Liverpool Street Station – 20th February 2026
I took these pictures this morning.
Note.
- There are not enough lifts and escalators.
- It is a station with three monumental clocks and a couple of digital ones.
- There are certainly a lot of shopping, but much of it is tired.
- The Leon in the station isn’t there anymore.
- There is not a gluten-free restaurant in the station, that I would trust enough to use, but there is a Marks & Spencer Food outlet.
This is a visualisation of the upgraded station from Network Rail.
Man In Seat 61: My Nail-Biting Journey To Orkney By tTrain And Ferry
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the heading.
Now the Caledonian Sleeper connects the Midlands to Scotland in style. Mark Smith travels to the UK’s most northerly rail station and beyond
These are the first two paragraphs.
In January the Caledonian Sleeper added Birmingham to its route from London to Scotland — its first new stop in 30 years. With a ticket for one of the first departures and a bucket-list desire to see the historic naval anchorage that is Scapa Flow, I would ride the sleeper to Inverness, take Scotland’s scenic Far North Line to Britain’s northernmost station and then sail across the Pentland Firth to Stromness. I could leave my Buckinghamshire home in the evening and reach Orkney 24 hours later without setting foot on a plane. It sounded like a plan.
The Highland sleeper (which travels to the Highlands; there is also a Lowland sleeper that travels to Edinburgh and Glasgow) rolled into Birmingham International at 10.42pm on the dot. I was greeted at the door by a steward with a friendly Scottish accent and my room key. He jotted down my breakfast reservation and I headed for room 4 in car L. The Cal Sleeper is rightly proud of its Scottish-made mattresses and fluffy duvets and I drifted off to sleep in my cosy berth to the sound of steel wheel on steel rail.
I feel adding a Birmingham International stop is a masterstroke, as it gives so many travel options.
- You could of course still join in London.
- I might go to Birmingham on Chiltern, as I prefer the trains to Avanti West Coast.
- There are lots of shows and exhibitions in Birmingham.
- If you had a relative in Scotland and you lived in the far South-East of England and Wales, half of the journey would be in a comfortable bed.
- Birmingham International has regular connections to Aberystwyth, Bournemouth, Pwllheli, Shrewsbury and Wrexham General.
- Some journeys might be easier with a change between plane and sleeper train at Birmingham International.
The list is endless and will grow as travellers have other ideas.
More imagination needs to be added to train journeys.
My first thoughts are.
There needs to be a Lumo-style service between Birmingham and Scotland and a sleeper between Birmingham and Penzance.
Two Thirds Of Sofia Wind Turbines Installed
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Seventy wind turbines have been installed at RWE’s Sofia offshore wind farm in the UK, according to a Notice to Mariners recently issued by the project team.
These two paragraphs give more details of the installation process.
The first of the project’s 100 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD wind turbines was installed in March 2025, and the work reached the halfway mark in September last year. The vessel deployed for the work is Cadeler’s Wind Peak, which is carrying components for six turbines per trip, operating from the port of Hull.
IWS service operation vessel (SOV) IWS Seawalker is supporting the wind turbine installation work.
Note.
- Sofia is being installed by German Company ; RWE.
- Sofa will use 14 MW Siemens Gamesa wind turbines, some of which have recyclable blades.
- The installation process is being carried out nearly 200 kilometers out to sea on the Dogger Bank.
The power will be connected to the grid at Lackenby substation, which is near the Wilton chemical works, which can certainly you the electricity.
Does Wilton Chemical Works Have A Power Station?
I asked GoogleAI, the question in the title of this section and received this reply.
Yes, the Wilton International industrial site (formerly associated with ICI chemical works) has multiple power stations and significant on-site energy generation, operated primarily by Sembcorp Utilities UK. The site features a biomass power station (Wilton 10), a further biomass unit (Wilton 11), and an energy-from-waste plant, supplying electricity and steam to chemical and industrial businesses on-site.
Note.
- Wilton 10 opened as a biomass power station in 2002.
- Wilton 11 opened as a biomass power station in 2016.
I seem to remember, that one of these power stations was there on my visits to Wilton for ICI in the 1970s.
Key details regarding power generation at Wilton:
Biomass & Waste-to-Energy:
The site transitioned from coal-fired units to renewable biomass and waste-to-energy, utilizing wood and other byproducts for power and heat generation.
Sembcorp Utilities:
Sembcorp operates the site’s energy infrastructure, which includes five different generation assets and a private wire network.
Capacity: The site hosts significant generation capacity, including a 52MW biomass unit and a 35MW unit.
