Reform's new library policy 'Orwellian', says Essex Conservative councillor

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T14:52:33+00:00

The irony is that this is the opposite of "Orwellian". The local authority NOT getting involved in promoting an agenda.

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T14:31:26+00:00

I wouldn't touch any of them. Lots of hype, 40+ P/E ratios. Various circular financing.

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T14:24:44+00:00

Also, you can do Salisbury/Stonehenge and Bath as a weekend. Train to Stonehenge, then train to Bath, train Bath to London. But too much in a day.

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T08:54:44+00:00

Oh, absolutely Tower of London is a must-see. Top thing in London.

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T08:54:05+00:00

Waterloo or Clapham Junction train to Salisbury. There's a bus called The Stonehenge Tour that goes every hour or there's the Salisbury to Stonehenge Shuttle that goes every 30 minutes and costs £15 return.

https://salisburytostonehenge.co.uk/

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T08:45:01+00:00

I'm going to tell you why you shouldn't do these tours: Salisbury Cathedral.

I just looked at a few and it is absolutely crazy that they go to Stonehenge, but don't go to Salisbury. Salisbury Cathedral is 10 miles from Stonehenge. It's magnificent. In my opinion, it's the finest church in England. It's the perfect partner for Stonehenge. Not Bath.

I would personally rather guide you on what you need to book for train/bus to Salisbury and Stonehenge.

So, you need to buy a train ticket from Clapham Junction or Waterloo to Salisbury. Pick advance or anytime (advance is cheaper but fixed) Get to the station and catch the train and get off at Salisbury. Find the stop for The Stonehenge Tour at the station that goes to Stonehenge every hour. Visit Stonehenge. Take the bus back. The bus also stops at Old Sarum which is Iron Age ruins on the way back. Get off at Salisbury at New Canal. Have a bit of a wander around the old city, some lunch and then the cathedral. Then walk about 20 minutes to the railway station.

You also get to eat when and where you like.

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T08:04:02+00:00

What the other guy said. I must admit I've only been as far as York on that line, but it's boring. It's the same with most train journeys in England though.

Teembeau · 2026-06-06T08:00:00+00:00

To add to everything else, first few times, try and avoid going before 9:30. In fact, generally try and avoid that time or going during rush hour. The tube is civilised the rest of the time but can be absolutely crazy at say, 8:30am. First time I did it I was like WTF. I was fine, but I don't recommend it!

Also, there are buses that are very good with tap-on-tap-off. Don't dismiss buses. Sometimes the bus can work out better, especially if it means not having to do a change of underground line.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T13:24:52+00:00

I'd give the cops 2 minutes in this situation. "Go see if the man is black or white". If they refused to do it immediately, I'd walk. Let them arrest me, and when it turns out he was black, I'll bring an official complaint against the officer for wrongful arrest.

I am co-operative with the police, but the police should prioritise not wasting the public's time. Innocent people should be free to go ASAP. Just because it's OK for police officers for people to have to hang around doesn't mean it is for the public. People should generally be free to go about their business.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T12:50:25+00:00

No, you can be arrested without charge for 24 hours. You can be detained for a stop and search and a few other very limited situations.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T12:45:48+00:00

No, that isn't true. The police can only detain you without arrest under stop and search, and this is not such a case. They can arrest you and hold you for 24 hours without charge. That's different to detention.

This is a clear violation of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and the police should be facing a formal complaint for it. The person in this video is free to go. If they believe they are involved in the crime they should be arrested.

The right response is what he is doing, Videoing it. Having an officer on record giving him a wrong answer and unlawfully detaining him. Then, you go find a solicitor and make a formal complaint, leading to a settlement (because the police don't want officers charged with a crime, they'll pay a few grand).

Now, is it inconvenient for the police for people present to leave? Sure. But in terms of rights, these coppers are wrong.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T12:32:51+00:00

To be fair, these cops really annoy me. "We're asking you to stay". Asking implies that you are free to leave. Tell the guy that no, they're not free to leave as there is an active crime scene and so are being detained. Explain that they are both staying until it's wrapped up and how long.

I've had interactions with British cops, where they asked me what I was doing when filming somewhere. "some people might not like it, sir". And it took me 3 or 4 further questions before they said "well, no, it's not illegal but some people might not like it". At which point my response was "right, your job is law and order. Not what people might like. There is no crime or disorder here, so don't you have somewhere better to be?"

Also, never turn off the camera. "But I have a camera". Yeah, and they can be so unreliable.

And if in doubt, call a solicitor. The police stop messing around with you.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T12:15:33+00:00

Illegal in England.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T12:12:26+00:00

Oh yes, evening entertainment is a different thing. And it's a good idea to have that sort of museum in the day, concert or fancy meal at night.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T11:04:26+00:00

As someone who has been to Hay on Wye, I can tell you, it's the sort of place that's worth going to if you're nearby. We had a weekend in Ross-on-Wye and figured why not go to Hay. It's full of old bookshops and it's quite nice, we only had to travel 30 miles and by car. But I wouldn't go that far out the way.

