We had a real boost on the Youtube stats ror the last measured day which was I think either Maundy Thursday or Good Friday probably the former as it takes a while to appear in our figures. Our position compared with last year is looking really strong and last year firmly placed PMP in another league entirely as we were only a couple of places behind Top Gear in the UK automobile rankings. Just keep buying the DVDs and hitting the ads when you watch for free on Youtube. I managed to get thousands of still pictures on our Smugmug still photo sales site this morning including everything from our Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia trip plus all from the recent extended session at Immingham. I'm working on several batches more from the recent DVD destinations I hope to get a few more thousand on before Easter is over. We are carefully monitoring the weather situation for the week ahead, it is still looking pretty lousy but hope to pull something out of the bag.

We loaded up the PMP van, had to pump a couple of tyres up on the trolley to make sure we can get everything inside at Detling, we'll have all the latest releases including the new Bus Spot Ultra Maidstone. We also have a selection of S Est DVDs plus some of our surplus sales stock at £5 each sometimes even less. That cleared out the garage so I had a seep out while we were at it. I also had time to finish the presentation for Vicar Jane ready for tomorrows main Easter service, I also managed to get the remainder of the material ready for Messy Church at Over Peover which I'll be taking on my own at we have baptisms running on through the afternoon at Lower Peover, Jane is setting up in the other village this tea time. We did manage to have a relax and caught a couple of films on TV. We have quite a few DVD orders which have arrived over the net, all three shops are busy, this site, Amazon and EBay, we have a sale of selected items on EBay, they only let you list 500 at a time now and I wasn't even sure if that would go through, thousands of entries on their feedback site of unhappy sellers, but EBay are like Amazon and Youtube too arrogant to change or return to what worked for everyone.

I've decided after a particular request that I'll put the old USA tram material on to DVD, tell the truth I hadn't really noticed I hadn't done them as I don't have much US material not being particularly fond of the place. I'm heading off to Russia soon, I've got the language disc out to get me a bit of a boost. I'm contemplating the remainder of the ministry course assignment that I worked through the night on, might turn up at the next term saying I've had a transfer offer from the baptists, tight sods at the C of E, not really sure if it's the long term niche for me, I know the course is just a hoop to jump through but they treat their paid staff pretty badly so volunteers get short shrift for certain. An early start tomorrow but we have had a couple of drinks and have the rest of the champagne to finish left over from last night. I hope everyone has a positive and thoughtful then pleasant Easter and not too many chocolates , well not unless you are sending me a few. As I'm dipping into the US waters here are some shots I've taken in the distant past.

I didn't get much more than an hour sleep last night as I was quite wound up about the course mark, albeit a good clear pass it was way below mt expectations and almost as if the marker hadn't read any of the appendices which were attached with all the research and interview notes. It seems he an ex school teacher turned vicar from Kelsall, there seems to be quire a lot of ex teachers kicking about from my recollections there was just one good guy when I was at school, our art teacher. I used to come in at lunch time and sort out the cupboards which were full of old picture post magazines, he was a cartoonist outside of school like the woodwork teacher was a joiner at weekends and summer evenings.

I managed to get out of PT when Jock Galloway went too far with his sordid behaviour, he used to do what he wanted with the lads and hope a mars bar after would make it ok. While he was out of the room I had a not too serious fall from the ropes, he was worried that my parents would put in a complaint he shouldn't have left the class alone in the gym.  The head master was used to it being a public ie private school, we were about the third year of council house intakes to grammar school, I bet he hated us, he couldn't bear to look at you, scwuffy wuffians as Reg Burton the music teacher called us. There were superb moments there but mostly despite the teachers.

I can hear fireworks being let off outside, strange behaviour on Good Friday, mind you Lower Peover school kids tried their best to wreck our big clean up when they had their end of term service in our church, they ripped out loads more backing from the seat cushions, strewn about with paper, sweet wrappers and pencils - to cap mit all they had rigged a booby trap at the side door, at the end of the Good Friday service as the ministry team left , the girls stood to the side ready for me to open the door, I pulled it and the fire extinguisher fell down my leg and on my foot, just a small cut but if it had been Mandy I'm sure it would have been a fracture.

