PDH

My thoughts also Andy. New owners seem keen to utilise existing assets.

Surprisingly it wasn't too bad. Of course we weren't there much during the day but the pigs were under cover (the buildings are behind the second picture of the MF 690). The were well ventilated and cleaned everyother day which probably helped. I think he had a good offer from the neighbouring farm for the land and he said 260 acres wasn't enough to make it economic....he reckoned he needed 600 to 700 acres to make it pay properly and replace the machinery etc. The farm was a mixed arable/animal (Cows/sheep/pigs). Also the only son wanted to start contracting and not take the farm on. So when the neighbouring farmer made the offer and gave them a contract for cultivation/baling and carting for most of the increased farm he jumped at it. Can't say I blame him.

About 12 miles east of Thetford towards Norwich. Village called Stow Bedon.

It's a new company, new owners, new policies. Desperate to keep the collectors buying. Far too many people waiting and only buying when prices drop because they have produced too much stock and too many variations. De-certs have ended. The only person that will lose from now if the price is reduced is the retailer as Corgi will no longer give a rebate on returned certificates. Believe me it's happening, big bit on the Corgi website about it see http://www.corgi.biz/news/270607.html

I'll be in Exeter again Thursday, happy to check if there are any left. I can buy and post it if anyone wants.

Well from now on Corgi will not be 'dumping' models. Production numbers have been reduced and will be reduced again from next year. They have stated they will not sell clearance lines from now on. From what I can gather they will make the number pre-order by dealers plus approx 100 models. The idea is to ensure models retain their collectability and value.

Returned this week from a Farm Stay holiday in Norfolk. We stayed on Home Farm, Stow Bedon. The farm has just gone through a major change. It was a mixed farm of 260 acres but the farmer had just sold off 230 acres and the farmyard and remaining 30 acres were being used as a pig fattening unit (1100 pigs) and a contractors yard. Here are some photos of the tractors used on the pig unit and the tractors and machinery used for the contracting operation. General Yard tractor ? MF690 Pig Unit scraper ? MF 165 Various old trailers used around the farm Manitou New NH BR750 Baler Brand new Lemken EurOpal 8 6F plough A new NH T7030 just about to take the Lemken out for the first time More of the NH T7030 NH TS135A with Bale trailer New NH T6070 with a trailer they were using to haul onions

Still 5 unsold copies in WHS Exeter. Looks like WHS is the best bet to get a copy if one doesn't want to subscribe/get direct.

Good luck Ben. I've found each WHS is different so it'll be interesting to see which branches sell the magazine. I'm going into Exeter tomorrow and I'll take a look in WHS there. Pretty sure that if the branch sold Vintage Tractor then they should sell the new one.

Picked up a copy of the new magazine in WH Smiths in Norwich yesterday morning. The contents look good and interesting and it has a feel of quality about it. I hope it prospers and continues to be published for a long period in the future. The key to its success could be keeping it on sale at WH Smiths and that will only happen if people buy it from Smiths as WHS have a new policy on magazines and don't sell everyone produced like they did in the past.

As promised Nick now everything has settled down and I'm back off my holidays I can show how we built the photos. The picture for the ad (and the TT site) were taken close up using a camera with a good macro and focused on a specific area of the model so as to get the rest of the model slightly out of focus. Shot against a plain background the base shot looked like this: We had previously chose a suitable background that would be added to the base photo and ensured that the pose, angle/position in the base photo matched with the chosen background. Then using Adobe CS we added the backgound to the base shot and ended up with: Then for the ad we added the text/tidied everything up and for the site cropped the photo to fit the banner space.

Oh dear!! If you can get a replacement router, I can recommend Linksys.

Whose router are you using. Anything from BT is a waste of time. Had the same problems till I invested in quality equipment. Now not had one drop out in over 12 months.

Checking my credit card account online to find some t**t has been charging things to my account. Looks likesome one has got hold of my card details. Credit card company very good and helpful, everything not ours will be refunded. However now we have to go through the rigmarol of no card for a while then changing everything. BLAAAAAAAAAAAAST................

Newsflash on the front page of the Claas Shop site....Claas Matador due October.

I understand this is a Limited Edition of only 1000.

All three of the Britains Log Trailers I have in my collection came with a real wood log. Looking at the wood it seems simliar to apple wood. Perhaps Britains got the prunings from an orchard to utilise as the load.

Britains Small Bales are 25mm x 11mm x 11mm

Thanks. If there's no room I'll probably take my car so there'd be space for a few more from the South West. As you say sort out in late March 2008!!

Sean...if you are definitely going next April and there's space in the car can I come with you?

Half acre would be more apt

Hot and sunny with a slight breeze that's refreshing when it catches you. ;D

It's live and running. Quite a lot of graphics so if you have a low connection speed it may take a while.

Hot and sunny with a slight breeze that's refreshing when it catches you. Ah good old Devon summer weather at last!!

Probably not Tris, just the one's I had around and looked good in the photo's. Some free advertising for George though!!