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

8CXth CONVERSATION OVERVIEW

We welcomed Gnomon and little Miss Nicky back to the salon. Sunny popped in and out, and Kelli dropped in to show us Spud.

MR and Sol were marking students’ work for much of the thread and this prompted an early debate on the correct use of the word “however”.

We discovered recipes for limoncello, and PWM explained what Rat Pack Tea is.

We discussed favourite watering holes, what AOL is and whether we liked it or not, power sources (in particular tidal power and wind farms), exercise and diet, Saints, remote controlled toys, earrings and earcuffs, piercings and tattoos, the escapology tendencies of dogs, morning birdsong, paper cuts.

Wandering Albatross attempted a catering venture, but the Salonistas had no collective appetite for grilled sea birds. Mr Dreadful was forced to assume another identity temporarily, and we discovered that other researchers had had similar problems with signing in to H2. And then several Salonistas found their computers updating Windows … simultaneously.

MR asked for advice about a work problem resulting from two friends and colleagues becoming an item, while Kerr avoided the railway chaplain.

We compared our Easter dinners and Easter activities (which for many Salonistas was ham followed by gardening). May Day celebrations followed later in the conversation, and Mothers’ Day (in the US) towards the very end.

Tartaronne recommended warm milk with mashed garlic and honey to cure a cough. Codeine and alcohol were also mentioned.

We discussed the varying price of chicken on both sides of the Atlantic. And the differences between shopping and buying. This evolved into a discussion of footwear. Lentilla accidentally bought back a shirt which she’d donated to a good cause, and prompted a discussion of similar repeat-purchase incidents (books being the most popular), and long-wearing clothes.

Lil asked us all to submit lists of the software we currently use, regret purchasing, and wish we still had. So we did.

We helped Hypatia to fine-tune her trip to the UK, helped Beatrice plan a trip to Spain, and enjoyed a fruit salad of mixed feelings – the Salon Fruitbowl of Wonders. UK salonistas shared their photos of the micro-meet at Kew, which led to a discussion of wisteria – sinister to Hypatia, but a favourite with many others. This generated a discussion about scented flowers. Salonistas like scented flowers of every type.

Postal rates around the world provided a good debate, capped by Lil who introduced us to the new, highly mathematical, Dimensional Weighting system of the US postal service.


We discussed Z’s career options and liked the idea that he might work for Medicins sans Frontieres after a year in South Africa, although there was some concern for his safety.

FG offered us an Evil quiz. Not all Salonistas were Angelic or Good.

Starting with Estonia, we discussed national and regional identities within larger countries – in particular, differences in accents. And then European Salonistas experienced the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest, while US Salonistas were debating whether to see Spiderman or Hot Fuzz. This transmogrified into a debate about The Matrix.

NEWS SUMMARY

Hayafi, Hypatia and Mr Dreadful celebrated birthdays; FG returned from San Francisco and Hypatia went to the UK.

Solnushka made sandwiches for 350 cyclists.

David prepared for his starring role in Kiss Me Kate by reading Dracula, and was on national radio.

Hypatia gave us the inside stories on ordering the library copy of HP7 and completing library technology plans.

Marv applied for one job and decided not to apply for another; GDZ left one job and started another.

On the home front, Teuchter ate many microwaved meals and her iron blew up, Lil carried out her annual inventory of the linen closet, Wilma’s daughter caught chickenpox, late frost caught Hypatia’s fruit trees and Mol determined to plant some seeds. In a spooky coincidence of simultaneous hot stuff, Agapanthus’ midriff had a pot-roasting brisket-related accident and Beatrice’s midriff an iron-related one. Solnushka’s toe then had a close encounter with a jar of jam. The world of housewifery is a hazardous one.

Bagpuss tried cycling to work and acquired a puncture.

David mysteriously acquired a bruise in the shape of India, Lentilla shared the result of her MRI scan – and her green hair, Agapanthus purchased a pretty frock.

Salonistas were shocked by events in Virginia.

Salonistas were also shocked to hear that Kerr had been driven away from her own home.

D’E’s home town flooded.

Strangely-strange bought a rather fabulous camera.

David revealed the all-time strangest ever bookmark (which led to a short discussion of the smell of books), Little Miss Nicky was accepted for next year’s PGCE course and Rosemary completed her dissertation.

LibrarianPear went into hospital, but the collective loobrushes of the Salonistas soon had her home again. Teuchter was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and after some discussion of the part that diet can play in controlling the condition, the conversation moved towards the new LED and a discussion on traditional versus modern medicine.

az

Excellent recap.

Veddy nice, veddy nice...

Hoorah! Well done

Wow, Mol. That was a rollercoaster of events! Very well written. Good clipped pace. Invigorating.

So THAT is what I missed? for the re-cap ...

Well done, indeed. I look forward to your notes on the next millipost.

A nice summing-up, Mol.

Thanks for that , i am starting to get a better feel for the place .

best fishes.......tod

Excellent stuff. I particularly liked a reminder of how various conversations had metamorphosed into completely different topics.

Excellent

Thank you!

Well done.

Mol!

Thank you all very much.

Just to catch up on the next one now

Nice!