End of the year

 Christmas approaching, and it is getting cold.  Rusty is happy though because he has a new house, all expense spared.

In January, I decided that I would see how far through the year I could get before I got a train that was on time.  It is now the end of December, my last train of the year and, 23 minutes late. East coast trains are very apologetic, and consistently 10-20 minutes late, so why don't they just alter the timetable to add 20 mins to the journey ?

I shouldn't really complain because the alternative isn't worth thinking about. 7 times this year I tried Virgin West coast cowboys and they were between 50 minutes and an hour and 45 mins late. Also Virgin Customer indifference departments don't give a toss whether you are delayed.

 If Virgin lose their franchise then good.  Their service is crap and they shouldn't be allowed to run a piggy bank never mind a railway.

I arrived down south and there was a steam train waiting on the other platform.  I suppose those were the days when the train had to run on time or somebody got fired.

Luke cooked a fantastic Christmas dinner, with far too much food. 

We had seafood with seared tuna, peppers, salsa and salad

We had beef and pork and  yorkies and potatoes (mashed, roast, sweet) carrots parsnips, beans, stuffing, etc, etc

and cheesecake and wine and beer and port and cheese....

Even the dogs were stuffed.

Across (under) the channel.

We had sent some beer over to the Brewers of Europe in Brussels, and We took the Eurostar over for reception there with euro MP's, to feed them British beer and show what they would be missing if British brewers were taxed out of existence.



Brussels is a city where the buildings all seem to have been built at random, making quite a different skyline.










In the evening we went to the Grand Place where they had an amazing sound and light show, painting colours on the various buildings in time with music.

We had a couple of beers in some of the bars, which are ornately decorated as if they have been unchanged for years.

All the beers have their own style of glasses just to make it more fun!

Which Idiot ?

It has been a long time since I've been to Union Chapel, so this week I returned to see Thea Gilmore. This was a great evening of music with Thea and her husband Nigel Stonier, playing fantastic moody and beautiful music.

 Playing keyboards and Bass for her is Tracey Browne, who I last saw in a bar in Ramsbottom playing covers. She is now playing her own material and her new CD is superb.  I look forward to seeing her at her own shows.

I suddenly realised my passport had expired, so I had to go to the passport office to het a renewal. Well, that is a jolly day, waiting four hours for it to be ready!

Friday night I went to St Albans arena to see the Idiot Bastard Band, with Ade Edmondson, Phil Jupitus, Neil Innes and Rowland Rivron.  Hilarious and brilliant.

Sunday, and I now have heating as well as light in the boat