TWO DAYS TO RENDER

Don't forget my book for a Christmas present, never too late to order

meet some of our family, Eileen, Trishand Mandy on the right

Dennis, Dereck and me on right, both at Beaumaris last month.

Lets remember Oliver Postgate tonight, he features in my book, so many middle age English folk owe him for his gentle all embracing cartoons, his voice, his drawing, he alone or with others created so much for children's TV in the early days of the media in the UK.

So many things pass through my head that I want to communicate but usually by the time I come to write the ideas have vanished, the circulation still stumbles along at around 20 a day, what can we do to increase it I wonder, but then what about quality, what a discerning audience I must surely have. Political correctness and safety gone mad still feature large each day in our papers at home but of course as we come to review another passing year the terrible atrocities that happen still haunt us on the worlds wider stage.

That Mugabe escaped justice another year beggars belief compared to our efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, just one bullet would do the trick, and hasn't it shown up the South Africans as a load of gutless wonders sidling up to a tyrant but then a country which elected a leader who believed AIDs could be cured with something like a bottle of Pepsi , well what can you expect. Pakistan surely does harbour to some degree the terrorists who strike against the coalition and India etc but there lack of control on the North west Frontier is nothing new, my father George was shot there in 1939 trying to control the very same tribes who make money by robbery and kidnap, how long does civilised society put up with it. Likewise I think it timer we banished extremist religions from our shores, after all we have a very dainty church headed by our own sweet Queen which is casual and tolerant to the enth degree, who could want better, so all you Methodists, Muslims, Catholics, evangelists, Jews etc beware the fiery wrath of our arch bishop lest he hit you with his blancmange!

Boyle St at the Manchester museum of transport has really gone up market over the years, remember the time the working girls sheltered under the canopies when it rained, I wonder if they regretted seeking 'business' with our brigade in the face of the smelly tribe. The atmosphere is always spot on though and few museums get it this right although from time to time elements do irritate and it is obvious that the same few people do everything from collect cups to drive buses and sweep the floor.

Our local rag the Knutsford Guardian has escaped my wrath for a while as it has now diminished to a couple of sheets after the absence of house and car sales but worry not I fancy a festive faux pas coming their way perhaps. I went to B&Q for work, its only across the road, they are so consistently the worlds worst retailer, the check out girl was absent, someone came chewing gum and taking to a colleague while serving me, nothing secured together, wrapped or bagged so I dropped all the items, wish this outfit would go bust.

The Merseyside film has been edited, it is rendering, 2 whole days that takes, that's why the archive films are such a pain but worth it. When that's done i must add the sound and do the cover but loading up Mandy's car tonight as she sails to Ireland tomorrow and I'll fly out to join her on Thursday night. Back very late Sunday night ready for bleary eyed work, well there's a Christmas pud out there ready with a pot of custard to go with it so bye for now folks.