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

You'll have to let me know whether your Uni's systems and builders are as temperamental and unreliable as ours are. But you're right, an hour is an hour longer than nothing.

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See, told you I was less interesting in real life

Sorry that I only had an hour – the time went so fast I didn't even get a chance to say I like your gloves – hopefully get a chance to chat more another time. Have a good journey back.

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No problem - I think an hour is a good amount of time for a first meeting (as I'm not all that interesting myself) and looking forward to another chance to chat is good!

It was a good journey, thanks , and now I need to stop mooching round online and get some sleep

I'm glad we both enjoyed it – let me know if you're going to be in the Southampton area again as I'd enjoy another chat.

And you never know – I may even be at the forthcoming h2g2 mini-meet.

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I certainly do plan to be in the Southampton area again some time, as I had an excellent time on my holiday, but there's still plenty more sightseeing to do and great people to spend time with I intend to plan better next time (not least because it's cheaper that way) so I'll definitely let you know and we can organise another meeting

Given that my planning was rather last minute, I'm very pleased we managed to meet with no problem on the day And the conversation flowed very well as we each mixed suitable interjections with actual speaking, so that was great

"the time went so fast I didn't even get a chance to say I like your gloves"

Thank you I have a few different types of cycling gloves, but I find those to be the best - fit well, to give a good grip and also stop my hands from being chafed when I zoom down hills! I didn't get chance to mention that I watched Doctor Who on Saturday, and impressed my friends with the information about Strax and Vastra that I learned from your Entries

Definitely let me know when you plan to come down – I'd also like to know where you've visited when you've been here. I've not been to Fort Nelson for a few years, so will definitely have to go there again and see what's changed. (I once applied for a job there, but didn't get it)

I'm normally very quiet and guarded around people I've not met before but I think it felt almost like meeting an old friend I've not seen for a year or so. Strange at first, maybe, but more comfortable later.
I'm glad you enjoyed Doctor Who – I did, though I'd've liked a little bit more Strax, but he's someone who I imagine you'd quickly get fed up of in large doses, but works well in small quantities. I'll have to tweak the Doctor Who entries again to mention that they appeared in those episodes, but I think I'll wait until the series has ended and do it all in one go.

In other news – there's building work progress! We now have a working toilet!
It is on the 2nd floor (the lift still doesn't work) behind a door that they've covered in wet paint, and helpfully they've taken the metalwork off the door (the push thing and the handle the other side), intending to reattach them once the paint has dried, so you can't actually open the door, but I have been assured that if you were able to get in, the toilets would be working. I guess it connects to a different pipe than the others.

We've also had the fire alarm go off twice today, but it was so noisy it was quite difficult to hear.

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My trip was quite busy indeed - on the first day, I visited the Art Gallery in the morning, and Titchfield Haven in the afternoon, which was excellent as the weather was pleasant, and we had a great view across to the Isle of Wight. On the second day we went up to Winchester and visited the Science Museum, which was great fun! Monday was Fort Nelson in the rain. In between, I spent time on the outskirts of Warsash at my friends' house I enjoyed exploring the park on Tuesday for about an hour after you went back to work, too

The time before was a shorter visit, so Deb and I went to The Mayflower Theatre for a show and had a small family get together at the well known fish and chip shop (wherever that is!). The previous two times we went to the New Forest, so we saw Exbury Gardens, the Motor Museum, the New Forest Museum and the coast. I also attended Southampton University for a conference a few years ago and spent a day in the city centre, so I have seen quite a bit of the area, although there is plenty more I haven't seen

I know what you mean about meeting being strange but familiar - I was quite nervous, so my hands flapped around rather too much but i really enjoyed our conversation extending our chats in here just right

"In other news - there's building work progress!"

What a saga! So near and yet so far... I hope the situation is better tomorrow

I'm glad you got to see the Art Gallery – they have good exhibitions there. I often enjoy looking through. The Winchester Science Museum is also definitely a favourite - I may even write about it one day, there's so much to see and do and play with there as well as the planetarium. I'm also very fond of Exbury Gardens, especially the railway. I'm quite fond of miniature railways. And full-size ones. Not to mention model railways...

