This blog will be appearing on Monday – honest! I’m way behind at the moment – so much for nothing to do because of lockdown!

*warning. Blog under construction. More tomorrow*

Can we have all that fabulous sunshine back please? Yes, I know we desperately needed the rain and it’s done the gardens and woods a power of good, but it’s cold – and I miss sitting out in the garden!

The day dawned in gloomy fashion, with heavy grey clouds and mist obscuring the far side of the valley, which was a shame as Thursday is our big day out and one the pair of us rather look forward to as we get to do something different outside the confines of the Calder Valley. Admittedly, this week we’ve had a couple of bites of the cherry as we’ve been doing large shops for Dawn’s parents. Yesterday was the farm shop. Today was somewhere neither of us had been before – a fish wholesaler in Huddersfield. Before we left we managed to get a few chores done and have breakfast, only to find that Jet (our cat) had decided to usurp the bed and have a ‘duvet day’. As he’s an old boy now we don’t have the heart to kick him off. Problem is – the little bugger knows it now and often takes advantage!

Feeling ever so slightly naughty for using the car two days in a row we drove over to Huddersfield up over Ainley Top and under the M62. There’s a slight increase in traffic but there’s still no danger of getting caught in the long queues you’d normally find on a weekday morning as you climb to the roundabout that forms the junction with the motorway. The road into town was equally clear, as was the Leeds Road which took us from the town centre towards Deighton, where we found Sailbrand, which is where John and Norah normally stock up on fresh fish. It’s a little difficult to find as it’s tucked away off the main road on a rather unglamorous industrial estate but both Dawn and I were impressed by their range of fish and the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. As well as fulfilling John and Norah’s order we stocked up on some gorgeous Hake fillets, Monkfish and some amazing Tuna steaks -and all at very good prices. We’ll certainly be using them again. Heading back into town our next port of call was Sainsburys where we split up. Dawn did her parents shopping whilst I picked up some necessities for us. Luckily the weather had picked up, so queuing in the car-park waiting to be allowed in wasn’t as bad as we feared it might have been. Even so, the cumulative effect of queuing at different places certainly eats up into your day. Having done the ‘big’ shop we called in at Dawn’s work offices at the station for a couple of minutes (just to check on the building) then headed up to John and Norah’s to drop off all the shopping. We didn’t stay long as chatting over the garden gate isn’t as much fun when the wind’s blowing a gale!

On the way home we stopped for a brief few minutes so that I could get a couple of pictures as the views across the Colne valley are rather photogenic and we’d timed it just right for a couple of Trans-Pennine rail services to pass.

OK, that’s all for tonight, I’ll add more (with many more pictures) in the morning…

Today was a day that wasn’t my most varied as it saw me very much desk-bound and cerebral, not that I’m complaining about that as sifting through my archive pictures and researching old articles, books and the internet before writing a 3000 word article for a magazine is an interesting challenge in its own right. It’s simply something that leaves you less mobile! Next month is the 10th anniversary of the full re-opening of the East London line which is now part of the London Overground. It’s a route I’ve known for many years as I used to live in the East End of London back in 1986-96. The piece I’ve written will be published in a copy of RAIL magazine soon. I do enjoy writing. Hopefully people enjoy my scribblings – especially when I’m paid it. Well, they must do as magazines keep asking me back!

Monday wasn’t a bad day to be desk bound either as the fantastic spell of good weather we’ve had here since lockdown is finally on the turn. The sky was full of funny fluffy white things that we’ve really not seen much of recently. Oh yes – clouds – I remember them now!

Having fulfilled my latest RAIL commission I’m looking forward to getting back to scanning more old rail slides which is something I’ve neglected recently due to a shortage of time and the fact my main computer’s up the spout at right now. Sorting out both of these should keep me busy this week, along with being on call to help Dawn with some DIY. Dee’s on holiday this week and she’s determined to tackle some decorating jobs around the house as a combination of exercise, aesthetics and lockdown therapy! We might not be going anywhere but it doesn’t mean we’ve turned into couch potatoes! Far from it in fact as when we’re not busy with work we’re occupied with DIY, gardening, decluttering or cooking. We both spend enogh of our days staring at screens as part of our jobs without wanting to have evening after evening doing the same.

What a stunning day! Just like on Tuesday, the weather was almost wall to wall sunshine with temperatures that crept up to be the highest of the year so far.

I tried sticking to my plan and routine by working in my office, sorting through paperwork, emails and scanning old slides, then decided to break the routine whilst still sticking to the Government guidelines. I’ve mentioned before that we’re fortunate to be on the edge of some great countryside, which means it’s easy to socially isolate when getting out for the daily exercise. I’ve really been missing walking as I’ve been sticking to my minimum daily target, which is half of what would be my norm – and I’m starting to feel it physically, even though I’m using weights at home. Today I decided to go solo, extend my walk, tackle some more challenging terrain and take the camera.

Starting from home I walked down to the valley floor, across the canal, under the railway, over the River Calder and clambered up through the woods and the steep paths to the ridge above Copley. As the crow flies it’s little over a mile. I can even look back at the house, but on a hot day it’s cracking exercise. Here’s the view looking across the Copley viaduct on the railway between Halifax and Sowerby Bridge with the Wainhouse Tower above.

The path I’m on at this point runs along a cliff that’s actually a geological fault line. Not that you’d know that it’s there as the area’s dense woodland, similar to the opposite side of the valley that you can see in the picture above the viaduct to the right, which is our local Scarr woods.

I’m a long way from any roads here and I only saw a handful of other people out running, or walking. Keeping your distance is easy akthough this being Yorkshire, most people acknowledge each other and say hello when they pass.

