It’s a short blog from me tonight as I’ve had a busy day and it’s late. Today’s been another one where most of my time’s been spent cooped up in the office but I really haven’t minded as I’ve got a lot done and the weather outside’s hardly encouraged me to venture out. The last couple of forays have left me wishing for warmer climes as the weather here’s been freezing. I’m looking forward to the predicted change and double figures we’re supposedly due to be getting as I’ve had enough of sub-zero temperatures.
Whilst I’ve been busy at my desk I have enjoyed watching the birds vying for food on the roof outside. I’ve topped it up every day with a mix of oats, rice and scraps of fat, which has attracted all manner of birds – and in large numbers. Thrushes and Blackbirds are regulars which is hardly surprising as the frozen ground must make foraging for their usual food sources difficult. My feathered friends are gradually getting used to me using the camera and aren’t proving to be too shy. Next week a new toy arrives in the shape of a mirrorless Nikon Z9 camera body. It will be interesting to see what a difference using a silent camera makes with wildlife photography as my conventional Nikons are quite loud when the mirror flips up.
I’ll leave you with one of today’s bird-shots.
This weekend is set to be a wet one weather-wise so I expect to be busy at home. That’s no bad thing as I’ve a lot of travelling to do next week – and I need to learn the ins and outs of a new camera. The Z9’s a progression to my existing kit but there’s going to be some important difference which means using it won’t be instinctive the way my old D5 has been. So, I’m busy going through the manual before the camera’s even arrived – all 940 pages of it!
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Well. I didn’t have this on my bingo card when I pulled open the bedroom blinds this morning!
We weren’t meant to be having snow until late in the day and even then it was meant to be mixed with rain. Instead, we had rather a nice dusting of the white stuff. Well, at least at our height. The valley floor didn’t get the same treatment. This was rather frustrating as I’d several hours work planned this morning which I couldn’t get out of so by the time I did get to don my waterproofs (more to keep the freezing wind out than anything else) the snow had already begun to recede, despite the low temperatures. Working on the old axiom of ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ I caught a train West to Todmorden, working on the assumption that as the weather was coming from that direction I’d be likely to find more snow. Sure enough, there was more on the ground, even though it still wasn’t exactly ‘deep and crisp and even’. I went for a hike from Tod’ station along footpaths well gritted backroads to Gauxholme, between Tod’ and Walsden then slipped and slid my way uphill to a site that’s one of my favourite locations in the valley. Here’s why…
195005 leads 195019 through Gauxholme whilst working 1J19, the 14:12 Leeds to Manchester Victoria.
I stayed long enough to get several shots but by 15:00 the snow was coming in again from the West and the wind was perishing! Besides, there’s only so many permutations of this shot you can take. Walking downhill with the camera bag on my back was more difficult than ascending. I was kicking myself for not bringing my walking poles but I managed to make it down without going arse over tit. Maybe we’ll get a thicker covering of snow later in the year. Maybe not, but at least I’ve finally got a snow shot from Gauxholme.
Now I’m back home taking it easy for the evening, feeling virtuous as not only do have some useful pictures, I’ve smashed all my exercise targets to boot. Still, it’s strange to think that this time last year I was doing anything *but* freezing. I’d already been in SE-Asia for a week and had just arrived in Kuala Lumpur.
I won’t be venturing out of the valley tomorrow. I’ve too much to sort out in readiness for what’s going to be a hectic time next week as I’ll be doing a lot of travelling with many different events to blog about. But for now, it’s time to say goodnight.
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Not a bad start to the week! Today we have wall to wall sunshine in the Calder Valley – and sub-zero temperatures to go with it! It’s currently -1 which has warmed up since first thing when it was -3. Despite the cold I’ve been tempted out with the camera as this weather’s too good to waste. I’d like to have got out earlier but I had too much to do. Maybe tomorrow. Right now I’m on my way to Liverpool via Manchester for a flying visit to try and catch the last Class 508 remaining in service – and hopefully grab a shot of 507001 if its running.
13:40.
I broke my journey at Newton-le-Willows to check out the work extending the station’s platforms. Currently tthey can only cope with four-car trains, which is a bit awkward when 5-car TPE services call. Like this one I’m on now.
It seems odd to think this station was once a ‘Motorail’ hub. The Manchester bound platform extension is being built over the site of the old ‘Motorail’ loading bay. Here’s a better view of the work.
