PhilJ W

There is not a total ban on the swastika in Germany, it is allowed in very specific instances such as documentries and films with permission. This was why Germany was the last country in Europe to show 'Allo 'Allo each and every episode had to have the swastikas removed frame by frame.

The company name is still owned by the grandson of the founder. The new models are financed and built by a Chinese company and are at present only available in China.

Evening from Estuary-Land. All this talk of electrics reminded me of the program I watched last night 'The Real Marigold Hotel'. There were some shots in the kitchen and you could see some of the electric sockets, they looked like something that was original equipment from a 1930's semi and just as old! Other places I have been to with a 'British' conection, Malta and Barbados use British fittings but their independance came a bit later than India. An interesting program and they were talking about whether it would make a suitable place to retire to, very tempting but its a long way from home.

Thanks, I was thinking of adding a shingle to the top angled so that water doesn't gather. It looks as if it would be better to attach the lid and slide the box onto it in that case to stop water entering and it will be easier to attach it more securely.

A bit of advice please. At Christmas you can often get bottles of alcoholic drinks in wooden boxes. I have one such box from several years ago that appears to be the right dimensions for a nesting box, 5" X 5" X 10" (inside). It has a sliding lid like the old fashioned school pencil boxes and is solid wood not plywood. Could it be adapted as a nesting box? I was thinking of attaching the lid vertically to a tree or post so that the box slid down over it or attaching the box so that the lid was at the side. As I said the box is solid wood with sides approx 5 mm thick.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Still a bit overcast outside but signs are its brightening up. I assume that if you receive any points on your licence and you do not have a licence it is the same as here in the UK, they go on your licence if and when you get said licence. When I visited Germany in the 70's their driving test was amongst the toughest in Europe. A young driver could also be made to retake their test after even a minor infringement, a friend of our hosts 20 year old daughter had to retake her test after such a a minor infringement. Not much else to report, C & C's where neccessary, be back later.

Goodnight all.

GROAN ALARM!

Morning all from Estuary-Land. One of my all time favourite authors was Tom Sharp who regretably is no longer with us. I have found a suitable replacement in Carl Hiaasen, the same off beat humour and the villains get their commuppance in a way thats embarassing, painful or both. I am also reading the books by Michael Connolly. Not much else to report, C & C's where neccessary, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Predictive text strikes again, I think he meant gerbils.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Sun was shining earlier but now seems to be a bit shy. *Apparently tickets have all sold out. It was obvious as well that the girl reporter knows nothing whatever about railways, describing Tornado as a 'carriage'. There was also an item on the Countryfile program that followed about the washout at Dawlish.

Goodnight all.

Don, as Mick said that sounds like sciatica, not very pleasant. Try laying on something firm like a board that should ease it.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit brighter this morning and rather unusually so am I, now lets see how long it lasts. Not a lot else going on at the moment so bye for now, be back later.

Goodnight all.

The Escort Mk.I and Mk.II estates and vans were identical from the A post rearwards. The vans used the back doors from the previous Anglia vans as well. The Sunbeam Talbot 1,000 cc engine cylinder block, crank and pistons can be used in an Imp, the other bits being the original Imp bits. To keep it cool you could fit a Mk.I Fiesta radiator under the bonnet which made the already fairly good balance even better.

I have in my store 10 bottles of Chimay with a sell by date of 2007, I had a couple over Christmas (there was 12 bottles) with no ill effects, as long as you leave the live yeast in the bottle.

But what scale is it?

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Sorry to hear that you didn't get the job Andy, better luck in future. I'm afraid that I'm not into rugby, or football for that matter so all this talk just passes straight over my head. Slept like a log last night so why do I keep yawning? So long for now, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Interesting point, before I retired a major part of my job was keeping and administering sickness records. It was obvious that women took more time of sick than men. Women would take a few days or a week or two at the most, men on the other hand would go for years sometimes without a days sickness before taking several months off sick. A good half of those men never returned to work, either their sickness was serious enough to warrant early retirement or they died. Men tend to neglect their health until its too late whereas women pay more attention to their health. I took early retirement 9 years ago when I was 59 though my general health is pretty good. Many of my male colleagues who waited until they were 65 didn't even last as long as I have done.

I did click funny, been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Please, please can I come and play with your train set?

The snow here is starting to settle now. This is largely due to the northeasterly wind direction which fortunately is quite rare.

There are a couple of Escort vans extended in a similar fashion, great for transporting layouts.