When the good pictures run out and there is nothing left to say. However while passing through Shenfield Station I saw this run down apparition parked at the far side. A guards 'brake van' from the days of long ago. Goods wagons in the past had no brakes, they merely clinked and clunked against one another when the train slowed down or stopped, the brake van would be used to control long goods trains, often carryinhuge amounts of weight. When young, the shunter sorting wagons far from us on a dark night could be heard at my home, the soothing clinking sound coming miles through the darkness. No such sounds exists today, and the Edinburgh I once knew is far noisier at night than it was then. Mind you down here in the wilderness the night is quieter but no romantic noises are ever heard, unless you count the Sainsburys lorry passing by of course. I wonder what this brake in need of refurbishment is doing there? Please explain.
At Stratford the underground, national rail and the Docklands light Railway meet together along with other transport termini. A huge amount of work has been done here since I last passed through. The Olympic Games led to much improvement (they say) and the Euro trains also helped. However so many of the buildings are modern, shapeless or just plain ugly to me that I find myself thinking the acres of electric pylons and rail lines of the past more worthy of praise. Note also the strange yellow, blue and white shapes in front of the office block. I think these are an attempt to deflect noise away from the buildings, I wonder if it works?
Talking of 'dereliction' reminds me of this picture I took while passing by Waterloo on Saturday. Dismal and gray, and this just after noon at that, this was the best pic my weary hulk could obtain of that palace of rogues. I see what looks like a large poster high up in the middle of the building, I think it reads 'Guy Fawkes wanted, Apply within.'
That's my lovely warm Christmas now at an end. No more living amongst warm, generous lovely people, no more good food that has taste, no more warmth and happiness, reality begins to hit home now. So some rant or other will appear soon, grumbling and complaining and scowling at the world will once again be my lot I suspect. We'll see.
.