16:00.
Bloody hell, it’s cold! I made it to Liverpool at the same time as patchy clouds blew in from the West, which caused a slight rethink. I decided to concentrate on trying to get shots of the last Class 508 as it’s already living on borrowed time as it was due to have been withdrawn the other week. Knowing it was on the New Brighton vircuit I opted to ‘ambush’ it at Liverpool Central then catch it out to the Wirral with the hope of getting some sunshine shots. Sadly, the low sun and clouds didn’t play ball. Still, I managed a few controlled light shots at Central and Conway Park. Frustratingly, the unit has suffered a crap graffiti attack on one of the driving cars. Ho hum.
508104 calls at Birkenhead North on its way back into Liverpool after working to New Brighton.The return working to New Brighton seen at Conway Park. The half-arsed attempt at graffiti can be seen on the front car. It’s a shame but as the unit only has a day or so left in service before it goes for scrap I can’t see it being cleaned off.
16:50.
I hung around Liverpool long enough to get a handful of library shots then decided to call it a day and head home as I’ve had some picture requests from a magazine that need my attention, plus, it ain’t getting any warmer! Right now I’m on one of Northern’s all-stations services to Manchester Victoria via Earlestown that would have been worked by Class 319s but are now 331s. It’s a busy train but I’ve managed to blag a seat at a table to set up the laptop and begin sorting out today’s pictures. I’ll add some later when I get home.
21:15.
I’m home and thawing out whilst editing a few of today’s pictures. Here’s a small selection as promised.
The new order. 777006 at Liverpool Central earlier today with a service to Ellesmere Port.The last of its class. 508104 should already have been withdrawn but it has had a charmed life and hangs on. Latest news is that it will be stood down at the end of services on Tuesday 16th January. Here it is working the 14:35 from Liverpool Central to New Brighton.777019 approaches Birkenhead North with a service to new Brighton. Despite what the destination blind says, 777005 was very much in service on the New Brighton line. PIS failures are a common and confusing fault on the new trains. The old order hangs on. Here’s 507010 working the 16:03 service to New Brighton, seen at Liverpool Lime St.
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We’ve had another quiet day here at Bigland Towers, although it’s been anything but lazy. I was up early and working in the office by 07:30. Admittedly, it’s not much of a commute from the front to the back of the cottage – and I can do it in my dressing gown! Even so, I felt virtuous as I was making the most of the day. The fact the nights are getting shorter helps. There’s nothing worse than sitting there in the dark, not being able to see anything out of the office window but being able to hear the wind and the rain beating down outside. Thankfully, we’ve finally hit a dry spell which is also lightening the mood.
Much of my day’s been spent catching up on picture editing and adding recent images to my Zenfolio website. Click on this link to see which galleries have been updated. I’ve still got many more to add, both from my recent HS2 site visit and also archive shots from Nepal (but those will be taking a backseat for a little while).
Continuing with the virtuous theme I managed to surpass all my exercise targets which has made me happy – and helps me feel ‘dry January’ is proving worthwhile. Now I’ve got to hope the bathroom scales will confirm the results! It’s not that I’m overweight in any way, I’m merely outside my normal parameters so it was time to get back to the weight I feel happiest and most comfortable at.
Whilst working I’ve enjoyed watching the birdlife outside. We have a stone shed roof opposite which is an ideal bird-feeding station. I’ve found that bags of oats make a cheap alternative to more expensive bird-foods and our feathered friends of all sizes love ’em. I’ve had Magpies, Doves, Wood Pigeons, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Robins, Sparrows and Wrens put in an appearance today, whilst the nut and seed feeders hanging under the eaves have attracted all manner of Tits. As the light’s improved I was even tempted to get the camera out. So, today’s picture is of one of this morning’s visitors. I’m presuming this is actually a Thrush – my bird recognitions not as comprehensive as my railway fleet recognition!
