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

It was a small meet; small and beautifully formed though and a pretty good day, once I'd got to Victoria on the 9.10 coach. Having said that, it took me a mere 2 hours to get from Victoria to Temple, what with queueing for one of those magic Zones 1 and 2 cards, and well, OK, I admit it, losing Somerset House.

Once I'd found it, then of course, there was the Mystery of the Missing Entrance to solve; filming was taking place, and I was sent from one entrance to another for the best part of three quarters of an hour. It was all a tad frustrating.

Finally, in desparation I texted MMF, who finally got back to me - no fault of his, my phone was set to silent, and I'm jiggered if I know how to get it to noisy - and gave Evade proof instructions as to how to find him and Bald Bloke, who were waiting for the rest of us to arrive, on the terrace, sipping leisurely cups of coffee.

I eventually got there, said the helloes and settled down to a well earned beverage and chatted until GB and Wilma arrived a little later on.

Somerset House is pretty damned impressive; plenty to look at and exclaim upon, and we aimed for the Josephine Bonapart collection - a showpiece of the house Napoleon gave to her upon their divorce (she couldn't have children with him, and he needed to found a dynasty) called Malmaison.

There were lots and lots of gold plated platters, one of her dresses, a muslin creation heavilly embroidered with gold thread, and a pair of her slippers - about a size 3 narrow fit. Obviously a very small, slender lady. I think I'd have disliked her on principal

But she was a big patroness of the Arts for all that, and the exhibition, although small, had plenty to occupy us for a while.



We adjourned for another coffee, shared a lancashire tea loaf and did the obligatory photo thingy, as you do, and then slowly meandered around town, where we got sidetracked by an incongruously old building, which turned out to be the site of John of Gaunt's properties, which were trashed during the Peasants Revolt 'way way back. Its now the current Queen's personal chapel, but she wasn't there when we called. Another time, maybe?



We then meandered over to St Clement's Church, which has some delightful archtectural features, and the Curate was an enthusiastic guide. I wasn't overly gone on Gibb's designs personally, but I could have stood and gazed for hours at the modern (well, post WW2, so fairly modern) stained glass windows - such wonderful colours to lose myself in

Sadly, we had to say our goodbyes to Wilma early but hopefully we'll see other other again at future meets. A lovely lady, in both appearance and personality.

Thats the beauty of these Meets though - there's always someone new there to meet, as well as catching up with the more familiar faces' doings.

TALKING of which, we were expertly navigated thru the labarynths of the Underground and arrived at Holborn to arrive at the Shakespeare's Head where 2 Legs and Roymondo were already supping diligently with Azathoth... so what else could we do but join in?

Which we did with gusto, and in my case several pints of Bombadier. Oh yes, and GB ad I took advantage of the "2 for £7.99" Meal Deal and mopped some of the beer up with a decent cottage pie. I was good though, and donated the chips served up with it to the common cause.

Mainly Roymondo

It was a great buzz for me to discover us social lepers of smokers out numbered the healthy souls 5 to two - so a lot of the conversations I had took place outside the pub whilst Roy, 2 Legs, Az, Bald Bloke and myself polluted our lungs. When we came back in, we found Radox the Green had arrived all the way from Somerset, so yet another new face to meet From what I could glean from the resumes so far written, some one else arrived after I'd gone - I'm sorry I missed them, whoever they were.

Sadly (for me, anyway) I had to leave the thong - sorry, throng- around 7.30 in order to catch the last coach home from Victoria, which I *just managed to catch by the skin of my teeth and a sharp rap on the side of the coach with my walking stick The Tubes were being a bit mardy this particular weekend, and its really not safe for me to be let loose without "L" and "R" stamped firmly on the appropriate hand at the best of times, let alone after a few pints

So all in all a good day - new faces met, good craic had by all, and a decent ale to round off the day

Here's to the next one

<> that's "Lincolnshire Plum Bread" my good lady



Glad you had a good time, it was a pleasure meeting you and sharing your company

GB

Loaf... bread.... same differ, although I did remember thinking quietly to myself it had pretty big raisens in it!

Lincolnshire Plum Bead. OK, I sit corected.

It was nice, whatever its called

Likewise, GB - here's to the next meeting, eh?

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading042.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading043.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading044.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading045.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading048.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading049.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading050.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading052.jpg

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z9/cmotdabbler/H2G2/?action=view&current=EBayandBeading054.jpg



Hopefully they'll be viewable

Nice photos, Br Evadne!

Pity I couldn't make it .

Never mind Brother...there's always next time

Where would you have to travel from for a London Meet?

BTW, we had an impromptu Meeting of Brothers outside The Shakespeare, whilst having a fag and I believe Br. Roymondo is organising Brother Badges for us.

Well, I suggested it, and 2 Legs said it was a good idea, and Az said that as Roymondo lives in London he'd know how to go about it. And I agreed. So it's been sort of democratically agreed we'll nag him into it at some point.

Sounded perfectly logical at the time, anyway.

We didn't get as far as design or Logos as there was more Beer waiting for us within the pub.

You know how it is.....

I live in the Icy Mountains in the Far North, aka Northern Sweden. The main reason for not coming this time was an academic event at my Alma Mater which resulted in a few extra letters after my name.

Sounds fun with Bruvver'ood badges.

Is Matt saved yet? Has lil got the Badger?

Ah. A bit of a trek on the bus then

Yes, I noticed you'd thesised and achieved more letters - well done you I should have popped up and said congratulations sooner, but I didn't like to display my ignorance as to which subject exactly you'd got your new letters in. But I'm terribly impressed all the same.

Has Lil got the badger???

No Way!!

Not until she releases poor Matt.



Then she may have that Badger with pleasure. She obviously *needs a security blanket of some description

I don't believe in encouraging co dependence usually, but almost anything to free a Bruvver in thrall


Or wherever it is Matt lives.

I said what?

I believe you said that as Roymondo lived in London he could get the badges together.

You said lots of other things too,during the course of the evening, but I'm sure you did.

Didn't you?

Nah.

I think you did. Well, *somebody* did.

Oh dear. I must have been having a senior moment in that case

But I'm sure I agreed it was a good idea to nag Roymondo into some form of affirmitive action as regards Brotherhood Identity

It wasn't me. O my brothers.

Which raises the question, who was it? Maybe it was a visitation and I'm now on a mission from Nighthoover!

*dramatic music*

"the Bruvver'ood Identity" - will it ever be revealed?

*more dramatic music*

What is the importance of the Badgers?

*even more dramatic music*

The Mystery continues.....



Whaddya think? Next big hit movie?

I thought it was you who started that...

O bugger!

If Nighthoovers involved then I'll have to bow to his superior ceiling attatchment and allow fate to take its course whilst you continue this mass debate about identitties and things.

Let me know the outcome, will you?

Some of us have a class to go to

Later peoples....

I have a book to post and some shopping to do. Then I'd best get to bed before the sun rises too high.

I should be getting to w*rk. Hopefully the 134 will be a little less crammed now than it would have been at 08.30.