The Last Generation to Give a Monkeys

I had the bottom off the tumble dryer today oiling the bearing, which had been squealing for a few days, when my neighbour called to borrow a saw to cut some MDF he had been given.  He was going to use it to line the inside of his shed.  I mentioned to him that my eldest daughter (14 years old) had just given me the sharp side of her tongue because I had asked her to tidy her bedroom.  Not an unreasonable request, considering she has just ordered clothes from the Internet and yet there is not a single item of hers folded in her bedroom and most of it seems to live on the floor or under the bed.  He said he had asked his lad (15 years old) to help him saw the wood and, although he had made a half hearted attempt, it was clear that he would have rather sawed his leg off then help.  It was then that my neighbour said he and I (46 years old) are the last generation that can actually fix anything or actually give a monkeys about anything.  Do you know what, he was bloody well right.

Just to prove a point, today my lad (12 years old) got up late for a hockey match, skipped breakfast because he didn't have time, took half the stuff he should have done including the wrong colour shorts and arrived late to meet for the match.  And do you know what he was the second to arrive.  Kids and anyone under about 30 years old always arrive late for everything including meetings,  They don't tidy their stuff up, they have little respect for themselves or their possessions or anyone elses for that matter, they keep their clothes on the floor and none of them could fix anything simple like a puncture or a broken shelf.  They are from a throw away generation who are happy to buy crap stuff made in China from metal with little more structural integrity than butter and would rather replace something or get someone out to fix it than actually do anything themselves.  They would rather work 3 hours to pay for a replacement than spend half an hour fixing something.

In the end my daughter did tidy her room but it took 4 hours and she watched TV all afternoon while she did it.  Can't wait to retire so I can squeeze all these little bleeders for their hard earned cash fixing the stuff they can't be bothered to do and putting up their shelves because the only tools they posses come free in Christmas crackers.

Rant over.....and relax....!!

Newark to Lincoln or Lincoln to Newark by Bike (catch train back)

Today I went on a really pleasant bicycle ride in the early autumn sunshine.  My route took me along National Cycle Route 64 from Dry Doddington to Newark on Trent and then on to Lincoln.  The route could easily be done from Newark to Lincoln or vice-versa and you could catch the train for the return.  The train fare is £4.50 and bikes are free; however, beware if you go on a busy day because they wouldn't let me on this afternoon.  I suppose it was Friday and the platform was full of students from Lincoln University.

I didn't clock the mileage but I would estimate it at around 25 miles.  The route is clearly marked although you will need to make sure you keep your eyes open for signs as it does snake a little in places.  At least half, if not more, of it is away from the road using old railway lines and I did it today on a road bike with only one minor section being a little muddy.  As you would expect from Lincolnshire there were few hills or ups and downs.

The scenery is absolutely gorgeous and the route passes through several quaint villages and woods and enters Lincoln along the bank to Brayford Marina.  I took my time and plenty of photos and in all it took me a little under 3 hours.  The route is easily followed on the 3 maps below or on your own ordnance survey, but make sure it's a up to date one, as the route has changed over the years.

There are plenty of places to stop and eat and benches along the route to just sit.  I finished in Brayford Marina and went to the Square Sail (J D Weatherspoon) on the water front and had a cheese and pickle multi-grain bloomer with lettuce, red onion, tomato, chips and a pint of lager for £3.99.  how do they make a profit for that?

All in all a great ride easily accomplished in a morning.


  

The extra leg to Newark from Dry Doddington

Leg 1 - Newark to Collingham

Leg 2 - Collingham to Eagle

Leg 3 - Eagle to Lincoln

The starting point in Newark at the Stn

The village of Winthorpe

All the road sections are along quiet lanes

A horse chestnut in autumn colour

An unusual name for a pub

The last 6 or 7 miles are along a disused railway

House boats on the approach to Lincoln

Brayford Marina

Brayford Marina

Looking towards Lincoln Centre along the Witham

East Midland Trains - Worst in UK

I have just come back from Lincoln Station and think I may have been teleported back to the 1970s whilst there.  To a time when British Rail ran the railways for their own convenience.  Let me explain further.  Today I decided I would cycle from the village I live in South of Newark on Trent to Lincoln and catch the train back.  The cycle ride was brilliant and will be the subject of a separate post.  The train journey never took place....!

I bought a ticket at Lincoln well in advance and waited for the train.  A single carriage train pulled up fifteen minutes later and off stepped the guard already huffing and puffing and shaking his head.  One of Bob Crow's finest jobsworths I have no doubt.  It was a little busy so I waited in turn to board the back of the train and he said, 'you'll have to get on last with that.'  I was happy to wait, and to be honest, I expected to get on last anyway.  Everyone boarded the train and then he said to me, 'you can't get on with that we're full.'  He then promptly shut the door and the train went.  Despite complaining to the conductor on the platform and the manager in her office neither could give me any explanation except the carriage of bikes is subject to availability.  Yes, I know that, the carriage of passengers is too.  Additionally, the Manager couldn't even guarantee that I could get on the next train because, 'it's not up to her' and she couldn't even give me a refund because, 'that's up to the Ticket Manager.'  The Ticket Manager wanted a full explanation why I should have a refund and why I didn't get on the train....incredible.! 

Faced with no alternative and no guarantee of getting on the next train I had no choice but to cycle the 25 miles home.

Every person I spoke to at Lincoln Station and especially the guard on the train could quite easily have stepped straight back in to the 1970s and joined British Rail without any training at all.  The only saving grace is the fact that the guard was quite 'big' and had such a bad attitude I am fairly certain he won't be using up a lot more of the oxygen if you know what I mean. 

Right I'm off to slag them off on few train forums now.