POLIO FELLOWSHIP CHRISTMAS CONCERT

last night we were at Heswall on the Wirral braving the elements for the charity concert given by the Castle singers. I'm pictured left with Graham who has raised millions for charity and was awarded an OBE recently , received at Buckingham palace from the Princess Royal

The reason for my works banners ( AMEC) is that they were match funding the evening which is hoped to raise around £2000. Polio is a forgotten illness and hundreds of thousands in Britain alone suffer from the after effects particularly from the outbreaks in the 40-60s.

competing with Strictly Come dancing was difficult for seat sales! Mandy is bust folding raffle tickets. The Mayor came along and the council made a generous donation to the evening.

on this Sunday morning the snow is falling gently in Lower Peover, sods law its not a weekday when I could film buses or lorries in the snow but I'm taking my camera to work tomorrow just in case!

GOOD WORKS DO ROTTEN TRIP HOME

yesterday was the works do in Chester at an Italian, overpriced but that's Chester for you, we went over to Slug & Lettuce afterwards and some photos of the happy imbibers. The journey home got worse and worse, someone had noted the wrong number to call our minibus and eventually when we were on the M6 the motorway was shut for whatever reason. Got home after 9 pm, rotten cold as well but clearer this morning.

WHAT IS MANCHESTER COMING TO

Interesting family members part 66. Well I made that bit up but I was sickened to hear of the cowardly attack on Mandy's cousins husband Derek ion the bus the other day. A lout was doing what they do and Derek being Derek intervened, unfortunately Derek ended up unconscious after the hoodlum attacked him. Thankfully despite the shock and bruising Derek is making a good recovery. As well as a loved family member Derek who started as an engineering draughtsman is world renowned for his passion for traditional New Orleans jazz, a life shared with Trish who has recently undergone major surgery and hence why Derek was on the bus.

Derek started playing in 1967 with Dwight Gidney's Black Eagles N.O.Band. After two years with Ged Hone's band, he joined the Vintage Syncopators Jazz/Comedy band in 1971. From 1976 played with a variety of N.O. and parade bands. In 1978 was asked to join the Temperance Seven as their vocalist. He is still there today! Derek continued to play trombone with many bands including The Red Rose and the late Dennis Browne's Creole Serenaders. For the last seven years he has helped to run and play with the Milneburg Boys based in mid-Cheshire. Not sure how up to date this all is Derek would not be backwards in coming forwards to correct me.

Last night I just about caught up with the last of the Dutch transport films taking me on to Utrecht. Tonight just one DVD to burn and then start the covers but as we are due to have Christmas dinner at the 3 Greyhounds it might be a short session. A trickle of orders still on the net but it looks as if the rush is all over

CROSVILLE MEMORIES

although I had lots of archive photo sales at Boyle St the other week the only batch which sold poorly were the Crosville shots, this really surprised me so another shot in the arm for these views, next chance to get them March 2010, yet again at Boyle St, Manchester our next event

apologies if any featured before, I hope to borrow Mandy's camera for some non transport shots in France last weekend.

I've got a couple more Dutch films done, getting near the end with Arnhem and Utrecht. I've then got a whole heap of covers to design. I've updated the list to reflect these very recent releases. Hopefully before we go to Ireland I'll have links to them on Amazon, I've had lots of sales there recently eclipsing EBay by miles. I've held back listing latest releases on EBay in protest at their awful way of dealing with sellers. We are now making final arrangements for Christmas with Hil and Sean in Co Tipperary, don't worry though we'll be back very soon after Christmas with minimal delays to DVD dispatches.

BUS VARIETY IN CALAIS FRIDAY LAST

The open top decker was the biggest surprise of the trip

still full of cold, chesty awful cough cheesed off with it. At consultants last night, I need yet another knee operation, date 13th Jan 2010, could have done without that. What a great start to the year but hopefully it will be almost back to normal afterwards.

Picked up my new glasses today after dropping my old ones at the Merseyside PTE do the other week. I haven't had much time to edit so far this week, I'm trying to finish off the Dutch stuff, I'll have a go tonight but feeling really rough

TRAM TROLLEYBUS DVD CUSTOMERS

IMPORTANT FOR TRAM AND TROLLEY CUSTOMERS

I've decided that the T&UT ( Modern Tramways) offers poor value on it's adverts and have dropped our monthly quarter page. This in no way indicates a lessening off of our tram and trolleybus releases, indeed output is higher than ever and lots of exciting trips lined up for 2010.

