Bon Accord

Back when I was "knee high to a grasshopper" and travelling by train to Wick with my Grandmother and Great-Grandmother (the latter didn't speak English, or at least pretended not to), Georgemas stuck out on the journey for being about the only station which they referred to in English as you've pronounced it, albeit it with Snaidhm rather than with a proper Gaelic name. It's odd the daft things you remember!

I managed to get a digital copy of Western Approaches a few years back from a fellow I worked with having seen it many years previously on VHS. Great film and in colour too. I do believe it's available on DVD from the Imperial War Museum.

She did, and when on exercise even operated with Argentinian pilots at one point.

We may not even have OCEAN for much longer. Rumours are spreading like wildfire that she's being lined up for a "hot sale" (i.e. operational and ready to go) to Brazil next year, thereby leaving us with no carrier capability be it fixed or rotary wing for circa 4 years until QE becomes fully operational.

I think they got to 112mph with that East German beast a few years ago, still bloody quick for a steam locomotive in preservation.

Not quite the first steam loco to achieve the ton in 50 years, it's more like 22 with another run 21 years ago coming a close second.

To follow on, with UK forces in Afghanistan critical/sensitive vehicles and stores were usually flown in from "friendly" Middle Eastern states (e.g. UAE and Oman) having been brought out from the UK by sea. Less sensitive items like general stores, fuel etc were brought in overland from Pakistan having been taken there by sea. The problem with all that was that it caused major problems with the C17 aircraft due to the short and regular duration of the flights such that the number of take off/landing evolutions massively exceeded those planned for during the design life of the aircraft leading to all sorts of unforeseen and expensive fatigue problems. With Iraq having a deepwater port like Umm Qasr available, all UK forces stores, equipment, ammo and vehicles were taken to/from there by sea from Marchwood Military Port (Southampton).

One of the things I loved about the old NRM was that when you walked into what was the MPD you were met by a magnificent array of well polished and mostly pre-grouping locomotives arranged around the turntable. The conversion of the MPD buildings into something resembling a shopping centre nearly 30 years ago didn't change that impressive spectacle, which I suppose could well be considered iconic for the NRM and perhaps it's best advertisement. Now it's all gone; with empty roads, naff exhibition hoardings taking up other roads, a dearth of any information adjacent to exhibits which isn't designed for 8 year olds and yet more catering space and stalls selling 'Scotsman tat. Given their direction and disposals of late (as outlined in previous posts) I tend to the think those in upper management need a real shake as to the founding purpose of the NRM.

I'll never fall in love again - Deacon Blue

I think the Inverurie shop might be finished. I walked past the shop at the back end of last year and it certainly appeared to be permanently closed. As for Morays Models, if memory serves they are still extant but no longer have a publicly accessible premises.

What is and what should never - Led Zeppelin

Being set in '67 does that mean the layout might see some of the last surviving ScR Austerities and J36/37/38 as well as suitable diesels?

White Summer/Black Mountain - Led Zeppelin

A man's a man for a' that - Robert Burns

Nothing ever happens - Del Amitri

I think we're alone now - Tiffany (her indoors helped me with that one, honest)

It's not quite that simple. Even the ships carrying the least sensitive cargoes will normally have at least a Reservist onboard as liaison and to "keep an eye". Those carrying items more vital such as sensitive equipment or ammunition will normally be RFAs or Strategic Sealift vessels which will carry a full crew of reservists. As well as RN planning, the RN also monitors such ships via satellite and other communications methods via Northwood and the likes of UKMCC in Bahrain, with local RN units kept informed should they be required for escort or assistance purposes. One of the lessons learnt as far back as the Falklands was that there simply was not sufficient suitable tonnage available to the MOD, even at that time when the UK had a large fleet (in comparison with today). By suitable I mean British flag, built to appropriate construction standards for a war zone, able to carry the kind of cargoes required by the modern MOD (Ro-Ro, containers and break bulk), able to work with aircraft in a limited fashion, have specific comms gear onboard and also able to interface with Mexeflote and landing craft. The 1998 defence review actually addressed some of those lessons from 1982 and 1991 and resulted in the procurement of six such suitable ships of which it was only envisioned three would be required at any one time, the other three could operate commercially and generate revenue for the MOD or at least cover operating costs. In reality 4 were needed full time and occasionally a 5th. Roll forward to 2012 and the new government got rid of 2 ships, stating that if more are required they can be brought in on private charters. Literally 2 months later they then chartered in two ships at roughly 3 times the cost of the "in house" vessels to try and cope with the backlog of kit to be brought home as the result of the drawdown from HERRICK (Afghanistan) - clever eh?! Yes, even British operations in Afghanistan (a land locked country) depended on resupply by sea, usually from the UK to ports in Cyprus/UAE/Pakistan where it was then flown directly in on a short hop basis or in the latter case driven up country. One of the ships I've mentioned is that seen above (a ferry?!) and is indeed fully crewed by RN sponsored reservists and operated/tasked by what was known as DTMA then DES and is now something partly privatised, but basically an MOD tri-service logistics organisation. Now, there's little point in having these vessels or any others as part of a supply line or amphibious task group if there's nothing available to protect them and nobody able to organise it all - which is where the RN comes in.

The personnel have gone by air since the last troopships were paid off in the '60s, however all the kit - vehicles, heavy items, ammunition, food, accommodation, equipment etc etc - all still go by sea. Considering how reasonably small the UK contribution to Op Telic was in 2003 (in comparison to the USA), some sixty four merchant ships were still required to get all the kit to Kuwait and Iraq so that we were able to not only invade but also to consolidate the ground we'd taken. Then came all the resupply trips.

Night Prowler - AC/DC

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David, Which incarnation of Klear are you using? Is it still the old stuff or the new version which I believe is Pledge Multi Surface Wax? The results look excellent regardless.

My life is a succession of people saying goodbye - Morrisey

Wicked Ways - Garbage