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

Hi, kat

Just thought I'd drop by to see how you got on with your exams. Do you know your results?

I am sorry you have had a bad summer weatherwise. We have too, and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I am hoping for a lovely September and October otherwise winter is going to be

I am waiting for our water company to sort a leak out in our pipe between the road and our house. They came and located it. Then they came back and dug a big hole in my drive, couldn't find the leak, filled the hole in, and said they'd come back and survey it again but they haven't been since and that was two weeks ago. If there really was a leak we would be flooded by now.

There is no sign of any water, and no sound in the pipes that we can hear, so we think they have got it wrong. You talk about bureaucracy in Austria - you want to try it in the UK. It gets worse by the day. They will soon be monitoring and taxing every aspect of our lives.

We pay more and more every year, but services just get worse and worse. Goodness know where the money goes. Well, I could hazard a few guesses, but don't think I should say here

I gave in today and we had a bowl of with jelly and lots of other fruit. so it almost felt like summer. Lovely. I must go and get some more bean sprouts, they have been growing well, and I really enjoy them, but I have run out of beans and seeds now.

Hope you are well. Take care,

Websailor

Thanks for passing by!

Re exams: I had three exams in June and I have only two results yet. I’m very satisfied with my results so far , but I’d really like to know about the remaining one. This is the exam I wasn’t sure about whether I have passed it or not.
Even worse: I still haven’t got the results for a paper I handed in last March. I need to know whether I’ve failed or not, cause I’m not allowed to write my diploma thesis as long as I don’t have a positive result here. I would have to take another course in fall in case I’ve failed, which means I would have to wait until February to start writing my diploma thesis.

A lovely September and October would be really nice! An Indian Summer like last year would be perfect.

How’s the “imaginary” leak in the pipe doing? I really hope it eventually turned out to be an imaginary one. A flooded place sounds like a horror scenario!

I spent most of the summer (if it can be called “summer”) at my parents’ place. So I totally forgot about the bean sprouts! I was in Vienna now and then, but I didn’t buy a ticket for public transport – it’s so expensive. So I walked most of the time – it’s only an estimated 20 minutes to university, and some institutions I can even reach within five minutes. But there is no health food shop anywhere near my flat, and eventually I forgot about the bean sprouts. But I’m sure I will make up for bean sprouts – experiments in September. I’ll have another two exams in October, so I’ll need lots of vitamins, hydrates and stuff…

What are you up to? Hope you’re doing well! It’s always nice to hear from you! 4 now,

katkodl

Hi,

I am preparing for a two day Garden Show at the weekend, which keeps us busy from Saturday 8.30am to Sunday 6pm (we do go home to sleep ) though I have stayed over in a tent when I was younger

You would enjoy it - absolutely everything for the garden and a huge craft tent with super stuff for Xmas presents. Plus lots of charity stalls, bands playing, food and drink etc. etc.

The preparation has taken me all week, and there will be a couple of days afterwards to check stock, cash up, bank and put remaining stock away till the next event.

Then I hope to go to my son's flat for the day. Haven't seen it since he first moved in, so I am looking forward to it.

Will drop you a note when all that is over. I hope you get your results soon. Your Uni sounds as bad as ours. The stress is so unnecessary

Have to get some more bean sprouts I have enjoyed them but I have run out.

I have heard nothing from the water company . I hope "no news is good news" as they say.

for now. Have a good weekend.

Websailor

Dear Websailor!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!

Hi, Kat

Thanks for the good wishes and the other message. Perhaps we can forget our "Bah Humbug" politically correct, bureaucratic Governments and countries for a few days.

You say yours is bureaucratic - then they must be taking lessons from ours. It gets worse.

Oh, well - off to stuff the Turkey now, ready for tomorrow.

Happy Christmas to your and your family etc.

Websailor

Hello Websailor!

In Austria the whole Christmas festivity traditionally takes place on the 24th. So the 25th is no big deal around here, everyone seems to be pretty lazy today, the fights are over.

How is it going? Hope you’re having a nice day with your family. I suppose your sons are paying you a visit – I remember that you've mentioned something like that earlier somewhere on h2g2.

I’m busy stuffing myself with my Grandma’s cookies at the moment, and I’m watching “Gone With The Wind”. Never seen the movie before, and I’m not really paying attention. What’s the big deal about that film? All the characters are rude and unlikeable – I prefer nice stuff.

