Category Archives: Uncategorized

Covid – the sequel

Well, here we are in October 2020, and the second wave is upon us. This time it’s the Rule of Six, early closing in the pubs, but send your kids to school – and if you packed your bag to go back to the office, unpack it and WFH. A new kind of lockdown –Continue reading “Covid – the sequel”

Alice in covidland

The day before yesterday, a friend got in touch to tell us that she had heard that the army was carrying out covid-19 tests at a local sports centre. She was told about it in a parents’ WhatsApp group. I searched online for any information I could find about said testing centre – nothing. NowhereContinue reading “Alice in covidland”

Britain’s got covid

Last Friday I began to feel unwell: headache, muscle ache, lethargy and a strange taste in my mouth. By Monday my chest hurt – in fact I described it as feeling fizzy. According to the World Health Organization, the respected US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the government websites of nearly allContinue reading “Britain’s got covid”

Still in the city

As was widely reported in early April, traffic has reduced to levels not seen for 60 years (see for example the Guardian). And how lovely it is. For the first time, I have felt safe cycling with my children along London’s streets. They play football in the road. Joggers, wisely conscious of social distancing, areContinue reading “Still in the city”

Advice.gov

The covid-19 crisis has awoken the government, after a decades-long slumber, to the idea of providing public health information. And it has gone at it with some zeal: announcements on television and radio, in newspapers and on social media – and on billboards and large digital displays. Some are striking in their power and simplicity,Continue reading “Advice.gov”

WARNING – THIS PRODUCT MAY KILL YOU

Many products now carry health warnings or information about their environmental efficiency or the harm they cause. Houses and flats for sale or rent must have an energy performance certificate, on which they are graded from A (the best) to G (the worst). A national, accessible database holds this ever growing body of information. ThisContinue reading “WARNING – THIS PRODUCT MAY KILL YOU”

Carbon monoxide emissions of new cars on the rise

For the third year running the average CO2 emissions of new cars sold in the UK has risen. It stands at 127.9g of CO2 per kilometre – significantly above the target level of 95g introduced by the EU. This is despite the total number of new cars sold falling by 2.4%. The average CO2 emissionsContinue reading “Carbon monoxide emissions of new cars on the rise”

More on idling

As my earlier post did not mention the law, I should clarify that parking with your engine idling is against the law! The law could be much clearer – drivers have to be warned before there can be enforcement, and there are various circumstances in which it is excused. And sometimes the fine is …Continue reading “More on idling”

Ticking off

The idlers are back in force. The temperature has dropped, the mornings are dark, it’s November, and once again everybody is idling! As I walk London’s streets, I estimate that I encounter a parked vehicle with its engine ticking over at least once every 150 metres. In fact my experience is that the majority ofContinue reading “Ticking off”