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I don't understand this current obsession with lighting on models; I can only assume that those demanding this feature on steam / early diesel era models never saw the prototype. Mk. 1 coach lighting was very dim - hence the provision of individual reading lights; even with all of the latter switched on; (a very rare event); the illumination level never came anywhere near to the glare shown in the photo of the model. As for headlamp illumination - it was invisible in daylight and only showed as a weak glimmer at night - most models nowadays have headlights as bright as the floodlight on the Lickey banker! Modellers get all worked-up about the tiniest detail on the models themselves, and then insist on lighting that rivals that on an illuminated tram on Blackpool promenade! John Isherwood.

The time machine has gone back to the 1990s again today with some photos along the Blyth and Tyne. We are back to slide scans once again. They are in order from south to north. The first photo at Backworth is where the Blyth and Tyne line to Percy Main and the the River Tyne crosses above what is now the Metro line to the coast. Backworth view north along old Blyth and Tyne line 21st Feb 96 C20762.jpg South Newsham 56132 coal containers up Feb 93 J13678.jpg South Newsham 56131 coal Butterwell to Bates Blyth May 91 J11918.jpg About to run round to take the branch to the Bates coal terminal. Newsham Class 56 down empty coal May 93 J13892.jpg Bedlington 56117 down empties July 92 J13214.jpg David

Dad fell foul of NHS administration again yesterday. He was taken from the nursing home to Telford hospital to have a lesion on his wrist examined prior to its removal next Tuesday only to be told after an hour's wait, "It's been cancelled. You should have been told yesterday." When he asked what that meant for Tuesday's appointment, nobody seemed to know. Sometimes I despair. Despite being in Devon for a week, Jill hasn't let the reins slip as I received notification by telephone last night of a couple of G word jobs and some shop visits that are apparently on my duty list. And I was getting on so well in the workshop too. Oh, well, on we go. Have a good weekend all. Dave

I see, Toad backed in engine shed siding, then crane moved back to its normal place....

I've added the huge girder that supports the signal box. The H beams are Plastruct - what would I do without it! With that in place I could add the basic shape of the signal box. I will straighten that upright! Peter

Re pronouncing foreign place names. Listening to some American pilots over the UK can be entertaining: US Navy pilot: "Ah, Sir we are overhead (pause) Lee- eye- sester." Unidentified British voice, "That'll be Leicester then." "Thank you, Leicester, and we are en route to Yee-o-villton." "Yeovilton." "Thank you." Different unidentified British voice. "Thank God he's not going to Cholmondely." Dave

I was unclear about what the waiting rooms looked like in the 50's but my customer pointed out that the ones there now are the original structures, built with the signal box, and would originally have looked much like it. Armed with that knowledge I removed the ones I did yesterday and began again. I cut three sides from 2mm clear plastic and glued them in place with Plastruct corners, and then added pieces of 0.5mm plastic as overlays. The shape of the waiting rooms is right now, with much more rounded corners. Small pieces of plastic mark out the opening. The real thing has windows right on the rounded corner but I'm afraid I draw the line at that, it's more important that the structure keeps it's shape. The glazing bars were added from thin strip, glued directly to the glazing with solvent. The doors were cut out, glued in place and painted blue. The vertical strips of brick were added next. With the horizontal bands of brick and then the stone courses the waiting room looks the part. There is no roof as it will be directly under the canopy. Peter

It's called The Micro Model Railway Dispatch. I have been working on it for the past few months. The preview issue is out now. I hope you like it. You can down load this preview issue through the Dropbox link below. Hopefully it will be a new way for micro layout fans to share their passion for this branch of the hobby. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ophuj2uvq82uj3y/AAAxyOu9VECNQk71Ll3j2zGka?dl=0 Ian

New security guard on the factory gates. Stopped a guy pushing a wheelbarrow load of straw out of the gate. Poked round in the straw could find nothing., let him go, Same thing happened the next week, and the next, and ... Twenty five years later the security guard was about to retire. Stopped the same guy, who has been pushing out his wheelbarrow of straw weekly. Said to him. "I'm retiring today - it won't go further, just what have you been taking out?" "Wheelbarrows."

