ADVENTURES IN GERMANY

well a really slow connection and some of the characters are in a strange position onn the keyboard, it is bright this morning but genrally it is pretty cool along the baltic sea coast here at rostock. the first day was the crossing from home through tunnel and on to the camponile at ammersfort in holland, worst check in ever, took ages but hotel was empty traffic at antwerpe was a nightmare. any onwards to schwerin and we had a series of road works which meant that even the autobahns were dead slow, mistzy sort of day there but trams were interesting enough and no hassle, an attractive town , we had a bonus stop en route at bremen another city new to me, winos by the station square spoilt it, dead and boring, ugly place we thouight. today in rostock doing the steamn train nearbz in bad doberin and sniffing around the trams but sundaz servce pretty dire. a sunny start but rain again in the morning according to forecast, pissed off to hear that mandy has 26 deg in ireland

MORE PROGRESS WITH NEW WEBSITE

perhaps my last blog for a couple of weeks although if there is access anywhere along the route and try and put in a post here and there. We start tomorrow across to Netherlands and on to our first destinations in Germany on Saturday / Sunday. Monday we carry on to Poland and return into Germany later in the week. It is a very hectic schedule. The North Koreans have blanked Zhang in China, looks like they are in a non ball playing mood at present. I've had problems loading on to Youtube last couple of days, with HD clips its hard to tell if all is well if you don't have high speed connections, I need to double check the Swindon clip at home tonight, looks jerky at work. I'm just trying to get the last outstanding DVD of Bath done before I go and perhaps some or all outstanding DVD covers designed . The garden alo beckons on my time , watering is now as crucial as planting, one last puch tonight and my back will be done in ( hope not) . The car is packed and ready to go, the Sat Nav set with pick up points en route and on to hotel in Amerspoort just off the motorway. Work has also been a dash making sure everything is ready, Mandy got to Ireland OK yesterday , the weather there is warm like Cheshire, it was too hot for comfort at night but the days are good when the vsun breaks through. The new website has taken up some time, I've sussed out how to do the shop, it will still lik from my searchable spread sheet with links to each item, the present Amazon link replaced with my own shop as I progress. A job for me when I get back and have a spare year or so, it's never ending. I think I've got as much on as I can at present, included a link to Dick Gilbert's http://www.skylineaviation.com/  site as he has the best and most uptodate rally calender going.

OUR NEW WEBSITE www.pmpfilms.com

OUR NEW WEBSITE http://www.pmpfilm.com/

a German theme seemed a good way to start the blog given that its only just over a day until I start off on the German / Polish trip over next 17 days, seems a long time when you say it like that. The temperature is climbing well now although a bit cloudy. Mandy set off at 4.15 am and after another hours sleep I carried on in the garden putting out the summer bedding plants and watering until; it was time to shower and get ready for work again. Heard from Li in China and tried to explain our election result. Catching up with the DVD orders as I'm on my own with Mandy away. Just done my dinner and had a chat on phone with Tom whose Cat D8 we made the film of.

WE FINALLY REACH SWINDON

our official visit to Swindon last Saturday morning in the company of Stuart Curwen. Once more we had access to the depot and work shops, the DVD was finished last night and a Youtube clip should be uploaded in between gardening and catching up with the soaps,. Car cleaned at hand wash, windows done inside. Three borders planted up. Case packed. Saddles collected at work for Hilary in Ireland for Mandy to take when she goes tomorrow. Yes fending for myself and laugh trying to get away Friday on my own without leaving anything behind. Some more work done on the new website http://www.pmpfilms.com/ I noticed it's getting quite a few hits already.

BATH SATURDAY A LONG WAIT TO BE SURE

Bath last Saturday, 20 years plus since i was last there. There seem to be lots of problems on the internet tonight, orange working at a snails pace. I'm mad busy trying to get everything done ready for my departure to Germany and Poland, spent some time putting in beding plants this evening, magazine adverts need submitting. Mandy has been learning how to download from EBay and Amazon. WE now have the new web site up and running with links as per the old site although it already has more features. Our shop will take time to build though. There are links to Youtube, the Bristol rally has been uploaded already. I've got all my snacks and Guiness stock for the journey, I cleaned out the inside of the car, watered all the remaining seedling and am also editing the Bath and Swindon films . http://www.pmpfilms.com/ is the new web site.

