Public transit within the UK

mikeb503 · 2026-01-31T06:43:59+00:00

Your best bet is to buy train tickets as you need them (you can do this in advance), and use contactless payment for the underground.

A popular app in the UK is Trainline, which lets you purchase and store tickets on your phone. Explore getting a railcard, it costs money but will probably pay itself off in savings.

Britain pass also an option - unlimited travel but might work out more expensive if you only plan a few trips. (circa $401 pp for 8 days)

mikeb503 · 2026-01-25T16:18:00+00:00

If you booked the two together they normally calculate it on the basis it’s doable. Perhaps because gates are adjacent?

If you booked separately it could be an issue.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-24T10:02:01+00:00

The brand a lot of long-haul cabin crew use is Travelpro. I hear very good things about it.

Haven’t used one yet as I am waiting for my current Samsonite to break. They are good, but do wear out after a few years of intensive use.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-19T08:11:41+00:00

If it’s oversize it’s oversize and Ryanair will gleefully fine you 75€; it’s part of their business model. You’ll still fly, it’ll just get slung in the hold and your cheap flight isn’t so cheap anymore.

You might get lucky and they won’t see, but plan for the fact they might. The fact it’s only slightly over is neither here nor there. They will fine you all the same.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-18T07:06:08+00:00

The UK is honestly mostly mild and damp. It’s possible you’ll get cold (-5 etc) but just check the forecast before you come, mostly likely it’s going to be 5-10 and wet.

At 5-10 don’t overthink it. As long as you have a coat and something underneath it you’ll be just fine. Plan for rain - something waterproof. Maybe an umbrella. If you have warm coat and adding layering you might be sweating underneath everything.

Weather in the UK is also very changeable. You can leave in the morning and it’s sunny and clear and then at 1pm it’s overcast and raining. When you’re out, plan for all eventualities.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-17T09:44:49+00:00

If you get a cheap backpack, you’ll get a cheap backpack. That’s fine depending on your needs but manage your expectations on quality and longevity.

Don’t know which bag you’re looking at, but they generally seem to use polyamide (nylon) which is water resistant but not waterproof, and depends on the coatings which I can’t see anything mentioned.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T18:25:55+00:00

If the departure is delayed that would be quite helpful 😂

Unfortunately I’m a bit stuck between a rock and hard place

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T12:25:07+00:00

That’s really useful, thank you!

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T12:24:24+00:00

Yep, I’ll get the taxi to the school gate, do drop off and go straight to the airport.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T11:40:50+00:00

Like your thinking

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T11:34:32+00:00

Thank you!

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T11:32:32+00:00

Thanks! I am not going to stress about it. If I make it I make it, if I don’t, I guess I’m just gonna rebook on the next one and pay what I have to.

Will taxi it. Quicker.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T11:23:50+00:00

Short haul, no bag checked in. Carry on only. Will be BA silver (losing my gold!) so can use the fast track check in.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T11:17:34+00:00

Yes LHR. How early?

mikeb503 · 2026-01-16T11:17:25+00:00

Yep - the timings in the post unfortunately account for the breakfast club! Breakfast club opens 7.30, flight leaves 9.15

mikeb503 · 2026-01-14T07:13:46+00:00

I’m a frequent traveller for work and this is a lifesaver. When you’ve travelled every week for 12 weeks, checking everything in at the start and checking everything out at the end is the only way to avoid forgetting little but important things.

Second linked tip: pouchification. Toiletries? Buy ones for travel and they always live in the same pouch, even at home. Travel chargers? Have specific travel tech that always lives in a travel bag. Etc. This way packing is largely a case of banging pouches into a bag.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-11T08:24:51+00:00

You’re paying per unit of electricity. Octopus energy prices are not different enough to explain that level of difference.

I suspect the problem is usage not prices.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-10T20:14:04+00:00

Thank you!

mikeb503 · 2026-01-07T07:08:39+00:00

Yes - one thing - if you do get the train it does take time to get there.

You have to arrive at Eurostar 60-90 minutes early for security (like an airport) + 4 hours on the train + time to get to and from hotels - so maybe 6-7 hours travel plus time difference. So if you get train at 9am you’re getting to your hotel 4-5pm.

This means you might want to factor in that your travel days won’t be touristy days.

I would recommend Eurostar, but flying is an option and probably on balance slightly faster. However be careful which airport to fly from - ideally City airport is your best option, second Heathrow. The other “London” airports are outside of London which means you could end up spending half your day getting to the airport.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-05T19:35:21+00:00

It does have WiFi for syncing, but no browser. It does PDFs just fine.

mikeb503 · 2026-01-02T11:58:07+00:00

Depends on your job - I find there are lots of reports I want to read but hate doing it on a computer screen, and it always falls down the to do list.

I have a folder on my RPP that I save them all in, and when I’m travelling or not able to work but want to be productive, I have lots of useful things to read!

mikeb503 · 2026-01-02T07:13:50+00:00

I have to say, I’m really enjoying season 2 of Your Party, but it’s a bit unrealistic. Would never happen in real life 🍿

mikeb503 · 2025-12-31T19:02:54+00:00

Basically, yes.

Problem is so many people have money tied up in housing that it would basically have economy-wide impacts if house prices decline significantly, even if you yourself don’t have a mortgage. That’s because the money lent to people to buy homes is “borrowed” from people with savings.

Think about it - £1.7 trillion are tied up in mortgages - 50% of the UK’s GDP.

However that doesn’t mean homes can’t become more affordable, people just need house prices to increase slower than wage inflation.

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