My new phone blared its alarm, as requested, at 404. As the phone was new to me, I had no idea how to silence it. Eventually, having woken the house, I managed to get me, the phone and my spectacles into a lit bathroom where I discovered the correct swipe gesture.
Whoops.
When I arrived at the airport, I headed for the correct parking lot, where I’d prepaid for the week. The entrance had a concrete barrier in front of it.
Oh.
I tried a couple more lots, where the entry barrier told me that I was at the wrong place. Eventually, I found one that allowed me to take a ticket and enter and park there. At least I’d have an e-mail to compose on the flight.
We arrived at Heathrow without further incident, and I headed for the bus stops. I had a ticket for a National Express direct to Bristol. We’d arrived early, in time for the bus preceding the one I had booked by two hours. “Drives” was happy to accommodate me, and within minutes, we were off down the M4.
On the plane, I’d started Infinite Detail by Tim Maughan, set in Stokes Croft, Bristol. I finished it on a coach headed to Bristol Bus Station, which sits at the end of Stokes Croft. The we(s)t country was living up to its name, with a steady drizzle coating every surface.
It felt great to be home. I was born in Bristol and spent many of my formative years there. Though it’s much changed, it still feels like home. I cut through Broadmead, stopping to buy a pair of black jeans and get a haircut and beard trim. I felt dapper as I checked into the Premier Inn on Kings Street.
The receptionist has a gorgeous Bristol accent, and we chatted about the local nightlife and living in Cyprus. Bristolians are warm, friendly, and quick to chat.
I wandered down King Street, where it is said that you can drink 1,000 different beers in the pubs. I made a start.
The rain was biblical on Tuesday, but it took a break while I strolled to my first appointment in Bedminster. This used to be where I’d move my wallet to my front pocket, but lately, Bedminster has become gentrified. I stopped in a hip bakery to buy massive croissants and an obscure coffee.
I spent the day auditing and delivering anti-money laundering training—as thrilling as it sounds. At 8 p.m., I slumped into my seat on the train for Paddington.
The regeneration of Bristol City centre is incredible. It has been a massive project, covering the old docks and most of the old centre. What’s driving it? Well, lots of things, but the business of education for one. When I was growing up, there was Bristol University, which was pretty posh, and Bristol Polytechnic, which wasn’t. Bristol Polytechnic is now the University of West England, and the two universities between them are growing by more than 6% per annum. Tertiary education students now make up 10% of the population. The city is scrambling to provide accommodation, and private landlords are rubbing their hands. UWE has multiple campuses, and both Universities continue to seek more students, or is that fees?
There are calls for 70% of the population to complete tertiary education. In 1990, it was 19%. Are we providing these graduates with opportunities commensurate with the debt they're taking on? I'm not sure.
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