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

I think they don't even know they do it. They would probably be very hurt and shocked if they realised what pains they were.

Your achievements are much greater than mine by the way , do not hide you light under a bushel.

I'd never get to a meet, he'd assume I'd meet someone 'special' and leave him (I'm such a 'catch' you know ). If only he knew that if he goes I would never consider forming another attachment - once bitten twice shy and all that.

Hey, maybe you should do exactly that - go to the next meet. It's on 28th April next year - and you'd meet many special people
And yes, I can understand he's anxious to let you go to meet internet weirdos, plus his fears that there could be somebody else -fears aren't rational, are they? I mean, it could be the neighbour after all, and he's afraid you'd choose somebody from a foreign country

You don't know how funny that is about the neighbour. I had a new neighbour move in oh about 5 years ago, he still lives there - alone - he is a little short man with a hump on his back and just a little odd, but when he moved in we were going off on one of our holidays, and he offered to walk the dog while we were away.

All these years later he still walks my dog twice daily - for miles and miles and miles.

The manual thinks the neighbour thought he'd bought a house with a ready made family next door he could set up home with.

Now I'm sure he thought nothing of the sort, but irrational jealously is just that - irrational.

My niece lives in London, so I do hope to be able to bluff my way to a meet at some point in the future.
I don't think he'd be concerned about internet weirdos, just that I may well meet someone who would treat me like a laydee.

Well, if that's not ambiguous, everybody there will treat you like a lady. Last time I went, I was spoilt rotten by everybody - it was fantastic
When I told him about the next meet, he said he wanted to come, too. I was desperate, but have since talked to him and told him that I'd much rather go alone, and he atually understood that. Now all I have to do is win the lottery to pay for the flight and stay.

Well, as I've said, my niece lives in London, and if you're stuck for a bed/sofa for a night or two, I'm sure she'll oblige. She's a lovely girl, works in a theatre, front of house. Lives in her brothers flat while him and the wife work over here (they work in movies).

I'm sure she'd be glad to have you, so just give me a shout if you need to.

That's lovely, thank you for the offer, but in fact, I have so many offers from friends, that's not the problem. I've found tjhough, that I prefer to be *really* on my own, if you understand what I mean. I'm with family around mje day and night, year in, year out, and I really value the moments I'm alone, not having to care for anybody else thanm myself. That may seem veryx egoistic, but it's only once a year if at all that I get such a chance (which is why I don't want to take the manula, either), so I've decided that this toime, I'll stay in some hostel once again, if i go, that is.

I understand completely and you deserve your quiet time.

I hope you make it to the meet and enjoy the well deserved attention. It's something to look forward to.

I've just booked the flight.
I had looked earlier this week, and it's more expensive than last time I went, but wizth the VAT being raised by 3% come 1 January, I thought I'd better book now and not wait till next year.

You're right, there'll be additional taxes on fuel too I should imagine before long - to combat global warming. Like that's going to make airplanes stay on the runway.

There's already an additional sum to pay fopr fuel, although they don't tell how much that is. This time, they didn't have flights for € 8, so i had to take those for € 15, which makes about the difference to what I paid last time.

It's probably something to do with global warming, and it'll be worth it to get there I'm sure you'll be glad you paid it.

Oh, you can bet I am - so many people have said they'll go there, many from abroad like you and me. You really should try, it will be hootoo's 8th birthday on that day

Well in April, I'd have to bring the child to London with me, she could stay with Leeanne, but I don't know how I would get her out of school and convince the manual it's a good idea. I'm always giving off at him for wanting to take her out of school for his little holiday jaunts.

Too complicated at the moment I fear, perhaps later in the year or in 2008 if we make it that far.

I promise I will try to get to one someday this decade.

Do your kids have school on Saturdays? The meet is on a Saturday, you know?

I didn't realise that, so it may be possible yet. I just need an excuse to be in London from Friday to Sunday then. I'll think on that for a while.

Well, you could always say, in all honesty, that a friend from Germany will be in Londonm for that weekend.

Now Bel, the only friends I have in Germany - to his certain knowledge - is his nephew and partner who live somewhere around the Black Forest, so he'd expect to be coming with me to meet them.

I'll give it some thought and try and work on a more convincing truth.

ith it. I think I'll hit the haysack now, it's very late, and I'm getting tired.
Have a good night, hope to talk tomorrow, if not, I wish you a good start into the new year.

You too, and bite your tongue tomorrow when the esteemed visitor calls.

Will do - I really hope it'll all go well.
Goodnight.