Not Jeremy

I sadly, and for my own reasons, couldn't make the 2023 Warley NEC show, but have previously attended over a good number of years, latterly with the Wild Swan books stand. I loved going to Warley, in whatever capacity, it was so spectacularly and terrfyingly large, and was always an ambitious celebration and exposition of a great hobby. I am, and will remain, in awe of everything that the Warley club have achieved with the NEC show. So very good on so many levels as many have eloquently expressed in this thread. Apart from all of the layouts, meeting so many friends and names in the hobby, the fantastic trade support and the opportunity to see manufacturers and their new products, what I really loved about it all was the excitement and pleasure it gave to so many people, seeing the enjoyment on the faces of so many people gathered in one place was just epic. It gave you a great feeling of being part of a fantastic hobby, and the insane size of it was definitely part of this appeal, to me at least. I'm sure whatever comes next will be great, but thirty years of success at the NEC is one hell of an achievement, and so I want to add my thanks and great appreciation to everyone at the Warley club for giving us all so much enjoyment over so many years. Got to be worth a few OBEs, at least! Simon

Passing Ais Gill with Captain Kernow recording proceedings..... And in the same sort of era, the new running in board at Midford. Dave at left (brilliant friend, creator of the running in board and much more), Jasper Cox, now big in military surplus, and Brian Clarke, of "Saltford Models" fame. Happy days, apart from the day job(!)

That was Dave the ace figure painter, my friend Dennis still sees him at shows. Moles sort of bought him out of the premises I think, but are just now closing or closed themselves. Mind you, back in the day Moles above pavement level was mostly "The Porter", where I think I purchased my first under age drink. "Underage", what a distant concept that is....

And Monks at the bottom of Broad Street...

Yes, it became Eric Snooks, when the aforementioned owner (of Bath Pram and Toy Shop) took a large retail unit in the shiny new Southgate development and moved his business there. It was temporarily domiciled in what was the Plummer Roddis block while building work went on, I think. Our very own Captain Kernow started his kitbuilding career making up models for display in the new shop, as I recall. The shop subsequently contracted a bit then split into two, the modelling branch of which shut down not long afterwards, with the "main shop" moving to large-ish premises by the side of Marks & Spencer. Eric Snook (an enterprising fellow and one time mayor of Bath) eventually died, after which "Mr Basil" moved the shop into a sad little place in one of the corridors, where it petered out into oblivion relatively recently. No model shops left in Bath now, and Wild Swans are no longer seen in Southgate. We have, of late, had quite a lot of Wild Geese round these parts though!

Sadly, a reprint would not, I think, be an economic proposition. But if you drop me an email I may be able to help you with a copy of vol 2, new but without a dustjacket. It may take me a few days to get back to you but I will. Vol 1 remains in stock. Simon

I think the Avon through Bath is actually pretty well managed, with water being controlled and allowed to flood on to water meadows either side of the City. I just walked back from town and the river level is looking very "normal". I think the relevant powers/authority are doing an effective job round here, with the express purpose of not letting Bath flood as it used to when your picture was taken.

Ho hum, as cheerful as ever. Not everything is done by means of law and compulsion you know. For starters the Okehampton route would not have been put back on to the National rail network at all, if your narrow and depressing view of everything was as pervasive and all encompassing as you would have us believe And if "they" won't put the footbridge roof back, then let's start a campaign or fund to get it replaced! I will most certainly contribute to what would be a very worthwhile project. It will cost peanuts relative to much that is achieved in the world of preservation and I bet the various organisations involved would be highly supportive. You will probably now come up with some mind numbingly negative response to this shockingly positive suggestion, or perhaps not - perhaps you have something positive to contribute? I do hope so, this is what we are aiming for - hardly a new Jerusalem!

