SUN SHINING ON LYMM TRUCK STOP

a late lunch at Lymm truck stop this afternoon, it was cloudless blue skies and temp around 17 which was most pleasant for the time of year, not yet quite shirtsleeves though. I got my adverts done for all the magazines this evening and at last got the final batch of seedlings potted up in the greenhouse. I've already edited the Lymm film and I'm downloading the Manx Electric Railway centenary films from 1993 as a prelude to my visit later this year. After the visit to the hospital yesterday I got prescribed some stronger Ibuprofen based pills which should make life more comfortable, last night I had to come downstairs and didn't do to bed until gone 1am. The bulbs look better every day and it all comes together with the lawns mown. The China trip looms ever nearer, need to start getting bits and pieces sorted, perhaps even tentative packing.

SUN HAS NEARLY GOT HIS HAT ON

well nearly a spring in my step as well as in the weather after the hospital visit this afternoon. Its nothing sinister nor a hernia but its more like a sciatic nerve problem , perhaps emanating from my back and hurting where it isn't very nice to hurt. Anyway contacting doctors ref pain relief tomorrow and going to see osteopath next Tuesday. Celebrated by getting lawns mowed, potting up seedlings, taking these photos, note how greenhouse is getting a bit full already. The garden is full of bulbs, the magnolia is nearly out, there are grape hyacinths and tulips, everything is budding up, spraying against Lilly beetle as usual. Paid the full bill for the China trip this morning , thank goodness I've the all clear and don't need an operation.

HEART OF THINGS FROM DERBY TO NOTTINGHAM

This coming Saturday will see us at Castle Donington near East Midlands airport for the Kelsey sponsored commercial auction and enthusiasts day, no idea at all what it will be like and its our first outside event of the year. Tomorrow I've my hospital appointment in the afternoon in Macclesfield, I'll report back tomorrow evening on that one.

Looking at the years event calendar
http://www.skylineaviation.co.uk/buses/events.html I highly recommend this site, Dick does a great job. Amongst the offerings are the Heart of the Pennines events at the Pierce Hall, Halifax, their site intimates that its the same as the event we used to sponsor but other than name and location is nothing at all to do with it and at £20 per 8' for a stall I can't see many want8ng to dip their feet in the water. They new team have never contacted Tony Blackman or myself about the resurrected event.

Its been a cold dull day, especially miserable after a few bright spring like days over the weekend, I'm working my way through the seedlings, just half a tray at a time ( 200 plants), even then it will be the end of the week before I finish and the greenhouse is already looking full. Yvonne and Graham are heading south this evening, nice seeing them of course although a diet may be necessary following Mandy's superb Syrup sponge last night.

I still need to do the DVD of Derby last Saturday and the cover for that plus the Runcorn trucks and get the Nottingham DVD done so plenty of work around. John has some 1960s London bus archive film to pass over at Cobham, a joint venture with ONLINE archives

SUNNY OLD CHESHIRE

some scenes from Nottingham on Saturday afternoon following my Derby visit.

Nottingham like other UK cities has a fixation with big wheels, why?

a reminder of the new buses in Derby. The sun is still shining but I'm trying not to rush about too much until my strain has been sorted, a ultra sound scan on Wednesday at the Regency in Macclesfield should show what the problem is, with luck, can;t say I like anything medical, not least pain. Yvonne and Graham have enjoyed super weather, together with Mandy they covered the potteries today. I've done some more Ashmore family research and editing the Derby and Nottingham DVDs, birthday dinner tonight, big pud to follow.

LIVERPOOL VIA DERBY GOING ROUND IN CIRCLES

some more scenes from sunny Derby yesterday morning, starts around 8.45. Today we took Yvonne and Graham to Liverpool, did the open top mega rip off tour, £8 a piece, really is a bit over the top but they enjoyed themselves i think, sunshine all the way. The driver was arguing with a passenger before we set off in a scouse sort of way. Yesterday at Nottingham when i went back to the car park there was a carpet sticking out by my car, then a couple of hands and head ducking in and out, it was an ethnic doing his prayers, wife and kiddie stood by pretending he wasn't with them perhaps. I went off singing onward Christian soldiers. Did you know that about 100 miles of the M1 has major road works , took ages getting back to the A50, especially as I went north instead of south out of Nottingham, weird I thought Derbyshire was north of Nottinghamshire, you'll understand I'm not a Tom Tom, sort of person and my map was in the car, that's in the garage etc. Garden looking food, magnolia nearly out, plus tulips coming through and gorgeous hyacinths. Birthday tomorrow!

