The Anonymous Widower

An Excursion To Retford And Worksop

Today’s excursion was designed to be simple.

  1. Take an LNER train or a Hull Train to Retford station.
  2. Travel to Worksop station, have a look and take a few pictures.
  3. Travel back to Retford and take the first train back to London.
  4. In one if my two visits to Retford, have a look and take a few pictures.
  5. Talk to passengers and railway staff about what they felt about FirstGroup’s Proposed Sheffield Service, that I wrote about in FirstGroup Applies To Run New London To Sheffield Rail Service.

These were my thoughts and observations.

LNER’s Improved Ticketing

These pictures show the tickets that I bought.

Note.

  1. I bought my ticket to Retford from the Ticket Office at King’s Cross station.
  2. The ticket seller gave me a well-designed folder for the tickets.
  3. I was also able to buy my return ticket between Retford and Worksop on the LNER train to Retford. I’ve tried doing that before and it wasn’t allowed.

Making ticketing easier must be a good thing for passengers, staff and LNER.

£24.75 With A Railcard From King’s Cross to Retford

  • The second picture shows my ticket to Retford.
  • It cost me just £24,75 with my Senior Railcard.
  • I also bought it about half-an-hour before the train left.
  • I bought the ticket in the Ticket Office.
  • I got a forward-facing window seat with an unrestricted view.

How much would the 145 mile and nearly three-hour journey have cost in a car?

I Missed My Connection At Retford Station

These pictures show my train to Worksop station in Platform 3 at Retford station, as I approached from the South.

Note.

The Northern Trains’s Class 195 train arriving on Platform 3 on the Sheffield and Lincoln Line.

  1. I arrived in Platform 2 at Retford station at 12:50
  2. There were three lifts or sets of stairs to negotiate between Platform 2 and Platform 3.
  3. It must take at least five minutes between the two platforms.
  4. One of the lifts was out of order and was being serviced by an engineer.
  5. There was no way, I could have caught the connection, which left at 12:51.
  6. At least one other passenger, had to wait the one hour and fifteen minutes I waited for the next train, which arrived at 14:03.

I feel that there needs to be a timetable adjustment here, so that as many passengers as possible avoid the long wait.

Retford Station

At least the long wait allowed me to take a lot of pictures and have a cup of coffee in the Costa Coffee on Platform 1.

Note.

  1. The toilets were immaculate.
  2. The Costa Coffee had friendly and professional staff, but only rudimentary gluten-free options.
  3. The station is fully step-free with four lifts.
  4. Platforms 1 and 2 on the East Coast Main Line can take a pair of five-car Class 802 trains, as Hull Train demonstrated.
  5. The Hull Train in Platform 2 was using the electrification.
  6. The station is in very good condition.
  7. The station is Grade II Listed.

This Google Map shows the station.

Note.

  1. The red arrow in the South-East corner are the low-level Platforms 3 and 4.
  2. The red arrow in the middle marks the low-level Platforms 1 and 2.
  3. Network Rail’s yellow Mobile Maintenance Train is visible in the siding opposite Platform 2.
  4. There is space around the platforms.

The station may have development possibilities. Especially, as there are signs of To Let over some of the buildings.

Ambitious Renewable Energy

Retford and Worksop are only eleven minutes away but there were a large wind farm and solar farms between the two stations.

Note.

  1. I was a bit slow on the uptake and missed the large wind farm.
  2. The strong sun was reflecting on the windows.
  3. They weren’t the best of photographs.

I had intended to take more and better pictures on the way back, but circumstances intervened.

This Google Map shows the wind and solar farms.

Note.

  1. The Sheffield and Lincoln Line going across the map.
  2. There are solar panels North and South of the railway.
  3. This is the Walkers Wood Solar Farm, which has a nameplate capacity of 27 MW.
  4. H M Prison Ranby is at the top of the map.
  5. The scars of the wind turbines are to the West of Babworth and the crematorium.
  6. At the moment, I can’t find any reference to the wind farm.

These wind and solar farms are probably a classic place to position a battery.

Prisons And Recycling

Worksop Station

I took these pictures during the time I spent at Worksop station.

Note.

  1. The station is not step-free, although you can cross the tracks using the level-crossing.
  2. The station has a pub and a cafe.
  3. There are train services to Leeds, Lincoln, Nottingham and Sheffield.
  4. The station is in very good condition.
  5. The station is Grade II Listed.
  6. The platforms are long enough to handle a Class 802 train without any modification.
  7. Hull Trains could run their Sheffield service to Worksop station without any new infrastructure.
  8. Lidl are developing a site on the other side of the level crossing.
  9. There are 100 car parking spaces.

