Albert Hall Reverses Ban On Trustees Touting Seats
This has happened according to this report in the Telegraph.
It’s not the touting that annoys me, it’s the fact that sometimes you go to a venue and because those that own the seats aren’t interested in what’s going on, the seats are empty. You get this at Wembley, when there are some of the play-off finals, which those who’ve bought expensive trances of seats, feel are beneath them to watch. Why can’t these seats be rounded up and say given to kids in the town and perhaps a guardian each, many of whom will never get the chance to go to an iconic venue.
To me every empty seat is a disgrace, except possibly when say Norwich and Manchester United are playing, neither of whom, I’d watch, especially if you plied me with prawn sandwiches.
So perhaps if the touting is controlled, this would be to the benefit of all and sundry.
Mastercard at the Olympics
Not on VISA’s nelly, as they’ve removed the cash machines that accept them, as is reported here.
I have all three of VISA, Mastercard and AMEX, and generally have them all with me, but for most transactions I use Mastercard, as it helps me keep track of my expenses. AMEX I use for holidays and travel, so that the insurance kicks in and VISA generally takes up space in my wallet.
But no sponsor, is going to tell me which card to use!
I assume they use those credit cards with Lizzie’s picture on them.
Anyway what would I be able to buy at venues, as there might not be any gluten-free food, in which case, I’ll have to take my own.
A Dalmation on the Tube
Dalmations don’t have the reputation of being the brightest of dogs and perhaps this is why you don’t see too many. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen one since I moved to London.
So it was quite a surprise to see one behaving very well on a lead in the depths of Highbury and Islington station this morning.
A Smart 277 Hybrid Bus
Of all the routes near me, the 277 generally has the worst buses. But as I generally only use it for a couple of stops to get to and from the station, I can put up with it.
Imagine my surprise to see that this morning, a brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 hybrid bus, appeared to be heading towards Highbury and Islington station with 277 proudly emblazoned on the front.
I’ll treat it as a mirage until I see it again.
Bus and Tube Information at Euston Station
When you arrive at the station in a city or town, you often need information to complete your journey to your final destination.
Bus and Tube Information at Euston Station
Most London stations have information booths like this provided by Transport for London at Euston station. I’ve never found such a booth in Manchester Piccadilly and I meant to check Liverpool Lime Street today, but forgot.
They say this about buses at Liverpool Lime Street on the National Rail website.
‘Arriva’ and ‘Stagecoach’ operate a network of daily, frequent bus routes around the city and also to nearby towns. For route maps and timetables: http://www.arrivabus.co.uk and http://www.stagecoachbus.com/merseyside
Liverpools main bus station (on Roe Street) is about 4 minutes walk from Lime Street station.
So should I assume there is no booth. How do you find out what bus company you need?
The same web site gives this for Euston.
Bus route maps are available from Transport for London’s website.
There is no mention of the excellent booth, although the link does point to bus maps for Camden.
There is also no way to contact the National Rail web site, to kick them into line. So we are just Self Loading Cargo left to our own devices.
The BBC’s Description of Today’s Torch Relay Leg
The Olympic Torch is going from Bolton to Liverpool today. I was drawn to their description of the leg on the BBC’s web site.
Through Lancashire and down the coast to Knotty Ash, made famous by Ken Dodd and his Diddy Men characters, via Aintree Racecourse to Liverpool, home of The Beatles, two top football clubs and once known for its wealth as the “Second City of Empire”.
In my view Liverpool may not now be the “Second City of Empire”, but it’s certainly the Second City in the UK.
The description is accompanied by a picture of a horse jumping to victory in the Grand National. I thought for a moment the horse was Red Rum, but the picture is more recent, the colours are wrong and the horse doesn’t have a sheepskin noseband.
Eat your heart out Manchester!
Where’s your historic city centre, world-famous racecourse and amazing river? To name but three!
Off to Liverpool Today
I’m going to watch the Olympic Torch Relay in Liverpool today. It’s going straight through the University, where C and I met. I will just walk up the hill to the Victoria Building.
The weather looks to be reasonably good.
If you are watching the relay on the Internet, today promises to be one of the most architecturally spectacular days so far. The flame is going past the two cathedrals, through the City Centre, past St. George’s Hall, under and over the Mersey and then the evening celebration will be in front of The Three Graces at the Pier Head. Remember that a lot of the centre of Liverpool is a World Heritage Site called the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City.
The Olympic Torch will feel at home as it passes St. George’s Hall, which has been described by Nicholas Pevsner as one of the finest neo-Grecian buildings in the world. In 1967 or 1968, during Panto Week, the students organised a hog roast in front of the hall. I doubt anybody would be allowed to do that now!
The Anonymous Widower 