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Just in case anyone thinks this thread takes itself too seriously at times, three delightfully-absurd Norman Turner wagons.................. A flying pig van. The pigs inside actually whirl around, activated by an ingenious series of rods and cams. I love the couplings! And a funny play on words. And one for the real 'hair shirts'. I'm amazed what I'm finding on some of these discs.....................

I have to report that despite large lashings of doubt and thoughts of subversive tactics, Mrs NHN has this minute been successful in gaining a new job, away from the grips of GDPR, SARs and FOI requests. instead, the department looks after these. Oh, and these. Happy? Pleased? I should potato!! I think the bit in the interview when she mentioned to the Director of Transport that she could drive a steam loco and used to do so at a passenger carrying miniature railway may have clinched it. First administrator to be able to do so apparently. Whoop!

This afternoon's walk was round a very clear, very still lake. A view of the lake: This is a shot down into the lake from the bank, showing the perfect reflection of the sky: and leaves under about 2 feet of water:

A cold wet start to the day at Toton....

Good moaning from 3 miles east north eastbof Le Paradis. It's still well dark but the lesser spotted bin wagon has been and gone with our recycling bags. Various things got done and I even strpped some wallpaper in the passageway. It's where the redundant doorway has been walled up. I need to papervover the new plasterboard so have now stripped the wallpaper round it to the neatvedges of other drops. Next job filling and sanding. Today wecare heading for Niort again for another appointment for Beth. Not a lot else to report except that a small person enjoyed the snow just north of Simon. Jamie PS. Our curfew now starts at 18.00 for the next 15 days. It will make absolutely no difference to our lifestyle.

Today we have some more photos from the Newcastle to Carlisle line, along with one of the first viaduct on the branch from Haltwhistle to Alston which crosses the River Tyne at Haltwhistle. Sadly I moved to the north east after the Alston branch had closed. Prudhoe 143007 Hexham to Newcastle March 89 J9803.jpg Riding Mill Class 37 up freight Sept 87 J9291.jpg East of Haltwhistle Class 142 Newcastle to Carlisle 3rd Dec 94 C19889.jpg Haltwhistle Class 156 Newcastle to Carlisle 7th July 93 C18620.jpg Haltwhistle Alston branch viaduct over R Tyne 29th March 94 C19381.jpg David

My daughter works on a Covid ward - in fact she is either on one of the treatment wards or the other. When I say 'treatment' that means effectively ' high dependency' and it is the next level down from ITU so it's also the next level up from not needing particularly serious treatment. People are only put on these two wards if they are considered to stand a reasonable chance of recovery if they are treated there, they only go to ITU if it is considered they will stand a reasonable chance of recovery from a state which is bad enough to need ITU level treatment. If they are really poorly but it is considered they will not respond to ITU treatment they are moved somewhere else in the hospital in order to release capacity for somebody who theh Doctors consider will benefit from this level of treatment. The wards she works on reached full capacity yesterday (I expect the hospital has other similar wards as they represent only part of the capacity it created during the first Lockdown etc period but I can't be certain on that. In the past week she has put one male patient, age 68, into his body bag and from the two wards two people have been returned to the lower level of care because they have recovered sufficiently to allow that to happen. Those moves created 3 empty beds - they were taken by other patients within a space of a couple of days. On these two wards the age of the patients varies from those in their early 30s right up to those in their early 90s - clearly the effects of Covid aren't as age selective as some people like to think and use as their excuse. In order to create and staff the areas where she works the two wards have been taken away from cardiology use and some of the staff - such as her - have been 'created' by closing wards elsewhere; she was moved from another hospital in the group where the ward she worked on handle patients in for elective orthopaedic surgery - that ward was closed down on B.axing Day. This is the reality of the impact of Covid in just one hospital, This is the reality of the consequences in the NHS of people ignoring the extremely simple rules and guidance to mitigate the spread of infection. People who ignore those rules etc are putting other people into body bags and preventing many more from receiving normal treatment in hospitals - maybe they should be sent to hospitals to put the deceased into body bags?

