Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Looks like you got there on a nice day. When I was at Wick it was in the middle of summer but grim. Freezing cold, wet.
Yeah, it was dry, if not sunny, both days I was travelling by train. Guess I got lucky!
So Truss wants to extend the Rwanda scheme . Next she’ll be promising to put them against a wall to be shot in her desperate attempt to ingratiate herself to the Tory Membership .
It's a bit racist to equate a well-funded settlement scheme in an African country with being shot.
He didn't equate the scheme to being shot at all, he suggested an intentionally ridiculous escalation to go a lot further than the scheme.
You can regard the premise that the Tory membership are only interested in being tougher and tougher on potential migrants/asylum seekers as entirely incorrect, but the quote isn't saying the scheme is like being shot.
So its not the least bit racist about the scheme, it's comic exaggeration of the Tory membership (comedic value may be in the eye of the beholder) priorities.
If the comic exaggeration ends up with shooting people, then the starting point has to be seen as something bad, and that's purely a function of the destination.
You've fallen at the first hurdle I'm afraid. It isn't 'purely' a function of the destination.
Some people think it is unlawful. Some people thinking it is unfair. Some people think it is transferring a problem of ours elsewhere which should be dealt with closer to home. Some people might be ok in principle but think it'll be ineffective and costly. And yes, some have raised objections specifically to it being Rwanda and their human rights record.
You may disagree with all of the other reasons, but while you and Trevor Noah may think the only objections have been that the destination is Rwanda, it isn't the case.
So Truss wants to extend the Rwanda scheme . Next she’ll be promising to put them against a wall to be shot in her desperate attempt to ingratiate herself to the Tory Membership .
It's a bit racist to equate a well-funded settlement scheme in an African country with being shot.
The shooting would take place in a square in the UK with a baying mob of Tory members taking selfies and eating popcorn !
If you want to see how bad it can get for a centre-right Government head to Austria where the once dominant People's Party has sunk to third place in a poll for the first time since who knows when..
The latest poll for TV Osterreich is as follows (changes from last Federal election):
SPD: 31% (+10) Freedom Party (FPO): 23% (+7) People's Party (OVP): 20% (-17) NEOS: 11% (+3) Greens: 9% (-5) People, Freedom, Rights (MFG): 4% (new)
That means the governing OVP-Green coalition has fallen from 51% at the last election to 29% now.
Could an FPO-OVP coalition take over? I suspect the SPD-NEOS-Green option (analogous to Germany) is the other option.
Why is the OVP polling so badly (admittedly, Austria is now on to its ninth chancellor in six years).
Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Have to confess I did Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness in the 1980s - trains look much the same.
Also got to Fort William and right up to Mallaig - not such an inspiring end to the line.
Have to say Wick and Thurso look like mini-versions of Penzance.- Scrabster is two miles from Thurso and from there you can get a ferry to Stromness in the Orkney Islands.
But this is a great series if you want to understand more about New Labour. I fundamentally feel that under New Labour Britain was a country very much at ease with itself, we have lost that now, things seem a lot more nasty and divided.
I try to not look back at that time romantically but I do recall how good the NHS was then and how terrible it is now, as an example.
Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Happy memories of a very pleasant holiday spent partly in Wick. A very pleasant town with some dramatic scenery around it.
Evening, peeps! Got back from Inverness mid-afternoon. Haven't commented since Thursday because I found the long train rides a little more exhausting than I envisaged, such that on both Thursday and Friday I fell asleep while browsing PB
Anyway, did Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on Thursday, and Inverness to Thurso and Wick on Friday. Which means that, to all intents and purposes, I've done the official National Rail network. Except no! Barking Riverside station opened last Monday during the heatwave, so I'll have to do that this coming Monday (it's closed this weekend, so soon after opening).
I miss @HYUFD's translating these polls into seats to show the size of the Tory majority.
You can see some of those again once Britain's third female/first Asian Prime Minister kisses the Queen's hand. 😉
Lol, I think we need to see how much shit the contenders throw at each other during the campaign. Some of that shit is going to stick to the Conservative brand imo.
We haven't had that in the previous two changes: May was unopposed at this stage and Johnson was so far ahead and Hunt too nice to throw the dirt.
Not sure I've said this before but love your photo, Ben
Evening, peeps! Got back from Inverness mid-afternoon. Haven't commented since Thursday because I found the long train rides a little more exhausting than I envisaged, such that on both Thursday and Friday I fell asleep while browsing PB
Anyway, did Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on Thursday, and Inverness to Thurso and Wick on Friday. Which means that, to all intents and purposes, I've done the official National Rail network. Except no! Barking Riverside station opened last Monday during the heatwave, so I'll have to do that this coming Monday (it's closed this weekend, so soon after opening).
