Pretty humdrum stuff happening here, we went early to M&S but it was still queuing at just after 8am, still we have got anything we may need for Christmas and when we got back we had a brew and headed off to the Northwich tip where you have to show your identity now to get rid of your rubbish but at least the stack of cardboard has gone. We tackled the orders as they arrived and Mandy ended up going to the post office twice as I think people are now looking for entertainment in possible lock downs after Christmas or even before in some parts. Perhaps a darkest before the dawn for the early part of 2021. The only day which looks suitable for filming next week will be Tuesday so I'll keep tabs on any forecasts before then.

I had a few bits of family correspondence to do like trying to get in touch with my sister an nephews and my aunt in Peterborough who sort of answered but didn't and I just had chatter going on. I did a few small bits on the diorama and finally got the cubes with stand numbers made and in place. The trees I'd got from China are pretty awful, I think I will need to look again, they might have a use with some toning down of bright green foliage which almost sparkles and is more akin to a toilet brush than a tree. Here are some more photos from my trip to Goole yesterday, I've downloaded the film just need to edit the three programmes. I did get some more films on digital download on the PMP shop, not a lot though.  It looks like we'll be at the pub again this evening as its carol singing night.

Tomorrow I want to get the archive list fully annotated for the films listed in recent months giving locations and content, its all there to be picked over and filled in just needs some time devoted to it.  I need to get still image files deleted or stored as appropriate and there is a host of family history material to get uploaded. So lets have some more truck shots from Goole.

The weather outlook was correct for a change and it was indeed a clear blue sky at Goole and quite mild at 11degC and just the lightest of breezed. I've just edited the DVD on Lancaster taken Tuesday and will start on the Goole material after we have been shopping early tomorrow, then I shall keep my head down and try to tackle some of my to do list. Here are some shots taken this morning at Goole.

still taken off video early yesterday morning at Lancaster. Home today, most of the day spent battling with Amazon getting into the account to get orders ready, as I have told people for a year now please use the PMP shop not Amazon which are an awful company to do business with - I know its all too easy but resist. Anyway I also did some work on the diorama , I'll bring you pictures soon just getting some sections nearer completion although it will always remain a work in progress. So all the DVD orders are ready to send out again despite the Amazon horror story. We got our prescriptions delivered today, well Mandy's was only it shouldn't have , not down for delivery we travel too much for that , there was nothing for me. we went to the health centre, the delivery lady said that these were a lot of puzzled people, they reckon she took the wrong box out. Foul weather and I had a bit of a queasy turn mid afternoon. Hoping to get to Goole tomorrow for trucks. The to do list just keeps getting longer though. Thanks to everyone for cards received thus far.

I had completed the blog and tried to load photos when Weebly wobbled yet again, can't be bothered to start again as I don't want to waste time I know you'll appreciate the photos more!

These new releases are all on the shop page on our website , I'll try to get them on Amazon and EBay soon but really appreciate if anybody wants them use the PMP shop. Amazon are out with all guns blazing, new rules Fe 2021, must state carrier and which service they have been sent by. All this is going to take time more perhaps than is worth doing. We have already been near the brink of leaving that might be the last straw.

Today we had some ordinary shopping to do plus going out to buy two Christmas trees, I had hoped to keep my head down and not bother, some chance of that with Mandy. The outside one is already twinkling away. The indoor one can come indoors when the cleaners have finally come back tomorrow. It took most of the morning to get the DVD orders away and create the new covers. We had lunch after Waitrose Northwich trip and then second garden centre lucky we got the very expensive trees, we have potted ones you can grow on for next year only last years are looking a bit forlorn at present. Tomorrow I may be able to cover Lancaster and Blackburn, fingers crossed for light cloud. I still need to download the recently scanned cine to put files away and then tidy up and store the treated cine away until the next round of visits to OTA at Shrewsbury and John Bishop in Sussex.

We are still busy with DVD orders and some of the large ones show what eclectic tastes our viewers have and how much they can consume. I must get on with my to do list so thats it other than shots from Guildford last week

I suppose if we had a magic wand it would only give temporary gratification and for most of the time life is a bit of an uphill slog. I have managed to get the diorama heading forward with a 1/3 of it now coming together to a finish. The remainder is still in development and all this is just the first of three large undertakings. I have to stop and have a clear up quite often as dist from card is an enemy to all equipment especially as I scan films in the same room. We had church this morning which at St Oswalds seems to be on a relentless tide washing against the Orthodox and Roman traditions. Mandy is adamant that she wants to put up with the bad bits rather than to move and get settled somewhere else. We seem to gain icons and glitter every week and the colour of things seems to be more important than the faith or hope we share. Frustrating really as we were once on the cusp of heading more towards a gospel motivated church rather than a synagogue which we are fast becoming.

