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

Hiya Phil!

I have to come to Manchester for a course soon. You know where in the country I live. Would you recommend:- a) leaving home very very early, snoozing on the train, going to the course and coming back the same night, or b) doing the journey the night before, arriving at Picadilly at about 10pm and staying in a hotel.

I'd prefer to go there and back in a day and I don't mind the early start but do you think it is really manageable? Rushing up in the evening after a day at work would actually seem more stressful to me.

It can be done, it will be a very long day as you've got to get from your place into Nodnol and then the train oop North. If you can sleep on trains all well and good as that would help, I generally can't sleep when I'm on a train but everyone is different.

Ta! I can't remember the last timne I went on a long train journey so I suppose I'll find out if I can sleep or not when I go. I think I'd rather have a long day than have it stretch over two so I'm glad you think it is possible.

h2g2 is 6 today so you must be coming up to your anniversary soon? You were the first person I spoke to here.

I think it was something like sept 9th when I signed up (I can't be bothered trawling through the new user pages to find it )

When you do come up, if you have a little time before you have to be on a train back towards Nodnol, it would be very nice to say hello

That would be nice! I haven't checked train times for getting back yet but I'll do that soon. I still have the same email address from way back when it was all green fields and you have my mobile too, so contact me and we'll see. (I tried to text you after the last meet but it came back as undelivered so I guess you'd changed numbers?)

Saw the film with Mina last night. One word - excellent!

I've not changed my email or mobile number. I've got one in my phone for you but I'm not sure if you've changed your number. I'll try it and see what happens.

We're off to see the movie tonight, me, MC, Croz, Granny and Nogbad. I'm being such an obsessive about it. I've not read the major reviews, seen the trailers etc I just want to see it!

Ack, september the 3rd. I've just spent a bit of time going through the new users pages and you joined 4 months later!

I was lurking without joining from October though, and I know this because I have the original newspaper clipping from the Guardian that mentioned the site. There was a quite a spike of newbies on that day and I've kicked myself ever since because I'd have had a 5 figure U number too.

So, what did you think?

It were reet grand I thought. Lots of lovely little touches in it

Yes, plenty of in jokes for the old fans and new stuff for the next generation too. Mina and I wanted to see it again straight away.

I booked my ticket last week and I'm glad I'm not paying. I could go on a train to Paris and back - twice - for that much and still have change for a decent lunch when I got there.

Anyway, I've just realised that it will be Towel Day so we must remember to toast absent friends. Will MC be able to make it too? I'm not sure when the course ends yet (possibly around 4.30) and I need to be gone by 6pm for the journey back. I'll text when I know more.

I know what you mean about the cost of the train tickets but as you aren't paying it's not so bad.

It's quite possible that MC would also be able to meet up with us as well at that sort of time.

So now you know that the answer to your original question is no, it's not always grim up north

Good to see you again the other day and that you got back ok. Hope you slept well before heading back out to the day job.

Indeed I do know! It's sunny and there are fountains. It was lovely to see you both. I even did a journal entry about it. I listened to the first episode of Hitchhiker's Guide on the train radio.

Yawning a bit today but the students go on study leave so I haven't had to work too hard. In fact, there's even time to be on here. Sssshhhhh!