Well, it only took a few weeks (well, 55 weeks) for Dad to actually make use of his 60th Birthday present, but on Saturday we all went down to the Colne Valley steam Railway to watch Dad on his 'Steam Train Driving Experience Day'. It started around 9ish in the Morning, so Lucy, Andrew and I managed our usual, and turned up at about 9:20 - luckily though there was about an hour of lecture and safety talk for Dad beforehand so we didn't really miss anything. Then eventually they got started. In pairs and under guidance, they started out with Dad as the fireman (Coal shovelling in a Very confined space), and his 'Partner' as driver. They then proceeded to zip up and down the railway track in a rather impressive fashion for about an hour and a half. They then pulled into the station and switched roles and Dad got to drive for another 90 minutes...
(Dad flashes his pearly whites as they *speed* through the station with him driving - does he look like he's enjoying himself?!!)Following the stints as fireman and driver, they then progressed on to Signalman and Brakeman.
(Dad throws a lever to prevent the train running of the tracks...BTW, that is not a tea-towel, it's a signal-man's cloth...!)Everyone said the we'd be bored of a day watching Dad playing with trains, but we really enjoyed ourselves. It was also nice to get some 'quiet-time'. However, some of us enjoyed ourselves more than others - Andrew particularly enjoyed his re-inactment of a great train disaster in the Buffet Car Cafe....
Afterwards we went for lunch at the excellent Victory Inn in Wickham St. Paul, followed by taking the (by now, very bored) dogs for a walk at Nearby Clare. Where Lucy's calm manner and patience allowed her to get within a few inches of a Mother Mallard Duck and her thirteen(yes, thirteen!!) baby ducklings...
No swans, but at least this should keep Geoff happy...
Does it get any cuter??
Well, after a long and tiring day, plus a lovely tea back at Dad and Sue's , it somehow did!! By then I think we were all dog-tired!!
We did consider calling in on all the folks in the states as it was so near, but sadly time was starting to get the better of us so we thought we'd just snap a quick picture on the way through....
