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

It's a judges' decision, not ours, but I think it's the courteous thing to do.

I agree too.

So do I.

Me too.

Aye.

whatever

Get-well wishes to FB.

Goodness, thank you everybody

I assumed I'd be down and out. However, only just finding out that I have a chance to submit something still leaves me very short on time How much of it do I have, Skanks? I have a topic, but got no further than that when I was struck down. Give me a deadline and I'll do what I can...

Fb

Hope you're feeling better, Frenchbean.

As soon as possible, please Fb, and ideally by Monday night. After that is a little more difficult

Ms GB

What GB said

We'd like to give you as much time as we can, but obviously we have The Post to consider as well as the fact that all three of us have to read and review your piece. If tomorrow night is going to be a problem, shout up and we'll see what we can work out.

Can I let you know in about 13 hours, Skanks? I'm at work now and won't have the chance to sit down and do anything about it until I get home...


Fb

Yes, keep us informed. If you can't make it in time for tomorrow night, we may have to delay publication, and we'd obviously rather avoid that.

Hello Judges

I am not going to be able to get an entry ready for PR in the next few hours.

Thank you to everybody for their forebearance and generosity, but I can't do justice to the topic of "Proper English Grammar" in such a short time.

Over and out - but looking forward to seeing all the future entries to The Stretcher and hoping to put a few ringers in myself

Fb

Can we not concoct some exemption ruling? It's well documented the bean's been unwell.

I guess silence means no, Trout. Hey ho

Silence, in this case, means that I haven't been online as myself since Sunday. I only have time to get online once or twice a week at the moment, although I should mention that the email address is monitored and checked daily.

Please bear in mind that when I last posted, we'd already missed the Post deadline, I was working on the next issue, and Pin was away. Your last post suggested that you'd retired from the competition; if you'd said 'I think I can have it done for Wednesday' instead of 'Over and out' I could have just apologised to readers for the late column and run the article - with your piece included - on Thursday lunchtime. We'd have made extra time to get your piece reviewed and included if you'd asked, as I said in post 51.

We are prepared to make exceptions for special cases such as this, but it's enough of a nightmare to put the column together already. If any contestants are struggling for any reason, the onus has to be on you guys to let us know so we can give you the chance to submit your piece. We'd *always* rather inconvenience ourselves rather than lose anybody from the competition.

Crossed wires, Skanks. Don't let's get grumpy about it. I'm not.

I'm not grumpy, Frenchbean. I'm just sad that it appears there was a chance for you to stay in the competition and we missed it. Ok, I'm a bit grumpy about that, but not with you specifically

No, Skanks. There was no chance. That's what I meant by crossed wires. I couldn't have written that entry in an extra day: I couldn't have completed it to my satisfaction by today. So don't worry about that. If I'd started when the Mission was set and hadn't been ill, I could have done it, but not in a few days when I have to work as well.

I don't mind.

Having said that, there will be other people who may have crises which prevent them from completing a Stretcher task... who will also be disqualified I assume? As long as you have very tight deadlines you'll have drop-outs for reasons as legitimate as mine. I liked Trout's suggestion of some way of allowing for that. But you and the other two are the judges.....



Fb