Here's one for Scoakat...as I am confined to my sick bed, well...chair, I am listening to music and podcasts. Yesterday I listened to some of "Mysteries and Monsters' by Paul Bestell on spotify and episode 94 featuring Mike Huberty and American Ghost walks. Mike Huberty lives in Madison, Wisconsin and he spoke about the haunted theatres there. Fascinating episodes about all sorts of paranormal things some of which I am sceptical of but I keep an open mind but not so open everything falls out! Everything from ghosts, cryptids to the usual UFO's and other strange phenomena.

 Oddly enough considering my job as a mental health nurse, I should really be sceptical of this but having had some strange experiences including seeing ghosts and on one occasion at work a very strange 'thing' with another two witnesses, There is a lot of batshit crazies in the paranormal world and I am cautious in my interactions with some of the people I encounter. My colleagues at work are aware of my fascination with this and I have acquired a reputation because of it but as I say, psychiatry is medicalised bullshit and would benefit from clearing away much of it, putting the money into social and psychological support with a clear division between those who have truly severe and enduring conditions and the rest. The latter I don't minimise the impact on the persons life and those around them but, there is so little set aside for those who suffer severe and enduring mental illness and I have ranted about this previously and I will stop here with this.

So, what was the unusual thing I saw with two other witnesses?

I worked as a nurse on a medium secure locked behavioural unit but we were a specialist team recruited to work on what was known as the 'back ward for the incurables'. I kid you not, that is what some people called it and I will not name the hospital. Sue visited twice and she could not believe the volume of noise each time because it was very noisy. As an aside, we managed to reduce aggressive incidents during the several months I spent there by 70 % because we used specific planned approaches for each person and for the unit as a whole. One afternoon, I think because this was many years ago and my memory of the time is hazy but the incident itself is still very clear. Three of us stood in the main ward corridor outside a particular patients room and we watched a very black, kite like / bat like thing fly from the main room towards us and into the room via the slightly open door. If anything, the nearest equivalent in nature would be a ray in shape and movement, approximately three feet in length and width. We were stunned as each of us looked open mouthed at this thing and we had no idea as to what it was. We opened the door further and the room was empty of this or anything else, nothing present at all. We briefly discussed it but then decided to keep it quiet because we had no idea what it was. Two members of staff and one patient who despite his issues was very much on the ball and he stated he would deny it because he was already deemed a 'madman' and did not want to add to it. To this day I have no idea what I saw and I wandered whether it was an elemental or a manifestation of something evil or an attachment to someone. The latter was my belief for a long time because of the crimes committed by the person whose room it was but I still don't know. It could be inter-dimensional but again is that possible? There was nothing felt at the time, just astonishment and curiosity as to what this thing was. 

I have read much and looked at videos and listened to podcasts but I am still none the wiser. The history of the hospital and the patients there gives me food for thought but...I don't know. But this and the previous Highgate figure I saw set me off on this journey of wanting to know more. I guess as I get older I care less about others opinions and follow what I am interested in and I probably, if I am lucky, have another fifteen to twenty years left of this life. Do what thou wilt but harm none is a good credo to live by and never lose curiosity or wonder at this world...or the next!

TTFN.

 A quick post on my birthday and I am full of cold. Sue and No.1 son have both been under the weather with colds and I have now caught it. Paracetamol, hot coffee, Vicks vapour rub and wrapped up warm to deal with it. No energy so a couple of days in to recuperate and naturally modelling comes to the fore.

I have been experimenting with paints on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 build, specifically a 'violet-grey' colour and dipped into the rabbit hole of debate and arguments over late war Luftwaffe paint schemes. Blimey! Reading through some very heated debates about this. Here is the third attempt...

The first was greyish in colour and I mixed red and blue for a violet colour but too dark. This I added some white to but again just not right. It should be this shade...

Or this...

But there is this...

I could add a dozen more and the shades vary but instead of 'violet-grey' it is a 'violet-brown' colour!

