HUDDERSFIELD AND HALIFAX

one for the commercial lads, Halifax this afternoon

Joint Committee and First in Halifax, a bit of sun after gloomy Huddersfield, traffic bad coming back

thought I'd better break my duck post operation so late morning headed over to Huddersfield to film, weather turned bleak as usual but was better in Halifax. Huddersfield, well a bit like watching paint dry at times although having local identity bus company always helps, they've got ex Lincoln stuff and a but of a mix really, K Line, one of the drivers very ride, V signing all the time, twice over, evidently he is renowned for it, otherwise very friendly, no less than three other enthusiasts at Huddersfield.

I'm finishing off the Ulsterbus archive 1993-4 tonight, its just about ready, a couple of covers to catch up on. Tomorrow load car, sort photos out for Stokes Bay, get stick for South Coast extras sorted, then look ahead at Scottish stock for Lathalmond. Hoping to have Monday / Tuesday down in Hampshire catching up on local scene, Basingstoke may well feature. Keep you eyes on Youtube, lots of new postings there.

PORTSMOUTH DVD FINISHED

KIng Aldred at Cobham, one of the early Wisley rallies

I haven't done much at Strafford Upon Avon in recent years

Manchester 'other' tramway in Heaton Park

well at least there are some benefits from my enforced stay at home this past week and I'm sure that those on the South Coast will be pleased with the latest Portsmouth offering, rendering for the DVD as we speak and ready for Stokes Bay rally. I also hope to get something done on Maidstone for the Herne Bay do. Knee still very stiff afer a good finish yesterday although still very swollen by evening, used the hot water bottle again while watching tv last night.b Bit quiet on the net, keep hitting those advert buttons please. Lots of new entries on YouTube, I'll put Portsmouth on later today when I do the cover, meanwhile some more from the archive.

Right now I've some proper work, work to get on with, just been out to fill up bird feeder , all too damp to do anything in the garden as I can't risk getting my foot wet.

HOBBLING ALONG AS EVER

a few negs scanned, straight from the scan, the old AEC rally at Nottingham, so one for the truck fans for a change

I popped into work today, picked up more CDs at Asda, got my hair cut, went to bank, filled car - someone has knocked into front of bumper on the pavement outside our house, presume a by cycle, what else. Nothing much by way of orders today, catching up as I've been out for hours. Weather remains lousy though, thunderous black sky and heavy rain and lashing winds, what a summer. Started a Best Ever Portsmouth to launch on Sunday at Stokes Bay, make sure you are there if I'm making the effort to get there!!!. Still got covers to do on DVDs and some listings to get on EBay. I've got a lot of 'new' Southdown photo stock which I'll bring to Stokes Bay as well.

SLOGGING ON THROUGH THE PAIN

for my archive spot today we travel to Cambridgeshire

and dip into the fens

well foot is sore as hell today, swelling well down on leg though. Clearing DVD orders from last night and then getting the Scottish island films rattled off after the awful computer problems of yesterday, everything is now sorted. Nothing much to report, haven't been outside for a couple of days, another dull bleak day in the offing.

RESTORED VIA SAFE MODE

Mandy and myself in France

John Bishop, Bulgaria

myself in Egypt with tram crew

out taxi from Alexandria to El Alamein, broke down many times, fixing it outside the abbatoir!

yes all back working after hours of heart ache and a very swollen knee, now banned from doing anything as the leg is mega swollen, anyway to be getting on with some pics I tweaked earlier today. The Internet Explorer problem was due to corrupt files from work, all the kings horses et al from AMEC and Orange couldn't fix it, I did it myself, phew.

PROBLEMS WITH INTERNET

Hope this reaches everyone, terible problems with the internet today, I just can't get in half the time and certainly can't load photos or upload Youtube material. I've finished the 2001 Shetlands and another old Scottish one on to DVD. Trying to get covers done, spent morning doing work stuff, that's when the connection seemed to fail. I'll try and post later on.

