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

Hi shirps,

This is the first time I've noticed you online since the move to the BBC so I thought I'd drop by and say hello and long time no hear

So how's life with you, and what have you been up to while h2g2's been down?

Steve

p.s. Have you got your BBC pass yet?

Hi there & welcome back to you!!

Doh! I reckon I must have the BBC pass now, ie: new login & password. I have my page on my favourites anyway, so the login, etc., don't appear that necessary!!

Only logged on last Thursday (after I had a reply to my mail to the Beeb whose page never seemed to change) gave up & came back tonight to try to find people. I "think" I've found some, but ......... where are all the old conversations? Don't say they've taken them out - there's loads of info there & contacts. Any ideas?

Let you know what's "not" been happening while we've been "off-air" another night - off to bye-byes with the dog - no, behave! SHE sleeps on top of the bed when other 'arf isn't here. I didn't fancy watching Exorcist III on my own - coward aren't I!

Hope you are well & happy - be in touch soon.

Love
Shirps

Hi again,

I'm not sure if the old conversations and journals are coming back or not - I'll have to ask around. The old place was only officially relaunched last week but us Aces had been let in about a week earlier to have a look around.

I wasn't asking about your password, but I've had a standing joke going about passes for the BBC car park now that we're part of the Beeb, and like to drop into the conversation things like, "as I was saying to Delia only yesterday"

You're not supposed to pinch the 'rude' jokes you know - they're my speciality. For a typical selection you ought to have a look at the 'Yikes' conversation, which you can get to from my page. I'm also proudly displaying there the award I won the other day.

Steve
xx

Hi again,

I'm not sure if the old conversations and journals are coming back or not - I'll have to ask around. The old place was only officially relaunched last week but us Aces had been let in about a week earlier to have a look around.

I wasn't asking about your password, but I've had a standing joke going about passes for the BBC car park now that we're part of the Beeb, and like to drop into the conversation things like, "as I was saying to Delia only yesterday"

You're not supposed to pinch the 'rude' jokes you know - they're my speciality. For a typical selection you ought to have a look at the 'Yikes' conversation, which you can get to from my page. I'm also proudly displaying there the award I won the other day.

Steve
xx

Hi again

OK, I visited your site again - not how I remember it previously - did you have to make a new one or is my memory going, going, gone .....

Very impressive - a gold award, how much further can you go! Aren't I lucky to have such an outstanding Ace watching out for me

I visited the Yikes converse, had to put something in - sometimes I wish I could just "shut up"!! Keyboarding on here is becoming very like normal conversation - I always wish I would keep out of things & button my lip - ha, fat chance!!

So, who's this beautiful lady you went walking with? & have you told her she's beautiful?

My other half came home today - the dog, Holly, went absolutely berserk & he was relieved to be home after looking after 3 over-80years old ladies!!!!

Twas my b'day weekend before last - I reckon my age is now going to begin to decrease each year, my mind will for sure!

End Jan/beg Feb I was whisked away to "have a MADEIRA m'dear" for a week - like an old-fashioned late English Spring - very enjoyable, we flew back accompanied by a tail-wind (no, not too much garlic) from Africa across the Bay of Biscay - very bumpy: no drinks, no loo either in case we hit our ... heads!!

I reckon h2g2 folk should be offered special deals on Beeb tickets to shows & things - can you suggest it?

Good hunting for the old converses.

Shirps
x

Hi Shirps,

Ermmmm - I actually said she was lovely rather than beautiful, but yes I've told her that she's lovely. She's actually from near Cardiff and is someone I bumped into online and after umpteen phone calls, emails and the like we arranged to meet half way - in Stratford. We had a lovely day wandering around, holding hands etc.

Steve
xx

Ahhhhhhhh!! That's really great - hope it continues (at the right time tell her she's beautiful anyway - apparently, when she looks her worst is the best time, eg: doing the washing up!) Take it easy.

I'll let you get back to work

Shirps
x

Hi again Shirps,

Sadly she's now going out with a bloke from her village, but we're still friends (me and her - not him) as I'm a (very unhappily) married bloke, and I can't expect her to live the life of a nun.

Steve
xx

Steve

Tell me to "butt out" if you want. If you are very unhappy with your marriage why don't you both agree to part, or is it not that simple? I split from ex husband with a 9 month old baby & have managed with no support from her father. (She's now 23 & doing a Phd in research)
I was the one that wanted the split though.

Yeah, you can't really expect a decent girl to "go out" with a married man, even these days! It's good you've stayed friends though, that's what everyone needs: good friends.

Keep happy
Shirps
x

Hi Shirps,

Mind if I have a bit of a drunken waffle?

I won't tell you to butt out as I value my friends, and I've got to the stage now where my online ones mean more than the ones IRL - probably because my online life is about the only thing keeping me going these days - which means that I value their opinions as well.

