The Watercress Line

Although I am finding it increasingly difficult to devote any time to this particular blog, I am determined not to give up as this is my only real outlet for things which I cannot neatly pigeon hole in any of my other blogs. I suppose on a positive note, it's been great that I have been so busy getting out and about doing the things I enjoy that I've struggled to find time to blog about them.

A couple of weeks ago we visited the Watercress Line, which is a heritage railway in Hampshire, running between New Arlesford and Alton. The weekend we went saw the line, its building and occupants all rolled back 70 years to what it would have looked like in 1942. As well as the steam trains there were vintage cars, people dressed in 1940's fashion, soldiers, spivs, and even a remarkable match for Churchill and Monty. The station cafes were selling cakes made to 1940's recipes, although hopefully not with 1940's ingredients.

 Steam train pulls out of Medstead & Four Marks Station

 Steam train pulls into Medstead & Four Marks station

Vintage cars at New Arlesford station

I particularly like this next picture which shows a vintage railway poster with the great strap line of Ease the Strain, Go By Train. If all the train journeys I took were as clean and peaceful I'd use the trains a lot more than I do. I can only imagine what the equivalent picture would have to look like today to match today's rail environment ... dirty windows, overcrowding, litter, annoying people shouting into their mobile phones.

Vintage railway poster at New Arlesford station

If I'm honest I have become a bit obsessed with rail travel, both vintage and modern, over the past few months and have started reading several accounts of train journeys that you can still take today which do take you away from the hustle and bustle of the daily commute, and also some books whioch document the rise and sad demise of our once great rail network. A few favourites are featured below.

    

So, I seem to have some spare time this weekend in amongst the ususal child related taxi services, so I may even get to complete another blog update before next week, when I am travelling to India on business for a few days.

Vintage petrol pump in Buckingham

Having attempted to make the most of the long, double bank holiday weekend, by taking 3 days leave, I have been somewhat annoyed that the weather has been dreadful. Despite this we have managed to get out and about between the showers. So far this week, the town of Buckingham has been the surprise of the week. We ended up there after having spent the day at Bletchley Park, home of the code breakers. Bletchley Park is of course very well known, so I don't think I need to say anything more about that here, but on the way home we stopped off in Buckingham to get a cup of tea. As a teenager I remember being driven through Buckingham on the way to see relatives, but cannot remember whether those 30 years ago there was a bypass or whether we drove through the town. Either way, I don't remember the town at all so it was a fantastic surprise. I guess I had assumed that it would just be one of those non-descript towns, with the usual shops, awful 1950/60's architecture and a picture of urban decay. However, the reality painted a very different picture with the river running through the centre, several old churches and lots of narrow streets line with old and interesting buildings. The weather was not great for taking pictures, so please excuse the poor quality of some of the shots below, but hopefully the convey the look and feel of the town.

St. Peter and St. Pauls Church, Buckingham

Buckingham

Vintage petrol pump, Buckingham

Vintage petrol pump (close-up), Buckingham

    

Jazz and the Westbourne Grove

I've not been able to get out and about as much as I'd have liked to in London over the past few weeks because of the awful weather. However, I did manage a couple of walks around the Westbourne Park area at lunchtime. I generally go from near Paddington towards Portobello Market, deviating from what would be quite a direct route along Westbourne Grove, to take in some of the smaller side roads. The first photo is of Wysteria growing against a mews house. The picture did not come out quite as I'd hoped but as the day was grey and dull, it's not a bad shot I guess.

Colville Mews, W11

I cannot remember whether the alley featured in the second photo had a name. I can't find it on google maps so will have to go back and have a look, although if I'm completely honest then I must admit that I'm not 100% sure exactly where it was. I know I walked north to south along a cobbled street (or perhaps a mews) and then found a couple of small alleyways off to the left, but other than that a bit blank.

Unknown alley, W11

Anyone who has read this blog before will probably know that I also have a passion for vintage, and I have a vintage magazines and a vintage postcards blog. I have been updating the former quite a bit over the past few weeks having found a collection of early 1960's Jazz Journal magazines. To compliment this I have also been listening to some jazz on lastfm. I can't say I am the world's biggest jazz fan, although some of what I've heard is hitting the spot. Memphis Slim is one of these artists and below is a link to some of his music ...

