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A couple more photos at Castleford along with some on the line to Hull along the north side of the Humber. Once again I was a bit busy this afternoon dealing with a family matter. Castleford 5th April 89 C11845.jpg Castleford 141 to Knottingley 5th April 89 C11851.jpg Brough Class 254 Kings X to Hull July 90 J11044.jpg Ferriby 156481 Manchester Piccadilly to Hull July 90 J11045.jpg Hessle Class 142 down July 91 J12076.jpg David

The florist has delivered Meanwhile someone else has taken literally the advice to “stop and smell the roses”

Pannier 8701 crossing Overbrook Viaduct with a short coal train. I think the fireman is checking the pep pipe?

After delivery of the livestock special, 3203 returns this morning with a another task of pulling the B set. I suppose you could say she is dealing with another form of livestock....?

The Boss is doing housework and has just asked “ Are you going to sit there all day?” “No dear, I’m quite happy to sit somewhere else if you wish.” Not sure why but she was not very happy with that reply.

Next is the Up Inverkeithing goods, which Wolf of Badenoch has just taken over in New England yards.

Morning. Just. Out early doors to take Mrs NHN to Pilates, my usual walk at that time was cancelled due to 'feels like' -8c and real temp of 0c. That has soared up to, err no it hasn't. At all. It is now snowing even down here at 90' asl, blizzard conditions in fact as it is blowing a complete hoolie, ferries once again off, usual stuff. A quick shop was done and now indoors, hatches battened, fire lit, and that's going to be our day! Saw the farmers getting the lambs in, so they're expecting it to be rough too. Talking of rough, I wonder what on earth caused Bill Bishop to dealt with so roughly? I have never seen any post remotely inflammatory from him. Welcome back Bill, may you long continue to post here.

Snap. I've no idea how I managed this!

Good evening everyone This morning’s early grey skies turned to blue with bright sunshine, but that wind was bitter, often referred to as a lazy wind, as it goes right through you, instead of going around you! Still the walk to the butchers was quite refreshing, but I’m glad I wore my sheepskin flying jacket, that never fails to keep me warm! Unfortunately the same can’t be said for my leather gloves though, my hands were really cold when I got back. Today’s high temperature was 2C, twice that of the last few days, but the wind made it feel a lot colder though, my phone app is telling me it’s currently -3C out there! I had company when I went to the Trafford Centre this morning, Sheila decided to join me as she wanted a mooch around in Boots, it’s the first time she’s been since before Christmas 2019 ! However, in the end she was very disappointed and came out there empty handed, so my wallet breathed a huge sigh of relief ! I on the other hand came back with a large bag full of groceries so the trip wasn’t a complete waste of time, but it did last about 30 minutes longer than if I’d gone on my own! But thankfully did spy an Eccles cake and the bread/cake counter! I thought to myself, ooh, I’ve not had one of those for years so I treated myself to one, which was consumed at dinner, after my pork pie, which was substitute for a pastie as they were still in the oven! As predicted the afternoon was spent behind my easel working on the design and plans for the layout’s Helix, which have now completed. The next stage will be to draw up a cutting plan for the plywood, to see how much I need to buy. Although the actual purchase won’t be until I’ve finished the work in the cellar. So that’ll probably be sometime towards the end of the year or maybe early next year. Sheila had a reminder to book her Covid jab and she’s got her appointment booked for next Wednesday, the day after her birthday. I’ve yet to get mine, but then Sheila is 18 months older than I am and falls into the 65 - 70 age group. Whereas I’m still in the under 65 age group, so I expect mine will be sometime next month.

A late post. This is the result of my test piece for the colour scheme for Lambtons buildings. A piece of Wills planked wood sheet stuff. (it's late, can't remember what it's called) I'll take a few photos in natural light in the morning. Rob.

The snow has duly arrived here. I know it is not anything special for those living in snowy areas; but in the West Country at sea level and only a few miles from the Bristol Channel snow is not a regular occurrence. We sent a parcel to Lancashire earlier in the week. Unfortunately, the nearest parcel drop off shop is Yodel (yes I know). The sending went ok. The receiver had a text to say the parcel had arrived in his local shop, so went to collect it. He had ID and the parcel number/tracking number I emailed him. However, he had no barcode so even though he was standing next to the box with his name on it, and identification of his name & address, he couldn't take it away without a barcode. He texted me to ask if I had a barcode, and I said yes - and sent him a copy of it from my phone. Would that work? No, it has to be a collection barcode, and mine was a sending barcode. No collection barcode, no parcel. He tried the website help box on his phone, but the chap in Pakistan seemed unable to do anything, except tell him 'no barcode, no parcel'. Very helpful - not. Finally after turning rather stroppy, he was given a phone number which he had to ring, confirm his details, confirm my details, confirm both shop details, hand the call over to the shop assistant to confirm their details - and finally the parcel was free to go. Jeez, half the morning gone just on that. Progress, they call it.

