Seeing theres been a dearth of photos on this thread recently thought I would try to rectify that even if there are very few lorries visible. We are now in our winter quarters here in the northern part, not many kilometres from the sea, of Almeria Province. There has been a drought here for the past few years. Last year we saw no rain at all but we have just been warned that one of the worst storms for a while will hit us this weekend! Could have stayed at home for that but we know, after a couple of days the sun will come out and it will dry up and soon be forgotten about.
mushroomman:
Thanks Rick, I always thought that it might be Split but having tipped in Split and Zadar on a couple of occasions over 35 years ago I couldn’t remember which was which. I do remember my first trip to Zadar as I parked in what seemed to be the old part of the town where there was a little square next to an old Roman wall with a small restaurant that had tables on the pavement. I walked across and had a meal and while I was sat there I watched the local Militia park next to the truck and have a look around it but after a couple of minutes they drove off. I was expecting them to come back that night but they never did.
I have just thought of what I think might be an interesting Christmas story about Split and if I get the time in the next couple of weeks then I shall try and write it down and stick it on here.
Regards Steve.
B.T.W. That’s a very nice looking fifth wheeler that you have there Sandway.
Thanks mushroomman. Driving it helps keep my hand in but not sure why I need to. Gave up my HGV a few years back.
sandway:
Promotor Driver John Preece and Promotor partimer Tim the Aussie travelled down to the Baghdad Fair together in October 1981. John was driving his Scania lorry whilst Tim was driving a 6 wheeled Coles crane. Somewhere in southern Turkey the counterweight fell off the back of the crane. John, who was behind, managed to swerve out of the way but just clipped it with his bumper bending it back but not enough to cause any other damage. John got the crane working and lifted the counterweight back onto it where it was lashed down as best possible. They continued onto Baghdad hot tired and fed up.
Now the British Pavilion wasn’t far away from the Swedish one where Scania had a big stand and they were in the process of washing the trucks down. They had hosepipes and a big tub. As soon as John and Tim saw it they immediately dived in much to the amusement of the Swedes. No doubt the water needed renewing once John and Tim had finished.
John Preece married a second time to a very nice woman in Shoreham. I went to his wedding. It didn’t work out but they remained friends and he went off to Australia and I never heard from him again. He liked a drink or two and was endlessly amusing. Not fun sharing a cab with him - as I had to once - as he used to have nightmares and wake up screaming.
I heard the same thing happened to Ronnie Hart. John ended up crouched on the engine cover mumbling and Ronnie got his knife out for protection. I put John up at home one night. He slept in my daughters room (she was away before you ask). No nightmares for him that night. No sleep either. We are sure he deliberately stayed awake all night smoking. Took ages to get rid of the smell of cigaretts though.
Yes, of course Efes. It was Alan. I knew he came from somewhere down Flimwell way but couldn’t think of his name. So come on everyone, whats his surname.
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
Good morning Mr. Sandway. Just to let you know that guys who have ordered “The Vodka Cola Cowboy” from Amazon have started to receive their copies. They have been E mailing me to let me know that their copies have arrived.
Hopefully, yours has arrived and will be forwarded on to you, in time for Christmas.
From;-
Santa’s little helper
Hello Micky T. My copy has been delivered by Amazon to my home address and now been posted on to friends who are joining us here in the New Year so unfortunately not in time for Christmas but thats not a problem. All good things are worth waiting for.
sandway:
Oh what fun it was queuing at Habur to get into Iraq.
A dithering dimbo of a friend of mine said the photo of the queue of lorries was to small to view decently. I told him to enlarge it by clicking on it. Duh, oh yea!!! was the reply. Now I,m sure the rest of you know that.
sandway:
Seeing theres been a dearth of photos on this thread recently thought I would try to rectify that even if there are very few lorries visible. We are now in our winter quarters here in the northern part, not many kilometres from the sea, of Almeria Province. There has been a drought here for the past few years. Last year we saw no rain at all but we have just been warned that one of the worst storms for a while will hit us this weekend! Could have stayed at home for that but we know, after a couple of days the sun will come out and it will dry up and soon be forgotten about.
Great photos. Well done. Too busy scratching a living at the moment but I’ve plenty photos somewhere. I will put them up. BTW, I do like your latest artic.
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
Good morning Mr. Sandway. Just to let you know that guys who have ordered “The Vodka Cola Cowboy” from Amazon have started to receive their copies. They have been E mailing me to let me know that their copies have arrived.
Hopefully, yours has arrived and will be forwarded on to you, in time for Christmas.
