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On the train home. OK after procedure. More routine than last one.

Here's a couple more of the old workhorse clanking through Stoke Courtenay. I've tried to achieve a fairly variegated look to this train by using wagons from different sources - Bachmann, OR, POW sides kits and even a couple of old Trix wagons on new underframes, plus of course a handful of vehicles with coke rails, giving some variation in wagon sizes and heights. As ever it's the overall look I'm after rather than the strict accuracy of any one piece. The second pic bears out that old adage that it's only when you photograph the layout that you see the things that need attention. In this case a wonky telegraph pole - probably collateral damage from track cleaning. John C.

A return to the West Coast Main Line today with some photos taken on Shap on 31st July 2004. Greenholme Class 57 hauling dead Class 90 down ex pass 31st July 2004 IMG_4419 Greenholme Class 221 down 31st July 2004 IMG_4422 from Scout Green Class 221 down31st July 2004 IMG_4433 Scout Green Class 221 down 31st July 2004 IMG_4436 Scout Green site of signalbox 31st July 2004 IMG_4429 Taken leaning over the gate. David

Today we just have a picture of some coaches..... There was to be some more pictures of Mogul 5355 heading off to the West but due to the fact the loco was displaying its 'Big End' upside down in public the pictures have been withdrawn in order not to upset those of a nervous disposition.

Saw a cat die today It wasn't mine. Stayed late yesterday at work due to significant disruption near London so only had about 4/5 hours sleep before Master TH awoke by counting from 1 to 10. Decided after an hour of being up, I would see them off and then head back to bed for some more sleep, my cat joined me. I woke as someone knocked on the door at about 8:15. Nobody there when I went down but I did spy through the window some people opposite putting a blanket over something on the ground. I thought someone had fallen over so went out where someone half shouted whether I had a black and white cat. I do. My heart racing, I picked up my pace and someone else asked if my cat had a yellow colour. Mine does not. The cat was obviously badly injured and was just laying there sort of panting. Someone was asking for a small implement to get the owner details out of a little capsule of the collar. I went back in the house for a towel and a skewer and headed over to the group again. Promptly picked up the cat (carefully) and laid it on the towel so it was off the cold and damp pavement. Someone else had got the capsule open and announced the owner was number 17, a few doors down from me. There's quite a few cat owners in my part of the street so we all recognise everyones cat but don't know who actually owns who! Another member of the group scooped the cat up and said they would take it to the vets. Someone else called the owner and left a message explaining what had happened, while another member of the group said they knew what car did it. As people were disbanding, I took the collar and planned to drop it round to number 17 later but then it went out of my head. Number 17 came round later and spoke to Mrs TH who has said I will drop it round tomorrow. She also said the cat had died at the vets. Feel really sorry for the owners. My road isn't particularly rat-run-esk but people do speed up and down it quicker than they should and it can get busy in the morning as there's a school at the other end. Apparently the driver got out, put the cat on the side of the road and then drove off! Rubbish start to the day.

Yesterday saw another visit from Tim, and more goodies. Nothing new this time, but a continuation of our policy of upgrading exisiting locomotives, First up is Dominion of Canada, which was beginning to stand out like a sore thumb, as it was still more or less as it came out of the box. Not now though. Transformed. The second loco's transformation is even greater, as it involved a change of identity. A3 60067 Ladas had been bothering me for some time, as it had a double chimney, which put it in post April 59 condition, and outside the parameters I allow myself. So it has become 60064 Tagalie, another Doncaster engine, and correctly in single chimney condition. Tim and I thought when we discussed this that it would be an easy job to pop the double off and pop a single on, but it turned out not to be. As usual, I will leave Tim to explain how he dealt with it. He also had a struggle with the weathering that had previously been applied, but it came off in the end, and now it looks like this. 60064 was the last GN A3 I was able to rule under in my Ian Allan, to the predictable derision of other small and not so small boys. Goodness know why, because it was just as regular a performer as all the rest. I will forgive it the embarassment it caused me over 60 years ago now though. And I don't know why 60010 decided that it was so good that the driver's side should be shown twice.

