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

Wow. That's zingy!

I've never had any before, or even seen it on a shelf. But on such a bright, sunny day, I just couldn't resist trying it when I popped into Philpott's for a sandwich.

There are several reasons why I bought it. Firstly, it's lemonade. I like lemonade. Secondly, it has a foil top over the ring pull, cunningly disguising the ugly top of the can with fetching blue and yellow logo on a bright yellow background. To be honest, even at £1.10 I was already convinced I wanted it.

There were then more reasons why I was pleased I bought it. It tastes fantastic for starters (if you like lemons). None of this lemon-flavour, clear bubbly stuff you get in Morrison's - it claims to be made of 16% lemon juice, and I can well believe it! It's cloudy. It's sweet and sour at the same time, and it makes your eyes water with disbelief. Lemon, sugar and carbon dioxide is a pretty stingy combination.

Then there's the can itself. It's preeeeety. The top half is light blue and the lower half is yellow, colours of the sun and blue skies, and it has pictures of lemons with bright green leaves.

Despite being produced in Milan, it's in English, so I can read it (except a bit of it that's in Chinese - that's the expiry date. Apparently the Chinese don't need ingredients). It has Customer Services for Australia, The UK and Singapore.

To finish off my squealing, it has one final bit that caught my eye:

"10ø Refund at Collection Depot when sold in S.A."

Oh, the ø should be a cent symbol - looks like I got the wrong one. Ooops.

I was always quiet taken with the lemonade from Marks and Spencers - but that does sound lovely!

And not available in any supermarkets I can find.


The brand name only brings up this:

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Shopping/FindProducts.aspx?Query=San%20pellegrino%20&SortBy=3

I tend to only get that excited over beer.

And the missus of course

It's fab! If you get the chance, give it a whirl - if you have £1.10 to hand...

Speaking of beer, I need you to get down here again so I have the incentive to write up a pub crawl of Shrewsbury.

That goes for any Researcher, by the way, but Pastey actually tends to get me out of the house and drinking. Just make sure I actually take a pen and paper, eh?

That's the right logo (the red star appears to be their trademark). I guess you'll just have to get lucky.

Shall investigate cost of trip to Shrewsbury in that case, and you can show me where they sell this legendary beverage....

Yay! I haven't seen you since Leeds. Where you drank in the rain. That was a good meet.

It appears to be a seasonal drink, as I haven't seen it there before. You are more than welcome to pop down, if the cost isn't too prohibitive.

I still have the photo of Phil holding the umbrella.

(For the record, when I ordered tea I was not expecting the full course china tea set and the little stand with the cakes.)

2.5 hrs by car or train (changing at Birmingham) £39r.

hmmm....

A pub crawl in shrewsbury... Hmm, I think i might have already done one of those. But yes, it sounds a good idea if me and the good lady can bagsie a bed for the night?

Sold! The back bedroom goes to Mr & Mrs Pastey.

You may have been around Shrewsbury before, but this time it's for Research. It's like Science, but less well paid.

£39 ain't cheap. Still, the sofabed has your name pencilled in if you can make it...

There may be another way, Clive - there have been unverified reports of such things being sold in Cafe Nero franchises! You may get your nectar yet!