I'm not going into too many details on here, but I married on the rebound when I mistook the affection my wife showed me when I was low for love, and only realised when it was too late that my wife and I aren't even friends!

You might be surprised at just how many 'decent girls' will go out with married blokes - especially if they think that it might lead to a meaningful relationship wit someone whose marriage is doomed but just hasn't finished yet.

I actually met the absolute love of my life (although she was also in a loveless marriage) in a chat room nearly two years ago, and we fell in love without actually meeting. She dumped me around a year ago because I made a bloody (can I say that?) stupid mistake and accidentally hurt her - something I will have to live with for the rest of my days - and now spend my days and nights wandering cyberspace trying to raise a laugh, knowing that life holds nothing for me as my fate is to cheer other people up without ever seeing happiness myself.

Sorry - but I'm in a philosophising mood tonight and you drew the short straw

Steve
xx

Short straw - at least the drink gets in quicker!!

No probs - I just may do the same to you one day!

Really though - if you need to sob, wallow, philosphise or just lash out - feel free (just don't shout at me!)

Ah, rebounds - yep, that nearly happened to me after marriage split - luckily we both realised & mutually got out of it.

Hey, hey - if you can learn to laugh at yourself, look forward, not at the past, learn from your mistakes & say "That's life" or "whatever will be, will be" (as in my favourite song) your life can take shape again. If you go along blinkered (like a horse in traffic) then you won't see what's around you - so look around, it may be frightening, but you learn to cope with it.

Crikey, it's 8pm & I've only had 2 Scotches! Promise I won't sign on later - never know what I may write!

I saw the sun shine today - whoopeeeeeeee! Breaks into "the sun has got his hat on"

Did you watch the human face last night with John Cleese? There is a ratio figure to work out if you are beautiful (ratio of width of nose to width of mouth). Well I've worked out I'm not beautiful, but the dog is! Woof, woof!

See ya soon
Shirps

Thanks Shirps

What I find so hard to take is knowing that my absolutely perfect partner as been and gone.

Steve
xx

How do you work it out then? I know that if your nose is wider than your mouth the chances are that you're not good looking

The formula is 1:1.618
Symmetrical faces are apparently better looking than asymmetrical, that's why we always say "our good side"!! This applies to humans.
(I personally don't believe a word of it - our dog's formula is probably something like 1:3, but she's beautiful!)

Hi Shirps,

It's not just a beautiful dog, but a clever one as well. Did she work out the 1:3 ratio herself?



So how's life in Northants? The first day of BST is one of nature's jokes here, as we're back to winter again.

Steve
xx

Yeah, of course she worked it out herself - she's a really clever dog just like the rest of the family!! I do mean us, not her doggy family! She was 6 year old last Saturday!

It's [removed by the moderator] freezing here! I haven't stopped shivering for weeks - correction, in bed with electric blanket on just about thaws me out!!

Life in Northants - hmmmmmm. I had my birthday a few weeks back & was real depressed, then mum's day yesterday more doom & gloom. Oh why do we have to get older & seemingly have done nothing particular with our lives? OK, had a good job (then had to retire due to RSI), secretary to local art society which keeps me going & keeps 80 odd people going (but this is my 7th year & I'm bored with it). Want to make my mark on the world, but now I'm not fit enough & I suppose I've become lazy. Living here for 13 years hasn't helped: I don't drive, public transport is not too good & I miss London, theatres, life & real people. The town is really OK it's just, sometimes, me!

I think basically, like everyone, I need some real sunshine!!

Hang on - just going to get 3rd glass of wine ........ Aaah, that's better, now another roll-up ....... even better!!

I've not been sleeping too well the past few nights, so on my own tonight so other half can get a decent sleep. Arms & shoulders are being a real ....... - always worse at night!!

Anyway, I'm still smiling - I did warn you I'd have a moan back!!! Sorry!

Just going to watch a video from last night about the FACE with John Cleese - at least it's not mine, aaargh!!!

Where are you based now?

Hi Shirps,

Oh God - a third glass of wine! I'm suddenly jealous. I fell in love with wine (along with everything else French) on my first holiday there - we usually bring around 50 bottles back from the summer hols.

I love walking - we never do it these days as the wife's one of these people who insist on having no leisure time at all, so weekends are for decorating annd that sort of stuff - whereas I'd far rather be out doing 10 or 12 miles with the dog in the peak District - which is only around an hour's drive away from Scunthorpe.

How ill are you - if you don't mind me asking. Can you walk at all?

I never suffer from the cold - I'm very hot-blooded (and you can take that which way you like) - people were surprised today to see me wandering the town centre at lunch time in my shirt sleeves (bottom half covered, before the jokes start).

Steve
xx

Uanble to find the time to read the whole backlog let me just join in on welcoming you back, sweetie! Here's to ya

Why, thank you Pierce - I didn't know you cared

But of course I cared! I always do!

...in particular if there is a chance of raising a