A RARE DAY AT HOME

Berlin 1997 February

Strausberg, near Berlin

today i was at home having hosted Mandy's cousin Mark Ashmore and Julia until fairly late or was it early ( morning) and with wine freely flowing a lay in seemed a good idea. Getting on with some editing, going through my German resources at present. The new computer is running spot on, great stuff, really did the best thing renewing. Tomorrow gardening, car cleaning and trip to the tip. Did some family history for Mark on Ancestry ref Ashmore family ex Sheffield area.

NEW COMPUTER A HAIRY START

ah they don't make em like that anymore, a lovely selection to start your weekend. What about Ryanair, going to charge a quid to use the bog, nice on, just the good publicity they seek. Well we have Mark Ashmore and Julia round to dinner tonight so it's a quick blog and everything away, not sure if we'll have time for filming tomorrow, we'll see. The computer crashed and I lost e connections but our friendly PC doc came round once more and we are up and running as you can see. Its much better operating at speed, can't wait to handle photos and videos a dream, so clear and quick.

FIRST BLOG ON NEW COMPUTER

The last of my shots from Milton Keynes last Saturday, multi lingual but how did the Poles find it?

If we lived in China I'm sure some of these people who have diverted billions into their own personal accounts by way of bonuses or straight theft would be facing the chop whilst in Britain the worst they can expect is a morning's grilling by a Commons committee of fellow cronies.

Anyway our judicial system is busy prosecuting a 71 year old for roller skating in a shopping precinct in Southport and what about the lady who clipped a yob around the ear with her papers, again facing the wrath of the law. Bloody political correctness, it's gone so far that those in airy fairy places think it's real life.

Then what about that release from the American camp in Cuba, sent back to Britain, why do we want him back, he isn't British , he just lived here once, can't have like it as he'd beggared off to Afghanistan and of course accidentally got mixed up with the blokes with funny hats, beards and guns, talking of which seems like half of our own ethnics really.

One in ten of us it seems weren't born in Britain, that’s a whopping lot of millions of strangers here, far too many to be just welcome guests, more an invasion. For the chavs and scroungers and drug addicts we could give one free shot at reform then send them to lead our lads in the front line in Afghanistan as cannon fodder or even train as plumbers to take over from the Poles who have had the good sense to return home. Surprising then that you still find them in Leicester and Milton Keynes, how the hell did they get there, even English people don't know where Milton Keynes is, its true I heard them talking last weekend.

Wouldn't it be nice if we got the freedom of speech in Britain, if only for a few weeks leading up to elections then the majority of ordinary people could tell politicians what they really wanted and who we wanted in our country. Would any other nation ban native people from speaking their minds whilst letting a bunch of wild eyed religious fanatics from the other side of the world spout off against their host country.

Now as Alf Garnett, To Death Us Do Part, hero of the masses once said recalling our glory days, when we had Ramsey as archbishop he told it to em straight and still had time to run the English football team, what do mean you stupid moo, and shut up you long haired scouse git, it was all you darlin Harold's fault. Bet they never repeat old Alf in telly.

PRESTON STAGECOACH STICKERS ALL OVER

time was getting short and I had to get to my meeting but I wanted something Preston with stagecoach livery or stickers at least but oh no not another Enviro.

Not many of there in Stagecoach fleets these days, days numbered no doubt, I got there in time to spend about 45 minutes at the bus station after dropping off some tapes at our fried and webmaster Fraser's house nearby. Finally managed to coax this old computer into getting the Leicester cover done, it's on it's last legs, new one getting installed tomorrow. Mandy dropped off docs for her new car which she will get delivery of next week for 09 reg.

does the new colour scheme look better than Preston colours did, actually probably it does, but don't tell anyone i said so

Manchester yesterday whilst i was awaiting the Chinese visas

and that's about it, tonight I'm editing Switzerland 1992, then clearing the decks for the new computers and Mandy's laptop tomorrow.

