Sometimes, I don't realise how much I need to relax until I'm finally unwinding - and today was one of those occasions. Easter had crept up on me, so fast in fact that I'd neglected to do any of the traditional panic-buying that is expected of one prior to the shops closing for 24 hours. The problem being of course, that I normally shop on Sundays. In any case, it had been a long and rather eventful week - so the all too rare chance to visit my local last night, followed by a good long trip today was just what was needed. I set out early, with the aforementioned visit to the pub not causing too much difficulty in getting up on time I'm pleased to note. Onto the first train to Bristol, finding most of the concessions at the station not open until later due to it being a holiday weekend. Contented myself with coffee, beefed up with extra espresso shots, and headed for the 07:00 which was already ticking over on the platform. Despite being very quiet so far, the train was heavily reserved. There is always a vague worry at this time of year that things will get wedged and that a Voyager vestibule will be home for a couple of hours! Settled into my booked seat and enjoyed a relaxing, quiet journey north while catching up on podcasts and enjoying seeing the familiar scenery in daylight for the first time in months. The weather varied wildly, from rain and hail to bright spring sunshine as we sped north through the Midlands. Unexpectedly diverted at Soho South Junction to take the line via Bescot before getting back on track at Wolverhampton, which cost us around a 15 minute delay. Realised with some concern that the same thing next week could scupper my plans entirely! Otherwise, an uneventful and pleasant run up to Manchester Piccadilly on the ever-useful 1M21.

Despite being about 10 minutes late, had some time here to pop out to the Ian Allan shop and to find a late breakfast and more coffee. The station was busy with Chelsea and Manchester United fans here for a 12:45 kick-off. As a member of staff wryly observed this meant them arriving and leaving during the same shift - "double the fun" indeed! Despite always enjoying a bit of a wander in Manchester when the football isn't on, not unhappy today to get onto a 185 which would complete the journey to Scarborough. It's always good to do the route via Guide Bridge and under the Pennines - despite leaving Standedge Tunnel under wet and gloomy skies, with Huddersfield and Leeds blanketed by drizzle. With the train strangely quiet from Leeds, headed back out into the sunshine at Colton Junction. Noted 66412 and 301 in the Royal Mail sidings at York. Seemed odd that 66301 hadn't gone with it's sister engines to Crewe following Jarvis Fastline entering administration earlier in the week. Made a note to get some pictures on the way back through York, as we set off for the final leg of the journey to Scarborough.

I hadn't been this way for a few years, and I'd forgotten just how winding and tight some of the curves were along this line. Somewhere along the way the sun appeared again, and the last part of the journey was conducted in fine weather. We snaked into the long, curved platform 1 at Scarborough on time, leaving me with around an hour to explore the town. Set off down the main street, poking my head into the rather busy Wetherspoons to see if any of the characters from my last visit were in evidence, but it's a very different place on a busy holiday Saturday it seems! Wandered through the town to the Cliff Lift which takes people down to the beach in rather precarious-looking wooden cars down an inclined railway. Thought about doing it for the track, but given how busy it was I flagged the lift and settled for enjoying views over the see and some pictures instead. The fact I was desperate enough to consider it left a niggling worry that perhaps I should have gone with my instincts - but while Pwllheli remains undone, there is no excuse to be chasing these little bits of track! The town was certainly busy, and I noticed again how irritated I get these days with people walking aimlessly and slowly around. Negotiated the half-speed holidaymakers and made my way back to the station with the intention of getting some pictures and a decent coffee before the run back. However, as I arrived a Charter Train from Bedford which I'd completely failed to read the gen about crept quietly into platform 1 with 47787 at the helm. Just time to get some pictures before a rather sudden hailstorm swept across the platforms. Found cover and waited for the train back to York to be called, this time leaving from platform 4 under the roof of the trainshed which gives Scarborough it's 'proper railway station' feel.

