Thank you for explaining. It looks like a nice place, but I'd never heard of it, being a southerner.

=

Maybe I'll take a train trip into London this weekend, depending on the weather.

There are a few transport developments I want to check out, such as the new London Overground extension and whether there is new rolling stock on the Circle Line, plus also how things are going at London Bridge, regarding the Thameslink Programme.

Luton and Dunstable guided bus way is due to open in September, so I have been told.

Last time I asked, 90% of the track had been laid.

http://www.luton.gov.uk/transport_an...s/default.aspx

Maybe, I'll also take a trip to Didcot Parkway sometime this summer, to watch the HSTs drive by at full speed, which have been fitted with new engines, MTUs rather than Paxman Valentas, Paxman VP185s, and are quieter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paxman_Valenta

All a bit geeky, I know, but trains are a passion of mine.

That and fireworks, as well as music of course.

Valenta Sunset. THE MOTHER OF ALL HST STARTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ICcOu0NkM

125mph Paxman Valenta FGW HST through Didcot Parkway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNMbLxqksBw

Fireworks Show - Mayor's Thames Festival 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RfuuODgIhc
(I've seen that one about 3-4 times now in different years.)

Other good displays are at Blackheath and Southwark Park.

Last time I looked, the good displays at Alexandra Palace, Clapham Common and after the Lord Mayor's Parade had been discontinued.

The New Years Eve fireworks at the Millennium Wheel (Southbank) are good, but hugely crowded, so I watch that one on TV.

I appreciate the input.

Another lovely morning. Off to the woods we go... if I can get my boys to get up.

jra - your train comment has just reminded me that there are plans to close the Railway Museum in York. I signed a petition yesterday but I've no idea how much support the fight against will have. I must have a looky to see if there's anything about it online.

It would be a real shame to close it. I haven't there personally, but it is part of our national heritage.

If you can find an online petition against the closure, please post the link.

http://www.nrm.org.uk

bit of a grey day here in East Angular
Got a bit of gardening done

Effing passports. It's like they've a grudge against me.

Definitely not in the shed...

in suitcase??

Good thinking snOwy but I found it. It was on my desk under a pile of paperwork, very close to a box file for Very Important Things, where it normally lives these days. I reckon it escaped from there just to have a laugh at my expense.

I had a lovely moment of *maybe I won't be able to go*. I do love Warsaw but the care home called to say that they're having such trouble with ma it might come down to a sectioning after all. They want me to have a go at explaining to her that she's ill and has to take her tablets etc., but I know from past experience this has little chance of working, so god knows what kind of a trip this is going to be.

oh good luck x

Oh Batty wish I could be with you.

My week is already going t*ts up and it's not even Monday yet

Sorry to read that things aren't going so smoothly at the moment with your mum - good luck with getting it sorted out. Hopefully she's in one of her more clear-headed moods by the time you get there.

Yesterday was my birthday, it was very unbirthdaylike and quiet. It picked up at the end of the day when I got emails and texts from my family but for the main it was just weird. This is one of the downsides to being single and on the wrong side of the planet to family. YoungPlum did her best to make it special, so that was nice.

I'm off to work in a little while - it's a public holiday here for the Queen's Birthday so I'll get paid penalty rates so that should help the old bank balance

Hope everyone else is having a good weekend

*waves to Plummie* Happy Birfadee, lovely

batty, sending vibes with you.
You can only do your best, and that's all there is to it, really... (((((hugs)))))

Quiet weekend here - bits of housework, bits of shopping. Started watching The Bridge (we're a bit slow with stuff, but we get there) and finished watching Endeavour. Both very good, in their different ways, though i missed a a bit out of the last Endeavor cos I nodded off - two glasses of wine... *plunk*

Bit more civilised start to the day as I hve a GP appointment (followup to the DVT scare earlier in the year) at 9.20, so will be able to get ready without hitting Mach 3 and take Melony into school before I go.

N'night, grumps

Insomnia. Just what I need.

Send vibes in an Easterly direction darling grumpies...

Sorry Plummy, I forgot to wish you a happy birthday. Happy Birthday!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>>>>>>>

Huggles too!

Aside from the aspect ...

Two stag parties on the flight I took to Prague, and they were quiet (one bloke looked lovely in flight crew gear).

(((BG)))

Happy Plumday everybody.

Happy Birthday Dearest Plum

Oh Pants, I missed your birthday Plumster. Sorry - hope you had a lovely day.

