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

My time on hootoo has been sporadic and half-hearted since I returned home from Scotland three weeks ago. I've been very taken up with far-flung considerations as Mum has returned home and got to grips with her life once more. I've also been quite occupied in the house and garden here, as well as having a new manager starting at work.

House - I got home to find Winter had snuck up and settled on the Canterbury Plains when I wasn't looking. One of the first jobs was to make a front door curtain to keep out the chilly southerly blasts that come straight from the Scott Base. And an additional sausage to block the draughts at the bottom of the door.

I discovered early on that my much-anticipated woodburner was useless Wood didn't actually burn very well at all and the house filled up with billowing smoke every time the door was opened. Heat output was minimal. It took two weeks for Lord and Lady Land to realise that this was a Serious State of Affairs ( I suggested I might withold rent) and to my joy I now have a woodburner which won't go out It was fixed four days ago and has burned ever since. The house is now warm, dry and a pleasure to be in.

Garden - Most of my veggies were lightly frosted while I was away, so there was a mass of dead and dying vegetation to be tidied up, as well as the normal amount of hidden food that I'd failed to harvest: a pumpkin beneath leaves, a couple of dozen beans deep in the wigwams. Weekends have been spent (keeping warm) clearing, weeding, digging, manuring, putting down weedmat and finally planting the garlic Oh, and sweeping/raking up leaves and mulching the shrub beds

Work - To my delight the new manager started two weeks ago It's early days yet, but so far he is asking the right questions and saying the right things. I'm treating him gently, but have been speaking my mind to his manager.

My trip back to GB - and the inevitable re-balanced perspective on life that resulted from it - has led me to start being quite vocal about the appalling state of affairs in my bit of the office. I have made no bones about the fact that I am underemployed, unmotivated, have no direction, have no idea what the office priorities are and will be leaving here in 16 months' time unless things take a turn for the better Suddenly I have a lot of friends here: all folk who feel the same but who have been too fed up, demotivated and scared speak out Hurrah! There is a growing groundswell of a desire for real change and for the first time I feel part of the place - albeit for unexpected reasons.

So h2g2 has suffered from some neglect I'm afraid. And will probably continue to do so until I have a bit more time. I haven't forgotten you all though

Fb

I take it then that you're not affected by the floods in Queensland?

Hello Frenchbean, thanks for the update.

Gosho... I don't live in Qld

Hello JEllen Nice to see you around. How's it going?

I'm doing quite well. I saw the new Star Trek movie for the second time today, and once again it has me bouncing off the walls. In a good way.

I'm just getting over a cough and cold, though, that lasted a few weeks.

Haven't managed to paint much on my rose floral, but plan to get back to it soon.

Oh, that's right. You're in NZ now. I forgot

I've got the memory of a gold these days.

I haven't seen ST yet... it's one of those things that I don't have space for right now...but I'll get to it

Hello agm Nice to see you around.

Gosho...

You too FB, I maybe more than you , just not much to say, keep warm

Been doing a lot of thinking about family deaths/sicknesses recently, back in the early 70's when my father was in hospital after having heart attacks I used to go home weekends to see him but was away when he died , other members of the family too I missed all the deaths some I even missed funerals.
Sometimes It's hard being a long way from home and I don't want to go back anymore, sick of flying.

wow! does that mean ALL will now put in to the office coffee fund jar

Please explain Prof

I know just what you mean, agm. I've been fortunate enough to be with both my father and my husband when they died. But being the other side of the world from family means that it's unlikely I'll be there for the rest. However, Mum and I have spoken about it at length and I think we've now said all the things to each other that will make her death a less painful time for me. There's nothing like a loved-one's death to make you realise that there is no time to lose in saying the important things to those that remain.

Fb

Suddenly I have a lot of friends here: all folk who feel the same but who have been too fed up, demotivated and scared speak out Hurrah! applause There is a growing groundswell of a desire for real change

just myhumour FB
as in, not everybody putting in the office tea fund

Aha! I understand now Prof... It was hard to figure out which bit of my original post you were reacting to

Actually, one thing that is free here is the and ... including free trade organic coffee beans No free biccies though

I understand now Prof..even I don't understand me

a friend in my buff lodge, once replied to a question "what is he going to do next" with "I don't know and neither does he! it just comes off the cuff, nothing planned"

says me to a tee

Glad to hear that life is getting back to abnormal!! I too have neglected hootoo because of my commuting. I can't get the energy, mental or physical, to write a guide entry and whenever I try to post an update or a comment it always gets ignored on h2g2, twitter or to a lesser extent facebook.

I really hope that life continues to treat you well and though I don't post I do think of you. If you ever pop by facebook look me up as I pay more attention to that site.

SBE

Hello SBE Great to hear from you. I don't visit facebook at all. Hootoo is the limit of my social internet activity - except emails of course.

So you're still in YUK? Any plans/hopes/chances of being in Oz again????

Fb

No, worse luck. I'm pretty resigned to going over as a parent rather than a worker. I've tried my best but Aus doesn't want me and I can't see much on the EFL front in NZ. Looks like SE Asia again in 2 years once the boys are off hand.

SBE