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04:15, what a time to be alive! Well, half asleep really as that was the time my alarm clock went off this morning. Dragging my bones out of bed I had an hour to prepare and get myself out of the door before beginning my walk to the station. To be honest, it was one of the best strolls I’ve had for a while. I was in no hurry and the weather was mild (3 degrees) and dry. Whilst strolling up the hill to Spring Edge I looked back across the Calder Valley and the lights of Sowerby Bridge which looked lovely and peaceful. I was momentarily confused when I saw the lights of a 6-car train wending its way below me as nothing should have been running. Then it revved up its engines and the distinctive deep roar reverberating across a sleepy valley gave away the fact this was a pair of Trans-Pennine Class 185s on a diversion. I didn’t pass a soul on the way into town. Even the dog-walkers and their pets were still abed. Even the roads were quiet with just the occasional motorist around. Actually, it really was a good time to be alive…
The centre of Halifax at 05:30. Not a creature was stirring…
Now I’m on Northern’s 05:59 to Leeds. Despite the hour it’s a busy train. Dozens of folk were waiting to catch it at Halifax and many more have joined at Bradford Interchange. Of the 15 seats in the back of the rear car 11 are occupied. I suspect they may fill up before Leeds…
06:50.
My Hebden Bridge – Leeds train was early into Leeds, a rare event as normally you expect to be held outside waiting for a platform, but at this time of day there’s less chance of delays having accrued. This was fortunate as I managed to get ahead of myself by 20 minutes as I made a connection with LNER’s 06:40 to Kings Cross. I’ve now got the mobile office set up in a table bay ready to catch up with the day. At this point I’ve realised the flask of coffee I made to bring with me is still sitting on the kitchen work surface back at home. Bugger! Off to the on-board shop it is then…
08:25.
The arrival of dawn coincided with us passing Peterborough at speed. Supposedly, the days are getting longer but that’s not how it felt today. Now we’re bowling along South of St Neots in half-light past flooded fields that bare testament to just how much rain we’ve been having these past couple of months. The sun’s doing its best to break through the low, patch cloud so I’m optimistic we might get some good weather in Wendover by the time I get there. In the meantime, it’s warm and cosy aboard this train for the next 20 odd minutes before we reach London…
08:30.
I’m always fascinated by the way the weather works. After passing Hitchin we crossed into what’s obviously been a cold front. Everywhere (houses, cars and fields) is coated in a layer of frost so thick you could almost mistake it for a light dusting of snow. What a difference to the mild weather I had on my walk this morning!
08:40.
We’re in the North London suburbs. Having broken through the layer of cloud bordering the capital we’re once more enjoying clear blue skies.
09:55.
On arrival at Kings Cross I transferred to the ‘tube’, or in this case the old Metropolitan line which isn’t a tube at all. An uncrowded train deposited me at Baker St, a station whose architecture and detail I’ve always admired. I was in no hurry so whilst humming Gerry Rafferty’s musical homage I took pictures of the remnants of a more genteel and less rushed age.
Now I’m at Marylebone, waiting for my train to depart, having swum against the tide of incoming commuters. Marylebone has always been the odd one out of London’s termini. It still is today as it’s the only one that’s purely diesel powered – with no sign of electrification in sight…
10:40.
Almost there. The journey onChiltern’s been fine but by God their old ‘Thames Turbo’ fleet is looking tired. The seat coverings are threadbare, vestibule doors are missing and the whole train needs a damned good clean.
17:00.
Apologies for absence but it’s been another busy (if Baltic) day looking at the start of the Wendover viaduct deck push-out. I’ll describe it in more detail later, right now I’m on a train from Banbury into Birmingham have explored a couple of other HS and E-W rail sites with a friend (Chris Howe). In the meantime, here’s a couple of pictures to be getting on with.
The Wendover viaduct looking South. In the background (below the crane) is Jones’ Hill wood.The view from atop one of the bridge pillars looking North towards Wendover. Looking South from atop the same pillar. The construction site is long and very narrow. The track to the left is the haul road used for moving spoil from further South to be reused North of Wendover.
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Over the Christmas shutdown Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams have been busy in the Mirfield station area where a number of different jobs have been carried. I visited just before Christmas, when the place looked like this;
Looking West across the original station and platforms 2 and 1 from the newer wooden platform 3 which is located on the Up Slow. Looking East from the end of platform 3 with a Wigan – Leeds train passing on the Down Slow. The centre track is the Up fast, which was about to move…
Over the holiday period approximately 560 meters of the Up Fast was renewed and slewed to a new alignment. This allowed the rarely used platform 2 to be cut back, creating more room for future works. At the same time two new beams were lifted into place over Station Road. these will form part of the new station platform. Here’s how things looked today – the first day of the year where it hasn’t rained!Platform 2 has been abolished with the edging stones removed and earth cut back. It’s also been hoarded off from platform 1 which remains in use for Eastbound services. To the right you can see one of the new concrete beams which have been lifted into place over Station Rd. They’re protected by the white fencing. Here’s a slightly wider view.
