Staying with the train theme, but rather more cheeky than gripey, I stumbled across the strange phenomena called 'No Pants Subway Ride'. Not wishing to alarm my British readers, for whom 'pants' refers to a rather more intimate garment, this event invites commuters to undertake their journey minus their trousers. For those feeling brave, the telegraph has some pictures:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/9002427/No-Pants-Day-2012-commuters-around-the-world-leave-their-trousers-at-home.html
Why? Not sure! I suppose it might raise a few smiles at a gloomy time of year. On reflection, I think this probably makes me happier than ever to not be a commuter! Me sans trousers in early January is not something I would wish to inflict upon an unsuspecting world.
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Tuesday, 10 January 2012
HS2
The government looks set to give the go-ahead today to that largest of white elephants, HS2. HS2 is the proposed high speed rail link between Birmingham and London, and is the first stage of a larger proposal to link to the north of the country.
It's going to cost us all billions, billions that we seem to be repeatedly told by the government we simply don't have (at least for anything we actually want!). It's going to destroy a swathe of the most beautiful English countryside, bulldozing through historic villages and cutting through the Chilterns, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. And yet, only a tiny few will actually benefit from it. Only those in Birmingham or London will be able to use it, as the trains won't be stopping anywhere else along the route. So all those people who are seeing their property values disintegrate and their beautiful home county land being annihilated will receive no benefit, most will receive absolutely no compensation.
But at least they have the comfort of knowing that the rail companies will make a nice fat profit from the billions of UK tax invested, and that a handful of Birmingham business types will be able to get to London a few minutes faster. Added to which, they'll have the pleasure of seeing a train-a-minute rocket past their homes at 250mph. I'm sure that will make the pain of the destruction so much easier to bear!
In my world, which regrettably remains mere fantasy, governments listen to the majority who pay the bills, not just their rich friends who only ever seem to get richer.
It's going to cost us all billions, billions that we seem to be repeatedly told by the government we simply don't have (at least for anything we actually want!). It's going to destroy a swathe of the most beautiful English countryside, bulldozing through historic villages and cutting through the Chilterns, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. And yet, only a tiny few will actually benefit from it. Only those in Birmingham or London will be able to use it, as the trains won't be stopping anywhere else along the route. So all those people who are seeing their property values disintegrate and their beautiful home county land being annihilated will receive no benefit, most will receive absolutely no compensation.
But at least they have the comfort of knowing that the rail companies will make a nice fat profit from the billions of UK tax invested, and that a handful of Birmingham business types will be able to get to London a few minutes faster. Added to which, they'll have the pleasure of seeing a train-a-minute rocket past their homes at 250mph. I'm sure that will make the pain of the destruction so much easier to bear!
In my world, which regrettably remains mere fantasy, governments listen to the majority who pay the bills, not just their rich friends who only ever seem to get richer.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Foot Photography
As someone who hates having her photo taken I can see the appeal of the approach taken by London photographer Tom Robinson to his holiday snaps. He took photographs of his and his girlfriend's feet in various locations and compiled them in a collection entitled 'Feet First'.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/9002318/Feet-First-travels-through-a-couples-relationship.html
They take on a whole new meaning with the snap of their baby's scan, and then their baby's newborn feet in the subsequent shots.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/9002318/Feet-First-travels-through-a-couples-relationship.html
They take on a whole new meaning with the snap of their baby's scan, and then their baby's newborn feet in the subsequent shots.