Morning all, The sun is shining, there's patchy high cloud so occasional sight of a blue sky but it remains somewhat on the nippy side. According to the seaweed lurking along the estuarial part of the Exe temperatures will begin to rise tomorrow an the 'feels like' temerature will get above zero in the coming days - we'll see. While not suffering any sort of racial taunts my surname (which a number of you know) was long the source of numerous jokes - often miserably banal, uninspiring, and hardly inventive. I just got used to it and - if the occasion offered - responded with something which was probably equally banal but hopefully a bit more inspired. That's life - I haven't changed my name, I haven't gone crying to any body that has been established to re-educate callers of names and that's that - it's life. However on one very bright occasion a colleague and I were booked into a hotel and while my surname is at least fairly short and readily pronounced his was more than twice as long and a potential area for getting it very wrong - so we became 'the booking for Mr Stationmaster and one other'. That at least avoided his name being mispronounced as 'Throstletwight' as had happened on a previous occasion. Good to see the return to our fold of Bill Bishop although quite why he was the subject of complaint in the first place puzzles me. 'Takes all sorts' is I think probably the best that can be said of such a situation and welcome back Bill. A very strange post has appeared in a status update and having tried to read it I can but sympathise very considerably with those of our fellow ERs who are in the retail trade and have to deal with customer moans. it might of course be that whoever wrote it does not have english as their first language - maybe they should have stuck to using a 'phone call or looked at the website of the concern they appear to be moaning about? Have a good day one and all and stay safe. Fresh tea has just been announced and the aroma emanating from the l kitchen suggests that the manufacture of soup is also in hand.

Sorry for the thread hijack again John but I can't resist shewing the Comet 6 wheel bogie in use on my H57. I really need to run this more often considering how much work went into building it.

Referring to the thread about getting models made by professionals, I employ a different approach, that of collaborative modelling. I enjoy building and painting but the chassis I build are a bit hit and miss as far as good running. I do however like painting and weathering, so I now have loco chassis built by my friend Tony Sheffield and I paint and weather his wagons as well as painting and weathering his locos. I also do the same with that supreme modeller Dave Holt, I paint, line out and weather his locos and he does some superb detailing (Injector pipework etc ) on my locos. Attached a photo of a BR 84xx Dave Holt built and which I have painted, lined out and weathered. No money changes hands but everyone is happy! David

We had the same when we lived in a rural area. It seemed as though, in common with fox-hunting (which was lawful at the time) the pheasant-massacrers had right-of-entry to any and all land, private or not. They pushed through our hedge and were about to start shooting in our own grounds until I advised them in very strident terms that this was a Youth Hostel and we were accommodating 40 under-ten children who might be very scared at seeing and hearing guns before breakfast and at the result plopping unceremoniously at the shooter's feet under their bedroom windows. Exit shooters the way they came. A week later we were gifted some cakes and lemonade "for the children" along with a written apology. Repeat after me ..... "I'm not a pheasant-plucker ....... " Good morning all. On domestic duty in the chill of mid-morning Upon the Hill of Strawberries. Snow still lies frozen to the grass in the north-facing parts of the gardens and in odd corners of the outside world. We await the florist who has promised, in return for a large number of drinking vouchers, to deliver a dozen red roses for Dr. SWMBO today because of course tomorrow being Sunday they don't deliver despite the date ..... d'oh There were fireworks somewhere in the neighbourhood last night though none from the Thai restaurant which has hitherto always celebrated Chinese New Year as their own. There was also a great deal of noise from Neighbours (Upstairs) who must surely have had more than the two currently-resident female tenants present unless they were practising multiple voices including male. Around 9pm they were hammering for some time as if building furniture. For hours there was shrieking and laughter and the sounds of feet running through the flat. We slept for a while and were woken by the arrival (arrival!) at 05.40 of at least three people but all has been quiet since they all in turn noisily visited their bathroom. I'll have a little chat when I next see them ......... we are not the Covid police but we are entitled to reasonable peace and quiet especially at night and they have been pretty good neighbours in that respect 99% of the time. Domestic Engineering is apparently required after which I am assured we are also require to walk down to the river. My response to that was "And back ..... ???" which was greeted with the contempt it deserved. Have a good day one and all. Muggercoffy beckons here.

