To The Olympics The Back Way
Yesterday, I went to the Olympics to see the morning’s athletics.
I didn’t go the normal way, but took a 30 bus from where I live to the northern side of Victoria Park and then walked. It was about half past seven and the big red taxi wasn’t exactly full.
A Big Red Taxi To The Olympics
The front seats at the top were of course taken. This way I pass C’s bus stop.
C’s Bus Stop
Although she wasn’t Cecelia but Celia, her maiden name was Roads. I wonder how many people have their own bus stop!
I got off at Wick Lane and then it was a walk through Victoria Park to the Greenway Gate of the Olympic Park. The pictures for this are shown in a separate gallery post.
Regular Charity Donation
There are some charities I support and others I don’t. For instance as someone who has lost his wife and son to cancer, anything with cancer or loss in it, gets my consideration. On the other hand charities who use chuggers don’t. You will see from the links on the blog, a couple of the charities that I currently support.
So I had this idea to set up a suitable payment for all of these and other charities every year on my birthday, which just happens to be in a few days time. The advantage as I see it, is that because of the payment date they will be easy to find, modify and if necessary remove.
I have chosen to do it on my birthday, as that is a good psychological day for me. I suspect it is for others too! There is also this feeling that you’ve made another year, so perhaps these payments are your present to say thanks for still being here.
I will of course know that on my birthday, I better have a certain amount in my bank account. But then a reminder on my computer for say the first of August every year, would cure that.
I also feel that say £50 each year for ten years is probably better than £500 one year and then a whole lot of aggro as the charity tries to get more.
When in the future I pop my clogs, it will also be easy for my executors to sort out my charity payments. Especially if you put a little note in your will, explaining the payments. I think a good solicitor could write a nice clause for a will saying that some of the estate would be distributed to various charities in proportion to the birthday standing orders.
Since I wrote this piece originally, I’ve set up two of these charity payments.
One was for a small charity and all I needed was their bank account number and bank sort code.
For a national charity, I actually chose them from a list on Nationwide’s on-line computer system.
My only worry is that the charities get the Gift Aid right!
But let’s face it, bankers have had a lot of bad publicity lately and perhaps putting a Gift Aid check box, when you choose a charity from their list can’t be the world’s most difficult programming task.
I would welcome the views of anybody involved in charity fund raising.
The Emirates Air-Line Passes Half Million Passengers
It’s only been six weeks, but the Emirates Air-line has hit the half-million passenger target. That’s an average of over 11,000 a day. There’s more about the story here.
It seems to me, that whatever you think about the cable-car, passenger are voting to use it with their Oyster cards. Those half-million journeys will have a revenue of at least £4.8 million, unless of course lots of passengers are buying ten trips at £1.60 a time.
Creating A Funding Circle Account
I have just created a Funding Circle account, as I want to see how other peer-to-peer lending sites work.
As a Zopa user for many years, I could be considered biased, but although I got registered quickly, there are some things I liked and didn’t.
E-Mail Address Based Account
All accounts, should be based on e-mail addresses. They are in Funding Circle.
Passwords
Because of my gammy left hand, I don’t like passwords where case is important, as I often get it wrong, when I use the shift key. Funding Circle insists on at least one Capital letter and one number.
At least though they didn’t use the dreaded Captcha system beloved of so many sites.
Check Questions
They did have, who was my best friend at school as a check question. This is a question, that I don’t really have an answer to, because I had a bad time at school with personal relationships.
Addresses
Because I’ve only been at my current address for less than two years, I was asked to enter my previous address. I made a mistake and ended up with the wrong address in my profile. I was able to change it easily to the correct one.
Debit Cards
The first investment was by debit card, which brought up the dreaded Verified-by-Visa system. I would prefer to use a Direct Debit or a Bank Transfer. Especially as fake Verified-by-Visa e-mails are being used by fraudsters.
But I did successfully register my account and transfer £1,000 into the account.
An Unusual Change Of Direction
It has been said on the BBC, that Sophie Hitchon, who throws hammers for Great Britain, used to be a ballet dancer. And that helps her spinning!
She seems to be doing all right too, as she’s set a British record!
Facebook Tries The Gambling Route
Facebook has decided that the way to salvation is to take the gambling route. They’re starting with bingo according to the Daily Telegraph.
That’s all parents want isn’t it! – Kids addicted to bingo on the Internet.
Olympic Rings On The Thames
I saw these on the Thames yesterday, by Waterloo Bridge
With the one hole golf course, does the Olympic Closing Ceremony have a water-borne element?
The Cheek Of It
Any establishment that displays a sign like this one on the Olympic Park, doesn’t get my custom.
The Cheek Of It
It didn’t!
The Big Hole Between Kings Cross and St. Pancras
When I took the Javelin to the Olympic Park, I noticed this big hole between the two stations.
The Big Hole Between Kings Cross and St. Pancras
Looking at this map, it would appear it’s just more offices, with retail underneath.
Could this be deemed boring? A nice public piazza or even some more platforms for the two stations might have been better! But then that wouldn’t have been so profitable.
The Shard Gets Everywhere
I’m getting less and less happy with the Shard, as every picture you take, has London’s most ugly building in the background. Here’s a few pictures.
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- The Shard From A Bus In MIle End
I shall be adding to this gallery. Note that I can even see the Shard from the end of my road.
The only good thing about the Shard is that it’s better than what was there before.
The Anonymous Widower 