greatcoleswoodhalt

Pictures on the KMRC website are looking good, @Graham_Muz - looking forward to the 'formal' update. For those that have also pre-ordered SB003C (DS 54538) I found the following, which might be of interest: -

They are indeed! https://www.old-station.co.uk/

-1°C W 5kt, gusting 9kt A bitterly cold morning however the freezing fog has now lifted – the ‘feels like temperature’ offered by the Met Office showing -6°C! An extended walk is planned after breakfast before settling-in for an afternoon of football – it appears I might be the only Spurs fan on ‘Early Risers’! The week finished working from home and imagine it will remain that way well in to February, at least. Little else to report though a local microbrewery, Missing Link Brewing, have introduced 'Doughnut Day' on a Saturday – a welcome opportunity to escape the house this week. Mrs C and I sampled a honeycomb and rhubarb & custard crumble, buying the same for my shielding parents and leaving them on their doorstep. Did enjoy Tuesday's announcement from Hornby and their 2021 range – for me, the nearest thing to being a kid at Christmas, despite the habitual ‘nothing there for me’. Watched Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy again last night – I’d forgotten what a great adaption it is (with a stellar cast). Stay safe.

Hattons (funnily enough) published one of their Formations Guide last year which gave a few options: - https://www.hattons.co.uk/newsdetail.aspx?id=867#formations

I heard this only last night on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue - thank you for making me chuckle again!

Following Hornby's announcement this morning, you can never have too many generic carriages, apparently... I look forward to receiving my pack of four 'Genesis' carriages in LB&SCR umber as and when they're ready.

Cracking way to start a Sunday... The sheep seem to appreciate it too - perhaps @NHY 581 has been influencing...

1°C N 8kt, gusting 14kt A belated happy new year to you all. Little fanfare heralded the arrival though fireworks in the village suggested not everyone shared our lethargy - something akin to an invasion warning a fairly accurate description of proceedings. Sunday dawns cold and grey, again. Unsurprisingly little on the agenda today though attempting a slow-cooked Marmite roast chicken for dinner. Back to work tomorrow with the highlight of the week likely Tuesday's announcement from Hornby and their 2021 range. Stay safe.

Great read - there's something absorbing about alternate history! I enjoyed doing something similar for Great Coles Wood Halt: - https://www.greatcoleswoodhalt.com/history It reminds me of a thread discussing why preserved railways tend to be "so unpopular" - I think a good backstory always helps.

6°C W 10kt, gusting 24kt Firstly congratulations, @AndyB! Storm Bella crashed through overnight with gusts of 61kts in the early hours. Little sleep was had and am looking forward to getting out for some fresh air shortly, Mrs C breaking-in her new wellies as we do our usual circuit to Horsted Keynes station and back. The sun is now shining though for how long we’ll have to see – the Met Office have just issued a yellow warning for snow and ice in the south east tomorrow. Upon our return the fire will be lit and no doubt we’ll continue our over indulgence in some shape or form. @The Stationmaster mentioned films a little earlier and was glad to see a post on Facebook with a link to Runaway Railway dating back to 1966 (and filmed on the Longmoor Military Railway). Growing-up in the early 1990s I must have re-watched this umpteen times on VHS however over-time it faded from memory. For those familiar, I have no doubt that the scenes (specifically) with Ronnie Barker and the model railway had a lasting effect! I'm looking forward to sitting-down and watching this again shortly. Re @iL Dottore's predictions, I likewise generally agree with all. Certainly “cheap airline travel” will disappear for the foreseeable - in addition to the ticket price you have the cost of a PCR to consider too (Boots currently charge £120); travelling with a family will mean a considerable investment... Stay safe.

