Journal Entries
At last!! At last!!
Posted Dec 22, 2007
yesterday, the estate agent in Folkestone phoned me. He told me that negiotiations were completed and that the marvellous seaside flat was ours!!. We had to go down yesterday afternoon to pick up the keys though.
Well, we jumped into a taxi - figuratively speaking - and went down. The flat was just as lovely as I had remembered. And what was wonderful was that the was a heavy fog all day in Sevenoaks. When I went outside I started coughing immediately. Down at the coast, there was a mist on the sea, but I did not cough. Hoorah!! I am sure it is the right choice.
So now there is lots to do. I really would like to move as soon as possible.
For the next few weeks I shall probably only be here occasionally. I have so much paper work to attend to, and also lots sort and shred.. Brrr.
So my friends, I wish you all, in advance a very happy and blessed Christmas. 
Discuss this Journal entry [18]
Latest reply: Dec 22, 2007
Getting old is not for sissies!
Posted Dec 10, 2007
Monday 10th December 2007.
A short time ago I was commissioned to write about the way I had got "attached " to a certain nethodological approach when I was asked to undertake a particular research proposal. The idea was that I would hopefully to able to explain why I had used this methodology instead of the more conventional ones in vogue at that period.
I was both thrilled, and also fearful about accepting the invitation. Thrilled, because I had worked so hard, and although quite a lot of my work had been published in various journals, as I had left the country of my birth, I could not, in some instances. remember names or actual dates.
There was a very simple reason for this. When one is working in an authoritarian, oppressive regime, the last thing one does is to keep a diary. In many cases one does not have the time,nor is one able to reflect calmly and logically about one's methodology. Nor is one able to reflect on whether that particular research has to be undertaken. .
I am beginning to think that in fact, phenomenology is the methodology of crisis. By that, I mean, when there is a crisis situation, it is far better to investigate the social problem/situation without any pre-conceived ideas. Only in that way, can the research work be objective and not reflect any pre-conceived "hang-ups" of the researcher.
Actually that is a good point. I must go and deliberate, cogitate and see if I can introduce this concept into a necessary condition for approaching a particular social problem from a phenomenological point of view.
I decided therefore, to start with my earliest memories. It has been fascinating doing this. and I am learning a lot about myself.
Today I was able to give a totally scientific accurate date on an even that happened on the 1st October 1940.
Why?
Because on that day my parents had told me that a hen who had been sitting on eggs was going to hatch them.
Off I went for the Event - being a city born girl I had no idea that chickens came from eggs - which hens hatched. And as I sat on a stool, next to the broody hen, , the sky grew darker and darker, and then the cocks started crowing. I did not worry as my parents had told me there was going to be an eclipse of the sun. Not having any idea of what an eclipse of the sun was, I continued looking at the unfortunate hen, and was then rewarded with seeing a little ball of fluff appearing from under the feathers of the hen. I could contain myself ho longer, and liffted the unfortunate mother up,to see other eggs being cracked with the beaks of the little newborn chicks appearing through the cracks.
I marvelled, never realising that what was happening around me,the eclipse of the sun, whilst I was watching this miracle of nature around me, was in it's own way just as wonderful and magical.
Growing old, is not for sissies. ...
.... it is for those who are brave and strong enough to realise that life changes, and that thanks to the wonderful techonology that has been invented, I am able to check in Wikipedia and see that it was on the lst of October 1940 that I watched my very first chicken hatch from under a mother hen. And at the same time a total eclipse of the sun was was taking place. !!!
And I remain as thrilled and as marvelling as ever.
Lucky, lucky me!!
I see that the total eclipse also took place in Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil and South Africa.
I wonder if anyone can tell me the day?
Discuss this Journal entry [12]
Latest reply: Dec 10, 2007
Problems - and how to solve them.
Posted Dec 8, 2007
As one gets older, problems which one encounters begin to appear more and more insoluble
I have just read some postings of researchers who have had to cope with burst water tanks, hot water systerms which have gone awry and these have really humbled me. Never a word of complaint. All theit efforts were to prioritise their problems and to struggle not to be downhearted.
Thank you to all those brave souls who have taught me a huge lesson.
Not to feel sorry for myself but to continue enjoying what I have and count my blessings.
Thank you all so much.
Christiane.
RJDV
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Dec 8, 2007
For goodness sake....
Posted Nov 26, 2007
I have just been reading all the sad, miserable, dire predictions of this quite magnificent site.
I am absolutely amazed that there are no new entries.
How and who knows about what entries come in?
Is this perhaps the reason why people are not writing for publication?
As I said in my reply to our President's letter I did not join h2g2 in order to write. I joined it because it seemed a fun thing to do . I thought that DNA had started it in order for the very new group of people who had private computers to be able to get in touch with one another. I think that it has succeeded admirably in that.
However there are those who do sadly have prejudices.
It could be because they have problems with older people
It could be because they only like perfection - a difficult one that.
It could be because they do not like "new" people "joining" their club so to speak.
Perhaps it would be nice if our -(oh dear what were they called - those who cared for us newbies when we first joined?) could be started again?
I know I appreciated the odd little comment I received every now and again.
I find this dreadful trait of always trying to
get others to conform
getting cross if they do not
getting cross anyway
Both these traits are so off putting.
I would willingly write a piece of the joy of growing old.
