Its that time again, onto 2026 and I already have some “new years resolutions” (targets). I have a nice easy one, go to the office at work more. Yeah, 2 days at home I didn’t particularly enjoy, in fact, 3 days in some cases. However, as there is some engineering projects affecting me next year, I might find that 3 days at home or 50% in the office over 2 weeks will be the norm (and we have gone for more hybrid working where I work, not less).
For me, what has happened this year? Well, a lot actually, some really big changes too. The only thing that hasn’t changed is my job, but the industry I work in has changed and is changing more and more.
The bad
I lost Buddy – the dog very early on, back in January in fact and to be honest, it still is quite painful seeing Buddy going through his last moments on earth in the worst way possible. I feel the vets should of been much more supportive but they weren’t and yes, I do miss Buddy a lot.
Then came more concerns. I’ve not mentioned it on here, but I had a few health issues that were concerning, it started with issues that I kept getting with a certain type of cold that requires anti-biotics as it causes breathing difficulties over time if it worsens, so I was scheduled for a “spirometry” test as I also been diagnosed with eczema/dermatitis (my skin is a big problem, those that seen me know that my hands are littered with flaky skin and splits!) , so they think I was potentially asthmatic. I’ve been given an inhaler but I only really use it when required,
You thought that would be it? Well, when I was with my friend who was driving to Kidderminster with the dogs from Llandrindod Wells, I noticed a lump on my head that grew out of nowhere and it was hard like that for about a month when I got it checked out. Then on the same side of my body, 2 more lumps appeared. One was really bad, which is a suspect insect bite, one was considered an ingrown hair, the other when I went to A&E (the insect one burst and kept leaking), I was told to get it checked out as there was a 1% chance it could be cancerous – small, very small, so I did, turned out to be a wart. So for about 4 weeks, I was worried I had the signs of cancer because being naturally red headed, the risk of skin cancer is really high. At least I got it sorted when I did.
The end is nigh – for the franchise
The big one? I changed employers and got TUPE’d over, I went from First Group to DfTO from the 21st May 2025, that has been a big change and was it positive? Well, putting it on here will upset one or the other, however, as things go, I’m not going anywhere.
However, as part of this, my box card which First Group employees get, was coming to an end, so what was idea? Use it! Plus my 40 odd tickets a year friends and family discount (which was £6 a ticket and rarely used it). So first of all, I went to Hull, using Hull Trains, an open access operator I wanted to use for years, I finally did it and it was a really smooth great experience. That was on the bank holiday weekend in May. I was going to post my thoughts on Hull (its alright), but to be honest, I didn’t find much to do for an overnight stay, apart from the aquarium, it was a fishy trip, that’s for sure.
Weekend after that, I went with the older sister to London with the dogs for a day and did a long walk that Finn and Bailey – oh, I’ve not mentioned those yet. I need to – to Brixton from London Waterloo, it was warm but OK.
Weekend after that, I took my mum and younger sister with their 2 dogs and my 2 dogs to Bath, that was a nice trip but got too warm, this was a sign of things to come with the weather,
The final weekend, it was again, my mum and younger sister to London and a walk around London. This was the final weekend of the franchise and it was a goodbye and hello. If I don’t fall foul of a policy, I’ll post my thoughts on the franchise. I’ve been in the company from the Stagecoach days and there were some good ideas, don’t get me wrong.
