Today nearly turned into a four coffee shop day.


( 1: Caffe Nerd )

Down to Oxfam, where I picked up a Kilworth I'd thought I'd had (and more to the point assumed I had read) and a book against porn, and browsed through the 1965 Dr Who Annual on sale at £15. Some browning to pages, an inscription, biro mark on side, but looks a clean copy. Features Sensorites in one tory.

Needed something bakery-y for lunch, and whilst I disapprove of the West Cornwall Pastie Company doing bacon and cumberland sausage in rolls, neither of them being pasties, I object even more to them not indicating on their menu that these are pre-11 o'clock only. How am I meant to know? I am almost channeling DFENS, but fortunately I have not weapons on me. I had a cumberland sausage in a roll after noon at King's Cross so he's lyung about it being company policy. And get a separate breakfast menu. I am channeling the folk hero who was escort from a shop for not buying a bagel in the right manner.

( 2: Caffe Nerd )

"Confirm 72 hours before" it says, and yes, it is nearer to 36 but I'm not clear how to confirm. Yes, as expected, my modem does not like the necessary website and, whilst maybe a phone call to the agency would be wisest, I have time to go back into town (I'd thought of having a drink in town tonight, at the Bell End Crown) and use wifi there. Theoretically there's Albatross House, but I'm not sure if I'm able to get in on a Sunday as I don't have the correct ID yet.

( 3: Bux )

The agency is open til six, and apparently it means confirm the return. This is not at all clear in context of the instructions, nor is how to do it clear. I'm given advice about getting a phone number at the airport. Might as well go back to a coffee shop and get an hour's work done there, as have lap top will travel.

( 4: Caffe Nerd )


I wonder if I have dry clothes at home yet?

What kind of database returns no hits on "Philip K Dick" or "Philip Dick"?

It's meant to be about sf.

"Philip K. Dick" does, but there should be more cross references.

I am buying train tickets - it's not for me, it's for a friend, Mr Burglar - and obviously these days you buy two singles anyway, but I s/he needs to visit one place and will call in on another whilst I one is up that end of the country.

That's ninety minute journey to London.
Over two hours to York
Less than an hour from York to Hull
About three hours Hull to London
Ninety minute journey back here.

Guess which is the most expensive leg?

Am also buying tickets for my their Great North Jaunt: London-Durham-Edinburgh-Newcastle-London. So far each leg is just about doable for £7.50, although I paid a quid more to not change up to Durham on a rather pricier ticket but they will have to pay more to get up to London to guarantee a 12.30 train. 40 mins should be enough Victoria-King's Cross. But.

Edit: Newcastle-London is more expensive. Pondered whether it's worth paying a fiver for a journey which is shorter by 30 minutes. Ponder hourly rate of pay and decide it is, but after soul searching. (Last year I travelled first class because it wa actually cheaper. And I got a worse than indifferent cup of coffee. Or was it tea? Couldn't tell at the time, can't remember now.)