Saturday, 14 June 2014

Whimsy

My wife's car is nearing the end of its useful. It is 11 years old and the 100 mile daily round trip has taken its toll. I am going to see a couple of diesel Fords tomorrow to replace the noble steed . Our neighbour ( a car mechanic) is accompanying the shopper as he navigates the choppy seas of M25 car dealers.

My wife called her Ford Ka Geraldine. Owned from new it has given faithful service. The daily journey to Canterbury has added high miles and a rust habit has necessitated a change. I suspect Geraldine will be advertised as spares and repairs despite a years MOT and car tax. One wing has half left its moorings (it is poorly secured with two sided tape) and it has a snapped bonnet hinge weakened by iron oxide.

The grateful owners pay obeisance to noble service on the motorways of South East England. Je vous salue Geraldine

 

 

Saturday, 7 June 2014

The Dartford Bridge

I am working in sunny Essex for most of June. Towns like Braintree and Chelmsford are pleasant and the people friendly. They do not deserve the stereotyped images of GTI drivers and platinum blondes in high heels.

I use the Dartford crossing each day. It is a tunnel one way and a bridge called the Queen Elizabeth II the other. The bridge was opened in 1991 and allowed both tunnels to be used for traffic in the Dartford to Thurrock direction.

It is a feat of engineering. It spans 450 metres and is 137 metres high. When crossing the Bridge I often keep an eye on the articulated trucks on each side. About ten years ago when working in Derry an unfortunate truck and it's driver was blown off the Foyle Bridge . The driver was killed. The investigation into the incident blamed a freak gust of wind. Both the Foyle and Queen Elizabeth Bridge now shut in high winds.

The Queen Elizabeth Bridge has infuriating tolls causing pointless tailbacks on the M25. They were introduced to pay for the bridge. The bridge has long since been paid for but the tolls remain. The operator is a quasi private license to print money.

The tolls are to be replaced with a system similar to the congestion charge in London. It will be collected remotely and you will have a time period to pay online. Many of course will forget and be heavily penalised.

The idea of a public utility will soon be a memory.