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

G'day Also Ran 1! How're things?! I stumbled across your name in my midnight wanderings, just thought I'd pop in and say hi, see how you were getting on Are you settling into h2g2? I think that it's such a wonderful place...I spend hours here and don't notice the time passing!

If you need a hand with anything, just give me a yell, I'm usually around

Hi Cafram What a wonderful surprise. That is what is so fantastic about this site. That one can meet up with fellow souls all over the world. I've been twice to Melbourne and also to Tasmania - which I loved, but never to where my children now live which is Brisbane. I loved Melbourne and I think that the river Murray - is that the name? which wanders through the town, must be one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. I also happen to think that the beautiful park in Tasmania equals Kew. And that is saying something!!. I am busy wrapping up Christmas parcels and came into my study to see if I had some more paper. Just switched on my 'pewter, and there you were. I must go and finish my packing. Go well, dear new friend. AR1

I know - this place is so brilliant to broaden your howizons!! Some of my best friends I've never even met, just talked to online!

Tasmania is a beautiful place - I want to go hiking there one day. Melbourne I love (but then I'm biased ) - it's the best city in the world! Such a diverse place. It's the Yarra that goes through Melbourne - I canooed down it once - it smells!! The Murry is on the NSW/Vic border - it's a magical river - you can ride steamboats down it and laze around for hours - marvellous.

Where is Kew? I know I've heard of it - I'm sure it's British because we have a suburb called Kew - Australian settlers just couldn't come up with original names!

Dear friend, I have just been to your home page and see that you are leaving for Korea in two days time. How wonderful. I wish you ever so much happiness and fun and broadening of what is obviously a very intelligent and enquiring mind. It will be a fantastic experience. It's a good idea the pin-on koalas. Did you get them at your fabulous market? Of course the river through Melbourne is the Yarra.It is a beautiful river as well and I remember sitting in the park having a barbie with my children and granddaughters and seeing the rowers going up and down the river. I see that you also row. Are you at Uni in Melbourne? I shall certainly send you some emails whilst you are in Korea and if any of your charges want to write to an old lady in England I would be happy to oblige. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing from you when you are in your new environment. Good luck with the tidying of your room. I am sure that you Mum will not mind clearing up after you!! It should make her good and cross and help her get over the sadness of seeing you leave!! That is inverse logic for you!! with an affectionate from AR1. PS I'll tell you about Kew Gardens, which are in England, when you return. Bon Voyage

HAPPY CHRISTMAS I HOPE THAT COMES WITH HIS AND BRINGS YOU ALL LOTS OF GOODIES.

Hi, Have you got time before you leave to pop into the Lighthouse Bar and have a glass of in order to wish my beautiful granddaughter Phillipa and her super husband all good wishes and happiness. They are getting married at 14.30 GMT in a beautiful garden wedding. Happy days and landings. a big from AR1

Hello!

Wow...It feels like I've been away for ever! Sorry I haven't dropped in until now - I've been madly trying to sort out my life again

I had a fantabulous time in Korea, the kids were great (most of the time ) and the other counsellors were terrific - travelling at the end of camp was by far the best though! I have seen so many amazing things and been to so many wonderful places...I can't wait until I can travel again!

How was your Christmas?? I see your granddaughter got married how was the wedding?! Wow...how exciting, to be able to go to your grandchildren's weddings!

I hope you're happy and well

My dear Cafram, Welcome home. I am so glad that you had a great time. I did actually try and send emails to the address you gave us in Korea but you obviously did not get them. Are you pleased to be back? Sadly I did not get to my granddaughters wedding. I just wanted all my friend all over the world to drink to her health the day and the hour she got married!!. I see that there is quite a big Australian contingent who are members of h2g2, I am very excited because one of my Australian granddaughters is coming over to England in June in order to do a year at an English university in ecological/environmental engineering. She is in her second year at an Australian Univeristy. It is going to be great to see her again. Keep well, and enjoy Melbourne. Much affection. AR1

Hello AR1!

Sorry I keep taking so long to get back to you - I moved out of home last week and into uni accomodation, and I haven't been able to find the computers on campus yet! I'm home for the weekend though, and madly trying to catch up with everyone again!

It must be great to have your granddaughter coming over to England - is she going to stay with you or on her own? I suppose she'll be living on campus, rather than cluttering up your house! How long is it since you've seen her?

Yes, there are heaps of Aussies at h2g2 - still not enough for any decent-sized meets though! I've only been to one, and we only had 4 researchers there! Hopefully some more will come soon!