Kyle of Lochalsh:
Did you notice they had to cut room for sidings/engine shed into the rock? A little up the line from the platforms. The space was occupied by buildings last I was there, but it's pretty obvious.
Evening, peeps! Got back from Inverness mid-afternoon. Haven't commented since Thursday because I found the long train rides a little more exhausting than I envisaged, such that on both Thursday and Friday I fell asleep while browsing PB
Anyway, did Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on Thursday, and Inverness to Thurso and Wick on Friday. Which means that, to all intents and purposes, I've done the official National Rail network. Except no! Barking Riverside station opened last Monday during the heatwave, so I'll have to do that this coming Monday (it's closed this weekend, so soon after opening).
Kyle of Lochalsh:
Did you notice they had to cut room for sidings/engine shed into the rock? A little up the line from the platforms. The space was occupied by buildings last I was there, but it's pretty obvious.
British satellite champion on brink of takeover by the French Taxpayer-backed OneWeb in talks with Paris-listed rival accused of enabling ‘Russian war propaganda’
Brendan May: "Global citizen, EU passport holder 🇪🇺, British resident."
In other words, a wanker.
Ah yes, that's consensus politics alright
Let me let you into a little secret: I have zero time for non-patriots.
If you're not proud of your British citizenship and this country, then you have my contempt.
If you do, then I am very interested in views no matter what your political angle.
My impression is that you sometimes interpret criticism of the specific as hatred of the general, and then you stop thinking as you've categorised it as something contemptible.
I think that I'm capable of feeling anger and shame at some specific actions taken by my country and in my name, while still feeling affection and affinity for my country's more positive unique characteristics.
I can understand some people who hate Britain. For instance if you have been deprived of your citizenship and then deported by the Home office in the Windrush scandal. That would be one example. But it is quite an extreme example. A lot of hatred about Britain is just driven by a pathological lack of self confidence. It gets very annoying. Someone like Blair is, for all his flaws, an antidote to that. I think the labour party will struggle to find a leader who can convey a positive image of Britain. Starmer doesn't, which is a problem.
On the one hand it is good that even somone like Pence found his line in supporting Trump (that line being 'Trump supporting people who would have liked to kill Pence'), but on the other its incredible that even being willing to back other candidates Pence still won't call out Trump.
Donald Trump and his former vice-president, Mike Pence, have held rival rallies for Republican candidates hoping to be Arizona's state governor.
Mr Trump spoke at an event for Kari Lake, who backs his false claims about election fraud, while Mr Pence supports her opponent, Karrin Taylor Robson...
He did not criticise Mr Trump or refer to the election controversy during his speech.
However, he said later in a tweet that "if the Republican Party allows itself to become consumed by yesterday's grievances, we will lose".
Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Good to see that you had a successful trip.
The first time I went to Wick was in July 1983 behind 37260. Two days earlier it was 37035 to Thurso. And two days before that 26041 to Kyle of Lochalsh.
If you want to see how bad it can get for a centre-right Government head to Austria where the once dominant People's Party has sunk to third place in a poll for the first time since who knows when..
The latest poll for TV Osterreich is as follows (changes from last Federal election):
SPD: 31% (+10) Freedom Party (FPO): 23% (+7) People's Party (OVP): 20% (-17) NEOS: 11% (+3) Greens: 9% (-5) People, Freedom, Rights (MFG): 4% (new)
That means the governing OVP-Green coalition has fallen from 51% at the last election to 29% now.
Could an FPO-OVP coalition take over? I suspect the SPD-NEOS-Green option (analogous to Germany) is the other option.
Why is the OVP polling so badly (admittedly, Austria is now on to its ninth chancellor in six years).
Basically, it's the fallout from the dramatic fall of Sebastian Kurz who for a while completely dominated Austrian politics as OVP leader and Chancellor. He was forced to resign last October following a corruption investigation and was such a strong presence in the background he was called the "Shadow Chancellor" and many thought he was still pulling the strings.
Eventually, he was forced out of politics completely last December - Schallenberg, who had been the Chancellor, also quit and one Karl Nehammer, the Interior Minister, ended up taking over both the leadership of the OVP and the role of Chancellor.
All this, which has some parallels to current events in the UK, left the OVP looking self-absorbed and unable to meet the challenges of rising energy prices and inflation - meanwhile, the SPD has improved its image and credibility under Pamela Rendi-Wagner. Oddly enough, despite a strong pro-Putin stance, the Freedom Party has also prospered from the OVP's problems and has moved into second in the current poll.
British satellite champion on brink of takeover by the French Taxpayer-backed OneWeb in talks with Paris-listed rival accused of enabling ‘Russian war propaganda’
Eutelsat, which broadcasts TV channels in Russia and has been accused of enabling “the Russian war propaganda machine”. The French state holds a 20pc stake in Eutelsat.
