dg comments

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 | 03.07.26 - 12:00 a.m. | #

13, 19 and 20: perhaps there have been fewer comments lately because the entries are getting increasingly cryptic…

Baldassaro | 03.07.26 - 7:10 a.m. | #

22. I was on a crowded train so was alerted by people talking, but you are absolutely right.

Dan | 03.07.26 - 7:18 a.m. | #

13, 19; very cryptic

David B | 03.07.26 - 7:20 a.m. | #

13. So true .. and often that change arrives out of the blue and completely unheralded.

Steve Green | 03.07.26 - 7:21 a.m. | #

1 Noted. Trying to up the numbers here. But how can it possibly be 8 years already.

5 I need to drink lactose-free milk and a side benefit is that it goes off much less quickly.

17 Quite.

Tunnel Bore | 03.07.26 - 7:22 a.m. | #

14) I expect this to come up in a future post, per usual standards.

22) Sometimes there's a cryptic headline you know has a banal article that could have been a sentence fragment, other times you see a vague line and you'll learn nothing more about the inconsequential day. Variety is the spice of life.

26) What are the flashes of millennial brilliance?

30) Thinking of moving?

toby | 03.07.26 - 7:29 a.m. | #

11.This one swung it for me to make my first comment. Good to know counter measures can work.

Debutante | 03.07.26 - 7:29 a.m. | #

Well I like the unblogged posts. Statistically, it is inevitable that some months show fewer comments than average. And sometimes they are interesting but there is nothing to add.

5) Waitrose too. Not helped by skimmed milk nearly always being close to its use-by date so I switched to semi-skimmed. But filtered is on offer at the moment so I go for that. I have checked my fridge temperature and the problem is not at this end.

11) Oh, yes. I was on a tram and a dodgy lad tried tapping his Oyster card or credit card (I forget which) when the inspectors came around. Clearly he had got away with this in the past. They explained you can only do this a certain number of times before the system blocks the transaction. Consequences followed.

Slightly differently, on another tram I noticed four bulky older lads, not the sort you would want to meet in an alley on a dark night, board a tram each by a separate door. I could see them making eye contact with each other and was trying to work out my options as a law-abiding citizen. They waited for the tram to move off, extracted their hidden identity badges and said in a loud voice "all tickets and passes to be shown".

15) But that would be Coulsdon South not Coulsdon Town so you need to add the time to get from there to central Coulsdon.

17) I remember hearing about the invasion of the Falklands on the midnight news leaving no doubt it had happened yet during the following day the reports on radio and TV seemed confused as to whether it had happened or not.

Pedantic of Purley | 03.07.26 - 7:50 a.m. | #

7. At Shadwell, I always have to contradict the lift announcement 'Platform level' with 'No, you mean "Somewhat nearer Platform level"'.

Brightside | 03.07.26 - 7:55 a.m. | #

11. Fond memories of a holiday in Berlin, several years ago, that involved lots of public transport.

From memory, there are numerous stations without ticket barriers, making it easy to dodge paying fares.

Saw a group of 4 people, 25 to 45 years of age, looking like they’d just come from a rave or music festival. One was distinctly punk rockerish, with leather jacket and impressive hairdo.

Once onboard, to my surprise, they began checking tickets.

Neesi | 03.07.26 - 8:09 a.m. | #

6. That's the Greggs on Cranbrook Road, Ilford!

dg writes: yes it is

Ewan James | 03.07.26 - 8:09 a.m. | #

4. I really loved Widow's Bay!

5. I've noticed that with my 4 pint milk bottles too, though I get mine from Sainsbury's. They generally last me 8 or 9 days before they curdle in my morning coffee.

JP | 03.07.26 - 8:24 a.m. | #

14. Too short for “London Tunnels” under Chancery Lane, but I didn’t have to sign a disclaimer anyway. Hope you’ll get a chance for a free visit before the crowds come in a couple of years or so.

commonliner | 03.07.26 - 8:26 a.m. | #

5 funny you should mention that, my Dad is on a high fat diet and always had his milk from Tescos but over the last few weeks he has noticed a change in the shelf life an the flavour seems to be watered down.
I now pick the milk up from Lidls, good shelf life and a much fuller favour.

