Hi again-time flies!

44 years in fact! this was when i was Christened in St John's Church in Oakley (i was two and a half and lived 200 yards up the road in a newly built bungalow "Hamlyn"-partially named after Graham (Big brother) {"Ham"} and me "Lyn"} -the "y" coming from my middle "Br"Y"an name)

Sadly both my God parents Uncle Kenneth Carter and Aunt Jessie Brisley have passed-and now unless something "miraculas" -and where else should miracles be better placed -St John's Church is due to be knocked down in the summer 2008. Another bit of me falls apart-cannot even talk to my mum -other than prey or hope that she's "Around-and can hear!"

Aparently the day was delayed because my late Uncle John had a car crash with us all in -the bit of road still takes people away in the present day. Luckily it one of those big late fifties/early 60's cars and although out of 9 people only my brother (Graham) stayed concious through it all. I was months old at the time in my dads arms at the time. it made the local paper-which my mum kept the article..and relatives saw us on Southern tv news.

Apparently on the(Christening) day my Uncle wore a big duffel coat and i shout that i wanted to see the train-which if you go to www.flickr.com/photos/colinbp you can see the road over rail bridge yards away in St Johns Road. I used to wait for my brother (Graham) who bussed it locally to the centre of Oakley in the school bus and got off to greet my mum and me and perhaps my cousin Susan (so probably Aunt Marge.{Uncle Johns' wife})who lived next door-the two bungalows were designed and with help built (the reverse of each other-(handed) by my Uncle John and my Dad(Stan).

Shortly after my Christening in March (14th -i think) ...while the Beatles were on tour in USA- we moved to Woodley in Berkshire wher the family home now has my dad living there still (often visited by Big brother and Grandkids (some not so little now!!).

Standing by the fence on that St Johns Road bridge is about the only memory before Woodley and i think carved my perpetual interest in trains-(they were even electric trains (EMU's) mainly on that route in 1964 too!)

Today Saturday we did the Hurst Community School Boot Sale for something like the forth time-we've yet to sell anything but thoughly enjoyed meeting people and showing these pictures for sale-my dad might join us on 8th March 2008 with his bits and pieces.

Earlier last week or so we took Myles to Marwell Zoo again-got some great shots and enjoyed his and the animals company (including the wild birds!!)

Anyway -nextime i hope to report on a return to Living Coast and Paignton Zoo.

Bye for now

Colin