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

Hi Ben,

You are just like me...in my head I still feel 20 it's the body that's decrepit!

I am glad you have begun to enjoy hootoo again, I suppose there have been some big changes since you were last online here.

I would also think that you have now begun to find your own crowd too.
Your sense of humour is too good for you not to have made friends of your own.

VV will certainly know of your good wishes....she still reads everything I am into it makes me wonder who is the mother in this relationship!!

Best wishes to you and your Mum


n stuff


lil x

Lil,

I know what you mean there . You feel the same inside but the body lets you down lol.

Funny really, I been reading up mostly on hootoo, and done my homepage, but have not really done much else on here. I have other sites I go on too, so am never really bored. I keep myself happy Lil, and do enjoy the net .

I know what you mean about Vicki reading what you done . Its only because she cares, and wants to see her Mums alright. Funny Lil it does seem to go that way. You start life with your parents caring for you, then you seem to look after them for the rest of the time afterwards. That is how it should be really, but in my last job I found that was not always the case. Its a shame when you see it, and makes you wonder how in this day and age its allowed to happen.

Even I can remember when people were caring around here, and listening to my old nan telling me about when she was a kid. Thinking back on it all now, the changes that has taken place is amazing . I'm a bit like that with my Mum too lil .



Ben

Hello Ben,

You just caught me before I closed down to finish cooking dinner!

It sound like you must have worked in a nursing home or something similar.

I think the main reason families are not as close these days is not just divorce...I think it's more social...families used to be very close knit units and lived within walking distance of each other if not right next door.

When the first high-rise flats replaced the old terraced houses, that began the downward spiral of the community.

I can remember playing in the street with all the other children and at least one parent would be sitting on the doorstep keeping an eye on us. It may have been resented at the time. But looking back, that was the original *care in the community*.

Maybe one we will all try to get back to basics and children will be safer.



lil x

Lil I couldn't agree more,

I think a number of things have done it. I can remember that Lil even when I was a kid. We knew everyone in these flats, and same with where my nan lived too. It was a bit of a shock for me when I started growing up and found not every family was like that.

I use to be an understaker Lil. I have pulled people from their homes that had been dead six months or more. Its hard to believe in a built up area, a block of flats, that only a bad smell told them something was wrong. A couple of the police officers that were there was telling me their disbelief.

I do think even society is to blame in one way. Its making a rod for its own back, and the less trustworthy are making a meal of it. I was in that job a fair while, and had my own van and crew. It certainly opened my eyes to life Lil.

I hope you had a good dinner lol I had a lovely roast, Mum does them Yorshire puddings a treat, and now I'm sitting here with a cup of .

Talk soon Lil

Ben

Hi Ben

Nobody cooks like your own Mum...went to see mine this lunch time and she was dishing up for Dad and my Sister who was visiting lucky little .

I kept running my finger around the potato pan and pinching the lamb. My Daddy luvs me...he let me pinch from his plate...something he has done since we were little. It ALWAYS tastes better from Daddy's plate!

Back to serious a moment...didn't it give you nightmares working as an undertaker? Especially when it's under such circumstances as you have discribed! And don't tell me you get used to it..my younger brother was a policeman and he never got used/or hardened to the unpleasantness of some of the things he had to see! I can't imagine you being any different!

Anyway did your Mum have a pleasant Mother's Day? I had a lovely time...both of mine are away until tomorrow...so I was able to visit and then come back and relax


Be seeing you


lil x

Hi Lil, *waves back*

about yesterday. When I came on here hootoo was having an off day, and wouldn't let me post .

Yes I can imagine you nicking off your Dads plate Lil. My Dad wouldn't let me do that . He would tell me to off and eat me own lol.

It could be hard with that job, but you did have to leave your feeling elsewhere, and ignore them, or think of something else. Even make a joke of it after to lighten things up a bit. I see a lot of guys only last five minutes because they couldn't take it. Nothing to be ashamed of. Its not the nicest of jobs. I would say you was better off driving the limos, or even the hearse at funerals. Even then you was still around sorrow, and had to ignore it. I was a hearse driver for a while. To be honest I found it boring. I even conduted on funeralsls too. I felt a right dillon in my top hat and tails lol.

One day I was at one funeral, and the conductor slipped at the grave in the rain, and fell into it. He was laying moaning on his back on the coffin. I put out my hand to help him out of the grave. All the people was standing round it. I had to do that and keep a straight face Lil. He was covered in mud, and his face was as red as a baboons bum. I couldn't look him in the eye, or I would of collapsed in a big heap . You really need a sick sense of humour in that job Lil, or it can turn you. I think I could write a book about some of what I seen, and that is only the funny stuff lol. I think a lot of people would do the funerals themselves. It would certainly be a damn sight cheaper for them, and there is no law to say they cant either.

Lil glad to hear you enjoyed mothers day . So did Mum as it goes. She had some nice flowers from one of my sisters, and did enjoy herself.

Talk soon Lil better lol.

