Okay, we broke a cardinal rule of Internet journalism. Never make a throwaway comment about a cult sci-fi series unless you are actively seeking a thousand emails pointing out how little you know about it. Last night, the Rat and Mouse suggested a London estate agent was named after a character in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Actually, it appears that the Douglas Adams character was named after the estate agent. Amongst the emails, the most polite and lucid and helpful came from Max:

Hmm -- maybe you're joking, but just in case: the character is of course named after the estate agent's Islington branch, near the late author's home. Not that I'm a sad H2G2 geek or anything.

Thanks; and especially for the link, which seems to clear things up. Except (and just watch me break that rule again) how is it that the estate agent was established in 1979 (according to its website and, according to the BBC, the "Hitchhiker's Guide..." was first broadcast in 1978?