Saturday Variety

Fatigued Feline

There is no doubt that Mr Tubbles takes his domestic duties very seriously. There are patrols to be scheduled, observation from a window to fit in and much much more. Bring crepuscular, his efforts are concentrated in two periods of the day.

There is activity around breakfast, say from 0700 to 0900 followed by a short nap until about 1600. Then there is the evening meal followed by gentle duties (e.g. sitting around and napping) until about 2200 when it is time for overnight snoozes.

Note, in the recent heat, he has, unfortunately, had to curtail his frenetic lifestyle and substitute extra sleeping time.  Here he is on the landing at fbb mansions fitting in some extra naps between 0700 and 0900.

It's a tough life but you have to admire his dedication!

Lumo Expands to MetroCentre

Lumo (It's actually First Rail in heavy disguise) runs open access trains along the East Coast main line and, as far as observers can tell, it is a hugely successful operation. The company is now looking at expanding its services.

The latest development is not, perhaps, the most commercial of its projects. But the company has taken over another operator.

The operator concerned runs a kiddies ride round part of Newcastle's MetroCentre shopping mall. And it has already acquired the Lumo branding!

Lumo management are anxious to point out that their altruistic purpose is to teach the kiddies about safety on and around the railways; about the th dangers of trespass etc.

Yeah, right!

And this "presentation" is nothing to do with the fact that Lumo is planning to increase the number of trains between London and Newcastle.

Of course it isn't; we all believe you, yes we really, really do"

More From McGills

Having just bid a fond (?) farewell to Alex Hornby as part of a "responsible restructuring of the management team" - OK he was sacked - boss man Ralph Roberts has now appointed a new Director, this time of finance with a remit to look after the pennies.

Robbie Drummond arrives from CalMac which, as we know from regular reports from across Hadrian's Wall has been at the very top of management and financial stability for years and years.

Oh, hasn't it?

Andy's Having a Review

Andy Birnham, seen above begging for money from his chum Keir to pay for his expansionist plans, is the Mega Mayor of Manchester.

He has just announced a wholehearted review of bus, rail and tram services ...

... a review which will take "several years".

fbb wonders what he is hoping to find out. But surely a review before he started taking the buses under his wing might have been a better policy. He might have decided that his aspirations were something like this

His chum, chancellor Rach (Rache?) Is unlikely to have any pennies to spare for a long long time!

She looks far too nice to be Chancellor - aren't such beings supposed to be thoroughly miserable?

Ferry Failure : Future Ferry

For nigh on forty years the Scilloian 3 has plied its trade to the Channel Islands. It has a reputation for "Mal de Mer" but that applies only in bad weather and we all know how glorious the weather is every day out West.

But up pops Harland and Wolff (yes, that Harland and Wolff) ...

... offering to buy The Scillonian company. The offer was firmly rejected.

OK, says H & W, we'll run our own ferry with nice ships brightly painted and very lovely - much better than that old tub you run.

Well it didn't quite work out and a chartered high speed vessel arrived on the harbour side for the service starting in May 2024. 

But it didn't.

There were the ineviutabl delays and thus far no vessel has chugged at any speed to the Sillies.

Why not?

It transpires that H & W are in financial "stum" and have asked the Government for some cash - quite a lot of cash.

Ker-ching! Mega loan refused.

So, after much delay, the fast ferry plan is cancelled. Apparently, "the time is not right for such a venture"- which being interpreted means "we ain't got the money".

And, as if to tweak the H & W nose, The Scillonian's owners have announced a grand new Scillonian (No 4).

The deal includes a new cargo vessel and the whole caboodle will be privately funded, so Rache's purse strings can remain tight shut!

Remember Lego?

You got a huge box of bricks and a book full of suggestions as to what you might like to make. With a big enough box, there was no limit to your imagination. fbb never had Lego and was disappointed to be bereft of such a joyous construction toy.

Then along came Technic Lego, Space Lego and even Pneumatic Lego; but still it was bricks and cog wheels plus stimulating ideas.

Not so for big boys toys.

Now you buy a once-and-for-all kit and make it up. When complete you, well, erm, look at it! Then you might go out an buy another bigger one to build and look at.

Here is an example ...

Note the price:  £219! Does it have any traditional gnobbly bricks?

And that price is quite reasonable compared with some.

More bits and pieces tomorrow including fbb's take on "Tampo" printing for the elderly railway modelling bodger.

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 4th Auuist