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topdeckcat.bsky.social
Top Deck Cat
@topdeckcat.bsky.social
42 followers 160 following 82 posts
Figuring out how humans get around. Sometimes chasing birds up trees.
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topdeckcat.bsky.social
To Royal Navy and Royal Marines sailors past and present, whether you are at sea, at the wall or ashore tonight: thank you for your service to the nation. It's appreciated. Fair winds and following seas.
#TrafalgarDay #Trafalgar
Me standing on a capstan in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Behind me is the stern of HMS Victory in her dry dock. In the background is Victory Jetty, part of HM Naval Base Portsmouth. We can see the forward and central superstructures of a Type 23 frigate, the predominantly white funnel badge confirming her to be HMS Portland. It is mostly cloudy but the sun is coming through, low in the sky, behind the two ships.
October 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
To the immortal memory.
#Nelson #Trafalgar #TrafalgarDay
Me on the planked upper deck of an old but well-cared-for wooden warship. In front of me is a brass plaque reading "Here Nelson fell, 21st Oct 1805". Behind me are two cannons, the gunwhale and the inside of the structure that is protecting this part of the ship from the weather.
October 21, 2025 at 9:12 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
“Swallows and Amazons Forever” had a tie-in version of the two books it covered, combined and abridged. Fittingly printed in Bungay, a stone’s throw from the Rver Waveney. My well-loved copy has served two generations so far. I felt like I knew the Broads a bit, before I had ever been there.
Photo of a paperback book. The front cover text says “Arthur Ransome. Swallows and Amazons for Ever! Coot Club and The Big Six. Abridged for the superb BBC TV adventures.” The cover photo is of five boys and one girl, sitting or standing on the cabin of a small boat called “Death and Glory”, on a narrow waterway surrounded by trees.
July 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
Get well soon!
Me (a cute, cuddly black-and-white cat) standing at the gangway entrance to the gun deck of an old sailing ship. The camera is looking into the ship, which as far as we can see in this picture, looks well-used but well-loved. A nameplate set into the step, just in front of me, says 'Victory'.
May 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
What are you wearing to the Bsky prom?
Me (a cute, cuddly black and white cat) wearing a naval cap with a tally reading 'H.M.S. Victory'. I'm indoors somewhere with a herringbone wood-block floor.
May 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
I can't wear the lilac. I wasn't there.
But I've read the history books.
#HowDoTheyRiseUp #TheGlorious25th #discworld #NightWatch
Me (a cute, cuddly black and white cat) on a lawn with a paperback copy of 'Night Watch' by Terry Pratchett.
May 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
Happy #NationalTrainDriverDay!

A big thank-you to train drivers everywhere. Doing a really responsible job, at all hours of the day and night, connecting people (and cats) and moving freight.

Special thanks to the kind GN driver who helped me pose for this photo a couple of years ago.
Me (a cute, cuddly black and white cat) sitting on the side windowsill of a train cab. The train is green and is under overhead wires. In the background a large office building is under construction alongside the railway.
April 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
what really confuses me is when crotchet rests are written like backward quaver rests…
Extract from a song in a song-book, with crotchet rests written like back-to-front quaver rests.
February 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
topdeckcat.bsky.social
For railway folk who've been enjoying GWR at Euston this weekend... it's what might have been.
The original GWR wanted to come to Euston, but couldn't agree terms with the London & Birmingham, so they had to build their own terminus instead.
Below is from 'London's Termini' by Alan A Jackson.
Photo of a paragraph from a book. It explains that in the early days of Euston there was "land reserved for the Great Western Railway's London terminus. That company planned to bring its Bristol line to a junction with the L&BR near Kensal Green, but there were arguments between the two parties about the terms of the GWR tenancy at Euston and the matter was further complicated by the GWR's determination to use the broad gauge. In the end, the Great Western withdrew and built a separate terminus at Paddington."
November 17, 2024 at 11:01 PM