About This Blog
What this blog will eventually be about I do not know.
But it will be about how I’m coping with the loss of my wife and son to cancer in recent years and how I manage with being a coeliac and recovering from a stroke. It will be about travel, sport, engineering, food, art, computers, large projects and London, that are some of the passions that fill my life.
And hopefully, it will get rid of the lonely times, from which I still suffer.
Why Anonymous? That’s how you feel at times.
The Anonymous Widower 
JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU BOTH.
Best
Peter
Comment by peter | May 31, 2010 |
Glad to see you are keeping busy. You appear to be taking your stroke very much in your stride – very impressive.Keep up the blogging!
Comment by Jim S | July 26, 2010 |
Thanks, Jim
Comment by AnonW | July 26, 2010 |
your a great inspiration, keep up the good work, well done…
Comment by janettecrerar | September 30, 2010 |
Liked your blog. Still not sure which club you support but really don’t care as long as I get good stuff to reach about football – no matter which club it is.
keep up the good work.
Comment by billyboneshaker | October 14, 2010 |
I stumbled across your blog quite at random, but I just wanted to say I think it’s great, very interesting and covers lots of varied topics. I also think it’s really brave of you to share your thoughts about loss with the world. Keep up the good blogging!
Comment by Alex | October 16, 2010 |
Thanks, Alex. It’s been hard but I’ll win in the end!
Comment by AnonW | October 16, 2010 |
Ditto on the comment by Alex. It’s just people talking – its great.
Roy Barnacle
WAYLAND MA US
Comment by Roy Barnacle | March 7, 2011 |
Sorry to hear about your wife.
Comment by Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide | May 11, 2011 |
Very interesting blog, I particularly like the tone it’s written in. Keep it up, and I hope you’re coping ok.
Comment by Craig | May 12, 2011 |
Just stumbled across your blog whilst searching for pictures of St Luke’s, and spend a long while reading through your various posts.I just wanted to say thank you, as it’s been lovely reading what you have to say, it’s also lovely to see you putting your energy into something positive after the loss of you wife.
Comment by arhavishamRaechel | October 13, 2011 |
Thanks very much!
Comment by AnonW | October 13, 2011 |
Just found out about your blog, and I love it. Keep sharing please
Comment by aCoquette | May 18, 2012 |
I found your blog by a link in a message on an anti-spam list. Thank you for sharing, and I am very sorry for your loss.
Comment by Gary C. | August 2, 2012 |
Thanks for your kind words. But don’t worry about me, as I’m that sort of London mongrel that received an overdose of survival genes at conception. My late wife, also made sure she said goodbye to us all properly, despite the pain she was in and that sustains you.
Comment by AnonW | August 2, 2012 |
Dear AnonW,
Your blog is a gem, and I’ve been enjoying your past posts for a couple of hours. I’ll leave some reactions to my favorite articles at those spots when I’m done.
(I write semi-anon as well, for similar emotional reasons to yours, though my losses are different.)
Comment by Invisible Mikey | September 25, 2012 |
I just stumbled into your blog while searching some London pictures. Your blog is amazing touching and on the other Hand full of information. I’m glad that I found it 🙂
Comment by Tutti | April 4, 2013 |
I just wanted to say that I’m pleased to have found your blog. Your honest style of writing is so refreshing, I haven’t read anything else like it.
Comment by alisonsye | July 9, 2013 |
Thanks for that!
Comment by AnonW | July 9, 2013 |
James…..good to meet you at the BM members evening on Monday evening.
You are doing a great job here……………John & Gill
Comment by John Murray | August 7, 2013 |
Good to meet you both too!
I’m experimenting with this Lindsey Bareham pasta recipe.
https://anonw.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/lyndsey-bareham-does-a-delia/
Tonight I might try it with smoked salmon! I’d like to see if it would work with something vegetarian, like tofu, as it is so easy to cook. It’s cooking the peas and the pasta and then just mixing everything in,that makes it a favourite of mine.
Comment by AnonW | August 7, 2013 |
Wishing you all the best!!
Comment by LFFL | April 13, 2014 |
Thanks!
Comment by AnonW | April 13, 2014 |
I find writing to be therapeutic and I hope it will be that for you as well. Best of luck!
Comment by smalltowngirlsmidnighttrains | May 14, 2014 |
I do find it therapeutic!
Comment by AnonW | May 14, 2014 |
Hello,
I’m following your blog from Belgium.