Ben

Hi Ben,

I must admit I read your letter this afternoon and could not stop laughing...but it was that kind of laughing were your body shakes and you just can't stop it.

Obviously not all the incidents you dealt with were tragedies..and as you say, you have to laugh.

I have had a good day on hootoo, one player was spoiling anothers storyboard...so I stepped in and ravished him in front of his friends and the ribbing went on for another 25 postings!!! Must admit he took it all in good humour...I expected him to kick the teddy out of the playpen!

It was all good clean (well almost) fun! But wait till VV finds out....Mother! How could you!!...she will say. I'm getting used to that now

Well that's my news for today, see you tomorrow sometime



from


lil x

Lil

Yes that is the way you have to handle it. Yes you do see some tragic things, but you just have to hit it with a bit of clowning around.

I can imagine Vicki doing that . I bet you make her too lol. My Dad was the one that use embarrass me sometime. I took my future wife to meet my parents,( the second one lol) and there was my Dad telling her about a test he had in the hospital that went wrong. I couldn't belive it Lil, because it involved his willy . I didn't know where to put my face, and thought looks like i'm single again.

He even got me a date with a nurse on his ward. She had been through a rough patch, and use to sit on his bed talking to him. I tell you Lil I wanted to crawl under the bed .

Glad to see your having a great day Lil, and you tell em . I like making people laugh, and glad I had you in stitches . I have had some laughs in the past Lil, and love teasing folk .

Talk soon lil . I better and get on.



Ben

Hiya Ben,

Sorry, I did see your letter earlier, but I was soooo involved in the storyboard that I could not get over to *talk live* with you!!

It was very, very busy! But great fun too. Well I am now locked in battle in interdimensional space, with an evil entity and when I come back I won't be as nice as I was! We shall have to see how that pans out!

I had VV with me this afternoon, as you are aware she is not very well at the moment and had to leave work early. So she came here and slept all afternoon. I do hope the doctors can sort out her problem soon. I think it could be making her a little depressed. And that is not like her at all!

Please do tell me more of your amusing anecdotes, I really did enjoy the last one!

As for teasing, I have a very wicked sense of humour, not to everyones taste I sure!

I hope you and your Mum are keeping well and I look forward to hearing from you soon!



from


lil x

Lil,

Yeah its not much fun when you don't feel well, and if its been going for a fair while its also bound to get you down too . Poor Vicki, with any luck lets hope they sort it out soon.

I like that sort of humour LIl . I'm a bit that way myself. I do tend to make a joke sometimes to lighten things up a bit. Situation comedy can work quite well too. I can see how these writers do it. They pick things they actually seen, but pile it on a little more. Like a get well card in a coffin lol. I seen that loads of times, and it always made me laugh.

I tell you Lil the best comedy is on the streets, in our real lives. I never forget the guy that walked out of the paper shop reading his paper. I was with my second wife at the time. He stepped right into a pile of doggie doo doo's, and went over heels. My wife just burried her face in my arm, but I went into fits of laughter. Ewwww he had doggie doo doo's right up his back .

Glad I make you laugh Lil, and know your out there saving our universe . We must call you Super Mum, or something like that.

Talk soon Lil , and all the best to Vicki



Ben

Hiya Ben,

Well now I'm to become a super villain...really dark and nasty...won't that frighten the kiddies?

Ben if you can't laugh at the antics of life, then you might has well be buried up to your neck in the proverbial.....!!

There are more jokes outside your own front door than anywhere in the world...you have just got to switch on the humour factor and you are halfway there!

Vicki seemed more like her old self when I contacted her at work yesterday afternoon...but I still think that there is a little depression showing through...I'll keep an eye on her

Today is our 16th Wedding Anniversary and Hubby has taken the day off, no doubt by lunch time he will have totally driven me crackers!!! He cannot sit still for more than 5 minutes...he gets bored to easily! What am I going to do when he retires? I'd better find him something to do...otherwise that plot under the tree in the back garden might get filled quicker than intended

I will let you know if we manage to survive the day!!!

Look after your Mum and take care, will contact you again soon


n stuff


lil x

*knocks quietly so as not to disturb Mum*

Hi Ben,

You must be busy...just to let you know, Hubby survived his day off so I'm filling in the hole under the tree in the garden!

VV and I were both very drunk online yesterday..she got sloshed at a farewell lunch for a colleague!

We both were behaving very badly towards the Men online...a pity you missed it...it would have made your hair curl!!

Imagine being letched after by a Mother and Daughter team! We had them ing all over the place

I'll go now...just wanted to leave you a quick note to let you know I was thinking of you both


Love to your Mum!


n stuff



lil x

Awwww thanks Lil

Yeah Vicki does try I think, but its got to get her down I should imagine. Aslong as she's a fighter which I'm sure she is, she'll be . Like you said Lil just keep an eye on her, and be there for her. Poor Vicki, she is a nice girl too.

