About Me

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No Fixed Abode, Home Counties, United Kingdom
I’m a 60-year-old Aspergic gardening CAD-Monkey. Sardonic, cynical and with the political leanings of a social reformer, I’m also a toy and model figure collector, particularly interested in the history of plastics and plastic toys. Other interests are history, current affairs, modern art, and architecture, gardening and natural history. I love plain chocolate, fireworks and trees, but I don’t hug them, I do hug kittens. I hate ignorance, when it can be avoided, so I hate the 'educational' establishment and pity the millions they’ve failed with teaching-to-test and rote 'learning' and I hate the short-sighted stupidity of the entire ruling/industrial elite, with their planet destroying fascism and added “buy-one-get-one-free”. Likewise, I also have no time for fools and little time for the false crap we're all supposed to pretend we haven't noticed, or the games we're supposed to play. I will 'bite the hand that feeds', to remind it why it feeds.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

News, Views Etc . . . Forthcoming Events Saturday 8th - Friday 14th June 2019

So the fat, meat-sweating, golden-rugged, orange'u'tang came to Britain this week, he first opined on our internal party-political elections (against international diplomatic protocol), then opined on Breakshit (against international diplomatic protocol), then claimed never to have met the arselicken, backstabben Govey-gove (despite having done so) and then refused a meeting with the leader of her Majesty's Official Opposition (against international diplomatic protocol), the first President/Foreign Leader to do so since, err, forever, and claimed the protesters were 'fake news' despite the fact they could be heard in Downing Street!

And his Breakshit 'advice' was pure nuts! What would we sue the EU for exactly - we elected to leave? Are we going to sue them for not kicking us out quick-enough? Are we going to sue them for letting us sign the Good Friday agreement (making Breakshit technically impossible)? The Treaty of Rome, Maastricht? The man's a fuckwitted fool, I mean; he's not wholly sane and hideously ill-informed!

He did all this in the days immediately after starting trade-wars with Mexico (his third largest trade partner) and India? I note the State Department is now panicking over rare earth stocks! Go, China! You fight fire with fire.

Knowing Trump described the Duchess of Cornwall as "nasty" (there is a video), I was pleased to see the Duke keeping his distance and scowling grimly while Her Majesty the Queen gave Trump a verbal kicking in the family-jewels (and lessons in history and statesmanship) with her 'International Organisations' speech - Go, Your Majesty!

The man's a child-like, self regarding, self-obsessed, self-delusional, racist, sexist pig with no depth of knowledge of International Affairs, diplomacy, economics or even 'real' politics (or even realpolitik). He's a corrupt, nepotistic, money-driven, bully and a pervert, a serial bankrupt, tax-cheat and stooge of Moscow, I've heard. He has no redeeming features in my eyes.

The damage he's doing to America at home and abroad must have the Founding-Fathers spinning in their graves like Linda Blair's head hoying bucket-full's of vomit in the direction of the White House; the whole point of the role is to bring the country together, not break it apart!

I feel for my American friends and despair for the fools who find succour in this shambolic excuse for the Office of President. Although - hopefully his intervention will be the needed nails in Boris's coffin? Good luck Ireland!

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
But that luxurious natural growth on his bonce is going great-guns by the looks of it!

Anyway, the damage will only multiply over the next year or so, or even the next five, so more comforting old toys are called-for I think . . . and let's prey for no war!


Toy Fairs

Saturday 8th June 2019

Ludlow - Tony Oaks Toy Fairs - Ludlow Toy & Train Collector's Fair
Ludlow Racecourse, Bromfield, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2BT
Internet presence unknown
Tel. - 01270 652 773
Mob. - 07825 631 323
10:30 - 14:00hrs
Admission £2
Free parking

Nottingham - Townsend Toy & Train Fairs (Malcolm Townsend) - Nottingham Toy Fair
Bluecoat Academy, Nottingham, NG8 5GY
Mob. - 07951 072 790
10:00 - 14:00hrs
Admission unknown, but accompanied under-16's free
Light refreshments
Free parking


Sunday 9th June 2019

Haltwhistle - Jim Corr Fairs - Toy, Train & Sci-Fi Fair
Haltwhistle Leisure Centre, Greencroft, Haltwhistle, Northumberland, NE49 9DP
Mob. - 07504 035 955
10:00 - 15:00hrs
Admission £3, children/senior citizens £2, early bird £5

Haydock Park - Barry Stockton Fairs
The Exhibition Centre, Haydock Park Racecourse, WA12 0HQ
Web. - http://barrystocktonfairs.co.uk/
Tel. - 01513 343 362
10:30 - 14:30hrs
Admission - adult £2, children £0.50p

