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

Hi H,

UP THE HAMMERS! (We woz lucky, from wot I saw in the highlights!) Great news tho' - glad it proved fortuitous for your lot as well.

Spot on with L.R. by the way - I really will have to give you a prize now, won't I? Although contributing very little on WoM, (observed yours earlier though - I could learn a few things from you there and not about Ms.s!) - I'm certainly not going to stir anything up again, even though it's still rumbling away. Dorinelle is probably FURIOUS with me, judging by her timely comments on the whole debacle .... especially with the Alan Seago connection ... ho hum .

THANKS MJ for the Easter greeting - made my eyes go funny ... chicks doin' Busby Berkeley tricks (it's late - that's my excuse!). No, I haven't been on the vino ... or the vodka ... or the Vichy water.

Love
Mimi

Posted: Sunday 08 April 2007 00:20:28

I heard the first half of AC but I zzzd later on - doesn't mean it wasn't captivating of course, I sometimes drop off in the middle of the most wonderful music.

Good evening All,

Yes, my daughter and grand-daughters all went to Oxford as did several of their friends whom we met up with at Putney.

I forgot to mention that we also had Allegri's 'Miserere' and some Anglican chant by Bairstow on Friday.


The cathedral was packed today. The sermon sounded good as I listened to it but I'm afraid I couldn't remember any of it afterwards. I enjoyed the Mozart though the Kyrie and Credo were omitted.

D

Good evening all

Hi Andy; we haven’t heard from you for a while. Are you still active on the rival R3 boards? I’ve looked in there a few times and they look very good. I’m not usually very active on the R3 boards outside the Proms season, though. I wonder if there’ll be a head to head between the two boards then as the BBC has promised their own dedicated board will be back for the Proms.

<< my brother's house is an opera-free zone>>

What a mean brother you have, MJ. My siblings will let me listen to R3 when I’m their guest, though I’d probably be too polite to ask unless the programme was unmissable. For my part I keep recordings of the latest popular music – Connie Francis, Buddy Holly and the Crickets etc – in case they want to listen to it when visiting me.

I see BBC7 is broadcasting a four-part reading of Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’. I was interrupted during the 1830 broadcast but I’m going to make sure I catch the repeat at 0030.

WoM is a bit more civil today, Mimi. Jean has even tolerated the presence of sim & jerri without having a dig (so far). Maybe recent events have shown her how mild they are compared to some real trouble makers.

bye for now

H

Good evening Douglas

<>

well I hope you didn't gloat too much!

<>

Stolen from the Vatican, I believe, by Herr M.

Any more treats planned before you head back north?

Hello again, H.

I didn't dare gloat. At the first hint of it, my grand-daughter said "Remember where you are staying or I'll have the keys back".

I'm not sure what we will be doing tomorrow but I am thinking of HMS Belfast on Tuesday. That would complete all branches of the Imperial War Museum. IWM North was a disappointment but I have enjojed the others, Cabinet War Rooms, Duxford and the main site.

D.

Good evening all

It's gone very quiet here recently. Here's a Babel Fish beauty for you Douglas. The original is in the online Gazzetta dello Sport. Even if you have no interest in football you will, as a resident of Manchester, know what this is about:

MILAN, 10 you open them 2007 - the tremendous defeat of the Rome to Manchester for 7-1, beyond to the elimination from the quarters, marks for the giallorossi a record negative: never no Italian square had endured heavy liabilities therefore to the quarters of Champions League or Goblet Champions. The k.o. in harder absolute in the history of the Champions it is that one endured from the Juventus in the ' 58, 7-0 in house of the Wiener; but the entire panorama of the continental competitions was be a matter of first turn considering. In the september of 1974, the Milan endured a 6-0 from the Ajax, in European Supercoppa. In it classifies of passes to you more consisting, are also Inter-Arsenal 1-5 of November 2003, fifth turn of the girone of Champions League; the 6-0 of the Samp in house of the Hungarians of the Ferencvaros in Goblet of the Fairs; the 6-0 of the Lens on the Lazio in the third turn of the Goblet Uefa ' 77-' 78. Until this evening, the defeat with greater number of goals endured from the Rome in Europe was Carl Zeiss Jena-Rome 4-0, 10 October 1980 in Goblet of the Goblets.

