Megrahi Leaves More Questions Than Answers
Having seen the one-man show Lockerbie: Unfinished Business at the Edinburgh Fringe two years ago, I have always been suspicious that Megrahi was the man behind the Lockerbie bombings.
In the meantime,nothing has convinced me, that he was guilty and I agree with the show, that it was more likely, Iran was behind the bombing.
Now that Megrahi has died, it makes it even less likely that the truth will be discovered.
If you have a view on this case, read this. If it changes your view, note why in your mind.
The More I Travel on the New Bus for London, the More I Learn
The New Bus for London reveals another facet of its design every time I travel on one. Today for instance, I noticed that the upper-deck handholds were spaced for ease of walking and of course safety.
I also had a chat with a guy travelling alone in a wheel-chair.
He liked the bus, as he had more space and it was easier to turn his chair and get it in position for travel and for alighting.
Both these small points for me, but important for others, show how the designers of the bus, seem to have taken a fresh look at everything. Or at least chosen the best practice from past designs.
London’s First New Conductress
As my cooker has now gone, all I have to cook food is a microwave. So tonight, I took a 38 bus up to Upper Street to go to Carluccio’s.
I got a New Bus for London from the Balls Pond Road on my outward journey and by chance the same bus on the return. It was the first time, that the conductor on the bus, hadn’t been a man.
London’s First New Conductress
Note that she has taken up the surf position, that all London conductors, male or female, used to use on Routemasters and their predecessors, like the RTs, on which I used to go to school.
It’s Gibbon Time
I took a New Bus for London up to Piccadilly Circus this afternoon and it was surprisingly busy for a Sunday afternoon.
A Busy New Bus for London
When I got off, I used the rear staircase and I found that the vertical hand holds were alternated for my left and right hands. So I swung down the bus like a gibbon. I’m not sure, whether all buses are like that on the top deck. But if they are not, they should be! The slightly rough texture of the hand holds also gives a good grip for my gammy left hand.
Incidentally, note in the picture, how the handholds slant outwards. Does this effectively make the gangway wider? Or just appear so? I must take my tape measure with me to check!
After all, when you are rehabilitating from a stroke, like I am, isn’t it a bit cheaper to get free exercise in everything you do?
Are All London’s Central Bus Routes Going Hybrid?
I was talking to a bus driver today and he said that all routes through the city would be using hybrid buses. Did he mean the actual City or Central London?
It’s all good progress either way, as they are quieter, emit less pollution, are better to ride on and create less carbon-dioxide emissions. At present we have 225 hybrid buses in London, with new ones on routes 43 and 149 having been introduced recently. There’s more about London’s hybrid buses here.
In some ways though to put the new buses in the central parts of London is a good idea, as that is where the pollution is worst. It also may have a secondary effect, in that it impresses visitors, either through clean air or though curiosity about the technology. It certainly wouldn’t hurt this country, if we became world leaders in the technology.
Haringey to Limit Junk Food
The Sunday Times reports today, that Haringey is to going to limit the number of junk food shops in poor areas of the borough. Here’s a flavour of their report.
Health officials in Haringey, north London, plan to curb the number of fried chicken, burger and pizza outlets in poor parts of the borough where men die, on average, nine years younger than those from its leafier areas. It proposes using planning powers to limit fast-food restaurants after finding there were up to six times more such outlets in poorer districts.
Let’s hope it all works out and spreads to the next borough to the south, Hackney. The Kingsland Road has little else, except loan and pound -shops.
Has Roy Hodgson Made a Good Decision Over Terry?
Let’s face it John Terry has a few problems. Except for the stupid red card, he got against Barcelona, none of these really concern his football.
Now that Chelsea has effectively won the European Champions League without him, he should be fired up to do well in Euro-2012, in a back four, that will contain, two of his club-mates. Only the right back is suspect, now that Kyle Walker is injured.
I suspect Roy Hodgson has told John Terry, that this will be his last chance to get a major honour by means of his playing skills.
So I think he called it right!
The Anonymous Widower 