OF BOOKS SUNSHINE AND GARDENING

The remainder of the fleetwood tram sunday event, enough said, hope the memory fades as quick as the sand in my socks went down the plughole.

A rare sunny day and the tall ships were off from Liverpool but traffic too bad to catch it.

The cover and blurb for my book, you can order through all normal book outlets, due out 1st September


Matador Non-Fiction

A Smudge on my Lens
£9.99

by Dave Spencer
Published: 01 September 2008
An adopted post war baby boomer from a Sussex council estate, reminders of the conflict littered the 50’s landscape. Nature was still bountiful but the landed gentry were selling our heritage before conservation had teeth. This was the first television generation: weaned on the Flower Pot Men, Dave Spencer grows up in an increasingly commercial and libertarian society which explodes into the colourful sixties. Ill at ease amongst former public school boys, a lurch to the left sees the author struggling with the antics of gas board apprentices followed by fun in the stock room as a trainee retail manager. Set against popular music and current events of the era a rude awakening comes in the shape of a wily Glaswegian con man. A confrontation with the law and a taste of life on the road leads to a ferry across the Mersey and a hippy hike from Cornwall to Manchester. A final fling in Sussex comes as a long haired milkman in a story which mixes religion, drugs, politics and passion.
From idealist to opportunist the author encounters characters from the IRA to the Jewish rag trade. It’s not all a barrel of laughs but with a wry sense of humour and optimism life is never dull. One minute a member of Britain’s nuclear defence forces and the next fighting for a woman’s right to order a pint of ale. The alternative society of 70’s Manchester saw radical political and social changes embraced with the author’s usual enthusiasm.
Settling down to a conventional lifestyle didn’t stop wanderlust, resuming interest in hobbies Dave emerges as one of the world’s most travelled transport photographers with his video camera aimed at some unlikely corners of a bewildered planet. The kindness of strangers often restores faith in mankind and some of the characters we meet are strange indeed.
ISBN: 978-1906510-787

FAREWELL TRAM SUNDAY

what was almost certainly the last Fleetwood Tram Sunday was marked by freezing temperatures and a howling gale but there was sunshine. Our spot was particularly bad for wind, by 4pm we had packed up and were home not long after 5.
Even if it took place again we wouldn't attend as most of the regulars have dropped out and whole stretches of the town were bereft of any transport representation, what a let down from the glory days of 40,000 plus attendance and trams running through the event, it was of course introduced after the centenary celebrations in the 80s, we've attended for over two decades, many of the earlier ones are on film.
In the boiling pot with caravaners are fairground organs, it will be a relief never to be subjected to 8 hours of repetitive nonsense. When will global warming hit Cheshire, its only 59 here this afternoon.
Just running off the DVDs from Wales yesterday, Mandy has suggested I do all the Scottish archives on DVD ready for Lathalmond, well perhaps 1 or 2, also want to do some east Kent oldies for Herne Bay in 2 weeks. Next Sunday we are at Sandtoft trolley museum, in Yorkshire.

TOPSY TURVY CARAVANS AND WALES

with all the water everyones gardens are looking good
ewhat i went to Cardiff for!


left about 6.15, stuck at traffic jam on M5 about 7.15 overturned caravan, on the way back same again at about 3.30 pm north bound. OK, dislikes, everyomne knows I hate cyclists in lycra, motorbikes are pretty horrid and some of my friends are bikers, sorry folkjs, then there are cats and several of our best friends rate cats amongst their best friends as well, just not my thing, then there are caravans, the plonkers who tow these around should be boiled alive, ok so that's a bit too moderate but i couldn't think of anything really horrid at this moment, so content with tummy full of roast chicken. Mandy did her Polio groups collection at Ellesmere Port supermarket, something foreign, maybe German, anyway it wasn't Tescos and that the only one other than Sainsburys I know. The tripod mounting for the camera broke, wounded last year in my isle of Wight tumble, WH Smugs had some gaffer tape which rescued the moment, it went in Varsity Cardiff next door to Wetherspoons, couldn't stand the Q at W's although I'm a shareholder, Varsity was disgusting, sickening really felt like walking out and leaving the greasy mess which counted as breakfast.
Editing todays film at Cardiff and Newport, weather mixed but better than at L Peover where the rain still keeps coming and temperature keeps falling. More on locations with photos and blog text tomorrow.

TRIP BACK TO THE 1980s

this is what you saw when you hing around service areas in the 80s, a mis spent youth indeed, well ok not youth but well, anyway carrying on..
last night at Halle, tremendous performance, didn't get the standing ovation it deserved though, god aren't British audiences reserved, there again too old to stand perhaps?
Tomorrow i expect to be filming in South Wales, caught up on all DVD covers now and starting some new works.
Sunday , we will be at Fleetwood, join us there!

BRYN TYRFIL TONIGHT

yes no time t9 linger or spurious photos, we are off to the Halle in Manchester Bryn is doing Dream of Gerontious with Halle tonight at the Bridgewater hall , promises to be a smasher. Well busy as usual and weather freezing cold and wet as ever , will it ever end. I eventually caught up with editing, just some rail scenes to do for a friend, last night as Mandy's cousins supping Belgian beer all night, thanks Derek. Well saw Tesco delivery driver reading his paper while driving along, Mway was blocked tonight by two crashes at Jct 19, what's new we say. Tomatoes are 5' tall in greenhouse. Too late to mow lawn dashing out after Mandy's delicious Curry. Don't forget its Fleetwood on Sunday, or failing that catch the Tall Ships race at Liverpool at the weekend.Sent stinging letter out to complain about Liverpool airports disabled assistance, used government website for all agencies with an interest, at least 3 rejected as they'd changed without notification also gov agencies, typical, no joined up stuff, Labour is all bluff.

why has google blog got the worst spell checker?

