WHAT is the point of first class rail travel?
I ask that because I always aspired to travel first class.
In fact one of the attractions of working for the Yorkshire Post – other than it then being the best regional newspaper in the country – was the perk in my contract that stipulated I would travel first class on trains on company business.
That then meant you relaxed in luxurious seats and were served freshly cooked food by attentive staff on GNER services to London.
Even when I paid my own way and went first class you got bang for your buck if you sat in the dining car and were served a three course meal with a selection of wine.
You used to arrive in London like you had floated there on a cloud.
Now a journey to London with LNER feels more like you’ve been rolled up in an old rug and then unrolled out onto the platform at the other end.
I went first class on LNER to London last week and they ran out of food by the time the train got to Doncaster – not just hot food, any food – and told passengers to show their first class tickets in the buffet car to receive sandwiches for their journey.
So what benefits do you get?
The seats are a bit bigger but no more comfortable than standard class and I reckon less toilets are blocked in first class.
I’m sure the wifi must be better in first because it is always patchy if it is ever working in standard class.
And the staff are fine and friendly but seem to spend more time gassing to each other than serving customers.
So I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to bother booking first class on LNER.
The difference in price and the poor quality of the food and drink offered means it makes more sense to buy a standard class ticket and stock up on food and drink from Pret a Manger or Marks & Spencer to eat on your journey.
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IT has been heartening to receive supportive messages from readers following my recent piece about being threatened over a blog I had written about someone who had been banned as a director for taking out three Covid-19 Bounce Back Loans for companies that had never traded and then putting them into voluntary liquidation three months later.
The character behind these actions, called Munheef Ihsan from Rotherham, threatened to report me to the Information Commissioner’s Office if I didn’t remove the blog.
I refused and we’ll see what happens.
But it was reassuring that some really successful business people took the time to make supportive comments.
One even made a comment in Latin: “Well done on exposing the BBL scandal. Illegitimi non carborundum.”
If you know what its English translation is, well done.
Of course I had to Google it.
It is apparently a mock-Latin aphorism meaning; ‘Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
I’ve heard it said plenty of times in English, but never in Latin.
It originated in 1940s British Army Intelligence as “a humorous, non-grammatical phrase used to encourage resilience against difficult people or situations”, according to Google.
It also gained popularity through figures like US General “Vinegar” Joe Stilwell.
After reading that I’d forgotten about the Latin translation and moved onto wondering how this top brass got his nickname.
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NEWS came this week that Barnsley has been designated as the UK’s first “Tech Town” by the government to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance local services.
The aim is to create a “trailblazing” hub for how AI can improve everyday life when it is rolled out across public services such as in schools, colleges, businesses and the NHS.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said that the South Yorkshire town would act as a “national blueprint” for how technology could make life “easier, fairer and more prosperous in Barnsley”.
Announcing partnerships with global technology giants Microsoft, Google, Cisco, and Adobe to implement AI in schools, hospitals, and businesses, she said: “Barnsley’s ambitions are crucial, because if we can show that AI helps young people learn, supports local businesses to be more productive, and improves public services, then we can show what’s possible for the whole country.”
Great idea.
I know some people are fearful of AI and certainly some local politicians in Barnsley worry that its implementation could lead to job losses.
But it is here and it isn’t going anywhere.
You must adapt and thrive or die.
Hopefully this “Tech Town” approach in Barnsley can show where AI can improve local services and highlight where young people can use it to enhance their skills for the future.
I do like the idea.
In fact I like it so much I’m going to resist making some smart alec remark.
Like ‘AI by gum’.
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I QUOTED a line from the Disney film Bambi recently.
The rabbit Thumper was asked by his mother what he had been told by his father that morning.
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
In fact, the actual quote is: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothin’ at all,” but I struggle with the double negative in that one.
I mentioned that perhaps I need to remember the line a bit more often before being critical.
Which is all well and good but I have recently discovered another quote that I think is more appropriate and certainly one I can keep to.
It was coined by Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt and an acknowledged American wit.
She said: “If you can’t say something good about someone, sit right here by me.”
That has certainly been my approach to who I sit next to at dinner parties.
Which, come to think of it, is probably why I’ve not been invited to a dinner party for some time.
It’s a good thing I like Pot Noodle.
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FAREWELL then John Virgo.
The snooker champion turned popular TV presenter died yesterday aged 79.
Bearded and lugubrious, Virgo had a sense of humour and wit that was the polar opposite to the sport’s then all-conquering Steve Davies, or Steve “Interesting” Davies as he was dubbed by satirical TV show Spitting Image.
After he finished playing competitively Virgo became a popular TV personality, co-presenting Saturday night quiz show Big Break with comedian Jim Davidson.
He was also in demand on the after-dinner speaking circuit.
I once saw him speak at a business lunch at the Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate.
The hotel was then part of the Best Western chain.
Virgo stood up and told the audience that he had telephoned the hotel ahead of his arrival to ask for directions.
“The receptionist answered the phone and said: ‘Best Western Cedar Court’. I said mine was The Outlaw Josey Wales.”
Have a great weekend.