I'd whizzle over to your space, if thats OK and say hallo - I enjoyed our banter on the "Disabled" thread, so this is by way of saying for the ginger-y jam. Next time I lug the bread machine out I'll provide some form of grain-y nutritious brick type substance (apparently, bread makers are foolproof. Yeah... right. Bet you half a dollar...?) to go with it, OK?

Must admit, I was a tad appauled to hear about the severity of the menstual pains you went thru - I mean, really - that's Periods for Men

I'm quite certain if males had to go thru that (or birth) they'd soon find a cure that worked efficiently

Come to think of it, if men had to go thru the birth thing, I'm absolutely *certain the world's population would be halved within a couple of generations, anyway. Or contraception would be a lot less complicated with the hormonal side effects.

Ah well.... come the revolution, eh?

Ev

Hi, Ev,

Nice to see you. I added you to my Friends list last night. I hope that's . When the brain began functioning again (usually the middle of the night!) I realised you were at the London Meet and I have seen a photo of you on Rich's photo site! I will go back again today and have another look!

Husband has gone off happily this morning hugging his jar of jam with a big grin on his face. I think there is a bit of competition between the volunteers, as they all bring things in for their 'break'. I have often thought about buying a breadmaker. I used to make all my own bread too in days gone by, but I have a suspicion it might end up in the cupboard with the sandwich toaster etc.!!!

PHM (hubbie's nickname on here) does restoration work with a Trust that is restoring and maintaining a lovely old house and outbuildings. They do weddings and seminars, conferences and even funeral receptions now, yet when it was first started it was falling down.

If you are in the least interested you can take a look here:

http://www.middletonhalltrust.co.uk/

He has been working there for nearly fourteen years, and I think it is what has kept him going, or he would be in a wheelchair now. He has emphysema.

It is in a beautiful spot with lots of wildlife and he loves it.

I am eyeing up the weather which is chilly, windy and sunny and wondering if I dare attempt to cut the lawn. With the badgers, foxes, squirrels, cats and birds that traipse all over it, it is looking a bit of a mess. The trouble is it is muddy from all the rain so the mower will probably chew it up.

I bought a pair of aerators to fit on shoes, so I could aerate the lawn whilst walking round feeding the birds . I ended up stuck to the ground, couldn't lift either foot up and nearly fell flat on my face!! I was left with arms flailing to keep my balance and a husband in the kitchen creased up laughing but not offering to help!! They are still in the shed waiting for me to be brave enough to have another go!

Preferably in the middle of the night when the neighbours can't see.... Oh, but then the badgers, foxes and cats will be laughing fit to bust. I can't win.

Gotta I should be working now. I get as much housework etc. done as I can while he is out as the Vac etc., tumble drier etc. stirs up the air and he can't breathe.

for now,

Websailor

Forgot to say about this:

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. told me when I was aged 14 "you will be ok when you are married and have had children'. Can you imagine a getting away with that now?

Websailor

Yep - I noticed I was on your friends list; I'm rather flattered - thank you! I really ought to add more people onto mine, too. One day when I'm feeling brave I will

Oh well, my guilty secret is out now... there I am on the net gurning away quite appaulingly for anyone to see. I'd managed to avoid it thus far, but it seemed so mean to say no photoes. I hope I haven't frightened you away! It was a fun meet - they're a really nice crowd, whatever like to say about themselves. And the Tate was brilliant I'm still recovering from the Slides, but hell, it was worth every twinge and slide burn. Its the fastest I've moved for years And yes, apparently I could be heard thruout the museum - nothing wrong with the vocal chords, anyway

I wondered if it was emphasemia your husband had... thats rotten luck to have that. Must play puck with the housekeeping, too.

I haven't got a garden (I live in a flat above a High Street) but I do have a beach...and a sterile municipal park...and several WildLife Parks in the locale. I'm a memeber of Wildwood and its a nice place to escape to when I get tired of looking at people and concrete.

Appropos the "You'll be OK once you're married and have kids" comment - Yep, I can well believe it. Apparently my mum had that said to her, but in her case (or so she claims, anyway) marriage and a baby *did cure the cramps. Shame she still walks around in her mid 70s as if every day is a PMT day, but I don't think they've yet discovered a remedy for naturally irracsible old bats like her

I can't see any GP getting away with carp like that nowadays... well, no, actually, I can. Its still up to us to say "Oi! Its not going to stop, and yes I *have tried all the other stuff you've suggested, so get it sorted...please and thank you" Its not, as we're led to believe up to them to offer help - we have to ask for it.


But don't get me started on that anyway... I'd only fall off me soapbox in a fit of righteous wrath and indignation anyway

Right. The mention of housework (which gawd help us is always with us) reminds me that it might be an intelligent move to hoover round and remove potential health hazzards from the carpets again.

The day they invent hoovers that remove teenage boys permanently will be a day of great rejoicing.

At least it'll be just my own mess I'm clearing up!

Ev, I'm playing truant from the chores again

Don't wish away the time with your teenage tearaways. Mine drove me mad at that age but they are now 37 and 32 respectively(boys - whoops, men!!). You see you are right you are a mother for life!!

Yes, I checked out your PS last night too!! Actually, photo wise I would make a good stand-in for you, except you are better looking.

I still can't believe my sons are that age. Where did the time go? And how I wish I had had more time with them when they were younger. RL intruded there too, along with terminally ill mother and father!

I was reading a Bill Bryson book last night on that very subject of children leaving home oddly enough (for Uni in his case) and it brought tears to my eyes. He is such a funny writer, managing humour pathos and a whole lot more.

It's no use! I have to or my plans will go awry and it will rain or something and PHM will be accusing me of spending all day on Hoo Too.

As if I would do that?



Websailor

I was never much of a "mumsy" sort of a mum really.. Sometimes I wish I had been, but I booted their da out and brought em up singlehanded, so, like you, there was a lot of RL that sort of got in the way of "real" familly time.

And although I'm not bad at domestics, I never, ever envisioned that motherhood and home making would be probably the most challenging - and dare I say? sucsessful thing I've ever achieved. Its a profession in its own right, in a way. I wouldn't have had it any other way really, but they *do drive me skywards sometime

But I *still think I'd sooner have acted, or performed or done something totally useless and a lot more self indulgent I'm afraid!

But I can do that in my spare time. In theory

Half of me is actually looking forward to my 2 leaving home. The other two thirds isn't.

- My soul criterias were to (a) make them feel secure and loved and (b) as independent as they could be.

(Probably a direct kick back to what *I had as a kid, which was to be made to feel a total encumberence...and paradoxically as helpless as possible. But hey... I survived, so no big deal, really)

So now they're big lads (and they *are pretty tall - I come up to the eldests shoulder on good days, and I can comfortably rest my chin on the younger lads shoulder when I get a hug from him) and I guess the last stage of my "job" as such is to encourage them to leave the family home and move on. I always said they were only on loan to me for their first 18 years - after that,....they're on their own (theoretically speaking)

It worries me slightly that the Eldest is losing opportunities because he worries about me being on my own and he stays put thru a feeling of care and obligation. Caring I can accept - but I'd hate to be responsible for getting in the way of what he really wants to do!

Younger, on the other hand, worries, rants and then gets on with his own stuff, mainly because he knows Elder will look after any emergencies I cannent physically cope with.
Tis all a bit ensnarled, really

My word... its remarkable and very comforting to know there are so many good lokin' wimmin on this site Websailor

You an' me kidda. Going Places! The Face of H2G2

Right. I must tear myself away from this screen or I'll have the same accusition of being glued here hurled at me, as well


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