It does go round in "normal circumstances" and it is connected to a big circular section of the dance floor that it gently rotates. Or it used to, I am pretty certain, although thinking about it it all sounds very unlikely. It is a bit of a "rum" establishment one way and another,

No, hardback only. Apart from anything else, it has too many pages to work as a soft back, and I also want it to stand uniform with John's earlier books on auto trailers and steam rail motors. The index is nearly completed and it will be sent to printers very shortly. Simon

It was pretty impressive, I didn't go into town but the Toll bridge was closed to traffic. Batheaston lake looked pretty. But the old mill looked less inviting than usual...

Happy to report that everything is safely above water, and copious red wine with neighbours has massively improved the outlook - churrs!!

I have just been advised by the printers that delivery should take place on January 19th. Books will be sent out as soon as stock arrives. Thank you for your patience!

This is all jaw droppingly good Matt, and I don't think "kitbashing" really does justice to what you have achieved, just terrific. I really look forward to seeing it "in the plastic" in July. Please don't lose momentum, get distracted or skip it in the meantime(!) Simon

Oh I don't know, I mean look at your wiring.... Apologies for that cheap shot, and as I recall Doug and I worked it all out without you that time in Folkestone, towards the end of the last Century. Happy days!

Excellent, cardboard, paper and PVA, what more does any boy need? Especially the son of a woodwork teacher.... Outside I have found steel, concrete and dirt to be excellent substitutes. But my "grass" is anything but static(!) Happy New Year to all and here's to building more trains! Simon

It doesn't have any lighting, but I find my "Optivisor" a near essential part of modelling these days. Must dig it out one of these days...

Yes!

Gosh, washing up… My first ever non paper round job was washing up at Pratt’s Hotel, 50p per hour. I didn’t wash up any trains but went off the place when I had to persuade them to pay me - wallies. Going back to Whitemans, I can report that Mr Tim Graham, who really built the business up over twenty years, (and employed CK and later on me) is still alive and well as I saw him and his wife Margaret when I dropped off a Christmas card this morning. For anyone silly enough to visit Bath, it is worth seeking out the Julian House charity shop in Walcot Street as downstairs is a wonderful bookshop, which Tim sort of presides over. Well organised, no rubbish and humanely priced, and with a transport section. He is not as “Basil Fawlty” as he used to sometimes be, in Whitemans(!)

Thank you very much Mike, also for your recent(ish) email with the GER coach list, much appreciated. Have a good Christmas! I do have other obsessions too, you know..... Simon

What a great thought Jerry, he’d certainly enjoy the periodic loops of correction and denial over grammar, not to mention obsessing over livery detail, getting the exactly correct shade of grey and “scale colour”, of course. Which railway company would he most like I wonder, probably something Edwardian? I guess he’d mostly be an armchair modeller given his “peripatetic” lifestyle. His son Jake probably inherited Ed’s loft layout when he was chucked out by Mrs Ed, it was all N gauge and he still can’t get those Farish locos to run properly…. Perhaps Ed is already with us??

Hmm, good idea. I already do that with digital radios - they are everywhere! Radio 4 extra is my favourite, tonight at 11.30 "Old Harry's Game", and so much more besides, "Ed Reardons Week" ticks most of my boxes.... And they don't broadcast any news either - Ignorance is bliss, maybe(?)

Now there's a fine idea idea Tim, but sadly I'm not sure there are any more revelations or fabulous new pics to do that. I'll bear it mind though and would just say that the reprint has got a different ISBN - so for all you completists out there..... Confession time, I am a bit embarrassed to say that I own several copies of the David and Charles "Somerset and Dorset Railway" by Robin Atthilll: 1st print, 1967, signed by author 2nd print, 1968 3rd print, 1980, slightly amended introduction 2nd edition 1985 hardback 2nd edition 1985 softback. This is my "field" copy(!) I did also have the Pan paperback edition but let that go a while ago as it deteriorated quite badly. All a bit "sad puppy" - ish, but in my defence I really love the book and the railway it describes. And, for those of a certain age, they mostly all came from Whitemans bookshop in Orange Grove. Them were t' days.... Seasons greetings to all. Simon PS Captain Kernow was the "Saturday boy" in Whitemans before I was, and so all of this is mostly his fault.