Greetings I am pleased to report that my festive season is sorted. Thanks to a suggestion from a folkie friend, I will be spending the three key days in Somerset, at Halsway Manor. There is music and dancing for as many as will and the catering includes the crucial Christmas dinner. I neither know nor care whether the place has a TV set. In another place someone has reminded me that the West Somerset Railway passes nearby. Perhaps it really is time for a change. I have enjoyed Christmas and New Year in Switzerland these many moons but one can have too much of a good thing. Once again I thank all who have commiserated and sympathised. Best wishes to all Chris

Living the dream, sat in the McDonald’s in Asda nuneaton waiting for a bacon roll and coffee before heading home on the train to crewe, quite a cold damp one here but not freezing so that’s a bonus 3rd night of trafford park job, got it again tomorrow now, been a long week, annual leave next week though but I’ll probably come in for a couple of turns if there is anything interesting on the vacancy list there was a fatality at Harrow and Wheatstone last night by all accounts which seriously knocked the trains coming from london, the last one to Manchester from euston was running 5 1/2 hours late and j passed the sleeper st tamworth at 04:45 running some 4 hours late in other news Dominic is enjoying working in dominos but he has also just got a job in a high school in Nantwich as an IT apprentice, going to be strange him going to school with a staff lanyard on instead of being a pupil, it’s the high school gethin goes to so I’ve told him he’ll have to call him Mr Scott when he sees him oh yeah and had my booster just before work yesterday, no side effects thankfully but when I went to lift my bag into the loco in Manchester I noticed my arm was really aching

@Ian Abel having spent 2 weeks in Punta Cana I am sure Jemma won't be bored. Thanks for the supportive messages, they have increased her medication but we are in last chance Saloon, if this doesn't work she either has to go in as a voluntary patient if not it's under S136. It's all a bit close to Xmas for my liking although a plan B exists for Xmas dinner at Bils and his partners

I have been working on a model of a later bodied class 25. It is built from 0.1mm and 0.25mm brass sheet. The picture above shows progress so far. This evening i am working on representing the marker lights at the bottom of the cab front which is proving rather fiddly. After this some more detail needs to be added in plasticard around the headcode/ horn areas. Then lots of filler! around the cab roofs/headcode areas as well as a few other places and then finally work can start on the chassis. I am considering various options for motorising it however i am fairly certain I will be using Farish bogie sideframes as these are very nice

Afternoon all Its grey and overcast here like my mood. Her ladyship may have to go back into hospital she is not well she can't sit still. We will find out later Glad Chris has got plan B sorted Best wishes to Tony for his procedure

Did someone mention the W1! Here's a photo of the version I built back in the late 80s - so its over 30 years old and definitely a product of its time. Don't think I've shown this before? Its built from two Trix A4 bodies - joined in the firebox, which used to be available from Dapol for £3.50 ea. It has a Comet Gresley A1/A3 chassis, Crownline valve gear, cylinders made from a block of laminated plastic card, home made slidebars (you can't really see them!). Its has an old Triang bogie as the basis for the rear frames - which I've made as a bogie as it needed to traverse 2ft radius curves on the layout I had at the time, which has a plastic frame built around it. The tender is a modified Triang/Hornby A4 tender - this definitely needs replacing. On the loco the cab windows use brass frames I got from somewhere but they are not high enough and the colour, which is my own mix is too light - at the time I thought the Humbrol Garter blue was much too light and Precision too dark. I think I darkened the Humbrol Garter blue with another Humbrol blue. Its fitted with a large Portescap which is quiet and runs really well. Its probably a candidate for a rebuild at some stage. I have several of the GBT magazine A4s so could use a couple of those bodies or just fix the cab windows and repaint. Mind you there are probably a 100+ projects ahead of it! Andrew

I know some of you like the shots from this end, so I took several of the V2's progress. Here's the next one. Monochrome to give a bit of a change.