I love your updates about the Overground and the transport system in London in general.
Since a while I have this as a hobby, and of course I know other blogs that follow this theme as well.
But what you do particularly well is the “non-professional but well informed” look at the matters, making short pictures of stations and situation, clarifying a situation for an outsider.
Thanks for the job well done and keep a the good work.
Comment by Stofvdw | January 17, 2015 |
Thanks for your kind comments. I like exploring on trains, and as you see I do this in Europe as well.Recently, I went to Paris and I wanted to ask all sorts of questions. So it would be nice to go round say a system in Paris or Brusselles with an expert. Obviously, I’d be happy to show a visitor to London the ropes.
It is my belief that in the next ten years, all metros, trams and buses will have a universal ticketing based on contactless bank cards, as it will bring massive benefits to passengers and operators.
How is Belguim going in this direction?
Comment by AnonW | January 17, 2015 |
Well, of course Belgium is going towards contactless bank card in public transport but due to our very complex government organisation it is taking a long while before being implemented. I believe only recently the necessary agreements on political level have been published.
The basic system is based arround the “Mobib” card developed by the STIB (the brussels transport company) and recently extended towards the National Railways for theirs annual card holders.
The bus companies both in North and South are planning to migrate to this system as well, but due to funding issues this has been put on hold.
The main difference between UK & Belgium is that in Belgium public transport is a lot more political so strange things might happen.
E.g. The Flemish transport (Bus & Trams) only get 11% of his revenues out of ticketing, due to very large subsisdies and rather low ticket price (less then 1£ if you buy a 10 journeys ticket).
Over the years some strange choices have been made but really important things like an RER network arround Brussels have been continously postponed.
So for the moment, not much to visit in Belgium, although travelling arround is really cheap.
Comment by Stofvdw | January 19, 2015 |
Hi anon I love you’re blog, it’s very captivating and its a pleasure
to see a slice of you’re life!
Kind Regards,
Revenue protection officer you met at Hebden Bridge!
Comment by S | January 3, 2016 |
Thanks for the complements.
I’ll be publishing that tomorrow!
Comment by AnonW | January 3, 2016 |
Thanks for writing this. I was initially attracted by your article regarding Heathrow Southern Railway but have since discovered that this is a treasure trove of information, inspiration and hope for all of us.
Comment by Seg | July 8, 2019 |
I believe we’re going through a technological revolution, which could have far-reaching positive consequences for us all!
The general public must learn about them, so they can take full advantage.
For instance, I think there will be a divide between those who’ve opted for electric vehicles and the Luddites!
Comment by AnonW | July 8, 2019 |
Stumbled across your blog while passing the time looking at the re-opening of railways.I guess your aware otf the campaign for better transport and their work to promote public transport.I like traveling on the trains shame about wi fi it makes it an anti social experience.I live on my own and sometimes go to a local church for cofee though that now suspended because were in tier 4.Thankyou for all the info about trains did you work on the railways you seem to be knowledgeable about how things work.
Comment by anonymous jim | December 29, 2020 |
I had a rather unique working life, where for perhaps ten years, I worked as an applied mathematician in various industries, from chemicals to banking.
I then by accident ended up writing project management software and as people were always giving me their problems, I picked up lots of odd information and stories.
My software helped to build the Channel Tunnel and High Speed One, refurbish the Space Suttle after each trip, bring home North Sea Oil etc.
Comment by AnonW | December 29, 2020 |
I came across your posting on the Class 158/159 replacement which I found stimulating, especially as I was involved in their original development. What a great idea you had in formulating this blog.
I too am dealing with a health condition which although its outcome has positive prospects has rendered me housebound for the last three years. As a result I have also found myself working to remain positive with my interests that include genealogy, automotive and rail engineering, building technology and sports so reading of your objectives is heartening.
Yes most of us in this world feel, at some time in our lives a sense of anonymity. Here’s to community!
Comment by Alan Morris | June 23, 2021 |
How’s your B12? As an undiagnosed coeliac its low level nearly killed me. But then I’m a part-Jewish, part-Huguenot and part-Devon London mongrel.
Anybody with Jewish blood in their veins should be tested for coeliac disease.
I have certainly found a few friends through this blog.
Comment by AnonW | June 23, 2021 |
Glad to see you’ve a fan club James ð
Comment by Jim Sheppard | June 23, 2021