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

I had a lovely time today with fellow h2g2 Researcher B exploring the Piece Hall in Halifax, details and pictures of which may be found here: http://www.piecehall.info/ . The Piece Hall has been there since the 18th century, and it's an amazing architectural treasure: a place that B and I decided looked rather like an Italian piazza somehow transplanted into the side of a hill in West Yorkshire. It's a big square cobbled courtyard surrounded by stone balconies containing a variety of shops, with a definite leaning towards craft shops. I just wished that I had more money to spare, because there were some gorgeous ornaments to be had at low prices, and a pretty good record shop stocking lots of that old-fashioned vinyl stuff.

B and I were fascinated to find a dragon shop, stocked with all kinds of dragon-related stuff: dragon ornaments, cuddly toy dragons and even an enormous dragon throne - a huge black wooden chair carved and painted with designs. The dragon throne had a very hefty price tag - though if you could afford it, the look on visitors' faces when they saw it in your home might be worth the cost.

Anyway, B and I are both Terry Pratchett fans, and we now know just what he meant at the start of his 'Guards, Guards': 'This is where the dragons went. They lie... Not dead, not asleep. Not waiting, because waiting implies expectation. Possibly the word we're looking for here is... dormant. And although the space they occupy isn't like normal space, nevertheless they are packed in tightly.'

All that is true. But I wonder why Terry didn't mention that they're in a shop on a stone balcony in Halifax?

Would kinda spoil the fiction, wouldn't it?

Anyway, good to hear you finally managed meeting up after the fuzz in Lil's Atelier about missed opportunities earlier on

At times I'd like to be geographically nearer to more hootooers - but otoh, the more fun it is at the times when I do succeed meeting some.

/ SG V

I sujest terry meant potentia draco

Dragons in Halifax?

Well that doesn't come as any great surprise. They still point at aeroplanes in that part of Yorkshire

Well, maybe, but only because they're saying: ''Is it a bird, is it a plane, or has there been another escape from "Friendly Dragon"?'

The fire insurance on that shop must be astronomical.

Dragons? That sounds as if it's worth a trip into Metro zone 5 .

I'd certainly say so, Amy. Just be careful not to get your antennae singed!

sounds as if it could be a nice summer chara outing

Granny, that's a really good idea. There's plenty of stuff at the Piece Hall that'd appeal to hootooers, there are good pubs just up the hill, and there are direct trains from Manchester and Leeds!

The Halifax Haricot?

That's not a bad motion, Orm.

Notion, not motion. Although I wish everyone good motions too .

Right first time I think Amy, it's a motion to put before the Committeeeeeeeee