What are you all up to
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Thanks all for the good wishes, I am feeling much better today. It has been a very wet one here so not managed to get much done apart from booking our Xmas/New Year site. We now just have to wait to find out what comes of my hospital visit on Tuesday before booking other sites prior to then. We got a warning in the middle of the night from Swift Alert that there was no power in our caravan battery, so it looks as if that's more expense getting a new one!!😥
Lovely to see the trains and your OH, @Takethedogalong looking so well, and that you had great day out.
Super photos of the decorated postboxes and churches, thanks @Bakers2, @milliehull & @Takethedogalong
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We love steam trains, going to try and visit most of the heritage lines if we can. Been on quite a few, but Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog definitely on list. Our next day out might be via train, Donny to York to spend a day at National Railway Museum, always a great visit. We can get an oldies railcard now, so good value. Need to get to Ferry Meadows again and do a Nene Valley trip as well.
@DavidKlyne we use EBay quite a bit, and Etsy. Not keen on Amazon, but have used it. We do get quite a bit of stuff online, particularly classic car stuff and hobby stuff. I have bought from overseas, Russia (back when anyone traded with them), USA, Baltic countries, European countries. You do have to be careful though nowadays, because of trade restrictions and tariffs. It’s not as easy to get some stuff now, and delivery/ postage can be astronomical. I had an Etsy shop, but couldn’t trade with Europe after Brexit, just a whole lot more difficult☹️
@Wherenext its been a total recharge for us these three days. We managed not to forget anything, have dropped on with this site, which has grown and had some changes since we were last here. Would suit you, good location, etc…..
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@Bakers2 love that topper, nice to have the purple poppies to remember all the animals that were killed as well. We said hello to a very smart veteran in Pickering today. REME, he had a chest full of medals, really nice chap.
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Thanks for your continued good wishes @milliehull @Francis @richardandros @nelliethehooker @InaD and others.... Carol came out of hospital yesterday afternoon... we're both really tired at the moment. Unfortunately she is now suffering some panic attacks.... but I'm sure we'll get there.....
David
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@DSB sending our best wishes as well, sometimes it takes time, not uncommon to have panic attacks after leaving hospital. Big transition going from a fully supported medical environment to without. Hope she settles back home quickly.
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@DSB David early days yet for Carol, I am sure as she builds her confidence she will be less concerned. You just have to encorage her to move around, by the end of the week I expect she will feel more confident.
David
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@DSB pleased to hear Carol is home. She will soon feel better with home comforts and rest. I remember feeling strange walking on my first new hip and wondering how it should feel, but after a few days I was just glad it didn’t hurt as much as my old hip! I had very little pain in the joint itself, maybe just the wound, and managed with paracetamol in hospital, although I can’t take anything stronger as it makes me very woozy headed. More walking will build confidence as David says. I started with walking up and down our drive before I ventured out to the path after a couple of days. Everyone will react to things differently but I’m sure she will be fine.
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Sunny here so far today, Saturday and Sunday were not so good, some sun but also frequently overcast and showery. Having a bit of a rest today after 2 /3 busy days keeping up with DD while doing stuff in her back garden. Not so easy when she is 43 years younger than me!!
We now have most of her temporary screen fence erected a bit closer to the pavement so she can work on extending the play area before next spring, and have almost all the bare earth areas covered with a thick weed suppressant fabric, to deter the Ivy from taking over again. All the fence posts are in place, as are the horizontal rails, but we ran out of daylight, so still have to staple some of the green screening fabric in place and screw on the vertical supporting slats on the last few meters. The whole thing is over 20m long and we have used posts at 1.2m intervals to hopefully withstand the winter winds, plus it will be roped on to a couple of sturdy trees that are conveniently close. Time now for her to apply for planning permission to erect a permanent fence.
I still have the new bin store to finish by making a gate to hide the bins from her kitchen and living area windows, but this coming weekend we have a craft fair on Sunday, so I will be preparing for that by making a few small things such as snowmen, spinning tops and tealight holders, and also a couple of larger bowls.
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What a brilliant day out @Takethedogalong - was it coincidence that both engines were there - or was it planned? Whenever we've been to Pickering, it's usually only been diesels running! Also nice to see the ladies of Pickering WI are still at it with their toppers😃
I used to be an avid train spotter as a boy. We used to be taken along when the father of a friend of mine went to play golf at Abbeydale Golf Club and he took us both with him. We'd spend the morning on a bridge over the railway track (looking at Google maps, it must have been on Twentywell Lane near to Dore and Totley station - I remember the stone parapet) - and getting covered in smoke and steam as the trains passed under the bridge and then ticking off the number of the engine in our Ian Allan train-spotting books! Oh - the simple pleasures of the 50s/60s🙄
How is it, I can remember the name of my friend, his father's name, what car they had and what the bridge looked like - from 65 or so years ago and half the time, I can't remember what we had for dinner, last night?🤔
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Glad to hear that Carol is back home @DSB hopefully this week will see her getting over the panic attacks when she gradually becomes more mobile.
