MANCHESTER DRIZZLE CLOUD BUSES

Got my South West archive cover done tonight and the Youtube clip is getting plenty of hits although Walsall Buses is going to be best in the month

I was up in Manchester this morning, got my Chinese visa sorted, had a couple of hours to kill, spent via Stagecoach Magicbus in Manchester, fare £1, back Finglands for 80p, both friendly drivers, and me such a bus novice in the UK. Then it was a hectic dash back to work and catching up for end of month figures. Mandy was all day ladies who lunch, hair and other such female pastimes, looks nice of course dear. Spoke to John Bishop on phone, he's sent off for his visa, so looks like that's all set, just need to pay our friend in China.

Latest DVD edit, Switzerland 1992, a couple more releases to come then, trolleys and trams galore.A night with the telly, just fitted this between Emmerdale and Holby, and there's bloomin footy on telly, why would anyone want to.........
John Bishop tells me he's updated his blog, an annual event?

MILTON KEYNES IS BEAUTIFUL

Milton Keynes on Saturday afternoon, sunshine all the way, very friendly, lack of signposts around though, even the station is hardly indicated. MK Buses now Arriva, uughh.

With John and Maureen not able to come this weekend we've rescheduled to later in the spring at the POPs rally weekend, talking of which with 3 bidders for the Wedgwood business each has expressed an interest in continuing business at Barlaston site so hopefully the rally should be ok, anyway it was one of the biggest money spinners for them.

A good job we left X'ian off the China trip as trolleybus operation finally stopped last month, it looked pretty gruesome when John Bishop was there a year ago. Also threatened is the Birkenhead tramway which may go to a trust, surprising really that it wasn't a trust already but the Hong Kong trams were new ( ish) and not museum pieces of course.

Busy at work, trying to fetch new computers from Chester and then arrange to get the data transferred.. I did a lot in the garden after my blog on Sunday, got greenhouse cleaned , roses trimmed back and swept up. The bulbs are coming out en masse, I'll post photos when a solid display is possible.

Got the computers, chap coming Thursday morning to swap data over and configure etc. Isn't a pleasant experience the zombies at PC World, bit like B&Q with widgets. Putting in for China visa tomorrow morning in Manchester. Mandy's getting here Canadian itinerary worked out and I leave the same day for a weekend in Malta to catch up on the oldies and open toppers before they get rationalised and bendi buses ex London ( seriously).

Need to get Channel Islands and S WEst sorted next, see Guernsey plugging in all the papers this weekend, I think it will be a stay at hom,e year for many people with the exchange rates so awful.

YESTERDAY IN LEICESTER MULTI CULTURE

Even Arriva has a fairly modern fleet in Leicester these days, the unwelcome sun couldn't be stopped but I managed to get my shots and by late morning it isn't a bad photo location at all. Whether black, white, Asian etc all drivers very friendly there with almost universal waves, thumbs up and smiles.
This morning I'm checking over the Devon archive film and doing any 'tweaks' to pictures with the hope of getting most of the soundtrack on tonight. Then I'll do the Leicester and Milton Keynes stuff this week before a couple of tram films from the archive. Still hoping to film at Lymm truck stop if I get a sunny enough day. The old onions and peppers repeating a bit from last nights meal at the Greyhound, before we left it had filled with the usual crowd and normal banter.

LEICESTER AND MILTON KEYNES

Leicester this morning, should have been cloudy but came out sunny, this was our rearranged agenda followed by Milton Keynes again in sunshine. We stopped at friend Sue's at Cannock on way back up and then at three Greyhounds for dinner. Just got back and it's nearly bedtime!

SITE CRASHED REPOSTING

Can't be bothered to type in all the extra bits a second time, sorry.

