CENERENTOLA AT CLONTER

another wonderful evening out at Clonter Opera Farm with Rossini's Cenerentola which is loosely based on Cinderella story.  Ina McMahon from Ireland stepped in late in the main roll after Kathryn Rudge had withdrawn due to indisposition. It was possibly one of the longest operas that Clonter had put on with the superb young musicians from the RNCM in Manchester providing the orchestra. A good set helped and the performance was well received as was the good meal between acts. Nice company and a friendly family atmosphere which meant another triumph for Jeffery Lockett and team and to the training of opera singers. The car is all packed and ready for Stoke's Bay Sunday, the weather forecast has gone down hill with rain expected but I've decided to take just the base of the stand due to my back and leg problems and cover up if it really is wet, things do change. Suggest that if you come shop early in case we get soaked and pack up early. Lots of new M&D , East Kent etc photos includes many early and war time, post war shots and works vehicles, trams, trolleys etc.I got the Reading clip on YouTube and the Alton DVD is on sale now.

SOME RECENT PMP RELEASES

no time tonight, off to the opera at Clonter, starts early, tomorrow straight down to Hampshire after work, see everyone at Stokes Bay on Sunday. Next blog late Sunday evening.

EXETER LAST SATURDAY

some Exeter shots from last Saturday, best forgotten. Out for a meal with work colleagues last night in Chester overlooking the river at The Red house, service a bit wayward but good food and nice setting. Today we were up early, Mandy has been down to St Thomas's in London, I've been to consultant at Runcorn, turns out I've another cyst in my knee but not going to do any surgery at present, monitor its progress for next three months. Its OK to go back on physio or osteopathy. I've pulled up a list of Scottish DVDs required for Lathalmomnd and now going to loft to see if I can seize hold of any Kent / Sussex area stock for next two weekends in south. Suns come out for a change.

JUST SPENT PRECIOUS TIME ON THE BLOG AND LOST IT ALL HATE GOOGLE AS WELL AS EXTER

The crack heads who attacked me at Exeter bus station hurl abuse as they stagger off, they then made a counter accusation when police arrived that I'd asssaulted them. Bring back hang draw and quartering asap please and to the police who said that Exeter bus station was a disgrace and a dangerous place to hang around, well chiefy Otter why don't you lot get youre back sides into gear and get something done. That's twice I've been attacked, nearly killed by a lunatic Stagecoach driver last time. Exter joins the lists of places I'll never see again, Northampton, Aberdeen being the others at present. As the blog lost all the writing and photos and I'm at a works do tonight my precious time has now all been eaten up.

MORE FROM THE PLYMOUTH HOE RALLY

it was back to earth with a bang today with a dull wet Cheshire day typical of most of the 'summer' thus far in the North West where incredibly due to the mis management of United Utilities we still have a hosepipe ban. The rally yesterday was very friendly and well worth attending despite its remoteness from home for ourselves. All alas as usual a memory as we start to prepare ourselves for the next event which is Stokes Bay in Hampshire next Sunday, praying for fine weather as usual with seaside locations which are extra bleak in bad weather. Another rally well worth the effort to attend. Mandy went to the dentist today, explained some problems she'd had with a partial filling which had come out, temp filling installed. My car is in for service tomorrow, 40,000 miles already. Thinking ahead we are likely to get a van so I don't have to unload / load stock each event. We may well have a cheapy box at Stokes Bay, half price £7.50 each, very selective and only about 20 at a time. There will also be 'new' South Eastern bus photos from my own collection for here and Herne Bay. I'll carry on editing tonight with Norwich to do, plus usual uploads to Youtube, remember watch and hit an advert or two, 50% towards our target audience on hits, now 0.025 of UK YouTube hits, sounds small but we are heading towards 2 million, thanks everyone, remember the adverts though, costs you nothing. Tomorrow I'll recount my latest escapade in Exeter, bet you can't wait.

