br2975

Coming along nicely Al. - excellent progress. . Looking forward to seeing Paynestown in the flesh next month. . Keep up the good work, . Brian

See how I spoil her. . It's taken almost 50 years to get 'Mrs. br2975' to appreciate the delights of 'window hanging' - 'smoke smuts' and street running.......... I suspect the smile may be forced as she is still hard to 'fathom out' after all these years.. . Bad Doberan last week. .

. Until she saw the light, the daughter was once a Police Communuity Support Officer in the Garw Valley, South Wales. . The most common cause of complaint by residents attending PACT meetings were the anti-social activities of the flock of feral sheep that roamed the streets of Pontycymmer, over turning wheelie bins, and ripping open 'bin bags' to access the rotting contents. . The flock would decimate gardens and leave calling cards on the gardens that resembled the contents of a large Eccles cake. . These feral beasts knew no fear and would see off local dogs, and even the more timid human members of the community. . Eventually, the daughter moved on, changed her uniform and policed the much quieter, safer, and less violent human inhabitants of the "run down, deprived, sprawling and riot torn Ely housing estate in the western suburbs of Cardiff"

. I hope this won't be part of my package next week on 'Sky Princess' ?

An early start hereabouts. . No modelling today . Why ? - I hear you ask. . Well, I'm out of Jay-Cloths (scenery for the use of), and also will be subjected to two sessions in an MRI scanner today. . Mrs. 2975 and I have volunteered to assist Cardiff Met Uni in a research project studying the effects of Covid-19 on patients with pre-existing hypertension. . All on the site of the former Cathays C&W Works. . Have a good day all. .

. We've all been there Hippo, and can all sympathise with your plight.

. Rather splendid, thank you, Santorini is a lovely place. . We stayed in Kamari, a lovely little hotel with just 27 rooms and 50 yards from the beach - not that we are beach people. . There are any number of excellent tavernas to choose from locally.

. I was advised 'Deep Energy' arrived on station on the Tuesday with two ROVs, both rated to 3,000m with a 25% safety margin. . The ROV deployed, reached the sea bed, found nothing, then blacked out. . My one contact was once approached to 'come and work for Ocean Gate' - he laughed, said 'no thanks' and moved on. .

. During my absence over the last week, I have been constantly updated by contacts in the underwater / submersible community. . In fact, I was made aware 'Titan' was missing well before the matter became public - the delay can be laid directly at the door of 'Ocean Gate' whose support vessel 'Polar Prince' lacked any back-up or rescue submnersible; and the company had no apparent rescue or back-up plans in place. . From the very beginning, the primary cause was agreed upon as an implosion, which was detected by sonar / sosus systems, at the time the submarine released weights to slow it's descent - but, the weight system was allegedly inherently dangerous, and the weights could have released themselves at different times. . This was at virtually the same time that ALL 'comms' were lost between 'Titan' and 'Polar Prince' - despite the 'comms' referred to being apparently seperate operating systems . This was never a rescue mission, but a recovery operation. . There has been great concern in the undersea and research community, over many issues surrounding 'Ocean Gate' , Stockton Rush and its' submersible for a few years now. . I have seen e.mail sourced to a very respected submersible builder, a former colleague and freind of "P-H" (Paul-Henri Nargeolet) one of the most experienced submersible pilots in the world, yet who was lost in the accident - the e.mail is brutally scathing of Stockton Rush, describing him as 'arrogant, narcisistic' and the 'Titan' as a 'Frankenstein's Monster' . "Luckily" for the victims, their end was instantaneous, and they would not have suffered. .

Text removed. .

