Decided that since I wasn't planning a day out today I could stay up last night. Enjoyed some wine too. At about 22:20 I received a mail saying that 'City of Truro' would be working a test run to Weston-super-Mare, arriving 07:33, prior to operating a charter train. So, dutifully got up early despite fuggy head, and stumbled the few yards to the station. Repsectable crowd had gathered, including a few railway employees. After a loud cry of "She's coming!" from the London end of Platform 2, 3440 arrived dead on time, and apparently in fine form.

Departure was booked for 07:57, after the arrival of the down Penzance service. Got a rather surreal picture of 150236 and 3440 passing.



News seems good - 3440's speedometer is within tolerance, so it should work the tour. That leaves 5029 Nunney Castle to work to Portbury and Tytherington tommorrow as planned.

Bank Holiday Monday. A good day to get out of Weston, but no idea where to go. Even thought about going nowhere and conserving funds. Got up, had coffee and read mail. Noted that the Summer National Railway Timetable was out. Thought about a run out to Bristol to collect it, perhaps extended to Reading or Banbury. Up and out of the house in time for the eerily quiet 0829 which is normally a jammed 221, but today was a sparsely peopled 220.

No sign of the timetable at Bristol. No problem, would hop on the 0910 to Reading and check there. Weather changed from filthy to utterly disgusting. No timetable at Reading either, but I was assured they had it at Paddington.

Decision time - checked price of a One-Day Travelcard, which was pretty reasonable. Weighed up against the odds of finding a timetable at Banbury or Oxford - which were slight. Headed for Paddington again!

On arrival, the weather had unbelievably worsened. To add to my miseries, no timetables at WH Smiths. The weekend Circle Line possession was still in force, so hopped a Hammersmith & City and headed for Farringdon. I had only vague plans now. Maybe exploit the Travelcard on some of the lines out of London Bridge? Lucked out with a Thameslink via London Bridge (getting the curve south of Blackfriars as a bonus!). Rain really chucking down now. Out to Plumstead via Lewisham, and back via Greenwich. Stumbled here, thought about getting to Victoria or Bromley South - but no clear idea. Back to Lewisham - missed the Victoria service by minutes. Couldn't bear half an hour in soggy Lewisham.

So, new plan - onto the DLR - first ride of the Lewisham Extension. Lots of curved concrete tunnel, a shame the old V-shaped Island Gardens station is gone, it was always a pleasant oasis for lunchbreaks! Change at Canary Wharf for Stratford, then a gruesome 315 to Liverpool Street. Still no timetable!

Back on the H&C to Kings Cross St. Pancras. Strange security alert which no-one seemed to be bothered about! At last, WH Smiths have stacks of timetables. Quickly purchased one, and headed out to the St. Pancras Interim Station.

I was unprepared for the sight of the shell of Barlow's trainshed surrounded by building site - I was equally stunned by the brutal concrete and steel Interim Station. Wandered in, and up to the platforms. All pretty bleak. Left when security took too much of an interest in me. Didn't fancy explaining myself to the large, angry and bored looking goon! Back to Kings Cross Thameslink, then to Cowcross Street for a coffee - and a chance to fill in the card to get a free timetable update in September! The sun decided to come out now.

Headed back to Paddington a little earlier than I'd planned. Despite the change in the weather, I was tired and a bit bemused by my own random wanderings. I had lots of ill-formed plans and not enough time or energy to fulfil them - a truly London feeling. Decided I needed more time another day. Headed back via a brief stop at Reading. Once again, didn't get a seat on the 180 - but Anthony Head (of Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Little Britain fame) did - in first class of course - much to the delight of a procession of female fans who found repeated excuses to wander by. For information ladies, he got off at Bath Spa.

Awoke to moody skies. Decided against an early start, but still aimed for a hastily planned trip to Maidstone. Telephoned for news from Taunton. Today even the medics were a little bit positive - the first time they have really been anything but concerned and rather grave in their view. The last few days seem to have seen a series of tiny improvements, with equally tiny setbacks. Today they seem to be balancing more on the favourable side. Took heart and set out for my trip a feeling a little better.

From Reading, rebooked via London but took the scenic route across country. On a Gatwick bound service as far as Redhill, then on to Tonbridge. Here, it was a couple of short hops - one to Paddock Wood, then another to Maidstone West. However, it began to fall apart! The Tonbridge-Ashford service was delayed nearly 10 minutes, and according to the on-train announcements this was due to a derailment. I've not found any mention of this anywhere else since. We finally set off, and ran very slowly - arriving at Paddock Wood two minutes after the Maidstone service left!

Stranded! An hour until the next service, so I set out to explore a bit. Paddock Wood is a strange little place - one street, with a bunch of charity shops, bakeries and newsagents. Not much else. Lots of people seemed to be around but not really going anywhere. Turned a corner and found the one single pub I spotted in the whole place. It wasn't clear if it was open so I stayed away. Popped into the rather overscale Waitrose supermarket - a huge and rather pricy store for a small and not apparently very affluent 'village' - suppose this is the commuter belt after all. Bought materials for improvised sandwiches. I'm sure I spotted a relative in the shop too - an auntie. Perhaps I stared a little too hard, and the woman looked quizically back at me - further convincing me I knew her. I have no idea why this particular branch of the family would be anywhere near Kent, let alone sauntering around the local supermarket browsing for cooked meats!

On the rails once more, and a pitifully dilapidated 508 to Maidstone West. Slow going. Arrived, and set off immediately for Maidstone East on foot. What can I say about the town? It's a strange, rather confusing place. The pedestrianized zone was thronged with shoppers, the usual chain stores, endless 'alternative' kids spitting obscenities at passers by, and too many shops selling cheap tat. As I ascended towards the top of Week Street the character changed, and the shops became all manner of restaurants and dodgy looking pubs and clubs. Suddenly, down a side street, the station appeared, looking very welcome - in fact both stations had been quite pleasant little places. I was only sorry I had trusted my map, because it seems that a few more moments on the train to Maidstone Barracks would have made for an easy transfer via a footbridge over the River Medway, avoiding the entire town. I was not sorry to leave Maidstone.

Slammer as far as Bromley South, where I changed for a Blackfriars bound service via Catford, just for some new track. Got a really filthy and rather odourous 465, but enjoyed the new scenery. Realised at Bromley there were a couple of other new routes to try. On arriving at Blackfriars remembered the Circle Line was out of use. Set off on foot on a mapless, straight line wander north through the city. Felt very good indeed to be back on familiar ground. I'm never happier than when I'm pounding Corporation pavements. Absolutely exhilarating, rather speedy walk. All too quickly I was at Farringdon.

After the strangeness of the past week, it was good to get away - I know I'm lucky to be able to, but frankly I've been no use to anyone lately. Here's to more of that positivity which seems to be floating around today...