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

Why don't y'all do a Looney Zoo - sort of a crazy circuse? Plenty of room in .

I'm sure that'll be a taker. . Nice theme, you travellers in marvellousland.



Reminds me of something... what is it ... looney zoo/circus, there was this book I had in childhood... there were always these weird Victorian illustrated books lying around in my family home, they were quite scary, ... it might have been the book where the page was split into three sections and you could mix it up with page below, or above, making weird hybrid creatures. It gave me nightmares but I loved it for that, in a nightmarish kind of way. .



Life is new and good, following a star named Tangent. . The calling is strong, makes me smile within and without, in a toothless yet hopeful way.

Today, from the train, I saw a llama in a field of black cows.

Today is a turquoise circle with yellow zig zag veins running through it, and jazz edges.



On the train I wrote the start of a story about some tiny monster-concepts who look like grinning green peas, , and an otherworldly fellow named Mark Lakeson, who owns a petrol station on Western Avenue in some town I almost remembered. Probably somewhere south of Strange Tangent.

In the US, lots of people keep llamas with their sheep.

The llamas are very protective of the sheep, and will intimidate predators such as coyotes.

Here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guard_llama_and_flock-enhanced.jpg

Try again: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guard_llama_and_flock-enhanced.jpg

They always look smug when they are on guard duty. Did yours look smug with crows, CC?

Really? That's interesting. Llama farms are getting really popular around 'ere. I've seen them in the South East, this is the first Exeter llama I've encountered. . No coyotes though, I wonder would they scare foxes, or what would be the predator? Interesting. i must go interview a llama farmer. .



I just unpacked my train notebook. . Here's the crumpled draft about a crumpled draft. . I'll print it here because I curiously like it.

Dear Journal, my Notes From a Strange Tangent .

'I remember little monster-concepts, like green peas, with tiny eyes and cartoon grins. They tried to attract my attention with not very good jokes, rolling around, cracking up at the punchline, and I thought to myself 'oh heck I'm seeing laughing peas, this is not science fiction'.

The humans were more convincing. There was a man named Mark Lakeson, who owned a petrol station on Western Avenue, although I have no idea in what town. Essential details are missing. There was something about him, a certain charisma, otherwordly perhaps, although that word has been overused these days'.

What is this strange text?, one might well ask. A documented dream, a delirium perhaps? I have no idea.

It is probably a draft, rejected by a writer, the start of a novel. I found it on a crumpled piece of paper, lying beside the paper recycling skip.

I shouldn't have read it,I should have put it in the skip, its intended destination.

Mark Lakeson has been laid to rest, for some reason.

I think the green-pea monster-concepts will be quite happy to live another day, at least. They will tell more jokes and roll around laughing at their ludicrous punchlines.

That's decided me. Tomorrow I will return the piece of paper to the skip. As for Mark Lakeson, well, I'll just have to speculate, or write my own story.





By the way, have a lovely birthday tomorrow all ye travellers.

ooh! llama links! (that aren't working, I'll type them out the long way) Llamas on guard duty looking smug with crows? This sounds interesting. heheh. I think the description is better than the actual link. I love it.

So Mark Lakeson works in a petrol station and seems an ordinary man. Yet he attracts people, who go to him when they're in trouble. He sits them down in the little shop attached to the petrol station and listens. And one day, a strange hippy type arrives in a beaten up old van and says that he's giving Mark a task - to travel the world looking for .... What? The secret to living the good life, or the best possible pizza?

Ahem.

If you find some new people marching through here in the next couple of days, please be aware: They may be drawn to your genius. On the FP, there are birthday celebrations going on.

There are massive links to interesting h2g2 accomplishments.

Willem's pictures are on the FP. Also, a list of 'interesting conversations'.

