andyram

Can't believe you are selling it already!

Evening all and best wishes to Dave and Is as well as anyone else who is suffering any troubles or illness. I have been lurking for a few days as work has taken up much of my time as we approach the end of the report writing window. Mine are all done, but needed proof reading after the head teacher added his comments. There have been plenty of troubles and strife at work too - but also one nice moment. On Friday our World Cup dancer arrived home, bedecked in her team England track suit. She walked in to a spontaneous round of a applause from her class mates. She brought her medals to show, but was so grounded by it all that she had just shoved them in a pocket as an afterthought. She is such a delightful child. School rules prevent me posting her picture on here of course. Instead I will brave the wrath and post a railway photograph. I am quite pleased with this picture, taken this afternoon on my Skaleby West layout.

I haven't thought of those Andy so I will have a look. Thanks. I have seen some card models on EBay that would be the same height as the warehouse. I will see how the Skytrex ones compare.

Thanks Andy. I must admit I have a soft spot for the Standard 3 tanks, I have two such models (82001 and 82020 although the latter is unweathered). I look forward to the time when the new build Standard 3 is completed at the Severn Valley Railway. In the mean time, here are two more shots from today.

I have spent a bit of time playing around with the low relief factory buildings today. Using some off cuts of wood I have built up the rear of the layout to allow the first two buildings to be raised up, reducing the difference in height between them and the warehouse building. It looks better, but I am still not happy yet - I think I need a taller building next to the warehouse. I have one in mind. In the mean time here are some pictures from today.

In a break from working on Skaleby East I was able to catch Standard 3 82001 resting in the loop at Skaleby West.

Congratulations Wales, their passion, organisation and team ethic puts England to shame. I think Robbie Savage needs a new pair of pants after hearing that reaction to the third goal.

That would be an assessment of past form.

I am afraid that Poland were never going to win that shoot out. Fabianski never looked like saving a penalty. He stood like a statue, bent over as if badly needing a sh#t before diving the wrong way for every effort. Surely a goalkeeper should make themselves look as big as possible, and move around on the line to try and put off the striker. That would make the goal look as small a target as possible. Tonight the goal looked as big as the Grand Canyon!

Now then LE I would expect you to do just that!

Except I forgot to remove the pin

Now Tequila is definitely a girlie drink!

Then if you remember it, you did not consume enough

Blimey Andy, selling more layouts - do you ever keep them for long!! Two great layouts mate (if I had the room.....)

Got to say that LE must be well through the drinking evolution then: Milk, water, juice, tea, coffee, lager, real ale, whisky, sherry, hot milk (Horlicks)

With most of the track pinned down I have been playing around with the buildings. I definitely think I want a more industrial type backdrop. Another Bachmann building arrived today and has been placed on the board. At present I am not sure they really work as a combination as all are different brick styles. The warehouse on the right is a keeper as I think that works well alongside that siding. Ideally I would like to have further factory buildings running along the backscene. Still not sure I have the correct combination yet.

But vinyl is making a comeback

Evening all. Generic greetings and good wishes. I hope all is well, or as well as it can be. Today has been a busy one. It started with Amber's school induction. Interesting being on the other side of the fence as a parent rather than a teacher. I do hope that our induction day is better organised as this was a bit of a disorganised mess at times. There was trouble at work too. The person who was due to cover for me, whilst I was attending the induction, decided to declare themselves ill - ten minutes before the start of the day. Yes sickness can come on at any time, but this was due to the after effects of a dental operation from the previous day that had caused her problems all night. Why she could not decide sooner is beyond me. The disruption caused will lead to me handing out a very clear bo11ock1ng when she returns - something that is long overdue to be fair. On a brighter note our star dancer has performed two solo dances over at the World Cup in Jersey today. She finished a creditable 6th out of 25 in the first contest, but claimed a bronze medal in the second. We are one proud school right now.

Scotland would still dream of our record.

At the end of the day the England team is not good enough. Once again we come to the lack of quality players in the English league. If you look at the 23 players who went, some were clearly not good enough - Wilshire, Henderson, Sturridge, Smalling amongst those who are not international class. The back four was suspect before the tournament and there is no real quality to bring in - aside from an inexperienced John Stones and an ageing Leighton Baines can anyone name another defender who is anywhere near good enough? I certainly can't! The midfield lacked balance. Rooney is not, and never will be a midfield playmaker. It was a mistake to play him there. It was also a mistake to leave Rashford on the bench so much. He added spark against Wales and during his farcically short cameo last night. I can see us struggling to qualify for the World Cup. I am sure Kane and Ali will develop into good England players over time but alongside them who? Rashford, maybe, if he continues his development, Dier perhaps as he emerged with some credit from the tournament if not last night. But beyond that there is not much quality out there. Further years in the wilderness awaits - let's save ourselves the pain and vote ourselves out of FIFA and UEFA and play on our own (we will probably still lose).

Rashford brought on too late. Under used in the tournament. Back four inept. Bad passing Indecisive in the final third. Shocking Hodgson must go!!!!

At present the England national team can't!

Afternoon all. I hope today has been a good one. The weather has certainly been nice and warm today. I received the good news today that student has gained a job today. I am pleased for her, hopefully she will be back working at our school in the future as she is a very good teacher. The latest from Jersey - our talented young dancer competed in another ballet trio today. We managed to watch the performance via the web link. No medal today, but a creditable 7th place. Tomorrow she will perform two solo dances. We wish her well.