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

...and about still - but just lately there don't seem to be enough hours in the day to log in and converse seriously, let alone lurk properly and keep up to date

It seems I've had a steady and continuous stream of visitors since my last back operation (actually, since before then, as I don't think I've even had time to mention I went in for some more day surgury around a fortnight or so ago)

Instead of the usual cocktail of painkillers and steroids jabbed into the facet joints the consultant's trying a new treatment of injecting Botox (yes... the stuff that the rich, pampered and foolishly vain have injected into their faces to smooth out the wrinkles)into various Points of Origin of the back muscles. He tried the "top Layer" of musculature first, but although it's made a tiny difference, I think next time we're going to go for the 6 inch needles and aim for the really deep ones

I can hardly wait

If that doesn't work, then it'll be big boys major surgury but that'll be years in the future, and knowing my luck the Nash'll go bankrupt long before it's my turn to go under the knife, so I'm not too fussed.
Whilst taking Morphine isn't idea;, it controls the pain to a tolerable level 80% of the time, so I won't complain.


So... visitors...operation... more visitors...a couple of workshops, and lots of craft work; the hooks in the kitchen where we're supposed to hang up the keys and if we're feeling lazy, our jackets, have been jammed solid with bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and all the other stuff I've been making - I'm learning new techniques and discovering amazing glass wear and fancy beads that simply have *got* to be incorporated...and I'm finally becoming more comfortable with using the finer, more delicate designs.

In short, my reportoire is extending rapidly. At this rate I shall have more than enough to attempt a seriously well stocked stall at a local Christmas Craft Fyre on my own steam... although I'd not refuse any of my friends' work to well if they were willing to put in a stake Craft Fayre pitches are horribly expensive

Then there's the swimming, both at the Pool, and a couple of times in the sea (and yes, it was nippleraisingly cold But it was great fun, as well



For some reason I'm still obsessed with making jams and preserves and STUFF, as well and I've rekindled my interest in cooking for the moment. It's not that I can't cook - and cook quite well, some of the time, merely the constant feeling of *having to cook for the familly, as such...3 meals a day...7 days a week... 52 weeks of the year (excluding take aways of course) I found it a grind and a bore.

Now that


(a) the lads have both shown themselves to be excellent chefs
(b) quite cheerfully cook for the familly themselves nowadays
and
(c) arn't in regular hours, so it's more expedient for all of us to simply cook for ourselves as and when we're either in or hungry (or, indeed both) the onus to know I *have to cook has been lifted, and I'm getting back to being quite creative in the kitchen.

What surprises me is that my weight is creeping slowly and steadilly downwards. I'm losing on average around half to three quarters of a pound a week, with no conscious effort. And that's since the Hypnosis I went for, to get rid of all the childhood crap and misery I've accumulated. I really will, one day, write in depth about that experience, because it was a real adventure, and every day I seem to become more cheerful, more motivated and more together.

Yes, of course, there's still social stress in my life; I'd defy anyone to live on the breadline and not be aware that especially with the inflation and current economic b@lls ups it's becoming more and more difficult to balance the end of the money with the end of the week as opposed to the middle of it... I really don't know how I'm going to manage when the Familly Tax Credits run out in October, but I've said "I really don't know how I'll manage..." many times before, and I always have, although with enormous mental and emotional effort.

I can't see any reasen why I won't be able to cope *this time, either, but it'll be interesting to see just well I'll be able to cope this time, without becoming depressed or, my usual trick, fighting against being depressed, which is harder than just throwing up my hands in despair and wailing for sympathy

I've always *tried* to travel hopefully; perhaps this time, I will travel without *trying* so hard.

That's the general idea, anyway.

I haven't even touched all the visits I've made, nor the visits I've got linedup for the future - I'm booked solid till at least mid September and the calender seems to be filling up quicker than I can write them in


So... if I don't actually see y'all before, catch you around...erm... October(ish) time?

That is, if I get a bit of time off to drop in between Big Jan's 50th Birthday celebration and young Tom's 20th


And then it's my birthday in Novemeber...and then damn me, it'll be Christmas again


It's true what they say you know.

Time really flies when you're having fun

Hi, Ev, I would agree with your last comment. And I haven't enough hours in the day, especially for creative stuff, which I need, badly.

I have read all your post, and I am so pleased you are doing so well, both with your social life and your weight. I still haven't recovered my enthusiasm for cooking which I used to love. I do bits occasionally, especially if freebies come my way, but we would only eat the stuff, and PHM likes his food (too much) and can't afford to put weight on, and neither can I. It's funny about that three meals a day, seven days a week, year in year out. I don't know how we do it!!

I don't much like the sound of the needles, but if they help I suppose it is worth it.

I will come and say Hi occasionally, but you'd better be back here for my birthday, or else!!! That's round about October shall we say.

Websailor

Hiya Webbie

I will make a *point* of being here for your birthday Missus. I'll even put a note on the calender! (You'll just have to give me a clue about the date, OK)

20th - Monday, wouldn't it just be. I like weekends better What date's yours?

Websailor

That'll be an easy one to remember, it's 5 days after Second Son's birthday.

What a lucky lady you are to have your birthday on a Monday, eh?

Me? I'm in the middle(ish) of Novemeber; the 13th. Every once in a while it falls on Remembrance Sunday

And when I was a kid, the Christmas Lights up in London were always turned on that particular date, it being exactly 6 weeks to Christmas Day.

D'you know... it broke my poor little heart when I found out they *weren't* turning on those lights beause Little Ev was having her birthday

If your unluckly Roymondo and I might have to come up in November again as our birthdays all seem to be around the same time and of course the hop festavil is the end of august isn't it?; I've been practising my hopping every day ya know

Oh- My- Word

A Scorpio convention eh? That'd be fun

In that case we ought to rope in MMF and Bald Bloke, too. And anyone else who'd local(ish) and Scorpionic that we know

And Webbie - she's so on the cusp of our wonderful sign, so she ought to come as well.


I'd forgotten about your offer of the beads 2Legs... but I *haven't forgotten about making the apricot and walnut bread for you; I've got enough walnuts in stock to feed a Squirrellry for the winter in all ready and waiting!



So squirrels *live in squirrelries... or have I just made up a new word?

I thought squirels live in nests... like birds ,tit>

ooo a scorpio birthday meet-weekend Can Roymondo and I frighten your sons again?