Nigello

Ingrid told me a few months ago she was very poorly but still was interested to hear about damaged street art and, moreover, took it upon herself to get it back to its former glory. Mary's Living and Giving shop told me she had been in to ask them to deal with the tagging over the lovely calligraphy next to the kingfisher on the shop's side wall, again showing her involvement and determination even as she was close to death. Alas, the tagging remains so I hope the management there will do their best to restore the artwork as a fitting legacy. RIP, IB.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/cyclists-could-be-banned-from-oxford-street-when-it-is-pedestrianised-a3518816.html

You could say to cyclists - you already have roads, so just get on them and ride! That would be the same as saying to pedestrians - there are loads of pavements, so just walk (or push your wheelchair, etc). I would argue that the latter example rings true, mostly. My meaning is that there is always a way to encourage anything. In this case, as I suggested, a modest amount of ?? spent on ensuring even pavements, safe crossings, clear signage and pleasant environments (inlcuding trees and plants) would help pedestrians know that their interests are being taken care of in a specific way, not just letting them think that once there is a pavement, then that's all they get.

Agreed - but cycles are costly, as is the infrastructure. A much smaller amount of money could be spent ensuring pavements are safe, pedestrian areas are well-lit with a bit of greenery added and signs are useful (amongst other efforts) but the pedestrian lobby is very unhip and disregarded, even if it exists at all. A two mile walk is not that effortful but I doubt any politician is likely to try to persuade people to walk "such a long distance" because people, alas, just don't want to hear that, on the whole.

But are they DIRECT links, or is it that, say, cyclists are less likely to smoke and more likely to do other things that prevent cancers? I think "cycling beats cancer" is just too unlikely to be true in its most face-value sense? (I still think the easiest and cheapest thing is to walk more.) NB - The research also looked at people who walked and didn't cycle: "Walking cut the odds of developing heart disease but the benefit was mostly for people walking more than six miles per week."

I don't have it. I am sure if you search the name you will find it.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MAY SAYS SHE WANTS TO HOLD EARLY ELECTION ON JUNE 8 - BBC'S POLITICAL EDITOR CITES ONE SOURCE REUTERS

With such growth in population and our history/experience of local govt. vs national govt. I doubt we will ever have a transport system that will approach the nirvana we all seem to want. If you boil it right down, the best way to be "in control" is to walk or cycle, but not everyone can do so for the kinds of distances we need to travel. "Suck it up" is not a phrase I like and I don't apply it to this, but I do think an elastic amount of acceptance is needed as much as congestion/diesel charges, cycle lanes, bus hopper fares, etc. etc.

https://intranet.gateway.bbc.co.uk/whatshappening/Pages/digital_journalism_apprentices.aspx

The advice given a decade or more go on diesel cars was done in good faith, so it is not fair to criticise that government/PM/party. It is fair, though, to criticise all parties that don't look to bringing about radical solutions. Just because it has improved a lot doesn't mean it can'd and shouldn't be improved more and more. You (plural) can start by ditching your car and walking or cycling or at least reducing the number of motorised trips you make. Any takers?

Does anyone know who to contact about this? I don't understand how the hanging handles can have been replaced, without anyone doing anything about the rest of the apparatus, which is in such a visibly bad state? _____You'd hope that the contractors/supervisor would have a quick scoot around to see if there are any other problems, but I doubt it happens. I bet they get given a task, finish it, then go home, which could well have more to do with council procedure than any lack of initiative (perhaps).

If it's that important to you, ask the owner to switch it off. If s/he doesn't, don't buy. Not sure what else you can do, unless they are indeed going against a local bylaw, in which case you could report it.

I like them but they ought to turn off the engines. I wonder whether they'd argue that they can't operate without the engine on. Is the fridge independent of the engine?

I like the idea of more accessible and safer cycling for all, but still thank that most people will be more likely to use a mixture of bus/Tube/train/walking/cycling to get to and from work and social activities than just cycling alone. That's why I think more needs done to address the realistic and current trends rather than spending lots of dosh and time to accommodate hoped-for cycling levels. I am glad the current London cycling "tsar" is also a pedestrian one too, so that may encourage more holistic thinking.

A fish tank, such as those taller ones by Bio-Orb (sp?) would be good, or a larger terrarium (with our without Amazonian tree frogs).

Celt - Do let us know what happens to the culprit, if you find out.

Cmapaiging is good but the very best thing that anyone can do is to drive less.

Indicating seems to be going out of fashion.....

Cycling is good, safe cycling is better, but spending money on accommodations for bikes that are more expensive than the cycles themselves is not good. Money spent on upgrades to roads, pavements, crossings, education that benefits as many people as possible - pedestrians, cyclists, passengers and drivers - is much better.

Will it continue to exist after the development there?

If the council sticks to its timetable, then the cycles are due to be removed 4/4 - Tuesday. Hope they leave a No or email address and, in the longer term, provide proper facilities.

Orchestra

Was on a 40, got on at Camberwell (so it had very likely come all the way from Aldgate) and there were six people, including me and the driver, on board, at around 1030. More/larger/reduced-stop buses at peak times and fewer (10-15% fewer) during the day, or not, as an idea to make the service better for most people?

Fit

I saw a ladybird (NOT bug!) but not sure whether it was one of the invasive species ones - it was mainly dark with red spots rather than the other way around. Small butterflies (moths?) at ground level on Wimbledon Common yesterday - anyone know which kind they could have been?