Those of you with a longish memory may remember a similar post 18 months ago just before the first Tracks to The Trenches event at Apedale which was the raison d'etre (there seems to be a lot of French going on tonight!), for the whole layout. However, the ticking clock was a cause of some alarm then - what a difference a year and a half makes! Last time I think I averaged three hours sleep a night in the week running up to the event desperately trying to get things ready but now , nine exhibitions later I am sleeping like the proverbial lamb. I have made a few tweaks in the last week -I have painted a nurse and fitted some 12 volt LEDs powered from the track bus into the dugout and sorted out a couple of other issues from the last outing. There are a few things still outstanding on the loco front though, a Joffre still in bits, a Hudson little better, a scratch built Crochat and Bagulay still not finished - so what do I do? Start something else of course! This would be totally reprehensible if it were not for the fact that I have finished it! So we now have a protected Simplex added to the fleet in a natty dazzle camouflage pattern just to mix things up a bit. Sadly I forgot to take any pics when I had the camera out earlier and is far too late to be messing around now so you will have to come to Apedale to see it - details below;

http://www.ww1-event.org/

Now on a very practical but rather personal mater a message to Simon, I did Email earlier but he always ignores those! Are you taking the caravan and if so shall we do a BBQ - I have to know in time to go shopping tomorrow! I know he always reads these posts!