it's scarecrow time in Lower Peover, the village is covered in them and cars are touring round taking pictures, all to do with 300th anniversary of the local village school. Meanwhile a final selection of shots from the Polish / German marathon which I continue to edit. Hoping to have all of the DVDs on sale at Blackpool next weekend meanwhile the car is packed and ready for an early start off to Gaydon in the morning. I went to Manchester at lunchtime, met up with Mandy and we tended the family graves at Southern cemetery. We even ended up making a bid for a newly available plot caused by a tree being removed,  it would be nice to know you were laid under with family all around. Anyway it remains to be seen, also we are having memorial stones cleaned up now the tree is gone. I felt a bit wobbly this evening so had a bit of a rest, no doubt energy levels will return!

WELL THROUGH GERMANY AND POLAND NOW

I'm now well into the DVDs covering Germany and Poland on our recent trip, yet more Youtube postings with free previews of what is to come, just remember to click on an advert or two each time you visit, costs you nothing but helps pay for the site. Wrote to my pen friend Li at Handan , China this morning correcting some Eglish letters for him, also busy at work but managed to confirm the Pristina hotel for the Balkans trip in August. This coming weekend looks to be set to fair weather for the annual vintage truck event at Gaydon near Warwick, we'll be there with the sales stand as well as filming the event. Tonight its yet more catching up with my favourite TV soaps which were put off last week due to the Cumbrian shootings. Today I received my new Stennhuiser mike for the small camcorder, looks the biz. Also got the new fold away tripod which again is a really useful addition to the kit. See if it all gets under the weight allowance for the Balkan trip. Next Monday night is the Tina May concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. We've booked a meal on Saturday night at the pub on the fringe of Norhants where the chef broke his leg after our main course a few years back, the main was so impressive we thought we'd give it another shot!

LOOKNING BACK AT THE GERMAN TRIP

well I wouldn't say I found a replacement for Guinness but the German Schwarzbier was very acceptable and I downed a few litres. The Moli Steam locos near Rostock were where we noticed the puncture early in the trip. Friend Martin captured me complete with camera, or was it John. Actually the car on the left of the steam train is ours and looks remarkably clean, hence you know it's the early part of our journey.
So what has happened after my back went last night, well I stopped working and took pain killers, I think the Ametryptelene pills stopped it from getting too bad and although sore I've lived to fight another day although we have declared gardening off limits at present and got someone to come in and finish off my finishing off if that makes any sense.
Busy with the Balkan trip plasnning for August. spread sheet all completed but can't contact the Pristina hotel, perhaps it has gone bust already. The new microphone, tripod etc is now due for delivery tomorrow, I need to get the camera up to Oldham to get a new strap ordered through warranty.  I'm still wading through making the German / Polish DVDs of the trip, approaching 2000 films now.

DONE MY BACK IN AGAIN

huge ice creams in the Harz mountains, that was two weeks ago and until it went hot at the end of the trip that was our best day following the steam trains amidst the unspoilt countryside which seemed to abound in wildlife with voles, tree creepers and deer bouncing around as we waited for the hoot of the loco. Above the ice cream pic is Nordhausen where e had a very strange hotel, it was the worst on the trip and John suffered from someone trying to burst in in the middle of the night, downstairs the locals were well plastered. The Italian restaurant was the scene of a couple of shots and outside in the evening sun another Italian which was run by the munsters it seemed. Naumburg is now nowt but a short tourist route albeit it runs from early till late, strange really, and top was Halle.
Tonight in the garden I put my back out, looks like the same problem as before, I can still move but heading off to lay and watch some tele now.

CATCHING UP AFTER THE TRIP

Bad Schandau was one of our favourites even though the weather was far from perfect, really that was the story of the trip, Leipzig was mega frustrating as you really need some good light to get everything outside the station, lots of tour buses including a couple of Lodekkas promoted as London Routemasters, typical. Dresden was interesting and I did film a couple of Volkswagon goods trams. With around 36 systems covered it was our biggest total of locationms on any trip we had done before. Catching up still in the garden and it was back to work today. I've dentists in the morning and meeting later in the week, the mixed weather is at least saving watering the garden. Lower Peover is covered in scarecrows, it's celebrating 300 years of the village school. Edinting my way through the video sticks, funny having no film isn't it.

CONTINUING THE SAGA

we are looking first at Gotha , a small tram system with three routes plus the interurban which stretches so far out into the forest then the lovely city of Erfurt where memories of DDR days seemed furthest away, an amazing tram fleet which has some very long compositions plus historic and town tour cars. This was the sunny stretch near the end I'll try and upload some more photos today but lots to catch up on not least getting the rest of the garden bedding plants in. The weather has broken with thunder last night, just right now to get out and get the job done, still feeling tired after the long journey home yesterday.

BACK AFTER 11 HOUR JOURNEY FROM SOLINGEN

it's been a hard slog as you can see, picnic at Gotha on Thursday night, hotel wasn't up to much so we shopped at garage next door. Decided that we were all a bit tired out and came home early by one day. Other shots at Solingen with trolleys and trams at Kassel, John is seen checking out the old timer motors at Gotha hotel, most it seemed were actually kit cars on Volkswagon chassis. A bit tired out this evening, my head is still spinning from the drive. All EBay and Amazon are up to date thanks to Mandy and only one Mr Angry about me not getting back quick enough. Anyway I've just got to water the garden, the flowers have suffered in the heat as has the lawn. It's very hot and humid. Mandy slipped serving up dinner and mine ended up upside down, I'll live!