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

that's interesting history for someone who lived in hemel from 1976 to 1994! but in my family we call it "the funny roundabout"! are we the only ones? it is probably just a desperate attempt to create controversy in what otherwise is a very boring new town.

Yes!
We all call the 'Plough Roundabout' the 'Funny' Roundabout too, always have and always will. In fact I think it sounds rather strange when someone calls it 'Magic'. What do they think will happen, find a white rabbit in the glove box when they get to the other side?

Maybe the term has changed over the years!

I'm the original author of the Entry, I used to live in Hemel when I was young, when the roundabout was built. At the time I think the magic roundabout series was still on TV, so 'Magic Roundabout' probably featured a bit more in people's minds.

I think the orginal magic referred to the fact that it worked, when it started I don't think the locals were convinced that it would!

when i lived there 8 years ago i called it the magic roundabout. i got that from my mum and she lived there when she was little. it is probably to do with the tv show.

Ok so the funny roundabout is the oddest one I've seen but my future ma-in-law doesn't find it a problem - frightening as it may seem I even understand it!!! Though I have to disagree on Hemel being boring, I don't find Hemel boring at all, I've not lived there but have been more times than I can remember - maybe it's my boyfriend's family (they're from Bennett's End) who make it more interesting, I don't know, but you can be sure it's far more interesting than where I'm from, a very dull, very boring, very grey, very rainy village, Little Hulton, near Manchester. There's always something you can do in Hemel - all we get to do here is shop at Tesco, eat at McDonalds or go to the pub. Our nearest cinema is 20 mins away by car and not accessable by public transport. Our best clothes shop is Mark One situated in the smallest shopping precinct ever, it doen't have a music store and you must be joking if you think you could find a book store ( I think the powers that be don't expect us to read!) The most shocking thing is that for an area that has an extremely high rate of teenage (mostly under age) pregnancies there's no mothercare or toy store in sight. We do however have two 'intersting' pubs right next to the precinct and a job centre (all of which always seem to be full when I walk past!!) Guess that's why I don't fit in - I read, I have a job and I don't have kids. Everybody hates where they're from but in my opinion if housing wasn't almost twice as expensive in Hemel as it is up north then I'd move down tomorrow.