Reading Roars!

The last time it snowed

If there’s any accuracy at all to modern weather forecasting, it seems highly likely Reading could be hit by snow later today.

From a glance of the main weather websites, we reckon it’ll start late afternoon or early evening, but as we’re not known for our metereological prowess, you might want to play things safe and plan for it happening earlier.

The last time snow fell it caused total gridlock (as well as isolated outbreaks of something called ‘community spirit’, with drivers and residents helping each other out), so it could be wise to leave work a little earlier than normal today.

Though hang on, don’t all go at once – that’s one of the things which clogged everything up in December.

For more details, keep an eye on BBC Berkshire (they’re bound to have a selection of pretty pictures too) and the getreading website. You might also want to track the #rdg hashtag on Twitter – there was a lot of useful information on there last time. Know any other good information sources? Please drop us a note in the comments.

Finally, don’t panic and/or freak out. We’re quite excited by the twin possibilities of snowman building and getting the day off, and are considering organising a mass snowball fight if we do get a good covering. Anyone up for it?

(It might not happen, of course, in which case all the dire warnings will look a little silly. But if you are of a nervous disposition, probably best not to look at this map which, we reckon, has Reading just inside the bright red section. Brrr!)

You’re probably still slap bang in the middle of your Christmas celebrations (or out braving the sales). However, if you’re starting to think about next year’s general election, you might be interested to hear that David Cameron will be heading to Reading in early January for a “town hall” style meeting.

It’s all part of Cameron Direct, a cheesily-named initiative which has seen the Conservative leader hold a series of meetings up and down the country. Here’s what Reading West Conservatives have to say on the matter:

“Mr Cameron will be coming to Reading to listen to people’s views and answer their questions on healthcare and the future of the NHS. The event will be broadcast live on the internet and will include questions from the online community.”

Hmmm. “Online community”. Wonder if that means us.

There’s limited information about the event at the moment, but it’s happening on 8 January in the “early evening” at a Reading venue. We vote for the Hobgoblin or Nag’s Head.

In all seriousness, it’s not often you’ll get the chance to quiz a prominent politician about, well, anything, so it should be worth getting along to this, no matter what your political leanings. To be honest, we’re sceptical about learning much that’s new, but we’ll try to keep an open mind and get along there if we can.

For full information and to reserve a spot at the meeting, check the Reading West Conservatives site. If you do go, take note that the meeting is about the NHS. So no sneaky questions about expenses. Or biscuits.

I’ve not updated this blog since early July 2009.  That’s a whopping 6 months of silence.  I’ve been overseas, making it pointless for me to keep the blog going, unless I comment on external news related to the town or perceptions of Reading from afar (generally speaking, the football club is known but that’s pretty much it). 

There will be new Reading Roars! voices joining in 2010.  It’s a development I’m pretty excited about (the blog has been weak for some time).  I’ve given it a new theme – the one you see now – but it’s the injection of different personalities that will make a notable difference.  I will share more later.  For the time being, any questions/suggestions/comments, let me know.

I mentioned in a previous post last week’s Reading Borough Council Scrutiny Panel meeting with First Great Western and Network Rail.  I have to do the right thing and confess that I wasn’t present on the occasion, simply because I work in London and wasn’t able to get back to Reading in time (my fault, not the trains).

I’m disappointed with myself, despite sharing my thoughts on the trains prior to the meeting with the indefatigable Cllr Daisy Benson, who impressed me during the first scrutiny of FGW’s performance a year ago. 

From what I’ve read and heard, the meeting went well, with highlights as follows:

• FGW plan to add 80 extra seats to 54 trains to cut overcrowding
• FGW plan a £4m staff development programme
• the creation of a Reading rail user group was suggested to improve dialogue between customers and FGW (this was proposed, as I understand it, by Cllr Gareth Epps).  Count me in.
• FGW plan the introduction of more recycling facilities at Reading and Old Oak Common depots (in response to a question by Daisy)

More on these actions can be read in the following accounts of the meeting:

• Holding FGW to account: one year on (Daisy Benson)
• Rail services ‘back on track’ says FGW boss (getreading)

A new Workhouse Coffee is in the works.  The new-look cafe will look like this (according to WHC’s Eva Marie Fels):

• Will have a completely new flooring system.
• All new espresso machines including a unit being built in Italy right now that is not for market release until 2010.
• Look even less than it already does like a shop and even more like a coffee house/people space.
• Seating for people not in groups at the counter
• better storage/display of beans.
• increase cleaning zones and work area separation for health and safety.
• infrastructure for future growth and change (such as built in cabling for record/CD players etc and digital display zone)
• An work area in the shop that the volunteers that we support can take ownership of.

I’m looking forward to the end result.  I hope they keep the map…

A local UI designer, Ros Horner, reached out to me recently, saying that Reading’s Zerodegrees had won a CAMRA Pub Design Award in the new build category. 

Ros observed in her blog post:

It goes to show that Real Ale doesn’t have to be all beardy old beer bellies and horse brasses. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) Zero degrees is getting younger people into drinking real beer, and probably stopping a good few chemically lager fueled fights on the streets of Reading!