HOME AGAIN FROM THE WET SOUTH TO SUNNY NORTH

some shots from Bristol Harbourside rally, another wet morning and then dodge the showers, there were long sunny spells in the afternoon and the usual busy network of free bus services. I think numbers held up quite wee, the poor forcaste probably put some people off coming out. Up a bit on last years takings but still well under par for the event, pity we can't still go in the old museum, work on it never seemed to start. Sad news that Geoff Rawle from Reading has passed away after a sudden illness, a regular customer and friend for twenty years at least.  I suppose the clocks keeps ticking by for us all and a few less familiar faces each year, good to see youngsters coming into the hobby. Some new friends from Spain who are tram fans working in Bristol. A good ruj  up home back before 7pm. The weekend at Swindon and Bath went well, photos over next two nights.

CATERPILLARS AND CURRY FOR TEA

the domestic front for tonights shots, sorry its later than usual, very busy getting all the plants out of the greenhouse to darden off over the weekend while we are away filming at Swindon and Bath tomorrow and the rally at Bristol on Sunday. The weather looks like being rubbish once more for Bristol, hopefully the forecast is wrong. Got the Caterpillar D8 film finished tonight and all covers done up to date. We have a new website under construction at http://www.pmpfilms.com/, this will be the new site when finished but only an hour or so into it and a lot to lear as yet!  The main list is already there but most of the stuff is yet to do so don't expect much as yet. On the count down to Germany now, its so hectic that Mandy has replaced buses and trucks as the centre piece tonight, the curry is always entirely home made, and delicious as is every super meal that my beloved has produced over the past 36 years bless her.

GETTING READY FOR BRISTOL THIS COMING WEEKEND

a medley of South West shots from my archive , getting ready for Bristol Harbourside rally on Sunday. On Saturday we have our biannual official visit to Thamesdown where the enlightened management allow access to their fleet and we can play buses for the morning with rally veteran of Swindon, Stuart Curwen.
I've just got back in from the garden, chicken muck to fertilise, lawns mowed, old plastic pots in Mandys car for disposal. Got to get South West stock sorted tonight early on as it's pub night! Yes the three Greyhounds beckon, we'll have a clip from POPS rally on Youtube this evening.

PLAYING AROUND WITH A 1969 D8 NOT BAD EH

Tom Kelsall on his 1969 D8 putting on the lines to the scalping blade and some more shots as bulldozer taken previously

It was a pleasure to go down to Phil and Emma's farm today where Tom Kelsall is making a level surface for a dressage arena. This is one of Cheshire's premiere equestrian centres with a superb cross country course designed by Capt Mark Phillips. Tom was a real gent and showed me around his delightful brute of a 1969 Caterpillar D8 , it has been re-engined and the winch gear for the scalper is a replacement. It has attracted a lot of attention from passing enthusiasts. I managed to pop along at lunch time and again on my way home and can say that a DVD will be released shortly, our very first of this genre.
Other news, Trading standards came along today to do formal statements which we hope will lead to the conviction of our 'friend' Roger ( the dodger)  who has been selling pirate copies of both my films, Online and lots of others. Makes you sick that they seem to get away with it for so long.
I checked through all the docs for the Germany / Poland trip today , hoping the weather clears up there soon, as bad now as in England.
Cleared the last front border, need to remember chicken pellets tomorrow to fertilise.

MORE OF NORTH WALES BUSES LAST SATURDAY

Bangor then Rhyll, selected from my still shots on Saturday moring, the only sunny spot in England that day? Well I've been busy as usual, looking at a new website http://www.pmpfilms.com/ which I can start to build up with lots of photo albums as well as usual links plus a shop with Paypal to encourage direct purchases.  Not started yet so don't bother seeking it out. Lots of Stoke area films loaded on Youtube this week, don't forget to click a couple of adverts each visit to pay for everything!! Cleared another couple of borders of spring bulbs and weeds, just one to go. Not too bad a day except for odd dark clouds and cold breeze, forecasting frost tonight, seedlings still in greenhouse which is overflowing. The countdown to the lads trip next week has started, rush to get things done beforehand.