Living in an affluent area doesn't do anything to improve behaviour of kids, the teachers just stand by and let it happen.  Anyway I nearly got my next course project completed, 6 hours through the night, I'll have to delete a few bits written in annoyance but then again perhaps I should have the courage to leave them in. I've been trimming up photo files to get stashed in the archive folders, masses in a great backlog as usual. I'll try again tomorrow, we are having a glass of champagne now to relax with, a long lay in tomorrow, perhaps finally get the PMP van loaded for Detling, the weather next Saturday could be ok for it but Thursday Friday don't look that great, no accommodation booked yet though.Cover done for the latest Immingham truck films

Still a frost on the cars this morning but it brightened up for the rest of the morning although later it was rain clouds once more. We cleared the DVD orders which probably took longer than anticipated then after breakfast we popped into the post office then paid the deposit on the Reunion holiday rental for November and other banking for PMP and ourselves then headed out to M&S at Handforth Dean where the traffic was getting to bank holiday proportions. We bought me a new jacket and shirt and Mandy got a new pullover which probably isn't what it's called but as near as I can describe, also it was yellow which with blue are my favourite colours. Time seemed to whizz by, I managed to get a few clips from Egyptian trucks taken 1996 up on to Youtube then vicar Jane called round to edit films for Sunday but her motherboard on her laptop had gone and the website to download one of the films from was down, really no progress on that but there is all day tomorrow.

Later on I got the marks for my latest assignment on the ministry course which was a good clear pass but way below the mark I'd expected and seemed to miss all the guidance from the proposal submitted and accepted, in fact it seemed to turn round all the advice I'd been given on it's head. Perhaps not surprisingly it's an ex teacher who marked it, another with an anal fixation on punctuation even when my pal Keith who is OCD on such matters had checked it through. Discouraging though and just another hoop to jump through as our tutor Lyndon says but why is it all so inconsistent, perhaps I should appeal it but then the only person who died in the story is being remembered this weekend and our vicar Jane has already incorporated some of the more contemporary liturgy I've shared with others in our course group into our own sometimes archaic services so something good is coming out of it.

Not sure what I can bring you by way of photos this evening, I think I've gone through enough from Immingham so having looked at Egypt some shots from there plus the latest DVD covers

If it wasn't so cold and damp there would be a chance it was getting to feel like Easter rather than Christmas all over again. I waited all day to see if it settled, first thing I finished putting together the film and slides for our Good Friday service at St Oswalds then Vicar Jane called round with the film which I'd already downloaded, edited and emailed but I think it is a fraught time in the vicaring trade as it were, being just the apprentice has it's moments though. The Easter eggs are gathering on the sideboard and Mandys birthday cards for tomorrow are starting to pile up, she is too good to open them before, not like me.

I made a start on my assignment having checked the feedback on my proposal which was supportive brief and not requiring any changes, perhaps the markers are running out of momentum like us. Starting is often the hardest part, I've got the final book I needed in the post today, it isn't too long so I'll start it tonight, it's easy enough watching the soaps and reading at the same time. The rest of the books need academic 'skimming' for relevant nuggets to quote. I did manage a couple of hours cleaning the fleet and getting the garden borders cleared especially as it was garden waste collection tomorrow, shame to see the bin go empty.

It was never going to be a film day, too much rain around and far to erratic, I will keep an eye open for opportunities near home in the morning but I suspect it will be post Easter before momentum gets going, that will be the trip to Detling for which we'll need to get a hotel booked, ditto for Cobham the weekend after. We need to get the PMP van loaded and before Cobham try out the new branded tent. We'll have all our recent stock at both events and hundreds of reduced price surplus stock as we drop the early numbers in favour of the new as we can't fit it in the van or on the tables! I'm going to see if I can find yet another batch of Immingham photos, I did seem to take a lot, still photo filing is way behind as usual.

 did have my camera with me to get some shots of Tom and myself rigging up the St Oswald banner this morning, however I forgot that I had the camera so didn't get anything but will make amends. They looked really good brightening up a dark gloomy corner. We also managed to get the scout flag long defunct at St Oswald's raised and hanging up towards the rear of the church. That was a bit more hairy working at great height and Tom wasn't able to assist with the more strenuous bits as he has heart problems. Anyway we did it plus put some treatment on the areas of woodworm infestation which I'd spotted on the big spring clean on Saturday morning. In the afternoon I popped over to B&Q at Northwich and got a roll of paper which we'll need for the Messy Church story on Sunday at Over Peover. Then at 2pm we had a ministry team meeting at Plumleys cafe plus a small slice of Simnel cake. We got quite a lot done, I've got a couple of editing jobs putting together the presentations for Good Friday and Easter day services which I'll be able to tackle once I've got the Immingham truck films finished, I'm on the third volume now plus clips from the first two are loading on Youtube at present.

