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.

GOING DUTCH PERHAPS

memories of hot summer sultry days of scented fruit and vegetables and flower gardens at the Dutch open air museum on the Polders back in the 80s. It was really hot and so atmospheric, a memorable visit

Hilary on board

Mandy, Hilary , Sean and Jimmy, I must have been behind the camera, I'm waiting for Mandy to tell me the location .

A bit of a shock this morning, a call from the hospital where I'm due to have my operation tomorrow, work it seems haven't paid the annual BUPA subscription ( which I'm assured they have) so I'm not covered! Hopefully all will be sorted pretty quickly. I don't suppose I'll be doing much of a blog tomorrow, could do one first thing... ok just had call to say all sorted.

The office is all up and running at home, picked up some new rugs today to keep our tootsies warm in the PMP emporium!

NIGHT MAIL AND YORKSHIRE MEMORIES

for my photo call today some shots from Yorkshire in yesteryear, hope this brings back happy memories, note how the sun always shone then

got a 'highly offended' message on blog from irate postman ref my remarks on previous post, evidently they weren't just sat at home on full pay, well they certainly weren't out delivering our post were they, supplies finally got through at 4pm, the first in nearly two weeks.

A message from our friend Li in Handan, China who tells us it's a lot more mild there than frozen Cheshire albeit our thaw had now set in.

All the backlog in orders should be in the post tomorrow.

Working on some west country bus archives which fill in the gap as the only ones in Devon, Somerset which hadn't been put on DVD. Then working along through Dorset to Hampshire and north to South Wales, fulfilling a couple of requests received over past months.

The Youtube clips are gathering momentum after the Christmas lull.

The list on the website is bang up- to-date and latest Amazon listings added.

YET MORE STORIES OF SALT IN CHESHIRE

some more shots from yesterday morning in Middlewich, the thaw has finally set in today with temperatures up to 4 degrees this afternoon. The snow is gradually melting away thank goodness, although some parts of the country have had fresh falls. I understand that salt shipments are now bound for Britain from the continent.

Today we got the study / office for PMP finished off, it's been a decorating nightmare having to move everything and we are both well tired, spurred on through the day by 60s music on Magic Manchester. Just a few bits to put back and the exercise is complete.

MORE ON THE SALT CRISIS

today I went down again to Middlewich where it has moved on a bit again since I took these shots yesterday. Now there is just the one holding area at the industrial estate with coveys to the works. I got one super sequence with the frozen canal and convoy heading along the road, took a bit of waiting for. Another the police helped me with, super nice chaps this time round, after all the photo hassles this redeemed a lot also the CSOs helped, again another bridge building exercise I think. I'm sure the now slick operation will continue for a few days yet although nowhere near as busy as it was.

when I got back from filming it was on with the decorating , also got the Salt YouTube clip uploaded and made the DVD!

ICE ROAD SALT TRUCKERS

scenes at British Salt Middlewich 24hr action to keep the nation in salt for our roads and footpaths, except of course in Cheshire itself where the tossers who supposedly run the county are hiding under their duvets like a bunch of first class cowards. Notice anything in common, the ones who are working, milk, papers, bread, post office, myself etc are private or self employed, what about the council, no bin collections, no post.. yes the ones we pay for are the ones at home on full pay. What about the lads on the wagons, up to 9 hours waiting to load up with salt and such a cheerful attitude with it, well done, bless em all.

police escort a convoy through Middlewich by the Canal, on to the 2nd stage waiting zone on the industrial estate
Canal at Middlewich, temp about minus 7, it was minus 16 on my way to work this morning

at the waiting zone in Middlewich

Tonight some more decorating in the PMP workshop, orders seem much more buoyant with quite a lot coming from the USA at last.

a week of no post deliver

two weeks since bins emptied

no roads salted or gritted on our estate

potholes appearing everywhere on the roads

no pavements salted

no news from the councils,

wonderful Britain

DECORATING PMP

a couple from China 1990 , Guangzhou with golden oldie trolleys

a decade separates the 2 photo selections, next Sri Lanka in 1980 at Christmas.

it's been the coldest we have ever known in Cheshire, minus 14 on the way to work today, way under Alaska or Moscow, even colder in Manchester.

Meanwhile no post for 5th day and no rubbish collections but milk gets through and I had no problems getting to work. I hope to cover the massive grit and salt carrying operation at Winsford either tomorrow or Saturday between decorating and work. The office is now nearly empty, plenty of dust though. A massive exercise coming up , start with the ceiling, then half the walls, put everything back that side and then do the other. Many managed to get out to B&Q for the pints despite the freezing ground.

IPSWICH BUSES GO HEAD SNIFFING

a trip to Portsmouth, Hampshire in the post deregulation era but with the municipal service still very much around, this reminds me that I've heard that Go Ahead are in talks with Ipswich so looks like that will be the next municipal to go, Swindon is also a favourite.

well what of today, snow all around but the roads were clearing and a lot less traffic than normal. Still no postal deliveries and no roads gritted or salted in Lower Peover or through to the A556. Not much for our Council Tax. I've got the Lymm SnowBart film edited , it should have a Youtube clip uploaded later tonight and be ready for sale tomorrow. Hoping the weekend will enable some snowy scenics without dangerous journeys, I'll have to do some homework, any suggestions out there.

We are carrying on with the decorating, the office is now 'happening', clearing material ready to move stuff into dining room and get ceilings done first although we need to buy the paint first, would help eh.

Busy at work proper, still hoping for lottery win to escape.

EDIE SNOWBARTS AT LYMM

Lymm services on the way h9me, yes it's been one of those days. little motorway traffic so the snow has settled, crashes and blocked roads the order of the day. Mandy managed to get out earlier in the day to Tescos

Vital supplies of the black stuff must get through

my car in the snow, when I got home I cleared the paths to make it a bit easier but ice is expected next with minus six forecast tonight. I've got enough film for a snowy truck DVD and I'm just finishing off another long running rally archive feature.

No post for three days now as health and safety has stopped deliveries and collections!

RALLYING AROUND

some stills from recent archive bus rally DVDs from PMP, notable is the Amberley Chalk Pits museum release with oodles of Southdown treasures on board

Southsea was a long time favourite and rivalled Showbus in numbers
Eastbourne Lion 50th, happy days indeed

Dave Cole covered some early Cobham rallies

a last look at Eastbourne with guests on the Lion 50th running day

Over in Ireland Ellie the German Shepherd dog has had a large tumour taken out today, waiting news on her future.

Working on yet more archive DVDs , very quiet on the net and zero in the post, a New Year lull indeed.

Good news at last have put Li in China in touch with English school for students to become penpals