The last of Brian's birthday celebrations was another train ride, but this one was special. A flyer had come through the doors couple of months before advertising the Statesman Pullman Train going from South Wales to North Wales, and back. One of its stops was Barnt Green, just down the road, for a luxury day out. The first thing I knew was a WhatsApp from John at 06.00 with a screenshot of the train journey saying it was running an hour late and suggesting that it was cancelled. It wasn't that bad, it was an hour late, but only the first stop had been cancelled, due to a problem with the doors. We rang the emergency contact who was on the train and confirmed the delay, but assured us we should still turn up. John came to collect us, in our smarter than average clothes, to take us to BG and showed us the live train times tracker. We joined the many other smartly dressed people on the platform, making immediate friends with people by letting them know what was going on, and tracking the train.
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Dressed in our posher than normal clothes but not ultra posh, we were ready to be spoilt in luxury |
It pulled in at 09.00 and we all boarded with much excitement, just hope we have a couple we have something in common with to share our table. Oh look, it's the lady with lovely shoes, well that's a good start. They were a great couple, having the trip for Richard's 60th birthday, rather than Brian's 70th. We tried, without much luck, to give them some space as alone time was obviously something they didn't get much of.
A champagne cocktail was served and breakfast order taken. Eggs Benedict for us, coffee, pastries, more coffee, and more pastries. By the time we arrived in Betws-y-Coed at 12.30 we were only 15 minutes late. We disembarked here, with many others. The train was continuing to Blaenau Ffestiniog where there was an optional steam train ride. This hadn't been an option for us as we were too late and it was full so we opted to stay in Betws-y-Coed where there is more going on. The weather forecast had been rubbish, and it wasn't very good, but it wasn't what the day was about. We went in every outdoor shop looking for rock shoes, mine are 14+ years old so I'd like some new ones, but this was not to be. We certainly didn't need any lunch so we stopped for a GnT and the crossword before returning to the station to watch the train come in to take us back home.
We were welcomed back onboard with champagne and hors d'ouvres and so started 4 hours of eating, drinking and chat. The fish starter was lovely and followed by some amazingly tender lamb. The cheese board was stunning, taking two members of staff to carry it down the carriage, a chocolatey pudding I couldn't eat all of, all accompanied by half a bottle of wine and rounded off with coffee and petite fours, finished as we pulled into Barnt Green at 20.30. What a luxurious way to spend a day. We didn't even need to get John to collect us, though he had offered, as one of the people we'd been talking to on the platform in the morning had offered us a lift home as they were passing the door.
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Champagne on the journey back followed by a 4 course dinner, wine and afternoon tea |
The next week was all much more prosaic, a trip to the financial advisor, a walk with John, climbing, Monday night curry and a regular CT scan for Brian.
The weekend was spent in Tring celebrating Caroline's 21st birthday. We went the long way down, via Telford to collect Veronica and Ron, Lucy's mum and stepdad. Well we are much closer than anyone else to collect them. We had lunch at the house where we caught up with Jonathan, Lucy, Charles and Caroline and the 5 friends she had from Oxford Uni coming to the party. Haven't seen Charles for ages so it was good to be able to spend some time learning about training with the Commandos. We went to check in to our Airbnb, which was very nice, on the High Street in Tring where I grew up, but have probably only set foot in twice in the last 25 years. We had a good little amble about as I reminisced about all sorts of things. There has been a lot of reminiscing going on recently as for his birthday Fiona bought Brian something called 'Your life in a book'. Rather than just give him homework she did one for me too, which is lovely. Once a week we are sent a question to answer, so far all about our young memories. You can write as much or little as you want and add pictures, it's a really lovely thing to be doing.
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Easy does it on our Tuesday walk |
The party was at the Kings Arms where I used to drink before going to university. I even had my tankard behind the bar with all the lads. Thoroughly enjoyable evening, much chatting and socialising, not least Jonathan coming in at the end of the speeches in a dinosaur costume, much to Caroline's delight.
Last week we came down to Iain and Bev's near Bristol as we have done many times. They are doing their usual month in Turkey and their booked house-sitter had backed out. Not that anyone can blame her, she works from home and 2 old cats have turned into one old cat and one 13 month old whippet. We met Freyja in May when we came for the weekend and she is a joy, so much energy it's scary, runs around like an absolute nutter after balls, frisbee's and other dogs. She's very good though, only her toys and on the whole bigger dogs than her as she bowls over smaller ones. Once the running is over, a good sniff through the woods before another few throws and she'll sleep all afternoon till it's time to do it all again! Talking of which.....
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This used to be Jackies grandfathers business that her dad was MD of. It's just private houses and a small business area now, but it used to be a big concern in early IT equipment |
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The birthday girl! Caroline at her 21st birthday party. You need to zoom in on this photo to see the amazing eye makeup one of her friends did for her |
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Jackies brother Jonathan in his dinosaur costume bought specially for this event as Caroline is mad on dinosaurs |
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Monday night Diwan balti with Bill, Tim and Mark |
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On the expansive beach at Weston. When the tide goes out, you can barely see the sea! |
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There is some sand and Freyja likes to dig in it! |
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The switch is off! |
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Posing! |
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Being nosey looking out of the window |
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Not forgetting 17 year old Tinsel cat who has to put up with all this energy. She just keeps out of the way of mad dog! |
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Being good while we have a drink at the local pub |
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They even had their own chapel for private services. Chapel!? Its bigger than a lot of churches we've been in! |
Managed to snap this photo of a buzzard from our bedroom window this morning using full 40:1 zoom on my camera |