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

I've just been looking at it all again this morning. Let's see:

The only way I can afford to get to London for Saturday the 8th is to book my imminent dental check-up for around then. Trains are expensive on Fridays, so I'd have to travel on the Thursday, see the dentist on Friday, attend the meet on Saturday, and return home on Sunday.

So that's about £60 for the train, + minimum £31.50 for three nights' lodging, + money for eating out for 4 days.

Current spare money available: -£10.

My M.E. complicates matters. I need lodging that I can return to at any time of day, and be guaranteed a bed and food (special food that's safe for Snailrinds). That puts up the cost considerably.

I have the energy to socialise for up to 4 hours, provided that it's not the evening, and that I'm sitting down in a reasonably non-loud and reasonably smoke-free atmosphere. And I can't drink booze, much as I'd like to.

The afternoon activities are currently up in the air, so I don't know how much travelling I'll need to do once I'm there. I can't manage tube stations at the moment, because they entail too much walking; so it's buses and taxis for me. London taxis cost £4-£5 minimum for any journey. Ideally, I need to plan out every little journey in advance (before I leave Wales), to ascertain whether it will all be too much for me. (I don't like being caught by a surprise collapse in the middle of the street.)

Of the people who are thinking about going, the only one I'm actually interested in meeting is you; but you'd have a very dull day if you spent it with me, I am sure. I can't walk round museums or do any of that kind of stuff. The best you can hope for from me is a protracted natter in a cafe over endless cups of poor-quality tea.

All things considered, I'm grateful for the link, but I still can't get to London for the 8th. It was nice of you to ask me, though.

How 'bout a mini meet in Wales on a day I can attend? *big time partycrashing thought*

Let's see... November? Oh. Mebbe a bit earlier?

It sounds like a nice idea, except that I am totally unpredictable and can make no guarantees about turning up. Are there other Hooters in this neck of the woods whom you could arrange to meet at the same time?

I'll probably be in London in the next few weeks, though. To tell you the truth, I favour micro-meets, because there are very few people I'd like to meet in person. I prefer being anonymous. And yes, I am a big chicken.

Methoughts you were a little snailie?

Ah, well, never-be-minding, perhaps a better alternative occaision will just come-up if you'll be in the London area on other business.