Back to Manchester this Monday morning for the final 2 days of a PHP course for the graduate intake at my customer. I've trained the same 10 bright people for the last two weeks too - looking forward to finishing things off with them by tomorrow evening, then south to Milton Keynes.

Since I was here last Wednesday, it's been a busy few days.

First - a reminder of Manchester last week; view from the tram back to Piccadilly, scores of police protecting the Conservative Party Conference...



Thursday was largely catching up on paperwork after a very long journey home on the Wednesday, with the last train connection missing again. Billy loves it when I'm working from home...



Friday saw the launch of "Opportunity Melksham" - more than just a jobs fayre, but a jobs fayre with pre and post support services to make a real difference. The initial meeting, hosted by Melksham Extended Services was held at Well House manor; here's Duncan Hames MP addressing the meeting. It's really good to have his knowledgable and active support in so many things like this.



Saturday was Taunton - TravelWatch SouthWest. The plan was to go by train, the reality was that trains were being cancelled and diverted all over the place and as I had been asked to talk to the audience of some 200 within the first hour, we panicked a bit and drove all the way. Sorry - no pictures of the day "Don't photograph and drive" I think they say. But I will share a morning picture dogwalking out in the field before the trip



Sunday was Apple Pressing day at Well House Manor. Some 50 or 60 people; two apple presses rather than one this year, and still queues. Last cream teas of the season. And a great time had by all. Good to catch up with friends (old and new ones) and neighbours (near and far)



And so back to Manchester. "Where can I buy my ticket" asks one of the seven people waiting at Melksham station for the first train of the day - the 17:25. "Get it on the train" we advise as there's no booking office or machine. Except the conductor hasn't got a ticket machine with him either...

So we all end up traipsing downstairs at Swindon and queueing (that lost the buffet some income!) at the single window that was open and in the hope of catching our onwards train. Vital in my case, as the first train from Melksham connects eventually with the very last Eccles tram (which I take to Salford Quays) from Manchester Piccadilly.


(written 2013-10-07, updated 2013-10-12)

 Z408 - TravelWatch SouthWest
  [1560] HST Power Car TravelWatch SouthWest - (2008-03-01)
  [1966] Background to the TransWilts Train Fiasco - (2008-12-29)
  [2438] Listening to The Minister - (2009-10-05)
  [2664] Oliver Cromwell at Bristol Temple Meads - (2010-03-06)
  [2666] Random thoughts on Melksham Town Planning and development - (2010-03-08)
  [2748] Monitoring the success and traffic of your web site - (2010-05-01)
  [2954] Railway meetings, trips and meetups this autumn - (2010-09-12)
  [3194] Buses - what they cost and their future direction in the SW and in Wiltshire - (2011-03-06)
  [3221] How long is a speech? - (2011-03-29)
  [3677] Some advise for guest speakers at meetings - (2012-03-31)
  [3882] Community Transport - Pewsey, Taunton, and the whole picture too - (2012-10-06)
  [3904] Want to help us improve transport in Wiltshire? Here is how! - (2012-10-26)
  [4040] Report on the last year - Melksham Railway Developement Group for Melksham Without Parish Council - (2013-03-11)
  [4173] Train and Rail Travel - who runs it and where do I ask questions? - (2013-09-13)
  [4185] TransWilts Trains - running a successful campaign talk - (2013-10-05)
  [4186] Melksham to Bath and Zigzag buses - at a turning point? - (2013-10-06)
  [4397] TransWilts / Press and Publicity report for AGM / 30th January 2015 - (2015-01-17)
  [4424] Looking Forward - TransWilts Community Rail Partnership and TransWilts CIC - (2015-02-12)

Z900 - The rest
  [8] How much does fuel cost for an airline flight? - (2004-08-09)
  [14] London - Most expensive city?? - (2004-08-14)
  [21] two plus two equals seven - (2004-08-21)
  [60] Birth Notice - (2004-09-23)
  [97] What makes a professional photographer? - (2004-10-23)
  [100] Life is frail - (2004-10-26)
  [106] Far from the sea, but close to the heart - (2004-11-01)
  [147] Recent technical articles - (2004-12-10)
  [169] A pleasure to train - (2005-01-05)
  [178] Calling a spade a spade - (2005-01-15)
  [214] Futility of war? - (2005-02-13)
  [275] See 8 but buy 6. See 6 but you can buy 8. - (2005-04-10)
  [678] Why are maps rarely to scale? - (2006-04-10)
  [700] As I walked in to Oxford - (2006-04-26)
  [810] A bad place for security firms - (2006-07-21)
  [905] Not proud to be British - (2006-10-26)
  [2113] Answering a question with a question - (2009-04-01)
  [2807] Canal through Melksham - the options and issues - (2010-06-13)
  [4516] Looking ahead on the blog - (2015-09-25)

Back to Not treading water, but not risking the ship for a 0.5th of tar either

Previous and next or Horse's mouth home

Forward to Who are we - Lisa, Graham, Gypsy and Billy

A positive progress behind the scenes
Getting people to and from Melksham Station - not 20 but 700 times a day
A radical proposal - a cheap and effective way to provide home to city commuter transport
Who are we - Lisa, Graham, Gypsy and Billy
Extended Weekend - but not a quiet one!
Not treading water, but not risking the ship for a 0.5th of tar either
A fond memory
Reaching a hotel standard where 99% of guests would return - and maintaining that standard