I blame it on the Luftwaffe getting their own back because the RAF closed Munich station a couple of days ago. Jamie PS the SPANC lady has been........

Another cropped shot. This time you can't see the roof purlins behind the footbridge! John C.

Nothing I did - I’m a good seven miles away! Meanwhile from the same site as the advert above …. listed under “gifts”. I don’t fancy my chances of survival if I gave this to anyone I know

Sitting in a hire car in Adelaide one Saturday morning with a work colleague on the way to install a system at local RAAF base. We needed something or other electronic that we'd forgotten to bring but figured we could get it from Jaycar, our local electronics chain. My phone was attached to the car bluetooth so I spoke at it (in voice inaudible from outside car) "Where is the nearest Jaycar?" Phone replies (through car speakers loudly enough that two people walking past outside turn around) "Directing you to the nearest gay bar!"

Morning from a gently drizzling 8c rock. Said previous gurfriend and self have had a pleasant e-mail conversation yesterday, very grown up and friendly. The TV article mentioned their retirement business and a quick on-line search brought me an address. It's a brewery - yessss and yes, she was pleased to hear from me! After a career in London (ugh) in dentistry they moved back to the north-east near the Jockalia border. So nice to see a friend from long ago having being both successful and happy. The gurl was always known as 'Bubbles' to all her friends, gives you a clue as to her character, effervescent! She's no different today judging by her brief TV appearance. Bike club morning, hence rain. Pah. iD, may I suggest 'heavily pregnant' refers to the latter stages of the process, when the poor lady is indeed rather heavier than her normal state? As opposed to the early stages when it may not even be apparent. The whole process would have been done away with years ago if men had to give birth, it would all be done in some kind of hydroponics or something!

Mooring Awl, inner temple Hare, Fell asleep early, as the bedside reading light failed, 4 hours solid sleep, long intermittent period, then 3 hours sleep. Ben the I want out Collie appeared, dragged me out and then disappeared, rapidly running down the garden into the total darkness. No moon, total cloud cover. Drizzle. He then appeared a few minutes later running just as rapidly back to the house. Never met, heard of, nor come across online any former girlfriend, I've been too much of a moving target... It's a nice area Chris is now going to for Christmas, I've walked on the Quantocks many times (in summer). Should we get a normal Christmas, no snow and comparatively warm. Chris can go for a good wander... The WSR is doing those illuminated trains, which may be visible from the manor. Our Christmas will, weather permitting, include a stroll on the beach for Ben, my knees and back can't cope with hills like the Quantocks anymore. No chance of a Bunnings Karen here. Bunnings bought Homebase here for £340 million, lost another £100million on it, made a complete hash of the market, sold it for £1, to Hilco who turned it around and it's up for sale again, but for hundreds of millions... All in around 6 years.. Plans for today, I've an use it or lose it day off, so as there is a gap in the weather, I'm off down to the motor boat. I'm investigating the electrics, I need to rewire the bilge pump, and lighting. This will be followed by a visit to the bank again, they have refused payment to the credit card again third time in 3 months. The card works for anything else, but not the same banks credit card.... Time to get a muggacoffee and breakfast..

Juat a few from last night, same job again had a walk to landor at from new st again as it was a nice evening, walking up to the signal noticed they were cracking on with the demolition of saltley signal box won’t be long until it’s a memory waiting in crewe, looks like someone has put an LED on the pantograph of this DCC fitted 86 Waiting in crewe on the southbound trip there was a fatality at Harrow last night and northbound services were effected out of Euston, the last Manchester Roser I’ve passed me near Lichfield running 5 1/2 hours late and the lowland sleeper passed me at tamworth running 3 hours late at 04:30, my train home from nuneaton which is normally empty had lots of passengers who had been trying to get home from london last night! Nuneaton same again tonight but through to leamington

