jamie92208

Good evening from the deepest Charente as the sun sets. Apologies for no posts over the last couple of days but other things got in the way. Anyway continue with the remaining pictures of freight on the independent lines at Crewe with a 67 emerging from the darkness. Then a 92 headed south. Followed by a DRS 66 heading north. I'd never knowingly photographed or even watched anything on the independent lines and Keith and I were quite happy with out time watching over the car park wall. Then we move north on a snowy February the 5th in 2009 and another trip to Glasgow to try and knock off various lines on the south side. We ventured out to East Kilbride on a 156. I did like that livery. Our 156 then took us back into the city. A few more trips on various parts of the Cathcart Circle helped us to finish off Page 81. A good day out. Jamie

I've just read the report in full and as usual in these cases it makes very interesting reading. Quite a few questions for LNER to answer re their driver supervision. Also some seemingly serious design problems with the TMS in terms of driver distraction leading to information overload. This has been a problem in the aviation industry for a long time. However the derailment risk is a difficult one and seems to go right back to the decision to go to 26m coaches. I wonder if that will come back to bite the Dft who specced the train. Jamie

Good moaning. It's quite cool here but the day promises to be sunny and up to the upper teens later. First of all, many many thanks for all the support and information about CPAP. Beth spent most of the day coming to terms with the diagnosis. By early afternoon we had had two phone calls about the machine, and the technician is due this afternoon. By late evening Beth seemed to have come to terms with the situation. I will store the information you have all provided and drip feed it in due course. Yesterday was not the right time. Anyway this mornings excitement is a trip to buy an appropriate extension lead and to drop the chainsaw chain off for sharpening. Regards to all. Jamie

I've helped in a few similar situations and they can be hard work but rewarding. The look on a friend's widows face when I gave her a 4 figure sum was reward in itself. The daughter of another good friend let me have a 1:48 Big Boy at considerable discount as thanks for helping to sort out her dad's railway estate. However in both cases I wouldcmuch rather still have them as friends. Much Kudos to Baz for the work he has done. As well as the time and effort involved, the emotional toll can often be hard. Jamie

10mm live steam. Jamie

I thought I better mention that the kit and parts catalogue was for Gauge 1 locos. Having changed gauges in thevmid 90's to 0 I really don'tvwant to change again, but the kit does look rather nice. Jamie

Back from the hospital, Beth has been diagnosed with sleep apnea which may explain some other problems. We are now waiting for an 'Aspirateur' to ring to arrange to deliverva CPAP machine. Chris, pleasecdon't delay your investigations, as bear has said the wcrote can wait. Somevpoor sod soent an extra 7 months in Armley Gaol in 1980 waiting for our firstborn to appear, and for Beth to be able to attend court as a witness. No sympathy for his plight was extended from our household. As wecused to say, they are all volunteers. Jamie

A rather late good moaning as we have been to Niort for a hospital visit for Beth. However we are now back. The sunshine is glorious and it's in the mid teens temperature wise. On our return there was an answerphone message from a modelling friend who builds in gauge1, live steam and electric. We are jointly ordering some supplies to save postage. After I'd talked to Richard I downloaded the requisite catalogue. No problem with the BA nuts and bolts, but there is avery nice 4F kit. Such temptation should not be placed in front of my eyes. It's worse than putting cake in front of a bear or hippo. Jamie

Good morning. It's a bit early but I'm up and about. We went to Niort yesterday and en route got stopped by the Gendarmarie to check thatvwe had our attestations with us. Foryunately we did except that I'd not put the time on mine when I signed it. Beth had her monitor fitted and then we came home. Today we have to be back there by 09.30 so breakfast will be had shortly. Notva lot else to report so I will wish you all well. Regards to all. Jamie

Yes it's a weed here and as you say seeds everywhere but it has made a reasonable hedge after being pruned with a chain saw. Jamie

We had a very high, 10', Cottoneaster hedge at the back. We cut it right down to 6" above the ground and left it. 3 years later, having been trimmed every year a couple of times, it's now a respectable hedge. A further slice of Ginger cake has just been consumed. Jamie

Our mutual friend Uncle T was a mud mover, find him a spare GR3 and I'm sure he would help, his former backseater Fleabag is abailable as well. Jamie

I wasted half an hour reading through the thread that has setca precedent, I don't know the eejit in question but do feel that moderating him would have been a better way to deal with him rather than a colle tive punishment for all and sundry. Jamie

