It was a massive move from Liverpool to London for my parents in 1960 ... and an incredibly exciting holiday when we flew for the first time in a plane from Southend to Rotterdam for a Thompsons package tour of the Netherlands with coaches to places like Arnhem and Keukenhof.   To some extent the world has become a smaller place and long distance travel a natural part of our / my life.  And yet - speaking with a local friend the other day - he's concerned to the extent of planning half a year ahead about the travel plans he has to take his girlfriend to Rome for a short break and how they'll manage with hiring a cat to get around. And I am minded that he and his friend were very concerned when I showed him the ropes of the summer Saturday train to and from Weymouth at the start of September ... and had a series of cancellations on the way home.

My data feeds are filled with far flung news of rail attractions (and Stella the Labrador!) such as the Darjeeling Himalaya Railway and I note that's a growing concern.  I can't think (may be wrong) there's a blossoming local traffic.
My new passport arrived ... and I'll be headed off again next year. 













For 2026 - might you be travelling "far flung"

 
As things stand we will continue trips to our Yorkshire branch next year, with a visit to the K&WVR on the 'to do' list. In January we are having a few days in Paris - Eurostar out & back - primarily for the Stade Francais v Exeter Chiefs EPCR Challenge Cup rugby fixture although SWTSMBO will undoubtedly visit several retail emporia (A Paris trip for the other game against Racing 92 next month is also already booked). Next October we will head to Singapore for another family wedding; by then the full KTM electric train service from/to Johor and the rest of Malaysia should be up and running so we can give that a go.