A Guest Writer takes over for this Post.
Hello. My name is Captain Chocolate. My name does not indicate a fondness for confectionery although, like most bears, I have a sweet tooth. Rather, it alludes (is that the right word?) to my frequent call to the Ground Crew of "Chocks away!" when I was a Celebrated Pilot.
I no longer fly and now enjoy an agreeable, if quiet, life with my Mistress. However, understanding my interest in all Bear-related matters, my Mistress occasionally takes me to Teddy Bears' Picnics which some Preserved Railways operate.
The first one I attended was some years ago at Peak Rail (I am quite an elderly bear) and, since then, I have attended a number of these Events.
The latest such Event was at the Battlefield Line on Saturday, 18th August 2012.
I should explain that, rather unusually, my Mistress drives Steam Locomotives so, when I accompany her to these events, I spend most of my time riding around on the engine, waving to the other Bears and the young children that Bears invariably bring with them. I must say that speeding through the countryside with the wind in your Fur is the next best thing to flying and I've become quite an enthusiast for Steam Trains myself.
The one problem is that the Coal Dust which gets everywhere on Steam Locomotives does rather darken the Fur and I periodically have to suffer the indignity of the Washing Machine. The result is, however, very satisfactory. As you can see from my portrait above, I have found it helpful to retain my old Flying Helmet although I no longer wear the Goggles.
My Mistress has explained that in another country which she calls France, Engine Drivers frequently wore Goggles but, for some reason, the fashion was never widely adopted in this Country. My Mistress is always happy to talk about anything to do with Railways, usually at great length. I've heard people say she can Bore for Britain but I'm not quite sure what that means.
Going back to my own name, you probably know that 'Chocks' are the triangular blocks which are used to prevent an aircraft from moving whilst the Pilot runs-up the engine. Something similar is used to prevent railway vehicles from moving by accident. When people, quite reasonably in my opinion, refer to these railway devices as 'Chocks', my Mistress growls (she can do quite a reasonable Bear Growl) and says "Aircraft have 'Chocks' - Railways have 'Scotches'!". She seems to find the distinction very important. Personally, I agree with Humpty Dumpty (I am, you see, a particularly well-read Bear) that "When I use a word, it means precisely what I want it to mean - No more, No less".
So, what about the Teddy Bears' Picnic on the 18th August?
Well, we arrived a Shackerstone about 07:00 hours and I met the Fireman called Sam, the Trainee Fireman called Jason and a Big Green Engine which didn't appear to have a proper name but was known as "The Thirty Eight". A steam Engine seems to be a Big Kettle which needs a large coal fire to boil the Kettle. The steam is then used to make the Engine move. While the Kettle was being boiled, my Mistress went through a strange ritual which I don't altogether understand which she called "Oiling Round". This seemed to involve climbing around the nether regions of the Locomotive and liberally coating herself with Oil, to the frequent accompaniment of Not-Very-Nice Words which I thought Ladies did not use.
Eventually, the Kettle was boiling and we moved the engine to find some Coaches. Once attached to the Coaches and with the Bears, children and grown-ups on board, we started running up and down the line between Shackerstone and Shenton, stopping at a halfway station called Market Bosworth where the Teddy Bears' Picnic was actually being held. Since I had to look after my Mistress, I didn't attend the Picnic myself but I was happy to play my part in the festivities. It was a good day out and my Mistress and I arrived home tired, grubby but very happy.
My Mistress has asked me to tell you that you can find everything she has written about the Battlefield Line here.
Goodbye for now!
Captain Chocolate.
