AUSTRALIA ROYAL PROGRESS

Adelaide in full summer bloom, a friendly place although the road from the station back to our Saville Hotel was rather seedy.
no problems filming the buses in Adelaide and bright hot sunny weather as you can see
The new Adelaide trams contrast with the old cars which have been reduced to Saturday tourist services.

E BAY CUSTOMERS I DESPAIR OF THEM

I hope everyone enjoyed the photos posted last night, I hope to post some Adelaide views this evening.
Mandy has now got all the orders received during the holiday ready to post today. Not bad with jet lag to contend with and she is still suffering from the fall back in December. Whilst the vast majority of our customers become more like friends and extended family there are some really evil people out there.
Despite stating on e bay that we were on holiday until mid Jan there were threatening messages from someone in Newcastle who has now lodged a complaint about us. We make very little from e bay overall and must now consider its future use, since operating this site we've had more abuse than can be tolerated. Its supposed to be a hobby after all, strange how e bay attracts this type of person, I think its the hiding behind false names that gives them confidence. One person stated that we must have been at home as I'd re listed and given feed back on items, this was of course done remotely from Australia on the brief occasions I got access to the net.

Mandy really doesn't deserve this type of criticism, most of our orders are in the post within 24 hours of receipt, there's only usually one holiday a year where delays are more than a week.
I thought of issuing a rogues gallery but suppose that would be unethical! Hope today is better now I've got that off my chest.

AUSTRALIA THE PMP VISIT IN VIEW

not everywhere in Darwin is safe to swim, too many crocs about but there are some cool ponds in the national parks nearby. The Road Trains thunder down the 'track' to Alice Springs and beyond. The bus crews and depot at Darwin were most welcoming

happy once our lugguage arrived Christmas morning, previous day shopping at K Mart for shorts and t shirts

Sunset on Darwin harbour

below termite hills at Lichfield NP

well we didn't need a caravan to stay in but this ex Sydney decker was up for sale. Sunset and sailing in Darwin harbour around Christmas

RETURN FROM OZ

Hi everyone, safe and sound landed back this morning, I will post photos and catch up with happenings as time progresses and jet lag gives over! A very interesting and successful trip.
Dave

AUSTRALIA HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM PMP

Hi folks, a very happy new year to everyone, this is sent 4 pm ish from Tasmania, just finished a day filming the buses here, a bit of a let down, the only unfriendly spot in the country, well that's everyone connected with public transport except the one lady driver who waved this morning, weather also a let down after so ,many glorious hot sunny days. We flew down from Darwin to Adelaide and met up with Alan Mortimer, had a meal in a really cheap and cheerful Italian next to Savilles Apartment Hotel which was a bit gloomy after their Darwin apartment, the flight was good. Adelaide was having hottest weather in Oz, buses looked well, friendly crews and the new trams look the business! Well we only had a few hours there but it was enough to capture the bus and tram scene and we then set off down to Kangaroo Island which turned out to be a dream come true and we stayed at the Kangaroo Island Lodge apartments where we had a splended meal although the New Year festivities were a rather poor follow up with a buffet, never my favourite. Well the island has wildlife coming out of its ears, saw just about everything we could expect with several firsts including a very close up encounter with an Echidna. At night we watched the Fairy Penguins and nocturnal animals along the road, the island about 100 miles log so no little tas getting around, took a few unsealed roads and had superb fish and chips at Peneshaw where the ferry terminal is located and the penguin centre. Sad to leave it but we then had the long drive east to Warrananbool, here there was a very efficient and friendly bus operator and a national park in an old volcano crate which had oodles of wild life, Emus everywhere and we were all Koala'd out there were so many everywhere, never seen so much before. Found a very food restaurant in town as the Irish Pub didn't do food but the restaurant had canned draft Guinness so full marks, a great b& B as well , very comfortable, also did harbour trip by boat in Port Fairy, oh forgot the horse tramway at Port Victor, blistering hot there. The onwards to Melbourne, again still blistering hots in the 90s All the time so far, very tanned and burnt. Melbourne trams operating Sat service but that was enough to get plenty of shots, had a good look around the new dockland routes there then this day trip to Tasmania. Back in Melbourne tonight, more trams Saturday and then a winery tour Sunday and then back through the country up to NSW and a couple of nights near Wagga Wagga and on to Sydney and then home and work, boo. A great time but thinking of all our friends and readers out there, I'll update again as soon as possible and load up photos when we are back.

PIERCED AARON DARWIN BUSES BEST

Yes here we are again folks as the Oz trip continues, yesterday Mandy and Sue went to Kakadu NP, they saw plenty of Crocs, Wallabies, Jabaru, Abos etc. I stayed in Darwin, a wet morning although it cleared lunch time and temp soared into 90s once more. Did all the three main bus stations and visited the depot where charming Aaron and staff hosted my visit, he may have had every orifice pierced and studded but was a charming chap. Well Road Trains ain't no easy target, it isn't like sitting at the side of the M6 motorway in England I can tell you, but eventually a got a few on film hanging around the yards and down the 'track' a way. We did ourselves dinner last night which was the best yet, at least we weren't too stuffed. Today we fly down to Adelaide and meet up with Alan and tomorrow I have a hectic morning filming the buses ands new trams before departure to Kangaroo Island for New Year.