Our exclusive Ex LSWR / SR Diagram 1541 10T Road Van is approved for production We are please to advise that the much-anticipated ex LSWR / SR Diagram 1541 10T Road Van has been approved for production. This follows the careful review and approval of the Engineering Prototypes received last year and the decorated samples of all ten of the versions being produced that we received last week. https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/n/29/Our-exclusive-Ex-LSWR---SR-Diagram-1541-10T-Road-Van-is-approved-for-production

Good evening everyone Well that’s it, the last bit of this section of wall has had the last bits (there are a few tiny bits, but that should be ok) of paint removed and is now ready for tanking. By the time I’d finished I hadn’t time to mix the tanking solution, so I gave everything a good clean as everything had fine layer of dust, but I can’t think where that came from though! I can freely admit that I’m not sorry to see the back of that, although I do still have some more to do, but as the walls in question are internal or dividing walls, I only need to do the bottom 15 inches! Tanking will commence on Monday morning, tomorrow’s I’ve got a few shopping items to pick up. This afternoon I finished off making the fruit tea loaf that I’d left soaking overnight, I then made some corned beef hash. Some of which we had for tea, the rest (enough for another 3 meals each) was once it had cooled down, was put in the freezer for future use. Here’s a photo taken just before Christmas and is how the wall looked on Monday. Here’s how it looks now, spot the difference!

Another WD plods by. This one will be doing a lot of stopping and shunting, as this is the Hitchin pick up goods.

I've borrowed the pre-production coaches for a look: Please note that when I say the coaches are on the boat, there was some miscommunication. The painted samples should appear early February, with the production models on sale in Q2.

Some personal bits and pieces, found on another of the 'miscellaneous' discs.................. Taken during Charwelton's construction, Tom Wright's (built when he was a teenager) Kitmaster/Comet/Dave Alexander 9F (it's still going strong on Little Bytham). And the 'Schools' I built for Charwelton (SE Finecast/Wright/Rathbone). This is the loco which caused one spectator to turn away spluttering something about 'How unrealistic, a 'Schools' on the GC!'. Another Charwelton loco. This is all my work, built from a Comet kit. Why am I too idle to paint these days? Charwelton was a useful 'studio' on which to pose models............... Tom Wright's KESTREL; originally a Golden Arrow product (I think), much-detailed and weathered. Ironic isn't it, that Charwelton is now all-diesel? And, my scratch-built K4. Before it had to be repaired. Should I carry on painting my models? This is all done with a sable and transfers.................................

Morning one and all....not much to report, still not much feeling in index finger but at least the surgeon did a great job of sewing it back on, you can hardly see any scar at all. Vaccines slowly getting rolled out down ere, MiL sorted yesterday, tho luckily we have no snow because the village ( yes village) chosen for South East Cornwall is high up on the fringes of the moor. More centres allegedly opening soon........and apparently it's alphabetical order etc........ so the decision is now, do I chose a symbol like the artiste formally known as Princess......or change my name by deed poll. I'll let you know laters. Stay safe one and all. yours affectionately........ Mr A1 Aaron Aardvark.

Greetings one and all, with a warm welcome to Foden and welcome back to Kelly The muttered words "Where did I put ..." set off a chain reaction yesterday. I began to look for the missing item, which, since you ask, is a can of Halfords grey primer. Needless to say I did not find it. Instead I found a load of stuff that I did not realise was missing, mostly printed matter which I did not realise that I had not already thrown away recycled. The short term solution is, of course, to swing by Halfords on my way home from the next fodder run. That is bound to make the original can reappear as if by magic. Long term, I will continue to wonder how on earth so much can put itself beyond reach in the compact end of terrace artisan's cottage that I have inhabited these 40 years past. Somehow I doubt that the answer will fit on a postcard. I wish I had the courage of those who have been booking holidays this week to be taken later in the year. This time in 2020 I was putting together the long weekend in Dublin that lay in ruins by the end of March. All the research was done last year and it will not take long to put it back together again. What I need to know is whether the event that I wish to attend will happen on the date designated. As the organisers would also like to know that, I don't see how I can take it forward just yet. Frustrating does not begin to cover it. The other cause of my impatience is, of course, the non-appearance of the invitation from the NHS to have two holes drilled in my arm twelve weeks apart. Trust me to live in the East of England, where apparently the progress of the vaccination programme is reckoned to be slower than in other regions. Lord, give me patience, but be quick about it. Best wishes to all Chris

