The Night Mail

[Dave Hunt]

Welsh choir? When HH sings as he wallows in the Muddy Hollow it can be heard here fifteen miles away. In better times we send large quantities of cake to keep him occupied so that the dogs stop howling.

 

Dave

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, br2975 said:

Only takes two of us !

.

I see Danemouth has dropped out of rehearsals, just as we were perfecting Handel's "I know that my redeemer lives".

 

"Ev'ry Valley shall be exalted" looks to be a no no then !

I thought it was Efflew Valley shall be exalted.

[SM42]

1 hour ago, Dave Hunt said:

Welsh choir? When HH sings as he wallows in the Muddy Hollow it can be heard here fifteen miles away. In better times we send large quantities of cake to keep him occupied so that the dogs stop howling.

 

Dave

 

I wondered what that noise was. 

I thought it was the wind whistling round the chimney and through the trees

 

Andy

[Happy Hippo]

Having just had a quick flick though the latest digital edition of BRM, I'm now having a 'thought for the day' moment.

 

Tony Wright's article on the late Roy Jackson's EM gauge 'Retford' shows how one man, assisted by a band of dedicated helpers can create a  very large model railway over many years.  Even after Roy's passing in 2019, 'Retford' remained incomplete.  That it found a new owner and remains intact and is still being worked on is an extremely fortunate outcome, for in most cases when an owner dies, his or her dreams die as well. 

 

I am aware of a case, quite local to me where an individual had built up a large collection, had a garden railway, and the group that used to meet there also had a 7mm and a 4 mm line in various outbuildings.  On his demise, his wife had absolutely no interest in the collection, got rid of the lot in very short order.  The groups were given the order of the boot.  Almost to the extent of xxx is dead, don't come back!

 

In many cases, the disposal of such models is dealt with by a dealer:  I know of a few cases where whole collections have been sold  to unscrupulous individuals for a fraction of their true value.  Don't get me wrong here, I fully accept that even selling to a reputable dealer means you will not realise the full market value.  The buying and reselling is their livelihood and they do need to make a living.  What selling to the dealer means, is a quick and tidy transaction that completes what could otherwise be a long and drawn out task of individual sales in what is a very sad and stressful time.  Just be careful who gets picked! 

 

Some clubs and societies do offer an executor service to their members families, and although they will only take a set percentage on all sales, it can be a very long drawn out process.

 

So, have you made adequate provision for your collection when you'll no longer have any use for it?  Has it been catalogued and valued?  Do you want to gift any specific models to a friend?

 

In all this, I'm only thinking of my family and saving them any undue heartache...

 

After all, once I'm gone, I doubt I'll be caring what happens to my stuff!

 

PS. PolyBear and I do offer a service where we will remove from your premises, your model railway and associated paraphernalia, completely free of charge as you have made a gift to another preferred charity, PACE (Psuedo Animal Cake Emporium).  PACE will convert your donation into currency which will then be used to buy copious amounts of cake and associated products for the benefit of  poor and needy bears and hippopotami.

[Oldddudders]

20 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

A really bad case of woodworm?

So, hot on the heels of the Kent variant of Covid-19, comes the terrifying Essex variant of brick-munching woodworm. Life is such an unexpected challenge these days!

 

As far as Brian R's reference to Handel is concerned, Sherry and I sang the Messiah in our skool choir almost 60 years ago. We hardly knew each other then - never imagining we'd be married in 2015! Sherry still sings - or would if church protocol in 2021 allowed it. I try not to sing, and the world needs to be grateful.....

[Canal Digger]

With thanks to Mana in Booborowie S Australia on the RM Things that make you page

 

[Happy Hippo]

11 hours ago, SM42 said:

 

I wondered what that noise was. 

I thought it was the wind whistling round the chimney and through the trees

 

Andy

I'm learning to play the flute!

[SM42]

3 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

 

PS. PolyBear and I do offer a service where we will remove from your premises, your model railway and associated paraphernalia, completely free of charge as you have made a gift to another preferred charity, PACE (Psuedo Animal Cake Emporium).  PACE will convert your donation into currency which will then be used to buy copious amounts of cake and associated products for the benefit of  poor and needy bears and hippopotami.

 

 

I am running a similar service, well more a retirement home really,  for old paper £5 , £10 and £20  notes.

 

An increase in requests recently has also seen us open a dedicated wing for old  round, pound coins. 

 

Future plans include a £50 note wing

 

We never turn away  unwanted currency

 

Andy

Edited February 19, 2021 by SM42

[TheQ]

14 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

Welsh choir? When HH sings as he wallows in the Muddy Hollow it can be heard here fifteen miles away. In better times we send large quantities of cake to keep him occupied so that the dogs stop howling.

 

Dave

you'd shouldn't have said that.. just just what does a Polybear sound like?....

[SM42]

1 minute ago, TheQ said:

you'd shouldn't have said that.. just just what does a Polybear sound like?....

 

Probably like a bear eating cake

 

Andy

[Happy Hippo]

No singing this morning, but lots of coughing:  Ironically, Nyda commented yesterday afternoon on how things seem to have improved.