PLYMOUTH HOE BUS RALY IN THE SUNSHINE

I reckon the photo order itself shows how the weather turned from early drizzl3 to blazing sunshine and hot as well, last years Sunday was quickly forgotten although the wind came in later to remind everyone that it is best to always keep an eye on the elements as the stall holders next to us found out and as their stand bounced off the car and over the fence a reminder why we all have insurance on stands ( or should have). Anyway our first visit to the western National Groups rally at Plymouth and a splendid location it is as you'll also see from the views above. A good mix of buses with just a lone RM and an RT, don't mind the RT but bloomin RMs everywhere, only joking. Good representation of most South Western areas from Bristol well Somerset at least to Cornwall. Oldies and Newbies , there were rides around the Hoe leaving every few minutes with lots of different buses making the trip, with the sun out the open toppers were particularly popular.
I won't spoil the good news with the events in Exeter ( yes again) so leave that to tomorrow. Got home about 8.30 pm , 3.5 hours wasn't bad to Cheshire, a clear run, bit cooler here and more cloudy. Lots of orders in the post and plenty of clicks on Youtube plus the odd moronic abuse, this time from Mansfield, why oh blesses why,,,

BUSY LOADING ON NEW DVDS

well actually its a busy evening catching up with the soaps as I missed half of Corrie last night with a phone call nice as it was to chat. I thought I'd best get the latest programmes on Amazon so you can all treat yourselves although any DVDs can be ordered direct even when brand new. Loaded the car up tonight ready for Plymouth rally on Sunday. Tomorrow we are filming Bristol and then Exeter. The Woodpecker is yet again busy at the nuts in the garden a resident now for several weeks since I started refeeding. Back on the nerve pain tablet tonight as my pain is back but not in the back if you know what I mean. The two Felixstowe harbour trucks DVDs are ready, trying to get their covers done, also finished the Kings Lynn DVD. Norwich next, then Oxford followed by Alton Bus Rally. Mandy has an exciting week coming up, dentist Monday, Physio Tues, London Hospital Wed etc. Woodpecker still at it, 30 mins on.... next blog Sunday night ish

OXFORD BUSES LAST SATURDAY

yes spot the odd man out with 7 from Oxford last Saturday and the other from Reading ;later the sane day, masses of new 10 reg buses although the next reg will be out very soon now 6 months having passed very quickly. My first day drug free after I kicked the last painkiller and survived the day after an admittedly rough night. Heavy rain from Merseyside through Cheshire, its the 3rd awful day in a row at work hoping it stops soon, you can tell its nearly kids holiday time. Well after shoot out at the OK corral the cops get off free once more with the chap murdered at the demo, love our cops of boy don't I just, not a civil word from any of them normally except the two nice young ladies in Shrewsbury a couple of years back who were a shining example of how to court public support. Three Greyhounds night and we've actually got someone coming to look at the house, second in two years!

LAST REVIEW OF ALTON BUS RALLY

we have now achieved .25 of a percent of the British youtube clicks, might not sound much but even appear on their radar is something of an achievement, unfortunately overseas is almost zero with a couple of weird exceptions. Anyway some last shots of Sunday''s Alton Bus rally in Hampshire, I especially enjoyed seeing Southdown buses as I've been away from Southern rallies that long. The mix was just right. Today it's continued to throw it down on Merseyside, I got soaked to the skin yet again. We've a viewer for the house tomorrow night, that;s a shock, only had one in three years so far. Anyway I don't suppose it will get anywhere. Tonight I'll sweep up around the paths and tidy the borders a bit, my back / leg continues to improve and I'm down to 10 mgs of Amitriptlene. I'm finishing off the DVD of the last Reading archive and then will start on the Felixstowe trucks and East Anglia buses etc. We've been getting a few extra South West DVDs ready for the trip to Plymouth but if you want anything special bringing down shout now, it is our first rally that far west.  Got an apology from the A White Room shop about the fouled up delivery of the chairs.