Our slap bang up to date list appears on our website

www.pmpvideo.com

which is easily searchable by content, region etc. Advertising is a bottomless pit you could stand and throw money into. I can't recall the last time a new customer quoted a TUT advert, a majority of sales are now via Amazon or EBay. There are direct hyperlinks to our shop on the list. I shall also add links to Youtube clips at some stage. Occasionally I get people requesting printed lists, its been several years since the last one was produced, again a waste of money with the net is almost free. Even for those without home computers most libraries offer free assess.

This also brings into focus other advertising locations, Buses magazine is hideously expensive for our half page monthly advert, I've looked at Bus & Coach preservation which is much better value but has it the readership and i also noticed at Manchester Boyle St that they promote competitors DVDs. Most annoying are the ' cherry picker' DVD producers who concentrate on the honey pot locations, seldom do they reach the far corners of the British Isles let alone give worldwide coverage

Much better value this past year has been the adverts in Classic Commercial magazine which has brought us a whole new customer base.

I did some filming at Calais and St Quentin at the weekend. I noticed Amiens had some attractive new buses but had no time to film them. Amiens is one of the smaller contenders for a future french tram line.

Orders continue to pour in via Amazon, our biggest growth area plus as ever via EBay although I've held off putting new releases on as its much poorer value for me than Amazon and their site is cumbersome to use as a retailer and customer support laughable.

The Vauxhall Insignia didn't reach it's first service without having to go into the garage where it resides this morning. I've got a chesty cold which i could do without. Tired after a hectic weekend, tonight I return to my consultant Mr Geary to get results of MRI and XRays on my knee and right foot.

BACK FROM FRANCE

Calais Friday lunch time

St Quenton yesterday afternoon

we've just arrived back home, stashed the wine and other pressies and caught up with orders on the net. I'll report more fully on the weekend tomorrow when I've caught my breath!

BRIGHTON VIA FLEETWOOD THATS A GOOD UN

The last one is 1996 at work at ICI Fleetwood on a shutdown that summer, the lads are gathering for a safety award. otherwise above its Brighton in days of yore on the promenade with a mix of Southdown, Eastbourne and Brighton Corp.

Coming up to date, we head off to France tonight via Cannock and will be back Sunday night. Not sure what we;'ll get up to other than good company and wine.

Last night I downloaded all the rest of pre DVD era Netherlands ready to edit next week. Includes Arnhem and Utrecht.

It was the busiest day for orders of the year yesterday and it looks like continuing, a small sale is on at our EBay shop.

Thanks for all the Christmas cards rolling in at present.

AN ESSEX VISIT

its off to Colchester for my archive corner today and not too much to report, it's a bit groundhog day as I did yet another Den Haag tram DVD last night taking me through to 1999, just 2001 tonight and then I'm up todate and the released on DVD era. Yet another clip on Youtube on 1996 Den Haag, these clips seem to be getting a few hits. Got another CD of diditised negatives yesterday from which these essex scenes were derived. Earlier material is still at Asda who are now caught in Christmas rush. Paul who is the neighbouring stand at Boyle st, Manchester dos uis gojh to lend us his negs for next year expanding my range a bit more. Its a brighter sunnier drier day for a change. Got the new DVD recorder yesterday, plugged it in but the lead came out again from TV which gave a frustrating few minutes. Yet to risk an actual recording!

AT THE SIGN OF THE BLACK CAT

a theme for tonight, obviously Felix in Derby but did you know that they were threatened with legal action over use of the Felix logo, wonder they didn't want to banish the name as well.

anyway life goes on, a bit busier on the net tonight both EBay and Amazon. I've got through the Den Haag archives and am just running off the DVD of The Hague trams in 1999. The 1996 clip is on Youtube. I managed to get a few notes done to go with Christmas cards. My present to Li in China arrived today, he is trying to read my book, stuck on the first page, guess it translates somewhat difficultly into Chinese, oh boy glad i'm not trying it the other way around. Still copies out there if anyone is interested. Getting ready for out trip to France on Friday to stay with Ian and Miguel at La Maccassar in Corbie near Amiens, one of best 10 small hotel in Europe per Trip Adviser, No1 according to us.

A REMINDER TO POST EARLY?

yes some shots from one of my lesser known collections, for many years I've taken snaps of post boxes around the world!

I was at the opticians today getting tested for new specs, eyes improved .25 diop which is only a tiny bit but better that way than white stick land and good news the cataracts are about 30 years away still.

Not one single order on either the net or in the post, the first day like that for many months, I'm sure it will chanfe as the night wears on. Another small sale on EBay ( our 'low cost' carrier as it were. Still working through Den Haag films, 1990 posted on YouTube.

