tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post116316576511042086..comments2024-03-18T10:29:46.055+00:00Comments on Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff: To See the TrainKen Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-14235339222378612672020-04-06T11:07:29.077+01:002020-04-06T11:07:29.077+01:00Where we live there's no pavement on our lane ...Where we live there's no pavement on our lane and a short walk up it leads to a crossroad which marks the boundry to the village. Beyond that is just a country road and fields for miles before arriving at the coast and that's where I walk the dog every day.<br /><br />It's usually quite quiet, a handful of cars pass by and I dutifully move onto the verge to let them pass, and often I wave and they wave back. One car I see regularly is the postman's. We always smile and wave when we see each other. This exchange seems to mean a whole lot more at the moment. It's like, I don't know, we're still trucking and we'll keep on doing so through this whole thing.Marc Patersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124869545439738846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-80914846697179458132020-04-05T16:18:02.237+01:002020-04-05T16:18:02.237+01:00Thanks, Emily. I'll give the engineer an espec...Thanks, Emily. I'll give the engineer an especially large wave from your Dad tomorrow. :)<br />Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-86644188209148784282020-04-05T15:54:16.817+01:002020-04-05T15:54:16.817+01:00This is lovely, Ken. My dad is a model railroad en...This is lovely, Ken. My dad is a model railroad enthusiast--a rare breed, at least here in the states. We tease him about it quite a bit. But his dad worked for one of the railroads here for a while, and he's always been kind of fascinated with trains. Anyway, he and my brother sometimes go on weekend trips with other railroad enthusiasts just to watch trains in train yards couple and uncouple and switch tracks. I'm sure he would be be thrilled to have a train so close by his home that he could walk and wave to the engineer right now. :)Emily Suesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12106551525889307622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-10724989203796335852020-04-05T15:35:08.860+01:002020-04-05T15:35:08.860+01:00Picturing your Dad sitting in the car, arms folded...Picturing your Dad sitting in the car, arms folded defiantly, while you and your Mum grabbed a bite to eat. Fair play to him, he stood his ground. :)<br />Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-66124409307231888532020-04-05T15:17:43.908+01:002020-04-05T15:17:43.908+01:00There was a train line two minutes from our house ...There was a train line two minutes from our house growing up and trains were a big part of my childhood although I was sixteen before I ever stepped on one. My dad bought a half-decent Hornby train set but I suspect he got more out of that I ever did. Lego and Meccano I could get into but toy trains going round and round and round not so much. The railway line was different and we often hung around there. Not that the trains themselves were particularly exciting and, as with cars, they’ve become less so over the years. Remember the Patriot and Coronation classes of old; sound like starships, don’t they? Now I couldn’t tell a Class 303 from an 04, 08, 11 or 12. No class. (Sorry, too easy.) We often played in the train yard as kids, in and out of brake vans and spooky empty coaches. I don’t recall ever being chased off; security was non-existent. The last time I was there there were high wire fences along the track and it was inaccessible. The train yard is now a retail park.<br /><br />It was nice where we lived then. You got to the end of the street: left and then right took you to the river and countryside, left and left again took you down town, right led to the railway and the industrial estate behind it and behind that the beach. Straight ahead was the golf course and that was another place I adored after dark during my solitary teen years. I really was never in the house back then. Such a change to now. Each place had its enticements. No matter what my mood there was somewhere to wander round.<br /><br />Going for walks was a big thing growing up, walks or drives. Walks were obviously cheaper. My dad and I continued walking together right into my thirties. You’ll remember the story about the time we took my daughter with us and she couldn’t grasp the concept of not going <i>to</i> somewhere, simply walking for the pleasure of walking; I felt I’d failed as a father that day. I hadn’t failed. Life (or, to be more precise, my ex-wife) had conspired against me. Had I not been forced to become a part-time dad there would’ve been time more time for walks. Nowadays we do lunch. That’s our thing. Dad and I never lunched. Mean ol’ bugger wouldn’t pay for a sit-down meal when there was perfectly good food at home. I remember once coming back from Edinburgh my mother insisted we stop and have a bite to eat at a café and Dad sat in the car. God he could be stubborn.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-38003197082917836872020-04-05T13:27:02.601+01:002020-04-05T13:27:02.601+01:00You too, G. Nice to hear about the old places...
You too, G. Nice to hear about the old places...<br />Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-4661977686547514782020-04-05T12:07:05.733+01:002020-04-05T12:07:05.733+01:00I'm lucky we can still go to our exercising sp...I'm lucky we can still go to our exercising spot. Dooney Rock was chosen 3 years ago cos as a pup Harry liked to wander, an escapade in Cullenamore beach involving the Atlantic ocean stray seagull chased across the putting green of golf course & depending on a friendly horse rider to return him,left the choice in no doubt. Dooney isn't in best of condition, but it's under 2km circuit,easily walked, omitting climbing to top of Rock itself. Few if anypeople about, ideal.Since the restrictions there's lots of footfall in my street & round the cemetery,unusual as this only happens at weekends.The 'Back Avenue' virtually deserted today, took a drive to feed the ducks, one couple who run a nearby B&B that was it. Life is like a 70's sci-fi movie lately,empty desolate streets, looking over my shoulder incase Charlton Heston is about, stay safe Ken <br /><br /> GH <br /> marty47https://www.blogger.com/profile/15278638316387435227noreply@blogger.com