Busy Busy!

Over the last couple of months things have been so hectic at work and at home that I have hardly had any time to think of what to put down here so now I have a few minutes here goes.

We won the league by a mile, never mind the 10 point deduction for the tax dodgers, we were out in front before the men in bowler hats came knocking. Watching the game was easy this season, knowing that we had it in the bag and it was just a matter of when. I recall when we won the league way back when to stop Rangers going 10 in a row, it wasn’t so relaxing. I listened to the game on the radio whilst sitting in the toilet I was so nervous, but a certain Harald Brattback settled my nerves that day and so like back then, I just had to break out the bubbly to celebrate this years achievements (jelly and ice cream to follow;-)

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what else has been happening? Work wise we had the 787 come visit the UK and I got to shmooze with the media and VIP guests to showcase the first 21st Century aircraft.

It was a good day and the following pictures will hopefully give you a feel for the sleekness of the design and spaciousness of the main cabin. A person well over 6ft can walk around easily due to the fuselage design and use of new technologies.

With a RR engine, a 787 is 25% British manufactured by value. Yours truly having a wander around

A typical economy class layout, but this is determined by the airline. Look at the headroom and big dimmable windows!

Sexy or what, look at how the wing rakes up!

The crew on long haul flights are provided with crew rests. On the 787 there are two bunks behind and above the cockpit and 6 bunks in the rear overhead area. They are for sleeping in, honest!

Part of the rear crew rest area, which is above the passengers.

Last weekend it was over to Liverpool for a break. As I have mentioned before, Liverpool is my most favourite UK city outside of Glasgow. It has many similarities with Glasgow so that’s probably why. We stayed at the Albert Dock which is an excellent location. On Saturday afternoon it was over to the Cavern Club for an afternoon of 60′s nostalgia and a sing along. I love the Cavern, a good pint, great music and an amazing atmosphere. Just sorry I didn’t get time to look around the Museum of Liverpool and look into the Liverpool Overhead Railway exhibition. Probably next time. Did have a stroll along the Lambananas outside though.

Lambanana wearing a Glengarry?

So all in all its been a busy period, and last but not least I have been spending lots of time with……

Bath time at Grandads

OMWB Progress?

“Nothing to see here….move along please…!”

Yes you have guessed it, not much progress. I have got lots of good excuses though but that’s what they are excuses! Work, the wedding, modellers block, knackered, etc etc..

The original plan I had was to be based around the DRS Gresty Bridge depot but I have come to the conclusion that this is not going to work given space constraints and when I looked closely at it, the operating interest was minimal. I also didn’t want to build yet another depot layout with static locos on show. My intention is to have a presentable and interesting layout, but then to concentrate on building and detailing good stock to run on it.

Following a recent session with Bill and Brian, I have some more ideas on where to go with it. I am interested in incorporating a few things, but it will not be a prototypical location unfortunately. But as they say “its my train set”

I have also been inspired by a few things Mick Bryan has been doing and following his thread on RMWeb regarding Network Rail yellow peril stock. I have decided to have a go at 6263 NR Generator coach and have sourced an NEA coach as the donor for this. I am determined it will not become another started and unfinished project, but it will be a diversion from layout planning and construction. Hopefully by the time I update this again in a few weeks I will have something to show.

So onwards and upwards. At the recent Glasgow Exhibition myself Brian and Bill made a pledge that by Feb 2013 we would be at a specific stage with our layouts. Although I have changed my original plan I still commit to having all track built, laid and wired up. We shall see….

Its April, where did February and March go??

I cant believe I haven’t touched this blog since January, but as I look back I can see why. I have been a tad busy over the past few months. You may recall I had my date with the Local Constabulary for speeding, well I attended a drivers speed awareness course and it was honestly the most eye opening 4 hours I have spent in a long time. I thought I knew the highway code but I was way off. It was very interesting and I would recommend everyone to take this option over points any day.

I also had the small matter of my oldest daughter Fiona getting married to Lee. That took up a lot of time in the planning etc but it all went like clockwork on the big day, 10th March.

The happy couple, oh, and me and the wife!

 

Work has been hectic as usual and travel seems to continually be taking me away, but looking forward to the 787 visiting Heathrow later this month. I will be attending the media day and will have another chance to have a good look over it. I have only been on them when they are under construction or ready for roll-out so it will be good to see one with the interior kitted out.

Hobby wise I went to the Stafford exhibition in February, snow and all! The BRM Show at Doncaster was well…a typical BRM show. The Nottingham exhibition was OK, but not as good as previous years in my opinion. We have a few more shows on the horizon, Scalefour North being the one I am most looking forward to.

I went to a Toyfair at Donnington yesterday (1st April, which was my birthday BTW), and was disappointed. I recall toyfairs as being places where bargains could be picked up or sources of hard to get items or discontinued packs of detailing bits etc. The fair yesterday seemed to be a big shop model railways wise, with traders selling new or recently issued stock at shop prices. There were a few collector stands but they are specialised. Its a shame but I suppose people have to make a living.

I will leave my trials and tribulations on the modelling side to a separate post, but thats all for now

OMWB progress!

What with work, going on holiday, babysitting etc etc . its getting difficult to get time for the hobby, but as it is such activities that keep us same, it was important I got back on track if you pardon the pun.

