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.