Afternoon All (even though it is still Pre-Munch for Puppers so technically morning) Alarm system anti-tamper is now fully un-tampered and the remaining cabling has been fixed in position. I do believe we are now ready for the flooring man to come and do his stuff which will finish off the D word for the hall and stairs Following a discussion (eventually) with the Royal Mail lady yesterday concerning the two parcels MIA I spoke to the supplier this morning (actually a hardware store in Kent!). The lady there looked into it and said I had two options as it wasn't cost effective for them to send a replacement. These were: a) Have my money refunded b) Wait and see if the goods turn up Well, having wasted nearly an hour on the phone to RM plus a lot of faffing about checking Amazon accounts and the hardware store's website I think you can guess which option I went for. I think this afternoon a walk round the village and up to the church is required - like most I suspect, I need more exercise! Then I might investigate the big black tube for looking at heavenly bodies that arrived the other day possibly assisted by munching on a Mince Pie ans slurping a good cup of coffee. Sounds fair to Puppers. Alan

Forgot to say.. Hope the procedure goes well today @Tony_S. Baz

I hope they are taking extra efforts to secure the site in case someone decides to shove it up their arse! Seems to be a new trend POETS! Ta da... I WILL be taking part, if for no other reason than, why not Yesterday quiet, though Jemma dropped off Whitney as she got scheduled for an early flight today. She's off to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and has to endure being there for over 24-hours as the return leg isn't until tomorrow afternoon at company expense - she apparently can partake of any and ALL the resort facilities at no cost (to her anyway!) - a tough life! Last evening an enjoyable rehearsal and we got all the Christmas music - we sing Christmas Eve and the Christmas day services. One NEW addition, for us, we're singing "Carol of the Bells" which we've never done before - it's very, very pleasing to perform, and even the first attempt wasn't too bad. Nothing exciting planned for the weekend, but I'm sure THAT will change Cue, list of tasks to accomplish... Remains unseasonable here, 0 first thing and partly cloudy, high of 5 expected. Not to worry, lows by Monday forecast as -13 to -15 Enjoy the start of the weekend.

Afternoon Awl, Spent about four hours on the motorboat. Not too bad a row across as the wind has dropped and the drizzle had stopped. Main task , the intention was to winterise the generator by pouring anti freeze in the raw water intake.. However it wouldn't turn over and the built in meter says battery low. A dmm says 12.53v. So the alternative way of winterisation is to empty the raw water.. four pipes need undoing , in, out, plus an in and out to an anti Syphon device. So a large part of the time was spent face down reaching the pipes to undo the clamps, I now have painful ribs from the floorboard edging... The rest of the time was spent investigating the electrics, first the solar panel that should feed the starter battery was checked.. a varying 9v... I removed a lot of wiring chopped by the boat yard when they installed the electric drive. Then sat on the floor and pondered rerouting the wiring and the bilge pump.. Since I've been back I've ordered wire, hose for the bilge pump, and a new better solar panel, with a better charge controller, the charge controller includes a couple of USB charge points. So it won't be hidden under the floor, I need to work out a position for it. oh the house of strong ladies already informs me the items have been dispatched for delivery tomorrow... On the way back I stopped at the local hardware store, and tried to by some more rat poison, no they've stopped selling it as they'd need a special license, ok how about drain cleaner, nope you now need a trade account to prove your not going to kill someone with it... That reminds me time to look at to the house of strong ladies on those dangerous lines..

In other news.....norra lot really, bike club chat went on until noon, we did actually talk about bikes for a little while, but soon got on to other subjects, as you do. Forgot to take both of the items I had for others there, mind sieve in full working order. Hope all went well, Tony, and concerns and support for Simon once again for his poorly wife. Then a few more jobs in the garage, painting the bellypan/sump guard for the new bike, they only come silver and all the non-yellow its on the bike (ie everything but the tank) are black, there's no brightwork at all, so I painted it black with Hammerite Smooth and baked it on with the kerosene fan heater. I'll put it on after its had a few days to harden properly.

