About Me

My photo
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.

Friday, November 22, 2019

News, Views Etc . . . Forthcoming Events; Saturday 23rd-Friday 29th November 2019

Trump says he should be entitled to the same freedom of speech as everybody else, but actually, no, he put himself forward for the highest office in the land . . . and the responsibilities that go with such a position. Behaving like a gutter-snipe, trailer-park drunk when he feels like it just cheapens the office!

Netanyahu says it's all a set-up and a coup, and unfair, but actually the chap charging him, was appointed by him, and has charged him with a heavy heart, after years of investigations which have already lead to Mrs. Netanyahu admitting similar charges and doing  a deal to keep herself out of jail!

When Boris was asked about honesty in politics the whole audience laughed at his answer. Why would anyone be considering voting for a man a whole ITV audience laughs at? A man who took a commons-majority of 11 and turned it into a minority of 32 in less than fifty days! A man who horse-traded for an election on the 12th rather than the 9th, so he wouldn't be the shortest serving premier ever . . . self-serving little shit-bag.

But I love watching his hair fall out, almost hourly; by February he'll have to start polishing it because there'll be nothing left to comb-over!

Then the same audience laughed at Corbyn's attempts to nail-down his policy on Brwreakshit! He not the Stalinist beast they all make him out to be, but equally; he can't hit a ball into an open goal. Compare his speeches with Bernie's over the pond, Corbyn is a jolly nice chap with an over-developed socialist streak, but he's no leader.

Neither of them are 'Statesmen'? It's got to be the Liberals, to save ourselves from ourselves . . . or from our fellows!

Fortunately you can take you mind off such things by buying toys . . .

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Toy Fairs

Saturday 23rd November 2019

Didcot - Retro Ronnie
Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN
Mob. I - 07708 385 061
Mob. II - 07900 266 427
Hours unknown
Admission unknown

Henfield - David Parsons - Toy & Train Collectors Fair
Henfield Village Hall, High Street, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9DB
Mob. - 07742 609 865 (David)
10:00-14:00hrs
Admission £2
'Delicious' breakfast/refreshments available

Oxford - Richard Atkins Fairs - Toy and Train Collectors Fair
Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1AB
Tel. - 01869 347 489
10:30-15:00hrs
Admission unknown
Refreshments
Free Parking

Romford - SRP Toyfairs
North Romford Community Centre, 32 Clock House Lane, Collier Row, Romford, Essex, RM5 3QJ
Tel. - 07739 998 012 (Paula or Gerry)
10:00-12:00hrs
Admission charge unknown

Worcester - Tony Oaks Toy Fairs
Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Bilford Road, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR3 8DX
Internet presence unknown
Tel. - 01270 652 773
Mob. - 07825 631 323
10:30-14:00hrs
Admission £2, free parking

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Sunday 24th November 2019

Aston Clinton - Joe Lock
Green Park, Stablebridge Road, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5NE
Internet presence unknown
Mob. - 07866 641 215
18:00-20:00hrs
Admission £2

Barry (nearer Cardiff, not 'Island') - Chris Dyer Fairs
Barry Leisure Centre, Greenwood Street, Barry, Wales, CF63 4RU
Tel. - 01643 702 757
Mob. - 07966 694 579
Admission £2
10:30-15:00hrs

Catterick Garison - Jim Corr - Toy, Train & Sci-fi Fair
Catterick Garrison Leisure Centre, Gough Road, Catterick DL9 3EL
Mob. - 07504 035 955
10:00-14:00hrs
Admission £3, child/seniors £2, early bird £5
Free Parking, café
Exhibition layouts

Great Bentley - R & G Toy Fairs
Village Hall, Plough Road, Great Bentley, Essex, CO7 8LD
Internet presence unknown
Tel. - 01206 251 351 (Gary)
Tel. - 01255 473 509 (Richard)
10:00-14:00hrs
Admission £2.00, under 16's free
Free parking, refreshments

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

Lincoln - J&J Fairs (John & Julie Webb)
The Exhibition Centre, Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN2 2NA
Tel. - 01522 880 383
10:00-14:30hrs Approximately
Admission £2.50p, seniors £2, 1st child £1.50p

Midhust - SRP Fairs
The Grange, Bepton Road, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9HD
Tel. - 07739 998 012 (Paula or Gerry)
[Probably] 10:00-14:00hrs
Admission charge unknown