Meanwhile, looking East…
The new view from the end of platform 3 look East, with a long section of the Up Fast having been relayed in its new position closer to the Up slow. Here’s a couple of pictures that give greater clarity. Back in May 2021 180112 approaches Mirfield From Wakefield on the Up Slow. Notice the position of the Up Fast. Here’s (almost) the same view today.
These are the first really substantial alterations at Mirfield, but there’s lots more to come as the four tracks are restored and the station’s completely rebuilt.
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I was up with the larks this morning – even though I wasn’t going anywhere special. As part of my New Year refocus I’m trying to make as much of the day as possible – although waking up when it’s still dark and it’s chucking it down kinda tests your motivation!
Having spent an hour or so soaking up some coffee, scanning a few old slides and catching up on the world’s news I decided to take advantage of a gap in the rain to get out and try for my first rail pictures of the year. I’d seen that Grand Central’s hired-in ‘Voyager’ was working the 10:20 service from Bradford through Halifax. I hadn’t got a shot of one of these GC 221s before (remiss, I know) so I packed the camera in a waterproof bag and walked down to Salterhebble where there’s a good view of the lines to Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge diverging at Dryclough Junction.
I was pushing my luck. Whilst the rain held off dark clouds were heading my way. So much so that by the train arrived I’d lost two full stops of light. At that location the speed it’s travelling at is more of a crawl, which was just as well. Here’s the shot I managed.
221142 drops down towards the Salterhebble tunnels whilst working 1A63, the 1023 Bradford Interchange to London Kings Cross.
There was no point in pushing my luck to try and get another other shots as the rain returned with a persistent attitude. Taking the hint I gave in and walked into Halifax with half a mind to try other pictures but the rain was having none of it. Instead I walked home having at least achieved my 12.5k step count for the day – if nothing else! I must admit, I do enjoy mooching around the streets and cobbled alleys of Halifax. Not having grown up in a mill town but at the seaside (far more genteel – and with cleaner air) I find it fascinating looking around terraced streets of back-to-back houses, little cottages and grand houses surrounded by walled gardens. Then there’s the mills, some of which still remain. Admittedly, having an interest in both history and architecture helps…
Back home there was little choice left but to retreat to the office and sort out some paperwork – which will bear fruit in the next few days (hopefully) whilst watching the rain drip off the stone walls outside. It was in complete contrast to the slides I was scanning – pictures of Social housing in East London built in the 1970s and demolished in the 1990s – then a selection of images of India and Tibetan refugees.
So, here’s a bonus picture for tonight. Here’s shot from the Tibetan refugee self-help centre in Darjeeling, India. More than just a refugee centre, it’s a place where exiled Tibetans can keep traditional crafts alive. This old boy caught my eye and was happy for me to take his picture. Shot in April 1998, I don’t expect he ever got to see his homeland again.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
To be honest, I’m not sad to see 2023 go. It’s hardly been the best of times so this blog’s going to resemble the proverbial Curate’s egg – good in parts!
Admittedly, 2023 started well for me as I spent the first couple of months of it indulging my lifelong passion for travel by wandering solo through haunts old and new in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. It was a joyous experience to get away and spend time in a part of the world I’ve loved for over 30 years, although at times it made me realise how much the UK is slipping behind other developed countries. Watching Singapore investing billions in continuing to improve it’s public transport infrastructure whilst hearing that the Conservatives were continuing to prune back HS2 construction in Britain was a classic example. The same story was playing out in Malaysia and Thailand. There was new construction everywhere I went – and long-term planning too – another thing absent in the UK.