Robert | 03.07.26 - 8:30 a.m. | #

16: Yes, it is common to see people dressed in their finest during Ascot around West London. We also get people in fancy dress whenever the Rugby 7s is on.

Greg | 03.07.26 - 8:34 a.m. | #

9,15 You went to Ponders End twice? No wonder you needed a quick route out...

Steve | 03.07.26 - 8:35 a.m. | #

1. I always look forward to the Unblogged Things.

MartinG | 03.07.26 - 8:36 a.m. | #

11) When I used to get the first train into town many years ago the inspectors would board at the rear. Ticketless passengers would scurry towards the front only to be met by another team who had boarded at the front. It was like seeing a shoal of fish being corralled towards the dolphins.

16. It's not necessarily glamorous. Mate of mine used to commute from Ascot but not during Royal Ascot as he got fed up of 'getting off and slithering up the road in pools of vomit.'

Chris | 03.07.26 - 8:37 a.m. | #

1 - what Baldassaro said, although we are all at some point on the receiving end of things that make everything seem trivial

5 - or your fridge is on the way out (the gas has started leaking or something like that), have you checked the temperature inside

8 - the ads are mainly betting and AI bolx at the moment

10 - Disney walked ages ago, perhaps if the BBC employed decent writers instead of activists (why would an able bodied Davros create a Dalek?), things might have turned out better

16 - but Ascot isn't in NE London, so the trains aren't filled with people dressed up for the event

17 - it won't save any significant money - its just a PR cut, chosen presenters can still fill their pockets at BBC Enterprises

22 - the commentators I listened to over the weekend were confident that he was resigning on the Monday (someone said that even Trump mentioned it during one of his ramblings 'best resignation ever' - but I didn't check), there was no surprise when he resigned, didn't listen to his speech because it didn't matter - they deep state will provide him with a cushy 'job', he's already had the 'book deal'.

Still Anon | 03.07.26 - 8:43 a.m. | #

1. I love reading the monthly unplugged post so do keep it coming!

Hadders | 03.07.26 - 8:52 a.m. | #

5. Milk can be frozen, just decant into smaller containers and it will always be fresh. I heard a couple discussing this in the air conditioned Tesco last week.

Sara | 03.07.26 - 8:52 a.m. | #

6: more importantly, was it showing the right time?

Scott | Homepage | 03.07.26 - 8:53 a.m. | #

1. It's one of my favourite DG series, so please keep going!

Andrew V | 03.07.26 - 9:03 a.m. | #

1. I enjoy the unblogged posts but sometimes it's difficult to find something to comment about. After all, I doubt there's someone out there who could talk about all thirty things today, they'll focus on maybe four at most.

14. Oooh, exciting!

16. Trust me, I wasn't aware of Ascot happening at all. Most south Londoners probably didn't have a clue ;)

All Over 2a | Homepage | 03.07.26 - 9:04 a.m. | #

1. Rest assured, lack of interest doesn't normally stop me writing about things :)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 03.07.26 - 9:05 a.m. | #

7th Clearly TfL is not feeling groovy likely due to a lack of proximity to the 59th street bridge

5th may be a cold chain issue with your local branch

MilesT | 03.07.26 - 9:16 a.m. | #

1. I've never considered that you choose blog topics to generate engagement. Long live "unblogged".
12. Terrific photo!
28. Will seek out, thanks for the tip.

Frank F | 03.07.26 - 9:20 a.m. | #

7: There's an announcement at Clapham Junction saying E-bikes and scooters are not to be used while travelling. I assume that means if I'm just trainspotting it's fine.

ap | 03.07.26 - 9:21 a.m. | #

1. I thoroughly enjoy these monthly un-blogged posts.

6. There's a random lone clock on a pole by a bus stop on Moor Lane near Chessington North station which doesn't appear to have a backstory!

10. Disney getting involved was the death knoll for Dr Who. It needs to go back to its roots.

13. Agree.

14. Intrigued!

19. Hope that isn't connected to 13.

27. Nice graph!

Cornish Cockney | 03.07.26 - 9:29 a.m. | #

1) I personally really enjoy the unblogged posts - I just never comment

Richard | 03.07.26 - 9:42 a.m. | #

2 - I've never considered whether pearly kings and queens are actual couples. Must be an odd thing for your partner to ask you as you'd assume one was always keener.

