RENCH ODYSSEY IN 1997 TRAM TROLLEYBUSES

The trams and trolleys of Grenoble in May 1997 features in my latest round of DVD conversions, also covered St Etienne and Lyon on the same trip. Another two with Rouen an Limoges are on the go.

A busy Sunday, up early down to the tip then clean mice out of shed, fix rotten boards to stop them, creosote the wood.

Washed and scrubbed my original Billingham camera bag ready for Sean to do repairs.

Many in Ireland in a weeks time.

Tomorrow morning the Stoke radio broadcast breakfast show.

Finishing transfer of records to CD for Sean, ready for Mandy to take back next week.

Got my recent master tapes on database.

loaded Grenoble of Youtube.

WONDERFUL FRIENDLY BIRMINGHAM

a bright sunny day and our first major outing in the UK for 2008, a great day out in Birmingham, what a really friendly place it is, all the drivers waving and thumbs up, restores your faith in human nature. After Brum we went on to Solihull. The Birmingham film should be edited ready tonight, hope to post on Youtube. With new buses and a new livery very interesting

We intend to release on DVD all the French tram film we took as the earlier systems opened.

We are also hoping to get all commercial tricking films on DVD this year.

Still new releases are on VHS as well as DVD although not material that otherwise features on video tapes.

CHINESE TROLLEYBUSES FROM PMP

Stills from my 1990 film in Canton China which we did as a side trip from Hong Kong. These are actual stills from the film just released on DVD which also includes Richard Lomas's film taken 1991 in Beijing and John Bishops 2007 Xi'an.
1991 scenes include a few goods locos in steam.

The radio interview eventually got under way, die to broadcast Monday BBC Radio Stoke breakfast time, it will be a bit of a puss take no doubt but lets all laugh anyway. Hopefully a plug for the POPS rally as I've just coughed up the 2008 sponsorship, is it in your diary yet. May 11th Wedgwood centre, Barlaston, Staffs.

Hoping to film in West Midlands tomorrow, fingers crossed.

ATLANTEAN BOLTON RUNNING DAY

it already seems a long time ago when around 40 surviving Atlanteans with First were concentrated in Bolton and used for the worlds biggest ever running day, we have just put the film out on DVD.

Tonight I'm working on China 1990 -90 and 2007, boy how its changed.

Got my new back up still camera working the main one is still under repair from Christmas when dust got in.

The autobiography is up to late 2003, it ends 04 so not much further to go before publication.

Waiting for BBC radio Stoke to come around for an interview but the M6 motorway is shut with a tanker crash near Knutsford so perhaps they won't make it.

BEACHED TRUCKS 1998 BY JOHN BISHOP

stills from DVD 706 just converted plus clip on Youtube, filmed 1998 in Hastings by John Bishop a super heavy lift from a barge onto the beach.

Tonight I'm copying Chinese bus trolleybus train material 190-92 myself and Richard Lomas.

Saturday possibility of filming in Birmingham

MORE TRIPS BOOKED TONIGHT

some parting shots of Rangoon Burma before we turn our attention away entirely.

Tonight edited Beached trucks the Hasting heavy lift film in the nineties by John Bishop. Also finished is the Bolton Atlantean Running Day 2001.

We have booked our trip to cover the new tramway in Nice.

WORKING AWAY ON MORE RELEASES FOR DVD

Hello

tonight I'm working on more DVD versions of VHS classics, including the Bolton Atlantean Running Day much requested on DVD.

Another is John Bishops film of heavy haulage on Hastings Beach.

I've got the Syrian trip finalised today and the Latin American journey pretty well wrapped up, thanks to Buses Worldwide also a contact in Chile.

Still struggling with Mandy's girlie week in the sun next month more trouble than all the other trips together.

My new gadget to copy negatives to digital is working fine although copies too high grade to transfer to blog, I'll make some low graded copies so I can show you. Lots of Lancs, Mcr , Merseyside, Cornwall etc so far

TRUCKS IN MYANMAR BURMA 2008

If all this tickles your fancy you'll be chuffed to hear that all the programmes from our Christmas tour are now edited and highlights are appearing on Youtube today.

Last night we went to the annual Clonter Opera Competition, one of our favourite nights out, bit late to bed and plenty of plonk so a little jaded today.

Next to do the Derbyshire bus programme, Chesterfield, Bakewell and Buxton Dec/Jan

After that China from 1990 to 2007 trolleys and some trains and buses including ex UK deckers.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL NEW YEAR

wine was £10 a glass, local beer about 10 times local prices, Champagne $1100 a bottle for new year
Puddings we not bad I like a creme brulee
retreated to the Irish pub where Guinness was affordable, for 10 pints I got a New Year shirt
good firework display at midnight, had four displays from adjacent hotels

at £200 a head for the buffet a bit of dressing up was to be expected?

CHILLING OUT IN BURMA

friend Sue around for dinner, super home made rice pudding after Mandy's special spag bog. Nothing done after a couple of bottles of vino but hope to get the last of the films edited over the weekend. Next week we resume our UK bus visits as the Asian trip fades into a memory

The Governors residence at Yangon
Evening on the veranda two weeks ago now

TWO POSTINGS IN A DAY THIS IS TOO MUCH

Rangoon ferries ( Yangon , Myanmar), give the folks a bridge, its that they want not democracy?
Foreigners banned from the little boats so had to make do with rip of rate on regular ferry.