Evening All, Sorry but don’t know Kelly, as being a newby on here but I hope your situation picks up pdq. Didnt start snowing until early this morning but it snowed most of the day and the manager rang me to see if they could shut early if the weather didn’t improve. I think they managed to stay until about 5:30. None of our wholesalers managed a drop today and we usually get about six to eight per day. One has informed us that they won’t be delivering tomorrow either. Optician rang and suggested we delay our appointment so that was agreed so I didn’t get chance to get any of my new favourite tipple from the supermarket. More home schooling for the nephew took place which meant I didn’t get as much done as I’d hoped. Walked Sydney home, had tea, watched a couple of films and now bedtime so goodnight, Robert

Stand clear -Rant mode engaged. What part of wear a mask when you go into a supermarket don't people understand. It's not wear a mask and then decide to pull mask down to make a telephone call to 'son' to discuss what he wants when standing less than two metres away in queue. Making a telephone to say do you want egg & chips is not an emergency. An emergency call is when you get punched by an irrate fellow shopper because of said ignorance. And you wonder why this ruddy virus is spreading.

I have the North East version. It's a 'Huawei The Lads'.

And, for the moment, some more 'rediscovered' layouts............................ Settle and Carlisle. Clarendon. Clutton. Dewsbury Midland. Dunwich (after it was sold). East Lodge. Leysdown. Liverpool Lime Street. Tickhill and Wadworth. Westcliff. No idea about this one, except it's N Gauge. Names have been omitted to 'protect the innocent'!

You make and bake your own Croissants? RESPECT! (of course opening a packet of ready-to-bake doesn’t count..) I’m afraid I shall have to not count. Frozen croissants (also Pains aux Raisin) are defrosted overnight to prove and baked in the morning. Good morning all. Welcome to POETS and BIN day. It is cold. The brass monkeys have left town. I am rugging up for the next several hours outside. If I don’t return please send a search party. You are looking for a six-foot icicle who will respond well to mulled wine

We always cleared the snow at intervals during a fall as waiting to the end may produce a load that can't be easily picked up. We started a walk today but the path in the park was snow that had been trodden and converted to ice. A second park had a path that was mostly cleared. Our lockdown regulations are confused. Newspaper reported that the mayor of Toronto (trained lawyer) had not managed to understand the 40 page document. We are restricting our shopping to groceries and pharmacies. Complaints from small shops that big box stores that sell groceries are fully open and also selling the things that the small shops want to sell. I checked a website to see about the wait for my vaccine. Apparently there are between 0 and 5 million people ahead of me. I cashed my Christmas gift card on the weekend and now have a cardboard stationmaster's house to assemble. This is much superior to the 40-year-old row houses I've been doing. Welcome to Foden.

G'Day Folks I think this may be something to post, with your next post. LOL. Sorry if it's a bit late. Terry (aka manna)

