Travelling Again
 

Morning All.
This one is not for the happiest of occasions. Another funeral. This time one of my Army friends that I've known since we were fifteen, 67 years ago.
Today I am driving to Chepstow via M6 and M5 to overnight.
Friday driving via M4 to Port Talbot for the service.

After the service driving home to Wigan via Bridgend, for a cuppa, and through the Brecons.
Just advance warning. If you think you see, me you have.

Safe journey Ray. But I live in Devon, so if I think I've seen you, you're lost! :ROFL:

:ROFL:

Likewise if I see you Ray

Safe trip, Ray. You’ll be lost if I see you, too!

Hi All.
I am back home safe.
I didn't do The Brecons on the way home. After some local advice about the Welsh Sheriffs being a bit keen on stopping cars for traversing the Border, I decided that they wouldn't want to stop me on the Motorway.
Discretion being the better part of valour, I went M4, M5 and M6 and did it in 3 hours, Bridgend to Wigan. Pretty good run especially on a Friday afternoon.
Weather at the crematorium was sunny with a little wind though it did rain a bit whilst we were in the Chapel.

Afternoon All,
What on earth has happened? I thought that I was retired.

We put the coaches back on the road last Monday but we were short a driver. Not having a short driver available the office decided to put up with me. I was ferryingg six people from Liverpool and Warrington to Leigh so they could catch a tour coach to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Only a two hour job but due to flooding closing a road it took three. Tour coach was running late so they caught it.
I went home for lunch but before I could take my jacket off phone rang, Office asking me to rescue them. A driver had not turned in so I landed up doing the Stoke Football Club security team job. 14:00 to 23:15. Sat at the ground thumb twiddling from 15:30 to 21:45, it's a boring job.
Thursday did an Ormskirk Market and Southport Excursion. Spent the afternoon at my daughter's in Southport.
Friday took some people to Llandudno for a weekend, brought them back on Monday this week.
Yesterday was a day excursion to Skipton.
Saturday I am doing a day excxursion to Whitby.
Fair warning, hide your cars.
I am also doing a five day Tenby tour starting 20th June.

Bloody Hell Ray. Your making up for time lost to lockdown or what. Must be a great being useful.

What is good apart from enjoying the driving is the reception I am having from the passengers.
I know they are so happy at getting out and about again but they make it feel really personally to me doing my bit. I am only part of the team.
Watch out Dracula, I'll be after you tomorrow.

Short update on my shenanigans.
Last week I did a five day tour based in Tenby. Lovely holiday but those lanes are a bit narrow for my coach.
I was down for a few lazy weeks but life as ever happened, a driver called in sick and I have landed up doing his six day Llandudno tour. Only problem is this is a "Diner" tour. We feed and water them whilst travelling. The other driver uses his wife as a hostess and I had to find a helper overnight. Luckily a friend offered to help, never done it before but she's turned out magic.
Yesterday we did the Bets, Llanberis circular. Today I'm putting them on the Festiniog where they will be nurtured. So once we have them on the train we can relax and enjoy the ride.
Tomorrow is my rest day, Thursday Angelsea circular and Beaumaris.
Friday home for a lunchtime finish.

Ray you just love munching up those miles !

i do hope your bus is a soot chucker !

:)

That sounds mildly bearable then & I'm sure the company - and the weather! - is helping. Enjoy...:)

Ray, Enjoy your time in God's principality

Here we go again.
Sunday doing a seven day tour to Llandudno but only the first two days because Friday 23rd I am flying to Hamburg for a week with my daughter near Luneburg.
Sunday travelling via a Llangollen lunch stop, Horseshoe Pass to Llandudno.
Monday doing Betws-y-Coed for lunch then using A5 to Bangor and on to Conwy for a 90 minute stop.
Tuseday another driver takes over and I will have the pleasure of being driven home by one of our young drivers.
When home on Tuesday I'll organise another Covid test to be fully covered for Germany. Though being double vaccinated I don't need to take the test in either direction from the 19th.
Two evenings in The Chatsworth House Hotel.
Think I know the way to Llandudno now.

I wouldn't take that as gospel Ray, check with both Governments.
Not needing to quarantine I believe, but you may still need tests.
I believe Germany is on our amber list so you would need to take a test 2 days after returning.
See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-ambe...and#green-list

Not sure what the various airlines are requiring in addition, if anything.

I'll arrange test in both directions to cover everything.
The Gov pages are rather confusing. Officials say one thing but web pages don't fully agree. Some pages mention 19th but again don't clarify sufficiently.
I'll look again after the 19th, someone just might get their digit out.
My family and friends in Germany are all safe. Different for my Dutch friends in Valkenburg, they were evacuated last night but back home today. House and farm some water damage but there restaurant also suffered.

Sorry I've not updated for a while, work has been rather hectic.
The German trip went really well. Getting there and the actual holiday were brilliant and faultless. Even had a day horse riding and another day bike riding. Had a day in Hamburg at the Miniature Wonderland where I was taken backstage by one of the engineers. It was the return that was traumatic. I had to take a PCR costing 120 Euro in Germany before I could fly from Hamburg. In Frankfurt I had to pay £85 for a three day postal PCR test before flying from there to Manchester.
Work wise I've been everywhere, well not far off, with two funerals and the National Memorial at Arewas where I carried The Standard. I did a four day Lytham St Annes tour, a beatles tour in Liverpool for a load of Americans off a cruise ship, two trips to Southampton with people joining cruise ships returning empty. Friday I finished a five day Blackpool Hallucinations Tour and then collected the car and friends and family for a drive to Colne Muni where we attended a One Night of Queen concert. After the gig backstage with every one and finally arrived home at 02:00 Saturday morning. That was a long day. Thursday I'm off to Llandudno where One Night of Queen are performing, I'll be on my own so will be able to spend from lunchtime with the group, back to my teenage years. A latter day Groupie.

