SANTIAGO TO BUENOS AIRES VIA RUNCORN

Valparaiso in 1996 part of my South american trip tyhat year now all on DVD and of course setting the scene for this year when we hope to see the trolleys actually running this time

From Santiago we crossed over the andes by coach, some great scenes from the front seat.



Today filmed trucks at Runcorn.

Busy at work, sunny again but very cold this morning, bulbs struggling in the garden, could do with some rain now.

Still proof reading the book and sorting photos.

SMASHING RECORDS

I don't think word has got out yet on my 'new' West Midlands DVD but a reminder anyway.

last night I rattled off the Rotterdam DVD of trucks in 1996. The response from the truck mag advert seems to be good , the number of hits on our web site was an all time high yesterday and we also shifted several of my old railway items on ebay.


Tonight i contunue to work on the Chile / Argentina trip of 1996 with a view to getting the truck one done as well as buses etc, really desperate to increase truck stuff on DVD for new viewers coming to us. Thus Youtube on hold, no time.

Still rattling around with the car for Albert getting docukents and transport etc arranged .


About a third of a million Youtube hits so far and our blog is now getting more traffic , about 22 a day. Wish everyone converted these calls and visits to purchases, 10% would be wonderful!

Next Sunday I'm meeting 'lost' relations from the Liverpool Spencer family at Magull.

Loads more on bus photography and police, I've written to our MP George Osborne on the issue,

herewith more messages


........'''I have just found a feature article from 2000 about the tribulations of press photographers trying to cover the Paddington rail disaster. They found a nearby block of flats and agreed with some residents - probably after the passing of some banknotes - to use their balconies to take pictures.
The fuzz were on the scene sharpish trying to persuade the residents to tell the snappers to leave. No joy - after all they had been paid. As they flats were Council pads, the police then phoned the Council and got a Council official to make the residents expel the photographers.

None of this was remotely within the remit of the police.

A previous General Secretary of the CIoJ quoted a senior policeman from years ago: "Police officers are much like journalists. We drink too much; we work too long hours; we cause upset to our families by neglect. The difference is that journalists want to tell it all while police want to stop it all". It's ironic, of course, that while press and individuals are restrained from taking pictures, the police are taking pictures of us all the time.

The police and officialdom will carry on this assualt on civil liberties under any pretence they can. Modest bus spotters we may be but we all have a duty to plug away and absolutely refuse to be stifled or constrained by the British Gestapo.

Be brave, chaps.

Norman Bartlett
On 18/02/2008, Cliff <cie@ntlworld.com> wrote:
Hi all.
Just a thought.

Because the way the current police force(sorry service) is micro managed by central government , chasing criminals now falls foul of heath and safety and human rights legislation. The Police are becoming virtually unemployed at taxpayers expense(A waste of space). So a little old man(Sorry) taking pictures by the roadside is a possible "terrorist" and an arresttable target that is not likely to react and cause a problem, with the added bonus of spending the rest of your shift back at the station filling in forms and not getting your hands dirty. The more of these "targets" are recorded, more "crimes" are solved, the station superintendents bonus goes up, the statistics are laundered and the police look good on paper.
So, be warned. Street Photographers, bus spotters and the like are becoming a legitimate target. Wear a hood or carry a knife or gun and you look possibly dangerous so they will leave you alone, it seems.
Regards
Cliff

MENDOZA TROLLEYBUSES

what have I been doing today, well our 1996 trip to Mendoza the laid back wine capital of Argentina was just one of the videos transfered to DVD, working on the rest of the trip as a taster for my April trip to Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

MORE POLICE INTERFERENCE WITH BUS PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hull yesterday morning before we went to sort out Alberts car. As you can see cold but bright but much colder this morning, still minus 5 when I went for the newspaper.

From Buses worldwide friends more hassle with police picking on bus photographers, I'll raise with George osborne my MP.

Dear all,

On Wednesday 13th February, my good friend of some years standing F. (Fred) W. York visited my house in order for us to work on the manuscript of Part Two of his History of Singapore Trams, Trolleybuses... Etc.

He left at about 1645 to catch a train to Havant and Fareham which he thought departed at around 1700, only to find that there was nothing until 1740.

Being a lifelong photographer of trams and buses and not often having the opportunity of snapping modern trams unless he is in Croydon, he decided to spend his time taking a few photographs for his collection.

