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

Ever wished you could be in 2 places at once?

My son only informed me recently that his passing out parade is in 2 weeks. He's kept all this very quiet, but I really wanted to be there. Daughter's school graduation do was on the Friday, but I could get a flight over on Friday evening, I'd checked out the availability of trains etc to get me to the army camp in the middle of the English countryside in time for the parade at 9.30 on the Saturday, and had booked a return flight that evening.

He's just phoned to tell me that the parade is on the Friday.

Not only do I have the cost of changing my flights, I now can't be at both my children's important celebrations

What a dilemma!

I hope that the one who will now have to be disappointed will understand how hard that is for you. Get a DVD of the event you miss and have a big party for them and make a great fuss of them.

And after all, it was your son'r fault a little bit that he didn't tell you on time. Not that that would have changed the fact that both events are now happening at once.

How about not going to either of them, so both of them are disappointed?

Nah... not really..

well If it was me, I'ed ask the Camp CO for help in getting to the nippers do!


Just explain the prob! after all its the army and they do know how to get people from one place to another

Neither of them will be upset - Jem says "Ach Mum, its only a wee cup of tea in the assembly hall!", and Harry goes "I really don't expect you to come all this way!", so that's not an issue, thankfully.

I'll probably go to the parade - Jem is closer and it's a good excuse to treat her to posh afternoon tea, which we'd both love.

I didn't know your lad had gone to Pirbright - I learned to ride there on cavalry horses.

I would have said, go to the graduation - there will be other parades most likely but you only graduate once.

On the other hand, if your daughter said that, then I'd go for the parade and do the making a fuss of her later. Unless she has an active role in the ceremony (a reading or something) then I'd swing back to going to hers.

Passing out parades - I had 2 because I changed jobs. And my mum blubbed at both Take loads of hankies.

You're a busy woman. But congratulations, anyway!

Yes, it's Harry's cunning plan to learn how to drive

Right, I'm off to run the Titanic Quarter 10k race

Wow. with all that busy stuff, and congrats to the offspring.

I'm with Sho: graduation is only once. There'll be more parades, I guess.

It's a school graduation - sort of leaving school celebration. Not a university one.

I think he'll only have one passing out parade!

I've booked afternoon tea (yes the Titanic themed one at the poshest hotel in Belfast...) for next weekend, much to Jem's delight.

Oh, and I've asked her Dad if he can go to the school do. Work commitments were already stopping him going to England for Harry, so that seems a logical split of parental responsibility.

<>

Oooh - what's the dress code?

These days it's flat caps, cravattes and waistcoats

Picked J up yesterday in the MX5, much to her delight, and we had a quick burn over the Holywood Hills before heading downtown and getting stuck behind an Orange parade (100th anniversary of the Ulster Covenant, it turned out to be)

Afternoon tea was delightful, my blueflower Earl Grey was wonderful, and with 2 scones and 4 desserts each, there was plenty of leftovers to take home a doggy bag for Dai.

I have wrapped a selection of Titanic-themed birthday presents for Harry - he was born on 31 May, same date as the launch, so he's always had an interest in it - ready to take over to him later this week. Must start planning my packing as I'm travelling with hand luggage only.

Jem is having a great last week of school - they have a special assembly on Thursday, and they've done a video. In it she appears as the school ghost (in a hasty but ironic sheet-with-holes affair), so she can be seen on the treadmill in the gym, eating lunch in the canteen, jumping out scaring first years etc. The video finishes with a dance remix of the school song, done by her boyfriend.

I think she'd make a great ironic ghost!