please empty your brain below
If relevant, please start your comment with a number from 1 to 30.

(questions will not be answered)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 01.05.26 - 12:00 a.m. | #

2) A couple of reasons for this. Lampposts aren't metered. An overall price is agreed between the parties for the cost of street lighting for an area. It would probably cost more in administrative time to renegotiate the contract than the money saved. Also, unless remotely controlled like some modern ones, how do you switch off a steetlamp? And with the cost of running led lamps so little, who can be bothered?

17) In what way is a police cordon in Thornton Heath unexpected? Sorry, over-cynical here.

27) So pleased you saw Matt Parker's video. I saw it, immediately thought of your previous blog post and wondered if I ought to let you know about it but didn't.

Pedantic of Purley | 01.05.26 - 7:45 a.m. | #

15. That's quite an old picture of Mr Dweeb. I can heartily endorse him as that is where I get all my tech problems sorted.

dg writes: it was taken two weeks ago

Johnny Topaz | 01.05.26 - 7:59 a.m. | #

25: Now imagining DG on the rides at Chessington World of Adventures.

dg writes: July 1993 - Vampire, Dragon River, Bubbleworks, Vampire again

Scott | Homepage | 01.05.26 - 8:12 a.m. | #

25. Genuinely hope your Chessington adventures impact the Mystery Count.

Frank F | 01.05.26 - 8:19 a.m. | #

6: I find myself being slightly surprised that hole reinforcers were already available in the 1970s. I wonder when they were invented.

Dan | 01.05.26 - 8:22 a.m. | #

25: My guess is you met Geoff and had a cup of tea with him... 😄

Kevin Too | 01.05.26 - 8:26 a.m. | #

14. May I respectfully suggest closing all open files on your laptop before leaving it overnight.

Barry Coppock | 01.05.26 - 8:30 a.m. | #

11 & 24 - two sides of the same coin.

14 - but that would make the technology more user friendly, which is silly.

17 - temporary traffic lights and road closures to dig big holes is normal round here - perhaps its deferred work from the Covid shutdown.

20 - without looking, Labour won't perform well, Greens will (because London, home of the loaded lefty), Reform will be successful in Tory voting areas. Starmer will still be PM in 2029.

22 - it could be that most of the stand time is taken at one end of the route and/or driver changes at Shepherds Bush are done by ferry vehicle so there always needs to be a bus available.

23 - I had a few days being able to see where the blue tit was whilst it was singing, now the tree is drenched in leaves - now any bird smaller than a pigeon reverts to anonymity.

26 - bread and circuses

Still Anon | 01.05.26 - 8:35 a.m. | #

13 That's also quite reassuring when you have a train to catch, and can see your local tube line is running ok!
20 Really interesting analysis there. Like most people I headed straight for my borough.
25 As Kevin said, did you see Geoff filming there?

Mikey C | 01.05.26 - 8:38 a.m. | #

3. That was my revenge for your April Fool!

daveid76 | 01.05.26 - 8:52 a.m. | #

3. Re Nectar offers - truly one of the worst things to happen in recent years, the normalisation of 'hand us your data to get offers' at supermarkets (which also excludes those who can't obtain loyalty cards).

BP | 01.05.26 - 9:04 a.m. | #

15 Re: Mr Dweeb, computer repair shops seem to offer the same sort of scope as hairdressers for generating amusing names. In Reading there's one called It's Gone Funny which sums up most computer problems.

Martin | 01.05.26 - 10:09 a.m. | #

6: I recently made a trip to the southwest and thought I could have sworn that I'd packed a shaver, then couldn't find it, then found it while unpacking on my return. It seems to be Sod's Law in action.

21: I saw the Yes, Primer Minister show just before Easter, and although there were flashes of the sharp writing, they were too brief and the concept struck me as a tad mean-spirited. Not bad, necessarily, but the TV show will probably age much better.

Woodford Wanderer | 01.05.26 - 10:24 a.m. | #

1. Thanks for pointing out the Quickmap. It looks pretty good at showing where each route actually goes despite the routes going beyond the M25 north or south 'disappearing off the edge of the world' due to lack of space.

20. Fascinating. Thanks again.

Chris Atkins | Homepage | 01.05.26 - 10:47 a.m. | #

27 - I see there is a different set of instructions for rounding width restrictions, which, for some reason, are treated as 'regulatory' and not 'warning' despite seemingly performing the same function.

Trevor S | 01.05.26 - 11:17 a.m. | #

1. Oooh, that Quickmap is good - thanks!

11. My walking group has been meeting monthly for over 20 years. As it's mostly the same people each time, we've all become friends and you get to know which ones will do All The Talking!