 

A drink of tea and a couple of squirts of the inhaler seem to have calmed things down, but I can't for the life of me think what triggered it off.

 

I just woke up coughing (Although the pillow over my face might not have helped)

[Tony_S]

6 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

just woke up coughing (Although the pillow over my face might not have helped)

Dust mites in pillows? Aditi read about dust mites (and didn’t like the look of their images ) and asthma so now our pillows get washed regularly , and hypoallergenic mite proof pillow protectors get installed between pillow and case. I can’t remember if it is the mites or their tiny poos that cause respiratory problems. 

[PhilJ W]

7 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

No singing this morning, but lots of coughing:  Ironically, Nyda commented yesterday afternoon on how things seem to have improved.

 

A drink of tea and a couple of squirts of the inhaler seem to have calmed things down, but I can't for the life of me think what triggered it off.

 

I just woke up coughing (Although the pillow over my face might not have helped)

Was Nyda holding the pillow?

[Happy Hippo]

7 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Was Nyda holding the pillow?

 

That would be an ecumenical question Father.

 

 

Although seeing Tony's suggestion I would add she mite have been involved.

 

I'll get my hat (and inhaler)

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2021 by Happy Hippo

[Happy Hippo]

After  a couple of false starts, I finally brought a box of wagons into the conservatory along with quite a few paint pots.

 

Yesterday saw me getting a ply sided wagon into a less than brand new look.

 

Just a very thin wash of dirty black over the body work and track dirt over the frames makes a visible difference.

 

I'll do a little more work on the frames, but I'm not going to distress the van to the point of extinction.  From normal viewing distances on a working model railway, one does not see the rust forcing the paint to peel of the third rivet along on the bottom right hand lamp bracket, so I've left it off.

 

I'll try and work for an overall impression rather than make every item of stock an Old Master.

 

I think a gravity fed airbrush might be a good idea, especially for wafting paint over chassis.

[Happy Hippo]

I was hoping for some decent weather this weekend.

 

What a mistake to make.

 

The alternative is a warm bath:  I can practice my close harmony singing.

 

Cue for Dave H to clap on his ear defenders.

[rockershovel]

28 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

I was hoping for some decent weather this weekend.

 

What a mistake to make.

 

The alternative is a warm bath:  I can practice my close harmony singing.

 

Cue for Dave H to clap on his ear defenders.

 

I had a day on site, access enabling works near Felixstowe... cold and dry, light breezes, sunny during the middle of the day; really quite pleasant, and just the day for hedging and fencing! 

[jamie92208]

Good morning Richard.  Your post a couple of days ago was thought provoking. I have been involved in the disposal of several estates and it can ge a hard task physically, in time and also emotionally.  As you mention, several societies have run executor and trustee services forca fee ranging from 10 to 20%.  I believe that commercial firms work on at least 40%.  Certainly I have seen, widiws short changed, including by one of the London auction houses who the deceased had acted as an advisor for.

 

The best way is the slow drip feed ofva collection via Ebay, and sales stands at shows, particularly the specialist gauge/scale shows. Dumping the whole collection on the market gets nowhere.

 

Bereaved partners generally fit into 2 categories, the first just wants rid and isn't bothered about the value.  The other usually has a hugely inflated idea of what the items are worth, based on their purchase price.  The hardest I had to deal with was a bereaved daughter who had a huge emotional attachment to many of the items.

 

Certainly some sort of pre organisation of the items, with an inventory is a great help, along with realistic valuations. I based mine on average sale prices on the Bring and Buy stand at GOG events. A quick and easy way for part built vehicles, was to count the number of wheelsets and them multiply by the current Slaters price. Things weren't left on the stand and a surprising amount was raised.

 

Certainly a document giving guidance about disposal is well worth doing.

 

It could be called 'Operation Hope Not' which was the code name for Churchill's funeral plan.  It was apparently  at a meeting to review it, that the question of where the funeral train should leave from was discussed. The attendees of course said Paddington. Winston demurred and said something along the lines of " It will leave from Waterloo unless Charles DecGaulle has died before me."

 

Jamie

[rockershovel]

19 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Good morning Richard.  Your post a couple of days ago was thought provoking. I have been involved in the disposal of several estates and it can ge a hard task physically, in time and also emotionally.  As you mention, several societies have run executor and trustee services forca fee ranging from 10 to 20%.  I believe that commercial firms work on at least 40%.  Certainly I have seen, widiws short changed, including by one of the London auction houses who the deceased had acted as an advisor for.

 

The best way is the slow drip feed ofva collection via Ebay, and sales stands at shows, particularly the specialist gauge/scale shows. Dumping the whole collection on the market gets nowhere.

 

Bereaved partners generally fit into 2 categories, the first just wants rid and isn't bothered about the value.  The other usually has a hugely inflated idea of what the items are worth, based on their purchase price.  The hardest I had to deal with was a bereaved daughter who had a huge emotional attachment to many of the items.

 

Certainly some sort of pre organisation of the items, with an inventory is a great help, along with realistic valuations. I based mine on average sale prices on the Bring and Buy stand at GOG events. A quick and easy way for part built vehicles, was to count the number of wheelsets and them multiply by the current Slaters price. Things weren't left on the stand and a surprising amount was raised.

