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

Lil, I am amazed that you were merely irritable at the enforced Fox 'news'.

Z, enjoy your trip.

I am going back to uni to do an MA in a month's time. This is now starting to get scarily close-my revised working arrangements have been agreed and input into the HR system. (Having just become permanent, I am going to half time, rather than quitting entirely, as Art History has low enough contact hours.)

Art History! That's the online course I am about to sign up for, at Eastern New Mexico U.

My Toshiba netbook just fell off the hospital side table and landed on a corner, a drop of about 4 feet. As y'all see, it's in perfect working order. Me, I'm not so sure -- when I saw my connection to the rest of the world go crash I almost had a heart attack.

Good thing those Toshibas are sturdy!

A quick check in from Belfast.

We are in the middle of a thunderstorm - pelting rain, thunder, and flashes of lightning.

My youngest is currently packing all her belongings into a little spotted red handkerchief (this isn't a million miles away from the truth), and off to seek her fortune in the gold-paved streets of London (Ok, she's taking up a place at a dance college)

I'm selling off any of her unwanted clothes, so does anyone need a red prom dress, skiing outfit, or set of motrobike leathers?

Very much doubt they're my size.

Are you ok?

for Lil. That's a scary experience.

Anyone heard of MathsJam? It appears to be a bunch of people in a pub doing mathematics problems, which I realise won't appeal to all of you, but sounds to me. http://mathsjam.com I'm going to give the Leeds one a try tonight.

Unexpectedly emotional, Z! I rarely show my feelings - takes me a while to actually recognise and acknowledge them. So It's been odd to find tears rolling down my cheeks at times today.

She's just texted me from the ferry port - they're there in good time for the overnight boat to Liverpool, driving down to London tomorrow morning. It's the boat used by lots of truckers, so it feels like a proper road trip.

Aww, Bea

for Bea. And the incarcerated Lil.

Z, when you arrive get into the bar and drink heavily until closing time. Then go to bed. In the RAF we called it "First night Madness". You woke up in the morning, feeling like carp but in tune with the local time zone.
And have a GREAT trip.

Bagpuss, I know someone who is a regular at Edinburgh Mathsjam and really enjoys it go for it. Unless it's to meet girls when you'll need a different hobby.

I arrive at 5am, so I was going to stay up until the stopover at Singapore (we don't get long, it's the same flight number), and then do 8 hours sleeping prior to arrival. That should work out.

I'm a bit scared of the presentation, of spending 24 hours in flight, and jsut going that far. I've never been further afield than Morocco before. Mind you they speak English in Australia.

Ha! So you think.

Maybe a bit like 'they speak French in Canada?'

Many years ago a friend of mine was studying French at a French university.

Now, I think it's pretty widely known that the French often will refuse to even attempt to speak any other language than French. And yet, one day it happened.

My friend was in a shop together with two fellow students; French-Canadians.

And after a while, the shopkeeper said:

'Since you speak French so poorly, I will attempt to speak English to you instead.'

Her felllow students were very insulted.

We had a school trip to Paris* when I was wee girl (about 13) so it was *years* ago. If we didn't know the word for something we replaced it with Terry Wogan (in a silly French accent, natch ). We found it funny, anyway


*our 'hotel' wsa *just* on the border of the Red Light District. Considering we were a convent school and arrived with three nuns, it seemed an odd choice.

'Star is caught devouring planet'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19332091

Morning all.

Afternoon all. I need a drink.

*thinks about planets as kibble for stars*

I need to suck a corner of Roostas towel.

By the way, Eats, I took the virtual tour of your lovely home. Is it always so immaculate?