I agree with Tony about the self-weighing tenders and also about publishing. The most knowledgeable man I ever knew about Midland and LMS locomotives was David Tee but he was very reluctant to write about them until every i was dotted and every t crossed with the result that apart from one small monograph on the Compounds he never made his knowledge widely known. Fortunately for me he was happy to talk about it with friends so I was able to use it in many of my own writings. My good friend and co-author Bob Essery used to say that it was far better to publish what you knew providing that you made it clear what was known fact and what was supposition and that way other people reading your work may be able and willing to contribute their knowledge, which we did with some success as the feedback we received was considerable. The mention of Bob unfortunately brings me to impart the sad news that he is suffering from fairly advanced Alzheimer's disease and is now in a nursing home, which is something dreadful to say the least. Dave

We still have a fair bit snow here and it isn’t forecast to get above freezing today (eat your heart out Ian A). Problem is that the last snow fell on stuff that had already frozen so in many places under the crisp snow are sheets of ice. It makes walking interesting.

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare, 5 hours sleep, and not a lot else, Ben the Alarm clock Collie, decided to turn up today, I tried to explain it wasn't a working day, but he said that was no excuse.. The wind having moved to the south east, means there is little protection from the wind out there. It's exceedingly chilly, snow very crunchy. I sympathize il Dottore's problems with his name, going to school in Scotland with a first name that only I have in the world and an English accent definitely gave me grief often with malice aforethought. There was no protection, from anyone or anywhere.. As I was living away from home.. Some time ago I spent hours and days trying to find a method of arranging a VANG or GNAV on the boat.. Eventually I settled an a slight variation on a conventional set up, it wouldn't be entirely satisfactory, but would have to do. Then yesterday, I saw an unusual boom, it being curved, it had a conventional vang, but with a gnav it solves the problem for Blue Moon. If the boat is completed for regatta week this year then it will be with the conventional set up. This is for two reasons, It'll need a clear workbench, and I need to get the bandsaw on the original wooden boom, which is too long for the workshop before cutting up. So it will have to be done outside. Once the idea popped into brain, then it had to consider what to make the new boom from, until it realised there are two sets of wooden, boom, mast, and gaff doing nothing.. in particular one boom, which was heavily over built for Blue Moon, it should provide enough strips of wood to laminate up into the required curve. The old boom is also over length for the new sail set up, so there is plenty of length for the curve. With it still needing the same horizontal length. Plans for today, Turn on the second heater in the workshop, Take some measurements of mast, boom and boat. For some planning, and drawing. Put the last shelving up to the right of the door. Trim a cupboard top to the left of the door, that was built and installed before it was decided this room would become a library. Measure up for, make and paint shelves for that area. Time to consider breakfast...

I've long held the view that a real expert is someone who knows how much he or she doesn't know.

Definitely a first! KR Models' GT3 arrived today for me to road test on Little Bytham. Though it's DCC onboard, I was able to run it (not with every function, of course) and the sound worked. I have to say it's rather impressive, though I can't for the life of me recall if the sound is correct (it has a high-pitched whine). It used to work through Chester on test from Newton le Willows, but it was a long time ago. I find it astonishing that prototype locos which were not particularly successful and short-lived are now the subject of RTR models. The Fell diesel has been mentioned and also the 'Leader'. Still, Heljan did it with their one-off diesels. It must be something to do with a fascination for 'oddities'. It ran superbly, and I've taken moving footage which will be seen soon on BRM digital. Andy York has written a full review for the next issue of BRM. I predict GT3 to be a great success....................

Eeuw.

