wow four years since i last posted..... i can honestly say its been a crazy four years.... but....
i need to get back to this.... day off work tomorrow so maybe then....
maybe.....
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Crash pictures...
Crash pictures sent to Sky News by a passenger.
Second carriage hanging over embankment, see the person climbing in the coach...had to get across that gap...
The gap from the other side...you can really see the scary angles and just about the boulders...
The front coach hanging over...the underside is a mess...
Second carriage hanging over embankment, see the person climbing in the coach...had to get across that gap...
The gap from the other side...you can really see the scary angles and just about the boulders...
The front coach hanging over...the underside is a mess...
Crash...surviving...
Going along the beautiful, scenic track from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban. 18.20 I got on the train, 9ish we stopped. I was sat on my seat, 20f in coach D (the front coach). The train shuddered, the brakes were on (emergency brakes). The lights flickered then went out, thankyou summertime late daylight. A few seconds of intense panicky shuddering and then we hit something. The whole carriage shook, rode up and then rolled to the left as we slowed. No one screamed; people just tensed in their seats and looked at each other. I had ended up wedged between the table and my large 'pet caddy', against the chair. One foot was on the armrest, the other on the table leg. I could see through the window, looking down between my feet. Lots of greenery then the road, beside that; Loch Awe. After the coach had come to a stop (still tilting as we breathed again) we all looked around, my bag was just gone...
The driver (Willie Dickson?) was at the door telling us to stay still and calm while they opened the doors. Then I looked around with some trepidation to see where my fellow passengers had ended up. The French tourist behind was still there. The mother and young girl the next set of tables along was against the window, her daughter crying. The man with a laptop, and the girl sat opposite were staring at the window beside them, below them. We all looked around in readiness for the doors opening. The back doors were still shut but someone from the rear carriage appeared in the doorway that had connected the two coaches together. He beaconed us all through. I had to step down onto the armrest of the chairs opposite and then clamber up the train, over detached cushions, bags, and my slightly jellylike legs. As I got to the doorway I heard the young girl behind me; she was being passed along to people to get her out. I was precariously balanced at the door, leaning on the frame, looking down several feet to the embankment. I asked the girl to hold onto the train while I manouvred into a better position. She was so good, she did exactly that. I passed her to the next person (in the rear carriage) from my position wedged in the gap between the coaches. My box was before me in the other carriage.
Once over the gap I went through the rear carriage cradling the young girl, "it's ok, your mum's behind us, we're almost there". Someone helped us down at the other end of the carriage. I almost walked away but felt the bizarre urge to ask if they had anyone first aid trained. "Not that we know of, are you?" I said I had done some training for work and once I had passed my box through and placed it a safe distance away I went back through the coach only to find the ladder down the six foot drop had been ripped off. A young man in a red T-shirt helped me down and I went to ask if everyone was ok. The clump of people at this side of the train were very shaken, one lady had badly bitten her lip but was correctly applying pressure to it. Another lady had bumped her head and was sat down (best thing for the moment). So, everyone coping surprisingly well. I then rather bossily started telling people to move away from the train and not to go back for bags, the fires underneath were still going and the whole thing was only balanced. One man had lit a cigarette (I understand the need for stress-alleviation but not that close to a fuel spill still carefully being put out). I told him to take it away from the train, far away. He did.
Once the driver and his staff had made sure everyone was off the train and the fires were mostly dealt with we all bunched together and walked past the other carriage towards Cruachan Falls Power station. As two girls and I moved past the coach I saw the underside of the train. A boulder at least the size of a bedside table was halfway down the train.
All the underside of the first carriage was ripped apart. The second carriage had ridden up onto the boulder and a slightly smaller one beside it. Turning from this I saw a roughly cylindrical canister under the second carriage was sizzling every time something dripped on it. Not good. Moved quickly past that. By now I had talked to the girls; Nikki and Rachel? Rachel was having a panic attack as the shock took over. We helped her negotiate the gravelly trackside. I picked up my box as we went past. As we moved down the track, gradually being eaten alive by midges, she calmed slightly. The sight of two luminous-yellow-clad officers set her off again and when we met a firewoman she knew she sank down and couldn't get back up. They brought an ambulance down for her and Nikki and I carried on down to the road.
They were getting the keys to open the visitor centre so we made our way down there. as we came to the road entrance a red helicopter flew down. It came in to land in the carpark. The gusts from the blades were strong enough to rattle all the rain off the trees as we were pushed bodily across the road. We waited in the road entrance untill the helicopter had stopped and the rest of the passengers had come down.
The whole group wandered into the visitor centre. The wonderful staff made us pots and pots of tea and coffee and then as the group came round from the initial auto-pilot numbness we noticed the fumes had annoyed our throats. Bottles and bottles of highland spring water later we all sat around telling each other our stories and laughing with each other; "the midges did it".
