The Gambling Spam Keeps Coming
I’m still getting the gambling spam, I reported about here.
I have only been counting since the 19th July, and as of this morning, I’ve received over 680 in a month.
This must rate installation in the Guinness Book of Records.
There is an iunsubscribe link on the e-mails. But it either doesn’t work or Outlook and my anti-spam system, doesn’t allow it to be used. I of course pass the link to my test machine, which means if it gets infected by a virus, I just delete everything.
St. Pancras, Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley Stations
St. Pancras and Kings Cross stations sit above one of the biggest Underground stations in London; Kings Cross St. Pancras. Over the last few years, the moles have been burrowing deep under and between the stations to make the access between all three stations, accessible for those in wheel-chairs and with heavy cases. It’s not perfect, especially, if you want to make a quick transfer to an Underground line, but it’s a lot better than it was.
Edinburgh Waverley has always been difficult for passengers, unless you arrive and leave in a taxi, as walking up the famous Waverley Steps has not been easy for anybody with a mobility problem. Network Rail are improving the station, by glazing the enormous roof properly with clear glass to get more light into the station and installing lifts to improve disabled access. You’d think the installation of lifts would be welcomed, but I was surprised to read this article in the Edinburgh Guide. Here’s an extract.
Two 16-person lifts now descend to Waverley from the roof of the Princes Mall. Also, as part of the “Waverley Steps Improvement Project” a new covered step and escalator access has been put in between Princes Street and the north entrance to Waverley station.
“The ‘Windy Steps’ have been given a vital upgrade and are now accessible and convenient for all passengers,” said David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, of the “stylish and bright” new entrance.
Personally, I liked it the way things were. Trudging up and down the broad staircase of the well-worn stone slabs of Waverley Steps, there was a sense of walking in the footsteps of millions of travellers before me.
Lifts and escalators leave me cold. The building materials have little of the traditional quality or aesthetic of Edinburgh’s New Town and Old Town architecture. The machinery usually requires large amounts of energy (more CO2 emissions), seeing as they are running all day.
They are, frankly, utilitarian and ugly.
That gives me the impression, that they think things should have been left the way they are.
I travel extensively by train and if you look at Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Newcastle, Sheffield and London Paddington and Waterloo, all have been or are being upgraded to improve the passenger experience.
I suppose the writer would perhaps prefer Edinburgh Waverley to revert to diesel or even steam power for the trains, as they are more in keeping with the history of Edinburgh.
The Olympic Park From John Lewis At Eastfield
John Lewis at Eastfield have opened a viewing gallery of the Olympic Park.
These are pictures, I took today.
It certainly gives good views of the Olympic Park.
The New Lifts At Hackney Central Station
The lifts at Hackney Central station are now complete and working.
As they are made by Stannah, I hope they’re not just for the elderly?
You’ll notice too, that it wasn’t raining this morning, when I took the pictures. Usually it rains hard, when I catch a train at this station.
Thoughts On Zopa’s Rapid Return
Zopa has a system called Rapid Return, which allows you to sell on loans.
I haven’t picked up a loan through someone else wanting to pass it on for over a year now.
Judging by the rules for Rapid Return, which mean that any loan that has missed a payment can’t be passed on and looking at the statistics for my loans, I would suspect it’s not a lack of eligible loans, but more that people are holding on to their loans. And especially the good ones! They’ve no choice with bad loans.
So does this mean that Zopa is attracting a credit-worthy class of borrower? If so, that’s good news.
All Four Engines Have Failed
This book, written by Betty Tootell is a fascinating read and in my view is one of the best that describes how people react under extreme stress.
All Four Engines Have Failed
It describes in detail, the time in 1982, when British Airways Flight 9 lost all power on a flight from London to New Zealand, because of a volcanic eruption on Java.
I’d lost my copy of the book in the move, so my son bought me a hardback copy for my birthday second-hand. It is in very good condition, like other books, that I’ve bought through Amazon’s second hand network.
The book would make a superb film, but I doubt that British Airways would co-operate, as it might put people off flying, despite the superb performance of the aircraft and the crew. The film would have one of the best quotes of modern times from the captain, Eric Moody, as he tried to sort out the problems.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.
Someone I know, a few weeks after the incident flew to New York with Captain Moody up-front and he got a rousing cheer.
If you ever see the book in perhaps a jumble sale or on a market stall, buy it and read it. You won’t be disappointed! And it’s all true! With lots of happy endings!
Simon Calder’s Holiday Advice
I like Simon Calder and he gave some interesting holiday advice on BBC Breakfast this morning, when asked about the shortage of package holidays. He suggested having a few days in London, where hotel prices are cheap and many of the best attractions are free.
In fact on the 38 bus last night, I met a father and son spending a couple of days in London.
So perhaps, Simon is only stating what is happening.
The Best Restaurant For Coeliacs In The UK
For my birthday yesterday, my son took me to Arbutus in Soho for dinner with a couple of friends.
It was the usual high standard and everything was immaculate as usual.
I must have been a dozen times or so now, including twice for lunch this year and it never fails to delight with some unusual ways of cooking. Last night I had peas in a puree with roast vegetables as a starter, followed by rabbit, which was one of C’s favourites. The rabbit was accompanied with a little cottage pie in a ramekin dish, containing the vegetables and some small pieces of meat, probably from the legs of the rabbit. Now that is a simple idea for a dinner party, where the main dish is say a leg of lamb. In which case you’d use some lamb mince in the pies.
I’ve said that this is the best restaurant for coeliacs in the UK and it may well be. But there are few restaurants in the world, that do gluten-free food as well as Arbutus.
Arbutus isn’t cheap, but for a special occasion, say before seeing a show in Shaftesbury Avenue to celebrate a wedding anniversary, it must be unrivalled. C and I went a couple of times after seeing a matinee on a Saturday.
One thing they do is sell all the wines in 25ml. carafes. This cuts the cost and if you’re incompatible in terms of wine with your partner, like I am with my teetotal son, you can indulge your taste.
The restaurant is also very easy for me, as I just get a 38 bus to Chinatown and walk up Frith Street. Sadly last night Transport for London, didn’t provide one of their New Buses for London. I shall be complaining!
Ian Brady
The lead story on the BBC is Ian Brady. Why are the news media and the public so obsessed with this gruesome man?
He should just be left to rot in his cell. And when he does die, the story should be given little publicity.
I know it’s bad for the mother of his still undiscovered victim, but nothing will bring the victim back and it just makes it so much worse for all the others in the area, who lost a child to Brady or might have.
I speak as someone, who lost a son prematurely to pancreatic cancer. That is in many ways different. but I do feel guilty at times, that I didn’t do more to stop him smoking and get properly medically tested when his health started to go downhill. Now he’s gone, there’s just a big hole in my life!
Strangely, the case could be an argument against the death penalty. If Brady had been hung, there would now be no chance of recovering Keith Bennett’s body. On the other hand, Brady is now 74, so he’s been lucky in some ways to still be on this world.
The phone-in on BBC Radio 5 will probably about Ian Brady and/or the death penalty. I’m going out to do something more productive.
Parking Sensors And Phone Apps
The BBC is reporting that Westminster Council is installing sensors in the road, so that drivers can use a smartphone app to go to the nearest free space.
How do you use the smartphone, whilst you are driving?
The Anonymous Widower 