southern42

The "W word" was referring back to my previous post out in the garden, so it is the middle answer you need. 😇

Nope! But I squeezed in a short walk as the sun was going down. Under the ash tree, looking back towards the way I came. First thing I noticed - a lot more berries out there than in our popular Jackdaw Restaurant garden. A few acorns still on the oak A few blackberries still around, too. Yes, I did help myself to the odd one or two...actually, half a dozen! Still sweeeeet. 😋 A bit wet and muddy in places... but I was in no Rush ;) Though I will have to put the old jeans through the wash! @New Haven Neil Also this right at the back of the bottom tray: Possibly given in change from our 2000 sailing trip spends at Port St Mary, Port Erin or Douglas. Together with this: Probably received in change instead of a 5p coin on home soil. Never been to Barbados! Though, with the coin dated 1984, Mr Suvvern could have picked it up in the US in his world travels for work. Time for the mugacocoa. ' night all and nos da. Polly

Cutlery draw and trays washed and dried. First lot of (regularly used) cutlery washed and dried. Lunch just had. Now loads of other cutlery <<Where did it all come from...? Talk about hanging onto things just in case...>> to wash and dry... I doubt any W word will be accomplished this afternoon! I might be back later...

' morning all from red dragon land. Sunny...and getting warm! 8.9C. 🤪 More of the W word outside, this afternoon, then. I am hoping to get a walk in as well. In the meantime, I have a cutlery drawer to attend to - much overdue! I have started so I will HAVE to finish! Toot on the flute sort of progressing. It appears that most of the lines in the current song are repeated. Not having done so from the start means I am having to retrain the brain cells to go back to the beginning of the line instead of going straight onto the next one. One benefit lies in the extra stamina I should acquire to keep going and I am barely half way through with adding the twiddly bits. At least, I have made a start on line 6, the last line of the first of two sections. Off for a mugadecaf before getting down to things. Take care. Be good. Keep warm/comfortable. Polly

Thinking I would last half an hour at the most, I was out there two and a half hours - or more. Next door's garden is higher than ours and their grass has been invading our side of the slate fence. Removing about a yard length is about all I managed together with digging up a few square feet of roots. Then it was deadheading dandelions before they spread even more of their seeds, and taking a few pics while there is still a bit of life out there. The last of the flowers This is what it looked like back in June. Notalot and not planted. The last of the berries This one is doing really well considering it is overgrown with next door's grass - I have yet to get this far! and is in a plant pot...although the roots have grown down into the ground so I shall have to watch it when it comes to moving it. I only put it here to stop the cats getting through the gap between the slates! NEW leaves...Ah! The eucalyptus. Its leaves died right back during the hot spell and I never expected it to recover...All that rain we've had recently... I did enjoy the sunshine though the RAF training planes were rumbling around our area today. The closest (noisiest) they came was right into the sun so no see! Rain tomorrow and C&C groceries. Online tomatoes, potatoes, raisins, and a few other items were "not available" so when Mr Suvvern goes to collect, he will be having to traipse round the store to find them or an alternative. Or we could get them elsewhere... The interesting thing is: Tess Coe's is trying to get you to spend (lots) more money per month so they can give you some money back (£15+£45 if complete) for three months Sept Oct Nov. We (just the two of us) are nowhere near their amount, and anyone on their own on a basic wage or less will be even shorter on that. So the large wealthy family wins out again at the exclusion of the smaller user and the less well off and I know plenty of them. I remember when our weekly shop was about £28 and another store we used back then did a similar spend £30 pre Chr*****s deal and we did the extra spend but only buying what we actually needed. This time, the proportion is much greater and no way will I go and spend for the sake of it. I mean, we're talking Deltic tokens, here, and I have plenty on preorder to cater for - but not actually Deltics, you understand! Time for a mugacocoa...YEHOW... <<that'll cheer me up!>>

