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

Just a quick "Hi!" and I'm off to bed.

I think the cold is passing so that's ok.

I spoke too soon when I said it wasn't freezing! This morning there was ice everywhere and it was jolly cold! Anyone would think it's winter or something.

Take care mi deario and I'll talk to you again soon.
n,
Les

*giggles*

You keep warm, sweetheart

Goodnight, God Bless...




lil xxx

Still chugging along and not much change at this end. Keeping warm seems like a very good idea.

Maybe a slightly earlier night even?! Well, if that's going to happen, I'd better start now.

Winter's getting boring anyway. It's about time the sun came out and we all felt warmer!

Til soon then,
,
Les

News briefing:

The man has not had a good day but is starting to feel almost human again now. I went to a meeting today, probably unwisely since I was neither use nor ornament. I think now that theis taking effect though since I can breathe — such a luxury — and am not turning purple with coughing.

How about you? How's life at the Lil household?
I look forward to hearing in due course.


Les

Hi Les,

We had a glorious sunny day here.. beautiful weather for drying clothes if you lived on the right side of the road!... I don't!

Our back garden is totally overshadowed during the late winter, so clothes will come in just as wet as when they went out

It's Hubby's birthday on Valentine's Day, so we will be spending some time together - perhaps a drive in the car, then we will have a grilled steak dinner when we get home

On Wednesday, I'm to have an endoscopy (camera down the throat), to check for malabsorption problems which appear to be causing me trouble with my medications for the last few years. Why they didn't think of this 2 years ago when they were doing the test for my gall bladder and suspected chrones disease, I've no idea!... Hey Ho!... Life can be fun sometime

Good to see the man-flu is abating and you are feeling more human these day... I'll watch out for you tomorrow, hunny




lil xxx

Hi Lil,

The endoscopy doesn't sound like a bundle of laughs but I sure hope they find a good solution to the problems you're having and set you on the road to a quick recovery. I'll be thinking of you!

So, I hope the St Val's day treats went off well and you've enjoyed your day. Mrs L had a miniature rose plant, red of course, and a hand-made card, which went down well. She gave me a book of my favourite poet, Mary Oliver, which pleased me very much. Mary Oliver is largely the inspiration for my own work. Not that I write in quite the same way as her — I should be so lucky — but I find reading her work so liberating and encouraging.

It's been bright here today too although later into the afternoon a fresh wind sprang up an made it rather cold. Still, each day takes us just a little closer to spring!

Here's a little something for you in honour of the day.
Talk again soon.
s'nes
Les

Hi Les,

We had a lovely day together, followed by a nice steak dinner when we got home.

I might be offline a bit tomorrow, so I will catch up with you on Thing! (ok)

Here's hoping you are getting the first decent days of an early Spring!

Goodnight love... Sleep tight!



s n es


lil xx

Hi Lil,
Now of course, I'm hoping that your medical procedures went off without a hitch yesterday, and a minimum of discomfort! I guess it will take a little while to get over the intrusiveness of it and rather longer to come to any conclusions of course.

Yesterday was a fairly relaxed sort of a day around here. Meeting in the morning followed by a minor emptying of Lidl then home for tea and 'things'.

Today I woke up with a degree of resolve to crack on with a report I'm meant to be writing. By the time I'd eaten breakfast and cleared the grate of last night's fire and relaid it for later I have to say that said resolve had dwindled just a tad. It was therefore with some effort that I put fingers to keyboard, engaged the brain and pulled out into the traffic so to speak. Well, an examiner might be justified in failing me for not "making normal progress" but at least I'm under way — or at least I was until lunch intervened and now, here I am, writing to you instead of resuming the journey.

You mentioned 'first days of spring' and I have to say that today is milder and more encouraging than many of late. I noticed for the first time that the birds are changing their songs and starting to sound like a spring morning. Even the cockerel I can hear as I write seems to have a fresh vigour to his voice, not that he lacks volume at any time of year! To add to this, the daffodils beside the front path are beginning to show yellow in the bud and one is almost ready to burst out. We went a bit mad planting bulbs in the autumn and I think that the later spring should be quite a colourful time in the garden.

I suppose I should direct my thoughts, and fingers, back to that report now. I hope your day has been kind to you so far. To help it on its way, here are somesand es.

