Photograph...

Most of my blogs are about running however, I wanted to share a moment that happened to me the other day. Now, as you know I live in Cardiff, but I grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and lived there for some 37 years and have very many fond memories and am still in touch with many old school-mates and friends.

Feeling nostalgic, I joined the, ‘Stratford-upon-Avon Now and Then’ Facebook Group’ where folk post old photos of the town, people comment mostly on how much it was better in the ‘old days’.

Anyway, the above pretty innocuous photo of the Railway Station was added with the caption ‘Lots of people mingling for a railway special at Stratford. Now, I don’t know what made me look closely at the picture, my inquisitive nature or that it felt kinda familiar BUT when I looked at the bottom right corner, I saw myself at 8 years of age, next to my Grandad with my elder brother next to him.

A cold shiver down the spine moment. You see, the photo shows a moment in time, of a day I’d forgotten. A day in July 1970, spent with my Grandad seeing the Castle Class 7209 Clun Castle (which he fired) come into the station and for him to excitedly take his Grandchildren on the footplate and relive some of his memories too.

It got me thinking about the memories we make, and then simply forget. If we had an iPhone back in 1970, no doubt we’d have documented the day and would have photos and videos of the whole experience rather than this one random photo.

However, memories are made in the soul as well as in the mind perhaps and I’m endeavouring to hang on to as many as I can, so when I’m much older I can replay the memory in my mind just as I have with this one brief snapshot.

1,197 Marathons - 281 Ultras - 17 MDS - 9 GWR - A Life FULL of Memories