Evenin' all
Belated birthday congrats to Peter BB. I hope I'm still as capable if/when I get that far!
Relieved to say I managed to buck up a bit yesterday, and completed 90' mowing, before we went off to watch the kids' 'spectacle' in La Ferté Bernard. That was really quite enjoyable, although since Sherry and I are not fluent French speakers, and young actors of all races tend to gabble their lines, we missed some of the subtleties! Alison's son did very well - not least because until a couple of years ago, he spoke very little French. A pleasant time was had by all.
Today we spent a couple of hours watching the Le Mans Test Day, mainly from the Maison Blanche grandstand. As well as offering excellent views of the double chicane, this also has a sort of gallery at the front which is ideal for snapping the approaching cars. As I now have a camera capable of 10 frames per second, there are a few pics awaiting inspection. 50 years ago, Ford won Le Mans for the first of 4 successive times, so it is good to see a new Ford showing promise this year.
After a quick nosh, we headed off for the model railway exhibition at Tuffé. This proved rather good, really, but the hall was a little hot at times. With exhibitors and traders from a wide area, there was plenty to see, and we easily fell into conversation with several layout-owners.
Charles Attwell? Yes, I remember him quite fondly. He was one of the first wave of Area Managers in the mid-sixties, most of whom were found offices at stations where the Stationmaster - as they still were then, I think - wasn't! So Hove instead of Brighton, Polegate instead of Eastbourne, Hurst Green instead of Oxted, South instead of East Croydon and Cheam instead of Sutton. I think Charles was originally at Barnham, so neither Bognor Regis nor Chichester. Common sense prevailed after a few years, and most of those posts moved to the natural centre.
Sadly I have today learned of a former colleague lost. A charismatic architect - they do exist! - Debbie had an exotic surname, having once been married, so 'twas said, to a Russian count! She had been feted for station reconstructions that garnered civic awards etc, and was generally a good egg. A few years younger than me, too.
I hope your weekend has delivered.