MANCHESTER DRIZZLE CLOUD BUSES

Got my South West archive cover done tonight and the Youtube clip is getting plenty of hits although Walsall Buses is going to be best in the month

I was up in Manchester this morning, got my Chinese visa sorted, had a couple of hours to kill, spent via Stagecoach Magicbus in Manchester, fare £1, back Finglands for 80p, both friendly drivers, and me such a bus novice in the UK. Then it was a hectic dash back to work and catching up for end of month figures. Mandy was all day ladies who lunch, hair and other such female pastimes, looks nice of course dear. Spoke to John Bishop on phone, he's sent off for his visa, so looks like that's all set, just need to pay our friend in China.

Latest DVD edit, Switzerland 1992, a couple more releases to come then, trolleys and trams galore.A night with the telly, just fitted this between Emmerdale and Holby, and there's bloomin footy on telly, why would anyone want to.........
John Bishop tells me he's updated his blog, an annual event?

MILTON KEYNES IS BEAUTIFUL

Milton Keynes on Saturday afternoon, sunshine all the way, very friendly, lack of signposts around though, even the station is hardly indicated. MK Buses now Arriva, uughh.

With John and Maureen not able to come this weekend we've rescheduled to later in the spring at the POPs rally weekend, talking of which with 3 bidders for the Wedgwood business each has expressed an interest in continuing business at Barlaston site so hopefully the rally should be ok, anyway it was one of the biggest money spinners for them.

A good job we left X'ian off the China trip as trolleybus operation finally stopped last month, it looked pretty gruesome when John Bishop was there a year ago. Also threatened is the Birkenhead tramway which may go to a trust, surprising really that it wasn't a trust already but the Hong Kong trams were new ( ish) and not museum pieces of course.

Busy at work, trying to fetch new computers from Chester and then arrange to get the data transferred.. I did a lot in the garden after my blog on Sunday, got greenhouse cleaned , roses trimmed back and swept up. The bulbs are coming out en masse, I'll post photos when a solid display is possible.

Got the computers, chap coming Thursday morning to swap data over and configure etc. Isn't a pleasant experience the zombies at PC World, bit like B&Q with widgets. Putting in for China visa tomorrow morning in Manchester. Mandy's getting here Canadian itinerary worked out and I leave the same day for a weekend in Malta to catch up on the oldies and open toppers before they get rationalised and bendi buses ex London ( seriously).

Need to get Channel Islands and S WEst sorted next, see Guernsey plugging in all the papers this weekend, I think it will be a stay at hom,e year for many people with the exchange rates so awful.

YESTERDAY IN LEICESTER MULTI CULTURE

Even Arriva has a fairly modern fleet in Leicester these days, the unwelcome sun couldn't be stopped but I managed to get my shots and by late morning it isn't a bad photo location at all. Whether black, white, Asian etc all drivers very friendly there with almost universal waves, thumbs up and smiles.
This morning I'm checking over the Devon archive film and doing any 'tweaks' to pictures with the hope of getting most of the soundtrack on tonight. Then I'll do the Leicester and Milton Keynes stuff this week before a couple of tram films from the archive. Still hoping to film at Lymm truck stop if I get a sunny enough day. The old onions and peppers repeating a bit from last nights meal at the Greyhound, before we left it had filled with the usual crowd and normal banter.

LEICESTER AND MILTON KEYNES

Leicester this morning, should have been cloudy but came out sunny, this was our rearranged agenda followed by Milton Keynes again in sunshine. We stopped at friend Sue's at Cannock on way back up and then at three Greyhounds for dinner. Just got back and it's nearly bedtime!

SITE CRASHED REPOSTING

Can't be bothered to type in all the extra bits a second time, sorry.

Well a change of plans as John and Maureen are still stricken by plague down in Sussex. Hil and Sean are now on their way back to Ireland. A change of plans thus for the weekend. Hopefully I'll get the Bus Archive on Devon finished and some filming done on Saturday, as usual keeping an eye on the weather forecast for suitable lighting / locations. I'll submit my China visa application on Monday, Alan has got his in at Perth WA. Only a few weeks to go , must get my plastic knife and fork sorted ready, can't do chopsticks. Lovely meal last night, gorgeous beef from our local butcher washed down with Margaux, yummy.
I completed the changeover to Orange account with wireless connection, just need new connection from them and I'm up and running, new computers due to arrive today for myself and Mandy. Mandy's new car is being adapted to hand controls ready for delivery 1st March 09 reg.
It looks like being a bright today in Cheshire, perhaps at lunchtime I'll pop out and rattle off some truck film. With the Shetland trip sorted I'm going to start on the other s, looks like 1st July in Belfast, fly Manchester to Belfast City and 9th June Manchester to Douglas from Blackpool. Malta is probably mid June, will tie in with Mandy's Canada trip. The S West and Channel Islands in August. South Wales say 14-17th May.