From;-
Santa’s little helper
Hello Micky T. My copy has been delivered by Amazon to my home address and now been posted on to friends who are joining us here in the New Year so unfortunately not in time for Christmas but thats not a problem. All good things are worth waiting for.
I remember pulling up in the queue at Silopi with Welly Ward behind (too close as usual) and swarms of kids headed towards us wanting souvenirs, change money, passport photos etc. I had, by then perfected the Middle Eastern gesture of an upward jerk of the head while making a sort of kissing noise that means a very certain “NO”. The kids saw and understood and then swarmed past me to rob Wardy. He couldn’t understand why they ignored me… I let Wardy unload in Baghdad first so he could leave before me.
Vodka Cola Cowboy:
Good morning Mr. Sandway. Just to let you know that guys who have ordered “The Vodka Cola Cowboy” from Amazon have started to receive their copies. They have been E mailing me to let me know that their copies have arrived.
Hopefully, yours has arrived and will be forwarded on to you, in time for Christmas.
From;-
Santa’s little helper
Hello Micky T. My copy has been delivered by Amazon to my home address and now been posted on to friends who are joining us here in the New Year so unfortunately not in time for Christmas but thats not a problem. All good things are worth waiting for.
I remember pulling up in the queue at Silopi with Welly Ward behind (too close as usual) and swarms of kids headed towards us wanting souvenirs, change money, passport photos etc. I had, by then perfected the Middle Eastern gesture of an upward jerk of the head while making a sort of kissing noise that means a very certain “NO”. The kids saw and understood and then swarmed past me to rob Wardy. He couldn’t understand why they ignored me… I let Wardy unload in Baghdad first so he could leave before me.
I got a little story bout Welly and tears (his not mine). Must dig out the photos and air it soon.
Attached is a copy of the infamous notice Dave Stagg, our beloved transport manager, issued to all drivers in 79. You could easily take this the wrong way and most drivers did. Now some will say it was his zany sense of humour! Others will say that he held all drivers in contempt and that this was his way of showing it. Must admit it really had old Graham “Blue” Bertram worried for a while.
I hope you can all read it as its not come out very clear. Try enlarging it by clicking on it to see if it helps. (I assume it works on all computers).
I don,t remember reading this little ditty, probably because like most of us I was on the other side of the water working my ■■■■ off instead of sitting in the office practicing to be a Director. You,ll notice from the listing at the foot of the page that he hadn,t yet reached those dizzy heights! While I will agree that he did have a sense of humour of sorts there was always more blokes that disliked than liked him.
AHA!!! You,ve finally confirmed my suspicions! the suspence has been killing me but I was 99% sure it was you! Brian,you must have the largest collection of Promotor memorabilia in existance1 Where on earth did you dig that up from!..Have to say though, still trying to work out who “Efes” is though!
What happened to Zdenka? Remember we all pulled the air horns as we thundered through the narrow part of Seal where she lived? Good mention of Graber here…
Efes:
This seems quite topical it being Christmas.
This features Toni Grainger, Brianna Holmes, Bugsina Bertram, Davina Boulding and a rather sour faced looking Joanna Preece
Oh yessss. Thats fantastic Efes. Any more like that would be most welcome. Pity bout John Preece looking miserable. I have a little anecdote to tell concerning him. We were in Tehran, at the fair and Lansing Bagnall were one of our best customers as usual. During the fair a number of us were invited back to the home of one of their representatives for nibles and drinks (proper drinks, wink wink, know what I mean). We were greeted at the door by the representative who ushered us in then locked the door and made sure the curtains were drawn. Once we had made ourselves comfortable we were asked what we would like to drink. Our drinks were then brought to us by the chaps wife, a very good looking lady and their daughters, two utterly stunning young ladies. I would put their ages around fifteen or sixteen. One was wearing hot pants and the other a mini skirt. It was certainly difficult to take your eyes off them. We all had a good time and the girls kept the drinks flowing. Later in the evening, when they didn’t have much to do the girls sat down on the stone stairs talking to each other. John, with a distant faraway look, and I, sat not far from them and he was taking a very lustfull interest in them. I said to him to be careful as we were there at the home of the representative of one of our best customers. With that John said, without taking his eyes off them, “you know what Holmsy, next time I’m coming back as a step”.
That was our John. Often a laugh and most times good company. Well so I thought until he and I spent the night in police cells in France. And it was all his fault m’lud. But thats another story still to be told.
Well done Efes. I was posting at the same time you were. I can’t remember if I’d seen those song sheets but am glad you still have them. I loved Zadenka (hello darlink) but then I was told half of Yugo had as well.