Thanks PMP. For those who know not all their aircraft - like me! - here is a bit of confirmation. https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2022/06/26/aer-lingus-to-take-delivery-of-first-two-a320-neos-next-month/ https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2022/07/21/easyjet-orders-56-a320-neo-family-aircraft/ * and for the muddlers... 😉 (other versions available!) https://www.aircraftmodelstore.co.uk/geminijets-lufthansa-a320-neo-d-ainy-lovehansa-1-200-g2dlh1198/ * Looks like the place is being flooded with them! 😂 Well, you can tell it is sunny - I am in a terribly wicked good mood... ' morning all from red dragon land. Yes, it is sunny. Yesterday, there seemed to be a wide variety of conjecture for today's weather among the pine cone pundits, ranging from full sunshine to dark grey skies and triple blobs of the wet stuff. It, now, appears the UK Southern Triangle (including Wales) YELLOW Rain Warning does not apply until 9pm this evening! So, guess what? The washing has been put outside! YEAY! And...I am hoping the ground will be dry enough this afternoon (when the sun comes round) to do some of the G word or, more accurately, the Weeding word. ION A few toot on the flute exercises undergone and time to get some twiddly bits tidied up, later. Pincushion time: Flu jab two weeks ago; dental treatment last week; C jab next week. Lots to do but have I the mojo? I can but try! But first, the obligatory mugadecaf. Take care. Be good. Watch out for flying objects...and don't forget to duck!

' afternoon all from red dragon land. Another day on the road, yesterday, up to Cumbria to collect a household item, popping into see family on the way back, led to some photos on the way there and back, on Expressway and Motorway. Going: (Artistic license...?!) Flat calm sea at Abergele and the Wind Farm or, rather, what you can see of it through the barrier! Blue sky at Holywell Misty moisty at Lancaster Returning home. Sunset at Warrington Further along but look out for the plane! As I know some of you know your aircraft, any ID on it? 🔍 Back in Wales: Fog though it cleared soon after that, and we got home, safely, in the dark. Cake making this afternoon - but not until I have had a mugadecaf. Take care. Be good. Take a pot shot! Polly

Some pics from the weekend. The A5 heading east towards Capel Curig Rivers bursting their banks coming into Betws-y-coed The River Dee, Llangollen making a bustling noise The other side of the bridge Down at ground level Ever get the feeling you're losing it? On the way along the river, we passed some horse chestnut trees and I just had to pick up one of these. This is on the station cafe table. I went to put it in my jacket pocket and these were in it! And the Highley landscape we enjoyed from the balcony where we had lunch the following day. Oops! Time is getting on and I have yet to do my mugacocoa. ' night all and nos da.

It won't be me. NIL POINT I'm afraid. But I did enjoy a Sausage and Bacon Bap, one packet of Salt and Vinegar Crisps,* and two slices of DF (aka Vegan) Mocha Cake at the weekend when going to see things that run on parallel bits of metal - the 1:1s from Kidderminster and the 1:48s at the Get Together at Highley. I did buy one item. I have been looking for one of these for years but never found one I fancied. This one was love at first sight! First thought: it needs a driver... The tow bar is in the little bag, far right. On the way to the above, I noticed this beary fella on watch duty in the shop on the platform at Llangollen ready for the unmentionable "festive" season. Just gifts and toys, cards and books, etc, now - the serious 1:76 stuff which once adorned glass wall cabinets has gone.

Plane spotting! Yesterday, I had a left to right flypast in front of the window by a coastguard helicopter - usually some distance away. Just 20 minutes ago or so, right to left, there were three F-35s* one behind the other, with the sound of others following though I had to get close up to the window to spot the first three overhead. I often hear, but rarely catch sight of them, and very rarely see them this close. Only disappointment - I didn't have the (fone) camera ready! * assessed by googling so they could be something else, knowing me. I'm no expert.

Like this*...bear approved * Apologies if you have seen/not seen this before

Ae you offering? You build and play, they store and pay! Partly outdoors for kind weather and partly indoors (open covered area, perhaps*) for less favourable conditions! We waited all morning and part of the afternoon, today, for the rain (that was not in the forecast) to give way to the sunshine! That is a Sunday, for starters! * something like this? Hat... Raincoat... Brolly...

