Ian Simpson

Many thanks! As long as it's not just me, I don't feel so bad about it!

😄

To be fair, Thameslink and Southern always do an excellent job with the replacement buses on the Brighton line. (They've had a lot of practice, I guess.) 

To be fair to the man, it's also my own fault. If I'd only managed to convince myself that I really needed a couple of extra loco bodies 24 hours earlier, I'd have saved a few quid.

Very sorry to hear this, hope things start looking up soon.

Working in London I've heard similar comments from a lot of Europeans that I work with. Most of them have lived here for many years and they have never felt like upping sticks in the past. So unfortunately I don't think it is just a few over-sensitive foreigners who can't hack it here - we also have to take a hard look at ourselves. 

I hope if LFC ever have tens of thousands of season ticket holders handing their tickets back at the same time, the club's staff will have the humility to think that they might be part of the problem themselves.

Thanks, Sem, I appreciate such a full answer. Yes, that is lovely modelling!

I guess I usually ask myself something like "Are there the appropriate facilities in this townscape that I would be happy living there?", e.g. is there a corner shop at the end of an Edwardian  terrace? You're right, it's not the quality of the modellling that matters, simply whether it looks as if the area would work as a neighbourhood, especially given the layout's period and location.

I suppose he's the sort of maverick modeller who's not afraid to break Rule 1 when it's necessary.

Well if they haven't logged the OP, they'll certainly have spotted the dodgy company I keep now Clive! 

EDIT: I've just spotted there's a Edit button on status updates now. That is a nice touch!

Thanks, everyone! I had forgotten the Channel Tunnel link started in BR days. I loved Orion's comment on costings and will now quote it in all sorts of non-railway contexts!

A bit of a political earthquake, I think.

Presumably it means someone with a passionate, even obsessive, interest in small and insignificant items?

Yes (just about, to both questions).

So apparently I should be washing my hair in cold coffee.

But did the Museum of Erotica have too much early 20th century clockwork?

Actually, no, don't answer that ...

Just keep repeating over and over: "I don't need it, I can't house it, I can't afford it anyway."

No, but only because I hadn't thought of it until you put it in my head just now!

It's "the next station-stop is ..." announcement that annoys me.

And annoys me rather more than is reasonable or rational, I have to admit.

I'm really looking forward to following your progress. The G6 is such a useful loco for Southern modellers!

Have a very Happy Christmas, Gary! Wishing you good modelling and better health in the New Year.

Fingers crossed that the tests lead to more effective treatment, and that you're feeling better soon.

Hang on in there, hope things get better soon!

I'm usually pretty pleased when someone outbids me - if I won everything I bid for on eBay I'd be completely broke and I'd have a project list that would need several extra lifetimes to get through!

Fantastic news, so pleased for both of you.