Branch Autumn Outing Report 2006

On Saturday 14th October Mummy & Daddy got me up quite early and said we would be going to see some trains today. This sounded like fun so I gladly got into the car and looked out of the window as we drove for an hour or so.

We stopped at a village called Cookley, but when I got out of the car there were no trains at all! Instead we were by a church, and the bells were ringing. If you ask me I had been mis-informed.

We all went up the tower and I sat on Mummy's lap whilst Daddy rang a bell. I was very upset at this point as the trains were obviously not here! Daddy stopped ringing and held me whilst Mummy rang and I cheered up a little - Daddy was trying to tickle me which often stops me crying. After a couple more minutes the ringing stopped and we left. We got back in the car and I was promised that we would see trains very soon. Sounds like they were trying to pull another fast one, but I looked excited to humour Mummy & Daddy as we drove off

When we stopped next I found that I had not been mislead after all Hurray! We were at Kidderminster railway station and there were some lovely shiny steam trains to see - one was only just bigger than one of my trucks at home, and the man driving it looked far too big. Unfortunately Daddy wouldn't let me go and play on it.

We went into the station and there was a group of people playing tunes for me. I listened to them for a few minutes and then went to look at the big steam train. It was quite warm standing by the engine. Daddy pointed out a big fire that was inside the back of the steam engine - no wonder there is so much smoke!

We got on the train and went for quite a long ride past a field with some animals that I have read about - lions and elephants. I had imagined they would be much bigger (from reading my books), but they looked quite small from the train - Mummy says that they were a little way from the train so I guess they might have been a little bigger looking if I was next to them.

On the train ride Daddy took me to look out of one of the windows. I could just about see the train pulling us when we were on a bend, but as soon as the track went straight Daddy and I got soot in our faces - it seemed to stick to the Eczema cream on my head! We got our heads back into the train quite quickly then and went to sit back down.

When the train stopped we crossed a big valley (on a high bridge) and went for a walk through a new town (Bridgnorth). I got fed up of walking after a bit so I stopped walking and protested about the distance. My protest worked and I was soon travelling on Daddy's shoulders!

We reached another church (St Leonard's) and went for a look inside. Then we went for a little run around outside. It seemed a little odd, but no-one seemed to want to ring even though the church had bells. Eventually someone let us into the tower and Daddy went up for a ring - they sounded like they must have been heavy bells, but I was more interested in getting Mummy to chase me around the churchyard - nothing like a good run to keep you healthy, and by getting Mummy to chase me I know I am keeping her fit too.

After a little while, and after Mummy had rung too we walked back to the station to get on the train again. Instead of going to a carriage with seats though we were put in the luggage van and I had to sit on Mummy's lap. This seemed like it would be a strange way to travel so I was quite pleased when a man in a uniform asked us to move to a carriage where there were some seats.

We got off the train only part of the way back. I did wonder if this meant we would be walking the rest of the way, and it certainly seemed like we were off on a long walk, but after a good 10 miles (or so it seemed to me) we reached another church (St Peter's, Upper Arley). Daddy went up the tower whilst Mummy & I sat on the grass. A few minutes later (before any ringing) I heard Daddy calling me. I looked around and then up, and spotted him peering over the church roof! I thought this was a bellringing and train outing, not a playing on church roofs outing! After a couple more minutes they did do some ringing and I went upstairs with Mummy for a look. A lovely lady called Sally (who I think I have seen before somewhere) read me a story whilst Mummy & Daddy rang together.

When the ringing was finished Daddy raced off whilst Mummy and I walked back the 10 miles to the station (downhill this time). When we crossed the river I saw where Daddy had gone - he was drinking some brown water he found in a pub.. looked rather a strange drink to me.

Another train arrived and took us back to Kidderminster. I was having trouble staying awake, but I didn't want to miss anything so I tried very hard and managed to stay awake until we got back to Daddy's car. I said 'Goodbye' to the trains and then dreamed about the trains as Daddy drove us home.

I would like to thank Simon for organising my trip on the trains.