Friday, 6 January 2012
The Trainee Bank Robber
If you have to be caught up in a bank robbery, pray that it's being conducted by the chap who tried to hold up a branch of Halifax in Cheapside. So flustered was he that instead of handing over his swag bag he passed his gun to the bemused teller. I think he might be advised to consider a change in career!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8994548/Robber-hands-gun-to-cashier-by-mistake-during-robbery.html
I can just imagine the sound of incredulous laughter as the poor chap fled up the road.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8994548/Robber-hands-gun-to-cashier-by-mistake-during-robbery.html
I can just imagine the sound of incredulous laughter as the poor chap fled up the road.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
On A Lighter Note
Picture the staff at London Zoo doing their annual stock take! I don't suppose elephants present too much of an issue, unless of course they happen to be charging at you en-mass when, I would expect, counting would be the last thing on your mind. But a whole gaggle of curious penguins, or insects, fish, meerkats, monkeys, I imagine offer up a rather more interesting challenge.
I had a hard enough time counting out the sausage rolls at Christmas, and they generally stay fairly still!
I had a hard enough time counting out the sausage rolls at Christmas, and they generally stay fairly still!
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
New Year's Resolution
There are very few inspiring or funny news stories out there today. Must be the January blues, I suppose. For my part, I'm having a good day. I've stripped the house of most of the Christmas decorations, it's looking a little shocked now but it'll get over it, but more importantly, I've had a good writing day. That's especially gratifying as it's the third good writing day this week!
So, in light of the fact that I seem to have remembered how to tell a story at last, I shall start my new year with fresh resolve. My plan for the year begins with finishing my current story 'The Last Guardian' which will be my submission for the next book in Café Three-Zero's Tales from the Café series. Then I shall start designing a cover for Billy of Boldre Wood, the first in the children's adventure trilogy. Once I have a cover, I shall start preparing the book for marketing on Kindle.
Lucky Dip, my latest novel, is currently being looked at by a couple of agents. If they decide they aren't interested I shall probably abandon the traditional route with that too, and try it out on the Kindle market. I also need to write more short stories for my own anthology, to be released on Kindle, and I need to finish the third book of the Boldre Wood Trilogy.
I'm exhausted already! When's the next holiday?
So, in light of the fact that I seem to have remembered how to tell a story at last, I shall start my new year with fresh resolve. My plan for the year begins with finishing my current story 'The Last Guardian' which will be my submission for the next book in Café Three-Zero's Tales from the Café series. Then I shall start designing a cover for Billy of Boldre Wood, the first in the children's adventure trilogy. Once I have a cover, I shall start preparing the book for marketing on Kindle.
Lucky Dip, my latest novel, is currently being looked at by a couple of agents. If they decide they aren't interested I shall probably abandon the traditional route with that too, and try it out on the Kindle market. I also need to write more short stories for my own anthology, to be released on Kindle, and I need to finish the third book of the Boldre Wood Trilogy.
I'm exhausted already! When's the next holiday?
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
The Magnificent Sherlock Holmes
I missed the first series of the BBC's latest adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. I was being stubborn. I love the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, as written by Conan Doyle, in book form, old fashioned as I am. I treasure my copy of the memoirs and have read it from cover to cover several times. I tend to get snippy with modern interpretations, seeing them as error riddled and disrespectful. So it was with a good deal of trepidation that I decided to give 'Sherlock' a go on Sunday.
It was superb. Benedict Cumberbatch captures every nuance of Holmes and delivers him with utter conviction in this modern interpretation of the stories. This first episode was loosely based on 'A Scandal in Bohemia' and proved a worthy adaptation of the story that saw Holmes bested by 'the woman', the only woman who ever won his respect.
If you'd like to know more, the BBC has a page dedicated to the series:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws
I'm glad I overcame my prejudice. Still, think I'd better avoid the Hollywood attempts, they might test my patience a little too far!
It was superb. Benedict Cumberbatch captures every nuance of Holmes and delivers him with utter conviction in this modern interpretation of the stories. This first episode was loosely based on 'A Scandal in Bohemia' and proved a worthy adaptation of the story that saw Holmes bested by 'the woman', the only woman who ever won his respect.
If you'd like to know more, the BBC has a page dedicated to the series:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws
I'm glad I overcame my prejudice. Still, think I'd better avoid the Hollywood attempts, they might test my patience a little too far!
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