Proving I’m Not Tired of Life!
It was Samuel Johnson, who famously said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life!”
As there was little to do to keep me at home, I got a lift from one of the stud staff to the small station at Dullingham from where I got the local train to CAmbridge from the fast train to London.
Cambridge Train Arriving at Dullingham
For just £21.10, I bought a ticket that got me to London and allowed me to roam all over the city as far as Croydon in the South and Barking in the East. So I do have a Senior Railcard!
When I left I hadn’t too much idea about what I was going to do, but I had vague thoughts about travelling around seeing some of the sights and perhaps going to see some friends in South London.
Well, within an hour from leaving Dullingham, I was in Kings Cross, after an enjoyable journey chatting with three ladies of about my own age. The American lady opposite was at a legal Summer School in Cambridge and was intending to use the trains to explore London and places further, whilst in the city. I think she said that she’d bought a Senior Railcard in Cambridge to get the discount of a third on tickets. I hadn’t realised that the cards were available for non-UK citizens, but it seems fair and it will encourage tourists of the right type.
Farewell Alex Higgins!
I always like to think, that I programmed in my pomp like Alex Higgins played snooker in his! That may be arrogant, but I can remember when he won one of his World Championships, I followed the final to the bitter end, whilst I was sorting out the scheduler in Artemis. It was always the scheduler, that caused me such grief! I can remember punching the air, as the last ball went in!
Now Alex has been taken. Probably by the Devil, who needs more tips on how to live a life of excess.
Snooker will never be the same again!
What worries me, is that he was younger than me! I hope he jumped the queue!
Saying Sorry
Camilla Cavendish hit the nail firmly on the head with her piece entitled Just say sorry, I promise I won’t sue you! in yesterday’s Times.
It makes a lot of difference and is so easy, especially with new technology. For instance, why not have a Sorry, your points are noted signature in your Outlook setup, so when someone e-mails you with a complaint about a late train, you can at least get the start of the reply right.
I recently made a complaint to O2 about the non-performance of the courier swapping a mobile phone. I Got a proper letter starting with a sorry, going through the problems with the courier and then ending with a thank you.
In fact, as they had my e-mail address, they didn’t actually need to write, so they obviously thought about their response.
i’ve also had an apology from my John Lewis Partnership card about the non-delivery of vouchers, as they are having troubles with the supplier. That came with 500 extra points.
So perhaps things are getting better.
I know that when I bump into people on the street because of my bad visibility because of the strokes I have had, I more often than not get a sorry in return. Often before I’ve spoken!
I hope so!
The Anonymous Widower 