Another pier..........

And this one is at Weston-super-mare. I was at the Weston College OLASS conference (offender learning and skills service) with the university's Assistant Director for Widening Access and Participation. Weston are contracted to provide education in prisons in the south west and this conference drew together education and prison staff so it was a smashing opportunity to meet people I work with away from the pressures and interruptions that are part of their daily workplace. We also had a meeting with a senior member of college staff about how we might work together to support our students. It's the first time I've met the lady and it was great to find out that she's an OU graduate. I'm also pleased to say that the hotel we stayed at last night used to be a Berni property (that's one for George) - The Berni Royal in Weston is a listed building and a lovely hotel even though they've dropped Berni from the name.

On the way to find a cab to the station I took a stroll along the front - lugging heavy bags - and the sun was breaking through as dark clouds rolled in and that's the shot you've got. In doing this I missed a train direct to Paddington so I enjoyed a wait at Weston station and then a further wait at Bristol Temple Meads for the Paddington train before sharing a small space with lots of other folk on the tube - and you have to love all those stairs when laden with bags - and then flopped into a seat on a crowded train out of Victoria.

The benefit of all this travelling time is that I was able to ponder the great philosophical question of our time; why do people think it is appropriate to have loud, long and often personal telephone conversations on trains?

Leaving Victoria we had the added bonus of a guy having a loud discussion with his friend sitting next to him. Even the driver must have been able to hear how he was having troubles with his beloved and, to be honest, I think I'd have dumped anyone who I thought was telling a train full of strangers about my relationship woes. Because this is Britain nobody leant over and suggested that a) she was right, b) he really should be quieter and c) if this is how he behaves on one can of M&S Lager he might be better drinking at home - though probably alone as she thinks he's a bit of a geek (as the carriage found out before we'd crossed the river and evidence he offered before we'd got through Brixton supported her assertion). If this had been a Hugh Grant rom-com we'd all have gathered round and offered him well-meaning advice on his dress sense, manners and how to treat his woman but this is real life so lots of people were giving him the evil eye and cranking up the volume on our mp3 players. On the very off chance that he reads this I'd suggest that her view that playing online games rather than seeing her really is a waste of time; your adage "Any time enjoyed isn't wasted" is a maxim designed to condemn you to a life of non-tactile relationships. And, from memory, the tactile bits are usually more fun than video shoot-em-ups with against a 14 year old with anger management issues who lives on the other side of the planet. Just saying...........

So there it is amigos; Friday has rolled round again and the weekend beckons seductively. Get in amongst it! I am enjoying a glass of Soave so I'll toast you all.