I used to meet a friend in our local garden centre about 20 years ago for lunch in its cafe - and usually bought a thing or two while I was there. It had outdoor and indoor plant sections but also things related to gardening - tools, ornaments, gifts, clothing etc . The building was nicely laid out so that you could see the various sections and have a sense of outdoor space indoors. It was especially splendid around Chr*****s time, too. Then a major hardware store company took it over and stocked it up to the ceiling with hardware related stuff. At the Entrance, which once opened into a breathable space so you could see where you wanted to go, the customer was now forced directed down one aisle and back up another past the smelly stuff including animal stuff before coming back into the main shopping area. After that, I just wanted to leave - the thought of lunch, even a coffee after that was too much. Us friends chose to meet elsewhere. I go elsewhere for my garden stuff these days. too!

When I was doing a bit of part-time study at the turn of the Millennium, I did an essay on the pastural nature of the church and chose to answer through the topic of Parish Websites. That long ago, most Parish websites, which I found, just consisted of a single page looking just like the Notice Board hung inside the Lychgate or the Church Porch with Times of Services, basic contact details, and Choir/Bellringing practices, etc. Only a few had gone further than that with internal links, links to the diocesan Cathedral, various group activities, and even "post your prayer here" for a deceased/ill person/other to be said at a particular service. In the end, the essay was inspired by a single church which had become out of bounds due to a disaster but, because the server was outside the area and thus unaffected by the church's situation, the website, already far more developed than most, became the church's form of communication with its parishioners and others. In taking websites for granted these days, I sometimes think we forget how valuable and strategic they can be.

You Wear It Well - Rod Stewart

' afternoon all from red dragon land. Oooh! It has stopped raining! Not been up to much the last few days, not ill, just lethargic. It is either the weather or Wednesday's flu jab. I suspect the latter as I keep getting twinges in various places and I had to stop playing my flute this morning after a short while due to unfamiliar aches in the arm and elbow below the jab hole. Regardless, I did manage to finish Jones the Steam's account of the SVR Gala we went to to support the SVR's venture to stay in business. It turned out to be interesting as I became more of a "story teller" mainly due, as mentioned on here somewhere above, to the incident concerning the Dairy Free aka Vegan Chocolate Cake. As there was none on the day we attended a Tea Room but was due in the next day, we changed the order we did things, and thus a story line began to surface. Also, there had been an earlier visit to the SVR where Ivor the Engine had been "indisposed" giving Jones the excuse to be travelling again so soon, as Ivor should have been back on duty on Jones's return from the last visit. The "excuse" got extended to enable him to go to the SVR again and the "excuse" also got incorporated into some real news from the sidings. Other things that happened concerning Jones, and us, also got woven in turning the whole thing into a little adventure for me, having to source relevant bits of information to get the facts/fiction straight. I doubt I would make a real story teller so no need to look out for any thing by me on the bookshop shelf! Joking aside, it was a great Gala and the SVR did themselves proud, and I wish them every success in what they are doing. Mr Suvvern has just made himself a mugadecaf and has left me some hot water so I had better finish this and make use of it! Mugadecafcoffee coming up! Take care. Be good. Go tell a story! Polly [Click here for Day 1 of Jones' trip to the SVR ]

all fades away, it all fades away It all fades but you I have sailed across the oceans Past the cities and the farms On a never-ending quest for something new And the only thing that mattered Was the four days in...

