Holidays are coming
Or how our hero has noticed there are already parallels between his daughters childhood holidays and his own, and then mostly tells you about his own whether you want to know or not.
We’re heading away to Cornwall in x number of weeks (yes dear reader, I am security conscious). It’ll be my daughter’s second-ever holiday.
Her previous holiday was also to Cornwall. We’re going to exactly the same place we went to just under a year ago. My parents and possibly only my brother (I don’t think any of them subscribe though) will probably have figured out where this intro is going.
It got me thinking back to my childhood holidays. And how almost by accident that at 19 months old, my daughter’s childhood holidays are running in a similar vein to my own.
Similar in that every year we’d go to the same place, stay at the same campsite and do all the same things.
Now you might be thinking I sound a bit down about this? The mistake you’ve made is putting mood to my words because I’m smiling with happiness as I type this.
Why? Because that place we went to over and over and over again, was Swanage.
I don’t need to interrogate my dad under a bright light to ascertain the reason for our annual trips to the Isle of Purbeck. It’s quite simple. Swanage Railway.
I’m sure my mum is as sick of it now as she was back then. But she endured because she had two sons who loved it. But, not only did we love Swanage Railway with its real-life steam engines, huge noise, smoke and clatter that banged all the senses, there was a lot of other railway-themed stuff around. Quieter stuff.
In Swanage, there was a church that had an enormous model railway in the basement. I feel almost certain it was in the basement of St Mary’s Church opposite the station, but I can’t find any obvious evidence online as to its existence or if it still exists.
It had a big scenic loop, a long viaduct and the best bit, a secret area where someone changed all the trains around so something different would come out the next time. That was my favourite bit of any train layout because you were in charge of what people saw. The director of trains if you will.
However, the Swanage Railway and the model Swanage Railway under the church were the tip of the iceberg. The best bit of any summer holiday to the Jurassic coast [dear reader, I realised when I finished the newsletter I’d written a couple of 100 words about Swanage and not even bothered to mention the Sandbanks chain ferry, and for that, I can only apologise] was the trip to Poole which to this day, despite having been to the town every summer for probably 15 years, I think I’ve only ever been in one building.
That building was on Poole Harbour. Again a cursory Google fails to reveal the exact address, but on one of the upper floors was the most incredible model railway you’d ever seen. It ran around the entire floor of this building and was sectioned into different scenes. The trains would run through all of these and you’d run around following them through it all. My words can’t really do it justice and unfortunately, neither does this video, but I think you’ll get the idea.
Sadly, this space is also no longer there which is a very sad way to end this part of the newsletter. I’ve no doubt though at some point this year we’ll head back to Swanage Railway for a Santa Special. But I think you’ll probably start to understand where this part of my triumvirate of obsessions comes from. It was the first obsession.
A beer thing
Well as I’ve told you a bit about my childhood. It’s time to lean on you for something I’m doing in my adult life. Bracknell Ale & Cider Festival is coming up. I put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this thing, as do many others and you should come along!
Come and pull a pint. Or drink a pint. Or have some gin. Either way come along and enjoy a lovely day out!
A football thing
On the Football in Berkshire website I run with a few others, I’m always talking about making sure we have plenty of faces in the images we use.
It’s an old newspaper thing I’ve learned over the years. It’s not a particularly new thing, I think the saying was ‘people sell papers’. Not exactly rocket science but easily forgotten.
Anyway, one face you all need to jot down and make note of is Aimee Claypole from Bracknell. She’s just won the under 16s FA Youth Cup with Chelsea scoring twice in a 3-0 win. She’s made her senior debut for the club this season in the Women’s FA Cup, she’s been capped by England and youth level and last season by Finland who she qualifies for through her mum.
I’m sure there are other achievements I’ve forgotten, but I’ve seen her remarkable rise and rise having known her dad Richard since we used to follow Bracknell Town home and away during the early 2000s.
It’s been a remarkable rise for her and obviously, she’s still got a long way to go and a lot of hard work to put in. But as I say, make a note of the name. There’s more on Aimee’s career so far here.
I really hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of what I’m calling BTF. I’ve had some lovely feedback so far and that means I’ll probably keep doing it for the moment. So with that in mind, I’d love it if you’d do one of the following things..
Thanks and speak to you next week!
Tom