After a hiatus in modelling activity since November due to a complete loss of mojo, about a week ago I decided to try to rekindle a bit of interest with a bit of wagon building. The object of this entry being an Association Loriot kit. The kit is from the Chris Higgs Masterclass stable and as such is well thought out and goes together well, and provides parts to construct about 6 diagrams of Loriots/Lowmacs from the earliest in 1890 to a BR version built between 1949-57. For my modelling period of circa 1906 though, only two diagrams (G1 and G2) are suitable candidates. What became G1 when the diagram index was set up in 1905 was built in 1890 and only 10 were built, and the G2 was built in 1889 with 40 examples being constructed. Both were 26'6" over the headstocks, but the G1 (rated 15 tons) was 8'0" wide with the G2 (rated 12 tons) being 8'6" wide. It was originally my intention to build the kit as a G2 as that way I would be modelling the more numerous diagram and also the floor of the kit wouldn't need narrowing (for both diagrams the floor would need to be slightly shortened). However, when I started looking for photos of early Loriots two things became very apparent - 1. Photos were extremely rare, and 2. The G2 being rated 12 tons had a shallower frame compared to that provided in the kit (at least in as built condition!) With that in mind, my hand was forced as it were to try to model the narrower (but heavier rated) and somewhat rarer G1. I followed the build instructions provided on the 2mm Association website for the kit, but I did have to make a few modifications. The structural floor/sideframe needed to be shortened (as the same component is common to the other 4 diagrams that can be built from the kit, all of which are 27'0" over the headstocks), but there are half-etched lines marking the shorter length to make this easier (although thinking about it now as I write these notes I do wonder whether these lines were an alternative bend-down point for the headstocks that form part of the structural floor/sideframe component - either way, I cut off the headstocks at the marked point and dispensed with them!). The side frame overlays, and spring details were soldered in place on the structural floor/sideframe as instructed, but I decided to leave off the oil axlebox etches as I intended to fit my model with grease axleboxes anyway. The side frame overlays were carefully filed back to the length of the structural floor, whilst maintaining perpendicularity to the horizontal ends of the floor. Similarly, I followed the instructions when adding the cross-members with the triangular gussets on the end which support the floor. Before fitting the lower floor base, it was necessary to reduce it in width, which required the same amount removing from both long edges (rather than removing all of the material from just one edge) as there are cut-outs in the floor which fit over raised sections in the previously folded up structural floor/sideframe. Once bent to profile the floor was fitted in place, this immediately highlighted the first problem - the floor support gussets on the previously attached cross-members were now too wide for my narrowed floor! A few minutes work with a small file soon sorted that out though! The next component to be fitted was the cosmetic planked floor, again this needed narrowing, but fortunately all of the material can be removed from one edge on this. Once narrowed this too was bent to profile and soldered in place. It should be noted here that I decided to narrow the planked floor by 0.010" more than the "structural" floor below - the reason for this is that the side members have a 0.010" recess along their length which I assume is to accommodate the depth of the cosmetic planked floor (unfortunately, the instructions don't tell you whether these side members should be fitted on top of the floor or on the edge of the cosmetic floor or on the edge of the floor base, so I chose on the edge of the cosmetic floor mainly because the holes in the side member would be fouled by the cosmetic floor if fitted on the edge of the floor base, or the sides would simply be too tall if fitted on top of the cosmetic floor). When it came to fitting the brake components, once again I felt I was on my own - the instructions describe bending up the brake ratchets and fitting them but with no indicated fold points on my etch and the fact that there is an etched ratchet along one edge meant that I simply could not work out what etch origami I needed to undertake to make these components. I therefore filed off the ratchet and bent it up in a way that seemed suitable to both fit the holes in the sideframe and allow the lever to pass through a slot where the ratchet should be. Another issue I had with the brakes was that the instructions indicate that the brake blocks should be on the outer end of the wagon (i.e. between wheel and headstock), now while that may be correct for the later diagrams, as far as I could see on the couple of photos I had of the G1 and G2 there were no brake blocks in that position, indeed on the deeper framed G1 it was virtually impossible to see any brake blocks at all!! In the event I decided to leave the brake blocks off altogether!! I also took an executive decision for fit a brake handle on one side only - all other contemporary GWR wagons had single-sided lever brakes so why would a Loriot be any different! Unfortunately the only 2 photos I could find of G1 / G2 both showed the same side with a brake lever on the right hand end, so I have no photographic evidence to show that I am right (or indeed that I am wrong). Before fitting the headstocks, it was necessary to file back the double depth floors to the length of the side frames / structural floor. It was then a "simple" task of soldering the buffer beams in place making sure that they were both central and level with the top of the floor. Association plain buffers have been fitted. A quick once over showed that I needed to remove the lower fixing point for the brake ratchets that were surplus (the DC brake hangers were removed when the structural floor was removed from the etch). The photos below show the current state of affairs after a coat of primer. It looks like I need to add a bit of filler between the side rail and floor base, but I'm pretty pleased with the result. Haven't decided what load to put on it yet, potentially something covered in a sheet or two before being chained down. It will receive its top coat when I've got a couple more wagons to do. Next on the list is a 6 wheeled brake van... Thanks for looking Ian

A work related detour put me about 30 minutes later on my normal commute. Which means the chance of sunshine on Pen y Ghent, so the opportunity for a quick photostop was made. About 2 miles further down the road and the peak was starting to disappear. Behind a thick layer of freezing fog sitting in the valley bottom. Work is somewhere in the fog... Secretly planning a POETS today. Let's see if I can make it happen!

