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Just a quick few words from me and mine. Haha, me and a quick few words are not really synonymous. Thank you to everyone who has given us support over the past 24 hours. The PM’s, emails, telephone calls but especially the support on this Forum has been fantastic. Might be a good time to mention our ‘noisy neighbours’ in Widnes. A lot of comments on here, for and against Hattons. Yes, as others have pointed out their physical shop is still closed. I believe the owner made a commitment to keep his staff as safe as possible. No one can dare criticise that ethos. What most won’t know is that during the time Hattons shop has been closed a banner has been placed at the entrance gate. The banner reads to the effect that the store is closed. Order online or by telephoning the Call Centre. It then reads again paraphrasing, The nearest model shop is Widnes Model Centre about ten minutes from here. Complete with our contact details including our full address. Hattons actually contacted me to ask if it was okay to put the banner up! Didn’t have to think about that for very long! Hopefully that will put a smile on your face and certainly worthy of a round of applause? Now that is a company helping their local model shop. Thank you Richard Davies of Hattons you made sure we have reached this point in the Covid pandemic.

It is probably worth noting that Hornby handle enterprise level business separately from independent retail business Tesco, Lidl, Argos and John Lewis are not going to be tiered... These are huge contracts. Hornby probably sell more flying Scotsman train sets to Argos than all sets of all descriptions to all the independent retailers combined. And do you know what, I’m more than happy for that to continue. If a chance purchase of a train set in a large multiple sparks an interest, then I can look forward to the potential lifetime of follow up sales. I got my first train set from a supermarket (a French one at that!) but it was my local model shops that benefited in the long term.

Once again Mike, you have distracted me from what l should be doing. In short, just told what Band we were in. Excellent points raised. We have had numerous poor quality websites. We have been unlucky in our choices. We paid £7000 for an all singing and dancing website. It was more like a broken record. So much so the Director gave us all our money back. That’s how bad it was! Not sure why but he left and set up his own business. The current website he donated by way of an apology. He became a friend. We have been operating with an online presence for more than ten years. Mail order to us is picking up the telephone or answering an email. We have one customer who does write to us and that’s refreshing that people haven’t forgotten how to write a nice letter. We have a Facebook page with nearly 7,000 followers. We post regular updates and orders come flooding in, especially on Friday evening when we put any new arrivals into stock. The vast majority of which are collected very quickly. I know we spend less than a £100 a year on advertising, all on Facebook. Proof of the pudding was during Lockdown. Notes stuck through the door, shop phone redirected to my mobile. Had to have it plugged in to keep the battery topped up. If l am being totally honest it was exhausting. It was practically 24/7 and often customers just wanted to talk. Especially those who were on their own. Financially it wasn’t great for the hours we were putting in, but it was something coming in rather than nothing. Blowing our our own Trumpet? Yes, because we were providing real customer service and at times it was real fun. Nothing can take away the pleasure of handing over a parcel with paints etc or whatever to a customer who hadn’t seen anyone for days, possibly months. You cant do that even with the best website in the world.

Looks like the local bike club has turned up! Oh dear, it looks like I’ve lost another door!

Dry with sunny spells today, and a small risk of a shower. Grandson is here and so I am commandeered to perform toy driving operations. Yesterday was the day when everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The miniature solar panel flatly refused to stay anywhere in the sun for more than ten minutes. The organic meat joints arrived, but rather than being fresh they turned up frozen. I put them in the microwave to defrost and it started to cook them. I tried making Nigella Lawson's easy Italian ice cream and it ended up like milk. I whisked it for about ten minutes but couldn't achieve a stiff peak (ooh matron). Nevertheless it went into the freezer and was looking promising this morning. My memory of Mr Whippy ice cream is the closest I can recall. Then I hung my washing out in lovely windy, sunny weather; and within an hour it was tipping down and remained wet all afternoon. The solar panel finally broke free of its wiring on the tenth disaster. I tried to patch it up, but it seems not to be working so have ordered another. At least they are under £10 on Ebay, which is probably why they fail easily. Then my random skin itching (post second covid vaccine ten days earlier) began on my legs, which necessitated half a tub of Sudocrem. I was glad to get to bed and wish May 25th goodbye.

