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

Well, we did it . Me and Dave are now married!

I can't think what to write, apart from the day went really well (and incredibly fast), and our honeymoon was good fun. We had a Monday to Friday in Kintyre, in Scotland, and then a Friday to Friday in North Yorkshire. It was nice to have 2 weeks off work!

That said, though, it was nice to get back home and get into proper married life and get used to living together . It's kind of odd getting into all the house stuff, as it's taking a while for me to think of it as my house too. But we seem to be adjusting to it pretty well - apart from me thinking I should be going back to Coventry at 9pm every night . Me and Dave are now based in the same office, so we lift-share (not much point us using separate cars) and that's another adjustment, although it's a nice one.

Mum and dad finally moved up to Rotherham on Monday, and the move went well, so they're a lot happier. Dad starts his new job next Monday too.

Now I have the mammoth task of changing my surname on absolutely everything, which has the unexpected benefit of making a lot of my colleagues being unable to find me on the email system at work .

I've already congratulated you elsewhere, but again.

When I first lived away from home, I felt like I was on holiday for about the first six months.

I was very happy to get rid of my maiden name. I seem to recall that your hootoo name derived from your surname - does that mean you'll be changing your hootoo name as well?

It's exciting to be starting out on a new phase of your life like you are. I feel quite jealous!

Liz
~

I don't think I'll be changing my hootoo name - if I derived it from my new surname, which is Rumbold, I'd have to call myself Rumbo or something . But I'm quite happy to get rid of my maiden name too, mainly because there are far less variations in spelling my new surname than my maiden name and I won't have to keep correcting people.

It is exciting, and quite fun too . Dave keeps saying that the house feels more of a home now I'm in it, bless him .

Lins

Awww, Dave sounds so sweet!

I was delighed to get rid of my maiden name, which also has a variety of spellings, one of which is a rather unpleasant word for prostitute! I have hung on to my married name even though I've been divorced for nearly 12 years, because frankly, who wants to be called Miss Hoare?

Liz
~

congrats newly wed people....all the best for the future....reading your latest journel entry reminds me of how i've observed other newly weds in my job....[photo processing]

when i ask for their name she still uses old one and hubby gets into a sulk...seen it happen loads

my oldest daughter married a few years ago to...wait for it mr SLACK..not the best of names you must admit...she really wanted to keep her own surname and use double barrelled, but she was miss jeans.. so it would have been mrs slack jeans or jeans slack not good either way.

thank god they didn't call their daughter alice eh?

flakey lady aka caroline

Hi Caroline,

Thanks . I'd find it odd to get married and not change my name. But it's weird with all my colleagues calling me "Mrs", because they never did before!

Slack-Jeans . Yes, that would have sounded silly! I didn't even consider double-barrelling mine, as Rumbold-Raynor or even Raynor-Rumbold just sound awful, and would have taken up most of the page when I was signing anything. I know of people here who've done it, and even one couple where the husband took the wife's surname.

I bet photo-processing can be interesting, from what you've said on other conversations .

Lins

yes it can be very interesting on the lab...i'm still able to be shocked sometimes....but i really hate the shots of idiots taking drugs...errmm it is still illegal and they put it on film...it really offends me, especially when i see youngsters in the same picture watching mum or dad get off their faces.

luckily they are few and far between...do you work on your own car repairs? my son in law is in fact a 'qualified' mechanic and now an mot tester.. so we should be sorted!!!! not at all he is too mean to help unless there is money in the offing luckily my hubby is pretty good at basics he was half qualified some years ago before the scheme fell through...and to be honest hes almost as good as qualified son in law anyway...which is worrying...mr slack really is mr slack.

his real love is motorbikes but he had to abandon and get sensible car when i became pregnant 8 yrs ago...i still see him looking wistfully but we live in such a busy city [cardiff] that biking is no fun here, and don't forget the weather...i don't miss getting drenched on the back of his bike i love cars, comfortable AND dry.

so who does the chores and cooking have you worked that out yet??
i am home all day so i do most housework and cook tea when he comes in from work, but he ALWAYS does the dishes and clearing away, we have this rule.. the cook should never have to wash up...

he is quite domesticated though and will cook an excellent sun dinner if i work overtime....he put the clean clothes away yest. and i'm still trying to find them!!!!!!

bye caroline

Hi Caroline,

I don't understand people who get off their faces with their kids watching Are you able to shop them to the Police or Social Services? I know I would!

Yep, we do most of our car repair stuff, all the easy maintenance anyway . Most of the major stuff gets done at local garages we know aren't rip-off merchants and who do a really good job. It's weird though as our jobs mostly require us to sit in front of computers writing specifications and things, with only the odd bit of hands-on stuff in there.

We keep thinking about getting a motorbike, but I know I'd kill myself on one without really trying . My dad had to have his right arm amputated after a motorbike accident so I'm well aware of how vulnerable you are on a bike, especially in towns.

