The Virtual Pub

Come Inside... => Saloon Bar => Topic started by: Nick on June 04, 2008, 09:10:20 AM

Title: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 04, 2008, 09:10:20 AM
So I have to got to a funeral in London tomorrow, ironically for the lady who wrote Virgin's ad campaigns. I oonce told her that they are called Virgin Trains becuase they don't go all the way. Her line was "Not as inexperienced as our name suggests."

Anyhow, go on the website which tells me I can do the return trip for £57.Book tickets and I am told I can't. rubschin:

Try again. Refused  evil:

Call the Call Centre (Bangalore)

"Yes sir, that will be £57."


Me: So let's do it.

Her: "No, you can't. The website is wrong. The fare is really £140"  eeek:

I am driving  evil:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 04, 2008, 10:11:22 AM
So I have to got to a funeral in London tomorrow, ironically for the lady who wrote Virgin's ad campaigns. I oonce told her that they are called Virgin Trains becuase they don't go all the way. Her line was "Not as inexperienced as our name suggests."

Anyhow, go on the website which tells me I can do the return trip for £57.Book tickets and I am told I can't. rubschin:

Try again. Refused  evil:

Call the Call Centre (Bangalore)

"Yes sir, that will be £57."


Me: So let's do it.

Her: "No, you can't. The website is wrong. The fare is really £140"  eeek:

I am driving  evil:



(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postimage.org%2FaV2eS5c9.jpg&hash=2aecf881b6924c5492e795252aa1db0aa4fdaf11) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV2eS5c9)

 cloud9:

I wonder where the subsidy comes from?
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 04, 2008, 10:13:33 AM
 evil:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 04, 2008, 10:16:10 AM
Stupid question but how close to Manchester are you. I've just had the Martin's Money email and they are saying about train tickets from Manchester to London for under a tenner.
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 04, 2008, 10:19:21 AM
It's about an hour away. But thanks, now that I am driving I am giving lifts to various folks around the Golders Green area and to the wake or whatever it is in Barnet.
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Pastis on June 04, 2008, 10:39:45 AM
The car share scheme might even turn a profit  rubschin:

Although that would be in very poor taste  noooo:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 04, 2008, 10:44:38 AM
 evil:












Good plan!
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 10:53:01 AM
What a journey!

Left here at 6.30 and got to Golders Green at 10.15.Funeral at 12.

Wake was at MCC Lords and then into the car to head north. Police CLOSED the A41 so the traffic was stationary from Hendon to St John's Wood. 2 hours to go 2 miles.

Escaped via Hampstead Heath, then got stuck on M25. Then got stuck in M1 roadworks, then got stuck on M6, then got stuck on M6 again.

Got home at gone midnight cussing:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 06, 2008, 10:57:08 AM
And now you know why I live in North Wales now  whistle:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 10:59:21 AM
It was the traffic that finally persuaded me to leave London too  evil:

And it was the most stylish funeral I have ever been to!
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 06, 2008, 11:38:09 AM
What a journey!

Left here at 6.30 and got to Golders Green at 10.15.Funeral at 12.

Wake was at MCC Lords and then into the car to head north. Police CLOSED the A41 so the traffic was stationary from Hendon to St John's Wood. 2 hours to go 2 miles.

Escaped via Hampstead Heath, then got stuck on M25. Then got stuck in M1 roadworks, then got stuck on M6, then got stuck on M6 again.

Got home at gone midnight cussing:

Bloody hell Nick… no wonder the polar ice caps are melting…  noooo:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 06, 2008, 11:58:05 AM

And it was the most stylish funeral I have ever been to!

And who could ask for anything more when their time comes.
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 06, 2008, 11:59:29 AM

And it was the most stylish funeral I have ever been to!

And who could ask for anything more when their time comes.
I'll have spent it all by then... pauper's funeral for me...  whistle:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 12:01:39 PM
I was intrigued by the Wall of Fame thingy.

Keith Moon, Bolan, Lyttleton, Ronnie Scott, Hughie Green (!), the Parnells, some Grades, Norman Vaughan (!), Havelock Ellis (sexologist) and many more.

Fab music, wonderful funny stories, good singing, packed house, everyone in their finest, lots of enormous blokes (boxing family), a fly past!!! (Cessna). Tissues for all. And a fine spread at Lords afterwards.

Sigh
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Pastis on June 06, 2008, 12:08:43 PM
Sounds like a magnificent send off.


I was once given the celebrated  happy088 from Norman Vaughan for a fine piece of bowling  cloud9:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 12:16:05 PM
Ten pin?

Odd thing about funerals is the number of people there that you haven't seen for 30 od years and who you, or I at least, half recognise.

One woman was very familiar looking, but I couldn't place her, so I went and said hello and asked where we had met. She looked a bit weary about this.

"I do TV weather forecasts. This happens a lot." redface:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 12:16:44 PM

And it was the most stylish funeral I have ever been to!

And who could ask for anything more when their time comes.
I'll have spent it all by then... pauper's funeral for me...  whistle:

I am sure LL has a place for you marked out under the patio eveilgrin:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Pastis on June 06, 2008, 12:22:40 PM
Ten pin?

Odd thing about funerals is the number of people there that you haven't seen for 30 od years and who you, or I at least, half recognise.

One woman was very familiar looking, but I couldn't place her, so I went and said hello and asked where we had met. She looked a bit weary about this.

