Maltazer

Finally, ACME... https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturers/pdfs/view/764/a_c_m_e_anonima_costruzioni_modellistiche_esatte_catalog_2022_pdf Unfortunately the only thing I want from this lot (1978R baggage coach in MDVC livery) is only available in a pack with two other coaches and an E646 that I already own :-(

ACME is the one I'm waiting for...

J15 - a loco that was local to the area I live now, but bought when my UK modelling interest was actually based around the Kent snows of January 1987. All of which has since been replaced by 1980's Italy still without a single track being laid!

Yeah I've still got loads of pre-orders outstanding from last year! Just the E656 a possibility for me from Roco - unless it turns out to be a re-run of a 30 year old model...

The Roco 70890 (still available new) has traction tyres on one axle. https://www.roco.cc/en/product/247130-0-0-0-0-0-0-002002-0/products.html

Hornby are saying May for the 668s. I have my pre-order in but I'm not holding my breath - their estimates are often wildly inaccurate. I would normally order from Italy rather than Margate and actually save a few pounds too, but with all the double VAT and extra delivery charges going on at the moment I've gone direct with Hornby this time. Mal

Same here - leeks, beets and marigolds sown last weekend, tomatoes, chillis and aubergines going in the propagator this weekend. A couple of weeks later than usual thanks to the very cold weather.

ACME https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturers/pdfs/download/475/a_c_m_e_highlights_2021_pdf Nothing there for me unfortunately. Still waiting for the E.626 promised for last year!

You might be surprised - I booked Luton-Palermo for June on EasyJet for £16 (before all the usual add-ons). That was until they changed it to Gatwick and I cancelled!

Purchase price was 244 Euro, so well over the £135 limit. There seems to be a requirement for EU firms to register with HMRC if they want to sell ex-VAT, which I'd imagine most won't want to be bothered with. That's not something I ever heard was necessary for non-EU suppliers though.

Possibly, but we seem to be in this worst-of-both-worlds state at the moment where the trade deal is making buying from the EU harder than from the rest of the world. It will be sorted out eventually, but in the meantime it looks like we'll need to be prepared for the higher costs. On the plus side it was still a next-day delivery!

I received an order from Trenietreni this morning, via DHL. Italian IVA was charged at 22%, but DHL will also be charging £47 in VAT/duty/Fees (apparently I'll get the bill sometime in the future - they didn't charge it before delivering). I did expect this double-dipping of VAT, and Trenietreni included a receipt showing it, but I don't suppose there's any way to get back that Italian part.

Hornby International releases can be found here: https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/shop/international-brands/international-new-for-2021.html And the 2021 Piko, Roco and Fleischmann catalogues can be viewed here: https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturer_catalogs/ Personally I'm still waiting on several pre-orders from the 2020 ranges, so I'm almost glad to have not found anything so far in the 2021 announcements! Still holding out hope for an FS D.345 and re-release of FS UIC-X couchette carriages in grey, but that now depends on what ACME will have to offer...

Very impressive. I usually start them first week of February, along with the aubergines and tomatoes, but you're right - I do end up harvesting them quite late (apart from last year with its epic spring - the greenhouse was empty by September)

You start quite early - are you using lights? I keep my greenhouse at a minimum of 8C to overwinter various tender plants, but if I start seeds off now they'll be too leggy with these short days. Mal