Would anyone ever read it? I think not.
I would willingly write a piece on living happily in a wheelchair?
(ABBI AND I HAVE PLANNED A HOLIDAY IN THE ROCKIES TOGETHER. THERE IS ACTUALLY A WOODEN SLATTED PATH ABOVE THE TREES ESPECIALLY FOR WHEELCHAIRs!
HONEST.
(AT LEAST I THINK IT IS TRUE!!AND IF IT IS NOT IT SHOULD BE!!)
Would anyone read it. I think not. On the other hadn perhaps they would.
I would willingly write a piece on Open Heart surgery and how to live happily ever after.
Would anyone read it? I think not
I tried to write about a wonderful holiday I was going on to Devon with my late brother and my son.
I was very ungraciously told by someone that they had arranged the rooms for me at the hotel. I thanked the person politiely and looked for the person everywhere when i got to the hotle.
It was only on my return to where I live that this "dear" person had been pulling my leg and that s/he was actually at another hotel.
I actually do not think that is right.
I think that there is too much "sharing" of personal information amongst the hierarchy.
On a site like this I think that if we wish to share something we put it in our postings. I do not think that anything else should be shared.
Anyway, with the permission of my friend LLWaz, and Gnoman, (who gave me a very lukewarm encouragement to try and write something ) I intend to do just that.
And for all you clever people, I would like to advise you that I have actually been ASKED to write about my life and the research that I did during the heady days in apartheid South Africa during the 1970's and 1980' When it is published - probably towards the middle of next year I shall let you know about it.
And please, for goodness do not say that this site is going to go under,
We should all of us fight to keep it going.
I am quite sure that the BBC would never put an end to something like this site. Tf they wish to, I actually do think that, as a democratic group of researchers, we should be allowed to know what is going on.
Incidentally. If any of you ever look to see who is on line - very often there are over 2000 researchers on line. In the good old days if there were over 300 that was a lot.2000 researchers is not the sign of a dying group of researchers.
Is this called a rant? If so I have quite enjoyed it.
But please please please do not say that without new entries this site is going under.
Incidentally, How many researchers have now got a blog?
Has blogging taken over?
If so that is a total bore.
I wonder if an easier way could be fond to retrieve our passwords? I know that on both occasions when I "forgot" mine I had the devils own job of trying to get on to hootoo with my old persona. And conce again it was thanks to Gnoman that I found myself again. !!
I have just had a thought. Could it possibly be this dreadful habit of having several personae that has put the death knell on this fantastic site? Je me demande......
.
Ever the optimist
Christiane
Radiantjoiedevivre
alsoRan1 
Discuss this Journal entry [18]
Latest reply: Nov 26, 2007
Why did I join h2g2?
Posted Nov 20, 2007
29th November 2007
I do not often think of the reasons why I joined h2g2,
This morning, however, I have.
I certainly never joined it to practise my writing skills - if I have any.
I joined it for the wonderful cross section of researchers who abound on this site.
I joined it for the companionship, the care and the loving affection which I found amongst the researchers on this site.
I joined it because the more I read about our visionary founder Douglas Noel Adams, the more I realise what a wonderful legacy he had left to the world.
I joined it for the travels I have gone on with researchers from Alaska to Tasmania -from the Orkney Islands to Greece - for the musicians I have learnt about -to learning about the wonderful wildlife of Britian which was shared with us by Websailor 
- for the fun we have had in organizing Festivals on the continent and in the great dear USA.
I therefore have absolutely no intention of leaving this site, bitter and disillusioned because my lack of writing expressly for the various Guides has upset some protocol.
I honestly believe that Douglas Noel Adams conceived this site in order to bring people from all over the world together. The original common goal was their interest in science fiction. But out of this have developed interests in a score of occupations, both sedentery and intellectual.
When I turned 75 I had the most wonderful virtual fancy dress birthday party. Two hundred and fifty guests came from every part of the globe. I know, because I have their good wishes still stored in a precious file.
I refuse to be bullied,harassed, or forced into writing for whatever sort of Guide I am supposed to contribute.
I have read the four encouragements for us to write, but for the moment I really do refuse, at my great age, to be coerced into anything.
I have received a wonderful request to write an article for an international journal I am going to gently say au revoir to all my many friends. I regret that I have failed you so miserably in not writing.
Thank you to everyone who has taken up my aged cause and who have helped me to live my increasingly immobile life to as great a capacity as possible.
And to our founder, DNA, I really do not know what has heppend to your vision.. However, certainly for me, it has fulfilled everything I ever thought it would.
Now I am afraid that I must let it slip by and develop into whatever those aspiring writers wish it to be. Good luck to you all.
Very sincerely,
Christiane Marie Elias. MA (cum laude)(US)
aka Also Ran1 (because I swam for South Africa)
aka Radiantjoiedevivre (because I lost my password and this nom-de-plume seemd to express my emotions perfectly)
A proud citizen of the world of Douglas Noel Adams
Sadly
A failed writer in the view of this wonderful website - the vision of DNA
Should anyone wish to continue the friendship which was forged on this website I shall endeavour to set up an email address so that we can continue what we found here
Friendship, Tolerance, Understanding and Unity.
Discuss this Journal entry [23]
Latest reply: Nov 20, 2007
radiantjoiedevivre
Researcher U9487216
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."