Posted: 07^th December 2009

Welcome to this celebratory edition of The Post

It seems hard to believe that The Post has been running more-or-less continuously for the last 10 years. It started as a germ of an idea by Vegiman and, after much discussion and sheer hard work, first appeared on the old h2g2.com on 6^th December, 1999. At this time The ACEs and Subs had only just formed and Scouts and Gurus were still a way off, so The Post tried to bring the site together to promote a sense of community. It presented me with a steep learning curve as I first had to code it in html as it was originally hosted off site. Then I recoded it all into Guide ml when it moved over to the site proper not long before the .com collapse. After a few anxious weeks I was allowed into the 'new' BBC-hosted site to make sure that it was all present and correct when the doors opened and everyone returned.

Over the years The Post has changed and evolved. Who can remember Agony Aunt¹ with her quirky problem solving, Loonytoons with his downright bizarre horoscopes, Wowbagger and Spimcoot with their brilliant cartoons, Ormondroyd with his sharp political observations and Greebo T Cat for just about everything. Luckily, we have maintained a complete set of archives for those who want to revisit their favourites.

The Post has always tried to be at the heart of h2g2. We have featured interviews not only with regular h2gers but also almost all of the Italics. We try to cover every community meet, including the one where I was collared by BBC personnel with clipboards and lots of strange questions.

Although obviously not able to be totally up to date with current affairs, we have still tackled the big issues when they arose. The hardest editorials I had to write were when DNA died and for the events of 9/11.

My stint as Editor finished when I was suddenly taken ill. So, after almost 6 years in the hot seat during which time I had met Towelmaster and moved to The Netherlands for a new life, the baton passed through Awix, Reefgirl, EMR, Rich and into the capable hands of B'Elana, although I do still lurk furtively in the background. The future looks bright. From a skeleton staff of two, then one, The Post Team now boasts a great array of talent. This means nothing without you, the community, for whom and from whom The Post gleans nearly all of its content.

So, let's have a big cheer for this august publication and long may it continue with your support... especially for the The h2g2 Post Christmas Competition 2009

ShazzPRME

• Ten Years in the Life

Interesting facts regarding the number ten

• The h2g2 Poem

'Happy Birthday to Ya' by lil

• Platypus Dancing

Meanwhile, in an abandoned break room...

• The Crying of Lot 42 - With Apologies to Thomas Pynchon

In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention...

• The h2g2 Poem

'Happy Tenth' by PedanticBarSteward

• The Post Wordsearch

'10' words fiendishly hidden

• The Vice's Advice

Bluebottle is back and congratulates the Post

• Websailor's Wacky Wildlife World

A review over the past ten years

• Nigel's Gardening Hints and Tips

Nigel presents a very special rose

• 45 Words

Happy Birthday Post Team

• The Postillion

He was the first to deliver the post

• Bertie and the Beast

Don't Cats Always Land On Their Feet?

• Smudger Snippets

The Birthday

• Babe Among the Stars

Amazing 'tens' in space

• The Post Recipe

No party without tapas

• The Post 10th Birthday Crossword

No party without a game

• Gheorgheniplex

Is the Post spying on Nigel?

• ElectroniXs

Sci-fi short story from Xarin

• The h2g2 Poem

'First Car' by Pinniped

• Announcements

Meets, sites, events etc

• Meet Mr Inquisitor

Psycorp visits and talks with Nick Reynolds

• The h2g2 Christmas Competition 2009

Sharpen your pencils

• Email the Post Team

For submissions and editorial feedback

• The Post Readers' Forum

Chat about The Post with other readers and the Team