The police kept everybody there while the paramedics checked everyone over and sent some off to hospital. Some had already gone from straight off the track, some from off the road. four went away on spinal boards as a precaution, and many were covered in bandaging and dressings. I had a few bruises down my left side but noone was too seriously injured (an actual miracle).
Once we were all checked the police took down our details and then released those who had people coming for them. The rest of us chatted and drank some more. I phoned Chris to let hime know what had happened and that we were all relatively ok. The funniest moment of the whole experience was when the red T-shirted man, who had been running round helping people out of the train and working with the rail staff to put out the fires, asked what was in the box. He showed he's only human. "Rats, four young lady rats..." he almost ran away. Bless him.
The people at the visitor centre were kind enough to give my rats some water as well. We were on Sky News before we had finished drinking the tea. Though I may have drunk too much; I was just going to go to the toilet when they announced the buses were ready for us. "I don't need it that badly" oh, but I really did. Not too long into the bumpy, winding journey I had to go to the front and ask if we could have a toilet stop. "Nothing's open" Dammit. Twenty minutes later I was back up the front to ask again. "Even a bushy layby?" And we stopped. Several men got off as well. Big lesson here; 'it doesn't really matter that you just almost died, you've still got to get on with the realities of being alive'. I don't think the rats even really noticed it.
More calls to and from Chris (using Nikki's phone) and everyone had been told what had happened and that we were ok. The lovely S_ and A_ from North Connel (our former neighbours) had picked up our two dogs and taken them home; our fantastic landlord having driven up from Easdale at 10ish to give them the spare keys. When at 2.30 am the bus went past North Connel I jumped off waving goodbye and walking into a pleased hug from S_.
I was afe and after more tea, some soup, and a very enthusiastic welcome from both their dogs and our worried and skittish dogs I went to sleep.
Train Derailment, 18.20 Glasgow to Oban; 6 June 2010.
The driver (Willie Dickson?) was at the door telling us to stay still and calm while they opened the doors. Then I looked around with some trepidation to see where my fellow passengers had ended up. The French tourist behind was still there. The mother and young girl the next set of tables along was against the window, her daughter crying. The man with a laptop, and the girl sat opposite were staring at the window beside them, below them. We all looked around in readiness for the doors opening. The back doors were still shut but someone from the rear carriage appeared in the doorway that had connected the two coaches together. He beaconed us all through. I had to step down onto the armrest of the chairs opposite and then clamber up the train, over detached cushions, bags, and my slightly jellylike legs. As I got to the doorway I heard the young girl behind me; she was being passed along to people to get her out. I was precariously balanced at the door, leaning on the frame, looking down several feet to the embankment. I asked the girl to hold onto the train while I manouvred into a better position. She was so good, she did exactly that. I passed her to the next person (in the rear carriage) from my position wedged in the gap between the coaches. My box was before me in the other carriage.
Once over the gap I went through the rear carriage cradling the young girl, "it's ok, your mum's behind us, we're almost there". Someone helped us down at the other end of the carriage. I almost walked away but felt the bizarre urge to ask if they had anyone first aid trained. "Not that we know of, are you?" I said I had done some training for work and once I had passed my box through and placed it a safe distance away I went back through the coach only to find the ladder down the six foot drop had been ripped off. A young man in a red T-shirt helped me down and I went to ask if everyone was ok. The clump of people at this side of the train were very shaken, one lady had badly bitten her lip but was correctly applying pressure to it. Another lady had bumped her head and was sat down (best thing for the moment). So, everyone coping surprisingly well. I then rather bossily started telling people to move away from the train and not to go back for bags, the fires underneath were still going and the whole thing was only balanced. One man had lit a cigarette (I understand the need for stress-alleviation but not that close to a fuel spill still carefully being put out). I told him to take it away from the train, far away. He did.
Once the driver and his staff had made sure everyone was off the train and the fires were mostly dealt with we all bunched together and walked past the other carriage towards Cruachan Falls Power station. As two girls and I moved past the coach I saw the underside of the train. A boulder at least the size of a bedside table was halfway down the train.
All the underside of the first carriage was ripped apart. The second carriage had ridden up onto the boulder and a slightly smaller one beside it. Turning from this I saw a roughly cylindrical canister under the second carriage was sizzling every time something dripped on it. Not good. Moved quickly past that. By now I had talked to the girls; Nikki and Rachel? Rachel was having a panic attack as the shock took over. We helped her negotiate the gravelly trackside. I picked up my box as we went past. As we moved down the track, gradually being eaten alive by midges, she calmed slightly. The sight of two luminous-yellow-clad officers set her off again and when we met a firewoman she knew she sank down and couldn't get back up. They brought an ambulance down for her and Nikki and I carried on down to the road.
