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

Promise to be gentle with the Prof, AGB

yup! I'm an antique, not worth much though being a bit chipped

can't make either i'm affreid, lack of cash on the home front, only got enough for a few s tonight in the local

along and have atime

Be gentle with the Prof?

Why, has he been complaining?

Germany and the UK are both in the EU. So, although the UK has not signed the Schengen agreement, a German ID card is sufficient for entering (and leaving ) the UK.

I've got lots more complicated stuff to pack, and to try and squeeze into as small a backpack as possible. I need a train ticket between London and Stansted, return, hotel confirmation, confirmation for a hire car for the Sunday, as I'm going on to visit my Mum, and two changes of underwear.

*lines up *

Look forward to seeing everyone there.

I hope we remember to propose a toast to

- absent friends
- departed friends

I'm very surprised about the German ID card being sufficient. I was always told that because the UK and Ireland didn't sign the Schengen agreement, a passport is still essential.

No, the ID card is enough. Nothing to do with Schengen, just the EU.

( Have a good time, everyone! I'm....going to a car boot sale in Dungannon. That's exciting too, right? )

We were certainly told in Ireland by the Government that we do need passports to travel to Europe, even though we are all in the EU, and the only reason that Germans don't need them to travel to France, for example, is because they are both in the Schengen agreement.

We - Brits and Irish - do need passports, because we don't have ID cards. What is the position in Ireland on ID cars, by the way?

ID cars? That wouldn't fit in a wallet, would it?

No, it's just because you don't have ID cards, Gnomon They work for Romania, too, which is not a Schengen state.

Another good thing introduced by the Allies, the requirement to always carry ID

Prepaid discount hotel rooms...

Here I have a prepaid hotel room in London for three nights which I'm not going to use. So why not let anyone else use it? Nope, any changes are considered as (non-refundable) cancellations...

I find it a little hard to understand. The room is paid for and already let out, it can't really matter who sleeps there I was prepared to let another Meet goer use my room, but I can't due to stupid principles.

Hotel pricing is quite sophisticated these days. Chains will use variables such as no-shows, time paid in advance etc. in their pricing. They will expect to sell on a number of rooms. This is how they are able to offer you a good discount in the first place.

RF

I thought I'd got a really good deal with mine - 115 pounds regular, most websites offered 80 Euros, except for one, where the price was 69.90. I booked it, and then noticed that that was the price in sterling

Still cheaper than what I paid for it TC!

Mala, at your car boot sale could you look out for a large celtic-y brooch? I need one to fasten my tartan sash for Scottish dancing, and boot sales are a great place to pick up that sort of thing.

Will do, Bea.