PMP BANNED FROM SANDTOFT

a few last shots from Malta, a blow in the post, the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft sent the snottiest of letters to us about having filmed on their premises over the years. Never had anything like this from any of the regular 'circuit' of museums. All the years I knew Mike Dare never a word, we've been attending since the 1970s and I'm a member of both trolleybus societies, we even did a deal once promoting the society through the videos in return for adverts, short memories indeed. Anyway there are some pretty strange characters around, we don't do a lot of business there at the Gathering which was once a premier rally so they can get stuffed as far as I'm concerned, the hassle with stands and where you could and couldn't go upset a lot of people over the years. I did a lot to promote the museum and attendance there and never said a bad word even when I thought they were a strange outfit at times. So a long relationship ends sourly but hey I'm more into vehicles on the road and there are other events at the same weekend, bye bye Sandtoft, I'm sure you'll survive without me but guys you are so up you own bums the rest of the world has moved on-get a life.

Last night I finished off the East Anglian archive programme and got the cover done, ready to launch at the North Weald rally next Sunday.Next on the list comes Malta, loads of that to go at.

Well as long as I'm not banned from anywhere else see you all soon

AND NOW FOR BLACKPOOL

the recently restored illuminated car

free bus services with a local flavour

at the Pleasure Beach

passing the Totally Transport bus line up

a scorcher until mid afternoon, then it poured down.

Stagecoach have started to investigate the Sheffield incident, I'll keep you posted. Next Sunday it's North Weald,planning to cover Southend, Colchester and Chelmsford on the Saturday.

WASHOUT AT BLACKPOOL

Gozo, Malta a week ago where I bumped into Thomas Knowles. Its another scorcher today, yesterday Totally transport at Blackpool ended up totally wet when the sky opened mid afternoon, it was quite good up to lunchtime with lots going on then it seemed to die off and other than the illuminated Western Train tram there was littler of interest in the afternoon. We got away before the worst rain but the M6 was flooded. I've made contact with Stagecoach after the incident Saturday morning, no-one in management was aware of the incident.

TOATALLY WET BLACKPOOL

Sheffield yesterday morning, at Totally Transport today drivers from First had 'spotted' me at both Sheffield and Doncaster.

up early for Blackpool, very muggy weather all day, it got going nicely then seemed to die a death at lunchtime and never recovered, the sky gradually darkened, light shower, we decided to pack up, good job as on the M55 is chucked it down until about level with Manchester, the M6 was flooded. Still no feedback from Stagecoach on the Sheffield incident yesterday. I'm going to try and get the sound done on the East Anglian archive and then do a Youtube clip.

RIP YOUR FACE OFF, NICE ONE

Rotherham today, wish I'd done more there as it was quite interesting and the diffused light suited the situation.

A reasonably interesting assortment of vehicles as well

oh and yes all the drivers were friendly

which they weren't in Sheffield, I got threatened ( on Film) by a Stagecoach driver, just a day short of 6 months through 2009 without any hassle, said he'd rip my fave off if I'd got him on fiulm, phoned Stagecoach asked if management rep would phone back fairly quickly as i was deciding whether to report him to the police. As a Stagecoach share holder the lack of response cheeses me off even more, considering a civil assault action and be assured the clip will appear on Youtube quite soon. The First drivers were friendly to a man ( and woman), wonder why the attitude difference although two lady Stagecoach drivers waved, perhaps they fancied me, ha ha.

My operation date has been set fir 23rd July, I declined next week as there were a few trips I wanted to get out of the way first. A growth in the kneee tearing cross tendons and that other growth in the foot, all need extracting, repairing etc.

ITS MALTA AGAIN AND MANDY BACK FROM CANADA

one of the older lorry offerings

I revisit some favourite photo spots, these last Sunday heading out from Valletta past the start of the water northwards

approaching the bus station Sunday morning

spot as at top, the likely hood of more second hand open toppers seems remote given 12 year age profile and low floor requirement

Buggibba seafront on Sunday morning

there are some nice cove with good photo ops

and why not make the most of it

and next bay along, nice Irish pub around the corner

which I visited in the evening
Needs colour correction and sound adding.

well Mandy arrived back home safely from Canada where she had be gloriously entertained and looked after by our friends Margaret and John. This morning I'm off to see Mr Geary my consultant about my knee and foot etc, I'll report back later.

I managed to get all the images loaded for regional bus archive on East Anglia, its 75min long.

MORE OF MALTA TRUCKS

ERFs seemed to predominate although not alone, still lots of Leylands around, anyway I'm sure you'll like these shots, mostly taken on my favourite spot at the end of the dual carriageway heading S West from Valletta.

no shortage of TKs still although older types are there they are far and few between and several in works locations or semi preservation

lots of Coles cranes around though

last night good progress on the East Anglian regional bus archive, most scenes ready to edit and downloaded, expect to get done by weekend then I'll start on Malta.

Don't forget on Sunday its Totally Transport at Blackpool with a rare chance to see some of the heritage fleet and deckers at south end of the line. Hope weather is better this year. Mandy is still in Canada so fending for myself

ANOTHER DOSE OF MALTA

I think a lot of people will be glad to hear that I captured at least an hour perhaps more of commercials which will form a programme on Malta, lots of ERFs about in particular

a bin wagon for the dustbin?

some vehicles still look every bit a Maltese wagon

another development since i last went, the double deckers, it is looking like all the others imported but not operated will fail their tests and will never run in Malta, perhaps?

KEEP HITTING THOSE BUTTONS

Maltese driving, an art form whose result looks someting like this outside my hotel, frustrating on Maltese roads, brakes aren't that popular

the Castille hotel Valletta, simple but friendly I think summed it up, fares by taxi to the airport were a major rip off though

a rare opportunity to get this snatched shot yesterday morning at Valletta city gates terminus

strange to think that the Lynxes were new since my last visit, these along with Swifts/Merlins and Kong Longs are slowly morphing into the same shape as alterations take place

view from just below hotel, temperature around top 80s with a nice breeze, a few clouds now and then but non of the bad weather that hit Italy.

The changes in the buses are likely to happen within next 12 months at longest, requiring around 120 more low floors, the revised modern fleet would be half the current strength and also cover Gozo.

Air Malta, the food and service is world class, ie crap. Must be worst food outside Indian Airlines. Maltese bus drivers melted as the weekend went on, they can do grump for Europe.