The weather for tomorrow looks very unsettled, I'll do something local if possible, it's not worth the risk going any great distance. Thursday has now gained the editing for the Sunday service and I want to run through the Messy Church sermon/celebration story which requires some drawing as well as all the other crafts we'll have on the go. Obviously it's a very busy time of the year and after Easter the vehicle rally season and other trips start to kick in. We should be able to do some work around outer London and Surrey while at Cobham and at Detling there are many targets from trucks at Dover through the the new look Arriva perhaps at Chatham and Tunbridge Wells. Not so many DVDs to get ready tonight but its been steady all week up to now, it's Mandy's birthday on Thursday, I've got her card and will get some flowers sorted when I'm out tomorrow. I also picked up some Easter eggs, some for the children at St Oswalds Sunday then at Over Peover at Messy church late afternoon by which time they will probably all be sick and not want any. Mandy and I have a couple of nice ones for ourselves. The slide show tonight continues with yesredays visit to Immingham.

From a week of iffy weather I managed to pluck what is possibly the only good day for a trip over to Immingham docks with oodles of film and photos. This meant an early start, the clouds started to gather by 2pm so I set off home. I'm increasingly not using my glasses as my eyesight has improved again, this has been a constant progression as the misshaped eye changes with age thankfully for some people like me correcting the original fault. This also applies to driving but I'm having an eye test to make sure it ticks all the boxes for various activities, I can certainly film, watch tv etc without them which makes a pleasant change after wearing them most of my life.

I'm doing some work inside St Oswald's tomorrow, wood worm to treat and Tom and I are going to try and erect the banners which haven't been displayed for decades, it seems a shame not having things visible but stuck in cupboards. It would be super if we get them up before the Easter services. I've now booked the remaining flights for our November trip, the Reunion to Madagascar leg, competition seems to have evaporated over the past two weeks on that route and accordingly prices have quadrupled but I suppose getting a bargain wouldn't have meant much if they have gone bust! I want to relax a bit now so here is the first selection of photos from Immingham, I'm also starting to edit the films, not sure the number of DVDs we'll get out of it.

That was an exhausting week if ever there was one, last night it was the Mayors Ball in Knutsford at the Old Courthouse Hotel. Superb food and company, music was far too loud though and left my head ringing. The change to British Summer time meant that there wasn't a lot of time left between bed and getting up for the 8am service, a frosty and misty start to what has turned out to be a fairly pleasant day. I was going to return home with Tom and Jane Lloyd and then Mandy would follow later but Roger had got a minibus taxi so we could all return together. Accompanying us on our table was a companion Nordic walker of Ged's who he circulates Tatton Park with, I wonder if they'll join us on one of our pilgrimages they were with the Unitarian Church in Knusford a 17th Ce Grade 1 listed building so a lot of shared experiences of keeping old buildings practical and useful within the confines of the faculty system. Mandy was impressed to discover that the mayor also had a disability and was a wheelchair user. Here are some shots from the evening
 starting with Mandy and me, not one of Mandy's best though!

Ged Coates ( Coates Transport) with ( Rev Dr) Jane and Tom Lloyd

Elspeth and Roger Turner, more great friends from our pilgrimages, Roger a keen cyclist!

Ged describing the scene to wife Yvonne, friends from church and our marathon walks.

The weather looks mixed for this week, I'm about to check out opportunities for filming. I've just got the DVD orders ready to post, the credit card machine is working but looks as if it would give out at any time.
I've a lot of work to do for my ministry course assignment, just one book read so far another to go and several to be skimmed through. I'm also working with Vicar Jane on alternative service forms for St Oswalds which looks sparkling after the big clean up yesterday, some of the team below

No course at Chester tomorrow night, Mandys birthday Thursday, sounds like another busy time, services for Easter Thursday, Friday and Sunday, ministry team meeting Tuesday afternoon plus Tuesday morning Tom and I are erecting the old church banners for display.

