philmayfield

No. All very respectable

Am I the only one who didn't go in?

I knew it was the Clinton. I was just trying to flush out who had been there!

Just historical research.

Wasn’t there a pub at the bottom of Sherwood St. that had topless barmaids. Never been -that’s why I ask.

Yes, they are good. I did have a Suzuki Santana a few years ago as a plaything and it was great fun. I also once had a Jeep CJ 7. That was a proper 4x4 and would climb the side of a house. I wish I could wind the clock back!

I’ve never been that far north from the town centre in my pub crawling days. Having lived in the Trent Valley since 1962 most of my drinking was in the local villages, Southwell or Newark. Sadly my beer drinking days are over as it gives me gout and I daren't lose my driving licence.

I wonder if the Jewish cemetery is still tendered or is it overgrown?

Yes, Ian, that shop was on the right as you went up the hill.

That was further down Sherwood St. I think the road on the left lead to the Arboretum.

I think it was the Apollo. Somewhere near McDonalds - not there then of course.

Ian, what was the pub next to the Springfield site called? I only remember it by a dreadful meal there one lunchtime. I suppose it’s gone now.

Neither of my tractors have diff locks. The Fergie is 1952 and the Ford 2000 is 1960. All low tech here. The Ford does have a loader bucket so I could dig out if things get desperate! The weather for next week is much warmer though so I think Winter will be gone.

We have a fast flowing one just down the road, the Trent. It was fairly high when I went past at Fiskerton yesterday and I’m sure it will get higher when the snow melts in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire hills. It only affects us when the dyke down our lane backs up but I can only remember it being over the road a couple of times in over 50 years. I have an inflatable dinghy in the garage should the worst happen!

The wireless shop at the top of Sherwood St. was A1 Electrical, a supplier of electronic components run by a very knowledgeable chap called Geoff de Havilland. The shop subsequently moved to Radford Boulevard. I believe he was a member of the de Havilland aircraft family. I used him on many occasions for electronic parts for industrial machinery and he was very popular with the electronic hobbyists from the Boy’s High School. There was also a used car dealership called Johnson’s. That was owned by a Mr. Kidd. I used to work with his son who eventually became chairman of Martin Emprex hosiery.

I darnt. I’ve had too much already - apparently.

People now buy Landrovers for style rather than function. I think even the new Defender will become a fashion accessory and not the functional vehicle it once was. They seem to be fitted with overlarge wheels for aesthetic purposes which makes them less practical in severe conditions. The 4x4 I rather like is the Suzuki Jimny. On YouTube videos it seems to more than keep pace with Landrovers. I quite fancy one as a toy - too old for toys though!

Lancruisers seem to be ones you see being used by the UN and in the jungles round the world. A farmer I know has had the same one for over 30 years and it’s still going strong. You don’t see so many new ones around now as people seem to prefer the Landrover Range. The Subaru’s are also very competent but there are fewer dealers and none in Notts.

Range Rovers nowadays seem to be driven by arrogant t***ts. I know because some are friends of mine!

I went on an of-road course with Landrover at Rockingham Castle some years ago when we bought a Disco.It was really amazing how these things performed. We did manoeuvres that I didn’t think were possible. It certainly gave confidence for on road driving in snow knowing what the limits were. My favourite 4x4 was a Defender I bought 20 years ago and I did some serious off-roading in that. Sadly it was stolen from the Homebase car park in Nottingham when I was only in for 5 minutes! My wife’s had a succession of Shoguns for many years as she used to tow a pony trailer and I used to pull a heavy b

Good to see 4x4 owners getting praised. They’re normally treated with derision. Living in the sticks our 4x4’s have been a lifeline over the years and we’ve helped others when needed. The only time we ever got stuck was at a farm sale at Epperstone. It was on a perfectly flat but wet grass field. No traction at all. Fortunately there were lots of burly farmers to push us - much to their amusement and my embarrassment. Went out to rescue someone this week at the bottom of the steep hill up to their house. When I got there they’d gone!

Having no hands is part of my gross disfigurement. I don’t like to talk about it.

You wouldn’t laugh if you saw me.

I would love to attend a meet up but I am grossly disfigured and only have one leg. This makes it extremely difficult for me to socialise. Please don’t feel sorry for me.

No close neighbours to bother me - not that I would be bothered! It wouldn’t start due to a low battery so it’s on charge now. It’s just too bloody cold and windy for outdoor fun and I can’t find my gloves. Your fingerless ones just wouldn’t cut it today!