Sunil

As a kid my parents rented a terraced house in Cambridge for a year. If I recall it was 01223 321023 - one digit off one of the Marshalls aerospace (Cambridge airport) numbers. Had at least a couple of misdials a month.

It's not-quite-astroturfing, but it's a sign that there is at the very least a non-authentic effort on Bluesky to influence opinions via mass-replies to a website that certainly obscures its political leanings.

Came across lots of similar/identical replies to posts about Michael Heseltine's comments today with a link to an 'alternative view'. On closer examination the article is by a rabble rouser, on a highly partisan news site funded by a major donor to a political party with a very specific agenda... 🤔

Any #Manchester folk want to see Deaf Havana tonight at New Century Hall? I’ve spent the day coughing and sneezing so my ticket is available. I’d rather it didn’t go to waste. Free, but given yesterday’s events, a donation to a charity promoting dialogue and community cohesion would be welcomed.

Thank you! And thank you for all your work more generally, too!

Would be very interested to hear your experience of developing the RAP from an “organisational change” perspective, and any tips on achieving this, if that’s something that you might be able to share eg via a public blog?

We were told to allow 3hrs when we went. It ended up being about 2 due to heavy traffic which worked fine (especially as we had fast track, and there was a late delay to the flight), but it seemed an bit unpredictable. I prefer to minimise time lost in airports but would err on side of caution

Earlier post should read “considered”, sorry. Trying to type while bouncing around on (terrible) buses in Cambridge…

I may well be misremembering and am happy to be corrected. I just remember it stood out as what seemed to be a glaring omission - ie that consideration of airport demand should include potential for HSR to lead to mode shift and wider externalities (eg postponing need for additional runway)

Justification for cancellation of HS2 Heathrow spur: airport demand not good use of London-the north train paths.

But this always struck me as backwards logic: HSR link would enable most domestic flights to be replaced by through-ticketed rail - freeing runway slots. IIRC this angle not consifeted

I’ve had some severe wisdom tooth pain in the last few days. Over the counter Benzocaine and I’m right as rain, but it made me think of how many deaths through history have been caused by things which are now of trifling importance thanks to antibiotics and modern medicine more generally.

Does “type accurately at 80-100wpm without looking at the keyboard, but never unlearnt the bad habits of growing up on IRC chat and therefore doesn’t use all fingers in the way Mavis Beacon told us to” count… 👀

(I’ve considered relearning “properly” but would be so unproductive in the interim…)

Above should read peak ex London train, sorry (not peak ex London ticket)

It’s unclear whether it’s letting me buy a ticket that will be invalid if I get on a peak ex-London ticket (ie that when I get to London I’d have to wait until after peak to continue my journey) or if I am indeed allowed to do this (as my train would arrive in London after AM peak).

Can Any followers in the rail industry (ticketing, RP etc) clarify a Q about off peak 2C restrictions via London? LNER’s website seems to let me buy an Off Peak Return MCR-CBG for today, arriving in Cambridge on a train that leaves KGX during peak. It greys out invalid routes

Bug, or can I do this?

Thank you. It was my aunt - that side of my family is geographically very dispersed, so the emotional impact is mostly on my mum, her brother in law, and my cousins.

A sudden family death reminds one of how things can change in an instant.

It was going so well until I got back to Manchester to find the trams are a mess…

Day trip to London. Hopefully transport strike in Manchester and the interminable rain won’t cause any issues…

Do you know whether similar data is available for the Talbot Road and A56 through Stretford routes now the latter is finished? I saw a counter on Talbot Road over summer but only for a few days. Haven’t seen anything in Stretford (though don’t use it daily)

Social/socio-material barriers formed a large proportion of what the powered wheelchair users that I worked with during my PhD described as most disabling. Sometimes hostile encounters with public/sometimes staff. They described how interactions could “make or break” a journey.

You may wish to get in touch with @transportforall.org.uk and National Centre for Accessible Travel. Huge range of barriers to disabled people’s travel experience (social, material and a mix of both - latter includes ramp assistance on trains and non-disabled people not vacating space).

Defiant nuns flee Austrian care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps Sisters Bernadette, Regina and Rita needed a locksmith to get back into their convent, defying Church leaders.

Absolute legends: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Could be quite an interesting research project on what proportion of people who try it this week might persist with it in the longer term, and wider role of these push factors (and how they link to other factors that affect propensity). Cc @tricyclemayor.bsky.social @rachelaldred.bsky.social

Thank you!

An orange running vest with white and blue stripes at the top. The text "Muscular Dystrophy UK - Our Muscles Matter" is in white below the stripes, and below this is a green panel with black text "Sunil 24248" printed in black.

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored my 2025 Great North Run - the night before the event and you've helped me raise £1627.

Still time for any last-minute donations at
www.justgiving.com/page/sunil-g...

Good luck to all taking part, maybe see some of you there!

The Duchess of Kent: The life of the royal who became a school teacher The life of the Duchess of Kent, who stepped away from royal life and became a primary school teacher.

Frankly, we need more of this kind of thing in todays’s troubled world:

“"If you see someone on the M40 looking particularly dotty," she told a surprised reporter, "it's me trying to rap in the car going home."”

The Duchess of Kent, who has died aged 92

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Gan hyem!

Sunil's 2025 Great North Run for Muscular Dystrophy UK Help Sunil Rodger raise money to support Muscular Dystrophy UK

🏃 Just 3 days until I run the #GreatNorthRun for @mdukcharity.bsky.social, and I’m at £1069 towards my £1500 target 🎯 .

Please click the link below sponsor me and help me support a very worthwhile cause.

www.justgiving.com/page/sunil-g...

Perhaps you need to create an outpost on the Isle of Muck?