Future Projects: The site is involved in developments for net-zero emissions, including the Whitetail Clean Energy project, which is planned as the UK’s first Net Zero emissions power plant with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
The site serves as a “plug and play” industrial location offering on-site, cost-effective energy.
Conclusion
This would appear to be a sensible small power system providing 1400 GW of wind power, backed up if needed be by the two biomass units, which total 87 MW.
Note, that ICI were storing gases under the site for many years, so I suspect, that Carbon Capture and Storage, might work well at this location.
I can see other places, where a wind farm, is combined with energy from waste for backup.
Are Wind Farms Being Backed Up By Energy From Waste Units In The UK?
I asked GoogleAI, the question in the title of this section and received this reply.
Yes, but only in a limited, complementary capacity, rather than as a direct, large-scale substitute for wind power.
Energy from Waste (EfW) units—commonly known as incinerators—are increasing in the UK, but their role in the grid is different from how we “back up” wind.
Here is a breakdown of how it works:
1. The Role of EfW (Baseload, not Backup)
Baseload Generation: EfW plants run 24/7 to burn waste. They provide a steady, consistent, predictable “baseload” of electricity (about 2–3% of UK supply).
Intermittency: Because they run constantly, they cannot ramp up and down quickly when the wind stops blowing. Therefore, they are not a “flexible” backup in the same way gas power plants are.
Partial Renewable: Around 50% of the energy produced by EfW is considered renewable (organic waste), helping the UK hit green targets.
2. What Actually Backs Up Wind?
When wind farms stop producing power during low-wind periods (often called “dunkelflaute”), the UK relies on other sources:
Natural Gas Plants: These are the primary, flexible backup that can ramp up instantly to fill gaps in renewable production.
Interconnectors: Imported electricity from other countries (e.g., Norway, France).
Battery Storage: Growing, but still small-scale compared to total demand.
3. How EfW Helps the Grid
EfW does assist the grid by providing system inertia and consistent, low-carbon, on-demand energy, reducing the need for more fossil fuels to be burnt at certain times. They are particularly useful for providing power when the grid is congested, but they do not specifically act as a “spare tire” for wind farms.
4. Future Trends
The government is looking to attach Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to EfW units, which would make them a low-carbon, dependable, and sustainable part of the energy mix by the 2030s.
In summary: EfW plays a part in supporting a greener grid, but it is not a direct substitute for the flexibility required to back up intermittent wind power.
5. Hydrogen Power
This is a section, that artificial intelligence has unsurprisingly left out, as no country has yet built the hydrogen storage and the power stations to generate the electricity, when it is needed.
But Note.
- SSE are building a big hydrogen store in Yorkshire at Aldbrough.
- Centrica are converting the Rough gas storage to a hydrogen store.
- SSE are building a 910 MW hydrogen-powered power station at Keadby.
- SSE are building a 1200 MW hydrogen-powered power station at Ferrybridge.
I suspect if you were building a chemical plant and Wilton fitted your budget, you would take a look.
Does Low B12 Make Your Hand Curl?
I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.
While “curling” is not a standard medical term for a B12 symptom, a severe deficiency can cause several neurological issues that may make your hand feel like it is curling, locking, or losing control.
Vitamin B12 is essential for maintaining the myelin sheath that protects your nerves. When this sheath is damaged, it can lead to various hand-related symptoms:
“Locking” or Stiffness: Some patients report a “feeling like locking of fingers” or significant clumsiness.
Useless Hand Syndrome: A rare but documented manifestation where a person has extreme difficulty performing fine movements with their hands, often due to spinal cord involvement from the deficiency.
Muscle Spasms and Cramps:
Low B12 can cause muscle cramps and involuntary movements that might cause the hand or fingers to contract or “curl”.
Paresthesia: The most common early sign is “pins and needles” or tingling in the hands, which can progress to numbness and a loss of coordination.
Muscle Weakness: General weakness in the limbs can make it difficult to hold objects, leading to a perceived loss of hand function.
Are We Not Getting Enough B12 In The UK?
I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.
While most people in the UK who consume a balanced diet containing meat, fish, and dairy get enough vitamin B12, a significant minority—estimated at around 6% of adults under 60 and up to 20% of those over 60—are estimated to be deficient or have low levels. The prevalence of deficiency increases with age, with up to 1 in 10 people over the age of 75 affected.
Here is a breakdown of the situation regarding B12 in the UK:
Who is Most at Risk?
Older Adults: The highest risk group is people over 60, due to reduced stomach acid leading to food-bound vitamin B12 malabsorption.