Just about sums it up!

bye for now

H

Hi H,
Loved that last message!
Sorry I haven't been here much recently - been taking advantage of beautiful weather ... not much of the holiday left now! At least all the birthdays are over and done with and also I have a progress report on family matters. M went off to Cyprus for a week yesterday - she sent cards to A and daughter, included a letter to me which was quite nice, said we had slightly different recollections of the last phone conversation but also made concessions for the fact that there were some things I was unaware of. Well, that's a relief ... I'm sure she could have told me that before now but never mind!!
I've also been quite busy on WoM, as you may have seen - even making friends with nay-missus ... well, well, well .... .

'Bye for now,
Love,
Mimi
xxxx

Good evening all

It's good to hear things are improving between you and your sister, Mimi. Is there any better news of your mum? Our local kids are back at school on Monday. Are you and MJ back then too?

I'm just putting the TV on now to see if Spurs can add to the tally of English clubs in the later stages of European competition. I'm glad you liked the Babel Fish piece. I particularly liked '7-0 in the house of the Wiener'; sounds like a hot-dog eating competition.

I was talking to a colleague earlier and she said she had an opportunity to buy a new flat in Radcliffe, on the canal. I wonder if MJ or Douglas knows anything about the area. I lived in Manchester twenty or so years ago but the name Radcliffe just suggests infirmary to my mind. Is it a gentrified area? New builds on the canal usually suggests warehouse conversions and gentrification. If either of you knows the area could you give me a general opinion.

Oh dear..disastrous start for Spurs.

back later

H

Good evening, All.

I'm back home again now.
I don't know much about Radcliffe, since 1974 a part of Bury MBC, as it is on the other side of the conurbation and I never pass through it.
c 1950, it was described to me as 'a dirty little hole in the middle of Lancashire'. I don't know if it has gone up-market since then but it had a long way to go.
According to this site, http://www.radcliffe.info/aboutradcliffe.html , it has succeeded but they would say that wouldn't they.

Welcome back Douglas. I hope the rest of your stay was as enjoyable as the first few days. Thank you for the link. I've seen a few things online but, as you observe, those charged with disseminating information about an area are not the best source of information about possible drawbacks.

Pity about Spurs, Mimi. At least they didn't lay down and die like Roma and PSV. That performance last night was inexplicable. How can a team go into the second leg three goals behind and play a defensive game? My Dutch colleague told me there's an interview with Koeman in the Dutch press where he says that apart from losing and being eliminated it was a good result!

goodnight all

H

Good night, All.

I forgot to say, H, how much I enjoyed the babelfish. Though my Italian is almost non-existentI think I would probably fare better with the original.

D

Hi H et al,

Back to school tomorrow - another holiday has flown past, am not mentally in gear at all yet!

Should be drowning my sorrows over West 'am, I think!

Sorry I haven't been visiting here much recently - have got a bit caught up with other things.

Don't forget tomorrow is supposed to be my big night (am really intrigued to find out who else is on!)

Love
Mimi
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (to make up for lost time)

PS Have also found sending messages very s-l-o-w since acquiring a wireless keyboard and mouse - might have to switch back to old-fangled type because my computer sits directly above the router for broadband and I think that's what is causing the problems. So much for modern technology, eh?

Good evening all

I'll be sure to catch your contribution tomorrow, Mimi, even though I'm up very early on Tuesday. In fact I won't be able to listen to Tuesday's repeat as I'll be away. There's always 'listen again', though, so we don't have to worry too much about missing a programme these days. I believe the other people on the programme are taffy8, aletheia and marchesa rosa - or have I got that wrong?

Pity about the Hammers yesterday but it's not over yet, is it? I believe Everton did you a favour today. Did you see the new Harry Enfield/Paul Whitehouse programme the other night? I wonder who's the model for the character of football manager Jose Arogantio.

I'll be around tomorrow if anyone else is. Then I'm in London for a couple of days so you probably won't hear from me until Wednesday or Thursday.

bye for now

H

Hi Mimi,

I seldom put messages here (as you will of course realise) but just thought I'd let you know how pleased I was to see that you are to be a "guest of honour" on Michael Rosen's excellent programme tonight - I've set my alarms for both the 'original' and the repeat. It was one of MR's postings that originally drew me into all this and, I believe in common with MJ, I was honoured to receive inputs from him to my first thread (still running - to my astonishment!).