Dry and cool here so far today. A busy morning has been had sanding off the ancient paintwork on barge boads on the garage with my even more ancient electric drill and 5 inch sanding discs. All went well until smoke started coming out of the drill. As the drill is about 45+ years old and has been on its last legs for years, it doesnt owe me anything. My somewhat less ancient drill (about 25 to 30 years old) was used to complete the job, and the first coat of new exterior stain has been applied. I have now been informed by the boss that the sealant around the shower needs replacing, so I may make a start on that after lunch. It tends to be a slow job doing the sealant, as it will be wet underneath the old sealant, so I will need to wait a while for it to dry thoroughly before applying the new sealant. A man’s work is never done!

Morning, sunny and pretty cold here, 10c feels like 6. Feels less actually. Mrs NHN back from being Pilated, unfortunately we have to go to the Big City for her to get new reading glasses. The Big City on a Saturday does not float my boat. Even if it is only the size of a small town! Tehcnically only Peel is a City, the parish church there having re-defined itself as a Cathedral a few years ago. It's not York Minster..... Then...who knows. I await orders.

Cold and grey here, yet again, but at least the rain has stopped, and the wind has died down. Hermit again this morning. it has come closer, but the cameraman has moved back too. I find I now prefer this shot when there is stock in the bay on the left. It just seems to tighten everything up.

Second Jabs - mine was booked the same time as the first and was exactly 12 weeks later to the minute (both at 8.05am on a Saturday). When we realised the 2nd was due on the Bank Holiday weekend, we tried to alter but that was not permitted - use it or lose it ! The answer to that was to turn up at the vaccination centre with caravan in tow and start the holiday from there - it put the wind up the car park security staff as they were looking for a group of travellers following us . . . .

Good moaning from the Charente. It isn't raining at the moment but that may well change. Morning orders are being posted but in 10 minutes we will be talking to Emily. Yesterday I got some shopping done then had an interesting hour after a young lady reversed into the front passenger door of the Volvo. It's dented by half an inch but still looks and works. She was rather upset and terrified of what her mother was going to say. She was called Emily as well. I will have to do sone paperwork today. The big decision is whether it is worth having the Volvo repaired. I then ate my sandwiches on the station and was joined by Andy for a cold couple of hours saw zero trains. Today may well be dedicated to domestic engineering. It's now raining. Regards to all. Jamie

Front area well underway Road matching well. Grass, weeds, shrubs to front of brick building added and blended in adjoining alleyway. Sieved sand to sides of porch with PVA glue flooded on, Roof Dirt wash applied now need to dry so I can what colour/shade it ends up!!! Paving added.

Forgot to mention: Yesterday when Mrs NHN arrived at work late after a DR's appointment, her boss said oh go downstairs as there's a PTS course - you don't need it but it will help you understand some of the issues the boys out on the track have. She saw half the course, sat the exam and passed highly - which several of the workers failed.....she's not let on that she has driven quite large passenger carrying steam locos in the past and volunteered at Groudle Glen. Her boss is impressed. Next step - driving the electrics on the MER as a reward. Lush.

Yes, 68 when it all went wrong. The Tet offensive in Vietnam, O,levels for me aged 15, and then the end of steam on that fateful August day. However the sight, sound and fury of the 2 Black 5's pounding up to Aisgill at over 70, is an enduring memory. Going out with a roar and not a whimper and every banking along Wild Boar Fell on fire. Jamie

Mornin' Too early especially as (again) I've had precious little sleep after 01:00. At least the rain has stopped, see you later. Sorry, it's been a bit doom and gloom from hereabouts in recent days. Might take a bit of 'time out'.

It’s Basel, dear boy, BasEL!, not BasLE (or it’s Bâle if you are a Francophone). Why the anglophones insist on mangling foreign place names is beyond me, especially as - for Basel- both spellings are pronounced the same way. It’s hardly the same as substituting Florence for Firenze or Bangkok for Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. I suppose it’s a holdover from the days when anglophones spoke a foreign language by speaking English VERY LOUDLY AND V E R Y S L O W L Y... Bald??? I think that’s the case with nearly all modern Southeast Asian metro systems. It seems that people have an inordinate pride in their metro systems and keep them clean and unvandalised. I think most of the island platforms on the London Underground have been rebuilt into “standard“ underground platforms. Certainly Angel and Euston used to have island platforms, and Clapham Common and Clapham North stations still have them (but for how much longer?). Although I am an aficionado of all things London Underground and have quite a few books on the history of the various lines, I don’t recall the reason that island platforms were used for certain stations. It was either, if I recall correctly, for reasons of cost or – more likely – due to some insurmountable obstruction that prevented the construction of a full-sized station platform. As for the London Underground showing up your age, Mike. I can remember travelling on the 1938 tube stock (which was ubiquitous at the time) and on the O stock and P stock of the District Line. I am also just old enough to have ridden the on the tube’s Standard Stock and the District line’s Q23 stock before both were withdrawn in the 60s. 1968 might have been the “summer of love“ for all those post pubescent individuals, but for me – at age 12 - the summer of 68 was one of great freedom and exploration. I used to buy a Twin Rover for 6/- and spend the day exploring London’s Underground and various museums (including the Imperial War Museum, the Natural History Museum and – before it was appallingly vandalised by the so-called “curators” – the Science Museum). One of the features of the “summer of love“ was how many recycled old military uniforms and made them trendy (a trend started by the Beatles?), I was also -unusually for me - “on trend“ at the time as I usually wore my uncle’s old Denison Para smock with loads of pockets (very useful for storing sandwiches, drinks, sweets, copies of the Beano and Dandy, etc., etc...) Happy Days!

