Many moons ago when I was a small child I used to live in Didcot which was then in the county of Berkshire. Didcot has a main line railway station and is also famous for its steam locomotives that are there. They often have open days and are well attended.

My dad used to take me down to the engine sheds to see the steam trains because he used to work on the railways in his younger days and had friends who worked down there so we could go and see things that others could not.

I always remember them days, the smells, the steam, the sounds of the trains like it was yesterday. Now when I see a steam train it brings back all those memory’s. I love the old diesel trains which were about then. They all looked so different not like the modern ones now which all look the same.

I think when I was about 12 I started going down the station carpark and watching for the diesel trains and yes I admit I started train spotting. I had my little note book to jot down the numbers because all the trains had individual numbers and some had names.

You could buy a book then with all the numbers in etc and you then ticked them off. My train spotting days never lasted long because I was always out on my bike and across the fields playing and of course I found out that girls did not want to be sat in a train carpark looking for numbers on trains.

I still have my interest in the old trains but no longer jot the numbers down. Nikki also likes them so if we have the chance to see some we both go.

We decided to go on the train to Shrewsbury from Chirk on the modern train just because it’s easier than driving there and cheaper. The station is unmanned so you get your ticket on line, Nikki did that bit and the train journey only took about 25 minutes.

We had a wonder around the old part of Shrewsbury with all the old Tudor buildings and then a walk along the river around the outside of Shrewsbury which was really nice. Some loverly old iron bridges cross the river at certain points.

Just by Shrewsbury station is a castle so that was on the cards to visit on the way back. Surprisingly there were not a lot of peaple about which was nice. We never went in the castle which is a museum now because we were running short on time. So we just sat in the grounds chilling and I walked up to another part call Laura’s tower and had that part all to myself. We then caught the train back to Chirk.

About a twenty minute drive from where we are working this season is Llangollen where they have a steam train line. And when the steam train is not running they have old diesel trains doing the run. We booked up one of our days off to go on the steam train.

It runs for about ten miles and then comes back. The day approached, the weather was looking good in this hot spell we were having. Up early to get parked up in Llangollen and get to the station for some photos also.

The ticket collector who was just turning up for work got chatting to us and told us the steam train was not running because of the fire risk to the ground beside the tracks. They had already had two fires that week. So instead it would be the old diesel train. My heart sunk.

I was so looking forward to it but we were there and it was going to be an old diesel train anyway so I wiped my tears away and stood there on the platform waiting for the train. The ticket man also gave us a good tip about getting on the train to get a seat right behind the driver so we could see where we were going. We got that seat.

The journey was great including sheep on the track, seeing another old diesel train coming the other way and a tunnel. The old carriages took me back to my younger days. The station is all old also with lots of old suit cases etc about. And another bonus on the day was that recently they opened up another piece of track to extend the line which we were able to do and not have to pay the extra.

We have been having a hot spell, the grass has stopped growing and the windows on the camper have all been open in the daytime and nighttime. Work has been busy and peaple complaining it’s too hot. But if it rained they would be moaning. No pleasing some folk.

Simon and Becky had arranged a BBQ with us, for one evening. As the day got nearer so the weather forecast started to say thundery showers. None of us were bothered about the weather as we know it can change.

On the day the thundery showers forecast was as good as gone, well maybe a small chance. The BBQ was sparked up and the beers and wine flowing. Simon does a great BBQ. We had a big table to sit around with a huge umbrella to shade us from the sun or rain, whatever happened we were going to have our BBQ.

Half way through the feast the thunder started to rumble and then it got closer and closer and the lightening was visible. And of course then the rain started so we all moved forward a bit to get under the umbrella. Laughing as we carried on regardless.

As the rain came down I felt a stream of water running down the back of my shorts which had come off the umbrella onto the back of my seat so now I was sitting on a wet chair. What to do. Carry on eating and drinking of course, it will soon dry out. And it did.

Another weekend off and time to take the camper for a run also. Burrs country park is in Bury just north of Manchester. So we booked up the campsite and headed of up the motorway.

And guess what, right on the edge of the campsite is a railway line which the old steam trains and diesels go along. We got a great pitch on the site with a good view of the trains coming and going past.

The Sunday afternoon we got there was fine and we sat outside having a beer watching the trains go by. We were going to be here for another two days so things were looking good. But then we heard the rumble of thunder and the heavens opened and we thought we might have to get a boat. And to top it all the trains don’t run on a Monday and Tuesday.

Just after we got to Burrs on the Friday Nikki got a message from Anita and Tony some friends we first met about twenty two years ago while travelling in Thailand. They lived in Leeds at the time and had a narrow boat. We always stayed in touch with them and met up with them a few times including spending a weekend on their narrowboat.

They were less than hour away and were willing to drive over to us so we said of course come on over. We had not seen each other for about ten years, maybe longer. Time just marches on so fast and with work and travelling we just never got to see each other.

They came over and we had a great day with them. Just like the good ol days when we used to meet up. And of course we had to go to the pub for lunch. Unfortunately for Tony he was driving back so could not have a beer. Next time mate.

The next day me and Nikki wandered around the sculptures and walked into the town of Bury. Not our cup of tea but I wanted to go and look in a bike shop as they had a bike I wanted to look at. I looked at the bike but the salesman was about as much use as a chocolate teapot so I just walked out.

We had a walk down the canal a couple of days ago to a pub for a beer and a bite to eat. Passing the narrow boats. It’s about half an hours walk and was really warm. Good job the beer and wine were cool when we got there.

The pub was busy but we luckily got a table next to the canal. The beer was good but the food was terrible. But we were both hungry so ate it and washed it down with more beer and wine and then strolled back to base.

So that’s us up to date with our adventures. It’s a shame work gets in the way of our lives but maybe one day we may be able to retire. Our next trip out in the camper is to the Peak District and in September we are going up to the Lake District in the car and stopping in a B&B for a change. But there will be lots to do before then.