What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? I promised myself to stick to my “ignore-plan” this year. I think that’s a lot better than forcing myself to go to a party like last year.

See you soon!

Hi, Kat

Christmas Day is THE day here. Christmas Eve used to be great fun when the boys were small but it is all different now.

My youngest came yesterday lunch time and will stay till Boxing Day afternoon. The eldest arrived shortly before Christmas lunch and has just left (5pm). He has a girlfriend so that rather alters things. I was quite pleased that he opted for Xmas lunch with us - I thought he might have other plans.

I fed the birds at 8am and was surrounded. They seemed delighted with the extra treats I put out. They seemed to know it was Christmas, unless it was just because there was frost everywhere and bitter cold and they were hungry

We have managed the day (so far) without anything major kicking off. I think we are all too tired to argue. With a lot of negotiating we all managed to get the presents we wanted, without breaking the bank

I now have the joy of stripping the turkey for the freezer, and my other half has promised to wash up. I only have a human dishwasher, and Xmas day it isn't me!!!

As far as New Year's Eve and Day, my youngest is working both days and I don't know what the eldest has planned. They have lots of friends so it will be a party somewhere I expect. We are not party people, and apart from the Millennium don't do much. It is not worth forcing yourself to go to a party unless you really want to. That is one good thing that comes with advancing age - it is easier to say No to things.

Us "old fogies" will probably fall asleep with a glass of wine and a mince pie in front of the telly. I am always glad when New Year is over and we can get back to normal. It is such a time of happiness and sadness, it is too much for me sometimes.

I thought I heard something on the news about Austria not doing Christmas or something. I should have paid more attention. It is getting like that here. The majority of people here are Christians, practising or otherwise, yet we mustn't have carols, nativity plays, Christmas cards in charity shops etc. etc. for fear of upsetting other faiths

This is such humbug because they aren't the least bit offended by our Christmas, and many of them join in. Those owning shops certainly have no qualms about benefiting from our mad spending sprees. I have friends of all religions, and there is never a problem. The Race Relations body seem to be there to stir things rather than put things right.

I have never been able to see the attraction of :Gone with the Wind". It has never touched me and I cannot see what all the fuss is about.

I have been given a bottle of my very favourite drink, Baileys Irish Cream, and I am having a hard job trying not to open it. Once started it won't last long. it puts weight on me so I shall have to be and ration myself

I hope you enjoy your cookies and that something better comes on the telly!! Haven't looked at ours yet, and I am about to be ticked off for spending time on the computer instead of with my family . Sometimes it is better company, especially on h2g2,

Bye for now. Enjoy the rest of the holidays, as I am sure you need a rest. By the way I liked your new PS. Must have a closer read when I have more time.

Best wishes to you and your family, .



Websailor

and I haven't even started on the Baileys yet I meant

Websailor

Mmmmmhhh! Baileys! I love Baileys: one of the few alcoholic beverages I really really really like. Its taste reminds me of - and I like ! How do you prefer your Baileys? I like it very cold on ice!

I’m now feeding the birds around here as well! They are so cute, can’t get enough of those tiny cuddly creatures! They prefer nuts over everything else at the moment. And they’re fighting a lot! As if there wasn’t enough for everyone!

I think I’ll spend New Year’s Eve with my telly. They broadcast all episodes of the original Hitchhiker series during the night on German TV . Unfortunately I don’t receive the channel where they show it – but my father does. I doubt that he will leave me his TV for the evening – as far as I know he will not celebrate either, he prefers the company of his television as well. So the chance that I get to see the series is pretty low. Sigh…

I suppose it’s true that people are now less excited about Christmas around here than they were 20 years ago. But still: the shops and stores were cramped with Christmassy stuff. I bought so much kitsch this year! I just love Christmassy kitsch!
I think it’s ridiculous to abolish Christmas due to political correctness. Where is the problem? Do people of other religions really feel offended by the fuss about Christmas? I personally wouldn’t have a problem if somebody wished me “Happy Hanukah” or whatever! Really, instead of banning Christmas stuff it would be much wiser to introduce and blend in customs of other religions… Why not placing a Menorah next to the Christmas tree in shop windows etc.? Why aren’t we sharing instead of hiding our customs?

I finally gave up on “Gone With The Wind”. All those hysterical women screaming around made me nervous. The most successful films always seem to be the worst ones… thinking of “Titanic” here…

Feel free to lurk about my PS whenever you want! I’ll keep the Christmassy decoration at least till New Year’s Eve… but then it has to go, I’m afraid.

