Wasted morning thanks to BBC weather

here endeth the New Zealand coverage, all on DVD, a couple in Auckland

the rail bridge near the truck shots I showed on last blog, ethnic kids jumping into river ahead of train

A waste of a morning going over to Leicester, it was clear blue sky and all shadow despite forecast of overcast day brightening towards the end, new year resolution a bit late, take no notice of the plonkers at BBC weather they always get it wrong. Finishing off another Manchester archive DVD and hope to get a few minutes in the garden whilst its sunny, bad weather ( ho ho heatwave?) forcast Sunday, Monday etc, I'll never learn but then I may just take camera to work in case.

SORRY RUNNING A BIT LATE TONIGHT

truck photos in and around Hamilton New Zealand in January

Mandy is out with ladies from the health club having a non healthy dinner tonight, it's their Christmas do a bit late. Well I've been busy doing domestic handicraft chores in the kitchen, yes I do have my moments, then I've also been doing the next Manchester ( never ending?) archive 1997-1999, that's still on the go. If I've time before Mandy's taxi service home is required I hope to rattle off the cover for the previous DVD on Manchester. No time left though, tomorrow possibly Leicester and Loughborough. Next week I'm in Amsterdam/Rotterdam for work Thurs / Friday so no blogs and no I'm not taking the video.

Still copies of my autobiography available signed, post free £9.99.

I NEED A HOLIDAY OH DEAR JUST HAD ONE

some shots on holiday in New Zealand at Hamilton, super people at bus station, nice set up, great public gardens as well

then on to memories of Bernie Ashmore

Mandy right with centre Mark and Bernard on left, its been a hard time of course for everyone who knew Bernie, the next one sums up a lot

sorry about the stain on your shoulder Bernie, this shot I took whilst we canoed down the Bentota River in Sri Lanka 1980, Bernie and Jan had been teaching in India and were in Sri Lanka for r&r .

Still sorting everything out, trip to Rotterdam for work, Marks birthday bash, the funeral, etc etc. I've edited Manchester 1994 archive, now working on 95, not sure if I'll get time for Youtube clip. Congrats to Alan Mortimer in Perth on his 70th the other day.

LIFE GOES ON FITTING IT ALL IN

Views from the Caterpillar museum at Rotorua in New Zealand, can't think of much of a lead other than outdoor loving dependable types, Bernie Ashmore's funeral is a week next Monday down at Plymouth so we have to fit everything around that including my business trip to Netherlands. Tonight I finished latest archive Manchester bus DVD from 1994

IN MEMORY OF BERNARD ASHMORE

up close with Albatrosses

Seals at Kaikoura

Bernie and his parents shared the house at Chorlton in Manchester with Mandy and her mum , Berta back in the early fifties, later the Ashmores moved to Coventry but Mandy spent a lot of time with her cousins of which Bernie was one of the closet in age. After a year since his operation the dreaded cancer took its toll yesterday evening. Bernie loved sailing and the sea and so I include some shots from our recent New Zealand trip which would have appealed to him Sea Lions on Otago Peninsula

FIRST THE HAPPY STUFF

leading us into our coverage of the Caterpillar exhibition at Rotorua is this dealers sevice truck, a very nice museum, privately run, a little expense but everyone into the subject seemed to be having a great time there.

Bring Me Sunshine, memories of Morecambe and Wise at Lancaster after our trip to Preston on Saturday.

the sad stuff

we are at that stage when each phone rings makes you jump as Mandy's cousin Bernie sinks into a coma and his body struggles in the last throes of cancer, a life which has been lived to the full, sport, sailing, adventure, his family, we think of Helen and Joe tonight down in Devon, a life which is being stolen so early .

HUFFING PUFFIN AND INTERCITY

Rotorua was a good place for inter urban coaches

the open air museum held a steam day, something for all our party here, shopping for a new hat 40s style?

7 3/4" railway at the museum, just like our friend Martin Rickitts line

BUS SPOT LANCASTER

Lancaster yesterday afternoon, below are more shots in Preston yesterday morning. Lancaster is the subject of my latest Bus spot and is being editing at this moment, ready this week.

We had to pop over to Macclesfield to complete paperwork on Mandy's new car, the snowdrops and crocus in the garden are glistening in the sun, even a lone Iris has come out. I did some work in the garden this morning, getting rid of Geraniums which grow like weeds here. All covers for DVDs up todate, just need to list new films on EBay and Amazon. Still rather quiet order wise!

SECOND DOSE OF DAILY MEDICINE

a remarkably good bus service in Rotorua, New Zealand although other than that there wasn't a lot going for the place, full of local ethnics, dole offices, state handout centres, smelly thermals and dismal surroundings, very friendly bus crews saved the day.

last night I went to meet Zhang who is organising our Chinese trip in April, dinner at a Chinese restaurant ( Zhang's choice) failed to impress but we had a good time, also present the organisers of Indian rail trips, the evening hosted by Marina from Rostov on Don, myself and Mandy the only English people present. The Trafford Centre, my second foray , the first night visit, hell, hell, how much Semtex would you need to..... Why oh why was this inflicted on us, Dante's inferno has nothing on it, the entrance door was out of order as was the escalator, bouncer on the exit from restaurant. A great evening, Zhang's young daughter seemed to love it, glad someone does, people were taking photos of each other against the hideous Las Vegas type backdrops, the end of culture and civilsation, bulldozers forward, now!

STAGECOACH PRESTON BUS FIRST DAY

In Preston today, first day of operations of Preston Bus buy Stagecoach, mainly Solos with Stagecoach stickers and legal lettering although an odd decker etc as well, rumours that 6 or 12 will go off for repainting this week, I'd imagine everything will be rebranded at least in next couple of days, Great atmosphere, lots of enthusiasts out with camera, crews stopping for photos , lots of waves and smiles, no hassle filming, light reasonable, diffused sunshine. Editing results this evening, just need to finish the outstanding Manchester DVD from pre New Zealand trip.

Stagecoach stickers front and rear, legal lettering just minus managers name.