I was up early again this morning so I could get over the A50 to Derby before the traffic and james begin. I defrosted the car, it was minus 7 when I got up but most of the day it's been -2 or -3 and after a while I seemed to get used to it even with a little bit of wind chill added to the mix. I started quite early at Derby bus station after I'd managed to fathom out how you get in ( and later out) of the awful car park next to the bus station. It was quite hectic during the rush hour, just flecks of snow then nearing the end it was slightly more noticeable. I got well over an hour so that's a job done for another year. I looked around the town and the precinct by the bus station trying to find a Costa or similar, nothing at all, what a bleak miserable place Derby is on a cold snowy morning. Of course compared to Doncaster it's magic.

I took a punt on Doncaster, headed out of Derby via Satnav, found a Startreck cafe and got Mandy's texts and phoned her back by the pool in Sri Lanka. They are still the only two guests in the hotel but a family is due to arrive later in the week! Still no trouble getting a bed by the pool then. I on the other hand was making steady progress towards Doncaster, I was hoping that I'd eventually hit the real weather, the traffic reports were quite dire with Scotland, the North East and Rutland most badly affected, in fact Rutland had so much snow this morning nobody could find it. The A66 was shut, the M1 shut due to accidents and snow, Peterborough area was bad but no mention of Doncaster on the road reports. As I got on the M18 the snow really started to pile up, no road surface, just snow. It was all across the road just one lane left open other than the odd idiot speeding through the snow on the outside.

I weaved through the hinterland past the railway works etc and eventually got to the roundabout by the old bus station, still standing forlorn like all the old part of town now derelict and falling apart, I understand there is a big shopping place by the new bus station, I expect thats what is piled on top, the worst new bus station outside of Slough. I parked up, £1.30 an hour, in Doncaster??!!! why?  Anyway I was on a mission, the snow was now a blizzard, not easy getting shots in those conditions but the lady in Fred's bookiies came out and offered me a brew, very nice, there something good about Doncaster. It looked better in the snow, you couldn't see it.

The First buses were still moving, hardly any Stagecoach or independents, that's only Thornes these days unless you know better. I know nothing i the immortal words of corporal Klinger, that will show your age if you know what I'm on about. I went back to the car which was close to the stops and got my £1 brolley I bought in the snow at Buxton filming lorries. It did help a bit, of course flakes on the lens, video and still and wetness, enemies of cameras and the shots. They were all stopping on the through road, the stops along the side street which comes out near the new bus station weren't being used, the road was deep in snow. Fair play to First for keeping it's services going, it don't arf use up your battery when shooting in sub zero conditions.

Anyway here are a few shots, not a lot of orders tonight, I'll get them away in the morning, keeping my head down tomorrow, 40mph winds, blizzards etc, that's too much plus I have a concert at the RNCM tomorrow, I believe it was discussed on radio 3 last night, the Paris conservatoire is there, I think it's a joint concert between the two orchestras.  The M62 back was snowy but not bad on the surface all three lanes open, very heavy almost white out on the M60 around Manchester at home hardly any snow but it's still coming down each time a cloud passes. It came out sunny in Doncaster, I had to move the care as I'd used up all three hours I'd paid for. Checking my course essay tomorrow, must put the bins out.

It didn't feel as cold as yesterday , I was up early and hoped to have a relaxed drive and avoid the rush hour and the bottlenecks in the West Midlands. This worked to plan so well that I was down to Worcester in no time and thankfully Starbucks was already open so I could have breakfast. I started filming quite early as the light was almost perfect by half seven. It really went quiet after 9 o'clock but I'd nearly got all the film I needed so the next stop was Kidderminster. Flecks of snow in Worcester then a bit more at Kidderminster but still nowhere near as cold as it had been in Stoke or was I getting used to it. Kidderminster produced a lot of variety much of it though Diamond with the Wessex bus fleet which pops up everywhere, they had deckers at the depot but I saw none in service. The snow got going as I made my way to West Bromwich. It looked ideal as the snow really heaved down for a while but then the sun came out, it was this mix that made up the visit and nothing new there to report but it had been a while so it needed coverage.

