OVER THE HUMP FOR A DAY

West Cork may have the restaurants but Waterford's coastline takes some beating for lovely coves and beaches, all taken on Saturday afternoon.

another busy day, the post bill is horrific, lots of goodies on their way to rellies and DVDs to all parts of the world. I've been putting the final folder together for the Fiji / New Zealand trip and even made more progress on the Easter trip to China. I'm just finishing off the Tipperary truck DVD which will be ready for orders before Christmas should anyone feel inclined. The Midland Milk Float DVD is the unexpected best seller this Christmas.

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

Ewart and Sean push Wendy out of the 'rough'

Noddy comes to toytown on his shiny red tractor and yellow trailer

Ellie with young Doug

Doug on guard!

Wart and Wendy, Hil and Sean's new English neighbours in South Tipperary.

A bit bleary eyed today as we only got to bed at 3am after our trip back from Ireland. The Stena boat takes a lot longer than the HSS and although we had fine dry weather and a flat calm sea it was neatly 1 before we had got clear of Anglesey. As we came into our road at home a shooting star appeared just before us in a clear cloudless well lit sky and looked as if you could have caught it. A very icy morning and off to work and then to download all the many EBay and Amazon orders which had together with the post streamed in whilst we were making whoopee in Ireland. I hope the photos convey the spirit of an enjoyable weekend. Tonight I hope to get the Tipperary Truck film edited.

ICY MORNING IN IRELAND

Friends Hil and Sean now have broadband of sorts via a mobile, thus its just a bout possible to update my blog from their peaceful home in South Tipperary. This morning the Galtee mountains are covered in snow along the peaks, the dogs weren't keen to go out in the frost. We had our early Christmas dinner last night with goose wrapped around Turkey and Pheasant with mash, sprouts etc, Christmas pudding was devoured after presents had been opened. Doug and Ellie made mincemeat so to speak of there squeaky plastic turkey legs and the squeaks didn't last long, Henry the ca joined in the fray and contributed a lot of mischief making. I got some books ( travel guides) and a Piaf DVD plus new camera strap, chocolates etc, my main present being the urgently required replacement video camera a couple of months back. Mandy had a new Radley handbag. During the day we had a run down to Waterford, the Crystal factory is now pricey beyond belief, a cup of coffee from a machine £3.50, never mind the actual glassware. Then we had a potter along the coast and stopped for walks on the beach at a couple of idyllic coves , I'll post pictures from home.

On Friday I had a photo outing and managed to complete a programme on lorries thundering slowly through Tipperary town in the rain on a cold damp afternoon, it looks most atmospheric and should be ready mid week well before Christmas. Studying now for my shots in Fifi and weekends are dead there and I've only the Friday we arrive and the Monday, Suva the capital is a 5 hour bus ride away.

We head back home this evening although the HSS only runs in the morning so now will be on the slow ferry from Dublin port, arriving back at Holyhead about midnight plus and thence to home, I'll be bog eyed on Monday morning and there seems to be a steady stream of Amazon and Ebay items to clear so we won't be having any more lie ins, 9 am was a real treat, two days running, a much needed rest, some wine and Guinness contributed as well I might add.

NOGGIN THE NOG BYE BYE

Southampton council banned a Lollipop man from putting tinsel around the pole of his Lollipop sign, Wimborne council have banned the local traditional musket squad fro firing over the tree as it would frighten children and in Llandovery the council has banned trees in public places as it was too dangerous to put ladders up to place decorations on them. Meanwhile over in France last week the local citizens borrowed council cheery pickers and lifts to place their communal decorations around the villages oblivious to their perils.

Voters in Sark go to the polls today to end centuries of feudal rule, there are almost as many candidates as there are occupants on this tiny fiefdom which manages without cars. Oliver Postgate continues to receive tributes for his work after his recent death, Ivor the engine, Noggin the Nog please come back we loved you.

Anyway a few shots from the latest Merseyside archive feature, then I'm off to Ireland tomorrow to join Mandy with hil ansd Sean for our pre Christmas gathering, back ion the blog Monday night.

TWO DAYS TO RENDER

Don't forget my book for a Christmas present, never too late to order

meet some of our family, Eileen, Trishand Mandy on the right

Dennis, Dereck and me on right, both at Beaumaris last month.

Lets remember Oliver Postgate tonight, he features in my book, so many middle age English folk owe him for his gentle all embracing cartoons, his voice, his drawing, he alone or with others created so much for children's TV in the early days of the media in the UK.

