SECOND DOSE OF DAILY MEDICINE

a remarkably good bus service in Rotorua, New Zealand although other than that there wasn't a lot going for the place, full of local ethnics, dole offices, state handout centres, smelly thermals and dismal surroundings, very friendly bus crews saved the day.

last night I went to meet Zhang who is organising our Chinese trip in April, dinner at a Chinese restaurant ( Zhang's choice) failed to impress but we had a good time, also present the organisers of Indian rail trips, the evening hosted by Marina from Rostov on Don, myself and Mandy the only English people present. The Trafford Centre, my second foray , the first night visit, hell, hell, how much Semtex would you need to..... Why oh why was this inflicted on us, Dante's inferno has nothing on it, the entrance door was out of order as was the escalator, bouncer on the exit from restaurant. A great evening, Zhang's young daughter seemed to love it, glad someone does, people were taking photos of each other against the hideous Las Vegas type backdrops, the end of culture and civilsation, bulldozers forward, now!

STAGECOACH PRESTON BUS FIRST DAY

In Preston today, first day of operations of Preston Bus buy Stagecoach, mainly Solos with Stagecoach stickers and legal lettering although an odd decker etc as well, rumours that 6 or 12 will go off for repainting this week, I'd imagine everything will be rebranded at least in next couple of days, Great atmosphere, lots of enthusiasts out with camera, crews stopping for photos , lots of waves and smiles, no hassle filming, light reasonable, diffused sunshine. Editing results this evening, just need to finish the outstanding Manchester DVD from pre New Zealand trip.

Stagecoach stickers front and rear, legal lettering just minus managers name.

STILL NEW ZEALAND BUT LIFE GOES ON

The 2 axle job at the Wellington depot, very warm welcome there, our second visit over the years to the depot last time the old Italian jobs were still lined up rotting away.

Lampton Quay, bus stops and shops galore, one of two special liveries

lone all white Volvo after panel work painted white, was an outside chance it would go to new livery but rejected as it would project wrong image

typical Wellington bus, the Volvos remain popular with drivers to the end

Busy at work, nearly caught in motorway pile up coming hom,e on M6 this evening. Tonight we meet our friends from China at the Trafford Centre over dinner.

Just catching up editing the Manchester 90s bus collection of DVDs.

Its very slack order wise so a good time to get your requests in for extra prompt service, remember also on Amazon now.

WE CONTINUE WITH NEW ZEALAND

at last we reach wellington, one of the main objectives of the trip and the Designline trolleybuses seen here leaving Lampton Quay Terminus on a bright sunny after noon after our delightful calm crossing from Picton on the Interisland ferry formerly Pride of Cherbourg no less.

Just outside Picton looking for trucks, InterCity coaches were hard to find.

Busy old Christchurch, weather could have been better there.

Three tourist trams in service on the limited circuit.

The only Dart in revenue service, there is another on contractor schools I believe.

OLD TOWN HALLS AND A GOOD TRUCK OR TWO

interior of our apartment at the Heritage Hotel in Christchurch South Island, New Zealand, the old town hall, very historic.

The hill outside Dunedin where someone phoned the police because we were filming 'things'. Some good shots here though.

I'm bust tonight getting all the New Zealand DVD covers done. Did i mention we ordered Mandy's new Jazz at the weekend, my alternator went today, rescued by prompt attention from the AA, I've got a loan car tonight.

Still lots of copies of my autobiography kicking around for anyone interested!

GALLOPING ALONG AND THATS JUST FINE

scenes at Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, now a couple of weeks back, quite a good variety of buses but a miserable dump of a town but the Otago Peninsula in the country has a wonderful array of wildlife, first sightings of Albatross there.

The Dunedin city tour, my one and only sighting

Queenstown the Earnslow has been earning its keep here for generations

There are still quite a few old Bedfords around in various guises although older stuff on the road has become less obvious

I got quite a lot done today, all new releases are on EBay and Amazon and list on website updated. Hoping with meet with Zhang from China who is in England. Downloaded the rally schedule, already booked the event at Donnington Park 21st March, also attending Gaydon, our first stands at truck events.

ALL THAT JAZZ AND BUSES TOO

Queenstown RM, I filmed it there many years ago, at Arrowtown, lovely driver, from Doncaster I think.

Mandy got her new Honda Jazz on order Saturday, a dark purple one. I've nearly finished the trio the New Zealand truck DVDs. The bus ones are all done, may get them listed tomorrow

The was quite a good local service in Queenstown and even to further afield like Dunedin

The view from our apartment in Queenstown.

