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

Hi Christiane. I am indeed the male in the back row, third from the right. And yes, the only time we met in person was in Hyde Park - I think 2002. Mrs G is the tall female third from the left, and R is the bearded gentleman just to the right of and behind her.

The girls are not in the choir. They were in a choir in their school, but now school is finished until the autumn, and El is finished with school anyway. She'll probably join a choir in college.

I'm sorry, I can't be persuaded to come to the south coast to see you. I know it would mean a lot to you, but our time in Stratford is very short, only four days, and it would take us two of those days to get down to you and back.

My cold turned out to be a chest infection, something I seem to be prone to since I got pneumonia two years ago. Thankfully, the antibiotics seem to have got rid of the infection and I was able to sing last night without any problems. My sore back, which is a simultaneous but unrelated problem, is gradually getting better. I tried anti-inflammatories, as recommended by Zube, but they made me feel rotten so I'm just letting it take its course.

I've never Mrs G, but I immediately knew that was her. Any sound files uploaded anywhere?

No, we've recorded many of our performances, but I've never put any of the results on the web.

Mr and Mrs G both read pomes between songs to the great enhancement of our programme.

I've sent you my setting of Like As The Waves, TC. Let me know if it prints out OK or not. If it does, feel free to make as many copies as you like.

Glad you liked the pomes, R. I've always vaguely disliked poetry but I discovered last year that I love reading poems to an audience.

Thank you, R. That sonnet (I just looked it up) is really beautiful and would have been very fitting to have been read at my father's funeral. In his memory, I shall forward it to my musical son, who is named after my father, and was very fond of him. So it may be performed in several venues in Germany in the foreseeable future!

Sorry Gnomon for carryin on a subtext in your journal - I shall now continue my conversation with Mr R by e-mail.

What part does your wife sing, by the way? Are you standing in your positions in that photo? (which would make her a soprano, and Recumbentman a tenor)

I you look carefully you'll see there are four rows, Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses. Mrs G is an alto.

And a gorgeous voice too.