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

I haven't posted on h2g2 for about 3 years, although I've passed through for the occasional lurk. And then somebody on a footie message board I frequent said they'd been playing with Safari for Windows so I thought I'd try a few websites to see if I like it (which I don't think I do, think I'll stick with Firefox - although according to my homepage I was an Opera user when I was last here). Anyhow, I thought I'd see if I still exist in this incarnation - and I do. Which is kind of

It's interesting to look back and see what's changed and what's not. I kind of got a bit tired around here - the atmosphere of the board had changed a lot since I first found it, and apart from the people I'd got to know (hi, if you're reading this ) it all went a bit dull. Which is a shame, when I first got involved it was a blast. I think it started going downhill for me when there was a big influx of people who'd previously been involved in some social website the name of which escapes me which they'd accessed through Telewest digiboxes. I think, could be wrong, I've slept since then. It disappeared, or they lost access, or both, and they claimed asylum here as something near what they'd had - but it wasn't the same. Nowt against them, but they had different interests. I'm probably just passing through, to be honest, but I'll have a nosey around while I'm here.

As for me - well, things are the same but different. Still working in the same sort of area of the same industry, though I've changed companies since I was here last (although I still work with many of the same people) and have been promoted a couple of times. I currently get to travel around quite a bit, which is nice when it's a trip to Europe, not so nice when it's a wet couple of days in Swindon.

Still have the Hillman Minx, still watching City (actually more regularly than I was when I was last here - all the home games, about half the aways, and I have a side-kick, the nine-year-old son of a mate of mine who I take to most games. The son, not the mate, she's a red. Costs me a fortune in Fruit Pastilles and Ribena.

And I'm still doing the martial arts bit - I don't teach anybody at the mo, and I don't train as regularly as I'd like with all the traveling, but even after 35 years of study there's still plenty for me to learn.

I wonder if anybody will read this. I'll just have to check back in a bit and see if there are any bites....

NAa ya right, no one will probably read it Blimey.... not seen you about in... well years Seen anything of threesecondmemory? I kinda lost touch with him ages back

Ooh, hiya 2legs, how's it going? No, not been in touch with threesecondmemory, pretty much lost touch with everybody cos I got out of the habit of logging on here.

Still, I've been back a couple of times recently, but I'm not what you'd call regular. Think maybe I should eat more fibre.

Nah, that's not going to happen!

Hmm.. more fibre.... naa.... just a few more cilli peppers and raw onion in the kebab normally works
Yeh, I kinda lost touch with him too, He's not been on HooToo in... a long while me thinks... Me fine I think, spending ever increasing sums of money on ever increasing amounts of guitars and amps and such like which is all good fun, and at least I've a job now to justify me at least having the money to buy it I really must kick my EBay habbit

And your online again

I pop in and out, usually just lurking.

I couldn't resist a quick bitch about the congestion charge.

Ooo I think I saw that convo Tis a lot quieter on here than it used to be I remember it used to often get rahter busy round the midnight onwards time not so anymore though

Hiya Cap'n

Good to see you here again, even if it did take me 9 months to find your posting. Gone are the days of well-attended Manchester meets. I must add something to that congestion charge convo. Me and Phil feel somewhat aggrieved that we don't get a vote when commuting into the smoke is a necessary evil each day. Can't see the proposed transport improvements making much difference to the likes of us. No wonder there's a low turnout for voting when so many of the people who will be directly affected don't get a vote. Whinge, whinge. Of course you might be really for it...

Hiya MC, good to hear from you.

Not here so much, these days, but been popping in now and then.

Nope, I wasn't for the TIF scheme. I'm certainly very much in favour of investing in public transport, and it's because of the historic reluctance of national and local government to invest in it that it's in such a poor state compared to many European cities.

But this scheme wasn't the answer and I was very much opposed to it. It might interest you to hear that a large majority of my colleagues were opposed to it too - I work in public transport planning, as you may recall, so we were all pretty well informed about it. It was a rotten plan, dishonestly represented, and I'm delighted it was so resoundingly defeated.

I could bang on at considerable length about it, but seeing as how it's not going to happen, and you agree with me anyway, I shan't bother!

So, is there still Manchester meets? Not been up that way in years now...

Not got around to arranging one for ages, we must be due one any chance of you coming up if we do?

Looks like I'm busy in Feb, and looking like a may meet in London... It'd be a possibility* But I'd likely as not not be able to say for sure until quite like last minute or something depends though... not sure how this year is going to pan out really yet... so much stuff to do...

I see someone online...

Do I see a Cap'n?

Hi Amy, how's it going?

Yep, I still keep popping in, in a kind of disorganised and random and irregular way. Which is how I do life, really!

It's interesting to see who spots me making one of my flying visits, I don't post much, more often lurk.

Hmm, I've forgotten how all the smilies work here, apart from the bog-standard ones. I'm going to have to resort to the help page!

See what I mean? Isn't there an "eek"? Bah, will have to look it up! Still, at least I remembered the preview button.

Cap'n my old mate, how the devil are you?

I think you meant --> < yikes >

*wonders if the Cap'n's lurked in enough places to know that PaperKid's a big sister, and has been for over a year*

Hallo Granny, I'm good thanks, a bit older, a bit fatter, no wiser....

And no, Amy, I didn't know about that, wow! Belated congratulations!

I've been kind of dropping in for 5 minutes now and then, haven't really had a good nosey around for, well, years. I really ought to go for a wander and see what's what.

Just watch out for the dangerous 'God threads'.... unless you've an enless supply of coffee/beer/vodka and a strong constatution

Oh God no, not getting involved in that! )

I'm not a believer, but I'm not about to argue with anybody about it.

Although, not to do with God but a bit of a tangent, I suggest you take a look at the flat earth society forums, they're very funny. It's theflatearthsociety dot org, you can lurk without registering.

Definitely people there who believe (but don't do) six impossible things before breakfast. You can't beat a propoh barmpot!