General head dump.

I've been quiet about the new coalition.

Thus far it seems that a lot of bad stuff isn't going to happen: no ID cards, and no expansion of Heathrow and Stanstead. But a lot of good stuff re London's infrastructure is going to fall away too. Obviously, we'll lose most of Crossrail. The Tories' positions on just about everything have been attenuated by the Libdems and, as a party they are beginning to resemble the Tory party of old: a broad church united behind a 'One-Nation' Tory leader and whip.

This is unforeseen. They could turn themselves into the natural party of government, mainly because most Englishfolk are naturally inclined to vote for One-Nation-Toryism. My bet is they'll never run the course. A few of the snarling loonies from the rightwing edge will shout their mouths off, or protest in some other way, about not being allowed to cut child benefits enough, or not being unpleasant enough to immigrants, or some such.

We'll see.

In the meantime, my social life leaves me with few opportunities to spend time on LJ. The next diary appointment (after lunch in town today) will be the Chelsea Flower Show on Thursday, followed by cocktails. Oh the horror! Oh the drudgery! Feel for me, you who live without such oppression.

Madame bought me a pair of blue suede brogues. Not built by Lobb, alas; nor on lasts carved to match my feet, but nevertheless....If it doesn't rain on Thursday, I may just give them an airing.

Holiday by train. The Southern European Train Experience. Prologue.

Travelling by train from London to Faro in Portugal (first class, natch) costs an arm and a leg. We'll be going in July.

London St Pancras, to Paris. In Paris change from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse, and take the TGV to Irun on the Spanish border. Then take the overnight sleeper to Lisbon. Then a four-and-a-half hour train to Faro, where we hire a car.

It would cost us about £300-£400 to fly to Faro and back: less if we could book ahead (like around about now). It would also take about five to six hours each way including all of the mandatory searches and sniffs that Customs puts one through. This is costing us a tidy grand, and will take a day and a half each way to complete.

I booked the tickets today at Rail Europe on Regent Street, after a lunch with Fra. Will give SWMBO a cheque tonight covering my half. Let's see if it less stress-making than flying. Here's hoping.