London Anarchist Bookfair 2023/24

[steeplejack]

Following some interesting chat on the 2022 thread and the long running "anarchist but not a member of an anarchist organisation" threads this weekend it's time for the 2023 Bookfair thread.

There have been some whoppers in this series - the windmilling 3,000 post inconclusive dogfight of 2020, the "disinclined" stall scandal of last year, and a whole host of previous imbroglios involving soundsystems, going from pub to pub asking if folk are a particular username on urban75, lifestylist girning, hi-vis feyness & obfuscation, culture war seepage, etc.

I'm looking forward to going and buying some books and hearing some talks, maybe even meeting some actual people. Should be fun. What are folks looking forward to this year?

 

[charlie mowbray]

I won't be there, I'll be at the more relaxing Dorset Radical Bookfair on the same day.

 

[danny la rouge]

It’s far too far and costly for me to travel there, but I wish them a successful event.

 

[danny la rouge]

Also, capybaras, #AmIRight

 

[Rob Ray]

Seriously it may be time to set up an anarcho-coach service for events the trains are that expensive. £50 for an open Ipswich-London ticket FFS.

 

[danny la rouge]

Seriously it may be time to set up an anarcho-coach service for events the trains are that expensive. £50 for an open Ipswich-London ticket FFS.

Just looked at Scotrail:
Glasgow to London
Prices from
£85.20
ONE-WAY

Add to that overnight expenses, and time, and it’s out of reach really.

Say what you like about the SWP (really, say what you like), but they were good at organising coaches.

 

[steeplejack]

Yeah

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Say what you like about the SWP (really, say what you like), but they were good at organising coaches.

That’s centralism for ya.

 

[LDC]

It'll be the first one I'll brave since the tragic debacle of 2017.

 

[danny la rouge]

That’s centralism for ya.

I’m not against centralism. I’m against “Democratic Centralism”.

 

[kenny g]

Just looked at Scotrail:
Glasgow to London
Prices from
£85.20
ONE-WAY

Add to that overnight expenses, and time, and it’s out of reach really.

Say what you like about the SWP (really, say what you like), but they were good at organising coaches.

Assuming you have a senior pass it can be cheaper than that RailUK Tickets, powered by Trainsplit suggests no change and £65 return.

 

[danny la rouge]

Assuming you have a senior pass it can be cheaper than that RailUK Tickets, powered by Trainsplit suggests no change and £65 return.

How old does everyone think I am, ffs?!

 

[Wilf]

How old does everyone think I am, ffs?!

Well, okay then, I'll pick up the old age and/or disability baton: not great having the bookfair over 4 sites. I'm sure the sites are all accessible, but that doesn't match the reality of getting around.

I'll probably be attending and hope to meet a few urbs, so none of that is some kind of disguised attack on the organisers. Same time it is a bit thoughtless. Though, having organised similar but smaller events I'll also happily acknowledge that putting these things together is hard work.

 

[muscovyduck]

Gonna give it a go getting to it this year. Gotta make sure I'm not at work and the train tickets are tolerable. Let's see

 

[muscovyduck]

How does the tube work? Can I get a day ticket?

 

[danny la rouge]

How does the tube work?

I think it’s electric.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

How does the tube work? Can I get a day ticket?

You can pay with your bank card when swiping in and out and it will (genuinely) charge you the best deal.

 

[Serge Forward]

I might get a day return down there as I can't be arsed driving to the Smoke. I might still have an oyster card somewhere but can't remember how it works.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I might get a day return down there as I can't be arsed driving to the Smoke. I might still have an oyster card somewhere but can't remember how it works.

You can just use your bank card. The only difference with an oyster is that it’s prepaid.

 

[kenny g]

How does the tube work? Can I get a day ticket?

Depending where you are coming from it may be a good deal to get a return with all zones travel card but usually it is cheaper to just use contactless or oyster as you will be in zones 1 and two and the contactless / oyster is capped to the same price as a days travel card. If you use a Railcard then that will currently get you a discount off travelcards.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

You can use your phone also for contactless. DO make sure you swipe out though otherwise it’ll just apply the biggest charge.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

How does the tube work? Can I get a day ticket?

You can pay with your bank card when swiping in and out and it will (genuinely) charge you the best deal.

but make sure you use the same bank card at each stage, or it will confuse the system and you will pay more than you should.

buses are cheaper than the tube, you just touch in when you get on, no need to do anything when you get off. if you change buses within an hour, you need to swipe again, but don't get charged more. again, there's a daily price cap.

 

[danny la rouge]

Well, okay then, I'll pick up the old age and/or disability baton

To be fair, I do qualify for a disabled persons railcard. Not that I travel by train enough to buy one, so I didn’t think of that. But yes, I could buy one and no doubt make savings on a trip to London were I to want to.

 

[kenny g]

You can pay with your bank card when swiping in and out and it will (genuinely) charge you the best deal.

Not the case if you have a Railcard and travelling off peak. I have had to dig out an oyster as now have my Railcard added to that and get a third off off peak fares. National Railcard discounts

 

[Magnus McGinty]

You can also buy tickets but it isn’t the most cost effective way imo.

 

[kenny g]

To be fair, I do qualify for a disabled persons railcard. Not that I travel by train enough to buy one, so I didn’t think of that. But yes, I could buy one and no doubt make savings on a trip to London were I to want to.

The disabled card is now £20 per and applies to all tickets. Peak and off peak.

 

[Serge Forward]

It all sounds a bit complicated. I used to like the tube back when it was easy to jib in and out by either jumping the barrier (if there was one) or picking up a donated travel card.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

You can use your phone also for contactless. DO make sure you swipe out though otherwise it’ll just apply the biggest charge.

but even if phone and card are on the same account, don't use both for the same journey / day as that can confuse the system as well

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Not the case if you have a Railcard and travelling off peak. I have had to dig out an oyster as now have my Railcard added to that and get a third off off peak fares. National Railcard discounts

Fair dos. I didn’t know about that.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

but even if phone and card are on the same account, don't use both for the same journey / day as that can confuse the system as well

Yes, but I assumed folk wouldn’t do this?