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

Got back about an hour ago from Hebden Bridge and Leeds – a most enjoyable weekend, made even better by great weather!

I had the day off on Friday, in lieu of having worked on Bank Holiday Monday, and I always like the chance to look round the shops on a weekday, when it’s usually less crowded. However, as the local schools haven’t gone back yet, town seemed to be full of kids and their mums, shopping for back-to-school items and bickering with each other. Went back to Monsoon where I’d seen a very nice silk top, which I had eventually decided to buy for my sister’s part next week – they’d all been sold.

Met a friend at the Arts Picturehouse at 4pm and we had a glass of wine, feeling thoroughly decadent, before going to see ‘Festival’, a film about the Edinburgh Festival. We met some other friends by chance on the way in and sat next to them – one of them is doing a PhD on Scottish cinema, so she was seeing it for research purposes. I quite enjoyed it, but none of the others liked it very much – they said it was a rip-off of Altman’s ‘Nashville’, but as I haven’t seen that, I can’t comment. There’s quite a lot of pretty graphic sex in it.

Had an early night and got up at the crack of dawn on Saturday to get the 6.30am train to Hebden Bridge. Just as I was getting off the train at HB, a voice behind said “Are you Annie?” – it was Hebe, who’d been on the same train from Leeds, and had recognised me from the Regent’s Park picnic photos in the Lockin! Fortunately I remembered for once that ‘Annie’ was me – usually I completely forget, and someone who knows my RL name has to attract my attention!

We walked into the town together and soon met a few other ML-ers. Went for a cup of tea while Phil had breakfast (he’d had to leave home in Eastbourne even earlier than I did) and then had a wander round the shops before checking in at the Fox and Goose. I was disappointed to find that the Shires and Grundy’s Revenge beers were not going to be on tap until the evening, but had a pint of Slightly Foxed!

After lots of chat, and ‘thank you’ presentations to Simon (Fox and Goose landlord) and Jane (prime organiser of the weekend), most of us relocated to Moyle’s restaurant for a delicious lunch. I can personally recommend the raspberry crème brulée – mentioned by several people in TB already, I see!

By the time lunch was over, it was nearly time for me to get my train to stay with my friend in Leeds – I was escorted to the station by a group of ML-ers – photo opportunity on the platform!

Had a great time in Leeds too: street festival in Chapelallerton on Saturday night, out to Hyde Park for a late breakfast on Sunday, then I hit the shops on the way back to the station, and found the silk top I wanted in the Leeds branch of Monsoon – the only one they had in my size had a button missing, so they gave me 10% discount, hurray! Got to the station in good time to grab a sandwich before the 15.00 train, only to find that it didn’t exist, so had to run for the 14.40. Luckily there was a late-running Stansted Airport train at Peterborough, so I got back to Cambridge in just under three hours!

Oh Annie - I have just left Leeds! I remember Monsoon and I used to live in Hyde Park. Am now in a hotel lobby in Schroder St. Upington, Northern Cape, South Africa, using a very superior computer.

I am very happy to be at large in South Africa again. I LOVE this country. I am so glad I discovered it in my youth, and was able to emigrate.

Richard xxx

Annie,

You should hunt down a copy of ‘Nashville’ - the end generally sees my reduced to tears.

Hebden Bridge sounds wonderful. Real ales and raspberry crème brulée - mmmm.... Pity you missed out on the Shires and Grundies Revenge.


Douglas