Advogato blog for ringbark

I'm in the bar

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:05:00 GMT

I was pretty tired before the day started, and by six o'clock it was
definitely time to stop. Across London to Olympia in time to watch the
Gafcon documentary. Not surprisingly I wasn't happy with it. Then
University Challenge, a phone conversation with Christopher, who seems
to be more lively than I am and with Viv. Then down here for a bite to
eat and a couple of glasses of fruit juice before I turn in for an
early night.

Live from Northampton

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:03:20 GMT

It's about one week in three, it seems, that we are diverted onto the
Northampton line because of signalling issues and today is one of
those days. On the plus side, the music channels are working; on the
other side, there's no power to the credit card and receipt printer in
the buffet or the power points at the seats.
Home at a decent time on Friday night. Some shopping...actually quite
a lot of shopping...on Saturday. Sunday morning and it was the
ordinary service. In the afternoon, it was a farewell to Darren and
Sharon on the rectory lawn. It's being rehabilitated as a place for
events. Maybe we'll even see the return of the Rectory Garden Party?
Christopher went along to the farewell and seemed to enjoy it, though
tiredness does seem to be the way at the moment, but I seem to be not
much different myself.
Another day at the Bank today. But with the Northampton detour it
won't be a ten o'clock start today. Perhaps half past.

Wembley on a Wednesday

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:06:21 GMT

Good morning, olgeta!
Once I arrived at the office, it all started. There was no let-up till
after ten o'clock when I finally set off, exhausted, for Wembley.
Along with far more passengers than I expected, I hurried from
Marylebone Bakerloo to the mainline to catch the northbound train.
Just made it. Won't say anything about the hotel here: I'm still in
discussions with the manager.
Tuesday was a relatively quieter day, though I was alarmed by the
realisation that the thought "at least I can leave early tonight" as I
was packing up came at half past six.
This morning, a stupidly overcrowded train as a result of a mech
failure meaning only two cars instead of four. Yes, we did get an
apology. Now, on to Bishopsgate.
The word from home is that Christopher is still as well as might be
expected. Matthew is still off to school till the end of the week.
David is still in Vancouver, unless he has headed off to Rockridge by
now.
Viv is in Keswick, and will be back to Wirral mid-afternoon as far as
I know. And Betty is keeping an eye on what's happening.
I phoned Matthew this morning: "ah, so you've called to harass me
too?" Sorry. It shows we care, I suppose.

This just in: +Rowan apologises that Christianity is offensive to
Muslims. I suppose that nobody worries that Islam is offensive to me.
That's the problem with discrimination. Nobody takes it seriously if
it's against a white, Christian, heterosexual male. I suppose I'll
have to "get over it". One rule for you, one rule for me.

Euston Square

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:03:26 GMT

Defective train at Great Portland Street, so delays on all eastbound
services. Further, I'd guess that when the trains do come through,
they'll be somewhat on the full side. "Thank you for your patience."
Well, we'll just wait and see. Pity. I was all set for a record
door-to-door time.
The empty train has just passed through Euston Square. Next train:
Aldgate 1 minute...
Oh, the humanity. I think I'll take my chances waiting another minute
for the next one.
Circle Line via KX... Here it comes... Much better. I can even stand
in comfort on this one. Don't know what it'll be like after KX.
Worse, but this isn't the worst trip I've ever been on. Oh no, indeed.
That was on the Sloop John B with my grandfather.
And so to Farringdon, where you will be saved any more of this drivel
if there's mobile signal at the platform. Have a great day, all.

No, I don't know why

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:03:15 GMT

Just past Milton Keynes. After the service last night, it was curry
time again. Then off to bed for an early start again. Up at 05.15 as
usual. Live rail info told me that the 07.15 out of Chester was
cancelled AGAIN. But I had time today to rush to catch the 06.08 out
of Bromborough and the 06.30 out of Chester to catch the 07.05 from
Crewe to Euston. That will get to Euston around nine o'clock which is
ridiculous.
But it is a beautiful morning, and Virgin have started their summer
rules, so I'm sitting pretty in Coach G. Sally, are you paying
attention? Coach G is Standard Class on all Pendolinos till 7 Sept.
Nothing much else has happened since last night.
Christopher is feeling much better but isn't happy about what he can't
do at the moment. Yes, he can probably go to the cinema but not by
himself. And what 14 year old really wants to go to the cinema with
Mummy? This is something to sort out over the summer, of course.
And that's about it from me for now. More soon. But don't count on it,
as I think it will be a very busy week.

