Saturday, August 30, 2003
Friday, August 29, 2003
SKY news, at the time of writing this blog very few of the UK news websites seemed to have anything to report:
"Thousands were trapped in underground trains and tunnels for up to an hour when power failed at around 6.30pm.
"Hundreds of traffic lights and street lights failed and by the time the National Grid fault was corrected at 7pm, many had given up hope and were spending the evening in pubs and bars."
Masochists can check out SKY's picuture gallery.
The BBC also reported that:
"South London was hardest hit and Transport for London said 60% of the Tube network was affected.
"Stations and trains were evacuated as commuters using the Tube were plunged into darkness and some were stuck underground as the power went off at about 1820 BST. .......
"Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said at least 250,000 people were affected and said the situation showed the need for a serious look at the National Grid and why power went down for so long."
Obviously everyone's talking about the similarities between this and the power cut in New York which only happened a couple of weeks ago. Typically as well after the heatwave we had in London, guess which night it chose to rain for the first time in ages!!!
No doubt we will hear the full extent tomorrow along with stories of woe about how long it took people to get home.
Only a few London bloggers have had the strength to report it so for, but check out the ever trusty Meg at meish.org, and Aderemi perhaps everyone else is still getting home!
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
blogspot logo on his record bag. I almost ran after him to shake him warmly by the hand and say "welcome fellow blogger" but then Londoner and commuter's sense took over so I just struggled to get onto the crowded tube at Piccadilly Circus, travelled one stop, got turfed out with the whole train at Green Park and then made my way home by British Rail. D'OH. 
Friday, August 22, 2003
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Mayor Ken Livingstone issued a �100,000 reward for anyone who could invent a workable solution for air conditioning on the London Underground. The tube's always has a problem of how to cool narrow tunnels - some built well over a hundred years ago and many 60 metres under London's streets. Apparently over 3,000 people from around the world sent in ideas on cooling down the tube in the recent heatwave we had. An idea from Israel which is currently getting a lot of publicity involves giant snow machines above ground. A similar idea was used to cool down gold mines in South Africa:
"The snow made at street-level would be pumped through pipes into containers placed in train tunnels or at platform entrances.
Then as trains pass through it would create air currents causing cold air from the containers to circulate and cool passengers in stations. " said the BBC
Sounds a bit barking mad to me, and I'd quite like to know "the science bit" behind it.
A spokesman for London Underground said: "We cannot comment on specific ideas as this would prejudice them and subsequent entries."
But keep those mad ideas coming in as there's no deadline yet for submitting "cool" ideas.
Monday, August 18, 2003
www.goingunderground.net, just by typing it into their browser which makes me think it may have been in a Kiwi Sunday paper this weekend. Now thanks to Leonie I discovered that the site was featured in a weekly email newsletter to all subscribers of Xtra webased email accounts. A sort of Hotmail account for Kiwis. Here's what they said:
"Going underground
You've probably heard that rainy old England just had its hottest day since records began. All very well you might think, but no fun at all if you're stuck in a sweltering tube tunnel. Just the same, many Kiwis have fond memories of the Underground and this is an excellent place to relive them. more>>"
Thanks mates and a special thanks to Leonie for forwarding the newsletter.
Wet, wet, wet
As you'll see from the weather pixie in the right hand panel underneath the links - it actually rained in London today for the first time in ages. So finally we can get back to normal blogging and not go on about how hot it is.
This morning, however, it was bright, sunny and hot and people were sitting on the big planters that have suddenly sprouted at Kew Gardens station. Most people are using them as bins too. I wonder when something will actually be planted in them as they're a bit of a security risk left empty like that and the tube went to so much trouble to introduce clear plastic rubbish bins, it seems mad to have ruddy great empty black planters around.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
simply isn't done on the tube. Particularly as they all looked completely normal and also because they were all women, but I spose that's why it happened. Sisterly comradeship on the qualities or not of our busking friend.
I still think he's pretty rubbish, despite the fact a guy a couple of seats down gave him a round of applause and some money, but then him and his girlfriend had just got back from holiday (lots of luggage, bikini tan) and then holiday man started singing the song to himself even when the busker had finished.
So if you're on the District Line, look out for this really unhealthy pasty looking, slightly flabby man with his guitar who brings the gift of conversation. For more reactions to him see my June 3rd entry.
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Sonia as she was top. Or perhaps she was a trainee Sonia in disguise.
Monday, August 11, 2003
favourite driver's announcement "you might find it easier to let the passengers off the train first before getting on" when I got on a Piccadilly Circus. But one stop later, with the delay at Green Park he joined commuters with the sound of frustration and "only on the tube" tone of dismay in his voice.
