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Monday 28 May 2007

Sentimental Journey...........

Click on photos to enlarge.
Photographs copyright 2007



Reminiscent of Brief Encounter with Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson was our day yesterday, which started with a Steam Train ride on The East Lancs Railway from our local station to Ramsbottom. Every May the ELR host a "War Weekend" which is a celebration of all things 1940's. People come from all over the country dressed up in 1940's dress and uniform to enjoy the music and ambience of the era. Of course I'm much too young to remember it but I do love the fashions and music of that time.




This 'young' couple were going up and down the train playing requests on the accordian and singing, and at the same time collecting donations for Cancer Research. The train was full and everyone was singing along to 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary' and 'Roll Out The Barrel'.




When we got to Ramsbottom station it looked like wartime Britain with people dressed in authentic 1940's clothes. and uniforms of every description.






Check them out.






The weather wasn't great, showery and a bit cold, but it didn't deter anyone from enjoying themselves.

We called in a Chip Shop with a little restaurant in the back and had fish, chips and mushy peas and a big mug of tea, then just a short walk to 'The Good Samaritan' pub which was hosting a beer festival.

There were 16 beers on offer with such delilghts as Bikes and Trikes Beer 3.6%, Black Pig Mild 3.6%, No Eye Deer 4%, Bitter & Twisted 3.8%, Nightmare 5%, True Grit 5% and Befuggled 4.2%.





We only had time for a couple before we had to head back to the station for the train home.
There was a train running up and down all day carrying Army vehicles and armoured cars.










It even had an armed guard!








Company B provided music from the 40's (listen here) which promped people to get up to Jitterbug and Jive.








The young lady in the dungarees had come all the way from Rotheram and boy could she dance! I would have loved to have joined in as my Dad taught me how to jive when we were both younger, but obviously it wasn't practical with a crutch!
Then our train came in and it was time to head back home.
We had a great day out, but we weren't too exhausted, so were able to go out to our local last night just to finish off a perfect day.





My knee
Monday 28th May
I did a lot of walking yesterday, even climbing the stairs over the footbridge on the station - I'm not been able to do that for a long time, I usually have to get one of the station staff to take me across the tracks. I think all the exercise did me knee good, it feels Ok today.

21 comments:

RUTH said...

Started humming Doris Day's song Sentimental Journey while I read this. Sounds a really interesting day out...glad the knee held up well:-)Rx

la bellina mammina said...

wow, that looks great -I really enjoy it when people dress up.

Akelamalu said...

ruth
It was interesting and great fun. I put a link to a site for 40's music after the bit about Company B if you want to listen to your favourites. :)

Akelamalu said...

la bellina mammina
You would love it if you like seeing people dressed up. We keep saying we will do it too, maybe next year!

Mike Minzes said...

Sounds like you have a great time. We have an entire town that is like this 24 hours a day. We plan to visit it in July of this year. I hope we have as much fun as it looks like you did.
-0-0-

Akelamalu said...

mike m
We did have a good time. Where's the town you have like this? That sounds amazing.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

what fun! lucky girl you!!! so glad you were able to go and that your knee held up.

smiles, bee

Paul Champagne said...

Sounds like a lot of fun (I can just about here the Andrews Sisters singing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy). I'm with you ... Mike, where is this town?

Akelamalu said...

Bee
I wouldn't have missed it even if I'd been on two crutches! It's a great day out. :)

Akelamalu said...

paul
Oh yes they played that too!

katie eggeman said...

Wow, it looks and sounds like you had a great day!

talj said...

what a lovely day and so glad to read that your knee is doing so well :o)

Anonymous said...

Evening Akelamalu!

I can't thank you enough for this post AND the wonderful photos!

The 40's is a time period that I wish I had lived in (and maybe I did)!

It stirs my soul so deeply.

The clothes, music, style....all make me feel so wonderful!!!

Thanks....this was like a "flash back"

Great job!

Be well,
Ron

Lo Kelween said...

ehm...the beer sounds delicious! how was the jive actually? indeed it's sentimental. it brought back the good memories of good old days, huh? :)

Neoma said...

Sounds like great fun. I love trains and music from the 40's so I would have loved it.

Akelamalu said...

bankerchick
Yes it was a fun day out.

Akelamalu said...

talj
Thanks honey.

Akelamalu said...

Hi ron, I'm glad you enjoyed the memories. :)

Akelamalu said...

elween the beer was delicious and I could only watch the jive, unfortunately.

Akelamalu said...

nea
If you love that era you would have definitely loved it! Pity you couldn't have come with us.

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