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Nice Great Eastern stuff as per usual, Dave. Little known fact is that wonderful guy and musician Jack Bruce lived in Sudbury. Much missed..... Best, Pete.

That's tough, Ian................. In other news from the left hand coast I'm stuck in my office over the Garage because a film unit has taken over our main living room (and I cannot access the Den). I wish that I could tell you the Sigourney Weaver was here but she's not; they are making a Christmas TV advert (at the last minute) for some upmarket Pet thing. Our Westie Maizee is enjoying it as she'll be one of the stars and is presently bursting with treats. The actor (not actress any more) is totally tasty, however (and probably why I have been banished). They are letting us keep the rather nice Christmas Tree (it's fake but a very good fake). I suppose I'm lucky that they did not fill the front yard with fake snow but they are using some other mugs garden... On that note (Bb) I'll love you and leave you and try to get in on all the f@#king food that has arrived. Best, Pete.

When I used to use the NY Subway regularly I always took the view that you've got to be considered the weirdest in the "Car". So I looked directly into people's eyes, started conversations deliberately etc., etc. It certainly made life more interesting and produced mores smiles. It can be rewarding (New York, that is). I once started a conversation with the late Lou Reed just because we happened to be walking in the same direction, on the same sidewalk, at the same speed in Hell's Kitchen. The conversation was about Steve Hunter.... Best, Pete.

Most places over here in the USA start work at 8:00am anyway (offices included). Best, Pete.

it's the only way... We're still forwards here - bloody dark in the mornings tho'. Nor'easter passed by on Saturday. Received a message on my 'phone from NOAA warning of Flash Floods due to fallen leaves blocking drains etc. Er, guys, the leaves are still mostly on the trees and green too. Sometimes you just have to look out the window (to see which way the wind blows) instead f looking down from satellites... Best, Pete.

I wonder if they took the "Free" sign to show to Police? If so they could have written their own...... Nor'Easters run up the east coast and turn right at Long Island then left again and often peter out around Halifax (NS not Yorkshire). What I can't figure out is why they hug the coastline..............Someone please do tell. Even the pros say "It's what they do..." Best, Pete.

We're getting a Nor'easter on Saturday, if it wasn't for that the weather would be perfect...... We get all the west to east weather and the south to north and even the south west to north east weather - it all comes over us. Best, Pete.

That's the story of my life..... I was just getting dressed and idly listening to Radio 4 (internet - terrific quality). It was an interview with a musician (later found out it was Duncan Lamont from Greenock), he was eulogising someone from the sixties who I actually knew too, Johnny Keating, a fellow Scot from Edinburgh. I only knew him from London (I was secretly in love with his Wife - I was 16 at the time). What pleased me was that Duncan Lamont (who had played Sax with Sinatra) was saying how he felt like a kind of fraud and was worried that he would be found out - I've always had the same fear! Now my fingers don't work probably it's truer than ever. Best, Pete.

Tony, Take your hat here! Live stream from San Juan Capistrano station: I cannot remember the old song or which birds go here - some one will enlighten - possibly Ian A. Hope this works OK. Best, Pete.

It's quite a reasonable way to obtain the 12 cylinder engine in all its glory.... I like this model too the BB (one of the few Ferraris that look great in black): I remember in the late seventies, maybe early eighties, coming back from Le Mans in a Jaguar XJC V12 (in itself a great car, it was the actual one on the cover of Classic Cars, the registration started with LPN - it's being restored as we speak) doing 130mph when we saw this approaching behind us in the Jags' mirrors: He must have been absolutely flat out when he passed us. The sound was incredible! Those were the days alright. Best, Pete PS I know someone who has a Testarossa for sale if anyone is interested - its the model with one extra long side mirror.

A little older, a little fatter - but who isn't? Roy in 2015: Best, Pete.

It's too long ago for nuances, Mal! My brain hurts wondering what I was doing back then. That explains a lot - when I take my hat off people are surprised that I have a full head of hair (well, receding a bit since my 20's but not at all bad). Best, Pete.

If I remember correctly Roy actually started ELO and when The Idle Race broke up Don Arden "suggested" to Roy that Jeff should join... That line up lasted two singles. That was a GOOD idea as even Jeff couldn't take The Idle Race anywhere. I'm still wondering whether Jeff ever takes off his hat. We should be told. I was watching the Concert for George last night; some good line ups in that. Check it out. Best, Pete.

What a lovely photo! You related to Donovan Leitch? Best, Pete.

I believe Paul helped Jimi's sister get hold of the rights to his recordings (they were held by some Japanese bloke previously) . Whilst her choices of reissues have been controversial I still think it right that the family have this. By the way despite the hooha over Jimi losing the original mix of Electric Ladyland on the UnderGround (myth or not) - I still prefer the original (remixed) UK release over the "correct" American one. It's more complicated than I can put into a post here but I think you would know what I mean. Family photo: Best, Pete.

Odd wheels on the top one (Lancia)??? I confess to liking the F 400i GT 412, not many do........ they are still "reasonable". Remind me of the Granny Mk.2!!!! Best, Pete.

That's too bad! You only live once. Best, Pete.

In reverse with the later models it was even more vital - I'll find another vid. Some d@#head driving..... He doesn't do it as elegantly as Bob or Valentino. Ferrari's are so more beautiful - a friend of mine who owns two recently got a factory tour which included the farm owned by Ferrari with their herd of cattle that exclusively provide the leather upholstery. Best, Pete.

My favourite Countach ever: Smokey Joe Best, Pete.

I quite like it - remember McArthur Park Notice the way Richard's voice becomes a choir of women around the 7 minute mark? Runs away and hides..... Pete. PS On form today, Tony, lad!

That man-made island is sinking - it is costing billions to fix.... Best, Pete.

You'd end with an Indy - Car like F1 where they'd all look the same, it's bad enough as it is. Best, Pete.

The weather in Portugal has been grossly overrated - 75mph gusts at the most (and rare at that). Problems related to trees with shallow roots and Building codes that did not expect Wind...... I t may surprise some that a tree gets used to Wind and adapts to it. Oh, well another Sunday rather cold with a high of 61f - but once winter comes we will be grateful for that. Best, Pete.

On old jets etc. My all time favourite airplane, the F-14 Tomcat is considered such nowadays. I can remember running strategic simulations back in the nineties when I could protect whole US Carrier fleets from everything the Russians could fling at them through the air with just 16 F-14's providing 24 hours of CAP. Their's a lot of talk now about Russian and Chinese ultra fast missiles - the F14 could carry (at a pinch) 6 AiM 54 Phoenix air to air weapons that travelled at over 5K mph. It was even possible to use them against the much vaunted (yet never proved in action), Soviet "ShipWreck" ASW, if the worst came to the worst. As to flying them now I don't believe any survivors are airworthy (if anyone knows better please let me know). That's the best thing about simulations - fly them safely; A new simulation will shortly be available promising exactly identical cockpit hardware that is all usable - whilst the flight characteristics (including typical F-14 behavior) will be as closely modelled as possible. Two adverts (the second is better, both on the same loop): Best, Pete.

Jamie, Don't worry the latest one has the end drooping into the Bay of Biscay and pointing South East.................... It could end up anywhere, though, really - as a depression (which suits it). Best, Pete.