tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18701082463680341152008-08-30T02:50:36.233ZHi there, I'm Billyo. This is my blogBillyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-82096712315012108362008-03-02T18:10:00.006Z2008-03-02T20:39:34.010Z

My wife and I decided to get away this weekend. A change is as good a break, someone might have said once. We thought we'd go somewhere easy to reach - just a single train ride from Bath - so we chose Weymouth. In hindsight, I can't believe I was stupid enough to use FGW for a weekend break. The journey down on Saturday morning went smoothly enough. In fact it was almost entertaining; if

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-7368780827456865182008-02-28T20:28:00.006Z2008-02-28T21:10:55.355Z

Did you know about E-day? Today, was E-day. Actually, Energy Day, a day to save Energy. The theory was that for just one day, everyone in the UK should all make a concerted effort to turn off our computers when we left work, turn our televisions off stand-by, you know the stuff. By just making a few thoughtful changes to our habits that did not even affect our lifestyle the project expected

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-74948056539025653372008-02-27T21:21:00.003Z2008-02-27T22:14:29.101Z

I went to book some train tickets for this weekend on the trainline.com. There are a series of hidden costs; First you have to uncheck the boxes for optional travel insurance from Columbus at the riduculous cost of £1 per journey. This cost is ridiculous because you have to be delayed by four hours before you can claim anything, and you'll be covered by your household/travel insurance for most

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-28213031968018540722008-02-25T10:35:00.006Z2008-02-25T22:38:55.850Z

Wow - just goes to show you shouldn't tempt fate. After telling you all on Friday that, despite being occasionally busy, things have been, generally tolerable on the trains recently, this morning things went well and truely belly up, and I experienced one of the longest delays of my 20 months or so of commuting. An hour and a half delay. Yep, a whole 250% increase on the usual journey time.

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-47499061642898088472008-02-24T21:17:00.003Z2008-02-24T21:34:34.324Z

Did a bit more on the story. Don't get too hooked, don't know how much more of this I can churn out. I'm already struggling, a bit. I have a lot more respect for novelists already. “So when did you last see Will?” Mike asked. “Oh don’t you start, you’re as bad as the police. Don’t you think I feel bad enough already?” Jeff replied. “I know, I’m sorry, I’m just trying to get a few things

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-5218564629645458772008-02-22T20:28:00.003Z2008-02-22T21:31:13.802Z

It's been a while since I've had a moan about FGW, this is due concurrent bouts of commuter and blogging apathy. To be fair to them, there does seem to have been some improvements recently too. Which is no bad thing. But after a crappy journey home this evening I thought I'd have a little whinge. Every Friday is the same, the 5.30 train to Portsmouth is jammed to the rafters. I normally try

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-41863578821173955362008-02-21T22:04:00.004Z2008-02-21T22:21:11.385Z

A couple of blogging friends of mine, Eisor and Coldbrain are the creative types. They both do creative writing. Generally, I am not a creative type. I am a scientist, I ask questions, and like finite answers to questions. The concept of being creative is generally alien to me. Anyway, having been slightly cyber-bullied, being the kind of person that likes to expand horizons, and having

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-45789803993474934062008-02-20T19:36:00.003Z2008-02-20T22:00:32.867Z

I went to see a seminar at Bath University today, I left Cardiff early especially. It was given by Prof David Colquhoun, he's a walking stereotype and a bit of a personal hero of mine. He is a very well respected scientist and has particular interest in receptor pharmacology and ion channel mechanisms, which is also what I work on. But for the purposes of this blog and your sanity I promise to

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-38714201183997316632008-02-19T21:36:00.004Z2008-02-19T21:58:27.994Z

What do you think of the new style? I've had a little bit of a Spring Clean to go with my new, renewed enthusiasm for putting thoughts to HTML. I'm going for the stripped down, minimalist look. I've also ditched the Stress Relief part of the title. It was generating quite a bit of traffic from Google (which was probably the reason for the original juvenile euphemism!), but I want to avoid

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-70461471011179131442008-02-19T19:32:00.003Z2008-02-19T21:14:09.853Z

I have no idea what day Private Eye actually goes to press. I suspect, given that the next issue is due to hit the news-stands on Friday that it will hit the rollers tomorrow or Thursday. So hopefully plenty of time for much derision of the hilarious testimony of Mohamed Al Fayed at the inquest of Princess Diana to make it to the pages of the satirical magazine. Firstly, let's be clear, I do

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-84296402348394431082008-02-18T20:21:00.002Z2008-02-18T20:26:54.542Z

Well I made a piss-poor attempt at NaBloPoMo. If you were waiting with baited breath for my uninteresting ramblings then I can only apologise. I’m gonna have another crack at writing more often on here. My life has settled down into something resembling normality following the hectic-ness of organising a wedding (more about that in a moment) followed by Christmas and a well-deserved break on

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-89117491765430246602007-12-12T17:02:00.000Z2007-12-12T17:04:01.070Z

I've not got time to explain. Go here.

