Southern Expo

[NARSES2]

Now I'm convinced that I kicked this off a while ago ?  If it has gone "missing" then it's the first of my posts that have and the first time a subject has gone a.w.o.l. ? On the other hand it could be that I've just meant to but haven't and convinced myself I had  

So Souuthern Expo Saturday and Sunday 17th and 18th of March. Hornchurch Sports Centre, guess where ? Hornchurch 

The S.I.G. doesn't have a stand at this one but I will be attending on Saturday morning and I know a few others of the group will be there as well.
It's a compact show and can get a bit crowded Saturday morning but is a good one with traders who don't seem to travel to the more northerly outposts. Armourfast normally have a large attendance and one specialist ship model retailer attends who I haven't seen elsewhere and both may be seeing the insides of my wallet.

Only downside for me is that on checking train times I spotted the dreaded acronym R.R.B.S    Rail replacement bus service for those who don't use public transport. Anyhow I've found an alternative using Overground and 3 Underground lines but it should still only take 1 hour 15 mins 

[Freightdog862]

Hi chaps, Freightdog has a small stand at Hornchurch, hopefully with the first batch of Supermarine 327 kits on sale. Waiting for decals to arrive sometime this week. I don't have much space so if anyone wants something specific I'm happy to take pre-orders.

Thanks,   

Colin

[Nick]

I shall be there on Saturday and quite possibly Sunday. I should be with the London Modellers.

Colin, I think Chris and I are looking for Firestreak missiles....

[Weaver]

My dad was stationed at Hornchurch during the war. That's quite enough southerness for a couple of generations of the family though...

[NARSES2]

My dad was stationed at Hornchurch during the war. That's quite enough southerness for a couple of generations of the family though...

Hornchurch isn't "Southern". I have to cross the Thames (twice using the route I'm being forced to take) and thus is Northern as far as I'm concerned. 

Essex ? Just about entered the Bronze age 

[zenrat]

If you've crossed it twice, doesn't that put you back on the good side?

[NARSES2]

If you've crossed it twice, doesn't that put you back on the good side?

Correct. I got a bit confused by the Isle of Dogs and the old Royal Albert Docks area. I actually cross it 3 times going and 3 coming back.

Canada Water to Canary Wharf ; then Canary Wharf to North Greenwich; then North Greewich to Canning Town. North Greenwich is actually south of the river just to confuse matters 

[zenrat]

DLR?
So what's the Canary Wharf area like now at weekends?
I remember going to a scooter show in there on a Satyrday (at least 15) years ago and it was like a ghost town - a modern one.  You could have shot a post apocalypse sci fi movie there.

[NARSES2]

DLR?
So what's the Canary Wharf area like now at weekends?

Some very expensive flats and lots of restaurants and interesting pubs etc. Complete change from 20 odd years ago. However if you walk down the canal path from Camden to the Thames you still walk through a very "poor" part of East London and all of a sudden turn a corner very near the river and the whole area goes completely upmarket in the space of about 100 yards


I remember when no one wanted to live on the Isle of dogs and a lot of the blocks of flats were used for nurses accommodation. Some great parties  , but 35 years or so ago.

[Nick]

DLR?
So what's the Canary Wharf area like now at weekends?
I remember going to a scooter show in there on a Saturday (at least 15) years ago and it was like a ghost town - a modern one.  You could have shot a post apocalypse sci fi movie there.

Have you seen 28 Weeks Later? 

I know a guy who claims to have been in the background (as a kid) of The Sweeney or The Professionals when they filmed on the derelict docks in the 70s. Lots of car chases and mock gun battles over the wastelands!

I went to the City of London on a Sunday in the early/mid-90s and that was a ghost town. These days there's a real buzz in both areas thanks to Sunday trading and relaxed drinking laws and more things to do.

[NARSES2]

I went to the City of London on a Sunday in the early/mid-90s and that was a ghost town. These days there's a real buzz in both areas thanks to Sunday trading and relaxed drinking laws and more things to do.

My dad always took me out on a Sunday and we'd normally go strolling through town. In the 50's the City was dead on a Sunday but turn the corner into Fleet St and  Used to love walking through that quiet City. Dad was quite knowledgeable and passed it on to me along with a love of history 

Interesting trip there and back to the show yesterday. Was blowing a blizzard when I left home and by the time I got home it was a couple of inches deep ! Still enjoyed the couple of hours I spent there before taking the train home - didn't wan't to get snowed into Essex - and it was good to catch up with people 

[zenrat]

What was the price of your ticket like?
I was checking out some prices earlier and it now costs more to go from London to Manchester on Virgin than it does to go from Brussels to London on Eurostar.
This doesn't seem right.
Mind you, way back when, in the old days I had staff privileges and only ever paid 25% of the full ticket price.

[Weaver]

My dad was stationed at Hornchurch during the war. That's quite enough southerness for a couple of generations of the family though...

Hornchurch isn't "Southern". I have to cross the Thames (twice using the route I'm being forced to take) and thus is Northern as far as I'm concerned. 

My definition of 'Southern' starts anywhere from Milton Keynes to Birmingham, depending on what mood I'm in...

Essex ? Just about entered the Bronze age 

Going in which direction? 

When my firm's head office was in Southend, I went down there several times, with varying groups of people, for training courses and meetings. our standard sport was counting how many burnt out or abandoned cars we saw after we got off the M25...

[Nick]

Essex ? Just about entered the Bronze age 

As you can tell from all the tanning salons on every High street! 
TOWIE has a lot to answer for.... 

[Rheged]

My dad was stationed at Hornchurch during the war. That's quite enough southerness for a couple of generations of the family though...

Hornchurch isn't "Southern". I have to cross the Thames (twice using the route I'm being forced to take) and thus is Northern as far as I'm concerned. 

My definition of 'Southern' starts anywhere from Milton Keynes to Birmingham, depending on what mood I'm in...

In England, I'd suggest the following 4 approximate areas.

Lowestoft to Oxford to Bournemouth outlines the south east. Hereford  to Oxford to Bournemouth the south west. A line from  Hull to Blackpool  is the northern limit of the midlands.  The bit above that  line is the north   And the bit inside the M25 might as well be another planet, albeit inhabited by several worthy Whiffers who do their best to raise the tone of the area.

An acquaintance from university days came from Wick, in the far north of Scotland and regarded anyone south of Inverness as a southerner.

As a wild-haired German theoretical physicist with a funny moustache once informed the world "It's all a matter of where your relatives live"...........or something vaguely similar.