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

I spend most of my days nowadays in a wheelchair, I can walk short distances with the aid of two sticks on good ground or indoors, I drive a converted automatic Volvo Estate (I only mention the make because it's about the only one big enough to take my mobility scooter in the back, and it's reliable, so why not say so).

Whenever I can I go shopping with my Wife INSIDE the store, depending on how busy it is, ('coz some people are real A55holes in shops). I went in on Friday using my ordinary chair and was just browsing in a wide aisle close to the side when I became aware of a man right up behind me.

Thinking that I was blocking him from the shelf, I moved on, only to be aware that he also had moved on and was still behind me, Ok, so he's browsing as well I thought and moved on again, same thing. I could see from a half turned position that he never picked anything up to check it or select it and we had moved past several different sections so I very obviously put on my brakes crossed my arms and sat there, Humph!! he said, walked past me and strode off.

I thought, what was THAT all about?, he didn't want anything there except to harrass me, bearing in mind that the gangway is about 8 foot wide.

It's not the first time, I've even crossed to the other side and been followed, why do people do that?. I'll probably get slated for this but it seems to be always Mr.& Mrs. 'smart casual', Guys in boiler suits and big boots usually ask if you need a hand.

Anyway, that's not the point of the entry.

I found a space not often visited or only briefly (breakfast cereals strangely enough) and sat gazing at the scene whilst my Wife flitted here and there for missed items.

I was in simultaneous eye contact with an old work colleage I hadn't seen for years, he came over and we began to chat. we are both members of a retirement association and receive a regular news bulletins. Inevitably the subject came round to 'Guess who's dead', (not all retired are members). Thrombosis, legs amputated, second Throm, too late!!, Strokes,1/2/final, Cardiac, you name it, MOST a lot younger than me, he was divorced, had an adult daughter at home who did NOTHING.

My Wife remarked afterwards that apart from the disability I looked 30 years younger than him. I think I saw a little bit of Sunshine through the mist round about then.

There is a bit of a bomb waiting to go off but that will be the subject of a future guide entry.

Soon be Turkey and time to give Thanks and Praise, then Spring

I am really pleased you have decided to post on the journals. You seem to be extremely active for an old B****r. I don't do very much at all really. I spend most of my time just wandering about with a stupid grin thinking how lucky I am to be walking at all.
I am about as far away from you as it is possible to be and still be in England, in fact those of us who are a bit anti reckon that Cornwall is a conquered nation and we are not English at all. I live in the far west of Cornwall near Lands End. I am now going to go back into battle and kick a**e!

Nowt wrong with the grey stuff though..

Cornishmen are certainly a seperate people and always have been. For all that I have lived nearly all my life in Yorkshire, I was born a Scot. and always will be, they only gave the Scots a Parliament because they're burning all our so**ing oil, at least they handed our symbolic rock back.

The Scots are like us and the Irish driven to the corners of this land by the bloody Angles. However I do feel sorry for the English just because they aint Celts

Kif, mate, please, there is no such thing as an Englishman, not now anyway, the Romans saw to that, they daren't go North because of our lot and Boodica (as she is now known) kicked their Ar*es from down your way.

Then the Normans came in and that just about screwed up what was left, the poor old Angles got swallowed up in a genetic pi**pot..at least we have some remnants of our ancestry...

"Boodica" was from Norfolk, not Cornwall...

Hi Alex,

Good to meet on a civilised thread for a change

I based my Boodica thing on a documentry I saw some years ago about the construction of a Celtic cart of the type which it was claimed might have been used by such a body and may have given rise to the myth of Bodicea's Chariot, that was certainly based Westward.

Research certainly places Boodica, Boudica, as marrying into the Iceni Tribes of South East England and being of 'Royal blood' but her precise origins are unknown. Presumably she would have been a member of the elite of another Tribe or group and her Marriage would have been an alliance. I put two and two together and probably got 7, as usual.

The name Bodicea comes from Latin text 'Bodicea Vicoria', it is believed that Boodica/Boudica comes from 'Boudiga' who is the Celtic 'Goddess of Victory'. Both suggest to me that the name was given as a result of exploits and not a 'given' name in the modern sense.

Given that her exploits seem to range from Anglesea to Exeter and Colchester, I wouldn't be surprised to find that 'she' is in fact an amalgamation of female leaders as of course Women were just as likely to fight in those days as Men. Communications would be almost non existant and Legends would be created almost every day. She certainly attacked the Barracks at Colchester and slaughtered the Roman Legions there which gives credence to your South East involvement.

Bit of a 'Ruby Tuesday' really but who cares, she/they certainly kicked some Roman A**es..

The BBC has a page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/boudicca.shtml

The strangest idea I've come across is that 'the' Boudica is buried at King's Cross station.
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/MOLsite/learning/features_facts/roman_london_7.html


Maybe one day there will be the "Legend of Triquack" - some say he was from North England, others say Scotland, some say he came from Eastern Europe (but there is little support for this idea, and may refer to a different Triquack). All we know now is that he is buried somewhere along Hadrian's Wall.

What do you reckon?

Is that a theory or a plan Alex?......Mummy!

It's somewhere between humour and speculation...

At my age, describing me as 'Homo Erectus' is humour, speculation is tomorrows breakfast.

At my age, making fun of lecturers is humour, and speculation is how we're going to get tonight (oh, and whether we'll be awake for breakfast ).

I've just spotted a typo - TQ meant to write "speculation is whether I will live to see tomorrows breakfast."

No sorry - "speculation is how many times I can have a go at Alex before breakfast"