I was soon sailing back up the M6 motorway, thankfully all the jams and accidents had cleared, there was a fair bit of snow north of Birmingham but that gave out as I got nearer home, I topped up with fuel ready for tomorrow, probably Doncaster. Thursday I'll have an editing and catch up day as high winds and snow are predicted which doesn't sound much fun in the minus degrees region. By the way the mole trap caught one of the little devils , he ended up flung in the hedge at the rear, I expect something has devoured it, we used to use mole skins on the gas board when I was an apprentice, they were a sort of cloth we used to wipe molten metal around joints such was the quality of the insulation. Well Mandy and Sue are now in Sri Lanka, the were the only ones in the hotel the first day so no need to fight for beds around the pool. Photos tonight start at Worcester. I'm editing the films but will probably finish them and get the covers sorted on Thursday, I'm at the RNCM at teatime so a quiet day and perhaps time to polish up my course assignment which is now almost complete.

So all went well last night when I delivered my first sermon at St Oswald's at evensong, it seemed strange signing the register as preacher. Jane and Ann were very supportive and it went quite smoothly. We had pudding ad a bottle of wine when we got home and then a not too late night but also a bit of a lay in as I was taking the girls to Manchester airport for their two week trip to Sri Lanka. No problems although the M6 had suffered major snarl ups due to a 12 hour closure in Staffordshire then a smash up our end followed by break downs and the normal queues. The airport was eerily quiet anyway no problem dropping off at terminal 2 as we seemed to be the only people. I came back and swapped round Mandy's Jazz for my little IQ and set off down to Stoke on Trent to finish the film I started in January.


Because of the M6 problems I used the A50 via Newcastle which was busy but not crowed as by then the jams were starting to ease and other than northbound between the D road entry points which has two lanes closed northbound was otherwise ok, in other words I joined above the problem area and was soon home putting the fires and heating on and starting my dinner which I've already had. I need to look through my ministry course link work to tonights session so I'm up to date then somewhere along the lione get my assignment draft ready for checking and fine tuning.

We had the flock of Reed Buntings back again today, the birds feeding like mad, they must know the foul weather is heading this way, just got out the thermal socks and my walking boots for tomorrow's expedition which may well be to Worcester but I need to check the weather outlook before bed as it is all very much a moveable feast at present. I'm burning the Stoke bus DVD master and that should be on our shop by tomorrow night. The Youtube channel is moving forwards very well now that advertising rates are rising, revenue needed for our Reunion and Madagascar trip in November, I've had the first quote back on it although I'll probably end up booking the car/driver direct and ditto the hotels as why pay a third party.

I'm just getting the PMP DVD orders ready to send out tomorrow morning and I've had a look ahead in the BBC weather site for what it's worth. I think that I should get at least four days out filming albeit some of the destinations are diverse locations and I won't be able to double up that much. The common factor for the weather this coming week seems to be the cold, snow and wind which means plenty of wrapping up. I've got my good coat which has proved effective so far and with hat, scarf and gloves and extra socks its only the fingers which really get to you.

After I take Sue and Mandy to the airport I intend to carry on back down to Stoke and finish off there the film I started back in January when I had the run in with the Polish First group driver. At present Tuesday is penciled in for Shrewsbury and Telford then Wednesday the new bus station at Lincoln. Thursday Doncaster, Friday Worcester and Saturday Derby. Now that's all very provisional and depends on my work load. I'm nearing the end of my minitry course assignment, it took several hours yesterday and a few more today. I hope to have it finished substantially tomorrow and will then check through and send to my oppo churchwarden Keith to proof read. Then I'll send to vicar Jane and Reader Ann to make sure it makes sense and hits the learning outcomes expected. Hopefully that will see it submitted next weekend with a week to spare.

I need to look ahead to the next segment of the course which commences Monday evening after out two week half term break. I've also made quite a lot more progress with our trip to Reunion and Madagascar in November although the two companies we've tried to contact recommended in Lonely Planet have already vanished and it was quite a new edition. It's my first sermon at St Oswald's this evening, friend Sue will come along and Tom is coming for additional moral support, not that nervous or anything it's nothing I haven't done in the distant past! I've filmed away another huge number of pictures from the Asian trip and from them some truck shots for our evening slide show. Keep hitting those Youtube adverts the revenue is rising nicely and will help pay for the lonmg distance trips this year.

Well that was a busy day, we had a splendid evening at the RNCM with their young students staging a highly professional West Side Story which of course buzzes along with so many familiar songs and tunes. We had dinner before the show in Brodsky's the on site restaurant which has it simpler pre show dinner and always has something to appeal and so does the list of over 120 gins from around the world. Sue stayed overnight and went on to her sister later this morning while Mandy and I went shopping at Waitrose in Northwich , just a few bits and pieces to keep us going until the girls depart on Monday for two weeks in Sri Lanka, after I've dropped them off my plan is to carry on to Stoke and finally finish the film of the buses I started there in January. 

