It might seem a bizarre way to spend your golden wedding anniversary, but my parents didn't want a party. They just wanted their three grandchildren and three children at home. In the end we all went out for a pub lunch in Great Yeldham and then spent a couple of hours at the Colne Valley Railway at Castle Headingham. They were having a Thomas the Tank Engine day, so my nieces were in their element. One of them, though, was a little frightened by the Fat Controller! The steam railway only has a mile of track, and I did think £11.50 per ticket was a bit steep (!), but it was a ll a very enjoyable experience.The best part of the day was that on the way there, as a surprise, we took my parents to the church where they got married, in nearby Linton. It was all rather touching.
Yesterday evening, before I headed up to Birmingham, my sisters decided we would do something we hadn't done for about 25 years - and play a card game called Racing Demons. I used to love this game - it's incredibly fast moving, and provokes a lot of swearing. Nothing had changed, and I found myself calling my fourteen year old niece, Issy, things which would be banned on this blog... Disgraceful.
Anyway, it was a lovely day. Now back to politics...
"One of my nieces, though, was a little frightened by the Fat Controller!"
ReplyDeleteWell, John Prescott tends to have that effect on children...
I read your blog for the political connections and insight, but this is why I love your blog - proof that there is a human element to at least some political geeks !
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the day, so now you are perhaps set up for a rather intense week to come.
Alan Douglas
A shame there aren't more Fat Controllers on the real railway to scare one or two of our sloppier operators and Network Rail.
ReplyDeletenice prop on the left there!
ReplyDeleteIs that your wife in the blue gingham ? She looks hot to trot !
ReplyDeleteLucky devil !
Glad you had a great day, Iain. Belated congrats to your parents too.
ReplyDeleteAnon said, "Is that your wife in the blue gingham ? She looks hot to trot "
ReplyDeleteYou are new here aren't you?
It sounds as if you all had a great day. It is posts like this that lift this blog above the others.
Iain, I'm with your parents on the way they wanted to celebrate this special day.
ReplyDeleteIn the last 18mths, we've celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary and husband's 70th - we did both with just our closest family and very best friends, because those are the people with whom we have shared so much, and whom we love most in the world.
I'll bet yesterday meant a huge amount to Mr&Mrs Dale Senior, because they could concentrate on the people who mean the most to them, rather than be swamped by a big party - sounds as if it was lovely, here's to their Diamond party!
Can someone please provide the rules for Racing Demons ? Sounds a good card game - and is it appropriate for a 9 and 7 year old (with less swearing)
ReplyDelete@ Gazza
ReplyDeleteSwearing is de rigeur when one is playing Racing Demons. So, it all depends on whether you think 9 and 7 year-olds should swear.
Some of the local enfants certainly regard it as absolutely necessary - as it seems do their parents.
"Well, John Prescott tends to have that effect on children..."
ReplyDeleteJohn, have you seen my left jab?
£11.50 a mile great first western must be run by the same people they
ReplyDeletecharged me over £100 to go from Bristol to Basingstoke.
They told me if I waited for a later train that went by a differant rout and miss my job interview I could go for £20.
Bloody hell, the heritage railways will soon be as expensive as Virgin and First!
ReplyDeleteWell. Who's the hottie at the back? I certainly want her telephone number.
ReplyDeleteam I alone in noticing a certain resemblance between Ma Dale and La Widdicombe? Explains a lot.
ReplyDeleteThank God you had lovely weather to celebrate such a lovely family event. And your Mum does look a bit like Widdy as not that Mr Smith suggested. LOL! Your family all seem like lovely people.
ReplyDeleteIain, you are Alan Partridge (I'm thinking owl sanctuaries in East Anglia): I claim my £10 prize!
ReplyDelete