Home at a Price
I got to Cambridge on time, had time to do food shopping for Sunday lunch in the M&S at the station and then took a taxi home.
But it was a price worth paying for an exciting day! But it does seem wrong, that to get from Cambridge station to my home, cost nearly twice as much as all the rest of the travel. But there is no other way! There isn’t a bus at all between Cambridge Station and the nearest large village. Surely someone, could come up with an Internet-based share taxi service!
The Invisible Bus Map of Middlesbrough
As my trip to Middlesbrough is only at the end of next week, I felt it would be sensible to make sure that I can find my way around. It looks like the B & B, where I will be staying is within walking distance of the Riverside Stadium and the station, but it would be nice to have a bus map, so that I can perhaps get about quicker. After all, I have a pass for all buses in the UK, so I should probably use it.
But there would appear to be no map on the Internet of Middlesbrough buses. Perhaps everybody who travels always knows where they are going or uses their own car. But compare the city, to Cambridge and Ipswich, both of which have excellent maps giving all you need.
Cambridge Park and Ride
It looks like Cambridge are going to change the charging structure on the park and ride for the city, according to this report. If they do charge for parking as well, they will be going against what was said on Radio 5 some months ago. Then, it was said, that those parking and cycling were welcomed and that they took traffic off the roads in the congested city.
I have used the park and ride, usually to go to the centre for shopping or perhaps to see a film. As I have a bus pass, I don’t pay anything, so if they charged for parking, would those over sixty like me still use it. After all, Bury St. Edmunds has fairly low car park charges at certain times and it is just as close to me.
I also use the park and ride near to Addenbrookes and then walk in or take the free-for-me shuttle bus. This is cheaper than parking at the hospital and actually gets you conveniently closer to out-patients, than the car park. If I walk, as I do in the sun, it can also be argued that it is good for me.
If they do charge for parking or make it that parking includes the bus fare, it will be a sad day and except for Addenbrookes, I will cut my visits to the city.
I suppose though, Cambridge has to fund the busway somehow!
Another Problem for the Cambridge Busway
It looks like it was only a small tree, but this report shows another problem for the Cambridge Busway.
It looks like it was only a small tree, but after all the other faults, problems and just bad design, it illustrates, that this busway, must rank as the worst-planned and designed transport project in the UK and perhaps even Europe.
Will we ever get to use it to vitis the birds at DraytonLakes.
Woody Allen Resigns From The NRA
I doubt that Woody Allen would ever want to join, just as I wouldn’t join any such violently pro-gun organisation as the NRA, but after seeing his latest film, Whatever Works, they certainly wouldn’t welcome him now.
Three of us went and saw the film in Cambridge, this afternoon and we all enjoyed it immensely.
I was very pleased with the film, but then does it fit my mood at present after the stroke? Many of the one-liners also hit the same targets that I like to attack. The reviews of the film were actually not very positive, but then I doubt many reviewers have the right experience of life to appeciate it. But this guy does think it a very good film.
Trouble at Court
On Monday, there was a serious incident at Cambridge County Court. C used to work there a lot.
What the idiot’s motives in trying to burn the place down are, are uncertain, but is it part of a general unhappiness at the way people are treated by the courts in areas such as divorce and child matters? C had many angry clients, who in many cases felt the law shouldn’t apply to them. Typical would be the man, who felt that his ex-wife didn’t deserve a penny from their failed marriage.
Will we see more incidents like this, as costs are cut from legal aid and court budgets, which will mean that people get more and more unhappy with the service they get? I hope not!
Coming Home
All being well I’ll be on the Cathay Pacific flight leaving at 15:00 HK time today. I should be in Addenbrookes by midnight UK time.
They Still Can’t Get the Project Management Right
Summer is coming, although you wouldn’t believe it yet. But it will come and the new Cambridge Busway seems as far away as ever.
According to this article, they can’t even get reports on what is to be done, delivered on time.
Eurostar to a Cold England
Lille was cold and it wasn’t a bad interchange with just a hundred or so metres to walk between tracks to transfer from the TGV to the Eurostar.
I did get a gluten-free dinner on the train. It was some sort of fish. I’ve tasted better, but it filled a hole.
I was perhaps a couple of minutes late into St. Pancras, which meant that I had no chance of catching the 19:15 to Cambridge. So I had to wait for the 19:45, which got me back to Cambridge on time.
The taxi got me home about fifteen minutes short of twelve hours after leaving Nice.
Busway Humour – 2
There’s nothing like putting the boot into a project that has its troubles. So it is no surprise that the Cambridge Busway is the butt of humour in the Cambridge Evening News.
Dinosaur bones have been discovered on the guided busway – and tourist chiefs hope it could lead to the scheme becoming a major tourism attraction.
It’s not as funny as their previous attempt.
The Anonymous Widower 