Returning to the UK in March I got back into the swing of things and recording and reporting on the UK railway scene, which was mixed to say the least. Beset by industrial unrest, a lack of a rolling stock strategy and what must be the most anti-rail Government and PM we’ve seen for decades, it was a torrid time. However, I feel enormously privileged as a railway journalist to have the access I have to people, places and events – such as covering the continued construction and progress on building HS2. Well, the bits that Rishi Sunak hasn’t stymied for now – but more of that later…
Other bright spots in the year were several holidays. A group of us (‘the 5 from the 6’ – a reference to our local pub, the Big 6) had a break in Istanbul at the beginning of May. It’s a city and country I’d never visited before but I’d certainly return. The people were welcoming and entertaining whilst the city has a fascinating history and a real vibrancy – as you’d expect from somewhere that straddles both Europe and Asia. Back in the UK, Dawn and I (along with her parents) had holidays in North Norfolk and also Cambridgeshire – an old haunt of mine but virgin territory for the others so it was fun showing folks around towns they’d never explored before like Cambridge and Ely. They were wowed by the Cathedral whilst pretty St Ives became a favorite location. Remarkably, we had gorgeous weather for both our UK breaks. Sadly that wasn’t to be the case for the rest of the year. As regular readers of this blog will know, the weather’s one of my preoccupations due to being an outdoor photographer. It often governs what I can and can’t do.
Now to politics. See, I said this would be a curate’s egg sort of blog! What can I say, other than what an utter shit-show 2023 has been on the domestic front. The Tories seem to have become a death-cult, drifting further and further to the right whilst displaying their utter contempt for ordinary voters as they try and cling on to power. They’ve given up all pretense of governing the country for the benefit of the populace and made it clear they’re only there to enrich each other. Just when you think they couldn’t get any worse in their choices for PM, the next one comes along and says ‘hold my beer’…
After the lying, lazy incompetence of Johnson we had Truss, who was so dogmatically batshit even the financiers and bankers of the City of London rejected her, leading to the economic crash that saw her off within a few short weeks. Then along comes Sunak, the ‘also ran’ who got a second chance. A man with no political antenna and no connection or empathy with ordinary people. A man who promised ‘integrity’ in government then spectacularly failed to deliver it. Billed as a ‘details man’ by his supporters he displayed all the recall of someone with Alzheimers during his questioning at the Covid enquiry. His contempt and disdain for the democratic process and accountability was obvious. A millionaire autocrat who’s chosen the most ridiculous political hill to die on (Rwanda) because he hasn’t the acumen or common-sense to stop making impossible promises he can’t deliver, yet who scraps a project he could (HS2) that has had over a decade of cross-party consensus and support. And for what? The ridiculous ‘Network North’ which even a fag-packet would be insulted to have been used to draw it up on? Sunak is so tin-eared he can’t even see how a boastful tweet about scrapping HS2 sent from a private jet looks. It’s that level of disconnect.
Thankfully, 2024 will see a general election called. Personally, my money is on May although I suspect even Sunak (a man who shows no attempt to think things through) really knows when he’ll call it. His impulsiveness and ability to listen to bad advice means it could be called anytime. Only one thing’s clear – the Tories inability to move the electoral needle. Barring a miracle (or disaster, depending on your political viewpoint) Labour are favorites to win and Keir Starmer to be our next Prime Minister. OK, he’s not the most inspiring politician. He certainly doesn’t have the charisma or power of oratory that Tony Blair had, but I really don’t care. Right now all I want to see is a Government run by adults who actually care about the country, not this bunch of right-wing, swivel-eyed loons who’re more concerned with feathering the nests of themselves and their friends.
Right, enough of politics. There’s going to be plenty of time for spleen-venting in 2024, beginning next month when the next Brexit fiasco kicks in at our ports as the Government finally starts checking food imports, having delayed this five times before.
On a more personal level. January promises to be an interesting month. Having been bedevilled by a series of minor injuries this year which have meant my fitness levels have dropped but my weight hasn’t I’ve decided to begin the new year with a reset, giving up alcohol (yep, the infamous ‘dry January’) whilst boosting my exercise regime – whatever the weather throws my way. Please God, all I ask is – don’t let Sunak call an election in January!
On other fronts 2023 has seen me blog on 308 days. I’m amazed and humbled that these and older blogs have been read 78,400 plus times this year whilst over 265,000 people have popped in since I started blogging in 2015. Thank you all for your support – especially those who’ve contributed towards the costs of running this blog by clicking on ads or buying me a coffee via Ko-Fi. It’s greatly appreciated.
I’ll do my best to keep you entertained with stories of travel, the railways and politics throughout the year.
Of course, a lot of what I’ve achieved couldn’t have been done without the love and support of my incredible wife, Dawn. I’d just like to pay tribute to her for all she’s done – despite the grief I sometimes cause her!