Enjoy your evening!
Looking forward to reading you!

Hi, Kat

Baileys icy cold, Baileys straight, slow and naughty, and if I feel virtuous, just topping up a . Lovely on a cold night. Now I think we have done enough advertising for them, for now, and I still haven't opened the bottle

I agree with you, that mingling religions and taking the best from all of them is a good idea. Many people do this, as I aid I have friends of all religions and we learn much from each other.

Fortunately we have enough TVs and radios to accommodate everyone's taste, but it can mean we all end up in different rooms - not very sociable.

It is getting late, for my husband at least, so I had better go. Besides that the creamy nectar is calling . Well I will be soon, and it makes a lovely nightcap.



Websailor

Hello Websailor!

How’s it going? And: how’s your Baileys?

We have all our own TVs here too. It’s just that my father receives more programs than anyone else in the house… so he receives the Hitchhiker series, but I don’t. But : I’ve found out that the same channel broadcasts it again in February in the afternoon. So the problem is solved I guess.

Did you enjoy a nice Christmas finish? I’m afraid it’s time to go back to normal. Which means in my case that I should get started with university stuff again. *sighs*

We’re having so much rain, it’s unbelievable. It’s warm outside – I was just outside for a few minutes only wearing a T-shirt, but I didn’t freeze. Not at all – it was refreshing, but not cold! The whole summer felt as if it was fall, and now winter behaves like fall again! I’m afraid the birds think it’s spring! At least that’s the impression I get when watching and listening to them!

See you soon!

katkodl

Hi, Kat

Well, I suppose Xmas is just about over now - all that fuss and it is gone in a flash. My son went home yesterday and the house feels so empty again. Still both sons went home happy with their presents, so I'm happy

Spent part of yesterday making turkey stock for soup later, and Pate too. We like turkey and I usually buy one big enough to make a number of meals over the next couple of months. It is now in the freezer of course, so we don't get fed up with it.

Re. The Baileys . Well after feeding the birds at 7am, scraping the ice off the path, and breaking the ice on the birdbaths I was frozen. However, I restrained myself until much later in the morning. After getting buckets of coal in for our open fire and topping up the bird tables AGAIN I was frozen to the bone. So I had a well laced with Baileys and it was lovely. I reckoned I had earned it.

The birds have been feeding frantically all day, in fact the robin was outside the kitchen door waiting for me this morning and it was still dark! The blackbird was also waiting down the garden for his raisins and the were everywhere. The frost and ice has disappeared but it is so cold I am not sure what it will do tonight. Still, I am happy because it looks more christmassy this way. I don't like rain at Xmas.

Our plants etc. were behaving as if it was Spring too, until this cold spell hit us. Now they are all confused. The Silver Birch Tree that my sons bought us for our 30th Wedding Anniversary has grown so much, and the birds are using it so I am delighted.

Poor you - Uni stuff again already. Still the sooner you get back in to the swing of things the easier it will be I suppose. My son is working today, and has to work New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, so I expect we shall only get a phone call at midnight. He wasn't looking forward to going back either

Bye for now

Websailor

Hello Websailor!

I’m surprised about myself this time: it didn’t cost me as much effort as expected to get started with university matters again. I feel an urge to accomplish as much as possible before 2004 resigns. A welcome side effect of the fuss that is made about New Year’s Eve! Even if I refuse to celebrate, there is something urging me to invest my energy at least into work, if not into welcoming the new year!

Mmmmhhh… Baileys… I guess there is not much left, is there? A shot of Baileys in coffee sounds good. I’m not a coffee person, but with Baileys, well, that must taste fine!
An inspiration that is! I have to try hot with Baileys!

Not a single bird visited me today. It has cooled down a bit, but the rain has still not turned into snow.
I'm wondering… do birds bathe when it’s that cold? Don’t they risk getting… a cold? the bird-flu? (is there such a thing?) frozen wings? Or do they rather drink from the bird baths, than bathe in them?


4 now! See you soon!


katkodl

Hi, Kat

You are SOoo right about the Baileys. It is going down alarmingly quickly I rarely drink, so I am enjoying indulging for once(or twice)

The birds do bathe in the cold weather, even in the snow. It helps them to keep their feathers in good trim apparently It is cold enough breaking the ice, so how they stand it I do not know . I often get six or seven starlings splashing about at the same time, and the blackbird has a nest size dish of it's own to bathe in Yes, there is a bird 'flu, but it is a virus, not like a cold, and not caught by getting wet and cold.