Wimborne - Model Toys & Trains Collector's Fair
Queen Elizabeth's Leisure Centre (Sports Hall), Blandford Road, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 4DT
Internet presence unknown
Tel. - 01202 590 158
10:15-14:30hrs
Admission unknown
Large free car-park
Refreshments

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Tuesday 26th November 2019

Garstang - Janet Pearson - Garstang Evening Fair
Kirkland & Catterall Memorial Hall, PR3 0HR
Internet presence unknown
01282 439 009
18:00-Finnish
Admission fee unknown

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Other Events

Thursday 14th November 2019 (last week!) - Saturday 18th January 2020

Kilmarnock - East Ayrshire District Council (?) - Comics: Explore & Create
The Dick Institute, Elmbank Avenue, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland
From Denis the Menace (the original and proper one) to Captain America with interactive elements

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Thursday 21st - Sunday 24th November 2019

Newcastle - Ticketmaster - Marvel Universe Live
Utilita Areana, Arena Way, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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Saturday 23rd November 2019

Colchester - Dolly's Daydreams - Doll Show
The Assembly Rooms, High Street, Dedham, near Colchester, Essex C07 6DE (venue)
Open 10.30am to 4pm.
Admission £1.50 (half price entry after 13:00hrs), accompanied children under 16 free
Dolly's Daydreams, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (organiser)
Tel. - 01945 870 160
Mob. - 07860 517 048
email: dollysdaydreams@btinternet.com

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Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November 2019

Exeter - Continuity Fairs - International Antique & Collectors Fair
Westpoint, Exeter, Devon

Ludlow - Ludlow Castle - Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre
Ludlow Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire
Festive shenanigans with a medieval twist, expect living history, jesters,  knights, carols and booze!

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Sunday 24th November 2019

Bitton - Avon Valley Railway - Santa Special
Bitton Station, Bath Road, Gloucestershire
Ride the rails with Santa Clause - prior-booking required

Nantwitch - MMFairs - Doll Fair
The Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DG
10:30-15:00hrs

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Overseas Events

Saturday 23rd November 2019

Dover (USA) - Regal Railways - Train Show
Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover, FL 33527, Florida, USA
Admission, $5.00US, children under 12 free , early bird $7.00 (reservation needed, 08:00hrs in)
09:00-14:00
Vendors and Model Train Layouts
Lunch Available

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Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November 2019

Williamsport (USA) - Will Huffman - Toy Train Expo
Park Place, 800 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, Pennsylvania, USA

Wilmington (USA) - Greenberg Shows - Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show -, PA
Shriners Auditorium, 99 Fordham Rd, Wilmington, MA 01887, Massachusetts, USA (venue)
280 Carlton Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188, USA (organiser)
Tel. I -  ++6302 794 087 (organiser)
Tel II - ++ 19786 574 202 (venue)
Fax. - ++2405 974 482
10:00-16:00hrs
Admission is $10 Saturday (for both days) or $9 Sunday (on-site ticket sales cash only), children 11 and under free

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Sunday 24th November 2019

Antwerpen (Belgium) - Dipro BVBA - International Collectors Fair
Antwerp Expo, Antwerpen, Belgium
Web. - www.dipro.be
Tel. - ++032 395 638
10:00-17:00hrs
Toy, Train, Die-cast, Doll & Bear Show

Dublin (ROI) - Brian Collins Enterprises - Collectables Toy Fair
Collinstown Suite, The Carlton Hotel, Dublin Airport, Old Airport Road, Cloghran, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland (Eire)
Tel. - 00353  879 827 712
[Findable on Facebook - Brian Collins]
Admission "Small charge"?

Merignac (France) - Burdijouets - Salon du Jouets Ancien et de l'Automobilia
(Old Toy and Automobilia Fair)
Pavillon du Pin-Galant, 33700 Merignac, France
Tel. - ++0556 442 292
09:00-17:00hrs
admission 3.00, free for minors under-13

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If you are an event promoter/show curator/auctioneer and you want your toy, model, collectable, military, historical or popular-/youth-culture type sale/exhibition/event listed here -  FOR FREE  - or linked to; please eMail me -

maverickatlarge[at]hotmail[dot]com

- stating the date/s of the event, address of event, contact details, opening/viewing times, admission pricing and any other relevant facts/details or features - parking, travel notes, disability access, availability of refreshments, event subject matter &etc.