It's the weekend tomorrow and I had hoped it would be sunny and I could meet up with a friend outside Reading to take our families on a miniature railway there, but not sure with the weather at the moment.

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Yes, the Exbury railway was excellent and reminds me that I definitely need to visit Southampton again somewhen, as I didn't get chance to see our friend's model railway! I did pass on the link to your Project, though, for him to peruse at leisure

We had a fantastic time in the Science Centre - absolutely hilarious playing some of the games and not doing very well especially the wheelchair basketball (not my forté, as I was like a fish out of water in the weird sporty chair but it was an experience to try it...!)

How was the weather at the weekend? Here it looked as though it would be not so good, but turned out sunny and warm.

I hope your facilities at work are showing signs of improvement... Sorry to say I ed when I read your post about the working toilet being totally inaccessible by lift or stairs!

I have experienced the delights of such things myself - the hammers and drills are all present and correct, but luckily not very close to my office, so it's not too disturbing. The lift was out of order for a while, but it was luckily not a major problem, as there was a way round via ramps.

Apart from that, it has just been intense work so far learning the ropes...

So how is the new job going? Settling in? Learning what you are doing? Having to wear ear plugs? As long as the building work isn't too close, and if your Uni's like mine, they'll be hoping to finish before term starts so it should quieten down – let's hope the contractors don't trip over each other and set all the alarms off in their rush to get everything done

I'm sure you're picking up the ropes quickly - I've always found the most difficult bit remembering who is who and putting names to faces. I'm not very good at remembering names, I wish I was much better at it, but even when I try I struggle. I also can't recognise voices on phones either.

Good news – we finally had working toilets in our building yesterday!
(Technically the toilets were working last week, we just couldn't get to them. At the start of the week they'd locked off the corridor that leads to it for 'essential flooring services', which meant they were laying a new carpet. It's a nice shade of blue. Our carpet, the worn, stained one, hasn't been touched. The lift still is out of order, and I've not seen anyone work on it yet.

Let me know what your friend thinks of the model railway project – how serious a model railwayer is he? I'll have to go back to the Winchester Science Centre – it is good fun, and you can easily lose yourself just on one activity and miss out on so much more. And I've not seen all the planetarium films yet. If I lived closer I'd be tempted to join their astronomy society, but it isn't so easy to get to with a bike at night.

Yep, the weather at the weekend was good – on Saturday we met up with The Fish (u43536) - an old friend who joined h2g2 half an hour after I did, and we've been each other's best man – and his family at Wellington Country Park, a place between Reading and Basingstoke that I've never been to before. It has a miniature railway so we had to give it a try, as well as model dinosaurs and lots of animals, slides and things – the kids had a great time. On Sunday we went to the local paddling pool for one last time before they drain it when the children start school, and while the children were playing I ran around the park 4 times – I've signed up to do the Great South Run next month and so need to get fit.

I'm thinking of joining Eastleigh Running Club to get tips on how to prepare, and they meet on Thursday nights, so I'm feeling a bit nervous about going somewhere new.

This weekend I hope to see my nephew for what may be the last day trip of the year – do you have any plans?

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Hard work... The ropes are flailing round wildly at the moment, but I did actually achieve something today, even though it wasn't what I was expecting to do... There is an amount of remembering who is who, but I'm struggling most with working out what action to take when I know who I'm speaking to...

Yay for the toilets working and being able to be used! Tardis blue carpet - nice. The carpet in my office is similar colour, except for where it has worn away in the doorway (no stains, though, thankfully).

I don't think my friend is a very serious model railwayer (yet) as he's not long started with the kit he was given for his birthday, but I will ask how he's getting on with it and the Entries next time I hear from him

Another visit to the Science Centre would be good for me, too - we just about managed to look at everything, but more time investigating some of the activities, like the electronics kits, would be fun. Plus there wasn't a planetarium show on the day we went, so that would be well worth returning for

That's great that you made the most of the weekend I admire your running around the park... I'm getting fitter since this week by running up and down hills, but they're not too far in terms of distance. Joining a club is daunting - I nearly plucked up courage to join a society that meets on Thursday nights, but my e-mail bounced back and I haven't yet tried to send it again...