You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees

I remember him in man from U.N.C.L.E. but I loved him as "Ducky" in NCIS. His scenes were always the highlight for me. I have a pair of wooden D fifes which I call Don and Duck (this one shaped like a duck whistle). I can remember Sir David when I play them and also play them in memory of him. RIP "Ducky" Polly

Up A Lazy River! - Louis Armstrong

Welcome to the last bit of my journeys up and down the rails during the SVR's Autumn Gala. Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala Day 2 Part 3 - Friday 15 September 2023 Bridgnorth round trip Companions: Tender and Southern42 Journey 7 15:24 Arley to Hampton Loade GWR 4930 Hagley Hall 15.53 Hampton Loade. We watch as Hagley Hall departs for Bridgnorth Did I mention having a touch of "Hiraeth"? Well, I definitely do now! Best move on and take my mind off it. Now we're talking. Indeed, He has a short exchange of words with the gentlemen on the far side. It looks like they are just setting up their locos but our train will be leaving shortly so we have to leave them to it. Journey 8 16:08 Hampton Loade to Bridgnorth LMS 41312 2MT (Watercress Line) 16:28 Arrive Bridgnorth This is the End of the Journeys. But, before we leave, we have a last minute look around the station. And onto the bridge for a clearer view of Hagley Hall but also of the sad looking, covered up "Raging Bull" 1501. What a time to be out of ticket - just as the model comes out, She says! He has already seen Her model being delivered at home via the front doorbell cam on His 'phone. Then there is the matter of getting those Christmas presents my companions want from the gift shop! My lips are sealed as to what they are and who they are for. You never know who may be looking in! Summary of Day 2... No double heading on Journey 7. 4930 did the honours. ...and some Facts and Figures Locos in journey order Day 1 Thursday: 61306 Mayflower 21C127 Taw Valley 4930 Hagley Hall Day 2 Friday: 2253 Omaha 7714 "Matchbox Tank" 43106 “The Flying Pig” 401 Vulcan 41312 “Mickey Mouse Tank” Locos whose trains we did not get a ride on: Just two, namely, BR 75069 and the one on the Coalyard Miniature Railway at Kidderminster operated by the Coalyard Miniature Railway Model Engineering Society. Steam Locomotives celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 1923 Grouping of the Big Four: Great Western Railway: GWR 4930 & GWR 7714 Southern Railway: SR 21C127 and BR(S) 41312, BR(S) 75069 London Midland & Scottish Railway: LMS 43106 and 41312 LMS design (BR built) London & North Eastern Railway: LNER 61306 and USATC 2253 (Neville Hill depot, Leeds) Some cab shots to conclude an excellent Autumn Gala in all respects with thanks to the organisers, staff and volunteers, loco crews and support teams, and other contributors. It really was superb. A special thank you to the very kind (and important) gentleman on the footplate who took the photo of all of us on USATC 2253 Omaha - still steaming! And a farewell photo as we pass the entrance on our way home - still with Friday's Yellow Wrist Band Day's band on! It was a truly great Gala and we only saw half of it! In times of trouble, they pulled out all the stops. Let’s hope they can continue to let off steam for many years to come. Hats off to them all @ https://svr.co.uk. It is time to go, and to see how Ivor's makeover is doing over in Pontypool Road. I do hope he is ready to drive back to the top left hand corner of Wales. Don't tell him, but there is going to be a big party for his arrival home. Everyone, even Mrs Griffiths, is so looking forward to seeing him all nice and shiny, again, and singing even more beautifully! Thank you for joining me and for your much appreciated ratings. Regards, Edwin

