Reading Roars!

My goodness. Days after spanking Spurs 3-1, Reading chided Carlton with a 2-0 victory, with goals coming from cool Korean Seol Ki-Hyeon (18) and Kevin Doyle (72). Charlton, according to the BBC match report

were constantly upstaged by a Reading side who were clearly showed more enthusiasm and zip in their play.

The Berkshire club’s latest win leaves them 8th in the Premiership, above heavyweights Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle. It is a truly remarkable achievement. Forthcoming fixtures include an away game against Fulham, a home match with Bolton and away encounters versus Newcastle and Watford. I’m scenting more victories here.

You’ve seen Google Maps (probably), now check out a cooler mapping service from the past Kings of Cool, Microsoft: Windows Live Local Search.

Live Local offers aerial images of the UK in stunning clarity. Like Google, you can zoom in and out, and see your chosen location in road, aerial or hybrid (an aerial pic with road names superimposed) views. But I immediately preferred Live for its sharper, more detailed imagery (and why not - we are all Big Brothers now, aren’t we?). Reading looks absolutely super. Continue Reading »

Opposition grows to Reading University’s proposal to close its Physics Department. In an open letter, the University’s Vice-Chancellor explains

the number of physics students that have been sent by their school to Reading University during the past (say) 10 years. In each case this would have been a number very close to zero…In any case, student numbers alone are not sufficient to sustain the Department.

It’s a worrying trend. We need more scientists in this country. We really are dumbing down in my opinion (I know how soft we’ve become as I was accepted into university with paltry A Level grades). The University’s decision was sadly inevitable and surely leaves a black hole in learning.

Debenhams had a sale on today, slashing prices by up to 25%. I was, naturally, happy with this when I entered the store after work. The queues were long, but tolerable. The piped Christmas music, however, jarred.

We are only halfway through November. The outside air temperature is an unseasonal 13 degrees. Debenhams, for crying out loud, is playing popular American(!) Christmas tunes. Debenhams, DON’T DO IT. Your reductions are attractive enough.

This “Christmas creep” trend should stop now. As a friend says, thank goodness for Halloween and 5 November. Without these commercial opportunities, retailers would be decking their floors with boughs of holly in September.

A confession: I was in town, on a shopping mission, and missed the bulk of arguably Reading’s best game of the season to date, their home clash against Spurs.

Drifting into the electronics section of House of Fraser (ground floor, if you’re interested) I was suddenly drawn to a large Bose screen broadcasting the match. I couldn’t believe what I saw. Reading 3, Spurs 1? I checked with the shop assistant or customer service representative, or whatever they’re called now, and he confirmed that Reading were indeed winning by that margin.

I looked for somewhere to sit but found that the three comfy leather seats placed a few feet away from the screen were occupied. Then a thought entered my mind: why go to the pub to watch a game? I could simply walk into House of Fraser, sink into one of their fancy leather chairs and rest discreetly for 90 minutes. There would be an interrupted view of the screen, audible commentary (though that isn’t always a good thing) and no verbal garbage from other viewers. From a business point of view, also good: I would be naturally, and happily, demonstrating usage of the chair, thus helping to drive sales.

Reading did ultimately win the game 3-1 and I left the store happy (though empty-handed). My mood was soured, however, when a bird shat on my head as I walked home. But I guess that’s another story (if I ever see that avian offender again, it’s pigeon pie).

Did you miss the game like me?  Watch the goals on YouTube: 

• 0:1 (Keane)
• 1:1 (Shorey)
• 2:1 (Sidwell)
• 3:1 (Doyle)

Hotel Chocolat, a shop that sells grown-up (as I like to describe it) chocolate products, has opened in The Oracle. Hotel Chocolat offers all sorts (and I don’t mean of the liquorice kind) of luxury goodies, such as highly creative-looking half-kilo slabs (slate-like bars containing pieces of fruit) to more conventional drinking chocolate.

As a fan of dark, bitter chocolate in particular, I was excited by what I saw when I visited for the first time. Sure, their products weren’t cheap, but I was happy to pay extra for a richer chocolate experience. My purchases included little packets (£2.50) of drops: Aztec Chilli (a different kind of hot chocolate), Strawberry & Black Pepper, Caipirinha and, my favourite, Arabica Noir. Filling my mouth with the moody chocolate of the Arabica Noir drop was great, but biting into its coffee bean afterwards turned an interesting gastronomic experience into a significant one.

Indeed, I would recommend having an Arabica Noir choccie for breakfast. After popping a couple of these on a Sunday morning, fighting a mild hangover, I was ready for business. If you know what I mean.

What is it with Reading taxis?

Last Sunday night, I called three taxi firms, requesting that they send a cab to my place.  Two failed to turn up.  The fact that a driver finally presented himself 45 minutes after I made that initial call (arriving at 12:30am) is unacceptable.

Yet again, poor customer service let me down.  Indeed, maybe customer service should be added to the national curriculum, as it seems to be worsening everywhere.

More realistically, can someone please recommend to me a reputable taxi company?