The late RCTS stalwart, Rowland Pittard left many documents, including some Guards Logs which related to many South Wales Hymek workings, but which also included the following . 16/1/65 D7006 – ldsl GL to Eastgate for 2B74 (?) 0804 to Bristol TM, loco to Bath Road 27/1/65 D7053 - ldsl GL to Eastgate for 2B74 (?) 0804 to Bristol TM, loco to Bath Road 28/1/65 D7055 - ldsl GL to Eastgate for 2B74 (?) 0804 to Bristol TM, loco to Bath Road 10/2/65 D7082 – 1230 freight Gloster – Newtown Goods (may have been piloting steam 45369, notes unclear), presume loco returned on 1540 return train 11/2/65 – D7082 similar to previous but at 1100 with steam 92125 or 92128 involved 12/2/65 – D7082 again but alone, reld Woster crew, 1305 to Pengam, loco to Canton 13/2/65 – D7082 again with 92247 in tow. To Pengam and onto canton, return to Glos at 1555 3/4/65 – D7046 – freight between Swindon – Gloster (32 vehicles) 1845-2045 7/4/65 – D7066 – freight between Gloster-Woster 1345-1435 8/4/65 – D7066 – freight between Gloster-Woster 1400-1510 9/4/65 – D7039 – ditto 1330-1435 reld by Woster crew 10/4/65 – 7066 – ditto 1330-1439 41 vehicles 10/4/65 – 7084 – freight Woster-Gloster 1805-1915 35 vehicles 12/4/65 – D7005 – ldsl GL-Chelt, ECS Glos, 2H81 1728 Cheltenham, 2B29 1925 to Glos Eastgate 13/4/65 – D7019 - ldsl GL-Chelt, ECS Glos, 2H81 1728 Cheltenham, 2B29 1925 to Glos Eastgate (2H81 = 5=162 / 2B29 = 6=174) 14/4/65 – D7017 – ldsl GL-Chelt, ECS Glos, 2H81 1728 Cheltenham, 2B29 1925 to Glos Eastgate 17/4/65 – D7051 – ldsl GL-Chelt, ECS Glos, 2H81 1728 Cheltenham, 2B29 1925 to Glos Eastgate 24/4/65 – D7099 – ldsl GL to Carr Sdg, 0715 Chelt, 0745 Chelt-Bristol TM, ldsl Bath Road 4/5/65 – D7075 – 1630 Gloster-Kemble – Swindon Loco Yard and return 5/5/65 – D7075 – 1617 Gloster –Kemble - Swindon Loco Yard and return 6/5/65 – D7075 – 1630 Gloster –Kemble - Swindon Loco Yard and return

Two of my most memorable Hymek journies were; Saturday, 7th. September 1969 behind D7100 on a summer dated Minehead - Padd, as far as Taunton - with a heavy heart after a holiday romance (she was from Carlisle), and Saturday, 8th. August 1970 behind D7065 on the same working - only this time the holiday romance hailed from Warrington., and on this occasion we changed at Taunton to bash a Peak, D141, as far as Temple Meads, thanks to my dad planning in advance . One of myy most memorable Hymek 'sightings' was on 3rd. May, 1971 at the former Ely (Main Line) on the western outskirts of Cardiff, where I clapped eyes on D7083 hauling a dead 8-car South Wales Pullman set.

My comprehensive school was adjacent to the Penarth Curve North (Cardiff) to Radyr freight line - the City Line since 1987, and now being wired for the South Wales Metro. . Hymeks were a daily sight on freights to and from Radyr. . Here are some of my sightings, for 1971. .

. I've never read of them working into The Forest, or seen photos.

. Whilst in Tokyo I was amazed at the Japanese obsession with the toilet, and all things associated. . My Tokyo hotel room toilet had several functions (i) - immediately one sat on the seat water started trickling, quite loudly. - I was told this was because japanese ladies get embarrassed by any sound made whilst passing water. (ii) - an extractor fan built into the toilet also sprang into life, in order to dissipate any unsavoury lingering odours. . There is no need for a Japanese equivalent of the English saying - "I'd leave it a few minutes if I were you" . However, most amusing were the t.v. adverts for tablets that removed the odours from flatulence - all portrayed by typical Japanese cartoon characters. . And the two most popular Japanese makes of soda (pop) at that time, were (i) Pocari Sweat, and (ii) Calpiss . And no, we've never been back to Japan. . .

. The ACU on my 2007 Suzuki uses no additional fuel whatsoever whilst in use. . Even more unusual, is that the controls for the ACU are located on the door(s).

. Many years ago, a colleague and I drove from Cardiff - Peterborough, to arrive by 11:00hrs . We then worked on the street ( football duty - Peterborough Utd v Cardiff City ) until 19:00hrs. . It was then drive back to Cardiff. . Around 22:00hrs we were at the M5 Strensham Services (still about 70 miles from home), where my colleague put diesel in our petrol engined Peugeot 'firms car' using the agency card to pay. . Luckily he realised before starting the engine. . A call to our force control room, and we were told there was a 24hr garage at the Strensham Services - which we found, and then pushed our car to their workshop. . They drained the tank (and no doubt kept the contents) and we pushed the car back to the pumps and refilled it with the correct fuel, and paid for a second tank full . The garage company charged for their work, and added a call out fee !!!!!!!. . On Monday, an irate Chief Inspector proceeded to take us to task, because the costs had eaten into his budget. . At this point I told the Chief Inspector ; "You refuse to pay for overnight accomodation, so we worked an 18 hour day. We were both knackered, and that is why he put the wrong fuel in. If we'd crashed, your penny-pinching could have contributed to a corporate manslaughter charge" . The matter ended there.

