Engineering Pornography At York
I went to the National Railway Museum today to see the Mallard 75 event or the Great Gathering as it is named by some.
Here are some pictures.
Sadly only three of the six iconic A4 Pacifics designed by Sir Nigel Gresley are still capable of steaming.
A Walk In Hyde Park
I went for a walk this afternoon in Hyde Park.
I had gone to see the awful statue that someone had put in the Serpentine to publicise a new TV channel. But I couldn’t find it. There’s a picture here from the Belfast Telegraph.
But I did take a few pictures.
It turned out that the statue had been removed. Judging by the quality of the statue, I hope it’s been recycled.
I did have a very nice ice cream in the Lido Cafe by the Serpentine. I t might have been a bit expensive, but it was good. And I had it in a tub.
Thinking about the walk later, I reckon it must be nearly forty years since I have been to that part of Hyde Park. We occasionally used to go swimming in the Serpentine with the boys, although, I don’t think I ever ventured in. But C did, as she was a manic swimmer. I don’t have any pictures of that time, but the park has been spruced up a lot since.
They were difficult but happy times!
Is This The Problem I Have With My House?
I’ve just read this report on the BBC’s web site, about some research on the government’s Green Deal by Lounghborough University.
A lot of it rings true with me and my house. Take this piece.
Temperatures could soar to dangerously high levels in some homes insulated under the government’s flagship Green Deal scheme, experts have warned.
Energy-saving measures designed to save on winter fuel bills and protect the environment could pose a risk to health during summer heatwaves, they add.
The government says it is aware of the problem and is taking steps to prevent overheating in Green Deal properties.
Homes in densely populated urban areas such as London are most at risk.
Heat can build up during the day and has nowhere to escape at night leading to poor air quality and a greater risk of heat stress for the occupants which, in extreme cases, can kill.
The bit about air quality could apply to my house, as I always feel the air is not good. My son, used to come in and throw the windows open immediately.
Men Tire Of Shopping After 26 Minutes
This is reported in several papers and the report from the Telegraph is here. These are the first two paragraphs.
Researchers found men are generally ready to head home within half an hour after following their other half round stores.
And more than one in four men admitted to getting so fedup with the trip they have abandoned their partner and gone home alone.
Admittedly, I’ve had some turgid hot days shopping with my late wife. But usually, we found what she wanted, had a meal and went home happy.
In fact now I quite like shopping and I’ve even been taken shopping by one of my female friends, for a masculine opinion, because her husband doesn’t do shopping.
I certainly don’t tire over 26 minutes.
The Bags Are Working
I’m going somewhere a bit smarter this afternoon, so I got out an old but good pair of shoes. The bags I purchased at about a pound each, had kept them immaculate since I last wore them.
It may be an odd idea to bag them individually, but it certainly works!
BBC Puts 3D On Hold
The BBC is finding that the public is losing their attitude for 3D programming,according to this article. Here’s the first two paragraphs.
The BBC is to suspend 3D programming for an indefinite period due to a “lack of public appetite” for the technology.
Kim Shillinglaw, the BBC’s head of 3D, said it has “not taken off” with audiences who find it “quite hassly”.
I’ve only ever watched one thing in 3D, which was a presentation at CERN. I tend to think of 3D as an unnecessary gimmick.
Walking Round Broadstairs
I don’t remember Broadstairs much from my childhood, although I did recognise a house that was in a similar style to the one where my uncle lived. But his house seemed to have been replaced with a modern one.
We did walk along the beach and I had a pretty good lunch and some beers, which was the object of going to the town.
They’re Filling The Big Hole At Kings Cross
I took these pictures from South Eastern’s platform 13 at St. Pancras of the new Kings Cross development. The last time, I looked at it, it was just a big hole.
Judging by the developer’s web site, it will be some place.
Margaret Thatcher Day
The BBC is reporting that some Tory MPs want the August Bank Holiday to be renamed Margaret Thatcher Day in honour of the late former Prime Minister.
I think that not everything about Mrs. Thatcher was either good or bad but even if I was a massive supporter, I would not want to see the renaming.
Renaming the day would set a very dangerous precedent and every interest group would want a day named after their hero, so the arguments would go on ad infinitum, when there are more pressing problems facing the country.
But then most politicians don’t know a bad idea, when they see it!
Off To Broadstairs Today
In a moment, I leave for St. Pancras to get the fast train to Broadstairs, ostensibly to have lunch and a few sherbets with an old mate.
I have memories of the town, where we used to go to visit my father’s brother. I always thought that he never fathered any children, until I met one of his grandsons, who traced back to a wartime bigamous marriage. Every family has skeletons and mine has more than most.
The strangest thing now, is that when I go on a trip like this, I now make sure the house is tidy before I leave.
The Anonymous Widower 