A change of direction – in my spare time
Politics talk. I kept quiet about this, but in July, I became a councillor for my local parish council. This being Fishbourne (Sussex), yes, I am now into politics and making positive changes. This was influenced by my mum and the big reason for doing it was quite simply crime. Sussex police I had arguments with their PCC where crime was going up and nothing had been done about it. So, I did something and I started recording things. I’ve now started a database and I have met many residents to hear their views. I now have a bigger project in the wings (yes, its one I want to sort as well) which is Fishbourne Roundabout, its dangerous, its a hot topic here and the whole A27 (the road that runs from Romsey to Eastbourne) runs right through the middle of the roundabout metaphorically. There is many things I’ve heard and not to upset a certain influential person on this blog, I’ll keep my mouth shut – but I was not impressed when I heard it. (I do agree that the northern bypass wasn’t a good idea anyway as I got my own interest that will be on a direct collision course with them anyway – called railways and a line I want to build and one I want to reopen.) Theres lots to do and I’m getting started. Its slow, but I’m getting there. For those wanting to make a difference, I’ll recommend joining the council, there is one important rule though, you can’t act individually, you have to act as a collective – including all decision making. This maybe a new career if the railway goes Pete Tong. However, if anyone gave me a bribe, I’ll send it back to where it belongs. Sorry I’m happy with what I have got, it doesn’t come with strings.
Work challenges
At work, I’ve not progressed, we are relatively stable at the moment, so the opportunity isn’t there, but work life has been interesting. I’ve gone to a situation of doing nothing to doing lots to doing nothing. Big thing, I actually got involved in 2 events, the 9 day Portsmouth Direct Line closure as I diagrammed the crew on the last trains (yes, I didn’t expect that!) and a small contribution to a railtour, so small, its almost insignificant, but had I picked up something, it would have a massive impact. Yes, I would of been affected by my own problem. It ran, so I wasn’t worried. I even got involved in the Class 701 introduction for a day, that was an interesting experience and that was back in March.
Related to the PDL and being affected by my own work, I also saw all 3 signal boxes on the last day! I managed to take some photos too, with my camera as phones are frowned upon, 2 still exist (Petersfield and Haslemere), but one has now bit the dust. I understand the reasoning however (and that’s a wider subject I can’t talk about on here).
Places been
Trips! Ok, where I have I been? In this order
Ledbury/Birmingham (Jan)
Llandrinddod Wells/Barmouth/Eden Valley/Talyllyn Railway (Apr)
Hull (May)
Bath (May)
Coventry (May)
Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland. Belfast/Dublin/Coleraine/Coach Tour of several Irish Places and nearly got sick! Because the roads are rough and I was at the back (June)
Llandrindod Wells again/Aberystwyth – Vale of Rheidol Ralway/Barmouth/Bala-Bala Lake Railway (Oct)
And finally, Jersey (see blog post here) (Nov)
I have to say, I mentioned Hull previously in this post because it formed part of the end of the franchise for the company I work for, but going to Northern Ireland in June was scary! No really, it was, it was when there were demonstrations about immigration and when I came across some graffiti that read “locals only, no foreigners – keep out” in Bangor, that scared me. You cannot judge someone’s origins from how they look. Yes, I’ll fit right in – in Ireland as I am red headed and IC1, but the moment I open my mouth, I will be picked out, because I don’t sound Irish, I’m from Southern England which is known to have a posh accent (apparently!), so that was quite honestly scary. Then add the Land Rover Tangi’s roaming around, it wasn’t reassuring at all, I thought I was just about to walk into the next civil conflict since “The troubles“. No, I don’t ever want to go down that route, I don’t want to see it a second time in my life. Keep everything at peace, keep everything going as it is. After all, we are all human. Be peaceful and run trains, you will achieve a lot more, plus your economy does better with tourism.
The website
Another big thing, ever since my original site got taken down in 2013 from memory, I’ve been trying to produce a new site with a content management system. Joomla is what my old site used from 2009 to 2013, I then went over to “NetObject Fusion” which is a piece of software that does websites with a storyboard interface and is more of a WYSIWYG editor that builds entire static websites than a content management system. I’ve been messing with WordPress for years, just I never knew how to create a template, even though I had a blog in a sub directory which was used to convey my thoughts. Until I started messing with WordPress properly and found lots of stuff I never knew existed. This allowed me to use my template dated from 2017 to be used and that’s what kicked everything off. Just the ability to create my own template and put them on my site. It worked! That’s what I wanted to do from day one. Once I unlocked that, I spent 4 weeks on and off producing this site. Then launched it quietly. I’ve not changed much. I did have a Google Drive link, but I have had to remove it. I’ll add it back into the future at some point.
