BACK FROM MALTA LIMPING A BIT BUT OK

yes I'm back, busy clearing back log of orders, at hospital first thing for more MRI scans and Xrays, I'll try and get a couple of posts done to start the ball rolling with Malta coverage. It was quite warm and a bit breezy but thankfully we missed the weather that hit southern Italy. Lots of news from Malta on the changes which could happen by next year so good thing I went, met thomas Knowles at Gozo bus station, he was staying at same hotel as me in Valetta then met a couple of the lads from Boyle St in Valetta, small world, lots more tomorrow,
Dave

LAST MEMORIES OF GAYDON "009

yes its a last look at sunny Gaydon 2009, we hardly sold a thing, won't have a stand there again but nice folk nevertheless, perhaps we'll return some day

EVEN BIRKENHEAD HAD SUNSHINE

yes even Birkenhead had it's share of sunshine this week, photos taken the other lunchtime . This will go with St Helens I did last week

everyone who poassed seemed to want to chat, one old bloke, his dad worked on the Railway buses in 1906, another an old lady who was a bit of a know it all on benefits, wanted to tell me how much I'd get when I retire.

OFF TO MALTA TONIGHT

everything on the net seems to be slow today, this blog crashed twice and earlier I ncouldn't access EBay for my orders before ileft for work. So here in bite sized chunks. Some more coverage of Gaydon last weeked. I've now got all three parts done although one DVD to burn and covers to do. I'm off to Malta tonight so I won't be posting again until Tuesday night if I have time. Taking just hand lugguage, tight squeeze in the camera bag

OF LORRIES TRUCKS AND VANS

Dennis has always had a good niche market in utility, corporation, emergency service and buses

some complaints that there weren't enough old vehicles but there was a scattering

Foden and ERF represent Cheshire's transport manufacturing heritage

another nice cattle truck

is this old enough

bet the fuel for this would make a hole in your pocket

a manageable restoration and fits on the drive!

a mart commercial, good make and pleasant livery

I have film of these at work in Malta in the 70s taken by Roger De Boer

last night I finshed the penrith truck DVD then got the first part of Gaydon wrapped up, about two thirds of Youtube DVDs are noe regestered for revenue earnnings, please click on adverts, it costs you nothing but gains PMP some revenue which will go towards our sponsorship, latest gift being to the online Transport archive.

GAYDON COMMERCIALS GALORE

one of the most amazing things of the last few days was Saturday morning at Gaydon when I met my half sister, Susan with her husband Graham. From my natural father's side Susan was like my quite nervious about the encounter although I had had quite a lot of practise over recent years.

The sun kept shing through the weekend and we were quite burnt to a crisp by the end of Sunday. Saturday it turns out is more like a setting up day although by end of play about 65% of the 530 attending vehcles were in place. The US rigs are controversial amongst British enthusiasts but draw plenty of attention

The super heavy weights of the haulage business also draw large crowds. after a dismal days trading we were really hoping that it would all come alive on the Sunday.

Whatever the mode of transit I suppopse the end result for the cow would be the same, still its would travel in style in this Comet.

the were some very nice tippers at the show, this one is a Dodge

more classic than vintage but there were lots of 70s / 80s trucks which looked just right to me

as the weekend wore on space became a premium and back up display areas saw the arriving rigs depositing their loads all around the showground

the smaller commercials joined vans and dormabiles on the higher ground.

Last night I went to see My Geary at Spire Murrayfield hospital near work, the choice of location would have been fine if it wasn't for the fact that the appointment was 9pm, we didn't get home until nearly midnight. Need lots of xrays and two more MRI scans which should happen a week today, probably need an operation on my foot and knee.

I did manage to almost complete the Penrith DVD and have already downloaded much of the Gaydon xcoverage. More Youtube clips tiomight and some covers to complete. Next project is a Regional Bus Archive on East Anmglia and Essex with lots of super 'new' material.

CATCHING UP FROM LAST FRIDAY ONWARDS

Friday afternoon, end of the A66 at Penrith, warm sunny weather

I took the Kirkstone pass route from Windermere up to Penrith, scenic yes, but slow

Brathay, I was here with apprentices at the outdoor pursuits centre on Friday

it turned out to be a good location for my car shot, it was much admired at Gaydon

A Cumbrian byway shot ( in someone's drive)

After Cumbria it was a quick dash home to pick up Mandy and our luggage etc, the car was already packed ready and thence down to Sue's at Hednesford near Cannock where we had a few bottles of plonk and a nice chicken dinner. Saturday we werere up early and down to Gaydon national motor centre near Warwick, I'll pick up the story in the next post

INTERIM CATCH UP SUNDAY NIGHT

Just back from Gaydon lorry event, great weather, met my sister Susan first time, stayed with friend Sue, great weekend, lots of vehicles, downside - sold almost nothing! Can't beleive it, invested a couple of grand in stock after the success at Donington earlier in year, won't be repeating that mistake . Anyway lots of photos in the morning.

JOBS DONE TO BE DONE

a Cumbrian theme this evening, some pics from my downloads off negs from my stint working at Windscale as it was then

I spent hours last night trying to load my latest films on to EBay , the picture upload just wouldn't work or at best took a dozen attempts before it 'caught', wrote to EBay support, usual reply today about clearing memory, same old, same old, their customer support is about on par with chocolate fireguards and never seems to get any better, they never address the issue raised which as I managed to do the uploading at 6.45 this morning is surely just that their system can't cope when it's busy. Just try and do anything on a Sunday evening and it grinds to a complete standstill which this week is pretty well what sales are at, quietest for a while despite the ongoing sale offers. I had hoped to get out today at lunchtime but we had meetings on , still tomorrow I'm up at Brathay in the Lakes, if the course is over before too late I may be able to get up to Keswick for some truck film although the weather isn't looking that bright. It is also heading downhill for Gaydon motor museum truck do over the weekend, Saturday is forecast to be the better of the two days. Jobs done last night other than getting wound up by EBay included copying a whole load more of my old photo strips onto the computer, lots of Crosville, Cumbria and Manchester. Just a couple of DVD covers to complete to be bang up to date, things I'm considering include regional bus archive for East Anglia and Essex as I have some really juicy clips to introduce .










The car is all loaded up, off to Lakes early then hopefully truck filming afternoon then dash back , pick up case ( and Mandy) and then off to Sue's in Cannock, back home Sunday night, don't forget to see us at Gaydon

WONDERFUL ST HELENS SORT OF

Hastings family grave at Southern Cemetery, Manchester after lean up

Hardy family grave ditto

St Helens Town Hall

photos yesterday lunch time at St Helens

getting ready for the Gaydon lorry weekend in the Midlands at the motor museum, hope to see lots of our trucking friends there over the two day event, the weather looks set fair. Just getting my kit ready to see if I can manage hand baggage only for Malta trip at end of next week. The Spanish DVD is now ready, awaiting cover pictures from John Bishop. Hope to do a Youtube post