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

I went to see AR1 yesterday with little . She made us some lovely food and we took little swimming and had a good chat. I left a little later than I'd intended as it was starting to rain. By the time I reached the M25, the rain was really bucketing, making it difficult to see the direction signs. I got on the motorway and followed the signs to the A21 towards Bromley, or so I thought. I noticed a service station and it occurred to me I hadn't seen it on the way there. I was tired. I then noticed that the exit numbers were going up not down, just as I was passing junction 7. I wanted junction 2. I got off at junction 8, which is a bit of a strange one, where the slip road goes next to the motorway for ages, before coming to a roundabout. I took an exit to the motorway and just as I was on it, I had a brief thought that I might still be going the wrong way - I was! The rain was still coming down in bucket-loads full. By now, I was really cross with myself and getting more and more tired. At the next junction, there was a standard roundabout and I turned round and started for home, little grumbling and asking for a pillow. It had taken me just over 35 minutes to get there; it took me an hour and 45 minutes to get home. Generally I'm a pretty decent navigator.

It might have been to do with a conversation AR1 and I had which gave me food for thought.

They say that your outer cirumstances match your inner ones. Not sure what all this meant. To add insult to injury (or vice versa), I banged my face on the front room door jamb.

Traveller in Time on the map
"Glad you have made it home safely, only next time just open the front door. "

Thanks, TiT - I've really no idea why it happened.

sounds like a nighmare journey home; and the rain doesn't help any does it.... hate the rain when in cars

Yes, 2legs, it was definitely a nightmare journey. The rain was really bad and it made the signs difficult to see. I was even wearing my glasses - I don't tend to wear them during the daytime as my eyesight only needs marginal correction. It was an unfamilar junction and the signs weren't that good. Plus, I had something on my mind which made me question the direction I'm going at the moment.

My car takes me places I don't expect when I have things on my mind

And driving in rain really is the pits - especially when there's traffic around.

Well you could always adopt the Dirk Gently approch to navigation and just pick a car and follow it

Oh, I am so ,

Your post just made me laugh My youngest son took us to eldest son's for lunch over the Christmas period. Approaching the motorway from a different direction (because he had detoured to pick us up) he missed his turning. We ended up doing a not very scenic detour, nearly ending up hundreds of miles North, and taking one and a half hours for a 25 minute journey. We had to come back to where we started to get on the right track Fortunately lunch was delayed so we didn't spoil anything

It may have had something to do with the back seat driver, who wanted to use the "old" route (not motorway) so there was a bit of an argy bargy about which way, which can take your mind off what you are doing. It happens nearly every time my son takes us out and is driving me nuts

The "old" route would have been better actually, but that is between you and me, as getting between other half and son is not a good idea. After all, I am a woman, don't drive any more, so what would I know.

Anyway, thought you would like to know you are not on your own. Personally I hate Motorways now, make a simple mistake, and you waste petrol and precious time.

It was much better belting up the M6 in a Mini when it was first built, at 90 miles an hour, no lights, no signs, no police. but that was in my youth Did I really do that? Oh, yes, I did, many times

Glad you got home safely. Hope the bruise has gone!



Websailor

Well, I'm in good company, then, Fb.

2legs - I've done that before now - often it works, sometimes I go badly wrong.

Hiya Websailor - I'm glad I'm made you laugh. Seems that your son's and my detour must have been the same magnitude. The extra to the journey was identical. You were wise not to get involved.

You had a Mini in the 60s?

Thats nothing; when I finished Uni at Manchester and father and his mate drove up in a van, we took a bit* of a detour on teh way back.... ended up going over the top of teh panninines peninines pennines penines ? we stopped at a pub just after we'd gone thorugh cloud, and asked them drictions to Lowestoft they laughed at us then we went to the loo in teh pub and got lost on our way back, which they thought was hillarious, it should* have taken a couple of hours and a bit, say three and a half tops I recon, it took us 8 hours we kinda gave up in the end and just stopped at every pub we came to

2legs

Yeah, well my previous partner did, but he taught me to drive and I used our cars a lot. One of only two good things he did for me . I loved driving but he took the car when he went, and I haven't had one since.

The Minis were a joy to drive, and even the lorry wheels didn't bother me, but I think they would now. Oh, those were the days, footloose and fancy free. Driving really was fun then, and I suppose it is now, away from the hustle and bustle.

Websailor

Oh, my, 2legs - sounds like you were all tanked up! You kinda gave up in the end? When did you reach home, then?

Websailor - yes, driving in the old days meant fairly clear roads. Remember adverts such as 'The Esso sign means happy motoring!' with a soft topped car bowling along empty roads and

'We're going well, we're going Shell, we're going well on Shell Shell Shell.
Mile after mile, riding in style, we're going well on Shell Shell Shell. etc.

What was the other good thing your ex-husband did for you? Mine taught me to appreciate cricket and the blues.

Hi, ,

You forgot "I've got a Tiger in my Tank"

The other thing good thing was my son . Can't think of anything else, and haven't had a moment's regret.

Oh, it would be nice to go back to those innocent days *sigh* wouldn't it

Websailor

Oh yes Websailor <dragon - 'I've got a Tiger in my tank' - I can't remember the advert (was there a tune?), however, I do remember they had tiger tails that you could save up for - and they aso had little oil drop men that you could make into a chain. I had names for all mine!

No, I can't remember a tune either but I remember the tails

It's strange the adverts that make an impact and stick with you forever

Websailor

Hi,

Our conversation reminded me that the tiger in question died about a year ago so I Googled and came up with this:

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/zoocheck/zcnews040929.shtml

The last part of the report gives her history. Sad, but it shows how times have changed. Having said that the bear used in the film The Bear came to a sad end too if I remember correctly.

No, Websailor, don't go there

This is the only problem with the www. if you have an insatiable curiosity. I find myself flying off at a tangent when I should be doing something important

Have a nice Sunday ,

Websailor

I have just noticed that after all this time I have coming out of the wrong end of





Websailor

My very dear ZSF,

Thank you for your message on the phone when you got home. I am so sorry that I have not replied before but I have been up to eyes in work and meetings.

It was so good to see the two of you and to have been able to welcome you. I am so sorry that you lost your way. I thought that you used to live quite near here. Perhaps you took the old way home!!. Seriously though, it is really grim driving in the rain.

Anyway, as I said before, thank you so much for coming out and I hope that our little one enjoyed the swim. And that extraordinary blown up train/slide thing that they had in the pool. I thought that he was very brave the way he went on it.

Keep well my dear, and I hope that you managed to get to the meet.

With much affection

Also ran1

Yes, Websailor - I've a theory that it's adverts that you see in your childhood that last with you the longest. I too have a tendency to get diverted/sidetracked on the internet. It's such a wonderful ressearch tool.

Hi AR1 - we were really happy to come and see you. Not sure what happened on the way back. Driving in the rain with poor road signage can be difficult. I've a feeling it was the conversation about where I'm going in my life that was partly to do with the fact that I got diverted. I'm not making any decisions right now. I need time for reflection.