MORE FROM SOUTHPORT NO GOLF THOUGH

there you go that's our lot for Southport. Just finished last catch up DVD tonight, need to do next round of adverts and then rest of the DVD covers although generally I'm on top iof it. The bedroom blind has collapsed, couldn't figure out how to fix it so calling the blind people in, hope they can see their way, oh dear!!
Got Johns award application filled in, and took stock of Scottish area DVDs for Lathalmond. Sunday is Fleetwood, weather looks like being not too bad.
Book should be back from professional proof reader soon, still on schedule for promised launch.

CRAZY GOLFERS AT SOUTHPORT

Southport this morning, I had to go up to the golf at Birkdale for work to pick up tickets, a break after I finally managed to get them, parked up, then shuttle bus to entrance, just to collect. Glad I'm not into golf, can't think of anything more boring, good ole buses do me. Notice Southport park and ride in pseudo Southport Corp livery. Weather still very unsettled, never going to get any summer at this rate, praying for dry at Mandy's Polio flag day at Aldi Ellesmere Port on Saturday morning.
Did I tell you about going to the Bells Of Peover with Albert on Saturday, its been 28 years since my first visit, only a few minutes walk but it hasn't changed, awful atmosphere, wouldn't go again for another 28 years, anyway you'd die of thirst waiting for a drink.

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING

did I ever tell you the story of when I was in the jungle in Sierra Leone, way back before the civil war, well this and hundreds of other stories will be in my book
A Smudge On My Lens.
well you say someone is stalling for time this evening, I've got to dash to Southport for golf tickets early tomorrow perhaps I'll bump into some buses there.
Next Saturday Mandy's local Polio Fellowship group has a flagday at Ellesmere Port, AMEC my employer are matching their collection.

DIARY DATES FOR PMP

Terminus Rd Eastbourne in the early post war period Mandy at a showground just after we were married in 1974
Ballynash, Foynes, Co Limerick where I lived for 3 years 1979-82
the 1987 hurricane, my car in Sussex
Sergie Takrkhov right to left, Richard Lomas, Mandy and myself

and of course this all forms part of my book

A Smudge On My Lens which is nearly published

dates v coming up

20th July Fleetwood Tram Sunday, there with PMP stand near North Euston hotel, pray for good weather

26th July I'm filming in Dublin

27th July Sandtoft gathering with PMP stand

Sat 2nd Aug filming in Kent Canterbury and Chatham

3rd Aug at Herne Bay running day. great day out last year.

16th /17 th Aug at Lathalmond Scottish national bus museum open weekend with PMP stand

25th Aug my book launch at Hellingly FOT in Sussex

AEC SOUTHALL DAY AT PMP

a couple for all the AEC truck fans out there! A quiet sort of day - ish. Waiting for our friends from Barcelona to return from Scotland, up early and cleaning duties getting ready for family meal tomorrow. Went to Knutsford to Booths supermarket, really incredible , like land of the living zombies or the undead, worthy of a documentary perhaps! Got what we needed and then back to tidy more of the garden and clean window surrounds, oh boy such delights, weather still mixed so no great loss to filming. I've listed most recent releases on ebay, there is also another sale on our site. I've updated the list on the web site to include right up to this weeks shooting although a couple are still being edited, covers are also nearly up todate thanks to this day at home.

WIGAN NO PIER BUT BUSES GALORE

South Lancs is now a main player in the Wigan bus scene, a busy bus station although patterns of sevices often seem to change as do operators, a long way from the days of heavy Merseybus involvement. Generally friendly drivers and no real hassle although the courts are around the corner. Wigan is a maze of one way streets and by passes.

Today I've been busy at work and then home to clean cars and garden with our friends from Barcelona due to stay over again tomorrow and a family dinner on Sunday thus not much transport anticipated.Still working my way through the Poland trip DVDs, nearly finished but lots more backed up. The planning of the 2009 China trip is well under way with a final quote expected soon. Next on the schedule is a long weekend in Ireland, I hope to get my Dublin trucks footage extended to a full programme's worth.

LUNCHTIME IN CARLISLE

ok so it isn't the most exciting spot in the world but it was sunny in Carlisle early yesterday afternoon when I stopped for a lunch break on my way over to Newcastle, what more can I say, a putrid town full of tattoos and hairy gorillas, that's the women!
Meanwhile after winning Cumbrian tourist board prize, I'm still working my way through the Poland trip, had to re do one DVD which went haywire. Then onwards once more before Mandy drags me off to the Three Greyhounds.

A DOUBLE DOSE OF BLOGS

a rare event when I got home this evening the sun was shining and it was dry, ( not for long) so I took a few snaps of the garden. An interesting day with a start at Newcastle college where we had young men in the World Skills competition starting their two day assignment, I hope they make it through to the finals in Calgary next year, perhaps I;'ll be with them. A bit of tidying up in the garden before tea, the weather has played havoc but the scents are heavenly at the moment.