DEPARTING FOR AIRPORT

it seems so long ago that Manchester's Metrolink started!

Happy Christmas everyone

WALKING BACKWARDS TO CHRISTMAS

well good old Google my pics seem to have gone all over the place again, anyway who cares I'm on holiday now and this will be my last blog from these shores for quite a few days, hopefully I'll be abler to catch up as few times on my travels down under, tomorrow morning we set off for Fiji our first port of call. Its mold weather here, dull but pleasant enough, just waiting for friend Sue to arrive and a good old roast lamb dinner to set us off on our travels plus some Christmas pudding of course. I've just re-edited 1736 Manchester 1992 - 1993, that's the third time and last I hope, it was just one of those things, especially with muddled masters where tapes had broken, cameras failed, all long since forgotten except when you have to dip into the oroiginal tapes for these compilations. Photos all from this era, perhaps one last Manchester youtube clip tonight.

A very merry Christmas to you all, we miss it with the date line, land on Boxing Day!!

BACK TO THE FUTURE PART TWENTYSEVEN

back to 1992 and first week of Metrolink etc on programme 1735 just finished, cover to do tonight

A time of year to get together, to get in touch, to put things of the past behind and wasn't a lovely surprise to receive a card from my half brother and his family who had so far remained at arms length since I was reunited with my birth family. An olive branch much welcomed and hopefully reciprocated in the coming year. Its been a hectic 212months and as we prepare for our long journey to the furthest corners of our globe I can assure you all that 09 will not be as busy, certainly not in mileage although there are of course many things I want to accomplish. Foremost I would like to track down both mine and Mandy's fathers and their history and we shall endeavour to locate a suitable contact for this.

We also hope to cement our new extension into the world of truck films starting in March with Donington , then Gaydon, possibly even Truckfest. Tram Sunday at Fleetwood is back on again after being cancelled, the alternative in Leeds will already have picked up many peoples intentions, it also clashes with Mid Hants Railway do so lots of choice for enthusiasts. Fleetwood have got so much wrong that its little wonder it has gone downhill, from on street drinking , buses relegated to side streets, poor positioning for photography, too many non transport items, etc. I've got a few of the Manchester video collections ready and on Ebay and Amazon , the former can still take orders although its set in holiday mode, Amazon just gets suspended for the duration. I'll crack on and finish the job in the New Year. Then after editing the Fiji / New Zealand trip I'll start with the South West Archive , then more truck films and another 'collection', possibly Birmingham.

TRAMWAYS URBAN TRANSIT LRTA

Light Rail / Modern Tramway mag as its still generally known gave us a nice double size advert to mark 20 years of PMP transport films 1989-2009, our first video was taken 1988. Our friend John Bishop was amongst the first to offer his superb cine collection and educated me in the history of trolleybuses. Today I edited 1992 film including the beginning of Metrolink, they'll be another volume on the same year as I shot so much. I edited out some wet weather cab rides which aren't brilliant viewing, nice coverage of the first tram / day/ month etc. Bangers and mash tonight and naughty chocolate treats but not to much.

METROLINK GAUGING TRIALS

actually I've moved on since these shots in Manchester and have already posted on Youtube the 1991 gauging trials for Metrlink, the next volume for 1992 has the opening etc. It looks like being a very long chain of DVDs but just another this afternoon and I'll have to think about pacing my camera gear for the trip, suitcases nearly done. This morning loaded garden rubbish, bin men coming early due to Christmas, hateful Google Happy ' Holidays' motif on their site, its bloody Christmas you f'in morons when we think of sweet little Jesus dodging bullets in Palestine, happy holidays is what I'll hopefully have in Fiji.

STILL LIVING IN THE PAST

I've finished editing 1732 Manchester Buses 1988 - 90 , even the cover ready although i don't suppose many will have time to order before we vanish for Christmas, there is a new clip on Youtube. A day at home, first thing I was down the tip with a car load of cardboard to get rid off then back for breakfast. Its On The Buses day on ITV3 freeview, this afternoon all three feature films follow on from 8 back to back episodes, a tribute to Reg Varney. Mandy is making soap and I'm keeping on top of DVD orders are they trickle in, I'll pull the plug on EBay Monday and Amazon Tuesday.Its been fun looking back at Manchester, I've also done a few negatives to CD between other jobs, a strange feeling having a 'relaxing' day. A last minute New Year present, don't forget my book ' A Smudge on My Lens'

MANCHESTER IN THE GM BUSES ERA

stills from my latest release looking back at Manchester buses in the 1980s, its really amazing the sheer volume of operators and liveries not to mention types of buses, really enjoying putting it together, many more volumes to follow, all ready before next Boyle St sale.