I can understand some people who hate Britain. For instance if you have been deprived of your citizenship and then deported by the Home office in the Windrush scandal. That would be one example. But it is quite an extreme example. A lot of hatred about Britain is just driven by a pathological lack of self confidence. It gets very annoying. Someone like Blair is, for all his flaws, an antidote to that. I think the labour party will struggle to find a leader who can convey a positive image of Britain. Starmer doesn't, which is a problem.
Hating this Government is not the same as hating Britain.
Brendan May: "Global citizen, EU passport holder 🇪🇺, British resident."
In other words, a wanker.
Ah yes, that's consensus politics alright
Let me let you into a little secret: I have zero time for non-patriots.
If you're not proud of your British citizenship and this country, then you have my contempt.
If you do, then I am very interested in views no matter what your political angle.
My impression is that you sometimes interpret criticism of the specific as hatred of the general, and then you stop thinking as you've categorised it as something contemptible.
I think that I'm capable of feeling anger and shame at some specific actions taken by my country and in my name, while still feeling affection and affinity for my country's more positive unique characteristics.
I can understand some people who hate Britain. For instance if you have been deprived of your citizenship and then deported by the Home office in the Windrush scandal. That would be one example. But it is quite an extreme example. A lot of hatred about Britain is just driven by a pathological lack of self confidence. It gets very annoying. Someone like Blair is, for all his flaws, an antidote to that. I think the labour party will struggle to find a leader who can convey a positive image of Britain. Starmer doesn't, which is a problem.
I've pointed out before that Labour has only ever won when they had a positive forward looking optimism. In tune with the times. Unfortunately for them, there isn't a great deal to be positive about the times just now.
If you want to see how bad it can get for a centre-right Government head to Austria where the once dominant People's Party has sunk to third place in a poll for the first time since who knows when..
The latest poll for TV Osterreich is as follows (changes from last Federal election):
SPD: 31% (+10) Freedom Party (FPO): 23% (+7) People's Party (OVP): 20% (-17) NEOS: 11% (+3) Greens: 9% (-5) People, Freedom, Rights (MFG): 4% (new)
That means the governing OVP-Green coalition has fallen from 51% at the last election to 29% now.
Could an FPO-OVP coalition take over? I suspect the SPD-NEOS-Green option (analogous to Germany) is the other option.
Why is the OVP polling so badly (admittedly, Austria is now on to its ninth chancellor in six years).
Basically, it's the fallout from the dramatic fall of Sebastian Kurz who for a while completely dominated Austrian politics as OVP leader and Chancellor. He was forced to resign last October following a corruption investigation and was such a strong presence in the background he was called the "Shadow Chancellor" and many thought he was still pulling the strings.
Eventually, he was forced out of politics completely last December - Schallenberg, who had been the Chancellor, also quit and one Karl Nehammer, the Interior Minister, ended up taking over both the leadership of the OVP and the role of Chancellor.
All this, which has some parallels to current events in the UK, left the OVP looking self-absorbed and unable to meet the challenges of rising energy prices and inflation - meanwhile, the SPD has improved its image and credibility under Pamela Rendi-Wagner. Oddly enough, despite a strong pro-Putin stance, the Freedom Party has also prospered from the OVP's problems and has moved into second in the current poll.
He dominated his country's politics and then has seen his career fall entirely, and he's still younger than me. Depressing.
So Truss wants to extend the Rwanda scheme . Next she’ll be promising to put them against a wall to be shot in her desperate attempt to ingratiate herself to the Tory Membership .
It's a bit racist to equate a well-funded settlement scheme in an African country with being shot.
The shooting would take place in a square in the UK with a baying mob of Tory members taking selfies and eating popcorn !
At least if they put all their political opponents up against the wall, they won't feel the need to compromise the integrity of the electoral system. No more voter suppression tactics required, and we retain a free and fair electoral system.
Evening, peeps! Got back from Inverness mid-afternoon. Haven't commented since Thursday because I found the long train rides a little more exhausting than I envisaged, such that on both Thursday and Friday I fell asleep while browsing PB
Anyway, did Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on Thursday, and Inverness to Thurso and Wick on Friday. Which means that, to all intents and purposes, I've done the official National Rail network. Except no! Barking Riverside station opened last Monday during the heatwave, so I'll have to do that this coming Monday (it's closed this weekend, so soon after opening).
Kyle of Lochalsh:
Did you notice they had to cut room for sidings/engine shed into the rock? A little up the line from the platforms. The space was occupied by buildings last I was there, but it's pretty obvious.
You mean the reverse angle?
Bit further, round the corner, I think? But on checking it has been redeveloped from what I recall (Douglas Row). Thew rock cutting is clear in the old OS map however, where the local shed and turntable are sunken into the native ground contour.
