Ian Morgan

Here is a driver with his modern radio gear at Giesing, Munich

When I was living in Germany I bought a bicycle (not electric), and also bought 3rd party insurance cover. I am not sure if it was a legal requirement, but was highly advisable.

There used to be a multi-discipline model show at Epsom Race Course, and closer to home, a much smaller one at a school in Tadley, organised by the local air cadets, I think. Back then, the school swimming pool was still viable and I saw my first R/C submarine in it. Large muliti-discipline model exhibitions are popular in the rest of Europe, I have been to ones in Belgium and Germany. The one in Stuttgart had one hall just for indoor R/C aircraft flying, while the one in Gent had a huge pile of soil dumped in the middle of one hall, which was 'terra-formed' into roads, bridges and quarries by a small army of R/C vehicles.

It has also been a known problem with Ioniq 5's, but mine has been OK so far. Also not a problem on the 2018 Ioniq I had for four and a half years.

Still on the enzalutamide, and my PSA is down at 0.86. The peripheral oedema (swelling feet) is not too bad, but the blood pressure is sky high, so some more pills have been added to what I already take for it. The second PSMA PET scan has been brought forward to next week, so I should know before Xmas if I am ready for the radio-therapy. Otherwise, it will be another 3 months before they can do it again.

I was, sort of, hoping to get an invite to Doncaster so I could get the full set of plaques. I have the ones for Alley Palley and Bristol, and left a gap on the fiddle yard display board just in case.

Someone is building an N scale version of Freshwater. I have given him the STL files for some of the buildings I created so he can 3D print his own copies. Good luck to him.

In the U.S. of A. https://variety.com/1998/film/news/settlement-reached-in-devil-s-advocate-case-1117467814/ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/arts/satanic-temple-sabrina-statue.html

Out of interest, does anyone make prototypical german track for N gauge? There was a company producing very realistic (and very expensive) point kits a few years ago, but they seem to have disappeared.

For all those who think they need to turn the car radio off because it might use up the battery: https://www.gridserve.com/2023/05/18/what-common-things-drain-your-electric-car-battery-and-by-how-much/

"It's No Secret" Pete W. is certain "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now", because "That's The Way It Is". He says he "Wouldn't Change a Thing", now "The Word Is Out" because the exhibition visitors want "More, More, More", the new layout will be "Beyond Your Wildest Dreams", but it's not "Made In Heaven" and might be "Too Much Of A Good Thing". He is "Counting Every Minute" and will move "Heaven and Earth" to complete it because its a "Question Of Pride" and his "Reason For Living". But he has "Got To Be Certain" it's "Just Like A Dream Come True". "Only Time Will Tell". "Maybe We Should Call It A Day" "Right Here, Right Now", all these song titles are "Bad For Me", but "One Thing Leads To Another". I'm "All Mixed Up" and there "Ain't No Cure". "I Should Be So Lucky"!

Yes, 27-28 April https://www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/model-world-live/ https://www.keymodelworld.com/modelworldlive

Red wheels - tick.

The hour and a half travel time limit before requiring accommodation is my own limitation, not that of any particular exhibition. This is for a layout that can be set up or dismantled in less than an hour. This will be different for other layouts and exhibitors.

That is a good question, and one I don't have an answer to, yet.....

I did find time to take a quick snap of Freshwater at its last outing before retirement shortly after doors opened on the Sunday morning.

Freshwater enjoying its last outing before retirement at the Warley NEC show last weekend. A quiet moment, shortly after doors opened on the Sunday morning.

I have to say that taking my layout to Warley this year was very pleasant and stress free. Apart from booking an unloading slot using the NEC Voyage system that took several attempts over a few days, everything went smoothly. The drive up was OK, with a bit of a queue from the A34 to the M40, but even the M42 was flowing well. Followed the signs round to Lorry Park 12, and ushered straight round to hall 5 and parked in the aisle right next to the layouts location. We had to carry the layout and gubbins less than 2m from the car, which must be a record for me. Parking in East 1 was a short, but very cold, walk from the hall, and we were set up in no time. Hotel was good, with a Beefeater next door and a fast car charger that accepted my company AllStar card. Breakfast, lunch and hot drinks were provided for exhibitors, so I only paid for evening meals. Saturday evening a pub meal was enjoyed with the rest of the 2mm fraternity from Copenhagen Fields and the Association stand. From soon after opening, there was a constant flow of visitors viewing the layout, many stopping to chat and look for the various cameos on the layout. On the Sunday evening, we packed up the layout. We normally wait until the exhibition actually closes before starting to pack away. I then fetched the car from the car park, and was again ushered quickly into the 'void' area of Hall 5, ending up just a short walk from where the layout stood, and we were loaded and away soon after 6pm. Roads going home were busy, but none of the hold-ups I was anticipating. I appreciate being supplied with food and drink during the show, and accommodation if more than an hour and a half away. I have exhibited at a couple of shows that do not supply lunch, but I am not sure I would pay for my overnight accommodation unless it was a show I really, really wanted to attend. Thanks to all those who helped make the weekend a success. I know how much work and stress is produced in putting on the Basingstoke Exhibition each March. That used to be organised by a single person, but has now been split up between several members, each with their own area of responsibility.

It is interesting to note that at many classic car shows, the exhibitors actually pay for the privilege of showing off their pride and joys to the public.

10 Downing street was originally standard yellow brick colour, but two centuries of smog turned it black. When the facade was rebuilt in the 1960's, they had to paint new bricks black to retain its famously familiar looks.

Being good boys, no packing away started before dimming the hall lights heralded the closing of the show. However, we were all packed and loaded into the car in the void area soon after 18:00, and home in Hampshire 2 hours later (I was expecting worse traffic). For me and the Freshwater posse, a very pleasant weekend, chatting with lots of interested visitors. Searching for the 2mm scale Peter Rabbit seemed a popular activity. The layout was pretty well behaved, and trains were moving almost constantly, albeit possibly shunting more slowly than some would like. Thanks to all the organisers and helpers for looking after us so well.

How do they classify that wheel configuration?

Yes, I have the same problem, I put something down in my shed and spend an hour the next day looking for it ...

A computer system I looked after for a while had a simple error message for any user data entry fault, "Totally Wrong Action Taken". The users were all army guys and I am not sure they ever spotted it. I always liked the Weston, Cleveland and Portishead Railway initials, WC & P.

Does the Ticket Factory also handle the tickets for Glastonbury, if so, it was probably struggling.