PREGNANT HILLBILLY WITH BEARD AT DARWIN

Hi folks, still no access to photos but a word portrait. Christmas morning we got our luggage, the best possible present, we had Christmas lunch at Pee Wees on the point at Darwin, so so , loads of food and far too much wine, great location and service. We crashed out in the late afternoon and recovered enough for a few restorative cuppas in the evening. Boxing day was taken up with a drive to the Lichfield National Park where with the temperature in the mid 90s we enjoyed a refreshing dip in the rock pools and a look at one of the waterfalls. We sussed out the bus depot and road train yards ready for this mornings exploration. Mandy and Sue have gone off to Kakadu NP Crocodile Dundee country. It poured yesterday afternoon and again overnight, still looking a bit bleak but of course still hot and humid so fingers crossed. Eat in the Irish pub at the back of Saville hotel last night, portions too big to be true, service pretty crap though. Locals a sight to behold, women mostly pregnant , men with large beards, tattoos, broken knees and poorly dressed, Hillbilly country and not much on the telly at night me thinks. Tomorrow we have the flight down t Adelaide where we'll catch up with Alan Mortimer.
Saviulle hotel suites, not bad, 4 star ok but the back packer place is at rear with noisy music, ok if you keep your windows shut and keep off the balcony, Irish pub also suffered from rubbish modern ' music' blaring out, really spoilt it for me. Fruit bats all around when dark, parrots in the daytime, lizards etc abound, no roos yet much to the dismay of Sue, plenty of time to go though.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM DOWN UNDER

Hi Folks,
Christmas greetings from Darwin Australia, its 7 am here, and we have just got our Christmas presents, our luggage which arrived a day after us. No usb port so can't post the wonderful sunset pics from last night. The flight was good except wheelchair assistance in Frankfurt was a farce and they deserve to be hung drawn and quartered! Singapore was spot on, Quantas have a no frills business Star Crap airlines which did the last sector to Darwin , very basic but still expensive, no one local likes the change. Shocked to find we had no cases but reassured it was a regular feature and not to worry. Well they were correct. The hotel The Saville is fine, lots of space and the Irish pub which serves enormous portions is at the back of us. We had to do some clothes shopping Christmas eve so we had clothes to wear but Mandy is busy unpacking right now. We had a sunset cruise on a catamaran how do you spell one of them?? Weather about mid 90s and sunny, parrots outside the windows, dolphins in the sea, Guinness was good as well last night. Went to bed 9.45 got up at 7, although previous guest had left the alarm on for 5.30, oh boy. Black ice and sleet in Melbourne hope that's gone by time we get there, everyone talks nothing but cricket, yawn. Found the bus stations already. Today Chrissie dinner at Pee Wees on the point in Darwin, tomorrow a trip to Lichfield national park in the little 4x4 car we have which is pretty and blue and seems to do the job fine. Well greetings again everyone.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM DAVE & MANDY

Well we are off now for a few days and wish you all the very best for Christmas whether you be at home with family or friends or travelling. We will try and keep in touch but if not will bring you our adventures in 2007 !

THERE BE TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS

Heres one I built myself! These days the fingers are too arthritic and time too short
A couple of big boys toys from Hong Kong at random from my display case, best wishes to everyone who folows us in Hong Kong

A reminder of our last archive release the Greater Manchester archive, thats it we're off to wine and dine now
all the best
Dave

OF FRANCE, SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG ETC

Yes we have finally set the date for our short sharp transport tour of Europe next year which will take place mid June and take in new systems in France plus Swiss systems not done on our last visit, some German systems in the south west we haven't been to for a while, Luxembourg because I've never filmed there and Belgium because its in the way.

Last night I made a good start on the West Midlands regional bus film archive and also loaded scenes of Maltese buses in You Tube. Tonight I've got a company dinner so not much action expected other than food and wine for a change.

MORE BUS MEMORIES FROM THE SEVENTIES

Hi everyone, the big day looms ever nearer, tonight unaided I managed to get a video clip onto You Tube all be my lonesome, we celebrated by ending the eveing with these scans from some 70s photos of mine in Warrinton, what a splendid place it was then for buses, a suitably wintry looking scene I think. The camera bag is packed ready for Oz but tomorrow I hope to do some more work on the Midlands archive. Today I tracked down some friends from Sussex who I haven't seen for 34 years or more, great thing the net ( sometimes).