123 Send are our supplier of credit card machines, their back up is useless and we have been frustrated getting orders through which require card processing, this is ongoing as the second items they've sent this week doesn't work. I'm going to investigate an alternative through the market traders federation of which we are members as although it is only postal orders with card numbers that alone is frustration and delay enough.

frustration is the name of today, the church heating at St Oswalds is now completed but did anyone ring to tell me no of course not, I drove there to see how the engineer was getting on, nobody there, so back home ring them up, oh its finished so why on earth not tell me. That issue has been live all day since opening up for them first thing then back again to open the toilet for him . We are out tonght at the RNCM for their spring end of term opera Hansel & Gretal by Humperninck. Last nights meal was superb at Chez Nous in Sale with Trish and Derek but Mandy woke up in the night and was sick.

We are out again tomorrow night at the Mayors Ball in Knutsford. I've a ministry team meeting next Tuesday pm but it still leaves film days for Mon/Tues and Thursday then we are into Easter. I'm not sure what it will be like but if possible I'll get as many truck films as I can done if not it will then edge into April. I've edited the Sheffield bus DVD which just needs a cover doing, in fact there are now three waiting.

I had a call today and request for some of out earliest USA film which I realise isn't on DVD at all. I'll try and get that sorted some time, a rainy day job but may be popular on our Youtube channel so we'll see if I can fit it in. Some more pictures from Sheffield and ourselves at the Restaurant last night! By the way I note the youtuve clip of Immingham trucks in 2013 has now had over 4M hits and overall we should hit 50M hits this summer and there are 32K subscrivers.

The pace of the week isn't slackening, we had the church pcc last night, the old guard tried a rear guard action but the campaign to raise funds for the pew reordering went through although there seems to be no contribution from church funds at all which is a bit weird to say the least but we are committed to keeping a years funding in reserve due to the millstone of a 750 year old building Grade1 listed.  It went on so long that the Bells next door had shut when we got way so no after pcc tipples at all. I've been chasing up the heating engineers today, still awaiting parts and have managed to get some dates agreed and circulated. It just seems to be relentless this week, a pleasant diversion almost going filming in Sheffield this morning, I traveled through the rush hour and had a good run, I gave up with the tram park and ride as you have to pay £4.50 for the parking then pay again on the tram if before 9.30 so I parked in a very clean secure parking place right next to the central bus stops and that only cost £8 better value than Reading when I thought I'd bought the whole car park.

The First buses looked dated, dirty and unattractive, First does seem to always looking in terminal decline. As I left on the A57 later I did see an all white 18 reg bus , my first of 2018 but needless to say I was driving and have no evidence of this rare beast. A chap came out from the bus station and traveled across the road to the pavement outside the university to ask if I'd 'signed in' why would I , I didn't need to go in the bus station as there are door entry points at the stops preventing meaningful photography there and across the road nearly in Derbyshire what has it got to do with them. The chap who was fairly relaxed about it mumbled the passengers in the bus station might not like it but if I sign in it's ok - the logic escaped both of us so we just had a pleasant chat about my travels around the world and he had to shoot off as another dire emergency had arisen, tea time I suppose.

Tonight we are out on our joint birthday bash with cousins Trish and Derek tonight in Sale near Manchester, then tomorrow we have dinner at Brodskys at the RNCM before their spring end of term opera. It doesn't stop there as Saturday we have the Mayors Ball at Knutsford with a group of us on a table. Saturday is also annual spring clean at St Oswalds, thats the morning gone then Sunday and into holy week with several services.I need to book accommodation for our trip to Kent and Cobham, hopefully we may get the trucks at Dover as well as some buses in the area, certainly M&D should see some Arriva changes although I was surprised to see all as was in Shropshire with Arriva. Photos quickly before we leave for Manchester from Sheffield this morning.

I'm quite pushed for time today, hopefully the scheduled Sheffield trip will happen tomorrow, I've added the new list to this site with Reading and Oxford plus I've put clips on Youtube. I've also added 1996 Avonmouth clips to our Youtube channel. We had an afternoon concert with tea at Clonter and then it's the PCC meeting shortly in the school. I'll put more on tomorrow although we are out for our joint family dinner with cousins Trish and Derek tomorrow night, bear with and we'll get back to lorries asap.