Typically English mixture of stately home with grounds and woodland, wildfowl reserve, crafts workshops and a motor museum. I must admit it was a good day out despite the sinister black swan that looked as though it was going to take a chunk out of my leg at any moment.

Cool huh?

The story of a wealthy town family losing the father figure and moving to the country where the railway plays a key part in the children’s lives, and ultimately brings their father home is as popular today as when it was written.

The film is re-run every Christmas and it is wonderful to perform as a play.

The Bexhill production used a projected background for the railway and the family cottage which worked really well.

There is something about stage productions involving alot of children that brings an extra magic.

This particular interpretation had the Perks (railway master’s) children playing a key role in the story so that it was very child centred

The production kept the typically olde English feel and was played to a packed house.

There aren’t many of these around but whenever I spot them I can’t understand why BT decided to replace them with horrible grey and beige efforts.

The red ones are mostly in quaint village locations and always look cheerful and homely. In the days when we didn’t have mobiles you can imagine how welcome a sight they were. Travellers whose car had broken down, walking through dark lanes, a little elderly lady without a phone, having her weekly chat with her sister, a child with friends, giggling as they ask if they can stay to tea.

Fortunately the post office have retained red post boxes. Long may they continue.

The only thing I can’t understand is why they chose to make dog poo bins the same colour

These are becoming increasingly popular especially in winter when it is dark so early. It is an easy way to cash in on British history and to add atmosphere and intrigue to old buildings. There is nothing like a ghost to draw the crowds.

The walks usually start in the graveyard of an old church or stately home and the guide (speaking in a suitably deep hushed voice) begins the story of the sad old ghost, where they lived and their tragic and untimely death.

As the story unfolds the group follow him as he walks (or glides) along pointing out old and current haunts and where the ghosts is likely to appear. The group stops, waiting and listening in strategic spots as dusk turns to dark and his voice gets deeper and the atmosphere creepier.

By now there is a pleasant frisson of fear amongst the group which becomes more jumpy so that if one accidentally touches another a gasp or even a scream rings out into the night.
He stops talking, but gestures again for them to stop so they huddle in the dark expectantly and wait. Then someone suddenly realises that the guide has faded away.

The Government.
Unlimited moan fodder on a daily basis.

Our Partner
Habits, lack of romance, dull sex.

Weather.
We moan about the cold but on warm days worry about global warming. When it rains it’s miserable but when it doesn’t we worry and hose pipe bans are put in place. We are never prepared for radical weather like snow or gales.

Money.
Mortgage rates, pensions, credit cards, debts. Not having enough, or other people having too much.

Health
The reason that the question ‘how are you?’ was invented. ‘Fine’ is the wrong answer. Then there is the state of the National Health Service, hospital superbugs, low paid nurses, highly paid doctors.

Bad Service.
Restaurants, shops, garages, post offices, mail order companies. Is bad service really more common than good service or do we just notice it more?

Reality TV Shows.
We have to watch the shows to get to know the best characters to moan about.

Neighbours
Nosiness, noise, pets or children, they’re bound to be guilty of something.

Kids
They have everything we had nothing. Ungratefulness. Noise.

Mobile Phones
Noise. Noise. Noise.

http://www.fotosearch.com/RTF001/57539313/

Traditionally the family sat around for a meal of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, lamb, with mint sauce, pork and apple sauce or a fat roast chicken with sage and onion stuffing. There would be rich gravy made from the meat or chicken juices, roast potatoes and mash. The vegetables would include overcooked carrots and cabbage, mashed with butter and white pepper. The main course would be followed by a substantial pudding such as apple pie, or steamed sponge with custard. There would be plenty of chat and laughter followed by a ‘nice cup of tea’ and then some gardening, outdoor games or perhaps a family walk.

Nowadays the Sunday roast is usually pub based. The nicer meals are found at village pubs, where they try to emulate the traditional family roast by providing similar. Unfortunately the neat servings of piping hot food have that slightly shiny flavour of microwave. Families can sit around and chat, albeit more generally and self consciously than normal, because of the awareness that they aren’t in the privacy of their own home.

Then there are the huge brewery chains that offer ‘traditional Sunday roasts’ as part of a carvery,in a ‘child friendly’ environment. This means that they have an indoor and outdoor play area and high chairs. Families can choose from a selection of roast meat, vegetables, potatoes and gravy, from the servery where the food is kept hot for so long so that it tastes of biscuit.

Children don’t want to sit around talking to the parents when they could be playing in the designated areas, especially as they have usually had a fizzy drink and are spinning off the walls. The non-driving parent/partner/family friend takes advantage of the fact that the kids are occupied and they are in a pub, and gets sloshed while the other gets more annoyed because they can’t. By the time they are ready to go the kids have to be dragged away protesting so both parents get furious with them as well as each other. The rest of the day is spent recovering from the effects of the meal, whether fizzy, alcoholic or resentful.

A little film to go with yesterday’s post.