Dave Hunt

Yesterday I finally got past the 'analysis causing paralysis' stage of base***rd planning and ordered the wood cut to size. Although it may take a couple of weeks for it to arrive it will save me a lot of time and since we have family descending on us in relays starting on Thursday for over a week that is something that will be in short supply for a while. Market day today so SWMBO and I are just about to start a planning session on what supplies are required for the first few days of the gathering then I'll be off shopping. The car decided to complain about its catalytic converter again when SWMBO was driving it so she took it back to the garage where the result was the same as before - 'undocumented fault' - so they said again to leave it for a while and see how it goes. A short while later I was out in it and lo and behold, no warning light so I think it is probably a glitch in the fault detection system but what to do about it? If I'm lucky it may go away but then again..... Anyway, once muggercoffee is finished I'd better get on with things. Have a good day everyone with thoughts and prayers for those who can't. Dave

The rivets aren't missing - they're the posh countersunk type.

Night night everyone. Thoughts and prayers for those in pain/trouble/need. Dave

That'll keep the local magistrates quiet then.....

The garage didn't manage to find anything wrong. When they milked the car's computer it showed 'undocumented fault' so they checked everything they could visually just in case then when they gave it a test run the warning went out and hasn't come back since. They didn't charge me for this and said that it was probably some sort of temporary glitch of the warning system but if it reoccurred to take the car back ASAP. Fingers crossed...... Didn't get round to ordering the wood for my la**ot but had lunch out at a rather nice pub called The Boot in Cheshire with some ex-school mates and spouses and am about to indulge in what I hope will be the last planning session before starting to build. After ordering the wood I'll get on with building the Midland Centre turntable kit so that it can be built in from the beginning and, hopefully, not present any nasty surprises at a later stage. TTFN Dave

Could it be something to do with your anti-virus software? I use an iPad to get onto this site (as I am now) via Google and all I have to do is type 'RMW' into the search bar and it immediately offers me RM Web. A tap on that and I'm in - admittedly it can be a bit slow at times but otherwise it's OK. Dave

Rangers, There is merit in what you say and a part of me thinks you are right but I'm still a bit raw. Maybe after a bit more time I'll be able to contemplate taking in another creature that needs to be given a good home as Big Jim has done. We shall see..... Thank you for the thoughts. Dave

Back from Derby via No. 1 son's place in Chesterfield but now there's a warning light on the car's dashboard that the manual states to be something about the catalytic converter so it'll have to go and see the nice man at the garage tomorrow. There's allus bl**dy summat as the French say. I also plan on getting the plywood for my ba***oards ordered. Until then, nighty-night all. Sleep tight. Dave

Thanks for the tips chaps, I should be able to get something organised from them. Currently in a rather nice room in the Midland Hotel in Derby having finished the Midland Railway Society AGM and lunch and am enjoying some down time before Master of Ceremonies duties at the dinner this evening. Met John DMJ briefly this afternoon as he was at the Swiss Railway meeting and AGM in another part of the hotel and during breaks also got to see the Austrian Railways do across the road. Quite a railway fest. Tomorrow we'll be going up to Chesterfield after breakfast to visit No. 1 son before wending our way back to North Hippoland. Ta-ta for now. Have a good evening/morning/whatever it is wherever you are everyone. Dave

Having lost both our 21 year old tabby puss and 14 year old lab/collie cross in twelve months I sympathise Jim. SWMBO wants to get another dog but I can't bring myself to agree with her - I'm afraid that I'd always be comparing it with Sam, that it would somehow be disloyal to his memory to replace him and if I did get to love another creature as I do our two departed ones I don't want to go through this grief again. Dave

Good morning ERs from a bright and sunny spring morning in North Hippoland. Setting off for Derby and the Midland Railway Society AGM and dinner soon once communion with Mug O'Coffee is over. Crimson Rambler of RMW has been staying the night with us accompanied by Mrs. Rambler and together with SWMBO we are all going together. The bad news is that whilst the menfolk are at the meeting the females of the species will be loose in Derby without credit card locks so the modelling token stocks may well take a bashing. I've been trying to source some good quality birch ply for b**seboards locally without success so it looks as though I'll have to look further afield and get it delivered. Anyone got any bright ideas about a good source? Dave

Seeing as I'm the MRS chairman I don't have much choice....... Dave

The Midland Railway Society, in conjunction with the Hallmark Midland Hotel, Derby, is putting on a small exhibition in that hotel from May 10th to May 12th to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the incorporation of the Midland Railway. The hotel, which was built by the MR, is next to Derby station.

