PhilJ W

The need for a groan button has reached ER's.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit dull this morning and Arthur Itis keeps telling me that rain is on its way. Andy, insist that he puts the request for you to take charge of swimming lessons in writing, and signed of course. When both myself and other union reps used this ploy more often it resulted in a back down, on the few occasions that they didn't back down they wished they did.

Goodnight all.

Andy, you have pointed out that you cannot swim so they shouldn't insist on you taking charge of a swimming lesson. Take this matter up with the union straight away especially as he is in breach of his obligation of care.

You may find this of interest http://sandmmodels.co.uk/shop/new-arrivals/ The Stalwart kit is very similar to the JB kits with the cab in clear plastic. I purchased one of these kits on Sunday, looks pretty good. The one I purchased didn't require the Hiab but its included on the sprue anyway.

The reason for my inability to produce good models any more is that I have arthritis affecting both my hands. My point is that if anyone thinks their efforts are better than those shown on this thread then post the photographs, put up or shut up. Constructive criticism is acceptable but a lot of it lately seems to carping.

I could sign passport applications as a local government officer so I suppose I can still do so now I'm retired. Thing is I have never been asked to sign a passport application. As for retirement, I will have been retired 9 years at the end of this month, where did all those years go?

I'm getting fed up with the carping and criticism from some on this thread. Many of the models and layouts here are far better than I could ever hope to achieve so I have no reason to criticise. If anyone wants to criticise put pictures of your own efforts up or shut up.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit late this morning, overslept despite having a good nights sleep. I did wake at 06:30 decided it was too early rolled over and went back to sleep not waking up again until half an hour after the usual time. Glad to see Andy back and that he has re-joined the union, just in time by the look of things. Rick, glad to hear that the funeral went as well as such occassions can, thoughts are with you and your family. Bright and sunny this morning, I hope to take a walk into town later as I need to get a few bits and a couple of mags from Smiffs. Thats it for now, be back later.

Goodnight all.

When I started working for a London Borough in 1970 I was in the council rents department and I can assure you that council tenants paid rates. The biggest anomily was when VAT was introduced, a tenant who also rented a garage would have it added to his rent payments and as such would not be liable for VAT on the garage rent. Anyone else renting a garage with its own separate rent book would have to pay VAT. This was because the stand alone garage was regarded as a service and therefore subject to VAT. But a council tenant renting a garage it was regarded as part of the living accomodation, even if it was a few streets away, and was not subject to VAT.

You forgot the furled umbrellas.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Thoughts are with Rick today, its never easy even when its expected. I tried to find the manufacturer of the Alvis Stalwart kit on the internet. All I had to go on was the name S & M models so I googled it. I didn't find it but some of what I did get involved plastic but not in kit form. I did find their website by typing in sandmmodels.

Goodnight all.

Of course towing a caravan the car has to be up to the job.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Visited the Southern Expo today as I mentioned this morning, bagged a bargain, nothing to do with model railways, a model kit of one of those modern airships, 1/200 scale but still 37.5 cm (16 inches) long for a fiver. Another purchase was a model bridge, solid resin but unpainted ostensibly 1/72 scale but could easily be used for N scale as well as 00 scale of course. The other purchases were a couple of plastic kits, one was a model of a WW1 era Vauxhall staff car, opened the box and a lot of small and fragile parts, 1/72 scale but still looks small alongside 1/76 modern cars. The last model is a 1/76 kit for an Alvis Stalwart, although from a new company (S & M) they are very like the JB/Airfix models with a clear plastic cab, a very useful wagon load for those modelling military railways.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A quick hello and goodbye this morning as I'm off out shortly, a model exhibition in Hornchurch but not model railways (though theres a probably one or two railway related items there).

Goodnight all.

Not forgetting the Latil road tractor that hauled them.

I've not even had a drink and I'm seeing double!!!

Red-neck inventiveness

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Chris's remarks about smoking in bed reminded me of when, over 50 years ago, my grandfather was in hospital being treated for his emphrysema. In the ward he was in there were several patients in oxygen tents one of whom decided to have a cigarette inside the oxygen tent. The resulting conflagration resulted in my grandfather and the other patients being hastily evacuated. Needless to say that was the last time he lit a cigarette.

Goodnight all.

I must admit there is one instance were I deliberately park at an angle. At a local Tescos part of the car park consists of bays with 10 or 11 parking places each side with about 15 feet between each side. At the back of the bays is a brick wall and the end parking places are a little bit wider. Problem is also at the back of each bay is a streetlamp about 4 feet in front of the wall. This means that if you park normally in the end bay when backing in or out you have to manouver around said lamposts, which all bear evidence of some drivers lack of sucess in doing so. By parking at an angle I can easily reverse in and out around the lamposts in one easy manouver.

The Underground 'tube' tunnels are a nominal* 12' in diameter, double that in stations, some modellers use 50mm drain pipe for tube tunnels. *Some of the tunnels have been enlarged over the years by inserting spacers which means that the tunnels are not circular.