Peter

I’ve not been to NZ since 2014 and need a visit soon. Lots has clearly changed since I lived/worked there in 2004-07!

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A friend bought me a www.brickborrow.com subscription for my birthday. I’m running out of space for more Lego so this is the next best thing! Use this referral code - 87CF55A - and you’ll get free shipping on an order if you sign up.

Oh no! Diane Keaton has died. Hadn’t realised she was the same age as my mum.

Have read that BMW have set aside £200m for the car finance mis-selling judgement made by FCA. While BMW told me that I wasn’t a victim of the discretionary commission arrangement that originally sparked things, I’m wondering if there might be compensation due around BMW being sole loan financier

Interesting to see that the FCA has outlined its proposed compensation for those buying cars with PCPs etc. I initially complained regarding my two Mini PCP deals but was told there was no discretionary commission arrangement. I doubt they’ll be part of the other two categories either, but let’s see

Photo shows park in cider sauce with asparagus and baby corn. Two birthday cards are visible on the right.

My housemate cooked me a birthday meal this evening. Blessed to have such good friendships.

Has a good evening with friends at their home in the Tyne Valley last night. Not feeling my best today with a lack of sleep and impending birthday making me feel old and a bit maudlin.

The blue. I’ve had it since Wednesday and it looks pristine despite having no case. It’s a nice phone and feels good in the hand but I’m not sure I’ll miss the zoom etc enough to justify the cost. Coming from a 15 Pro, the camera button is better - I always hit the volume button on my current phone.

Upgraded to an iPhone17 Pro this week as one came available at the Eldon Square store. It’s a great phone and the camera is much better but I’m minded to return it to Apple before the 2 weeks is up - really struggling to justify the £700 net cost after trading in my 15 Pro.

The comments were depressingly homophobic and transphobic.

Brings back happy memories of these locomotives standing at the buffers at Manchester Piccadilly, clicking and buzzing away, and then following behind the train it had just brought in to await coupling up to its next train south. This one is seemingly on its way to York for a charter to Weardale.

Crappy week if I’m honest, despite meeting up with an old friend during my Birmingham trip. Have been fighting a bad cold all week & can’t wait for today to be over. Will hopefully log off as soon as my 3pm meeting finishes. It’s my birthday next week but am in no celebratory mood. I’ll be working.

Steampunk style metal statue of Ozzy the bull towering over passengers on the concourse of Birmingham New Street station.

Took a picture of Ozzy when passing through Birmingham New Street yesterday. Fantastic, impressive and a bit creepy when his head moves.

Steampunk style metal statue of Ozzy the bull towering over passengers on the concourse of Birmingham New Street station.

Took a picture of Ozzy when passing through Birmingham New Street yesterday. Fantastic, impressive and a bit creepy when his head moves.

Already speeding up the ECML towards Darlington & York. The 0500 alarm wasn’t too bad at the time but may haunt me later.

Melted cheeeeeeese…..

I mean, unlimited is £40/mth…

I guess some do but yes your incredulity is noted!

Was reminded through a conversation with my housemate about a night with a good friend in Barcelona many years ago. The whole bar (including staff) got up on the tables when Achy Breaky Heart came on. Seeing dozens of people line dancing on tables is not a sight I’ll ever likely see again.

Back in Gateshead briefly after a drive back up the A1 from a trip to see family in Yorkshire. Early start tomorrow for my train to Birmingham.

Ooh. I missed the fact that Thursday’s date (25/9/3025) was all square numbers. (5, 3, 45). Next one on 1/1/2116 will probably be seen by many of those born in the last 10 years or so.

An old steam locomotive formed of a boiler with two large driving wheels on each side, a long tall chimney at the front and an array of pipes and connecting rods.

A modern electric train which is white in colour with a red and orange design applied centrally down its length, containing the word 'DARLINGTON', viewed from the front. The old steam locomotive described in the previous photo sits alongside.

Viewed from behind, a group of railway engineers stand next to the old steam locomotive described in the first image for a photo.

A large group of people under a cavernous, arched station roof, all looking into the distance as a steam train travels through. The station roof is lit in red lighting.

Privileged to join guests at Darlington station in the small hours of this morning, to welcome a replica of Stephenson's Locomotion No. 1 as it joined the Darlington-liveried @lner.co.uk Azuma train before recreating its journey to Stockton just as the original had 200 years previously to the day 🙌

Wanted to make western folk feel at home.

Seeing pictures of the Locomotion replica steaming into Darlington station yesterday shows how well the rail community came together to make so many great events happen.

Locomotion No.1 next to an InterCity 125 power car 43102 at Locomotion in Shildon

Happy Birthday to The Railway!

As we celebrate the bi-centenary of the first journey on the Stockton & Darlington Railway, thank you to everyone who works on the railways today - taking us to places so we can discover, work, learn, meet friends and make memories!

Stay safe and enjoy the day!

Well an early start allows you to make the most of the Yorkshire Splendour!

Used SeatFrog to upgrade to first class tomorrow morning. While CrossCountry are pretty poor compared to other operators, I should at least have some more space and at £15 including their fee, it seemed worth it. Am in an auction for the return journey. The XC website is as bad as their trains.

You should smile more!

Do you donate in Newcastle or is there a centre closer by?