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

That cleansing process sounds pretty drastic ... ONLY fluids? I suggest that you move a pillow and a duvet/comforter very, very close to the washroom.

I have known a few folks that have tried various diet rituals, and they did seem to feel much better later. I guess a body does accumulate a lot of worthless stuff over the years. So, I can only wish you a lot of luck staying with it. But please do be gentle with yourself ... Sometimes, you will not have the same energy, balance and control for a time.

Oh, and btw, ... have you left "Lil's Atelier"? Another new thread began, as they do every couple of thousand posts.

Moves bed closer to WC and makes plans to stay home for the next three days

Apparently the enzemys will actually to use there words give me the sensation of being on a high...now this could be interesting as never having used any but prescribed drugs I am a tad nervous of what that means ..supposedly I will have more energy than I know what to do with...they specifically told me not to take them after five or i wouldn't sleep considering my past history of sleep insomnia could prove interesting.

Re lils I actually stoped visiting a while back even though it was fun for a while I found I felt ignored a lot of the time ....my monty python humour is better suited to the thingites I think...

I have been reading up on maple syrup first and second runs before phase two of the dreaded torture I thought they just made a slit in a tree and waited for it to pour out but apparently theres a bit more to it. I also have to find something called black strap molasses sounds positively gruesome

It's not very often that I have anything to contribute to Lil's, but I still hang around. Once or twice in a month, someone might actually reply to me.

Indeed, the tapping of trees is the easiest part. Collecting the sap, that flows verrrrrry slowly, perhaps a litre a day per tree, if it's a very good season. Plenty of walking about and emptying the pails. Then the boiling it down is a very slooooow process. Too quick, and it can instantly crystalize into maple sugar, and burn just as quickly. Can you guess that I have done it before?

Molasses is something that I quite like in recipes. It's essential in baked beans in my opinion. But it can be very strong flavoured. So approach with caution, and very slight measures until you find a tolerable blend of what-ever.

Hi, people,
(popping from under the dacha chores) to both of you
And what's your favourite monty python sketch, dear Lady H?

Hello, Lady E. How is life treating you and your little tribe?

Hi guys, have been a little snowed under of late with conferences,interviews, assesements, sick children house guests and putting in new irrigation in the vegetable patch.

Two of the children have had a beastly cold that required 24 hour intensive nursing in between a string of house guests as its school holidays here and everyone comes to visit during the hoilidays.

So hows life treating both of you...I am getting ready to do some buring off to reduce our fire risk for next year and at the same time getting ready for semester two of uni..

We haven't had much rain over the last two weeks and levels in the local river are dropping again could prove tricky as they have a big boat race due to take place in two weeks with entrants from all over the world taking part will be a pitty if it's nothing but walking the boats of rocks...

Our chickens are now laying really well and I got a new present from hubby of an industrial mulcher ...may not seem like the most romantic gift to get but he couldn't have chosen a better present from my perspective.its amazing how fast it speeds up the composting process

Our eldest and his girlfirend are spending a week with us as he has holidays and he and the boys have been building a 3 story cubby house ....I woke up to the sound of axes ringing out and knew my beloved trees were under attack...sure enough upon investigation I had lost six of my prized wandoo but they are all so pleased with their work I couldn't be mad. The two youngest were in charge of maintinaing the fire and making coffee, tea, toast and boiling eggs collected from the chickens in the billy over the fire, while the two 10 year olds and the nearly 17 sawed carted and hammered if we ever get another digital camera I will post a photo...

Meanwhile the girls are busy training our mutt to be obedient as yet have not seen any evidence of success

well Its time I roused myself out of bed and hit the day runing it looks like being another flat out drinking like a lizard week so I may as well get a jump on it... hope you're both fighting fit and sparking on all four...

You have indeed been keeping yourself busy there, Lady H. It makes my life seem quite a bore.

In any case, life here goes well enough. There are still a few travels for work in my near future, our trip to the UK region is now less than 7 weeks away, and we are in the throes of the military transfer season. Folks leaving, no one new yet arrived, and with kids on summer break, many folks on leave ... trying to entertain the young and keep them out of trouble.

Sorry to say though, m'dear, still no sign in the mail of any little plush thingie from down-under. But I never give up hope ...

Wow I would have thought you would have it for sure by now the last package I sent to my friend who is not far from you only took 3 weeks and it was a large package...mmm will go back and read through teh posts to see when I sent it exactly might have to get Aussie post to chase it up

May 21st was when you said you were posting it ... I'd not have expected it to take so long either.

Evening Nic.....Just thought I would say I have not fallen off the planet i am still here been a trifle tied up but things are slowing down now...how goes it in your part of the world...we are being inundated with rain its wonderful.....wish i had some interesting news but its been all work and family...I haven't seen a newspaper or even the evening news so i have no idea whats going on in the rest of the world for all I know the rest of the world may have ceased to exsist....has it

Uni has started up again and Iam already two weeks behind brilliant Hayley... the science conference was really interesting...now I only need to write up the interview I am finding it hard to motivate myself at present all I want to do is be wife mum and homemaker at present and potter in my garden....have been doing that every spare chance I get I love working in the rain planting out things...

