Islington green is mentioned often in Douglas Adams' books. Richard walks past there, Dirk passes through there, Fenchurch practically lives there; The reality is that Adams worked and lived *right there* and like many authors, he wrote about the places he saw every day. I assume places that he loved - unless he wrote about them as "horrible caves." Even so, one can return, triumphant, from a horrible cave of a place, find love, and perhaps learn to fly. I'm just saying.
Regardless, it seems clear that Adams had a very intimate knowledge of the places in and around Angel Underground station, Islington. Just like Dirk, he probably ordered from Pizza Express, which has been in its Upper Street location for more than 30 years, according to our pizza server.
"If you wish to know more I will be at the Pizza Express in Upper Street in ten minutes. Bring some money.”
“Dirk?” exclaimed Richard. “You . . . Are you trying to blackmail me?”
“No, you fool, for the pizzas.” There was a click and Dirk Gently rang off."
And which serves a very nice cider with blackberry juice!
Nearby, I found a Marks and Spencer, where I hoped to buy a stripey towel not all together unlike the one that Ford Prefect carried in the bottom of his satchel. With one modification: there is a size of towel which is not commonly sold in the US. In England, it is apparently what is known as a "hand towel." And what Americans call a hand towel, is in England known as a "guest towel."
English hand towels are an ideal size for women with long-ish hair to use as a mini turban for winding up wet heads. American hand towels are far too small for this, and American bath towels are far too large for this. I knew this size towel existed because my parents linen closet used to have a few. Once we arrived at our Islington flat, imagine my excitement when I realized that the "hand" towels here were the exact, correct, size for hair turbaning!
Instead of the largish bath towel that The Guide recommends for hitchhiking the galaxy, I decided that I would acquire two perfect sized hair towels for Casa de Bessey.
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