BOYLE ST MANCHESTER PHEW I NEED A REST

yes another fairly busy day and although we broke no records it wasn't a bad turn out and lots of old friends to chat with. A few snaps of visiting buses and free bus service plus interior of the museum. All EBay , Amazon etc orders being despatched in morning. Hurray no more rallies or sales until the end of March 2010

BOYLE ST PEOPLE BUT NO MONEY

a smaller selection of visiting bus on Saturday at Boyle St today but should be a few more tomorrow. There were plenty of people first thing but after a brisk morning trading it went dead in the afternoon and was well below last years event. Still as friendly as ever and plenty of time for you to visit tomorrow. The old knee and now right foot giving pain after a day standing, it wasn't that cold this time. I've been sorting through photos whilst there and getting new box selections ready, hoping to keep one theme per box to prevent mixing by browsers. The 'new' stick I've had printed from my collection has gone well today. Brisk sales on Amazon today so grateful for that, everything is still being prepared same day.

OH NO NOT HOSPITALS AGAIN

its a commercial day, no not adverts but trucks. Anyway I've just got home aster setting up the stand at Manchester Bus Museum at Boyle St ready for the weekend, lots of new releases there, hope to see a lot of our friends and customers.

of course I'm getting many of my photos on digital, eventually nearly everything should be avauilable most of the time.

Anyway went to see Mr Geary the consultant this morning, had x-rays of knee and right foot. Knee MRI scan again next week, possibly need new part of new fitted. The right foot also has damage, the insert to correct flat feet has been incoprrect and now I have additional problems, oh boy.

Really looking forward to a good sit in the bath and get clean after being at the museum and give my foot a rest. Another nice email from Li in China, some explaining of the wedding last week required.

MPTE NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

I must be feeling generous today but here's a free voucher for you, print - cut out and use with any order sent in before end of December for any DVD. http://www.pmpvideo.com/ for full list. You can even use it on Sat or Sun at Boyle St Christmas Cracker in Manchester.

Last night I got all the latest releases uploaded on the website and for sale on Amazon. EBay lags behind but I'm in no hurry as it offers such poor value as a seller. I may catch up after Christmas.

We are off to the Halle at the Bridgewater hall in Manchester tonight which means i need to load the car as soon as I get home, bolt down dinner and get moving. Tomorrow I have another appointment with the consultant Mr Geary over the slow recovery after my July knee operation, now getting pains in my right foot as well, oh dear.

I'm now editing all pre DVD era Den Haag material before moving onto UK Bus and Truck rallies of yesteryear!

A BIT OF THE BLARNEY

soon I should have the first batches from my 1979 - 83 stay in Ireland on digital with a very thorough coverage of CIE plus Ulsterbus. Meanwhile a few teasers from the collection to keep you amused

tonight I'll have a clip from the MPTE do at Liverpool last Sunday on Youtube, the covers were ready today so it will be on sale at Boyle St on Saturday this week, yes it's Christmas cracker time again folks.

What else, well I'm getting the new releases loaded on Amazon, no hurry with the hated EBay, much rather use Amazon, at least they give me a reasonable return for minimum chew.

No-one seems to be hitting the adverts on Youtube, remember they are there to be clicked on at no cost!

EMMA AND PHILS WEDDING

arrival at the reception, Jayne, Jimmie and Mandy














The tent was pushed back to reveal the dance floor, hence my blister and yet again swollen knee












Saturday evening, the wine has long been flowing, Jimmie do you come from Warrington explains his theories of relativity to Emma whilst Jayne looks on incredulous, well most people are incredulous unless it's Jim's knowledge of race horses you are tapping






















Another married couple, yep its 37 years and still going myself and Mandy




























Emma as they say looking radiant!

























tonight I've finished off my round of Amsterdam trams and then done the DVD of Sunday's MPTE bus event at Liverpool, if i get time I must load onto Amazon. A couple of large orders today but otherwise it's the quietest day for a couple of weeks DVD wise.

Mandy hat and all

1001 BLOGS ALREADY?

a super generous helping to celebrate passing 1000 blogs with more coverage of the MPTE event at Liverpool yesterday

and more scenes outside the churxch after the weddding of Emma and Phil on Saturday at Bunbury, Cheshire

EMMA AND PHILLIP'S WEDDING BUNBURY

Proud parents Kath and Keith Roden













Emma and Phil and the little one

Church interior

graveyard and village Bunbury

more tomorrow!

MERSEYSIDE PTE DAY LIVERPOOL

Liverpool this morning, the cold damp weather didn't deter the stalwarts who were determined to celebrate 40 years since the formation of the MPTE, although this event was a minnow compared to the Manchester SELNEC event it was still very welcome. With little prior publicity it still attracted quite a number of enthusiasts, there was a run from Pall Mall to St Georges Hall in the city centre. My glasses fell off mounting a city tour bus service, scratched the right lens, this is now on my Monday to do list.