A chance to use the final day of the Severn, Avon and Wessex Rover. Set out late, on a service delayed due to an incoming track machine heading for the Carillion 'depot' which seems to have gained a semi-permanent base at Weston recently.

Over to Newport, and then to Swindon via Bristol Parkway and Wooton Bassett - a bit of track I see very rarely indeed. Shaping up to be a warm day by the time I arrive, and tempers seem frayed. Firstly, a couple of people arguing about whether you get paid if you are on strike (why do people think this?! still amazes me!). Secondly, a Freightliner driver who gets himself entagled in the crowds trying to get a seat on a Bristol-bound Adelante started cursing and swearing when his progress along the platform was impeded!

Short hop to Bath Spa, with an intention of getting a Salisbury-bound service. Saw the number of passengers on board and flagged it. Caught a following 150 to Weymouth as far as Westbury. Thought about going the distance, but figured I'd save that for the Class 31 haulage which would start with the Summer Timetable. During my wait the miserable Freightliner guy passed by at a crawl at the controls of a 66.

Got a look at the 31s at Westbury, and also witnessed a rare (for me) Class 59 among other movements. From Westbury to Taunton, via the unusual Wessex service from Portsmouth which splits here. Coincidentally, back to Weston on the same unit I set out on this morning. A short, pleasant and uneventful day of wandering.

Spent much of today with our software supplier, looking at the new features which will enable us to coordinate school admissions with other Local Education Authorities. In fact, today was pretty successful - achieved more than we'd hoped, and actually got the bare bones of a Primary Offer Scheme working which reflects our policy, doesn't mess with Voluntary Aided schools, and produces the expected results when things are oversubscribed. Felt good to see it working after much talking about it in the past! Need to work out how to manually enter the ranking for the VA offers now, then on to the slightly more complicated Secondary School scheme. We also need to test it with something a little more substantial than the contrived little situation we set up today, but indications are that we are on the right track.

I've also hopefully also secured a day off in the week to use the last day of my Wessex Rover, but I'm loathe to commit that to print, as nothing is certain yet.

After work, met a friend for a pleasant drink and some catching up. I think for me in my rather insular little life, its easy to forget how important people are. Felt really good to talk about all kinds of random things. Was also able to share some tentative good news on my nephew too, who seems to be making excellent progress, and may even be home later this week! My sister sends regular and welcome SMS messages with weight gains, milestones passed. He's made such incredible progress in such a short time. Inspiring stuff.

Pleasant walk home in the evening sunshine afterwards too. A good day, all in all.

Up and out on the 0640 in what promised to be strong sunshine. Opted for a Severn, Avon & Wessex Rover - will try to use this as an incentive for a day off in the week. Time for coffee at Bristol, and also a moment to note that 'Crowd Control Measures' would be in use at Cardiff Central, due to the Challenge Cup Final at the Millenium Stadium. The positive side of this is that lots of additional services are running. Noted 'Nunney Castle' still on Barton Hill Depot as we passed en route to Cardiff.

One particularly intriguing service was my target - the 0934 Cardiff Central to Cardiff Central, via Gloucester and Bristol Parkway. In other words, a big, Class 37 hauled circle! Arrived at a rather quiet Cardiff in good time and spent a while trying to photograph the 37s working the Rhymney services. Pretty soon, 37419 arrived and we were off - it was practically all cranks up front, with a few familiar faces. The journey up the Western bank of the Severn in wonderful weather was very pleasant, and 37419 appeared to be in good form. At Gloucester, it appeared thousands of Rugby fans wanted to get on. The small group who ended up in the front with us seemed a bit perplexed by what was happening!

Back to Cardiff via the Severn Tunnel. Out into the sunshine to get a picture of 37419. Then, in quick succession the other excursion trains started piling in - 47197 on a service from Manchester Oxford Road, a pair of 67s on a Wigan service, and 31454 top and tailing with 31452 on a Westbury-Cardiff. Even as the Rugby fans disappeared towards the stadium, the platform got busy with photograhers!



Could have hung around for the return leg, but felt that the mass exit of thousands of fans (at least half of whom would be disappointed!) was less likely to be pleasant. Since another hauled service was due tomorrow, decided to bid Cardiff goodbye. Headed back to Weston to get a long-promised haircut, then over to Highbridge for a brief visit. Considered wandering back up on the offchance of getting 31s back to Westbury, but decided I was too hot and tired.

Probably the worst break-through hayfever symptoms of the year today, and at 22:50 ish its still pretty warm. Summer, I think, is here.

Appraisal Day at work. Always interesting, sometimes feared, but generally a good chance to talk about what's gone on, what's planned and get a bit of feedback on how you fit into the world at large. This year's appraisal came at the end of what's been an inexplicably difficult week. I've certainly not been firing on all cylinders. All pretty positive however. On coming back to the office, found people canvassing for pizza orders, had a very greedy and pleasant lunch. Spent the afternoon mopping up some vacant places at our most heavily oversubscribed schools. Always an interesting task.

Fully intended to get a haircut too - but the barbers' shop was either closed or busy everytime I passed.

So, the weekend beckons. Had thought about a wander around London and some church sites, but I'm also tempted by some unusual workings connected to additional Rugby trains to Cardiff tomorrow.