Sometimes it’s rude not to travel first class. Not all the time, but on those rare occasions when you’re scanning the internet for train tickets and find the first class price just a couple of quid more or even – sharp intake of breath – less than standard. Then you’d be crazy not to shout, … Continue reading On Going First Class on the East Coast
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On Four Unusual Museums
In my time, I have visited lots of museums: on family holidays, filling in gaps before trains, for research, or just to have a look at the shop. I’ve even worked behind the scenes in a couple and I’m contemplating a career in the museum/heritage sector. So here’s a guide to a few of the … Continue reading On Four Unusual Museums
On Colds
This week I have had a cold. No. I haven’t just had a cold: I have struggled valiantly through a week of hell. A week of headaches, shaky limbs, sore throats and runny noses. A week of continual tiredness, made only worse by cricking my neck after napping in an odd position. A week where … Continue reading On Colds
On Dinner – an Investigation
It was a week last Saturday night. I was happily sat with a bottle of lager and Skyfall on the telly, when I received a text. My friend was wondering if I or anyone else in “the North” called their midday meal “dinner”, because his mate from Leeds said everyone did, and it wasn’t something … Continue reading On Dinner – an Investigation
My Christmas Diary
Christmas Eve 8am – This is the earliest I’ve been up in a long time, even though my alarm goes off at 8 every day. That’s what shift work and winter darkness do to you. This morning, however, I have an incentive: it’s time for the traditional Wetherspoons breakfast with school friends. We started this … Continue reading My Christmas Diary
On: It was the Undergraduate, in the Library, with the Beanbag
Over the course of my academic career – comprising of school, an undergraduate degree and two dissertations – I have used 14 libraries on an average of 3 per week, been thrown out of 1 and walked the length of the Trans-Siberian railway in going to find a book and forgetting to take the sheet … Continue reading On: It was the Undergraduate, in the Library, with the Beanbag
On Pubs
So, I’ve recently acquired a job in one of my town’s finest drinking establishments. Aside from my sheer amazement that someone thinks I’m a responsible adult who can serve drinks and not scare customers, I’m rather enjoying it so far. The other staff are great crack, I’ve been shown the secret corners of the pub, … Continue reading On Pubs
On Festive Buildup
It’s less than five weeks till Christmas. Now that I’ve shocked you, I’ll say I’ve noticed that this week there’s been something festive in the air, and I’m not just talking about the various colds going around. It’s certainly got to me, and as the week’s worn on I’ve felt more and more Christmassy. Perhaps … Continue reading On Festive Buildup
“With the usual apologies”
“The B.E.F. Times” was one of the incarnations of the publication that started as “The Wipers Times” in the British trenches in the First World War. Amongst the horror and carnage of that war, the writers – front-line soldiers – proved the cathartic power of comedy and satire, subversively poking fun at their superiors and … Continue reading “With the usual apologies”
On “YOLO”
There are some phrases I just don’t use, even ironically. “Yolo” is one of them. Well, I used it once, a couple of weeks ago when trying to convince a mate to go out on the town and stay up until his bus arrived in the early morning. It just slipped out into my text, … Continue reading On “YOLO”
Scranshums 