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**Graham Ritchie** · December 13, 2022, 09:53 AM

Brian

Your photo is what Christmas should look like

For us it was me out with the poor old lawn mower yesterday, also its busy on our street with the good folk fixing the street piping "new" on a more permanent basis from the repairs from the earthquakes back in 2011. These new pipes are much stronger and can take it, hopefully it wont be put to the test.

**Ken Finch** · December 14, 2022, 05:24 AM

Hi Graham. Here in Kent, we have had similar problems with burst water supply pipes due to expansion and contraction of the clay in the soil. Contraction because of the drought in the summer and expansion due to the rainfall and now the sudden drop in temperatures. Ken Finch.

**Lee Mannering** · December 19, 2022, 11:02 AM

Something I started doing during covid lock down when I heard children saying Santa would not be coming. Oh yes he will!

I've also found another use for a TV

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Attached Files

**Graham Ritchie** · December 20, 2022, 02:23 AM

Looking back over the years

one of the things I always liked during the summer months, was when I was on the roster for tarmac in the evening. There was a moment at the airport where things went quiet, after the noise and bustle of the day. Towards the West were the Southern Alps, and as the sun was setting over them you always had a stunning sunset during the summer months. While the loaders had there evening meal I would often pick out a baggage trolley, put my feet up with a cup of tea and something to eat and look towards the sunset and enjoy those few special moments.

Back then, there was a book that came out, which to my surprise the person had not only captured an evening shot of the airport but also one taken in the hanger, which I should add, also had the doors facing West, so you had the evening sun coming right in

. Now in the book, there is no mention of who the person on the wing is, but I could guess, and just the other day it was confirmed by that same person, he had no idea that a photo had been taken. So it goes to show that even after 27 years or there about, things can still pop up from the past.

The final photo below, I had no idea that one had been taken of me looking for an oil leak from a supercharger one night until lately. Now that we are all basically retired pensioners on Facebook

, its amusing thanks to the internet what appears from time to time from those long ago times.

.

An evening shot, later I would spend time working on the Ansett 146 you can see parked up in the distance.

The person in the photo contacted me yesterday to say they were good times, and they were.

Yours truly long long ago.

Just to finish here is a nice photo of one of the Ansett NZ BA146, most likely all now scrapped.

I also mention another aircraft we looked after on tarmac, that being a leased Boeing 757 from Britannia Airways painted as "Freedom Air", That aircraft was used between Australia and New Zealand. I remember having to marshal it onto a gate one day. The pilot came in way to fast, so had to show him the stop sign very early on. The aircraft came to a halt quickly, but only missed the nose wheel mark by a couple of inches which was pretty good. As soon as the airbridge was in place I spoke to the pilots, what was the hurry?. The captain said he needed a cigarette, the copilot a beer was there reply,

they were English I should add, and had a bit of a sense of humor. I saw them of at the end of our summer, for there long journey back to the UK for the Northern summer session, last thing they said after the push back was thanks for everything, and I wished them a safe flight.

Good times

**Graham Ritchie** · December 21, 2022, 02:37 AM

Today I took some photos one of a 8mm film display I have been working on, others around the building, thought it might be include those as well

Its still in the early days, but have already bought building material to cover in the area of the screen for the Westar 35mm, also will show the workings of 8mm film as well on the odd home movie day later next year. Well that's sort of the plan

**Douglas Meltzer** · December 21, 2022, 12:55 PM

Graham, great job on the 8mm display and the other exhibits look very interesting also.

I walked along Fifth Avenue the other night, taking in the Christmas sights along with many, many tourists.

The Plaza Hotel, well known to fans of Home Alone 2.

Saks Fifth Avenue puts on its holiday light show. This year, hundreds of thousands of LED lights are synchronized to Elton John songs. The show takes place every 10 minutes.

The 82 foot tall Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center....all 14 tons of it!

**Paul Adsett** · December 21, 2022, 01:08 PM

New York- THE place to be at Christmas time - merry Christmas Doug!

**Graham Ritchie** · December 21, 2022, 06:35 PM

Thanks Doug.

Your photos look fantastic.

**Douglas Meltzer** · December 21, 2022, 08:18 PM

Thank you, Paul & Graham. Merry Christmas!

**Janice Glesser** · December 23, 2022, 10:43 AM

Last night seven of us piled into the minivan and drove to San Dimas... The home of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Every year they have a drive-thru Christmas light show. The lights are all timed to go with the music. It gets better every year.

**Janice Glesser** · December 27, 2022, 11:37 PM

Buster has always enjoyed being around my film equipment since he was a little kitty. Tonight he found a comfortable spot sleeping on the lid to one of my 16mm shipping cases.

**Dominique De Bast** · January 06, 2023, 06:13 AM

As every year, the 6th January is the day to eat "la galette des rois" (the kings' cake). The one who finds "la fève" (the little thing hidden inside) is the king of the day. It's linked now with the Wise men's day but before Christianity, it was a Roman tradition but it was reserved to the slaves. One of them became the king of the day and had even the right to give orders to his master. But the following day, he turned back to his condition or was killed. Today, it's much more safe and this cake is delicious.

**Dominique De Bast** · January 14, 2023, 05:02 AM

I spent three days in Paris. Among other things, I visited the "museum" of the Cinémathèque. The musée du cinéma moved there several years ago and changed completely. While it was before a general exhibition, it's now mainly focused on Georges Meliès.