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Here's a photo of my ex GPO van in regular use.

Popped up to Northallerton to see John websters first show. What an amazing turnout, some great machines and displays too. Here's some pics.

An old tool rescued from the skip at work about 10 years ago, I think I know what its use is but have no idea of its age.

OOH! A photo' of Mark doing some work and not the boys as usual.

Fab pics!

Went to Shrewsbury Steam Rally today, the show in itself was great however its the last time I will ever attend due to the last 2 miles taking as long as the first 65 miles due to the organisers only opening one of the entrances to the show to the public and causing a two hour tail back. (this is the 3rd time Ive experienced this ) and then having to que for another half hour on top just for them to take my money! I even witnessed an ambulance with its siren on getting caught up in the jam. Any way heres a few photos of items that caught my eye, like I said a great show once you got in. Particuarly loved the moggie van, its claimed to be the oldest RHD one, it was really nice to see one preserved like this in original condition.

Great looking van and great to see its still earning its living.

The rubber front wings were made for both the Post Office (red vans) and the Telecoms vans (dark green). If that van was mine I would keep it as it is but get rid of the sign! My van was painted as I needed it to look tidy and presentable for my business though I left the interior as it is. I also had a pick up until last year, an Austen badged one in Teal Blue.

It could be used for stretching elastic bands.. But it looks like something for hold to bits of metal/wood at a 90'd angle to each other..

After 4 years sterling service and a nice store of logs in, for this winter and beyond, I decided it was time to give the saw bench a treat. So into the now roomy workshop after a good pressure wash. Oil drained off and I just need to find out the engine oil to use. Can't remember what went in. Blade has seen slightly better days by now, so a nice re-sharpened blade fitted. Though not tungsten tipped, it will do until I get the old one to the saw doctors. Bracket for the screw jack got bent a while ago, so off with that to replace with a mk2 version. When made sometime later this week. The fuel tap has always leaked a bit, so decided to fix that. It's one of those old tapered brass type you lap in. Noticed the end of the taper protruded out of the body slightly. So into the lathe and a few thou' skimmed off. Lapped in in with some fine paste and reassembled. That took some time, as when fitting the split pin, I dropped washer, spring and cam. Spring and washer easily found. Took about half an hour to find the cam. It bounced under a wheel and was hiding in the tyre tread. Re-assembled and re-fitted to the tank. Still leaks but nothing like before. Oh well! I get red diesel for nowt. When putting my tools away, I found the pin missing from my small adjustable spanner. The one that holds the thimble in pace. More hands and knees scrating about on the floor to no avail. Gave up and carried on clearing up and that's when I found it. Not on the floor, but on one of the brackets for the draw bar and plain to see.

Got to admit I'd allways be very wary of claiming that ive got the earliest of something, unless I had actually number 1. Theres usually allways at least one tucked away somewhere in a barn with a lower number that will suddenly surface. Still nice to see such an early example though and I loved the old Castrol oil can repair patches that somebody had very neatly carried out. It would be a great shame if this part of the vans history was lost for the sake of a shinny coat of paint. Am I right in thinking the rubber winged examples were produced for the post office only?

I love the early split screen Morris van; getting very hard to find these examples particularly running ones. Not sure if it's the earliest one as a friend of mine got two rubber winged examples in his collection of 11 Morris vans and pickups. Great to see it though in it unmolested though.

I like the Commer wagons in the first set.

Some of you know I've been looking to move for over a year, I finally made it last Friday. So now we are out in the countryside just a few miles from Malham. Scenery fantastic, modern conveniences lacking... We are on bottled water, no mobile, Internet or phone line. And get hot water from a tap if I leave the heating on full! Huge plus side, no neighbours, lots of countryside, land and areas to play We've been busy pla...tidying for the last few days. Here's a few pics, I know some of you like them there's videos too, but currently on free wifi and dont have time.

Looking good Mark can't wait until I nip over for a play

Ewan doing the top course.

I think he already has, judging by the amount of stuff going into his van every time he visits John's place. Or maybe he's just building a scrap heap on Pam's lawn.