Vegans and Vegetarians: Because B12 is found naturally in animal-derived foods, those on plant-based diets are at higher risk if they do not
consume fortified foods (such as plant-based milks, nutritional yeast, or breakfast cereals) or take supplements.
People with Absorption Issues: The most common cause of severe deficiency in the UK is pernicious anaemia, an autoimmune condition that stops the body from absorbing B12, rather than a lack of dietary intake.
Individuals on Long-Term Medication: Certain drugs, including Metformin (for diabetes) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs for acid reflux), can impair B12 absorption.
Is the UK Recommendation Too Low?
The UK government recommends an intake of 1.5 micrograms (μg) a day for adults. However, some experts argue this is too low, noting that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggests 4 μg/day, and that 4 to 20 μg/day might be more appropriate to prevent deficiency.Symptoms of Deficiency
If you are not getting enough B12, you may experience:
- Extreme tiredness or fatigue
- Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
- Muscle weakness
- Cognitive changes, such as problems with memory or understanding
- A sore, red tongue
Recommendations
Dietary Sources: Eggs, meat, fish, shellfish, and dairy products are excellent sources.
Fortified Foods & Supplements:
Vegans are advised to eat foods fortified with B12 daily or take a supplement (such as 10-50 micrograms daily)
- Check with a GP: If you suspect a deficiency, a blood test is required, particularly if you are vegan, older, or have digestive issues, as long-term deficiency can cause irreversible damage.
Does Lack Of B12 Degrade Your Eyesight?
I asked this question of Google AI and received this answer.
Yes, a lack of vitamin B12 can degrade your eyesight, typically by causing a condition known as nutritional optic neuropathy. This occurs because B12 is essential for maintaining a healthy nervous system, and a deficiency can damage the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain.
Here is how a B12 deficiency can impact your eyes and vision:
Optic Neuropathy: A, often painless, progressive, bilateral, and symmetrical reduction in visual acuity.
It often results in blurred or disturbed vision, central or cecocentral scotomas (blind spots), and reduced color vision.
Vision Loss: Severe, long-term B12 deficiency can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly.
Retinal Damage: B12 deficiency can cause retinal hemorrhages (bleeding in the retina), known as Roth’s spots.
Eye Movements: In rare cases, it can cause involuntary eye movements (nystagmus) or uncontrollable eye twitching.
Dry Eye Disease: Some evidence suggests B12 deficiency can cause severe dry eye issues and pain.
Reversibility
Vision problems caused by B12 deficiency are often reversible with prompt treatment.
However, if the damage is allowed to become chronic, the vision impairment can be permanent.
Risk Groups
Those at higher risk of B12 deficiency leading to vision issues include:
- Strict vegetarians and vegans.
- Older adults (60+).
- Individuals with pernicious anemia.
- People with gastrointestinal conditions (Crohn’s disease, celiac disease) or who have had weight-loss surgery.
I am in two of these groups, as I’m 78 and coeliac.
My First Eye Test
This was performed in about 1993, by a friend’s father, who was a retired Senior Eye Surgeon from Heath Road Hospital in Ipswich.
At the time, I wasn’t coeliac.
He said, that I’d got the driest eyes he’d ever seen. I actually told my last GP, so it may be in my notes.
Misearable Weather And My Eye Sight
In January, I wrote this post called Does Miserable Weather Deplete Your B12?
Is this why my eyes and especially my left eye, have been bad ladely?
Eating To Raise My Vitamin B12
Is My B12 Level Low?
Consider.
- The Weather Isn’t B12-Friendly As I found Out In Does Miserable Weather Deplete Your B12?
- My brain seems to hoover up any B12 it can find for its own purposes.
- I am getting signs in my body like red feet, pine-and-needles, which Google AI tells me could be low be a sign of B12.
I am not surprised my B12 is low.
B12 Rich Foods
Typing “B12 Rich Foods” into Google AI gave me this.
Vitamin B12-rich foods are primarily animal-based, with clams and beef liver offering the highest concentrations. Other excellent sources include fish (salmon, trout, tuna, sardines), red meat, eggs, dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese), and poultry. Vegetarians and vegans can find B12 in fortified foods like nutritional yeast, plant milks, and breakfast cereals.
I’ll now go through each food in order.
- Clams – Never tried them, but I’m not a great lover of shellfish! – My biggest client did poison himself on oysters in the City.
- Beef Liver – Love it!
- Fish (Salmon, Trout, Tuna, Sardines) – No Problem!
- Red Meat, Eggs – No Problem!
