Decimalisation
On Drive on BBC Radio 5 Live, they got talking about decimalisation. I sent them my four pennies-worth
My eldest son was in the births in The Times for the 20th July 1969, the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Incidentally, that day the paper carried a report on decimalisation, which would happen on February 15th 1971 and metrication, which was to be completed by 1984. The first happened on time and I’m still waiting for the second.
I suspect I’ll be long dead before we do the sane and sensible thing and metricate.
Camden Road: A Destination Station on the North London Line
Obviously stations like Stratford and Richmond are destination stations on the North London line, where there is a lot to do and are ideal places to meet a friend or someone on business. Hampstead Heath station is probably another, but it is not really an interchange.
Today, I went to buy a new jacket and found myself at Camden Road station, which is being updated by the addition of lifts. I got the jacket and then proceeded to have a coffee in the restaurant under the station called the Meribel Brasserie & Coffee House. The coffee was very good and although they didn’t specifically do gluten-free, there were a few items on the menu, that were. For instance, their breakfast menu included scrambled eggs and smoked salmon at a reasonable £7, to include some accompaniments like tomatoes and a bit of salad. I checked the dinner menu with the Russian chef and I certainly wouldn’t starve there. He knew his stuff and even knew that skate were not kosher fish.
You certainly have a better choice of gluten-free food at Camden Road station, than in the whole of Eastfield.
I also drank my coffee on a pleasant terrace in the sun watching the traffic. Unfortunately,that unusual clothes shop, Swanky Modes, which used to be opposite has now gone. C always wondered, whether they actually sold any of their way out designs.
Watching the Tube
They’re showing how they vacuum out the tube tunnels. Strangely, a few years ago those that did this job were women, now they are men. Can there be many jobs these days, where men have taken over from women?
Soon these men will be succeeded by a new Tunnel Cleaning Train made up of two old Victoria line power cars, with some carriages turned into a giant vacuum cleaner in between.
It was strange too, that the two aerial cleaners, who did the roof at Canary Wharf came from Suffolk. Strange as there aren’t many mountains in that part of England to practise on.
The Moon and the Planets
I was standing outside Carluccio’s in Upper Street tonight, watching a glorious moon with the planet Venus alongside.
A few minutes later, I was outside my house and they had been joined by Jupiter lower down.
Never in my life have I seen all of these heavenly bodies together.
Bank Transfers Not Happening
I tried a couple of times make a couple of on-line payments this morning and my son also tried to send me something. But nothing went through.
My only thoughts is that they are setting up so many ISAs, that the system is creaking.
Sir Roger Bannister and the Affect of Heat and Humidity
I didn’t realise that one of the first papers that Sir Roger produced was about the affect of heat and humidity on people. He did his research in Aden in 1957.
I couldn’t find the paper, but I did find him quoted in a Powerpoint presentation on the subject, written Col. John Gardner, MD for the United States Army or Marines.
The notion that courage and esprit de corps can somehow defeat the principles of physiology is not only wrong but dangerously wrong.
I don’t know what the temperatures and humidity are like in Afghanistan are like, but do the British and American forces take note of the doctor.
I’m Not Bothered If Tanker Drivers Strike
Lt is being reported that Army drivers are being trained up, to drive petrol tankers, if the tanker drivers strike.
I’m actually not bothered, as I don’t drive and use public transport most of the time. Also my gas and electricity come through pipes in the ground. It might mean that Waitrose will be a bit short-stocked, but there are other supermarkets.
This strike though could be the death throws of an industry.
Petrol and diesel usage is dropping and will drop even further, as more passengers and freight go by rail. I wonder if there is a chart, which shows how much fuel gets delivered and where? Compared to ten years ago, it’s probably very depressing for the drivers.
The Fight of the Week Is Warming Up
I’m watching the latest instalment in the Glasgow Premier League.
Rangers have scored a goal and Celtic have had a player sent off.
I wouldn’t like to be the referee for the next few weeks.
Stations Reborn As Shopping Destinations
This was a sub-headline in The Times yesterday describing the new policy of Network Rail in transforming stations. Head of Retail at the company is quoted as saying that they want to move away from the likes of McDonalds and Burger King. As a coeliac, I say good riddance to both of them. At the two stations fully redeveloped in London, they’ve got a Leon at Kings Cross and a champagne bar and Carluccio’s in St. Pancras. Both stations have proper pubs too. Next for the treatment in London is Waterloo, with Euston and Birmingham to follow. Both of the latter are terrible.
The Head of Retail also talked about removing the stranglehold of W H Smith, a shop of last resort if ever there was one. A French company, Relay, has been invited to open in Cannon Street.
Stations can’t be improved fast enough, as far as I’m concerned.
The Anonymous Widower 