Strike Factory

Hello people been a while since I last updated this blog but an awful lot has happened in the last year or so esp the last month since my area of England (Sussex) was put under another lockdown on Boxing Day. But I was quite anxious about the news knowing it could possibly run until the end of Easter and was worried due to living alone, not having a partner and no car. Then about 2 weeks into lockdown I reluctantly accepted furlough from work, I was quite mixed about the idea as on the one hand it was quite quiet with not a lot to do and was anxious about whether I should be there and did not want to interact too much with other people at work to keep covid spread minimal so thought it beneficial to furlough esp knowing those that have had covid recently and aware its serious and not to be scoffed at, but on the other hand did not want to lose the routine of going into work and the interaction I could have with people there, and I did not want to be furloughed as long as last time but in the end we agreed 4 weeks, and hopefully will be that with me back at work soon.

Last 2 weeks have been pretty up and down emotionally having things to do in my flat is not an issue, but loneiness (can't stand being alone in my flat for too long), erratic sleeping and motivation lacking that person to prompt me have been bigger issues for me in the last month, plus not having a car and relying on public transport to get about which is a big no no this lockdown means I miss my escapes to the South Downs or the nearby Sussex coast.   Plus I am too anxious to ask anyone if they want to form a support bubble with me as I don't want to get in the way of those that need a support bubble from friends and family more than me. On the positive side I have been trying to organise walks and runs with friends, which helps get me out and give me a bit of company. I know I am not the only one finding things tough with plenty of others experiencing similar if not worse, and doing my best to keep positive knowing the days are getting longer, covid rates going down and the vaccine is coming out soon with possiblity things will be eased at some point in future when that will be I don't know, but willing to be patient and dream of the time when I can go back to day trips in the countryside or coast, seeing friends and family watching the Albion at the Amex Stadium, tennis plus cricket in the sun plus of course parkrun. Keep strong bloggers and readers.

Charles.  

It has been a long time since I last updated this blog true, and decided to put it into long term hibernation Especially with events that have happened in recent months from Brighton and Hove Albion getting promoted to Premier League to other things, and feel in mood for one off blog entry. I have mostly just carried on with volunteering and got involved with Work Aid, who are trying to help me into work long term, in recent weeks I have started a Level 3 ECDL Computer Licence course with Rewards Training who I did Level 2 ECDL with a few years back but at the time could not do Level 3 as they did not have the funding for that level. Plus I have returned to playing tennis well sort of it did not help I entered a local tennis league and experienced some tennis score defeats, jumping too soon but I have been taking part in a Rusty Rackets tennis sessions which are great for beginners at Crawley Tennis Club and has enabled me to meet people that have that shared love of the game. For some reason the tennis at Eastbourne which I attended with my friend the false Aussie Roger this year and the tennis at Wimbledon somehow spurred me on to do more than just watch tennis. 

That will be all for now, not sure if there will be another blog post soon but thanks for reading. 

Well its been a few months since I last posted a blog entry, but after break of few months I am back. Hoping 2017 will bring more than last year especially some work and a girlfriend hopefully.

Anyway aside from banging on about the Albion and the tennis, I did visit the Bluebell Railway last week, a great preserved railway line that in the last few years has managed to suscessfully link up with national network at East Grinstead and already long term plans to link up with the Brighton mainline via Ardingly with extra platform space existing at Haywards Heath just in case. Well East Grinsteads rail isolation from Sussex since 1960's seems over albeit its just preserved railway lines. I arrived at East Grinstead to begin this vintage rail journey a bit later than planned due to underestimating the less frequent bus transport links between Three Bridges and East Grinstead. Technically the Bluebell station is virtually a separate station from the modern Network Rail/ Southern managed station with the latter just to the north, you are greeted to the arrival of a fine vintage steam train at the sole platform with the station designed in the 1960's British Rail era (the time the Three Bridges-Tunbridge Wells line via the old East Grinstead High Level Station was closed). The journey begins south travelling over the Imberhorne Viaduct bring back memories of schoolmates from the town boasting stories of their adventures or misadventures on the then abandoned rail bridge. But is nice to see the viaduct back to its original use after recalling the sad lonely state it was in for several years.

Each station is designed in a different era of British rail with Kingscote set in 1950s British rail era, Horsted Keynes the original true Southern Rail era of 1920's/ 1930's and Sheffield Park the Bluebells chief HQ set in the Victorian/ Edwardian era of the LBSCR (London, Brighton & South Coast Railway). I wonder if next one will be designed in the good old British Rail Network South East era of the 1980s/ 1990s? Anyway Sheffield Park Station has a fine museum and is near the National Trusts Sheffield Park with a manor and historic cricket ground that hosted an early clash between England and Australian cricket teams. Horsted Keynes Station is possibly the largest preserved railway station with 5 platforms having been a junction railway station until 1960's serving trains on East Grinstead to Lewes line and the Ardingly spur line that connected it to the Brighton Main Line. Plus is a fave of tv and film crews due to its preserved early 20th century state and Bluebells catalogue of trains and carriages of various eras with the 1999 version of The Railway Children, and Downton Abbey having filmed scenes there. Though does not have quite as much history museum stuff as neighbouring Sheffield Park Station, it does have a fine refreshment cafe in the middle island platform, a little works museum and loved the 1930 posters in the waiting room along with staff in attire of that era. Towards the end of my visit a Pullman train showed up at Horsted Keynes, popular train for lovers of vintage trains. All in all a good visit and maybe have to visit some other historic place next, but blog won't always be about that I promise.