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

I've added you to my friend list - you are the only one on it, hope you don't mind. I've been having awful trouble getting into hootoo as I'd forgotten my password.

Am only just findout out how to do this so haven't done anything with my space yet.

Squeeze you later

Eve my favourite.

Hi E/P

I opened my h2g2 page this morning and found your message. A beautiful way to start a Sunday morning! I'm on someone's friends list What a lovely lady you are

I see you've been in touch with Her Scarlet Chelseaness. I'm just about to send off an email to see what she's been up to over the past week. We're both reading the same book at the moment (Yann Martel's Life of Pi) and we've got to compare notes.

If you tell me some of your interests maybe we can have a chat about them. At the moment I'm doing a load of reading (the above mentioned plus a few Wilkie Collins short stories and a history of the British soldier in the 18th and 19th centuries), I've been watching a load of Japanese films on dvd that I borrowed from a friend and I'm reading as many newspapers as I can at the moment.

Keep in touch!
Later dude

peter

Having a quiet day today

Planning to go and see 'The Hours' next week there is an offer in 'The Observer' 2 for the price of 1 at the Odeon and, copy of the book free, if reader takes in the coupons at the right time.

The Odeon isn't the most comfortable cinema where I live but hey, at 2 for 1 and the book (if we get there in time) who's complaining.

UGC is the best near me especially cinema 9 which was built for the exclusive market: food, drink, adjustable seats, side tables looaads of leg room but tickets were 8 quid so they didn't get many punters and now it's just part of the complex, but if you're lucky the flick you want to see is on that screen. Saw 'The Quiet American' there, good flick - one of Michael Caine's best performances I think, though I've never been a fan.

Apparently, Robin Gibb is out for Graham Norton's blood as latter made a joke about former's brother on one of his recent shows. How do you feel about 'sick' jokes, I suppose there has to be a cut-off point. I remember the Bee Gees walked off the Clive Anderson show some years ago as they didn't appreciate his humour either. Hope I'm not too low-brow for you.

Let me know how you get on with 'Life of Pi'. I have a copy of Middlemarch (I'll stop using ''s if that's OK with you), which I am determined to start soon (it's been there since Christmas, eek).

Later

Peg (percutaneous epigastric gastrostomy) That's my party trick if you're wondering ...

Hi Pegeve

I'm not sure about The Hours. I think I'd spend the whole time staring at Nicole's false nose and lose the plot. I must say I like Julianne Moore though. She's always worth a look.

I don't get to the cinema much. Our local multiplex (in the brand new Reading Oracle shopping centre) has a lift up to the screen levels so I can use my wheelchair, but, due to kiddie vandalism they now keep the lift locked and you have to get a member of staff to open it for you. The last time I went was to watch The Two Towers and it was so busy (second day after the premiere) that by the time a member of the staff had got the time to see to me, I'd missed the start of the film.

I tend to depend on Sky Movies, Film Four and a great system where you can hire DVDs by post, so I keep fairly up to date.

Sick jokes: OK for the schoolyard but I think by the time you get out of your teens you should know better. (Unless they're really funny, of course!)

Middlemarch: I never finished it. I found I couldn't keep all the characters in my head. Nothing against George Eliot; I really enjoyed Adam Bede and I read a load of nineteenth century lit. I'm into a collection of Wilkie Collins short stories at the moment...

Life Of Pi: About a quarter of the way through. Good so far.



Peter

The nose is unnoseable, if I hadn't known I wouldn't have known, it doesn't spoil the film.

Julianne Moore looks great, she has an unexpected bonus for you to see if you get the DVD.

We arrived on time 1230, got our tickets, then, because we thought the film started at 1340 went for a walk around the town. The film actually started at 1240 so unbeknown to us we walked in nearly half-way through but immediately realised something was wrong ...

The young lad who took our tickets said nothing. I thought my BH had the tickets but when he couldn't find them I realised I had them, we hadn't checked as we were so sure of the time ... story of my life, anyway I've got the book and we only paid £3 for the lot, though bought loads of grub.

I saw Two Towers, have a soft spot for Legolas and couldn't believe how he looks in person when saw extras on Fellowship DVD, but then they are actors aren't they.

Bloody vandals, it must be so annoying for you, I know its' OK to watch DVDs but you should be able to enjoy films with everyone else if you want to and often there is a good atmosphere at theatres etc, however, if you're anything like my son he likes absolute quiet and concentration when he sees a film. No-one is allowed to talk or scrunch wrappers so he's happier watching at home. He's really into DVDs (Chinese/Japenese stuff) and bought our sound system, it's great, we watched Donnie Darko and the birdsong at the beginning of the film is beautiful. Also, on Magnolia when the ... I won't finish that in case you haven't seen the film.

Is your wheelchair private purchase or NHS or are you on Independent Voucher with NHS? Do they give you good repair service if NHS? I understand if you don't want to answer my questions, I'm not sure how much info to divulge myself.

I usually watch Happiness on box tonight, also it's Operatunity which I saw first part of last Tuesday.

