Dave Hunt

Imagine - delivering McDonalds to innocent citizens. How downright evil can some people get? Dave

I quite agree Ian; when I was writing the Midland Engines and LMS Locomotive Profile books I used to find doing the livery sections a bit tedious but judging by the correspondence I got concerning them it would seem that there are a lot of people out there who find the minutiae of colour schemes and decoration very important indeed. Hence it paid to get it right if only to avoid the wrath of the minutiae spotters. Dave

But don’t think that because of the above that I’m going soft on panniers 😊 Dave

The subject of locomotive colours is notoriously subjective and whilst my preference in overall locomotive types predisposes me towards crimson lake, I do think that there are definite colours that suit those from other establishments. For instance, middle chrome green is really the only colour for Swindon’s products (best of all when combined with red framing), which is brought home when one looks at the awful ‘Hogwarts’ scheme that just looks all wrong. It is also undoubtable to my mind that Perth blue and crimson on a Caledonian engine and the green of a Highland locomotive were far more suitable than LMS Crimson Lake for those particular machines and the same would apply to a lined black Crewe engine. Bronze green for the NBR also comes to mind. There are, of course many other examples from other companies and the colours of carriages come into the picture but overall I think that we should celebrate our railways’ colourful past and admire their individuality. Dave

In amongst all this scatalogical talk may I bring news that at Hunt Tqwers I am being feted as the man who today walked a mile? The speed could only be described as slow and the progress uphill as hesitant but it was done and I am quite chuffed, even more so when I was presented with, instead of a winner's medal, a rather toothsome egg'n bacon brunch. I am, however, now under orders from The Management not to try for greater distance until it gets a bit easier. I think I will award myself a drop or two of Caol Isla 15 a bit later. Dave

Well, who's a clever boy then? Today I managed to walk a mile. Not very quickly and not in supreme comfort but progress is being made. I am now instructed by The Management not to 'overdo' things so I have to stick at a mile for a time until it gets a bit easier before trying to go further. And my reward for today's achievement? A jumbo egg'n bacon butty - yum yum. Dave

Now that the excitement over my possible DVT has receded I have resumed the drive to get properly mobile again and even possibly get nearer physical fitness - the last few years having been fairly disastrous in that respect. To that end, yesterday I managed to walk 3/4 of a mile - not earth shattering but a damn sight better than I could have managed a couple of weeks ago before my spine operation. I’m just about to set off for a repeat performance or, who knows, even better? Dave

Today I managed to walk 3/4 mile. I realise that this will probably not get into the Guinness Book of Records but its been a while since I could achieve it so for me it' a big deal. Next week a marathon. Dave

I'll have you know, Sir, that I haven't needed my chakras aligning since the slightly eye-watering experience when glancing a fast delivery to the onside onto the underside of my protector. Dave

As previously posted, this morning I had yet another appointment at Telford hospital. Unlike those so far this week, though, it turned out to be less time wasting, simpler, more informative and less stressful as I was seen on time, underwent an ultrasound scan and saw a consultant all in short order. The diagnosis was the I do not have a DVT but a less nasty thing called a superficial thrombophlebitis that can be treated with a heparin based cream and anticoagulant tablets but the consultant did say that it was a good thing I had it looked at as had it been a couple of inches higher up my leg or a bit deeper it could have been a lot more serious and that recent research indicates it is not as benign as once thought. As he was going through my notes, though, he started to frown and asked me to describe in detail the events of the last four days and as I did so he started cross-referring what I said with the notes then writing things down on a jotting pad. Once we had finished I saw that he had written in large capitals, "CALL XXX (a name)" and circled it with two exclamation marks added. From his demeanour as he was questioning me it was obvious that he was not happy with the way in which I had been treated and I got the impression that he was going to take issue with someone. Anyway, the outcome is that my happy bunny outlook is beginning to return, which is obviously a Good Thing. Dave

An addendum to my last: one of the things I was told could exacerbate my condition is the recent finding that exposure to the colour generally described as Brunswick Green, copper caps and the word pannier can be detrimental. I pointed this out to HH as we arrived at the Muddy Hollow and once he had thrown a large blanket over the contents of his modelling bench we enjoyed a convivial visit. Dave

Well, this morning's visit to Telfland hospital was a great deal simpler, more informative and far less stressful than the earlier part of this week. I was seen at the appointed time and given the necessary ultrasound scan (once I had pointed out to the operative that she was scanning the wrong leg) then after only a few minutes saw a consultant. The diagnosis was the I do not have a DVT but a less nasty thing called a superficial thrombophlebitis that can be treated with a heparin based cream and anticoagulant tablets. However, the consultant did say that it was a good thing I had it looked at as had it been a couple of inches higher up my leg or a bit deeper it could have been a lot more serious and in any case recent research has suggested that it is not as benign as once thought. As he was looking at my notes he started to frown and asked me to describe the events of the last four days and as I went through the sorry tale he started making notes that he cross-referred to those in the file. The only thing that I could see of what he wrote was at the end when he added in capitals CALL XXX (a name) and circled it. From his demeanour and his questioning of me it was obvious that he was not happy with the way in which I had been treated and I got the impression that he was going to take issue with someone. Anyway, the bottom line is that I am now a much happier bunny than of late. Dave

