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

Sorry if I've been a bit mysterious over the last few days. Here's a quick explanation:

On Friday afternoon I had a telephone call from the lad's housemaster. He was letting us know that the lad had been accused of a sexual assault by one of the cleaners at school (he's a boarder) and that we needed to pick him up and bring him home for the weekend. Cue PG going insane with worry, PB not much better although of course, more rational (are there special 'motherly' hormones?).

Apparently , at morning break on Friday, Pondlad and a couple of his mates were playing blind man's bluff in the boarding house corridor and he had a large towel wrapped around his head fastened with a school tie (yes, I know 15yr olds should be a bit more mature but what can you do?). During the course of some very lively horseplay one of the mates pushed PL and he fell on a female cleaner who was vacuuming in the corridor. Unfortunately the first thing that came to hand as he steadied himself was her breast! He apologised profusely as soon as he realised what he had done and the boys retired to PL's room.

Unfortunately this is where the stories diverge. The cleaner says that he kept his hand on her longer than he should have and was basically 'copping a feel' and that the boys were laughing at her after the incident. PL says that he had no idea that he had even grabbed a breast as he was blindfolded at the time and that he would certainly never have done it on purpose. As for the laughter, his friends were laughing at him because, as any of you who know young teenage boys will understand, there is nothing funnier than boobies and the total embarrassment of someone who's accidentally touched one. Especially if the woman is old enough to be his mother.

Anyway, her feelings were obviously hurt and so she reported him. We had to wait until last night to be told that she had decided to forget about the whole matter. So relief all round, although PL feels very angry at the woman and it has taken a lot of calming down from me to stop him from asking her for an apology.

I am seeing him this afternoon as I am taking him to his Kinesiologist for some ADD treatment which will also hopefully help him regain his mental equilibrium!

Phew! Did i say a 'quick' explanation?

Thanks for all the (premature!) birthday wishes for PB. The outlaws have just been round with his present and to inspect the new decor, of which they approve T.G.

Anyway I'm off to celebrate with & . Anyone else interested?

& to all my friends. What would I do without knowing you are there?

Morning PG

Relief indeed! and a , life is stressful enough without people making mountains out of mole-hills! Unfortunately its a sad reflection on society today, that kids can't be just having a bit of fun (and accidents do happen) without someone trying to spoil it!

Here's your and - and something for PL as well - what's he want?

Something odd happening over on all the message boards - they are all not working - thank goodness for this oasis.

Must and get on with some work before I head out for a networking lunch - the second of this week and its only Wednesday!

Catch you later

Ruth

Morning PG

You've had a rough few days and the decorators in to add to it. I really hate having people 'doing' must be something to do with having my space invaded! Hope all goes well this afternoon.

I'll join you in a but I'd better pass on the as I've indulged a bit too much over the last week!

H

I think you need it!

Dear PG - Ohmigod! What a sorry tale of woe. It must have been such a fraught time for you and PB. I am not surprised PL was . I don't know what is going wrong with the world today when, boys being boys, a bit of good-natured horseplay can be taken so amiss. How sad that the cleaner is so PC that she felt she had to assuage her "hurt" feelings by reporting a young lad! Strictly speaking, she should be forced to apologise to HIM for doubting his integrity! Some people today make me . In my brother's day, sliding each other down four flights of stone stairs in a laundry basket was a favourite pastime... cuts and bruises but no fractured skulls luckily! I suppose today the H&SE would decide to have them all charged with aggravated assault or something equally bizarre!!

I am so glad that the situation was cleared up before PB's birthday and that he can enjoy his new toy with a clear head . You, too, should relax with a nice and piece of . I should be so lucky as to have a 15 year old adonis fondle mine.....

Chin up! Courage ma brave!
Got to run again (why don't I lose weight with all this running?) but hope to catch you later!

Essjay

Hello PG,

I was very, very sorry to read about your son. What an awful worry for you all.

I agree that men/fathers can take things more in their stride. Or, as with my other half, when he sees that I am really concerned about something he tries to be more laid back and have a calming influence on the situation.

Lads of 15 will naturally have a laugh if anything embarrassing happens to their mates. It's the way they are. I have a son and if anything, I think they have a tougher time than the girls these days.

What a pity that the cleaning lady couldn't have been more mature in her outlook.

But, I am so pleased that everything has turned out well. You are doing the right thing by giving your lad all the love and support you can.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Love

Jen

P thinking of you have a lovely evening.

B

And lots of s and