According to my daughter I officially became a boring old f**t when I started listening to Radio 4.  But at least it can't be confused with Radio 1 or 2.....

Moving away from the thread subject somewhat, but, Tim, I'm rather confused by your comment about Ed Miliband being foisted onto the Labour Party.  If you're generally 'left', that shouldn't have worried you too much?  Who would you have chosen as leader then?  And perhaps more to the point now, who should be chosen to replace him?

A cow poowered bus eh? 
Wonder what comes out of the tailpipe.......?

Then why isn't it poo powered?  No shortage of that stuff as fuel!  Surely still more green than using batteries, as I'm not sure how they're disposed of when they're eventually unrechargeable.

This will make boarding easier for dogs too.  I've had two dogs that have had a close call with the gap after misjudging it with their hind legs.

The cynic in me wants to suggest that it depends whether they're in the same branch of the freemasons...........

Oooh, nasty.

The Barrister claims it was only ^10,000 when leave was taken into account.

Oh, well that's alright then.......? 

For goodness' sake, it's not as though, on his salary, he couldn't afford to pay his rail fares.  Maybe I'm a bit of an idealist, but  I tend to feel those in a position of responsibility in society should be setting a good example to others.

Well, if the Trust wanted to start work before the birds started nesting, I think they're already too late, judging by all the frenzied avian activity I see whilst out walking Echo.

Welcome to the Forum, Bmblbzzz, and congratulations on having the longest user name without a vowel!  Tht's gt t B th rcrd?!

Wetherspoons?  Boycotted since they refused to let me take the dog even in the beer (if you can call it that) garden.

That happens to me, too.  But I have learned that although when returning to the 'Home' page, the 'Like' has changed to 'Yum!', eventually my name appears as a 'Like', so although the system seems a bit slow, I know my 'Like' will be acknowledged eventually.  I use Google Chrome as a browser, by the way, as I anticipate this will be Grahame's next question!

Does this SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) raise some difficult questions about steam locomotive drivers on main lines?

A little item that may be of interest to the other steam buffs on this Forum:
From Newbury Weekly News 19th March:

"Train buffs are chuffed - the steam train season has started.
Hungerford Camera Club member and steam fan Tony Bartlett said: "The first train of the year came through Newbury* and I was on Hungerford Common to get a shot of regular locomotive 'Tangmere' at the head of affairs."
Mr. Bartlett also snapped 'Mayflower' as it passed the common.

Built for the London and North Eastern Railway, 61306 Mayflower is one of two surviving B1 class locomotives, designed as mixed traffic locomotives capable of hauling express passenger trains as well as freight traffic.

Mayflower has two cylinders, six driving wheels, a firebox grate area of 30 sq ft and can operate at 75mph."

*Unfortunately the article doesn't say WHEN the engine came through Newbury.  Luckily it was a pre-April Fools' Day issue, or I might have been tempted to wonder whether they were extracting the Michael with a mid-sixties item!  There was a nice little photograph of the Mayflower accompanying the article, unfortunately when I went onto the NWN website this morning I couldn't find it.  Sorry folks.

The possible consequences don't even bear thinking about, which is why this officer was so completely out of order.

OK, well, as long as the work is being done.....  I'm sure the volunteer force that would like to have hurried along the reopening must have been ruing the advent of overly-cautious H&S^▸ (Health and Safety) regulations. (Injury Claims UK^▸ (United Kingdom) and others of your kind; you're ruining the British culture of 'mucking in')

I will just add that I hope the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust manage to complete their restoration of the canal before H&S concerns prevent the presence of volunteers.  Most of the work completed so far wouldn't have been possible without the willing army of volunteers!  And yes, they also had some pretty chunky equipment present at work party sessions.

Is no-one asking the question 'why?'

It's not as though the passenger numbers suddenly jumped beyond those anticipated; there has been a heartening increase in footfall since the improved TransWilts service began.  It must seem a bit of a smack in the face for the new passengers, to expect to tolerate being conveyed in discomfort.  How long will it be before they get fed up with doing sardine impressions, and revert to other modes of transport?




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.