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

Well your New year sounds far more enticing than ours which found us both fast asleep by 11.30pm just not made of stern enough stuff......however we are making up for it today by going to a friends house for lunch thats the good part the tricky part is that I decided a couple of weeks ago before the invitation that I wanted to start the year of by fasting and praying so I am going to be busy trying to look as though I am partaking while abstaining ....I am hoping that there will be a large crowd so no one notices if its just us and a sit down it will be okay our friends will understand ...but I would still rather not advertise ...wish me luck... woops just got the hurry up or we will leave without you routine

Happy New Year to you and the whole tribe too, Lady H.

I don't know the why's or wherefore's of the fasting, etc, but do wish you satisfaction and successes with it. Maybe next year you can explain the 'how-come' of it all ...

Well here it is the New Year and hubby went back to work today I still have another week before I start counselling again......in the meantime I shall spend that week writing the house which we have let go while we swam, od on movies...and generally lollygagged around

Meant to so respond to your earlier comment about not being upset about going to church...I have never believed that you need to go to church to experience God I admit that there have been times when I have gone and encountered Him in a very real way there but there have been just as many times when I have not...as for us we generally sit on our back verandah on Sunday morinings around our table often just the five of us sometimes other people with our bibles, coffee sometimes breakfast and pray and talk and sing and I believe that He hears us just the same in the middle of the bush as He does in a church building. ...I also think that He wants us to question and seek answers a faith without thought is no faith at all to my way of thinking..When i read through the sites where they argue back and forth getting angrier and angrier...I think to myself no I don't have all the answers and I cant explain this or that but then I think it's the height of hubris to think that we could explain God away in one nice little package ....as for why the fasting and praying ....I don't have all the answers on that either I don't understand how it works or why but I do know that at various times in my life He has directed me to pray and fast which for me generally means abstaining from any food for up to three days and nights.. The first time I ever prayed and fasted was over 10 years ago when I needed a real miracle and I had done everything I could think of then one night I had a very stange dream and the next morning while visiting with a friend I was given an interpretation of the dream and I very clearly heard Him say you have done everything in the natural but nothing in the spiritual pray and fast and it will be done...so I did and low and behold within the week not one but several miracles had occured...so ever since then when ever He directs or when I feel as though there is no other way forward I pray and fast...this time I was seeking a closer walk with Him for this year...I sometimes feel that my heart is becoming hard and that I am becoming less sensitive to the things that really matter.... like people so I decided to ask for a softening of my heart and a closer walk with Him....so now you know Bet your sorry you asked now

Well the middle son now has a full leg cast in lime green, while the youngest sons guinea pig died, our oldest has reported in after a holiday up North safe and sound and our daughter is busy with a visiting friend trying to round up all the baby ducklings that hatched just before Christmas... The tempreture got to 48.5 here the other day and we are expecting a major Thunder and lightening storm here later today with a top tempreture of 43. so what am I goign to do the ironing yes I know I must be mental but as I am reduced to wearing bathers and the youngest PJ's because no one has ironed anything in about four weeks now...I know.. I know how slackothedidleo so hope you have a good one Nic I am off to battle with middle son who is refusing to take his vitimins

Not sorry that I asked at all ... I am always interested in how one's faith works for them, and in them. Dear Lady, you just do what seems right for you, and no worries of other folks' opinion, eh?

And ye gods, those temperatures sound scary. I can't even imagine 48C ... Including humidity factors, about as warm as I have ever met was about 43, and that was nearly debilitating.

Just as a BTW, a certain little Swag Bear began another journey on Friday, on his way to his future Mistress. I thought it best to wait until the Christmas postal over-loads were about done. I'll let you know once he is getting the proper .

The climate here in australia seems to have gone completely haywire with teh East coast flooding to the point where we are declaring the areas in need of Federal revenue something they hate doing and do rarely and the West coast sweltering under ever increasing tempretures.

On the recently new news front for us relatives from Victoria have contacted us wanting to know if we have any interest in helping the family farm stay in teh family rather than being sold to others apparently it has been in the family for 150 years and while not a long time by European standards in australia that is quite something....I am but I don't think we could contribute much and I must say I wonder about how my grandfather would feel as he was the oldest and was often left to mind the farm while the rest of the family went on holiday from the time he was 11 without him but because he went off and married and bought his own place his father left him nothing when he died. grandpa always used to say that if he got to heaven and his parents were there he was going to turn around and walk back out

Perhaps I'm a bit too sensitive, but if my grandfather had basically been written out of the family and farm ... I wouldn't consider it 'home' in any way. Someone else's home perhaps, cousins and the like. It's not something I'd fight to hard to save. And then, of course, comes the legalities ... If 5, 10 or 40 family members all chip in to buy it, who holds the title? And has the say in what is done with it there-after? It sounds like a migraine head-ache just waiting to be born.

