Another moan and an introduction

If you are wondering who bus it is? it is actually mine, and its restoration is well underway. I purchased the bus back in 2001 with 2 mates, one of whom still owns a share and the other is helping out.

the reason it is not fully restored and on the road is down to work patterns, the fact that we all have limited income, thus only able to throw so much money at it, and so much time. Not helped by the fact that my co owner lives at the other end of the country.

I have been involved with various preservation groups in Nottingham, being involved in the restoration of a 1965 AEC Renown, sadly destroyed by fire back in 2007. This one event deeply upset me, I know it is only a "bit of tin", but the time we spend together working on the bus and the skills I acquired during the restoration.

Sadly due to work patterns I stopped volunteering, at the said museum. There were other factors which stopped me too, such as infighting between volunteers, and the general politics between the differant groups who shared the same site.

So I and a couple of like minded people decided to save up and eventually purchase a bus. There were a couple of false starts but eventually we bought the vehicle. However we attracted the negative comments from some other preservationists too, (I will go on to talk about this in a mo),.

The bus was purchased the day before I passed my driving test for the car, and arranged for some friends to drive the bus, who had the relevent licence. Some storage was arranged although it was 50 miles away in Cheadle. within the month we got the bus on to a farm near by, thanks to some other friends who stored a couple of buses on the farm. Other friends have helped in the collection of spares, and other items.

So began our first attempt at restoration. Now i will talk about the negativity. Where I am based their are several preservation groups, all restoring unique vehicles, but there is one slight problem, they all treat each other with contempt, as if they are all jealous of each other. Why?

This is a hobby and we must all enjoy it. I often say I live in the centre of apathy. The only conclusion all these individuals get a kick out of power, and think they have an empire. Just wish all these groups would try to get on and co-operate.

Yes I may be an idealist, but the world would be a better place if we tried to get on and tolerate each other.