Just a brief addendum to a post I made a week or two ago about my longstanding fascination with public transport and my perceived overlap of this fascination with an interest in things military.
On reading my post a friend made an extraordinarily kind
gesture and gave me his collection of 1/76 scale buses, a collection he had
been accumulating for some years but had never seen the light of day. He thought
the buses deserved a measure of love and admiration that he felt unable to
provide, and I was happy to be able to assure him with the utmost confidence that
they would receive this chez moi. They are now indeed occupying a shelf with
pride of place in my lounge, although for the moment they are having to share
it with some incongruities. That Pharoah’s head will have to go elsewhere I think, and ditto those protective dragons from Hong Kong, although I fear the consequences of invoking their ire by anything that might be seen as a demotion.
There were no fewer than sixteen vehicles in the collection
but I have included only a sample of them in the photographs I have inserted
here; those uninterested in such things would hardly want more, while those who
do share that passion…well, I wouldn’t want to set too many hearts a flutter.
The buses will make me a collector again in a small way. I plan to expand their number, and, again with a nod to the donor, the plan is to acquire vehicles from fleets that represent places in which I have spent time of some significance, whether in the UK or abroad. I rather like the idea of a memoir written in buses. New acquisitions will almost certainly find their way into a blog post from time to time, quite possibly along with some very self-indulgent description of their significance, so you have been warned.
So, many thanks again to the donor if he is reading; it only goes to show what thoroughly kind and thoughtful people one meets among the wargaming community.
You have a good friend! Very nice gesture. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jonathan...now I just have to resist the temptation to go overboard as is my wont and have buses taking over the house!
DeleteSplendid collection and most kind friend. I really enjoyed seeing the collection.
ReplyDeleteThanks you...I expect there will be a lot more to come. I just hope my wargames don't become jealous of this new love!
DeleteTypical - you wait ages for one, and then 16 come along all at once..
ReplyDelete( c'mon, someone had to do that gag )
Splendid collection and a lovely gesture!
Nice one Dave! Sixteen buses turning up at once in such a variety of liveries would have stopped my heart as a lad.
DeleteI wonder if there is any way I can recreate the smell of those old buses when you boarded on a hot summer day...that combination of gently warming upholstery, diesel fumes and something else unidentifiable but very bussy. A scent as much a part of my youth as the smell of old books. Sigh.