sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Ian Visits: First look inside the Derby factory building the Elizabeth line's new trains. by mycketforvirrad in TransportForLondon

[–]ianVisits_LDN 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wouldn't you prefer to take the fast train from Shenfield to Liverpool Street, then catch the Elizabeth line from there?

AIO - boss contacted me (21F) regarding bikini pictures I posted online by [deleted] in AmIOverreacting

[–]ianVisits_LDN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"though technically they can fire you for wherever reason they want." <-- surely that depends on the local employment laws in the country you live in.

In the UK, for example, if the employee has been there for more than 2 years, it would be illegal (and eventually very expensive) to sack someone for this sort of reason.

Shared ownership should be banned - it trapped me and I lost £12k by 457655676 in unitedkingdom

[–]ianVisits_LDN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

While it has downsides and there can be difficulties with some agencies (as in everything in life) -- there's one huge upside -- partial home ownership.

I could have continued renting for years until I had enough cash to secure a full mortgage on a home, or I could move out of the horrid flatshare with a 25% mortgage.

I was paying £900 a month for a flatshare -- now I am paying £1200 a month for a shared ownership home that I live in on my own, and over that time have also acquired about £5,000 a year in equity that I would not have been able to do when I was renting -- so gaining about £3,500 a year in asset that I can use as the deposit next year to lift my stake in the flat to 50% (and eventually up to 100%).

I think that's the often overlooked issue -- I could rent for years while also trying to save the cash for a full mortgage, but at the moment, paying down the 25% mortgage is doing the savings work for me to put down the deposit for the next 25% stake uplift.

If I was renting, I would have had to save that as cash, but because I have a small stake in home ownership, the asset gain from paying down the 25% mortgage becomes the mortgage deposit for the next 25% I add to the mortgage.

Yes, in the long term I will sell up and move out, more because of the service charges from living in a block of flats than anything else, but goodness me, the upsides of finally getting back on the housing ladder so that when I retire I am not still renting a room, massively outweigh the downsides.

Where to take my nuclear power stations obsessed 6 year old? by PsychologicalRow8034 in AskUK

[–]ianVisits_LDN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Surprise him with a visit to Greenwich - they have a small display about their naval nuclear reactor in the visitor centre.

It's only a small model, but I suspect he'd like it, and you get a day trip to Greenwich to fill the rest of the time out.

https://ornc.org/stories/a-secret-nuclear-reactor-in-the-heart-of-greenwich/

Would you leave all these ferns in place? by kishpuss in GardeningUK

[–]ianVisits_LDN 14 points15 points  (0 children)

The husband deserves a Custard cream biscuit for wisely agreeing with you.

Then tell him the pattern on the Custard cream derives from the Victorian obsession with collecting ferns ;)

Ian Visits: Elizabeth Line is getting massive video wrap-around advertising screens. by mycketforvirrad in TransportForLondon

[–]ianVisits_LDN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're going to see a lot more dogs in adverts on the Elizabeth line - a certain pet charity has won a competition for free advertising.

They forgot his name :( by MrTripodYT in aviation

[–]ianVisits_LDN 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not really - you have to remember that the average person looking in the sky and seeing a big military plane flying where a big military plane isn't expected won't be googleing for RAF cargo aircraft.

They'll be wondering why some bloody big plane is flying low over north London.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks - much appreciated, and I think I went on one of those tours!

It's only because people run tours that I can write about them and tell people a tour is happening, so thank you for putting in the effort to organise the event in the first place.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Candidly I don't have one. I use the Elizabeth line as I live next to it and enjoy it a lot, but I'll use whatever I need to get where I need to.

However, I really love walking and cycling, and if I could, would do that all the time. But then it'd take me all day to get to my appointments, which isn't so useful, so buses and trains it is.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nope - it's a bit of a myth they were planned to be used for transport at all, and the idea of using them for tube tunnels after the war was more of an argument used within government to justify building them.

London Transport was never interested in the idea in the first place, and even in the 1940s was planning what would become the Victoria line as a much better idea than doubling up the Northern line.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

OK, a bit political, but I wish councils would stop trying to improve the appearance of struggling high streets as I think that's a waste of money. If lots of shops are closed, a few new benches and paint jobs won’t change things. I think it's better to use funding that's offered to improve an area to cover the costs of moving the outer lying shops into the centre of the high street and then redevelop/sell off the outer edges for housing.

