brianusa

Good to see an overall picture, Alex.  

 How about a bolt on P/Town branch and the turntable - would look good!😉

   Brian.

On 01/06/2022 at 13:13, monkeysarefun said:

 

Yesterday our Queens representative, the Governor General swore a minister  into  our newly created ministerial position of Minister For The Republic, who  has the job description of seeing us transition away from the monarchy  sometime during a potential second term of the Albanese Labor  government, assuming they get reelected and/or there isn't an annual leadership spill.

 

The time frame relies on the delicately phrased strategy that the  Queen will be shuffling off her mortal coil around that time, and relies on getting  everything sorted before King Charles and Queen Camilla get the chance to book a tour down here to stroke the koalas and get sucked up to by Phillip Benwell MBE and his mates in the "whatever  happened to the  1950s!?" Constitutional Monarchy League.

 

 

 

Be careful what you wish for!  Take a look at this country, the US, and see what a political state it is in.  Unscrupulous politicians from a president down may happen to you too and likely Australia might suffer the same consequences, going from a widely respected democracy to a close imitation of an autocracy with a Putin or a Trump type attitude.

The Queen and other royals over the years have at least kept the UK on the straight and Narrow and while not perfects, maintains continuity which beats electing a relatively unknown new president every four years.

     Brian.

hi John, I took another look at your work around the weir at Tavvy and noticed even the start of the canal down to Morwellham Quay.  Spent many an hour traipsing around this area, the Incline and the docks be fore they were dredged and became a popular tourist attraction.

A pleasure to see it all again!

   Brian

11 hours ago, grandadbob said:

 

You've got me puzzled Brian as I'm not sure what funerals have got to do with my post that you quoted.  However, for what it's worth, I've been to far too many funerals over the years but what most of them have had in common is lots of laughter amongst the tears when certain things are remembered about the deceased.

Sorry Bob, something got in the way of my initial response and there was a disconnect between the original responder and my later comments.  It happens!

 Brian.

Michael, fifty years is bad enough but its almost weekly now!

      Brian.

14 minutes ago, Rivercider said:

Is this the turntable pit?

 

Exeter Quay 9/4/2013

 

cheers

Wagon size to quays piers, etc.  Common in docks along with a bit of broad gauge.  There is a similar section on Plymouth Barbican also with turntables.

      Brian.

14 minutes ago, Rivercider said:

 

 

Funerals have to be observed individually.  There is a valid point regarding the American massacre, not thought of years ago but sadly a frequent occurrence nowadays.

Brian.

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Personally, I blame the Glorious Revolution.  The US has a habit of preserving UK antiquities from the colonial era.

 

Bill of Rights, 1689 to which their Majesties, William and Mary gave their royal assent.

It is a bit surprising just how much this is almost literally the way it is embraced in the US today.

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

 

Bill of Rights, 1689 to which their Majesties, William and Mary gave their royal assent.

Has it really been going on since back then!  This whole thing has inured most people to the situation to the extent that it takes a massacre to draw attention for the next one which will surely come, sadly within a short period of time as nothing will be done.  The press will have forgotten the whole thing in a very short time and then its back to the continuing saga of Russia -V- Ukraine or the latest scandal of the day.

       Brian.

Many years ago Hornby had a similar problem with their O Gauge Princess Elizabeth.  Source of controversy ever since!, what is it with fireboxes?🙄

     Brian.

2 hours ago, RichardT said:

Ripon, which should never have lost its railway given that it was on the direct route from Leeds to Edinburgh, and which (to rub salt in that wound) also had a locomotive named for it.

 

One of Hornby's original stations is Ripon.  Could never understand why!  Much more important rail served towns were missed out!

Brian.

Anthems and all such music.  It occurred to me that at the beginning of WW2, the BBC  used to play National anthems of participating allies which remain in my mind to this day as does Deutschland uber Alles!😟

     Brian.

12 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

wish him and Australia well. Perhaps now those people can sing with lustier voice “Advance Australia fair”. 
 

Agree, but 'Waltzing Matilda' sounds better.  Why is it that some want to replace a perfectly good anthem with a song that is invariably hard to sing and no one knows the words?  Canada had the 'Maple Leaf forever', US has 'God Bless America', UK has 'Rule Britannia' and so on.  When I think of Australia, WM immediately comes to mind!

    Brian.

It may well be an old pic of JA.  However her chum, whoever she is looks younger😉

     Brian

Age is apparently no setback in the good ole US of A.  Discrimination rules the day!  Can't have old fogies without their cars; got to drive to church, market. bingo, etc!  Hopefully they have their wits about them.  I shall be 87 next month and still feel confident driving and should be irked if an unqualified  someone decided to take over my life.  Fortunately I am sound in wind and limb and brain ( check with my GP if you must) and will decide in good time when to quit!  There will be those who may disagree and I've heard a few already who want to move us out of our house into a "retirement community" and you can understand any reticence on my part!

    Brian. 

I dread the election season in America!  We live in a small cul de sac of six houses typically American, and while we know everyone well we have no intimation of their politics.  One is a cop, another likes guns, three off us are retired and the other is ex Army. We have an idea that most are Right of centre politically and we can't vote or own guns even if we wanted to.  We all get along well though!

  Brian

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

y emphasis. "Shouldn't" and "does" are two different things.

This can be said of many things.  I should like X car because....... should like black or gay people because........... I should read X book because.......... likewise sports, grand opera or politics.  I should like them all but what if I don't; am I to be shunned or demonised for my preferences by those who don't even know me?   Ones preferences are ones own business!

Incidentally, I have a preference for Y cars!🙂

    Brian

8 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Bear once stood on the steps of the Taj Mumbai Hotel

You can get that experience in Seattle, which like other coastal cities in the US can be rather liberal.  Not only the sleepers but their tents and other belongings are  scattered along the sidewalk.  Other streets are lined with mucky cars and RVs which are apparently home to many.  Seattle and other cities are now beginning to dismantle such eyesores due to public input and health reasons.

       Brian.

Rob's modelling gets better and better!🙂

    Brian.

Summer in the west country!  Just like here in GH!😠

     Brian.

There's purple and theres purple...............................................👿!

      Brian.

I can relate to this sad post as we had a similar bad accident years ago.  We both slowly recovered and hopefully they both will also!

    Brian.

Crocombe Heathfield always reminds me of a Harry Potter type station with its houses with pointy roofs and tall chimneys.🙂

Thanks for the pictures as all this happens in the middle of the night here in GH.😟

 Brian.

For some reason the Southern was given short shrift by a lot of model train manufacturers.  Everybody else seemed to come in first!

      Brian.

Since covids onset, my wife and I have lived like hermits (perhaps not quite!) to avoid the dread disease which has turned out to be  simple and successful.  We had the necessary shots, jabs and whatever's, both of us remaining healthy throughout.  Still haven't been to a restaurant yet or the movies, etc.  Soon now though!  If theres any good movies to see these days; those with acting instead of action!

      Brian.