The station may have development possibilities.

Worksop Station Cafe

These pictures show the Worksop station cafe.

Note.

  1. It is run by two ladies; Jo and Lyndsey.
  2. As one is coeliac, there were lots of gluten-free cakes.
  3. It was cosy and warm on a cold day.

This is definitely one of the better station cafes.

A Double Incident

My journey back to the capital was I suspect untypical.

  • I’d arrived at Worksop at 14:14 and finally left at 16:38 on a train for Retford and Lincoln.
  • The delay was because someone had been hit by a train between Barnsley and Sheffield, which resulted in cancelled trains.
  • When I arrived at Retford at 16:49, there was an LNER train in the platform.
  • It was the 15:15 from Leeds and I was told by LNER staff to catch it and get my ticket on the train.
  • The train finally left Retford for London 69 minutes late at 17:07.
  • We arrived in Peterborough at 19:27, where the train was now 170 minutes late.
  • The delay was because someone had been hit by a train at Newark, which results in delays everywhere.
  • LNER decided to give up on the train and all passengers were put on other trains.
  • I got on the 14:30 from Edinburgh, which arrived in King’s Cross at 20:22, which was 96 minutes late.

Worse things happen at sea.

I am adding this a day after my trip to the North.

This article on the BBC is entitled ‘Major Disruption’ After Person Hit By A Train.

These are the first three paragraphs.

Train services on the East Coast Main Line have been seriously disrupted after a person was hit by a train in North Yorkshire.

Network Rail said the incident happened just before 07:00 GMT between York and Thirsk, with emergency services attending the scene shortly afterwards.

The line was blocked, resulting in delays and cancellations.

Three in two days us three too many.

January 9, 2024 Posted by | Design, Food, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Offshore Wind Turbines In 2023: 16 MW Model Installed Offshore, 18 MW WTGs Selected For New Project, 22 MW Turbine Announced

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

The biggest wind turbines also make for some of the biggest news on offshoreWIND.biz. In 2023, wind turbine OEMs continued making headlines with their models in development and on the path to commercialisation, and by announcing brand new wind turbine generators (WTGs) that further raise the bar in generation capacity and size. Here, we are bringing an overview of the biggest and most powerful wind turbines we reported about in 2023.

This is the first paragraph.

Some of the wind turbines from our lookback article from a year ago, which were announced or launched in 2022, have now advanced to being installed offshore and/or are already being selected for commercial offshore wind projects that are planned to be built in the not-so-distant future.

Offshore wind turbines are certainly getting larger.

  • The Chinese seem to be leading the way with turbines that produce over 20 MW, but European and US manufacturers appear to be looking at 16-18 MW.
  • This compares with typical farms commissioned in the last few years of about 13-14 MW, which is roughly a 26 % increase in size.
  • In Crown Estate Mulls Adding 4 GW Of Capacity From Existing Offshore Wind Projects, I talk about how bigger turbine sizes could be increased in wind farms, that are being planned.

I feel the UK, could benefit from this increase in wind turbine size.

January 2, 2024 Posted by | Design, Energy | , | 2 Comments

World’s Tallest Wooden Wind Turbine Starts Turning

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

What is made from the same wood as a Christmas tree, held together by glue and manufactured in a Swedish factory for assembly later?

These three paragraphs outline the design of a revolutionary wind turbine tower.

If that calls to mind flat-pack furniture and meatballs, you’re wrong.

If you answered “a wooden wind turbine”, you could be a visionary.

According to Modvion, the Swedish start-up that has just built the world’s tallest wooden turbine tower, using wood for wind power is the future.

I feel that it is not as revolutionary as some people might think.

Forty years ago, I built an extension on my house that included a swimming pool and a barn. The swimming pool roof was based on laminated wood beams and the barn was constructed using traditional wooden beams, that were bolted together.

But surely the most amazing wooden structure of the last century is the DH 98 Mosquito.

This paragraph introduces the Wikipedia entry for this amazing aeroplane.

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engined, multirole combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. Unusual in that its airframe was constructed mostly of wood, it was nicknamed the “Wooden Wonder”, or “Mossie”. Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, nicknamed it “Freeman’s Folly”, alluding to Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfrid Freeman, who defended Geoffrey de Havilland and his design concept against orders to scrap the project. In 1941, it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world.