And the Midland Railway Society AGM is on at the same time in the same hotel as the Swiss. Great minds? Dave

And the aboriginal centre at the bottom end of the Skyrail is well worth a visit. Not much of major interest to report this evening. Spent half the morning hammering enormous wooden stakes into the ground so that SWMBO can tie up the roses to them as the new fence that replaced the old one flattened in the gales doesn't lend itself to the job. Then after lunch had to get on with my chairman's report for Saturday's Midland Railway Society AGM as well as making sure I know in detail what is on the agenda. Some other niffnaff and trivia with banks, insurances and the like took up the rest of the daylight hours and here we are at Zebedee time. Nighty night all. Sweet dreams. Dave

Tony, For what it's worth I'm with you 100% on this topic and if some people can't appreciate what you are trying to achieve with your observations I think it is their loss, not yours. Even though I model in a different scale/standard from you with a different emphasis on the aspects of railways that I try to portray, I find your work and observations interesting at least and often inspirational and I admire your efforts to encourage others and help them (and here I include myself) to reach a better standard of modelling. To my way of thinking, anyone to whom you offer your constructive criticism would, if they are interested in improving/advancing/call it what you will their modelling, take on board what you say to their advantage without being upset by what you offer. Alternatively, if someone isn't interested in improving/advancing etc. but can appreciate the spirit in which you offer your criticism, they will metaphorically (or physically I suppose) shrug their shoulders and get on with following their own path. What they won't do if they are reasonable and intelligent people is take umbrage when someone genuinely tries to help. I suppose that what I am trying to convey is that I'm convinced that what you say and write is not only worthwhile but is, in the great scheme of things, to the overall advantage of this hobby of ours. Should you become so discouraged by the comments of those whose understanding of your intentions is wide of the mark that you give up what you try to achieve here, it would be a severe loss to the majority and I hope that you will never take that step. Dave

How did you guess? We'll probably be at the GOG Doncaster show on June 1st if you are heading that way? Dave

Had a pleasant evening yesterday playing trains dealing with transport studies followed by a few drinkypoos and a chatfest that lasted until gone 2am (Baz - it was with Pete Kibble. Sound familiar? He sends greetings by the way). Hence a bit of a late start this morning but then a very convivial lunch out before returning to the North Shropshire borderlands. This afternoon and evening I had another Templot wrestling session that resulted in me more or less finalising plans for my la**ut (wonders never cease! - thanks Hippo) so I'm hoping it will soon be construction time. My Dad seems somewhat improved today and I'm hoping that the GP's advice will prove to be the basis for the improvement to continue. A very good good night to you all and may your dreams be sweet. Dave

I once hired a car from a place near Flinders St. station and whilst doing the paperwork the chap at the desk noticed that I had a copy of MRJ in my bag. "Have you seen the model shop at Flinders St? " he said. "If you like I'll hold the car while you have a look." By the time I got back to our hotel, SWMBO was chomping at the bit and demanding to know what had held me up. I'm not sure that my mumbled, "Traffic was bad," really convinced her. My Dad is a bit better, although the GP couldn't actually find anything obviously wrong. It has been suggested that at least some of his symptoms could be caused by of a sort of PTSD as a result of his breaking his hip just before Christmas - apparently this sort of thing is not uncommon in the very elderly. Just in case, though, he is being booked for some 'tests'. SWMBO and I are off to see some friends in Wolverhampton this evening where I will be playing trains discussing some historical aspects of the transport system and having a few beers trying out their new coffee machine. Have a good day everyone with commiserations for those with troubles. Dave

Had a very pleasant couple of days doing missionary work visiting friends in Wales but no hippos seen. Then this evening my Dad felt ill again with severe aches and the shivers, which is now happening two nights in three or so. Hence I'm going to try to get him a GP appointment tomorrow morning. That can typically take over three weeks here but I'll point out that he is 96 and hope that will get a better response. Nighty night everyone; sleep tight and sweet dreams. Dave

Bill, Why not contact David White of Slaters? Tell him I sent you - he's a friend (or was until now). Dave

Bon voyage Jamie and Beth. Have a good get-together Baz and Chris. Thoughts and prayers for Rick and Mrs Rick and all others ailing and suffering. Once Mug O'Coffee has been communed with it's off to market then we are venturing over the border into the wilds of Wales to spend the weekend with friends in Abermule. The meteorological situation that greets the eye from our kitchen window is promising so I'll bid you all au revoir and enjoy your weekend. Dave

Good grief! If my member had disappeared I'd be rushing off to casualty, not posting on ERs. Dave

Wasn't K one of the men in black? Does this mean you'll be fighting aliens and saving the galaxy Bob? A peaceful night everyone. Dave

Have a great trip Jamie and let's have some photographs, particularly of the Big 'un. Dave