Oh and on the matter of faith years ago in church it hit me one day that I was taking things for granted as "gospel" so to speak simply because the man at the front was a preacher...but that he wasn't going to be giving the account and taking the wrap or the praise come the final day I was and so hadn't I better start to know what the word said and what it required first hand rather than second hand?

So I started thinking/reading for myself though I am sure there are plenty that would say I stopped thinkning both on and off this site...however I have had too many personal experiences that tell me clearer than anything else He exsists such as the very car accident that led me not only to become a Christian but also meet my hubby...

Well you know that ironing still have it so I am off to finishih it off and to water the fruit trees before the sun really hits.

have a good one Nic

My dear, I am really very happy for you that you have found God in your way, and that your faith is such a support and goodness in your life. Be damned with what some stuffed shirts on this site say. I personally think they mostly speak from sour grapes, the result of something unpleasant in their earlier life. I had my own spot, and so have chosen to seek answers in my way. And I refuse to denigrate or belittle anyone for having found their own.

My ponderings on the farm so far have run pretty much like this....

it's nice to know we have roots
apparently the family was one of the first to settle the area and its something to be proud of
I am tired of familys having to walk off their farms and sell to either banks or corporations
I'd like to see some sustainable and ecological practices put in place on the farm
Grandpa was finally forced off his place and I would hate to see more of the same
I woudn't mind moving and running the place
Would like to be able to take my children there when we had for Canberra in three years time
Hate the fact that my children are the first in 7 generations not to be full on the land...yes I know we live bush and grow fruit and vege but its not the same


So as you can see nothing practical just all emotive as for running it if corporatins can do it with multitudes of shareholders there has to be a way for familys to do the same...and there again maybe not

Anyway it was nice to learn a little more about our heritage...found out that Toms people settled the same area and he has an unusual spelling of his sir name not many spelled it with a D so maybe I am married to my second cousin or something twice removed grandpa always said that he looked ike his side of the family

We know, down to the very 25 acre lot, where my elders first settled here. That farm has been in other hands for atleast 4 generations now though. It is nice to have some roots, I suppose. I can only wish you and the relations good luck deciding which way to go then.

Hello... well today has found us with a lovely 27 degrees and a changing of the gaurd one group of children has left to be repolaced with another...I sometimes think what we are really farming here are children not fruit and vege

So what sort of thing did your folks farm? our is sheep and grain I would want to see something more sustainable and ecologically sound done with teh fmaily farm....I am waiting until my sister gets back and we get a better understanding of how things are before I think about this too seriously

Hubby has gone back to work and I find I am missing him it was nice having him at home 24 7 for two weeks...oh well i start back at work next week and already the appointments are mounting up doesn't take long are you back at work yet?

I am booked to do a seminar inFeb for a week that I am really looking forward to on narrative therapy by an amazing man that I really respect I have ever seen anyone work with troubled children the way this man does...he was a marist monk from Hong Kong and he works all over Australia with the most difficult cases with amazing results I am looking forward to improving my skills furhter under his tutelage..

Well not a lot happeing here of interest in Australia apart from horrendus weather and a spate of tradgedies on the news re murders and accidental deaths I sincerely hope this is not the hallmark for this year

Whats new on your side of the world we never hear much about Canada your a very quite country

Is there much of a market for farming children down there? You do seem to have a lot of them, of varying ages, come wandering through your domain. And as busy as it makes you, I bet that you love it.

There isn't much of anything new happening here. My missus didn't get a holiday as such, pretty well just the statutory days off. I was off from the 21st of December, about mid-day, through January 1st. And back to work since the 2nd. Another year, the same old stuff. Heck, not even a lottery winning to shake things up a bit.

Just to let you know, dear Lady ... A little Swag Bear has finally reached his proper home. And is taking a lot of cuddling by a little girl. Well, between her short walks and runs about the house, of course. I saw a small snippet of video, of her scuttling about the living room. My oh my, I could swear I've gone 25 years back in time, and seeing my baby at that age.

glad to hear that the koala has finally landed, I was discussing with a friend only yesterday the prospect of grandchildren and the clucky urges women of a certain age get....we came to the conclusion that it was natures way of ensuring that new mothers got help from the older more experienced hands and that going out an adopting should be discouraged when it ivolves women of our age, we should just wait for the grandchildren

Seriously though I think when we were all getting married younger and starting with children younger by the age of 40 plus people were having grandkids and maybe the maternal instincts that stars like Madonna etc are experiencing are the ones they are suppose to reserve for the grandchildren!!!