Yesterday was declared by The Management to be a house cleaning day and since it was also my turn to cook, that was any hope of workshop time down the Swanee. Jill and I have bookings for our second AZ jabs in April at Crewe, which is twenty odd miles away but there is a vaccination centre opening half a mile down the road. I wonder what the chances are of getting it changed? I'm not holding my breath. Today I'm hoping for some workshop time plus watching rugby and Jill has ideas about us going for a walk so the day is filling up. I just hope that England decide actually to play rugby rather than foot tennis with a penalty fest thrown in for good measure. We shall see. Have a good weekend all. Dave

33012 Arrives in Bridge End Sidings at Seven Mills.

Oh caloo calay It's my vaccine today

Ben is extremely unhappy, the pheasant massacre, started just after 07:15 very close to the house. He's either cuddling up to me or hiding in his safe cage..

I suppose it all depends where it's done and who is doing it. We were less than 10 minutes for Mrs Stationmaster and I in there togetherand were both asked to confirm our names and dates of birth for teh nbox ticking job by the 'puter operator followed bya coupel of questions about medication (I answered yes to the one about warfarin but that made no doffr erence to what happened next - the needle in my arm (after I'd nominated my favoured arm for the job). But the Doctor who did the jabbing has seen Mrs Stationnmaster as a patient in the past so knew her and she introduced herself to me. And that was it and off we went - but there was no need for a 15 minute observation period and so there was equally no need to wait for a suitably socially distanced observation seat to become available - which can take longer than the observation period in a busy centre. I agree with Rick's point about variations around the country in who gets to get a shot of vaccine - there seem to be xonsiderable variations at play and I can only assume that in some respects they reflect the way vaccine is being distributed rather than anything else. Vaccination sessions have been held here at varying intervals since the first took place in December and the only thing which could account for any delay in reaching the coverage of certain age groups etc could be the supply of vaccine because the infrastructure to do the job has been readily available all the way through. But having said that I don't really doubt that first dose of vaccine down to Priority Group 4 will be much adrift, if at all. from the target date the Govt has set. But what is odd is the way vaccination of the extremely vulnerable seems to be something of a lottery (assuming their vulnerability is on the official list of course). My chiropractor - probably in his 30s or not much older - is in that category (Crone's Disease) and has already received his first dose of vaccine.

An inch of snaa here now, all buses cancelled, upside down car in Douglas (the Big City) no surprise there! The worst has passed I think, looking at the radar, but the weather warning is valid until 1800 hrs. Still -1c here, and very windy.

this zooming meeting with folk in Australia wears you out... And been busy penning 3 PMs on here.... Baz

Good morning everyone Late on parade as we both slept in the morning. It's Bl00dy cold up here in England's northwest, - 2 earlier but now - 1 at the moment. I've even had to turn up the heater in the workshop this morning! More work on the turntable control panel, as I want to give it all a coat of varnish, mainly to protect the decals I applied last weekend. Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. Brian

Good afternoon from a distinctly cold Charente. -2 when we went out for a walk.after our usual video chat with Emily and her mums. Great progress to report, she has started to say her first multi syllable word, namely "bubbles" with a great smilevon her face as she chases them round. It was definitely cold yesterday but I did get some joinery done and 2 joints cut on the new timbers for the gate. An attemptvat muddling was made later but not as successfully. Never mind, once more into the breach dear friends once more. Regards to all. Jamie

Parcel update: one is out for delivery. It appears that although the two parcels were ordered from the same place they are coming via different couriers who both have a "facility" in Croydon. Posting all this drivel just goes to show how unexciting my day is so far. It was livened up after my previous post when The Boss needed assistance with the faulty Dyson switch. I had to whack it 3 times before it worked. The time to place an order for a new Shark is getting closer. You may ask why I don't just replace the switch. It's because I'm looking for an excuse, any excuse, to get rid of the Dyson.

The coal bunker was suspended in the tank, it normally ran locked up but could be unlocked and weighed to determine coal consumption. The weighing equipment was a steelyard across the back of the bunker. The tenders remained in service after the experiment finished but the bunkers were permanently locked. I always though that "self weighing" was very silly terminology - how and why could it ever have managed to weigh itself? "Coal weighing" would have been a lot better. I built one of these some years ago to run with a Hornby 5MT, the box across the back of the bunker housed the weighing machine, the blocks along the side locked the bunker in place.

