The village Facebook page doesn't seem to have been too impressed with the article. No mention that this was greenbelt, was never part of the Wokingham plan and no challenge to some of the claims made by the developers like a new station. It was suggested that perhaps the journalist had just printed the press release.

I vaguely remember the original plan was for a park and ride which I think locals were also a bit doubtful on how successful it would be.

Of the many things needed in Twyford - more GPs, schools etc I don't think I've heard anyone mention a new station. More fast services yes but additional stops would make that  harder.

I had a moment so if anyone missed it clip available here https://www.dropbox.com/s/33cr1vh8ldrkm35/Bristol-2021-10-20_06-57-19.mp4?dl=0

We were moving to the hybrid model with a phased return planned for most staff this month and next.

However, this has been delayed by a push back from staff in quite a few departments who want to keep social distancing. This means a lot of the desks that were going to be used for returning staff are still out of use while discussions take place. My own department's area was taken over by IT support last summer as they had to be in and needed space and they're showing no signs of giving it up!

There's also a lot demands for masks to be made compulsory again after they became optional a week or so ago. Certainly peer pressure is the opposite of public transport where you will get some harsh words for not wearing one.

I've had similar Twyford>Carmarthen but only on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) site. Trainline had lots of tickets but haven't used them for a while.

It could also be another attempt by TfL^» (Transport for London - about) to close ticket offices again? Or scale them back a bit more.

I wouldn't underestimate the number of younger staff who are desperate to come back into the office as well. Apart from the lack of spare rooms to work in they want to build up their network in the organisation and that's much harder to do over Zoom. I've been working with some new joiners who haven't yet met anyone in the organisation face to face and that must be incredibly tough when all of your assumptions and relationships are based on instant messaging and video conferencing in meetings.

Also in my case we've been treading water in terms of what projects we can deliver and not sure it can go on indefinitely.

We're starting our phased return of teams to offices. It's still masks in buildings and social distancing which has been raised by some staff in stark contrast to their being in packed trains with no rules.

A significant number have raised concerns about having to return at this point because of travel. Outside of London I suspect more people will drive if its an option but it doesn't really work in central London.

We've also had HSE^▸ (Health and Safety Executive) inspections about Covid safety which I didn't really understand considering the Government's laisse faire approach elsewhere.

No services at all for that route on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).com which hopefully means something is being updated.

Couldn't find a number on the desktop web site so I'll file that one away for future use.

Thanks - sadly I rushed into buying a ticket on the one train that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) said had tickets.

Guess there's a fault in the GWR database somewhere.

Looking at how to contact them it seems to be by social media only which I suspect is a whole thread on its own.

Not sure how I upload an image but just tried to book a ticket from Twyford to Carmarthen on the 23rd of August and there is apparently only one train running all day.

Every other service other than the direct Reading train has no tickets available.

Is there something happening that day? Or a glitch in the matrix?

Edit: And no trains at all on the 24th August apparently

Having just travelled back from Carmarthen to Twyford the reservation warnings still seem to be in place although prices were much more sensible. Having said that though the train was packed and the coach I was in had nearly every single seat reserved so may not be covid related. It looked similar on the coaches either side. This was a 9 coach IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train). Not sure what happened to social distancing as it was impossible with every seat reserved. Seems to be where we are now - all the official rules gone or going but organisations still asking for face coverings, hand washing and to respect people's space.

It left me not entirely comfortable with my plan of going back the other way next week. Partly covid but also if the trains are going to be this packed easier to drive (or rather get driven as still not quite got around to learning....)

For my 'other' which I don't think is covered is employer pays as part of flexible working arrangement.

Generally advance singles though as I book them myself.

Leaving in the middle of nowhere I have no mains gas and rely on my log burner and oil deliveries. I also have a couple of acres of woodland and recently installed solar panels that will power the central heating. I'm fairly new to this and was hoping to become reasonably self-sufficient by using my own woodland for logs. Not sure it works entirely as even for a single household its quite a lot of wood to heat the whole house.

There's one acre of mature woodland and one of new growth. Based on limited data I suspect I'll need to cut down 5-6 mature trees a year for wood (using my electric chainsaw charged by the sun). As I'm growing the trees for wildlife and to look nice rather than logging its probably not sustainable as the new trees are too slow growing. The solar panels have a peak output of 6.5KW ( i think) which means on a clear winters day they should provide some central heating instead of relying on oil to heat the tank.

Which long explanation makes me wonder how 'green' biomass might be? I'd imagine the 'sustainably managed' forests are packed with fast growing wood and very little diversity or wildlife. Our neighbour has a biomass boiler and I was surprised how much wood pellet he gets through. It probably is more sustainable than oil but I can't help feel solar, nuclear, wind and tidal might score better.

This is how we did it in what is still a fairly unionised industry. New staff have different contracts and T&Cs and over the last 20 years or so most of the staff on old terms & conditions leave or adapt.

I'd argue we've probably gone too far in that nearly all payments for short notice change, bank holidays, weekends etc have gone and its quite hard to rely on goodwill. However, there is now a culture of 24/7 and weekend and night working that is part of the job. I think its fair so long as you know what you're signing up for.

I have done some recruitment which includes 'night shifts' in 'a 24/7 environment' prominently in the advert and have people ask if that means they go home at 10PM or late evening.