Well, first we had the decision to stop supplying Rails (frustrating many customer pre-orders). That led me to the decision to scale back Hornby purchases because my appetite was simply taken away, I found, by the bad taste in my mouth; I was simply not motivated to re-order elsewhere. It's stopped me overdoing it on the Pecketts for one thing! Now Hattons appear to have been demoted, again frustrating many customer pre-orders. I hope those who excoriated Hattons over cancelled pre-orders will feel somewhat abashed and place the blame where it truly lies. I haven't the patience for the platitudinous guff articulated in explanation for the tier system. It seems obvious from a mile away that this is a further way of sticking it to large retailers who have the temerity to commission their own models, which is evidently a weird and unattractive obsession of the current management that rather let's down all those fine and talented people in the Hornby workforce who, rather than engage in spiteful stupidity, simply get on producing some very fine products. Their efforts, and a fine brand, for me, are being needlessly tarnished by egregious management antics. Once again. Still, in the UK we're used to an integrity vacuum at the top, and, apparently, we don't much care.

Bradley Manor, no less, pulling the early morning passenger service races into the station

Greetings all from......LBG. I am in the office today for the first time in I don't know how long. It is pretty quiet in here; I would guess a dozen people spread across the floor, although I am told that around 50 were in on Tuesday. There are abut 150 or more who are supposed to inhabit this floor. The train in from Sidcup was busy; no question of getting a block of seats to oneself, and people were standing by the time we got to LBG. I didn't see anyone not wearing a mask on the train but several people at the stations at either end of the journey. And shortly I have the novelty of going to buy myself some lunch. The potential choice is almost overwhelming.....* * this assumes that most places have survived and are now open!

Photos of the Tyne and Wear Metro again for today. Pelaw Junction T&W Metro to South Shields 15th Aug 85 C7134.jpg Backworth 4004 Pelaw to St James 21st Feb 96 C20765.jpg Backworth 4035 Braathens livery St James to Pelaw 21st Feb 96 C20766.jpg Whitley Bay 4029 Pelaw to St James Feb 92 J12993.jpg Tynemouth Metro 4012 St James to Pelaw 24th April 93 C18594.jpg David

These tales remind me of my first washing machine disaster shortly after I first moved in as a wee young lass (though I thought I was quite old at the time, as you do!). I had put the wrong washing powder in the machine and yes it did exactly what it does in cartoons and comedy shows - frothed up beautifully. Ray was away, so in desperation, I knocked on our nextdoor neighbour's door who came in, saw the problem, opened the machine door and caught several washing up bowlsful of suds and emptied said bowlful of suds, in turn, on the other neighbour's lawn - holiday home at the time and no one at home! Had an interesting morning watching a video of the Super Blood Moon Eclipse happening down in New Zealand and, just as it was fast approaching Maximum, my internet suddenly decided to drop out so I missed it and had to replay it later. As the various eclipse highlights were spaced out, I decided to have a toot on the flute, playing my getting to know it tune. Then when half the moon was in darkness it suddenly occurred to me that I was playing 1/2 Moon. Of course, that set the heart beat going and I started to play it to the moon on the screen. Woah! Did that make a difference to my playing. Could not have asked for better at this stage of play. Amazing. Thank you, Moon. Well, people talk to their plants.... Fitt and Elfie gathering apace for the weekend. Time to catch up. Take care all and play safe. _________ Best wishes Polly

Meanwhile back over on the main line an express can be heard approaching

Greetings one and all There has been progress in the saga of the missing DVD. Amazon have refunded my payment. The vendor has despatched a gratis replacement for which I will be required to sign when it comes. This strikes me as the best of all worlds! Meanwhile, Bedford is one of the eight places where the Indian variant of that ruddy virus is making its unwelcome presence felt and where those who rule us have relied on telepathy to advise those who live there that they should not travel outside the borough. Subsequently this has been clarified – that’s what we are told, anyway. As it is only advice I shall chance my arm and continue making arrangements to spend the first week in August and lots of money in Sidmouth. Yesterday I came across the prospectus for the Christmas Swiss trip, which is as it would have been in 2020. I am sounding out Ffestiniog Travel about a customised version. I have also applied for a place in the parade at Pride in London in September. Apparently, but unsurprisingly, it was 200% over-subscribed in 2019, when I had to join the Individuals’ Group in order to take part. I am told that the same will be the case this year. Westminster City Council will only permit a maximum of 30,000 marchers. This does beg the question of how another recent protest march was able to accommodate 150,000 marchers. Perhaps I had better not ask. My poorly knee is better than it was but with this event in mind and for safety’s sake I have pulled out of a study walk this evening. Wishes for a speedy recovery to the many who are poorly and continuing warm thoughts to Dave’s Dad and to all missing persons. Best wishes to all. Chris

Puppers hasn’t a lot to report today other than he’s been discharged from hospital and is now home with family. Such a happy day in Puppersland !

