So much for taking action on climate change! Next week I have to make the journey from Cheshire to London, and need to be there for 10am. The thoughts of a 3 hour drive down the M6/M1 then the car park that is the M25 didn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm so I started looking at the alternatives. Given that Macclesfield is on the main Manchester to London line my first thoughts turned to the train - much publicised as an alternative to excessive car use. The cost - a whopping £216 return to be there in time!!! I could drive part way, say Hemel Hempstead or Luton (if I want to miss the perpetual M1 roadwork traffic jam) then train the rest of the way, but that combines the worst of both worlds rather than the best of both and there's the add on costs of both car parking and a tube ticket. A little research reveals that the cheapest way by far is to fly! Now there's something seriously wrong when you can park up and fly Manchester (25 mins drive) to London, and get the tube tickets for less than half the price of a return rail ticket (without parking at the station etc).

 

Following on from the  School of self publicity yesterday an undercover PR agent was revealed yesterday, lurking on the threads of Outdoors Magic.Singing the praises of one of the countres leading mountainers on such a forum is nothing unexpected, but it transpires that the person launching the congratulatory thread just happens to run the agency that holds, or did hold, the publicity account for the cmpany where he is lead guide. Now there's nothing wrong with drumming up your own business, but surely a poster should reveal their affiliation - though they're by no means the first industry insider to hide their affiliation at first.  When asked about it though, they did have the grace to admit their roll, though obviously it would have been better from the start - but better late than never as they say.

 

Meanwhile back on OM it seems some people have found a purpose in life in hunting down any little thing they can use to attack people. For one who boasts of liking going out in all weathers and all seasons it's amazing how much time one can spend looking for the smallest little thing to pick on. Well children will be children. One day maybe a supreme negativity will become a supreme social skill, but I won't hold my breath.