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-88712630381149841102007-10-31T15:11:00.000Z2007-10-31T15:28:58.385Z

So I’m off on my stag weekend tomorrow, so despite my good intentions to post often during NaBloPoMo I doubt I’ll feel the urge to post over the weekend. NaBloPoMo would be so much better as three syllables don’t you think? The Na is so irrelevant given the global nature of the web. Shall I start a campaign to drop the Na? Na, can’t be arsed. Anyway, I digress, I’m massively looking

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-90960015430622381392007-10-30T08:54:00.000Z2007-10-30T09:25:45.200Z

Well, it’s been quite a little while since I last posted on here or on Yellow Fever. If you were perturbed then I can only apologize, but I suspect you’ve not noticed I’d gone. I’m back though – inspired by the upcoming National Blog Posting Month or NaBloPoMo as it is otherwise known. Pointed out to me by Mr Coldbrain, it provides an excuse for everyone to post more shite on the web that

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-73284827779434599932007-09-04T09:00:00.000Z2007-09-04T09:08:36.792Z

It finally arrived. Despite the fact that I sent my McDemo application form off before my good friend over at I Hate First Great Western, Mark Thomas and his friends have done the business and will protest, on my behalf outside the Department for Transport. (Click see see letter more clearly)A part of me feels bad. The train services recently have been almost adequate, save the frequent

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-25604917478995961742007-08-13T12:33:00.000Z2007-08-13T14:21:04.047Z

Hello, how are you? Glad to hear it. Yes, yes, I know, it's been a while, I've been on a conference, then on holiday for a bit and then had a busy week last week. Anyway, where shall we begin? I know, lets start here. I bought this morning's Times not for the Sudoku but for the front page headline: "RAIL FIRM'S LEGAL THREAT TO SILENCE PASSENGER WATCHDOG". Sounds interesting, I thought. Can

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-68668319415572427762007-07-18T12:31:00.000Z2007-07-18T16:40:51.613Z

As you'll no doubt already be aware, I have a problem with First Great Western. They are not capable of running the service they are supposed to provide. We are halfway through this week and my delays already total more than an hour. My problem is not generally with FGW front-line staff (though occasionally it is), my gripe is mostly with the appalling management who havn't a clue how to

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-87235547306263038942007-07-06T09:48:00.001Z2007-07-06T09:56:53.976Z

On my way home from work yesterday two yoofs got on the train at Bristol and sat on the two seats opposite me on the table. They were carrying skateboards, and I guess their age must have been around 15 or so. The following conversation took place between them. I worry about the future of our country. Yoof 1: Yeah, I always have a drink when I go out. Make the night more fun innit. Yoof 2:

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-34426508615565723902007-06-25T07:31:00.000Z2007-06-25T10:03:51.361Z

It’s Monday morning, It’s teeming down outside. Rain of biblical proportions. The train pulls in (late, of course) to Bristol Temple Meads. These things combined, make for a pretty miserable morning. But what’s this at the station? Life is about to get a whole lot worse. Standing on the platform are hippies. They’re the early risers from Glastonbury. Actually, to call them hippies is

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-39360877022544829552007-06-20T09:03:00.000Z2007-06-20T15:11:43.533Z

Apparently there was a monumental thunder storm in the Bristol area last night around 6pm. Which is strange because 12 miles away in Bath there was not. The weather this week has been strange, hasn't it? This storm caused (so the Chinese whispers at the station would have me believe) flooding and signal problems in the Severn Tunnel. "The 06:56 to Swansea will terminating at Bristol Temple

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-58203813687755085222007-06-18T08:10:00.001Z2007-06-18T10:44:29.057Z

If you’re into discovering new music*, as I am, there is a certain joy to being the first person to discover a new artist. Obviously you can’t have been the first person to have heard of them, the artists parents and friends for example, will almost certainly have heard of them before you. But, you know, that feeling when you discover an artist completely by yourself. No-one recommended them

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-87504833938307948062007-06-15T08:30:00.001Z2007-06-15T08:40:33.218Z

Today a record was achieved that I believe will never be broken. Did I run 100 m in 6.5 sec? No. Did I eat 36 boiled eggs for breakfast? No, but I'd like to try someday. No, I was put into a foul mood in the fastest time possible after leaving the house. Just 3 seconds. I closed the door, turned around, and my bus went past a full 10 minutes before it was due to. I shouted and waved my

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-88031144210653446282007-06-14T10:26:00.000Z2007-06-14T10:48:46.560Z

I am gob-smacked. Truly gob-smacked. I have spoken before, of how by travelling into London you get a better deal that if you commute around the South West. But I didn't realise quite how much a better deal you get. Having read some comments about season ticket prices on I Hate FGW's blog, I have investigated the price of tickets from Bath to London and from Bath to Cathays. Here's what I

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-69031648766339321592007-06-13T23:03:00.000Z2007-06-14T09:47:33.462Z

Tommorrow the football fixtures for next season are released. This is one of the more notable dates in every football fan’s Calendar. To start, every fan takes a look at their opening matches and starts to plan their summer. They also always have a look at the fixtures over the festive period, the weekend closest to their birthday, and what kind’ve run-in your team has at the end of the season

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1870108246368034115.post-11993805855559720592007-06-12T20:00:00.000Z2007-06-13T07:37:01.191Z

Thanks to Mr Coldbrain for bringing to my attention The All Day Breakfast Show. In case you are not familiar with Mr Coldbrain I shall explain that The All Day Breakfast Show is the new podcast from that deity of broadcasting Danny Baker. If you’re not a fan of Mr Baker’s sense of humour then I wouldn’t bother checking it out. His broadcasting style has not changed much since his radio 5 days

Billyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156807131425886620noreply@blogger.com