HEDGEHOGS FILMED AT LAST AND HARDY FAMILY NEWS

Things sdem to happen so fast and furious that it is hard to remember to mention everything. The nation has now gone into public holiday mode for the long weekend and of course it is already well into the transport rally season although the weather is changeable in the extreme and it doesn't bode that well for the AEC rally on Sunday, I'll be keeping my eyes open lest it is too bad to even go there I don't want to get the van bogged down and everything soaked for nothing. The more immediate question is tomorrows filming destinations which could yet change, really you'll just have to wait and see what pops up tomorrow evening. I finally got my Buses magazine today, it seems to be a bit on the late side, very heavily laden with Southdown 100 news, it doesn't seem long since we were at Amberley for Southdown 75. Anyway I've just finished off the DVD and cover for the Chester visit and they are added to stock and our shop plis of course the first two Northern Scotland social history films. It is interesting to note how much is being promoted on the Southdown side with preserved buses, we of course are lucky that thanks to John Bishop we can have living memories on DVD from his splendid cine films. These will be on sale at the Southsea event along with thousands of other films from our range and an amazing selection of photos at just 50p stretching back from prewar to the NBC and beyond.

There has been news on the Hardy family side, in September ( date to be decided) there will be a small ceremony at Manchesyer's Southern Cemetary to unveil the new bench dedicated to the decendents of Robert Joseph Hardy worldwide plus  our own 'Berta' ( Mandy's mum). This will be a culmination of plans over the past two years. Any collective response to the idea was not forthcoming so we've taken the bull by the horns and done it albeit inflation has taken it's toll despite deflation cos Manchester council is short of cash being robbed by the Tory government under a small african country The Cameroons, and what would they know or care about Britain having led a life of privilege and wealth at public schools and no idea of what Britain is about. Of course so far removed from reality that they could almost be Scottish!

I dropped off a card, flowers and chocolates to Jane lloyd at the vicarege on my way home today, Tom is expected home this evening, Jane is going to take all the family to welcome him back and lets hope that this speedy recovery continues after all we know it's a big birthday this year Tom , no secrets around here. I was at Southern today to do the bench transaction after we'd looked at locations with the maintenance team, opposite Berta's grave looks a perfect place. I was sweating buckets getting the graves sorted using the battery strimmer and spade, fork and anything else I could throw at it. The spring bulbs lasted very well but always get swamped by the grass and weeks. I put weed killer on the stones but the chippings need topping up a bit. I ran out of steam really but it looks pretty good now if anyone is passing.

I'm now editing bvolume 3 of the Scottish social history archive, yet more cine film arrived today, I need to process some and then resell hopefully at a profit when I've squeezed anything good out of them. A very varied collection I've accumulated so far. I'm going to try and catch a bit of telly tonight and have a bit of a rest ( joke). The clips of Chester buses should go on Youtube channel tonight. The shop is a bit quiet, end of the month pay day coming up, treat yourself to a few DVDs! A look t the clip of the Portland Cement lorries, not many hits as yet surely it warrants a million at least.