Good moaning from the rather cold Charente though the hoar frost has now cleared, the hens are up and about and coffee is being consumed. I'm tempted to do a rewite of a classic Floyd song. It will be titled, "Anothe log on the fire". Anyway I went trainspotti g yesterday afternoon and at one point when we were parked up,I got a call on my mobile. Andy was rather intrigued as the half of the conversation that he heard included the words Spank and Laché, and he could hear that the caller was female. The explanation is not as sordid as you might think. This afternoon a lady from SPANC is coming, along with a contractor called Eric Laché, to do a survey for our new Fosse Septique. SPANC is the public body that authorises such things. However speculation provided a good laugh. Very glad that you have Chrstmas sorted Chris and all the best for the procedure Tony. Jamie

Thank you. Leaving home in about 40 minutes. Tony

Neighbour's missing parcel has turned up two doors away (even though courier was told to leave it with us) so that's OK, especially as it was quite valuable. India 99 moved on after about 20 minutes most of which was spent hovering over the next road to us. I'm guessing it was an attempted burglary.

For all those who rant upon these shores … an advert today alongside matters more interesting.

When I was at Chivenor in Devon in 1967 there was a girl stationed there who was a national darts champion. She used to wipe the floor with many of the local loudmouths who fancied themselves as darts aces to the extent that the owner of one pub asked her not to play darts in his establishment because it was embarrassing some of his regulars. However, I saw her one night take on a real swaggering git who was pretty much universally disliked and do a whitewash job on him that earned her drinks practically forever in that particular place. Dave

Ey up! Way back in 1977 or 78 I attended a birthday party at a night club in Leeds. One of my uni mates had brought an album.. it was by a band called "The Ramones".. and we were introduced to the pogo... Her indoors is off to wave her arms about at a music course at Parceval Hall for a few days. Orders are.."do whatever you want to".. I think a fair degree of muddling may occur. Good! I need to visit the butchers for some of their locally smoked bacon.. when you cook it no water comes out of it.. very nice. I may also have to buy a growler, or a lamb mint or a steak and potato or a pork and chilli pie...hmm!!! In other news, yesterday involved talking to some people who sem to enjoy the opportunity to talk with like minded people. Lots of information was passed out without any need to resort to on line "information repositories". Mugatea is beckoning so.. Stay Safe! Enjoytoday and.. don't be a "Buntings Karen" Baz

Here if you hit or see a roadkill roo, wombat koala or wallaby the thing to do is stop and check the pouch for joeys. You'll often see dead wombats and roos with some high viz tape or something make-do tied around a limb to indicate to other motorists that it has been checked already.

That was the worst part of the job with the council, picking up dead animals that had been reported. We had to take them back to the depot and scan them for microchips and then place them in the freezer. Always hard when you knew it was a family pet

Greetings all from a grey and drizzly Sidcup. I'd made a note to wish Tony well - but he's done already. which sounds like a good thing. I hope that Simon gets better news on his Mrs. and I am glad to see that Chrisf has an alternative Christmas destination sorted. Met a couple of friends for a long lunch at Hawksmoor. We shared a chateauriand and very nice it was too. Better still, they allow you to bring wines (and charge a not inconsequential corkage). One friend has a very full wine cellar but he generously decided we should help him drink a bottle of the 2005 chateau Musar, which is my favourite wine. So a good day was had. Today is back to battling through the year end; it really is a gift that keeps giving!

