Not What To Wear Today!
I saw this lady on the DLR at Custom House station.
Not What To Wear Today!
Luckily she’s only an advert!
Otherwise she’d have frozen stiff.
Custom House Station On CrossRail
The construction of Custom House station on CrossRail is due to start soon. Read all about it here in the East London Advertiser. From this paragraph in the article, it seems someone has thought out their design.
The station is being manufactured in sections in Sheffield, then transported 200 miles to Custom House and re-assembled on the construction site in Victoria Dock Road, next to the ExCel complex, to save time and keep disruption to residents and the DLR to a minimum. The roof is being made from transparent plastic, similar to the Eden Project in Cornwall.
After the cable-car trip, I took a few photos, from the overbridges at the DLR stations.
It will be enlightening to watch as the station is constructed over the next few years.
The Cable-Car On A Very Cold Day
At about eleven this morning, I took the Emirates Air-Line, across the Thames from south to north. I had hoped that the very cold day and a forecast for bright sun, might lead to some very good pictures.
As you can see, they would have been better with sun, but it would appear that a cold Sunday morning may be the time to get some superb views. One of the staff I spoke to, said that it is very good to cross at about four in the morning, as all the lights come on. But of course the cable-car isn’t open.
If we have a cold and sunny day in the next couple of weeks, I’ll get my camera out again.
The Two-Minute Rule On The Jubilee Line
This poster illustrates the two minute rule superbly.
The Two-Minute Rule On The Jubilee Line
Stanmore station takes 39 minutes from London Bridge station and that is nineteen stations, which is roughly two minutes a station.
I wonder when these time diagrams were introduced.
I Like This Advert
The London Underground has more many decades been famed for its posters, graphics and art.
I Like This Advert
Their own adverts are usual better than companies and organisations that pay for them. I do feel too that some shouldn’t be allowed to advertise.
I Don’t Like This Advert
I don’t think any religious or quasi-religious adverts should be allowed, with the possible exception of charities that do good work, like the Salvation Army or Christian Aid. But Scientology should definitely not be allowed.
Apparently, they are having a media blitz according to this article in Wired magazine. Here’s the first paragraph.
The Church of Scientology is in the midst of a multi-million dollar media campaign that includes running ads on news sites, satellite dish networks, 37 cable stations, and even Wired.com — a blitz that seems to have not so much won new friends or influenced people as stir up more animosity towards the group many consider nothing more than a greedy cult.
I was pleased to read this, as the last bit is my view of this scientifically-incorrect movement.
I certainly won’t be watching a Tom Cruise film. In fact, I don’t think I ever have. Nicole Kidman is another matter though!
Wi-Fi In London Stations
Wi-fi is available on several tube stations through Virgin Media.
Wi-Fi In London Stations
You can read about it here.
It would appear that if you’re not a customer of Virgin Media, EE or Vodafone, you’ll have to pay. I’m not, but then I don’t think connecting will give me much advantage.
Breakfast At Kings Cross Station
This morning, I went to Leon’s in Kings Cross Station for breakfast.
As the pictures show, I just had an orange juice and a small pot with a poached egg in the bottom and beans and chorizo on the top.
Some belabour the passing of the gluten and fat rich British Rail breakfast. I don’t!
The two items cost under a fiver and the meal was delicious. On as cold a day as today is, the restaurant was also nicely warm.
Supporting Your Team Away
This morning on BBC Radio 5, they are talking about the high cost of watching your team in away matches. Admittedly, they were talking mainly about supporting Premiership teams, but there are various issues. The Football Supporters Federation is probably going to start a campaign about it all.
I didn’t go yesterday to see Ipswich play at Cardiff, as the weather just seemed it might be a bit too much. The cost didn’t deter me, although it would have been about £80 return to the Welsh capital. That is First Class with a Senior Railcard.
If I look at other matches I’ve been to I could make a list. Note that I live in London, so although I’m supporting Ipswich, any prices are from the London station, which of course is free for me to get to.
Barnsley – This is one of my favourite trips, as the ticket is always good value and for some reason you can often get good value on the trains. This year I paid £40.95. The stadium is a short uphill walk from the station and everyone was their usual friendly selves, although the seats aren’t the most comfortable. The view is good though. I’d give the whole experience 8/10. It could be improved by a better train service from Sheffield.
Birmingham – I seem to remember this was an expensive ticket and because I was coming from a dinner in Liverpool, can’t quote a ticket price. But I did do the trip for the Aston Villa cup game for £31. The walk to the ground from the local station is very dangerous, as is the station, but the ground was friendly, even if the seats and the view weren’t the best. I’ll give it 4/10, mainly because of that walk and the dreadful local station.
Bolton – This ticket was good value, I seem to remember, and it was a good trip up by train for £79. Everyone was friendly and the seat and view were excellent. I had got my lunch in Carluccio’s in Piccadilly station. I’ll give it 7/10. The only bad bit was the overcrowded trains from Manchester to and from the Reebok.
Brighton – The ticket was again good value, but I got there by a deliberately roundabout route for virtually nothing. Everything at the stadium was excellent, although I did eat in the city centre. I’d give the experience 9/10 and the weather -5/10. It was not a day for doing anything except swimming.
Charlton – I got to this ground free and the ticket was expensive for a crowded seat and a bad view. I’d just give it 5/10.
Crystal Palace – I bought this ticket at the gate and there was no discount, but as I got there for nothing on my Freedom Pass, I can’t complain. But I can complain about the state of the ground, the seat and the view. I’d give it 5/10 at most.
Hull – This was another good value ticket and I got home from Hull for £42.25. I’d gone up to York to see a friend and have lunch, so as I had an excellent gluten free meal on the train coming down, it was a day when I ate very well. I walked to the excellent stadium and everyone was a clone of those at Brighton. i.e. friendly and helpful. Like Brighton, I’ll give it 9/10.
Leeds – The ticket was one of the more expensive, as Leeds don’t do Seniors and the fare up on East Coast was £78.80. We got a reasonably friendly reception from stewards, a hard seat with a reasonable view and I can’t comment on the food as I ate in Carluccio’s in the City Centre, with my friend and her daughter. I’d rate the experience at 4/10. A bus from the station would help a lot here.
Leicester – This was a disastrous game, but I can’t complain about the ticket, the stadium and the stewarding. The train was expensive and virtually empty at £64.35 and there is no easy way to get to the stadium except a long walk. It’s worth no better than 6/10.
Wolverhampton – I actually forgot the ticket I’d bought for £24, so I bought another at the ground for just £14. The return ticket from Euston was just £30 or so. Everybody was very friendly, including the Police, the seats and the view were excellent and I wrote a post about it. My rating would be 10/10, as I can’t think of anything that could have been better.
I shall be adding to this list with visits for the rest of this season. I shall also probably add a few views of other stadia, I’ve been to since I moved to London.
I can split the clubs into groups.
Clubs to Always Visit
Barnsley, Brighton, Hull, Wolverhampton
Clubs to Possibly Avoid
Birmingham, Charlton, Crystal Palace, Leeds
I think too, if you look at the train prices, you would avoid any train company with East in the name, as they aren’t good value. First Hull trains were the best. It also seems that if you book a few days before Virgin’s Senior Advance First is generally good value at a weekend. But then it should be as it is generally empty.
The Anonymous Widower 