Hello all. Welcome back to Day 2 on the rails. Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala Day 2 Part 2 - Friday 15 September 2023 Bridgnorth round trip Companions: Tender and Southern42 We continue on our plan to ride behind locomotives we missed out on yesterday, and to visit Arley Tea Room for the elusive (DF) "Vegan Chocolate Cake" She is hoping will have arrived by now. Journey Plan, Day 2, Part 2 So far Bridgnorth to: Arley a 2nd time, ✔️ via Bewdley, for Vegan Chocolate Cake ❌ Arley 2 : DF VCC 0 Let's see how the rest of the Plan goes: Highley for Lunch in the Engine House Cafe Hampton Loade to see some little trains Kidderminster and its Museum for the Railway Artists Exhibition Bridgnorth for some Christmas shopping Journey 4 11:00 Bewdley to Highley BR Ivatt 4MT 43106 "The Flying Pig" (SVR) on the Local service 11:25 Highley, Terminates here 10:56 Enjoying the blue skies before boarding our train Our carriage is superb. You can just see Poirot solving a Murder on the Heritage Express! 11:25 Highley, Terminating here The writing at the bottom of the carriage delighted me no end (see enlargement, below). A bit more Hiraeth cometh unto me. Cardiff is near Pontypool Road depot, you know, where Ivor is waiting for his makeover to be completed so he can return to his home shed in the top left hand corner of Wales. So, back to our current situation. The non arrival of the DF aka Vegan Chocolate Cake means a change of plan. Needing to get to Arley again, we decide to arrive for Afternoon Tea. If we catch the 12:14 from here (Highley) to Kidderminster for the Museum exhibition, we can catch the 13:28 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth behind Riddles BR Standard 4MT 75069 (SVR) and arrive at Arley just after 14:00. That sorted, we are off for lunch in the Engine Shed. Back later. Later 12:11 On the way back from lunch to the platform, the fence was so crowded with onlookers, She was forced to be a bit more inventive in her spot to get Her picture. The locomotive is in the loop to allow the 11:36 train, headed by BR 4MT 75069, from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, to pass through. Journey 5 1214 Highley to Kidderminster BR Ivatt 4MT 43106 "The Flying Pig" (SVR) Our train reversing back into the platform, the leading carriage with"Return to Plymouth" in the bottom corner. 12:42 A chair fit for a King! Nice and peaceful as the passenger carriages were rather full. It is only a short train, after all, and it is good to have the chance to inspect the guard's area. 12:50 Arrive Kidderminster First, we go in the Museum to see the Railway Artists Exhibition of Paintings. It is upstairs and a bit crowded so we only spend a short time there. When we come down, She spots something interesting : Alfred the Great's nameplate - the name of one of her first locos - but the interest goes further than just a "Britannia". King Alfred made CAKES or, at least, burnt them! It takes Her back to one of Her earliest history lessons, in First Year Juniors and a colour it in picture in her first "History" book: Alfred learns to read... ...a cake recipe, perhaps? It does not end there. King Alfred's cakes (fungus Daldinia concentrica), found in the wild, are said to "resemble round lumps of coal."* * https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/king-alfreds-cakes/ Flickr On the way out, we get tea and coffee from the Museum cafe and there is still some time before the hunt for the DF VCC next train. He spots a notice on the concourse saying the Wrangaton Signal Box is open to visitors and reckons we have 10 minutes or so. Some time later, after: an historical account of the merging of the Signal Box with the workings from another Signal Box; an explanation of its workings; followed by Him being invited to have a go, which He did; and all very interesting, we realise we have missed our train! Not a problem in itself, with other trains still on the timetable, but disappointing that we had to miss a ride behind Riddles 4MT 75069. Another day... Time to get out the Event Timetable and see what we can muster up. Arley and DF VCC, here we come! Journey 6 14:15 Kidderminster to Arley Bagnall Industrial 401 Vulcan (North Tyneside Steam Railway and Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway) Local Service 401 in original Steel Company of Wales livery 14:43 Arrive Arley. Terminates here... We reach the Tea Room and... NO VCC! But they did deliver a DF C&WC aka Vegan Coffee and Walnut Cake - even better! Arley 3 : DF C&WC 2 Thanks to the Tea Room Lady who recognised us after the first visit and remembered what drinks we had. Afternoon Tea complete, we wander back over the bridge to Platform 2. 15:21 The 15:15 USATC S160 2253 Omaha Arrives from Bridgnorth on its way to Kidderminster and lets off steam in Platform 1... while the 15:24 Arley to Hampton Loade GWR 4930 Hagley Hall emerges from under the bridge Do join me in Part 3 for the rest of our journey; some footplate pics; and the SVR celebrating 100 years since the Grouping of the Big Four Regards, Edwin