I had a brain numbing afternoon wading my way through a host of texts on prayer for my ministry course, other than tweaking and tidying up I'd say I was 2/3rds of the way through. I want to work in a few more books on my bibliography that I've purchased or borrowed as that gets extra marks. It's difficult making it read really well as you aren't allowed much anecdote just lots of quotations with those hard to get right references. I hope to have it finished and uploaded in the next week.

There have been a few DVD orders coming through which will get prepared Sunday night and I guess we'll drop off Monday on the way to the airport. I did manage to get the list on this site updated and ditto the Amazon shop although I probably need to add the cover photos if the upload has been successful, it goes fine for a few months then usually throws a wobbler. It has been a dry, relatively still bright day which I hope won't be repeated, well its all good except the bright , a bit of light cloud makes photography better until the sun gets much higher in the sky come April when all I want is sunshine which I suppose is a quote from Morecombe and Wise! I'll give you a few more shots from Singapore the other week, I've not had a chance to file anything else but will get back into it while Mandy is away and try to get the still photo section on Smugmug a bit more uptodate. Our Youtube channel is looking much healthier as the advertising rates start to climb heading for Mother Day, Easter, Spring etc albeit the number of net hits hasn't really moved much from about 35-40k hits a day.

After getting Liverpool buses filmed yesterday I was hoping for a brief trip to Stoke to finish off there, I'd started it back i January. The sun however decided to come out in its full splendour and that knocked Stoke on the head, I really didn't need any more truck film having filled my boots so to speak over the past couple of weeks. Thus I decided that it was a good opportunity to crack ion with more ministry course assignment, it involved interviews and transcripts so even setting it all up with the appendixes and bibliography took quite a while and then I finally made inroads into the essay itself. Friend Sue is with us, I'm just popping out for my weekly catch up with vicar Jane especially as I deliver my first sermon at St Oswalds this coming Sunday. Then we are off for dinner at the RNCM at Manchester and the young college musical production of west side Story. I'm at the college again shortly while Mandy and Sue are in Sri Lanka its their visit fro Paris Conservatoire quite a prestigious occasion.

I had a request to use a film today from a young lady in Nagaland, India - it's not a part of the country often visited so now I have a welcome should I ever head in that direction. Talking of trips Mandy and I did some planning for our November trip to Reunion and Madagascar. I'll send off to a local agent and get their ideas on how they can accommodate our specific requests. Hopefully it will produce some interesting truck film as well as seeing lots of interesting wildlife. So I've got to wrap up quickly, the mol;e trap still hasn't caught the little vandal wrecking my lawn, the mole man called again this morning. I've got my eye on next week and the week after wjile Mandy and Sue are away, weather notwithstanding I do hope for several film trips off our to do list! I've filed quite a few pictures now here are some from Kuala Lumpur.

Despite yet another incorrect weather forecast by the BBC we went over to Liverpool and stuck at it albeit the sun was out just a tad too much to start but it clouded over as time went by which enabled me to get the coverage we wanted and also bumped into one of our bus friends so that's two days in a row I've met people on my travels, small world indeed. I'm now right up to date with editing and just about to load the clips from Huddersfield and Liverpool on our Youtube channel where the revenue is starting to take off after the New Year doldrums. That's important to all of you because we need to get funding for these great adventures and there are many more to come this year.

Tomorrow I hope to finish off my film in Stoke on Trent which came to a halt before when I was abused by a First Polish driver coming out to the main road after leaving the bus station, it had been quiet post Brexit but the right wing fascist elements seem to be getting their strength  and confidence back, we will not countenance their behaviour even if First Group are willing to stand by this type of individual what right have they got to remain in Britain if the don't like our way of life, threats and intimidation have gone on for years even backed by the Scottish Government and police - there must be an end to it. It was so good in Asia meeting such lovely bus and lorry drivers and never a frown, today I got one of the Stagecoach drivers who tried to pull his side screen down but it wouldn't stay down, misery, anyway he just looked the other way, it was all easier once you just got a v sign and that was that!

Anyway lets have some shots of the buses in Liverpool, after its brief renaissance it looks the pits again, squalor and filth and run down with thousands of homeless filling every unused doorway. It's almost a relief for Manchester for there to be somewhere that is an equal mess.

