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

Pagin Shagbark, paging Shagbark, you are wanted over here: http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F2130683?thread=8300369&show=20&skip=0#pi1

Finlly managed to find the time to go to the office and clear my desk (us pensioners are very busy, you know). Now it really IS over!

You mean they let you back in the building!

They did! Much to my surprise

Is that what is known as 'The Long Goodbye'??

I stretched it since I wasn't in any hurry. And now I definitely aint!

Put your feet up!

Don't worry, Auntie Giggles, I will

When I retired, I gradually erased or deleted all my files, cleaning out all the paperwork that I had saved during decades of service. On the last day, I felt sort of like someone who no longer existed, but to this day people greet me in the streets or supermarkets or even laundromats. People haven't forgotten me, which touches my heart deeply.

That's so good to know, Paul

lil x

For the last 26 years I have been stuck behind a desk in the darkest corner of the office - so only few people in the streets knew who I was and what I did for a living. This suited me very fine. Very fine indeed!

But my colleagues remember me, of course, as I will remember them.

Only a few moons ago I founded a senior club for retired colleagues. We meet in the afternoon of the first Wednesday of every month in a local pub. Usually 6 to 10 show up and so far we have had a lot of fun exchanging anecdotes about the olden days when the world was still shiny and real journalists made real newspapers

"and real journalists made real newspapers" <-- I didn't realise you were *that* old!

Oh but I am. 42 years in the trade

Well, I for one would not wish to trade you. You're too valuable to lose.

Have you ever had a yacht or other boat, Pierce? That would make sense for a captain.

The only vessel that I can truly call my own is "The Blood of the Zaphodistas"

I was a rower when I was young and for a very short time I was a professional mariner as a near adult but that's it

And now it's time to start a new journal

Rowing is a good form of exercise, though. You can do it indoors on a stationary machine, or in a real boat in the water. The choice is yours.

Except in winter when all waters are frozen stiff

If the rowing machine in your house is frozen stiff, your problem is too big for me to fix. Perhaps you could collect tiny scale models of pirate ships.