Thursday, January 31, 2008

Ghent 2001 Tramway issues on DVD from PMP





Ghent was just one our my recent conversions to DVD, after last nights trip to the Halle back at work tonight with a trip back to the beginning with Oporto or Portos programmes 1,2 and 3 which are looking gret on DVD, filmed by Daniel Tavares between 1990 and 93 with up to 3 routes operating, finishes with opening of the museum.

Snow forcast for tomorrow, standing by with camera for any photo opportunities, not sure about weekend film location, depends on weather.

Autobiography, now up to 2004, it finishes 2006.



HALLE 150 BRIDGEWATER HALL

A late blog as we didn't get home until nearly midnight after attending the Hale orchestras 150th anniversary concert at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. We were lucky to get tickets, a last minute release of some choir stalls meant a bargain price for such a memorable night with Mark Elder at the baton with bass baritone Sir John Tomlinson standing in for indisposed Dmitri Hvorostovsky, DAme Janet Baker narrating, yound Russian iasnist Polina Leschenko, the choir and youth choir and a standing ovation for the likes of Elgar's In The South ( Alassio) and Vaughan William's Towards An Unknown Region. Great night, hope I live to crawl in for the 200th!!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

FRENCH TRIP CONTINURED ST ETIENNE






St Etienne was another destination on my 1997 tour of France and the film was recently converted to DVD
Following an unacceptable level of abusive and obscene remarks I've decided to delete all my Youtube films and cease bothering, its like wishing toothache on yourself. There are some pretty nasty people out there, bit like security guards at bus stations in Yorkshire eh!! Its a shame these sites are operated by Americans who have zero regard for family values, its all porn, music and thugs, still we did get over 250,000 hits.
I am redoubling my efforts to move to a bungalow and get out of Lower Peover at last, an unfriendly place.

Monday, January 28, 2008

LYON 1997 TROLLEYBUSES





I continue my look back at our visits to France in 1997 with Lyon.

Tonight I'm finishing Limoges on to DVD, that's almost the whole year of French visits except Paris and Lille so far. I need to start knocking out the covers and getting them on to Ebay shop.

Busy at work, car in today for new control box, the little spanner light has gone at last.

The BBC Radio Stoke broadcast went out just before 8 this morning, not too bad but they cut the plug for the POPS rally.



Sunday, January 27, 2008

RENCH ODYSSEY IN 1997 TRAM TROLLEYBUSES






The trams and trolleys of Grenoble in May 1997 features in my latest round of DVD conversions, also covered St Etienne and Lyon on the same trip. Another two with Rouen an Limoges are on the go.
A busy Sunday, up early down to the tip then clean mice out of shed, fix rotten boards to stop them, creosote the wood.
Washed and scrubbed my original Billingham camera bag ready for Sean to do repairs.
Many in Ireland in a weeks time.
Tomorrow morning the Stoke radio broadcast breakfast show.
Finishing transfer of records to CD for Sean, ready for Mandy to take back next week.
Got my recent master tapes on database.
loaded Grenoble of Youtube.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

WONDERFUL FRIENDLY BIRMINGHAM






a bright sunny day and our first major outing in the UK for 2008, a great day out in Birmingham, what a really friendly place it is, all the drivers waving and thumbs up, restores your faith in human nature. After Brum we went on to Solihull. The Birmingham film should be edited ready tonight, hope to post on Youtube. With new buses and a new livery very interesting
We intend to release on DVD all the French tram film we took as the earlier systems opened.
We are also hoping to get all commercial tricking films on DVD this year.
Still new releases are on VHS as well as DVD although not material that otherwise features on video tapes.

Friday, January 25, 2008

CHINESE TROLLEYBUSES FROM PMP




Stills from my 1990 film in Canton China which we did as a side trip from Hong Kong. These are actual stills from the film just released on DVD which also includes Richard Lomas's film taken 1991 in Beijing and John Bishops 2007 Xi'an.
1991 scenes include a few goods locos in steam.

The radio interview eventually got under way, die to broadcast Monday BBC Radio Stoke breakfast time, it will be a bit of a puss take no doubt but lets all laugh anyway. Hopefully a plug for the POPS rally as I've just coughed up the 2008 sponsorship, is it in your diary yet. May 11th Wedgwood centre, Barlaston, Staffs.

Hoping to film in West Midlands tomorrow, fingers crossed.




Thursday, January 24, 2008

ATLANTEAN BOLTON RUNNING DAY





it already seems a long time ago when around 40 surviving Atlanteans with First were concentrated in Bolton and used for the worlds biggest ever running day, we have just put the film out on DVD.

Tonight I'm working on China 1990 -90 and 2007, boy how its changed.

Got my new back up still camera working the main one is still under repair from Christmas when dust got in.

The autobiography is up to late 2003, it ends 04 so not much further to go before publication.

Waiting for BBC radio Stoke to come around for an interview but the M6 motorway is shut with a tanker crash near Knutsford so perhaps they won't make it.



Wednesday, January 23, 2008

BEACHED TRUCKS 1998 BY JOHN BISHOP





stills from DVD 706 just converted plus clip on Youtube, filmed 1998 in Hastings by John Bishop a super heavy lift from a barge onto the beach.

Tonight I'm copying Chinese bus trolleybus train material 190-92 myself and Richard Lomas.

Saturday possibility of filming in Birmingham



Tuesday, January 22, 2008

MORE TRIPS BOOKED TONIGHT





some parting shots of Rangoon Burma before we turn our attention away entirely.

Tonight edited Beached trucks the Hasting heavy lift film in the nineties by John Bishop. Also finished is the Bolton Atlantean Running Day 2001.

We have booked our trip to cover the new tramway in Nice.



Monday, January 21, 2008

WORKING AWAY ON MORE RELEASES FOR DVD

Hello

tonight I'm working on more DVD versions of VHS classics, including the Bolton Atlantean Running Day much requested on DVD.

Another is John Bishops film of heavy haulage on Hastings Beach.

I've got the Syrian trip finalised today and the Latin American journey pretty well wrapped up, thanks to Buses Worldwide also a contact in Chile.

Still struggling with Mandy's girlie week in the sun next month more trouble than all the other trips together.

My new gadget to copy negatives to digital is working fine although copies too high grade to transfer to blog, I'll make some low graded copies so I can show you. Lots of Lancs, Mcr , Merseyside, Cornwall etc so far

Sunday, January 20, 2008

TRUCKS IN MYANMAR BURMA 2008





If all this tickles your fancy you'll be chuffed to hear that all the programmes from our Christmas tour are now edited and highlights are appearing on Youtube today.

Last night we went to the annual Clonter Opera Competition, one of our favourite nights out, bit late to bed and plenty of plonk so a little jaded today.

Next to do the Derbyshire bus programme, Chesterfield, Bakewell and Buxton Dec/Jan

After that China from 1990 to 2007 trolleys and some trains and buses including ex UK deckers.