Well a change of plans as John and Maureen are still stricken by plague down in Sussex. Hil and Sean are now on their way back to Ireland. A change of plans thus for the weekend. Hopefully I'll get the Bus Archive on Devon finished and some filming done on Saturday, as usual keeping an eye on the weather forecast for suitable lighting / locations. I'll submit my China visa application on Monday, Alan has got his in at Perth WA. Only a few weeks to go , must get my plastic knife and fork sorted ready, can't do chopsticks. Lovely meal last night, gorgeous beef from our local butcher washed down with Margaux, yummy.
I completed the changeover to Orange account with wireless connection, just need new connection from them and I'm up and running, new computers due to arrive today for myself and Mandy. Mandy's new car is being adapted to hand controls ready for delivery 1st March 09 reg.
It looks like being a bright today in Cheshire, perhaps at lunchtime I'll pop out and rattle off some truck film. With the Shetland trip sorted I'm going to start on the other s, looks like 1st July in Belfast, fly Manchester to Belfast City and 9th June Manchester to Douglas from Blackpool. Malta is probably mid June, will tie in with Mandy's Canada trip. The S West and Channel Islands in August. South Wales say 14-17th May.

JOHN AND MAURENN VISIT CANCELLED

following on from yesterday then Eastbourne Southdown depot buses circa 1976

thought I'd best get today's epistle out of the way as I guess tonight we'll be eating, drinking and enjoying have Sean and Hil staying en route back to Ireland after their South African adventures. Time seems very tight this week, editing the Devon and Cornwall bus archive is a massive job on its own. Tues and Weds Auf Weidersehn Pet takes up an extra hour but is relaxing and quite nostalgic, especially as much of my working life has been based in building site huts of various standards.
Grabbing some picks off negs is an easy and hopefully interesting way of filling gaps when I've failed to record our daily lives. I've bought the new computers today, a new high capacity multi featured PC for PMP and a laptop for Mandy. With a list on board her laptop Mandy should be able to steer customers through their requirements over the phone and do her own look ups plus of course all the chat and e stuff she feels up to. Talking of which a lot of Facebook derived stuff is bouncing about mainly from family. I still haven't come to grips with it and haven't really the time, especially as I already do this daily blog, anyone who expects a reply use e mail please.
I have continued to list on Youtube but clips often attract very abusive comments, why oh why would anyone who has no interest sit and watch a bus film and then write to profanitise on it ( like that one, new word, quite American eh). With John ( hop along and sniffle) and Maureen ( hop along beside John) Bishop with us Friday it’s a busy weekend ahead and indeed a quick change of bedding on Friday. John wants to see the remains of Preston Bus on Saturday, still thinking about remainder of day, possible Blackburn and whatever, we'll see.
The log ons to the blog have been falling recently, hope people still find it mildly interesting or of uses. The Shetland arrangements have been concluded, just need car parking at Glasgow and need reg of new car for that which isn't die until March earliest, Mandy's, mine, well who knows. Must get Chinese visa form filled in this weekend. Picked up lager this morning in Sainsbury's at 9.30 between work locations, filthy look from cashier, I did try and explain I wouldn't exactly be drinking either myself or anyone until later but she didn't look impressed.
Discussion in pubs ( we'll miss Greyhound tonight) often centres around fate of the bankers, stringing up or shooting seems favourite , and they've all got away with it and we've provided the cash to keep their rollers on the road, ah democracy a wonderful thing. Next topic Richard's Guinea Pig, spoilt pet and Alec's bonhomie ( sic). I'm reading a booking 'Watching The English'. An anthropologist's views on our habits :- weather talk a great opening line to greet people and overcome our reserve, generally agree on the opening statement, nice day, a bit warmer today, yes isn't it… however some people are just perverse ( Alec), nice day, a bit warmer, Alec..'too warm for me, I like it cold, warmth isn't everything etc. Might call in for dinner Sunday night, anyone else got a favourite pub, in fact anyone around the world interest in ours, how British an institution is it. Will there be any left soon? In fact is there anyone out there at all.

SUNNY SUSSEX DAYS OF YESTERYEAR

Mandy and Marion my adopted mother, mid seventies, somewhere like Bodium or Hever Castle

preparing the ground for a picnic, I remember this shot.

the flares, my black hair, the bard, ah happy days indeed

Beachy Head lighthouse Allchorne's boat. Some buses from same roll of film tomorrow

I wanted the lighthouse on the cover of my autobiography, my wishes weren't granted, it would have sold much better. Plenty of copies still around

A Smudge on My Lens.