JOHN AND MAURENN VISIT CANCELLED

following on from yesterday then Eastbourne Southdown depot buses circa 1976

thought I'd best get today's epistle out of the way as I guess tonight we'll be eating, drinking and enjoying have Sean and Hil staying en route back to Ireland after their South African adventures. Time seems very tight this week, editing the Devon and Cornwall bus archive is a massive job on its own. Tues and Weds Auf Weidersehn Pet takes up an extra hour but is relaxing and quite nostalgic, especially as much of my working life has been based in building site huts of various standards.
Grabbing some picks off negs is an easy and hopefully interesting way of filling gaps when I've failed to record our daily lives. I've bought the new computers today, a new high capacity multi featured PC for PMP and a laptop for Mandy. With a list on board her laptop Mandy should be able to steer customers through their requirements over the phone and do her own look ups plus of course all the chat and e stuff she feels up to. Talking of which a lot of Facebook derived stuff is bouncing about mainly from family. I still haven't come to grips with it and haven't really the time, especially as I already do this daily blog, anyone who expects a reply use e mail please.
I have continued to list on Youtube but clips often attract very abusive comments, why oh why would anyone who has no interest sit and watch a bus film and then write to profanitise on it ( like that one, new word, quite American eh). With John ( hop along and sniffle) and Maureen ( hop along beside John) Bishop with us Friday it’s a busy weekend ahead and indeed a quick change of bedding on Friday. John wants to see the remains of Preston Bus on Saturday, still thinking about remainder of day, possible Blackburn and whatever, we'll see.
The log ons to the blog have been falling recently, hope people still find it mildly interesting or of uses. The Shetland arrangements have been concluded, just need car parking at Glasgow and need reg of new car for that which isn't die until March earliest, Mandy's, mine, well who knows. Must get Chinese visa form filled in this weekend. Picked up lager this morning in Sainsbury's at 9.30 between work locations, filthy look from cashier, I did try and explain I wouldn't exactly be drinking either myself or anyone until later but she didn't look impressed.
Discussion in pubs ( we'll miss Greyhound tonight) often centres around fate of the bankers, stringing up or shooting seems favourite , and they've all got away with it and we've provided the cash to keep their rollers on the road, ah democracy a wonderful thing. Next topic Richard's Guinea Pig, spoilt pet and Alec's bonhomie ( sic). I'm reading a booking 'Watching The English'. An anthropologist's views on our habits :- weather talk a great opening line to greet people and overcome our reserve, generally agree on the opening statement, nice day, a bit warmer today, yes isn't it… however some people are just perverse ( Alec), nice day, a bit warmer, Alec..'too warm for me, I like it cold, warmth isn't everything etc. Might call in for dinner Sunday night, anyone else got a favourite pub, in fact anyone around the world interest in ours, how British an institution is it. Will there be any left soon? In fact is there anyone out there at all.

SUNNY SUSSEX DAYS OF YESTERYEAR

Mandy and Marion my adopted mother, mid seventies, somewhere like Bodium or Hever Castle

preparing the ground for a picnic, I remember this shot.

the flares, my black hair, the bard, ah happy days indeed

Beachy Head lighthouse Allchorne's boat. Some buses from same roll of film tomorrow

I wanted the lighthouse on the cover of my autobiography, my wishes weren't granted, it would have sold much better. Plenty of copies still around

A Smudge on My Lens.

Need to get magazine adverts ready tonight, getting decks cleared for guests. Also getting more and more trips sorted, coming Malta, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Devon, South Wales, Isle of Wight, Shetlands etc. China in April.

Don't forget if you post on Youtube you can only use material you have made and no recordings from singers, groups, orchestra's unless you have their signed permission.