"I do TV weather forecasts. This happens a lot." redface:

Ten pin?  And you were at Lords?   eeek:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 12:28:19 PM
Oh that sort of bowling. I know nothing of sport.
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 06, 2008, 12:31:36 PM
Clearly  ::)
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 06, 2008, 01:22:40 PM
I was once given the celebrated  happy088 from Norman Vaughan for a fine piece of bowling  cloud9:

I was once given the celebrated  "V" up from Norman Wisdom for a fine piece of parking.  whistle:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 06, 2008, 01:35:40 PM
Princess Margaret once stood on my left foot. evil:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Uncle Mort on June 06, 2008, 01:41:18 PM
Princess Margaret once stood on my left foot. evil:

I'd heard she was never much of a dancer.
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 06, 2008, 01:42:03 PM
Princess Margaret once stood on my left foot. evil:

I'd heard she was never much of a dancer.

She was heavier than she looked back in 1965
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Pastis on June 06, 2008, 01:42:34 PM
This almost calls for a Celebrity Close Shaves thread  ...  rubschin:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 01:48:32 PM
I could tell my Paul McCartney and the biscuits story! lol:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: The Moan Ranger on June 06, 2008, 01:56:15 PM
Vanessa Redgrave threw a Kit-Kat (4 fingers) at me.  noooo:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 06, 2008, 02:28:23 PM

And it was the most stylish funeral I have ever been to!

And who could ask for anything more when their time comes.
I'll have spent it all by then... pauper's funeral for me...  whistle:

I am sure LL has a place for you marked out under the patio eveilgrin:
That'll do...
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 06, 2008, 03:01:57 PM
Princess Margaret once stood on my left foot. evil:

I'd heard she was never much of a dancer.

She was heavier than she looked back in 1965

Hmmm....


(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postimage.org%2FPq2fvZFJ.jpg&hash=142cc8251d3f2dca6cd4a8f6c27e9acb89763c45) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq2fvZFJ)


Princess Margaret.....RAF chappie.....Snoopy.  rubschin:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 06, 2008, 03:11:37 PM
Not so grand I'm afraid.
Guard of Honour. Half way along the front rank (of three) the rain started and HRH broke into a sort of regal trot, closely followed by sundry Officers and WOs. No-one had an umbrella. I was last in line on the front rank as HRH tried to cut the corner and trampled my left foot. I winced but stood still. As the Station Warrant Officer (RAF equivilant to an RSM) passed me he muttered "Well done lad", following him the Flight Sergeant made me feel much better by muttering "Fucking Royals"

Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Mrs TG on June 06, 2008, 06:06:27 PM

And it was the most stylish funeral I have ever been to!

And who could ask for anything more when their time comes.
I'll have spent it all by then... pauper's funeral for me...  whistle:

me too, i got sod all, might as well enjoy it all in life, my lovely family an friends can dispose of me ! scared2:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 06, 2008, 06:08:09 PM

And it was the most stylish funeral I have ever been to!

And who could ask for anything more when their time comes.
I'll have spent it all by then... pauper's funeral for me...  whistle:

me too, i got sod all, might as well enjoy it all in life, my lovely family an friends can dispose of me ! scared2:
Yep... carboard coffin... pauper's grave... that'll do me... I'll enjoy spending it more now than having an oak coffin, brass handles and loads of flowers...  whistle:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 07:16:38 PM
Maybe the pub needs a bigger patio  spider:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 06, 2008, 07:18:07 PM
Maybe the pub needs a bigger patio  spider:
patios R us...  rubschin:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 07:23:03 PM
We could book places. More money for the pub funds!
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 06, 2008, 07:23:34 PM
We could book places. More money for the pub funds!
I like it...  razz:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Nick on June 06, 2008, 07:25:07 PM
No goats mind. I have my standards 8)
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 06, 2008, 07:25:41 PM
No goats mind. I have my standards 8)
Indeed... a strange shape to dig out...  noooo:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Barman on June 07, 2008, 06:11:14 AM
Anyhooo.... back on topic if I may?

Anger at rail chiefs' bonuses

I see Railtrack Network Rail made a huge 'profit' last year... how they actually do that quite escapes me...  noooo:

So what do they do with the profit - why pay out £55 million in bonuses of course with the Chief Executive getting over £500,000

Uncle Mort will be livid... noooo:

Click 'n Scream (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7441326.stm)
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 07, 2008, 06:15:11 AM
It's the same the whole world over,
It's the poor what gets the blame,
Its the rich that gets the pleasure,
Ain't it all a bleeding shame.
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Uncle Mort on June 07, 2008, 01:58:23 PM
Uncle Mort will be livid... noooo:

Click 'n Scream (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7441326.stm)

Indeed, as should we all:

About half of Network Rail's income comes from government
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 07, 2008, 02:01:27 PM
Uncle Mort will be livid... noooo:

Click 'n Scream (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7441326.stm)

Indeed, as should we all:

About half of Network Rail's income comes from government

And 100% of Government income comes from us  evil:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Pastis on June 07, 2008, 05:08:23 PM
Indeed. Yet another gold standard screwing us over  evil:

I'm not against a bonus, for immaculate performance, but their's has been spectacularly less than great...  ::)
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 07, 2008, 05:15:13 PM
One wonders just how much they would have been given if they had actually done a good job, exceeded expectations and made the railways work, efficiently, cheaply and effectively. We will never know.
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Pastis on June 07, 2008, 05:21:02 PM
I'd like a system whereby the CEO's etc salaries were directly linked to performance; anything less than 100% results would incur a comensurate reduction...  bugger a bonus  evil:
Title: Re: Virgin Trains
Post by: Snoopy on June 07, 2008, 05:27:34 PM
But, But, But ......... Gordon Brown says we have to pay these deadbeats executives top dollar or they will go and work somewhere else and we'll be left with only the also-rans to run our infrastructure.


I wonder if he has considered that maybe the also-rans could do a better job, or at least as good a job, for a lot less money.


Come to think of it who, in industry, would dream of employing them anyway?