Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to. Mainly because I have a station visitor's pass, and Network Rail wouldn't be pleased if I walked off with it. I had an ace day adjudicating at the National Railway Heritage Awards. Winners to be revealed at the awards ceremony soon!

If someone could buy me this house I’d be quite grateful ~ bydesignhomes.com/properties/4...

My marvellous ex-colleagues at Historic England gave me this lovely linoprint as a leaving gift by the talented victoriawillmott.com showing some the fantastic buildings that I worked on over 20 years, Kings Cross, Wolfeton, the National Theatre….and my folding caravan. Thank you!

To Imberbus 2025, for the finals of the British polite queuing championships

Back in Bristol after a trip to the Outer Hebrides. 2000 miles driven, absolutely worth it. Bloody windy though.

Here is a flight for Glasgow taking off from Barra airport’s runway, which is also a beach

South Uist. Still windy but the ability to open the car door has been regained.

Jesus it’s windy here on South Uist. Difficult to open the front door just now

Today is a good day to be heading for the Western Isles

Paid a visit to Rannoch, one of the UK’s most remote railway stations, and bumped into @timhedleyj.bsky.social! Went for a swim on Rannoch Moor afterwards.

Last day with Historic England after 18 years! Few pints at the @kingsheadbs1.bsky.social

This should be bought by the council, and the route from Temple Meads to the Cumberland Basin safeguarded for future public transport use. www.bristol247.com/news-and-fea...

Increasingly convinced the cheapest way to address this is to reverse local government austerity. Returning English local authority budgets to 2010 levels would cost about £7bn. Factor in population and demographic change and you'd want maybe £15bn. Benefits could be seen quickly and felt widely.

On my way to work, and what do you know, the Spanish buccaneers have blockaded Wetherspoons.

You can borrow a sailing boat at the Bristol harbour festival and drift round for an hour for just a fiver, it’s class.

Took my folding caravan out for a weekend in the arid Somerset plains. I hadn’t raised the side panel before but it made an excellent temporary grandstand for watching the rounders

I see they've announced the reopening of the Portishead Line. Comes round every couple of months.

After 18 years with Historic England and its predecessor, I’ve made the very difficult decision to move on. More on that story later. These photos show before and after 18 years of service - I bear the scars, but it’s been a hugely enjoyable privilege and an honour to work for HE.

This is a bit of a disaster n-somerset.gov.uk/news/rnli-pu...

On August 10th 1991, 12 year old me went by train from Southampton to Edinburgh and had a terrific day spotting trains

Banana Bridge back open, lovely stuff. Slight disappointment at no ramped access though.

Today I’m launching my latest Plymouth Buildings at Risk list of ten historic buildings in our city that need more love. My challenge to the owners is simple: invest in them or sell them to someone who will. www.lukepollard.org/news/2025/06...

Some pretty amazing back yards during authorised garden snooping weekend in Bedminster

On the Severn seas tonight with @archidave.bsky.social and @sjramsden.bsky.social

I've written a blog for Historic England's Heritage Calling series introducing the history of England's railways through our built heritage, as part of Railway 200. Do you know of any rail heritage that deserves recognition through the listing system? heritagecalling.com/2025/06/05/a...

Le Thermal Express, a trip up SNCF’s sadly-neglected Mont-Dore branch (closed to passengers in 2015) to La Bourboulle, behind a veteran locomotive for a magnificent lunch.

I had an ace but unusual night out in Plymouth on Friday, taking part in a Question-Time style debate in Plymouth’s heritage with @lukepollard.bsky.social. It was in a disused nightclub now being turned into a city farm by the excellent heritage led regeneration impresarios Nudge Community Builders.

Encouraging. Hopefully the guided busway to Long Ashton was built to allow its easy conversion to a tramway. Anyone know? But a cross Bristol tram really should connect with the trains at Temple Meads. www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

The lovely Lynton & Barnstaple, Perchance it only sleepeth

Much excitement at Temple Meads

At the Underfall Yard tonight for a fundraiser, they’re £400k short of target to reinstate the big shed following the fire two years ago. Do bung them a few £, the Yard and its boatbuilders are the essence of Bristol and the crown jewels of the Floating Harbour. underfallyard.co.uk/about/recove...

I am here. All is good.

Water has been pouring out of the side of the Llandoger Trow for at least a week. This isn’t good for a historic timber-framed building.

Burning issues being discussed at PMQs

Been out to Old Sarum airfield today following the major fire at the weekend. Inspected as much as we could from the perimeter and carried out a drone survey. Next stage is a structural engineer - much of the masonry survives - debris clearance, and propping. There is still hope.

Good catch up with @timhedleyj.bsky.social and the @railwayheritage.bsky.social crew at Temple Meads today for the launch of their exhibition celebrating 40 years of the Railway Heritage Trust. It’s in the station subway and well worth a look if f you’re passing - much to admire!

Some decent bluebell action at Ashton Court

Day return down the Dart Valley. Lovely stuff.

Ropley, Mid-Hants. Lovely stuff.

The Festival Way has reopened. The path has been raised up a bit, affording an excellent view over my allotment and some old bridge in the background.

trains contain the essential paraphernalia of the culture: Thai trains have the shower jar with glazed dragon on its side, Ceylonese the car reserved for Buddhist monks, Indian a vegetarian kitchen and 6 classes, Iranian ones prayer mats, and on every carriage of a Russian train there is a samovar.

Back to Backwell North Somerse

Big Pit. Such a great day out. You have to at £5 to go underground now but it’s still an incredible place. New interpretation in the Pithead Baths good too.

The operation to rescue the hostages from the New Cut has started

Ashton Court seven years ago today. Quite the contrast with the current weather

A portside pannier on the way for a pint

Malmesbury magnificence

Looks like they built the horizontals in inches and the verticals in centimetres. Easy mistake, Bedminster.

Great news that Bristol is to gain a frequent direct train to Oxford. I took a ride on the Saturday trial earlier this year. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Quite enjoying the new Bergerac on some obscure digital tv channel, but the updated theme tune is terribly disappointing