So, all that remains is to wish you all a prosperous and peaceful New Year and hope you all have a great 2024. See you on the other side. Right now, we’re off to the pub for a couple of hours…
The last blog – and last picture of 2023. Happy New year from ‘Happy Valley’. Taken on my walk earlier…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
So, here we are. The penultimate day of 2023. Not that you’d know if you didn’t possess a calendar as it’s been exactly the same as almost every day in December here in the Calder valley. Gloomy and wet. At this rate you’ll easily be able to tell someone from the Calder valley. They’ll be the ones with the webbed fingers! Right now it’s a miracle if we go more than a couple of hours without rain. We really have had an awful December that’s followed on from an equally wet November.
With the weather being so crap there was nothing else for me to do but concentrate on home life, so the day’s mostly been spent working and cooking. Yesterday I made a spicy vegetable hotpot with dumplings in the slow cooker. I’ve never made dumplings before but the whole recipe seemed to suit the season and I enjoyed something different. Today’s effort was designed t use up some of the Xmas veg we’ve got left – so Carrot and Parsnip soup it was. Admittedly, I may have overdone the Chili flakes for people with a more sensitive palette – but for us they give the warm glow you need this time of year. Besides, some of it’s to stock up the freezer and I’m sure it’ll be idea if we have a cold spell – although there’s little sign of that at the moment. I’m not a great one for New Year’s resolutions but I do have a few things planned and one is to spend more time in January cooking different dishes (mostly vegetarian) – which should keep me out of trouble and give Dawn a break.
I’m really hoping the weather does a volte face in January otherwise I’m going to have to cast my photographic net further afield, which will be a bit of a bugger in some ways as I have two articles lined up either side of the Pennines. That said, there’s a decaying national rail network to report on – and some interesting stuff on High Speed 2 on the bit Rishi Sunak hasn’t made a mess off (but more of that in my end of year review).
Right now it’s time to switch off for the evening and indulge in some escapism. I’m not a great watcher of TV. In fact, I can’t think of any programmes I watch on a regular basis apart from (when they’re on) ‘Dr Who’ and ‘Have I Got News For you’ and ‘The Last Leg’. The oxymoron that’s ‘Reality’ TV leaves me cold, so if I want to indulge I’m more likely to find a film or series on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Right now we’ve been enjoying the Amazon Prime series ‘Reacher’ which is based on the character invented by the author Lee Child. The books often turn up in travel libraries in homestays and hotels across Asia, which is where I first encountered them. The Amazon series isn’t bad, so that’s tonight’s TV sorted.
All that’s left now is the picture of the day – which comes from sunnier climes as I’m in desperate need of some sunshine and photographs are the only way I’m going to get it! Here’s Tangalle beach in Sri Lanka on this very same day 20 years ago when I was there with friends. How time flies – and if only I could…
Funny how fate works. We spent the Christmas season of both 2002 and 2003 on Sri Lankan beaches, as we often used to get away that time of year. If it wasn’t Sri Lanka it would be India, or elsewhere. The one year we decided to say in the UK for Christmas as we’d travel plans for later was 2004. And what happened here, then? The Tsunami…
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It’s Christmas eve here at Bigland Towers but there’s no chance of it being a white one. Temperatures are currently in double figures and the rain’s incessant. I’ve spent nearly all day at home trying to plug divert some of the waterfalls that have become a feature of the cottage porch. I need a few dry days to be able to effect external repairs but dry days are as rare as rocking-horse shit at the moment so all I can do is try and divert and catch the leaks.
Apart from impromptu DIY most of the day’s been taken up with preparing for Xmas. Whilst Dee’s been over to her parents to see how they are I’ve been wrapping prezzies and cleaning the cottage. Now we’re having a quiet night in. Dee’s immersed herself in cooking, whilst I’m on-hand to do the washing up and being there as needed for peeling duties. Needless to say, the smells that are wafting up the stairs are exquisite!
With all this going in it’s a short blog from me. I just want to wish all my readers a very merry Christmas and hope you all have a peaceful and relaxing day. These are anxious and difficult times for so many people in the world right now, so spare a thought (and a donation to charity if you can) for the folks who won’t be enjoying tomorrow – for whatever reason.
Paul Bigland 