Saturday Variety

Let The Partying Begin!!

After a pleasant run from the south coast of Devon to the north (coast, not the real north!) the fbbs settled in their Golden Wedding long weekend holiday pad. The house is tucked away off Combe Martin's High Street, not too far from the beach. The property stands in a substantially grassed garden ...

... with its own bridge across a little tinkling stream. It has outdoor seating ...

... (as well as indoor!) and the wifi is fine and dandy. There is also one of these.

And, joy of joys, a full set of these. 

So fbb and Mrs will be up at dawn and down to the beach to enjoy some belly boarding. 

Hmmm, maybe not!

fbb certainly has the belly.

So, see good news about the wifi; but bad news when taking the laptop out of the case. A cable had become caught between keyboard and screen and the screen was crushed and busted. Thankfully Mrs fbb had brought her machine and No 3 son and No 1 grandson also had laptops available. 

Apparently replacement screens are available and No 3 son is taking the device home with him to affect the repair. It is a great joy to have a son who can do this stuff. Imagine what a mess fbb would make if such a tricky job.

Not the most auspiciously technical start to the holiday!

Pulchritudinous Publicity

More from Dalesbus - a splendid poster for route 74 ...

... which carries its delighted passengers from York to Grassngton. And here is the delightful Reliance bus ready to do so.

Plus a photo of typical scenery, also delightful!

Nice ride! And an excellent lesson in good publicity.

New Livery Delivery

As part of First Bus "dinosaur" branding, a "new" paint job has appeared on the Jurassic Coaster which runs from Axminster to Weymouth.

Certainly the route via West Bay and Abbotsbury does "Excel" in views, including the gorgeous Chesil Beach.

Or it might be a hand-me-down bus from First in Bristol!

Saving The Planet Part 574B

Two OO gauge models have recently been delivered to fbb mansions. Both are models that fbb has sought for some time but rejected due to absurdly high prices. One is a coach in an unusual historic livery (of which more anon) and the other is a tank wagon missing from fbb's collection.

But look at the excessive packaging.

Big boxes - small contents - vast heap of bubble wrap!

Collection Exception?

The PCA "depressed centre" (a k a "vee") tanker had sloping tanks which helped the egress of material like cement. 

The model was produced by Italian manufacturer Lima ...

... as part of its onslaught on to the UK market. When Lima went bust, many of its moulds were obtained by Hornby who introduced the wagon into their range.

Somewhere between the two the model was briefly retailed by Dapol. But their version was short-lived and rarely appears on the pre-owned market. One appeared a while back with two open goods trucks as part of the deal but fbb was too mean to pay the £30 asked.

But a week ago, one such appeared at only £12 and very much Dapol in a Dapol box.

From a distance the three brands are indistinguishable - so why bother? 

Under fbbs "rules of engagement" a separate manufacturer counts as a different model; so the purchase (at the right price) was a definite requirement.

Summat's Up!

We all know that First Bus is for sale and several corporate deals have been discussed and not been competed. We also know that Arriva is for sale as current owner Deutsche Bahn doesn't want it any more, neither does anyone else. But rumours are rife. (Can you have unrife, or not rife rumours?). 

Alan (from Northampton) forwards this enigmatic piece from the denizens of the Fourth Estate.

None of this is confirmed by anyone; BUT Reuters is usually a reliable source. "One to watch" as thy say.

Coming Tomorrow ...

Repair to lighting at Peterville Castle.  Tricky.

Arriva exits Macclesfield - replacement services reviewed, at last.

Puzzle Picture

An expedition taken by fbb over 50 years go. Where was he and his future Mrs expeditioning to?

Answer tomorrow.

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 23rd April