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

Morning WS! When you have an 'SS' who always wants to talk when you're reading, you learn to read very fast - he can sit quietly for hours; but the minute my head leans forward into a book, he will start a conversation.

The caravan season started on 1st March; but as a meal was booked for the family yesterday, we haven't got there yet - tomorrow is most likely!

Calling Smudger, i didn't mean to ignore you my friend, I was just trying to catch up quickly and missed you. The bottles and cans drive me mad too, in fact the whole mess depresses me. i think people are starting to think more now, so perhaps things will improve.

I used to use a big shopping trolley when I walked everywhere and it was a blessing, but if I fill it now I can't lift it on the bus

Take care, (loved the last joke by the way )

Websailor

Terri, at least you are doing something positive to get change, even if you can't do everything. I think we all need to do just as much as we can and hope things will be made easier.

I popped in to your space and noted you were originally from Birmingham. I can't recollect asking you this before, but what part? I am Brummie born and bred - just interested. It must be many years since you were here with all your travelling. Do you ever come back? You wouldn't recognise it now.

Websailor

Hiya Webbie: know what you mean about the shopping trolley & syndrome!

I was born in Dudley Road 'Ospitttle; spent most of childhood in Kingstanding/West Heath, spent most of my teenage crazy years in Moseley & Handsworth...still in email/phone contact with a few mates from that era, oddly enough, most of them also legged it as soon as possible from Brum...i've not been back there for around 20 years & have no great desire to do so, though from what i read, it's certainly changed a lot, whether for the better or worse is a matter of debate.

I wonder if the Rag Market is still there now they've demolished the old Bull Ring?

So: which bit were you from?

zdt

A relevant link on the roadway cleanup problem: http://www.adoptahighway.net/

Hi, Scorp, a bit late replying having been otherwise engaged (you don't want to know). Your SS is exactly like my PHM. I can read the same paragraph a dozen times, till I give up in despair, but woe betide me if I interrupt his etc.

Websailor

Hi, Terri,

Hall Green is where it's at now Parts of the city are wonderful now, and they have finally broken down the concrete collar, but huge pedestrianisation makes it difficult for people who don't walk well, and the slopes make it tough for wheelchairs etc.

The rag market is still there though in a slightly different form. I will find a link to some pix so you can see what you are missing

Websailor

Of course, to get back 'on topic' there are still whole areas that are blighted by plastic bags and other litter. The UK is supposed to be hosting the Olympic Games in 2012, so I hope the clean-up starts soon!!!


WS

'Hope springs eternal in the human breast' Where did that come from? It just sprang to mind from somewhere in the mists of time!

Hello Scorp!.

How are you? Internet working okay? Heard you changed over Wednesday.

Nigel

Internet working fine; except that I didn't get changed over Wednesday - somebody c***ed up with a code I provided from B*, so now it won't be changed over 'til 18th March.

That is just typical Scorp . Nothing ever goes smoothly .

All the best.

Nigel

P.S. Websailer, seem to be altering peoples thread a lot lately, its earthquakes this one isn't it . Oh, no its 'Blowing in the Wind' . Get there eventually .

People will be calling me the phantom thread changer soon .

Hello folks!

Websailor, here in South Africa there's been a drive to get people to use less plastic bags. We used to have vast areas littered with them. Now you have to pay for your bags when you shop but you get these nice big green very strong carrier bags and you take them to shop with you and carry your shopping back in them. They're very strong and durable. For now it seems as if people are using them and that there's a real decrease in disposable bags littering the landscape.

Anyways here we still don't have any kind of large-scale support for recycling. Personally I don't 'consume' much. Like Terri, I'm also a vegetarian, and I really think if people cut down on meat consumption it would be one thing beneficial for the planet! Of course I can't expect everyone to become full-blown vegetarians, but almost anyone can eat a bit *less* meat!

Another thing happening down here is that we are experiencing power shortages all over the country, as a result of which many people are now thinking of getting electric power from solar cells. I think that, too, might be of benefit ... please note MIGHT ... because I am not sure if the process of *manufacturing* solar cells would be completely environmentally benign.

>>Of course I can't expect everyone to become full-blown vegetarians, but almost anyone can eat a bit *less* meat!<<

You know, when I read statistics about the meat consumption/head/year here, I always wonder who eats mine.
Same goes for beer, btw.

B'El. Me too. That goes for chocolate and a lot of other things , like how many pairs of shoes the average woman has! Someone's sure wearing my share biggrin>. Imelda perhaps


Websailor

How many pairs of shoes has the average woman?

I think I have a fair few, but that's because I never get around to binning the old and worn pairs, I always intend to have them mended.

Having made me curious B'El, I took a look as I couldn't remember the figure I had seen. It seems you might as well ask "how long is a piece of string" judging by the views and search results on offer.

In the UK the average woman is said to have 30 pairs of shoes, spending over £33,000 in her lifetime. According to American Express she spends over £80,000 in her lifetime on footwear, but whether that refers to American women, British or Europan too is not clear. Yet another reported in 2006 that the average woman over 40 had nineteen pairs of shoes.

There is so much on the Internet on this subject that I seriously wonder why so much money is spent on 'research' in to such a futile subject and who cares, except those that sell them. I would much rather know how many recycle their shoes, especially the 'wear once and discard' variety. Mine are usually beyond recycling before they are binned

We have recycling facilities here for shoes but I can't imagine anyone, however destitute, wanting mine although I appreciate that some of the materials can be recycled.

What a way to spend a Sunday afternoon Curiosity is a dangerous thing

Websailor

Well, if shoes in the UK are as expensive as everything else, IM not surprised at the sum spent on shoes.

I really should go through my shoe shelf and sort out those shoes that are beyond repair. They do sometimes put recycle baskets for shoes at the entrance of houses here, but you can just as well put them in the Red Cross collect bins, together with the clothes.

Hi WS, I am sorry i have been AWOL lately. If you remember, i was having a nervous breakdown about carrier bags some time ago.
Posted Sep 5, 2006 by bluesue..give her a pen and she's dangerou






To change the subject,i think i have discovered a new breed of carrier bag.I am used to seeing the variety that roosts in trees or the genus that perches on barbed wire fences not forgetting the shy curled up one that hides in bushes,this variety usually contains dog poo.The carrier bag of which i speak is breeding in a cupboard under my sink.I have nothing against carrier bags in general,they make very good impromptu rain hoods and handy waste paper basket liners,these bags come from shops i never go to eg.Next,Top Shop and Miss Selfridge,this gives me a clue that it is my daughters doing.There are only so many things you can do with a surfeit of these bags.Answers on a postcard please.

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Nuts in May
Post: 191

Posted Sep 5, 2006 by Websailor

I still plod about with my cotton shopping bag but find,everywhere i go,i am asked, " Do you want a bag?"

Bluesue, Is it really that long ago that we were banging on about carrier bags> I have just looked, and amazingly it is. Well, it has taken them long enough to do something about it, but as usual it' all half measures.

I am so sorry I had forgotten your prose on the subject or I would have included it in my article but there has been a lot of water under the bridge since then!

Take care, I hope you will be better soon.

Websailor