Yeah that was me, got on there back to derby, DBSO leading thankfully, not in a 37 mood this morning! trafford park to Southampton service pulling in to the station DBSO Got stopped at clay mills while a couple of trains went past including a charter from Birmingham international to Harrogate, still from a video taken with the camera lens what poking out of the side window! 57601 573xx changing ends on chaddesden curve and into the RTC to stable, I then went hire car back to Oxford to my hotel and tonight it’s a class 7 (45mph max) hinksey to St. John’s Wood area on the chiltern, will feel fast compared to the 30mph I had to do the chiltern line at last Monday night!

Man (Bear) up, you should just be grateful that it didn't drip onto your finger nail; you will have guessed how I know this....... Might I ask what anti rust you use? I have some de-rusting to do on mi narra boat...... In other news, today has been a productive day so far - my mood, is somewhat improved.

Ey up! Mugatea has already been drunk. No refill has been offered ...yet! Sometimes I wonder why I umpire cricket matches. It has just rained ..again..the grounds are very, vert wet, todays game is still "on". So I have to go to the ground, check conditions and then receive half of our expenses for doing so. If we cancel it now I can join in the jamboree which @chrisfis a part of. Chris, it will go well today. @Dave Hunt hope your Dad is treated a lot better soon. Organisational incompetence seems to be the in thing everywhere in the world at the moment. @NGT6 1315..nice car. I believe youngest Herbert is getting one of those as his next company car. time for me to get on with Saturday. stay safe! Baz

First day of service on the MER. if only it was as warm as it looked!

Newly outshopped 'Experiment' awaiting deployment.

They do indeed still exist and - without actually measuring them - I would suggest they are narrower than those of the London Underground referred to; two islands remain namely at Clapham North and Clapham Common. That at Angel was replaced many years ago with a second bore and platform with the original island now being widened across the former track space. The Clockwork Orange is less busy than the London Underground and I found it surprising to be almost alone on the platform at around 8.45am on a working day. Afternoon all. Welcome to the weekend. It arrived a little uncertainly having not enjoyed a good night's sleep by any means. The back gate banged in the wind; the neighbours came and went at intervals through the night and whilst the sounds were nothing to complain of an already-awoken Gwiwer then found the footsteps on the stairs and the sounds of opening and closing doors more of a nuisance than might normally be the case. After a substantial but late breakfast of eggs on olive sourdough toast decorated with feta, toasted shallots and green sriracha sauce the Great Outdoors was attacked. There has been an outbreak of growth since the warmer wetter weather arrived. This has not been matched by an outbreak of the contract landscapers maintaining the lawns and hedges. No doubt they are under pressure at every location they work at. We are doing our bit to keep the borders looking good. Wind has now dropped but rain is falling in its place. I shall persist until it becomes unnecessarily wet outside. The alternative is the M-word inside Best wishes to all. Stay well.

