John Bull
@garius.bsky.social
He/Him. Author. Historian (inc of obscure Military Holy Orders). Strategy streamer. Tech/Transport Strategist. Editor of @lonrec. Orient fan. Business/Writing: business@longformist.co.uk. Agent: @pastpreservers.bsky.social
not really as the area was already built up. Plus shipping through there was more frequent.
November 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
not really as the area was already built up. Plus shipping through there was more frequent.
I mean one time a contractor named a price, and MOD went "yup! Sold."
At which point the contractor went:
"Fuck wait no you weren't meant to actually accept that silly high bid were just being polite sorry" and backed out swiftly.
At which point the contractor went:
"Fuck wait no you weren't meant to actually accept that silly high bid were just being polite sorry" and backed out swiftly.
November 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I mean one time a contractor named a price, and MOD went "yup! Sold."
At which point the contractor went:
"Fuck wait no you weren't meant to actually accept that silly high bid were just being polite sorry" and backed out swiftly.
At which point the contractor went:
"Fuck wait no you weren't meant to actually accept that silly high bid were just being polite sorry" and backed out swiftly.
"Are you mad?! If that place goes up it'll take out half the towns round- oh okay yeah. Looked them up. Build it there. It's fine"
November 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
"Are you mad?! If that place goes up it'll take out half the towns round- oh okay yeah. Looked them up. Build it there. It's fine"
S'why there's the odd death or serious injury every year due to mustard gas exposure.
So it's not a flawless approach...
So it's not a flawless approach...
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
S'why there's the odd death or serious injury every year due to mustard gas exposure.
So it's not a flawless approach...
So it's not a flawless approach...
difference is he meant it.
November 11, 2025 at 4:23 PM
difference is he meant it.
Because this is 'the immediate area'
November 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Because this is 'the immediate area'
Totally.
Was fantastic being able to get right up close to the forts as well.
Was fantastic being able to get right up close to the forts as well.
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Totally.
Was fantastic being able to get right up close to the forts as well.
Was fantastic being able to get right up close to the forts as well.
Pretty much. The estimate in 2012 was "£30m" which is the industry equivalent of saying "lol fuck no never"
I do love though that we're now approaching the 30th anniversary of everyone deciding that doing nothing about the big explodey ship was absolutely not an option.
Good work everyone 👍
I do love though that we're now approaching the 30th anniversary of everyone deciding that doing nothing about the big explodey ship was absolutely not an option.
Good work everyone 👍
Anyway. Don't worry.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s 1998 report into the wreck of the SS Montgomery concluded that "do nothing" wasn't an option for this particular ship full of UXO sat beneath the Thames.
So I'm sure they'll deal with it promptly.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s 1998 report into the wreck of the SS Montgomery concluded that "do nothing" wasn't an option for this particular ship full of UXO sat beneath the Thames.
So I'm sure they'll deal with it promptly.
November 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Pretty much. The estimate in 2012 was "£30m" which is the industry equivalent of saying "lol fuck no never"
I do love though that we're now approaching the 30th anniversary of everyone deciding that doing nothing about the big explodey ship was absolutely not an option.
Good work everyone 👍
I do love though that we're now approaching the 30th anniversary of everyone deciding that doing nothing about the big explodey ship was absolutely not an option.
Good work everyone 👍
Finally have some pics.
Here's what she looked like immediately after she snagged the sandbar. Safe to say her condition has deteriorated since then.
And the scan is what she looks like just below the surface now.
Here's what she looked like immediately after she snagged the sandbar. Safe to say her condition has deteriorated since then.
And the scan is what she looks like just below the surface now.
November 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Finally have some pics.
Here's what she looked like immediately after she snagged the sandbar. Safe to say her condition has deteriorated since then.
And the scan is what she looks like just below the surface now.
Here's what she looked like immediately after she snagged the sandbar. Safe to say her condition has deteriorated since then.
And the scan is what she looks like just below the surface now.
Anyway. Don't worry.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s 1998 report into the wreck of the SS Montgomery concluded that "do nothing" wasn't an option for this particular ship full of UXO sat beneath the Thames.
So I'm sure they'll deal with it promptly.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s 1998 report into the wreck of the SS Montgomery concluded that "do nothing" wasn't an option for this particular ship full of UXO sat beneath the Thames.
So I'm sure they'll deal with it promptly.
November 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Anyway. Don't worry.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s 1998 report into the wreck of the SS Montgomery concluded that "do nothing" wasn't an option for this particular ship full of UXO sat beneath the Thames.
So I'm sure they'll deal with it promptly.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s 1998 report into the wreck of the SS Montgomery concluded that "do nothing" wasn't an option for this particular ship full of UXO sat beneath the Thames.