Matlock - MGM Fairs - Matlock Dolls House Show
The Imperial Rooms, Imperial Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3NL (venue)
Linnet Lodge, The Village, Wembworthy, Devon, EX18 7RX (promoter)
Tel. - 07818 462 448
10:30-15:00hrs
Admission - adults/seniors £2.50p, children .50p
'Pay & Display' parking
Refreshments, prize draws

Shepton Mallet - Bulldog Fairs
Royal Bath & West Showground, BA4 6QN
Tel. - 01373 452 857
Mob. - 07917 125 641
10:30 - 14:30hrs
Admission - adults £4, under 16's free if accompanied, early-bird (from 08:30hrs) £10

St. Ives - J&J Fairs (J&J Webb)
'One Leisure' St. Ives, Burgess Hall Events & Conference Centre, Westwood Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 6WU
Tel. - 01522 880 383
10:00 - 14:30hrs
Admission - adult £3, seniors £2.50, 1st child £2
Where the cats and the sacks and the wives came from, not Cornwall!


Tuesday 11th June 2019

Hook - Steven Clements Fairs - Hook Evening Fair
Hook Community Centre, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9NN
Tel. - 01380 725 322
Mob. - 07958 101 891
18:30 - 21:30hrs
Admission £1
Free parking


Thursday 13th June 2019

Theydon Bois - Joe Lock Fairs (evening fair)
Village Hall, Coppice Row, Theydon Bois, Essex, CM16 7ER
Internet presence unknown
Mob. - 07866 641 215
19:00-21:00hrs
Admission £1


Auctions

Saturday 8th June 2019

[Runcorn] On-line Auction - British Toy Auctions
Tel. - 01928 579 032


Monday 10th June 2019

Lewis - Wallis and Wallis
West Street Galleries, Lewis, Sussex, BN7 2NJ
Tel. - 01273 480 208
Fax. - 01273 476 562


Tuesday 11th June June 2019

Canterbury - The Canterbury Auction Galleries
40 Station Road West, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8AN
Tel. - 01227 763 337
General/mixed auction including toys


Wednesday 12th June 2019

Warrington - Warrington & Northwich Auctioneers & Valuers
551 Europa Boulevard, Westbrook, Warrington WA5 7TP
Tel. - 01925 658 833


Overseas Events

Sunday 9th June 2019

Dublin (RoI) - Chris Dyer Fairs - Dublin Toy & Train Fair
The Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan Road, Dublin, Eire
Tel. - 01643 702 757
Mob. - 07966 694 579
10:30 - 15:00hrs
Admission £4
Just off N11 trunk road

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
Pasadena (USA) - Brick Boutique / Power Morphicon - Robo Toy Fest
Pasadena Convention Center, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101, California, USA
Telephone contact unknown
Hours unknown, starts 10:00hrs, early bird 09:00hrs
Admission $10.00, early bird $15.00, children under 12 free.
Gift-bags while stocks last


Friday 14th - Sunday 16th June 2019

Hong Kong (China) - HKTF - Hong Kong Toy Festival
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Web. - info@hkexpo.com.hk (venue)
Web. - www.hktf.com.hk (promoter - text is in Chinese characters)
Tel. - 852-21 531 177
Friday 14th - 10:00-21:00hrs
Saturday 15th - 10:00-21:00hrs
Sunday  16th - 10:00-20:00hrs
Admission $30HK

TimeOut says;
"Not just one for the kids, but for toy enthusiasts too . . . bringing a plethora of super cute and affordable products and collector’s items too, such as classic Tomica Hong Kong bus models and figurines featuring the city’s very own B.Wing characters. There’s also going to [be] a giant inflatable slide, game stalls and [an] interactive area to build your own toy train and tracks. Something to keep the little ones, and your inner big kid, entertained this summer."


6th June 1944 Etc. . .

Same message as last week, loads going on all over the UK and Northern Europe, the memorials kicked-off on Tuesday with events on the South Coast and will continue into the weekend and beyond, and no doubt there will be an 15-month rolling programme of 75th's globally, culminating in first VE Day (May next year) and then VJ day (September '20).

I'll try to keep an eye on it and post the relevant links here, with minor or one-off events getting a separate listing, for now it's the same three links as last week . . .

Independent Over-arching Listing

Britain - UK Government Site

France - Local Authority Site - Normandy


Toys in the Media

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
The Daily Torygraph managed to get both Chinatroop 'army men' and a Preiser type on the same page illustrating a story on ex-military personnel trying to get into employment in civi' street on Tuesday of this week.

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
Meanwhile this advertorial has been seen in several papers, the logo looking suspiciously like the old  Auctioning4U  brand-mark! Oh - God, that pink; they painted half the main office with it, it was like being trapped in a sister's dolly's wedding-dress; luckily my desk was downstairs and I didn't have to face it too-much!

If the information-age has taught me one thing, it's being suspicious of anyone who substitutes a 4 for err... 'for'!


