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

Hey, Bossel! I've now got party photos , however I can't post them to the site as I haven't the facility. Also at present my computer is beginning to die on me. I can't e-mail out at the present - they *seem* to go, then my virus scanner doesn't seem to complete the scan, I'm told the connection was cut (although I'm still on-line), so I'm confused.

The good news is that my parents have said they will help towards a new computer, so I'm thinking of an Apple Mac.

So, back to the photos. The first one is in the park with KerrAvon (in hat), Gnomon (in his baseball cap), you (hands on camera case) and Lucinda (no hat, left hand on his jaw line near his ear.

Second photo - italics sitting on the grass including Natalie, Mina and Pastie. There are actually 10 people all in all and I can't identify them all.

Third photo you with your arm round Trillian's Child, who has a can of Fosters in her left hand. In the background - GTBacchus shading his eyes from the sun. A pair of legs coming in from the right with trainers on, someone's back and bottom between the triangle from your hip and TC's hip to your feet (pointing at each other) and a knee just behing your knees. Slightly higher up, a foot behind your right thigh. Above the pair of legs on the left of the photo is a chap sitting cross legged - can't identify him - dark hair - young looking.

Fourth photo. Similar picture of you and TC with all the same background. Not sure why I took two of those.

Fifth picture. Gnomon in hat with camera, Hoovooloo and Hoovooloo's bitch (looking a bit sheepish).

Sixth picture. You (right hand on hip) and Mark Moxon. A group of people including Natalie in the background.

Seventh picture. Gnomon, (hand on hip) TC (head cocked to the left)and Azara, smiling.

Eighth picture. Scouts - you, Anna (honorary scout) Whoami, me, Dr Gonzo and Croz (pullover tied round his waist).

Ninth picture. Same people - further away, but with Anna in the middle this time.

Tenth picture. Mina and GTB, both smiling broadly. Mina's god in the background behind her, looking to the right. This was the one I thought might not come out, as I'd reached the end of the roll and I'd forgotten my extra film.

As for the Towers, I do intend taking up the offer when I can. Perhaps if I bring the photos with me, Anna could put them on-site?

I'm glad to hear that Mina had her god with her!

Did I really say that? Shows it's past my bedtime!

I've now got a scanner, and once I've got the hang of it, I should be able to post some pictures! Hooray!

It' a question of:

a) finding where I put the photos;

b) looking at the manual;

c) having a play, which I'll do when I've brought the youngster back from Taequando lessons; then

d) checking out how to put them on site.

Well, I've still not sorted out the party photos, as I haven't located them yet.

Is there a Christmas party this year? I haven't seen any notices about it.

Do you mean a h2g2 Winter party? There is one on 25 January!
See F98462?thread=218359

Yes. Thanks. With a bit of luck, I'll be there.

I'm looking forward to seeing you

Yay! Me too.

I was beginning to worry that no one I met last time would be at this party - I'll definitely be there, so I'm really glad that both of you, ZSF and Bossel, hope to be there too!

Azara

Excellent, Azara! I'll be great to see you!

Oh, party photos! I still haven't got my scanner working satisfactorily. (note to self - do it when I return from holiday after Easter)

Did you get to the Summer Party, Bossel? Who were you with in the quiz? How did you get on?

Oops!

I didn't make it to the London meet because of some business in Japan. Initially, the meeting was scheduled for February, but the target date slipped again and again. Finally, we submitted the application form (yes, we've got to humbly apply for traveling abroad) early in June but the upper echelons took the freedom of waiting until Friday, June 20, to grant permission for the flight that was already booked for Mon, June 23. Until then, everything was open to guesswork. In case of a 'no' we would have to pay cancellation fees for the flight tickets and hotel reservations and whatnot. They wouldn't have refunded any booking for a private journey, so I had to keep myself off the attendants' list for the London meet.

As it turned out, that short trip to Japan wasn't that bad We've had a fruitful meeting with business partners, lots of interesting food (e.g. fish the size of a noodle) and a week-end which included climbing half-way up Mount Fuji.

Somehow I get the impression that you weren't there either... how come?

No, I wasn't there either. I would have missed you, had I been able to come - it wouldn't have been the same without you.

It was one of those dates where things clash. I was invited to three things on the same day and I chose to go to the party for someone who's visa has expired and he has to return to South Africa, leaving his partner. He is apparently able to come back in three months time and is hopeful of sorting out a permanent visa. They may get married, who knows?

It was a lovely party, although for me the weather was a bit too hot, so I stayed in the shade. Little had a great time. He was the only child there. He went round with ice cubes to cool people down and helping with handing out drinks. For once, I allowed him to eat a bit of meat, which he thought was a great treat. It was a South African braaivleis (barbecue), with meat served in thin slices, after being cooked, with salt, pepper and bearnaise (spelling?) sauce. It also had two fires, one hot for cooking steak and the other cooler for cooling chicken and sausage. I could tell he really knew his stuff.

I'd like to hear more of your trip. Fish the size of a noodle? Mount Fuji?

Ah well, you certainly enjoyed that day anyway

Re: Fish the size of a noodle?
Yes. During the business meeting, our partners served Japanese lunch packs. These are small wooden boxes filled with cooked rice (but cold), vegetables and some fish or shrimps. The topping was some seaweed and what appeared like spaghetti. Closer inspection revealed that those noodles actually had eyes Now when in Tokyo, do as the Romans do. Actually, they tasted very good! All in all, the Japanese really know how to cook. Lots of seafood and veggies and everything in exceptional quality. This made us wonder why there are so few (if any) heavyweight or obese people in Japan.

At this time of the year, Tokyo is quite hot (26°C in the morning, 30+ during the day) and very humid. There's no chance to see Fuji-san from anywhere in the city because the haze limits vision to some 3 or 4 kilometres. On Saturday we took a bus tour to 'station 5' somewhere around 2300m up Mt. Fuji and walked/climbed up to 'station 7' which is somewhere below 2800m. We would have liked to climb further up but then there would have been no bus to take us back to Tokyo. The Fuji-san season starts on July 1, which would have been two days later As things were, the first bus left Tokyo at 8:30 (arrival at 10:30 or so), and the last one back was at 16:00. Climbing from station 5 to the top would have taken 5+ hours, plus another hour for a walk around the crater and 2+ hours for the way back. No chance

Anyway, we had a nice tour and enjoyed the fresh air and a beautiful view over the landscape. Plus, we can boast to have been on Mt Fuji where none of our Japanese colleagues have been yet

Did you eat the fish eyes and all? I suppose it's no different to eating baby octopus, you eat the eyes in that too.

Did you take any photos that you can link to?

It was impossible to separate the Fish because chopsticks are rather blunt We looked at each other, then looked across the table, then started munching away.

Hmm, I did take photos but I haven't thought of putting them anywhere on the web. Should I?