Penarth Model Railway Show

It's a heatwave, so what better way to stay out of the sun than looking at some model trains? Bryan joined me at the Barry and Penarth Model Railway Club's annual show.

There were a mix of lay-outs ranging from early twentieth century through to modern image. 

Narrow-guage railways were also represented.

There were a few micro-layouts, including one built inside a brie cheese box!

But there were two that really stood out. The first was a monochrome layout paying tribute to the classic film Brief Encounter. It was a very clever lay-out made to look like a black and white movie.

The creator, Rachel Quest, has her own YouTube channel. She also clearly has a sense of humour!

And Bryan and I both really liked Karolina Falls, an American frontier town with a waterfall featuring real water (!) and lots of funny little features including a curious moose!

So, lots of inspiration for if I ever get round to reviving my model railway. 

A week in Bucks - Bekonscot Model Village

This was a real nostalgia trip for me. I vividly remember visiting Bekonscot Model Village sometime in the late 80s when we were visiting family friends who lived near Beaconsfield. It was my first real exposure to puns, as many of the business names in the model village are a play on words. (The one I really remember is Scratchitt & Reckitt, Home Removals.)

As we were on holiday nearby, visiting Bekonscot again was firmly on the to do list for our week in Buckinghamshire. I have learned not to expect too much from revisiting things I remember being great when I was a kid - but this really lived up to the nostalgic memories!

There is a real mix of buildings in the village, with castles and harbours and stately homes alongside little cottages and industry. The buildings are all made by Bekonscot staff, carrying on the traditions of the visionary eccentrics who founded it. One or two buildings have fallen foul of the weather - a bit like in the Miniland part of Legoland that we visited the same week. A difference is that, despite some worn areas needing a touch up, Bekonscot still felt very loved whereas Legoland is a much more corporate venture and the worn exhibits felt more like neglect there. 

The windmill is iconic

Some buildings have scenes inside too

When I was a kid I loved the large model trains that rattle around the village. There were lots of these going around, along with several other moving bits and bobs. 

The village even had a cliff railway!

There is also a large ride on train now. I said to Cathy I didn't remember it from my childhood visits, as we would definitely have ridden on it. I checked with the driver and the railway was added in 2001. I told the driver that I thought it hadn't been here when I visited as a child and he said "Oh, no, that would be long before we got the train." I thought that was a bit cheeky, to be honest. But I suppose he was right.

And finally, I mentioned the puns - here are some of the ones that really made me chuckle.

Overall I felt like this disproved the saying that "you can't go back". Maybe when it's something quirky like a model village, you can!

The 12 cards of Christmas

I have decided not to do a Christmas card audit this year. It's something I might do again in future, but I felt like a Christmas off. 

However, I haven't dispensed with all my blogging traditions - here are a selection of the cards we received this year. It was tough picking just 12 from the pile. I have only included cards that could scan easily on the flatbed, so you will just have to picture the 3D musical R2-D2 card with flashing lights that Connor gave me in your minds eye!

First up is a card that just made me smile. Santa has upgraded his transport - to a big red bus!

I'm never sure whether "peace" counts as a religious theme or not. It felt very apt this year with some of the horrors grinding on in other parts of the world, particularly in the middle east. I really liked the design of this peace dove. 

A more definite religious theme - the three "kings" (AKA wise men or magi). The curly shoes of the king in the middle amused me. 

I love cards designed by kids. This one of robins sat on a goalpost (I think) was by Delilah. It was printed as a fund-raiser for her school. 

And this drawing by Jowan was hand done. Got to say this is a contender for my very favourite card this year. A duck-billed platypus in a Santa hat? What's not to love? (Although I don't think platypuses quack, despite their duck-bills.)

Keeping on an antipodean fauna theme, here's a tree of koala bears from my friend Jon in Oz.

This card was given to us 11 months early by my friend Sian. It's a pun and a moose.

And another moose! Including this card is a bit of a cheat because it's one of the ones that I gave to Cathy. It's designed by Cardiff-based artist Ana Palamar. I liked his wellies. 

More animals. This time it's some sheep saying "Baa humbug!" I liked the stripy sheep who actually looks like a humbug. 

But nobody does humbug as well as the Modern Toss cartoonists. This gave me a belly laugh when I first saw it. 

Cathy's card to me. Very cute. 

And then the final card of the selection. This one really had it all. A pun. Camels! Wearing Santa hats! Fair play to my Mum, she ticked all the boxes with this one.

As ever, a massive thank you to everyone who sent us a Christmas card. If it wasn't featured in the post, I can promise you it was very much appreciated.