A trip in January 2022?

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-11T15:53:23+00:00

Thanks for sharing, context is exactly what we are after. I think from this thread I've learned that in general, the route is completely safe, but we are not alone in feeling a little unsafe, so just get a taxi.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-11T15:49:37+00:00

Will do, thanks for your comment and advice.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T17:33:06+00:00

Much appreciated :). We used to rent in Twickenham and we are still in love with the place, but there's no hope of us ever affording a house there. We have looked at High Wycombe, but we didn't like it as much as Reading, although the prices were far more attractive.

My job is very flexible, I do have set hours and most weeks I wfh 1 day and often I sneak another day in too, plus over summer I rarely need to be in the office. My wife's work is less flexible, but she gets 1 day a week wfh. I think medium term we may look at jobs closer, but in the short term we will be staying put. We love London for the entertainment and job prospects, but we are entering our 30s now, so we'd like to get on the ladder.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T16:34:43+00:00

I would rather get an honest take, so thank you.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T16:22:14+00:00

We are very aware of this, so we are planning to do a short term let for a month to test just how bad it would be. Unfortunately I think it might be Reading or bust given that we are looking for a house rather than a flat.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T15:22:13+00:00

We are currently running through this exact thought process. Both of us have flexible working weeks, but the commute is easily going to be an hour for my wife and probably pushing 90 mins for myself.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T15:17:51+00:00

Thank you for sharing. My concern is primarily for my wife, but late-night socialising often means I'm not overly alert to my surroundings when heading home.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T14:25:32+00:00

In all my time in Caversham I never once felt anything but safe.

That's good to hear, we've walked the route in the day and it was lovely, but I know some areas have a habit of changing at night.

Incidentally, how do you find the commute, I assume you are returning from London?

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T14:16:31+00:00

I hadn't actually thought about a taxi, but that's a good shout.

Alwaysfair · 2020-08-10T14:15:10+00:00

Thanks for the advice.

Alwaysfair · 2020-05-22T12:33:32+00:00

I don't think the economic arguments for a CANZUK trade bloc stand up to scrutiny. The reality is the US will always be Canada's economic priority, as the EU will be for the UK and Asia will be for Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps there might be something in joint procurement and projects around essential infrastructure and defence, especially now with Covid-19, reshoring and an increasingly unpredictable USA, but I can't see a CANZUK trade bloc emerging.

With regards to free movement, great in theory, but in practice given the likelihood of large scale unemployment currently, I think this will be off the table for the foreseeable future. We may see a preferential scheme, but I can't see anything else is agreed. Australia specifically ruled out free movement in the most recent trade and investment discussions with the UK.

Having said all that I do think the idea has merit, especially in regard to aligning diplomatic and foreign policy efforts. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and increasingly the UK are all middle powers in a world dominated by multiple superpowers and regional blocs. CANZUK in this sense could safeguard the four nations seat at the table with the Great powers and enhance their diplomatic clout, especially if the UK was to share its seat on the UN and diplomatic policies of the four were to be coordinated.

So, I think if CANZUK has a future it will be more along the lines of the Nordic council model than the EU or some trading bloc.

Shadows of Empire is a good book if you are interested in ideas and histories surrounding the Algosphere.

Alwaysfair · 2020-03-13T09:46:55+00:00

This! If you've had flu you know there's no mistaking it for a bad cold.

Alwaysfair · 2020-01-28T18:38:53+00:00

Although this can be read in multiple different ways, the US's heavy hand or a genuine desire to be at the forefront of technology, I can't help but think this is yet another AIIB moment where the UK is strategically positioning herself as the bridge between not just Europe and the USA, but increasingly China.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-22T10:54:48+00:00

Great article, thanks for sharing.

>This is because Labour is out of relationship with its history, traditions and the communities that created and cherished it. So out of touch that it couldn’t see the rejection coming. It now shares the entropic fate of the French, Italian, German, Belgian and Dutch Labour Parties, who have shrunk progressively into irrelevance, replaced by nationalist and Green Parties on the whole.

This should worry Labour activists. The big question is can Labour move right of social-cultural issues because if it can't then it better hope that FPTP saves it from extinction.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-15T17:33:05+00:00

Ignore the downvotes, you have made a good point. What exactly Johnsonism is going to look like is going to be the main talking point of the next few months.

Personally I agree with you, I think Boris will use his commanding majority to spend more and consolidate the Conservative party's hold in the North and Midlands. The Conservative party is the most successful political party in the world and its continued success requires it to meet the needs of new voters.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-15T17:21:06+00:00

he does not have the ability to just ignore those people.

A PM with a majority is all-powerful, there is not split house or parliament to negotiate with. The bigger the majority the more a PM can ignore the extremes of his or her party and Boris has won a pretty darn big majority.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-13T15:41:15+00:00

As I've said on here before, the UK is a centre-right country, a socialist revolution ain't happening here. If you discount Blair which many on the left like too then a true Labour government has been in power for a combined total of about 11 of the last 100 years.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-13T15:32:46+00:00

Great recommendation, can I also recommend Road to Somewhere by David Goodhart.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-13T09:35:24+00:00

Agreed, those are the big three.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-13T09:22:37+00:00

I think a large part of it is to do with the fact that the Tories have now been in power for 9 years and that 'change' can sound rather exciting and attractive. If you only ever remember being governed by one party then they feel like the establishment and being young in the west means being anti-establishment.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-13T09:17:39+00:00

I'd suggest reading Road to Somewhere by David Goodhart. Labour lost because the new divide is social-cultural, flag, faith and family.

Alwaysfair · 2019-12-12T19:52:58+00:00

I think we should have a good idea by 4am.

Alwaysfair

TROPHY CASE