I can understand some people who hate Britain. For instance if you have been deprived of your citizenship and then deported by the Home office in the Windrush scandal. That would be one example. But it is quite an extreme example. A lot of hatred about Britain is just driven by a pathological lack of self confidence. It gets very annoying. Someone like Blair is, for all his flaws, an antidote to that. I think the labour party will struggle to find a leader who can convey a positive image of Britain. Starmer doesn't, which is a problem.
Hating this Government is not the same as hating Britain.
Equating the two is fascism
When you recover from Brexit, you'll probably become a Truss loyalist.
Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Have to confess I did Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness in the 1980s - trains look much the same.
Also got to Fort William and right up to Mallaig - not such an inspiring end to the line.
Have to say Wick and Thurso look like mini-versions of Penzance.- Scrabster is two miles from Thurso and from there you can get a ferry to Stromness in the Orkney Islands.
Mallaig has its merits. In the 1970s/80s I would get a parcel of local kippers to put into the luggage rack to take home for ther family, on the way home from a sailing or walking trip (proper rakes of Mark 1 compartment coaches with ventilator windows, just right for the summer).
On the subject of railways, I am thinking of doing a trip around Norway. Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen (by ferry) - Trondheim - Bodo: up in the far north. Its amazing value for money if you book in advance, ie most of the intercity legs are £20, and you can get your own sleeper cabin for about £70.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
"Oh God, aliens... Your explanation for anything slightly peculiar is aliens, isn't it? You lose your keys - it's aliens. A picture falls off the wall - it's aliens. That time we used up a whole bog roll in a day, you thought that was aliens as well!" - Dave Lister
On the subject of railways, I am thinking of doing a trip around Norway. Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen (by ferry) - Trondheim - Bodo: up in the far north. Its amazing value for money if you book in advance, ie most of the intercity legs are £20, and you can get your own sleeper cabin for about £70.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Have to confess I did Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness in the 1980s - trains look much the same.
Surprised to hear that as they were running locomotive hauled trains (Class 37s) along it when I first went over it in 1994. They were replaced with 158s the following year.
Beautiful line and something amazingly satisfying about being hauled along it by a 37 with the grunt of its engines.
I can't read the article (££) but there was a Zoe podcast recently making the point that a lots of so-called sourdough bread sold by supermarkets was nothing of the sort.
But having reached Mallaig, there are splendid boat trips to or around the Small Isles.
Oh yes! I remember the old converted minesweeper/corvette that was the ferry in the late 1970s. Rolled like a greased pig. I did blink when I read in the newspaper that it sprang a leak and foundered one day, or rather night - very fortunately when tied up at the pier in Mallaig.
I can understand some people who hate Britain. For instance if you have been deprived of your citizenship and then deported by the Home office in the Windrush scandal. That would be one example. But it is quite an extreme example. A lot of hatred about Britain is just driven by a pathological lack of self confidence. It gets very annoying. Someone like Blair is, for all his flaws, an antidote to that. I think the labour party will struggle to find a leader who can convey a positive image of Britain. Starmer doesn't, which is a problem.
Hating this Government is not the same as hating Britain.
Equating the two is fascism
When you recover from Brexit, you'll probably become a Truss loyalist.
When Britain recovers from Brexit, we'll probably all be long dead.
I can't read the article (££) but there was a Zoe podcast recently making the point that a lots of so-called sourdough bread sold by supermarkets was nothing of the sort.
There seems to be lots of iffy stuff goes on with stretching of the truth in world of food descriptions because very difficult to legally define / enforce e.g. locally sourced, "freshest" ingredients, natural flavourings....none of those have to mean what you think they do.
On the subject of railways, I am thinking of doing a trip around Norway. Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen (by ferry) - Trondheim - Bodo: up in the far north. Its amazing value for money if you book in advance, ie most of the intercity legs are £20, and you can get your own sleeper cabin for about £70.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
Have you considered coming back on Swedens Inland railway? It looks quite pretty.
"Oh God, aliens... Your explanation for anything slightly peculiar is aliens, isn't it? You lose your keys - it's aliens. A picture falls off the wall - it's aliens. That time we used up a whole bog roll in a day, you thought that was aliens as well!" - Dave Lister
True story, I had the other Rimmer/Lister conversation about aliens essentially verbatim with a relative only a few weeks ago, when they brought up Stonegenge and the Pyramids (I know they need not necessarily have been made by slaves).
Rimmer: I mean like the pyramids. How did they move such massive pieces of stone without the aid of modern technology? Lister: They had massive whips, Rimmer. Massive, massive whips.
Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Have to confess I did Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness in the 1980s - trains look much the same.
Surprised to hear that as they were running locomotive hauled trains (Class 37s) along it when I first went over it in 1994. They were replaced with 158s the following year.