 

     

The Albert Bridge, London

I was fortunate enough last week to be able to find some time to escape in London after work. Instead of my usual haunts I took a walk from Kensington down through Chelsea and as far as the River Thames, where as it was just getting dark I was treated to these spectacular views of the Albert Bridge. I always say that the Golden Gate Bridge is my favourite, but this has to be a close second.

 Albert Bridge, London, looking east

 Albert Bridge, London, looking across the Thames from the south

 Albert Bridge, London, looking north across the bridge

    

More tales from the saddle, plus some more London mews

Wow! This year is racing by. I can't quite believe that we're almost at the end of April already. As expected, but not as hoped, my postings in this blog are not quite as regular as I'd have liked. Nevertheless I have some musings to share from events over the past few weeks.

The weather has been all over the place in recent weeks. Following the fantastic hot spell we had in March, we have definitely returned to having all seasons in the same day, with snow, hail, rain and sunshine. This has to some extent prevented my continued exploration of London mews, although I was fortunate enough to capture this one in the sun on my walk into the office. Just to the left of the covered entrance to the mews is a two storey building with the remains of a painted sign on the wall. If you look closely you can just make out the words coal, coke and wood, so I'm guessing this was some sort of coal merchant.

Chilworth Mews, London W2

Chilworth Mews, London W2

In other news, I've been able to get out and about on the mountain bike, in between hail storms. The picture below was taken yesterday morning on a bridleway between Boxford and Donnington, just outside Newbury, Berkshire.

Brideleway between Boxford and Donnington, near Newbury

On the music front, I went to see Wilko Johnson a couple of weeks back and it was great to see the local venue completely packed. The music was pretty good but I have to say the interaction with the crowd was pretty non-existent. In comparison to The Pretty Things who I saw at the same venue a couple of weeks earlier, Wilko was definitely a runner up.

As I have alluded to in previous blog posts, I am the world's most easily distracted reader. I have however now finished 11 Minutes Late and am now just starting to read On the Slow Train Again. Both these books are fantastic reads about the nostalgic days of Britain's golden railway age, its demise through neglect and the Beeching cuts, and a celebration of what's left and what has been preserved.

    

Early morning London views

I seem to have caught some sort of bug and have not been 100% this week. I did think my sore throat had been caused by traffic fumes in Mumbai, or perhaps from being in air-conditioned locations pretty much 24x7 for a whole week, but whatever I have caught has now moved down on to my chest and I am feeling very sorry for myself. I managed to work from home a couple of days this week to avoid spreading my germs but did have to go into the office on Thursday/Friday. I stayed over so didn't have to suffer the train journey too many times, and just as well as work is crazy at the moment as we near the end of the financial year.

Hazy dawn view from my Kensington hotel window, looking South towards the Albert Hall

Morning walk through Hyde Park to the office

I also managed to find a few minutes to stop off at Notting Hill Gate to visit the records shops there. I didn't find anything massively inspiring but was pleased to pick up a copy of Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children. This is on the periphery of my top-10 albums but I sold my original copy a while back so was glad to have been able to replace it.

The weather this weekend looks fantastic. Not sure I'm up to doing a bike ride though as I still feel a bit weak, so perhaps just some gentle digging over of the vegetable patch, a trip to Marlborough in the afternoon, and a barbecue later.

    

Sunset over docklands, and a bit of India

Having had to work at Canary Wharf yesterday, I had planned to leave at a reasonable time so my trip back to West Berkshire wouldn't mean that I got back too late. Unfortunately though I did end up leaving later thna planned, but my reward was a fantastic sunset, which thre an incredible light over docklands.

Clifford Chance Building, Canary Wharf, London Docklands

Since my last update I've also been to India. This was a much better trip than the last time I visited back in 2007 during monsoon season. Although the majority of the trip was business, and involved taking an air-conditioned taxi from one air-conditioned building to another, I did get out and about a bit, and had some fantastic food. I don't have any pictures of the food, but do have some of the air conditioned buildings.

View from the Westin Hotel, Pune

Artwoek in the Westin Hotel lobby, Pune

Stonewater Grill, Pune