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

The elevator in the eight-story apartment block where I live seems to be paying homage to 'Hitchiker' at the moment. Remember the elevator that only wanted to go down, not up, and therefore spent its days skulking around the basement? Well, ours seems to have become transfixed with the fourth floor. You're on the ground floor and press the button for, say, the sixth floor, and it always stops on the fourth floor, no matter what. You can imagine the conversation:

I get in the elevator and press the button for the sixth floor.
'The fourth floor is nice, miss,' says the elevator.
'Er, no thanks, I'd like to go to the sixth floor. I live on the sixth floor.'
'Very well.' The elevator begins its ascent. First floor, second, third, fourth...and then suddenly it stops.
'Here we are miss, fourth floor. Will you be getting out then?'
'No, Elevator. I want to get out on the sixth floor. Take me to the sixth floor, please.'
'The fourth floor is nice.'
'Oh, OK, Seeing as it's only two floors up, I'll get out and take the stairs.'
'Have a nice day, miss.'

It's not quite that bad, as while our elevator can never seem to resist stopping on the fourth floor, at least it keeps going to where you want to go (either up or down). However, I did get out and take the stairs today, as after my usual visit to the fourth floor the doors didn't close properly, which rather unnerved me. I guess someone will get round to telling the 'Hausmeister', or warden, sooner or later...in the meantime it provides a mixture of mild irritation and amusement for us all.

Take care,
Liz