They were getting the keys to open the visitor centre so we made our way down there. as we came to the road entrance a red helicopter flew down. It came in to land in the carpark. The gusts from the blades were strong enough to rattle all the rain off the trees as we were pushed bodily across the road. We waited in the road entrance untill the helicopter had stopped and the rest of the passengers had come down.
The whole group wandered into the visitor centre. The wonderful staff made us pots and pots of tea and coffee and then as the group came round from the initial auto-pilot numbness we noticed the fumes had annoyed our throats. Bottles and bottles of highland spring water later we all sat around telling each other our stories and laughing with each other; "the midges did it".
The police kept everybody there while the paramedics checked everyone over and sent some off to hospital. Some had already gone from straight off the track, some from off the road. four went away on spinal boards as a precaution, and many were covered in bandaging and dressings. I had a few bruises down my left side but noone was too seriously injured (an actual miracle).
Once we were all checked the police took down our details and then released those who had people coming for them. The rest of us chatted and drank some more. I phoned Chris to let hime know what had happened and that we were all relatively ok. The funniest moment of the whole experience was when the red T-shirted man, who had been running round helping people out of the train and working with the rail staff to put out the fires, asked what was in the box. He showed he's only human. "Rats, four young lady rats..." he almost ran away. Bless him.
The people at the visitor centre were kind enough to give my rats some water as well. We were on Sky News before we had finished drinking the tea. Though I may have drunk too much; I was just going to go to the toilet when they announced the buses were ready for us. "I don't need it that badly" oh, but I really did. Not too long into the bumpy, winding journey I had to go to the front and ask if we could have a toilet stop. "Nothing's open" Dammit. Twenty minutes later I was back up the front to ask again. "Even a bushy layby?" And we stopped. Several men got off as well. Big lesson here; 'it doesn't really matter that you just almost died, you've still got to get on with the realities of being alive'. I don't think the rats even really noticed it.
More calls to and from Chris (using Nikki's phone) and everyone had been told what had happened and that we were ok. The lovely S_ and A_ from North Connel (our former neighbours) had picked up our two dogs and taken them home; our fantastic landlord having driven up from Easdale at 10ish to give them the spare keys. When at 2.30 am the bus went past North Connel I jumped off waving goodbye and walking into a pleased hug from S_.
I was afe and after more tea, some soup, and a very enthusiastic welcome from both their dogs and our worried and skittish dogs I went to sleep.
Train Derailment, 18.20 Glasgow to Oban; 6 June 2010.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
A long day...
Ok, so today I didn't wake up till 12ish but I still managed to get a lot done. Spent two hours hoovering and manouvering all of the bedroom. Can't believe how much fluff my dogs produce...
Then we went to the reedfield and threw the air kong (elongated tennis ball throw toy) for the dogs. About an hour of that and then off to Tescos for some food...gotta love all these money off coupons...
So now, full of roast chicken and assorted vegetables, I sit in front of the blazing fire on my laptop, enjoying that slightly-over-full feeling and looking forward to a possible episode of Lark Rise to Candleford...
And, I still have a day off tomorrow...more dog walking, probably some wood collecting, and definately some good old fashioned snoozelling...
Then we went to the reedfield and threw the air kong (elongated tennis ball throw toy) for the dogs. About an hour of that and then off to Tescos for some food...gotta love all these money off coupons...
So now, full of roast chicken and assorted vegetables, I sit in front of the blazing fire on my laptop, enjoying that slightly-over-full feeling and looking forward to a possible episode of Lark Rise to Candleford...
And, I still have a day off tomorrow...more dog walking, probably some wood collecting, and definately some good old fashioned snoozelling...
So tired...
Castle Stalker, seen from the restaurant just off the road between Oban and Fort William... 
The sign at the beginning of the Glen Nevis walk, 'tis a very steep and slippery walk...marvelous views down the glen, and waterfalls everywhere you look...it was very wet when we went up so we did not make it to the top of the glen...
Ben Nevis, seen from the Nevis range cafe and shop...excellent place to stop if you're driving around here...most of the food served is wholesome organic or free range (proper free range)...and there is a large wooden cow outside that is perfect for memorable pics of the trip...
Beauly church, bit further north but still worth mentioning...within walking distance of the road through Beauly this church is eerie but cosy...the cafe shop in the centre of Beauly also does the most amazing jacket tatties (baked potatoes) and has some interesting fillings as well as some fantastic ice creams...Beauly is on the East coast but so far into the Moray Firth that it is pretty much central in Scotland...over the bridge from Inverness and along a bit...
Sunset over the Isle of Kerrera, beautiful, calming, spectacular... Kerrera is one of those islands with a proper community...which luckily enough C. and I have been semi accepted into although we don't actually live on the island.
Oban, from Pulpit hill, if you have dogs that appreciate late night walks to calm them before bed then this is a great hill to have nearby...our dogs need this hill...and the views are awesome, that's a Calmac ferry just behind the trees...
