Watched the rugby, as was my duty as an Englishman, but then decided that I was far too frustrated and agitated to stay indoors.
Toyed with various schemes before settling on a trip to Winchester. It was always going to be tight, setting out at 11:30 on a Sunday morning, but hopefully I'd get a brief look around.
All was well until I encountered unexpected engineering works meaning services were terminating at Westbury. Coach from Westbury to Salisbury, then a long wait for an SWT Brighton service to Southampton. Quick change onto a Basingstoke-bound service, eventually arriving at Winchester at 16:15.
Needed to work out how I was getting back pretty quickly, so paid the excess fare for a NOT LONDON route to replace my VIA SALISBURY ticket, and headed to Reading on Virgin's 16:28 for York, then back via Great Western metals.
Arrived back at 20:25, having spend a total of 13 minutes in Winchester! All-in-all, a successful day which diverted and exhausted me completely!
Finally gave in and purchased a Radeon 9200, in order to move the old nVidia card over to machine #2, which slowly takes shape.
I've spent the last two frustrating afternoons trying to make it work properly. Well, it actually 'works' fine, but when attached to the LCD panel, there are strange vertical ghosts. Finally, after resorting to my old 14" Dell monitor for testing, I've established its more likely some strange unhappiness between card and LCD panel.
As for a solution, not sure - new cables, DVI adaptors etc. have all been mentioned. Sounds like its going to be even more expensive than I thought...
After yesterday's failed attempt at haulage to Brighton, and after a generally pretty frustrating week, things finally worked out this morning!
Up earlyish, and onto the 0812 to Bristol. Quick change for a Cardiff train, and finally chance to relax with coffee at Central.
Met a very pleasant old chap on the platform who was as interested in the ride up to Rhymney as I. In his own words he had 'left the wife shopping in town and told her to expect me when she sees me'. He told many similar stories on the drag up the valley, and provided some laughs and some rather sad memories for much of the outward journey.
37422 was in fine form, but sounded a little noisy when running round at Rhymney. I took a few pictures, but they did not turn out well.
Return journey to Cardiff was absolutely jammed with shoppers and a strange bunch of Geordies. Quick on time ride back to Weston.
Did nothing yesterday at all, despite efforts otherwise. Resolved not to do the same today, and despite early decision to sleep-in, the postman rang the bell and got me out of bed.
Thought about going into the Valleys for some Class 37 haulage, since I've been reading about the possible end to this after Christmas. Found out that only a couple of pretty badly timed trips to Rhymney are hauled on weekdays, but planned a trip for tomorrow instead.
Noted that the top-and-tail 31's to Brighton were still supposed to be running. Headed out to Bristol with enough time to grab a ticket, should they turn out to be running. Watched for the arrival on Platform 13 in howling winds and streaming rain. Hugely disappointed to see a 158 arrive on the inward working. After a few moments of indecision, headed straight back to Weston.
Sheer desperation took me to the computer shop, and persuaded me to part with cash for an ATi Radeon 9200 video card. Now, if I can just make it work...
Later, went for a drink in town with friends. Pleasant enough evening, which I hope won't disrupt tomorrows trip.
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.