Perhaps they’re hoping to arrest an escaped virus

Right, all repeat after me...... Bear is a Bozo..... Why? Well the section of plumbing that Bear wants to work on involves turning off the main stopcock (the pipework in question is a tee-off from the rising main for the outside tap). So tap shut off and section of pipework drained. All good so far..... Hang on, what's that noise? Oh bvgger, it's the dishwasher that Bear fired up about 20 minutes ago. Now I do know that such gadgets need (a) leccy, and (b) water to work nicely. Turdycurses. Water turned back on again.....luckily I discovered it before I cut the pipe. Oh well.... Rather better news was the phone call from Screwfix Customer Service regarding the Beary Snottogram I fired in yesterday regarding the plumbing fitting that isn't as per the piccy on the website. The rep was all very helpful but at first didn't grasp the issue; once explained she tried the "photos are for illustration purposes and may not exactly represent etc. etc." line. Fortunately several other buyers had left reviews (which she'd seen) that mentioned receiving two different types (with the same stock number) in the same purchase. Anyway, she folded and agreed ("as a gesture of goodwill etc. etc.") to refund the cost of the fittings (and Bear gets to keep them). Eight quid back to Bear. Now Mr. Paypal - that's how to do it. Are you listening?? Oh, hang on a moment....... **********SPECIAL BEARY NEWSFLASH!!!!!********** I've just received this message from Paypal..... Hello! Thanks for contacting PayPal. You have been moved to supervisor desk. My name is Mahesh Mohan. I will be happy to help you. I have gone through the conversation and the dispute details. My apologies for the inconvenience caused. However, I would like to explain that there are shipping companies which do special deliveries even battery are involved also the address which we provide to ship the item is from the seller account which we would be verifying while the seller update in their PayPal account. If the shipping company is unable to locate the same we need a confirm from the shipping company through a letter. As a valuable customer and we appreciate your business with us for 16 years. I would like to issue a voucher of 44.99GBP as a good will gesture and close the case. You can use this voucher within 6 months for making any purchases in GBP currency. Let us know if we can proceed. Thank you. And just in case you were wondering - yes I've accepted their offer It seems that the threat of pulling the plug on any future Paypal purchases kinda convinced them to do the right thing; I've also pointed out that perhaps they should reconsider their association with this company. At the very least I hope this episode has put that company on their Radar (if not already) and given them a red mark. Bear happy now......

Good morning all, Hope your procedure went OK Tony. Grey sort of day here with the chance of some rain. Late on parade today. Slept solidly all night and didn't wake until 7.15 when The Boss brought me up a muggatea. Then had to rush outside to move the car as the window cleaners arrived. After chatting with them had some breakfast and then we went for a stroll to Asda to get magazines for Herself. Had a very enjoyable Zoom time chat yesterday , it's surprising how the time flies when you're just sitting there chewing the fat. I was going to visit The Shed today but the mojo that was waking up has just as quickly left. Maybe after lunch. Just done a stock check and have discovered that there are still mince pies and birthday cake on the premises so they will have to be given some attention later. Also spent 10 minutes taking in/searching for parcels left/not left for next door. Looks like there's a problem with one that one courier has claimed to have delivered this morning. The other parcel is safe in GDB Towers. Have a good one, Bob.

Barclaycard fraud office rang up, after pressing lots of buttons, it said my account would be available in two minutes, three games of solitaire , about 5minutes later I tried again and it worked!!! I suspect the human I spoke to 3 months ago didn't clear down the block they put on the first time...? The question mark at the end of the above statement was put there by Ben the stop playing with that gadget Collie's nose. Meanwhile I've just seen an advert for a battery powered soldering iron, since my gas one failed some time ago it's an interesting possibility.. Time to go do some research.. Ok come here Ben..

All the best for today Tony.

Far better than Port-au-Prince, on the other end of the island, these days. There's a blizzard warning in Hawaii! Apparently more snow has fallen there this season than in Denver, Colorado. We need some snow here too. Lovely day here. Chilly but bright sunshine so far. Out walking mid-morning, it was about 9°C cooler than at the same time yesterday. Am finding the news a little depressing today. Between Ukraine, the Taiwan Strait, and SARS-CoV-2-omicron, even before school shootings and the trajectory of US domestic politics it all feels a little overwhelming today. Perhaps I need to stick my fingers in my ears and go "la la la" for a while or reread Douglas Adams. That has always helped. Big college football game this evening for the University of Oregon, and the local (English) football team plays in the MLS western conference final tomorrow. If they win they will host the MLS cup match at home. Those should prove distracting for a while. EDIT: I should add, all this nothing compared with dealing with serious health issues for oneself or loved ones.

Any body needing a ‘label’ jumper for an Xmas present i spotted this today. Any takers?