GOOD PROGREE WITH LEG

haven't anything new so some old shots of Northern Island, apologies if I've shown them before, I'll do another post later and I intend to tweak some more of the negs to digital that I picked up last Wednesday.

ok, so what of the foot etc, last night we went to see Rigoletto at Clonter a super evening as usual with company on table of Geoffrey and Anita the 'bosses'. Geoffrey had dropped a vice on his tow and had some empathy, shows how much he is hands on. Another fine cast of young singers and musicians and good food in the interval, the foot really was giving me aggravation but was better in second half after copious glasses of wine. This morning I took off the heavy duty bandages, the knee is making tremendous progress but the foot with incision on the base behind toes takes all the pressure and is impossible to walk on but we've rigged up a support which enables me to get around quite rapidly especially now the knee is so much better. I'm working my way through clearing orders and also editing Scottish material previously not on DVD, hoping to get everything done for Lathalmond. Next week Stoke's Bay looks a goer if I keep making progress.

DAVE BACK FROM HOSPITAL

from an old Llandudno rally in the 90s, never went again after being messed about by the organisers over a couple inches on the stand in middle of large field

not a pretty sight at the best of times eh, still back home yesterday teatime on two sticks, these have been cast aside already this morning, the foot is a lot worse than the knee, evidently the procedure involved removing a nerve as well as the cyst, the knee aches but otherwise OK. Nurse Mandy is doing her best to cope, super get well card received from Canada and lots of phone calls. Hope to get Cornwall DVD cover done and Youtube posted for that and Douglas, not much chance of Plymouth rally tomorrow I'm afraid.

SOME MORE FROM DOUGLAS

The electric railway carriages looked very down at heel with varnish peeling off, far removed from our centenery visit which I hope to have on DVD soon

two covered horse tram seen out, no sign of 4pm decker run

yes I even did a few trucks in Douglas

this morning I've been dashing around getting jobs done which I might not be able to tackle after my leg operations later today, cars cleaned, photos and negs down from attic, editing, blog, covers etc. I go in at lunchtime, just had coffee and cake my last grub until tomorrow.

The list has been updated on website with more direct links to buying on Amazon, just need some customers, hope to add links to Youtube, don't forget to click on adverts, doesn't cost you a penny, helps me finance it all. This morning I've done the DVD for Douglas and also Cornwall in 1998 ready if I get there for Plymouth rally on Sunday, you can hope!

LOKKING BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS

Mandy's mum, Berta on her last trip to Ireland with Mandy and myself back in the early 90s

same trip, Waterford bus station, nothing much left excvept the signal box in background

the old E typers lived on as schol busdes and training vehicles

Mandy and Berta on the beach

Mandy on her own, tomorrow I go in for my operation, I'll bring you some more Isle of Man views in the morning, I don't go in uitil lunch time, want to get car cleaned, lawns mowed and stuff down from attic I might need, jobs which may be difficult with knee and foot in pain. I'm still working through the PMP list putting on Buy Now links to Amazon, also intend to put on links to Youtube clips in due course. Don't forget to click on adverts on Youtube films it's what supports the effort putting them on by way of revenue. It's still busy by post and phone but deathly quiet on the EBay and Amazon shops.

DROWNED ON ILSE OF MAN

the sky finally cleared and rain stopped about 16.45 just in time for the rush hour, the rest of the day varied from drizzle, wind, heaving it down, dark and degrees between, very depressing and my foot was giving my agony. Still only another couple of days until the op to sort the knee and foot. Other than the weather Isle of Man was deserted really but friendly bus drivers and people and kind lady at the info kiosk at airport gave me a days unused portion of Island Explorer tickets. If the weather had been better I think the island would have gone up a notch more in my ratings.

ROTTEN FORCAST FOR ISLE OF MAN

a miserable forecast for Isle of Man tomorrow so fingers crossed the weather men get it wrong, some shots from trip to Ayrshire coast way back when and a couple from Fleetwood Tram Sunday where we didn't go yesterday. Got a bit of clipping ex hedge trim tidies and ran off some scans on photos for Ian at work ready for his daughters wedding. Getting everything out of the way ready for my op on Thursday. Also got the DVD done from yesterday's WYPTE do at Leeds.