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

*The smell of something apple-y greets you as you come up the stairs, through the door with the hole kicked in the bottom and through the baby gate. You enter a foyer with a small table off to the side bearing a silver tray for calling cards.*

*To one side, several doors marked private. To the other side, a kitchen and a grand hallway leading to the gallery. Straight ahead, the salon, a lush area decorated in the art nouveau style and well-lit with windows on either side. A sloth and a red-eyed sewer rat lounge together in a corner; you feel the eyeless but intense gaze of a venus flytrap on you, and the sidelong appraisal of a Norwegian Blue parrot.*

Welcome to the Atelier! I've just been baking mbougatses. Please come in and join us in our never-ending conversation. We do talk about all sorts of things here, both serious and strange, substantive and silly... There are plenty of comfortable places to sit.

Those mbougats sure smell good!
*puts a callingcard on the table in the hall*
[Dear Lil, save a coockie for me, I got to go elsewhere now]
[-B- ]

*proffers slice to Pierrot who is preening at the window and accepts the apple pastry with regal condescension*

*feeds small chunk of ground sirloin to Violet, who curtseys thanks*

I have to go out for a while; I'll be back in a couple of hours. Darth, I'll leave some mbougatses out for you and anyone else who stops by. There's coffee on and some colas in the fridge, so make yourself comfortable till I get back.

*goes clattering down the stairs*

Typical, just missed her again Oh well fresh pastries and cold drinks in the fridge. Best just sit on down and see who drops by.

*comes clattering back up*

Hi Phil! Isn't it great that the site is up to speed again? I've accomplished so much in the last 24 hours! How was your weekend?

It was a quiet weekend, slept lots on saturday and then went out to a charity quiz night (my team came joint bottom ) and on sunday I went out and bought a new suit for some weddings that I'll be going to soon. Then back to work.

The response does seem to have improved, but I'll wait to see if it's still ok when I get home later.

Hows life with you?

I had a great weekend, but I think I have become a Lazy B*****d. I wish Sporky would make that an official h2g2 society.

nice
I'd certainly join if Sporky decided to build that society.

*floating in, in her usual, vague elf-like manner*

Hi all!

*heads for the fridge and the champagne*

Back off, Styx, you know I'm on the list!

*sofa, book, glass of champagne, cuddling Mindspring - perfect!*

Hi T. Good day for you? Sort of average day at work for me.

There went my nephew making mischief with my continuity! He's made a proper ratflap in the door. I wonder if Abi told him to?

Titania, will you try a slice of mbougatses? The m is silent. It's a spicy flaky apple pastry I came to love when I lived in Corfu. Very light, really.

[flips his Vader mask up, revealing his face] Nice place you've got here. I'll put my evil ways on the shelf for a bit ...

Sounds delicious! I'd love one, please! Mmmmmm...

No cakes and pastries for you if you didn't put the evil ways to the side in here Darth

I have Styx, Darth Corrigible (love the name). Between him and QMike, I have all the evil I need.
*passes Darth a slice of still warm mbougatses*
Some for you, Phil?

It's been a lovely day, utterly smashing for getting around the site lickety-split.

Thanks Lil. It still looks like the speed is holding up, so whatever it was it's been fixed

Oooops! Soon midnight, and I promised myself I'd go to bed BEFORE midnight, for a change...

Good night, all!

*drifting off, in her usual v.e.l.-manner*

[takes the entire helmet off, puts it away, and eats]

Mm! Yummy!

YK, please xplain cloning and wonderful new name!

I am always in a good mood when I get a chance to paint. And today I mastered an app that has been bugging me for some time -- just couldn't conquer it until today.

So which app have you now worked out Lil?

Darth, you do look a lot better without the helmet