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

Unexpected parties are the best, don't you think?

For example, on the first day of 2013 we were staying on a small Scottish island with a few friends. Phil and I escaped the gang for the afternoon, setting off to drive across the island for a walk to the ruined castle at the other end. We parked up when the road ran out and set off walking up the footpath to the castle. We'd only gone a few yards when a door opened and we were invited in to join a party that seemed to be 24 hours in.

Drinks were offered (well whisky was pretty much forced on Phil), cake was eaten, chat was had. Then someone brought out a squeezebox and the music started. Before long we were being danced round the room by our new friends and great times were had by all.

We did eventually make it to the castle - stuffed in the back of some kind of all-terrain agricultural vehicle and driven across the bumpy fields by the matriarch of the clan (the only one still sober). The ruins by the sea, looking over the straits to the next island, were just as rugged and romantic as we'd hoped. But we enjoyed it all the more following on from that unexpected New Year party.

What a nice happenstance!

[Amy P]