One of my friends from the twentieth century, had been an RAF Mosquito pilot in the 1950s and felt it was an unequalled design of aircraft.

The airframe of the Mosquito was built using similar materials and methods as Modvion’s turbine tower.

I have just found out, that the de Havilland Aircraft Museum, where the prototype Mosquito is displayed, is open at least until the 7th of January.

I shall be going by public transport and if anybody would like to accompany me, use the Contact Page to get in touch.

December 28, 2023 Posted by | Design, Energy | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BP And EnBW To Run Suction Bucket Trials At UK Offshore Wind Farm Sites

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

On 30 December, the vessel North Sea Giant is expected to start suction bucket trials within the array areas of the Mona and Morgan offshore wind farm sites, located off North West England and North Wales.

These are the first three paragraphs.

The trials will run for an estimated 32 days, during which time the vessel will be lifting a suction bucket and setting it down on the seabed, and using subsea pumps to drive the suction bucket into the seabed and back out.

The campaign is expected to consist of around 20 suction bucket trials, subject to weather conditions.

In their environmental impact assessment (EIA) scoping reports, issued last year, BP and EnBW state that a number of foundation types are being considered for the two proposed offshore wind farms and that the type(s) to be used will not be confirmed until the final design, after the projects are granted consent.

It sounds sensible to try out different types of foundations, but what is a suction bucket?

This page on the Ørsted web site is entitled Our Experience With Suction Bucket Jackets, explains how they work and are installed.

This is the first paragraph.

Monopiles (MPs) are currently the most commonly used foundation solution for offshore wind turbines with 81% of offshore wind turbines in European waters founded on MPs at the end of 2019 (Wind Europe, 2020). Where site conditions do not allow for an efficient or practical MP design, a number of alternative foundation solutions are available, including the suction bucket jacket (SBJ), piled jacket, gravity base or even a floating solution.

These two paragraphs, indicate when Ørsted has used SBJs.

Ørsted installed the world’s first SBJ for an offshore WTG at the Borkum Riffgrund 1 offshore windfarm in Germany in 2014.

Since the installation of the Borkum Riffgrund 1 SBJ, Ørsted has been involved in the design and installation of SBJs at the Borkum Riffgrund 2 and the design for Hornsea 1 offshore wind farms. At Hornsea 1, overall project timeline considerations and limitations of serial production capacities precluded the use of SBJs, and therefore the project chose an alternative foundation type.

It will be interesting to see how BP and EnBW’s trial gets on.

December 27, 2023 Posted by | Design, Energy | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Would You Buy A Battery Energy Storage System From Rolls-Royce?

I don’t often click on adverts that appear in web pages.

But I had to click on one from Rolls-Royce mtu, which advertised Battery Energy Storage Systems.

I wonder what the Honourable Charles Rolls would have thought of adverts on the Internet for the company he jointly founded?

I suspect he would have liked the idea, as Rolls was very much a promoter of motoring and aviation and opened one of the first car dealerships in the UK, according to his Wikipedia entry.

The Wikipedia entry for his business partner; Sir Henry Royce starts with this sentence.

Sir Frederick Henry Royce, 1st Baronet, OBE (27 March 1863 – 22 April 1933) was an English engineer famous for his designs of car and aeroplane engines with a reputation for reliability and longevity.

He is also described as a perfectionist.

This sentence from the Wikipedia entry, describes how he started the design of the legendary “R” engine.

In October 1928, he began design of the “R” engine while walking with some of his leading engineers on the beach at West Wittering, sketching ideas in the sand. Less than a year later, the “R” engine, designed in his studio in the village, set a new world air speed record of 357.7 miles per hour and won the Schneider Trophy of 1929.

Later with help from the maddest person my father ever met (his words, not mine!) ; Lady Houston, the Supermarine S.6B won the trophy in 1931 and then broke the world speed record at over 400 mph. Not bad for a seaplane. Take the floats off an S.6B and you almost have a Spitfire.

The Wikipedia entry also describes how the “R” engine was developed into what many engineers believe was the finest internal combustion engine of all time; the Rolls-Royce Merlin.

