An Outbreak of Common Sense.
Bobby & a day of Common Sense. Friday: Bertie: “Gordon Bennett Bobby! Are we really going to Flying Legends on Saturday and the Watercress Line Gala on Sunday. In a heatwave? Have you no common sense?” Bobby: “You’re not invited to Flying Legends. You’ve been before, and it’s too hot to cart you around.” Bertie:…
The Story of Bobby Ballcock.
Bobby Ballcock. I did warn you that revelations would be made as to where Bobby’s alter ego came from. The opportunity to tell you has arisen from a succession of circumstances.
Lighting a Tribute Candle to Diddley.
Tribute to Diddley. Dear friends of Bobby and Diddley. Some old. Some new. Some who never even knew her outside of this blog. The 23rd August will always be a date that Bobby and others will never forget. In 2015 it was the saddest news of all that we had lost her. Now in 2017…
I Don’t Believe It – Brighton Station!
Brighton. I don’t believe it! Bobby and I went to Brighton. By train. Given that this is Southern Rail, a certain amount of optimism is needed. Or blind faith. As we approached the station, a posh woman on the train intercom announced we were arriving at Gatwick Airport. We all laughed and acknowledged that Southern…
Bob the Big Noisy Engine (with apologies to the Rev W Awdry).
Bob the Big Noisy Engine. This is the story of Bob the Big Noisy Engine. A tale of triumph over adversity. Honesty over lies and deceit. Contentment over greed. Happiness over anger. It is a true story. All the characters are real. Bobby wrote it in 1999 on a bike ride. In his head. The…
Seaside Holiday Tales 2.
Seaside Holiday. Dear Friends of Bertie. This is the second Seaside Holiday special. In the previous one “Whitby”, posted November 2016, we mentioned Diddley’s 60th birthday in Whitby. Including the special cake which was made by the wonderful Yorkshire bakery E Botham. The Birthday was a seaside special birthday, where the holiday cottage was decorated…
Holiday Special: Oh Mr Porter!
Oh Mr Porter! Dear friends of Bertie. This is a holiday special. I hope you like old films. Bobby loves Will Hay. None more so than that classic of British Comedy. “Oh Mr Porter”. If you have seen it, watch it again. We have just done that. So with a bit of suggestive music hall…
A Day in the Life of a Trainspotter.
Trainspotter. Way back in 1954 Bobby’s dad, Sid, bought him an Ian Allan Train spotting book. He still has it. That, allied to Sid’s own keen interest in all things mechanical, led to his son’s enduring interest in such things. Given that being a trainspotter was the main hobby of schoolboys in 1954 it is…
Continental Railway Journeys: Lammersdorf
Back to Lammersdorf. In Continental Railway Journeys Austria, you heard how Bobby got the idea of coming to a less well know part of this wonderful country from English people in a Country Walking Magazine article. Amazingly, but due to his being an obsessive collector, as a result of that heatwave, staying indoors, sorting out…
A Day in the Life of a Heatwave.
Heatwave 2017. Sunday Bertie: “It so bleeding ‘ot! (Sarf London). Can’t put up with this heatwave much longer. How about you Bobby? Bobby? BOBBY? What’s the matter with you? You do look a bit cream crackered. Even Uncle Dick.” Bobby: “Uhhhhh. Given up. Made an executive decision. Had an outbreak of common sense. I’m giving…