Til soon,
Les

I'm guessing you've got your head under the bonnet again!

Hope all's well with you!

It rained here today! Happily not before the washing was pretty nearly dry.

Catch you later.
n
Les x

Hello Les,

Sorry for not getting back sooner

With having *that* procedure, and then the Manchester Meet a couple of days later, it all took its toll on me. I've done nothing but sleep for the last few days!

The procedure wasn't very pleasant, and it transpired that not all the food had cleared my stomach at the time (even though it had been far more than 6 hours since I last ate or drank!). The doctor said I might need to have it done again... Hah! Next time, I want to be asleep for it! The following day my GP rang with the results!!

'Did they discuss the results with you?'

Me: 'Yes, they told me I might need it doing again'

'So they didn't tell you that you have a hernia?'

Me: 'Eh? That's news to me!

'Well, I see you have an appointment with the Consultant on the 6th. He might want you to have a dye and x ray procedure, instead of another endoscopy.'

???

Now for the Meet!!! *hic*

It was great!.. Although Hubby had to come home that evening, so daughter Virtuouschuffed stayed overnight with me

We both had a laugh! I managed to meet lots of those I hadn't met before.. and of those I had met before, it was nice that they made the effort to come across to where I was sitting!

If you've never met Tim Stevenson aka Transmission online, you really ought to get to know him! He's crazy! Especially when in charge of a wheelchair and high pavements!!


s n es...

lil xxx

Hi Lil!

Good to see you back. I had forgotten that you were going to the Manchester meet. Sounds like you had a great time.

And at least you've moved on a bit with your medical thingies. Now you know what your dealing with and hopefully there will be a treatment plan that can set you on the road to recovery. Let's hope they all get it together and can sort you out quickly and effectively.

Life continues much the same here just at the moment. I still haven't 'put to bed' the report I'm trying to get ready. It's starting to come together but needs a fair bit more attention before I can relax over it. I had a committee meeting yesterday afternoon that went ok but was far too long and by the time I got home I'd really had enough!

Today we had lunch out which made a nice change. Nothing special but in a pleasant little cafe with well-cooked food at sensible prices. Bridport is a lovely little town and we usually go in on a Wednesday as it's market day and we can start off by going to the mid-week meeting at our Quaker group then on to do whatever else is on the agenda for the day.

Next week we go to Birmingham for the week. Did I tell you Mrs Les is doing a PhD at the university there and we stay at the Quaker Study Centre which has a post-grad department where she is registered? I'll still be in touch while we're there as they have WiFi all over the building including our bedroom and I always travel with my laptop.

We're making some tentative plans for a little trip abroad in the spring and Mrs L is studying the possibilities online — one of her favourite activities! It will possibly be to Bucharest which is somewhere we haven't been before and should be a bit of an adventure. It looks like an interesting city.

OK, I guess that's enough for tonight. Glad you've been enjoying yourself at least for some of the time!

Til soon then mi deario!
s'nes
Les

Hi Lil,
Just a quickie tonight I think! I'm tired and the day seems to have run away.

It's been a fine, mild, spring-like day and we decided to take a walk on the beach this afternoon, just down to the local one. It's been a while since we did and I have top say it made a nice afternoon. Just a short walk in the sun along the water's edge and then home to tea!

There had been another cliff fall recently. Erosion is pretty constant along this part of the coast, especially in the winter when the sea can get a bit lively. It was a fairly big fall and there are sizeable rocks strewn across the beach below the cliff. The coast path that used to follow the edge of the cliff keeps being moved a little further inland and I think this latest fall will need another diversion.

Now I think it's time to get some sleep.
Catch you later,
s'nes,
Les

Aww.. G'night sweetheart


I have been very quiet today. Tomorrow we (Hubby and I) will be going to cemetary, it's the 5th anniversary of his Mum's passing and Monday will be the 7th anniversary for my Mum... and I still miss her so very much

I might be a little quiet during the next few days, but don't go worrying about me. I will be fine!

We seem to be losing a lot of our coastline these days. Soon we won't recognise the map of Britain

Sleep tight, love... I will catch up with you next week, if not before...

s n es ...

lil xxx

Hi Lil,

Thinking of you over the next few days. Such anniversaries can be a difficult time can't they. Inevitably we miss those we lose and we can only hope that as time passes we are more able to remember them with love and be grateful for all the good memories they leave with us.

