Has anybody heard from BEN HAINES?
 

I've been a longtime poster and missed him and his fabulous travel advice. Where in the world is BEN HAINES? :-/

He's been posting, last one on 09/05/04
He hasn't been well, and is not as active as before unfortunately. Tr.y a search.

nevcharlie - does he have something serious?

Ben Haines - I hope you get better very soon. Your advice has always been extremely helpful!!!!!

He's posted pretty much ten times a week in the past four months, since this question was asked, and answered in May...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34497156

I can't help but think that we should enjoy the pleasure of Mr. Haines' company for a goodly long time to come yet...

Best wishes,

Rex

Mr. Haines e-mailed me his list of recommended restaurants for my trip to London. I was overwhelmed by the list and his generousity in helping me out. We did eat at several of the places he recommended and want to thank him again for his help.

I am fairly new to this forum so didn't know about his feet until I read the thread Rex posted. Mr. Haines-I hope you are feeling better and are able to get around more. You are truly a kind and helpful gentleman.

Hope you are up and about soon Ben. Meanwhile, here is to your good health.

Thanks for the kind reports on Mr. Haines whereabouts. I hope he is feeling better and wish him happy travels as always.

As you were writing these kind things about me, I was spending a week at the Science Festival in Exeter of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (like the triple A, but smaller). On foot I hobbled, but between buildings I moved by bicycle, and I found that despite taking regular morphine my mind was wide awake. I greatly enjoyed the cut and thrust of debate, and put in not a few questions of my own. Now I am back home, and looking forward to the many lectures we have here in London. The current list is at http://victorianresearch.org/lectures.html, but I shall double it in a month.

My nurses think it possible that I shall recover to a great extent.

Thanks to you all.

Ben Haines

That's good news!

Dear Mr. Haines: Sending you my best. Health is the most precious of life's commodities.

Hurry up and get well soon, Mr. Haines. We're counting on you. Somehow I picture dozens of lost tourists wandering around the UK lost in train stations unable to find their way without your expert help!

Ben,

Could I please have your London restaurant list? I would appreciate it very much.

Thanks!

Monica ((F))
[email protected]

PS: Feel better SOON!!!!

Patrick-Not only would they be lost but they would be starving to death...

Ben - - good to hear from you. I trust you have probably read Bill Bryson's "Short History of Everything", which I have just started to read.

If not, and if I were ever to hear any such dreadful news as to your being bedridden and on your last breath - - I think I would come read it to you.

If science is not an even more wonderful thing than travel, then I don't know what is...

Mr Haines
Good to hear from you. And it seems we weren't too far apart - I spent the week with 20+ university friends in a huge house just by Bovey Tracey and the wonders of Dartmoor. Such a beautiful area and so much to do.
Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Kavey

Dear Mr Haines,
As others have already said, it is always a pleasure to hear from you.
Wishing you Well , show those nurses you can recover 100% !!

((F))((F))((F))
Scarlett

Best wishes for a full recovery Mr. Haines. I have always enjoyed your posts about my favorite city. Your hard work in putting all this valuable information is very much appreciated.

Very best wishes for your continued recovery Mr. Haines!! Thank you more than words can say for your incredibly valuable contributions here that have provided so any of us with wonderful experiences and memories to treasure...

So glad to hear that you have enjoyed the festival, Mr Haines.

Looking forward to the complete list next month, I am all green with envy.

Hopefully next spring comes, you will be happily on night train somewhere in the world again.

Dear Mr. Haines, I'm sorry to hear you are not feeling well. You have entertained me many times, just reading your desciptive posts, and have helped me many other times, especially last year when we took my children to Poland and Czech Republic. I'm going to London in 4 weeks and have planned my trip using much of the info you have on here. If I can be of any service to you or meet you for tea while I'm there, let me know. Hope you feel better soon. Mary [email protected]

For Judy C: I am glad to say that the lecture list is never complete.

For zwho, [email protected]. Thanks for your offer of help. Did I miss it, or have you already listed places and events in the Polish and Czech republics that pleased children ? As Fodors forum readers widen their attention eastwards I hope to see more places where I can use such a list. I know these countries a little, but have no ideas for what children will like. I know their parents will like the prices, and as you have found they are readily reached from Berlin, Munich, Vienna and even Frankfurt. If you have no list in kind, could you perhaps ask the children what they liked and disliked (sights, experiences, food and all) and tell us all what they say ? Also, in two months can you please tell us all where you found a good tea, and what in London the children like or dislike ? This last will go into my standing note on what forum parents say of London sites and children.

For Monica, [email protected]. What a practical response ! I am pleased to have all these notes of goodwill, but more pleased to be useful. I am e mailing you today.

[email protected]

Ben, I hope you feel better!

To Mr Haines' well-wishers, may I happily report that I had the great pleasure to have tea with Mr Haines two days ago, and met him at two lecture halls yesterday? So glad to see him bearing the discomfort, still be able to enjoy London's best offers.

It was really heartening to see him on a silver bike,charging into London frightening traffic fearlessly!

He is back, he posted a reply to someone's ATM queastion.

Mr. Haines
A toast! and blessings!

So good to hear from one of FODOR'S TRAVELING COMMUNITY most dear members !! :-D So generous and kind, his replies are always about giving. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

Ben, best wishes for a smooth recovery. I am so appreciative of the practical, accurate and humorous advice you gave me for our trip to London a couple years ago. Our trip was perfect... Regards!

Ben - I wish I would have had the opportunity to have tea with you when we were in London at the end of August. We did eat at several of your recommended restaurants, thanks again for the great list.

Now I will have another reason to return to London-tea with Mr. Haines.

Mr. Haines,
Your insight,information, and kindness are greatly appreciated. We pray for your strength and improved health.

pilgrim