ABC Wednesday and T is for Train Spotting

It is the letter T across at ABC Wednesday - and T is for Train Spotting - last Saturday the Tornado and the King Edward 1 were on a visit to Shrewsbury as part of a steam event lasting all day for all concerned.

The trains on their day out I must say looked amazing - our grandson aged 10 is a railway enthusiast - he has his own engine shed ( converted garden shed!) complete with trains and a layout that has grown to all extremes and soon will burst out of the shed.



We wanted to catch the trains going down the line , us to take pics and A to gaaze in awe at the great machines.





A steam train in full flight is quite hard to capture- you either click to soon or to late!

First down the line was the King Edward and then a two hour gap between trains - so off we went to a model railway and car exhibition in the local village hall - see pis below










Timr to return to the railway line - so we climbed up and over stiles and crossed several fields in haste - the sheep looked on ...




Second train down the line was the Tornado - (featured a while back in a Top Gear programme with Jeremy Clarkson a favourite of A - our grandson) ...the Tornado was well worth the wait




A quick dash then to Shrewsbury Station to view the trains more closely - King Edward above - below the Tornado - as you can see the day was closing in - and the trains were all set for their journey back to London with their enthusiastic passengers.




Today was Time Taken out - Together To enjoy a Tumultuous Train Tour Travelling Through our local Town

Pop over to the side panel and click on the link for ABC Wednesday

S is for Saturday

ABC Wednesday and S is for Saturday-





... and time out to share - a visit to our local Heritage Museum- a Victorian Town at Blists Hill in Shropshire



S is for Signs - and these old Signs certainly caught my eye



and even more memories from the past




will not Shrink a fair Statement - because there were no Special washing aids in those days!!



Sign over the Smithy - love that anvil




even more Signs - eyecatching I think!



I can remember my grandma using this soap - along with her carbolic (Spelling?) - anyone remember that awful smell of tar ? really strong and it was an orange colour - if my memory is correct



I must include these newspaper shapes = being used as shelf liners in a Victorian miners'cottage - I remember spending hours as a child with a pair of scissors cutting out shapes in the old newspaper





Finally S is for Special - Special Place- do you have a Special place ? - somewhere within your comfort zone - my Special Place now is probably wherever my daily walk takes me - giving me time with my thoughts and time to breath in the fresh air

Why not pop across to the side panel and click on the link to read other ABC contributions for the letter S.

R is for Reunion

R is for Reunion - lets go over to ABC Wednesday for a Reunion of Bloggers with a myriad of tales to share.





R is for a Reunion of friends, family and work colleagues and of course that school reunion - see mine above - X marks the spot!

We talked and laughed on that day about many things as we turned the clock back - the school layout wasn't much changed - the corridors were now enclosed and not open to the world as they were then - the cold winds cutting into those bare legs wearing ankle socks and sensible shoes!

The stair ways were the same - I gave a shudder as I walked down the cold stone steps - I could hear in the far away distance ghostly echoes of shrill laughter - as girls rushed to beat the dinner bell.

Memories came flooding back of stripping down to white T shirts and bottle green big knickers - yes they were the dress!for the weekly gym lessons- thoughts came to mind of bunsen burners and risky experiments in the Science Room - and of rushing round the hockey field - I hated it - I always managed to get bruises on my ankles from over zealous players.

The tennis courts were still there but greatly improved as were the netball pitches.

I loved netball and was in the house team for Dame Agnes Hunt - and sported a large purple badge. I seemed to have a knackof getting the ball in the net.

You know I had no intention of going on about schooldays past - just got carried away - sorry to ramble on! anyway I am now off to sweep leaves.

Q is for Question...?

Q is for Question - why not pop across to ABC Wednesday to find more letter Q's -

Is there any such thing as a typical day ? I think not ! - they say life is what you make it and I truly believe that statement.
First surprise of the day - a quick peep through the blinds - hoping for a frosty morning - ahh! - a foggy morning !- do I shelve the planned photo shoot ? no way! it's just another change of plan on a typical day!




Foggy day pics on the dog walk




These spiders webs would be pretty much invisible on a sunny day




Foggy day garden pics - above my tree lupin and rain drops - this plant has just had its first summer - I hope it survives the winter- I have taken some seeds to make sure- it is a lovely pale yellow.




This hardy fuschia - adds brilliant colour on a dismal day - this is quite a well established plantand it flowers well into the autumn

What is your typical day? what ever it is enjoy!

Precious Life

Today - no pics - just words and a few tears - I was in my kitchen and suddenly there was a loud thud - I rushed out side and as I feared there lay a tiny body spreadeagled on the decking - a tiny goldfinch. I scooped him up into the palm of my hand whispering all sorts of things - and held him close - his colours were magnificent - perfectly placed - reds - yellows and brilliant whites and blacks - his tiny beak gaped open and hs tiny feet had no grip.

I sat at the patio table - listening to the flock twittering in the trees - offering encouragement to their fragile friend - I whispered sweet nothings to this vunerable little bird - stroking his head - and do you know that gradually after about 10 minutes - I could feel the risistance to death - a positive feel - and a look beginning to show in his eye - the feet began to grip - I could feel the life coming back - and suddenly away he flew into the tall Hazel tree at the bottom of the garden - thankyou for sharing this -

P is for ...............Purple - Paris and Partytime

P is for Purple ... Purple has long had royal connections and been the colour of kings.



What about the Plant world and vibrant purple - buddlea - heliotrope - sporting their heady perfumes and adorning our gardens



This Bougainville was flowering at its best at the Eden Project in Cornwall during last summer.



..and wild foxgloves ,vetch and thistles run free in our hedgerows and meadows




P is for back to Purple our local Conservation Project in the Shropshire Hills to bring the hills back to a blaze of purple as the heather blooms



P is for Paris a favourite city of mine visited a few years back - always an eye catcher the Eiffel Tower - magnificent views from the top - see side panel




Street artists at every turn - showing incredible talent and flair - I love them and I could drink in the atmosphere for hours on end.



Not to be missed a trip on the Seine at night - another world as the boat slips through the hush of the night.




I took this picture of the Moulin Rouge - and we were able to view the foyer - the shows are incredible I believe but very costly - but I did buy a fridge magnet from a local stall - Ah well some day !!




Finally I wish you all a Perfectly Peaceful week ahead