Hello all. Welcome to another day travelling with me up and down the rails. Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala Day 2 - Friday 15 September 2023 Bridgnorth round trip Companions: Tender and Southern42 I arrive at Bridgnorth Station carpark with my companions in good time for the first train. Today's plan is to ride behind locomotives we missed out on yesterday, and to visit Arley Tea Room for the"Vegan Chocolate Cake" She is hoping will arrive this morning. Journey Plan, Day 2 Bridgnorth to: Arley, via Bewdley, for Vegan Chocolate Cake Highley for Lunch in the Engine House cafe Hampton Loade to see some little trains Kidderminster and its Museum for the Railway Artists Exhibition Bridgnorth for some Christmas shopping Journey 1 08:50 Bridgnorth to Bewdley Top and Tail with: USATC S160 2253 Omaha (on loan from owner Peter Best and the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company) BR Ivatt 4MT 43106 "The Flying Pig" (SVR) How about this to start the day? Not often I see a large non-British steam loco. A quick inspection is called for... Outside (if you can see through the steam... and the smoke) Inside... This is warming me up quite nicely! Time to get onboard. Interestingly, I seem to have a few fans around who want to take my photo when they notice me! Some come back more than once! I have mentioned before that I have been mistaken for a variety of celebrities, including Postman Pat and Mr Benn. Today, because of my blue hat, someone thinks I am Noddy...before realising there is no bell on it... I think you are more likely to see Noddy at a Vintage Car Rally than a Rail Event. On the other hand, I hear he is now investigating and has solved The case of the moving train tracks (link to Video for your little ones if they have not already seen it). Miss Marple, eat your heart out! But onward to enjoy the views as we pass through Eardington. 09:41 Arrive Bewdley Journey 2 09:48 Bewdley to Arley GWR Pannier Tank 7714 (SVR) Local Service terminates here 10:01 Arrive at Arley - where I delve into a bit of NEWS. This pair (73951 and 7395) of Class 73s was up for SALE - the chance to put in an offer ended at noon yesterday. I just hope The Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited is not planning to replace Ivor with these. Ivor had better get through his makeover pretty quick before the Company has other ideas. I mean, what would I do without a bit of steam to drive; and how would Evans the Song and the Grumbly and District Choral Society manage without Ivor to sing along with them? And where would Ivor go? A Heritage Railway, somewhere, like "Thomas" aka Hunslet 686 Lady Armarghdale, perhaps...? We leave the train and are off to the Tea Room, down at the far end for... and, yes, you guess correctly... the Vegan Chocolate Cake! But when we get there... NO CAKE! The delivery has not arrived yet. "We will come back later!" says She, optimistically! We drink our tea and coffee while we wait for our train back to Bewdley. While we wait, I notice a couple of modelling ideas for my companions on the opposite platform: A few tool scratches and coal loading damage. Next, I watch to see everyone wanting the best photos of the train coming through the bridge as they stand on the platform with cameras and mobile phone cameras at the ready! Tricky against the sun. All about guestimate timing and luck, She says, and a bit of colour enhancement. The 10:43 to Bridgnorth LNER B1 61306 Mayflower Nice train but we have to board the Local train back to Bewdley. Journey 3 10:45 Arley to Bewdley GWR 7714 PT (SVR) Back behind 7714, we arrive at Bewdley at10:58 with two minutes to catch the 11:00* train to Highley. *Times are as stated on the Event Timetable. Please join me again on Journey 4 from Bewdley to Highley for lunch and find out if She gets her Vegan (DF) Chocolate cake from the Tea Room. But for now Regards, Edwin

