WE ARE IN NORTHERN IRELAND FILMING NEXT WEEK

I have filmed down on Newport and Cardiff and then on to Pontrypridd and Blackwood. It was an early start yesterday and the weather not quite what was on the forecast but I carrried on regardless. I was amazed at how quiet it was in Newport, a visit spoilt by two very nasty characters who emerged from Friars Walk shopping centre, the carbuncle which is next to the new bus station. A passing police car and I managed to flag them down, they young coppers had a word with the duo but after the police left they came for me again - they were meant to be shopping center security but were mindless thugs, I visited the police station after retrieving my car and made a complaint. I then left Newport perhaps never to return. There was one really nice chap, the road sweeper driver, spotted a screw fall from my tripod and gave chase to return it, the one good  thing I shall remember.

Cardiff was also very weird, half the city was blocked off and security and lots of bollards around, I ended up parking at St Davids shopping mall, then had a job getting out, I hate those malls, an American invention. Anyway the buses although very quiet were still a notch up on Newport where there could only had been 30% of services, Cardiff must have been about 6-70%. I finally got an hour of film and headed up to Pontypridd, much more lively and friendly, the bus scene was if anything busier than usual. In Wales they don't wear face masks even in shops or on the buses, no wonder the infections are going up. Met some really pleasant folk, including two who had kids who were mad on buses, two separate families. I think everyone underrated the value of a much loved mode of transport, there they are still being told to avoid it.

For my last shots I decided to visit Blackwood and it was again very busy, the car park was free until Jan 2021 which in view of the lock down starting that night it being under Caerphilly it seems a wise choice to get anyone out to the shops at all. Once again lots of friendly bus drivers and folk I passed and had quick chats with. Blackwood and Caerphilly are a model that Newport should follow. Clips are on Youtube tonight. I've edited the DVDs.

On Friday we travel up through Scotland to get the ferry to Belfast, half film trip and half holiday, it will probably be our only over the sea trip. Staying at a mix of Stormont, Ballymena and Derry. Hoping to get a lots of lorry film and of course the buses especially as we drive round the country and hope the Corona nonsense hasn't made the depots turn away bus spotters. We come back the following Saturday. Some pictures starting with Pontypridd and Blackwood, New Adventre is now the fleetname of the company which is part of the NAT Group, some rebranding of fleetnames, others nameless!

The endless problems with the Chinese scanner goes on and gets more expensive with tax and postage, the replacement machine for the last new but faulty one is also faulty.

Work on the new showcase is really complete other than fitting the glazing when the perspex arrives, possibly next week while we are away. I'll need to get a move on with the dioramas then!