I was only one DVD off finishing all the Asian trip yesterday which I got done when I got back from Yorkshire, there are a few odds and ends to do, a bit of filing but really thats the back of it broken and I've turned my attention to getting the photos sorted ready for filing which first mean deleting the views I don't need. usually there are about 3 shots per vehicle. The Malaysian trucks have come out really well, I didn't quite appreciate the variety I'd captured whizzing through the video but with photos you are looking at each image however briefly. I got Mandy's taxi sorted for her return in March from Sri Lanka. After a day in Yorkshire filming buses I'm nearly ready for another trip to somewhere warm. It was a very successful trip to Wakefield and met my friend Phil there who does stills.

The variety of operators and vehicles is astounding, it really is a worthwhile destination and now Arriva are starting to apply their near logo, I'm sure it looks a bit like Centro's. Anyway after that I had a brew at Cafe Nero, worst branch I've ever visited, never offered to heat cake or cream and couldn't move inside it was like an obstacle course. Then carried on across country to Huddersfield, the visit made harder as the sun came out, not forecast and with clouds and sun in out, in out it;s hard to get exposures right on shots which may take several minutes. Over the hills back in Cheshire where it was going to be sunny needless to say it was cloudy, still the BBC can't run a knees up in a brewery. I thought I'd give viewers a couple of slide shows with trucks in Port Klang near KL and today at Wakefield. The Wakefield DVD is already complete, just the cover to make and by the end of the evening I should have Huddersfield done as well. I was hoping to cover Liverpool tomorrow but it will have to be wherever cloud seems more likely.

I don't think I ever worked this hard on the day job and at times it's hard to find the motivation to carry on so I put on some of my favourite music in a random mix and it's amazing how the right numbers come along just as you need them. I had already moved on from editing Malaysia and worked my way through Singapore buses which was harder as I had to identify the locations and marry up the photos. By the time I reached the Singapore trucks filmed in the environs of the docks around Jurong East I had given up matching the exact photos to the DVD cover, I think a block of stills has gone adrift but will probably surface at some stage, I've now got thousands of stills backed up to be sorted and filed properly. If all that wasn't enough the household routine jobs came and went and Mandy managed to do the shopping on her own. Regent phoned to say our train from Moscow to St Petersburg had been cancelled, thankfully there were plenty of alternative even better times.

Earlier on I had managed to get my sermon written for next Sunday, it is a bit of a chore getting your head around Jane and Ann's cycle of readings which owes something to practicality, pragmatism, lectionary and custom, as I said to Jane, Simples! That was at least another off the to do list although my assignment for the ministry course does linger and I hope by the end of the weekend to have made good in roads with it. I've got all the material and reading I need I just need to decide the framework and launch in, the referencing takes up the most time, researching, selecting and tying it in.

Tomorrow it looks like being light cloyd suitable for filming buses at Wakefield and Huddersfield so at this time those are my intended destinations although a change in weather could alter it all. I know there are lots of people waiting for present day UK bus coverage to resume and that's why I'm desperately trying to get the Asian material wrapped up. But talking of which here are some covers for the current batches already on our shop.

Here are a few shots from the covers that are going on the Singapore trucks DVDs

The day can pass so quickly with not a lot to show for it, I seem to be almost past my jetlag and anxious that the bad weather on the way will prevent resumption of UK bus coverage. The orders had piled up over the weekend these all went off this morning. We then dropped the IQ at Kwikfit for it's MOT test and then went to the engravers for a church connected piece of work. Then it was on to Partington for my tooth, needed a peg so injection but all over quickly but it leaves you looking like you've just had a stroke. Then on to Knutsford and banking, they reckon the text I got in Malaysia about my account was spam, I'm not so sure. Then we got rid of a pile of boxes in the garage, Mandy took them to the tip. I got a couple more Singapore bis DVDs ready plus covers made, already added to the shop. The Youtube channel is showing signs of recovery after the New Year 'knock' when Google advertising rates are renegotiated and auctioned, as we approach Easter, Mothers Day, Spring etc it should continue to shoot back up, I noticed one day we had 79000 hits which isn't bad. We should have 30k subs soon.

Tonight I thought we'd carry on with the Malaysian trucks shots I took at Port Long. Somewhere soon I'll get the Singapore truck films put together. I've done several chores as churchwarden today and also some family stuff etc etc, it never ends.