Is This Really the Most Read News Story on the BBC?
Look at the BBC News web site today and this is the most read news story.
I think this says just as much about the general public, as it does about Vane Rooney and his hair transplant!
A Day At The Races
It was a good day, despite the fact that we didn’t win any bets, but we had a good place sitting in the sun, with a good view of the course and a big screen.
It was a pity too, that the Queen’s horse, Carlton House, didn’t win, but then she would have said something like. “That’s racing!”
The only problem we had was that the train had to stop at East Croydon, so we had to change there for Tattenham Corner. So the train was rather crowded and we were fifteen minutes later than we should have been.
If I go again, I’ll also plan the picnic better and probably take a rug.
Off to the Derby Today
I’m off to the Derby today to give my support to the Queen. Just as her judges have given Kieren Fallon a handicap. Is he riding? If not, this must help Carlton House.
I’m taking the 11:45 from London Bridge, which is free as Tattenham Corner station is in zone 6, so that’s Freedom Pass territory. It’ll be just £25 an adult to get into the cheap enclosure with atmmosphere. I will probably put my returns from William Hill on the Tote Placepot.
An Enormous Religious Issue
I’ve just realised that a Jewish friend (lapsed), said when I phoned yesterday, Friday, that she had to hurry as she had to put the washing on.
Are there any religious restrictions on days, when doing your smalls is not allowed. I suppose Friday is alright for the Jews, but would a Catholic fishmonger wash his work clothes on that day?
I just do mine, when I’m short of underpants or socks.
The Match Tax
I’d never heard of this, but whilst walking back to Bow Road station to come home, I saw this plaque.
Plaque Commemorating Opposition to the Match Tax
I’d never heard of the Match Tax. But of course, the old Bryant and May factory is just round the corner. It’s now up-market housing called Bow Quarter.
I can’t find much about the Match Tax on the Internet, except for this proof copy of the stamp that would have been used. It was never implimeted because of a public outcry.
The New Bridge at the Bow Interchange
I finally made it and about ninety minutes after I left Bromley-by-Bow station I arrived at the new bridge.
I shall return in a couple of months, when it hopefully will make crossing the busy roads at the Bow Interchange a lot easier.
Back to the Bow Interchange
I walked along the Greenway and then turned onto the towpath of the westernmost tributary of the River Lee. It was more about exploring than with any purpose, although I did think it would lead to my finding of the new bridge.
In the end I found it led to Bow Road and Bow Interchange, which is perhaps a kilometre from Bromley-by-Bow station.
An Insignificant Plate on the Greenway
From Pudding Mill Lane, I decided not to take the easy route of transport home, so I climbed onto the Greenway and thought about having a coffee in the ViewTube. But it was too late, as the cafe was closed. There was an American film crew there, making a piece about the Olympics, as there often is, so I gave them some of the history about the area, the sewers and Joseph Bazalgette.
Marshgate Lane Plate
This plate in the Greenway, is all that is there to indicate one of the largest of the Olympic construction contracts.
To create easy access to the Olympic site and easpecially after the Games, Marshgate Lane is being lowered so that large trucks can get in. It is not an easy job, as they are effectively having to tunnel under the Northern Outfall Sewer and as the name indicates, the area used to be a marsh. People often wonder why projects cost more and run late. This is one that has a high degree of risk, although it should be ready in time, but one misplaced action could conceivably break the sewer and cover everything in the outflow from several million toilets.
Luckily, knowing Bazalgette, he built a degree of strength into the sewer that will protect everything and everyone.
Along the Bow Back Rivers
I crossed Stratford High Street and then found my way to Pudding Mill Lane station on the DLR. I passed across and along one of the Bow Back Rivers, originally created to channel water power from the River Lee to the flour mills in the area.
At present access is restricted to many of these rivers because of construction of both the Olympic Park and CrossRail. But they will become a major water feature of the Olympics. The City Mill River and the City Mill Lock have recently been restored.
The Anonymous Widower 