3 - Is anyone still using BlueSky? Twitter is so much emptier these days but some of my previous communities haven't migrated yet.

18 - I dare to dream that we may have seen the high water mark for Reform.

21 - If one was peevish you could add to TfL's mountain of FOIs to ask how these electronic screens help their climate obligations.

23 - I always try to finish the Christmas chocolate by Easter.

24 - I assume the risk is of travellers potentially getting stuck in windowed boxes that must heat up horribly.

25 - Something to pass the time, will be interesting how it survives once mobile coverage reaches the 100% target for the underground.

29 - I always prefer the word women to females which sounds overly scientific

dg writes: I see what you did there ;)

TomH | 03.07.26 - 9:46 a.m. | #

11) Saw a youth approach a tube barrier with a card in his hand. He "hovered" the card and pushed through the gate only to be stopped by a police officer who was standing on the the other side of his gate and had watched him do it. Why didn't he stop when he saw the line of officers? What a plonker.

Bob Walker | 03.07.26 - 9:47 a.m. | #

26. Those recent 1999/2000 episodes have been a real low. too much Boyzone, Steps, S Club 7, etc. I expect that will continue.

Although you do get the odd gem. Crazy by Lucid recently for example.

Karl, Dover | 03.07.26 - 9:53 a.m. | #

1) I think last month's selection just wasn't very "commentable". Plus I was on holiday :-)
5) I think it's just the impact of summer. I have similar milk drinking patterns and regularly find the last drop goes off. Once you open milk, then presumably bacteria gets in and starts the process.
9) I was once blocked on a canal walk by geese, resulting in a long diversion...
16) Go to Chester on a race day, and the city is packed full of people all dressed up.

Mikey C | 03.07.26 - 10:00 a.m. | #

5) I have switched to certain brand of filtered milk available in all supermarkets. It tastes good and claims to last for ages, which it really does.

kev | 03.07.26 - 10:09 a.m. | #

5) Milk is only supposed to be fresh for up to 4 days after opening.

Bob Walker | 03.07.26 - 10:11 a.m. | #

28. May I cancel my earlier gratitude for the tip? Listened for 15 minutes, and the host and contestants ("you guys" repeatedly) was so maddeningly irritating that I had to jettison it forever.

Frank F | 03.07.26 - 10:12 a.m. | #

5 - Cannot recommend a fridge thermometer enough to help keep an eye on this. Target temperature is 3 degrees, but in this weather mine sits around 7-9, and hits 10-11 if I use it. Makes all the difference to milk longevity.

Anon | 03.07.26 - 10:13 a.m. | #

#1: Please don't stop, I find these quirky and amusing. I'll try to comment more!

#5: I like getting my milk delivered in glass bottles. Only problem is that the milkman delivers at about 1am, which isn't great in this hot weathe, as it's being sitting outside for 6 hours before I get to pick it up.

Steve B | 03.07.26 - 10:17 a.m. | #

5 - Yes it's more expensive but I do think that Cravendale makes a huge difference for the longevity, with no change to taste, perhaps for my dull tastebuds.

dg calculates: 80% more expensive

Jack31439 | 03.07.26 - 10:52 a.m. | #

16: but seeing the overly refreshed and exhausted spectators returning from Ascot made me resolve to never go.

martin'O'Holcombe | 03.07.26 - 11:01 a.m. | #

5: We find cheaper Supermarket own brands of filtered milk to match Cravendale for taste and longevity. Arla supplies the Supermarkets as well as Cravendale.

JohnC | 03.07.26 - 11:31 a.m. | #

4 - I would also recommend this, although I did have an inkling that it would end something like the way it did. Interesting to see how the second series will pan out.

13 - True. Unable to count how many sliding doors moments there have been.

20 - I do wonder about advertising generally. I can't remember ever being influenced enough by an advert to buy something.

Trevor S | 03.07.26 - 11:39 a.m. | #

5) The other problem with getting milk delivered in glass bottles is there is a law requiring milk floats to have blinds to protect the milk from direct sunlight but the is no law requiring them to be used.

