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

Hi Evan

A friend and I travelled to France to see the Solar Eclipse. There we were, sitting on a hill with thousands of others in this ghostly light. I shall never forget it, it was a wonderful experience. Everybody was awe-struck.

Back home, talked to another friend who had gone shopping on the day and she couldn't understand what was going on. She had not HEARD anything about any eclipse and it didn't interest her one little bit.

Strange, or what?

I had a beautiful, large oak tree in my garden and it was quite close to the house. Last year it got a disease and had to be cut down. I was devastated. What was to become of all the birds? That evening I sat on the bench by my back-door thinking about the demise of my lovely tree and lo and behold, I saw the most wonderful sunset. So many colours. I'd never been able to see them before as the tree was always in the way.
I just love skies and where I live there is no street-lighting, people don't want it and so we can see the stars as if we could touch them. Wonderful. And it always amazes me that when I look at a star, you can see it too, it seems to be just above my house, though.

XX

Beautifully expressed,

We lived on a farm before we moved here. I used to lie on the grass and look at the stars. Each constellation is like a friend and there's something so wonderfully reassuring about them. Perhaps it's their continuous and almost infinite existance.

We live in a large village now and our house is near the main road and, of course, there are street lights. I say hello to my friends but it's not quite the same. You are very, very lucky.

When I was a young child I went to Greece - my first trip abroad. I remember looking at the moon and being awed that it was 'the same moon'.

Sorry, am I being too gooey? Have just seen 'The Passion'. Eight of us went but I sat across the aisle from my friends. I was worried I would disturb them if I cried. When we came out I asked Maria if someone had been laughing. 'No', she said, 'Someone was sobbing uncontrollaby - even worse than you.'

Hi Correne,

I heard a discussion on the radio about the film, this morning, when I woke up.
Someone said: "I think everybody must see this film",
someone else said: "It is horrible and it wasn't as it happened."
Apparently Pontius Pilatus was very nice.

What did you think about it all, Correne? Was it what you expected?

Hello FBN,

How did your friend manage to avoid hearing or reading about the solar eclipse? As I remember it was all over the papers, radio & TV with a special live programme devoted to it on TV! How sad that she was so disinterested in it. I love it when such things happen and the weather allows me to enjoy it to the full. The only thing better would have been if I had been in France and had 100% eclipse. but the 97%(approx) that we got wasn't too bad.

I can remember having great fun looking at the comet 'Hale-Bopp' in 1997. This was my first good look at a comet. In the evening you had to look to the West and when I got up for work in the small hours of the morning (Alex Lester time) it had moved over to the East. And, of course seeing Mars last year. Yes, light pollution is a nuisance, street lights are bad enough but even worse are those accursed 'security lights' that come on whenever a cat walks across the garden. They seem as bright as the floodlights you get at sports stadiums. Our back garden is better for viewing the night sky if you can avoid switching next door's floodlight on, otherwise you have to wait for the wretched thing to go out!

Lord Evan Elpuss

Hi Evan,

I can't believe it was that long ago we saw the comet. I never know what is East or West, but in the evening it was over the church when I looked out of the dining-room window.

Mars- I couldn't believe how big that showed up.
Some of my W.I. friends and I went to the Chichester Planetorium a few months ago. It was just wonderful. You sit in the auditorium and above you is the sky.(Photographs I imagine) There were many more stars than I realised. We had reclining chairs which they bought from an Airline. It was just magic and we all want to go again. They do a lot of trips for schoolchildren, aren't they lucky?

Have you looked in the CB lately? There's nobody there, I think it's so sad. It was so much fun. Keep hoping we'll all get together again, do you?

Bye for now

FBN,

The Sun (when it shines!) always rises in the East, as does the Moon. So when you next get a clear morning, notice which direction the sun is rising from (without staring at it, of course, as the sun IS DANGEROUS to the eye) It would be safer to look at the Moon when you next get a clear moonlit evening. That is the East.

Chichester? I've landed at Goodwood airfield a few times. It was the first place my mate flew me to when he got his pilots licence. We flew onto Shoreham afterwards. A nice Sunday out don't you think? I've been there plenty more times by road as well.

I agree, it is sad what has happened to the R2 message boards in general. It's not just the coffee shop board. That a few people can do something like that to them, well what can I say?

Lord Evan Elpuss

Evening All

We went to France to see the eclipse - had my parents up at 4.30am, and drove down to a little place on the coast - it was just awesome, and something I will never forget!

It is a shame about the R2 boards - I've popped in now and again, but it isn't the same.

I like it in here though, the and are always available, and the morning is just the very best!

Ruth

Hello Ruth,
Glad to have a satisfied customer. I too will never forget the eclpse. The previous one that was anywhere comparable with the 1999 eclipse in my lifetime happened sometime in the 1960's, in my boyhood.
Would you like a or or perhaps ?
Regards
Lord Evan Elpuss

Hiya Everyone,

You lucky lot going to France to see the 1999 eclipse. We all gathered in my garden and I remember everyone wanting bacon sarnies. The experience was totally surreal and a bit of a turning point for my family. My sister had recently died and it was the first time we all tried to concentrate on something else. My sister outlaw lives in Cornwall and it was cloudy but she said the clouds cleared at the best bit. and beautiful all round.

