Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71

....are you suggesting that she wouldn't bang her nose if she fell over....CB?? Dave

.....all the very best throughout any treatment Ian!! Dave

Aft'noon all, My hope for today is that those responsible for air travel safety are able to devise ways to protect both the crew and passengers from themselves. Getting back in from work 3pm..ish today in bright sunshine was an ideal opportunity for the long clockwise constitutional. Up onto Morridge where the snow still lingers....looking east towards Warslow Bearing right at what was The Mermaid and heading round to Onecote presented some good views across the Peak District towards The Manifold valley The long climb out of Onecote and back over Morridge....this view looking back towards Onecote Now music by Mr E's Beautiful Blues....Eels Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

.....I can see that becoming the case on all European flights too Ian....or should it already be the case over here too? Hope all continues to go as well as it can Jock....all the very best. Dave

Aft'noon all, I was surprised to see a chaffinch dining on the niger seed feeder earlier....I've seen them perched on the sunflower heart feeder, eating those on occasions but this was a new one on me. Dave

....but a radio programme earlier advised that aircrew know how to bypass the lock and regain entry in such a situation. Dave

Re the French plane crash .....anyone placing any bets on the fitting of equipment to passenger airliners to allow air traffic control to reinstate the auto pilot/override the crew after this? At one time pilotless planes wouldn't have had any passengers....I'm not so sure now. Dave

Mornin' all, My thoughts are again with the families of the French plane crash....the roll of the dead is devastating http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/heartbreaking-stories-emerge-as-germanwings-plane-crash-victims-identified/ar-AAa01iV?ocid=UP97DHP It is snowing here in The Moorlands this morning....an early fasting blood test combined with the weather has put paid to the constitutional. A dentist check up follows on and then a trip to the retail park to seek out a slimline Miele dishwasher.....morphed into an order for a German made Bosch version. Now music by Bob & Marcia.....Young, gifted & black Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....enjoyed looking through your Irish pictures and model railway thread John....nice work...look forward to seeing some more. Dave

....Deb has a cync button if that helps? Dave

Mornin' all, Sad commiserations to the families of those lost in the French air crash yesterday.....I just hope that a terrorism verdict doesn't add to the despair. Another good to be alive, white, sunny and sub-zero dawn in The Moorlands.....great to burn the calories....red wine ones from last night!.....but with regular pauses to study the play of the increasing light levels on the landscape and the vapours rising with the warmth. Extra hazards to negotiate were 3 errant, escaped sheep grazing at the side of the road......just setting up the barbi, lamb chop anybody?? These are some of this mornings visuals..... Now music by Gloria Jones.....Tainted love Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....identical Chris....hanging from the same hook. Dave

....we found that an entire container of fat balls had to be thrown away because the birds wouldn't eat them....ditto fat in coconut shells from Wilko. For some reason the fat in coconut shells from Home Bargains is eaten in quick order....therefore we only buy them from there. Choosy birds Dave

....some smashing modelling going on here John....keep up the good work! Dave

....we stick with Panasonic....excellent and reliable quality. Dave

....with the temps here they obviously don't live local. Dave

Aft'noon all, A full day spent fettling the outdoor part of home....changing outside light bulbs....getting out garden furniture....a couple of trips to the fairly decent garden centre on this side of Macclesfield for bark chippings, compost and a couple of plants, I even managed to resist the Wincle brewery on both trips too!....the 12 sacks of bark have just about replaced the depletions of the last 12 months due to detritivores and anything else that nibbles on it. A gift for the flower arranger of the house....this shady area is a good place to focus on foliage contrasts We have tree heathers and a good number of standard ones but this was something different Double handfuls of compost mulch for each shrub to provide nutients for the forthcoming growing spell, alongside the new bark Looking somewhat bare just now but should be a bit more colourful in a few weeks time Last years colour Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Single figure cool, calm and dry with some sunshine for the constitutional. A 6.30am start can now be made without the need for lights on the bike.....a full hour earlier than at the start of 2015. Current markers of the years progress amongst the flora along the route include more colouration/purple-ish bloom amongst areas of previously bare branches and the swelling buds of the willow by the waters edge. In the garden the golden elder is always an early starter and is just about to leaf whilst many other shrubs have swelling/opening buds. No doubt there will be the odd casualty despite it being a mild winter by our standards. Now music by Al Stewart....on the border. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....fingers crossed that it works out well for the both of you Ian. All the very best Dave

.....The Jowetts Rail atlas is excellent for giving an instant picture of all lines that ever were and quickly illustrates why loco sheds were required in the locations in which they were provided. Dave

Mornin' all, A mistier rerun of yesterday in The Moorlands....the reduced light levels robbing any scenes of their warm tones and then the mist swirls back in volume, to make lights on the bike necessary. The wind chill levels this morning suggest that it may be a while before hat and gloves are abandoned on the dawn constitutionals. The actors warning 'never work with children or animals' popped into mind a couple of times yesterday whilst priming the new plywood for the school signs....most little ones 3+ were pliant and simply wanted to help but a couple of the boys had ambitions of painting the gazebo, me and the other children as well....a firm hold on the paintbrush and minimal paint on the bristles limiting the opportunity. Both boards primed on both sides in the end and secured into the roof of the sports shed to dry....ready for undercoating. First MOT for the car today. Now music by Kiki Dee....Loving and free. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....North Devon former LSWR routes Plymouth to Exeter via Okehampton....Padstow to Meldon jnc....Barnstaple to Meeth/Exeter....Paignton Kingswear branch....Barnstaple to Ilfracombe....Calstock branch.....Bodmin to Wadebridge.....Hemyock milk.....Helston branch....Newquay branch....track recovery on the Somerset & Dorset.....Wallingford branch.....Fowey to Lostwithiel and Par.....Chard jnc to Exeter.... Dave

Mornin' all, This weeks 'moment' morning in The Moorlands where random, varying conditions lasting sometimes just a moment coincide to make the constitutional a delight..... Ironically this oystercatcher won't pose for the camera but is happy to zoom through the frame in a tight circle Now music by Suzi Quattro.....If you can't give me love Feathered ones remembered In school today working with the children to create the new school sign Enjoy what you do Dave

Socks ....I generally buy 3 or 4 pairs of the same design/colour and throw odd ones away as they come in holes or lose the elasticity at the open end. I still have to remind myself that there won't always be matching pairs. Dave

....Good morning Tasmania!!....as Robin Williams would have said (due to the time shift you'll have to count it for tomorrow). We've just had a cousin over from Perth, AUS.....he particularly enjoyed the stroll into town for a pint or two of the Joules ales....says that pubs just ain't the same back home. Good to see you here Tex Dave