SSW Passim - Bendy's

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
The frogs which launched a series of bendy-toy posts (which is still ongoing - if occasional) a few years ago are to be found in gardening catalogues, currently dropping through the letter-slots of Britain's doors as I write.

Of interest is the pricing, 3-6-quid for an NJCroce superhero, 1-3-pounds-each for a Tobar fantasy novelty figure, but less that 35p for a frog of the same material, same size and same construction? We need Pirate-Skeleton or Man-Bat plant ties!


H is for How They Come In

1 - All Change at BHF

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
The British Heart Foundation seems to have adopted a central process for 'bulking' small toys, with a new wall-rack of header-carded, bottle-bagged toys appearing on Monday. I grabbed a mixed animals one with four MEG (Morrison Entertainment Group) 'something' ...In My Pocket's (top right), two current rack-toy wild animals (bottom left) and a Hasbro-marked 'Dino-bot' of some kind. They also had bags of Lego, K'nex, building bricks etc . . . and I'll be checking back regularly, it's similar to the system used by that London charity; The Toy Project.

2 - Scored a Haul of Plunder!

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
On Tuesday I managed to get this lot for a total of £9.40p, the BAT (Britains) and fictional rocket-firing trailer (Lone Star) are both near-mint, while the 'Mighty Antar' and Centurion (Dinky) are a bit play-worn, but they're both things I never thought I'd own in anything other than tatty condition. As soon as I got them home I grabbed the instant cleaning kit - wet-wipes and a fluffy cloth!

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
After cleaning; I had to do the tank's wheels twice; they had seen heavy service somewhere muddy! The tracks are a bit slack, but complete and undamaged; likewise the two ramps on the transporter have no problems beyond paint-chipping where they slide up and down to lock-in behind their retaining bars.

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
The detritus and a few more shots of the main 'score'; you must have realised by now - if you've followed the Blog for any length of time - I have a bit of a thing for Thorneycroft Antar's . . . when we were kids we saw these all the time, thin-nosed and these earlier, wide-muzzled beasts, there were always convoys of them on the A30, and they used to stop for char at the old truck stops near Hook or up on Blackbush common.

If we were lucky (not so our parents) we'd get stuck behind a convoy travelling down to 'The Plain' and it might take an hour to get past them all! Funny enough, just before I bought these, like a minute or two; a couple of the modern replacement tractor-units - Oshkosh's - had passed up Fleet High Street, sans trailers?

I think they had taken a wrong turn heading for Rushmoor as we have about nine sleeping policemen in the High Street and haven't seen heavy military traffic for years! When you see them complete - the Oshkosh units - they are usually hauling steeply-angled tanker-trailers.

3 - Last Friday

Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
Too late for last week's post, what can I say? They were a pound, what am I supposed to do? I collect figurals, they look vaguely military? They were a quid; a measly quid! They'll go with the nut-crackers and egg-cups and such-things in the 'Household Goods' box!

Branded to an MC, I think I recognise the postcode as belonging to other cheapies, so probably a phantom brand for one of the chains, Wilco or Poundland maybe, or it could be a novelty Christmas thing from Boots or Superdrug?


Announcements; Army Men; Armymen; Auction News; Auctions; BAT Gun; Bendy Toys; Bog Brush; Britains Artillery Gun; Centurion Tank; Dinky Toys; Donald Trump; Hasbro; Land Rover; Lone Star; Made in China; MC Ltd.; MEG; Mighty Antar; Morrison Entertainment Group; News; News Views Etc; News Views Etc...; Newspaper Clippings; Novelty Condiment Set; Novelty Cruet Set; Plant Ties; Robo Dinosaur; Robo Toy Fest; Robotoyfest; Rocket Launcher; Salt & Pepper; Tank Transporter; Thorneycroft Mighty Antar; Toy Auctions; Toy Cars; Toy Fairs; Toy Shows; Toy Soldiers;
Mad Mike's boys in the Congo?

2 comments:

jah said...

Again you attack the PRATT sorry POTUS here in Ireland he proved his unfailing grasp of world events telling us how we have the same border problems as the USA with Mexico. He was informed we do not want a border dividing us from the UK. When asked for a comment about our president speech on global warming made in front of him he said he had not heard it.The USA is so lucky now when somebody calls them a stupid yank they can reply but I am smarter than the president. No wonder he supports Boris So when he is told YOU are the dumbest world leader he can reply NO it is Boris in the UK.

Hugh Walter said...

Don't! How we heard it was that he literally got off the 'plane and told the Taoiseach he could have a boarder as 'hard' as he likes 'It's your boarder', Leo (the gay African!) had to educated him as to the problem - either side of the boarder - WAS the likelihood of it being hard . . . he's the least educated President since . . . err . . . forever!

H