Know what you all mean about the R2 Boards - it's such a shame. It seems to take forever to post as well. I too prefer it here because there's your own space to play with and always something interesting to read. I've found a person that lives in the place where I grew up!

Going in a minute to watch TV - programme on 9pm Channel Four claiming to have new information on the Shroud of Turin.

will write about 'The Passion' when able to articulate!!!!
How was the chicken soup? I'm sure I forgot to say lots of pepper and to skim off any fat but I had had far too many when I wrote it. Remember years ago seeing a programme about a Mexican festival and the ladies spent the whole day preparing the food 'with ' and realized that's where I was going wrong. When Matthew was coming to my house for dinner for the first time I went to my neighbour and asked her to show me how to cook roast chicken - pathetic really at 26!

You're right, Ruth - the here is lovely, and Evan is a wonderful host. Any chance of a refill, Evan? Thanks darling.

and to you all
Correne

Hiya Twirlit and Evan,

Funny that we were both in France for the eclipse, Ruth. We went on a coach, there were hundreds of them, did you see? And we had a lot of trouble finding a restaurant for something to eat because the staff had all gone off to see the eclipse, of course. We hadn't thought of that.Finished up with a cheese roll.
But what a wonderful day.

Now I know where your name comes from, Twirlit. I hadn't dared to ask because I thought it was something everybody knew except me.!!

Yes, I like it heretoo, but the CB was altogether different, on a good day there was so much twaddle talked, it would get hilarious. Here it's all bit more sensible.

what is "rewind" they were talking about on CB this afternoon, do either of you know? Apparently Scott was there yesterday. Things may get back to normal in the CB one day and then we still have this, but I'm not so keen on all the trawling around here and I feel I'm snooping if I look in on other people's messages.

Bye for now.

Hello Mustard & FBN
Here's a for Mustard.
Have you now got your East & West sorted out FBN? Was my explanation any help?
Kind Regards
Phil

Evening All

The whisky is going down a treat - thank you (I sneaked one you offered to someone elsewhere - didn't think you'd mind!)

For the eclipse, we were in this tiny town, where there is a harbour in the middle of the town. We sat on the cliff top overlooking the sea, next to some other English people.

The reason we had picked this particular town was that my brother was heading there. However, trying to contact him via mobile phone proved very elusive - in the end we just sat down at an outside table and ordered some lunch. Suddenly my husband pointed to a bike propped against a wall, and said 'Isn't that your brother's bike?' - a tour of the bars and we found him!

The evening before was just so funny - we were trying to make pin sized holes in pieces of card (so we didn't damage our eyes) - nothing was working very well, as there was a fuzzy edge - so 'the-man-indoors' goes out and gets the drill with the smallest size drill bit, and then proceeds to drill holes in pieces of card!
They worked perfectly!

Ahhh, such memories - that's what life is made up of.

Anyway, my dear cyber friends, it's zebbedee time - so I'll try and catch up with you all tomorrow evening - work dependant!

Have a wonderful day, wherever you are.


Twurlit

Sleep well, Ruth.

Correne

Do you dream about bouncy bits and ? I have done since I found this place!

PS

I pinched some whiskey, too!!

Correne

I really wish I did dream about bouncing bits and smileys...

...unfortunately I dream about work, and wake up at 4am with a million things buzzing around my head, which I know will stop me from sleeping unless I get them onto paper/into the 'pooter. Sad life, I know, but it usually works, and some of the best courses I've written and delivered have been because of my sub-conscious working overtime!

Will catch up with you tomorrow, dear friend.

Night, night.


Ruth

(Twirlit_Chuckle Quote) For the eclipse, we were in this tiny town, where there is a harbour in the middle of the town. We sat on the cliff top overlooking the sea, next to some other English people.

The reason we had picked this particular town was that my brother was heading there. However, trying to contact him via mobile phone proved very elusive - in the end we just sat down at an outside table and ordered some lunch. Suddenly my husband pointed to a bike propped against a wall, and said 'Isn't that your brother's bike?' - a tour of the bars and we found him!

The evening before was just so funny - we were trying to make pin sized holes in pieces of card (so we didn't damage our eyes) - nothing was working very well, as there was a fuzzy edge - so 'the-man-indoors' goes out and gets the drill with the smallest size drill bit, and then proceeds to drill holes in pieces of card!
They worked perfectly!

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At the time of the 1999 solar eclipse, I had brought this book about it by Patrick Moore which explained how to use a telescope as a projector and, thus, safely enjoy the near total eclipse that occurred in my part of the country as you are not looking through the telescope directly at the sun. It was the first time that I'd seen the sunspots. It certainly added to the fun of that day.

And where is MY ?





East /West / Home's/Best. Night night
Didn't get a Have to go to bed with lemsip

I'll have yours then .... hic


you all to bits

sleep well and watch out for that spider!!!!! Sure I just saw something big, black and hairy smiling up at me from the edge of your duvet.

XXXXXX

Aaawww Poor FBN

Have this extra big

for Mustard Seed too.


Feeling better now?



Lord Evan Elpuss

Hey,

Missed out again!! Maybe he'll look in again to-night. I'll make sure I'm awake this time, can't let these opportunities escape!!!
Do you think it was the sneezing that put him off?