Bulleidboy100

Sorry, not trying to rub it in, but Ocado released slots at 6pm last night. I went online at that time and got my delivery at 2pm today - with no substituted items. I don't know what their country coverage is, and appreciate some have difficulty shopping. From what I've read on this forum, it appeared that "shopping" was getting a little easier?

Living in a 2-bedroomed flat in Muswell Hill, London – bunk beds Communal gardens and climbing trees Attending St James’s Primary School – outside toilets – frozen solid in winter School milk – uuuuugh! Bill and Ben – TV News readers dressed in “Black Tie” – the Interlude – we should still have it!! Being in the same class for six years with Dave Davies - future member of the Kinks pop group Steam trains trips from Cranley Gardens to Alexandra Palace (not the one on the main line) Saturday morning pictures – shops closing on Wednesday afternoons - Jubblies Moving from the flat to a 3-bedroomed semi in Friern Barnet Getting a paper round – 12/6d a week. Saving 10/- of that to buy a new bicycle – Dad said you save half – I’ll pay the other half. Standing on the crossbar of my “new” bike at New Southgate station collecting numbers and seeing Mallard, Flying Scotsman, Blue Deltic and others. Paying the 1.5d bus fare to get to and from school. Having to walk when there was thick fog. Going with dad to take our trunk of clothes to Waterloo for advanced delivery to Swanage for our summer holidays. Failing my 11+ and attending William Grimshaw Sec.Mod – still in the same class with Dave Davies! School dinners – mash potato from an ice cream scoop and runny mince followed by pink semolina. Ray Davis – Dave’s brother at the same school – Rod Stewart (The Rod Stewart) forever standing outside the Headmasters Room! A school trip to Interlaken, Switzerland – two weeks cost my parents £30.00 Trips with mates to London Airport with a London Transport Red Rover – planes with propellers – Britannia's, Super Constellations, Avro Yorks, Viscounts and Vanguards - still have my Ian Allan Aircraft Registrations book – cost 2/6d. Leaving school in July 1962 and starting work as a clerk (runner) in a Barristers Chambers in Lincoln’s Inn - £5 per week. Retiring from said job in March 2009 – after only three different employers – all within fifty yards of one another, over a forty-seven-year period– those were the days.

Assuming they still exist in 2021!

If you can be bothered to do it there are some incredible food bargains to be had and hour or so before closing time, especially on a Sunday. A neighbour was in Morrisons just before Christmas, and picked up two turkeys listed at £28.00 each for £2.86 each. My wife went with this neighbour a few weeks ago - before the virus was news - and between them bought £110 worth of food (meat, veg and fruit) and paid just under £9.00 for the lot. There are regulars who do this sort of buying weekly, and it can become a bit of a bun fight - excuse the pun!

We found a Hampshire farm that normally supplies restaurants, pubs and commercial kitchens with fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs and milk - this side of their business has now stopped, so they have created an online shop. You create your order, pay by Paypal, and then choose a collection slot - ten minute slots throughout the day. We picked 11am yesterday - we were notified by email, that on arrival we should pass the entrance, turn round, and then pull up by a table, and open the boot/tailgate. A man with a mask asked our name, picked up a box containing our order and placed it in the back of the car. It all took a couple of minutes - however it did mean going out in the car - something which now appears to be giving concern to the government.

New opening hours for Morrisons - 8am until 8pm. The store will be open from 7am-8am for NHS staff only - staff on the doors - customer needs to be wearing an NHS badge for admission. Sundays will be normal hours (8-8?). I hope the store will be re-stocked each night?

Slightly off topic, but I don't know how many of you watch your F1 on SKY? Due to the current world crisis you can "pause" the Sport element of your SKY package until normal service is resumed. The channels are still there and running, but you will not be charged for them. This "can" reduce your monthly payment quite substantially.

Just read that both Toto Wolff and Lawrence Stroll did not attend the "heated" meeting regarding the rest of the season. They flew back from Australia together - and the suggestion is that Wolff may become CEO of Aston Martin - which was followed by "will Lewis Hamilton remain at Mercedes"? Personally I think it would be utter madness for LH to go to Ferrari - but that's just my view.

London lock-down not on the cards at the moment, if people do as advised. However, with the attitude of the person interviewed "If I wona go out, I'll go out" - but you may infect someone "well they should stay in then" - what hope for the rest of us?

No toilet rolls in Basingstokes Waitrose, Asda or Saisbury's. They did have a few in Morrisons - limited to two packs per customer - fair enough. I visited before 10am.

Not yet - the ban is only for thirty days. I have a feeling it will get extended in the next few weeks. If it's a financial write-off so be it - there are more important things to worry about at the moment.

I don't think it does much for moral when the so called experts and some politicians are all arguing amongst themselves, that the Government has got it all wrong. There is certainly no wartime spirit around at the moment.

I posted this under the "Panic Buying" thread, but it's just been suggested on the BBC News that all over the age of seventy may be asked to self-isolate for four months - that's a long time to sit in doors. For many, food and other necessary items can be delivered, but for many this is not an option.

On BBC News a few minutes ago - "people over seventy (70) may have to self-isolate for four months" - I did say four months.

Looks like the Dutch GP has gone. Could be rescheduled in August. Spanish about to go, it is unclear whether it will be rescheduled. Looks like their trying to get the season started at the end of May, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, pencilled in for June 7.

The Indycar St.Pete's GP now cancelled. I couldn't see the point of a race "behind closed doors". I'm due to fly to Florida on May 1st for a month - I'm hoping Trump bans flights from the UK or no money back!

Vietnam GP now confirmed as cancelled. I think the season will start, if it starts, later than June, as mentioned by the BBC. If the "peak" in the UK is still possibly three months away, I can't see any European GP's taking place - as for the rest of the world, we will have to wait and see.

Not wishing to over dramatise the situation, but I think the whole season may be in jeopardy. According to the PM and his two medical cohorts, this could all peak in the UK in about fourteen weeks time - that should just coincide with the British GP. Hopefully it will go as quickly as it arrived - but I fear not.

Indy Car suffering as well - "St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman announces he is cancelling general admission to the 2020 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. He says an announcement on the ultimate fate of the race will come Thursday afternoon".

I thought he said it couldn't be counted as a "championship race" - if your not getting any points, what is the point of the race? I think the race may be pulled before Sunday.

I know this is probably the wrong description, but I tend to use TCS DP2X-UK decoders as they are a direct fit with no harnesss. I see that both Hattons and Gaugemaster provide a similar decoder and its cheaper. Several people have said the Hattons versions works well and they have had no problems, however on the Hattons site it says that it doesn't always work so well with some Hornby controllers - I have a Hornby Elite (v.1.45) - has anyone used these decoders with an Elite, and was everything ok. Many thanks.

Just reported on the 6pm News, that if Chinese companies producing toys (model trains?) are not back to full production in a few weeks (not months), goods expected for Christmas, will not be in the shops. I have a few pre-orders due, according to Hornby, in the Summer, the dates usually slip, but with the current problem, it may not now be this year?

We just don't answer the phone. We have caller display and if we don't recognise the number or no name is displayed we don't pick-up. So if any of you have rung me, sorry we didn't answer, but you could have left a message.

Thank you very much RFS. That is very helpful, especially the instructions - with pictures too! BB

Slightly off topic, but I would like to fit Kadees to my old Bachmann Bulleids - I have a pack of NEM pockets, but does anyone know whether a complete bogie would be a better option, before I start carving up the existing bogie - they are very easy to remove (one screw). Thanks.