'And now for something completely different' I mentioned quite some time ago that a new bridge was being planned for, based on the Findhorn viaduct (but modified to double track). After a considerable amount of kit bashing the first of four truss frames is virtually complete. A little more detailing and those extra rivets to add. The remaining three are about 60% complete. But a long way to go. The design and construction is being detailed on a separate thread. Dave

57mm

Very noisy here with lots of sirens and India 99 hovering over our road and the adjacent one. Can't see what's happening though.

Turntable woes continued…. Ive got a spare hour, so decide to set the table up…. After all it’s all been tested, so it will be fine…. Surely? Mike included a cable that goes from the control PCB to the turntable… the only thing is it’s wired the opposite way to my notes. Does it make a difference? The loose cables sticking up are the ones from the turntable, with my notes about what goes where. 40 minutes later I get a reply by email, simply “no”. Back under the railway and I start programming the table… Track 1 - ok Track 2 - nothing Track 3 - ok Buttons 2; 5; 8 and 0 don’t work - exactly the same fault as I had on the original board. Having now spoken to him in the UK he is going to send another keypad out…. BUT I have to be patient as he has shows to attend! Eventually he agreed to send it out next week…. When I said all I want is a working table as I’ve been waiting six months…. He said other people have been waiting just as long! Clearly he has sent the old keypad back to me…. There can’t be two keypads with the same fault…. edit: April 2022 - Ive added the sunflower photo again... its much better than the useless kit Mike Greenwood sent over. Did I say I would not recommend his company?

Morning all from Estuary-Land. The Carl Hiaasen book I was reading was that good that I couldn't put it down. In the end I didn't get to bed until well past three. After a second muggatee and a perusal of RMweb a bit of eye lid inspection will be carried out. Glad to hear Chris has sorted his Christmas out and best wishes to Tony.

The Thomann kits are supposed to be idiot proof (so right up my alley then). One of the advantages of the Thomann kits is that there’s no soldering required, everything is pre-soldered or a clip fit. The challenge will be the minor woodwork and (especially) the finish. Oiled, painted or varnished - decisions, decisions… I forgot to mention, but I hope that @Tony_S procedure goes well.

That’s the one I’ve got in mind for tomorrow which I believe is more of a documentary than a ‘film’. I’ve seen, some time ago ‘Sid and Nancy’ and would like to see it again but haven’t I don’t think got a copy. Ive read a couple of books on the ‘band’ but still find the ‘story’ intriguing. Saw John Lyndon in Leeds (about20miles away) with Public Image Ltd a few years ago.

I found "The Filth And The Fury" a much more accurate and interesting story of the band, mainly because unlike The Great Rock And Roll Swindle John Lydon is in it to give his version. Of interest is his explanation of where he got his Johnny Rotten character from (A bit from Oliviers Richard 3rd, a bit from Ken Dodd...). Australia had its own punk bands at the time, the UK ones although popular seemed a bit gloomy with all that "No future!" malarky . Ours were more Ramones style thrashy. Radio Birdman and The Saints for instance. But most popular was Oz rock, AC DC at that time when Bon Scott was still with us and up front especially. That new Scottish bloke just isnt the same!. We also had some goth Damned and Cure fans. Always felt sorry for them when driving past them on the way to the beach in summer and seeing them all in black trying to be morose. I guess they did have reason to be morose come to think of it - dressed in heavy overcoats, goth makeup and leather stuff in the Sydney heat and humidity when everyone else is in boardies and T shirts and talking about the surf and the cricket.

Good evening everyone One of my packages arrived this morning along with one for Sheila, my other one will probably arrive tomorrow. My package contained some shelf brackets that will go on the wall above the train l@697t for my books etc. This afternoon Charlie came round and we all sat in the living room and chatted for well over 3 hours, before it came time for me to take him home. We talked mainly about his jobs, yes, he has 2 jobs, both in Manchester City Centre, but therapy are not what he calls career jobs, but they will do until he finds the job he really wants. As far as old flames girlfriends go, for the most part, if and when I happen to bump into any whilst out and about, we will often stop for a chat, but then that doesn’t happen very often!