And Now Thomas Heatherwick Coins A New Word
My Internet trawl for the New Bus for London, picked up this article in the Financial Times called Touched With Madeness about Thomas Heatherwick.
So many quirky ideas, may look good on paper, but can’t be made. His can, although he had a few early ones suffered from problems. But then so did Brunel’s.
Hence the idea that every idea and design should have the quality of madeness or the ability to be made.
The New Buses for London Are Arriving
Transport Engineer, which I would assume is a serious web site has just published this article about New Bus for London production.
The article doesn’t say directly, but it does seem to indicate that production is on schedule for the start-up of services on route 24 on June 22nd.
However, it does say this about emissions from the buses.
Emission testing on an early vehicle that has been in service for eight months and covered more than 15,000 miles show levels at 2.048g/km of NOx – around four times less than the fleet average for existing hybrid buses.
CO2 has been measured at 690.23g/km, which is marginally better than the fleet average for hybrids (864g/km) and almost half the fleet average for diesel buses (1,295g/km). As for diesel particulates, the figure is 0.012g/km, one quarter of the fleet average for hybrid and diesel buses together.
As to the local pre-production examples on route 38, they seem to be quietly trundling between Victoria and Hackney Central. The only negative reaction you hear, is when you joke that we’ll be losing the Hackney Eight to the toffs in Hampstead.
An Alternative To Motorway Services
As my old friend was going around the M25 and then down the A3, we’d decided to meet at Cobham and Stock D’Abernon station and go to the Carluccio’s in nearby Cobham.
It was a good choice to make, as there was two hours’ free parking outside of the restaurant and the food was certainly not of Motorway Services standard.
The restaurant also had quite a high percentage of well-turned out ladies amongst the clientele.
So it was a visit worth making!
To Cobham And Back
After Southwark Cathedral, I took the Tube to Waterloo to get the train to Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon station. Being a little bit early, I sat and had a cup of tea in Carluccio’s on the balcony in the station.
Is This The Best Place To Wait For A Train?
Waterloo station must have the most comfortable place to watch for your train to be allocated a platform.
The journey out and back were in two very clean Class 455 units. For trains built in the 1980s, they’ve scrubbed up well. in fact Wikipedia states this.
This refurbishment was so comprehensive that many passengers thought the refurbished units were new trains.
They almost fooled me, but I knew the age of the design, as you see similar trains elsewhere in the UK.
It probably says that rather than buy expensive brand new trains, which often provide jobs these days for overseas companies, why not rebuild some of what we’ve got?
Coming back, I was unlucky to just miss a train, so I had to wait half-an-hour for another train.
Another good point about the trip, was that I paid just £3.30 for my return ticket.
A Memorial At Southwark Cathedral
I’ve been to Southwark Cathedral many times, but I’ve never seen this memorial.
It is to a Native American chief called Mahomet Weyonomon.
The whole story is a very sad and sorry tale.
A Place In Times Of Stress
Today, I was going to have lunch with an old business partner in Surrey and getting to Waterloo station took me past Southwark Cathedral.
Southwark Cathedral
So I dropped by to have a quiet contemplation. As I’ve said in another post this place is special to me and as the sister of one of my friends, has a child near to death, I wanted to add my point fourpennyworth. Also being the day of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral I wanted to show respect privately in the way I do. I remember years ago, when Princess Diana’s funeral took place, I was on holiday in Northumberland with C. She watched it with a friend on the television and I just sat on the coast of Holy Island. I never watch this type of State pageantry on the television.
I Didn’t Miss The Match
After a good drink of proper Aspall Cyder, I got the train to Ipswich for the match against Crystal Palace.
One guy was saying that Town would win 3-0 and his mates were teasing him strongly. I hope he put some money on it, as Town did.
Evening matches at Portman Road can be difficult for me, as if I’m unlucky with the trains, I don’t get in until after midnight.
Yesterday was such a day, and I fell asleep on the rather hot train.
But I got home safely, after using a taxi driven by one of the smallest and oldest drivers I’d ever had.
His driving skills were very much up to scratch, though.
I slept well after a successful day.
Looking Under A Friend’s Mouse
From Cambridge yesterday, I was picked up by a mate to have a drink before I went on to the football. I found this mess under their mouse.
Looking Under A Friend’s Mouse
It is no wonder the computer wasn’t working too well.
But then as you can see it’s an Apple and they never work for me. I must be allergic to them!
Customer Support From Eurostar
On Saturday, I felt I got exceptional service from Eurostar on the last leg home from Budapest. So I told them!
I recently travelled back from Paris after arriving in the city on Saturday the 13th on the sleeper from Munich.
I hadn’t eaten for about 36 hours, as I couldn’t find any gluten-free food, in the Munich area of Germany.
However, once on the train to London, your gluten free light lunch that I had ordered filled part of the hole.I hope in my hungry state, I didn’t get on your excellent staffs’ nerves.
Ninety minutes after sending the e-mail, I got a reply.
Deepest condolences regarding your losses and the health issues you had, we are happy that you still found the strength to enjoy life. We at Eurostar are pleased that you enjoy this with us and we want to thank you for choosing us. I am sure that our on board staff were happy to help.
I am extremely disappointed to hear that gluten free meals are not obtainable with Deutsche Bahn as this is not an uncommon food request.
I hope your nest trip to Palermo will be a relaxing journey and without the need of being hungry.
You can’t fault the speed of reply and the message.
A Pedestrian Trap In Cambridge
Cambridge is not a city to live in or visit, if you have walking difficulties.
The pavements in the centre tend to be rather narrow and they are narrowed even more by the bicycles chained to any conceivable anchor point. But this broken rail by Parker’s Piece takes the biscuit.
A Pedestrian Trap In Cambridge
I suppose it was lucky, that there was enough contrast between the rail and the ground. If they are going to have single rails, they should at least paint them orange.
I have reported it!
The Anonymous Widower 