I have added an earth wash and then a Nato brown wash to the violet areas. My intention is to allow this to dry, clear coat and then again add a light wash plus another shade of black-green to the green areas.  Adding to my knowledge of the subject and the research is enjoyable as always. From my reading now of several books of the latter part of the  war the Luftwaffe had a surfeit of aircraft  but few experienced pilots and little fuel. Hence the aircraft could be new, straight off the production line but a shortage of pilots, fuel and other necessities saw many parked up and unused or destroyed to prevent the allies getting them. This site gives a good breakdown of the colour schemes and the difficulties in getting an exact match. The statement further down about scale, light reflection and light / shade is interesting and one I hadn't considered. Fascinating subject for me, possibly not for others!

In other news I was right about Maisie as she is coming in now because the weather is colder at night. She was reluctant to go out this morning and returned quickly. With the sun up she is again outside guarding the southern approaches from intruders atop her eyrie (neighbours shed!). I had hoped to go to the council recycling centre today but a duvet day is required and a large hot toddy later tonight. Apparently half the team at work is off sick with colds so I am very glad to avoid the extra work and playing hunt down the open petrol station. There is no fuel shortage but the Prime Monster has drafted in troops to drive fuel tankers. Interestingly, there is a shortage of HGV drivers in the states, all over Europe including Poland so relaxing the rules to temporarily attract HGV drivers in the short term from the EU to fill our gaps just ain't going to work. The enforced Sars-Cov lockdown, IR35 taxation reform, awful conditions and pay for drivers over here and for an unbiased view from a Polish driver this might help. This has been known as a problem for the last eighteen months if not longer. 'Never let a good crisis go to waste' is supposedly a quote from Churchill and this bunch of incompetents appear to be generating crisis after crisis but whether they are wasting it or not, who knows. Funnily enough companies are now paying better wages to attract drivers. I guess interest in electric vehicles will shoot up, driverless vehicles especially delivery and perhaps a better transport policy in the form of a long term plan involving trains, trams and use of canals might emerge...perhaps pigs might fly. There is a debate to be had about societal changes, automation, shorter working hours, job sharing, universal basic incomes, etc... to be had as well. 

 I think another strong coffee required and I might have to nip out to buy cake as there is none here! On my birthday although my delayed plans to celebrate my sixtieth by travelling abroad was moved to this year, my sixty first, it might be postponed indefinitely! I still hope to travel around Scotland to celebrate it to view castles, Nessie, whisky distilleries and soak up the views, drookit in the driech and plowetery weather!

TTFN.

 I have started on a new build and this is it, a training aircraft developed from the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Not one of the best kits going but it has photo etch parts and enough to make it a decent build. As ever, I enjoy the builds which require some extra creativity. The main part is built and I have left it to 'cure' having cemented the fuselage together, cleaned up the seams and added some filler in the few gaps present. There is also a canopy included which I believe is separate from the main kit as seen below prior to tidying it up.

I have identified the next couple of builds...

The Fiat CR 32 has very few parts but will require some rigging but an aircraft I have long wanted to build. The three kits should keep me occupied for the next couple of months and then I can focus on a major build with the Panzer III which will take a few months to complete. 

All in all a much needed distraction from the madness into which society is descending. The fuel shortage was not initially a fuel shortage but there were some concerns about BP delivering fuel to some garages. Cue the media and politicians and 'Hey Presto! Poof!' It is now a panic driven fuel shortage with the usual suspects with their own agendas on all sides screaming into the void. This is absolutely crazy. I had been considering looking at a car today but both Sue and I opted for a quiet day instead. All the local petrol stations are closed or have long queues of motorists outside them. Given the nonsense that is happening I think I might cancel looking for cars as I now have no idea what the future holds and the Mazda, once I am sitting very comfortably inside it is fine to drive. It is just getting into it without putting too much pressure on my right knee that is a problem so I have developed a 'controlled fall' into the seat! 

Other crazy news is that Brexit is being refought, arguments about defining a woman where to argue that having a cervix or that women only menstruate makes you an extreme right wing bigoted 'transphobe'* and the police are likely to pay a visit for supposed hate speech. Police in Australia are hitting protesters and shooting rubber bullets at them to protect their health! It goes on and on and what will happen next is anybody's guess. However, this news article is one example of the current madness...perhaps I should pick vegetables instead but sadly I am too old, unfit and knackered. The comments are worth reading for what the reality of that job is, that it is price work. having picked spuds when I was younger as well as citrus fruits and worked with turkeys, it is hard work.

