gordon s

Sounds like we have the same grasp of culinary matters, DD. I prefer the hunter/gatherer format any day. At least you know where you stand... Better go and get my balls cleaned for the big game on Thursday. Eldavo sounds like a bandit name, so I'm expecting the worst.... Sun is trying hard to break through but only 5/10, so could do better.

It's a good job I'm thick skinned. You need to be on here.....

Thanks BoD. I didn't realise that, but certainly explains the traffic and security. I've no idea why I didn't check on Google....Doh!

Apologies for the late reply, but I've been out most of today enjoying a very pleasant pub lunch in the sunshine, just north of Henley. I see I'm going to get caught out here, so had better put my cards on the table as it were. Almost from birth, we lived in North London and the southern end of the ECML was my old stomping ground and it was natural that the first layout I would build with my new found freedom from work, would be southern ECML based. However, I have always been a fan of Tetleys Mills and loved the look of Dave Shakespeare's retaining walls and Dave very kindly showed me how they were built and I thought "I could do that'. Having produced some retaining walls, I realised that type of stonework was never seen down south (I'm guessing) and this left me in a quandary as to south versus north and the stonework won. Of course this now means that overnight ET moved north by a couple of hundred miles, but then I don't take (or should I say didn't) take my modelling that seriously at the time. This layout has taken several years out of my life and as each day goes by, my views change, something akin to developing the appreciation of good food and fine wine that comes with experience and maturity. This started off as a train set, but hopefully will become a model railway one day in the future. Thanks for the tip about MRL tomorrow Andy. I'll check it out and tune in or whatever is needed to watch. One thing is clear to me and that is there is a huge hole for industrial/city back scenes, ideally from the 60's to go with urban steam/early diesel layouts. OK no one will become a multi millionaire, but they would sell a few no doubt. .....and many thanks for all your feedback and continued interest in this project. It is a long haul and there are peaks and troughs of activity, but the journey has been enjoyable and still has some way to run.

Evening all.... Glad to hear the funeral was OK Dom. It's lovely to say goodbye to loved ones with the sun shining They will always leave a light in your life. Out your way today, Mike. Henley was busy, probably pre regatta traffic and there was some sort of major function at Henley Business School. It was signed as a 'garden party' but seemed to be much more than that. Any ideas, Mike? Had lunch out at The Frog at Skirmett, which was very good indeed. Of course the pub couldn't be called anything else but The Frog in a village called Skirmett.

Morning all.....another football hangover this morning. God, we looked ordinary, but then we are..... In another few days, I'll feel the same again after Johnny Foreigner wipes the floor with us at Wimbledon.. On the plus side, the sun is beaming and it looks wonderful out there.

Sad to say we were completely outclassed and Pirlo ran the whole show from start to finish. Of course I always hoped England would do a Chelsea, but in the end Italy were a class above. What price Ashley Young now? Why on earth they didn't take him off was beyond me....

Morning all....No worries Don, I'm here, but just been ankle deep in reviews and specs for a replacement pocket camera. I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to technology so do tons of research before making a choice, normally sourced via Amazon as their returns procedure is second to none. Although I've favoured Canon in the past, I fancy a change so went for a Fuji X10. It's not without faults mind you as I've also read a lot about 'white orbs' spoiling night shots or reflections. Seems it only effects a few shots per thousand and is very condition specific, so I'll see how it goes within the return period and if there's any sign of a problem, it will go back. Rest of today will be taken up with F1 and the England game plus a wedding interlude as my daughter and future SiL arrive mid afternoon after another church visit. Just three weeks to go now and then life will return to normal...

That's a grand looking Moggy with the don't mess with me look....Better count your fingers DD. Signs of the sun breaking through. Looks pretty wet 'oop north. We don't know we're born down here. Hope you all get through it unscathed.

"I can attest to the fact that when I post in the middle of the night UK time I get just as many problems and there is only a handful of people on board. That board I mentioned above, The Gear Page has grown exponentially (I'm Member 1207, or something) now 100,000. Yep, they had some issues at times - interestingly one of the things the Mods do not allow is too long threads, like Early Risers on here, they will seal the thread and start another one. The very long threads were affecting the performance... Best, Pete". Don't tell 'em that, Pete, they'll shut us down and years of wisdom will be lost.....

....and this is what I missed this morning as I was down in Somerset, exactly where Bittern was going. Hoping to catch her at 8.30 tonight if the light holds up... Love the 4 wheel coaches at the rear of the train....

Something every garden should have.....

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned......Been playing away but hoping a sight of Bittern tonight will put me back on the straight and narrow. ...and just for the record, scraped through my 11+, but would happily have failed for a glance or two in Pete's class... B)

Thanks for your comments guys and I agree with most of them. The blue sky is just too perfect and happens in the UK only a few days a year. It would suit big sky country settings but not here. The industrial scene is also too modern for the early 60's. I think our hobby is screaming out for 60's industrial backdrops. The few I have seen have been hand drawn and not really up to modern standards. Maybe I have to get my camera out and try and create my own. Thankfully it's all some way in the future but the exercise was certainly food for thought...

Morning all....Still breathing, despite the increase in years. Head is fine Don, but nerves are shattered after last night's game. The England team to me just look like a bunch of average Joe's when compared to some of the more creative teams. Of course I want them to do well, but they do lack class.....

She'll probably get a game on Sunday...

Thanks for all your best wishes. Had a mixed day. A trip on the West Somerset Railway was great. Not so good was dropping my Canon camera in the car park and breaking it beyond repair and then breaking off an arm of my half decent sunglasses. Now a Catch 22. This is the second camera I've dropped. Claimed for the last one on insurance but premiums went up and I lost my no claims record for shopping around. Unless these things are £500 plus, it doesn't make sense to claim, so it's down to me. Just as well the prices have come down and very glad it was my five year old pocket camera and not my new SLR. Come on England!

I was beginning to wonder if the clue was a little obscure.... Yup, 64 today....

A few years back Capt Kernow showed me an alternative method that solved all those problems and now I wouldn't ballast any other way. Clean and simple with no mess. See post 45 in my Eastwood Town thread.....Link from my signature.

Didn't get too many tractors in North London, so that experience passed me by..... 48 years ago I was singing "When I get older losing my hair, many years from now"..... Today, it's for real....

Glad to hear he is OK. A couple of broken vertebrae will be very painful. Reminded me of an F1 crash with a car airborne and flipping. Google mentions Mark Webber, but I think that was another one. I was thinking more like Warwick, Brundle or Herbert, but I may be miles out....

I would loved to have played with a baby sitar about 30 years ago... Did I tell you about one of ours? We came home earlier than expected and when I opened the door I was greeted by a naked baby sitter, legs akimbo with her boyfriend enjoying the ride. The world stopped at that minute and I didn't know what to do or where to look for the best. Thankfully the earlier Mrs S was behind me and didn't see what was going on first hand... Attractive girl, but she never baby sat for us again...

I could play on that feeder for hours.... Just need to scale it up a bit.

Doesn't seem to be listed as one of his albums, Pete, but then I guess you probably know that... http://www.niladrikumar.com/albums.html

Ever tried taking a pic of a bee in flight DD? Bloody impossible and believe me I tried yesterday. Depth of field, fast shutter speed and lighting all conspire to make it difficult.... One day...... Here's next years income flowering nicely..