It could be worse on a couple of occasions swmbo has put a disposable nappy in the machine inadvertently and that does make one hell of a mess

It did it again, didn't record what I was typing when the bears update came through, but remembered an old one.. Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare again. 557 /348 5 hours +1.5 hours sleep good for me. Ben the Alarm Clock |Collie was not on duty this morning, he just watched me from his pit. He did turn up ever hopeful when I went into the kitchen. Then he enjoyed a very good snuffle round the garden I had to order him back from the furthest reaches as it was time for work.. Dad Should be home today if nothing else occurs, He's DNR anyway, so other than make him comfortable, there's not a lot they can do. Disney time again on the way to work, Pigeons Pheasants, Partridges, Crows, Squirrels, and a Muntjack deer down by the dyke. 3rd day in a row the roads have been quiet in the morning, I was trying to think of the cause, but then realised it's probably the major roadworks on the NDR / A11 (London road) junction, causing traffic to use different routes. Yesterdays major system has passed , but I suspect our test instrument is drifting, I'll have to talk to the Boss about that. 3, 20G Ohm Resistors to do first, that'll take around 3 hours as there is a lot of sitting and waiting for it to settle.. Time to eerr sit and wait..

Afternoon all, Gettinga bit cloudy out there although no precipitation forecast. I am feeling a tad delicate today but - touch wood - am now completely off the 'type of' scale having been at the maximum about 60 hours ago. (I think that 's first time I've hit maximum on anything although it was not enjoyable.). so gradually getting back to normal but I don't think I'll go in for anything with 'fresh leaves' in future if somebody at the same table is likely to get them with a shellfish or seafood dish. Elsewhere the man point of amusement has been somebody digging up a fire hydrant up the road next to a parked car whose owner could not be identified. TI told the hole digger when he came round inquiring that I hadn't got a clue whose car iot was and it was their fault for parking next to a hydrant. The bloke was concerned less his work, incluf ding using an angle grinder madea mess of teh car but I suggested that he could hardly be blamed for somebody parking in a stupid place. The car has now gone so i don't know how messy it got but it might dissuade whoever it was from parking round here in future, hopefully. Talking about cars the Money Programme on R4 was all about electric cars and was of considerable (probably misleading?) interest - yes the batteries can be recycled (I thought that could not be done anywhere in Britain?); yes cars can be charged overnight (nothing said about where the electricity would come from - presumably France?); despite being more expensive than i/c engined vehicles they are cheaper to insure (eh? do insurance rates no longer take account of vehicle prices and values?); oh and the batteries will last for the complete life of the vehicle and are easier to dismantle and recover the components from than an i/c engine (we live and learn - maybe??). Overall I think the 'expert' wasmore likely still a 'spert' and was spouting some misleading words - but i might be very wrong? Enjoy the rest of your day and stay safe

Good moaning from the Charente. A bit grey outside but it is definitely a bit warmer. Beth and I went to Angoule yesterday and had a good time shopping. I got some muddling supplies and more money was spent to buy things for young Emily when she eventually gets here. This morning it's the supermarket for me, then wait for a delivery. Beth has finally got an appointment with a Diabetolugue at St Jean. She's had to wait about 6 months to change specialists and has had a host of problems. We are hoping for a positive outcome. It was good to hear better news about Dave's dad, I hope that things continue on an upward path. Also good wishes to Phil and again I hope that improvements continue. Q, I hope your dad improves and that your mum is OK. Regards to all. Jamie

Ey up! Bit of shark based cleaning to do then i need to turn clean shiny things which run on parallel bits of nickel silver into more work stained ones. I have a match tomorrow evening. I have been specially selected to umpire due to what happened last weekend when the match should have been played. My colleague will be someone I have a high regard for. This could be fun! Hopefully all of our under the doctor ERs and their relatives can continue to show improvement today. Time for my mugatea! Stay safe and well if you can Baz

Mrs NHN has an electric car at work, a Renault Zoe. It's lifespan is declared as 8 years for the batteries. Not great in my world. She hates the very sight of it..... but needs to drive it most days. It is very difficult to manoeuvre slowly in confined spaces as it is overly responsive to the accelerator, moving it say just a foot or so is beyond all the crew in the team who have tried unless you left foot brake, which does not come naturally. The lack of aural feedback also makes it hard to keep to low speed limits. I know its at or near the bottom of the food chain of e cars, but they're 30 grand.....oof. I await hydrogen fuel cell technology to punt lithium batteries off the planet.

