Freelance Tour Manager for Rail Based vacations around the world
Twenty years ago today, on September 11, 2001, the world changed. There are many ways to reflect on that awful day. After 36 years working as Cabin Crew, my thoughts will tend to be directed towards those crew members who lost their lives, but this doesn't in any way diminish the rememberance of all of …
On many Tours we find ourselves travelling on Narrow Gauge railways and clients are used to referring to them as such. People often understand what it means (or think they do) but for many, the phrase is almost meaningless. Let's take a look at what is going on. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad …
This morning, Bailey & I went for a walk. We stopped at the Village War Memorial, as we always do on this day, and observed a two minute silence. I was pleased to see that despite attempts by the government to prevent it happening, nearly 40 people had gathered together for an act of remembrance …
The second Tour that I have pencilled in for 2021, departs on 06th March 2021 and couldn't be more different to Sri Lanka. It combines history with rail travel. I'm something of a nerd when it comes to the Second World War; office shelves sag under the weight of military history reference books. Railways and …
75 Years ago, it was Victory over Japan day - VJ Day. It matters not simply as a just and deserved victory over the cruel regime of Japanese Militarism, but also as the conclusion of the entire 7 year period of the Second World War. It's tempting to describe in detail the epic battles of …
Today, 6th June, is the 76th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. The weather that day was similar (slightly worse) to today. At 06:30 some 156,000 American, British, Canadian & Commonwealth forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The courage and fortitude of those involved …
Today is Election Day in the UK and we face a stark choice. I have avoided allowing this blog to make political comment, but on this one occasion I feel driven to break that rule. We all have our own opinions on Brexit, Social Welfare, the NHS and just about everything else. These are all …
Today, the 27th of January, is Holocaust Memorial Day, and the date is chosen because it marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Having visited Auschwitz many times, today has particular resonance for me. I feel very passionately that we need to remember and reflect and I worry …
I'll be taking Bailey out for a bit of a run so he can burn off some energy (and therefore hopefully be less likely to bark at the other dogs) and then both of us will walk down to the Village War Memorial to attend the 10:45 open-air service of remembrance. We do the same …
Continuing my preparation for the upcoming 'Tracks Of The Deep South' Tour and I came across the Gandy Dancers. Their songs, combined with the spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants of Black America feed directly into the creation of the Blues, and since we'll be visiting Beale Street, Memphis, the birthplace of the Blues, …
TimOnTheTrain 