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

For proud Mommies blubbing at passing-out parades

Do I need to wear a frock, or will smart trousers and a jacket with a funky brooch be OK?

A hat, daahling.

Keep practical. You'll be walking miles across grass and possibly mud.

You're not serious about teh hat are you? I'm travelling hand luggage only, and anyway the only hats I have are a leapordskin print trilby and a crocodile dundee bush hat

No, I'm sorry, I bumbled in here and now I've noticed I'm in Sho's space. I wouldn't be surprised if hats were the order of the day, though. A Grace Kelly headscarf, perhaps?

Hmmm, could do a fetching Harley Davidson one?

oh only saw this by chance (I'm kind of effered off with h2g2 at the mo...)

I think smart trousers and a jacket is great. When I passed out all the women not in the military wore hats but I don't remember it being obligatory.

One thing you should remember though is be careful of your son's uniform. A friend of mine got a bear hug from a sister wearing a fluffy white coat and got covered with fluff. And another had her beautifully shiny shoes trampled on by an enthusiastically hugging grandma.

I don't think you need a hat though - the only really important thing is a pocket or bag for your camera, spare batteries (or a spare camera) etc and a big packet of tissues.

have fun!

but oh boy I'd love to see his face if you turned up in a leopard skin trilby!!

He knows me - he wouldn't be at all shocked by that sort of titfer!

I'm planning to take my iPad - I can video straight onto it, and be able to show his proud grandparents the next day.

I meant also to say: take lots of photos of him and his mates. And get their names from him. I regret not having very many at all of my basic training mates, although I'm finding them again now 30 years later on facebook it's not the same.

When is it? This Friday?

Indeed. Star Wars day

so, how was it? what did you wear?

It felt very odd for me - I'd never experienced an army camp before and I felt totally like a fish out of water!

The weather was chilly and wet - I wore black trousers with sensible flat shoes, a purple silky blouse with diamanté buttons, and a fancy stylish black jacket with a diagonal fastening, and lavender lining. Chunky jewellery in purple and lavender.

The parade was brilliant, and H seems to really enjoy all that ceremony - his report suggested he should consider going for commission as an officer, and he told me he'd love to be wearing all those smart dress uniforms, carrying a sword, being saluted as he walked by....

I turned down officer training to marry a man from the ranks

Isn't it strange that it was your first experience of an army camp - I can't remember a time when I wasn't familiar with camps!

Your outfit sounds great, btw. Are there photos?

I do have photos (and in fact Harry gave me a lovely framed one of himself in uniform).

What's the best way to share - facebook? email?

ah cute - facebook is ok
or firstname underscore lastname at hotmail dot com