Just a few from last night New st Stafford Crewe same job again tonight

Morning, the rock is once again sunny, and actually not too windy this morning but only 10c feels like 7. Allegedly. Robert/Eric, is that our mutual friend you refer to? Mrs NHN is off until Tuesday now, so my life is not my own... Orders have already been posted, then she's off out with her mates for a picnic so at east lunchtime will be peaceful.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Note to self, make sure that the pockets are empty before you put jeans in the wash. The item in question was a paper hankie, I'm still picking soggy bits out of the washing machine so the next items will be the old towels used for mopping up (also to clear the machine of dye from the jeans) but first to clear the trap. On the health front everything is back to normal now time for breakfast.

As seven months today is Christmas Day, here’s a suitable pic. Buggerritt, another perfect plan foiled.... In other news: Bear has a decorative end panel to scribe and cut/plane to fit the floor/wall/boxed-in pipework; fortunately this one is a lot smaller than the previous two as it's only the same height as the base units. After that I have a couple of corner posts to plan - these are L-shaped and made up from a pre-finished panel that has to be cut to size and joined at 90 degrees to suit the joint between two base units in each corner of the U-shaped layout. Bear has a B&D Saw Bench attachment, which is basically a pressed steel jobbie that fits in place of the rear jaw of a Workmate and allows most Circular Saws to be clamped to the underside; it's fine for occasional use but is no substitute for "the real thing" as it doesn't have all the fine adjustments on fences etc. On the plus side it's a hell of a lot easier to store when not in use - I simply remove the saw and the attachment goes in the loft: And at some point after that Bear hopes that the Gas Man will be putting in an appearance.....

Unfortunately, I don't think the owner will ever be his old self again. The gentleman in question has been suffering declining health for several years and only just survived a near-fatal heart problem a few years ago. Had he not already been in an ambulance or with paramedics at the time, he would not have survived. It's good to know there is some interest in these kits. The kits are the tip of the iceberg in terms of what there is as I'm charged with selling the RTR stock as well. Most of it appears to be models made in 2000-2010 or thereabouts. Lots of old dark blue with red line Bachmann boxes, plus other makes. I need to sort it all out and will probably then sell most to dealers. A further twist, which may yield some more kits, is that there is a self-storage unit that the family has yet to empty out. Apart from knowing it's full, they have no idea what is in it. It could be more models, kits or something else entirely. Another friend is in charge of sorting out the railway documents, such as working timetables and special traffic notices, which are going to a society. There are probably several thousand individual documents. All this has made me wonder what poor, unfortunate person will need to deal with all my stuff when I eventually fall off the perch. As I'm only 55, hopefully that won't be for a while yet.

Evening All, Some better news today about ERs and their relatives so some good news for a change. Took Sydney to Canon Hall this morning and then left SWMBO with him and mil while I went into town for a hair cut and paid a visit to work to pick up some paperwork. I called of at the chippy and had tea with a friend which made a change. He showed me what he’s been upto and it always amazes me the amount of projects he’s got on the go. He’s making a live steam 16mm coal fired Garrett at the moment, what every that is. (Awl successfully avoided?) We compared notes regarding 3D printing and he gave me a couple of bits to play about with. I like to knock on with a job but if it can’t be finished I’m happy to knock on with something else but I don’t like getting pestered when I’m in the middle of something. I find it difficult to concentrate at times and prefer to work alone especially if the grey matter is being exercised. Getting late so goodnight, Robert

My first washing machine was a Hoover Keymatic that a friend gave me. There was no fixed plumbing so I had to pull it out and couple it up to the taps above the sink and also put the drain hose in the sink. Sods law, on a couple of occasions milk bottle top, got lodged in the drain hole and I came home to find the kitchen flooded. It served me well though. Towards the end it would only work with a mole wrench hanging off the clutch at the back. It didn't either cost me or owe me anything. Jamie

Still cold, still cloudy. Tim arriving today though, so I must get on. We have the arrival of the Colchester-Glasgow, and a B2. The class would be more common at PN by now, as they had all moved to Cambridge a couple of years ago, but withdrawals had already begun.