I still can't figure how such tiny little things survive in bitter cold weather and last night we had rain and a howling gale, but they were still waiting for me this morning as chirpy as ever

They are such a tonic, when all the news seems to be as bad as it could be. This Indian Ocean thing kinda puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

I am glad you have got in to your Uni work more easily than expected. It will give you a good start. I find the desire to get back to normality after Xmas and the New Year boosts me as well. I don't make resolutions but I am determined to continue the clear out of clutter of all sorts, that I started about two months ago. It is making me feel better, but there is still much to do.

Bye for now,

Websailor

Hello Websailor!

I’m a little lazy at the moment where longish posts on h2g2 are concerned… I guess the problem is that I found myself in a glorious mess with my university stuff, and now I kind of don’t know how to deal with the chaos… how to clear it up, sort it out, make it work.

Yesterday evening I read through your latest (now it’s the second latest) journal entry, through the whole thread actually… I couldn’t bring myself to reply, all I wrote sounded strange… Well, strange statements in strange times, it kind of makes up though.

On a lighter note: how have you spent New Year’s Eve? It was quite a calm evening around here. I stuck to my plan to stay at home, and it was probably the nicest Silvester (as we call it) I’ve ever had. I sat at the window watching the fireworks while listening to music. That was it basically. Not even Baileys was involved! Just some … I was pretty surprised that the fireworks were so extensive – I really thought they’d cut down and rather donate for South Asia. But obviously they didn’t waste a thought on that.

I better go to bed now… I’m looking forward to reading you!

Hi,

We spent New Year quietly too and watched the fireworks, with a glass of , well white actually, but there is no smiley for that. We usually have sausage rolls and mince pies too. I also thought people would donate towards Asia but they had probably already bought the fireworks. I know a lot of events collected donations, and still are collecting. The response here has been amazing. I think it has made people re-think their priorities.

Every day the newspapers and TV carry new stories but they haven't swamped us like they did with war coverage in the past, so hopefully people will not become immune to what they are seeing, and will still give.

I think my Baileys has one small tot left, but I have been too busy sorting out food and drink for my son who is down with a really bad dose of 'flu. He lives alone so has no-one to shop for him. We all had bad colds just before Xmas but he seems to have caught something worse . My other son has taken a bag full of stuff to him this afternoon. I daren't risk going to see him and in case I catch it and pass it to my husband, as it could be dangerous for him.

I am sure you will eventually sort out your Uni chaos. Things tend to come right eventually The weather here is cold, windy and bright today which is better than the dark dull days and pouring rain we have had recently.

My posts ARE rather long I am afraid. I will have to try to cut down. I think it stems from not really having anyone to talk to - my husband isn't a conversationalist - and I get carried away with my thoughts. I think h2g2 is a good outlet for many people, especially at the moment, but I will try not to witter (chatter) on so much in future

Hope you get your Uni stuff into some sort of order. You made such a good start

for now,
Websailor

Hello Websailor!

I’m sitting at the computer writing papers for university… Actually I feel much too tired and exhausted for writing serious stuff, and this after having slept 12 hours!!! These days I’d rather not get up at all, I’m always tired, except in the late evenings.

The “longish” posts weren’t aimed at you! I’m sorry, I’ve expressed myself quite vague. What I was trying to say is that I’m too lazy to write proper (longish) posts myself. I always get stuck after a few lines, and I don’t want to be impolite by just dropping a few superficial lines… Reading long posts is not half as exhausting as writing long posts. So at the moment I’m lurking about and reading a lot of posts, but I’m hardly answering. Please don’t cut down the length of your posts! It would be a shame if you thought I was trying to tell you to keep your thoughts to yourself!

You may be right – people probably had bought their fireworks before the catastrophe happened. I guess storing fireworks till next year is no good idea either – this can be quite dangerous after all.
I don’t think that what has happened in South Asia had a big impact around here. I know this is very pessimistic, but I personally have the feeling that people are already immune against nearly everything they see on TV or read in the newspapers. I doubt that the catastrophe makes people rethink their priorities – at least their behavior will hardly change in the long term, I’m afraid.


I hope your son will get well soon! Maybe some sunshine will help him to recover more quickly! We are enjoying some nice warm days at this time. 10°C in January is really nothing to complain about! (At least not for me – I’m dreading the cold!)


See you soon!