Monday 7th October 2024

I've booked an appointment with VisionExpress for my eye test for the 1st November, wow two years since my last one, time flies when you're having fun!

I've made an unauthoridox hinge for the 1/72 Short Serpentine YC.Mk.1,no wonder that they changed it to a pair of barn doors. It now has a tricycle landing gear with the floats taken from a VEB Be-6 Madge, this is where the beaching gear would have been added .I have to remind myself that this is the flying prototype so a whole series of designs and equipment would have been used. The prototype would have gone on to become the testing aircraft for future development and improvements before being sold to SJMcColm Engineering Ltd and used as a Car Air Ferry/ Flying Classroom for other projects. I'm informed that regular engine runs and the odd air show appearance maintains the airworthiness.
 A kitbash using a C-130 and a Sunderland is possible just need to buy the kits next year and finish off the current ones.

Having watched Pole Barn Garage and Junkyard Digs the urge to finish off my 1/24 cars has triggered the 'woodies 'fake wood paint schemes. As to the Airfix Quick Build  LEVC Taxi I can see that converted into a mobile motor home. I think that there's a possibility that I could with a bit of help make a RW version.

Quote from: McColm on October 07, 2024, 02:02:05 AMMonday 7th October 2024

I've booked an appointment with VisionExpress for my eye test for the 1st November, wow two years since my last one, time flies when you're having fun!

I've made an unauthoridox hinge for the 1/72 Short Serpentine YC.Mk.1,no wonder that they changed it to a pair of barn doors. It now has a tricycle landing gear with the floats taken from a VEB Be-6 Madge, this is where the beaching gear would have been added .I have to remind myself that this is the flying prototype so a whole series of designs and equipment would have been used. The prototype would have gone on to become the testing aircraft for future development and improvements before being sold to SJMcColm Engineering Ltd and used as a Car Air Ferry/ Flying Classroom for other projects. I'm informed that regular engine runs and the odd air show appearance maintains the airworthiness.
 A kitbash using a C-130 and a Sunderland is possible just need to buy the kits next year and finish off the current ones.

Having watched Pole Barn Garage and Junkyard Digs the urge to finish off my 1/24 cars has triggered the 'woodies 'fake wood paint schemes. As to the Airfix Quick Build  LEVC Taxi I can see that converted into a mobile motor home. I think that there's a possibility that I could with a bit of help make a RW version.

I received a package from TEMU,  the train set was a bit of a let down, I know it's cheap but surely supposed to work. A loose wire. The wagons are worth keeping. It does give me an idea for the Dapol/Kitmaster plastic model kits if you intend to run the locomotives.
At least the dish cloths work, I'll text out their version of the Drimel tomorrow.

Tuesday 8th October 2024

No more excuses I'm off to the main post office in Greenwich to get my documents checked and photo taken as part of the authentication process for my SIA Door Supervisor Licence.
Most of my fellow students who have had their documents certified are now in the final stages. Although none so far have received their badges just confirmed emails.
Another plus I have managed to get the battery powered TEMU locomotive going, so another Dapol/Kitmaster kit will be ordered or small bodyshell bought. It looks closer to Ho scale than 00,definitely needs a coal tender and it could pull the Hornby Junior coaches.

Back to college on Friday after my Universal Credit Work Coach meeting to collect the Pearson certificates. Seems a bit nuts to me, why can't they send them out before the application has been made.
Well at least it's stopped raining for now.

Wednesday 9th October 2024

There's a slight hitch as the Post Office won't accept my birth certificate as proof of identity, so they gave me a paper copy to change my address to the new photo card driver's license which they will accept.
So I went back online to fill out a new application form but it didn't accept my full name so I've sent the licensing authority an email as what to do next and explained what happened at the Post Office.

So I've been playing with my trains, having worked out that I can light up the driver's cab on the power car using batteries from the Hornby Junior train set as I've never been successful in soldering it looks like the "Cream Tea Express " is a go.
As to the Dapol/Kitmaster Schools Class Streamliner the ex-Hornby A4 bodyshell having been cut up to fit looks rather well. I've used Humbrol 33 mat black with a hairy brush, the locomotive looks very glossy but the coal tender isn't, time will tell when they are both dry.
 The TEMU battery powered locomotive works well with the two coaches from the Hornby Junior train set. One them has the Northern Belle adhesive coach decals applied. Whilst the other is the blue Paddington.

I'm feeling a bit tired after my visit to the Greenwich Post Office, it's moved from being next to Sainsburys, tucked behind what would have been a pump house.

The nights are drawing in and the leaves on the trees are changing colour. 2025 should be a better year all round. I have to wait and see what happens.

Thursday 10th October 2024

I've been awake since 03:21 hours this morning and I have discovered that there's two temperatures on my heating. Switched on and it's boiling, turn it down and it goes off.
 Other news the 00 gauge Dapol/Kitmaster Schools Class Streamliner has turned out rather well, I added the decals apart from the yellow Southern ones, just needs the buffer stops and running gear highlighted, this should be finished by the weekend.
I need a rattle can of clear gloss for the umber brown Pullman set so when I get the white printed decals and add the glazing for the windows they also will be finished.
As to the Short Serpentine YC.Mk.1 there's still quite a lot to do along with the shelf queens waiting patiently to be finished.