We're still having discussions on chores , although we've got the "I cook, he washes up" arrangement going well too . He can cook, as long as it involves opening tins and putting the insides into saucepans or putting something in the oven , so it's something I'm happy to do. When I don't feel like cooking he's happy with frozen pizza, anyway. He's already learnt to use the laundry basket (if not the washer) but he still needs to learn to stop leaving papers and letters all over the floor and to pick up after himself. Threatening to throw it all in the recycling bin seems to be helping him remember, though!

I can't imagine Dave putting clean clothes away though.... good on your hubby for doing that! You managed to find them yet?

Cheers,

Lins

hi lins

hello there wedded bliss people

glad you both make efforts with the chores don't like chauvanists who say its all womens work... well i am finding things slowley where they shouldn't be but bless him for trying.

he just sorted out my older daughters scooter a piaggo, shes just finished her degree in bristol [crystal in bristol] st matts west of england... she bought this scooter which broke down on her 2nd time out...so she had it vanned back... luckily it was only the battery...3 of the cells were bone dry so my husbands work mechanics reconditioned it and hes got it running again..

however he has picked up a few faults, some minor but worryingly thinks the brakes are a bit spongy and as you said biking is so dangerous, mainly due to inconsiderate car drivers...so i am a worried mum..but she won't listen terribly headstrong madame she is and at 23 not much i can do to stop her.

how is your dad coping...my hubby knew of lots of terrible accidents and even fatalities of bikers... when we met he was joined with the stupidly named taff riders now disbanded... so he was always up to date on the latest casualty...

a workmate of his is selling a harley but seriously he doesn't seem to want to go back to biking he says he had too many lucky escapes... and if he hides our laundry all over house again he'll be lucky to escape my ire

all the best caroline

My dad's coping OK, I think he found it hard to start with but he's used to it now. He had to learn to write all over again though. The best thing is his artificial arm, which has loads of attachments so he can still drive, peel vegetables, carry things, etc. All the kids used to think my dad was cool as he was a real-life Captain Hook . I never even think about it, but then I grew up with it. Quite a few of his mates got killed on bikes before and after he lost his arm, and I think most of the remainder no longer ride bikes any more... too dangerous.

Dave's gradually learning things but sometimes he does need reminding to do things - but bless him, he always does something when I ask him nicely too . It's funny that I moved into his house, but he has to ask me where everything goes in the kitchen .

I remember when I got my first car - I wouldn't listen to my parents either . I suppose we've all got to make our own mistakes otherwise we'll never learn from them.

hi rains

had good news crystal [from bristol] had her results...a 2.1 yay...she came over on her piaggo today, seems to be getting used to it now..

shes not using proper biker gear and him indoors is going mad about it..but she won't be told so i tell him to cool it..she had on soft canvas bootswoolen glovesand no leather

i did tell her to wear her docs and gave her some leather gloves but wether she'll use em is another matter entirely.

i'm putting my foot down with these lazy men on the penis thread...maybe they are getting their jollies just listening to us be open and honest...ooohh bloody men....burns bra then realises breast too big and out of control for bra less existence to ge another bra..

bye for now

Oi! leave it out about the bloody men on the pnis thread will ya's! Some of us can't get to sleep as our ears are burning

your ears burning my bra burning anyway how else will you be educated

Scoose me FL < Im self educated and have been educating myself on a regular basis for many years, err what are we talking about by the way?

Just noticed where we are, sorry for interupting ladies, go back to talking among your selves please, I feel such a fool now...

rains seems we've been infiltrated by interloping male we'll have to learn coded messages...or just challenge them out right......
what do we want..more honesty..when do we want it...NOW..

pull up yer thongs rains, i'll hitch up my more sensible high leg briefs and they can gird their loins..because most of them sure don't know what else to do with them

I've always wondered what girding your loins would do, be fun to see it at last .

Oo, no thongs, they're horrible things - I always feel like they're trying to chop me in half . I'll put on my hipster briefs and join you .

I don't know, these men eh.... can't do anything with them

Oh well just when I thought I could keep me mouth shut you pair mention thongs. What is it with those things? Did a woman design them? I mean come on how the heck can they be comfortable?

I feel a hole opening below me,. I'll get me coat...

Oh yeah and the loin thing, I know exackerly what to do with mine thank you very much, loin of pork with a freshly made brambley apple sauce loverly

Sounds great, you'll have to give us the recipe .

No, I've no idea who thought thongs were a good thing either .... The worst ones are those "control" ones to pull your belly in - I mean, what do people think they're going to pull against to control the belly? Good grief.....

Apart from the fact that they only look good on if you're permatanned, a size 8, without any cellulite and a really firm bum, of course - which means us normal women have no hope!

Not a massive thong fan me self, as for the edjit that came up with the idea of thongs for men, well he should be strung up in one of his own designs I say.

Recipe will be poste just as soon as I get the sauce right, its a bit tricky in this heat but bare with me...