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

So finally the day dawned and I stumbled out of bed, threw some clothes in my general direction, scarfed down the All Bran and took myself off to the station.

German railways do this deal where if you book in advance you can get a pretty good reduction - but you are restricted to what trains you can use. I was to go from Erkelenz -> Düsseldorf -> Köln -> Frankfurt (getting off at the airport to meet the others)

At no point did I have a wait longer than 10 minutes - which would have been briliant.

If my train out of Erkelenz hadn't been cancelled.

Anyhoo a very nice chap at Düsseldorf changed my ticket, allowed that I wouldn't have to pay extra, so instead of a lot of faffing about, I got a train direct to the airport. And it only got in 10 minutes after I had been due to arrive.

Of course I only had ReddyFreddy's number - and he was on the plane but I guessed that B'Elana would call me if she couldn't find me. Which she did - so meeting up with her and Mazin' Mad Fiddler wasn't a problem.

Plus she was wearing a h2g2 t-shirt and Mazin' was wearing a name badge. Then we trolled over to the arrivals hall to drink lots of and natter for a while until ReddyFreddy's delayed (by early fog at Frankfurt) arrived.

Using a combination of skytrain, underground tram and bus we got to chez B'Elana where Mr.B had prepared Frankfurter Grüne Söße and boiled potatoes for us. (thank you again) After devouring that, we left the washing up to Mr.B and trolled back into town for a wee stroll around before going back to the station to collect Trillian's Child and Mr.TC.

B'Elana had very kindly got a group day ticket - and we really got her money's worth out of it.

The hotel had said it was 10 minutes walk from the station (which actually didn't endear it to me, but that's another story from my past) but they lied.

It was 5 minutes.

TC and I checked in and then came the famous offer from me to ReddyFreddy and B'Elana to "come up and see how bouncy the bed is". We'll draw a curtain over what actually happened in the room and relate that we jumped on tram, and walked around the banking quarter a little before ascending the Main tower.

There were two lifts, one with Liftboy and one without. Deep joy - we got the liftboy, who looked less than happy to make our day wonderful by whisking us in seconds to the 56th floor. Mazin' & TC elected to stay there, while B'Elana RF and I went out onto the roof. The view is incredible. Frankfurt is flat, and the weather was good enough to allow us to see for miles and miles.

We also saw the weatherman making his preparations for the broadcast later, and had our photographs taken next to his sidekick the Weather Frog. It's a German thing, like using a pine cone to tell the weather. Best not to ask, probably.

After that we went, by tram, to the Brotfabrik where we had a lovely evening talking (and so deeply ingrained is the profanity filter, and the h2g2 custom of only conversing in English that we each other several times...). I can't remember what the others had, but I enjoyed a rather tasty spinach and feta wrap.

After what seemed like a very short time, and just the odd glass of beer, the waitress was totting up our bill and telling us that we'd consumed 28 beers. Mostly between MMF, RF and me because B'Elana was keeping mostly to softdrinks because of getting us all home in one piece, and TC and Mr.TC were drinking wine. (although, I thin Mr.TC also had a couple of with us)

Public Transport in Frankfurt is great, we got a tram back just after midnight. TC, Mr.TC and I repaired to the hotel, the others kept B'Elana's neighbours awake (probably) with more talk...

On Tuesday, after a bad night's sleep, I met TC & Mr.TC for a quick breakfast before they left so that TC could go to w*rk. After that I trolled into town (mostly because I wanted to replace a broach I'd lost the day before - but I didn't find one) and met up with the other three.

The shop where MMF bought his wine jug was staffed by the tiniest, cutest little old ladies you could imagine. Couldn't understand a word they said, but they were such dear little things I wanted to take them home. Unlike the guy in the shop where I bought some sewing machine needles - he needs a fork in the eye and some urgent training in "not insulting your paying customers"

After that it was a traditional German lunch (sausages and sauerkraut) washed down with the local speciality of Apfelwein. We'd only just finished when MMF had to leave and B'Elana whisked him off to the airport.

RF and I repaired to the Australian ice cream shop (everything natural) for some yummy ice cream, before selecting the sunniest pavement café we could find for some more chat and beer.

B'Elana - bless her cotton socks - barely had time for a coffee, when we had to leave for the airport again. We pushed RF through the security check and went to yet another café for more coffee and even more chat. (and sorry, again, B'Elana for inflicting more work rants on you in terrible German)

Then it was time for me to jump on the ICE and wave goodbye to an excellent meet.

Summary:

I learned this about my fellow researchers:

TC's boss is too mean to let her have 2 days off, boo hiss!
B'Elana reads... my goodness, she lives in a library!
MMF knows loads of stuff!
RF will paint for sex! (but he won't let me paint a Murial on his living room wall. Spoilsport. I had it all planned - the millenium dome at sunrise...)

er... that's all folks!
except to say that it was fantastic, and we're aiming to do it again. In Düsseldorf in October.

>>because B'Elana was keeping mostly to softdrinks << - also called: kleine Pils ( small )- but I stopped after the fourth

>> lives in a library<< I wished, but I urgently need another bookshelf or two
It's great to see the different journals, I think we have most of it covered by now - just need RF's journal

Waiting for the over-drawn veil part to emerge

Sho's German is perfect. You wouldn't know she wasn't a local. Don't be modest, young lass. (I'm not any more - I reckon I am qualified enough to assess Sho's German, too)

I must admit the Dutch accent seems to have vanished.

I think I've told you before that your German is excellent and your accent hardly to spot, so now TC has confirmed this - it's official now

I still find it hard to accept that though -given my allergy to actually writing German.

Well, ok, your written German isn't actually as good as your spoken German - maybe because you don't like to write in German ?

probably because I have never studied German - I learned it by ear, which means that the grammar is a bit (lot) wobbly!

I'll get round to it eventually.

Good Journal Sho, and I'd forgotten the Skytrain... Must admit I was trying to write it at w*rk...

It was a truly good few days, and please let me know when the October Meet and, if I can make it, I'll strap on my wings and fly over... Maybe our small group could inspire a few more to attend?

It was absolutely great to see you all, and look forward to the next!!!

I would recommend Baden Baden for some future date. It really is in the most idyllic part of the world (except for where I live) - the Black Forest. And there's a direct connection from Stansted.

Even though it's an exclusive spa town, I reckon there is some cheap accommodation somewhere.