ALRON BUS RALLY HAMPSHIRE LAST SUNDAY

I hope by now that anyone in Britain is following the diary of events we will be attending, I'm trying to keep this refreshed and accurate and if you look at
http://www.pmpfilms.com/ you will note that our next appearance is this coming weekend when we'll join all those Western National enthusiasts in Plymouth. Meanwhile some more shots from the excellent Alton rally last Sunday, what a busy month it is. A bvery busy day at work with a major safety presentation ceremony which went off like clockwork, then rain like the tropics, drowned rats to the core we were all thoroughly soaked getting away , then got back and someone had borrowed my office fort a conference call, stood around drying off , then had councillor and rep for council economic development board around for discussions on our premises and the environment, ie lack of services. Well continue busy back at home, dashing through the remainder of the Reading archive with a back log of current material building up. Should be plenty of brand new programmes on sale at Plymouth. Meanwhile Mandy was at doctors sharing results of the PCT complaint white wash and sorting out her elbow problems. The first night on memory foam mattress went well, knee still well better compared with a week ago.

DEPARTURES ON SERVICE AT ALTON BUS RALLY

an idea of the rally site at Alton by mid afternoon Sunday by which time the sun was out and the intensive service providing a wealth of vehicle types in service, the Aldershot & Dist presence was fascinating and I really enjoyed looking on even if it was impossible to go out on my travels and leave Mandy on her own especially as rain looked a possibility until later in the day. A well thought out layout of vehicles, there were also some cracking old lorries present, never had a chance to see these up close. Today we got the formal reply to from the investigating professor into our case against the PCT over funding for Mandy's special caliper that is required, lots of apologies but mostly try to lay the blame with our GP. The chairs for the kitchen turned up Saturday morning and were dumped outside the garage, the supplier a White room at Colne haven't replied to our complaints yet. Busy getting ready for a big day at work, just finished altering to promotional DVDs for them. Next between dinner, soaps and bed I'll do Reading 2008. Adverts confirmed in Buses, they seem to get it right every month unlike Classic Vintage Commercial mag.

ALTON BUS RALLY TODAY

as you can see by mid afternoon it was almost completely sunny although the day had started overcast. Not really sure what to say, best bus rally I've been to for content and quantity, even age profile - in ages, really enjoyable, great atmosphere, lots of people but the only problem was that they weren't really spending which if you've travelled down from Cheshire is a bit of a turn off. Anyway we got some filming done at Oxford Saturday, oodles of 10 reg buses there, millions of foreign kinds in huge groups blocking the pavements plus it was degree day, reminded me why we usually do Oxford in the winter, oh well. We then tried reading, should have know better then Slough, oh no why did I bother with that and then on to the slum, sorry Travelodge at Four Marks, so no marks for the inn at 4 marks. The pub, the windmill up the road looked to be going bankrupt, dirty toilet but food was fine and reasonable price but didn't take any sort of plastic, nearly a problem but we scraped shekels together for that. We had a scout up the road to find the rally site on Saturday evening, went to bed early, yet another night with no major knee problem, hurray I hear the world say. Got my appointment material through for the knee consultant so that ties in , ah well. It was good to see the usual crowd at Alton, guess it was Hampshire, never really studied the map, really interesting vehicles and lots of people you know makes it a comforting, warm feeling even when you aren't doing well, mind you no one seemed to be breaking any records, I would have taken my South eastern photo stock in retrospect plus some southern archive material to make a splash. Home in good time at 8pm, really need a shower , always feel grubby after a dusty day in a park!

GETTING READY FOR ALTON ON SUNDAY

Reading seems near enough to stand for the Alton rally on Sunday, praying of course that the recent thundery rain showers vanish and it comes out delightful like last weekend. This will be a first time at Alton so not really sure what people would be looking for there. I've just loaded the car up. Our friend Sue is with us tonight, the girls are out shopping and I've some work to do on a film for my 'day' job then finish off the next Reading film. I've placed the next round of magazine adverts, a mid month job always , best to keep to a routine. Leg was hell last night and no better today, might take a few pain killers although they never really help. Next blog Sunday night.

ANOTHER READING DVD READY TO GO

these are scenes from my latest archive on Reading buses, this time all in 1994, I'm just going to do the cover so at least two volumes ready for Alton rally. Hope the weather picks up but garden looks good, risked a bit of careful weeding tonight after a very hectic time at work getting ready for an important meeting next Tuesday. I'm also about to upload a trailer on Youtube and then commencing the next Reading volume. I've now got my appointment with the consultant, the NHS had booked me into the specialist private orthopaedic centre at Runcorn which is handy for work. Mandy waited in all day for our new kitchen chairs which never arrived, then they were closed at 5 this evening, words will be said. Its Three greyhounds night thank goodness so a bit of a rest later, leg woke me at 3.30 am although I did get a little more sleep.

THUNDER AND LIGHTENING DOWN CAME THE RAIN

thunder and lightening storm at home this evening just after I'd been out to spray the weeds coming up through the driveway edging. Last night was another horrendous nights sleep, I tried to get off on a board under the sheets but I still woke at 3.30am my favourite night awakening, chucked the board out, slept on the bed until wake up but restless with leg and knee pain right through. Mandy has got her appointment date at Gobowen hospital same place as I'll be going. Tonight's photos are all stills from the Reading film I've just finished 1987-93, this will be on sale at Alton rally at the weekend, looks like being a wet one though. I'm working on Reading 1994 at present.

FELISTOWE HARBOUR TRUCKS GALORE

from top to bottom, starts with last selection of Kings Lynn photos, as stated before very enjoyable there and hot, I understand that yesterday it heaved down in Norfolk, good job we got home just right. Then the ponds at Greenbanks Country Hotel near Dereham which was delightful and we gave a very positive review on Trip Advisor out first choice location for hotel searches. Then to the main event, the trucks at Felixstowe where I clocked up one truck sequence which lasting 22 minutes. i hope to have clips on Youtube soon but at present editing Reading bus archive, ready tonight 1987-1993. Then a little more reading before I get on to current events. Next weekend we are at Alton rally. Got the booking form for Birkenhead in October, the sales stall prices seem to have gone through the roof, thinking hard about whether to go or not, we don't do a bundle there. This morning I went for my MRI scan at Newcastle ( Staffs) and it was in early , not bad on the NHS, less than a day after I spoke to our GP. Hope they get something sorted, slept on the floor , well didn't really, just lay there, awake from 3am, very sore knee and leg today.