Steve Norris Pushes For Crossrail To Stansted
This story from the Cambridge Evening News shows how a lot of good thinking is going into sorting out London’s airport problem.
Extending Crossrail to Stansted would be a simple addition to London’s infrastructure and because of the link at Farringdon station, London’s three main airports would be well-connected.
London Overground Completes The Circle
I like this poster.
London Overground Completes The Circle
But at least they’re confirming the start date of December 9th.
Coping With The Bus Strike
Arriva buses are on strike today, so the 38s aren’t running.
It’s not causing too much trouble for me, although I suspect it did for some in the rush hours.
It just shows the value of London’s system of route tendering, which means that several bus companies run groups of routes. So when like today, one bus company is on strike, you can cope.
Christmas Never Changes
Last year, I posted this called Christmas, Bloody Christmas.
It doesn’t appear that this year is going to be any better. Although, I suspect, I could be able to get to the football at Charlton on Boxing Day. That is if the buses decide to run!
I should also be able to get to Ipswich for the New Year’s Day match against Brighton, but I won’t bank on it, as the train drivers will probably go on strike to annoy me. At least there doesn’t appear to be any engineering work this year.
What I Miss Least About Driving
People ask me, what I miss most and least about driving. The least question is easy. Take tonight, there has been a bad accident on the M25 and the road is closed. Rarely does this happen on public transport although today got a but trying coming back from Chelsea. But I was sitting comfortably on the bus, letting the driver do the worrying.
As to the miss most question, I think only about twice in the last two years, have I needed a car and in one case a friend drove me and in the other I took a limo.
Who’d Want To Live In Chelsea?
I wanted to go to a shop called Mr.Resistor in Parson’s Green. Hopefully, they’d be able to provide me with lights that solved my lighting problems. Sadly the light that might have solved the problem was out of stock, so I decided to come home. I had gone by taking a bus to Liverpool Street station, then the Central line to Notting Hill station for the District line to my destination, which was close to Parson’s Green station. The problem had been the bus, as all of the traffic in the City was gridlocked. Possibly because of the Crossrail works.
So instead of retracing my steps, I thought about getting a bus to perhaps South Kensington, where I could get some lunch at Carluccio’s. I really don’t like taking pot luck in an area I don’t know, as getting glutened isn’t fun! I did find a bus stop, with a choice of just one bus; a 22 to Piccadilly Circus. At least it was going in the right direction, but then it got stuck in traffic, due to all the tractors and white vans. Kingsland High Street may not have the glamour of the King’s Road, but at least the traffic keeps moving. In the end, I dived into the Piccadilly line at Knightsbridge station and took a train to Holborn, where I got a friendly 38 bus to the Angel. I just had time to grab my supper and some sandwiches from Marks and Spencer before I had to come home to catch an appointment.
Chelsea may have advantages, but I certainly didn’t see any today. Get past Piccadilly Circus and the traffic frees up, you’ve got the Underground and lots more bus routes. But then I suppose those in Chelsea and the surrounding areas of London don’t believe in public transport and clog up the roads with their tractors. It’s significant to me, that Kensington and Chelsea is one of the London boroughs in greatest opposition to the new London sewer. Could it be that the councillors are getting so many complaints about where to park during the construction?
On the other hand, this trip showed how Crossrail 2 or the Chelsea to Hackney line is badly needed. But do the residents of Chelsea want it constructed given the problems Crossrail is causing in the City. Parson’s Green station is incidentally pencilled in, as a station on the new line.
Next time, I go that way, I’ll take the Overground to West Brompton station and then change to the District line.
I Thought Network SouthEast Had Died
This sign lives on at Essex Road station.
I Thought Network SouthEast Had Died
Network SouthEast officially ceased to exist when the running of trains were privatised in the early 1980s.
Although the dirt on this rail, was probably of an earlier vintage.
The Dirtiest Hand-Rail In London
It certainly needed a good wash.
Beware Of Young Girls
I was travelling back from shopping this morning, when I became aware that a rather pretty blonde young lady was leaning over me. It took me a few moments before I realised she was a ticket inspector and her machine with the London Bus logo was being held out. It rather surprised me, as the usual inspectors, be they male or female, are generally older and look like they can handle themselves in a serious fight.
As the ads on London’s buses and tubes say. “Ticket inspectors look just like you!” Or not me, in this case, but the sort of lady, I’d like to take out for the evening. Although, my son would have said, she would have been too young for me. Which is probably true!
Henry Blofeld Is In Fine Form
I woke early today and after sorting my e-mails, I went back to bed to listen to Test Match Special from India. It wasn’t just England’s batsman, that were in fine form, but Henry Blofeld was as well, as have gave an amazing talk on his memories of India during the lunch break.
He told the tale, about how he nearly played for England in 1963 in India, when the team was decimated by the dreaded Delhi Belly. This link points to the paragraph containing the tale in Wikipedia, but it is much less colourful than Blowers account.
He also told how in 1976, he was one of five, who took a vintage Rolls-Royce all the way to India by road, travelling through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As it was such an immaculate vehicle, it was treated by everyone with the respect it deserved. Try doing that journey now. But it was done by many in those days. My cousin, John, did it around the same time in a Thames Trader gown van. There was even a regular bus to India called something like the Overland Trail.
Henry Blofeld until recently used to wear a pith helmet whilst reporting cricket tours like India.
He must be one of the last great British eccentrics. Hopefully, his talk will appear on the BBC iPlayer after play finishes for today. It’s well worth a listen. It’s here.
Incidentally, C who was a barrister, appeared several times in front of his elder brother, the judge, Sir John Blofeld.
Trainspotting Gets A Whole New Meaning
This story talks about Erica Christensen, who puts couples together on the New York Subway.
Perhaps she’s got an idea that will run, But I do like the name.
The Anonymous Widower 