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

I flick him at Niezche. Nihilism rules okay

*returns from the guest rooms carrying Ripley on her back*

What's going on? Have we got a wormhole or something? I thought I heard a familiar voice with a funny accent...

*sips a observing the strange antics in the atelier as a zoologist would observe the mating behaviour of a small gnat*

I think we need to drink a festive toast.

to

I'm thinking of Hypatia today Fs funeral is at 8.45pm GMT. She's a wonderful woman who will be in my thoughts over Christmas.

B being back, and here's hoping that things are a little less hetic over these next few weeks.

GDZ and Marv's interviews bring good news.

Agapanthus and Kelli having a good Christmas with The Outlaws

Solnuska finding somewhere to live in London (which sounds like a pretty difficult challenge)

Amy having left The School From Hell.

*raises *

And another special toast for Hypatia and F.

Z

and so say all of us.....

*hands round some in case s are not to everyone's taste*

I don't know what to make of people who join a group and then immediately want to change it.

*ducks as a large parrot swoops through from the atrium into the kitchen*

Woke up to find 3 inches of snow on the ground. The cats went out to play but quickly got tired of the wet factor.

redpeckham, how this place works is spelled out very clearly on our page, A304354 -- I agree with what was said upthread. You've joined a group of people who actually like to discuss serious things from time to time but who are perfectly capable of being silly. Have you not read ANY backlog? We are celebrating a funeral today.

Raises a glass of mulled for Hypatia and F.

We are indeed celebrating a funeral today.

Celebrating a death.

Celebrating a life.

Celebrating a marriage.

Celebrating F's amazing wife, our dear friend Hypatia.



Ben

actually celebrating a funeral seems a bit rude to me

It's much better to celebrate a life than mourn it.

Also raises a glass

k

No i actually think our inability to mourn properly is a defect of our culture. A wake is a much about sorrow as celebration

*raises a glass of *

What do you mean by our 'inability to mourn properly'? What do you think is appropriate behaviour at an online wake?

Has anyone got a link to Hypatia's special request thread so redpeckham can see what we're talking about?

<>

I've always thought the opposite. A lot of people mourn TOO much. Yes, a death is sad (especially when it's somebody you love) but most people I know (including those who have recently passed) have said that they'd much rather their friends and family celebrate the good parts of their lives than dwell on the death itself.

</.>F96827?thread=551241</.>

Ah drat, I do that all the time - here's the correct code/link to Hypatia's request:

<./>F96827?thread=551241</.>

*Greensleeves arrives, a bit the worse for Z's s, but not slurring so badly that you'd actually notice*

I like a good funeral, me. They are important rites of passage. They matter to those most directly affected, and they matter to those of us who love them. But the really important thing about funerals, more important than canapes and sausage rolls, more important than being morose and solemn because of what the neighbours will say, more important than and is to give space to express the feelings you feel, and those feelings include grief, loss, maybe anger, maybe fear, but - dammit yes - they include a celebration of the life of the person who has passed on.

I hope...

*at this point our diva hiccups gently, overcome with the schmaltzy emotions she is feeling*

... I hope ... well, let's just say I am sorry I am going to miss my own funeral, because I hope it is a damn good party!

*Greensleeves looks around the assembled company, blinks myopically, (her glasses are perfectly fine, she just never EVER wears them in mixed company), and stares at the backlog for a while*



>> But your lack of silliness makes it impossible for an outsider to join

Nope. Most of us were outsiders once. Easy peasy to join this group - how else would any of us have arrived here?

*Greensleeves stares at the backlog and blinks again, and then blushes a deep deep red*

*She looks around, tugs on Z's sleeve and whispers into Z's ear*

*Z whispers back*

*The salonista's can overhear the words 'but no-one thinks you are silly, Greensleeves dear... no, not even when you have already had a good night out before you arive here'*


>> I mean you can have these kind of conversations in real life - so why have them on hootoo?

*Greensleeves looks really interested and excited*

Redpeckham, dearest. This is exciting if true!

Where in my real life can I meet people from Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, the whole of the UK and the East Coast the Westcoast and all the bits in the middle of the USA?

Where in my real life can I have conversations which update me on a daily basis with the lives of people I have come to love but never meet?

Where in my real life can I confide the trickiest things facing me as personal challenges and draw on the combined wisdom and experience of so many varied and various people, all of whom I know and like and trust?

You have all of this in your real life?

Can I be your bestest ever friend in the whole wide world and join you in your real life? 'Cos I have to come here online to get that, and I want it in my real life so-o-o-o-o-o ba-a-a-a-ad....

*It is clear that our chanteuse is loosing the plot slightly, and Z silently and wisely hands her a drink, whispering the while in her ear*

*Greensleeves slurps daintily on her drink*


>> 'man would sooner have the void for his purpose than be void of purpose'

Exactly my point, Redpeckham, sweetie. That is JUST what I was saying about funerals. Don't you see?

What she said.