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

Hello sidsaucer. You're from Earth too? Great! Already I have found out we have something in common, I can tell we're going to get on well

Welcome to h2g2 I'm deackie and I'm one of the ACEs (assistant community editors), the merry band of volunteers who meet and greet new researchers and offer any help if it's needed.

I've just popped round with a nice hot pot of and a plate of s to see how you are settling in. h2g2 can seem a little overwhelming at first so my advice is to have a look around to get a feel of the place and join in some conversations to meet people. If you are wondering where to start exploring, The H2G2 Post (h2g2's own surperb newspaper) has a page of useful and interesting links at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A616718 Another good way to get a feel of the community is to look at other researchers' personal spaces. If you click on the 'Who's Online' button you can click on any of the researchers' names and visit their space.

Smileys are a way to brighten up postings and guide entries. The smiley list can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/Smiley or you can click on any smiley and it will take you to its code

If you need any help feel free to ask. You can either reply to this posting by clicking on the reply button below or visit my personal space by clicking on my name at the top of this posting. I'm usually around either drinking and eating or quaffing

deackie

Yes, thanks for the virtual cuppa. I have been settling in gradually and I note that you have an emergent fan club. Let us hope that this new-found fame does not de-stabilise you, at least to no extent further than you wish.

The weather is grey and misty here today, though I have not so much seen a mist as missed a scene. Nevertheless grey is my favourite colour (of mist), so I should be thankful. Endeavour is safely docked with the ISS so the astronauts will be putting their feet-up, which is considerably easier beyond the Earth's gravitational field.

A good day for designing a Christmas card.

Share and enjoy, sidsaucer

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply. That awful thing known as real life has been getting in the way for the past week, damned nuisance really. I don't know about my emergent fan club, I think it's already destabilised long before it had the opportunity to go to my head. It's cold but all my Christmas cards are written. Let's have another cuppa. Shall I be mum?

Sorry I was a bit late to the table, so my virtual tea went cold. Pleased to hear that "real life" is occupying your time. It may be dull but it beats most of the alternatives into a cocked hat. You're somewhat ahead of me in the card-posting marathon, well done.

Sorry I was a bit late to the table, so my virtual tea went cold. Pleased to hear that "real life" is occupying your time. It may be dull but it beats most of the alternatives into a cocked hat. You're somewhat ahead of me in the card-posting marathon, well done.

Real life thankfully doesn't need to occupy quite so much of my time now. It's nice in small doses but if I'm away from h2g2 too long I do get withdrawal symptoms In any case, h2g2 life is much easier to keep organised, real life requires diaries and lots of bits of paper all over the place (does that sound like I live in a hamster cage ?) This time of year is soo hectic.

Not only is the card marathon won, but I have also bought and wrapped all presents except for one. How's that for organisation? Following last year's disasterous last minute rush I made sure I was well ahead this year to avoid the stress, panic and lack of inspirational presents left in the shops just before Xmas. Everything seems to be going so well, what can I have forgotten? Something huge probably.

Living in a hamster cage would only be a problem if you didn't get on with the resident hamster, and since you are a week ahead of me in the card and present production and distributive process I hope, for reasons of self-pride, that you are not in fact a hamster.

One advantage to being such a creature is probably not having to pack away the Christmas decorations each year, as one can simply nibble them down on twelfth night. This may explain why few hamsters can count to thirteen (allegedly) and thus why they continually fail to form an effective opposition to the white mice running this planet.

Enjoy the variety offered by the coming week.

I've given hibernation a miss this year but I am going away for a few days over Christmas Hope you have a great Christmas and that brings you all you want