DERBY AND NOTTINGHAM AND BLOOMIN M1

never though I'd live to see the day Derby got new buses with Arriva, its been a bit of a museum of late, still they have well made up for it now, some new ones on Mickleover route due out tomorrow. Dropping the pain killers which kept the journey relatively comfortable. Late back last night from Trish and Dereck's in Sale, watched the Corrie non wedding after midnight.

after Derby went on to Nottingham, the light wasn't ideal but I managed. Tonight awaiting the arrival of Yvonne and Graham from Hampshire, not expected until much later though so time to catch up. Mandy has banned me from mowing the lawns ans washing cars until my injury is sorted out properly.Tonight I'm editing the Runcorn truck film from last week. Don't know when I'll type up all the family history data I downloaded this week, be pain of death waking up early tomorrow, me thinks!!!

PETER DAWSON FISHERMEN AND MOTORCYCLES

Around the shores of England, which stretch towards the sea,

There dwell an ancient people, and they labour mightily.

In havens unfrequented that the busy life forgets,

The fishermen of England are working at their nets.

In tiny vessels they defy the perils of the deep

And scan the waters' dreary waste with eyes that never sleep.

And when at night you safely lie, in blankets snug and warm,

The fishermen of England are riding out the storm.

And when the foes of England, set sail in fury blind

The children of the storm arise, and leave their nets behind

With merry oath and laughter, and a smile upon their lips,

The fishermen of England, go down to the sea in ships.

One of my favourites when I need to lift my spirits, a Peter Dawson number which has its origins in a 1920s Operetta. The weather today has been less than hoped for, not sure about tomorrow. No booze now on strong painkillers, waiting for ultra sound scan next week. Still a bit quiet on the DVD front. Some photos from my latest re release on DVD Motorcycles and cars in the 50s

RUNCORN TODAY GOODBYE GENES

a few sunny spells today which came in handy as I managed to get back down to Runcorn and finish off the material for my latest lorry DVD . I've got Mandy an email account set up, her address will be
madeleinespencer@ymail.com I expect she'll welcome a couple to set her off, may try and connect via Outlook this evening if I'm feeling adventurous. I'll finish off putting the vintage commercial material on DVD, there are two volumes. Then get the Runcorn trucks done and a run down to a family weekend when Yvonne my sister from Hampshire will be up with us , hopefully right through to my birthday on Monday. Its been the quietest week for over a year, the recession seems to be biting. Finally got all the accounts in order to settle up for the China trip although with all cheques in it will be Wednesday next week before they'll allow the cash transfer. I think I'm up to a bit of gardening tonight, but strictly no lifting, those thousands of little seedlings need nurturing don't they. AI did remove my family tree from Genes reunited last night, glad to be rid of it, very little to be gained and everything of note is already on Ancestry, come to think of it I might take that off as well. Gencircles is back up and running although the problems with 'matches' still remain as per a year ago.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

The last shots on blog from Cheltenham last Saturday, I'll have to find something different tomorrow. Viewer numbers still falling, may give up the blog if no one reads it. Mandy had her stitches out today, healed up nicely, my strain is still giving me aggravation. The birds are crazy stuffing themselves on the feeders, leaves are spouting on all the bushes and trees. Still getting lots of Genes Reunited replies, too many. I'll just do a little bit of potting on tonight giving my injury a rest. Very quiet on the DVD front except fort a large Ian Allan order in today.

CHELTENHAM BUSES GARDENING AND DENTIST

Cheltenham races, not likely. A bit of activity on the net but not much, my strain is a little better again not helped i know by humping yet another couple of bales of compost in , albeit by wheelbarrow. More potting up each night. Went to dentists this afternoon, had a small piece of gunge between top of front teeth which needed extracting, clean and polish and on my way, easy peesy or what.

that was a good whack of Cheltenham buses wasn't it. Mandy is now on the net with her computer, nice one Mandy. Still not on email, but she forgot to ask about it, oh boy!! The 1995 CVRTC rally at Rugby, still rendering, taking forever, looks like another night before its done.

Got the e tickets and vouchers for our China trip , very much on go mode and our local contacts in Guangzhou getting itinerary ready for us.