THING OF THE WEEK

THE BRIDGES OF CUMBRIA COUNTY… Slowly, but surely, Cumbria is replacing its bridges. In 2020, the replacement Pooley Bridge was installed over the River Eamont five years after the original stone structure was washed away during Storm Desmond. Now, Kendal is getting in on the action as it also seeks to undo some of Dez’s damage. A new 55-tonne footbridge traversing the River Kent in Gooseholme is due to be installed over the coming weeks. 

On my way to Glasgow. The lady opposite me on the train is tucking into her second boiled egg since getting on! (I can see she has more too). I like boiled eggs, but the smell is…. I suspect it could be worst but 🤢. On the plus side her peeling technique is quite impressive

— David Porter (@DavidPorterKF) July 6, 2022

SNACKS… Eggs on a Train is a thriller starring Knight Frank partner David Porter in the leading role. Porter finds himself on a train bound for Scotland when a fellow passenger, located at uncomfortable proximity, begins peeling and eating boiled eggs. Porter muses about the social acceptability of partaking in such a controversial snack in a confined public space, while admiring the deft peeling technique of the criminal opposite him. The end. 

Michael Gove was appointed to lead drive the levelling up agenda last September. Credit: via Social

LEVELLING UP… It has been a quiet week at the Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities, chiefly because for a period there was nobody left in the department. A week of government chaos came at the same time that local authorities across the country were putting the finishing touches to bids for a share of the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund. With nobody there to check DLUHC’s inbox – Michael Gove was sacked and more or less everyone else resigned – the fate of these bids and the very idea of levelling up felt like everything else in British politics at the moment – up in the air. Newly installed secretary of state Greg Clark is in for an interesting first few days in post.

Finally starting to feel myself after Sunday's @Ironman_UK. For those who sponsored me you will be pleased to know I completed it, and it was one of the best (& toughest!) days of my life.

I'm currently sitting at 150% of my fundraising target for @alljoinjack …thank you!! pic.twitter.com/Lqk015LJs6

— Simon Roddam (@siroddam) July 6, 2022

SUPER SI… BE Group director Simon Roddam deserves your adulation. He completed Ironman UK at the weekend in 14 hours and 21 minutes. For those unfamiliar with the rigours of an Ironman race, it comprises a 2.4-mile swim to start, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and finished off with a marathon. Sounds delicious. At the time of writing, Roddam has raised £1,500 for Joining Jack, a charity that fundraises for research into effective treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Well done, Simon. 

Credit: via Carousel PR

THAT SUCKS… It’s all about experiences these days. Competitive socialising ventures – think go-karting, bowling etc – are taking space previously occupied by retailers as consumer habits change. Experts tell us that brands that want to maintain a brick-and-mortar presence must adapt to make their stores more ‘experiential’ in order to entice customers through the door. With that in mind, Dyson has opened up a “demo” store at the Trafford Centre where customers can come in and try its range of products. Why go bowling when you can *checks notes* “vacuum up a variety of debris to show the effectiveness of Dyson vacuums”.