Stay happy
Cafram

Hi cafram Thanks for your super message. I do hope that you are happy at Uni. Which one are you at? My eldest granddaughter was at Monash which I visited when I was there. My granddaughter is going to Sheffield in order to do a year of environmental engineering. She is at Brisbane University. It if about four years since I have seen her and I am really looking forward to seeing her. I had a cataract op this week. Unfortunately I was very allergic to the drops so have a very swollen eye, but as I can see beautifully it is all worth while. My eldest son is coming to visit me from London just now and he is bringing a video of their recent wonderful trip to Bali where they went on a cruise with some friends of theirs from Hong Kong. They did a lot of scuba diving and loved it. Much affection and a big Hope you have found the computers on the campus!! AR1

Dear Cafram Just to tell you that I have just seen a photo of you taken at the Melbourne meet., nice to meet you in the flesh. Do hope that you are enjoying Uni. Are you at Monash or where and what are you studying. an affectionate AR1

G'day Also ran 1! I hope you don't mind me barging in here, but I was procrastinating/lurking and I happened to see this conversation, and as Cafram hasn't replied lately (She's been busy, canoeing, rock-climbing, jumping off waterfalls... the poor thing ) I thought I'd say hello, so hello! I'm one of the other ones in the meet photos, and I'm actually currently studying Arts (majoring in linguistics) at Monash University! (Cafram's studying Outdoor Education in Bendigo, but I'll let her tell you about herself ) Anyway, I should stop procrastinating and get back to writing, I look forward to hearing from you

Dear King CB I am SOOOO honoured to be written to by a real live King even if I cannot pronounce his name!. Great to hear from you. Yes I did see your picture and thought to myself. "What a regal looking person". Little did I know that you would be sending me an email on the h2g2. It is a classless organisation is it not? Now I really am talking rubbish. I visited Monash when I was last in Melbourne some years ago. Monash had a very good sociology research department and as I was very involved in research in South Africa I wanted to go and see where it was happening. Linguistics. Well I think that I studied it when I was at University in Cape Town. As far as I can remember I think that mine came under the guise of Linguistic philosophy as I was majoring in Philosophy. Rorty seems to toll an ancient bell!!. Incidentally I went to University when I was 44 and got my first degree three years later. I then went on to another University. I was very interested in politics and felt I should try and udnerstand why some people actually believed in apartheid. I found, to my astonishment that two of the greatest anti apratheid critics were my lecturers. Yet, (the sign of a great lecturer) they never influenced any of their classes one way or another. Just taught us to think for ourselves. Which I think Monash does. So I am sure that you do as well!!. My eldest grandaughter has just graduated from Monash this last weekend. I have an enormous amountn to do today so must end. Kind regards from an ageing but still involved and interested AR1

Oh stuff and nonsense, there's nothing to be humble about, I'm just your average run of the mill older-than-time High Priest to the Great Old Ones who happens to also rule a virtual kingdom around these parts, we're a dime a dozen... or a shilling a dozen I'd say the lecturers at Monash are much the same as in most universities, their style is very individual, which is rather a good thing (though of course you risk coming up against dull/antagonistic/opinionated lecturers) as it does, as you say, let you learn in your own way by and large.

Stuff and nonses my foot!!!.A King is a King is a King...... It is quite obvious that you need a DD to take care of protocol for you. Even if you do not think you need one. Otherwise why call yourself a King. I think there is some logic in my argument dear boy oooops sorry Your Highness! We can use Caframs thread for our familiarities and the DD one for the high-faluting fantasy. That is of course if she does not mind,but she has lots of things on her mind so probably will not even notice.! An affectionate from the tremulous (that is a good word, but simply NOT true in my case!!) AR1 who is now going to try and swim 20 lengths of backstroke after having being lowered into the water in a hoist. It is magical to be able to swim away. Makes me feel very good.!Another

Oh don't worry, I'm quite sure if she does mind she'll tell me 20 laps?? I've never been very good at swimming... at least, properly, though backstroke'd be my favourite, simply because your mouth is above water all the time. I never could get the whole turn, breathe and keep going thing down properly... even backstroke's a bit dodgy, I somehow always seem to get a mouth full of water anyway

Hi CB. Backstroke is THE stroke because you can admire the scenery whilst swimming and training, and also it is exceptionally easy to spout the water out of your mouth whilst swimming. Actually I only did 16 lengths - in 100 metres bursts. And I used to train a mile and a half a day when I was in training in the last century!! I am pleased that there is at least one thing this commoner can do better than her boss. Regards AR1 protocol officer to grumpy CB

I always found it just made it easier to accidentally swallow the water and half-drown, but maybe that's just me

Hi King CB I suspect you like being rescued by the glamorous life-girls around the pool!!. I am just off for my weekly swim so hope that I manage a few more lengths. Have just had a super email from my Australian granddaughter who has just graduated. She loves her new job which is great. Kind regards.AR1 aka as DD upright alias pinetree.
PS I am very bad a DIY so will either have to have a eyrie up in the top of the pine or only wing in occasionally.
PPS Is Rorty a linguistic philosopher?

The glamorous life-girls would need one of thos winch & harness setups Rorty? Doesn't ring a bell... hmm... I'd do a google search, but my dinner's nearly ready

Hi King CB Why a winch and hoist? You do not look plump in your pic. Anyway, I could just flip you over, put a straw in your mouth and you could breath through it (hopefully) We could then get a team of crocs along (with their mouths bound) and place a diesel-boom (a south african term for the long pole that is placed between the animals that are pulling the cart, carriage of King CB) and drag you from the pond. You would then start an active course of survival swimming which eventually turns into the most pleasurable(spelling!!!) sport imaginable. Happy weekend. I intend flying down and looking for a very tall, sturdy pine in which I can build my treehouse. Seeing as how I have to do it myself. Hope your map is correct and that I do not end up next to River House and the crocs.
Regards AR! aka newly appointed DD of the Austrlian forest of King CB
PS I shall look up Richard Rorty and let you know if I am dreaming up his name as a linguistic philosopher!!