I shall leave it there and immerse myself in a good book. No. 1 son bought me a bottle of Port for my birthday and I might open that this evening and listen to some music whilst enjoying a glass or two. I no longer smoke cigars otherwise a good cigar to accompany it might have complemented it.

Hopefully it is peaceful where you are folks.

TTFN.

*Made up bollocks...pun intended.

 Finally...end of my working week and ten days off. 

It's been incredibly busy at work and another colleague is leaving the team. That will be three gone in the space of two months and I think we are now down to the bare bones. We have requested a meeting and I used the analogy of an elastic band being pulled in two opposing directions and if pulled too far...I shan't say any more but the NHS needs a root and branch shake up and some very necessary pruning as I don't think I have ever known it to be so bad in thirty-six years. Anyhow, we shall see but for the next week I shall enjoy my time off. Nothing special planned but a couple of trips to the tip to clear out the spare bedroom, some very gentle walking* and just enjoying quality peace and quiet at home as society fractures into ever more pieces. 

Empty shelves in the shops and yes, they are there, continuing covid nonsense, open borders allowing every bugger in but the natives have to jump through hoops, tests and certificates of bewildering complexity to travel abroad. The cost of everything rising and the shortage of HGV drivers now hitting the fuel pumps. A shortage of CO2 whilst at the same time there is supposedly too much CO2 killing us off and talk of power shortages this winter. A perfect storm of 'covid', winter coughs and flu, no heating or lighting, fuel and food shortages, restrictions because of vaccine passports, the supply chain and travel collapsing...what else can happen? I guess the vaccinated can grab pitchforks and start hunting us heretics down and although I am writing this 'tongue in cheek', I wouldn't put it past the machinations of government, the health service and the media to pursue that course of action. Sigh...rant over and I hope it is a blip but I do think the world is changing and I do have some real fears about what is coming next. Time to remove that tree and put a couple more raised beds in.

I have nearly finished the Vickers Wellesley build as there are a few bits still to attend to. The propellor as can be seen above decided to fall off and the undercarriage again collapsed. The aerial also refused to cooperate but is finally in place after drilling and applying superglue. A build I thoroughly enjoyed but difficult in parts and not for novice modellers. A dusting of various pastels and this is a Wellesley of 47 squadron RAF circa February 1941 in East Africa. These aircraft provided sterling service against the Italians and later the Germans despite being obsolete by that time. I now have to decide what to build next and my plan is for a couple of small builds, probably aircraft and then start on the main winter build which is the Panzer III in 1/35 scale with full interior.  Undoubtedly I will be distracted by something else and that might change but if it is a hard winter in all senses of the word, I might need to change my plans.

I noticed this week how busy the roads are and increased traffic at odd times and in unexpected places. Is furlough over? I know the kids are back at school so the usual yummy mummy panzers were on the road but it wasn't that. I encountered three vehicle accidents on the same road and two of them were within half a mile of each other and the next day another road blocked with emergency services involved. I'm glad to have the break from driving especially in warm weather with no air con!

In other news we were 50% successful with today's trip to the veterinary as Sherlock had his second jab much to his horror as he let us know his feelings about the whole experience very volubly in the car.

The other 50% was Mindy who escaped my arms three times until I decided the stress I was causing her outweighed the benefits plus I couldn't reach her in a new hiding place. I will have to try another day and I managed to escape with only two claw marks to my hands!

*The gentle walking is because my knee gave way earlier this week, I fell over and during the fall broke my work mobile. I have been wearing a knee brace and from October I shall be on a diet as that will clearly help. I will be requesting physiotherapy via work as the incident from early 2020 caused this. 

TTFN.

 An early start today because I find I am tired and despite days off I am going to bed early. Gone are the days where I would burn the candle at both ends. I commented to Scott that my kindle, which is my second one, no longer seems to accept downloads. I know it is several years old and the problem is trying to update payment cards on it, marry the kindle to my on-line Amazon account and transfer ebooks across. Despite several attempts  I will have to resort to a good old fashioned telephone call! I don't buy kindle ebooks these days but some books are digital only and this one I would like to read. It is now in the 'Kindle cloud' and I can read it on any device bar my kindle! This slight palaver has started me reading the kindle again and I am nose deep in the stories of Arthur Machen from where I left off a couple of years ago, It also confirmed to me that as useful as it is to have a slim volume containing enough free and cheap books for the next decade I prefer the accessibility of real books, particularly non-fiction books. Arthur Machen wrote in a similar genre to H P Lovecraft and influenced him in the same. I remember reading some of his short stories during the seventies when you could borrow the books from the library with their lurid covers which were not at all illustrative of the stories therein.

