David Horne

Mike O'Sullivan <[email protected]> wrote:

> tim..... wrote:
> >
> > You make the (IMHO wrong) assumption that people see
> > travelling as a chore and not as 'part of the experience of
> > being in a different country'.
> >
> > For me, when I am on holiday, the driving (train/bus) betwen
> > paces is at least as important as seeing the place that I am
> > going to.
>
> In some countries, possibly, but "enjoyment" in the context of
> travelling by rail in Britain would not be a description I recognize.

You probably don't do it much then, or are stuck with a bad commuter
routes or particularly bad experiences. Most of my train journeys (and I
do them every second day or so to all parts of the country) are on time
and very pleasant. I wouldn't think the same way if all I did was
commute into London or between Bath and Bristol, but that's not
everywhere. From Manchester alone, there are some terrific rail
journeys. Ones I've done recently- Hope Valley line, up to Lockerbie,
Buxton line etc.

I enjoy train travel as much in the UK as in other countries- I just do
it less in the latter.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

David Horne

The Reid <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 09:09:40 +0000, Mike O'Sullivan <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >Get out of London as quickly as possible and spend more time in York.
>
> Oh come on. Take a river trip absolute minimum, the eye maybe and
> Greenwich.

London is one of the most fascinating and exciting cities in the world
IMO. I would never get bored of it.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

David Horne

The Reid <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 14:52:02 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
[]
> >Day 7 - York to N. Wales
>
> york - caernarvon 175 miles 4 hours over pennines and into north wales
> there are good castle there inc harlech.

Conwy is nice too- the train is also fine for that particular journey.
(If you want to go onto Caernarfon, there are easy bus connections from
various rail stations in the area.)

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

The Reid

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:53:51 +0000, [email protected] (David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:

> the train is also fine for that particular journey.
>(If you want to go onto Caernarfon, there are easy bus connections from
>various rail stations in the area.)

Reid consults 1:25000 for place to recommend with no service of any
kind......Llellylwlellrtyurllyngogoch, hah!
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

The Reid

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:43:31 +0000, [email protected] (David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:

>> Oh come on. Take a river trip absolute minimum, the eye maybe and
>> Greenwich.
>
>London is one of the most fascinating and exciting cities in the world
>IMO. I would never get bored of it.

Yesterday it was at its best. Dropped Carol and friend to see that gay
Swan Lake at Sadlers Wells, went to Selfridges to buy food in the low
winter sun, then popped into Jamie Olivers "15" in Hoxton after going
up and down the City Road and in and out of the "Eagle*". And yes,
thats where the money goes, in fact 15 almost went, Carols freind set
light to the menu!

I was Woody Allan for a day! (Allen?).

* no real beer "at present" :-(
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Keith Anderson

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:19:24 +0000, The Reid <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:53:51 +0000, [email protected] (David Horne,
>_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:
>
>> the train is also fine for that particular journey.
>>(If you want to go onto Caernarfon, there are easy bus connections from
>>various rail stations in the area.)
>
>Reid consults 1:25000 for place to recommend with no service of any
>kind......Llellylwlellrtyurllyngogoch, hah!

Not true! It has a service by Hywel ap Gruffud's Land Rover, on
request to the landlord at Yr Hen Tafarn. As long as you don't mind
sharing the Land Rover with two rather muddy, not to say smelly,
border collies, that is.




Keith, Bristol, UK

-Martin

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:38:47 +0000, Keith Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:19:24 +0000, The Reid <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:53:51 +0000, [email protected] (David Horne,
>>_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:
>>
>>> the train is also fine for that particular journey.
>>>(If you want to go onto Caernarfon, there are easy bus connections from
>>>various rail stations in the area.)
>>
>>Reid consults 1:25000 for place to recommend with no service of any
>>kind......Llellylwlellrtyurllyngogoch, hah!
>
>Not true! It has a service by Hywel ap Gruffud's Land Rover, on
>request to the landlord at Yr Hen Tafarn. As long as you don't mind
>sharing the Land Rover with two rather muddy, not to say smelly,
>border collies, that is.

Shouldn't you have your boat tour manager's peaked cap on and be recommending
seeing the Rhine from a boat, I was going to do it but thought you would do a
better job. Lots of scope for confusing non German speakers with German place
names.
--

Martin

Deeply Filled Mortician

Let is be knownst that on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:43:31 +0000,
[email protected] (David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)) writted:

>The Reid <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 09:09:40 +0000, Mike O'Sullivan <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Get out of London as quickly as possible and spend more time in York.
>>
>> Oh come on. Take a river trip absolute minimum, the eye maybe and
>> Greenwich.
>
>London is one of the most fascinating and exciting cities in the world
>IMO. I would never get bored of it.

Would you get sick of it?
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

David Horne

Deeply Filled Mortician <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>
wrote:

> Let is be knownst that on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:43:31 +0000,
> [email protected] (David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)) writted:
>
> >The Reid <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 09:09:40 +0000, Mike O'Sullivan <[email protected]>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Get out of London as quickly as possible and spend more time in York.
> >>
> >> Oh come on. Take a river trip absolute minimum, the eye maybe and
> >> Greenwich.
> >
> >London is one of the most fascinating and exciting cities in the world
> >IMO. I would never get bored of it.
>
> Would you get sick of it?

