Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71

Mornin' all, Another smashing start in The Moorlands.....once more around the weekend circuit. The scent of freshly cut grass was clearly too much temptation for Jacob.... ....a joy to stop to savour the various vistas.... .....the scent of the bluebells along the towpath shouts the time of year.... Is is peaceful...she will be attending the hospital for scans etc but barring a revelation I think that the decisions are made Cutting back the rear of some of the garden shrubs to allow wire brushing/fence painting is a grotty but important activity at home just now Church duties beckon Feathered ones provided for...greenfinch, bullfinch, goldfinch, jackdaw, magpie, blackbird, pigeon, collared dove & sparrow are most of the current regulars Enjoy what you do Dave

....surely Sheffield is in every patriot's cutlery drawer....and you use it to stir your tea and slice up the food on your plate. Dave

Mornin' all, Blue sky sunny cool good to be alive start in The Moorlands....plenty of fried breakfast calories to burn on the weekend constitutional circuit..... ....the canopy is closing above the bluebells now... . ...the signs advise horns or bells for cattle in the tunnel..... Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Aft'noon all, A busy day in school today finishing off the first of the panels for mounting on the front of the sun bleached original.... There will be a presentation to the little girl whose painting....a circle of children dancing in the shadow of The Roaches.....was copied for the centrepiece of the design....the local paper are likely to want some pictures for their next issue. Dave

Morris Marina for me.....1983ish test. Dave

....our focus will remain on celebrating just how much we've managed to fit into 16 years....rather than what we might have done in 32. 'Carpe Diem' is the plaque that has been outside our front door for most of the 16.....and we think that we've not only seized those days but partly strangled them too. Dave

....and as if to underline the importance of getting on with a happy, balanced life & leaving as little as possible to chance....Is has just been told that she has cancer in the other breast. She is unlikely to have any more chemo and will probably take her own chances with the life left to her. Some formalities to go through at the cancer centre but we don't expect them to alter the above statement. Dave

Aft'noon all, Best regards to any that ail. Just back from our seaside trip via the scenic route to Ufford, nr Stamford for our first night, then Aldeburgh via The Fens & Thetford forest for nights 2 & 3, before returning to The George in Stamford for our last night. My wallet is still in spasm at the idea of nearly four figures for 4 nights but the reward has been some of the old light back in Is after so long undergoing treatment. Yes, we have now been summoned to the cancer centre for what we expect is bad news but there can be no better preparation for rain after the sunshine..... ....heading for Uppingham from Braunston.... ....The White Hart in Ufford for the first night..... .....crossing The Welland in Stamford walking to the Indian restaurant which we had booked.... ....we hadn't stayed in a hovel before but the cart hovel (on the right) at The White Hart is actually a lovely room.... .....in the land of The Fen Tigers near Crowland. When Vermuyden drained the fens and the land levels dropped, the river levels had to be maintained, otherwise they would be below sea level when arriving at the coast. Here the B1166 on the right is considerably below the height of the River Welland..... .....no mistaking the peat rich fenland soils heading for Feltwell.... ....Is needed regular stops to exercise her leg....this one in Thetford forest..... ....another at Oakley church nr. Diss.... ....probably the most expensive room that I'll book....The Brudenell, Aldeburgh at £300+ per night B&B.... ....what it was all about....Is couldn't contain the smiles at staying this close to the sea, in a place which she had always liked.... ....the interior of Southwold church.... .....Adnams had to have a visit whilst in town....to collect samples for medicinal purposes, you understand.... ....I enjoy checking out windmills....this one at Stanton nr. Bury St. Edmunds.... .....Bardwell mill nearby is more standard but contains an exact cutaway scale replica of the mill.... ....Deeping St James en route to Stamford for the last night.... .....easily the most luxurious night was at The George, Stamford. The evening meal in the fabulous panelled dining room was outstanding.... Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

.....I've done shifts since 1985 Jamie with many antisocial hours early starts/weekend stints. The balancing factor has always been to be able to head for the sunshine the moment the last shift is done, for a few days. Those wanting extra money have to accept that it means doing overtime and losing days off etc as a consequence.....or else they need a higher paid job. Asking for the roster to be undermanned might also mean that they lose some of their leave. Dave

....we once had a very simple shift system of 3x12hr with 4 days off each week Don but those who can't live within their means asked for the roster to be left short staffed to provide regular overtime. This was ok in the Winter....but come the Summer same wanted their leave and there was no-one to cover them cos half of the roster do live within their means and don't want any overtime. Complaints, yet again from same, of being at work every day for 12hrs then led to a complex pattern of 7,8,9 and 12hr shifts being introduced.....but we all have to be at work on more days as a result. As someone working to the letter of their contract and enjoying a balanced work/life situation I feel no need to apologise....especially now that Is needs more from me. Dave