So many things pass through my head that I want to communicate but usually by the time I come to write the ideas have vanished, the circulation still stumbles along at around 20 a day, what can we do to increase it I wonder, but then what about quality, what a discerning audience I must surely have. Political correctness and safety gone mad still feature large each day in our papers at home but of course as we come to review another passing year the terrible atrocities that happen still haunt us on the worlds wider stage.

That Mugabe escaped justice another year beggars belief compared to our efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, just one bullet would do the trick, and hasn't it shown up the South Africans as a load of gutless wonders sidling up to a tyrant but then a country which elected a leader who believed AIDs could be cured with something like a bottle of Pepsi , well what can you expect. Pakistan surely does harbour to some degree the terrorists who strike against the coalition and India etc but there lack of control on the North west Frontier is nothing new, my father George was shot there in 1939 trying to control the very same tribes who make money by robbery and kidnap, how long does civilised society put up with it. Likewise I think it timer we banished extremist religions from our shores, after all we have a very dainty church headed by our own sweet Queen which is casual and tolerant to the enth degree, who could want better, so all you Methodists, Muslims, Catholics, evangelists, Jews etc beware the fiery wrath of our arch bishop lest he hit you with his blancmange!

Boyle St at the Manchester museum of transport has really gone up market over the years, remember the time the working girls sheltered under the canopies when it rained, I wonder if they regretted seeking 'business' with our brigade in the face of the smelly tribe. The atmosphere is always spot on though and few museums get it this right although from time to time elements do irritate and it is obvious that the same few people do everything from collect cups to drive buses and sweep the floor.

Our local rag the Knutsford Guardian has escaped my wrath for a while as it has now diminished to a couple of sheets after the absence of house and car sales but worry not I fancy a festive faux pas coming their way perhaps. I went to B&Q for work, its only across the road, they are so consistently the worlds worst retailer, the check out girl was absent, someone came chewing gum and taking to a colleague while serving me, nothing secured together, wrapped or bagged so I dropped all the items, wish this outfit would go bust.

The Merseyside film has been edited, it is rendering, 2 whole days that takes, that's why the archive films are such a pain but worth it. When that's done i must add the sound and do the cover but loading up Mandy's car tonight as she sails to Ireland tomorrow and I'll fly out to join her on Thursday night. Back very late Sunday night ready for bleary eyed work, well there's a Christmas pud out there ready with a pot of custard to go with it so bye for now folks.

THE WHITE PANTHER

some more from Boyle St Sunday

which ties in to

Hi Dave - good to see you on Saturday and hope our purchase made lugging the boxes there worthwhile!Thought you might be interested in a couple of shots of 87 as I bought her in late 2004 (and roughly as she still is, prior to restoration beginning in the new year). You can see just how original she is especially on the inside, and I am planning on her going back into 'EBC' condition with Shaws for Glass/L.K. Lelliott Carpet Fitter/ A&N/Cassmusic adverts and Eastbourne Motors on the back (theres a brief bit on one of your Eastbourne DVDs where you are pointing the camera at the Leicester Dominator on hire and 87 flashes across the screen!) I've made up repro ads and have them ready for printing when she's repainted.Best wishes, will start saving up to visit your stall again next year!

Robin Bennett

also heard from George Roberts ( LT cine film fame!) He's 76 now, god bless , still clicking away with camera and has heard that RMs are working shorts to the moon for me next year as I'm running out of places to go. Also heard from distant 'cousin' Eva Loncke who broke hip hip this year, as did her son, now that takes some planning! Lots of cards from PMP customers, many thanks and just when we are snowed under a couple of trade orders from Ian Allan Cardiff and Manchester plus TUT mag wants copy for Feb in yesterday, oh boy

A GOOD WEEKEND AT BOYLE ST

inside and outside the Manchester Transport Museum at Boyle St today at the Christmas Cracker event, the recession seems to have had little impact, attendance was good and we were about 5% up on last year, some really good chats with customers / friends. A few Xmas cards avoided the GPO and a suggestion that given the bountiful hot water in the toilets we should hand out free bars of soap for those challenged by hygiene of which unfortunately there are a few. Some great company from fellow stall holders, hard work by George and the museum crew make this the premier indoor transport fair in the UK calender.

http://garrysphotos.fotopic.net/

link from Gary to some super truck pics well worth a look, Gary also wrote

'Hi Dave

As the saying goes ' Don't let the bastards grind u down'

Just been reading your comments re reviews on Amazon - just can't win with some people can you - I would have thought 99.9% of customers would have preferred bus sounds and not talking!

It looks like I am one of the 20 people a day who still reads your blog - keep it going, it normally gives me a chuckle or two. I was even logging on from Gran Canaria last week just to keep up to date with what you & Mandy are up to ......'

loaded some of the Cheshire archive on Youtube last night, knackered now, waiting dinner, Corrie in video and a good soak... then work in the morning. O and a nice bottle of plonk, weather still very icy.