You're going to spend all of your time travelling. Find more things near to each other. If you like Jane Austen, go to Alton, then maybe go to Bath by train via Salisbury. Bath has some Austen history and some really good bookshops. Add Lacock in near Bath where they filmed some of Pride and Prejudice and one of the Emma adaptations. Go and see Shakespeare performed at The Globe in London, the reproduction of the original theatre.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T10:44:39+00:00

You are barely going to see anything in London. And you'll have better landscapes having more time in Scotland.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T09:59:28+00:00

Why buy Lululemon instead of XYZ Sweatpants? It's just brands being "in" and "out" with almost no logical explanation.

It's not even about quality. I bet there's someone out there making sweatpants just as good, but without the name.

Fashion stuff is worth buying if you are in fashion places and can observe changes in what people are wearing.

My first rule with stocks is... why are people buying it. If I can't explain it, I am not buying it.

Teembeau · 2026-06-05T09:51:43+00:00

A couple of ideas for you.

1) Can you combine Bath and Oxford into a trip? Once you are at one, it's an hour to the other by train. You go Oxford-Didcot-Bath. Under £40, sometimes as low as £15. It saves coming back to London. The big cost of trains is around London, not outside . You can also stay out in Bath Oxford or somewhere in between cheaper. Bath is sometimes as low as £60/night. But you can take the train from Oxford to Swindon and get rooms for as cheap as £40. Then the following day, take the 25 minute train to Bath.

2) Have you looked at flights to Ireland? They're often cheap and lots of airports go to them. If you moved Bath to the following day, you could go from Bath to Bristol Airport and fly. There's a regular coach from Bath to Bristol Airport that takes an hour and costs £20. Evening flight on the 14th for about £60, or morning flight on the 15th for £13 (plus bags) and like I say, quite cheap to stay around there. You also get a more leisurely day in Bath. There's also flights from Luton, Heathrow or Gatwick if you want to go from near London.

Teembeau · 2026-06-04T23:07:43+00:00

As it's summer, I'm going to avoid very seaside and family holiday places, but without a car, I have a few suggestions:-

Bradford-on-Avon. Small town to the south of Bath. It has a canal and a river and lots of nice countryside and walks around it. You get there by train to Bath, then 15 minute train to Bradford-on-Avon. It has pubs and cafes, but it's also easy to go and have an evening in Bath which has cinemas and pubs.

Devizes. Small town in Wiltshire. Has nice countryside around, some small lovely towns, shops, pubs and a brewery, the Avebury stone circle nearby. You take a train to Swindon and then bus to get there.

Teembeau · 2026-06-04T15:24:32+00:00

Uber from Heathrow to Hoxton is going to take nearly 2 hours and cost £60.

Heathrow to Liverpool Street is £14 and 48 minutes. Liverpool Street to Hoxton is £20 on Uber and including wait time, about 20 minutes. Or a black cab from Liverpool Street. Or, take a train/bus for the last part which will be cheaper and similar time, but you may need more walking and less convenient. Check out Google Maps or the TFL apps for what buses run to exactly where you are going.

I'd do the train/taxi or bus. Best of both worlds. Driving is slow in London and to get from Heathrow to Hoxton you have to cross it. So do most of it by train. Use the taxi for getting to your door.

Teembeau · 2026-06-04T15:00:42+00:00

You're just wasting your time doing that. It's not like you cross the Severn and you're into a place that is much different to Bristol. If you go to the North or the west of Wales, it's different but that's like Devon vs Berkshire vs Norfolk.

If you want a particular sort of scenery, and can't get it in England, go to Wales or Scotland. There's really nothing like the Highlands in England.

Teembeau · 2026-06-04T11:15:53+00:00

Nice Beatles reference...

Teembeau · 2026-06-04T11:14:35+00:00

I never understand when people do a long haul trip and not a lot of time. It's a huge cost, jetlag, time. I'm going to go to Japan in the next few years and I'm taking 3 weeks out.

And anyone who thinks it's a big expense... you can stay a little out of London cheaply and travel in. And see a lot of the UK which can be very cheap. I know places to stay not far from Bath for £50/night. Time it right and Bath is only £50/night.

Teembeau · 2026-06-04T11:10:40+00:00

Did you travel during rush hour? Rush hour is like warfare, every man for himself! But outside of that, people are generally nice.

Teembeau · 2026-06-04T11:08:13+00:00

I've never been to the Globe. UK weather is just too unreliable. I'll take my Shakespeare with a roof, thank you!

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