Following the success of the “R” engine, it was clear that they had an engine that would be of use to the Royal Air Force. As no Government assistance was forthcoming at first, in the national interest they went ahead with development of what was called the “PV-12” engine (standing for Private Venture, 12-cylinder). The idea was to produce an engine of about the same performance as the “R”, albeit with a much longer life. Rolls-Royce launched the PV-12 in October 1933 and the engine completed its first test in 1934, the year after Royce died. The PV-12 became the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.

Where would we have been in the Battle of Britain without the Merlin engine?

Since 1969, the engineers at Rolls-Royce have followed Sir Henry’s example of perfection and developed the revolutionary RB-211 into the modern day Trent, which is now about to take a big leap into a low-carbon future with the UltraFan.

If the quality of Rolls-Royce mtu’s Battery Energy Storage System matches the levels of perfection Rolls-Royce achieved with the Merlin and the Trent, then I suspect that Sir Henry would have given his approval.

This picture is shown on the web page for the Battery Energy Storage System.

These two paragraphs introduce, what Rolls-Royce mtu are calling the mtuEnergyPack.

In today’s world of economic growth and increasing populations, the demand for electricity is soaring. Governments and industries globally shift to distributed renewable energy, challenging centralized grids. To adapt to this changing energy landscape, the mtuEnergyPack offers an ideal solution.

It integrates renewable sources like solar and wind power, paving the way for future-ready sustainable power systems. The mtu EnergyPack is a scalable, all-in-one solution for autonomous off-grid facilities. It ensures reliable power through peak shaving, load-shifting, and grid stabilization, making it suitable for various applications.

These are my thoughts.

What Is The Output And The Storage Capacity?

This paragraph on this page gives this answer.

It efficiently stores electricity from distributed sources and delivers on demand. The mtu EnergyPack is available in different sizes: The QS and the QL, ranging from 200 kVA to 2,000 kVA, and from 312 kWh to 2,084 kWh, and the QG for grid scale storage needs, ranging from 4,400 kVA and 4,470 kWh to virtually any size.

It seems that you specify your requirements and Rolls-Royce mtu should be able to satisfy it.

What Devices Can Be Connected?

This paragraph on this page gives this answer.

The mtu EnergyPack serves as a key component in enhancing the reliability and profitability of microgrids and energy systems. It stores electricity generated by distributed power sources, including gensets, wind turbines, or solar panels, and delivers it when needed.

In the 1970s, when I was working at ICI, others in the section were working on a system called MEDIA, where every sensor on a chemical plant was connected to the central computer, through its own analog-to-digital computer. It would now be called plug-and-play by some.

I believe that Rolls-Royce mtu are using similar ideas to connect equipment to the control computer.

These are my thoughts about connecting various equipment.

I don’t see why every device can’t work to the same protocol.

What Is The Power Density Like?

This paragraph on this page gives this answer.

The mtu EnergyPack’s compact battery system designs suit projects with limited space and logistical restrictions.

In ‘Spirit of Innovation’ Stakes Claim To Be The World’s Fastest All-Electric Vehicle, I talked about Rolls-Royce’s record-breaking electric plane called Spirit of Innovation.

Has what has been learned about energy storage in the confined spaces of an aeroplane been applied to a Battery Energy Storage System?

What Do Rolls-Royce mtu Consider To Be Important Features?

On this page, they list these features.

  • Power Density
  • Digitally Connected
  • Multilevel Safety
  • Black Start Capability
  • Scalability
  • Ultra-Fast Response
  • Flexible Use
  • Plug-And-Play Installation

The design seems to have everything covered.

Can Similar Systems Be Designed By Others?

I would expect that similar systems can be designed, as technology like batteries is available to all and the operation is only as good as the software controlling the various components of the system.

But similar systems will be without the famous Rolls-Royce logo.

Could One Of These Systems Decarbonise A Village?

I once lived in a village with about fifty houses and perhaps a hundred inhabitants.

I suspect an mtuEnergyPack could control all these inputs and provide the village with the following.

  • Enough electricity to power all the needs of the inhabitants, businesses and their vehicles.
  • If an electrolyser were to be provided, it could probably produce enough hydrogen to power every boiler and hydrogen-powered vehicle.

Note.

  1. Farmers would like the local availability of hydrogen, as it will be ideal for tractors and agricultural machinery.
  2. I actually believe that if a village had a reliable and affordable hydrogen supply, that a large proportion of the inhabitants would switch to hydrogen-powered vehicles.

There would still be the National Grid there for backup.

Conclusion

If I needed an mtuEnergyPack, I’d certainly give one a close look.

