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

Hi KimotoCat :-D I thought I'd carry on our conversation here as we were getting somewhat off topic discussing films and drooling in a PMS thread! I'm tempted to wait and buy a cheap ex-rental DVDs of LotR's three films until the deluxe box set is released. My son says he'd like a copy of the old animated film that was released in 1978/79 too but I think he'll have to wait until next Christmas as he's only recently had a birthday. 8-) I suppose that when they have released all three LotR books on film, they will no doubt make a film of The Hobbit. B-) MIB II was really funny. It was much the same as the first film but most entertaining. If you're into drooling, there's a thread currently running here that is full of hormonally challenged ladies behaving very badly http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F42604?thread=139168&latest=1 Please don't be shy or try to plough your way through the back log. Just jump into the conversation (you could mention that I had pointed you in their direction if you like). Connery and Dalton are quite high in my book of drool-worthy chaps, along with Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Bruce Willis plus several past and present starship captains and aliens from Star Trek.

Gwennie, my dear, you don't KNOW off-topic!

But hey, as long as there are men to drool over, and it did take your mind off the PMS/MS didn't it? Other than various remidies, drugs and household wisdom, I've always found that "taking mind on something else" works very well with me.

And, honestly, Tommy Lee Jones does make one h*** of a "take-mind-off" item, now doesn't he?!?

-KC who WILL be back for more, but this was written from work...

Yes drooling did take my mind off the PMS, which has gone as I started three days early (unusual for me) and would account for why I felt so and yelled at my teenage daughter for something really very trivial the other night! (I have since bought her a really horribly gory but funny zombie video called Braindead as an apology! )

It's TLJ's crinkly smile and the way his eyes smile too that makes me go weak at the knees...

Have you seen Space Cowboys (with TLJ, Clint, James Garner and Donald Sutherland)? I've recently treated myself to a Region 1 DVD that I found on Ebay so I can drool when ever the fancy takes me.

Judging by your name, am I right in assuming that you're fond of s? How long have you been a teacher?

YESSS!

It was ever so sligthly predictable, wasn't it? The moment we knew that TLJ had the cancer, he'd be the hero of the day! *sob*

But great movie! Really!

-KC

P.S. I'll try your suggested link as soon as there aren't anybody else nearby to peek over my shoulder!

P.P.S.

How old is your kid? Tell me more!

Two kidlets actually...

Mair is 15 and just starting her GCSE year this September whilst Chris is 12 and attends a special needs school as he has autism.

*Whispers*

Who's peering over your shoulder?

I was so disappointed last night as I bought our DVD player under the impression that it was a multi-region one but it isn't and wouldn't play Space Cowboys!

The good news is that I was too busy to phone the company I bought the DVD player from or the manufacturers to burn some ears and I have just found a wonderful Internet sight that provides 'hack' codes for most DVD players. So I can now watch Space Cowboys tonight!

You're an American, aren't you? Or related to one? Americans love abbreviations that other people do not understand.
But okay, I'll accept that and procede to ask: What is "GCSE year"

Who was looking? Oh, most everybody. The H2G2-moderators, the (my-job)-moderators, people where I work, your friendly neighbourhood hacker, what have we...

Now I'm at home, beeing scrutinised only by Ole, my boyfriend. And he thinks I'm busy preparing for next weeks work! (As a school-teacher, btw.)

You even HAVE Space Cowboys? That's not FAIR! Me? I haven't got any such TLJ-stuff. But I am more and more seriously copnsidering to go to the cinema, even if I have to go alone, just to see MiB-II.

But I DO have LotR!!! (I just CRAVE hobbits!)

-KC

P.S.

Say hi to your kidlets from a teacher.

Space Cow Boys was fantabuloso!

I'm not an American and neither am I related to one...I'm boringly British and live in the North Eastern part of England called County Durham.

The GCSE abbreviation is commonly used here and I think in full it means "General Certificate of Secondary Education". My daughter hopes to have passed her various subjects in this exam by this time next year and then go on to her A Level examinations. I have no idea what the A stands for although I'd hazard a guess that it could be Academic.

Don't mention the flying h2g2 moderators! I've been moderated three times in the past couple of months and I still can't figure out why and am awaiting a reply to an Email re my last moderated posting...

One of the benefits of having kids is that I have the perfect excuse to buy videos/DVDs and visit the cinema to see the likes of MIB II, LotR and Harry Potter.

