A BOMB AROUND CHESTER YESTERDAY LUNCHTIME

some of the variety of operators in Chester although just the 1A decker operated plus schools duties. Took Alan Mortimer to Three Greyhounds last night, pleasant evening catching up. Today I was at the spire Murrayfield hospital all morning with blood tests and steroid injection in my knee to combat the continued heat and swelling. They had fun trying to get the blood out, trust my luck with me hating needles so much.

MORE MANCHESTER MEMORIES

here are some shots from untouched negs on digital in Manchester , early GMPTE era, typical of material which should be with our rally photo sales section in coming months.

all of which brings us to the SELNEC 40th anniversary celebrations this weekend at Boyle St and football stadium car park in Manchester , held over 2 days with lots of free services.

Last night i edited the last Liverpool DVD to bring us up to DVD released material, thus archive series in 6 volumes covers 1989-2001 ( 2002 to 2009 already on DVD), I do need to do covers for last 4 though. We have Alan Mortimer from Australia with us tonight. Friday night we start decorating the lounge, hopefully with gaps to go up to Manchester for the SELNEC running days.

Next I hope to get a couple more archive truck DVDs releases, after that I'm starting on Dutch videos following a request from viewers.

Still more material on Youtube, nearly all new releases now have trailers on site, I may go back and put some more truck stuff on as this is most popular, still not getting the hits from North America, how do we get them to look in more.

Cheshire schools either ban conkers or kids have to wear safety specs, safety mad Britain.

MERSEYSIDE MEMORIES

a taster from the first of the Liverpool archive series, these are actual stills from the DVD

not bad for 20 year old shots eh!

LILLE A WHILE BACK

one of the joys of having your negs on digital is the ability to share memories, these views in Lille were taken on our first long weekend away on the continent when the old street trams still ran

your truly posing in Lille

I've got a few hundred more photos on digital including a lot of Malta mid 1980s and Gozo. Last night i was on the penultimate Liverpool DVD, last one tonight brings us up to 2001, the following year 2002 was released on DVD.

THE RARE DOUBLE DECK BUS

some Manchester views taken last year really illustrating the proportion of deckers to saloons which remains quite good, in South Wales the decker has almost vanished , that situation applies in the Potteries and almost so in Wrexham where the double deck bus is a very rare animal.

last night I finished the Fourth volume of Liverpool archives and should have the whole collection up to our first DVD releases done this week. The coming weekend sees the 40th anniversary of the formation of SELNEC at Boyle St Museum in Manchester and also the SELNEC group display at Manchester City ground's car park.

We have rearranged all the lounge furniture to preview post decoration look, we were well pleased with our efforts, just the pointing to fit in with the SELNEC do at the weekend. We have Alan Mortimer ( Australia) staying Thursday night, then decorating can begin. I also got the cover for the recent Barcelona 1994 release on DVD done, just need to do the Liverpool ones.

IS WINTER COMING YET

with all the talk of Christmas it would seem that we were in the depths of winter although the mild temperature indicates that we have some time to go, from a year ago last April a reminder that even spring is unreliable with these shots at the Cobham bus rally at Wisley.

I made a lot of progress last night before watching Doc Martin and taking a few glasses of wine. The Liverpool bus archive is now up to 3 volumes and next I enter the digital film era which really speeds the download of material with it going straight into the computer. The Wrexham material from Saturday can wait until I've finished this Merseyside project so I have continuity of DVD numbers. I've got all the South Wales covers done so can carry out orders as received. Remember to visit everything on Youtube and if you do, click on an advert or 2 please, costs you nothing but revenue helps pay for the time and trouble loading it up.

REMEMBERING SOUTHSEA RALLY

if the weather was fine the old Southsea rally could be delightful, one of the earliest and longest lasting rallies which is sadly no more although the Stokes Bay event nearby should really take over the mantel as its in a similar situation. Buses once came from far and near, the promenade gave a really useful photo setting

today we've been very busy with gardening, tidying, pruning out rubbish, sorting through drawers, putting stuff in loft. Also I've just finished the third volume of Liverpool archives taking us up to 1995, the 2nd vol will shortly have a clip on Youtube

THE DAY I WENT TO WREXHAM

This morning i went over to Wrexham, being relatively close it was a suitable target on a grotty wet and windy autumnal day. Not a lot had changed since my 2008 visit, there was plenty of activity and very friendly drivers. Only chew i got was from a car driver, given that the road leads nowhere for cars I can't see what the arrogant sod was on about, he certainly wasn't Welsh that's fort sure, 'just what do you think your doing 'he asked, wonder how often he gets on up the bracket with such polite manners. Told him to piss off, anyway always someone to rain on the parade.

very busy at home , still trying colours out on the lounge walls ready for decorating part 3. I've finished the first part of the Liverpool bus archive, working on second volume now, clip loaded on to Youtube already. Cleaned the cars and tidied inside mine which was looking a but grubby after a whole line of rallies. First Sunday at home for ages, great to think no more setting up the stand until Cobham. The others at Lots and Boyle St are just table jobs.

SOUTH WALES THE FINAL CHAPTER

Blackwood was my final port of call last Saturday afternoon, I always like to check on this our smallest remaining arms length municipal company

Pontypridd was the busiest of the destinations visited by far, never a moment without some movement in or out and the light spot on for photography, friendly drivers all two days, I'd well commend a trip to South Wales for bus spotting as long as you don't want deckers!!

Last night I finished loading Youtube clips of South Wales and have now started on an archive of my video on Merseyside, all Liverpool scenes from 1989 through to releases on digital. First volume 1989-90 and lasts around 90 minutes.

Not sure about filming on SDaturday, weather very changeable, sunshine is a disaster for photography at this time, the clocks go back this weeekend so dark evenings ahead now.