NEWS FROM TROPICAL THAILAND

HI folks well here we are on our long trip through Asia, Bangfladesh was fine, I got lots of film of the old double deck buses, hotel Westin was good, people friendly and helpful, wrecked a pair of trousers sharing the cab with bus driver in Dhaka.
Calcutta again was great, weather cool, the trams are on last legs, all the south western section has recently been cut off, some other routes very spasmodic although thats the same as 10 tears ago.
Now in Bangkok, temperature in 90s, done the skytrain and buses tomorrow head off to Chaing Mai in the north and then on to Burma, back on 8th Jan.
Hope all our readers and friends, relations are well and our very best wishes for the new year for which I am about to start getting ready for the super expensive Madarin Oriental buffet tonight.
Dave and Mandy

BAGS PACKED READY TO GO

a few shots taken from the video used in my recent releases of Chatham vols 1578 and 1579 both of which still require covers which we have o wait until January now. The Best ever M&D is already proving popular with several orders the moment I loaded it on Ebay.
Works do tomorrow then back pm and to airport, Mandy is going to take cars through wash, the filthy weather carries on, minus 5 this morning, at least its dry.
Well if I get a chance I'll post en route otherwise its a Happy Christmas to you all,
from Dave and Mandy

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

Blimey, look what Mandy has parked outside, Dungarven last Saturday lunchtime

That was after we went for a blow on the strand, it was a bit raw, they were collecting the oysters , we were just cold
posing at Hil and Seans, thinking of a Christmas card, doesn't it all look seasonal, well done Hil
Another timely shot in their hallway

tonight I'm working on archive from 90s on Chatham buses, in fact all our Chatham material not on DVD so far.

I've set the ebay shop to read on holiday although people can still order.

I've now got a rotten cold, just handy for the trip on Friday. All works do at Chester Thai restaurant would you believe.

Loads of cards, thanks to all concerned.

MAIDSTONE DISTRICT BUSES LIFE LOVE THE UNIVERSE

some actual stills from my recent release 'Best Ever Maidstone & District' ( Buses).

Today I'm getting over my virus and hoping to get some work done tonight, yet more old video on to DVD, we'll see what takes my fancy.

The trip to West Ukraine, Kaliningrad, Southern Poland is now confirmed, Mssrs Rickitt, Spencer and Bishop.

BLODDY GOOGLE BLOG WASTED MY TIME AGAIN

Mandy and Hil pissed again on Saturday night after Xmas dinner
We know where you're going, amongst several destination this Christmas.
New Billingham bag from Mandy with faulty catch, English rubbish this time.
Mandy enjoying her not so surprise present
Breakfast the morning after the night before

Now down with a virus, swollen glands, throat etc, could do without the IT hassle. Least favourite shop today Sainsburys blowing cold air as you went in, although the Persil counter got our photos done double quick time.

Next years trip ongoing, in June Southern Poland, West Ukraine and Kaliningrad.

Yankee crap as usual Google ,Youtube ,Ebay, all rubbish to operate, herewith another fifteen minutes wasted trying again with blog.

ALL ALONE NATURALLY THEN OFF TO IRELAND

Well its been hectic tonight with the Christmas orders, Mandy is in Ireland of course and there were a few video requests which take ages todo as opposed to DVDs.

A request for us to cover Highland Scotland next year, any more suggestions out there.

I dumped the old scanner in the bin last night, I'm going to order a new one.

Hope to have some shots of our pre Christmas Christmas with Hil and Sean on Monday, sorry a bit sparse with photos this week, I'll do better before we go to Bangladesh.

Weather here bright but bitterly cold today, super sunrises at work.

I've got a tiny field mouse in the shed living off the bird peanuts, haven't got the heart to get rid of it.

NOW THE SCANNER IS ON THE BLINK

Gave up trying to scan the Maidstone cover pictures, looks like I'll need a new machine, the crap one i got was from Siren with the bundle, its never been much use.
I've put the other new issues on EBay.
A few orders but still no rush, its been a good year but why hasn't anybody come to us this Christmas, I suppose I've upset so many people ? Who knows.
Looking at our 2008 programme, requests taken now,
Solihull and Birmingham
London
Devon
Cornwall
South Wales
Scotland
West Wales
Bournemouth
Kent again
Hampshire

please feel free to add to list

all tickets checked ok for Xmas trip.

Poor Roger De Boer, our thoughts are with him after a wretched year, will all Buses Worldwide members etc please find time for a few lines to Roger. I hope to release his 70s Malta and Midland Milk Floats on DVD soon.