I must away as breakfast and then the garden requires my attention before I return to the modelling table. I have to stay in as I am awaiting the delivery of a new mobile and then I have to change sims, transfer my mobile number to the new phone and the last time it ended up with me ending the mobile contract. Happily, this one is a pay as you go and should be a somewhat smoother transfer.

TTFN.

 A busy week with added spice as my mum phoned me up on Wednesday to inform me she was going in for surgery the next day. We expected it but that was very quick. She phoned me this morning to say she is recovering, the large kidney stones have been removed and the mass in her bladder was cancer and that has also been removed. The latter was unknown to us until recently but thankfully found and removed. She is hoping to be discharged this afternoon and she is already booked in for a further check up including an overnight stay in two weeks time. She also said it was a better experience all round this time as her complaints about her treatment by some of the nurses paid off. She has now had four hospital admissions this past year which worries me but she takes it all in her stride!

I have also ordered a new mobile as mine started playing up with sudden battery drains but bizarrely then returning to original charge. Very strange but I guess it has served its time in this age of built in obsolesence as it is now four years old. I only need a few requirements from a mobile: use as a phone, texts and photos although I do use the sat nav at times. My preference is for maps and the look on my last students face when I pulled out a couple of maps was priceless. Mind you, I am obsessed by maps and it did make wonder whether I was on the autistic spectrum when I was younger (I'm not).  I don't use any social media on my mobile and I have resisted using it for on-line banking, shopping or other internet stuff but, there is a real push by banks and retailers towards using mobile phones for banking and shopping. Talking of obsessions...

It has taken me the best part of an hour this morning to complete the undercarriage on the Vickers Wellesley. Poor instructions for some parts and a spindly and fragile undercarriage construction meant great care and attention had to be taken. The reference book helped a lot and the new decals arrived this morning which should hopefully see this completed this weekend. I have some ideas about what to build next but as always I am torn between a number of choices. I think a quick and easy build with a focus on the painting indicates the Airfix Fouga but I will decide when this build is completed.

A very interesting read amongst others caught and held my attention yesterday evening and encapsulated my beliefs and fears around the 'pandemic' and government / health industry / pharmaceutical industry response, dare I say creation and response? Worth a read whether one agrees or not but given the level of research I put into buying a phone, car or book I have certainly done a lot of research into whether I consent to this and starting from the premise of what I originally knew pre-nonsense regarding virology, immunisation, etc...I intend to print off a copy for my manager for supervision next week as he once again asks about my vaccine status which as always remains 'Possibly once the experiment is over and the results are in, I might then consider it'. 

Otherwise I wish you all a happy and peaceful weekend. I'm off to buy some more conspiracy theories from 'Heretics-R-Us' especially since I am currently sorely disillusioned with the Bigfoot world and the level of crankery therein.

TTFN.

 There was an interesting start to my working week when we received an email from senior  management requesting NHS numbers and stating they are looking at vaccine status. From discussion it became apparent that only those staff who have not been vaccinated received the email. Needless to say I ignored it as there is no way I will share my NHS number and they are already aware of my current refusal to have the vaccine.This follows the coat trailing by the government in the national media that all NHS staff will potentially have mandatory vaccines. Once again, a 'vaccine' that does not protect the individual from the virus, does not stop transmission of the virus from vaccinated people and now requires booster injections? Over two hundred years of science about immunology and vaccinations suddenly deemed inconvenient and over turned, denying acquired immunity from exposure to the virus and recovery from it. I will await the next missive and no doubt a visit from management to discuss this. But enough of this nonsense...

Earlier this week I took an early lunch break and visited the remains of Tupholme Abbey.

Not a lot left, just the one wall and some scattered stones above ground but a site I often drive past and I took the opportunity for a quick visit on a beautiful sunny day. The remains of Bardney Abbey are nearby and I had seen those twenty odd years ago but there is even less to see.