This weekend will be resting and quiet fun like h2g2 browsing for me after this week, I think I'm sure you'll enjoy your day trip

Today I'm feeling exhausted and very achy. Yesterday I made it to the running club without having had any dinner, found someone who looked like they knew where they were and what they were doing, and said I'd not been before and wanted to learn how to run 10 miles ready for the Great South Run. He said, 'Oh, you want the 10-in-10 group' and took me over to a man named Mel. After a brief, 'This is Matt, he's doing the Great South Run' we were off, and before I knew it I was doing a fast-paced 6-mile run just like that. The furthest I'd ever run before is 5k, which is 3 miles, so it was a bit of a shock to the system, but probably good training. If that's how they introduce beginners dipping their toes in the water, I dread to think what the experienced running's like.

What was the society you were hoping to join? I always worry that everyone knows each other at clubs and I'd feel like an odd one out, and as I'm not from the area where I live I tend not to know anyone.

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"If that's how they introduce beginners dipping their toes in the water, I dread to think what the experienced running's like."

Indeed Well done for completing that, and I'm not surprised you were exhausted the next day...

I'm still doing battle with new tasks at work, but I am at least winning at some of them, so I'm getting there... Today was exhausting as I had to attend a networking event, and all that extroverting really takes it out of me as an introvert Plus the building work noise level isn't too bad, luckily, but there are rather large dust clouds billowing through the corridors periodically this week...

It was a choir that I tried to join (not that I'm a good singer, but I enjoyed the few times I went to my partner's choir practice). I shall join the staff group for equality and diversity first, though, and probably think of joining the choir when I'm more settled in my job.

I'm so pleased you are able to attend the mini meet next week - I look forward to seeing you again, and I definitely owe you lunch Have you met MMF before?

Last week I did a 7-mile run and it was still affecting me this week, but fortunately yesterday's was a 5-mile run, so though I'm aching a little today, hopefully I'll be back to normal tomorrow.

Work's been very hectic this week with two big meetings, one on Tuesday and one in 42 minutes. We're deciding the students' results and ensuring all the rules and regulations have been applied – very complicated but rewarding. I do all the work, the academic members of staff pretend they know what the regulations are and nod along, the external examiners question everything and hopefully there'll be tea and biscuits a few hours later when it is over. Fortunately as I've put the paperwork together I don't have to do anything else – it is all projected on a screen for them to read from that. I wouldn't want to do too many networking events.

We still have building work, no lift at all now and no toilets on our floor still – but the International Students have arrived and are trying to enrol despite the chaos. We currently have a different strange, unidentifiable smell/fumes drifting into our office every day.

It's good to try and join what you can in a Uni (provided you still get some time to yourself if you want it). I've joined a choir, but they only do singing for 6 weeks then have a 6 week gap, then sing for 6 weeks. No-one knows why they can't do it year round – budget reasons, I suppose?

Owe me lunch? I thought all I did was buy a packet of biscuits and some . It would be good to catch up again, though. I have very briefly met MMF, but only in a 'hello' 'goodbye' sense as I wasn't able to stay long at the Manchester meet. I don't think we had a chance to chat as I spent time looking around the museum with Tufty and Dr Z. Have you?

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Wow, you are putting the distances in for your running... 5k parkruns must seem quick for you these days...

Ah, the joy of results meetings - I know it well...