@richardandros I too was a transporter in my youth, getting the local train through to Carnforth and Preston to spot the mainline engines, and at home sneeking into the engine sheds to get up close to them.
Good to read that you enjoyed your trip away @Takethedogalong and were able to fit in so much.
We have had another day of mixed weather, but thankfully there has been little wind so although out in the rain we didn't get wet. Today's appointment was our annual visit to the vets with Flyte where all was fine. There was no pressure from the vet to supply us with any sort of medication, unlike what one hears about other practices.
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@DSB I'm really pleased that Carol came home yesterday. Panic attacks are quite common after leaving hospital; going from being looked after in every way to knowing you're in effect on your own is a big transition. She's not on her own at home of course, but in hospital there's a whole support network. I'm sure she'll soon regain her confidence, small steps, literally, to begin with, will help. I too did what @heddlo did, up and down our drive and on the patio, before venturing out down our close. Bit by bit it'll get easier and better. All the best.
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@richardandros there’s always something going on on NY Moors railway, plus all the stations themselves are very interesting😁 OH had a quick look online when we arrived at our site on Saturday night, as we hadn’t decided what we were going to do after our first day in Helmsley. Then almost as he found out about Flying Scotsman, I recalled someone had posted a photo on here of it chuffing across the moors (heddlo?) and that was it, off we shot Sunday morning, like a pair of gleeful children Christmas morning🤩We had a quick look round Pickering, then just as we stepped onto platform, Locomotion rolled in, couldn’t believe our eyes, never seen it running before. It was pulling some very old rolling stock and an open passenger trailer, back and forth between Pickering and Newbiggin Crossing, doing rides. The station was packed, but we had a word with staff member who confirmed that they would uncouple FS and shunt to back of train, so we crossed platform and got a ring side view point, up very close. OH decided to go up onto bridge and of course came down whiffing of steam and cinders🤣 We shot off up onto moors, and parked up for a quick picnic, then had time to walk across Fen Bog to get to the actual line and see FS come around the bend at Goathland Summit again up very close. There was a banking engine at the back, pushing at least a dozen carriages from behind as well, think this was one of NYMR’s usual steam trains. Even out on moor there were others doing as we did, just thrilled to be up so close. The ground didn’t half shake as it went past. We got up Monday and decided to go up onto moors for a picnic again, this time at Wheeldale Roman Road. Got held up at level crossing in Newbiggin by FS rolling through again. 🤣
We know Abbeydale, Totley and Dore well. Bridge still there, Totley Tunnel still in use.😁 As a child we went from Sheffield station quite a lot. Dad used to open a window for us, so we could smell the steam and be frightened going through the tunnel🫣 His Dad, Grandpa was a train driver, goods though. Sadly never met him, he died before I was born.
Back of Locomotion.
FS at Newbiggin Level Crossing. Note the woman to left under steam baffle, she is handing tally ring to driver so he can proceed to Pickering. There were hundreds of excited happy faces all waving from carriages😁
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Had the first part of the caravan service done yesterday - by a mobile MCEA engineer who lives about 10 miles away. He was going to do it all, but rain delayed his start so he got the chassis bit done once it had stopped raining. I have to say, I was most impressed by both his professionalism and thoroughness and was a bit surprised when he found that the wheel bearing - which was changed last year - was sounding a bit 'iffy'. Luckily, he had a spare in his van so was able to change it. Add to that, the fact that he told me that he had to adjust the brakes quite a lot - more than he would have expected with a year's wear, started me thinking just how good ALV had been in the past.
He was a former maths teacher who quit the profession about 10 years ago because of the stress and re-trained with MCEA and says he hasn't looked back.
He's coming back in a few days to do the 'inside' bit and it won't matter what the weather's doing. Good job - looking at the forecast for the rest of the week.
Later in the afternoon, it absolutely poured down - not seen rain like that for a long time. Within 30 minutes, there were reports of flash flooding all around here.
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We are off to the flicks tonight……going to see The Choral, very good British cast.
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@Takethedogalong great pics we love Pickering and the surrounding area usually get down there at least once a year we were last down in April this year had a great week. Always visit Mathewsons too for a wander the last time we were there we were very lucky as it was viewing week so we were able to get in to their warehouses and look around all the wonderful cars.
