24.02.2026 23:06
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Family history. Yes my hobbyhorse! Ancestry has a DNA kit sale till 28 October. £39 + p&p. Instead of £79. So. No excuse. Now is the time to uncover your family history worldwide! And if you’re lucky the odd scandal 🤔😂😂
Despite the change of name & description, I will still be lunching regularly with friends from DfT, Treasury and Cabinet Office (and a few others now and then), and reporting back when there is something to say. Not much at moment though 🤔
Last night’s AGM outcome. SERG is to be wound up with immediate effect. I’m going to keep this feed alive. But need to think of new name. Could just change the G of SERG from Group to Guy I suppose. Any other suggestions? Remember this is a family show!!!!!!!!
It’s possible he may even rename it. And now there are strong rumours he might even merge into it the FBI and the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms). to create and all encompassing US Federal Police more or less under his direct unchecked control. 4/4.
By this massive expansion he is creating a heavily armed and militarily equipped para-military police force. He doesn’t need the Army or National Guard, he’s creating his own security police force outside of constitutional norms. 3/4.
But. His intention now is to massively expand its budget, manpower and its role. We have already seen ICE agents in combat gear, no badges and masks over faces swarming urban areas and arresting randomly at will and without warrant. 2/4.
Had a long long chat last night with cousins in the USA. They are concerned that Trump via his ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ has massively expanded funding and recruitment for ICE. ICE is the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Their function is as their title suggests. 1/4.
The main consensus was (when we stopped laughing) ‘The We Hate Absolutely Everything About This Country Party’. 2/2
I didn’t have lunch today with my usual friends from DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office. But I did dine with 3 very long time friends who are equally long-time retired MPs of very different political ‘complexions’. Our main topic was what Corbyn would call his new party. 1/2
If anyone is wondering why no feedback from my usual Friday lunch with friends from DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office. a) I was in Paris Thursday thru Saturday and b) I’m informed that on transport/HS2 there’s nothing new.
Family history time again! I have a distant DNA linked cousin with a maternal line surname. Just worked out that our common family line converges in the year 1665 in Cheshire. Her 9 times great-grandparents and my 8th times.
Yes there is a lunch tomorrow with friends from DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office. Don’t expect anything though as until the spending (or rather not spending) review is complete there is speculation but ominously nothing definite.
Feedback from last Friday’s lunch with friends from the DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office. Well that’s it. Nothing new to say about anything. Except cuts ARE coming except in Defence & Security & Law and Order, and possibly Healthcare. And HS2? Goodness knows.
2/2. Spending review in full throttle with ever decreasing resources. Watch this space.
Feedback from last Friday’s lunch with friends from DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office. 1/2. As I said with last feedback I should just leave this blank. A few minor announcements such as Portishead (but see small print). LHR but most of it private money.
3/3. My feeling is that the only way Euston in its entirety (HS2, NR & TfL) is going to come about is through majority private financing. And if that’s not readily forthcoming then HS2 may be OOC to Brum for many years with a wreck of Euston coping with NR & TfL.
2/3. But not enough money for them all. Insufficient income from taxes and borrowing is risky. Now the Trump factor has to be considered both direct and indirect. Like it or not.
Feedback from last Friday’s lunch with friends from DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office. 1/3. Well once again I could leave this all blank. Frankly until the spending review is over nothing much is happening. There are too many urgent requirements in all main sectors of government.
Clipping from LT Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 10, January 1972: Bus partners end sixty-year link
#London #Transport (LT) Magazine (Vol. 25, No. 10, January 1972) clipping:
The end of the 60-year link between LT and bus manufacturer Associated Equipment Company (AEC), which was notable for building the Regent III RT and the Routemaster for London's #Buses.
#history #vintage #archive #urbanism
2/2. The Spending Review will be brutal and multi-faceted. Too many urgent priorities and too little cash. Borrowing is risky and Storm Trump is making everyone nervous. It all makes 1965 look like a picnic by comparison. It’s a picnic I well remember!
Feedback from Friday’s lunch with DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office friends. 1/2. I feel like leaving it all blank. Absolutely nothing to say on HS2 or Euston or Infrastructure or anything transport wise. Yes there are consultations but frankly in simple terms - no money.
Watching the news about Belarus ‘election’ and working on my book about my family, made me think about my paternal grandfather who was born there in 1888. He was born in a town now called Byalynichy in the Mogilev oblast. This is the town centre as it looks today
2/2. No need though for anyone to jump out of the way to avoid the stampede. Lots of bits and pieces in the news but nothing definite. Let’s wait and see for the spending review. But if anything is announced the devil (and the timescales) will be in the detail.
Feedback from Friday’s lunch with DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office friends. 1/2. HS2/Rail/Public Transport in general. Well, minimum if that, will be affordable. If anyone wants to actually pay for Euston they will be welcomed with open arms.
We’ve reached an incredible milestone for the Elizabeth line with 500 million passenger journeys completed.
The line has been a game-changer for the city, transforming travel in London and unlocking investment through the creation of new jobs and homes.
First lunch today since Christmas recess with friends from DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office.
2/2. In fact nothing will probably happen till after spending review in March. Interestingly that so much fuss is being made about the HS2 Mega-Station at OOC that voices are getting louder about ‘why not ditch Euston HS2 and just do very minimal brush up to the NR & TfL parts’
Even though my next lunch with DfT/Treasury/Cabinet Office friends isn’t until next Friday I have been ‘yakking! In WhatsApp! 1/2. The one topic worth mentioning is HS2 OOC to Euston. Despite the tunnelling go-ahead, still no sign of any movement on the entirety of the station
