Oh no! A global pandemic! I hope Blanche has a swift recovery, Chris. I can assure you I understand her (and your) plight.

Graham Farish New Tooling Announcement Tomorrow (20 March 2026) ahead of Alexandra Palace show.

This weekend sees the return of the London Festival of Railway Modelling at the iconic Alexandra Palace, and Bachmann is proud to sponsor this event which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Ahead of the show we have some exciting news for the Graham Farish N Scale range and we will be revealing all tomorrow, Friday 20th March, in a video which premieres on our YouTube channel at 1200. Be sure to tune in to find out what we have in store, then come and see the new models for yourself on the Bachmann stand this weekend.

Bachmann retailers will be ready to take your orders tomorrow as soon as the news breaks; if you need help finding your nearest retailer simply head to our website and use our retailer map.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BmPsI7Wp9A

Let the frothing commence.

Bob

Seems to be the season for it. In the last 2 weeks Bealman fractured a vertebrae, his wife split her kneecap and I heard today my pal Lawrence has busted his kneecap.

Another day, another calamity at Papyrus Junction

(...or, the Earth is very heavy and it hurts when it hits you...)

It was Mrs Papyrus's birthday yesterday and it all started off quite swimmingly. Early cup of coffee, followed by a trip with the dogs to the cafe of our favourite garden centre for one of their excellent breakfasts. Bought a few plants, came home, pootled about a bit. After a cup of tea and a slice of cake, it was decreed that, it being a lovely spring day, we should do a bit of light gardening. I was in the process of taking a barrowload of prunings to the garden waste tip at the back of the estate when I heard a yelp and a high-pitched  "Chris!!" from the back garden. I rushed back to find Blanche on her back in the bog-garden, her head very nearly in the pond, and her right hand at a very unnatural angle. Apparently, she had been standing on a low wall doing a last little bit of weeding, over-balanced and fell backwards. I called the ambos who came very quickly, three lovely lasses who quickly got her on her feet and carted her off to A&E in Brighton. Turns out she has broken her wrist in almost the same place as she did this time last year, only she's done a far better job and broken both her ulna and radius. Eventually got home at 0115 and the dogs were panicking! The bone men have patched her up but she will need to go in for surgery next week.

We were supposed to be looking after #2 stepson's puppy (see under 'Pets'...) today, but we told him you're on your own, son. We've also got the family coming on Sunday but they're going to have to work for their tea. Once again, Blanche's annual trip to music summer school is in the balance, but she managed it last year and it did her a power of good, so fingers crossed.

Anyway, all hail South-East Coast Ambulance Service and Royal Sussex County Hospital A&E. I know the NHS often gets a bad press but we got absolutely faultless care, just like we did last year.

Cheers,

Chris

We seem to get everything at once, but sometimes stuff seems to wait a day or so. Al 24/48 hour stuff gets here OK though. However, we've another new postie who now gets here about 1.30, instead of mid-morning when we first got here in 2021. Must be very localised.

Dave

No post for over a week now. Managed to catch the postie today who was delivering tracked items as that's all RM care about. He confirmed that a lack of staff meant the mail hadn't been delivered for over a week and recommended I pop along to the local sorting office to collect my mail as he had no idea when it was going to be delivered. Easier said than done as it is only open from 8-10am. Bloody shambles.

Quote from: Newportnobby on March 19, 2026, 10:03:23 AMAnne has had her kneecap pinned and has been discharged.............to her home where there's no one else there

Latest is a relative is heading to Chez Bealman to keep an eye on Anne so George has told her to stay put in hospital until he's there

Better times ahead!

Get well both!

Anne has had her kneecap pinned and has been discharged.............to her home where there's no one else there
Meanwhile George has contracted some form of bug, the details of which I'll not mention just in case you've recently eaten