Interns
There has been a lot of talk lately in how those with power and money have got their children work experience, which is of the highest class and out of the reach of those without privelege and wealth.
It has always been thus.
Take my example.
My father was a successful letterpress printer in Wood Green. He employed half a dozen people and we lived comfortably in the days before letterpress was replaced by offset litho. Much of his work was for a company called Enfield Rolling Mills, that as the name suggests rolled metals into something useful. In their case it was non-ferrous metals, like copper, bronze and aluminium, which were turned into bars, sheets and cables.
So when I got my place at Liverpool University to read electronics, and I needed some work experience, he decided to do something about it. His business wasn’t that healthy too, and he had told me that, he wouldn’t be able to find me work for the summer.
In his usual manner, he started at the top and phoned John Grimston, the Earl of Verulam, who was the boss of his largest customer.
They found me a place in their electronics laboratory, where I had my first lesson in controlling processes. I also learned a lot about industry, health and safety, the various trades and their unions and of course life, which gave me a lot of rich anecdotes I use to this day. Only today, I related to my physio, a story about lady cricketers gleaned from one of my colleagues.
To say that internship, as we’d call it today, changed my life, would be an understatement.
But I got it because my fsther knew someone with influence. And also because he never felt anybody too grand to ask for a favour.
How To Fit Trainers
I have been in need of a new pair of trainers or tennis shoes for some time. I’ve bought two pairs and they sit in my cupboard unworn, as they are so uncomfortable. My trouble is that I have small but wide feet.
I saw my physio this morning and he recommended going to Runners Need in Kings Cross, where you can try out your new shoes on a treadmill before you buy them.
I went and was impressed, as when the video they took of my feet was played back, I could see that my legs were straight and correct in the shoes that the assistant thought would be best for me. They actually didn’t have my proper size, so I’ll have to go back to get them, when they have got them in.
It would seem to me, that if you are buying a pair of shoes for running or walking, that this the way to do it. With my horse-racing experience, I know that this sort of analysis has been done with horses, to try to predict performance. Before you buy a horse to race, you would always trot it up and down to see that its action was correct.
Now I am not disabled, but I do have a slight balance problem after my stroke. There are also people who have got bad backs or need or have had hip or knee transplants. I felt it helped me and I could feel that the walking shoes I tried, which had a bit of support, were rather better than my worn out tennis shoes. So would others benefit?
No Shredders in the City
My rather-too-cheap shredder failed a week ago and you’d think being close to the City of London, it would not be difficult to get a new and better one!
Wrong!
After a couple of abortive trips to the nearest PC World and Maplins, where they were out of stock, I decided to take the bull by the horns and go to Staples at Tottenham Hale.
In the end I chose one that just fitted in my large Tesco bag-for-life.
It also fitted the steps of the escalators on the Underground well and I could place it under the seat on one of the new Victoria line trains, so getting it back home wasn’t the hassle I thought it would be.
But why are there no shredders in the City?
Crazy Ticketing
Next week, I’m going to an evening match at Portman Road on Tuesday and the following week it’s the Norwich match on the Thursday.
Unless I want to spend forever in Ipswich before the match because of ticketing restrictions, I can’t use a cheap ticket on any train out of London after 16:30. Which means that I end up in a town with no decent gluten-free restaurant, with nothing to do until kick-off time. There are some nice things to do in Ipswich, but I’ve done them all.
It was suggested to me by the ticket staff at Liverpool Street, that as I indicated I could profitably travel to Cambridge or Bury St. Edmunds, that I could save money by taking a return to Bury St. Edmunds and then breaking my journey on the way back.
How many fans will see the crazy midweek prices and not go by train at all?
Does Public Transport Combat Racism?
I wonder about this, but the masses of different races and nationalities, that use public transport have to get on.
When you swipe your card by the driver on a bus say, you often wave and say thank you and if the bus isn’t busy you’ll often get a cherry reply, whatever the race of the driver. And let’s face it, is there a race not represented amongst London bus drivers.
Often too, you’ll strike up a conversation with the person next to you, about something trivial. Sometimes this will be caused by my apologising for being clumsy because of the stroke and I can’t remember receiving a rude response.
One incident stands out. I was needing to get by a black man of my own age, as I’d rather hidden myself away on a corner seat, at the back of the bus. So I apologised before I hit him with my rucksack. He said not too bother, as he was very happy and after five years as a widower he was going to propse to his girlfriend that day. I said I was a widower too and he said that it’ll all work out. He waved me goodbye as I left the bus. Good luck to him and I hope the lady accepted his proposal.
So when you throw people together and they all get mixed up, does it take the racial tension out of living?
I think the only thing we need to ensure is that when we travel on a bus or train, that we treat everybody in the way we would like to be treated ourselves.
Bus Information Signs
We need a lot more of these.
Bus Information Sign
And hopefully, you’ll be able to check them on the Internet. That way, I wouldn’t have to leave the house in the rain, unless I knew a bus was turning up in a few minutes.
Apparently improvements and more signs are on the way.
Coal Hole Covers
There are a few coal hole covers still left in Hackney and Islington.
Sadly many of these nice pieces of Victoriana have been collected or stolen and then melted down for the metal.
I don’t have one as my house is new and there are none down the road, as they have the wrong type of cellar.
Standing at Football Matches
This old chestnut seems to be resurfacing again.
What is needed is some proper scientifically correct debate on the subject.
I’ve been to quite a few grounds this year and some illustrate the problem and the solution well.
Take the disgrace that is Loftus Road, the home of Queens Park Rangers. The away end is dangerous with lots of broken seats and when Ipswich were there every seat was full. Everybody had to stand to get any view of the action. It looks like they will be going up to the Premiership next year and if they don’t do something about it, there might well be a few injuries.
On the other hand there is the Emirates. I had a superb view from my seat without needing to stand at all. But then the seat was slightly laid back and the pitch is laid with large margins, so that everyone can see all the action.
I know we can’t all have stadia as good as Arsenal’s, but some of the medium-sized ones like Middlesbrough, Derby, Burnley, Barnsley and Norwich can give you a pretty good view, with just the occasional standing for things like goals, and applauding.
In my view, those that want standing have got the wrong argument. If we have properly designed grounds, then there is actually no need.
For a start we should send the bulldozers into Loftus Road.
The Anonymous Widower 