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

Well, he never actually worked in the same team as me, working in a different department, so though we'd e-mail every day he wouldn’t actually have seen me that often. But one of the joys of being quiet, reasonably average height and weight with nondescript brown hair and brown eyes and no distinctive features is that it does mean I'm very easily forgettable. It's happened before when I saw someone I'd worked with a month after she'd left for one of our colleagues birthday meals and she'd forgotten me.

I don't think Southwestern Railways are on strike this weekend, but keep an eye on all the websites. parkrun's cancelled again but I won't have time to go anyway far. The last couple of weeks I haven't had time enough to go and do some tourism somewhere new like Bournemouth, Poole, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Woking or Reading, and I want to try and get up to 50 different parkruns by the end of the year (I'm on 43).

I'm still under pressure to attend Sunday's rehearsal – and my son may want to come along to the exhibition, I'm not sure yet. I hope to get a ride on the there, but I'm not sure how long I'll be able to stay, especially if my son's there and not necessarily interested in patiently waiting.

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Ah, yes more e-mail than face to face contact does make it more difficult to recognise people... My wheelchair is recognisable but people occasionally confuse it and hence me with other wheelchair users

Sorry your Sunday is under pressure - keep in touch and we will see what we can do - I could get there earlier and we could walk round together if that would work better for you.

The tea arrived and was nearly nearly but not quite entirely unlike tea as they put the milk in 10 seconds after the hot water but I managed to get something out of the teabag so it wasn’t the worst I’ve had on a train

How is it going now? Today I've been creating the 2020/21 academic year, which is quite rewarding. Especially as I get to decide which course instances aren't needed next year, so it is a bit of tidying as well as preparation for next year. Normally this would be done early December but Curriculum Review has been a nightmare, especially as course teams haven't decided what they'll be doing next year yet anyway and keep changing their minds.

What time were you expecting to arrive at the railway exhibition on Sunday? I was hoping to be on the 9:30am bus which will get there by 10am, which is when it opens. It means it shouldn't be too busy then, but are you planning on arriving later and staying on after I've gone?

I hope you've managed to have something more substantial than a weak on your journey!

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I’m in the hotel now, so that’s good - the WiFi router on the second train was broken, and I didn’t risk a good cup of tea with separate milk because they have taken away all the tables but I did have snacks. I have a proper brewing now and I’m back online

Glad you have been tidying so the work is rewarding - good luck with it all.

I see there is a 9.30 bus from the train station so I can try for that, and there is a 9.50 as well - that’s good to know the exhibition is quieter then.

It was great to meet you this morning - excellent to go round the exhibition together and I look forward to seeing how our photos compare

I hope you had a good afternoon - I did, because there was a bus at 55 minutes past the hour, so I got back to town no problem. I went to the Swan Centre for dinner and that was very good, although I got drenched on the way there. Luckily my shoes didn’t get too wet and my clothes dried quite quickly so it was ok I hope you managed to avoid the rain.

I hope the hotel had a good and indeed breakfast.
I took about 200 photos and will put a selection online at some point, I'll be giving them a little tweak first. I may even finish uploading the photos from 2019 at some point, as well as a few from this year including my birthday surprise on Saturday, which was a forest trip riding/driving a Segway, which was good fun. Definitely easier to control than a hovercraft, but I still prefer my bike. Segways have the advantage in that they have a zero turning circle and can go backwards, but my bike can go much faster, having no suspension you feel more in contact with the terrain and – crucially – you can move your feet so they don't get so cold when you're riding in January. The Segway involved standing in one position and keeping still except for leaning forward or back, so you can't keep as warm as you do when cycling which is most noticeable on your feet which stay put.

I'm glad you got to enjoy a warm dinner and weren't too soaked – I did get a bit damp waiting for a lift back home after the rehearsal. Sadly the rehearsals are a tad out-of-the-way, which isn't helped by my bike being out of action at the moment. I've not been able to get it fixed this nammettime, alas…

Hope you have a good journey back, and I'm already looking forward to see you next time.

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The trains have been on time so far, but the second one was a fridge and there were no tables again so no chance for tea... I’m hoping the tea will arrive on this train soon...

The hotel had delicious i made in the room, and the breakfast wot I brought with me was ok. Second breakfast was better, and third breakfast (my bag is a lot lighter now!), and I’ve just had first lunch and I’ll have second lunch with a cup of tea, with a bit of luck...

That was a fun surprise for you - an interesting experience to compare the Segway with the bike and hovercraft. Someone once designed a wheelchair incorporating Segway technology and put the design on the internet, but to me with absolutely no balance it is not something I can contemplate, zero turning circle or otherwise

Sorry your bike is still out of action . Good luck with that...

‘I’m already looking forward to see you next time”

Excellent - I’m looking forward to seeing you again next time, too. Really good to catch up.