Good morning all including Mr. Thrower, Quite frosty earlier but it's now cleared. Currently 2°C according to my phone app. Forecasters are claiming it will stay mainly dry with some sunny spells. Three bin lorries arrived before 8.00am today still playing catch up. Back to normal next week. We're not going out for walk yet as we are waiting in for two parcels that are out for delivery from Amazon. Not expecting to hear anything about vaccines for a few weeks yet as we're in the fourth priority group. One or two tasks need doing but I'm finding it hard to summon up any enthusiasm for that or anything else. The main oven need cleaning and that is always my job but I'm not in the mood. One of the lights in it has blown so I might get around to ordering a new one. That'll keep me occupied for a few minutes, provided I can find the right one to order. Chris mentioned holidays earlier. We had a cruise booked last June to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary. So far that has been postponed from June to September to May and now September again. TBH I don't think we'll end up going at all. We also had a big party scheduled just before the cruise which was postponed until June this year. Here again we're now thinking of cancelling completely. It'll cost a few quid in lost deposits but we've lost all enthusiasm for it now. Offspring and grandkids think we're wrong and should go ahead but I'm not convinced we're anywhere near being out of the woods yet. On that cheerful note I bid you "Good Day." P. Essimist of Sutton.

It's the Chinese spying on your tr@inset

I’m not sure if this is happening to anybody else, but every time I log on the the RMWeb, I have to consent to my data being used/saved. I’ve consented dozens of times now, I even used the manage option and gone through both pages numerous times and selecting some, on one occasion (took me almost 10 minutes) I ticked ALL the options. Until I’ve done so I can’t go any further than the home screen, this only happens when I use my iPad, it doesn’t happen if I use my phone! It even happens if I stay logged in overnight, the following morning, I have to consent again, it’s just happened again this evening, aaaarrrrggggg!

Evening all and a special welcome to @Foden . Best wishes to @Kelly and I hope things improve. The persistent overnight rain here turned to wet snow mid-morning and continued for much of the day. Nothing settled here although it was beginning to settle up in Matlock Bath this afternoon. My planned escape involved a run up to the shop to collect some items to fulfil some online orders with a stop off at the Post Office to post out others. The peace and quiet and coffee was much needed. The journey back was hampered not by snow, but by flooding. Sarah back at work tomorrow so I will be back on the homeschooling with Amber. The it is the latest Peco and Bachmann deliveries to unpack. Stay safe. Andy

Trip to the butchers successful.. home cured thick sliced bacon, home made tomato sausages and a large growler purchased. Now very sunny here. En route to the butchers we met the neighbour form over the road. He hadn't finished the snow clearing yesterday as his snow shovel have broken. He had been out to buy a new one.. but he hasn't done any more clearing. I try to avoid clearing snow as the piles made just make the garden flood even more.. but her indorrs needs to go out in her car so.. task completed.. now her indoors ahs decided she will stay in ! PAH! Baz

Been there, done that - scary I can tell you.

Overcast and miserable here in North Somerset, although we have exchanged yesterday morning's 9C for this morning's 0C. However, the sun did make an appearance yesterday afternoon. I ordered a 1m firewire 9pin to 9pin cable on Ebay at New Year, in order to try and extract data (via target mode) from my previous laptop with trackpad/keyboard problems. The package finally arrived yesterday containing a 45cm cable 9pin to 6pin, which is of no use for the job whatsoever. Bad feedback is in the offing. During the brief sunny spell, I was shuffling around the garden and noticed that the tiny one leaf cyclamen; which I had rescued from a baking dried up pot by the greenhouse last July and planted in the ground next to the pond but in the shade of a large fern, expecting never to see it again, but fingers crossed; was now sporting 20 or more healthy leaves and covering an area of about 1 square foot. Just call me Percy Thrower.

Still waiting for the postman to arrive with it's number.... No crew at present as I ideally need the motor fitted to see exactly how much space there is for them, though I could fit them by guessing. She will be motorised, one day but at present joins my fleet of non working loco's.

Ey up! Freezing fog outside. Pah! I need to go for a walk to the butchers at some time today. This will be done if the temperature gets above feeezing. The TV had a video of a bus going sideways down a steep hill...luckily it stopped before hitting a couple of vehicles. I hope the bus driver is ok. Not a lot to do today. Her indoors has got some minor "chores" for me to do.. as yet no notice of what these are has been receiver. Humph! I see the kickballees can't stop " celebrating " scoring goals to stay within the guidelines.. well, if they can't then stop playing..watch cricket instead... Time to drink my mugatea.. Have as good a day/evening/ night as you can (depending on your location on Planet Earth). Positive thoughts to all. Baz

