bbishop

I posted a couple of books on LSWR locomotives to a friend in Italy. Completing the paperwork and waiting in the Post Office for the clerk to check it took about an hour which, if I were working, I would cost at £20. The alternative would be to register at a cost of some £20,000pa, which Hatton's did for Ireland. Either way, a considerable cost which may have eliminated any profit on European sales. And 13% is a significant amount of a company's outturn. Bill

So in 2mm, plans for a German N gauge tram layout. In 4mm, a small amount of P4 stock for Southwark Bridge. In 7mm, both 1:43.5 (Southern Railway in 1931) and 1:45 (Upper Franconia in 1961).

Backscene painted. Then done the ironing to warm up. Raymond, condensation isn't the main problem, hypothermia is - a 24' x 8' garage verses one oil filled radiator.

Snowing, but not settling, in South East London. I popped out about an hour ago to turn on the garage heater. I will go out soon to paint a backscene on the new board. Bill

Rob, I can provide a lump of coal, via Andy / Peter at a SEGOG meeting. Real railway coal, picked up at the Bluebell. Bill

We ended up with quite a routine for the evening constitutional. The dog would decide it was due, so the duty human would change their feet and put on a coat. Then it was a matter of finding the cat and asking if he were joining us. Harvey could be indoors, outdoors or visiting neighbours so might join after the walk had started. If it were just Toddy, then it would be round the block. But if Harvey was with us, then it would be out and back as he would disappear into a garden and do what a cat has to do. His trick was to wait on a wall and land on Toddy as he came past. All 50 years ago.

Bored here.

Off for a shift until 2am tomorrow. Happy new year, all you TNM people. Bill

Turned out to be a normal day for LAS, with about 5000 calls in the 24 hours. We responded to two of them and finished at midnight. Our next duty is Friday, then New Year's Eve - both could be "interesting". I've done two church services - two more to do, and setting up a fifth before I drive down to my sister. I'll be in read only mode for a couple of days; so, Happy Christmas to all TNMers.

I'm off in a few minutes on a CFR duty. In theory only until midnight but there could be drunks out there, on top of the usual quota of sick people.

I managed both dentist and barber today!

I have reached the time of year when I'm eating what would otherwise go off over Christmas. So I'm adding a handful of penne to sweated vegetables, to be eaten with Linda McCartney sausages. The veg includes cauliflower stalks - similar to but less stringy than celery.

My twenty year old hoover was showing signs of senility earlier in the year. Now banished upstairs and replaced downstairs by Henry.

Guys, No posts from North Hipposhire for over a week. Is DH ok?

The biggest issue is the profile of the rail. Have a look at Little Bytham on the Wright Write's thread. Head on, it is difficult to tell whether it is OO or EM.

One big problem - I'm vegetarian. My usual bar in Amsterdam is at the top of Spui, where the trams slow down for a 90 degree turn. I shall be travelling through Amsterdam in March, changing onto an InterCity to Berlin.

Drinking a cup of tea in the National Gallery cafe. The way I like it - Earl Grey, with lemon not milk. Then off to Dutch 17th century.

LAVs only came as a four! Bill

Used to be two fingers, but needs must.

... with a delay of nine months?

My line (aged 6) with a tea towel on my head..... "How far is it to Bethlehem, Muvver?".

Many years ago, a man asked me at the tail end of an exhibition if he could take photographs if he sent me copies. No problem and I posed a few trains for him. Several weeks later, an envelope of photographs arrived .... with invoice attached!

Try picking up my Spur Null locos. There is a lot of mass in them! There's another rabbit running, 'cos weight is a unit of force.

Friday was no problem, but on Sunday we suffered from NEC jobsworths. Also the idiot (demonstrator?) who parked facing outwards outside an "in" gate. We had to manouever round him to get in and as he had parked in reverse gear without the handbrake, he missed the Yeti by an inch.

I put in a figure that I reckoned would cover the fuel. I've just calculated the rate per mile (two trips to the Premier Inn in Redditch and a diversion off the M25 to drop off an operator) and it comes out at a knats whisker off 25p per mile.