Norwegian makes a smokey start from Wittersham

A wet day at Wittersham Road signalbox, not very often that happens. An interesting turn as the box was opened and closed with a train in the platform which is different to usual. This is because we’re offering VIP footplate taster days where people pay of sum of money to get up early, help prepare the engine for service, have a couple of light engine runs followed by a complete run from Tenterden to Bodiam and back on a service train.

Otherwise, all was well despite the inclement weather. Journey home was even more challenging than the journey to the railway. The road I use has been traffic light alley for several weeks and so it continued today. On the way home a truck had broken down at a set of lights on a bend at the top of a hill. I was following another large artic which struggled up the hill only to come up behind the stricken truck. The police were on the scene trying to deal with the mess.

We managed a walk this evening in the gathering gloom and drizzle. We passed by Mallards Lake, home of the swans and their original 7 cygnets. Now there is only the female and one cygnet left. Not sure why the predation has been so great as last time there were two quite large cygnets. The adult male was missing, we found out that it was in a swan sanctuary having been attacked by a bull terrier, it also had a septic fish hook in its wing. What is it with people who have no control of their dogs and inflict such suffering? I hope they are dealt with severely.