Sunday night sunset

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:03:16 GMT

Just about nothing happened to me yesterday. After Viv left to go to
the trustees meeting, I went back to bed and didn't get up till
o'clock. Then it was time to wash dishes and cook some eggs for lunch.
In the afternoon, Christopher and I took a leisurely walk to the local
shops to buy bread, milk and, for Christopher, a 99. Then back home.
Viv was home before too late in the evening. This morning, I was
leading the morning service and leading prayers in the evening.
Between the two, there was time for a chicken dinner, a game of
Flutter, a walk round by the Dibbinsdale and a cup of coffee. And now
I'm at Port Sunlight station, filling in fifteen minutes as I just
missed the train before. Well, maybe 14 and a half if everything is on
time.
It's a sunny evening here in the Wirral. But will the good weather
last the week in Boris Johnsonville?

Trains

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:04:49 GMT

There is something about the look and sound of a train. The excitement
of seeing the locomotive and coaches of the express train to London
from a provincial town. It's a powerful image. All through last year,
almost every morning I would see it at Chester Station and it was
truly a wonder that I never got on it anyway. Now, of course, I catch
it at least once a week.
Sometimes, when it is stupidly overcrowded, I'm not so sure, but it is
still a special event. Perhaps less so in some places. The Flying
Scotsman at noon from King's Cross, first stop Newcastle. Well, not
these days, but it does still leave at noon.
These are the magical rail services. The speed, the convenience, the
opportunity to snooze, read, have a snack or a drink and now the
environmental benefit over flying (long distance) or driving (short
distance) all add up to something very wonderful.
But why do governments of all political colours over so many years
spend so little on rail infrastructure. Even now, as oil prices rise
and demand increases, more is still being spent on roading by a great
many times. The time is now to turn round the evils of Beeching and
Thatcher and their woeful and arrogant short-sightedness and invest
heavily in railways. Improvements and new lines in Britain are
urgently needed for passenger and freight traffic. You know it makes
sense.

Let's go...let's go home

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:05:07 GMT

It has been that sort of a day. I missed out on another abominably
slow breakfast this morning because I needed to be in the office for
7. As it turned out, I needn't have bothered because there were Issues
with the data I was supposed to be using. As the day progressed,
things got a little better.
After the five o'clock conference call, there were a couple of things
to do before I left. Unfortunately, I missed the 18.08 train by just a
whisker, if indeed it ran at all. I'm now on the 18.17 to Lime Street,
which is very full and running late. I don't remember when I was last
on a train that was completely declassified. I'm now sitting in Coach
G, though I was standing as far as MK. I got talking to a small group
of younger people, who were kind enough get me some stuff as they
ventured through the train to get supplies, so I have benefitted from
delivery of a beer, a sandwich and a flapjack, while they have
benefitted from a used Evening Standard with a review of Neil Young's
concert last weekend, with photograph. It all brightens up an
otherwise quite lonely journey. By now, I'd hope to be at Crewe
normally, but as it is, we're not even at Stafford. And a warm welcome
to any new readers. You know who you are.
And in about an hour and a half, David will be arriving at Vancouver
Int'l Airport. That will be about the same time I get home. I've heard
from him a few times, generally asking permission or forgiveness for
using a card on my account.
Stafford. Here it is. I remember that the station used to be
overlooked by the Stafford Grinding Wheel Company, which doesn't seem
to be there any longer. In the twilight gloom, I see a southbound
train at another platform.

Corporate challenge

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:03:15 GMT

I did two things this morning I've never done before:
1. I changed from the Northern Line (Charing Cross branch) to the Northern Line (City branch). At Euston, as it happens.
2. I knowingly travelled on the longest escalator in Europe, at Angel. (Pedants please explain if it isn't.)
Then a morning spent testing our disaster recovery systems before going back across the City. Lunch in the pub, to say goodbye to a colleague who is leaving our department. No, I only had s teak sandwich and orange juice.
Most of the afternoon in conference calls before getting changed for the Corporate Challenge.
Travelled out to Battersea Park with some colleagues.

Distance: 5.6 kilometres (3.5 miles)

Time: 47m 12s

Average: 8m 26s per km

Not so brilliant, but not too bad either. Up early to be in the office early tomorrow though.

Breakfast

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:09:21 GMT

Well, it's just about 07:40 and breakfast here has only just got under
way. What could be a great little hotel in central London could well
be letting itself down in this simple way. It resembles the dreaded
John Howard at first glance, but in fact is a lot more charming. More
later.