 

Certainly a document giving guidance about disposal is well worth doing.

 

It could be called 'Operation Hope Not' which was the code name for Churchill's funeral plan.  It was apparently  at a meeting to review it, that the question of where the funeral train should leave from was discussed. The attendees of course said Paddington. Winston demurred and said something along the lines of " It will leave from Waterloo unless Charles DecGaulle has died before me."

 

Jamie

 

I’m afraid this is a common problem. I’ve seen it so often, with old motorcycles, which can have a value orders of magnitude higher than model railway items. One particularly distressing occasion I was involved in, concerned a widow who had arranged for a “classic motorcycle” dealer to clear her late husband’s workshop. The dealer simply cherry-picked the contents, made sure he had all the V5 and other documentation, and left, leaving about 75% of the contents and paying about 20% of the value of what was taken. 

 

I was invited to join a group which subsequently conducted the actual clearance. We agreed amongst ourselves, the value of any items taken for ourselves, weighed in a range of items including his long-obsolete but still serviceable workbench tools, deducted the cost of the hired van, disposed of a lot of items at auto-jumbles, club advertisements or eBay over time, and gave the rest to the widow. That’s when we discovered that our contribution was about twice the dealers payment, and the dealer had taken several machines for a total payment less than the value of any one of them. 

Edited February 21, 2021 by rockershovel

[Happy Hippo]

To lighten the mood somewhat I can report that I have been involved in the disposal of several cakes.

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

 

 

It could be called 'Operation Hope Not' which was the code name for Churchill's funeral plan.  It was apparently  at a meeting to review it, that the question of where the funeral train should leave from was discussed. The attendees of course said Paddington. Winston demurred and said something along the lines of " It will leave from Waterloo unless Charles DecGaulle has died before me."

 

Jamie

Only two wreaths were laid on his Grave at Bladon.  One from his wife Clementine, and the other from HM The Queen on behalf of the Commonwealth.

[SM42]

5 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Good morning Richard.  Your post a couple of days ago was thought provoking. I have been involved in the disposal of several estates and it can ge a hard task physically, in time and also emotionally. ..............

 

Jamie

 

 

I totally agree.

Other hobbies have similar problems One of Mrs SM42's relatives owned a shotgun and when he passed the question of what to do with a suddenly unlicensed firearm arose. Unfortunatley it was left to the police to dipsose of instead  of being trasferred to a registered dealer for a commission sale.

 

There is also a lot more to think about than just the trains. 

 

When mum was struck down with Alzheimers, I spent a couple of months methodically going through her house to track down paperwork for all her banks, investments, pensions, utilities and such like and organise it into what was still current. It is amazing what we keep long after its sell by date.

 

Over the last couple of weeks this effort  has paid dividends whilst we sort out her estate and we have only one or two  loose ends to chase up.

 

If there is one thing I've learnt is leave instructions, leave details of what and where any assets are and get stuff organised and keep it up to date. A power of attorney arrangement can also help in case of debilitating illness.  It takes a lot of pressure off those you leave behind..

 

On  a brighter note, Mrs SM42 has been making ginger cake.  I had to quality control it for breakfast this afternoon.(the perils of working nights, breakfast at 1pm)   It was yummy and there is still a whole one left to follow the one we started.

 

Whooppee!

 

Andy

 

 

[Winslow Boy]

I can't recall if I've mentioned this before if I have apologies, but when drawing up any assets do remember to include any grave deeds. I realise that this might seem a bit over the top but when you start making enquiries about the costs involved for the purchase of a plot or a 'ledge' you rapidly start going into the thousands. You also have to consider that a grave plot can hold anywhere between three and six interments.  It is therefore a quite a valuable asset.

 

Sorry if this is a bit morbid but having had to deal with this in a professional capacity during my career it always used to amaze me how much upset it caused when Uncle Sid couldn't be buried with his wife because the deeds couldn't be found.

 

And on that note I'm now of to have some pears and custard along with some Lancashire Nuts.

[jamie92208]

28 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

I can't recall if I've mentioned this before if I have apologies, but when drawing up any assets do remember to include any grave deeds. I realise that this might seem a bit over the top but when you start making enquiries about the costs involved for the purchase of a plot or a 'ledge' you rapidly start going into the thousands. You also have to consider that a grave plot can hold anywhere between three and six interments.  It is therefore a quite a valuable asset.

 

Sorry if this is a bit morbid but having had to deal with this in a professional capacity during my career it always used to amaze me how much upset it caused when Uncle Sid couldn't be buried with his wife because the deeds couldn't be found.

 

And on that note I'm now of to have some pears and custard along with some Lancashire Nuts.

We bought one years ago but not in France. If it holds 4 I bettercstart finding the 2nd and 3rd wives to get value for money.

 

Jamie

 

 

Edited February 21, 2021 by jamie92208

[simontaylor484]

When i was younger my Dad was an auctioneer and estate agent, when i was little a lot of the auctions were estate sales where the contents of the house would be auctioned off followed by the house itself. These rarely happen these days a lot is left to either house clearances or squabbles.