Small but perfectly formed

Finally, I can announce that the badge order has been made, and I wait with bated breath for the finished product to arrive through my door, hopefully in about a week. After feedback from you, and a brief consultation with people I know, I have plumped for the smallest badge, small but perfectly formed at 25mm. Hopefully it will still be large enough to be read, understood, and, most importantly, noticed.

It will be accompanied by a card containing the address of my blog, and a request that the protest not be directed against First Great Western staff, as this seems to be a concern of many people.

I look forward to reporting on the success or otherwise of the campaign when it finally hits the streets, or rails, of the Thames Valley commuter belt. Please let me know if you'd like a badge sent to you, and don't forget to report back if you receive any attention or, even better, requests. I'm hoping to make the badge printing company very happy over the next few weeks and months. Hmmm, I wonder if blogging is a tax-deductable expense?

Does size matter?

Hello again, apologies for another short absence, during which I took a nice break from the trains, and went up a ski slope. And down again, obviously. Having returned, I am delighted to report that the badge design is ready, and will shortly be revealed. However, I now have another tricky decision. Because the badge has words on it, I wanted to make it as big as possible, as having someone peering at your chest from close range can offend. Men, that's a general rule for life really, so make a note, but in this particular situation I would prefer that my badge-wearing campaign didn't result in a spate of sexual harrassment cases, as people struggle to read the wise words printed there. But, on the other hand, if I make it too big, it's been pointed out to me that people might feel embarrassed about wearing it. So, what size is the right size for a protest badge? I'm tempted to go for the 38mm option, as that would seem to be a nice compromise between the eye-bleedingly tiny 25mm version, and the eye-poppingly large 72mm option. Let me know if you have any views. I won't be very sympathetic to anyone rejecting the badge in the future, on the basis that it is either too large or too small. To be honest, I won't be very sympathetic to anyone rejecting the badge at all, but that's my problem, and I'm working on it.

Sorry for the delay...

Now, this blog is going very well and everything, but it's missing something quite vital - the badge itself. I realise you're probably wondering what's happened to it, and whether I've given up the idea altogether. The answer is, it's coming soon, please be patient. The designer of the original badge, seen in earlier posts, has become rather busy with "work" or some other rubbish excuse, and is not responding to my repeated calls for a design that doesn't breach FGW's copyright. Still, if you're on this blog, you're used to delays and bad excuses, so, while you're waiting, I have searched the internet for some amusing quotes. Please hold - your visit to this page is important to us, and the badge will be with you shortly....


"First Great Western - couldn't organise a railway if someone was stupid enough to give them a franchise to do so."
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/davidbond/feb2007/cardiffchaos.htm





"The only accurate bit in First Great Western is Western."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2006/12/14/train_timetable_feature.shtml





"It is quite obvious that First Great Western is just not fit for purpose and should not even be responsible for a train set let alone a whole network."
http://www.sandragidley.org/news/000048.html?PHPSESSID=538897d853a5fde96f4559c9396c8693



"Since introducing the new timetable in December 2006, First Great Western has set 'new standards for customer service' and created a new, very low benchmark by which all rail travel can be judged."
http://www.vaizey.com/type2show.asp?ref=198&ID=84