TIRING BUT BUSY DAY AT BOYLE ST

Mandy at the PMP Stand today in Boyle St museum, a very busy morning, fine weather.

Ian'sd new MG at La Macassar in Corbie last weekend, very nice, waiting for French plates

all day at in Picardy on a Sunday and just one school bus spotted!

I've only got 4 reviews on Amazon so far, one neutral and one negative, chap said the historic London Country film was boring and wanted talking rather than bus sounds, bloomin heck mate you just can't win. The neutral was a poor review from Steve Guess of Buses Worldwide, I withdrew advertising and my support after that, said the Syrian bus DVD lacked content, amazing as you may recall the arrest, the paranoia, the machine gun posts at bus stations, I really do despair, thinking of retiring and giving it all up although so many people at Manchester say how much they enjoy the films and want more.

SETTING UP AT BOYLE ST MANCHESTER

photos still coming out mudlles up with text, bloomin Google rubbish. Setting up at Boyle St , Manchester hindered by gestapo parking motorcycle machine gun corps another episode from Peoples Democratic Republic of North Britain, can we have our nice old country back, Blair, Thatcher, Brown what have you done to our freedoms.

go on show where to put the stick! At least the sun was shining eh.

600,000 hits on Youtube plus 50,000 on website but this old blog down to 20 odd a day, anyone want me to continue it hardly seems worth while?

701st posting still very hectic

more shots from our recent DVD Cheshire and North Wales regional archive

extremely busy still but hope to get down to the Three Greyhounds for a few jars of the black stuff tonight. The snow never materialised, just heavy rain and its really feels damp. loaded the car up after work to drop off stand at Boyle St museum tomorrow night, I've rooted out some interesting bits and pieces for the stand in addition to normal stock, see you there Sat or Sunday perhaps

HITTING THE BUFFERS

clips from the Cheshire and North Wales archive film

Last night after catching up on the soaps I made great progress with the regional bus archive non Cheshire and North Wales, I must admit the boundaries have been flexible to fit in with adjacent areas such as Gtr Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire which are all on separate programmes ( or will be). I should have the sound finished tonight and copies ready to go out on Thursday once I've got the cover done. I may try and bash through the Merseyside film although no promises on that one as I've still got some family film belonging to Peter at our post office which I'd like to get done for them before Christmas. Its been very busy on both EBay and Amazon although the slow loading progress is still ongoing with Amazon, about two thirds of all DVDs are on, the vain hope of putting videos on has vanished in face of the slow progress. I still hope to get all the pre DVD era Manchester material on DVD before the Spring event at Boyle St.We are trying to get all the overseas Christmas cards away before the end of this week, we already have a steady trickle arriving at this end, thanks to everyone sending. Mandy has gone down to Devon today to see her cousin Bernie who is not so well at present. The rich diet of the weekend in France played havoc with my innards but is settling down at last!

Mandy is a bit tired and down after todays journey, a long one and emotional. The North West was gridlocked as well by a smash blocking the M62, snow is expected tomorrow morning.Screwed up the DVD of Cheshire etc, redoing, too tired.

LORRIES WERE NOTHING NEW TO ME

some more lorry shots from the early 80s late 70s as I have no time today for loading shots ex Mandy's camera from weekend!

A busy weekend and feeling a little tight around the belt indicative of fine food and wine which is to be expected at Ian and Miguel's Le Macassar at Corbie near Amiens in Picardy. A super weekend, the trip down was easy Saturday morning, it’s a pain with the 90 minute tunnel service due to the previous fire but we had a potter down the coast and then across country to arrive at tea time when Ian started he usual liberal libations, retox rather than detox he calls it!!

Had a great meal out in the next village with a couple who ran a tyre business in South West London. Sunday, late up then had a wander through Somme valley to Eu then back across country, by the way Ian has now got a 1946 MG, looked very smart, awaiting its French reg number. Then Miguel cooked Sunday night , superb, lamb with beans, sublime and choc tart for pub, bed late, up late Monday thence to Calais. Bargain booze alas is no more in France with their prices shooting up and a rotten exchange rate.

The trip back got us to the terminal in Folkestone at 4pm but bashed through a liquid rush hour and stopped off at Sue's in Cannock for dinner and home by 11pm, hundreds of orders on EBay and Amazon, little in the post.

Very busy tonight, hope to start putting sound on the regional archive, rushing to complete for weekend at Manchester, its now Cheshire andNorth wales, Merseyside will be seperate, there was too much to fit on a DVD.