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

I feel bad for you #six.

Yeah, he makes me feel bad too.

B

Well, I've met Harry Gration and you haven't

I've met Peter Levy. Does that count?

B

Who's he?

I’m not certain I know of any of these people. Maybe we should all feel sorry (glad?) for Ebert instead.

Ebert - Does anyone know off hand the site where I can become a Rev. for free?

They're local TV presenters in Yorkshire...

Mind you, today I interviewed Peter Reid, manager of Leeds United, who you might have heard of - and we put out a clip of it for tonight's programme. A week ago, I was the bloke who did the graphics and recorded the tapes for Sport 24. It feels strange. Unfortunately, in three months' time I will have to go back to my old life.

Oh, and I think if you do a Google search for the Universal Life Church, you may find what you want, Ebert. There's a bloke at work who did, and I think that's what he said it was.

Wow. We. Are. Not. Worthy!

Did you resist the urge to tell him to cheer up?

To be honest, I was so nervous that it didn't even enter my head... it was all I could do to squeeze out my question about David Batty?

Well, it's Sunday night and I'm sort of taking stock about this unexpected change in my life.

I like Leeds. A lot. I've got a flat by the river that I'd never be able to afford if the BBC weren't paying me an unexpectedly generous accommodation allowance, and I love it. It's just in front of the Tetley brewery, and if you walk in any direction out of the front door, you can go and smell the malt having whatever they do to it done to it.

When I used to go to London as a teenager, I'd walk along the Thames and get down to the Docklands and look at the new flats looking out over the water (as someone who grew up about as far away from the sea as you can get in the British Isles, I love being near a canal, or river, or the sea) and I'd think, "Yeah, if I do well and go to University and get a decent job, I'll come to London and live in one of these". Having done it and become acquainted with the harsh economic reality, all I can say to that is a bitter "Ha!". But in Leeds I can afford it. Just.

The work is a lot better, too. In two and a half years working for Sport 24, I got out of the office three times. Twice to go to the Darts, and once to the the Queen's Club Tennis. Which was rained off. In a week here, I've interviewed Peter Reid and been to the Rugby League Grand Final. I really don't want to have to go back.

Mind you, it does feel strange being here on my own. I'm 28, nearly 29. I've never lived on my own before - always before I've been with my erstwhile girlfriend, and before that in a multitude of houseshares post-University and at University, or in Halls of Residence.

I've got a bunch of people lined up to come and see me at the weekends, but it's getting used to being on my own in the week that's strange. At the moment my life in Leeds feels like a nice room that I've still to find the furniture for - no-one from any of my previous lives is anywhere nearer than Sheffield, so it's strange not to have anyone I can just ring up and say 'Fancy coming out for a bevvy?'.

Tell you what, Six - when I go back home for Christmas, I'll take a jaunt over to Leeds and come out for a bevvy with you, how's that?

B

If I don't end up going away for Christmas, that'd be nice.

Well it'd drive me crackers if I have to spend all Xmas and New Year with my folks in Scunthorpe. Any evening other than Christmas Eve suits me.

B

I'm not sure when I'll be working over Christmas (bound to be Boxing Day matches and that) but there's bound to be some evening or other.

Just been reading all that back. I just realised. I should have offered Peter Reid a banana while I had the chance...