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Wow coincidence or conspiracy? Actually from how you've portrayed the 'area' probably negligence, stupidity and drunkenness in equal measure. Coupled with a combination of open fires and hundreds of gas bottles, then yes, probably. Given that most of the "houses" were made of old pallets and plywood, it wouldn't take much. |
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Okey dokey. If you remember waaay back when, we had a cunning plan to put some nice big boxes, which currently go on the back of a load of knackered tractor-trailers onto a lovely new railway, running around 2,000 tonne trains through the now ex-Parola Compound and up a main street to join up with the existing main line. You may also remember a couple of posts back I mentioned attending a meeting yesterday regarding the thing. So today I have another one. Six hours at PNR, meeting with every man and his dog who has even a vague interest in the project. This has been pushed by the new General Manager of PNR (a retired Colonel) and the new Secretary of State for Transport (who, if I remember, is a retired General), so it has some heavy hitters behind it and anyone who disagrees will probably get dragged outside with a blindfold on. One of the issues that's been muddying the waters has been a project called the North-South Railway which was dreamt up by the Japanese, one of their development banks, in other words, Japan Inc. This glittering project has been turning political heads for the last couple of years but, at last, reality has bitten. Even if it doesn't go anywhere anyone wants to and that the passenger forecasts are completely unrealistic, it's also been realised that it's so far in the future, the Jetsons will have come true. So rather than hold up our project, they now want us to kick it off ASAP, that way they'll have at least one thing they can point to and say, "Look what we done." Anyway's up, we've this today, the PNR board meet to theoretically approve tomorrow and according to the DoT, they want to sign next week. You never know here, but maybe just this time, now the politics have aligned, something will actually happen? Wish me luck and watch this space!  |
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Has El Presidente taken an interest in the project? Maybe you'll get to meet him!
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Has El Presidente taken an interest in the project? Maybe you'll get to meet him! I can see it now.... Our very own georgeb..... Philippine Rail Magnate becomes Advisor of Domestic Affairs to El Presidente.... Watch this space... |
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Has El Presidente taken an interest in the project? Maybe you'll get to meet him! I can see it now.... Our very own georgeb..... Philippine Rail Magnate becomes Advisor of Domestic Affairs to El Presidente.... Watch this space... Maybe he'll just want his own private railway... |
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Well, how peculiar. Sitting across the table from a load of Department of Inertia guys who, last time we met were giving a hundred and one reasons why what I wanted couldn't be done, all nodding, smiling and going, "Yes, that's no problem." Just goes to show here that when the boss says jump, it really is, "How high?" So today went well, still looking to get sign-off this month. They also wanted to know if I could run the first train in 12 months. "I can, will you have your bits ready?" So I could be on the lookout for two second hand locomotives. Hmm, ebay? We'll have some more news tomorrow and there's time for a cock up yet, but all in all I'm pretty happy with today. "Pass me a cold one, Girls!" Has El Presidente taken an interest in the project? Maybe you'll get to meet him! To be honest, I think it's El Presidente who's kicked a load of stuff in motion. Meet him? Hmm, historically, I've been kept away from presidents, prime ministers, queens, etc. They've always seemed to arrange their state visits for my days off. Coincidental?. Apart from the Queen of Denmark (a lovely lady) when we opened Phase 2A of the Copenhagen Metro, I've met no-one of note. Saying that, I've also never met a guy who's threatening to declare martial law, so maybe. Could be a good idea now I think on. Has El Presidente taken an interest in the project? Maybe you'll get to meet him! I can see it now.... Our very own georgeb..... Philippine Rail Magnate becomes Advisor of Domestic Affairs to El Presidente.... Watch this space... Ooh, that could be dangerous.  Maybe he'll just want his own private railway... If this finally goes ahead, that's pretty much exactly what it is! |
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Last Edit: Feb 9, 2017 10:39:24 GMT by georgeb
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nice! if its your own can you ride up front!
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Frankenhealey
Club Retro Rides Member
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death
Posts: 3,888
Club RR Member Number: 15
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nice! if its your own can you ride up front! He can become the Horizontally Challenged Controller   |
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Tales of the Volcano Lair hereFrankenBug - Vulcan Power hereThe Frankenhealey here |
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Last Edit: Feb 9, 2017 19:54:54 GMT by georgeb
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nice! if its your own can you ride up front! Being as I'll be doing a lot of the driver training, especially on the street running section, then yes I can! |
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Will the training be a points deduction system? How many jeepneys could I hit before it's considered a fail?
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Will the training be a points addition system? How many jeepneys must I hit before it's considered a pass? Fixed it for ya! Numbers to be decided, taxis will be half points. |
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Last Edit: Feb 10, 2017 3:53:19 GMT by georgeb
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I could really.. get on board.. with that sort of training system. Maybe I'll consider a career change.