My better half (John) knows exactly what I'm up to on our computer (most of the time!).

Which age group do you teach?

I've said hi to my kidlets and say hi from me to Ole please. (How does one pronounce that by the way?)

There's nothing boring 'bout being British. To be quite honest, I prefer brits to americans. (God save the Queen, Tally-ho and all that...)

A... Academic? Alpha? Anti-boredom? Hmmm. perhaps you're right in your suspicion.

I don't have kids. Not of my own anyway. But I teach oodles of children in the school, aged from 8 to 16 years. Quite a span, but that'll have to do it. It's a temporary job-thing anyway, and I'm hoping to get a regular job and teach only the big kids. That's what I prefer, but in Danish schools there are no guarantees that one gets only to teach one age-group.

I'll say hi to Ole. (Pronunciation? Hmmm, tough one... O like the o-sound in soot when said by a northerner and LE as the first spoken syllable in leisure. Approximately.) You say hi to John.

So, what do you do when not og HooToo?

-KC

What do I do when not playing on hootoo? Now that IS boring...

Lets see...(Are you sitting comfortably and with a large ?)

I'm a housewife/mum/part time student and volunteer with the British Red Cross (not during the school holidays though). When I find the time and energy I like to work out with weights and practice Yoga. I also used to run but recently had to stop because of arthritis in my knees.

I also love listening to BBC Radio 4 or audio novels (at the moment I'm listening to Stephen Fry's "The Hippopotamus") whilst I'm ploughing my way through domestic chores.

Oh yes! I also do a lot of walking with my three s and some of my six s at times follow us.

Are you still awake?

*Passes a fresh and *

What about yourself? What are your interests outside of teaching and playing on hootoo?

Well now...

~Takes the offerings and gravely starts chewing and slurping~

...Lessee...

Oh yeah! I'm a self-inflicted anglofiliac - in love with most things British - and therefore also an english-teacher. I like liutterature in many forms and so also teach Danish, which also just happens to be the common tongue among my pupils. And, by funny coincidence, I also like to listen to audio-novels while I work. Household chores, handiwork, cleaning or my greater hobby - drawing - works well while listening to good audios. Stephen Fry does have a very nice and capable voice, doesn't he? I have all his "Harry Potter"-readings.
Oh, but DNA - he shall be missed - did also do a great job at reading his own works. They have something extra, I think.

Other than that... I have a boyfriend, the same since 1989. His name is Ole and we do plan to marry soon. (Everybody asks! ) No children, no animals, but a great affection for children, cats and fish. The latter both for eating and to enjoy in an aquarium.

I just have to tell you a story while I'm at it.

Remember LotR? Off course you do. Well, now there was (is) this television programme on one of the German state channels, where children can write in and ask to try something exceptional, like paragliding, bungeejumping, horsebackriding, the likes. Then there was this boy, who wrote that all he really wanted was to watch the two other LotR-films, as he had heard they were already made. And he couldn't wait like the reast of us, as he was dying from cancer! You know, they permitted it. I just think that's a great story of compassion and of just what a great movie it is - AND the jolly folks behind it.

Well, ~munch munch~ I guess that was my part for this time.

Thank you for the coffe and donut!

-KC the happy

That's an amazing but moving story! Good for the LotR film makers and s to the little boy...

Have you ever visited the UK and if so where abouts?

I adore Stephen Fry's voice and highly recommend his autobiography, MOAB is My Washpot. I've never read or listened to an autobiography before and found his to be fascinating and amusing. I wish that I could use the English language with the same skill as Mr Fry, but I'm sadly lacking on that front.

As a knock-on from the above I have recently bought an audio copy of Billy Connolly's biography written and read by his wife, Pamela Stephenson. Unfortunately even though it is on CD, it is abridged...I'll just have to read the book if I find the CD that enjoyable.

Congratulations of your engagement to Ole!

s, s or any other pets and children will no doubt follow eventually...

I assume that if you're marrying soon that compared to myself you must be a mere child in years. I was 45 last July and am still recovering from the shock of it.

Hello again.