I saw in the news recently something that looked like a Segway wheelchair – hang on…
Ah yes, here it is: http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/01/segway-makes-a-self-balancing-pushchair-for-adults/ Looks snazzy but not really something I'd want to rely on as a day-to-day replacement for a mobility scooter or wheelchair, though. Or even reply on, which is what I inadvertently typed the first time.

The hovercraft was an interesting experience to pilot as it had a habit of going sideways when I was trying to go forward and was a very physical experience, I really felt I had to fight it all the way. So the complete opposite of the Segway. I don't remember feeling cold when piloting the hovercraft, which I did around this time of year a few years ago, so sometimes there is something to be said for physical exertion. It keeps you warm. Mind you, as you're only allowed to ride Segways and hovercraft on private land with permission from the landowner it is all a bit academic.

I hope you're wrapped up warm and get to have a decent . I assume you didn't buy that model railway layout after I'd gone and packed it beneath your chair to carry on the train…?

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Ah, that is interesting about the Segway chair - not the one I saw, but still not something I’d want to rely on, as you say... Interesting about how you had to wrestle the hovercraft into position - warm work indeed...

Yes, I got the tea and am now warm The tea came with separate milk, but the water wasn’t boiling so it was still an effort to brew, but it was much needed. My bread roll wasn’t very nice - seems it picked up some burned dough when it was baked so it had strange lumps in it , but I had some afterwards and they were up to standard

Sadly I didn’t get the model railway even though it was very tempting

Did you arrive home on time? And how far do you live from the station? I hope you've had a chance to enjoy a nice, hot cup of today made just the way you like it.

I appear to be having one of those weeks. Today I caught the -replacement train service to Southampton, and it is nice and sunny this morning. So after getting off the train and leaving the station I thought I'd put my shades on , only for the lens on the left to fall out. I looked on the pavement but the little screw could not be found.

I went to puppet club yesterday for the first time this year – it seems like ages since I last did any puppeting. Or pupating as the spellchecker is obsessed with…

Can I ask you something? Do you ever watch a fictional character on screen, whether in a film or in television, and feel that they either represent you or are meant to represent somehow? I don't think I ever have and don't really understand the mindset that would assume that they do. If I saw a brown-haired brown-eyed male character of about my age, height and weight I don’t think I'd relate to him any more or less than any other character on the screen. I'd think 'that's a fictional character, I'm a unique individual, there's no conceivable correlation.' If that fictional character was, say, a murderer in the drama in which they appear I wouldn't think, 'Why are people like me being portrayed as a murderer?' Yet apparently people do identify with fictional characters. Am I missing something?

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I mentioned that my bike broke and so I'm on the train today...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-51282927

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Oh no, that was bad news about the train delays, and your glasses - I hope you managed to get home without too much trouble...

Yes, my journey home was smooth, so that was good. I don't live too far away from the station, so I was home by 5pm

I was back to work with a vengeance today, but it was productive... Lunchtime was an illusion, but I had enjoyable meetings with colleagues, so it was worth the effort even though it was tiring. I didn't get a proper cup of either, what with all the rushing round, but never mind - I had a hot chocolate this evening to make up for it

I enjoyed seeing the little video of the puppet club your wife put on - glad you enjoyed pupating puppeting again

"Can I ask you something?"

Yes - that's a good question... I think I understand what you're asking, and I think that the answer is a yes I do have some affinity to some fictional characters - representation of disabled people, for example, is important because people can recognise something of themselves in them (although not totally, as everyone is individual as you say).

It is a trope in film and TV that disabled people are either or more often than they are regular characters (although that is improving these days), so while I admire eg the Daleks and their homeworld with ramps everywhere, I am not tempted to emulate 'exterminate' On the other hand, I had to stop watching Big Bang Theory when Sheldon's storyline became too stereotypically heterosexual because I felt he/me could/should have been portrayed with more 'creativity' than that (for want of a better word).

I also had an interesting experience with The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin - I watched the first episode the other day, on the recommendation of a colleague, as we had a discussion about how it 'spoke to' people in the 1970s so a number of people 'did a Reggie'. I couldn't identify with him in that way, but it was fascinating seeing how he sort of became mad because he started to notice how strange 'normality' was... I have to be careful not to look too deeply into the Total Perspective Vortex myself... I have to watch out for my inner voice, too, as it quite often says unhelpful things but I'm that you kindly gave me some helpful things to say in response (eg that oggies and their ilk don't make bad things happen, and reading in bed is a good thing to do rather than mooching around). Thank you I lost weight over Christmas, so I need to take my own medicine and my little holiday helped me to again, as well as learning new independence skills and have fun with friends

And there you have it...

