Travel

Some observations from a journey:

1. The Metrolink journey into Manchester, via Oldham, is efficient, not very quick and passes through some of the least scenic areas of Manchester.

2. When eating lunch in a station "cafe/bar" being asked three times in one minute "is everything ok with your food" is somewhat unsettling.

3. Linguistic skills are impressive but intrusive, when a woman a few seats behind on the train has a long, loud telephone conversation in French, followed by a longer, louder one in Spanish.

4. Jason, a member of the "on board team' apologised for the inability to pay in the shop with a credit card "because we don't have a lickle machine."

5. Oyster cards work best when taken out of their plastic wallet and are used naked.

6. The City of London has some very ugly buildings.

7. But it also has The Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which look great at night.

8. Tomorrow, amongst a number of exciting events, I will be going up The Shard.

9. And, who knows, I may even bump into a London blipper.