A smooth ride back to York in pleasantly hail-free conditions, although it was raining when we arrived despite being wonderfully sunny once again! 66412 had disappeared from the sidings apparently to rescue the tour at Scarborough, which explained the large noisy thing which had zipped by our train unexpectedly around Malton. Calculated that disappointingly I wouldn't have time to wait and see the return working before my train home. In any case spent a fine hour at York chatting with the platform-enders, getting some pictures and finding another good cup of coffee before the long catering desert which is CrossCountry these days. My train back to Bristol arrived in good time, and again was heavily reserved - but I note not many of the reserved seats got taken this time. Perhaps the will-they won't-they strike had put people off travelling? I had a quiet ride back south, with an absolutely stunning sunset over the Malvern Hills which reminded me of my very earliest rail journeys. A fine ending to a long, interesting and ultimately very relaxing day out on the rails. Next week's equally opportunistic trip will, I hope, provide more of the same...

A day off work, fine weather and a bit of an event to attend. After a lazy start to the day, headed for Bristol on the 09:21. Noted a couple of fellow employees joining at Weston who appeared to be heading for the same event. Arrived with time to spare, which I spent drinking coffee and wandering around the station - something I haven't done for quite a while. Just after 11:00, went to platform 6 to register for my name badge, and enjoyed the hospitality on offer. Noted another First celebrity across the station, in ScotRail liveried 158741 which was heading for Brighton!

Highlight of the day was of course the newly reliveried HST set working from Paddington to Penzance. After a short speech and a fanfare, the set purred into the platform with MTU enginged 43004 and 43009 in charge. A brief speech from Alison Forster, MD of First Great Western and we were on board and heading for Weston. Lots happening once we set off, with magicians and a barbershop quartet on board! Plenty to eat and drink too.

Other stations en route seemed to have joined in, and at Weston we had a welcoming committee of most of the station staff including the manager.

An enjoyable morning and a good show by First. Would have stayed on longer, but I suspect that it might have become quite crowded later in the journey. Noted later that the first weekday of the franchise had been plagued with short formations and cancellations. First have lots to do - if they throw as much effort into fixing these issues as they did into today's celebrations, we should see some changes soon enough.

A strangely lacklustre day in lots of ways. Woke up feeling rather groggy - I can feel the seasonal allergies approaching, and it will take a couple of days for the antihistamines to start working. Bright and sunny out. Had decided on a journey along the coast to tour 'dubiously named seaside resorts' - namely Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. Always strange, having allegedly grown up in one resort, and now living in another crumbling temple of Victorian leisure time, seeing how its done elsewhere is compelling, if a bit depressing.

Chaos at Temple Meads with Portsmouth bound services - the 0822 delayed indefinitely and requiring fitters attention on arrival. 0922 delayed by signalling. Platform changes and much grumbling of passengers later, and we're off - in a rather cramped 158749 from the London end of Platform 1 - which already contained 158748 meaning we only just squeezed on. I suspect 748 may have been the 0822 in fact! Somewhere around here the weather turned wet and somewhat thunderous.

Otherwise, the journey ran rather smoothly. The odd few minutes adrift here and there on the coast, as ever. To Littlehampton first - a rather grim little place with no character, but a rather large station. Didn't hang around much here. Headed straight to Bognor Regis. Slightly better. A massive station - one can imagine huge excusion trains arriving here. The circulating area is vast, and the booking office now houses a small market! The town itself is a little more bustling and pleasant than Littlehampton. Wandered around a bit. Excellent service means four trains an hour out of here, Weston can only dream of such service!

Very sleepy in a hot 150238 on the return leg to Bristol. Lots of strange swapping and changing of units connected to us at Westbury. End result is a stray 153 between platforms 6 and 8 at Temple Meads, which no-one seems to know what to do with! Read a great deal of John Halperin's "Gissing - A Life in Books". Excellent, detailed but rather depressing stuff. On getting back to Weston, wandered aimlessly for a bit.

An odd day. New track and interesting travels, but still feeling restless.

Its very late, my head and eyes ache, and I want to go to sleep and have another of the funny and strange dreams which seem to have haunted my sleep for the past few days. Spent much of today packaging GNOME 1.4 ("Tranquility"/"Fifth Toe") stuff, fixing .spec files and suchlike along the way. The chessboard finally found an appreciative audience. Pretty much sorted out arrangements for GUADEC this coming weekend, including getting my DKK.