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

The exclamation mark is because this is rare phenomenon for me - I absolutely hate shopping when I have to find something specific, and often end up going home empty-handed and in a foul mood. However, this jaunt with my sister, spread over two days, has been an exception to the usual pattern.

I got the train yesterday morning to a station near to where she lives, she met me in her car and we drove to Milton Keynes. We had planned to go this weekend because her husband was away sailing, but it turned out to be a great choice - hot, sunny day (but we could stay cool in the air-conditioned malls), England's first match and motor racing at nearby Silverstone (so lots of people safely occupied elsewhere and not getting under our feet). List of purchases will follow.

Did the rounds of the MK centre, stopping for lunch and tea breaks, then went back to hers via the local supermarket to pick up essential supplies (gin and strawberries) for the evening meal. Relaxing evening - I watched Dr Who while she prepared salmon and salad; after we'd eaten, we heard her neighbours chatting in the next door garden, so she invited them in for a drink.

Leisurely breakfast this morning, then she drove me back to Cambridge. We only had one urgent item still left on our list (wedding headgear for her, mother of the groom), so once we had got that we abandoned any other shopping - it was too hot (list will follow - be patient!). Had a salad lunch in a cool restaurant near the river and then walked back, following the river part of the way so we could see tourists and students making fools of themselves in punts. Stopped for ice-cream by the lock at Jesus Green. Picked up a few more items (list growing nicely!) on the way back to my flat, where we had tea before my sis drove off home.

Between us we bought:
- hat for me to wear at nephew's wedding (dark brown straw, to go with silk floral-patterned dress in cream/pink/brown/green, pale green jacket)
- wedding headgear for her (one of those decorative things you stick in your hair with a clip/comb - I'm sure milliners must have a name for them, but I have no idea what it is )
- smart casual wrapover dress (me - useful for work e.g. Open Days)
- sewing thread (her - to re-attach button to posh jacket)
- skirt + 3 tops (her - for work)
- sandals (her - ten minutes later the ones she was wearing broke, so she had to put the new ones on straight away)
- shampoo and other toiletries (both of us)
- pop-up gazebo (her - to use next to her boat at the River Festival)
- DVD player (me - special offer 19.99!)

I still have to get shoes and bag for the wedding, but today was definitely NOT a good day to shop for shoes - far too hot and sweaty.

Felt a bit bad about spending more money, when I've just had a huge credit card bill (wedding outfit, wedding present, prescription sunglasses and holiday hotel & restaurant bills) but hey! I haven't got any kids of my own, and I'm sure my niece will not have a posh wedding, if she has one at all, so this is my chance to get all dressed up.

Is that what they call a 'fascinator' these days?


It sounds like you had a fabby time. I never seem to see what I want, except when I'm not looking for anything or the shop's shut or I have no time etc, you know how it is

When's the wedding?

Annie - hate shopping myslef, so pleased to hear of a successful outing.

But ...was the DVD player at one of the chains? We have neither DVD nor CD player here - though the playstation will run both, it isn't wired up to the good speakers.

The pop-up gazebo sounds mind-boggling. A variation on the old windbreak?

A 'fascinator'? Is that what they're called? Could well be the name for it - it's very hard to describe, but it's sort of bits of hat material twisted into a decorative shape, with a few feathers attached.

The wedding is on 1 July, so only three weeks to go!

Hi there petal - I haven't had a DVD player up to now, and although technically I can play DVDs on my computer, it's not exactly a comfortable environment for watching films. The one I bought was from Supadrug, and it comes in either silvery grey or bright pink metallic - 19.99 as I said, reduced from 34.99.

http://www.bespokemillinery.com/fascinators/index.php

that sort of thing?

I'm sure when my mum had one years ago we just called it a comb

That's exactly the sort of thing DK - and in fact it's nearly the same colour!