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

*wonders how drunk she would have to get Lady C before she could get her on an airplane*

The Kite Runner seems to be a very popular selection with book clubs lately. I borrow multiple copies of books for our book club from a large library. When we requested it I was told it wouldn't be available until 2009!

2009? Wow.

Oh, and thanks for clearing up the thing about the Hircocervi.

I hadn't realised that a date had been set of the housewarming, Ben, so no worries here. You concentrate on your assignment.

I loved the Green Knowe books when I was of an age to read them. There was aquite a good stab at making them into a tv series not so long ago.

Going back to Singapore (one day I really shall), don't remember Port Kelang, but we used to spend most afternoons at the Tanglin Club and prelunch drinks (cherryade, made by Sinalco, in my case) and peanuts to nibble at the Gap Hotel. Often there would be a gulli-gulli man there (snake charmer) too.

[GDZ]

"wonders how drunk she would have to get Lady C ........."

Very, very drunk and probably high on a tranq. as well.

Ben's post contained a curse word, which, even though it contained asterisks over the naughtiest bits, was still against new house rules. I posted a warning about this a while back; I don't think my warning was modded, possibly because it was a warning.

Lunch hour here. Thank bob I don't have to do this tomorrow.

That could be arranged, Lady C.

I thought the filter was going to block swear words so they wouldn't post in the first place, not have a delay mechanism.

that's what jimster told us all, unless of course someone here who was reading yikes'd the post, and then it would fall back to the old rules.

I second that wow for 2009.

How does one become a gulli gulli man?

I just requested a visit from the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile for the awards day of Summer Reading. I hope they'll come, but I'm not holding my breath. They get thousands of requests. If I can pull it off, the kids will think it's a hoot!

"the kids will think it's a hoot." I think it's a hoot! When will they be there?

July 18 if they agree to come.

Wheeee! Just got broadband. Of course, we sign up just as a big broadband war is due to kick off and drive down prices, but what the heck.

I've spent the day spring cleaning and making hot cross buns. This is the third recipe I've made from one of Nigela Lawson's books which has turned oput a bit disappointing. Anyone else got any experiences of that?

Have been enjoying the remenicences of Italy. I've often thought that the way to get your child to become a stockbroker is to be a vegan animal rights activist and go hunt sabbing every Sunday or something. Deary me, that makes it sound as though I think you are deeply conventional, Ag! Perish the thought! I think I was interested in whether the Italians are as sold on the lifestyle Jamie admires as one gathers the French are on their countryside living. Although I'd guess it's hardly backbreaking survival grubbing. It seems not if they'd all kindly let the expats have it!

So is it inevitable that given the choice everyone will flee the smallholdings lifestyle? Is this why everything in the uk including farming is mass produced? A burst of prosperity at the wrong time and now for actual fresh veg you have to pay a premium (which I persist in thinking of as Very Wrong).

My boss used to be a touring dancer. I mention this is she once did a tour with a sword swallowing act. I mention this as the sword swallower, when asked about his art, said that anyone can do it as long as they are prepared to practice six hours a day for years and years. I thought that was a splendid answer as after that I forgot to think about why anybody would begin...

Drat. I meant _the French small vinyarding_ isn't exactly survival grubbing around, but that _the Italians_ were obviously not sold on countryside living...

One would think that as lush and delectable as Nigella Lawson looks (IMHO), her recipes would be the same. I don't know why, but her media persona leaves me feeling like a Peeping Tom after I've spent time watching her television show.

*pops up from under several hundreds of b'log postings*

RL - in the form of Easter vacation - has come between me and the Internet Either I have been doing other stuff like assembling furniture or gardening or kids off school have been occupying the PCs...

So here comes a mumble-jumble, albeit largely chronological, of responses:

>And what is pernicious...
, Lil - that taught me a new word, there

Mol, that post of yours in support of a welfare system goes very well along with my feelings for one. Sure, there'll be some misuse - but every case like yours just proves to me that there must be a safety net.

Welcome, Wilma
And nice seeing you again, Gw7en

Happy B'day, Ben! I even had your birthday in my calendar - but haven't really been able to shove RL aside for the last week or so... &

Haven't seen the Princess Bride, I'm afraid...

Square root of -1? Something with i, I dimly recall...

>it was a globally important news story (...) which I could share directly with ordinary people in other countries without having their words and my words filtered by newspaper editors, magazine reporters or tv programme makers

Ben, that's hitting a nail right there on the head for me as well. I thought a lot about that during the last USAian elections where I learned a lot about what went on in daily people's daily lives (inasmuch as "you Internet weirdos" are something like daily people... ). It's a very good thing for getting to understand the world better - which is something I try even though I sometimes get the notion that the world is not really meant to be understood...

Oh, Lil & Cille - what a terrific thing with the dog

Ag, loved your Italian stories

>Deepest, darkest Africa, perhaps.
Eh - will Ghana do for that? Added to WA's anyway?

Our VCR apparently has given up - or at least decided to tease a bit. It randomly records images from one channel and sound from another But not consistently - when we watch telly through it, it's OK and two recorded programmes lately were OK. But Zorro from last night came with the sound of commercials on a lousy commercial channel...

[GDZ]