HAL 'O THE WYND

I completely agree. I loathe the flat as a frat (typo) that result from pictures under fluorescents. Seeing as you feel free to post World of Warcraft on my thread, I'll be a reasonably OT with by first "banner" picture. You'll see the tubes are OFF.

Love the clock! - sling the fish-eye! Might be ok for show what might not otherwise be shown, but routinely? Feck!

Either way, I'm dead jealous. I am out of date with things - although Evans keeps emailing me since I was looking for winter clothing and lights - but you can always tell class. A quick OT I've been following some womens' world-wide touring stuff. God those girls have courage! eg: putting a head-scarf on (over tight t-shirt 'n shorts) and pedalling through dodgy Muslim places... nite nite

I can only plainly see the blue and white one. As soon as I saw the shape of the frame and the contemporary stem, it was

Excellent! Now give us a shot of the several-thousand-pound bike at the back. Hal 'o the Winded (Can't ride anymore - too arthritic. )

Now that was bloody dangerous. I opened to that image and I came over all dizzy!

I'd make your ears bleed! I'm monumentally #issed off at the minute. Hal 'o the Whine

Oh, very phonetic!

Playing catch-up, I've given rar the top accolade for mentioning Betjeman. I just love the guy (in a strictly NH sense of course) I think I'll contact Andy Y and ask if any mention of Betjeman, anywhere, should receive an automatic, by default Craftsmanship/Clever award. I'm sure you'll all agree with me. Hal

Mick's a font of everything decent. We are very fortunate to have him around. Hal

I'm rather tempted I'll tell you. ECML is gone sour for me on RMweb. Hal

There lies the problem. Trevor Ermel is in his seventies and retired. He lives in Whitley Bay, not far from Tynemouth where I live. But despite considerable effort, I've been unable to contact him. As I've already said, David Hey has my sympathy. He's done some wonderful work, second to none IMHO but he can't be contacted either. so, correctly, it has to go. A few people have seen it and it does demonstrate that black fives did make it into Tyneside, the photo and text is : - http://www.davidheyscollection.com/page69.htm Hal

I hope you have all your railway stuff listed for insurances purposes, other than just *household*. Feeling poorly and thinking I should list things, I was blown away by how much my few bits 'n pieces came to! - and that was just at a third of the original price. (Approximately what a decent dealer would give for good, boxed stuff) Hal

Personally, I'll always love steam the most. I was eleven in 1959 when I went to school in Newcastle, passing Heaton 52B twice daily - it was there I first saw Hal! As I've mentioned before, it was running a few sound-steam locos that made me unhappy about the accompanying lack of explosive exhaust. Something snapped. I still love to run all my A class pacifics, to watch the poetry of their motion, but... I do enjoy playing trains, Jason. My layout - such as it is - is four-track main so I can hypnotise myself peacefully. Often it's steam hauled freight on the slow up/down and diesel hauled passengers on the fast. Or an A1 circulating opposite a noisy Deltic .The racket from the diesels makes up for the others. Hal

Forgive me, Andy, but of passing interest, I quote the photographer Trevor Ermel: - Visits to Tyneside by Carlisle-based engines were fairly common at this time, such as 'Black Five' No 44674 in Low Fell Yard on 2nd June (below). Strangely enough I had 'copped' this loco at the same spot the previous month. http://www.davidheyscollection.com/page69.htm So I have some excuse! Hal (delete at will, Andy ) EDIT: I've been trying for weeks to contact Trevor via David Hey, but with no response. I think poor Mr Hey is pestered to death by the likes of me and is unable to respond to the huge number of observations and questions he is bombarded with. I think the date was March '65.

- "I beg your pardon! - Why must us lasses be odd!" (Hang around... I'm a bit senile... I'll just check something... Oh, it seems I don't qualify for lass after all. Odd? Yes, but not the other. If I may be OT for a second, there's a layout that is new to me (but probably not to everyone else) - SHENSTON ROAD. It's making me list my steamers for sale! (two sound black fives, anyone?) Sorry for the interruption. Hal 'o the Steamless

You are to be congratulated, David! - on repeatedly having the emptiest of email notifications! Hal 'o the B#ggered

The thingy-pads can work to one's advantage. I gained two *friends* through a similar mishap. I contacted them, curious as to why they befriended me, and they both excused themselves as Jock has done. LOL True! I can name names! One appears on here from time to time. Hal o' the Poorly

Hi Will, I've just realised it is ages since I checked yours out. I was going to say that I wish I'd been as good as you are at your age, but i think I'd better amend that by saying, I wish I was as good as you are, now! Cheers, Hal

Still saw off the tea-kettles in bluddy sharp time - and now they are all in museums! Ok, they let some loose on the mainline as publicity-stunts, but... ;) Before anyone bites, check out my name and profile-pic. 'Truth is, I love steam, primarily, but in it operational model terms with decent sound-systems... Importantly, those pictures are gorgeous! Hal

Pleased about the mucky green. Like my previous perona, I have a thing against crisp white frames. (Which is easy for me to say having built none in mill-like quantity. For the record, Bacup is influencing me intensely. Trouble is, there were few mills north of the Tyne, so I have to seek out factories with a similar look. Trouble is, most are brick and I'm finding it impossible painting brick in quantity. It's virtually brick by brick, so I sympathise regarding the time and effort factor. Regards, Hal

A lovely set of images, even if they do leave me a little green regarding your loco collection. And talking of green, the Castle with a train of ten Pullman behind it - including the observation coach - makes a nice image. Could we have that one, please? Hal

I like it - apart from being too damn clean! (helmet, breast-plate)

For the record, I'm really #issed off that the casting-depth on the Skaledale Terrace brickwork is so shallow! I've made a rod for my back with those. More of which on my thread (very) anon.

You've hit the nail on the head regarding Japanese work - I've got bookcases full! I also love the puppetry, but had no idea about the alternate views. Regarding Kolinsky, it is true that I became devoted using water-colour, but it's also true that a lot of well known "Artists and Illustrators" are paid to like synthetics. I can honestly say I've never found a synthetic that comes close. Something else I didn't know relates to the nature of the hair. Maybe it is that that holds the colour so well - all those micro-cups? (I'm in the dog-house. "Coming, Dear - " EDIT: I read your #8849 too swiftly and have repeated what you said about the hair! (Oh gawd her soup's cold )