..........Technical my arse!..........

The S & H and Daughter bought me a Photo Technical Experience for my retirement....it promised a chance to improve my photography techniques......and the also to photograph The Flying Scotsman.

I arrived at the venue expecting an hour or so in a warm room..........maybe a coffee.......a chance to talk with and learn from an expert on what my new camera can do...........and then a stroll down to the platform to photograph the famous engine.

I  should have been wary when the first thing I was given was a Hi-viz vest.

I should have sussed what was going on when the technical talk was....."Now if you have nay questions about your camera or the best angle for shots sing out and one of us will try to help you."

I definitely should have had all my spider senses tingling when the other 9 people on the course started reeling off numbers, classifications, details of livery and numbers of bogies.

We left the station and walked down to the platform.......not a train in sight........"Right we'll just have a walk along the side of the tracks to the workshops, there's some carriages and a couple of diesels along the way.........if we're lucky the Scotsman might be outside in steam...........or she might be in one of the sheds,"

As you can see from this shot the sleepers were very icy........and the side of rail tracks are not exactly billiard table smooth.......of course the inevitable happened...........after about half a mile of gingerly treading along............i either slipped on ice......or I stumbled............and my dodgy knee gave way!

Nothing broken........especially not the camera......but no way could I or indeed would I carry on.

The management arrived...........they were very helpful.......I also think they were a bit worried on the H & S front........because they offered me the chance to come back on Sunday and get some photos from the platform..........  must have looked less than impressed (actually it was the pain from the cut knee I had discovered) because they instantly up-graded to two tickets for the train being pulled by the Scotsman!

So hopefully............the good shots will be here Sunday evening

Das vidanya moy ppadruga.