Hello all. Thanks for popping in. Ivor's makeover at Pontypool Road is still ongoing but he should be ready to drive back to the top left hand corner of Wales very soon. This frees me up to go on some more Great British Railway Journeys. Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala Day 1 - Thursday 14 September 2023 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth Companions: Tender and Southern42 I arrive in Kidderminster with my companions on Wednesday for a short stay just round the corner from Kidderminster Station. The plan is to ride behind as many of the locomotives; visit as many of the stations; and check out as many cabs as I can in the two days we are here. We have the event timetables. I have learnt a lot from Dai Station, who minds about boring things like timetables and Regulations, so, I have been keen to help out my companions plan out the day's journeys. Journey Plan Day 1 Keep your eyes peeled for Local and Goods trains working the line. Kidderminster to: Bridgnorth for Elevenses Highley for Lunch in the Engine House Arley for Afternoon Tea in the Tea Room Bridgnorth and some more refreshment Kidderminster Journey 1 0910 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth LNER B1 61206 Mayflower (on loan) 08:50 A grand start to the day. 08:52 Getting comfortable on the really nice LNER carriage. 09:05 Up above, "The River Ouse, York," and other places along the LNER, adorn the compartments. Yes, you've guessed! It's Green Wrist Band Day! 10:30 Bridgenorth.We have early elevenses in the very nicely done up GWR-style Refreshment Room. Then we have a nose round the gift shop. He spots a few potential Christmas presents - they will keep until home time tomorrow. In the meantime, we have a train to catch! Journey 2 11:00 Bridgnorth to Highley LNER B1 61206 Mayflower (on loan, Locomotive Services, Crewe) Highley: We have lunch in the Engine House out on the Cafe balcony for some trainspotting. Bacon baps are on offer in keep-warm bags. They turn out to be bacon and sausage baps - even better. Coffee to wash it down. It is all very pleasant. Journey 3 12:27 Highley to Bridgnorth SR West Country 21C127 Taw Valley (SVR) After lunch, we return to the station platform to see some unexpected train manoeuvres. 12:26 We head for the footbridge and see the LMS Ivatt, on a Bridgnorth to Highley Local Service, preparing to leave the platform... 12:28 As we get to the top, we see our train, coming round the bend towards the platform, waiting... 12:30 Time for the local train to reverse out of the platform... 12:30 12:33 and let our train in... Carrying a long rake of carriages, the engine comes to a halt off the end of the platform. 12:37 The Local Train comes into the loop ready to continue its journey back to Bridgnorth (off to the right) at 13:00, after our departure. Journey 4 13:35 Bridgnorth to Arley SR 21C127 Taw Valley (SVR) 13:13:48 On its return from the Shed, our loco rejoins the carriages. 13:13:50 13:39 About to couple up for the next leg of our up and down journey. 13:52 Nicely on board 13:52 We soon arrive at the Tea Room...I mean...Arley... ...but they have no DF, aka Vegan, cake. "There will be Vegan chocolate cake delivered tomorrow morning," the Tea Room Lady tells my companion. Brain cells quickly activate in my companion's head and She prioritises a stop here in the morning... In the meantime, we take away tea and coffee and have a mooch around. 14:34 Waiting on the opposite platform is the Return to HAYES Chaired Sleeper T1 wagon on the Goods Train. She is delighted, Hayes - noted for its creosoting works - being home town and next-door to Southall on which is based her Great West Road thread. Here, for an article on the works with June 1917 dated photos of sleeper wagons 40459 and 40405. I would like to know what that URGENT note (left) is all about! Dai Station would know! 14:40 Goods Train awaiting the return to Bewdley Journey 5 14:52 Arley to Bridgnorth GWR 4930 Hagley Hall (SVR) 15:40 Bridgnorth. We once again frequent the GWR-style Refreshment Room and have another quick look round the gift shop before getting our last train of the day back to Kidderminster. Journey 6 16:20 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster GWR 4930 Hagley Hall (SVR). Enjoying the views...what I can see of them. Hmmm...It reminds me of home in the top left hand corner of Wales! I feel an attack of "Hiraeth" coming. Then into the tunnel...you know when because it all goes smokey... ...then dark...except for the carriage lights, of course... ...and you can't see a thing on the way out.... ...because the window is all misted up. 18:00 We are back in Kidderminster where He parked the car this morning. But before I go, I must take a pic of this back to Ivor - Hunslet 686 THE LADY ARMARGHDALE which resides in the Engine House. He will love it! (Just don't tell him it used to run here, in blue, as "Thomas"!) Finally, it is time to drive off to our short stay accommodation in Bridgnorth. With that, I bid you Goodnight. Until the morning, then, Regards, Edwin

Overcoming the issue as long ago as 6 years...