My Grandfather grew up in a dirt floored shack on a farm in the Louisiana bayou. After they sold the best milk cow (yes, really) to put him through medical school he eventually became one of the first pathologists in Oklahoma, and after he semi retired built himself a modern woodworking shop in a new build victorian looking "garage." He made hundreds of things in there, such as my crib. I think from memory he had two lathes, one a very modern one and the other a giant ancient cast iron thing which I think was made in Sheffield. Both were wood lathes. I only remember the modern one operating, but I do remember pretending I was driving a deltic with the cast iron one as it had a handle for locking the carriage that looked just like the throttle on a deltic. I think the cast iron one did work as I remember one summer he and my other grandfather (the scouser) spent several days getting the motor to a good height as it was having belting problems. The motor looked like it had come from the bottom of a EMU. He died when I was 7, and two years later the majority of what was in the shop was sold off, bar stuff needed for maintenance of the property. We do have one significant piece in our garage, a enormous and very heavy carpenters bench he carved from a solid tree trunk it appears. Fantastic thing. I also have a wooden model of a bobcat or "skid steer" we made together. Had I been a few years older though, I would have made a valiant attempt to save one of the lathes, or some of the nicer hand tools. His chisel collection from memory was kept in a highly polished state in a velvet line drawers! ramble over. Douglas

Bear feels your pain, having been there, done that on numerous occasions.... A morning spent marking, planing and cutting the end panel. Bear came to the realisation that, due to the need to space some base units away from the wall (including the end unit to which the panel is to be fixed) the panel doesn't reach all the way back to the wall when the front edge is correctly aligned with the door front. Turdycurses. Not a great issue, however, since the small gap can easily be taken care of with some beading. I've still to cut a little off the top edge though, once I'm happy that all units are 100% level etc. A text was received this morning from Mr Unreliable Gas Man, telling me he could "do tomorrow morning". I haven't bothered replying Mr Reliable Gas Man arrived as promised (actually a bit early) and the gas pipe is now finally capped off Talk about easy money; still it's done now, 100% legit and all tested for leaks - with a ticket to prove it. So if Bear gets blown up I can prove it was all done by the book.... Just came back from seeing buddy next door - I was helping him check the values of old toy cars via ebay "sold prices" - nothing worth selling, unfortunately. He was going to bin them, along with a very large Tonka Dump Truck - so Bear rescued them and all will go to a charity shop. Seems his SWMBO has been "Doin his 'ead in" already regarding the new house - big plans that keep changing etc. The house needs pretty much everything doing, plus she wants a big extension...and kitchen...and bathroom....and......

I didn't mind the dirty nappies, but they turned SWMBO's stomach, so guess who had the job of changing the babies when at home during the daytime? And working shifts, I was home quite a lot during the day.

My first washing machine was ....... me I never broke down

Good morning everyone It’s slightly overcast today, but at least it’s dry, for now anyway. The camomile plants are due to arrive today, I had an email from Royal Mail last night informing me that they should arrive before 1 o’clock. There are all bare root plants, so there not in pots empty store etc afterwards, but it does mean that I’ll have to plant them ASAP. Thankfully they are only small and the use of a dibber to make suitable holes is recommended, so hopefully the whole process shouldn’t take long. However, if they arrive late, then I sense that I could be working well into the evening. Yesterday, to aid planting, I made a spacing device using a few bits of left over pallet wood. This is wide enough and has markings on it so I can plant up 2 rows at a time in the 2 ft wide strip on both sides of the path. So I’m hoping that this will speed things up. Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. Brian

The 15 wagon Motorail flat train is now complete with 50 x 1:43 weathered and detailed cars. Most are from IXO models and the Corgi Vanguard range. As previously mentioned I file the tyres at the bottom so they sit better and given its winter the windscreen wiper marks are modelled too. I also added a working tail lamp using a CR2032 battery holder, resistor and a Dapol lamp. Looks a bit messy underneath but it works well. Couldn’t resist doing an ‘Italian Job’ flat with 4 minis and a Lamborghini Miura I’m hoping two Heljan 31’s will haul this lot, if not two tractors. I hadn’t realised how expensive these model cars are. After buying 50 I do now!