Pedantic of Purley | 03.07.26 - 12:17 p.m. | #

5. During June we were on holiday in Northern Ireland and happened upon a farm gate dairy. They pasteurise their own milk and sell it by the litre from a self-serve dispenser in a 'shed' on site. It was £1.20/ltr, an acceptable price point, and what a lovely taste and consistency too. Maximum 24 hours from udder to bottle and next to zero 'food miles' 😀

Kevin Too | 03.07.26 - 12:32 p.m. | #

1. I also love the series, but am not always inspired to comment. Hopefully today’s popularity has helped :)

5. When it gets to 30 degrees my local sainsburys has to throw out all the meat as their fridges can’t cope. I thought they’d upgrade the fridges after last year but no. Last week they emptied the freezers too but (so they said!) those contents were at least sent back to the warehouse.

9. I recently screamed at people who let their dog run over to me off a lead. I mean properly screamed, and they did then try to control it.

16. The worst part is if you live under the helicopter flightpath at the end of the day. Incessant doesn’t begin to cover it. And then it’s Henley a fortnight later (now!) with the pricks on our trains instead.

23. My chocolate digestives melted in the walk back from the shop. No more until autumn now.

Nick | 03.07.26 - 12:49 p.m. | #

1. The unblogged things are far and away the posts I look forward to the most. Actually makes me realize the months going by more clearly, too.

Robert | 03.07.26 - 1:49 p.m. | #

22: Unlike Twitter, Bluesky's 'following' feed is in complete chronological order.

matthieu1221 | 03.07.26 - 1:51 p.m. | #

5. What I find interesting about milk in the US (at least where I live) is that organic milk has a longer 'use by' date than non-organic...and I'm talking about a month or so. Seems strange.

Mary | 03.07.26 - 3:44 p.m. | #

12. The Hampton Court meadow has been particularly good this year. Slightly past its best now but still nice.

Chris Atkins | 03.07.26 - 6:32 p.m. | #

4. Superb. Daughter and I then watched the lead's Criterion Closet Picks and were astonished to find out he's very definitely not American. (His picks were refreshingly relatable.)

jpmac | 03.07.26 - 6:54 p.m. | #

15. It may be neither necessary nor useful but reading it made me smile!

27. I think the time has come to bite the bullet and get a portable aircon unit, although everyone else has had the same idea so may have to wait till Autumn and the shops are restocked.

Woodford Wanderer | 03.07.26 - 7:52 p.m. | #

5 - the last milk I brough from Tescos went off really quickly too. Maybe Tesco do have sour cows as the milk I've brough from Asda and Aldi hasn't had any issues even with the higher temperatures of this week and last

Jay | 03.07.26 - 8:20 p.m. | #

1. There I was still thinking of unblogged as a relatively new feature on the blog!

alex h | 03.07.26 - 8:38 p.m. | #

5. My latest bottle of milk is still pouring fine five days after the use-by date, so all is well.

Also, a third of today's comments have been about milk.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 03.07.26 - 11:00 p.m. | #

17: It’s what happens when the BBC is deliberately underfunded by hostile politicians and compounded by hiring an ex-Google exec as DG (no, not that DG).

21: Trevor S — In my experience of commissioning market research, nobody has ever seen the advertising and they’re all only influenced by word-of-mouth.

Labourer | 03.07.26 - 11:45 p.m. | #

Days that haven't attracted comment:
none!

(which is the first time that's ever happened) (thanks Tom for spotting the missing eight and leaving a comment about them)

Also three times as many comments as Unblogged May, thanks!

(even if quarter of them were about the Unblogged series, not today's post, it's appreciated!)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 03.07.26 - 11:59 p.m. | #

1. I really enjoy the unblogged posts, even if I don't comment on them, so I do hope they'll continue.

Richard | 04.07.26 - 2:00 a.m. | #

3. You blogged about your Bluesky account on June 5.

Ackshley | 04.07.26 - 5:22 p.m. | #

I don't always comment but I'm always a big fan of this feature

Johnny Topaz | 05.07.26 - 11:50 a.m. | #

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