GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY FORTIES WEEKEND.

What with one thing and another I seem to have become rather behind with posting things but I have been ridiculously busy with the minutiae of modern life and making a timed watering system for Angella in the garden, which is still a work in progress.

However, on to more exciting adventures, starting with our visit to the Great Central Railway forties weekend which was rather good, although not apparently anywhere as good as previously before it was cancelled because of Covid. Missing, were the re-enactors who previously manned each railway station with a different theme, but as someone who has not seen the event in its previous incarnation I thought this was a valiant effort in a step back to how it was and look forward to going again next year when I’m sure it will be even better.

As usual we forgot to take any photos, the following being the sum total of our photographic endeavours, starting firstly with a photo of a train!

Followed by a photo of Angella and myself which the receptionist in our hotel kindly took as proof we were actually there, although Shirl and her girls can vouch for our presence as we watched Shirl’s show and later joined in the peabody dance class with Alan and Julie. Sadly, no photos!

Here is an image of our friend Steve who had actually driven this rather splendid train and proceeded to tell us of some of its history.

During the course of the evening during dinner an American lady came over to our table to compliment Angell and myself on our outfits and during the conversation she explained the reason for her trip was to make a film about her cousin Charles ‘Eddie’ Burdick who had died during the war when his P47 Thunderbolt plane crashed in Shepshed which was just up the road. She had never met him but by a strange quirk of fate had come into contact with letters he had written home to his mother. I believe the film will be called, ‘Your soldier boy, Eddie.’ Her name was Arthene Lavalley should you wish to follow for more news on the story. https://www.facebook.com/arthene.lavalley Here she is, the lady in the hat, together with members of the film crew and a gentleman who has been researching the story for some years I believe.

That’s the best I can come up with photographically by way of a record of our weekend at the GCR, which reminds me of my school reports, ‘can do better,’ and ‘he sets himself a very low standard and then fails to attain it!’

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About The Diary of a Country Bumpkin

I am a retired actor, although to be honest I only retired because I wasn't getting any work due to losing my agent when I became a full time carer to my mother who had dementia. and the option of becoming an unemployed actor/waiter at my age was ludicrous, especially as my waiting skills are non-existent. Having said I’m retired, I don’t think there really is such a thing as a retired actor for I am still available for work, I just don’t have an agent or any connections with regards to obtaining any worthwhile work. I have over the years done student films when there is nothing else available, always low paid (if at all) the only incentive was always the promised copy of the finished film for your show reel which nine times out of ten always failed to materialise. I spent many years looking after my aged mother and shortly after her death I was lucky enough to run into an ex-girlfriend of many years ago and our romance blossomed once again, resulting in us getting married in 2013. My move to the countryside inspired me to write The Diary of a Country Bumpkin which tells of my continuing dilemmas in dealing with the rigors of the countryside from the unexpectedly large number of pollens, fungal moulds and hay products waiting to attack the unsuspecting townie. I enjoy writing, see my play Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori on The Wireless Theatre Company, The Plays Wot I Wrote and The Battle of Barking Creek both available on Amazon.co.uk and am very fond of classic cars so my ideal occupation would be acting in a film I had written set in the 1930s/40s, we live in hopes. I am delighted to say that since venturing to the countryside where space is not quite the premium it is in town, I have due to the availability of two double garages acquired more classic cars to form a small collection the pride of which are a 1947 Bentley Mk VI and a 2000 Bentley Arnage. My various blogs and websites are continually evolving and I’m sure that by following the appropriate links you will find something which will edify or amuse. I have written a number of different books all available on Amazon, so don't be shy should you feel the urge to purchase. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Joe-Wells/e/B06XKWFQHT/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
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2 Responses to GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY FORTIES WEEKEND.

  1. I recognise that school report, I had several similar ones!

  2. SueW's avatar SueW says:

    Lovely photos!

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