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

Hi Grime!

Over the Christmas holiday, I'm going to visit my parents on the Isle of Wight and get a bit of TLC and just chill out. IOW is great for fresh air (although it can be d*mn cold) and relative quiet. I've just heard that in Greenwich, there's going to be a New Year's Eve Party for 40,000 people with the Ministry of Sound.........there's something worth going away to the folks for!

Back from holidays, it's probably going to be really hectic at work for the first two weeks - nut much I can do to spread out the load.

Ben Pink Dandelion's course? No, didn't make it, although he runs them about once a year, so no doubt one day I will. Big problem though, I don't have a bike now, although I will one day (One day there will arise new civilisations and they will build ships and there will be a need for lemon scented tissues) <- badly remembered quote!

I'm not sure I have the flier any more, but if I find it, I'll summarise the attractions for you.

Stay

Hi ZSF!

Congratulations on the publication of In Come I. Out of all your entries, it's my very favourite.

It doesn't matter, but I knew a longer version of Soul Cake, the same as yours but ending

One for Peter
Two for Paul
Three for the One Who made us all.

Guess this must be the greedier version!

But I love the article - (clink!)


Grime

ps. the IOW must be the perfect place to 'chill out' in December!

Hi Grime!

Thanks. I think it's my best written entry so far.

I thought about putting the whole quote in - I know that ending as well, but decided against it. Deciding what to put in and leave out is a very fine decision sometimes. It takes me right back to when I was 18 years ago!

Oh, yes, the IOW. Definitely a good place to be. Much less polluted. We went there over the at the Millenium period, and apart from a few pops and bangs, it went very quietly. Here in London, there would have been no getting to sleep.

is the IOW really as quaint and old-fashioned and quintessentially English in a quiet and relaxing way as it's said to be?

What's the nicest part of it - I've often thought I'd like to go, thought of going, decided to go, but I've never actually been.

And when are you going?


Grime

I'm going on 22 December to stay with my parents, who live in Carisbrooke, near the capital Newport, which is right in the centre of the island.

Is it as quaint .. etc. Yes, roads are fairly narrow and there are some nice little spots, including a steam railway. The beaches are nice and clean as far as I am aware. The pace of living is also slower than on the mainland and that is quite an attraction in itself.

It's teeny tiny, so it's really easy to get from one place to another. I quite like Yarmouth and Freshwater, although it tends to be colder there than elsewhere on the island. I can't remember who has done them, but one researcher living on the island has contributed oodles of information on Anglo Saxon churches and a whole load of other stuff. Worth having a look.

Other places worth seeing include Osborne House (where Queen Victoria stayed) and Calbourne Mill. There's also stuff for children, eg Blackgang Chine, Amazon World and Tiger World. It rained when we went to tiger world, but the tigers were really lovely, although they would probably have been happier in the wild.

There are also events which are sometimes worth going over for. I've been for the folk festival before now, which can be fun if you're into that kind of thing.

If you do decide to go, it's well worth getting a guide. I usually pick one up on the boat going over, but I'm sure the Tourist Information Board would happily send you one.

Thanks, Z'sSF

The IOW sounds really. I will definitely have to get there some time. have you seen the Edited Heidegger, which came out yesterday? (Complete with embarrassing rant)

Grime

Not yet. s to have a look.

I did have the felicity of hearing someone singing the 'Rhubarb Tart Song' on Sunday at the Quakers Christmas Party. I've known about half of it since I was a student and sometimes sing it in the car. The chap singing it had the words, so I now have something mentioning Heidegger.

'All the existentialist philosophers
Schopenhauer and Jean Paul Sartres,
(Even Martin Heidegger) agree on one thing
They all prefer a slice of rhubarb tart.
Schopen who?.............Schopenhauer!
Jean Paul who?...........Jean Paul Sartres!
How did he get in there for a start!'

It's sung to one of Souza's marches (I think). You might know it (or not)

I'm really looking forward to going to the IOW for Christmas and to some TLC. What are you doing?

Thanks for the song,

No I didn't know it. It's definitely up there with the Monty Python one! (link at the end of the H. article).

Hope you have a fantastic, warm and relaxing Christmas at the IOW

I'm off to Southwold on the sunny Suffolk coast myself. Hope I have a good time too!


Grime

I hope you have a smashing time and I'll catch up with you when you get back!

Oh, I see what you mean about the Edited version. It's a bit different than your original, but I do like the blob. I don't remember the bit about the 3000 philosophers either. If they were laid end to end, would they ever reach a conclusion?

Happy Crimbo!

Brilliant! - Joke of the year!!

Top o' the season to yer, ZSF


Grime

Hi Grime!

Happy New Year!

The joke wasn't my own, I must admit, but it's one I've known so long I can't remember its origin.

Hi ZSF !

And an exceedingly Happy New Year to you too! Hope you had a good break

OK, then that was

Old Joke of the Year, 2001

Nice to see you back,


Grime

Hi Grime!

Oh, yes. I had a relaxing, quiet break. There's nothing like being spoiled a bit by your parents and I was more than ready for a holiday as things at work were getting very hectic, and they will be when I go back in a couple of days.

How was yours?

Hi

Glad you had a good time.

Mine was sort-of isolated and cold, with a cold brooding North Sea and some pubs - a Great Escape from Christmold

If you look at my site you'll see I'm closing down here, as I don't really want to go on writing Entries - it's too time-consuming and difficult - especially after writing them! But if you'd like to carry on chatting (I would), we can keep this going under grimethorpe - or you might like to investigate my alter ego at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/U184535 and perhaps carry on there.

See you soon either way,

Grime

Hello

Hello

Hi,

Good morning. How are you doing?