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I could really.. get on board.. with that sort of training system. Maybe I'll consider a career change. From the application form:- 1) Please describe your irrational and psychotic hatred of Jeepneys and Taxis in no more than your own words… 2) Please complete this sentence: “All Jeepneys and taxis must be mangled and crushed under my locomotive’s wheels because…” |
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Last Edit: Feb 10, 2017 9:28:55 GMT by georgeb
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Frankenhealey
Club Retro Rides Member
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death
Posts: 3,888
Club RR Member Number: 15
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Feb 10, 2017 11:00:48 GMT
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You may have to be a certain age but here we have a topical driver training ditty .......
The runaway train came down
the track and she blew,
The runaway train came down
the track and she blew,
The runaway train came
down the track,
crushed all the Jeepneys, Taxis and that
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
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Tales of the Volcano Lair hereFrankenBug - Vulcan Power hereThe Frankenhealey here |
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Feb 10, 2017 22:54:12 GMT
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You may have to be a certain age but here we have a topical driver training ditty ....... The runaway train came down the track and she blew, The runaway train came down the track and she blew, The runaway train came down the track, crushed all the Jeepneys, Taxis and that And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew. Ooh, a Company song! They love that stuff here! I am now listening to Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath" |
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Feb 12, 2017 17:59:09 GMT
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It's 02:00 on Monday morning as I write this and I've been awake since 03:00 yesterday. Got to sleep soon? My one big job today was escorting this...  to her first ever formal dinner dance. Had to blank the face as that bstardchild has designs on her. Designs, I tells you. Anyway, I was one very proud Daddy George rocking up with her on my arm, she looked beautiful and all the 2016 crappy stuff just fell away. We did have logistical discussion about how to go to the loo in a crinoline, but she seemed to manage okay. Although she did rush to the facilities when we got home! Unfortunately, we had to go in the Crappy Fortuner as my replacement hoses didn't arrive, but I think she's forgiven me. Told my youngest, who's a tad on the short side even for a Filipina - bless her,  that she has to aspire to fit the frock next year when it's her turn. We will get more than one night out of it! Damn, forgot to blank the face! Sleep soon? |
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Last Edit: Feb 12, 2017 18:10:03 GMT by georgeb
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Feb 12, 2017 22:54:27 GMT
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You'd be able to tell how many lads she danced with by the number of foot prints on the hem of the dress when she got home. I hate to ask because it suggests (correctly) that I noticed but... The ring suggests that she was temporarily married for the evening. Was this a ploy to see off the riffraff!? James PS, It's ok, I'm not a rival for bstardchild . I was lusting over the Hello Kitty clutch bag. PPS, That's even worse isn't it?  |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,976
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Feb 12, 2017 23:39:35 GMT
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I'm too upset to post...............
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Feb 12, 2017 23:47:31 GMT
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You'd be able to tell how many lads she danced with by the number of foot prints on the hem of the dress when she got home. I hate to ask because it suggests (correctly) that I noticed but... The ring suggests that she was temporarily married for the evening. Was this a ploy to see off the riffraff!? James PS, It's ok, I'm not a rival for bstardchild . I was lusting over the Hello Kitty clutch bag. PPS, That's even worse isn't it? Good morning James. Let me take your points in order. She was showing me some of the dancing moves they'd been practising during the week and whenever there was actual male/female contact, the boy could only touch the girl's waist with the back of his wrist. Try it with Mrs. Sweetpea, it's bloody uncomfortable. Therefore I conclude that all the sensible males would have given up after one dance and headed to the bar to talk about Contemporary Philosophy or somesuch, leaving the girls to their own mysterious devices. Besides, it's full moon and only a madman would tangle with her then. The ring is one I bought for her, on my second attempt having been stiffed first time around by a smiling Chinese woman - never trust smiling Chinese women, is my advice. Apparently it's a Peripatetic Ring, that wanders, itinerant-like around her fingers and just coincidentally ended up there for last night. No forethought involved and could just as easily have wound up on her giving the finger, finger. Rivals implies the opportunity for auction which, in turn, implies opportunity for a little earner. No problem for me! And I have bad news, or maybe a relief? The bag is not Hello Kitty. Do you think she'd be so crass? That was rhetorical by the way, and requires no answer! No, it's a tasteful little red number, lovingly hand-crafted by the famous Sanchez family in timeless simulated Shimmertex and bearing an attractive ballerina motif adorned with genuine fake diamonds (must have bought them from a smiling Chinese woman). It will have been the glorious Manila Bay sunset that made it look Hello Kitty-ish, see...  Just big enough for a Ladies .22  and a packet of fags! The handle will probably fall off tomorrow. As to the dress being passed on to the youngest for her first ball, Madam was of the opinion that given the frock came from the market in Divisoria, an area not known for its fine craftsmanship, it would likely fall apart come midnight anyway, making the whole growth plan moot. Oh, and as a final offering. Last evening was the Grade 9 Ball so, quite logically, was attended by Grade 9 students only. Obviously, as a result,the entire school has had to close today! I'll be meeting Mr Diablo for a cold one down the Slum and Cockroach come lunchtime. His round I believe! |
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Last Edit: Feb 12, 2017 23:55:34 GMT by georgeb
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