Morning all. It is sunny here and still just below freezing. The prediction is for that to continue. Not a lot planned for today. No medical appointments, no parcel deliveries now as the postman has been here already. I think some of Aditi’s family are planning some sort of intercontinental Zoom meeting, but as we haven’t heard anymore I suspect it will be tomorrow now. MiL has been communicating with WhatsApp video this week. It had taken her a while to realise what the movie camera icon was. I got an NHS invitation by letter to arrange a Covid jab yesterday. However it does clearly state that if I have had one arranged through my GP to ignore the letter. Tony

Morrrrrnin' No snow. No ice. No blue sky. No direct sunlight. No positive degrees. That's (my bit of) South Derbyshire as I type..... Not sure what today will bring as I am still feeling bleugh, probably not the glazing of the summershed doors so we can add glass to the list of noes above (I admit to having to look up the plural of no). First tea being drunk, Doggo is still snoozing having been outside for his morning constitutional. SWMBO is at her place and has gone out for a run (why?) In the sub zeros but at least it's dry and clear underfoot. Hoping the day/weekend brings happy things for all; until later, stay warm safe and well. Edit: Sun's just come out (09:35)

Good morning all, We have blue sky and some sunshine but the temperature is allegedly -3°C according to my phone. No frost on cars but snow still lying in parts of the garden. It should be a dry day with sunny spells then getting cloudier this afternoon. Our travellin' parcel came south overnight and was booked into "a carrier facility in Croydon" at 5.26am. Chance of delivery today then....possibly. Enjoyed last night's rugby with top club Bristol just beating bottom club Gloucester by one point. The latter will be relieved that this season the powers that be have decided there will be no relegation. Today I will be submitting myself to the pain of watching another England rugby match. They can't be as bad as they were last week...can they? I live in hope. Have a good one, Bob.

Its a cold and cloudy start in North Somerset. 8.7C on the bedroom thermometer when I got up. Brrrr.... The effects of the covid jab finished me off yesterday evening, and I was in bed and asleep by 9pm. I thought I would subsequently spend half the night awake, but I didn't. 11 hours sleep is very unusual for me but very welcome. Expecting some snow here soon. The forecast says rain but with an outside temperature of minus 3C I think that is somewhat unlikely; unless it is freezing rain which would coat all surfaces with ice and be more of a nightmare than a few inches of snow.

Had a phone call from the docs this afternoon, will get jabbed on Wed Night awl

Afternoon Awl, Shelf installation went well, as well as making future shelves for the other side. There is however no more mdf until I get the landrover sorted. On that, a quick inspection has revealed the + lead from the solenoid to the starter motor is loose. So tomorrow when it's supposed to be somewhat warmer than the feels like -9 at the moment. I shall furtle about in a tiny space under the turbo charger. Remove, clean, refit, and tighten up. Also a wire brush set for the grinder arrived yesterday, and was put to good use today. The piece I cut off the trailer was trimmed to the correct shape, then wire brushed.. After that it was zinc painted. Ben the I want the long walk Collie was indulged.. cold.. I think the brass monkeys were hiding somewhere warmer..and still loosing things.. luckily I think it was during the artillery's lunch break.. The ground was frozen solid all the way round.. Of hunting shooting and fishing rights. Those and all other rights to our land were bought off of Kings College Cambridge about 1927. A glass of red is now disappearing..

A fairly successful second attempt at a lemon cake with candied lemon peel and a lemon mascarpone filling. The problem that I am finding with the cake, is that it is just too dense. so for my next attempt, I will bake two cakes and then sandwich them together to get the necessary height (at the moment, the current iteration of the recipe makes the cake look like an oversized custard creme biscuit) or maybe I should consider a different type of batter for the cake (a Victoria sponge kind of thing, but flavoured with lemon extract and lemon zest?). Taste, if not appearance and texture, are pretty much spot on. Here is a photo of the cake cooling on the patio after being filled. However, I am not giving up on it yet. For the simple reason that it took a couple of goes to get my Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut Bar inspired cake to where I wanted it. And now, it’s Beer O’clock!... iD

Now sitting in another chair ready for kick off in 25 minutes. I will be staying in this one for the duration of two matches whatever is said by my “better half!” ( and she’s already made a couple of comments about the situation )

Afternoon all, Still bitterly cold here today, especially in the wind. We are sheltered from the current south easterly, but it is still not particularly nice out. We had a walk, then took the car to return empty horse manure bags, and came back with a boot full of firewood. The wood had been dumped by the roadside on a country lane, and was perfectly OK, so I got some free wood and cleared up some fly tipping at the same time. Now settling down to watch today’s rugby. Hopefully England will put on a better display than last week (it couldn’t be any worse!)