So I'm sure they'll deal with it promptly.
definitely that, yes.
November 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
definitely that, yes.
Civil Service speak for "jog on you fucking blonde mopped idiot."
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Civil Service speak for "jog on you fucking blonde mopped idiot."
Reposted by John Bull
I remember particularly liking this bit of the Thames Estuary Airport feasibility study at the time.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
November 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I remember particularly liking this bit of the Thames Estuary Airport feasibility study at the time.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
I remember particularly liking this bit of the Thames Estuary Airport feasibility study at the time.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
November 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I remember particularly liking this bit of the Thames Estuary Airport feasibility study at the time.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
Mostly because I would have liked to have been the person who got to write it, not the one who had to underline it for Boris Johnson in fucking crayon.
When Boris (as Mayor) wanted to do his stupid Boris Island Airport project it meant that serious people had to do serious impact assessments of the SS Montgomery.
Mostly to highlight that the reason the answer was "no" was ALWAYS "because the SS Montgomery is there lets not disturb her mkay"
Mostly to highlight that the reason the answer was "no" was ALWAYS "because the SS Montgomery is there lets not disturb her mkay"
November 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
When Boris (as Mayor) wanted to do his stupid Boris Island Airport project it meant that serious people had to do serious impact assessments of the SS Montgomery.
Mostly to highlight that the reason the answer was "no" was ALWAYS "because the SS Montgomery is there lets not disturb her mkay"
Mostly to highlight that the reason the answer was "no" was ALWAYS "because the SS Montgomery is there lets not disturb her mkay"
Anyway. Back to the SS Montgomery. Here's what's known to still be onboard her, just idling away there half-submerged in the Thames.
November 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Anyway. Back to the SS Montgomery. Here's what's known to still be onboard her, just idling away there half-submerged in the Thames.
yup. out there living her best explodey life.
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
yup. out there living her best explodey life.
Yup! Me and Drachinifel went hunting for it when we were over there a few years back.
Luckily the weather was good enough that he could get the drone up as well.
Luckily the weather was good enough that he could get the drone up as well.
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Yup! Me and Drachinifel went hunting for it when we were over there a few years back.
Luckily the weather was good enough that he could get the drone up as well.
Luckily the weather was good enough that he could get the drone up as well.
And you'd be amazed what's in mostly-forgotten tunnels beneath France.
When I was down there with some RE, a few De Beers peeps were with us (don't ask). They asked what to do if they kicked a live shell.
ROYAL ENGINEER: Jump 50ft up. Burst through the surface. Scatter yourself over about 20 yards
When I was down there with some RE, a few De Beers peeps were with us (don't ask). They asked what to do if they kicked a live shell.
ROYAL ENGINEER: Jump 50ft up. Burst through the surface. Scatter yourself over about 20 yards
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
And you'd be amazed what's in mostly-forgotten tunnels beneath France.
When I was down there with some RE, a few De Beers peeps were with us (don't ask). They asked what to do if they kicked a live shell.
ROYAL ENGINEER: Jump 50ft up. Burst through the surface. Scatter yourself over about 20 yards
When I was down there with some RE, a few De Beers peeps were with us (don't ask). They asked what to do if they kicked a live shell.
ROYAL ENGINEER: Jump 50ft up. Burst through the surface. Scatter yourself over about 20 yards
There's also a partially submerged German WW2 destroyer rusting away in a Norwegian fjord, if you know where to look.
November 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
There's also a partially submerged German WW2 destroyer rusting away in a Norwegian fjord, if you know where to look.
When they pushed Crossrail through Docklands they had to resurvey EVERY SINGLE known bomb drop indicated on Port of London Authority records.
I went out a few times with the UXO survey crews. Was a bunch of lads quite literally just back from doing it in Iraq. Now doing it in London. Proper mad.
I went out a few times with the UXO survey crews. Was a bunch of lads quite literally just back from doing it in Iraq. Now doing it in London. Proper mad.
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
When they pushed Crossrail through Docklands they had to resurvey EVERY SINGLE known bomb drop indicated on Port of London Authority records.
I went out a few times with the UXO survey crews. Was a bunch of lads quite literally just back from doing it in Iraq. Now doing it in London. Proper mad.
I went out a few times with the UXO survey crews. Was a bunch of lads quite literally just back from doing it in Iraq. Now doing it in London. Proper mad.
don't worry though. there's little buoys around it that say "danger"
nothing bad could possibly happen
nothing bad could possibly happen
November 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
don't worry though. there's little buoys around it that say "danger"
nothing bad could possibly happen
nothing bad could possibly happen