Spring to attention

While waiting for yet another train, Mr Gnome relished the tubs of spring flowers decorating Leamington Spa's railway station.

A chance conversation revealed that this planting does not happen by magic.

The tubs are the work of the splendid members of the Leamington Spa Soroptimists International, a community-minded group of business and professional women.

Mr Gnome offers his thanks and good wishes - and a robust 'Hurrah!'

Don't whale, Laura....

The HB doesn't think he's alone in relishing the atmospheric qualities of railway stations on winter evenings.

Echoes of Brief Encounter, perhaps?

At Birmingham's Moor Street Station one wouldn't be surprised to find Laura and Alec gazing tensely at one another, paralysed with Cowardian anguish.

Mind you, with the new Selfridges store looming over the scrupulously restored Victorian railway architecture, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled into a sci-fi version of Moby Dick.

Brief Encounter meets Moby Dick?

That'd be a challenge for Mr Spielberg.