Well more paperwork beckons so I had better press on...hope you are well and Elena if you read this hope you are well too how is your summer in the country going? my bulbs are pushing up all over the place now think it will be a good spring here even the wild flowers are starting to spread...

Have a and on me guys

Wouldn't you just know it? The minute I have to get about and do domestic things, EVERYbody shows on-line. I really am pleased to know that you are doing well, Lady H, if a bit frazzled and worked and worn out. Just call in when you find the time.

Here, my loverly-Lady has found new employment, which has given her a whole new head of steam. It seems that son-in-law is twice-involved with Habitat-For-Humanity, and the world just looks great here.

Hi, guys,
Good to hear from you,
H., I'm cut off from the rest of the world in the country, too - and find it the best way to get back to normal after a year in Moscow - no traffic, no noise, no TV, no radio, no papers, no computer, no work, very few people - and fewer children! - my 16-year-old has found a job with a company called Oriflame, which sells cosmetics, and has the flat (almost) to himself! oh, sweet independence! and he feels successful (so far)- the company has obviously some well-working technique of making kids like him feel important - I can only hope he is not in for a huge disappointment too soon .
I need to be in town for a week - mum's nurse is away - so I hope to be in touch
Nick, it's great the world looks great Next time you get this side of the Atlantic, why not take a look at Moscow?
Excuse my ignorance, what's ' Habitat-For-Humanity'?
Regards
Elena

Lady E, it's taken us nearly two years to scratch together enough resources to just reach the UK. In our world, I expect it would nearly take a lottery to reach Moscow.

'Habitat-for-Humanity' is a project that has been on-going in Canada and the US for quite a number of years. Homes are built for those in serious need of one, with materials given and all labours volunteered. The family who needs the home is also required to invest a very large part of their own time in the labours. As you might imagine, it takes a great deal of free lumber and materials to build one home. So there are not very many in a particular community each year.

A lottery? Pity. There ought to be 'Travel-for-Humanity' projects, don't you think?
Speaking about the home-building project, what a great thing! A similar custom used to exist in Russian villages before the revolution of 1917.
Peasants from one village would join efforts and build a house (made of logs) in one day, e.g. for a family whose house had been destroyed by a fire.
I am not sure we have anything like this now. After decades of communism, when everything was state-owned, state-controlled and state-managed, 'volunteering' is yet to return to our life. And, of course, not many people have surplus wealth to share, sadly.

I can't even begin to imagine the acceptance of things as they were that happened during that dark period of your history. My own youth was in a small farm community where anyone in need of assistance were helped. They may have been the vilest farmer in the region, and yet neighbors would re-build the house and barn in a day. So that the family and livestock could flourish. It's just the way we were. I don't know if that still exists in the same area ... I have not lived there for over 30 years.

people pull together in a crisis.... have you noticed that it brings out the best in people....it was amazing to watch people who barely knew each other during the fires all pull together and since then they have developed amazing friendships...what is it about life that makes us wait until the worst to give of our best?

I am sat on teh veranda overlooking the dew drenched orchard with teh sun rising and the irds singing the children are all sat sielently reading and the cats are meandering around its beautiful..

Somewhere off in the distance I can here the maggies warbling and a dog barking the air is crisp and bracing with a soft hint of lemon from one of the native trees

life dont get much better than this

Well after months of intense pain in my left foot I am pleased to report that three weeks ago I was given the name of two doctors who approach life very differently and after seeing them I am now pain free and can walk with no difficulty once again..

They are a lovely married couple who decided that they no longer wanted to practice medicine the way they had been and so quit the private practice where they worked and have set up a cllinic and system where they dont charge anyone they see...they have a donation box at the front door and you are free to either put in or not put in what ever you decide and thats it. They all so try to use non traditional methods as much as possible so with no needles or anti inflamatries they simply put me on enzeynes and fish and flax seed oil and three weeks later I can dance the night away.

I was so use to the pain that I had forgotten what it felt like not to be in pain have to say I prefer this...oh good news we have a new digital camera and as soon as I figure out how to use the darn thing we may make another stab at photos to show

I really am so pleased for you, m'dear Lady H. Science and medicine may have learned a lot, but nature still has much more to offer, I think.

Piccies?

What a relief, dear H., and what a surprising non-commercial way of giving medical help!
Is the treatment over or is it a kind of new lifestyle one has to keep up for years in order to prevent the pain coming back?
P.S. Many thanks, as always, for your beautiful descriptions

She really does have a way of visually expressing herself, doesn't she?

Hi, dear Nick, good to hear your voice - we should talk on the Skype one day when I finally find a way with it
How's Mrs.Rev Nick coping with her new job?
When are you leaving for the UK?
Can't compete with our Lady H., either - and then my impressions (recently) are only books, books, books...