This year has certainly been different. Perhaps I should just show the highs and lows in list format.
The Bad news:-
1. Both my parents passed away within 3 1/2 months of each other. This wasn't a particular surprise as both had been unwell for a while, but the finality was a shock none-the-less. Fortunately they both passed away peacefully.
Although we didn't live close by we were in regular communication, and one of the things that I noticed immediately was that I would have the thought of " I must tell Dad about that......." or "Dad would be interested in this.........", but he/they were no longer around to 'tell'.
2. There was no progress at all on the Trainbarn building. Various factors conspired to 'achieve' this lack of progress, but hopefully next year will be the 'Year of the Trainbarn'.
3. It was the driest and hottest year that we've had since owning our property and while this has meant less mowing, it has also resulted in the place looking about as bad as it possibly could. Not to mention a major bushfire which came much too close.
4. I have discovered what many retirees soon realise (although I still work part-time), and that is the fact that retirement is even more busy than your 'working' years. I really haven't achieved very much at all this whole year.
5. I haven't visited a single Train Show, or even a Train Shop this whole year. Not one. Since this is one of my favourite activities this fact is rather troublesome.
The Good news:-
1. By far the high point of the year was the wedding of my eldest daughter in Santa Barbara, California, and combined with the wonderful time we had travelling to and around the USA this was an outstandingly good time!! They now live in the European city of Budapest, and I am looking forward to visiting them there, perhaps next year. I'm told that there are several very good trainshops in Budapest also, to add to the enticement.
2. As mentioned already, next year is the 'Year of the Trainbarn'. I will be submitting the plans to Council in early January and expect to start construction in March. Looking ahead to this exciting project is one of the things that has kept me going through the difficult times of this year.
3. One of the highlights of our time in the USA was a visit to a friend's home and incredible train collection. I found this visit super-inspiring and encouraging.
4. Allied to the point above, I have particularly appreciated the fantastic support of friends and family during the tough times, and fun had together during the good times.
Not a total train-drought
This year hasn't been totally devoid of trains, as I have been able to purchase several much-desired items courtesy of ebay. Two of these were 'big' items for my planned Standard Gauge layout- a #129 Station Terrace for use with a Lionel #115 station that I already have, and another Hellgate Bridge. My planned layout calls for two Hellgate bridges, and I now have them. One is an early Mike's Train House version- I visited the factory in Korea in the early 90s and actually saw these being made- and the other is a recent Lionel Corporation version. The 129 Terrace is enormous, and items this large are difficult and expensive to ship to Australia. I really appreciate the help of the Sellers in making these purchases possible for me. Two 'big' items remain to be obtained- one is the #840 Power Station which is not too difficult, the other is the Lionel #444 Roundhouse, which seems to be impossible to ship to Oz. I will persist. Also, with this last item I need several, not just one!!
Another exciting item recently purchased is a Pride Lines reproduction of the Ives Glass Dome station canopy, which I have long desired for my planned Early-Period layout. Pride Lines unfortunately went out of production after the death of their founder, and these items are now quite difficult to find, particularly from Sellers willing to ship Downunder. I hope eventually to obtain the tin-lithograph station to go with this canopy. In due course I would like to replace the modern reproduction accessories on this layout with originals, if possible, but that's a long way down the track!!
Just before my Dad died he gave me some money for my birthday, (which he didn't live to see) and I used this to buy a Victorian Railways 'L' class electric loco in HO scale from Auscision Models. When I was growing up in the suburbs of Melbourne we didn't see many freight trains, 'just' EMU passenger trains, but if we did see a freight (goods) it'd most likely be hauled by one of the electric 'L' class locos. This loco hasn't been released yet, but when it does arrive it'll be a special memory of my Dad.
Hope Dies Last
The organisation that my eldest daughter runs is called 'Hope Dies Last', and the significance is that no matter how bad circumstances are right now, in most cases there is still hope that things will get better in the future. My circumstances are nowhere near as bad as the circumstances of the people (mostly girls) that my daughter's organisation work with, not even close, miles away, but I have certainly learnt this year that being able to look ahead to better times, to have hope, is absolutely important in our lives.
Notwithstanding the highlights of this year, I sincerely hope that next year is better.
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