Four days left on the current GB to go,fill out the paperwork and wait until my benefits arrive at the end of this month. Post it off takes 3-4 weeks so I might return to work in December/January. I might be able to hire a car and visit my family down in Falmouth Cornwall. May take a bit longer as I'm not supposed to sit in one place for more than four hours at a time. I think that I will need a bigger flask!
Nearly everything that I set out to do in 2024 has come to fruition, a win on the lottery would be the icing on the cake.

Flu jabs and Covid-19 boosters for the winter, well my mum and older sister insist on having them, but they always seem to get the symptoms, whereas I haven't had them and so far I haven't needed them. I can understand the reasons for the jabs and most people swear by them but not me. Which is a bit freaky due to what I've been through, no doubt my luck will run out one day but not today.
Time to stockpile the frozen TV meals, I'm definitely not going to be caught out again this Christmas. I'm going to need a bigger freezer. Start looking through the catalogues.
Feeling sleepy, catch you later.

Just received a reply from the SIA Licence Authority they will amend my application to accept my birth certificate as proof identity. Waiting for confirmation from them. I'm still going to apply for the photo driving licence.

Friday 11th October 2024

The technical glitch on my SIA Licence application has been resolved so next week I shall return to Greenwich main post office if I can find it again.
I collected my BTECH Level 2 Award from Southwark College this afternoon after meeting my new Universal Credit Work Coach. I like riding on buses but I just wish that they would put the bus stop lettering in a better order at a main focal point rather than scattering them around the Woolwich Arsenal area.

Seen my first squirrels of the autumn and pumpkins are for sale in Sainsburys,  other supermarkets are available check out your local area for further details.
I'm not too sure about my cheap Chinese made tablet, it's been on charge overnight but won't switch on, got a blank screen. Apart from a few games and the Imgur app I can transfer everything else onto my newish laptop.

I managed to pick up a copy of the Metro, a free newspaper that covers the London area and saw the photos of the hurricane in the USA.  They reminded me of the last time I visited Florida back in the early 1990s,  they had a storm but it wasn't as bad as this. Although there's an article about the weather reports. (Michael Fish!).

With my current collection of enamel paints a few more Shelf Queens will be one step closer to getting finished. More shelves!!

Monday 14th October 2024

The feeling of anticipation of returning to work is starting to get to me, it's not the same feeling as returning to work after a vacation. The world has changed, food packaging is smaller and the prices have gone up.
I've noticed that a service charge has been applied to takeaway food and the option of tipping.
Before May 2021 it was the consumer's choice of tipping, although I have to admit that my sleeping has improved and its only occasionally that insomnia returns just like having a bad day. They are now down to two days usually towards the end of the month.
My coping with feeling tired all the time means that I have to keep my mind occupied, yes I am getting older and a few aches or pains is the norm.

Today I will be venturing out in the rain back to the Post Office and fingers crossed all goes well. It looks like the Maritime museum is undergoing a face-lift, I still haven't been there but its on my tick list and so is the market. I might squeeze it in after my visit to the opticians in November.


After lunch.
I've been to the Post Office in the Blackheath Village to get my documents checked as part of the process to get my SIA Door Supervisor Licence.
I've never been there before, as the Post Office in Greenwich wasn't open for digital I.D. checks today. Everything went well and the college has made a payment for my licence.
I'm definitely going back to Blackheath Village to check it out as some of the shops sell Harry Potter related items and the number 54 bus seems the quickest route for me.
I'll start clearing up my hobby room during the last weeks of October, this time labelling all the boxes, still won't be able to find anything straight away but I'll know it's close by.

This evening

Just two more checks to be done; Criminal Record and the decision by the SIA Licence Authority.

Tuesday 15th October 2024

And breathe. That's it, for now. I have run out of glue and the filler is on it's last legs. Painting has commenced, enamel paint without any thinners just washing up liquid for the brushes. Whilst listening to episodes of Judge Judy.

The prices for the 1/72 Boeing B-47E Stratojet are a bit steep as I was intending to use it for the LAMP LIGHT idea in the next Group Build however the Vickers Valiant would make a great substitute prices for those are also going up.
The tried and tested Avro Vulcan with the D.B. Production RB-47H conversion set should work or a military Polar Express train as there's plenty of plastic model train kits that I can manipulate, spares and repair tanks.

Hi,
Just got an email from the SIA Licence Authority that I have been granted a Door Supervisor Licence until the 14th October 2027. My badge should arrive within 14 days so I should be back at work sometime in November.

I just wanted you to know, what's going on.

 
gratz on getting it all done and dusted.

Sounds like it was quite a project. Well done. 

Quote from: McColm on October 15, 2024, 11:25:39 AMHi,
Just got an email from the SIA Licence Authority that I have been granted a Door Supervisor Licence until the 14th October 2027. My badge should arrive within 14 days so I should be back at work sometime in November.

I just wanted you to know, what's going on.

We are all delighted to hear this good news!  It's been quite an epic but it all seems to be coming together.

  

That's good news for you at last. 

Thanks for all your comments, I'm still helping out my classmates who are having difficulties in filling out the application form. I was doing that last night as the system can be very slow and incredibly frustrating.