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Let’s just recap. South Eastern Trains have just put up their fares by well in excess of inflation, and, as it happens, the season ticket prices have gone up more than daily tickets which makes no bloody sense whatsoever.
Some time ago, all the platforms on the Hayes line were elongated to take 12 coach trains, presumably because there are lots of passengers to transport.
I catch the 07:36 to Cannon Street, and regularly this is a 6 coach train. On a bad day, it’s like a cattle truck, and no-on who gets on after New Beckenham has a chance in hell of getting a seat.
In the last week, this marvellous train company have put on two 4 coach trains, both in rush hour. It makes perfect sense to use trains only a third of the full length.
And last night the perfect situation. Train from Charing Cross cancelled, and the voice in the sky recommends going to London Bridge and changing. It doesn’t take Einstein to figure out that more than the usual number of passengers, sorry, customers, will be waiting for this train. Guess what? It’s 4 coaches. I gave up at this stage – there was no way I’d even get near the train, let alone board it.
I’m lucky – I can get a train on another line from London Bridge to quite close to home. So I did. Pity the poor buggers who had to use the Hayes train.
Thanks a million South Eastern – you’re doing a grand job.
I wish the ‘Not Terribly Good Club of Great Britain’ was still operational, because I’d recommend these jokers for membership. They are putting some pathetic excuse of ’stock issues” Does this translate to ‘we can’t be bothered to repair the broken ones because we’re trying to save money’? And by the way, we’re getting rid of 300 staff, which will make a real improvement to the service, but that’s ok, ‘cos we can put the prices for the poor schmucks who keep us.
I am going to stop now because I could go around for ever.
Always look on the bright side – as you get older, just be thankful that wrinkles don’t hurt.
(Anon)
I haven’t been following the American presidential stuff closely. I admit I was rather pleased when Obama got elected, but that’s as far as it went.
I watched his inaugural speech and I was impressed. This man is a leader. He is inspirational and it’s no wonder he got elected. Sure there was lots of politican-speak in there, but as I listened, even this cynical person felt inspired. I would follow this man.
Then I thought about where I live – and our Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. What a difference. I wouldn’t follow him to the end of the road.
It’s a cold and wet Monday morning, suburban London station, rush hour. And what do South Eastern send to a 12 coach platformed station? A 4 COACH TRAIN! I wonder what their excuse for this is? I’m paying over inflation rises to stand in a cattle truck all the way to London. I hope they rot in hell forever.
or however you spell the wretched word.
Mere days after the hot cross bun incident, there are now creme eggs in the shops.
I can’t believe this, even after realising it was true for the last week.
On January 2nd I wandered down to our local Sainsbury’s supermarket to top up on bread and milk. Our local store has an in-store bakery, so there’s usually some decent-ish bread to buy.
But imagine my surprise when I saw HOT CROSS BUNS for sale!!!
Christmas has barely happened, 12th night is still some days away, the decorations are still up, and the stores are selling hot cross buns. Guys, hot cross buns are an EASTER thing, and they belong to that part of the year, and not a week after Christmas.
It’s symptomatic of a general rush towards the next thing that all the stores suffer from. No sooner have the schools broken up for the summer holidays than the stores are full of ‘back to school’ products. Let the kids have a bit of a break before you remind them they have to go back in September….
Any day now the Valentine cards will be out, and the sickly red hearts everywhere. And as soon as that’s over, it’ll be Mother’s Day, then Easter, then Father’s Day and so on and so on.
It’s as if the stores don’t want to let us enjoy one event before they’ve moved on to the next one. It’s called wishing your life away and it should be stopped.
Bah humbug!
This is for the cynical amongst us….
We learn something every day, and lots of times it’s that what we learned the day before was wrong. — Bill Vaughan
