PhilJ W

Arrived today, a Hornby 'Swedish coach'. Quite a rare model but ideal for a micro layout. £5 + postage.

More bad news from Ferrari. https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/54886/ferrari-chairman-delivers-damning-verdict-writes-off-scuderia-for-2020-and-21/

It depends on the manufacturer of the film as well. The 'big three' in slide film were Kodachrome, Agfa and Fuji. IIRC Kodachrome was the best for retaining its colour but even they could fade if not kept in ideal conditions.

I do recall a few three wheel cars that were no more than a motorbike combination with the rider/driver sat in the sidecar. The handling must have been 'interesting' with only one rear wheel driven.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I went to bed earlier than usual last night but still overslept this morning. I did wake up sometime in the night with Arthur Itis hammering away so I had to crawl downstairs for a brace of Ibuprofen that soon put him in his place. It wasn't the weather that kicked it off, I had rolled over onto the affected hip joint and was laying awkwardly. Eye test this afternoon, the young lady just called to check on a few details and confirm the appointment. Hopefully the shed company will keep their appointment for tomorrow, if not I will take it up with the CEO* of the company. *There is a website called www.ceoemail.com that gives the contact details for many company CEO's, nothing quite like going right to the top.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Managed to do a bit more clearing of the garden/patio ready for the shed erectors. Filled the hole with even more broken wall tiles to keep the foxes out. Its only about eight feet from the patio doors and if a vixen with cubs gets in there it will pong a bit, so its best to deter them. Tea is waiting to be drunk, be back later.

No it wasn't as Ertl had the Thomas Franchise in the UK.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Done a bit more pottering out in the garden until something wet started falling from the sky. Its too windy as well for some other jobs but things are predicted to get better later in the week. The ankle is still a bit sore but things seem to be getting better there also.

Stage 8 The wife files for divorce and you have to sell up the house and go and live in a tiny apartment with no room for even a couple of yards of track. Not to worry as you've had to sell off all your models and stock to pay the (ex) wife.

British company based in Runcorn. I expect the management have had a call from the BTP.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I have no idea of how much 'extra' I have every month to spend except that it is enough for me not to worry about. Every financial year (April-March) I check my bank balance compared to the previous year and every year the balance has increased by a small amount, (low hundreds), Micawber principle rules. This year the balance is noticeably rising due to the lockdown, I'm not spending money going to shows and swap meets and therefor it stays in the bank. I am fortunate that I was with the same employer for almost 38 years and paid into the pension scheme all that time but the present employees will not enjoy the benefits that I had such as final pay settlement. Being in the public sector my pension was as safe as houses but IMHO the pensions in the private sector should be tightened up. Sir Philip Greedn should have paid for his second yacht out of his own pocket instead of dipping into his employees pension pot. I thought that something was done about this after the Robert Maxwell/Mirror newspapers scandal but apparently not. Most pension schemes in the private sector however are well run, I know many pensioners of the Ford Motor Company and their pension scheme is very well run and not that dissimilar to my own local government scheme. Designed by a Star Wars set designer perhaps? I run a local history group and an early Edwardian photograph was shown of a junior school near to me (Vange). The building dates from the mid 1890's and is still in use for its original purpose. Apart from the usual updates the building is much as it was when it was built. The only noticeable difference is that the toilets have been roofed over and a covered way placed between them and the main building. When I was at junior school the toilets were open to the sky and in winter toilet pans frozen over was quite common.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Done a bit more tidying up ready for the arrival of the new shed on Wednesday. It will be sited alongside the California lilac so I've tidied that plant up underneath the canopy were it will not be accessible once the shed is up. There is a hole underneath the shrub where there used to be a cherry tree. I've been filling it with broken tiles to discourage the foxes from making a den. Thats it for now, be back later.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Still dry hereabouts but a bit gusty, Don't seem able to concentrate on anything at the moment so a bit of eyelid inspection is called for. Be back later.

How will they know its your cat?

They never made an A70 van but some companies offered a 'hard top' tilt cover.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. When I visited Tess Coes yesterday I didn't see anyone not wearing a mask. I have been wearing a mask from day 1 despite my glasses steaming up and my having a rather long beard. A couple of years ago our visitors brought with them an enormous Brie de Meaux together with the bread and wine, delicious. One of our members snaffled the thin wooden box it came in to build some wagons for his O-16.5 layout. I now have to lay on my back on the bed to put my socks on. When taking them off I used to loosen them then kick them into the dirty linen basket. If I tried that now I'd fall over.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Been raining here on and off all evening but seems to have stopped now. Goodnight all.

The Subbuteo female streaker is even better. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-TABLE-SOCCER-FEMALE-STREAKER-SET-WITH-RULES-TO-BE-PLAYED-IN-A-SUBBUTEO-GAME/114189335359?hash=item1a9636fb3f:g:WNYAAOSwu4BVw2Un It comes with a pair of pursuing policemen with their truncheons out ready.

The town of Meaux just happens to be our twin town. It also has a thriving model railway club. Our club has visited on many occasions with our layouts and I have visited on three of those occasions. I seem to remember the pork chop/mustard wrapped in pastry, delicious. I can't for the life of me recall what it was called. The whole town is on show, not just the model railway club and in typical French fashion everything stopped for lunch (which was a three course meal with coffee or wine over about two hours). Lunch was served up in a marquee set up for the purpose. The town itself is about 30 kilometres east of Paris on the River Marne and the oldest part of the town is surrounded on three sides by the river rather like Shrewsbury.

Not this year, there's no spectators.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. I always carry a couple of cotton/linen handkerchiefs, not for blowing my nose but for keeping my glasses clean. Tissues should not be used for glasses cleaning as they leave minute scratches. As for throwaway medical items such as scissors etc. Whats wrong with collecting them up, cleaning them and then sending them to less developed countries? No chance of the G word today, its eased off but has been persisting it down most of the afternoon. And speaking of the weather hurricane season in the US is underway with hurricane Hannah heading towards Texas. Now to get dinner on the go, tandori chicken tonight.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I hope that Beth is going to be OK and nothing serious has occurred. A bit damp here this morning, as predicted by Arthur Itis. The kidney stone has been quiet lately, only the occasional twinge, I may have become a little dehydrated but I've going to ask for an ultrasonic scan. No more news on the water main burst but I expect the roads in the area to be closed for a few days. Most of the mains around here are probably cast iron going by the reddish brown stains I sometimes get in the wash basin and toilet bowl. Most of the mains are at least 60 years old and due for replacement.