That's what I'm worried about. It's only a crease with no pai t damage. My plan is to go and talk to the man at the insurance office on Wednesday. I do not want it written off. I've also sent some photos to a mate for him to look at and advise. Thanks. Jamie

Beware the Bozo at the insurance company who declares it a write-off.... Is the panel just pushed in, or creased and with paint damage? Any scope for a DIY fix with cash compo from the owner? Bear's first Boss worked at a certain shipyard in Barrow many moons ago. He told a story about "Harry" (or whoever) who wanted to build a caravan, but couldn't weld. So a fag packet sketch was submitted to the welding shop, with promises of beer tokens. The sheet metal workers got wind, as did the chippies, leccies, painters..... It seems Harry was a popular guy, cos' when he went back for his chassis he ended up towing out a very nice, fully finished caravan..... Rumours that a certain Bear *may* have constructed a motorcycle trailer (for the carrying of, not towing behind) at work are a scandalous suggestion. As if.... Charlene must be a secret ER lurker, cos' a link arrived this very morning to book the second jab in a fortnight, so at the ten week marker Do Glasgow trains hammer into the stations as fast as those in London? In other news: A successful morning with the blowtorch - H&C pipework suitably extended Bear's Thought for the Day: How does a blob of solder dripped onto Bear's paw manage to burn at the speed of light, despite wearing latex gloves - and not making a hole in the gloves? #Didn't Cry (much) Bear's Joy for the Day: It's ten to twelve - and the chippie opens at twelve....

There is a simpler explanation - incomplete proofreading before posting. I did mean to check the spelling, because I wasn’t sure of it, but forgot and hit ‘submit’.

Same here, got the letter, logged on, booked the first, them it prompted me to book the second. I then cancelled the first, as the only option for the second was at a time/day which would have been a massive PITA, changed the venue and rebooked both. Quite a bit further to travel but worked/s out better, easier to fit round caring duties and likely to be safer too. Afternoon awl. I'm very sorry to hear of Dave's father's continued troubles. To paraphrase others, possibly including some ER's comments, there seems to be something wrong with our NHS today. I had a quick glance through the news before ERs and saw https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/22/nhs-staff-nurses-on-why-they-might-quit - detailed comment could stray into the P-word territory but I will say I can understand why the contributors feel as they do. The pestilence has doubtless led many to consider their lives and behaviours. As the regulars know, losing one parent and having another badly hurt has affected me. And of those in my 'circle' of friends and close acquaintances, we've lost one and have another with long Covid; she's not in a good place. Other factors (the P-word lurks...) connected with what has happened and actions by government have affected me rather significantly and could lead to some major life-changing decisions/actions. The clouds outside are as dark as my mood so far this year. It's certainly time to crack the old jokes about building arks. Has anyone done any studies about the weather's impact on bird species' reproductive preferences? The reason for wondering is I looked out of t'window in the middle of a vigorous chuckitdarn and the woodpigeons were at it hammer and tongs on next door's garage roof for some time. Not that I've made a particular study, but most species seem to prefer dry and sunny conditions (I can understand that...). Otherwise, very little going on. Not having much luck selling STR products, whether books, furniture or models. Skip hire beckons...

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Still feeling like death warmed up but a bit better than I was. Will call 111 later to get some treatment.

I have been on the Glasgow underground a couple of times, many years ago... and yes; the narrow island platforms there were extremely unnerving to me at the time. I could not quite rationalise my fear, because I could see how far it was from either edge to the tracks and knew that if I stood in the middle I was ok, but something in my brain seemed not to calm down until I was on the train each time. Cloudy but dry here in North Somerset. At last the wind and rain have moved away. Despite the media hype, I doubt the mean temperature this May will be as cold as May 1996 when we had easterly winds for almost the entire month; but I'm sure the lies, damned lies and stats people will find somewhere which has broken all records and can be morphed into a representation of the entire country. After all, they were already blithely talking about the whole month, yesterday, when there were still 10 days to go until it ended. One reason that I rarely watch any TV news.

Those narrow island platforms on the Northern Line always scared me. I think it was Angel that was particularly bad as there would be a sudden influx of passengers at the end of any performance at Sadlers Wells and not many trains to disperse the crowd.

Greetings one and all, with many thanks for the kind thoughts. A strange e-mail [dis]graced my inbox yesterday. It purported to come from “BT Voice Center” and told me that I had received an unread voice message. How can you read a voice message unless it has been transcribed into print? Where lies the difficulty in speaking into the telephone and leaving the message for me to find on the answerphone facility? My suspicious nature developed full power. I marked the e-mail as spam. It will not be lonely there. Meanwhile, the affair of the undelivered DVD progresses. It did not arrive yesterday and I have accepted the offer of the vendor to send another. Anything could happen now. The replacement could meet a similar fate to the original, whatever that was, or both copies could arrive simultaneously and I would be duty bound to send one of them back. What if it were to disappear? This has all the makings of an unholy mess. This afternoon I am to give my presentation to Virtual ExpoEM. The first four pages were rehearsed on Thursday and if I remember the technicalities in the right order it will be fine. Possibly. Tonight sees a rare pleasure. For many years I was spared the myriad delights of Eurovision, thanks to being in a pub in Bracknell and enjoying the revelry that goes with it. It will make a change from the Saturday night standby of “Casualty”. Continuing warm thoughts to Dave, his Dad, Gordon S and all missing persons. Best wishes to all. Chris

