The final day of my long weekend, and despite reports that engineering works might run over I found things running smoothly on arrival at the station. A very chilly morning, and to be honest I was feeling less than fantastic. Quite pleased to get aboard the warm, if as ever solidly wedged 0832 Voyager. Equally cold at Bristol where First Great Western staff took their time about opening the doors on the ex-Midland Mainline set.

Plan was to spend most of the day at Didcot, with a diversion to Oxford including a quick pass of Hinksey Yard. Quiet and pleasant trip up to Didcot, where rather unexpectedly a couple of 60s were lurking on my arrival. As I arrived at the end of the platform, a Freightliner working zoomed gracefully around the curve - no chance of a photograph of that one.

Turbo to Oxford, which was to be frank both dirty and smelly. These units are actually quite solid and useful, but they are in desperate need of internal refurbishment or at the least regular cleaning. All the action at Hinksey was behind the high fence where the stone wagons are loaded, was however lucky enough to see 59201 awaiting the road at Appleford. Busy with delayed Virgin punters at Oxford station, but not much happening. Noted a HST set working Oxford-Paddington fast services. Again, at just the wrong moment 60093 passed by on loaded coal wagons. Took a lunch break here and waited for the next stopper back to Didcot.

The sky was now quite purple-grey and snowy looking, and it was now even colder, but nevertheless found myself a spot and waited for things to happen. Yet again, missed a shot of a northbound liner whilst heading for the end of the platform. Lots more Freightliner activity, including a few moments where there seemed to be green 66s coming from everywhere - including 66604 hauling part of the High Speed Ballast Cleaning kit towards Reading. A regular supply of shunting in the yard, and several terminating and running around movements on arriving coal trains. Managed to get myself into more sensible photographic position but I was suprised to see several workings using the platform 3 line before taking the curve towards Oxford.


Stayed until an hour later than I'd planned, finally catching the 1512 HST back to Bristol. A very cold day - I'm not sure I've ever actually been more thoroughly frozen, but good to be out after a frustrating weekend. Arrived back on the relaid track of platform 1 at Weston tonight. Ashamed to say I can't feel the difference!

The past few weeks of Sunday line closures between Bristol and Taunton comes to an end today, but only after a weekend of engineering on the Weston loop line. From late on Saturday afternoon, trains stopped calling at Weston and a complicated system began of ferrying passengers to Worle or Yatton to meet trains using the mainline.

On Saturday evening, having heard that two engineers workings from Westbury had entered the loop at Uphill Junction, I went for a very rare walk into Weston. I followed the line southwards, and at the end of Ridgeway Avenue, spotted a light in the distance. Once again, and rather typically this weekend, there was no way I was going to get a photograph. I found 66028 on 6W23 ticking over at a signal just south of the Brighton Road bridge. Vegetation, a deep cutting and no light from the road meant no shot. Spotted more lights in the distance, and set out once again for the Devonshire Road bridge. Plenty of light this time, but the locomotive (60017 on 6W24) was hard by the bridge. I wandered around and when I finally felt I had a possible shot, I noticed that the locals were paying me quite a bit of interest! I decided this was not the time or place to get the camera out, and went home.

Today was a little better - a cold day but bright sunshine. Experienced the coach service to Worle in the morning, almost missing the connection due to a coach driver who 'got lost' between Weston Milton and Weston-super-Mare stations! On coming back into Weston, spotted a rake of Network Rail hoppers sitting east of the possession. Deposited belongings at home, grabbed the camera and set out for the footbridge at Langford road.

I need not have rushed, when I wandered out to see what was happening at around 20:00, 66189 was in just the same spot, still loaded with fresh ballast. At this point, the work is reportedly two to three hours behind schedule. Will I be going anywhere tomorrow morning after all?

Spent much of today trying to think of productive uses for a long weekend of leave practically forced upon me by my deteriorating patience, increasingly difficult temperament and massive amount of outstanding time off. It was too late to find cheap fares to anywhere interesting, and for much of the weekend its buses only out of Weston. So - not a great time to be off work at all.

After a couple of trips into town to complete errands which I'd meant to do all week but which a strange superstition and worry had prevented, I decided to head out in chase of 6Z43 - otherwise known as 'The Stoneliner'. I calculated that I could head it off at 'the pass' of Bristol Temple Meads based on a timing received at Cockwood Harbour! Hardly scientific.

And very nearly wrong. Just a few minutes after I found my way to the cold damp end of platform 7, I was surprised by the sight of Freightliner wagons passing between platforms 11 and 13. I fumbled with the camera and got a poor shot of 66601 disappearing into the sunset, complete with 'Stoneliner' headboards.

Mulled over the possibility of returning to the warmth of home on the 17:55, but decided the crowds waiting were not a good sign. Instead waited for the 18:19 HST, and whilst waiting again spectacularly failed to get a shot of 47841 passing on the 6X42 Portbury-Mossend car train.

A strange and restless day of being in the wrong place, just after the right time.

Thinking back, my long love affair with The Wedding Present began before the internet, before I'd settled into a regular job and before I'd lost most of my hair. I must also confess that they date back to a time before I had really experienced the miserable and painful situations that sometimes feature in David Gedge's lyrics. Strangely, they went 'on hold' in 1997 just as my troubles in the romantic arena began, although a Cinerama gig did once feature as part of a fin-de-siecle reconcilliation!

Strange then to be setting off to see them tonight. Our Rail Replacement Bus to Bristol sped through a chilly but sunny evening, and my mind was on other things through much of the journey. I stopped for a quick pint before wandering to the Bierkeller - a venue I hadn't set foot in for maybe twelve years - my strongest memories of the place being Nirvana, messy and punky on their Nevermind tour - and some sixth form girls from my old school running away from the stage in horror at the noise when Hole began playing as support on a Mudhoney tour!

Not much had changed, the same sticky carpet, tiny bar, inconveniently pillared auditorium and low stage. Bumped into a dedicated Irish fan who had followed the band on the early Irish dates of the tour and was now dashing around the UK by National Express coach to catch more of the tour. Support act Persil correctly divined that the audience didn't care what they did - nothing personal, but when you're about to meet old friends, its difficult to concentrate on making new ones. On the dot of nine o'clock, the band ambled on individually to the strains of 'On Ramp'. A particularly uplifting cheer went up for Mr Gedge himself, and soon enough it could have been 1990 again as the thunderous ending of 'Interstate 5' gave way to the shimmering opening notes of 'Crawl'.

But of course, it isn't. There is a whole new record of emotional, edgy music to hear live for the first time. Perhaps the most consistent and strongest since 'Seamonsters' in my opinion. The new songs are mixed with a little of everything from the past - including a frantic 'Once More' and a much appreciated 'Kennedy' (not a favourite of mine). A technical hitch gives a chance for the good-natured banter between stage and audience. The odd Cinerama song is thrown in too as a reminder that David hasn't really been away - 'Health and Efficiency' in particular is quite stunning. 'Careless' provokes a comment from DLG that people may not be familar 'with that part' of his career. In fairness, its mainly people of my age, their gleaming pates bobbing in the spotlights. David notes that he barely needs to tell us the band don't do encores because he suspects we may have seen them before.

By 22:40 I'm wandering through the building site of a bus station wondering if I can get the last bus home and not have to wait for the 00:40 Rail Replacement Service. In the midst of turbulent times, in the freezing cold and slightly menacing surroundings of St. James Barton, I am very very glad I came.