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

Got the train at 8.15 this morning, hoping it would not be too crowded with Live8-ers, but in fact WAGN had laid on an 8-carriage train which was nearly empty ... Got to Winchester on time, at 11.05 and my friend met me at the station.

Although it was cool and cloudy all day, there were only a few spots of rain from time to time, not enough to justify a brolly. Spent most of the day wandering round the streets and the Cathedral Green; I wasn't sure what to expect, but it seems to be a sort of festival of buskers and street performers. It was probably as well the weather wasn't better, because the crowds watching some of the shows blocked the town centre streets as it was.

Saw a very entertaining outfit called The Bureau of Silly Ideas perform 'The Hole Job'. Acrobatics, juggling and comedy based on workers who are supposed to be digging a hole in the road - very funny and slick. I see from googling that they are performing in the National Theatre 'Watch This Space' season on 11 August - definitely worth having a look, if you are in the area.

Had a great lunch in a pub called the White Swan: I had veggie burger, which turned out in fact to be two decent-sized burgers with proper vegetables in them, not the usual mashed up stuff, plus lots of salad and freshly-made chips, all for 3.99! My friend had the distinctly less healthy option of cheese and chip baguette, but she seemed to enjoy it!

Managed to avoid the Live 8 crowd on the way home too.