4°C NW 14kt, gusting 31kt Dry and cold with a rare view of clear skies beyond swiftly moving clouds. Certainly feels nearer freezing in the breeze. The office has been quiet this morning (despite beginning to type this before 09:00) and hope to be heading home soon to try and enjoy the festivities. Christmas Eve seems to have arrived all of a sudden - traditions typically undertaken forgotten for this year at least. Plans to see my parents over Christmas have been scuppered with the introduction of Tier 4 from Boxing Day and so Mrs C and I will head round briefly this evening for a quick exchange of presents. The Christmas shop was undertaken Tuesday with vegetables severely lacking (as were toilet rolls, of course) but managed to get most things. We timed it well as they were queued around the car-park by the time we were leaving. As my mind begins to wander and the first Hobgoblin looms, stay safe and seasons greeting's to you all.

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Day 21 of the Rails of Sheffield Advent Calendar Hornby R3767 A1X Class 0-6-0T No 32655 (British Railways-Early) https://railsofsheffield.com/products/37301/Hornby-r3767-oo-gauge-br-black-0-6-0-terrier-locomotive-no-32655

8°C SW 11kt, gusting 22kt Conditions seem to be settling after heavy showers and thunder overnight. Socially-distanced Christmas deliveries are planned today and unsurprisingly not much else. A quiet week was had at work fortunately as am on call all this weekend. Yesterday I made the most of being home alone finishing Christmas wrapping before making dinner, a chicken and chorizo traybake. I enjoy cooking, but rarely have chance, so for those with comparable culinary skills I recommend the MOB Kitchen cookbooks for simple recipes with (mostly) store cupboard essentials! I sympathise with, @Gwiwer following his post yesterday. Anxiety and depression have never been far away this year and the recent escalation of tiers has made a difficult time even more challenging. The continual rollercoaster of having plans snatched away is becoming truly tiresome - I woke this morning and broke down, I'm not embarrassed to say. Having worked throughout the pandemic with little break, Christmas (along with everything associated) was the glimmer of hope on the horizon. From personal experience, I can’t agree more that the support for mental health is inadequate, but that’s another story… Nevertheless, our Christmas shop will be undertaken tomorrow or Tuesday - nothing too outlandish, though I always treat myself to smoked salmon at breakfast during the festive season. Perhaps one of the only things of 'normality' I have any control over this year! When sat at work Early Risers is top of agenda and in the short time of contributing it’s been a cathartic exercise of a Sunday morning – so a big ‘thank you’ from me. Stay safe and catch-up a little later in the week.

7°C S 10kt, gusting 17kt A grey, damp start to the day and the forecast looks much the same for the remainder of the week. Mrs C and I leave for London shortly where a Christmas Afternoon Tea is planned. I type between various potential outfit options... My first visit to Lisbon this week was problematic from start to finish and was relieved to return home Wednesday evening - thankfully no further travelling is planned until February. The weekend started with a much needed haircut, my first in three months, before returning to Eridge, East Sussex for my weekly 'steam' fix - the 10:00 departure to Tunbridge Wells West ticking the box. Stay safe and 'good luck' to all ahead of Wednesday's tier review.

4°C N 5kt, gusting 10kt Brunch this morning in Brighton with Mrs C - possibly my least favourite place, I know not why. My last travel of the year is planned this week but thankfully no Sunday COVID-19 test having returned a home test kit Friday morning. This week saw a trip to Seville - I last visited thirteen years ago when Spurs played Sevilla - remembered not for the score (we lost 2-1) but riot police charging the away fans… This time was slightly more relaxed with clear skies and temperatures in the late teens. Spanish restrictions were kinder than France and enjoyed a walk of the city Wednesday morning. Our family Border Terrier, Bryn, had been struggling with a swollen eye in recent weeks and after a couple of visits to the vets returned Friday to have a couple of troublesome teeth removed. Whilst the majority looked in good condition, unfortunately the true extent of the issue was only evident after extraction - he was picked-up early evening twenty-two teeth lighter and more than a little dazed! Thankfully he showed improvement yesterday so my father and I visited Eridge, East Sussex late morning to see visiting ex-GWR 64xx Class 6435 at the Spa Valley Railway, suitably adorned in tinsel with 'Santa Special' headboard. Stay safe.

