Stanley Melrose

I still remember the Christmas over 70 years ago when my main present was a Lacey football (i.e a proper leather one with an inner rubber balloon that had to be inflated through a tube that was then tucked inside the leather and the gap sealed with a lace (hence "Lacey". This was placed at the foot of my bed shortly before midnight and my parents went off to sleep. I woke up soon after they left my bedroom, found the football and started to practise my skills by kicking the ball against the bedroom wall. Of course, my bedroom was next door to my parents' and against the wall on their side was the head of their bed so only a few minutes later an irate father confiscated my football and "encouraged" me to return to bed. I think I got the ball back some days later . . .

A couple of points that might be of interest. There is a great deal of interest from insurance companies in tracking driver behaviour. The EU declared that it was illegal to discriminate against women drivers by requiring insurance companies to stop offering premiums that reflected the fact that statistically women are safer drivers than men, i.e. men and women of the same driving experience and record have to be charged the same premium. The industry response is to move to personally computed premiums based on driver performance - hence collecting data on every journey by every driver wishing to be insured. That data is used to compute the premium and is entirely personal so bypasses any sexual discrimination. I think it only a matter of time before such telemetry is mandatory. In fact my all-new VW ID.3 is internet linked whenever I drive it. This isn't for insurance purposes but so that VW can monitor the performance of their new product. Regarding the tax issue, I recommend anyone who thinks that taxes pay for anything to read "The Deficit Myth" by Stephanie Kelton (or any other of the many books on "Modern Monetary Theory") and realise that many governments' response to the COVID crisis is following this economic theory, even if they t never admit it. The issue is how will the almost inevitable inflation be avoided once a degree of normality returns post-pandemic. The obvious answer is by improved productivity but that is something that this country has been unable to manage no matter what complexion of government is or has been in power. Keep safe . . . Stan

Mike, I'd be thinking seriously of shipping the buildings to France before 1st January. I wouldn't like to be responsible for the duty payable, let alone the paperwork that will probably be involved. I took delivery of wine direct from a co-operative in south-west France today just to avoid any duty that will probably be payable in 2021. HTH, Stan

Am I the only one contributing to this thread who can remember the very early soap, "The Groves"? Grannie Groves had her very own catch phrase, "I'm faint from lack of nourishment!" Early 1950s if anyone else goes back that far. Stan

As you take up your new responsibilities, may I plead with you to ensure that any future UK Rapido products take account of those who model to the more accurate wider track gauges (18.2mm and 18.83mm)? Accurascale and Sutton's Locomotive Workshop have shown the way and already produce easily convertible rolling stock as well as committing that their future products will be easily converted to run on more accurately gauged track, while still supporting the traditional (and admittedly much larger) 00 market. If these two new entrants to the market can do it, surely Rapido can as well. I'm certain the EM Gauge Society and the Scalefour Society will be only too willing to provide any information that you may require to ensure that Rapido's UK products are available to the "widest" possible market. I wish you every success in your new role. Stan

I've had several watches that pick up the signal from one of the official broadcast locations. Frankfurt is one but there are others, e.g. Fort Collins in the US and I think there is one in Japan. There may be others in Europe so persevere and your clock will eventually lock on to a signal.

Bit like Blundellsands instead of Crosby . . . Both L23 post code.

The pity is that if Villa had only won 1-0 or 2-0, my Everton could have hit the 7 (or more). Now Kloppie will make sure his "team" have practised defending so it will be another 0-0 draw. Everton will still be top (unless Villa continue to surprise everyone) and the Koppites will have to find even more excuses. Is it true that Nowegian Air will go bankrupt because no Liverpool supporters can get to Anfield these days? All quiet in Torquay as well, I hear . . .

I'm desperately sorry for the poor little viruses that have to co-exist with The Don and his (occasional) missus.

Here's my ID.3 just arrived at the dealer's 10 days ago. I collected it yesterday evening and it is now safely ensconced in the garage. It's very pleasant to drive but I confess the controls are a far cry from what I've been used to in the 59 years since I started driving. RTFM is all very well but at 300 pages the owner's manual takes some searching to find out how things work and how to adjust them.