Hmm, 'ours' seems to be keener on sleeping in the porch rather than anywhere in the garden but he's quite an aged fellah(?). However we haven't seen hm around for some time so he might well have popped his paws elsewhere. Meanwhile mum cat has adopted a new tactic. When she settles down on our bed at night I usually relocate her to a different part of the bed so I can get in. Obviously this is not entirely appreciated so last night I found her halfway inside my side of the bed and firmly rooted to the spot. i eventually managed to shift her but later she was back although that time she didn't sneak under the covers.

Ey up! Busy day scheduled.. we have an Anglo-Australian zoom meeting this morning followed by a catch up with my sister later on. I have some information to colllate and send out.. so my time cab be spent well today. Time for my mugatea! Stay safe! Baz

Greetings one and all For one fleeting moment yesterday I thought my luck had changed. This can’t be a Valentine card, surely? Of course it wasn’t. Instead it was a card from my long-time friend Mary conveying birthday greetings well ahead of the day and encouraging me to grow lots of yummy vegetables. In my garden? You jest, dear lady. When I moved in 40 years ago I really wanted to put my garden to good use. Sadly the garden had other ideas. Let me put it this way: when you sow an entire packet of carrot seeds and get one carrot the garden is trying to tell you something, best expressed as “Don’t mess with me, sunshine”. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. Another postal conundrum is ongoing. Back in October I ordered a double CD of a concert given in tribute to the late Roy Bailey. Somehow the webshite through which I ordered it did not properly register the order, nor did it charge my card. Only when the album was advertised for sale again did I pick up that something was wrong. I contacted the vendor, established that a malfunction had occurred and placed another order. A subsequent e-mail told me that the album had been despatched on 26th January and swore blind that I would have it by 9th February at the latest. Needless to say I am still waiting. I have reported it missing and must see what happens. Why do I not expect a happy ending? For Brianusa’s benefit, and for general clarification, I need to explain a bit more about learning to like curry. In that far distant world when there were shows extending over two days, there were bunches of people who used to travel together and make a weekend of it. On Saturday nights, and for all I know at other times too, these fine people enjoyed going for a pint and a curry. Not for them would be the draughty patio or tent: they would dine most sociably in an Indian restaurant. On occasion they would extend the hand of friendship and invite me to join them. I would have loved a pint or several with them but was unsure of my ability to cope with a curry and so declined the invitation. One can only cope with so many lonely Saturday nights in a hotel room in a strange town. If any of them are reading this, I ask forgiveness for past errors of judgement. Best wishes to all Chris

Evening All, Day much as expected. Domestic duties this morning followed by the arrival of the nephews and Sydney. You may be relieved to know that the nephews weren’t ‘entered’ in fact I don’t think they were entertained, well not by me anyway. Give them an iPad and they’re in their own world. I managed to phone a MRC friend and wished him a happy birthday and we had bit of a natter, nothing heavy, just thing that we don’t talk about on here. I wasn’t really looking forward to making the call as my enthusiasm for most things has been lacking but in the end I felt better for it. I really aught to make a few more call to friends, just to check how they’re coping but to be honest I just can’t seem to face making conversations at the moment. As for tomorrow, I don’t know, Sydney’s here for a sleep over so he’ll need taking out and a bit of shed time???? I may even make a purchase from ebay if my enthusiasm picks up and the items I’ve seen are still available. Eyelids are feeling heavy so I’ll bit you goodnight, Robert

Was working on some coaches yesterday and turned round to see the winter sunlight streaming through the Velux window and illuminating this corner of the layout. So out came the iPhone. Shame about the shadows on the backscene, but otherwise I thought it was rather nice.

Four cylinder compound Jubilee arriving at London Road Platform 1, while a Coal Engine plods along the line through Platform 4. Photo courtesy of Paul Bason/Railway Modeller.

It seems that another parcel arrived at the same “Carrier facility in Croydon” at 2.35am. What’s the odds that they don’t get delivered to us on the same van?

Morning All, Cold and fresh here and the wind seems to have got up. Going to be brass monkey weather when we take Sidney out. Robert

Morning all. Natural light is at a premium here today. Therefore, I have another image under my work light. I have tweaked the finish slightly. Not much but a fresh pair of eyes this morning required a bit more colour. Rust was added here and there and the darker areas lightened slightly. For comparison, this is what we started with. To this........ I'm happy with this finish. All I need to do is remember what I did....... But worthwhile testing matters ahead of tackling the buildings themselves. Rob.