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

I wonder how many of you guessed whose journal entry this was? I find it an amusing quiz since the introduction of "friends" to try and guess from the title who has added to their journal this time.

Anyway it's me. And I am even further away from my aim of writing more entries. I spent all Saturday at the office trying to catch up on work. And all Sunday recovering from the week's work. I'm only on line now despite the frowning and reproachful comments of my husband who is fed up with the place looking such a mess.

Relief is in sight though. (Taling about work again here) But first of all, I hear you all gasping in amazement that I'm still doing this damn job. Well it IS very near home. 6 - 10 minutes by bike (downhill there, uphill home). And it is a small new company and they are making serious efforts to sort out the chaos that still prevails. So while they are making efforts to improve things, I will give them a chance. Also there is the aspect that at my age in Germany I would be VERY lucky to get another job - you're written off at 40 or at the latest at 45 and I'm - *ahem* - well past that.

I must really make the effort to go home earlier. And eventually to start doing things at home, too.

Like researching my Dresden article. I've been talking about that for over 2 years now, I think. Sorry Bossel.

I also seem to have gone off the boil for writing entries. There are a couple that I meant to have started, however I seem to have very little time these days, and perhaps I am spending more time chatting to people than I used to.

Are you written off in Germany at that age? Un - .

No reason to get worried, though. I suspect you may be putting yourself under unneccesary pressure here!

Well - it's more like I don't have time for my hobby. Which isn't fair. A girl's got to have some light relief.

I suppose belonging to two choirs is one way to let off steam. But I haven't even been able to get to all my choir practices lately. My youngest has glandular fever and I sometimes don't see the other two from one end of the week till the next - we're all dashing from one commitment to the next.

Yes, I understand.

I don't have a choir to sing with at all at the moment. I could join one near here - no idea of the standard, but it's only a church choir, so I don't suppose it's up to much, however as you say, it's time, which I don't have much of. And there would be babysitting!

They say that accidents in women drivers could be partly due to them dashing around from one place to another ferrying children, being busy, busy busy. And for what?


Are you going to the Summer Meet? Looks like I will miss this one as I've been invited to a party. A bit complicated as my man's former girlfriend's boyfriend's visa has expired and he's being thrown out of the country, so they're having a leaving party for him. It means that they (the former girlfriend and her boyfriend) will have to live apart until they can work out a way of being together. I gather she's not committed enough at present to marry him. Oh, isn't life complicated!

No I don't think I'll make the summer meet.

Last night I had an offer I can't refuse, though. Long story.... hmmm.. my kids play in a band, right? They have a new keyboarder - who's much older than them. More my age, actually. I met him after a gig they did last night and he said he's in a choir which does jazz and pop and swing and they are going to a castle in France together in September for a week to work at some new stuff. Sound just up my street. He thought I'd fit in. The choir is from Augsburg, which is miles and miles and miles away (a good 4 hours drive) but he was so enthusiastic and so convinced I'd fit in. (how does he know? He'd only just met me?)

And he was so complimentary about my kids - Martin really put on a great show despite being full of penicillin and pain killers to fight a temperature and a sore throat (he sings really heavy stuff, covers of "Born to be Wild", "Teen Spirit" and that sort of thing) and Paddy played really well.

They played in a Church, following a Youth service for peace and trying to sort out the question "Why does God allow suffering". The service was absolutely terrible - I've never seen anything so badly prepared.

The band did a normal gig afterwards (they asked if they minded them playing "Highway to Hell" but I think they left that out in the end)

Paddy (guitar) did a solo (I think it was in "Smoke on the Water") standing on the communion rail. Shame the church was so empty. Itw as a really good gig. The Mums of the first communion kids were probably the most enthusiastic part of the audience. And then the altar boys - of which that village has no less than 57!!

Can't wait to see the photos - someone was clicking away like mad. I think it was the Dad of the new singer - it was my Martin's last performance with the band.

A jolly good time was had by all and we got home very late because we went for a meal together afterwards!

Anyway I must dash off to work now.

You'd better move to Bielefeld, TC - nearly everyone I met was over 40.

then again we are closing the data centre and moving it to the UK.

"Dresden article ... Sorry Bossel." - In recent days I haven't written much either. There's an entry gathering dust at about 98% completeness, there are plans to finish the piece about EM radiation hazards. The radar project was finished months ago but appears to be too much for the Eds to chew. Oh well.

Being written off at 40+ - yes, that's what it looks like. Schröder installs one committee after the other and has studies written by the dozens but that's about it for his story of success at combatting unemployment. Wants to raise the pension age from 65 to 70 (for males). Haa ha. I have seen a single colleague working up to the age of 63; all others were made to quit earlier.

Oh, Bielefeld must be a city of the young then . In Bad Neuenahr, the average age must be somewhere in the 7x-es, with a few exceptions at 50-something.

Well, I have applied for another job. Not that one application means I'll get tat job. But it's a start. And I do love job interviews - even if I don't stand a chance. So watch this space.

brave girl! Wish you what

It's working at the Tourist Office in Speyer. Plenty of material for entries there!