Rowsley17D

All the best, Graham

What they all said.

What a great below track level shot that is. You don't get too many model photos from this sort of angle.

I'd like to think that there is joy each morning to celebrate, but I know what you mean by celebrating this particular Christmas day of 2023. And yes, there was plenty to celebrate looking back at the day.

Many thanks for your good wishes. I must admit that there have been odd times when I thought I wouldn't see this Christmas but here we are on the cusp of another celebration and the oncologist keeps sending me appointments months in advance! May I take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all who follow this thread for your continued support? A merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The two of you have a good one. Looking forward to new year developments.

Giles, my only dealings with Ampleforth was when the ordination course I was on had a long weekend retreat. We were there over Christ the King, which was quite a celebration. Prayers from any quarter are most welcome. Following latest developments on York especially Peter's buildings.

Thanks John. Reminds me of the silver band that my prevous parish still has which will be playing at the parish church's carol service tonight and of course the many bands of Wensleydale and Swaledale where we used to live.

Many thanks Tony and Paul for your kind words and encouragement. For people of faith : at times there is an overwhelming feeling of being supported by your prayers; for those who are not, then I appreciate your concern and messages of encouragement.

A very nice offer Lez. Now I am back at home I sleep most of the night and haven't seen 3.30am for a couple of nights! I've been thinking about what to do with my layout and stock as I shall not be able to get in their myself. Most stock has been modified some way, couplings, weathering and so on. I've a few really good modelling friends who would dismantle things with care and hopefully sell things on. I realise 2nd hand stuff doesn't fetch much and I'm not expecting it to and i am in the fortunate position of not needing it.

I hope fellow modellers will not have thought that I have reported to the boss given the length of time since my last post. A lot has happened. I was discharged from Lancaster Infirmary yesterday 13 December into the community. All has been set up in what was our bedroom. Thank goodness that we bought a dormer bungalow. I have a comfortable hospital type bed which is fully adjustable, a hoist to get me into a wheelchair or special armchair and enough medication, clinical supplies etc to rival our local chemist. Given that I live in North Yorkshire and treated in Lancashire I was very impressed how seemlessly things have worked out. It's great to be back home where I can get peace and quiet. Things that are difficult to get on a busy ward. I've nothing but admiration for the staff of the ward where I was. Constantly understaffed and run off their feet and feeling guity about not offering the care they thought they should give. Keep up the modelling as it's always good to see and read about your latest work and developments.

Hydrangea is another good source of natural armatures. I found Woodland Scenics foliage mats well teezed out to be good looking leaves.

@Physicsman 's layout is Gill Head in the Settle and Carlisle section

Very evocative photo.

I hope all three get fixed up very soon, preferably Dad first.

I feel for you Chuffers. I hope the outlay wasn't too much.

Looking like a work of art, Mr. W. You seem to have nailed the wood-look and lichen/moss coating. You cannot tell it's not wood to mis-quote an ad.

Yesterday I had a poor start to the day. I was in a deep sleep and was woken at 8am very late for me. I didn't know whether I was on this earth or Fullers. I didn't know where I was or what was happening. My BP was on the floor and my oxygen saturation poor. I was given antibiotics and a nebuliser to clear the lungs. Unfortunately it's unconfirmed pneumonia. By lunch time I was feeling much better. I was later put on antibiotics nebuliser and iv fluids. By the time family came to visit I was feeling more human. I've had a good night's sleep and back to the new normal.

You seem to making a cracking job of that coach, Graham.

Good for you, Roja. Far too many wallow in their own self-pity and do little to help themselves. I'm sure that with more people reacting to serious illness that way you have done takes some pressure off our over-worked, understaffed NHS. Which, between you and me, is in a parlous state and it's not even mid-winter yet. If you qualify for a Covid booster or flu jab, for goodness sake get them done.

What a list of sad news, Roja. One would have been more for some to cope with. Don't forget that there is plenty of help out there it's just a question of finding it.

Great modelling. Any chance of a photo taken at 90 deg to this one? Thanks.

That sounds like an absolute bargain. Have you done the lottery yet 😁?

I don't think I'll get to play trains again but I will be able to do some real arm chair modelling. I've got some good modelling friends who will box up all the stock and dispose of it. It will be nice to see where it goes. Then they can dismantle the layout its self and get some semblance of order back to what was a bedroom.

While I know what you mean, I'm not brave really. My faith is the bedrock of support, together with family, friends and fellow modellers. It will soon be time for the usual hospital morning routine, but I'm really waiting for breakthrough pain relief, which I have been told is on the way.