Monday with Martin

It is a Monday, and close friend of many years (from theological college) is with us. We have had a great day - as we always do, with plenty to talk about, and plenty to do. (This is my friend you will remember who lives in Bickerstaff, Lancashire).

Used the time to reflect on my Sabbatical, and the get a few tips on my presentation. Also, I have been able to think through some of my reflections, so far, and how they will energise my future ministry which is what a Sabbatical is all about.

We had breakfast at Morrison's, and then visited the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley. There had been a "Thomas" weekend, so I was hoping that some of the locomotives might still be in steam - disappointment number 1 of the day, there weren't. But it was great looking at the old station, seeing the coaches, and dmus from the 1960s. We went in search of the Museum having left a "gift aid" donation, but the young man's "1/2 mile walk" was more like a 20 mile hike, and we never made it. But is was a lovely and emotive morning.

We then journeyed through the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border, towards the Nottingham Transport Museum, a place that I haven't been to for many years, and which I was keen to revisit and show Martin, as there are plans to extend the Great Central Railway there. The Great Central Railway of my two Steam Train driving experiences, which don't seem that long ago, but they were both given to me for my 50th birthday!

But before we arrived there, I deviated from the route, to look at another place I hadn't been to for over 20 years, Toton Marshalling yards. Martin would love looking at this! Wrong, and disappointment number 2 for today. It wasn't there - all the sidings - track and track beds had been pulled up - cordoned off, overgrown, and Toton Motive Power Depot, one of the largest in Britain, was lost somewhere in the distance. What tricks memories play. If Salisbury Station had been one of my Spiritual hidiholes at Theological college, then Toton was mine during my curate years at St Leonard's Wollaton. I used to bring our first Labrador, Rosie, and take our children in an evening, and would sort out all my curate related problems. I would also go and simply pray there. Once again I come to the realisation that you can't live in the past, or expect the past to be as it was, or as you think it was - that the presentis only very temporary, and the best is yet to be. I was listening to something over the weekend with the words "steps unto heaven" (I won't tell you just yet where it was, as it is a possible contender for the name of my presentation/write-up) and that was what the past/present/future syndrome seems to be in my experience, spiritually.

I ramble on - this really is Richard rambling! Indeed it is now Tuesday morning, and Martin has now gone, but there is still much to tell about yesterday.

After leaving Toton, went to have lunch in a very nice pub near where I used to work when I was assistant manager in NatWest and where we always took our customers for lunch - at least those we were trying to look after. A lovely pub/resturant, recently very tastefully refurbished (well it was over 25 years since i was last there) but a problem, there was a power cut, which had affected the whole village, and we could only have drinks and crisps, and sit in the dard.

Finally got to Nottingham Transport Museum, and to disappointment number 3. It just looked like a builders yard, with very little looking like anything to do with transport, let alone what I thought was the imminent opening of the Great Central Railway extension - perhaps I was looking in the wrong place.

By now I was getting a little tired, and so home we came - via the newly opened A46 dual carriageway.

After a nap (!!!!) time to go out for a meal in the evening - into my car, and what a funny grinding noise. A puncture! Thank goodness for friends! (Neil has also made some comment to me which I must take up!)

Can I just finish this posting by saying that I haven't been very well, and my pronouncement that I was feeling much better, was shortived. Pain, aches, and this last week a heavy cold have all taken their toll. Also just finishing final week of medication before a 3 week break.

Next trip to Poland (Auschwitz) with Sue, Neil and Jocelyn, so reading in full swing for that, and a couple of films to watch. Also want to ensure I feel ok for the trip.