A proper cup of was my priority this morning, so that started the day much better

I hope you have a better day too

I got my bike back yesterday! Did I say that of the three bike shops in the 'local' area (well, one in Southampton, one's in Shirley and one's in Bitterne), only the Cycle Republic (Halfords in disguise) in Southampton is open on Mondays? I went there on Monday to ask about a replacement seatpost to attach my saddle to, and they said it'd cost me £40 just to buy! So I said I thought that was a tad steep and yesterday left work early and dashed to Shirley and the Hub Cycleworks where I bought one and had it fitted to my saddle and bike for a tenner. So I'm back on my wheels once more, hurray! Still have to get a new screw for my shades, though. That's on tomorrow's to-do list.

I saw that you've put some photos of the exhibition online, so I'll see if I can look at them after work tonight

I must admit I haven't watched many episodes of 'The Big Bang Theory', though I do know who the characters are, and I haven't seen any of the original Reginald Perrin, so I don't know the characters in that.

I must admit I was asking in general as I am trying to understand the criticism levelled against one of the films I'm reviewing at the moment, and to be honest I don't. Mind you, I don't understand the appeal of watching either, so I'm not claiming that my understanding is required for legitimacy, but it is difficult to describe something as being valid criticism if it doesn't make sense and the plot of the film contradicts the point being made. Yet if it isn't a unique criticism then it must have a form of validity. The only way I can think of understanding it is if viewers identify with the main character and feel personally that they themselves are going through the events on the screen and so take plot developments personally. Then it makes a sort of sense, though I still don't really get it. Oh well, variety is the spice of life.

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And yes - I have !

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On Monday I put a notice up on Solent Uni's website advertising some DVDs for sale, and just got the following e-mail reply:
"I'm sorry to start on a negative point, but I am not contacting you to buy any of your wife or children's DVDs. I have enough of those at home already. But, I love your way with words and wondered if you were aware that Solent University has a creative writing group?"

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That's great news about your bike - certainly pays to shop around, though! Good luck with fixing your shades

Glad you found my photos

Impressive that your writing skill was recognised via your advert and attracted an advert in response! I presume the creative writing group is a bit like Peer Review or the Alternative Writing Workshop - are you considering joining, or would you counter the advert advert with an advert advert advert for h2g2 instead?

Were you asking the question in relation to 'Chasing Amy'? I managed to have a quick look at that and can understand some things about it from other things I've seen. Erasure of bisexual people is an issue - as you say it is easy for some people to think that sexuality is binary gay/straight if that is how they experience the world. If a fictional character is defined as being lesbian, but acts in a way that some people might describe as bisexual, then their actions could be criticised by some people who identify as lesbian as not being a realistic portrayal of lesbians (noting that that doesn't take into account the fact that identity is personal, so a person may use a personal definition of a word, such as how bisexual can mean 'attracted to men and women', or 'attracted to people of same/different gender', and someone who is attracted to men and women but is attracted to more women than men might identify as lesbian, but a film might portray more of a stereotype than subtlety). Not sure if that helps at all, but see what you think - 'variety is the spice of life' indeed

The basic plot of Reginald Perrin is that he realises how strange 'normality' is and can't cope, so he pretends to have committed suicide by leaving his clothes on a beach as if he had drowned in the sea. He goes to live a different life, searching for meaning. In the 1970s several people disappeared after the programme was broadcast. In the first episode, we just see him start to go 'mad' as if he is slipping into the Total Perspective Vortex, and he screams at the end of the episode - chilling horror comedy...

It was great news about my bike – until the chain snapped this morning… I hadn't gone far so took the bike to the station, where I left it as there are no trains until next week. I spent quite a while waiting for a rail replacement and when it eventually turned up they said there was no room on it. I eventually managed to sit on the third that came.

I'll copy my DVD advert to you – though, as I ran out of room in the ad I posted two replies to add more detail. Unfortunately I made a regrettable typo in the first reply, you see, so I had to reply to the reply to apologise for the typo as it can't be edited. The advert said:

So my wife said to me 'we have a lot of DVDs (which is true), don't you think we should get rid of some?' (which I don't think at all). After explaining that the fundamental point of a collection is that you Collect - never Subtract – and that it would be pointless if any of my DVDs were to be sold as I would be forced to go out and buy them back to restore the collection, we mutually agreed that some of her DVDs could be sold and, furthermore, some of the children's too.

So we are prepared to sell some DVDs to a good home – by which I obviously mean one that would never use an apostrophe in the sentence DVDs for Sale. DVDs my wife is selling include the Complete French & Saunders (I bought her that!) and also the definitive 'Pride and Prejudice' adaptation, you know, the 1995 one which has resulted in so many 25-year-old boys now being named Darcy Bussell…

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Posted on 27/01/2020 16:12:58 in the General category

They don't give you a lot of room to type your notice, now, do they? I didn't even get a chance to write about the children's DVDs for sale. Which include 'Jake and the Neverland Pirates', 'Sofia the First' and 'Winnie the Pooh' (television series).

