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

5 Sept.L. Len,thanks again for your answer.I wished Rob would be able to come to the US,but it seems unlikely.
I think I should call a very good bookstore here about your book:"The other side of Tenko".or the Library for info?
I don't know the exchange rate of Pounds to the Dollar and I would not want you to pay for sending it.If possible I would like to buy that book from you. I'm sure the postal rates in the UK. are not cheap as they are high here too. Maybe we should wait till Rob comes back? She always has lots of solutions to problems.
We are all oudjes, but still being alive after the war is quite an acccomplishment.Especially after all the terrible experiences you had to endure.
"hersens byna kaput"but still remember dutch??Not much "kaput" in my book.
I did not like Florida at all, the country site is flat as a pancake; one has to travel far to find a mountain.And the climate is terrible!!
The NW ,where I live now, is beautifull. The climate more or less like Holland. We have moutains, lots of evergreens,plenty of flowers. i have all kind of" Pets" in my backyard:chipmunks, squirrels and lately baby possums. Also raccoons that can be rather destructive.
Ten horses can not drag me out of here.
So, I fimally found a place to spend the rest of my life.
I better let you go as I'm sure you have more important things to do than reading about where I live. Take care Len,liefs van J.

5/9 eleven o'clock Dutch time: What's all this about decript and kaput brains? Everyone sounds quite put together! Len, as long as you can remember loads of Dutch, with or without mistakes, you are still brilliant in my books. So no kicking own backsides here! Josephine, stop thinking me being a 'wunderkind', I am just an ordinary Dutch woman with a few ounces of common sense. Shall think about your postal problem when I am home. It'sabout time to go to bed and my brother-in-law needs to use the computer beforehe goes, so I will shut up.
Weather here is lovely, I am still sunburned from our trip o the water. I wonder where my father's ashes have ended up and the flowers we send after. I think he sak pretty quickly, but the flowers may end up in the Ijsselmeer,if not stopped in some crook ofthe river!
Slamat tidur to Josephine, and good night to Len - slaap lekker to both of you
Speak to you soon when I am back. Liefs, Rob

Dear J.& Rob,
As "Kept-The Other side of Tenko" has been out of print for about 15 years it's very unlikely any new book store will still have copies. The best bet is for a firm that deals in second-hand books. A very good one I've found, is <[email protected] , they have contacts in The States and Canada as well as here. I forget how much the last books I sent to The States was, but they went @ Printed Paper Rate, which wasn't all that expensive, so do a double check before ordering. The ISBM No of the book is 0 86332 031 7, first published in 1984. It was also available, unillustrated, in paper back and Large Print.
Goeden Jachting Len

p.s 'Slamat Tidur' Rob, I don't know, but my guess it's Malay for 'Sleep Tight'.Didn't heat much of it as prisoners, I only remember a few Malay words, like Sambal Kachang, Khali, Banyak,Tarang Bulang, Padang, etc.
Zee-reis veilig terug Len

6 Sept. L. Len,What did I tell you??"Hersens Kaput"?-not in my book,the way you still remember dutch! I am glad that Rob backs me up.And now you come up with words in 'maleis"and good ones too as :kali,banjak .terang bulang-moonlight?-How come you remember Padang?Were you there as well?My husband was stationed there when he was fighting the Peloppors i.e, Sukarno's henchmen,the communist gang.He flew a Pipercub looking for bombs on a cable,the same trick that is being used in Irak.
Slamat Tidur is indeed :Good night/sleep tight.I told you you had a gift for languages:As different as dutch and maleis are it is amazing you remember the words and know how to use them too.
Thanks for the info about your book. I have to find out where a good second hand bookstore is.The library might be a good source or the internet.
Rob will be back on the 7 th.if I remember well.
Thanks for your mail.Living alone it is nice to hear from one's friends.
By the way,did you see your- double- photo on the Website where L. Spoors wrote his story? There are quite a few as a matter of fact.
Today is Laborday here,but every store is open,trying to lure people with extra bargains. I only went to the grocery store real early.I think we might get a spell of wet weather as my outside pets are eating a lot: good weatherforcasters, the are often right and the weather channel wrong.
Len, this is all for today.Thanks for your mail. Liefs van J.

Lieve J.,
Perhaps Singapore 'Maleis' waries slightly, as I thought a padang was an open field or space, park etc. I didn't know it was also the name of a place.
My brother Frank was in Malaya na het oorlog, routing out the communist gangs. He was in the jungle for about three years, even had boots and other supplies dropped from the air. We didn't hear from in all that time
and thought he was dead.
No time to write more - our 55th wedding anniversary tomorrow.
Liefs Len

9/9 Lieve Len, put your best bib and tucker on tomorrow (though you hate it) and take your wife out for a nice celebration!!! You can't expect her to cook for you that night.
I wish you both a lovely day and tell us all about it, well... maybe not everything!
As the Dutch would say: hartelijk gefeleciteerd met je vijfenvijftigste huwelijksviering!' Now say that quickly!
Give your wife my regards and a big for both of you and a whole bunch of . Liefs van Rob

10-9-04 6pm. Later than intended.
Len Baynes and his lady wife on their
Special Day. <>
I wish you both a lovely anniversary and hope you celebrated in style. Perhaps you had your family around you to share. Good luck in your future, you deserve it.
Best wishes
Elvira.

To you Len and your Lady Wife,
Best wishes to you and your wife on your 55th wedding aniversary.
I hope you see many more and they are all happy ones.
Regards Frank.

14 Sept. L.Len, Sorry I missed your anniversary day. i was minus my comp. for a few days.In this state- Wa. -we have very few thunderstorms in the western part at least. But when they do come I unplug my cp and my microwave.
So a very belated Happy Anniversary Len to you and your wife and many more.

I do not know if there is much diifference in Singapore Maleis or Passar maleis in Indonesia.
Padang is a city on the W.coast of Sumatra.
There is an island not far from the coast and it is said that one will come back to Padang if one visited that island called :"The Apenberg".(apen plural for monkey)
Your brother must have quite some stories to tell.
He is lucky to have made it home like you.
Till a next note?Liefs van J.

Thanks Rob, it's far easier to say "happy fiftieth anniversary - thank goodness.
Liefs Len

Thanks Elvira, yes our two daughters and husbands (son is away) took us out to dine at 'The Unicorn' in nearby Trumpington. We spent a lovely evening together.
Regards Len

Dear Frank,
I've only just discovered these congratulatory contributions (thanks to Rob), as they didn't appear on my web page (I wonder why), and I don't seem to be able to find them on BBC WW2 site.
Also, I don't remember broadcasting the fact of our anniversary, so am wondering how you all knew of it.
Anyway, my sincere thanks for your kind wishes.
Sincerely, Len

Lieve J,
Many thanks for your kind wishes. They were no more belated than the others, as I've only just found them on Rob's site; as you'll see from the above replies, for some strange reason they didn't appear on my own page.
Liefs Len

Dear All
Since finding your messages on Rob's page,I see they have now appeared on my own page.
The mills of the BBC grind slowly, and a most peculier way!
Allebeste Len

Lieve Len, you told us all about it in number 46 (just scroll back) Amazing what one unwittingly can reveal! Glad you found all the best wishes/ liefs, Rob