Some days you wake to good news, and the world seems brighter as a result.

I had one of those mornings this morning. The first thing I saw when I dialled up some online news made my heart go pitter-pat with delight. Colour me happy.

It's not necessarily news that will interest others but, in case there are those among you with tastes similar to mine, let me share.

On March 8, or probably a slightly later date in New Zealand, The Hitchhiker's Guide to
the Galaxy is returning.

To many this may not seem as important as, say, news that Vogons are planning to blow up the earth to build a new hyperspace bypass. But that happened way back at the very beginning of The Hitchhiker's Guide, so don't panic, it isn't exactly news.

The exciting thing is that this revival, courtesy of the BBC, is being produced for radio.
First there was a radio series, then a bunch of books, a TV series and, eventually, a big movie.

But best of all – and the books were pretty damn good – was the original radio series.

Radio Radio

Is it anachronistic to be swooning over something as conceivably old-fashioned as radio drama (or in this case comedy)? I'm not sure. Probably. But – and this must be a slight indicator of my advanced age – I grew up in thrall to radio drama. Stories on the radio were just the best thing going, whether spooky adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories or John Wyndham's Day of the Triffids. It was much scarier on radio with the sound effects and your mind filling in the blanks.

So in 1978, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy came to BBC radio and changed people's lives.

Silly people mainly – people like me who loved the idea of the Babelfish and Slartibardfast and the two-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox.

On March 8 they will broadcast the 40th anniversary special, recorded with a bunch of the original cast (including Simon Jones and Geoffrey McGivern, the original and perfect Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect). They're using a mixture of writings gleaned from the late Douglas Adam's notebooks and newer material from And Another Thing, Eoin Colfer's book continuing the saga, commissioned by the Adams estate after Adam's sudden death at the age of just 49 in 2001.

The Lettuce Inn

So, as I say, colour me happy. Also colour me happy because this weekend, on Saturday to be precise, it's time for the year's only instalment of Katikati's biggest little festival, Music at the Lettuce Inn.

This is iteration number five, and there are many bands and good vibes on offer.
As I've mentioned before, it's my favourite local festival so I'm happy to spread the word.

Let me just give you the details and a few last minute updates.

The Festival is on Saturday, March 3, at 33 Sedgemoor Lane, Katikati.

If you're coming from Tauranga that's on the right before you hit town.

It runs from 3-10pm.

This year there were nine musical acts planned, but one has had to pull out due to injury.

The remaining eight bands are Soaked Oats, Koizilla, French Doors, Star Control, Paul Cathro, Ne Van Boys, Sophie Gibson and Karen Francis Lawson.

I suggest a Google to check them out, but music ranges from solo singer/songwriter to Dunedin surf-rock to a 10-piece string band from Vanuatu.

Part of the joy of Music at the Lettuce Inn is the unpredictable variety.

It's a BYO event, so bring picnic stuff, sun umbrellas and whatever you need.

There is some groovy vegetarian food on offer and cool coffee.

And the most important thing to note – pre-sale tickets finished earlier this week, with tickets now available on the gate for $25, cash. And that's all you'll need for a fun day.

See you there.
watusi@thesun.co.nz