I decided to remain on the path because the sheep were sheltering in the shade of the wall and I didn't want to disturb them into running around on a very hot day. A welcome brief break from the daily grind and a reminder of the distant past and other turbulent times. One decision I came to whilst enjoying the view and the peace and quiet was to put any car buying on hold and await developments. I am still waiting for a compressor for the air con and boy, did I need that this week as heat and harvesting with lots of dust made driving unpleasant this week. I had to have the windows open and my hay fever went off the scale by Wednesday.

Sherlock is slowly making progress as it has become obvious that he misses Watson. Very clingy and vocal, he spent the best part of a week sleeping in Watson's favourite spot and not going out much. However, last night he was out and he is once again active and quite lively.

Some progress made on the Vickers Wellesley build but taking my time, researching correct colour schemes and just the one major error which is hidden inside one wing and I can adapt when I add the undercarriage.

Somewhat garish colours inside but apparently historically correct.

The fit of the wings leaves something to be desired so some filler to be added and cleaned up. Enjoyable build so far and I am looking forward to airbrushing it as of late I have stuck to brush painting.

For tonight, a takeaway and a few beers as I curl up in the chair and watch the darts world cup.

TTFN.

 

I finally found the kit decals for the Wespe and I immediately realised why I had put them to one side. They are somewhat flaky and possibly unusable. I have brushed them with a matt clear but I don't think that will help. I still have no idea where I placed them for safekeeping as I found them on the floor!

Apart from needing to do some paint touch ups, especially the faces this is finally finished. I scratch built a pack roll and sack from scrap paper, tissue and thread and found a couple of spare decal crosses. 

The figures I had prepared a couple of years ago and added them for what is a Wespe on the Italian front. I thought I would make a start on the next build and took out the Fouga Magister aircraft as it is a simple kit to build and could be challenging from a painting perspective with the aluminium and bright orange paints to apply. Sadly no bright orange paint which I have now ordered plus new paint brushes and some soft crocodile clips to hold parts as I paint. 

On the cat front, Sherlock is a happy cat, friends with me again, eating well but sadly still searching for his brother. The vet bill was eye watering but now paid and I shall have to book the girls in for their check up, jabs and new flea stuff. Once all done I shall sort out pet insurance for them all. I spent some time this morning fussing them in the garden which I admit to looking at and thinking it can wait for another day. It's been a busy and emotional couple of weeks and I feel very tired so modelling, music and reading for this weekend. Looking at the garden and I am minded to clear most of it and plan and start afresh. 

No 1 son has sold his car as he had no working headlights and the cost of rewiring was too much. He had tried new bulbs, new fuses, checking out the wiring and it is the latter that needs attending to. Shame really as the car was incredibly cheap, a Chevrolet Lacetti and Sue certainly liked it. He will now save up for a better car although he is aware I am looking for another car and he has offered to buy my Mazda even though I said he could have it for free once I have another car. I have my eye on a couple of cars and as Sue says, I take ages to make my mind up but I want one that meets all of our needs and will last for the next several years or longer. Plus I do enjoy searching and looking at different models on line!

TTFN.

 Trip to the vet today and Sherlock had his jab, wormed and new flea stuff applied and he was given a clean bill of health! He howled all the way there and back including a trip to the pharmacy for Sue. He was quiet and good as gold whilst with the vet. The next two will be hard work as Maisie is semi feral and will disappear and Mindy hates being picked up. I shall try to get both in next week.

Progress so far on the Wespe and it is nearly there with just some paint to be touched up and more weathering. Unfortunately I have lost the decals and I will have to raid the spares box. I have no idea where I have put them for safekeeping.

I have now lined up the next build which is the Vickers Wellesley aircraft.

I have changed my mind about building this kit as a WW2 plane and I will instead build the Long Range Development Unit plane as shown on the box. I read the story of the flight from Ismailia, Egypt to Darwin, Australia in November 1938 and to honour that achievement I will build one of those planes. I do plan to buy a cheaper kit of the same plane and build that as an East African campaign aircraft. I also bought a cheap kit primarily to build an Irish Air Corps aircraft...

A relatively modern aircraft from the late 1950's although used during the seventies by the Irish for air displays. The current air corps doesn't have any jet fighters and a new fact for me, Ireland is not a part of NATO. They rely on the RAF to chase any aerial intruders away which makes sense with a common need for defence.

Time for tea and to regain the trust of Sherlock who currently runs away and hides from me.

TTFN.