I frequently got sick of it when I lived there- mostly the crowds. But
that doesn't detract from what I like about it. I wouldn't live there at
the moment- I find it way too expensive in terms of property- but I love
going there, as I do frequently. I suppose I prefer Manchester at the
moment, not because it in any way equals the _attractions_ of London,
but it's an exciting urban centre which is compact enough to walk around
easily.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

The Reid

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:38:47 +0000, Keith Anderson <[email protected]>
wrote:

>>Reid consults 1:25000 for place to recommend with no service of any
>>kind......Llellylwlellrtyurllyngogoch, hah!
>
>Not true! It has a service by Hywel ap Gruffud's Land Rover, on
>request to the landlord at Yr Hen Tafarn. As long as you don't mind
>sharing the Land Rover with two rather muddy, not to say smelly,
>border collies, that is.

Damn, foiled! :-)
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

The Reid

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:14:29 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:

>> Would you get sick of it?
>
>I frequently got sick of it when I lived there- mostly the crowds.

I get sick of being in an urban environment after a time, doesn't
really matter which one. I used to get sick of the train journey,
transport strikes and breakdowns, overcrowding, overheating, smelly
people with colds and walkmans, that kind of stuff.
What irritates me know? Vandalism, graffiti, especially the way all
the bus widows are "etched" by morons. That's about it. I only find
crowds a problem on PT, not generally.
But after I while I want to be out in some wide open spaces.
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Deeply Filled Mortician

Let is be knownst that on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:34:22 +0000, The Reid
<[email protected]> writted:

>On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:14:29 +0100, [email protected] (David Horne,
>_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:
>
>>> Would you get sick of it?
>>
>>I frequently got sick of it when I lived there- mostly the crowds.
>
>I get sick of being in an urban environment after a time, doesn't
>really matter which one. I used to get sick of the train journey,
>transport strikes and breakdowns, overcrowding, overheating, smelly
>people with colds and walkmans, that kind of stuff.
>What irritates me know? Vandalism, graffiti, especially the way all
>the bus widows are "etched" by morons. That's about it. I only find
>crowds a problem on PT, not generally.
>But after I while I want to be out in some wide open spaces.

Certainly as a city it has an infinite amount to offer, but the
infrastructure really is at saturation point most of the time. I was
glad to be earning a heap of money there, but was always looking
forward to getting out of the rat race.

One thing I really liked about London was the ability to be able to go
out and pick up a cute girl with at least a 90% probability! Of course
those days are over, and I wont be going back to that. There's only so
much wanton hedonism that you can fit into one life, isn't there? )

Oh, and there were also the cheap flights to damn near anywhere. That
was awesome.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

The Reid

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:20:48 +0100, Deeply Filled Mortician
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:

> There's only so
>much wanton hedonism that you can fit into one life, isn't there? )

.................................................. ......
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Keith Anderson

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:45:45 +0100, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:


>Shouldn't you have your boat tour manager's peaked cap on and be recommending
>seeing the Rhine from a boat, I was going to do it but thought you would do a
>better job. Lots of scope for confusing non German speakers with German place
>names.

Sadly, it seems that work on the glorious rivers and canals may be at
an end, or at least "on hold" for the time being.

Two things have happened:

1) I had some major upsets healthwise last summer, leading to two
hospitalisations in K�ln and W�rzburg. I came home, and after 3
hospital appointments in the UK, the matter is still not sorted. In
hospital again on 6th Feb to see specialists....operation pending,
too, date to be fixed.

2) The company I worked for was taken over by another company, and the
combined company was then taken over by a venture capital company.
What did they do? Sacked all the experienced reservations staff and
replaced 'em with temps. They also got rid of most of the other staff
with knowledge and experience, replacing them with managerialist oiks
who've handed out conflicting and inaccurate information to the
punters. They've screwed up the excursion programme, and generally
made a pig's ear of the whole product. They've cut pay and commission,
so staff who've been with the company for longer than me have left in
disgust.

Bookings are down and falling as a result of the chaos.......

3) The GOOD news is that I'm in Amsterdam next month for a meet-up and
social with the other river-cruise directors and some of the (former)
management. We'll be looking at ways forward so we can all work
together again.

4) Martin - fancy a pint in Amsterdam mid February?


Keith, Bristol, UK

-Martin

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:37:17 +0000, Keith Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:45:45 +0100, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Shouldn't you have your boat tour manager's peaked cap on and be recommending
>>seeing the Rhine from a boat, I was going to do it but thought you would do a
>>better job. Lots of scope for confusing non German speakers with German place
>>names.
>
>Sadly, it seems that work on the glorious rivers and canals may be at
>an end, or at least "on hold" for the time being.
>
>Two things have happened:
>
>1) I had some major upsets healthwise last summer, leading to two
>hospitalisations in K�ln and W�rzburg. I came home, and after 3
>hospital appointments in the UK, the matter is still not sorted. In
>hospital again on 6th Feb to see specialists....operation pending,
>too, date to be fixed.

A friend with a similar problem in NL, was into hospital and operated on in less
than a week once the problem was detected.

>2) The company I worked for was taken over by another company, and the
>combined company was then taken over by a venture capital company.
>What did they do? Sacked all the experienced reservations staff and
>replaced 'em with temps. They also got rid of most of the other staff
>with knowledge and experience, replacing them with managerialist oiks
>who've handed out conflicting and inaccurate information to the
>punters. They've screwed up the excursion programme, and generally
>made a pig's ear of the whole product. They've cut pay and commission,
>so staff who've been with the company for longer than me have left in
>disgust.

Awful!

>
>Bookings are down and falling as a result of the chaos.......
>
>3) The GOOD news is that I'm in Amsterdam next month for a meet-up and
>social with the other river-cruise directors and some of the (former)
>management. We'll be looking at ways forward so we can all work
>together again.

There are other companies still, hopefully?

>
>4) Martin - fancy a pint in Amsterdam mid February?

Maybe, if we are in NL. Jim Gibbering too?
--

Martin