An hour and forty minutes.

31 miles

A good deal of it motorways (70mph upper limit) and non-urban carraigeways (60mph upper limit)

An hour and forty minutes?

Doesn't quite match up does it?

Oh, and a good tip for anyone brought up in Thatcherite Britain - do not listen to Elvis Costello whilst stuck in a traffic jam. Or, if you think your blood pressure needs a boost then go ahead - I'd recommend the second disk of the 2004 Best OF album - Tramp the Dirt Down followed closely by Shipbuilding. Has a special ring when you're not moving and can see the empty cranes all along the Clyde...

Someone get me a beer?!



I saw a newspaper picture from the political campaign
A woman was kissing a child, who was obviously in pain
She spills with compassion, as that young child�s
Face in her hands she grips
Can you imagine all that greed and avarice
Coming down on that child�s lips

Well I hope I don't die too soon
I pray the lord my soul to save
Oh I'll be a good boy, I'm trying so hard to behave
Because there's one thing I know, I'd like to live
Long enough to savour
That's when they finally put you in the ground
I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down

When england was the whore of the world
Margeret was her madam
And the future looked as bright and as clear as
The black tarmacadam
Well I hope that she sleeps well at night, isn't
Haunted by every tiny detail
'cos when she held that lovely face in her hands
All she thought of was betrayal

And now the cynical ones say that it all ends the same in the
long run
Try telling that to the desperate father who just squeezed the
life from his only son
And how it's only voices in your head and dreams you never
dreamt
Try telling him the subtle difference between justice and
contempt
Try telling me she isn't angry with this pitiful discontent
When they flaunt it in your face as you line up for punishment
And then expect you to say thank you straighten up, look proud
and pleased
Because you've only got the symptoms, you haven't got the whole
disease
Just like a schoolboy, whose head's like a tin-can
Filled up with dreams then poured down the drain
Try telling that to the boys on both sides, being blown to bits
or beaten and maimed
Who takes all the glory and none of the shame

Well I hope you live long now, I pray the lord your soul to keep
I think I'll be going before we fold our arms and start to weep
I never thought for a moment that human life could be so cheap
'cos when they finally put you in the ground
They'll stand there laughing and tramp the dirt down



Is it worth it
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy’s birthday
It’s just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children
Soon we’ll be shipbuilding
Well I ask you
The boy said ’dad they’re going to take me to task
But I’ll be back by christmas’
It’s just a rumour that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed in
The result of this shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
It’s just a rumour that was spread around town
A telegram or a picture postcard
Within weeks they’ll be re-opening the shipyards
And notifying the next of kin
Once again
It’s all we’re skilled in
We will be shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls