Mrkirtley800

My wife heard someone complaining that with the close down due to the virus, we are worse off and more restricted than in WW2. Well, it is just not true, I lived through that and we are much better off now, no one is actually dropping bombs on us. Derek

Annie, I admire you. I guess, as we get older things begin to go wrong. I was in a past life, keen on running around the badminton court. I was never very good and tended to get in everyone else’s way, but I enjoyed it. Similarly Olga and I took up English folk dancing, great fun and we made many friends, but then we hit the buffers when I started with arthritis, having worn away the cartilage in my knees. But, I am lucky. I still have my marbles, at least, I think I have, and the arthritis has not reached my fingers yet, so being an ardent scratch builder, I can carry on with making things, sitting at my bench. I am not very good with lathe work though, so would never try making my own wheels, so I bow to you for so doing. Derek

By ‘eck thats champion. Tha’s just abart reet.. Derek

Or conversely, every silver lining has a cloud. Derek

Back in the early 1950s, I sat my ‘0’ levels. Henry 5th was included in the English literature studies. isee now why I failed. I actually wrote my answers in the Yorkshire dialect. Silly me should have learned Brummy. Derek

Sorry if I sound smug, but we get our Sainsbury groceries on line, so last Monday we received our order, which will keep us going for quite some time. But, as so often in life there is a catch. We buy on line because we have no choice. I am classed as disabled, with my severe arthritis in my knees and can’t walk more than a few yards and Olga is recovering from her chemo treatment. How I wish I could take her in the car to our local supermarket, queues or not, and be able to walk round to do our shopping. Life can be pretty bl??dy Derek

Hope it hasn’t sunk

Well done Paul. My congrats Derek

Is that my belated Christmas present, Paul Derek

Ah but can the sheep read English language, unless the sign is in baa baa. Derek

Don’t forget the Midens. Those models are the image of the street of back to back terraced houses in which my auntie Mabel and uncle Walter lived in Armley (Leeds). They did not have much of a yard, a couple of strides and you were in the street. There were no loos in the house, but each house had its own in the miden situated up the street. There were streets of houses like these in the district, and during WW2 gaps appeared which made playgrounds for us. Derek

No, still alive and kicking. Well, perhaps not kicking Derek

Hi Saun, I have sent an email using the address you gave me and followed up by pm. Derek

That looks very nice, Saun. The mojo must have returned in full Derek

That looks very nice, Saun. The mojo must have returned in full Derek

Not as much fun though

Sorry to hear that Saun, mine has too, to a large extent because of my wife’s illness and the treatment. Now and again I read about something or other on RMW which produces a spark of enthusiasm, always short lived, but you never know. Derek

Thanks for all your good wishes fellas. They were very much appreciated. As well as having a lovely close family, we are fortunate to have some wonderful neighbours and friends. We could never repay the many kindnesses we have been shown while Olga has been receiving treatment. Derek

I don’t have a number fixed in my mind as yet, but 1809 may fit the bill. Certainly more investigation is required as to the number. Derek Thank you for that Barry. Unfortunately, Olga has been quite ill over the period, and we thought that Christmas would be cancelled in our house, that is until the family took a hand. my eldest son came on Christmas Eve with a partially cooked meal, turkey et al, and cooked a delicious dinner for us on Christmas. Day. He left on Boxing Day and our daughter arrived. They actually passed each other on Pickering roundabout. she did a full supermarket shop for us as well as producing some super meals, and then went home on the Sunday. It was all such a wonderful surprise, almost a lovely present in itself, especially when you realise he lives 220 miles away and she 270 , and they both have families of their own. Our youngest son had really gone to town on presents too, so it actually turned out to be a Christmas to remember. Derek

The buffers are left off deliberately, and will be installed after painting, whenever that may be. Derek

It is a long time since I even opened my thread, due to some rather serious family health problems. However, on Boxing Day, I ran the 9.55 ex Leeds Wellington, using our new loco. Despite the layout not having been used for over a year, save to briefly test the engine, it ran well. the thing, or things, that didn't run well were my knees and after a brief operating time, I retreated into the warmer part of the house. I did manage a few pics showing the engine at the buffer stops at Kirkby Malham, and also the 1757 class 4-4-0 running down to top up the water tank at the platform end.

I will echo what has been said already. That viaduct looks superb and the way you have bedded it into the ground is very good, but if you want it to look Settle Carlisle - ish then you need rocks, rocks and more rocks, with, perhaps, a beck tumbling through one of the arches. Derek

To use an old fashioned phrase, “ complements of the season” Adrian. looking forward to seeing more of your outstanding modelling in 2020. Derek

I totally agree with Al, this layout is one of the most atmospheric I have seen. Beautiful realistic modelling. Derek

Paul, I am open to bribes. Derek