I’ve also done a lot more 3D objects for the site, I still am, on and off, just pause for other reasons, then restarting.
Personal life
My life has a change of direction too. I’ve complained about being single for so long, now this is where it gets really weird (such as my life), certain dating site, my ex was on it, just flicked through her profile and noticed that October last year, she left a like. That said site kept trying to match her and me together and I kept avoiding it, I decided to go with it, liked her and matched. This was in January and yes we dated in February, March and April, but haven’t seen each other since, so its a bit of a limbo situation. However, I’ve been hijacked a lot by my family (my mum and sister) as they moved from Fareham to Southbourne, so you can guess who did a lot of DIY work. You got it in one! (ME!) I reckon I spent out of 52 weekends, 26 of them there – or there abouts. It got difficult to manage and it put a strain on my life too. Thank god I don’t have any kids.
In short, change of employer (same job), involved in some special events, travelled to several places, became a councillor, launched this site, dated my ex (x4) and did a ton of dodgy DIY. What a year.
The worst bit: Under 2 months until I am 40 and apparently, I look nowhere near it. That might explain why I seem to be getting young ladies coming up to me recently and the usual youths I have problems with, think I am their age, that will be funny when I turn around to them and point out that I am old enough to be their dad – and scary!
(Something I never thought about before until I started talking about my age, especially when I talk about slammers to my boss who is 8 years older than me and everyone around me is like “what is a slammer?” Slam door train – think Classes 411/412/421/423, even I have managed to travel on Mk2s, Mk3s and now Mk4s on the mainline and Class 310/312s on the mainline. Not forgetting one Class 101 on the mainline – Stockport to Stalybridge, one way in 2001)
Next year goals
Next year, what do I want to do? Get my blue Espace on the road, spend more time in the office rather than at home, do some changes to my desks at home as I got a really uncomfortable chair and go to France. I’ve been saying that for 2 years so far and Jersey is close enough. Now I have some new stuff to try out for my desk at work (a leather seat and a trackball), it would be natural to spend more time at work. At least I don’t have to put up with my horrible low backed seat. Oh wait! I’m sitting in a low backed mesh seat while I type this at home that is begging to be replaced. I’m not bothered about the back, but the base – ouch!
Fun fact, in a year, I’ve travelled by Car, Train (Narrow and Standard gauge – steam, diesel, electric, passenger and ECS), Bus, Coach, Ship and 3 planes, an ATR 72, Airbus A319 and an Airbus A320. Fascinating fact, I’ve nearly thrown up on a coach (rough road), car (rough road – rough driving), plane (turbulence on approach to Belfast City Airport – the ATR72 was too small anyway), but this time around, not the ship. The car decks kept me up on the Belfast to Liverpool overnight sailing though! I’ll never forget the car alarms going off below me.
Photos
Oh photos! Yes, you like photos. A selection of some published and previously unpublished photos for the year.
All I can say, what an incredible and here in the south of the UK – record breaking warm year and lets see what 2026 brings.
One final thought
Oh yeah, I didn’t mention one thing, I left it off accidently, in the words of someone I watch a lot of YouTube shorts (swearing);
This fucking thing!!
I actually rode it, talked to the designers and gave my input into future ideas of the overall design – make it modular and other interesting design ideas. I won’t take credit, as some may notice how I design things, how about a tiller handler used to remove, add or swap modules in a depot to vary the length of a train? The idea of the Class 475 was that and it had a more important reason for its short coaches. Its to do with where I would like the train to go. Chichester on a tramway, from West Street to South Street, round the cross. Buses do it every day, why not trains? (Not that you can at the moment, you can’t as there is no tramway).
Bringing myself back to the subject, its an interesting vehicle and to be honest, has some really brilliant ideas, some I thought of, some of my ideas I’ve shared and some I’ve learnt off them too.
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