Evenin' all, A great afternoon in the sunshine of The White Peak today on the first fundraising coach trip of 2016.....broadly following the route of the Cromford & High Peak Railway down to Cromford.....40 of us chartered a horse drawn narrowboat for a trip along the canal.... ....Chelsea was our 1hp power unit.... Pleased to say that Is was on good form and had an enjoyable day out with us Enjoy what you do Dave

....hands up......who needs just N gauge? Dave

.....a strimmer could be tricky. Dave

....hope that it all gets ironed before it is put on show. Dave

Mornin' all, Best regards to any that ail. A little sunshine after the rain therapy for Is this week. One of her favourite day trips is Ellesmere for coffee then via Llangollen, the Horseshoe Pass, and the Denbigh Moors to Bodnant Gardens....going on to Conwy for fish & chips by the sea afterwards. Yes we had to come back along the A55 cos her leg was playing her up but it was a great day..... First fund raising coach trip of 2016 later today Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....it was easier to stand against Laurence because it wasn't for me. Also, the thought of having to regret not getting Is to see these friends when she has known them for so long, isn't one that I want to shoulder. My one sustaining thread through all of this illness negativity is that in the 16 years that we've had together I've always taken every opportunity to take her out for the day, on holiday, or even just out for a meal. That doesn't leave much space for regret Dave

....my trips away with Is don't need cooperation from anyone as they are my own rest days S. The roster change had been devised to suit several of those on it but without considering one or two others.....therefore it couldn't be adopted. Dave

....thanks for your kind words Jamie. I had felt that I was handling the pressure well....pacing myself with monthly days away during my rest days, to keep Is's spirits up. However, a forthcoming roster change not only removed my next days off but also meant that I would be working 60 hrs for nothing, as I've covered my monthly hours with the usual lines of work. I was incensed and got stuck into the roster organiser. At this point I knew that I had to take a few days off to 'come to terms' and try and get some of this back into perspective....I wasn't even aware that I was that close to the edge. The roster has since been changed again, to ensure that I (and especially Is) don't lose out. Dave

....glad to hear that Mal....all good wishes. Dave

Aft'noon all, Many thanks for the support and my usual commiserations for those that ail. In true Is fashion she insists on taking care of all arrangements in advance for the worst case scenario and I'm left asking whether, as her husband, I'll have any input. Looks like I'm relegated to The Order of Service....but what an order of service it'll be. Each section of text/hymm will be interspersed with an image of one her favourite places/memories e.g. Is with Jim, our best man, at Bosheston just before we were married.... Is wandered into my picture at The Valley of the Rocks nr Lynton accidentally but served to improve the balance....one of our first coastal path holidays together but the format was repeated many times over the following years.... Woody bay at harvest time and looking towards Lynton....fish & chips from Lynton were superb but their flavour was amplified many times when eaten at this viewpoint looking out over The Bristol Channel.... Badgworthy water in Doone valley and a chance to rest in the shade with a book..... I have some work to do to get the sizing/sharpness/resolution right and will work with a photographic studio friend to get all in order for printing. Dave

I've booked a lovely hotel room overlooking the sea for a couple of nights No more chemo I'll fetch Elaine & Selwyn from the station to spend some time with you I don't have that look....do I? We'll stay over mid-way so that the travelling doesn't wear you out Andy wants me to have more treatment As much normality as possible I have to be back for a scan on Thursday This might be the last opportunity....we can't waste it The specialist says that the swollen lymph nodes are suspicious....they've done two more biopsys I'll fit all of the luggage into the boot so that you can sit on the back seat with your leg up The above could almost be a poem called The Rollercoaster or Coming to terms but it is simply another step in Is's illness and you try to match each negative stage of its progress with a dose of rewarding normality. This could all go on for a long time yet but then again this could be the last trip to the seaside.....to see friends that are too old to get to us in The Moorlands Dave

Time for a rest Jock. Dave

Mornin' all, Can't add much that hasn't been said already.....puts the daily constitutional into perspective.....we'll be thinking of you & yours Jock. Seems appropriate to include a recent picture which gave him pleasure..... Dave

....hmmm....looks as though volcanic rocks merely assisted other rocks in resisting erosion for longer than those surrouding what is now known as The Wrekin, hence it standing proud of its surroundings. Any similarity to volcano shapes is not down to volcanic processes says Wikipaedia. Dave

....as the softer ground around such as The Wrekin is continually eroded the harder volcanic rock stands ever higher and more visible in the landscape. I wonder how long ago it was that The Wrekin was partially or fully encased by such ground and therefore much less, or not at all visible in the way that it is today. Dave