Beautiful line and something amazingly satisfying about being hauled along it by a 37 with the grunt of its engines.
Any journey behind a 37 is satisfying!
Even more so when you need to get the red pen out.
I was around a friends who has teenage kids a couple weekends ago and they never stopped puffing on the things. Apparently single use ones are all the rage.
Thing is, the Chorleywood process (and other innovations in recent decades) is wot means you can buy a loaf of reasonably nutritious bread in the supermarket for under 50p, sometimes as little as 25p. We’ve made incredible advancements. And, despite me doing a reasonable amount of research on it, I just can’t see the problem. Sure, your 25p loaf (and, well, any loaf under about £2.50) has chemicals and preservatives in it, but there isn’t any evidence that they cause health problems.
As Tim Minchin once screamed during his comedy routine, “EVERYTHING IS CHEMICALS!”
That said, there is a bit of a labelling problem. I’m trying to shift over to rye bread and most of the loaves which advertise themselves as “rye bread” are, basically, regular wheat bread with a token amount of rye. The worst offender I almost bought had 3% rye, the rest white flour.
So, yeah, the telegraph (and these specialist bakers) do have a point.
He dominated his country's politics and then has seen his career fall entirely, and he's still younger than me. Depressing.
Hasn't he always been younger than you?
He's always been younger than me if that's any consolation.
He has, but it'd be less depressing if he was still a powerful force, not that he's already had his rise and fall, and I've yet to have my rise.
I've noticed a definite phenomenon of people who rise too soon and then crash out and cannot come to terms with it, ending up as bitter derelicts. That's probably the worst place to be. The main thing I think is to just try and do work that is meaningful and reasonably well paid and at the right level for you, and to keep going probably until you are 68.
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
When I was there a few years back somebody was delivering a wind turbine blade that had an awkward time getting round that corner, the end stuck right out over the railway as it made the turn...
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
How do you define flag shagging? Do the Dutch display this trait at football when all the fans are in orange?
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
And America of course.
America's pathological obsession with their flag is beyond silly. You think "this is what strength looks like". So much of the world sees you with your hand on your heart pledging allegiance to the sodding flag and think you look like wazzocks.
Evening, peeps! Got back from Inverness mid-afternoon. Haven't commented since Thursday because I found the long train rides a little more exhausting than I envisaged, such that on both Thursday and Friday I fell asleep while browsing PB
Anyway, did Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on Thursday, and Inverness to Thurso and Wick on Friday. Which means that, to all intents and purposes, I've done the official National Rail network. Except no! Barking Riverside station opened last Monday during the heatwave, so I'll have to do that this coming Monday (it's closed this weekend, so soon after opening).
Kyle of Lochalsh:
Completion is always a bitter sweet thing in any hobby or collection I think - NO more worlds to conquer or collect
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
And America of course.
America's pathological obsession with their flag is beyond silly. You think "this is what strength looks like". So much of the world sees you with your hand on your heart pledging allegiance to the sodding flag and think you look like wazzocks.
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
And America of course.
America's pathological obsession with their flag is beyond silly. You think "this is what strength looks like". So much of the world sees you with your hand on your heart pledging allegiance to the sodding flag and think you look like wazzocks.
Patriot is pretty much synonymous with racist, there and elsewhere.
On the subject of railways, I am thinking of doing a trip around Norway. Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen (by ferry) - Trondheim - Bodo: up in the far north. Its amazing value for money if you book in advance, ie most of the intercity legs are £20, and you can get your own sleeper cabin for about £70.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
Have you considered coming back on Swedens Inland railway? It looks quite pretty.
Yes I've looked at the Inlandsbanan, it seems to run as a thousand kilometre long tourist railway, with a railcar (a bit like the heart of wales line, but ten times longer!) It takes several days to go end to end and isn't that frequent. There is also the route from Narvik in Norway down to Stockholm though, via Abisko and Kiruna, which is 16 hours. You could get a bus from Bodo up to Narvik (about 6 hours) and get the train back to Stockholm that way. The only thing though is that private compartments on Swedish railways are quite expensive, about £300 per journey; you'd have to brave it in a seat or go for a couchette.
I've done the line in northern line in Finland, from Helsinki up to Oulu and back. Absolutely beautiful trains, both in the daytime and overnight (the cabins put the caledonian sleeper to shame), and very affordable. The only thing is that the scenery in Finland is nice but extremely repetitive... a flat landscape with lots of trees. My experience of Sweden is similar, but I've only done the line from Stockholm to Malmo.
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
How do you define flag shagging? Do the Dutch display this trait at football when all the fans are in orange?
Mind you. I was stunned that my High School required gathering in the yard first thing while the Canadian flag was raised. Then to the Chapel for assembly. Beginning with the National Anthem.