WEST MIDLANDS BUS PARADISE ARCHIVE

Hi everyone, another few days and the anticlimax of Christmas will have come and gone thank goodness. This weekend we got loads of jobs out of the way including packing the suitcases for Australia and briefing our neighbours who look after the house. I had a catch up on film covers for recent re releases then a shuffle around on the model bus shelves.
I eventually started to download all my West Midlands archive material ready for the next Regional Archive on that area including former municipals and Midland Red. Some of the film has really been damaged by colour distortion and much hasn't been available to re copy so doing my best to make it as presentable as possible, there really are a lot of gems from the early 1960s and the last scene is about 1981. Perhaps I'll get is done before Christmas, who knows.

CHESHIRE WHITE CHRISTMAS AT PMP

OK so its not a white Christmas but I had soap suds cleaning the cars this morning before friends Emma and James popped in for mince pies, they couldn't stay long as they were off to start a family or was it meet friends for lunch! Emma shows off her new hair style next to Mandy.

I have been completing some family films for friends ready for Christmas, hopefully after making a few covers I'll get all the recent releases on e bay and have another bash at You Tube.

FLYING HIGH

Today I edited onto DVD our programme 424 British Aircraft Heritage, it will take nearly a day to 'render' given the complexity of putting the images into true black and white, resizing , adjusting the colour scenes and generally brightening it up. Lasts just over an hour. planning to get a few covers done Sat for recent releases. Had works dinner at lunch time today, the camera was banned!

MANDY PACKS EM IN

Super mega busy Mandy, tonight she has her girls night out at Est Est Est in Knutsford. A bit of a panic with Knutsford Travel, got the Oz tickets, rang to check that the visa was on the electronic air tickets and they said no, panic, panic, a few moments later when they troubled to open the file it turns out it was done in March! Next time I'll do it all myself. The new travel clock which corrects itself to local time went onto French time in Ireland, just about as good as the 'easy' to copy record player which we sent back and my mobile phone which shows messages which you have to pay to listen to then discover you've already heard it, and then there's our new DVD recorder ***!!! about that one, must have sent the Korean version as the instructions can't really be in English.

SEAN AND SUE PEEP SHOW?

Ireland, Sean and Sue taking a peep in an empty propery that Hil and Sean have their eye on, a bit of a major restoration projerct though
Sean telling tales of the one that got away?
The ceremonial carving last Saturday night with Sean wielding the knife as usual
A tea break in Co Waterford, Mandy picks a new apron with Sue
The wet weather sent the blinkers into a frenzy, Dave suggested WD40 which solved the problem, Sean head down, bum up, its a hard life!

Last night I finished the Sheffield 1994/5 Supertram programme , I hope to have another couple done tonight. Watched a bit of telly from recordings incl Victoria Woods wartime drama Housewife 59, very well written and acted.

SUPERTRAM MEMORIES CHRISTMAS LOOMING

Well last night I downloaded onto the computer the Sheffield Supertram scenes from 1994,5 and 6. This will probably mean the re release of three programmes in a slightly different mix all on DVD for the first time. That will leave Manchester Metrolink launch to do together with our early film on Docklands Light Rail. In between I listed a few more models, watched telly and finished off family Christmas Cards. It looks like being a hectic spell now until the new year, the post bag is still heavy with film orders.

IRELAND X FACTOR SCI FI SINGERS?

Its hard to believe you can put on so much weight over just one weekend. My sole bus photo taken Sunday morning which was wet and windy but Saturday was cold but sunny and you can see us on the beach in Co Waterford where we searched for suitable building sites for friends Hil and Sean. Sue also accompanied us on the jaint. We had an exchange of presents on Sat night, I got Bill Brysons recent childhood autobiography which was interesting given that I'm currently doing a similar excercise.
I had a bit of a tv education on Sat night, not my cup of tea was the x factor which I'd previously thought was a science fiction story, it may well have been with warbling Martians like demented soap stars, how could anyone get that worked up about a latter day Opportunity knocks and NO Hughie Green.
Tonight its back to the grind with the first two volumes of Sheffield Supertram going on to DVD ( 1995) also will include the 1996 update as a bonus.
Sales on e bay were very poor past week so auction items are going into the e bay shop .

MIDLAND METRO ON TRACK

apologies for the lack of photos the last few postings but its a very hectic time, we are still turning orders around within 24 hours but will have a break in Ireland this weekend. Last night was a bit of a techno nightmare, I ended up putting the rescue disk in my editing computer as it just wouldn't do DVDs, all sorted now and I was sensible enough to put added programme on another drive so they weren't wiped, time all this was sorted it was past bedtime. Thus finally the old Midland Metro launch film is on DVD.

Must be the stress but I'm at another low on weight, so well set for the Xmas stuffing. Made a bit of progress on my book yesterday and even ticked off a few more models in the log book.

Fraser has really got the PMP web site sorted, the list is up to-date, there is an order form attached and all price details are clearly given so no one should have any questions? I suppose I must get the next Ian Allan adverts done early next week, its going to be a mad whirl of dos, dinners and lunches and getting everything ready at work two weeks early.