December 22, 2023 Posted by | Computing, Design, Energy, Energy Storage, Hydrogen | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ørsted Greenlights 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

Ørsted has taken the final investment decision (FID) on what the company says is the world’s single largest offshore wind farm, the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3, which is expected to be completed around the end of 2027.

These are the two introductory paragraphs.

In July 2022, Ørsted was awarded a contract for difference (CfD) for Hornsea 3 at an inflation-indexed strike price of GBP 37.35 per MWh in 2012 prices.

The CfD framework permits a reduction of the awarded CfD capacity. The company said it will use this flexibility to submit a share of Hornsea 3’s capacity into the UK’s upcoming allocation round 6.

With all the work, that Ørsted have done to protect kittiwakes, which I wrote about in Kittiwake Compensation, the company seems to have been taking the development of this wind farm carefully and this statement from the wonderfully-named Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO of Ørsted indicates that the UK Government has been persuasive in times, that are not totally favourable to wind farm developers.

Offshore wind is an extremely competitive global market, so we also welcome the attractive policy regime in the UK which has helped secure this investment. We look forward to constructing this landmark project, which will deliver massive amounts of green energy to UK households and businesses and will be a significant addition to the world’s largest offshore wind cluster.

But the article also has this paragraph.

According to Ørsted, most of Hornsea 3’s capital expenditure was contracted before recent inflationary pressures, securing competitive prices from the supply chain, adding that the larger wind turbines and the synergies with Hornsea 1 and 2 lead to lower operating costs.

It looks like Ørsted, may have taken advantage of Siemens well-publicised financial woes and got a good price for the over two hundred turbines.

This page on the Hitachi web site, describes their part in Hornsea 3, where this is said.

Hitachi Energy has supported Ørsted with the grid connection of Hornsea One and Hornsea Two, but Hornsea 3 will be the first phase to use HVDC application in the Hornsea cluster.

The overall HVDC system, including the offshore platform, is delivered in partnership with Aibel. Hitachi Energy will supply two HVDC Light® converter systems, while Aibel will deliver two HVDC offshore converter platforms. The platform is based on Hitachi Energy’s modular HVDC system including its advanced control and protection system, MACH™. As the HVDC offshore market grows and becomes more complex, Hitachi Energy will continue to develop solutions with its customers and partners to enable a more flexible offshore grid of the future.

Hitachi Energy is supplying four HVDC converter stations, which convert AC power to DC for transmission in the subsea cables, then reconvert it to AC for integration into the onshore grid. Two of the converter stations will be installed on offshore platforms and two at mainland grid connections.

Note.

  1. Hitachi are pushing their electrical innovation hard.
  2. Hitachi and Ørsted  have worked together on Hornsea 1 and 2.
  3. What better place is there for Hitachi to test their new modular HVDC system, than on one of the world’s largest wind farms?
  4. Hitachi appear to say, they like to develop with customers and partners.

It looks to me, that Ørsted may well have got new improved technology at an advantageous price.

This is the last paragraph of the article.

The Hornsea zone will also include the Hornsea 4 project, which could have a capacity of up to 2.6 GW. The wind farm received its development consent order from the UK government earlier in 2023 and is now eligible for forthcoming CfD allocation rounds.

So will Hornsea 4 be a slightly smaller version of Hornsea 3 using the same suppliers?

  • There could be savings in the design and manufacturing of the electrical systems, foundations, sub-stations and turbines.
  • Could for instance, Hitachi’s modular HVDC result in savings in converters and sub-stations, if the two wind farms shared infrastructure?
  • I’m sure that Siemens, Hitachi and the other suppliers will be happy to just keep rolling.
  • It would be an ideal follow-on.

It looks to me, that by using good design and management, and established suppliers, Ørsted  have managed to get the costs of Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4 to a level, where the venture is profitable.

 

 

December 21, 2023 Posted by | Design, Energy | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Siemens Gamesa And Vestas Collaborate To Standardise Equipment For Transportation Of Wind Turbine Towers

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

Building on a previous collaboration focused on tower foundations and lifting guidelines, Siemens Gamesa and Vestas, facilitated by Energy Cluster Denmark, have signed a new partnership agreement to increase standardisation within the wind industry.

Surely standard sizes and similar designs will help any industry. Look at how containerisation has helped freight transportation.

These four paragraphs illustrate the problem and detail the solution.

