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

here in dundee is docked the ship Discovery, on which explorers charted the waters around the south pole. Discovering Penguins etc.

There's also a statue of Desperate Dan of Dandy fame. as DC Thompsons is situated here.

there's the Mackies Jam factory.

and there's Verdant Works, which tells the story of Jute.

so yep, jute, jam, journalism, and a big boat.

there's also the bridge that got blown away in a storm.

and there are two universities, several theatres, a collection of the usual shops and probably some other stuff too.

mini

I probably can rectify that, though there might be a time lag. The Fairbanks House has been kept in a pristine condition, meaning that modern central heating isn't there. It's open to the public from May to October.

Here in Lichfield we have either in or nearby the following:-
1/ Cathedral http://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/
2/ National Arboretum (you'll need a full day, possibly more to see it all) http://www.thenma.org.uk/index.aspx
3/ Military museum http://tinyurl.com/7naxmqk
4/ Doctor Johnson Birthplace and Museum http://www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk/
5/ Cannock Chase
6/ Shugborough Hall
7/ Cruck House. http://tinyurl.com/8xro7ph
8/ Beacon Park. (recently re-developed)
9/ The Guildhall http://www.lichfield.gov.uk/guildhall.ihtml
10/ The Garrick Theatre. http://tinyurl.com/84lepnd

Oops, meant to hit preview, not post. Fortunately all links do work.

<>

My mother-in-law

Loads ae folk wi' porridge for brains.

A5648808 The Tay Bridge Disaster, December 1879 - my one and only solo guide entry!

If any Bruce Springsteen fans come to visit, I will have to take them to the Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park.

If we venture a little further afield to the Atlantic City area, I would definitely put Lucy the Elephant on our itinerary.

http://www.lucytheelephant.org

Are there any Sopranos-themed points of interest?

Atlantic City is more Nucky Thomson territory surely?

Oh, one can book a Sopranos tour to see the sites made famous in the program:

http://www.screentours.com/tour.php/sopranos/?gclid=CKTssfjNgq4CFYPc4Aodm2um3w

And AC has gone mad for Nucky. Every casino in town has some sort of tie in with Boardwalk Empire.

A shortie about a feature of my town is written, almost ready to send off to , plus a reading for the Aviators.

I've not got around to Boardwalk yet, not having Sky Atlantic I've only just started on The Wire. Brilliant! Highlight so far - episode 4 series 1 - long scene in which the entire dialogue consists of the words 'mother' and...something else.

That's great, Rod! Looking forward to it.

When we lived in Kensington, London (the _very_ edge of Kensington), I used to love visiting Holland Park. It's just down the road from Kensington Gardens/ Hyde Park.

Anyway, it's what's left of Holland House, of Charles Fox the politician fame. There's a playing field and a kids play area which is basically a big sandpit. There are also some nice wooded walks, with horse chestnut tree avenues, which look great in autumn and even better in the flowering season, and also a couple of clearings for picnics. There's also a Japanese garden, with real koi carp. There are peacocks, which is a bit startling when you aren't expecting them. And rabbits. There's a rose garden and an orangery. What I like best is the walled garden though. With nice shady alcoves for book reading and spying on the people being put though their paces by their personal trainers (show offs). It's a park Londoners go to really rather than tourists, but they _all_ go there so on nice days it's heaving.

My find now I'm in South West London is Richmond Park. My husband calls this the Poo Park, because it is covered in tiny pellets of deer poo, but the upside of this is that there are so many deer that every time we go we always trip over a herd of them. They are surprisingly tame. Anyway, what I like about it is that if you ignore the roar of traffic it is practically countryside (although probably countryside landscaped a la Capability Brown given that it's been a Royal Park forever). Given how long it takes to break out of London, having that a bit closer is very welcome. Out latest find, though, is the Isabella Plantation, which is a much more managed area. Lots of rhododendrons, and a woody streamy small birdy sort of vibe.

Oh and Icy, where are good walks in Surrey then? We always end up day tripping in towns because I really want to know it's going to be mildly interesting if I have committed myself to muscling my way through the London /everywhere else barrier. But I'd rather be walking, if the walking is good.

In addition to the historical joys of post 5, I would be compelled to take you to Cadburyworld by the rest of my family.


Geggs

There's a Cadburyworld? Oh my. Chocolate rivers and fruitnnut bushes I hope.

I'd make you take me to Avoncroft though. I used to love Ironbridge when I was younger.

For good walks in Surrey, get up on the North Downs - you can't miss 'em. There are some long-distance trails like the North Downs Way and the Greensand Way, but pretty much any Surrey town outside the M25 has access to them. For day trips, there are plenty of those 'Pub Walks' books to choose from.

To the South West, there are heathland areas like Puttenham Common, Frensham Common and Thursley Common with some interesting wildlife.

The Olympic cycling route will tour the North Downs. OK, Box Hill's not quite the Pyrenees, but I'm planning to attend with cowbells and an inflatable Milka cow.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge and the (free) Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.
Lord Stanley's Park.
The Seabuses. A6951701
The narrowest building in the world.
A public steam-powered clock.
Canada's busiest harbour and seaplane port.


Eventually I'll weave those and others into an entry-

A86178423

When I find the time. (The last four days I've been shooting video from the dock, beach and boats of the aforesaid port.)

I live in Birmingham too. I love Avoncroft, not only do they have the national collection of phone boxes but also an exchange so you can see how it all worked. There is also a house built into a hill and some prefab post war buildings. There is a tiny church where you can stand at the pulpit and practice preaching fire and brimstone.
My favourite Birmingham places are botanical gardens. It has 3 all in Edgbaston. My favourite is the Winterbourne gardens; a lot of the planting is wetland or trees so it’s beautiful all year. Today we went in the snow and the flowering witch hazel, deep green yew and red bark provided colour.
I also like the Martineau gardens, which are community gardens, donated by a rich benefactor and used by the NHS for therapeutic purposes. There is a beautiful orchid, a pirate ship and a woodland walk. It’s quite scruffy but really sweet. They always have different projects underway.