The Anonymous Widower

The Dutch And The Belgians Create A Mess

I have read in Modern Railways that because there is now a high speed rail line from Rotterdam to Brussels, that the Inter City service from Den Haag to Brussels has been withdrawn.

I’ve used this a couple of times, by buying a Eurostar ticket from London to Any Dutch Station.  This ticket has been withdrawn as well.

I also looked up how to get from Brussels to Den Haag and you either have to use the high speed line or go halfway round the Netherlands to places you don’t want to visit. Apparently, Dutch who commute into Brussels aren’t pleased either!

The high speed tickets aren’t cheap!

I think next time I go to Den Haag, I’ll fly to Schipol and get a train from there.

A pity that, as Eurostar does a rather nice gluten-free meal with wine and easyJet doesn’t.

It all seems a bit like making passengers arriving on Eurostar at St. Pancras, who want to go to Scotland, always go via Newcastle and change trains there.

I just wonder how many tickets, Eurostar will sell to The Netherlands in the next few years.  Not many, I’d venture.

I’ve also found this report on a Dutch news web site.

December 29, 2012 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , | 3 Comments

An Early Morning Raid On Waitrose

This morning I needed the usual Saturday morning shopping and as I’m going to Wolverhampton later this morning to see Ipswich play, I went to Waitrose early.

Or should I say two Waitroses, as due to their stocking policy, neither  stocks all of my favourite gluten-free brands. First it was a visit to the littleWaitrose at Highbury Corner.

Highbury Corner littleWaitrose

Highbury Corner littleWaitrose

All I bought was a Genius brown loaf, as my previous one was past my view of an eat-by date. It was then on a 43 bus to the Angel.

A 43 Bus To The Angel

A 43 Bus To The Angel

And a walk round the corner to one of the smallest proper Waitroses in the country.

Waitrose At The Angel

Waitrose At The Angel

I got the rest of my shopping here.

Just One Bag And A Loaf

Just One Bag And A Loaf

It was just one small bag and a loaf, when I got home.

I suppose I could go to another bigger Waitrose, but then I’d have the problem of finding things in an unfamiliar store. And the Genius brown bread, seems to only be in the littleWaitroses. and decent gluten-free sausages don’t seem to be in any shop in London.

I think the bread and sausage problem is the same.  Waitrose believes it’s own brands are good.  They are very very wrong!

At least today, I didn’t have to get any EatNatural cereal, as you can only get the vinefruit flavour in Sainsburys.  At least it’s at the Angel next to the Waitrose.

The chuggers were also still in their beds.

Where Are The Chuggers?

Where Are The Chuggers?

Or at least they hadn’t arrived yet!

December 29, 2012 Posted by | Food, World | , , , , | Leave a comment

Kenneth Grange Gets A Knighthood

The BBC has at least flagged this up on their web site. But they are not talking about it on the radio.

Kenneth Grange has created some of Britain’s most iconic designs. This from Wikipedia perhaps sums up his philosophy.

He has also said that his attitude to designing any product is that he wants it to be “a pleasure to use”

My question is why has the knighthood been so long in coming?

We may idolise some worthies and a lot of non-entities in this country, but there are few who have achieved so much and created objects for us all as Kenneth Grange.

December 29, 2012 Posted by | News | , | Leave a comment