Awake and up all night

Neither of mine have had children. Son has never married. I haven't got any excuses for getting my toys out but I have somehow held on to 90% of them, mostly very play worn from my childhood then my own kids. Fisher Price stuff was sturdy but yes, expensive. My daughter also had the phone. She went through a later phase with tiny plastic people and accompanying accessories. Can't remember what they were called. xxx

I feel sorry for you Ray not having grandchildren but it is not our decision. My son has got 3 girls 15 12 and 11. My daughter has 1 boy he is 16. My son is not with the mother of his. My daughter has been with her OH for 20 years. Neither of them have got married.xxx

I asked AI what the little plastic people etc were called. It was the Polly Pocket stuff. Every bit as painful as lego if accidentally trodden on! xxx

I think it's great you have held onto those toys. I wish I would have kept the fisher price ones they might be worth a few Bob now. I love the handmade ones.

That made me chuckle I did the same thing with lego Very painful when you stood on them and they got everywhere.

True, it would be nice to have more of the toys. My Chad Valley clockwork buses did not make it back from Malta when we returned to the UK in 1954. I think mum gave them away but she blamed the RAF saying they'd lost one of the boxes.

Anyway, how are you today? Have you had a relaxing day or have there been things to attend to or prepare for? If it's been busy, I hope you have had a chance to sit down with tea and biscuits to refuel yourself . xxx

Thank you Ray. I have had a good day but expensive. I paid my tv licence and settled up with the TV aerial people. I prefer coffee but still drink tea. I like to pay my bills quickly then they are off my mind. My daughter is coming on Sunday to do some cleaning. Are you getting any visitors this week?xxx

Like you say, it's easier on the mind not to have unpaid bills hanging around. At least the new aerial has improved the reception, giving you a more enjoyable entertainment and information option, although good news is rare these days on TV or the net. I had a Starbucks and bacon roll mid afternoon. That sufficed for lunch so that I could avoid going shopping until tomorrow. Daughter was here on Monday, so unless my son drops in, no one else expected. The washing up can wait until tomorrow as well. xxx

Good Morning Ray

Driving & Firing a steam locomotive is an art - what joe public don't see is the 20 or so others who had worked on the locomotive, repaired it cleaned it, coaled and watered it so you can get up at 5.00am to start a long day being the public face of a preserved railway.

Spending the day balancing a fire/ water/ steam pressure to ensure you meet all the safe running regulations and still enjoy yourself.

Footplate food and drink was good - bacon fried on the firing shovel and there was always a can of tea handy - well we had plenty of water and heat. My personal choice was to wrap an onion and potato in silver foil and wedge them between the boiler and live steam pipe where they would heat up and by 1.00 pm you had baked spud and onion - just do some bacon and bingo - lunch is served.

As for grandchildren - I have 4 with another one ordered for delivery the week before Christmas. I find that play with "older hands on" type toys interests them more than electronic games - I must get my train set out of the loft! My view is when you are playing with them and interacting they get more stimulation than just looking at an electronic screen.

Have a great day and enjoyable weekend whatever you are up to.

Kind regards - Brian.

Morning Brian ️ 

The sky here is a murky pink right now, so I'm hoping the shepherd's warning will come to pass but most likely you'll enjoy another sizzler, so soak it up

All the talk of vintage toys and trains is fab as I've got loads of the former, all around 60 years old now but still in good nick. Ray's hand crafted toys are amazing and future family heirlooms, undoubtedly.

My paternal grandad was a steam loco driver for all his adult life, mainly doing the passenger runs from the north to London, but also covering most of the country. Although 4 of his sons went to war, he dodged the draft as he was classed an essential worker to keep the trains running throughout. I imagine he lived on footplate snap for 6 years!

My granny and grandad lived at Low Moor in Bradford, overlooking the train yard and sprawling tracks. I've got a few grainy black and white photos from the time and remember being transfixed with it all as a nipper. Because of the strong train connection they played a big part in our family and I wanted to become a train driver too. Wrong time, wrong gender  

Anyway, the sky looks less promising now and my hopes for rain are fading by the minute. Shucks. But, I want you to enjoy plenty of sun, sea and sand and more of those beers beginning with E.

Lots of love to family Millibob on your hollibobs xxx