I’m Andy, nice to meet you.
I started this blog to answer a question - how do I live my best life in the world’s greatest city during this climate emergency?
That question grounds everything you’ll find here. The stories are rooted in Barnes and Mortlake — the place I live, think, walk, bike and love to call home. In my first post, I explain how I got here: the blog’s origins, my background, and why I’m more curious than qualified.
You’ll find stories on a range of topics but two stand out.
Climate change frames everything. I try to focus on how it will affect life in Barnes and Mortlake. A recent report by Richmond council for example, painted a vivid picture of what life in the borough could be like over the next fifteen years.
Transport is the other topic. The future of Hammersmith Bridge features heavily. What are the options available to central government as it considers whether to restore cars to the Bridge? And what are the lessons to be learnt from the latest Thames crossing?
Looking at transport more broadly, I wonder what our cars say about us and how people react to traffic reduction schemes. And I take the council up on its offer and share my thoughts about its draft Transport Strategy.
There is a thrill in switching from being an expert in something, at times influencing the national debate, to starting over as a novice. Thrill in that sentence means exciting and nerve-wracking. You can trace how I am navigating this process in this section of the website. There’s a couple of stories there which you might find helpful.
I want practical answers to that opening question. So I regularly a assess whether the stories I have published provide me with the answers I need. What I have learnt, so far is updated every other month.
I am also keen to learn new skills while creating this blog. I’m sharing how I have gone about researching and writing these posts. This is the most recent report.
I publish about three stories every week, so do please return to read the latest.
I hope this is useful and thought-provoking. I am always interested in your feedback. Please, do drop me a line. Friendly response guaranteed.
Until then, enjoy.
Andy