I've been to the UK several times:
Back in '78 we, my family and I, sailed the Norfolk-rivers for a week. All I really remember is that it rained a lot, my big brother got to steer and I didn't, and we bought a Jolly Roger for the boat. Oh yeah, and I got bitten by a swan!
Then, in 1996, I returned. This time for a week in - and about - Edinburgh, along with my group of English-teacher-students. That was more business than pleasure, but turned out rather pleasant as is. I still like haggis, but it's very difficult to get at, particularly nowadays, what with BSE and all. But I didn't take up bagpipes. And, if my love of Ole is worth anything, neither shall I do so later...
Fall 1996 saw me for five days in London along with Ole. You know, typical big-city-holiday thing. Saw the sights, Tower of London, Harrods, the whole nine yards.
And late spring 2001 Ole, his parents and I had another great (but far too short) week in London.
We plan to return to the UK, this time to see some more countryside. (And perhaps just a wee bit of Harrods again.) Ole spent some time in York studying English some 15 years ago; he still wants me to come see that area. And I will, as soon as money and spare time allows it.

I'll take your advice and look into this Billy Connolly-person. (I'd have to admit I do not have any idea about the nature and identity of Billy Connolly!)

Thanks for your congratulations. Well, we have been dating since 1989 and living together since 1993, so I guess we cannay be accused of rushing anything...

"A mere child in years..." I like that.
I am 32 and will, hopefully, remain a child forever.

Anecdote-time: I discovered my first grey hairs back in august 1997. And no, I don't know that so precisely because of some sort of panic - there really aren't that many of them yet - but because of the significant other event of the time: You see, I found my first such symptom of decay only one week (!) after starting as a teacher! I am sure that little discovery holds something very important regarding the youth of today...

Why should it be a shock to make 45? Consider the alternatives... again!

Have you ever been to Denmark? (Not that I can think of any good reason why you should have, but still, one asks...)

-K

Norfolk is a lovely place although I've only driven through it although my brother had a holiday on the Norfolk Broads on a boat with a group of his friends.

You've probably seen more of London than I have even though I was born just outside London, about 30 minutes drive from Heathrow. I must admit that I avoided central London like the plague because I didn't like the crowds/noise and pollution.

I've been a vegan (no meat/fish/eggs/dairy products) since 1981 but prior to that had eaten haggis on several occasions. Mind you I always preferred a similar thing known as faggots, which are smaller and made of similar ingredients. When I think about those ingredients now it makes me . My hubby John and son Chris both eat meat and dairy products but my daughter Mair, who is by my first marriage is a vegan (by choice) like myself.

York is about an hour from the City of Durham by train, which in turn is only a short drive from where we live. If you and Ole do eventually get to York, you're more than welcome come and visit us.

Billy Connolly is a well known and talented comedian and actor. He has a broad Scottish accent but I doubt if you'd have trouble following him. He'd certainly broaden your knowledge of British swearing! Don't worry though as it's all "in the best possible taste" and his swearing isn't gratuitous!

I wish that I was 32 again! The difference in my physical abilities from then to now has declined drastically. I can cope with the number 45 and the odd wrinkle or grey hair but being unable to or work out with the heavy weights at the gym that I used to use is so frustrating.

My eldest brother is a teacher and he went grey at a very early age so maybe your finding grey hairs so soon after starting to teach means that it is an occupational hazard/symptom. Kids can be little s at times, especially collectively!

I've had grey hairs since my late 20's although they're not too noticeable, even though I have dark hair. It's probably time that I used a semi-permanent dye but I just can't be bothered.

Sadly Denmark isn't one of the countries that I've been to, most likely because in the days when I could afford holidays abroad (before children) I was drawn to warmer climates such as the Greek Islands.

Now I'm more mature (Well I like to think so but my teenage daughter says otherwise!) and unable to travel due to lack of money I'd be drawn to a more sedate style of holiday that doesn't involve sand, sun and s!

Yes, I do seem to recall that Norfolk is nice. Alas, I was but a wee lass at the time, so as I remember, I did not fully appreciate the scenery.

Heathrow? Been there, couldn’t afford either the mug or the t-shirt. I don’t think I’ll ever quite forget our last passing thru Heathrow Airport…

I can understand and respect vegans, but how come that meats (faggot-ingredients) give you a hangover? (DO take a look at your one smiley! )

If Ole and I get to York, which is quite likely, you know, we just might take you up on that offer. Do you make a good ? ?

You say that your eldest brother is a teacher. I see, what kinda kids? Where?
And how many siblings do you have?
I have but one, an elder brother named Steen. (Roughly translates into “Rock”, which has caused the occasional name-calling when we were kids.) He’s married, has two (three) children and has finally settled somewhat down. He’s not the settle-down type, so I guess that this is all we can ask.

