Room 101

[Shrek]

I grew up driving in Central London so am used to it but try to avoid it now days .

 

[Shrek]

We must have struck lucky with our train journey to London in September. To be fair it was only one train from Leeds to Kings Cross. 2.5hrs. OK dearer than what it would have cost in fuel but then the thought of trying to navigate London in a car and find somewhere to park overnight while we went to a concert. I would have been seriously stressed if we'd gone by car.

Trains are relaxing when they turn up .

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Me, in terms of etiquette when talking to the homeless. We've been visiting friends in Swansea, did a long walk along the seafront and passed (at as large a distance as possible) a guy who was berating his rucksack, throwing punches in its direction and shouting about how it needed to do a number 2.

About twenty metres further along, there was a guy sat on a bench who was half-watching him, and gave me the sort of brief, half-look that says 'hmm... '. I said to him that I'd avoid eye contact with the other guy if I were him, and he smiled. He said something after we'd passed (not unfriendly, but I didn't catch it), which Mrs GSV translated for me as 'I'm one too, we're all like that.' Felt a bit of a fool as he seemed too well-dressed/groomed to be living rough- though the bottle of Thatcher's Katy (a fairly 'punchy' cider) might have been a clue.

Clearly I shouldn't be let out unsupervised....

 

[Gray]

Trains are relaxing when they turn up .

They can be, when you can get a seat.
But UK rail fares are much too expensive.

I did a (relatively short) return trip on Saturday night.
The best part of 30 quid - and we had to stand for 95% of the trip home.
In contrast, I've just paid £18.36 (with Amazon discount) for a some Sony Bluetooth headphones....that's what I call value.
Still trying to forget buying 6 drinks in London Saturday - almost the price of the train fare and headphones combined 😱

Ripoff Britain, especially the South East where, contrary to popular belief, we ain't all rich.

 

[Al ears]

They can be, when you can get a seat.
But UK rail fares are much too expensive.

I did a (relatively short) return trip on Saturday night.
The best part of 30 quid - and we had to stand for 95% of the trip home.View attachment 10621
In contrast, I've just paid £18.36 (with Amazon discount) for a some Sony Bluetooth headphones....that's what I call value.
Still trying to forget buying 6 drinks in London Saturday - almost the price of the train fare and headphones combined 😱

Ripoff Britain, especially the South East where, contrary to popular belief, we ain't all rich.

I don't live in London but even in Wales we are getting ripped off.
Where I am diesel prices have just rocketed to 151p per litre when, four miles away in the next valley it can be had for 139p.
Guess where I now go for my diesel.....

 

[Jasonovich]

Me, in terms of etiquette when talking to the homeless. We've been visiting friends in Swansea, did a long walk along the seafront and passed (at as large a distance as possible) a guy who was berating his rucksack, throwing punches in its direction and shouting about how it needed to do a number 2.

About twenty metres further along, there was a guy sat on a bench who was half-watching him, and gave me the sort of brief, half-look that says 'hmm... '. I said to him that I'd avoid eye contact with the other guy if I were him, and he smiled. He said something after we'd passed (not unfriendly, but I didn't catch it), which Mrs GSV translated for me as 'I'm one too, we're all like that.' Felt a bit of a fool as he seemed too well-dressed/groomed to be living rough- though the bottle of Thatcher's Katy (a fairly 'punchy' cider) might have been a clue.

Clearly I shouldn't be let out unsupervised....

When I was in St Petersburg seven years ago, the streets were pristine, very little graffiti, beautiful parks and I've been to all parts, posh and not so great, there was no 'out of sorts people' living on the streets, no makeshift tents, no begging or have I ever felt unsafe. Yes, the occasional drunk, Russians love to drink! 🙂

Half an hour ride on the train to Gatchina, a beautiful town, where the entire centre, the roads were closed off, so families with young children can move about safely.

I'm thinking, we're the 6th biggest economy, why do we still have this problem, why can't we look after our own?

 

[Jasonovich]

I don't live in London but even in Wales we are getting ripped off.
Where I am diesel prices have just rocketed to 151p per litre when, four miles away in the next valley it can be had for 139p.
Guess where I now go for my diesel.....

I love Snowdonia, when I give up my mortal coil I want my ashes to be released in a lake close to the mountain. Some carp berating another carp, this fish food is ****.
Anyway, why am I seeing more scousers in North Wales than the indigenous population!


My Gawd, It's worse than that, Scouse Sheep have taken over the valleys!

 

[Revolutions]

When I was in St Petersburg seven years ago, the streets were pristine, very little graffiti, beautiful parks and I've been to all parts, posh and not so great, there was no 'out of sorts people' living on the streets, no makeshift tents, no begging or have I ever felt unsafe. Yes, the occasional drunk, Russians love to drink! 🙂

Half an hour ride on the train to Gatchina, a beautiful town, where the entire centre, the roads were closed off, so families with young children can move about safely.

I'm thinking, we're the 6th biggest economy, why do we still have this problem, why can't we look after our own?

Homeless in Russia = die quickly in the cold, or locked up in asylums. These days probably also die quickly in the military.

 

[Jasonovich]

Homeless in Russia = die quickly in the cold, or locked up in asylums. These days probably also die quickly in the military.

Yeah it's pretty bleak. I pray for peace.

 

[jjbomber]

When I was in St Petersburg seven years ago, the streets were pristine, very little graffiti, beautiful parks

Beautiful city, 200 royal palaces, Hermitage Museum, orthodox churches, Love Park for Swan Lake fans, opera houses to die for. Nevsky Prospect was expensive!

 

[Jasonovich]

Beautiful city, 200 royal palaces, Hermitage Museum, orthodox churches, Love Park for Swan Lake fans, opera houses to die for. Nevsky Prospect was expensive!

Yep, beautiful been there, even got a discount for the museums. My missus said to cashier, oh my husband he's Russian, he lives here!

One golden rule, my missus would tell me, not to speak when we catch Uber/local taxi, if they sense you're foreign, prices always higher.

Privet

I only wish we lived in better times, St Peterburg is beautiful, an amazing place. The architecture is a real feast for the eyes. On the riverside, it's like Venice but on a bigger scale.

St Petersburg has a network of canals feeding into the Neva river, I remember when we caught a ferry bus, girls on their jetski's wearing jeans were doing water wheelies as we passed by, something you never see on the Thames.