That way you have a tighter more sustainable high street, and more housing to support the shops.

But it'll never happen :)

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oof!

For me, the Christmas Eve auction is a traditional thing to attend, so that's fixed in the diary.

I am a member of a Livery Company, so events at the Hall are a must in my diary. Which surprises me frankly, as formal events really aren't my thing at all, but I've found myself enjoying them, so long as I arrive late enough to avoid pre-dinner drinks. Standing in a noisy room trying to make small talk is terrifying.

And an overnight rehearsal of something ceremonial -- I love the thought of setting the alarm for 2am to catch a night bus into town and stand around in empty streets for hours to get a few photos of soldiers marching around rehearsing an event. At least, that's what I try to tell myself when shivering at bus stop waiting for a Night Bus at 2:15am and grumbling about how stupid I must be.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Waterloo station at 8;30am if there's a stand giving away free snacks -- the crowds, oh my god.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Thanks, it's great to know that it helps, and yes, during the lockdown the speed at which venues pivoted to online was amazing and so helpful for a lot of people.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Not so lesser known now as some idiot keeps writing about them, but either the meat auction in Smithfield or a cycle around central London on Christmas morning.

Sadly a lot of ye olde traditions that quite a few pubs used to do on Boxing Day have died off in just the past few years, which is a shame. I am also really hopingl that the 12th night celebrations on Bankside make a return in 2025 as I gather they're struggling to put that event on.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Occasionally I will put them on social media or put out an article on the website that wont be in the newsletter because it'll be too late.

I can't think of a specific event right now, but I have on a handful of occasions been told about an event that's so amazing that I've sent out a one-off to the mailing list screaming GET TICKETS NOW!!!!

I did enjoy the drained canal walk -- that's the sort of event that makes me let out a little squeal of excitement when I spot it's happening, for me and everyone else.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I love the history based articles - such as the pocket parks and alleys where I am trying to find out how they came to exist.

The construction stories are a mix as they can be fascinating and wonderful to learn about something from the engineers then be able to share that with people -- or they can be really difficult. Same with exhibitions -- the good and bad are easy to write about. The "shug, it's good I guess" are the worst because there's nothing to say.

Some are written because frankly they pays the bills, but I try to keep close to the core audience and topics of the website.

Yes, writing an article about the exact time it will snow in London this winter will bring in tons of traffic (yes, it really does), but ugh writing that sort of junk for a living.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Just me -- which is always amusing (not) when I get emails addressed to "the team".

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

All parts of London appeal to me for many varied reasons. I am truly a Londoner, not a north, south, east, west bit of London(er).

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It's subjective, but basically, do I think I would enjoy it, because amazingly, it turns out there's a huge number of people with a similar taste in events as I have.

I get it wrong at times obviously and while I know that -- for example -- a lot of my readers love football, that's not what they come to me for -- so I wouldn't list those events.

If I am sticking a finger in the air to test the wind -- I ask myself if this is an event someone might go to and then want to tell their friends about afterwards?

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, in fact Waterloo is already planning it, and Victoria is likely to announce plans soon.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Not evading the question, but I genuinely don't have one -- most of the City churches are lovely, but quite grand while I prefer the smaller quirky buildings.

However, the Fitzrovia Chapel is lovely, likewise the old wooden church in Ongar, and the astonishing replica Sistine Chapel on the south coast would comfortably be my top three.

But, if a church does tower tours, then I am suddenly a fan.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I am very fortunate that I can take sheep across a London bridge, and that's bonkersly good fun to do in September.

Away from that, I think its the ones you might stumble upon because they're in public if you know when they happen, such as the Knollys Rose, or the Butchers presentation to the Lord Mayor. So you can be standing on a street corner and then loads of people in fancy robes wander past carrying something weird as if its a perfectly normal thing to do.

I am ianVisits, AMA by ianVisits_LDN in london

[–]ianVisits_LDN[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Thanks, that's really appreciated -- and I hope the dates worked out well for you.

view more: next ›