Your building works are epic - they'll have to be giving you a few face masks soon, to go with the ear protectors

Yes, I definitely need some time to myself at lunchtimes and in the evenings - Monday is h2g2 Front Page, and other days are just good to get a break from the metaphorical conveyor belt of tasks... Staff Groups tend to meet in work time, which is not too bad (provided I am allowed to take the time away from my desk) but the choir would be in the evening. My partner's choir is restricted by funding, that is true, so six sessions per term is about the same there. It seems to work out quite well, though - just enough practice for their excellent end of year concert

I've not met MMF in person before, but I used to visit his Fairyland A87788470 garden when it was open

Yes lunch - I felt so guilty that I made you go out and buy food instead of having a pack lunch or whatever you normally do, and then you very kindly bought my as well... My turn to return the favour

I'm just subbing 20,000 Fathoms, so I'll be along in a bit with some questions for you to look at

I'm your Sub-editor for The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. The new version is A87837097 - please subscribe

I have just one question:

Just checking - "he filmed New York landmarks to use as still rear projections so that the cast did not have to fly to New York. He also hired a separate camera crew in New York to avoid the expense of flying anyone else over." - it sounds like he did camera work himself, but also hired camera crew as well, is that right?

Otherwise, I just tweaked a few little bits - I hope everything looks fine to you, but let me know if there is anything else you would like me to change.

With the 5k Parkruns – I used to be able to do 2 laps and be exhausted and out of breath by the 3rd. Nowadays I'm not out of breath or as exhausted by the third lap, but my leg really aches instead. So though I am getting quicker I'm not sure it is much of an improvement, as my leg hurts for a couple of days afterwards whereas it didn't take too long after I'd finished to recover my breath. Oh well – can't complain.

I wrote this week's Eastleigh Parkrun Run Report, which I'm quite pleased with:
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/eastleigh/news

The building work is still carrying on, despite it being Welcome Week for students. We still have a worn out carpet in our office and a heavily stained one in the corridor outside the toilets – but we might well have open toilets on our floor by the end of the week! We've had an e-mail about the lifts, which said, 'Lift should be back in operation for Tuesday, it's out of action today while a security system is being installed and then it will be for use by disabled staff/students only. Estates will impose a disabled only lock on it while a replacement is urgently investigated - more info to follow'

Our choir is an hour on Tuesday lunchtimes, but not this week alas. We've not had a concert – they did film us last Christmas, but no-one knows what happened to the footage. Let me know how you get on with your evening choir.

As for 'The Beast' you're right – Lourié did hire a camera crew but also, to keep costs down, did camera work himself. As he knew the tricks, he did some of it himself as that way he knew it would all match up and be successful.

The tweaks look good - The only other thing I’d consider changing is the sentence 'Yet soon other witnesses describe seeing sea monsters similar to his own experience' Is it unclear whose experience we're talking about? Perhaps we could change to 'Nesbett's experience'?

Let me know what you think, and how things are going

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That review is brilliant I particularly laughed at the tree roots, and the volunteer who raises the hill, and I know what you mean about the need for windscreen wipers for glasses... I like the way you included the bit about your work shoes, too

"Estates will impose a disabled only lock on it while a replacement is urgently investigated - more info to follow"

Sounds odd - do disabled people want to use the lift if a replacement is urgently needed?!

I still haven't organised joining the choir - I'll probably leave it until next year now, as I'm not keen on Christmas Carols, so I wouldn't enjoy rehearsing for the Christmas concert... I've joined the staff group, anyway, so that should be good.

My work situation is still much the same as last week - "I'm still doing battle with new tasks, but I am at least winning at some of them, so I'm getting there..." This week, the corridors have been full of the smell of fish glue, and there was a pipe leak, so I had to wade through a little pond for a couple of days as well...

I'm looking forward to the Meet

'The Beast': Thanks for confirming about the camera crew I've made a few more little tweaks as I read through, and that was an excellent point about that sentence - I stumbled over it on my first readthrough, but couldn't think how to change it, so it reads better now If you're happy with it too, I'll send the Entry on its way

It was excellent to see you again on Saturday! Great that we had chance for a catch up over lunch, too, before joining the Meet proper. It wouldn't have been half as good without your company while we were waiting - thanks for helping me by carrying the tray and fetching the Museum's silly attempt at cutlery, too.

I hope you enjoyed the Museum too - I lost the group at 3.15, but I particularly enjoyed our exploring the second floor all together, and didn't mind a bit of time by myself until 4pm teatime.