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

26th January 2005

Today snail mail brought me much joy (instead of bills) in the form of TWO English Roses. Two beautiful ladies in quite different ways

My first English Rose - came in the form of a singer from the 60s. My CDs of Kathy Kirby songs arrived (such speed) and I have spent all day trying to ignore them as I SHOULD be doing other things However I have finally given in, and I am listening now .

To hear her voice again is lovely, and there are many songs I had almost forgotten. Isn't it brilliant how the brain stores all the words and tunes of songs "absorbed" ( not learnt) long ago. There are also a number I had not heard before. Some are very joyful, others sad, but reflections of such an innocent age For the uninitiated http://www.kathykirby.co.uk and the other thread F19585?thread="smiley - ta" title="ta" class="smiley" src="http://www.h2g2.com/h2g2/skins/Alabaster/images/Smilies/f_ta.gif"/>

My second English Rose - came in the form of a yacht called English Rose Vl. She returned to Scotland from a world voyage, to "Save the Albatross", in July 2004. This morning I received a lovely handwritten card from her skipper, veteran sailor John Ridgway, to whom I had written.

Again for the uninitiated: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A1127062

The card shows a lovely photo of English Rose Vl as she passed under the specially raised Tower Bridge in London on her return to the UK in June 2004. She looks so tiny, it really makes you realise what a feat this round the world voyage was! John and his wife Marie Christine are in the process of writing a book about their voyage and I am looking forward to that very much.

I felt so privileged to receive a handwritten message from a man I admire so much and I shall treasure it always.

So here's to my two English and for giving me a great day. Long may both prosper.

Websailor

Traveller in Time curious about the picture
"Good to hear the 'Ridgeway's are still not 'just knitting'

Any idea how they managed to get the ship in winter dock? That was about the last we heard from them. "

That is very special to have recieved a note from them websailor.
What a wonderful dream they have lived.

Hi,

Apparently they got the ER Vl up on to the slipway on 15th November, and it is likely to stay there for the foreseeable future. Didn't say how they did it!

The photo is lovely - wish I could show you.

Websailor

Te he, just introduced RK to the joys of KK singing "Secret Love", an abiding childhood memory for me!

beaucouply for that little pleasure Websailor.

zdt

Traveller in Time still searching the WEB (ToDo: search the WEB)
"There was a similar picture taken by a newspaper reporter.
Found it on the web somewhere . . .
Was the link not mentioned in a journal somewhere? RSPB ?"

I am , but I have no idea.

Websailor

I had a listen to KK , had never heard of her.
My thanks to you is a lovely song, simple and one that will now be in my head forever I think!

Maybe I will bookmark it to send in email messages at times If that is possible I am still confused by such technical things and rights.

Me too, Abbi.

My computer is old and I can't load a lot of stuff on it, but I was SO pleased to be able to hear those songs. Glad you liked them.

Websailor

Hello Websailor!

Finally I’ve found the time to check out Kathy Kirby!
I like her music! There is so much wonderful music out there, and it’s always nice to get to know another great interpreter! Thanks for sharing the link!

By the by: the Kirby-thread you’ve linked to (in post 1) leads to “Ask the h2g2 community”: F19585… That wasn’t the whole purpose, was it?

Hi, Kat, No. you were right - I put the wrong link in It should have been: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F19585?thread=573898 That's the only way I can make the link work. Silly me Pity, I probably missed a few posts that way. Anyway I am glad you liked the songs . She had such a varied repertoire and style, and was a joy to watch too. Hope you are well, and that winter isn't getting you down too much. I have good days and bad days. Today has been good, and yesterday wasn't too bad either, so perhaps Spring is kicking in. The snowdrops and primulas are out so the garden is brightening up. Take care, nice to hear from you again, Websailor

Hello Websailor!

Fine, this link works! I have no idea how to shorten links either. Whenever I tried I always ended up linking to conversation forums instead of the thread itself. The same as you did, basically!

I’m doing fine at the moment. We’re enjoying lots of snow, it’s just wonderful. We don’t have any spring flowers yet… well, now they would be under the snow cover anyway… but I know for sure that there are neither snowdrops nor primroses, cause I’ve had another look last Monday, or Tuesday. I was quite surprised to find not even a sign of spring flowers yet! But obviously it was pretty wise of them to wait with poking out!
Are yours already in bloom?

Traveller in Time cutting the URL in pieces
"< F19585?thread=573898#6453315 >
There are three big numbers in the address bar for each posting.

The F-number is the Forum, the list of threads as connected to an entry.

Then we see the T-number, the thread someone started on that forum. This can be extended by &skip=20 or &skip=2000 just as far as you want to point on the thread.

The last big number is the posting number. If you #-number it as the last part of the URL most browsers will open the page with that posting on top in the window.

"

Interesting, linking on h2g2 seems to be a science on its own! Thanks for the explanations!

Hi,

Thanks for the explanation! I will make a note of that.


Hi,

Our flowers are out, which might be a pity as the forecast is for very cold weather from the weekend, to last for quite some time, so anything is possible

I love the when it is fresh and clean and blankets everything in white. It is not so nice when the cars and humans get to it and it turns to grey slush

At least it will mean all the birds will be visiting us. I am desperate to see a Waxwing. There have been hundreds of them in the UK this year, as their normal feeding grounds are a bit bare this year. Apparently this only happens occasionally, and I know that they have appeared less than three miles from where I live, which is very frustrating. By the time I got there, having no car, they would be gone.

My other half has just come home, so I suppose I had better go and say hello.

C U l8r perhaps,

Websailor

Hello!

Our snow is busy turning into slush right now. We also have quite a lot of birds around at the moment… i.e. yesterday there were masses of goldfinches, siskins and blackbirds around. Today I’ve seen hardly any birds – I wonder where they are hiding (and why!).

Have you seen a waxwing yet? They are very handsome birds I have to say!