Re last email what is a mortal sin even though I was raised a catholic and have heard the term I have no idea what it means though I think it means a sin that is unpardonable if so what is the biblical for this idea and if ther eis none where did it originate and why?

I am still thinking through the whole issue of suicide, I will admit to making an attempt on my own life when I was 17 and desperately unhappy and confused...it saw me end up in hospital and then a mental ward of the same hospital...years later after therapy and a good man I am happy, fullfilled and engaged with the world around me with four beautiful children and a lot of good friends and I am extremely grateful that I was unsucesful....I understand how people can reach a point where it just seems hocpeless and too overwhelmingly hard, what I also know now is that there were so many people who wanted to help and if I had just reached out to even one things would have been different. What I haven't figured out is how do you reach those around you and help them to reach out I am trained to watch for the signs in my clients but if you don't see someone on a reguar basis what can we do...

Sorry to many deep questions and thoughts and I haven't even had my first coffee yet, the mongols have arisen and I am actually hungry for a change...most unusual first thing in the moring mind you I have been researching material on the net for last two hours goign everywhere from africa to America all that travel can make you hungry

have a good one Nic

My Catholic training is several decades in the past, but as I recall it, the taking of anyone's life is a mortal sin. One that will NEVER be forgiven, even after 'the end of time' scenarios, when all are brought together in what-ever way. The taking of your own life is considered the ultimate insult to your maker, and because of that, most suicides are not even allowed to be buried in sanctified/church ground. The rules and understandings may well have changed, but I wouldn't expect so.

I too can understand the impulse when young, and everything seems so far beyond hope. Been there and done that myself. But since about age 19, I have been of the opinion that no circumstance is worth that ultimate "quitting". Not in my opinion, anyway.

Australia Day celebrations are on the go early morning sausage sizzle at the park down in the village, Fireworks on teh foreshore tonight, the mandatory game of cricket and a couple of tinnies.

Our eldest and his young lady choose to come home and so we have the added pleasure of having the whole family here.... so even though its going to be another scorcher of a day and we will probably spend most of it in the pool it should be a ripper of a day

How are things shaping up in your part of the world.....

It's not really a proper January ... A few days of snow, then a load of melting, then some more timid snow. I really don't look forward to February, because I'm certain it's gonna blast the pooh out of us.

Though it is lovely to know that you have/had the whole tribe together for a time.

Was sat on the back porch yesterday when my friend from Ontario rang to say howdy shes working in London now London Canada not London England, they have a place out in Almyer its like 250 yers old in the middle of Armish country and they are slowly refinishing it.

In the mean time we are goign to rip up the vegetable patch and re do it along with the duck and chicken pens this week end I know what more could a girl want. I had been investigating buying a pig but have decided against it just too much to do to set it all up and feed here is really expensive at present what with teh drought in the eastern states.

I am in the process of organising to work with the DE here running some workshops which would be good but a little nerve wracking too.

Had some good news this week we finally finished paying Toms car off...now if only it will run for a few years more before we have to replace it that would be really bonza

I ve taken to watching a series here called the cook and the chef shes a good old country cook and hes a big city chef.....I am thinkning it might be fun to take some cooking classes Ive also been investigating some courses at a seminary thougth I might look at qualifiying as a chaplin

Well here come hubby down the drive I put a beer in the freezer for him a while ago so I ll be a good wife and go and fetch his beer and hello

Hope your have=ing a good

I'm a bit familiar with Aylmer and London, from my youth. That area was only an hours drive from our home. But Amish? I thought a lot of that region was Mennonite, with a very small number of Hutterites. My memory must be fading ...

I do see, how-ever, that your energies don't seem to fade. Busy, busy, busy as always. I can only wish you success with all the alterations and challenges. Oh, and go have a brief nap because just reading what you do, I get tired.

Here I am thinking I am a boring old fart and trust me I sound far more active than I really am..

I don't know the difference between all the differenet groups when I was visiting there a few years back which actually is over 10 years ago now wow where did time go Kasimira took me down to her neighboirs farm to buy some eggs..... they only used wagons, not cars had no phones, no electricity and the women definitely didn't use comsetics they were polite but not exactly friendly

Well teh stock market crashes are having an impact on work here in teh building industry so I will have to do some extra hard praying so we can continue to eat Hubby doesn't seem worried yet but he is looking at other avenues of work just to be on the safe side.

Wonder what it will be like when it's just him and me at home again and we can live on sardines and toast and love and tell teh tax man to take a flying leap

What are tax rates like in your par tof the world?