Must remember that next time I'm in hospital and take my old bone dome with me. Probably get me noticed if nothing else. Dave

The father of a boyhood friend of mine had a glass eye, or should I say a couple of glass eyes. One was normal, the other had a union flag instead of an iris and pupil, He could take the glass eyes out and put them back in very easily and his party trick in the pub was to pretend to be wiping his eye with his handkerchief but in fact be replacing the normal eye with the union flag one. Some of the double takes and dropped jaws around the bar were hilarious. Dave

My scratchbuilt S7 Princess of Wales class has full working inside motion but is driven by two motor bogies in the tender. Works fine. The late John Horton christened it The Fastest Tram in the West. Dave

Maybe they transfer you by bus? Just what you'd need when trying to get home... Dave

Purely coincidentally, a friend who works at Telfland hospital as a senior clinical radiographer has just told us that she has handed in her notice as she is so fed up with the incompetence and mismanagement she has to put up with on a daily basis. Dave

Ditto Hipposhire. Dave

There used to be a brilliant walk-in eye clinic at Shrewsbury hospital where I went one evening after getting a small glass splinter in my eye. I was seen within minutes and discharged after about an hour with the splinter removed, the eye washed out and antibiotic drops both prescribed and dispensed. That was about 20 years ago. Today there is no such service. Progress?? Dave

I've had a couple of days absence due to a medical hiccup. All was well following my operation then on Saturday I felt a pain on the inside of my right thigh, which got worse over the weekend and felt as thought there was a very nobbly varicose vein underneath that was hard to the touch and the area was somewhat inflamed. On Monday morning I therefore called the hospital and one of the registrars told me to see my GP immediately. I did so and got an appointment within the hour at which blood tests were taken and the leg examined. The blood test results were in by 1800 and indicated that I could have a DVT so I was told to report to the duty GP doctors at Telford hospital to have an ultrasound scan as a matter of some urgency. After being examined yet again, though, I was told that there was no-one on duty at night who could do it so I was given an anti-coagulant injection and told to go this morning to another hospital unit for a scan. When I got to the hospital I was told to expect to be there for several hours and for starters went through the sort of rigmarole with blood pressure, etc. that is usually the precursor to an admission. After a lengthy wait I was a bit surprised when they then went through exactly the same examination and blood tests as had been done yesterday so I queried what was going on and when could I expect the ultrasound scan? The reply was that I was being assessed for eligibility to have one so I pointed out that yesterday no fewer than three doctors had decided following examinations and blood tests that I definitely did need one so I was examined by yet another doctor and it was finally decided that yes, I did need an ultrasound scan but they were booked up until Thursday so I was given a prescription for some anticoagulants, sent home and told to report back on Thursday at 1145. You couldn't make it up. Dave

So, there I was being a happy bunny after my operation when on Saturday I woke up with a pain on the inside of my right thigh. By Sunday night it was worse and felt to the touch as thought there was a very nobbly varicose vein underneath that was hard to the touch, which was painful, and the area was reddened. On Monday morning I called the hospital and one of the registrars told me to see my GP immediately. When I told the GP receptionist what had happened she got me an appointment within an hour, blood tests were taken and an examination made during which the term DVT was mentioned. The blood test results were in by 1800 and I was told to report to the duty GP doctors at Telfland hospital to have an ultrasound scan as a matter of some urgency. After trekking to the hospital being examined yet again, though, I was told that there was no-one on duty at night who could do it so I was given an anti-coagulant injection and told to go this morning to another hospital unit for a scan. Off I toddled (well, to be exact was driven by Jill then hobbled the rest of the way) and went back this morning to be told when I got to the hospital that I could expect to be there for several hours and for starters went through the sort of rigmarole with blood pressure, etc. that is usually the precursor to an admission. After a lengthy wait I was a bit surprised when they went through exactly the same examination and blood tests as had been done yesterday but who am I to argue? Eventually, though, I queried what was going on and when could I expect the ultrasound scan? only to be told that I was being assessed for eligibility to have one. This after three doctors had decided following examinations and blood tests yesterday that I definitely did need one. After yet another doctor saw me it was finally decided that yes, I did need an ultrasound scan but they were booked up until Thursday so I was given a prescription for some anticoagulants and told to report back on Thursday at 1145. To say that I'm a bit p1ssed off would be somewhat close to the truth. Dave PS - and my leg still hurts

Certainly do HH but if we were caught hanging a bone dome on the pitot head, as someone has done with the Yellowjacks aircraft, we'd have been reamed a new orifice. Dave

I've told Mike that if he doesn't have room for the wagons when moving that I will happily take them off his hands. So far he hasn't committed himself. Dave

You surprise me; I have always found their recipes work well as presented. Dave

Wrong forum Bear - should have gone to specsavers TNM. Dave