Arthur

I’m left pondering on the facial expression now frozen on that head? A pleasing combination of surprise and terror one presumes. .

I thought it widely recognised that only two things would survive a nuclear holocaust, Cockroaches and 08’s. .

Oh, I dunno Chimer, I usually agree with my own posts, some are hilarious, it’d be nice to rate them Ken, that is correct, you should see the icons on the posts of others, not on your own. I have rated your last post ‘like’ and you should get notification of such. .

Just to clarify, you say missing from ‘your’ posts, is that exactly what you mean, you cannot see them, for example, on your post above? Are they visible to you on this post of mine? .

It says something about Question Time when a couple of weeks back I thought that Dimbleby was unfair, even rude, to Piers Morgan when usually I’d consider Morgan to have a face I’d never tire of punching. Dimbleby’s moderation often seems unbalanced, not in a left/right sense, he just seems to allow some panelists to continually interrupt whilst reprimanding others for the same. .

Another one ringing the joy out of posting here, a button accordion, really, is it that important? As for his name.... oh forget it.... .

Now if I was planning a career as a naked musician I don’t think I’d have chosen the piano accordion, I give you Quim... And heaven knows where his parents got the name Quim from, well, actually, I might have an idea. .

I don’t know about Fordsons but on my 1964 Nuffield, the only concession to ‘comfort’ is that the drivers seat, a pressed metal pan hinged at the front, sits on a rounded rubber ‘cone’. A padded cushion can be clipped into the seat pan. Otherwise every bump and jar is readily felt. I have since fitted a support frame and modern suspension seat in deference to my butt’s comfort. Edit; Looking at the Fordson photos the first shows an origninal steel seat and cushion, similar to a Nuffield, and the second a type of modern suspension seat. .

This is a Fordson Power Major as modelled by Oxford, it’s front wheel arrangement and lack of springing on any axle is typical of tractors of the era, even modern tractors rarely have any suspension. There is single steel section, pivoted at the centre allowing it to rock/articulate, with a stub axle mounted at either end. The stub axles are linked behind by pivoted steering arms and a tie rod which keep them in line and provide the turning motion. There is a long steering rod running back to the steering wheel mechanism, on the left side on Fordsons. The Oxford model can be improved by removing the centre portion of the polished steel axle between the rather heavily cast stub axles and gluing the axle ends in place (though the wheels will not rotate). Filing down the stub axle castings further improves it. .

I partake in YouGov surveys and they had this question yesterday, i.e would you support the introduction of a Norwegian style bottle deposit scheme. The results were; In favour. 77% Against. 11% Don’t Know. 12% A clear outcome. .

It’s reached such a depth it’s disappeared from view. .

Yes, mine arrived yesterday and the etches look very good. Thanks Paul. I’ve yet to view the CD but most parts that would have been cast I’ll fabricate from styrene e.g. sandboxes. The dome/safety valves and water filler look like they could be made up from tube/styrene and some commercial Ross type valves. I’ll see what I can find for springs or make up one from styrene and then make resin castings. The chimney, always a characteristic fitting, is the most problematic. I’ll start with a search through the spare box with a view to finding something close and filing to improve it. And we’ll see where we go from there. .

Yes, but that kind of statement just breeds the paranoia that everyone’s up to it, nobody is beyond suspicion and an unfounded allegation becomes accepted ‘fact’. It’s that paranoia that gets the innocent tainted. It’s actually a small number of high profile cases so let’s keep it in perspective. .

Really, Let’s name those convicted of sex offences who were Radio 1 DJs Dave Lee Travis (suspended sentence) Chris Denning Jimmy Saville (being dead he wan’t actually tried) Let’s add others from the era, Gary Glitter Rolf Harris Stuart Hall Max Clifford So seven names, maybe I’ve missed one or two. That means about 10,000 70’s ‘celebrities’ have been convicted of nothing at all. So I repeat, ‘Everyone from the 70’s’? .

It’s an unfortunately common British trait today to rubbish pretty much anything home produced or achieved whilst lauding those of others. .

Almost everyone?

As ever, the news of Aled Jones’ downfall far outweighed that of his redemption http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42793716 Whatever he did was ‘trivial’ and he’s now back at the BBC. Ambivalent about him personally but I am incredibly irritated by the current celebrity witch hunts destroying careers on flimsy evidence. Often judging past behaviour by current standards. The BBC has completely refilmed an Agatha Christie drama following allegations against actor Ed Westwick which he as vigorously denied. As of yet, no charges, nor any evidence has emerged against him. Guilty until proven innocent. .

Dunno Ivan, just a charming photo of an old couple out for a stroll. .

Sometimes there are no words so I’ll just leave this here..... .

No not alone there. Perhaps ‘cannot stand’ is putting it a little strongly but I really dislike her manner in presenting the news. I used to find her okay until a friend expressed a similar sentiment to your own. I started to pay more attention to her and noticed she reads news items is if to a class of young kids. She stresses big numbers, big facts, with the same kind of rising emphasis you’d use if trying to impress a bunch of goggle eyed infants. Became intensely irritating once I’d noticed it. The one I cannot stand is Laura Kuenssberg with her sneering presentation style and her penchant for finishing reports with, to her, some incisive, hanging question. Listening, as I type, to ‘From Our Own Correspondent’ on Radio 4 I’m also mildly irritated by the habit of the reporters to end their reports with something like, “On a street corner cafe I spoke to 85 year old Walli Dingbat Azram Bucket who said ‘...........’ “ and the old geezer ends the report with some pithy bit of wisdom worthy of the greatest philosophers. Always comes across as so cliched. . .

The truck is a Scammell Crusader day cab 4x2 tractor, produced between 1968 and around 1980 and in service for some years after that. Not the most common of trucks but there were still plenty of them around so I’m not sure it helps in narrowing down any dates. Can’t make out the hauliers name, something Carriers Ltd. .

Ah, thanks Bernard. I thought you were suggesting that the toast was somehow used elsewhere by those with no Lancastrian connections. That surprised me. Yes, like other Red Rose exiles, I’ve used the toast outside of the county myself. .

I didn’t suggest that it was just rugby clubs but that it was the formal toast in the area. I was unaware that it is used beyond it’s general Lancastrian boundaries, what would be it’s relevance in, say, London? I’ve certainly never heard it used outside the north west. Interesting. .

Currently the Palatinate Duke of Lancaster is the Queen and the loyal toast in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and for Lancastrian organisations anywhere is; “The Queen, Duke of Lancaster” Always the toast at my former rugby club’s formal dinners and others I attended when living in Manchester. .

Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Ikeahas died aged 91. He was famously frugal living in a very modest house, he was worth several millions, and shopping in thrift stores for clothing. No, no, don’t do it, no, please...oh.... Apparently, whilst assembling his coffin they were two screws and an Allen key missing...... Sorry, sorry.....blame the meatballs. Living not that far away I recall the ‘excitement’ as they opened the first store in the U.K. at Birchwood near Warrington. Later I recall hearing some incredible statistic that estimated how much extra traffic over the Severn Bridge from Wales the Ikea store in Bristol accounted for. Certainly a major influencer on retail habits in the U.K. Many homes must have an Ikea item, even if only a cutlery tray or the like. A good few model railways have been built on Ikea units. .