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

Well, I started typing up a log, but as I wasn't writing anything down it turned out I couldn't remember much detail about the meet itself, and the log was just a rant at the public transport system. So rest assured that I had a very good time at the meet, it was great to see everyone, and you don't want to know the amount of hassle we had getting into and out of London.

Did you drive? I got from Glasgow - London and back twice last year by public transport (and once from London-Glasgow single journey, but that's another story) without much hassle except the train journeys home (due to their being on a Sunday).

No, we flew to Stansted, which was fine, and then made the mistake of getting the Stansted Expense... sorry, Express into London. The first train broke down, so we were crowded into the next train like sardines, and there were no trains at all on the Sunday, a fact which the bloke who sold us the tickets neglected to mention.

oh dear

Oh, and the bus replacement service on the Sunday only went from Liverpool Street, not Tottenham Hale - which we only found out when we got to Tottenham Hale. So we had to go back to Liverpool Street to get the bus out again, which went right past Tottenham Hale station on the way.

You see why I didn't put all this in the log?

Now can you see what I have to put up with. London transport is a nightmare.

Oh I want to be a crofter!

Yes, those bus replacement services are an utter pain in the jacksie. Living in North London about 20 minutes away from Tottenham Hale, Stansted's dead convenient when the train service works. But there's a bus replacement, or you miss the last train and have to get the coach (very common when flying on a late Ryanair flight) then if you want to go to Tottenham Hale or anywhere near it, you get completely hung out to dry by the powers that be

I say we go to Heathrow in future, at least the Tube's pretty reliable from there - and it's far cheaper!

It's a sad day when the Piccadilly line is considered a the best alternative to other transport!

It was that bad. Believe me.

I think you might want to reconsider that one - the Piccadily line has a replacement bus service on it.

http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/content/pressreleases/0412/06.asp#t5

Ah, only if you want terminal 4, which I don't think Scotland does.

Thank Bob for our tiny one terminal airports!

"Drunk ashamed of abusing Tube staff"?

*looks a bit further down* Oh, I see.

Did Lochangel just post on this thread?
I hate going into central London from West London too. We live near Heathrow and dread the finishing of Terminal 5 - it's as big as all the others put together.

If anyone ever finds a replacement for the aeroplane they're stuffed!

Terminal 5? They actually got the planning permission?

Well at least you made it back ready for the summer meet yet?

Set a date yet?

Nope not quite yet; we'l need to chek out a bit of stuff first, like any planned concerts in central London (we don't want to get hastled by Bon Jovi again) and check for clashs with football on the weekend (especially in london itself but also elsewhere as they always clog up trains and some h2G2ers actually go to football matchs ) next friday?

Sorry, busy next Friday

I think I am too actually, I'm fairly* sure that is the day my new three seater and new two seater leather sofas arrive