Not really many of the old time bridges left but this spot has the atmosphere

typical of South island west coast scenery, so much to offer although the NZ wine is rubbish and I never saw a supermarket which looked anything to touch a Tesco, Sainsburys etc. Talk about over policed, the cops are out in drives to catch motorists, millions of them, the New Zealand government must have dosh to spare, even saw a camera in the back of an old VW Combi near Rotorua. The locals won't hesitate to blob you in to the feds, all a bit like a mild mannered Syria really.

ALL ORDERS CLEARED BUSY EDITING

I expect many of you have heard that Preston Bus, the large employee owned independent, qusi muinicipal lookas as if its gone to Stagecoach, I expect massive route / vehicle reductions after the sale.

Family Historians will be ploughing through the National Archive early release of the 1911 census, we've had a dip into it, not that easy if you are used to Ancestry but you can eventually get results, neat and easy to use print outs with extra info.

Hope meet my contact for the China trip at the travel Show in Manchester today.

The photo was our helicopter trip onto Franz Josef Glacier on South Island New Zealand, the weather had delayed flight from previous afternoon, a brief break and we set off, landed, then it closed in, the pilot had to recall us seconds after landing in the snow and we then sat in the helicopter waiting fort another chopper to get away and then operate on a one bird in flight basis to get to safety amidst the driving snow.





At Fox or Franz Josef

Nelson where we landed after our trip to Bay of Islands

The whole fleet at Nelson was parked up during the New Year holiday

a last shot of Fiji, what I called the Knackered fleet.

MORE FROM FIJI

these shots all at Nadi pronounced Nandi, they other location visited was the second city and main port of Lautoka just to the north of us.

It was the wet season but only affected me once when I was caught at flooding in the Nadi bus station, the drop down window covers aren't that brilliant but when sunny the open sides are a godsend.

The luggage finally caught us up before we Left for New Zealand, we had days on desert islands, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and lazing in the pool. We hired a car for a day, the roads were rough, only really the one main one around the island, drivers very courteous. Despite the military government all was calm, the Asians run most things and Lautoka is almost entirely Indian. Nadi very touristy and more Polynesian. The hotel was expensive but comfortable, it was like being in an episode of The Prisoner with the golf carts floating around everywhere, it was so large you couldn't walk it all . No hassles filming, everyone very friendly, giant frigs in the stream, by Nadi bus station, the locals throw stones at them, says it all I suppose. Temperature well up over 90 some days and very sticky. Guinness at the local shop and some wine so survived, breakies were to die for though. Went on a sailing ship, very enjoyable, Sue dived into the ocean from the top deck, very brave.

FIJI IN DECEMBER

We flew Christmas Eve, Air New Zealand after shuttle to Heathrow by BMI. The Polish wheelchair assistants were given a hard time by a gobby black woman at the transfer section, her attitude stank, I really felt sorry for the young Polish lass who was nearly in tears, perhaps come the revolution we'll get our country back to ourselves and chose our guests like other nations. The flight to LA was arduous and when we arrived our main suitcase was missing, the attitude of Air New Zealand ground staff was contemptible and it was obvious we would not have our case with us in Fiji. I must say the US immigration staff were friendly so no complaints there , the new procedure of on line green form will speed things up even more in future. The trip from LA to Fiji was despite the NZ flight number actually with Air Pacific, a rock bottom rubbish outfit which i would avoid like the plague. Arrived shattered on Boxing day, early hours minus main suitcase, thankfully Mandy packs and splits clothes so we had a selection in the small case. The transfer limo was waiting and Hilton let us in despite early hour of arrival, we even had breakfast.

our 2 bedroom apartment at the Fiji Hilton apartments, very comfy, but restaurant and bar too expensive to contemplate using, good job you could self cater. Temperature in the 90s.

SAFELY HOME ONCE MORE

arrived back yesterday evening, I went in to work today, bit tired but survived, I'll start the blog narrative tomorrow and photos as soon as they are on disc , there were too many to think about downloading onto the computer. All objectives met , Fifi was hot and interesting plus wet at times temp about 36. New Zealand, more cops here than Syria, they must have money to burn payrolling all these traffic police, they need some serious crime to occupy them. I've starting to download the films, envisage
Fiji
New Zealand Sth Island Buses
S Island Trucks
Wellington 2 DVDS
Nth Island 2 Truck DVDS
Auckland 1 or 2