So Elder Cottage is sold, STC, and now the race is on to find somewhere to move to. Neither Issy nor I would countenance viewing properties before we had sold.

We need to be near Market Drayton, and I have a feeling we are looking for a relatively short term property, not the house to see out our days.

What is clear is that we will have to make lots of compromises, partly because of the dearth of houses for sale in our top choices of location.

In a  way, that is a good thing.  First of all there is the health issue, for both of us. There are days here that leave me fighting for breath after dealing with the garden, and Issy, as well as some friends and relatives, needs somewhere with easily accessible facilities. Secondly it simplifies the future of the ELR. well sort of.

I've never wanted a massive line, just one that gives me somewhere to play. And possibly a base for doing other things like visiting other railways.

Teddy is ideal for that, he can fit in the back of a car. I doubt any future line will need to fulfill a practical role, so entertainment and fun becomes the driver.  In fact, I'm seriously thinking of downsizing to 5" gauge for the home line using the track I bought from Steve Purves a few years ago. That makes steam a practical proposition for me.

And talking of Steve and his portable railway empire... 

... He has taken on the custodianship of Tug and the coach. Even here Tug wasn't really a suitable loco. We have joint plans for an upgrade to make it a really useful club loco

Iain Rice

I'm sure many pages of blogs and magazines will be focussed on the sad loss of Iain Rice. It is hard to add anything to them except, like so many others, to acknowledge the massive debt I owe a man I never met and yet felt I knew. 

His books have a section of their own on my bookcases. His "bitsa" station concept is always at the back of my mind. There are layout concepts he created that I look at time after time and think "One day..."

What you suddenly realise though is it wasn't about those plans. It was about his ability to make the once esoteric fine-scale concept, in some form, available to all of us, and within the capability of the most ham-fisted of us. 

Much will be written of his legacy, but his real legacy will be seen in attics and spare bedrooms, scout halls and the NEC for many many years to come.

Cornwall and Covid

Things were going so well.

On  Saturday, our son got married to a beautiful girl and the wedding was incredible.

Then we headed down to Bude and a week with friends. One of whom developed a bit of a cough. How we laughed that it might be Covid.

It was, and whilst she got off lightly Issy and I have been really suffering. The current variants might not be that bad but every day feels like an unlucky dip of different  symptoms.

In the middle of which we seem to have sold the house for more than the asking price.

Stressed? Me?

Anyway, back to Cornwall. We did have a good time, though it was more food than railway orientated.

There was a lot of food.

The railway aspect was restricted to two visits to places I haven't been for perhaps 25 years. The first was a glorious visit to the Launceston Steam Railway on the last day of the season.  

The second was a trip on the St Ives branch. Last time I did it on a day trip from London and we literally just had time to take some photos and take the next train out. This time we had a full day there. The highlight was the food at Portminster Beach Cafe.