RECOVERING AFTER THE ROBBERY IN BELGIUM

I have now sourced all the equipment to ensure we are ready for next weeks bumper weekend at Kirkby and Manchester, a shame the Mcr Sunday clashes with the NWVRT which are quite close to each other. I've just got the stock of recent releases ready so we'll have at least the last years releases plus a lot of interesting vintage releases all at the annual NWVRT Open & Running Day.

I've now got a new tripod, which I'd already purchased but the head wasn't much use so we went to Wex in Manchester and got another one which can do left hand handle and has better stability. Wex's store at Newcastle is sending down the replacement Cannon camera and I've also got a video via EBay. Ditto a microphone for the video.

A chap on EBay had a tidy Billingham bag but he is on holiday so won't get that until later in June but I have an old one which is in my 'museum'. SDHC cards and batteries all needed purchasing even the little pouch for used sticks, I'll treat them to the safety of the money belt when abroad from now on.

Alas of course as well as all my memories, no films on the Belgium trip. A bit of duct tape wrapped around a pencil and I think I've got it all covered, lots of delivery vans then during the next few days. I'm helping at Kirkby on Friday but if I'm up and running before Friday I'll try and get back on the bike as they say and get some bus film. On the still photo chip were all the Truckfest and Llandudno still shots plus Delaine and Peterborough.

It is really easy to be wise after the event but as the Belgian station man said they are professionals at thieving and we were people nice enough to try and help a lost soul, shame the illegals are now reduced to theft from people in their 70's , I certainly don't think they are people who should  have any right to step into the UK let alone stay. I have tried to remain positive and keep going as it would be all too easy to throw the towel in.

I would say though that the end of DVDs could be earlier than 2028, we really need to reduce costs, £200 a month to Buses Mag is a killer and of course everything that sells online has fees to reduce it. We are at a virtual standstill. We could just load to Youtube and offer downloads which would be cost effective but would leave a lot of people bereft of their usual viewing as they aren't on the internet.