Thing is, the Chorleywood process (and other innovations in recent decades) is wot means you can buy a loaf of reasonably nutritious bread in the supermarket for under 50p, sometimes as little as 25p. We’ve made incredible advancements. And, despite me doing a reasonable amount of research on it, I just can’t see the problem. Sure, your 25p loaf (and, well, any loaf under about £2.50) has chemicals and preservatives in it, but there isn’t any evidence that they cause health problems.
As Tim Minchin once screamed during his comedy routine, “EVERYTHING IS CHEMICALS!”
That said, there is a bit of a labelling problem. I’m trying to shift over to rye bread and most of the loaves which advertise themselves as “rye bread” are, basically, regular wheat bread with a token amount of rye. The worst offender I almost bought had 3% rye, the rest white flour.
So, yeah, the telegraph (and these specialist bakers) do have a point.
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
How do you define flag shagging? Do the Dutch display this trait at football when all the fans are in orange?
Evening, peeps! Got back from Inverness mid-afternoon. Haven't commented since Thursday because I found the long train rides a little more exhausting than I envisaged, such that on both Thursday and Friday I fell asleep while browsing PB
Anyway, did Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on Thursday, and Inverness to Thurso and Wick on Friday. Which means that, to all intents and purposes, I've done the official National Rail network. Except no! Barking Riverside station opened last Monday during the heatwave, so I'll have to do that this coming Monday (it's closed this weekend, so soon after opening).
Kyle of Lochalsh:
Completion is always a bitter sweet thing in any hobby or collection I think - NO more worlds to conquer or collect
There's always the mopping up operations
Barking Riverside Tram to Edgbaston Dale Rail (Clitheroe-Hellifield)
upcoming: Missing bits to the Elizabeth Line Blackpool Tram to North station. Edinburgh tram extension
Well it is. But cost of living doesn't appear to be a prominent one. Number one in the general population.
My point is that it’s possible to extract one phrase from a statement or interview and say ‘is that all?’
Which is true. But there has been little CoL in this campaign. Probably because no bugger on any side has much of a clue. Basically. Need an end to war first.
On the subject of railways, I am thinking of doing a trip around Norway. Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen (by ferry) - Trondheim - Bodo: up in the far north. Its amazing value for money if you book in advance, ie most of the intercity legs are £20, and you can get your own sleeper cabin for about £70.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
Oslo to Bergen is the most fantastic train journey. Of course Oslo stavanger probably is too. Lofoten islands are fab. Do a whirlpool trip from Bodo.
Wick station is only the 4th most northerly station, after Thurso, Georgemas Junction and Scotscalder, but serves as the terminus of the Far North Line.
Happy memories of a very pleasant holiday spent partly in Wick. A very pleasant town with some dramatic scenery around it.
I had a wonderful experience driving up to Wick - was stood on an old road bridge that had been bypassed years before. It was a bridge that a pine marten wanted to cross. Once it had sussed that I was going to do it no harm, it passed me at about 6 feet distance.
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
And America of course.
America's pathological obsession with their flag is beyond silly. You think "this is what strength looks like". So much of the world sees you with your hand on your heart pledging allegiance to the sodding flag and think you look like wazzocks.
Patriot is pretty much synonymous with racist, there and elsewhere.
I thought that USA USA patriots shag the CSA flag...
Flags are just logos really and all companies have logos so nothing really wrong with them- the world would be less interesting without them - Take the Olympic opening ceremony where the parade of flags is not only colourful but quite joyous.
Flags are just logos really and all companies have logos so nothing really wrong with them- the world would be less interesting without them - Take the Olympic opening ceremony where the parade of flags is not only colourful but quite joyous.
Your username needs reviewing in light of your passion for statist money wasting tat.
Thing is, the Chorleywood process (and other innovations in recent decades) is wot means you can buy a loaf of reasonably nutritious bread in the supermarket for under 50p, sometimes as little as 25p. We’ve made incredible advancements. And, despite me doing a reasonable amount of research on it, I just can’t see the problem. Sure, your 25p loaf (and, well, any loaf under about £2.50) has chemicals and preservatives in it, but there isn’t any evidence that they cause health problems.
As Tim Minchin once screamed during his comedy routine, “EVERYTHING IS CHEMICALS!”
That said, there is a bit of a labelling problem. I’m trying to shift over to rye bread and most of the loaves which advertise themselves as “rye bread” are, basically, regular wheat bread with a token amount of rye. The worst offender I almost bought had 3% rye, the rest white flour.
So, yeah, the telegraph (and these specialist bakers) do have a point.
Rich peoples problems, though!
When did batons stop being called French sticks or French loaves?
Flags are just logos really and all companies have logos so nothing really wrong with them- the world would be less interesting without them - Take the Olympic opening ceremony where the parade of flags is not only colourful but quite joyous.