Iirc it's now been proved that disposable nappies are more environmentally friendly, because of the large amount of energy required to clean reusables. That doesn't help on the actual disposal, when most are only 60 to 80% compostable. The plastic covers are the actual problem. The Landover is now 37, the car 12, the landrover will outlast me, the car will probably be changed when I retire in a couple of years. To whatever we require for our future life..

Today has been... strange... Things have gone fairly well, except when putting a M12 bolt back into a nut.. it just would not fit.. pah! Mike yes you can recycle the batteries but they are a bit dicey to deal with (the lithium in them can go bang if you don't take care). I understand that plans for a large battery plant manufacturing plant in Northumberland are being discussed. There are people in the UK who do recycle the batteries. I recharge beast over night on a special tariff. It costs about £1.60 to get a full charge into the batteries. Herself has been out spending more muddling tokens getting her hair "done". I think I said all the right things to her when she returned! Off to speak to Dr Eldest Herbert and then to venture down to the Club for some more tidying up duties after tea. Baz

HUMP day... already! Yeah, I know The weekend flew by and I have no idea what exactly was accomplished, but recall some plantings around the house and a zillion errands (many for the Mrs!). Included getting the front hose bib back in operation which THEN led to a small leak in the basement from a loose fitting <grrr> only amounted to a couple of cups worth of water, sprayed in my face Now we have the from hose operational again Monday I took the day off so we could go to the cabin for a BRIEF check in and ended up doing way more than necessary including mowing the entire place in 32C sun! More "problems" with both mowers there and needed to take the wheel off the riding mower as it needs a new inner tube. THAT will mean I'll have to go back up once it's fixed to reinstall same Been rather hot here hovering around 28-32 for days with high humidity, but cooling off for a few days. 11 first thing, only expected to reach 19, THEN overnight 5 with a high tomorrow expected to be only 13! Carry on.

I may be in a minority of one here, but I agree with what lies behind Hornby's tier system, that is not to say that I agree with what tiers any particular retailer has been put. Is Hornby not simply wanting to ensure that the large number of small retailers spread around the country actually have the stock to sell to their customers? If a few retailers, with a significant internet presence, manage to corner the market by ordering large numbers of popular items, possibly even the whole run of a certain item, and can guarantee to have those orders fulfilled, then they are in a position to undercut local suppliers due to the economies of scale, or the item simply not being available locally due to those particular retailers having secured all the stock. In the long run, this will mean that shoppers are drawn to those specific retailers and other outlets suffer a drop in sales, possibly leading to closure. This in turn forces more people towards those retailers with a significant online presence and the process starts again. Is Hornby not simply protecting the smaller local supplier by trying to limit the influence of the larger internet suppliers? They would be able to tell from the size of orders received whether the majority of sales are likely to be on the internet or by footfall. For example, if I was a model shop in Alligin (look it up, it's near Torridon) and ordered 100 APTs, I am sure that Hornby would know that I was going to sell them all on line and not to passing trade. If because of low overheads, I was able to sell at a discount and offer free extras, such as storage and postage, then I would be taking sales away from other shops. Would anyone, as a manufacturer, want to aid the destruction of their seller network by assisting a few retailers to dominate the market? Once the seller network is destroyed, those few retailers remaining can then exert pressure to reduce the price they pay for Hornby's products, and Hornby have little option but to agree, as there are no local shops to sell to now, leading to a fall in income for Hornby, a reduction in research and new models and, eventually, the closing of the company. Whilst I may not agree with exactly how Hornby are going around the process, and I do hope that there is a way that retailers can ask for a review of their tier placement, I can understand why Hornby feel the need to do something. I have no personal experience of selling but my dad was a director of a small publishing company, which he and a few friends started from scratch, and I remember his complaints about major booksellers exerting pressure for more and more discounts, credit facilities etc. which they were unable to refuse due to the influence of those particular sellers in the market place. This was in the days before internet sales when most people visited shops to buy books. In the end, they had to sell the company as they could not make sufficient income to afford to pay staff as they got older and less able to do all the work themselves. If certain retailers are allowed to get into a near monopoly position, then I am sure that exactly the same will happen in the model rail market. I can understand why those that are used to ordering from Hattons are disappointed by Hornby's move, I do order from Hattons and Rails if a product is not available locally, but I can equally understand why Hornby feel that they have to prevent a small number of very large retailers dominating the market, to the detriment of others. I apologies if my views upset anyone, that is not my intention, but any manufacturer has to protect their seller network if they want to survive. Regards Roddy

Very early start for today, but here's a quick pic. 33012 Passing over Yard Lane on its way to Dore End with a Short Train of one OAA and then mainly VAA's.