Chow

I know what you mean about giving out too much information. I keep forgetting that this is a public forum and our chats can be read by anyone. I sometimes think that I'm sending a private email and find myself giving out all sorts of private stuff about myself and making catty remarks about people who then read it themselves!

Having said that, I have no worries about telling you about my mobility situation. On the rare occasions that I go to the cinema I go on my "shopping buggy" which just fits into most lifts. I'm sure you've seen them; mine is Ferrari red but not quite as fast as Schumacher . I bought it privately and only saved on the VAT. It's time I got it serviced. The battery is running down too fast and I can't get the speed out of it that I could when I first got it.

I've got a conventional wheelchair, but it's only a cheap'n'cheerful basic sort for trips out when it can be put in the car. I really don't use it very much.

I'll like the sound of your son's taste in films. I've just bought Akira Kurusawa's Kagemusha on DVD (I'm collecting all his available films - hence my h2g2 nick-name!) and I have a load of animes as well as well as watching them on the Sci Fi channel. I also like Chinese and Hong Kong films and reckon some of the Eastern film directors are make some of the most innivative films around at the moment.

Yes, who's the English guy who does the voice overs on all those Asian films (DVDs), particulary the HK ones, he's incredibly knowledgable and just talks the whole time giving one anecdote after the other. I think he must have been/be living in Hong Kong for years.

Lovely weather we're having.

But seriously, what about all the fog in the mornings, and then there's the frost.

Still it's that time of year isn't it?

And then there's the war ... cheer up it'll soon be the weekend.

Or maybe you prefer the weekdays, as I'm pretty much a 9 - 5er I lean towards Sats and Suns, although I've got a few days off soon, not going anywhere though, probably just slouch around the house, please tell me to "buck up my ideas" and "get something done for a change".



Later

Come on woman! Buck up your ideas and get something done for a change! (Was that alright?)

Most days are alike to me, not being a working person. I'm just about to celebrate my fifth anniversary of being on Incapacity Benefit, so Mon-Fri doesn't apply to me. The DLA (Disability Living Allowance) people have already celebrated it by knocking back my benefit by fifteen pounds a week...

Other things that have happened to me this week; visit to the dentist yesterday, bill from pest control company who claim to have rid me of a nasty rat problem for £75 and a headache that hasn't shifted since Monday.

Still, we're not at war with anyone!

On the plus side, I did win a radio competition this morning by correctly identifying the type of chocolate bar the presenter was breaking close to the microphone! (Cadbury's Dairy Milk)

I think my life is turning into a sitcom

Other plusses for your consideration; lighter mornings, daffodils, March tomorrow, good friends, holidays to look forward to, the internet, indian takeaways, dvds, good books to read, widescreen tv, pub lunches, red wine, blossom coming out....How's that?



Keep smiling

Peter

You're a star

That's just what I needed

Sad and cross on your behalf to hear about them cutting your allowance

That's some headache you've got, I would be having the screaming ab-dabs by now, are you managing to get some sleep? Good job you don't live near me anyway, my youngest son and his friends are having a band practice, feel guilty when they play but at least they're not roaming the streets.

Right, what am I eating at this moment? No prizes, it's just for fun but it's not chocolate, I only eat that at weekends or on Tuesdays.

How did you know? I love all the things you mentioned, though am a wimp as far as Indian food is concerned and can only tolerate the milder dishes. Or maybe it's just that human beings are all pretty similar in their favourite things ...

Thanks

And I'm smiling

I've made a new hotmail account for Hootoo it is:

[email protected]

Some more passwords and silly names to remember.

I've tried to send an email to Scarlet's H2G2 email address but it's telling me there's no such one.

I'm typing [email protected]

What am I doing wrong do you know?

Sorry for being a pain

Sssh, it's me again I think I've sent an email to Scarlet, just put@mail instead of @hotmail.



Anyway, apologies for my intrusions into your space, I hope you're having a decent weekend.

Went to the tip yesterday with all my recycleables but have now heard on the radio that this is all a waste of time oh well

I've been on my seafood diet this weekend ...

Watched a fascinating programme about Isaac Newton last night. What a guy, but weird phew!

Chow

Hello E/P

<>???

Silly girl, that's why I'm here!

The only reason I haven't replied to your last three postings (until now, of course...) is that I had one of my rare trips out yesterday - Sunday dinner with the family - and I didn't get in until late. Well, late for me that is. I was in bed asleep by half past nine

I've sent the Scarlet Chelseaness an email explaining your communication problem, so expect something from her soon.



P

Hello you two!

I don't know what's going on with my scarlet hotmail - you have it right - and it does exist as I've just checked to see if you had sent an e-mail - nope - nothing.

I have sent Nannie Slagg a missive with my more normal address.

Now I'm going to turn this off and get the hoover out - there's no point waiting for Peter to come and help - he's too busy chatting away to us!

Hong Kong Legends booklet through the door this am for No 1 Son (not here of course), gave it to No 2 son but he's not so interested. Have you seen this one: Story of Ricky, says it features some of the most extreme violence ever filmed? It's based on a Japanese comic-strip set in a futuristic prison, not my cup-of-tea at all but No 1 would probably lap it up, he's a really quiet, placid guy normally.

