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

Only four more days till Christmas! I’ve decorated the house Christmassy, I’ve visited several Christmas Markets and drank a lot of punch, I’ve been listening to Christmas carols for over a month now… and I’m not in a Christmassy mood at all. Only the fact that the family is more grumpy and impolite than usual reminds me of the fact that it is Christmas.
We have still no snow, which is a pity. On the other hand the warm weather is most favorable, and best of all there is no wind. The perfect weather to go for walks.


There are two things that deserve to be mentioned in my journal, and here they are:


1st: I’ve hung up some bird seed in front of the window I’m looking at when working at my desk. Everyday the visit me now, and I can watch them. The nuts hang an estimated ten centimeters in front of the window pane… and the tits don’t mind me pressing my nose against the pane so that I can watch them . I’ve never seen (native) birds from such a close distance before! And I have to admit that the nuns are a little scary to look at from that close , but the great tits are just loveable. It’s such a pleasure to watch them!


2nd: It’s more than eight months ago that I smoked the last cigarette. If someone had told me a year ago that I was a non-smoker by now I would have laughed at him/her. But now I don’t even mind going out with smokers anymore, i.e. I’m not craving the effect of tobacco any longer. Okay, I’m getting nervous when running out of mint pastilles (which are my cigarette-substitute) – but who cares, at least they aren’t toxic. (But obviously lethal: yesterday I nearly choked on one of my pastilles! That was scary… and embarrassing! )


There is still a lot to be done before Christmas Eve, e.g. baking cookies, buying a fir and getting some more presents. I’m not sure whether I’m looking forward to the following days, or if I’d rather run away and hide. Christmas is such a time!

Call an ambulance she's got mint death!

I have finally got dad's crimbo present, and wrapped it. However mam will have to wait for hers because there was a fire at the factory so the lovely socks I got her haven't arrived. This is VERY annoying as I ordered them in November.

We have no snow either, however it's quite chilly...and rainy...and windy

You're doing a very good job of PRETENDING to be Christmassy! Maybe I should try it.

I know! I’m annoying everyone with Christmassy stuff – I thought that would help to create a Christmassy mood, but neither I am in a Christmassy mood, nor anybody in my surrounding. I’ve failed!

We have lots of sunshine at the moment! And it’s not chilly at all! Well, it was cold in the morning, but by ten a.m. the temperature had reached about 5°C, and in the afternoon it was even warmer!

Today I was shopping again… bought some more presents. I’m still waiting for a parcel of Amazon! It should have arrived days ago! It’s a pity!

Good to know that the Austrian Post suffers at Christmas too, not just the English one.

It's funny to think that we're talking about it being WARM when it's 5degrees. Like when we say that it's hot when it's 12degrees or something.

It's all a matter of points of view... it's been very cold here by our standards - 14c when it's supposed to be summer - and we could normally expect 20c+! This is sad...

We have a Christmas tree (my daughter-in-law) and are looking forward to it very very much!

*whispers* I swear Ade just called her daughter-in-law a fir tree

There's going to be a large difference between New Zealand and Europe though isn't there? It's odd because in say....St Petersburg the temperature through the year goes from around 35c to -35c!!!

Adelaide’s daughter-in-law! Another “Firness”!!! I thought I was the only one!

I think it’s okay to say that 5°C is warm in winter (around here! Not in New Zealand!). Two or three years ago we had down to –15°C at this time of the year! With lots of wind which makes it a lot worse actually. No wind this year! Another reason why 5°C feel so warm!

It's a bit worrying though, you know? It shouldn't be this warm.

It will be cold in January and February. I’m rather sure about this. We didn’t have a warm January or February in 20 years. But it happens now and then that December is much warmer than expected. That’s normal I guess, nothing to be worried about.

My daughter in law, a fir tree! My grammar mistake - what I meant is, that she bought, put up and decorated a Christmas tree when I was at work, the second day after they arrived. What a nice surprise! We had a wonderful Christmas (yesterday for us) and I hope you all are having a wonderful one now.

Glad to know you had a good time adelaide. I had...yeah actually I had a horrible time, not through anyone's doing or anything though so never mind.
I did however get the completely series 3 "Friends" DVDs!!

Christmas was... well, not nice. My family is number 1 in spoiling everything. Who cares – it’s over.

Well next year I'll do you a good Christmas.

Next year...next year...oh god I'll be nearly 19! Oh wait I'm going to stay 17 and just have the birthday but not get older...that's the way to do it.

Like Joey (“Friends”) having a deal with god never turning 30, huh?

Exactly! Just earlier! How about it? Reckon people will buy it?

It's now...four months until my birthday. In that time I need to work out a contract with...God I guess...to stay 17 for ever and ever.

In your case I’d rather turn 18, and then get a contract. I don’t know about the laws in Great Britain… but around here you have a lot more advantages when you’re 18 than a 17-year-old has! Maybe you should reconsider your plan!

No no I dont want the advantages! Advantages bring...responsibility *shudders*. I want to remain a kid!

Then… why don’t you move to the US? There you can even turn 20 and you’re still not grown up!

I don't see YOU moving to the US! You move and I'll move

Haven't I told you about my plans of moving to Southern California? Okay, this is never going to happen, but at least I'm busy making plans and dreaming!