I’m not a design expert, as you might have gathered by looking at this blog, but Zerodegrees does seem to have made a rather striking impression (though not to everyone’s taste, as I understand it) and indeed they have succeeded in giving Pale Ale a fashionable makeover.   Well done Zerodegrees!

Last night, I was fortunate enough to experience the Las Iguanas launch party, held at their new Reading restaurant at The Oracle Riverside.  This was my first Las Iguanas (Spanish for “The Iguanas”) visit, although I’ve had a peek inside two of their other restaurants, in Brighton and on London’s South Bank.

I’m grateful to Lucy Harwood, Las Iguanas Marketing Manager, who responded to my Twitter request to attend the party (after I read about the getreading prize draw).  I explained that I was a keen local blogger (as I am) and the invitation promptly landed in my inbox.  Top marks.

There was initial confusion at the door, however, when I turned up just after 9.  After I was asked by the lady with the clipboard which company I was with, I said that I represented myself (which was true).  This raised eyebrows.  I added that I was a “local blogger”.  This led to some hesitation.  Eventually I was admitted into the bar.

After scanning the crowd (and not recognising anyone), I headed straight to the bar (as I normally do).  Waiting to be served, by attention was drawn to screens above the bar, showing Carnaval scenes from the famous Sambódromo in Rio de Janeiro.  My thoughts immediately turned to Brazil, a country I’m closely connected to for reasons I’m not explaining here.

I ordered a caipirinha.  It was fine.  I surveyed the crowd again and plunged right in.

The chaps, most of them anyway, were drinking beer.  The ladies were drinking mojitos and other cocktails.  A familiar scene.  A number were enjoying nibbles.  Staff moved around clinically, busily clearing empty glasses and bottles throughout the evening. 

I ordered another drink, Cusqueña (there was also Negra Modelo, a Mexican brand, in the fridge).  This was paid for by the lady standing beside me at the bar, so whoever you are, thank you again. 

A Michael Jackson track was played as I stood, observed and listened a while longer.  I flicked what looked like an intricate paper lantern above my head, as I like playing with things (indeed, Las Iguanas has a number of interesting design features), and then I left to enjoy the warm outdoors.

The verdict after last night:

• Las Iguanas is a good drinks venue (and should also appeal to Reading’s growing army of salsa lovers)
• it is also an attractive “entry level” Latin American experience, if that makes sense, that incorporates elements from different cultures in the region.  The Cuban mojito and Brazilian caipirinha might become as familiar as G&T and Pimms to the average Oracle shopper.  Or perhaps a number of Oracle visitors have been to destinations like Cuba, Dominican Rep. and Mexico already, and want more of the same
• Las Iguanas get a gold star for social media engagement (it’s also worth noting that a Facebook fan page has been set up for Las Iguanas – Reading).  Other businesses planning similar events might want to consider inviting online influencers if they’re looking to spread word of mouth.

The next Las Iguanas test will be their food.  Having enjoyed authentic Brazilian cuisine, I’m keen to compare, and I’m curious to know what their Mexican street food is like (Wahaca is the UK benchmark for me).

I was pretty stunned to read that Network Rail bosses are to receive six-figure bonuses.  I don’t like seeing executives rewarded for failure anyway, but this really stung.  The UK rail travel experience is often unpleasant and horrendously expensive.

Fortunately, if you feel similarly frustrated, you can have your say this coming Tuesday evening, as Network Rail and First Great Western’s managing director will be in Reading and taking questions from the public.  The event is a Reading Borough Council Scrutiny Panel meeting, held at 7pm in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices.  

What might FGW and NR expect?  Here are just 5 issues (emboldened), taken from Twitter (and no, I didn’t write these):

• My #fgw train looks like it’s going to be 30 mins late. Which means two train-loads of passengers in one train. Joy!
• The #FGW website sucks balls. Oh and so does the CrossCountry one. It’s amazing how difficult it is to buy train tickets.
• #fgw providing another filthy overcrowded service from Reading (17:57). Sitting in 1st class with a cattle-class ticket as revenge.
• Oh God no AC on train D: Worst Late Western I hate you. #fgw #firstgreatwestern #worstlatewestern

It’s worth stressing that these opportunities don’t happen very often.  The last scrutiny meeting with FGW was almost exactly one year ago.  FGW then gave us buzzword-heavy presentations and passionate words were spoken from the audience. 

Whether you feel angry about FGW services or simply love a good game of bullshit bingo, Tuesday night promises to be special.

Like Reading’s blogosphere, the town’s Twitterverse is flourishing. 

I believe we now have what can be described as a legitimate Reading identity (or strands of identity) on Twitter, shaped by 4 key developments:

1. #rdg was created
2. #rdgtweetup event and corresponding hashtag were created
3. Journalists from getreading/Reading Post and Reading Chronicle joined Twitter
4. Reading Chronicle and getreading/Reading Post began using #rdgnews to publish news, following advice from the Twitter community

The #rdg hashtag has really taken off; Twitterers are increasingly adopting it in their messages (though one or two Twitter users have been lambasted for using it inappropriately). 