Mornin' Looks to have been a bit damp overnight, though rapidly drying and the forecast is for? Grey! Must remember to go to pharmacy today, apart from that it's very much SSDD Make the most of yours, whatever it might, bring and of course well wishes to all, especially those who ail.

A friend here had it, he described it as 'feeling like I had every illness I have ever had (he's 63) all at once'. Not nice if you get it bad.

Hi everyone, We will have a full update on the 37s very soon but as intimated by another manufacturer in an official statement yesterday everything coming out of China is delayed due to post pandemic catching up. We will also provide updates on our other outstanding projects over the next couple of weeks and of course share them with you here. Cheers! Fran

At first I was surprised at this flood in a hot, dry summer, but afterwards I discovered that it was caused by the tropical exuberance of the red weed. Directly this extraordinary growth encountered water it straightway became gigantic and of unparalleled fecundity. Its seeds were simply poured down into the water of the Wey and Thames, and its swiftly growing and Titanic water fronds speedily choked both those rivers. At Putney, as I afterwards saw, the bridge was almost lost in a tangle of this weed, and at Richmond, too, the Thames water poured in a broad and shallow stream across the meadows of Hampton and Twickenham. As the water spread the weed followed them, until the ruined villas of the Thames valley were for a time lost in this red swamp, whose margin I explored, and much of the desolation the Martians had caused was concealed.

Evening all Two weeks have passed so a little update. Last week some Celotex was acquired from Kevin's shed and it was positioned along the back of the platform and up to the existing Dawlishy bit. You can see the trains will disappear into darkness and off-scene. The reason for the darkness, the MDF 'blackhole' constructed one evening. View through the station showing the built up embankment along the back that will gain a stone retaining wall in due course. Looking the other way the embankment up to the start of the curve. The same view tonight after the application of a coat of Sculptamould. The coated embankment at the station. So not much but another small step in the right direction.

Not been able to get one for what seems like weeks now :/ Hope everyone is doing okay. Had my covid jab the other day. Had a headache the following day and felt really tired but glad I've had it. Wonder if this is what covid feels like...

Which brings us to the question of lifetime warranty; for the lifetime of what or whom? If it's the owner, good news. If it's the product, totally useless as when it's broken it's at the end of its useful life.

My mum always said we did not need a washing up machine as she had married one!

My first was my Mum. She often broke down.

The vice on my main workbench belonged to my grandfather. I was chatting to the local priest one Sunday morning after church about model engineering and just as the local Mary Whitehouse type walked past I said something like, "Of course, the best vices are the old ones handed down in the family." The look she gave us was something to behold and I don't think she ever spoke to me again. Dave

No excursion to the Tasmanian pooseum for them then. https://pooseum.com.au/ Could it be a Queensland Bottle tree? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachychiton_rupestris Meanwhile in the Brisbane Lone Pine sanctuary one task the keepers have to perform regularly is to check that the koalas do in fact still have a pulse.

Well, had chance to read all of this. Despite what you might think, we are very much in Hornby’s camp. Am l going to return all my items that l have treasured for so many years? No. If l wanted l certainly would, but as Binns Road has gone certainly not driving down to Margate. Family history of connections to Binns Road would have my mother and aunts turning in their graves. Thinking aloud, why was it the women in the family that worked there? Communication from Hornby needs work. I suspect they know that. Openness, honesty and integrity are big in our business. We expect the same, no matter who we are dealing with, be it customers or suppliers. We would like to get to the bottom of the Tier System, metaphorically speaking. It seems to us a tad flawed. As a family run business we are all in agreement. This is last year or so has seen challenges that l suspect none of us could ever have envisaged. As a model shop, we have to be grateful that we are still in business. We have seen too many businesses go to the wall and the jobs that go with them. Calls to boycott Hornby? Why would anyone want to see the company that has fulfilled our childhood dreams in various guises disappear? Tired now, still got work to do on a promotion. If l don’t get it right my wife Gill will have me in Tiers. Final word, who saw their first model railway in a Department store? I did.