The same part as when in or on public transport. Beard-rags and chin-protectors are not approved nor effective face-coverings and given the recent increase in police patrols might stand a greater chance of attracting a fine. Anything is better than nothing (exemptions respectfully allowed for) meaning those who wear full-face visors which are not close-fitting as is required by the various enactments and pieces of advice are doing so within the spirit of things if not strictly the letter of the law. I used to consider Brighton an accepting and understanding sort of place. It has had a long history of all sorts of activities some of which might be considered dubious or seedy, some of which have approached breaking the mould society has been in at the particular time. They currently have the only Green Party MP as another example of being more understanding, open and accepting. But not on their buses, it seems, where they are now seeking to ban anyone not wearing a face covering despite the legislation specifying that this cannot be done. At the same time as drivers and passengers are turning into keyboard warriors in defence of some "right" to travel untroubled by "sick" people who don't cover up it has also been flagged that their own drivers are not - by and large - wearing face-coverings when on duty. Which perfectly meets the letter and spirit of the law, actually, since they are not required to do so when in the cab and are actively discouraged from doing so on safety grounds. But the vitriolic intolerance continues to the point where lawfully exempt people are being hounded and abused and told by others to "stay home" in no uncertain terms. On the grounds that "disabled" equals "sick" or worse. It most certainly does not. I wonder how those same people might react if they were unable to receive their Covid vaccinations, found the supermarket closed or suffered some other inconvenience because someone - or multiple someones - was abused, refused travel or felt unsafe in the company of those who call them "sick". Hmmmmm. It is 17 o'clock and time for Friday Drinks. There are Pork Scratchings to accompany drinks today and I hear rumours of a Thai takeaway being requested somewhat later on. I also heard a nasty rumour that I was expected to perform Domestic Engineering this afternoon but so far nothing has come of it We have a warning of Yellow Snow for tomorrow. I promise to not eat it!

Greetings all from Sidcup which is covered in its traditional winter layer of snow ie none. I have tried to catch up since I last posted but failed miserably. Work is much of a muchness and the school week is over for those that take part. And now it is the weekend when we will be mainly staying in except for exercise walks, a quick trip to one of the local supermarkets for the fresh stuff we don't trust ocado with (mainly bread items) and a takeaway coffee. Neighbours down the road must have had a power failure. We were treated to the deep rumbling of a generator yesterday evening and last night and there were workmen drilling in the pavement earlier. The rumbling has gone, as has the generator but in true workman fashion, the hole has been left for another team fill in, no doubt in about three weeks' time. In other news, we have heard our friend in St Thomas' is now breathing 50% under her own steam; it was 5%; so that is a hopeful sign. In garden news, the invading redwings have stripped next door's holly bare of its berries.I wonder if that means that i will find less or more seedlings in the springtime? Time will tell! Have a good evening!

Afternoon all I watched Father Brown the other day on Drama, Officer Crabtree was in it. My youngest spent half an hour playing in the snow with Rolo the dachshund trying to convince him to be a sled doggy. He didnt want to spend much longer outside because he was scared Rolo would get a frozen popsicle seen as he is low slung. The tribe of women warriors has delivered the window catch sadly the spindle needs shortening i have broken my last hacksaw blade pah. Some good news from Mrs NHN certainly looks an interesting job

The next quarterly update will be Wednesday 3rd February.

Here at Chateau Guest I have just had a celebratory eccles cake from my secret, and rapidly diminishing stache. The reason; I have successfully rodded the drain between the grease trap and the kitchen sink. This had been backing up for a few days and though I procrastinated as much as I could, it did not clear itself. Fortunately the previous owner had left a set of rods in the shed, along with a car and dozens of broken tools. The rods were deployed, a first for me. I found out where the end of the pipe was, part emptied the trap with a bucket. Disposed of several fatbergs and then rodded the pipe. Water is now flowing freely. My clothes are in the washer and i've had a shower. And before those on the back row suggest it, the drain has not blocked again after my shower. Jamie

If it's being done alphabetically then I guess Bear will have some advantage.... Serious respect.... How good does that feel? Bear saw that too; I did think the driver was being a tad ambitious going down there.

Mooring Awl Inner Temple Sorta Hare, Sorta.. yep another bad nights sleep, 4 hours then err just some semi dozing.. Ben the Alarm Clock Collie was on duty again, however once out the sound of a distant jet sent him scurrying back inside... We've had no rain since soon after I got home yesterday, so the water level have gone down, a few rats and rabbits around, as their homes are probably still flooded. Brain during awake hours keeps wandering off onto further modifications to the boat, but they can wait till after she's had a seasons sailing, as you can guarantee there will be some needed changes discovered. This temperature meter is just finishing a 40 minute automatic run, then it's three hours manual measurements.. the major system does not look good, but there's still several hours testing left on the first run. Meanwhile a customers calibrator has come in.. I don't normally do them, but this customer pays for more accurate testing in my lab for 18 extra measurements.. Ah.. finished, Time to get on with the manual measurements..