Good evening everyone Well it didn’t stop raining until about 7:30 this evening, although it did ease off several times during the day. Thankfully the wind has also died down now too, so it looks like we could have a quiet night. But in the last few minutes it has just started to rain yet again, although thankfully it isn’t heavy rain. Luckily, when I walked to the butchers this morning, it was only a light drizzle, so I didn’t need to put on a coat, just a jacket sufficed. Likewise, whilst at the Trafford Centre this morning, it was only drizzling when I walked from and to the car. However, within a few minutes of getting back in the house this morning it chuckinitdarn, so I timed that nicely. As expected, Sheila was still out when I got back home, so once I’d put away all the items I’d just purchased, I had the place to myself for a couple of hours. During which I surfed the Internet or read the latest copy of BRM, which dropped on the front doormat on Wednesday morning. Apart from the 2 shopping trips this morning, I’ve done bu99er all day and it’s been rather nice. Looking back at the week and given the weather that we’ve had since then, I think we hit it lucky on Wednesday when we went to the RHS Bridgewater garden!

Thanks DMJ but the lad and I are fairly experienced in overland routes to/from Switzerland having used all of the quicker and more obvious ones at some time or other. (And I used to be involved in the timetable planning for one of them anywayl hence my occasional past visits to Stephenson Strasse in Frankfurt.) Line D is a long way to walk at PNO but at least avoids the 'fun' of a taxi ride although one of those in Paris is far more exciting than anything a fairground can offer. However with the present E'star timetable I have a nasty feeling that planning longer distance connections, especially westbound might not be as simple as it was pre-pandemic The problem he faces is whether or not his (Swiss) employers will stand the cost of a rail journey compared with air. He managed to get their agreement to use the train when going to the Paris office as the fare wasn't be much different from air fares and he could work on the train but in the past they've never been prepared to agree the extra cost of shifting from the air to rail for travel to/from Geneva although he would prefer to do it that way.

Greetings All This afternoon I have mainly been watching a Paul Simon concert on Sky Arts i did have a look around to see if i could find @chrisfs presentation online i found expo em but didn't get any further. There was another scam at Outokumpu or Avesta Sheffield Smacc (steel making and continuous casting) involving scrap going inwards being booked in going over the weighbridge driven out again still loaded with a false tare weight entered by a tame security guard. As usual the scam collapsed due to sickness of the tame guard. Another one involved a fellow transport manager where I worked he had already been caught out taking backhanders off a subbie. A couple of months later he went off sick, turned out he was driving a 7.5 tonnes stealing our work off a customer he was pally with. He was caught out by a driver seeing him in there and ringing in asking if we were short of drivers cos he had a mate looking for a job. He didn't even have the guts to come for the disciplinary hearing.

Phosphoric acid, 50%. If I'm doing a full treatment. Wire brush in angle grinder first Phosphoric acid, leave over night. ( From eBay) Wash off, Zinc paint. ("Trade Paints" 95% zinc content) For the trailer, I didn't do the phosphoric acid. It just got the wire brushing and zinc paint. For these bits , cos they're down in the bottom of the boat, they're getting the full treatment. Rubber gloves and goggles time. Having, already wire brushed the pieces and drilled the new mounting holes. I put some acid in a old saucer, and then painted it on ( almost scrubbing it on) both sides of the three pieces for the keel supports. Tomorrow, a quick wash off, then a couple of coats of zinc paint. The boat lifting bracket has also had its holes drilled, but I've realised I've put one in the wrong place. Though that's not a problem. Just 15 minutes more drilling required. The outside once marked up needs trimming to shape, once cut down I'll decided whether or not to cut out some of the inside to reduce weight. It's a hefty chunk of metal.. I've only painted one side with the acid to stabilise the surface where I'm drawing up the lines for cutting. It was just too rusty before. With a fair amount of the blank being cut off painting with acid both sides would have been a waste. Also a lot of shelving bits got coat of paint 2.

