For the last 2 Wellness Wednesdays including today, I recorded some trains going through Waratah. I'll do it for another couple of Wednesdays at different times & different locations within Waratah.

Technically, today's trains were recorded in Mayfield but I associate the area as being Waratah due to the location of the station. Locals to me would know where Mayfield is compared to the railway line but a lot of my audience wouldn't.

This video features a few things.

My white van. The palm trees the area is known for. The bins are out. The northbound XPT picking up speed after leaving Broadmeadow & turning left at Woodville & Islington Junctions.

Anyone who knows how I collect hockey jerseys & how I watch hockey knows how I hate white jerseys. Whenever possible, I love watching a game where both teams are wearing their home jerseys if they don't clash such as Canadian Red & American Blue.

But I'm getting a white jersey with red shoulders because that's what the team were wearing when they won a gold medal at the Olympics.

I wonder if someone with the surname of Name gets free customisation if they want the number 15. 😂😂

After noticing the water puddles near my water meter yesterday, I received my water bill today.

This time last year: 76 litres per day (average)

Previous bill: 97 litres per day (average)

This bill: 975
litres per day (average).

Have queried this with my real estate. No news about the investigation into the leak by the provider yet.

Today was a good test of how I am feeling after my recent injury.

I mowed my back lawn. New neighbour next to me volunteered to mow my front lawn when he mows his. Both front yards are small & there's no divider. Who am I to say now?

After I mowed the lawn, I power washed my driveway & my car. I then needed to redo one side of the car after I power washed my front gutter.

I then needed to wash my legs but not with the power washer!

It was officially announced yesterday in the news media that Friday 30 January 2026 will be the last day of V set trains on the Blue Mountains & the entire network.

The last service will arrive at Central around 0830.

With the exception of the train to Lithgow which leaves Central at 0009 on Friday morning, the last V sets to the Blue Mountains
will be on Thursday 29
January 2026. Thursday will be the last full day of V set operations.

In the meantime (subject to last minute changes due to operational requirements), train numbers on apps are:

W5nn - V sets

W4nn, W6nn, W7nn, W8nn - Mariyung trains (usually 4, 6 or 10 carriage trains but 8 is also possible)

Well that was an adventure!

Planned to catch the 1850 train from Hawkesbury River to Woy Woy then change for Newcastle there.

1850 train terminated at Hawkesbury River due to flooding near Wondabyne.

Ended up helping the train crew out & eventually made it to Gosford at 2130. Could have there at 1916. Would not have got there much earlier as buses needed to be arranged at short notice from Hornsby.

Turning the train at Hawkesbury River at my suggestion & sending it back to Hornsby to connect with buses was a lot quicker than waiting at Hawkesbury River for buses to arrive there.