Oh God! Don't start me on that . A Mum And daughter team after me. What a way to die lol . I like that thought . I could imagine them lol, I bet they were ing themselves .

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself with hubby Lil. No don't bury the poor man in the garden Lil, he could come in handy . Awwww poor chap. You ought to both get a bike like me Lil, a tandem even.

I was busy as it goes, but will always find time for you though . I like your idea, put the wind up em Lil .

Take care and talk soon. Going to for me dinner now .

Lil

Ben

Dear Ben,

Don't worry about not being able to write to me...I will alway be here!!

I shall just keep prattling on until you yell STOP!!

It was my parents' 51st Wedding Anniversay today..so I went to visit them this afternoon and had a lovely time with them

Just as we were leaging Daddy says "You have one of those scanner thingummies haven't you?"

"Yes" says I

"Oh right!! I've been told you can put photo's on those diskie things!"

"Yes" again say I

"Well we have been looking at all our photo's and thought how upset your Mum and I would be if we lost them"

"Yes" says I

"Do you think you could put them all on those diskie things...I'll pay" he says.

"No you won't" says I "We'll do them for you"

"Oh Good! I have put them all in that box over there" He says.

I looked and there was a 3' x 2' box CRAMMMED with all the photo's they had collected of the 50+ years of their relationship!!!

says I... I'm sure we could do something about that!

Parents!!!! They can drive you to distraction! But I them so much!

That has been the sum total of my day...as well as looking over the photo's and having some very fond memories of friends and relatives long gone from us!


n stuff


lil x

Awwwww bless.

I can well imagine Lil. That is the sort of thing my Dad would do too . I bet he spent hours sorting them out lol. He is right though, pics can so easily get damaged, and they go in time. I love looking at old pics though.

Do you ever watch that program on the telly about the blits, and how it was in London? Its on the weekends. They show you a lot of things that were local to where I live, and the East End of London. Blimey that must of been naughty living like that Lil

One old boy was telling them how he went out for while, and when he got back see his house blow up in front of him, and wiped out most of his family. He was only a kid then. His Mum lived, but most of his other family were killed. I get old Mum telling things too while its on.

Would be my luck Lil to be on the loo when a bomb lands: "Cor that ruby must of been good last night."

Glad all is well Lil Catch you later



Ben

Hi Ben


Listen well to your Mum's memories...My Dad always regretted not sitting down with Grandad and asking questions about his life...and now he is trying to find information for a family tree.

Dad is one of the younger children of a family of 10 children. He Eldest brother is old enough to be his dad!

I love sitting and talking with him, I still sit on the floor at his feet like I did as a girl. He tells me about his childhood, where he was born, where he grew up and the capers and scrapes he got into as a child..and we do laugh at some of the things he got up to!

He also tells me stories of his National Service during the 1950's. He was stationed in Italy and was a Millitary Policeman...later he became a policeman when he left the army. And that is how I always remember him in his police uniform. Some of the stories I could tell you...you would never believe. He then became a Public House Manager which meant all us kids also got drawn into working behind the bar...cheap labour, no wages for being underage.

On day I will tell some of the stories of my childhood...what we got up to and such like..some are very amusing, to me anyway

That program about the war and the London Blitz...I think it may be a repeat of something shown just before Christmas....the man you recall spent most nights in the underground and could see and hear things no child should have at a young age!!! The TV schedules tend to go over to the Regions at the weekend until the evening programmes start.

I am not entirely sure where you live..so I am assuming it is in the London area, I'm sure you will let me know if I'm wrong


n stuff



lil x

Hi Lil

Yes I'm like that myself. I love talking to older people about their past. I use to have a laugh with some of them in the old peoples homes. There was one old girl there that thought I was her son. Her mind had gone, but she could remember the past alright. Poor woman was living in the past. The present day meant nothing to her. One old boy use to say to me: "You aint come for me have you " He use to have me in fits. The things he use to say to me, and some of the stories he told me cracked me right up

I could sit for hours talking to them. They could put their knowledge to some use, and make them feel a lot better. As though they were doing something. I always do listen to what Mum tells me. Use to with Dad too. Specially when he said about my old Grandad. Dad come from Wales. He left there when they made his Brother and father redundant from the pits. My Dad had to keep two families, and he was only 15. So he come to London so his Brother and Dad could work.

Yeah that would be good Lil . I'd like that. I can sit for hours talking about that.

Yeah a lot of kids see things children should never of seen then. Some had to crawl into bombed out houses, because adults were too big to crawl in the hole. So some see bodies that were blown to bits. I think them times brought the best out in people though some how. Specially going by the way they talk to you .

I live near Greenwich Lil, SE London. I was born in Woolwich .

Lil talk later .

Ben

Another flying visit Ben?

Hi Lil,

Sorry love have had computer trouble. I'm going to have to go out and get a new one. I think this one is on the way out. I'll be on don't worry .



Ben

Darling Ben,

I will still be here....just take care of yourself and your mum!

I'll post something to you later


n struff


lil x