Yes, kids ARE ’s. I’ve developed a saying of my own thus regarding:
Kids – Can’t live with them; can’t make a living without them!

Admitted, Denmark is not an ideal warm holiday resort. Just look at this weekend; Jean-Michel Jarré, French synth-music king, performed his concert “Aero” in northern Jutland – actually only some 30 kilometres from where I live – and the concert was a hit! But the last car got free of the rain-mud more than 12 hours after the end of the concert, as the area had turned into a mud-hole due to cold rain...

Commenting on your last remark – now you could come to Denmark? It really isn’t expensive! And I do make a jolly good cuppa ! I know, Ole would agree that you and your family would be welcome!

-KC

Heathrow isn't a pretty sight but fortunately where I grew up was on the edge of the Green Belt surrounding London and we were only disturbed by the airplanes occasionally.

Hangover? Oh yes! I wanted the green ill-looking smiley as it was better than the one.

I'd love you to visit us!

Be warned though...Our house is a mixture of building site/toy shop/menagerie and motorcycle parts store!

However I like to think that I make quite good and have several types of coffee maker but I confess to resorting to instant most of the time (my local supermarket sell a reasonably priced and nice fair trade organic instant coffee).

As for ... I'd have to buy some because the last time I baked a cake I was told that it could be used as a secret weapon for NATO!

That's not all...The last time I baked pastry, it was so hard that the dogs didn't want it and when I threw it out to the birds, even they didn't eat it and it sat on the lawn for day in the rain before I eventually had to dispose of it!

My eldest brother is a head of History Department and Deputy Head in a secondary school in Surry and teaches teenagers. I know that he also thinks the kids are hard work but that hasn't stopped him from having two of his own.

I have one more brother who is a contract electronic design engineer and he lives with my parents in the New Forest as his marriage broke up a few years ago. This works out quite well as Mum and Dad are both in their late 70's and my brother is able to help them.

I'd like to live closer to my parents but when we came back from New Zealand in 1992 we couldn't afford to live anywhere else and now property is so expensive in the South of England compared to the North that we're now stuck here.

The car park turning into a muddy swamp syndrome happens regularly here in the UK too! You'd think that the organisers of such events would take rain into account given the frequency of rain in this part of the hemisphere!

Ta ever so for your invitation for and to meet Ole! Sadly I don't know when we would be able to afford even the journey.

The last holiday John and I had together was our honeymoon to Malta in 1990 and since then the only breaks I've had is when I take Mair and Chris to visit my parents each summer. (Fortunately they live close to some lovely beaches!)

What I chiefly remember about Heathrow is a neat model of a Concorde, lots of planes, lots of buildings and lots of lots of roads, intertwining in the most complex patterns...
Allow me a quote from the very beginning of one of the late DNA’s books; “The Long, Dark Tea-time of the Soul”:
“It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on Earth has ever produced the expression ‘as pretty as an airport’.
“Airports are ugly. Some are very ugly. Some attain a degree of ugliness that can only be the result of a special effort. This ugliness arises because airports are full of people who are tired, cross, and have just discovered that their luggage has landed in Murmansk (Murmansk airport is the only known exception to this otherwise infallible rule), and architects have on the whole tried to reflect this in their designs.”

As for the hangover-smiley, I do see your point.

You say your house is a mixture of building site/toy shop/menagerie and motorcycle parts store?
Okay, our flat is a mixture of… erh… Okay, I yield; it may not be as profoundly colourful as yours. But you know what they say; my home is my… airport?

Instant will do nicely, as long as it has caffeine!!!

Your cake could be used as a secret weapon for NATO? Wow, I’m impressed. Mine have never made it past building materials, such as foundations, bricks, cement and the like. I am really starting to see here, that you do have the advantage of being older than I. You have ventured further into the fine arts of extraordinary and multipurpose cuisine! Wow… Who knows, perhaps you are on the verge of producing stuff that would defy the Geneva-conventions?

A comment to the history of your eldest brother: Nope, us teachers, we are none too smart when it comes to learning from the mistakes of others. One would think that we - of all people - would have learned by now that we should think again when it comes to actually having children. But noooo...