And the Welsh think the English capital is Llundain. Of course it works the other way round too. The English think the capital of Wales is Cardiff!

The French even that the the English Channel is called La Manche. Jamie

Arternoon, awl, Wet paint stops play. Realised I had weight spreading plates on an old keel, duly removed from keel, Derusted, new holes drilled, and then painted with antirust. Cut 20 blanks for shelf supports , first coat of paint applied. Cut blank for boat lifting plate.. that went ok except for a stuck disk in grinder, it took longer to free than cutting the blank. It also ate 5 disks in the process of cutting.. The blank has been derusted, and anti rust painted one side, so I can see where It gets marked up for the exact shape. When muggacoffee is consumed, Ben the impatient Collie will take me for his walk. On return second coats of paint will be applied.

You'd definitely notice the changes to the Metro if you were to visit Paris nowadays - the 1st Class compartments have long been abolished and because smoking is no longer allowed, and 'other rules' seem better enforced, that old Metro aroma of stale Gauloise smoke and equally stale pee is no longer present. But definitely woe betide you if you sit in one of thoe seats reserved for mutilé de guerre. I've never been on the Clockwork Orange in Glasgow but it would be interesting to see how its narrow island platforms (If they still exist?) compare with the rather unnerving ones that used to exist on a certain part of London's UndergrounD network - they always struck me as being highly dangerous (and if that isn't showing my age nothing does)

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Still feeling a bit rough and not having eaten anything since Thursday I was feeling a bit light headed. I did manage a yoghurt for lunch however and I'm feeling a bit better now.

Morning, suns out so the new lawn mower will hopefully be tested, stay safe all and enjoy the day.

Not strictly necessary - if you have enough room you can have several groups of six. A more detailed explanation with link to guidance is here Link to Changes to Rule of Six

Breakfast beckons, then some more wood butchering. As an aside, posts seem to be taking a long time to save.......

Not a bad morning compared to yesterdays Hooooollliiiieee that lasted all day. The wind outside has dropped, not sure about inside yet, time will tell on that one. No progress outside on the Patio or Summerhouse erection / construction, and as nipper has the weekend off to take his 4 Girls and Wife out he will not be back until Monday, assuming the weather is dry enough. Have a good day one and all, stay safe and well, and don't let the bu66ers get you down.

Good Morning, Second jab due later but must do a fodder run in a differing direction first. Thus, two train trips in opposite directions. Pronunctipashun of foreign names never ceases to amuse me, even from my colleagues! (And I know that they do it just to wind me up - water off a duck's back as they've done it too often!) I offer Viessmann (vice man), Märklin (Mark Lin), Fleischmann (fleeesh man), Noch (Nock or even Notch), Faller (fall er), Preiser (pressier) und so weiter, und so weiter. (Wiking and Seuthe are for open discussion!) There is a noticeable pair of exceptions: Piko vs Peco; although Piko should be Peeko, we stick with P-eye-ko to distinguish it from our Devonian colleagues, the PPP Company (Pritchard Patent Product Co. Ltd.), i.e. Peeco (alias P Co.) (although some still insist on referring to them as Pekko!) Fortunately, most recognise München in Bavaria and translate it to Munich rather than Munching!

My second jab had to be booked at the same time as I booked the first. One of the reasons I had to postpone the first for a couple of weeks was the fact that there was no appointment availability for the second close at the the first +12wk marker. All I have to do is remember to go, 08/06 IIRC.

I thought it was 1967. Then again, it is said that if you can remember the 60s you weren't there ... Chris

Mooring Awl, inner Temple Hare, 6 hours solid sleep, but one hour trying to continue after to no avail. Ben the I want out Collie was half an hour early today, and he rapidly went to his favourite area to make a deposit.. Not surprisingly he didn't go out last night in the howling soggyness. It's somewhat breezy out there damp and drizzly. I've been looking up set top digital boxes, remember them?, Yep this TV i've gained , is right at the change over to digital, and digital was an option the original owner didn't get.. Wading through all the different types available, and their reviews. You do worry about some of the reviewers, bitterly complaining that a terrestrial Freeview box won't work with their satellite dish / internet / WiFi / Sky TV or won't record.. all on a box costing less than £30, clearly stating it's Freeview only. A box has been selected and ordered.. Bacon and egg has been consumed, a muggacoffee is disappearing. Then it's, Time to get the overalls on.