MURREE HILLS CHERAT INDIA 1940

Cherat 1940

Murree Hills 1940

Another selection of my father George Spencer's Indian photos in what would now be Pakistan.

Well I did manage to get out today and did some truck filming, still camera battery ran out and spare was dead which was a faux pas but got scenes done at both Ross on Wye and Monmouth, just one driver who took exception , reckoned I'd filmed him years ago, he didn't like it then and not now, all that from his cab , with the window open and snow on the ground, who could be bothered. Anyway very much the odd man out as everyone else was superb, lots of horn and lights flashing and very busy scenes.

The long wait for the new editing suite starts, obviously nothing will happen until I'm up and running including Youtube clips.

MOTHERBOARD PROBLEMS

some shots from my recent scans of my father's Indian army photos, Landi Kotal about 1939, North West Frontier, the band are playing the 'enemy' in exercises.

the lads are all looking fir and well fed

hamming it up in Landi, George on the trumpet of course

a couple of parting Stoke truck shots

Disaster struck yesterday, the motherboard on my film editing computer had gone up the creek, ordered a whole new set up as I've had this in mind for ages. Hence all editing on hold for a week until new kit arrives then a bit of a learning curve. This will enable HD to be shot as and when I get new camera.

MORE STOBARTS AT STOKE

yes another dose of trucks at M6 Jnt 15 yesterday in the bitterly cold breeze. No snow today despite dire warnings on TV.

As promised the Russian tram trolley film was finished and a clip of Astrakhan is on Youtube already getting hits. Still nothing order wise on the net, dead Tuesday we'll call that one although there were a couple in the post, hope it gets better today though or I'll be limiting my travels to Blackpool this year.

Sitting here with electric pulses shooting through my knees, I think there is still more progress although the leg is stiff in the mornings. A bit of work proper to get out of the way, yes I can't even take time off when I'm 'sick'. I might try and have a bit of a short run out today and get a bit of footage if I can, perhaps Rochdale which I haven't done for ages and ages. A couple of weekday destinations for a brighter day, the road down to Wales again and Gloucestershire, could do both same day if weather held.

I've scanned all the photos in the first volume of my father's 'Indian' album, another two to go through. I must suss out contact at the Kings regimental museum.

STOKE FOR EDDIE STOBART

as predicted the weather was cold but dry and overcast, suitable for filming most places and I went down to junction 15 on M6 at Stoke as promised. First thing I gave my knee it's first round of treatment and again when I got back, accompanied by coffee and last of the Christmas cake.

The Stobart depot is opposite side of roundabout thus the preponderance of Irlams/Stobarts.

I've finished another Russian DVD, 1997 covering Astrakhan, my favourite location on the 97 trip, I think the trams have long gone from there.

Still quiet on the net so why not order while we can give our full attention to you!

LIVERPOOL MEMORIES FROM MY FAMILY

today it's been dull and miserable, went into work on my way to physio on the Wirral, the knee is fairly cool which is a good sign but of course still very swollen Started electric treatment and exercises.

Irene my Dad's sister at their parents house at Thorndale Rd, Waterloo, Liverpool ( 1938)

my dad George Spencer in the back yard on leave 1938

the copy of the Eastbourne Courier 1944 with mum and dad's wedding photo, posted to Thorndale Rd, Liverpool.

Daisy Spencer my grandmother ( adopted family)

the photo of Daisy in my father's Indian era photo album

DVD wise I'm working through my 1997 trip to Russia and trying to close out the visit, should have Youtube clip of Uritsky trolley factory on tonight.

See the ayatollahs and Muslim nutters at it in Afghanistan, nothing much changed since George was up the Khyber in the 1930s!

TIME TO LEAVE OLD DORSET

yes the last of my Dorset archive features has now been finished and about to load a clip on Youtube. The net seems dead yesterday and this morning , ready and waiting for your orders. Thought the snow and salt clips and DVD would have produced more trucker interest. Utrecht cab ride seems to have produced the most hits lately, now that was a surprise.
So for my last selection of Dorset photos we travel to Weymouth in 2002

today its been hobble about with more panache day, went round for paper in my car then washed the two motors and helped Mandy clean the house, had a test between chores. We're out at the Halle tonight at Bridgewater hall in Manchester, The Mahler season started last night but i didn't think I was up to that yet, a bit of a long evening.

The first snowdrops have nearly come out, tidied up a bit in the garden and fed the birds yet again. I'm copying a few more old records onto CD, a task I've let rest for quite a while. Had to refresh my memory as to how the machine worked, talking of which a radio operated doorbell fitted this morning, yes between all the other jobs, yes and here;s me convalescing eh.

STILL DOWN IN DORSET IN 1999

yes I'm still bashing my way through the Dorset archive DVDs, I'm now up[ to 1999. I was down in the Dorset oilfields at the time and managed some very much out of season shots. Poole in late November is indeed a bleak sight. Anyway here's a mixture as per my latest DVDs including the 1998 Poole running day, I'll pop a clip of that on Youtube today. Guess there's a few folk who haven't realised these are now online.

fairly quiet this morning order wise, the leg is a bit stiff but each day sees some progress. I put cling film round my knee so I could shower without getting the wounds wet, worked a treat. It's a really miserable day outside, heavy rain and windy overnight, not improved much this morning. No sign now of any snow left at all. I should have all the Dorset archives on DVD by the end of the weekend. Next week I hope to get a couple of trips out to recuperate and exercise my leg.

Next I'll tackle Hampshire with Southampton, the theory is I'm working around spreading out from South West to East and North and then also around North West and Yorkshire, popular centres of enthusiast interest. In between comes trucks and rallies, trolleys and trams to break up the progress.

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE DORSET

yes we are now down in Dorset for our retro DVD coverage, several volumes already under my belt and trailers on Youtube although I need to put them on Amazon.

The 'Routemaster' era lasted just 15 months in Bournemouth, it's owners were connected to the local bus museum, quite a route network developed and what an amazing collection of buses they ran. Bournemouth Yellow bus retaliated with 'white' buses on the routes concerned timed just in front of the competition as you do!

Today my leg is coming along, trying to do without painkillers now, swelling starting to subside, big bandages come off tonight so should be more mobile then. Hammering it down with rain outside which is getting rid of the last vestiges of snow.

HOBBLING AROUND TODAY

a couple of stills from my recent bus DVD on South West Bus Wonders 1997-2004 which I need to do the cover for, now working on Dorset, starts with Bournemouth. I'll do as much as my leg permits, getting around the house is difficult and stairs a challenge today

The PMP office after redecoration work last weekend

I got back from hospital about 7.30 pm yesterday evening. Leg is very uncomfortable, little sleep last night so I won't attempt anything too technical today. No sign of the bin men yet, still a few thingsa which don't seem to have made it through the post. Picking up work emails at home so keeping on top of things there. Taking plenty of rest, cleaners cancelled today so at least I can relax about the place a bit.

IT HAS SNOWED BEFORE, CHESHIRE

a few local shots from the past to prove it has snowed before, today we have fresh snow though, I've done my best to clear the paths again. Noticed someone has hit Mandy's car with their door by the loom of it.

In a few minutes I'm off to hospital at Spire Murrayfield on the Wirral for my second attempt at knee op, lets hope he makes a better job of it this time, particularly hope no sutures are left in this time around.

Last night I download the material for first of The Dorset Collection, Bournemouth 1989 - 94, includes some extra scenes by Tim Bubb in RM era.

All orders have been cleared as usual, putting bins out before we leave in hope they may show up this week.

Keeping in touch with work through email and phone, I'll start going in as soon as I can.