- Dairy Products (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese) – No Problem! – I’ve only eaten yoghurt in the last few years.
- Poultry – No Problem!
I think I can increase my B12 intake with foods I like.
I often eat two small pots of yoghurt a day, with the second with a punnet of strawberries.
Smoked Salmon Also Seemsw Good For My Diverticular Disease.
I’ve just got to watch what I eat!
But I have Seen Worse Diets
Is Smoked Salmon Good For Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
For lunch today, I made myself a sandwich with a 100 gram pack of Mark’s and Spencer’s smoked salmon.
Out of curiosity, I asked Google AI. “Is there any B12 in smoked salmon” and received this reply.
Yes, smoked salmon is an excellent source of vitamin B12. A 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving provides over 100% of the daily recommended value, with some studies showing as much as 136% (roughly 3.3µg) of the daily intake. It is considered a rich source of B12 along with other nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin D.
Key details regarding B12 in smoked salmon include:
High Concentration: A 3-ounce serving provides approximately 2.8 micrograms of vitamin B12.
Daily Needs: Consuming 100g of smoked salmon can fulfill 136% of the daily requirement for vitamin B12.
It looks like a pack of smoked salmon can provide my daily needs of B12.
I followed up, by asking Google AI, the question in the title of this post.
This was the answer that I received.
Smoked salmon can be a suitable protein choice for managing uncomplicated diverticular disease, particularly during periods when a low-fiber or moderate-fiber diet is recommended to manage symptoms. It is generally considered a lean, high-quality protein source.
However, the suitability of smoked salmon depends on the status of your condition:
During a Symptom-Free Period (General Diverticulosis):A healthy, balanced, high-fiber diet is recommended, and fish like salmon is a good choice.
During a Symptom Flare (Uncomplicated Diverticulitis):
A low-fiber, low-residue diet is typically recommended to allow the colon to rest.
Smoked salmon is generally acceptable as a soft, easy-to-digest protein source in this phase.
Important Considerations:
Smoked salmon is a processed meat (smoked/cured), and some guidelines advise limiting processed meats as they may contribute to inflammation,
or at least suggesting they should not be consumed frequently compared to fresh, white fish
Key Recommendations:
Include in a balanced diet:
It can be part of a healthy diet, for example, with low-FODMAP foods.
Watch for Sodium:
Smoked salmon can be high in salt, so moderate consumption is advised.
Focus on Lifestyle:Overall, a high-fiber diet (when not in a flare), plenty of water, and avoiding smoking are the best ways to manage diverticular disease.
It looks from this, that smoked salmon in moderation should be OK.
Disappearance Of Biological Sex In Research ‘Is Like Stalin-Era Purge’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
Sir Anthony Finkelstein, a university vice-chancellor, laments that the category has become ‘politically uncomfortable’
These three paragraphs add detail to the post.
A university vice-chancellor has warned of the “quiet disappearance” of sex as a recorded variable in academic research, likening pressure to abandon politically sensitive classifications to Stalin-era persecution of statisticians.
According to Times Higher Education, Sir Anthony Finkelstein, head of City St George’s, University of London, made the remarks at an event to discuss the Sullivan review, which recommended that biological sex be used as the default category in research data collection.
Finkelstein said it was essential that researchers retain established classifications for sex in their statistical analysis. He said: “In recent years, there’s been growing unease about recording sex as a basic variable, and pressure — sometimes explicit and sometimes ambient — to replace it with or collapse it into gender identity.”
I fund and participate in medical research and certainly wouldn’t do so, if I felt the research was not being conducted in a scientifically-correct manner.
Trump Revokes Landmark Ruling That Greenhouse Gases Endanger Public Health
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
US President Donald Trump has reversed a key Obama-era scientific ruling that underpins all federal actions on curbing planet-warming gases.
These three paragraphs add more details to the story.
The so-called 2009 “endangerment finding” concluded that a range of greenhouse gases were a threat to public health. It’s become the legal bedrock of federal efforts to rein in emissions, especially in vehicles.
The White House called the reversal the “largest deregulation in American history”, saying it would make cars cheaper, bringing down costs for automakers by $2,400 per vehicle.
Environmental groups say the move is by far the most significant rollback on climate change yet attempted and are set to challenge it in the courts.
By invoking scientifically incorrect leglislation like this Trump is going to make things a lot worse.
Lets hope his proposed legislation goes the way of his stop to the building of the five wind farms, that I wrote about in All Five Halted US Offshore Wind Farms Resume Construction.
The Anonymous Widower 