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

Hey, it's not living near Paris (not in Paris, mind you) that makes travel difficult! It's just escaping the watchfulness of my boss on a Friday is all .

BTW: is there anybody else going up to Birmingham from down here in continental Europe?

I don't think so.. ... unfortuneatly..

Would Saturday be easier for you? we've had a number of requests from researchers who want to switch the meet to Saturday,,

No, not at all, Friday is fine. I'm only a PhD student, so I can more or less safely take a couple of days off whenever I feel like it. I'll just have to pretend I'll visit some professor in Birmingham and I may even have the whole travel paid by the uni .

Naah, seriously, the day is no problem whatsoever and I may even say that I have a definite preference for Friday, thank you.

Still, my attending the Birmingham meetup needs confirmation; I'll try and tell you within a few days. If it turns out that I can't come I'll be definitely very upset and unhappy, though.

Er, anybody coming from London then whom I could meet on my way?

oooh dear.. lots of peorple seem to want to change it to Saturday. it would be lovely if you could still make it though..

I certainly would rather have it happen on Friday, but actually, to tell the entire truth, it wouldn't change much for me. It's equally easy (or difficult) for me to go to Birmingham on a Friday and on a Saturday .

Still, you can grovel a bit longer, I quite enjoy it . Naah, don't worry.

I've got from Brum to Paris overnight during my interailing days, wasn't that difficult but there wasn't much that night..

No, Brum is not too exotic a city, I should be able to make it. I'll walk if I have to!

Looking forward to meeting you in real life.. so what's the PhD in?

Enveloping algebras and their quotient rings . But don't worry, I don't speak of maths as long as I'm sober.

Oh, the meet takes place in a pub, you say? Beware! Bring up a gag and a strait jacket !

There we are: I'll definitely be attending the Birmingham meetup . For a couple of days off will do fine (just what I need actually), so to with, well, everything else.

Then I'm only left facing the down-to-earth sides of such a trip. It's on Saturday night, right? It won't move again, will it? I think I'll take the coach; any suggestion concerning accomodation ?

I would offer, but I'm expecting my floor to be taken. And there isn't a lot of it, what with uni accomodation an' all.

Thanks anyway VIP .

My sofa bed will be free, and as you've booked I'll see that it won't move again!

And of course you'd be welcome to sleep on it!

Great, thank you so very much! It's a bright snny day opening to me. I'm speechless.

As for breakfast the next morning, I'll have a British one including porridge, eggs, tomato, sausage, bacon, fresh fruit, coffee (I'll have Columbian, please) and a newspaper you'll be kind enough to read for me (I mean only the interesting parts, of course) . What do you say? Me, go to hell? Mmh.

Er, if I have enough to drink on Saturday, I will only need a small place in the bathroom .

Oh no trouble.. and as I'm not a meat eater then a full english is ou of hte question if you want to avoid salmonella! (but hte local do a very good line in Sunday lunches...)

Maybe we should do a Sunday get together for those wanting food and aren't sick of each other yet...

mmm may I suggest the Selly Sausage as a venue.. if it's the end of term there might not be too many students around!

I'll have to remember where that is.. on the Bristol Road, I know, but having never been there I need to rack my brain!