Had to deal with united Utilities, what a shower, the meter led water bill is unintelligable and has no support foir the charges although I admit its far less than the old charge but nevertheless its like a number picked at random, the help desk was not surprisingly unhelpful and I've sent a letter to the chief executive which was copied to the water company regulator, all this and I'm a shareholder. Today MFI went the way of Woolies , on a happier note on ITV3 tomorrow a while day devoted to On The Buses in memory of Reg Varney, be sure to catch at least a portion. We are getting ready for the big trip although sausage barms today at work didn't help pre Christmas ease on weight gain, nor did Mandy's delicious curry tonight, suppose you could throw in 3 pints of the black stuff at the Greyhound last night, ah well, it is Christmas as they say, oh and those Walnut Whips Mandy, oh no... not more food.

MOMORIES WHAT CAN I SAY

finished off a DVD of Mandy's cousins family, the Ashmore's, films lost for nearly a half century, dedicated to Bernie who isn't too bright at present, hope you enjoy this lot, remember when we cruised the Bentota River in Sri Lanka..

Uncle Eric Bowls champ!

Tipperary last Saturday

off to the Three Greyhounds tonight, I might download some film to work on, wonder what, any votes? Its gone a bit quieter on the film front, last orders Monday please. Not sure if I'll be up to Lakes tomorrow, possible for work but time looks being tight.

TAKE ME BACK TO IRELAND

all in Tipperary last Saturday

Our friend John Bishop is busy recording the last day of operations at Eastbourne Buss, a company whose roots go back to 1903 and it was the earliest municipal to gain rights to run motor buses. An attempt to establish trams locally was blocked by the wealthy inhabitants although the Modern Electric tramway of Claude lane did serve the Crumbles as a tourist attraction in my childhood days. Tomorrow it will be Stagecoach, what a full circle its been through. I had to go to the opticians as I'd had a bit a trouble with my eyes, turns out very early stages of cataracts but it won't need op for years however my prescription had changed quite dramatically, falling apart with old age eh. The Tipperary truck film is now available and tonight I'm copying some family film, not sure about forthcoming weekend, certainly packing for New Zealand whatever else. The Manchester area bus tapes are still in my sights ready for Boyle St and a Regional archive on the South West is very likely.

Kind words from Margaret in Holton St Mary who thinks are truck films are 'great', many thanks, great to be of service to a whole new set of people through the advert in Classic Commercials.

OVER THE HUMP FOR A DAY

West Cork may have the restaurants but Waterford's coastline takes some beating for lovely coves and beaches, all taken on Saturday afternoon.

another busy day, the post bill is horrific, lots of goodies on their way to rellies and DVDs to all parts of the world. I've been putting the final folder together for the Fiji / New Zealand trip and even made more progress on the Easter trip to China. I'm just finishing off the Tipperary truck DVD which will be ready for orders before Christmas should anyone feel inclined. The Midland Milk Float DVD is the unexpected best seller this Christmas.

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

Ewart and Sean push Wendy out of the 'rough'

Noddy comes to toytown on his shiny red tractor and yellow trailer

Ellie with young Doug

Doug on guard!

Wart and Wendy, Hil and Sean's new English neighbours in South Tipperary.

A bit bleary eyed today as we only got to bed at 3am after our trip back from Ireland. The Stena boat takes a lot longer than the HSS and although we had fine dry weather and a flat calm sea it was neatly 1 before we had got clear of Anglesey. As we came into our road at home a shooting star appeared just before us in a clear cloudless well lit sky and looked as if you could have caught it. A very icy morning and off to work and then to download all the many EBay and Amazon orders which had together with the post streamed in whilst we were making whoopee in Ireland. I hope the photos convey the spirit of an enjoyable weekend. Tonight I hope to get the Tipperary Truck film edited.