Richard - glad the first part of the service went well I always worry about what the caravan service might throw up we had ours done in June just before our trip down to Norfolk and luckily no major issues1 -
I was 5 years old and desperately missing the warmth of Singapore. We had returned urgently due to my mothers deteriorating health and as she was in hospital at Clattebridge cancer centre on the Wirral we were stationed in the only available RAF house at Hawarden, now occupied by British Aerospace, and close enough for my father to get to the hospital, although still a 2 bus ride away. I attended the local primary school, Mold Junction, not actually in Mold but on the railway line to Chester. It was the first time I'd ever seen or heard a steam train. I thought they were brilliant, much better than the planes I was used to seeing.
I went to school every morning in a clean white shirt and came home in a black one😂 as the steam trains used to stop at the station right next to the school for a good time to refill with water. Goodness knows what it did to the children lungs, mine included. I do know I had a bath every single night before dinner. I really don't know how my father coped with 3 bairns and a 12 year old but he did. Fortunately for my lungs he was transferred to RAF Sealand after 6 months by which time my mother had rejoined us. We occasionally cross the bridge by the old junction, the school building still there but long closed. Brings back happy memories.
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Pleased to hear that you think your mobile engineer is doing a good job @richardandros and hope the rest of the service goes well.
Very interesting post @Wherenext I wonder if the other children who went to same school as you did for all their primary school years have suffered from lung problems later in life.
More grand photos @Takethedogalong you were certainly in the right place at the right time. Hope you enjoyed tonight's film.
It has been quite a day here with prolonged periods of heavy rain, I seem to have spent much of it under an umbrella. I was at the hospital at 9:25 this morning to have assessment photos taken of the lesion on my head with a further appointment to be arranged within a couple of weeks after on line examination by dermatologist. Home by 9:45 then took Flyte out for his second walk. Received an email at 11:10 saying the assessment had been done and an urgent appointment would be arranged. At 11:30 I received a phone call saying they had a free spot at 2:15 this afternoon and would that suit me?! OH YES. Saw dermatologist and an now waiting for another appointment for a biopsy sample to be taken for them to decide on treatment, and that will done on a date convenient to myself. So far I can only praise the speed of the service from our hospital.
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Great photos @Takethedogalong Some years ago we were staying at York Rowntree Park. One day we went walking on the walls towards the railway station. Getting closer to it there were lots of people which puzzled us, as it was midweek and not a school holiday, so we asked someone why there were so many people. Reply was that the Flying Scotsman was due in at the station in the next half hour! We had no idea, but went along and saw it coming in, complete with Michael Portillo 🤣 fabulous to see it.
@nelliethehooker That is excellent service from your hospital, assessment and seeing dermatologist on the same day. Hopefully the biopsy will be done very soon too. All the best.
@Wherenext Interesting memories; 'elf 'n safety eat your heart out!
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@Takethedogalong great pictures, you were certainly lucky to get that close to both engines. We did see Flying Scotsman from a distance a couple of weeks ago up on the Moors coming out of Grosmont. OH would love to see Locomotion too. Good that you had a good time away it must have given you a much needed lift. Hope you enjoyed the film too, we are hoping to see that soon.
@nelliethehooker brilliant service from your hospital. Hopefully you will be able to get something sorted and dealt with soon.
@richardandros we had a brilliant mobile engineer for our caravan for a few years, he did a much better job than Ebor ever did (but that wasn’t hard!). He often changed or found things we hadn’t thought about. Changed the Alde fluid to the longer life one for hardly any extra cost one year, he was an excellent chap.
@DSB one week down and I’m sure Carol will be feeling better than she did with the stress of last Wednesday! @DavidKlyne hoping Margaret is getting over the infection quickly too.
Did anyone see the Mr Burton film on Monday night on BBC1? It was Richard Burtons 100th birthday apparently. We enjoyed it, we weren’t going to bother with it because of how many disappointing things have been on TV lately, but it was good and we didn’t realise much of his earlier life; knew some of the Welsh parts but not the whole story.
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@nelliethehooker - what an excellent response from the hospital. Hope matters get resolved quickly and it turns out to be nothing untoward.
@heddlo - I know what you mean about Ebor. I used them once when we returned to caravanning, nearly 30 years ago now. Never again!
Ros watched the Richard Burton film yesterday on iPlayer and thoroughly enjoyed it. I might have a look sometime.
Nothing much on today - apart from taking Meg to the 'beauty parlour' for her 6-weekly trim - she's looking a bit like a sheep at the moment!
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Can report back that The Choral is a very enjoyable film. Good story, great script and acting, well worth seeing. Just good cinema, nothing crash bang wallop, funny and poignant in places.
