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.

MORE ESSEX DELIGHTS

Romford last Saturday morning, it rained at first, very breezy then sun came out. Super sized breakfast at market cafe and very cheap, clean, recommended although chips was a bit over the top perhaps. Bus wise other than new saloons all a but jaded I thought.
Busy at work still, I'm in North Easy for two days so no blog tomorrow night, perhaps I'll see something photogenic on the trip, who knows. We've renewed our experimental Classic Commercial advert so will remain a regular feature with them.
Still working my way through the Polish etc trip, nearly forgot Lublin , lots more to add to sales list but i hesitate until I catch up a bit.

ALMOST EASTENDERS

lovely Westcliffe Bristol K from 1939, a last hot from wet and windy North Weald 2008.



Stratford, remember 2003 and my attack by the bus station manager, he seems to have long gone, my pass letter seemed to cut little ice really on my return, I ended up in the same sport as before, which is really what i thought would happen. Saturday afternoon was breezy but bright and there was plenty of activity at Stratford bus station even if the fleets seemed a bit archaic compared wth elsewhere in the capital.
Mandy a bit poorly thus evening and she took a tumble yesterday afternoon, loads og Ebays orders from our latest sale. I'm still working through the Ukraine and Kalinigrad films as I'm away for work in the North East later this week.

TERRIBLE WEATHER AT NORTH WEALD

the bad weather forecast and actual poor weather on the day coupled with fuel costs meant that turn out at the North Weald bus rally was very poor both in terms of visitors and vehicles. Routemasters predominated to an embarrassing extent and overwhelmed other entrants. We were playing host to our friends from Barcelona , we encountered severe hold ups on the way ho,e due to accidents but got back in reasonable time as we like many had left early.

BUSY OLD WEEKEND COMING UP

Anyone requiring Press Releases or Author Information sheets please ask and I'll send a copy on file by e mail
dave@pmpvideo.fsnet.co.uk
my book A Smudge On My lens is well underway and book signing sessions at release are being arranged together with radio and press interviews. Anybody who would like to support my humble effort reach a wider audience is welcome to assist by spreading the publicity.

Well with scenes of Eastbourne pier to remind us of the early years its going to be a busy weekend, I hope to be filming East of London in Essex Met area tomorrow weather willing.
Sunday at North Weald bus rally in the company of Albert Gonzalez Masip of Barcelona, author and preservationist.

the ton up kid himself aged 16 in our back lane at Langney, Eastrbourne, Sussex.
Landing at the Arran islands in the late 70s, a much longer journey than modern high speed craft which do in minutes what once took 3 hours from Galway.

Garden straightened and car packed, publicity material in post for book, early start tomorrow.

NOT NICE TO BE BACK FROM NICE

some more Nice scenes from last weekend, the next weekend looks miserable with poor weather forecast, lets hope they are wrong. Saturday possibly filming East London / Essex, Sunday of course North Weald ( no doubt in the rain) but come along and meet Albert from Barcelona, expert on AECs in Spain and ardent preservationist.
Work has been a stinker, next Sunday night I will probably be working through till Monday morning with 200 men on a contract in North East to pay, got volunteered to look after it last week, now stuck with it.
Tonight cleaned cars inside and our then watered tomatoes ans fixed wind damaged fencing. Several jobs held over, lack of time. Got the children's bus / tram film material off to the film company this morning, good to help next generation of transport enthusiasts along.
Working my way through the Polish material etc, several DVDs done, hope to get some more on Ebay Friday night after I've loaded car and tidied borders, which by the way are spectacular, I must do some shots.

NOW THAT WAS NICE TRAMS

Nice trams on Saturday, just the one line, I walked all but the last three stops. I had to go to doctors last night, arthritis in my left knee is confirmed but there is little they can do. The residents of Nice seemed to like the trams, beware payment machine only accepts coins, no notes and no shop will give change, I ended up buying a postcard to split a note. No hassles and friendly drivers, unusual arrangements at northern end where you can see through darkened glass into main depot interior.

heres a link to my book, you can now see the cover, even put your order in , why not be amongst the first to receive a copy.

http://www.troubador.co.uk/book_info.asp?bookid=631%20

trying to get garden tidied and damage from last weeks gales rectified. weekend forecast horrendous for North Weald, all sounds familiar, remember 2007. Anyway I hope a few of you make it, our friend Albert Gonzalez Masip from Barcelona will be joining us there.

BACK FROM NICE THAT'S NICE

some more still from Stuart Cooke's superb cine film covering buses in Sheffield i the 1980s around deregulation, the second volume is now finished and available as from tonight.
Bit tired after the superb scorching hot weekend in Nice, we had a great timer, its very expensive there , the hotel Splendid was OK but rottetn for breakfasts, Italian bums in my dace first thing are not me idea of a break. Got some great footage of the new tram line of which I'll bring you shots from tomorrow. I'm loading a couple of hours of Polish material on the computer as we speak, lots to do, the book cover has been agree, hopefully a glimpse for you all soon.