Similarly, #rdgtweetup (described by influential Twitterer Amy Kate as an event “about fun, socializing and networking”) continues to grow. 

I attended #rdgtweetup for the first time last Wednesday evening at the Pitcher & Piano (the event takes place at the same location every two weeks).  There were about 16 people in attendance, divided into what appeared to be two camps.  Conversation wasn’t restricted to all things geeky and there were few gadgets in sight. 

If leading influencers such as local press people and councillors join #rdgtweetup in future, exciting things might happen.  I don’t think we’re far off.

The recent emergence of Reading Chronicle and getreading/Reading Post journalists on Twitter trumped in significance (in my mind, anyway) changes introduced lately such as 60 Second News.  They are now engaging with their readers on the realtime web. 

Last week, a discussion unfolded about the use of the #rdg hashtag (conventionally used for Reading-themed conversations) for disseminating local news, resulting in the birth of #rdgnews.  Read the following exchanges (in reverse chronological order, with the newest tweet top):

JimAnning: @getreading Ta – pleased that theres now a great one-stop-shop for local #rdg news at #rdgnews – looking forward to seeing how it develops 

getreading: Happy to use #rdgnews from now on for general getreading feeds. We will only use #rdg for breaking news and big events listings. Happy? 

JimAnning: @getreading had gd conv with @rdgchronicle – they’ve moved their feed to #rdgnews – keeping #rdg for other stuff + urgent breaking news

getreading: @JimAnning We feed stories which we think will interest people in #rdg We don’t put everything up – v. interested in feedback 

getreading: #Rdg West MP Martin Salter ‘texting’ during debate http://bit.ly/IGmEZ (expand) 

amykate: people of #rdg do you all use tweettabs to track #rdg #rdgnews and #rdgtweetup? http://tweettabs.com/ – try it, works great 

JimAnning: Top marks to @rdgchronicle for engaging with the #rdg twitter community and moving their newsfeed to #rdgnews

craigyd: Am actually a lil annoyed with @rdgchronicle suddenly hijacking the #rdg tag…. If I want the news i’ll follow you. Thats what you do…

JimAnning: Glad to see @rdgchronicle engaging in debate on how to best use #rdg hashtag: @getreading – whats your view?

rdgchronicle: Hmmm. #rdg hashtag debate slightly academic at the mo actually as, erm, Twitterfeed appears to have fallen over. It wasn’t us. Probably.

akamike: @rdgchronicle As @TheSourceress suggested perhaps an #rdgnews tag would be better, #rdg for breaking news only (like @JimAnning’s example)

akamike: @davidjohnpowell I think in that case it is fine to use #rdg, as long as it isn’t a constant barrage of self-promotion.

getreading: #Rdg West MP Martin Salter deep in thought during the debate to choose the new Speaker of the Commons… http://tinyurl.com/mf2zv2 (expand)

rdgchronicle: #rdg hashtag debate then. Would ppl prefer us to keep it off our Twitterfeed stuff and keep it for pure breaking news risking duplication?

akamike: @TheSourceress @JimAnning I suppose. While #rdg doesn’t get a huge amount of use now, it could expand. #rdgnews sounds good to me!

TheSourceress: @JimAnning Careful Jim – don’t start a panic! #rdg

davidjohnpowell: @JimAnning @TheSourceress @akamike What if you want to publicise somthing in #rdg?

JimAnning: @TheSourceress @akamike agree – perhaps keep #rdg for more personal stuff – or for urgent breaking news – like ‘entire town on fire’

akamike: @TheSourceress Fair enough they are sharing a lot of links to their site but they are related to #rdg. No where near as bad as @HabitatUK

akamike: @TheSourceress I may be missing something here but isn’t the #rdg tag for that use? Information/news for Reading? I don’t see how it is spam

TheSourceress: Loving the way that @rdgchronical ignores us all and continues to spam the #rdg hashtag via twitterfeed – very classy!

The prolific political blogger Oranjepan has published an interesting (and unique, I believe) analysis of the Berkshire blogosphere.

Oranjepan compiled a list of most influential Berkshire blogs in June 2009 (based on Wikio rankings), with John Redwood’s Diary in top position. The other titles in the top 5 were listed as Boulton & Co., Mark Reckons, Richard Willis’s Blog and Redlands Libdems. Oranjepan’s own blog (Reading List) occupied 6th place. 

Other influential blogs such as Scary Duck, MuckspReading (now discontinued) and Jane’s the one (now moved) were mentioned in the analysis, and Oranjepan concluded by summing up the local political blog landscape as follows:

In total Reading List records 9 Conservative bloggers, 8 Liberal Democrat, 5 Green Party, 2 Libertarian, 1 Liberty & Solidarity Party, 1 Common Sense Party and 1 Independent blogger in addition to the 4 ‘celebrity’, 4 ‘comedy’ and other unaffiliated, non-partisan sites. Reading List also claims two national journalist sites which fit the description of a blog.