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

I'm only halfway through the first of the evening, so it can't be that...

It's probably the euphoria which often comes after shock. Enjoy it

I'm just letting everything wash over me tonight. I'm almost in the mood to go out, and I would, if only I had money and energy. And something to wear, come to think of it.

Yes, it's probably not a good idea to scare the RSLs by going out naked.

It was nice of D to keep you posted on his journey back. It must have really put your mind at rest.

I'm surprised at how many people on this thread have had similar experiences! I guess once you get to a certain age, it's more or less inevitable that somebody close will have died. Hugs and warm thoughts to you all. D was lucky to have avoided it for so long.

Psychocandy, I know how you feel. I still feel angry with a driver who took the lives of his passengers with him in a crash last year; but it's a small community, and after I heard more about his circumstances, I cried for him as much as for the others. Yet I'm still angry with him, and sometimes I almost feel as though he deserved what he got.

But as you say, Ivan, life for the rest of us continues. I'll be getting a new neice in January.

About your mum: sorry to be so ignorant of history, but what was happening in Estonia in WW2 that made her a refugee?

Estonia was occupied by Russians, the by German troups, then Russians again. We are not sure which was worse. Lot of people escaped. Lot got killed and even more sent to Siberia.

Blimey, sounds like Iraq! Was Estonia in a good strategic position, or something?

Yes. NW from Russia, good access to sea. South from Finland, if you try to find it on the map.

Thank you, Hati. I take it you have connections there?

I live there.

For some bizarre reason I thought you were in New Zealand. I was wondering what you were doing up so late!

I've never been in that corner. Unfortunately.

So glad you are feeling more together ivan!

Hati, i didn't realise that's where you live either! Is that why the S.A.D thing affects you so much? I imagine winters are long, dark & cold round there.

zdt

Yeah, our winters feed SAD very well. ;-/

Thanks for the geo-political explanation, Hati. I'd have used too many words and it wouldn't have been nearly as clear.

I'll be off to the pub this afternoon, to meet the first RL friend who called me after I had the news from D. He's also a close friend of the mother-to-be, so it'll be a neat and tidy way of ending the week. Just after he spoke to me on Monday he had a call from J (the mother-to-be) with her news. He advised her not to tell me for a few days as I was in no fit state. He was right, of course, but I find it curious (to say the least) that I nearly had bad news and good news within the same half-hour. The universe is like that, I guess.

Hati Are you Estonian? I hadn't sussed that you lived there either. My sister-in-law is a Finn and she's been to Estonia several times. I have friends in Scotland who've been there on birding expeditions and brought back really amazing photos of the reedbeds and marshes, jam-packed with birds

I'm guessing that they all visited in spring/summer. The winters would be difficult?

Enjoy the weekend, Ivan

You're welcome, Ivan.

I am Estonian indeed. Weird creatures, those Estonians, ain't they?

Very strange creatures indeed. I had one of them on the phone last night, talking about several things at once. One day I'll disentangle it all.

So, if there is Estonia, is there also a Westonia???

I think i shall stick to my own country; you too can have one, it's very easy!

http://www.nationstates.net/fedupchecking

zdt

All about Estonia: http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Estonia