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

I had to break my holiday in Wexford to return for a funeral in Dublin - my last aunt died at 91. So I came home by a long and devious route taking in three sites on the way. All research for this:A986501

Condolences, Gnomon.

Thanks Dmitri. I saw her the night before she died. The last thing she said to me was 'cheerio'.

Sorry for your loss Gnomon - 91 is a great age to reach.

I sang at another funeral on Thursday morning - the husband of one of the women in my choir - and then went back to Wexford in the afternoon.

The weather was good there. We managed to get in some good walks (7 - 10km), a nice meal in the best Italian restaurant in Ireland, and a lovely dip in the sea. The temperature of the water was so high, it could be described as 'not cold'.

Over the course of my holidays, I read one Iain (non-M) Banks book (The Crow Road) and bought another (Stonemouth). I didn't do much research into Proto-Indo-European as I had intended, but did manage to do a few hard Sudokus, strum a few guitar chords and drink some beer.

Next weekend we're finishing our holiday season with a week in the south of France.

How the other half live!


What is the Italian restaurant? We were very pleased with the restaurant we found when we were in Wexford - especially as it was pouring with rain. Lovely food, lovely waitresses. I would have to look back in my diary to see which one it was.

Hello Gnomon!

Just about to go on mine to a folk festival in Fleetwood. It's ages since I went there last. I'll be able to wave at you across the sea!

Like you, I had a relative die earlier this year - my mum.

Hope you are well.

Best wishes

Hi ZSF. Long time! Is this just a flying visit, or will see you around?

I'm well. My father died in January, and his sister last Saturday. She was the last of his generation of the family. But life goes on. One of my daughters has just finished university, and is taking it easy for a year before deciding whether to do a master's degree or not. The other has just got a place in an art college and is becoming all crafty.

How's little Fish?

Hello Gnomon,

I'm expecting to be around a bit more frequently now. I'm looking either to go part-time in a different as my job was just getting silly or to take early retirement and look around for another job that's more in keeping with my life outside work. Once that's resolved, I should have more spare time - and energy.

I'm truly sorry to hear of your bereavements. With not so much family, there's less of mine to lose. Mum died in February, however I've still got my dad, who's doing remarkably well at 94 - will be 95 in October. I also still have a maternal uncle, who I've not seen in ages. They're the last of that generation. Once they go, it will just be little Fish and I. He'll be 18 next week! He's studying music (two BTecs - the equivalent of two A levels) and psychology A level. I had to fight to get him on the psychology course, but he loves it. He's just a year to go, and then probably on to University, although he's not decided what to study. You wouldn't recognise him these days - or maybe you would. He's filled out a lot and has long blond hair. It's interesting that although he's into heavy metal (Iron Maiden), he saw Martin Carthy with me last year and thought he was wonderful and is looking forward to going to the Fylde Folk Festival in a couple of days.

Your daughters are obviously doing you proud! What's craft is D2 looking to do?

ZSF: Daughter Iz is doing a 4-year degree-level course in Costume Design for Stage and Screen. It sounds interesting.

TC: The restaurant is called La Dolce Vita.

Yes that does sound interesting. Little Fish started out doing drama as well as his other A levels but was asked to give it up as he'd had a period of illness and he was holding the others up because of stuff they were doing as a group. Iz is obviously more of a practical person! I shall wait to hear how she gets on with her course.