Need to get magazine adverts ready tonight, getting decks cleared for guests. Also getting more and more trips sorted, coming Malta, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Devon, South Wales, Isle of Wight, Shetlands etc. China in April.

Don't forget if you post on Youtube you can only use material you have made and no recordings from singers, groups, orchestra's unless you have their signed permission.

NO FOUL UP FOR FOULA

more Brummie variety from last Saturday, all latest DVDs now on Amazon and Ebay, need to update list on website and get next round of adverts done

Lots of progress on Shetland trip, booked flights to Shetland and Fair Isle and some accommodation. Also sorting out Mandy's trip to Canada in June.

I'm busy between watching tele getting South west bus archives downloaded onto computer, its a slow process digging out from many tapes, impossible without database of source material, it was a great investment in time and effort although there are quite a few recent tapes waiting to get punched on.

Cleaned the cars after work, we have Hil and Sean staying Thursday on their way back to Ireland from South Africa and Friday John and Maureen arrive for the weekend from Sussex, never a dull moment eh.

Must get Malta flights sorted, also Belfast day trip and possibly Isle of Man, a year of islands it seems.

BIRMINGHAM LAST SATURDAY

just to show that there is a bit of variety amongst Birmingham buses at present, scenes all last Saturday morning. I didn't get time to list new films on EBay or Amazon but a clip of Walsall on Youtube. I cleared some of the more offensive comments off Youtube where they'd escaped my notice.

Mandy and I are treating ourselves to new computers for our birthdays in March, my machine is a bit slow these days, memory like my own eh, and Mandy wants a laptop.

I'm now editing Regional Bus Archive South West, starting tonight.

We are planning our trips, our full calender of events has been finalised, the first Castle Donnington Truck event and then Boyle St, Bus Museum,Manchester both March.

Trip wise, need to get Chinese visa done then in May we are going to the Shetlands, Fair Isle, Foula and Outer Skerries, we hope! Won't be many buses there. It sure takes some research and horrific fares to Shetlands with Flybe, the days of BA's Highland Rover, long gone.

A long weekend in Malta in the summer. France for new tramways as they open.

GARDEN SPRING CLEANING

the amazing thing yesterday at Walsall was armed with my as yet unused Centro official photo permit there was neither anyone to show it to and anyone interested and anyway you could stand across the road on public footpath and get the best shots. As friendly at Brum and no hassles at all

yes that was Walsall and not a Leyland National in sight.

This morning it was damp so did I decide to spring clean the greenhouse in the dry, well no, I did the lawns, edging, collecting spent greenery, and then cleaned the paths off with the stuff you shouldn't use if its wet, perverse sod aren't I. The Walsall and Birmingham are all ready on DVD plus Video, this afternoon after a soak in bath I intend to catch up on cover before starting next project, possibly South West archive. Then I really fancy a couple of tram DVDs before back to trucks. Got John and Maureen up next week, John has been busy recording the passing of Eastbourne Buses so looking forward to borrowing his masters on that.

CUDDLY BRUMMY AGAIN

Today in Walsall, a great day, everything went like clock work, subdued lighting but bright, we started in Birmingham around 8.30 and then to Walsall up to lunch time. In the afternoon tried Stafford, gave up, then went to pottery outlets with Mandy. Tracked this one in Stagecoach livery all over before I got a still, the 'other' end of Walsall. Lots of cops about but no hassle filming, friendly West Midlands holds up it's reputation.

amongst the newest seen wonder if they'll be any 09s in March

quite a colourful scene really, A2Z looks as if it was on last legs though, again everyone most friendly

I'll be editing Walsall and Birmingham tomorrow, poss Youtube clip.

Stafford, what an awful place its become, wouldn't recommend on a Saturday too many young yobs and stinks of fast food, hardly any buses, very menacing place.

Enjoyed Birmingham immensely, restores faith in human nature, tonight heavy into my Pastis at present, just finishing editing Plymouth film, will be too pi**ed to do much more later on, Mandy is on the G&Ts, happy days.