Now, you will probably recall that Fred was taking photographs in Singapore and Malaya from 1954 whilst in the RAF in those places and must be in his late 70s.

Having taken a couple of pictures of trams negotiating the tight turn from Wellesley Road into George Street, he was approached by two constables of the Metropolitan Police who asked him what he was doing and upon receiving his reply and ignoring his plea to be made to miss his train, did a full check on his identity. When asked on what grounds he had been stopped, he was told that it was the terrorist threat.

This was an ordeal for a stalwart and immensely patriotic man who travelled through Malaya during "The Emergency" to photograph trains and buses, despite the daily ambushes and killings by communist terrorists. Fred has suffered for some years now with laryngeal cancer and is partially deaf so communication with anyone, let alone police officers, can be a challenge, especially with a busy backdrop of traffic noise.

Were it not for people like Fred, we would not have the benefit of thousands of books and photograph albums in which is recorded the the history of our towns and cities which line the shelves of public libraries and private collectors from here to Australasia and the Americas.

I therefore send you this message to make of what you will.

Best regards

Mike

Well my friends will know I'm no admirer of the British police, I was last assualted in Paisley 2006 whilst filming, over the years I've had some right ding dongs not always connected with transport, they are often better suited to relate to the kind of people they should deal with, criminals!

AUSTIN 10 CAMBRIDGE 1938 DAVE SPENCER

Dave collecting the Austin Cambridge 10 from Fred prest at Eston on Teesside near Middlesbrough today, temperature near freezing but it started first time,
just out of the garage
new wiring and engine looks very tidy
Dave getting a feel, perhaps I'll snap it up instead of Albert
The interior has been fully restored, well Albert in Barcelona will hopefully be very pleased with his purchase, actually we were queuing up at the cash till topping up the money as the cash transfer took longer than expected.

Today we were also filming at hull, photos tomorrow of that.

WEST MIDLANDS TO WEST CORK

stlls from our latest cine derived West Midlands feature which was finished yesterday, meanwhile

well Alberts new car can't be sorted until after the weekend due to hitch on bank transfers from Spain, looks as if Mandy will have to go on Monday.

Not 100% certain about Saturday filming destination yet. Swindon or Hull I think

First sales from Commercial advert coming through shows promise, loads of hits on website.

Pat Peacock has found a new Irish researcher to track my fathers family in West Cork.

May put another truck film on DVD and then start regional archive N East as promised.

TRUCKING THROUGH THE ROCKIES 1995

scenes from our 1995 Candian truck film , through the Rockies and Vancouver, just finished the cover.

Spent time finalising arrangements to sort out the 1938 Austin for Albert.

Getting next round of adverts ready, the first truck one appeared yesterday, no replies but loads of hits on web site so far, nearly hit a record in fact.

EDDIE STOBART PMP TRUCKS

a few more shots from Lymm services yesterday.

The first truck advert appeared today, one enquiry only so far.

The book was substantially completed today, need to check through one last time.

I've been busy arranging purchase of 1939 Austin Cambridge for Albert Gonzalez Masip our good friend in Barcelona.

LYMM TRUCK STOP TODAY

Got some film for a programme in the warm spring sunshine at Lymm, Cheshire, photos taken whilst filming.

Nearing the end of my autobiography, just a few pages to go

Mandy got home at 3 this morning, a bit of catching up to do.

Starting work on the West Midlands archive sound, pictures all done.

St Petersburg requested for DVD transfer, see what I can manage

MEANEST NASTIEST PEOPLE EBAY

Worcest on Saturday, a bit on the quiet side in reality

Today I delisted the model bus plans I'd put on ebay after being threatened by someone as they supposedly contravened ebays copyright policy, as I bought them direct from supplier about 30 years ago why can't I re sell them if I want, its like someone selling second hand DVDs of mine, as long as they aren't copying them to sell. Ther are some mean spirited people, anyway I've burnt them all, about 100 4m bus plans and about 100 modelcraft 1950s plans, so sod em all.

There are some nice Southern railway items listed which I won't destroy, well not today anyway.

I've just finished 1995 Canadian trucks through the rockies DVD, putting clip on YouTube, yes i know I said I wouldn't but I haven't had much abuse lately so I'll give it a try again. Wish someone would dip their hands in their pockets, a third of a million hits and I bet only a dozen sold through Youtube, tight gits.

Mandy is due back very late tonight.