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

Well I am feeling right at home today, it is overcast, cold and windy. The Aussies are all praying for rain, and although I don't know how the weather works here, it doesn't feel like rain to me.

I am still a bit lagged - I am bouncing off the walls (and ususally here online) between 2 and 4 am, but need matchsticks to prop up my eyelids when we go out for drinks in the evening.

The flight was good, and I slept through most of it, (including a two hour delay on the ground at LHR, which I didn't even know was happening). I watched 'Insomnia' (which seemed an appropriate title for an inflight movie) and 'MIB II' (don't bother, some nice effects but you saw the best bits on the trailers).

I am settling down here. Big Bro has taken the whole month off, which is really nice of him. On the other hand I won't be doing much travelling by myself as a result. Mind you, I hadn't got as far as making any actual plans, so there is no damage there. We are going to do a bunch of touristy things this week, and round it off with the 2002 Sydney Meet! Way hey!

Then next week, we are on the long drive down to South Australia and Ceduna and the Eclipse!

B

Woohoo! I hope you have a great time.

Glad you're having a great time Ben

Hah! They're just praying for rain to save them from humiliation in the test match...

Good to hear you're having a good time, anyway.

Maybe I should start using the smiley a bit more!

B

You'll only spoil your image if you do that.

Dammit, I've got to get away soon.

I envy you, Ben.
I am freezing my tushy off here, and you are relaxing in warmth
My landlady is from Austrailia, and has told me some really nice things about it.
If I win the lottery, it is on my list of places to go.
Karen

I am SOOOOOO jealous you're going to see the eclipse. I'd started to make plans to go, but during term time my kids' school just wouldnt consider letting them off for 3 whole weeks.

we're aiming for the annular one in Iceland next May (on my son's 12th birthday)....but it's not the same. I saw the 1999 one near Paris, although got clouded out right at totality.

but Hey ! someone I know is going to see it!

i want full reports........

I saw the 99 one from The Lizard down Cornwall way. Luckily for us the clouds cleared just around the sun near to totality and we got the eclipse that so much of the uk missed. It is mad, and amazing, you'll see...

*Bob, whod love to be in Aus,The Alps, or anywhere but here)

Of all the things to be jealous about, the eclipse didn't really top my list.

Sun, barbies, beaches, fit women in bikinis and being able to turn up to work in shorts was a bit more like it.

Or do I have a stereotypical view of the country?

B

One of my best friends has just (liderally today!) returned to her native Brisbane. Her description of office guys in formal work shorts, with knee socks and proper shoes, and short-sleeved shirts with ties, didn't have me russhing for the plane tickets.

And no, fit women in bikinis on the beach wouldnt tempt me either

Barbies always sound nicer than they actually turn out - burnt sausages raw in the middle etc. Unless you were talking about the dolls.....

Hope you have a fab time there Ben

I'm a bit jealous but not too much (going to Thailand in 11 days yay!).

Aussie rain is a funny thing - in my experience it is a bit cloudy then suddely there is a total deluge - I've never known rain like it! Hope it clears up for you - it rained the entire time I was in Sydney (and at Ulhuru) so I missed out on seeing the blue mountains (they were inside clouds), hope you have more luck than I did!

Great time of year to escape blighty - good planning skills

Blimey, you go away and everyone talks to you!

I'll spoil my image if I start being cool, Blues? Hey ho. I guess I am too noisy to be cool, so that is a fair shot.

Dragonlady - you are not the only one who is freezing. It has been incredibly cold and windy the last couple of days, overcast but not got the balls to actually rain.

Luckystar and Bob - I saw the 99 one on Bodmin, and it blew my mind away. A completely 'other' experience, hence going to the opposite side of the planet to do it again. There is one on my birthday in about 8 years time too, in Venezuala I think. I am not so keen on South America, but if god gives you an eclipse as a birthday present it seems rude not to go for it!

And trust you to think of Barbies in Bikinis, Master B!

Anyway, goodnight all.

B

HOw do you get a BBQ in a bikini?

B

2 in the front 2 in the back, isnt it?

You have some very odd shaped bikinis in that case, m'dear.

Right, can everyone stop posting cr*p for half-an-hour while I read the Post?

B

Nope.

'Salright - I've just found the Post's not out yet anyway.

Give it another hour.

B

Ahh, just in time for my lunch break!