One of which is this one...

and woohoo party on hootoo

I think I might dress up later, specially as CC has a new outfit and haircut

well done genius friends

*puts out welcome mat for any newcomers*

and , sloe gin, , dips, cheese and pineapple hedgehogs, jelly and ice cream and

Morning daydreamers

Where were you all for the party? I went on a party thread crawl, I haven't seen any new faces yet but a fair few old ones dropped in

I also came across a playful thread called The Iced Bun where I had a whale of a time, narrowly avoiding being assassinated by penguins and accidently killing a new friend with my home made , apparently the murderous element of the thread is a sign of affection So nice to feel included when someone takes a hit out on you

They seem very teched up, I feel a little old, and old school, with my wand, patronus, my eyebrows that have superpowers and pickled parasites. My Jedi Knight credentials were questioned but did pass muster.

So all in all a fun-filled party on h2g2 I would say

Have I missed a party? I could have toasted hootoo with and wished it many more years of serious research, fun and creativity.

But I seem to be running to keep up. So yesterday, we walked from Steyning Bowl to Cissbury Ring and I've got photos to go with my article, if they're any good. And I cooked enchiladas with quorn, and waved my son off on his usual night bus trip to Stirling. Modern nomad that he is, he never stays very long.

Today I've been trying to write a 'Downland' poem for my U3A poetry group. I always seem to have at least three writing projects on the go at once. I promised an article on the Seven Sisters and haven't written it yet.

And now the sun is coming out, I've realised just how scruffy my house is and how much cleaning it needs. Bad housewife, indifferent cook, writer of bits and pieces of varying quality. Perhaps that's enough.

Hey partygoers, revellers and hootoo kids. Dear Peanut, you have such spirit, lovely lady you are, a sparkle diva at a party.

I'm running to keep up also, mvp. And it is enough, of course it's enough, although you downplay your achievements. Like me with my failed poet tag and all the rest of it. You are a wonderful lady, a wonderful poet and writer, and I'm really really grateful for your company here on hootoo, and how much you have helped me with your insights into writing.



You're a member of U3A? Our neighbour studies with U3A, she loves it.



In truth, friends, I'm not good with community parties, never have been, and I've lived in a few communities, although I am so happy that it went well for everyone, I really am. Hootoo is special and I wish it well.

I just get lonely and feel inadequate, like wandering around on Christmas Day eating chips and peanuts, watching all the in-crowds and families being together. It's just the outsider thing, no blame, it's me, but it's where my poetry comes from too, sort of, so I can't have it both ways.




I did wish hootoo happy birthday though, a few postings back, so not a total grizzly geezer. . I even offered some little A numbers as a present, please note any curious newcomers who might be reading these ramblings, I do care, hootoo has been a huge part of my life for eight years.

I didn't know that interesting conversations were getting listed, but good that someone saw us as interesting! Better be interesting now .



Life is good, beautiful sunlight, swimming in the outdoor pool now, at the leisure centre.

My book is taking off! yes! going really well, at last! Seriously, , I've been glued to my photostudio and scanner, all photos and writings and things.

Wait! Mark Lakeson! The story unfolds, I knew it! . Erm .. I knew you knew who he was. That's amazing, mvp, I'm going to re-read it, your posting, what you wrote, after veggie burgers and tomato sauce.

I you your outdoor pool, CC. You are a lucky duck.

aww I haven't heard 'you lucky duck' in ages, my Gran used to say it

I called Hiccup a ninny the other day, affectionately, I'm not sure where it came from but now I have found it again I quite like it

CC of course you care about h2g2 I did wonder though if you were shy I'm happy to hear about your book

Both you are MVP sound too busy for parties

MVP I agree with everything that CC said about you, my writing is a lost cause but I have certainly got to appreciate other peoples writings by being here.

You are also very kind and lovely

I don't do parties, either. It's okay, they don't notice if you're not there.

ahem, I noticed

You would.

I was never good at parties either, cc.

I never knew what to say to people, until it dawned on me one day that there are two parties to a conversation: a speaker and a listener. I decided that, even if I didn't have anything interesting to say, I could listen.