And 'SuperTed'. Ah, I have such fond memories of watching 'SuperTed' as a child, but when I introduced it to the children I was shocked by how dated the stereotyped characters are. Still, who doesn't want a teddy bear with a treehouse and space station and a spotty astronaut friend?

I really hope we're selling of 'Peppa Pig' too. I hate that theme tune, you know.

Posted on 27/01/2020 17:01:39 in the General category

To clarify, I hope we are selling off 'Peppa Pig' or indeed getting rid of 'Peppa Pig', but not 'selling of' [sic] 'Peppa Pig'. I sincerely regret my earlier inadvertent typo and apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused you.


I commented on some of the photos yesterday, but as I spent last night ironing I didn't get a chance to finish sorting out the photos I took. I watched 'Your Name' (2016) when ironing, which I'd certainly recommend.

The Creative Writing Group, I was told, meets one nammet time a week to discuss writing and set challenges along the lines of 'write about topic X'. I went once a couple of years ago and there wasn't a topic X set and instead two of the people there argued over whether or not was masculine or feminine. In any case, that would clash with running and Board Game Clubs – yesterday I played 'Dixit' and nammet time today I went for a run around Southampton Common. There isn’t time for more clubs unless I stopped doing work, which I wouldn't object to.

Ah - that would explain the nude Douglas Adams on the beach in the television adaptation of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' television adaptation.

It was indeed 'Chasing Amy' I was thinking of the context to, and thanks for your comments, which do indeed help. I want to come across as balanced and fair, yet at the same time I don't believe that 'Chasing Amy' is saying that all lesbians are looking for the right man any more than that rom com about the groom who falls in love with the stripper at his stag do is saying that all engaged men need to marry the stripper at their stag do and not their fiancée. That said, there is a difference between logic and emotion, and logic does not disprove or invalidate the existence of the latter.
So this is a superficially logical argument: I could argue that Banky is portrayed as a straight man but is later revealed to be in a relationship with a man whereas Alyssa is portrayed as a gay woman but is later revealed to be in a relationship with a man. If 'Chasing Amy' says that all gay women need to find the right man than therefore it must also be equally saying all men also need to find the right man. If it is offensive to gay women for a gay woman to be portrayed as changing her sexuality then it must also be equally offensive to straight men for a straight man to be portrayed as changing his sexuality.
Would you agree that the above is complete and utter meaningless logical nonsense?

So I've come to the conclusion that the best review on the issue of sexuality for 'Chasing Amy' would probably be: 'Good effort – obviously tried hard but basic errors made. 7/10, see me.'
The worst review of the film would be something along the lines of 'THIS FILM IS EVIL! HOW DARE IT BE MADE! IT IS WRONG! IT IS OFFENSIVE TO THE GAY COMMUNITY'. If a film attracts too much opposition, the conservative film studios would simply use it as an excuse to put off making any films covering those themes in the near future. They don't need much encouragement to be put off covering those topics after all….

Sorry about that, I seem to have waffled on more than expected…

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Oh no, sorry to hear about your next bike problem... At this rate your bike will be like the proverbial Ship of Theseus - still your bike, but with none of the original parts... That's not good about the either - it says something that even you couldn't get on the first two, when you could choose any space, never mind wheelchair users who only have one space to choose from... Bad planning on their part... I hope the journey home was smoother, and I hope the journeys are better for you today

Ah, the advert is definitely eye-catching! 700 characters isn't much for one message... Even my book club advert wouldn't fit into that... That was bad luck about the typo, given that a good home is 'one that would never use an apostrophe in the sentence DVDs for Sale' indeed Glad you are managing to preserve your collections - I sympathise in that regard...

Interesting about how you found SuperTed has dated - I have one DVD that I bought from a charity shop a while ago, but haven't watched it yet. I have fond memories of SuperTed, too, especially the episode where a magician cut Spotty in half and left him for dead - quite the thriller...

Ah, I vaguely recall you mentioning the Creative Writing Group meeting was a disappointment the other year. The advert advert advert it is, then Board game club and running club are much more nourishing for a nammet time, to give you a break from work, given that you sadly can't do clubs instead of work.

"Ah - that would explain the nude Douglas Adams on the beach in the television adaptation of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' television adaptation." - Yes indeed

No need to apologise for waffling on - it was my turn on Tuesday, so that's fair. I will have to look at the other paragraphs later, though, so I can ponder them properly

I hope you have a good weekend. I think it might be the delicious charity lunch here tomorrow, so that will be good, and I'll hopefully get to see some wildlife in between doing probate paperwork