Indeed, a few pictures can be found here: - https://www.airportspotting.com/the-best-places-to-see-grounded-737-max-aircraft/

7°C NE 8kt, gusting 14kt The sunny spells forecast haven't materialised and so another walk of Wakehurst, Ardingly will be under grey, overcast skies. A further COVID-19 test beckons this evening and so plans to settle-down and watch the football are scuppered. The week started in Rennes, however the French lockdown prevented any hopes of exploring the city. Understandably the hotel restaurant was closed therefore found myself confined to in-room dining for the duration. My only takeaway from Rennes was seeing the trees below my hotel window each individually wrapped in netting to prevent leaves falling to the ground! Highlight of the week was on Friday when Q Class No C1 arrived courtesy of UPS from Locomotion - an early Christmas present after weeks of dithering. One of those rare occasions of luck as looking back on the Locomotion website yesterday it's now sold-out. Talk of sausages last week and tomato ketchup this, a pattern seems to be emerging! Stay safe.

10°C NW 5kt, gusting 12kt Another grey morning, though hopefully dry. An early start was had for a COVID-19 test ahead of work-related travel tomorrow - not a pleasant experience! A quick walk is planned for this afternoon before essential shopping, no doubt. As expected, the week was long and slow, outdoor plans mostly curtailed due to persistent rain... I did however manage to tidy-up the garden, squeezing-in a final mow of the lawn for this year! Our visit to Wakehurst, Ardingly on Wednesday was better than expected with the grounds significantly large enough that the one-way system didn't feel too restrictive. On Friday we abandoned Petworth House and Park when the heavens opened, managing only a quick drive-by of the former Singleton station to check on the extensive renovation. Turning back to the present, all this talk of sausages means I know what to add to the shopping list... Stay safe.

12°C SW 21kt, gusting 46kt Showery start to the day though drier and brighter conditions hoped for this afternoon (before the next band of rain, at least). Still we wait for quotes for our roof repair; the second roofer to visit did however clear a lot of debris which has helped no end. Our drive is now finished, ready for a ceremonial return of cars later today. Mrs C and I had been due to holiday in Cornwall this week, so for a second time this year I'm having to use my annual leave during a national lockdown. Our first wedding anniversary is Wednesday so a to visit to Wakehurst, Ardingly is planned. For now I return to my coffee and continue to ogle over @NHY 581's Sheep Dip in December's BRM. Stay safe.

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Thank you for the warm welcome last week and I continue to keep abreast of everyone's updates in these difficult times. 12°C SE 5kt Weather much calmer than last Sunday, and fortunately so, as we still await a quote for our roof repairs despite a couple of visits now. Work on the drive commenced as planned though not without issue as our neighbours sought clarification of the boundary and the intended finish alongside their drive - fortunately all now resolved but crippling for the anxiety! With national restrictions now introduced and Mrs C's salon regrettably closed until December, the news that I'll remain in the office was bittersweet, but I'm sure she'll make the most of the break before the build-up to Christmas. Trying to keep some normality at the weekends, we managed to book a visit to Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks later this morning though it seems strange to still be able to go to the National Trust during 'lockdown'. Bachmann's announcement on Tuesday was a welcome distraction - how I would love a layout big enough to see a malachite green ex-LB&SCR H2 Class stretch her legs! Stay safe on this Remembrance Sunday.

I copied the link address of the Rails of Sheffield Tweet and then the forum embedded it. Nothing has been deliberately added or changed - my apologies for trying to share a 'bargain'.

A long-time reader of Early Risers, herewith my first entry with an intention of posting each weekend... 16°C SW 18kt, gusting 36kt Weather much like the news overnight, though the sun is now making fleeting appearances. Slow start to the day but a tour of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Whitchurch awaits with Mrs C - desperately trying to make use of gifted vouchers before expiry. The poor state of our roof means that the lounge continues to leak, but hopefully assistance will be forthcoming soon. Yesterday's announcement presumably means our new drive will be okay to start Wednesday, but wait with bated-breath. With little now on the horizon, I look forward to what Bachmann will announce on Tuesday. Stay safe.