Listening to Underworld by Don DeLillo this week on audiotape, it's good because it keeps me guessing as to what is actually going on, brings in J Edgar Hoover, Vietnam, waste management in New York, life in the Bronx and really gets the reader involved. I like audiotapes (prefer unabridged but often unavailable) because I can do boring housework whilst I'm listening.

Going to see Cooking with Elvis at the Hull Truck tomorrow night, I'm looking forward to it because it's supposed to be adult entertainment of a sensitive nature. I told them I'm an adult so that should be OK. It's about an Elvis impersonator who has an accident and it shows how he and his family react. The adult content, I'm told, is because he still wants a physical relationship - and??? Is this so unlikely? I say let's have more books, plays, films and programmes for adults and let's have some fun as well.

I can't say that heard of Story Of Ricky, which is surprising because I've been watching loads of Japanese films lately - mostly of a violent nature! (And I'm such a gentle soul...) This live action versions of manga (comics) stories seems to be very in vogue at the moment over there. They also seem to be borrowing anime filming techniques for life action filming, which is a bit weird.

I tried to read Underworld when it was first out in hardback but didn't get very far with it, I'm afraid. Maybe it was just too heavy for me (I mean the actual size of the book, not the story!)

I used to listen to loads of audio books. I had major brain surgery in 1999 and spent several months just laying in bed unable to watch TV or read (headaches), so they were a godsend. Audio books and Radio 4 saw me through the hard times

I've just started reading a very strange book called "House Of Leaves" by Mark Z Danielewski. It's a book that is totally impossible to describe properly. It is basically a haunted house tale but that is just the start...It is written as if it is bits of a found manuscript that is being edited by someone who slowly gets too involved in the story he's working on. Sometimes the story is frome the manuscript, sometimes it's from the editor, some pages only have one word on them, some pages give the impression of having holes in them, so that you are reading through onto the next page, some are upsidedown....As I say, it's different!

Enjoy the play

Peter

Hello me dears - how has your saturday been? I have been out walking and then watched a supremely soppy film - so have got mascara all down my face. (but feeling less in the doldrums than when I e-mailed Peter).

I had a similar experience to Peter with Underworld - got it when it first came out and enjoyed about a third of it (it's still on my bedside table) and then it just seemed to weigh too much, and I gave up! The House of Leaves sounds interesting - bit like the game I was given for christmas by my nearest and d - I did so well with it and then forgot to 'save' the bally thing and .....well...I've lost heart! So am now considering loading the other game he gave me - Discworld - which I hope will not be quite so taxing for a pea sized brain. But if I do that I won't be able to enjoy talking nonsense to all the people I talk nonsense to....descisions, descisions...!

Peter - when are you going to open up Gail's Pub again? This Ocean Spray Orange and Cranberry is not a patch on a Tequila Shandy!

Have you bought 'House of Leaves' or borrowed it from someone? It sounds quirky what put you onto it, have you read any of his other books?

All I can say is 'Underworld' on audio is easier to take than in book form as can go from tape to tape indiscriminately without feeling too lost as it is made up of different stories anyway. This explains my having a tape in bedroom, one in kitchen and one in bathroom (there are 6 tapes and this is abridged). No 1 has said in the past he would be willing to have a probe inserted into his brain to have direct contact with cyberworld, I often think I would be OK with something that linked me up with Radio 4/tapes etc instead of having to have radio in each room (I can't get on with Walkmans as don't like things in my ears).

'Cooking with Elvis' - well they said it was of an adult nature (I'm buying tickets for No2 and his girlfriend for next Saturday if not booked-up) it was but not anything we haven't heard/said/done to each other in our own homes. I suppose that's the key - in privacy of own home - it was very funny with plenty of earthy language but the plot was not as I had envisaged. The father is completely out-of-it (except when he gets up dressed like Elvis and sings at the unlikeliest of moments - it's a hoot) but he does have erections. The daughter does all the cooking and the mother has a live-in sex partner. This guy (he's excellent) 'sees to' the mother, daughter and gives the father 'hand-relief' and spends most of his time on stage in underpants and socks only. It was a full house and only one couple walked out the rest of us had a good time.

We're booking for 'Hair' next you may have seen that yourself years ago if not I'm sure you know the songs from the show.

Hope you are headache free today.

Saturday was pretty good for an oldie like myself.

Had my hair trimmed and blow-dried at the local salon, chatted about 'The Salon' on TV, my hairdresser thinks it's funny but not very true-to-life eg, can't go and 'borrow' a stylist from another salon just like that.

Went to see a play in the evening, I've given Peter a summary. The wife was very good, I wasn't shocked by the language as I have 2 sons and can verbalise myself if/when necessary. I'm an Elvis fan so I appreciated the music and the impersonator had a good voice and all the gyrations to go with it (it was all lovely and tongue-in-cheek).

Agree with you that it might be time for Peter to open up again soon. JB, Istvn and Doc could probably do with a stiff one as Mr Carey seemed to upset them before he left the MB didn't he?

Have a good Sunday