BG - feeling your pain re the insomnia. Up at 3am today for no reason that I could fathom other than the fact that I needed loads of sleep Am now frantically trying to cobble some training together for tomorrow along with a report for some anxious parents. This isn't being helped by having my lovely son at home having very loud Skype conversations with his online gaming community. Gaaah

Anyway - if you see this - hope the flight was good and things not as bad as they seem, once you're actually there. Sending vibes your way ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and hugs, and the same to anyone else what needs 'em xx

Thank you for all the birthday wishes I feel speshul

Yesterday was a day of minor and major catastrophes, just one thing after another went wrong at work, then the engine warning light came on in the car on the way home so that means another trip to the garage to get that looked at which inevitably will mean spending money. I'm hoping it's just a blip again but I'm booking it in to get the fuel injectors cleaned as the guy said I needed to do this sometime after I had the service done. I had hoped it would hold out til tax time but the car just couldn't wait those extra few weeks! *shakes fist in futile rage"

An evening of minor mishaps followed, putting things in the fridge instead of the cupboard etc... and then things took a turn for the worst - DestructoPup decided to play her wildcard!

We were all sitting outside on the patio to keep DP company as she isn't allowed indoors unfortunately, when she decided to start playing her games which generally involve stealing things she knows she isn't allowed to touch, like the doormat .... so she was galloping around with the mat, wagging her tail and thinking it was incredibly funny to have YoungPlum and I so cross with her. I really wasn't in the mood. Eventually it got through to her tiny pea brain that I wasn't best pleased so she dropped it but unfortunately went into one of her crazy runs round and round and round the garden on and off the patio ..... she knocked a canoe which is on a stand, off it's stand which collapsed, YoungPlum and I were meanwhile hiding behind a couple of pillars as you really don't want her to crash into you when she is going full pelt ..... when she ran headlong into the barbeque.... which in itself wouldn't have been so bad but there was a plastic bottle on top of it which flew off, landed and split open shedding a litre of dark brown oozy liquid all over the pale cement....

I was loathe to just hose it off as I didn't know what the liquid was ... it was some sort of Rust converter, and I didn't know if it would kill the grass etc... having thought of the safety of the grass, and the safety of the dog (I'd got YoungPlum to grab hold of her and keep her away) .... I dived into soaking up the liquid with kitchen roll .... no thought for whether it would harm me ... I mopped it up but there was a HUMUNGOUS big stain ... and a lot of explaining to do to my friend. I thenm having read the bottle and seen it was non toxic, went to try and hose the area off, but it was pitch black and raining and the hose didn't seem to quite reach .... but it turns out I'd snagged it on a tree somewhere.... but in taking it back and checking that I'd turned the tap off properly somehow I'd managed to point the spray nozzle so that it was pointing directly at me so I sprayed myself full on in the face..... no the tap wasn't off it would seem! I sighed bravely and turned the tap off, turned to go back into the house, and somehow managed to get my foot caught in my long stretchy skirt and I nearly fell flat on my face, just recovered by grabbing a tree before I hit the ground.... YoungPlum meanwhile is nearly pee-ing herself laughing as I come back round to the crime scene somewhat wet and leafy!

Fortunately my friend and her partner came home a couple of minutes later and she was really good about it all ... the stain has come out with the aid of bleach to the point where it isn't quite as unsightly but it looks like we'll probably have to get the patio painted - she wouldn't be bothered, but it's actually her mum who owns the property and she will care. However, it's not urgent but yet another expense for me to look forwad to. Incidentally the bottle of stuff that broke costs about £55 or the equivalent One piece of good fortune was that apparently the liquid can dye your skin purple and not come off for days! How I managed not to get any on my hands I have no idea as I certainly wasn't being very careful as I was in full-scale head-spinning wahhhhh mode

At least my friend has a good sense of humour and a kind nature. The financial consequences I can cope with, it's when people get angry that I freak. All this on the first anniversary of me moving out!

I had nightmares last night

Today has been peaceful ...... so far ......

Do Betty's deliver

Hiiiiiiiiiiii GOW

(((Batsx)))

Hello, gorgeous!

Don't know if Betty's do, but I could if you asked me!

How's things with you?



Plummie - you are special, in so many ways!
As is DestructoPup, clearly!
Glad it turned out OK... was it very bad of me to laugh?

hehe loving your style as always

We are well thank you and I hope you are too

Welcome home OMG hope both well
Plum belated happy birthday
Bats hugs, vibes and prayers
Hope all in GOWland are well