Hot hot hot - round 85
It's official - The Guardian tell us that it is hot enough to fry an egg on a pavement!
Sunday 7th September and strikes me as a very good day to avoid Bank Station.
I just find it a bit suspicious that shortly after Tony Blair announces that there is a threat of terrorism from al Qaeda we get this announcement. Is it just going to make everyone think there is a very real threat of terrorism? Is it like the very public coverage of troops patrolling and protecting Heathrow airport as war was announced? (Oh yeah - where were all those weopans of mass destruction again?) As the BBC reported - exactly how real is this threat?
As a long time tube traveller, the London Underground has always been under threat of a terrorist target from a wide variety of groups. Over time there have been loads of bomb scares, evacuations, removal of suspect packages and more. Living in London you can be under threat of "terrorism" all the time. Two pubs both within 10 minutes of where I work have been bombed in the last ten years.
Most Londoners I know are extremely vigilant and the tube also do a pretty good job of responding to unattended packages. Would be interesting to know what others think?
Oh by the way - it is BLOODY HOT on the tube right now - just in case no one had realised.
Saturday, August 09, 2003
Friday, August 08, 2003
Goingunderground namecheck. After the honour of being one of FHM's top 100 websites, today I found out that the gay community had discovered the site.
Boyz magazine (London's most widely read weekly publication for gay men) report:
"The Tube is an everyday part of many a Londoner's existence, and that's why the brilliant website at www.goingunderground.net is so fascinating. The resource is huge, and tells you everything you ever wanted to know about our subterranean transport system, and a few things you wish you didn't. For example, the peak time for Tube suicides is at 11am at King's Cross...............Okay, so some of it may be bullshit, but we love the urban myth about man-eating troglodytes living in closed Tube stations, and that one of the female automated voice announcers is called Sonia - because her voice �gets on yer nerves.� "
Thanks boyz!
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Mayor Ken's promise of �100,000 for an air conditioning solution?), got on the tube home and was feeling remarkably smug and cool until I got about six stops down the line and was dripping with sweat again.
Just noticed however that according to the Evening Standard the tube have ordered loads of bottles of water - 15,000 half litres in fact: "in case commuter trains break down and become stranded. An LU spokeswoman said: 'The forecast is for very high temperatures today and we want to be ready. A stranded train could have 1,000 people on board.' The spokeswoman emphasised the water would only be handed out in an emergency."
That's nice then, so it looks like free ice creams are definitely out of the question.
The article in the Standard continues saying that "The worst conditions yesterday (5th August 2003) were in a waiting room on the platform at Hammersmith station, with temperatures up to 38.4C (101F). With a relative humidity of 55 per cent the apparent temperature was 52C (126F). The legal maximum for transporting animals is 35C (95F).
"On one crowded Circle line train at 5pm yesterday the temperature was 33.9C with a relative humidity of 65 per cent, creating an apparent temperature of 48C (119F). "
It's a heatwave.... wave goodbye to fashion
Lots of women appeared to be wearing underwear today (and nothing else), several more Birkenstock sandals spotted and loose breasted women without underwear who clearly should have been wearing some under their skimpy T shirts. More heat tomorrow forecast, and more waving goodbye to fashion sense.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
website says they can't keep up with demand.
I got a pair last week on recommendation from a friend at work as they are supposed to be the most comfortable sandals ever and you won't ever wear anything else once you've put them on your feet. We both bought a white pair of the version above. My friend's badly cut her feet and mine are far from comfortable, but I'm persevering with them. Every other commuter in London can't be wrong and I want to get those dirty toe marks on the base of the sole, like everyone else, so that I know I've worn them in. Even if I end up walking around like a geisha girl I will live to tell the tale that they are the most comfortable sandals ever.
Birkenstock wearer
You are not alone right now
Don't step on my toes
Another tube haiku moment!
Monday, August 04, 2003
The Evening Standard for the latest on this.
Friday, August 01, 2003
gave birth in the carriage of a subway train in Boston in the rush hour and then calmly wrapped the baby in the scarf and got of the tube. People did actually let her sit down and it all seemed to go very smoothly.
Could you imagine that happpening on the tube in London? It's unlikely she'd get a seat. People would be telling her to stop screaming as they were trying to solve 12 down on their crossword. Tramps and beggers would be asking her to give them a quid for a room for the night. And the rest of the carriage would be staring at the ads pretending that nothing out of the ordinary was going on.
As far as I know only one person was ever born in a tube carriage in London and that was in 1924. She was christened Thelma Ursula Beatrice Eleanor. Source - GoingUnderground's little known tube facts
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