With the winter weather and dark nights there is little scope for prototype photography so I should really be getting on with the modelling side of things. Last Thursday I continued with weathering and painting the internals of some Dapol JNA’s at the DEFine Workshop night in the Brunswick ( see the DEFine blog, link on RHS panel).

I have also re-printed the proposed track plan I have been looking at for my long term layout project and checking it on the baseboards for size and point arragements etc, so as not to clash with joins etc. I also tried out the first of the building structures I was presented with at the DEFine Christmas Meal . Looks good

DRS Class 66 transits past the Mornflake Oats plant at Grest Bridge

As far as the track work is concerned, the block has been the construction of the crossover point kit for the main line. I have been constructing all the small details in preparation for final assembly for months now off and on, so all it needed was some time and patience to start the final assembly. I am happy to say I have now started this but its going to be a long haul I think, but I will get there. Building the P4 gauge track work is something I am determined to do.

Humble beginnings. The first stock rail is going down and lots more to do.

I am going to try and do at least a few tasks each day if I can, as once this is built and in position I am sure the rest of the layout will flow quicker.

Pete

2012 Here I come!

I know I say it every month, but I cant believe how fast time flies between posts on my blog. I hope to keep it updated more that once a month from now on but no doubt like all resolutions it will be a ball of chalk within weeks Anyway, what’s been happening?

Well Christmas and New year have come and gone. It was a special Christmas this year as it was our grand-daughter’s first, and even although she was only 5 months old she got spoiled.  We had all our family at our house for Christmas dinner which yours truly traditionally cooks to absolute perfection! We had a very nice day and it spilled into Boxing Day with Isla-Rose and my daughter coming back for seconds whilst her daddy had to go to work!

Isla-Rose in the new walker Santa brought her

The day after Boxing Day, Sylvia and I headed off to Tenerife for a week. This is the second year we have done this and its a great time to take a break. For the first few days I was exhausted and slept a lot, probably catching up on the rest I needed. The holiday was great, only spoiled on the way out by the old dear in front of me insisting on reclining her seat. Given we were at maximum load capacity on a crapy A321 this meant the back of her seat came within 6 inches of my face and there was no way I could get the meal tray down! This is the generation that complains about the way kids behave, I have never came across anyone as inconsiderate as her in all my years and many many hours of flying. Anyway, after bringing it to the attention of the stewardess, she sympathised and moved me to the empty extra legroom seat in front of her . I then thought, I think I will recline my seat to see how she likes it. I had no sooner done so when her grandson tapped my shoulder and asked me to put it back up straight. I coudn’t believe it “she’s 74 you know” he said. I duly obliged having made my point.

A holiday at our friends apartment in Golf del Sur during the Christmas/New Year break usually means I spend a lot of time in the Wild Geese bar watching football as there is a couple of games on almost every day. Sylvia doesn’t mind this and as long as she gets peace to settle down with her Kindle and we go for walks etc. she is fine. The Old Firm game had to be the highlight. We won 1-0 to go 2 points ahead of Rangers having been 15 points behind them at the beginning of November . The atmosphere in the pub was great and victory was sweet.

A nice pint, iPad on wifi, and footie on the big telly, that what holidays are all about!

New Year's eve in Tenerife

So after a week in the sun whilst the UK was suffering hurricane winds again, it was back to the cold and starting work.

Pete

Hurricane Bawbag

On the 8th of December 2011, my native Glasgow was hit by hurricane force winds and indeed the whole of Scotland took a bit of a pounding. There were recorded gusts of up to 165MPH in the Cairngorms. By all accounts it was not a pleasant experience, but very often you can tell the character of people by how they react to adversity.

In true Glaswegian style they just rolled with it and made it their own, even following the US tradition of giving names to hurricanes. What would it be? Hurricane Angus, Hurricane Hamish or Hurricane Fiona. No, it was christened Hurricane Bawbag.

For those of you who dont understand the term Bawbag, it is an affectionate term used by Glaswegians to identify something annoying or a nuisance, as in “Piss off ya Bawbag” or “Tell that Bawbag tae f**k off! The literal translation would be scrotum i.e. the bag that holds the balls.

So there we have it, no longer had Hurricane Bawbag been born, but You Tube sprung to life with records of this incredible event. There are loads to choose from but my favourite is “Trampoline! Trampoline!”. Such has been the success of this small video clip that it has spawned many others including remixes and voiceovers. Another favourite is the “Hurricane Bawbag Appeal”.

So go on, type “Hurricane Bawbag” into You Tube and see how Glaswegians deal with the worst that nature can throw at them.

Gaun Yersel !

I just had to laugh…

This week I was invited by Her Majesty’s Constabulary to verify if I was in control of the vehicle that was caught doing 40 in a 30mph zone. It was a fair cop.

I clearly remember travelling a long Nottingham Road in Codnor in mid November after a visit to Ikea, when this flash of nuclear proportions went off straight into my face. I remember because it left me with a pink blotch in my eyesight for about an hour afterwards!

It was with great satisfaction therefore that I read in the Derby Evening Telegraph today that the Police were seeking to find the vandals that had attempted to destroy the speed camera on the A610 Nottingham Rd in Codnor. They had covered it up and set fire to it!!

I only wish they had done it a few weeks earlier, but I still had to laugh….

Pete