Your username needs reviewing in light of your passion for statist money wasting tat.
not really - i dont like forced singing of anthems at sport events etc but flags do identify countries and as long as people are free to make whatever they want of flags then it is fine with me. I am not against the formation of countries (because that provides choice if freedom of movement ) -Even anarchists have a flag for instance
On the subject of railways, I am thinking of doing a trip around Norway. Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen (by ferry) - Trondheim - Bodo: up in the far north. Its amazing value for money if you book in advance, ie most of the intercity legs are £20, and you can get your own sleeper cabin for about £70.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
How do you define flag shagging? Do the Dutch display this trait at football when all the fans are in orange?
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
How do you define flag shagging? Do the Dutch display this trait at football when all the fans are in orange?
Thing is, the Chorleywood process (and other innovations in recent decades) is wot means you can buy a loaf of reasonably nutritious bread in the supermarket for under 50p, sometimes as little as 25p. We’ve made incredible advancements. And, despite me doing a reasonable amount of research on it, I just can’t see the problem. Sure, your 25p loaf (and, well, any loaf under about £2.50) has chemicals and preservatives in it, but there isn’t any evidence that they cause health problems.
As Tim Minchin once screamed during his comedy routine, “EVERYTHING IS CHEMICALS!”
That said, there is a bit of a labelling problem. I’m trying to shift over to rye bread and most of the loaves which advertise themselves as “rye bread” are, basically, regular wheat bread with a token amount of rye. The worst offender I almost bought had 3% rye, the rest white flour.
So, yeah, the telegraph (and these specialist bakers) do have a point.
My take is that, actually, it's a poor people's problem, in as much as cheap bread may be the cause of a lot of nutritional problems.
The BBC put one of Tim Spectors main claims (cheap breads cause big glucose spikes, even in healthy people, therefore we should all avoid them) to the test in an episode of the food programme;
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Countries at ease with themselves and their place in the world have no need for flag shagging. Countries that have lost their place in the world, or who think they should be more important than they are, need to flag shag.
How do you define flag shagging? Do the Dutch display this trait at football when all the fans are in orange?
On the subject of railways, I am thinking of doing a trip around Norway. Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen (by ferry) - Trondheim - Bodo: up in the far north. Its amazing value for money if you book in advance, ie most of the intercity legs are £20, and you can get your own sleeper cabin for about £70.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
cheers yes I've done the London - Scandinavia route by train a few times. I always find going through Germany to be thoroughly miserable though. The train always gets delayed and something always goes wrong. And the trains get completely crowded. Similarly going through Denmark isn't brilliant. Sweden and Finland are just in another league of train travel altogether. They are really spacious trains and there is loads of space etc. Its a really enjoyable way to travel.
Comments
SeanT/Leon was right. They move amongst us. Spotted tonight at Goonhilly.
Some people think it is unlawful. Some people thinking it is unfair. Some people think it is transferring a problem of ours elsewhere which should be dealt with closer to home. Some people might be ok in principle but think it'll be ineffective and costly. And yes, some have raised objections specifically to it being Rwanda and their human rights record.
You may disagree with all of the other reasons, but while you and Trevor Noah may think the only objections have been that the destination is Rwanda, it isn't the case.
Also got to Fort William and right up to Mallaig - not such an inspiring end to the line.
Have to say Wick and Thurso look like mini-versions of Penzance.- Scrabster is two miles from Thurso and from there you can get a ferry to Stromness in the Orkney Islands.
But this is a great series if you want to understand more about New Labour. I fundamentally feel that under New Labour Britain was a country very much at ease with itself, we have lost that now, things seem a lot more nasty and divided.
I try to not look back at that time romantically but I do recall how good the NHS was then and how terrible it is now, as an example.
For reference, Neanderthal man survived in Europe for several hundred thousand years.
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m624377f1-80e5-4056-8429-59389c7ed2df$$2_033_04
You mean the reverse angle?
Taxpayer-backed OneWeb in talks with Paris-listed rival accused of enabling ‘Russian war propaganda’
...
OneWeb, which was saved from collapse in 2020 with a state bailout at the urging of Mr Johnson’s then-aide Dominic Cummings, is in advanced talks to be acquired by Eutelsat
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/british-satellite-champion-on-brink-of-takeover-by-the-french/ar-AAZTORY
Donald Trump and his former vice-president, Mike Pence, have held rival rallies for Republican candidates hoping to be Arizona's state governor.
Mr Trump spoke at an event for Kari Lake, who backs his false claims about election fraud, while Mr Pence supports her opponent, Karrin Taylor Robson...
He did not criticise Mr Trump or refer to the election controversy during his speech.