You may think that, I cannot possibly comment! Furthermore, amongst the many - crucial - differences between myself and the orange one is the fact that (a) I can count up to 20 without taking my shoes and socks off and [b ] I have no delusions about my place in the great scheme of things! Well, I didn’t want to blow my own horn (so to speak), but as you insist on throwing insinuations and calumnies around I have to say that one of my many hats that I can wear is that of a Clinical Psychologist. Which means that I am more than qualified enough to conclude that your use of excruciating puns is symptomatic of a deep psychological disturbance and one that can only be cured by taking a “Kur” amongst the fresh air and crisp snow of Switzerland (if at all) More like Devil’s Island... You make and bake your own Croissants? RESPECT! (of course opening a packet of ready-to-bake doesn’t count..) Bob, the proper declination is: I am idiosyncratically eccentric, You are peculiar They are Bat Sh1t Crazy! ER has been defining the “New Normal” for well over a decade - long before boring people had even heard of the expression...

Strange how something small can cause so much pleasure. Tried some new Gangway Connectors today. Composite on the left has just a single Rubbing Plate attached to the original Gangway; the Brake on the right has a single bellows fitting. For this 3 Set I used 2 bellows and 2 plates. You get 12 sets in a Pack for £3.00. No silly 'wide' wings and they work a treat. Hauled by my brand new 63XX (yes I know the Lamps are missing etc). Sweet running Loco, to be used on December 1960, WR Diverted up Devonian express believe it or not! Will become 7311 (Exeter WR) when ICBA to fit the new plates from Jim at Modelmaster. Maybe a teeny ignition of Mojo following this minor success for a change? P

Well, the passengers on board fully understood when I said I'm just going to pause a while whilst I collect my thoughts.....

Indeed it is. I have a few snaps that I took of it after it was sold. Here's a few;

Whether to weather? It's interesting to be mentioned in the same post as Beeson! I have never built a model from scratch... I always think that weathering brings our models to life, and it brings out the detail. Hopefully I'll be able to create a scene where the model in it's environment looks a s real as possible. I do find the concern about the the resale value of models curious. I have my models for my enjoyment, not the next person that owns them. The resale value is immaterial really as long as they don't get thrown away. Who knows, by the time of my demise, they may have little value or interest to anyone. We all have our own preferences. So everything I have is, or will be weathered to some degree, even my 2P, which was running specials at the end of it's life:-

Driving past effin clown town village hall, I thought , that's unusual..car park near full on a Friday afternoon... Then I remembered.....it's our nearest vaccination centre... So it's now in action...yippeeeeee..

We had an uneventful journey to the hospital. I noticed before we got there that the usually full roadside parking was not at all full. This appears to be because the hospital parking seems to be free at present. Not sure why but they have a lot of building work going on. Aditi did find a space. I went off for my appointment. All very secure at the clinic I attended. The results of the scans will be reviewed by the consultant and I will be contacted. It was quiet coming home too. Tony

This morning I've done the rest of the Scenics on Bench Road, and I just need to wait now for the PVA to dry, probably Monday, and then I can hoover up the excess into an old sock and put back into a used / spare container for re use later.

Oh dear. Shows how tired I am, I posted on Night Mail instead of here. Morning. Damp but not raining, inside just sore hip. GP discussion this morning was reasonably helpful, ongoing investigations which I don't suppose will tell me anything I don't already know. I suspect 'managing the situation conservatively' will be the outcome, aka it's knackered but not bad enough for a replacement yet. I'm OK with that if they can arrange a suitable was to get a night's sleep occasionally - I'm flat again, bad night with lots of wake-ups and turn-overs. Yet I was OK yesterday, odd.

Morning, we have some fog, but it's a bit warmer today, we might hit plus 4 degrees apparently before it drops below zero later, still no snow here on the tropical coast of NE Scotland. We have several things from my birthday last March that are yet to be fulfilled, hotel in Edinburgh and return trip on the Tornado steam hauled trip to Aberdeen amongst a couple of other hotel trips still hanging, we may not go this year, but I'd still like to do the Tornado trip. Take care all.