I assume you're back at school today; I hope it isn't too traumatic now you've 'graduated'

I noticed you mentioned somewhere that your next step might be GCSE. There seemed to be some trepidation? Take courage from the example of a friend of mine, who left school with no qualifications whatever. He later realised that it might have been better had he obtained some before leaving school, so studied in his spare time. I'll tell you more another time if you're interested but the ultimate reward for his efforts was/is a Doctorate from L U !

I'm not saying you have to follow in his - unless you want to, of course

Enough of my waffle. I'll dash off now - - caffeine fix needed

All the best

Bxxxx

Hello H,

You don't have to stay up late just for me - I won't be checking!! I'm feeling nervous now, though - I'm sure I will be on as the producer seemed quite definite about it. I was hoping Malagrowther may be on tonight's show as well - I think it would be quite fitting if we were on the same programme! (I did have a chuckle at your joke about other contributors!)

My son seems pretty convinced that West Ham are going down - or perhaps he's being ultra pessimistic to soften the blow if they do! I did see the new HarryEnfield/PaulWhitehouse show and was very disappointed - actually, the Jose Arogantio sketch was one of the few to make me laugh at all!!

Have a good time in London if I don't 'speak' to you before you go.

Love
Mimi

Hi again, Mimi.

From my last message : <<(still running - to my astonishment!).>>

Not any more, it ain't!!

The phrases, "spoke too soon," "Tempting providence" and "getting one's come-uppence" spring to mind. Or was it, perhaps, because I had the temerity to treat 'Kassandra' with dignity and respect (deserved or otherwise - "It takes all sorts" may not strictly be a proverb - old or new - but it's worth remembering).

Anyhow, looking on the bright side - I always do - I can always start another. I am grateful to Anna for letting that one run so long; who knows? She might look kindly upon the next one, too. Can't expect too much, though - her gong would rust away if she never exercised it.

Gotta go and prune the apple tree now if aching joints from yesterday will permit - I'm reliably informed (By Mrs P, no less) that it should have already been done ( make what you will of that bit of grammar! )

First day back nearly over now - how was it for you? (or should I rephrase that? )

Till 11, then.

Bxxxx

Just a quick one, Mr. P.
I am reliably informed that apple trees should be pruned on Boxing Day.
Why not wait until next Boxing Day ? What's what I always do, wait until the next and the next and .....
D

Hello Mr-p,

How LOVELY to see you here - you are welcome any time - I can say that even though this thread is on HtoHe's page, I know he would say the same.

I was sorry to see that Anna closed your record-breaking thread, I think Kassandra strayed a bit too far off topic - but now I see Douglas has started a continuation thread so maybe this one will run and run .......
You definitely broke the record (several times over) for the largest no. of contributions to a thread on the board as it is now, so many congratulations.

First day back at school was great - I am just about to go to my second job, which is helping out my daughter's dance teacher but it's only one lesson today so not too taxing! (I don't teach the dancing, in case you're wondering, though I can still do ballet and tap if I feel so inclined! - it's an admin job, taking fees, ordering uniforms, answering queries from parents etc.)

I mentioned about possibly doing GCSE Maths because, even though I am sufficiently qualified now to do training for Higher Level Teaching Assistant (that means I could be put in charge of a class from time to time) I did find the recent course really enjoyable and it's the next qualification up. For someone who was often heard to say "I'm useless at maths", it was a revelation. My son will be doing his GCSE Maths next year and I thought it might be good for him if I did it at the same time - then, afterwards, I thought it might not be such a good idea if I got a better grade than him! Actually, he's doing quite well even though he is in one of the lower sets, but he has a fantastic teacher who understands him really well.

Sorry, have to dash now - hope to see you back here soon - I'm going to add you to my 'Friends' list right now!

Love
Mimi
xxxx

We've not heard from MJ for a while.
I just want to let her and the rest of you know that there is a blackbird singing again on the same branch where one sang so much last year. I hope it is the same one as I was beginning to think we had lost him. He is just a few yards from my window as I sit at my computer.
D