I needed a lie down just reading this Ray. Well done you - if I'm getting about like you do in 20 years time then I'll be very happy +++

Glad I'm not the only one who's breathless after reading of Ray's 'retirement' shenanigans. :D

Now if he could only bottle and sell it to the rest of us.

Update Nº 999 or something.
Llandudno at the Venu was brilliant, had a full day with them prior to the evening gig. Immediately after the concert they had to fly to Paris in preparation for the French tour, they wanted me to travel with them but being needed elsewhere I had to decline this time.
Last weekend I did a four day Hallucinations tour, yes Blackpool again.
Wednesday did a Rivington Hall Barn tea dance with a gang of ladies, annual job but the food is good.
Saturday 16th doing two hours in Beverley and a couple of hours in York.
Monday 18th five day in Torquay so busy busy.

Where are you staying down here Ray? Catch up for a :cheers:

Belgrave Sands Hotel.
Thursday is my day off

We walked by that regularly when we stayed in Torquay last August, it was the "easy" route to the sea front.
I can recommend Bistrot Pierre on the seafront directly over the road from it and The Elephant across the harbour.
We stayed up on top of the hill above it (St Lukes Road on Waldon Hill) so got a lot of exercise. :tuttut:
Also found this "time lapse" video of 200 years of the history of the hill/harbour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQAWQJ2hUtw

I've stayed in a few hotels there over the years but find The Headland best,IMHO. That's up at Dadyholes.

Catch up Thursday evening? We'll come over to Torquay. Fish and Chip Supper maybe? I call you Tuesday. +++

Good.
Nice to see you.

Has to be Hanbury's in Babbacombe! +++
https://www.hanburys.net/

Thursday 21/10/2021 and we managed a sort of mini-meet, North West meets South West. Not an 8 in sight but does that really matter?
Mike and Angela picked me up in Torquay at the hotel door and off we went to find an open chippie. First two closed but Mike the Intrepid googled and found a very nice Place that Haddocked us to the Cod. Sorry, best I could do, I'm shattered after a difficult Friday drive along full length of the M5 and busiest part of the M6.
We had a grand meet in Torquay, thank you Mike and Angela.
I mustn't forget MJ who wasn't there but did send her best, much appreciated.
I am so lucky to have gained so many really good friends.

We also came up the M5 yesterday (Friday) from Bridgewater to the M42. Probably the busiest I have ever seen it. Not just in parts but pretty much the entire way. And then the same on the M42.
Not a lot of fun when its like that, although in a coach you have the benefit of that excusive and largely empty lane over on the right :ROFL:

Sadly we can't use the outside lane on a three or more lane motorway, just like the trucks so we keep being held up by them and the car drivers who think there speedometers are accurate. When they think they are doing 60 they are only doing 56 or so. In a coach I'm allowed 100Klicks or 62MPH.
I want a laser disintegrator on my coach.
I have to undertake the slow movers using lane 1 and then use lane 2 to overtake the trucks. It means I am forced to drive the British way . . . drive on the left except when overtaking.
Shame I didn't see you Nick. I left Gloucester Services at 13:15.

Bit of a delayed update.
Friday 5th November I drove to Wishaw, south of Glasgow, for a funeral.
The deceased was the chap that I signed on with back in February 1955 and had known him for 67 years, longer than a lot of marriages. Makes me feel more like last man standing.
This would explain if you saw a flash of gold on either the M6 or M74 on that day.

Sad saying goodbye. But you are still here and entertaining with your golden flashing on the the M's 74 and 6, and doubtless all the others.
You are an inspiration Ray :)

+1.

Advance warning for once.
The Golden Flash will be let loose tomorrow along the Eastbound M56. We are heading to Llandudno for a day out with friends.
Please do not be too upset if my draught knocks off your feet.

Good stuff - I'll wave if I see you ;)

Something you're not telling us Ray ;)

Is living in the multiverse how you manage to achieve so much? You're in a 'Justice' League of your own.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1636451680

Tomorrow is Remembrance Sunday and after a couple of years cancellation due to covid this year it is back on.
BBC1 TV from 10:15 until 12:30, well worth watching, I will record it because it is difficult to watch as you perform.
Alarm is set for 03:00, breakfast and hit the road at 04:00. I know, early, but can't take the chance of any holdups. Not sure of route from Birmingham on, depends on traffic messages, maybe M1 or M40. The Golden Flash will be stabled at Marlborough House on Pall Mall, next door to St James Palace for a couple of hours and then a dash northwards home.
Unfortunately, with doing the return in one day this year I will not be calling anywhere for a cuppa. Hopefully next year will return to some kind of sensibility.

Take care Ray and have a great day. Where do we look for you on TV?
PS And Happy Birthday.

BBC 1 Cenotaph 2021 Programme.


At 2 hours 2 minutes into the programme we were seen for three seconds marching past the Cenotaph. Unfortunately the camera caught everyone in the front row except for the left marker . . . Me.


Never mind, always next year to try again. In previous years I have found some pretty good footage.


After a rather long day arrived safe back home at 17:30.

I should have read this yesterday. I also marched with my shipmates from the Type 21 Association. Unfortunately the commentator called us the Type 2 Assosiation. Great day out. If you go next year Ray we can catch up maybe. +++

Already placed my order for next year.
It would be nice to catch up.
I was in B42.