Set out with every intention of finally travelling along the Heart of Wales line, with the help of the new Circular Day Ranger ticket which would cover my journey from Newport to Craven Arms, down to Swansea and back to Newport for a reasonable £20.
First challenge was getting Weston-super-Mare station staff to sell me the ticket. I was gently persistent, and finally they turned up the goods. They were actually very patient with me, and I can't fault them.
First inkling that things might be wrong came at Bristol Temple Meads, with a prior service from Platform 5 terminating at Leominster! Pressed on, catching 11:20 to Newport. Here I realised that there were in fact major engineering works on the Marches Line, which were going to hamper my progress. Set off on the 11:59 to Leominster, and changed for a bus to Craven Arms.
Arriving at Ludlow at 13:30 I realised that I just wasn't going to make the 13:39 to Swansea. I gave up, found a toilet at Tesco and turned for home.
Since its been a while since I've used the Marches Line it was not an entirely wasted journey. Strangely, on reflection I found the whole thing incredibly frustrating. Feeling weirdly deflated now.
Managed to be pretty productive between Christmas and New Year. Spent the quieter days at the office getting promotional materials for our new school out to local community sites, writing documentation for the new application process, tying up loose ends and trying to clear the decks somewhat before the new year.
Planned not to go out for the New Year at all, but was coaxed out by the promise of a quiet night and not having to go into town, which I just did not feel like doing. Ended up not going out at all, but had paid a rather quiet visit to friends (who probably wanted an even quieter evening, but got me instead!). I'm a bit confused about things around here lately. I know I've been a miserable old arse, but I thought people were used to that? Confused. Chatted to some folks on the other side of the date line on IRC, and headed to bed very late.
Today, the Funky Uncle visited and we visited a few far flung pubs - with long tiring walks in between. After checking this useful site, I finally found Wells Bombardier locally. No London Pride however. My tiredness didn't permit much in the way of revelry, but I managed to make short work of a pretty good Indian takeaway later. Finally got around to watching the Peter Kay Live DVD which I bought weeks back. Very, very funny. Wonder how much of it would make sense if the viewer hadn't been born in the North or Midlands? Incredibly sleepy now.
Started by shopping and cleaning. Moved things around a bit here in the flat to accommodate the second machine on a semi-permanent basis.
Set about fixing bits and bobs on this site. In the process got a 'search' function going, which attempts to highlight the occurences of the string entered in the results. Also fixed the webcam image to reflect the camera not being online at all times. People have asked several times about a release of Areopagitica - frankly, I'd be ashamed to let this out with so many loose ends and hacks.
Back to work tomorrow, and perhaps a little calm before the storm? Trying to plan the weekends ahead in order to visit the Family Records Centre and the London Metropolitan Archives. Also think I might be coming down with a cold...
Decided to take advantage of some Great Western diversions to get some unusual track today. Chose the first day of service after the holidays, and also one on which there was network-wide engineering work happening. Hence, I had a lot of company all day!
Set out for Westbury to pick up a Paddington to Penzance service which travelled via Yeovil to Exeter, using the curve between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction. Two long cold waits and an entire leg of the journey standing in a vestibule later I turned around and did the same again. At least I got a seat on the return journey.
Extended wait at Westbury for a Bristol bound service heading back. I have to say that Westbury is probably one of my least favourite stations to get stranded at. Oddly, I've found myself there three times in the last couple of months!
Overall, I spent nine hours making a journey which I could complete in around two by the more direct route. It's fair to say that common sense was not a factor in the decision to do this. You'd need to be a track basher to understand I suppose.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