. You're correct there Phil. . But during October 1970 one, later three Canton Hymeks displaced from West Wales duties were allocated to duties off Radyr, replacing two Cl.47 workings. . Hymeks were more than daily visitors to Radyr, but were rare any further 'up the valley' and almost unheard of in the Rhymney Valley. . The initial Hymek was allocated to Radyr 'Control' jobs - invariably to do with the Radyr PAD. . However, they also penetrated as far as Ty Mawr Colliery at Trehafod in the lower Rhondda. . These Hymek turns didn't appear to last long.

. I have always felt the 'Hymek' was the best all round WR diesel hydraulic. . Go anywhere, do anything a real 'maid of all work'.

. It was a Saturday - most local freight stopped for the weekends. . Had we gone to places like Radyr, I may have found 12 - 15 "six-eighters" , with another 5 at Aberdare, a couple at Barry, and up to half a dozen at Aberbeeg. . But, I wouldn't have copped any had I chosen to go to those places, hence when passing Ebbw Junction on the train, getting down numbers like '5137' was mpre important.

13 Hymeks were withdrawn whilst still in green livery, namely; D7002, 7003, 7005, 7006, 7008, 7013, 7014, 7020, 7021, 7024, 7025, 7054, 7060. . D7005 & D7054 were the last to survive in GSYP, D7005 was withdrawn in July 1972, D7054 in December 1972 . The last examples in GFYE, and withdrawn in that livery, were D7013, 7014, 7020. . My photo shows D7005 waiting time at Cardiff General on Saturday 28th. August, 1971 with 1O61 the 11:00 Cardiff - Portsmouth Harbour. . As an aside, my spotting notes for the day I took the photo above, are as follows:- My notes for that day show the following locos recorded:- . Saturday, 28th. August, 1971Cardiff – Newport Cardiff General 129, 147, 1048, 1594, 1611, 1618, 1630, 3747, 3756, 4019, 6975, 7005, 7086, (51310+59477+51325), Cardiff, Newtown Goods. 3260, 3264, 3268, Marshfield 1603, 7016, Newport, Ebbw Jct. 1068, 1670, 3355, 4021, 5137, 7624, 7625+7677, 6930, 6979, Newport, High St. 49, 156, 1672, 1944, 3762, 6527, (50695+59588+50739), (51080+59292+51052), (51302+59469+51317), (51310+59477+51325), (51341+59493+51383), Cardiff General 32, 70, 90, 1594, 1599, 1609, 1618, 1623, 1625, 1644, 1647, 1649, 1665, 1668, 1710, 1739, 1919, 1925, 7039, (50691+59277+50728), (50842+59350+50895), . .

. Well that covers one third of a working day.

. It could be argued that all hate crimes are not "assaults" per se. . The accepted CPS definition of a 'hate crime is; "Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person's disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity." . But, the House of Lords definition of assault is " intentionally or recklessly causing the victim to apprehend immediate unlawful personal violence" . Using threatening, abusive or insulting hate based comments in say, a podcast, telephone call or printed article could be argued by counsel as not being a threat of immediate unlawful personal violence. .

. That has been a decision made by the Commissioner of the Metropolis in relation to his force.. . The Met Boss usually has more 'cohones' than his (or her) regional counterparts. . What The Met does today, everyone else will be doing in two years time.

. Cue contentious response. . On numerous occasions I detained people under 'Section 136' and removed them to a place of safety, which on my patch was a large (now closed) psychiatric hospital in north Cardiff. . My colleague(s) and I would be required to wait in a corridor with the 'patient' , usually for hours, whilst suitably qualified members of hospital staff were located, and cajoled into forming a suitable team to examine, and 'section' the patient. . After 36 hours (maximum) the patient, if sectioned "could" be back on the street. . It was a long running 'joke' amongst local police officers that when at the hospital, it was difficult to differentiate between ( some of the ) staff and the patients. . Close contentious post.