BrandNewGuy

The 17.01 and 17.11 were fine and on time. Trains running on time at 3pm is not menaingless for someone wanting to catch a train at 3pm.

Yeah - and currently on time.

Yes it is, which is disappointing.

ruffers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We need to separate commuting by bike from > fitness. As long as people see it as exercise > they'll want to improve, get faster and better, > and that leads to competitiveness, and that leads > to conflict. > > Think of it as just a commuting option and we're > good. Couldn't agree more. In an early version of 'nudge' activity, the first ATM in the UK was launched using Reg Varney. The implication being that if an ordinary fella can use this newfangled machine, so can anyone. So to encourage commuting by bike, I suggest they use a clearly unfit soap star. Steve McFadden/Phil Mitchell would do nicely...

A hangover? Now where on earth did you get that from? ;-)

rendelharris Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BrandNewGuy Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > In Holland, they're better behaved. No-one > speeds > > and everyone keeps their eyes open. > > This is in large part because the segregated > provision for cyclists is so much better. If one > wants to survive on many streets in Central London > one has to maintain a high average speed or suffer > abuse and aggression from those in motor vehicles > - this doesn't happen in Amsterdam. It's a two > way street, if cyclists don't feel stressed and > aggressed when riding their behaviour will become > less stressed and aggressive - as an example the > new segregated superhighways are jam packed at > rush hour but I've seen virtually no bad behaviour > on them. Central Amsterdam is as awkward as central London when it comes to narrow streets, bends and tricky junctions. And they've achieved a critical mass of cyclists so that, in fact, there are proportionately far fewer cars on the road in the city centre. How you achieve that critical mass is the issue. But Boris's suggestion that we should all emulate Bradley Wiggins won't help. > What's the obsession with people wearing lycra, by > the way? I know it looks pretty stupid on some > people (it certainly does on me) but it's simply > the most practical and comfortable gear for > cycling. If one is commuting one can either cycle > in one's work clothes (entirely impractical when > it's too cold/too hot/too wet, i.e. virtually > every day) or wear a different set of clothes for > the journey; it makes sense to wear the most > comfortable, quick drying clothing which packs > away smallest, and that's specially designed cycle > clothing. I really don't get it, nobody says "Oh > look at that idiot going jogging in shorts and > trainers when he could be wearing jeans" or "What > a showoff that bloke is, wearing football boots to > play football" but apparently it offends people if > one dons appropriate cycle clothing for cycling. I don't mind about lycra one way or the other, but to me it signals racing. You simply don't need to wear lycra to cycle to work. The Dutch manage to cycle in their ordinary clothes and their weather is not noticeably better than ours.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Perhaps there should be a means to prosecute > cyclists for dangerous/ reckless cycling in the > same way there is for other road users. Clearly > identification is an issue. Many more people are > now cycling so I guess incidences of bad cycling > will rise. What happens in countries like Holland > and Denmark? Are bad cyclists penalised or are > they jyst better behaved? In Holland, they're better behaved. No-one speeds and everyone keeps ther eyes open. It can be quite a challenge walking out of Amsterdam Central Station in the rush hour, with bikes going in all directions, but none of them is fast and everyone's alert. I wonder if the difference is down to the fact that in Dutch cities pretty much everyone cycles ? young and old, fit and infirm ? and no-one wears lycra. I despaired when Boris launched one of his London cycling initiatives and appeared alongside Bradley Wiggins. Why? That isn't going to encourage 'ordinary' people (eg the not-very-fit middle-aged) to cycle to work. It's like using Lewis Hamilton for a 'safer driving' campaign.

Well, that and a mini Morrisons, which was to pay for the library. That all went tits up, hence so did the library. It's all gone embarrassingly silent since then.

Taking a picture of a book? How abusive is that?

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Were you taking Photographs of the Library or the > content of books. > > Books may be subjected to copyright. and > restricted. But if it's for your own study, there isn't a copyright issue. If you want to take a snap of a page or two of a library book, you're perfectly entitled too. Tell the staff to sod off.

It's worth mentioning that the numerous Indian/Bangla restaurants survive because of the demand for them, whereas eight Greek restaurants, of course, simply wouldn't survive. And the Real Greek is dull but predictably OK.

I misread that as 'Toilet under the stars,' which could be quite inspiring on a warm summer's evening, though perhaps the neighbours might not be so appreciative.

Sardines straight out of the tin.

Another hardy perennial, I'm afraid, James ? any news of the stalled development next to ED station?

I failed the test first time for cutting up a milk float while turning back into the test centre. Not as bad as a friend who failed first time for "driving on the wrong side of the road".

rahrahrah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I didn't mention empire. Anyone who thinks that > income inequality will be tackle by a conservative > government, is in cloud cuckoo land. But you wrote of "an old England long gone" and " a backward looking, nostalgic little England". To me that sounds much more spinster-on-a-bike than it does Bob and Thelma. And where on earth did I suggest that the Tories would reduce income inequality? I was pointing out that not all nostalgia is petty, parochial and blinkered.

Hmmm, but I suspect nostalgia for most people isn?t about the Empire and spinsters cycling to church and all that. Take the mid-70s ? despite industrial strife, this country was ?happier? than at any time since 1945* - or since. Mass unemployment hadn?t hit and many working class (and lower middle class) people were feeling better off than at any time before. Interestingly, it?s also the era when income inequality across the spectrum was at its lowest level. So if you want a rough approximation to the nostalgia of many people, you might be better off thinking of Bob and Thelma in ?Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?? rather than some bombastic imperial vision. * http://newhistories.group.shef.ac.uk/wordpress/wordpress/article-1-gb/

I get the 40 to London Bridge two or three mornings a week and I see plenty of cyclists ignoring the cycle path at the junction with St Goerge's Road once it's gone past the Tabernacle. Instead of taking the curve round to the cycle path crossing, they cut off the corner straight into the traffic to then head off round past the Bakerloo Line station.

People showing off by using the phrase 'coup de grace', but pronouncing it as if it were 'coup de gras'. Which is being hit with a ball of fat. Probably not what they mean. Bizarrely I've heard it twice in the last week.

Another thumbs up for the Camberwell Arms ? relaxed and friendly, but excellent food. And drinks at pub prices.

LOL - I'm not having to go a business trip to Amsterdam. Which is bittersweet :-)

As it turns out, both Mrs BNG and I will be able to attend on the 13th.

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Do not know if they have Free range.. The term > Free range is virtually meaningless. > Any animal in an enclosed shed that can see > daylight through an opening can be called free > range. > Even if the place is so crowded they could never > reach the outside. > > Foxy Not quite true. For meat chickens, they must have outdoor access for at least 8 hours a day. For egg layers, they can be indoors all the time, but are not caged.

That's going home from work for the weekend, not off to Ma and Pa's country pile. Though it is very lovely there...

Buit as you say, there is no evidence for double decker buses cuasing a water main burst, so the rest of what you say is speculation.