I am a German railways devotee after this morning’s ride on the ICE train. It is a truly fantastic experience. Entertainment at your seat - headphone sockets and a choice of six channels to listen to. Carriages devoted to showing films (Zoolander in this case), carriages with repeaters to make your mobile work better, and others where you can’t use a mobile at all. Even a conference room for having business meetings.

It beats the TGV for facilities, but not for speed or industrial style. Combine the two and you’d have the Bullet Train.

So here I am in Cologne (or K

1. Germany
   Ooh, much excitement. I've booked up most of my trip to Germany. I have to be in Munich for a meeting on 8th and 9th...
   
   
2. On the way home
   ...the train was full of guides and scouts. The front carriage had been locked shut so that only they could use it. They had booked...
   
   
3. TV
   So the TV arrived this week, and a couple of days ago, with my freshly-minted license to hand, I unboxed it. It's huge. Far bigger...