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

An old news story but new to me – in 1934 there was a failed attempt to launch post to the Isle of Wight by rocket
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/17340389.rocket-post-failed-1930s-experiment-for-sending-mail-to-the-isle-of-wight-by-rocket/

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And on 9th Jan 2019 there was a failed attempt to post to h2g2 through t'ether by Baron Grimm

Didn't he just summarise the interesting news for us then?

Heh... Pithy aren't I?

this topic will be helpful for everyone, thanks alot for this.

If the UK were to re-apply for EU membership, it would not pass the criteria of stable government.

(I must admit that this "news" came from a satirical website)

True dat though.

We long knew it but the hovercraft to the Isle of Wight is now officially one of the best public transport rides on :
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/apr/25/10-best-worlds-public-transport-rides-readers-travel-tips

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A long time ago in galaxy far far away I travelled to France on a Hovercraft. We were supposed to come back on one too - but a tiny-ish storm which led to a thing called the Fastnet race disaster led to it being cancelled so we had to use the ferry. That ferry was much more memorable than any other journey I've had since. With hindsight I wonder what on earth they were playing at sending any form of passenger transport out into that storm.

Glad to hear they're still running hovercrafts somewhere. I do recall it being cool - but then I was at an age where anything new was

My one memory of a hovercraft Channel crossing back in the day was ordering a drink and not being able to drink it till we got to Dover because the craft was juddering so much it was impossible to get the cup near to my mouth. Fortunately the crossing only lasted about 45 minutes. Quickest whisky I've ever had to down!

I grew up in Pompey, and remember my grandad taking me for long walks along the front (as they call it), and if we were lucky we’d see a hovercraft launching or arriving on the concrete strip at Clarence Pier.

If I was especially lucky I could put a penny in the laughing sailor slot machine there.

That sailor was good fun

For those unfamiliar with the Laughing Sailor slot machine, see: http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/video-the-laughing-sailor-is-back-1-6671668

The hovercraft was invented on the Isle of Wight, with Saunders-Roe's SR.N1 making its first flight in 1959: A471412. The giant cross-Channel SR.N4s were also built on the Island, with one, Princess Anne, preserved (but in desperate need of restoration) at the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent, see: http://www.hovercraft-museum.org

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I suspect the hovercraft was invented in Norfolk, but the trials were on the Island.

Technically Christopher Cockerell had the idea in Norfolk and constructed some scale models there, but moved to the Isle of Wight and lived in East Cowes to construct the first full-size hovercraft. There's a plaque and everything: http://www.isle-of-wight-memorials.org.uk/others/ecowes_cockerell_c.htm

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The Environment Agency has erected a 'Food Defence' warning sign:
http://www.countypress.co.uk/news/17659417.flood-of-comments-after-environment-agency-warns-ryde-residents-of-the-dangers-of-food-defences/

I bet it'll have gone before I can get there.

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Food can be extremely dangerous.

Perhaps the wall is made from stale bread. The bread the French produce can be rock hard within 24 hours. You could have some stale cheese to go with it. That can be quite hard. Old canned produce might be better, though. Flood water would soften the bread and the smell of mouldy cheese would probably upset the locals.