Initially, the partners will standardise equipment for the transportation of wind turbine towers.

“Currently, whenever a wind turbine tower is shipped out for offshore installation, the manufacturer welds a box onto the installation vessel to which the tower is then clamped. The process is costly in terms of tons of iron and labour on the quayside. Once installation offshore is completed, all the equipment is removed from the vessel, which is again costly in terms of hours, money and the green transition,” said Jesper Møller, Chief Engineer in Offshore Execution at Siemens Gamesa.

The new partnership agreement comprises a series of projects involving equipment for and the storage of huge components produced by wind turbine manufacturers.

The first project focuses on sea fastening, involving securing towers, blades, and nacelles to installation vessels.

The article finished with statements about why standardisation is important.

December 13, 2023 Posted by | Design, Energy | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Merthyr Tydfil Station – 28th November 2023

Yesterday, I went to South Wales to look at the progress of the South Wales Metro.

I took these pictures at the station and in the town.

Note.

  1. It is only a single-platform station.
  2. The platform and track appear to be reasonably flat.
  3. Several bay terminal platforms in the UK like four of those at Dalston Junction and Highbury & Islington stations near me are able to handle four trains per hour (tph).
  4. The Class 150/2 trains in the are 19.74 metres long and have a maximum capacity of 149.
  5. The new electric Class 398 tram-trains are 40.07 metres long and have a capacity of 252.

The platform appears to be long enough for the new trains.

These are my thoughts.

Capacity To And From Merthyr Tydfil

Consider.

  • Currently, there are two Class 150/2 tph.
  • This means current capacity is 298 passengers per hour.
  • After electrification, there will be four Class 398 tph.
  • This means future capacity is 1008 passengers per hour.

That is an increase of 238 % in the capacity.

Where Is The Electrification?

This OpenRailwayMap shows the proposed electrification at Merthyr Tydfil station.

Note.

  1. Electrified lines are shown in red.
  2. Unelectrified lines are shown in black.
  3. The railway is single-track until past Troed-y-Rhiw, after which it is double track to Merthyr Vale station.
  4. Between Merthyr Vale and Abercynon is single-track, with a short length of unelectrified double-track at Quaker’s Yard station.

It appears that the section of the Merthyr Line at Merthyr Tydfil station will not be electrified.

  • The tram-trains’ batteries must be large enough to climb the unelectrified section .
  • There must also be enough power to nudge the tram-train back down the hill, after the climb has been completed.
  • At least the pictures show, that the track in Merthyr Tydfil station, is reasonably flat.

It looks to be a neat piece of cost-saving design.

Why Did I Feel Better In Merthyr Tydfil?

I have been feeling under the weather lately, but I felt a lot better in Merthyr!

Was it the altitude of 180 metres?

My cardiologist friend, says most people feel worse at altitude. But I seem to be the other way round.

My wife was certainly feeling rough, when I drove a car up to 13,000 feet in the Andes of Ecuador, whereas I was fine.

Incidentally, the car was coughing and wheezing like a good ‘un.

November 29, 2023 Posted by | Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Phone Died!

So I bought a new one!

I’ve managed to set it up, but it’s so different to my previous Samsung, that i haven’t a clue hoe to use it. I also made the mistake of using a secure password, which it constantly asks me.

I’m seriously, thinking of giving up having a mobile phone.

Can’t designers leave well enough alone!

I hate being ripped off!

October 13, 2023 Posted by | Computing, Design | | 7 Comments

A Design Crime – Marks And Spencer’s New Paper Carrier Bag

This article on the BBC is entitled Marks & Spencer Scraps Plastic For Paper Bags.

This is the sub-heading.

Marks & Spencer is swapping plastic carrier bags for paper ones in all stores, in an expansion of a trial that began in 10 branches in January.

These two paragraphs give a few reasons.

It follows other High Street stores in swapping plastic bags to paper in a bid to cut plastics use.

Supermarkets Morrisons, Waitrose and Aldi all use paper bags for customers, though some stores offer plastic bags as an option.

But the proof of the bag is in the using.

This picture shows the new bag.

It’s main problem is unlike the plastic bags, it is a nightmare to fold.

I could also fold the plastic bags, so they went in the pocket of my Barbour jacket.

I have searched my house for some of the green plastic bags to use in the future.

Conclusion

Three out of ten!

October 7, 2023 Posted by | Design, World | , , , , | 1 Comment

« Previous Entries     Next Entries »