You’ve been to New Zealand? Another wow, I’ve never really left Europe. Not that I don’t dare, more that, erh… well, truth is that I really AM too scared to travel far away. You see, I’d have to face a very angry bank-counsellor on my return!!!

As for being stuck, how bad can it be? Most people tell me that the south is pretty nice.
I’m presently stuck in Aalborg, a medium-sized – huge by Danish standards – city by the Limfjorden, a fiord nothing like the ones Slartibartfast made for Norway, but an inlet none the less. This city holds most conveniences I can ask for, primarily lots of schools, good shopping facilities, museums, places to eat/go/see and, most importantly: A Cinema that will run Lord of the Rings II on the World Premiere Evening!
I’m also stuck southwards of my origin, as I was born and raised in Hirtshals, a small fishing-town up by the Jammerbugt, or Bay of Lamenting, (I’m not kidding,) where I spent most of my childhood. My parents both still live there, albeit in a smaller house than when I was a kid. I guess I made them need a lot of space…

Should you ever be able to afford it, the offer () stands!

Yeah, I like the beaches too. Grew up near one, and still have a wonderful sensation of returning home when I go to one. And the beaches around this end of the World don’t have too many ’s to worry about either, only harmless . Well, mostly harmless anyway.
When I had just moved away from home, I won a rubber-raft, you know, one of those inflatable toys. I borrowed a small anchor from my father and then I used to go to the beach, pump up the thing and row out, just some 10-20 metres. Then I tossed out the anchor and lay back in the “boat” with a good book and perhaps a cola or some sweets. Now THAT was life!
Please do not ask about the following sunburns, which have never prevented me from doing it again…

That was all for now, but I'll be back!!!

-KimotoCat

P.S.

What's your real-life name?
I'm Kirsten M S Engbjerg! (There, I've said it...)

Kirsten is a lovely name. I used to have a German friend called Kirsten but sadly we lost contact when she moved home.

My real name is Gwendoline, which is a Welsh name (my Dad is Welsh). It's very similar to my h2g2 one, most likely due to a lack of imagination and because I like my name. Most people call me Gwen and my hubby John frequently calls me Gwennie or Gwenniepoos! I usually only get called Gwendoline by my Mum when she's about to tell me off (45 years old and still frightened of being told off by my mother!).

My lack of skill in the kitchen is mostly due to lack of practice as I used to regularly cook/bake and make jam, wine and pickles but since marrying John whos taste in food is very mundane and then having kids who are fussy and picky has taken all the fun out of it. My son Chris, due to his autism will only eat certain foods and won't try new ones unless they're dipped in . Fortunately Mair's taste in foods is maturing and she prefers to eat similar food to myself (curry/rice/pasta/salad). Sadly John hates garlic whilst Mair and I love it so we have to wait until he is either out or in bed with a migraine before indulging ourselves.

John was born in New Zealand and has family living there and in Australia. He has dual nationality (NZ/British) so we were able to live there for a couple of years. In 1990 we sold our 16th Century thatched cottage in Hampshire and moved to the Hibiscus Coast on the North Island (just north of Auckland). Sadly things didn't work out financially (it's a long story) and we had to make a decision to return to the UK whilst we still had enough money to do so, or stick things out in NZ.

We returned to the UK almost with very little money and ten years on I'm still uncertain as to whether we made the right decision and frequently wish that I was still in NZ. However, Chris being autistic has meant that he has a higher level of support here than he would have had in NZ so in a way it is better that we are in the UK.

I love beaches and the sea! (We lived close to a beach in NZ <wistful sigh&gt Impersonating a rock lizard lying in the sun used to be one of my favourite pastimes until a few years ago I was diagnosed as having a malignant melanoma. Nowadays I have to stay out of the sun and cover up but looking on the sunny side of things at least I'm not getting wrinkles through damaged skin!

Would you like to exchange Email addresses?

If you like, I'll post my addy here and then you can drop me a line to save you posting yours.

Garlic is (or should be) on the Human Rights Agenda!!!

As for e-mails:
Sure. Now, you know my nickname. Try the same, no capital letters, and then add the a-thingy followed by hotmail dot com.
Then I'll reply from there with my home mail and we can exchange mails from then and on.
This way, few people find our (almost) real virtual adresses!

Looking 4ward.

-KimotoCat

Thanks

I've recently 'popped' an Email into the ether and hope that it reaches you.

Been there, done that.

Now, where's me t-shirt?

-KC