Debs.

Couldn`t you pay for your own car-wash?

..........and created a market for comedically over-long 28+ft. stretch-Limousines........I always find it amusing to see one trying to negotiate the tight environs of a modern housing tract......."The vehicles that taste forgot". I did recently "attend" (via Skype) the prom-night send-off of a dear American-friend`s lovely-young daughter in Sacramento......a surreal experience in itself: for me to be 'carried' out onto the porch (on their iPad) to wave her off into adulthood on her (clearly timorous) Beau`s arm!

I worked on the footplate for B.R.(M) at Birkenhead Mollington Street {shed code 8H} between 1973 and 1979 as a traction trainee (a role which had been a "Fireman" in steam days; but was later known as "Secondman"). Then, there were mixed freight ('trips'), MGR coal trains (Lancashire collieries to Fiddler`s Ferry power station), iron-ore in bulk; the legendary unfitted bogie-hoppers known as 'The Shotwicks' and many light-engine movements all over the North West region, but with bulk heavy-oil movements out of the Stanlow refinery, representing the bulk of the shed`s rostered work, there were also some 'top-link' jobs: regular DMU passenger routes and the occasional passenger special. When not acting as "secondman" on the many longer rostered jobs and being young at the time, I did a great deal of (lowly) 'shed-turns': shunting locos for fueling and starting and preparing them in time for service, which was supposed to introduce one to general locomotive and DMU driving-knowledge/handling under what were 'said' to be supervised conditions....the reality was, that I was most often left to do the job alone for the entire shift, as the shed-turn drivers were covering jobs elsewhere. Classes of locos frequently seen at Mollington St. were: 03`s, 08`s, 25`s (often in pairs), 40`s and 47`s. There was an element of "Dead Men`s Boots" at Birkenhead and I stood little chance of being 'passed for driving' within the forthcoming several years, and that, combined with seeing the wind change with regards to B.R`s freight policy, and a national network of oil-delivery pipelines being built, meaning there`d be fewer oil-in-tank trains on the move (on which the shed`s work mostly relied) I decided there was no future for me there.....I left the railway and went to University (in California) and another life began. Working on the railway then, was a special time, "the job" was full of some real characters (many of whom were very kind to me) and I learned a great deal from them at a pivotal time on my life.......I`ve never forgotten it! The only negative aspect of that time, is that my sleep patterns became 'broken' (in those days the circadian rhythms were not considered as much as now, with rostered booking-on times randomly changing between 'nights', 'days' and 'earlies' and generally being altered (seemingly) every couple of days, such that even today, I struggle to be able to find sleep in one chunk at night. Mollington St.was closed permanently in 1985 and was demolished soon after. Birkenhead Shed in happier days: The refuelling point:

Lazy start here this morning ...........the parental railtour arrived back at 00.01 (bang-on schedule) and so the Collie-Towers household were all 'late to bed'. The trip to Ayr was very much enjoyed and well-subscribed; timekeeping was excellent throughout and the team of friendly volunteer stewards kept everone well informed as to waypoints and sights along the route and also well fed & watered. The "Historic Traction" performed (and sounded) excellently with its 11 coach rake and the driving was desribed as 'spirited' with (according to a chap a`board with a GPS) plenty of the route tackled at W.O.T........what I believe is now called a 'damned-good thrash!' Though it does seem strange having to describe locomotives I worked on the footplate upon (Class 47`s), as 'Historic'. My parents noted how many lineside photographers were seen present along the route (even in the late evening)........clearly interest in such tours is widespread; not just for those a`board. The seniors are already making plans to do another railtour!

Oh No!

That kind of behaviour is enough to make anyone`s blood boil! Masochist asks of sadist-doctor: "Please hurt me and make me cry?" Sadist replies to masochist-patient: "No!"

Doh!.........Thanks Dave, `saw the shiny maroon livery and 'assumed'........(Life rule No.1: "Never assume anything!") They`re in a comfy 1st Class carriage: all table lamps and antimacassars!

Morning! Early start here this morning; taking Mother and Father along to the station for an 05.10 departure of their Railtour to Scotland.......Then the dogs and I went straight along to the beach for walkies at the "crack of sparrows". A kind, fellow RM-Webber provided me with a live realtime trains link, so I may watch the progress of the railtour. Outbound: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54022/2014/05/02/advanced Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54023/2014/05/02/advanced The locomotive and EWS consist looked beautifully clean and well prepared for the day`s journey and it was lovely to be greeted by smiling and helpful stewards, whom personally escorted my keen senior-sojourners to their reserved seats.

One of the few disappointments in later life, has been the discovery that all the unhelpful/demotivating/petty/cruel and narrow-minded teachers of my early school-years are long dead and I can`t return to show them {50 years on} what I achieved...............I would have especially liked to speak to the one whom caned my palm seven times (until it bled!) for my steadfastly refusing to admit to a breach of house-protocol, in which I`d taken no part whatsoever.

Very reassuring to see Don at roll-call this morning; `hope the computer is feeling well again soon, Don. My Collies never normally do, but today; it`s our 'pup-mobile' that`s growling at everyone! For a weenie-little diseasal Peugeot, it`s now suddenly become VERY loud!!!!!!!!........the rear resonator inlet-spigot has rusted and become detached from the middle pipe and it`s {evidently} hanging-on 'by a rusty thread'. Yes, I could buy the parts and crawl about under the car for most of a day replacing the rusty, contorted tubing; but these last couple of months I`ve really felt that I`m getting too old (and creaky) for such jobs.......so, I`ve completely wimped-out and made an arrangement to drop it off tomorrow morning at at the garage `round the corner.

As Dave says it`s a truly-excellent resource. I wanted to mention that it`s worth registering (totally free!) at 'Britain From Above' because reg. users have exclusive access to a powerful zoom-in facility, may download detailed images and may use several other useful features.

We`ve a birthday on here: youngest Collie`s 11 years old today.........an extended 'beach and dunes' celebratory walkies has been enjoyed (firstly in a heavy-drape of fog, which has since burned-off to reveal bright sunshine) and now he`s just enjoyed his banana-muffin {homemade} birthday-treat. Happy Birthday Lad!

........also, his dear-lady is named 'Margery'

It looks like "Flasher-Bob" (the incorrigible exhibitionist guard) managed to keep his job after the {latest} arrest!

I misread that as a "Belgian Bum" ....which is what one gets after too many Belgium Buns!

£42,000,000,000

Nunc est bibendum, but I fear the wurst is yet to come!

"Ignorance is no defence"

Say again please; in English.

It`s a good job too; what with the amount of wittering that we do here!

I`ve really enjoyed your Cuxhaven photo series, excellent photography of a fascinating martime area; thanks very much!

I`ve worked alongside some in the past, for whom any intelligence exhibited was definitely of the artificial kind.

Today: some rain, rumbles of thunder and now some sunshine.........accompanied by considerable wind! ...........`must have been last night`s veggie-curry!

"Atten-tion!...............Present; arms!.........As you were!"