View from McCaig's tower...beautiful again...almost the full length of Kerrera...the marinas...the whole ferry terminal...and North Pier...Oban seafront in glorious sunshine...
View from Pulpit hill, this time looking towards Mull and the Ardnamurchan Peninsula...shiny white Calmac ferry just beyond Kerrera and the marina nestled into the island...quite moody skies in this photo... Just felt like putting up some photos of the beauty of Scotland, so lucky to live here...
Friday, 12 February 2010
Work, work, work...
I know we're not really supposed to rant about customers but seriously...its not rocket science! Its a 'self-service' till. Not that difficult; I've seen 5 year olds use them effortlessly...seen senial old men who can barely lift the basket up onto the shelf thing...and yet some 'normal' folk can't manage it.
Enough!!
Calm...
Ok, ranting over for now, should really be in bed but just not that sleepy, can't sleep when Cs not here.
D. just decided it would be fun to throw a fake vomitting session in, and now I'm awake again...
Oh, and I found out I shall be an aunt to a gorgeous wee niece arriving late June, early July....Yay!!
Right, going to sleep now...maybe...after flinging D. into her bed to sort herself out...crazy creature...
Bye...
Enough!!
Calm...
Ok, ranting over for now, should really be in bed but just not that sleepy, can't sleep when Cs not here.
D. just decided it would be fun to throw a fake vomitting session in, and now I'm awake again...
Oh, and I found out I shall be an aunt to a gorgeous wee niece arriving late June, early July....Yay!!
Right, going to sleep now...maybe...after flinging D. into her bed to sort herself out...crazy creature...
Bye...
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Reminded...
So, my sister linked a page to her blog and that reminded me that I do indeed have a blog...must keep this up even though typing is becoming even more difficult; the flat is freezing, and my darling D. has torn the Caps off my keyboard...
I can't even remember what was in my last post...
It was a bit of an odd Christmas, bit of a strained Christmas... we had a guest, fallen on hard times thanks to a crazy alcoholic partner...and he wasn't the best company for such a time of togetherness...
We muddled through, C. cooked an excellent goose and we had proper snow to walk the dogs in...
Had to defrost the rats water bottles most days...they seem to like the cold weather though; I seem to give them more warmed interesting foodstuffs when its frosty outside...
After the bombshell T. delivered when C's parents were up, I have been desperately trying not to buy any baby clothes or stuff...
FAILED...but she did make it to 4 months before I gave in...so difficult to find any unisex stuff, tis all pink or blue...
Then a stroke of luck and the Tescos in Ireland opt to change the labelling on their stock so all their 'old' stock is transported in roughly 600 lorries across to mainland Britain...Including a bottle steriliser that usually sells for 40 pounds...for a tenner...yay!!
So, baby-stuff-buying over for a while hopefully...
C. is off down south to see his family, all of it...and I'm on my own for a week and a bit...lots of walking, washing, cleaning, and plotting to be done...
My idea to get a fantastic ne bloodline for T's rabbit breeding program is moving...slowly, but still moving...and I have to keep it under wraps when I go down in March...beautiful if I could get a vienna marked mini rex, or a blue eyed white dwarf lop or lionhead...beautiful, beautiful creatures...
Anyhoo, now 'everybody' knows I'm still here I'll be going, sleep calls...
I can't even remember what was in my last post...
It was a bit of an odd Christmas, bit of a strained Christmas... we had a guest, fallen on hard times thanks to a crazy alcoholic partner...and he wasn't the best company for such a time of togetherness...
We muddled through, C. cooked an excellent goose and we had proper snow to walk the dogs in...
Had to defrost the rats water bottles most days...they seem to like the cold weather though; I seem to give them more warmed interesting foodstuffs when its frosty outside...
After the bombshell T. delivered when C's parents were up, I have been desperately trying not to buy any baby clothes or stuff...
FAILED...but she did make it to 4 months before I gave in...so difficult to find any unisex stuff, tis all pink or blue...
Then a stroke of luck and the Tescos in Ireland opt to change the labelling on their stock so all their 'old' stock is transported in roughly 600 lorries across to mainland Britain...Including a bottle steriliser that usually sells for 40 pounds...for a tenner...yay!!
So, baby-stuff-buying over for a while hopefully...
C. is off down south to see his family, all of it...and I'm on my own for a week and a bit...lots of walking, washing, cleaning, and plotting to be done...
My idea to get a fantastic ne bloodline for T's rabbit breeding program is moving...slowly, but still moving...and I have to keep it under wraps when I go down in March...beautiful if I could get a vienna marked mini rex, or a blue eyed white dwarf lop or lionhead...beautiful, beautiful creatures...
Anyhoo, now 'everybody' knows I'm still here I'll be going, sleep calls...
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