However, he said later in a tweet that "if the Republican Party allows itself to become consumed by yesterday's grievances, we will lose".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62278002
The first time I went to Wick was in July 1983 behind 37260. Two days earlier it was 37035 to Thurso. And two days before that 26041 to Kyle of Lochalsh.
Eventually, he was forced out of politics completely last December - Schallenberg, who had been the Chancellor, also quit and one Karl Nehammer, the Interior Minister, ended up taking over both the leadership of the OVP and the role of Chancellor.
All this, which has some parallels to current events in the UK, left the OVP looking self-absorbed and unable to meet the challenges of rising energy prices and inflation - meanwhile, the SPD has improved its image and credibility under Pamela Rendi-Wagner. Oddly enough, despite a strong pro-Putin stance, the Freedom Party has also prospered from the OVP's problems and has moved into second in the current poll.
The French supporting Russia again.....
Equating the two is fascism
In tune with the times.
Unfortunately for them, there isn't a great deal to be positive about the times just now.
He's always been younger than me if that's any consolation.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/82902924
https://www.google.com/maps/@57.2827299,-5.7152633,337m/data=!3m1!1e3
The NLS is excellent for old maps - has also a special section for you
https://maps.nls.uk/transport/railways/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/07/23/supermarkets-accused-selling-fake-sourdough-bread-defra-launches/
I am neither proud nor ashamed. Flag-shagging seems odd.
Going even further north than Bodo, the ferry and bus network is very good, almost incredible. From Bodo you can get a boat to the lofoten islands, then a bus across the lofoten islands (1 day), then a hydrofoil from Harstad to Tromso (3 hours). You could even keep going all the way to the Russian border through a combination of busses and boats. It isn't particularly expensive. There is just an absolutely phenomenal amount of busses, boats and flights for such a sparsely populated country. Paradise!
Beautiful line and something amazingly satisfying about being hauled along it by a 37 with the grunt of its engines.
I can't read the article (££) but there was a Zoe podcast recently making the point that a lots of so-called sourdough bread sold by supermarkets was nothing of the sort.
*checks* Yes, memory still spot on:
https://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/ships-1/Loch-Arkaig
https://res.inlandsbanan.se/en
Rimmer: I mean like the pyramids. How did they move such massive pieces of stone without the aid of modern technology?
Lister: They had massive whips, Rimmer. Massive, massive whips.
Even more so when you need to get the red pen out.
CoL, anyone? Hello?
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/23/child-vaping-epidemic-risks-becoming-public-health-catastrophe-in-uk-experts-warn
I was around a friends who has teenage kids a couple weekends ago and they never stopped puffing on the things. Apparently single use ones are all the rage.
As Tim Minchin once screamed during his comedy routine, “EVERYTHING IS CHEMICALS!”
That said, there is a bit of a labelling problem. I’m trying to shift over to rye bread and most of the loaves which advertise themselves as “rye bread” are, basically, regular wheat bread with a token amount of rye. The worst offender I almost bought had 3% rye, the rest white flour.
So, yeah, the telegraph (and these specialist bakers) do have a point.
Rich peoples problems, though!
But cost of living doesn't appear to be a prominent one.
Number one in the general population.
I've done the line in northern line in Finland, from Helsinki up to Oulu and back. Absolutely beautiful trains, both in the daytime and overnight (the cabins put the caledonian sleeper to shame), and very affordable. The only thing is that the scenery in Finland is nice but extremely repetitive... a flat landscape with lots of trees. My experience of Sweden is similar, but I've only done the line from Stockholm to Malmo.
Then to the Chapel for assembly. Beginning with the National Anthem.
https://joinzoe.com/learn/podcast-can-bread-be-healthy
My take is that, actually, it's a poor people's problem, in as much as cheap bread may be the cause of a lot of nutritional problems.
So turns out the warnings of two hour delays today are nonsense. It's been four already and we're still in the car park
#eurotunnel #Folkestone #dover #brexit https://twitter.com/frankellett/status/1550914933428199427/photo/1
Barking Riverside
Tram to Edgbaston
Dale Rail (Clitheroe-Hellifield)
upcoming:
Missing bits to the Elizabeth Line
Blackpool Tram to North station.
Edinburgh tram extension
Basically. Need an end to war first.
One of my fav wildlife memories in the UK.
Let me guess, you don't do business with, or travel for any reason to, that abroad?
A really, really big boom.
https://twitter.com/Blue_Sauron/status/1550890123205779458
Don't miss the route down to Flam from Myrdal on the Oslo-Bergen line https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flåm_Line
1.55 Liz Truss 65%
2.88 Rishi Sunak 35%
Next Conservative leader
1.54 Liz Truss 65%
2.86 Rishi Sunak 35%
https://bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-39770458
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0018wxp
Results at 22mins 30s.
Turns out he’s talking bollocks!