25. On the same note, my walking group will be taking us to Chessington South soon!

28. Had to get a refil for my Mum's pen recently. It would have been cheaper just to get her a new pen!!

29. Tree pollen sufferer here. It's been a long and insufferable spring this year, not helped by the very windy weather!

Cornish Cockney | 01.05.26 - 11:19 a.m. | #

3 - The benefit of a Nectar credit card vastly increasing the points obtained.

12 - sister-in-law and niece brought the brains to the design, I just brought the brawn. Pleased to advise that the run is now occupied.

BBLB | 01.05.26 - 11:48 a.m. | #

1. A very good map.

5. Rhubarb season and crumble are very nice to mark the time of year.

6. Classic FM stays comfortably familiar, following the preferences of its usual audience. Radio 3 is very different.

9. A Gail's is very welcome. Stratford north of the tracks is now an normal young, affluent area, though one whose residents will seldom go south of the station.

Suffolker | Homepage | 01.05.26 - 12:13 p.m. | #

8. Still has Stuart Maconie though, so could be worse.

10. I do that far too often, cupboard though rather than freezer. Hurts every time!

Nick | 01.05.26 - 12:14 p.m. | #

16: Definitely - it was one of the only series I remember having such a stand-out candidate even from early on.

I always think the interviews episode is at the wrong stage. Imagine performing great in the tasks then your business plan is torn apart.

My favourite task is the buying items one, I think they realised it was a mistake setting it in Hong Kong as it was too spread out so I'm glad they did it again in the UK.

Wild Edric | 01.05.26 - 12:18 p.m. | #

26 - I find football chanting is great in a stadium, but I absolutely hate it in confined spaces, like a train.

29 - I do suffer from hayfever but not usually at this time of year, so I was surprised when I was similarly affected when I was in London on Wednesday

Anders | 01.05.26 - 12:20 p.m. | #

17. I am just suprised there are enough police in Croydon to actually create a cordon. That would infer more than 2 in one place.

25. Is this a statistically interesting occurance that both yourself and Geoff M were by chance in the same place at the same time? I am aware you both walked the old Elmers End-Selsdon line together but I assume that was planned. As you are both out and about alot there is always an above average likelihood this would happen

Keith the Kraut | 01.05.26 - 1:42 p.m. | #

26. Would have been one but couldn't get tickets. A pox on the ballot!

Matt | 01.05.26 - 2:20 p.m. | #

6 - And made in Denmark!

8 - I too was disappointed by this and, I agree, I bet it's a cost cutting measure.

20 - Will be reading that next, thanks!

27 - It was a great video. A fine example of how bonkers such rules can be yet also being (reasonably) logical.

Louise | 01.05.26 - 3:33 p.m. | #

27. The Oxbridge maths professor actually works in Durham

dg writes: fixed thanks

Matthew | 01.05.26 - 3:38 p.m. | #

13 very nice

Chr0me | 01.05.26 - 4:02 p.m. | #

7. If only it were the last lunatic idea from the madman.

Mary | 01.05.26 - 5:42 p.m. | #

6 (part I): hole reinforcers! I've not thought of those in ages. Also looks like a line of caps for a cap gun.

6 (part II): I stayed at a shared room hostel om my Christmas vacation and was unable to find the lock I'd brought to lock up my stuff. The rest of the holiday was not in shared space, and of course unpacking at the next place I found the lock.

22: Not often seen 3 buses there, but two is very common. I'll start checking a bit more diligently.

Greg | 01.05.26 - 9:50 p.m. | #

5: sorry

11: Possibly she could get a a coffee from a machine in the petrol station at the Rushmore Hill roundabout. The Toby, Polhill Garden Centre and Chelsfield Lakes golf club would be far too far. Or she could get the train one or two stops if there is one back in time.

DavidC | 01.05.26 - 10:18 p.m. | #

Days that haven't attracted comment:
4 18 19 30

(but the vast majority have, thanks)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 01.05.26 - 11:59 p.m. | #

29, I agree with Cornish Cockney above, it has been awful this year for tree pollen. Thankfully nearly over now

John | 02.05.26 - 8:37 a.m. | #

13) great link, but why is trafalgar square labled as London.

kev | 02.05.26 - 9:47 a.m. | #

19) "Cream were supported by the Teapots" until it melted and ran down the sides.

Robin Hood | 02.05.26 - 12:57 p.m. | #

1) The Quickmap looks very useful for planning bus journeys but the rail lines are inaccurate in some places.

The variances are often of only academic interest (and of course the Tube Map itself isn't topographical) but they can be misleading, e.g. the Piccadilly between Acton Town and Hammersmith where it sometimes stops at District stations.

The Heathrow Express is shown way off course, slicing through Osterley Park.

Southeastern trains from Orpington don't all have to go via Lewisham.

Gerry | 05.05.26 - 1:36 p.m. | #











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