Great news - many thanks for the confirmation! Stan

Please remember to carry on making provision in the base product for those who work in the more accurate gauges. The early products definitely did so and I really hope this is adopted as a firm principle for future developments. Stan

I've just received the sad news that Brian Rogers has died. He had not been in good health for a while but his death sees the passing of a very talented engineer whose Ultrascale products made such a difference to the running of many of our models. I knew Brian well when I lived near to him but apart from exchanging Christmas greetings, i haven't seen him for over 20 years. I hope someone who can write a more fitting tribute to him will do so but I will remember him as a truly gentle man whose skills benefitted our hobby enormously. Stan

My first car in 1961 was a 1934 Austin 7 that I bought for £10. Way back then petrol was less than 5 shillings (25p) a gallon or less than 5.5p a litre. And a pint of beer was 4.4p. Roll on my leccy ID3 to be collected on 18th September and I know it's arrived in the UK so looking good. Stan

Has anyone got any recommendations for the best charger for a BEV? I've been recommended to install a Zappi but before I commit myself, I thought I'd see if any existing owners/drivers/users have any other suggestions. TISA, Stan

My VW ID3 is on a ship heading to the UK for delivery to me on 18th September. . . Stan

Some time ago I scanned a copy of an article in Steam Days (October 2010) entitled Fish Traffic From North East Scotland. It's about 12.5 MBytes and as I am unsure of the copyright situation I won't attempt to attach it but if anyone would like a copy, please PM me and I'll assume they can cope with a file of that size via personal email for their own use. Cheers, Stan

Ken Dodd often amused his audience with the comment, "My mum would go mad if she knew I was here telling jokes . . . She thinks I'm still in prison . . ." So nearly true!

She's just been told she's got to have all her teeth out . . .

Going back many years I recall finding a copy of the Examiners' Report on the previous year's A level examinations in an office that I probably shouldn't have been in. I got to the report on that year's History examination and found that one examiner was enthralled by the exploits of the gallant Sir Bastepol during the Crimean War as related by one examinee. Stan

Take a look at <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/german-nudist-chases-wild-boar-that-stole-laptop-berlin-teufelssee>

After BL I joined Rank Xerox (by now in Finance) and in my time there RX went from leasing copiers to selling the refurbished ex-lease machines as well as selling all-new product. I see no reason why having rented or leased batteries for a while and deciding what capacity suited your needs, you couldn't then buy some ex-lease batteries at a suitably discounted price. Stan

OK - I'll bite . . . I joined Ford in 1965 as a Graduate Trainee. My first job was in Programme Timing on the 6th Floor at Warley so the same as the directors' offices. After that a spell at Power Train in Dagenham in the Thames-side office with the statue of Henry Ford outside. Strange how he was often sporting a West Ham scarf if "his" team won. In 1968 Alec Trotman appointed me Ford of Europe's first ever engine product planner, based in Dunton, handling the Kent and Essex Programmes but my main effort was the new OHC engine which meant trips to Koln every 2 weeks. In 1970 I was head hunted by British Leyland and left Dunton (and Ford) for Berkeley Square. The company spy in those days was an ex-diplomat type, H. H. H. Partlett, known to all as Bob. He was a classic British snob who loathed foreigners of any ilk but especially Germans - I guess he was old enough to have seen plenty of active war service. At least once a day someone would phone the weather forecast in German and transfer the call to Bob. On hearing a German voice, he would become apoplectic and could be heard throughout the offices screaming, "Speak English, damn you!" before slamming the phone down. Plenty more anecdotes from my working life waiting to be told . . . Stan

In my days at Ford (long before the EU) we worked with the EGPAS (European General Product Acceptance Standards). This was to ensure, for example, that position and colour of lights (brake, signalling, etc) would meet the different legal requirements of all the countries where Ford anticipated selling its products as far as possible with a single design. I guess nowadays much of this is centrally mandated by the Commission but in or out of the EU, the UK will have to adhere to whatever standards are generally applicable across the world if cars made in the UK are to be sold in as many markets as possible. From there it doesn't take too much to anticipate standardisation of battery packs and the possibility of multiple packs for larger vehicles or greater range. We shall see but even with improved battery and charging technology, something along these lines seems sensible. I recall when I was in Product Planning at Ford in the 1960s writing a paper suggesting that modular power trains could be offered. You could buy your Cortina but you would rent the combined engine and transmission (FWD, of course - the Mini had just been launched a few years before and FWD was the coming thing). For normal commuting and general use you would rent a 1300cc engine but when going on a longer trip with a full car (5 passengers and some luggage) you would visit your dealer and swap the 1300cc for 1600cc. For holidays towing a caravan, a 2000cc option could be rented. Clearly that never happened . . . Stan

I give you, Len Plum's daughter, Victoria. Len worked for Ford at Dagenham when I worked there, as did the young lady who made her name as Sandie Shaw (Puppet on a String).