I would like to add my vote against unnecessary chit-chat in the open FIR. I for one always listen to an appropriate frequency and use a listening squawk if available. Otherwise I talk to as few people as possible.
IMHO GA pilots cannot assume to always get free radar and/or information services in the future, humans sitting in dark rooms with a VHF radio and (maybe) a radar screen are too expensive. If we decide to worry about bumping into each other then perhaps transponders/TCAS and/or flarm etc should become more compulsory.
As a related aside why do London information not have a listening squawk? The frequency is nearly unusable on a sunny saturday.
Ignoring NOTAMS is not so sensible.
Last edited by Romeo Tango; 21st Mar 2017 at 08:30.