And please mention any flyer-art or poster-/leaflet-scans but send by separate eMail, in case they go to the 'junk' folder, from where they can be recovered and marked safe, but only if I know they're there!

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Missed

Almost missed the train auction at Vectis today, but covered it yesterday - phew!

Missed 'Comics in Ayrshire', but it runs until the 18th January 2020 so details are now above.

Missed MCM Comicon - NEC Birmingham - last weekend!

Missed 'History of Video Games' - Bristol - last weekend!

If I don't know about it in time, I can't post it here in time . . . seeeemples!

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Received with Thanks

Angelo has sent all the images needed for a comprehensive box-ticker on a quite sought-after Italian company's Wild West figures, I just need to work out how to best collage them to sort them into an article.

Chris Smith sent more images on Speedwell scenics (and Cherilea), so a follow-up to the follow-ups is . . . err . . . still in the pipeline, but getting there! He also sent a nice naval Q-mark which I will try to add some other matelotes too, and discovered (between eMails) a really nice game which I will try to get myself, before Blogging . . . maybe after Christmas.

And Adrian Little brought a few bits to Sandown for me last weekend, some of which may have posted by now (WHW blanks), others are in the pipeline (Zang Guardsman), as is a show report, but it's more of an H is for... post!

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Link

Socksmith - Merry Festive Gift idea!

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Toy News

GI Janes
The armymen 'Armywomen' thing took a slightly dim turn in the last week or two with the decision by BMC to use an internet funding platform to finance the enterprise, so it won't be quite what it's been hyped as to the media; a full-on production set of rack-toys, but rather; a 'print-to-numbers-ordered', limited edition (and probably commensurately expensive) experiment.

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Also mentioned here recently, the Bronte book sold this week, going over the higher estimate to finish above £half-a-million, before buyer/seller premiums are added, it has been sold to someone bidding for the museum and will join the four others.

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H is for How They come In

Not for me; for the tree! And actually should have been in last week's or the week before's post? But I thought I'd hold them until only a decent period of time remained between the posting and the day! These were both from the temporary charity Christmas-card stall which sets-up in the Library each year, and which carries a few other novelty items - the guardsman is a hollow ceramic like a small fairing, and also comes with blue trousers; the robin is poured resin, but pretty innocuous . . . I'll try to lose the glitter at some point!

20p, you can't say 'no' at 20p can you? Well clearly I can't! Hong Kong kake-dec, mid 1970's? And the painted has slipped on the rim of the hat, leaving him with a rather piratical patch over his eye!

Popped over to Farnborough on Wednesday and managed to bag these as otherwise I only had the snowman to show! Both resin, I didn't notice the damaged windscreen, but have now touched it in with a matching art-marker, dusted both and at some point will carefully remove the plinth from the hedgehogs, so they can join the rest in the Cabinet of Curious Things!

Thankfully on Thursday I picked up this bag, which bulked out what looking to be a spartan week! Nice mix of mostly modern stuff, the bear is probably my favourite here, but the tiger-cub and puma/cougars are well done too.

From the WTF-department! You look at stuff like this and realise we deserve to have the planet dying around us while we vote for self-serving, clowning, self-publicists like Trump and Johnson. Who the hell thought anyone would want four semi-naked surfing Santa's and four safari Santa's on their tree? We buy this shit so you don't have to, but out there in pink-monkey la-la-land people are buying it - because they want to!

I supose the purchasers (at full price) will bang-on about reverse irony, ironic-kitsch double-irony or the old standby "It's just a bit of fun", but actually, think about it for a minute and it's none of the above, it's just [expensive] cheap kitsch, cheapening the idea of St Nicholas in favour of the 'culture of puking, Brit-abroad, Balearic surfer-dude types!

Anyway, that's them; I'll keep one of each and churn the rest back to charity! And may the God's of all things show charity to whoever came up with these! I'd also like to know what was in the other cavity; owner's kept it?

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Other Stuff
♪♫♫♪ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! ♪♪♫♪♫

By the way - those four-pack mince-pies from Sainsbury's are the best commercially available mince-pies (outside of Harrods or Fortnum & Mason's) ever! And I've tried them all over the years . . . that's the eighth or ninth pack this year already!

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