test please delete

[FiveTimes]

Moment of dismay last night when I was checking the final details for today's trip down to London. I suddenly noticed, in very small print on the web page and nowhere in the confirmation email, the news that the Premier Inn at Edgware has no parking available at the moment, due to extensive property development on the old Ealing Town/United/Wanderers/Whatever ground to the west.

Given that my sole reason for staying there when in London is the free parking within a short distance of both the M1 and the Northern Line, and that the lack of parking other than at the hotel makes it a completely impossible area to be otherwise, I was glad I'd hedged my bets by getting the flexible booking. I had to cancel, and will now be staying centrally instead. The advantage is that the hotel I'll now be in is approximately twenty seconds' walk from the conference venue; the disadvantage is that it'll cost me more than twice as much

When we have driven down to the city. We have parked at Stanmore (£5 for 24hrs if I remember correctly)

Cracking station as you can just get the jubiliee line in

[NickFitz]

When we have driven down to the city. We have parked at Stanmore (£5 for 24hrs if I remember correctly)

Cracking station as you can just get the jubiliee line in

Yes, I've often parked there, but I wonder about leaving the car there for several nights as it doesn't seem very secure.

I thought about it as one possibility but it's nearly thirty minutes' walk from there to the Edgware PI, from what I remember. The hotel I'm now going to in Holborn has some on-street parking in front of it, but it's limited to two hours on Saturday morning. So the plan is to get there early evening, park outside while I check in, then drive round to a multistorey nearby in Bloomsbury where I can park until Saturday lunchtime for a very decent rate (by central London standards), then bring the car back during the conference lunch break and park outside the hotel again. Sounds a bit complicated, but I managed a similar arrangement when I stayed there for Boring Conference earlier in the year, and when leaving, it was worth the faffing about to be able to come out of the hotel to the car parked right in front of the door

[zeitghost]

I avoid all these complications by never actually going anywhere.

[NickFitz]

I avoid all these complications by never actually going anywhere.

That is the obvious solution, now you mention it

[Pondlife]

Afternoon.

Two calls still to go.

[zeitghost]

That is the obvious solution, now you mention it

These days I get stressed if I have to drive to Swansea.

Cardiff, that's the back of beyond.

[zeitghost]

Crap.

There's a storm coming.

Weather and climate change - Met Office

[NickFitz]

Crap.

There's a storm coming.

Weather and climate change - Met Office

From the projected path in my radar app, it looks like that will probably pass you by. But there's plenty more coming along later

[zeitghost]

From the projected path in my radar app, it looks like that will probably pass you by. But there's plenty more coming along later

Later, I don't care much, staggering home, unfortunately, I really really might.

Where's the rain cloud smilie when you need it?

[zeitghost]

Ah.

Here it is.