SOME REALLY OLD STUFF TONIGHT

Another round of research from Gill Blanchard on my Vincent family, my oldest direct ancestor is Edward Vincent, a miller of Westfield, Norfolk born about 1600.
I've also finished the M&D film and hope to post a trailer on Youtube.
Mandy is off to Ireland tomorrow, I follow on Friday.
I also hope to complete the Le Mans film this week.
I'll bash on now to get all this work done

THE WEEKEND IN PICCARDY

Dave and Mandy enjoying an evening at La Maccassar in Corbie with Ian , Miquel and guests
Our Saturday trip was to Arras in the rain, an interesting town very Belgian in appearance
Ian and Miguel, sorry lads I didn't take it, you could sue!

Tonight finishing the Best Ever Maidstone & District

Tomorrow hope to edit Le Mans tram DVD.

Also hope to receive tickets for Xmas trip tomorrow.

Le Mans Tram trip a success despite the weather

not bad for a wet and windy weekend as you'll see from the photos, we liked Le Mans a lot, very friendly, relatively short line, divides into two at the southern end, high frequency ( 4 mins peak). A but shattered, just unloaded the wine etc, so I'll write more tomorrow.

TRUNK ROAD TO SOUTH WALES

I gave up with blog last night it wasn't working and went to the Three Greyhounds. Tonight we go off to Ashford and on to France, Le Mans Friday and then our favourite little hotel at Corbie. Back at the blog on Mon or Tuesday. The passports with visas are safely back, still await travel docs for Xmas trip.
I'm nearly 3/4 through a DVD Best Ever Maidstone & District, lots with original sound, covers up to deregulation 1950s, 60s, 70s, to 86.
Posted Youtube trailer of Trunk Road to South Wales see above

MAIDSTONE DISTRICT NEW DVD FROM PMP

Hello folks no photos tonight but news of a new archive release featuring film of Maidstone & Dist buses in Kent starting with Hastings Trolleys then traditional liveried buses through to NBC era.
Busy getting ready for Christmas, desperately looking at e shop alternatives to ebay which you all know I hate, it seems to attract a really greedy whinging crowd and I want out asap. Obviously a UK based system would be preferably.

Still looking at trips for 2008/9, passports arrived with Bangladesh and Indian visas today.

Cleaned the car by moonlight ready for French trip at weekend

BUST AS EVER AT PMP

not a lot to show you, very busy getting Xmas cards done, bit of family history, downloading films onto computer and doing family DVDs. other than that.....

Next weekend in France, hope to cover Le Mans trams. Staying at Corbie with Ian and Miquel near Amiens.

Hoping travel documents arrive tomorrow or we won't be going anywhere.

Weather dire, cold and wet

A RAINY DAY IN MANCHESTER BUT CAROLS RANG OUT

Boyle St today, a cold very wet winters day but it was a great weekend both for business and meetings people. The Boyle St sale is in March 15 -16th , we will be having a birthday bash there on the Sunday for me, I'm not spending the day without some fun! So put it down in your diary now.

Also note that Showbus 08 is at the end of September, 2 weeks later than this year, should be fun.

Contact last night with member of the Liverpool Spencer family via descendants of my grandfathers brother, hopefully a meeting will follow, I'll keep everyone advised on developments.

I managed to get the South Wales Truck film onto DVD last night.

MANCHESTER BOYLE ST BUS MUSEUM TODAY

see how sunny it was in exotic Manchester today, a busy days trading at Boyle St with lots of regulars and old friends many from the MBF. Lets hope we do half as well tomorrow, books at £3, videos £2 and plenty of half price DVDs.

BORED WITH AUSTRALIA NOT MUCH INTEREST

I've been doing the covers for the new Victoria (AUS) archives, so far the youtube trailers have had few hits, as I thought Austrlian buses attract so little attention but are very interesting, these shots by Alan Mortimer all 1971.
Went to a shop called GAME for family children's presents, worse than B&Q and I didn't think that possible, its the chewing gum that does it.
Went to Marks &S at Ellesmere Port for Christmas card for Mandy, it was awful, nothing like a normal M&S, more like pound stretcher but then it was the Port.
Tomorrow is Boyle St weekend Christmas Cracker sale, I set the stand up this afternoon, caught in traffic on way home
Feeling grotty got a bug!
Lets nuke Sudan for a laugh, Putin has the right idea, why stand for being made to look a weak state and be insulted , went to the Greyhounds last night, we were all ready to start rounding up the whatsits on the next boat home, pity you can't say that in elections here, no folks zero free speech in Britain.
What about the chap who clouted the trick or treat kid, he should have belted the mother, she allowed it!

FRUSTRATING PHOTOS

the great 1995 drought in Yorkshire, I've just done the DVD cover along with a couple of others but will have to re- do the slides I copied for the Victorian buses as they ended up with a white surround. Frustrating when you're busy.
Nothing much in post but loads by phone and eBay at present.
Tomorrow afternoon I set up the stand at Boyle St, hope lots of you will attend Sat or Sunday.