@nellie (won’t work🤨) hope things go well at hospital, and you get back out onto road asap. Good service so far👍
@wherenext great story, we were brought up travelling by trains.Just lost half hour of my life to the National Trust🤨 something as simple as registering preferences for digital or paper handbook somehow became complicated. All my details correct but website wouldn’t log me in. Turns out they have put in place a new “system” that has lost some details, so despite everything from my end being correct, I had to re register. Used the same info and it worked perfectly, so heads up for anyone else who is locked out.🤷♀️
We are doing ok without pooch, still “hearing him” at times, huge space where his bed was, making ourselves go for walks, fending off more grief than we expected. But we are planning, trips, events, holidays. Going to sort out rail passes this week. Copper Jeep passed its MOT this morning, so all systems go for week up on Hadrians Wall. OH has a routine scan sorted for when we get back, so🤞🤞.Local theatre tonight, something OH booked as something different to see….3 episodes of Blackadder!
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Richard Burton is, was, one of my favourite actors. Would have loved to have seen him on stage. Enjoyed most of his films, but his real talent was on stage. Melvyn Bragg’s autobiography “Rich, The Life of Richard Burton” is very good. Thanks for heads up on film and documentary on BBC👍
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Away locally for a couple of nights at Chester site. Managed a walk this morning at a park on the east side of Wirral, near Port Sunlight. Good views across the Mersey on a dull but dry morning. It did rain this afternoon but we went to Williamson's Gallery in Birkenhead. Another free art museum on Merseyside.
Site is flooded in many places as usual.
@Francis - just to let you know, the cafe has closed at the Garden Centre in Port Sunlight.
Furniture in the museum. Plus photo of Liverpool showing both Cathedrals. The "Wigwam" at the back centre is the Catholic one, colloquially known as Paddy's Wigwam
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Thanks all, I just have to wait for the next appointment to have the "punch biopsy" taken, just hope I will get a date soon and then we can organise when we will be able to get away.
It was an early get up for me as I had to get the car to the Volvo dealer's at Gilpin Bridge for 8:30 to get a replacement lock fitted in the passenger door, more expense!😫 Home for lunchtime and then replaced, successfully, a security light at the front of the house. I had been a warm, dry but cloudy day, and there appears to be little chance of seeing the aurora tonight here.
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@Wherenext we love Port Sunlight as you know we visit the Chester club site fairly often and always go to port sunlight when there. Shame about the cafe always a nice place we also usually have a meal at The Bridge Inn pub there decent food at good prices. Hoping to get down there early in the new year
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@DSB David its been a few days, I just wondered how Carol was progressing after he hip operation?
My Margaret still has a lump at the base of her wound. We got a copy of a letter sent to her GP today from the Consultant confirming it wasn't infected and it will have to take its course. It doesnt appear to be getting any worse but its still a little tender. I don't think Margaret is happy there appears to be nothing that can be done about but time will tell. Fortunately it doesn't seem to have impeded her ability to get back on her feet and move around. I have been impressed with her ability to quickly recover her ability to be fully mobile from both operations.
David
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Lovely morning. So we drove to Hooton train station and caught the train to Liverpool. Got off near the waterfront. There's a church that's quite prominent if looking from the quayside but hidden from view if among the streets. It's dedicated to seamen, Our Lady and St.Nicholas. There's a lovely carved wooden statue inside out of a 500 year old Oak. It's of the journey of Joseph of Amarathea coming across the sea.
Some photos of a couple of interesting buildings, one, The Pumphouse now a pub
Had lunch at Bluecoat Academy, an art house reputed to be the oldest remaining building in the city. OH enjoyed buying a lot of "essential" materials from the art shop next door.
We both quite enjoyed the change in scenery, the good weather helping.
A lying vagrant sculpture done in metal. It depicts Jesus (see markings in feet). Thought provoking, found in the garden of the church
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Liverpool is on our list WN, and Chester. That’s a beautiful vagrant statue, as is the wooden one. Glad you have got out.
Hope the hip ops continue ok.
Been a lovely day here, so I have spen5 the whole day in the garden, including having lunch outside. My Banana is now Winter protected, although it’s still actually putting leaves out. Roses in bloom as well. Off to pub to knit shortly…….
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I have had a painful tooth for a couple of days so I phone our dentist for an emergency appointment at 9:15 this morning and was offered one at 10:15. This I was unable to accept as I was due at Specsavers for my two-yearly checkup, so they asked if 3:30 was ok which was fine for me. Although my eyes had not change much I chose to get two new pairs of variafocals, so more expense, but not quite as much as I thought they would cost. At the dentist, after a couple of xrays, I ended up having an old filling removed and some root canal work done. Have to go back in a week or so to have the dental work completed. It has been a fine dry day until I came out of the dentist when it started to drizzle, and when I took Flyte out after our evening meal it was hammering down so we got a bit of a soaking.
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