For a brief period (in splendid isolation) ot felt like normality had returned. The feel of the sun on my skin and the breeze through the trees was gorgeous. Only two things gave the gane away, the infrequency of the trains and the lack of traffic noise from the (normally) busy road along the valley floor.

Having achieved my aim and even managed a couple of pictures I reluctantly headed home, retracing my steps back to ‘my’ side of the valley. Despite passing two pubs in the way there was no chance of giving into temptation to nip in for a swift one! It’s going to be a long time before that pleasure returns…

Back at the ranch the weather was simply too good to hole up inside scanning slides so I brought a bunch of paperwork downstairs and sat outside on the bench to soak up the sun and top up my vitamin D levels. With not having my usual 1-2 months away in Asia last year or a foreign stint this year I’ve really missed the sun. I don’t think I’ve been this pale-skinned for years!

Our evening was spent much like many others as I tried to keep up with world events via social media and also catch up with a bit of blogging before sloping off to bed for a relatively early night.

We’ve another day tomorrow that breaks up the routine as we’re on our weekly ‘mercy mission’ to shop for Dawn’s parents over in Huddersfield. Funny how you end up looking forward to simple things like that…

12:00.

Having pretty much been staring at four walls all week (OK, and looking at lots of colourful pictures, but that’s not the point) I’ve made an escape from the office to try and get some contemporary library shots. Unfortunately the weather’s nowhere near as nice as last Friday, exactly the opposite in fact. We’ve low, grey clouds and drizzle, so I’m leaving the confines of the Calder valley to head West for a change of scenery and (hopefully) weather.

After strolling down to Sowerby Bridge station I was just in time to join some of the local rail enthusiasts who were waiting for a pair of DRS Class 20s which were heading to York in readiness for a railtour, which nade a nice change. As I was heading for Preston and the Blackpool North services have stopped calling at Sowerby Bridge I caught a late running Chester service to Hebden Bridge to make the connection. Fortunately, the Chester wasn’t so late that the Blackpool was put out ahead or I’d have been kicking my heels for another hour.

I’m now on a rather careworn and unrefurbished 2-car Class 158, having drawn the short-straw rather than having a new Class 195 on the route.

12:17.

We’re now at Accrington, an archetypal former mill town with its rows of terraces climbing up the hillsides the the railway gives a fantastic view of as it bisects the town on a viaduct. I keep meaning to take a day out here to explore as there must be several different shots to be had of the juxtaposition of town and railway. Now the new trains are more common this is the year to make the idea a reality.

14:21.

I’m now on my way from Wigan North Western after leaving Preston to continue my way West. Preston was interesting as the forms of traction really have changed in just a few months. Last year it was a nexus for driver training on Northern’s new trains. Those runs till appear, but now many of the new trains are in service, having taken over from the old BR units that were a staple of the Northern fleet. I’d hooed I might have found some of the new TPE sets in service but it wasn’t to be. Nir did I bag any Pendolinos in Avanti livery but hey ho…

Instead, I’m heading to Liverpool in search of photo-opportunities there as the weather seems to be picking up. I’m currently on one of Northern’s new 3-car Class 331s which have taken over services on this route. They’re a far cry from the pedestrian diesel units that worked the line untol it was electrified. These are old haunts for me as I grew up not far away in Southport and spent many a weekend travelling these routes back in the early 1970s. How things have changed!

16:56.

Liverpool Lime St was interesting. The station’s changed so much since I first got to know it in the early 1970s. Now it’s busier than ever with new trains, new platforms and new services, like the Transport for Wales route to Chester via the long-abandoned Halton curve. It’s cleaner too as many of the services tgat used diesel units are now electrically operated. That said, there’s a bit of an odd throwback in the shape of the Trans Pennine service I caught to head back East. 5 coaches hauled (or pushed) by a Class 68 diesel locomotive! I’m not going to be too critical as the extended sets mean that I can get a seat unlike on the 3-car 185s. They’re comfortable vehicles too.

Sadly I had to bail out at Manchester Victoria where I transferred to a Northern service to get me back to Sowerby Bridge. The 3-car Class 158 I’m on now is rammed. They always are as far as Rochdale but with this being a Friday we’ve also got a complement of hen parties and other folk heading for nights out along the route.

After such stunning Christmas Day weather Boxing Day’s been a real disappointment here in Surrey. The morning’s been dominated by continuous rain and heavy winds. Foolishly, I hadn’t brought my full set of waterproofs and didn’t fancy getting a soaking, so I reluctantly flagged the traditional Tilford Boxing day walk. Dawn and her parents decided to have the day out in the car whilst I stayed at ‘home’ in the chalet and crack on catching up on some work (the beauty and the curse of being freelance, there’s always something to do, no matter what the season).

The silver lining was the fact our chalet is within a stones throw of the Duke of Cambridge pub which was one of the pit-stops for the walkers so I had chance to join them for a quick drink. Despite the weather, the mixed group of adults, kids and dogs were in good spirits – especially after drying off in a pub for a while!

After an hour or so they left to complete their walk and I headed back to the chalet to finish the work I’d lined-up. Whilst I was at ‘home’ I turned on the TV in the vain hope of finding a mild diversion that I could half-watch/listen to whilst concentrating on other things. That’s when I realised once again that you can have dozens of TV channels in a TV package but 95% of them are utter shite unless you’re a child or someone with the attention-span of a Goldfish. Looking through the schedule I’ve found one ancient Hollywood film that was pure propaganda for the US during the Vietnam War (The ‘Green Berets’, directed by and starring John Wayne) plus loads of channels that are all about flogging you stuff. I ended up turning it off and listened to music instead.