I got thoroughly pissed off with the Dunham Massey brewery, I like to support local businesses and particularly family concerns like own our own but despite phoning ahead like they wanted a month back it was all no problem just turn up and come in up to the shop, the weather was foul in the extreme  and first it seemed to be one in one out then I tried only to be told to go back down the horrendous steps and wait outside in the downpour and wind. It was so easy when you phoned your order through ahead and just picked it up. Never again Dunham Massey brewery you have many regional competitors. I had hassle with a Spanish chap, bought a digital download because it was £8 then said it didn't work and was extremely rude, we no longer ship to Spain, he could have easily made an excuse of language to hide being a tight git. Just gave him a refund and said never shop with us again.

I've now edited all the recent films and by tomorrow morning there will be just Guildford to have a clip o Youtube and I'll get all the covers done and items on the PMP Shops. Time seemed to have run away from me today and I've had an aperitif and ready for my dinner. Here are some shots from Guildford on Thursday.

I've been juggling several balls in the air today and yesterday and have got a lots of clips from Doncaster on our Youtube channel and have completed the Bus Spot Ultra Doncaster plus the two programmes of Newark trucks and buses at High Wycombe. I've also been working on the diorama getting the over bridge finished and two low profile versions and then getting a suitable image for seeing though the bridge over the tram lines. This all took ages and is no quick fix trying to get perspectives something like correct. The bridges look rather good but it was a lot of effort for just part of the whole model.  Then we fitted in a whole has clean now that our cleaners are coming back on Tuesday, well it makes sense to Mandy. There were masses of DVD orders which went out yesterday but today it has been lean pickings. In a way a relaxing weekend wouldn't go amiss.

Some will remember the problems we have had with the DVD discs and cases, it is all tied up with the overseas carriers via ship whereby containers which are going say to the UK are dropped off at Rotterdam and then trans-shipped later say end of next January. This has really messed up supplies but our reserve dealer came up trumps and given the somewhat apparent shaky status of our usual supplier we'll stick with the new regular down in Gloucestershire, neither were exactly on the doorstep the other one was in Barnsley. I'll try and get the rest of the South East journey DVDs ready tomorrow then all the covers to do before I can list them on the shops. The Youtube site is still looking a bit lackluster but if you average it out it has been buoyant all year.

I've not looked ahead to next week for filming as yet, at present it been wet, windy ad dark which has suited the indoor jobs this weekend but the front garden could use a tidy up for Christmas. Cards are tumbling in now and ours have nearly all gone out. As we are trying to get up to Blackburn and Accrington this week here are some shots around Lancashire from the archive to keep us ready.

After a perfect day for mid December filming today was more challenging but some good shots in Guildford and eight operators isn't a bad tally in this day and age. Anyway we decided it was going to be too dark and wet so after a coffee and cake at Cafe Nero we hit the long road home. Strange on the M40 loads of broken down vehicles and then lots of outsize loads. Then on the M6 north a south bound multi vehicle pile up, thank goodness we were heading the other way. Multiple DVD orders even though I'd put Amazon and EBay on holiday setting. They are both back on  line and the fracas with EBay is now resolved I got an apology from both eBay and Amazon for the way they handle what should have been a simple question and ditto answer. It seems to go nuclear is the start these days. Anyway I'm going to be up to my eyes in orders and editing for the next few days. Here are shots I took at High Wycombe yesterday morning.

As well as the Bus Spot  Ultra Doncaster which is sitting on the editing time line I now have two programmes to make on todays filming at Newark on Trent. Very cold I was done in by lunch time, weather atrocious on the way home. Tomorrow we are in London area, perhaps High Wycombe, remember I did try before and then Uxbridge, remember last time I was attacked and had missile on forehead and blood everywhere helped by hairdressers staff. Hoping for better tomorrow. Staying Oatlands Park hotel in Surrey where we would have been for Brooklands / Detling weekend. Anyway we are home Thursday evening and hopefully time for a blog. Then there will be even more to edit. The Christmas DVD orders are still trickling in, anything after bedtime tonight will go out Friday morning.