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

There's only one driver in the whole of England who could lose the Humber Bridge that's what comes of chatting to the navigator instead of watching out for road signs but luckily after a detour via Scunthorpe, Winterton and a stately home whose name I recognised, we (Wandrin' Star and me) found ourselves approaching the wonder that is the Humber Bridge from a totally different angle I've never seen before so all was not bad.

We arrived just after 2pm and spotted lil's hubby Pete immediately, even though he tried to ignore my calling him () then protested loudly at the hugs and kisses
After I booked in and went back to the car for my luggage, got back to reception and there's MMF the day was definitely improving with age
We commandeered Table 42 (of course) even though it was a tiny round thing which would only accommodate 2 diners we managed to fit several chairs around it. Hoggy's girls were dropped at grandparents on the way because the hotel was so far away from their home but at least it had a nice view of the Bridge...
Gnomon and his sister Azara who had come over from Ireland weren't the last to arrive but the gang who completed the meet were very well matched and the conversation flowed.

Attendees for the evening meal were Hoggy and the Missus; Gnomon and Azara; Pete and lil; Wandrin' Star, MMF and me. Ivan's stand-in was blown up (not by me) and placed at the end of the table garnering the usual smiles and comments from waitresses and fellow diners. Ivan's job was to keep paper attendee pailaway company (and safe)

Some even came over to say "Hi!"
The meal was fantastic, I had prawn cocktail followed by lamb shank with mash and gravy followed by sundae

Texters during the evening were no doubt amused by the news that there was a B'Elana lookalike in the bar, whom we all agreed was her except for the glasses. How did she do it? Does she own a Transporter after all?
I also spotted a man who looked like Jim Cracker but no-one else agreed so I let that go.

My thanks to Midnight Caller XXXXXXX

Sunday dawned cloudy and rainy but then after a leisurely breakfast we were all cheered up by the arrival of Hoggy's girls who were their usual wonderful selves, full of and and off we went for a walk around the woods near Hessle Foreshore (it was a bit chilly in the wind to walk the Foreshore) but it was an experience - and we never covered half the woods, I don't think. Fascinating seeing tree roots! with the tree still standing (just!) with half its foundations worn away!
Waiting until the museum opened we then had a few problems finding parking facilities but managed in the end...detoured for a fabulous pub lunch (chicken curry followed by apple crumble & custard) and then plumped for the History of Transport museum from the choice of three local museums, and glad we did, it was fascinating and I'm happy with the photos taken there
Gina (Missus Hoggy) and their girls shared an animated carriage ride with moi, boy that was claustrophobic (and authentic no doubt) but it was realistic and felt like we were doing the London to York mail run even though it only lasted 5 minutes, I doubt Gina and I would have survived 4 hours of the bone-rattling superheated carriage!
By the time we were kicked out the souvenir shop was closed much to Wandrin' Star's disappointment
We then walked back to the cars and said our sad goodbyes, and all round and promises to meet up again soon.


I'm sure I've missed some things I wanted to write about and will kick myself after I've posted this
Some photos: my Saturday evening ones were not great and the woods ones were incredibly dark which didn't lighten that well
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/galaxybabe/Hull2009#

The last goodbyes are always the hardest, but the memories always make up for them

You were much missed, Prof

makes the NEXT even more enjoyable

Yes, looking forward to next time already

I seem to remember MOST of that, GB

as a putter on

One of the highlights for me was getting to and ,smooch>you lil, after the scare you gave us last week!

TaProf

Sorry about that, hunny

,smooch> = (sorry, my lips are a tad sore from all the this weekend so I'm being gentle with myself this morning)

Don't be sorry, it wasn't your faultjust stay well now!

*giggles*


I pwomise!

and we won't windyou up

hi gb
-
there cant be two of me, im to ugly to have a twin.
-
jim

Do you have photographic evidence of tha alleged B'Elana lookalike?

Hoggy was trying to take a 'posed' pic of GB as this person was directly behind her, but she started staring at him, and he didn't like to be too obvious about it

She avoided all attempts to have her photo taken

But we can't *all* be wrong

...And this was BEFORE the , and was flowing... Honest!

Glad you had a good meet.

...and GB, most impressed that you manged to miss the Humber Bridge. But maybe it has shrunk or faded out since I last saw it

Who blew me up this time?