I have an etch for a Midland and North British Clerestory in stock, PC models obtained from Pete Waterman. My plan was to build it and then have it painted in varnished teak livery as they ended up with the Late and Never Early. Just a comment on the test track, it looks great but I thought that DCC only needed two wires. Many years ago when my parents bought some land at the back of the house to preserve the view across the Ribble Valley to the Settle and Carlisle line, my father decided to plant a hedge round it and used a mixture of hornbeam and copper beech planted alternately. It looked rather good and had to be kept in chevk for two reasons. The first was so that my brother, my father and of course myself, could continue to watch the parade of steam hauled trains and secondly so that my mother could see who was walking past. The land was a wise purchase as my parents were able to sell it with outline planning permission when they sold our house. A bungalow now has the view of the railway. Jamie

Good moaning. Victorybover the cottoneaster came at a price. There was a Pah moment in the afternoon. Last week the glass dropped out of my offside wing mirror. It'ts surprising how you rely on that mirror. Also reversing the trailer is almost impossible A new one was ordered and arrived yesterday. The shape was correct but the fitting on the back was different. A new one has been ordered and I hope to get my money back but Pah. No use of the Volvo for a few more days. That is however a minor inconvenience compared to what others have to endure. Chris, very glad about your PSA results, good luck with the other matter. Mick, Skipepsi, good to see you around, good luck. Anyway breakfast has been consumed. The fire is rejuvenated, without matches and the day is to be siezed. This morning is shopping and this afternoon off to the hospital at Niort for Beth to be fitted with some sort of sleep monitor. I will take my camera and a book as the hospital is close to the station. Regards to all. Jamie

I'm scarred for life at the thought. On a slightly better subject the domestic authorities have decided that the ginger cake will not have the very sugary topping added so we sampled a slice each after dinner. It was scrumptious and moist. Jamie

I think they all have a phone number and a location code on the equipment cabinets, as well as the name of the owning railroad. Jamie

What a dipstick and avery lucky one at that. Jamie

It's sunny now, the chain saw has been safely wielded and the Cotoneaster is now a rather convoluted stump. A rogue bay tree has been lopped and Beth is now busy setting leaves out to dry. We are never going to need to buy Bay leaves again. Jamie

Good afternoon from a sunny place. Today is D for Digital day. My faithful OM-1 had served me well from 1977. I was constantly being told to go digital but until then had not been impressed by most of the digital cameras with their very long dwell time between pressing the shutter and taking the picture. Also decent quality DSLR's were out of my price range. However my last aunt died at the end of 2007 and her legacy allowed me to head off to a camera shop. I found a very knowledgeable assistant in Currys in Leeds and came home with a DSLR and two lenses. I've just manged to retrieve my 2008 to 2010 photos from the hard drive of a broken down desktop and am slowly trying to sort out my rather chaotic filing system. However I have managed to find some from December 2008 when I had a trip to Crewe. Here a Thunderbird is being coupled up to a Pendelino. Quite a complex coupling. However they did get it coupled. Then pulled away. And then we moved to the car park and spent some time watching the independent lines. Freightliner 66 came past. That's all that it will allow me to upload today so hopefully some more tomorrow. Jamie

Chrisf, I hope that both calls go well. Your friends on ER are with you in spirit. Jamie

Good moaning from ere. It's still dark and a bit chilly outside but the woodburner is going well having been rejuvenated. Yesterday was wet and windy but I did get the trailer back into it's newly painted parking spot. Cheese was bought at the market and cakes were also bought but didn't last as they had to be tested for quality. A good video chat was had with Martin and Katie. Katie lost the last of her pair of Jack Russells last week but they still have Reggie the Cocker Spaniel. They had spent time cleaning up my late father's collection of tea spoons and an amusing interlude then ensued trying to ID the cathedral that was modelled on one of the spoon handles. A bit of cross channel googling then ensued and it was identified as Lincoln. Reggie's afternoon walk took place round the cathedral to confirm the ID. Katie has learned what a transept is as the main spotting feature was two sets of transepts. What's the collective noun for a cathedral spotter. Anyway today is planned to be chain saw day as I attack the Cottoneaster at the heart of what remains of the jungle. A buddleia is also on the hit list as it's growing too close to a wall and damaging it. Regards to all and try and stay safe. Jamie

The ginger cake is now 'resting' whilst the master baker ponders on what to do next. There are two options 1) to wrap it up in foil to 'come again'for a few days, then put a rather sugary topping on, or 2) start eating it tonight. I dare not disturb the ayatollah whilst she cogitates. All is not lost however as two cakes were bought at the market this morning are ready to eat. I will report developments in due course. Jamie

The ginger cake is in the oven and smells rather nice. I believe that the topping is to be underway soon. Brownie points need to be earned so that I am allowed some. I therefore need to extract my digit and get the timer set on the underfloor heating in the bathroom. Complaints of cold feet on a morning have been made. Jamie

All this talk of cake must have subliminally got to Beth. She is planning to make a ginger cake this afternoon. Jamie