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

swl you've got us all on tenterhooks now...........

And HI - if this was Hollywood, you'd both hit it off and become friends for life.

This is pretty ironic, the mystery girl has dropped out so now I'll be going on my own.

HI - there's an untold story there. Yer man's trying to set you up on a blind date? With a girl? Isn't he barking up the wrong tree? Isn't there a talk to be had there? Or is it just not one you want to have?

I had that talk more than a decade ago and a few times since, he just doesn't seem to accept it and so keeps on trying to introduce to girls as I'll eventually flip in his head.

And now it seems that I've been dumped before she's even met me.

Perhaps she is gay as well and doesn't want to go on yet another 'date'...

or perhaps you're both subscribed to the same convo?

Yeah, it would be weird if she was a hootooer and I didn't realise it. If she is, it's now safe for her to reveal herself.

As it happened, I had an absolute blast. Met up with my mates pre-match and ended up chatting to everyone around me during the match. Apparently I made it onto TV which I'm about to go and check.

Actually it was me. Damn if only I'd checked hootoo before turning the ticket down.

Or not. Glad you had a good time.

I have to say that at the moment it is my idea of bliss to be able to go anywhere on my own. I tend to use these rare moments to go to the cinema, a coffee shop or clothes shopping. It's tricky because I also like doing these things with other people, but the silence, the blessed silence...

Prior to having children, though, I did quite enjoy doing things on my own sometimes. Theatres, concerts, restaurants, more shopping mainly. I wouldn't want to go to a gig or a pub on my own though, in the evening at least, and I can certainly see how things like the football would be intimidating too.

I did.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video/p00w2y86

It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-me appearance but at 34:35/36 you can see me clearly at the right edge of the screen, waving my American flag like a wally.

You can also hear me at a few points which is a bit embarrassing: I had no idea I was *that* loud

I remember going to some of my first hootoo meets, not knowing anyone... The first one must have been the Manchester Raddish... I was living in Manchester at the time studying, didn't know anyone there and it was about the time I returned to hootoo after the site reappeared at the BBC and I got round to registering on it...
I got a cab along to the err trafford centre I think it was, and someone carrying a bunch of raddishes attacked me... Don't think I've been quite the same since...
Then again at the London meet, I didn't really know anyone the first time I went, and just met up with some I 'knew' from on the site...
This seemed to work well for all the meets, at the points in time when I still didn't relaly know that many people, until the meet where I met Master B... definately not been quite the same since that..
Went along to a music compeition type ting on my own... that was more nerve racking, as I was convinced I'd be the oldest person there, by about two decades I was basically... except one other somewhat older DJ/musition... that kinda worked out, mainly as I didn't really have anything to do with the other people there, as they were... err... nothing in common... I tend to do most things now with someone else though, but mainly that's really more down to my having 'someone else' in my life, which is something kinda new...

Oh, and quite a few blind date type things... well, meeting people err, ones' 'discovered' or gotten in'contact' with through the internet like... they're a bit nerve racking useually, but nothing overly so ... Just pragmatic about such things... not met the person before, and therefore there are only two options/outcomes, we hit it off, or don't... either way not going ensures its only one of them, and going at least raises the likelyhood of it working out more positively

I used to do events more or less alone. My first few glastonbury festivals I was 10, 11, 12 and mum was working (she had a stall in the green fields) so I saw loads of bands, sat in the circus tent, chatted to randoms and mooched about on my tod all day.

I have never had a problem with doing it, but having done it I know that I definitely prefer to share things with others. Having a friend, special person or whatever with me to enjoy the sights and the sounds. Whether i'm popping down the woods near where I live or going for a long walk or going shopping, I prefer to have someone with me to share it all with, bounce things off. If I see something extraordinary or funny or beautiful I feel it's such a waste that I can't show someone else, experience it with them. It's just not as much fun on my own.

If I'm going out, I like to at least know I'm meeting up with people, but if it was something I really wanted to do I'd go anyway. Going to pubs and clubs I've always been a bit nervous on getting there/arrival and don't really like hanging around on my own when people are spending time with mates. I feel like I should look like I'm waiting for someone. It's odd, really. I don't normally lack confidence!

New people are a bit scary, too. I think I worry too much that I won't fit in. The thing is, I don't really try to. But I worry that I won't.

Thirty and still worried what people think of me. Until I meet them.