I lost my mum in 2006 and sometimes still have to stop myself from thinking, "Must tell her that when I see her". Mostly though I can have a little smile to myself over things that I know would have amused her.

Her passing came at the end of a difficult few years in which we lost first my wife's mother then her father within 18 months. They are of course all much missed although I do believe that time helps to turn the hurt into fond memories.

Love and healing thoughts coming your way.

Les

Aww.. Thank you love. I feel so much for Hubby. He lost 2 aunts, his mother and his baby sister - all to cancer - within a 6 year period. All of them with very little notice of their condition (weeks). His sister managed 14 months, and just had time to enjoy her son's first birthday

Well, I spent part of Saturday afternoon here: F19585?thread=8290718

And will be returning there on Monday evening, so my mood is likely to be more than a little bit frosty. Nobody treats my Dad like that!

I hope you've had a lovely weekend with your wife and family

s and es...

lil xx

Hi Lil,
Should I be ready with the anti-freeze?

Greetings from Birmingham. We drove up to Evesham yesterday and stayed with friends overnight. Although it doesn't really have to be a two day journey it enables us to be in Birmingham much earlier in the day if we only have the little bit up from Evesham to do in the morning.

We'll be here until Friday then it's back to Dorset again ready for a busy weekend I think.

Hope you've had an ok sort of a day.
s'nes,
Les

Hi Les

I've thawed out and calmed down now

When I can get some words down in print (minus and expletives), I will compose a letter to the Head Office, not that I expect anything to be done about it now.

Did you enjoy your stop over in Evesham? I really do love that place.

I have a quiet Friday coming up. Hubby, daughters and their partners are off to Liverpool in the afternoon. Part of their Christmas presents included tickets for a concert for an Ozzie tribute band for Pink Floydd, who are becomeing as famous as the originals

Not my scene, man...

Catch up with you later, hunny.. Drive home safely!


s n es


lil xxx

Hi Lil,
So glad to hear you've regained your equilibrium! It's good to give vent to your feelings of course and equally it's good to emerge unscathed on the other side!

Yes, Evesham was good. It's always nice to spend a little time with our friends there. I can't help a slight peculiar feeling on the way to their house though since we have to drive past the hospital where my mother ended her days. She'd lived in Evesham for quite a number of years.

I hope you enjoy the peace and quiet(?) of your day tomorrow! Yes, we shall be driving home again, leaving here about mid-morning I expect. That's normally when we get going. Let the 'rush-hour' subside and then head south west!

It's been a busy few days but, as usual, enjoyable. Before we know it we'll be back again; just a couple of weeks or so I think.

OK, bedtime for me now!
Til soon,
s'nes,
Les

Hi Les

Yes. It doesn't take me long to calm down. I only get this worked up over family members (Hubby, Dad, daughters, sister and brothers).. You can say what you like about me. Woe betide anyone upsetting my family

As for hospitals. I was admitted onto the same ward where Mum died. I had chest pains, and only for the fact that I was actually sick and another patient wouldn't stop trying to chat with me (she was the only one in there, poor thing), the staff thought it best to move me to another ward for peace and quiet

The chest pains turned out to be gallstones passing through my system

I will watch out for you tomorrow. Drive safely


s n es

lil xxx

Hi Lil,

Home again! It was a good trip back, about the usual 4 hours plus stops but no holdups or other traffic problems. The new car is proving a 'good buy' I'm pleased to say. It 'seems to be a bit cheaper to run too, which can't be bad.

For the most part it seems to have been a week of repairing and painting cracked walls and ceilings. In an old house there are always plenty of those! It's all gone well though and as usual I've enjoyed being there among friends in my '2nd home'.

In the last couple of days there was a poetry course on and yesterday I was invited to join in the reading evening. I had a book of my poems with me so I was able to read a couple of them. They seemed to go down well and a couple of people even asked about buying a copy of the book! It was a great evening with so much variety and talent among the course participants. I really enjoyed it.

Now for a weekend of busy-ness. I have a few changes to make to a report which then has to be presented on Sunday.

Hope you're feeling ok.
s'nes,
Les